BoxyCharm BoxyLuxe Subscription Box Review — June 2019

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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:

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

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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!

IMG_0920I 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.

IMG_0922.JPGThe 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.

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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!

IMG_0925.JPGAren’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?

Beautyblender Celebrates Pride Month!

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To celebrate PRIDE Month beautyblender.com is bringing back some of their favorite limited edition colors to show off how every blend is beautiful!

To help give you a reason to stock up, Beautyblender will be donating 10% of proceeds on all PRIDE products during the month of June on beautyblender.com (https://beautyblender.com/collections/pride)to benefit The Human Rights Campaign and LGBTQ causes.

This is such an important cause — celebrating diversity and inclusivity!  I went to Kansas City Pridefest last weekend to support friends and family members and learned so much.  Plus, I had a lot of fun!

Want to check out one of the newest beautyblenders? It’s a cheery bright yellow one called Joy:

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Beautyblender Joy

Beautyblender Joy ($20 USD) — Sun-kissed warmth on your shoulder, the hint of salt in the ocean air and the soft breeze– all the moments of pure bliss. Bring a little happiness in with the always sunny, Beautyblender Joy. The gorgeous lemon yellow hue is bound to bring a smile to your face. The same exclusive aqua-activated™ material as the original Beautyblender® , you’ll always get a flawless finish and unbeatable bounce.

There’s also a rainbow of choices that you can find here.

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Are you going to pick up any of these great beautyblenders to support Pride?

 

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!

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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?

 

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:

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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!

 

CBD Living — Anti-Aging Products Review

Hi all!  I hope your long weekend is going well!

I have recently received more wonderful products from CBD Living for my honest review.  I received some of their products in March and featured them here.

The products below are to help fight chronic pain associated with aging.  And they smell amazing, too.  They are:

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CBD Living Matcha Instant Green Tea ($30 USD) — This is a new product to me. This is a convenient, delicious way to enjoy a daily dose of CBD. Each serving of Matcha Instant Green Tea is infused with 7.5mg of nano-CBD for maximum bioavailability. One 2oz. package of Matcha Instant Green Tea contains 150mg of CBD. Each individual serving of tea contains 7.5mg of CBD.

This is nice to drink alone if you like matcha. I like to add it to smoothies.

CBD Living Bath Bombs ($14 each) in Amber Bergamot and Eucalyptus.  I have tried this before in Coconut Lime.  I loved that one and like these too! They are fast fizzers and have really nice scents.  They leave my skin soft and I am relaxed with lesser pain when I use  these!

Each CBD Bath Bomb is vegan-friendly and contains 60mg of CBD per 8 oz. bath bomb. Bath Bombs are made from natural ingredients and will not stain your bathtub.

CBD Living Lotion ($30 USD) in Lavender.  I also have this in Eucalyptus. It’s a rich lotion that helps treat dry skin while getting a daily CBD dose. It is made from the finest natural ingredients and is infused with nano-CBD for maximum absorption.

CBD Lotion is absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream, providing your daily dose of CBD. It is great for relaxing after a long day or invigorating the senses and treating dry skin.

CBD Living Freeze ($30 USD) This is also a new product to me. CBD Living Freeze is great for sore muscles, arthritis, chronic pain and stiffness. The roll-on applicator makes getting relief simple. I have used it on my back and have found that it does relieve pain.

CBD Living Freeze is infused with 120mg of full-spectrum CBD per 88mL bottle. When applied, CBD freeze mimics the application of ice, increasing blood flow to the affected area. It is helpful for sore muscles, chronic pain, inflammation and sore joints.
This CBD Living Freeze also incorporates other natural anti-inflammatories such as Arnica and Tea Tree Oil.

I really love this brand!  I feel that the products are really high quality and are enjoyable to use.  Plus, they do make me feel better!  You can purchase these and more products from CBD Living at cbdliving.com.


Do you use CBD in products?  Have you tried this brand or what are your favorites?

 

 

IT Cosmetics’ QVC TSV IT’s Your Summer Essentials! 4-Piece Collection

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It’s that time again! IT Cosmetics and QVC are having their May Today’s Special Value IT’s Your Summer Essentials! 4-Piece Collection.  It is a four piece collection that is a value of $129 and is going for $49.98.

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 for older 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, Friday, May 24, 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 another  photo of what you get:

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IT Cosmetics’ IT’s Your Summer Essentials! 4-Piece Collection contains life-changing products that transform your complexion, lips and lashes for summer—and beyond!

About Each Product:

NEW! Heavenly Skin Skin-Hugging Foundation Brush No. 707 — This brush features a unique brush head that hugs the contours of your face to flawlessly apply your CC+ Cream Oil-Free Matte with SPF 40 and other favorite complexion products!  It’s a very soft brush and it’s a fun shape.

Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream Oil-Free Matte with SPF 40 Poreless Finish Full Coverage Cream —  hydrating, color-correcting breakthrough is oil-free and available in 12 shades. Plus, it’s infused with charcoal, known for its detoxifying properties, colloidal clay and Moroccan lava clay, known for their oil-absorbing effects, and tea tree extract, known to combat blemishes. I love the SPF 40 and I’d say it’s more of a soft matte.  It’s really comfortable on.

Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment — Featured in a beautiful rose shade, this lip-loving innovation gives you intense hydration, plus a natural-looking pretty flush of color—and is infused with essential butters, oils, hyaluronic acid and antioxidants.

Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara —  This is one of my favorite mascaras! It gives your lashes the look of super volume, super length and super elastic stretch, all while wrapping them in super black pigment. The effortlessly buildable formula features Elastic Stretch Technology and gives your lashes Superhero powers in just one coat!


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

 

 

 

Allure Beauty Box May 2019

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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:

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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)

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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.

IMG_0767 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.

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

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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?

 

 

Brand Review — Lit Cosmetics

Hi all!  I hope you had a great week.  I’m ready for the weekend!

I recently received a credit to pick out some fun Lit Cosmetics products for my honest review. Lit Cosmetics offers one of the largest selection of glitter products sold in the market today.  Check out what I chose to try:

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The products I received are:

Lit Metal Kit in Risque + Gold ($28 USD)

Afternoon Delight Size #2 Glitter (Shimmer) ($16 USD)

Spring Flin Size #2 Glitter ($16 USD)

Glitter Camo “Commander in Glitter” (Silver) ($34 USD)

You can purchase Lit Cosmetics at http://www.litcosmetics.com.

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This photo has the Glitter Camo open, you can see a closer pic below:

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LIT COSMETICS, the authority in glitter has just launched GLITTER CAMO, a new single-step, aloe-based glitter product designed to highlight show-stopping facial looks and acts as a stunning body glitter.

The launch starts swith three shades:

Sergeant Sparkle – multi-sized rainbow shimmer with pink silica base

Commander in Glitter – multi-sized holographic silver with blue silica base

Major Gold – multi-sized gold glitter with silica base

I have Commander in Glitter.  It’s so pretty.  Great for festivals, going out, costumes, or if you just want to sparkle!

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Spring Fling and Afternoon Delight are their size two glitters.

The lit kit includes A metallic eye shadow, a Daily Wear Glitter Base to adhere loose product to the eyes with ease and a the Mini Application Brush

The liquid base works so well with these loose glitters.  I dip my brush in the liquid, then the glitter, and it creates almost a cream glitter eye shadow, or highlighter, whatever you want to use it for.

Swatches are below:

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The first one is the Camo Glitter.  It is blue and silver with various glitters.

I mixed the other 3 glitters/metallic with the mixing base to create a liquid.  It makes it easier to swatch and easier to apply on eyes.  All of these shades are so fun for spring and summer looks!

I’m really impressed with Lit Cosmetics!  Their glitters are stunning and the new Glitter Camo is so much fun to use!

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Do you like to play with glitter makeup?  What products do you like to use?

Instagram 5000 Follower Giveaway!

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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

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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:

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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

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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!

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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.

IMG_0720 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!

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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?