On the Lust List

It's been ages since I shared a wishlist type post. I try hard to be sensible about my cosmetic lusts these days, I know that many are just passing fancies so I will try to wait and see if the urge passes. My eyeshadow and nail polish ban have helped a lot in that sense. Eyeshadows are quite clearly my biggest cosmetic weakness.

It's impossible to be sensible all the time though, I still have a wishlist a mile long and these are a few of the items that keep making their way back to the top.

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Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted
I'm not sure exactly when my interest in Just Skin started but it was cemented when I read Get Lippie's recent thoughts. I'm coming towards the end of my RBR Tinted Moisturiser and I think this might make a good replacement. The only sticking point is the price, at £55 for a tube it isn't cheap. I'll have to be in the right mood to cave on this one.

Le Metier de Beaute Creme Fresh Tint Blusher in Poppy
I promised myself I would get one of the Creme Fresh Tints when Le Metier returned to the UK. Although I initially considered Tenne, I decided that Poppy would probably be a better colour choice for me. It seems to be very popular shade and I keep missing it when Zuneta re-stock.

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Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Colours and Perfect Rouge Lipstick
I've never tried any Shiseido cosmetics but I go through regular phases of researching colours and filling a virtual basket. I first spotted the cream eye colours on Reigning Beauties and they have been popping up on my radar ever since. Lipglossiping recent Shiseido post set me off again. As an aside, I couldn't find the Accentuating Color Stick anywhere online so I'm assuming it's counter only. I will definitely try one of the Shimmering Cream Eye Colours once my ban is over but I can't decide whether to purchase the Perfect Rouge lipstick in Titian before then or wait. My less sensible side says buy it NOW!

Hera Sun Mate Daily
This is a fairly recent fancy and my interest in this Korean sunscreen was sparked by a YouTube video by meejmuse. I can't deny that being hard to get hold of makes it somehow that much more appealing. I found it on Ebay but at just over the £15 customs threshold and I'm nervous of getting stung with the dreaded Post Office fees. I need to do more research to find out if it's worth the risk.

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Sunday Riley Eyeshadow in Burnt Eggplant
Sunday Riley eyeshadows keep popping up in blog posts by my favourite American bloggers. Burnt Eggplant looks nothing like a burnt aubergine but it does sound like my kind of colour, *cough* taupe *cough*. When Marcia from Beauty Info Zone compared it to Style Snob and Satin Taupe I knew that it needed to go on my list. I'm nothing if not predictable!
 
Chanel Loose Powder in Pêche
This is another old interest that keeps on cropping up. I will admit to being rubbish when it comes to powdering my face. I prefer my skin to look natural and powder often makes me feel too made up. I also worry that it will accentuate my lines. However, I would like to give my makeup more staying power, especially as I can't touch up at work and I wonder if powder in the key. In my mind this one will work magic, particular because the shade I really want (#50 Pêche) has been discontinued!


What's on your wishlist at the moment? Are you torturing yourself with thoughts of hard to get items?

Always read the label!

I recently spent what felt like an age picking out a new moisturiser with sunscreen. I'm currently using a serum that contains glycolic acid and it's important to combine this with good sun protection. I finished my Caudalie Vinoperfect moisturiser last week and I particularly wanted to find a replacement with an SPF of more than 15. I was also looking for something that didn't contain active ingredient and therefore potentially clash with the serum, this is actually harder than you might think!

London Makeup girl's post about sunscreens was very well timed and I spent a good deal of time absorbing all of the details about physical and chemical sunscreen ingredients. What I really wanted to do was blow caution to the wind and buy the Chantecaille but I decided to be sensible and try some of the cheaper options first. I dithered over the Trilogy as I'd found Daily Defense too heavy before and was pretty set on the Super Daylight Savings moisturiser. I also wondered about getting the Murad Oil-Free Sunblock that I tried a sample of last year and liked but discounted it on the basis that I wanted a moisturiser rather than a sunscreen and have to find a separate inert moisturiser. Oh how you will laugh!

At the very last moment I decided to buy This Works Perfect Skin Defense SPF 30. I ordered it yesterday from Zuneta and it arrived this morning. I opened it up, immediately pumped some out to apply and was met with this....

"Oh" I thought, "it's tinted, oh well". I proceeded to start rubbing it on my face and quickly met with resistance. It was at this point it started to dawn on me that this wasn't a moisturiser at all. I picked the bottle back up and actually read it properly. Then I spotted the word sunscreen and cursed myself!

So, after all that careful research, I'd picked up the wrong thing after all. Note to self: always, always read the description properly and never assume!

I will persist with using this in the interests of research. I will need to find another moisturiser though which is a nuisance (moisturiser + sunscreen = should have bought the Chantecaille anyway). My first impressions tell me that it won't be a rave. Forget cake batter, this is custard powder mixed with water to create a solid state. You don't get more than a couple of seconds to spread this across the skin and I had to use a few pumps to ensure that I had covered all of my face. It mattifies my skin which seems to accentuate my lines and it feels drying but claggy at the same time. I'm hoping the sensation will feel less odd with moisturiser underneath. The tint is one of the best aspects as it negates any white cast and the colour blends in well.

I will report back on how I get on. I can't help but think I would have been better off getting one of the first things I considered. Have you ever made a blooper with a purchase? I'd love to hear your stories so that I don't feel so bad!

UPDATE: I applied this over a moisturiser this morning and it feels a lot better. It still has that slightly tacky feel but it was much easier to smooth on. Phew!

Sunscreen Mini Review

I've been trying out a few facial sunscreens recently on the hunt for 'the one'. Or the one for this summer at any rate. Knowing that I was looking for sunscreen, Klara from Mookie on the Bench sent me a sachet of Murad Oil-Free Sunblock SPF30 and Triology Age Proof Moisturiser with SPF15. I also received small samples of Coola facial sunscreen SPF 30 in both the scented and unscented versions from Mise Beauty. These are just my initial impressions but I thought they might be useful to anyone on a similar hunt.

I found the Murad Sunblock really easy to use. I'm not usually a fan of oil free formulas on my skin but I liked this very much indeed. I find sun protection on my face can sometimes feel cloying, especially when worn under foundation, so something I can't 'feel' is ideal. This is described as having a matte finish, I don't think I registered that but it certainly didn't feel greasy. I had fully intended to purchase this as soon I finished the sample but it appeared to be out of stock everywhere. I'm going to take this as a good sign! A full size tube costs £25 for 50ml.

The Trilogy Daily Defence moisturiser with SPF15 was not as much of a success. This felt super, super thick. I think it's partly the texture of the moisturiser itself but I found it too heavy for my skin. So much so that I actually wanted to wash it off. I've just applied some to my hand and I would say it has the feel of a night cream. I think unless you have very dry skin, this is probably one to miss.

I've only tried the cucumber scented version so far but I really like the COOLA Moisturising Sunscreen SPF30. I like the cucumber scent, there's something about it that reminds me of holidays of my youth but I've yet to put my finger on why! It goes on easily with no hint of a white cast. It doesn't feel any heavier than a moisturiser and layers well. I wish I'd been able to do a direct comparison with the Murad as I can't say for sure whether one is better than the other. Price wise the COOLA costs £23.50 for 50ml. They also produce a Mineral Sunblock which is a little more expensive at £26.

Have you tried any of these? Do you have a favourite facial sunscreen or do you prefer to use a moisturiser with SPF? 


Disclosure: The samples of Coola were sent to me without cost.