Hopefully you all had a fantastic weekend. Last week Grant, Dex and I went hiking for three miles. Then this week has been a whirlwind of busy for us with game nights and virtual happy hours. We”re making the most out of everything. I’m loving all the sales below but it’s currently snowing up in a Michigan so I think it’s going to be a little while longer before I can show off those summer steals!
Here are the weekly sales for this weekend beginning on 4/17.
◦ Sephora Spring Sale up to 20% off (Rouge 20%, VIB 15% off and Insider 10% off)
◦ Abercrombie 30% off clearance and 60% off selected styles
◦ American Eagle 25-50% off
◦ Aerie 40-70% off
◦ Loft 70% off one full price item and 50% off almost everything else with promo code OMG
◦ Old Navy everything on their site is $20 or less!
Raise your hand if you have ever been the victim to dark circles under your eyes? (Okay let’s not lie to each other here. We have all had that feeling or that look where you slept like crap and you have a big day ahead of you and looking like a train wreck isn’t an option. You will find below a really helpful tutorial for how to get rid of those under eye bags.)
Do you have just a hint of a shadow hiding under your eyes? Maybe you just didn’t get the normal amount of sleep. You should be okay with a normal concealer applied directly to the problem area. I like to put a primer on then add in my concealer (currently I am using Bare Minerals Bare Pro 16 hour full coverage concealer in the fair/light neutral color), then add my foundation and if I can still see little bags I will add a hint more concealer before I apply my bronzer. From there you can do one of two things. You can take a little highlighter and apply it under your eyes to brighten them up or you can go with what I am currently rocking. I like the Tula Rose Glow. It brightens under your eyes and adds a more dewy look to help you feel like you slept a refreshing eight hours the night before.
Okay, were looking at medium/dark bags now. We need to do a little more tlc to make it look like you slept last night. (Before we actually begin here we need to discuss skin types and colors. If you have fair/pale skin and want to correct for a blue hue then you want to use a pale pink color; if you have a medium skin tone and want to get rid of purple and blue you want to go with a peach color; if you have a darker skin tone then you want to go with an orangey/pink to get rid of dark spots; and lastly if you have tan/olive skin the magic blue, purple remover is going to be yellow for you.)
The first step in this process is for you to put your foundation on your face (this helps to not have to completely color correct your face by focusing in on the areas that need it most.) Then you will select the color recommend above and gently apply it under your eyes. I know this is going to seem off but to be absolutely honest do not use your make up brushes/beauty blender here, use your fingers. The warmth of your skin will help blend them into your skin better to make sure that you are getting the best results here.
Now to really get that I slept perfectly last night and have had my coffee I own this look I would add a highlighter right under my eyes to really let the color brighten up my look. (Or if you want I also recommend the Tula Rose Glow still.)
Alright guys now that you have heard my tips on how to make it look like I’ve actually slept a solid eight hours and can take over the world when in reality I slept four hours, no coffee and need a nap look go on and conquer the world!
Alright, here is a round up of all the best sales for this weekend. If you see any that you want added to this list send me a shout out and I’ll add them on!
[ ] Lily Pulitzer 30% off Until Monday 4/13/20
[ ] Aeries 40-60% off
[ ] American Eagle 60% off
[ ] Abercrombie & Fitch 50% off
[ ] Hollister 50% off
[ ] Anthropologie 30% off tops and jewelry
[ ] Target $25 off your $100 on Toys ($10 off $50 as well)
I actually have never used a drying brush before. I felt like it would’ve been complicated and tricky to use however I was pleasantly surprised. I turned it on and it got warm, blew out hot air and glided smoothly over my hair when I tried it.
I decided to try this out this morning after a shower. I towel dried my hair and then broke my hair into sections. I put half my hair up in a ponytail to dry the bottom half. When I did my hair I went under the hair, then on top of the hair, then I took each strand from side to side to get the best dry possible with the most amount of volume. I think that was achieved with ease.
It gave my hair lots of body and just made it feel light and shiny. I would highly recommend trying it out. If you wanna get one for yourself the link below will take you over to Amazon to grab it!
Can someone please teach me how to do the bottom lid eyeliner? No, well okay, then here are the reviews I have based off the top lid only. (Please keep in mind I am in no way a pro at using eyeliner. I still occasionally stab myself in the eye with it….)
I will be grading the Eyeliner on the following categories: Smooth applicability, texture of eyeliner, how it lasted, if it was all day, taking it off, pigment (how hard it was to get desired color.)
Lancôme Grandiose Liner:
The first eyeliner I tried for the review is Lancôme (this one costs $32 and I bought it at Nordstrom but you can get the black at Sephora). It was their Grandiose Liner in Matte Sapphire. It’s a dark blue and I really love this one. The bottle is really sleek and easy to use, you can bend the cap to give you more flexibility when applying the eyeliner. I was able to just glide them over my eyelids. They go on like butter and it is liquid so its easy to use but be cautions if you aren’t careful it can make a big mess. Since this just glides on its really easy to apply and the pigmentation is great. It is a strong solid color. I thought it lasted really well throughout the day as well. When I went to take it off I found it to be pretty easy to just swipe off with make up remover wipes. This one is expensive, I won’t lie, but with the coverage and ease I think it is worth every penny.
Overall Grade: I think for what it was I would give this an A. It was easy to apply, the color is spot on to make my eyes pop and I can easily remove it when I am ready.
Lancôme Le Stylo Waterproof Liner:
This liner I used is a crayon type. It is a pencil shape and you can extend the liner as much as you would like, on the other end it has a smudger attached to enable you to get a better smokey eye if you want. To be honest this is a great eyeliner. It’s all day, long lasting and waterproof; however, for me I feel like its a bit harder to use. I have trouble getting it to look like a thin line when I apply it. I always end up with it looking really heavy on me. It is really smooth and glides on to your skin. The pigmentation is amazing. It looks great and reflects well on my skin. I do find it hard to sharpen the point since it doesn’t have a tip/sharpener built into it. I will attest that some of this might be me in that I am not the best at applying eyeliner and if you are better this would be an excellent eyeliner for you. It retails for $27. I feel like while its a nice long lasting eyeliner it is a bit pricey. It was really easy to remove. I just took it off with my mascara.
Overall Grade: I would give this a C. While I like the color and the ability for it to be waterproof and stay on all day I can’t get past the thickness. It just comes off too heavy on me.
Make Up Forever Graphic Liner:
Alright, keep in mind I haven’t used this before. I did the trial and I must say I like it but not if you plan to travel. If you want to have an eyeliner that can travel this is not it. The cap doesn’t stay closed in place well so any bumps and it opens. Now that we have that out of the way I can tell you that it honestly glided over my eyes like butter. It was smooth and delicate. It is an eyeliner pen so it has a bulkier base and thins to a point at the top. I think these are my favorites because it allows me max control over the eyeliner. The color is a solid black. It doesn’t feel like it comes out to heavy and it isn’t really light which I like. I want a good line that looks prominent without drowning out my eyes. This eyeliner did last all day and when I say all day I mean though a three mile hike and a nap. It came off really easily too with a swipe of my make up wipe. I went light so be warned it could be more prominent but since I was going to be on a a serious walk I didn’t want to smear it all over. It is slightly pricey coming it at $24 but it is definitely more reasonable than some of the other options on this list.
Overall Grade: I think just because it can’t travel I would give it a B+. I am a big fan of being able to throw my makeup in my travel bag and hit the road. I love how easily it glided on and stayed put on my eyes. I really like it and I would highly recommend it.
Bare Minerals Big & Bright Eyeliner:
I really want to like crayon eyeliners but I just don’t. I think they go on too chunky. That being said I used the charcoal color and when I applied it onto my eyes I thought it went on really smoothly, the pigmentation of the color held up really well thoughout the day, especially considering I wore it all day and did touch my eyes quite a few times. It didn’t smudge which was really nice. The eyeliner also has a built in smudger on the other side which is really nice to help get a better Smokey eye. This eyeliner retails for $17. I will say that it has a twist up for more product. It didn’t break off when I accidentally twisted up too far which is a big plus for me.
Overall Grade: I would give this a B. The color was a nice deep black/grey color that made my eyes look really nice; however, I find it hard to get that perfect smooth thin line with this as I can’t sharpen the point very well. I did like the final results though.
Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner:
Okay, you all know how I feel about eye crayon eyeliner. I get too heavy handed and just wind up looking a little like a metal band. That does not apply to this eyeliner. It glides on my eyes lids perfectly. It also has a simple to use twist top to give you more or less product to use depending on what you are looking to do. The absolute best part of this eyeliner is that it has a sharpener built into the bottom of the eyeliner. I really really adore an all in one product! Plus the color is a nice rich black. It’s shade blacquer and with my blue eyes the black just pops out my eyes making them look bigger. It’s also really easy to remove and I really like that. This eyeliner retails for $26 and you can grab it over at Sephora.
Overall Grade: I actually, despite my normal views on Crayon, believe that this deserves an A, its easy to use, glides on cleanly, has a sharpener built in and just is an easy product to use without getting too heavy handed.
Ulta Gel Eyeliner Pencil:
I actually got this pencil as sample gift from Ulta a while back. it is a two in one with two eyeliners; one in blackout (black) and plum (purple. I was really impressed since it glided on my eyes. Sometimes I believe that pencils can be too harsh on my eyes and the amount of pressure I need to use just doesn’t make them the best choice for me. When I used this liner I felt like it did take more pressure to apply than a pen would but it didn’t take as much as I feel they normally do. I feel like it gave me better control where I was applying the product to let me feel like I could create a better Smokey eye. I also feel like the color went on smoothly and stayed on all day despite meetings, walking Dex and just my normal I have to touch my face self. The full pencil retails at Ulta for $8.00. For this price I would highly recommend it.
Overall Grade: I was honestly really impressed I have had troubles with pencil eyeliners in the past as I feel like it gets painful when I apply the liner. With this, it glided on and gave me full control/access. Plus for less than ten dollars how can you not love a bargain that holds up to an all day use like that.
Bare Minerals Lasting Line:
Okay we all know how I feel about the crayon eyeliners; however, this one used to be my go to before I fell in love with Tarte’s Sex Kitten. I have this in the absolute black and this liner is just terrific. It has a smudger and a sharpener built right into the liner. Plus I do feel like when you sharpen the liner it gives you a really precise line. That being said I have been known to get a little heavy handed with this liner… Remember the trick, less might be more with this one. It is really good for lasting all day, its easy to remove and you can happily nap in this eyeliner without waking up and hating that decision. This mascara retails for $17 but you can look on QVC or Overstock and find it on sale.
Overall Grade: I would give this Eyeliner a solid B+. It says in place all day and it has great color. The only reason I gave it a B instead of an A is that it can be hard to get the point exactly the way you want it because you have to manually sharpen the point. It also can be easy to get a little heavy handed, but its still a really solid choice and I recommend it.
Before we jump into the actual review I want to tell you guys a little about my eyelashes and about me. I have blonde eyelashes. They are very light, I normally use a primer to make sure to really elongate my eyelashes since I haven’t made the switch to extensions yet. I am a bit cautious on what I use because I have sensitive skin and don’t want to hurt my eyes.
I usually use one of two primers. I use the Benefit Tinted Primer and the mink-brown tinted lash primer. I like this one because it helps to elongate my lashes while giving them a darker color. I bought mine at Ulta for $25. The other primer I typically use is Tarte the Opening Act Lash Primer. I favor this one. It goes on white but I feel like it makes my lashes look like the eye lash equivalent of legs for days. This one I bought at Sephora for $22. I like the way the primer looks on my lashes helping to make them look fuller and longer. If you are happy with the length of your lashes then you don’t need to go with one of these but those are my favorites. I will be grading the Mascaras’s on the following topics: ease of applicability, color, length, how many applications, take off, volume , all day use, nap and price.
Benefit Roller Lash Mascara:
Benefit Roller Lash Mascara (this is only in one color: Black) was my first day. I put it on around ten am. I applied two coats, on top of the primer I was using (benefit tinted primer). The mascara went on really smoothly and wasn’t clumpy when applied. I feel overall that it stayed pretty evenly distributed on my lashes. I feel like it held up well for all day use, it didn’t smudge when I bumped my eyes throughout the day. It also curled nicely on my eyelash curler. It does make my lashes look longer; however, it didn’t really add a volume texture look to the lashes. It did hold the eye lash curler curl all day which was really nice. I didn’t take a nap in this mascara but overall after rubbing my mascara with my hands for a few minutes it did hold pretty well. I found it smeared a little but not too badly. When I went to take this off I used a makeup remover wipe and it did take me a few swipes to remove it but, I did put a decent amount on. The cost for this mascara is $25 and you can buy it at most make up stores including Ulta.
Overall Grade: I think for what it was I would give this a B+. I wanted a little more volume in my lashes to get the A.
Lancôme Monsieur Big:
Lancôme Monsieur Big is a solid choice mascara. It is only available in black. I applied my mascara earlier around 8:30am. (I used a different Primer to see if it made a difference or not. It is the Lancôme CILS Booster XL. I liked how cleanly it went onto my lashes but I don’t think it made any difference compared to the Tatre brand I traditionally use.) I have used this mascara before so I know that it lasts a good amount of time and provides great coverage. I applied two coats overall to my lashes to give them the desired look I wanted. This mascara really works well to volumize my lashes. It went on really easily and made my lashes look fuller and longer which are both a win in my book! I wore my mascara all day even taking a nap in it and it held up perfectly! (I was actually really impressed that I could nap in my mascara and not wake up feeling like I couldn’t use my eyes. It also didn’t smudge. I was really impressed. To remove it I felt like it wasn’t awful. It did take a few swipes with a makeup wipe but it didn’t really require me to scrub off. The price is about the same as others on this list coming in at $25 and you can get it at any department store and make up stores.
Overall Grade: I would give this an A I felt like it did well. It made my lashes look longer and fuller. Its very nice and I would get this again. As for the primer I liked it not loved; I’d still go my normal Tarte primer.
Ulta Beauty Limitless Lashes:
Ok, I can’t recommend this Mascara. It was bad. It was really wet and took awhile to dry, so long to dry that if you blinked it would smear the Mascara. It also was very clumpy like a chunk of my eyelashes were stuck together. I applied this over my normal Tarte Opening Act Primer. I applied one coat of Limitless Lashes and it was a struggle. The color was a great dark black and corresponded with their name. I have it in their jet black color. As for long lasting it is anything but. It was very easy to smear and by the end of the day it burned my eyes. It also was a nightmare to remove. I think overall it took me like five swipes with my makeup remover before I was finally able to get it all off. This retails on Ulta for $10.50. Fingers crossed the mascara formula gets a redesign!
Overall Grade: I don’t think it’s worth the money so overall I’m giving it a solid D. It burned my eyes, smeared all over and was just plain clumpy. Do not waste your money on this product.
Make Up Forever Excessive Lash Arresting Volume Mascara:
I actually got the Make Up Forever Excessive Lash as a trial size. I have it in black and it’s a little light on the color for me. I feel like it’s a great everyday mascara since it went on lightly. It did give my lashes some length. It wasn’t overly filling so it didn’t feel like it added a lot of volume to my eyes. I wore it while I was working out and the sweat didn’t bother it which is really nice. Also it didn’t sting or burn my eyes when I got sweat in my eyes. I did wipe it and I didn’t feel like it smeared. When I took this off it came off really easily probably because it was very light. The retail cost for this is $25.00.
Overall Grade: I think I’m going to give Make Up Forever Excessive Lash a C. It was very light color. It didn’t smear which was nice but it didn’t give me long full lashes. For an easy everyday option though more of a normal wear I would give it a B+. To catch the A the color needs to be slightly deeper.
Ulta Beauty Maximum Lashes:
I’m going to be real honest here. I was worried with this one after my previous Ulta Mascara but I am happy to announce that I was one hundred percent wrong. This mascara (Ulta Beauty Maximum Lashes) is meant to define and lengthen your lashes and it didn’t disappoint at all. I applied one eye with primer and one without to see the difference it would make and even without primer I feel like my lashes looked long and had lots of volume. My left eye has the primer and my right eye did not. The mascara is in their jet black color and it stayed consistent throughout all day wear. I tried rubbing my eyes a few times and I felt like the color stayed really consistent and didn’t smear. I did have to apply a few coats of this to get the desired look I wanted but it was maybe three which isn’t bad at all. When I went to remove the mascara it was a little tedious to remove as I did put three coats on so I am not going to hold the mascara accountable for that one. This retails for $10.50 and for the price you really can’t beat it.
Overall Grade: I think I would give this a B+. I liked how it made my lashes look but it could’ve had just a hint more color so three coats wouldn’t have been necessary. I will say though for this price I don’t think you’ll find a better mascara.
Lights, Camera, Lashes:
This is a Tarte classic and quite possibly one of my absolute favorites. The color is a deep black and the way it touches my lashes makes it look like I have lashes upon lashes. Plus it is a lighter mascara so my eyes don’t feel heavy all day. I applied this around 8:45am (full disclosure I had a meeting so I was hustling since I was running slightly behind…..) I put two coats on and called it a day. I felt like the two coats held strong and made me look more put together than I would’ve been with some of the other mascaras I have used.
I did take a nap in my mascara and this was definitely a mistake, I took a full snooze like face in my pillow drooling kinda nap. When I woke up my eyes felt okay a little dry but not bad; however, as I was getting back to work and moving around my eyes were sticking together a little bit and burning. I didn’t love that. I thought maybe my bottom lashes were sticking to my top lashes so I wiped my eyes a bit and no smudging. I took my eye lash curler and thought, okay I’ll recurl, maybe that will help. It didn’t. I eventually just felt really uncomfortable and took my mascara off. When I took it off it was back to my dream mascara that I know and love. It came off with ease. Just two swipes with a make up wipe and boom, no more mascara.
Overall Grade: While this shouldn’t be a huge factor the fact that it didn’t hold up to the nap test did take it down a few notches for me. If I hadn’t taken a nap and just went about my day it would have gotten an A; however, since it didn’t pass the nap test and left me feeling really uncomfortable I am giving it a B-.
Dior Addict It-Lash:
I have used Dior products for years. They never disappoint me and this one lived up to that hype. It is a simple mascara meant to maximize the volume in my lashes. I choose this Mascara because I needed to be on camera for a few FaceTime calls and it did everything I wanted. I applied two coats to my lashes and it made them look super long and luxurious. This mascara holds up all day without a fear, I can rub my eyes and not have to worry about it smearing or looking any differently than it would if I could go all day without touching my face. I choose this one for my go to night out because it just makes my eyes pop with minimal effort (which some days is more than I can ask of my make up.) I also feel like it comes off very easily when I hit it with makeup remover. It doesn’t stay stuck in my lashes, it really just glides off. When I use it for going out I am not the most thorough at taking off my mascara (all right all my make up) so if its easy to remove it just makes it that much better in my book. This mascara might be the most expensive in the list. It retails for just under $30 coming in at $29.50 over at Nordstrom.
Overall Grade: I really like this color and the dramatic look it gives to my eyes while being a trusty easy to use mascara. I would happily give this mascara an A for it’s ease and friendliness of the brush.
Wet n’ Wild Mega Protein:
So a lot of my instagram followers were really eager to see how this Mascara would hold up. I grabbed mine at Target for $1.99. I’m going to be really honest here. It’s not my favorite on this list. It didn’t give me as much volume as I was expecting. That being said if you are in a pinch and in need of a solid mascara this will be a good one. I applied three coats and my lashes had some solid length. When I hit it with my eyelash curler it just emphasized the length. When I first put it on it did take a little bit before it dried (be warned do not hustle through this or you will wind up with mascara all over you.) I didn’t try to take a nap in this one since when I rub my fingers over it I do get a little bit of smearing. I liked it but would not wear it as an all day choice. I plan to be really active mascara but for an uh oh I hustled out the door and forget my make up, its pretty good. Again I paid $1.99 for this over at Target.
Overall Grade: I would give this a solid C+/B-, For this price it was a great quality but overall I didn’t get a lot of volume and it was easy to smear. I did get some awesome length out of this mascara though which I always appreciate.
Today I want to review a face mask I’ve had for a while but just haven’t had the time to sit still for ten minutes and try it. On a good day I make time for self pampering but with stress and life it can take a back seat. So with the quarantine in full effect I thought what better time to try this out then now.
The face mask I used is Generation Clay. It’s their ultra violet brightening purple clay mask. (If you want to try it you can grab it off Amazon for $22.). Since this is the first time I’ve used it I can give a pretty good description of what the process was like and the immediate effects but for more long term use you’ll have to check back.
The mask claims to restore your face to help with aging, boost hydration and collagen, brighten your skin and refine your pores. Here’s hoping right now. With the world as it is I’ve been feeling pretty stressed out so reducing pores would be terrific.
When I first opened the bottle it smelled nice. It’s more of a natural earthy smell; definitely not over powering. I put a little in my hand and it was very cooling to the touch. Since I’d just been hustling I needed something cool and this was definitely it. When I applied it over my face it had the same cooling feel. It’s also purple so you can clearly see where you’ve put it on your face or where you’ve missed.
The instructions say to apply an even layer over your skin, to wait ten minutes or until the mask starts to tighten. Then use water to gently rinse off the mask in circular motions. I applied the mask in an even layer and then relaxed with a book waiting for it to dry. When it was drying it did feel a little chilly and I could feel the mask drying as it began to tingle slightly. It wasn’t painful and just felt tightening as the mask was drying.
After my ten minutes was up it was time to wash my mask off. Especially since I couldn’t really move my face.
It washed off really well and with minimal work. (I’m a little lazy when it comes to those. I got burned by a charcoal mask that you had to peel off quite painfully I might add.) I washed mine off in the shower so it would be easier to make sure I didn’t make a huge mess all over my bathroom. It was really easy to just wash off.
When I got out of my shower my face felt really nice. I’m not sure if I look younger and more radiant but It seems like it feels nicer. I’ll add a picture of my face but their is absolutely no judging allowed as I’m fresh from the shower with no make up.
Okay. I’ve either hit rock bottom or had to knock at least one item off my to do list. Today I attacked my makeup table and began the tedious process of cleaning my make up brushes. I don’t know about y’all but I hate doing this. I know I love doing my make up and I’m all for good hygiene so I know I have to do this but I procrastinate hard and just don’t do it for as long as possible. (Full disclaimer, this is a do as I say not as I do and I know it’s hypocritical but everyone should clean their make up brushes.)
I’m always looking for a better way to clean my brushes and make the process easier so I bought a few supplies a while ago and now is the perfect time to try them out. I used two different set ups; one a budget friendly option and the second was a designer recommended cleaner.
The Target is from the dollar section. It cost me three dollars and it’s called the silicone brush cleaning mat with securing suction cups.
In total it cost me three dollars. (Okay, maybe like $3.21 with taxes.) I really liked that it just suctioned to my sink and went on easily. For the price I paid I can’t beat this one. That being said it’s fully manual and you have to scrub the brushes and dry them yourself.
Then there is the Zoe Ayla Revolutionary Electronic Make-Up Brush Cleaner & Dryer. I got mine as an add on to a Fab Fit Fun Box so I had to look up the normal price. It retails for about $99. This one is supposed to make it easier to clean your brushes and should leave you with clean dry brushes in about thirty seconds.
I followed the step by step process and it did exactly what it said it would. It removed the make up from the brushes and the majority of the water was removed. Although when I looked over the brushes they still had traces of some make up on them. I don’t think I would pay almost a hundred dollars for the level of clean I got.
Overall if your looking for a quick clean the Zoe Ayla is the option for you. It was really simple to use and left my brushes clearer than when I started. If you want the deep clean you want to go with the more manual cleaning pad from Target. While this process took me significantly longer it left my brushes much cleaner.
I actually combined them both and felt like I got the best use of my time. I washed them manually with my Target pad then used my Zoe Ayla for drying. I think combining the two made the process feel faster and left my brushes really clean.
Overall: I expected Birchbox to win as it did last month; however, that wasn’t the case here. I felt like Ipsy did a better job of meeting my wants and needs.
Ipsy:
The first product I want to talk about is the Luxie Beauty Brush. It’s a tapered precision brush and it’s really cute! It’s a periwinkle color and it feels really nice and soft on my skin. I thought it picked up a good amount of product but didn’t feel heavy. Like I didn’t think it picked up too much product. I would probably buy this on my own. I really like it.
The next product was Illamasqua’s eyeliner. I texted this on my hand and, OMG, it felt like it glided on like a warm knife through butter. It didn’t feel clumpy or hard to navigate. While I love my tarte eyeliner it may have some competition. I’m really loving this!
One product that was included in Ipsy was the Tarte Sea Quench. It’s a hydrating primer and I can honestly say it felt really good on my face when I put make up on over it. I thought tthe primer really held nicely and kept my makeup from creasing. I’m all about Tarte products and I think I could easily be adding this into my everyday routine.
I’m not a floral fragrance person all the time but I really liked Kenzie So Pretty. It smelled really light and fun. It has hints of tangerine and apple. It would make a great summer perfume both light and fun without being overly heavy.
Wander Beauty Eyeshadow in Blossom is so cute. It’s a soft pink with sparkles and when I applied it on my eyelids I thought it went on really smoothly and held up. I would highly recommend this color as it had just the right amount of sparkle without being overly sparkling! It’s a great spring color to make it feel fun and energetic. I’m really glad to have this color!
The last product was Honey Jarret Clean Whip Cleanser. I felt like it was a really good cleanser and didn’t dry my face out. I really like my Clinique system so while I won’t switch currently I would keep this as a back up for if I wanna switch up my face wash.
Birchbox:
The first product I tried was the Floss Beauty Lip Gloss in my new favorite lip gloss color and while I like it, it is really cute, I’m not loving it. The color is really nice. It was a clean glossy shine; however, it felt really heavy and sticky on my lips I’m not sure I would have bought this on my own. I’m going to say this is a thumbs down for me.
The next item I tried was Wander Beauty. Their Double Date Lip and Cheek Color Rendezvous. The color is really cute. It’s a deep pink and has a nice shine to it. I put a small sample on my hand to start with and it really looked good. The pigmentation was perfect and I felt like it lasted a long time before I washed it off.
I also received another Davines product (Liquid Spell Reinforcing Bodifying Fluid) and I don’t have a review for this one. I didn’t love the last sample I got from them because of the smell and this had the same smell so I’m skipping this sample…
Then there is Alterna, a moisturizing CC cream. I tried it in my hair and really felt like it made my hair feel richer it made it feel silkier and smoother. I’m really happy I tried this sample. It did have a slight chemical smell but it wasn’t overpowering I’d use it again.
The last product I received was the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil. This felt really heavy but the instructions do say to only use a few drops and work up to it. The oil didn’t have a smell one way or another and I feel like it felt nice on my face but I’m not sure how much of a difference it made after only using it a few times.
Review: I think this time Ipsy won out over Birchbox. I felt like the products in Ipsy were closer related to what I use or would be likely to use in the future. I liked the bag Ipsy provides better than just a box as Birchbox uses. I think this means I’m going one more month to see who will win since currently it’s 1 v. 1.
I just got my spring edition FabFitFun box and I’m super excited to use everything and try it all out. I gave a review below along with the retail price so everyone can see what came in the box; what I liked and didn’t like.
Murad Resurgence: it’s a rapid collagen infusion. It goes into your face, neck and chest. It went on really smoothly and felt really nice. I’m not sure if it has made a difference but it smelled nice and went smoothly onto my face. It lists in FabFitFun that it retails for 78. Here is for hoping it makes my skin look less wrinkled and more youthful. I would be okay if my skin looks twenty one again! Again, it retails for $78.
Deep Sleep Body Cocoon: OMG I love the smell. I have their pillow spray now and I really like it. When I smelled this and put a little onto my hand it felt really nice and thick. It felt very moisturizing. I’m a big fan of a sleepy time lotion as it is but I really like this because it makes me feel really relaxed and like I could apply this and melt into bed for a full nights sleep! Retails for $40.
Silicone Straws: really cute and bright plus I love that they don’t have that metallic metal taste. I love the idea of a reusable straw, it’s so much better for the environment and I don’t have to worry about a restaurant forgetting my straw! The colors are too cute as well! Retailing for $15.
Amber Sceats: this coin necklace is to die for; I’m absolutely loving it. It’s two necklaces in one. It looks dainty and delicate As well as adorable! I can easily see myself wearing this all the time! Retails for $50.
Jaboneria Marianella: this is a body oil and smells a little strong to be honest. It’s really nice. I put a small drop in my hands and gently rubbed it into my skin. It made me feel really nice and hydrated. Retailing for $68.
Eau Thermale Avene: a thermal spring water and it’s smoothing and not irritating. They recommend using it after shaving or after removing make up. I tried it on my face and it felt really nice. I’m not sure I’d use it on my face all the time but it did feel soothing. It retails for $14. While I like the idea I don’t think I’d buy it over again for myself.
AG Hair Care “Fast Food,” oh my lanta, it smelled heavenly. I haven’t used it yet but it smells really nice. I can’t wait to try it on my hair and see how nice and shiny my hair looks. It’s supposed to retail for $24.
The last item in my FabFitFun box is a Donni ribbed sweater coat. It’s really soft and I love the texture of it. It’s oversized and would be a great piece for lounging around the house in. I don’t think I’d have bought this option for me and I don’t see me wearing it out a lot but it’s nice for lounging around in. It does have pockets and I really love that it’s like the perfect cell phone pocket! It retails for $99.
I’m really glad I got the spring box. I’ve really enjoyed opening it and I can see myself using some of the products and ordering them again, especially the deep sleep body cocoon. If you haven’t used it before the box is just under $50 per box. I did ultimately choose to discontinue my subscription because while I liked a few products I didn’t love the options in this box as much as I wished I had.
The Real Elle Woodz 