Lovin’ Lately

Remember the days when everyone was obsessed with Kat Von D’s Lolita? MAC’s Whirl? Velvet Teddy? Looking through some of my old beauty posts I can see that the whole “brown 90’s lip color” started around in 2014.

It kinda blows my mind because it really does seem like it was not that long ago. I remember places like Sephora couldn’t keep some of those popular colors in stock for longer than a day. I’m not sure if it’s because the beauty industry has expanded so much over the years (which means that we all have more choices) or if it’s simply because I started practicing more mindfulness in my beauty spending since going on the “Beauty Diet,” but I rarely feel that rush anymore. Like, having to go to multiple Sephora locations in search for a “hot” product, or spending my Saturday mornings visiting each drugstore in the area when looking for a new nail polish or lipstick collection.

Maybe I’m getting old, but I just feel like every “new” or “hot” product I come across when browsing and reading about new releases is just something I’ve already seen or used. I was shopping on Sephora’s website last night and after placing my order I realized that I bought more products for Mark (never going to give up on trying to get him into skincare, dammit!) than I did for myself. Definitely a first for me.

Even though it’s been nearly six years since I discovered and fell in love with NYX’s Matte Lipsticks, I still think they’re among some of the best drugstore makeup products. I’m pretty sure I had the entire color collection at some point, but there are a few I keep coming back to. Whipped Caviar is just one of them. I love that beautiful dusty rose color which looks very natural. As far as the formula goes, well… I think that pretty much everyone who’s into makeup has either already heard of it, or experienced it. Matte, non-drying, long-lasting and highly-pigmented.

Another similar color I’ve been using, although a bit deeper, is Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Thicc. Definitely not an “old” product. Actually, when I think about it, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty launch was probably when I last felt very excited about a new release. Of course, she did not disappoint. A huge portion of my “everyday” routine includes Fenty products (lip scrub, lip balm, powder- just products I tend to use every single day). Thicc definitely gives those same, brownish, 90’s lip vibes we all lost our minds over a few years ago. This lipstick is rich, it has such a beautiful color payoff, very matte formula that doesn’t dry out my lips during the day.

Ughh, another ride or die from back in the day: Lioele Triple The Solution BB Cream (would you just look at my face in that post, all that baby fat in my cheeks!!). It was seriously one of the best base products, ever, and I refused to use anything else for years. Sadly, this stuff has either been discontinued or it’s very difficult to find. I was able to find the “Beyond The Solution” version and although it’s very similar in the way it feels on the skin- hydrating, smoothing- it doesn’t provide as much coverage. Still love it though, but I do find myself daydreaming about the old formula, from time to time. Even though it is a BB Cream, a lot of K-Beauty ones I’ve tried many many years ago actually had pretty full coverage, but without any dryness or feeling like you’re actually wearing makeup. If any of you are familiar with Triple The Solution and now use something similar- please, PLEASE let me in on the secret.

Can we also take some time to reminisce about how most girls back in High School were obsessed with Victoria’s Secret Body Mists? Walking into a locker room after gym class was like walking through a wet fog of Coconut Passions mixed with Aqua Kisses and Bare Vanillas. Personally, I’ve always loved Amber Romance, use it to this day and every time I smell it I feel like I travel back in time- so many memories associated with that scent. Amber Romance, I think, is the only one from the “OG” bunch I find myself repurchasing, and that, I think, is for purely sentimental reasons.

What I really love now, are their Dry Oil Sprays. They used to carry an entirely different collection I was crazy about- I remember sending boxes full of that stuff to my cousins back in Poland when they fell in love with them as well. The new Dry Oil Spray is as close as it gets to those old favorites. I love these especially during summer- they don’t only smell delicious (and not in that overly sweet and fruity “high school” kind of way)– but they also double as body oils. Surprisingly, since there is a lot of fragrance in them, they do not dry out my skin at all but leave a beautiful sheen and smooth-to-touch feel behind. They’re amazing to use after you shave your legs- you kind of can’t stop touching them after. My favorites are Love and Heavenly.

I also love Molton Brown’s Eau de toilette fragrances- which, obviously are a bit more than a body mist, but less intense than perfume. Jasmine & Sun Rose will forever be my favorite, and lately, I’ve also really been loving Suede Orris.

Come on, can’t talk about the old favorites I’ve been coming back to, without mentioning Milani. Definitely one of my favorite drugstore makeup brand from back in the day. Their Baked Blush in Luminoso was a part of pretty much everyone’s makeup collection. Me not being a huge “blush” person, I think this one was one of the first ones I used and realized that wearing blush doesn’t have to equal brightly rouged cheeks. Luminoso blends so nicely with fair and light skin tones. It’s kind of like a blush/highlighter hybrid, so it looks beautiful especially during summer.

Lioele Beyond The Solution BB Cream, L’Oreal True Match in Classic Ivory, Milani Luminoso Blush, Charlott Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow, Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Thicc, NYX Matte Lipstick in Whipped Caviar.

Even though I’ve been making an effort to kind of try new, different things and routines, it’s been the opposite in terms of my beauty and makeup routine. Whenever I start feeling bored and don’t feel any excitement in trying anything new products, I just tend to go back to some of those old favorites that I re-purchased over and over again through the years.

How does it work with you guys? Do you feel like a lot of the products and collections we see released each season are very similar to products we’ve already seen before or do you still get super excited about certain releases?