beauty – marginalia and such

video: in which I unbox makeup newness

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#projectuseitup: quarantine empties 3

Quarantine empties, part 3! or, what I used up between July and September

EltaMD UV Physical SPF 41 – This used to be my favorite physical sunscreen, until I noticed that it started to dry out my skin. I came back to it this year when I was struggling to find a non-makeup based spf for daily wear… that may have been a mistake. The dryness returned and I think this may be one of the culprits behind my eye dryness/sensitivity. Will not repurchase.

Thayer’s Witch Hazel, Rose Petal – A travel size from last year’s Whole Foods beauty bag. My favorite is the cucumber, but the rose is ok. I dislike rose scents in general, but I dislike waste more, so I poured this in a spray bottle and used it like a face mist. I have one more to use up (from this year’s bag and hope they replace it with a different scent in future bags).

Andalou Naturals, Meyer Lemon C Creamy Cleanser – Not my favorite, but not the worst. I won’t repurchase, but it met the need for a cream cleanser when I couldn’t find my ACURE cleanser.

LaRoche-Posay, Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser – I really liked this but couldn’t find a replacement when I ran out, so I’m going back to the CeraVe hydrating cleanser, which is similar but not as soothing IMO.

Dr. Bronner’s Almond Pure-Castile Soap – an old standard. I use this to make a foaming hand wash and as a travel all-over wash (when travel was a thing that actually happened).

Vitafusion Melatonin gummies – Basically can’t sleep without these. They’re the only type of melatonin that does not leave me groggy the next morning.

Farmacy Cheer Up brightening eye cream – I picked this up soon after it released and the texture was lovely, but it does NOT like the Florida heat because it went from mousse to weird gloopy gel long before the 6 month use by date. Also, 6 months is too short for such a large jar. They need to find better packaging to stop this product from going off so quickly.

Bath & Body Works, Vanilla Coconut & Fashionably Latte antibacterial gel – When covid was starting to become a real thing, I took a last minute, random trip to BBW and stocked up right before they ran out. When antibacterial disappeared from all stores, I still had a nice stock of these.

Andalou Naturals, CannaCell Happy Day Cream – My favorite day cream. Tried it as a sample and bought the full size because it worked so well on my skin. Not too oily and just a little dewy.

Arnica Montana 200ck tabs – do these work? is it a placebo? I don’t know, but it’s worth a shot when all else fails.

Twinkle * Apothecary Orange Blossom perfume – One of Twinkle’s monthly scents, a perfect blend of orange blossom and vanilla that gives me nostalgic, Cuban baby perfume vibes.

2 random pens!!!! – always a success 🙂

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Summer makeup declutter

I haven’t worn makeup more than 2 or 3 times since March 17th. March 16th was the last day I went to the office, and I probably didn’t wear makeup then, but let’s call it the 17th. Regardless, quarantine has taught me that I really don’t need any of this stuff for the foreseeable future, if at all. Part of me was tempted to toss everything or only keep a hand-full of products, but I know myself—I’ll end up repurchasing the shades I tossed as soon as I get bored, so I kept a decent amount of variety.

A lot of my beauty products are “natural” or small-batch, which means expiry dates are short (6-12 months on average). The first round of cuts included everything that had started to turn/smell/separate/or looked wrong – which meant all my sapphos, fitglow, and two of my twinkle * apothecary lip to cheeks. The rest are products I: a) don’t use, b) was forcing myself to empty for the sense of accomplishment (I’m over it), or c) don’t work for my skin or skin tone.

The result is a curated collection of lip products in my preferred shades/brands, and a small batch of cheek and eye options. Not pictured is my small collection of palettes (and by small, I mean 3 palettes and 1 on the way because how could I resist the Colourpop Sailor Moon?) and a couple of basic shades that are part of my WFH rotation when I need a lift.

I’m satisfied for now.

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#projectuseitup: quarantine empties, pt. 2

Not going out is definitely having a positive effect on the number of things going out vs. coming in.

What I used up in June and July.

ACURE seriously soothing cleansing cream: hands down, my favorite cream cleanser my evening cleanse. It leaves my skin soft and smooth, and is a constant repurchase.
Rainbow Light Women’s Multivitamin: Rainbow Light is my favorite multivitamin brand. I used to take their Once Daily, iron-free blend but something about the formulation changed and started to make me nauseous. The Women’s Multi is a capsule and easy to swallow. It also includes several of the herbs and supplements I take for PCOS/hormone balance, so I don’t need to take a handful of pills.
Solgar B Complex 50: I’m a flexitarian and take B vitamins when I lean more heavily in a plant-based diet. I’ve since switched to a spray-based b12 (when needed) because I get my Bs in the multi.
Rosehip oil (blue bottle): Just a generic rosehip oil that I use as part of my nighttime skincare routine. Rosehip brightens my skin (it has vitamin C) and offers light moisture.
Adagio teas, Alexander Hamilton tea blend: Not a Hamilton thing, just a random sample I received with an order :). It was an unexpected treat; just the right amount of light coconut flavor in a mild green tea blend.
Candle minis – Currently Reading by Novelly Yours, Old Books and Reading at the Cafe by Frostbeard: I’m systematically working my way through the candles I purchased in the last year. Novelly Yours was part of a self-care book box and smelled like a sweet coffee latte, while Old Books is an old favorite that smells like fresh grass (to me, at least) and Reading smells like a thick chocolate drink (better for winter, but I only had a little sliver left).

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#projectuseitup: quarantine empties

In which I continue to use up my stash…

Eden’s Garden, Fighting Five Synergy Blend essential oil

I don’t believe essential oils have the power prevent disease, but there is something to be said for their healing properties… I’ve used this essential oil for sinus infections and colds, and have found it helpful in opening up my nasal passages and clearing things up. Will it clear the air of contagion? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I’m willing to try it.

Eden’s Garden is a non-MLM essential oil brand and their prices are just right for my budget.

Have since repurchased in the larger size (but not the largest, because I’m not made of money).

Humble brand natural deodorant, Palo Santo, Frankincense & Vanilla scent

In my quest for the best natural deodorant, I came across this. It’s not perfect, but the scent is nice and woodsy. I would consider repurchasing, but need to get through the rest of my stash.

ACURE, Ultra Hydrating Green Juice Cleanser (sample)

ACURE is a regular part of my empties. I like their products and find them reasonably priced (for the eco-beauty sphere). This one did the job, but it’s not as hydrating as the Seriously Soothing or Anti-aging cleansers that I regularly use.

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makeup capsule: week of 2.24.20

A bit late, but I’ve been migrain-ing and all non-essentials have fallen to the wayside… As a result, I’m going for a light and fresh look with minimal effort.

This week I’ll be using:

Twinkle * Apothecary the Stain on lips – this is a versatile product and probably my favorite blush of the last few months, but it’s also a beautiful, light lip stain
Twinkle * Apothecary petal on lips and cheeks – for the monochrome, 1-product days
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream – I think I have 1 more use out of this, maybe 2.
Sappho New Paradigm CC Cream in light – Starting on this as soon as the Juice Beauty becomes an empty. This looks dark at first, but blends to a skin-perfecting finish. It’s also about to turn, so I hope I can make it an empty before it does.
Wet N’ Wild Retractable Brow Pencil – for ze brows (per usual)
Rituel de Fille lipstick in Fortune Teller – in case I need a power lip
Sappho mascara – possibly my fave eco beauty mascara
Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance – I’ve been craving the berry lid look
Smith’s Rosebud salve – a constant
Twinkle * Apothecary scent in Bad B*tch – reminds me of my dad’s perfume. A warm, masculine scent that lasts for hours.

I post #motd stories on my capsule closet insta @emilia____grace

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makeup capsule: week of 2.10.20

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Still no eye shadow this week… I might be brave and try some eyeliner, but perhaps not.

This week I’ll be using:

Twinkle * Apothecary the Stain on cheeks – still loving it and it’s just the right amount of blush without looking madeup
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream – almost an empty!!!! maybe 1 more week left…
RMS uncoverup 22 – for concealing
Wet N’ Wild Retractable Brow Pencil – for ze brows (per usual)
Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick in Love – this is a pure red to replace a recent empty (really, a declutter) – note, this takes a REALLY long time to set
Rituel de Fille lipstick in Fortune Teller – a dark, deep plummy red that I need to start using (another recent acquisition)
Kuumba Made Egyptian Musk fragrance oil
Smith’s Rosebud salve – a classic

I post #motd stories on my capsule closet insta @emilia____grace

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makeup capsule: week of 2.2.20

This week I’ll be using:

Twinkle * Apothecary the Stain on cheeks – this is a perfect flush
Twinkle * Apothecary bronzing balm – to highlight my cheekbones (also works as a blush for me)
RMS uncoverup 22 – for concealing
Wet N’ Wild Retractable Brow Pencil – for ze brows
Kosås lipstick in Royal – a plummy rose shade
Twinkle * Apothecary Mulholland perfume – a lovely flower-based scent that dries down to a powdery jasmine

A streamlined #makeupcapsule this week. Why? Because my eyes were nearly shut on Saturday morning and I think I finally found the culprit behind the eye dermatitis I had last year….

dun dun dun

ELF MAKEUP BRUSHES!

Yep. Brushes, not shadows. For nearly 9 months, I stopped using eye shadow (hence, my failed #projectpan), thinking I was allergic to an ingredient in the shadows.

A few months ago, I picked up some new brands and bought some Morphe brushes. This time, no dermatitis. I thought it was over, all healed.

Not so.

On Friday, I switched to one of my old elf brushes (one I hadn’t touched in months) and BAM swollen eyelids and what looked like contact dermatitis up to my brow bone. I’m a delicate flower and allergic to sooo many things. I suspect a fiber in the synthetic bristles is the culprit, so I’m putting these in quarantine, but I’m pretty sure I have my answer.