love it/hate it: glossier

as far as instagrammable companies go- glossier is definitley at the top of the list. everything from their easy breezy beautiful staff "models" to the perfectly pale pink packaging and cutesy feel good messaging, is just waiting to grace your feed and help anyone achieve cool girl status. any self respecting hills fan should remember emily, the preppy dark haired new york teen vogue intern brought in to show up lauren during some party for the magazine- love the battle of east coast vs. west coast. fast forward to present day and that same emily is the writer behind the popular beauty blog, into the gloss, and the skin care/cosmetic company in question, glossier.

the second I saw the packaging, I knew it was only a matter of time before I would be placing my own order (sucha sucker for packaging). the original claim to fame was boy brow, a product that was supposed to give you brooke shields worthy brows without all the fuss and muss, and was on backorder for basically ever (hate when companies do that). when I saw that it was back in-stock, into the cart it went (in the shade brown) along with the priming moisturizer. 

the packaging of everything was just as amazing as I anticipated it being; pale pink everything, a bubble wrap pouch (I love a good pouch!), stickers to decorate your products/phone/whatever (what kind of person doesn't love stickers...), and the most perfectly perfect moto "skin first. makeup second. smile always." too, too cute.

boy brow was the one I couldn't wait to get my hands on. all the videos on the site show the models using boy brow as their only brow product to achieve amazing whipspy natural brows, and I tried it that way my first go around and wasn't wowed by the results. it's definitely a good brow product, keeping my thick and unruly brows in place (a feat in and of itself) and since it's tinted, it added a little somethin' somethin' to some thinner areas. but, if you're looking to fill in spare areas where hair just won't grow, or use a product to build up your arch or create a tail- you'll definitley need to pull in a powder/pomade/pencil to get the job done. I've had the product for a couple months, using it daily, and have noticed that it's already starting to change in consistency; either getting to the end of the tube or it's already drying up- bummer since it's definitely not drugstore pricing, but not make or break.

I've blogged about my issues with moisturizers in the past (check it out here!), but decided to give this one a try. since the basis of the company is skin care I thought that it would be basic enough for my super sensitive skin (fragrance/paraben free and derm approved), doesn't contain sunscreen (leaves me with super cute bumps all along my hairline), and has a thinner texture (something that I prefer in my everyday moisturizer). the first time I tried it I was still living in los angeles and it was just too much for the warm climate. I could feel the product sitting on my face, and caused a couple blemishes after a few days of use. I had a feeling that once I was back in the colder new england air, it would be a great part of my skincare routine. it's been two weeks and it seems like I was right.

still looking to try the balm dot com (deciding between the original or rose & cherry flavors), the milky jelly cleanser (love a milky cleanser during the winter), the mega greens galaxy pack mask (after I finish up some glam glow masks that are still kicking), and the soothing face mist (evian is my go-to, but I love trying new mists)- so safe to say we're in love it territory. 

have you tried anything from the glossier line? what are some of your brand favs that I shouldn't miss?

xx, marissa

ps. haven't pulled the trigger on an order? here's 20% off your first order ♡

makeup madness- sephora VIB sale

as an official card carrying member of sephora's VIB program I finally get to take part in the fun that is their annual shopping event (i.e. 20% off of items that are never on sale!) I've been poking around the interweb, and the super snazzy holiday catalogue that arrived in my mailbox, for the past few days and have narrowed my must haves down from just about everything to a select few. now for those of us that are more forward thinking/less selfish, this would be a great time to start your holiday shopping (starting early and getting things on sale = win, win) and pick up some pretty things for your makeup obsessed bestie, you newbie little sister, or your 'never indulges herself' mom.

the holiday sets are always my go-tos this time of the year. they offer you opportunities to try a bunch of different products a single line (like this option) or a variety of products from a mix of different brands (like this one). last year I opted to try the Tarte holiday gift set and was turned on to an amazing eyeshadow formulation (with an entire pallet of everyday to smoky colors to choose from), and test out a few of their other best selling products that had been on my list. this year the Too Faced Le Grand Palais definitely caught my attention (with its mix of products for eyes/cheek/face and minis of its most popular mascara, primer, and lipgloss) and the Le Grand Chateu would make a great gift for a few girlfriends since the mini pallets can be split up and shared! the packaging is seriously the cutest- tie on a pretty bow and you're good to go (I'm picking this up for my younger cousins and splitting the three pallets out amongst them!) if you're more in the market for a set that will let you sample a little bit of this and a little bit of that from a bunch of sephora heavy hitters, the Sephora Favorites Superstars is the MVP. every year they compile the best selling products throughout the store to offer a mix of full size and deluxe sample sizes to try out. it hits every note- from mascara to primer, and contour to highlight, from many of your favorite brands (like nars, tarte, smashbox, benefit, and laura mercier), in shades that you actually want to try. we see you monthly subscription companies and "gift sets" that are dumping grounds for all the colors that were flops- no one wants a bunch of those, kthanks. sephora offers a gift set for every type of beauty junkie; slave to skincare, eyeliner officianado, mascara fiend, lip product lover, or hair goddess. do you self a favor and take a peek at the sets from sephora- check, check, check on that shopping list.

there are also those products that you find yourself always repurchasing- the perfect liquid eyeliner (I'll be picking up a backup of my holy grail since I know I'll be needing a new one eventually), your go-to foundation (either in the color you're currently wearing or shade/two down to prepare for the coming months and impending paleness), a rollerball of your signature scent (I try and keep this one from Elizabeth and James always in my purse), or the first step for any look (primers for face, lips or eyes- I'll be picking up this one from Too Faced to try). these are the products that you know you'll be buying in the new future, pick them up now for 20% off and it will be like shopping your stash when you finally need them.

the VIB sale is also a great time to invest in the more expensive beauty products you use/have been meaning to try- quality skin care (I'll be picking up the moisturizer from my like it, love it, gotta have it post about sensitive skin moisturizers), fragrance (you know you'll be going through a perfume within the year. use this as the time to stock up on your signature scent, or explore and try something new. layering scents is always fun, or picking a special occasion/nighttime scent), or beauty tools (beauty blenders, clarisonic/brush heads, or new brushes) and save some pretty pennies.

have you ever shopped the VIB sale? what's on your list for beauty goodies this year?

xx, marissa

like it, love it, gotta have it: moisturizer for sensitive skin

being surrounded by so much plastic surgery for that last 10 months has made me really want to up my skin care game- so many people who haven't taken care of their skin, get work done and end up looking like creepy plastic versions of everyone else. with my super sensitive skin, I always need to try new products before making an investment (and quality skin care is always $$$). sephora and their sample policy make it super easy. when I popped in a few weeks ago I grabbed a few cult favorites to see what worked best.

like hate it: first aid beauty ultra repair lotion. I wanted to like this product, I really did. I had heard so many great things about the first aid beauty brand, but this product is the worst. right off the bat I was super unimpressed with the liquidy consistency, it spilled out of the sample container and made a big ol' mess. usually products that are that thin and runny don't stick around on the skin too long, and you end up feeling like you haven't even moisturized. but, I was willing to put my consistency issues aside if it proved to be a good product. spoiler alert- it did not. after using this for two days, I was left with tons of tiny little pumps and breakouts all over my forehead and along my hairline. not cute. it's been almost three weeks and I'm still combating those breakouts (more on the product that's been clearing up my skin later). this product may be a cult favorite, but for those of us #blessed with sensitive skin- beware.

love it: fresh lotus youth preserve face cream with super 7 complex. this moisturizer is an all around good product. good for you ingredients, leaves the skin feeling moisturized but not weighed dow, and from a quality company that I love supporting. it has a fresh (har har!) scent, very cucumber/spa like, that didn't irritate my skin. it claims to have seven super charged ingredients that leave the skin radiant and plump- which I think definitely added some luminosity to my skin. if I hadn't tried the next product, this would have been the moisturizer that I added to my skin care routine. but this is a battle of the best, and another product was just better.

gotta have it: evercalm global protection day cream. this was the first I tried of the bunch, and I wish that I had ended with it. it left my skin moisturized, without being overly greasy, but also didn't break me out or leave dry patches in any areas. the consistency was perfect for making sure that moisture stuck around for a little while and didn't just soak up into the skin from being too thin and liquidy. it worked great under my makeup (but note- I don't wear any foundation or liquid skin products so this may not be true if you do) and didn't make my bronzer or blush look patchy. it's been unbecomingly  muggy & super hot in LA lately, and it didn't make my skin goopy (which as a sometimes sweaty girl happens with a lot of moisturizers). it was scented with a citrus fragrance, that initially made me nervous (fragrance is usually a big no-no with sensitive skin), but didn't end up being a bad thing. the scent was actually refreshing first thing in the morning. a huge bonus for this moisturizer over any other that I tried (or have tried in the past) is the global protection aspect. living in LA (with its amazing air quality) has made me realize just how important protecting your skin from air pollution is, and this product is specifically formulated to do just that. this is the moisturizer being added to my beauty arsenal (and thanks to hitting the next level of Beauty Insider at sephora), I'll be taking it home soon & for 10% off. win, win.

are you lucky enough to have super sensitive skin too? what's your all time favorite moisturizer for keeping your skin soft & glowing without adding breakouts? 

xx, marissa

love it/hate it: simple cleansing facial wipes

as a gal with sensitive skin, I love when companies put out products specially formulated to be super gentle (let alone a whole line!). I was so pumped when simple skin care first came over from the UK. I dove right in, experimenting with their cleansers and moisturizers- but it was the facial wipes that had me the most excited. every other brand that I tried (even the versions supposedly made for sensitive skin) would either sting my eyes, make my skin burn and itch, or leave a sticky feeling behind. now- having to rinse off after using a wipe isn't a total black mark against a product, but it definitely makes those late nights that much easier when I don't have to schlep all the way to the bathroom after using one (you know that struggle). so I gave these wipes the old college try and not only did they give me all of those problems, but they also caused me to break out along my forehead after just a couple uses. they work fine at taking of my non-waterproof mascara and eyeshadow, but on my waterproof eyeliner they were hopeless. and while that may make sense, since they are a line created to be sensitive to the skin, they werent even gentle on my skin. the wipes are scented, which I have no issues with scented products (as long as the fragrance doesn't break me out), but usually with sensitive skin products scent is one of the first ingredients left out.

do these wipes work for some people? absolutely. they are a beauty product that has quite the following of loyal fans, and if you're somebody who has tough skin that doesn't easily breakout or flare up, you may be one of them. I love the ease of a makeup wipe, super convenient to keep in your bedside drawer or makeup bag for easy touch ups and the laziest nighttime routine ever (hey, we all have those nights. no judgment.), but I've found a product that's just as easily + better for you ingredients + better formula + without all the issues (expect that blog post soon!).

what's your take on the simple cleansing facial wipes? have you tried any other products from the simple skincare line? 

xoxo, marissa