Apparently this blog has become more of a "give me advice on products" blog and less of an anything else blog. And, well, so be it. I'm running short on actual material and here's hoping you're running extra on helpful input.
See, a few months ago I realized investing in good makeup/skin- and hair-care products isn't a luxury but a necessity. I spent YEARS traipsing through the aisles of Target, trying to find the perfect gloss, eyeshadow, body-wash, etc, and would feel absolutely AT A LOSS when each item tended to disappoint. Dishing out an extra $5 in some cases (and, yes, $20 in others) has made all the difference in how I feel about myself. (Not to mention how much I've actually saved by not buying EVERY SHADE of Maybelline eyeshadow, only to hate each and every one.)
I recently spent $23 on a lip gloss and although that's quite a lot, I know, it was also quite worth it. Sure, some products found at CVS are just fine—after trying a handful of higher-priced mascaras, I decided Loreal makes the perfect one for me—but shelling out a few extra dollars is usually worth it, especially when your husband takes you out for your anniversary dinner and says "you look great" rather than "you look tired—if you're tired we can do this tomorrow night."
There are still a few things I'm stumbling around Sephora in search of, though, which is why you're here, glued to your screens by such scintillating prose.
I'm going to name a product I'm still on the prowl for and you're going to suggest what's worked phenomenally for you. (Please?) And, rest assured, I'm going to think long and hard (come February 7) about what I really need and what we can really afford. (Also, I frequent Amalah's Advice Smackdown and plan to revisit, so I'm that much closer to a flawless makeup regimen.)
Without further ado:
- Eye-makeup remover
- Shampoo/conditioner—I'm leaning towards going back to Aveda, after a LOT of misses including one really disappointing month of Big Sexy Hair—a product that made my hair neither voluminous nor sexy but instead sort of frumpy and heavy.
- Blush—I'm also this close to buying Nars Orgasm* blush so can you convince or sway me?
- Body wash—I go into Bath & Body Works a few times a year, stock up on products I don't really love and always wish I could find another line to invest in.
- Running clothes/shoes—I'm kicking off the Couch to 5K soon.
- Perfume—I'm still leaning towards Stella, but I'm not quite sure yet. Also, I know a scent can smell quite different dabbed on your neck than on mine, but some are just really incredible and some are hardly good enough for Molly.
- Moisturizer/Cleanser—So far Purity isn't knocking any socks off (perhaps because I so rarely wear socks) but I'm giving it more time. Until I've formed an opinion, what are YOU using?
And because it's nice to bring something to the table when other people are so obviously bringing a lot, here's a picture of the low-fat chocolate chip muffins I made last night:
(Picture taken from the recipe page, not from my kitchen, and you can easily tell by this photo's lack of empty Fresca cans.)
If you eat one, right out of the oven, the chips really are that gooey and the whole thing really is worth a return to Weight Watchers after a month-long absence.
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*As if the Google searches in my stats aren't creepy enough, I had to offer more ammo.