I'm a little late with the April edition of The Cut (wedding planning has been cutting into a lot of my free time), but that just means less time until the May edition. I picked up a number of great products in April, so let's get into it.
Made the Cut
Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm +Red Correct
I'd never heard of this brand or product before running across it in Target last month. I don't suffer from redness, but I do have acne and thought this might be good to spot conceal; I also liked that it evens skin tone, so I decided to give it a shot.
The Rescue Balm +Red Correct ($12.99-29.99) made my skin look really nice. It comes out of the tube green, but then blends out to match your skin tone as you rub it in. It also helped fill in my pores and made my skin look smoother (while it claims to blur redness, it doesn't claim to be a pore filler, so this was a nice surprise). The green definitely works to help counteract the redness of zits, though it doesn't cover them completely. You'll still need to add a little concealer, but it prevents the red from peeking through the makeup.
My only complaint is that for some reason, this product causes me to get really oily. I'm not sure why, but if I use this over large parts of my face, I look very greasy within just a couple of hours. I'm also a little unclear about some of Hero's products; Rescue Balm +Red Correct is meant for fair to medium skin tones, while their Rescue Balm +Dark Spot Touch is meant for medium to medium-deep skin tones. However, people of both shade ranges experience redness and dark spots, so I'm not sure why these products aren't either universal or why there don't appear to be versions of each product for both shade ranges.
Regardless, this product works well for me overall and is at a good price point, which is a plus.
Tradlands Shelter Cardigan | Black
I've been wearing Tradlands' Shelter Cardigans ($227) for years now and have them in a number of different colors: Sienna, Birch, Storm, Plum, and now Black. These 100% cotton cardigans are really well made, thick, and versatile. You can wear them alone or over blouses, dresses, and overalls, and the ivory buttons pop nicely against all of the different colors.
Black is the latest addition to my collection (it was part of Tradlands' spring 2022 collection) and is likely going to get a lot of use, being a neutral. These are definitely pricey (some of them were gifted to me by Tradlands over the years, some of them I purchased myself), but I'd rather pay for something I'm going to keep in my wardrobe forever than pay less for something I'll keep for a short while.
ella+mila Sheer Nail Polish | Strong
I came across this ella+mila polish in CVS and really loved the color, but was also intrigued by the formula. When I think of sheer polish, I don't have the greatest associations. I think of children's makeup and sheer polish meant for little girls just beginning to dabble in painting their nails. But, willing to give something new a try, I picked up the shade Strong ($10.50) and gave it a go.
The first layer is incredibly sheer, almost colorless. The color really starts to come out in the second and third layers; three was perfect for me to get visible color while still maintaining the sheer finish of the polish. I don't actually know if you'd even be able to achieve opaque color with this formula. I'd caution against trying to layer this up too much, as it wound up being kind of difficult to remove with acetone later. But this is a really cool polish if you want something different and a little more natural looking, and also a good base for nail art.
Orseund Iris 15" Canvas Circle Tote | Natural
I've had to pull back on how many canvas totes I was buying. They're a really cute, simple addition to an outfit and especially a minimal outfit, and I especially love a canvas tote with a good print or design on it. But I'd purchased so many that I had to purge some and keep only the ones I really love and use the most.
However, I was more than willing to make an exception for the Orseund Iris 15" Canvas Circle Tote in Natural ($165). Yes, the price is really outrageous for a canvas tote and you're paying more for the brand than the bag, but it's nice to splurge on a luxury for yourself from time to time. This bag is really roomy and can hold my laptop and charger in addition to my other necessities. The bag doesn't have a zipper or button closure, but ties shut with two long canvas ties. The natural color is pretty and versatile, and the brand is embroidered small enough on the front that I didn't find it garish or flashy. I first saw it hanging on the shoulder of a girl who was standing in line in front of me in Ross and I immediately started obsessing over it; by the time I got back to the car I'd already tracked it down and was adding it to my cart.
This is one of my most favorite additions to my wardrobe to date and has already seen a ton of use. If you're willing to spend a little more on a tote, I'd highly recommend this one.
Didn't Make the Cut
Versed Smooth Landing Advanced Retinoid Eye Balm
This product is completely ineffective. I was really let down by Versed's most recent eye product, particularly because their Vacation Eyes eye gel is a product that actually works. I bought Smooth Landing as soon as it released and started using it every night once it arrived. After many weeks of using it faithfully and per the directions, I didn't see any difference in the appearance of my under eyes.
Granted, I don't have a ton of under eye issues yet; I have some mild dark circles and a couple of really minor lines under each eye, but nothing intense. If this product couldn't even make a noticeable difference in such mild issues, I'm really skeptical that it could make much of a difference for someone with more severe under eye issues than mine.
Additionally, the consistency of this product makes no sense. It's described as a balm, but directly out of the pot it's similar to candle wax until you start rubbing your finger in it to warm it up. For the sensitive skin under your eyes, which is prone to wrinkles if you're constantly tugging at it, this product should be easier to work with. Once I got it warmed up enough I was able to tap it onto the skin to blend it in, but it wouldn't always blend in fully and one time it started burning my eye so badly that I had to wipe it off. (And I don't have sensitive eyes or skin.)
Skip this product and find a more effective eye cream or gel. I fail to understand how this product has so many positive, glowing reviews on the Versed site.
Be sure to check back next month for another round of products that made the cut and didn't, and thanks for reading my monthly series, The Cut.
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