Skincare – Page 8 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Ipsy Glam Bag Plus Review — June 2019

Hey all! It’s time for my June Ipsy Glam Bag Plus review! This is a subscription box that will always include 5 full-sized items. And the items included are mostly luxe or higher end items. This is such a great value for the high quality items included.

I have pretty much enjoyed this subscription. I usually only use a couple of the items I receive each month, so I’m not sure how long I will keep it.

Here’s what I received for June:

TRÈSTIQUE Matte Color & Shiny Balm Lip Crayon in Belize Bordeaux — $25
Suva Beauty Hydra Liner in Grease and Six Twenty Brush — $26 total
111SKIN Vitamin C Brightening Booster — $180
PÜR Big Look Mascara — $21
Tetris x Ipsy Palette in Block Party — $24

The total is $276. That’s mostly because of the 111Skin booster.

I enjoy PUR’s products, but I am very stocked up on mascara. I will add it to the pile or give it to one of my daughters.

The Trestique crayon and balm are way to dark for me. I don’t wear berry shades. I will be giving this to a friend.

This is a black cake liner. It’s dry, so you ad water to activate it. I don’t wear black liner, so I will give this away to my daughter.

Now this is a product I will use! On the 111Skin website, it states:

Now formulated with increased Vitamin C levels, this concentrated treatment targets signs of hyper pigmentation, age spots, and uneven skin tone. The booster utilises actives which are designed to inhibit tyrosinase production, both reducing and preventing discolouration.

You can mix this with moisturizer or use it alone like a serum. That’s probably how I will use it at night. Actually, I will try both ways. I’m looking forward to looking younger in a few weeks (I hope)!

This is an Ipsy collab with Tetris. Which is a little strange. This is a cute palette, but not something I will use. I have so much eyeshadow (and have splurged on a couple of new palettes as birthday gifts for me) I have a friend in mind who might like this.

So, I will be using one of the 5 products this month. Sigh. I’ve been trying to decide if I want to keep this box as I’m not very happy with it. I really like BoxyCharm more. My June BoxyLuxe box had of course more products, but I could grab out any 5 products and love them more than these.

I’ve decided to give it one more month to wow me. I’ve seen July spoilers for Pixi Beauty, Huda Beauty and Purlisse. So I hope I get the Pixi and Huda products, then I’ll be happy. But, I’ll probably get some weird makeup product I won’t use, LOL!

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Do you get Ipsy Glam Bag Plus? What did you get this month?

BoxyCharm BoxyLuxe Subscription Box Review — June 2019

Hey all! I received my third BoxyLuxe! I’m so excited! I’ve been a subscriber of BoxyCharm for almost two years. The regular BoxyCharm box is $21 a month. BoxyLuxe is a once-a-quarter upgrade option you can add to your existing $21-a-month Boxycharm subscription. So for an additional $28.99, you’ll get the Luxe items, and be paying a total of $49.99 for that quarterly box.

I saw the spoilers for this box, I just didn’t know what variations I would get.

The theme for this month is Getaway. It’s very skincare and hair care heavy this month. Here’s what I received:

Touch in Sol No Poreblem Prime Essence — $23
Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast – $29
dr. brandt Clean Biotic Cleanser – $35
Skin & Co. Truffle Therapy Refresh Mist — $35
Trestique Good Vibes Mascara – $25
Farmacy Honeymoon Glow Serum – $58
Tarte Tarteist™ PRO Glow Cheek Palette V3 — $45
Dominique Cosmetics Lemonade Lip Gloss – $17
pyt hair Mini Turbo on-the-go Dryer in purple – $85

Total cost for June BoxyLuxe = $352! Wow, great value for paying $50!

I have heard good things about the Living Proof volume spray. My hair is a bit flat, so I am looking forward to trying it! Living Proof is a great brand, too.

The mini hair dryer is adorable, and I’m so glad I got the purple one! Purple is my favorite color. It also could have come in blue, coral, or pink. Any of the shades would have been fun. It is very powerful for a little dryer! Plus, it can switch from 120 volts to 220 volts if you are going overseas!

I love facial sprays! Skincare sprays, primer sprays, setting sprays — yes please!!! I’ve tried this on my bare face and it’s really refreshing. I will be also trying it over my makeup as a setting spray.

The Dr. Brandt cleanser looks really nice. It’s supposed to melt away makeup, which I love! I have a backlog of cleansers, so it will probably be a while before I get to this one, but I will try it.

I have tried the Farmacy Honeymoon Glow Serum. The claim is “A 3-in-1 night serum that resurfaces, hydrates and clarifies dull skin while you sleep, formulated with a 14% AHA/BHA/gentle flower acids blend. Hyaluronic acid and our proprietary honey blend deliver intense hydration. Salicylic acid derived from willow bark helps minimize the appearance of pores.” I didn’t see any improvement in my skin, but I just tried it once. It will use it a few times a week for the next few weeks and see how I like it.

The lip gloss is very nice. Non-sticky and smells like vanilla. The shade is Peach Tea. I have swatched it below.

I have the original No Poreblem primer and really like it for filling my pores. This one is very thin and is supposed to tighten pores. I haven’t tried it yet, but I will. I have lots of open primers, so it might be a bit before I try this. (I’m on product overload)!

The treSique mascara is really a fun idea. It has a curler on the top. I have tried this, because I couldn’t help myself! The curler takes some practice, but it does work. The mascara formula is separating. It’s pretty nice. I have to keep using it and will let you know how much I like it.

I am very excited about this palette! I have the original Pro Glow and like it a lot. That one has highlighters and contours in it. This has blushes, highlighters and bronzers. It is so nice to have all face products that I can use in one palette. I have swatched it (below), but haven’t tried it on my face yet. I have been sick this week, but hope to be trying it soon!

Aren’t these products gorgeous! All of the shades in the palette will work for me, and the highlighters are so beaming! The gloss is pretty, too. They are all perfect for summer!

This is the first month for BoxyLuxe (or regular BoxyCharm) that I am going to keep all of the products!!! Wow! I’m a little bummed that there isn’t more makeup, but the fact I will use everything (even if not right now) is amazing! It’s not a very flashy month, but everything is useful.

I was thinking of canceling BoxyCharm or Ipsy Glam Bag Plus after this month. Well, it won’t be BoxyCharm! That’s for sure! But will I cancel Ipsy? Stay tuned, that review will be next!

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Do you get BoxyLuxe or BoxyCharm at all? What did you think of this month?

Natural Skincare From L&I Apothecary and the Henna Guys

Hi All! I hope your June is going well so far! Mine is! I’m enjoying nice weather.

I have some wonderful natural skincare products from the brands L&I Apothecary and the Henna Guys!

L&I Apothecary organic skincare line is developed by professional estheticians using ingredients obtained from fresh fruits & vegetables. Each ingredient is either produced in their farms or responsibly sourced from ethical producers. The products are up-to 100% natural & organic, each product is packaged into carefully selected environmentally friendly and re-useable glass packaging.

The Henna Guys source the finest quality ingredients from ethical producers around the world. They understand the need for hair & skin care that keeps its promises and constantly in search of excellent natural ingredients to enhance the natural beauty. The product line is developed using finest natural ingredients.

On to the review!

L&I Apothecary Arista Pumpkin, Mild Peel/Facial Mask ($21 USD) — This mask is made with pumpkin and has Vitamin C and Vitamin E, plus the ingredients are organic. It also contains -5% Glycolic Acid. The claim is that it leaves skin feeling brightened, replenished and renewed.

I enjoy using this mask. It smells like fresh pumpkin! I apply it after I clean my skin and leave it on for 5 minutes and rinse it off. It leaves my skin smooth and it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. I have used this a few times and can see myself using it a few times each week. It’s difficult for me to find a good brightening mask that doesn’t irritate my skin. This one is a winner!

L&I Apothecary Rose Facial Toner ($23 USD) — This is an amazing facial toner spray! This claims to hydrate the skin, give it a glow and brighten it up. It has a fresh rose scent.

I love using a rose spray after cleansing and toning my skin in the morning. This one is also a toner, so I can spray it on after I cleanse, and my skin is refreshed and glowing. I also use it to freshen my skin during the day. It’s nice over makeup or bare skin.

The Henna Guys Pre Shave Oil – Geranium & Lavender ($12.95 USD) — This is a moisturizing Pre shave Oil, mildly scented with geranium & lavender essential oil. It contains Grapeseed, Avocado, Argan & Marula Oil.

First of all, this smells amazing — so fresh and clean. To use it, I take a few drops of oil, massage it on the shaving area to prepare for the shave. Then I use shave cream or soap and lather it, then I shave. I get a very close shave and my skin isn’t irritated. So smooth!

I am really enjoying these products. I love all of the amazing ingredients and the fact that all of the products work well and have fresh, delicious scents!

Purchase these at http://www.lniapothecary.com and http://www.thehennaguys.com Plus, I have a (non-affiliate) coupon code for these websites — FORTYFLIRTYFAB10 for 10% off your entire order!

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Have you tried anything from these brands? What are your favorite natural products?

Shop My Stash May 2019 Results and Monthly Empties

Hi All! I’m back with my May 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 May. Here’s a photo with the palettes open:

I continued my allergy issues this month, and didn’t wear as much eye makeup as I would have liked to. So my number one used product was the Smashbox Cali Contour palette!

I love this palette! Especially the bronzer and powder shades. I also used the lighter highlight and the blush a lot. This is such a great product to complete my face makeup. If I take a trip this year, I’ll take it with me!

Towards the end of the month, my allergies are getting better. So I did get to wear my eyeshadows. I would say I wore the BH Festival palette the most. It has such a variety of colors and I was able to create colorful looks and neutral looks with it. I also used most of the shades on the Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Vault Armed and Gorgeous palette. It’s a nice palette, but the metallics aren’t as buttery as the BH Cosmetics ones. I am going to keep all three of these palettes.

I didn’t wear the lipstick or eyeliner as much as the other products. I found that I didn’t care for the lipstick. I don’t wear this type of shade that much and it kind of feels drying on my lips. I am going to re-home it. The eyeliner is a great formula, but I don’t wear eyeliner that often. I am going to keep it, though. It’s such a pretty shade.

This was a pretty successful month!

On to my May empties:

I had a lot of empties this month! I used up makeup wipes by IT Cosmetics and Ariul, a Korean Beauty brand I found at CVS. They were both nice. I used them mostly for removing swatches. I might purchase them again. I actually think I might to a K Beauty haul this summer at CVS and maybe Ulta.

The Merle Norman cleanser is like a scrub. It is such a nice exfoliator. I have a lot of cleansers in my stash, but I might repurchase this eventually.

Same with the Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. I might re-purchase it once I go through the creams that I have. It’s so hydrating! The Your Good Skin day cream was oily on my skin, so I won’t re-purchase it.

I loved the Nanacoco Outlash mascara! I have a bunch of new mascaras waiting to be used, but I would buy this again.

I love the Jergens Wet Skin gradual tanner. I need to either pick this up or the original formula. The C.O. Bigelow body wash was nice, but I don’t know if I will pick it up again.

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Are you doing a Shop Your Stash or Project Pan this year? How’s it going?

May 2019 Beauty Favorites

Hi All! May is almost over — can you believe that we are almost half way through the year?

I don’t have as many favorites as usual this month. I’m still suffering through allergies and haven’t been wearing as much makeup. Plus, I think this is the first month I don’t have an eyeshadow palette in my favorites!

Here are my faves for May. If I have reviewed them before, I will include the link, if not, I will link to where you can purchase:

Being that my eyes were so irritated this month, skincare and face products were really important to make me feel human!

Two face palettes helped me with a flawless complexion. The are the Smashbox Cali Contour palette and the Alamar Cosmetics Colorette Blush Trio in Light. The Cali Contour palette was in my May Shop My Stash and I used it almost every day I wore makeup. It’s so good! I received the Alamar blush palette in my May BoxyCharm and really love it! So glowy and pretty!

For skincare, I was loving the Gulsha Ultimate Rosewater Spray and Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic Cleansing Gel. Both products helped my skin glow (in a good way) during allergy season. The Gulsha spray smells amazing and is so refreshing. I use it after cleansing and toning in the morning and night. The Pixi cleanser is so nice. It smells amazing and cleans my skin without stripping it. And it gives a healthy glow.

I tried a new foundation and cleanser that I am really enjoying. The e.l.f. 10hr Camo Concealer in Light Beige and the Wet n Wild Photofocus Stick Foundation in Soft Ivory. The foundation is one of my new favorites. It covers so well and blends in easily, and it doesn’t settle into my pores and fine lines! I’m turning 51 (yikes) in June and need a foundation that does not enhance signs of aging. I think I’m going to by a darker shade for the summer (if I decide to self tan). The concealer is so nice too. It blends in so well. Plus both products are so affordable.

When I wore mascara, I’ve been enjoying the Urban Decay Troublemaker Mascara. It’s very black and gives lots of volume. I received the Laritzy Lip Gloss in Vibe in my May Allure Box. I really love this gloss! The shade is the perfect nude!

What were your favorite products in May!

Allure Beauty Box May 2019

Hi all! I just received my May Allure Beauty Box. The Allure Beauty Box is $15 a month. And you receive deluxe and some full size products. Not bad!

Here’s the May box:

LUE by Jean Seo Erase Cleansing, Exfoliating & Brightening Powder (full size)

Laneige Waterbank Moisture Cream

St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Gel & Applicator Mitt

Nunzio Saviano Anti-Frizz Hair Sheets

Model Co Rose Gold Eyelite in St. Barth’s (full size)

Laritzy Lip Gloss in Vibe (full size)

I enjoy Laneige. I have the lip sleeping mask, the face sleeping mask and a serum. I am looking forward to trying this cream.

I’m not sure about the Anti-Frizz hair sheets. I might try them in the summer when it’s humid.

The LUE powder looks interesting. I’ll probably give it a go.

I will be using this. I have tried the St. Tropez tanning mousse and really liked it. I’ve never tried a product like this before, so I hope it works well.

The lighting on this photo is a little off. They are more warm nude products. You can see in the swatch below:

The Laritzy gloss is a nice sheer nude. It’s very glossy and just a little bit sticky. I like it, though. I think it will be really nice in the summer.

The eye shadow is so pretty! I tried it out and it dries down fast and is very glittery! It’s nice for days where you want a little drama, but want a quick look.

I’m happy with this box. I think it’s worth the $15. I’ll definitely use the lip gloss, eye shadow, Laneige cream and bronzing water gel. I will also try the cleansing powder and the hair sheets. I love it when everything in a box is useful!

Do you get Allure Beauty Box? What did you receive this month?

Instagram 5000 Follower Giveaway!

Hi all! I wanted to announce my 5000 Followers Instagram giveaway on my blog. I wanted to give all of you amazing friends a chance to win.

To enter, follow me on Instagram @fortyflirtyfab (I’ll follow back), like my giveaway post there, and comment tagging 1 friend. You can get more entries by reposting, tagging extra friends and liking my posts!

Good luck!

BoxyCharm Subscription Box Review — May 2019

Hi all! I received my May BoxyCharm this week! I always watch for the spoilers so I basically knew what I am getting. But, there were a few different variations this month.

I’ve been subscribed to BoxyCharm for about a year and a half now and really enjoy it. Boxycharm is just $21 a month for 4-5 beauty items, most of them full-sized. It is a nice way to try new makeup and beauty tools.

My version is 2. This month I received:

Alamar Cosmetics Colorette Blush Trio ($22 USD)

GLAMGLOW GENTLEBUBBLE Daily Conditioning Cleanser – ($28 USD)

Mellow Cosmetics Brow Definer – Chocolate ($18 USD)

Ciate London Eye Lustre Creme Eyeshadow in ‘Cupid’, ($22 USD)

Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick – ($18 USD)

Box value — $108

My photo makes this looks very orange, but the shade Paraiso is more pink in person. I have swatched these below with some of the other products, so hopefully you will be able to see the difference.

This is a really nice formula. Castaway and Scorcher are shimmery and Paraiso is more of a satin. I think these will be really gorgeous in the summer. I love the packaging, too!

First of all, the packaging for this is stunning! I love the rainbow metallic pattern. I haven’t tried much by GlAMGLOW and I’m looking forward to testing this out.

I have been trying to get better at doing my brows, so I love receiving brow products, especially when they are the correct color for me. I have very dark brown hair, and I usually get lighter colors in boxes. So I definitely will try this out!

This is such a pretty cream shadow. In some light it looks purple or pink and in some gold.

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The shade I received is Kiss of Fire. It’s a very bright red. I don’t wear red lipstick, but I tried it on to test the formula. It’s very comfortable matte formula. I would like to try it in a nude. It’s really nice. I’ll probably keep this just in case I need a red. It is a gorgeous shade.

Here are swatches of the products I received:

IMG_E0723 From left to right is the Mellow Cosmetics brow pencil, the Dose of Colors lippie, the Ciate London cream eye shadow, and the Alamar blush trio. I’m loving the products this month!

So this was a great box for me. I will use everything in the box, except for the red lipstick. It is so pretty, though, so I’ll keep it. I’m planning on choosing between BoxyCharm and Ipsy Glam Bag Plus next month, but both boxes were so good this month. I may end up keeping both!

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

Ipsy Glam Bag Plus Review — May 2019

Hey all! It’s time for my May Ipsy Glam Bag Plus review! This is a subscription box that will always include 5 full-sized items. And the items included are mostly luxe or higher end items. This is such a great value for the high quality items included.

Here’s what I received:

IL MAKIAGE Icon High Volume & Intense Curl Mascara

Yensa Tone Up Primer Essential Glow

ILLAMSQUA Colouring Lip Pencil Duo in Lust and Media

Go-To Face Hero

WANDER BEAUTY Wanderess Seascape Eyeshadow Palette

I’m looking forward to trying this mascara! I only keep about 2-3 mascaras open at a time and get rid of them after 3-4 months, so I haven’t tried it yet. It is supposed to lift, curl and lengthen lashes. I have short, straight lashes, so hopefully it will work well for me. I haven’t tried Il Makiage.

This primer is so pretty! It claims to help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, minimize the appearance of pores, even skin texture and keep skin looking flawless. I will definitely give this a try!

Both of these lip pencils are a bit too dark for me. I only wear light pinks or nudes. But I’ll pass these along to someone who can use them.

This is one of the products that I really wanted this month! Featuring 10 potent botanical oils, Face Hero boasts essential fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, as well as anti-inflammatory and nourishing properties. It leaves zero residue and penetrates quickly to hydrate, revive, brighten, and protect skin against fine lines, dark spots, dryness, and the aging effects of inflammation.

I’m excited to use this face oil!

I wasn’t that excited to receive this palette. I have a lot of eyeshadow palettes. But I opened it and saw this:

Stunning! It’s really gorgeous. The metallics are creamy and the one matte seems to be nice, too. Here are swatches:

So pretty! These look gorgeous on the eye, too! I’ve tried the pink shade (second from the left) called Sea Salt all over my lid and it gives a nice metallic finish. I’m looking forward to using the other shades as well.

I am so happy with this box! I will keep and use everything except for the lip pencils. I’m deciding next month if I will keep this box or BoxyLuxe (or both). Stay tuned for my May BoxyCharm review. It will be next.

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Do you get Ipsy Glam Bag Plus? What did you get in your box this month? Are we box twins?

Amazon Mother’s Day Beauty Gift Guide

Hi all! It’s May! I hope you are excited for a new month. I am. I love the warmer weather in the spring.

And on top of that, Mother’s Day is next weekend! It’s time to get our shopping done. Amazon has great beauty products that make wonderful gifts. Here’s some fab gift ideas for the special mom (or mother figure) in your life:

Crepe Erase Advanced — Crepe Erase Overnight Facial Plumping Treatment

Crepe Erase Overnight Facial Plumping Treatment ($65, Amazon.com) – Be the reason your mom sleeps her way to better-looking skin. Crépe Erase’s exclusive TruFirm Complex helps to visibly smooth and firm fine lines and wrinkles, restoring elasticity, while echinacea extract works with a blend of 9 Super Hydrators to visibly plump and soothe tired-looking skin. She will be delighted to wake up to perfectly balanced, radiant-looking skin that looks and feels years younger. Don’t just take our word; in a clinical study 90% of women said their skin looked more youthful.

WUNDER2 Super-Stay Stick Eyeshadow ($19, Amazon.com) — Long-lasting creamy eyeshadow sticks that offer all the color payoff without the fuss or fallout are perfect for the mom on the move. Formulated with soothing, smoothing ingredients like Castor Oil, Silk, and Aloe Vera to ensure the result is lightweight and comfortable, the sticks are Water-poof, sweat-proof, and transfer-proof – lasting all day without smudging! Available in 8 neutral, super-wearable shades (for all skin tones) with just enough shimmer for everyday wear.

Vervan Relaxing Organic Healing Balm ($18, Amazon.com) — This multi-purpose balm can be used as a body lotion, hand moisturizer, natural chap stick and more! Enriched with a blend of Lavender and Bergamot Essential Oils, this 100% natural anti-stress balm will give your mom the mind peace and relaxation she needs. Enriched with 31% Shea Butter, Olive Oil, Beeswax, and Grapefruit to hydrate and soften skin. What’s best: like all Vervan products, it is cruelty free and comes in recyclable packaging.

nügg Detoxifying Charcoal Face Mask ($17.09, Amazon.com)– This charcoal face mask helps blackhead removal and promotes a clear, even skin look with less oil and shine without leaving your skin feeling tight and dry. It features a unique, gel-mud texture that will help detoxify and clarify her skin without stripping it of moisture and while soothing it at the same time. The natural tea tree scent is refreshing and promotes an authentic at home spa experience.

Ethique Boost Hair Mask Amazon.com) — – Ideal for the mom who is looking for luxurious condition and shine, all while staying true to her eco-friendly roots. Created for all hair types (including oily), it’s a great treatment to add in to her routine. It contains baobab and jojoba protein, which both retain moisture in the hair shaft and smooth the cuticle, adding shine. Baobab also adds elasticity and strength to hair, reducing breakage. Boost has a sweet citrus scent with lime, lemongrass, mandarin and vanilla oils.

Do you have any other great Amazon-sold beauty product recommendations? Let me know!