Valentine’s Day Beauty Guide

Hey all! Ready for Valentine’s Day?  I think I am! I have shopped for those special people in my life (including some beauty products, of course).

I though I would post some products that can either be nice gifts, or used in getting ready for V-Day– and beyond:

 

beautyblender BBF Kit
beautyblender BBF Kit

This would be a gorgeous gift to share with your bestie (or keep both for your self)! This is the beautyblender BBF kit ($40 USD).  beautyblenders are such an amazing sponge, so this would be quite the treat!

To make this even sweeter, beautyblender is proud to announce its partnership with American Heart Association.  The world’s favorite pink makeup applicator is blending for cause – to help improve the quality of life of people who have heart disease….one bounce at a time.

Throughout the entire month of February, 25% of all sales from the  best-selling BBF kit on beautyblender.com will be donated to American Heart AssociationPLUS every BBF kit sold will receive a free 10oz liquid blendercleanser ($30 Value)!

Urban Decay On The Run Mini Palette in Shortcut
Urban Decay On The Run Mini Palette in Shortcut

Urban Decay On The Run Mini Palette in Shortcut ($25 USD) — This stunning eight-shade eyeshadow palette highlights blush-tone neutrals that play well with a rose hue and a chocolate matte. Get lost with a coppery pink transformer shade, which adds a little ice to any look. This palette will be perfect for romantic or sultry Valentine’s Day looks!

Shades:

  • Sin (pale nude shimmer)
  • Laced (pinky-taupe matte)
  • Shortcut (medium rose-pink matte)
  • Afterhours (soft black satin with iridescent micro-sparkle)
  • Back Alley (chocolate brown matte)
  • Rendezvous (bordeaux matte with blue-sparkle)
  • Gash (metallic brick red)
  • Zone (metallic pink-red with copper micro-sparkle*)

Purchase at http://www.urbandecay.com, Ulta, Sephora and other great retailers.

Josie Maran Vibrancy Argan Oil Fresh Face Paint Palette
Josie Maran Vibrancy Argan Oil Fresh Face Paint Palette

Josie Maran Vibrancy Argan Oil Fresh Face Paint Palette ($42.00) For the final touch, and ultimate ease, add some color to your look with this multipurpose palette. Each blendable shade is perfect for eyes, lips, and cheeks!

Purchase at http://www.josiemarancosmetics.com, Sephora and other luxe stores.

Nanacoco Luxe Lipstick in Sweetheart
Nanacoco Luxe Lipstick in Sweetheart

Nanacoco Luxe Lipstick in Sweetheart ($8.50 USD) This full pigment, long-lasting formula, and silky finish, make a memorable statement with your lips. The shade Sweetheart allow for you to say goodbye to smearing and fading, and hello to a comfortable and rich lip color. And it is a fresh and pretty alternative to red.  But if you do want a red shade, check out this lipstick Red Riches or Cranberry!

Available at Nanacocoinc.com

Ethique Face Sampler

Ethique Face Sampler ($18.50 USD) — If you want to dip your toe in and try out Ethique’s range of face products (the world’s first zero waste beauty brand), their Face Sampler is for you! It contains the following five samples: Bliss Bar is a luxuriously creamy, gentle face cleanser created for normal to dry skin types; The Perfector is a solid face cream; Saving Face Serum is made with cupuacu and shea butters and rosehip & pomegranate oils; Gingersnap is a creamy, facial exfoliator and In Your Face Cleanser created for skin that is prone to breakouts. Plus, the heart shape products are so cute and such a fun gift.

Purchase on Amazon

Jergens Flawless Effects Moisturizer

Jergens Brilliance Flawless Effects Moisturizer

Jergens Brilliance Flawless Effects Moisturizer (Amazon; $11.99): This skin perfecting moisturizer will give you all the confidence to wear that little red dress this Valentine’s Day! Going a step further than hydration, this moisturizer instantly perfects skin by blurring imperfections and improving overall skin tone on the spot.

Purchase on Amazon or a mass market retailer near you.

I know Valentine’s day is just a couple of days away, but these would be nice at any time.  I love fresh makeup and body care — plus I love pampering myself!

I hope you all have an amazing Valentine’s Day, whether you are going out with friends, celebrating with a significant other, or having a self care night at home (don’t forget the wine)!

 

 

Perfect Polish For Your Valentine’s Day Manicure From Lauren B. and Morgan Taylor!

Hi all! I hope you are doing well this Saturday and it’s not too cold where you are!

I was sent some beautiful nail polishes from Lauren B. and Morgan Taylor for my honest review.

I love polishing my nails holiday and season appropriate shades.  The ones below are so fresh and pretty for Valentine’s Day, or any time!

The first polishes are from Lauren B. and are great choices for Valentines Day or any Date Night:

 

Lauren B. Beauty in “33 Carats”–  ($19 USD) Sounds like a rock that Elizabeth Taylor might wear, and that’s what inspired this polish. Packed with ultra-fine flecks of silver glitter (in a range of sizes), it’s diamond-powder sparkly and festive without being gaudy.

Lauren B. Beauty in “Laurel Canyon Lover” —($18 USD) A perfect balance between true red and burgundy, this shade looks sexy, festive and modern all at once. The deeply pigmented formula levels out perfectly, leaving nails smooth and jewel-like.

Lauren B. Beauty in “LOVE.”–($18 USD) A cool, sheer petal pink, this loving shade gives you the look of immaculately manicured nails with an extra burst of glossiness.

Lauren B. Beauty in “Rose Bowl”–($18 USD) Less traditional than red but just as rich. This vibrant, purple-tinged pink has a hint of delicate silver shimmer, lending it cool, unexpected depth.

Color goes full bloom with Morgan Taylor’s Spring collection The Color Of Petals Professional Nail Lacquer Collection! Inspired by the soft and subtle colors of your favorite flowers. This collection features a range of plush pastels in shades of pretty pinks, toned-down nudes, and pops of peach and purple to provide the perfect finishing touch to any colorful springtime look.

There are 5 shades available at Ulta — From left to right in the photo above are:

I Feel Flowerful — Light Nude Creme

Merci Bouquet — Lilac Creme

Young, Wild and Free-sia — Soft Peach Creme

Follow the Petals — Pink Pearl

Strike a Poise (not shown) — Blush Pink Creme

These are the Spring collection, but the shades are so fresh and beautiful, that they are perfect for Valentine’s Day, too!

I am also going to be posting these collections on my Instagram @fortyflirtyfab today and tomorrow.  Check it out.  I would love to have you follow me there and will follow you as well!

Do you like to do holiday specific manicures?  Or what is your favorite nail polish shades for this time of year?

 

BoxyCharm Subscription Box Review — February 2019

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Hi all! I received my February BoxyCharm today! I always watch for the spoilers so I basically knew what I am getting. But, I was surprised by a couple of these that I didn’t see spoilers for.

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.

This month I received:

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The two products I didn’t see variation spoilers for are the GrandeLIPS lipstick and the TULA masks.  Here are more info on the products I received:

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I have been wanting to try this for a while.  It is from a Korean beauty brand that I haven’t tried before (I have been loving Korean beauty lately).  My pores need to be smoothed and covered, so I am all for this! And I love trying new primers!

img_2954.jpg I do not enjoy matte liquid lipsticks.  They are so uncomfortable and settle in to my lines. But for some reason, I got this and put it right on my lips. It is a semi-matte and is a little drying.  But then it starts to tingle, plumps up and my lips looks great! It does look better with a gloss over it.  But I was pleasantly surprised!

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This shade of highlighter is Glow Up a rose gold.  It’s very pretty!  This is a very glowy formula.  I haven’t decided if the shade is too dark for me yet.  I need to wear it out in the sun and see.

Here are swatches of the lippie and highlighter:

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The lip color is almost a little light for me, but I wear gloss over it and can change the color a bit.  The highlighter is a very pretty shade.  I hope it works for me.

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I have tried this mascara before.  It’s pretty good (I don’t really remember if I liked it or not).  I gave my last tube to my daughter.  I think I’ll keep this one and try it out once I’m done with the mascaras I am using.

img_2958.jpg I received 2 packs of 2 masks, so 4 masks total!  That’s not bad.  These claim to hydrate and plump skin when it needs it most. The citrus extract in this mask will bring the look of luminosity and vibrance to dull, tired skin.

That sounds really nice, and I do want to try them.  But I haven’t even used my Tatcha masks from last months box! (You can see my January box here).

So, I think this is my first BoxyCharm every that I am going to use all of the products!  I will at least try them before passing them on. The product I’m most excited about is the primer.  But I will at least try everything else.  So this box is a win!

Do you get BoxyCharm?  What did you get in your box this month?

Shop My Stash — February 2019

Hi all! It’s February!  I’m so happy January is over.  It was a long, cold month.  The cold isn’t over, but hopefully will be soon.

It’s time for my second Shop My Stash.  You can see the first one here and the results here.  This month, I have chosen three eyeshadow palettes, one highlighter and one bronzer to focus on. Like last month, I will link if I have featured these or reviewed them on my blog. Here’s the products:

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Here are close up photos of each product:

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Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette — I hauled this in September here. I still haven’t done a full review on it, but I will this month.  I used it a lot when I first got it, but I haven’t used it since.  It’s a neutral palette with a couple of pops of colour and I know I can get lots of pretty looks with it. Plus it smells like chocolate!

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The Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette have really been loved!  It’s a bit messy.  Honestly, I chose this one because it’s a perfect palette for Valentine’s Day!  This is so nice for neutral or pink/red looks. I got it about a year ago and reviewed it here.

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This is my first and so far only Lime Crime purchase.  It’s the Venus III Palette. I bought this in the same haul as the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette.  It was about half price and I really loved the shades.  I still need to review this one and hope to do it this month, too.

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This is the Wet n Wild Moon Tears loose highlighter. I got this around my birthday in June and hauled it here.  I like it, but it’s pretty glittery. I choose it this month to see if I want to keep it.  I do need to do a declutter of some of my makeup.  I have some that is old or I just do use.  So we will see how this goes! I have swatched this below.

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I have had this LORAC bronzer in my drawer for a while.  It’s been a bit over a year.  I’ve read that powder makeup is good for about two years. So I maybe have about six more months with this or so.  It’s a light bronzer, which I need because I have fair to light skin.  I LOVE my butter bronzer, but I want to see if this is as good.

I have swatched the highlighter and bronzer:

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The highlighter is so pretty in this swatch. The color is perfect for me, it’s just so glittery!  I also think the bronzer is a pretty shade.  It’s not too dark for me in winter.

I’m excited about this Shop My Stash.  I have already used all of these this month and am looking forward to seeing what type of fun looks I can do!

Are you doing Shop my Stash this year, or have you done one in the past?  Let me know how it turned out!

 

January 2019 Beauty Favorites

Hi All!  I’m glad January is almost over.  It has been a cold, snowy month and I am looking forward to warmer weather.  Of course, we have to get through February, but it’s a short month.  Easy peasy, right?  LOL!

As I was getting ready to create this post, I realized that the last monthly favorites post I did was for October 2018!  I skipped November because I was so busy with work and holiday posts, and I skipped December because I was working on my annual favorites. Excuses, excuses!  I am going to try to do one each month in 2019.

My faves for January are:

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Laneige Bright Dew Original Essence ($55 USD) — This concentrated essence contains antioxidant rich Vitamin C , to help brighten the skin’s overall complexion. The formula also contains Pro-vitamin B5 and Beta-glucan to hydrate and soothe the skin. It feels so nice on my skin. It sinks into my skin and makes it really soft. And it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin.  I have been using this without a heavy cream at night (I’m too hot at night for heavy products) and my skin is still soft and glowy in the morning.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask ($25 USD) — I’m really enjoying this mask. It’s a very hydrating night treatment. I feel super dry lately, because of the cold air. Sometimes I even wear this in the morning! I use a lot at night and when I wake up, my lips are still a little dry, but they aren’t cracked or flaking. And they do look nice and plump, which I love!

Derma E Firming DMAE Eye Lift ($24.95 USD) — This multi-action eye cream claims too visibly lift, firm and tighten the delicate eye area while smoothing crow’s feet. I really do see a difference in the firmness around my eye.  I apply it all around my eyelids and my top lid is so firm and has stopped drooping (I was started to get hooded eyelids)! And I find that it helps my crows feet.

Oxygenetix Acne Control Foundation ($76 USD) —  This has a natural to soft matte finish, but doesn’t looking drying on my skin.  It actually just looks like skin!  Just flawless, healthy skin!  I have been breaking out lately and I use this during breakouts. I do find it helps clear them up, but it also applies so smoothly over blemishes and helps conceal them so nicely!  This foundation wears all day.

Dermablend Loose Setting Powder ($27 USD) — I won this in a giveaway last fall and have been loving it ever since. It sets my skin with a soft matte finish.  It’s almost too matte for me, but I make sure I hydrate under my foundation and powder and I use highlight and spritz on a nice setting spray. Plus I use just enough to set my face, too much and it can look cakey.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Amrezy Highlighter ($28 USD) — Oh no!  It’s out of stock again.  I purchased this in the beginning of December (I think).  I bought it at Ulta with the Dose of Colors Friendcation palette.  The palette was half off plus I had a 20% off my entire purchase coupon so I threw in this highlighter to get free shipping!  It’s very nice.  It’s a little dark on my skin tone, so it’s more glowy than blinding on me.  But I like that look for every day.  It doesn’t emphasize my texture, which is amazing for ladies of a certain age!

Ulta Full Coverage Liquid Concealer ($9 USD) — This lightweight, creamy and super blend-able formula offers full coverage, flawless matte finish. The ULTA Full Coverage Liquid concealer contains special ingredients known to promote healing, concealing imperfections, and evening skin tone. Our formula wears beautifully, doesn’t cake or crease and offers long lasting wear.

Tarte Maneater Voluptuous Mascara ($23 USD) — Dress your lashes like you style your hair with this lengthening, curling and volumizing mascara. With a soft-flex brush and lightweight triple-black formula, it lifts lashes at the root, styles and fans them out to create amped-up fluttery fullness with no flaking or clumping. The custom molded brush features hundreds of flexible bristles to curl and coat lashes with even, intense pigment for 23x more volume powered by lash-strengthening jojoba and carnauba wax.

It’s funny that I don’t have an eyeshadow palette in here.  I have started Shop My Stash in January and I have two palettes I was using.  You can read about that here and the conclusion here.  I’m about to post my February Shop My Stash, and that will have three palettes! Stay tuned!

What were your favorites in January?

 

Shop My Stash January 2019 Results and Monthly Empties

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Hi All!  Can you believe January is almost over?  I’m ready for spring, so I’m okay with it!

I started a monthly Shop My Stash this year. Here is the link to the post from the beginning of the month.  I go over each product with photos.  I also link if I have reviewed them in the past.

I really enjoyed this and tried to use all of these products at least a few times to see how much I like them.  It’s fun to focus on products since I have so many (especially Eye shadows).

The products this month were Urban Decay Born to Run Palette, Tartiest Pro Glow Palette. Colourpop You Had Me At Hello Palette, Pretty Vulgar Blush in Hush Blush and two BUXOM Cosmetics PillowPout Creamy Plumping Lip Powder in Cuddle Me (Rose) and Cozy Up (Mauve Nude).

I probably used the Born to Run palette the most, confirming why it was my favorite palette last year (see my 2018 faves here). My challenge was to use other shades than the bronzes.  And I did!  I tried the blues, gray and purple shades.  I’m not a fan of bright pink eyeshadow, but I think I used almost all of the shades.  The quality is gorgeous!

I also loved the You Had Me At Hello Palette. It’s a plummy, reddish brown sort of palette with a bunch of beautiful metallic shades. I did a few varied looks with this.

The tarte contour palette and the Pretty Vulgar blush weren’t my favorites. I decided to choose them because I got them both in subscription boxes this year and I never really used them.  The contour palette is a bit dark for me, both the contour and the highlighters.  My skin is so fair right now that they really don’t show up. The blush is very powdery and so pigmented.  It’s too bright for me.  I think I am going to hold on to them and try them again in the summer.  Or I might just give them away to my daughter!

Th Buxom PillowPouts are really nice.  They are creamy, but are matte when applied.  I like to wear lip glosses over them. I’ll continue using them!

I also am going to include any empties in this post each month:

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This month I only had three — The Robin McGraw Revelation Live Life Lifted Neck Cream, Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Leave in Mask, and Philosophy Purity Made Simple Eye Gel. I’ve been using the skincare since early fall and I got the Briogeo in a subscription box a few months ago.  I use neck cream morning and night (and eye cream, too).  This neck cream really firmed up my neck area, and the eye cream was super hydrating.  I definitely recommend them both.  I like the hair mask, but I just got the Briogeo Rosarco one and I like that one a bit better.  If you over use this one, hair gets greasy.

So I have chosen my Shop My Stash products for February and will be revealing those soon.  I’m enjoying this series so far!  Stay tuned!

Ipsy Glam Bag Subsription Box Review – January 2019

Hi all!  I hope you’re doing well and having a great weekend!  I signed up for Ipsy again at the beginning of January and was told my subscription would start with the February bag, but I also went on the waiting list for Glam Bag Plus (I’m going to try it again).  I got off of that waiting list and will now be charged and receive February’s Glam Bag Plus, so they just sent me a January Glam Bag!

Ipsy Glam Bag is only $10 a month (Glam Bag Plus is $25)  It’s deluxe samples and some full sized products. You can sign up for these at ipsy.com.

Here’s what I got:

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YENSA PUMPKIN TURMERIC 2-in-1 Radiance Polishing Mask

LUXIE BEAUTY 1010 Small Contour Brush

KASCA Nail Polish in Velvet Black Matte

FLUIDE Lip Gloss in Elsewhere

CIATÉ LONDON Wonderwand Mascara in Black Magic
This is an okay bag.  I think since they packed it last minute, I got the strange leftovers. My favorite items is the Luxie Brush.  It’s really soft and blends contour nicely. I haven’t tried the Ciate mascara yet, because I want to save it for later or if I travel this year.  I will also try the Yensa mask.  I did try the Fluide lip gloss and it is very shiny and minty.  I don’t know how often I use it.  I will give the black nail polish to one of my daughters.
I am excited to get my Glam Bag Plus in February.  I will be posting a review once I do!
Do you get Ipsy Glam Bag or Glam Bag Plus?  What did you get in your January Bag?

Hydrate Your Lips and Hands With Products By Mamonde, Sun Bum and NaturaBrasil

Hi all!  I hope you are doing well this cold winter.  Are your lips and hands chapped like mine are? I feel that I’m always slathering on lip balms and hand cream.  I’m always on the lookout for products that keep me hydrated, not leave me needing more moisture!

Below are some of my current favorites — a gentle lip mask, a tropical lip balm and an all-natural hand cream:

mamonde lip sleeping mask
Mamonde Lip Sleeping Mask

The Mamonde Lip Sleeping Mask ($14 USD) is a staple for people with dry and cracked lips. This multi-purpose lip sleeping mask & moisturizing balm gently exfoliates lips while creating a beauty satin finish as it keeps your lips fully hydrated. The plum extract helps exfoliate the lips while leaving lips looking smooth and dewy.

What I think: This is such an interesting lip mask. It claims to exfoliate and hydrate the lips at the same time. I do know that when I apply it at night, my lips are soft and smooth in the morning. This has a very soft floral scent, it’s very nice.  This is the first time I’ve tried Mamonde, which is a Korean brand, and I’m impressed.  I’ll have to try more!

Available at select ULTA stores and ULTA.com

sun bum cocobalm moisturizing lip balms
Sun Bum CocoBalm Moisturizing Lip Balms

Are you someone that ALWAYS has a lip balm in your pocket? Look no further! Sun Bum has a balm that is perfect for anyone on the go. The Sun Bum CocoBalm Moisturizing Lip Balms ($3.99 USD) are naturally flavored and infused with aloe vera and coconut oil to moisturizing your dry lips. With three fun flavors, Pina Colada, Groove Berry and Ocean Mint, you are sure to find one you LOVE.

What I think:  First of all, this smells (and tastes) delicious! It’s smells like a tropical vacation (as well as a tropical drink). It is also very hydrating and is so nice for chapped lips.  I’ll definitely have to try the other flavors!

Available at TrustTheBum.com

 

naturabrasil ucuuba hand cream
NaturaBrasil Ucuuba Hand Cream

NaturaBrasil Ucuuba Hand Cream ($19.50 USD) — Enriched with a blend of repairing Ucuuba Butter and Murumuru Butter, this extremely effective hand cream softens and smooths skin for up to 30 hours and provides a protective barrier against the elements. The rich texture absorbs quickly to leave hands feeling comfortable, not greasy.

What I think: I’m always looking for a hydrating hand cream.  This one is very creamy without being greasy.  It has such a nice, soft scent, too. I also love the tube packaging, it’s great to throw in my purse.

Purchase at naturabrasil.com

What products are helping you keep hydrated this winter?

 

 

 

Products To Help Clogged Skin and Breakouts in the Winter

Hi All! My skin is so weird right now.  I have combination, aging skin (that can be sensitive) and its both dry and breaking out right now.  So frustrating!

I have been making sure to hydrate my skin every night and morning, but I’m also using scrubs and products to keep it clear.

I’ve been sent the following products for my honest review:

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Oxygenetix Acne-Control Foundation

Clear & Conceal acne with Oxygenetix Acne Control Foundation ($76 USD)  — This revolutionary formula was three years in the making. Oxygenetix founder Barry Knapp is widely respected in the cosmetic industry and has identified the need for a treatment foundation for medical professionals with acne patients, created Oxygenetix Acne Control Foundation. Like the original formula, Oxygenetix Acne Control is Aloe Vera Barbadensis gel based and does not contain added water. It is transfer and water-resistant, so it to stays on for hours even in humid environments. Its oxygen enriched and natural ingredients make it act like a second skin. This Acne Control Foundation at SPF 25 features maximum strength time released with 2% salicylic acid combined with a proprietary patented breathable matrix delivery system. The prime ingredient in all Oxygenetix products is Ceravitae. This super-charged oxygen peptide helps support the skins collagen cell production and connective tissue growth. It attracts oxygen to the skin helping it to breathe keeping it strong and healthy. Ceravitae works synergistically with the time released 2% salicylic acid maintaining effective treatment levels throughout the day.

What I think: I really like this foundation.  I have the shade Ivory.  There are 14 shades.  Ivory is a pretty good match for me.   This has a natural to soft matte finish, but doesn’t looking drying on my skin.  It actually just looks like skin!  Just flawless, healthy skin!  I have been breaking out lately and I use this during breakouts. I do find it helps clear them up, but it also applies so smoothly over blemishes and helps conceal them so nicely!  This foundation wears all day.  I don’t have a lot of oils, so I don’t have to worry about oils coming through.  I will test it in the summer, when I do get sweaty and a bit oily. I definitely will continue to use this.

From my Derma E PR Box this month, I received the Purifying Daily Detox Scrub and the Purifying 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask.

Purifying Daily Detox Scrub ($15.50 USD) — Gentle enough for daily use, this detox scrub lifts away micro-pollutants and impurities while promoting oxygenation for a fresh, healthy radiance. Doctor developed and clinically tested, this revitalizing formula contains some of the most powerful minerals and natural toxin fighters from the earth and from the sea. Kimarine® Wakame is a potassium-rich, magnesium-rich seaweed that is clinically proven to protect skin against environmental pollutants (exhaust fumes, cigarette smoke, heavy metals). Bladderwrack is an antioxidant-rich, mineral-rich seaweed known for its water-binding properties, supporting healthy skin hydration and nourishment. Activated Charcoal, known for absorbing 100 to 200 times its weight in impurities, helps remove toxins from the skin’s surface. Apricot Seed Powder gently exfoliates away micro-pollutants, and Green Tea delivers potent antioxidant defense. Ideal for oily, active or urban skin types, even safe for reactive skin (minimal ingredients and allergy-tested), this formula boosts skin purity for a refreshed, glowing complexion. 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, lanolin-free, gluten free, GMO-free.

Purifying 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask ($19.50 USD) deeply detoxifies skin of harmful micropollutants in two ways: (1) Natural clays infused with Kimarine® Wakame, Bladerwrack and Activated Charcoal lift out dirt, oil and bacteria to decongest pores as the mask dries; (2) Apricot Seed Powder exfoliates away dead skin cells and captured debris upon removal. Kaolin and Bentonite Clays absorb excess oils and impurities, relieving skin congestion. Kimarine® Wakame is a potassium-rich, magnesium-rich seaweed that is clinically proven to protect skin against environmental pollutants (exhaust fumes, cigarette smoke, heavy metals). Bladderwrack is an antioxidant-rich, mineral-rich seaweed known for its water-binding properties, supporting healthy skin hydration and nourishment. Activated Charcoal, known for absorbing 100 to 200 times its weight in impurities, purges pores of deeply rooted toxins, then Apricot Seed Powder gently exfoliates away micropollutants. Ideal for oily, active or urban skin types, even safe for reactive skin (minimal ingredients and allergy-tested), used this formula once or twice a week for skin that looks dramatically fresher, healthier and purely glowing.

What I think:  I already had the scrub and I really enjoy using it.  It’s a pearly dark gray and is not harsh at all.  It actually feels hydrating and scrubbing at the same time. It leaves my skin very soft.  I use it every day and it doesn’t irritate my skin.

The mask gives a deeper clean and is nice to use when I feel that my pores are clogged and my skin looks dull.   It really deep cleans, but also hydrates the skin.  My skin glows afterwards!  And, luckily, it doesn’t irritate my skin.

How’s your skin been this winter?  What do you like to use?

 

Brand Review — Nanacoco

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Hi all!  I hope you are doing well! I have another brand review!  I love doing these because it’s so much fun exploring what a brand has to offer.  This one is new to me.  It’s call Nanacoco.  Here is info on the brand:

Founded in 2014, Nanacoco continues to evolve and update its cruelty-free products to match the ever-changing beauty trends. It was essential to create an iconic color cosmetics brand that would have a lasting cult following in today’s digital world. Nanacoco represents someone who is carefree, loving, and isn’t afraid to push boundaries, while constantly moving towards innovation, trendiness, and diversity.

I love that the brand is cruelty free and is so affordable. It’s available on http://www.bbfull.com.

img_2837 These are the Eyeshadow Quad Palette in Elegant ($11.99), The Classic Auto Eye and Lip Pencil in Black ($2.99) and the Outlash Mascara ($10.50).  My photo isn’t great, but this quad is gorgeous!  The colors are all shimmers, but I did a look with the lower left brown shade in my crease, the pink shade on the outer half of the lid, the gold shade on the inner half of the lid, the dark brown shadow on my lower lash, and I tight lined with the the black liner.  It was gorgeous!

The mascara is nice, too.  They have many different kinds, but this one is for length. And it does give great length, but not a lot of volume.  I need length so this is a nice everyday mascara.

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Here’s a swatch of the eyeliner and shadow quad.  The colors are so gorgeous and you can do some fun, neutral looks with it.  There are also a few different palettes with brighter shades. The eyeliner is very creamy, but not super black.  It is good to tight line.

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These beauties are the Glitzn Face & Body Pigment ($7.50) in Lilac and Lemon.  These are so pretty on the eyes.  They will also work as highlighter, they do blend out.  They come in 12 shimmery shades.

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The photo didn’t turn out very well, but these are gorgeous and you get a lot of pigment in the little jar.  They are so nice on the eyelid.  I used the Lemon one with my eyeshadow quad and it added brightness and shimmer to my look!

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For face products, I tried the HD Cover Concealer ($8.50) in Eggshell and the HD Pressed Blush ($8.50) in Shimmery Dusty Rose.

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I think the pigments were under these, sorry about that!  The concealer is a bit dark for me now, but will work well in the summer.  It’s creamy and is a lighter coverage, but it’s buildable.

The blush is a pretty rose color and is a bit shimmery.  I think this will be gorgeous in the spring!

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And finally, here’s lips.  The are the Lipfinity Long Lasting Matte Lip Creme ($8.50) in Unveiled, Magnu-Matte Lip Crayon ($7.50) in Fever, and the Shimmertallics Metallic Lip Gloss ($8.50) in Sunkissed.

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Here are the swatches of the matte cream, crayon and lip gloss. These are all pretty nude shades.  The matte liquid lipstick is moussey when applied, but it dries down so much and is a bit uncomfortable on.  I can wear it with gloss over it.

The matte crayon is really comfortable.  I think this is the item I will use the most.  The gloss is pretty, but is so metallic.  Maybe it will be good for a night out.

All in all, I am very impressed with Nanacoco.  The products are really great quality for the price.  My favorites are the eyeshadow quad, the pigments, the mascara and the blush.  I will keep using them to see how I continue enjoying them.

Have you tried Nanacoco?  What do you think of the brand?