SUNDAY RILEY PEACE KEEPER ACNE TREATMENT SERUM

Rating : 2/5

Price : $85

Size : 1 oz

Where to Buy : sundayriley.com, Macy's, Ulta, Sephora

Cruelty Free : Yes

After working at both Sephora and Ulta, I had seen Sunday Riley on the shelves. But, I rarely saw anyone ever purchase the brand. It looked and felt very high quality. But it seemed to get lost in the flurry of new and exciting launches from other mainstream brands. Within the last year, they have launched several new products (which it was several years before they had created anything new). One new launch from them was their new acne treatment line which 4 key products heal the skin with holistic ingredients such as salicylic acid, azaleic acid, and probiotics. When we received this product in our training product bag, I was curious to learn about a brand that I hadn't previously tried or played with. This luxe serum comes in a gorgeous purple glass bottle (which is probably part of why it's so expensive). The product itself is 2% salicylic acid and 8% azaleic acid to clear up skin and protect its barrier. Salicylic acid is a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) that clears and prevents acne causing bacteria from reappearing. Azaleic acid is an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) that reduces the appearance of dark spots, smooths texture, and evens tone. If you struggle with any type of acne, these two ingredients are game changers for the skin. Most major skincare brands will have some sort of acne treatment which usually includes salicylic acid. However, I never see acne serums at this price point unless it is medical grade. Sunday Riley is a more expensive brand, but definitely not the most expensive one at Sephora, so I have trouble understanding why they priced this product so high. Obviously the glass package has a little to do with it, but there's not really many other "luxe" ingredients that can justify the $85 price tag... Now, I will say this stuff works. But, it has a horrendous odor that doesn't disappear until you put a moisturizer on top of it. It almost smells like mildew... I'm unsure what causes that smell but it certainly isn't pleasant. Like other products that have salicylic acid in them, there is a slight tingling sensation. That is the acid penetrating the skins barrier and combating the acne. So you instantly feel the serum going to work. I also noticed a significant reduction in redness of the skin too which was nice. But, I just can't recommend this at such a high price. Instead, I would suggest The Ordinary's Salicylic Acid 2% serum. It has the same percent of salicylic acid, does the exact same thing, but is a mere $6.70 vs. $85 (and you get the same size bottle). In this case, I would save your money!

TARTE TARTLETTE TUBING MASCARA

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Rating : 5/5

Price : $28

Size : 0.27 oz

Where to Buy : tartecosmetics.com, Ulta, Sephora

Cruelty Free : Yes

Several years ago, I tried the Thrive Causemetics (yes, that's how they spell it) mascara and I was shocked. I had never been so blown away by a mascara but didn't quite understand what made it so special. Come to find out, it was actually one of the first tubing mascaras. A tubing mascara is a type of mascara that coats the individual lashes with polymers that create a more defined and elongated look. Most traditional mascaras will just coat lashes with color, where as tubing formulas wrap around the lash. This formula is also ideal for people who struggle with removing their eye makeup but want a product that will last all day without smudging or flaking. Although I am still a die hard fan of the Thrive mascara, it's pretty hard to find. When guests come in asking for it, I point them to Tarte's tubing mascara because it's the same thing (but I like it more to be honest). Tarte's formula is deeply nourishing with key ingredients like castor oil, shea butter, and caranuba wax. Not only do these condition the lashes, it also keeps the product fresher for longer! It is also contact lens and ophthalmologist approved which is a dream come true for someone with sensitive eyes like myself! Tarte has also recently came out with their XL Tubing Mascara which creates even LONGER and more DRAMATIC lashes than ever before! And, their iconic formula comes in new fun colors like electric blue, magenta, and emerald green. If you are looking for extremely easy but extraordinary mascara that will totally enhance your lashes you NEED to try this product!

CHARLOTTE TILBURY AIRBRUSH FLAWLESS SETTING SPRAY

Rating : 5/5

Price : $38

Size : 3.4 fl oz

Where to Buy : charlottetilbury.com, Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom

Cruelty Free : Yes

Charlotte Tilbury is well known name in the beauty industry. Not only for her best selling product line, but also being a celebrity artist for people like Penelope Cruz, Kim Kardashian, Kate Moss and even just signed a deal to be the makeup line the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders wear! Working on models, movie stars and all in between, having near PERFECT and PORELESS skin is essential. But, it can be a hard thing to master. Everyones skin is so unique and also can react differently to certain products. That's why she created this beautiful setting spray! Not only does it set the makeup, it also can be doubled as a primer, so your base looks gorgeous from start to finish. Some key ingredients in this spray are aloe vera to soothe, Japanese green tea to hydrate, and their one of a kind Flawless Film Formers which creates an invisible shield to protect and create a barrier for makeup. This formula is also completely waterproof and fully sets products for up to 16 hours. It's also the #1 Prestige Setting Spray in the U.K. according to their website. Working at Sephora, we sell ALOT of this product. It's safe to say the girlies are OBSESSED! I was in desperate need of a refresh during a shift one day, so I decided to finally give it a try. I was astonished by how it instantly transformed my face! I immediately looked smoother, more hydrated, and there was not a pore in sight! After that, I jumped on the bandwagon and this is pretty much the only setting spray I'll use. This product also works wonderfully on all skin types, which can be difficult to create because most setting sprays on the market are manufactured dewy (for more dry skin) or matte (for more oily). But the Airbrush Flawless setting spray has such a beautiful natural matte finish with a hint of glow. I highly suggest this to anyone looking for that perfect finishing step in their routine (especially for bridal makeup!!).