#bblog – Page 15 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

IT Cosmetics Palettes That Are New To Me!

Hi all! Happy first day of spring! Didn’t it feel like it would never come after that cold and snowy winter?!?

I’m excited to be reviewing IT Cosmetics products that I haven’t tried before. I love the brand, but I have mostly tried their skincare and base products.

I was sent these products for my honest review:

Superhero Eye Transforming Anti-Aging Super Palette ($42 USD)

IT Girl Vol. 2 Makeup Palette ($38 on sale for $25)

Hello Cheekbones Contour Palette ($36 USD)

Heavenly Luxe Hello Cheekbones Contour Brush #19 ($48 USD)

Here are the palettes opened. I did noticed that the eyeshadow shades in both palettes are fairly similar. But they are pretty and good for every day looks.

I have been wanting to try this palette and am so glad I did! The top row are eye foundations, which are bases for under shadow. The first two are matte, and the last one is a shimmer. The first six shadows are shimmers and metallics and the last three are matte liners.

These are so gorgeous! The shadows are creamy and blend nice. The only thing I wish there was is a matte transition shade. I am going to do a full review on this palette with swatches soon!

I believe this was It Cosmetic’s limited edition holiday palette. It is on sale right now so if you want it, it’s the time to pick it up!

This palette has some of the same colors as the Superhero palette, but it does have more mattes. The left shadows are shimmer and the right shadows are mattes. The blush is a pretty pink ombre.

It’s a great palette for everyday, or use some of the darker shades for a nice smokey eye!

This contour palette and brush is so fun!

The brush is very soft, like all IT Cosmetic brushes. They’re such great quality. This is easy to use. Just sweep it as shown above and then apply it to the cheekbone. It blends out easily. The bronzer is pretty warm, but can be used as contour. I also take this with a fluffier brush to bronze my whole face.

The highlighter is pretty, but not very blinding. It does give a nice glow and for more impact, I wet my brush and it did give more shine.

Have you tried any of these IT Cosmetics products? What do you love from the brand?

Beautyblender Bounce Foundation Review

Hi all! I’m here today with a foundation review! I’ve realized that I don’t review a lot of foundations. I usually only have a couple open at a time, since I just have one face. LOL!

But I do feel like I’m in sort of a foundation/concealer rut and want to try some new ones this year.

I was recently sent the beautyblender Bounce foundation for my honest review. I was excited because I have been wanting to try this foundation for a while.

IMG_E0125

Beautyblender Bounce Liquid Foundation ($40 USD) — The beautyblender website claims:

A weightless, full-coverage foundation in 40 shades that easily blends for a flawless finish and a revolutionary bare-skin feel. The whipped liquid glides and bounces easily so it never looks cakey or fake- no matter how little or how much you layer on. Never chalky or lifeless, the velveteen matte finish has a multidimensional effect, like naturally gorgeous, healthy skin. The lightweight, buildable formula addresses not just tone but also skin texture so your complexion looks smooth and even. Skin looks picture perfect- IRL and on-screen for up to 24 hours.

Here’s a closeup of the product:

To use this foundation, you slide the button (photo left) over to the left, then squeeze the top and the foundation comes out of the spout (photo right). Then you take a beautyblender (or other sponge or brush) and take the foundation that’s come out with the tool and apply it. It’s very easy to use. The only downfall is that the spout on the pump gets a bit messy.

I have tried the foundation with both a beautyblender and a flat top foundation brush. It works well with both, but even if I use a brush, I finish the application by bouncing the beautyblender over my skin to blend it out. My shade is 1.50, which is a fair/light with cool undertones.

The texture of the foundation is very silky and mousse-like. The claim on this is that it’s full coverage. I’d say it’s more medium, but can be built up to full. It melts into my skin and doesn’t even look like I’m wearing foundation — the coverage and finish is so natural! And my skin looks very flawless. It does give a soft matte finish, but it doesn’t dry down, so I do need to powder my skin. That’s fine with me.

The biggest pro with this foundation is that it doesn’t show texture and it looks like I’m not really wearing makeup. My skin is aging and combination. It’s also sensitive. This foundation covers my redness and uneven texture.

I’d say the only con for me is the packaging. The spout gets really dirty and it’s tough to clean.

I definitely recommend this foundation! I’ve been wearing it everyday since I received it. It just makes my skin look so nice.

Have you tried beautyblender Bounce? What foundation are you loving right now?

Ipsy Glam Bag Plus Review — March 2019

Hi all! I have this month’s Ipsy Glam Bag Plus ($25 USD) to share with you! 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 amazing items included.

Here is what I received in my March box:’

Purlisse Blue Lotus Balancing Moisturizer ($45 USD)

HUDA BEAUTY Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette in Mauve ($27 USD)

Benefit Dandelion Shy Beam Matte Liquid Highlighter ($26 USD)

Pixi by Petra LashLift 188 Mascara in Beyond Black ($18 USD)

F.A.R.A.H BRUSHES 5-Piece Eye Perfection Set ($50 USD)

The total value for my box this month is $166. Pretty good for spending $25!

Here’s a closer look at the items:

This moisturizer is infused with White Tea, Vitamin E and French Marine Plants to deliver intense hydration, prevent fine lines and wrinkles. It claims to balance the skin while leaving a smooth canvas for makeup application.

I haven’t tried this, but it looks like something I would love. Good skincare is always fun to receive! I have a lot of new skincare to try now, so I’m not sure if I will keep this or give it away.

This is such a pretty palette! I have this already and reviewed it here. I am going to include this on my upcoming Instagram giveaway (once I hit 5000 followers, check me out @fortyflirtyfab).

I did add on two other Huda Beauty Obsessions palettes to my box this month, because they were only $12 each! I will show them below.

This is a matte highlighter and it’s a pale nude pink. I’m not going to swatch it because I’m going to include it in my giveaway. I think it looks really pretty–the packaging is gorgeous! I don’t wear cream highlighters, but I think it’s interesting that it’s matte.

I received a sample of this for review last summer. You can see that review here. I really enjoyed it. It has two brushes, a little one is nestled inside of a larger one. You can use just the small one or the large one. It really lengthens and gives great volume. I’m excited to receive another one. I will definitely use this!

These brushes are so pretty! I love getting new brushes and are excited to use these! I haven’t tried F.A.R.A.H brushes before, but so far, these seem very soft and high quality.

I also added on the Huda Beauty Coral Obsessions and Smoky Obsessions palettes:

These are so gorgeous and I’m looking forward to using them. The coral one looks perfect for spring and summer and the metallics in the smoky palette are stunning! I will be playing with these and will probably review them together.

So, I think my March Ipsy Glam Bag Plus was pretty good. I will use the mascara and brushes and maybe the moisturizer. I will be giving away the Huda Mauve Obessions palette and the Benefit Shybeam. Like I said in my March Boxyluxe review, I am going to give both Ipsy Glam Bag Plus and BoxyCharm/BoxyLuxe until June and decide which one to keep. I think both is just too much. This month, my BoxyLuxe won, but Ipsy was nice, too.

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

NEW Sally Hansen x Jelly Belly Collection

Sally Hansen x Jelly Belly Collection

Hi all! Treat yourself to a candy colored manicure, with Sally Hansen’s NEW Insta Dri x Jelly Belly collection. A sweet new twist on the classic Insta Dri formula, this collection transforms Jelly Belly’s wildly popular flavors into your favorite quick dry polish. These vibrant shades are the perfect way to welcome Spring. Perfect for the woman on the go- one stroke, one coat, and you’re ready to go in 60 seconds.

Here’s a close up of a couple of the shades. I believe they are Very Cherry and Bubble Gum:

1x1_191450-02-0205 - Copy.jpg

This is the the full range of polish shades from this collection:

Very Cherry — Ripe and ravishing, this primary red cream shade is a classic take on a delicious cherry red
Bubble Gum — This party-perfect candy pink won’t burst your bubble
Tutti Fruitti — A confetti like polish adorned with multi colored sparkles will look good enough to eat (but it’s not!)
Buttered Popcorn — Watch a flick or take your tips out on the town in this pale yellow cream hue tinged with platinum sparkle
Blueberry — Sweet and juicy, this deep true blue makes a statement
Green Apple — Vibrantly verdant, this crisp light green hue delights
Berry Blue — Opt for a brighter take on a medium blue tint and be berry impressed
Island Punch — Relax beachside with a fruit-infused drink and this vivacious violet
Coconut– Creamy and dreamy, this pure white mod shade evokes coladas by the pool
Strawberry Cheesecake — Treat yourself to a pale pink polish punctuated with hot pink glitter
Peach — Fresh and fabulous, this hue features coral-colored sparkles for an iridescent effect

I haven’t tried these yet, but I’m hoping to get some to review for you. I think that Tutti Fruitti, Buttered Popcorn, Island Punch, Berry Blue and Peach sound amazing! But, I think they all would make gorgeous nail looks for spring!

$4.99 Available at drugstores nationwide

What do you think of this collection?

Skincare Sunday — G.M. Collin Skincare

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

I’ve decided to start a new series to run on Sundays called Skincare Sundays. I am going to post something skincare related on (most) Sundays. I’ll focus on a skincare review or my skincare routine…it will just depend on what I have been using.

I have recently received a couple of G.M. Collin products for my honest review and I wanted to share what I think of them:

g.m.-collin-hydramucine-optimal-serum.png

G.M. Collin Hydramucine Optimal Serum ($60 USD) — G.M. Collin Hydramucine Optimal Serum instantly relieves dehydrated skin with a surge of moisture that penetrates deep into the skin. A combination of high and low hyaluronic acid provides moisture while an advanced hydrating formula prevents water loss, improves water circulation within the skin, stimulates ceramide production, and boosts skin’s ability to regulate moisture levels. Perfect for dry environments and colder months, G.M. Collin Hydramucine Optimal Serum plumps skin to minimize fine lines and restores a supple, hydrated complexion.

What I think: I have been loving this for hydrating my skin this winter. Hyaluronic acid is know for moisturizing and I feel that this does give moisture without irritating my sensitive skin.

Not only is my skin hydrated, it feels smoother and more plump. I enjoy using this once or twice a day, at least in the evening. So when I wake up, my skin is hydrated and plump.

GM Collin Sun Protection Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 60

G.M. Collin SPF 60 Mineral Sunscreen Sun Protection Cream ($32 USD) — G.M. Collin Mineral Sunscreen SPF 60 covers skin with a ultra-light sunscreen that will keep the skin optimally protected. With is SPF 60 this lotion protects from UVA&UVB rays that can cause skin damage including premature aging, age spots and dryness. Free from parabens, PABA, fragrance and color it is formulated with Titanium Dioxide and and Zinc Oxide.

What I think: I use sunscreen every morning on my face. It’s so important to use to keep sun damage to the skin at a minimum. This is a very lightweight sunscreen that I can layer with my skincare and under makeup. I love that it is fragrance free and I love that the SPF is 60. I feel very protected when I use this.

These can be purchased on Skin1.com & Select Spa Locations

What skincare are you using now? Have you tried G.M. Collin?

IT Cosmetics’ QVC TSV IT’s All About You! Your Customer Favorites Collection

It’s that time again! IT Cosmetics and QVC are having their March Today’s Special Value IT’s All About You! Your Customer Favorites Collection. It is a four piece collection that is a value of $187.36 and is going for $59.94.

I love IT Cosmetics. It’s such a nice brand and the products have beautiful ingredients and amazing quality! I think it’s gorgeous for all ages, but I think it’s perfect forolder ladies like myself. The products contain anti-aging ingredients and their shades of color cosmetics are so lovely!

You can purchase this on QVC.com or buy watching and calling in. It starts today, Saturday, March 9, 2019 at midnight (ET) and will be offered for one day only! As a reminder, each day, QVC picks one special item they believe shoppers will love, and offers it at an exceptionally low price from midnight (ET) until 11:59 p.m. (PT) that day.

Here’s a clearer photo of what you get:

image001 (10)

This exclusive four-piece collection features a NEW! brow-transforming essential, a lip-loving favorite in a new shade, an illuminating complexion must-have in new shades—plus a perfectly paired brush! First, create the look of your fullest, most natural-looking brows with the NEW! Brow PowerFULL Universal Volumizing Eyebrow Pencil. Use your included Heavenly Skin CC+ Skin-Perfecting Brush No. 702 to flawlessly apply your Supersize CC+ Cream Illumination with SPF 50+, then apply your NEW SHADE! of Je Ne Sais Quoi all over your lips for your most beautiful finish.

I have tried the wonderful CC+ Cream and brush before. They are such a nice combo for dewy, hydrated skin. And the size of the CC+ Cream is huge — 2.53-fl oz! This will last a long time.

The Brow PowerFULL pencil is brand new. It is universal for all hair colors, the unique triangular shape allows you to customize your application experience, from the finest line to a fuller-looking brow faster. Brow PowerFULL adheres to skin, covers gray, and looks like real hair!

I like the original pink Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment, but it is a bit bright for my skintone. This shade in Honey is a pretty nude shade and gives a nice, natural lip look.

This is such a great value! Are you going to pick this up today?

Colourpop It’s My Pleasure Palette Review

Hi all! I’m here with a review of the new Colourpop It’s My Pleasure palette. It’s a gorgeous purple and pink palette. I picked it up in my recent haul that you can see here.

IMG-0083 (1)

My photos aren’t the best, I took some at night and some at daytime, but hopefully you can see how pretty this is!

Here’s the palette with flash:

Without flash:

The shades from left to right are:

Kittenfish: matte cool lavender
Do or dough: metallic bright lavender with blue duo chrome flip
Pretty cruel: matte berry mauve with gold flecks
Bare minimum: metallic berry violet
Earthshine: metallic pinky lavender with a blue duochrome flip
Chick lit: metallic deep amethyst
Mr. Sandman: icy rose with a silver sheen
Fan fiction: matte dusty pink
Sleeper: matte eggplant

Swatches:

This palette swatches so well! I’m not surprised because Colourpop’s shadows are such great quality! I like all of these shades, but I wish the third one (Pretty Cruel) didn’t have glitter flecks in it, because is the perfect crease color. I did still use it in my crease, though. The mattes in this palette are pigmented and creamy and the metallics are gorgeous! They work well with a wet brush or your finger.

I have used these with neutral colors, but I am going to do a full purple eye soon. You can also do a pretty pink eye look. And like I do, you can pair this with other shades. This is a very versatile palette!

I also love that this is only $12 and comes with a mirror! Colourpop has more of these 9 shadow palettes, including a brand new green one called Just My Luck. It’s really fun, but I don’t know if I would use that one.

Have you purchased any of these 9 pan Colourpop palettes? Would you purchase It’s My Pleasure, Just My Luck or one of the others?

Early Spring Colourpop Haul!

Hi all! I hope everyone is well! I have been very good this year when it comes to purchasing makeup! This is my first haul of the year! I’m not really on a no or low buy, but I’m trying to be careful in what I get. I did purchase a lot last year! I have purchased the new L’Oreal foundation (let me know if you would like a review) and I just got the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry palette on sale and I will be reviewing that palette.

I decided to make a Colourpop order because they are always coming out with cool new products, and I wanted to try some. I also looked at my order history, and foudn that I hadn’t ordered from Colourpop since last June! That’s crazy! It’s definitely time to try some new makeup!

I purchased:

Blur Lux Lipstick in Hey Mr. DJ ($7 USD) – Soft petal pink

Lippie Pencil in Brink ($5 USD) – Terracota rose

It’s My Pleasure Palette ($12 USD)

The Twins Loose Pigment ($6 USD)

BFF Mascara in Black on Black ($8 USD)

Brow Boss in Ash Brown ($5 USD)

I have heard great things about the lip liner and have been wanting to try the Lux Lipstick. The Blur formula is new. I probably should have tried the regular formula first. Both of these products are nice, but the lipstick is way to bright for me. It’s supposed to be a soft petal pink, but It looks very bright on my fair skin. The pencil is nice, though I wish I got that in a lighter shade. It is not as bright as the lipstick, so I can still use it under nudes.

I have swatched these below.

This is a collaboration between Colourpop and YouTuber Kathleenlights. I picked up The Twins because I’m a Gemini! It is an intense pink with a coppery duochrome. This is really pretty. I apply it with a damp brush, so I don’t get all of the fall out. It’s so gorgeous, as you can see below:

Left to right is the lipstick, lipliner and pigment. You can really tell that the pigment has a pink to orange duochrome. It’s very pretty! I do like the liner, but I probably won’t wear the lipstick.

I also picked up their new mascara in black. It’s okay. It gives a lot of volume, but I like mascaras that give my lashes length. I will continue wearing it, and with a primer under it, I get better length. They also have these in bright colors, so if you love colorful mascara, you might want to check this out!

I’ve been doing more with my brows lately, so am happy to try a new pencil. This one is pretty nice. It’s very waxy, so if that’s the type of pencil’s you like, you will love it. I have used it a couple of times and like it. I think I need more practice with it, but will keep trying it out!

I love purple, and so I had to pick it up. Plus, it’s only $12, which is so affordable. I will be posting a review this month with swatches.

I also have purchased another one of these for a future Instagram giveaway. I just hit 4000 followers and will post my giveaway when I get to 5000. So check it out at @fortyflirtyfab on Instagram! I also picked up a pigment and one of the new lip glosses from Colourpop. I will be adding more makeup items to the giveaway, of course. Stay tuned!

Have you made any recent purchases from Colourpop? What did you get?

Skincare To Help Transition From Winter To Spring

Hi all! I hope you are having a great weekend! It snowed again today, but I am hoping it’s the last snow of the season. I am ready for Spring!

And speaking of Spring, I am looking forward to warmer weather for my skin. The cold weather makes my combo skin so dry and flaky. I have been trying new skincare (sent for my honest review) that I have been loving for my winter worn skin! They are from Burt’s Bees, Higher Education Skincare and Mamonde. Here are the products I’ve been loving:

Hydrating Overnight Mask

Exfoliating Clay Mask

Detoxifying Clay Mask

Burt’s Bees Hydrating Overnight Mask ($14.99 USD) Provides 24 hour moisture and leave skin looking refreshed and healthy. This is a thick cream. The instructions say to apply a layer and leave on for 10 minutes, then rub the rest in and leave on overnight. My skin did look very hydrated in the morning.

Remove oil and impurities with this Exfoliating Clay Mask ($14.99 USD). Made with Kakadu Plum and Vitamin C, this gentle exfoliator cleans skin while also holding in moisture leaving skin clear and soft. This is gentle enough to use every day.

Detoxifying Clay Mask ($14.99 USD) With the power of charcoal, Burt’s Bees created a mask that will remove dirt, oil and toxins that can clog pores and can cause skin to look dull. Infused with acai, the rich antioxidents will leave skin balanced and healthy-looking. This mask really deep cleans the skin. I have to follow up with a moisturizer, but I do like that it cleans out my pores.

Available: Target, CVS and Walgreens Stores

Higher Education Skincare Cram Session Vitamin Infused Hydration Lotion

Higher Education Skincare Cram Session Vitamin Infused Hydration Lotion ($33 USD) -Loaded with vitamin A, C and E, this super hydrating lotion will fill your skin with the vitamins it needs during the dry weather. Cram Session is also made with melanin, which protects skin from blue-light emitted from digital devices.

I like using this in the morning, before makeup. It smooths my skin so nicely. It is very hydrating and helps with the dry patches on my skin. I love that it contains vitamins and that it is good for my skin.

Available: www.highereducationskincare.com

Mamonde Hydro Eye Gel Cream ($32 USD) — This eye cream is made with narcissus flower extract that will keep your skin smooth and hydrated. Its very nice for morning and night. It is hydrating, but is also light enough to wear under makeup.

Available: Ulta Stores

What skincare have you been trying lately. I’d love to know!

Shop My Stash — March 2019

Hi All! It’s time for my March Shop My Stash! I’m ready to dive into a different set of products I want to play with.

I’m so excited about all of these. Some are very new to me and some I purchased last year.

Here are closes-ups of each item:

This is the Dose of Colors Desi x Katy Friendcation Eyeshadow Palette. I purchase this on sale in December. It is usually $55, it was on sale for $27.50, plus I had a 20% coupon! It’s a nice palette, but I have to say I only purchased it because it got such great reviews. I have yet to review this on my blog, but I will this month. I’m looking forward to trying it out. I’ve only used it a couple of times, but the shimmery shades are sooooo glittery (not my fave). I am going to pair the mattes with the next palette.

I received this tarte Rainforest of the Sea ™ highlighting eyeshadow palette vol. III in my January BoxyCharm. I have to be honest, I’ve swatched this, but haven’t tried it yet. It’s all shimmers and one matte. These swatch really nicely, so I’m going to pair this with the Friendcation palette. I think it will look nice with the neutral mattes in the palette.

This is probably my oldest product in this Shop My Stash. I’ve had the Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator Palette for about a year and a half. I bought it at Ulta’s 21 Days of beauty. You can see that haul here. I don’t really use this. I think the shades are just a bit dark for me, but I’m going to give all three of them a good go this month. And if I don’t enjoy them, I’ll pass it on.

I haven’t really tried this Becca Glow Gloss in Malibu Soleil which is a mauvy rose. I got this in the BoxyCharm Charm Room last fall. This is a little darker than I usually wear, but I thought I would give it a shot!

I was a Julep Maven since 2012, until they shut down the subscription in February. That is so sad! So I thought I would pay homage to Julep by including one of their products this month. This is the Eyeshadow 101 in Champagne Shimmer. When apply it lasts all day! I swatched it below and I wiped all of the other swatches off, but it would not budge.

This is so nice on the inner corner of the eye or all over the lid.

Here are some swatches:

From Left to Right — The highlighers in Ballerina, Gilded Honey and Peach Glow. Next to them are the Becca Gloss and the Julep cream shadow.

So these are the products in my March Shop My Stash. I think they will be fun to play with this month!

Have you used any of these products? What do you think of them?