In Rotation: Greek yogurt cleanser, Hourglass evil eye palette, and Armani foundation
Spoiler: one has joined my ever-expanding return pile.
As a self-proclaimed skincare and beauty junkie (and self-admitted shopaholic — admitting is the first step), I have a lofty list of products. They’ve been divided into a few categories, but for the purposes of sharing with the class, we’ll focus on the two main fixtures: the Permanent Collection (more to come here), i.e. products I’ll purchase again and again and again; and the new to me products, fondly known from here on out as In Rotation. These aren’t necessarily new releases, but products I’m either trying for the first time or auditioning for a permanent spot on the shelf. Space is limited, so the competition is stiff.
This is as good a time as any to start — we’re a month past my Super Bowl, aka the bi-annual Sephora sale. $6 off a $26 lip oil? Spectacular, give me 14 of them right now. In all seriousness, I made every effort this year to limit myself mostly to restocks of my faves and only a few new Permanent Collection hopefuls. Below, a full list of this November’s Sephora sale purchases (Dad, scroll past this and certainly don’t tally up the total, which keep in mind, is -20%):
Restocks (but not necessarily Permanent Collection…yet):
ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr Jumbo On 'Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray
Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
MERIT The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick
MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Color Pencil Extreme Waterproof Lip Liner 606 Wherever Walnut
ILIA Mini Limitless Lash Lengthening Mascara After Midnight
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze® Gel Clear
**BONUS: not sold at Sephora anymore, but purchased on sale nonetheless — Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser
Newbies, some of which are In Rotation:
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation
ILIA True Skin Medium Coverage Serum Foundation *returned
Hourglass Vanish Foundation Brush
Saie Mini Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Highlighter in Sunglow *returned
MERIT Flush Balm Cream Blush in Apres
Sarah Creal The Ultra-Soft Concealer and Complexion Brush
ILIA Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil in Only You *returned
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Cherry
Rare Beauty Mini Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Happy *returned
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Hydrating & Soothing Jelly Sheet Mask (currently not avail on Sephora, but you can grab directly from Glow Recipe)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Palette
Hourglass Mini Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light
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Okay even I can admit that this list is hefty. And I can probably (definitely) move some of my In Rotations to the Graveyard (returns). I’ll revisit the list in its entirety, but for now I’ll speak to three items heavy In Rotation:
Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser
My skin over the years has been through a lot (I’m a broken record, but again…we will revisit this). During a particularly dry patch (pun not intended), and possibly inspired by my parents’ recent 3-week sojourn through Greece (where’s my sabbatical?), I found myself reaching for this oldie but goodie. Credit where credit is due:
introduced me to this years ago (and by introduced me to, I mean I would lather in it every time I slept over before having my own nyc apartment, which was frequent <3). While she and I have different skin ailments, we are both hypervigilant about hydration. And just like when I picked it up in 2017 (?!) from her shower, it doesn’t miss. I am notoriously polyamorous with my cleansers — I truly believe they serve very different functions, and each day our skin has different needs depending on a multitude of factors, including but not limited to: weather, cycle, alcohol/dairy intake, and so on.This one just feels good. It’s soothing, it’s hydrating, it manages to take off any residual makeup (of course after a thorough initial oil cleanse, more to come), and it allows me for just 30 seconds to imagine I’m on a boat off the coast of a Greek island, rather than the island of Manhattan. For this reason, it will likely be moving from In Rotation to Permanent Collection.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Palette
This is a purchase I’ve considered over the years (yes, I can practice restraint…). I couldn’t fathom spending almost $100 — although, with the sale, it came down to $70ish (stop justifying, Sam) — but when I put it into perspective, 6x pans that typically retail at $29 each, for $72 (to be exact) total, is basically free. Girl math.
I’d put a lot of thought into it, and after missing out on the Hourglass foundation brush (HIGHLY recommend) during last year’s sale, I decided to give this palette a shot. I went with the Evil Eye edition — perhaps still inspired by that Greece trip (seriously, someone take me on vacation), but also because it was the medium of three options. The palettes are intended to “diffuse, enhance, and illuminate your complexion.” As noted, it comes with 6x pans: -1x Ambient Lighting Finishing Powder in Soft Light (pale peach); 1x Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder in Rose Gold Strobe Light (soft rose gold); 3x Ambient Lighting Blushes in Pink Fusion (cool pink), Oasis Glow (shimmering, warm apricot), and Vibrant Coral (true coral); and finally, 1x Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Natural Bronze (matte, medium bronze).
I’m not going to lie; upon first application, I wasn’t impressed. But after a few uses, I’ve figured out how to make the palette work for me. The finishing powder is stunning; it’s not a setting powder, but not a highlight. It delivers on providing that “lit from within” (hate that phrase, but it applies here) glow. The bronzer is another favorite. It’s cool toned, it’s not too pigmented, and it’s easy to brush without precision and still provide a clean, glowy, bronzed look. The blushes I’m still working through; I typically don’t gravitate towards coral, and in the dead of winter it’s not delivering on the berry tones I’m currently reaching for. But I think these will be perfect the second I get a little UV (don’t make me say it again…).
I don’t anticipate running through this palette quickly, so it will stay firmly In Rotation for the foreseeable future. Ask me in two years if it becomes worthy of a coveted repurchase/Permanent Collection spot.
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation
I swear I’m not just being contrarian (although rebel without a cause is certainly something I used to identify with). But hot take incoming: this foundation is just okay. I’ve given it a fair shot; I’ve worn it a handful of times, I selected the right color with the help of an Armani rep in store…but it just doesn’t deliver on what I’m looking for in a foundation. That isn’t to say it doesn’t look beautiful on others; but when you have hyperpigmentation and consistent breakouts, even with the help of ol reliable Nars Soft Matte Concealer, this won’t cut it for me. Truly I have never heard anyone dislike this foundation, so it might just not work with my skin specifically. But at this $69 price point, I expect to look like an airbrushed newborn. Suffice to say, it’s joining the returns pile.
So, we’re ending on a bad note for Armani, but a good note for my wallet. See, Dad! I can manage my purchases!
More soon. xx
Now that’s an OG tried and true - like you - the Korres cleanser never misses! Loved this round up ❤️
Plz post video of you putting on the makeup. A tutorial would be great