Taking a Break

Hi all!  I hope you’re doing well and staying safe.

I just wanted to pop in and let you know that I’m going to take a few months break from blogging.  I’ve been having some issues with my site and I’ve decided to focus on my Instagram. I’ll decide at the end of the summer if I will start blogging again.

I will still come on and see what awesome content my favorite bloggers are creating! And please come visit me at fortyflirtyfab on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Leave a comment if you have an Instagram account and I will be happy to follow you!

Thanks for all the views, likes and comment over the almost twelve(!) years I’ve been blogging!

 

 

April 2020 Beauty Favorites

Hi all! I hope you’re well and staying safe.

Below are my beauty faves for April.  As usual, If I have reviewed them before, I will include the link, if not, I will link to where you can purchase:

I had a pretty good mix of skincare and makeup this month.  I have been wearing a lot of makeup, because I have been doing a palette a day challenge on Instagram (fortyflirtyfab) where I used a different palette each day.  It’s been fun and exhausting! I will be posting my final update soon.

Here’s a close up of the eyeshadow and face palette:

The face palette it the PUR x Trolls World Tour Top of the Charts Face Trio.  It’s very fun to use.  The blush is my favorite as it really brightens my sad, pale face.  LOL!

The Natasha Denona Mini Retro Eyeshadow Palette is fairly new, but I want to include it because it’s amazing! So pretty!  I haven’t reviewed it yet, but I’m bringing back my 20 in 2020 palette reviews next month and will be reviewing it soon!

I received the L’Oreal Bambi Eye Mascara and the MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish Highlighter in Double-Gleam in a giveaway from Youtuber Jessica Braun (she’s fantastic).  Both of these are amazing.  The MAC highlighter is natural and so pretty on and the mascara separates and lengthens my lashes.  Love!

I picked up the Tarte Travel Size Timeless Smoothing Primer in my fall Ulta Points Haul. I just started using it, because I finished the pore filling primer I was using.  I do love this.  It works very well.  I might have to pick up the full size eventually.

I received the Cure Natural Aqua Gel to review on Instagram.  It’s a peeling gel, so you apply it to your skin, let it sit for a minute, then rub your face. The dry skin balls up and rinses away.  It exfoliates it off and leaves skin soft and smooth.

Derma E is one of my favorite skincare brands.  The products are affordable and so effective.  This is the Skin Restore Advanced Peptides and Collagen Serum.  I ran out of my neck cream and have been using this to firm my skin.  It’s so lovely.  It feels amazing on and does firm my skin.

This is the second bottle (first full size) of the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer I’ve had.  I received it in my December Boxycharm. I love using it in the morning under makeup.

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I can’t believe it’s almost May.  I hope you had a great month at home, and that May is better for us all!

 

Shop My Stash April 2020 — Palette a Day Challenge April 20-25

Hey all!  I hope you are safe and doing well!

I’m continuing my  April Shop My Stash challenge.  This month I’ve been using a different palette every day. I thought this would be a great way to use more of the palettes in my stash and would get me to wear makeup each day.  It makes me feel a little bit better.  It has been a bit challenging wearing makeup every day, though!  I am also deciding if I want to keep all of these palettes.

April 20 — Bare Minerals Natural Oasis

April 21 — Urban Decay On The Run in Bailout

April 22 — Natasha Denona Mini Retro

April 23 — Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam

April 24 — Too Faced Palm Spring Dreams

April 25 — Urban Decay Born to Run

I swatched all of the shades. I love the shades in this palette.  It’s pretty, but I think the tones are very fall.  The looks I get out of this are deep and vampy.  I’m still deciding if I want to keep it or pass it on.

This is the first time I used this palette, so I swatched all eight shades. It’s a really beautiful neutral one, and like the Bare Minerals one, you can get really vampy looks. I like it, though and am going to play around with it some more.

This is another new palette to me.  And it’s stunning!  I have a larger Natasha Denona palette, but this is my first little one. I love the quality of this, as you can see it swatched beautifully!  I used just the pink shades, but I’m looking forward to playing with the gray ones, too!

Soft Glam is one of my favorite palettes! It’s so gorgeous!  Every time I used it, I remember how much I enjoy it.  I used the shades Tempera, Orange Soda, Burnt Orange, Glistening and Rustic. It was a simple look (it was my Zoom meeting day), but so, so pretty!!!

I received this in my January Boxycharm. I used it once before, but gave it a go again today.  used the pink tones and did a cut crease, which was fun. The shades are used are: Cabana Time, Saucy & Bossy, Swizzle Stick, Rumtiki and Buzz Kill. I really liked the look, so I’m going to keep this around and try it some more!

Another favorite in my collection.  I love using this in the summer and usually do bronze looks.  I decided instead to use the pinks an purples. The shades I used are Weekender, Riff, Hell Ride, Guilt Trip, Wildheart Punk and Blaze. Very fun and different for me!

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In my last update, I used a lot of neutral shades, but I used more color this time.  And it was fun!  Stay tuned for my last update and thoughts on how the month went.  I’m ready for May!

Shop My Stash April 2020 — Palette a Day Challenge April 15-19

Hey all!  I hope you are safe and doing well!

I’m continuing my  April Shop My Stash challenge.  This month I’ve been using a different palette every day. I thought this would be a great way to use more of the palettes in my stash and would get me to wear makeup each day.  It makes me feel a little bit better.  It has been a bit challenging wearing makeup everyday, though!  I am also deciding if I want to keep all of these palettes.

April 15 — Zoeva Screen Queen

April 16 — Colourpop Bare Neccessities

April 17 — Boxycharm Hello Charmer

April 18 — PUR x Trolls World Tour Country

April 19 — Colourpop Going Coconuts

I received this in my April Boxycharm. Stunning! These shimmers are so pretty.  And the palette is mostly shimmers, just one matte! I swatched all of the shades because this palette is new (to me)!  I used the top row with the pink shades, but I’m wanting to use the other shades, too.

I love this palette!  Even though there are so many nudes in this, there are a lot of different tones to make a variety of looks! I used some of the warmer nudes — Full Expose, Hustler, Hot Gossip, Tabloid, The Talk, and Silk Teddy.

This is another palette I received from Boxycharm this year.  As you can see, I used vibrant shades for my look on this day —  Premium, Spoiler, Unboxing, Cup of Joe, Full Size, Charmer and Popup.  And, I didn’t care for it.  The formula is great, but the shades aren’t really speaking to me.  I am passing this one on to my daughter.

I’m a big fan of these little PUR palettes.  I used the purple Funk palette earlier in the month.  I LOVE this one for warm looks.  I think this will be nice for summer and fall.

Such a favorite since I purchased this.   I used the shades Shredded, Coolada, Shell Yeah and Coco Crush. I did a very simple but classic look. For a smaller palette, there’s a nice variety here and different looks to create.

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I am really enjoying this challenge, even though it takes work to post to my Instagram each day!  You can check those out @fortyflirtyfab!

I will be doing two more of these posts and then my next month’s Shop My Stash will also be different.  I think I’m going to choose 4 or 5 of the palettes I used this month to get some more use out of them. And I will play with them all May!

Are you doing a Shop My Stash this year?  How’s it going?

Shop My Stash April 2020 — Palette a Day Challenge April 10-14

Hey all!  I hope you are safe and doing well!

I’m continuing my  April Shop My Stash challenge.  This month I’m doing something different.  I’ve decided to used a different palette every day. I thought this would be a great way to use more of the palettes in my stash and would get me to wear makeup each day.  It makes me feel a little bit better.  It has been a bit challenging wearing makeup everyday, though!  I am also deciding if I want to keep all of these palettes.

This group was almost to the halfway mark of the month

April 10 — Urban Decay Naked Reloaded

April 11 — Karity Picante

April 12 — Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina

April 13 — Urban Decay On The Run G-Train

April 14 — Bobbi Brown Infra-Red

Here’s close ups of each days palette with swatches of the shades I used:

This was one of my favorite palettes from last year.  It’s a beautiful everyday palette!

I decided to use some of the bolder shades: Bribe, Retro, Boundaries, Bucked, Barely Baked, Angel Fire and Reputation.  So pretty!

I received this is a Boxycharm this year, and finally have got to try it out!

These swatches aren’t great, the palette performed really well on the eyes.  The shades I used are: Aish, Epice, Bittersweet, Sass, Fuego and Fearless.

I love this palette!  This is an older photo (I accidentally deleted the recent one).  I haven’t used it in a while, but it still performs beautifully!

I did a fun purple/pink look on this day. The shades I used are Base, Soul, Love, Celestial and Wild Child.

I’ve just purchased this palette and wanted to try it out.  I love the quality of it! I have a few other of these little Urban Decay On The Run palettes and they are so nice!

I swatched all of the shades and used most of them on the 13th. They are stunning and looked gorgeous on!  I did a neutral look with a pop of green on the lower lash.

This is a limited edition palette that is no longer for sale.  That’s sad because its such a pretty palette!  It is nicely pigmented and the shimmers are gorgeous!  I am going to keep it because I love it!

The shades are used are Stone Cold, Red Rock, Solar Flame, Fever Dream, Behind The Sun and Infra-Red.

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I’m having a lot of fun with this challenge, but it has be work!  I have decided to keep all of these palettes.  Stay tuned for the next batch of days, and check out my daily palette post on my Instagram, @fortyflirtyfab.

Are you doing a Shop My Stash this month?  How’s it going?

 

 

 

 

 

Boxycharm Subscription Box Review — April 2020

Hey all! I hope you are all well and staying safe. I have received my April BoxyCharm last week.  I haven’t had the motivation to post, but I do love receiving this box each month.

I’ve been subscribed to BoxyCharm for almost three years now and really enjoy it. BoxyCharm is now $25 a month plus tax for 5 full-sized beauty items. The value is at least $125 each month.

The only subscription boxes I’m currently getting is this box and BoxyLuxe four times a year.  I think Boxy has been doing an amazing job curating their boxes lately.

The theme this month is Adore. My version is 24. This month I received:

• Iconic London Illuminator Drops –$41
• Battington Lashes — $31
• Lavish 5 Piece Eyeshadow Brush Set — $29.99
• ZOEVA Eyeshadow Palette in Screen Queen — $28
• Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Primer — $32

Total $161.99.  That’s pretty good for $25

Here’s a close up of the palette:

I’ve been wanting to try Zoeva’s eyeshadow formula for a while.  This palette is so pretty! It’s mostly shimmers, but they perform well.

I didn’t take close ups of the other products, but I’m pretty happy with this box.  I haven’t used Benefit POREfessional in years, so I excited to try it again.  The Iconic London highlight drops are so pretty on!  I’m glad I got that in the box.  The brushes are cute.  The only item I’m not happy about is the lashes.  I’ve gotten them before and didn’t use them.  These ones will sit in my drawer, too!

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Do you get Boxycharm?  What did you get in your box this month?

Shop My Stash April 2020 — Palette a Day Challenge April 5-9

Hey all!  I hope you are safe and doing well!

I’m continuing my  April Shop My Stash challenge.  This month I’m doing something different.  I’ve decided to used a different palette every day. I thought this would be a great way to use more of the palettes in my stash and would get me to wear makeup each day.  It makes me feel a little bit better.  It has been a bit challenging wearing makeup everyday, though!

April 5 —  Tarte Unleashed Palette

April 6 — Pixi Beauty Eye Effects palette in Rosette Ray

April 7 — Colourpop My Little Pony Palette

April 8 — Elf Bite Sized Palette in Rose Water

April 9 — Colourpop Flutterby Palette

I forgot to include the Pixi palette in the group shot, but I do have it below:

I got this palette last year for my birthday.  I haven’t used it in a while, but loved the look I created.

I used the shades Swan Song, Oh Deer, Hippocritical, Camelflauge and You’re Lion. Such cute names! I love the soft, natural look I got with these tones.

Here’s the Pixi palette!  It is such a gorgeous natural palette.  I thought it would be good for Monday, the start of the work week. Even though no one can see me, I’m still working 8-4 M-F and like to at least feel professional.  LOL!

Not the best swatches.  The shades I used are Mushroom, Glow, Ice, Plum and Mocha. They looked gorgeous on my eyes, though!

This is pretty, but I used it and decided it’s just not for me.  In my normal shop my stash, I declutter items that I decide I don’t want to keep.  And I think I’ll do that for this challenge as well.  I didn’t care for the look I created with this and so I passed it along to my daughter.

Sorry this is blurry! I used the shades Butterscotch, Flutterbye,
Starshine, Firefly, Princess Sparkle and Applejack. I know my daughter will love it!

This Elf palette is so gorgeous, and it’s only $3!  I want to purchase more, but every time I try to get the ones I want on Ulta.com, they are sold out.  That’s okay, I’ll eventually get them.

So pretty, especially the shimmers!  I used all four shades— I don’t think they have names. I’ll be wearing this all spring and summer for an easy look.

My favorite color is purples, so I love purple and mauve shadows!  I just had to get this one because of the shades and the beautiful packaging.

The shades I used are Lush, Wild Wing, Made to Last, Getaway and Sunflare. I wore this on Thursday, which is  my weekly Zoom Meeting for work. so I wanted a pretty, but subdued look. These shades were perfect!

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I have been posting these each day on Instagram, if you’d like to check it out and follow me!  It’s @fortyflirtyfab and I would really appreciate it.  It’s been a lot of work, but fun.  I’ll be posting all through April.  I’ll be posting my next round up in a day or two.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shop My Stash April 2020 — Palette a Day Challenge April 1-4

Hi All! I hope you are well and staying safe!

I’m here with my April Shop My Stash.  This month I’m doing something different.  I’ve decided to used a different palette every day. I thought this would be a great way to use more of the palettes in my stash and would get me to wear makeup each day.  It makes me feel a little bit better.

These are the palettes I used for the first 4 days of April.

April 1 — Tati Beauty Textured Neutrals Vol. 1

April 2 — Colourpop Blush Crush

April 3 — PUR x Trolls World Tour Funk 

April 4 — Viseart Paris Edit 

Here’s a close up of the palettes and swatches of the shades I used each day:

This is my favorite palette from last year.  I love these shades and finishes.  I chose to play with the Poet shades:

The shades from left to right are Matte Aura, Matte Soothe, Sequin Poet, Metallic Poet and Metallic Aura. I always enjoy the looks I create with this pigmented palette!

This is such a soft, pretty look.  April 2nd was Thursday, which is my Zoom meeting day at work.  I thought it was so springy, but appropriate!

The shades I look is Lovesick, The One, Cheek2cheek, Enamored and Pop a Bottle.  This palette is fresh and sparkly!

The PUR x Troll palettes are so gorgeous!  I also have the Country one, which is orange and brown shades.   

The shades I used are the top and middle shades: Cooper, So Funky, Full of Soul and Let’s Groove. These shades are so gorgeous on!  I love purple, it’s my favorite color and I think it really compliments my brown eyes.

I created a soft pink look with these shades.  They are Pétale, Opera, Beaux-Arts and Tuileries.  I applied Opera all over my lid, Pétale in the crease, Beaux-Arts in the inner corner and Tuileries on the lower lid line.

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That’s the first 4 days of my April Shop My Stash, Palette a Day edition.  I will be posting these throughout the month I hope you enjoy them!   I am also posting daily on my Instagram, if you want to check them out.  It’s @fortyflirtyfab.

 

 

Shop My Stash March 2020 Results and Monthly Empties

Hi All! I hope you are all doing well and staying safe. I’m back with my February Shop My Stash results!  I enjoy dipping into my collection and using products I haven’t used in a long time, or just haven’t given much of a chance.

My rule with this is if I don’t like the item after the month, I will move it out of my collection to make some room and let someone else enjoy it! You can check out my first Shop My Stash post for March.

These are the gorgeous products I used this month.  And I did so well in using all of these, even though I was mostly at home and was not going out!  I love applying makeup almost everyday.  It makes me feel put together and like myself.

Before I go into how my month went, I wanted to say I’m switching it up just for April.  Since I’ll be at home all month, I’ve decided to do a different Shop My Stash.  I am going to use a different eyeshadow palette every day.  I’ll be posting the palettes I’ve used every few days with swatches of the shades I used.  I think this will be fun and a great way to use some of my palettes I’ve been neglecting.

So back to March.  I used the Steve Laurant liner a few times.  I kept forgetting about it, LOL!  I do really like it.  I did use both the Urban Decay Vice Lip Chemistry shades a lot and enjoy that product.  It’s so different.  It goes on almost matte and light, then it turns a bit deeper and glossier.  I have the two lightest shades.

Here are the palettes I used:

I kind of forgot about this palette, too.  I used it a few times, but kept reaching for other blushes and highlighters.  I think I’ll keep it through the summer and if I don’t reach for it I’ll pass it on.

You can probably tell from how messy this Sigma Enchanted palette is, that I used it a lot in March!  I really like this one, especially the shimmers and metallics.  My favorite shimmers are Budding, Moonglade and Plume.  The pinks and roses are so gorgeous! I am absolutely keeping this palette!

Here’s another keeper, the bareMinerals Gen Nude Eyeshadow Palette in Neutral.  Such a gorgeous everyday palette.  I can create a full look with this, either all mattes or with one of the shimmers on the lid.

So I am keeping all of these products for now.

On to my empties:

I had ten empties this month.  I’m pretty proud of that.  Staying at home, I’ve really been digging into my products.  I have been consistent with my skincare, too!

I received the Kate Somerville Kx Active Concentrates Bio-Mimicking Peptides Serum in my February Boxycharm.  I used it only on my neck and chin in the morning and evening.  I really noticed firming in that area.  I would purchase this again but it is $98!  So…not right now.

I used up two toners — the Pixi Milky Tonic and the Skinfood Peach Sake Toner. I liked both of these.  The Skinfood primer was probably my favorite, because it’s so refreshing.  The Pixi Milky Tonic is hydrating.  I would purchase these again.

I also used two mists.  The Derma E UPLIFT Skin Beneficial Mist Mood Enhancing and the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea. I enjoyed both of them and would repurchase.

I used up the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm.  I like it, but I just started using the Farmacy Green Clean and I like that one more.  It’s a smoother texture.  I wouldn’t purchase this one again.

My last skincare items were a deluxe sample of the Amazing Grace lotion.  Amazing Grace is my signature scent and I love it!  And the DHC Urumai Cream is very thick and hydrating.  It’s perfect for the winter, but since we are heading into warmer weather, I’ll be using a lighter lotion.

My two makeup items are the Urban Decay Brush Of Loose Powder and my favorite Mascara, the Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara.  I would repurchase both, but I am good on powder and mascara right now.  I’m really trying to use up what I have right now.

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So, although I was at home most of the month, March was pretty good beauty-wise.  I hope you stick around for my fun palette-a-day April (or whatever I decide to name it)!

IT Cosmetics Super-Size Celebration Foundation w/ Brush QVC TSV

Hi all!  I hope you’re doing well!

It’s time for a new IT Cosmetics and QVC Today’s Special Value.   This is a one day only deal and will be on March 30th.  You get two Celebration Foundations and an amazing brush to apply them with for $49.96, which is a great value!

Your 30 seconds to flawless — super-sized! IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation is your full-coverage, anti-aging, hydrating powder foundation. Formulated with peptides, hydrolyzed collagen, silk powder and antioxidants, the talc-free foundation delivers highly pigmented coverage that helps to hide the appearance of skin concerns including hyperpigmentation, redness, dark circles, and visible pores.

Designed to smooth the look of your skin, Celebration Foundation blurs the appearance of skin imperfections to reveal the look of younger-looking skin when you wear it. And bonus: it won’t crease or crack!

Plus, you’ll also receive the Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Foundation Brush, custom-cut with the perfect density and shape for effortless full coverage.

I have been using this foundation for years.  It’s a full coverage powder foundation that makes skin look smooth and it feels amazing on, too! I love how easy it is to apply with the brush, too.

Have you tried IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation?  What do you think of it and are you going to pick up this deal?

10 in 2020 — Rolling Project Pan First Check In

Hi all!  I hope you’re doing well and staying safe!

This year I started with 10 makeup products.  My rule this year is once I use one up, I’ll replace it with someone else.  In the case of pressed powder products, I will probably keep them to see how far I can pan them this year.  Here are the products I first started out with:

• Wander Beauty Frame Your Face Micro Brow Pencil
• Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer in Bronzer
• Laura Geller Balance N Brighten Baked Foundation in Fair
• Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Stick Foundation in Soft Ivory
• beautyblender Selfie Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 38, Dry Oil Primer 
• beautyblender The Leveler Pore Minimizing Primer
• e.l.f. 16hr Camo Concealer
• Bite Beauty French Press Lip Gloss in Flat White
• Dose of Colors Lip Gloss in Can You Not
• Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Cream in White Russian

I have close up photos of the powders and stick products.  I can’t really tell how much of the liquid products I have, but I’d say they are all half to 3/4 full.

Here’s a group photo of what I am using now:

So, the three glosses are gone!  I used up two of them, the Bite Beauty and Buxom in White Russian.  I gave away the Dose of Colors gloss.  I just don’t like the formula of that lip gloss.  It’s very sticky and full coverage.  I like a sheer hydrating gloss.

I replaced them with two Buxom glosses, Dolly Lip Polish and Hot Toddy Lip Creme.  And a new product, the Becca Cosmetics Under Eye Brightening Corrector.  I started using this pretty much right after I started my project pan, after I got rid of the Dose of Colors gloss.  Here’s the photos how it was in the beginning and how it is now:

I had already hit pan, but I made a huge dent in it!  I am hoping to use it up by my end of June check in. If not, for sure in my September check in.

And I am so proud of hitting pan on my butter bronzer!  I’ve had this for almost two years and have finally hit pan!  I’m hoping to make that pan much bigger by next check in.

I have not used this a lot.  Swirled together, the shade is darker than I am now.  I will be using it more in Summer.

I have used this almost all up!  I’m still scraping in the container, but I should be done with this soon!

I have been using this eyebrow pencil almost everyday.  I can’t believe it’s not used up yet!  I’m going to keep going and hopefully use it up by next check in.

For my other products, I’m about halfway through the beautyblender Selfie Shield primer.  I have been using it more.  I had to cut open the Leveler primer (in the back) because it wasn’t coming out.  I have about an eighth of it left so am almost done with it.

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I think my Project Pan is going pretty well.  I used up three products and should use up a few more by the next check in.  I will replace them with other items since this is a rolling project pan.

Are you doing a Project Pan this year?  How’s it going if you are?

 

Ulta 21 Days of Beauty Haul

Hi all! Happy Wednesday!  I hope your week is going well and that you are staying safe.

Today I have a little Ulta Haul.  I purchased a couple of things from the current 21 Days of Beauty sale and a few other fun products.  I’m not purchasing as much from the sale as I usually do.  It’s because honestly I don’t need a lot of makeup and I’m trying to use some up.

I haven’t done a lot of hauls this year, so it’s exciting to get some new makeup!  Here’s more information on the items I picked up:

From the sale I got the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Dark Brown and the MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Face Powder in Light. I haven’t tried either of these before, so I’m excited to test them out!

Here’s a close up of the powder:

This is a slow-baked domed face powder with low-level pearlized pigments that provide a dimensional yet natural-satin finish. Can be used to set foundation and to touch-up makeup throughout the day.

I’m really loving this so far. It sets my makeup without leaving my skin looking dry or cakey.

I finally picked up an Elf Cosmetics Bite Size Eyeshadow Palette in Rose Water. These are so cute! I love the pink tones in this cute little guy.  Here’s swatches:

I really like both shimmers.  The mattes are nice, too!  I want to pick up a couple more of these, but the shades I want are often out of stock.  I’ll wait — they are only $3 each!

I saw that a YouTuber I like, Emily Noel, purchased the EcoTools Scented Soap Roses and they looked so pretty that I had to pick them up. They smell so nice!

I am a big fan of the Yes To facial wipes, so I wanted to try out the Watermelon Super Fresh ones. They smell amazing, too!

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Have you picked up anything from the sale or are you planning on getting anything?

 

Florence by Mills 16 Wishes Collection!

Hi all!  Happy Thursday!

I thought I’d share this fun collection by Florence by Mills — 16 Wishes Collection!  I think this looks so pretty for spring.  I haven’t received samples yet, so it’s not a review, but if I do in the future, I will be happy to review it!

Florence by Mills 16 Wishes Collection

I love the tones of this collection, especially the 16 Wishes Eyeshadow Palette! This magnetic, break apart palette contains 16 shades, each named for her wishes for the world. These super-silky shadows are buildable and blendable with just one swipe. Each section of the palette can be used on its own or together to create an endless amount of looks. ($34, florencebymills.com)

Here’s a close up of the shades:

So fresh and perfect for spring!

16 Wishes Get Glossed Lip Gloss

16 Wishes Get Glossed Lip Gloss ($12 USD) — Get glossy, glowing lips without the stickiness. These three limited edition shades deliver a glossy finish that make us want to swipe it on all day. The sheer shades named after Millie’s different moods (Dreamy Mills, Radiant Mills and Birthday Mills), cushion and nourish lips leaving the perfect glow.

16 Wishes Better Together Peel Off Mask Duo

16 Wishes Better Together Peel Off Mask Duo ($22 USD) — Who doesn’t want to do a face mask while binging Netflix? These mini shimmering peel off masks work together in perfect harmony; the Mind Glowing Peel Off Mask clarifies and resets skin, and the Low-Key Calming Peel Off Mask soothes and calms. This duo set lets you choose your mood or share with your bestie.

These products and more are available at florencebymills.com.

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What do you think of these products?  Have you tried anything from this line?

Walmart Beauty Box Review — Winter 2020

Hi all!  Happy Wednesday!

I’m here with a review of  the Walmart Beauty Box.  It’s a $5 quarterly subscription box. This review is of the Winter 2020 box.  Here’s what I received:

• Avena Hand And Body Lotion — (11.91 for 17 oz)
• Degree Women UltraClear Antiperspirant Deodorant Dry Spray Black+White Pure Clean ($4.97 USD 3.8 oz)
• NYX Makeup Crew Duo — Soft Matte Lip Cream and Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream — both in the shade California
• Neutrogena Cleansing Facial Wipes, Individually Wrapped ($5.97 for 20 ct)
• Color Club Nail Polish in It’s Complicated

Here are the products up close:

I think it’s nice there’s a deodorant in the box.  This did work a little bit for me, but the spray made me cough, so I stopped using it.

The lotion is fine.  It just smells like lotion.  But it will be nice to take in my purse if I need it.

This is an interesting duo.  It’s the same shade in different finishes — matte and metallic.  It’s a nude pink and is really pretty.  I tried the metallic on and it was nice!

The polish is a pretty deep pink shade for spring.  And the single cleansing towelette will be nice to pop in my purse. I’m a big fan of Neutrogena wipes.

I think this is a pretty nice box.  It has some useful items and some fun ones to.  I do think they should put out the seasonal boxes at the beginning of the season instead of the end.

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Do you get Walmart Beauty Box each quarter?  What did you get in your Winter box?

Jennifer Lopez Promise Eau de Parfum Review

Hi all! I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe!

I’ve recently received the new Jennifer Lopez Promise perfume for my honest review.

Promise EDP by Jennifer Lopez — ($55 for the 1.7 oz shown.  Also $45 for 1 oz and $65 for 3.4 oz).

Jennifer Lopez recently launched her 25^th fragrance as a celebration of the promises she’s made to herself.  Be part of the Promise movement as Jennifer invites us to make promises to ourselves and to keep them, to be better every day, no matter what stands in our way. This is a floral, woody fragrance with a bit of sweet notes in it. Here are the notes of the perfume:

Fragrance Notes:

• Top – Italian tangerine, luscious pink berries, nashi pear
• Middle – orris, jasmine sambac, dewy honeysuckle
• Base – woods, crystallized amber

The bottle is gorgeous! It’s glass that has a multifaceted cut to it.  The lid and Jennifer Lopez plaque are rose gold.  Very elegant!

I also really love the scent.  It’s sophisticated, but soft at the same time. I think it’s a really nice everyday scent or wear it for special occasions.

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What do you think about this fragrance?  Do you have any of Jennifer Lopez’s perfumes? What’s your favorite scent?

Viseart Paris EDIT Eyeshadow Palette Review

Hi all!  I hope your week has started off well and that you are safe!

I decided to share a recent purchase today. Viseart Paris EDIT Eyeshadow Palette. This is the first Viseart product I’ve bought.  The brand is a little expensive, but is supposed to be great quality and pigment.

 

Such a gorgeous palette! Here’s more info about it from Sephora’s website:

Introducing the Paris EDIT Eyeshadow Palette from the EDIT collection, a romantic selection of 12 refined neutrals in matte, metallic, satin, and shimmer finishes. The palette draws inspiration from haute couture, Parisian sensibility, and the hues found in the full-size Paris Nudes and Grande Pro eyeshadow palettes.

Developed as a travel-friendly edition of Viseart’s full-size 12-pan eyeshadow palettes, the EDIT collection was designed with quick and easy go-to shadows in mind. Svelte and sophisticated, the innovative, convertible packaging houses 12 eyeshadows along with a mirror and removable magnetic pans.

This is such a cute little palette!  The pans are pretty small, but my brushes fit into them just fine.  This will be perfect for when I travel in the future.  Plus, it has a mirror!

Swatches:

This is the top row and first half of the second row.  The shades are listed on the back of the outer box.  They are Pétale (soft, dusty mauve with a matte finish), Champs-Elysées (light, gold champagne with a shimmer finish), Crème Brûlée (soft, light toffee with a matte finish), Fleur (medium, dusty plum with a matte finish), Opera (shimmering purple-pink with a shimmer finish), Beaux-Arts (glistening caramel brown with a satin finish).

These are the softest shades in the palette and I really like them for everyday wear.  I really love that I can create cool or warm looks. The metallics and shimmers or so bright and pretty on and the mattes blend really well!

From left to right Tulle (light peach with a matte finish), Cerise (muted merlot with a satin finish), St. Germain (smoky purple with a shimmer finish), Marais (copper brown with a shimmer finish), Pirouette (rosy brown with a metallic finish) and Tuileries (medium-toned mauve purple with a shimmer finish).

The second half of the palette has deeper tones.  The last shade in the palette, Tuileries makes an amazing eyeliner shade.  The shimmer does show on the eye.

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I am so happy I picked this palette up!  The formula is as amazing and I have heard.  Plus, I’ve already created so many different looks with it.

Have you tried anything by Viseart?  What do you think of this palette?

Skincare Sunday — Global Beauty Care Masks Review

Hi all!  Happy Sunday!  I hope you are doing well and staying safe.

So what to do when your home on Sunday?  Why, masking of course! I was recently sent some fun products from Global Beauty Care.

GBC is a fun and affordable skincare company that specializes in creating “impactful, award-winning, high-quality products, in elegant yet eye-catching packaging. Using advanced technology and quality ingredients, GBC has created a full line of innovative skin care products to help repair, replenish and refortify your most visible organ- your skin!Their extensive product line appeals to customers of all age groups.” (https://globalbeautycare.com/our-company/)

I also want to add affordable! Here’s close ups of what I received:

Metallic Wash-Off Masks ($10.99 USD) – These masks are so fun to use! I received a pack with the following three masks:

Pore Minimizing Blue Marine Algae + Eucalyptus + Aloe Vera Metallic Wash-Off Face Mask. Blue Marine Algae helps to even out your complexion, cleans deep down in your pores, detoxifies, and hydrates your skin. Eucalyptus helps in destroying bacteria clogging the pores. Aloe Vera helps to soothe & moisturize the skin.

Calming Dead Sea Salts & Minerals + Baking Soda + Diamond Metallic Wash-Off Face Mask. Dead Sea Salts & Minerals help to draw out dirt and impurities from your skin and helps peel away dead skin cells. Baking Soda has antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Diamond helps provide skin brightness and clarity.

Nourishing Algae + Tea Tree + Seaweed Metallic Wash-Off Face Mask. Algae helps exfoliate skin & deliver powerful anti-oxidant protection. Tea Tree helps to control oil & acne prone skin. Seaweed is rich in nutrients, and is known for its soothing and smoothing effects.

I have multi-masked and used all three of these. They are all unscented and aren’t irritating. My skin looked amazing afterwards! Soft and smooth.  I recommend all of these.  GBS has other masks at well so you can find ones that would be perfect for your skin type.

Collagen Hydrogel Lip Masks ($8.99 USD) — This moisture-rich formula contains Collagen proteins and essential fatty acids. These ingredients help revive skin elasticity and minimize the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles. They help to lift, firm and tone your skin. Just one treatment will leave your lips feeling smoother & softer, looking younger & more radiant!

Is so much fun to use! It’s a berry colored gel mask that smells lightly of fruit. After use, my lips did look a bit smoother and fuller.
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I really enjoyed these products!  What are some of your favorite masks?

 

 

 

 

Freshen Up With Self Care Beauty Products!

Hi all!  Happy Saturday!  I hope you are doing well and staying safe.

Since I’m staying home for the time being, I thought it would be fun to test out some self care items I have recently received for my honest review.

I have been enjoying testing these out.  Here’s more info about each product:

Ban Purely Gentle Roll-On Deodorant ($10.58 for 2-pack at Amazon.com) — This deodorant claims to give 24-hour odor and wetness protection. It did last a long time for me and has a unique, non-irritating formula that glides onto skin clear and is less likely to leave white marks under arms and on clothes.

John Frieda Day 2 Revival Dry Conditioner $9.49 USD at CVS.com) — This cool product detangles, defrizzes and adds softness and shine to unwashed hair. A hydrating acai & avocado dry oil blend reignites shine without leaving a heavy or greasy residue or weighing hair down.  And it smells so nice!

Daily Concepts Daily Lip Scrubber ($6 USD) — The Daily Lip Scrubber is a silicone lip brush that allows gentle exfoliation and circulation for plump, smooth and soft lips. The handle and the finger hole are designed for convenient use and easy application. It works as the perfect stimulator to increase blood circulation and to remove dry skin.

Multi-Functional Soap Sponge Mother of Pearl ($8 USD) — Clarifying, exfoliating, radiance enhancing, dual purpose soap sponge perfect for clarifying skin. This innovative and multifunctional design is soap infused with a sponge. You can see in the photos that one side is soap and the other is a sponge.  It’s perfect for exfoliating face or body depending on your comfort level.  There is also a charcoal version ($8 USD).

I am glad I got to try all of these products and I will continue to use the.

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What are your favorite or newest self care products?

PÜR x TROLLS World Tour Collaboration Review

Hi all!  I hope you are having a nice Friday.  It’s almost the weekend, yay!

I thought it would be fun to share these products from the new PÜR x TROLLS World Tour Collaboration.  They are very cute compacts and the shades are beautiful.

The products I received are two of the Travel-Sized Pressed Pigments Palettes.  The orange compact is Country and the purple is Funk.  There are four other eyeshadow palettes — Pop (pink), Techno (blue), Rock (gray) and Classical (nudes).

I also received the Top of the Charts Face Trio + Lip Gloss Kit.  All of these products are really fun and very pigmented!  Here’s a close up of the items:

I love purple and was excited to receive this palette!  It’s a nice, small size and will be great for putting in my purse and if I go anywhere (later this year). The compact also has a very nice mirror.

Here are swatches of Funk:

The shades from left to right (they are on the back of the palette) are Cooper, So Funky, Full of Soul, Happy-Go Lucky, Prince D and Let’s Groove (the middle shade).

I love this palette! I’ve already use it and it’s so pretty!  The lighter mattes Cooper and Full of Soul perform much better than they swatch.  You can create a lighter look with the first 3 shades or deepen it up with the other colors.

This is such a beautiful warm toned palette — I love this one as well! It will be perfect if you love warm-toned looks.  You can make a lighter look for spring, and it will also be beautiful in the summer and fall!

Here are swatches of Country:

From left to right — Burlap, Line Dance, Hickory, Lonesome Flats, Old Faithful and Delta Dawn (middle shade).

My fave shade is Hickory, it’s stunning all over the lid.  All of the mattes perform very well, too.

This is another beautiful product! I have to admit, I am kind of surprised at the amazing quality of this collection!

Here are swatches of the gloss and the face palette:

The gloss is called Sing-Along.  The face palette shades are LED-Lit, Cheery and Pretty Popular.

The lip gloss is hydrating, not sticky.  And the shade is just perfect for spring!  And as you can see, the highlighter is very intense.  It can be sheered out.  The blush is a little sparkly, too and the bronzer is more of a satin.  It’s a really nice palette to travel with as well because you have three face products and a mirror!

I recommend all of these products, if they are something you’re interested in.  The pigment and blendablity is great — and they are compact and fun!!

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What do you think of the collection?  Are you picking any of these up?

BoxyCharm BoxyLuxe Subscription Box Review — March 2020

Hi all! I just received my March BoxyLuxe. I’m always so excited to receive this box. I been subscribed to BoxyLuxe for over a year and have been a subscriber of BoxyCharm for almost three years.

The regular BoxyCharm box is $25 a month now. BoxyLuxe is a once-a-quarter upgrade option you can add to your existing $25-a-month Boxycharm subscription. So for an additional $24.99, you’ll get the Luxe box, and be paying a total of $49.99 for that quarterly box.

I saw the spoilers for this box, I just didn’t know what variations I would get.  I did get to pick some of the items I would receive, which I really liked.

The theme for this month is Pretty Edgy. My version is 8. There’s an interesting mix of makeup, skincare and accessories this month.  Here’s what I received:

• BoxyCharm Hello, Charmer Palette — $39
• NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment in Give It Up – $26
• Sol de Janeiro Double Treat: Brazilian Bum Bum + Coco Cabana Cream Duo — $15
• ZAXIE by Stefanie Taylor Play It By Ear Pavé Hoop Earrings — $32
• Becca Cosmetics Skin Love Glow Glaze Stick — $28
• Invisibobble The Original Traceless Hair Ring — $8
• Murad Hydro Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes — $70
• PMD Clean Smart Facial Cleansing Device in Blush — $99

The total is $317 and I paid $49.99.  Not bad!

I love Sol de Janeiro, but these are so tiny.  They are great for traveling and throwing in a purse or bag.

We got two choices this month.  My first choice was this Murad Eye Cream.  I haven’t tried anything from Murad for a few years.  I love eye cream and am looking forward to testing this out!

The PMD cleansing device is the big ticket item this month.  It is a sonic cleanser like the Foreo.  I had one of those and liked it so I’m looking forward to trying this.

The glow stick is a pretty gold.  I don’t know if I’m going to try it.  I don’t usually wear cream face products and I don’t usually wear gold highlight. Hmm. I might pass it on.

And I will pass on the lip product.  I wear nudes and light pinks and this magenta is way too bright!

I will use the invisibobble, although it’s not very exciting.

The Zaxie Earrings were my second choice.  I’ve just started wearing earrings again and these are so pretty on!

Wow!  This is so much prettier than I thought it would be. Honestly, when I heard Boxycharm was creating their own palette, I didn’t know what to expect.  I’ve already used it once, I did a natural look with Spoiler, Cup of Joe, Sneak Peek and Popup.  It was very pretty, but then I decided to top it with Swipe Up, which is beautiful!

I am definitely keeping this and will be reviewing it with swatches.

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I’m pretty happy with the box this month.  I will be keeping and loving the palette, cleansing device, eye cream and earrings.  I will keep and use the body lotions and hair ties.  I will probably pass on the highlighter and lipstick.

Do you get BoxyLuxe?  Which products did you receive this month?

 

Skincare Sunday: Derma E Vitamin C Skincare

Hi all!  Happy Sunday!  I hope you are having a great weekend.

I’m back with another Skincare Sunday featuring Derma E.  I’m lucky to receive their monthly influencer packages.  I received some gorgeous products from their Vitamin C line for my honest review.

 

About this line, Derma E’s website states, “Vitamin C is one of the most powerful nutrients in the world, its antioxidant properties are essential for our overall health and well-being. So it’s not surprising that Vitamin C can have those same transformative effects on the appearance of our skin—creating a brighter, smoother and younger look that glows with the signs of good health.”

Here’s a close up of the products:

Vitamin C Gentle Daily Cleansing Paste ($13.95 USD) –This Vitamin C cleansing paste helps to reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone, revealing a radiant and beautiful complexion.  You can also use it as a mask, which I have and really like.  It leaves my skin smooth and clear.

Vitamin C Bright Eyes Hydro Gel Patches ($24 USD) — Brightens, hydrates, and improves the appearance of the under-eye area by intensely moisturizing with antioxidants and phytonutrients.

Vitamin C Concentrated Serum ($24.50 USD) — This fast-absorbing, high-potency serum penetrates deeply to deliver antioxidant protection and essential hydration. I have only used this a few times, so I hope to have a full review later.

Yes, the eye gels are gold speckled!  So fun.  And they feel amazing on.  They smooth the eye area so nicely.

I love Vitamin C products, and am so exited to use these more.  There are other products from this collection on Derma E’s website here. And happily they are cruelty free, vegan, gluten free, soy free and recyclable.

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What do you think of this collection?  Have you tried any Derma E products?

20 Palettes in 2020 — In theBalm of Your Hand Vol. 2

Hi all!  This is the third review in my new series!  I’m reviewing 20 palettes that I purchased or received last year (and maybe previous years) that I haven’t reviewed yet.  I might also include palettes from this year if I don’t get around to reviewing them right away.  These will be mostly eye shadows, but some face palettes may be thrown in the mix.

The reason I started this was as I was doing my Shop my Stash last year, I realized that I hadn’t reviewed a lot of the palettes I featured (check out my February Shop my Stash here).  I’ve used them, of course, but haven’t given my review.  So this year, I’m going to get that done!

The palette I’m reviewing today is theBalm’s In theBalm of Your Hand Vol. 2:

This fun palette can give a full face of color.  It features eyeshadows, blushes, a matte bronzer and champagne-hued highlighter. It’s great for travel.  You can get lots of looks with these shades.  Plus, the highlighter, bronzer and blushes can also be used for eyeshadow.

Here’s the palette open:

These shades are perfect for everyday looks and can be built up.  The shades are from other palettes and best selling products (like Mary-Lou Manizer).

Here’s swatches:

First row from left to right — Matte Reed, Firm, Alice Copper, Matt Russo and Mary-Lou Manizer.

These are such beautiful shades for everyday eye looks.  I love Firm all over the lid and Matt Russo is a perfect transition shade to blend with it.  Mary-Lou Manizer is a highlighter, but it can also be used to brighten an eye look.

Second row from left to right — Bahama Mama, Fratboy, Downboy and Instain

Bahama Mama is a gorgeous matte bronzer.  All three blushes are so pretty and can also be used on the eyes.  I think Fratboy is my favorite, but they’re all gorgeous!

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I have really been enjoying this palette! I love how easy these are to use and to wear.  The eyeshadows are creamy and blendable and the face products looks beautiful on.

What do you think of this palette? Do you like theBalm makeup?

 

 

New and Favorite Products From Urban Decay!

Hi all! I hope you’re having a great week!  The weather is pretty nice in Kansas City.  I hope it is where you live, too!

Urban Decay recently sent me some new and some of my favorite products!  I love the brand and was excited to be stocked up with my faves and try out some new goodies.

I was so lucky to be stocked up on three of my favorite Urban Decay Products:

All Nighter Setting Spray — I love this vegan formula!  It makes my makeup last and last! This spray is suitable for all skin types, free of oil and parabens, and features patented Temperature Control Technology — it actually lowers the temperature of your makeup to keep foundation, eyeshadow, blush and concealer in place—even in hot and humid or cold and windy conditions. 

Eyeshadow Primer Potion — This OG primer is one of my favorites.  It smooths out my lids and my shadow lasts all day!

Perversion Mascara — This gives very black, long and full lashes.  Such a beautiful mascara that doesn’t smear or flake.

Here are some new faves:

All Nighter Face Primer — This is a lightweight primer that is hydrating and helps my makeup stay on all day! It goes on sheer and lightweight, making it easy to wear alone or under foundation.  By helping to reduce fine lines and erase the appearance of pores, All Nighter helps my makeup look fresh for hours.

Stay Naked Threesome Bronze, Blush and Highlighter Palette in Naked ($36 USD) — these face powders are so fresh and pretty! You can use them each separately as I like to do or swirl it all together for a glowy look.  Each of these pressed powders has intense staying power that lasts up to 14 hours, which is amazing!  The bronzer is a bit warm, but I LOVE the highlighter and blush!

Wired 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils ($22 USD) in Jolt, Shock, Vivid and Amped. These are creamy and last all day.  Made with 50% hydrating ingredients like Vitamin E plus jojoba and cottonseed oils, this longwear eyeliner nourishes while applying super-smoothly (it won’t skip or pull!).

Wired Transforming Liner ($22 USD) — It’s double-ended with a black liquid eyeliner on one end and an iridescent powder topcoat on the other end. It looks really shimmery and gorgeous on. I’m not the best at liquid eyeliner, but I try! This is very fun to use

Shop My Stash — March 2020

Hi all!  Happy Sunday and happy March!  The weather is so nice in Kansas City today, it’s supposed to be in the 60’s.  What’s the weather like where you live?

I’m always excited to play with new (again to me) color cosmetics that I either haven’t used in a while or haven’t used much at all! My goal is to get more use out of the products I have and to see if they are something I want to keep.

This month I have chosen products that I have only used a few times, but I am excited to see how I really feel about them. I’ve picked out two palettes, a blush and a highlighter palette and two really interesting lip products.  Since spring is on it’s way, I went with softer tones:

Such gorgeous products!  I’m excited to play with these!

Here are close ups of each product:

Sigma Enchanted palette — This palette screams spring to me.  I think enchanted is the perfect name for it.  It’s almost like a fairy palette, lol!  Plus there are greens and a gold for my St. Patrick’s Day look (I always wear green and gold on that day.  My dad was part Irish).  I’m very excited to play with this more. 

bareMinerals Gen Nude Eyeshadow Palette in Neutral — I chose this so I would have a neutral palette as well as my fun one for March.  I love the formula on this and the shades are perfect for every day.

Natasha Denona Bloom Blush and Glow Palette — I received this in a Boxycharm Premium last fall.  I haven’t used it a lot, so I want to give it some love.  I think it looks perfect for spring.

Vice Lip Chemistry Lasting Glassy Tint in Pink Slip and Low Key — high-gloss lip tint that reacts to your pH and creates a custom shade unique to your tone. Its lightweight, balm-like texture gives your lips a hit of hydration, so they feel moisturized. The lasting glassy tint adjusts to you; the color fully develops and reveals itself after just a few minutes and lasts up to 5 hours.

Steve Laurent Lip Liner in Chic — this is a nice nude pencil.  I forgot I had it and just found it.  I love nude liners because they work under any lip color.

Swatches:

The lip pencil in Chic and the Lip Chemistry’s in Low Key and Pink Slip

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I am very excited for these products this month.  I have used the eye shadow palettes a few times each, but not the other products.  I am looking forward to trying them out!

Do you do a Shop My Stash?  What products are you focusing on this month?

Shop My Stash February 2020 Results and Monthly Empties

Hi All! Happy Saturday! I’m back with my February Shop My Stash results!  I enjoy dipping into my collection and using products I haven’t used in a long time, or just haven’t given much of a chance.

My rule with this is if I don’t like the item after the month, I will move it out of my collection to make some room and let someone else enjoy it! You can check out my first Shop My Stash post for February.

 

February may be a short month, but I did get lots of use out of most of these products!  The shades were perfect for February and I enjoyed using them!

I made sure to use every shade of the ABH x Carli Bybel palette.  I really have enjoyed testing it out more.  It’s a good palette.  The mattes blend well and I really love a few of the shimmers.  I do wish that most of the shimmers didn’t have glitter in them, but they are pretty nonetheless. I also still think Jode and OA are so similar and I wish they both weren’t in the palette.  But, I can make some nice everyday looks with this and will be keeping it.

The formula of the Dose of Colors Eyeshadow Palette in Marvelous Mauves is so creamy and pigmented!  This is a really gorgeous matte palette.  I wore it alone and with shimmers from the Carli Bybel palette (especially Aura).  I like this alot and will be keeping it.

I wore the blush and highlighter many times this month.  They are the Nanacoco HD Pressed Blush in Shimmery Dusty Rose and the Makeup Geek Highlighter in Lit.  They are beautiful together!  I love them both and are keeping them both!

The Milani Keep It Full Nourishing Lip Plumper in Soft Rose is pretty, but it’s darker and more pigmented than I usually like in a gloss.  I’m going to keep it for now and we’ll see if I reach for it.

On to my empties:

 I had ten empties this month!  Mostly skincare and body care.

I already have backups of the Pixi Retinol Jasmine Cleanser and the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer.  I love both of those products!  Products I would repurchase are the MAC Fix+ (this was coconut scented), the Farmacy Honeymoon Glow and the StriVectin Peptight.

I got the QMS eye cream from a Boxycharm and liked it.  It’s very expensive, though, so I wouldn’t purchase it again. The Julep Boost Your Radiance Oil is nice, but I haven’t purchased from them in a while, since they ended their Maven program.  And the rest of the products were from my The Body Shop Advent Calendar.  I loved them and might be purchasing them in the future!

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Another successful Shop My Stash on the books! I had so much fun with these products and am looking forward to a new batch of makeup in March!

Do you shop your stash or have a project pan going on?  I will be doing my first quarter project pan update at the end of March.

February 2020 Beauty Favorites

Hi all! Happy Friday!  February is almost over, which is crazy!  I’m so looking forward to the spring!

Below are my beauty faves for February.  As usual, If I have reviewed them before, I will include the link, if not, I will link to where you can purchase:

I had a pretty good mix of skincare and makeup this month!  Like normal, it’s a mix of stuff I buy, products from beauty subscription boxes and PR.

Here’s a photo with the palette and blush open:

So pretty! Here’s close up looks at the products:

Truly Beauty Unicorn Fruit Body Butter— I purchased this in my recent Ulta haul and love it.  It’s a very dense body butter and needs to be warmed up.  When applied it almost turns into an oil and is so hydrating!  It smells delicious, too!

The TellurideGlow Snow Rose Recovery Mask also smells amazing — like vanilla and rose.   This is a powder mask that’s activated with water.  You leave it on for about 10-15 minutes until it dries then washes it off. My skin is glowing a beautiful later!

Kate Somerville Kx Active Concentrates Bio-Mimicking Peptides Serum — This was my choice for BoxyCharm this month.  Yay me — it was an amazing choice!  I mostly apply this on my neck and it does firm it.  I use it in the morning and night and love it!

Derma E Blue Light Shield Spray — I use this everyday before I work at my computer or phone.  It has amazing ingredients and I love that I am protecting my skin from blue lights!

Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Facial Oil — I use this in my evening skincare routine.  I have been loving facial oils this winter for hydration and glow.  This smells like fresh cut roses and it’s lovely.  Plus it sinks into the skin quickly, which I love.

PÜR Fully Charged Mascara and Fully Charged Mascara Primer — I have been using this duo every day and really love the volume I get with it.  I am a fan of mascara primers and am enjoying this one!

NYX Cosmetics Slide On Lip Pencil in Nude Suede Shoes — I purchased this in my recent Ulta haul on the recommendation of Youtuber Allie Glines. I needed a nude lip liner (I thought, I just found a Steve Laurent one I got in a subscription box in basically the same shade, LOL). It’s very nice and works well with all of my natural toned glosses.

PÜR Blushing Act Skin Perfecting Powder in Pretty in Peach— If you want a very pigmented peach blush, this is it!  This is such a smooth blush and blends out well, but just use a little at first!  This shade screams spring to me — and I’m so ready for it!

Colourpop UR A QT Palette — This is another item from my Ulta haul.  I love Colourpop and really wanted this!  It is only available at Ulta.  It’s still available and it’s on sale right now! It’s normally $18, and it’s on sale for $12.60.  I think it might be a limited edition, so if you want it, get it now here.

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The second month of 2020 is over, bring on March!

What were your favorites this month?

Fresh New Beauty From Pixi!

Hi all!  I’ve recently received a bunch of amazing products from Pixi for my honest review! I love Pixi because their products have amazing natural ingredients and have really improved my skin.  Plus, the packaging is always gorgeous!

These products are from Pixi’s New Colourtreats +C Vit collection. They give the long-term benefits of Vitamin C while correcting tone and perfecting the complexion.  The products I have from this line are:

+C Vit Lip Brightener ($10 USD) — Inspired by nature, this Vitamin C infused lip balm smooths with a hint of tint and shine. It gives a very natural color and feels hydrating.

+C Vit UnderEye Brightener ($16 USD) — This Vitamin C infused under eye perfector blurs and energizes to give an instant awakening effect. Refreshing treatment in a tube brightens and restores vibrancy. It has a peachy color that helps with my dark circles!

+C Vit Priming Oil ($28 USD) — Infused with Vitamin C, this tri-phase oil nourishes, energizes and balances to prep and prime for a radiant glow. Gently shake to mix & smooth on a few drops into skin in between Skintreats routine and makeup application.

• Vitamin C brightens
• Turmeric provides Antioxidant protection
• Carrot Oil replenishes & hydrates

+C Vit Brightening Perfector ($18 USD) — Vitamin C infused complexion enhancer blurs and perfects to give skin a dewy radiant finish. This works well under makeup, but I really like it on it’s own.  It’s nice to apply when I don’t have time for makeup.  It smooths my skin and gives me a bit of polish. Add the lip brightener and I’m ready to go!

Here’s a shot of the priming oil so you can see the three layers.  When they are mixed together, they smell like fresh citrus.  It feels so hydrating, but not greasy.  It’s very nice under makeup to add hydration and glow.

Collagen LipGloss ($14 USD) — Enriched with Botanical Collagen and Peptides, this nourishing lip balm hydrates and softens while helping to create smoother, fuller looking lips. It is so lovely!  It’s hydrating without being sticky and is so comfortable on.  It’s not a plumper and doesn’t sting, but my lips do look fuller because of the collagen and peptides.

I also was sent some new makeup!

On-the-Glow Blush in Ruby ($18 USD) — Formulated with Ginseng, Aloe Vera and a unique mix of Fruit Extracts, this tinted balm provides a hint of natural color while hydrating and conditioning skin. This is a bit bright for me, but it would be gorgeous on darker skin tones!

LipGlow in Fleur ($14 USD) — Sheer, buildable color that leaves lips softer after each use, making on-the-go no-mirror application effortless. This shade is so natural on and I really like wearing it with natural daytime looks.

Eye Effects palette in Rosette Ray ($22 USD) — A selection of gorgeous super silky shadows come in a portable compact to help create any look needed, day or night. This palette has beautiful, natural shades that are perfect for every day looks.

The shades in the palette are on the back of it.  From left to right are: French
Rose, Ice, Glow, Plum, Mocha, Wine, Berry, Mushroom and Black Tulip.

As you can see from the swatches, the shades are very soft and natural.  They can be built up for more drama.  The mattes are very blendable.  The shimmers give a glow.  If I want a more metallic look, I need to wet them.  The shade Ice looks nice on me as a highlighter, too!  I’m really happy to have this for more natural days.  Plus, it comes with a nice mirror which would make it nice for travel.

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I’m so happy I got to try all of these amazing products.  As always, Pixi has made stunning products!

What do you think of these new Pixi products?  What are your favorite products by the brand?

TellurideGlow Skincare Brand Review

Hey all! I received some lovely skincare from the brand TellurideGlow for my honest review.

TellurideGlow’s skincare contains Alpine botanicals that produce abundant secondary metabolites, vitamins and protective phytonutrients that help to increase the powers of regeneration that repair, brighten and firm the skin.

I received a full sized Snow Rose Recovery Mask ($75 USD) — which is lovely! It is a powder mask which when activated turns into a deep mauve color. It has a soft rose and vanilla scent.  This mask delivers immediate skin perfection with moisture retaining Snow Mushroom and crushed Rose petals in a resurfacing masterpiece that detoxifies without dryness.

Remineralizing New Zealand Glacial Clay works with regenerative alpine actives to help promote collagen and reveal luminous, soft, dewy and polished skin, with a noticeable reduction in the appearance of pores and fine lines.

I really enjoy this mask.  I feel that it does brighten my skin and it leaves it so soft!

I also received the adorable Gift Box of Petite Minis ($60 USD) — It includes a mini of the Snow Rose mask, the Aspen Dew Illuminating Essence, The Alpine Phytonutrient Serum and The Purist Delicate Skin Serum.

All of the serums are so nourishing, but the Purist is my favorite. It’s formulated for sensitive and reactive skin (me), and is very light and comfortable on the skin.
The Purist contains unprocessed superfood seed oils that provide moisture while smoothing, balancing and strengthening the skin.

The Alpine Phytonutrient Serum is the ultimate organic bouquet of high recovery botanicals, unprocessed to deliver nutrient-dense moisture and boost elasticity,  tone, and a stronger skin barrier while helping to shield against photo aging. This fast absorbing formula is supercharged with 20 power botanicals and high concentrations of cold pressed alpine phytonutrients to feed depleted skin.

The Aspen Dew Illuminating Essence enhances firming and smoothing while releasing its brightening, hydrating and corrective skincare properties into the skin. Formulated to help fade brown spots, smooth lines, even out texture and deliver a brightening effect daily. Stands alone beautifully, or pair with The Alpine or Purist serums for amplified skin recovery.  This gives the skin a gorgeous glow!

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I’m glad I got to try all of these!  I really enjoy the formula of these products.  They are very nourishing and have so many good ingredients. What do you think of these products?

Melt Cosmetics Millennial Pinx Eyeshadow Palette Review

Hi all!  I had some Sephora gift cards, so I decided to pick up the Melt Cosmetics Millennial Pinx eyeshadow palette. I’ve been wanting to try Melt’s shadows, but their recent releases have been either too deep or too bright for me.  Melt describes these shades as “a refreshing combination of boujee pinx and modern greys with an edge! The unique tones in our ultra-pigmented, one-swipe opaque formula will get anyone out of their makeup rut!”

Yes please, that sounds amazing!

You can also pick this up on the Melt website here.  It retails for $58.  I really like the description of the shades from Melt:

Rosé Brunch – Pop this iridescent pink bubbly on the lid and you’ll be ready for any Sunday ritual.
Pink Leather – The juxtaposition of this soft, but bold strawberry milk hue excites us.
Flamingo Dream – Wash this tropical pink ultra-matte shadow all over the lid for a dreamy and feminine eye.
Mixed Emotions – The vivid pink shift of this decadent rose quartz will have you feeling all types of ways.
Modern Love – There’s nothing more romantic than this contemporary rosewood hue.
Ruby Spar – Bring that date night sparkle back in this metallic rose wine shadow.
Pink Noise – The loud pink shift of this opal iridescent is as addicting as your favorite love song. Turn up the chrome by using this wet.
Moonglow – Not even the stars can explain the beauty of this luxurious silver metallic.
GF – Boys come and go, but your GirlFriend and this french grey matte are forever
Euphoria – How deep is your love? As deep as this active charcoal ultra-matte shade.

Here are swatches of the shades:

Here’s a swatch of all of the shades to get a good look at the color story.

From left to right Rosé Brunch, Pink Leather, Flamingo Dream, Mixed Emotions, Modern Love and Ruby Spar.

The mattes in this palette are so pigmented and easy to blend.  I love the pinks especially Pink Leather and Modern Love.  Flamingo Dream is a bit bright, but it does look pretty on.  The metallics are very softly pressed and a little flaky.  But when wet, they are stunning!

The last four shades from left to right are Pink Noise, Moonglow, GF and Euphoria

These two metallics are gorgeous but very sheer.  They can be built up by using your finger or a wet brush.

All in all I’m happy with this palette.  I’ve seen mixed reviews but I think the quality is very nice.  I’ve made some pretty soft looks and more dramatic looks with it. I’m happy I’ve added it to my collection!

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What do you think about this palette?  Do you have any Melt Cosmetics products?

 

 

20 Palettes in 2020 — Juvia’s Place The Nubian 2

Hi all!  This is the second review in my new series!  I’m reviewing 20 palettes that I purchased or received last year (and maybe previous years) that I haven’t reviewed yet.  I might also include palettes from this year if I don’t get around to reviewing them right away.  These will be mostly eye shadows, but some face palettes may be thrown in the mix.

The reason I started this was as I was doing my Shop my Stash last year, I realized that I hadn’t reviewed a lot of the palettes I featured (check out my February Shop my Stash here).  I’ve used them, of course, but haven’t given my review.  So this year, I’m going to get that done!

The palette I’m reviewing today is the Juvia’s Place Nubian 2 palette:

I only have a couple Juvia’s Place palettes and I think this is the first time I’ve reviewed one. I purchased this last fall at Ulta (on sale, of course)!

The shades are:

• Row 1: Morocco (matte dark orange), Madagascar (matte beige), Sheba (metallic fawn), Yaa (metallic auburn)
• Row 2: Jezebel (matte maroon), Zuri (shimmer ivory), Cleopatra (shimmer royal blue), Nefertiti (shimmer 18k gold)
• Row 3: Nairobi (metallic yellow gold), Leyla (shimmer royal eggplant), Kenya (matte chocolate brown), Egypt (metallic royal green)

It’s interesting that there are only 4 mattes.  There are also 4 shimmers and 4 metallics.  So you can get some really shimmery looks out of it.  I do have to dip into another palette when I use this for transition shades.

Here are swatches:

The first 6 shades from left to right — Morocco, Madagascar, Sheba, Yaa, Jezebel and Zuri

The metallics and shimmers in the palette are so shiny and gorgeous!  My favorite shades here are Zuri because it’s so brightening and Jezebel.  It’s so pretty on the outer corner or lower lash line.

The last 6 shades from left to right — Cleopatra, Nefertiti, Nairobi, Leyla, Kenya and Egypt

These metallics are stunning!  I really love Nefertiti or Nairobi on the lids and Clopatra and Egypt are beautiful on the lower lash line.  Kenya is a gorgeous dark brown that is amazing for deepening the outer eyelid.

I really love the quality of these shades.  The mattes blend easily and the shimmers and metallics are super pigmented.  I do know that when I use this palette, it’s going to be a more dramatic look.  I can make an everyday look with some of the shades, but I usually go overboard!

I have to say that from the few times I’ve used this, I do like it and I’m glad I picked it up.  It’s such a unique color story and formula.  It’s not an everyday palette for me, but it is one I’ll use!  I will be reviewing my other Juvia’s Place palette in this series, so stay tuned!

Also check out the first review of the series, the Colourpop Going Coconuts eye shadow palette.

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Do you have this one or any other Juvia’s Place palettes?  What do you think of the formula?

 

 

 

 

Morgan Taylor Editor’s Picks Spring 2020 Collection

Hi All!  Happy Sunday!  I hope your weekend is going well!

I’m here with a beautiful nail polish review.  I was sent these Morgan Taylor polishes for my honest review.

Morgan Taylor’s spring collection is so stunning! It is the Editor’s Picks collection.

Spring is such a great time to wear softer shades like nudes and pinks.  This is a very feminine collection that I LOVE!

The shades from left to right are:

• Barely Buff — Palest pink creme
• I Speak Chic — Taupe nude creme
• Call My Blush — Soft sheer creme
• On Cloud Mine — Sheer peachy pink
• It’s Your Mauve — Mauve creme
• Going Voque — Antique rose creme

What is so exciting for me about this collection is that I will wear every shade in this collection.  I also love the formula of these cremes.  The are opaque and cover well in 2 or 3 coats. They do chip after a few days, but most nail polishes do.  They stay fresh looking for most of the week.

These retail for $9.50 a bottle and the mini 4-pack is $14.95, which is nice if you want to try more than one shade.  It includes On Cloud Mine, Going Vogue. I Speak Chic and It’s Your Mauve.  The collection is available for a limited time now at Sally Beauty.

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I’m really enjoying these polishes.  What shades of nail polish are you loving right now?

Colourpop UR A QT Pressed Powder Palette Review

Happy Valentine’s Day!  I hope you have a fun or relaxing day ahead of you.  Any plans?  I’m not sure what we are going to do tonight.  Probably eat at home and watch TV. LOL!

I thought I’d do a fun kind of Valentine’s themed palette review today.  I hope you enjoy!

This is the UR A QT Palette from Colourpop.  Right now, it’s an Ulta exclusive. It’s so adorable and pretty.  It’s perfect for Valentine’s and Spring looks, as well as soft, neutral looks.

Stunning!  I love the purples, pinks and neutrals in this palette.  And I love that the shades are soft.

The Ulta website doesn’t give a description of each shade, so the descriptions are mine:

• 2 Hot 4 U — matte light peach
• Luv Me — metallic light pink Super Shock Shadow
• Angel Face — cool toned medium pink matte with glitter
• With Luv — light warm brown
• So Fine — light-medium mauve matte
• Kiss Me — light-medium plum duo-chrome
• Lover — medium-dark berry metallic
• Love Note — medium lilac matte
• 1st Date — medium warm brown
• Candy Gram — deep plum metallic
• Cutie Pie —  light pink frost
• Heart Eyes — deep purple matte

From Left to Right: 2 Hot 4 U, Luv Me, Angel Face, With Luv, So Fine and Kiss Me — I love the names, just like the little conversation hearts!

All of these swatched well. I love 2 Hot 4 U as a base color.  Also Angel Face is a gorgeous Super Shock and Kiss Me is a lovely duochrome.  I’m not much of a fan of With Luv just because of the very pink shade. I do love the pigment though.

From Left to Right: Lover, Love Note, 1st Date, Candy Gram Cutie Pie and Heart Eyes.

I love all of these purple and plum shades!  Heart Eyes looks like a dark brown in the pan, but it’s such a gorgeous plum.  Plus Love Note is so pretty in the crease!

I’m so glad I picked this palette up.  It’s so pretty on and I really love purple!  This also has a couple of neutral shades, but I can see myself using this more when I want a bright and fun look.

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Have you purchased the UR A QT palette?  What do you think? Or, what is your favorite palette to use for Valentine’s Day? palette

PÜR Products For A Glamorous Valentine’s Day Look

Hey all!  How’s your week going?  I’m doing pretty well.  Are you getting ready for Valentine’s Day Tomorrow???

I was sent these pretty PÜR products that can glam you up for V-Day for my honest review.  Here’s what I received:

• PUR X Barbie™ Barbie™ Doll Lash Signature Cruelty Free PRO Eyelashes ($14 USD)
• Blushing Act Skin Perfecting Powder in Pretty in Peach ($26 USD)
• Fully Charged Mascara Primer ($20 USD)
• Fully Charged Mascara ($22 USD)
• 4-in-1 Correcting Primer Redness Reducer ($33 USD)
• 4-in-1 Tinted Moisturizer in Light ($35 USD)

I don’t usually wear false eyelashes, but these are so pretty.  I think I’m going to give them a try.  I’ve heard PÜR’s lashes are really nice. Plus, the packaging is stunning!

I almost always use a mascara primer before I apply my mascara.  I do this instead of curling my lashes.  I find that it helps give my lashes more curl, volume and length.

This one is really nice.  And it works especially well with the Fully Charged mascara.  It uses their innovative Magnetic Technology that has a revolutionary “magnetic” polymer matrix that wraps a positively charged elastic veil around each lash to instantly lift, separate and define each lash for maximum, long-lasting performance. It also conditions the lashes.

I love that this helps with the health of lashes as well as making them look amazing!

This blush is so gorgeous on.  It’s applies so smoothly on the cheeks. This is formulated with good-for-you skincare ingredients, including nourishing Energy Complex and Ceretin® Complex—a proprietary blend of super-hydrating ceramides that is exclusive to PÜR. It claims to improve the skin’s appearance with each use.

I love the peach color this gives and the soft matte finish.

I have redness on my cheeks and sensitive skin.  This primer helps brighten and firm the skin’s appearance, while neutralizing the look of redness from breakouts and irritation.  It has a green tint to it that really helps offset the redness.  I find that it also minimizes the look of my pores, which my aging skin needs!

I’m loving the 4-in-1 Tinted Moisturizer.  It’s a moisturizer, primer, foundation and SPF 20 all-in-one! This innovative 4-in-1 formula infuses the skin with powerful hydrators and proven correctives, including sodium hyaluronate and PÜR’s exclusive Ceretin Complex, a one-of-a-kind ingredient engineered to radically renew the skin without irritation.

I like that this gives a natural finish.  I can use it alone for a minimal coverage or as a base for a full coverage foundation of glam days. I enjoy it on days where I just want to look fresh!

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Have you tried PÜR products?  Which are your favorites for glam or natural looks?  Check out these products an more at http://www.purcosmetics.com and Ulta.

 

Kendra Scott Jewelry Valentine Gifts

Hi all!  Are you ready for Valentine’s Day?  There’s still time to shop for the holiday, or just to pick up something special for the important people in your life!

If you are looking for the perfect gift to show how much you care on Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day, look no further than Kendra Scott where the options are limitless – whether you are creating a one-of-a-kind style at the Kendra Scott Color Bar or selecting a piece of fine or sterling silver jewelry – your Valentine is sure to treasure this gift for a lifetime!

There is time to go into a Kendra Scott Store and pick up a beautiful gift!  Here are some of my favorites:

Kendra Scott Macrame Danielle Statement Earring Rhodium Ivory Mother-of–Pearl 

Macrame Danielle Statement Earring Rhodium Ivory Mother-of–Pearl ($88 USD) — A beloved style with brand new detail, you’ll adore the Macrame Danielle Silver Statement Earrings in Ivory Mother-of-Pearl. With the signature silhouette surrounded by intricacy, these statement earrings will be outshined only by you. Pair with your favorite pieces or let them stand out on their own, either way you’re sure to catch compliments in the Macrame Danielle Statement Earrings.

Kendra Scott Fallyn Cuff in Gold

Fallyn Cuff in Gold ($68 USD) — Add some structure to your bracelet stack with the Fallyn Cuff Bracelet in Gold. This modern cuff bracelet features our custom version of a classic chain link. With sophisticated metalwork in a wearable style, we know you’ll love the Fallyn Cuff Bracelet as an everyday accessory.

Kendra Scott Presleigh Ring Set In Mixed Metal

Presleigh Ring Set In Mixed Metal ($58 USD) — Beautiful and meaningful, knots have been used in jewelry design to represent love and unity since antiquity. The Presleigh Ring Set in Mixed Metal features our take on the technique in three band rings of Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. This ring set is the perfect start to your ring stack. We know you’ll enjoy the subtle romance the Presleigh Ring Set brings to the everyday.

Kendra Scott Diamond Letter Pendant Necklace In 14k Yellow Gold

Diamond Letter Pendant Necklace In 14k Yellow Gold ($595 USD) — The Diamond Letter Pendant Necklace in 14k Yellow Gold is a striking example of sentimental style. Beautifully timeless and personal to each wearer, the Diamond Letter Pendant Necklace was designed to be treasured for a lifetime. To create these pendant necklaces, each letter is hand drawn in our Austin design studio, then layered with pave diamonds for breathtaking sparkle.

Kendra Scott Poppy Gold Pendant Necklace In Abalone

And of course I had to include a heart — Poppy Gold Pendant Necklace In Abalone ($88 USD) — Each hand-carved heart in the Poppy Gold Pendant Necklace in Abalone is completely unique, just like the one you love. Whether chosen as a gift or just for you, the details of this one-of-a-kind pendant necklace were designed to be adored. Pair the Poppy Pendant Necklace with your favorite delicate pieces for a lovable layered look.

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What do you think of this gorgeous jewelry? Have you purchased any Kendra Scott pieces or are you thinking about giving one as a gift?

Derma E Mood Rituals Line

Hi all!  I hope you’re week is off to a great start! It’s still winter, sigh.  And it might snow in Kansas City tomorrow.  I hope you’re weather is better!

I was so lucky to receive a February influencer package from Derma E.  I love their products so much and use them every day.  Here’s what I received this month:

This is Derma E’s Mood Rituals line.  These mists contain purified spring water and skin-nourishing herbs with therapeutic essential oils.  They claim to enhance the mood and enrich the skin.  Here’s info from the Derma E website about the products:

Balanced blends of therapeutic, skin-benefiting essential oils combined with purified Spring Water, Witch Hazel, Coconut Essence and Herbal Waters work to comfort and nourish your skin, leaving it hydrated and softer while herbal adaptogens and sacred cleansing plant extracts provide re-centering, mood-enhancing benefits.

These are the three different mists:

CREATE Mood Enhancing Skin Beneficial Mist ($18.95 USD) — Revitalizing therapeutic blend of Cordyceps & Cardamom, aromatic waters, coconut essence, and witch hazel improves skin’s health while enhancing your mood. Essential oils of Rosemary, Ginger, Spearmint stimulate one’s senses and helps to revitalize your skin while adaptogens, Cordyceps and Cardamom promote focused thoughts and clarity allowing you the freedom to create.

UPLIFT Mood Enhancing Skin Beneficial Mist ($18.95 USD) — This uplifting and therapeutic blend of Eleuthero & Artic Root, citrus waters, coconut essence, and witch hazel improves skin’s health while enhancing your mood. Essential oils of Orange, Grapefruit, Chamomile, Lavender and more combine to help boost your mood, soothe skin and elevate your senses while Adaptogens Eleuthero and Artic Root help to calm feelings of fatigue and anxiety to uplift and energize your spirits.

CALM Skin Beneficial Mist Mood Enhancing ($18.95 USD) — This relaxing and calming therapeutic blend of Amla & Gotu Kola, herbal waters, coconut essence, and witch hazel improves skin’s health while enhancing your mood. Essential oils of Lemon, Eucalyptus, Sage and Rosemary soothe and calm skin while adaptogens Amla and Gotu Kola help to reduce feelings of fatigue as they relax and calm your senses.

I really like these mists.  They smell very herbal.  I think my favorite scent is the Uplift.  I can definitely smell the citrus and lavender.  With the create, the spearmint takes over, so if you like mint scents that might be for you.  And in the Calm, the rosemary and sage give off a savory fragrance.

I really like how hydrating these make my skin.  They are so nice under makeup for extra hydration and over it for a pick me up.  I haven’t noticed any mood-changing effects yet, but I’ll keep using them.

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What do you think of these products.  Do you like to use essential oils to enhance your mood?

Boxycharm Subscription Box Review — February 2020

Hey all! I have just received my February BoxyCharm! I love receiving this box each month.

I’ve been subscribed to BoxyCharm for two and a half years now and really enjoy it. BoxyCharm is now $25 a month plus tax for 5 full-sized beauty items. The value is at least $125 each month.

The only subscription boxes I’m currently getting is this box, BoxyLuxe four times a year and the new BoxyCharm Premium.  I think Boxy has been doing an amazing job curating their boxes lately.

The theme this month is Adore. My version is 47. This month I received:

• Alamar Cosmetics Complexion Brush Trio – $36
• Kate Somerville Kx Active Concentrates Bio-Mimicking Peptides Serum — $98.00
• Ciaté London Everyday Vacay Coconut Scented Translucent Loose Powder — $22
• Qveen Matte Liquid Lip Satin in Wifey — $17
• Pretty Vulgar Faux Reals Extreme Volume Mascara — $23

These are gorgeous!  They are very soft and seem to be of good quality.  I really enjoy the Alamar eye brushes I have, so I’m excited to use these!

The serum was my choice this month.  I love anything that smooths and firms my skin.  I will be testing this out once I’m done with my current firming serum.

The powder is okay.  I already have a Ciate powder in my stash that I got from a Boxycharm.  It’s a different name then this one but it looks like almost the same thing.  I’ll either save it for later or give it away.

These are my least favorite products this month.  I don’t wear liquid lipstick and haven’t heard of the brand Qveen.  I will pass it on to someone else.

I like Pretty Vulgar and have tried a few things in my Boxycharm, but I haven’t found anything I love yet.  I have tons of mascara, so I’ll either throw this in my stash, or give it to one of my daughters.

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The box this month was okay for me.  I am loving the Kate Somerville serum and the brushes and will use those.  I might use the powder and mascara, or I might give them away.  I will definitely give the liquid lipstick away.

Do you get Boxycharm?   What did you get this month?

bareMinerals Limited Edition Beauty of Nature Collection

Hi All! I hope your weekend is going well!

I was sent the above products from bareMinerals Limited Edition Beauty of Nature Collection for my honest review.  It is inspired by blooming tropical hues and natural textures. Here’s what I received:

The Beauty of Nature Gen Nude Powder Blush in That Peach Tho ($24 USD) — This buildable talc-free blush is formulated with light-reflecting mineral pearls that blur the look of pores for a soft-focus finish.  The shade is so pretty and natural looking on, and it can be built up for more of a flush.  So pretty!

The Beauty of Nature Gen Nude Eyeshadow Palette Natural Oasis ($29 USD) — Build a colorful smoky eye, create a wash of color, or add a vibrant pop to your look with these 6 new island-inspired shades, from shimmering sand to rich coral. Each features Jet-Milled Mineral Pigments for buildable, blendable color while botanical extracts help nourish skin around the delicate eye area, Cucumber Extract and Caffeine help soothe skin’s appearance and Cold-Pressed Borage Oil moisturizes skin. These eyeshadows are crease- and smudge-resistant to ensure your eyes look flawless all day long.

The shades from left to right are:

• Sandy Beach: Shimmering Cream(shimmer)
• Papaya: Creamy Papaya(matte)
• Cabana: Terracotta Brown(matte)
• Red Hibiscus: Red Copper(shimmer)
• Shimmering Sunset: Warm Violet(shimmer)
• Palm Leaf: Rich Palm Green(matte)

I really enjoy this palette.  It’s nicely pigmented and lots of looks can be made with it because of the gorgeous shade selection.  I love that it’s not just variations on one color, that there are 6 distinct shades in it.  Also, since it’s so small, it will be nice for travel this spring and summer and they shades will even look nice in the fall!

Mineralist Hydra-Smoothing Lipstick in Wisdom and Perception ($20 USD) — This creamy moisturizing lipstick is made with minimal ingredients for maximal results; it’s proven to significantly improve the look of lip lines, texture and dryness in just one week — even after you take it off — and provides 2X hydration* and 2X rich color** with one swipe.

With just 19 ingredients — 40% less than top-selling lipsticks*** — MINERALIST Hydra-Smoothing Lipstick is formulated with 76% naturally derived extracts, including sustainably sourced botanicals from around the world. MINERALIST Lipstick is infused with omega-packed, cold-pressed European Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil; Mediterranean Olive Oil and antioxidant-rich Moroccan Pomegranate Extract to hydrate, nourish and replenish for softer, smoother lips. Because we believe less does more, we left out the unnecessary additives, including Parabens, Phthalates, Synthetic Fragrance, PEGs and Mineral Oil.

Each MINERALIST shade is inspired by the healing powers of natural minerals, crystals and gemstones, and features a subtle, uplifting natural scent of Prickly Pear and Açaí.

I also received the Lasting Line Long-Wearing Eyeliner in Agave ($17 USD) — I can’t find the shade anywhere, so it might be an older shade.  But you can purchase this eyeliner in a few other shades.

Here are swatches:

The liner is very pigmented and is nice for the waterline, or just lining the eyes.

The lipsticks are creamy, but have almost a satin-matte finish.  They feel very hydrating on.   These aren’t shades I normally wear, but the formula is gorgeous.  I might have to pick up a nude or lighter pink!

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I’m really enjoying these products!  The packaging is gorgeous and it’s making me think of spring and summer.  The blush and eyeshadow are my favorites, but I do recommend the lipstick in a shade that’s wearable for you.  Such a beautiful formula.

What do you think of this collection?

 

BoxyCharm Premium Review – February 2020

Hi all! I’ve just received my February BoxyCharm Premium! This is a fairly new subscription from BoxyCharm.  It’s a little more products than the regular and a little less than the BoxyLuxe.  Here’s the details:

• It’s $35 a month
• 6-7 beauty items a box
• $175+ Value
• You get to pick one of the items
• The items will be different from BoxyCharm/BoxyLuxe – you can subscribe to both with no product overlap.

I’ve been receiving this box since it launched last November. The products I received are:

 

• Karity Picante Palette — $29
• Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush — $40
• Faccia Skincare 24K Gold Foil Moisturizer — $100
• Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist — $28
• Korres Body Butter in White Blossom — $32
• Tarte Double Duty Beauty Base Tape Hydrating Powder — $30

My total this month is $259 — Amazing for a $35 box!

This is the item I chose this month.  It was between this and a hair straightener.  The photos I saw of this made the palette look so bright, but in real life it’s a lot more wearable.  I’m excited to test it out!

I’m very excited about this blush!  I don’t have any Hourglass Cosmetics products and I’ve heard their blushes are gorgeous. This is in Dim Infusion – A subdued coral blush fused with Dim Light to add warmth.  I’m trying it out soon!  I’ve been sick the last few days and haven’t been wearing makeup, but I have lots of new makeup to play with, so I’m getting up and putting makeup on!

This is the skincare I received.  I love Glow Recipe and am looking forward to use this mist, but I’ve never heard of Faccia Skincare before, but I’me game to try this spendy face cream. I have a few moisturizers open right now, but I’ll put it in my stash for later.

I have heard good things about this Tarte primer.  I love all types of primer, so I will use this, too.

The packaging of this Korres Body Butter is gorgeous.  It’s very floral, but I will keep it in my office and use it when I need some hydration.

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I am quite happy with this month’s BoxyCharm Premium!  I plan on using everything that I got in the box this month!  Amazing!  Next month’s Premium is all Fenty Beauty products and I’m looking forward to that box as well!

I also just received my regular BoxyCharm for February and will be reviewing that in a couple of days.

Do you get BoxyCharm or BoxyCharm Premium?  What did you get this month?

 

 

 

Ulta Haul — Treating Myself for Valentine’s day!

Hi All! January was a looong month!  I’m glad it’s over and we are well into February. So I decided to treat myself with an Ulta Haul. This is a Valentines to myself.  It helped that I had a 20% off coupon and a Christmas gift card I hadn’t used yet!

Here’s what I picked up:

• Shiseido Facial Cotton – love these!
• Colourpop Cosmetics UR A QT pressed powder palette
• Colourpop Cosmetics Blush Crush eyeshadow palette
• The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%
• Milani Cosmetics Cheek Kiss Blush in Nude Flush 
• NYX Cosmetics Slide On Lip Pencil in Nude Suede Shoes
• Truly Beauty Unicorn Fruit Body Butter
• Fizz & Bubble Bath Fizzy in Black Amber & Lavender 

I fell for this palette as soon as I saw it online, and love it even more in person! I’m excited that there are neutrals along with the pinks and purples.  It will be so wearable for every day as well as special occasions.

Sorry this is a bit dirty, but that’s how it came to me.  Maybe the trip was too rough for it! I ams looking forward to using it.  It’s so pretty and soft.  I think it will be lovely for the spring as well as now!

I have just finished my Farmacy Honeymoon Glow AHA serum and I really loved it.  But I decided to try something new.  Lactic Acid is supposed to be more gentle but still resurface the skin.  Hopefully I’ll love the Ordinary Lactic Acid.

This Milani blush is new and I’m looking forward to trying it out!

My skin has been really dry and I need a new body cream.  The Unicorn Fruit Body Butter looks like fun and smells really nice.  Plus, I just wanted a new bath bomb and thought this one seems calming.

The NYX lip liner is a favorite of YouTuber Allie Glines, and I really need a new nude one.

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So, there’s my haul.  Have you picked up any new makeup or skincare?

StriVectin Peptight Tightening & Brightening Face Serum Review

Hi all!  I hope you’re having a great Thursday! I hope your February is going well.

I was sent an amazing product from BzzAgent to review. It’s the StriVectin Peptight Tightening & Brightening Face Serum ($99 USD).  Here’s more about the product:

This dual-focus formula harnesses the power of two unique types of peptides, proprietary NIA-114™ and potent botanical extracts for visibly tighter, brighter skin. Tetrapeptides and botanical tensors visibly tighten, and firm for more sculpted-looking contours. Hexapeptides, vitamin C-rich Australian Kakadu Plum Extract and naturally-derived brighteners help even skin tone and enhance clarity and radiance.

I am loving this serum! I apply it before moisturizer in the morning and evening. I like how light but creamy the serum is. It absorbs quickly into the skin.

After about a week of use I noticed tightening, especially around my neck and jawline. I do have some loose skin on my neck, and I love how the serum made it look firmer!

I think this is a beautiful product that really works!

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Have you tried this serum or anything by StriVectin?

Shop My Stash — February 2020

Hi all!  Happy Superbowl Sunday.  I live in Kansas City, so it’s a pretty exciting day! Plus, it’s time for my February Shop my Stash! Win win!

I’m always excited to play with new (again to me) color cosmetics that I either haven’t used in a while or haven’t used much at all! My goal is to get more use out of the products I have and to see if they are something I want to keep.

This month I have chosen products that I have only used a few times, but I am excited to see how I really feel about them. I’ve picked out two palettes, a blush, a highlighter and a lip gloss.  You can probably tell that I chose lots of pinkish tones.  I love wearing these shades in February!

Here are the palettes open:

So many pretty shades to play with!  I have already used them today and loved playing with something I haven’t tried in a while.

Here are close ups of the products:

Anastasia Beverly Hills x Carli Bybel Palette — This is such a pretty palette.  I got it last fall with my Ulta points (LOVE Ulta’s reward system).  The shades are gorgeous, but I haven’t used it more than a few times.  I’m excited to really give it a try!

Dose of Colors Eyeshadow Palette in Marvelous Mauves — I received this in a BoxyCharm last year.  I really love the tones in the palette and the shades are so soft and buttery, so they blend so well!  This is an all matte palette, but I can use one of the ABH x Carli Bybel shimmers on top if I want to add some sparkle to the look.

Makeup Geek Highlighter in Lit, Nanacoco HD Pressed Blush in Shimmery Dusty Rose and Milani Keep It Full Nourishing Lip Plumper in Soft Rose

I love the formula of the lip gloss, but it’s a bit dark of a shade for me.  I want to use it more to see if I like it.

The Makeup Geek highlighter looks golden in this photo, but it has a bit of a pink tint to it.  It’s pretty.  The blush is pretty, too. It has a bit of a shimmer.  I have been wearing matte blushes lately, so this will be a nice change.

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I’m excited about his month’s Shop My Stash!  Do you do a Shop My Stash or Project Pan to use up your products?

Shop My Stash January 2020 Results and Monthly Empties

Hi All! Happy Saturday! I’m back with my January Shop My Stash results!  I enjoy dipping into my collection and using products I haven’t used in a long time, or just haven’t given much of a chance.

My rule with this is if I don’t like the item after the month, I will move it out of my collection to make some room and let someone else enjoy it! You can check out my first Shop My Stash post for January.

I’ve had a lot of fun playing with these products this month!  And I have decided to keep all of these products for now.

The Colourpop blush and Milani blusher are both amazing products! They are still fairly new to me, but I now have a good idea of how they perform, and I love them.

I’ve found that I don’t really wear lipstick any more, just liner and gloss.  I did wear my MAC Creme in Your Coffee lipstick once or twice.  It is nice and I’ll keep it, but I now want to go through my lipsticks and get rid of most of them. I did a pretty big declutter last year of my makeup, but I really want to pair it down to just what I use.  Would you be interested in seeing that on my blog?

I used this palette a lot this month!  I tried every shade.  I’ve found that I like it okay.  Many of the shades have to be built up, especially the shimmers.  I am okay with building up mattes, but I like my shimmers to be soft and very blingy.  I do like the variety of the shades and I made a lot of varied looks with it.  I think I’ll keep it for now, but I might pass it on when I declutter.

Urban Decay On The Run palette in Detour  – I really love this palette.  It’s the opposite of the Emily Edit palette in that it’s very pigmented and easy to use.  The shimmers, especially Dash, are creamy and are very blingy!  And the mattes are so easy to blend.I am very happy to keep this in my collection.

On to my empties:

I had a lot more empties than I thought I would this month, but I have been trying to go through my products more.  So I’m proud of these.

For skincare, I finished the PIXI Jasmine Oil and the PIXI Collagen & Retinol Serum.  I’ve had the Jasmine oil for a while, but I concentrated on using it the last few months.  I love the scent.  I also liked the serum, which was unscented, but I don’t know if it did much to my skin.  The Glow Recipe Pineapple Bright Serum was very scented like extremely ripe pineapple.  I didn’t care for the scent  but I loved the serum to brighten my skin.  I would repurchase the PIXI Jasmine oil and the Glow Recipe. 

The Laneige Choco Mint lip mask was amazing! I got it in a holiday set with a full size of the berry and another little one.  I use the lip mask every day.  And I will continue to repurchase them so I always have one on hand. I also used up the Body Shop Fall For Pumpkin body butter I purchased in October and two hand creams, Juicy Pear and Mango, from my The Body Shop advent calendar.

For Makeup, I finally used up the Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer.  I’ve had it for about 18 months and have been working on using it up.  It’s okay.  It works fine, but was really expensive.  I don’t know if I’ll purchase again in the future.  I also finished my L’Oreal Lash Paradise primer, a deluxe size of the Too Faced Damn Girl Mascara and the Pop Beauty lip liner.  I would purchase the lip liner again, I loved it.

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I had fun playing with the products in my Shop My Stash last month.  I’ll be posting my new one hopefully tomorrow.

January 2020 Beauty Favorites

Hi all! I hope you had an amazing week!   I don’t know about you, but I am so glad that January is over.  Bring on a fresh new month!

Below are my beauty faves for January. I didn’t purchase much this month, so these are mostly older items to me. As usual, If I have reviewed them before, I will include the link, if not, I will link to where you can purchase:

Pixi Beauty Retinol Jasmine Lotion — I use retinol products a few days a week and love using this as my last step at night.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea — This is cooling and smells amazing.  It also helps to brighten my dull winter skin.

StriVectin Peptight Tightening & Brightening Face Serum — I received this from BzzAgent a couple of weeks ago and have been using it every day (review to come).

Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation — The shade I have is 20CP.  It’s a bit light for me except for right now when I’m at my palest. I love how this makes my skin look, very smooth and youthful!

Urban Decay The Ultimate Brush Off Translucent Loose Setting Powder — I have the Universal Translucent shade of this.  I love the texture of this powder.  It’s very finely milled and doesn’t make my aging skin look textured! I do really use the brush that’s in the lid, but I can use it in a pinch.

e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer — This is in my 2020 Project Pan this year.  I got this last spring and liked it okay.  So I thought I should give it some love and use it up. I have found that I am really enjoying it. It’s full coverage and easy to blend.

Milk Makeup Mini Bronzer in Baked — I received this in a holiday gift set and was so excited to try it.  And, it doesn’t disappoint!  It’s easy to blend and the shade is so pretty on.  This is the first cream bronzer that I have really enjoyed using.

Farsali Rose Gold Skin Mist — I received this in my November BoxyCharm.  This was my first Farsali product, and I really love it.  It has a fine mist and gives a light glow to the skin.

And…

Colourpop Going Coconuts Palette —  I love this palette!  It’s an amazing everyday palette that is more cooler tones.  This has made me want to purchase more Colourpop palettes and I have!  Colourpop releases so many palettes that I was kind of overwhelmed last year and only purchased a couple.  But I’m really loving some of their current neutral collections.

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I have enjoyed using what I have this month!  I’ve really been going through my skincare, too.  I will have my empties in my January Shop My Stash results coming up next.

What are your current favorites?

 

 

 

Colourpop Eye Shadow Palette Haul!

Hi all! I hope your week is starting off well!  I was so excited because a ColourPop order I made came in!

The ColourPop website had a 25% deal, and I picked up a couple of palettes I had been eyeing:

The palettes I picked up are the Bare Necessities Shadow Palette and the Flutter By Shadow Palette.

I’ve been wanting both of these since they were released. I love neutrals shadows and mauvey purples.  Both are so gorgeous!

This 30-pan shadow palette has mattes, metallics, and shimmers. Create any look from your everyday look to a sultry glam look.  I’m excited to play with this and see what type of looks I can make with it!

This 12 pan palette is stunning — I love these shades! Cool mauves and rich purple, in matte, metallic, and Pressed Glitter finishes, create the dreamiest soft glam look.

I’m super excited to play with this.  I’ve used it once already and loved it!  The only shade I’m not crazy about is Overpacked, the pressed glitter.  I’m glad that it’s the only one in the palette!

I’m going to be reviewing these soon (I hope) with swatches.  I want to get some use out of them first.

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Do you have any Colourpop’s palettes?  Which ones do you love?

 

Tati Beauty Blendiful Review

Hi all!  I hope you are having a great weekend!

I’m back with a new Tati Beauty review.  I have already reviewed the Textured Neutrals Vol. 1 palette when it was released.  Tati Westbrook is the founder of the brand.  She’s a Youtube star, as I’m sure you know!

This is the Blendiful makeup applicator.  I wasn’t going to pick this up at first, but after watching reviews of the Blendiful, I decided to pick it up!

Here’s info from the Tati Beauty website:

The Blendiful is the makeup applicator you didn’t know you needed. This game changing soft textured fabric tool is a blending dream that’s designed to seamlessly apply & soften both liquid and powder products. The rounded edge & pointed tip help to provide a perfect blend step to step in your makeup application.  Buff in foundation with little product waste, experience seamless contour, smoother concealer & the most airbrushed powder application… even in those hard to reach areas of the face. Save product, save time & become the expert artist of your own unique routine. However you choose to use the Blendiful, your look will be one with no harsh lines every time. 

Here’s the back of the sponges:

Here’s the package it came in, front and back:

This is very thin and sleek.

I also wanted to show how it washed.  Below is my Blendiful after using it for foundation, concealer, cream bronzer and blush:.

It’s dirty! I washed it with a little soap in the sink.  It washes up pretty quickly.  I lay it out to dry over night and this is how it looks afterwards:

Nice and clean!  It’s still nice and soft.  Maybe not as soft as before you use it, but it still works just fine.

So, how do I like it?  First a confession.  The real reason I picked this up was the fact that I am lazy and when I heard this doesn’t have to be wet like a makeup sponge, I was in! I always forget to wet my sponge, sit down and get ready to apply my makeup, and have to get up and wet it.  Every. Time.

But, I’m so glad that I purchased it because it’s really a great product! The Blendiful is very easy to use.  I use it flat to quickly apply foundation.  It blends out so seamlessly.  The, it can be easily folded and manipulated to apply concealer, cream contours, blushes and highlights and all powder products. And my full face is applied in minutes.

I have tried it with stick and liquid foundations so far and like how it blends both.  It also blends my stick contours so nicely!

The little one is good for touch ups throughout the day if you have oilier skin.  I don’t, so I use it for powder.  It’s very soft and cute!

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I highly recommend this if you love innovative ways to apply your makeup and want to try something new.  I will continue to use this everyday to apply my face makeup.

Have you picked up the Blendiful?  What do you think of the brand Tati Beauty?  Let me know!

 

 

 

 

20 Palettes in 2020 — Colourpop Going Coconuts

Hi all!  I’m starting a new series this year.  I’m reviewing 20 palettes that I purchased or received last year (and maybe previous years) that I haven’t reviewed yet.  I might also include palettes from this year if I don’t get around to reviewing them right away.  These will include eye shadow and face palettes.

The reason I started this was as I was doing my Shop my Stash last year, I realized that I hadn’t reviewed a lot of the palettes I featured (check out my January Shop my Stash here).  I’ve used them, of course, but haven’t given my review.  So this year, I’m going to get that done!

The first palette I’m going to review is the Colourpop Going Coconuts ($12 USD) eye shadow palette.  I picked this up a couple of months ago.

Going Coconuts is a cooler toned neutral 9 pan palette. I picked this up , perfect for your every day look. This super wearable palette is cute and compact.

The shades are:

 

Shredded: creamy vanilla with silver pinpoints
Palm Reader: white with gold flip
Coolada: cool taupe brown
Lovely Bunch: mid tone yellow brown
Coco Crush: icy pale champagne
Shell Yeah: neutral ginger brown
Get Crackin’: cool brown with silver flecks
Da Coco: icy bronze with violet pinpoints
Nutty: deep umber

Here are swatches of the whole palette:

From Left to Right — Shredded, Palm Reader, Coolada and Lovely Bunch, Coco Crush, Shell Yeah, Get Crackin’, Da Coco and Nutty.

I dip into Shredded every time I use this palette. It’s a great base color.  I also really love the matte shade Coolada for cooler looks, which is what I usually do with this palette.  My very favorite shade is Coco Crush.  It’s a beautiful lid color and I apply it every time I use this palette.

My least favorite shade is Palm Reader.  It’s chunky like a glitter and sheer.  Da Coco, the other shimmer in the palette, is dry and doesn’t blend easily.  The mattes all work well.

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I have to say I really like this palette.  It’s compact and easy for travel, and it’s great for everyday looks.  But, I do create the same look each time I use it.  It’s a pretty look, but the same each time, LOL!

I do recommend this palette if you like a basic neutral look and something that you can use everyday.

 

Do you have this palette?  What is your favorite Colourpop palette?

 

Skincare Sunday: Derma E Blue Light Shield Collection

Hi all! Happy Sunday!  I hope your weekend is going well!

I recently received Derma E Blue Light Shield products from their Purify + Protect line.  These nutrient-rich products contain ingredients that work to protect skin from blue light exposure caused by digital devices.

Here’s more about The products I received:

Derma E Blue Light Shield Concentrated Serum ($22.50 USD) — This concentrated mineral-rich serum delivers skin-boosting moisture to defend against environmental aggressors while neutralizing the look of photo-aging, reviving skin’s appearance. Nourishing Blue Green Algae Extract, rich in antioxidants, softens and deeply moisturizes skin while antioxidant-rich Lutein helps provide a shield from blue light. Powerful Activated Charcoal helps purify while Ginseng Root re-energizes.

I apply this in the morning to my clean face and neck. It can be used in the evening too. It’s a green cream, but it absorbs into the skin and you can’t see the color. It’s slightly hydrating him feels really nice on my skin.

Derma E Blue Light Shield Spray ($16.95 USD) — Enriched with Lutein for ultimate hydration and protection from blue light, this mineral-rich spray instantly nourishes, rebalances, and revives stressed skin. Blue Green Algae Extract boosts skin’s natural moisture levels, purity, and resiliency while Activated Charcoal uplifts and purifies dull tired skin and Ginseng Root revitalizes for a fresh and brightened

This mist has a pretty strong herbal scent, but it has such a fine sprayer. It’s really nice to use. Can be sprayed over makeup to set in place.

Both products include:

Blue Green Algae: ultra-moisturizing ingredient to help protect skin against environmental pollutants and reduce free radical damage.

Lutein: helps to hydrate and shield skin from free radical damage and blue light aggressors.

Activated Charcoal: powerful, absorptive ingredient helps to deeply detoxify and purify skin.

Ginseng Root Extract: Contains properties that prevent free radical damage and improves elasticity.

I’m enjoying these products! I love how they feel on my skin. I’ve only been using them for a couple of weeks, so I don’t know if they’re helping with blue light skin issues. But I’m going to keep using them and hoping that they do help!

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Have you tried any blue light products? I’m excited to see if these make my skin look nicer. I definitely don’t want to age more because of my cell phone!

 

 

 

Keep Hair Frizz-Free This Winter With John Frieda Frizz Ease

Hi All! Hope everyone is doing well!

The cold air is really doing a number on my hair and making it fly-away and frizzy.  I definitely have to use some sort of anti-frizz product during the winter!

I’ve received some John Frieda Frizz Ease products for my honest review.  They have also given the following three steps for hair guaranteed to stay frizz free all winter long:

Step 1: Apply Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum ($8.99 USD) to soaking wet hair to protect each dehydrated strand against the onset of frizz. Style as desired.

Step 2: Once hair is dry and styled, use Frizz Ease Secret Weapon Touch Up Créme  on flyaways, static frizz, and split ends to create a supple, shiny finish and silky touch.

Step 3: Complete your look with Frizz Ease Hairspray Moisture Barrier Firm Hold ($6.74 USD) to hold style firmly in place and prevent frizz, rain or shine.

I really do love these products!  I have used them before and I am happy to have them in my routine again. They all work beautifully (and are all really affordable), but if I had to recommend just one, my favorite is the Touch Up Creme.  It really works on dry, frizzy hair!  Just apply a bit and disperse with a comb or fingers.  I then brush it through.  My hair looks very shiny and healthy after applying this!

You can purchase these products at Walmart and other great mass market retailers!

 

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What do you like to use for frizzies and fly-aways?

Books for The New Year!

Hi All, how’s your 2020 going? Mine is going okay.  I’m trying to eat better and exercise more.  It’s hard to improve yourself, you know?

Below are some great books to help along your resolutions, or just make you smile!

 

Gratitude with Attitude: How Journaling Thankfulness for Just 5 Minutes a Day Can Change Your Life by Ronnie Walter ($10.65 USD) — Whether it comes at the start of our day or the end, making time to think about what we’re grateful for is beneficial in many ways. Practicing an attitude of gratitude strengthens our spirit and quiets our mind, even if just for a moment. It provides the peace and zen we long for and need in the midst of busy days and packed schedules. Find inspiration through writing prompts and quotes in this gratitude journal by bestselling author Ronnie Walter. The creator of The Coloring Café®, a coloring series dedicated to stress relief and fun, Ronnie brings over twenty years of successful illustrating and writing to this daily journal dedicated to personal growth and happiness. By using this 5-minute journal to record things we’re grateful for, spot meaningful intentions, and celebrate tiny victories, we create a space to grow in gratitude for what we have and see better who we want to be.

Life Is a 4-Letter Word: Laughing and Learning Through 40 Life Lessons by Dr. David A. Levy ($16.95 USD) — The path to living a smarter lifestyle is not always smooth. Levy encourages readers to embrace all the feelings his book may bring out as they read his stories, from laughing to wincing, and learning along the way. Discover the power of positive thinking as Levy shares a lifetime journey of personal reflections, growth, and wisdom.

Dive into Dr. David Levy’s latest book, Life Is a 4-Letter Word, and find…

40 autobiographical essays, each one containing a relatable and applicable life lesson
A unique source of both humor and inspiration that reassures readers that life is good
A self-help book for men and women from a published professional in psychology

I’m So Full of Happy Today: The Hygge Wisdom of Children by Martin Andersen and Moira Tuffy ($4.58) — Is there anything more likely to make you laugh and put a smile on your face than the innocent and funny remark of a child? The Danes have a word for the feeling of happy delight that you get from simple things in life, such as the funny things kids say: hygge.

I’m So Full of Happy Today is a heartwarming collection of the remarkably observant, funny and wise things said by children. All of the stories are real and personal, and include the name and age of each child. These playful, sometimes tongue-in-cheek tales straight from the minds and mouths of kids will have you learning, laughing, and sharing the love long after you’ve turned the last page.

The Healthy Teen Cookbook: Around the World In 80 Fantastic Recipes by Remmi Smith ($12.99 USD) — Who knew healthy cooking could be so awesome and delicious?! This Chopped kid chef and entrepreneur is on a mission to bring healthy food options and easy-to-cook scrumptious recipes to a busy and heavily-scheduled generation of teens. The Healthy Teen Cookbook is not your typical teen cookbook: it’s written “for kids by a kid,” and is filled with tried-and-true recipes with budding cooks in mind, using limited ingredients and steps. Through the colorful, easy-to-read book, Chef Remmi sets out to inspire her peers to adopt healthy eating habits by introducing them to the glorious pastime of cooking. The Healthy Teen Cookbook takes you on a culinary journey across the seven continents, highlighting countries and their top foods. Each section features a map, a full menu (from appetizer to dessert), fun facts, helpful tips, and fantastic recipes―making it a geography lesson, a cookbook, and a social studies class all in one.

The Crafty Gardener: Inspired Ideas and DIY Crafts from Your Own Backyard by Becca Anderson ($16.33 USD) — The perfect gift for any gardener! Gardening allows us to live in a much more human way, grounded in nature and connected to Mother Earth and all she provides. It adds pleasure to your life and gives you a sense of calm. With your garden, you are quite literally growing a bounty of blessings. Lifelong gardener and bestselling author Becca Anderson has put her love of crafting and of gardening together in this book of inspired DIY ideas. Along with gardening tips and secrets for growing flowers, herbs, and veggies, Anderson shares dozens of how-to’s in this delightful guide on making candles, potpourri, bath salts, essential oils, floral waters, tinctures, liquors, pickles jams, and even fountains, birdhouses, and fairy doors. Even if your garden is just a hanging basket of cherry tomatoes or a windowsill filled with herb pots, you will still reap the benefits of gardening.

 

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There are so many good books to get the year off to an amazing start!  Are you reading anything helpful for fun currently?

 

 

 

10 in 2020 — Rolling Project Pan

Hi all!  I’m back with my first Project Pan in a year!  I took a year off, but have decided it’s time to use up some makeup.

The Project Pans I did in 2019 were mostly skincare.  This year I’m starting with 10 makeup products and once I use one up, I’ll replace it with someone else.  In the case of pressed powder products, I will probably keep them to see how far I can pan them this year.  Here’s what I’ve chosen to start off with:

• Wander Beauty Frame Your Face Micro Brow Pencil
• Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer in Bronzer
• Laura Geller Balance N Brighten Baked Foundation in Fair
• Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Stick Foundation in Soft Ivory
• beautyblender Selfie Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 38, Dry Oil Primer 
• beautyblender The Leveler Pore Minimizing Primer
• e.l.f. 16hr Camo Concealer
• Bite Beauty French Press Lip Gloss in Flat White
• Dose of Colors Lip Gloss in Can You Not
• Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Cream in White Russian

I have close up photos of the powders and stick products.  I can’t really tell how much of the liquid products I have, but I’d say they are all half to 3/4 full.

Here’s the starting photo of my Butter Bronzer.  I’ve had this for a year and a half.  I use it consistently, and it’s crazy that I haven’t hit pan!  I’m hoping to make a big dent in it this year!

I’ve had this powder foundation for a couple of years.  It’s starting to get a little dry, but it still works well.  I’m hopefully going to pan it this year and at the end of the year (or sooner), I’ll decide if I want to keep it.

I purchased this last spring and used it a lot in the spring and summer.  I haven’t used it for a few months, but I wore it today and remembered how amazing it makes my skin look!  I’m sure I will use it up this year.

I have been using this pencil since fall, but I thought I had more left in it!  It shouldn’t take me long to use this up.

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I’m excited to see how this project pan goes!  Hopefully I’ll use up some of my products this year.  Also, check out my monthly Shop My Stash results to see my mostly skincare empties.

Are you doing a project pan this year?

 

 

 

Small Beauty Haul From Target and Sephora

Hi all! I hope you’re all well and staying safe.

I have a little haul to share.  I made a couple of orders — one with Ulta and one with Sephora during the recent sales. Here’s what I picked up:

From Sephora I picked up two Urban Decay palettes half price!  Plus, I got the Tatcha and Youth to the People deluxe samples with my Sephora points.

The Sunday Riley set was on sale during the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty.  I also picked up some soaps, and got free shipping when I purchased the skincare.  I haven’t tried it yet.

These are the Ont The Run Mini Palettes in G-Train and Bailout.  I have the pink and blue/brown toned ones and I wanted these two.  They were on sale for $12.50 each!  I should have got the last one, Highway Queen (oranges), but I’m sure I will pick it up later. I love the formula of these palettes.

This is Bailout!  Gorgeous browns and purples.

G-Train is warmer and has a couple of gorgeous greens!  I will hopefully be swatching and reviewing these soon.  And I’m sure I’ll be using one or both of these this month in my daily Shop My Stash (check out my Instagram @fortyflirtyfab).

This is the Sunday Riley Flash Fix set. It has the Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment and the Ceramic Slip Cleanser.  I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks really nice.

For my Sephora points, I got two duos — the Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream and the Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser.  I also picked up the Tatcha The Deep Cleanse and The Water Cream.

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Have you purchased anything online lately?  What have you picked up?