Glossier Cotton Rounds vs. Shiseido Facial Cotton

Glossier's new chemical exfoliant earned an immediate "meh" from me, mostly because they won't release the exact percentage of acids in the product. My very dry, dehydrated, reactive skin will respond one way to < 5% acid (yay!) and another way to close-to-10% acid (proceed with caution), and I know I'm not the only one. To be frank, I think hiding the percentage of active ingredients in your product because "it's a secret formula, teehee!" is just an irresponsible marketing ploy. That goes for just about every skincare company and product out there, including the cult classic Biologique Recherche P50: I'm not buying that shit until I know exactly what's going on my face.

But Glossier also released cotton rounds to go with the solution, and you guys...I'm a sucker for cotton. I've been using that stuff to remove my makeup for years now, and my favorites have long been the soft, durable Shiseido Facial Cottons. Since I'm flush with store credit (thanks for the clicks on my affiliate link, by the way!), I decided to test them out.

Let's talk price first. Shiseido Facial Cotton comes in two sizes: a 40 count travel size for $5 and a 165 standard size for $10. (The price has ticked up about $0.50 since I first started using them.) The Glossier Cotton Rounds come in one 60 count size for $4. Mathematically, that means:

You get 8 cottons per $1 in the travel size Shiseido bag.

You get 16.5 cottons per $1 in the standard size Shiseido bag.

You get 15 cottons per $1 in the Glossier bag.

This makes the Glossier cottons cheaper-per-piece than the travel size Shiseido cotton, but slightly more expensive than the full size Shiseido bag.

The Shiseido cottons come packaged in a thin, translucent sheet of plastic. I usually rip mine open and just pull out cottons as is necessary; they're stacked very tightly and therefore don't fall over or make a mess. The Glossier cottons are packaged in a clear plastic bag, sort of like a stack of Pringles, and are shipped in a silver-and-pink zipper bag. The extra packaging for the Glossier product is a bit wasteful to me, but since they're made in China, I'm assuming they're a private label product and therefore arrive at Glossier headquarters in bulk, blandly packaged. The brand has to fancy it up somehow.

(Images desaturated to better show textures and shapes. And because black and white pictures are cool.)

Pricing and packaging are important, but for me, the mark of a truly great cotton is its texture and durability. The Shiseido cottons have a famously plush, silken texture. They glide across the skin smoothly without pulling or irritating, and they never leave white fuzzies on your face.

The Glossier cottons aren't quite as soft. If I had to compare them to anything, it would be the top of a mattress, both in their texture and their appearance. This doesn't mean they're rough--they're actually decently soft--but they certainly aren't as luxurious feeling as the Shiseido cottons. You also have to be a bit careful of the dotted line around the edge, which I barely notice on most of my face, but can feel a bit pokey if you get it in your eye.

I will give the Glossier cotton rounds the higher score for durability, though. While the Shiseido cottons have never completely torn apart on me, they do start to "fray" a bit after removing an entire face of makeup. By contrast, the Glossier cotton rounds stay together with no fraying or fuzzies. The above cotton round was used to remove this face of makeup (I switched the lipstick to Besame Red Velvet for testing purposes). These are tough little buggers, no doubt.

With that in mind, I'd say that the Shiseido Facial Cottons are still the best choice for makeup removal and serum/toner application. The Glossier Cotton Rounds are also fine for makeup removal, but will work even better for jobs that usually need a little more elbow grease, like taking off your nail polish. In the end, Shiseido remains queen of my cupboard, but Glossier is a fine companion.

GLOSSIER COTTON ROUNDS RATING: 4 out of 5

Glossier products are available at their website. Affiliate link: Glossier.

 These products were purchased from Glossier.com using store credit earned through referrals.

My Skin is Mad at Me

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I don't like summer. Every year, beauty magazines erupt with worshipful odes to the sultry season, farmers markets pop up on side streets, and festivals fill our schedules.

But you know what summer does to me? It eats my skin! Seriously. I'm very fair and am incredibly sensitive to heat and humidity, so I burn in two minutes and look like a beet in half that time. The air conditioning dries out my face. Walking from the bus stop to campus leaves me covered in a heat rash. I sweat like a stuck pig. Bugs, poisonous plants, and wayward children seem boundless. Yes, summer has some perks, like garden-fresh veggies and sleeveless shirts. But for the most part, I see summer as a stepping stone to fall.

Here's how I clean up my complexion when summer is at its cruelest. Fair warning: I look drunk in these pictures. #sorryboutit

First, I take stock of my skin. I have some small pimples on my chin and forehead, a patch of hives on the lower part of my cheek, and a little bit of everyday unevenness, like the sallow spots at the sides of my mouth. My skin also has a bit of an odd texture at this point--partially from the A/C dehydrating my face--so I need to use something as a primer.

I apply a thin layer of my Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Liquid SPF50 ($39, Sephora) all over my face. Normally I use a dryer sunscreen through my T-zone to prevent oil breakthrough, but because I'm dehydrated, I'm sticking with the Shiseido. Then I conceal my undereyes and my red spots with the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx01 ($48, Neiman Marcus). (NOTE: the Shiseido SPF50 lotion always has a white cast when freshly applied. I find that said white cast after a little while.)

Now it's time for some overall coverage! I like to use a thin layer of MAC Face & Body foundation ($27, MAC)--click here for my F&B application tips. Right now I'm using about 2 parts N1 to 1 part White; in the winter, I switch that ratio around. I like to let F&B sit on my face for a few seconds so it "melts in" to my skin and becomes less dewy.

For finishing touches, I dab on a small amount of highlighter, like MAC Strobe Cream ($10, MAC). To get a little more coverage and smooth everything out, I use a light dusting of Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Finish Powder Foundation in #50 Ivory ($60, Sephora) through my t-zone.

And there you have it: how I save my skin from summer!


For the record, there are plenty of great drugstore products you could use to replace some of the more expensive items in this blogpost. The only reason why my base products are all mid/high-end is because they're the only brands that make stuff in my shade and/or produce a white corrector. If your shade is easier to find in the drugstore, definitely scope out your options!

Cold Weather Hand Care, More Purged Stuff, and a FOTD

I'm never going to be a hand model. My fingers are bowed and knobby, I refuse to push back my cuticles, and I can't be arsed to file my nails in to similar shapes and lengths. But I have--after a year of skipping polish and pampering--decided to start taking care of my hands again. I'm not working at a grocery store anymore, so I can't use the inevitable cuts from sharp containers and broken nails from fast-moving canned goods to justify icky digits. I took good care of my hands when I was a teacher in North Dakota, and gaddammit, I'm gonna take good care of them while I'm teaching in Pennsylvania!

This is going to be a quick-and-dirty overview of my tool kit for soft, supple hands and professional-ish manicures. Bear in mind that I'm  not MASSIVELY in to nails, so all of the fancy tools used for removing cuticles and preventing specific nail problems aren't here. But if you're like me and you just want to get a decent at home manicure that's quick and long-lasting, these are the products for you!

Sunscreen is the first ingredient for better looking hands. Yes, I know, I'm annoying with the sunscreen, but it really DOES make a difference. I find that our hands tend to age faster than the rest of us, probably because we don't think to take extra care of them and because we use them so much. So if I'm going to be outside or near a window for more than 10 minutes, I rub some of my Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion on to my face, neck, and hands. This should stave off hyper-pigmentation and wrinkles.

That initial sunscreen application can only do so much, however, if you're like me and you wash your hands constantly. I'm still looking for an affordable hand cream with SPF that I can keep in my bag; I'll be sure to update you all when I find one!

Speaking of constant hand washing, it's time to sing praises to Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. Oh my God, why haven't I tried this stuff before?! A dab'll do you if you just want a quick touch-up to smooth and sooth dry skin, or you can apply a slightly thicker layer and cover your hands with gloves for an overnight treatment. My hands have never gotten so soft so quickly. And that's saying something, because I'm openly addicted to sitting in front of a miniature space heater for hours on end. As an added bonus, this hand cream is super-cheap--I paid about $4 for my tube--and it helps with ragged cuticles.

Beyond moisturizing my nail beds and keeping my talons filed, I don't do much for my nails in the way of treatments. My nails don't grow super-long and they break easily; I've accepted that. But a product that has definitely made it easier for me to grow them out is Sally Hansen Hard as Nails. This has been my base coat for years! I always make sure to dab a little bit under my nails, too, if they're long enough to warrant it, and it absolutely prevents breakage. Once that dries, I apply one or two coats of whatever polish I want--I'm wearing Deborah Lippmann Naked in the header photograph--and a coat of Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat before the polish has a chance to fully dry. The Seche Vite stinks, and it gets too thick to use after you've gone through half of the bottle, but it dries completely in less than 5 minutes, so I'll never give the stuff up.

In other news, I've purged two more blushes from my collection: the undeniably beautiful Lancome Cosmopolitan Pink and NARS Cactus Flower. As gorgeous as they are, I just don't use them enough. I'm getting vicious!

Last, but not least, here's a FOTD from this past weekend that I almost forgot to upload. I was hanging out with my friends for their Alma Mater's Homecoming celebrations, and I...maybe...kinda...didn't cleanse this off properly at the end of the night? FORGIVE ME!

BASE: MAC Face & Body foundation in N1 + White, MAC Pressed Blot Powder, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx02, Skindinavia setting spray

EYES: Wet n' Wild Fergie primer, Shu Uemura Hard Formula brow pencil in Seal Brown, Benefit They're Real! mascara, Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner in True Black

CHEEKS: Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Moist Glow in Isadore

LIPS: Elizabeth Arden Lip Fix primer, MAC Satin lipstick in Betty Bright [LE]

My Skincare

I've sought out more modest ways to say this, but it turns out there aren't any, so I'm just going to tell it like it is: I have relatively nice, hassle-free skin. I think the relative clarity of my skin kind of balances out my crazy, difficult, lion's mane mop of hair, which is a constant source of frustration for me. Obviously, a lot of this is genetic: my mother, like me, was always combination-dry and pretty much acne-free. The women on her side of the family have always had quite clear, ten-years-younger-looking-than-you-actually-are skin. But I'm like my father in that I am ghost white and somewhat sensitive to certain skincare ingredients, like high levels of alcohol and salicylic acid. Figuring out my "skin genetics" and talking to my parents about what worked (and didn't work) for them really helped me find better ways to care for my own skin.

Another important factor in my skin's health is my diet. A few people have told me that diet doesn't affect skin, but I have to disagree with that based on my studies and my own experiences; the first year of graduate school, when I survived on a diet of absolute shit, wreaked havoc on my face. And as soon as I reverted back to my usual diet, the acne, flaky patches, and overall dull appearance cleared right up. I'm not going to act like I eat a "model's diet" of primarily raw foods and no fats or junk, because that's a complete lie, and I certainly don't think it's necessary for the average person. But I DO eat a lot of fresh veggies, non-fat yogurt, lean meat, and whole grains ,because..that's what I like. Seriously. I've always loved chocolate and I eat it almost every day, but my favorite food is a sweet tomato, and I never cared for most starches, fried foods, or processed products, even as as child. White bread tastes like cardboard to me. I don't get what the big deal is about white potatoes (although I loves me a sweet potato or a yam!). And I rarely drink carbonated beverages like Coke because I just...er, don't like them that much. My biggest "weak spot" is fruit--if I wanted something sweet, I'd eat candy, and if I wanted something substantial, I'd eat a vegetable--so I try to sneak it in and get my 3 servings a day.

For reference's sake, some of my favorite snacks include Fage 0% Greek yogurt with fresh fruit or honey and nuts, Triscuit crackers and goat's milk cheese, raw veggies with dill dip, antipasto bar offerings (like stuffed banana papers or sundried tomatoes), homemade whole grain Egg McMuffins, and Luna bars. As far as liquids go, I have a cup of coffee almost every morning, or a non-fat caramel cappuccino, and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Sometimes I'll make a fruit-and-yogurt smoothie or have some Bolthouse Farms juice. In the summer, I drink an iced chai almost every night; in cooler weather, I have hot cocoa instead.

And of course, chocolate. I fucking LOVE chocolate.

So maintaining a diet that works well for my body and keeping my family's skin history in mind are definitely half of the equation. But I've also done my best to find products that really work for my skin type and address my concerns. And while no one product can work for everybody, I have to say that I've used most of these products for years and stand behind them wholeheartedly.

Before I delve in to the products I use, I should probably list the concerns I'm regularly trying to address:

1. My oddball skintype. I call my skin "combination dry" because the majority of it is the freaking Sahara, with no sebum production whatsoever going on. But regardless of the time of year, my  nose and eyelids are always absolute oil slicks. This means I have to find products that will moisturize the majority of my face without turning those two "hot spots" in to an oily mess. My skin type does change slightly with the climate, and in a Pennsylvania summer, it's more like true-blue combination skin, with a normal-to-oily t-zone and dryness on the cheeks, chin, temples, and jaw. Regardless, I generally treat my skin like dry skin and look for moisturizing products.

2. My legitimate fear of the sun. I mean, c'mon, most companies don't even make a foundation that's a shade darker than me, let alone my actual Casper-white skintone. My MAC Face & Body? It's two parts white to one part color. So it's important to me to find skincare with a high SPF that won't make my face or body break out in teeny tiny reactionary bumps. Which brings me to...

3. Sensitivity. If I find a product that really does the job and doesn't sting my face, cause a rash, or suck any semblance of moisture from my skin, it's a given that I'll keep that product around. If a product DOES cause a problem, I have to sit down and figure out what ingredient might have caused that problem. Some of the ingredients I seem to have trouble with are alcohol, salicylic acid, and tea tree oil, although I can use salicylic acid on my body (below the neck) in small amounts. My face tends to be quite sensitive to physical pressure as well, so I try to use extra-soft brushes and gentle exfoliants.

3. Discoloration, the most obvious being the disconnect between my N5ish body and neck and N15 face. But I also have a lot of redness in my t-zone, the Undereye Circles of Doom, and an odd scar that runs between my nose and lip. If I get a zit, it takes about a month to fade, as the pigmentation tends to linger on my pale skin long after the pustule/cyst is gone.

I'm very stringent about removing my makeup. I've always used something oil-based to completely break down even the longest-wearing products, and the only times I slept in my makeup were the nights I accidentally passed out mid-homework during graduate school. I've been using baby oil as my makeup remover ever since I looked at the label of my Mehron remover and realized the primary ingredient was plain old mineral oil. I soak a Shiseido Facial Cotton in baby oil and sweep it across my face to start breaking down the makeup. Then I hold the cotton over each eye for 30 seconds to remove my waterproof mascara. When my face is good and slick, I massage the oil in to my face for a minute, stimulating the skin and breaking down the makeup even more; this felt super-gross and weird when I first started using oils, but now I love the feeling! Then I wipe a dry Shi cotton all over my face to remove the excess oil (which the makeup is still suspended in) and I hop in to the shower.

That's actually an important part of my every day routine: cleansing with Clean & Clear Daily Pore Cleanser while I'm in the shower at night, and ONLY when I'm in the shower. I find that if I cleanse more than once a day on a very regular basis, I stress out my skin, leading to dryness, flaking, and acne. If my skin is really haggard in the morning, I might splash it with a bit of lukewarm water, but that's it. After my nightly shower, I smooth a thick layer of Avon Nurtura Replenishing Cream over my face and neck. This rich cream is so incredibly moisturizing without being greasy or heavy, but it's also so cheap! I get it for $4 during Avon sales or on Ebay. I've used it for about 4 years now and would absolutely DIE if they discontinued it. I also rub some Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream on my lips to lock in moisture, and sometimes I put it on my eyelashes and cuticles as well. I technically don't wear the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Liquid SPF60 every day, but I do every day that I'm outside for more than 5 minutes, so I consider it an important part of my daily routine.

Roughly twice a week, I exfoliate and use extra moisturizers. The absolute best facial exfoliant I've ever used is the humble konjac sponge, which I order from Chinese eBay sellers. A konjac sponge is essentially a dry piece of vegetable fiber that softens up in water so you can rub it across your skin in super-gentle, circular motions. Sounds weird and gross, I know, but it really works for me (as long as I apply next to no pressure--no need to be rough with your skin, especially if it's sensitive!)! I also exfoliate my lips, primarily before I put on a bright lipstick. I used to use olive oil and brown sugar, which worked great, but was super-messy, so I switched to the travel-friendly ELF Lip Exfoliator. Immediately after I exfoliate my lips and pat them dry, I apply a thick layer of the C.O Bigelow Rose Salve. This rose salve has a much oilier, more emollient feel than the Smith's version. If my face feels a bit dry and tight or looks dull, I use a pump and a half of Elizabeth Arden Let There Be light Radiant Skin Lotion. It works especially well under sheer foundations to amp up my glow! I just wish they hadn't discontinued this product; luckily, I have a back-up in the downstairs fridge. I use the tiniest bit of the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream all around my eyes about once a week for extra smoothness; I don't need it, but it sure feels good. Because it's so damn expensive, though, I tend to stick with sample pots and use them sparingly.

I also have a few choice body products. I just started using the Coppertone Water Babies Pure and Simple SPF 50 sunscreen, but I'm super-impressed with it; it doesn't feel greasy/tacky or break me out the way most high-SPF sunscreens do. After I've applied my Shiseido sunscreen to my face and neck and my Coppertone to the rest of my body, I spritz on a layer of the Banana Boat Quick-Dri Sport Body & Scalp SPF 30 sunscreen, making sure I spray down my hair and scalp as well. It's pretty smelly, but it's one of the few spray-ons that doesn't make my hair crispy and greasy-looking. All of this sunscreen can be a bit heavy on my body, where I'm more prone to acne, so I exfoliate once a week with the St. Ives Apricot Scrub (technically made for the face, but it's far too harsh for anyone's delicate facial skin, IMO) and slather on generous amounts of the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturizing Body Treatment.

Finally, there are my emergency problem-solvers. I don't use these too often, but when I've got a major skincare issue, they're always there for me. If my skin is getting dull and tired-looking from travel, stress, or horomones, I liven it up with the GLAMGLOW Tingling & Exfoliating Mud Mask. It's a stupidly expensive product, and it can be quite harsh on the skin if you aren't careful, but once or twice a month? Man, it makes my face as smooth and glowing as a babydoll's! If I have a zit, I zap it with Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10, which is a 10% benzoyl peroxide cream. It's quite drying, but it helps dry up the zits and calm the redness within a few days, meaning I only have to deal with the pimple's discoloration and not the texture. And while the Haus of Gloi Pumpkin Butter is too heavy and rich for me to rub it on my body every day, it's a life-saver on cracked hands and feet or on winter-time lizard skin, and it was my daily go-to in the colder, dryer North Dakota climate last year.

EDIT: Almost forgot to post a picture of the new skincare goodies that arrived today! :D One of my dear Paula's Choice loving friends sent them to me. Super excited for all of this, especially the mask!

Primers and Day Creams: a Comparison

A makeup artist friend of mine once said, "People with dry skin shouldn't use primers; sandpaper already clings to everything." It's generally true: makeup stays put on my mostly-dry face unless it's on my nose or my eyelids, which are completely oil slicks. But just because a person with dry, normal, or combination skin is content with how long their makeup wears doesn't mean that they don't have other concerns, namely, adding a bit of a youthful glow to their skin and providing it with some sun protection. I thought it might be helpful to focus on primers for non-oily-skinned people and dissect the findings like the anal-retentive mad scientist I am. Ratings are based primarily on how well they work for a dry-skinned person.

BRAND: Elizabeth Arden

PRODUCT: Let There Be Light Radiant Skin Lotion

PRICE & SIZE: $10-20 for 1.7 oz

AVAILABILITY: discontinued, but easy to find on eBay and in TJ Maxx, Marshall's, etc.

SPF: 15
MOISTURIZATION: light
ABOUT: One of my all-time favorite skincare products, I actually keep an extra tube of this--still in the box and plastic--in the downstairs fridge. This product has a faint watermelon scent and smooths beautifully in to my skin without feeling greasy or heavy. The moisture level is light, so it would probably work for normal and combination skin as well. It's shimmery, but rather sort of "opalescent," and gives my skin a faint, natural glow. I use about two pumps of this day cream on my face and neck for no-foundation days, and sometimes I mix a pump with matte or demi-matte foundations for a sheerer, glowier finish. While I absolutely love this product, I have to mention that people with darker skin (N30-ish and up) have mentioned that this product gives them a white cast.
OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 5
RECOMMENDED FOR/AS: under makeup; day cream; foundation mixer; dry, normal, and combination skin; fair to medium skin

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BRAND: Urban Decay

PRODUCT: Complexion Primer Potion, Brightening

PRICE & SIZE: $31 for 1 oz

AVAILABILITY: repackaged formulation available at Urban Decay, Ulta, and Sephora

SPF: 0
MOISTURIZATION:  none

ABOUT: This product is a thin, off-white primer with a good slip that feels somewhat powdery to the touch once it sets. I know that it doesn't sink in to my skin because I can still feel it when I touch my face, but it's not heavy or sticky. It does, however, add a noticeable layer of shine to my skin that will shine through sheer foundation and/or concealer, and it also keeps my face makeup looking freshly-applied for a few extra hours. Because this product doesn't moisturize, I wouldn't recommend it to people with dry skin; any flakiness you have will still shine through. If you've moisturized beforehand or have skin that isn't quite as dry as the sahara, though, you'll be fine.
OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 5
RECOMMENDED FOR/AS: under makeup; normal, combination, and oily skin

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BRAND: Elizabeth Arden

PRODUCT: Eight Hour Cream Intensive Daily Moisturizer for Face

PRICE & SIZE: ???
AVAILABILITY: appears to be discontinued, or only available in sets; can be found in TJ Maxx, Marshall's, etc.

SPF: 15
MOISTURIZATION: light to medium

ABOUT: This cream feels luxurious and rich, but not the slightest bit heavy or greasy, which is a hard combination to come by. I find that it sinks in to my skin after just a few minutes. While moisturizing and silky, this product doesn't provide an actual glow the way Let There Be Light does, which makes it a bit less of an under-makeup wonder product for those of us with dryer skin. It's also a pain in the arse to find--I've only ever seen tiny bottles of it from sets or kits. It mixes down very well, however, which has made it a staple in my collection; I like to mix a dollop of this cream with some Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer to make the perfect tinted moisturizer. It's a worthy day cream for those of us with dryer skin (provided you use something richer at night) or as a night cream for people with normal to oily skin.
OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 5
RECOMMENDED FOR/AS: day cream; foundation mixer; dry, normal, and combination skin

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BRAND: MAC
PRODUCT: Strobe Liquid

PRICE & SIZE: $31 for 1.7 oz

AVAILABILITY: available at MACCosmetics.com
SPF: 0
MOISTURIZATION: light
ABOUT: Strobe Liquid was, unfortunately, a disappointment for me. For starters, I find the waxy Play-Doh scent rather off-putting. I also find that this product is more tease than result: it looks incredibly shiny on my fingers, but it's not even noticeable on my face, and it feels a bit dry and uncomfortable when I apply it. Because it's shiny on my palms, which are more "normal" than oily or dry, I would hazard to guess that this is a better primer for people with oily skin who maybe want a bit of a shine to show through their matte foundation. It's also an ok foundation mixer, especially if you want to make something like MAC Face & Body a bit thinner and ever-so-slightly less matte. I've heard of people using this as a highlighter on their cheekbones, down their nose, etc, but when I tried that, it wasn't even visible. If you're dry-skinned, consider the richer Strobe Cream instead; if your skin is oily, find a highlighter you love and use it at strategic points on your face.
OVERALL RATING: 2out of 5
RECOMMENDED FOR/AS: foundation mixer; normal, combination, and oily skin

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BRAND: Shiseido
PRODUCT: Urban Environment UV Protection Cream for Face/Body

PRICE & SIZE: $30 for 1.8 oz

AVAILABILITY: available at Sephora and Beauty.com

SPF: 35
MOISTURIZATION: very light?
ABOUT: I used the "original" blue-bottle lotion for a full year in undergrad when I went make-up free, so I figured it'd be safe to try this new version in the richer, water-resistant cream formulation. Suffice to say that I've fallen back in love with Shiseido sunscreen! At first, this product is a bit off-putting; it feels "heavy" to the touch and when first applied, and it has a bit of a floral scent. It soaks in after a minute or two, though, leaving my skin feeling ever-so-slightly smoother and allowing my pores to breath. I don't know if this product REALLY moisturizes, but at the very least, it doesn't dry my skin out further, and that's saying something. It also provides a great canvas for makeup. People with normal or oily skin may want to skip this particular formulation for one of the thinner lotions instead, as those will probably soak in faster.
OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 5
RECOMMENDED FOR/AS: sun protection; under makeup; dry and combination skin


 ;

BRAND: Eucerin
PRODUCT: Q-10 Anti-Wrinkle Sensitive Skin Lotion

PRICE & SIZE: $10-15 for 4 oz

AVAILABILITY: available at drugstores or Drugstore.com
SPF: 15
MOISTURIZATION: medium
ABOUT: This product is obviously the cheapest on the list, providing more ounces per dollar and hangin' around on drugstore shelves, but it's also one of the most effective, especially if you have dry skin and are mainly concerned with moisture. This slightly-greasy moisturizer feels a lot like a standard body lotion, but it's incredibly delicate. It's never made my sensitive skin break out in hives, and I've used it on cut-up hands without feeling any pain. It will take a good amount of time to soak in unless your skin is the dryest of the dry, however, and it has a slightly sunscreen scent, which limits its use as a makeup primer. Now that I use sunscreens or glowy moisturizers on an almost daily basis, I use this product as a hand cream instead, especially when I'm heading outside and want some sun protection.
OVERALL RATING: 5 out of 5
RECOMMENDED FOR/AS: sun protection; day cream; dry and normal skin

Swap Haul

I have no idea why people are willing to swap with me. I always take FOREVER to send out my end. I get sick, work sucks my brains out, or--in the case of these past 2 weeks--HR makes a boo-boo and my direct deposit needs some fixin', leaving me with zippo money to send out packages. I'm JUST now sending out 2 packages. People have the patience of saints, I swear.

Regardless of my eccentricities, here are some lovely items I've received over the past 2 weeks from exceptionally sweet MUAers. There's some lovely new nail stuff: Revlon files, OPI toe separators (guess I have no excuse not to paint my toes now), some polishes, a great pair of lashes, mascara samples from Chanel and Anastasia, Urban Decay face and eye primer cards, and an itty bitty Benefit Pore-Fessional primer sample. I also received a lot of surprisingly nice skincare stuff by Clarisonic, Clarins, Burt's Bees, and Aveeno (this little bottle is going in my purse/work cargos!). The full-sized products include several Urban Decay sale items, which were an extra 20% thanks to Friends & Family: the Brightening Complexion Potion, YDK eyeshadow, and Confession lipstick. I also swapped for 2 pencils--Benefit D'Finer D'liner and a Shiseido corrector pencil in the lightest shade--and MakeupForever Uplight highlighter in #22.

Vanity: Becca

Vanity: Lipsticking Vicariously Through Others

Becca, Student/Teacher

I had a babysitter when I was probably 2 or 3 who wore a ton of makeup, very early nineties stuff, and because she looked so different from my mostly au-naturel mom, it was very interesting. She let me play with her brushes, and would (with mom’s permission, of course) slap some lipstick on me; then we would play “ladies.” Mom also got me the little Tinkerbell play makeup. My dresser at my mom’s house still has the pink peel-off nail polish soaked into the wood, and my favorite stuffed bunny has lipstick stains on its mouth 20 years later. And my older sisters got into makeup when I was about 5 or 6, and they thought it was hilarious to put makeup on me and take pictures with me. I got all of their mostly used-up lipsticks and eyeshadows.

I spend a lot of my money for "extras" on beauty products, but price-wise, I’m pretty firmly in the mid-end category. If I could buy all high-end, I’m not sure I would. Sure, I would splurge on some things, but my favorite brow pencil is Clinique, and a lot of my favorite skincare in the past has been drugstore. I am a pasty, pasty lady, so MAC Face & Body foundation is one of my favorite products because it comes in White. It’s also sits well on my dry skin. Bobbi Brown Skin foundation qualifies as well, shade-wise, but I’m not sure why I haven’t bought this yet. My inner Bobbi Brown aversion must be strong. The hunt for the perfect foundation consumes me. Some very evil people have shown me the lovely that is Rouge Bunny Rouge, and that’s gonna be an expensive endeavor. The Shiseido lash curler completely changed my opinion of lash curling. Now I can’t live without it, because it actually fits my eye shape and gives me a good curl. I also appreciate a good metal lash comb (I use Sephora’s) because I hate clumps, and MAC Strada blush, which will be replaced with Illamasqua Primal if I can find it. I contour every day. I’ve used up a couple of things, a foundation and mascaras. The simple reason I don’t hit pan on anything is ADD. I can’t wear the same thing all the time, it would be so boring!

My ideal nighttime skincare routine involves oil cleanser, rinse, toner, two or three serums, eye serum, night cream, and eye cream. (Luckily, I get a lot of stuff gratis; otherwise, I wouldn’t nearly use so much!) My usual nighttime routine is:

1. Put pack of makeup wipes on bedside table.
2. Climb into bed and remember I didn’t take my makeup off.
3. Try to find wipes in the dark.
4. Scrub.
5. Throw makeup wipe towards garbage can.
6. Fall asleep.

I’m ashamed.

 My big problem is collecting. As far as make-up goes, if I get part of a collection/brand/etc, I NEED the rest of it. See: Sleek palettes/blushes, Wet n Wild palettes, Revlon Lip Butters, Clinique Chubby Sticks... I love chasing things down and finally getting what I wanted. Apparently, I played Pokemon at an impressionable age. I also collect books, wine glasses, and jewelry. I begin student teaching in January, so I guess grading papers will become a hobby.

I love history and languages, even though I don’t speak any well. I’m a certified rescue scuba diver and I’m considering becoming an instructor or at least a divemaster. I’ll move to Aruba. I love taking pictures, but I wouldn’t say I’m a photographer. I’m obsessed with my dog!

 This project is greatly indebted to the Top Shelf section of IntoTheGloss.com, which was my inspiration, and to every beautiful person who participates. This article has been slightly modified for clarity and length.

Review: Shiseido Lacquer Rouge in Nocturne

Imagine my unbelievable surprise and joy when a sweet friend from MakeupAlley sent me this gorgeous, still-in-the-box baby (along with an assortment of other goodies)! After my debacle with the YSL Glossy Stains (they almost killed me with their stench), I turned my attention to the new Shiseido Lacquer Rouge liquid lipsticks, which promised to be perfect replacements for the discontinued Chanel Rouge Allure Lacque liquid lipsticks I adored so much. Nocturne, in particular, looked like a good dupe for Chanel Dragon, one of my all-time favorite reds.

While my tube was a gift, these lacquers regularly retail for $25, $7 cheaper than the old Chanel RALs (before taxes). Each sleek black tube contains 6mL of liquid product, and trust me, those 6 mils will go a long way. My only problem with the packaging? They only list the number (RD 607), not the shade name, on the box and tube, which can be a bit trying if you're like me and you suck with numbers.

The applicator is a soft doe-foot that, as you can maybe see, tends to pull out a little too much product. It's not that it gets messy or absolutely globs it on--the bead of lacquer on the end of the doe foot seems perfectly harmless--but again, a little bit goes a long way. I pretty much always wear lipliner with darker lipstick shades, especially if they're a liquid formula, but you do get a decent amount of control over this product with the doefoot. Just do yourself a favor and build slowly: wipe a good bit of it off on the inner rim of the tube before you apply.

The formula is very smooth and creamy, like a thick-but-not-sticky gloss, and it applies opaque without any streaking. I actually didn't exfoliate my lips before I applied this the second time around, and it still went on smooth. It dries to a satin finish. You can feel it a little on your lips; it's not heavy, tacky, greasy, or otherwise unpleasant, but those who prefer a "weightless" lip product will probably want to pass. This product does dry my lips out a bit after 8 hours of wear, but it's nothing too extreme, ie, you won't have leather handbag lips, but you'll definitely want some lip balm.

Here are some photos of the Nocturne lacquer right after I applied it (left) and 4-hours-and-a-cheeseburger-later (right). I was stupid and didn't bring a real camera, necessitating the dirty mirror cellphone picture at my friend's house, but hopefully it gets the point across: this is definitely a long-wearing lip product. It did feather the absolute tiniest amount, ie, the edges were slightly softer than they'd been when I'd first applied the lacquer, and most of the shine was gone, but the majority of the actual color stayed in place. I added a smidge more on top to get back that shine, and it layered just fine without any caking.

Unfortunately, Nocturne does not replace my beloved Dragon. For one thing, the formulas are somewhat different: I can reapply Nocturne without having to worry about it caking up, which is often an issue with Dragon, but I also pretty much never have to reapply Dragon: it stays on my lips like nothing else. The formulas are very similar otherwise--satin finish, slightly drying, long-wearing, opaque, etc.--and the Shiseido lacquers are cheaper to boot. It really comes down to the fact that they aren't color dupes: Nocturne is darker and has a slight berry edge to it, while Dragon is a bright true red. Based on swatches, I'm thinking that Drama might be a closer Dragon dupe.

Regardless, this is a truly beautiful, amazing product. I love how long it wears and how gorgeous it looks on my lips. I also love the price...honestly, if the Chanel RALs were still around, I'd probably pick similar Shiseido Lacquer Rouge shades instead because of the similar quality and range at a lower price. If long-wear lip products are your thing, you definitely need to check these out.

Rating: 5 out of 5

New Shtuff

Swapping with lovely people and raiding drag queens' stashes, these have been my salvation during Operation-Use-It-All! ...ok, so I did buy a FEW things, but 2 of them were disturbingly cheap and the rest is for my sister's beach wedding (which is some time in 2014 now).

I popped in to Sally's for some Ardell 301 lashes and came up empty for the squillionth time (more on that later), and the cashier informed me that the clearance items were an extra 50% off. Never one to pass up a bargain, I raided the bins and found these 2 polishes, both hideously ugly and therefore very likely to please me: Orly Buried Alive and China Glaze Mahogany Magic. I paid $2 total for these lovelies. Still, I was sad that I couldn't find any lashes beyond the uber-full clowny ones...

...but the this happened! A lovely MUAer informed me that she had a ton of lashes she was never going to use, so she sent me all of these lovely beauties. She also offered to give me anything I wanted out of her swap list, and I saw one of the Shiseido lip lacquers I've been lusting after, but insisted that she let me pay her at least a bit of money for it. She acquiesced, then sent a whole bunch of goodies.

HOLY SAMPLES, BATMAN! I've been wanting to try a few of these, namely the MUFE primer and the Kiehl's cleanser, so I'm very excited. I don't know how she knew about my love of dark chocolate and pomegranates, but I'm not going to complain! The only thing that doesn't look like it'll work for me is the Perfekt skin gel, which is clearly too dark for me, but I'm going to abuse my sister's face as soon as I get the chance.

More items from the lovely MUAers package, plus wedding purchases and spoils from recent drag queen stash raids! I don't think the Neutrogena Healthy Skin cream foundation is quite my shade--Classic Ivory 10 is generally more yellow than Natural Ivory 20--but it DEFINITELY wasn't Scarlet Fairweather's shade! I've been curious about high-end face cotton/tissue for a while, especially since the drugstore cotton rounds I tried had a really loathsome texture, and now I think I might be addicted to the infamous Shiseido tissues.

Speaking of Shiseido: THE LACQUER ROUGE IN NOCTURNE!!! Gorgeous berry-red color, and I can already tell it wears like a beast, because the swatch was nigh-on impossible to get off. Plus the Kevy Aucoin face primer (which, yes, is that tiny) and 2 nude-ish lipsticks: Vincent Longo Gel-X lipstick in Neu and Lancome ColorDesign lipstick in Natural Beauty. The Vincent Longo lipstick looks like it's dried up a bit, but I'll try to make it work.

 The beautiful Urban Decay eyeshadows are Free Love and X, which my sister wanted for her wedding.

 Swatches, from left to right: Nocturne, Neu, Natural Beauty, Free Love, X

Vanity: Stella J

Vanity: Lipsticking Vicariously Through Others

Stella J, Carer

I've always been attracted to the transformative and creative aspects of makeup. When I was a child, I found a magazine of my mother's, and it showed how to recreate classic Hollywood looks. I got a bit obsessed with that magazine! I put it in a folder, tried all the looks over and over, and went to school for pretty much a whole year made up like Louise Brooks. I liked the way I could use makeup to take any feeling or mood I was experiencing and put it on the outside for others to see.

 I can spend a long time on makeup, but that's because I find it relaxing and want to enjoy doing it. It balances out, though, because I'm a complete fool when it comes to hair and clothes, and keep those really quick and simple!

Great makeup starts with healthy skin, so most of my holy grail products are skincare. In particular, I love Nufountain Vitamin C Lightening Serum, which worked wonders on taming my roasacea and breakouts; I also use Mandom Barrier Repair Serum for easing dryness and being soothing. I also use SPF50 daily.  I really enjoy my skincare. The second I get through the door, I head to the bathroom to take my makeup off. I oil cleanse with baby oil to remove my makeup, follow with Avene cleanser, put on the vitamin c serum and moisturizer, make a cup of tea, have a nap. Naps are an essential part of a beauty routine, in my opinion!

Makeup-wise, I'm a huge fan of Shiseido eyeshadow--the texture is just completely unique and the colour combinations are playful yet stylish. I'm totally addicted to eyeshadow! Basically, I want every colour I might ever need to create any look I can imagine.  Makeup really is art to me, and colour is the basic unit of creativity. I'm constantly on the hunt for the perfect deep, dark, vampy blood red, too. My favourite foundation is MAC Face and Body. It looks like perfect skin, not perfect foundation, and I can't be without it. (I've made it through an entire bottle!) In my teen years, I went though a couple of tubes of Boots No. 7 Plum Beautiful lipstick, and I've bought, used, and replaced many tubes of Max Factor Masterpiece Max mascara. I've never finished a blush, and frankly, I don't believe anyone else ever has either, despite what they claim...

As I try more products, I'm harder to please. Honestly, most of my favourite things are high end, but I have drugstore favourites, too. Catrice eyeshadows are some of my most-used products because they have such great colours and textures. I don't feel guilty about spending on high end, though. Why should I? I deserve occasional treats!

My personal philosophy is pretty simple: face first, always. Makeup needs to work for the individual face it's on--one size does NOT fit all--and the face should be what you notice first, not the makeup. I don't like flashy for the sake of flashy. Something can be both dramatic or interesting AND flattering. I love colour and unusual combinations, but I try to make them wearable. I love history and am fascinated by historical makeup. I have a particular love for the 20s and 30s, for the moody, dark glamour of that age, and I collect jewellery from that era, too. The natural world is a constant inspiration, too; I've done makeup looks based on everything from fruit and flowers to gemstones and storm clouds. Nature never gets the colour combinations wrong, so I try to take my lead from her.

I could read till my eyes fall out, and I've usually got dozens of books on the go at a time (I'm convinced my Kindle will bankrupt me). And I have a not-so-secret love of ugly and weird animals. Cute animals are well-represented, so I collect pics of the stupid and odd-looking ones. They need love, too!

This project is greatly indebted to the Top Shelf section of IntoTheGloss.com, which was my inspiration, and to every beautiful person who participates. This article has been slightly modified for clarity and length.