Routine

This week my skin decided to rebel against me in the worst way meaning that I had a series of breakouts in the same spot almost right next to each other so I've had to forego my usual make-up routine but I thought I'd outline it here anyways.

Doing my make-up can be rather tedious, since I have a lot of redness and acne scars to cover up, and especially if I choose to do any eyeliner. The most essential prodyct I use (Dermablend Redness Concealer) I discovered while making a list of products I wanted to give to my mother since she works part-time at Macy's and they had an upcoming sale. For the Dermablend Redness Concealer, this was about a couple years ago and for Clinique's Acne Solutions, another essential, it has been a staple for even longer, since I have been using since high school. In fact, that was the only product I would use on my face since I had a bout of terrible acne junior of high school. As for Tarte's Finishing Powder, it was a freebie I chose when I had amassed a certain amount of points at Sephora, along with Tarte's BB Cream, although I have since had to abandon the latter since I neglected to remember that it is $34 so maybe it will meet my face again someday. Another Tarte product, their "Amazonian clay bronzer" has been in my makeup case for as long as I remember and I have no idea how it got there, but it's great as well. And keeping with the theme of Macy's, I discovered Benefit's Porefessional while at a Lush located in a Macy's in downtown Chicago maybe one year ago and still have a majority of the tube as I only use it on my nose. It goes on very smooth and translucent and it's difficult to tell if it's working straight away but as it adjusts, you can begin to notice that it decreases the appearance of blackheads (which I equate with pores).

If anything, I would recommend these Dermablend and Clinique products since I would not be able to apply my makeup to my liking without them.

On Skincare

Recently, my skincare and makeup have been in a major transition phase. As I am running out of my Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser, I have started using just a plain white bar of soap as a face wash. Since my skin is very oily and has been breaking out, the bar doesn't tend to dry my skin out at all. Before the Boscia Black Cleanser, I used Boscia's Clear Complexion Cleanser and Tonic, which seemed to work fairly well but both contain alcohol. I was told alcohol dries out skin and is just not plain good for it. Since Lush exists, they were carrying Let the Good Times Roll during this time. It has so far worked the best on/for my skin out of every product I have ever used and needless to say, I am ecstatic for when it gets released during this holiday season. However, as it is September and still fairly warm, I am going to continue using a bar of soap as a cleanser and my newly purchased-for-the-first-time Boscia Clear Complexion Willow Bark Spot Treatment, that I am already seeing results from after just two uses. My enthusiasm about Boscia products is obvious and impossible to hide, since I believe it is the most effective with my skin type: oily and prone to breakouts. 

Since I am on a budget, or just have a very sad looking savings account, I had to put back a few other Boscia products while I was at Sephora yesterday, amidst a downpour which is to say that I am a dedicated shopper (explanation for my very sad savings account). Among some of them were Green Tea Oil Control Mask and the Clear Complexion Moisturizer. For this reason, of not wanting to be set back $100+, I only chose the $15 product (Willow Bark Spot Treatment) which I'm feeling will be used up quickly provided its effectiveness. 

Also while at Sephora, I had originally went in order to buy more of Tarte's BB Cream but had neglected to remember that it is $34. To my rescue came an employee who understood my worries about prices and introduced me to Smashbox's Try It Kit with their BB cream, perfecting powder, foundation primer, and a brush- all for $30. I was enthused by this find because it phases out my Tarte BB Cream and my Urban Decay Surreal Skin Mineral Makeup (which has apparently been discontinued). I had recently purchased another Try It Kit by Smashbox which included their pencil eyeliner, lid primer, foundation primer, lip gloss, and full exposure mascara- all for $19! These kits are extremely practical since you get a lot of product for a great price, and if a product doesn't suit you or your skin, you don't have to use an entire full-size. Another kit that I wanted to try but just couldn't swing is the Draw the Line kit from Sephora Favorites. It includes 7 different eyeliner colors of the liquid and solid variety, one being Sephora's own brand of liquid eyeliner which I live by. I am hoping they will have this set for a while but if not, the one product from it that I have great things about is Stila's liquid eyeliner, which I may just have to buy individually.  

PRODUCT LIST:

Draw the Line

Try It Kit- BB Cream

Try It Kit- Mascara

Boscia Clear Complexion Cleanser

Boscia Clear Complexion Tonic

Boscia Willow Bark Spot Treatment

Boscia Green Tea Oil Control Mask

Boscia Clear Complexion Moisturizer

Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser