Thursday, March 20, 2014

Spring Beauty Wishlist

Happy First Day of Spring! Still going strong on that make-up low-buy, peeps - which also means my wishlist is growing exponentially. Making wishlists is a great way of keeping your beauty spending in check; it's like bookmarking products for later consideration so you can avoid impulse buying and focus on things you really want (no, I mean - really really want. Including every new limited edition collection does NOT help). If your current lemming is still high on that list after a couple months - great, it might actually be worth treating yourself to. I might be alone in this, but adding things to my wishlist, deleting things, editing, rewriting, umming and aaahing over it - in short, delaying gratitude - makes me appreciate my new products a lot more when I decide it's finally time to pull the trigger. Plus, I can also shop around and wait for the best deal.
So here's a look at what's on top of my skincare & make-up wishlist at the moment:

1. By Terry Rouge Terrybly Age Defence Lipstick in Torrid Rose #303 ($49.50 for 0.12 oz/ 3.5g)
I've only ever sampled a face moisturizer from By Terry, but the brand is widely known for its fantastic lip products, with Rouge Terrybly formula coming highly recommended by many of my favorite blogging pals. Torrid Rose looks like a gorgeous deep rose pink, bright but not too much for every day. Not gonna lie though, I'm absolutely balking at the price - so I'm not going to buy unless I can find a nice deal.

2. Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads ($45 for 60 pads)
I'm still on the hunt for the best acid exfoliant for my skin - and while I've recently tried the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads and I'm in LOVE, I'd like to compare these ones from Peter Thomas Roth (both are Caroline Hirons' approved) so I can get back to you with my favorites. I originally wanted to save on these by getting the almost $10 cheaper Complexion Correction Pads but a quick look at the ingredients list convinced me otherwise; the latter are loaded with alcohol and an artificial peach bellini scent, so Un-Wrinkle it is.

3. Chantecaille Lip Chic ($35 for 2 g)
Again, on recommendation from some fabulous bloggers - and apparently, Chantecaille's best-selling lipstick formula. Lip Chics claim to be emollient, comfortable and glossy, with collagen for plump but not stinging lips. I haven't quite decided on the shade, but I like the look of Sunrise, a bright coral-pink, or Rose Delice, a bright pink.

4. Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil in Ash Blonde ($26 for 0.3 oz)
I have actually just finished my eyebrow pencil, and the drugstore replacement by Revlon is just not the right shade. Gummy has recently put the Precision Brow to the test and liked it, and I've never tried anything from Kevyn Aucoin... so why not? The capless design seems a bit scary, but hey ho, living on the edge, and all that shiz.

5. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly ($29 for 0.22 oz/ 6 ml)
'Cause I've run out of the darn concealer as well. Kind of (says she, picking through three unsatisfactory back-ups at the bottom of the drawer). Though in all seriousness, my BECCA Dual Coverage Compact Concealer might be on its last legs - I still have plenty remaining in the pan, but lately the texture seems dry as a bone, and looks even drier on the skin. So you know. The NARS is a necessity. Or at least justifiable.

6. Paul & Joe Face Powder S, Secret Garden ($45 for 1.2 oz)
Now here's something that's completely UNjustifiable - I have way too many face powders, including the somewhat recent acquisition of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused. But... look at all the BIRDZ!!! And the pastel pretty BALLZ! I haz to have them *closes website for fear of accidentally adding them to the cart and speeding through the online checkout*

7. Kahina Giving Beauty 100% Organic Argan Oil ($36 for 30ml)
I'd be totally skeptical about paying this much for pure argan oil if I haven't tried a sample of this Kahina one - it absorbed like a dream, giving me beautiful, even-toned, glowing skin in the morning. This paired with FAB Facial Radiance Pads gave me a couple days of some of the best skin I've had in a long time, and that's something I don't say easily. I don't know, you guys - I might cheap out and get a less expensive brand, like Aura Cacia. Or I might not. It's amazing, anyway.

8. Shu Uemura Pressed Eyeshadow Refill in Iridescent Pink ($15, available in 25 shades)
Driveller Kate dedicated an entire post to Shu Uemura glitter eyeshadows, and while most shades she featured are discontinued/unavailable in the US, this is the single one that we can still get our grubby little mitts on. And so I shall, one day - I might also try some other favorites from this previously unexplored brand; I hear from Larie their lipsticks are also amazing.

9. Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in BE213 Nude ($33 for 1 oz)
Another brand I've never tried anything from - and again, beauty blogger recommended. I've been on a very subtle eye make-up kick, and I think this should fit the bill nicely. Speaking of Japanese eyeshadows, I would love to check out Suqqu eyeshadow quads some day, but I just can't stomach the Ichibankao mark-up or the Selfridges.com shipping fee; so in the meantime, I'd be more than happy to experiment with Shiseido.

Ooof, that's a lot of wants - all that wishlist dissecting has really made me hungry. You might notice a prevalence of high-end and luxury brands, as well as some Japanese inclinations; I guess this year I'd really like to try products from brands formerly unbeknownst to me, and since the number of my purchases has drastically decreased, I don't mind paying more for the few things that look interesting.

What's on your current beauty wishlist?

13 comments:

  1. Oh nooo now I want that Kevyn Aucoin brow pencil, too! My HG is Hourglass Soft Brunette, but that doesn't stop me from looking around a little! I've been thinking about trying pure argan oil for a while as well. Definitely considering the Kahina one!

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    1. I was looking at the Hourglass one as well! It's quite expensive though for a brow pencil... I was really surprised by the Kahina argan oil, my skin absolutely loved it :) Used a little bit in my hair too to tame down the frizz and it worked wonderfully.

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  2. I totally agree that making wishlists is a great way to cut down on spending. Sometimes I even find that the act of adding something to my wishlist is satisfying in its own right! I wonder what the psychological explanation for that is. At the moment, I know I want a NARS eyeshadow duo (Kauai, Paramaribo, or Nouveau Monde) and a Face Stockholm cream blush, but those will have to wait until I get paid again...

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    1. Hahah, I think it's like vritually having the product already! Anticipating a purchase is at least half of the fun. I love the look of NARS Kauai, and I have one of the very few (in the US) Face Stockholm stores nearby and have had a good play with the cream blushes. Amazing.

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  3. Ugh I wrote you this long ass comment and I just lost it...

    So, TL;DR: tried 3 other argan oils (low and high end), none are as good as Kahina. Repurchased after being out for 2 weeks. LOVE.

    Jealous you guys get P&J. Wandz took me to the counter on my trip to NYC 2 years ago and I died at so much qtez. :)

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    1. I remember you saying that you just repurchased the Kahina argan, which is why I dug out my sample in the first place! I actually haven't been to the P&J counter here, just ogle it online :)

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  4. If you're looking for a more oat effective exfoliant, I've heard good things about Alpha Hydrox swipes, and I'm in live with the Paula's Choice 8% AHA gel!

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  5. such a pretty pretty looking list. I'm very word-driven. I have an excel file full of stuff. But recently I bought them all, so list is now empty!

    Those two Chantecailles are beautiful!!

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  6. yea. who /wouldnt/ want the P&J powder. for serious.

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  7. I have that Shiseido trio and I love it. It's a gorgeous trio of nudes - seemingly boring in the pan, but so effortless! I reach for it all the time. I also want Shu glitter shadows and am also bummed out by the lack of selection for us here. :(

    I have an argan oil from Shea Terra Organics that I quite like - much cheaper!

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  8. Hold off on #9 and email me your NYC address. I'd love to say wait until I get there, but it could be a while. :)

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    1. Eeeee, Liz!!! You shouldn't but *emails very promptly* ;)

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  9. The birdz and the ballz sure look pretty! And Lip Chic has been on my to-try list for ages. On my wishlist: suddenly got lots of pastel/spring themed colored nail polish popping up, thanks to your nail polish post the other day!

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