November 24, 2017

We all need a little RMS Beauty in our lives, my reviews of recent samples, Kiehl's new customized serums and a drugstore dupe for Charlotte Tilbury's cream eyeshadow.

Excerpts:

Get your glow on with this kit while you can

Today is our last day of school before Thanksgiving—which means the holiday season is officially upon us (whether we like it or not). I could put together a rather lengthy list of pros and cons for this time of year, but since it’s Friday and I’m in a good mood, I’m going to keep things positive—and one of my favorite parts about the holidays is that a little sparkle is always appropriate.

A touch of strategically-placed shimmer or sheen elevates any makeup look, and highlighter has become a staple in most of our makeup bags. I’m here to remind you that highlighter can (and should) be subtle, so if you’re still wary of highlighter, I suggest starting with one from RMS Beauty.

This natural, organic, eco-friendly brand offers a variety of highlighter options, including the original Living Luminizer (the most subtle of the bunch), the Magic Luminizer with a champagne tint (my personal favorite), and the  Champagne Rosé Luminizer that offers the most opalescence. If you can’t decide which is best for you—or you’d like to have a highlighter “wardrobe” so you’re set for any makeup occasion—you best check out the limited-edition Luminizer Holiday Gift Set.

Featuring a trifecta of radiance-enhancing creams, this set includes the Living and Magic Luminizers plus a Gold version that you can only get here—and a retractable brightening brush. Perfect for the highlighting novice or aficionado, get it while you can and get your glow on for the holidays!

The latest sample reviews are in...

If you appreciate the little things in life, samples of all kinds are probably among them. Aside from snack samples that keep the kids quiet at Costco and free samples of crazy-expensive prescription medications (that’s a sign of a great doctor), beauty samples are the best for a few reasons. 1. You can try before you buy. 2. If you hoard enough, you can travel with all of your toiletries in a sandwich-size Ziploc bag. 3. You can experience a product you might not ever purchase otherwise. 4. If you hit up the Tom Ford counter at enough different times of day and different days of the week, you can just about fill a travel-sized atomizer of your favorite without spending a cent on your scent (or any sales associate being the wiser). But I digress…

In case you couldn’t tell, I love samples—and here are the latest I’ve tried.

M.A.C Upward Lash Mascara
I’m always surprised at how long a mascara sample lasts, and in the case of this one, I was beyond glad to get a lot of use out of it. I’m very picky when it comes to mascara, and if I get a shmear under my eyes by 3pm it’s out. This one stays put—even through a workout—and the innovative brush lends major length. Instead of soft, fluffy bristles it has short, stiff nubs that get right to the root and separate your lashes while evenly distributing color. The verdict: I bought a full size.

Kiehl’s Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream
I received this sample when I went for my customized Apothecary Preparations serum (in case you missed yesterday’s post, click here), as it was recommended to complete my skincare regimen. I love how rich and comforting this cream is. Featuring anti-aging copper and antioxidants, it plumps up my skin instantly and leaves it feeling hydrated for hours. The verdict: If my beauty closet ever runs dry and I find myself needing to go out and actually purchase moisturizer, this is at the top of my list.

Chanel Blue Serum
If I were able to buy any five things from Chanel, skincare would not be one of them. I’m not knocking the ingredients (and their elaborate backstory), formulations or technology, I just think there are a lot of brands with a lot more expertise in the skin-health arena. I ripped this sample out of a magazine and I was pleasantly surprised at the serum’s lightweight consistency, fast absorption and scent—but obviously I didn’t have enough product to use for the amount of time needed to see a visible difference in my skin. The verdict: I’d totally take a sample of this with me when I travel, but I’d never go buy the full size based on my limited experience.

Dior Addict Lip Maximizer
I’m still a fan of lip plumpers, even if they’re so 10 years ago. I got a sample of this at a charity luncheon I attended and it’s just plain awesome. It delivers a slightly poutier pout without any stinging or burning, and the glossy finish looks fabulous when out and about. The verdict: It’s on the list for my next Sephora binge.

Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask
I believe I received this sample with a recent Nordstrom order, and I put it to use last Saturday night. Perfect for pre-going-out, it tightens pores, brightens your complexion and leaves skin soft, silky and primed for makeup. The verdict: I can’t justify buying another mask when I have a drawer full of them, but I may have to call in a favor from a publicist because it’s really that good.

Bespoke beauty is actually within your reach

Attach the word “custom” to just about anything and you probably think it’s going to involve either a lot of time (i.e. furniture) or a lot of money (just about everything else). In many cases this is true, but if you’ve ever dreamed of having a skincare product that’s really blended just for you and your major skin concerns, it’s time to hit up your local Kiehl’s store.

Last September, I wrote about the expansion of the brand’s Apothecary Preparations service to select stores, but just last month it popped up in even more locations—including my local store. I graciously accepted the brand’s invitation to experience this bespoke service for myself, and as a beauty nerd, it was more fun than I’ve had in a long time.

The process begins with a “Healthy Skin Test,” which involves placing paper strips on your forehead and cheek to assess your skin’s hydration levels. Mine rang in at 26.5% (the ideal is 50%) so I obviously need to work on that. Then, we flipped through the Kiehl’s Skin Atlas (see below)—and that’s when I really geeked out. It’s a huge book of photos of different skin concerns, and I was asked to rate each on a scale of one to four, based on how severe or important I personally feel they are. The big takeaway here: I’d really like to improve my skin’s texture and tone.

Based on each client’s professional and personal assessments, two of five “Complexes” are selected and added to the universal Skin Strengthening Concentrate (which is appropriate for all skin types). My personalized blend includes the Texture Refining Complex (packed with exfoliating lipo-hydroxy acid and essential fatty acids) and Brightening Complex (formulated with vitamin C and scotch pine). Just so you know, the others include Visible Redness Neutralizing Complex, Pore Minimizing Complex and Wrinkle Reducing Complex.

Forty minutes later I was sent on my way—with a personalized bottle of Strengthening Concentrate and my two complexes—which I promptly mixed when I got home. (They do this to ensure maximum freshness and potency when you’re ready to use it). I was told that it takes a full skin-turnover cycle (roughly 28 days) to see results, but my skin already feels smoother and looks brighter after just two weeks of applying it morning and night.

I’m totally hooked on my personalized serum, and at just $95, it’s a lot less than a lot of other non-customized products out there. And with the holidays fast approaching, this makes a great gift for any skin-obsessed gal or guy in your life. Click here to find a store where you can experience Apothecary Preparations for yourself, and when people ask what you’re using on your skin because it looks so fantastic, you can brag that you had a serum made just for you!

Don’t balk at this budget-friendly eyeshadow

I usually reach for a cream shadow on “regular” days simply because I can pat some on with my finger and be good to go without giving it a second thought until I wash my face at night. I love long-wear versions because they’re less likely to crease while maintaining their color payoff despite heat and humidity. Charlotte Tilbury’s Eyes to Mesmerize is definitely at the top of my list (although I apply these with a brush since the ones I have are on the denser, darker side so they require a bit more blending), but my new daily go-to is Revlon’s ColorStay Crème Eyeshadow in “Crème Brulee.”

Ringing in at around $7 (depending on where you purchase it), this sheer yet buildable cream glides on—and it even comes with a little brush in the cap. This particular shade is right up my alley, because it provides a light wash of shimmer, and it’s not too obtrusive when I wear my glasses (which has been more often lately). It totally stays put and since I can swipe it on with my finger it saves a bit of effort in the morning, which we can all appreciate, right?

Oh, and this shadow was also one of Allure’s Best of Beauty winners this year, so if you don’t want to take my word for it, maybe you’ll take theirs…