#beautyreview – Page 3 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

bareMinerals Limited Edition Beauty of Nature Collection

Hi All! I hope your weekend is going well!

I was sent the above products from bareMinerals Limited Edition Beauty of Nature Collection for my honest review. It is inspired by blooming tropical hues and natural textures. Here’s what I received:

The Beauty of Nature Gen Nude Powder Blush in That Peach Tho ($24 USD) — This buildable talc-free blush is formulated with light-reflecting mineral pearls that blur the look of pores for a soft-focus finish. The shade is so pretty and natural looking on, and it can be built up for more of a flush. So pretty!

The Beauty of Nature Gen Nude Eyeshadow Palette Natural Oasis ($29 USD) — Build a colorful smoky eye, create a wash of color, or add a vibrant pop to your look with these 6 new island-inspired shades, from shimmering sand to rich coral. Each features Jet-Milled Mineral Pigments for buildable, blendable color while botanical extracts help nourish skin around the delicate eye area, Cucumber Extract and Caffeine help soothe skin’s appearance and Cold-Pressed Borage Oil moisturizes skin. These eyeshadows are crease- and smudge-resistant to ensure your eyes look flawless all day long.

The shades from left to right are:

Sandy Beach: Shimmering Cream(shimmer)
Papaya: Creamy Papaya(matte)
Cabana: Terracotta Brown(matte)
Red Hibiscus: Red Copper(shimmer)
Shimmering Sunset: Warm Violet(shimmer)
Palm Leaf: Rich Palm Green(matte)

I really enjoy this palette. It’s nicely pigmented and lots of looks can be made with it because of the gorgeous shade selection. I love that it’s not just variations on one color, that there are 6 distinct shades in it. Also, since it’s so small, it will be nice for travel this spring and summer and they shades will even look nice in the fall!

Mineralist Hydra-Smoothing Lipstick in Wisdom and Perception ($20 USD) — This creamy moisturizing lipstick is made with minimal ingredients for maximal results; it’s proven to significantly improve the look of lip lines, texture and dryness in just one week — even after you take it off — and provides 2X hydration* and 2X rich color** with one swipe.

With just 19 ingredients — 40% less than top-selling lipsticks*** — MINERALIST Hydra-Smoothing Lipstick is formulated with 76% naturally derived extracts, including sustainably sourced botanicals from around the world. MINERALIST Lipstick is infused with omega-packed, cold-pressed European Sea Buckthorn Fruit Oil; Mediterranean Olive Oil and antioxidant-rich Moroccan Pomegranate Extract to hydrate, nourish and replenish for softer, smoother lips. Because we believe less does more, we left out the unnecessary additives, including Parabens, Phthalates, Synthetic Fragrance, PEGs and Mineral Oil.

Each MINERALIST shade is inspired by the healing powers of natural minerals, crystals and gemstones, and features a subtle, uplifting natural scent of Prickly Pear and Açaí.

I also received the Lasting Line Long-Wearing Eyeliner in Agave ($17 USD) — I can’t find the shade anywhere, so it might be an older shade. But you can purchase this eyeliner in a few other shades.

Here are swatches:

The liner is very pigmented and is nice for the waterline, or just lining the eyes.

The lipsticks are creamy, but have almost a satin-matte finish. They feel very hydrating on. These aren’t shades I normally wear, but the formula is gorgeous. I might have to pick up a nude or lighter pink!

————————————————————————————————————————————

I’m really enjoying these products! The packaging is gorgeous and it’s making me think of spring and summer. The blush and eyeshadow are my favorites, but I do recommend the lipstick in a shade that’s wearable for you. Such a beautiful formula.

What do you think of this collection?

BoxyCharm Premium Review – February 2020

Hi all! I’ve just received my February 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.

I’ve been receiving this box since it launched last November. The products I received are:

Karity Picante Palette — $29
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush — $40
Faccia Skincare 24K Gold Foil Moisturizer — $100
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist — $28
Korres Body Butter in White Blossom — $32
Tarte Double Duty Beauty Base Tape Hydrating Powder — $30

My total this month is $259 — Amazing for a $35 box!

This is the item I chose this month. It was between this and a hair straightener. The photos I saw of this made the palette look so bright, but in real life it’s a lot more wearable. I’m excited to test it out!

I’m very excited about this blush! I don’t have any Hourglass Cosmetics products and I’ve heard their blushes are gorgeous. This is in Dim Infusion – A subdued coral blush fused with Dim Light to add warmth. I’m trying it out soon! I’ve been sick the last few days and haven’t been wearing makeup, but I have lots of new makeup to play with, so I’m getting up and putting makeup on!

This is the skincare I received. I love Glow Recipe and am looking forward to use this mist, but I’ve never heard of Faccia Skincare before, but I’me game to try this spendy face cream. I have a few moisturizers open right now, but I’ll put it in my stash for later.

I have heard good things about this Tarte primer. I love all types of primer, so I will use this, too.

The packaging of this Korres Body Butter is gorgeous. It’s very floral, but I will keep it in my office and use it when I need some hydration.

I am quite happy with this month’s BoxyCharm Premium! I plan on using everything that I got in the box this month! Amazing! Next month’s Premium is all Fenty Beauty products and I’m looking forward to that box as well!

I also just received my regular BoxyCharm for February and will be reviewing that in a couple of days.

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

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.

——————————————————————————————————————————-

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?

January 2020 Beauty Favorites

Hi all! I hope you had an amazing week! I don’t know about you, but I am so glad that January is over. Bring on a fresh new month!

Below are my beauty faves for January. I didn’t purchase much this month, so these are mostly older items to me. As usual, If I have reviewed them before, I will include the link, if not, I will link to where you can purchase:

Pixi Beauty Retinol Jasmine Lotion — I use retinol products a few days a week and love using this as my last step at night.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea — This is cooling and smells amazing. It also helps to brighten my dull winter skin.

StriVectin Peptight Tightening & Brightening Face Serum — I received this from BzzAgent a couple of weeks ago and have been using it every day (review to come).

Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation — The shade I have is 20CP. It’s a bit light for me except for right now when I’m at my palest. I love how this makes my skin look, very smooth and youthful!

Urban Decay The Ultimate Brush Off Translucent Loose Setting Powder — I have the Universal Translucent shade of this. I love the texture of this powder. It’s very finely milled and doesn’t make my aging skin look textured! I do really use the brush that’s in the lid, but I can use it in a pinch.

e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer — This is in my 2020 Project Pan this year. I got this last spring and liked it okay. So I thought I should give it some love and use it up. I have found that I am really enjoying it. It’s full coverage and easy to blend.

Milk Makeup Mini Bronzer in Baked — I received this in a holiday gift set and was so excited to try it. And, it doesn’t disappoint! It’s easy to blend and the shade is so pretty on. This is the first cream bronzer that I have really enjoyed using.

Farsali Rose Gold Skin Mist — I received this in my November BoxyCharm. This was my first Farsali product, and I really love it. It has a fine mist and gives a light glow to the skin.

And…

Colourpop Going Coconuts Palette — I love this palette! It’s an amazing everyday palette that is more cooler tones. This has made me want to purchase more Colourpop palettes and I have! Colourpop releases so many palettes that I was kind of overwhelmed last year and only purchased a couple. But I’m really loving some of their current neutral collections.

I have enjoyed using what I have this month! I’ve really been going through my skincare, too. I will have my empties in my January Shop My Stash results coming up next.

What are your current favorites?

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!

20 Palettes in 2020 — Colourpop Going Coconuts

Hi all! I’m starting a new series this year. I’m reviewing 20 palettes that I purchased or received last year (and maybe previous years) that I haven’t reviewed yet. I might also include palettes from this year if I don’t get around to reviewing them right away. These will include eye shadow and face palettes.

The reason I started this was as I was doing my Shop my Stash last year, I realized that I hadn’t reviewed a lot of the palettes I featured (check out my January Shop my Stash here). I’ve used them, of course, but haven’t given my review. So this year, I’m going to get that done!

The first palette I’m going to review is the Colourpop Going Coconuts ($12 USD) eye shadow palette. I picked this up a couple of months ago.

Going Coconuts is a cooler toned neutral 9 pan palette. I picked this up , perfect for your every day look. This super wearable palette is cute and compact.

The shades are:

Shredded: creamy vanilla with silver pinpoints
Palm Reader: white with gold flip
Coolada: cool taupe brown
Lovely Bunch: mid tone yellow brown
Coco Crush: icy pale champagne
Shell Yeah: neutral ginger brown
Get Crackin’: cool brown with silver flecks
Da Coco: icy bronze with violet pinpoints
Nutty: deep umber

Here are swatches of the whole palette:

From Left to Right — Shredded, Palm Reader, Coolada and Lovely Bunch, Coco Crush, Shell Yeah, Get Crackin’, Da Coco and Nutty.

I dip into Shredded every time I use this palette. It’s a great base color. I also really love the matte shade Coolada for cooler looks, which is what I usually do with this palette. My very favorite shade is Coco Crush. It’s a beautiful lid color and I apply it every time I use this palette.

My least favorite shade is Palm Reader. It’s chunky like a glitter and sheer. Da Coco, the other shimmer in the palette, is dry and doesn’t blend easily. The mattes all work well.

I have to say I really like this palette. It’s compact and easy for travel, and it’s great for everyday looks. But, I do create the same look each time I use it. It’s a pretty look, but the same each time, LOL!

I do recommend this palette if you like a basic neutral look and something that you can use everyday.

Do you have this palette? What is your favorite Colourpop palette?

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!

––—––-–——————————————-

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!

Keep Hair Frizz-Free This Winter With John Frieda Frizz Ease

Hi All! Hope everyone is doing well!

The cold air is really doing a number on my hair and making it fly-away and frizzy. I definitely have to use some sort of anti-frizz product during the winter!

I’ve received some John Frieda Frizz Ease products for my honest review. They have also given the following three steps for hair guaranteed to stay frizz free all winter long:

Step 1: Apply Frizz Ease Extra Strength Serum ($8.99 USD) to soaking wet hair to protect each dehydrated strand against the onset of frizz. Style as desired.

Step 2: Once hair is dry and styled, use Frizz Ease Secret Weapon Touch Up Créme on flyaways, static frizz, and split ends to create a supple, shiny finish and silky touch.

Step 3: Complete your look with Frizz Ease Hairspray Moisture Barrier Firm Hold ($6.74 USD) to hold style firmly in place and prevent frizz, rain or shine.

I really do love these products! I have used them before and I am happy to have them in my routine again. They all work beautifully (and are all really affordable), but if I had to recommend just one, my favorite is the Touch Up Creme. It really works on dry, frizzy hair! Just apply a bit and disperse with a comb or fingers. I then brush it through. My hair looks very shiny and healthy after applying this!

You can purchase these products at Walmart and other great mass market retailers!

What do you like to use for frizzies and fly-aways?

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?