Monthly Favorites: April 2023 Edition!

[AlexBT]

Monthly Favorites: April 2023

We’re here at the end of April, and it finally feels like spring! This month, I was lucky enough to take a little break from my desk and take a quick vacay, and in the spirit of packing light, I did some cutthroat prioritization with my beauty routine. What’s the one blush I can’t live without these days? What’s the best goof-proof liquid liner that I can apply with a quick flick? What’s the smallest, cutest powder compact I can possibly find? 🤣 April has been all about the on-the-go essentials for me… but they’re not just for jet-setting!

Here are the products I’ve been reaching for during the month of April:

• amika Mini Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo 1.8 oz/ 79 mL 
• Charlotte Tilbury Mini Airbrush Flawless Finish Refillable Blurring & Setting Powder 
• Gucci Luminous Matte Powder Blush 05 Rosy Beige 
• Urban Decay 24/7 Inks Easy Ergonomic Liquid Eyeliner Pen Whiskey 
• Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Eye Masks 6 x Eye Masks 

Reply below and let us know what products you’ve been reaching for this month, including any new finds from the Sephora Savings Event. 😉  Don’t forget to tag those products with the “#” symbol (hair, makeup, fragrance, wellness, skincare, etc.)!

[faeriegirl]

I’m definitely going to have to try the Gisou oil @itsfi !

[itsfi]

@faeriegirl, the Gisou body oil is a nice one. Not all the Gisou products have performed well for me but the body oil and the lip oil are great. I like how quickly the body oil abosrbs and that it doesn’t leave a film or residue. Hopefully it will be available at Sephora one day; it would make a good trial size promo gwp too.

[Buootiful]

Lovely photo! @itsfi . There are so many great options now for Mineral non-white cast sunscreen 😍.

[itsfi]

Aww, thank you. That’s really kind of you to say. 

I love that there are more and more mineral sunblocks available without that white cast. 👍🏼 It’s nice to have more options. At the same time, it means I keep more sunblock in my rotation. I do put them all to use though. 

[tsavorite]

Very nice photo, @itsfi !  I want to try the CT Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer now.

[itsfi]

Thank you @tsavorite. The CT concealer has surprised me; there’s been many days this year when it’s just been the CT and a lip color. 

[tsavorite]

@itsfi , That's a great recommendation! 

[bakeamuffin]

The Gisou products continue to tempt me and that body oil is another! It sounds fabulous; do you have a favourite body oil @itsfi ? I was thinking about grabbing a mini of the TOM FORD Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil for summer but I’m weighing my options! 

[itsfi]

You always have such great taste @bakeamuffin! Tom Ford Soleil Blanc smells wonderful - it's got that private island/beach getaway vibe to it and is beautiful as an oil with that pretty shimmer! 😍That's a beautiful body oil for special occasions or whenever some pampering is called for. 

For every day, this Gisou Body Oil is nice if you're skin is dry. So is L'Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil or Bio-Oil for a more economical option. I feel like it's got to only be a matter of time before Sephora stocks the Gisou oil. 🤞 I've been reaching for body oils quite a bit this winter and spring (my skin is so dry) and a few I've been enjoying (and that are available at Sephora include Tatcha Hinoki Hydrating Body Oil 3.38 oz / 100 mL (if you like woodsy, hinoki scents), OUAI Rose Hair & Body Oil (for rose / floral scent) or Nécessaire The Body Oil - 100% Organic. 100% Cold-Pressed. (fragrance free). 

I'm interested to know what you decide on, so keep us posted!

[bakeamuffin]

Your recommendations are SO appreciated @itsfi 😄 thank you! My skin has been pretty dry as well, I think including an oil with my body moisturizer might give me the leg up that I need. I know when I started using a facial oil again it helped my texture and overall feeling so much. 

Maybe I will go for that TOM FORD Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil for a fun one (I love that beachy scent!!) and grab another to use daily! I remember I did like that OUAI Rose Hair & Body Oil in the past, but I’m also so curious about the Kiehl's Since 1851 Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil so maybe I’ll just have to play around with some minis! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that Gisou body oil to come to Sephora though, it seems like it would be a fun treat! Thanks again Fi 💛

[itsfi]

@bakeamuffin, if you try the Kiehl’s, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. I use to use their body cream and have heard good things about their body oil.

[AlexBT]

@itsfi Fabulous faves! That Gisou body oil looks dreamy - @GeorginaBT and I are fans of the new lip oil which has a similar curvy bottle. 🍯

[bakeamuffin]

@AlexBT Is the Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil .27 oz / 8 mL worth that price tag? I’ve been so curious about the brand and lip products are some of my favourites but I want to know if it’s hydrating and softening for my lips before I try it out! Would love your thoughts 🙏🏻

[itsfi]

@AlexBT, add me to that fandom! Like you and @GeorginaBT, I’ve been enjoying the  Gisou Honey Infused Lip Oil .27 oz / 8 mL. I had a few days of severely chapped lips and this oil was like a healing balm. Doesn’t hurt how gorgeous the packaging is! 💛🍯

[GeorginaBT]

100% - I want the body oil at Sephora too @itsfi! 😄

[Sunnysmom]

Great favs @itsfi and there’s that darn Dior lip case again! 😭 I hope it’s gone by now! 😆 I need to check out the CT concealer in my quest. Love the flowers/pic! 💞

[itsfi]

@Sunnysmom I need to get my $$$ worth with that Dior case, so she will be making appearances in many a photo. 😂🤣😂 

You're on a concealer quest? Which one(s) have you taken a fancy to? This CT concealer is on the thicker side, consistency wise, but it's still easy to work with and coverage is good - I've been using it a lot in lieu of foundation,  and it has made getting made up and out the door easy breezy! 👍

Thank you; I've been trying out different things with my photos. It's a creative outlet for me, and I try to mix things up a bit while still using things I frequently incorporate in my pics. Will have to put some of the cool new techniques @Samtian is giving us insights into on the A Year of Beauty- Photography Challenge thread! Learning so much and have so much to learn. 

[Sunnysmom]

I will never get sick of looking at your Dior @itsfi ! 😍  Shocked I held off and feeling some fomo as we speak! 😂 I have been yes tho think I’m getting closer to finding some that are working quite nicely.  I will still check out the CT as always wondering if I’m missing the best one for my issues. Lol. I love to use them for all over spotting too. Great natural look! I’ve discovered if I really have a good thick eye cream then almost any I’m using will work pretty well. I think my favs continue to be the new IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Concealer + Serum with Niacinamide & Hyaluronic Acid Light Neutral 2... TOM FORD Traceless Soft Matte Concealer 2N0 Crème MILK MAKEUP Future Fluid Creamy Longwear Hydrating Concealer with Hyaluronic Acid 7NW , Chantecaille Real Skin Stick and J Dempsey stick. I must be missing a few! 😂 Oh and the NYX concealer is pretty great too! Have you tried some of these as well? I seem to like light to medium coverage at the most. ( I also love the Tatcha Firming Eye Serum even on its own which is pretty amazing for my dark circles!)

I love looking at the photog thread! I have sooo much to learn, sigh. You and @Samtian are wizards! 💞

[itsfi]

I haven’t tried any of the ones you mentioned @Sunnysmom. The IT concealer is popular and well liked among many circles but I haven’t tried it yet. The TF I may get around to but it might be similar to the Ole Henriksen and Cle de Peau that I have.  Armani, Cle de Peau, NARS, Laura Mercier are ones I’ve used (still use) and like as well. I didn’t know Jillian Dempsey made a concealer.  

[Sunnysmom]

The TF is light to medium and quite creamy @itsfi , probably similar to your CDP. It’s very skin like. I’ll have to check your list out, thanks! Jillian Dempsey has a little spot stick concealer that can be used all over as well and it’s a bit more dry but very effective I think. Also the color no 4 is good for a corrector and blends nicely with the other shades just fyi. 😊 

[itsfi]

Hahaha, “just fyi”. @Sunnysmom, The Jillian Dempsey sounds like the color would be between the OleHenriksen banana and apricot shades, which sounds promising. 😍