Archive for the ‘Philosophy’ Category

It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with fall, and naturally that obsession includes the scents that come along with this magical time. Autumn leaves, pumpkin spice and candy corn are scents I wait for all year – and now thanks to Philosophy I get to smell like them all day.

Philosophy is well known for introducing a ton of new scents every season, and while they have a variety of offerings this fall (including caramel apple and crispy marshmallow bar) these two are my favorites:

I Love Candy Corn – It’s funny, cuz I actually DO love candy corn. For most people it’s just something they use for decorative purposes and throw away afterward. To me however the sugary, melty treat is something that tastes as good as it smells. This shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath smells exactly like the candy – to the point where if I didn’t have such a weak tummy I would try to drink it. I’ve seen a few similar products out there, but this one by far smells the best thanks to the hint of caramel that really brings out the sweetness, giving Philosophy’s version a warm aroma that is absolutely delicious. It smells so good I can’t wait to wake up at the ungodly time of 6:30am just because I know this will be waiting for me in the shower. I REALLY wish they would make this one into a body lotion!

Autumn Air- This fruity, slightly spicy scent reminds me of a warm cup of cider on a chilly fall evening. Of all the fall scents I’ve tried, this one is by far the most unique as it manages to combine tangerine with cinnamon and nutmeg to create a sweet yet spicy aroma that’s more far more inviting than many of the more overwhelming fall scents. It may be a little too spicy to use as a shampoo, but I’m thinking this used as a bubble bath complete with candles and a glass of Riesling sounds like the perfect way to end a long day at the office.

Philosophy also offers a Harvest Spice scent which I like, but more as a home scent rather than a body one. I almost wish they would offer this one as a scented candle so I could enjoy it without walking around smelling like the Pottery Barn. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Pottery Barn I just don’t wanna smell like it!

Have any of you tried the scents yet? I love them so much I may just have to go back and get a few for my mom as well!

You guys have been on me about doing monthly favorites videos, and since I’m always looking for more excuses to shop here’s my first one! This month I mainly featured drugstore products since the holidays are coming up and like many of you I’m trying to save a little money. My focus has mainly been on skin and haircare products lately since all this packing has made me realize I own more eyeshadow than any one human being should be allowed to, and perhaps I should start using what I have before buying more. We’ll see how long that one lasts!

Products:

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Shine Shock
Get it: Drugstores nationwide, Target

Pantene Professional Level Damage Repair Ampules
Get it: Drugstores nationwide, Target

Olay Definity Illuminating Cream Cleanser
Get it: Drugstores nationwide, Target

ELF Defining Eye Brush
Get it: Target, eyeslipsface.com

ELF Makeup Remover Cloths
Get it: Target, eyeslipsface.com

Philosophy Melting Marshmallow Body Lotion
Get it: Sephora stores, Sephora.com, http://www.philosophy.com/

I feel compelled to write blog about sunscreen because after seeing this on Kim Kardashians twitter feed, even MY face hurts.




Seriously, can we just all pause for a moment to take that in? I mean I’ve only had severe sunburn twice in my whole life, but I remember it hurt like hell. And I know everyone is like oh why didn’t she wear a better sunscreen blah blah blah, but as a fellow mixed kid I can tell you it’s easy to overlook such a thing since we like, NEVER burn.


Don’t get me wrong, I use sunscreen every single day, but it’s mostly to prevent aging. And I’m always on the lookout for new products, so here’s a few gems I’ve come across over the years:


Dermalogica Full Spectrum Wipes SPF 15- This is hands down my favorite sunscreen product ever. This handy little package comes with 15 wipes you can use on face and body. And because it’s re-sealable, it’s much easier to carry in your purse than say, a bottle of sun block. Because I don’t know about you guys, but the eminent danger of a sun block explosion in my Kate Spade bag is not something I find appealing.
Price: $22 for 15 towelettes, www.Dermalogica.com


Philosophy Hope in a Jar SPF 20- Hope in a Jar is most definitely in my top 5 moisturizers of all time, so you can imagine my excitement when I found out they were making a version with SPF in it. This is perfect to use under make-up because it’s not too greasy, but it’s rich enough to make your skin feel refreshed. I know some of you may get scared off by the price, but 2oz really is a decent amount of product and you don’t need a whole lot to do the job. A jar lasts me anywhere from 2-3 months, and I use it pretty much every day. Oh, and it smells pretty too!
Price: $45 for 2 oz, www.sephora.com


Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist SPF 45- This is like, industrial strength sunblock. I could step into a rotisserie and emerge unscathed so long as my skin is coated in this formula of win. And because it sprays on, it’s easy to apply to all those hard to reach areas. Because sometime there just isn’t a chisled, sexy man around to do it for you. Man, I really hate those days.
Price: $10, www.drugstore.com, or your local drugstore


Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel- When you’ve got a sunburn that hurts like a bitch, this is the stuff to use. It’s super hydrating, and eases some of the pain without the nasty smell of the medicated crap you find at the drugstore. For maximum relief, try putting it in the fridge for an hour before slathering it on. It’ll seriously make you say Aaaaaaaaaaaah!
Price: $23.50, www.sephora.com


Now that all this sunscreen talk has made me long for the beach, I’m gonna get back to work. In my cublicle. Because I’ve got important work to do here people. I mean really, this web copy won’t write itself! Um, kthxbai.

My wonderful work friends gave me a generous Sephora giftcard to help cheer me up a little, and here’s some of the fabulous stuff I got!

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips Gloss: It’s kind of odd that I’ve never tried this before seeing as how I’m a lip pluming connoisseur, and now I wish I‘d found it sooner. The gloss is super shiny and plumped my lips on contact. And the color I got, Gabby, is just gorgeous on its own or paired with a wine or cocoa colored lip liner. I’ll swatch the gloss below so you can have a look at the sparkly goodness!
Price: $18


Philosophy Lip Shine: I love this lip gloss because Philosophy is always coming out with new flavors and colors. This time I picked up Smores, which smells just like the real thing. This is something I would wear on its own on those ‘I just don’t feel like dealing with lipstick days.’ The added bonus is that boys are constantly asking why my face smells so good. True story!
Price: $12.00





Sephora Eye Brow Tweezers: It’s probably my fault for buying the cheapest version they had, but I really hate this tweezer. Its hard to grip, and the hinge feels really stiff, almost like it needs oil or something. Which sucks, cuz that type of maintenance is not something I find appealing in a tweezer.
Price: $8.00


Dior Contour Lipliner Pencil: I love the entire Dior line, so I’m surprised at how much this lipliner sucks. Ok, ok maybe it’s not THAT bad, but for $26 a pop I expect a lot more. The creamy formula is too creamy, which means its not long wearing at all. I also feel like it doesn’t offer a whole lot in the way of definition, because it’s hard to get good lines with such a soft product. The color, Heather Rose, is very pretty, but Urban Decay offers a similar color – wicked – that wears a lot longer so I’ll likely be exchanging the Dior pencil for that one.
Price: $26.00


Ok kids that’s all for now. I tried to make my first article back a light one since I’m feeling a bit rusty, but I’ll be back in the swing of things in no time. And don’t forget to check back tomorrow for your Old Skool Hot Track of the Week!