Hi there! It’s been a minute since I’ve written a Beauty Obsessions post, but I can assure you I’ve been trying lots of things over the past couple of months.
Today on the blog I’m sharing the beauty products I tried and liked in September and October.
Shop each product by clicking on the links or at the bottom of this post.
HAIR
Oribe Serene Scalp Exfoliating Scrub
I shared some first impressions of Serene Scalp Exfoliating Scrub on Instagram Stories back in September and have continued to use this scrub once a week. Here’s the 4-1-1: this gentle hair scrub sloughs off dirt, build up, and oil from your scalp so that your roots can grow healthy, shinier hair.
I love the thin tip so that you can dispense the product directly onto your scalp. Over time, my scalp has generally felt cleaner, and that’s with daily use of dry shampoo.
Davines Oi Oil
I’ve been dabbling here and there with hair oils since summer, and I think Oi Oil by Davines might be my favorite, mostly because it smells phenomenal.
It’s also very lightweight, and hydrated the ends of my hair without feeling oily, heavy, or tacky.
Results of using Oi Oil: shiny, healthier ends of my hair. It also helps tame general frizz and flyaways when I need.
SKIN
Bliss Renew + Smooth Serum
You know I love skin care, so there had to be some new things in this post!
Bliss is one of my favorite affordable skin care brands. Back in September I partnered with them to try out their newest serum, Renew + Smooth Serum, for 14 days to see how it transformed my skin. (You can watch the video of my 2-week skin journey here.)
For me, the big WOW factor was my t-zone area. At the beginning of my test-run, I had congestion and bumpy texture that flattened out to smoother skin thanks to the Glycolic Acid in this serum.
It’s only $23 and actually worked, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t share this little guy with you.
Lancer Soothe & Hydrate Serum
My skin always goes wild when it hits fall. Los Angeles gets hottest in September and October, and then really dry thanks to Santa Ana winds (AKA hot wind).
I started incorporating this serum by Lancer into my routine on days when I’ve felt particularly dry or dehydrated. You can use it alone for an extra boost or add in a few drops with your moisturizer. It contains hyaluronic acid, which can hold 1,000 times its weight in water, so it’s ultra hydrating and a little goes a long way.
I love Lancer products, so was super excited to try this out. It’s very hydrating with instant results/relief, plus there is no fragrance to it, which I love. Use it day or night.
MAKEUP
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish
During fashion week in NYC, I got my makeup done at the Charlotte Tilbury counter in Bloomingdale’s, where I discovered Magic Vanish. The makeup artist used this on me, and honestly, I don’t know why I hadn’t found this sooner.
When I get tired, I tend to get really dark under my eyes, and this was my savior. Somewhere between a color corrector and concealer, I put this under my eyes when I need. Like the name suggest, my dark circles magically vanish. This is not an understatement, I promise.
Magic Vanish comes in a handful of shades depending on your skin tone; I use the medium. This has become a holy grail item in my makeup bag and truly a game changer for my under-eye area.
ETC.
John Masters Organics Lip Calm
Sometimes, you just need something simple like a lip balm. Truthfully, I’ve never been picky about my lip balms and I kind of have just used whatever. From ChapStick to EOS to SunBum, I pick up whatever I see when I need a refill.
But after trying these Lip Calm balms from John Masters Organics, my lips have really been missing out. Long story short, these are extremely hydrating oil-based balms that glide on smoothly.
Whenever my lips get chapped, I usually have to re-apply lip balm many times throughout the day, and I feel like I do that less with these. Simple, yes – and something I’ve never really thought about – but I love these.
NARS Audacious Fragrance
Okay, so this NARS Audacious Fragrance was a shock for me because I usually just go to NARS for lipstick. But this perfume truly was a pleasant surprise and I’ve been rotating it in with my other scents.
It’s a nice mix of floral, sandalwood, and cedar. So, it’s not too flowery (which I don’t like) and not too musky (which lots of other people don’t like).
Since the holidays are coming up, save this as a “yes” to a good scent that is probably delightful to lots of nostrils due to it’s combination of different notes. (Or, TBH, treat yourself because why not.)
Nice work, NARS!
Awake Beauty Dream Mist
When I went to Bali in June I bought some sleep/pillow mists there, and after that I’ve been totally hooked on these sprays. I don’t use this every night, but I spray Awake Beauty Dream Mist on days when I’ve been busy, frazzled, all over the place, and need to calm down before bedtime.
This spray has a blend of essential oils to help relax you before bedtime, along with other calming ingredients you’re probably familiar with like lavender and chamomile. It has a similar relaxing effect as drinking chamomile tea before bedtime. Just spray it on your pillow, inhale a few times, and off to dreamland you go!
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