I wandered into Sephora today, since I had a little time to waste. It was a pretty quick cruise-through, but I gathered some first impressions worthy of follow-up later. Here’s my collection of thoughts.

On the scent strip, Agent Provocateur EDP just seemed… odd. And not terribly appealing. However, it was just different enough I’m willing to try it on my skin sometime. This is a scent I’ve been wanting to try for a long time, and the local Sephora is finally carrying it. Maitresse pleased me more on the scent strip, but not enough that I’d be willing to shell out for it. Too much generic floral for my taste.

Hugo Boss XX disappointed me, at least on the scent strip. It was so fruity, and I’m really not into the fruity scents much. Where’s the rice? I wasn’t impressed.

Kelly Calèche, the new Hermès scent, caught my interest. I had forgotten what the notes are, and on the scent strip it seemed minty(!). I don’t know what that was all about but I was sufficiently intrigued to get a sample. I’ll update when I wear it. As for picking up notes that aren’t really there, I smell fresh dill in Terre d’Hermès, although it’s not a listed note. I like it a lot though, it’s one of the few men’s perfumes I like.

Wandering back to skin and body care, I was struck by how much I liked the Sephora Tropical Jasmine scent. I usually hate “jasmine” scents, because they don’t smell like jasmine. This doesn’t really smell like jasmine either, but the combination of coconut, vanilla, amber, and a pinch of white floral (the “jasmine”) is quite lovely. The body butter is super-thick but not greasy, and just had to go home with me.

I love the scent of sage. One of the things I like about Thanksgiving is making the dressing, with lots of sage. With that in mind, I really wanted to love the Memory Sage set from Philosophy.

But alas, it was not meant to be. I was underwhelmed. It’s just not very sage-y at all, and seemed rather more chemical than herbal. That happens sometimes, with Philosophy. Their scents have become so hit and miss to me.

All is not lost on the sage front, however. I have been a fan for a while now of Method’s Escape Artist Beach Sage scent – the shower cream is divine.  They nailed the scent, and the formula is super-creamy. I stock up on this stuff. I haven’t tried the lotion yet, but I really should.

Sephora’s Citrus Sage isn’t bad either. It’s got a lot of citrus, but is appropriately herbal too. I liked it. The body butter formula is seriously good too (but more on that in a bit).

I always love Garden Botanika’s products, and every year their gift sets look so nice. The four-pack of body butters is back this year, with the Prickly Pear & Jojoba, Olive Soy, Pomegranate Wine, and Pumpkin Ginger Butters. The Happy Hands gift set is really awesome too – I can personally attest to the Pomegranate Wine hand cream being really great stuff.

Lush has some gift sets that are drool-worthy too. I’m lusting for Flower Power, with it’s Go Green solid perfume and Lily Savon soap (I *heart* lily scents). Lily Savon doesn’t seem available for separate purchase right now, boo hoo.

The Overnight Bee-Uty Bag from Burt’s Bees is adorable. I have a thing for bee prints. I like all the products in the set except the hand cream, which has a scent I dislike.

Mad Gab’s Smooches and Balms would be perfect little gifts for everyone on your list (who doesn’t need lip balm??). I especially like the Moose and Bear packaging, but they’re all cute. While we’re on the topic of lip balm, I also suggest the new Cocoa line from Badger Balms – delightful! Plus Badger packaging is just so pretty – the gift sets are lovely.

Lastly, this seasonal set from Illuminations looks so yummy. Candles are nice for people you don’t know so well – teachers, a secret santa exchange, your accountant, whatever, lol. They aren’t so personal, and the seasonal scents are nice this time of the year.

There’s something really fun about using makeup brushes to apply cosmetics. I think it’s got something to do with pleasing one’s inner child, since it’s like playing with paints with your face as your canvas.

Psychology aside, using makeup brushes makes the difference between having okay looking makeup, and great looking makeup, at least for me.  I didn’t start wearing eyeshadow regularly until I got some eyeshadow brushes – and lo and behold I could get my eyeshadow to look like the pictures in beauty magazines!

There are a few brushes I can’t live without. First, my foundation brush. I like the Sephora brush best (it seems to give the most even application) but I’ve also used a Sonia Kashuk brush from Target. The foundation brush makes the difference between blotchy uneven foundation, and perfectly smooth, perfect application.

I also love my MAC blush brush, #129.  It’s the shape and cut of the bristles, it gives just perfect powder blush application. I also like the mark. flat brush as well, although it lays product a little heavily, so it’s best for lighter blushes.

Speaking of mark., for the price their brushes rock. I use the powder brush every day, and the blending brush was my first introduction into perfect eyeshadow contouring. I’ve moved on to the Sephora version, I like the cut of the bristles better. I’ve had the complete mark. collection (powder, blush, eyeliner, eyeshadow, blender, and concealer) for over two years and I’m only now thinking it might be time to replace them. They’ve held up extremely well considering how inexpensive they are. The bristles are really nice.

I love this brush from Tarte – I use the wide end for applying eyeshadow all over the lid, and use the smudger for smokey eyes.  This Bare Escentuals double-ended liner brush is great for all formulas of eyeliner. I use it mostly with Stila Smudgepots, but I also like to use it with darker shades of eyeshadow.

Keep your brushes clean by washing them regularly. It prolongs the life of your brushes, and keeps them free of icky bacteria. I use warm water and shampoo (if it’s good enough for my hair, it’s good enough for brush hair), swirling the brushes in a cup to release the makeup. Lay flat to dry – this keeps water from getting down into the ferrule and loosening the bristles.

I haven’t updated about my skincare routine since April, so I thought it might be time since I’m using new products.

In the am, I’m using Zia Natural Fresh Cleansing Gel. It smells like ylang ylang (I love it!) and leaves my skin feeling soft. I dig it.  I use the Zia Natural Sea Tonic Aloe Toner (for normal to oily skin) day and night. It’s alcohol free, and also smells really nice. I like the spray bottle, saves cotton pads. I’m using Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil-Eliminating Astringent on my t-zone and chin, and while I don’t love it, it’s okay for now. I really need a good beta hydroxy treatment – I’m thinking of trying Paula’s Choice. The site has $3 shipping during November, so maybe now is the time.

For day, I use L’Occitane Precious Fluid. I like the velvety finish, and it has nice ingredients, including my favorite borage oil.  I’m pondering switching to the Apple Velvet Concentrate, though, which is supposed to help with pores. Over the summer I used the Honey Face Cream and loved it, so really I suppose any L’Occitane moisturizer would do.

I’m still loving ShiKai Borage Dry Skin Therapy Eye Cream.  Best Stuff Ever.

At night I have been liking Beauty Without Cruelty 3% Alpha Hydroxy Facial Cleanser. It’s really gentle, but effectively removes makeup. I like the fresh scent (courtesy of lavender, rose geranium, and ylang ylang essential oils), and the pump bottle. It’s been good stuff. I’m really interested in the Renewal Moisture Cream with 8% Alpha Hydroxy Complex for nighttime use. It has some nice ingredients.

After toning, I use L’Occitane Elixir and Murad Night Reform Treatment. I really like how the Night Reform Treatment leaves my skin smooth, but at $65 a bottle it’s a bit pricey (hence my interest in the BWC Alpha Hydroxy moisturizer).  The Elixir is a dry oil that has borage and evening primrose oils in it. Since I’ve been using it, any acne blemishes I get heal without leaving marks on my skin – it has dramatically reduced scarring. Love it.

I top it all off with a light application of Alaffia Rooibos & Shea Butter Antioxidant Face Cream. This heavenly cream leaves my skin so soft, and hasn’t increased blackheads or blemishes (although I was afraid it would, with how rich it is).  If I don’t switch when I run out, it’ll be because I can’t give up how lovely this product feels on the skin (and how nice it smells).

I’ve noticed the biggest cause of blemishes for me is not washing my face at night. As long as I wash at night (or at least cheat with a Ponds Cleansing Cloth) and extract blackheads once in a while, my skin stays pretty clear.

I haven’t done a five things post in ages! In order to bring back this favorite quickie post, here’s five things I really wish I had.

1. The Tarte We Wish You Health palette. Just gorgeous.

2. Immortelle L’Amour from Ayala Moriel Perfumes. Exotic.

3. The Philosophy Home Sick Collection. Who doesn’t love cookies and milk??

4.  Crabtree & Evelyn’s Sarawak Eau de Toilette Traveller. I love this scent.

5. The new Hugo Boss, Hugo XX Eau de Toilette.  I’m such a sucker for basmati notes. KenzoAmour, anyone?

I have two new friends in my life. Silky Underwear from Lush, and Ginger Coconut from Crazylibellule and the Poppies.

Crazylibellule first… sounds like a girl band to me. But it’s actually a French company that makes the cutest little solid perfume sticks in some amazing scents. Ginger & Coconut is from the Shanghaijava Collection, a collection of Oriental scents. It has notes of citronella, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon; heart notes of cumin, curry, coconut milk; and base notes of cedar, amber, sandalwood, and vanilla. I really pick up the coriander, curry, and coconut. It sounds crazy, like perfuming yourself with Indian food, but it works somehow. I love it.

The perfumes come in these adorable twist up tubes, and at $16 at Blush Beauty Bar in Portland, OR, the price can’t be beat. I want to try some of the scents in Les Divines Alcove collection too.

Lush’s new solid perfumes are really nice. Made with japan wax and cocoa butter, they are quite solid. There are eight choices, drawn from the popular scents of other products, like Honey I Washed The Kids soap , American Cream conditioner, and Silky Underwear powder.  I sniffed them all, and was hard pressed to pick only one.

Champagne Snow Showers stuck me as being really grapefruity. I liked it, but I have a lot of grapefruit scents already.  I was never really a fan of Fever or Karma, so they were the only ones I wasn’t totally in love with.  American Cream and Honey I Washed were really sweet and nice, but I also have a lot of sweet scents already too. I was still mildly tempted by American Cream anyway, and may get the conditioner to enjoy the scent. Go Green was a strong contender; I really liked how earthy it is. I may purchase it at some point, soon, lol. That left Potion and Silky Underwear in the running, as I was determined only to get one.

Potion was close, oh so close.  It’s carnations, but it’s a complex, spicy scent. Very appealing, very sexy. But I chose Silky Underwear because it really knocked my socks off. Strong jasmine scents get me every time. It’s dead sexy, so feminine, but not really girly at all because of the vetiver. Vetiver is a smoky kind of scent and mixed with jasmine it’s just delectable. I NEED to get the powder now.

I will get Potion and Go Green, too. I can’t resist the siren lure of Lush…

Ooh, all my favorite companies are rolling out their holiday special editions. I’m so excited!

Bath and Body Works leads off with Tree, a new scent I’m loving. It’s Douglas fir, sweet musk, and vanilla, and it makes the whole kitchen smell so nice when I burn it. Yankee Candle has gotten into the home fragrance oil business, and their Autumn Leaves makes my toes curl. Unfortunately, the Yankee store in the mall where I work has started playing holiday music, and thus must be avoided at all costs. While I am not enamored of any of The Body Shop’s seasonal offerings, they do have the prettiest burners. I think I need a new one, like this one.

L’Occitane pleases with their Fir Honey candle, which adds a nice sweetness to the otherwise crisp fir scent.

Last, but definitely not least, Method has rolled out the holiday goodies. Hooray!  The hand soap scents are Hollyberry, Cinnamon Bark, and Peppermint Vanilla. I bought Peppermint Vanilla last year, and loved it. They also have candles in those scents, and these new aroma bead burners that look very cool. They also added Gingerbread and Fig to their home fragrance lineup, and I can say these are two amazing scents – I have the room sprays.

I love this time of the year!