Beauty – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Shop My Stash April 2020 — Palette a Day Challenge April 20-25

Hey all! I hope you are safe and doing well!

I’m continuing my April Shop My Stash challenge. This month I’ve been using a different palette every day. I thought this would be a great way to use more of the palettes in my stash and would get me to wear makeup each day. It makes me feel a little bit better. It has been a bit challenging wearing makeup every day, though! I am also deciding if I want to keep all of these palettes.

April 20 — Bare Minerals Natural Oasis

April 21 — Urban Decay On The Run in Bailout

April 22 — Natasha Denona Mini Retro

April 23 — Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam

April 24 — Too Faced Palm Spring Dreams

April 25 — Urban Decay Born to Run

I swatched all of the shades. I love the shades in this palette. It’s pretty, but I think the tones are very fall. The looks I get out of this are deep and vampy. I’m still deciding if I want to keep it or pass it on.

This is the first time I used this palette, so I swatched all eight shades. It’s a really beautiful neutral one, and like the Bare Minerals one, you can get really vampy looks. I like it, though and am going to play around with it some more.

This is another new palette to me. And it’s stunning! I have a larger Natasha Denona palette, but this is my first little one. I love the quality of this, as you can see it swatched beautifully! I used just the pink shades, but I’m looking forward to playing with the gray ones, too!

Soft Glam is one of my favorite palettes! It’s so gorgeous! Every time I used it, I remember how much I enjoy it. I used the shades Tempera, Orange Soda, Burnt Orange, Glistening and Rustic. It was a simple look (it was my Zoom meeting day), but so, so pretty!!!

I received this in my January Boxycharm. I used it once before, but gave it a go again today. used the pink tones and did a cut crease, which was fun. The shades are used are: Cabana Time, Saucy & Bossy, Swizzle Stick, Rumtiki and Buzz Kill. I really liked the look, so I’m going to keep this around and try it some more!

Another favorite in my collection. I love using this in the summer and usually do bronze looks. I decided instead to use the pinks an purples. The shades I used are Weekender, Riff, Hell Ride, Guilt Trip, Wildheart Punk and Blaze. Very fun and different for me!

In my last update, I used a lot of neutral shades, but I used more color this time. And it was fun! Stay tuned for my last update and thoughts on how the month went. I’m ready for May!

Morgan Taylor Editor’s Picks Spring 2020 Collection

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

I’m here with a beautiful nail polish review. I was sent these Morgan Taylor polishes for my honest review.

Morgan Taylor’s spring collection is so stunning! It is the Editor’s Picks collection.

Spring is such a great time to wear softer shades like nudes and pinks. This is a very feminine collection that I LOVE!

The shades from left to right are:

Barely Buff — Palest pink creme
I Speak Chic — Taupe nude creme
Call My Blush — Soft sheer creme
On Cloud Mine — Sheer peachy pink
It’s Your Mauve — Mauve creme
Going Voque — Antique rose creme

What is so exciting for me about this collection is that I will wear every shade in this collection. I also love the formula of these cremes. The are opaque and cover well in 2 or 3 coats. They do chip after a few days, but most nail polishes do. They stay fresh looking for most of the week.

These retail for $9.50 a bottle and the mini 4-pack is $14.95, which is nice if you want to try more than one shade. It includes On Cloud Mine, Going Vogue. I Speak Chic and It’s Your Mauve. The collection is available for a limited time now at Sally Beauty.

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I’m really enjoying these polishes. What shades of nail polish are you loving right now?

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?

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!

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!

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?

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.

2019 Annual Makeup Favorites — And One Big Fail!

Happy New Year! I’m excited to share my 2019 annual favorites. This year I’m breaking it up into two categories — Makeup and Skincare.

I love sharing my favorite makeup products. I’ve included one in each category, and I will also lists some honorable mentions. I usually don’t include products I don’t like, but I have one extreme fail this year that was a favorite on many people’s lists. So read to the end if you want to know what foundation didn’t work for me at all!

These are my favorite and most used products of 2019. If I have reviewed or mentioned them before, I’ll link that post.

Tati Beauty Textured Neutrals Vol. 1 Palette — I purchased a few new palettes this year and got a couple in PR that I really like. This one stood out to me because I really love Tati and wanted to support her, and I’ve never seen a palette laid out like this. Gorgeous!

Honorable mentions are the Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Palette. I used it a lot this year. It’s such a nice, neutral palette. A new one that’s a favorite is the Colourpop Going Coconuts palette. I will be reviewing that one soon. And my favorite colorful palette is the Natasha Denona Sunrise palette. It’s so gorgeous!

NARS Makeup Your Mind Eye & Cheek Palette — So this palette holds my favorite bronzer, Laguna and my favorite blush formula from the year. I love all three of the blush shades in this — Luster, Orgasm and Dolce Vita. Beautiful!

Looking back on my monthly favorites for 2019, I really didn’t have many blushes or bronzers in there. In November I purchased the Colorpop Pressed Powder Blush in Enchanted Mirror and the Milani Silky Matte Bronzing Powder in 01 Sun Light. I have been loving both of those. I would love to find more favorites in these categories this year.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer — I purchased this in the spring Ulta 21 Days of Beauty, but just started using it in the fall. I used it up in 2 months! I will be purchasing again. A primer I loved for the warm weather is the Touch in Sol No Poreblem Prime Essence. I received it in a BoxyLuxe this year and loved how smooth it made my skin!

Catrice Cosmetics HD Liquid Coverage Foundation — This isn’t a new foundation, but it was new to me this year. I love that it gives a natural finish with a nice coverage. It doesn’t look like I’m wearing makeup. Honorable Mentions are the Pur 4-in-1 Love Your Selfie Foundation and the Urban Decay Stay Naked Foundation. Both look so nice on my skin and don’t settle in my pores or lines. I do need both of them in a darker shade, but I think they are nice, too!

Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer — This is one of the best concealers I have ever used! It’s easily blendable and gives great coverage. Plus it stays in place all day. I do not have a runner up in 2019, because nothing compares. Lets see if there’s a better one for me in 2020…

Urban Decay The Ultimate Brush Off Translucent Loose Setting Powder — I love the texture of this powder. It sets under my eyes and all over my face flawlessly. And it doesn’t sit in my pores and lines or look cakey. I’m not a big fan of the packaging and hope they repackage it into a normal container without a brush.

Beauty Bakerie HD Flour Setting Powder is a close second. I purchased it in the Spring Ulta 21 Days of Beauty and used it up in a few months. I will be purchasing it again once I go through some powders I have. It is light and doesn’t settle into pores.

Essence Pure Nude Highlighter — This is an oldie but goodie! I rediscovered this highlighter in 2019. It can look soft and natural on or be built up to be blinding. I do have a few other highlighters, but I don’t really love any other of mine right now. I think I’ll try to find a perfect highlighter in 2020!

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara — What an amazing mascara! I alsways have the issue of my mascara smudging under my eye, even when I don’t put mascara on my lower lashes. This is a tubing mascara, so it only comes off when I take it off with just water! Amazing! I also love the L’Oreal Unlimited Length and Lift Mascara. It gives amazing length and builds up to be really voluminous.

Wander Beauty Frame Your Face Micro Brow Pencil — I got this in an Ipsy Glam Bag Plus. I no longer get that box, but I’m happy I received this brow pencil! It is the perfect consistancy for me, not too soft or too waxy. Benefit Cosmetics Precisely My Brow Pencil Ultra-Fine Shape & Define is my runner up for brows. It’s insanely pigmented, so a little goes a long way. But it works so well on. I love the micro pencils when doing my brows.

Pop Beauty Pout on Point Lip Liner — I have had this liner for a couple of years and it is almost out. The color I have is Nude. It’s not too creamy, so it stays on all day. But it does glide on and blend like a dream! I don’t have another lip liner I love as much, so I might have to make a Pop Beauty order soon. I am always on the lookout for an amazing lip liner that doesn’t cost too much.

Iconic London Lip Gloss — I love this lip plumper! The shade I have is Nearly Nude. It’s lightly plumping and looks gorgeous over a lip liner or any lipstick. I don’t wear lipstick that much any more, usually just a lip liner with a gloss over it. Although this is very nice, I am on the lookout for my perfect sheer gloss. I need to use up ones I have before I will let myself try some more.

And now, my (probably controversial) fail for 2019:

L'Oreal Fresh Wear Foundation

L’Oréal Infallible Fresh Wear 24HR Foundation — Almost all reviews I saw for this last year were positive. And there was a lot. The only two reviews that weren’t as positive were ladies around my age that said it made them look like they were wearing foundation instead of just having beautiful skin.

For me, this foundation was just awful. It settled heavily in my pores and fine lines. I tried so many different primers, serums and combinations of those to try not to look like a cakey mess when I wore it. They didn’t work. Finally (before I gave it away), I had one day that I used an oil under it along with creams and primers, and it only looked slightly bad. Almost passable. LOL! I gave it away after about 10 uses.

It was so sad because I was hoping to love it like so many others. But I did find a perfect (for me) foundation, the Catrice one.

Did you try this foundation? What did you think?

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I found so many amazing products in 2019! I might have purchased too much, because I’m still working through them. I still get BoxyCharm, BoxyLuxe and BoxCharm Premium, but I have got rid of my other subscriptions. I am also going to try to purchase items I need in 2020. And of course, a few I want.

Stay tuned for my skincare favorites of 2019 and I think I’m doing an annual Project Pan this year.