Beauty – Page 5 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

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?

10 in 2020 — Rolling Project Pan

Hi all! I’m back with my first Project Pan in a year! I took a year off, but have decided it’s time to use up some makeup.

The Project Pans I did in 2019 were mostly skincare. This year I’m starting with 10 makeup products and once I use one up, I’ll replace it with someone else. In the case of pressed powder products, I will probably keep them to see how far I can pan them this year. Here’s what I’ve chosen to start off with:

I have close up photos of the powders and stick products. I can’t really tell how much of the liquid products I have, but I’d say they are all half to 3/4 full.

Here’s the starting photo of my Butter Bronzer. I’ve had this for a year and a half. I use it consistently, and it’s crazy that I haven’t hit pan! I’m hoping to make a big dent in it this year!

I’ve had this powder foundation for a couple of years. It’s starting to get a little dry, but it still works well. I’m hopefully going to pan it this year and at the end of the year (or sooner), I’ll decide if I want to keep it.

I purchased this last spring and used it a lot in the spring and summer. I haven’t used it for a few months, but I wore it today and remembered how amazing it makes my skin look! I’m sure I will use it up this year.

I have been using this pencil since fall, but I thought I had more left in it! It shouldn’t take me long to use this up.

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I’m excited to see how this project pan goes! Hopefully I’ll use up some of my products this year. Also, check out my monthly Shop My Stash results to see my mostly skincare empties.

Are you doing a project pan this year?

BoxyCharm Premium Review – January 2020

Hi all! I’ve just received my January BoxyCharm Premium! This is a fairly new subscription from BoxyCharm. It’s a little more products than the regular and a little less than the BoxyLuxe. Here’s the details:

It’s $35 a month
6-7 beauty items a box
$175+ Value
You get to pick one of the items
The items will be different from BoxyCharm/BoxyLuxe – you can subscribe to both with no product overlap.

The products I received are:

Billion Dollar Brows & Beauty Best Sellers Kit — $42
TULA Keep It Clear Acne Foam Cleanser — $34
FARSÁLI Liquid Glass Radiance Serum — $54
Natasha Denona Duo Chrome Top Coat in Lavender with Gold & Silver — $28
Too Faced Palm Springs Dreams Eye Shadow Palette — $45
Bliss Pore Patrol Deep Detox Four Clay Souffle Mask — $18

The total this month is $221 — good for a $35 box!

This is such a gorgeous palette in person. This is what I chose this month, and I’m so glad I did. The packaging is stunning, and so are the shades! I am going to try to review this sometime this month and I’ll do swatches when I do.

I was very surprised to see this in the box! I heard that a single Kat Von D shadow would be included, so I was very excited to see the Natasha Denona top coat shadow in my box! I love anything purple, too, so that made it even better!

This is a close up of the shadow and a swatch. It’s just a wash of shimmer, but it looks gorgeous over shadows! Since it has gold and silver in it, it can be used in both cool and warm toned looks. I’ve used it with a purple look, but I’m going to keep playing with it. Stunning!

I’m always on the lookout for new brow products. I think 2019 is the year that I started getting my brows together and I hope to perfect them in 2020! The brow pencil in this kit is more of a medium brown, and I have dark brown hair. But, I might keep this in my stash and try it when I finish a pencil or two. I think the concealer/highlighter stick looks pretty nice.

I’m very excited for this. I’ve already used it a couple of times and love it! I’ve been using it as a primer. It sits nicely over my sunscreen and makes a gorgeous base for makeup. I also layer a pore filling primer in my t-zone over this serum and my makeup looks amazing with it. I have just started trying out Farsali products and have been loving them so far. I received the Farsali Rose Gold Skin Mist in my November BoxyCharm and I purchased the Farsali Skin Goals – Blur, Prime, Hydrate & Soothe Set for myself and have been trying those serums and primers.

I was so excited to see Tula in the box until I realized that it’s an acne cleanser. I haven’t had acne for years, so I’m wondering if BoxyCharm uses our beauty quizzes at all! It’s the only type of skincare I can’t use. I will have to pass it on to someone else.

I do think I’ll keep and try the bliss mask. My pores are large and look congested, even though I don’t have oily skin. So, I’ll test it out and if it’s too harsh for me, I’ll pass it on.

I’m pretty happy with my box this month. I love the Farsali serum, the eye shadow palette and the Natasha Denona eye shadow topper. I won’t use the Tula cleanser and I might try the mask and brow kit.

I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about this box. It’s $10 more than the regular BoxyCharm. In the last few months, I have loved about half of the box and felt meh about the other half. So is it worth it? Maybe? I’m going to keep getting it at least for a few more months.

Do you get this box? What do you think?

2019 Annual Skincare Favorites

Hi all! I’m back with the second part of my 2019 favorites. This one will be mostly skincare, and maybe a hair care product or two!

Check out my first favorites post that’s all about my makeup faves and one big foundation fail here.

Now on to the skincare goodies:

I have been loving the products above — and more. I will probably have more than one favorite or some runners up in some areas. And as for cleansers, my favorites aren’t pictured because I used them up and haven’t repurchased yet. I have so much skincare that I have purchased, received in subscription boxes or PR that I really want to use up before I get more. Unless, of course, it’s a category that I have completely run out of.

So, starting with cleansers, my favorite this year is the Pixi Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel. This cleanser is so refreshing! And it cleans my skin without leaving residue and without drying out my skin. I also enjoyed the Skin & Co Truffle Therapy Whipped Cleansing Cream. It’s very creamy and removes makeup without irritating my eyes.

For eye cream, I currently love the Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream. It brightens dark under eye circles. I also really enjoyed the Derma E Hydrating Eye Cream for intense moisture when my eyes need it!

This is my second full size Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. And I will continue purchasing it. It hydrates my lip so well. I use it at night, and sometimes during the day, too! My favorite day lip balm is the Kopari Coconut Lip Glossy. It’s so moisturizing, which I need as my lips get very dry.

Derma E Skin Restore Advanced Peptides & Collagen Moisturizer — This is hydrating, plus it has tons of anti-aging ingredients so it helps with lines and wrinkles.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask — This is my last step at night. It locks in all of my other products and my skin is insanely hydrated in the morning.

These are my fave serum’s and oils from 2019:

Farmacy Honeymoon Glow Serum — I use this a couple of times a week to resurface my skin. It contains a 14% AHA/BHA/gentle flower acids blend, Hyaluronic Acid, Salicylic Acid and a proprietary honey blend.

Innisfree Intensive Hydrating Serum — This is such a beautiful hydrating serum. I use it day and night before other serums and moisturizers. I also really enjoyed The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. It’s such a lovely hydrating serum and keeps my skin moisturized all day.

Glow Recipe Pineapple Bright Serum — This is such a nice Vitamin C serum. I use it each morning and it brightens my skin. It does have a very strong ripe pineapple scent, but it goes away.

Pixi Jasmine Oil Blend — I’ve had this for over a year and have just used it up. A little goes a long way. It’s very hydrating and is nice to use at night

These are my two favorite hair products from this year:

IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm — I apply this balm two ways — on damp hair then I comb through it. Once it’s dry, I apply a bit more. It makes my hair so soft and I love the coconut scent.

Cloud 10 CBD-Infused Glossing Mist — I love this for two reasons: It makes my hair shiny and healthy looking and it smells amazing. Oh, I guess three reasons — the benefits from the CBD oil!

So that’s it for my 2019 favorites! What were your standout skincare products for 2019?

I’m so excited for a new year and new favorites. Bring on 2020!

BoxyCharm Subscription Box Review — January 2020

Hey all! I have just received my first BoxyCharm of 2020! I love receiving this box each month.

I’ve been subscribed to BoxyCharm for over two years now and really enjoy it. BoxyCharm is now $25 a month plus tax for 5 full-sized beauty items. The value is at least $125 each month.

The only subscription boxes I’m currently getting is this box, BoxyLuxe four times a year and the new BoxyCharm Premium. I think Boxy has been doing an amazing job curating their boxes lately.

The theme this month is Breaking The Ice. My version is 6. This month I received:

Ace Beaute Eye Shadow Palette in Scarlet Dusk— $34.99
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask — $22
Pretty Vulgar Under Cover Concealer — $25
Petite ‘n Pretty Fully Feathered Volumizing Mascara — $16
Wander Beauty Trip for Two Blush and Bronzer Duo — $36

Total — $133.99. I think that’s good for a $25 box.

This was my choice item for this month. I could have chosen this, Ace Beaute Vintage Dawn OR Dr Brandt 24/7 Retinol Eye Cream

I have tested it out last night and I think the shadows are really pigmented and bright. Maybe a little bright for me! It might be a palette that I use with a more neutral palette. I’ll play with it a little more and see. I might do a review on it as well.

I am really happy I received this. When these cheek palettes were released last year, I really wanted to try them. I’m a fan of Wander Beauty. I haven’t tried this on my face yet (there is a swatch below). Bellini is a really pretty shade, but Costa Rei may be too light even for my fair skin.

Petite n’ Pretty is a brand sold at Ulta. It’s makeup for kids, tweens and teens so I’m not sure why it’s in a BoxyCharm. This is one I might pass on to one of my daughters.

I was sent a sample pack of the Pretty Vulgar concealers to match my shade a month or two ago. This is the lightest shade we were sent to test, and it might be a bit dark for me. I’m going to test it today. Here’s swatches of the Wander Beauty palette and the concealer:

The peach blush is gorgeous, but as you can see the bronzer is very light. The concealer is very creamy which is nice, but I usually like a little bit lighter shade for brightening. This may be good for me in the summer, though.

Las but certainly not least is the Glow Recipe mask. I have been wanting to try this! You can use this at night, or use it as a days mask. I might try it as a day mask and keep it on for 10 minutes first to see how my skin reacts to it. I do love the Glow Recipe watermelon moisturizer and pineapple serum. I’m very excited to try this product! It is in a smaller 1 oz size, but that’s fine!

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I’m pretty happy with my January BoxyCharm! I’m excited about the Glow Recipe mask and the Wander Beauty face palette. I will be testing out the eyeshadow palette and the concealer. And I’ll probably be passing on the mascara.

Did you get BoxyCharm this month? What did you get?

I just received my BoxyCharm Premium a few minutes ago, so I’ll be posting that review in a few days.