March 2018 Boxycharm Unboxing

This was a fun month! Boxycharm kicked off Summer makeup the right way with their "Baecation" themed box. If you're new to makeup, looking to expand your collection, test new products, etc. Boxycharm is arguably my favorite subscription box. For $21/month you get 5 full sized products, and those products often retail for over $100. 

The first product I received was Butter London's Double Decker Lashes Mascara. I really enjoyed this! The wand and formula reminds me a lot of Too Faced's Better Than Sex Mascara/L'Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara. This does end up smudging, but only if you've worn it for a very long time (more than 8hrs). But it doesn't claim to be waterproof so this will fade if worn too long. Because L'Oreal makes a mascara just like this at a drugstore price (this is $20), I wouldn't repurchase. But I do recommend if you've ever wanted to try it. 

A favorite of mine in the box is this Make Them Blush in the shade Hush Blush by Pretty Vulgar. I absolutely love this blush! It is a beautiful warm peach, which goes with virtually every makeup look. This blush is also very pigmented, so a little goes a long way. Using a light hand is key - but Make Them Blush will last a long time before hitting pan. The blush retails for $26 and is worth every penny. The formula is silky and doesn't look powdery or cakey on the skin. So nice! I recommend. 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting makeup brushes in subscription boxes! And this Smokey Eye Makeup Brush Set from The Vintage Cosmetic Company is so essential. You get every brush you need to complete any eye look. A shader brush, a blending brush, and a small smudge brush. Adding brushes to my collection gives me life, and this trio will be well loved. The complete set retails for $21.76 which is a little pricey for brushes, but The Vintage makes high quality products. 

Something I'm not too keen on receiving are masks. Whether it's for hair, skin, eyes, body, etc. I have wayyy too many masks. So I have to be honest, these will sit until other masks I own are used up first. And under-eye masks aren't something I reach for. I get bags under my eyes but they don't get puffy or dry. So two of the claims for the eye masks will be lost on me. I am interested to test how they reduce dark circles though. If an under-eye mask like this is something that interests you, South Mane Beauty sells these Eye Gels for $9. 

Boxycharm partners with PUR quite a bit I've noticed. Not a bad thing because I am growing to love this brand! PUR isn't a brand I would normally shop for myself, so I'm glad receiving it via Boxycharm has made me try them out. This PUR x Boxycharm Eyeshadow is so perfect for summer. I still have love for peachy shades and this has many! It also has a fun pop of blue which is very on trend right now with eyeshadow palettes. The shimmer shadows are super creamy, and the matte shades blend easily so this is a fun palette to reach for. For $36 you can purchase this from PUR which is nice that it's not exclusive to Boxycharm.

If I've convinced you to subscribe to Boxycharm, feel free to use my link! https://www.boxycharm.com/refer/Chand-QNKQBANJ

March 2018 Ipsy Unbagging

 

This was a fun bag to receive! March's theme is Create so the glam bag came along with some markers "so you can unleash your creativity all month long!" Mine arrive with pink and green markers, so I colored in one side pink and the other green. I forgot how much I love coloring, so this was a fun bonus.

The first item in the bag is City Color Cosmetics Glow Duo. This was my favorite item in the bag this month. One side is a pale cream highlight, and the other is a deeper champagne powder highlight. The cream highlight on it's own gives your skin a  "wet" look. And the other powder highlight on it's own give a soft natural glow. But both together are absolutely beautiful and that's how I prefer to wear them. 

The next item is this super cute SL41 Blusher Brush from SLMISSGLAM. I absolutely love when I can use brushes for more than one purpose, so I am very happy to add this to my collection. You can use for highlighting, blush, bronzing, and contouring. Multipurpose brushes, especially of this size are great for travel as well. I also am so glad the glitters on the handle don't come off so you don't need to worry about getting glitter all over your hands and face. 

This month I also received Labotica Transforming Liquid Foil Mask. It claims to brighten and firm up your skin, as well as remove dead skin cell and cleanse your pores. The mask is also formulated to calm inflammation (great for anyone with sensitive skin) and to boost collagen production. And because it is a peel off mask, it is so satisfying to remove.

Another product I loved receiving was this Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara in Carbon Black. My mascara routine is pretty involved, so I am extremely picky about what mascaras I use. I need them to make my lashes long, volumized, and defined. This helps achieve that. I get a ton of volume and definition from this mascara, and even more curl. My lashes are already curly to start off with, but someone with straighter lashes would enjoy this too. The formula claims to be infused with caffeine to help curl lashes, and also is infused with biotin to improve the health of lashes. I have noticed a difference for sure. My lashes aren't longer, but they do look fuller and more fluffy without mascara on. Of all the items that I've received this month, this one I would repurchase. 

The last item in March's Ipsy bag was Doucce Freematic Eyeshadow in Lola. I've received products from Doucce before, and even received a single eyeshadow from them as well. Their eyeshadows are nice. They don't last too long though, unless you have a budge-proof eye primer. Lola appeared more pink-y on my skin versus purple which was a little bit of a let down. Purple shadows look amazing with brown eyes, so I was hoping it would show up more of a vibrant purple like it claims. It's nice to use though for rosy looks, so it will still be used!

Even though it's only March, this month's glam bag is by far my favorite that I've received this year. And if you're not subscribed as well and I convinced you to give it a shot ($10 a month people!), I do have a referral link you are welcome to use: 
https://www.ipsy.com/new?cid=ppage_ref&sid=link&refer=xym9i 



January 2018 Ipsy Unbagging

I can't preach enough about how much I love Beauty Subscriptions. If boxes like Boxycharm are more than you want to spend on a beauty subscription, Ipsy is a very affordable alternative. For $10/month (billed the 1st of the month), you receive 5 items and a cute Glam Bag. The items aren't always full size, so you do often get deluxe samples. Which I think is nice to at least try the item prior to purchasing it full size. What is also nice is the fact that you can easily rate each product that you receive and Ipsy will personalize your future bags according to your feedback. 

Ipsy's January theme is Conquering 2018, so the bag is perfect for those who have any fitness resolutions. I love this bag and will use it in my gym bag for sure. It also comes with a cute "I will conquer" insert to help keep you motivated.

The first item was Nyx Lip Lingerie in Beauty Mark. I was not a fan of this. I look horrible with dark brown lips, so this color was not flattering. It's streaky, which you'll see in a swatch below. And there was something about the smell that was off-putting. It smells almost chemically. I do hear a lot of people love these though, so maybe a lighter shade will work for me.

The next item is Ciate Fierce Flicks Liquid Eyeliner. It comes with a felt tip, and claims to be "long-wearing, dries quickly, and won't smudge or transfer". The Fierce Flicks liner definitely lives up to those claims. It is not waterproof, though - so water will make it smudge/come-off. I like this eyeliner and it's pretty good, but I probably wouldn't repurchase since I prefer waterproof formulas.

One of my favorite items for January is Dirty Little Secrets eyeshadow in Bikini. This color is a gorgeous copper shade and is super pigmented. If used wet, it is even more stunning. And if you wanna be fancy, you could use this as a highlight. This shade is something I reach for often, so I would definitely repurchase!

 

The next item is Befine Skincare's Exfoliating Cleanser. It's made with brown sugar, almonds, and oats - and it smells like it! This is the most appetizing cleanser I've used in awhile. But if you use this, beware! If your face is not wet before you apply, this exfoliator is really rough. You need water to activate whatever is in it that makes it soapy. I made that mistake the first time I used it and irritated my skin. I love this cleanser but it is really difficult to get out of the tube. I might just cut it open and pour it in a jar. Because of that difficulty, I'm not sure if I'd repurchase, but I do think it's good.

Another of my favorites this month is City Color Cosmetics Contour Palette. This is so buttery and pigmented and blendable! I think City Color nailed it with the color selection, since you get a cool contour shade, a warm bronzer, and a beaming highlight. This shows up on my Tan-Olive skin so that is always awesome. I love this and was happy to receive it, so I'd definitely repurchase.

If you are looking to experiment with more makeup or add to your collection, subscription boxes are the way to go. Every month I find myself trying products that I would never chose for myself, and end up loving nearly everything. And for $10/month, you can't beat that.

January 2018 Boxycharm Unboxing

If you're into makeup, and haven't subscribed to Boxycharm yet - what are you doing?? I couldn't recommend Boxycharm enough. I haven't been disappointed with a box yet, and the products they choose each month are all amazing! 

How it works is, on the 2nd day of the month, you'd be charged $21 (a GREAT deal, you'll see) for 5 full sized products. And the products are high quality items you'd probably find at Sephora. They pick out your box, because not everyone gets the same thing (could be a pro or a con depending on personal opinion) and they ship it out towards the middle of the month.

If you are new to makeup/cosmetics, looking to expand your collection, or just want experiment with new products, please sign up. As much as I wish this post was sponsored, it's not - so I'm not saying all of this because I'm getting paid!

The first item in the box this month is Dr. Brandt's Pores No More Luminzer Primer. It claims to "deliver a natural radiant glow while blurring pores and imperfections for a beautifully illuminated flawless complexion". After testing, it does exactly as it claims. Wear this alone, and you have radiant, lit-from-within skin. Wear it under foundation and you are still left with a luminous glow. For combo-oily skin girls like myself, you'd probably want to avoid the T-Zone as this will get greasy there. But on the rest of the face, it works wonderfully and looks beautiful.
Retails for $38.00

 The next item is It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil. It claims to be "infused with brow-enhancing biotin, lecithin, saw palmetto, nettle, green tea, antioxidants, grape seed, and vitamins A, B5, C and E, plus proprietary Brow Power Technology to give you your most beautiful, natural-looking brows - even if you have none at all. Plus, its universal transforming shade adjusts to all hair colors based on pressure..." This pencil is good. Like, really good. I have a few other brow pencils with a similar shaped tip - which may throw some people off if they've never used anything but a pointed tip. But it's easy enough to master and leaves a natural looking brow. It runs cool in tone, which I love. So I'm pretty pleased with this product as well!
Retails for $24.00

Boxycharm gave everybody (I'm pretty sure) the Crown Pro Glam Metals Palette. The metal shadows are pretty stunning in the pan. And if used as suggested to make a smokey eye look - the palette does it's job. 

These are pretty pigmented, and there wasn't too much fallout when applying to the eye. The crease colors are perfect and the metals really stand out. Boxycharm has a "Rock 2018" theme going this month, so this fits perfectly.

 Retails for $25.00

This is probably my favorite item in this month's box! The Pur Bronze and Brighten Cheek Palette. The colors they selected are virtually universal. It features Pur's fan favorites, "Afterglow", "Mineral Glow" and a new blush shade "Blushing Glow". The peach-toned blush I'm sure will work for most skin tones, deep skin could probably use it as a blush topper or as a highlight. On my Olive-Tan skin, it shows up as a blush. The middle highlight is a champagne shade. It's not frosty by any means, so everyone could use this shade. And the bronzer is stunning! I think it might be one of my favorites that I own now. On Olive-Tan skin it is a bronzer. Again, on deeper skin tones this could probably be used as a highlight or blush topper. This trio is perfectly pigmented and I haven't put this down since I opened it. Out of all the products that came this month, this is the one I recommend to purchase.

Retails for $34.00

The last item in January's Boxycharm is a Matte Lip Paint by Girlactik. I've heard a lot about this brand but have never purchased anything from them. And in a previous post, I stated I'm not the biggest fan of matte lips anymore. But Girlactik nailed this formula. It is so comfortable on the lips. The formula reminds me a lot of Nyx's Soft Matte Lip Creams, but even more light and airy. This stays put all day, especially with a lip liner underneath. I'm still on a gloss kick, but if I want something more muted, I'll be using this lippie. On Olive-Tan skin, the lip paint shows up as a nude-pink. On fairer skin tones I'm sure it'll be a deep nude. 

Retails for $23.00

The total value of January's Boxycharm is $144!!! And I only paid $21!? Absolutely impressive. Boxycharm does typically have a waiting list so I've you've been debating about subscribing - do it! $21 for cosmetics is either one higher end item from Ulta/Sephora, or maybe a couple of things from the drugstore. Have I convinced you yet??

Makeup Trends Getting Left Behind In 2017

2017 has taught me SO much about  makeup application and what formulas make a good product. YouTube and Instagram are where I find most of my inspiration. And ever since Instagram became super popular and a huge influence on the beauty industry, each recent year has had obvious trends in makeup. 

So here’s what I’m retiring in 2018:


(Photo: stylecaster.com) 

“Instagram Brows”
I am so bored of seeing the dark, boxy, angled brows that Instagram beauty junkies made famous. Are they fun for photos and dramatic looks? Sure. But they’re too overdone for my taste, and I love something softer. I’ve pretty much left my brow pomades to collect dust, as pomades give that dark sharp look. Pencils and brow powders have been my go-tos for a soft feathery brow. I want a more natural looking brow, so Buh Bye Insta-brows!



(Photo: gragemood.com)

“Full Cake”
If it’s heavy and full coverage, it’s probably being left in 2017. Instagram makeup is again to blame for flawless, artificial looking skin. I want to see some flaws, some freckles. I want my skin to look like skin, not necessarily like I’m wearing makeup. Dewy sheer-to-medium coverage foundations have my name on them. The “no makeup” makeup look is beautiful to me so full cakey foundation has to go. 



(Photo: zimbio.com)

“Super Bright Concealer” 
All over social media, especially YouTube, super bright concealers are the expectation. The reality is, it doesn’t look natural and it doesn’t photograph well. Ask any makeup artist: under-eye concealer should be 1-2, MAYBE 3 shades lighter than your skin tone. I’m seeing concealer applied that’s like 5 shades lighter! It looks cakey and dry, and it looks harsh. That look can stay in 2017. 



(Photo: becomegorgeous.com)

“Contouring”
Contouring can definitely stay in 2018, my face is round - I need it lol.  But the technique of layering on a dark stripe of powdery cool-toned contour should be buried. Now, cool-toned contours work for more fair or more deep skin tones than mine. But for my Medium-Deep skin, a warm (but not orange) contour is the most flattering and it doesn’t look muddy. I also find that cream contours look wayyy better than powder. I want my face slimmed, but not chiseled - so a warm cream contour will give it to me.



(Photo: ulta.com)

“Whispy Falsies”
Ardell Wispies and Demi Wispies had their moment, but it’s on to better things this next year. And that’s Faux Mink lashes. If you’re a falsies fiend like I am, you KNOW how essential they are to completing a makeup look. I am obsessed with how natural and comfortable Faux Mink lashes are. And because the band is thin (not “invisible” but thin) brands really get to be creative with different lengths and styles while still having the lash look pretty natural. My favorites right now are Ardell 811’s and Flutter Lashes Air Light Collection. 



(Photo: seventeen.com)

“Matte Liquid Lipstick”
2015 & 2016 were the years of the dry-matte liquid lips. Liquid lipsticks were revolutionary back then because they literally stayed on all day and didn’t transfer. But the drawback was we were left with parched cracked lips. Even though formulas have really improved, I was never the biggest fan, I usually stuck to a matte cream lipstick because it’s more comfortable. All around I can tell the beauty community is bored with matte lips, and glosses are making a huge comeback! I’ve always been a gloss girl, and I’m so happy juicy glossy lips are here again. 



(Photo: dailyrecord.co.uk)

“Baking”
The trend is a trick drag queens have been doing forever, but baking the under-eye with powder was a huge mainstream thing in 2016 & 2017. It’s a technique that’s used to prevent concealer (or foundation really) from creasing and helps it last all day. Maybe it’s because my eyes are big and I have the bags to match some days, but baking left my under-eyes very very powdery looking. I still set my concealer with a powder but I do a light sweep, instead of literally caking on powder, and it works just fine. Baking done wrong gives you the “raccoon” look and causes a white-cast in photos. So this technique isn’t joining me in 2018.



(Photo: glamourpage.com)

“Color Correcting”
This is another technique used by makeup artists since forever but got weirdly popular over the past year. If you’re like me and your skin tone is pretty even and your acne is minimal, you don’t need this step. Color correcting is for those with prominent discoloration, acne blemishes or scars, and dark circles or dark spots. If foundation and/or spot concealing hides any skin problems, you don’t need to color correct. If you feel you need it, by all means. But those with clearer skin don’t really benefit from this technique. 



(Photo: popsugar.com)

“Claws”
I hate long nails, always have. So in 2018 you’ll find me with short to medium length nails. Long claws is more of a Twitter trend than anything but it’s one I’m leaving alone. I am very rough on my hands so I just can’t be bothered about losing or chipping a nail. With that, unless I’m wearing (short) acrylics - I’m over nail art. Not much is original anymore so you’ll catch me in solid colors. 



(Still from An Knook video on YouTube)

“Harsh Eyes”
I’ll be the first to say, I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed with all the cut-creases, glitter eyeliner and halo eyes on social media right now. They’re relatively easy to achieve, but these eye trends are allll I’m seeing lately. That’s not to say I won’t be rocking these looks in 2018, but I have a feeling I’ll get sick of looking at them really fast. I’ve been drawn to “reinventing” the smokey eye. With all the warm toned and colorful eyeshadow palettes coming out, it’s fun to see a classic look done in new colors. But for day-to-day you won’t see me wearing an intense Insta-eye, I’ll be wearing something softer and more smoked out. 


A lot is being left in 2017 but trends are always changing so I’m sure everything will eventually be replaced. What makeup looks are you leaving in 2017, and what are you looking forward to seeing in 2108?