Something New: It Cosmetics CC+ Color Correcting Full Coverage Cream

 Sometimes I have the hankering to try something new, and when Ulta flashed its 20% off my way I decided I wanted to try a lighter weight foundation. My job as a Physical Therapist leaves my schvitsy at the end of a long day of lifting body parts and mobilizing joints. My Clinique Foundation feels like it slips a bit sitting on top of (or under?) my glistening sweat beads.  I've heard excellent things about It Cosmetics CC+ foundation so I thought I'd give it a try.

 I AM IT!

 The product comes housed in what looks like a squeezy tube but ITS NOT! It actually has a nice little pump leaving me to believe no cosmetic surgery will be needed at the end of this foundations life to get to every last bit of the product. The pump should get the job done. Also one pump dispenses the perfect amount of foundation. I chose the color 'light,' the second from the lightest shade. I think it suits me for the Summer but I may need to bump down a shade in the Winter. I dotted this on my face then blended with a beauty blender.

L: nothing on skin but moisturizer, R: It Cosmetics CC+ cream applied

This foundation ended up being far fuller coverage than I thought it would be for a CC cream. It also lasted all day long and paired well when I added concealer and powder to complete my look.
I think the color ended up being a little bit darker than I thought it would be so I think for the Winter I will go for the lighter shade.

Overall I love this product a lot. It feels light on the skin, provides enough coverage to make me happy, and doesn't break me out. The one drawback: the price tag. This product is $38, but you can always stock up when there is a sale at Ulta or the brands website.

Purchase this product HERE!

xxSJ

My Picks: MAC Buy 2 Get 1 Free Lipsticks- Barbeque, Coral Bliss, and Mehr

L to R: Barbeque, Coral Bliss, Mehr

 MAC giving away product for free?? Must be dreamin' amiright? No need to pinch yourself, ladies and gents. MAC recently ran a superb special where you could buy any 2 lip products and get a third lippie free. I took advantage of this deal and got three lipsticks I have had my eye on for a bit.

 I chose 'Coral Bliss,' a pinkier leaning cremesheen formula, 'Barbecue,' a matte red with bright orange undertones, and 'Mehr,' a matte mauve a la Kylie Jenner lip craze.

All of these colors have quickly moved into my summertime rotation with Coral Bliss being my go to for an easy and bright lip look that goes with any outfit or makeup. Thanks to my friend from PT school Virginia for drawing my attention to this shade! Mehr will transition with ease into the cooler months and Barbeque will be reserved for when I want that stand out pout.

xxSJ

Sample Round-Up! Laura Mercier, Peter Thomas Roth, First Aid Beauty, Origins, and Boscia!

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer 'Radiance'
Full size: $20 / 1 oz
Sample Value: $1.40 for 0.07oz foil packet (3 uses)
This primer was a peachy nude color with some iridescence to it. I thought I would like this under my foundation as a subtle glow but I didn't actually notice its effects. I noticed this also made my foundation ball up and rub off around my hairline and temples by the end of the day. I'm passing on this in future samples and as a future purchase.

Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask
Full size: $52 / 5 oz
Sample Value: $10.40 for 1 oz tube (1 months worth)
This green gel was rather intimidating in the tube but once applied to my face it was ultra moisturizing and cooling. This week has been particularly cold in NYC so I used this face mask to cool my wind burned skin, particularly my nose and chin.  It was intensely hydrating and corrected my facial flakiness within the 10 minutes I had it on. It rinsed off easily with a splash of water. I recommend trying this product out.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
Full size: $30 / 6 oz
Sample Value: $0.30 for 0.06 oz foil packet (4 uses)
This cream felt so wonderful on my skin.  It made my skin silky smooth and immediately corrected dry patches on my chin and nose. My skin sucked this stuff up so fast but the after effects lingered for the whole day leaving my skin moisturized and perfect looking all day! It smells wonderful too. I highly recommend this product based on this sample.

Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream
Full size: $30 / 0.5 oz
Sample Value: $10.20 for .17 oz tube (1 months worth)
I have tried this pearly peach eye cream before and have loved it in the past. I love this small sample just as much.  This little eye cream adds brightness to your undereye and immediately de-puffs leaving a hydrated and awake looking eye area. I really enjoy this product and would recommend snatching up a sample whenever available since this stuff is pricey!

Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel
Full size: $28 / 5 oz
Sample Value: $5.60 for 1 oz container (1 months worth)
Though I found this cleanser to be a bit drying for my skin, it worked wonders in calming down a stress and hormone-related breakout on my chin and jaw line.  I immediately felt a difference after lathering this product on to my skin in the shower (it starts as a slippery gel but lathers up quickly to a gentle foam) and I definitely recommend trying this product out!

Total value for 5 samples: $27.90

Not bad, am I right?
4 out of the 5 samples this week were incredibly enjoyable for me to try out and 3 of them (the FAB moisturizer, the Origins eye cream, and the Boscia cleanser) were must-trys in my opinion!

Remember to try your samples out instead of forgetting about them or throwing them away! You just might find a new favorite buried within the foil packet gold mine ;)

xxSJ

My Fave Eye Cream: Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream

I never really thought I'd be the type of person who would be into eye creams...they just seem so bourgey and meant for old people! All my naive preconceptions changed when I started using the Origins GinZing (Zing!) Refreshing eye cream a couple months back.  This little potion is meant specifically to refresh tired or puffy eyes as it is formulated with caffeine, ginseng, and natural brighteners.

My favorite thing about this eye cream is that it has a really pretty pearlescent quality to it. I think that is what helps the most with refreshing and brightening my tired looking eyes. Especially in the Summer months when I get dehydrated easily and can wake up hot and puffy, this cooling and hydrating eye cream does an amazing job at de-puffing my undereye area and livening up my skin a little bit. My boyfriend lovingly refers to this as the 'magic de-puffer' since he's used it on particularly puffy days as well!

I don't really care for the smell of this product... it just kind of smells like plants. It's also a bit expensive at $30 for 0.5oz of product, but just a tap of this product on your undereye area is enough to get the job done so this should last you!
This is the first eye cream I've ever tried and used regularly so perhaps I'm approaching this topic with out a lot of knowledge but I really like this stuff. Origins is also a great brand that focuses on using ingredients from the earth that will work with all skin types. The less chemicals I have to put on my skin, the better! I think I might try a different eye cream when I run out of this just to broaden my horizons a bit but I may very well come back to this in the future!

xxSJ