There comes a moment in every person’s life when they look at their bathroom shelves—crowded with half-used moisturizers, abandoned serums, and a dry shampoo that may or may not predate the pandemic—and think: What if I just bought more stuff? This is the story of that moment. And reader, I did not disappoint myself. I went on a beauty spree so excessive that it’s safe to say I’m now prepared for any scenario involving immaculate hair, flawless skin, and lips so hydrated they could host a pool party. Was it responsible? No. Was it fun? Oh, absolutely. So, grab a cup
Tag: cosmetics
Propylene Glycol: The Little Ingredient That Could (and Did, and Does, and Will)
Ah, propylene glycol. The silent hero of the cosmetics world, whispering sweet nothings to our dehydrated skin cells, making sure our mascara doesn’t look like a raccoon had a fight with a sprinkler system. This unassuming little compound is so omnipresent that it’s basically the Kevin Bacon of skincare. The cosmetics industry loves it. The skincare community pretends to understand it. And you? You’re probably slathering it on your face right now without even knowing it. Let’s take a moment to appreciate this tiny, unassuming molecular underdog. What Even Is Propylene Glycol? Picture a scientific lab, all bubbling beakers and slightly neurotic
Royal Fern Phytoactive Skin Perfecting Essence Review: A Love/Hate Relationship
Or: How I Spent $85 to Feel Like a Beautiful Houseplant If you’re looking for a product that will make you feel like you should be reclining on a chaise in a botanical garden, sipping a hibiscus-infused cocktail while someone fans you with a palm frond — the Royal Fern Phytoactive Skin Perfecting Essence is it. But if you’re looking for a product that makes sense to your bank account or your skincare routine, then perhaps proceed with caution. Let’s break this down with pros and cons, because apparently my life choices now include ranking how much skincare items confuse
Water in Cosmetics: The Truth Behind the World’s Most Basic Ingredient
Gather ‘round, beauty junkies, because today we’re talking about the unsung hero of cosmetics: water. That’s right, H2-freaking-O. You may think, “It’s just water, why are we having this conversation?” But oh, sweet summer child, water is the backbone of your skincare. It’s the Taylor Swift of ingredients, always there, always flawless, but never quite getting enough attention (okay, so maaaaybe Taylor Swift gets plenty of attention). Now, let’s dive into the tea (or, should I say, the water) on what it’s doing in your products and whether that’s good, bad, or ugly. Why Is There So Much Damn Water in My
Avene Micellar Lotion: Pros, Cons, and Confusion About What Micellar Water Actually Is
Look, we all want to believe in the magic of French skincare. Because when you think of French women, you think effortless beauty. You think glowing skin, chic fashion, and somehow making a baguette look like a healthy life choice. Enter Avene Micellar Lotion, which is supposed to be the key to unlocking that flawless, *je ne sais quoi* clean girl skin. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s just say I’d rather ruin my lipstick by eating more beets than waste money on this again. The Quick and Dirty Summary Packaging: Plastic with a flip top cap so
Cosmetic Ingredient: Cyclopentasiloxane
Cyclopentasiloxane? Sounds like a mouthful! Does it go by any other name? Yes! It is also referred to as decamethylcyclopentisiloxane. I bet you thought it’d be something simpler, eh? Never fear, it is also abbreviated to the humble “D5” thankfully. Cycloblaaaaaah–What is it? Cyclopentasiloxane is yet another version of silicone you can find floating around in skincare and haircare products and is part of the broader cyclomethicone category. Its main purposes are as an emollient, lubricant and a solvent. But what’s the main point of it being in skincare? Unfortunately, cyclopentasiloxane doesn’t have much benefit when it comes to the
Five Favorite Things – February 2020
My Kitten Callie – I adore her. She has conversations with me and demands to know where I am if she can’t find me. She’s obsessed with giving me cuddles and likes sleeping on top of my head. She loves her sister and makes everyone happy with her instant purring! My Kitten Evie – Evie just wants to make sure every one is happy. Furthermore, she likes to sleep in my bed under the covers with head poking out and everything. Do you know how insanely adorable this is?! She greets me with a giant “MEOW!” every time I come
Cargo – Blush in “Catalina”
Pale girls, look no further. I have found your blush. It’s this sweet baby doll pink that can either give you that just-been-out-in-cold-weather flush or that healthy coloring that tricks people into thinking you work out and eat healthy. It’s great because you have to try really hard to overdo this. Like REALLY HARD. It definitely fits the “buildable color” category more than the “intensely pigmented” side of things. I love that I can slap it on in the morning, without having to be careful with it. Ive reached for it every day this past month, and I’m falling more
5 Favorite Things – October 2019
Seneca Naturals Oatmeal Soap Bar – This has been so gentle to my pissed off skin that I can’t even tell you what a relief it was to use this in the shower. The gentle exfoliation has also been a bit of a game changer to my skin’s health. Deborah Lippmann Venus in Furs Nail Polish – This is so vampy and delicious, its been totally appropriate for the fall weather and the spooky vibes of Halloween. MAC Matte Lipstick in Kinkster – I truly did not expect to actually wear this as often as I have, but it’s fall
Cosmetic Ingredient: Zinc Oxide
You know what? I was supposed to post this in the summer, but I took too long trying to write this post. However, I think it’s quite serendipitous really, because zinc oxide is used in sunscreen. What better way to remind you all that you should keep slathering on the sun protectants even as we are going into the colder months? Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean the sun can’t damage your perfect, beautiful skin! So, tell us, what IS Zinc Oxide? You know that mineral found in nature called zincite? Yes? No? Either way, you derive zinc from it,