FashionStyle: skincare

Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

May Beauty Army Box: A big let down

Hello Lovelies!

After this month I am unsure if I will be continuing my subscription with Beauty Army , because in the past couple of months I haven't had many good products to choose from and a lot of the products have been repeats of what I have already tried. Although there are some products that I do love to receive multiple samples of it is hasn't been worth the $12 a month. I will show the products I received this month but since I didn't receive the greatest selection I honestly won't have a lot to say.

Cotz Face is a mineral sunscreen for natural skin tones with an SPF of 40. The tube I received is absolutely tiny and only included enough for maybe five to ten applications if I am lucky. When I first squeezed the sunscreen out of the tube I was surprised to find it the same shade as my skin tone and I initially tested it on the top of my hand. At first it has an almost mousse like consistency and when blended it turns into a lovely matte finish. This sunscreen would be great for days where you want to skip a couple makeup steps because it also offers a little coverage. I may find myself having to purchase this for this summer.

Once again Beauty Army is filling it's boxes with tiny samples such as this one, they are so small that it's near impossible to give a good review. The Wild Rose Cream is suppose to moisturize and brighten the skin for 24 hours, and it's meant for normal and dry skin types. When I first ripped open the package I noticed that it is heavily scented and kind of smells between something floral and my grandma, I also notice that the majority of the package is not in English. Although this product did make my skin feel quite smooth, I honestly didn't have enough to really offer a good review.

I was honestly curious about the skincare line from Own receiving this small sample has me feeling defeated. Although the statistics of the skin line seems to prove that there products are wonderful I have actually heard a lot of negative reviews recently, and they say it takes up to 8 weeks to see results and this sample definitely will not last that long. Once again I can't really say much about this product which bums me out because I want to be able to fully review everything I receive for everyone.

Another product I can not get any use of is this gel polish from Nail Luv because I do not own a LED or UV lamp which is required and I do not plan to purchase one. Although gel manicures look fabulous I would rather not raise my chance of getting skin cancer in the long run. Using UV lamps frequently for nails has the same effects as using a tanning bed frequently. Although some people don't seem to notice that these beauty regimens are risky, I am the type to avoid things like this. Basically if you do decide to follow this trend please apply sunscreen to your hands before your nail appointment.

Last but not least, these products are ones I have chose before and decided to choose again for lack of better choices. I absolutely love the scanda-lash mascara from Mark, it has become my ultimate favorite because it makes my lashes look fuller and longer in one quick application. Although I do like the Teen Tone Color Touch Eye, Cheek, and Lip Glow, I find myself rarely using it because I do not like cream blushes and I own so many better pink lip products, but it is a very good product for on-the-go or travel purposes because of it's multiple uses.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

February Ipsy Bag and Beauty Army Box

Hello Lovelies!

Ipsy Bag

February's theme is "Red Carpet Ready"

I really hope that next month Ipsy decides to go with a printed bag, because I am very bored with these plain bags, especially this month's cheap vinyl black bag.

During my last little trip to Ulta I spied this mascara from Pop Beauty and considered purchasing and I am glad I didn't because this is a nice size sample of it. This mascara does provide volume for the lashes, but I have noticed a bit of clumping, but if you pair it with the Lash Card that was also a sample this month it works wonderfully.

This Pixi Beauty Primer has become my current favorite, it leaves my skin looking smooth and bright. Lately I have been skipping my foundation routine and just wearing this instead. I was a little concerned at first glance because this primer is not a clear one, but it easily blended into my skin tone and was unnoticeable.

I LOVE Coastal Scents Shadows and have received many samples from them in the past. This month's sample set was called "Glitz & Glamour" and had my favorite shimmery white eye shadow called Candlelight included. These shadows are highly pigmented, easy to blend, and beautiful.

Once again it is the Lash Card, it seems this has become a favorite for subscriptions to provide as samples, although Ipsy's sample is the largest pack I have received yet.

Out of all the samples this month I was most excited to test the MICA Beauty Gel Eyeliner. Eyeliner is an essential to my everyday look and I am always on the search for something better. I do not typically use gel liners as much, but they do work wonders. This liner glides on smoothly and is easy to use if you have a proper brush, but I did notice that it is not pigmented enough for my liking.

Beauty Army Box

Yay! for more Yes To products. I absolutely adore EVERYTHING from this company, and am always excited to get something else to try from them. This body butter is nourishing, non-greasy, moisturizing, long-lasting, and best of all it is 99% natural and paraben free. This company offers something for everyone of all ages, all ethnicities, all skin and hair types, and both men and women.

This happens to be the second Twin Set I have received from Skinn Cosmetics , the first set was the shade of Coral Poppy, and this one is called Pink Tulip. I believe that these shades may be ones specifically offered through Beauty Army because they are not on Skinn's website. Honestly, I think the wet lip gloss end is a waste because it is near impossible to get a decent amount of gloss out of the tube, and it is one of those glosses that leaves your lips feeling quite sticky. At first glance I thought I would never wear the Pink Tulip because it is a bright shade of fuchsia, but I actually like it. I always pair the lipstick with my Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer to make it last a bit longer.

I don't typically choose products like this Olive Natural Beauty Bar because I do not use bar soap, but I didn't have many new options this month so I decided I would give it a chance. When I first pulled this product out of the box I was pleasantly surprised with the adorable little green package it came in, and also surprised that there is no brand markers what so ever on the soap or the package. This soap is suppose to have a lemon and lavender scent, but I do not smell even a hint of lemon in there and it kind of makes me think of my grandma. The bar itself feels quite slippery and oily and I was very hesitant to use it, but it is definitely moisturizing. If you are a person who likes organic products this is definitely something you want to try.

I chose these Boo-Boo Covers because they are something completely different from anything else I have ever tried. They are basically little tattoos to cover your flaws, and I actually attempted to use them to cover my small, yet hated, tattoo. The first thing I noticed about this product is that they only make them in light skin colors, there is barely a variety, and they come on sheets like fake tattoos. All of the shades I received looked overly pink and unnatural, but it says to blend with makeup after application. I applied the lightest portion over my small tattoo and once it was on I noticed that you could still fully see my tattoo through it, and even though I am pale the coloring was terrible. I could possibly blend it in with A LOT of makeup and work, but there are so many better products than this to use, such as Kat Von D's Lock-It Tattoo Concealer.

This S.M.A.R.T Skin Perfecting Mask from Grand Central Beauty was another product I was quite excited to receive. This mask is suppose to smooth, moisturize, detoxify skin, reduce redness, and tone your facial skin. After you go through the process of mixing everything together you apply the mixture to the skin and wait 15 minutes for it to dry, then all you do is gently peel it off. I read many wonderful reviews on this product before testing it, but I am not sure what the hype is about. When I first mixed up this pink concoction I noticed that it doesn't smell that pleasant and once I put it on my face I could barely stand it, to me it had a slight scent of fish. During the whole fifteen minutes I had an itchy sensation on my forehead, underneath my eyes, and all over my cheeks, and I was so exited when it was time to take it off, until I realized how difficult it was to take off. While peeling off the mask it only came off in decent sized chunks around my cheeks and forehead, everywhere else I had to pick at it for what felt like forever, and when I was finally finished my face was red and itchy. I did notice that my skin was much softer and moisturized though. The night I tested this I went to bed not long after getting the mask all washed off and when I woke up in the morning my skin was terrible, it appeared oily, and I had mini breakouts all over. I know everyone is different, but after my little trial with this product I couldn't recommend it to anyone.

Yes, it is yet another eye shadow from Whip Hand Cosmetics. This eye shadow is called Medal of Honor and it is a shimmery gold shade. Like I have said in the past I still absolutely hate these little containers because it makes a mess and I end up unintentionally wasting it. The shadow itself is highly pigmented and easily blendable, but the container makes me reach for it less often.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Ulta Haul

Hello Lovelies!

On Friday night I got a little break from my regular schedule and got the chance to go get some dinner with my love at Buffalo Wild Wings. After our dinner I decided that I wanted to head to Ulta for the first time, I have shopped around online but before Friday I have never stepped foot in the actual store, which I like to call heaven. Now, I wasn't sure what to expect but if you have never been there and you have a fondness for hair and makeup you definitely need to make the trip. Before today I thought of Sephora as heaven, but Ulta has quickly became my favorite.

Before I get into sharing the items that I purchased from Ulta I must explain my hauls are going to be a bit different from a lot of beauty gurus. Now I follow a fair share of beauty gurus on Youtube and on here and a lot of them really go all out when they do hauls, and they spend quite a chunk of money, but I can't do that. Now, I am not going to give you some sob story of how difficult my life is because there is a lot of people in this world who don't even have what I do, but basically I am a young mother working to take care of my two children that has an immense passion for fashion and beauty. I am hoping some day I will be able to share my gift and passion with more people, but for now this blog, my Youtube channel, and my Polyvore account (it's almost like a dress up for adults) is my way to do that.

Anyways, now onto the couple of products I decided I couldn't go without today.

I am a huge fan of a lot of products from Urban Decay and I have made many small purchases from them, and I have received samples, but I have always lusted after the Naked palettes, so today I finally brought myself to purchase one. Now it took me a little bit of wandering before I finally settled on getting Naked 2, I honestly want both, but I DEFINITELY can not afford that. I do love all of the different shades that both palettes offer, but I went for Naked 2 because of the shades called Blackout and Pistol.

I fell in love with Benefit Cosmetics because of there amazing graphics and artwork and then I got the chance to try a couple products from them and that solidified my love for the company. Not only does Benefit offer wonderful makeup, but they have a spectacular like of skincare products for pretty much everyone. One of the first products I was able to test was the foamingly clean facial wash, and I have never came across a better face wash, so I decided I had to purchase a full size bottle of it. The Foamingly Clean Face Wash cleanses skin, removes makeup and impurities with a soft, gentle lather. I also love the Refined Finish Facial Polish, but I will leave purchasing that for another day.

Since I absolutely love cosmetics I have heard of Too Faced many times, but because I am just recently starting to really expand my collection I have never purchased anything from them before. I know they are a good company and they have high quality products, but I decided to try this little sample set of five products. Included in this set is Lashgasm Mascara, Shadow Insurance, Glamour Gloss in Sheer Lilac, Lip Insurance, and Primed & Poreless. The Lashgasm works wonders at making your lashes look longer and it doesn't clump up, I wish it would make my lashes look a bit thicker though. I personally feel that an eye shadow primer is a necessary to create a sleek "flawless" look and I believe the Shadow Insurance works very well, my shadow lasted longer and I had no issues with creasing or smudging of my shadow or my eyeliner. I am not a huge fan of the shade of Glamour Gloss that was included in this set because I am so pale it didn't work well with my skin color, but the gloss lasted long, wasn't sticky, and had a pleasant minty sensation. Before I applied the lip gloss I used the Lip Insurance that was included in the set which helps create a smooth application that lasts longer and provides a good base for color. I feel the same about skin primer that I do about eye shadow primer, so of course I loved the Primer & Poreless which helps minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines. Overall this set is a good beginner set, sample set, or even a gift, that almost every makeup lover could easily enjoy.

I mentioned in my last tutorial that I somehow managed to lose my last brush for teasing and shaping so I picked up this simple and cheap one here. I use it to help tease when creating either pompadours (poofs), victory rolls, and when I am lusting after a more voluminous look.

After we left Ulta we decided to stop at our local Walmart and wander around for a bit because I had a couple simple things to pickup, and since I work at Walmart I get a little discount. Typically, when I am just wandering aimlessly through the store I tend to thoroughly check out the makeup department and I always stumble upon something I must purchase. This little palette here is from Hard Candy, and it's the Top Ten Eye Shadow Palette in neutral shades. All of the shades are shimmery and so far I have loved it. Hard Candy is definitely a cheaper alternative that has some decent makeup, I use the Glamouflauge concealer almost on a daily basis.

A little look I created with my purchases..... (Check out the Marvel t-shirt!!)

Sunday, January 20, 2013

January Beauty Army Box and Ipsy Bag

Hello Lovelies!

This month seems to be going by very quickly and it is time to review my monthly subscriptions and give you guys an update on what's going on at the moment and what will be coming next. Before I begin my little review I would like to share some information with everyone. Lately I have been working on revamping my blog to make it more appealing for everyone, and hopefully within the month I should have some wonderful new custom graphics. If you have any suggestions at all feel free to comment or email me at briannagrim@gmail.com.

Do you like the hairstyles pictured above? If so then you will love the tutorials I am about to begin filming, I will be working on a couple different hairstyle tutorials all including a lovely victory roll so stay tuned.

Ipsy Bag

This month's theme was "Super Star" and was filled with quite the variety of products. The bag itself is a dark blue with a star print on the inside of the bag, it's nice, but I am getting quite bored with getting plain bags, I'm ready for a lovely print. (I am crossing my fingers for something vintage inspired.)

When I opened the package my first thought was, Yay! another makeup brush from SOHO! I received a SoHo Smudge Brush back in September 2012 from Ipsy and absolutely love it and use it on nearly a daily basis, so to add an eyeliner brush from them to my collection is quite exciting. This brush's shape includes a wonderful grip for klutzy women like me whom happen to drop their brushes a lot.

I myself feel that the right hairspray can make or break a hairstyle, and Big Sexy Hair's hairspray is wonderful, a little pricey for my taste considering I go through hairspray very quickly but it works very well. It is quite easy to go overboard with this spray and make your hair very stiff, so remember just a little goes a long way.

Since I am a "pin up girl" red lipstick and red nail polish are staples in my signature look and I am always on the lookout for better products to test and this month I received a lovely red nail polish from Tini Beauty called Bloody Mary. Now, the last polish I received from Tini Beauty that I reviewed I was not a fan of, it was a glittery polish in green and gold, but this one is wonderful. This polish only requires one application for a solid red color, and it dries quickly. I typically use a top coat when doing my nails but I wanted to test it's durability without one and it lasted three days with no chips. This nail polish definitely improves my outlook on Tini Beauty.

Like most people at this point I am definitely ready for spring and summer to come, and this Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter from Pacifica makes me even more impatient. Typically I am not a fan of orange scented items, but I absolutely adore the scent of this lotion, it has notes of orange which is offset with scents of strawberry and raspberry. I am very picky when it comes to lotions because I do have sensitive skin but my skin had no issue with this lotion and it doesn't leave that nasty greasy feeling some scented lotions leave behind.

Obviously, oils such as this argan oil from Josie Maran Cosmetics have been trending in the past year or so and I have received a lot of them with my subscriptions. This argan oil has many different uses which include skin moisturizer, skin treatment, split end treatment, and cuticle softener. I have yet to test all of it's uses but I did test it on my freshly dyed Ruby Rush hair and it did make my hair very soft yet a little greasy. I have yet to notice any difference in my split ends but I do like how soft this oil makes it and that my hair is a little less frizzy on its bad days.

Beauty Army Box

As you can see from this picture this month was Beauty Army's birthday so they included an extra choice this month and I decided to go with the Mark scanda-lash mascara in brown. I rarely purchase brown mascara, but I do like it for more natural looks so I decided to go with brown this time. This mascara separates the lashes wonderfully and is perfect for a more subtle natural look.

Apparently products from Mark have been a favorite for Beauty Army, last month I received this red Mark glow baby glow gloss and this month I not only received the mascara but this pink gloss called Honey, which nicely hook together. This gloss is another product great for a subtle natural look or a colorful eye and nude lip combination. Just like the red glow baby glow this gloss is wonderfully pigmented, non-sticky and quite long lasting.

The past couple months have been quite hectic in my household and honestly I do not make enough money to really have a true spa day so products like these firming eye gels from Skyn Iceland are very welcomed as samples. Now I did find these soothing for about a total of ten minutes and my eyes felt a little refreshed after, but they are definitely not worth $30 for only eight in a pack. They are suppose to tone de-puff under eye skin within ten minutes, but honestly I didn't even notice a physical difference.

Like I have stated many of times in my posts I am not a fan of small foil samples such as this serum and moisturizer from Enspri Skincare because there is not enough in them to really make a judgement on the product. I did test them but within one application I seen no difference between them and any other average serums and moisturizers.

As you can probably see from my other posts I am a HUGE fan of the Yes to... products, so I was excited to be able to try something new from them. Now once again back to the foil packet issue, but I did feel refreshed after using this eye treatment and noticed a slight difference, and I have full faith in all of the products from their arsenal. This company is known for their wonderful, hard working, natural products that have rave reviews from customers.

Simple enough this Lash Card is meant to prevent clumping and smudging of mascara and it is nice to have on hand, but I honestly do not see the point of wasting money on the product unless you absolutely can not apply mascara without causing a disaster.

Yet another small sample of Whip Hand Cosmetics Camo Collection eyeshadow, this shadow is a beige shade called Air Force. Like explained before this shadow blends well and works well for natural looks, but I really would like a better selection of makeup products then what Beauty Army has been offering lately.

Now, this picture is of a simple subtle two minute look I created using the Mark Scanda-Lash Brown Mascara, the Air Force shadow from Whip Hand Cosmetics, and the Mark Glow Baby Glow Lipgloss in the shade of Honey.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

My favorite CHEAP Beauty Products

Hello!

Like I stated in my last post I will be sharing with you a list of my favorite cheap beauty products, most can be purchased at drugstores. I absolutely adore doing my hair and makeup and it's important to me to look good, but I feel so much better doing that with products I don't have to break the bank on.

Skincare-