Friday, May 1, 2015

☼☼April Boxycharm Unboxing + March Review☼☼

April Boxycharm Unboxing + March Review



Boxycharm is a monthly beauty subscription box that sends 4-5 full-size beauty/makeup products.

I was not given this box. All opinions are my own. Based off my preferences! :D

Cost: $21 per month (FREE SHIPPING!)

My referral link

They only ship to 48 U.S. states. (They don't ship to Hawaii or Alaska yet.) Unfortunately, they don't shop Internationally yet either.












I'm SO happy to have this. Seriously is there anyone who isn't excited to get a full palette? I wouldn't even mind getting a giant hard candy palette! 20 shadows is 20 SHADOWS! That being said I'm most excited about the bottom row of colors. There are no NAMES to these which is annoying. The black and the greyish color next to it are weak. FOURTH in from the right on the bottom... that cranberry shade. *sigh* Luuuuuuuv I want to rub it all over my FACE! I swatched it and then just STARED! Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes. The top yellows are unusual and I don't own anything like them so that is a plus. This is a selection of mattes and shimmers.






Below in the swatches it is from left to right on the bottom. The horizontal swipe is all of the colors swirled together. I like this as a blush!


 I guess Boxycharm is branching out. I'm really excited about this. There was a second product in circulation from Ofra a loose mineral highlight. If you've been reading my blog you'll know that I ADORE Ofra cosmetics but I really didn't want a loose mineral highlight. STOKED that I got this blush strip powder cake. It's it BEAUTIFUL? I love the shades individually as well so I'll be using them AS eye-shadows as well!




 This says that you can apply it to wet or dry hair. I have very wavy frizzy hair but it's also oily. So, I hope this works for me! It has a subtle sweetish smell that I like. It has a milky sticky consistency on my hands. I'll let you know next month how this performs. I have high hopes for it after getting a hair oil from Coolway in a previous Ipsy bag. I ADORE that product so I was excited to see this one in my boxycharm box this month. Also, it being a full size 2oz seems like it will last me quite awhile! 










So, this item kind of confused me. I received this exact item in "red rascal" in February (two months ago). Here is a link to that unboxing. I contacted Boxycharm about this and they apologized saying they meant to send out the color "Raspberry Ice" in February and "Red Rascal" and "Pink a boo" colors were to go out this month. I checked and both of mine are clearly marked as "Red Rascal" they apologized and said they are sending me "Pink a boo" in May's box. This is another flawless customer service example from Boxycharm. However, if you look at this swatch and the one I got in February... I'm starting to this is Raspberry Ice and I got Red Rascal in February... the colors are ALMOST identical though. They look like they are meant to be the same color but are from different batches or something. When swatched together on my hand here are the colors RIGHT next to each other.
The one I got in Feb is on the right and this one is on the left. What do you think?






This was the item I was least excited about but I quickly changed my mind when I wore it out. My lung are super sensitive to chemicals. When I smell them I can have allergic reactions, burning lungs, scratchy throat, or asthma attacks. I ran it across each wrist (I've been told never to rub my wrists together with perfume as it breaks up the molecular blah de blah's of the scent) I made sure it soaked in then went about my day with cation. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't have a single reaction to it except I felt a little nauseous later in the day so the follow day (today) I put one dab on each wrist and went about my day. I received compliments for this as well as a good comment from my Hubbins! This smell... is like citrus lemon, sweet, with a little musk.

Here is what the website says the scent is.

Notes: Meyer Lemon, White Grapefruit, Satsuma Mandarin, Summer Forsythia, Pink Plumeria, Wild Verbena, Tahitian Vanilla, Sensual Musk.

So, the citrus is lemon, white grapefruit, satsuma. The sweet is vanilla. The musk is Sensual musk (whatever that means!), I did not smell the flower notes of forsythia, plumeria, and verbena. It is a lovely smell. I could do without the musk though.. I'm not that big a fan of it but it is subtle!

Total spent for the bag: $21
Total bag is worth: $142.90 without discount to palette ($122.90 when discount on palette)
Total saved: $121.90 or $101.90

That is as always a FANTASTIC deal regardless of the difference between pricing on the palettes.

Before I add in the March Review... I'd like to mention that Boxycharm lets you review your items on their website. You get points for each approved review, for signing up, and after being subscribed a certain amount of time.  I racked up some points and spent them in their store! They add things usually from past boxes in this section for you to spend the points on! Of course it was on an Ofra Long lasting liquid lipstick! I adore them! I have three other shades "Laguna Beach" from a lip monthly unboxing, purchased "New Orleans" and "Atlantic City". This is my fourth shade redeemed with my points in the shade "Hollywood". Click here to see my other three shades with before and after pictures. I love the shades, smell, texture and FEEL of these long lasting liquid to matte. Perfection!








I love this previse face tonic! The smell is almost nonexistent, it didn't break out my skin, and I enjoyed putting it on. I'm not sure I see any noticeable different in the brightening of my skin though. I have noticed my skin is clearer but there are other factors I've changed in the last month that might be responsible. I just can't say. Either way I really like this product! I'll use it up but I won't repurchase. 



Ofra eyeliner in "coffee bean" this was my first brown eyeliner and I love it for use in neutral eyeshadow looks. It really softens. I'm glad I received it. I love OFRA cosmetics and they didn't let me down. The pencil is soft enough for the eye and depending on pressure I can make it very light to dark brown. This was my favorite item in this box!


Oscar blandi dry shampoo spray. This sprays white which is annoying with my dark hair some times. It didn't combat the oil in my hair any better than any other dry shampoo has. I wish I could go ONE day without washing my hair. I envy people who can. I didn't have my hopes very high for this though so no harm done. I plan on passing this on.


Tarte Cosmetics Lip Surgence Lip Tint. I still like the color and the minty flavor. It isn't very long lasting but isn't any worse that the average tinted balm. It is really SOFT though and I broke the tip almost immediately! I complain too much to Boxycharm ha ha. The tip is still on I'm just careful with it when I apply it since it doesn't extend more product I can't sharpen it. A disappointment.


The LVX nail polish in "Lemon Drop" was my least favorite item in this box. Even though it has a large purchase price it is one of the worst polishes I've ever used in my life. Three streaky coats and it still isn't full opaque! I love the color and I'll keep it to use in nail art. Extremely disappointed when a $3 JulieG polish performs better than this $16 one. 


Thank you so much for following along.


Tuesday, April 28, 2015

~~ Colourpop Cosmetics Lippie Stix and Highlighters Hual +swatches and before/after ~~

 Colourpop Cosmetics 
Lippie Stix and Highlight
(picture heavy post)

My very first Colourpop Cosmetics haul! I finally caved and bought two of the lippie stix. I was NOT disappointed.


How adorable is this HAND written note they included?





The two I purchases were:





Both of these smell like VANILLA = Heaven!


Below you can see a swatch of "Frida" is on the bottom and "Lumiere" on on top. In fact "Frida" is a satin finish and "Lumiere" is a matte finish.


BEFORE (no product)


LUMIERE


FRIDA


Here is "Frida" on. It is my new favorite lipstick! 


SURPRISE! Colourpop threw in an extra in my package. One of their just released highlights. I've been dying to touch one of their eye-shadows, blushes, or highlights. They are pillowy. Hard to describe but it feels like touching a tiny pillow that almost feels a little moist. It bounces back as you can see in the photos below.







There can you see that PILLOWNESS? It is the SOFTEST substance I have ever felt in my life. I think blush and eyeshadows are soft in the first place but THIS is a whole new softie soft soft. I want to RUBITONMYFACE. 



This highlight is one of my new favorites! I can already tell that I'll be collecting more of the lippie stix soon. Now that I have felt this highlight I can't wait to get my first eye-shadow!



Monday, April 20, 2015

♥ April Ipsy Unboxing + March Review ♥

♥ April Ipsy Unboxing + March Review ♥ 


Ipsy is a monthly subscription box for makeup products.
I was not given this box. All opinions are my own. Based off my preferences! :D

Cost: $10 per month
They ship to the U.S., and Canada

First... isn't this bag adorable?! I'm in love with it. I had to add this second picture in. I can't stop looking at it and touching it. Every month I think Ipsy out does itself with these adorable bags. Personally I think are worth the $10 themselves! It has a silky light grey lining in it and the signature ipsy zipper pull. I think I might use this in my purse! I use most of my ipsy bags for storage and travel. I just took THREE away with me on a mini vacation. This one might be an everyday bag though. This bag is a wicker-ish matieral but is VERY flexible.

I also added this picture to note that the blush came in a box that had the color labeled "tango" on it but the blush inside is clearly "charmed" (see below) but also that this Lather lotion came in a ziplock bag to protect against spills which I appreciate! It was sealed and did not spill thank fully.





I haven't tried this yet and I'm wary to. I have extremely oily skin and moisturizing never seems to work out. I have a nice regime going right now that has been consistent. So, I'll introduce it and see what happens. I like the smell as well. It has a nice fresh green smell to it that I can't pin point! On my hand it did remain kind of tacky so I'm not sure about this just yet! I'll let you know next month. For now though I'm happy to have this in my bag.

2. TheBalm Cosmetics Nude Dude Mini Eyeshadow in "Flirty" $3 (sample based on how many are in the palette)






I'm pretty sure all subscribers got this item but I'm not sure about the shade. I love the color I got but I'm curious if there were any other shades sent out. From what I've seen it is all "flirty" and nothing else. It isn't in your face with the shimmer as you can see in the photos above. When the light hits it though this color sings! I adore that mauvey color with a golden shimmer. Just lovely. 




I haven't tested this items durability out yet but I will let you know next month how it faired. I just got rid of an eye primer so this has its own spot in my collection now. Hopefully it preforms well! It does blend out nicely. There is only one shade because it does blend into my skin flawlessly. I've used some in the past with colors that I don't care for.

4. Hikari Cosmetics Blush in "Charmed" FULL SIZE $15 (My container SAYS "Tango" but I clearly recieved the color "Charmed" See below.





Wow! This blush is huge. I feel like.. I will own this for the rest of time. It is a SUPER bright pink color which I can't see myself using. I'll give it a few tries and if it doesn't work for me I'll pass it along. No need to waste this beautiful blush! NOTE: After looking at the 7 shades available on their website I feel as though I've gotten the color "charmed" and not what mine says which is "tango". What I got is a BRIGHT pink and the website has a much more (my style) muted pink mauve color. What do you think? I'll add the picture of mine in between these two.

This top color is "Charmed"



 This bottom color is "Tango"


5. Mullein & Sparrow Tinted Lip and Cheek Balm FULL SIZE $22 ? (no size is listed but it looks like the website product and is filled to the top)








This is such a weird product! It is organic, all natural, handmade, and vegan! Which is all very good. It doesn't have much of a tint at all as you can see from my before and after above. It has a very oily texture I'm assuming is from the ingredients (sunflower oil, extra virgin olive oil, shea butter, candelilla wax, cocoa butter, alkanet root, carnauba wax, and patchouli and orange essential oils) Only having 9 understandable ingredients is a plus as well. 

I don't smell any of the patchouli (thank goodness.. not a good lip smell me thinks) but I do smell the orange and cocoa butter! This smells like Christmas for me because I love eating chocolate oranges around Christmas. 

Some cons are that the tin is extremely difficult to open. Ugh. Ha ha. I've had to open this several times already and I never want to open it again. It comes off on everything and my lips didn't feel that soft or anything after wearing it. I have mixed feelings about this. I wish I knew the expiration (I'm assuming it isn't going to save until xmas when I'll REALLY enjoy it i.e. chapped lips and chocolate/orange cravings because it is all natural and they don't typically last without preservatives.)

Total spent for the bag: $10
Total bag is worth: $72.97
Total saved: $62.97

Wow! This is.... the highest valued bag I've received from Ipsy to date. I do question the prices a little bit but still (I usually do for most bags lol I'm not someone who has the kind of money to spend on high end). I know this tinted lip balm (which I would NEVER use on your cheeks regardless of claims. All that OIL!) for $22?? I feel like this looks like someone I could mix and put in a tin myself. Print the label out and sell. The eye primer as well doesn't look as professional for the expensive price as the other items do. I wouldn't doubt for a second that I have $15 worth of blush in that Hikari container! It looks legit. The primer and this balm both look a little less. That eyeshadow is for SURE my favorite item in this bag and also happens to be the least expensive at $3 whole dollars. Ha ha. 

MARCH IPSY BAG REVIEW

Coolway glow finishing oil treatment sample size
I'm in love with this stuff. It makes my hair feel soft, doesn't make it oily faster, and has a great smell. I've almost used up my whole sample. However I have a backup of hair oils that I haven't used and this is expensive full size at a $30 for 3oz. So I won't be repurchasing unless I run out and don't find a better cheaper version.












Purlisse gentle makeup remover sample size
I didn't end up liking this product much. Regardless of the claim that it is gentle and soy... it burned my eyes (didn't use it to remove mascara!) just being near them. It was a little too thick, didn't do that great of job, and my face didn't feel cleaner after using it. 

Marsk Mineral Eyeshadow in "fifty shades"
This is one of my only loose eyeshadows and I'm not a fan! This is a beautiful color but I hate reaching for it. I will keep it because I don't have a color like this in my eyeshadows yet but it is so messy, I hate it.
 Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter Pencil
Surprise! I actually LOVE this product. It is the highlight I reach for first. It is easy to apply and I just use my finger to blend it out. It isn't too pink for my skin tone and adds the perfect amount of shine without looking like a Twilight vampire. That will teach me to complain about getting highlighters!


NYX Butter lipstick in "Pops"
My favorite item in this bag by far. I love lipsticks as you know and you almost can't LOSE by sending one to me. I love the formula of the butter lipsticks. They feel like a longer lasting VERY pigmented tinted lip balm almost. Very hydrating. I reached for this constantly as something quick to put on and not clash with a outfit! 






Thank you so much for following along.