Sensitive Haul: What We Bought in July
Another month, another super-reasonable and not at all embarrassing amount of money spent on skincare and makeup. Here’s what we bought, what we loved, and what we totally and completely hated.
Love This: SK-II Facial Treatment Mask
One might argue that I have absolutely nothing in common with Behati Prinsloo, Cate Blanchett, or Katie Bosworth. And before this month, they’d be absolutely right. But now I can safely say that me and my BFFs Hati, Blanche, and K-Boz (too soon?) all use these unscented, unapologetically expensive sheets masks by SK-II. After a 20-minute session of looking like Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky, these serum-soaked masks leave me looking like a million bucks – and sadly come with a price tag to match. K.J.
Love This: Vanicream
When I’ve tried one too many products and my skin is telling me to cut the shit, there’s one simple standard I know I can always fall back on. I first found out about Vanicream from my dermatologist after an unfortunate Drunk Elephant-induced eczema outbreak (a story for another time). Of course this no-nonsense drugstore buy is nothing special but that’s also kind of the point. It’s free from dyes, fragrance, parabens, formaldehyde – basically everything – so my temporary dumpster fire of a face can get the moisture it needs without the fear of another topical aftershock. K.J.
Love This: Becca Ultimate Coverage Concealer
Cool thing about me: I look like a dead person. This is mainly because I have eye bags that are the exact shade and size of the Heart of the Ocean. And these guys will not let go. I’ve had them to varying degrees since, what, third grade? While they do bolster my fuck-off persona, I don’t always love them. For those times when I leave the house, I do love Becca’s Ultimate Coverage Concealer. Super-thick and pale enough for my Wednesday Addams complexion (sup, banana shade), it doesn’t crease and it blends easily when you’re well moisturized. B.B.
Fuck That: Vintner’s Daughter
Beauty bloggers, Goop-enthusiasts, and essentially anyone who believes in giving up an arm and a leg for the sake of green beauty talk about Vintner’s Daughter like it’s the goddamned holy grail. And maybe it was the suspiciously positive reviews or the fact that I so desperately want to believe in face oils but this month I decided to finally give it a shot. Cut to me realizing I just spent $185 on what is basically the best smelling zit creator on the market. K.J.
Love This: RMS Lip2Cheek
I’ll say it first, I’m not good at cleaning my brushes. Obviously I know better than to put a dirty makeup brush on my sensitive AF face. So when time is short and laziness is high, I am now reaching for a glass pot of RMS Lip2Cheek. Cruelty free, noncomedogneic, and hypoallergenic, this finger-friendly blush cream carries the same pigment I expect from a powder while also saving me from basic adult responsibilities (e.g. brush washing). It’s easy to apply, buildable, and best of all doesn’t break me out. K.J.
Love This: Lavanila Sport Luxe Deodorant
On and off, I’ve embarked on a quest for deodorant that isn’t (allegedly) going to kill me. Results have been mixed, and usually I end up getting back together with Dove when my flings don’t compare. Here’s why. Natural deodorants tend to do one of two things to my armpits. Either they don’t work – like at all – or they do this thing where they make my armpit skin peel. Yes, peel. As if the sun scorched my underarms during a very specific tanning sesh, and I have entered the Goldmember stage of skin falling off. It’s gross. However, I recently found a third kind: Lavanila’s Sport Luxe Deodorant, an athletic-grade stench-blocker that works at the gym, at sweaty outdoor music festivals, and in dragging afternoon meetings. No touch-ups, no aluminum, no parabens. They don’t test on animals. And my armpit skin? It’s totally intact. B.B.
Fuck This: Cover FX Perfect Pencil
As a devoted practitioner of Lisa Eldridge’s pinpoint concealing technique, this twist-up stick concealer from a brand I trust seemed like a no-brainer. You can deposit the subtlest dot of highly concentrated, zit-masking makeup – in theory. In practice, not so much. I gave the Cover FX Perfect Pencil a shot with three different moisturizers of varying oiliness, creaminess, and sunscreeniness, and this wound up looking chalky (even on small spots!) with all of the above. B.B.
