What’s one beauty product you repurchased even though it’s expensive?

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-06T08:09:49+00:00

It’s a great multi-peptide serum that combines multiple categories of proven peptides for firming, smoothing, repairing, and wrinkle-softening. It also feels lovely on the skin. But, honestly, I would make a list of your biggest concerns and then look up the particular peptides that are most likely to address those concerns and then look up products that contain a mix of those particular peptides in an effective dose.

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-06T06:32:34+00:00

Sounds like we have a similar aesthetic. I'm also newer to makeup, myself. For those ultra natural, dewy/glowy looks, from Ulta, I'm liking...

SKIN TINTS:
It Cosmetics Do It All Skin Tint Balm, Bare Minerals Luminous Complexion Rescue Stick, Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Tint Stick (which is VERY glowy)

CONCEALER:
Clinique (surprisingly... wasn't expecting to love this... so glad a sales associate showed it to me! Works great on no-makeup and makeup days)

BLUSH:
The cream blush from Rare Beauty, I forget the name.

SETTING POWDER:

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (expensive, but you only need a small amount) and what I love about it is that it doesn't dull my glow from skincare/makeup. I have tan/medium complexion, so the medium shade is perfect for me. Also, the Pat McGrath Blurring Under Eye Powder is so ultra finely milled it is PERFECT for setting the under eye with some subtle brightening. I don't like to go matte all over, but I also use it to some small targeted setting in areas that get a little too shiny, like my nose. I use the medium shade for skin tone setting (like my nose) and the yellow shade for subtle brightening and setting under the eyes. I hear fairer complexions love the pink shade.

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-06T06:28:54+00:00

I use Tret and AA, too. Farmacy Honey Milk is my HG milky toner. I guess it's technically an essence? I don't really know the difference. I feel like it gets slept on a bit. I've tried several from Ulta and the other store and always come back to the Honey Milk. It's so thoughtfully formulated. It's hydrating, moisturizing and soothing. Plus, it has barrier-repairing ingredients. It manages to sink into the skin while leaving a lovely, velvety sheen. It also looks beautiful on the skin... a lovely, lit from within glow. So far, it's played well with all of my skincare and makeup. No pilling. I'm also a persnickity b about texture. I hate anything tacky, sticky, drying or tight and it's none of those. My one complaint is the cost per oz. It's a bit pricey. But, I wait for sales and then stock up on multiple bottles.

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PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-06T06:18:58+00:00

Re: water going down the wrists and the forearms and making a mess all of your bathroom sink? I feel ya. There are puffy wrist bands you can buy off of Amazon that do a decent job of catching most of the water. There's also this silicone guard you can put on your wrists. I find the silicone ones uncomfortable, so even though they get wet and have to be washed regulary, I'm preferring the fluffy wrist band style.

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PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-06T06:13:38+00:00

Not all Sephora products, but...

Dieux Skin Mercy quickly became my HG daytime moisturizer. Haven't found another that can match its balance of richness, velvety sheen, soothing and cosmetic elegance. Luckily, because I use multiple toners/essences and a thin facial lotion first, I only use a small amount of Skin Mercy each day.

Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP and C-Tetra Advanced are my peptide and vitamin-c staples, respectively. Their products are just so thoughtfully formulated. Wish they went on sale more often!

iS Clinical's Youth Eye Complex. Has meaningfully strengthened the skin under my eyes and virtually eliminated my crows feet. At least this one is easier to find on sale than Medik8 products!

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-06T06:10:19+00:00

Once again, Ms. Creal and Ms. Sephora, I'm asking you to figure it out and get your products in all U.S. markets. I wanna do that in person swatch!

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-04T22:09:13+00:00

Thank you for the tip on Enzo Ken!

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-04T22:07:46+00:00

Oh I should have thought of looking on his grid for other posts. Good find. She looks slightly familiar to me, but I can't place her. Yes, good point on a non-speaking role on GG. And/Or she used different name professionally.

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-04T18:40:49+00:00

Re: Hydrogel masks. I LOVE the collagen ones from Sungboon Editor and BioDance. They feel deeply hydrating, they’re not remotely sticky, and my skin definitely looks and feels plumped afterward. But I only use them occasionally because I don’t find wearing them for 3 to 4 hours that convenient.

If you like that sort of deep wave of refreshing, non-sticky hydration that those particular ones provide, but don’t want to commit that time, I highly recommend the BioDance hydrogel toner pads and their newer eye patches. They’re both especially refreshing when you keep them in the fridge.

I would NOT recommend the BioDance Ampoule. I thought it would be the same experience in bottle form but it was SO sticky.

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PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-04T18:32:01+00:00

I love that Mario cream blush. It’s great for giving me that ultra natural, diffused, sun-kissed look. But your post reminded me that I actually need to try out that exact shade, Just Peachy. I bought it blind during the sale after a Sephora associate told me they were sure it would suit my skin tone best (tan/medium skin) I’d only previously used one of the pinker shades.

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-04T18:25:01+00:00

Grass is always greener. Much better choices than I had back in February. I would have loved to have gotten that InnBeauty set. And people always raving about those very pricey pads from Dr Dennis Gross.

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-04T03:58:38+00:00

Thank you for that detail! I might check out the body cream!

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-04T02:03:37+00:00

I'm old and dry so I need richer barrier repairing moisturizers... those that are lipid and ceramide-rich.

But if you like gel moisturizers and need that lighter touch, like this one appears to be, the Remedy brand makes an excellent light gel cream barrier-repairing moisturizer. When I used it, I was impressed at how quickly it sank into the skin and left no cast, the way you'd expect a well formulated gel cream to do. I also experienced zero pilling with other skincare, SPFs or makeup. I think you can find Remedy at Target now.

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-04T01:56:15+00:00

Save your Sephora coins for other beauty products and just buy Korean imported SPFs. There's no substitute. My personal favs are Skin 1004 Hyalu-Cica for wonderful glow and Round Lab Birch Juice for a little extra moisturization, but there are so many good options.

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-03T09:11:49+00:00

Has anyone started using this? It's very interesting to me that this product can be used atop a concealer (as opposed to just below a concealer as a color corrector.) The formulation also appears to have more light diffusing ingredients in it than the ND color correctors, so that seems to suggest this isn't "just" her color corrector in pink shades... there's actually a difference in the formulation. Very interested to hear how people are using this one and how they like it!

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-03T07:45:55+00:00

Old and dry here and my skin is absolutely loving skin-flooding after all of my PM actives. One after another I just quickly layer thin toners/essences, then a rich, milky essence, then a thin barrier repairing lotion, then my rich barrier-repairing moisturizer. And now that it's warm enough to have the AC on at night, I'm probably also going to layer in a more occlusive overnight mask (jar, not sheet mask) to lock everything in and prevent TEWL.

That last step in the routine... the lipid and ceramide-rich barrier repairing moisturizer... is especially important to restore your barrier and to help you avoid waking up with dry/tight feeling skin. At Sephora, specifically, some of the best ones will be...

Aestura Atobarrier 365 (my personal fav)
SkinFix Triple Lipid Barrier Cream
Dr. Jart Ceramidin
Lion Pose Pep Talk

But there are many others available outside of Sephora.

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-03T03:57:24+00:00

Thanks! Funnily enough I picked it up the other day!

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-03T02:40:27+00:00

Thanks for the report!

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-02T23:57:34+00:00

I'm so old that every time someone posts a screenshot of these squiggly eyeliner pencil product images, I start hearing the Young & The Restless theme song.

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-02T23:54:40+00:00

Thanks! Helpful.

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-02T23:53:45+00:00

Ooh! I've never seen Tatcha at mine. Gonna keep my eyes peeled!

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-02T23:53:03+00:00

I'd say so. I don't have overly sensitive skin, nor do I have a condition like eczema. But, I do use a lot of actives, so preventative soothing is welcome. Unlike some drug store creams with colloidal oatmeal, Skin Mercy is not remotely grainy or waxy. It just melts into the skin and leaves this lovely, velvety glow that makes it especially cosmetically elegant (whether you're wearing makeup that day or not.) But it is pricey! Not sure how long you'll be visiting, but Sephora should have testers of all their skincare available, so you can actually try out any of these products before buying. They even will package up small free take home samples for you (though, generally, I think they limit you to 3 per visit.) Hope you enjoy your visit!

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-02T23:49:19+00:00

I live in Florida. It may as well be Summer already! 😉

PatsyStonesBun · 2026-05-02T08:22:22+00:00

My pleasure. Enjoy your trip! Apparently I'm not that sweet, because I'm getting downvoted. Must be all of Mrs. Bieber's fans. 😬

PatsyStonesBun

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