Pattern

Latest Beauty Buys List, March 11, 2022!

March 11th, 2022 by Karen 3 Comments

1. Pattern Leave-In Conditioner

I low-key freaked out recently when my ends felt like straw, so I zipped over to Ulta to buy some things from Pattern, a hair line by actress Tracee Ellis Ross made especially for curlies.

First up was a tube of this medium-weight leave-in conditioner. I’ve used it before and my wavy hair likes it! It’s rich and hydrating, and maybe it’s a touch too intense as it tends to stretch out my waves so they appear straighter, but I don’t mind. The dainty honeysuckle scent agrees with me, and I like that you get such a big bottle for the price.

2. Pattern Lightweight Conditioner

This doubles as a sheer conditioner and a co-wash! It has the same delicate honeysuckle scent as the rest of the Pattern products, and the 13-ounce bottle is huge. I used it last night as a co-wash, and my hair felt so clean. No silicones! LOVE.

3. Pattern Travel Size Medium Conditioner

I bought the travel-size version of this because I want to be sure I love it before committing to a full-size bottle. Anywho, it’s richer compared to the Lightweight Conditioner. I like it. My hair feels soft and moisturized.

4. Pattern Travel Size Hydration Shampoo

Lovely. Hydrating but not heavy, and my hair felt clean and soft afterwards.

5. Bumble & Bumble Hairdressers’ Invisible Oil Ultra Rich Trial Set with Shampoo, Conditioner and Hyaluronic Treatment Oil

DUDE. Like I said, I’m on a mission to rectify this dry hair sitch, so this fell into my basket in case the items from Pattern didn’t work out. I haven’t tried it yet, but I used Bumble & Bumble for years in my 20s and 30s, and my hair always liked it. I’m going on a trip soon, and I might just bring this with me.

6. Dermalogica Travel Size PreCleanse Oil

Also for my upcoming trip because I need a travel-friendly makeup remover. I used this back in the day and liked it.

Re: Innersense

There was some great feedback from reader E.D. on the hair brand Innersense in the comments yesterday, so if you’re interested in the line, you might want to skim through her quick reviews. Thank you, E.D.!

I decided to hold off buying anything from Innersense for now, but if you’re already a fan, the entire line is currently 20% off online at Beauty Heroes. No code needed.

Fun fact! Beauty Heroes is based in my town of Novato.

One last thing…

Connor is going to her first dance tonight. Her school is hosting a father-daughter dance, and El Hub will be her date! Last night when we were getting ready for bed, I explained what happens at a dance: how your date picks you up, tells your parents they’ll have you home by curfew, opens your car door, gets you punch at the dance and so on. I’m so happy she’ll be able to go to her first dance with her dad. Just thinking about her going on a real date makes me tear up a little, LOL!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

Empties! Skin Care and Hair From CeraVe, Pattern, Hawaiian Tropic and More

August 3rd, 2021 by Karen 9 Comments

empties august 2021 — Stuff I’ve finished!

I’ve used up quite a few beauty items over the last month! Mostly, skin care (I’m obsessed, apparently), but a smattering of hair care products, too. Consequently, here are my two cents on what’s worth your time…

Pattern Leave-In Conditioner

One of the BEST leave-ins I’ve ever tried — ever! — so I’m totally buying another bottle. For reference, my hair is wavy, on the drier side, and it needs a lot of hydration. If your curls/waves desire major moisture as well, just squeeze a dollop into your palms (it smells faintly of honeysuckle), and then work it through your strands for smooth, hydrated hair with plenty of volume.

FYI, it’s silicone-free! $25 for a 9.9-ounce tube.

CeraVe Healing Ointment

This thick, rich petrolatum-based moisturizer has become a staple at our house because it does a bit of of everything. I use it on all of the dry parts that frequently require extra TLC, like my lips, cuticles, heels and hands, and when I overdo it a little on the chemical exfoliators or retinol and it hurts to smile 😬 (you know the feeling), I dab a little at the corners of my mouth and around the base of my nostrils, and all is well with the world…

It’s also a minor miracle worker on the scrapes, scratches and bug bites Connor seems to get daily from playing hard on the playground. It seems to speed up the recovery process, too. I love this enough to get it in a large size.

$10.99 for a 3-ounce tube.

CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser and CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Why do all of my favorite skin care things run out at the same time? LOL! I’ve been steadily using the CeraVe SA Renewing Cleanser in the morning and the Hydrating Facial Cleanser at night for several months, and I’m quite happy with the results. They’re gentle and don’t strip my combination dry and oily skin, and they don’t aggravate my acne either. Good stuff.

I love trying new face washes, so I’ll probably get some fresh blood into the mix, but I also plan to keep these guys on standby for when I need something familiar and comforting. An 8-ounce bottle of the Renewing SA Cleanser is $13.99, and a big 16-ounce bottle of the Hydrating Facial Cleanser is $16.99.

Trader Joe’s Hydrating Hyaluronic Body Gel Cream

Grab this quick-absorbing gel cream if you see it at TJ’s, and be sure to use it before fall, because it’s lightweight but yet hella moisturizing — perfect for the dog days of summer. $6.99 for a 12-ounce bottle with a pump.

Hawaiian Tropic AntiOxidant Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

I found this on one of those “best of” lists, and although I like 1) how well it shields my skin from the sun, and 2) how it doesn’t stain my white shirts, the scent bothers me… It smells like plastic and artificial coconuts, and it churns my tummy. I won’t be rebuying it because of that, but if you can get past the smell, it’s a decent and affordable sunscreen. $13.99 for a 6-ounce bottle.

Bliss Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen SPF 30

My love for this mineral tinted sunscreen knows no bounds! Totally buying this again. If I find it on sale, OF COURSE I will let you know, girl. $24.49 for a 1.4-ounces tube.

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion 50+

This sunscreen was a staple of mine years ago, and I forgot about it for a bit. All I have to say about it now is that we’re reunited, and it feels so good! I still really love it. Yes, it’s pricey, but if your skin is combo and/or dry like mine, you’ll probably love it as well. It’s not drying, doesn’t leave a cast, and it isn’t sticky on skin. It’s also extremely waterproof, so if you’re sweating up a storm like I’ve been lately, trust that it will not run off your face. It smells like a fresh lemon drink and vacation, too. I’ve gone through countless bottles and predict yet another one in my immediate future. $49 for a 5.07-ounce bottle.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%

I love the price of this hydrating serum. It’s super affordable. I’ve been layering it underneath face cream for a moisturizing boost, but I can’t tell if it’s actually doing any heavy lifting… I probably won’t buy it again, but it might be worth trying if you’re curious and have dry skin. $6.80 for 1-ounce bottle with a dropper.

Have you finished anything lately?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Latest Ulta Haul: Skin Care, Sunscreen and Makeup

April 27th, 2021 by Karen 17 Comments

ulta skin care haul april 2021 — Goodies from Ulta

Look what you made me do, Ulta! ?

Remember how I mentioned there’s a new Ulta in my town? And how it’s barely a five-minute drive away from mi casa?

YES, I know. They ran a 20% off sale on everything last weekend, and this is what found its way into my basket…

ulta basket sunscreen skin care april 2021 — Ooh-la-la!

Lots of sunscreen and skin care as you can see. Yup, I still love makeup, and I was tempted by quite a few things (like this palette and these cream shadows), but I resisted *this time* around because I’ve decided that it’s time to get serious about fighting the good fight against hyperpigmentation. If I’m going to go to the effort of doing retinol, Vitamin C, AHAs and BHAS, I’ve got to get the sun protection part of the equation right, so sun protection was my main goal on this trip.

Side note: having a product game plan before beauty shopping helps a ton. I’ve blacked out at Ulta and Sephora one too many times, leaving with a basket of things I didn’t even plan on getting, and I know I’m not alone in this either. Having a plan stopped me from being tempted by things I probably don’t need, so I wholeheartedly recommend this strategy next time you head to the mothership.

Back to the sunscreen! What I really wanted was a face sunscreen, specifically a tinted one because I’ve heard that tinted sunscreens can help medium and darker skin tones prevent hyper pigmentation.

cerave cotz sunscreen swatches — I’m on a mission to keep the hyper pigmentation at bay.

The Cotz one is going back, unfortunately. I like how smooth and fresh my skin looked after applying it, and I liked the depth of the tint (I couldn’t see it at all on my skin), but it made my face itch. ?

The tinted Cerave, though, is a keeper! The tint is a little lighter than the Cotz one so I can see a slight cast at first, but it fades after it settles in.

I also like how lightweight and moisturizing it is. Only thing is…the tint rubs off on my mask and clothes, so I’m going to use the La Roche Posay Melt In Milk sunscreen on days when I wear white shirts or tees (which I do often).

la roche posay in milk swatch — LOVE THIS!

OMG, this is SO GOOD. The name “Melt In Milk” really does it justice because it absorbs incredibly quickly and completely, leaving behind absolutely no cast whatsoever. Plus, it’s moisturizing but isn’t sticky or heavy. I also like the amount of SPF protection and that it doesn’t have a strong sunscreen-y scent.

Speaking of scents…don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind scented skincare at all. I just prefer that the stuff I wear on my face not smell like a margarita. But on beach days or fishing days or camping trips, I do love a summery, sunscreen-y scent, which is why I picked up a couple things from Sun Bum, including this SPF70 lotion.

It smells like a coconut and pineapple smoothie, and it doesn’t leave a cast. I also bought the spray version because I’m really trying hard to get better at reapplying, and I figure that having a spray might help me stay motivated, since it’s faster and easier to apply than the lotion.

In non-sunscreen news…I stocked up on the retinol cream I’ve been using from Neutrogena, and I grabbed an old-school fave of mine by Proactiv.

pro activ neturogena in hand — Pimples and wrinkles… GOOD TIMES.

I wore this benzoyl peroxide cream back in my early 30s, back before I discovered Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion. I still love the Kate Somerville, but they just keep jacking up the price! Last time I went to Sephora it was $52 (it was $39 when I started using it back in 2013). I’m pretty cranky about the price increase, so I’ve been trying to find an alternative… When I re-stumbled on this cream at Ulta for $35, I was stoked. I hope it still works for me.

Other stuff I picked up: a bottle of Pattern leave-in conditioner and couple of Clinique liquid eyeliners in basic brown and black.

clinique pretty easy liner brown and black — This liner really is pretty easy!

Have you done any beauty shopping lately at Ulta or anywhere else?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen