Hello again! I hope during the holidays (whichever one or ones you celebrated) you were able to spend time with the people you care about and wish to start the new year with. I had an amazing Christmas and New Year's, and both days were filled with laughter and spending quality time with my family and friends. But on another note, I want to share with you all my favorite (and not so favorite) purchases I used/bought during the winter and how I'd rate them.
Skincare Products
In a previous blog post, I shared my top 10 skincare products. I still use the No 7 cleansing balm for my face, but I wanted to try some new lotions, lip balms, and shaving creams to see if there's more than I can do to reduce dryness overall.
- Burt's Bees Lip Balm: Medicated and Ultra Conditioning
4/5: I like the Ultra Conditioning lip balm better than the Medicated one because it doesn't have the strong smell. However, I use the Medicated one more because my lips get really dry in this type of weather. I prefer the Nivea lip balm products over the Burt's Bees ones, though. They'll always be my go-to lip balm.
- LUSH: Charity Pot
5/5: I was looking for a product to relieve my hand irritation that occurs right before my period. The week before my period, my hands (and skin in general) get really dry, flaky, and have an eczema flare up. Although this didn't get rid of my eczema (I use Cortisone 10 and Aveeno Eczema Therapy for that), I definitely calmed down the inflammation and burning sensation on my hands. 10/10 would recommend. I also bought the smaller version of Charity Pot just so I could test it out.
- LUSH: Ambrosia Shaving Cream
4/5: I was a little skeptical when I bought this product because it wasn't the typical shaving cream you'd find in Walgreen's or any other drug store. Apparently, this shaving cream has Jojoba oil, which helps soothe your skin as you apply the cream on and shave. I was happy to find out I didn't break out after I used it on my upper lip, armpits, and bikini area. However, I felt that I needed to over-apply the product for the more hairy areas of my body. So it's safe to say I'm glad I bought the large version of this product.
- Nivea: In-shower Body Lotion (for very dry skin)
5/5: This is honestly life-changing. I always apply the in-shower body lotion when I take my showers at night, and I rarely need to re-apply regular lotion in the morning unless I know it's going to be very cold outside, which will result in even drier skin. All you do is use your regular body wash or soap in the shower, rise off, apply the in-shower body lotion to your body (except for the bottoms of your feet so you don't slip), and then rinse off and dry off! It's very simple and it'll keep you moisturized throughout the day/night.
- Mario Badescu: Facial Spray with aloe, cucumber and green tea
4.9/5: I'm giving this one a 4.9 out of 5 because I just think the rose facial spray smells better. However, after meeting with a skin expert at ULTA, I discovered using the cucumber/green tea spray and the lavender/chamomile spray is much better for your skin if you suffer from dry and flaky skin like I do.
- MUGLER: Angel Eau de Parfum Mini
5/5: I've been eyeing this perfume for OVER A YEAR. I finally mustered up the guts to buy the small, to-go version, which is $29 at ULTA and Sephora.
Makeup Products
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick: Vamp
4.5/5: The color is beautiful; this stays on all day; it's easy to reapply if need be; use a lip liner before applying because it does bleed.
- IT Cosmetics: CC+ Cream Illumination SPF 50+ (in Rich/Deep Tan)
1/5: I'm almost 100% positive there was glitter or some other kind of shiny ingredient in the CC cream. I was NOT a fan of that. Also, it looked too dewy on my skin. Although I suffer from dry, sensitive skin, I didn't want to have the "dewy" look. I prefer my Maybelline BB cream.
- Real Techniques: Blend + Blur Contour Brush
2/5: I still don't know how to use this brush properly. I thought you just apply the product and blend, but the brush doesn't seem to be very good at blending. I might have to try a different concealer or spraying my brush with some water to help it blend better.
Hair Products (for natural hair)
If you recall, I created a natural hair care guide, including what products I use to take care of my 4c, natural hair. I think these can definitely be added to the list!
- Carol's Daughter: Hair Milk (styling butter)
5/5: I tried the purple products in this line, and the only one I truly liked was the combing creme. However, I use the hair milk when I'm about to style my hair or partner it with my heat protector when I blow dry my hair, and the product is so thick and moisturizing. It's definitely my go-to.
- SEXY HAIR: Prep Me Heat Protection Blow Dry Primer
5/5: The price point is a little high, but this absolutely does the job. Even though I'm natural, it moisturizes my hair and protects my strands from heat damage when I blow dry my hair. The next product I mention is a more affordable version of this one and doesn't just have to be used as a heat protectant.
- OGX: Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Extra Strength Penetrating Oil (for dry, course hair)
4.5/5: This does an amazing job as a heat protector when I'm blow drying my hair. It also puts moisture back into my hair if my ends are feeling a little dry. My only issue is that it's pretty messy. Definitely keep a hand towel nearby.
- LUSH: Queen Bee Hair Honey
5/5: IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THAT HOLY GRAIL, STAPLE PRODUCT, THIS IS THE ONE DANIEL SON. I cannot get enough of this product. The price point varies, depending on how much of this product you buy from LUSH, but it truly does give my hair the shine it needs. It also moisturizes my hair and makes it smell amazing.
Tech Stuff
- PopSocket
5/5: Taking selfies has become so much easier with a PopSocket! Also, when I read on my phone on the train, I'm able to rest my hand a lot easier. It does take some getting used to, though. But, if you're looking for a cute PopSocket, check out Target and Best Buy.
-ZAGG: Privacy Screen Protector
5/5: I've been wanting one of these for a couple of months now. So, I decided to just bite the bullet and buy one from Best Buy. The best thing about this screen protector is that you don't have to worry about wandering eyes looking on your phone while you're cramped on the train. I don't need to worry about people looking on my Instagram feed or spying on my FaceBook (because let's face it, sometimes we can get a little nosy). If you want to keep prying eyes (like nosy parents or kids) away from your screen, definitely look into buying one. Also, don't forget that Best Buy does price matching for Amazon. So if you see a privacy screen protector in Best Buy that is also on Amazon that is shipped AND sold by them, you can buy it for the lower price from Best Buy!
-Beats: Solo3 Wireless
5/5: My old Beats kind of broke, and they also weren't wireless. I was looking into getting the Turf Green or Rose Gold Beats, but after much too much thinking and hesitation, I ended up purchasing the gloss black Beats. Regardless of the color, the sound is amazing, and I love the fact that I don't have to worry about a cord. I purchased these from Best Buy, but price-matched from Amazon and got them for under $200.
-Apple Watch Series 3
5/5: This was definitely an impulse purchase. However, I do love the fact that I can text, receive calls, and do Apple Pay all without having to look at my phone. I also intend on using it when I go to the gym so that I can listen to my music without having to have my phone around.
-NOOK GlowLight 3
5/5: And last but not least: my NOOK. This was originally what I truly wanted for Christmas--an e-reader that is ONLY and e-reader, and not a tablet with internet and apps. I should have added that I wanted to read 2 books per month to my resolutions list, but I didn't even think about it. But, because I take the train to and from work everyday, I figure that can be prime reading time. Plus, you can adjust the brightness and even switch to night mode, like you can on an iPhone.
P.S.: Currently, I'm reading Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. 10/10 would recommend! Follow me on GoodReads to see what other books I plan on reading this year.
I hope this blog post was helpful to you! If you'd like to know the next time I upload some content, subscribe to the e-mail list by going to my homepage!
With Love,
The Wrighter