Current Cravings #2

Hey, everyone! Time for another installment of my wishlist posts, Current Cravings. My last wishlist was dangerously big (it was my first, after all, so I'd been building up my wants for a while), but I did my best to keep this one rather pared down. It's full of goodies for the face, hair, and nails. Hope you enjoy taking a peek!

Kahina Brightening Serum- I've been on the hunt for a brightening serum for my combination/sensitive/acne-prone skin for what seems like forever. Everything has been too greasy, to irritating, or barely effective. This wasn't the case with Kahina's organic-certified Brightening Serum. I sampled it a few months back (thanks to the uber-friendly Joel at Jacob & Sebastian here in Toronto) and was instantly smitten with the light texture and soothing scent. I also love that it brightens your skin without making it photo-sensitive (i.e., it doesn't contain harsh chemical exfoliants, so it won't leave your skin more prone to sun damage), which makes it fine to wear it in the morning as well. At over $70 this is a definite splurge, but I'm planning to bite the bullet next month when a new job (and new paychecks!) will allow it :)

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder- I've been mildly obsessed (to say the least) with these since their release. Hourglass is a brand that has been tempting me a lot lately (chic and cruelty-free? yes, please!) and these powders, which promise a variety of perfecting finishes, certainly caught my eye. I've tested Dim Light in-store, which won me over instantly. It's described as "a neutral soft beige that provides a perfect balance of warm and cool tones to blur imperfections" (from sephora.com), which is right up my alley since my skin is neutral-toned, yet blotchy and prone to redness. I find this worked incredibly as a highlight when applied intensely or as a luminizing setting powder when applied lightly. The price of this ($52 CAD) has prevented me from bringing it home so far, but it's still on my radar, big time!

Antipodes Divine Face Oil- One of my favourite bloggers, Gita from Odds and Ends featured this on her site recently and it instantly piqued my interest. A facial oil that's suitable for acne-prone, oily skin? Bingo!  As I get older, I'm more interested in super nourishing, gentle, natural products, but still have to keep my temperamental skin in mind. This certified organic oil, rich in avocado, macadamia, jojoba, and rose hip oils sounds like a beautiful option. It also promises to work as an excellent makeup base, absorb instantly, and fade acne scars, which is perfect for me! Have been wanting to try Antipodes for a while, and this may be the product to make me take the leap!

REN Clear Calm Clarifying Clay Cleanser- REN is another brand that has been on my radar in a huge way lately. It seems every blogger and their dog has been talking about it, which ups the hype factor for sure. But it's also easily accessible (available at Sephora) and cruelty-free, so it's hype worth falling for! The Clarifying Clay Cleanser has been tempting me especially because it promises to serious deep clean and fight breakouts without stripping or irritating the skin. I have a feeling my acne-prone, sensitive skin will love it! I'm not particularly in the market for a new cleanser at the moment, but this will be on my mind when it's time for a replacement!

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray- Though I have a ton of hair, my hair care regimen has always been very low-key: shampoo, conditioner, a leave-in treatment, and that's about it. It's only been recently that I've been more invested in various styling products and finishing treatments (for example, Lush's Sea Spray, a new love in my life) and I've heard a lot to suggest that Oribe's offerings are top-notch. The Dry Texturizing Spray promises to volumize, texturize, and double as a dry shampoo. Sounds like an excellent option for my long wavy hair! Will have to check this out next time I'm at Jacob & Sebastian as they carry this line as well :)

NARS Opaque Nail Polish in Galathee- To me, this is one of the standouts from NARS' new Fall 2013 collection,  Haute. Hypnotic. Modern Matte. Described as a "dove grey", Galathee is a creamy grey-blue that is richer than white, more neutral than mint or sky blue. It's not a shade I'd normally gravitate towards, but when I saw a sales associate at Holt Renfew trying it on a couple weeks ago, I was transfixed. Such a unique, edgy, yet wearable colour. Planning on snatching this one up soon :)

Chanel Le Blush Creme de Chanel in Pressage- Any new release from Chanel is going to excite my inner makeup fiend, but their new line of cream blushes has made me particularly curious. Le Blush Creme de Chanel promises a unique cream-powder formula that is easy to apply, leaving a glowy, satin finish that is also long-wearing. What's not to love? I'm especially eager to test out Pressage, a bold orange coral. Looks lovely!

Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow- Because my face is fuller, I'm always interested in products that will work to contour my face, leaving it looking thinner and more defined. While I'm happy to use bronzer to achieve this, I'm definitely intrigued by a product designed specifically to imitate the colouring of the face's natural shadows, creating an uber-natural contour. Described as a "matte toffee", it promises to leave a shimmer-free finish that won't disrupt foundation or look too stark (nobody wants a harsh stripe down their cheekbones!). Unique, but totally functional, I think Illamasqua has a hit with this one!


And a final, jumbo-sized view of my current cravings:





That's it! Have you tried and loved (or hated) any of the products I featured? What are your current cravings?

Thanks for reading! :)