Monthly Favorites: August 2023 Edition!

[AlexBT]

Monthly Faves: August 2023!

Happy late summer, fellow BIC-ers! Team BIC was working remotely for the first half of the month (preparing to move into our new Sephora HQ!) so I bounced around a bit and enjoyed a change of scenery away from my typical desk setup. ✈ Exploring new places is fun, but there’s something so comforting and satisfying about coming home and getting to settle back into my routine again. No shade to all our fave minis (we had so much fun during ourMajor Minis Challenge!), but there’s nothing quite like having access to all my full-size beauty must-haves from my home stash after a few days of being limited to the pared-down regimen I’ve managed to fit into my carry-on!

Here are the products I’ve been loving this August:

• Danessa Myricks Beauty Infinite Chrome Flakes Multichrome Gel for Eyes & Face Monarch 
• Farmacy Lip Smoothie Vitamin C + Peptide Lip Balm Apple 
• MATTER OF FACT BRIGHTENING + FIRMING SERUM with 20% Vitamin C + Ferulic Acid 1 oz / 30 ml 
• SEPHORA COLLECTION Silicone Scalp Massager 
• Yves Saint Laurent Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick 02 healthy glow plumper and Yves Saint Laurent Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick 15 Showcasing Nude 

Your turn, Community! Hit the reply button and tell us about your August favorites. Be sure to tag those products with the “#” symbol (hair, makeup, fragrance, wellness, skincare, etc.)!

[ather]

@itsfi  I agree!! No muss no fuss no coconut 🥥 lol

[eshoe]

Oooh nice favorites, @ather! The scent on the Amy Colé is so yummy, isn't it? Happy you were able to get another shade, I hope you get it in Canada soon 🙂

[ather]

@eshoe  It is so yummy! I think it’s a must for lip products!!! 

[eshoe]

[alexasteph]

Here are a few things I’ve really enjoyed or been extra impressed with this month: 

Three CT products, two are new and one is an old favorite I’ve been reaching for a lot lately. The Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Satin Shine Lipstick in The Duchess has been my go-to daily pink lip. I added Charlotte Tilbury Daily Glow Toner with Niacinamide 5 oz / 150 mL and Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer SPF 50 1.0 oz / 30ml to my skin care routine this month to replace some other products that ran out, and I just feel like it’s created a much better base for my makeup than what I was using. 

Next, I’ve been really impressed with Tower 28 Beauty MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara Jet this month. My mascara was running quite low, and I didn’t really feel like buying a new tube. I happened to have this from a SF set and just didn’t use it because I wasn’t ready to open a new mascara. Well, I was ready and I’ve been very happy with it. 

[AlexBT]

@alexasteph So many Charlotte Tilbury hits! I've been meaning to try her setting spray -- it's next on my list when I run out of my Iconic London Prep-Set-Glow Hydrating Glowy Setting Spray 

[itsfi]

I’m a fan of Tower 28 and have heard many their mascara is really good, @alexasteph. It’s so nice to come across a new product you end up liking. 

[ather]

@alexasteph  the T28 is one of my favs! Once I stop getting lash lifts I will be crawling back to this one! 

[CynthieLu]

Your top Tilbury picks sound like they are winning for you. @alexasteph 😊. A good base is sooo important. 💖

[greeneyedgirl107]

I went through a whole tube of Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions, so I guess it was a favorite.   I like the glossiness, how easy it is to remove and the overall effect.   I wish it were a tad more volumizing, but it's better than what I was using before.   I went through it pretty quickly which I'm not loving since I'm used to paying $5 for Essence brand mascara and having it last longer. 

[AlexBT]

@greeneyedgirl107 love that you've found a new mascara fave!

[itsfi]

@greeneyedgirl107, I've heard good things about that Thrive mascara. That's awesome that you've gone through an entire tube. 👍

[ather]

@greeneyedgirl107  That’s awesome it sounds amazing! 

[CookieGirl1]

@greeneyedgirl107 Wow, that's odd because I feel like a tube of that lasts me FOREVER!  I mean, I'll be honest--I kept one going for about a year (and yes, I know, that's mascara taboo) and used it on my lower lashes every day.

[greeneyedgirl107]

@CookieGirl1 I thought it was odd as well.  I asked a friend how long one lasts her and she sd about 2 months.   

[CookieGirl1]

@greeneyedgirl107 that's so weird.  I'm using one now and I know that I've had it going for about 4 months (again, mascara taboo, lol).

[ather]

@AlexBT  Wow it sounds like you had an amazing summer so far! I refuse to believe it’s almost over!! Great favs! I need to check out that MATTER OF FACT BRIGHTENING + FIRMING SERUM with 20% Vitamin C + Ferulic Acid 1 oz / 30 ml  sounds amazing! 

[AlexBT]

@ather I've just started using it, so it's hard to speak to the results, but the consistently of it just feels like it's working, you know what I mean? 😂

[ather]

@AlexBT  Of course!! Definitely checking to see if it’s on my site so I can add to my cart! 

[itsfi]

Welcome back @AlexBT! Hope you're all settled into a routine! Love, love, loooove those YSL Candy Glaze lip gloss sticks; the packaging is absolutely gorgeous (I love the silver look) and the formula is fantastic - glossy, good color, and nourishing. 😍

It's been a warm August, warmer than it typically is in the Bay this time of year, as far as I can remember. While I've picked up some new beauties this month, I haven't had a chance to try them out long enough to justify calling them a favorite. These are the tried-and-true products I've reached for over and over again this month.

August 2023 Favorites

Spoiler

Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid is a lightweight gel serum that hydrates my skin while giving it a healthy, dewy glow! I've been layering this over the Eadem Dark Spot Discoloration Serum most nights and my skin has been loving the pairing.

Sweet, fresh and bright, NEST New York Seville Orange Perfume Oil Rollerball 0.20 oz / 6 mL NEST New York Seville Orange Perfume Oil 1 oz is a frequent go-to fragrance for me in the warmer seasons and it's certainly been one I've reached for a lot this month - to wear on its own or layered with other fragrances. 

My lashes have thinned out as I've gotten older. le sigh. All part of the aging process, but it's Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum Mini .033 oz / 1 mL  to the rescue! 👍 While I still have a ways to go for fluffy, voluminous lashes, the Grande Lash serum has gone a long way at increasing the number, length and volume of my eye lashes! 

With warm weather and (uncharacteristically) high humidity having kicked into high gear this month, I've been keeping my skincare and makeup to a minimum, with lighter and thinner formulations. I love how lightweight and thin the consistency is on the Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Mineral Milk Sunscreen SPF 30 1.7 oz / 50 mL  Summer Fridays SPF - it works beautifully to protect my skin from the sun's rays, all while being sheer and airy. It also wears well over my skincare and under my makeup. 

As with most things, consistency is the key to seeing results. The same holds true for gua sha, which I've been working on doing this month for self-care. SEPHORA COLLECTION Rose Quartz Gua Sha is a nice one for gua sha beginners and veterans alike. The cooling feel of the tool is also a nice touch in this warm weather. 

Last but definitely not least, is the Sephora winky girl mini fan from the summer gratis package. 💖 Oh, this beauty has come in handy this summer and has been a workhorse for me over the last coupe of weeks with the heat and humidity. Huuuuuge thank you to @TeamBIC for this handy dandy beauty!

[eshoe]

The Nest sounds like the perfect summer scent, @itsfi. And there seems to be no shortage of love for those YSL candy glazes 😄