A few months ago, I would have called myself a creature of habit when it comes to beauty and makeup. But, I’ve really been getting out of my comfort zone and testing new products. My first monthly beauty post started in May and then I immediately fell off the wagon in June. So, I’m getting back on track! This past month I bought and tested more new beauty and skincare than I have ever. And, I’ve found some items I love and have incorporated into my weekly looks. My July beauty faves post includes my review of the YSL Touche Eclat All-in-One-Glow and a couple of Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzers. I’m also dishing on the T3 Cura hair dryer and whether or not the $115 Tom Ford bronzer brush is worth it.
Shop the Post
Beauty Faves for July
Instead of dipping my toe into the water going product by product, I really jumped in head first this past month with testing new items. From foundation to bronzer and what I’m using on my hair – I shook it all up. Below are my winners (and yes, there were some things I didn’t love).
July Makeup Reviews
YSL Touche Eclat All-in-One-Glow
Never did I ever think I’d stray from my Nars Sheer Glow foundation. But, when Helena from Brooklyn Blonde mentioned that this was a winner for her, I was intrigued to try it out (they aren’t called influencers for nothin’!). As one my first YSL beauty products I’ve bought (I also use this eye primer), this did not disappoint. Is it a tinted moisturizer? Is it a foundation? I’ve read and heard people call it both. For me, the coverage was a bit lighter than my Nars, but still covered and lasted all day.
The glow it gives is soft, but noticeable. My team at the office knew I’d worn something different. But, if you’ve ever tried the Laura Mercier Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (one of my all-time faves I posted about here), then this is less “glowy” by comparison. I’ve been wearing this several times a week and love that with the soft glow it gives me, I can just throw on blush and mascara and be out the door.
Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer
I know, I know, I’m incredibly late to the game here. But, I can definitively say there’s a reason Bobbi Brown has a cult following for bronzer. You feel like you’ve just left the beach with a perfect golden tan. Each of the colors are highly pigmented (which I personally love), and I’ve been using both the Bali Brown and Maui colors. Maui is the brighter pink, which let’s be honest – it’s more of a blush. But, it’s in the bronzer collection, so… The real reason I wanted to try this bronzer is because the one I’ve used for the last year by Marc Jacobs is a limited edition (read: hard to get). So, I needed something more accessible. Now, I plan to take a timeout from that and just use these.
Tom Ford bronzer brush
If you’re not skimming this and saw that I mentioned this brush is $115 above, I wasn’t joking. I get it – it’s A LOT to pay for a makeup brush. But, after using it for two weeks I have to say that I absolutely love it. But, I wouldn’t recommend it if you aren’t looking to make a splurge. Prior to purchasing this bronzer brush, I’d been using one of the Sephora brand brushes. It was okay, but I didn’t love it. As life would have it, I saw another blogger post about this brush, read some reviews, and then decided to take the plunge. Reality is – I had a big gift card so this didn’t come out of pocket. All that said, I do love the application and how even it makes my bronzer, as well as how easy it is to blend.
July Hair Care Reviews
T3 Cura Luxe hair dryer
You might remember that I previously reviewed the T3 curling iron and hair dryer in this post. I’ve been using that dryer every day for the last year and love it. But, as a blogger there are perks! The brand kindly sent me this one to try and now it’s replaced the older model in my daily routine. What I like about this dryer compared to the other are two main features. First, this dryer has 5 heat settings. I like the option of being able to crank up the heat. Also, it has a volume boost button that I’ve never turned off since I started using it a few months ago. For me, there’s a clear difference in hair tools. I’m a BIG fan of T3 and highly recommend their products.
Kerastase Densifique Shampoo and Conditioner
If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’m on a quest to find a new favorite shampoo and conditioner since mine were discontinued (why does that always happen!?). Last month I reviewed some Oribe goodies in this post. This month, I tried out the Kerastase Densifique Shampoo and Conditioner. As they’re both volumizing products, I was shocked at how different their formulas were. This shampoo is one I will definitely buy again. I found myself reaching for it over the several others I keep in the shower and loved the feeling it gave my hair. Since my hair is currently pretty long and it’s super thin, I feel like everything weighs it down. This shampoo did not! Same goes for the conditioner.
While I loved each of the above items, a few things I tested and didn’t love included the Urban Decay Perversion Mascara and the Georgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. When it comes to mascara, I’m obsessed with Charlotte Tilbury’s Legendary Lashes and I compare everything to it. This was a little too tacky for me. After hearing from so many people about the Armani foundation, I thought it would be a slam dunk! But, I just didn’t love the coverage and couldn’t seem to find the best color match.
Questions?
Hope you love this post and if you have any questions about the products don’t hesitate to ask in the comments below. Also, if there’s anything you want me to review, just let me know!
