Lovin’ Lately

The following content includes referral links and/or gifted products (*). Read my disclosure policy for more info.

I think we’ve already established that it sucks when some of your favorite beauty products are either re-introduced with a new (and disappointing) formula or get discounted altogether.

None of those “discontinued product” situations hurt me as much as the sudden disappearance of Dior’s Creme de Rose. I mean I know, it’s just a lip balm- but please allow me to be a little overdramatic here. Suffering from chronically dry lips means that I’ve tried way too many products- some even prescribed by my dermatologist- Creme de Rose was always one of my favorites. Seriously, beauty companies should consider releasing official announcements when doing this and allow us to re-stock for the years to come.

So, yes. It looks like this is it for one of my favorite luxury lip treatments. Luckily, I’m stoked with an extra pot once I run out of my current one, but still. While not as rich and creamy, Chanel’s Rouge Coco Baume Conditioning Lip Balm is my new #1. I talked about it here many times before and while the price ($37!) does make me second-guess every single re-purchase I make, I always end up clicking “buy.” It never leaves my handbag, doesn’t leave a sticky/thick residue and, most importantly, it keeps my lips hydrated for hours (which is no easy task).

Dr. Dennis Gross also has a new and very interesting lip product- Hyaluronic Marine Collagen Lip Cushion*. I received a complimentary tube from Influenster just a few days ago, but that was enough to fall in love with it. This is definitely more of a nighttime lip treatment, due to its rich formula- you want to let it work its magic overnight and it doesn’t work too well when layered with other lip products like lipstick. I don’t know about my lips being fuller, which is one of the claims, but it does help smooth them significantly and heal any peeling and dryness.

My sister recently introduced me to R+Co’s Death Valley Dry Shampoo and I’ve been loving it. Which is why, obviously, I’m including it in this post. I love that in addition to removing any excess oil from the scalp, it also adds juuust a touch of texture to my hair. It also helps build a bit of volume and body.

Ouai’s Matte Pomade has always been a product that’s a bit confusing to me. The formula itself is very matte-looking, but once you work it through the hair, it actually adds quite a bit of shine. Now, the reason why I do like this product is that it’s really good at adding that piece-y texture to the curled hair. I don’t see how this could’ve worked with my long hair, but it works great my very short bob cut. The key is to use a very small amount of product and “melt” it really well by warming the product between your palms prior to working it through the hair. The texture is also very long-lasting and my hair cannot hold a curl even when covered with half a can of hairspray, so this is saying a lot.

Korres Pomegranate AHA & Enzymes Mask is great for a quick pick-me-up. Other than tube packaging being a big winner for me, I love how balanced this mask leaves my skin feeling. Despite it being formulated with glycolic acid the formula is actually pretty gentle and works for me even when my skin is feeling particularly sensitive.

My favorite product out of the bunch featured here is probably Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask.* First thing I have to say is that it is pricey- $92.00 for a jar that is just a little over 3oz. Although I was gifted my first jar, I am already planning to purchase another one. This is the kind of product you’d want to use a few days prior to a special event or occasion. I love the velvety, soft texture that melts into the skin. Once you wash it off after 3-10 minutes, the skin feels more supple, firm, soft and hydrated and every base makeup product just seems to work and look better. It also has a slightly cooling effect which feels pretty amazing when I use the mask at the end of a long day.

There is also a new favorite from Patchology in town: a Breakout Box.* This cute little box contains 3 nose strips, 24 hydrocolloid dots, and 24 salicylic acid dots. I’ve used hydrocolloid dots in the past when my skin was in a really bad shape and they work like magic- the ones that come in this Breakout Box are no different and make whiteheads (ughh) disappear overnight. They dry out the wound without irritating the skin, so there is no redness left behind. While breakouts (such as whiteheads and cystic acne) are no longer my main concern, I still deal with sebaceous filaments around my nose and chin. I love the nose strips that come in this Breakout Box. They work really great- my only wish is that the box came with a few more than just three. Patchology is one of my favorite new-ish beauty brands and I always get excited about their new product releases. Their slogan is “Beauty at the Speed of You” and their products really deliver just that- quick beauty solutions.

Aaaand this is it for this month’s Lovin’ Lately. I really wanted to include a few of the lipsticks I currently have in rotation, but we just talked about them here.