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Raise your hand if you’re a major creature of habit. *raises hand* Me too. When it comes to makeup, as much as I love trying new products and brands, I tend to stick with my tried and true. There are a handful of brands I always fall back on–Hourglass, Wet n Wild, Colourpop, bareMinerals.
But today we’re talking about the brands I want to branch out and try in 2019. There are a few luxury brands, a couple of high end brand, and a drugstore brand. I don’t know if I’ll get around to trying them all — especially those luxury brands. $$$. But I guess we’ll see.
drunk elephant
I want to kick this off with a pretty popular brand, Drunk Elephant. One of my goals for the year is pay attention to the ingredients I’m using in my skincare–I have some special conditions that require it and I want to make sure ingredients that are sinking into my skin are going to be good for it.
To be honest, I was a little put off by the name and by the packaging. The packaging looked like kid makeup, and I didn’t understand the name? Turns out when elephants eat the marula plant, it ferments in their stomach and get drunk?
But I hear nothing but great reviews about this brand. Their whole thing is formulating products without the ‘suspicious six’ — essential oils, drying alcohol, silicones, fragrances/dyes, sulfates, and chemical screens. Their mindset isn’t that they’re necessarily vilifying these ingredients, but it’s an ‘if there’s a doubt, we take it out’ situation. Which leads me to my main complaint about the brand.
Some of their products include wheat.
And that’s unfortunate, because the first products I want to try from brands are their vitamin C products. But I can’t with this brand because I am allergic to gluten. This is just interesting to me, because Drunk Elephant’s whole thing seems to be excluding problematic ingredients. But anyway–there’s still a few things I want to try from the brand.
the products i’m really eyeing from drunk elephant
Unfortunately I’m going to have to pass on the three products I wanted to try most — the sunscreen, B Hydra Intensive Hydrating Serum, and the C-Firma serum. But I want to try the Protini Polypeptide Cream and the C-Tango eye cream.
la mer
I have wanted to try La Mer products since I first watched Legally Blonde, and Elle Woods had a jar of the Creme de la Mer on her vanity during the opening credits. It has always seemed that everyone who I thought exuded immense sophistication used La Mer. But it is hella pricey. I don’t have high hopes for trying much of the brand in the new year, but you never know. Sometimes I black out and when I come to, I have a package at the door.
but what makes it worth the $$$ ?
From what I’ve gathered, La Mer was started by a physicist who suffered burns in a lab accident. It took about 12 year, but he found a fermentation process that transformed sea kelp and other pure ingredients into a ‘miracle broth’ that would help transform the look of his skin.
the products I’m eyeing from La Mer
So the brand has makeup that I’d love to try, but ya’ll I just can’t do it. The foundation is $120, powder is $95, and the freaking lip balm is $60! You read that right.
If I were every to shell out the cash for La Mer, I’d definitely want to focus on the skincare. If I actually do venture into this luxury brand, Sephora has a set called ‘Merry Little Miracles.’ I think I’d start there. It contains samples of The Treatment Lotion, Creme de la Mer, The Eye Concentrate, and The Regenerating Serum. I love sets like this for the purpose of trying the products to see if I even like them enough to pay full price, especially when a full size moisturizer is $300.
charlotte tilbury
I have been lusting after Charlotte Tilbury products for the longest time. Her Instagram makes me want to be her BFF and wish she could do makeup on the daily (and call me daahling). I haven’t purchased anything because it’s a little pricey and honestly always forgot to go to her website. But now that Charlote Tilbury is available at Sephora, I think 2019 is the year!
products I’m eyeing from Charlotte Tilbury
To be perfectly honest, I want to try everything from her line, but I’m not drowning in cash. I think the first couple of things I want to try are the Light Wander foundation, Airbrush Flawless finishing powder, lipstick in ‘Pillow Talk,’ and the Film Star Bronze & Glow. But I also want to try the blushes.
I really want to try her Magic Cream to see if it actually is as magical as they say, but it costs a pretty penny. And for now, I think I’ll ease into the brand with makeup.
I’m not immediately interested in the eye shadows. They look gorgeous, and I’m sure they perform beautifully, but I’ve also heard they aren’t really worth the high price tag. I’m sure I’ll try them eventually, but not right now.
clarins
To be fair, I’m pretty familiar with Clarins. I’ve used some of their products (like the Blue Orchid face oil) for years. But what I haven’t tried is any of the brand’s makeup products.
Something I’m noticing about myself as I get older is I don’t like punchy color. In high school and a lot of college, I didn’t like eye shadow unless it was bright and noticeable, lipstick unless it was ultra-pigmented, or blush unless you could tell I was wearing it. But now, I like my makeup to look a little more natural, a little more sophisticated and mature. And that’s why I think I never glanced at makeup from Clarins. It was always a little too mature. Until now.
products I’m eyeing from Clarins
They don’t have a lot of makeup, but they have enough to spark my interest. I was immediately interested in the SOS primer. You know how I love illuminating creams, and that’s exactly what this primer is. Not only will this product prime my skin, but it has illuminating properties as well–and it is available in different shades for different concerns. I’d opt for 00, the original, or 05, lavender.
I’d also like to try some of the lip products, their foundation, and the concealer.
biossance
As I said, I’m trying to be more cautious and conscientious about the ingredients I’m using in my skincare, so I’m constantly researching cleaner brands. Biossance has been one I’ve been drawn to, mainly because of disruptive Instagram ads.
what the heck is squalane?
Biossance’s claim to fame is their 100% plan-based squalane skincare. And I know, ‘what the what?’ I didn’t know what it was either. So, follow me here, squalane comes from squalene. Squalene is part of our skin’s natural moisture, but the amount retained decreases as we age. Squalene itself is really unstable, so it gets hydrogenated and converts to a skin friendly and safe squalane.
Most squalane is derived from squalene from shark liver and olives, among other plants. But harvesting from sharks is detrimental in terms of environmental impact, and harvesting from olives can be unreliable. So Biossance developed squalane from 100% plant-based, renewable sugarcane.
But now that the science lesson is over: it is instantly hydrating and lock in moisture. And it’s in all of their products.
the products I’m eyeing from Biossance
The first thing on my list is their SPF, then a deodorant, then a face mist and cleansing oil.
thrive causemetics
Like using good ingredients, I want to support companies that do good throughout the community and for others. I caught wind of Thrive from on of my favorite Youtubers who is always raving about the brand. Everything is cruelty free and formulated without parabens or sulfates.
What really drew me into the brand was their ‘Beauty With A Purpose’ initiative. For every product purchased, Thrive donates products. proceeds, or service to women around the world. On November 17, 2018, they donated 100% of proceeds to help those impacted by wildfires in California (over $250,000!).
And I want to be a part of that.
products I’m eyeing from Thrive
I want to get my hands on that CC Cream, their mascara, and the Headliner lipsticks.
flower beauty
And finally we have my lone drugstore brand. I try a lot from the drugstore, but I haven’t tried a single thing from Drew Barymore’s Flower Beauty line. I always hear amazing reviews about the products, but I haven’t had it in a store near me so I forget about it. But I am planning on placing a Flower Beauty order on Ulta sometime soon.
products I’m eyeing from Flower Beauty
What always draws me to the brand are the color stories in their eye shadow palettes–the Austin Wanderlust palette to be specific. I’ve also been into cream products lately, and they have the Blush Bomb Color Drops, which look like they may be similar to the Cloud Paints from Glossier? I’m very interested in those. I’d also like to try a few lip products and the loose powder.
Wow! That was a long post. If you’ve made it this far leave me the brand you want to try this year (and any recommendations if you’ve tried anything on my list.)
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