Best of 2022 Favorites

Hey folksickles. I feel like this list will be shorter than years past as I stuck to mainly the same products and things in 2022 especially so, there's that. But alas here are the products and things I very much enjoyed and would repurchase. I will say that I don't have photos of the products here because I've used up many of them and thrown them away but... there's always Google and in the instance that I've reviewed a product, the product name will be clickable and you can take a gander at the review.

1. e.l.f. Cosmetics Total Face Sponge: This sponge is just absolutely fantastic! It gets enormous when wet (compared to when dry), is super squishy, and bouncy. My absolute favorite thing about this sponge though is that it isn't very absorbent so it blends out your complexion products perfectly without sucking much of them up into itself. This ensures that you get a fuller coverage, need less complexion product, and makes the sponge itself super quick and easy to wash. My only complaint about these is that because they're this deep maroon berry shade they end up leeching a lot of colorant when they're washed; I wish they weren't dyed or were dyed with something that didn't leech.

2. Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base: I've been testing out my moisturizers to see if there's any that are no longer fresh or that I don't like because I've got a whole bunch in my collection - I use each for a week unless it smells super off before deciding that I want to do with it. Well, the week I was using this I would look forward to my nighttime routine (I use this at night, despite it doubling as a primer, because I use a moisturizer with SPF during the day) so that I can slather this on my skin. This feels luxurious in that it has a rich texture to it, but it absorbs nicely and isn't too thick. You don't need a lot of product at all and honestly, I think it might just be worth splurging on every once in a blue because I'm enjoying it so much! That being said, who knows if I'll ever actually buy this because, like I said, I've got a whole bunch of moisturizer. :P

3. UGG Ansley Moccasins: Ok so I don't really talk about fashion at all on this blog but I just HAD TO mention this because I am so blown away by them. Now, I wasn't the biggest moccasin wearer and in fact I didn't wear them at all but one of my friends got a pair of these fuzzy moccasins in 2019 and said they were super comfy which had me wanting a pair. I mean I got my first pair of proper UGG boots (the Bailey Bow, if you're curious) in 2019 and I absolutely LOVE them, they're super cozy and warm but the slip-on, slip-off aspect of the moccasins got me curious. So when I saw that these were on sale I decided to go for it. Well, these are BEYOND my expectations. I wore them out in 30 degree (F) weather and with bare feet and they kept my feet warm and feel like sticking your feet into cuddly warm clouds, it's just wonderful. That being said, I like to wear nylons with them when the temperature falls below 35(F) just to protect my skin against the elements. They are perfect to throw on for shopping or driving or just generally when you want comfort and can't be bothered with boots (alas they're not rain or snow-friendly, I haven't really worn them in either condition but I wouldn't try it).

4. ColourPop Sol Pressed Powder Palette: I think in terms of its color scheme, this palette is the perfect transitional situation to take you from summer into fall. With that being said, I feel like I've established long ago that I don't really think about seasons much when testing or using my palettes. I've been playing with this again and just absolutely enjoying the process! The shadows are all so beautifully pigmented, blend beautifully together, and create a versatile array of looks. I'm sad that they've discontinued the palette because it's just so great!

5. ColourPop Ooh La La! Pressed Powder Palette: I have been playing around with this palette this month and it has honestly been such a fun time. I really have to thank my bestie for picking this palette out for me because I never would have picked it up on my own at the time. I thought bright pinks would make me look sickly but they're actually super fun and flattering.

6. ORLY Kiss The Bride Nail Lacquer: I feel like my nails just look so elegant with this on. It's definitely a nice whispery pastel pink that pretty much goes with everything. 

7. wet n wild photo focus Dewy Foundation: I have been really loving this foundation. Firstly the shade match is really great for me, it has a beautiful finish to it where it's a medium to full coverage product but still looks like glowing, healthy, skin and it wears well despite the heat and humidity. I do set it with powder, which probably helps it stay put but since I powder all my foundations, I'm still impressed that something dewy holds up so well through this heat. It also doesn't make my skin feel oilier or slide around when it's humid out which other hydrating/dewy products tend to do on me. I'm very impressed with it. 

8. Kim Chi Chic Puff Puff Pass Powder in Translucent: Speaking of setting powders, this is the one I've been using and I really like this because it's super finely milled and silky. It really helps to set makeup, it keeps my under-eyes from creasing but it doesn't like dry, overly powdery, or cakey. 

9. Trader Joe's Watermelon Facial Mist: You folks might remember how much I loved this when I purchased it last year so when I saw it again at Trader Joe's I just had to have it! This smells nice and gives the skin a wonderful, refreshing boost of hydration. For a $4 mist it is worth every penny!

10. NYX Ombre Blush in Soft Flush: I've been playing with the blushes in my collection to see how they wear and how I like them and I just adore this blush so much! It's well-pigmented, gives a pretty flush to my skin that's flattering and looks really nice.

11. ColourPop Lilac You A Lot Pressed Powder Palette: I've been playing with this palette this month and it's been an absolute pleasure. Purples can be so hard to formulate and get right, they're often poorly pigmented or apply kind of splotchy but this palette is an absolute joy to use. Each and every shade is buttery, pigmented, and blends beautifully with the rest. I loved every single look I did with this - it compliments my eye and hair color so nicely. If you are someone that likes purples I would definitely suggest giving this a try.  

And now, a show I really loved. I feel like I watched so much trash anime last year that I can't say anything other than this moved me enough to recommend that others watch it:

12. My Dress-Up Darling: It has been ages, since I've brought up a show that I really enjoyed here and this is a show I really loved watching! Granted, it's quite pervy and loaded with fanservice but I personally think that it works in the context of what's happening and isn't awkwardly inserted for shock factor (or at least, it's done better than other animes have done it). It's a great, genuinely funny rom-com with what I think is a really fun plot and loaded with really sweet moments. 

13.Somali and the Forest Spirit: This has been on favorites back in 2020 and I re-watched it earlier this year. Honestly I'm so in love with the story and adventure in this anime. I love many of the characters so much. That being said, I find it both healing and heartbreaking to watch. The world this story takes place in is beautiful, a lot of the characters are fun and friendly but a lot of them are also prejudiced and ultimately it's curious to see if they ever find peace. In addition, it's heartbreaking because the manga had to be put to a close due to the author's poor health and, while from what I've seen, it seems that the author wants to continue to work on the manga when they make a recovery, it remains uncertain and weather or not the anime will ever get a second (or subsequent) season. I'm not saying that as a oh they should work in it type of sentiment, I'm merely saying that it is generally sad and I hope that, whether or not they continue on Somali, that the author does recover.

Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Disclaimer: I paid for all these items with the exception of the Bobbi Brown and Kim Chi Chic products which were provided free for testing purposes. 

December 2022 Departures

Ok folksickles. Departure blogs will contain items that aren't empties but that are going to be given away for one reason or another. I'm working hard to curate my makeup collection and want it to include only the products that I think truly work well, that I reach for often and do what they're supposed to do.

1. Hourglass Ambient Metallic Strobe Lighting Palette: While this palette is beautiful, I feel like I have highlighters that I prefer and would reach for more often so I've decided to pass it along to someone who can appreciate it better than I can.

2. wet n wild Megaglo Botanic Dream Highlighting Powder: I don't feel like this highlight shows up well on my skin-tone in the sense that it's subtle and would look nicer on someone with a deeper skin-tone.

3. wet n wild Megaglo Royal Calyx Highlighting Powder: I felt the same way about this highlight as the one above in the sense that I think it would show up better on someone with a deeper skin-tone.

4. Sephora Collection Midnight magic Face and body glitter pot: I feel like I never had much luck in this highlight ever showing up anything but patchy; unfortunately using it wet ended up with it causing my makeup to streak so I figured I'd just pass it along because I cannot get it to work for me.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: The only thing I purchased in the list above is the Sephora Collection item; the Hourglass item was provided for testing purposes and the wet n wild highlighters were gifts from a friend.

December 2022 Arrivals

Ok folksickles! Look at me for a change, pretty much only buying essentials but also a few fun things to play with.

1. ColourPop Mini Haul: I needed to get some skincare items and decided I'd try the ColourPop ones and pick up these two palettes that caught my attention while I was at it:

Clay It Cool Palette

Not a Box of Chocolates Palette

Night Dew Hydrating Mask

Bloom Service rose cleansing balm

Double Shift Cleanser

2. Juvia's Place I Am Magic Concealer in J21 x2: Since I really like this concealer I decided to pick it up on Black Friday since it was 50% off. Juvia's often has sales especially on their palettes but I hardly ever see the concealer being on sale.

3. YesStyle Mini Haul: I've been running low on some skincare and decided to hop on and replenish on things I've been needing:

COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence

PURITO PLAINET SQUALANE OIL 100

COSRX Aloe Sun Soothing Cream SPF 50 PA+++

SKINFOOD Buckwheat Loose Power in Clear

SKINFOOD Peach Cotton Multi Finish Powder

4. Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Haul: My friend Donna is always going on and on about how incredible these palettes are and since they were 50% off and I managed to score an additional 20% off my total order I decided to just go for it. I got the following:

Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 2

Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 3

Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 5

Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 6

4. OPALHOUSE Scented Soy Candle in Sparkling Yuzu: My friend Jolty got me this as a holiday present and it smells delicious, the scent reminds me a bit of the Trader Joe's Mango Tangerine Scented Candle. I'm excited to burn this!

Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Disclaimer: I purchased everything listed above with the exception of the OPALHOUSE candle.

December 2022 Favorites

Hey folksickles,

Alright, all the goodies I've been enjoying in December :) 

1. ColourPop Lilac You A Lot Pressed Powder Palette: I've been playing with this palette this month and it's been an absolute pleasure. Purples can be so hard to formulate and get right, they're often poorly pigmented or apply kind of splotchy but this palette is an absolute joy to use. Each and every shade is buttery, pigmented, and blends beautifully with the rest. I loved every single look I did with this - it compliments my eye and hair color so nicely. If you are someone that likes purples I would definitely suggest giving this a try.  

2. Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base: I love how hydrating this moisturizer is - earlier in the month I got sick and my nose was running so bad I had to keep rubbing it with tissues which caused my nose, the parts of my cheeks by my nose, and my upper lip to be rubbed raw - my skin was peeling disgustingly and I was in pain. This moisturizer felt both soothing to apply and returned my skin to being soft and silky within a few days. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I paid for the products mentioned above myself with the exception of the Bobbi Brown item.

December 2022 Empties

 All my monthly trash on display for you to see. :P

1. Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Lotion: I adore the scent of this but honestly I prefer this in the actual body butter formula as I didn't find the lotion hydrating enough. It did ok for my legs but it's definitely not enough hydration for my feet.  

2. Suave Professionals rose oil infusion Volumizing Conditioner: I felt that this conditioner left my hair very soft and silky while having a nice rose scent to it. 

3. Maya Chia The Happy Hour The Highlight of the Day: I decided that since I wasn't really using this as a highlighter at the time being and I ran out of my facial oil that I'd use this to replace said facial oil. Unfortunately all I can say about this product is that, if you manage to get your hands on one of these highlighters, you really don't want to let it sit for a while. The pigment completely separated from the oil and would not recombine even when I'd shake the bottle. The dropper also got clogged and while I did unclog it with a pin, it seemed to no longer want to pick up product. I ran through the oil very quickly as it doesn't seem that there was much in the bottle to begin with. Like I said, unless you purchase this and use it all right away I would suggest picking up a different Maya Chia oil, as I have raved about them in the past. Alas, this isn't my favorite.

4. COSRX The Vitamin C 23: While this serum felt refreshing to apply because it had to be kept in the fridge, I didn't find that it did anything worth writing home about for my skin. I really didn't like its scent either. 

5. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub: This is a really yummy scented sugar scrub. It's a coarse grain sugar, which I personally enjoy because I find it invigorating. I like to use these scrubs to prep and smooth out my skin for shaving.

6. AOA studio A+ Glam 3D Premium Faux Mink lashes in Dallas: These are a pretty fluttery, wispy lash but I found that they had some trouble sticking to the inner corner of my eye. Additionally, they kind of lost their shape as I wore them.

7. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Shampoo: This shampoo has that beloved Bum Bum Cream scent to it that I just adore. It lingers in the hair and makes my hair smell so good! I also find that this is a very hydrating shampoo formulation - it leaves my hair feeling soft and silky. 

8. Freeman Detoxifying charcoal + black sugar Mud Mask: I like that this is a mud mask that doesn't feel super tight as it dries. I can't say it works amazing for clearing away my sebaceous filament but it makes my skin feel deep-cleansed yet soft and smooth when I use it.

9. wet n wild Rose Addiction Photo Focus 3-in-1 Primer Water: Every time I use this up I'm sad because I really love the way it sets face makeup. I wish they sold these in jumbo bottles that were like 8 oz .of product or something because 1.52 oz. of liquid is nowhere near enough.

10. pixi by Petra skintreats Rose Cream Cleanser:  Frankly I'm so glad to have used this up because while it left my skin soft, it doesn't really foam up and I am not a fan of its texture or scent. 

11. Fourth Ray Beauty Super Fine pore refinining Mask: This mask was nice in the sense that it left my skin feeling really silky smooth after I used it. That said, I don't find that it helped my sebaceous filaments in any way. 

12. TONYMOLY Intense Care Gold 24K Snail Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA++++: I liked this sunscreen in the sense of it being nicely hydrating without needing the use of additional moisturizer. That being said, it's a bit heavier in texture than what I prefer and I just don't love its scent.

13. innisfree youth-enriched gel cream with orchid: I am sad to be out of this moisturizer because it just worked so beautifully. The only spot that this didn't hydrate fully is my little eczema zone that I frequently complain about. Even so, this did a good job of giving it hydration compared to other products. I love how this is both lightweight and refreshing to apply yet it is deeply hydrating. This leaves my skin feeling plump and soft. 

14. Soap & Glory Heel Genius Hydrating Foot Cream: Honestly I absolutely love this stuff for two reasons. The first is that I often complain that body hydrators don't do enough for the soles of my feet whereas this left my feet feeling very soft and hydrated. I'm on my feet a lot and am prone to callus growth; these calluses make my feet uncomfortable because they get dry and stiff, thereby limiting the natural flexibility of my skin where they grow and giving it this weird numbness that I cannot stand - which is why I often complain that body hydrators aren't doing enough - if I'm lucky they'll hydrate the surface of the sole but do nothing for the callus issue - this hydrated deeply enough for even that callused skin to retain its sensation and flexibility. I'm assuming that is partially due to the AHAs this contains along with its hydrating ingredients. That being said, the second reason I love this is because it's not too heavy, greasy, or irritating to have applied to my legs post-shave - my legs and feet are essentially the only parts I put body hydrators on because usually I use hydrating body washes and those are sufficient for the rest of my body (eczema-prone areas excluded, I use special eczema lotions for those) so to find a product that works beautifully for both is like finding some sort of holy grail. The only issue I have with the product is it's a bit pricey for me to keep replacing - it lasted me about 3 weeks. 

15. AOA Studio A+ Glam 3D Premium Faux Mink Lashes in Jeju: These lashes are really pretty but have a habit of wanting to pop off at the inner corners.

16. berkley jensen scented baby wipes in Refreshing Green Tea & Cucumber: I love these wipes largely because, at 500 to a pack, they don't run quickly. As I've mentioned I like to wipe down surfaces with these and use them to remove swatches on my hands.

17. e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm: Overall I really liked the smell of this and how it removed a vast majority of my makeup but I wish it did a better job at breaking down lash glue residue. It did alright but I felt that all the rubbing I did ended up irritating my eyes. 

18. Dr Teal's Shea Sugar Scrub in Cannabis Sativa Hemp Seed Oil: This is a coarse grain sugar, which I personally enjoy because I find it invigorating. I like to use these scrubs to prep and smooth out my skin for shaving. I really like its fresh, earthy, green scent - it kind of smells like a forest with a bit of a sugar note. Thankfully it doesn't smell like the kind of weed that people smoke because that scent makes me nauseous. 

19. REN Perfect Canvas Skin Finishing Serum: I used this serum primarily as a primer versus a skincare item - I really liked the boost of hydration it gave my skin and how it made my skin look really smooth under my foundation. 

20. AOA studio Perfect Setting Powder in Brightening: Honestly, I really wanted to like these powders because they're inexpensive but unfortunately they crease under my eyes and I feel like the emphasize texture on my skin.

21. Crown Brushes: The following are all brushes I like to replace on a yearly basis just because they get used so often that they fray heavily and end up changing in shape - for whatever reason more so than my other brushes. My brow brush is a bit broken as well:

Crown Pro C511

Crown Pro C510

Crown Brush C158 Angled Liner/Spoolie

22. Dove restoring coconut & cocoa butters body wash: On the one hand, I really love this body wash because it makes my skin super soft and silky when I shave. That being said, it's thick and leaves quite a nasty residue around the tub.

23. Fourth Ray Beauty Grand Reveal resurfacing overnight mask: I feel like I really liked this mask at first but overall, I find that it aggravates my eczema and is dehydrating to my skin. I personally prefer sleeping masks that add a boost of hydration to my nighttime routine so I will not be getting this again.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the above with the exception of the Maya Chia, REN, and Freeman products. 

Oil Review: PURITO PLAINET SQUALANE OIL 100

PURITO PLAINET SQUALANE 100

Availability: This is available at iherb.com, stylevana.com, yesstyle.com, puritoen.com, and amazon.com. It retails around $11.50 - $14 for 1.01 oz. (30 mL). 

Would I buy this again? Yes.

What is this product? What is it supposed to do?

According to puritoen.com:

Derived 100% from sugarcane, a lightweight, multi-purpose squalane oil rapidly penetrates the skin to instantly hydrate and lock in moisture. This replenishing facial oil works to boost elasticity, nourish, soothe, and smooth out dehydration lines. PLAINET SQUALANE OIL helps promote cell turnover and lessens the appearance of fine lines. This plant-based vegan oil improves skin health by soothing redness and skin irratation. 

Does this contain any special/beneficial ingredients?

Squalane: Squalane has anti-inflammatory properties, is lightweight, and helps smooth the texture of skin. 

What is the texture like?

This has a bit of an oily feel to it when first applied, but it absorbs readily and quickly into the skin. 

Is this scented?

This has no discernable scent to it.

What has my experience with the product been like?

I'm sure many of you readers know, if you've read my blog for any length of time, of my deep love for squalane oil. While I am a bit of a loyalist to the , I decided that since I was ordering things on yesstyle.com I might as well see if there is a squalane that is available on the Korean market. Is one better than the other? Frankly, no. That being said, both myself and my skin (I say because it got all rough and flakey) were both upset when my squalane oil ran out and I am glad to have one to use. For anyone that needs a recap, I personally love squalane because, when I use it regularly, my skin is far less red and I constantly suffer with skin-irratation related redness because, due to my PCOS, I shave my face. Additionally, squalane oil makes my skin feel silky smooth unlike anything else. So due to both the buttery skin texture and the reduction in both irratation and redness, I love my squalane. 

 

Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Disclaimer: I paid for this myself.

Love It Or Leave It; Review 2.0: ColourPop Lilac You A Lot Pressed Powder Palette

Hello folksickles. As a makeup junkie and blogger you may have realized that I review a LOAD of eyeshadow palettes and I like to think of myself as being largely an eyeshadow junkie. In order to de-clutter a bit  I've decided to pick out a palette or series of eyeshadows for the month and have that be my monthly selection for those instances where I'm not doing a tutorial for the blog. Every month I'll do a recap on the eyeshadows - how I feel about them and whether I'll be keeping them or giving them away (and why :P) as well as if I think it's worth its price tag. 

ColourPop Lilac You A Lot Pressed Powder Palette

You can find a look I did with the palette here. These are the looks I created this month:

So as you can see I created some smoky, some bright, purple looks. I really love the quality of this palette - the color payoff is excellent, the shadows are beautiful, and they blend well. I absolutely adore the selection of purples in this palette  in both metallic and matte finishes which enables one to create quite the variety of looks. Many of these shades also work beautifully as blushes and highlighters on the face as well. I honestly love its versatility and I love the way the shades in here look with my brown eyes so I will definitely be holding onto this palette.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: I purchased this palette myself.