The New York Beauty Haul.

Of course, a lot of shopping went down when I was in New York – I probably got a little overexcited when I stumbled upon yet another Sephora! Did I really need all this new makeup? Probably not, but it’s fun to try new brands and products!

Haircare
I talked about the drybar haircare products I picked up in yesterday’s post, so check there for my full thoughts. I also picked up yet another salt spray, because I have a problem. I’ve been hunting down the Philip B Maui Wowie Beach Mist (£22) for so long, they used to sell it in my local Space NK – I saw it once and never again. I found it in a small pharmacy on Broadway I believe, and I was overjoyed. I’ve only used it a couple of times, but it seems to be doing a good job; non-crispy, wavy locks with tonnes of texture!

Skincare
I pretty much have my skincare routine sorted for life, but I did treat myself to a couple of skincare bits while I was away. I stumbled across the Aesop Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque (£33) in the same pharmacy mentioned above, and I had to have it. By this point, all the sugar and bad American food had really got to my skin, so I was definitely in need of some TLC. I hadn’t heard of this mask before, but it did wonders for my complexion! I can’t fault Aesop products. I also (finally!) added the Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream to my stash, I’ve been coveting this for so long and I was super excited to finally see it in real life. I haven’t used it often enough to get a good opinion of it, but it seems to have made my skin happy since I’ve been back. Look out for a full review coming soon. I also had access to Josie Maran products over there, and I just had to indulge. This is a brand I’ve heard SO much about, but I’ve never had a chance to try anything. In terms of skincare, I picked up the Argan Skincare Ritual Set, which includes trial sizes of some of the brand’s most loved products. I adore the cleansing oil and the Argan oil, they’re just beautiful!

Makeup
Okay, makeup! Another Josie Maran product I treated myself to was the Argan Enlightment Illuminator – this stuff is incredible! It’s a rose gold illuminator that perks up the complexion and really gives it this dreamy, supermodel-esque glow that I didn’t even know was possible from a bottle. I really wish I had bought more from Josie Maran… I guess a trip back is needed. I also grabbed the Covergirl The Supersizer Mascara, mainly because Katy Perry was on the advert but also because I had forgotten to bring mascara. This has a spikey brush that grabs every hair and coats it with thick, black lacquer. I’m not usually a fan of the spikey brushes, but this stuff is amazing. Well worth a try, US girls. I bought the NYX Mineral ‘Set It & Don’t Fret It’ Finishing Powder, I had to buy this after the first day – I wasn’t expecting it to get so hot, and my makeup was slipping off as the day wore on. I can confirm, this setting powder is incredible. A summer staple for sure. The Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray (£9) also came home with me for the same reason. Before, I was blind to the hype surrounding this… but now I see. Finally, a couple of lip picks – the Revlon Colourburst Lip Balm Stain in Charmed, a peachy coral that gives my lips a tiny hint of colour. The payoff isn’t amazing, but nice if you like a subtle hint to the lips. The other pick is entirely the opposite; Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Jeffree is one of my favourite finds – this stuff really packs a punch! A dreamy pink/red hue that coats the lips in a no-budge wash of colour.

Nails
Yeah, so I bought a lot of nail stuff. America really likes nail brands, huh. I picked up the Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover – I’ve used the Gel version of this for years and years, but I much prefer this version. No annoying exfoliating beads to get in the way. I also treated myself to one of the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polishes (£9.99), which I’m yet to try but I’ll keep you posted. I really wanted to try Formula X polishes, I don’t usually stray from my beloved Essie but these were too pretty to pass up. I got two colours, and the Formula X System Kit – this is amazing and my polish stayed on for SO long. As for the shades, I picked well and went with Unmistakeable and Thrilling. I had to get the Essie Gel Setter Top Coat, I’ve been so excited to try this and I slapped it on last night for the first time. It’s pretty awesome stuff, my nails are pristine, super glossy and there’s no sign of chips or wear. I also added the Essie Spa So Sole Good Exfoliating Foot Scrub to my stash, a little something that will save my feet this summer. I wish we had more Essie in the UK, their products never disappoint.

Etc.
A few other extras include the NARS Kabuki Artisan Yachiyo Brush (£43), I’ve been after this for so long and it just made sense to pick it up while I was spending silly amounts in Sephora anyway. I use this for everything – blusher, highlighter, bronzer… the lot. Another NARS must have. The Sephora Rollerball stand got to me and I ended up getting the Nest Midnight Fleur Rollerball, a heavenly everyday scent that transforms on the skin. I’ve never had a rollerball perfume before, and I love having a handbag staple to use when I need it.

Have you tried any of these bits?