CHARLOTTE TILBURY MAGIC WATER CREAM

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Rating : 3/5

Price : $100

Size : 1.7 oz

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

Cruelty Free : Yes

To be honest, I've never understood the hype behind Charlotte Tilbury's brand. I think she is an incredible artist with such a unique vision, but her products just don't intrigue me. Charlotte Tilbury is best known for her "magic wand" line. These are cream products that have a sponge tip applicator on them for easy use. For quite a while they were viral on Tik Tok. They actually went so viral that ELF duped this line at a heavily discounted rate. But recently, consumers have come for the brand because there is such minimal product for such a high price tag. Charlotte Tilbury is a luxury brand so the price makes some sense, but with how expensive everything else is getting these days and the quality of drugstore makeup only getting better, sales in luxury makeup aren't as high as they used to be. When I received the new Magic Water Cream moisturizer in gratis a few months ago, I was a bit excited to try something from the brand without having to purchase it myself. In 2013, Charlotte launched her best selling Magic Cream. Since then she has expanded her skincare line to include other essentials like serums, eye creams, cleansers, and oils. But her most recent launch was this summer when she released the Magic Water Cream. This moisturizer has all the original benefits of the Magic Cream but in a fragrance free, lightweight watery texture (which is ideal for normal to oily skin types). The standout ingredient is niacinimide which helps refine the look of pores while balancing skin. Charlotte also added another something special in this product too which makes it pretty unique, Waterlocking Fusion Technology. They claim this trademarked technology traps moisture immediately and retains more moisture over time. Overall, I did enjoy this cream. It did all that it claimed to without feeling heavy or greasy. But, I've tried about 50 others that do the exact same thing this one did at a fraction of the cost. I just can't justify $100 on 1.7oz when I know I can get the same thing for $40 or less. A great dupe (even better in my opinion) is the Belif Aqua Bomb at $38 for the same size. Save your money where you can y'all!

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD SKIN HYDRA GLOW FOUNDATION

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Rating : 5/5

Price : $47.00

Size : 1 fl oz

Where to Buy : makeupforever.com, Sephora, Nordstrom, Macy's

Cruelty Free : No

I have such a love-hate relationship with trying new foundations. On one hand, it can be exciting to try new formulas and see how incredible your skin can look with a certain product. But, on the other hand, if the foundation doesn't agree with your skin (or even the other products you're using) then it can truly ruin your makeup. Lately, I've stuck to my tried and true foundations because I know they work for me. But one of the perks of working at Sephora is being able to try new launches (for free)! I honestly would have never tried the new Make Up For Ever HD Skin Glow foundation if I hadn't gotten it in gratis. I rarely spend more than $30 on foundation because there are so many winners for under that price, I just don't see the need to spend more if I don't have to. I also have never really tried anything from Make Up For Ever. The HD Skin Glow is a new variation of the classic HD Skin matte foundation that they've had for years. People absolutely loved the coverage it gave, but Make Up For Ever knew that they needed to give their audience a more glowy, hydrating formula. The standout ingredient in this is hyaluronic acid, which is what helps to give skin that natural, healthy glow. But what is truly unique about this foundation is that it actually improves the appearance of your skin the MORE you wear it. Not only does it visibly plump and hydrate skin, it also helps to reduce the appearance of texture on the skin. How crazy is that!? And after using this for more than a month, I totally agree with these claims. Even on the days I wasn't wearing makeup, I noticed such an improvement in the look of my skin. My pores looked smaller and my face looked like I had spent hours at the spa. Along with all these great factors, this product has one of the BEST wear times I have ever seen with a foundation. Whether I'm working an eight hour day or dancing with friends at the club, this stuff continues to stay on and look FANTASTIC. I mean no creasing, no peeling, no patchy spots. It looks like you just applied it. Although $47 is a big price tag, I would definitely say this one is worth it. In my opinion, this is the best new foundation of the year!

AMIKA SMOOTH OVER FRIZZ FIGHTING HAIR TREATMENT

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Rating : 5/5

Price : $32.00

Size : 6.7oz

Where to Buy : loveamika.com, Sephora

Cruelty Free : Yes

I've always dealt with somewhat frizzy hair but the hard water in my apartment mixed with this crazy Kansas humidity, it's. been on a whole new level. I needed something that was a miracle in a bottle but also didn't weigh my hair down. A lot of anti-frizz treatments are usually heavy, thick creams. Which works best for textured hair, but not so great for ultra fine hair like mine. That's why I was so excited when I read that Amika's Smooth Over treatment is great for all hair types and textures. The three main ingredients in this product are glycolic acid, water lily extract, and sea buckthorn. The glycolic acid helps to create a barrier that smooths the hair cuticle and reduces the appearance of frizz. Water Lily extract helps to improve hairs manageability. While sea buckthorn is rich in omega fatty acids which deeply nourishes the hair and scalp. In clinical trials after just one use, frizz was reduced by 73% for up to 72 hours as well as leaving hair 2x smoother. Another great thing about this product, it takes just one minute to use! After your regular shampoo and conditioner routine, squeeze out any excess water. Then, simply saturate hair from mid lengths to ends, wait one minute, and rinse! For the best results, Amika recommends drying with a blow dryer after. My only complaint with this treatment is if you use too much, your hair can look greasy. I usually just use a nickel sized amount. However, if you have thicker hair you can use more. Just know that a little goes a long way! After using this, I literally looked like I had just left the salon. My hair was insanely smooth and all my frizz (and flyaways) had vanished. I truly believe this is worth every penny. If you deal with any type of frizz, I highly recommend this.