Summer Savior / Rave Review – Tatcha's Dewy Skin Mist

This summer in NYC has been particularly brutal. When I mean brutal, I mean HUMID. It's been hot and the air has been stagnant and thick. On days without a slight breeze, it's like walking in a sauna. The subway (or Tube or Underground, depending on where you are) – an unavoidable part of getting around the Big Apple – turns into a lower chamber of hell that even Dante himself couldn't imagine.  All in all, it's pretty miserable.

Imagine what this does to your skin. My combination skin quickly goes oily in humidity and left unchecked, my nose and forehead end up looking like the Exxon Valdez oil slick.

I've been partial to face sprays for a number of years – more for their cooling benefit in the summer heat than any purported beauty benefit. Evian, Caudalie, Mario Badescu, Jurlique – these are some of the brands that I've used in the past and I've had no real complaints. But while these were decent products, they don't compare to Tatcha's Luminous Dewy Skin Mist.*** 

I'm a skin mist addict - as you can see by the empty Mario Badescu Facial Spray bottle. The other two are very nearly empty, as well. Though I like these, I LOVE Tatcha's new offering.

Tatcha cosmetics, known for those blotting papers that every woman who suffers from oily patches should have, has come out with a new line of skin products. I read about Tatcha's new skin mist in a magazine and despite being hesitant because of the $48 price tag for a demure 40mL product and the lack of user reviews, I decided to try it out.

Love the pop of color and elegant bottle. Oh, just in case you're wondering, I'm wearing Illamasqua's Nail Varnish in Alarm.

Ordering online was easy and I got the added bonus of samples, including a deluxe VIP sampler of products for signing up for emails. Everything came prettily wrapped in purple tissue paper, but it was the signed note from Vicky Tsai, the founder of Tatcha, that truly impressed. 

I'm a calligrapher and thus, natural sucker for handwritten notes on pretty paper. Even if it's not actually a note from Vicky Tsai, I've never received a handwritten note from anyone at a beauty company with my order and I'm appreciative of this level of service and detail .

Onto the skin mist....oh, that sleek purple ombre glass bottle. The packaging on its own is a standout and Tatcha's Skin Mist could hold its own against the prettiest of perfume bottles.

Tatcha claims that the Dewy Skin Mist is “a silky liquid moisturizer of squalane, red algae and our HADASEI-3 bioactive complex can be misted onto the face for a boost of soothing hydration. The result is dewy, luminous, replenished-looking skin anytime, anywhere.”

According to Tatcha, the mist “does not contain high levels of alcohol and fragrance found in conventional hydrating sprays, which can dry out the skin.”

After 2 weeks of regular use, I had to write a stand alone-review for anyone on the fence about this product. I'm in love. If I could, I might even ask Tatcha's Dewy Skin Mist to marry me because I could be in for a lifetime commitment.   Having combination skin, I always skip over the beautiful "dewy" stage and go straight to greasy. Because this summer has been so bad and the oil on my face even harder to contain, I've even shied away from most moisturizers to avoid contributing to the problem.

Tatcha's Skin Mist is cooling and hydrating and I didn't realize when I bought it that it's really a liquid moisturizer that doesn't really compare to the other mists that I've bought in the past. It really does make my skin “dewy”. In fact, a random stranger in a grocery store told me I was “glowy” the other day – and he wasn't trying to sell me anything. After 2 weeks of use, my skin has felt refreshed. It feels supple and hydrated rather than oily and slick. It has been a God-send of a product made to combat the humid NY summer.

While the bottle is beautiful, there is a downside as the product's size and glass packaging are not purse-friendly. A travel size version of this would be ideal and I could see myself toting that around during the summer months, or anytime really. It's that good.

The biggest downside to this product is my becoming additcted to it, but with a $48 price tag, I'll have to learn to be judicious and make the bottle last as long as possible. On the upside, you really don't need a whole lot of product to get that glow. 2 spritzes of the finely diffused mist and you're good to go.

If you have the means to splurge on Tatcha's Dewy Skin Mist, I highly recommend it. Your skin will thank you.

***I purchased Tatcha's Skin Mist with my own money. I have not been asked to do this review or compensated for it. All opinions are my own.

A Tale of 3 boxes....Comparison of August Birchbox, Sample Society and Glossybox

So which has the most bang for your buck?

In my over-enthusiastic start to the BBZ project, I subscribed to what seems like a gazillion beauty boxes. After a month, I'm already getting overwhelmed by the sheer number of samples and am looking to whittle down the subscriptions to only those that provide both good value and a range of products that excite me.

The 3 boxes I'm going to compare span price points – low, mid-range and high. Bring on the battle of the boxes...

I was so underwhelmed by the August Birchbox that I gave away most of it by the time I wrote this post, so this picture is taken from http://chaosandcliche.com/2012/08/12/birchbox-august-2012-unboxing/. Great blog to check out!

The Ubiquitous Birchbox - $10 / month

What's in the box:

Beauty Fixation Makeup Remover -Full size - $5.00 (24 pack) / Sample (3 swabs) - $0.63

Comodynes Hydra Tanning Face Moisturizing Summer Glow – Full size $20.99 / Sample (2 foil packs) I don't know the exact amount in each as I already gave them away, but I'll be generous and give them a $3.00 value

Comodynes Self-Tanning Towelettes – Full size - $14.99 (8 packs) / Sample (2 packs) - $3.75

DDF Brightening Cleanser – Full Size - $38.00 (250ml) / Sample $3.95 (60ml)

Juicy Couture – Viva La Juicy La Fleur – Full size - $70 (2.5 oz) / Sample (size unknown) – est. value $4.00

Bonus razor – Amazon retail value $6.45

Total Approximated Birchbox Sample Value - $21.78 (without bonus razor, value down to $15.33)

The Mid-Priced Option – Beautybar / Allure's  Sample Society Box - $15.00 / month

This is my first Sample Society box and I was impressed. Loved the black box and packaging, but they totally won me over this month with the Deborah Lippmann nail polish. WIN!

 Phytonectar Treatment Oil – Full Size 1.7 fl oz $30.00 / Sample 0.33 fl oz - $5.82

Deborah Lippman Nail Lacquer in Private Dancer – Full Size - $18.00 ($13.50 on Amazon) – FULL SIZE PRODUCT SAMPLE YAY!!!!!!

Jane Iredale Longest Lash Mascara – Full Size (0.42 oz) $33.00 / Sample (0.1 oz) - $7.85

Elemental Herbology Facial Detox Purifying Mask – Full Size (2.5 oz) $46.00 / Sample (0.5 fl oz) $9.20

Arcona Cranberry Toner – Full size (3.72 oz) $33.00 / Sample (1 oz) $8.87

Total approximate value of Sample Society Box = $64.74*

*Value calculated using the product prices listed on beautybar.com site. In fairness, most of the products could be found on Amazon at lower prices.

High End – Glossybox - $21 ($22.86 with shipping)

The price is more than double than Birchbox, but you get what you pay for....actually, in this case you get way more than you pay for. Glossybox definitely feels like an indulgence. The weight of the box makes it feel like you're getting something substantial and the quality of the packaging is second to none. I'm actually reusing the Glossybox to help store and organize my growing makeup collection.

 Biolage Exquisite Oil Replenishing Treatment – Full Size $22.00 (3.1 oz) / Sample (0.16 oz) $1.14

Ellis Faas Lips in L109– Full Size - $35.00 YAY FULL SIZE PRODUCT!

Illamsqua Nail Varnish in Alarm – Full Size $14.00 ANOTHER FULL SIZE PRODUCT? AWESOME!

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum – Full Size $48.00 (1 oz) / Sample (0.5 oz) $24.00

Touch in Sol Skin Base – Full Size $20.00 (1.13 oz) / Sample (1.06 oz) $18.76

Total Approximate Value of Box = $92.90

Ok, so I've done the math, but it's up to you to determine the value. For example, I couldn't have been less disappointed with my Birchbox this month after getting not one but 2 (!!!!) tanning-related products even though my Birchbox profile clearly states that I have tanned / olive skin. *Shakes fist at the sky*  deep breathe I promised I would save the rant for another time. 

Anyway, as I was saying...both Sample Society and Glossybox cost more than Birchbox, but I definitely feel that their value far outstripped the cost and contained products I was really excited to try.  We'll see what September brings!

Make Me Up - My Ultimate Look List

I'm a prolific list-maker. I make lists for EVERYTHING. What to buy, what to do, how to schedule my time. It's all in very carefully formulated lists. I am GREAT at taking out a post-it pad, merrily jotting down a point-form list of tasks that need to be accomplished, things I need to pick up, odds and ends that need to be remembered.

There is one very special list that I made after I graduated from college for fashion items I lusted after. There were no throw-away items on this list, nothing that wasn't carefully and thoroughly pondered. It was "THE" list of investment items. Once I ticked off all the items on that list, it would have symbolized to be that I had "made it."

Now, we can discuss THAT list at another time since this is a beauty blog after all and primarily concerned with all the things from the neck up.  But, just to illustrate what I meant by "investment pieces",  I will say that the  iconic Hermes birkin bag remains at the top of the list. *3 second pause* Sigh. Sorry, I needed a moment to give the bag the moment of silence and reverence that it deserves.

Well, I've created a beauty "it" list to match. After being surrounded by unopened packages of bee-you-ti-ful and shiny new makeup and utterly, utterly confused on how best to use it, I figured I better make a list and let the rest sort itself out.

What I discovered is that the makeup I purchased all surrounded on certain "looks" I was drawn to and going over the videos and pictures I could see that all those looks could be categorized. Voila!  *clouds parting and angels singing* THE beauty look list was born.

1) Smoky, smouldering eyes - the deeply chic and mysterious kind and not the just-got-punched in the face or "Excuse me, miss. Have you been crying?" disasters that my inexperienced hand have created in the past.

2) Perfect red lip - the kind that makes you strut down the street with all that "it" girl 'tude with or without the killer heels

3) Nude lips - For an olive-undertoned and tanned girl like me, all the nude lipsticks I've tried have seriously made me look dead.  Not pretty.

4)  Flushed, Just fuc.....um...just exercised glow - lit from within, healthy, exuberant, youthful, windblown.

5) Contouring / highlighting - I have a round face, it would be great to be able to define my cheekbones and bring more definition to my features. I've tried this once.  Brown stripes on your cheeks do not make your face look thinner. They make your face look like a paint-by-numbers art project fail.

6) No-makeup makeup look - For everyday life. Me, but better. Nothing too done, not trying to hard. Easy, peasey.

7) Flawless face - I have pretty good skin. I have some freckles, only get the occasional zit. I don't really have under eye circles but I have some hyperpigmentation and my olive undertones can make look sallow or ashy with too-pink or too-yellow foundaation.  I want that flawless finish. Dewy. Porcelaine smooth. Cakey-ness be damned!

8) Hip, edgy club-going, downtown look - Okay, this one isn't so clearly defined. But hey, I live in NYC. Fashionistas and hipsters in the Village can't have all the fun. And while I certainly don't have the time, patience or occasion to wear this one everyday, I'd love to master a look that can saunter up to a bar of the newest hotspot with the best of 'em.

Okay, so this is THE list for now. Any suggestions would be welcome. What's your fave beauty look?

Walk Before Your Run...

You know that phrase "too fast too soon"? Despite all my good intentions and an enthusiastic start, I found myself going radio silent after a mere 3 posts. How embarrassing it is to have to apologize for being absent so early into my foray into the beauty blogging world!  I have no excuses, but my meagre explanation goes like this:

Despite only recently rediscovering my pre-adolescent love for all things makeup, I have quickly become a makeup hoarder of epic proportions. I'm like a magpie drawn to all the pretty shiny packages, the rich, sumptuous .   I have spent countless hours poring over blogs and youtube video reviews and I find that I am so very easily seduced by the rave reviews and makeup swatches.

In my headlong dive into the colorful and fantastical beauty world, I subscribed to no less than 6 (GASP!) beauty subscription services. On a recent 2-week trip to the west coast (another reason for a prolonged blogging dry spell), I visited no less than 4 Ulta stores and came out with bags EVERY SINGLE TIME.  I spent HOURS trolling sasa.com and imomoko.com,  two gateways into the exotic world of asian skincare and makeup.  Then there is Ebay and Amazon.  Let's just say that in recent weeks,  Manny the UPS guy and I have become very good friends.

First haul from imomoko.com - btw the Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner totally ROCKS and I now have started doing bi-weekly face mask sessions. A total stranger said I looked "glowy" yesterday - an he wasn't trying to sell me anything or pick me up either. WIN!

Just a handful of things from my Cali trip. First time I'd ever set foot in an Ulta store  and I  felt all fluttery.  Discovered NYX products (which were on sale, too)  lots of things to experiment with - without the hefty price tag. Every makeup newbie's dream!

Hi. My name is Sam and I am a greedy makeup hoarder. I think I have a problem :S

And now, I sit on top of a teetering mound of makeup still in boxes, waiting - nay, BEGGING - to be opened and played with. But despite being newly-armed with a formidable beauty arsenal, I am still a neophyte and feel like I've waded too far out of my depth.

Until a brilliant thought struck me - make a to-do list. Or, in this case a wish-I-could do list.  Makeup products get hyped. They get discontinued. New color collections come and go. I'm not a makeup artist trying to pull off dramatic transformations or create dramatic and theatrical costume-y looks. I'm just a girl trying to look her best in everyday situations like: going to work, meeting with clients, a hot date night with the hubby, the occasional special event like a wedding or an evening soiree.

So it is with these situations in mind that I will attempt to master a core collection of looks that can adapt to changes of season, accommodate new colors and products and will generally make me look as kick-ass pretty as I can be.

Back to the lab :)