The July Favorites Thread 2019

[GeorginaBT]

What time is it? SUMMERTIME! ‘Tis the season to break out the tanning drops, bronzer, and all the SPF we can get. Every month we like to hear what hair, skincare, fragrance, and/or makeup products Community members have been loving most. We are starting this thread for you all to discuss what you’ve been reaching for most in July, so name any new treasures or holy grails that you’d like to recommend to the Community.

Here are my July favorites:

• URBAN DECAY - Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette
• ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS - Matte Lipstick
• Youth To The People Superfood Gentle Antioxidant Refillable Cleanser 8 oz / 237 ml
• Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 2 oz/ 59 mL
• CLEAN RESERVE - Classic - Ultimate

What products were your July faves? Remember to show and tell!

[Cyncynn]

Here are my favorite products of the month:

-Dry Conditioner - Drybar:  An unsung hero really, if you often use dry shampoo and never tried dry conditioner you don't know what you are missing out. I apply DS first and after waiting for it to dry and brushing, I go in with the DC. Makes a world of difference and it looks like I just washed my hair and it is again bouncy and healthy.

-Caffeine Eye Cream - Inkey: I spoke about this before. This isn't a great eye cream for the price, it is a great eye cream period. I like it as much as DE C Tango. (Gifted)

-Polyglutamic Acid - Inkey: For me this was a one of a kind product and filled a gap I didn't know I had on my skincare routine. It is a finishing serum (it has bigger molecules) and when combined with the rest of my routine gives me enough moisture and a beautiful finish to my skin. (Gifted)

-Tan drops - Isle of Paradise: I selected this as a free sample in one of my Sephora orders. I was very impressed at the color it gave me when mixed with my moisturizer, I did not need a mitt and it didn't have a scent. If you want a summer glow, but don't like the usual hassle of self tanners, this is for you. I mix 7/8 pumps of my kiehls body lotion in a pot and then add the drops to ensure I have the same intensity of tan all over my body. I've been stalking my e-mails hoping for a good GWP to place an order!

-Sunday Riley - A+: I am very surprised at how much I liked this. I alternate this with my prescription retinol/tretinoin. It gives my skin a break, but I can still feel like it works. (The Inkey retinol is similar to this, but a lot more gentle and I reach for it when my skin needs a rest.)

-Vision Flush in Tutu - Danessa Myricks - Best liquid blush ever. Perfect balance between amount of pigment and "blendability". Beautiful when mixed with the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless filter.

DRYBAR - Detox Dry Conditioner

The INKEY List Caffeine De-puffing + Dark Circle Eye Cream 15 ml

The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Hydrating Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL

ISLE OF PARADISE - Self Tanning Drops

Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum 1 oz/ 30 mL

[itsfi]

That eye cream is on my list @Cyncynn! My skin really likes the polyglutamic acid; my wallet does too. 😂🥰

[Cyncynn]

@itsfi I still can't process how affordable it is and how much I love it lol!

[ather]

Great choices!

[lja7]

How many drops of Isle of Paradise did you put in your body lotion? I see you used 7/8 pumps of lotion but not the drops; TIA💋

[Cyncynn]

@lja7 

That is an excellent question. Since I had a foil sample I didn't keep a perfect count of drops (because it doesn't have a dropper).  

The foil sample contained 0.02 fl oz/0.7ml. On my first application I used more than half the package and I would estimate closer to 12 drops. With my 7/8 pumps of lotion I had some leftover and went with it again on my legs.

My second application I used what was left of the foil and would say it was probably 6-8 drops.

I am fair/light(NC20) and used the Medium drops.

[scott1201]

Great list, @Cyncynn! Can’t rememer if you’re in the US or CA, but a recent Sephora favorites set had the Isle of Paradise drops in it! 

SEPHORA FAVORITES - Clean Skin and Hair Set

[Cyncynn]

@scott1201 I was very tempted by that set! I am ready to commit to the full size of the tanner though!

[PinkEvergreen]

@Cyncynn  Arrrg I’m so sad lol... I saw the Isle of Paradise tanning drops as a sample and I thought, “No, I’m not getting this because I need to stop trying to convince myself that there’s an easy self-tanning product out there. It always ends up in a messy disappointment.”

Aaaaand then all the positive BIC reviews started popping up in discussion threads 😂  And now you add that you didn’t even need a mitt and that it’s so easy to use lol... That’ll teach me to give up

hope while stones remain unturned 😂

Glad you’re enjoying it and thanks for sharing your thoughts! 

[Cyncynn]

@PinkEvergreen I am sorry to say, but it sounds like the product for you! lol

It was life changing not needing a mitt and to be honest I was a little scared going in after being traumatized by self-tanners in the past. 

My main issue with traditional ST is that for me it was an event, exfoliate, dry yourself, get the mitt, make sure you are doing it in circular motions - gosh I can't make time for that unless I am going on vacation and planning to get my ghostly legs photographed lol

[PinkEvergreen]

@Cyncynn  Well, I broke down and bought a full-size of the tanning drops. Let’s see if they give me the healthy glow I desperately need lol... 😂

[Cyncynn]

@PinkEvergreen 

That's so exciting - can't wait for you to try it out.

I am still waiting for a good promo code lol!

[SurprisedLemur]

I wanted to chime in and give the Isle of Paradise tanning drops even more love. My face is always way lighter than my body because of exfoliants and extra spf, and everything I tried in the past didn't look natural (read: orange) or wore off in patches. Not this baby! Smooth tanning all the way and so customizeable! I also love that I can mix it in to whatever moisturizer I want to use that day, so if my face is feeling dry I mix it into something richer, if it's oilier then I mix it into a gel. I have the large bottle of the pink (light) and a sample size of the green (medium). 2-3 drops of the pink or 1 drop of the green give my face the perfect healthy glow 🙂

[Cyncynn]

@SurprisedLemur 

Thank you so much for sharing! I never considered using self tanner on my face, but it did cross my mind with this. 

Can you walk me through if you did it morning or night and if you used any serums prior to applying the moisturizer/drops mix? 🙂

[SurprisedLemur]

@Cyncynn I feel like the drops work best the closer they are to the skin. I use them every other night or every third night mixed into my moisturizer (I'm using OLEHENRIKSEN - Sheer Transformation® Perfecting Moisturizerand the MURAD - Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream right now, depending on what my skin feels like). I wash, tone, essence, and then apply the moisturizer + drops (mixed in really well in the palm of my hand), pushing it into the hairline and down my jaw a bit so it blends. I tried using it on top of thicker serums like Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Serum For Dark Spots And Uneven Texture 1.7 oz / 50 ml but it didn't absorb well and was somewhat patchy, and gave less color. Then during my morning routine and on the nights I don't use the drops I go all in with all my serums. Also, I try to put them on about an hour before bed so they absorb and don't just smear on my sheets. So far I've had no pillow case staining and I've been using them since May 🙂

[Cyncynn]

@SurprisedLemur Thank you so much for sharing - much appreciated!

[PinkEvergreen]

@SurprisedLemur  @Cyncynn  So glad it’s working so well for you guys. It’s going on my list for sure! I can definitely do with a no-drama tanning solution 😊

[jen81]

I love the Sunday riley A+.  Great list lots of new to me products I need to check out.

[Cyncynn]

@jen81 

I really like her products in general, but didn't have high hopes for that one for some reason, I has surprised at how much I liked it!

[lmaster]

Excellent products! @GeorginaBT  my July favorites are:

Spoiler

[sprocketta]

@lmaster I'm so glad you're liking the PC. This was a product line that just blew me away.