Saturday, May 30, 2015
Beauty & Books on a Break...
This summer is jam-packed for me so Beauty & Books is taking a break. Feel free to read my old posts :)
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
First Impressions of May 2015 Birchbox
**If you are receiving this post via
email, you may want to check out the actual site as the email throws off the formatting**
Birchbox is a $10/month subscription box. You get around 5 samples
or deluxe-size samples of beauty (makeup, skin care, hair care) products. Similar
to ipsy, you take a quiz to customize your box and get points for reviewing
products in your box and for referrals that you can use to “buy” products on
the Birchbox website.
With
Birchbox, you get the option (if you choose fast enough) to pick either the
curated box, one of your samples or to just let Birchbox pick all of your
samples. This month I passed on the curated box and did not get to choose my
own sample so I had a total mystery box.
Birchbox
comes packaged in a box within a box. This month’s box is gorgeous, as usual.
Birchbox teamed up with Emily Shuman who runs the lifestyle blog
cupcakesandcashmere. The box is light orange with a check print. These boxes
are great for organizing makeup. The box also contains a card detailing the
items and the (full-size) value of each item.
I actually cancelled Birchbox after the April box. I don’t get products that excite me so I’d rather spend my money somewhere else. AND THEN Birchbox emailed me and said if I resubscribed they would send a free beautyblender and cleanser…so, I signed back up for May and will be cancelling again. Here's what I received:
Product #1: Coastal Scents Revealed
3 Palette Quad in Desert Bloom (0.08 oz.)
This mini
palette has four colors: A matte mid-tone brown, a gold shimmer, a dark fuschia
shimmer and a light mauve shimmer. I didn’t swatch the colors because I will be
giving this away. I just received the Revealed 2 palette in the April 2015 Boxycharm
(see the full review of the palette here) and did not care for it. After using the palette for a
bit after reviewing it, I realized that the shadows really dry my skin out so I
probably won’t use it again. Hopefully whoever I give this to has better luck
than I did.
Value: $2
Product #2: Harvey Prince Sincerely Eau de Parfum (0.05 oz.).
I really
hate the way this smells! Plus, I’ve received Harvey Prince from Birchbox
before. The notes in this perfume are freesia, orange flower, rose, cyclamen,
tuberose, clove, mandarin, bergamot, cedarwood and sandalwood (that’s a lot).
It’s hard to describe the scent since one note doesn’t dominate. I usually love
sandalwood but it’s definitely overpowered by all the other ingredients. The
scent is just not for me.
Value: $2
Product #3: Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream in
Natural Glow (0.17 oz.)
I’m excited
to try out Juice Beauty and hope that this product provides good coverage even
though it’s a CC cream. I swatched it on my hand and it at least looks like it
will be light enough for my skin tone (CC creams that come in boxes are usually
way too dark for me). It is a very small sample so I will probably only get one
use out of it (maybe two), so it will be hard to form a solid opinion on it.
Juice Beauty is organic and this CC cream has an SPF 30.
Value: $4
Product #4: Naobay Oxygenating Cream Moisturizer (0.67 oz.)
I love
getting moisturizers in subscription boxes because the samples are usually a
decent size. This sample is almost 1 oz. so I will be able to use it for a
while and decide if it works for me. This moisturizer is natural and organic
and claims to hydrate, protect and soften skin. It contains sweet almond and
rosehip oil.
Value: $14
Product #5: Number 4 Super Comb Prep
& Protect Leave-In Conditioner (1.0 oz.)
*sigh* Another hair conditioner/detangler. I
feel like I get one every month from Birchbox even though I say I do not want
hair products (or perfume samples). This smells disgusting (like cleaning
products) so I don’t know if I will try it. It claims to strengthen, repair,
detangle, protect color and provide UV protection. You put this in towel-dried
hair.
Value: $5
Overall Value: $27 (more than half of the value is from
the moisturizer)
Like I
said, I will be cancelling Birchbox again. I just do not like this box—I only
see myself using the moisturizer. Not only do they insist on sending product
types that I say that I don’t want, I don’t particularly care for the things
they do send anyway. Since I am also cancelling Boxycharm, I will be re-subscribing
to the POPSUGAR Must Have Box (one of my favorites).
What are
your thoughts on Birchbox? If Birchbox is more your speed and you’d like to
sign-up for Birchbox, feel free to use my referral link. You can read all of my Birchbox
reviews here.
Disclaimer:
All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in
the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive
reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for
you. This post is not sponsored.
Referral
Links:
POPSUGAR: http://popsu.gr/uXzQ
Save
$5 off your first box with the code REFER5
Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm
Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara
at checkout enter the
following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=
Monday, May 25, 2015
First Impressions: May 2015 Boxycharm
**If you are receiving this post via
email, you may want to check out the actual site as the email throws off the formatting**
Boxycharm is a $21/month subscription box. You get around 5 full-size products (sometimes deluxe sample sizes) of higher-end beauty (makeup, skin care, haircare) products. Like ipsy and Birchbox, you get points for reviewing products in your box, and for referrals, that you can use to “buy” products from the Boxycharm website.
Boxycharm comes in a cardboard box (surprise!) and includes a card that details the products inside and the value of each product.
Here’s what
I received in my May 2015 Boxycharm and my first impression of the products:
Product #1: ModelCo Bronze Shimmer
Bronzing Powerder in 01 (Full-Size)
This
bronzer is for the face and body. I have a ModelCo blush from my February ipsy bag and I
really like it so I’m looking forward to trying out this bronzer. This bronzer
is slightly orange-y and has a lot of gold shimmer in it. It’s very pigmented
so use a light hand. The product feels soft and smooth so it will probably
apply well.
Value: $22
Product #2: The Lip Bar Lipstick in
Purple Rain (Full-Size)
Value: $20
Product #3 Bodyography Essential
Brow Trio in 3595 Essential (Full-Size)
This trio
includes a dark brown, medium brown and very light tan brow powder so it will
work for a variety of subscribers. I like this concept instead of getting one
color that doesn’t work for you (Boxycharm doesn’t tailor boxes based on your
preferences). I’ve been using a brow pencil for a while so it’ll be nice to try
a powder again.
Value: $19
Product #4: Bodyography Brow Brush
(Full-Size)
This is a
double-ended brush: You use one side to apply the brow powder (angled brush) and the other side to
comb your brows out (spoolie). It’s nice to get brushes, but I wish that the
brow palette and brush counted as one of the five products instead of two.
Value: $19
Product #5: Lauren B. Beauty Nail
Polish in Sunset Tower (Full-Size)
It seems
like nail polish is a staple in Boxycharm boxes. The is a salmon-nude color and
seems fairly pigmented. It is 5 Free (no formaldehyde, DBP, toluene,
formaldehyde resin or camphor). It is also cruelty free and vegan. It claims to
be fast drying, chip-resistant and long-lasting—we shall see!
Value: $18
Overall Value: $98
While
Boxycharm is generally worth it in terms of value (over $100 worth of product
for $21), I looked back on past Boxycharms to confirm my suspicion—I’m not
using what I receive in Boxycharms. I’m going to cancel Boxycharm (and
Birchbox) and go back to receiving the POPSUGAR Must Have Box as I get a lot of
use out of things I have received from POPSUGAR. I will point out that Must
Have Box consists of “lifestyle” items (e.g., yoga towel, necklace, scarf,
etc.) and beauty items so it’s not a full replacement for the beauty boxes I’m
cancelling. I would just rather spend the money on a box that I know brings me
joy, which is one the principles I talked about when I reviewed The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.
What are
your thoughts on Boxycharm? You can read all of my Boxycharm reviews here. If you’d like to sign-up for Boxycharm, feel free
to use my referral link.
At checkout enter the following code:
M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=
Disclaimer:
All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in
the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive
reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for
you. This post is not sponsored.
Referral
Links:
POPSUGAR: http://popsu.gr/uXzQ
Save
$5 off your first box with the code REFER5
Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm
Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara
at checkout enter the
following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=
Saturday, May 23, 2015
If I Could Only Have 5: Drugstore Edition
**If you are receiving this post via
email, you may want to check out the actual site as the email throws off the formatting**
Drugstore Week concludes with a list of the five drugstore products I
would choose if I could only have five. I guess you would consider them my
“desert island” products, but if I were stranded on a desert island I should
probably be more worried about having water and food. But since this is a beauty blog, I’ll just add
that I would also want sunscreen (and, most likely, to get off the island)!
You might
have been expecting Revlon’s ColorStay foundation since it one my Full Coverage Foundation Beauty Battle, but I have since found a new love. I picked this up in a Saving Series last
month and cannot stop wearing it! It is super blendable as the name says. There
is a good shade range (33 shades) that is split into three skin undertones:
Neutral, warm and cool. Some shades have SPF 17 in it too. L’Oreal’s website
says that the coverage of this foundation is light to medium, but I find that
it is actually full coverage. My only complaint is that you have to pour the
product out, there’s no pump.
2. Eyeshadow: Sonia Kashuk Eye
Palette in 16 Sweet Nothings
I soooo
love this palette. It is a great everyday palette with matte neutral
natural-looking shades. I featured this in my Favorite 5: Makeup Travel Essentials so you can read my thoughts in that post.
3. Mascara: Maybelline Great Lash
Mascara
This has
always been my favorite drugstore mascara. Not only is it inexpensive (usually
$6, with coupons always available), but it is a great mascara. You can create a
natural look or build up the product for a more dramatic look. It doesn’t clump
or flake on me. I just picked up another one, this time with a curved brush. I
really love the curved brush of the Benefit Roller Lash (love, but too
expensive to buy—it’s $24) and the Maybelline LashSensational (horrible
mascara, see my Bye Bye Beauty post on it) so I was very excited to see this mascara formula
with a curved brush.
4. Blush: e.l.f Blush in Twinkle
Pink
Despite the
name, this color is a peachy-pink color. When you first open it up the blush
looks like a glitter nightmare. However, I don’t notice glitter on my face when
I apply. This is a great everyday blush since it give just a hint of color and
I think the color would be flattering for a lot of different skin tones. I
definitely recommend the e.l.f. blushes, they are some of my favorites. Plus, they
are only $3!
5. Lipstick: Revlon Lip Butter in
025 Peach Parfait.
Surprise!
Noooot. If you’ve read my blog for a bit, you’ll know that this is my favorite
lipstick. The color is just perfect on me. I can wear it in any season and with
any makeup look. Peach tones are my favorite to wear for makeup, they really
complement my skin tone. This color can read as a nude with a hint of peach if
you have a heavier eye look or it can read as a solid peach color if you have a
simple eye look. Like I said, it just goes with everything for me. You can read
my full review on the Revlon Lip Butters here.
Those are
my five desert island drugstore makeup products, and this concludes Drugstore Week. What
are your must have drugstore products right now? What 5 items would you take
with you to a desert island? Let me know!
Disclaimer:
All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in
the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive
reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for
you. This post is not sponsored.
Referral
Links:
POPSUGAR: http://popsu.gr/uXzQ
Save
$5 off your first box with the code REFER5
Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm
Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara
at checkout enter the
following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Review of Maybelline Master Conceal by FaceStudio Camouflaging Concealer in 10 Fair
**If you are receiving this post via
email, you may want to check out the actual site as the email throws off the formatting**
Drugstore
Week continues with a review of a new concealer I’ve been trying. I’ve really
be into trying different concealers lately. I find that a proper concealer is
hard for me to find—concealer color ranges tend not to go very light or very
dark. The CoverGirl Ready, Set Gorgeous concealer in 105/110 Fair is the only concealer
I have ever repurchased because it is the only (drugstore) concealer light
enough for me, which is strange because it’s not like I’m porcelain white or
something, but I digress. Let me get back to today’s highlighted product, the
Maybelline Master Conceal…
This
concealer comes in a tube and you squeeze the product out of it. That’s really
all I have to say about the packaging. The colors range from 10 Fair to 50
Medium Deep. There are only 5 shades and the darkest shade is not that deep so
this may not be the best line if you have a deeper skin tone.
Claims:
- Camouflages imperfections and dark circles
- Full coverage
- High resistance (I’m guessing to fading?)
- Undetectable finish
The formula is thick and feels a bit tacky. I
would recommend warming it up on your fingertips first. Because the formula is
thicker you have to work with it a bit on your face—you either have to really
blend and pat it on your skin or use a beautyblender-type sponge. Since it’s
thick, a little goes a long way. Even though you have to work with it more than
a thinner concealer, it’s worth it to me because the coverage is excellent. It
doesn’t wear off and it’s a light enough shade that I can use it to conceal and
brighten my under eye area.
If you have
a second in the morning to work with your concealer a little bit, and there is
a shade that works for you, I would recommend this concealer because of the
full coverage and long wear.
You can
read my other Drugstore Week posts here.
Disclaimer:
All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in
the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive
reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for
you. This post is not sponsored.
Referral
Links:
POPSUGAR: http://popsu.gr/uXzQ
Save
$5 off your first box with the code REFER5
Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm
Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara
Boxycharm: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/41854/
at checkout enter the following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=
at checkout enter the following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Review of L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara in 335 Carbon Black
**If you are receiving this post via
email, you may want to check out the actual site as the email throws off the formatting**
Holy hype!
I have heard about the L’Oreal Carbon Black mascara eleventy-billion times on
YouTube. So, when the coupons aligned for a L’Oreal Saving Series, I had to pick up this
mascara.
Claims:
- Dramatic looking volume
- Thickens and builds lashes
- Full lash look
- Virtually no flakes, smudges or clumps
- Ingredients leave lashes supple and soft
- Removes easily with water
The
packaging is pretty standard black and gold plastic. The brush is a natural
bristle brush as opposed to plastic. The price is pretty standard for a
drugstore mascara ($7-9).
I would say
that this mascara is worth the hype and holds up to most of its claims. It
definitely added volume to my lashes, but still looked natural. It also
lengthens the appearance of my lashes and held a curl all day long. This
mascara has fantastic staying power—14+ hours later it looks like it did when I
put it on in the morning. The formula is not to wet or too dry and there is no
fallout or flaking and minimal clumping.
The only
claim I would say it does not live up to is that it removes easily with water,
I do not find this to be true (and I don’t find any mascara to remove easily).
I also don’t know if it leaves your lashes supple and soft as I did not test
this claim. My one complaint is actually the brush, it is just too big. I find
that I get mascara on my brow bone every time I apply this mascara because the
brush is so big. Other than that this is an awesome mascara!
I hope you are enjoying Drugstore Week so far!
Disclaimer:
All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in
the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive
reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for
you. This post is not sponsored.
Referral
Links:
POPSUGAR: http://popsu.gr/uXzQ
Save
$5 off your first box with the code REFER5
Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm
Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara
at checkout enter the
following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Review of NYC Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder in 741A Transparent
**If you are receiving this post via
email, you may want to check out the actual site as the email throws off the formatting**
I am yet to
find a setting powder that I actually like. Most look cakey on me or change the
appearance of my foundation. I don’t tend to be oily, but I like to set my
foundation so that it does not transfer if I touch my face. YouTuber Jessica
Murphy (JAMbeauty89)
spoke very highly of the NYC Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder and gushed that it
was her favorite setting powder. Naturally, I had to try it (see, YouTube Made Me Buy It!)
The NYC
brand can be found at drugstores and is very inexpensive. This face powder is
$2.99 and I had a $1off manufacturer’s coupon so it only cost me two bucks! The
packaging is plastic and basic, the bottom of the container is clear and the
top is black. Since this is a transparent powder, it should work for all skin
tones. There is 0.70 oz. of product—a huge amount of powder—I’m not sure I’ll
ever use this up. The packaging does have a few cons: 1. The top does not snap
on or screw in, it just lifts off so you have to be careful that the top
doesn’t fall off and powder gets everywhere, and 2. It is hard to get the
product out—there is just holes for the product to come out and there is
nothing to cover the holes so it can get messy.
I must say,
this is by far my favorite face/setting powder! I use just the tiniest amount
(get some on your brush and shake off the excess) and buff it onto my face. I
concentrate it in my t-zone because I can get a bit oily there as the day goes
on. I also put just a little bit all over my face to set my foundation. It has
a very natural finish; it doesn’t look like I have powder on my face. It holds
all day and does not cake. I have actually noticed that it blurs the look of my
pores which is an added bonus. As the day goes on my t-zone looks a tad “dewy”
but not oily, so this powder does the job. I have also used this powder to set
my under eye area and it works great!
If you’re
searching for a face powder or don’t have a lot of money to spend, I would
definitely recommend the NYC Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder in 741A Transparent.
Even if you hate it, it only costs a few dollars and you can always return it. Either
way, I’m very happy with it.
Disclaimer:
All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in
the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive
reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you.
This post is not sponsored.
Referral
Links:
POPSUGAR: http://popsu.gr/uXzQ
Save
$5 off your first box with the code REFER5
Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm
Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara
at checkout enter the following
code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=
Monday, May 18, 2015
YouTube Made Me Buy It: Drugstore Edition
**If you are receiving this post via
email, you may want to check out the actual site as the email throws off the formatting**
I really
enjoyed having a theme week earlier in the month (Face Primer week) and I received positive feedback on the posts, so I thought I would have a
drugstore theme this week!
This first post will feature five
drugstore products that I bought because I saw them on YouTube.
There are definitely more than five products I was influenced to buy, but these
are products that I might not have known about or tried if I hadn’t heard about them on
YouTube.
1. NYC Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder
in 741A Transparent
This is a
setting powder that Jessica Murphy (JAMbeauty89 on YouTube) raved about. I have not been able to
find a setting powder I like yet, so I figured I would try this one out. It is
only a couple bucks at the drugstore and I had a $1 manufacturer’s
coupon—score! A full review of this product will be coming during Drugstore Week.
2. L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black
Mascara in 335 Carbon Black
A lot of
YouTubers say this is their favorite drugstore mascara and they have
repurchased it time and again. It’s been in the back on my mind, but I don’t
tend to spend money on mascara since I can get it for free with coupons all the
time. So, when I was doing a L’Oreal Saving Series deal at CVS one week I knew I would be
getting this mascara. A full review of this product will also be coming
3. Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in
070 Airy Fairy
According
to YouTubers, this is one of Rimmel’s most popular lipstick shades. Naturally,
I had to try it out to see what the fuss was about. I featured this lipstick in
my Favorite 5 of February 2015. It is a great everyday lipstick color, very appropriate
for work or school, especially if the atmosphere is more formal. It is a
semi-matte pinky nude. It is a bit of a thicker formula so I would definitely
recommend wearing lip balm underneath it.
4. Milani Color Statement Lipliner
in 09 Spice and Maybelline ColorSensational Matte Lipstick in 660 Touch of
Spice
I count
these products as one since they are similar in color and I always wear them
together. The lipliner is on the brown side, but it is still pretty and pairs
perfectly with the Touch of Spice lipstick. The lipstick is the perfect muted
berry/reddish brown color and this matte formulation is not drying at all. I
would definitely recommend the Maybelline ColorSensational line if you’re
looking for matte lipstick. |
| From Left to Right: Airy Fair, Touch of Spice, Spice |
5. Milani Baked Blushes
I have
heard the Milani Baked Blush in 05 Luminoso mentioned so many times! It is a
great peachy blush that could also double as a highlighter. I often pop this
blush on top of whatever other blush I’m wearing to give my cheeks a nice glow.
I also have 03 Berry Amore, a great medium berry color with a hint of gold. The
formula of these blushes is great; they apply very smoothly and are blendable.
They are not powdery at all and the color is buildable. I’m sure I will be
adding a few more of these to my collection in the future. Milani is a great
drugstore brand.
Those are
the 5 (well, 7) drugstore products that YouTube “made” me buy. In all honesty,
they are all actually great products for me. If I try something and don’t like
it, I return it (unless I got it for free) and you usually hear about it in a Bye Bye Series post. I
watch YouTube to get ideas for products to try and tell you about, but only buy
things that I think I will actually like (you don’t see me buying fake
eyelashes even though YouTubers talk about their favorite ones all the time).
What have you been influenced to buy? Did you like it? Let me know!
Disclaimer:
All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in
the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive
reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for
you. This post is not sponsored.
Referral
Links:
POPSUGAR: http://popsu.gr/uXzQ
Save
$5 off your first box with the code REFER5
Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm
Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara
at checkout enter the
following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=
Saturday, May 16, 2015
First Impressions of May 2015 ispy Glam Bag
**If you are receiving this post via
email, you may want to check out the actual site as the email throws off the formatting**
ipsy is a
monthly subscription box company created by Michelle Phan and is $10 a month.
You get a mix of makeup, skincare and hair care items, usually 4-5 full- or
deluxe sample size products in a makeup bag. When you sign up for ipsy, you
take a quiz in order for the bag to be customized to your skin type/tone and
your general preferences. You can retake the quiz as many times as you like.
You can also review each product in your bag to help ipsy further customize
future bags and earn
points to purchase products. You also receive points when people sign up for
ipsy through your referral link.
This
month’s theme is “Jetsetter,” but I’m not sure how that really relates to the
products in the bag… If you see any common link, let me know in the comments.
Product #1: Urban Decay 24/7
Glide-On Lip Pencil in Ozone (0.03 oz.) and Revolution High-Color Lipgloss in
Failbait and Bittersweet
Subscribers
will receive 1 of 3 high-end deluxe size samples this month: Urban Decay
lipliner, It! Cosmetics CC cream or GlamGlow ThirstyMud mask. I have tried all
three of these products and the GlamGlow mask is by far my favorite. Let me
know if you want a review of the Urban Decay Ozone lipliner—I received it for
Christmas so I have been using it for awhile. It is a clear lipliner that you
can use with any lip color without changing the appearance of the lipcolor and
worrying about whether your lipliner should match your lips or lipstick. I do
like the two lipgloss colors. Failbait is a sheer pink that gives a hint of
color. Bittersweet is as purple as it appears in the swatch, but you can use
less to sheer it out so that it is not as bold as the swatch. They are a bit
sticky, but nothing obnoxious.
Value: $15 (?; the lip liner appears to be
almost full-size)
Product #2: Alterna Cavier CC Cream
10-in-1 Complete Correction Leave-In Hair Perfector (0.85 oz.)
This is a
cream that is supposed to provide the following 10 things for your hair:
Moisture, shine, smoothness, softness, UV protection, manageability, strength,
anti-breakage, heat protection and light hold. And breathe! That’s a lot! You can apply this to damp or
dry hair. It has a very light, pleasant smell…sort-of spa like or melony? If
you’ve ever smelled the Citrus Cilantro candle from Pier 1 Imports it’s very
similar to that. I’ll give this a try, but if you’ve been reading my blog you
know it’s hard for me to get excited about hair products.
Value: $8.50
Product #3: Pixi by Petra Beauty
Bronzer in Summertime (0.16 oz)
This is a
very glowy bronzer. It has a lot of gold shimmer in it. I would use this as a
highlight or over my blush, but not as a bronzer by itself, it is too shimmery
for that (for me, anyway…). I did use it as an eyeshadow instead and I thought
it looked beautiful so I still find value in it even if not for the intended
purpose.
Value: $4 (?; I could only find this as a set
with a kabuki brush)
Product #4: Luxie 205 Tapered
Blending Brush (Full-size)
I was so
excited when I saw this! I have been looking for a tapered blending brush but
not wanting to spend a lot of money on one. This is a synthetic, cruelty-free
brush. The handle is baby pink with rose gold (rose gold is very “in” right
now). I used this brush to blend the Pixi bronzer into my crease and it worked
beautifully. It was exactly what I was looking for. I would definitely
recommend this brush. You can use it to apply eyeshadow; but also to blend your
look together if you are using multiple eyeshadow colors on your lid.
Value: $12
Product #5: Bellápierre Cosmetics
Gel Eye Liner in No. 02 Ebony (0.06 oz; full-size)
It’s a
black eyeliner, nothing too exciting—there are so many black eyeliners in
subscription boxes. HOWEVER, I have almost used up my Cynthia Rowley eyeliner I
received in my FebruaryBirchbox so I’m looking to replace it. I use the Cynthia Rowley eyeliner
to tightline my eyes; I tried the Bellápierre one and it seems like it will be
a good replacement. Though it’s not exciting to see another black eyeliner, it
is at least useful.
P.S., if
you don’t know what things like “tightline” or “de-pot” mean, stay tuned!
Value: $14.99
Overall Value: $54.49!!! Some of my values are estimates, but
I think they are close so this bag is an amazing value. I will use all of these
products (well, I’ll at least try to try the hair product). ipsy continues to
impress me and is my favorite beauty subscription service.
If you
subscribe to ipsy, what did you get in your bag? I’m curious to see if we
received the same items or not!
If you’re
interested in signing up for ipsy, feel free to use my referral link J
Disclaimer:
This bag was purchased with my own money and all opinions are 100% honest and
my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for
me may not necessarily work for you. I do receive points if you sign-up for a
subscription using my referral link; however, I am not affiliated with ipsy.
Referral
Links:
POPSUGAR: http://popsu.gr/uXzQ
Save
$5 off your first box with the code REFER5
Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm
Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara
at checkout enter the
following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=
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