After doing 12 months worth of “Beauty Obsession” posts, I realized that in almost every post, I had come across a product or two that fell a little short. This month I decided to change the title of my monthly beauty posts to “Beauty Reviews” since it felt more apropos. So, here are the beauty products I tested and reviewed for October: (click “Continue Reading” button below to read the product reviews)
- SKIN: Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser – $19.50: If you have read any of my previous Beauty Reviews, you may have noticed that I really like a cleanser that does double duty by exfoliating at the same time. It’s also hard to find a good high-end 2-in-1 exfoliating cleanser that is more reasonably price. This one meets all my requirements! I definitely recommend trying it out if clearer, smoother skin is your thing.
- SKIN: Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream – $26.50: I got a mini version of this eye cream as a Sephora Beauty Insider point award. It feels hydrating but there was nothing visibly that I would say makes this a game changer. While it did win an Allure Best of Beauty Award this year, maybe there are more noticeable positive effects with long-term use. I only used it over the course of a week and determined it would not be something I would actually purchase. I like a heavy duty eye cream that I can feel working its magic.
- SKIN: Clinique Pep-Start Hydroblur Moisturizer – $29.50: I was so glad that this product was included in the Clinique set I selected with my Beauty Insider points. It is such a great double-duty moisturizer especially for oily skin and those with larger pores. While it adds a nice level of moisture, it helps to mattify and smooth out pores giving your skin a nice blurred, almost photoshopped, effect. The only negative to me was that it does not have any SPF in it so I still need to add a layer of SPF over the product. If Clinique decided to add some UV protection to this fab moisturizer, it would be the ultimate all-in-one!
- SKIN: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque – $35: I had purchased this new mask from Kiehl’s after I had some stubborn dry patches on my skin that were lingering. I was actually thankful for my dry skin bout because it had brought this newbie into my life. Wow! My skin feels so hydrated and glowing in the morning. I am so hooked that I have been using it every night since I got it, long after it had healed my dry patches. Being able to throw one product on after you wash your face at the end of a long day is always welcomed and this product has showed up! For those with dry skin or those just looking for great overnight hydration, buy it!!
- SKIN: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye – $37: I decided to review a few eye creams this month because I felt like my eye area needed a little more loving care. I liked this eye cream more than the Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream but I don’t think I have used it long enough to reap all of the benefits its claims to offer like redness reduction, improved microcirculation, dark under-eye circle reduction. However, I did notice it moisturized well and slightly reduced puffiness. As of now, I would rate it 3.5 out of 5 but I will be giving this one a little more time before I determine if I will buy it again.
- SKIN: Lancôme Hydra Zen Anti-Stress Moisturizing Overnight Serum-in-Mask – $59: My dry patch bout had me testing multiple new hydrating overnight masks like this one. It feels gentle and soothing to skin and has a calming scent. It did address the dryness of my skin but I think I would have to say I prefer the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask I reviewed above to this one. I will use this one up once my Kiehl’s runs out but when it’s time restock, this one won’t be on the shopping list. Don’t get me wrong… it is a good mask but it wouldn’t be my #1 choice in the hydrating mask category.
- SKIN: Volition Helix AM/PM Eye Gel – $52: You can ignore the other 2 eye creams I reviewed this month and skip straight to this one! I absolutely love the clear gel formulation that feels so hydrating and also serves as a great makeup primer for your eyes. This new brand won me over with this product alone… so much so that I ended up ordering their whole line of products! I will be reviewing those in my November post. It looks like it is currently sold out on Sephora.com but simply enter your email on the product link above to be alerted when they restock. This one is worth the wait!
- MAKEUP: Lancôme Matte Shaker High Pigment Liquid Lipstick in “Completely Nut!” – $22: I came across some of these color swatches on Instagram recently and thought I’d maybe found an exciting newcomer to the matte liquid lipstick game. I was wrong. This formulation needs some work in my opinion. It does not dry completely matte and therefore, ends up more like a wet matte that is far from transfer-proof and long-lasting. This beigey nude color was pretty but the lackluster formulation, which is more on the thin side, lost my vote.
- MAKEUP: Kevyn Aucoin The Exotique Diamond Eye Gloss in “Cosmic” – $38: I have always loved the look of wet glossy eyelids! I have tried other eye glosses in the past and after 1 use they ended up in the back of my makeup drawer. This beautiful holographic color was noticeably less sticky than other brands I’ve tried. I did give it a few tries with different application methods but each time I found that by the end of the day, I was still getting some creasing. Before I rule out trying this again, I’m planning on looking up some YouTube how-to vids to see if I can get any pointers on the ideal application method. I think it would be fun to use while on a beach vacay with a more bare-faced look since it seems to get a little finicky around any eyeliner. I really want to love this but I’d say that it does take some level of skill to use. My wet model/rocker look may have a little more learning to go.
- SKIN: Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask – $52: I had this mask in my “mask drawer” and decided to dust it off once my skin was in need of some added hydration and while I awaited the arrival of the new masks I ordered this month. It helped me remember why I had this one in my beauty arsenal in the first place. Soothing, refreshing and moisturizing! My skin felt fresher and more hydrated by morning. It’s also great to bring with you on a sunny vacation to help soothe any redness or other irritation.
