#i just want a normal freaking daily moisturizer w/ sun protection is that so hard to ask

[sakurar0se]

My Monthly Favorites - Best of 2019 Beauty Products

by Rosy Day Blog

I just realized I haven't posted any of my monthly favorites since April 2019. I think I've had a lot of different products to try out/post about on social media, so I just really forgot about the monthly/semi-monthly blog posts. If you've been following me for awhile now, it's the usual excuses, right? LOL. I can't guarantee I'll do more postings this year, but at least now I'm able to share my favorite products from 2019 (even if it's about a month late). Some of the products aren't "new" favorites, but are older products that I didn't realize how much I loved or needed in my routine until I started using them again. Always a wonderful feeling right?

» View All Monthly Favorites

SKINCARE

Cleanser

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

I love this cleanser because at least for me, it seems to help keep my skin nice and supple every time I use it (mainly because of all the amino acids). It’s also very gentle and one of the few cleansers that my sensitive skin can actually take (this is low pH). Some might not like the smell, but it just smells like cucumber infused water to me. It is also kind of pricey for a cleanser, but you get a freaking 5.1 oz. Some brands are cheaper but they barely give you like 3.4 oz. This stuff does last me over 4 months, so no worries there. Interesting ingredients include soybean oil (antioxidant, smooths & moisturizes skin w/ vitamin E and fatty acids), sunflower seed oil, starflower seed oil (restores moisture & smoothness), aloe barbadensis leaf juice (soothing & anti-inflammatory), cucumber fruit extract, damask rose extract & flower water, cornflower extract (anti-inflammatory, diminish fine lines & tone skin around eyes), soybean sterols (anti-inflammatory & skin conditioning), panax ginseng root extract (skin smoothing & firming), damask rose flower oil (soothing & pore tightening), and hydrolyzed soy protein (anti-aging & firming). » Buy Product

Cleansing/Light Exfoliating Toner

Son & Park Beauty Water

I keep coming back to this toner because it gives me daily but gentle exfoliation (I don't do well with very strong actives), and is one of the few things that helps get rid of those pesky dry flakes on my skin. Sometimes it's just not enough to properly hydrate, but you do need a gentle product to help clear out dead skin in order to see new, hydrated skin. This also makes a great multi-tasker when I need to cleanse and tone all in one (I don't wear much makeup most of the time anyway). Normal to oily skin would love this, though it's not the most hydrating when you're more dry. No one said you're not allowed to use a thicker, more hydrating toner after this (in fact many use more than one toner in their routine). Interesting ingredients include rosa damascena flower water (soothing & pore tightening), witch hazel (fights acne & inflammation), bergamot fruit oil (anti-bacterial & antibiotic), olive fruit oil (vitamin A & E), grapefruit peel oil (toning & firming), papaya fruit water (exfoliating & brightening), jasmine oil (anti-aging & moisturizing), anise fruit/seed oil (smoothing & tightening), artemisia absinthium extract (healing & protecting), tea tree leaf extract (anti-inflammatory & anti-bacterial), and rosemary leaf extract (antioxidant & improves circulation). » Buy Product

First Treatment Essence

Then I Met You The Giving Essence

This has 80% ferments: galactomyces (nourish and revitalize skin & reduce/delay aging), aspergillus (skin lightening & reducing melanin), and saccharomyces (hydrating & balancing). Other interesting ingredients include niacinamide (brightening & balancing), aloe barbadensis leaf juice (soothing & anti-inflammatory), ellagic acid (an antioxidant that prevents sun damage, blocks MMP that breaks down collagen& reduces ICAM that causes inflammation; lightening properties rivals that of hydroquinone and tretinoin), black chokeberry (one of the berries/fruit with the highest levels of antioxidants, anti-aging & skin calming), polyglutamic acid (water-soluable peptide that holds 4x more moisture than hyaluronic acid), red algae (brightening & reducing dark spots), and purslane (more omega-3 fatty acids than fish oil). There is also 11 additional berries (high in antioxidants and vitamins for fighting free radical damage; they can also help skin look brighter & more even-toned). I love this product because it has some ingredients that are different from other essences, especially the ellagic acid and algae (my skin loves this ingredient). There isn't much to see results-wise since I take pretty good care of my skin, but my skin always looks just a little bit healthier after using this overtime. » Buy Product

Anti-Aging Serum

The Ordinary "Buffet"

Just like I am with food, sometimes I get greedy and want a little bit of everything. The appropriately named "Buffet" serum does just that. Serious anti-aging ingredients include: Syn-Ake peptide complex, Matrixyl 3000 and Matrixyl Synthe'6 peptide complexes, and Relistase peptide complex. Probiotics are also included for balancing and and strengthening skin's defenses. As cheap as this is (it's about $15 USD for 1 oz.), you might think that this product is too good to be true. Maybe it is at that price point, but I do know that my face seems to stay nice and firm the longer that I use this and anti-aging is all about prevention anyway. I don't know if it's actually improving my wrinkles, but I'd rather not let them get worse and this little bottle has tons of good stuff (and proven anti-aging ingredients) inside. » Buy Product

Brightening & Hydrating Serum

Bliss Glow & Hydrate

I've never realized how good niacinamide was until I bought this, which claims to have "spa grade" niacinamide. Yes, many skincare products already have niacinamide in them, but it's a big difference when you use a product that has a good percentage of niacinamide (it should be within the top 3 ingredients). This pairs perfectly after my vitamin C serum and its thicker emulsion-like consistency makes it fairly hydrating as well. If you want brighter, more even skin, unless you're super sensitive to these 2 ingredients - all you really need is vitamin C and niacinamide. Niacinamide also helps with balancing your skin and minimizing pores. Interesting ingredients include aloe barbadensis leaf juice (soothing & anti-inflammatory), licorice root (reduces under-eye circles, discoloration & age spots), soybean oil (antioxidant, smooths & moisturizes skin w/ vitamin E and fatty acids), sunflower seed oil (vitamin E & good for acne/redness/irritation), oat kernel oil (rich in lipids & fatty acids), and shea butter (healing & highly moisturizing). » Buy Product

Hydrating Eye Cream

Glossier Bubblewrap Eye + Lip Plumping Cream

As much as I love a good brightening and/or anti-aging eye cream, sometimes all you need is a good hydrating eye cream to help smooth fine lines and give your eyes some moisture to wake them up a bit. Yes this eye cream is a bit basic, but I love it for during the day as it smooths my eyes enough that any fine lines are reduced, and makes any makeup I apply after less likely to crease. In fact, all this smoothness and lack of creasing has made my eye area look more youthful. It doesn't do anything for brightening, but that's what I use vitamin C and niacinamide for. And if I need more serious anti-wrinkle power, I can always use an eye cream that tackles that for night. A lot of people rave about the Belif Aqua Bomb Eye Cream, but that gave me millia. This one doesn't and it comes in a convenient pump. It does slightly plump your lips/preps them for lipstick, etc. as well, but I prefer to use Bubblewrap for my eyes only. Interesting ingredients include squalane (balances oil production & anti-aging), avocado oil (healing & calms itchy skin), peptide complex, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, blueberry fruit extract, purslane, swertia, and sunflower seed oil. » Buy Product

Facial Oil/Hydrating Primer

Glossier Futuredew

I was afraid of using this because I tend to be more oily but I think that this is very wearable no matter what your skin type (unless you're sensitive/allergic to any of the ingredients). Dry skin probably needs the recommended 2 pumps, normal/combo can do 1 pump, and if you're extremely oily you can just use this on the high points of your face like a highlighter. Depending how much you use and how many layers of skincare you used prior to the Futuredew (also if you use foundation after), this can give you anywhere from a subtle lit from within/highlighter glow to a semi-wet type of look. I love this because for me it's a good facial oil/primer hybrid and it seems to make me look healthier whenever I use it. My face seems to stay nice and plump as well. I don't know if it has any long term benefits but it's always a plus to at least hydrate. Interesting ingredients include squalane (balances oil production & anti-aging), jojoba, evening primrose (anti-inflammatory, soothes acne & prevents future breakouts), olive, grape seed, rosa canina fruit, evodia rutaecarpa fruit, and rosemary. » Buy Product

Hydrating Lip Balm

Biossance Rose Vegan Lip Balm

Although this seems like your basic petroleum jelly-like lip balm in a pot, I do love how this is vegan and I can smell a bit of the rose in here. Lip balm is very hard to recommend because what can work for you can be very drying for me and vice versa. My favorite way to use this is just a standard hydrating balm and then I'll layer a tinted lip balm or other colored lip product over it (if during the day) or the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask to seal in the hydration before sleeping (if at night). I feel like this does plump my lips a bit but nothing too drastic that someone would really notice. Interesting ingredients include squalane, ceramide NP, rosa damascena, and undaria pinnatifida. » Buy Product

Tinted Lip Balm

Milk Kush Lip Balm

I'll admit I bought this because of the CBD, but this is a nice tinted lip balm if you're like me and prefer a hint of color rather than full on lipstick. Because of my full lips, I stopped wearing lipstick since I also got some on my chin everytime I ate food (not a pretty sight). Tinted lip balms, I don't have that problem and they're very easy to re-apply as you don't need a mirror like you do with lipstick. While this isn't the most hydrating tinted lip balm (I recommend the more expensive Fresh lip balms), I do like how fairly cheap (compared to Fresh) these are and they don't necessarily make my lips drier. If I really do have dry lips, I use something like the Biossance Vegan Rose Lip Balm first, and then this. Or I just make sure to properly moisturize with the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask the night before. Interesting ingredients include olive oil, jojoba, shea butter, sunflower, mango butter, moringa oil, coconut oil, cocoa seed butter, cannabis sativa, and rosemary. » Buy Product

Light Soothing & Hydrating Mask

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

Lightly hydrating, making it perfect for more oily skin and/or warmer temps. I keep coming back to this because despite it not advertising much other than hydration and a restful sleep due to their Sleep Tox technology, this is actually pretty soothing. I always seems to calm down any inflamed pores I have by the next morning, yet isn't so overly hydrating/suffocating. Interesting ingredients include evening primrose root (anti-inflammatory, soothes acne & prevents future breakouts), apricot (removes blemishes & improves skin tone), beta-glucan (skin healing & collagen building), quinoa seed (treats acne & brightens skin), and ascorbyl glucoside (water soluble derivative of vitamin C). » Buy Product

MAKEUP

Makeup Primer

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

At first I was afraid that this would be too hydrating but it's actually just hydrating enough for my combination skin without adding grease. I know some people might not like the stickiness/tackiness of this product, but this reminds me of a less sticky (and better) version of the J.One Jelly. I liked how that product made my face look before and after makeup application, but I hated all the additional slapping I had to do on my face and it seemed to take forever to absorb (not good if you're in a rush). With the Hydro Grip Primer, you still have to kind of pat it into your face/slap it around a bit but it's not as bad and your face is ready for foundation after about 50 to 55 seconds (but don't wait longer than a minute). I never once thought primers did a great job of keeping my makeup look fresh throughout the day, but this one does. I look almost the same by the end of the day. Even more amazing is I accidentally fell asleep with my makeup on and the very next day, it was still intact and looked fairly fresh, LOL. I'm not suggesting you should try that, but just saying...It does happen that you fall asleep with makeup on sometimes. Interesting ingredients include aloe barbadensis, agave tequilana, niacinamide, cannabis sativa, opuntia ficus-indica flower, and prunus avium flower. » Buy Product

Foundation

Milk Makeup Blur Liquid Matte Foundation

Having combination skin, I used to think this foundation was a tad drying around my nose area but that was because I wasn't properly moisturizing around the clock and my skin benefits the best from gentle, but daily exfoliation. My favorite way to wear this is to make sure my skin is hydrated enough, prime with the Glossier Futuredew and/or Milk Hydro Grip Primer, and I get a nice glowy but not greasy look. I do like dewy looks, but I find if you specifically use dewy/hydrating foundations, they don't last long. I think it's better to use hydrating skincare (that's right for your skin type), and then use a matte foundation over. The matte foundation lasts longer than the dewy/hydrating types, but you are still hydrating from within because of your skincare. I also prefer to apply this very sparingly (like tinted moisturizer) with my fingers. Fingers are best to avoid dry spots and weird creasing areas in my opinion. I wear this in the shade Medium Light. » Buy Product

Mascara Base

Lancome Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base

I already have a mascara that I love, but if you really want more of a false eyelashes look, you should definitely use a good mascara base like this one. I feel like it always improves the stay power of your mscara, though I always use waterproof mascara to prevent/limit smudging anyway. I don't use this all the time, but just when I want some more oomph with my lashes. Most of the time I go bare or just more simple with my mascara. Interesting ingredients include rice brand wax, carnauba wax, bees wax, and candelilla wax. » Buy Product

Volumizing Mascara

L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara

This was recommended to me by a Target employee and it's probably the best (and affordable) mascara that I've used so I keep coming back to this. Though my eye lashes are naturally fairly long and curled, this just takes them up 1-2 notches depending on my application. I always get this in waterproof (because when you have long lashes mascara smudges everytime you blink) and in the color Blackest Blck. » Buy Product

HAIR & BODY CARE

Dry/Itchy Scalp Treatment

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo

It's hard to find a good shampoo for a dry, itchy scalp. Popular Head & Shoulders actually makes my scalp more dry for some reason. Now, the Briogeo isn't perfect, but because of its ingredients, it does help with this weird eczema-like rash I currently have on the back of my head (no thanks to trying out some Kristin Ess shampoo and conditioner which I will never use again). I love the minty smell and it does feel a bit cooling on my scalp as well. The only thing I hate is that since it comes in a jar, I always have a bit of water from the shower going into it. Since this is a scrub shampoo, you don't necessarily have to stop using your favorite shampoo if you have one. You can just use the Briogeo once or twice a week, or as needed to keep your scalp healthy. The larger sized jar is ery expensive so I'm unsure if I will re-purchase at this time to be honest, but I at least want to try other products in their scalp care line. Interesting ingredients include binchotan charcoal, coconut oil, tea tree, ginger root, and panthenol. » Buy Product

Hair Oil

Verb Ghost Hair Oil

I already love the Verb Ghost Shampoo and Conditioner, so it's only natural that I love their hair oil from the same line for finishing my hair as well. Whether I blow dry or air dry my hair, I like to use a little bit of this over the end ends/bottom half of my hair to calm flyaways and make it look sleek and shiny (thought this does look nicer when you've had the time to actually blow dry your hair). Interesting ingredients include argan, rice bran, bamboo, soy protein, and moringa. » Buy Product

Hydrating SPF

Kylie Skin Body Oil Spray

Say what you will about Kylie Jenner (I'm not some crazed Kylie fan) but I legit love this body oil spray. It smells good and is a very convenient way to apply SPF. I get dry skin and I like never have the time to properly hydrate before applying sunscreen and leaving my apartment. Most body sunscreens are very thick and seem to take forever to rub down before it leaves a slight white cast and dries out your skin. I now have another hydrating sunscreen that I use as well, but I just like reaching for this one because of the scent and I can just spray and go for the most part. Interesting ingredients include... » Buy Product

Toning & Firming Body Cream

Sol De Janeiro Bum Bum Cream

This is hyped for a reason. I feel like this not only firms your butt (it's just the name of the cream) but it firms everywhere else you apply it. My arms were a bit dry so I decided to apply some on there and my bf commented it looked like I've been working out a bit on my arms. Now, keep in mind I'm already fairly small, so it's not like just applying this cream will automatically make it look like you've been hitting the gym. The scent, while popular with most, I do feel is a bit strong. This is why I mainly use this at night before bed. I always feel a bit self conscious like I'm giving the people around me a headache from the scent. It's so strong, it definitely lingers onto the next day. Interesting ingredients include guaraná, coconut, açaí, carrot, ilex guayusa, ilex paraguariensis, brazil nut, and squalane. » Buy Product

GADGETS

Skin Infusion Device

Spa Sciences Aero

I’ve often heard how you should warm up a product in your hand or between your fingers before applying...This takes it to another level - like you’re ironing the wrinkles off your face...Aero is one of the very few skin care infusion devices I’ve come across that heats up in addition to the ionic and sonic technologies. I wasn’t sure what to expect with a product that heated up, but upon first use, it felt quite nice and maybe even a bit relaxing. I don’t know if there’s any truth to stimulating collagen production...But we exercise our bodies to keep it firm and young, why not our face? Without going on and on about what this does, click the link below to see my full review plus before and after photos (let them speak for themselves). » Read My Full Review » Buy Product If you have any questions about any of the products above, please let me know. Photo Credits: Sephora/Soko Glam/Then I Met You/Target/Glossier