April 2018 Boxycharm

I received my first ever Boxycharm last month, and I just got April's box in the mail yesterday. Here's all the exciting products I got this month!

This month's theme is called Eye Candy. There are different variations to the boxes, and I'm happy to report I got everything I wanted! 

They were giving everyone a Colourpop eye shadow palette, and I received the Element of Surprise. This is the main one I had my eye on, and was hopeful I'd get it. I cannot wait to play with this baby. I've only tried Colourpop's Super Shock shadows, but not their pressed formula, and I've heard mostly good things. This palette retails for $16. 

When I saw a sneak peek of this month's box, an either/or product was a MAC Liptensity Lipstick or a Tarte liquid highlighter. I don't care for highlighters in general, so I was incredibly happy to see the MAC lipstick. I received the shade Burnt Violet, which is very pretty, but looks a bit dark for my liking. I definitely am going to try this out, but it may be one I only use in the Fall/Winter. This lipstick retails for $21.

I received brushes last month, and got some more this month. I received the SL Miss Glam Eyeshadow Brush and Eye Beauty Blender brush. I'm not sure if I'll like the eyeshadow brush, but the blending brush feels so soft and seems like it will blend shadows nicely. This duo retails for $38.50. 

You all know my love for face masks, and we all got the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner Pore Purifying Mask. I absolutely adore Dr. Brandt skincare, but it is pretty expensive. I'm not sure if the tube I got is a full size product (it comes with 1 ounce), but the card says it retails for $47, yet Sephora says $42. 

The last product I got was the The Browgal Instatint Tinted Brow Gel in the shade Light Hair 03, which is the perfect shade for me. I don't know much about this brand, and I usually don't do much with my brows, but I'm curious about this product so I'll give it a try. This retails for $22. 

Total retail of the box is $139.50, which is incredible to me. I don't know how Boxycharm does it, but I'm more than impressed and already can't wait for May's box!

If you're subscribed to Boxycharm already, what did you receive this month? If you're interested in signing up, I'd love it if you used my referral code here!

My Top 10 Favorite Drugstore Products

*Post contains affiliate links*

Hey guys! I don't think I've done a post like this on the blog before, but I wanted to share with you what my favorite products to buy at the drugstore are. The best of the best, in my opinion, and what I can't live without. I have a mix of hair and skincare, but the majority is makeup. 

1. Aquation Gentle Moisturizing Cleanser - I had done a review of this along with a couple other Aquation products, but this cleanser is my favorite out of the bunch. It's amazing at removing makeup at night, it hydrates the skin without making me feel greasy, and it just makes my skin feel so good. I always go in with toner and moisturizer after using this, but I can tell that my skin is absolutely loving this cleanser. 

2. L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation - I had purchased this a while ago after hearing some pretty amazing reviews, but put off trying it for the longest time. I picked up the shade 101 Classic Ivory, which was surprisingly hard for me to find at the time. It's like there wasn't a place in the display for it, but I eventually found it at Walmart. I am beyond impressed with how this foundation applies and how well it keeps my skin shine-free. It sort of reminds me of the Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+ foundation, but much cheaper. 

3. Batiste Dry Shampoo - If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know how much I adore Batiste. I've tried quite a few of their scents, but the Tropical scent pictured is my ultimate favorite. It smells like coconut and the beach, and it's wonderful. It makes my hair feel so much cleaner when I haven't washed it in 3 days, and never builds up to feeling gross like other dry shampoos can. It's the best and there are usually sales going on, which is when I tend to stock up. 

4. Milani Baked Blush - This is probably no surprise, since everyone talks about Milani Baked Blushes, but these are just fantastic! The shade pictured is called Dolce Pink, and it's my favorite one. I wore it on my wedding day and it gives the prettiest shimmery, healthy pink glow to the skin that I can never get enough of. 

5. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - This is an old favorite that I will always go back to when I use up other powders. I have quite a few powders in my collection, but this is most definitely my all-time favorite. It keeps me shine-free and never looks cakey. I usually pick up the Transparent shade, but they do come in a range of colors. 

6. Colourpop Super Shock Shadows - Now you can only buy these on the Colourpop website, but at only $5 for each eyeshadow, they're such a steal! The shade pictured is called La La and it's a pretty coppery bronze shade that looks gorgeous over the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. If I could buy every shade of these shadows, I totally would. 

7. Wet N Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trios - My love for the WnW eyeshadows trios is massive. I don't own too many, but the ones I have are so gorgeous and the shadows are super pigmented. I have to say though, limited edition trios are not as good as the original ones, and I'm not sure why. Pictured is Silent Treatment, and it's my favorite that I own. They make for such a pretty, cool-toned look that I like to wear for date nights. 

8. NYX Butter Glosses - Again, these are old favorites that I typically use when I have no idea what I want to wear on my lips. There's a huge shade selection, but the one pictured is Cupcake, a bright pink shade that's perfect for Summer. These smell like vanilla and I have quite a collection of these in my lip stash. 

9. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer - You all had to have seen this one coming! This is my all-time favorite concealer ever. Seriously, I always want to kick myself for trying something new, and sometimes more expensive, only to find that this one is still way better. I usually get the Brightener shade, but I have used Fair. I think the Brightener shade works so much better at masking my dark circles, and the Fair shade is good for spot concealing around my face. 

10. Covergirl Mascara - I honestly have yet to open this Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara, but I had to picture something in place of my beloved Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara. I used my one tube up ages ago and haven't repurchased yet, but I miss it terribly. The Super Sizer makes my lashes look fake and I always get complimented when wearing it. It's probably my favorite mascara out of the drugstore that I've ever tried, and I've loved quite a few. 

What are some of your drugstore picks?

February 2016 Ipsy Bag: Pretty in #IpsyPink

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Hi guys! I finally received my Ipsy bag in the mail yesterday. I swear, shipping takes longer and longer every month, and it's getting a bit annoying. Anyway, the theme this month is Pretty In #IpsyPink.

The bag itself is kinda cute, but not really my style. The front is textured and has an emoji style envelope on the front, and just plain hot pink on the back. The products I received, I'm half and half about. 

The first product I received is a Luxie Beauty Small Tapered Blending Brush 231. This brush is the perfect size for my hooded lids with applying color where I need it. I don't have a blending brush quite this small in my collection, so I'm pretty stoked to have one now. I've gotten Luxie brushes in past Ipsy bags, and the quality is pretty impressive. 

Next up is a deluxe sample of the new Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil. First of all, the scent of this is amazing, and smells like lavender. What I'm not quite sure about is using it as an actual primer. I typically have oily skin, so using an oil as a primer just won't work for me. What I'll most likely do is use a little bit mixed into my foundation. That trick helps my foundations go on better and makes it look less cakey. 

Then we have the MOR Emporium Classics Hand & Body Lotion in the scent Candied Vanilla. I've never heard of this brand before in my life, but when I opened this, the scent was just incredible! It smells so warm and lovely, and I'll probably strictly use this as a hand cream. I'm not wasting this goodness on my body.

Next is the VINTAGE by Jessica Leibeskind Sparkling Lipgloss in Pink Sequin. Not a fan of this honestly. If it were just a pink color without sparkle, I'd be happy. I'm 27 years old, so sparkly lips are a thing of the past and for me, there is just way too much sparkle. It's a little sticky, but not terrible. 

The last product I received is by Tre'StiQue, and it's their Baby Blush Stick in the shade Bora Bora Coral. I'm a huge fan of Tre'StiQue products and have gotten quite a few in previous Ipsy bags. However, with my oily skin, I'm not a fan of cream blushes. I do really like the color of this, so I'll give it a try, but I don't have high expectations. 

I'm super excited about this! I managed to save up 1,500 points and cashed them in for the Colourpop Forever Freshman Super Shock Shadow set. I have just a few Colourpop products, so I was really excited to be able to get this. The shades included are Crimper, As If, Melrose, Koosh, 90210, and Baby T. I'm honestly not sure if you can get this on the Colourpop website anymore, but I've heard some amazing things about the shade Koosh, and I can't wait to play with it!

So overall, like I said above, I half like my bag, and half is just meh. There are months that are amazing, some are not so amazing, and then some are just alright, like this month. If you want to get your own Ipsy bag, I'd love it if you used my referral link here! It costs $10 a month, plus shipping for some, and you get 5 beauty products sent to you every month, and when you review the products sent, you earn points that you can redeem for more products! It's a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. 

If you're already subscribed to Ipsy, what did you get this month?

Fall Inspired Makeup feat. Colourpop La La

Hey everyone! As promised in my last post, which was a review of the Colourpop Shadow in La La, I'm bringing you a full makeup look inspired by the changing season. Fall is probably my favorite time of year. The weather is perfect, the leaves are pretty, and I always feel it's the time for a life change. Here is the look I did!

Face
-Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Smoothing Primer
-Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+ Foundation in shade #15
-Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser
-Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
-Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
-Essence Silky Touch Blush in shade 10 Adorable
-Pixi beauty Bronzer in shade Subtly Suntouched
-Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop

Lips
-Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in shades in Fig and Date
-Juice Beauty Lip Gloss in shade Pink (It's not very pink, more mauve-y)

Eyes
-Lorac Behind The Scenes Eye Shadow Primer
-Urban Decay Naked Palette: Naked in crease, Toasted in outer Corner and smudged on lower lash line
-Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in shade La La all over lid
-Clinique Quickliner For Eyes Intense in shade Intense Black Honey, smudged on upper and lower lashline
-Lancome Definicils High Definition Mascara and Covergirl The Supersizer Mascara

Overall, I really, really love how this look turned out! I was considering going dark with the lip, but I decided to go neutral as I wanted the eyes to be sort of the focus. By the way, I'm LOVING the Mat Velvet+ foundation! Expect a review in the coming weeks.

Do you have a certain makeup look you like for Fall?

Review: Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in La La

Hi guys! Today I'm going to be reviewing one of Colourpop's Super Shock Shadows in the shade called La La. This is the first shadow of theirs I've tried, and I must say, I'm impressed so far!

Colourpop's Super Shock Shadow in La La is described as a true rose gold in an ultra metallic finish. I personally see more gold than a rose gold, but it's still gorgeous nonetheless. The formula is so interesting and kinda hard to describe. It feels like a cream and a powder at the same time. You really have to feel it to see for yourself. 

The pigmentation is insane! seriously, this is just one swipe of product. It applies to the eye nicely as well, but I recommend using your fingers for the best results. I did a Fall inspired makeup look using this shadow that I will be posting very soon and I'm very happy with how it came out. Wear time isn't bad either. I have oily lids, so I notice just a bit of creasing within about 5-6 hours, and that's with using a primer underneath. The little pot these shadows come in have to be sealed shit pretty tight, otherwise they will dry out. That's good to know because if you never open these (but lets be real, why wouldn't you?!), they last up to 3 years. Once opened, as long as you close the lid tightly, it lasts for up to a year.

What's amazing about these shadows, is that they are only $5 on the Colourpop website. Yes, just $5! I don't know how they can make the price so low for such incredible quality, but I'm tempted to buy all of the colors, even the crazy ones. 

I'm truly impressed by this shadow! I also did buy the collaboration quad they did with Kathleen Lights, but have yet to use it. I will have to dig into it soon since I'm so happy with this single shadow. 

Have you tried any Colourpop Shadows? If so, let me know what colors you like!

July 2015 Favorites! + A Life Update

Hey everyone! I haven't worn much makeup this month, nor did I really do much with my skin either. I do have a few things to share with you though that I've really been enjoying so far. 

My first favorite is the it Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+. I used this only a handful of times in July, but boy did I love every single time! The very first time I applied it to my skin, I fell in love. I do plan on writing a full review of this, I'm just not sure when I can. I just absolutely love it, it's good with my oily skin, and it didn't break me out. 

Another it Cosmetics product is their No. 105 Airbrush Blending Crease brush. If you want a blending brush that's as soft as baby bunny fur and is one of the most effective blending brushes ever, buy this, like yesterday. I honestly think that this is now my all-time favorite blending brush to apply shadows to the crease or just to blend out harsh lines. It does it all. It's only $14 too, and if you're a lucky Platinum member at Ulta and receive their 20% off coupons, it works on these. I want to now switch out all my blending brushes for this brush, that's how much I love it. 

Next up we have a lip balm from the brand MyChelle, and it's their Love Your Lips Lip Treatment in the scent Black Currant Pomegranate. This smells lovely, feels amazing on the lips, and acts as a great primer for matte lipsticks. This is such a huge container too, and I see it lasting quite a while for me. 

My last favorite of the month is the Colourpop Lippie Stix in the shade Go Fish. I wrote a review of the two Lippie Stix I own here, and I'm a huge fan. For only $5 they're amazing quality. This one is a Hyper Glossy finish, so the wear time isn't the greatest, but I love this vibrant coral red shade. It's perfect for Summer, and has barely left my purse. 

What have you been loving in July? 

*Life Update* If you read my blog on a pretty regular basis, you may remember a few weeks ago I posted that my husband and I were pregnant. I took that post down, because about two weeks later, we unfortunately found out that we are no longer expecting. It came as a pretty big shock to us, and we're still grieving our loss. It's why I haven't really posted anything beauty related on here, because in all honesty, I just haven't cared. It's going to be hard for a little while, so please bear with me as I go through this process. I've been trying to pre-write some posts ahead of time so I can get some content out for you guys, but it's been pretty hard. I love each and every one of my followers and I want to do my best, but right now, I just need some time. I hope you all understand.

Review: Colourpop Lippie Stix in Juicy & Go Fish

Hey guys! Today's review is going to be of the two Colourpop Lippie Stix I own in the shades Juicy and Go Fish. I purchased these along with a couple other products a little while ago and realized I never reviewed them. Stick around and see if I liked these lip products!

There's no description of these Lippie Stix on the Colourpop site, but they're basically just lipsticks that come in a twist-up container and they come in a wide variety of colors and finishes. The finishes on these two I have a called Hyper-Glossy. 

When I was looking at these two colors online, their pictures looked different. In person, they look so similar and you really have to look to see the differences. In the picture, Juicy is on the left, and Go Fish is on the right. When I got these in the mail, I was a bit disappointed at first, but on my lips and in swatches they do look a bit different. 

Lip swatch of Juicy, which is described as a bright strawberry pink shade. 

Lip swatch if Go Fish, which is described as a vibrant coral red. 

You can definitely tell in these swatches that Juicy is alot more pink than Go Fish. I have to say, I absolutely love how these feel on the lips! They're so soft and moisturizing, and while they go on a little patchy at first, they're easy to work with and blend. Since these are a glossy finish, the wear time isn't the greatest. Once you decide to eat or dink something, it's pretty much gone. I also think these shades go nicely with my fair skin. You get a somewhat decent amount of product at 1.0 grams, or 0.0352 ounces. The great thing about these Lippie Stix is they only cost $5. Yes, just $5! I'm blown away at the price of these because the quality is pretty nice for the price. Do I want more of these? Eh, maybe. I do want to get the Lumiere shade that Kathleen Lights came out with, but that's it really. I'm not overly picky with my lip products and like to try out all different kinds. I used to be strictly a lipgloss girl, so the fact that I'm branching out to lipsticks (and liking them!) is pretty nuts for me. 

You can find these Lippie Stix on the Colourpop website, and it's saying on the site that they now ship to Canada, Australia and New Zealand, which is pretty neat!

Have you tried any Lippie Stix? If so, what shades do you like?