What I Bought in January
Hi all! I mentioned on Instagram that I wanted to start doing a blog post series discussing everything that I bought in a particular month. The good, the bad, the regrets. I figured this would be a good way to see what I’m spending and keep me in check.
Although, I know I spend a lot on beauty, and I consider this a part of my job as a content creator. I make some money from my page via commissionable links and through paid sponsorships, and I want to buy things to review, and put money back into my page. I don’t plan on ever fully relying on PR to review every new launch.
With that said, let’s get into January (a month late)! Please note that some of the product links are affiliate, meaning I earn a portion of the sale.
Sweet Chef Oat Milk Latte Cleanser
Where: Target
Price: $12.99
I put together an affordable favorites series, and I had heard that this was a fantastic pH balanced cleanser that was easy to grab at Target, and under $15. I love this, and I think it’s great. Check out my post on it, here! I am glad I bought this and was able to include it in my roundup.
May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon
Where: May Lindstrom Skin
Price: $180
Oooooh this one hurt a little but, but I had been without Blue Cocoon since December of 2019 and I used two small sample pots all of 2020, putting a dent into my other oils and balms, and I had really saved up for this one. No regrets! Catch my review on Instagram here.
Dr. Devgan Lip Plump SPF 30
Where: Violet Grey
Price: $50
This is another item I had been eyeing all Fall, and didn’t take the plunge and finally must have been in a shopping mood. This is one of those purchases I am happy I made, because a. I love it, but b. A LOT of my followers ended up buying it and loving it. That to me makes it so worth it. Also— it has SPF protection.
Saie Beauty Sunvisor SPF 35
Where: Saie Beauty
Price: $34
I hate that I love this product, and can’t ever repurchase it. A lot of people wanted to see a review, and I did a try on and had my friend also do a try on of the SPF and we filmed it. You can catch it here. Basically the brand marketing was awful and said it was sheer on all skin tones, and it definitely wasn’t on him. They also accused him of using 1/4 of the bottle when in fact he had only used 4 pumps. So disappointing and I wish I saved my coins on this highly anticipated launch.
Merit Beauty Blush + Complexion Stick
Where: Merit Beauty
Price: $52.80 for both products with 20% off coupon
Check out my first impressions on Instagram here. The minimalist complexion stick here is the true winner. Such a stunning formula. The price killed me a little at $38 for the small amount. BUT a little goes a long way, and the formula is unique. Since their launch in January, they are now sold at Sephora so I will stock up on the product during sales for sure. The Flush Balm blush is super super super super sheer, so not my style as I am a seasoned cream blush user. I love the color Terracotta, but it takes too long to build up so I’d probably pass on this if you’re in the same boat as me. I don’t regret this because this was one of the most anticipated launches in beauty
Auric Beauty Smoke Reflect Eyeshadow in Temper
Where: Auric Beauty
Price: $47
This was a huge launch in January, as Samantha Ravandahl has an incredibly huge loyal fanbase (including me), but man I was so sad by this product. The topper was so sheer, it didn’t look like much of anything. Although the cream shadow itself was nice, it isn’t nice enough to spend $39 and another $8 on shipping. I wish I got Defiance instead, because I heard the issue was just with this shade.
Ranavat Hydrating Jasmine Mist
Where: Standard Dose
Price: $45
This is my favorite mist of all time, and my third bottle in about a year and a half. The first two were gifted by the brand, but I could not live without this. Jasmine is my favorite scent on earth. It takes me forever to finish a mist and this is the only one I’ve repeatedly finished and opened a new bottle. Cannot recommend it enough, no regrets!
In Summary
This total hurt to write. I think the Blue Cocoon really pushed this month into “high spend” territory even though I was very thoughtful about that purchase. The rest are must haves in my routine, or highly anticipated launches that I wanted to review for my page. I am disappointed that there were more misses than hits when it came to launches.