Sunday Riley

5 Botanically Based Bodacious Skin Care Products Worth Trying at Space NK

August 2nd, 2017 by Karen 8 Comments

sunday riley kat burki malin goetz — Plant-powered skin care!

There’s a bounty of botanical-based skin care products at Space NK meow, and here are five of my favorites at the moment.

1. Sunday Riley C.E.O. C + E antiOxidant Protect + Repair Moisturizer ($65)

This rich, mega-moisturizing anti-aging moisturizer has an oil-soluble version of vitamin C called tetrahexydecyl ascorbate (or THD ascorbate) that some researchers believe can penetrate skin better than old-fashioned vitamin C.

Vitamin C is notoriously fickle/unstable, but tetrahexydecyl ascorbate is stable and less irritating than other forms of vitamin C, making it suitable for peeps with sensitive skin, too.

sunday riley ceo moisturizer — Hurry, get the C.E.O.!

I just started using this, and my skin, which has been drier than usual, laps it up. Along with THD ascorbate, it contains an exfoliating botanical extract called lime seed pearl, commonly known as “finger lime.” It’s a plant, native to Australia, and it contain hundreds of tiny capsules of lime juice. They look like caviar.

2. Sunday Riley C.E.O. C + E Micro-Dissolve Cleansing Oil ($38)

This cleansing oil also has lime pearl, as well as THD ascorbate, white willow bark, turmeric and evening primrose. It makes quick work of my foundation, concealer, lipstick and blush, but it makes me tear up when it touches my water lines, so I have to grab something else to remove my eyeshadow, mascara and liner.

sunday riley ceo cleansing oil — White willow bark contains salicin, which is the precursor to aspirin.

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Grab the Best of the Best From Space NK at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

July 26th, 2017 by Karen 7 Comments

best of space nk exclusive edit — The Best of Space NK Set, a.k.a. “The Out-of-This-World Bestsellers,” a sweet six-piece set of Space NK bestselling products available now during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale through August 6th.

Did someone say “sale?”

I’m there!

It’s moments like this when I realize that I am truly my mother’s daughter. 🙂

It’s that time of year again. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (I LOVE THE DANCING ON THEIR WEBSITE) is happening right now. You can score fab fall clothing, shoes, accessories and beauty products, including some exclusive sets, at steep discounts.

This one, which is kind of weird in that it contains six Space NK bestsellers, but it’s exclusively available at Nordstrom (kind of like how some JCPenney stores have a Sephora inside them), is on sale for $159 (a $237 value). And it comes with a chic bag!

After August 6th, all of the sale prices at Nordy’s go back up again, so it’s a good time to stock up on things you know you’ll use (I bought a sh*t-ton of these Caslon tees and a couple of Zella High Waisted Leggings!). It’s also a good chance to grab a beauty set or two, because some brands will bundle items together and slash the price, like the Best of Space NK Set. It’s exclusive to the Anniversary Sale and comes with six items (seven including the bag), five which are full-size.

The only thing that isn’t full-size is the bottle of Sunday Riley Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment, which is more of a deluxe sample-size. It’s about half the size of the regular bottle (which costs $105 all by itself), so it’s not that small.

best of space nk exclusvie edit 2 — Everything except the Sunday Riley Good Genes is full-size.

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Skin Care Spotlight: Sunday Riley Charisma Creme and Ceramic Slip Cleansers

June 19th, 2015 by Karen 8 Comments

Sunday Riley’s Good Genes Serum was one of the things that rescued my chin from a bad bout of hormonal acne a couple years ago, so even though her plant-based skin care stuff is kind of expensive, I keep an open mind about her products because of the good things Good Genes did for my chin.

At SpaceNK a while back with my friend Mary (who has amazing skin), I was just getting into my usual “Good Genes saved my life!” spiel when Mary said that she had a great experience with the Sunday Riley face cleansers.

That’s all it took! I started using their Ceramic Slip and Charisma Creme Cleaners later that day, and now I know why Mary raved.

Ceramic Slip

Ceramic Slip, a gel-based cleanser with French clay, is for normal and combo skin. The clay is supposed to tighten pores and remove impurities, while vitamin C ester is supposed to make your pores, wrinkles and discoloration less noticeable.

I have sometimes oily, sometimes dry combination skin, and on the days when my skin is oilier, my face loves this stuff. When I wash with it in the morning, more skin feels tighter, and my pores don’t appear to be as “in yo’ face.” My skin also doesn’t feel dry or uncomfortable after using it.

A 4.25-oz. bottle costs $45, which, I know, is expensive for a cleanser, but you can stretch it out. I shake the bottle, then dole out half a pump for my entire face, massage that in (it doesn’t foam up), and then rinse with water.

Ingredients
-Refined French Green Clay: Tightens pores, removes impurities, and infuses skin with vital minerals.
-Vitamin C: Helps reduce the appearance of large pores, wrinkles, and discoloration while stimulating collagen growth.
-Black Pepper: Stimulates circulation for naturally warming cellular revitalization.
-Sandalwood: An anti-microbial agent that helps with skin irritation, inflammation, allergic conditions, and eczema; promotes radiance.

Jasmine, Frankincense.

FYI, the scent is something you’re probably either going to love or hate… I call it grassy and earthy, and I like it, but you might want to get a sample first to see how you feel about it.

$45 for a 4.25-oz. bottle. Available now at SpaceNK, Sephora and online.
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Intimate or Not, I Have to Share How Much I Like Sunday Riley Blush in Intimate

March 14th, 2012 by Karen 34 Comments

sunday riley intimate blush

I imagine it’s just a phase, like wanting a pony or collecting rainbow Lisa Frank stickers, but this particular phase — my obsession with blushes that perfectly balance pigment and shimmer — has lasted, oh, about 10 years so far. 🙂

In that time this phase has led me down the road to radiant cheeks many times before, a road marked by MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes, NARS Blushes and lively, glowing cheeks.

And now, there’s a new stop on the road (yay!). It’s called Sunday Riley Blush in Intimate, and it’s a find that should be shared.

One of those “Ohmigosh! I think I look 10 years younger!” colors, the $30 blush is one of six new shades sweeping into beauty departments at Barneys New York and Bergdorf Goodman stores (and also online), alongside the rest of the Sunday Riley makeup collection.

Like Sunday’s Prismasilk Eye Colors, the blushes, which apply with a super smooth, even texture on me, employ silica particles painted in pigment.

Intimate reminds me of a slightly pinker, more neutral version of NARS Orgasm, with a soft, candlelit sheen, as opposed to a high-shine golden shimmer.

I love it, and I have a strong feeling it’ll look lovely on a wide range of skin tones.

With Intimate on my cheeks, I feel like I look refreshed and better rested (and maybe even a little younger…like I’m of an age where I spent my awkward teens years listening to the Spice Girls on CD instead of Debbie Gibson and Tiffany on tape).

sunday riley blush in intimate

sunday riley swatch
Swatch of Sunday Riley Intimate Blush on the left and NARS Orgasm on the right
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I’ll Wear These Sunday Riley Eyeshadows Any Day of the Week: The New Prismasilk Eye Colors From Sunday Riley

March 13th, 2012 by Karen 27 Comments

sunday riley little black dress
Sunday Riley Eyeshadows in Siberian Sable, French Press and Little Black Dress

I keep meaning to ask you about Sunday Riley! They’re a relatively new beauty brand, pretty high end (prices ranging from $26 for an eyeshadow single to $295 for a skin care serum), and available at Barneys New York and Bergdorf Goodman stores.

That name is all kinds of awesome, isn’t it? Sunday Riley… Sounds like one of Katniss Everdeen’s friends/adversaries. 🙂

(SIDE NOTE: I’m so excited about that movie! I started re-reading the first book last night.)

sunday riley eyeshadows

There really is a Sunday Riley behind the brand, and she’s from the Lone Star State. Sunday started the line back in 2009 with a handful of anti-aging products containing plant extracts believed by Native Americans to possess medicinal properties.

Being from Texas (her family traces its roots to before it was part of the United States), she spent summers with her grandma learning about some of the most useful plants.

Years later she took that knowledge and created the NV-5 Ageless Complex, a blend of five botanicals that, according to the company, detoxify, heal and recharge the skin. Now, it’s the secret ingredient in her skin care products.

Sunday recently expanded the line to include color cosmetics, and I spent some time with a few of her Prismasilk Eye Color eyeshadows last weekend.

If what they say is true — that variety is the spice of life — these eyeshadows are hot! They’re available in 28 shades spanning matte, satin and iridescent finishes, cost $26 each and can be worn either wet or dry.