Do you remember my What I Want Now series? If you’re not familiar, it was a monthly feature on CNC that I “borrowed” from Lucky magazine. In each issue, the “What I Want Now” article features a fashion editor’s top picks and must-haves for the season. On CNC, it’s just stuff that really I love, so here are some new (and old) beauty products I’m loving right now!
Please note: Some of the products below are linked to my Amazon Affiliates store for easy access, but, just so you know, I’d never promote a product I wasn’t 100% behind and, in this case, in love with. Many thanks for your support!
Aveeno Active Naturals Living Color Shampoo
I color my hair every 4 or 5 months, so I’m always in search of an AFFORDABLE color-preserving shampoo. I’ve purchased expensive ones from the salon (and CVS) over the years, but it kills me to spend even more than $10 on a bottle of shampoo (which probably stems from my dad telling my sister and me to wash our hair with bar soap when we were kids), so I love that this one is not expensive and works so well. It really lathers up and leaves my hair soft and shiny. I’ve only been using it for about a month now, but it definitely seems to protect my color.
Aussie 3-Minute Miracle Moist Deeeeep Liquid Conditioner
I bought this product on a whim””it was on super-duper clearance, so I figured I had nothing to lose by spending a couple of bucks on it””and I ended up totally loving it. It smells amazing (coconut) and really moisturizes my hair, especially the dry ends. After I shampoo, I put it on my hair and finish the rest of my shower routine before I rinse. It leaves my hair moisturized and incredibly soft. The best part: Even when it’s not on clearance, it’s still a really affordable moisturizing treatment.
Neutragena Oil-Free Acne Wash Redness Soothing Gentle Scrub
This is an oldie, but goodie! I’ve actually blogged about it a couple of times in the past””I’ve used it for years and love it””but I recently switched to Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub for a more “natural” option. Sadly, it didn’t work as well, so I returned to the Nuetragena Oil-Free Acne Wash Redness Soothing Gentle Scrub and my skin looks great again (cutting back on sugar helps too). I’ve struggle with breakouts for my entire life and this stuff works the best for me.
GNC Biotin 5000
GNC sent me a bottle of Biotin 5000, which I’ve been taking regularly for a few weeks now. I used to take Phytophanere Dietary Supplement – Hair & Nails, which worked awesome, but it’s pretty expensive ($50 for 120 capsules), so I wanted to find a cheaper option, and I’m happy to report I’m already noticing some amazing differences in my nails, skin, and hair!
Sarah McNamara Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal Eye & Face
This is easily the best concealer I’ve ever used. I’ve tried all sorts of them over the years and never really found one I liked. They either ended up cake-y or not covering completely. I still remember the first time I used the Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal Eye & Face on a blemish, and I was pleasantly surprised by the results””like holy crap, this stuff actually works! Like other concealers, I figured with a couple of applications and maybe some foundation mixed in, it would work okay, but I used only one little dab and I was good to go! Best stuff ever.
Maybelline Full ”˜N Soft Mascara
This is another oldie, but goodie and a product I replaced with a “better” one (aka $23 mascara, which I initially liked, but then realized it wasn’t anything special), only to return to it. I have stubby, little eye lashes, so I’m always trying to find an awesome, natural-looking mascara. Maybelline’s Full ”˜N Soft is the best I’ve found over the years and (with a coupon, and on-sale at CVS, obviously), it costs around $5. Can’t beat that price!
Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate
When I was in DC for the Army 10-Miler, my friend Katie raved about Kiehl’s products. My old boss at Harvard loved them too (he also raved about them), so I bought a few to see what all of the hype was about. Well, Kiehl’s products are frickin’ amazing! I wish they weren’t so expensive, but the price is worth it. I’ll find other places to save money!
I’ve tried all sorts of serums and creams for fine lines and dull-looking skin, but none of them really wowed me. Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate, however, is something special. I noticed a difference right away. It smelled great (citrus/orange) and made my skin so soft. In the weeks that followed, my skin evened out and brighten even more. The only “bad” part about this product is that it doesn’t last long. I usually use 2-3 pumps per use, so I’m already halfway through the bottle. Now I see why Kiehl’s is an expensive habit!
Question of the Day
What beauty products are you loving right now?