Looks pretty rad for a subscription box, right?! I thought so too. Let's discuss.
*pop Beauty Plump Pout mini
I've used products from pop before and my first impression then was a tad unsavory; it was the aqua lacquer and I found it too be really sticky. This Beauty Plump Pout, however was definitely redeeming for the brand. It gives the shine of a gloss and the lasting power of a stain. I can say that it definitely has the lasting power because I put it on before bed, kissed the PR and went to sleep. When I woke up, I still had some of the color on!! It has a really creamy texture, similar to a lip stick, but it applies like a gloss would. It's plumping qualities were, however, different from what I anticipated, having used other plumping products in the past. I didn't feel a tingle like with the others, it was more like a fresh feeling on my lips. The plumping factor comes from a combination of plumping peptides, avocado and jojoba oils. A full size Plump Pout costs $16 and you can purchase online at popbeauty.co.uk.
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| Shade: Peony Petal
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*Zoya Nail Polish
Zoya is a professional nail lacquer brand (visit zoya.com). It's a really nice full-coverage polish (2 coats will give you color match to the bottle) available in many shades. I received the shade "Odette", which is described as a "sultry orchid maroon"; which is rather fitting to receive now being that Orchid was named Pantone's color of the year. This shade is a cool tone that falls within Zoya's nude/mauve color family. A bottle costs $9, so it is comparable to retail competitors like O.P.I. and Essie.
*Mally Beauty Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Eyeliner
I always love full-size products instead of little samples, especially when they are good products like this month's bag contained. Most of us have heard of Mally, her stuff is often seen on the home shopping channels, and for good reason: her line is incredible and needs to be purchased by the masses!! This is a water proof eyeliner in the shade "starshine". It has a nice texture that allows it to apply smoothly (think Urban Decay's 24/7 glide-ons), and it's long lasting as well. You can use this the way you would normally use eyeliner, but this shade is quite ideal for highlighting the inner tear duct to open up the eye and add a little hint of sparkle. A single eyeliner will cost you $15, but they are also available in duos and multi-packs, so there's a potential for savings there! Check out mallybeauty.com to view the entire collection.
*City Color Be Matte Blush
A full-size, cruelty-free, highly pigmented blush. Yes! This matte blush by City Color(citycolorbeauty.com) is very rich in pigment so a little product goes a long way. Great color pay out too for a product that retails for $2.99. City Color is a newer line too, it actually first made it's debut at IMATS LA in 2013. The matte finish is perfect and the product itself is easily blended and built upon to achieve your desired look. The Be Matte formula comes in 8 different shades; the one I received was "fresh melon".
*J.Cat Beauty Eyelashes and Eyelash glue
The final product in my February bag was a set of eyelashes, so yes, it was love. J.Cat was an unfamiliar name to me but the lashes looked so pretty (see below). They are 100% human hair so they have a much more natural overall look to them, and you can clean them easily to be used again. The lashes came with a latex-free adhesive, which is what ever. I typically do not use the little glue pods that come with lashes. More often than not I prefer Duo or Lash Grip adhesives. J.Cat offers over 30 different styles of lashes ($3.99 each), so there is something for everyone, from the novice to the pro. To check out their selection visit jcatbeauty.com.
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| Lash style: EL213
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There you have it ladies (and gentlemen??). I was thoroughly impressed/satisfied with my glam bag this month. I am not missing Birchbox at all you guys!!
I am also working on a blog redesign, so things will be changing up soon, which is both nerve racking and exciting (more nerve racking as I sit here and type this). I feel super busy, and even on my day off I have clients this week.
What a blessing to live in a world that gives us tangible experiences, people, emotions, and so on. We are lucky people you guys. Sometimes I am guilty of losing sight of the most important things. I often feel like the worry overpowers my logic and it all spirals out. Here's to moments of clarity grounding us all to the people we love and the lives we live!!
If you have any suggestions for future posts/product reviews/etc, please comment below so I can entertain such ideas.
Happy Monday.
XO,
J.
