Showing posts with label Brush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brush. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Favorite 5: August 2015

**If you are receiving this post via email, you may want to check out my actual site as the email throws off the formatting**



Another month come and gone! I’m not amused that the last “summer month” is over… Here are the my favorite five cruelty-free products I’ve been liking lately, in no particular order:

1. Urban Decay Revolution High-Color Lipgloss in Bittersweet
I received a sample of this in my May ipsy bag (read my review here) and loved it so much I got the full-size. This gloss is a beautiful purple that isn’t too out there. It isn’t sticky at all either, sits nicely on the lips and is really pigmented. The dough foot applicator is pointed making precise application easier. There is a slight makeup smell to it (no vanilla or cookies here), but it doesn’t linger. I definitely would like another one of these, perhaps in a neutral color.

2. Whish Shave Cream in Blueberry
I received this sample in my April Birchbox (read my review here). If found this shaving cream to be moisturizing. It doesn’t foam or lather up, it is like a lotion. It is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, DEA, petrochemicals, etc. It contains shea butter and coconut oil, along with other moisturizing ingredients. The full-size of this item (5 oz.) is $20—very expensive for a shaving cream. I may add it to my Christmas list. I really liked it, but can’t justify spending that much on shaving cream.

3. e.l.f. Flawless Concealer Brush
e.l.f. makes some great brushes and most range in price from $1-$6. This is a fluffy concealer brush that works really well to blend concealer around the eyes, especially the space between your eyes and nose. It cleans off really easily (I use baby shampoo) which is a big plus in a brush that you use to apply cream products. I would recommend this brush (and most other e.l.f. brushes)—you can find e.l.f. at Target and  some CVS are starting to carry e.l.f. I’ve even found e.l.f. at The Christmas Tree Shop.

4. the Balm Nude Dude Volume 2 Mini Nude Eyeshadow in Flirty
I received this eyeshadow sample in my April 2015 ipsy bag (read my review here). What would I do without subscription boxes! This is a mid-tone purple with a hint of taupe and gold duo chrome. It is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve been using this on the outer V of my eyes because it goes really well with the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Hydrangea Hype that I’m trying to use up as part of my Finish 5 By Fall Challenge (read about my challenge here). The two purples play well off each other and my green eyes. I’m yet to be disappointed by a the Balm product.

5. Skin Perfecting Blush in SPB1 Rose Gold (Limited Edition)
I received this in my July Starlooks subscription box (read my review here). I’ve been using this as an eyeshadow crease color instead of a blush. It goes really nice when I have Hydrangea Hype on my lid and Flirty on my outer crease. This rose gold color goes really well with the purples.  I originally thought this was peachy-bronze, but it is definitely more of a rose gold.

Swatches (left to right): Urban Decay's Bittersweet, the Balm's Flirty and Starlooks's Rose Gold

What products have you been loving lately? 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
                    at checkout enter the following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=

Monday, August 24, 2015

First Impressions: August 2015 LooksBook by Starlooks Subscription Box

**If you are receiving this post via email, you may want to check out my actual site as the email throws off the formatting**


This is a monthly beauty subscription box that costs $12. You receive three “Perfect Size” Starlooks products and three gift cards. “Perfect Size” makeup is about ¾ the size of the full-size product, and is meant to be more transportable and easier to use up than a full-size product. You can also choose what goodies you receive ahead of time online, something that most subscription boxes do not offer. Starlooks is a company that carries cruelty-free, professional-level makeup. Full disclosure: Starlooks was kind enough to send me this box free of charge to review, so a big thank you to them! With that said, I will still give my honest opinion of the products I received.

The products arrive in a Starlooks box. The box and top will be good for storing makeup, like Birchbox boxes. The makeup products were contained within a mesh satchel and the gift cards came in an envelope. This month’s theme is “Resort Edition.”


I’ve used each of the makeup products once (I just got the box in the mail) and wanted to give you my first impressions on them.

1. Starlooks Gimme More Volumizing Mascara (1.13 oz., perfect size)
I’m not seeing this mascara on the website, which is a little weird. When I made my picks it was listed as a new product, so it might not have hit the website yet. It has a natural bristle brush that is cone-shaped. The formula of this is on the wetter side and I think it will be better once it dries out a bit. It curled and lengthened my lashes, but didn’t thicken them. It held the curl all day long and didn’t flake. As far as mascaras go, it was relatively easy to wash off.
Value: $7 (based on other perfect size mascara)


2. Starlooks Long Wear Eyeshadow in ES2 Gold Coast (1.6g, perfect size)
This is a beautiful bronze color with gold shimmer that I think will go great with most eye colors and skin tones. If you like the look of foiled (i.e., shiny) eyeshadows but they scare you a little, this would be a good type of shadow for you to try. This is also a new product that I don’t see on the website yet. It wore well throughout the day, even without an eye primer. This color is multidimensional and would be good for a one eyeshadow look (which is how I wore it today). I packed it onto my lid and blended it out to my crease; I also lined my lower lash line with it.
Value: $9 (?)


3. Starlooks Slanted Liner Brush (#824, full-size)
This is a synthetic angled liner brush. This could be used to apply eye liner or to fill in your brows with powder or gel/pomade. I used this to apply the Starlooks Gold Coast eyeshadow I received to my lower lash line and it worked well.
Value: $18
                          
And here are the gift cards I received:

1. $20 Gift Card to Starlooks Pro, not including celebrity lines (the card had $10 printed but a “2” was written over the 1 making it a $20 card I guess. Little weird…)

2. $20 Gift Card to Starlooks, includes celebrity lines
That’s $40 towards makeup from Starlooks—so I’ve got $80 in gift cards to Starlooks between this and last month. A haul is in order!

3. $25 (I think) Gift Card to Nomad Tribe.
Nomad Tribe works with local artisans around the world to make unique clothing and accessories. Each item has a trim that was made especially for that piece. I will definitely find some things I like here. If you join their mailing list you get 50% off your first purchase!

Total Makeup Value: $34
Total Gift Card Value: $65
_____________________
Total Box Value: $99

This subscription box is definitely well worth the $12. I’m a little concerned that I couldn’t find two of the products online though, hopefully they will be there soon. What are your thoughts on the Starlooks Subscription Box? Let me know! If you’re interested in signing up for the Starlooks Subscription Box you can go through my referral link or hop onto Subscriptions.Starlooks.com.


Disclaimer: Starlooks sent me this Custom Starlooks Subscription Box free for review. However, all opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment or free products. 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

                       at checkout enter the following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=