I apologize for not having a Current Favorites post up the last few weeks. I have been tormented by clouds, rain and no sunshine for three weekends in a row. Which means no pictures. I had a slight glimpse of sunshine yesterday so I pulled a few items out that I have been crushing on lately to share with you. I really love doing these favorites posts, I just have been cursed by clouds as of late.
I love the Korean brand Huxley. I didn't know what to expect when I grabbed the Huxley Secret of the Sahara Sleep Mask; Good Night during Black Friday. The gel like sleeping mask is packed full of prickly pear extract which is full of vitamin E, antioxidants and linoleic acid. This hydrates, soothes and revitalizes skin while you sleep. Once I figured out the best way to layer this at night I loved it. This was not best over creams as the top layer as I found it was drying that way. This works best for me over serums, under oils and creams. It adds a nice hydrating cushion so you can wake up with revitalized skin.
It was love at first use with this Maya Chia The Super Blend Pressed Serum. This is a dreamy oil balm that has a lighter weight texture that melts into the skin with ease leaving behind a dewy hydrated radiance for supple hydrated skin. I love this at night in place of a facial oil. This uses Babassu seed oil, chia seed oil and Haematococcus Pluvialis Algal (a microalgae) as the first three ingredients. The algae contains natural astaxanthin a powerful antioxidant said to enhance the actions of vitamin C & E. Chia seed oil is high in omega 3 fatty acids, B3, flavanoids, and antioxidants chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. Babassu seed oil is solid but melts into a lightweight oil on contact with your skin. It's lightweight and I've never had it clog my pores. It's got antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This pressed serum is amazing & if you love oils you should check it out.
During the winter I can wear my heavier primers like Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer. I wear shade Medium. This is a silicone primer but it's not a heavy silicone primer. I would classify it as a medium weight silicone primer. It's not like those awful heavy clear coat yourself with silicone spackle types, it's lightweight more like a foundation. The tint also helps even out the skin tone almost as well as a tinted moisturizer. The silicone gives a flawless finish that blurs pores and imperfections away. This does suffocate my skin a little in the summer and if worn when it's very hot out I sweat and it clogs my pores a little. That's why I prefer this in the winter.
I have found myself reaching for THREE Flawless Ethereal Fluid Foundation a lot lately. This is a thin fluid foundation with light to medium weightless coverage that sets to a perfect satin finish. It’s not dewy. This foundation really needs no powder as it sets to the best satin finish. Its weightless, doesn’t feel heavy or greasy at all. It looks like skin. I have been using shade 205 & have a full review of shades 204 & 205 HERE.
I finally splurged on Votary London. And it was grand. I finished a bottle of retinol serum so it was time to crack open the Votary Night Oil. Why not combine facial oil and retinol in one step. I've always wanted to try a retinol in oil. Packed full of delicious oils (to be saved for a future full review post). The star is the ingredient hydroxypinacolone retinoate a retinoic acid ester. Hydroxypinacolone retinoate is similar to retinol in the way it's active on the skin. It does not need to be converted like retinol making it less irritating to the skin. More to come.
Allies of Skin has become a quick favorite brand of mine. Lately I feel like I've been using their 1A Overnight Mask all the time. I'm smitten. This is to be used in place of a night cream and retinol as it combines both. This uses retinaldehyde a more stable form of vitamin A. It's also more gentle. I adore this cream it makes my fine lines diminish overnight and I wake up with perfectly hydrated skin in the morning. It's packed full of actives and worth every penny. Review HERE.
LILFOX is a brand I've been dying to try for a while. I grabbed a set from Beauty Heroes and fell in love with the Amazon After Dark Melty Jungle Cleansing Balm. Just the name is fun to say. I was expecting this to be more of a fluid balm but it's a pretty typical cleansing balm texture. The superpower ingredients: Amazonian Lily, Babbasu, Bergamot, Black Cumin, Castor Seed, Capuacu, Green Tea, Maracuja, Muru Muru, Olive, Petitgrain, Rosehip, Sunflower, White Willow Bark. This rose citrus scented balm melts into the skin for a luxurious cleanse. Amazon After Dark is high in natural vitamin C and turns into a light emulsion with water but it does leave some glorious oil behind. I like to use a warm cloth to remove. This balm truly is a cleansing ritual experience to help destress at the end of the day.
I found myself reaching for Zoeva Halo Strobe Gel all week. Mostly because I was testing it with the Sonia G Base One brush. Picking this up again reminded me how much I loved the gel highlighter that cools on application. It's a subtle pinky nude champagne pearl for a natural glow. Review & swatches HERE.
Brick Skincare was a random indie brand I ran across on Instagram. Youthful Warrior Hydrating Facial Serum is lovely. I love that they sell samples so you can test it first. This contains 21 oils including some of my favorites like prickly pear, pumpkin, turmeric and tamanu. It also contains Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C Ester). I love how lightweight it is and it's perfect for even hotter months. I prefer to use this in the daytime. My sample is almost gone and I plan on grabbing a big one soon.
