Benefit Hello Flawless Powder Cover-Up Review

As a general rule, I’m truly very happy with my skin.  I feel extremely lucky that I have very few skin problems.

That being said, I do have a couple of flaws that need attention from time to time.  One of those issues is redness due to sun damage.

I don’t always feel like putting liquid makeup on my face, like bb cream, foundation, or tinted moisturizer, however, I noticed many powders are often too sheer to really cover up problem areas.

So I was officially on the hunt to find a powder that would be strong enough to cover up my redness.

My first thought was to trying Bare Minerals Original Foundation Powder since it works great for my mom.  However, after trying it out at Ulta, I quickly realized it was not the right product for me.

But then the rep from Ulta recommended I try Benefit’s Hello Flawless Powder Cover-Up.  And I was very pleased with the results!

I have the shade Honey (I’m Cute As A Bunny), which is a nearly perfect color match for me!

I adore the packaging of this compact.  It’s white and black with a cute polka-dot frame on the top.

It comes with an attached mirror, which is great for touch ups on the go.

Also, you can lift up the pan to expose a small storage space where the applicator sponge and brush live.

But we warned, the included “brush” is worthless.  Don’t use it.

The sponge is use for more concentrated coverage in problem areas.  Which is great, but we all know a sponge can be difficult to clean, so I expect to replace it in the near future.  However, since I’ve been using this powder compact fairly regularly, I find I don’t really use the sponge very often.

In my opinion, I think this powder gives fantastic coverage!  It really covers up the majority of the redness in my face.

Most of the time, I apply the powder with my E.L.F. Studio Complexion Brush and only use the sponge if I really need extra coverage for a problem area.  But most days, I just use my brush to apply a little extra powder in those areas, and I’m truly good to go.

I think it applies and blends really easily, and I’ve really not have any problems with it clinging to dry patches.  And it doesn’t look cakey, either, even when I apply it heavily to certain areas.

The only thing I don’t care for with application is that I’ll have huge clouds of makeup puff up as I push my brush into the powder compact.  Like, so much so, you would think I was using a loose powder.  It’s kind of crazy.  It makes me cough.

And I don’t think it’s the brush I’m using – I can use the same brush with my Rimmel Stay Matte powder and not have that problem.

Speaking of which, I wouldn’t say this Benefit powder keeps my skin looking matte.  Unlike when I use Rimmel Stay Matte, I find I’m looking really shiny about 4-5 hours later.

 

Here’s the before and after shot:

In the “After” shot, I used the sponge applicator on my cheek area, and used my E.L.F. Studio Complexion Brush to apply the powder everywhere else.

 

Overall, I’m generally very pleased with this powder cover-up, and I find myself reaching for it often.

It retails for $34.00, which is a pretty expensive for a powder compact.  However, if you’re really struggling to find a powder that can cover up problem areas, you may find this product is worth it.

Also, for any Birchbox subscribers, it’s available in the Birchbox shop, so it’s a great item to have points and discounts applied to!

Have you tried the Benefit Hello Flawless Powder Cover-Up?  What did you think?

 

 

 

Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss Review

I think I should have named my blog “Confessions of a Lip Gloss Addict”.  🙂

It seems like every other review I do is a lip product!  But I can’t help it!  I LOVE LIP PRODUCTS!  Especially glosses and lacquers – my weakness!

I had purchased Benefit’s Ultra Plush lip gloss in Sugarbomb from the Birchbox shop quite some time ago, and I just recently acquired a sample of Coralista as well.  The Coralista sample came in a little sample pack of Benefit goodies when you purchased $40 worth of Benefit products from Ulta… twist my arm!!  haha!

Sugarbomb is a shimmery mauve with brown undertones, and Coralista is an orange-y coral.  While both colors are very sheer, you can see that Sugarbomb has a little bit more substance compared to Coralista.

 

Swatches:  Left- Sugarbomb, Right – Coralista

The first thing I noticed about these glosses was the delightful scent!  It smelled light and fresh and really fruity!  So many lip products either smell like sugary vanilla or minty.  So to have a lip product that smells like sweet summer fruit was really refreshing and unique.

The formula was very smooth – even with Sugarbomb which is very shimmery.  It still had a few smooth texture – I never felt any gritty shimmery bits.  Both shades also had a pretty decent level of shine.  And there was really no stickiness and no tacky feeling as I continued to wear it.

However, speaking of wear time, it was not very impressive.  I think I got maybe two hours before it had completely worn off.  *womp, womp*

Also, the applicator really isn’t my favorite at all.  The little squeeze tube just isn’t my thing.  So I usually just squeeze a little dot onto my fingertip and applying it with my finger – which is messy. 

While any lip gloss is fairly moisturizing, mostly because it’s a slick product that it makes your lips feel not so dry, this particular gloss formula felt like it just sat on top of my lips.  So while my lips certainly didn’t feel dry, they really didn’t feel at all hydrated or nourished.  So when the gloss wore off, I felt like I was in desperate need of lip balm.

So here’s how the two shades looked on me:

 

Sugarbomb

  

 

Coralista

  

 

Of the two shades, Coralista is my favorite.  I felt the warmer coral color better complimented my skin tone and I liked that it wasn’t shimmery.  It’s a shame it didn’t have a longer wear time.

These Ultra Plush lip glosses retail for $16.00 each and can be found at Ulta, Sephora, and the Birchbox shop!

While I love lip gloss, I’m not sure these rank very high for me.  I think they’re just okay.  And a little too expensive for a sheer and short-lasting formula.

 

Have you tried any of the Benefit Ultra Plush lip glosses?  What were your thoughts?

Also has anyone tried the correlating blushes that match these lip glosses?

Benefit Watt’s Up Review

As a general rule, I’ve pretty much stayed away from highlighting/illuminating products.  Since I have fairly oily skin and rarely wear any makeup on my skin (like foundation, powder, etc), I feel like I’m plenty shiny as it is.

However, I was getting ready to go out the other day and I wanted a little extra something for my makeup.  After a little bit of digging, I discovered this sample of Benefit’s Watt’s Up highlighter that was buried down in the depths of my makeup drawer.

So I decided to give it a whirl, and I was pretty pleased with the results!

 

Watt’s Up is a soft focus highlighter stick that comes in a shimmery champagne shade.

It applies like a cream that you can literally draw onto your face from the stick applicator, and it dries to a smooth powder finish that feels weightless on your skin.  There is no wet or sticky feeling on your skin either.  Even as a cream, it’s not very wet, and I really like that.  And it blended really easily.  I just used my finger to blend.

It’s also not too shimmery, which was something I was worried about.  I don’t like a lot of shimmer in my makeup.

I found that it lasts pretty much all day, but it does fade a little as the day goes on.

 

Here are the Before and After photos.  In the Before photo, I’m only wearing blush.  In the After photo, Watt’s Up has been applied and blended across the top of my cheek bone.

  

What I like the most is how subtle it is.  It’s more of a glow than a shimmer.

In fact, if you find that you’re having a hard time achieving that perfect summer glow in your makeup routine, try adding a quick swipe of Watt’s Up and I’ll bet you’ll find the results you’ve been looking for.  🙂

 

Just an FYI, this is what the full size version looks like (photo credit: Birchbox.com).  It has a little blending sponge on the bottom end, but I thought the product blended really easily with just fingers.

 

Overall, I do like this product and I’m glad I dug it out of the bottom of my makeup drawer.  While I don’t think this will be a product I use every day, I think I’ll be using it on days when I need a little extra something.

Do you guys use highlighers or illuminators?  Have you tried Watt’s Up?

A Party Look

Happy Monday, sweet readers!  I’m sorry to tell you that I don’t have a Manicure Monday post this week.  But I still have things to share with you!

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend an invite-only rooftop party in Uptown Charlotte.

Compared to most parties that I’m used to attending, this one was a bit swankier, so I wanted to make sure I looked my best.  And that, for me, meant full makeup.

And, you know, a sun burn across my upper arms…

I did attempt to do my hair, however it didn’t turn out quite how in wanted it to.  But at that point in the evening, I was pretty much out of time to re-do my hair.  So it was what it was.  🙂

 

So here are the makeup products I used to create my look.

I went simple, but classic – a smooth base, defined eyes with a sweep of shimmer, and red lips.

Clinique SuperBalanced Foundation in Alabaster (full review coming up on the blog!)

Benefit Fake Up Concealer in Light

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Sandstorm

Elizabeth Mott Pop! Goes the Shadow in Champagne

Stila Smudge Stick in Stargazer

MAC False Lash Extreme Black Mascara (full review coming up on the blog!)

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Achiote

Revlon Lacquer Balm in Enticing

Oh!  And I forgot to take a photo of this, but I used Zoya Marina on my nails.  I only used one coat of polish.  I wanted that dusty dark blue so it would match my dress, but not super intensely pigmented.  One coat was perfect.

 

Here’s a photo of me and my fella at the party.  It’s not the greatest photo as it was taken with a cell phone and it was pretty dark.

All in all, we had a lovely time at the party.  My makeup stayed in place all night (though my lips needed the occasional touch up) and I made the right call on wearing flats instead of heels!  haha!

If you’re interested in my outfit, I wore this dress and these shoes in Bone.

I hope you all had a fun and relaxing weekend!

Birchbox February 2014 Review

I’m feeling very uninspired by Birchbox lately.  I have noticed that since I changed to the yearly subscription, instead of paying month to month, I’ve noticed that my boxes have not been as exciting.  Has anyone else on the yearly subscription noticed that too, or is it just me?

Also, I apologize in advance for not having the sample values and overall box total value listed this month.  Two of my samples didn’t show have their weight listed, which made things difficult.

** Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription box that sends you “high end beauty, grooming and lifestyle samples” that have been customized for you through your beauty profile. You can easily earn loyalty points which can then be used as $$ toward your purchase of full-sized products. The cost of a Birchbox subscription is $10/month. **

Goodies received:

 

Benefit Big Easy in 03 Light/Medium

I disliked how teeny tiny this sample was.  I was able to use it on about half my face (sorry, I didn’t take a photo).  It makes it so difficult to decide if a product will really work for you.

However, since I was able to apply a little bit to my face, I did find that I enjoyed the texture of this foundation.  I thought it was, indeed, very lightweight.  The “liquid to powder” claim seems fairly accurate as my face didn’t feel too wet after applying.

I would say that this product provides light coverage, but it’s hard to say that definitively as I had so little product to work with.  So I can’t tell you how the product looks or feels if you build it up a bit.

On my hand swatch, the coloring pulls fairly yellow, but on my face, it wasn’t so extreme.

I didn’t leave the makeup on my face for very long (again, I only had it on half of my face), so I can’t really say for sure how long it controlled oil production and things like that.

 

Benefit It’s Potent Eye Cream

I already own this Benefit eye cream and did a full review here, if you’d like to read it.  So this delightful little sample will be going to my mom!  I have to say I was very pleased to see such lovely packaging for a sample!  It’s a little glass jar for crying out loud!  🙂

 

W3LL PEOPLE Universalist Multi-Use Color Stick in Dusty Rose

I wish this sample packaging was in stick form – like the actual full-sized product.  Oh, well.  But I do love that it’s completely free of parabens, artificial chemicals, petroleums, fragrances, and dyes.  Good stuff, good stuff.

  

I liked this multi-use formula as a lip color.  It was moisturizing and added light color (Dusty Rose looked a little coral on me).  And lasted about 4-5 hours without eating or drinking.

However, as a cheek color, I found it to be a little too wet or tacky or something.  It’s hard to describe, but I just didn’t care for the way it felt on my cheeks.  And I say that as a big fan of cream blushes.

  

This product didn’t have the strongest pigmentation.  My lips show about 4 layers of product and my cheeks have two layers.  I didn’t want to build up the color any further on my cheeks simply because I wasn’t a fan of the texture on my skin as it was.

 

Juicy Couture La La Malibu Perfume

I’m so, so picky about perfumes so it’s almost not fair for me to review them.  But for me, this perfume seemed very “high school”.  Slightly juvenile, but like you’re trying to be an adult.  I don’t know.  It’s fairly sweet smelling, and I’m not a big fan of that.  It’s certainly not the worst smelling perfume (it has some citrus notes, which I do enjoy), but it’s far from something I would enjoy wearing on a regular basis.

Again, take my perfume opinion with a grain of salt as I have only ever encountered THREE perfumes in my entire life that I enjoyed enough to actually purchase.

 

Serge Normant Dry Conditioner

I don’t ever have “day two” hair because my scalp and roots are too oily not to wash every day.  But for the sake of this blog, before I took my shower, I brushed my hair to smooth out any tangles and sprayed this dry conditioner on my ends.

This dry conditioner and I did not play well together.

The first thing I noticed was the smell.  It started off nice, but then grew to be so strong, it gave me an instant headache.  And the smell lingered for hours… until I washed my hair.

Additionally, it did not really add any softness or shine to my hair.  In fact, I would say it made my hair look dull.  Worse than before I put it into my hair.

 

Overall, this wasn’t the worst Birchbox ever, but it wasn’t the best either.  Perhaps I would have been more excited if I didn’t already own the eye cream and also received a larger sample of the Big Easy foundation stuff.

How was your February Birchbox?  Get anything exciting?  As always, I’m looking forward to next month!

Benefit They’re Real Mascara Review

I finally decided to try Benefit They’re Real mascara.  My mom was nice enough to give me this deluxe-sized sample after purchasing a full size for herself.  This mascara has become a fast cult favorite in the beauty world.  So I was excited to try it.

    

The large applicator brush has rubber bristles, which is not my preference.  On that note, these rubber bristles were longer than other rubber bristles that I’ve used previously (compared to mascaras like CoverGirl Lash Blast).

The applicator brush also had spiky bristles at the top which is used for vertical application to curl and separate lashes.

 

These are my lashes without any makeup.  The only thing I’ve done is curl them.

 

These are my lashes with a few coats of They’re Real mascara.

   

So let’s talk about the things I like first:

I think the best thing about this mascara is its ability to lengthen lashes.  That is what stood out to me the most.  Additionally, it added a healthy amount of volume too.

I also like that the color is a nice, deep, true black.

And I have not experienced any smudging with this product, and I’ve been using it for about a week.

While other people have said it’s difficult to remove this mascara, I haven’t had a problem.  I think my eye area is oily, just like the rest of my skin, so that may work to my benefit.  I use water and my regular face wash (Clean & Clear Daily Pore Cleanser) to remove the product.

Now let’s talk about the things that I don’t like:

I’m not a huge fan of the way the formula feels.  It’s a little  soft and waxy and when it’s humid outside, which is quite often in the Carolinas, it starts to feel a little odd.  It’s hard to explain, but I don’t like it.

The rubber bristles poke and scrape on my waterlines during application.  To be clear, it’s not painful to apply this mascara, but I feel it’s unnecessary poking and certainly not something I experience with other mascaras.

It’s difficult to apply to my lower lashes.  For whatever reason, the applicator bristles don’t seem to want to grab my lower lashes.  It look many coats to get my bottom lashes to look the way they do in these photos.

The spiky bristles at the top of the brush that should be adding definition by separating the lashes ended up causing major clumps for me.  So I don’t even use that feature now.

Additionally, I think the formula is becoming more clumpy as I continue to use it.

Overall, I like this mascara, but I don’t love it.  (I think I’ve said that exact same thing on all three of my recent mascara reviews!).

I do think my lashes look nice, but there are things happening with this mascara that go beyond what it looks like for me.

I keep waiting for a mascara to come along and completely sweep me off my feet, but it hasn’t happened yet.  But I will continue looking for the right one for me!

Have you tried They’re Real?  What do you think?

 

Holly Golightly Halloween Costume

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I hope everyone is having a fantastically spooky day!

This year I decided to go as Audrey Hepburn/ Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It’s a very simple costume and makeup, and it’s recognizable even if you only see me from the waist up (this is important because my desk at work is behind a window, so people can usually only see me from the waist up).

Also, please excuse my bangs in the photos.  My boyfriend/photographer didn’t inform me that my bangs had gone crazy and my cowlick had a mind of it’s own.   🙂

 

    

 

 

    

 

Hair & Accessories used to create my look:

High sock bun hairstyle

Small tiara

Pearl necklaces

Sparkly earrings

Opera length black gloves

Large sunglasses, coffee cup, and croissant (optional)

 

    

 

This is the makeup I used to create my look –

Face:

Benefit Fake Up concealer in Light (used on under eye area)

Skinn Color Touch creme blush in Teen Tone

Chella Highlighter (used on outer corner of eyes, top of cheeks, down nose, and over Cupid’s bow of lips)

 

Brows: 

Victoria Jackson eye brow pencil in Taupe

 

Eyes:

Eyeko Skinny liquid eyeliner pen in Black (to create a cat eye)

ELF everyday false eyelashes (Pack comes with 2 sets of lashes, tweezers, and glue.  I recommend using a different glue.)

Smashbox Photo Op Eye Brightening Mascara (on lower lashes and lightly on false lashes to add darkness)

Cargo eye shadow in Frolic (a light shading on lower lid to add depth)

Cargo eye shadow in Crisp (under brow bone to highlight)

 

Lips:

Model Co. Illusion lip liner in Nude

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon (I believe this is a discontinued color, but I think you can still purchase it on Amazon)

 

I’m having a lot of fun with this costume, and I’d love to know what your costume is this year!

Birchbox October 2013 Review

It’s time for another Birchbox!  I’ve been so happy with my Birchbox subscription, I decided to take the plunge and purchase a year’s subscription!  I’m excited!

** Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription box that sends you “high end beauty, grooming and lifestyle samples” that have been customized for you through your beauty profile. You can easily earn loyalty points which can then be used as $$ toward your purchase of full-sized products. The cost of a Birchbox subscription is $10/month. **

Goodies received:

 

POP Beauty Aqua Lacquer in Flowering Fuchsia

Full size = $14.00 (received full size)

 

I was very excited to see this lip gloss in my box!  This is a very sheer lip gloss, and Flowering Fuchsia is a hot pink hue, but still is wearable for every day.

The applicator is very unique.  It’s a plastic spatula or paddle shaped applicator.  It says it’s designed for more precise application, but in my opinion, it didn’t make much of a difference compared to the regular sponge or brush applicators.

The formula is very smooth and not super sticky.  I wouldn’t say it’s the least sticky formula I’ve ever tried, but it was good.  In my experience, high shine glosses (which this one is) are always going to be a little sticky.

But what really impressed me was the staying-power.  After 4 hours of wear, the sheer color was still very visible and my lips were still very shiny.  It came off after eating and wiping my mouth with a napkin, of course, but I think it would have lasted several more hours had I not taken my lunch break.

 

Benefit Fake Up in Light

Full size = $24.00, Sample value = $2.00

  

This is an interesting concept for concealer.  The makeup, which is in a lipstick-like tube, is surrounded by a thick, hydrating moisturizer.  The idea is that your under eye area stays hydrated and fine lines are softened while the makeup brightens the area, making you look more awake and refreshed.

I think the concealer needs to be set with a powder.  While my skin of my under eyes felt very hydrated, it also felt clammy and moist from the moisturizer.  I’m assuming that would have been better had I applied some powder.

I would probably classify this concealer as medium coverage.  But it blended smooth and easy, and seemed to last all day.  There was no cracking or caking at all.  While I don’t think I have any dark circles to conceal, I would absolutely say it brightened up my eye area.

 

Chapstick Hydration Lock in Vanilla Cream

Full size = $2.99 (received full size)

Normally, I am a Blistex girl.  Chapstick was never really my brand.  But I have to say that I was super impressed with this Chapstick product!

The formula went on super smooth over my lips and made them very, very soft and hydrated.  It’s a thick formula but it’s still very easy to apply.  There was no tugging as I swiped it across my lips.

Also, I’m really not a fan of anything vanilla scented, but this scent was very low key and was barely noticeable.

For me, this Chapstick lasted several hours.  Did it last 8 hours?  No, that’s a stretch.  But it did last maybe 3-4.

I would absolutely buy this product in the future, and Birchbox to put a $1.00 off coupon in my box!

 

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Full size = $21.50, Sample value = $6.52

This cleanser is similar to a cold cream.  You gently rub it onto your (dry) skin and remove it with a wet cloth and it will perform a deep, but gentle cleanse, removing dirt and makeup, even waterproof makeup.

Apparently this product is a very popular item, but for me, it didn’t blow me away.  Yes, it removed my eye makeup, but I prefer to use a gentle foaming lather face wash with my hands, which also removes my eye make up.

I will probably give the rest of my sample to my mom.

 

Liz Earle Pure Muslin Cloth

Full size = $6.00, Sample value = $3.00

This muslin cloth is to be used to wipe away the above cleanser.  You run this cloth under hot water, wring it out, and wipe your face.  It will provide a gentle exfoliation while removing dirt and makeup.

I didn’t feel like my skin felt particularly “radiant” after using the cleanser and this cloth.  In fact, I felt the need to wash my face with my regular stuff right after.

As I mentioned above, I was my face with my hands.  I don’t like using washcloths or any fabrics on my face.  I don’t really know why.  I just don’t.  So this will also go to my mom because she does use a washcloth to wash her face, and even if she doesn’t use to the cleanser, I imagine this muslin cloth might be more gentle than the average washcloth.

I will say, the cleanser and cloth came in a gorgeous, sturdy, well-made blue box that will most definitely be re-purposed.

 

Overall, this was a good Birchbox.  Not the best, but definitely good.  Also a pretty good value.  I paid $10, and the total box value was $28.51!

I’m excited see what Birchbox sends me over the next YEAR!

 

Benefit It’s Potent! Eye Cream Review

I’ve never used an eye cream before.  But now that I’m 29, I decided that it’s time, mostly for preventative anti-aging measures.

I was at a expo show a couple weeks ago Benefit had a booth set up there.  After talking with a consultant and sampling a few products, I decided to purchase the It’s Potent! eye cream.

This eye cream claims to reduce dark circles and smooth fine lines, restore elasticity and firmness, and help protect the delicate under eye skin from free radical damage.

  

I think the packaging is very cute –  a petite glass jar with a blue/green tint, and a faux-cork lid.

And the product appears thick and rich and heavy.  There is no real scent or smell to the cream as it is fragrance-free.

I take a tiny bit of product and gentle apply it to my under eye area and up outside area of my eyes.

Surprisingly, the cream feels very lightweight when applied to my skin.  It’s smooth and creamy, and absorbs quickly.  It leaves behind no stickiness, nor does it make my under-eye area look too shiny.

Sometimes, if I’m not careful, I’ll notice that my mascara has rubbed off my lower lashes and is instead slightly smudged onto my under eye area.  But it’s not every time.  It might mean I need to use a waterproof mascara on my lower lashes.

I can’t comment on its effectiveness on dark circles – I don’t really have any.  Again, I’m using this product more to take preventative measures against the signs of aging.

But my under eyes do seem to stay hydrated all day (I will admit that I wasn’t really have a problem with them feeling dry to begin with) and it never feels greasy or oily.  Like a good moisturizer, I forget that I’m even wearing it.

I have only worn this eye cream during the day.  I have not worn it at night, however, you can use it as a night cream.

I’ve been using this eye cream for about two weeks and I’m currently content with it.  I’m not sure I’m in love with it, so I would probably do some more shopping around before I re-purchased it.

Now don’t misunderstand – I’m not say I wouldn’t re-purchase this eye cream, I’m just saying that because I don’t know much about eye creams, I would want to look to see if there are any other products that would fit my needs better than this one does.  If I can’t find an eye cream that I think is better than this one, I would buy it again.

Have you tried It’s Potent?  What did you think?

Do you have a recommendation for another anti-aging eye cream?

Ipsy Glam Bag July 2013 Review

July is turning out to be an AMAZING month for subscription boxes!

I’ve had a lot of fun testing out the products and samples in my Ipsy Glam bag!

Plus, the bag (valued at $2.00) is super cute!  The pink vinyl is really practical for travel.  You can put your shampoos, conditioners, and lotions/moisturizers in the bag and not worry about them exploding or leaking.  This bag would be super easy to clean!

** Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription that sends you a combination of delux-sized samples and full-size products that are personalized for you based on the results of your beauty quiz.  Along with the beauty products, you also receive a monthly (super cute) make-up bag!  The cost of an Ipsy subscription is $10/month. **

Goodies received:

 

Sexy Hair Soy Renewal beach spray

Full size = $19.95, Sample value = $6.65

As a general rule, I’ve stayed away from Sexy Hair’s Soy Renewal line.  A hair stylist once told me that this particular line (shampoos, conditioners, etc) really dry out your hair.

But since Ipsy sent it to me, I’ve just gotta try it out!

The photo below is my attempt at “Soft Waves” using the beach spray.

The first thing I noticed was the super impressive power of the spray nozzle.  This stuff really sprays an extensive mist of product.  Very cool!

Then I noticed the scent.  I was hoping it would be a beach-y scent, but it seemed more floral to me.

I will say that this spray really made my hair feel dry.  But is that was a texturizer is supposed to do?  How else would you achieve texture without dryness?

Despite drying out my hair, the spray contains Argan Oil, so in theory it shouldn’t really damage your hair.

 

BH Cosmetics California Collection eyeshadow sample

Full size = $17.95, Sample value = $2.70

In regards to the overall palette, these are not really my colors.  I’ll make them work, but I would not have chosen these colors if I had my choice.

I don’t own any good quality and popular eye shadows like MAC or Urban Decay, so I can’t really compare this brand to them.

But here is my experience with these shadows –

I wore San Francisco to work yesterday.  I did not use a primer; I applied the eye shadow directly to my bare eyelids.  I did not experience any messiness of shadow falling onto my cheeks as I applied the color.  But it did take a couple applications of shadow to get my desired color coverage.  After a 10 hour work day, I did not have any creasing and the color never faded.  So that was enough to impress me!

*Please excuse my sub-par eye shadow application.  I’m an eye shadow beginner!

Hollywood – I was worried about this purple color.  I was afraid it would be dark and bold and too intense for me.  But it turned out to be the least pigmented color in the palette.  It was also a matte color, which was unexpected.

 

San Francisco – This was my favorite color in the palette.  However, even as a neutral beige/brown color, I think it’s a little too yellow for my skin tone.

 

Malibu  – This was my least favorite color.  I wouldn’t have selected a yellow-gold color for myself.  I don’t anticipate wearing it much.  Maybe during football season I’ll wear it with a Packers T-shirt.

 

 

Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon in Fuchsia Flirt

Full size = $25.00, Sample size = $4.16

*Sigh*

I really wanted to love this lip crayon.  I really did.  And I tried.

I wore it three days in a row.  Each day I thought, Maybe this will be the day.  No.  It didn’t happen.

So here’s the deal-  It’s a great product, really it is.  Very smooth application and great color coverage.  And long lasting.  The color faded only slightly after I ate.

But here’s the problem –  the color.  My goodness, it’s bright!  The photo below doesn’t really reflect the brightness of the soft fuchsia color.

I realize that bright, bold lip colors are very trendy right now, but in my opinion, I think it looks kind of juvenile and not age appropriate, even for me, and I’m still under 30.

 

Coola Rose Essence tinted moisturizer

Full size = $36.00, Sample value = $4.86

Remember how much I loved the cucumber Coola sample in my May Birchbox?  I wish I could give another happy Coola review, but I just can’t.  I really disliked this tinted moisturizer.

Yes, it’s cool that it’s SPF 20 and that the tinted color adds a little bit of coverage.  And it did have a very light and subtle floral scent from the rose essence, which was nice.

However, I didn’t feel like this moisturizer actually MOISTURIZED.  I felt like it sat on top of my skin and made me look extremely shiny.  And it was slightly iridescent.  I did not like that at all.

And I don’t know how this happened, and even Chad noticed it – it made the skin on my cheeks look like crepe paper.  Very uncool.

Is it possible my sample was slightly spoiled due to heat and humidity during the shipping process?  My sample was sealed so I’m not sure how much of a factor that would really be.

 

Benefit Benetint

Full size = $30.00, Sample value = $6.00

I was so excited to see this highly sought after product in my bag!

This is a staining liquid that can be used on the cheeks and lips to give a fresh and natural rosiness.

In the photo below, Benetint has been applied to my cheeks and lips.

I had watched the video on Benefit’s website on how to apply the stain.  And I did it exactly as the video instructs.

On my cheeks – I used the applicator brush to apply the color and used my finger to rub it into my skin.  I didn’t feel like the color was super noticeable and my fingers became more stained than my cheeks.  I applied a little more to my cheeks, but that then became a little too much color.

I’ve talked about this before, but I have some red splotchiness on my cheeks.  But it’s not so bad that I feel I need to wear face powder or foundation.  As a general rule, I actually get a lot of compliments on my skin.  But I felt like the Benetint actually ENHANCED my splotchiness, whereas a powder or creme blush often camouflages it.

On my lips – I’ve tried several lip stains.  I love the idea behind them.  But they never seem to work out for me.  So I was excited to see how this compared.  I will say that this was the most natural looking color I’ve tried in a lip stain.  All the other’s I’ve tried, no matter how light the color says it will be, become very dark or very bright (like cherry red) on my lips.

Like other stains, applying Benetint made my lips dry, but I applied Softlips on top and that problem was solved.  And no color transferred onto my stick of Softlips, which is good.

I would actually consider wearing Benetint on my lips on my wedding day if Chad and I ever decide to get married.  Chad doesn’t like kissing me when I’m wearing lipstick or lip gloss.  So I’ve been trying to find the perfect lip stain for our wedding.  So far, this is the best I’ve tried.

 

I had a lot of fun with this bag!  Even though the products weren’t a perfect match for me, I still enjoyed trying them out and seeing what I could do with them.

And still a good value!  I paid $10, and my total box value was $26.37!  I’ve gotten better values from other months, but I can’t complain!

I’m looking forward to what else July has in store for me since it’s been pretty awesome so far!

 

If you’re interested in signing up for Ipsy, please consider using my referral link here.