my 3 new beauty obsessions + sephora VIB sample bag review

stop.  everything.  I have a new favorite mascara, cleanser, and bb cream.  WHAT HAS HAPPENED?  In my college social psychology seminar, I learned that I am (or was!) a satisficer – a person who, upon reaching the desired emotional state, does not try to somehow increase the saliency of that emotional state by manipulating the stimulus that lead to it.  The contrasting “type” is a maximizer: a person who, upon reaching the desired emotional state, does try to increase the saliency of that emotional state.  Too much psych mumbo-jumbo?  Sorry, my inner nerd is just itching to come out today.  Basically, there are people who are content with being happy and people who always want to be happier.

So how does that apply to beauty and what does this have to do with Sephora?  I’ve always been loyal to my favorite products.  I haven’t looked for a new mascara since Benefit’s They’re Real came out in 2011.  I’ve had the same face wash for a year; I’ve used the same CC cream since I tested every single one I could get my hands on and selected a favorite.  I find a product I like and I stick with it!  Sephora turned that upside down this week.  Literally, between this VIB sample bag and two others that came with my order, I have pretty much replaced the three previously mentioned products.  I feel like my life has been turned upside-down!!!

Interestingly enough, my mascara and BB cream samples were randomly selected by whoever packed my box.  Sephora should really give that person an employee of the year award; I do not swap products easily.

Boscia BB Cream - Universal Shade

Boscia BB CreamAs you can see, I kinda forgot to take a picture of this one.  Seriously though, I have the biggest brand crush on Boscia.  I’ve yet to try a product of theirs that I’m not instantly obsessed with; this BB Cream does not disappoint.  I got 3 uses out of that tiny packet because the pigment provides such great coverage and blends so well.  I had a breakout, a bug bite (ew), and my usual red cheeks – this formula covered them all with just one layer.  #winning.  I took a closer look in my mirror and saw that there appeared to be some light-reflecting particles that almost blurred my pores and imperfections to.. well… perfection.  Not conceited, just ecstatic that my skin looked THAT good.

Guerlain Maxi Lash

Guerlain Maxi Lash:  O.M.G.  Two coats of this formula had my lashes hitting my brow bone.  Every lash was perfectly encapsulated in the miraculous black formula.  You heard me – NO CLUMPS.  I just don’t have any words for how perfect this mascara is.  I want to climb to the tallest building around and proclaim my love to the world.  Not kidding.  Just try it and tell me you don’t love it.  THANK YOU, SEPHORA!

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser I was a bit concerned when I started massaging my face with this cleanser and smelled soap, because, well, soap is generally drying.  I shouldn’t have worried at all.  This cleanser removed every last trace of makeup, made my Clarisonic glide over my face smoother than it ever has before, and left my sensitive skin so soft I couldn’t help but continue to run my fingers over it. One con: it stung my eyes more than my current uber-sensitive cleanser does.  I’ll live.

I promise not to gush about every product, just keep scrolling for my (brief!) opinions on the other products I received in Sephora’s VIB sample bag.

Benefit Bad Gal Mascara

Benefit BADgal Mascara:  I’m no stranger to Benefit!  This mascara boasts a solid no-clump formula and a good wand, but I’ve never been able to get red carpet results from this particular tube.  Ultimately, I think it’s better suited to a finer lash (mine are fairly thick).

SEPHORA COLLECTION Colorful Shadow - Queen For a Day

Sephora Collection Colorful Mono Eyeshadow – Queen for a Day:  I was very pleasantly surprised with how subtle the pigment is, and how fine the glitter flecks are in this shadow.  I blended it into my outer corners and went to work one day!  I received many compliments on my makeup, but no one could pinpoint what I had done differently.  For me, that’s what a good product does: it makes you feel and look prettier without being obvious.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream:  I love L’Occitane products, and this one is another winner.  It applied and blended into my hands easily and left ZERO residue.  What more could you ask for in a hand cream?

Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Mascara

Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Mascara:  Here’s another one I’ll use during the workweek, but definitely not for a night out.  (Yes, I use different mascara for different events… you don’t?)  Again, it coated well and without clumping, but I still couldn’t get it to build up to the volume or length I’m accustomed to seeing from my lashes.

Stila Lip Glaze - Apricot

Stila Lip Glaze – Apricot Can you ever have enough neutral gloss?  I love Stila’s lip-glazes, and have managed to build an enviable collection through various sample subscriptions and gifts.  Literally, I never buy lip gloss.  It’s amazing.  That said, this is another winner.  If you’re new to Stila, I highly recommend trying a tube for yourself.  The formula is truly a glaze; my lips glide against one another when I wear it – they don’t stick together.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Age Defy Moisture Cream SFP 15

Sephora Collection Age Defy Moisture Cream:  I used a pea-sized squeeze to cover my entire face; the lotion sunk into my skin quickly and easily, with no sunscreen-y residue or lingering white streaks.  The cream is lightweight, which is essential for me as I’m very sensitive to how heavy a product feels on my face.  It layered beneath my BB cream fantastically.  However, the morning application didn’t give me much of a shield from the sun on my evening run – this probably won’t work for you if you’re very fair and/or burn easily.

Hanae Mori Echantillon Eau de Toilette

Hanae Mori Butterfly Eau de Toilette:  This scent was light, citrusy, and a bit spicy all at once.  I didn’t get any woodsy or floral notes, and found that it took well to my skin; I’d be likely to replace some of my more youthful fragrances with something sophisticated – but not stuffy – like this.

Buxom Full On Lip Polish - Dolly

Buxom Full-On Lip Polish – Dolly:  I always forget that Buxom lip polishes make my lips tingle.  Tingling aside, I’ve never really noticed my lips looking any plumper from Buxom products… but perhaps that’s because they’re fairly full to begin with.  I do really appreciate the size of the glitter in this lip polish; my lips never looked sparkly, but they certainly caught the light.

 

So there you have it: eleven products, three of which will be mine soon!  Did you sample any of these products?  What did you think?

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