An account of how the latest and greatest in beauty and lifestyle products made my May feel a little bit more gorgeous…or not so much.
Here’s the breakdown…
#1. Perlier Body Cream | Isn’t there a saying that goes something to the effect of “Italians do it better?” Here’s living proof. Despite its nearly $30 price tag (yikes!), I very much enjoyed Perlier’s Body Cream. It gives more than adequate moisture, smells divine, and absorbs quickly without too much of that post-application greasiness that I’ve come to loathe about many lotions. You can tell much thought and care went into the development of this lotion, hence the steep price tag. Alas, unless I get a huge pay increase between now and then (or just hit the lottery), I can’t personally justify spending $30 on a 7 ounce full-sized product right now, particularly as a go-to that I’d have to constantly replenish due to its small size versus how much skin is on the human body. I’m also not thrilled that the full-sized version of this product comes in a pot – meaning it’s not quite as easy to tote around and I just generally don’t like sticking my fingers into a product anyway. I much prefer a pump or something I can squeeze. I intend to enjoy the heck out of my sample though. This stuff is great.
Overall: A do…if you can get behind the cost and the whole pot factor.
#2. Supergoop! Sunscreen | I’m officially a fan of Supergoop! This is the second product of theirs that I’ve received and it’s a brand that I continue to have a positive experience with. While I’m not a fan of the name (because who wants to say they use “goop” on their body?), it does get cool bonus points for originality. My biggest complaint with most sunscreens, particularly for the entire body, is that you feel like you’re wearing sunscreen. In other words, my skin often feels sticky after application and just makes me want to immediately wash it off. Given the fact that you have to re-apply after a few hours, mixed in with all that not so glamorous sweat because it’s 98° out – I often find sunscreen unpleasant to use (though necessary, of course). Interestingly, I don’t have this complaint with face moisturizers that have SPF in it and use these religiously. Admittedly, I’m only anal about sunscreen (for the body) when I’m going to the beach or know that I’ll be outdoors all day. Shame on me, I know I should be more anal about sunscreen application other than the face. And this would be the product I’d grab. It’s lightweight, not greasy, not sticky, has an SPF 30 factor, doesn’t smell bad, and comes in a very well-designed large bottle. It’s quite pricey, but given its size and how often I’d personally use it during those sunny days ahead – I can easily justify the cost here. It would totally inspire me to use an everyday sunscreen more often because I don’t actually feel like I’m wearing any. It’s time to cash out my Birchbox points girls, I think I’ve found a sunscreen winner.
Overall: A do.
#3. Noya Lip Gloss | Unfortunately, I can’t say I’m too stoked about Noya’s lip gloss. Where I will give it mad kudos is in the formula. The texture isn’t sticky and feels great on the lips – you can definitely feel the effects of the shea butter, jojoba and coconut oils working together for good. However, I didn’t care for the shade I received, summertime peach. It barely shows up on my lips and even adding a few extra coats (for impact) makes it look like I don’t have lips at all because it comes up so nude. It also doesn’t seem to stay put very long. Perhaps I’d feel more inspired by this product if I’d gotten it in another shade, but I’m okay not pursuing a full-time relationship with this lip gloss.
Overall: Eh.
#4. Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner | A case of an eyeliner done right. Its color is vibrant. The application is smooth. And it’s long-lasting. I received the silver liner, and though it’s not an everyday shade, it’s perfect for those days I just want to punch up my look. And even better, I can get behind the $16.00 price tag.
Overall: It’s a do.
#5. Kérastase Shampoo & Conditioner | Seriously, I just want to copy almost verbatim everything I said about another shampoo I reviewed in March, Keims Cleanshine Energizing Shampoo. So I will. Please see #2 and basically apply what I said there to here, minus a generous sample size (because this certainly wasn’t) and the lack of smell (because this did smell great). And don’t even get me started on the conditioner. Total disappointment.
Overall: Pass.
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(I’m not affiliated with Birchbox outside of just being a fan…with an opinion.)
All That Glitters 