Ipsy: The Look of Love

     Ipsy February 2014 was titled "The Look of Love", and fittingly so with the aisles of every department store, drug store, and liquor store reminding us that Valentine's Day was to celebrated by those in love, and loathed by those who find themselves single. I like gift giving (and receiving, since we're being honest) but the romantic stuff always seems absurd to me on February 14, if you love someone you love them, everyday, no time frame or gift card needed (but even saying that is beginning to sound cliché isn't it). Anyway, back to Ipsy...this would be my second glam bag and upon first opening up my package I mumbled "mehh" to myself, looking at the plain light pink bag. Upon opening it I reconsidered my pouty face as I saw the leopard print bag interior and all the products that poured out. Basically what I'm getting at is that this was a rad little bag.

 

 

 

 

     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.

 



 

 

Shade: Peony Petal



 

*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.

Lash style: EL213





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.

 



Ipsy: January 2014

     Subscription beauty boxes seem to be all the rage right now. Everyone is seemingly anxious to get their hands on the latest and greatest in beauty and health and I am no exception to that. I was a Birchbox subscriber for upwards of 18 months and loved getting my box every month. Sadly, last month I cancelled my subscription with them (things were just getting a little redundant with them for me, not to say there weren't some gems over the months!). I caught on to Ipsy shortly before I cancelled Birchbox. Their reviews seemed really good, the products I've seen looked amazing and instead of coming in a little box ( and I did love those boxes, what crafts!!) they arrive in cute little "glam bag" (yes, a reusable little makeup-esque bag) instead cute mailing packaging.

 

 

 

 



Furthermore, Ipsy costs just the same as BB ($10/month). As soon as I got my first glam bag (which I was highly satisfied with) I logged on to the website and saw reviews from other subscribers. It was the general opinion that this bag wasn't  up to par with past bags. Being that I pretty much loved this bag I have tremendous hope for awesome things to come from future bags. So basically I'm saying, so far so good!!
Here's what I received this month:

 

 



*Mojito Lip Balm by Malin + Goetz
This lip balm is scientifically balanced to restore and replenish your lips. It's basically a lip gel that helps with daily maintenance, prevention and treatment of dry or irritated lips. It contains all natural ingredients and sensitive skin technology. In fact, all of their products (which you can view on their site, www.malinandgoetz.com) are based on the sensitive skin technology, the owners knowing themselves what it is like to suffer from a variety of skin issues. Everything is color free and paraben free, which is always a plus when it comes to skin especially. Using a small amount of the mojito lip balm gives an instant relief with a little bit of shine, where as using a more generous amount creates a glossy look, perfect for layering over lipstick! My husband and I both tried this and it truly does leave your lips feeling amaze!! A full size balm costs about $12.00, which is totally worth it when you look at the science behind the product and the story behind Malin + Goetz.


*Liquid Foundation by Yabby
I haven't tried any of the Yabby cosmetics so I was excited that this was included in my bag (and in my shade!!). It's said to give an "unbelievably natural" finish with a super smoothe texture. It is an oil free formula and the ingredient cyclomethicone is great for oily and/or sensitive skin. They claim that the foundation mimics skin's natural sheen to create flawless skin. Now, I have been experiencing with lots of different foundations, tinted moisturizers and BB creams as of lately (my skin is being a little unpredictable with this crazy east coast weather), and having tried this formula by Yabby I would have to say that it is on the top of my list. I liked the look of my skin after application and since a little goes a long way you can build your coverage, blend well and it's ultimately cost effective. A full size will run you about $14, which is quite comparable, if not more affordable, with other popular foundation choices. Check out www.yabycosmetics.com for more details and products.



*the POREfessional by Benefit
Being no stranger to Benefit and it's amazing line of products, this was certainly a pleasant surprise. I'm sure most of you have heard of the POREfessional by now, or at least seen it while skimming through a magazine. If you aren't familiar let me fill you in: this is a pro balm used to minimize the appearance of pores. It quickly minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines to create smooth skin (sort of in the way a primer would even the skin's surface). It can be applied under or over your makeup (I definitely prefer under). It's translucent in color, oil free, and complements ALL skin types. It also contains a Vitamin E derivative that protects skin from free radicals. Full size will be about $30, but I consider it to be worth the value, especially if you're dealing with visible pores. Check out Benefit at your local prestige cosmetics store, or online at www.benefitcosmetics.com



*Makeup Cleansing Towelettes by Absolute!
Like the subscription says, these are makeup cleansing towelettes. They carry the usual promise of clean, fresh feeling skin and so on and so forth. I did not get too excited about these to be honest. The scent of the ones I received were pomegranate; but to me it smelled just like flavored vodka when opening the package!! It removed all of my makeup just fine but I did not feel like my face was refreshed, it actually felt a little sticky to the touch. I'm a fan of wipes by LA Fresh, Say Yes To..., and even Maybelline Express.

*Balm Me Up Organic Sweet Cocoa & Tangy Body Balm by Balanced Guru
This body butter by Balanced Guru is meant to balance dry skin. It moisturizes without leaving a greasy feel and it smells absolutely lovely. It's great even for the elbows, knees and feet too. All ingredients are USDA certified organic and also contains essentials such as Cocoa Butter, Babassu Oil, Shea Butter, Sweet Orange Essential Oil, Lime Essential Oil, and Mandarin Essential Oil. This particular balm costs $30, but a lot of their other products are more modestly price. One thing I specifically love though is that this line is Cruelty Free and that makes me super happy. If you want to learn more about Balanced Guru and their line of products go to: www.balancedguru.com



I can't wait to see what Ipsy has in store for February! It's my birth month so hopefully the beauty gods will smile upon me ;)
It feels good to sit in bed, on the NEW laptop, typing and planning blogs and etc. I post a lot of beauty related topics, which was my original purpose in creating this blog, but I have lately been debating posting more personal stories about the adventures and obstacles both myself and the PR have been dealing with. I am just very cautious about my little personal bubble I suppose, although it does always feel good to vent, so to speak. I guess what I am ultimately getting at is that I don't want anyone thinking I'm shallow or materialistic, because if you knew me you would know I am far from any of those things. Just remember, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle", and isn't that the God's honest truth.

XO,
J.

Review: Lucky Tiger Liquid Cream Shave

2014...let's start this off with a review of a product my husband came across and loves. Yes, fellas, this one is for you: Lucky Tiger Liquid Cream Shave. This product is a modern take on classic shaving cream as it goes on smooth like lotion but the creates a lather as you begin working it in. You are able to achieve a close shave all while nourishing the skin and preventing that awful razor burn. It contains a combination of natural botanicals including chamomile (to calm and soothe skin while replenishing dry areas), Olive Fruit oil to protect and lubricate the skin and allow for a close shave), Calendula (to cool, heal and soothe the skin while rejuvenating, softening and brightening the skin's surface),  and Borage oil (to help skin retain it's moisture).

Here's what the husband thinks about his Lucky Tiger:
"I really like that I can get a close shave without razor bumps, it's the only one I've really found that does that. I also like that the razor actually glides along the skin and doesn't get caught on your whiskers, pulling them. It smells pretty good too. A little bit goes a long way. My skin feels nice and moisturizer after using it and sometimes I don't even have to use after shave."

Well, the man has spoken. I count on him for these reviews because I know he will give straightforward honest answers; he is kind of picky and definitely is keen to his likes and dislikes when it comes to grooming/hygiene products.
You can visit www.getluckytiger.com to view their entire collection and pick up your own (or pick up your man) Liquid Cream Shave, it's about $18.50 for the full size bottle, and the husband agrees it is worth it!!!

If you have any products you want the man's opinion on just comment below!!
Hope 2014 is proving to be so far so good for all. Let's be all about the love this year.
XO,
J.