Ipsy: September 2014

1.Hikari Lipstick - This lipstick is in the shade cabernet and it is just beautiful for fall. I am so excited about this lipstick. This is sold on Hikari's website for $13.00! 

2. Briogeo: Don't Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Hair Mask - This stuff smells amazing! It's a mix of avocado, almonds and rosehips (my favorite!) I am always on the look out for a new hair mark and I am really liking this so far after one use. The full-size bottle of this at Sephora.com is $26.00.

3. Crown Brush - The deluxe infinity shadow and crease brush is a really nice brush and the fact that it is double sided is a bonus! I found this brush on the Crown Brush website for $10.50.

4. Pacifica Eyeliner - Before I started getting Ipsy I hadn't heard of the brand Pacifica, but now that I have a few items of theirs I am falling in love. This is a chocolate velvet color that glides right on. This is a deluxe sample size, but he full size is $11 at Target. 

5. NYX Eyeshadow Pod- Nyx is probably my favorite drugstore line, particularly their lipgloss line. This was my first time trying one of their eyeshadows and I really like it. I prefer the color (a deep sliver purple) a little more than their formula, as I am really partial to Urban Decay and Mac eyeshadows. Again, I do like this though. If you're looking for a drugstore brand you can pick up anywhere, I think NYX is the way to go. You can find this at Ulta for $5!  

Total retail value: is $65.50 for the full-sized products. Since three are full-sized and the other two deluxe samples I will value this bag conservatively at $35'ish dollars. I really, REALLY like this bag this month. Not to mention the silver bag that it all came in is really cute too. Perfect for fall and winter! 

Ipsy: July & August 2014

1. Tint & Sass by Elizabeth Mott - This is very similar to Benefit Lollitint, but at a much lower price. It can be used on either lips, cheeks or both. This is sold on Amazon.com for $15.99.

2. Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil - This dark tanning oil is great. I used it in Las Vegas and it's very similar to Hawaiian Tropics tanning oil. The full-size bottle of this on Drugstore.com is $11.99.

3. Nailtini Nail Polish - I haven't used this yet, as the color is not my cup of tea, but it retails for $13.99 on Amazon. WOW!  

4. Clear Clinic Spot Treatment - I have tried this a few times on a few small blemishes, but I haven't noticed any difference. You can buy this on Amazon for $35. 

5. Bare Minerals 5 in 1 BB Cream Eyeshadow - This stuff is really awesome. It doesn't crease or flake. You can find this at Ulta for $18, but I probably won't repurchase it.  

Total retail value: is $95 for the full-sized products. Since two are full-sized and the other two samples I will value this bag conservatively at $35'ish dollars. Not my favorite bag, but not too bad either.   

1. Klorane Dry Shampoo - I am pretty picky on my dry shampoos, but this stuff is alright. I am really partial to my tinted dry shampoo since it doesn't leave my hair looking gray or white. If this was tinted I would really love it. The quality is great. If you have light colored hair you'll love it.  This is sold on Amazon.com for $16.99.

2. Mongongo Lip Balm - I am really, REALLY partial to my EOS lip balm, but this stuff is pretty good. It has a light scent and seems to last quite awhile. You can purchase this at www.jerseyshoresun.com for $5.50.

3. Urban Decay Perversion Mascara- This stuff is good. WOW! I am in love with my L'Oreal mascara and rarely like anything else, but this stuff is great. This is my new travel mascara. You can purchase this at Ulta for $22!  

4. Costal Scents Forever Blush - Eh. Thumbs down. This is a very small sample size of an already cheap blush. I haven't used it, but I think it's way too small to be considered for this Ipsy bag. The regular retail price of this blush is $7.95.

5. Lord & Berry - This is a really small sample (again) of an eyeliner that I have never heard of. Apparently, the retail price on this is $16.95. I honestly haven't used it, but I am just not impressed with this size. 

Total retail value: is $69 for the full-sized products. Since only 1 is a full-sized item and the other four samples I will value this bag conservatively at $15'ish dollars. Not my favorite bag by any means. It was hardly worth my $10, but I guess you win some and you lose some!   

Here is my Ipsy link if you're interested: http://www.ipsy.com/r/78vf

XoXo

Fabs & Flops

It's been a little long while since my last post. This has been a crazy busy summer and blogging about make-up, or wearing make-up in general has not been a priority. I will try to get better about posting, but with the school yer starting and me being back in school chances are I won't be posting as much as I'd like to. Alright, I have picked up a few new products over the summer that I wanted to share with you. Some are fabulous and others I wish I wouldn't have purchased. 

Here we go . . . 

Fabs ♥

Mally Beauty - Poreless Face Defender
I purchased this after hearing such great things about it, but it's expensive - $40 (at Ulta) to be exact. It was a splurge for me, but I am glad I did. My face tends to get really shiney around 2pm each day and it's a pain to apply powder in the middle of the day to combat the shine. It doesn't leave me powdery or cakey either, it's just perfect. I have never used a silicone product on my face, so I was really unsure about how I would like this. If you have oily skin and the extra money to spend, I say give this stuff a try!

Joico K-Pak Reconstruct Shampoo & Conditioner
Once I started coloring my hair on the regular, I needed to find a much better shampoo and conditioner that would combat the dry frizzy ends. This shampoo/conditioner combo has worked a miracle on my hair. I am not coloring it anymore, but this is still helping to repair the damage all the bleach caused over all those months. It's a little pricey- about $15 a bottle at Ulta, but so worth it! I can get away with washing my hair about 3 times a week and using dry shampoo in between washes. It smells great and makes my hair look healthy and gives it shine 

Rimmel Stay Matte Presses Powder
I picked up this powder at Ulta (shocker!) along with it's matching foundation (you will hear about that on the flop section). As I am still transitioning out of Mary Kay I am looking for replacement items. I actually really like this as a finishing powder to combat shine. It gives a great finished looked and the price ($4.99) is hard to beat!  

Urban Decay Chill Make-up Setting Spray
This stuff is amazing!! I needed a new finishing spray since my Mary Kay setting spray ran out. I had heard great things about this Urban Decay spray, so I thought I would give it a try. It's a little pricey ($30 for 4oz), but SO worth it. This spray keeps my face looking so fresh and my make-up still looks good at bedtime with absolutely no touch ups during the day. This is my new must have!   

Benefit Hoola Bronzer
This has to be the best bronzer I have ever used! This works so perfect for contouring or just all around bronzer. It is the perfect shade of brown and the brush that comes with it is awesome for contouring! Also, it lasts all day and blends very easily. It has no shimmer, which is important since I often contour with it. A little bit of product goes a long way- I am not even half way through my box and I bought it in early spring. I picked this up at Ulta for $28! This is a hold grail, FOR SURE! 

L'Oreal True Match Foundation
This is BY FAR the best drugstore make-up I have ever used. I have used some really cheap and some really expensive foundations and nothing compares to this. This foundation is $9.99 at Ulta and is usually on sale by one get one free or 50% off, so it's really cheap. The formula blends into your skin so easily. It doesn't matter if I am tan or more on the white side because this foundation blends into every skin tone effortlessly. This is a MUST have!

Flops 

Boots No 7 Beautifully Matte Foundation
I was given this foundation from a sales rep at Target after overhearing that I had my own beauty blog. She compared this foundation to the likes of Giorgio Armani foundation which is about $62 at Nordstrom. I have to strongly disagree. This foundation is awful. It slips and slides on your skin and has no lasting power. I believe the price on this is about $15 at Target- exclusively. Maybe if you're someone with dry skin this foundation might suite you better. I just couldn't get over the fact of it sliding around on my face.
  

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation
Okay, for $4.99 (Ulta) I just had to give this a try. Unknowingly, this is a mousse foundation- the first I have ever tried and I am not impressed. I absolutely hate the texture. This foundation is very thick, I feel like I am wearing a pound of make-up on my face when I am wearing it and I do not like that feeling. Also, it is not very matte, or at least it's not matte for long. I was getting breakthrough shine after about two hours.   

Miss Jessie's Pilloe Soft Curls
I picked this up after seeing a review for it online. I got it at Target and it was around $22. It's kind of a blue'ish cream that smells like Downey laundry softener. Everywhere you look you'll find great reviews on this product. Here is the key . . . I think it's meant for people with naturally curly hair, not straight hair like myself. IF, I curl my hair one day and then put this in it at night and sleep with it, I will wake up with great curls on day two. For me it's kinda fabulous (on day two), but kind of a flop overall since it's not made for someone with stick straight heavy hair.

  

Benefit Lollitint
I got this as a free sample with the purchase of my Hoola bronzer. It's a liquid lip and/or cheek stain.I still do not know how to actually use this product. I can not put it on without looking like a clown. It's just an interesting product. I think I will stick to normal lip and cheek products from now on. This product is $30 at Ulta and Sephora and soooo not worth it in my opinion.