Emily Johnson

Wakey, wakey friends! It’s a new week! It’s been a cold and rainy in New York (we got snow Saturday and yesterday). My boyfriend left for CA last week and he was supposed to be back already but sadly, his stay got extended and he’ll be back tomorrow (it was supposed to be today but sigh not happening). I miss him rather badly but it’s ok because I had a lot of ME time. Actually, I’ve sort of been lazy which is unusual for me as I tend to have 1000 things going on at once. I think the rain and cold just made me enjoy the time I took out for myself last week. I’ve been watching a few old dramas I love and discovering some new unhinged ones as you may know if you follow me on Insta. I realize I have a type because all the male leads have glasses. Sniff insert clingy girl here: I miss my boyfriend (he wears glasses as well). My recap is above because I know you need it LOL! I can’t remember the last time I actually sort of binged watched anything. I never have the time for it. So, it’s been fun being a fangirl again.

I’ve also been overdoing the self care! The cold is making my skin dry so I’ve been moisturizing, masking, and exfoliating. Speaking of moisture I did discover two a new eye cream and eye serum duo I’m loving at the moment and they’ve been working out well for me! Plus did I mention they aren’t too badly priced?

BYOMA just released a new Barrier Repair Eye Cream ($14.99) that I’m loving. I use it in conjunction with the Byoma De-puff and Brightening Eye Gel which I’ve been using for a few months now and really enjoy. I thought Byoma’s Barrier Cream felt a lot like Drunk Elephant’s Ceramighty. They don’t have the same ingredients but for some reason the textures seem similar and they have the same sort of emollient texture. For such a thin eye cream it’s a very hydrating formula. I apply the eye gel first thing out of the shower on my damp skin. I let that absorb and I follow up with the Barrier Repair Eye Cream after. This combo seems to do a nice job depuffing and moisturizing my under eye area. Best part these are priced at $13.99-$14.99. Can’t beat that! I realize I’m not BYOMA’s demographic but I can’t complain about the moisture levels of the Barrier Repair Eye Cream! I’ll do a more detailed review soon as haven’t been using the formula that long but so far so good!

Where to buy

Ulta

Barrier Repair Eye Cream Ingredients:
Aqua (Carrier), Glycerin (Skin-Conditioner), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Skin-Conditioner), Dipropylene Glycol (humectant), Caprylic/Capric/Succinic Triglyceride (thickener), Butylene Glycol (humectant), Phenyl Trimethicone (Skin-Conditioner), Cetyl Ethylhexanoate (Skin-Conditioner), Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate (emulsifier), Cetearyl Alcohol (viscosity controller), Glyceryl Stearate (emulsifier), Stearyl Alcohol (emulsifier), Hyaluronic Acid (Skin-Conditioner), Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid (Skin-Conditioner), Sodium Hyaluronate (Skin-Conditioner), Ectoin (emollient), Propanediol (Skin-Conditioner), Copper Tripeptide-1 (Skin-Conditioner), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter (Skin-Conditioner), Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract (antioxidant), Glycereth-26 (emulsifier), Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate (film former), Thamnolia Vermicularis Leaf Extract (antioxidant), Vinyl Dimethicone (thickener), Coptis Japonica Root Extract (antioxidant), Hydroxyacetophenone (antioxidant), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer (thickener), Dextrin (film former), Sphingolipids (Skin-Conditioner), Tromethamine (pH adjuster), Ethylhexylglycerin (Skin-Conditioner), Ceramide NP (Skin-Conditioner), Disodium EDTA (chelating agent), Xanthan Gum (thickener), 1,2-Hexanediol (emollient), Glycine (emollient).

Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm Ingredients:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Octyldodecanol, Glycerin, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter, Linoleic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Ceramide EOP, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Panthenol, Linolenic Acid, Adenosine, Beta-Glucan, Quercetin, Allantoin, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin.

Ulta Beauty is pausing expansion of its Target stores this year according to a variety of reports. As you well know Ulta struck a deal with Target in 2020 to create Ulta stores within the department store. At the moment there are over 600 Target stores that have and Ulta inside them and the plan was for 800 to be opened but at this time Ulta has decided to halt their expansion into Target stores. The idea was to provide a way to expose more customers to the Ulta experience and also, to make it convenient for current Ulta customers to grab their favorite items easily during a Target visit. According to reports more than 4 million Ulta shoppers have linked loyalty accounts to their Target store account.

There was no clear information why Ulta has made this decision but CEO Kecia Steelman stated, “In joint partnership with Target, we’ve made the decision to really lean into the 600-plus stores that are open this next year and really look at ‘How do we continue to drive efficiencies and leverage the learnings that we’ve had to really unlock value for both of us collectively together?” In March, Steelman also discussed sales decline amid “intense” competition and her plan to jump start sales going forward. It’s not officially addressed if declining sales is a factor in the halting of the store openings nor is the fact that Target is in the middle of some drama due to diversity issues. Target faced some major losses and boycotts after making the drastic chose to scale back its DEI program. That can’t be a good look for Ulta. Again, this wasn’t addresses in the statement about to pause in store openings but one wonders if any of it attributes to their decision.

Curiously, Sephora faces an interesting issue as well as Kohl’s is closing stores as well. According to reports none of the Kohl’s with Sephora inside will be closing but Kohl’s locations are closing none the less. 27 locations will be shutting their doors due to underperformance. I always felt the Sephora Kohl’s deal was an odd one but I felt the same about JCPenny. Sephora is very protective of their image and I just never felt either of those two stores was a proper fit for the image Sephora was so desperately protecting.

I’ll update you in further info as Ulta releases it about their choice to halt their Target store openings.

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Maybelline Poreless Jelly 24HR Hydrating Blurring Primer ($9.99) is a new cooling gel facial primer that contains 2% niacinamide which preps, primes, and blurs pores for smooth, flawless foundation application. I picked this up on a whim not really paying attention to the fact it said “blurring” as I just read “jelly” and I thought it would a gripping formula. I live pore-free existence over aside from smaller pores on my nose so blurring or silicone primers aren’t really my thing. I prefer more moisturizing facial primers! But after trying Maybelline Poreless Jelly Hydrating Blur Face Primer I can honestly say I ADORE this formula.

As may you know Maybelline Grippy Serum Primer released at the same time as Poreless Jelly Hydrating Blur Face Primer and I must say both formulas are outstanding. Bravo Maybelline for creating not one but two solid primer formulas. If gripping primers aren’t your deal and you have pores or texture you want to smooth the Poreless Jelly formula is your girl.

You may be familiar with an old review I did of the Touch In Sol Pretty Filter Icy Sherbet Primer. I absolute love that primer! It’s cooling, it’s smoothing, it’s lightly hydrating, and it makes makeup look flawless. If you by some chance read my review, purchased it, and loved it too you’ll be happy to know Maybelline Poreless Jelly Hydrating Blur Face Primer is the same concept. Below I compared the ingreidents in both formulas and as you can see aside a few things like fragrance and the addition of niacinamide a lot of the ingredients are quite similar. Maybelline’s formula is fragrance-free, contains niacinamide, but doesn’t have Sodium Hyaluronate. But the overall base is actually very similar.

Ingredients in Touch In Sol Pretty Filter Icy Sherbet Primer:
Water/Aqua/Eau, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Serrulata Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Dextrin, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Pseudanabaena Galeata Extract, Red 33 (CI 17200), Fragrance, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Geraniol.

Ingredients in Maybelline Poreless Jelly Hydrating Blur Face Primer
Aqua / Water / Eau, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil. May Contain: CI 42090 / Blue 1]. (F.I.L. N70047392/1).

It performs identical to Touch of Sol’s formula as well with the same heavy silicone-like consistency that’s soft and sorbet like. Once applied to skin it immediately provides this refreshing cooling effect and “bursts” or melts into skin like water. Instantly it smooths skin, will blur pores, and uneven skin texture and you’ll have a beautiful surface to apply foundation on. I don’t have pores or texture but even I can see how smooth and glass-like my skin looked after application. It just melts in and makes skin look super duper smooth. And yes, it will extend your foundation wear. Foundation applies easily on top of this and allows remain fresher for an two or three hours longer than normal wear without fading. I thought it was particularly nice around the corners of my nose which is normally a dry area for me and my foundation tends to gather here and look dry but not with this in place.

It’s a beautiful primer formula and a like my beloved Touch in Sol! I also like the fact it’s available in a tube with a pump versus the jar that Touch of Sol Pretty Filter Icy Sherbet Primer comes in! I highly recommend checking Maybelline Poreless Jelly Hydrating Blur Face Primer out. It’s a keeper!

Maybelline Poreless Jelly Hydrating Blur Face Primer is available now and Muse Approved.

Where to buy

Ulta Amazon Sephora Target

Cherry Pie’d and and Cherry Pop are two new shades of Fenty Beauty Hot Cheeks Velour Blushlighter that are available for a limited time for Summer 2025. As you may know I already reviewed the Fenty Beauty Hot Cheeks Velour Blushlighter last year when they introduced three limited-edition shades. I absolutely loved them and at the time I had hoped they’d keep them permanent and maybe do new shades. I still have hopes that as we had deeper into Summer they’ll do even more shades or even bring back the original three if people didn’t get a chance to grab them last year.

When the two new shades popped up I was instantly onboard to purchase them and the fact that the Sephora Savings Event is happening now definitely helped push me into the buying zone!

As I said I got both I’ll be review and swatch the Fenty Beauty Cherry Pie’d Hot Cheeks Velour Blushlighter shade first! Let’s take a look!

Compared to last year’s shades the new ones are pretty bold and vibrant. Last year, we got some beautiful glowing peaches and corals where as this year we got some very bold, bright, and vibrant shades of red. The new shades come in limited-edition cherry packaging featuring a shifting image on the front of the palette that which is a digital cherry design. The design is also embossed on the powder. It feels very gamer packaging as the digital cherries are giving old school Pac-Man or Super Mario 3D World vibes. The compacts are $28 each and 0.15 oz each where as last year they were $26 each and the same size.

The blushes are a hybrid formula that works as a blush and highlighter. I absolutely adore blushes that work like this as they take the guess work out of highlighter placement and application. You get the best of both worlds by getting the color from the blush plus the radiant glow a highlighter would provide in one formula. Sadly, I did think the Fenty Beauty Cherry Hot Cheeks Velour Blushlighter shades had less of a glow than the original formula even though they are marketed as a shimmery finish. They pulled more satiny on me with a little glow but not nearly what I got from the originals.

The texture has a velour-like feel with a slurry-like consistency that resembles a creamy velvet but applies as a powder. These do not have a powdery finish but you can easily pick up a ton of color with your brush and may need to tap off excess. I would recommend these on well prepped skin as I think they might look bad on texture skin as the formula is a bit heavier. I get smooth, even color however, I had to be very, very careful I didn’t overdo it as I’m known to do with blush. A LTITLE GOES a very long way as this formula is super pigmented and the color is very bright and bold. I get about eight hours of wear from the blush and it looks incredibly flawless through the wear. But it can be challenging to blend it out just right due to not only the bright color but the fact that it’s so pigmented. Cherry Pie’d is shimmering ruby red shade. It’s a very unique shade and I don’t think I have anything like it in my stash.

Fenty Beauty Cherry Pie’d Hot Cheeks Velour Blushlighter is a stunning and unique blush! It is a little difficult or at least for me to get application down just right but once in place it’s just so beautiful and pretty on cheeks. I do wish the finish had a little bit more of a glow as they did last year but I don’t regret this purchase at all! If you’re in the market for a unique blush shade you’ll want to pick this one up!

Where to buy

Nordstrom Fenty

Happy Thursday, friends! I hope you’re enjoying your day and it’s been productive, awesome, and not too filled with anxiety courtesy the news. There’s plenty of crappiness to worry over but thankfully, we got makeup and beauty to keep our minds off all the bad. Let’s take a look at some new makeup and beauty at Ulta for the Spring 2025 season. We don’t have to buy any of it but we can window shop together.

It Cosmetics Do It All Radiant Concealer $30
Yup, It Cosmetics has yet another new concealer drop! And I’m always here to check out a new concealer from them! This 4-in-1 formula promises to act as a serum to plump wrinkles while concealing, hydrating, and improvig the texture of skin with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. It can be used under your eyes or all over your face!

The Crème Shop Sanrio Gloss Jelly Lip Glaze $13
Juicy, pigmented color in a pot with a hydrating formula that gives you the moisture of a lip balm and the shine and color of a gloss!

MAC Lipglass Blow Plumping Lip Oil $26
Wait, is this MAC’s first ever clear lip oil? MAC’s iconic gloss is now in a lip oil formula that provides a glass-like shine in a non-sticky and visibly plumping formula that adds shine and hydration to lips!

Pacifica After Sun Soothing Body Gelato $16
The Summer sun is coming but please try not to spend too much time out there without protection and if you do get to exposed to the sun sooth your skin with this new cooling thick gel formula that creates a calming effect when apply on burnt skin!

ELEMIS Black Cherry Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm $69
What’s better than the luxurious formula of Elemis’ Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm? Oh! I know! A black cherry scented version!

Snif Hot Cakes Eau de Toilette $65
It’s here! Hot Cakes has officially landed at Ulta! Shop it and the new layering fragrance mists!

Essence You Make My Day! Baked Highlighter $5.99
The unicorns, mermaids, and rainbows are coming for festival season and Essence is on top of that with a new rainbow highlighter!

E.L.F. Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm $9
E.L.F.’s latest lip balm is now available. Glossy finish, hydrating buttery smooth formula with a 10% butter blend and hyaluronic acid, and a hint of tint? Our lips needs these!

Vera Wang Love Eau de Parfum $28-$85
How cute is Vera Wang’s new perfume? The ring shape is just adorable! It would make such a lovely bridal gift. Notes include mandarin, blackcurrant Queen of the Night NaturePrint, Indian Tuberose Absolute, Indian Jasmine, Sambac Absolute, ambrox Super Z11 HD, and Vanilla Accord. Sounds complicated!

Ulta Cloud Blush Blurring Blush $12
This new soft, fluffy, mousse blush has a whipped texture that seamlessly into skin for a flawless flush!

What new makeup are you looking forward to picking up?

Where to buy

Ulta

Sol de Janeiro Água Mística Hair and Body Fragrance Mist ($25) is one of three, limited-edition Summer 2025 fragrance mists that Sol de Janeiro recently launched. I was not going to purchase any of these because they just aren’t doing it for me lately but the Sephora Savings Event rolled around, I’m weak, and here we are. So far, I review the Sol de Janeiro Danca Mistica Fragrance Mist for you and it wasn’t anything special. I did think Sol de Janeiro Agua Mística Hair and Body Fragrance Mist was a little better however, I read somewhere it smelled like “boy shower gel” and now I can’t get that out of my head because it really does.

Let’s jump ahead.

It took me literally several hundred sprays of this to realize what exactly I was smelling. I KKNEW it smelled like something but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. It finally came to me! It smells very, very similar to Kayali Citrus | 08. As I said above someone said, “boy shower gel” and yeah, that’s sort of correct. No, not Old Spice smelling but more a warm, masculine fresh citrus scent. I actually like the scent a lot. It smells fresh, clean, a little zesty…! It’s nice but not groundbreaking!

Top notes: Tangerine, Pineapple and Neroli
Middle Notes: Peony and Jasmine
Base Notes: Skin, Salt and White Cedar Extract

Agua Mística Perfume Mist was inspired by the crystal waters and golden sands of Prainha Beach. I don’t get beachy vibes from this. It’s a clean, fresh, citrus fragrance that has a bit of warmth from the white cedar that gives it a more masculine edge. I’d go so far as to say it’s unisex and can be worn by either females or males. I do like it but it’s not a must have especially considering it’s a bit on the weak side and wears away fairly fast and doesn’t create a strong scent bubble after application. Someone had said, Sol de Janeiro’s LEs are coming more like Bath and Body Works launches and I’d have to agree. Sol de Janeiro has created some legendary fragrances but these new launches just aren’t up to the standard of some of their OG scents.

Sol de Janeiro Agua Mística Hair and Body Fragrance Mist is not enough but not a must get even on sale.

Did you smell this one? Thoughts? Do share!

Where to buy

Sephora

I have some odd hope that corals and peaches will make a come back for Summer 2025 in the makeup world. I remember the year it was all corals! Bobbi Brown Cabana Corals dropped in 2010 as an early Spring Collection and I remember how much I adored it at the time. It also, sort of paved the way for a Summer of peaches and corals from other brands!

I do know the Dior Summer 2025 Makeup Collection made my coral dreams come true. I’m starting to see swatches and videos on Instagram of the collection and one of the main items that popped out at me was the Dior Coral Glow Dior Forever Glow Luminizer. It looks stunning!

I have hopes I’ll be able to use this as a blush and a highlighter! Let’s hope it’s as pigmented as it appears. I really like the looks of the Dior Summer 2025 Diorshow 5 Couleurs as well but couldn’t see myself dropping $71 on them. It’s just a little too much for a five pan palette. I do recall a time these were $58-$60 but $71 seems too much to pay for a palette that I could probably dupe a hundred times over with shades I already own. It would be incredibly wasteful to spend that kind of money on this. I honestly didn’t mind dishing out on the highlighter than. My girl math is illogical but it just felt a little better spending $50 something versus $70 something.

I also, thought the highlighter was the prettiest part of the collection! At least for me it was as a girl who loves shimmering, radiant corals! I’m actually somewhat surprised it isn’t sold out as I feel like everything sells out so fast nowadays.

I’ll review the Dior Forever Glow Luminizer from Dior’s Summer 2025 Makeup Collection shortly. Do you want to see what this one looks like swatches?

It’s available now, for a limited time, on Dior’s website.

Where to buy

Dior

We’re coming to the end of an era now. Eyeshadow Palettes seem to be a thing of the past and they feel very over. Will we see big eyeshadow palettes launching in the future? I dunno. Beauty and makeup trends come and go so in five or ten years eyeshadow palettes will make some major come back but right now it seems everyone is tired of them. I still have a special place in my heart for a good eyeshadow palette. Yes, I miss single shade launches but also, who doesn’t love a big old palette packed with tons of different shades. I can still find excitement in that. Six months ago Huda Beauty announced that this was their last big palette launch and they wouldn’t be doing them in the future.

Although, I have enough eyeshadow palettes to last me a lifetime I did buy one recently that I don’t regret and I know I’m going to make use of it all Summer long. At the moment I have four palettes on my hit mist that really are must haves.

Here are the eyeshadows palettes you really need to grab.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Spice Eye Palette $29
This little palette launched for Holiday 2025. I got it off Tiktok shop on a whim after seeing it on a Tiktok Live. I have nearly, since December, hit pan on one shade and I can see myself easily using up the others. I hope this is around for a while because I’ll absolutely repurchase it. These are the exact shades I reach for daily. It’s packed full of soft dune-like shades, lighter browns, darker browns, and just a hint of gold sparkle. It’s a perfect palette for daily use and I actually think it doesn’t get talked about nearly enough. If you like softer, romantic nudes this is for you!

Danessa Myricks Beauty Groundwork Blooming Romance and Defining Neutrals Palette For Eyes, Brows, Face & Lips $65
When Danessa introduced Groundwork Defining Neutrals I was an instant naysayer over it. Why release a palette with so many shades that appeared exactly the same? It seemed pointless. Fast forward to a browse through Sephora one day and it ended up in my cart and I have not looked back since. I used this palette so often it’s sort of absurd because I have so many palettes that I’m not loyal to any one of them. But this? This one I’m in a serious relationship with. Several months down the line she introduced a different shade selection in the form of Blooming Romance and I did not hesitate to grab it. Another purchase I don’t regret. It’s a perfect selection of shades to create a pretty, soft, easy rose look or even a deeper, more sultry berry look. I’d never thought either of these would be loved as much as they are by me but here we are. I highly recommend both!

Natasha Denona Bloom Eyeshadow Palette $69
I spoke about this above and yesterday as well. I got this one full-price (well, actually I used Ulta points but I still didn’t wait on a sale for it) and I really don’t regret it. It’s stunning! If you love peaches, corals, and golds this is the palette for you! It’s a must get for Summer looks and at the moment it’s my fav shadow palette!

With the Sephora Savings Event happening now did you end up purchasing any shadow palettes?

Where to buy

Sephora