Three Beauty Products I Find Indispensable: Then & Now (11 Years Later!)

Eleven years ago, I thought I was having allergies to my body care and makeup etc.  Turns out it was an allergy to shrimp, crab, lobster etc.  LOL

 Today the products I find indispensable are inexpensive face serums and masks from The Ordinary.  I find that in addition to the wallet friendly price tag, they work very well.  I've been using the Niacinamide serum for, at least, three or four years, now.  It helps keeps breakouts at bay and helps shrink pores.  Because I'm breakout prone, I need a LOT of exfoliation, so I use the Lactic Acid serum.  The peeling solution is interesting and works great!  It looks like blood in the bottle.  (But that doesn't bother me one bit.)  If you've been breaking out, this will help them go away.

Ta-Ta-For-Now!

It's Sophie!!!

Three Beauty Products I'd Like To Try: Then & Now (11 Years Later!)

For the "Now" category, I picked items that matched the category of items I wanted 11 years ago:  Face, Lips and Skincare. None of the brands from 11 years ago are Cruelty Free (not sure if they ever were).  The items for 2020 are all cruelty free.

I picked IT Cosmetics Oil-Free Matte CC+ Cream for traveling.  I hate the feel of putting sunscreen on my face, under my foundation.  This is an all-in-one solution.  Plus it's matte which works well for me in warmer and humid climates.  

I saw Emily Noel (YouTube) demonstrating e.l.f.'s Sheer Slick Lipstick in Black Cherry.  As she said -- it's pretty much a dupe for Clinique's Almost Lipstick in Black Honey.  Not only is the e.l.f. version much more inexpensive; but, e.l.f.'s version is cruelty-free.  Clinique's isn't cruelty free.  

For Edible Beauty's cleansing milk -- not only do I love the packaging, but the description sounds scrumptious: 

This soothing, milky emulsion feels like a breath of fresh air on the skin. Coconut oil gently washes away makeup, surface impurities, and acne-causing bacteria, while balancing moisture levels. Salicylic acid unclogs pores and addresses acne-prone skin. Apple and strawberry extracts reduce the look of discoloration for a more radiant, even-toned complexion. Australian Wattle Seed supports skin elasticity and firmness. Melon and the essential oils of orange and lime infuse the cleanser with an uplifting and refreshing aroma.

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This is my friend's cat, Billy.  He's Luna's brother!

Three Favorite Single Shadows: Then & Now (11 Years Later!)

Looking at my favorite single shadows from 2009, I'm quite surprised at how boring they are.  LOL

The picture that I used for NARS Bombshell is actually a shadow called Euphrate.  It was the closest approximation to Bombshell that I could find.

As you can see, 11 years later, I love more color, particularly red tones.  

I was really into red and orange tones 30 years ago, when I worked in a department store.  You couldn't really find shades like that at the time.  A friend and I loved the orangey eyeshadow looks that were seen on the runway (remember Style with Elsa Klensch on CNN back then?)   We each found a carrot orange blush that a French company named Orlane made and bought one.  I loved it until I would start getting a stye every time I wore it.  Then, I saw Demi Moore with red eyeshadow on the Arsenio Hall show (remember that?) and I had to have some red shadow.  There was a cosmetic company at the time that was part of the Estee Lauder umbrella of brands -- I can't remember to save my life -- but they made custom makeup.  When I visited Boston in '91 or '92, I had them make me a trio of shadows -- one of which was reddish. The point of this story is that I'm glad the colors I love are readily available now!!!

Ta-Ta-For-Now!                 

I think I got these guys in Atlantic City.

Three Perfumes I still want: Then & Now (11 Years Later!)

Have I said, lately, that I'm a perfume addict as well as a makeup addict?

Eleven years later, the types of perfumes that I like are quite different.  I found about Atelier Cologne from watching an Emily Noel video at least five years ago.  Her husband, reviewed Orange Sanguine.  I got myself two different Mini Wardrobe collections that came in tins.  I discovered that the fragrances in the wardrobes were well suited to the hotter and often humid climates that I often traveled to with my husband. 

I'm not very familiar with the Juliette Has a Gun perfume house.  I've been very curious to try them.  Getting the Mini Discovery set would be the perfect way to do that. 

 Ta-Ta-For-Now!

Luna taking advantage of the little step ladder by the sliding-glass-door.

Favorite Foundation, Concealer, Finishing Powder (& Primer): Then & Now (11 Years Later!)

What a long way foundation and concealer etc. has come since 2009!  It used to be that finding a nice, non-cakey full coverage concealer was only a high end cosmetic option.  Nowadays you can get great drugstore options.  Back in 2009, not a whole lot of people were using face primer.  The face primers that were available were usually silicone primers.  (Remember when Monistat Anti-Chaffing Gel was all the rage as an inexpensive option for a face primer?)

In 2009, I was using Clinique because I thought I was having allergies to my makeup and my makeup sponges.  It turns out I was allergic to shrimp & crustaceans in general.  I do not use Clinique anymore because they test on animals.

The KVD Lock-It Foundation has a learning curve as do most high coverage foundations.  Less is more with a foundation like this.  When people complain about cakiness with this and other high coverage foundations, it's usually because they are using WAY too much.  At the very most -- you only need ONE pump.  Use a non-silicone primer and some face mist to help the foundation spread better. You can even mix some of the primer with half a pump of foundation if you would like sheerer coverage (no need to get a separate foundation for that).  I use a nice dense brush with all of my foundations.

The same principle goes for high coverage concealer.  Slathering on high coverage concealer leads to cakiness and creasing.  Less is more.

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Baby Luna!

3 Favorite Blushes: Then & Now (11 Years Later!)

The older I get, the more I love blushes.  I think as one ages, blushes help put some glow back into the face.  I particularly love glowy blushes like Milani Baked Blushes or even Beauty Bakerie's Cotton Candy Champagne palette.  Today, I have a LOT of blushes and blush palettes.  I chose a favorite single blush from each color grouping - nude, warm and cool.  

I still think the blushes by MAC & NARS I chose 11 years ago are beautiful.  But as I said in my last post, I stopped using MAC when they decided to start testing on animals so they could sell their cosmetics in China.  Same with NARS.

Ta-Ta-For-Now!

I named this stuffed animal after one of my friend's kitties (Goblin) before my hubby and I got Luna.  I call him Gobbie-Doll.

3 Favorite Lipsticks: Then & Now (11 Years Later!)

 There was a time when I rarely diverged from red lipstick.  If I did, it was MAC Lipglass.

When MAC decided to start testing on animals in order to sell to China, I stopped buying their cosmetics.  Same with Revlon. I also realized that I did not like the feel of lipglosses and my hair sticking to them when the wind blew.

I have Emily Noel and Jessica Haze to thank for getting me to branch out from my red lipstick addiction.  I have lots of different rusty shades whether they be more on the brown or orange side.  I also have a bunch of nude type shades.  I still love my reds too -- even metallic versions.  The nice thing about the passage of time is the widespread popularity of liquid matte lipsticks.  I don't have a big problem with dry lips etc. -- so I love them!  

Ta-Ta-For-Now!

 The closest thing I have to a sphynx cat doll!