What's in Your Makeup Bag? (Part 1)

I came up with the idea for this post because one of my friends is always asking what I'm using/wearing, and I’m always so curious about what my friends have in their makeup bags, so bam! Here we are!

I have very dry skin. I always have. My main concerns are dryness and fine lines. I’ve literally used eye cream since I was 8. Some of these issues are genetic, but I’m working with what I’ve got over here! 

This will be an ever-changing list, as I tend to to product hop a bit. Over the last year I’ve made a commitment to use more natural cosmetics and skincare. I still haven’t found a favorite concealer, eye cream, or powder, but I’ll keep at it! Some of the items on this list are leftover from when I wasn’t as cognizant about what I was putting on my face. Feel free to ask me any questions about these products (or any products, because I may have tried those, too!), and if you have anything you love and think I should try, LMK in the comments!

SKINCARE

Micellar Water by Garner — $6.99

I use this with a cotton pad prior to cleansing with my Clarisonic because I don’t want to junk up the brush head with old makeup. I may use face wipes to pre-cleanse instead if I have those on hand. I also use micellar water after cleansing to remove any excess eye makeup. This will remove every ounce of makeup off my face and doesn’t irritate my eyes! You don’t even have to rinse it after!

Clarisonic Mia 2 with Radiance Facial Cleansing Brush Head 

Ever since I started dermaplaning, I’ve been religiously using my Clarisonic. The Radiance brush head is my favorite because it’s very comforting and soft. They have other options. The deep pore cleansing is a liiiittle too hardcore for me, but it’s all about preference. 

*Be sure you remove your brush head after cleansing or turn your Clarisonic over, or it will grow mold that you will unknowingly scrub into your face (NOT THAT I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE OR ANYTHING)

*If you’re experiencing a breakout, maybe consider cleansing with your hands in that specific area. I feel like the Clarisonic does so many movements per second that it can move that bad stuff around and make it worse!

*It’s a good idea to change your brush head every few months

Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser by Youth to the People — $36

Finding a cleanser that I can use with my Clarisonic has been a struggle because I have to find something that doesn’t have microbeads in it. Also, I'm just a little particular about cleansers in general. I was using the Fresh Soy Cleanser but recently switched to YTTP because they’re a clean line made in the states and I liked the packaging. Also, the price point is infinitely better than the Fresh cleanser. I’ve only been using it for a few weeks, but I’m loving it so far! It’s much more hydrating than the Fresh cleanser, and a little bit goes a long way. I was concerned I might not like the fragrance, but it’s pretty light, and I actually prefer it to the Fresh cleanser. Highly recommend!

Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme Nip + Fab — $12.99?

A former coworker and fellow beauty junkie suggested I give these a shot, and I’ve been impressed so far! They’re cheap and effective. I feel like I notice a difference when I don’t use them. Also, I’m prone to get product in my eye when I exfoliate, and I don’t have that issue with these! They’re like a grown up version of a Stridex pad #THROWBACK I use them a few times a week. I previously purchased them from Ulta, but it looks like they might not be carrying the line anymore? Their site says you can also find them at CVS, GNC, Target, and Walgreens.com! 

Modern Friction by Origins — $42

I got this in a travel set of four popular Origins masks, and it’s amazing. Your skin will feel like a baby’s butt! Apply to dry, cleansed skin in a circular motion and follow with a good moisturizer. You can use a few times a week. I use maybe every other week but should defs use it more. I like to use it at night and follow it with another mask I got in the set, Drink Up Intensive, that you leave on overnight. It smells so good you’ll want to lick it off your own face. But don’t do that, okurrr?

Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum by Biossance — $78

It can’t all be sunshine and roses, right? I was out of the serum I’d been using previously and decided to give this a shot. I’ve heard really great things about their products (primarily their oils), so I tried this one out. It’s okay. I didn’t notice a difference whatsoever. The recommended usage is 1-2 pumps 2x a day, but at 2 pumps 2x a day, you’d go through this in no more than a month, and $80 a month is WAY too much to pay to not see some serious results, in my opinion. Their products are pretty highly reviewed, so I'm not knocking the line as a whole. I think this maybe just wasn't meant for me. 

Tsubaki Beauty Oil by Boscia — $46

I bought this because another blogger was raving about it, and I am obsessed with it. I originally purchased from Sephora. It’s been on backorder there for a bit, but you can buy it directly from Boscia’s website! I didn’t use it all before its listed shelf life expired #bigmistake #huge, so I’m not using it on my face at the moment. Previously, I cocktailed it with my moisturizer to make it absorb better. I’ve also cocktailed it with my CC cream to make it lighter and more luminous (if that’s even possible). You can use it on your cuticles, in your hair, on your skin. It’s amazing. Highly recommend!

Moisturizing Eye Bomb by Belif — $48

I had a gift card to Sephora, needed an eye cream, and this was on display. I haven’t noticed a drastic difference, but it’s lasted a pretty long time and hasn’t irritated my eyes at all, so I’m calling that a win! Still, I feel like it isn't really helping with my fine lines, so I'm on the hunt for something else when this runs out!

The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb by Belif — $38

Okay, this stuff I love. It kind of melts into my skin. It’s not sticky or tacky. It leaves my skin perfectly hydrated. It costs less than its competitors. I’m on my second jar. I don't really know what else to say. It's a solid product! I emailed Sephora to ask why Belif didn't receive the "Clean at Sephora" stamp on their website, and they said it's because one product in the line has fragrance. So apparently the "Clean at Sephora" stamp is legit! #themoreyouknow

TREATMENT

Drying Lotion by Mario Badescu — $17

OMG. The girl that does my dermaplaning told me about this stuff, and it is a GOD SEND. Fortunately, I don't get those gross, under the surface zits super often, but when I do, I coat it with this stuff. It will shrink it down overnight. You dip a q-tip into the solution, into the pink sediment at the bottom, place it on the offending area, and let it sit overnight. Sometimes I get carried away and dot this treatment on every tiny spot that ever thought about becoming a zit, and poof! They're diminished. Because of the way the product is applied, this bottle should last a while. The only drawback is it's not supposed to be shaken, and while I haven't tried traveling with it yet, I'm assuming that might not go so well?

SUNCARE

I do wear sunscreen everyday, especially since I started dermaplaning! 

Fragrance Free Broad Spectrum Facial Sunscreen in SPF 30 by Alba 

I’ve been using this under my makeup all summer. I think it’s a little heavier than I would prefer for everyday wear, and I’ve got my eye on a line I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about, but this one gets the job done. And it’s cheap and doesn't have any pore-clogging ingredients. It just needs a bit of time to absorb into my skin so my makeup doesn’t get all weird in the middle of the day. 

Tarteguard Mineral Powder Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 by Tarte, duh! — $28

I just purchased this recently because I have a mole on the top of my head that popped up out of nowhere and I’m trying to keep it under control! TMI? We keep it real here! Anyways, this one is awesome. It’s not messy to apply. It doesn’t get messy in the container. I haven’t used it on my face, but it seems pretty translucent. I mostly apply to my part and my hands/arms/any other area that’s exposed to the sun when I’m cruising around in the car. I haven't had any issues with it transferring to my clothes. It stays in my purse or my tote bag for when I feel like I really need it. Supergoop also makes a powder sunscreen. The formula is cleaner and it comes in more shade options, but it’s literally half the product for the same price, so that’s your call!

Have you tried any of these? Also, I'm going to do makeup in a separate post so your eyes don't bleed 😂

Stay tuned...