Reviewing Recent Beauty Purchases

November 29, 2018 by Virginia 10 Comments

Well, I have something very fun to share with you today. Makeup! It always seems like I run out of all my makeup products all at once and this time I decided to try some new things. So today I want to review some recent beauty purchases, both the good and the not-so-good.

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Recent Beauty Purchases: Full Coverage Foundations

I have always been a full-coverage foundation kind of girl because I struggled with acne throughout my youth (and into adulthood). Scars remain, as well as texture, and full-coverage makeup is the only thing that makes me feel normal. I’m not proud that I feel the need to shellac my face with foundation, but I will say that a beautifully made up face gives me confidence and that definitely can’t hurt.

I have been a die-hard Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation girl ever since I tried it but I’m also a makeup-lover and decided that it was time I tried some other well-reviewed full-coverage foundations. In my last beauty post I shared about a new favorite, the Dermablend Flawless Creator. It is a full-coverage, lightweight foundation but I put it aside for a while because it didn’t have the staying power I was looking for at the time. That being said, as I’m writing this I realize it might have better staying power now that the humidity is gone. (I will have to report back later on that as I test it!)

Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless

For normal to oily skin. I am a shade 120 and it’s a good match.

This foundation came so highly recommended and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t tried it.

Pros –

It has a wide shade range (see widget above) and it gives a smooth look to the skin. It has a very natural, satin finish.
Coverage is good and it’s a very buildable foundation. It is fairly light-weight.
It is relatively long-wearing (can last me for a full day of work and still look good)

Cons – I don’t have a lot.

I usually have to layer it when I wear it to get the amount of coverage I like but that’s not a terribly bad thing. My favorite way to apply it is with a brush to get as much coverage out of it as possible.
I do tend to need to set it with a powder.
Though it does last through the work day, it does wear away in the T-zone. That being said, even as it wears away it’s so natural-looking that it still looks good.

L’Oreal Infallible Longwear Shaping Foundation Stick

I have this in Shade 402 and it isn’t quite the right color.

I was not a huge fan of this at first. It was difficult to pick the shade in store and the one I got was a little too light for my skin.

Pros – It’s very easy to use. I swipe it across my face and blend it into the skin with a brush using circular motions. That goes quickly. It’s also buildable, but be careful about cakieness that can result from that layering.

Cons –

Texture – I don’t like the texture of my skin after I’ve applied it. I feel like every bump and piece of dry skin shows up. I’ve tried it in the humidity and in the winter and it does better in the winter.
Cakieness & Staying Power – It’s a thicker foundation (so I actually apply it on one half of my face at a time so that I can blend it in before it dries too much) and in the late summer and early fall it felt very heavy. In fact, it felt so thick that it would just slide off my face in the humidity. It works better with primer. I did try it with a setting spray on the face first (to help with the dryness) but that only led to a cakier feel and more makeup sliding off.
Color/Coverage – It doesn’t give me very good coverage because of how it sticks to problem areas. However, it was very hard for me to find my shade so some of my coverage issues may be related to the not-quite right color.

Though this is not my favorite, it is very quick to use and I can find it being a great product for those of you with younger skin. Also, it is working better for me now that the humidity is gone. Staying power has improved (though still not through a complete day of work for me) and it is buildable without feeling as cakey. The coverage issues remain, however, because of the problem areas on my skin.

Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Full Coverage Foundation

I am a shade F4.

I love this stuff. The reasons will be clear below. You can apply it with a brush or a sponge. I like applying it with a brush because I think it gives the best coverage.

Pros –

Super-full coverage – In fact, it can even work as a concealer if needed. The coverage is there for concealing but I still usually use my Tarte Shape Tape because it’s in a lighter, brightening shade. Also, I think it creases a little less in the under-eye area. Since the coverage is so amazing, it totally covers my acne scarring and yet it’s…
Very light-weight – You can build it up and layer it without it feeling thick.
No need for setting powder – It isn’t tacky when it dries. Unless you’re also using it as a concealer, there is no need to set it with powder.
totally affordable

Cons – It’s a little drying. Because of that, it wears off a bit in problem areas and I feel like it sinks into the fine lines on my forehead. But I adore the coverage and it does give me a beautiful look for my entire work day.

Other Recent Beauty Purchases

While I was at Ulta picking up the Makeup Revolution Conceal and Define Foundation, I also picked up this new setting spray since I ran out of my favorite setting spray.

Morphe Continuous Spray Setting Mist

It seems like everyone on youtube is using this setting mist so when I ran out, I had to try it.

Pros – This is the finest mist I’ve ever tried for a setting spray. You can spray and spray without overdoing it. It also smells like perfume!

Cons – I’m not convinced it looks as good or makes makeup lasts as long as with my Milani.

Nevertheless, overall, it’s a decent price for what you get and is worth trying!

ELF Liquid Matte Lipstick in Blushing Rose

Last week I was looking for a great, less-pinky nude for winter. So, I turned to youtube and watched a bunch of videos trying to find the perfect nude liquid lipstick. I’m a die-hard liquid lipstick girl but it’s not easy to find a good nude liquid lipstick.

Luckily, one of the recommended lipsticks was from ELF so I picked this one up on my trip to Target.

Pros –

A wonderful, more brown than pinky nude. But it’s not too brown.
It has a very pretty, smooth application.
Wear is pretty good (better when less eating is involved!)
Transfer-proof (until you eat salad…see below)
Only $5!

Cons – It does take a little longer for it to dry. That being said, when it dries it doesn’t budge.

If I don’t apply a lip balm underneath, it can feel really drying (especially shortly after application)
It did break down when I ate an oil-based salad dressing.

Overall though, it’s a winner! For the price, you really can’t beat this quality of liquid lipstick!

One Old Favorite

Cleaning out my office/guest room last week, I came across my old beauty case. Inside I found a whole stash of bareMinerals makeup.

I pulled out my bareMinerals Loose Powder Blush in Laughter and popped it on my cheeks. I was astonished because it made the most BEAUTIFUL, soft glow on my skin. The next day I tried Aubergine and had the same effect. They give such a gorgeous, natural look.

When I went online to link them for you I found that they have apparently discontinued many of the colors in this line. So sad. But, these are both back in my rotation. I forgot how much I loved them.

Do any of you have any of these bareMinerals Loose Powder blushes somewhere in your stash? Pull them out and try them again! You may love them too!

That’s it for today friends! What new beauty products have you tried lately? Any good full-coverage foundations you’d like to share? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Virginia

Makeup Studs and Duds

September 5, 2018 by Virginia 17 Comments

It’s been awhile since I had a post about makeup and beauty so I thought it was time to update you on some new makeup studs and duds! I’m still loving the products mentioned in this post but there are some new favorites that are definitely share-worthy!

My Need for Humidity-Proof Makeup

Before summer hit I did some reasearch on humidity-related beauty. A big part of why I started this blog was to share this kind of research and testing. Being a history teacher, I’m quite familiar with researching and I’m always studying beauty products and DIY projects before I even go out and buy. One day my husband was like, “You spend so much time reading reviews and trying things out, others could benefit from your research!” He’s right and I have totally dropped the ball on that front in the last year. Between digging ourselves out of debt and the time it took me to build a new curriculum for my new job, makeup and beauty “research” was mostly on the back burner.

However, after two summers in Rhode Island, I knew that I couldn’t handle another humid summer with crummy makeup. So, right when school got out for the summer, I hit the internet to research the best products for humidity. Research returned way too many mixed messages on what kind of makeup is right for humidity. Some said stick to long-lasting, full coverage foundations that will stay all day despite the heat. “Oh,” they said, “and make sure you set the foundation with powder to really make it last!” Others said use a lightweight foundation and don’t use any powder blush or setting powder. Instead, use creme blush and bronzer and spray it with a makeup setting spray instead.

Well, let me tell you my success with the first option. Last summer I tried two “high coverage” foundations that were recommended by some youtubers (1 & 2) and they were so thick it felt like they were constantly sticky. Adding powder just made them even more cakey and uncomfortable. So, this summer I decided to look for a lightweight foundation but I was skeptical because usually lightweight foundations mean light coverage and that’s not going to cover my acne scarring. I wasn’t even sure you COULD have full coverage with a lightweight formula.

Enter my first Makeup Stud.

This post does contain affiliate links, which means that if you click and/or make a purchase through these links, I may make a small commission. For more information, see my Privacy Policy. Thank you for supporting the retailers that make this blog possible!

Makeup Studs:

Dermablend Flawless Creator Multi-use Pigment

It’s a mouthful and boy does it pack a punch. When Marlena from Makeup Geek showed how amazing this Dermablend pigment was (see her apply it at 4:30 in this video) and mentioned that it was lightweight, I just had to try it. It gives INCREDIBLE coverage for as little as I use. You can see in the pictures how much I use on normal days. One drop goes a long way with this stuff. It definitely wears off throughout the day, especially on really humid days, but it feels so much better than most of my foundations and it’s SO quick and easy to apply and run out the door.

I would definitely apply it with a brush, as you can see in the picture below. I love this brush for foundation.

L’Oreal Lash Paradise

I’m very late-to-the-game in sharing this with you. My “ride or die” mascara was this mascara, but the Lash Paradise gives me the same look for half the price. I prefer the non-waterproof over the waterproof.

L’Oreal Infallible Lip Paint in Spicy Blush

This lipstick was recommended by emilynoel83 on youtube. A couple of the items on this list actually come from her or via her recommendation. (She would be a good one to follow for great makeup reviews and tutorials.) It’s simply the perfect pale pink neutral lip for my skin tone. It feels like a mix between a liquid lipstick and a lip gloss. The “Lip paint” is creamy and smooth. It’s not going to last like a liquid lipstick but it’s the perfect thing to pop on quickly to add some color before running out the door!

Stila Good to Glow Shadows

I bought this set from the Nordstrom Sale and I have to admit, my favorite in this set is definitely “Kitten.” The other two are gorgeous shades as well, but they haven’t gotten much use yet. I can see myself gravitating more towards those two as summer turns into fall. Kitten gives such a beautiful glow to the eyes and doesn’t dry patchy like some other liquid eye shadows I have tried. It’s elegant and not overpowering.

Makeup Revolution The Emily Edit – The Wants Eyeshadow Palette

As I mentioned above, emilynoel83 is one of my favorite youtubers and she recently released this palette. Not only did her release video make me tear up, but I knew instantly that I needed to try the palette because Emily is one of the few youtubers that I absolutely trust for product recommendations. She doesn’t do sponsored videos and she always tries products for an extended period of time before recommending. Beyond that, when she reviews a palette she always makes sure to comment on the mixture of mattes (for the crease) and shimmers, whether the pops of color hold their pigment and whether there are enough other colors in the palette to complete a look.

The day after The Wants Palette released in Ulta stores, I drove to my local Ulta and tried it out. I was a little disappointed in the swatches because they didn’t seem that creamy, especially compared to the Jaclyn Hill Vault Collection placed next to it (see all of them in the widget below). I went back and forth whether it was worth it to try The Wants Palette or whether I should just pick one of Jaclyn’s Vault Palettes. In the end, I went with my gut. If Emily says it’s good, then it’s good. Plus, the Jaclyn Hill Vault collection is by color family (eg: purples in one palette). I really wanted something that would give me a lot of new options to try.

It is the perfect palette for someone who wants to round out an eye shadow collection (or start one). Even though it’s large, I can totally see myself taking this with me when I travel. I can get any possible look out of just this palette.

And now…for the…

Makeup and Beauty Duds

Milani Gilded Desires Palette

Before I even knew about The Wants Palette, I was in store and swatched the Milani Gilded Desires Palette. I instantly fell in love with the gorgeous glow on the swatches. It came home with me and each day I tried something new. But, unlike the Emily Edit Palette above, these shadows just didn’t last on my eyes. Plus, the top left matte shade is so flaky that I’ve basically stopped using it. This is particularly annoying because that is the one non-pink matte crease shade in the palette.

I do enjoy the cheek highlight shades. They are absolutely beaming so I use them sparingly. Though I still try to use the palette, I do find myself turning to the Stila “Kitten” shade above more frequently when I want the same kind of look. It just lasts longer. Plus, look at the two palettes side by side in the image above. They are the exact same price but there is just no comparison for quality or variety of shades in my book.

Up & Up Sport Sunscreen Lotion

After teaching Consumer Economics last year, I’ve been more conscious of buying store brand items over name brand and that’s why I purchased this sunscreen. This, however, is one store brand item I would skip. It is one of the most greasy, sticky formulas I have ever tried. That just doesn’t work on humid, Rhode Island beaches. The first time I used it I came home completely covered in sand. Forget trying to reapply at the beach, you’ll just be rubbing sand into your skin!

I did some research and picked these two sunscreens to try – 1, 2. Both have worked very well for me and are a great, non-greasy formula. This one is a little hard to spray with the beach breeze but I apply it at home and use this one to reapply at the beach.

Dove Fresh Coconut Dry Shampoo

This smells great but instead of making my hair feel fresh, it feels more heavy. I won’t repurchase.

Special Mention Product

You can see it in the background of some of the photos above, but I just got this L’Oreal Infallible Foundation stick. I have only worn it a few times but I’m really liking it. I don’t believe the look it gives is as good as the Dermablend (above). That being said, it’s a nice, easy look when set with powder.

Well, that was a lot of info on my recent makeup studs and duds so I don’t blame you if you did a lot of skimming! Nevertheless, I hope that you found even one makeup stud to think about trying or one dud to avoid. Definitely let me know in the comments about makeup studs or duds you’ve tried recently!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Virginia

August Makeup and Beauty Subscription Box

September 4, 2017 by Virginia 4 Comments

Well, school starts this week! Eeek! I have guests this weekend too and I am NOT ready for Tuesday! However, I told myself that I was committed to getting this beauty subscription box post on my most recent Glossybox up before heading back to school. It may not contain as much detail as usual but at least I can tell you how AMAZING this box was. I think this was my favorite box from Glossybox. My box is complementary as part of the Glossybox affiliate program. This time I can honestly say that I was obsessed with this month’s beauty subscription box

*This post does contain affiliate links, which means that if you click and/or make a purchase through these links, I may make a small commission. For more information, see my privacy policy. Thank you for supporting the retailers that make this blog possible!

Updates on Last Month’s Products

Before I get into this month’s amazing box I feel like I need to give an update on last month’s box. I wasn’t that impressed with the box I got last month. There were some products I thought were pretty awful but have since started to love. First, I used this product as a lotion, as stated in one of the descriptions. That was awful. Reviews said to use it as a lip balm. I did and I like that a lot better. It doesn’t last all day for me, but it is very moisturizing.

I hated this cleansing oil at first but I have, quite literally, been using it every day to remove my makeup with a cotton round. I still wash my face afterwards to remove the oil but am very happy with the product.

Products in my August Beauty Subscription Box:

Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara– Sample Size (Full size $25.00)

Um…yeah…this stuff is AMAZING! The first time I tried it my mouth popped open, as my husband would say, like a cod-fish. I was like, “Wow! Look at those lashes!” The description says it gives “instant heart-stopping volume” and that was so true! Definitely a keeper and I would highly recommend this mascara. I think the price point for the full size is fair but if you’re looking for a drugstore product that is also amazing, try this one.

Doucce Blush Duo Palette + Blush– Full size $24.00

Do you remember this blush and palette from last month’s box? I got the second blush to fill the palette! Like the last blush, it’s very pigmented and the color is beautiful. I love that they included two very different colors. The first one was much more coral and this one is much more mauvey-pink. Love both!

Pixi Brow Tamer– Full size $10.00

I have never tried a brow gel but now I am a fan! This clear brow gel was awesome! It didn’t leave my brows crispy but they stayed shaped all day! I will definitely buy it when I’m finished with this little tube.

Bliss Fabulous Foaming Facewash– Small Size $9.00

I was so pleased by this foaming facewash. It smells a little bit like bubblegum to me and it lathers up really well. This facewash cleanses and exfoliates and I could definitely feel both. It’s very gentle exfoliation but after I use it my skin just feels wonderful! I may actually purchase when I’m finished with this bottle!

Beauty Infusion Charcoal & Probiotics Cleansing Clay Mask– Full size $8.00

This is my favorite charcoal mask so far. I got a charcoal mask that I enjoyed in my ____ subscription but I love this one more. It has a light, pleasant scent and afterwards my skin felt SO soft and bright! I am always skeptical about claims but I really did seem to feel like my face was brighter afterwards! It’s going to take me forever to get through this huge tube so I think it’s definitely worth the $8!

You know what! I totally forgot to use this one! Then I was going to do it while I finished this post up and I set it down somewhere and am completely unable to find it!! So, I apologize. I will let you know about this one next month!

Get Your Own Glossybox Beauty Subscription

Prices for Glossybox range from $17.50 per box up to $21 per box, depending on the length of your subscription. Even though many of these items were small or sample sizes, it was still totally worth it because I found a ton of products that I love! This box was worth around $55 (small and sample sizes) and the subscription is only $21! You can see the reviews of my May, June, and July boxes for more ideas of what comes in the box. Grab it here now or gift it to a friend or loved one!

Thanks so much for visiting!

-Virginia