#MakeupBrushes – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Boxycharm Subscription Box Review — April 2020

Hey all! I hope you are all well and staying safe. I have received my April BoxyCharm last week. I haven’t had the motivation to post, but I do love receiving this box each month.

I’ve been subscribed to BoxyCharm for almost three years now and really enjoy it. BoxyCharm is now $25 a month plus tax for 5 full-sized beauty items. The value is at least $125 each month.

The only subscription boxes I’m currently getting is this box and BoxyLuxe four times a year. I think Boxy has been doing an amazing job curating their boxes lately.

The theme this month is Adore. My version is 24. This month I received:

Iconic London Illuminator Drops –$41
Battington Lashes — $31
Lavish 5 Piece Eyeshadow Brush Set — $29.99
ZOEVA Eyeshadow Palette in Screen Queen — $28
Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional Primer — $32

Total $161.99. That’s pretty good for $25

Here’s a close up of the palette:

I’ve been wanting to try Zoeva’s eyeshadow formula for a while. This palette is so pretty! It’s mostly shimmers, but they perform well.

I didn’t take close ups of the other products, but I’m pretty happy with this box. I haven’t used Benefit POREfessional in years, so I excited to try it again. The Iconic London highlight drops are so pretty on! I’m glad I got that in the box. The brushes are cute. The only item I’m not happy about is the lashes. I’ve gotten them before and didn’t use them. These ones will sit in my drawer, too!

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

IT Cosmetics Super-Size Celebration Foundation w/ Brush QVC TSV

Hi all! I hope you’re doing well!

It’s time for a new IT Cosmetics and QVC Today’s Special Value. This is a one day only deal and will be on March 30th. You get two Celebration Foundations and an amazing brush to apply them with for $49.96, which is a great value!

Your 30 seconds to flawless — super-sized! IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation is your full-coverage, anti-aging, hydrating powder foundation. Formulated with peptides, hydrolyzed collagen, silk powder and antioxidants, the talc-free foundation delivers highly pigmented coverage that helps to hide the appearance of skin concerns including hyperpigmentation, redness, dark circles, and visible pores.

Designed to smooth the look of your skin, Celebration Foundation blurs the appearance of skin imperfections to reveal the look of younger-looking skin when you wear it. And bonus: it won’t crease or crack!

Plus, you’ll also receive the Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Buffing Foundation Brush, custom-cut with the perfect density and shape for effortless full coverage.

I have been using this foundation for years. It’s a full coverage powder foundation that makes skin look smooth and it feels amazing on, too! I love how easy it is to apply with the brush, too.

Have you tried IT Cosmetics Celebration Foundation? What do you think of it and are you going to pick up this deal?

Boxycharm Subscription Box Review — February 2020

Hey all! I have just received my February BoxyCharm! I love receiving this box each month.

I’ve been subscribed to BoxyCharm for two and a half years now and really enjoy it. BoxyCharm is now $25 a month plus tax for 5 full-sized beauty items. The value is at least $125 each month.

The only subscription boxes I’m currently getting is this box, BoxyLuxe four times a year and the new BoxyCharm Premium. I think Boxy has been doing an amazing job curating their boxes lately.

The theme this month is Adore. My version is 47. This month I received:

Alamar Cosmetics Complexion Brush Trio – $36
Kate Somerville Kx Active Concentrates Bio-Mimicking Peptides Serum — $98.00
Ciaté London Everyday Vacay Coconut Scented Translucent Loose Powder — $22
Qveen Matte Liquid Lip Satin in Wifey — $17
Pretty Vulgar Faux Reals Extreme Volume Mascara — $23

These are gorgeous! They are very soft and seem to be of good quality. I really enjoy the Alamar eye brushes I have, so I’m excited to use these!

The serum was my choice this month. I love anything that smooths and firms my skin. I will be testing this out once I’m done with my current firming serum.

The powder is okay. I already have a Ciate powder in my stash that I got from a Boxycharm. It’s a different name then this one but it looks like almost the same thing. I’ll either save it for later or give it away.

These are my least favorite products this month. I don’t wear liquid lipstick and haven’t heard of the brand Qveen. I will pass it on to someone else.

I like Pretty Vulgar and have tried a few things in my Boxycharm, but I haven’t found anything I love yet. I have tons of mascara, so I’ll either throw this in my stash, or give it to one of my daughters.

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The box this month was okay for me. I am loving the Kate Somerville serum and the brushes and will use those. I might use the powder and mascara, or I might give them away. I will definitely give the liquid lipstick away.

Do you get Boxycharm? What did you get this month?

IT Cosmetics IT’s Your Season to Give Love! 7pc Grand Collection — QVC TSV

Hi all! QVC and IT Cosmetics are having another amazing Today’s Special Value! It begins Saturday, November 9, 2019 at midnight (ET). The price is $69.96. After the sale the price will be $97 and the retail value is $243.33. That’s an amazing deal.

This 7-piece collection features one complexion favorite, two color essentials and one lip must-have in a brand-new Love shade, plus a game-changing mascara and two Heavenly Luxe brushes! Experience natural-looking full coverage that moves with your skin by applying Bye Bye Foundation with SPF 50+ all over your face with your new Heavenly Luxe Buffing Foundation Brush. Add a pop of color to the apples of your cheeks with Bye Bye Pores Blush, then instantly add warmth and highlight to areas you’d like to bring forward by sweeping Hello Cheekbones onto your skin using the included Heavenly Luxe Hello Cheekbones Contour Brush. Transform the look of your lashes with Superhero Mascara, and give your lips a naturally pretty flush of color with Je Ne Sais Quoi Lip Treatment Serum.

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About Each Product:

Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara — Transform the look of your lashes! Formulated with unique Elastic Stretch Technology to wrap lashes, making them look fuller and longer.

Heavenly Luxe Buffing Foundation Brush — Featuring ultra-plush Heavenly Luxe hair, this innovative foundation brush reaches every corner of your face—and is so easy to use, it does the work for you to help deliver an even application of your color-infused skincare and foundation products, including your Bye Bye Foundation

Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer™ with SPF 50+ — The first-ever full coverage moisturizer from IT Cosmetics gives you the power to say “bye bye” to beauty imperfections and hello to instant complexion perfection! Infused with full-coverage pigments and SPF 50+ sunscreen, Bye Bye Foundation is formulated to give you weightless-feeling, natural-looking coverage that moves with your skin.

NEW SHADE! Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment Serum — now in a new shade, Love! It’s infused with nourishing butters and oils and hyaluronic acid, plus it hydrates to help give you soft, smooth lips.

Bye Bye Pores Blush Poreless Finish Airbrush Brightening Blush — Featured in a brand-new Love shade, this blush delivers buildable color, and helps give your skin a flawless-looking finish. Suitable for all skin types, it’s time to discover the look of airbrushed skin with a natural-looking soft pink hue!

Hello Cheekbones Matte Bronzer & Highlighter Contouring Duo — Discover your life-changing duo, featuring a matte bronzer and highlighter in a new Love shade! Suitable for all skin types and tones, this two-in-one compact instantly defines and lifts the appearance of your cheekbones for natural-looking results.

Heavenly Luxe Hello Cheekbones Contour Brush — Your revolutionary dual-headed brush does the work for you to apply your highlighter and bronzer exactly where you want it—in one sweep! The custom-cut brush heads and shortened handle help give you the power to contour effortlessly, and it pairs perfectly with your included Hello Cheekbones Matte Bronzer & Highlighter Contouring Duo. While the angled “Highlight” brush head reaches the curves of your face to deliver a flawless, soft-focus effect, the rounded “Contour” brush head helps to evenly and smoothly apply your bronzer for an airbrushed-looking finish.

Here’s close up pics of the products:

These products are gorgeous for holiday makeup looks, or for gifting to someone special. And the brushes are so soft and amazing quality!

Superhero is one of my favorite mascaras, and the blush formula is gorgeous. This is almost like a full face of makeup and it would be so nice for any beauty lover!

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Are you picking this up today? What’s your favorite IT Cosmetics product?

Ipsy Glam Bag Plus Review — August 2019

Hey all! It’s time for my August Ipsy Glam Bag Plus review! This is a subscription box that will always include 5 full-sized items. And the items included are mostly luxe or higher end items. This is such a great value for the high quality items included.

I have pretty much enjoyed this subscription. I usually only use a couple of the items I receive each month, and so I’ve been debating keeping it. Unless I get tired of it, I think I’ll keep it until at least the end of the year.

Here’s what I received for August:

I realize this is a lot of products for an Ipsy Glam Bag Plus — I got three add-ons this month. Those are the top three products and I’ll talk about them later. Here’s what I received in my basic box:

Total — $204.50 — Wow! That’s an amazing value for a $25 box.

They usually have a little booklet, but this month it was a fold out card. It does give details of all of the products I received.

The product of these three I’m most excited about is the Purlisse Blue Lotus Moisturizer. I am almost out of my current SPF moisturizer, so this came at a great time!

I have quite a few peel off masks I’m not using, so I will probably gift this one away. I do want to try other products from Hey Honey. It looks like a great brand.

I have been wanting to try the foundation. The shade is Light which might be a little dark one me normally, but it might be a good summer shade.

These brushes are gorgeous! I’m excited to use them. From top to bottom is 10F Concealer, 65EM Mini Shading, 105E Pencil, 15E Angled Brow and 35EM Mini Tapered.

I LOVE the handles! It’s like a mermaid icicle! LOL!

I am so glad I received this gorgeous palette! I’ve used it a couple of times already and love it. I’ve never tried a palette from TheBalm, I’ve only had a small sample of the Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter. I was going to swatch it, but forgot, so I’ll do a palette review for it.

These are my three add-ons this month! I usually don’t do add-ons, but these were $3 each and I have been wanting to try the Coco Cabana Cream and the Thrive Causemetics Mascara. So far, I am LOVING the mascara. It’s a fiber mascara so it doesn’t smudge.

I might try the gorgeous Pixi blush or I might save it for a giveaway…we’ll see!

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I’m really happy with this month! Last month’s box was also good, so I’m on a roll!

I’ll use the palette, the brushes and the moisturizer. I might try out the foundation and will probably give the mask away. I am also happy with my add-ons.

Do you get Ipsy Glam Bag Plus? What did you get in your box this month?

IT Cosmetics’ and QVC TSV IT’s Your Skin But Better! Game-Changing Complexion Duo + Brush

Hi all! It’s time for a new IT Cosmetics and QVC Today’s special value! I LOVE IT Cosmetics and always get excited for the amazing deals they have.

This is good for today only, July 26th. Here’s what’s included:

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This is the IT Cosmetics’ IT’s Your Skin But Better! Game-Changing Complexion Duo + Brush ($49.98 plus shipping, $126 value) — This exclusive collection features a duo of #1 best-selling, award-winning beauty miracle—and a perfectly paired brush!

CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ is your one step for color-correcting full coverage and anti-aging SPF 50+ UVA/UVB physical sunscreen, plus it applies effortlessly with your included Heavenly Luxe Bye Bye Foundation Brush No. 22. Clinically tested to increase skin hydration and improve the appearance of skin texture, your breakthrough color-correcting cream instantly camouflages imperfections and won’t crease or crack!

Here’s more info on each product:

Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ — This multitasking beauty miracle is your one step for color-correcting full coverage, skincare and anti-aging SPF 50+ broad-spectrum sunscreen. It’s formulated with hydrolyzed collagen, peptides and hyaluronic acid, plus it’s suitable for all skin types—and helps give you better-looking skin!

Heavenly Luxe Bye Bye Foundation Brush No. 22 — Featuring a unique triangle-shaped brush head with Heavenly Luxe hairs, this innovative brush reaches every corner of your face—and is so easy to use, it does the work for you to help deliver an even application! Pairs perfectly with your included CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ and all your favorite color-infused skincare products.

What I think — I love this CC+ Cream! Since it’s a hybrid of makeup, skincare and protection, I can apply this in the morning after I wash my face and go! It looks flawless but it is also so good for the skin! And it has a really great SPF!

The brush pairs perfectly with the CC+ Cream. IT brushes are so high quality. The flat top triangular brushes work so well precisely applying foundation.

This is such a great deal! One CC+ Cream retails for $39, so to get two and a brush for under $50 is amazing!

Are you going to purchase Today’s Special Value? Do you like IT Cosmetics?

BoxyCharm Subscription Box Review — July 2019

Hey all! I recently received my July BoxyCharm! 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 4. This month I received:

Koh Gen Do Spa Cleansing Water Cloths — $17

Elemis Superfood Vital Veggie Mask – $35

Butter London Natural Goddess Eyeshadow Palette – $32

Luna by Luna Lip Gloss in Venus — $18

Luxie Brush Trio – $30

Box value — $132

This is a really pretty summer palette! I love the wooden packaging and the nice mirror. The shades are mostly shimmer and there’s a couple of mattes. I didn’t swatch it because I don’t know if I’ll keep it or give it away. I’ve recently purchased a few palettes and don’t really need another one.

I love the packaging and the handles of these brushes! So cool and summery! The brushes are 246 Precision Crease, 250 Large Eye Blending and 510 Foundation.

I enjoy Luxie brushes. I may keep these or give them away.

I am very excited about both of these! I’ve been wanting to try the Koh Gen Do wipes. I’ve tried items from this brand years ago and really enjoyed them. They are all natural and look very fancy!

I love the Elemis products I’ve tried, and I’m excited to try out this mask. Maybe I’ll do it Sunday. I’ve been bad about using masks lately and need to get back into them. This is supposed to nourish, smooth and brighten, for softer, smoother, more radiant skin. Yes please!

I’ve never heard of this brand before Luna by Luna, but I really like this gloss! It’s hydrating and so easy for a bronzey summer look! I have received so many glosses from boxes lately, but I do really like this one.

I think this is a pretty great box! I will definitely use the gloss, Elemis mask and face wipes. I’m still deciding if I will keep or give away the brushes and palette. But everything is so nice!

BoxyCharm is killing it lately! Do you get this box? What was in yours this month?

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

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?

BoxyCharm Subscription Box Review — April 2019

Hi all! I received my April 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.

My version is 6. This month I received:

PUR Cosmetics Festival Pressed Pigment Palette – ($36 USD)

Artist Couture Diamond Glow Powder in Purple Dream – ($27 USD)

Bodyography Eye Pencil in Bali Bronze — (14 USD)

Appeal Trendsetter Holographic Lip Gloss ($21 USD)

Luxie Summer Daze Brush Set – ($28 USD)

The total value for this box is $126. Not too bad for a $21 box.

This is the theme and list of what I got. It’s a very festival themed box. There is a lot of shimmer and bright products in here. I think someone who loves glitter and going to festivals will LOVE this box!

I was happy to get more Luxie brushes. The are from top to bottom 245 Small Shader, 512 Small Contouring, and 209 Large Shader. They are nice quality, but I would love to see some other brands of brushes in BoxyCharm. I will use these, though. I really need to clean my brushes and having back ups are helpful!

I received the shade Purple Dream. Which is funny, because it looks golden peach in the container. It does have a purple flip to it. You’ll see the swatch in the photo below. It’s really glittery, and I don’t think I will wear it as a highlighter. I might try it as an eyeshadow or give it to my daughter.

This lip gloss is actually pretty nice. It feels smooth and not sticky. It’s a soft holographic and I think it would nice over a pink or nude lipstick, or just on it’s own.

The eyeliner is a shimmery brown. I will use it, brown eyeliner is my favorite.

Here are swatches:

From left to right is the highlighter, eye pencil and lip gloss. I’m going to try these out more and see if I enjoy them!

This is very fun! There are shimmers, mattes and pressed glitters. Here’s a few swatches:

These swatched okay. The glitters feel wet almost and swatched nicely, but I don’t really wear glitters. The shimmers on the bottom on my hand are the four on the top pf the palette. They swatched okay, but not the best. I’m going to have to play with it, and I might end up passing it on. Also PUR is a very nice brand, but they are in BoxyCharm a lot. I think BoxyCharm needs to bring in some other brands.

This box didn’t really thrill me, but I’ll use the brushes, and will test out everything else before I pass them on. Last month, I decided that in June, I’ll be choosing between BoxyCharm/BoxyLuxe and Ipsy Glam Bag Plus. You can see my April Ipsy GBP review here. I think Ipsy wins this month. I think the products are a bit better quality for the price. We’ll see what I think about May and June boxes. Also, BoxyCharm is supposed to be coming out with a limited edition skincare box in May. Hmm.

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

IT Cosmetics’ QVC TSV IT’s All About You! Your Customer Favorites Collection

It’s that time again! IT Cosmetics and QVC are having their March Today’s Special Value IT’s All About You! Your Customer Favorites Collection. It is a four piece collection that is a value of $187.36 and is going for $59.94.

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 forolder 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, Saturday, March 9, 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 a clearer photo of what you get:

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This exclusive four-piece collection features a NEW! brow-transforming essential, a lip-loving favorite in a new shade, an illuminating complexion must-have in new shades—plus a perfectly paired brush! First, create the look of your fullest, most natural-looking brows with the NEW! Brow PowerFULL Universal Volumizing Eyebrow Pencil. Use your included Heavenly Skin CC+ Skin-Perfecting Brush No. 702 to flawlessly apply your Supersize CC+ Cream Illumination with SPF 50+, then apply your NEW SHADE! of Je Ne Sais Quoi all over your lips for your most beautiful finish.

I have tried the wonderful CC+ Cream and brush before. They are such a nice combo for dewy, hydrated skin. And the size of the CC+ Cream is huge — 2.53-fl oz! This will last a long time.

The Brow PowerFULL pencil is brand new. It is universal for all hair colors, the unique triangular shape allows you to customize your application experience, from the finest line to a fuller-looking brow faster. Brow PowerFULL adheres to skin, covers gray, and looks like real hair!

I like the original pink Je Ne Sais Quoi Hydrating Color Awakening Lip Treatment, but it is a bit bright for my skintone. This shade in Honey is a pretty nude shade and gives a nice, natural lip look.

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