Sephora Skincare

Sephora Skincare by wvfashionologist featuring sephora collection

I just spent the past five weeks in Charlotte, NC, for corporate training.  Before I left, I picked up a travel set containing some of the Sephora brand skincare.  About three weeks in, I ran into Sephora and purchased full sizes of everything and then some. My skin has been super dry this fall and I've been needing moisturization and Sephora's skincare doesn't skimp on it.  Most of the line contains an ingredient called HydroSenn+, which is derived from plants to help aid moisture.  I'm not sure which plant Sephora gets HydroSenn+ from and any additional information I've found is very vague.  To me, it's not worrisome but for those are really like to know the products in their skincare may be wary of trying this line.

The standout products in this line are the now-discontinued exfolient (bottom lefthand corner), the Instant Moisturizer, and the Super Nourishing Lip Balm.  While buying the rest of the line, I found the exfolient in the clearance section and decided to give it a try.  There are two exfolient in this jar, a white gentle exfolient with a texture similar to cream cheese meant for cheeks and a green exfolient meant the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin).  I wasn't impressed with either exfolient the first time I used it, thinking it too gentle.  I then tried it in combination with my Olay Pro-X cleaning brush and third time was the charm. The Instant Moisturizer is wonderful because it sinks in super quick which is important to me.  It also has "light boosting particles" in it which actually is just super finely milled glitter.  I started noticed that when I kept wondering why my fingers were so sparkly.  Lastly, the Super Nourishing Lip Balm is a must.  It's the most moisturizing balm I have found for under $10.

The price on this line is pretty decent. The most expensive thing I bought was a kit that had full sizes of both the serum and moisturizer and that was at the great price of $34.  They also have more products if you need something else for your skin type.

LOOKBOOK: Sept. 28

Buy it here!

I try to wash my makeup brushes every two weeks or so, but sometimes that doesn't really work out (AKA most of the time).  In between washings, I like to use Sephora's daily anti-bacterial cleaning spray.  You can spray the bristles directly, but I spray it on a cotton round and whisk the brush over that.  I like to see the makeup come off so I know it's getting clean.  This stuff can be a bit drying on natural bristle brushes, so I'd use it sparingly on those.

LOOKBOOK: Sept. 25

Buy it here!

This Hello Kitty palette came out this past spring, and I looked at it several times before I bit the bullet this weekend and bought it.  What drew me in was the obviously cute packaging but I was iffy because it's a palette of mostly pastels.  While going through some fashion week shows, I noticed the trend of pastel eyeshadow and decided it's something I should look into because I really haven't been into pastels since high school (it was the late 90s/early 00s so it was okay).  While surfing Sephora's website I came across the Hello Kitty palette again and bought it without second thought.  I haven't gotten it yet so I can't attest to its qualitites, but it has overall good reviews.  If this seems like something you might like to try, you're going to want to buy this palette ASAP. Once Sephora puts something on sale, especially this low (it was originally $42), they go ridiculously fast.

BGP: Make Up For Ever's HD Invisible Cover Foundation

Not only have I been on the search for a shampoo, I've been on the hunt for a foundation.  A longtime MAC user, I started to hate the gray-ish tinge it gave my skin.  I've been through Cover Girl's NatureLuxe and Tarte's Amazonian Clay foundations but still wasn't fully satisfied. 

But just like I fell in love with Sally Hershberger's shampoo for thick hair, I have finally a foundation I adore.  Enter Make Up For Ever's HD Invisible Cover Foundation.

On a trip to Sephora about two months ago, I ended up shelling out $40 on a whim on this HD foundation.  If you've read any sort of women's magazine for the past six months, then you've noticed ads claiming that the model's makeup wasn't retouched or Photoshopped.  This is that foundation.  I'll admit the ads are a bit gimmicky, but they worked as I made the purchase.  Make Up For Ever (also known as MUFE in cosmetic circles) is known as a pretty solid brand, so I wasn't too concerned about the quality of the makeup. 

I've been using the big, fluffy brush I got with the Tarte 8th Wonder of the World set earlier this year to apply the foundation.  I'm incredibly impressed with this foundation.  It's not quite full coverage, but more so than the Tarte.  It also doesn't give my face that gray-ish tint that MAC was bad about.  It covers my acne scars beautifully, as well as evening out my skintone.  It also lasts all day.  When I test "does it last all day?" this means the product is still on my face after I've worked outside for eight hours.  This MUFE foundation didn't budge a bit. 

As I mentioned earlier, I'm using a big, fluffy foundation brush to get great results.  I've also used my Beauty Blender sponge, and a regular wedge sponge, and got similar results.  I know a lot of people are moving to flat foundation brushes, but I've tried to use those with a variety of foundations and was never impressed with the coverage.  My skin felt gross and the makeup felt caked on.  I don't even think I own a regular foundation brush anymore so I can't tell you how well it might apply. 

If you're like me and have a box full of foundations that didn't live up to your expectations, splurge and get this foundation.  If you're worried about money, Sephora will be more than happy to supply you with samples to help you make your mind up.

BGP: New Perfumes from Actresses Kate Walsh and Jennifer Aniston

In my most recent Sephora haul, I picked out some samples for the new Kate Walsh and Jennifer Aniston perfumes.  I had heard a lot of buzz around Aniston's perfume, because it's been out for sale in Europe for some time.  I've given both of these perfumes a whirl for the past few days  and here are my reviews:



Boyfriend by Kate Walsh.  Personally, I think Kate Walsh is currently one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood.  I adore her red hair, and she her makeup is always impeccable.  I hadn't heard she was doing a perfume until I saw the perfume listed in an email from Sephora.  The concept of her perfume is that lingering scent of your boyfriend's cologne that you smell on his shirt or pillow.  Here's what Sephora says about Boyfriend:

She inhales his shirt, taking in the scent of the man she loves. It lingers on her clothes, her sheets, her hair—all over. Imprinted on her body and in her mind, it radiates within her, filling her with feelings of warmth and desire.

Actress Kate Walsh wanted to capture the scent of a guy on a girl: a man's cologne mixed with perfume, the smell that lingers on the skin. This fragrance evokes memories of that time after he has left for the day—when she gently awakes in a bed that's still warmly redolent of "boyfriend."

The notes for this perfume are: Dark Plum, Myrrh, Night Blooming Jasmine, Benzoin Tears (wtf?), Skin Musk, Golden Amber, and Vanilla Woods.  I smelled the plum, vanilla, jasmine, and the musk and amber.  I would describe this perfume as a soft floral with a top note of a man's cologne.  When I first read about it, I was intrigued but wondered about the scent really working as said.  I am really impressed with how well Kate Walsh really pulled this scent off.  While it is a sweet fragrance, there's enough of the amber/musk to keep it from being too florally.  Another thing I love about this scent that despite the vanilla and musk, it's still a pretty light fragrance that can be worn all year long.  While I'm really not in the market for a new perfume, I really do think I'll be buying a bottle of this soon.
Grade: A+

 

 



 

Jennifer Aniston by Jennifer Aniston.  As I had mentioned earlier, there was a lot of buzz when this perfume was recently released.  Apparently, it was a big seller in Europe, and so people who had smelled it across the Atlantic were eager to get their hands on it here in the States.  Here's what Jennifer herself has to say about her fragrance:

In the creation of her debut fragrance, Jennifer Aniston called to mind her earliest and most beloved recollections of scent. Evoking memories of sunny days at the beach and happy summer nights, this captivating composition includes light, blooming floral notes set against a sensual base of musk and woods.

"I wanted this fragrance to be a personal library of scent memories. For example, my love of night blooming jasmine has lasted a lifetime. Growing up in California, I distinctly remember the scent of jasmine on summer evenings. I consider the scent of the ocean to be one of life's most uplifting sensual experiences. No aroma is quite so purifying, humbling and exhilarating. The combination of the salty air and tropical oils reminds me of long sunny days on the beach-pure happiness."

The notes are listed as: Citrus Grove Accord, Rose Water, Jasmine, Violet, Amazon Lily, Musk, Amber, and Sandalwood.  Normally, I don't like beachy scents  because perfumers call "beachy" to me smells "soapy."  But I could actually smell "beach" in Aniston's perfume.  She really did hit her goal in making a perfume that smelled like a day on the beach.  For some reason, I also smell peach, but that might be one of the other notes in the perfume.  I like this perfume, I really do, but it also reminds me of a powdery floral scent my grandma used to wear from Avon when I was little that I wasn't crazy about.  I just squirted a bit onto a shirt I'm not wearing because I keep getting both the Boyfriend and the Aniston perfume confused.  Honestly, I think the Aniston perfume is what Boyfriend would smell like if you took out 80% of the musk and 60% of the vanilla.  The floral undernotes smell the same to me, probably the jasmine.  I like Aniston's perfume, but I wouldn't buy it. At the same time, if I was given it as a gift I wouldn't be upset either. 
Grade: B

Both scents are what I'd describe as day scents.  appropriate for the most conservative of business places and dressy events.  Both perfumes would be okay to wear to a happy hour, but I don't think either would be good for a pub crawl with the girls.  Well, maybe you could get away with the Boyfriend, but not the Aniston.

Availability: Jennifer Aniston is only available at Sephora right now, and I'm not sure about Boyfriend.  Both range in price from $20 for a rollerball to $75 for a 3.5 oz bottle.

Sephora Coming to Charleston & Other Mall News

Yesterday's announcement of White House|Black Market coming to Huntington hasn't been the only retail news in West Virginia as of late.  Last week, the Charleston Town Center announced that anchor store JC Penney's was getting ready for a multi-million dollar renovation.  According to to the Charleston Daily Mail, the renovations will be from "top to bottom" and will include a Sephora Inside JC Penney.  It should be no surprise to anyone that I am a huge Sephora fan, so I'm more than excited to hear about this addition to the Charleston Town Center.  A few years ago, JC Penney started to remodel its stores, and one of the first ones they did was at the Ashland Town Center, which also included a Sephora.  Ashland is maybe 20-ish minutes from Huntington, and the mall there really isn't worth writing home about.  At the time, the renovation seemed basically to showcase the American Living line, a sort of preppy-Americana brand. That same section now showcases the women's lingere...to show how well the American Living brand is doing.  I'm more or less expecting the Charleston store to look very similar to the Ashland store. 

While the JC Penney remodel is set in stone, I've heard a rumor that Forever 21 is looking to move in the Charleston Town Center.  Personally, I'd rather have a Forever 21 in Huntington than White House|Black Market.  For those who aren't familiar with Forever 21, it's a flash fashion store, meaning the stuff you saw on the catwalk two weeks ago will be in store this weekend.  Prices are dirt cheap, but the quality is dirt cheap as well.  You do get what you pay for: a cute dress that will last this season and that's it.  They do carry a pretty good plus size line called Faith 21.  All of the Forever 21 stores I have been in are huge, and I'm not 100% sure of where there might be that size available in the CTC.  There's the old Steve & Barry's location on the east side of the mall, but it's been split into two different stores. One side is an inflatable bounce house place where you can hold a party, the other sells crap out of distribution catalogs, like fiber optic angel statues.  I don't know what the leases are on those stores, but that's the only place I can think of where Forever 21 would want to move into.

The Huntington Mall is getting ready to do a multi-million dollar renovation in honor of its 30th anniversary.  Basically, skylights are being put in, new flooring installed, remodeling the joke of a food court, and some other odds and ends.  However, they are also going to put in two new stores.  While I haven't heard any rumors of what might be going in those, I imagine it's not going to be anything to get excited over.   Just throwing this out there, but I foresee a Talbot's Women and Petite.  There's already a Talbot's there, and it doesn't carry the plus size or petite clothes.  

My little sister asked me last night what other stores I could see moving into downtown Huntington after White House|Black Market.  Off the top of my head...Urban Outfitters, and that's only if WH|BM does well.  I think between Marshall, high schoolers, and people in the 24-40 age bracket there's enough population and interest to support an UO.  Like Forever 21, most Urban Outfitters are fairly large stores.  Most of the space in Pullman Square and across the street on Third Avenue is occupied.  There's not enough draw to bring people to Fourth Avenue, and obviously location is key.

FAUX PAS

Like everything else in life, learning which makeup colors look good on you is a learning process.  However, there's a look that's been in West Virginia ever since I was watching She-Ra with my sisters back in the '80s:  I call it Cake Face.

Cake Face is the term I give to people weaering a certain style of makeup: using a too-dark foundation, setting it with caked-on pressed powder, and then for the finishing touch of racing stripe blush.  This blush is also the wrong color, and is usually in a shade called russet, wine, raisin, brick, etc. There is little to no lip color or eyeshadow.  Thankfully, people have moved on from the 80's powder blue eyeshadow, but there are still sightings of beige lipliner with no other lip color or gloss, and white eyeliner.  The proper authorities have been informed. 

Before we go any further, let's start with your foundation.  It needs to match your skin tone. If you're only tan in the summer, don't use your summer shade in the winter.  It's very normal to not be able to find a perfect match (no matter what the advertisement says) and have to mix shades. If you have trouble finding a color, go to the mall and ask to sample shades.  An associate can help you find the right shade, and can give you a small sample that will last a few days to see if it will really work for you.  Match the color to your jawline, as it will give you the truest match.

To help set your foundation, concealor, or anything else you might use, reach over your Cover Girl compact for a setting powder.  Setting powder is pretty similar to a basic loose powder, typically it has some other ingredients that help hide pores, soften skin, etc.  A secret here is to avoid powders that have talc in them, which is one of the leading causes to Cake Face. A big fluffy powder brush is a must-have when using any loose powder. My favorite setting powder is from Laura Mercier:

Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder, $36, Sephora

Another choice would be Coty's Airspun powder, $6 at CVS.  It's a great basic loose powder that doesn't settle into lines or pores.  Take care if you grab one of the adorable boxes, as there is a glittery version. 

If your foundation shade is anywhere from pale to olive, there's no point for you to be wearing dark blush.  Dark blush not only looks wrong, it's very aging.  If your foundation shade is under olive, avoid blushes that have brown or a rusty red in them.  This would include any of the shades I mentioned earlier, such as raisin.  Also stay from lipsticks and lipliners with brown in them, again, it's the aging factor.  Look for pinks, corals, and rose for a blush.  It lightens up the face and gives a youthful glow. My favorite (and everyone else's)

Nars blush in Orgasm, $26, Sephora

Nars Orgasm is one of the most popular blushes today.  It is universally flattering for all skin tones, and as the name might suggest, gives the wearer that post-coital glow.  It's a pinky-peach with gold flecks in it, and unforunatly, I haven't been able to find a drugstore dupe for it.  The cheapest I have found is MAC's Springsheen, $14, Macy's. 

Cake is awesome on a plate, not on your face.

Yes, Glee Nail Polish

Okay, I like the TV show Glee as much as the next gal, but seriously, I'm tired of all the Glee-branded merchandise already.  In Walmart around the holidays, there were gift sets containing a compact and travel brush with the Glee logo.  Really?

Over the past couple of years, OPI has teamed up with Sephora and some of the colors that have come out of those lines have become instant hits, such as last year's turquoise Ocean Love Potion.  The Sephora line is often jokingly as the $OPI line, because at $9 a pop, they're more expensive than the regular OPI line.  And now, Gleeks everywhere can rejoice and sing the praises of Sephora when the Sephora by OPI line of polishes releases its special Glee colors. 



Quite honestly, these colors aren't doing anything for me.  I already have colors similar to the purple on the left end, the silver, the blue, and the coral on the right hand side.  The green is interesting, and I'd like to look at it up close, but it's nothing I haven't seen before.  It's hard for me to wear sky blue nail polish, since I wore it just about every day for my freshman/sophmore years in high school. 

I haven't seen a release date for these yet, so keep an eye out on the Sephora website.  There is a Sephora in the Ashland Town Center, which is about 20 minutes outside of Huntington in Ashland, KY.  It's a small one, but has a good variety and plenty of testers.