Adia Goss

Must-Have Moisturizing Products

March 11th, 2016 by Adia Goss 26 Comments

I have combination skin, and I LOVE pampering it with all kinds of moisturizing serums, potions and masks. I’ve found that keeping my skin moisturized is the best way to keep it happy and avoid minor irritations and redness (my skin is also pretty sensitive, lucky me!).

Even though we don’t really experience severe winter weather in the Bay Area, thanks to indoor heating and cooler temperatures, I still load up on moisturizers, and these are my current favorites for keeping my skin moisturized and soft:

My nighttime skincare routine is sort of long, but I love it. I turn it into a mini pampering session, and I’ll double-cleanse, tone, add a serum, then a moisturizer, then a facial oil…and this is on my “low key” nights!

Lately, I’ve been using Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture at night (you can check out my nighttime skincare routine here). It’s packed with avocado, sunflower and olive oils, and even though it also has shea butter, it somehow manages to feel light. I’ve only been using it for a couple of weeks, but my skin feels really soft and plump in the morning after I use it. I’ve noticed no irritation, either, so this is a definite winner. It’s available now at Sephora for $72.

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My Manicure Essentials

March 9th, 2016 by Adia Goss 28 Comments

I love doing my nails. It’s relaxing, and I always feel proud of myself afterward for saving a few dollars (so I can spend it on more makeup, obvs).

That being said, I usually don’t have a ton of time, so here are my essentials to get the job done as quickly and easily as possible.

Nail Clippers and File

Pretty obvious choice, but nothing ruins cute polish like ragged nails. I’ve bought more expensive nail files, but I always go back to these cheap ones that come like a dozen to a box. I like being able to stash these at work, in my purse and in my gym bag. I also use the nail file to clean up the polish around the edges of my nails.

Cuticle Remover

I felt like such a pro the day I incorporated Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover into my manicure routine! I never had the patience to soak my nails in water before pushing back my cuticles, so this product is perfect. I squeeze it around my cuticles, lightly, push them back with my fingers, and then rinse it off. It’s easy and really effective. Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover is available at Target for $5.

Base Coat

I’m always looking for the best base coat, and lately I’ve been reaching for Orly Bonder. I think it works well with different polishes, and I love that it dries quickly.

It’s an extra step, but my nails won’t last more than a day without base coat. Orly Bonder is available at Ulta for $10.

Nail Polish

I’m usually choosing between a neutral and a bold color, but I almost always end up going for the neutral. I’m really hard on my nails, so I like to pick something that won’t show the chips. When I sat down to do my nails the other day, I debated between Golden Sand and Cashmere, both by Mineral Fusion.

I ended up choosing the nude, of course! Golden Sand is a neutral tan with subtle silver shimmer. It’s a unique and really pretty shade. I like how it’s close enough to my skin tone to be subtle but doesn’t look muddy or boring.

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New & Pretty PUR HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation | Review & Swatches

March 7th, 2016 by Adia Goss 21 Comments

PUR Hydra Fluid Water Serum Tan — Wearing PUR HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation in Tan

I think I’m going to call 2016 “The Year of Foundations.” There have been so many new foundations coming out, like PUR HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation, which is new for spring 2016.

It promises an “instant youthful complexion,” which sounds pretty perfect to me, and it’s supposed to do it by adding moisture and radiance. At first glance, I love the packaging (I like serum foundations but don’t usually like the droppers they come with). When I saw that there were only five shades, I got a little nervous, but the light-to-medium coverage means that the finish is sheer enough that I don’t need an exact match. I swatched the colors and happily discovered that Tan is a great match for me (insert sigh of relief).

Here’s a look at the packaging and the shades:

At first, I thought I’d use Dark (I’m a MAC NC45 for reference), but it turns out that Tan is a much better match for me. I do get darker in the summer, though, so I could see myself using Dark then.

The formula feels super light, but it’s still moisturizing, which I love. I have combination skin, so I’m always skeptical about “moisturizing” foundations, because sometimes they feel too heavy and make my T-zone outrageously shiny; however, the first time I tested this, I didn’t use a primer or setting powder, and it lasted quite well. At the end of the day, there was a little bit of shine on my nose, but not enough to bother me at all. It didn’t break up across my cheeks or settle into my smile lines, either, which is another huge plus.

I’d call this light-to-medium coverage with a natural satin finish. The package describes the finish as “dewy,” but I’d say it’s on the subtle side of dewy, if that makes sense. When I applied a dime-sized amount using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush, it did a good job of evening out my skin tone.

I have an acne scar on my forehead, and it still shows through, but I think I could layer a bit more to get more coverage.
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My First Time…Using Brow Cream | Becca Shadow & Light Brow Contour Mousse

March 2nd, 2016 by Adia Goss 41 Comments

After being a brow pencil loyalist since forever, I finally tried my first brow cream — new Becca Shadow & Light Brow Contour Mousse ($25).

I’ve always avoided brow creams (and mousses, pomades, etc.) because I was afraid they’d be super thick and make me look like Burt’s long lost sister, but I’m a huge fan of Becca products, so I was cautiously optimistic when I tried this one.

Shadow & Light Brow Contour Mousse comes in a little pot with a waxy brow color on one side and a shimmery highlight creme on the other. It’s available in three shades — Cocoa (for light-medium hair), Cafe (for medium hair) and Mocha (for medium-dark hair). Here’s a closer look at Cocoa and Mocha.

First, the brow color side of these feels pretty firm to the touch but easily blends into my brows, while the highlight color is quite creamy and sticky. As you might be able to see from the top picture, the highlight side isn’t firm at all, and when I went to swatch Cocoa (on the left), I left a HUGE dent in it (oops!).

I didn’t have any problems with wear time (both sides last all day long), but I did discover that, for me, using this brow mousse is more involved and a bit messier than brow pencils and brow gels.

Here are swatches of two of the colors (Cocoa and Mocha):

Cocoa is a cool-toned grayish brown pretty close to my skin color but definitely too light for me to use in my brows. Its accompanying “Arch Defining Creme” (highlighter) is the same color as the one that accompanies Mocha, and it looks much peachier in this swatch than it does on my face. In fact, I think it looks subtle on me and helps to define my brows nicely.

As for Mocha, it’s a warm-toned brown. Since my hair is jet black, I wondered at first if it would be too light for me, but it actually worked! I think that being lighter it gives my brows a softer look and helps me avoid the look of super intense brows.

Here’s a step-by-step on how I use Becca Shadow & Light Brow Contour Mousse:

Step 1 — I brush my brows up using a disposable spoolie.

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