Suncare Review: Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 50

I purchased this moisturizer earlier this year, in hopes that it would be great SPF coverage. I'm always interested in Cetaphil products because of their popularity among people with sensitive or acne-prone skin.  The active ingredients listed on the product are: octinoxate (7.5%), octisalate (5%), octocrylene (7%), oxybenzone (6%), titanium dioxide (5.7%). Sorry if you sensitive to any of these ingredients!

At first, I really liked the packaging, but I sometimes experienced difficulty getting the right amount out of the pump. (As if the pump were stuck or something. However, I press on things very lightly so perhaps its just me!)

Here's a photo of the moisturizer on my hand, then lightly blended. Initially, I really liked this moisturizer - it is light, and not greasy and has a light sunscreen smell which I don't mind. It didn't appear to affect any of my makeup or flashback in photos either. However, after a few weeks of use, I realized this was the culprit in my oily t-zone at the end of the day. (If you look at some photos from February, you can see a slight sheen!)

Here you can see how there is a bit of shine and sparkle even on my hand once I've blended this in. I think this moisturizer is worth a try if you have dry or dull skin - perhaps it may add some radiance! If you are oily however, I would stay away!

I would not repurchase this moisturizer, but my boyfriend is happy to use it and doesn't have any complaints. I may try it again in summer just for SPF protection as well.

What are your favorite products with SPF? Do you think I should do a skincare post?

March & April Hauls

Hi guys! Sorry I've haven't posted very much :( I had planned to film a March hauls video to show you guys what I bought in March, but now that we're getting close to the end of April, I figured I'd just take some photos for you. My original plans to film were thwarted by a massive dishwasher leak on Easter weekend that leaked through the ceiling! Anyways, thanks to some gift cards, I was able to pick up some items I didn't anticipate getting in March! My grand total for March was $109 including my Birchbox. So far in April, I'm just under $25 after some good deals and leftovers from a Sephora gift card. I hope to keep the costs low in April, so fingers crossed! (And please scold me if you see me buying! LOL)

I'd love to hear what you think of the products if you have any of them! Also feel free to encourage me NOT to buy anything ever again. LOL.

Products Purchased in March: La Mer the Lip Balm Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in #11 Rouge Gouache First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Set Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Loreal Magic Lumi Primer Covergirl Lashblast 24 hr Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake Ecotools Bamboo Bronzer Brush Maybelline Dream Bouncy Bronzer in Sun Glow Loreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Enigmatic Purple & Flashback Silver (from Canada) Guerlain Rouge Automatique in #103 Chant d'Aromes Buxom Flirt Alert Sultry Eye Duo Clinique Superfine Brow Pencil in Soft Brown Smashbox 15 hr Limitless Cream Shadow in Topaz (returned) Fresh Sugar coral Lip Treatment Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Toundra (returned) March Teen Vogue Birchbox

Products Purchased in April: Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Audacious Asphalt & Bad to the Bronze Ole Henriksen Sugar Glow Scrub Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara April Birchbox

Beauty & Finance

I started this blog out of concern for the many unused products I had collected, and I've found that I continue to want more and more!! I spend many hours in a week gathering products into shopping carts, researching, and debating what to buy. Thankfully, my boyfriend stops me from making most online purchases.

I am pretty terrible at following budgets, and today I wondered - HOW do you all do it? I tweeted the question today, and one of my followers reminded me of the put money in an envelope technique. (Yes, I have shopping issues. I have a very cute Rebecca Minkoff pouch labeled "allowance" that I purchased for this purpose last year!)

I also thought about making a separate checking account to save up for products, but that doesn't seem... Restrictive enough for me.

Most of the time, I purchase with no plan or strategy in mind - I just debate and extensively research products. I definitely need a strategy to relieve some of this stress! lol!

What do you do to plan for beauty purchases? Do you save up, and if so how do you stay diligent?

Wishlist

I have many things on my shopping list most of the time, so I thought I'd share it with you guys today. I tend to put a lot of products on my list, but I try to be reasonable with what I purchase, so sometimes things stay on my list for quite some time! I am also putting myself on an eye/lip ban until at least June. I ought to put myself on a cheeks ban too, but I don't know if I can handle that with some of the products coming out.

1. YSL Touche Eclat - one of my favorites. Just tried one of the new shades (#3.5) and I think it'll be a great one for my skintone.

2. Guerlain Ombre Eclat Eyeshadow - I love the shade L'instant D'une Ondee 186.

3. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage - haven't dec4.ided on the shade yet, and don't need more concealer at the moment, but I hear so many great things about it.

4. Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow - I think I'll pick up Taupe Brown, and I'm definitely keeping my eye out on new shades that they may release.

5. Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eyeshad0w - Tin is a pretty highlight/slate blue, and pale shell is a nice pink shade... I definitely don't need more eyeshadows in highlight shades, especially these that have shimmer. But I just am loving cream formulas right now!

6. Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation - I've heard great things about this, so I'm dying to try it. Maybe in the next VIB sale at Sephora!

7. Guerlain Rouge Automatique Shine - Almost ordered it sight unseen from nordstrom.com the other night, but I'll wait till others review it or it's on counters near me. (this decision makes me cringe! i love trying new things and love the Guerlain lipstick formulas.)

8. theBalm Timebalm Concealer - i liked this concealer years ago, so I hope to try it again!

9. Le Metier de Beaute Dualistic Lip Pencil in Rouge - pretty shade, looked great in the makeover I had!

10. Guerlain Emilio Pucci Blush for Summer 2012 - Can't wait till this is available. It just looks amazing!

11. Burberry Blush - Still can't decide on shades, but think I will eventually pick up Earthy and Tangerine.

12. MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish - Definitely want to get Whisper of Gilt or Superb ASAP!

13. Dior Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder - Would like to see this in person before I make a decision on this one!

14. Marcelle BB Cream - Based on a recommendation, I was able to try a tester but they were out of stock! Bummer. Soon I will order it online!

15. La Roche Posay Rosaliac - After seeing Lisa Eldridge recommend this product, I encountered a tester... Now I want to try it for myself!

16. Ole Henriksen Nurture Me - Love the whipped texture of this moisturizer, and so does my boyfriend!

17. Kiehl's Ultimate Hand Salve - A perfect hand cream and a great price!

18. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Concentrate - I love the Ultra Repair Cream, and this balm would just be wonderful for those pesky dry/itchy spots.

19. Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm - Also tried a tester recently and love the texture of this balm!

Do you keep products on a shopping list as well? If so, what's on your wishlist? Any particular thoughts about these products? I'd love to hear what you think!