My top 3 bronzers at the moment (and wishlist items):
Upper left is the Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Radiant Bronze Light from Hourglass Cosmetics – this one looks so beautiful and natural on the skin (and because it looks natural I worry less about applying too much).
Upper right is the Bronzed B Powder Bronzer in bronze mannikin from Pretty Vulgar – this is a matte bronzer that is surprisingly radiant for being a matte – and it stays on the skin ALL DAY.
Bottom is the Sun Bunny Natural Bronzer from Too Faced – this is a duo-tone and it the most radiant bronzer I own. I just ordered a full size of this during Ulta’s 21 days of beauty sale (should arrive soon!)
On my wishlist: I just bought the O!Mega bronzer in Tantastic from Marc Jacobs last week so I’m still playing to see if I like the shade. Also on my wishlist is the Sunlit Bronzer from Becca or the Amazonian Clay bronzer from Tarte
A product review of the brand new (released Wednesday, April 3) Lip Glowy Balm from Laneige! It is available in the flavors Berry, Peach, Pear and Grapefruit.
Grade: A
Retail Price and Where: $15 for 0.35 oz in a squeeze tube at Sephora
What I Loved: Moisturizing formula and different flavors than what most brands release.
What I Didn’t Love: Price is a bit high in comparison to other balms and in comparison to their lip sleeping mask ($20 for 0.7 oz). I would have estimated the price was going to be about $12.
Now, I am a lip balm junkie (I actually have the ingredients and tools to make my own but usually don’t have time) and I’m a diehard fan of Laneige’s lip sleeping mask. So, I bought the pear flavored balm on release day and it arrived exactly two days later. Despite the green packaging (for pear) the balm is clear. It comes out of a squeeze tube and glides right on your lips. My lips were not sticky after application and the scent was just the right amount (there but not overpowering). The balm stayed on for about two hours (with just drinking through a straw) before I needed to apply it. I was pleased that as it wore off my lips still felt smooth and soft. I might just order another flavor to try out!
Allure Beauty Box is a subscription box that is curated by Allure’s editors and contains $50-$90 worth of full and deluxe size products, per their website. I would recommend subscribing through Amazon (rather than directly with Allure) to avoid shipping and cancellation issues. The subscription is $15 per month.
Time to stop yacking and start unboxing!
Overall Box Impressions: This is my third month receiving this box. This box was very hyped as being a collab with Carli Bybel. Allure also said the value of the products in the box would be $93. That’s definitely not the case. When adjusted for the actual product sizes received (this is where my accountant skills come in handy) the box contents were worth $55, barely above their $50 minimum. Based on an Allure Facebook group I belong to, the box I received is consistent with others who order through Amazon. To me, having Allure tout that the box would be worth $93 and then receiving a box that’s worth less than 2/3 of that amount is not only disappointing but tantamount to false advertising. One way I evaluate subscription boxes it the total value of the box divided by the cost of the box. For many beauty boxes I receive, this ratio is about 5x to 5.5x. This Allure box is only 3.7x. Last month the box was, on a size adjusted basis, worth $88, which was 5.9x. So, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to view this box as being a disappointment. Given that and the issues from my February box (a product arrived damaged and Allure has been saying for six weeks they would replace it – but haven’t yet), I will likely be cancelling this box.
Laura Geller Waterproof Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Violet
On the upside, at least its not another black eyeliner. Not sure I’ll get much use out of violet but I will give it a couple tries to see if I like the formula and keep it for special eye looks. I’m hopeful this will live up to the claims of being waterproof and staying all day as I plan to use it on my waterline.
Natasha Denona Mono Eye Shadow in Morgana
This is the item I am most excited for as I’ve never tried Natasha Denona eyeshadow. It’s a coppery metallic shade that’s a bit more orange than what I’d normally reach for but I don’t dislike it at all. Beautiful!
Luxie 231 Small Tapered Blending Brush
I love Luxie brushes and can (almost) always use more eye brushes. If you’ve never felt these brushes, they bristles are quite soft and mine have held up to multiple washes at this point.
Vita Liberata Phenomenal Organic Tan Infused Cloths
So I do not self-tan (seriously, ever) because I know it’s just not something I will keep up with (and Heaven knows I don’t need to buy more foundations just to match). I like the concept of these – cloths instead of product to spread – but still not likely something I will use. My understanding two cloths (what we received) is enough for one application.
Love love love Briogeo’s products but not sure this one is for me since I only heat style my hair (straighten) once every month or two. May try this anyways even when I’m not heat styling to see if it helps with my super-tangly hair (because so far my other Briogeo products have even if that wasn’t their purpose).
Additional Hair Care Product
So I was supposed to have received the Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioner spray and I was so excited because I’ve been wanting to try it since I became aware of it. However, according to the small card from Allure , there were issues with a supplier shortage so instead they put in a trial/travel size of John Frieda creme and texturing spray from Furterer. Now, I can understand a supplier issue but putting in a replacement product that I can go buy at Wal-Mart for $2 does not meet Allure’s claim of providing “lux” products. I have used Frizz ease products before and they were greasy and heavy, and this one is low rated on various sites (despite Allure’s claims that it’s their favorite item from John Frieda). Pretty much a slap in the face, especially given the issue with the total value of the box. If you’re not able to send a high-end product, then at least replace it with a high-end product.
SinglesSwag was my very first subscription box and while I almost considered cancelling it at one point, it is now one of my top three boxes. Their curation of items is on point and unique.
There are two subscription options: $40 per month for 6-7 full size products or $25 per month for 3-4 full size products. For the larger box you generally you get a piece of jewelry, a tasty treat, at least one skincare item, a beauty item and more. It’s not uncommon for me to actually get 8 items, which is amazing.
Overall Box Impressions: This month’s box was more miss than hit in terms of products but that’s mostly due to products I’m just not personally into. The total retail value of the box, as noted by SinglesSwag, is $210. I think that’s overstated just a bit given the estimated $65 value of the bracelet and the $22 value of the little dish, but the total value is still over $150. I received eight full size products.
Kevia Style Love Jewelry Dish
This little jewelry dish is about four inches across and has the word “love” in gold with a little arrow. I think the $22 price tag is a bit high as I’ve seen a set of four similar dishes at Target for $10 total. MSRP: $22.
Mollie Jacob Legendary Eyes Mascara
The makeup item this month is a mascara from Mollie Jacob, a brand we’ve seen two other times in the last five months. This mascara is designed to be volumizing but with a soft finish. The product is cruelty and paraben free (per the product card). I’ve never heard this mascara mentioned so I’m excited to give it a try. MSRP: $27.
Ava + Kris Meg Ruby Red Snake Purse
This red snake purse is absolutely beautiful in texture and color. However, calling it a “purse” is a bit of a stretch. The product card says it’s to hold keys, cards, ID and other small essentials but it’s not much bigger than a credit card (it measures 5″ x 3″). I was thinking it would at least be big enough for a cell phone. So , beautiful item but not as practical as I’d hoped. MSRP: $38.
Lark Fine Foods Coconut Butter Cookies
Lark is an 100% woman owned business and the cookies are made in small batches with all-natural ingredients. Unfortunately, I don’t like anything coconut flavored so I’ll be passing these along. MSRP: $5
Madeleine Elizabeth Fern Vine Bracelet
This lightweight bracelet is finished in 18k gold and is 7 inches long with a 2.5 inch extender. It is very a delicate bracelet and the fern leaves are pretty but not really my style. MSRP: $65
Baronessa Cali Olivia Farmacia Hand Cream
At first I was disappointed to receive two lotions’balms in the same month but after looking in the products I’m excited to try both. This hand cream is unique because it is made with extracts from Italian olive oil. MSRP: $22
South Mane Revitalizing Eye Gels Set
I’ve never heard of this brand before but love getting eye masks. This feel like more of a gel consistency and have a cooling effect. They are intended to soften the under eye skin. I think the price is reasonable at $5 per pair and I will be looking into what other products South Mane offers. MSRP: $15.
Oryza Beauty Dewy Glow Balm
This balm is labeled as “all purpose” and can be used on skin, lips and nails. Since we just got a hand cream (see above) I will likely use this on my lips. The balm contains hydrating jojoba oil, shea butter, rice germ oil and Vitamin E (which is also moisturizing). MSRP: $16
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye CremeOrigins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream to brighten and Depuff
A product review with a twist! I’m comparing two eye creams to see which works better (at least for me). Side note: I am a pretty harsh grader as I expect my grades in aggregate to form a bell curve.
Products: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Creme and Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream to Brighten and Depuff
Grade: B for Banana Bright Eye Creme from Ole Henriksen and C for GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream from Origins
Winner: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Creme
Retail Prices: $38 for 0.5 oz of the Banana Bright Eye Creme and $32 for 0.5 oz of the GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream
Where They Are Available: Both are available at Sephora and Ulta
Banana Bright Eye Creme – What I Loved: Covered my dark circles under my eyes the best and worked well under concealer.
Banana Bright Eye Creme – What I Didn’t Love: Did not cover or minimize the dark areas around the inside corners of my eyes.
Ginzing Refreshing Eye Creme – What I Loved: The consistency was a bit easier to spread around and dab into the skin.
Ginzing Refreshing Eye Creme – What I Didn’t Love: Did not cover under eye areas as well as the Banana Bright creme and did not cover or minimize the dark areas around the inside corners of my eyes.
I was interested in both of these products because they claim to help with dark circles. The GinZing creme also claims to help with puffiness under the eyes, which is not an issue I currently struggle with. In addition, my dark circles are genetic (third generation in a row), not a result of lack of sleep. I use a serum and different cream at night so these cremes are for daytime use. The product instructions for the Banana Bright creme are silent on how often or when to use and the instructions for the GinZing cream indicate it is for the AM or as needed.
Formula wise, the Banana Bright creme is more of a yellow/orange, whereas the GinZing creme is more of a rosy yellow/nude. The Banana Bright creme is a touch thicker than the GinZing. Ingredient wise, the Banana Bright creme includes Vitamin C and collagen, whereas the GinZing creme includes coffee beans, ginseng, magnolia extract and “brighteners.” I remember overhearing at a beauty store one time that the Banana Bright creme works best for people with certain types of dark circles versus the GinZing creme. I went to Google to research what I had heard. I did find a review on Fashionista’s website that noted the Banana Bright creme “tamps down bluish tones.” I could not find any similar statements about the GinZing creme.
For purposes of comparison, I applied the Banana Bright creme under/around my left eye and the GinZing creme under/around my right eye. I dabbed on a small amount of product with my ring finger, and given the dark circles extend up around the inside corner of my eyes, applied the product under and up around my eyes. I would not call the formula “lightweight.” The areas where product has been applied were greasy and oily and I gave them a good amount of time to dry (which might be problematic if you rush about in the mornings). I checked after ten minutes and it was still greasy so I waited a total of thirty minutes before applying makeup.
After application of the eye creams and a good thirty minutes of drying time. Less greasy looking than immediately after application.
After the cremes dried I could see that the Banana Bright creme covered my dark circles a better, if only by a small margin. I applied my concealer (Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion) to the under eye area and up around the inside corners of the eye with a small beauty sponge, and then immediately set the concealer with a heavy coat of setting powder (Pretty Vulgar The Powder Room Translucent Setting Powder) to prevent creasing.
After setting the under eye concealer with powder and brushing off the excess.
After setting the under eye area with powder, the difference between the two products in terms of coverage of the dark circles narrowed and I initially liked the Banana Bright side (my left) a bit better. I finished up the rest of my makeup (including a bright red lip), applied some setting spray and was ready to go!
After finishing the rest of my makeup. I promise I applied the same mascara and same eyeliner to both eyes.
Based on the above photo, both cremes performed well in minimizing the dark circles under my eyes. Neither did great minimizing the dark areas at the inside corners of my eyes. In the photo above it appears the creme on my left, which is the Banana Bright creme, was the clear winner for me. The surface was smoother and more even than the GinZing creme.
At the beginning and in the middle of each month I pick three of each “type” of makeup product to focus on using during the following couple weeks. I don’t restrict myself to ONLY the included products but do make a concerted effort to use those products. I try to include at least one new product or a product I haven’t tried much in each type, even if that’s just a sample size. So, here is my curated collection for April 1, 2019.
Primers: Milk Hydrogrip (sample size), Urban Decay Optical Illusion (trial size) and First Aid Beauty hyaluronic hydrating primer.
Foundations: Too Faced Peach Perfect, NARS Sheer Glow and Maybelline BB Fresh
Concealers: Laura Mercier Flawless Fusions and Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Full-Coverage Concealer
Powders: Too Faced Peach Perfect Setting Powder, Fenty Pro-Filtr (sample size), Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder and bareMinerals Mineral Veil finishing powder
Bronzers: Marc Jacobs O!mega bronzer, Houglass Ambient Lighting bronzer, and Too Faced Sun Bunny bronzer (trial size)
Blushes: Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush, Urban Decay Afterglow and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush
Highlighters: Give Them Lala highlighter, Pretty Vulgar Shimmering Swan highlighter and Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector
Eyelid and Lip Primers: ColourPop Lippie Stix (clear) and NYX HD eyeshadow base
Eyeshadow Palettes: Too Faced Sweet Peach, Suva Beauty Protege and Urban Decay Naked Reloaded
Mascaras: Monsieur Big Waterproof, iT Superhero and Pretty Vulgar Faux Reals Extreme Volume
Here is my haul from Sephora for the month of March. Three Sephora Favorites sets (two lips and one skin), the new Naked Reloaded palette and the next step of my skincare journey. I received the wonderful free tote bag from my local Sephora inside JCP.
One of my favorite lipstick formulas – Four Urban Decay Vice lipsticks from when Sephora had these as the Weekly Wow. Each lipstick was $10, instead of the regular $19. My mom was visiting at the time so I also got one from her (which literally came while they were loading the car to go home). From left to right: Hex (deep red wine), Tempered (deep mauve), Trip (brown brick rose), 66 (rich mauve-nude).
A couple face makeup items include a trial size of Urban Decay Optical Illusion primer (recommended for smoothing pores) and a highlighter from Becca in Champagne Pop. I have Opal but it just wasn’t showing up well on my skin.
I bought two Sephora Favorites lip sets. The one on the left is similar to the one online but is exclusive to Sephora Inside JCP. It contains five trial size glosses (well, except for the full-size Huda is a “demi-matte”). The set on the right contains five trial size “new” lippies (called the “Give Me Some New Lip Kit”), however, I know at least the Smashbox metallic liquid matte is not a new formula. The colors for this set were very odd compared to what is normally contained in the sets. Each of these sets was $28, which is a good value considering each set includes one or two full size products.
I also bought the beautiful new Naked Reloaded palette from Urban Decay. I had decided not to get this new palette until I saw it in person and felt the formula. I don’t have any of the original Naked palettes (1, 2 or 3) or Naked Heat (I do have Cherry and love it). This is a great palette for creating subtle eye looks for work, or for when I’m going to have a bold lip. The larger transition shades on each end are brilliant.
Two more items: a pair of lavender scented foot masks and a package of daily peels from Dr Dennis Gross. I’ve had a stable skincare routine for several years of cleanse, tone, moisturize. However, over the last three months I have been having more and more problems with my pores appearing large. I don’t have any blackheads or even much in the way of acne (perhaps three total zits per month) and pore-focused primers have no impact. I started using an exfoliating peeling gel a couple times a week and even with that I do not get of dead skin exfoliating off. So, after much research and some consulting I decided to try the Extra Strength Daily Peel from Dr Dennis Gross (although not on a daily basis – I’m using it twice a week with other AHA products on other days).
The Sephora Favorites skin care set was a “bargain” purchase. Originally, this was $42, however, my local Sephora Inside JCP had it on sale for $25.20. A couple of the items I know I love, including the Bum Bum Cream and the Clinique cleansing balm. I’m excited to try the Dr. Brandt Pore Refiner Primer and the Caudalie Serum. I wouldn’t have paid $42 for the set, but the $25 price was worth it for me. The Tatcha skin mask is worth $12 on its own. Oh, and the gold bag is a good size and beautiful!
Free samples from Sephora that arrived with my order in March, including Mile Hydro Grip Primer, two perfumes, First Aid Beauty primer and powder from Fenty Beauty. Also, I received the free tote from my Sephora inside JCPenney and it’s perfect!
There is a TJ Maxx a few miles south and a Marshalls several miles north so I check them each every week or two. I’ve been having more luck finding skincare products as of late. I lucked out this month finding a couple products from Boscia and several lipsticks from brands I haven’t seen before at the stores. There is a TJ Maxx a few miles south and a Marshalls several miles north so I check them each every week or two. I’ve been having more luck finding skincare products as of late. I lucked out this month finding a couple products from Boscia and several lipsticks from brands I haven’t seen before at the stores.
Left to Right:
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream (2oz.) TJMaxx $6.99, Sephora $12.00.
Derma E Natural Mineral Oil-Free Sunscreen TJ Maxx $3.00, Derma E online store $19.75.
Foot masks from Cala TJMaxx $4.99 for each box
I have just recently tried the exfoliating peel gel from Boscia and loved how gently it exfoliated. I had committed to buying this in the future at Sephora or Ulta so I was excited to find this at a discount. The detoxifying black cleanser warms when rubbed and feels so luxurious. Exfoliating Peel Gel: Marshalls $9.99, Sephora $34; Detoxifying Black Cleanser $7.00, Sephora $10.
A couple great Stila finds – a Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow in Garnet (TJMaxx: $7.99, Sephora $24) and a Vivid & Vibrant Eye Shadow Duo in Labrodite (TJ Maxx: $5.99, Sephora $20). The red liquid eye shadow is beautiful!
As I tend to do, I bought several lip products – although I did focus on new to me brands/formulas. These included: TooFaced La Creme mini in Naked Dolly ($3.99); Lorac Alter Ego in Siren ($3.99), Lipstick Queen Famous Last Words in Dear John ($5.99) and Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in Vintage ($7.99).
I had a 20% off coupon this month (including on prestige products) so I had been saving up to buy several of these items. The big item I was saving for was the Becca face palette. There is actually one sheet mask missing from the above picture but it arrived damaged and I was waiting on Ulta to replace the mask.
NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray – my favorite drug store setting spray for a dewy finish. I love this because it doesn’t feel drying.
Skinfood Fresh Apple Cooling Gel – this pore control product was on clearance for $5.47. So sad this has been discontinued but glad I found one last one. I love using this on my face after toner on non-makeup days.
Mario Badescu Facial Sprays – Te purple spray has aloe, chamomile and lavender, and the orange spray has aloe, sage and orange blossom. I use the lavender spray on my face right before bed to give one last dash of moisture and for it’s calming effect.
Origins Sheet Mask – This is their Flower Fusion soothing mask in the scent of lavender. More than I usually spend for a single face mask but I did buy it at 20% off and I want to see if it is functionally better than other, cheaper, masks.
On the left is one of Lime Crime’s plushies liquid lipstick in the shade Milk Tea, which is a sheer mauve. On the right is a mini set called Best of Velventines and includes Red Velvet (true red), Riot (red-brown) and Wicked (blood red).
Most of the time I use the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask but have been looking for something else to use for moisturizing my lips. I purchased the Mamonde Lip Sleeping Mask, Lano Lips 101 Ointment in Strawberry and the Ulta brand Juicy Jelly lip gloss in watermelon.
I bought two “correcting” products this month – Origins Ginzing eye cream (more to brighten my dark circles) and the Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid from Urban Decay in green (which is to correct for redness). My cheeks, nose and chin tend to be quite red and short of full-coverage foundation, the redness is quite apparent. So, I’d like to be able to conceal redness for when I wear BB cream.
I’m still on the hunt for the perfect eyeliner for my waterline and quicklining. I loved the kohl liner from Lottie by London but it has been out of stock since December. I bought three more to try this month and so far, the Smashbox liner is my favorite. From top to bottom: Smashbox Always Sharp in Raven, Loreal Infallible Longwear Eye Pencil in Black and the Milani Supreme Kohl Kajal in Blackest Black.
After receiving a different shade in my BoxyLuxe in March, I bought another Ultimate Lipstick Love from Becca in the shade Rosewood (warm red). My big item is the Khloe & Malika palette from Becca in the shade Malika. The Khloe shade was promoted as being for light-skinned individuals and the Malika for darker-skinned individuals. However, the colors in the Khloe palette didn’t excite me and so I bought the Malika palette. I’ve only had it a couple weeks but so far I love it!
These are some samples that came with the Ulta order. I’ll give the Bare Minerals samples to my mom, and likely the Clinique sample.
Sephora Play (actually named Play! by Sephora) contains five sample sized products, per their website. Products include makeup, haircare, perfumes, skincare and other beauty products. The subscription is $10 per month.
Time to stop yacking and start unboxing!
Overall Box Impressions: This is my third month receiving this box. General consensus is brands are higher end (i.e. the Sunday Riley and Drunk Elephant) but the sample sizes are small. You do receive an extra sample that is frequently a foil pouch or perfume. My box did get lost in the mail for about a week. And what did show up was not was my personal preview email said I would receive. That was a real disappointment because I was supposed to use receive NARS liquid lipstick and instead I got foundation that doesn’t match. I didn’t have any hits in my box this month and will likely only use one or two products.
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in R230
Now I like to try different foundations but it’s pretty important that you actually receive your shade. Sephora notes that they match the shade to you but they only use your Beauty Insider profile which has limited options (porcelain, fair, light, etc.) and doesn’t take into account warm versus cool tones. This is frustrating since Sephora has on file my ColorIQ. Interestingly, there is no shade match in this foundation for my ColorIQ. At any rate this shade is too warm and dark on my skin.
Sephora LashCraft Big Volume Mascara
I have a lot of different mascaras and still haven’t found the *perfect* product. This mascara is volumizing but also lengthening (which I don’t need). However, what turned me off from this mascara was that I started seeing some flakes on my under eye area. I think they might have been from the bottom lash.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40
This is a clear sunscreen that is purported to be even more effective once exposed to water or sweat. Now it’s still winter in Indiana so I haven’t had the opportunity to try this yet but will be saving it for a day when I will be outside. If it doesn’t cause my eyes to water I will consider this a winner.
Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30
I actually still have about half a sample of this from my local Sephora as it was recommended for my red cheeks. However, this product actually broke out the skin on my cheeks, which is a rarity for me. I examined the ingredient list and the culprit is likely either Niacinamide or the sunscreen components. So, not a product for me, but I’ve heard others rave about the product.
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
This dry shampoo is supposed to be oil absorbing (yea!) but all volumizing (boo). I love dry shampoo minis though (assuming they work) for traveling so I don’t have to take a large can.
Perfume Sample: Maison Margiela Replica – Music Festival
This is a very warm and spicy scent (think patchouli) that is supposed to be reminiscent of Woodstock. I like patchouli but this scent was too deep/musky for me.
MooseBeauty 