Philosophy hope in a jar a to z cream - Updated!

Update: after trying another BB Cream then going back to an old one that were both unsatisfactory, I decided to give this another try, mainly because I find the color to be very natural.  I've been using it for a couple of months and it's been pretty good.  It doesn't do a lot for shine control on its own but works well under my Bare Minerals loose powder.  I think it is great for a daily moisturizer to throw on most days to give you some sun protection.

As much as I love Philosophy's Purity Made Simple, many of their other products fall short.  I love most of their body washes (the Cinnamon Buns smells so real I almost tasted it) but their face and eye creams have been disappointing.  And the other two products I really like, the Supernatural and On a Clear Day primer, have been discontinued.

This BB cream falls somewhere in the middle.  It only comes in 3 colors but the medium blended nicely into my winter-pale skin (sometimes new products only come in limited colors when they are in the "trial phase").  It seemed a little thicker and harder to apply at first but, for some reason, after a week it was easier.  It gives a nice tint of color and has a20 spf sunscreen.  Like many BB creams, it is supposed to replace moisturizer and primer as well.  It does keep my skin hydrated all day and is a nice base for my Bare Minerals powder.  It stays on through the workday and into the evening.  It also hasn't caused any breakouts which is very important.  All in all it is a decent product.  So what is the problem?  The price.  It's $38 for one ounce.  That's a little surprising as I consider Philosophy to generally be reasonable for a non-drugstore brand.  If it was even 10 dollars cheaper, I would consider using it regularly but I believe there is something out there that is either cheaper or works better.

http://www.philosophy.com/multitasking-a-to-z-cream/hope-in-a-jar-a-to-z-cream,en_US,pd.html

earth science Azulene Eye Cream

I've been keeping a secret but only out of laziness.  One of my favorite online shopping methods is to sort by ratings.  I came across this while searching on Drugstore.com for a new eye cream.  As I've mentioned in the past, my biggest problems are dark circles and cross-hatching (which I like to refer to as the nicer sounding "fairy trails").  This product had mostly good reviews and was very wallet-friendly at under $15.  Ignoring the woman who likened it to "a thick, blue paste," I went ahead and ordered it.  This was at the end of July and I've been using it since.  The best part is that I'm only halfway through the jar.  While this is not a miracle worker as far as fairy trails (you'd think fairies wouldn't leave such heavy marks), it is a good eye cream that definitely helps with my dark circles.  It is a little think, and blue, but I have no problem patting it in with my ring finger.  It gives moisture all day long and, while it looks a little greasy when you first apply it, it quickly absorbs. 


I'd never heard of azulene before.  It is a compound that is found in some plants including chamomile.  It has been used for a long time for it's soothing, anti-inflammatory properties.  I came across it again in a wax hair removal kit as an after-application oil.  So it seems chamomile is good for your insides and your outsides.

I really appreciate a decent product that does what it says it will at a reasonable price and I plan to continue using this (at least in between testing others with more radical claims).

http://earthsciencenaturals.com/product/234/Azulene-Eye-Cream-0.7-oz.-.html

Rimmel The Max Volume Flash waterproof mascara

A friend of mine who is familiar with my issues with mascaras that smear sent me this to try since it is waterproof (it doesn't come in a regular formula).  Even though I don't like having mascara rings around my eyes, I usually shy away from waterproof formulas because they tend to make your lashes too stiff and aren't build-able.  Maybe I've stayed away too long because this is flexible, build-able and stays on through sweat and tears (hey, what can I say, the holidays are an emotional time).  Unfortunately there are some downfalls that will keep this from being a new favorite.  Although you can't tell from the picture, the brush is very large and the head barely tapers at all which makes it unwieldy.  It also doesn't give enough volume.  Two coats is not enough for even the daytime.  For e, volume is key. 

If you're looking for a subtle, smear-proof look, this might just me worth a try.

http://us.rimmellondon.com/products/eyes/volume-flash-max-waterproof