Target, Je T’aime

My brain’s been like mush lately, uninspired and drained from the commencement of Hell Week. I have about ten or so drafted posts, of which all are half finished; somehow, I can’t finish them. Lovely. Instead, I’ve invested all my efforts into rehearsal for the production of Grease (opening night is this Friday!), dance crew practices (woohoo!), and senior-related privileges/events. I suppose it’s nice to occasionally take a break from the trivial blogosphere; sometimes too much of an overflow of information and inspiration becomes antithetical. Like they – the ever so mysterious they – say, too much of anything is not a good thing. Except chocolate. And bags. And shoes. And cocktail rings.

I digress. My point was, and still is, that on the rare occasion I have absolutely nothing to do, and am concurrently uninspired/irrevocably bored, I go to Target. I love it so. I could browse each section for hours: the beauty aisles, the clothing racks, the shoe section, the magazines, the technology aisles… The place is God’s gift to suburbia. And so, on some weekday (Tuesday, I think?), when I was near insanity from boredom, I drove off in my little orange box (a.k.a., my car) to Target. And did un peu de shopping in the beauty section. I’m quite the happy camper  now.

I purchased:

+ Glamour, March 2010

+ Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Body Lotion with Vitamin E

+ St. Ives Naturally Clear Blemish & Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub

+ Rimmel 60 Second Nail Lacquer in “Night Before”

+ Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in “Airy Fairy,” No. 070

This would probably be the best purchase I’ve made thus far in regards to beauty products. Ever since I spotted dodgy scans of Glamour‘s March 2010 issue with my style idol, Victoria Beckham, on the cover I had to get my greedy little mitts on a copy. And I did! I’ve yet to go through it, but I really am impressed with the cover – the color, the photograph, the typography. Edgy, feminine, and simply aesthetically pleasing.

The Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Body Lotion with Vitamin E by Vaseline (what a breathful!) and St. Ive’s Naturally Clear Blemish & Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub are my two holy grail skincare products. I have yet to find a brilliant moisturizer and cleanser (I simply use whatever looks appealing in the beauty aisles of the supermarket; how fabulous, I know). No matter, I have the my body moisturizer and exfoliator covered – the most important parts of developing a proper skincare routine.

I have quite dry skin; Vaseline’s cocoa butter lotion has been the only moisturizer thus far that isn’t greasy but wholly moisturizing, makes my skin glow, and smells absolutely gorgeous. I use St. Ive’s apricot scrub to exfoliate my face (I have combination oily skin, and am prone to blemishes only during the school year – damn you stress! – but am clear during the holidays and summer vacations) and my body. It can feel quite harsh on the skin, but trust me, the end result is well worth the scratchy bits. My skin is left smooth and oh-so-soft.

I am very much so impressed with Rimmel’s products as of late. Last week I tweeted about the brand’s 60 Second nail lacquer in No. 615, “Night Before.” Though I prefer two coats with all my lacquers, “Night Before” only required one: coverage was opaque and not streaky. The color was to die for – much like Chanel’s “Vendetta”, but far more intense: a deep purple with a blue undertone, with pinky-violet shimmers.

“Airy Fairy” (no. 070) was the first lipstick of Rimmel’s that I have tried. In regards to drugstore brands, I’ve only ever liked Revlon’s Matte collection, but this particular product has me hooked on trying more from Rimmel London. I adore the kitschy packaging: purple, translucent plastic packaging with a crown on top. The color is perfect – one of those “my lip color but much, much better” lipsticks that MAC never had: nude, mauve-pink. I’m in love with it. I am. Not to mention, it goes on so smoothly and is surprisingly moisturizing for a lipstick. I highly recommend it to all of you; it is the perfect everyday color, easy to wear and non-fussy.

♥

bisous,

La C.