Every now and then, I run across a product I just can't live without. More often than not, it's an expensive one that I have to splurge on. But sometimes I'll find a reasonably priced beauty item that wows me.
With my job, I sanitize my hands a lot, so they get dried out quickly. I'm constantly hunting for a good lotion or hand cream, and I've tried nearly everything. Currently, I use the Hemp Hand Protector (The Body Shop, $18.50) which really moisturizes my hands-- even after handwashing and hand sanitizing-- however, it's got sort of a funky smell to it, and it is a little greasier than I'd like.
On a whim, I tried Sephora by OPI's Restorative Hand Moisturizer. First of all, it's only $5 (and it was on sale for $1.97 at the time!) It has a mild fresh, citrus-y scent, and packs a lot of moisturizing power without being greasy. This one is available in stores, but not via Sephora's website.
The Daily Hand Moisturizer is also a dream. It smells like fields full of white flowers and makes your hands feel amazing... for just $5? $9? (it's $5 in stores... Sephora's website lists the price as $9.)
I don't think I'll be able to be sans these lotions again. I'm devoted. And the price leaves me with more money to spend on eyeshadow! Ha.
Chime in: what's your most reasonably priced must-have?
My skin has been going through a yuck phase. Once upon a time, I had perfect skin; now karma has caught up with me. Now that my husband and I are trying to get pregnant (!) my hormones have gone crazy, and my face has become a tad acne-prone.
Miraculously, this morning, my face was breakout-free (always do your masks when your skin is clear; if it's never clear, don't put a mask over an active blemish, just work around it!) so I decided to try the mask I've been waiting to try: Boscia's Luminizing Black Mask (Sephora, $34).
First of all, it's not a mud; though it has clay in it, it's more of a thick gel. It's also a peel-off mask, which appealed to me because I love the idea of yanking all that dirt and dead skin right out of my pores (which is why I love the pore-unclogging strips). The downside to that is how much of the product you have to use to make it peelable. I'm used to getting several uses out of a mask, but I'm estimating you'd get only about six or seven uses out of this, if you put it on as thickly as they suggest.
I applied the mask thinly in a few places just to see how it would work. In those spots, I couldn't peel it off at all, negating the benefits of a peel-off mask. Even where I applied it thickly, it was tough to remove; lots of picking at my face to get it off, which was unpleasant. When I do any sort of facial treatment, I'm not looking to hurt my face by scratching it up with my fingernails afterward. In total, it took me about fifteen minutes in the bathroom mirror; then I had to use a warm, wet washcloth to remove the bits that wouldn't peel.
After, my skin felt good. Not great, but good. Though it promises instant, visible results, I didn't see a brightening effect at all. It did do a fabulous job of cleaning out my pores, though. Overall, this wasn't a bad product, but I'm glad I went home with a sample instead of shelling out the money for a full size.
Pros:
-Cleans out pores like a charm.
-Neutral scent.
Cons:
-Not enough product in package.
-Hard to remove.
Chime in: what's your favorite mask on the market?