Spring 2014 Beauty Review

Tags

beauty, estee lauder, free, influenster, makeup, nyc, NYX, product, review, revlon, rimmel london, vox box

Estee Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion // WOW is all I have to say.  It is everything I have always wanted in a makeup remover and more.  It’s a lotion, so it’s easy to use.  It actually removes all makeup, even the stubborn waterproof stuff.  It leaves skin feeling clean and soft, and it doesn’t leave an oily residue.  I received a small sample tube from a free gift with purchase, and I’m definitely going back to get some more.  It’s expensive ($28 for a 6.7-ounce bottle), but you only need to use a little bit (I’m talking a pea-sized amount!) on a cotton ball to remove an entire day’s worth of makeup.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Waterproof Mascara // I received this in a free gift with purchase, too.  The mascara is pretty standard, but unlike other waterproof mascaras, it doesn’t clump on my lashes!  I might get this again if I’m in the market for waterproof mascara, but it’s not much better than non-waterproof varieties from the drugstore.

Rimmel London Salon Pro Nail Polish (I own it in Simply Sizzling) // I had some CVS ExtraBuck rewards, so I picked up a bottle of this nail polish for free!  And I’m so glad I did: I absolutely love this polish.  It’s a vibrant hot pink color, and it stays shiny and smooth for days.  This polish makes my nails look like they were professionally manicured, and you can’t beat the low $3 price.  I wish the nail polish were available in more colors, especially bright colors for spring and summer.  Hopefully more will be released soon!

Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation (I own it in #091 Light Ivory) // I received this from the Influenster Uni Vox Box, and I was excited to try it.  My skin often gets oily when I wear cream foundation, so I was hoping this brand would keep it shine-free.  It does keep my skin looking matte, but it also looks cakey and unnatural.  It’s $12, and I wouldn’t buy it myself.  If you’re really looking for a matte-ifying foundation, I would recommend mixing this one with another liquid foundation to get more even coverage.  I really like Rimmel’s Clean Finish Foundation, so I’m going to try mixing it with the Stay Matte Foundation.  I’ll let you know how my little experiment turns out!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick (I own it in Honey Bare and Fifth Avenue Red) // This lipstick is a classic, so of course it’s good!  I picked up a tube of Honey Bare as a finals week treat, and I couldn’t resist buying a tube of the iconic vintage Fifth Avenue Red when I saw it a few weeks later.  Honey Bare is a great neutral shade, and Fifth Avenue Red is a bold red with cool undertones.  For a subtler look, I like to apply Fifth Avenue Red as a stain by putting a little bit onto my finger, then dabbing it onto my lips and finishing off with some plain lip balm.

NYC Expert Last Lip Color (I own it in #447 Forever Fuchsia) //  I received this from the Influenster Uni Vox Box.  WOW this color is super bright!  It’s not something I would usually wear, but I took a risk and wore it to class on Monday.  Eh… not a huge fan.  The formula stayed on all day, but it dried out my lips.  The color is very vibrant and isn’t very flattering on me.  I wouldn’t purchase this product.

NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker // I picked this up after running out of my favorite eye liner, L’Oreal Infallible Super Slim Liquid Liner.  The verdict?  This one is okay, but not as good as the L’Oreal liner.  You need to store it upside-down to ensure that it works, and I sometimes forget, so the pigmentation isn’t as good.  It’s a decent product, but I wouldn’t buy it again.

 

Have you tried any of these products?  What do you think of them?

Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen Review

Tags

brush whiten go, colgate, influenster, optic white, product, review, teeth, toothbrush, whitening

I received these products courtesy of Colgate and Influenster, but all opinions are my own.

I already use love Colgate Optic White toothpaste, so when I was contacted about trying a new product in the Optic White line, I was excited.  I like the toothpaste because it doesn’t taste too minty and it keeps my teeth clean, but I haven’t noticed a difference in the whiteness of my teeth since I started using it.  Then again, I’ve used it for years and I’ve never really looked for a difference!  I’ve used Crest WhiteStrips before, but Ive found that they were difficult to put on, felt icky on my teeth, burned my gums, and didn’t have a lasting effect.  So I wasn’t a fan.

I’ve never tried a whitening gel before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one.  But I was pleasantly surprised!  It was easy to apply, and it did make my teeth look whiter.  The instructions say to apply the gel twice a day, but my teeth are pretty sensitive and I’m not looking for a dramatic whitening change, so I use it once a day, at night.  My only issue with the product is the way the gel feels on my teeth right after I put it on.  It slips off of my teeth a little bit, and it feels pasty and gummy and tastes weird.  Not a bad taste, but more of an “Is this safe?!” taste.  It’s not pleasant, but it’s easier and feels much better than whitening strips.

Would I buy this product again?  Perhaps.  If I run out of the gel and want some more, than definitely!  I also like that the whitening gel goes inside the base of the toothbrush: it makes it easy to just brush, whiten, go!

Do you use teeth whitening products?  Have you tried the Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen?

Radical Skincare Instant Revitalizing Mask Review

Tags

beauty, mask, radical skincare, review, sephora, skin

Sorry for my lack of posts and comments lately… these past few weeks have been horribly busy!  Because one of my pet peeves is when people spend a long time complaining about how busy they are, I’ll just leave it at that. 😉

Anyway, I’ve got a great product review today: Radical Skincare Instant Revitalizing Mask.  This product was sent to me courtesy of Radical Skincare and Sephora, but my opinions of the product are honest and entirely my own.

Here’s some info about Radical Skincare Instant Revitalizing Mask from the Sephora website.  A one-ounce bottle of the mask costs $65.00.

What it is:
A fun-to-apply skin soothing, intelligent mask that foams, pops, and gives radical radiance in minutes while providing hydration, vitamins, and energy to your skin.

What it is formulated to do:
The Instant Revitalizing Mask is the ideal coach for the skin: it delivers the nutrients necessary for hydration and regeneration while teaching it to breathe, stock up on energy, and optimize its oxygen resources in rarefied conditions. It leaves skin amazingly revitalized, healthy, and glowing.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Phthalates

Active Ingredients:

-Sodium PCA: Used to increase the skin’s softness as it helps maintain a healthy moisture balance.

-Vitamin E: Preserves the skin against aggressivity of free radicals created by oxidation coming from exposure to pollution, excess of sun, and age.

-Green Coffee: A good scavenger of active oxygen species, and a very strong antioxidant.

My Review:

I love that this product doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, or phthalates, which are all ingredients that I try to avoid putting on my skin.

Before I review the product itself, I think it’s important for me to talk about my skin to give you the best possible impression of the product.  If your skin is totally different than mine, then you may have a different experience with the product.  My skin is sensitive and combination: sometime’s it’s oily, but sometimes it’s dry.  It doesn’t bother me too much: I’ve never had serious skin issues that warranted visiting a dermatologist or using any prescription cleansers, creams, or gels.  I’ll use cleanser and toner in the morning, and moisturizer at night.  Harsh cleansers and toners make my skin burn and get red.  As a frame of reference, Clinique toner is too harsh for my skin.  I rarely wear liquid foundation: I usually stick to BareMinerals powder foundation or Benefit Some Kinda Gorgeous Foundation Faker.  I generally have good skin: obviously sometimes it’s red or imperfect, but I’m usually pretty satisfied with it how it looks.

SO onto the actual review… sorry for that wall of text!

I applied this mask after removing my eye makeup and washing my face with some gentle toner on a cotton ball to remove makeup from my face.  I applied a pea-sized amount of the mask to my cheeks, nose, and chin.  It looked white and foamy when I first applied it, then it turned clear.  I liked that while wearing the mask, my face didn’t look like I was wearing a mask.  The mask felt foamy and bubbly on my skin, and I rinsed it off after a few minutes.  My skin felt very soft and looked great.

About half an hour after I rinsed off the mask, my face started to feel itchy.  This was weird, especially because my skin wasn’t red at all.  I put some moisturizer on my face, and the itching went away.

I’ll try the mask again, but not for a few days because the instructions say to use it twice a week.  I wasn’t really sure why my skin itched, but I don’t think it was because I’m allergic to the ingredients because I didn’t see any inflammation on my face.  Overall, I liked the product, but I think it’s designed for people whose skin isn’t as sensitive as mine.  I’ll use it every once in a while, but I’m not sure if my skin can handle using it twice a week.  We’ll see!

Thank you so much to Radical Skincare and Sephora for sending me this product to try.  I really appreciate it, and I hope my readers do, too!

Benefit Cosmetics Little Love Potions Product Review

Tags

beauty, benefit, christmas, cosmetics, gift, makeup, review, sephora

I love Benefit Cosmetics, so when I saw this set of 10 sample-size products, I knew it would be a perfect Christmas gift!  I’m almost out of some of these products now, and it’s been less than a month.  Struggles!  Check out my reviews of each one.

1 // Hoola Bronzing Powder — This powder is very light and fine, so it’s easy to get a sunkissed glow.  Be sure to tap the excess powder off the brush before you apply it, or else it will look splotchy.  Remember less is more when it comes to bronzer!

2 // Hoola Lip Gloss — I don’t usually like lip gloss… I still have memories of slathering gross, sticky, way-too-shiny lip gloss on my lips in junior high.  Blah.  This lip gloss is great because it’s not sticky, but still leaves lips feeling soft and looking pretty.

3 // Watt’s Up Highlighter — I love Watt’s Up, but I wish the applicator on the sample-size product was a bit larger.  I usually dab it on my finger, then apply it that way.  I also use this right under my eyebrows.  Be sure to use your finger to blend it into your skin: it can look harsh if you don’t.

4 // It’s Potent! Eye Cream — This stuff really is potent, but considering my horrible undereye bags that never go away no matter how much I sleep, I like the product a lot!  It’s very hydrating and moisturizing, but it’s not greasy.

5 // The POREfessional — I LOVE this product!  It makes my skin look so fresh and smooth.  If I was going to buy a full-size version of any of the products in this set, it would be this one.

6 // Posie Tint Lip and Cheek Tint — I’ve only ever used this as a lip tint because my cheeks are usually red enough on their own in winter!  It works nicely and stays on for a long time, yet it’s easy to remove.

7 // High Beam Highlighter — Unlike Watt’s Up, High Beam is a liquid highlighter that you apply with a small brush.  I use this product on the apples of my cheeks.

8 // Bad Gal Lash Mascara — This mascara is a classic, and of course it’s good!  I love sample-size mascaras because I don’t feel like I’m wasting product.  Mascara doesn’t keep for long (ew eye bacteria) so sample-sizes are perfect.

9 // Stay Don’t Stray Eye Shadow Primer — I like this primer, but I tend to think that all eye shadow primer is the same.  It’s on par with Urban Decay Primer Potion for sure.

10 // “That Gal” Face Primer — I’m really into this product: it just makes your skin look good.  I apply a small amount on my face before I put on foundation, but usually after I put it on, I realize I don’t even need foundation anymore… it’s that good!

Have you tried Benefit Cosmetics?  What is your favorite product?

Fresh, Bumble & Bumble, Skinceuticals Sample Reviews

Tags

beauty, blow dry, bumble & bumble, fresh, hair, haircare, lip balm, makeup, redness, review, rosacea, Skinceuticals, SPF 15, sugar lip treatment

My mom received a large bag of samples from a makeup shop, and she graciously let me pick a few!  I chose three items: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment with SPF 15, Bumble & Bumble Bb. Straight Blow Dry, and Skinceuticals Redness Neutralizer.  Read on for my reviews of the products!

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment with SPF 15 // This lip treatment is very moisturizing, but  still feels light.  The best is the scent of this product: it smells exactly like lemon poppyseed muffins!  However, this product is very similar to basic Nivea lip balm, so I don’t know if I would spend $22 on a full-size tube myself.

Bumble & Bumble Bb. Straight Blow Dry // I have extremely thick hair that I often describe as “puffy”.  I expected this product to make my hair smooth and straight after blow drying alone, but it didn’t.  I had to use a straightener on my hair afterward, so using the product didn’t save me much time.  I’d recommend buying a straightening serum and a heat protecting spray for your hair instead of spending $29 on this product.

Skinceuticals Redness Neutralizer // I always get disappointed when I read reviews in which the reviewer was underwhelmed by the product.  I’m not sure why.  Thankfully, this neutralizing lotion was INCREDIBLE.  My cheeks tend to get pink and flushed when it gets hot, but this product prevented that from happening completely.  It feels light and blends into my skin wonderfully.  The one problem?  It’s really, really expensive.  $66 for a small bottle!  Hopefully my sample tube will last me a long time.

 

What is the best beauty sample you’ve ever received?

Ciaté Chalkboard Manicure Review

Tags

beauty, chalkboard, ciate, manicure, nail art, nails, pedicure, product, review

I received this product for free, but all opinions are my own.

Chalkboard is definitely a big trend: from chalkboard paint to chalkboard labels, it’s everywhere!  Now, you can even chalkboard-ize your manicure with the Ciaté® Chalkboard Manicure kit.

The kit includes black chalkboard nail polish, four nail markers, and a matte top coat.  The instructions are simple: just paint on a coat or two of the black polish, let it dry, doodle with the markers, and seal in your design with the top coat.

My sister Taylor has beautiful, long nails, so I used her as a “model” for the product.

I was pleased with the black polish: it went on smoothly and dried quickly.  The brush, however, was another story.  It reminded me of those paintbrushes that come with watercolor sets you used to use as a kid: the bristles were thick, which made the polish difficult to apply.

Drawing with the markers was fun and easy: since the black polish dried so quickly, we could use the markers right away.  I liked the blue marker the best: it was highly-pigmented and very bright.  The yellow marker, on the other hand, was liquid-y and dried unevenly.  We needed to trace over our designs with another coat of the yellow marker.  We had some trouble with the white marker, too.  It was difficult to get the polish to come out of the marker.

The markers dried quickly, so we finished up by applying the matte top coat.  The brush for this polish was better than the brush for the black one.

I’m not a fan of matte nails, so I’m curious as to whether a regular, shiny top coat would work with this polish.  I’m excited to try it again and see!

My sister and I had a lot of fun with the Ciate Chalkboard Manicure set.  I LOVE the Ciate polish bottles: they are made of frosted glass, and look very glamorous.  Overall, I recommend this product, but the markers (especially the yellow and white ones) could be better.  It’s a lot of fun to use, and a great “back to school” treat!

Have you ever tried a chalkboard manicure?  What did you think?

Summer 2013 In Review: Week 1

Tags

collage, daisy, dog, photos, review, summer, Target, week, work

I’ve been having major writer’s block lately.  I keep starting posts, getting discouraged, and never finishing them.  Or I finish a post but don’t feel like taking pictures to go with it.  Call it laziness, because that’s what it probably is, but in the meantime, here is a collage of photos I’ve taken so far this summer.  They’re a reflection of how I’ve been spending most of my time: at Target, by the lakefront, and with Daisy.  And work.  But it would be strange to take photos there.

What is your favorite place to be in summer?

#kindawesome

Tags

almond, bar, blueberry, cashew, chocolate, food, ginger, kind, macadamia, product, review, sea salt, snacks

Ever heard of #kindawesome?  It’s a movement by KIND Healthy Snacks, and it’s all about documenting awesome things that happen to you.  KIND gave me some bars to share with my sorority sisters, so I decided to share them with you all, too!

I received four varieties of KIND bars: two from the PLUS line and two from the Nuts & Spices line.   From the PLUS line I got Almond Walnut Macadamia + Protein and Blueberry Pecan + Fiber, and from the Nuts & Spices line I received Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt and Cashew and Ginger Spice.

I sat on my sorority house’s porch to take some photos of the bars, and my sorority sisters immediately started asking about them.  I told them about the products, and they were so excited to try them!

KIND bars have stellar nutrition stats, and the stats vary for each bar flavor.  The PLUS bars are full of protein and low in sugar.  All bars contain only pronounceable, recognizable ingredients: nothing artificial here!  I love that key nutrition info about the protein, fiber, and sugar content of each bar is listed right on the front of the wrapper.  It’s quick and easy to find a bar that’s right for you.

Dark Chocolate Nut & Sea Salt: These bars contain 7g fiber, 6g protein, and 5g sugar.  They’re nutty and have a chocolate-coated bottom.  There is a ribbon of chocolate on top, making this bar so pretty.  It tastes indulgent, and the sea salt really brings out the flavor of the chocolate.

Almond Walnut Macadamia + Protein: These bars contain 2.5g fiber, 10g protein, and 7g sugar.  These bars have my three favorite nuts in them, and they’re the perfect mix of crunchy and chewy.

Cashew & Ginger Spice: These bars contain 5g fiber, 6g protein, and 4g sugar.  The ginger gives these bars a special twist: they reminded me of a gingerbread cookie!

Blueberry Pecan + Fiber: These bars contain 5g fiber, 4g protein, and 9g sugar.  They contain tangy blueberries, and the combination of pecans and berries tasted like a blueberry muffin… yum!

It can be difficult to eat healthy, whole foods when you’re on the go.  Realistically, it’s so much easier to grab a bar and throw it in your bag.  KIND bars make it simple to eat healthy even when you have a busy lifestyle.  I’m so thankful to KIND Healthy Snacks for providing me with these products, and I know that my sorority sisters are, too!

Have you tried KIND bars?  What is your favorite flavor?

Luna Fiber Bar Review

Tags

bar, clif, fiber, healthy, luna, product, review, snack, vitamin

Disclaimer:  I received this product for free, but the review is entirely my own opinions and was not influenced by the company at all.

Clif Bar & Company sent three large boxes of Luna Fiber bars to my sorority house for us to try, so of course I had to try one!  They sent over their Strawberry Peanut Butter flavor.  The tops of the bars are dusted with sugar, giving them a nice crunch and a pretty, homemade appearance.  They are soft and filled with a thin layer of strawberry puree.  The strawberry flavor is there, but it’s not overwhelming.  I couldn’t taste much of a peanut butter flavor in these bars.  I love peanut butter, and I was expecting loved more of it.  There were a few peanut butter chips in my bar, but they didn’t add much in terms of flavor or texture.

As for nutritional value, these bars are stellar.  They are full of fiber… including insoluble fiber.  That’s like the gold standard of fiber.  They’re also fortified with vitamins, including calcium, iron, and folic acid.  Luna bars market to women, and these are vitamins that women especially need.

All in all, Luna Fiber bars are a good choice as a quick snack.  I’m not sure I would buy this flavor because of its lack of peanut buttery-ness, but I’d like to try the other flavors: the bars also come in Chocolate Raspberry and Vanilla Blueberry.  Thanks, Clif Bar & Company!

Have you tried Luna Fiber bars?  What did you think of them?

FACE Stockholm Review

Tags

beauty, FACE Stockholm, J.Crew, jadeite, lipstick, nail polish, orange, product, review

You know what I haven’t talked about in a long time?  Too long of a time?  Nail polish.  I recently tried FACE Stockholm nail polish, which actually belongs to my sister.  Thanks, Taylor!  She got it at J Crew, and I haven’t seen it anywhere else.  My thoughts?  I think this polish is wonderful!  It goes on evenly and smoothly, dries fairly quickly, and has a nice sheen to it that makes nails look healthy and strong.  I tried it in this color, which looks like jadeite, yay!  It’s out of stock online and I cannot find the name of it anywhere.

I checked out the website to get the photo above and learned that this polish comes in 112 colors!  It contains no DPT, formaldehyde, or tulene, which, according to my expansive chemistry knowledge (read: general chemistry and the internet), are not very good chemicals to put on your body.

 

On the website, each bottle sells for $12.  A little pricier than the other polishes I like (Revlon, Essie, and OPI), but if you want to splurge on polish, then FACE Stockholm is a good choice.

FACE also has every makeup product under the sun in every color you could ever want.

Including the lipstick shade I have been looking for since I saw it on my friend Mariah and told her I would take it from her and she didn’t believe me.

I never actually stole it from her.  That would be mean.

[ image source ]

This lipstick is a little pricey at $22, but who knows?  I might just convince myself to buy it online.  For Mariah’s sake, of course.  😛

That’s all for now, loves.  Here are some questions for you!

What is your favorite brand and color of nail polish?

Do you like online shopping, or do you prefer to look at stuff online and try it out in the store?