Sammi the Beauty Buff: My Favorite Things: July 2014

Hi, friends! It is time for my monthly favorites post! I can't believe next month is August, and I go back to school in less than a month. My next favorites post will be written at school in Boston! Whoa!

Anyway, let's get on to the good stuff~

AQUAPHOR Lip Repair ($5 for .35oz)

This has become my new nighttime lip balm, since I used up my Vaseline Lip Therapy (see Lip Balm Bonanza: Part 1). This got a mention in my Part 2, because it really does provide immediate relief to chapped lips. I'm perpetually dehydrated (oops) so this is really nice to have on hand. I especially like using it before bed, since that's 8+ (we wish) hours spent not drinking water! And for those of you who don't like using lip products with petroleum since you're habitual lip-lickers, have no fear; this is petroleum free!

CYNTHIA ROWLEY BEAUTY Creamy Lip Stain in Valentine ($20 for .17oz)

Cynthia Rowley recently released a beauty collection and sells it exclusively on the Birchbox Shop. I really love her designs, but she's typically out of my price range (though I got one of her dresses from TJ Maxx for $25--score!). I was excited to see her new beauty line, since now I can enjoy her stuff for a more affordable price. $20 is still a lot for me to pay for a beauty product, let alone a lip product, but I really like this lip stain! I received a sample of it in my Birchbox last month, and it's the perfect bright, pinky coral for summer. I've found that it lasts about 4 hours without eating, but it does pretty okay with drinking once it sets. It does leave my lips feeling slightly dry after an hour or two, but a swipe of lip balm over the top and I'm good as new. I've never ventured too much into lip stains, but now I definitely want to check out the lip stains from other brands. I'm the type of person who always forgets to reapply--I do my makeup before I leave the house and I'm done--so I think I'm the perfect candidate for a lip stain.

STILA Convertible Color in Gerbera ($25 for .15oz)

These cream blushes have been all I've worn for like three months. It's kind of ridiculous. I've mentioned them way too much on this blog (Beauty Profile Tag, May Favorites, Spring Product Picks) but I can't stop! This month, my favorite color has been Gerbera: a pretty coral. I feel like it makes me look more tan, and the color is great for summer. I just tap two fingers into the pan, blend it out on my cheeks, and it looks like I'm glowing from within. Like, I just woke up with this color on my cheeks, what are you talking about? Definitely my favorite formula of cream blush: not too slippery, not too tacky. It's actually perfect.

REVLON Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti ($8.49)

If you saw me this month, I was probably wearing this lipstick with the above cream blush. They just look perfect together! Like every other beauty blogger, I've been obsessed with the Revlon Lip Butters since they came out (see I Love Drugstore Makeup (Tag), 2013 Makeup Favorites). I've owned this for about a year now, and I still think it's the perfect shade for spring and summer. The finish is glossy, but not too glossy, and it still provides a nice wash of color. It can be sheer, but also built up a bit, and the feel is smooth and moisturizing. This looks similar to Juicy Papaya from the Pacific Coast collection of 2013 (the four bright summer colors that are now part of the permanent collection), but this is more orange. I also think this original formula is a little more moisturizing than the four newer colors, so I prefer this one.

CREST Be Vanilla Mint Spark Toothpaste ($3.47 for 4.5oz)

I was recently sent a trio of the new Crest Be toothpastes from BzzAgent to try, and I was weirdly excited about it. You guys know that I don't like using straight-up mint toothpaste since I don't like the burning sensation (I guess I'm sensitive), so I use the Crest Citrus Splash (see Empties post). Years ago, there used to be a Vanilla one that I liked even more, but they discontinued it. I was so excited to see them re-release a vanilla one! This one still leaves you with that fresh feeling after you brush your teeth, but it doesn't make me feel like my tongue is on fire like most mint toothpastes. Hooray! They also make a Chocolate one and Lime one, but although they're tasty, they don't leave me with that minty-fresh feeling that I love.

BODY FANTASIES Cherry Blossom Body Splash ($6 for 8oz)

I was looking around Kmart while waiting for the train one day and I spotted the full-size of this in their fragrance section. It smelled really good for a drugstore body splash (though don't expect any complex multi-note scents), but I figured I wouldn't use a whole bottle of it since I have other body splashes I can wear. Well, when I was in the checkout line, I saw the little 1oz bottle for only $1, so I impulsively added it to my purchase. It smells really good, and it was only $1! I use up body splashes way slower than body lotions, so this little guy will last me a long time. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it!

LOVE & BEAUTY Cat Compact Mirror ($3.80)

A good friend of mine from home got this for me for my 21st birthday! It's so cute! Love & Beauty is Forever 21's beauty brand, and I've heard mixed reviews about their products. The mirror, however, is awesome. It has cats! I also like how it has a mirror on both sides, just for fun.

ALEX AND ANI Silver-Plated Charm Bangles
Compass and Path of Life ($38 each)

I also received these for my 21st birthday, and I've been wearing them every day since. They're the perfect everyday bracelets, that can be stacked with others or worn alone, and I like the sound they make when I move my arm. They're more affordable than Pandora bracelets, and I think that might be why Pandora stores are starting to close. I passed one having a "everything must go, we're closing" sale while walking to work in NYC last week. Ouch.

What were your favorite products this month?

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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

My Favorite Things: July 2014