Impulse Buy Monday! Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over

It's Monday yet again. Although the weekend may be over (is it Friday yet?), I love posting about my latest impulse buy! Today's product that I couldn't resist trying out is actually the first skincare product featured on my blog, the Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over Hydrating Gel Moisturizer. Although I received this product as part of a free gift at Ulta, I am considering it an impulse buy because I didn't intend to spend enough to get the gift. When I got close to the minimum I just couldn't resist going all out to get the gift with purchase! Ulta was having a deal where if you spent enough on Cover Girl or Olay products, you got an adorable makeup bag filled with a full size mascara and a deluxe sample of Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over Hydrating Gel Moisturizer (0.5 oz jar).

I am not a huge fan of gel moisturizers, as they tend to be very drying for my skin. As a Retinol user for my acne, I have to diligently moisturize my skin to avoid the extreme dryness that can accompany Retinol. Gel moisturizers usually don't hydrate enough to counteract the Retinol, and somehow even make my skin dryer than it would normally be if I didn't moisturize at all after my medication. However, I love Olay products and trust the brand, so I was eager to give this gel a try.

This moisturizer promises an "instant burst of cooling hydration," with 24 hours of moisturizing. It's oil-free and non-comedogenic, and includes ingredients such as honeysuckle and white tea. At Ulta the full size retails for $13.99.

Let me start by shedding some light on my evening routine. I first wash my face with a gentle cleanser, followed by a five minute sulfur mask, and after that is rinsed off I use my Retinol acne medication. I let the medication settle and absorb into my skin for at least ten minutes, and then put on my moisturizer.

As I mentioned, gel moisturizers are mostly terrible for my skin, but this one I actually like. I've used the Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over several times and it has yet to dry me out like others. It absorbs quickly and doesn't leave my skin feeling tacky at all (another beef I usually have with gel moisturizers). During the heat of the summer, I enjoy that this is a lighter moisturizer than my usual cream lotions that can feel heavy after application.

The greenish goop smells divine, it reminds me of a Cucumber Melon scent. Scented lotions are usually a no-no for my face, but luckily I didn't have an adverse reaction to it. A little bit goes a long way, and a small dollop is able to moisturize my whole face.

My only complaint is that it doesn't have any SPF in it, so I can't use it in the morning without an additional sunblock. Retinol use makes your skin extremely sensitive to the sun (even without the Retinol, my fair skin tends to burn very easily), so I need a moisturizer with some SPF to protect my skin from sun damage. I enjoy using this moisturizer so much at night, I think it would do great during the day also but unfortunately I can't use it without the SPF protection.

As the cold weather starts to creep in, I may save this moisturizer for more warmer times. Cold wreaks havoc on my skin, so I usually stick with First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream to keep it from getting too dry, but the Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over is a nice alternative when I don't need such a heavy duty cream.

Impulse Buy Verdict: So far so good!

Impulse Buy Monday- Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara

We all have those moments in a store, where you see that item that you heard about in the blogosphere, or something marked "Brand New!", or maybe it's just something in pretty packaging that's calling your name. It's that thing you had no intention of purchasing when you walked into the store, but it beckons you over to the display and gnaws at you until you ultimately put it right into your basket. It's in honor of these great finds (and huge mistakes) that I'm starting a new segment on my blog: Impulse Buy Monday! Each Monday I will be reviewing a new product that I've purchased solely on an impulse, since I usually can't resist!

Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara gets the privilege of my first Impulse Buy Monday review. Ulta was having a buy one, get one 50% off sale on Maybelline, and I had already chosen one item and couldn't pass up a 50% off sale. I scoured the display for anything that caught my fancy for the second item. Although I already have way too many mascaras on deck and waiting to be opened, Maybelline has such an impressive selection of different mascaras that I was mesmerized by all the choices. One of my favorite YouTube vloggers, LearningToBeFearless, has often mentioned her love for the Falsies mascaras, and she is a great resource for beauty advice, so I decided to give it a try. Despite the many, many, many, (did I mention many?) mascaras I have, for the price I figured if I hated it, it wouldn't be any great loss, and if I loved it, I could use it as an everyday mascara and save my higher-end ones for when I need extra oomph.

I bought it in the shade "Black Drama," and I only chose that shade because I liked the black lace design on the packaging (lame, I know). This mascara features a curved brush to hug your lash line "without gaps", plus a flexible joint on the wand for what purpose I'm still not sure.

I'm still getting the hang of taking photos of my eyes, and even needed help taking these! Anyway, this is my eye before and after curling my lashes and applying one coat of the Volum' Express The Falsies mascara. I honestly think one coat is all I need for an every day look, and am impressed with how great my lashes look with this mascara.

I don't really notice any clumping at all, and my lashes feel thicker and longer. The formula is perfect, not too wet and not too dry, and it sets quickly so it doesn't make a mess once I blink. The brush is a perfect size to really get down to the base of the lashes easily, and is versatile enough to maneuver into the hard to reach spots like the inner eye and lower lash line.

I've never worn false eyelashes, and although I don't get a false eyelash vibe while wearing this mascara, I do think that it provides a beautiful color, plus volume and length to my lashes (both top and bottom). It holds a curl decently, but not any more than any of my other drugstore mascaras. Perhaps the waterproof version holds a curl better.

I wear mascara pretty much daily, and most people don't notice when I'm wearing it, but the very first day I wore this mascara three separate people commented on how my eyes looked amazing. Consider me convinced!

Impulse Buy verdict: Totally worth it.

Anyone else try this mascara?