I told myself at the beginning of the year that I wasn’t allowed to buy any new beauty products and broke my own rule almost as soon as I made it. I swear that someday I’m going to become a facialist or own a beauty boutique but until then, I continue to experiment on myself. Since my skincare routine that I already wrote about is working, I didn’t want to change it up so I just added a few new products for the face and even one for my hair.

Since I can’t afford a facial with celebrity skin guru Joanna Vargas, I jumped at the chance to buy her products to see if they would give me the same glow. Seems I wasn’t the only one. Many products were originally sold out so I’ve had to purchase them piecemeal as they become available.

I absolutely love the Joanna Vargas Exfoliating Mask. It’s liquidy in the jar and I’ve spilled it on more than one occasion but it sticks when you apply it to your face.  You should gently massage it since it’s very gritty and then leave it on for five minutes. You’ll need to remove it with a wash cloth but afterward, your face will really glow.  If I have time, I’ll use it in the morning before my shower but I also love it at night before a sheet mask.

I’ve also just started using the Vitamin C Face Wash and Daily Serum which seems very hydrating. The Sheet Masks seem a bit expensive though at $75 for five.

I actually forgot to mention this Shani Darden Resurface Retinol Reform in my skincare post.  I don’t love retinols because they can be very drying and irritating. This one is very mild but should be used one day a week to start. Then you can add another day each week. It’s another celebrity favorite.

Speaking of celebrities, I saw Drew Barrymore recommend these JAYJUN Baby Pure Shining Facial Mask Sheets. At under $20 for a box of 10, they are a great deal for a wonderful product. Since they are in Korean, I can tell you that you first apply the essence, then the sheet mask, and finally the eye cream. They are really saturated with product and a little hard to unfold but well worth the effort. You can apply the extra liquid from the package to your décolletage and even your arms. I prefer them before bed but you can use them anytime for added hydration.

Drew recently posted a photo of all the sheet masks she uses which also included the JAYJUN Real Water Facial Mask, Refine to Shine and JAYJUN Skin Fit Collagen Aqua Brightening Mask Pack which I also promptly bought. I’ve used the latter and love it too but haven’t had time to try the other one yet.

I was gifted this La Prairie Cellular Radiance Cream Blush in Peach Glow. It’s a color would never have picked out for myself but it’s extremely flattering and long lasting. I love that it leaves a dewy finish and glow. It comes in three other colors. 

I resisted trying Nars Blush in their best selling color Orgasm forever just because it was their signature color. But I was also sent a compact of the Limited Edition Nars Orgasm in a larger size and realized that it was the perfect complement to the La Prairie Cellular Radiance Cream Blush in Peach Glow. They work well together and give a lovely flush. I see why this is Nars best selling blush.

Marie Robinson highlights my hair to a light honey caramel every 6-8 weeks. I try to wait until 8 weeks since it’s expensive and I don’t want to damage my hair. But that also means it looses a little luster. When I read about Christophe Robin’s Shade Variation Care Nutritive Mask with Temporary Coloring, I immediately ordered it in Golden Blonde to see if it would brighten up my highlights. I will admit that I was a little nervous to try it at first but it worked perfectly. It brightened up the blonde highlights and added a lot of shine. It’s my absolute new favorite product. It comes in Baby Blonde, Ash Brown, Warm Chestnut, and Chic Copper.

Now I’m really not allowed to buy any new beauty products!

XOXO,

HC