A few weeks ago I wrote all about my favorite light bases for spring and two that are currently sitting in my bag are Armani’s Luminous Silk and Guerlain’s Meteorites Baby Glow. I’ll promise I’ll try to shut up about these two, just can’t help but love them. I also recently raved about the NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer– it’s my new favorite concealer and one of the very few that won’t crease on my dry skin and lasts all day.
The Creamy Duo from Kevyn Aucoin in Medium Candlelight is one of my favorites when it comes to cream face products. This duo is tiny, but both products are beautiful; Candlelight is one of the most beautiful and delicate highlighting products. The only downside to the small size is that it’s difficult to dip makeup brushes into this baby. Another beautiful cream product I dug out of my stash is Marc Jacobs Glowstick Illuminator in Spotlight– love applying this with a beauty blender.
You can also probably tell that I’ve been loving mineral sunscreen products and the main reason is that they don’t irritate my skin. I’ve had the worst luck with SPF products over the years and even those labeled for “sensitive skin” often left me feeling like my face was on fire. I always rotate between a few and the one I’ve been loving lately is Whipped Mineral Sunscreen* from Colorescience. It blends in nicely, doesn’t leave my face shiny or white and works lovely under makeup. Most importnatnly, it doesn’t irritate my skin.
As soon as I saw L’Oreal’s new mascara: Voluminous Lash Paradise, I thought: “This looks just like TF’s Better Than Sex“. While they look similar at a first glance, there are some differences. Lash Paradise brush doesn’t have as prominent of hourglass shape as Better Than Sex, and the tube doesn’t feel as sturdy and heavy. Lash Paradise also has a much drier formula and doesn’t flake as much as Too Faced Better Than Sex, although it doesn’t give as much volume. One of the things I don’t love about Better Than Sex is that it has such a wet formula and the brush grabs way too much product. I’m really digging the L’Oreal version and I think I might actually like it a bit more than Better Than Sex. It gives volume, length, holds a curl nicely and doesn’t flake.
The Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting palette is one I still adore. Now that I think about it, other than cream eyeshadow and mascara, I haven’t been reaching for a whole lot of eye makeup products. It’s been all about foundation and cheeks for me- which I talked about in this post.
I’ve been wearing noticeably less makeup over the last couple of months and I’ve been loving it, but it wasn’t necessarily by choice. While my skin has changed completely and I’m now 100% acne free (for like, the first time ever), I went from extremely oily to extremely dry skin. And when I say dry, I mean d-r-y; to the point of peeling, cracking, and bleeding.
I saw my doctor yesterday and I’m officially done with my treatment (I have 11 days to go)!!! I am so happy to be finally done; not just because of my skin, but also because of the extreme fatigue (one of the main reasons why I haven’t been posting as often as I used to), constant back pain and mood swings. I am so ready to go back to my old self. I’ll be writing a long update to this post, as promised. In the meantime, I’m patiently counting down the days until I can wear matte lipstick again. :)
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34 Comments
Christine C.
May 23, 2017 at 9:43 pmI just ordered that mascara! I’ve heard so many good things about it! Can’t wait to try it!
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 24, 2017 at 9:47 amYay, hope you like it as much as I do!
Chloe
May 24, 2017 at 1:36 amThank you for this post, I really enjoyed reading it and now have lots of ideas for make-up to put on my wish list :) I really want to try that mascara out, it sounds really good and affordable, I also love the packaging!!! Keep up the great work :)
Chloe @ https://girllgonerogue.blogspot.co.uk/
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 24, 2017 at 9:48 amThanks Chloe! Loving that mascara, definitely an awesome drugstore product!
Linda Libra Loca
May 24, 2017 at 3:49 amThe mascara and the concealer are on my wishlist already. And great thing you are nearly done with your treatment! I am looking forward to your update. If you are taking questions for it, I’d have one: Would you do it again, knowing the side effects?
Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 24, 2017 at 9:49 amThanks Anne, I’m so happy to be nearly done! I would do it again, despite the side effects- I’ll definitely discuss it in more detail in my update!
Linda Libra Loca
May 24, 2017 at 3:48 pmI´ll patiently wait then.
Natalie Redman
May 24, 2017 at 5:19 amThat mascara looks gorgeous!
http://www.upyourvlog.com
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 24, 2017 at 9:49 amIt’s so good!
Millie Robinson
May 24, 2017 at 7:36 amThe Hourglass palette is so beautiful!! x
Millie | http://www.bymillie.co.uk
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 24, 2017 at 9:49 amLove their powders- the formula is just amazing.
Ambar Syed
May 24, 2017 at 7:55 amSuch pretty picks Paula! I’ve heard great things about that L’oreal mascara :)
– Ambar x
http://www.herlittleloves.co.uk
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 24, 2017 at 9:50 amThanks Ambar! Loving that mascara ;)
Aleksandra // bunniesaremagic
May 24, 2017 at 8:07 amCongrats on the end of your treatment! You have been so brave about it and so persistent, you must be super proud of yourself :)
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 24, 2017 at 9:51 amThank you so much Alex, you’re so kind! I’m so happy to be done- don’t how I’d survive summer with all the side effects.
Aleksandra // bunniesaremagic
May 24, 2017 at 10:35 amThe summer comes just in time to enjoy the result! Timing couldn’t be more perfect, no? :)
Kelly Anne
May 24, 2017 at 8:38 amThat packaging of that mascara definitely looks similar to the TF one! I’m really intrigued to try it now as I find Better than Sex a little flaky for me too!
Kelly xx
http://www.anneinthedollhouse.com/
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 24, 2017 at 9:52 amRight? They definitely look similar. The L’Oreal one doesn’t flake like TF and I find that the formula is better to work with- it’s not as wet.
Lisa Autumn
May 24, 2017 at 8:42 amThe Armani Foundation is my absolute fave of all time!
xx Lisa | lisaautumn.com
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 24, 2017 at 9:53 amIt’s very quickly becoming my favorite too!
Claudia @ Just a Little Blush
May 24, 2017 at 9:05 amSo exciting that your are basically done! I’m so jealous (but happy for you)!
How does the L’Oreal mascara compare to the classic voluminous carbon black mascara? The brush looks fairly similar.
Also, have you tried the Elta MD UV Physical for extra sensitive skin? I used that in the worst of my cystic acne/retinol days and it was awesome. It’s made specifically for post-procedure skin so oil-free, paraben free, fragrance free and chemical sunscreen free.
– Claudia
http://www.justalittleblush.com/
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 24, 2017 at 9:59 amI’m so excited to be finally done- hoping my skin will stay clear.
I haven’t used the voluminous carbon black in a while, but I think that this one gives me more definition and length. The brush has a slight hourglass shape; they’re similar but not the same. I think I like this brush a bit better.
Haven’t tried that one, but definitely putting it down on my wishlist, sounds like something I’d love since it worked so well for you. Thank you!
Renae
May 24, 2017 at 10:49 amI love the TF Better than Sex, so I’m going to have to give the L’Oreal one a go. TF makes my lashes look great, but always smudges at some point!
Renae | renaekarissa.com
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 28, 2017 at 8:15 amI think you’d really like the L’Oreal one!
Taylor // Classically Taylored
May 24, 2017 at 2:17 pmPaula! These are some of my favorite posts! I agree I love the Better Than Sex mascara too, so it’s great to hear that there is a more budget friendly option!
I would also be curious to hear what skin products you are using now that your done with treatment!!
Xx Taylor
Classicallytaylored.net
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 28, 2017 at 8:17 amThank you so much Taylor! I still have a week of treatment left, so I’m not sure how my skin will change, but my doctor is saying that it won’t go back to being as oily as it was before, so I’m very excited about that hehe ;) I’ll talk about my skincare routine in the post- treatment post!
BubblyColor
May 24, 2017 at 2:38 pmBeautyful products!
http://www.BubblyColor.com
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 28, 2017 at 8:17 amThank you!
Kiri Yanchenko
May 24, 2017 at 7:06 pmI can tell you really really love the Armani.
I have yet to get somewhere to test it out.
I really like the idea of the colourscience whipped UV protector I might check that out.
Kiri
Set to Glow
http://www.settoglow.com.au
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 28, 2017 at 8:17 amYes! Loving that foundation! Definitely try to get your hands on a sample, if you can!
Veronica Bizzarri
May 26, 2017 at 12:50 pmIt’s good to know that the Nars concealer works for dry skin.. i have dry skin and really want to try it out
Ronnie
http://www.veronicabizzarri.com
xx
Paula @ thirteenthoughts.com
May 28, 2017 at 8:18 amIt works great for my dry under eyes and I don’t even have to set it with powder- something I wouldn’t dare to do with other concealers haha :)
Jane
April 3, 2020 at 12:20 pmHello, may I ask where you bought the cosmetic bag? :)
Paula
April 5, 2020 at 2:54 pmVictoria’s Secret, but it was a long time ago. x