Category Archives: Beauty Reviews

Rite Aid Haul: Featuring Maybelline

Maybelline has definitely stepped up their game. I have been really impressed with their lip makeup. These lip colors are very pigmented. Even the Baby Lips had a nice tint to it. Plus the formula on all the lip makeup I tried is very creamy and moisturizing.

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  • Color Sensational Vivids in Shocking Coral
  • Color Whisper by Color Sensational in Berry Ready
  • Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm in Grape Vine
  • Color Sensational Vivids in Brazen Berry

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ImageWearing Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm in Grape Vine

ImageWearing Color Whisper by Color Sensational in Berry Ready

ImageWearing Color Sensational Vivids in Shocking Coral

ImageWearing Color Sensational Vivids in Brazen Berry

Target Haul: Featuring CoverGirl Queen Collection

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  • All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation in Spicy Brown
  • Jumbo Gloss Balm in Bronze Bling
  • Jumbo Gloss Balm in Soaked in Wine
  • Lasting Matte Pressed Powder in Golden

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I have used the CoverGirl Natural Hue Liquid Makeup in the past.  I like the All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation much better.  This foundation does a better job of providing coverage (coverage is buildable).  Most days I skip using concealer. The foundation feels lightweight. I also noticed it controlled oily shine better than the Natural Hue Liquid Makeup. I still had a little oily shine on my nose but it wasn’t that bad. The color also stayed true throughout an 8-hour workday.  I used the foundation in conjunction with the lasting matte pressed powder. The pressed was great for touchups and it didn’t cake up.

ImageAll Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation in Spicy Brown

I also tried the Jumbo Gloss Balm. The gloss balm provided sheer color that lasted about four hours. What I liked the most about the gloss balm is that it twists up. I don’t have to worry about sharpening a pencil to get more color.  The gloss balm isn’t sticky either and is a great alternative to traditional lip glosses. The CoverGirl Queen Collection All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation retails for $9.79 at Target. The CoverGirl Queen Collection Jumbo Gloss Balm retails for $6.99 at Target. The CoverGirl Queen Lasting Matte Pressed Powder retails for $4.99 at Target.

ImageWearing Jumbo Gloss Balm in Bronze Bling

ImageWearing Jumbo Gloss Balm in Soaked in Wine

Final Thoughts: January ipsy Bag and January Birchbox

I am finally getting back into the swings of things. There are some posts I definitely need to get caught up on.

The theme of the January ipsy Bag was Super Stars. My bag consisted of:

  1. Soho Crease Brush
  2. Sexy Hair Hairspray – deluxe sample
  3. Josie Maran Argan Oil – deluxe sample
  4. Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter – deluxe sample
  5. Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Latte – full size

With the exception of the hair spray, I used everything in the January ipsy bag. I really liked the Soho Crease Brush. The handle had an ergonomic design. This brush was also very effective as a blending brush. The Josie Maran Argan Oil worked wonders on my hair. I was skeptical about the Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter. My skin is drier during the Winter months. The body butter did a good job of moisturizing my skin. The Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Latte is a shade that looks good on everyone. What stood out for me the most from the January ipsy Bag was the crease brush and the argan oil. The Soho Crease Brush was very versatile. I used this brush as a crease, blending, and fluffy shadow brush. The Josie Maran Argan Oil was great. A little goes a long way. My hair is normally drier in the Winter. I could use this oil everyday and not worry about oily buildup.

The theme of the January Birchbox was the Best Year Ever. My box consisted of :

  1.  Amika Color pHerfection Shampoo – deluxe sample
  2. Harvey Prince Skinny Chic – sample
  3. My™ Multi-Purpose Mattifying Moisturizer – deluxe sample
  4. theBalm Cosmetics Hot Mama – deluxe sample
  5. Deborah Lippman the Stripper to go – one mitt

I have definitely seen an improvement with the January Birchbox. I wasn’t sure if I was going to renew my beauty subscription. I really liked the amika Color pHerfection Shampoo.  My hair is dark brown so I couldn’t tell if it prevented my color from fading. The shampoo smelled wonderful and was really gentle on my hair. I liked the Skinny Chic Fragrance. The scent wasn’t overpowering, something I could actually wear everyday. The Multi-Purpose Mattifying Moisturizer really worked. I was impressed with how well the moisturizer controlled the oily shine on my t-zone. The Hot Mama powder worked great as a highlighter on my darker complexion. The last item from the January Birchbox was Stripper to go nail polish remover. One mitt was enough to remove the nail polish from both hands.  There were two items that stood out for me The My™ Multipurpose Mattifying Moisturizer controlled the oily shine without drying out my skin. That was a concern since my skin in normally drier in the Winter months. The item was theBalm® Cosmetics Hot Mama Blush and Highlighter. I used this mostly as a highlighter on my cheekbones and browbone. The color wasn’t ashy on me.

Final thoughts: December ipsy Bag and December Birchbox

December brought a Holiday themed ipsy Bag and Birchbox.

The theme of the December ipsy Bag was Haute Holiday. The bag definitely lived up to that name. My bag consisted of:

  1. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Zero – deluxe size
  2. NYX Ultra Pearl Mania in Silver Pearl – full size
  3. Mai Couture Highlighter Papier – 25 sheets
  4. Be a Bombshell Lip Gloss in Hot Mess – full size
  5. Mirabella Prime for Face and Eyes – full size
  6. $20 Gift Card to JustFab – for new members

I loved everything about the December ipsy Bag. This bag contained everything you needed to look fabulous for the Holidays, whether it was an office party or a Holiday gathering with friends and family. The Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Zero is my all time favorite eyeliner. The NYX Loose Pearl eyeshadow in Silver Pearl was the first time I ever tried a loose eyeshadow from NYX. What a great introduction to this product. I will be buying more loose eyeshadows from NYX in the future. I didn’t know what to expect when I saw the Mai Couture Highlighter Papier. I’m glad I tried it. The highlighter papier gave me a nice luminous glow. The Be A Bombshell lipgloss ended up being a great color on me. I was a little apprehensive at first because it’s red. I never know how red is going to look next to my darker complexion. I can easily wear this color everyday. The Mirabella Face and Lip Primer gave my skin that extra layer of protection needed during the Winter time. It prepped my skin nicely for foundation.

The theme for December’s Birchbox was All Wrapped Up. My box consisted of:

  1. Benefit Cosmetics it’s potent! Eye Cream – deluxe sample
  2. Juicy Couture Fragrance – sample
  3. Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique – sample
  4. ModelCo SHINE Ultra Lip Gloss in Striptease – full size
  5. Emily’s Chocolates Dark Chocolate Peppermint Holiday Fortunes – one cookie

I was rather pleased with the December Birchbox. The Benefit eye cream had a nice rich texture to it. I received a sample of the original Juicy Couture fragrance. This scent is actually my favorite out of all of the fragrances Juicy Couture released. The Keratase leave-in conditioner made my hair soft and easy to comb. I liked the fact the ModelCo SHINE lip gloss came with a mirror. The Emily’s Chocolates fortune cookie was delicious. There were two items from the December Birchbox that stood out for me. The Benefit Cosmetics it’s potent Eye Cream did not disappoint as it minimized the fine lines around my eyes. The ModelCo SHINE Ultra Lip Gloss worked great by itself or over lipstick. The fact I received a full size was a bonus.

A Closer Look: Naked Basics Palette from Urban Decay

When Urban Decay first released the Naked Basics Palette, I wasn’t sure if I was going to buy it. I already have the original Naked Palette and Naked 2 Palette. I didn’t see the point in purchasing the Naked Basics Palette. I did think about this palette having more matte colors though. My opinion changed once I visited my local ULTA and swatched the colors. Great color payoff and the shadows blend so nicely. The compact case with mirror is an extra bonus.

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ImageVenus, Foxy, Walk of Shame, Naked 2, Faint, Crave

Whether you have the original Naked Palette or the Naked 2 Palette, the Naked Basics is a great addition. The matte eyeshadows work great with both palettes. The Naked Basics Palette retails for $27 and can be purchased at ULTA, Sephora, and the Urban Decay website

A Closer Look: Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup from Urban Decay

When Urban Decay first released the Naked Skin foundation, I was glad they included shades for women of color. My local ULTA store didn’t have the darker shades initially. I didn’t want to buy the foundation online either without finding my match. I tried the Naked Skin Foundation once the darker shades came in at ULTA. I was truly amazed at how the foundation blended into my skin. I could tell my complexion was even and the makeup looked really natural on me. More often than not I skip wearing concealer since the coverage of Naked Skin is buildable. To be honest I almost didn’t buy the Naked Skin Foundation because of the price but I am so glad I did.

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My shade is 12.0

Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup retails for $38.00 at ULTA, Sephora and the Urban Decay website.

Final thoughts: November ipsy Bag and November Birchbox

I have definitely made up my mind as far as which beauty subscription service I am going to renew.

The theme for the November ipsy bag was Party Perfect.

My bag consisted of:

  1. Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Millionaire – full size
  2. theBalm® Meet Matt(e) Eyeshadow in Matt Batal – single size
  3. Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Dare Devil – deluxe sample
  4. Starlet Cosmetics Intense Eyeliner in Black – full size
  5. Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel – deluxe sample
  6. JustFab Gift Card – $20 value

With the exception of a couple of things, the November ipsy Bag was almost perfect. The JustFab gift card I couldn’t use since I wasn’t a new customer to JustFab. The next item was the Starlet Cosmetics Intense eyeliner. This eyeliner was okay and it lasted pretty good on my lower lash line. The black eyeliner didn’t seem that intense to me though. The next four items really stood out for me, starting with the Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Millionaire. This was my go to nail polish for the Holiday season. Next was theBalm® Meet Matt(e) eyeshadow in Matte Batali. This dark brown eyeshadow was very pigmented and easy to blend.  I also liked the bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie lipgloss in Dare Devil. The lipgloss was a great color on me. Last is the Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel. My eyebrows aren’t thick and they do their own thing. I applied the eyebrow gel before I filled in my eyebrows with a pencil and they stayed in place all day. The November ipsy Bag was a great way to kick off the Holiday Season.

The theme of the November Birchbox was Give.

My box consisted of:

  1. Masqueology Revitalizing Eye – sample
  2. MCMC Fragrances in Phoenix – sample
  3. Kiehl’s Crème de Corps – deluxe sample
  4. Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer – deluxe sample
  5. Masqueology Masque Cleanse – sample
  6. Masqueology 7 D Moisture Cream – sample
  7. Chromatic Gallerie $15 off coupon

The November Birchbox was okay with the exception of a couple of things. I didn’t like the MCMC fragrance. This fragrance wasn’t something I would normally gravitate towards. I received a $15 off coupon to Chromatic Gallerie. Even with the coupon the shoes were still more than what I would want to pay for shoes. I liked the samples from Masqueology. The revitalizing eye mask did a good job of reducing the fine lines and puffiness around my eyes. The masque cleanse gently cleaned without drying out my skin. The 7 D moisture cream moisturized nicely without being greasy. There were two items that stood out for me in the November Birchbox. First was Kiehl’s Crème de Corps. My skin is naturally dry during the cold weather months. The crème de corps eliminated the dryness I normally get on my knees, elbows, and hands. The next item that stood out was the shimmer liquid luminizer from Stila. A little goes a long way which I really liked.

My Fall Staples

With the Holiday Season in full swing, I figured this is a good time to share my Fall Staples.  I really enjoyed wearing the bold lip colors.

  1. Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup – 12.0
  2. Maybelline Volum’® Express Mega Plush Mascara – Black
  3. theBalm® What’s Your Type “the body builder” mascara – Black
  4. Maybelline Master Shape by Eye Studio Brow Pencil – Deep Brown
  5. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil – Perversion
  6. Be a Bombshell Liquid Eyeliner – Onyx
  7. MAC Lipstick – Hang-up
  8. Covergirl Lip Perfection Lip Color – Enamor
  9. MAC Lipstick – Rebel
  10. MAC Blush – Sweet as Cocoa

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A Closer Look: Makeup Makeovers in 5, 10, 15, 20 Minutes: Expert Secrets for Stunning Transformations by Robert Jones

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I’ve actually had this book for a little while.  I was finding myself in a makeup rut and wanted to get some ideas for changing up my everyday makeup for work. This book features women of different ethnicities. Robert Jones takes a step-by-step approach to the makeup application process.  The pictures are self-explanatory, but he still does a great job of explaining his techniques.

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This book is definitely a must have for those new to makeup application.  Those with more experience will also benefit from this book since is offers great reference material.  Makeup Makeovers in 5, 10, 15, 20 Minutes:  Expert Secrets for Stunning Transformations by Robert Jones can be found in www.bn.com and www.amazon.com.

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My favorite looks from this book:

  • 5 minute makeup look can be found on page 66
  • 10 minute makeup look can be found on page 114
  • 15 minute makeup look can be found on page 172
  • 20 minute makeup look can be found on page 258

If you really want to see these looks, you will have to pick up the book. 😉

Final thoughts: October ipsy Bag and October Birchbox

I am at the halfway point of my beauty subscriptions. Now is the time for me to starting thinking about whether or not I want to renew my subscriptions.

The theme of the October ipsy Bag was “Hello Bombshell”.

My bag consisted of:

  1. The Balm What’s Your Type? “the body builder” Mascara – deluxe sample
  2. Mirenesse Lip Bomb Glossy Lacquer Stain in Bomb 4 – full size
  3. Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment – deluxe sample
  4. Be a Bombshell Eye Liner in Onyx – full size
  5. Coastal Scents Eyeshadow Quad in Set 7
      • Antique Lilac
      • Wisteria
      • Lemon Chiffon
      • Raspberry Tart

Another awesome bag from ipsy! For starters the “body builder” mascara really delivered.  I don’t need to wear false eyelashes with this mascara.  The lip bomb was very pigmented. At first I was concerned if the color was too light. I applied the lip bomb with a little help from a lip liner that was a little darker and the color was fine. The Pequi Oil treatment worked on my natural hair and gave it a nice shine without being greasy. Rocking the winged eyeliner was easy with the Bombshell eyeliner.  The Coastal Scents eyeshadow looked nice next to my darker complexion.  It was nice break from wearing neutral eyeshadow colors. There were two items from the ipsy bag that really stood out for me. Those items were the Balm What’s Your Type “the body builder” mascara and Be a Bombshell Eyeliner.  This was a great combo for dressing up my eyes.

The theme of the October Birchbox was Goop.

My box consisted of:

  1. Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara – deluxe sample
  2. DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer – deluxe sample
  3. Embryolisse Anti-Age Firming Cream – sample
  4. Orofluido™ Beauty Elixir – deluxe sample
  5. Luna LemonZest Bar

I actually liked the October Birchbox.  Hopefully they can remain consistent in providing decent product samples. The Chantecaille mascara gave me full natural looking lashes. I saw a difference in the way my skin looked after using the DDF serum.  My skin did appear smoother. I wish there was more of the Embryolisse sample since it worked great on my combination skin. The Orofluido™ beauty elixir smelled wonderful. I applied it to my hair after I washed it and it made a great leave in conditioner. The Luna bar was actually delicious. I was expecting the bar to taste like cardboard.  There were two items from this box that stood out for me.  The DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer and the Orofluido™ Beauty Elixir. Since the weather in my area has gotten colder, these products prevented my hair and skin from drying out.