So I’ve acquired quite a bit of makeup. A recent trip to New York culminated in multiple swipes, bags full of goodies, post-purchase highs and neglected guilt. A few of these are from India but the majority hails from Sephora, SpaceNK and the beauty floor at Bergdorf’s.
Early on, Vichy Aqualia Thermal Dynamic Hydration Serum piqued my interest. The ingredients appeared safe and the reviews glowing. I have to admit, the bottle itself is very attractive for a periwinkle blue aficionado like myself. While Vichy is widely available in India, this particular serum was nowhere to be found. It was missing even from the Vichy website although the rest of the Aqualia Thermal range was displayed. But I’m a determined online shopper and I managed to find one at Fortis Healthworld. Woes over. I’m happy to report that the serum is every bit as good as the various claims. It’s hydrating, quick to absorb, leaves the skin feeling very soft and even. I face almost no discomfort from the mild fragrance, but it can be a problem for some. Having never ventured beyond moisturisers and facial oils, serums are a welcome addition! I mainly use this in the morning and on many occasions I don’t feel the need for a thick moisturizer over it. It also kept my dry skin hydrated while I was in New York.
On an impulse, I picked up my first Mac Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Nice ‘n’ Spicy from Phoenix Mall in Pune. I totally get the difference now. The Pro Longwear version isn’t wooden like the Lip Pencil, it’s also much creamier, comfortable and easier to glide over the lips. I also noticed it transferred a lot less. Nice ‘n’ Spicy is a great brown toned nude for medium/tan skin. It’s lighter than Whirl with a bit more orange tone to it. By itself or underneath a gloss, the colour is great at warming up my face.
At a Mac store in Manhattan, I surprised myself when I walked out with just one item, a major win for self-control! I had wanted to try the Mac Whirl lipstick ever since it had launched! I use the lip pencil very often and it was a perfect combination I had to have. I’m very pleased with the new Matte formula, it’s not a powdery matte like Ruby Woo but very comfortable and matte enough to not be considered a velvet finish.
Sephora at Times Square was insanely crowded but it’s a trip that had to be made. While I made most of my purchases at other Sephora’s, I picked up this cute palette after fighting through a mosh pit. Most of my purchases were thought of in advance but Marc Jacobs was a brand I hadn’t really considered. It was fun exploring a brand without any predetermined notions of what the best and worst products were. I found the eyeshadows incredible. Buttery soft, so pigmented and very easy to blend. I didn’t want to buy another large palette, I’m still trying to use up the ones I own. I then spotted the tiny palettes and decided to get the Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con No.3 Plush Shadow in The Glam. It contains a warm off white matte shade that’s a great base and transition colour, a dark brown shimmer similar to mac Twinks which is great for all over the eye or at the crease and a coppery shimmer shade that’s a great pop of colour. As far as neutral eyeshadow palettes go, this one is very versatile and sleek. Seriously, the packaging alone is enough to entice you.
After a great day at the Met Museum, I walked right past Space NK before my mind reacted and I walked right back inside. After facing the crowds at Sephora, it was very pleasant to shop at a relatively quiet place. The SAs were so attentive! I was very much in awe of the Diptyque display. While you do get Diptyque in India at MoonRiverStore, purchasing candles and perfumes online isn’t nearly as exciting. After a lot of trials, I settled for Diptyque Eau Duelle. I’m not the best at describing scents but this one is very sniff worthy if you have the chance. It’s a combination of sweet and spicy done right. The sweetness stems from Vanilla which is very creamy, you’re then hit with warm spicy notes of Cardamom and Amber which is surprisingly not powdery. While it can be classified as more of a heavy or winter scent, I do like wearing this in the day. As someone who hates the extremities in fragrances with vanilla or spices, this is a very comfortable middle ground.
I also purchased the mini version of the Oribe Dry Texturising Spray just to see how I get on with it. As much as I hate my dependence on dry shampoos, they’re a necessity and I’m always on the lookout for better ones. I haven’t used this yet as I’m still going through my current Batiste but will update you guys on it soon! Hope it’s worth the price!
At Bergdorf Goodman, my attention was divided between the Charlotte Tilbury and Christian Louboutin counters slyly situated next to each other to trap anyone who walks past it. A lot of swatching and admiration later, I first bought the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow in Light to Medium. While the champagne highlight shade is perfection, I was worried about the sculpt shade being too light for me. The first application is very light and barely shows up on my skin but the great thing about it is that it can be built up without turning ashy! A revelation! It’s perfect for a contour and bronze in between colour with slight greyness and no orange tones. The packaging is stunning and I enjoy using it so much more. I wasn’t someone who contoured regularly but now I look forward to it!
I didn’t find the Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipsticks exceptional but the matte ones are amazing. There are plenty of options when it comes velvet/semi-matte lipsticks but the colours here are hard to dupe. They’re muted and very wearable. I picked up two Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipsticks in Bond Girl and Glastonberry. They generally appear darker in the tube than on the lips; Bond Girl is a red brown nude combo similar to Tom Ford Negligee while Glastonberry is a deep blackcurrant shade. Fair warning, these don’t swatch very well. They can look very sheer in one swipe but they’re very comfortable and buildable on the lips. Also, the rose gold packaging is very distracting and beautiful.
YSL Touche Éclat Blur Perfector is unlike anything I’ve used before. It’s mainly a mattifying silicone balm. I have dry skin but around midday there is a bit of shine around my T-zone and under my eyes. Usually that’s when I’ll put my Chanel Les Beiges powder to work but it’s nice to have options. Specifically under my eyes, a powder can look too obvious, I love that this can mattify but also make my skin look poreless and flawless. The pink tint is thankfully non-existent, the balm is translucent and can be used on all skintones. It’s a bit overpriced for what it is but I suppose you do get incredibly sturdy and adorable packaging in return. Seriously, how can you not love it?
It’s maddening to stand at a Bite Beauty counter because the sheer number of options can lead to a lot of indecision and stained hands. After swatching a lot of brights, I opted for something safe, Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon in Glacé. It’s a mauvey pink, I wouldn’t describe it as a nude as it’s more pink on me. The formula is very creamy and hydrating, completely smooths over lip lines and it has that velvety matte finish. The lip crayon bullet helps with precise application and the packaging is very unique!
That’s it for the haul. I did buy a few more things but I might include it in another haul post some time in the future. Let me know if you’ve used any of these and what you experience has been! Or just let me know what you did haul recently.
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