Monthly Favorites: July 2021 Edition!

[GeorginaBT]

Hope you are having a lovely summer so far, BIC! ☀️ Does anyone else’s beauty routine change drastically according to the weather? ✋ During the warmer months, I gravitate towards skincare products that keep my oiliness at bay (oily donuts unite!), and makeup formulas that last all day while I’m out in the sun. Now, the Beauty Insider Community would love to know: what products have you been loving recently? All hair, fragrance, skincare, makeup, and wellness product recommendations are welcome! I’m sure I’m not the only one adding everyone’s favorites to my Loves list for future purchases. 😉

Here are my July favorites:

• ILIA True Skin Medium Coverage Serum Foundation with Niacinamide 
• PATRICK TA Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo She's So LA 
• Selfless by Hyram Salicylic Acid & Sea Kelp Pore Clearing & Oil Control Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL 
• SEPHORA COLLECTION Solid Deodorant in Coconut + Aloe  (shoutout to @Ispend2much6 for the rec! 🙏)
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Original 

Hit the “Reply” button below to share what beauty products you’ve been reaching for the most lately and use the “#” symbol to tag your Sephora faves!

[CookieGirl1]

@haleyvvvv I can't even explain why but I really want to try Kerastase; I think I'm just not sure which products I want to try because there are so many!

[haleyvvvv]

So many products!! I went through a DS of these, but I wish they had more travel sized options to try, @CookieGirl1!!

[CookieGirl1]

@haleyvvvv If only the FS versions weren't so expensive...I have a hard time just "trying" a bunch of them for the price.

[greeneyedgirl107]

@CookieGirl1 I remember @GG84 posting that Redken has some similar products to Kerastase (they're owned the same company).  So maybe that will help with budgeting.  I was all set to buy an expensive Kerastase mask when she rec'd Redken's All Soft Heavy Cream Super Treatment - it was amazing.

[ather]

@haleyvvvv  That’s awesome! I need to try it!! 

[WinglessOne]

Huh, I didn’t think I’d have many makeup faves for July until I started pulling things I’ve worn the most. 

I should start using my full size Bobbi Brown Golden Pink shadow stick so I don't use up the mini travel size. 😄

Notes & swatches: 

Spoiler

Eyes 

For most of July—on days I’ve felt up to wearing eye makeup—I’ve worn matte liner on part(s) of the lash line, shimmery cream shadow or liner in the inner corner and inner half of lid, and a matte powder shadow for colorful crease and outer corner smoke. For this quick and easy look, I’ve exclusively used these products all month: 

• LH Cosmetics Crayons - Rather than cram all shades I own into a photo, I chose the 6 I’ve used most this month: Zhao Flash, Ory Flash, Avoir Flash, Guilty Mood, Delighted Mood, and Brown Core. 
• Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow Stick - Shades Golden Pink and Dusty Mauve are the only 2 I’ve used this month. They’re also the shades I usually travel with. 
• Vesca Moonlit Dream Cream Shadows - These remind me of the Hourglass Scattered Light shadows, except they feel a bit nicer to me. I’ve used all 4 shades but reached for Carina most often. 
• Viseart Eyeshadow Palette 08 Editorial Brights - I meant to test LH’s rainbow palette this month, but kept reaching for good ol’ Editorial Brights instead. Still my favorite rainbow palette for its high quality, solid performance, and versatility. 

Swatches of Vesca and Bobbi Brown cream shadows, plus LH Cosmetics Crayon liners.

Brushes 

Though I can finger-apply the cream shadows mentioned above, I've preferred using these brushes. Three are familiar faves and one is very new to me. 

• Rephr 29 flat liner does a good job smudging the LH eyeliners. (This is the new-to-me brush.) 
• Rephr 23 detail pencil rocks at applying powder to the inner corner and bottom lash line for my eye shape and size. 
• SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Crease Brush #19 blends cream shadows well, and is great at blending creams & powders together on my hooded lids. 
• Sonia G. Blender Pro remains my favorite blender for powder shadows. 

Lips 

I’m still masking when indoors around people (stores, public transit, food/coffee pickups, doctor offices, etc.) or outdoors in crowded areas. But on days I wear a KN95 instead of a cloth mask + filter, I wear lipstick under the mask. I don’t care if no one ever sees the lipstick. I know it’s there, and that’s good enough for me. (Eh, I wear makeup primarily for myself instead of other people.) 

This month, various shades of PAT McGRATH LABS Lip Fetish Divinyl Lip Shine and PAT McGRATH LABS Lip Fetish Sheer Colour Balm (both the original 1st gen and slimmer 2nd gen lines) have gotten lots of use. I’ve used shades Ultra Vixen, Full Fantasy, Belle Amour, Dark Romance, and Electric Lotus the most. 

Also, 2 skincare faves: 

These used to be seasonal in my routine, but I might make 'em year-round permanent.

Neogen Dermatology Real Ferment Micro Essence - Since I brought this back into my PM skincare routine, my face and neck have been very thankful for the skin strengthening and extra hydration boost. I'm not sure why I wasn't using this year-round... I think I had too many other things to test, so I stopped using it for several months. Now I'll keep it as a staple in my routine. 

Paula's Choice CLEAR Oil-Free Moisturizer 2 oz/ 60 mL - In the winter it’s not moisturizing enough for me, but it’s been great this summer. And it pairs wonderfully with my nightly retinaldehyde serum, which contains evening primrose oil. Thanks to this combo (and probably also the Neogen essence), I wake up with ridiculously soft skin. I won't use it during the day once the weather chills, but I think I'll keep using it at night—well, as long as I also use the Avene retinal. 

[tjffc]

@WinglessOne Wow.  What a nice collection of favs!  I have that Sephora brush too.  I was pleasantly surprised by the end result of make-up after using it.  Have fun.

[WinglessOne]

Thanks @tjffc ! Along with many other folks, I originally got a Sephora Pro No. 19 brush as gratis from Sephora. I liked it enough to buy myself a second one days later. Unlike many other brushes with a similar tapered shape, this one's just the right density and size for me. 👍 Glad you love it too! 

[ather]

@WinglessOne  Wow awesome favs. I also love my Sephora collection 19 brush!!! Also thanks for the reminder to pull out my Bobbi Brown green eye sticks. I forgot how awesome they are!! 

[WinglessOne]

Thanks @ather ! I missed Bobbi Brown's fun shadow stick colors like Forest. I hope they release shades like that again this year! I do have several of Laura Mercier's fun colors, but I find BB's shadow sticks stay in place better without primer. 

[Ispend2much6]

@WinglessOne. I loved Forest! I think I still have two. I love how it looks paired with golden pink.

[ather]

@WinglessOne  Yea I have some of the more fun colours! When did they stop making the fun ones? I feel like I bought a few then they last me so long I never go back and check again. 

[CookieGirl1]

@WinglessOne how ironic!  I was looking at the Neogen essence the other day and thinking of picking it up.  That's encouraging that you feel like it's THAT good :).

[WinglessOne]

@CookieGirl1  I hope it works well for you if you try it! I think I hadn't used it much since 2019, when I switched to testing a couple other toner/essence type products. I'd almost forgotten why I like the Neogen essence. 😄 I see Neogen direct has it on sale right now, so I might grab an early restock. 

[danielledanielle]

@GeorginaBT, that Patrick TA blush screams beach day ⛱️

My July Fireworks

My Sparkler 🎇Still loving #Too Faced Born This Way The Natural Nudes Eyeshadow Palette . I've never taken to a nude palette this way, it's got the right combo of shimmers and mattes for me.

The Roman Candle:

Iconic London Sheer Bronze Liquid Bronzer Caramel Glowfrom the Sephora Favorites Fresh Face Refresh Makeup Set .  It's perfect for evening out lighter foundations and it blends so seamlessly.

Cherry Bomb:

SEPHORA COLLECTION Makeup Match Angled Liner Brush.  Now I've gotten used to it, I've been using it as a brow brush and my brows are sharper than ever.

 Salute:

SEPHORA COLLECTION Colorful Gloss Balm Lip Honeys 42 Manuka.  Still on sale, btw!  A nice, easy to apply, smooth and shiny gloss with a touch of sweetness.

Bottle Rocket:

Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Damage Repair Hair Mask Treatment 3.3 oz/ 100 mLCan't say if 100% this has been a game changer, but I've liked the results thus far, leaves my hair shinier after use.

[GeorginaBT]

@danielledanielle Yes!!! The Patrick Ta blush is perfect for the "just-stepped-out-of-the-sun" look in the summer ❤️ Gotta try the Olaplex mask for myself. My hair has been a little dull lately - I'll take all the shine help I can get! 

[ather]

@danielledanielle  The TF nude palette is soooo good. I’m pretty much a nude kinda girl all the time but that one is definitely one of my favs!! And you can never go wrong with Olaplex right! I’ve heard another one is coming out soon or already out. I need to look into it!

[danielledanielle]

I LOVE IT SO MUCH @ather , it goes peeerrrrfeecttly with PAT McGRATH LABS Venus in Fleurs Luxe Eyeshadow Palette: Voyeuristic Vixen , but it also is a solid stand-alone palette.  I can go really simple, smoky, smoky glam.  I can even pull out a cool look with the lighter shades.

I'm trying to ease up on my buying, but ooooooo

This mini set is also on my radar: Olaplex Mini Intense Hair Repair Kit 

[ather]

@danielledanielle  Oh that kit is awesome! I bought the 0 when it first came out in a full size and it came with a sample of 3. I’ve gathered quite the collection of DS of the 3 when it’s offered I usually grab something so I can get one. I use it every Saturday or Sunday. The 0 is great. It really transformed my hair. The only draw back is the packaging sucks. I’ve tried so many different ways I’ve put it in spray bottles (don’t do that) I ended up inhaling so much it gave me a bad cough and my lungs hurt. My hairdresser scolded me. And told me why it didn’t work. I don’t remember why just it was bad. Lol. I see on their site it comes in a type of spray bottle. I would be interested in trying it out. I just found it took a lot of patience to apply. Once mine is gone I may stick to the 8 it’s doing a great job on my hair. 

[danielledanielle]

Oh no 😮.  Hairdresser's can be harsh at times 🤣 @@ather , maybe I'll ask mine before I start using it

[ather]

@danielledanielle  Not for using it but for putting it in a spray bottle. Lol.