Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream

I've been wanting to jump on the BB Cream bandwagon for a while now. It took a good friend to post some before and after shots of her face before I got serious about it. She introduced me to Garnier's Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector for Combination to Oily Skin.

The Highlights:

• Affordable - Average price is $12
• Contains SPF 20 sunscreen
• Non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic, oil-free, and non-greasy
• Provides light/medium coverage for those of you who have flawless skin
• Will purchase again - replaced my current foundation primer

My skin type: I have a mess of a face. I don't say that to be funny. It's actually quite irritating LOL. I have an oily forehead, and chin. My t-zone is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It really does flip-flop its oil quantities on a whim. I have hormonal issues as well, so sometimes, my face decides to throw in a little cystic acne. With that said, I have areas that require heavy coverage. I purchased the light/medium formula in oil-free. I had no expectations that this BB cream would act as a foundation for me.

Not all BB creams are created equal, and if you are considering purchasing a BB cream, I'd be happy to shed some light on the subject. BB creams are NOT foundation. Let us be very clear on that. BB creams are actually closer to foundation primer or tinted moisturizer, but some of us are blessed enough to be able to use BB creams as foundation. At most, you will only get medium coverage from a BB cream. I've read many web reviews of BB creams, and it is clear that many are confused as to what a BB cream actually is. Main complaints have been the lack of coverage. Well, that is because a BB cream is NOT a foundation. My only caveat is if you already have flawless, healthy skin and can get away with light coverage. The handful of friends I know that can put on BB cream, dust with powder, and walk out the door are fair skinned with no blemishes.

Garnier advertises their BB cream as a "miracle skin perfector". It claims to even tone, hydrate, renew, protect, and brighten. No where on the bottle, or packaging, does it advertise itself as a foundation, or boasts claims of "coverage". I'm driving this point home because I want you to make an educated decision on the type of product you need so that you can have realistic expectations of the product you're purchasing. I'd hate for you to waste money because you heard you can use it as foundation, and then be disappointed with the results.

With that said, let us go back to the Garnier product and hit up its claims:

1. Evens tone - I immediately saw a difference. It was a bigger difference than the expensive foundation primer I was using. It also reduced redness that I wasn't aware I had.
2. Hydrates - Yes. I have noticed that my dry spots have become more tame.
3. Renew - I honestly cannot verify this claim for you. I can say that my skin feels more moisturized and healed since I started using this product in place of my former primer. My problem areas seem to be doing better, but I cannot fully account that to the BB cream.
4. Protect - It contains SPF 20. I'm going to assume that it protects.
5. Brighten - I honestly cannot verify this claim, either. I have to apply foundation on top of the BB cream, so any brightening effects have been compromised.

With all the above in consideration, I definitely recommend this product. It is a great product at a great price point. It performs well as a primer. I feel like my skin breathes better in comparison to my old primer. It is also a significant savings vs. my other primer and has better benefits for my skin. I have also been able to retire my moisturizer, and I don't have to worry about sunscreen products because it already has SPF 20 in it.

The only thing I would change with this product is the consistency and the SPF level. It is pretty thin, even for a moisturizer. I wish it had the consistency of a light facial lotion, and not like hot, liquid foundation. My dermatologist recommends 50 SPF for my face, so it would be nice to have a higher SPF rating, but 20 should be okay if I wear a hat.

If you are looking for "full coverage" or "pore reducing", this is not the product for you. BB creams, at the most, give medium coverage when layered. Due to the thin consistency, this product does not fill in pores like a primer. If you are looking for a product that will help give you an airbrushed look, turn to a true primer.

I apologize that I have no pictures to support my claims. I took some with my iPhone and as you can image, the quality was pretty poor and you really couldn't see the big difference it made before and after. I just haven't had the time to break out my DSLR and take good before/after pictures. I may amend this review to add pictures at a later date.

Makeup Review: Maybelline New York Color Tattoo by Eyestudio

I was shopping in Walgreens when this new Maybelline display caught my eye.  It was a display with bold cream shadows in glass pots. The display picture had the model in a bright, sparkly teal. To read more about this product, visit their website. I was able to curb the temptation, but ended up purchasing a pot from Target.  I purchased #30 - Pomegranate Punk.

The Highlights:

• Long lasting
• Blends well
• Creamy texture
• Reasonably priced - I paid $6.99 at Target
• Probably will NOT purchase more

First, I will apologize for not having enough pictures. It is something I will try to remember when I intend to review something. 

I woke up for work and decided to give the 24 hour Color Tattoo the 10 hour work day trial. I applied the Pomegranate Punk with a brush. I will admit, I think it is pretty gross to shove your fingers in makeup. I tend to avoid makeup in pots for hygienic reasons. Anyhow, I kept my look simple. I applied it to the entire lid and blended a matte flesh colored highlight downward. I did blend with my fingertip. Blending with a brush was nearly impossible. The brush would catch on the texture of the shadow. My hands were thoroughly washed before blending. Sorry, I have no pictures.

Overall, my impression is negative.

The positive - This eye shadow is long lasting. I do think it will live up to its 24 claim, but more opinion on that to follow. The product was easy to apply. It had good texture. It can be used as a liner. The price is right. Other beauty bloggers, which I am not, is claiming this product as a MAC paint pot dupe. I can't say whether it is or isn't. Besides price, value, and lasting wear -- I can't really like this product.

My first complaint was the color. When I flip my jar over, I see this beautiful plum color with shimmer. When I applied the shadow, it was more brown. This could be my skin tone. It could be a million other factors. I can certainly say, it was not the color I see at the bottom of the jar.

The swatch - As you can see, when I applied the cream shadow on top of Shadow Insurance, it really pronounced the sparkle in the shadow. It almost has a gold sheen. I had to apply A LOT to get this color. It wasn't picking up the plum color. Without Shadow Insurance, the color is very brown, not plum. This is what I had on my eyelids. Not the rich plum, purple hue of a pomegranate.  Again, I had to apply a ton of product to get this dark color. I don't think you should have to apply supporting shadow to get the color you want. I fear this product is no more than a colored base.

I have never tried a cream shadow, and I am fairly certain I will probably not purchase another. I had to build the color very heavily to get the color coverage to match what was staring at me in the jar. I could feel the weight on my lids. It wasn't like taping quarters to my eyelids, but there was a weight difference in comparison to mineral shadows.

This is NOT a solution for oily lids. I have oily lids and I can say by the end of my work day, there was a change in consistency, and color. The shimmer had disappeared. I am sure I could have applied a primer, but I see no point in adding more weight to my lids. I felt this shadow all day. Especially when I blinked. I am sure this could be solved by a lighter application and more blending; however, we purchase certain bold colors to be bold. It was my experience that in order to achieve the somewhat plum color, I really had to cake it on.

24 Hour Claim - As mentioned earlier, I think this product will last 24 hours and not budge. Honestly, I don't see why you would need this to last 24 hours. It seems a bit ridiculous to me. This will NOT come off with soap and water if used directly on the skin. The shadow over primer came off by 75%. The only way this could be removed effectively is with makeup remover and/or makeup removing cloths. I have cloths and the shadow came off with a bit of scrubbing.

I think overall, I am just not a fan of cream/pot shadows. This might be the bigger issue and this may be an unfair review. There are some positives, but I don't see this being a part of my makeup routine. If you're looking for a long lasting product, this is for you. Honestly, I would rather stick to primers and loose mineral shadows.

Makeup Review: Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gloss

First of all, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I can honestly say that I am glad it is over and done with. No, I am not that much of a Grinch, but for reasons I can't share, it was a very depressing holiday and I exerted a lot of energy into trying to find the bittersweet happiness in it all.

I was able to spend a little time in Sephora yesterday.  I have had my eye on a tube of Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gloss for awhile.  In fact, all of their glosses are tempting, however, I have a big problem.  I buy gloss and I end up not using it.  Same goes with lipstick.  I have a weird skin tone that rules out the pretty soft colors.  They just don't show on my lips.  The tones that compliment my skin tone often don't translate on my darker lips.  I don't like being all up in your face with red lipstick all the time.  I feel like I am always shoved into bold, dark colors when it comes to lip wear.

The Highlights:

• Stickiness Factor - Very well-balanced.
• Thickness Factor - Very well-balanced.
• Stay Factor - Typical for a gloss.
• Color selection - Wonderful
• Price - $14.00 for a .13 ounce hard, clear tube with hourglass wand

With that said, I had Christmas money and told myself I would give Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Cherry Red a try.  The $14.00 price tag always makes me cringe, but in comparison to a tube of Fresh Sugar, it is a steal.  It comes with this odd hourglass shaped wand, but it is easy to get used to.  After playing with it a few times, I actually like it better than the traditional brushes.  It picks up quite a bit of gloss and I had even application.

What Sephora claims: "A maximum-shine, moisturizing gloss starring a new generation of 'multi-holographic' shimmers, for perfect light reflection."  Sephora goes on to describe this gloss as achieving a wet look with elegant luster, and a jewel-like finish.

Does it live it to the claim?  I think it does.  This is the first lip gloss in a LONG time that I actually like.  It is not thick and gooey like so many high performance glosses are.  I do not like having a thick layer of gloss on my lips to achieve color.  One layer of Cherry Red and I have this beautiful red color.  It is very well balanced in my opinion.  It has some weight to it, but not so thick the wand suctions inside the tube. I think the stickiness is well balanced as well.  It didn't glue my lips together, but there was a hint of tackiness.  Just enough to let you know it is still there.  I do NOT like a watery gloss. It does appear wet for about the first hour of wear and then fades.  As the day went on, I had these nicely stained and moisturized lips.  I did not get, what I call, a sloughed mess.  I'm not sure what the beauty term for it is, but it is when you wear a lipstick or gloss and after a few hours, the color has rolled into little balls on your lips.  This effect is generally seen with cheap lipsticks.  It did not do this.  I was really happy with the stained effect.  I did not use a liner and it did feather a little bit.  You might want to watch out for that.

I've read some reviews complaining of having to re-apply often.  This gloss does NOT advertise all day wear.  I noticed, like any gloss, it had to be re-applied after 2-4 hours to keep that wet look.  My lips still had product on it, but it obviously was not as fresh looking BUT still moisturized.  I've read reviews bashing the gloss because it wipes off/kisses off/comes off on coffee cups.  This is true, but again.  This gloss does NOT advertise that it is a miracle product.  It is a gloss and it will come off.  If you need it to last all day and not come off on everything, find a different product.

Overall, I am very pleased with this product.  I'm wearing the Cherry Red in the picture above.  I will purchase it again.  There are a few other reds that I am interested in and a few of their new colors look awesome as well.

Makeup Review: Facebomb Cosmetics' Saucy Jack, Trashy and P.S. I Love You

I ordered more Facebomb Cosmetics.  Like, tons more.  For now, I am going to review Saucy Jack, P.S. I Love You, and Trashy.

First up is P.S. I Love You.  It is a pale pink with lots of shimmer.  It is a good highlight color.  If you are more pale, it could probably be a nice primary color.

Next is Trashy.  It is a really dark pink.  It looks red here in the swatch, but it applies as a really dark pink.  This is a great primary/crease color for some pop.  There is a good deal of shimmer, but not overly so.  Again, I have to plug my Two Faced's Glitter Glue.  You can definitely see that the Glitter Glue adheres more of the glitter and pigment.  Invest in some, people!  Just remember you will have to PAT the minerals on, not swipe.

Here is the look I created with P.S. I Love You as the highlight and inner eye and Trashy as the outer lid and crease.  I really liked it.  It was subtle enough for work.  Loved the shimmer of P.S.

Now, Saucy Jack is one odd color.  It looks like a bronze in the jar, but is a purplish maroon.  It has lots of gold sparkle.  See, you can hardly see any purple in the minerals.  I honestly thought she packaged the wrong color.  Excuse my plain nails.  I used to do a lot with my nails, but I type most of the day and it would just chip.  I guess it wouldn't hurt me to put on at least a clear top coat LOL.

Here you can really see the speckles of glitter.  This was taken AFTER a full day of work.  Yup, you read that right.  AFTER a full 10 hour day, you can still see the individual glitter sparkles.  I used Saucy Jack on my lids and E.L.F.'s Innocent as the brow highlight.  Blend.  Pretty simple.

As always, turn around time was a few days.  Shayna is always quick to fill your order, and quick to tell you whether there is a problem.  Her products are awesome.  I've tried many Indie brands and I keep coming back to Facebomb.  Give them a try.  You can find Facebomb and Shayna on Facebook.  She will invoice you through Paypal.  It is my understanding her website is still experience growing pains.

Makeup Review: Facebomb Cosmetics Black Friday Sale

There was only one sale I stayed up for and that was Facebomb Cosmetics.  I can't say enough good things about Facebomb.  Shayna is a cool gal that always puts her customers first, prices are excellent and customer service has always been great.

For the Black Friday sale, I purchased:

Powder Keg - Bright Blue

All Sparkly Glowy - Shimmery Gold

Provocateur - Bright Pink

Obnoxious - Bright Yellow

1.21 Gigawatts - Silver

Cuppycake - Purple

Unicorn Tales (Sample) - White

Heart Strings (Sample) - Rosy Pink

Below are my sad attempt at some swatches.  I'm feeling under the weather and my heart wasn't all there to mess with my camera settings.  The white balance is crap.  I apologize.  I did the best I could.  All colors are swatched over NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk.  I know, I know.  I always gripe that a good primer and glitter glue are the best for loose/glittery pigments.  I'm running low on my Two Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue, so I grabbed the cheaper alternative.  Sue me :)  FYI:  I took the plunge and tried one of these pigments over the Milk.  After a day of work, it creased!  My hot and oily eye lids caused the Milk to melt into my crease.  No bueno.  So, while I will use it because I am too poor to purchase the good stuff right now, it DOES make a good swatch.

My swatches really do these colors NO justice.  All of these colors have an extra pop if you use glitter glue. I know, I'm totally killing it with the glitter glue, but it literally grabs all the sparkle and keeps it there.  So far, my favorite looks are below:

1.21 Gigawatts applied to the inner 1/3 of the eye.  Cuppycake applied to the middle and outer lid.  Also applied to the crease.  Blended the Cuppycake into the crease.  I used a matte powder for the brow.  Applied over Two Faced's Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue.

All Sparkly Glowy applied to the inner half of the eye and brought up to the crease.  Provocateur applied to the outer eye.  No brow highlight at all.  Applied over Two Faced's Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue.

1.21 Gigawatts applied to the inner half of the eye lid and brought up to highlight the brow.  I typically do not put glitter glue on the area underneath the brow.  I do this purposely so I can blend in some of the shimmer to the brow without it picking up TOO much sparkle.  Powder Keg applied to the outer lid.  Applied over Two Faced's Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue.

Same colors as above, just a further away shot.  Yes, I understand I used the same application technique.  I don't sway from this formula much because I do wear this to work at a law firm.  I am honestly surprised I get away with these colors.  I'm pretty sure it is because of the smokey eye look I try to keep.  No crazy liners.  No extreme glitter.  Behind my glasses, I think it cuts down a lot of the perceived glitter.

My favorites from this batch are is actually NOT the color that I had been waiting for.  The reason for this purchase to get 1.21 Gigawatts.  Don't get me wrong.  I like it, but I didn't fall in love with it like I did from the original swatch.  My two favorite colors are actually the two I almost didn't buy.  I LOVE All Sparkly Glowy and Provocateur.  Together, they make an awesome combination.  I've been finding All Sparkly Glowy as my go to sparkle.  It is GREAT for the inner eye.  It really pops in a warm way.  Provocateur is a lovely pink.  I don't usually do pinks, but this one is great.  I haven't had a chance to really do a look with the Obnoxious.  It is too bold a statement for work, so that is going to have to be something I play with on another day.  Cuppycake was okay, but I prefer the Witches Brew from Facebomb's Coffin Collection. I'll be honest. I have had trouble getting Cuppycake to blend the way that I want to.  Not sure if that is me or what.  I did try a look with Unicorn Tales and Heart Strings and it was a disaster.  My application was sloppy and I really didn't like the combination of them together.  Heart Strings is more of a red hue on my skin.  It wasn't flattering.  I'll be honest, I have trouble finding a use Unicorn Tales.  White is such a bold color.  I'll have to come up with a different look when I have time to do it justice.  Not bad products, just not flattering on me.

I love all of my Facebomb products.  As I've mentioned in previous reviews, the owner gets your order out fast, is willing to go above and beyond and her products are awesome.  I truly have not been disappointed in any purchase.  I constantly get compliments on my makeup which is the reason I take the time to review every order I receive from Facebomb.  All products are paid by me with the exception of samples.  My opinions are my own and I am not a friend, family member or live in the same state as the owner.  I just really enjoy helping out a small company in any way I can AND I really do love her colors.  I love glitter and her bright pigments.  They make me happy.

Oh, I should probably also say I am NOT a makeup artist.  Not being compensated with products for good reviews, etc. so on and so forth.  Heck.  I am FAR from a makeup artist, but I have been asked.  It is flattering, but really.  I think they're just trying to be nice LOL.

You can find Facebomb on Facebook.  Shayna has a website up at Facebomb Cosmetics, but I last I heard, it is having trouble with IE and still working out the kinks.  You can like Facebomb on Facebook and order from Shayna directly.

Makeup Review: Facebomb Cosmetics Coffin Collection

On Friday, I received my Coffin Collection from Facebomb Cosmetics.  I am a repeat customer of Facebomb.   I've tried many mineral/loose shadow Indie companies, but I think I found my home with Facebomb.  Shayna, the owner, really puts together some wicked colors that have glitter impact.  In general, I recommend anyone to give her products a shot.

Please excuse the white balance in my pictures. I was having major issues.  Anyhow, my collection came in this handcrafted coffin.  How cool, right?  I honestly love it.

Included in the coffin are five mineral shadows in the standard 5 gram jar with sifters already inserted.  All sifters are covered with a sticker.  All jars are individually sealed.  This collection included the following colors: Spectre (glittery white), Voodoo Doll (glittery black), Witches Brew (glittery purple), Pumpkin Guts (glittery orange), and Danse Macabre (glittery green).

I swatched all the colors over Two Faced's Glitter Glue.  It is my base of choice.  Many people like using white liner pens.  I don't like doing that.  Glitter glue keeps the sparkle in place.  As you can see, they all pop.  The Voodoo Doll is one heck of a black.  Spectre is one glitter packed white.  You can use it without a base and produce a nice, light sparkle OR pack it on a base and get some real color.  I really love Witches Brew.  It is one unforgettable purple.  I haven't really had a chance to play with Pumpkin Guts but it swatches really well.  The whole reason I purchased the Coffin Collection was to try Danse Macabre.  It is BRIGHT.

My husband took us out to dinner and I decided to give the coffin collection a try.  I used Witches Brew on the inner corner, inner and middle lid, and lower to middle lash line.  I then used Danse Macabre on the outer "V"/outer lid.  I applied Spectre as a brow highlight.  I did not apply glitter glue underneath my brow to avoid the white.  I just wanted a sparkle.

Here is the look from far away.  You can see the shimmer and sparkle from the Spectre.  I was really impressed with the way it caught the light without being overpowering.

 Here you can see the whole thing.  Don't mind my hamster cheeks.  Yes, I realize they are huge and no, I don't store food in cheek pockets.

Facebomb has announced she will be bringing back the Coffin Collection for her Black Friday sale.  I know these colors aren't necessarily "holiday" friendly, but I really recommend grabbing them while you can.  They are really fun.  As for wear, if you are using a high quality primer/base, her shadows will last all day.  I have never had a problem with creasing or fading.  Give Shayna's products a try.  She is currently invoicing straight from Facebook because she is in the process of opening her own website.  She is always accommodating, communicates well and encloses samples and other goodies with your order.  She is really fun to follow on Facebook, too.

Makeup Review - Bath and Body Review: Aqua Blossom

Aqua Blossom is another Etsy vendor I found through Heartsy.  For $10, I received $31 worth of store credit.  Again, if you like trying new things, Heartsy is the way to go.

Aqua Blossom sells mineral eye shadow, body scrubs, lip balms, and body butter.  The store really doesn't have any fancy advertising or catchy slogans.  The shop owner, Ashley, simply states that she is a mother of two who started making her own bath products with her children in mind.  She wanted products that did not contain harsh chemicals or ingredients.

I purchased the following:

• Mini Scrub Sampler - Choose 3 (2 ounce) jars of body scrub. I chose Butterbeer, Mojito and Orange Creme Cupcake
• Pick Any Five (5 ounce jars) of mineral shadow in Anemone, Sea Monster, Atomic Blueberry, Supernova and Oh My Darlin
• Whipped Shea Butter (4 ounces) in Caramel Apple

Packaging:

Turn around time was above average.  I ordered on September 12th and received my items on September 19th.  The owner contacted me at every step even notifying me that she was waiting on some minerals for one of the colors I ordered and that it may be delayed a few days.  There was definitely some excellent service being provided.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed, but not angry, at the packaging.  My items arrived in a bubble mailer that had been folded over and sealed with tape because the mailer was too large.  I receive these items at work, so I apologize for not taking pictures.  I'm not too picky about that.  What I am picky about is that was the only protection.  Normally, when I order mineral makeup and bath products in the same order, the packer generously separates the items in either cellophane bags or more bubble wrap, or both.  The reasoning?  Body butters and body scrubs contain oily ingredients.  The lids, even when secured with shrink wrap, can leak.  When I opened the envelope, all of the mineral shadows had loose lids and two had leaked minerals inside the bag.  It wasn't too bad, but disappointing.  In addition, the mineral pots were not shrink wrapped/sealed.  The only protection from leaking was a circle sticker on the inside.  Here, you can see that a third sticker almost popped off.  To add to things, all the items were a bit greasy.  One of the body scrubs melted a little bit and some of that syrup oozed out just enough to make all the containers a bit oily.  Having those enclosed in some kind bag, heck, even a sandwich bag, would have been nice.

The Verdict: Aqua Blossom Mineral Shadows

These are your standard mineral shadows.  There really isn't anything bad about them.  I wore Sea Monster to work today over Two Faced's Glitter Glue and it has held up pretty nicely.

As you can see by my picture, the jars took a beating.  You can see that Sea Monster (the green) and Oh My Darlin (the orange) had leaked.  The black lids are all scratched.  Not anything to be mad about, but I would like to see more care put into the packaging.

Here is the Aqua Blossom swatch over Two Faced's Glitter Glue.  All very pretty colors.  They are more shimmery than I thought they would be.  I was almost under the impression that these minerals might be more flat from their pictures.  You can definitely see sparkle, but a very understated sparkle.  This would be a lovely entry product for women who want some sparkle but not in-your-face glitter.  USE PRIMER or a BASE.

Overall, I was "satisfied" with the mineral shadows.  Will I purchase again?  I'm on the fence.  I really do love the colors.  I will just have to see if those colors are colors I can't live without.  So far, I love Sea Monster and Atomic Blueberry.  Would I recommend them?  I don't think someone who has more pigmented/sparkly makeup would enjoy this.  If I had to choose between Aqua Blossom and Facebomb - I would go with Facebomb because they have more pigmented/glittery minerals.  Definitely a personal preference and not a knock on Aqua Blossom.  I would recommend them to a friend that is afraid of too much bling.  Aqua Blossom is more shimmery.

These products are more for the person who wants fun makeup that doesn't come with the price tag.  They are reasonably priced, apply well and wear well, BUT I think these are more for a person that wants to try a more bold look.  I don't think it would be a product for someone who already has a collection of in-your-face colors.  I hope that makes sense.  This is entry level minerals.  There is nothing wrong with that.  They are fun and I will have fun playing with them.

The Verdict: Aqua Blossom Body Butter

I ordered the body butter in Caramel Apple.  When I took the lid off, the scent almost made me drool, but unfortunately, that is where the scent ended.  I applied some to my arms immediately and the scent turned into a faded memory.  I could still smell it, but only when I literally smashed my nose into it.  In comparison to other vendors I have tried in the past, the scent just didn't last.  As for the actual product, it was hydrating and did it's job.  It is super greasy, though.  It is, after all, a body BUTTER.  I recommend using it before bed so it has time to soak in your skin.  

Would I purchase this again?  Even though the scent length didn't live up to my expectations, I probably will purchase this again.  It is a good price and an awesome gift for a friend that may not like the lingering scent.  Not all of us want to smell like a caramel apple all day, however, I AM the person that wants to smell like the product I just smeared all over myself. Do I recommend it?  Yes, I recommend this product to people who want the benefits of the body butter, but maybe not the lingering, over powering scent.

The Verdict: Aqua Blossom Body Scrubs

I have only tried one of my body scrubs.  I opened my Orange Cream Cupcake.  Again, when you open the container, you receive a rush of scent.  In the shower, you are surrounded by this wonderful citrus smell.  The exfoliating power on this stuff is awesome.  The downside?  I walked out of shower, patted myself dry and barely smelled of orange cream cupcake.  I can't really knock the product for that.  I don't think I've tried a sugar scrub that actually has a scent that lingers.  It was faint.  My husband couldn't smell until he smashed his nose into my arm.

Would I recommend it?  Yes.  This is a perfect gift.  It is a wonderful exfoliant.  Would I purchase it again.  Maybe.  There is an emulsifying scrub made by One Hand That Washes the Other that is more up my alley, but I can still think of plenty of uses for this body scrub.

Overall, in my opinion, Aqua Blossom has potential.  I would definitely recommend this store for Christmas gifts for a teen/young woman.  I contacted the owner and let her know of my shipping mishaps and she immediately responded with an offer to replace any leaked items and admitted she wasn't happy with her recent stock of mineral shadow containers.  She took all my suggestions well and that always makes me happy.  I did NOT request replacements.  I told her I just wanted to let her know a few things other shops do to ensure that other products don't taint each other.  The prices are reasonable, the customer service was good and overall, a good Etsy shop.

Makeup Review: Brazen Cosmetics

So, as previously mentioned, I have been on a mineral eye makeup frenzy.  It is my favorite kind of eye shadow at the moment.  Pressed shadows NO MORE!

If you don't already have a VIP membership to Heartsy, I am here to tell you that it is 100% worth it if you like supporting small businesses.  For a measly $10/month, you get the opportunity to purchase discount vouchers to try out Etsy/Artfire vendors.  Usually, up to a 60% discount.  I have been able to try a handful of Etsy and Artfire shops on a discount basis and that is nice when you're really unsure about whether or not you really want to chance it.

Enter Brazen Cosmetics.  You can find them on Facebook and stop by their Etsy shop or Artfire kiosk.  I'm not going to go through the process of listing prices.  You can check out the links above and browse yourself.

What Brazen claims about their products via their Etsy shop description:

Brazen Cosmetics is your top stop for creative and trendy makeup & scents. Why blend in?! Our products work HARD to bring you high pigmentation, long lasting wear, unique colors and makeup that actually IMPROVES your skin! One swipe and you'll be hooked. Developed by a professional Makeup Artist (and Cosmetic Formulator for the last 10 years!), Brazen Cosmetics were created for the daring confident girls (or guys) who demand a lot from their makeup and don't settle. Unleash your inner drama queen and strut your stuff in style!

I purchased the following items:

• Eye Shadow in Jinx  - Described as a purple lilac with shimmer
• Eye Shadow in Oblivion - Described as a smoky green with shimmer
• Eye Shadow in Animated - Described as a super vibrant blue with blue sparkles
• Eye Shadow in Frisky - Described as a tangerine shimmer with a pink hue
• Glitterati gel glitter in Red Carpet.  
• Passion Pot Lip Gloss in Forbidden Fruit.
• Mystery Item: Passion Pot Lip Gloss in Peep Show. 

If a vendor offers a discounted random item, I most ALWAYS purchase it because it forces me out of the box.  I would have never purchased Peep Show on my own.  Enclosed with my order was a sample of Twisted and Courtesan mineral shadows.  Quite a haul, right?  All for $35!  Thank you, Heartsy!

The packaging:

Again, sorry for the lack of photographs.  I received my package really quickly.  It arrived in a manila envelope with all my items carefully wrapped in an outer layer of bubble wrap and an inner layer of hot pink tissue paper sealed with a custom Brazen Cosmetics sticker.  Each jar (pictured above) was individually sealed which is always nice.  Sifters are already installed/included with a protective seal.  Obviously, no sifters on the gel glitter or passion pots.  No leaks and no cracks.  Each jar is labeled on the bottom with a custom sticker that lists ingredients! Always good to see that, too.

The Verdict - Brazen Shadows

You'll have to excuse the lack of pictures and the horrendous condition of my skin.  I started a new medication and my whole face broke out.  I've been busy and I'll provide what I have had the time to take.  The pictures below are with Animated (blue).  The purple and white are from other companies, so I won't mention them here.  The color is fantastic.  My husband immediately said, "Wow, that looks really good."

I chose to go with a not-so-in-your-face look.  I am sure Animated would be wonderful all out and in-your-face.  Instead, I opted to take my test run out in a more modest fashion.  After blending, of course it didn't look anything like the bright blue you see in the stock photos.  I can say had I chose not to blend, it looked just like Brazen's stock photo.  My favorite blue shade by ANY company.  Hands down.

The color lasted all day.  It was applied over Two Faced's Glitter Glue.  The pictures don't really pick up the shimmer, but it was shimmery and glittery.  No creasing, but again, I used good primer and glue.

I have also tried every other color of my Brazen collection BUT did not take pictures.  Sorry.  One of these days, I might get motivated to actually do swatch photos, but for now, I'm not completely hardcore on doing that lol.

Brazen's shadows are highly pigmented, they last all day and produce the color that is in the container.  I can't comment on quality of her mixology or any of the other claims more experienced and professional bloggers have.  No, I don't have mica laying around to compare whether she is selling stock colors.  I can just say that I love the Brazen line of shadows.  I will never claim to know more than I know LOL.

My biggest piece of advice is to always use a good primer that is designed for loose pigments and a base that will help the glitter/sparkles stick.  If you don't, the pigment will just wash out and/or fall out.

Does Brazen live up to their claims?  I think they do.  Bright colors, long lasting, fun, different and high pigmentation.

The Verdict: Brazen Lip Gloss

I wish I could yell from the rooftops about how I love Brazen's lip glosses, but I am on the fence.  Again, I apologize for the lack of pictures.  In the pictures above, I am wearing Brazen's Peep Show.  It is a BRIGHT pink.  Click the link in my list above.  All of Brazen's pictures are SPOT on.  I toned it down by blotting which gave me a nice rosy color.  I love the color, though.  I really do.  Brazen makes some out-of-this-world glosses.

I will say this.  You get bang for your buck.  The glosses come in the same size tub as the shadows.  I definitely think you get your money's worth.  They are thick, creamy and sticky.  If you don't like that kind of gloss, steer clear.  They apply EXACTLY the color you bought.

Then why have I not fallen in love with them?  Maybe it is my lips.  I don't know.  Brazen's lip gloss will NOT apply smoothly for me.  I get these weird pockets of color with light or heavy application.  It doesn't like to stick to the inner part of the lips even if you thoroughly dry beforehand.  Again, it could just be my crazy lips.

Go big, or go home.  That is what I think with this product.  I played around and really packed it on.  It was gorgeous, but as time went on and the product faded, I got those weird color pockets.  Fair warning that applying too much will cause your lips to stick together.  I tried applying some clear lip balm before the Brazen gloss and had a bit more success with eliminating those weird color pockets.

I don't like the gloss in the jars.  I have never been a big fan of any lip product that I have to stick my finger into.  Especially this gloss.  It is so thick, it really needs a wand applicator.  Yes, I could go buy my own, but I don't feel like it LOL.  Brazen is starting to sell some glosses in tubes, but not all.

In the end, I think I would recommend them for fun.  I really love the colors because they are not traditional.  I have seen pictures of her glosses in action and obviously, I am doing something wrong.  I want to love them, but so far, I can only really, really like them.

FINAL VERDICT

I enjoy Brazen Cosmetics very much and urge you to give them a try.  Her shadows are awesome.  I am still on the fence about the glosses, but you might have better luck.  Customer service was awesome.  Brazen answered all my emails the same day.  The power flickered and my first round at trying to order was erased.  I contacted Brazen to make sure it didn't transmit because I had entered a voucher code.  I received an immediate response letting me know she didn't receive an order.  I submitted the order again and immediately received an email from Brazen just to confirm she received it.  Not an automated email (although I received one of those as well), but an actual email from the owner.  Now that is customer service!

There are many other shades that I want to try and I will most definitely be a repeat customer.

Makeup Review - Sephora 12h Jumbo Crayon in White

On Thursday, I bought my first bottle of Make Up For Ever foundation that I reviewed yesterday.  Along with my MUFE, I bought a Sephora 12h waterproof Jumbo Crayon Liner in White.

According to the website:

These jumbo pencils create a range of effects, from bold lines and blended effects to thin, defined lines. Resistant to water, heat, and humidity, their creamy, high-pigment formulas apply smoothly. From deep blacks to rich and shimmery shades, each is formulated with exclusive waxes and pigments to assure maximum color intensity that stays put for 12-hours.

What I love:

It lives up to the claims.  I live in Texas and it outlasted the 100 degree weather.  I applied this pencil to my arm and ran it under water.  This crayon was going NOWHERE.  I rubbed it.  This crayon did not wipe off.  I can see these pencils being a must-have to woman that love to go out to the clubs.  It is highly pigmented and stays put.  It does apply smoothly and blends.  I purchased the white crayon and it was a very bright, shimmery pigment.  I love the lasting power and guaranteed to stay where you put it.

What I could live without:

Be VERY careful in application.  When I was swatching on my arm, I noticed that when you attempt to heavily apply the crayon, it tends to bunch up in areas and the product becomes uneven.  I suppose you can bypass this by blending in each layer before adding more.  I really wish this crayon came in a matte option.  This is very shimmery, almost silky looking.

The final verdict:

I originally purchased this pencil due to recommendations of using white crayons as a base for high pigment/glittery loose powders.  The NYX pencil in Milk is highly recommended on many Indie sites.  I figured this pencil would do just as well.

Displayed here is Facebomb Cosmetics' loose pigment in, "Pumpkin Tits."  It is a pumpkin orange pigment with purple speck of glitter.  On the far left, I used my favorite product - Two Faced's Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue.  In the middle, I applied directly to my arm.  On the right, I used the Sephora Jumbo Liner in White as a base.

My opinion:  The cheapest option of using a white jumbo liner/crayon is not my favorite idea.  In my opinion, the glitter glue is the closest to the intended shade AND was the only base/primer that continued to show that this pigment has purple glitter.  If you look at the pictures very closely, you will see specks of purple glitter.  Obviously, without a base/primer, you can't really see any shimmer.  Using the jumbo liner, you just get a "foiled" effect.  You can achieve this with a normal primer and wetting your brush.  You don't NEED that extra step.  While it is better than the alternative, I don't like that the glitter becomes an afterthought.  If you want to do that, then just don't bother with a glittered pigment.  You can achieve that look with a dampened application brush and normal compacted pigments.  If you are going to purchase loose glittery pigments, go with the Glitter Glue.  You won't be disappointed.

Makeup Review - Make Up For Ever (MUFE) Mat Velvet + Foundation #35

Yesterday, after shopping all evening for school supplies, I decided to treat myself to a quick Sephora shopping spree.  I still had a $50 gift card to spend and I needed some foundation.  I have been wanting to try Make Up For Ever's (MUFE) Mat Velvet +, but even the thought of spending $34 on foundation kills me!  What if I don't like it?  What if it breaks me out?  After much debating, I convinced myself that I needed to use the gift card to try a new foundation so it doesn't hurt my pocket book.

According to their website:

The Mat Velvet + foundation conceals skin imperfections, evens out the complexion and matifies with a non-oily powdery finish. The result is flawless and lasts for hours long. Its smooth, fluid texture is very stable, water-resistant and long-lasting. While it has a good coverage, it is also easy to apply. The end result can be fitted to your needs. Applied lightly, Mat Velvet + provides a natural, matte look to the complexion. Using several layers to help conceal blemishes creates a supple and elastic velvety finish. This new oil-free and non comedogenic formula is suited to sensitive skins.

According to me:

I have used this foundation for ONE day and have fallen in love.  I don't think I will ever be able to go back to my fall-back drug store Rimmel 25 hour foundation.

What I love:

I love the coverage.  A little goes a LONG way.  Oddly, it feels light.  My Rimmel in comparison was thick and heavy.  MUFE has many shades and actually had a shade that matched!  I'm a 35 (Vanilla).  Much lighter than I was wearing in comparison, but it just blends in.  The associate at Sephora just looked at me, grabbed two colors and nailed it on the second one.  This foundation lives up to the claim.  Smooth, fluid, stable, water-resistant and long-lasting.  Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.  For my first application, I used a light layer and I was amazed.  I had a few healing blemishes that were red.  Just dabbed an extra dot and it was concealed.  Powder finish?  YES.  Unlike other "long-lasting" drug store brands I have used, my face felt hydrated and soft all day.

What I could do without:

If you have read other reviews of MUFE's Mat Velvet +, you will see a trend like I did.  It dries REALLY fast.  You have to work in small batches or risk having some uneven application.  This isn't really a deal breaker by any means.  It would be nice if the product could be applied in large quantities, but it can't.  Considering how it lives up to the price and claims, I can make the application adjustment.

The final verdict:  I have found my new permanent foundation until something trumps it.  It lasted all day in the Texas heat and really does what it claims.  I am officially at MUFE convert.