SATURDAYS AT SEPHORA TAKES ON INSTYLE'S 141 BEST BEAUTY BUYS 2008! INSTYLES GOT NOTHING ON OUR KATIE!
Every Saturday Kate2004rock brings you the best of Sephora as only an insider can!
I didn't know you could get senioritis in college. It was going so well...coming up to the last three weeks of my senior year and my effort was still going strong. And then it happened, I got accepted to grad school (Texas Tech MBA '10, baby!) and now I just don't care. This is problematic, you see, since my Senior Thesis, which I've been working on since August, is due on Monday. It is finished in that its complete. It is not finished in that I still have about ten pages of editor's corrections to make and a some minorly major tweaks to make. Woe is me. So, as a reward for spending a good two afternoons working on in Tuesday and Wednesday, I let myself pick up the April InStyle featuring their 13th annua, Best Beauty Buys. I'm sure that none of you have any doubt that it's loaded with Sephora-available products! I'm going to share my opinions on some of the winners that jumped out at me - I want to hear some discussion, ladies!
NARS made the Best Lipstick in three color categories: Peaches, Reds, and Nudes. The Red was Jungle Red, which I find to be a little bit blue and I would suggest Heat Wave as an alternative to those needing warm undertones. I also LOVE Honolulu Honey for the Nude. Its really great under a peachy gloss for a fresh look. NARS Belle du Jour was also in the Nude category which its a little bit more yellow than Honolulu Honey but it makes a great primer for a bright gloss.
Cult Favorite: Smashbox Photo Finish snagged best primer. I wish I had seen what the other nominees were for primer. I realize that the Smashbox is the original. But I've experimented with primers in the past year and, while it is good, there are some other primers (Laura Mercier, Laura Gellar) that have some ultra-redeeming qualities. What do y'all think?
Best Powder: Laura Mercier Loose Transluscent Powder - Ha! I couldn't agree more! Besides that a big round jar of loose powder isnt really purse friendly (it does come pressed in a compact also). Mineral Veil eat your heart out! The LM powder is milled probably about 5 times finer than Mineral Veil and so I think it sets makeup much better, rather than adding weight and "cake." However, there's a new transluscent from the Balm that Meg's will be reviewing soon that gives Laura a run for her money!
Best Bronzer: I love when the underdogs win some! Guerlain Terracotta Light is what I have at on my face, ready for a night on the town, at this very moment! "It's varying shades of bronze, gold, pink, and copper ad dimension to the color." I think it's genius! I suppose you could go physician's formula for a DD version of this masterpiece!
I'd like to hear your thoughts on their pick for best Lip Balm too. Murad Energizing Pomegranate Lip Therapy w/SPF 15? That's surprising! What about Caudalie? What about Rosebud Salve? The quality isn't there on this one...or is it?
My money's on Katie-but what do you ladies think?
- meg's blog
- Login or register to post comments
-
Reviews
Olliebee - give the Korres lip balm a chance! I saw it in Sephora, wanted Guava, but they didn't have any. So I looked at the Pomegranate - and it was the scariest orange color I've seen. I tried it anyway, and let me tell you-- it turned out to look GREAT! Katie -- congrats on getting into TX Tech! But how can you stand to leave ole miss behind? :-)
Carole
Congratulations on the MBA acceptance at Texas Tech! What nice news! Ahh, I'm sad about Mineral Veil. I love it, I really do, but things like this always happen. I'm perfectly content with a product, I tell myself I'll stick withit for a long time and someone tells me about...something better...something milled 5x more than my beloved MV...somethingbest in class and I'm ready to toss MV out the window. Uugh! As for bronzer, I agree with 38 and Ollie, Sugar isthe best, best, best. But lately I've also been using Tarte's Park Ave Princess and even getting hooked on Cat CosmeticGirl on Fire (its totally wrong for my skin color but I found if you just use a tiny bit, it looks great). I alsosaw the Korres guy on QVC (or some station like that) the other night and they were selling a lip balm duo. It lookedgreat on tv and the women were raving about it. Anyways, I saw it in Sephora and it looked kind of gross. It was a little messed up because it was the tester, but it was a bright orange and didn't appeal to me. Has anyone tried?
Congrats on being accepted to grad school!!! :-D I have a horrible case of senioritis as well...the summer wraps up my undergrad studies...what a great opportunity!And I'm totally with you on the beauty buys, especially lipsticks. NARS is the way to go! MY FAVORITE red of all time: NARS Rouge D'Enfer... *gasp* the perfect 1940's Hepburn, Davis, Garbo red. Not too blue or orange or pink...the perfect neutral brownish undertone. And the texture...ahh...what can I say?? They are the best.
Yay Katie! One more day and you're done...that is, until grad school starts - so enjoy the heck out of your time off. I can only speak to the primer and lip balm for sure, after trying so many of those: I agree with 38/29 on Perricone's Ceramic Skin b/c it works and it's so much more than just a primer. I am going to freak out when all my sephora beauty insider samples run out. Best lip balm to me is Fresh Sugar - hefty price, but it's lasted me all winter and still some left into spring now. Haven't tried enough bronzers to have a valid opinion, but i"m really loving the Shiseido Terra cotta we just reviewed. And, everyone please keep posting on best powder - I'm in the market for a new one - just a to-go one for the mid-day shiny nose. Boscia green tea blotting linens help me with that - but not quite enough.
Mel9, I like how you hoarded Beauty Insider samples. LOL As far as powder, stay tuned for the new one from the Balm...I am loving it so far!cac...leaving ole miss? well, I loved going here and it was four fab years. But four is plenty for me. Im really saddest because all my friends are scattering between Oxford, Mississippi, Dallas, Atlanta, and Birmingham.
Katie
My favorite lip balms...oh there are so many to choose from...I do love Caudalie's. I also find myself reaching for Burt's Bees Pomegranate one a lot. Love the smell and texture of it. I also love the Alba Coconut or their Pineapple one. I've actually given up on primer. I just don't feel it does much for me. Maybe I'll change my mind someday. I love Laura Gellar's baked powders. I reach for them everyday. My favorite bronzer is either Sugar's or Laura Gellar's. The Balm's powder sounds very nice. Can't wait to hear the reviews. Best of luck Katie at Texas Tech. It's a fun place to visit so I'm sure going to school there is even more fun. Does Lubbock even have a Sephora? The last time I visited the mall was so tiny and right out of the 80's. Hopefully, it has changed some. I guess there is always online ordering.
My money is with Katie of course. Congrats on getting accepted into the MBA program at Texas Tech! My favorite primers are Perricone's Ceramic Skin (sigh, big $$$!), Laura Mercier, and Alison Raffaele's. My favorite powder right now is Cargo's blu_ray pressed powder, but have always been a big fan of Laura Mercier's. I'm like Ollie and love Sugar's Bronzer, but I need to try Guerlain obviously. And for balms, CAUDALIE's is supreme! Kept my lips well protected and soft all winter long.
I say Sugar should've won 'best bronzer' but........ I use Savannah Bee balm, it's a yummy scent and a pretty color.
congrats on getting into grad school, katie! i don't really use a primer since my skin is so dry, and i use EDM powder exclusively, but my fave bronzer is Nars Laguna. most bronzers I've tried are either too red/too pink/too orange, but laguna is the perfect bronzer color for me - it's straight up brown, yet doesn't look dirty.fave lip balm - really like fresh's rose lip balm. it smells so good and leaves the perfect mlbb shade.
wow with SPF30...I've never seen any lip balm with the SPF more than 15...(maybe it's just me) well, when I was younger, I always neglect the importrance of sun proctection on lips...my lips kinda turn dark now (is it a result of sun burn?)...I regret it so much...this product is the ideal to protect our lips from UVA/UVB
Congrats babe!
Congratulations!
Congratulations
i love this
<33
I love sephora!!!! and their free shipping deals every once-in-awhile!!! haha yay living in MT.