January Beauty Buys

As you know, we love to talk about products around here. And in response to our 2017 Survey, 89% of  you requested more beauty and wellness reviews, tutorials and videos, which made me excited because it is genuinely one of my favorite topics as well. With that being said, this year, I am kicking off my newest series, Monthly Beauty Buys, where I highlight my recent purchases, both beauty and wellness, and share a mini review.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Real and genuine feedback. If you are a long time follower, this doesn’t come as a surprise to you, but anything (beauty or not) that goes up on this site or social media has been tried, tested and 100% approved by me or Austin (for men’s products). But hey, we’ll also let you guys know if we tried it and didn’t love it. Point being, we aren’t trying to fake it. What’s the point?
• Beauty Buys series will feature only items I purchased myself. And just as a reminder, anything gifted on TTD is written as “c/o” and any sponsored content is disclosed in the post. Sponsored or not, we always give honest reviews, but for this series, I wanted a chance to have full creative freedom while casually sharing my latest finds.
• All beauty products have been tested for at least two weeks. This gives me a chance to really use the product, see how it works and feels on my skin. And yes, some products don’t give you full results until a month or so in and if that’s the case, we’ll be sure to give it more time.
• We want to hear from you! Our goal with TTD has always been to create a community of modern women where we can share our experiences, feel comfortable asking each other for advice and offer tips or recommendations. We love when we can get insight or advice from you. In fact, the lipsticks in this post were an idea from Melanie, a reader who emailed us requesting a feature on hydrating long-wear lipsticks. It was a great idea in response to the post, 4 Steps to Get Soft and Plump Lips, from last week.

That’s about it! Let’s dive into January Beauty Buys. xx AR

BECCA AQUA LUMINOUS CONCEALER IN ‘PORCELAIN ‘

Like a lot of you, I am always on the hunt for a good concealer. I’ve tried many in my day, but I found the Becca Luminous Concealer to be really nice for both under eye and for hiding blemishes. It has tiny reflectors to give you a (very) subtle glow. I went with the lightest shade because I prefer a brighter under eye and this gives that “awake” look I hoped for. This is similar to the Bare Minerals Stroke of Light but in my opinion, offers more coverage. I haven’t experienced creasing and find that it blends out really nicely. Especially with my new makeup sponge (more on that below). I am new to Becca Cosmetics so I would love to hear about your must-haves from this line. 

REAL TECHNIQUES MIRACLE COMPLEXION SPONGE

Ok, before we start, I have to share that I was a total skeptic on anything that claimed to be “like” a beautyblender. I love my beautyblender and swore it was the best makeup sponge on the market. That was until Brooke and Meggan told me about the Real Techniques Sponge. The orange sponge is a fraction of the price and works, dare I say, better than the beautyblender. This is the real deal guys. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. 

TONYMOLY EGG PORE BLACKHEAD STEAM BALM

You might have seen my IG story on this a few weeks ago and as promised, I am here to report back. So my first impression was that it did not heat up like I expected. It claims to warm up on your skin and open your pores (which it did) however, the heat did not last very long. A reader told me she uses this right before she hops in the shower. She said the steam really helps open up her pores and helps the mask work even better. I tried that and loved that tip. I use this on my nose 2-3 times a week before bed. Maybe this is TMI, but I have noticed a significant difference in blackheads and the size of my pores after two weeks of use. I also tried it with this face steamer and noticed similar results. I am going to be reviewing this steamer next month! 

ANINE BING SAVAGE ROSE PERFUME OIL

This is such a soft and feminine scent—I love it! If you like florals and a hint of spice, this would be right up your alley. I have a feeling this is going to be my ideal fragrance this spring and summer. The rollerball makes it convenient to throw in my purse makeup bag and use it on the go. 

NARS KOHLINER EYELINER IN ‘MINORQUE’

This was a spontaneous buy when I realized I left my eyeliner at home on a trip—don’t you love that? However, this worked out for the better. This velvet-like eyeliner is amazing. I have always struggled to find waterproof eyeliner for my waterline, and this is the only thing I have found to work for me. It’s no wonder they have a hard time keeping this on the shelves. 

HYDRATING LIPSTICKS (L-R)

HOURGLASS PANORAMIC LONG WEAR LIP PENCIL IN ‘CANVAS’ 

I mentioned this in yesterday’s instagram story—this isn’t cheap. But it really does last for several hours without drying out your lips. This color is nice because you can line slightly outside your lips and it doesn’t look too obvious (Bigger lips? Sign me up). I also use this all over my lips before adding my lipstick. This is key to keeping my lipstick on all day. In my experience it hasn’t caused any feathering, but my mom is going to give it a try and see how it holds up for her. 

HOURGLASS “CREATOR” 

This is a more sheer option, but it still gives a great color. It has a subtle sheen, but does’t leave your lips feeling sticky. I highly recommend if you love a traditional lipstick. 

HOURGLASS “I’VE KISSED” 

I talked about this yesterday, but I really like the refillable concept with these lipsticks. They are easy to switch out and have so many different colors to add to your collection. I also have “No One Knows”. The High Intensity Lipstick is full coverage and will give you a long wearing satin finish. 

CHARLOTTE TILBURY ‘HOT LIPS’ LIPSTICK IN ‘LIV IT UP’

The perfect peachy-pink! This looks great with the Hourglass Lipliner in Canvas. It’s like they were made for each other. 

YSL TATOUAGE COUTURE LIQUID MATTE LIP STAIN IN ‘7 NU INTERDIT’

If you’re looking for a pigmented liquid lipstick, this is for you! This matte lip stain is one of the more hydrating ones I’ve tried and it feels like you don’t have anything on your lips. I forget I am even wearing lipstick when I have this on! I purchased this in a nude/pink color and it has quickly become my everyday shade. 

PRODUCT DETAILS:

Real Techniques Sponge | YSL Liquid Matte Lip Stain in ‘7 Nu Interdit’ | Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in ‘Liv It Up’ | Hourglass Lip Pencil in ‘Canvas’ , “I’ve Kissed” and “Creator”| TONYMOLY Egg Pore Blackhead Balm | Anine Bing Perfume | TRUFFLE Jet Set Case c/o (similar here) | Gold Thumb Ring | Becca Luminous Concealer  | NARS Eyeliner | CND Shellac Nail Polish in ‘Romantique’