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Ulta Haul — Treating Myself for Valentine’s day!

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

Here’s what I picked up:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

StriVectin Peptight Tightening & Brightening Face Serum Review

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

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

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

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

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

I think this is a beautiful product that really works!

Have you tried this serum or anything by StriVectin?

Shop My Stash — February 2020

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

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

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

Here are the palettes open:

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

Here are close ups of the products:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shop My Stash January 2020 Results and Monthly Empties

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On to my empties:

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

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

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

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

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

January 2020 Beauty Favorites

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And…

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

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

What are your current favorites?

Colourpop Eye Shadow Palette Haul!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tati Beauty Blendiful Review

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

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

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

Here’s info from the Tati Beauty website:

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

Here’s the back of the sponges:

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

This is very thin and sleek.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20 Palettes in 2020 — Colourpop Going Coconuts

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

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

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

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

The shades are:

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

Here are swatches of the whole palette:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Skincare Sunday: Derma E Blue Light Shield Collection

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

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

Here’s more about The products I received:

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

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

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

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

Both products include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hi All! Hope everyone is doing well!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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