Review: Sugarpill Eyeshadows

It all started by not being able to sleep.  I started to peruse the internet for new beauty brands to try, when I stumbled upon Sugarpill's website.  I have seen various YouTubers and Instagram gurus use these shadows in such versatile ways.  They seemed like a fun product, so I decided to give a few shades a whirl.

Review: ipsy Glam Bag October 2015

Well, hello there!  At the end of last week I got a package I look forward to every month: my ipsy Glam Bag.  I talked about this beauty subscription service before and I am so happy I've continued the service.  It's a great way to be exposed to new products and brands no matter how familiar you are with makeup.  Read on to see what I got and what I think of the products this month!

Ulta Haul!

A few weeks ago I went to the always tempting Ulta.  I say "always tempting" because I never stick to my list of products to purchase.  Gordon will tell you, I have no self-restraint when it comes to beauty products.  Ulta is one of my favorite places to shop because they have such a wide variety of products that can suit anyone's budget.  There's always a sale or deal of some kind going on allowing you to stretch that dollar even further.  I went during there 21 Days of Beauty and had a 20% off coupon.  Yaaaay deals!  If anyone out there needs some shopping inspiration, here are the products I picked up!

Tools of the Trade: Base

Makeup brushes are something I didn't really get into until the last year and a half.  I would paruse the aisle in Sephora with all of these amazing looking brushes but have no idea what I needed.  I found foundation/base brushes particularly intimidating since there is so much variety.  This past year I have done some research and bought a few sets to try out.  Having the right brush can make the process of doing your makeup so much easier and (in my weird case) more enjoyable.  Here's a list of my favorite base brushes and what I use them for.

Zoeva 102 Silk Finish Brush
First of all, can we just talk about how disgustingly beautiful this brush is?  That rose gold detailing is stunning!  Besides looking pretty, this brush is perfect for blending foundation.  Because of its round shape there are no streaks left behind as you buff away your foundation for a natural looking base.

Real Techniques Contour Brush
Spoiler alert: I don't use this for contouring.  Despite the name of the brush, I actually find it best to use for concealer.  It's fluffy, tapered top is perfect for the delicate eye area and blending the product in hard to reach spots.

Real Techniques Duo Fiber Stippling Brush
This is the perfect brush for cream blushes.  Since the fibers are different lengths it gives a very light application of product.  I also like that it is on the smaller side so I can have more control over where the product is applied.

Zoeva 110 Face Shape Brush
Now, this is what I use for contour/bronzer.  I find slanted brushes make bronzer and contour application so much easier.  The (mostly) flat surface helps apply the product right in the hollows of the cheeks.

Real Techniques Duo Fiber Face Brush
I have ignored pretty much all of my other powder brushes for this one.  Again, the different lengths in fibers help give a light application.  This is incredibly necessary for powder because the last thing you want is cake face.  You cannot mess up applying powder if you use this brush.

Sephora #59 Pro Precision Powder Brush
I have had this brush for such a long time (3+ years) and it still performs beautifully.  I mostly use it for powder blushes, but it also works nicely for normal face powder.  I like the size of the bristles and how it barely tapers off at the top.  You can see in my Fall Everyday Makeup Post how I like to hold the brush on its side.  I find this method applies the blush in a very precise and natural looking manner.

I absolutely adore all of these brushes.  What brushes do you use?  Any I absolutely need to get?  Let me know in the comments!

Until next time!

Rachel

Empties!

Well, hey there, everyone!  I don’t know if anyone else has this problem, but when I run out of products, I seem to run out of several at once.  It feels great when I use something up because I’m such a hoarder when it comes to beauty products.  I feel like I can also give a more in depth review of something after I’ve used up the entire thing.  So, without further or do, here’s my product empties!

Fresh- Soy Face Cleanser

I got a sample of this several years ago as a 100 point perk from Sephora.  I was in need of a new cleanser and thought I would give this a try.  Since then, I have not used another cleanser.  This is a gel-like cleanser that lathers beautifully.  It’s suitable for all skin types and even removes makeup!  I usually use this after my cleansing balm to make sure my skin is makeup-free.  It does a great job of removing everything I need it to without stripping my skin of moisture.  I would highly recommend picking this up!

Batiste Dry Shampoo

Just as a warning, my review of this product is going to sound a bit odd.  I love this specific can because it does not leave a white cast.  The smell is also amazing and not overpowering.  However, I find after several days of using this there is a distinct build-up of residue in my hair.  Batiste in general is a great brand because the product is around $7 and does do the job well.  However, if you want a dry shampoo that is a little lighter, I would go for something else.

RImmel Fix and Perfect Primer

The only way to describe this product is a shrug of my shoulders and say, “Eh.”  I liked the texture; thick with a definite silicone feel.  Unfortunately, I do not feel it does a good job of extending the wear of my foundation.  Since my skin is on the oily side, I need something a little more heavy duty than this.

Mitchell and Peach Luxury Hand Cream

I got this little wonder in my ipsy glam bag a few months ago.  The smell is very spa-like.  It's fresh and light with a hint of floral notes.  This absorbs fairly quickly and does a wonderful job at keeping my hands soft.  I won’t be running out to buy it soon since I have so many hand creams to get through, but I would definitely recommend this.

Josie Maran Argan Oil

Everyone in the beauty world has talked about this at some point or another.  It really is worth the hype.  It smells wonderful, works well, and this tiny bottle is great for travelling.  This stuff is a little too intense for my face, but it works splendidly on the ends of my hair.  Since my hair is thin, I get split ends very easily.  (Random Tangent: Looking at split ends under the microscope is horrifying.  Would not recommend for the faint of heart.)  Using this every time I wash my hair has helped with that and adds some needed hydration.  It is very expensive, so depending on your budget, that can be a con.

Not Pictured: Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash- PinkGrapefruit

Something I have struggled with since my teens is body acne.  It’s not something anyone likes to admit they have, but it happens.  I have been using this stuff on and off since high school.  I love the pink grapefruit smell and it lathers beautifully in the shower.  I have found that this product does not fix current breakouts, but helps prevent future ones from happening.  I use this everyday and it does not dry out my skin.

Aaaaand, that's it!  What are some of your recent empties?  Would you recommend them?

Until next time!

Rachel

Review: ipsy November Glam Bag!

Hello, there!  One thing I love about the beauty world is the ability to try so many different things without having to buy the full size of a product.  Most beauty stores have some kind of rewards system where you get to try a mini or deluxe size of a product (mostly) guilt free.  It's such a great way to expose yourself to different brands and break out of your comfort zone without the commitment of a whole new product.

That's also why I'm a huge fan of mail beauty services like Birchbox and ipsy.  In case you aren't familiar with these types of services, you are able to customize what type of products you would like to try.   You can get skincare, hair care, makeup, or even snacks in these boxes.  Each month you will get a variety of samples sent right to your door!  The mail services vary in price to fit every budget, even us broke post-college girls.  

I have been an ipsy subscriber since August and I have really enjoyed it so far.  I love the variety of products you get in each bag.  Most of the brands I get I have not heard of, which is exactly what I want out of a beauty mail service.  I love anything that enables my addiction. ;]

Anyway, after all that blabbering, let's get on to the review!

The Bag

Every month, ipsy sends the products in a different makeup bag.  While I love this idea, the bags can be very hit or miss for me.  I understand it's hard to cater to thousands of people's tastes, but I was a tad disappointed in this month's bag.  The silver glitter with bright pink seems a little tacky.  The bag itself is decent, I'm just not a fan of the design.

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Hairspray
I haven't used this enough to give a full review, but I have enjoyed it so far.  The smell is amazing and doesn't leave my hair feeling crunchy or sticky.  Has anyone tried this?

J. Cat Beauty Wonder Lip Paint in Mad Splatter

As soon as I took this product out of the bag I gasped.  The color is stunning.  It's a perfect dark magenta color that can be built up to look a little more on the purple end of the spectrum.  They remind me of the OCC Lip Tars in terms of the packaging and consistency.  Not sure if the staying power matches up as well, but this product still lasts a long time.

Starlooks Gem Pencil in Ultra Olive

Now, don't be intimidated by the name like I was.  I was afraid the color would be too yellow for me and make my eyes look all weird and zombiefied.  My goodness, I was wrong.  This liner is so pigmented and shimmery that I can't even.  Yes, white girl can't even level.  I'm also pretty sure this is a full size which is a nice plus!

SeaRx Birchsap Moisturizing Lotion
This product is a tad confusing.  It says on the tube that I should not put it on my face, but various things online are saying that's okay.  Just to be safe, I have only been using this on my hands.  It has a lovely mild smell and absorbs incredibly fast into the skin.  I like it well enough, but it's not something I will be running out and buying the full size of. 

it Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye in Neutral Medium
I have always wanted to try this product so I was really happy to see this in my bag!  This is an incredibly thick concealer that works well under the eyes and on other areas of the face.  Even though the tube is super small, you only need the tiniest amount of this stuff.  It has wonderful staying power and matches my skin tone really well.

All in all, I really liked this month's bag of goodies.  Are you a subscriber to any mail beauty services?  Let me know in the comments!

Until next time!

Rachel

An Accidental Haul

It was the typical situation: "Oh, let me pop into Sephora and get that one thing I need." Then I get to the register with six things in my basket.  Wait, how did those get there?!  And when did I get a basket...?

So, I thought I would share my accidental haul with you all.

Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pop Eyestick (On the Verge)- To be fair, I have been eyeing these little beauties for a while.  This is a cream-like eyeshadow that comes in a stick form.  I love that it's a twist-up so I don't have to worry about sharpening it.  All of them are stunning with amazing pigmentation.  The one I chose is described as a "iced grape shimmer."  It's a lovely shade, perfect for those who want an Autumnal eye look but are a little apprehensive about super dark shades.

Urban Decay Flushed Palette (Naked)- It is impossible for me to go in Sephora and not walk out with something from Urban Decay.  This brand is so solid and I've never gotten anything from them I didn't like.  This palette did not disappoint!  I have a hard time with bronzers because of my skin tone.  I'm not super pale and I'm definitely not dark enough to be considered medium.  This bronzer does a great job with warming up my complexion without making me look like a dirty Oompa Loompa.  The blush and highlight shades are also stunning.

NARS Audacious Lipstick (Raquel)- I was in the checkout line (so close...) and remembered Fleur de Force saying she had just picked these up.  So, Fleur, if you ever read this I'm blaming this purchase on you.  Not gonna lie, part of me picked this shade because it was as close to "Rachel" as I was going to get.  Despite vanity being part of why I picked this shade, it is a beautiful color.  It's a pinky beige with a satin finish.  It also gets major bonus points for not drying my lips out.  

Benefit It's Potent! Eyecream- This was the reason I was in Sephora.  I had a sample of it a few months ago and loved it.  I had other eye creams I needed to use up first, so I held off on getting it.  I use this at night and I have started to notice a reduction in fine lines and dark circles.  Nothing major yet, but progress is always good!

Marc Jacobs O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara- This was my 100 Point Perk for the day.  I've never tried any mascaras from Marc Jacobs and I'm very impressed with this so far.  It gives wonderful separation to my lashes as well as great volume and length.  The best part: It doesn't smudge on my lower lashes!  Thank you, tiny Buddha.  

Share your accidental splurge stories below and tell me about anything you've been eyeing up at Sephora!

Until next time,

Rachel