Maybe the ongoing trend will be me purchasing makeup brushes and products for my feet at the end of one year and the beginning of another? At least that is how it has been 2017 going into 2018 and, likewise, 2018 going into 2019.
I go into my stash drawer more often now than ever. I constantly remind myself of all the stuff I have and don't need to buy. But old shopping habits die hard, I guess; less skincare means more other stuff like brushes and foot balms. At least this kind of purchases seems to only happen once a year at most and only because of sales & coupons.
Real Techniques Bold Metals 300 Tapered Blushed Brush
Real Techniques Duo Fiber Collection
Real Techniques Perfect Crease Duo
Real Techniques Eye Smudge + Diffuse
Aveeno Cracked Skin Relief CICA Balm
Aveeno Crack Skin Relief CICA Ointment
The brushes were picked up from Harmon's Face Values in December when they were having a sale/clearance on Real Technique brushes. I believe the sets were 25% off and the Bold Metals blush brush was discounted.
In recent memory, the Aveeno CICA line is the only beauty-related TV ad I saw and was immediately intrigued by. It came at the right time when my heels were cracked and as centella asiatica gains momentum in America skincare. I have yet to try either balm or ointment but am excited about the promised outcomes.
I haven't qualified for an Influenster Voxbox in a hot while. I remembered the early ones I received were full of average products which were fun to try but nothing memorable or repurchase worthy. VoxBox's Rouge Signature edition, however, has blown me off my feet. As my first L'Oréal lip product, the Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick in I Create, I Rule, and I Am Worth It are quickly becoming my go-to formulas of choice lately.
L'Oréal's description:
Lightweight matte colored ink that delivers a stain-like feel with the color impact of a liquid lipstick. Imparts lips with a high pigment, matte finish, and lasting wear.
Less texture*, more color: Rouge Signature is a lightweight matte colored ink that delivers intense pigment loads with a weightless, bare-lip sensation. This ultra-comfortable liquid matte colored ink provides lasting matte color and infuses lips with a healthy, even dye of color. The no makeup feel of a stain combined with the color impact of a liquid lipstick. Find your signature shade from our captivating range. Use with our precision applicator to shape and lines lips for a precise and perfectly applied lip.
CAUTION: Flammable until dry. Do not use near fire, flame, or heat.
Directions
Apply starting in the center of your upper lip. Work from the center to outer edges of your lips, following the contour of your mouth. Then glide across the bottom lip and fill in. To take off, use an oil-based makeup remover or our waterproof Micellar Water for best results.
Ingredients
AQUA / WATER / EAU, DIMETHICONE, OCTYLDODECANOL, ISODODECANE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ALCOHOL, ACRYLATES/POLYTRIMETHYLSILOXYMETHACRYLATE COPOLYMER, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, TRIMETHYL PENTAPHENYL TRISILOXANE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, PEG/PPG-18/18 DIMETHICONE, ALUMINA, DISODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, LINALOOL, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, TOCOPHEROL, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE, [+/- MAY CONTAIN / PEUT CONTENIR, CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES, CI 45410 / RED 28 LAKE, CI 15850 / RED 7, CI 45380 / RED 22 LAKE, CI 15985 / YELLOW 6 LAKE, CI 42090 / BLUE 1 LAKE, CI 19140 / YELLOW 5 LAKE]
Lipstick 7 ml / 0.23 oz
L'Oréal (MSRP): USD $11.99
Packaging
A thick, transparent plastic tube with a twist-off cap and a petal-shaped applicator. The stopper inside the tube is just large enough for the applicator to come out easily whilst scraping off the perfect amount of excess product.
New tubes will have a sticker label for a security seal; if the perforated part is broken it probably has been opened already. The label for the name is placed on a very small sticker at the bottom of the tube.
I Create (No. 416)
"Nude," muted pink color in the tube. On my lips, it becomes a little peachy (warm pink) and is most similar to my natural lip color.
I Rule (No. 414)
Pink with blue undertones that is almost a dusty magenta. It applies true to the color in the tube.
I Am Worth It (No. 426)
Red with cool/blue undertones. Also applies true to the color in the tube.
Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent
The three colors I have tried are all highly pigmented yet lightweight and not tacky. Immediately after application, it is a bit wet with a slight shine but as the formulation dries it takes on a more velvety matte look.
The lipstick does transfer and wipes away but it also leaves stain my lips to a degree; the less bold colors are not as noticeable since it is similar to my bare lips.
There is a very slight sweet scent if I really sniff the applicator itself. Otherwise, it doesn't smell of much after I apply it nor does it taste of anything if licked.
How I Apply
Gradient lips // Point the applicator with the concave part facing my bottom lip. Spread a light layer starting from the center and then toward both sides. Lightly smack my lips together to put some color onto the upper lip.
Full lips // Start the same way as I would for gradient lips. Afterward, I add a layer or two extra to get more precise lines. I like to flip the applicator over so the concave part is facing up and then use the pointed tip to create the clean lip shape.
Thoughts & Recommendations
L'Oréal couldn't have been more accurate with their description of what the Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipsticks are. Everything that makes this lip product special is what I had hoped the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick to be. Having tried both now, I do hope something existed with the best qualities of both.
The Rouge Signature packs a colorful punch whilst being versatile. I love that I could wear a light layer or build up for a bolder look. The formulation is buttery smooth, lightweight, and most importantly not tacky. Layering and reapplying is a breeze. It doesn't seem to settle into my lines nor catch onto dry patches. Once it dries down, I barely feel like I have anything on my lips.
Perhaps the only questionable claim is this providing lasting wear. The brand chose their words very wisely. In a sense it does, the bolder colors do leave a noticeable stain. Those swatches on my arm lasted a good week's time despite cleansing oils and eye/lip makeup remover. On my lips, though, is a different story. The staining effect only lasts as long as the top layer of skin isn't exfoliated off. For me, that happens twice daily...once in the morning because of lip balms and another time at night because of cleansing. The actual liquid lipstick portion easily wipes off when eating or drinking—the oilier the foods, the more color is removed.
L'Oréal' offers slightly more product (7ml versus Maybelline's 5ml) but it has a higher Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Pricing (USD $11.99 versus Maybelline's USD $9.49). I definitely prefer the see-through tubes of the Rouge Signature. I also actually find myself reapplying after the color fades because of how fuss-free it is; whereas I had no such thoughts with the SuperStay due to its tackiness, tendency to flake, and inability to layer. If only the liquid lipstick part of the Rouge Signature is as transfer-proof as the SuperStay, while keeping its non-sticky texture, we would have one huge gem of a drugstore matte lip product.
My only associations with dermatologists are prescription ointments and sensitive, flakey skin. It wasn't until a few Korean beauty and lifestyle YouTubers shared their dermatology visits did my scope of what dermatologists were capable of increase. They showed something more akin to a high-tech spa treatment filled with extractions, masks, and interestingly lights that weren't exactly lasers to treat troubled skin and other preventative care.
When the Neutrogena Light Therapy range came out it I was intrigued yet skeptical. How could colored lights, that aren't even UV, help with acne? I know medical professionals supposedly use these on their patients yet it still seemed like an impossible solution. I remember my friend sharing the ads for the Light Therapy Acne Mask and I immediately scoffed at it being ridiculous—both the idea of light therapy seeming gimmicky and the plastic mask looking like something straight out of a horror film.
But that's the beauty of marketing; when people are skeptical of something new, coupons can be a great initiator. A $10 off discount circulated the popular couponing websites around the same time my interest in the technology changed. If there wasn't the less expensive and compact Acne Spot Treatment nor the $10 coupon, I would have easily glossed over ever giving new consumer technology a try.
Neutrogena's description:
Pop-up pimple? Light is on it. With dermatologist in-office technology, the spot treatment harnesses the power of light therapy to target and treat breakouts fast. This clinically proven two-minute acne spot treatment uses red and blue lights to reduce breakouts without flaking or burning. The easy-to-use portable design is ideal to treat acne anytime-anywhere! Battery can be replaced for continued use.
Red lights - Reduces acne inflammation
Blue lights - Targets acne-causing bacteria
100% UV Free
Chemical Free Treatment
FDA Cleared
Directions
Turn on device by pressing the button for a FULL second until it powers on.
Apply directly on skin so light is fully surrounding pimple.
Treat for two minutes. Device will automatically turn off after two minutes.
Neutrogena: USD $19.99*
*Prices vary depending on where you live and the retailer you purchase from. In NYC, the prices at the drugstores are closer to USD $25.
Packaging
The Acne Spot Treatment doesn't look fancy. It is made of lightweight plastic and what I am assuming aluminum. There are 3 lights, 2 of which are blue-colored and 1 is a reddish pink. It functions via a single button and is simply AA battery operated. Of course, it would be more eco-friendly to have the wand be rechargeable but I think the price would definitely not be as affordable otherwise.
If I have to nitpick about anything, it would probably just be that Neutrogena assumes everyone will have a screwdriver handy at home because the battery chamber is locked shut to the handle of the wand via a small screw.
The biggest confusion with the Neutrogena Light therapy is in regards to the inclusion of an expiration date. It seems that the "Use by" date is for ~2 years after the light wand is made. (I got the one in the pictures in 2017 and it was set to expire 2019. Another wand I bought in late-2018 is set to expire in mid-2020.) I am unsure how lights could "expire" and neither does Neutrogena say in its included pamphlet. Nevertheless, the first Acne Spot Treatment I purchased did not even last until 2019 when the lights died a few months shy of the February 2019 date.
How I Use
Neutrogena recommends that the wand is pressed right up against the skin to completely surround a pimple. I do use the light in that way but also do just hover the light close to my face without any contact, especially when I have makeup or freshly applied skincare on. This way the surface of the wand doesn't get as dirty and I don't leave a rectangularly shaped mark on my face because the action of pressing something against the face for 2 minutes could create a slight suction/cupping effect.
Obviously, the latter method results in a less concentrated blast of light. However, after having done both methods I think a little distance between the light wand and skin doesn't have too big of an impact on the results. I would recommend keeping a mirror handy because I find that any slight movements in my hand or face and the light is nowhere near a pimple at the end of the 2 minutes.
They say to only target pimples 3 times per day, totaling 6 minutes per spot daily. Sometimes I abide by those rules and other times I am either too busy (more so lazy) to wait around for 6 mins or overzealous and "zap" the zits a couple times more than suggested. I never kept a schedule for this gadget. I have used it for continuous 2-minute sessions and I have also broken it up by daytime/nighttime.
Thoughts & Recommendations
For those with acne that isn't a random, isolated pimple here and there, I am sad to say this Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment is not the answer. You will have to take the name "Spot Treatment" quite literally in order to not get mad at how it performs.
For those with acne that is cystic or deep, this little light wand is also not the best choice. The change isn't as dramatic and honestly not worth the time dedication. A dermatologist in a HuffPost article said that it may slow down the development but this consumer-oriented light gadget ultimately isn't designed to zap away the deep stuff. If possible I would wait for the pus to push through before treating.
So what is it good for then? What I found after a year or so of use on varying pimple types is, this particular light therapy seems to work best on the small, pus-filled pimples. Even then it takes the 3 (three!) 2-min sessions per zit, at the very least, to see results. Imagine if it was a cluster of pimples or a very persistent and big, pus-filled pimple it would take way too many 2-min sessions per day to treat all said pimples. In short, owning and using this gadget requires time and patience.
When the light does work, I think it does wonders. The small pustules I have targeted often dry up a day or so quicker than normal and just flakes right off like a scab. I find myself relying less on acne patches for the small fry spots. It is a nice reusable complement to those who find themselves going through too many acne patches. Save the hydrocolloids for the deeper-rooted stuff.
Each AA battery lasts for about ~100 2-minute sessions. After about 70 2-min light-ups the battery juice starts to slow down and there is a wait time of a few minutes before it can be initiated again. That waiting period slowly increases from a couple minutes to many (15+ min) as the power depletes more. When the gaps elongate past an hour, it is safe to say that AA battery is done for.
Neutrogena's Light Therapy Acne Mask is an option for those who often get more than a couple pimples at any given time. But keep in mind the mask itself is almost double the price of the Acne Spot Treatment AND it requires the purchase of a separate "Activator" to work, each having only 30 light-ups. The mask might not fit all face shapes nor the specific troubled area (say around the hairline or way under the chin and jaw). It also requires a longer session, 10 minutes for the entire face versus 2 minutes per spot.
Both versions have initial and reoccurring financial costs. The Spot Treatment will still be much cheaper than the Mask because AA batteries are sold in packs much cheaper than the single Activator. I think it all boils down to how bad the acne problem is because time is valuable. For those skeptical, I would recommend waiting for the usual 40% off coupon from CVS and buying the Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment version before upgrading if necessary.
