Aug 3, 2014

Ipsy Bag - July - Review


Hey there!

I spent the last 2 weeks really trying out the items in this month's Ipsy bag. I like trying out new things and the Ipsy bag always seems to have great new stuff to try in addition to one or more of my favorites.



The old favorite this time was the Bare Minerals 5 in 1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow in Divine Wine. The full size is $18. I picked up a sample of Candle Lit Peach about 2 months ago and I have been loving it ever since. I had no doubt that I'd love this too.  The shade is a tad bit darker than I'd have picked but it looks really good. It's a nice cocoa shade that is a great base for your browns and goes well with almost any color that you are using. I love the formula. It stays on for such a long time. It's creamy and rich and a little bit goes a long way. If you've been with me for any time at all you know that I love products that "a dab with do ya".

I know. It looks like a weird color, but on your eyes...
oh on your eyes, it's so pretty.
This is a slather. You only need a touch.

One of the products that I knew about but had never tried was the Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm. It's a lip balm (duh, yeah I know). But, that's about all it is and not a very good one either. I didn't even realize (until I went to research the product) that mine was a color! My Pixi Balm is in Unique Pink which is supposed to be pH reactive and change to my own personal pink. I'm a woman of color and my personal pH reactive pink must be -- lip color. Sigh. It's not very moisturizing either. My $1 ChapStick is better. Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm is $14. Even with the Ipsy discount (that we learned last month, doesn't always work) I wouldn't buy this.



I tried the Whet brand refined nail lacquer. The color was...Facetious, a rich, royal blue color. It retails for $15 on its website. The brand is supposed to be free of harmful chemicals, chip resistant, high shine and a vegan formula. The formula is the bomb. It lasted quite a long time and the glossy blue finish was great. I was scared when I saw the bottle but my toes loved it! The Ispy 30% discount does apply on the website and gives you a $6 flat shipping option in addition to other shipping avenues. I'd probably spend the extra 50cents and go with a tracking option. There are lots of colors to choose from, so with my discount, I wouldn't be opposed to trying another color.



I also had the honor of trying Be Fine Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15. I liked it. It was a thin consistency which I look for. I'm not into heavy moisturizer. I wish they offered a SPF free version because sometimes that can break me out. This one didn't but it made my face feel warm for about 2 minutes, so I was a bit scared. I received a 1.5 fl oz size to try. If you want to purchase the 1.7 oz size (with a pump) the price on the website is $24. After shipping ($6.95 USPS) and the 20% Ipsy discount the total was $26.14. That wasn't too bad but I wasn't THAT sold on it. Maybe after I use this sample up (and I will) I'll feel differently.

Even though you might think that I wouldn't, I did try the Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil. My sample size was 1 fl. oz. I tried it on my feet and legs. Those are the parts of me that don't tan but I'd like for them too. Twice, on the sunniest weekends we've had so far, I followed the directions and waited for my feet and legs to get a golden brown(er than my normal color). I sprayed product all over my feet and legs(and all over the floor of my bathroom) and waited for gorgeousness to happen. It didn't happen. After two tries the only thing that happened was that my bathroom floor needed a good mopping and the bottom of my feet got really oily and dirty. Not exactly what I was hoping for. So, this bottle went in the trash. I don't have many friends that try to tan so I couldn't pass it along. Even my white friends don't slather on lotion to tan. They are mostly SPF freaks. I knew this wouldn't work but I thought I'd try anyway. What could it hurt? Well, it didn't hurt but it wasn't for me. Oddly enough, this is one of the products that had a good discount that made the price plus shipping work. The full size, 8 oz bottle is $11.99 with $5 flat shipping. After the 25% discount, it would cost you $13.99 to get it home. Not bad if the product works for you.

Oh! And the bag itself was cute. It was a pink, faux leather pouch that I use in my craft area. I really liked it! It's something I wouldn't have picked up myself but I enjoy having it.

So over all, how was my Sensationally Sunkissed Ipsy bag? I liked it. One of the products was something I was going to purchase (maybe not that color, but yes to that product), a nail polish that I would never have purchased but I am so glad that I have and a moisturizer that is almost what I want so I'll be on the lookout for other products from that company. Again folks, I say to you that for $10 this ain't a bad deal. You get to try 5 new products and get a cute bag to boot! So far, I don't have any qualms with Ipsy and can't wait for next month's bag!!





Ipsy Link  <--- I've put my link right here in case you are interested in checking this out for yourself. I personally think it's a great deal for $10 BUT that is completely my opinion and if you don't want to use my link, that's okay too! If you are interested and would like to try them out, I'd be super stoked if you did use my Link. If you do decide to, come back and tell me how you like your first bag!!

Aug 2, 2014

A Month of MAC - MAC Fix+


Hey there!!

I want to be in the "in" crowd (sometimes -- most times I don't give a flying fig). Being in the "in" crowd, at least in makeup, means loving MAC makeup. It means owning foundation, brushes, lip glasses, etc by MAC. It means having a MAC bag by my makeup table for my back to MAC products. It means wearing at least 1 MAC makeup item every day. 

Wellllllll, I kinda do. But, I'm not all MAC-y MAC like others. For instance, I don't get MAC Fix+. 

Now I feel like I must hide. Now I feel like 25 people are going to come find me and throw me in a dungeon and torture me with orange-red lipsticks and chalky eyeshadow. I'm sorry! It's not my fault. 

I had to find a free standing MAC store in order to find my travel size bottle 0f Fix+.   It costs $10.  It claims to be infused with vitamins, minerals, green tea, cucumber and chamomile. It's supposed to finish your makeup, adding radiance to your skin.

Now, I've tried a few drugstore finishing sprays and I haven't been moved. I even tried the $3 e.l.f. Mist and Set and wanted $2 back. But, I had seen YouTube videos and read blogs that sang the praises of beginning and ending your makeup process with Fix+. And, if you need a refresher during the day, Fix+ is your go to spray. That's a lot of pressure for MAC cause I'm picky when it comes to makeup and skincare products. 

Let me say, I'm not against face mists. I touted the joy of my CaudalĂ­e spray. I am not 100% sure that it does anything for my skin but I love it. I love the smell, the feel, the effect of it. I will shell out $18 for a mini bottle of that in a heartbeat. 

MAC Fix+ is different. I tried it before my makeup and after my makeup.  All I felt was wet. I didn't see anything. I tried using a little. I tried using a lot.  Same result, just varying degrees of wet. I tried using as a fresher. I felt refreshed but I felt the same refresh when I misted water mixed with a mint/cucumber infusion (saw it on YouTube-- of course!).  The Fix+ didn't seem to do anything special. 

It did help when making dry shadows and eyeliner, wet. But I don't think I need to pay ten bucks for that. 

So, sorry MAC. This is not one of the items I will be purchasing from you. I tried, didn't love it, didn't hate it but didn't need it. 

Have you tried MAC Fix+ ? What did you think? Did you enjoy all of the "+" symbols I used in this post?

Oh! BTW, because I want to be in the "in" crowd (or because I love trying new makeup items), I'm going to spend August playing with MAC makeup and other items from the MAC counter. No, it won't be all MAC all the time but enough times that if you are playing the drinking game and the  "sip when you see a MAC post" version, you should be good and plastered by September. 


For my fellow lushes, you are welcome. 

Aug 1, 2014

Quickie Review - e.l.f. HD Blush


Hey there!

I've spent the last month testing this e.l.f. HD Blush in Super Star, a coral color. Surprisingly, I don't have any cream blushes. I was kinda scared of them. Now I know that I shouldn't have been scared.

I've used plenty of e.l.f. products that I have fallen in love or in "like" with. I love my Contouring Blush & Bronzer duo, my Eye Refresher and of course my studio brushes. I was thinking that this product might be a "like" product. 

The packaging is nice. I like being able to see how much of a product that  have left. I don't know that I will have to worry about that with this. A small pump is really all you need for both cheeks. This container will last you forever!

And it lasts all day! I use primer and powder at 6:30am and by 6:30pm I still have blush on. Mind you, it's not go out and party ready, but it's presentable if you see people that you know at the grocery store. Many of the cheaper blushes that I've tried only last half of that time.

The down side of these blushes is that they don't have a ton of shades (5) and out of the shades the do have, not many are for skin of color. But, perhaps this was just to see what folks would think. I think they can go ahead and make the investment and create other colors. These are pretty good.

And at $3 I would totally repurchase this or try another color.


Except that this bottle will last forever! When will I need another one?