Tutorials, Hauls, Reviews, N'at

Zoya Blu Nail Polish Review

2013-06-19T21:48:00.001-04:00

Zoya describes their Blu nail polish as a "full coverage, soft and delicate pale baby blue with a glossy creme finish. A dreamy, calming blue that's both fun and flattering on the nails." Blue is part of Spring 2013's Lovely collection, but I believe its been added to Zoya's core collection. Zoya is a company I've had a really mixed experience with, so I didn't know how to feel when I received this polish in my May Ipsy Bag. Each Zoya nail polish contains 15ml (.5 fl oz) and retails for around $8. Zoya lacquers are formulated without formaldehyde, toluene, camphor, and dibutyl phthalates. Zoya products are available through the brand's website, at Ulta, and select nail salons and beauty supply stores. Zoya is a cruelty free brand. This nail lacquer was made in the United States.

I'm a fan of Zoya's nail polish packaging. The glass bottles are short and chunky, rectangular, but with rounded edges. The bottles are topped with a round black cap. The Zoya logo is printed on the front of the bottle. A full ingredient list can be found on the back of the bottle. The shade name is located on a label on the bottom of the bottle. Zoya's brush is one of my favorites; short, round, never a bristle out of place. This brush is pretty easy to work with. Zoya's bottles are recyclable.

Zoya's Blu has a thick but not goopy consistency. Application seems to differ each time I use this polish; sometimes it goes on quite smoothly, other times Blu can be a little chalky. Blu is rated 5 on Zoya's opacity scale, but I'd give it a 4. This shade is almost opaque in one coat, but a second coat is probably a good idea, just to smooth everything out. Blu is a fairly fast drying polish, probably about 45 seconds per coat. Wear is decent, I get about three days of wear from Blu with moderate tip wear and some peeling and chipping.

Zoya's description of Blu pretty much says it all. It is a creamy baby blue, there isn't all that much more to add to it. I will say that Blu oxidizes a little as it dries, getting slightly darker than how it appears in the bottle. For me, that's a good thing. Blu is such a pastel shade, when initially applied it looks kinda off on my very fair skin. Once Blu warms up a little, I quite like the color. This blue is a soft, powdery color that's pretty similar to the color of my beloved stuffed Bunny, so I guess I'm partial to it just for sentimental reasons. Blu's finish is really smooth and glossy, as promised.

Surprisingly, I like Zoya's Blu Nail Polish. Application is inconsistent, but this lacquer seems to have a really nice formula. The wear is better than what I usually experience with Zoya polishes. I like the color of Blu a lot, it's a pretty, light blue; the color kinda has a special meaning to me. While I likely won't repurchase Blu, I'll continue to use and enjoy it from time to time. If you love baby blue hues, Zoya's Blu might be right up your alley.

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Ingredients:
Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sterikonium, Hectorite, Acyrlates Copolymer, Styrene Acrylates Copolymer

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Juice Beauty Pink Reflecting Gloss Review

2013-06-19T18:04:00.002-04:00

Juice Beauty's Reflecting Glosses will "give your lips the most brilliant shine on earth. The combination of antioxidant rich berries, minerals, and sweet agave will wrap your lips in radiant color." I've sampled a fair amount of Juice Beauty skincare products, but I never expected to use any of their makeup products. Juice Beauty offers just four lip gloss shades, I have Pink. I received a full size tube of this gloss in my May Ipsy Bag. This lip gloss retails for $15. Just like all Juice Beauty products, this lip gloss is full of organic ingredients with a minimal amount of chemicals. Juice Beauty is a cruelty free brand, all of their products are suitable for vegetarians, most are also vegan friendly. This lip gloss is made in America. Juice Beauty products are available through the brand's website, at select salons and spas, Ulta, and some Whole Foods grocery stores.

My Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss comes in a frosted plastic tube, topped with a silver cap. The Juice Beauty logo is printed on the tube in silver lettering. The packaging appears to be pretty different on the Juice Beauty website, I'm not sure if it was recently redesigned or what. The Reflecting Gloss comes with a basic doe foot applicator.

The formula of Juice Beauty's Reflecting Gloss is castor oil based, making for a very light, thin, moisturizing, and non-sticky gloss. Juice Beauty's Reflecting Gloss is extremely smooth and comfortable on the lips, it feels like a balm. Initially, I though this lip gloss had the perfect formula, but then I realised it has a major flaw. This lip gloss has no wear time. You deserve a medal if you manage to keep this gloss on for more than a half an hour. I think the oil base causes this gloss to sink into the lips. In any case, Juice Beauty's Reflecting Gloss leaves my lips in really good condition. Do you like lemon Starbursts? If so, this is the gloss for you, it tastes exactly like them!

I was a little skeptical of Juice Beauty's Pink, it looks pretty dark in the tube. Turns out, its a sheer shade. Pink is a flattering mauvey pink with silver and gold micro shimmer and a slight purpley duo-chrome. The finish is pretty shiny, as you'd expect from a product called Reflecting Gloss. I love the color, its very wearable for me.

I like Juice Beauty's Pink Reflecting Gloss, but it certainly isn't a perfect product. The texture is lovely, but it just doesn't stay put. The lemon candy flavor is pretty nommy. The sheer, glossy mauve shade is so flattering, I feel like I can wear it with anything. I won't repurchase the Reflecting Gloss, but I'll continue to use it quite often. I really do like this gloss, but I can't recommend it purely because of the very short wear time.

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Ingredients:

Ricinus communis (organic castor seed oil)*, cera alba (organic beeswax)*, sesamum indicum (organic sesame seed oil)*, vitis vinifera (organic grape seed oil)*, vaccinium corymbosum (organic blueberry seed oil)*, punica granatum (organic pomegranate seed oil)*, rubus idaeus (organic raspberry seed oil)*, actinidia chinensis (organic kiwi seed oil)*, vaccinium macrocarpon (organic cranberry seed oil)*, fragaria ananassa (organic strawberry seed oil)*, euterpe oleracea (organic acai berry)*, lycium chinense (organic goji berry)*, triisostearyl citrate, tocopherol (Vitamin E), agave americana (agave leaf extract), thymus vulgaris (thyme extract), melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree extract), rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary extract) and citrus sinensis (sweet orange oil). May contain titanium dioxide, mica, iron oxides.

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Island Sugar Marshmallow Body Mist Review

2013-06-19T13:32:00.002-04:00

Island Sugar is an indie fragrance company based in Indiana. This brand specializes in "deliciously yummy scented body mists and body frosting. All Island Sugar products are blended with high quality ingredients, are alcohol and dye free, and made to order to ensure freshness.. Because Island Sugar's products are alcohol free, you never have to worry about strong alcohol smell masking the true, sweet scent as it does with most store bought brands." Island Sugar products are available through the brand's Etsy shop (which only accepts Paypal). I received a 4 fl oz bottle of the Marshmallow Body Mist in a swap with my friend Stephanie. Currently, Island Sugar is only offering 2 fl oz body mists, in your choice of 20 scents. Each Body Mist sells for $6. Island Sugar products are hand made by the owner, Tia.

Island Sugar's Body Mists come in recyclable, translucent purple bottles topped off with a black spritzer cap. The front of the bottle features a black label with the Island Sugar logo and a colorful tropical scent. The back of the bottle offers the scent name, the URL of the company's Etsy page and a full ingredient list.

Island Sugar's Body Mists are oil based body sprays, so they must be shaken before use. Like all oil based fragrances, Island Sugar's Body Mists should never be sprayed on clothes, because the oil will stain. Always spray this scent directly on your skin. You only need one, maybe two sprays of Island Sugar's Marshmallow because this stuff is extremely potent. I made a terrible mistake with the other Island Sugar scent I have and used a ton of it, triggering a massive headache. Even with one spray, Marshmallow is a very overpowering scent with great lasting power. This scent sticks around for about six hours, which is great for any body spray..except this one...

Why? I can't stand Island Sugar's Marshmallow, it's gross. I can't find a scent description for Marshmallow, I think it may have been renamed Bombshell, which is described as a "rich, sweet, vanilla sugar cookie with a slight roasted marshmallow background and a hint of caramel and musk". This scent is extremely sugary, sickeningly so. It smells mainly like vanilla extract with a burnt sugar aspect to it. The longer Marshmallow sits on the skin, the less is smells liek a confection and the more it smells like playdough. Lulwot.

I don't like Island Sugars Marshmallow (Bombshell?) Body Mist at all. The quality of this product is good in terms of potency and longevity, but the actual scent is kinda awful. How it transforms from burning sugar into playdough, I cannot explain, but its pretty unpleasant. I do think that Island Sugar is an indie company worth checking out, their Sun Drenched scent is awesome, just avoid Marshmallow.

Ingredients:

Purified water, disodium edta, polysorbate-20, dmdm hydantoin, benzophenone-4, fragrance.

Pixi Flawless&Poreless Primer Review

2013-06-18T23:33:00.001-04:00

Pixi calls their Flawless&Poreless Primer a "miracle in a tube that smooths out fine lines and hydrates while making pores instantly disappear. Primer creates a seamless, silky canvas with a beautiful no shine, cashmere finish. The formula's skin loving ingredients clear and unblock pores to allow for utterly flawless, long lasting makeup application. It is the perfect skin primer for all complexions and all skin types. Pore minimizing, shine controlling, hydrating, oil free, hypoallergenic." Pixi's Flawless&Poreless primer contains beneficial ingredients like Willow Bark for natural shine control, Salicylic Acid to clear and unblock pores, Shea Butter to nourish the skin, Titanium Dioxide to protect skin's surface, and Enantia Chlorantha Bark for medicinal and anti-viral properties. I received a 15ml (.5 fl oz) sample of this primer in my March Ipsy Bag. The full size contains 30ml (1 fl oz) and retails for $29. Pixi Beauty, a brand created by makeup artist Petra Strand, is based in the UK. In America, the products are exclusively available at Target and the brand's website. Pixi is a cruelty free brand. The Flawless&Poreless Primer is made in America.

Pixi's Flawless&Poreless Primer comes in the brand's signature light green squeeze tube. The front of the tube features the product name and Pixi logo, printed in brown lettering. The back of the tube offers a product description and full ingredient list. I believe the full sized packaging is quite similar.

Pixi's Flawless&Poreless Primer is a huge upgrade from the Flawless Beauty Primer I tried last year. This primer is a creamy light beige that blends away to a translucent finish. This primer gives the slightest glowy sheen to the skin. Despite the mild sheen, Pixi's primer give a mattified feel to the skin. The Flawless&Poreless primer really evens out the texture of the skin, it smooths over minor imperfections and blurs the look of pores, all while evening out my skin tone. This primer makes my skin look pretty good even without foundation over it. Pixi's Flawless&Poreless primer is an excellent base for foundation, it makes application super smooth, and it promotes blendability. I don't feel like this primer prolongs foundation wear at all, but that's ok, this primer does enough on it's own.

I like Pixi's Flawless&Poreless Primer way more than I expected! This primer provides a healthy glow and an even tone and texture. Honestly, I like wearing Flawless&Poreless on it's own. I feel like this primer is similar to Benefit's That Gal Brightening Primer, a product that I love. They sell for the exact same primer, and shockingly, if I had to choose one to buy full size, I'd go for Pixi's primer. If you want a primer to improve the look of your skin with out without other makeup, Pixi's Flawless&Poreless primer is a great but pricey option. I'll consider purchasing a full size of this primer, but I'm a primer junkie, always trying samples, so I may not need to for quite a while.

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Ingredients:

Water, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Titanium Dioxide, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Phytosterol, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Glyceryl Stearate, Poe-20 Soy Sterol, Oleanolic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Methylisothiazolinone, Iron Oxides.

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Benefit Highlighter Swatches

2013-06-18T16:23:00.001-04:00

1. High Brow Glow

2. Watt's Up?
3. Girl Meets Pearl
4. High Beam
5. That Gal
6. Sun Beam

How To Use Highlighter

Comment and let me know what your favorite Benefit Highlighter is.

Fruits&Passion Cucina Oregano&Green Citrus Regenerating Hand Cream Review

2013-06-17T22:19:00.001-04:00

Fruits&Passion, a Canadian bath&body brand, is a company that was introduced to me when my friend Stephanie sent me a few of their products in a swap. I previously raved about the Grapefruit&Guava Body Cream. Today I'm back with the with the Cucina Oregano&Green Citrus Regenerating Hand Cream, and I'm equally excited. Fruits&Passion says their Cucina line of hand creams "unite all the benefits of the olive tree. It contains three olive tree extracts, which help rejuvenate skin, leaving it soft and smooth. First cold pressed olive oil and olive unsaponifiables restore moisture to dishpan hands. Olive leaf extracts tone and protects. Its simply delightful, kitchen-friendly hand care." I really love that this is marketed as specifically kitchen friendly. I received a tiny 25ml (.85 fl oz) tube in our swap. The smallest size currently available is 1.35 fl oz and sells for $5. An 8.4 fl oz size is also available for $22.50. Fruits&Passion is a cruelty free brand. This hand cream is vegan and made in Canada. Fruits&Passion products can be bought through the brand's website, at Fruits&Passion stores in Canada, Switzerland, UAE, and Korea, and e-tailers like soap.com.

I really like the packaging for this pocket sized hand cream, its somewhat reminiscent of L'Occitane's hand creams. The Oregano&Green Citrus Regenerating Hand Cream comes in a squeeze tube with a black cap. The front of the tube features the product name and herb leaves. The back of the tube offers and ingredient list, directions, and a declaration of this product's veganism.

Fruits&Passion's Cucina Regenerating Hand Cream is a thin, white lotion. This cream is instantly hydrating and has a cooling feel, which is pretty refreshing after having your hands in latex gloves all day long. For those that don't know, I'm the head cook at a restaurant, so my hands take quite a beating. Cuts, burns, chemical exposure, and lots of washing and sanitizing. As you can imagine, I have almost unreasonably high standards for hand creams. Surprisingly, Fruits&Passion's lives up to those super high expectations! Not greasy at all, very quick to absorb, with the perfect amount of long lasting moisture. Best of all, it seems to help treat and heal rough patches and little burns. The Cucina Regenerating Hand Cream actually makes my hands look good. The scent of Fruits&Passion's Oregano&Green Citrus is neutral, bland, but fresh. It mainly has a generic lotion scent with a very mild herbal scent. The scent doesn't really matter though, it fades immediately.

Fruits&Passion's Cucina Regenrating Hand Cream is really good! No, it doesn't quite beat out the Garnier 7 Day Intensive Cream, but it's a close second. The formula is excellent; light but very hydrating and soothing. My hands go through a lot, and Fruits&Passion's hand cream helps them forget about a rough day. Would I repurchase it? Probably not, for a hand cream its kinda pricey; Garnier's is cheaper for a lot more product and it performs marginally better. However, if you like to splurge, I definitely recommend Fruits&Passion's Cucina Regenerating Hand Cream, especially if you work in the food industry.

Ingredients:
Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, PEG 40 Stearate, Olive Oil, Olive Leaf Extract, Olive Oil Unsaponifiables, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Cocoglycerides, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Allantoin, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Citral, Geraniol, Limoene, Linalool

June Ipsy Bag - On the Wild Side

2013-06-17T13:15:00.000-04:00

I just got my June Ipsy Bag in the mail. This month's theme is On the Wild Side, which is definitely evident in the leopard print bag. The bag's zipper and lining are neon yellow. Ipsy didn't partner with quite as many brands as they did last month. In June, subscribers received five products from a total of seven from J.Cat Beauty, NYX, Cailyn Cosmetics, Psssst, Chella, and Starlooks. If you're not familiar with Ipsy, check out my article about it. In short though, Ipsy is a monthly subscription service that costs $10 a month, in which you receive 4-5 deluxe sample and full sized beauty products. Click through to see what I got.

Cailyn Cosemtics Line Fix Gel Eyeliner - Purple - Full Size - $21

I've never heard of Cailyn Cosmetics before, but I was excited for this product because I love gel eyeliner. The last gel eyeliner Ipsy sent me was amazing, and it seems like this one is going to be just as good. Cailyn Cosmetics offers loads of shades for this gel liner, so I was a little disappointed to receive the purple one. The purple shade is surprisingly subtle though, so I can probably wear it more often than I'd think. The packaging is excessive and the included brush sucks, but the liner it's self seems good, and applied really well.

The Claims:

Whether you are trying to create the eyes of a runway model or the classic look of a 60's Hollywood star, the Cailyn Line-Fix Gel Eyeliner can make any style possible! The easy to use built-in brush makes it perfect for taking on-the-go. Create a chic yet casual look right before work, and then update it for a night out with the girls. The Cailyn Line-Fix Gel Eyeliner brushes on smooth and stays moist just long enough for wearers to perfect their look. Once dry, the gel is smudge-proof and waterproof for 24 hours. The highly concentrated pigment of the liner creates lusciously smooth lines and is safe for sensitive eyes.

The Offer:
30% off your order at cailyncosmetics.com with code IPSY30

J.Cat Beauty Eyelashes+Eyelash Glue - Full Size - $3.99

Another brand I haven't heard of before. Ipsy sent out a huge variety of lash styles, I received EL42 which are pretty dramatic. I don't know how I feel about receiving falsies, I'm kinda a false lash noob, and never really have a reason to wear them.I'll definitely try them though. These lashes included a tiny vial of lash glue.

The Claims:

Create some drama with these voluminous faux eyelashes! Available in 30 different styles that you won’t be able to resist. Each includes an individual eyelash adhesive to last you all day long!

The Offer:

25% off at jcatbeauty.com with code LOVEIPSY

NYX Powder Blush in Spice - Full Size - $5

I'm a big fan of NYX, and I love receiving NYX products via Ipsy. Surprisingly, this is my first NYX blush. Just like the eyeshadows, this blush is extremely pigmented. Ipsy sent out three different kinds of NYX blushes this month, and I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get one of the cream blushes, but this blush is still really pretty. Probably my favorite item in the bag.

The Claim:

Adding a healthy glow to cheeks is effortless with the variety of blush styles and shades available from NYX Cosmetics!

The NYX Powder Blush delivers sheer, silky color that glides on and blends beautifully creating a natural glow.

The Offer:
15% off nyxcosmetics.com (use code IPSY15) or 40% off Tango with Bronzing Powders (use code IPSYCHEEKS)

Starlooks Lip Pencil - Tickle Me Pink - Full Size - $12

Starlooks is a brand I've heard of but never used before. I think its really interesting that Ipsy included one of their products, considering they have their own subscription service. I'm not typically a fan of lip liners, but this one actually has a really nice, creamy texture and great pigmentation. I'm a little sad I didn't receive the coral shade Tipsy, but Tickle Me Pink is a really great shade of hot pink. I can see myself getting a fair bit of use from this liner.

The Claims:

Starlooks' long-lasting, full-coverage Lip Pencil enhances the shape of your lips and gives them perfect definition. This creamy, moisturizing formula glides on softly to smooth lips and ensure lipstick stays in place, while extending its wear. Can also be used as an all-over, highly-pigmented lip color. Comes in several shades and various finishes to pair with any Starlooks Lipstick, Lip Gloss, or Tendergloss!

The Offer:
35% off any order at starlooks.com with code IPSY

J.Cat Beauty Sparkling Cream Palette - Full Size - $4.49

Ugh. No. Glitter Creams are wrong.

The Claims:

Everyone loves a little sparkle! Add a healthy dosage of sparkle in your life with the cream palette that comes in a variety of complementing colors. The creamy texture allows the sparkle to be applied easily with an applicator onto your skin.

This product should be used on the body and not on the eye area.

The Offer:

see above.

June Ipsy Bag Total Value:
$46.50

For me, this bag was only ok, I look forward to trying these products, but seriously fuck dat glitter cream palette.

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Urban Decay Glitter Rock Moondust Eyeshadow Review

2013-06-14T22:13:00.001-04:00

Urban Decay's new Moondust Eyeshadows are "dazzelingly sparkly but with a super refined, incredibly sophisticated feel (and not a single speck of chunky glitter). Microfine bits of iridescent sparkle collide with intense, dreamy hues and lush 3D metallics for an effect that's out of this world. New technology gives Moondust an amazing effect not found in traditional pressed powder shadows. It feels like a cream but goes on like a powder to create a smooth, brilliantly reflective look. The result? Sexy, twinkling sparkle with a ton of depth and movement. (And a lot of questions about what you're wearing!)." Urban Decay offers seven shades of Moondust shadows, I have Glitter Rock. Six of the seven shades are vegan (Intergalactic is the only exception). Each Moondust eyeshadow contains 1.5g (.05 oz) and retails for $20. I received my Moondust Eyeshadow as a bonus in my May Ipsy Bag. Urban Decay products can be bought through the brand's website, at Urban Decay counters, Sephora, and Ulta. Urban Decay is a cruelty free brand, but it was recently purchased by L'Oreal, a company that continues to test on animals. Urban Decay Moon Dust Eyeshadows are made in Canada.

Urban Decay's eyeshadows come in a round, silver, plastic pot meant to resemble New York City subway tokens. Urban Decay redesigned their eyeshadow packaging about a year ago. The overall look of the packaging hasn't changed that much, but now the pan can be easily popped out and placed into palettes. The packaging is well designed and fairly compact, making Urban Decay eyeshadows easy to store whether you de-pot them or not.

I've seen so many mixed reviews for Urban Decay's Moondust shadows, so I couldn't wait to put Glitter Rock to the test. Before anything else, I just want to know how Urban Decay can say this shadow feels like a cream? It's a very hard eyeshadow! Urban Decay recommends applying this eyeshadow with your fingers or perhaps a sponge tip applicator. Personally, I've been packing and patting this shadow on with a dense eyeshadow brush. The Moondust Eyeshadows can be used wet or dry. Glitter Rock doesn't have a lot of impact when used dry, but it does cause a heck of a lot of stubborn fallout. I only use this eyeshadow wet, and the results are fantastic. Though there's still some fallout, it's greatly reduced when I use Glitter Rock wet (I use Hard Candy's Show Girl's Secret). Applied damp, this shadow is opaque, metallic, and so dimensional. I've worn Glitter Rock for 12 hours on a hot day and it was still perfect when I removed it. This eyeshadow is quite hard to remove, even with a great eye makeup remover like Maybelline's Clean Express.

[bare skin, over primer, over a colored base, wet]

Urban Decay's Glitter Rock Moondust Eyeshadow is very pretty. If I'm going to be honest, I was really disappointed to receive this shade, I was hoping for Zodiac, Diamond Dog, or Stargazer. Urban Decay describes Glitter Rock as a "metallic pink with 3D pink sparkle". To me, this shade is a mauvey pink with brighter pink glitters. The dimension of this shade is really mind blowing, yet also surprisingly subtle. It never looks like I'm wearing an eyeful of glitter.

There's really something special about Urban Decay's Moondust Eyeshadows. They're really spectacular in both formula and finish. If you apply these shadows wet, the pigmentation, application, and wear will not let you down. The shade Glitter Rock will appeal to anyone who loves pinks and glitter, and its a surprisingly wearable shade. I still would've preferred a different shade. That being said, I'll be wearing Glitter Rock much more often than I expected. Urban Decay's Moondusts are totally worth the $20 price tag. I'm so glad I received this shadow!

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Ingredients:

Dimethicone, Talc, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Isododecane, Silica, Triisostearyl Citrate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Octyldodecyl Stearate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Tin Oxide. [+/- (May Contain/Peut contenir): CI 77019 (Mica), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491/77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide)].

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Essie Shine of the Times Luxe Effect Nail Lacquer Review

2013-06-14T15:26:00.003-04:00

Essie's Shine of the Times is one of the coveted nail polishes on the drugstore level. I'm, not even sure if this was limited edition, discontinued, or just rare. This polish is a flaky glitter top coat meant for layering. Essie describes Shine of the Times as a "scintillating opalescent aura". Damn, Essie, look at that vocabulary. I'm not very familiar with Essie polishes, this is actually my very first one, sent to me in a swap with my friend Stephanie. Essie polishes are DBP, Toluene, and Formaldehyde free. Essie nail lacquers contain 13.5 ml (.46 oz) and retail for between $5-9, depending on where you buy them. I'm unsure if Essie is cruelty free or not, I see a lot of conflicting information, so please do your own research before buying.

Essie nail lacquers come in a square glass bottle topped with a white plastic cap. The Essie logo is embossed on two sides of the bottle. The logo makes a third appearance on the label, along with the product name. It's a weird thing to mention, but the two ball bearings in this polish's bottle seem twice the size of the ones in your average polish. I've always been partial to Essie's packaging. The brush is pretty average in length, flat, with no splayed bristles.

Shine of the Times is a pretty thin nail polish, which surprised me because it's completely packed with glitter. I was kinda doubtful about this polish, I've previously had a bad experience with flaky polishes. The other one I tried was awful,I had to fish out each glitter flake, which didn't lay flat on the nail and eventually fell off. Shine of the Times applies very smoothly, the glitters are plentiful in each coat and they stick to the nail. Shine of the Times dries in about a minute, maybe a little less. This polish suffers from shrinkage, so it doesn't wear quite as long as I'd like.

Essie's Luxe Effect in Shine of the Times is kinda beautiful. Essie hit the nail on the head when they called it "scintillating" and "opalescent". Each flake of the multi-chromatic glitter catches the light so well. Shine of the Times looks different over every polish it's layered over and in every angle its viewed from. The flakes in Shine of the Times (the base is clear by the way), mainly flash red and gold, but it'll also show green, pink, orange, and blue. This reflective top coat looks best over dark colors with cream finishes, but let's be honest, a polish this prismatic looks beautiful no matter how its used.

I love Essie's Shine of the Times! This truly is the most gorgeous of all glitter polishes. I urge Essie to put this shade back on the shelves. I'm kinda rationing my bottle, hoping to find another somewhere. If I could repurchase it this polish, I would without question. I can't recommend Shine of the Times enough, if you see it, you have to get it! I imagine most fans of flaky polishes already have it; it definitely changed my mind about flakies. I would pair this top coat with any polish in my collection.

ingredients unavailable.

Soap&Glory Naked Beige Super Colour Fabulipstick Review

2013-06-14T00:02:00.000-04:00

Soap&Glory's Super Colour Fabulipsticks feature ULTIMELT™ lip shine & shaping technology, 3-D PLUMP™ peptide complex, Shea Butter, Monoi Butter & Vitamin E. Hyaluronic acid and Ceramide 2 (for aging repair and visible wrinkle reduction) help to give a soft, smooth, dewy, plump colour-fill pout." Fabulipsticks are available in two finishes - matte and satin. I have all six of the satin Fabulipsticks, which I received in the form of the limited edition Wowed Mouth palette, which was a Christmas gift from my friend Rae. Each full size Soap&Glory contains 1 gram of product and retails for £10 ($15 USD). Soap&Glory products are available at drugstores in Canada, Germany, and the brand's home country, the United Kingdom. A limited selection of Soap&Glory products can be bought at Sephora in the US, but the prices are much higher than elsewhere. This line of lipstick is not available in America. Soap&Glory is a cruelty free brand. This lipstick is made in Italy.

Soap&Glory's Super Colour Fabulipsticks come in a surprisingly heavy black tube with the product name printed on it in pink lettering. The lipstick bullet, which is smaller than average, has the Soap&Glory logo engraved in it. The Wowed Mouth palette, which is utterly adorable, offers each lipstick in a round pan. I've mentioned it in all my Fabulipstick reviews, but the Wowed Mouth palette is the first lip palette I don't hate. The size of the palette makes it convenient to just slip in a bag, and the quality of the lipsticks is good, none of those waxy, un-pigmented excuses for a lip color.

Naked Beige has an excellent, creamy formula. Pigmentation is perfect, this lipstick applies completely opaque. Application is a breeze by the way, this lipstick smooths right onto the lips. Unfortunately, Naked Beige doesn't wear particularly well. Because the formula is so creamy, it transfers and smears pretty easily. I get about 60-90 minutes of wear from Naked Beige. Naked Beige has that strange, blood-like flavor I've come to expect from Soap&Glory's Super Colour Fabulipsticks.

Naked Beige isn't a color I'd typically choose for myself. This shade is a neutral pink with strong brown undertones. Naked Beige's brown tone makes it unflattering on my very fair skin, if anything it looks pretty dated. The creamy satin finish is pretty appealing though. Naked Beige would look awesome as a nude lip on deeper skin tones.

Soap&Glory's Super Colour Fabulipstick in Naked Beige isn't my favorite in the line, but it's a decent lipstick. The texture, pigmentation, and application are all great. Longevity could be improved upon, but I guess we can't have it all. Naked Beige isn't my color, but it would suit darker complexions. I wouldn't repurchase Naked Beige, but if you love rosy browns, this is definitely a lipstick worth looking into.

Ingredients:

Octyldodecanol, Triisostearin, Diisostearyl Malate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate, Polybutene, Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Polyethylene, Paraffin, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Ozokerite, Mica, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Phospholipids, Ethyl Vanillin, Propylene Carbonate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Sodium Chondroitin Sulphate, Hyaluronic Acid, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Tocopherol, Tripeptide-29, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower

May Contain:

CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 6, Red 7, Red 7 Lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 15895 (Yellow 6 Lake)

Julep Sugar Smooch Lip Scrub Review

2013-06-13T15:20:00.000-04:00

As a long term user and lover of Lush's Bubblegum Lip Scrub, I had my doubts about Julep's Sugar Smooch Lip Scrub when I received it in my May Julep Maven Box. Julep says this "scrumptious blend of brown sugar, molasses, conditioning oils, Vitamin E, and shea butter will leave your lips soft, smooth, and ready for color (or kisses!). This lip scrub contains 12.5g and retails for a very pricey $14 ($11.20 with the Maven discount). Julep products are cruelty free and made in America. Julep products can be bough through the brand's website, at the four Julep Nail Parlors located in Washington State, and in a limited selection at Sephora. Julep also offers a monthly subscription box for $19.99/month, which is the most affordable way to sample their products.

The Sugar Smooch Lip Scrub has interesting packaging. This scrub comes housed in a gold plastic sphere with grooves engraved all around it. The sphere twists open to reveal the product. I don't really like the packaging. Julep says it's inspired by the 20's, but it looks more like a cheap knockoff of a vintage item and than legit one. I'm sure the packaging also bumped up the price a buck or two.

Julep's Sugar Smooch Lip Scrub is a sticky, slightly grainy mixture. The main exfoliate seems to be granules of brown sugar suspended in a Vaseline like base. I feel like the texture of this lip scrub is far too sticky for it to be an effective exfoliate. As soon as it's out of the container and on the lips, the Sugar Smooch Lip Scrub bunches up and refuses to spread over the lips. After I rub that one clump of scrub over my lips, I have to wipe it off with a towel, because the stickiness only increases when Julep's lip scrub gets wet. The Sugar Smooch Lip Scrub barely exfoliates, but the base of this scrub is very moisturizing and makes my lips feel amazingly smooth. I seal that moisture in with my favorite lip balm - the Julep Strawberry Mint Lip Balm, and my lips stay smooth for a couple days. Unlike Lush's lip scrubs, Julep's shouldn't be ingested, it tastes gross and contains inedible ingredients. It does smell delicious though - just like brown sugar.

Julep's Sugar Smooch Lip Scrub was pretty disappointing. The consistency is a bit too gooey for it to thoroughly scrub the lips. This scrub is surprisingly moisturizing though. I'll continue to use Julep's lip scrub but I can't recommend it. Fourteen dollars for a sub-par lip scrub is truly ridiculous; Julep seriously needs to get their prices in check. Save yourself a few bucks and buy a Lush lip scrub instead, they're a sweet, edible treat that's much more effective.

Ingredients:

Sucrose, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Nylon-12, Molasses, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Flavor, Fragrance, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol.

This post contains an affiliated link
I cashed in rewards points earned via a referral program to receive this product.
This post was not sponsored by Julep, but I have been sponsored by Julep in the past.

Juice Beauty Antioxidant Serum Review

2013-06-12T22:31:00.000-04:00

Juice Beauty's Antioxidant Serum is "clinically proven to prevent free radical skin cell damage up to 87%, this lightweight serum feeds your skin with vitamins and antioxidants from certified organic juices, moisturizes with fatty acid packed plant oils and smooth fine lines with peptides, alpha lipoic acid, and CoQ10. The perfect daily vitamin to use after cleansing and before moisturizer. A daily essential for all skin types." I got a tiny 5ml (.17 oz) tube of Juice Beauty's Antioxidant Serum in the Organics to Go Kit, which I purchased at Ulta for $29. The full size of this serum contains 60ml (2 fl oz) and retails for $45. This, and all Juice Beauty products, contains a lot of organic, natural, and beneficial ingredients with a minimal amount of questionable chemicals. All Juice Beauty products are suitable for vegetarians, the brand is transitioning into veganism. Juice Beauty products are made in America. Juice Beauty products can be bought through the brand's website, Ulta, select salons and spas, and Whole Foods Grocery Stores.

My little sample of Juice Beauty's Antioxidant Serum comes in a recyclable white squeeze tube. The Juice Beauty logo and product name are printed on the front of the tube, directions can be found on the back. The full size of the serum comes in a glass bottle with a dropper dispenser. The full size is poorly packaged, some of the active ingredients are sensitive to light and will break down in clear glass packaging. Ideally, Juice Beauty's Antioxidant Serum should be packaged in an opaque bottle.

This serum is not my friend. Thick, slimy, and a milky yellow in color - it looks gross. Might I add that it smells gross as well? This serum has an icky musty scent to it. When I first apply Juice Beauty's Antioxidant Serum, everything seems fine, but as it sinks in my skin becomes a little bit tight and itchy. This serum hasn't benefited my skin at all, but I have noticed a handful of negative effects. Increased blackheads, dry, flaky, rough skin on my forehead, and three cystic pimples - a problem I've never experienced before. I'm still trying to smooth out these issues. I don't know what it is about this serum - if it's an allergy to an ingredient or what, but it really messed up my skin, so I'm discontinuing use right away. Its weird that Juice Beauty's serum made my skin react this way, all the other Juice Beauty products I've tried have agreed with my skin and seemed quite gentle.

I haven't loved all of the Juice Beauty products I've tried, in fact I've felt pretty neutral about most of them. The Antioxidant Serum was absolutely awful for me. Cystic acne, dry patches, and itching; I really cannot take this product. The musty scent leads me to believe that my sample may have gone off. I'll be tossing out the remainder of the tube. I definitely do not recommend Juice Beauty's Antioxidant Serum, I had an awful experience with it.

Ingredients:

Organic juices of vitis vinifera (organic white grape juice)*, citrus aurantium dulcis (organic orange juice)*, aloe barbadensis (organic aloe juice)*, vegetable glycerin, gluconolactone, sodium benzoate, sclerotium gum, xanthan gum, organic essential fatty acids of oenothera biennis (organic evening primrose oil)*, linum usitatissimum (organic linseed oil)*, borago officinalis (organic borage seed oil)*, amyris balsamifera (organic rosewood oil)*, vitis vinifera (grape seed oil), dipeptide-2, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3, hesperidin methyl chalcone (Vitamin P), steareth-20, organic algae extract, tocopherol (Vitamin E), magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (Vitamin C), ubiquinone (CoQ10), thioctic acid (alpha lipoic acid), dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), sodium hyaluronate (vegetable hyaluronic acid), sodium hydroxide, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, litsea cubeba (organic may chang) pure essential oil

Benefit Watt's Up? Review

2013-06-12T16:07:00.000-04:00

Benefit's Watt's Up? is a "soft focus highlighter that turns on watt ya got with a delicate champagne glow that's gorgeous. With a cream to powder finish, it's a switch on 'wow' for all complexions. You'll adore the smooth application and luminous sheen." Watt's Up? is one of the few Benefit highlighters I hadn't tried, so I was thrilled to receive a mini version of it in my Sephora Beauty Insider birthday gift. The full size of Watt's Up? contains 9.4g (.33 oz) of product and retails for $30. Benefit does not test on animals. This product was made in Italy. Benefit products can be bought through the brand's website, at Benefit boutiques and counters, Ulta, and Sephora.

My mini Watt's Up? comes in a purple metallic tube similar to a lipstick's packaging. The product name is written on the cap in darker purple cursive. Several light bulbs encircle the cap. The full size of Watt's Up? comes in a similar styled packaging, but it features a sponge tip on one end to assist with blending. Full or sample sized, Benefit's Watt's Up? has cute packaging. My only fear is that I'll accidentally snap the product out of the tube.

I've tried just about all of Benefit's highlighters, most of which are liquid. I don't think I've ever tried a stick highlighter before Watt's Up?, but me and Benefit's products have a good track record, so I expected it to be awesome. Watt's Up? is pretty creamy and glides right on to the skin. Blending is a little bit of a chore, Watt's Up? is kinda stubborn and really needs to be patted into the skin. Once Watt's Up? is sufficiently blended in, it looks pretty great. This isn't a subtle illuminator, Watt's Up? is a very warm champagne shade, so it gives that candlelit effect. Watt's Up? is moderately shimmery, not exactly glittery, but it has a lot of dimension to it. I think most skin tones can pull off Watt's Up?, though I think it has the potential to be too warm for those with the pinkest undertones. I think this champagne hue would look lovely on very olive toned skins. This highlighter lasts for about 5-6 hours on me.

Benefit's Watt's Up? isn't my favorite highlighter from Benefit, but its still a good product. Packaging is as cute as anything you'd expect from Benefit. I find this highlighter a little difficult, but otherwise I have no complaints. The strong champagne tone may be too much for some, really its a matter of personal preference. I wouldn't purchase a full size of Benefit's Watt's Up?, but I will continue to use my little version. Swatch Watt's Up? next time you're browsing Benefit's offers, it may be worth your while.

Ingredients:

HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, MICA, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, POLYETHYLENE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), SOYBEAN GLYCERIDES, SILICA, DIMETHICONE, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, BUTYROSPERMIUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER) UNSAPONIFIABLES, IRON OXIDES (CI 77492), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491), IRON OXIDES (77499), LECITHIN, TOCOPHEROL, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, GLYCERYL OLEATE, CITRIC ACID.

Makeup Academy 3-in-1 Extreme Contour Liner Review.

2013-06-11T16:43:00.000-04:00

Makeup Academy's 3-in-1 Extreme Contour Liner has angles that will help you "create different looks - whatever your occasion. Add drama by creating big and bold eyes, go glamorous for a soft and sultry effect, or define eyes for an ultra chic finish." Makeup Academy offers seven shades, I have Smoked Plum. I received this eyeliner as a gift from my friend Rae. The 3-in-1 Extreme Contour Liner contains .4g and retails for £1.50 ($2.35 USD). Makeup Academy products are sold at Superdrugs, and through the brand's website, which ships internationally. Makeup Academy products are cruelty free and made in China.

The Makeup Academy 3-in-1 Extreme Contour Liner comes in a black box featuring the product name on the front, and tips on how to use the liner on the back. A full ingredient list can be found on the side of the box. The eyeliner it's self comes in a black plastic tube with the Makeup Academy logo and product name printed on it in silver lettering. The 3-in-1 Extreme Contour Liner is an automatic twist up eyeliner - no sharpening required!

Makeup Academy's 3-in-1 Extreme Contour Liner has a slanted point that's obviously meant to give you three different application options. Yeah, that's nice n'at, but this eyeliner got worn down to a blunt point after just two uses. So I guess I'll be reviewing it just like any other eyeliner. Makeup Academy's 3-in-1 Extreme Contour Liner swatches on the decently, but it's hard to get a good line on the eye without pressing too hard. Once you get the 3-in-1 Extreme Contour Liner on the eye, do not try to smudge it out. Instead of a sexy, smokey look this liner smear away til it's gone. Even if you don't choose to smudge out the 3-in-1 Extreme Contour Liner, it won't last too long, maybe three hours, before it completely fades away.

If anything, Smoked Plum is a nice color, I would reach for this liner so often if it lasted better, because the shade is just so versatile. Makeup Academy's Smoked Plum looks quite purple in the packaging, but on the skin it's more of a greyish brown that flashes plum at some angles. This eyeliner is kinda similar to Urban Decay's Busted Eyeshadow. In fact, Makeup Academy's Smoked Plum pairs so well with the Naked2 Palette.

[on the lower lash line]

I wish I could've loved Makeup Academy's 3-in-1 Extreme Contour Liner. The concept is good, but the angled tip wears away so quickly. Application isn't easy, the texture of the eyeliner is hard and it just drags on the last line. The wear straight up sucks, lets not keep talking about it. The color of Smoked Plum is great, I would wear it everyday if it stayed put. I'm going to try setting Smoked Plum with UD's Busted. I wouldn't purchase or recommend Makeup Academy's 3-in-1 Extreme Contour Liner, but I'm not really sure I'm ready to toss it or not.

Ingredients:
Caprylic Capric Trigylceride, Polybutene, Paraffinium Liquidium, Glycol Montanate, Synthetic Wax, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ozokerite, Hydrogenated Microcryistalline Cera, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol Acetate

May Contain:
Mica, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77891, CI 42090, CI 77510, CI 1603, CI 77742, Tin Oxides, Synthetic Fluorophlogopite,

Free Beauty Events June Giveaway ft. Yes To!

2013-06-11T00:39:00.002-04:00

Hey guys, it's the beginning of June, so its time for Free Beauty Events' latest giveaway - and the prizes this month are awesome! Ten lucky winners will receive products from one of my favorite skincare brand, Yes To. Winners will receive the Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Facial Towelettes, Yes to Tomatoes Daily Pore Scrub, Yes to Carrots Daily Facial Moisturizer, and Yes to Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment. Wanna win this awesome prize pack? Click here and fill out the simple entry form. Winners will selected on July 1.

In addition to larger monthly giveaways, Free Beauty Events also hosts a smaller weekly giveaway, the latest of which offered the Clear Scalp and Hair Total Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner.

Free Beauty Events is a great website to find out about events, open houses, free samples, demos, and more - all in your local area. All you have to do is type in your zip code and you'll be provided with a list of Free Beauty Events in your area. This website also offers reviews of beauty products, ranging from drugstore to prestige.

*I am provided with product based compensation in exchange for this promotional post. I honestly endorse this website regardless of the compensation.

Soap&Glory Man Trap Super Colour Fabulipstick Review

2013-06-10T20:02:00.001-04:00

Soap&Glory's Super Colour Fabulipsticks feature ULTIMELT™ lip shine & shaping technology, 3-D PLUMP™ peptide complex, Shea Butter, Monoi Butter & Vitamin E. Hyaluronic acid and Ceramide 2 (for aging repair and visible wrinkle reduction) help to give a soft, smooth, dewy, plump colour-fill pout." Fabulipsticks are available in two finishes - matte and satin. I have all six of the satin finish Super Color Fabulipsticks, which I received in the limited edition Wowed Mouth palette, which was a gift from my friend Rae. Each full size Soap&Glory Lipstick contains 1g and retails for £10 ($15 USD). Soap&Glory products can be bought at drugstores in the UK, Canada, and Germany. A limited selection of products are also available in America, exclusively at Sephora, for an inflated price. Sadly, the Super Colour Fabulipsticks are not currently available Stateside. Soap&Glory is a cruelty free brand. This product was made in Italy.

Soap&Glory's Super Colour Fabulipsticks come in a very heavy black tube with the product name written on it in pink lettering. The Soap&Glory logo is engraved into the lipstick bullet. In the Wowed Mouth palette, each Fabulipstick comes in a round pan. I love the Wowed Mouth palette's packaging. Made of solid red cardboard, it features a woman riding a lipstick. Inside the palette is a good quality mirror, a double sided brush, and obviously all six lipsticks. I'm not really a fan of lip palettes in general, but Soap&Glory's portable enough that I don't mind bringing it along wherever I go.

Soap&Glory Super Colour Fabulipstick in Man Trap has an excellent texture. This lipstick is very creamy and moist, which phenomenal pigmentation. Man Trap is a dream to apply, it paints right on to the lips and stays there! Man Trap wears really well, I get close to three hours of wear from it, even through a considerable amount of talking and eating, though its no match for straws and cup rims. Unlike Red My Lips, Man Trap is very comfortable and moisturizing on the lips. Just like the other two Soap&Glory lipsticks I've reviewed, Man Trap has a slightly bloody taste to it, which is strange to say the least.

Man Trap is a classic red lipstick, Soap&Glory really nailed making a perfect pin up red. This red lipstick has a creamy but not glossy finish and a blue undertone, making it very flattering on my pale skin - I actually get quite a few compliments when I wear Man Trap. This shade is very opaque and leaves a pretty pinky-red stain that lasts quite a while after the lipstick has worn away. Man Trap is very bold, not a shade for those afraid of a strong red lip.

Soap&Glory Man Trap Super Colour Fabulipstick is awesome! The creamy texture translates to comfortable and long wear. Application is a breeze. Man Trap is very pigmented and opaque. If you want a classic red lipstick with an impeccable formula, Soap&Glory's Man Trap is the one I would recommend! I would love to see the Super Colour Fabulipsticks sold in America - they're great. Definitely a product worth checking out if they're available to you.

Ingredients:

May Contain:

CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 6, Red 7, Red 7 Lake), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 15895 (Yellow 6 Lake))

Lush Creamy Candy Bubble Bar Review

2013-06-10T16:28:00.002-04:00

Lush's Cream Candy is a product I've heard a lot about on the various Lush blogs I follow. This is actually my very first Bubble Bar. Lush describes Creamy Bandy as "sweet, frothy, and fluffy bubbles that smell like delicate vanilla candies and cotton candy. In fact, you'll feel like you were bathing in your favorite sweet shop. Our sweetest bubble selection, Creamy Candy is for those who love their bubbles bright pink and delightfully sugary. Its a combination of a luxury bath melt and bubble bar, loaded with generous chunks of cocoa butter to melt and softly moisturize your entire body while you bath." The Creamy Candy Bubble Bar was sent to me as a gift by my friend Rae. This Bubble Bar weighs approximately 3.5 oz and sells for $7.40, which is pretty pricey for what it is. (Rae's lucky, Lush is so cheap in the UK!) Creamy Candy is hand made and vegan friendly. I assume this bubble bar was made in the UK. Lush products can be bought through the brand's website, and at Lush shops and kiosks.

Because Creamy Candy is hand made, there's some variance in appearance, but for the most part this bubble bar is a light pink rectangle with a small candy flower pressed into the top. Compared to other Lush Bubble Bars, Creamy Candy is quite small and is only good for 2-3 baths. The texture of Creamy Candy is very soft and crumbly, making it easy to cut into smaller portions and crumble into the water.

I wasn't really sure what to expect from the Creamy Candy Bubble Bar, they're such a strange concept. I read that they create mounds of bubbles and are best when used through a strainer or old stocking. I cut this bubble bar into thirds. The first two chunks left me very underwhelmed. I crumbled them under running water, and they made barely any bubbles. Today, I used my final chunk and decided to try the stocking method. I stuffed my last bit of Creamy Candy into the stocking - an unneeded relic from my Catholic school days - and smashed it, tying the stocking to the faucet. Wow, what a difference an old sock can make! This Bubble Bar produced a fair bit of bubbles and tinged the water a light pink. Creamy Candy's bubbles lasted decently, about twenty minutes. I can see why Lush named this product Creamy Candy, because it imparts a good deal of moisturizing properties into the water; not as much as Loova's Bath Blasters, and not so much that I don't feel like I need a lotion after my bath, but it makes a difference. Creamy Candy shares the same scent as some of Lush's other best sellers; Rockstar Soap, Snow Fairy Shower Gel, and Bubblegum Lip Scrub. The scent is great, it really smells like a vanilla candy or frosting, but with a musky base. The scent of Creamy Candy fills the room, but doesn't linger on the skin.

I liked Lush's Creamy Candy Bubble Bar. I wish I'd tried the stocking method sooner, and definitely recommend trying it for any other Bubble Bar Noobz. I say it about all products like this, but I wouldn't purchase Creamy Candy for myself, it's frivolous and expensive, but they make nice gifts, so thanks Rae for this little treat, I really enjoyed it, especially because it isn't something I would've tried on my own. If you're planning to indulge in a sweet, bubbly treat from Lush sometime soon, Creamy Candy Bubble Bar is a good choice.

Ingredients:

Sodium Bicarbonate , Cream of Tartar (Potassium bitartrate) , Sodium Laureth Sulfate , Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao) , Lauryl Betaine , Laureth 4 , Fragrance , Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis) , Cocoamide DEA , Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla planifolia) , D&C Red No. 33 , Candy Flower (Sucrose, Corn Starch, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5 & FD&C Yellow No. 6)

Giveaway Preview #1.

2013-06-08T09:15:00.000-04:00

I'll be posting a preview every saturday for my big two year anniversary giveaway. Here's preview #1.

Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer Review

2013-06-07T16:31:00.002-04:00

Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer is a "unique, creamy formulation created for application all over the lips to promote suppleness and lock in lip color so it will not feather, fade, or transfer. Our paraben free, Vitamin E enriched formula pampers lips while powerful pigment binders protect colors in the most challenging lip conditions and from pout imperfections." On top of being paraben free, this lip primer is also vegan friendly. I got a 3.5g (.12 oz) sample of Lip Insurance in the Beauty Editors Darlings value kit, which I bought at Ulta for $19. The full size of this lip product contains 4.4g (.15 oz) and sells for $19. Too Faced products can be bought through the brand's website, Sephora, and Ulta. Too Faced does not test on animals. This product was made in the USA.

Too Faced Lip Insurance comes in a pretty Tiffany blue tube. The front of the tube features the Too Faced logo and product name. The cap twists off to reveal a regular doe foot applicator. I really adore the color of the tube. I believe the full size has similar to identical packaging.

Too Faced Lip Insurance is a clear to off-white balm like lip primer. Application is like that of any product with a doe foot applicator. At first, Lip Insurance feels very thin, light, and moisturizing on the lips; almost like a watered down Vaseline. As this lip primer sets, it takes on more of a velvety feel. Lip colors apply with slightly more ease. While I can't really speak for how well this primer prevents feathering (not really a problem I experience),I can say for sure that Too Faced Lip Insurance significantly increases the wear time of lip products. For longer wearing lip products, this primer barely extends wear, but for creamy, moisturizing products like Maybelline Color Whispers or Revlon Lip Butters, the wear is doubled. Lip products seem to stay on my lips shorter than average, so I find Lip Insurance really helpful.

Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer is really good. I had my doubts about a lip primer, but if you have products keeping your lip products on like I do, they might be something worth looking into. Too Faced's lip primer helps keep on even the most fleeting of lipsticks. This product also feels awesome on the lips. I likely won't purchase the full size of Lip Insurance, $19 is a bit much for an unnecessary (but nice to have) product like a lip primer. If you need help keeping your lipstick put and don't mind a bit of a splurge, but all means check out Too Faced Lip Insurance.

Ingredients:

Isododecane, Silica, Talc, Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Isobutyl Methacrylate/ Trifluoroethylmethacrylate/Bis-Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Acrylate Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Jojoba Esters, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Trihydroxystearin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Triethylhexanoin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tribehenin, Propylene Carbonate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, o-Cymen-5-oL, Ceramide 2, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Sucrose Cocoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Mica.

Deals&Steals - Ulta- June 9-29

2013-06-06T23:09:00.001-04:00

A complete listing of Ulta's sales and specials, and gifts with purchase. Categorized by brand, press ctrl+f to search by brand.

Benefit:
Four free samples with any $35 purchase

Urban Decay:
Naked Skin Beauty Balm - $34
Eyeshadow Primer Potion - $20
Naked Basics Palette - $27
Naked Palette - $50

Stila:
Stay All Day HD Beauty Balm - $38
3 for $15 Lip Glazes

Too Faced:
Complete Coverage Air Buffed BB Cream - $39
Lip Injection - $22
Lip Injection Extreme - $28

Lorac:
Color Correcting Cream - $28
Tantalizer Body Bronzing Spray - $32
Island Tantalizer Creamy Body Oil - $30
Free Sample of Color Correcting Cream with any $25 Lorac purchase

Pür Minerals:
CC Cream - $38

Smashbox:
Camera Ready CC Cream - $42
Photo Finish Primer with Dermaxyl Complex - $42
Photo Finish Foundation Primer - $36
Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light - $36

Bare Minerals:
Matte Foundation - $27
Original Foundation - $27
Ready Foundation - $29
All Over Face Colors - $10 with any Bare Minerals foundation purchase
Try. Believe. Love Value Kit - $20

Tarte:
Smooth Operator Finishing Powder - $29
Glamazon Pure Performance Lipstick - $26
Maracuja Divine Shine Lip Gloss Duo - $24
Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner with brush - $24
Free Deluxe Sample of Tarte Rainforest Glow with any $25 Tarte purchase

CK One:
3-in-1 Face Makeup - $30
Skin Illuminator -$20
Shine Lipstick - $16

Laura Geller:
Ready, Set, Glow Collection - $39
Free Matte Maker Blotting Powder - with any $30 Laura Geller Purchase

Butter London:
Summer Lacquer Collection - $15 Each

Napoleon Perdis:
$5 off Makeup Removers

Cargo:
Limited Edition Swimmables - $19
Water Resistant Blush - $26
Better than Waterproof Mascara - $20

Perricone:
Blue Plasma - $95
Cold Plasma Sub-D - $135
Cold Plasma Eye - $98
Cold Plasma - $155

Clarisonic:
Mia2 Sonic skin Cleansing System - $149

Dermalogica:
Solar Defense Booster - $39
Skin Smoothing Cream -$40
Total Eye Care - $45
Free Deluxe Sample of Smoothing Cream or Active Moist with any $50 Dermalogica purchase

Philosophy:
Full of Promise Dual Action Restoring Cream for Volume and Lift - $65
Full of Promise Eye Duo - $68
Hope in a Jar A-Z Cream - $38
Hope in a Jar Night - $48
Hope in a Jar - $40
Free 5pc Gift with any 2pc Philosophy skincare purchase

Exuviance:
Targeted Filler t5 - $75
Free Daily Antioxidant Peel with any Exuviance purchase

Murad
Advanced Active Radiance Serum - $89
Instant Radiance Eye Cream - $68
Free Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum with any Murad purchase

DDF:
Advanced Firming Cream - $65

Vichy:
Celludestock - $39.50
Free Purete Thermale Calming Cleansing Solutiin with any Vichy purchase

Bliss:
Fatgirlslim - $36
Fatgirlsixpack - $38
Free Fabulous Foaming Face Wash Sample with any Bliss purchase

Juice Beauty:
Oil Free SPF 30 Moisturizer - $29
SPF 20 Tinted Mineral Moisturizer - $29
Free Deluxe Sample of SPF 30 Moisturizer with any Juice Beauty purchase

LaRoche Posay:
Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen - $29.99
Anthelios 60 Melt in Sunscreen Milk - $35.99
Free Beach Tote with any LaRoche Posay purchase

Mario Badescu:
Vitamin C Serum - $45
Glycolic Foaming cleanser - $15
Glycolic Acid Toner - $18
Free Deluxe Sample of Oil Free Moisturizer with any Mario Badescu purchase

Strivectin:
SD Intensive Concentrate for Stretch Marks and Wrinkles - $99
Free Deluxe Sample of SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles with any Strivectin purchase

Kinerase:
25% off

Sally Hansen
BOGO 50% Polishes and Treatments
BOGO 50% Hair Removal

Elegant Touch:
BOGO 50%

Red Carpet:
Treatments - $14.99

Revlon:
Brilliant Strength Nail Enamel - $5.99
Select Lip&Eye Cosmetics - $6.99

Tweezerman:
10% off.

OPI:
2/$15 All Nail Lacquers

L'Oreal:
BOGO 50% Eye, Lip, and Nail
15% Off Skincare
BOGO 50% Suncare

Neutrogena:
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15% Off Skincare
BOGO 50% Suncare

Almay:
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Real Techniques
BOGO 50% Brushes

EcoTools:
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Prestige:
BOGO 50% Cosmetics

Rimmel:
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Covergirl:
BOGO 50% Eye Cosmetics

Maybelline:
$2 off Select Eye Makeup

NYX:
Parallel Wolds Collection - $24.99

Ulta Brand:
2/$10 Smoothies, Smoothie Creams, Swircles, Crack, and Scrubs
2/$4 Travel Size
2/$16 Large Smoothies
2/$6 Eyeshadow Singles, Eyeliners, Salon Nail Lacquers, Tinted Lip Balms
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2/$10 Mascara, Complete Shadow Palettes, Cheek Color, Foundation, Powder, and Pro Nail Lacquer
2/$12 Primers
BOGO 50% Hair Care
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15% Off Skincare

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Hugo:
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The Body Shop:
Shower Gels or Creams - $9

H20+ Spa
2 for $30
Sea Salt Hydrating Body Butter - $21
Sea Salt Skin Smoother -$27
Free Hand&Nail Cream Travel Size with any $20 H20+ purchase

Ahava:
Hibiscus&Fig Cream Wash - $23
Mineral Body Lotion - $24
Free Summer Tote and Mineral Hand Cream or Body Lotion with any Ahava purchase

Nip+Fab:
15% Off Skincare

Boots No.7:
15% Off Skincare

Garnier:
15% Off Skincare

Roc:
15% Off Skincare

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15% Off Skincare

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BOGO 50% Suncare

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Physicians Formula:
BOGO Skincare

Mineral Fusion:
BOGO Skincare

Simple:
BOGO Skincare

Freeman:
BOGO Skincare

Eclos:
BOGO Skincare

Marc Anthony:
BOGO Hair Care

FX:
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Topganics:
BOGO Hair Care

Eva NYC:
BOGO Hair Care

Enroot:
BOGO Hair Care

Sally Hershberger:
BOGO Hair Care

Giovanni:
BOGO Hair Care

Wella:
$9.99 Each

Chi:
Neon Flat Irons - $89.95
Free Jelly Tote with Flat Iron purchase

Conair:
You Curl Wand Styler - $19.99
Pro Neon Dryers -$29.99

Bed Head:
Clamp Free Stylers -$24.99

Remington:
Silk Slim Styling Wand - $24.99

Hot Tools:
Tourmaline Lite Dryer -$59.99

DevaCurl:
Dryer&Deva Fuser -$159.99

Paul Mitchell:
B2GO

Sexy Hair:
BOGO Hair Care

Nioxin:
BOGO Hair Care

Tigi:
BOGO Hair Care

Macadamia:
Deep Repair Masque -$33
Flawless - $33
Healing Oil Treatment - $39.95
Free Healing Oil Treatment with any $25 Macadamia purchase

Ouidad:
Wave Create Sea Spray - $23
Free Moisture Lock Leave in Conditioner and Define&Shine Curling Styling Gel Cream with any $25 Ouidad purchase

Phyto:
Phytolisse Ultra Glossing Finishing Serum - $30
Phytovolume Actif Intense Volume Spray - $29
Phytodefrisant Botanical Straightening Balm - $28
Free Phytodefrisant Botanical Straightening Balm with any $20 Phyto purchase

Ralph Lauren:
Polo Eau de Toilettes - $76
Free traveler bag with any 4oz Ralph Lauren Polo purchase

Chrome:
Azzaro Eau de Toilette -$76
Free Watch with any $68 Chrome purchase

Montblanc:
Eau de Toilette - $75
Free Sport Bag with $75 purchase

Calvin Klein:
Dark Obession Eau de Toilette - $69
Eternity For Men - $69
Euphoria Men Eau de Toilette -$72
Free Duffle Bag with Calvin Klein Men's fragrance purchase

Burberry:
Brit Eau de Toilette -$73
Touch Eau de Toilette -$73
Free Toiletry Bag with any Burberry Men's fragrance purchase.

Lacoste:
Eau de Lacoste Eau de Toilette -$65

Gucci:
Guilty Black Pour Homme -$62
Gucci Guilty Pour Homme Set -$65

Givenchy:
Gentlemen Only Eau de Toilette -$59

Fendi:
Fan Di Fendi Pour Homme Acqua Eau de Toilette -$59

Prada:
Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette -$62-82
Candy -$82

Armani:
Armani Code Ultimate - $66
Armani Code -$77
Acqua di Gio -$78

Yves Saint Laurent:
L'Homee -$60
Manifesto -$82

Jimmy Choo:
Eau de Parfum -$75

Dolce&Gabbana:
The One Sport Set -$90
Light Blue Gift Set -$90
Light Blue Dreaming in Portofino -$71
Desire by Dolce&Gabbana -$93

Coach:
Poppy -$65

Marc Jacobs:
Daisy Eau so Fresh Sunshine -$78

Juicy Couture:
Viva La Juicy -$70

Free Gift of Foldable Chair or Cooler with any $30 Fragrance purchase.

Pop Beauty Smokey Lash Kapow Mascara Review

2013-06-06T19:01:00.002-04:00

Pop Beauty is a UK beauty brand that made it's way to the States a couple years ago. I received a sample of their new Smokey Lash Kapow mascara in my March Ipsy Bag. Pop Beauty says their Smokey Lash Kapow "fattens each lash to give a maximum volumizing end result. It delivers an ultra black, extra glossy finish that is tear (from crying, of course!), swim (go on, just jump in!), rub (well, you never know), and sweat proof (dancing is such good exercise!). This mascara is fragrance and fiber free, ophthalmologist tested, and safe for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes. I was super excited when I saw this mascara in my Ipsy bag, as yinz know I'm a total mascara addict. The full size of Pop Beauty's Smokey Lash Kapow mascara retails for $18.50 (£10.50 in the UK). Pop Beauty is sold at Ulta in the United States. This mascara was made in China. I'm unsure if Pop Beauty tests on animals or not.

Packaging for Pop Beauty's Smokey Lash Kapow is cute. A black tube with silver flowers and the brand logo printed on it. The product name can be found on the bottom label. I believe the full size tube is different. The brush for this mascara is pretty basic. A classic bristle brush, the bristles are short and even in length, spiraling around the wand. Smokey Lash Kapow's brush tapers into a very slight point. Overall this brush is easy to work with, but nothing innovative.

I'm just gonna be straight forward and say it -its been a long time since I've used a mascara as bad as Pop Beauty's Smokey Lash Kapow Mascara. This is a truly awful mascara. As promised, it "fattens" the lashes, by clumping them together. While Smokey Lash Kapow does a decent job at lengthening the lashes, the length is canceled out when the heavy, wet formula weighs my lashes down and uncurls them. If that isn't enough of a negative, the wear for Pop Beauty's mascara is atrocious. Just sitting here writing posts it was flaking and smearing on my face and glasses. This mascara can barely stay on for an hour. I don't know how Pop Beauty can bill their Smokey Lash Kapow as waterproof when it only only flakes and smudges for no reason, but also wipes right away with water or a makeup wipe.

[not even two full coats]

[the actual fuck happened here?]

Pop Beauty Smokey Lash Kapow is a pathetic excuse for a mascara. It clumps, can't hold a curl, and it'll turn you into a raccoon (and not a cute one). The brush is so plain, which isn't exactly a bad thing, I just think for $18.50 it could be a little more interesting. I'm sorely disappointed by Pop Beauty's Smokey Lash Kapow mascara and now I'm kinda put off of the brand. I've previous browsed Pop Beauty's display at Ulta with a moderate amount of interest, the brand seems fun, but now I seriously doubt their quality. I'd go as far as to say this is one of the worst product I've received from Ipsy. I'm going to toss this mascara right out. I certainly do not recommend Pop Beauty's Smokey Lash Kapow.

Ingredients:

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dextrin Palmitate/Ethylhexanoate, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Microcrystalline Wax, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Aluminum Distearate, Peg-8 Dioleate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Propylparaben, Simethicone, Tocopherol, Talc, Mica, Iron Oxides (CI 77499). May contain: [+/- Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510)]

This post contains an affiliated link.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Eau De Toilette Review

2013-06-06T12:40:00.002-04:00

Marc Jacobs' Daisy Eau So Fresh is "a whimsical interpretation of the original Daisy fragrance, this scent is more fruity, more bubbly, more fun! Open the bottle and you'll be transported to a field of sunshine that bursts with the flirty scent of flowers and the cheerful sweetness of fruits. It's light, woody base infuses a subtle but sharp glimmer of musk for an unexpected twist of radiance." I received a sample of Daisy Eau So Fresh in a swap with my friend Stephanie. Three sizes of Daisy Eau so Fresh are offered, a .24 fl oz rollerball ($20), 2.5 fl oz ($78), and 4.25 fl oz ($90). Marc Jacobs fragrances can be bought through the brand's website, at Sephora, Ulta, and fine department stores. Marc Jacobs fragrances are produced by Coty Prestige, a company with an unclear animal testing policy. This perfume was made in France.

Marc Jacobs' Daisy Eau So Fresh has very feminine packaging. The full size bottle is described as "fun to look at, touch, and open. The gold top of the weighted glass bottle is covered in six soft-to-the-touch daisies with petals in white, pink, and yellow." The sample I received came in a pink cardboard folder adorned with white and yellow flowers. Inside the folder is an image of the full size bottle, a description of the scent. The sample comes in a small vial with a spray top. The name of the scent is printed on the vial in black lettering.

Notes: Natural Raspberry, Grapefruit, Pear, Violet, Wild Rose, Apple Blossom, Musk, Cedarwood, Plum

The first time I sprayed on Daisy Eau So Fresh, I fell in love. It smelled amazing, sweet but tart, with a great balance of fruit and floral notes. Upon second sniff, I realized that Daisy Eau So Fresh reminded me of one of my treats - a blue raspberry lollipop. I'm not quite sure why. This fragrance incorporates many of my favorite scents notes; violet, grapefruit, pear, and raspberry. I definitely pick up the violet most strongly, which is what sold me on this scent. After the violet I pick up a blend of musk and rose, the warm almost spicy quality of cedarwood, sweet raspberries, and just a hint of grapefruit. Daisy Eau So Fresh dries down to be a slightly woodier version of it's self. For an eau de toilette, the lasting power is pretty good. Marc Jacobs' Daisy Eau So Fresh lingers on the skin for about 4-5 hours.

I kinda love Daisy Eau So Fresh. This is my favorite fragrance at the moment. I really love the strong violet base in it. I'm considering buying the rollerball, or asking for it for a gift (#hintdean). If you love fruit florals and violet based scents like I do, Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh is an excellent but expensive choice. I definitely recommend sampling this scent as soon as you can!

Ingredients:

Alcohol Denat, Fragrance, Water, Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzophenone 3, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, BHT, Butyl Methoxydibenzolmethane, Butylphenyl Methylpropinol, Citral, Citronellol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnimate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Farnesol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnimal, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Methyl-2-Octynoate, D&C Red 33, Ext D&C Violet 2, FD&C Yellow 5

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Serum Review

2013-06-05T15:32:00.001-04:00

Rimmel says their Lash Accelerator Serum with Grow Lash Complex will "help to support the natural growth of beautifully long, remarkably strong lashes. With a unique hybrid applicator for precise application to lashes, lash line, or brows. Around the clock conditioning and fortifying gel helps to support healthy lash and brow growth. Shapes, separates, and sets lashes and brows into place. Improves the look of lashes, making them look longer and fuller." I'd been meaning to try this lash growth serum for quite a while, I finally bought it after an accident at work that caused me to lose a significant chunk of lashes on my left eye. I bought this serum at Ulta in a value pack that included this product and a kohl eyeliner. This duo cost $9.99, which is the regular retail price of Lash Accelerator Serum. This product contains 11ml (.37 fl oz). Rimmel's Lash Accelerator Serum is ophthalmologist tested and safe for contact lens wearers and those with sensitive eyes. This serum was made in America. Rimmel products are tested on animals.

I don't have a lot to say about Lash Accelerator's packaging. This lash enhancing serum comes in a clear tube, with a metallic yellow cap. The tube features the product name as well as a description and directions. The applicator for Rimmel's lash serum certainly is interesting. Its a white plastic spoolie with no actual bristles, just spiraling grooves that catch the lashes. On top of the spoolie, if you want to call it that, is a small brush like you'd find in a liquid eyeliner. While I like the option of how to apply this product, I feel like the applicator is a little awkward to use, but I got the hang of it after a few applications.

Rimmel's Lash Accelerator Serum is a clear get that dries white. Rimmel says this serum can be worn as an overnight treatment or as a base for mascaras, I suggest only using it as an overnight treatment. Though Rimmel says this serum is fine for sensitive eyes, I found it kinda burny and irritating the first couple times I used it. I guess I've developed a tolerance to it or something though, but it still burns if it gets directly in the eye. I've been using Rimmel's Lash Accelerator Serum for about 6 weeks now and I've noticed some good (but not amazing) results. I've applied this serum to both my lashes and brows just about every night, and it took about a week for it to kick in. I don't think this serum directly makes your lashes longer so much as it fortifies and nourishes them, preventing premature lash loss and allowing them to grow longer on their own. Sadly, this serum has barely helped my injured lashes as much as my healthy ones. I feel like this serum thickened my lashes a fair amount. My lashes are also stronger and seem to hold a curl better lately. The enhancement is slight, but makes a difference. Rimmel's Lash Accelerator Serum was very effective for my brows. I don't really need any help in that department, I have very full brows naturally, but I was curious. This serum seems to have thickened my brows, I have to pluck way more often now, so I'm going to discontinue use on the brows except in areas I may over pluck.

Rimmel's Lash Accelerator Serum is good! For the most part it's non-irritating and has no negative side effects. Though the results aren't anything to be in awe of, this serum does what it promises. It definitely promotes brow growth better than it works for lashes, at least for me, but I feel like the results are definitely noticeable in both areas. It doesn't take too long to kick in either, which is great. I won't keep applying this serum to my brows, but Lash Accelerator has become part of my nightly routine. I'm not sure if I'll need to repurchase this serum or not, but I would. I do recommend Rimmel's Lash Accelerator Serum if you're looking for a product to subtly enhance your lashes and brows.

Ingredients:
Water. Pentylene Glycol, PVP, Butyl Glycol, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, PGG 26 Buteth 26, PEG 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Arigine, Caffeine, Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Apegnin, Myristol Pentapeptide 17, Biotin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oleanolic Acid, Biotinoyl Tripeptide 1, Sodium Sulfate, Potassium Sorbate, Bambusa Arundinacea Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate.

wow, surprisingly legit ingredients.

Avon Naturals Pomegranate&Mango Shower Gel and Body Lotion Review

2013-06-05T00:26:00.001-04:00

Avon describes their Pomegranate&Mango line as a "sparkling blend of lush pomegranate and juicy mango to delight the senses and refresh the body and soul." I recently delved back into Avon's Naturals line after being distracted by other bath and body brands. I previously reviewed the Pomegranate&Mango Body Spray, and today I'm following it up with a review of the Shower Gel and Body Lotion. I received both of these products as a gift from my mummy. The shower gel contains 5 fl oz (150ml) and sells for $6, though Avon recently released a "bonus size" 15 fl oz size which retails for $10. The lotion contains 8.4 fl oz (250ml) and sells for $7. Avon's Naturals line is almost always on sale, so you'll likely catch a deal. Both of these products were made in America. Avon products are not directly tested on animals, but the brand recently expanded to China, where their products may be tested.

Avon's Naturals packaging is pretty simple. The lotion comes in a cylindrical bottle and is topped with a clear flip top cap. A label wraps around the bottle. The front features images of pomegranates and mangoes, along with the product name. The back of the label offers a description and full ingredient list. I've never really been a fan of Avon's shower gel packaging, unique as it may be. The bottle is thin and has a hook shape at the top. The bottle is meant to hang on your shower head, which is actually really quite handy, but some product always gets stuck in it and it just kinda irritates me. The shower gel's labeling is very similar to the lotions. Both products' packaging is recyclable.

Avon says their Naturals Pomegranate&Mango Shower Gel is "formulated with BioSeed complex and pure pomegranate and mango extracts, this refreshing shower gel leaves skin cleansed and conditioned. Maintains skin's natural moisture". In all honesty, I'm not really a fan of this shower gel formula. I need to use quite a bit of to get a decent lather, so I'm blowing through this bottle. This shower gel rinses cleanly and that's about it. The Naturals shower gel formula doesn't seem to be beneficial or detrimental to my skin in anyway. The Pomegranate&Mango scent is very light and doesn't impart much scent onto the skin.

Moving on to the lotion, my opinion is entirely different. I really love the Avon Naturals Body Lotion formula! A little bit of this lotion goes a long way, while I'm half way through the shower gel, I'm only a third of the way through the lotion. This lotion formula is light and non-greasy but quite hydrating. Avon says their lotion formula, which also contains BioSeed complex and pomegranate and mango extracts, will "leave skin feeling soft, supple, and smooth." All true, at least in my experience. Like the shower gel, the Pomegranate&Mango body lotion is light in fragrance, but it clings to the skin a bit more.

As I mentioned in my review for the Pomegranate&Mango Body Spay, that this scent is my preferred for Avon's Antibacterial Hand Soap. Because of that I'm a little sick of it. I don't really like it in body spray form. As a shower gel, Pomegranate&Mango is zesty but sweet, smelling more of pomegranate than mango. The body lotion, while still sweet and fruity, has a bit more of an citrusy edge to it, I guess that's the mango. I like Avon's Pomegranate&Mango scent best in lotion form. Overall I'm not in love with any of these products, except the lotion, which I highly recommend. The rest? Meh.

NYC City's Clear Liquid Lipshine Review

2013-06-03T16:50:00.002-04:00

Late last year NYC (New York Color) reformulated their Liquid Lipshine glosses. NYC claims that these new and improved glosses will deliver "high drama color at a seriously low price. Pure pigments give a 3D effect that's off the charts glossy. Tons of hot new shades from preppy nudes to bold statement hues - all for less than your weekly fashion magazine!" New York Color offers a total of ten shades, I have City's Clear, which obviously is colorless. Reviewing a clear lip gloss seems kinda silly to me. This lip gloss contains 7.2ml (.24 fl oz). The SRP for these glosses is $2.49. NYC products can be bought at drugstores in a handful of countries (America, Canada, and England for sure, not sure where else). I received this lip gloss from Influenster as a reward in one of their brand challenges. This lip gloss was made in China. NYC says that they don't test on animals, but the brand is owned by Coty Inc, a company with a questionable testing policy.

Packaging for this gloss is plain but the shape of the tube makes it interesting. The clear tube and black plastic cap are rounded, but also flat. The NYC logo is written on the tube in bubble letters, flanked by the product name, which is printed on the tube in silver lettering. Twisting off the black cap reveals a very interesting applicator. This certainly isn't your average doe foot, NYC's Liquid Lipshine's applicator is blunt and about 3/4" long. The wand is also super flexible. The way I'm describing it may make it sound cumbersome to use, but I actually find it to be pretty user friendly, especially if you have fuller lips like I do.

Obviously I don't have anything to say about City's Clear's color, so lets move right along to the formula. NYC's Liquid Lipshine is a thin, non-sticky gloss with a shiny, but not "off the charts glossy" finish. I don't really reach for clear glosses regularly, I don't see the point of them. I wear NYC's City's Clear on days that I don't really want a lip color but feel like it would look strange if I had entirely bare lips. This gloss has decent lasting power, roughly 60-90 minutes. NYC's Liquid Lipshine gloss is comfortable to wear. This lip gloss has a strange, sweet scent that barely transfers onto the lips.

NYC's City's Clear Liquid Lipshine is a decent gloss. If you're looking for a basic, clear lip gloss, there's no reason to splurge, grab this affordable gloss instead. The price is extremely fair for what it is. I feel like this review was really short, but how much I can say about a clear gloss? Anyway, NYC's City's Clear Liquid Lipshine is good, but nothing amazing. I wouldn't buy this gloss in the clear shade, but I'd consider trying one of the colors.

Ingredients Unavailable

This product was provided by Influenster. Want an Influenster invite? Message me on Tumblr!