Hi all! I recently received my second Ipsy Glam Bag Plus ($25 USD), the November box. I received my first box in October. You can see what I received for that box here. It is a box that will always include 5 full-sized items.
I had looked in my Ipsy account and saw what I was getting again this month. I wasn’t happy. I had seen three spoilers — an IT Cosmetics eye shadow palette, an Ofra highlighter and a First Aid Beauty cleanser (all great spoilers). I didn’t get any of them.
This is a pretty blush palette from tarte. I’m good in blush right now, but this will make a nice gift. I like that there are three shades. I was hoping to get the IT Cosmetics palette, because I have been wanting to try it.
This is the one item I’ll use from the box. I received a smaller container of this cream in a BoxyCharm this summer. I really love it. It’s so hydrating without being greasy and the scent is a delicious pistachio caramel.
These brushes are great quality. I’m a little overloaded in brushes, so I will probably give these away. It’s a good brand, thought
I received this in BoxyCharm this year and didn’t like it at all. It’s so thick and dry and irritates under my eyes. I don’t know what I am going to do with it.
This is a pretty fall color, but I don’t wear metallic lip products. I will probably give it away.
So, this month was a bust for me. It was $25 and the only thing I’ll use is the $20 cream. I will give the rest of this away.
I have cancelled this box, but maybe I’ll try it again sometime next year. I’m afraid if they continue with the variations, I won’t get the items I want, which is what can happen in these kind of subscriptions.
Do you get Glam Bag Plus? What did you get this month?
Hi all! How’s your hair doing this fall? Mine has become dry and frizzy, thank you very much! When the weather turns cold, it’s time to switch up my hair care!
I ‘ve been loving the following products from Kérastase and It’s a 10:
Kérastase Elixir Ultime Original Oil
Kérastase Aura Botanica Masque Fondamental Riche
Kérastase Elixir Ultime Original Oil ($50 USD) — The formula includes Camellia and Marula oils to help revive the natural strength of hair, provide nourishment deep into the hair fiber and give hair the ultimate shine. This really helps make hair so shiny and manageable.
Kérastase Aura Botanica Masque Fondamental Riche ($59 USD) — One of the latest additions to the brand’s popular natural-origin collection, this deeply nourishing intensive masque is designed for dry, thick hair. The luxurious formula melts into the hair fiber for 96 hours of lasting smoothness and frizz control. Hair is left supple and soft to the touch thanks to its high concentration of natural oils – Brazilian nut, coconut and sweet orange. 97% naturally derived. No silicones. No parabens.
Available at Kerastase-USA.com and Kérastase Salons
IT’S A 10 Miracle Blowdry Volumizer
IT’S A 10 Potion 10 Miracle Instant Repair Leave-In
IT’S A 10 Miracle Blowdry Volumizer ($19.55 USD) This gives hair a gorgeous look and bounce without weighing it down. The Volumizing Blowdry Spray can dramatically decrease blow drying time while providing a healthy coat of protection against heat that can otherwise damage and break hair. Designed as a lightweight formula, this spray will help detangle and smooth your lovely locks, eliminate frizz and protect against humidity with long-lasting results. I love that this protects hair as well as gives volume! We love a good multi-tasker!
IT’S A 10 Potion 10 Miracle Instant Repair Leave-In ($24.70) — The popular leave-in conditioner product is now enhanced with an extra dose of repair and restoration. With just a few sprays, this concentrated conditioning mist penetrates deep into hair for all-day moisturizing action. Upon application, the hair’s cuticle is sealed, providing instant detangling and allowing natural essences to de-frizz, prevent breakage, improve elasticity, extend color, and neutralize PH. This is so nice after I wash my hair. I apply it then either air dry or blow dry it. It leaves my hair so soft and smooth.
What products do you use on your hair during fall and winter?
Hi all! I’m back with more gorgeous holiday gift ideas! Today I am focusing on sets of items that you can try out or give to a beauty fan!
Below is a variety of holiday gift sets from fragrance, to skincare to bath and body and nails:
LAVANILA Holiday Rollerball trio
LAVANILA The Healthy Fragrance Rollerball Trio: Find your favorite with this trio of hand-crafted, roller-ball fragrances. Each exquisite scent infuses organic sugar cane alcohol with a beautiful blend of pure essential oils for a luxurious experience that is gentle on sensitive skin. Wear individually or layer for a signature scent. Set includes 3 x 5ml roller-ball fragrances $20 ($45 value)
Pure Vanilla — The Perfect Vanilla: Warm Madagascar vanilla, sheer freesia and creamy tonka bean.
Vanilla Grapefruit — Sparkling Citrus: Juicy pink grapefruit, fresh lime, cedar wood and Madagascar vanilla.
Zoella Beauty Cosmos Fragrance Collection
Zoella Beauty Scents of Wonder Rollerball Trio
Zoella Beauty Cosmos Fragrance Collection ($16.50 USD) — Discover a scent that’s out of this world with the Zoella Cosmos Fragrance Collection. Cosmos features crisp, uplifting notes of mint blended with delicious red fruits to create a very special limited edition fragrance and body lotion. This set includes:
Cosmos Fragrance (1.5 oz)
Cosmos Lotion (4.4 oz)
Zoella Beauty Scents of Wonder Rollerball Trio ($12.95 USD) — Discover these fragranced wonders in the Zoella Scents of Wonder Rollerball Trio. This trio of rollerballs are the perfect partners for your handbag. This trio includes:
Sweet Inspiration Rollerball (0.3 oz)
Gelat’eau Rollerball (0.3 oz)
Botanic’eau Rollerball (0.3 oz)
Purchase at Ulta.com
Morgan Taylor React Trio With Bag
Morgan Taylor Classic MiniI 4 Pack
Morgan Taylor Lacquer has come out with the Forever Fabulous Marilyn Monroe” Holiday/Winter 2018 Collection. The collection is beautiful! You can purchase 16 new individual shades of polish inspired by Marilyn Monroe, or there are some fun bundles like the ones above.
REACT TRIO WITH BAG — Includes 15ml bottles of REACT Base Coat, REACT Top Coat,
Wish Upon A Starlet polish, and a Marilyn Monroe makup bag
CLASSIC MINI 4 PACK — Includes 5ml bottles of She’s A Natural, Hollywood’s Sweetheart,
A Kiss From Marilyn, and The Camera Loves Me.
Colorescience Sunforgettable Holiday Duo ($45 USD) — This holiday duo features our Mini Colorescience® Sunforgettable® Total Protection™ Brush-On Shield SPF 50 and Mini Lip Shine SPF 35, in an exclusive scarlet shade.
ONEOSEVEN Gift Set
ONEOSEVEN Gift Set ($79 USD) — A limited edition gift set containing the brand’s newly launched 107 line containing all the essentials for glowing, refreshed skin. Rose Vinegar Water can be used as a makeup setting spray or as a midday refresher that calms and hydrates. An Oil-in-Gel Cleanser with a dual action formula containing Jojoba Seed Oil in a gel base that emulsifies with water to provide a gentle yet deep clean. And finally, an illuminator with 14 different natural oils and amino acids to provide a healthy, soft luminous glow. Plus, all products come in a complimentary branded tote bag!
Purchase at GothamGrove.com
Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Do you buy beauty gifts? I give beauty products to my friends and family, and I have a stockpile for them, but it’s fun to buy these amazing sets!
Hi all! I received my November BoxyCharm! I see the spoilers each month, so I basically knew what I was getting. I’ve been subscribed to BoxyCharm for over a year.
Boxycharm is just $21 a month for 5-6 beauty items, most of them full-sized. It is a nice way to try new makeup and beauty tools.
I went out of town this weekend and came back a couple of days ago, and for some reason I didn’t do individual shots of the products like I usually do before I left. But, here is the eyeshadow palette and the Cover FX drops:
This palette is so pretty! I love the mix of mattes and shimmers. This will make a really bold eye. I haven’t tried it because I’m not sure if I’m going to keep it. I just got the Bobbi Brown Infra-red palette, and the shades are similar. I think this will make a nice gift for someone.
This is a new shade of the Cover FX Glitter Drops. It is a limited edition coppery-gold shade, exclusive for the holiday season. Ultra-concentrated drops of golden glitter that impart a high impact, light- reflective finish. It’s cool that they included a new shade of a popular product. I won’t use this, so I’ll probably give it away.
For the other three products, I have already used and love the brushes. The are small detail brushes, and I have been needing some. Luxie brushes are always such great quality. I won’t use the lashes or the eyeliner, so I will be giving them away.
So this wasn’t the best month for items I’ll use, but I did get a bunch of gifts from it, so it is a win! I have so much makeup that I really don’t need to be getting this, but it is just so much fun! And for $21, it’s such a great deal!
And next month I should be getting BoxyLuxe. I’m so excited, it looks like an amazing box!
Do you get BoxyCharm? What did you get this month?
Hi all! It’s time for my first holiday gift guide of 2018! The year has flown by! By I’m definitely ready for holiday shopping and picking out the perfect gifts!
Sephora is such an amazing store for gorgeous beauty products. So it’s not a surprise that they also have amazing gifts for the holidays! Below are fab palettes and sets of makeup brushes, skincare and hair care:
Sephora Collection The Enchanting Colors Eye and Face Palette
Sephora Collection The Enchanting Colors Eye and Face Palette ($18 USD) — A palette for the face and eyes, composed of eyeshadows, brow powders, and a blush for an enchanting look. The palette includes eight matte and shimmer eyeshadows including two dazzling illuminators, two brow powders in natural shades, and an ultra-fresh blush. A five-step tutorial is included inside the palette to help you create an enchanting makeup look for a magical Christmas and New Year.
Bobbi Brown Infra-Red Eyeshadow Palette
Bobbi Brown Infra-Red Eyeshadow Palette ($39 USD) — A mix-and-match spectrum of matte, metallic, and sparkle shades perfect for creating sizzling eye looks.
This set contains:
– 6 x 0.07 oz/ 2 g Eyeshadows in Stone Cold (light warm peach), Red Rock (rich rust-red), Behind the Sun (metallic bronzed peach gold), Slow Burn (sparkling bright copper gold), Interstellar (metallic warm white gold), Solar Flame (rich burgundy brown)
– 2 x 0.06 oz/ 1.71 g Eyeshadows in Infra-Red (shimmering warm pink with gold reflections), Fever Dream (shimmering bright copper)
Sephora Collection Spellbound Brush Set ($49 USD) — A medium size, seven-piece full-face brush set complete with a beautiful compact carrying case to store your brushes while traveling. This brush set has all the essential brushes you need to create any full face look. Includes: Buffing foundation, pointed powder, angled concealer, fan brush, flat shadow, crease brush and angled liner. All synthetic fibers. These brushes are vegan, synthetic, and cruelty-free.
This set contains:
– Flat shadow brush
– Buffing foundation brush
– Angled concealer brush
– Pointed powder brush
– Fan brush
– Crease brush
– Angled liner brush
– Pouch
Ole Henriksen Glow Brightly Radiance-Boosting Super Set
Ole Henriksen’s Truth Serum brightens, visibly firms, improves concealer wear, and reduces the look of fines lines and wrinkles over time. C-Rush delivers 24-hour hydration, while creating a smooth, radiant canvas for makeup. Banana Bright, inspired by “banana powder,” targets dark circles and helps improve concealer wear. Goodnight Glow, with bakuchiol—a natural retinol alternative—targets major signs of aging and dark spots.
This set contains:
– 1 oz/ 30 mL Truth Serum
– 0.25 oz/ 7 mL Goodnight Glow Retin-ALT Sleeping Crème
– 0.25 oz/ 7 mL Banana Bright Eye Crème
– 0.5 oz/ 15 mL C-Rush Brightening Gel Crème
IGK Get Lit Kit ($29 USD) — A limited-edition trio of IGK hair care bestsellers to cleanse, refresh, and hydrate on the go.
This limited-edition set is everything you need to get and extend your perfect style. Wash with LOW KEY Cleansing Walnut Scalp Scrub to exfoliate away dirt, oil, and product buildup while apple cider vinegar clarifies and peppermint oil rebalances. Apply MISTRESS Hydrating Hair Balm to damp hair—the coconut oil and shea butter formula will melt into hair for instant softness and frizz control. Extend your style with FIRST CLASS Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo. It uses charcoal powders and seven percent active cleansing powders to give a deep, detoxifying clean that absorbs oils and eliminates odor.
This set contains:
– 6.3 oz/ 288 mL First Class Dry Shampoo
– 0.75 oz/ 22 mL Lowkey Cleansing Walnut Scrub
– 1.7 oz/ 50 mL Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm
So my first gift guide is done! Stay tuned for more beauty and other exciting gift guides.
Do you love getting holiday gifts for others and yourself for the holidays? Have you picked up any fun holiday sets?
Hi all! It’s time for another amazing IT Cosmetics Today’s Special Value on QVC! This one is the IT’s Your Top 5 Superstars & More! 6-Piece Holiday Collection, and it’s amazing for treating yourself or giving as a holiday gift! The collection is sold just today for $59.94 and the retail value is $215! Such a great deal!
Here’s how it arrives:
The packaging is so pretty! The collection includes:
0.30-oz Celebration Foundation in Fair, Light, Medium, Medium Tan, Tan, Rich, or Deep
0.40-fl oz Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer
2-fl oz Confidence in a Cream
0.30-fl oz Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara
0.057-fl oz Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment Serum
Heavenly Luxe Dual-Ended Buff & Blend Brush
Here’s more info on the products:
Never creasing or cracking, Celebration Foundation is your 30-seconds-to-flawless full coverage in a talc-free, hydrating powder foundation.
Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer is your award-winning, full-coverage, antiaging treatment concealer, covering everything without creasing or cracking.
Confidence in a Cream is your hypoallergenic moisturizing super cream, instantly giving your skin hydration and helping address the appearance of the signs of aging, including dry fine lines and wrinkles.
Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara gives your lashes super-length and super-volume in a super-black formula that leaves lashes looking fuller and longer for your most dramatic lashes.
Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment Serum is your hydrating, lip-smoothing, perfect pink lip.
The collection also includes the new Heavenly Luxe Dual-Ended Buff & Blend Brush to give you flawless full coverage with two sides for effortless application!
I’ve tried all of these products and think they are all so gorgeous! This would make such an amazing gift to either give the whole set, or break up the products since they are individually boxed.
There’s an exciting contest happening with the amazing hair care brand It’s a 10!
Founder Carolyn Aronson is hosting The Next 10 Contest, calling on everyone across the country to design their dream hair product. She will hand-pick 10 finalists and choose one lucky winner with the most innovative concept to produce. Because Carolyn believes everyone should live with passion and purpose, the winner will also receive $10,000 and a lifetime supply of It’s a 10! Entries are open now through November 16 at www.itsthenext10.com, with the winner announced November 16th.
I think this is such a cool idea! So put your thinking cap on (but don’t mess up your hair)!
Are you going to submit an idea? I’m thinking about it…
Hi all! How’s your November going so far? Can you believe the holidays are almost here? I’ll be dong my gift guides really soon (like maybe my next post)!
To get ready for the cooler weather, I’ve been trying some amazing natural skincare. The following was sent to me for my honest review.
OZNaturals Vitamin C + Sea Hydration Mask
OZNaturals Vitamin C + Sea Hydration Mask ($19.99) Packed with Vitamin C, Giant Sea Kelp Extract, and ocean minerals, this deeply hydrating formula reduces redness, fine lines, and flaky skin, delivering radiant, youthful skin and a dewy, healthy glow. Formulated using a unique technique called Cold Processing, OZNaturals products are made without the use of heat or petrochemicals at room temperature, which allows the active ingredients to remain fresh and highly potent as intended. Full of antioxidants and fatty acids, this effective, yet natural formula soothes even the most distressed skin and will reduce puffiness and inflammation.
This mask works well for my sensitive skin. It gently exfoliates but doesn’t irritate my skin. You can use this after cleansing and exfoliating, apply generously and leave on skin for 15-30 minutes. Moisten and gently rinse to remove. Pat skin dry. Follow with serums, and lastly moisturizer. This is so nice, and I love that it’s all natural!
Derma E Firming DMAE Eye Lift ($24.95 USD) Visibly lift, firm and tighten the delicate eye area while smoothing crow’s feet with this doctor-developed, multi-action eye treatment cream that contains advanced natural ingredients. InstaLift® Goji Berry glycopeptides add further firming, lifting and tightening antioxidant power. Advanced peptides Argireline® and Matrixyl® synthe’6® work together to soften facial muscles and synthesize new key components helping smooth wrinkles and discourage new lines from forming. Hyaluronic Acid, also known as nature’s moisture magnet, infuses a surge of cooling eye moisture helping leave skin soft, smooth, tone and rehydrated. 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, lanolin-free, gluten-free, GMO-free.
Derma E Advanced Peptide and Collagen Moisturizer ($35 USD) – This revolutionary, double-action moisturizer formulated with multi-peptides, Matrixyl® synthe’6® and Argireline ®, helps to visibly soften and smooth the look of even the deepest wrinkles while plant extract Pycnogenol®, a powerful antioxidant, may help support healthy collagen. Powerful anti-aging peptides with benefits: • Matrixyl® synthe’6®: May help support collagen for healthy-looking tone and texture. • Argireline®: Helps to visibly smooth the appearance of fine lines, leaving skin feeling soft. Enriched with anti-aging antioxidants Vitamin C and Green Tea, this intense hydrating, peptide-infused formula helps to restore the look of your skin for a more youthful-looking appearance. 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, lanolin-free, gluten free, GMO-free.
I was so excited to receive these is my October Derma E PR box! I love trying new anti-aging skincare and these two are amazing! The Eye Lift really smooths out my eye area and it looks so fresh and my eyes look very awake! The moisturizer is very hydrating, but not heavy, which I like. I have only been using these products for a few days, but I will continue use to see what wonderful result’s I’ll get!
Summer Sand
Flame
The Organic Skin Co. Lip Service Lipstick ($34.50 each) — These gorgeous lipsticks contain carnauba wax and nourishing organic oils, and along with supercritical extracts of calendula and rosemary, helps to moisturize the lips and protect them against harsh environmental elements. 12 long lasting shades to choose from, available in matte, shimmer and sheer. Free of parabens, nanos, bismuth oxychloride, gluten, talc and all the other nasty stuff you find in too many lipsticks (and which you can’t help but swallow!). Cruelty free.
First of all, the packaging on these are stunning and recyclable. The lipsticks feel like balms, they are so hydrating, but they aren’t too soft. I love the shade on the left Summer Sand for everyday looks and Flame for a more dramatic fall lip. And I love that they are good for me!
Do you use natural beauty products? Any suggestions? I would love to try more!
Hi all! I’m back with my first update on my last Project Pan of 2018. You can see my first post here.
I’m attempting to use up 5 skincare and 5 makeup items. And it’s going pretty well. I haven’t used up anything yet, but I am getting close!
I just have a little bit left of my Pixi products. I should use them up in a couple of weeks. Same with the Talika Eye Dream. This is almost gone. The Derma E cleanser is still going strong. I’ve been using this for a while and it is really lasting! The Yes to Cotton mask is the only thing that’s taking me a while to use. I keep forgetting about it! But I did use it 4 times last month. I want to try applying it twice a week from now on. We’ll see how it goes!
I do really like all of these products. They all help my skin look smoother and clearer. I’ll let you know if ‘m going to repurchase when I use them up.
My makeup pan is going okay. I think the Flower Beauty concealer is almost used up. It’s taking a few dips in to get enough concealer to apply. I’ve been concentrating on the concealer, but have used the Colourpop one a few times.
I’ve been wearing one or a combo of the lip glosses every day in October. I don’t know if you can see from the photo, but it looks like the lightest one is separating on the bottom. I might have to stop using that one. If I don’t use them all up by the end of the year, I’m going to toss them. They are over a year old and it’s either use them up or throw them away!
I think I should get through most of these products. I think the interesting thing I’ve learned so far this year is that I have way more makeup than I will use up! I’ll talk more about that at my end of year round up.
Have you done a Project Pan this year? What are you learning from it?
Hi all! It’s November! This year has gone by so fast! Soon it will be Christmas.
I have a few items I’ve been using almost every day in October. Here are the items and links to my first review or post about it:
IT Cosmetics Secret Sauce ($68 USD) — My skin has gotten so dry lately. This moisturizer is thick and hydrating, perfect for colder weather! The skin-loving, powerfully potent secret lies in the Secret Sauce™ Fermented Complex: 7 clinically advanced, penetration-enhancing fermented ingredients that help to increase absorbency and maximize the ultra-hydrating, anti-aging benefits of Secret Sauce™. Also featuring anti-aging peptides, hydrolyzed collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and licorice root, Secret Sauce™ is perfect for all skin types and reduces the look of discoloration, lines and wrinkles. I used this at night and in the morning my skin is soft and glowy!
BECCA Under Eye Brightening Corrector is a full-coverage creme that color-corrects the appearance of under-eye darkness. It is infused with ultra-fine, light-reflecting illuminators. I like this a lot. It’s just the right shade to go under my eye, it’s a little bit lighter than my skin tone. It helps cover my dark circles and give us a bit of a glow. This was a favorite earlier in the year, but I’ve been using it again and love to apply it every day under my concealer.
Wunder2 Wunderkiss Gloss Lip Liner ($11.95 USD) — This liner is created to be used with lip gloss! The liner is very smooth and easy to use. The claim is that it can be used to create a beautiful, long-lasting lip contour that keeps your lip gloss in place. I find that it does just that. My gloss looks fresh for longer. Available in 3 shades — Nude, Rose and Berry. I love the Nude. I have been trying to use up three Lorac glosses in my current Project Pan, and this lip liner helps them stay on longer and my lips look more polished.
Urban Decay Elements Eyeshadow Palette ($52 USD) — Inspired by the elements – Air, Earth, Fire and Water – a constellation of unique colors orbit around Luna, an ultra-iridescent transformer shade. The 19 new multidimensional pigments include bright mattes, holographic shimmers and molten metallics. This is gorgeous and I’ve been testing out these shadows. It’s perfect for fall and holiday looks.
Morphe High Impact Highlighter in Extra ($14 USD) — At first I wasn’t the biggest fan of this, but I really like it now. The color is gorgeous, it’s a lustrous peachy gold. Just a little goes a long way with this. It’s very intense!
Physicians Formula The Healthy Foundation SPF 20 (LC1) — This is full coverage, but it looks natural on. I don’t have the correct shade, I purchased it online and I guessed on the shade. They all looked pretty dark on the Ulta website so I bought the lightest shade. It’s just a bit light for me. I will purchase this again in a darker shade.
Have you tried any of these products? What are your faves from the month?
I received this in BoxyCharm this year and didn’t like it at all. It’s so thick and dry and irritates under my eyes. I don’t know what I am going to do with it.
This is a pretty fall color, but I don’t wear metallic lip products. I will probably give it away.
Forty, Flirty & Fabulous 