Outfit Of The Day (J Crew Orange Mini Skirt + New Beauty Product Reviews!)

It is the most wonderful time of the year right now, aka Sephora’s Annual Friends & Family Sale, where the giant cosmetic retailer gives all of the make-up, perfume, skincare, and DiorShow Mascara hoarders in the world a 20% off discount. Hooray!  And just in time too, as I have been running low on my stash. Even my bathroom closet (AKA “The Place Where Good Products Go To Die”, as bravely coined by my husband with no sarcasm whatsoever) has been looking pretty sad and empty, oh nooo.

(Have no fear, little closet. I’ll be giving you some more half-full discarded products that I bought on a misguided whim and totally hate soon.)

While I usually use this promotion to stock up on my seasoned favorites, I always try to grab a few new things to try, too.  Here are a few newcomers to my bathroom counter:

The Josie Maran Organic Argan Oil was a purchase I made after Sephora sent a sample in one of my past orders, and ohhhh how I love it so! if I could eat the stuff, you guys…I so totally would. I mean technically I think I could eat it, but Google searches for “can I eat argan oil” only turn up articles about nuts and goat butts. Of course! The sexy and chic side of beauty!  Awesome! 

I tend to have extremely dry skin due to an Accutane stint in my late teens, and living in the high desert definitely doesn’t help the situation either. Given that I have dry skin from Accutane, this also means that I have really sensitive skin and I tend to break out and flush easily too. Needless to say,  I am typically pretty weary of anything with oil, let alone smearing it straight on my face.  

But I am happy to report that after two weeks now of twice daily usage, my skin drinks this stuff right up with nary a break out.  It also moisturizes better than any moisturizer I have ever tried, makes my skin look great, and works on giving my hair a bit of shine, too! While it’s a bit spendy at $48, I only use a few drops of it at a time so it will last forever. We have a winner!

Next up we have Guerlain’s Meteorites Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer. I have tried several primers in the past, including the big players like Smashbox’s Photo Primer, Urban Decay’s Brightening Complexion Primer Potion, and Laura Mercier’s Foundation Primer, all with lackluster results. They all seemed to sit on my skin without sinking in, leaving my skin looking, at times, like a bizarre combination of oily and dry and oily and oh, so dry.

Guerlain’s primer is different sort of animal.  Instead of using silica to smooth lines and pores, it’s more of a thin gel with little shimmery pearls that break up when you pump the product out.  Instead of leaving skin feeling greasy like some primers can do, this leaves my skin feeling powdery soft and kind of…tight? The tight-thing freaked me out at first, since I usually associate tightness with dry (painful! red!) skin, but after applying my foundation there is no dryness in sight–just awesome, super smooth skin.  Another winner.

On to Givenchy’s Le Prisme Mono Eyeshadow in Trendy Plum.  If a cosmetics company could win an award for the prettiest packaging, I think Givenchy would win. This eyeshadow compact is all sorts of cool with a mirrored top, and inside are four variations of the same color in a pearly finish, a sparkly finish, a matte finish, and a sequined finish.  Fun!

And last but not least, we have Nars Nail Polish in Versailles. This is a super soft, champagne gold color that makes for a perfect change from the usual dark nail colors of fall & winter.  So pretty, and one of my favorites.

What have you guys been buying at this sale? Finding any new products to love? I would love to hear–so share in the comments!  (And don’t forget–VIB’s can still take 20% off through Sunday with code “VIBDREAM”.)

Coat: Rachel Zoe (buy it here, on sale!) (similar here, under $100) (and here at ASOS + take 10% off with code “BONUSTEN”) (and here)

Top: J Crew (similar here at F21) (and a sweater style at ASOS + take 10% off with code “BONUSTEN”)

Skirt: J Crew Factory (buy it here) (similar here) (and at F21)

Belt: J Crew Factory (similar here) (and here)

Watch: Michael Kors Rosegold Large Runway Watch (buy it here) (similar style here + take 20% off with code “FRIENDS”) (similar here for $135)

Scarf: Simply Vera Vera Wang (buy it here + take 15% off with code “GIFT15”)

Shoes: Valentino Python Rockstud Flats (buy them here) (similar here) (and here for under $100 at ASOS)

Bag: Chanel Crackled Patent Camel Classic Flap (similar here) (and here by DKNY) (and here for under $100)
Nails: OPI for Sephora’s I’m With Brad (here) with Butter London’s Chancer (here)