I received my Glam Bag from IPSY in the mail today and was pretty excited for my goodies. I already sneaked a peak at my Glam Room so I already knew what I was getting.
If you aren't familiar with Ipsy, it's a beauty subscription services, where you get 4-5 beauty products every month delivered to your door, for just $10. Michelle Phan curates the bags! Check it out here: http://www.ipsy.com/r/bvpt
Here's a picture of what I got along with a random beauty tip:
Here's a video of what I got:
Note: Due to a large number of pictures on my phone I was having difficulty with videos so I get cut off at the end.
All I was saying at the end was my left cheek had the peach color coastal scent's blush and my right had the bright pink. Also I ended by getting closer to my lashes to show the mascara coverage, but on my refuse-to-curl lashes, I really couldn't tell the difference than with other urban decay mascaras I use.
List of products: - Information about the product from Ipsy.com 1. Absolute Lip Balm: "Treat your lips with this ultra-moisturizing lip balm from Absolute New York. This lightly tinted, creamy, conditioning formula softens, smooths, and protects lips for a seriously kissable pout. Discover this must-have balm for sensationally soft and luscious lips! Ipsy subscribers who receive this product will receive either Grape or Green Apple. Weight: 12g" *Again I'm so glad I got green apple. It is so smooth and my lips feel soft! I have pretty dry lips because I need to drink more water throughout the day, so this stuff helps! It doesn't have that weird chapstick after taste either, which is a huge plus for me. 2. Dr. Brandt: Pores No More Pore Refiner
"A cult favorite, Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer is Dr. Brandt’s quick fix for flawless, photo-ready skin. It is the miracle base to create the perfect skin canvas for long-lasting makeup and well-preserved skin. This velvety formula absorbs excess oil, minimizes pores, blurs fine lines and is resistant to sweat and humidity. Prime, touch-up and treat while perfecting your makeup. Weight: .25 oz
Key Benefits: - Minimizes the appearance of pores by diffusing light - Blurs imperfections & lines - Erases shine & mattifies skin - Absorbs oil, reduces shine and helps regulate sebum production - Antibacterial action for a healthy skin - Acts as a shield to prevent make-up from clogging pores"
*Even though I don't have large pores, this primer helps with the extra shine I typically get by midday. I also love that it helps keep my makeup from clogging my pores..because that's awesome and important!
3. Urban Decay:Perversion Mascara
"Bigger. Blacker. Badder.Urban Decay's ultra-creamy, lengthening and volumizing mascara features triple-black pigments and a deeply nourishing ingredient blend. Perversion Mascara gets you sexy in one stroke, yet it won’t quit until you say when.Weight: .1 fl oz"
*This mascara has a nice sized wand for full coverage and applied smoothly. I attempted at curling my lashes prior to putting it on, but they didn't stay curled for long. It does go on thick for my liking so I only applied one layer.
4. Coastal Scents: Forever Blush Sample Duo
"Coastal Scents Forever Blush boasts 18 perfectly pigmented, powder blushes with a long-lasting rush of color. Complete with a mirror, these color-packed compacts go a long way. Weight: 2.5g/ 0.09 oz. Ipsters who sample Coastal Scents blush duo will receive the shades Fresh (Left) and Elegant (Right)."
*I thought the "Elegant" shade (in the video I say dark peachy color) applied much easier than the "Fresh" (sparkly pink) shade. I liked both, but would wear the Elegant shade on a daily basis. The only thing I dislike about getting these individual shades, is that I don't have a palette to put them into. I liked the magnetic empty palette we received in an older glam bag, but I don't think the back of these blushes are magnetic. I'd have to check that out.
5. Lord & Berry: Silk Kajal Kohl Eye Pencil
"Sensual and exotic, that's the effect that Silk Kajal Kohl Eye Pencil delivers. Just like the traditional Kohl, but with the modern ease and control of a pencil. Giving a semi-matte finish that is also smudgeable, Silk Kajal Kohl's soft tip is ophthalmologically-tested and gentle enough to be used on the inner eye. Also available in Nudo and White. Weight: 0.02 oz"
*The sample size is really small, which is a downside...just merely for application. I have small hands but I like having a longer pencil to hold. Also, I don't really do pencil eyeliner because I don't have a sharpener that works, so I only use it until it dulls and then it sits around. As far as application, it went on smoothly. Its very black, which is nice. When they say its "smudgeable" it really is...and not in the good way, when you purposefully want to smudge your eyeliner. Maybe I put it on too thick? I'm not sure. But after about an hour I had smudge marks under my eye (did a cat eye, with no liner on the bottom lash). I fixed it and about another hour later, there were more smudge marks. Ugh...! Anyway, here's a look I created. Its later in the day after the video was shot.
Sweet Elyse is hosting a giveaway of some of her favorite beauty products. She put together a box containing the following items:
- EOS Lipbalm Sphere in Honeysuckle & Melon. - Professional Systems Nail Polishes x 3 to get the perfect French manicure. - I pack of nail tip stickers. - Espirit Nail Polish in clear & Glitter - to make that french manicure super cute. - Sample of Loreal Mythic Oil. - Garnier Lotion Samples - 2 x Handmade Quilted coasters to protect your dressing table from polish spills.
I love the color Champagne and I think its great for summer! Its kind of copper-y, too, so it goes well with my skin tone and my hair color.
I use two coats and top it off with a clear nail polish and I'm good to go! It lasted about a week and then I got bored and changed my nail color (I'm surprised I lasted that long without changing it). I also like this color because I can wear it at work and its perfect for a more professional environment.
I hope to try some more colors soon. What do you recommend if you've tried ELF's polishes?
I was reading through this months edition of Women's Health and an article on sunscreen caught my eye entitled "No More SPF Excuses." I figured it was a relevant read since I just got my Look Bag with all my skin care products that help fight damage due to UV ray exposure, pollution, and what not.
One of the excuses mentioned in the article is "My makeup has SPF in it" which is totally why I don't wear my sunscreen on my face on a normal basis. I even stopped using it at the beach once I got makeup that had SPF in it, because I hate the greasy feeling of sunscreen. How about you? Do you use this same excuse?
That's how I feel.
I was doing some searching online though, and there are lighter formulas of sunblock that don't have such a heavy oil base. That's something I need to look into. Aveena was one of the brands that popped up often, along with Neutrogena.
Apparently, if you are using a mineral powder (I do) then you have to use "ten times the normal amount" to protect your skin with just the single product. WOW. I was definitely guilty of wearing no sunscreen before I got my e.l.f. Mineral Starter Kit which has SPF 15. But then I would just wear this product by itself, thinking I was protected. Then in my May Birchbox I got my Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25+. I feel like I'm set now. The BB cream is a sunscreen, moisturizer, and treatment serum. Its really a great product! Although, recently I've stopped using it because I ran out :( I need to purchase a full size of this ASAP!
Found through a Google Image Search
Do you guys recommend any other BB creams? This one costs $32 for 1.7fl oz. I need a better deal! I mean its obviosly worth the money, so I might wait til I have enough points to buy it. If you'd like to help me out with that you can sign up for Birchbox and I'll get 50 points. That's halfway to $10 off a product. Doesn't that sound like an amazing reward? That's why I love Birchbox! Click here to sign up :D
What other kinds of products do you use to keep your skin protected?
On Monday, I got my little pink bag in the mail and I was anxious to open it!
I was pleasantly surprised at how amazing Myglam's Glam Bag turned out for the month of June. This is only my second month with Myglam and have heard so many mixed reviews on their service. For those of you who haven't heard of Myglam before, it is a monthly (or yearly if you prefer) subscription service for only $10 a month (or $110 for the year and one free month). So what comes in a Glam Bag you ask? A variety of great products! For example, a bag can include 4-5 samples (some full size!) of either lip products, skin care products, hair care products, nail polishes or nail art, eye make up, etc. They've even given out their own brush set previously (for purchase on their pop-up shop).
So I know you are dying to know what was in my bag this month, right?
The bag's theme was "Out All Night" and the products are some essentials that you will need to keep your look long lasting.
The bag itself:
Usually the products come in a makeup bag with various designs, but this month came in an awesome gold glitter clutch. So cute! There was a slight smell to the bag, however I just sprayed mine with body mist to get rid of the smell. Other suggestions included putting the bag in the freezer. Something happened with the manufacturing of the bag and the glue that was used. Easy fix, though!
I really love this product because it gives your skin a refresher! You apply it in the morning and/or evening after your cleanser and it really helps keep your skin feeling good! My face hasn't gotten oily midday since I've started using this product. The nice thing is that the sample size is large enough for multiple uses and you don't have to use a lot of the product. It's so light that it hardly feels like I have anything on.
My sample was 12 mL/.4 fl oz. This product full size is 2 fl oz for $34. I'm not sure if I could afford this, but I definitely won't forget this product for when I actually have money!
#2. NYX: Round Lipstick in Iced Honey "Incredible color that resists wear and smudging, let your lipstick last all night with an amazing velvety smooth, mineral formula"
At first I really loved the color without trying it on and I was stoked about getting a NYX lipstick. Once I actually tried it on, I was disappointed in how much it showed where I bite my lips. I did figure out a way to make it work though! If I use a lip balm before I apply this product it really helps to smooth out my lips or if I use a lip gloss after that helps a lot too. I need to exfoliate my lips, badly! I've been trying to get e.l.f.'s exfoliating lip treatment, but its out of stock currently. I'm not sure how well it actually stays on over time. I haven't worn this lip color enough to really confirm that it can last all night. I definitely think it can be smudged, though. I got a full size in my bag which is worth $4.00.
View from the top.
I really like this rosy color.
Here is the color on my lips (plus my Fresh Rose Tinted Lip Treatment).
#3. Living Proof: frizz Nourishing Styling Cream "Stops frizz in its tracks, keeping all styles frizz-free, soft and smooth. Living Proof's miracle molecule, OFPMA, conquers frizz by blocking humidity without silicone or heavy oils"
Boy do I love and need this product! I have flyaways and frizz that need taming. This product is light enough not to make my hair look oily, which is a problem I have with most hair products. I've only used it once, but I could definitely see a change. I'll try to use it today and post a picture soon.
My sample was 60 mL/ 2 fl oz. Full size is 4 oz for $26. Which isn't too bad. Plus Myglam gives you a coupon for the whole set for $35! Which I might actually buy, since its an great deal.
#4. Marbella: Permanent Eyeliner Pen in Black "Master the art of beautiful eyes with this unique waterproof, smudge free, and long lasting semi-permanent eyeliner pen"
This eyeliner is amazing! It is in fact waterproof, smudge free and semi-permanent. I tried rubbing it off my hand after I swatched it and it was hard to get off! Using soap and water or olive oil will also do the trick, but it came off using my face cleanser too. This liner is easy to apply and goes on smoothly. This eyeliner also has a duo-tip feature, so if one end starts getting dried out you can reverse the tip and use it like new. I also really love this product because I tend to rub my eyes and forget I'm wearing makeup so I smudge my eye liner often. It can be so frustrating, but now I don't have to worry about it! It also came full size which is worth $19!!
Here is a thin and thick line with this liner.
This is after I tried to get the liner off of my hand and its still there. Can you see how its a little red from rubbing so hard? I saw other comments on Myglam's wall of members saying their liner is not waterproof. I guess I got a good one!
Here I have on the Marbella eye liner and the NYX lipstick.
Overall Verdict:
This bag was totally worth $10!! I highly recommend Myglam to anyone. This service is great for those of you who don't have time to shop for makeup, who don't know what works well with your skin/hair type, or those of you looking for products you normally wouldn't shop for.
Face Products: Natio pressed Bronzer/blusher, a Natio translucent powder and a Covergirl eyeshadow quad
Lip Products: Maybelline Baby Lips, Sportsgirl Lipgloss, Natio Lip balm and A Face of Australia lipstick in 'Lychee Crush'.
Nail/Hand Products: 3 bright Ulta3 nail polishes, a Sally Hansen purple crackle polish as well as two other colours, a Sally Hansen nail file and Sally Hansen hand cream
This post is inspired by Myglam's Date Night/Wedding Night Look contest for a Philosophy Fragrance "Love Sweet Love" Set, I decided to try again at the smokey eye with green shades this time.
My e.l.f. Studio 83 Piece Essential Makeup Collection (now only $3.50 until 6/4/12). I used the colors on the left side fourth row. The one second from the top for my brow bone, 4th from the top for my inner eye color, 2nd from the bottom for my crease, outer corner and lower lash line color. I also mixed some of the color (4th from the bottom) to make the outer corner a little darker. The shades look a little more blue in this picture, but they're really green. I used one of the black shimmery shades to the right (cut out of the picture) to line the outer corners of my upper and lower lash line. Lastly, I used the lip gloss third from the bottom on the right side of this palette.
My go to mascara! Makes it much easier to just apply mascara to my outer lashes.
How do you guys like this look? Thanks in advance for your feedback.
So I was watching a random tutorial on youtube and I saw that the woman was using NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil as a primer on her lid, lower lash line, and waterline. I needed a white eye pencil for my waterline anyway so I figured I'd buy one. ULTA had a BOGO sale so I got the color Milk (White) and Pots and Pans (Silver). I saw that many people liked the silver color and I don't have any silver shadows, so I figured I'd have a use for it. They just came in the mail today and I'm excited to use them in the next few days!
Swatches of the pots and pans and milk, respectively.
I'll be updating this post with a review and some pictures of some different ways to use the jumbo pencils.
Along with this purchase I received three free samples! All of which I really love!
The brow kit came with a lighter brown powder and a darker shade to outline the shape. I find that even though I wanted to find a red eyebrow pencil to match my hair, the brown works just fine.
I don't think I can go without the cat eye look since I've started using it, because I really love how it looks and how it elongates my lashes. I've used the following colors from e.l.f.'s Studio Makeup Clutch Palette: a cream color to highlight my brow bone, a brown for my outer lid, and a golden shimmery color for the inner part of my lid. I used my e.l.f. cream eye liner in coffee to line my upper lash line, as well as my e.l.f. exact lash mascara.
Should I apply more shadow? I use e.l.f.'s Mineral Eyeshadow Primer before applying my shadow, but I don't think it makes colors as vivid as some other primers I've seen out there on comparison blogs like "Too Faced Shadow Insurance", "Sobe Botanicals", "Detrivore", "Concrete", "UDPP Original" or "UDPP Sin" (credit to Phyrra).
I still have not found a great angle or amount of lighting to show the color well. This takes time I suppose. If anyone has any helpful tips, please leave a comment below! Maybe its just my crappy point and shoot camera....
Overall look. What do you guys think?
I have another look that I will be posting tomorrow. I think I've actually gotten the smokey eye down! I've watched so many tutorials, by now I should be able to do it, right?
So I really needed to buy a cleaner for my brushes and found two other great items while browsing e.l.f.'s site! The shipping was only 2.95, so I couldn't beat that.
I wanted this set because I needed new tweezers, I wanted to start having a more defined shape to my eye brow, and the setting mascara will really help with my hairs that end up sticking every which way by the end of the day. My eye brows are somewhat thin in certain areas, so the gel and powder will help fill in those areas for a fuller look.
I really need to clean my brushes so I had to buy this. I saw some good reviews and I've had no problems thus far with any of my e.l.f. products. Hopefully it does its job!
I have soo much trouble keeping my lip color so I needed a primer. Unfortunately, my lips aren't very full and since this was a combo, I figured I'd try it out. The primer has helped a ton with making my color last. Because it is so creamy in color, it helps lighten some of my darker lipsticks, so I can wear my Studio Gear Complete Color Lipstick in Cinnabar and it isn't so dark. I have a few deep reds as well that I have been able to lighten up.
I am very pleased, once again, with my purchase from e.l.f. I really recommend their products! :)
I came across this giveaway today and thought it was worth sharing! Pointless Cafe is hosting a giveaway after hitting 1000 followers! Click here to enter the giveaway!
Details:
Prize #1:
"The lucky winner of this one will get to choose one of five sets of Lippy/Polish Duos. Once they've been notified and chosen which set they would like, butter LONDON will be notified and will send directly to the winner."
Prize #2:
"The SECOND PRIZE winner will receive this brand new Lynnderella Connect the Dots!"
Prize #3:
"The THIRD PRIZE winner will receive the Limited Edition Zoya Peter Som Trio, which contains Evvie, Audrey and Katherine!"
I really find this The Beauty Department helpful in giving great makeup tips and ideas to help me branch out of my not-so-existent makeup routine/style. I'm trying to learn a lot more about makeup, what "looks" could be good on me and what I should try to avoid, and products that I can trust and work well for my skin type. I have found some inspiring ideas for new looks and ways to bring out my best features.
Some ideas that I want to try out as soon as I get the proper products:
I like to wear neutral/natural colors most of the time to stay in my comfort zone. I strive to find makeup ideas that I can use when I don't want to look like I have a ton of make up on. I've been told that I look great without makeup, so I try to keep it simple. I think matte contouring is a great way to bring out your eyes without the flair.
This post talks a lot about how the lighter the color you go on your waterline the more it opens up your eye, but also makes a point that if you want your eyes to be piercing, go with black. I have not tried anything other that no color or black (which technically would be nude and black, but I think they actually put on a "nude" liner in the photo).
I'd like to see how the white looks, but I don't think I've found a liner that stays on my water line in white. Any suggestions?
Some helpful tips I found while browsing The Beauty Department:
We learn by the color wheel is that the color directly across from your eye color is what compliments it most. For me that would be a shade of orange, salmon, and possibly the rust color. The site says that by using orange my eyes "will really pop!" I will make a post in the future to try this out. I don't think I have really used orange standalone, but hey, I'm adventurous!
"Accessories are the perfect way to further your form of expression and can really make an outfit come alive. And jewelry is another amazing source of inspiration for your makeup and can be tied together the same way you’d match a red shoe with a red bag or clash a lace top with spiked earrings." - The Beauty Department
As I am trying to be more fashion forward, I found this post to be very helpful! I never thought about matching your makeup to your earrings, rings, or necklaces before. Read the post to find out more! Definitely will post a look inspired by this blog post in the near future!
So, last night I felt like trying out an extended version of the cat eye/winged look. In an earlier post I asked if I should extend my eye liner to the inner corner of my eye. In the pictures below, I have extended my top and bottom lid; however, I think its too dark for my eyes so I should only do the top lid next time.
