Warning: this is going to be a jam-packed post! Remember when I wrote about CVS teaming up with Glamsquad & eSalon to bring us the BeautyIRL store-within-a-store back in September? Well if you don’t you can read my inital post here, but just to recap super quickly: in only 4 select locations across the U.S. CVS is currently piloting an enhanced beauty store experience where they have expanded product offerings, beauty services like blow-out’s, etc (via Glamsquad), and custom hair color mixing (via eSalon). If you want more detailed info make sure to check out my earlier post!
THEEXPERIENCE
Well, I’m lucky enough to live not far from the Stamford, CT test location and last weekend I went! It was beyond awesome. I was like a kid in a candy store, taking photos and walking around exclaiming to myself and to my mother how utterly cool this all was. The standard drugstore brands like Physician’sFormula, Revlon & CoverGirl were definitely there, but there were so many more interesting findings. K-beauty was everywhere. From Peripera, to TheCremeShop, to PeachSlices, to A’Pieu and beyond. There were tons and tons of sheet masks; rows of the stuff. Entire sections of Korean hand & body creams. Also, there were indie brands like Doll10, StorybookCosmetics, & Karity too. A total beauty-lovers dream!
Here’s a quick video to give you a feel for the space:
I took alot of photos of the aisles. I tried to get it all but there was so much it was impossible. The only areas I didn’t encounter were the sections with mini products and the testers, although a very nice CVS beauty consultant told me there were definitely testers there.
And that was just the products. The Glamsquad beauty stand was in the back, next to the custom color-mixing machine from eSalon called “Polly.” I saw one woman getting her hair blown out but that was it. That area seemed to be a bit vacant (just for reference, I went on a Sunday afternoon around 3 p.m.). All in all, I’d say the foot traffic in the area was pretty low. It was just me, my mother and a few other women navigating the aisles. However, the same beauty consultant I had spoken with earlier said they were getting good feedback and good responses overall to the enhanced beauty store.
THEHAUL
Of course I had to pick up a few items 😉. How could I not?? I was very restrained and I got just three things, but I could have grabbed so much more. I really want to go back with my girlfriends soon! I did a quick little video of my haul for Instagram, which you can see down below.
Since filming this, I’ve used all the products mentioned a bit more (or for the first time). My early impressions are that I like all the items I picked up. I can definitely recommend the brow mascara from Peripera; the brush is tiny and it does a great job coating all your brow hairs with little to no clumping. I will need to use the cushion blush & the concealer a little more before I form my final opinions, so stay tuned on those.
You can shop the TresCheekCushionBlush from TheCremeShop in C’estLaPeachhere.
You can shop the SpeedyBrowcara from Periperahere.
You can shop the TrulyYoursFullCoverConcealer from JoahBeautyhere.
Has anyone gone to a CVSBeautyIRL store yet? Has anyone used any of the products I picked up in my haul? If so, what did you think? I’d love to know!
Swatch of the Disco Lip Gloss. You can see the little flecks of glitter.Another look at the Disco Lip Gloss in Groovy. I posted this to Instagram recently and got lots of compliments on the lip color. Isn’t this bright pink color so fun??
What do you guys think about this product? Would you ever wear it? I’d love to know!
If you read my previous post on inspiring Instagram images, you may remember that I just briefly discussed MavieCosmetics. Well, I’m back now with a full post on them since the line justlaunchedyesterday! I love it when a new brand is born, don’t you? If you’re interested I encourage you to visit their website which is now up and running.
Below you’ll find a description of what Mavie is all about. As mentioned in my previous post, this brand is marketing itself as a producer of confidence–boostingandempoweringcosmetics, as evidenced by their choice of product names.
What is Mavie.? Mavie. is all about empowering each other — you and me — by exploring our own uniqueness, qualities, and potentials, together through makeup. Each of our collections is created to shed positive lights on the daily life. We understand our inner beauty is as important as how we look. And we want to help achieve the healthy connection and balance between the inner self and appearance.
Because let’s face it, don’t we all feel darn powerful and confident when we look good? For many of us, putting on makeup isn’t just about vanity, it’s about putting on your warpaint and getting ready to take charge.
Ever feel you can take on the world when you’re wearing that power lipstick?
That is Mavie.
Source: callmemavie.com
At the time of launch, Mavie has eye, cheek&lip cosmetic products only. In this post, I will briefly take you through each category and its respective products. Just a disclaimer, I have not tried any of these products yet so I cannot attest or comment on overall quality, nor can I provide swatches. (You can check Mavie’s Instagram stories for swatches.) This post is purely meant as an introduction to the brand.
Before we get into the categories, here are some fastfacts about the brand.
OnlyshipswithintheU.S.atthetimeoflaunch. They plan on expanding overseas in the future.
All products are cruelty–free, formulated withoutparabens or gluten.
Alleyeshadowpalettesarealsovegan–friendly.
Prices range from $12.00 – $23.00.
All sales are final (no returns or exchanges), but they will replace items broken in transit.
Six 9-pan “TakeMeTo…” eyeshadow palettes priced @ $23.00each
Take Me To Santorini
Take Me to Paris
Take Me to Los Angeles
Take Me to Stockholm
Take Me To Tokyo
Take Me to Hong Kong
Two “Hustle & Bustle” eyeshadow quads priced @ $17.00each
Hustle & Bustle #1
Hustle & Bustle #2
Out of all these color schemes, my eye keeps coming back to the TakeMeToParis & the TakeMeToStockholmPalettes. I love the pinks, the subtle neutrals & that mint green shade in the ParisPalette. And the StockholmPalette just looks so chic to me! You could probably create some really lovely, soft daytime looks with both color stories, which is my favorite kind of look to achieve!
Four “The Motto Blushes” (powder blush singles) priced @ $14.00each
LetYourLightShine – coral, with matte finish
DoItForYou – nude pink, with matte finish
TaketheRiskorLosetheChance – medium pink, with satin finish
ICanAndIWill – nude to coral, with satin finish
Personally I’m not too excited by these blushes. On screen the colors all look like a variation of the same thing. And by the time they’re applied and sheered out on the cheek, they’ll probably give the same effect. It would be nice to see a deeper berry tone or mauve in the line to break up all the pink & peach. Hopefully that will be forthcoming in the future.
Eight “Power Charms” Lipsticks priced between $12.00 – $13.00
Confidence – glossy finish – $13.00
Resilience – satin finish – $12.00
Curiosity – matte finish – $13.00
Strength – satin finish – $12.00
Leadership – satin finish – $12.00
Wisdom – satin finish – $12.00
Positivity – glossy finish – $13.00
Inspiration – glossy finish – $13.00
These look nice but not anything particularly special. I’ll probably wait to hear some reviews before I try anything. I do love a good satin texture though. I don’t understand why there’s a $1.00 price difference in half of the lipstick shades.
What do you think of this new launch? Do any of the products tickle your fancy? I’d love to know!
It’s time to share another round of cool & inspiring images with you! If you are new to the blog, each month I pluck several images off Instagram that I find beautiful and eye-catching and share with you all why I find these images to be inspirational. Usually they are all beauty-related since that’s my jam over on my blog account @weareglamerus (go follow me, please and thank you!). However, I do like to also throw in some wildcards as well to keep things interesting.
So let’s take a look at what I picked for this month’s installment!
(You can catch up on my previous lists here: September, October.)
So far I don’t have anything from Korean beauty brand Glow Recipe in my skincare aresenal, but I so want to get something! It seemed like every beauty blogger & influencer was singing the praises of their now-famous WatermelonGlowPinkJuiceMoisturizer last year; it didn’t hurt that the packaging design was so well executed, it alone launched a thousand Instagram posts. Everything in their line just looks so dreamy. Case in point with this photo; look at those colors & textures. I have no idea what a “pressed serum” is but after looking at this, I want it! You can shop GlowRecipehere.
If you’re into beauty on Instagram, you gotta be into the good ‘ole flat-lay. Everyone wants to see what you’re using and how artfully you can stage all the products. Some are master stagers (I’m still in training myself 😊), and beauty blogger Geniussr certainly knows how to nail them! I love the mixture of textures and prints in this particular photo and how they play off the bright pops of color from the flowers, plus the print of the magazine. I just love how luxe this feels with the golds & blacks and the lush product brands. Check out Geniussr’s blog here!
MavieCosmetics is a new brand that will be launching tomorrow11/6 in the U.S. with shadow palettes, blushes & lipsticks. (Stay tuned for my next post for more information!) From what I can tell so far with this brand, all the products have very inspirational, aspirational or confidence-boosting names like “Let Your Light Shine” and “I Can and I Will.” So all the Instagram promotion leading up to the launch also has very motivational messaging like in the above photo. This one in particular caught my eye. While I don’t necessarily believe the message to be a categorical truth, I do believe that in mostcases we are our own worst enemies who stand in our own way. Cosmetics just got deep…oh dear!
I just love Missoma’s style. I’ve been a fan of the brand ever since I got two pieces from their Lucy Williams collection for Christmas last year, which are beautiful and extremely good quality. If you’re not familiar with Missoma, take a quick peruse of their site or their Instagram page. They do really gorgeous-looking pieces that are dainty yet very elegant. I’ve had my eye on the Roman coin-style necklaces for a while now, so that may be this year’s Christmas gift request 😊. Honestly I could pick any of their Instagram photos to feature here, but I particularly liked this one because of the crystal texture in the background and the cool patterns on the trinket tray.
Isn’t this just the coolest?? If you love beauty & illustration then you must follow Dakota Scarlett’s Instagram account. She’s an awesome artist that has combined her gift for illustration and her love of beauty & fashion magazines into these amazing works of art. Again, I could have picked any of her IG images to feature here but this was the most recent one and I love all the tones of pink here. Talk about eye catching! I encourage you to also check out Dakota’s website.
I first wrote about OhiiBeauty, the new makeup line from UrbanOutfitters, in a brand overview-type post when it first launched back in September. (P.S. I bought a few items from the line since then so another post will be coming soon!) I think you probably know by now that I love a bit of texture, so I couldn’t pass this image by without a click. I love the color contrast, and how the product swatches look so bright and light against the greyish-blue background. You can shop Ohiihere.
We’re back in flat-lay land! Sorry, I can’t help myself! London blogger Mavey, who runs the @onebeautifuljunkie Instagram account, is another must-follow if you love looking at a beautifully edited, beautifully designed flay-lay. I love, love, love the slightly vintage feel of this photo thanks to its off-white, slightly fuzzy focus. And the pale, cool colors of the products playing against the gold jewelry creates such a gorgeous palette to gaze at.
Don’t we all?? While FourthRayBeauty is talking about skincare here, this statement could apply to so many aspects of life so that’s why I was drawn to it. That and the color palette, again, is so lovely to gaze at. If you’re not familiar with FourthRayBeauty, they are ColourPop’s new sister brand under Seed Beauty specializing in affordable and attractively-packaged skincare products. You can shop the brand here (I haven’t tried anything yet myself).
And now for my wildcard! If this photo doesn’t stir some kind of emotion in you, I don’t know what would. C’mon, who doesn’t love cute puppies?? I follow alot of dog & pet accounts on my personal Instagram (@erica10803 if you wanna follow me over there too!), like #labsofinstagram, so I’m constantly seeing these adorable photos of puppies & dogs in cute and funny situations. I have a real thing for Labs especially; I’ve always had one since I was about 10 years-old and I think they are some of the most beautiful animals.
What images have inspired you recently, on Instagram or elsewhere? I’d love to know!
It’s time for November’s anti-wishlist! I’ve rounded up my list of 5 beauty items from newly-released launches that I won’tbe picking up anytime soon. Like last month a lot of these are limited edition holiday items. Just a disclaimer, if you’re excited or want any of these items, please don’t take this as a condemnation of said item. I obviously have never used any of them; this is based purely on personal preference. We all love different things and that’s great!
You can get caught up with my previous anti-wishlists here: September, October.
So let’s get started!
HUDA BEAUTY CONTOUR & STROBE SET IN HEARTBREAKER & SHAMELESS
Image source: Trendmood IG
I believe HudaBeauty has been doing these lip sets for a while now and they bring out different colors from time to time. This one is a limited edition color scheme for the 2018 holiday season I believe. The kit contains one matte liquid lipstick, one lip pencil & one shimmery lip strobe (or lip topper). Actually the value is great; it’s $25.00 for 3 products. So why don’t I like or want it? To be honest, both the liquid lip & lip pencil formulas from HudaBeauty aren’t necessarily my favorite; they’re not bad, they’re just not my go-to. (Check out my full blog post on HudaBeautyhere.) Also, I very rarely wear red lipstick these days. I love the idea of red lips and how classic they are, especially for Christmas time, but it’s just too high maintenance for me.
JOUER MAKING MAGIC ULTRA FOIL EYESHADOW PALETTE
Image source: Trendmood, via Jouer IG
I believe I’ve only tried one product from Jouer thus far. I’d love to try more especially now that they’re in Sephora, but this limitededition palette isn’t it sadly. I think this literally just launched on sephora.com two days ago, and it’s a little set that includes this 12-pan eyeshadow palette plus a sparkly eye topper for $52.00. An entire palette of foiled, highly shimmery shadows? Just not my cup of tea. I don’t mind one or two foiled shadows as part of a larger palette, but I’d like some mattes in there to help ground the look. Don’t get me wrong, I like shimmer & glitter but definitely not enough to utilize an entire palette-full. (If you’re not familiar with foil shadows, they are used wet to achieve a metallic or hyper-shimmery effect on the eye.)
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN TAPE A L’OEIL NUDE EYE COLOUR COLLECTION
Image source: Louboutin IG
I don’t know anyone that has personally tried any of the ChristianLouboutin makeup yet. I just know what I’ve heard on YouTube or read online and it’s really mixed from what I can tell. This entire line seems geared towards luxury makeup collectors and uber-fans of the brand. I haven’t seen anything yet that I think would be worth the enormous price points. Case in point, this collection of 6 nude eyeshadows called Tapeal’Oeil which launched in early October. They’re $50.00 each and they supposedly apply liquid but set to a powdery finish. I got plenty of good quality shadows in almost every finish: liquid, cream, powder. Why would I need this? And for $50.00 per bottle? Don’t think so. Plus the packaging kinda freaks me out.
COLOURPOP NO FILTER FOUNDATION STIX
Image source: ColourPop IG
ColourPop expanded their NoFilter line just a few weeks ago with this stick foundation launch. It comes in 30 shades for a very affordable price ($10.00 a stick). I’m just not a stick foundation kinda gal unfortunately. I love stick makeup when it comes to blush, eyeshadow, highlighter, etc, but not base products. Most formulas tend to be too dry for my skin. ColourPop claims this gives a lightweight, natural finish that won’t dry your skin out, but I guess I’m still a bit weary. I’d totally be open to trying a stick foundation that was truly hydrating and lumizing, so my fellow dry-skin people out there, if you know of a great formula please let me know! Or if you have tried the NoFilterFoundationStix and it was great on your dry skin, please tell me too!
HOURGLASS AMBIENT LIGHTING EDIT VOL. 4
Image source: Hourglass IG
This one is hard because I really love the HourglassAmbientLighting powders. I wrote about them in my favorite luxury products post a while back. The formula and finish are absolutely beautiful on the skin. But honestly I’m using them less and less in my routine these days, purely because I find myself gravitating away from powders in the cooler months. I go in and out of love with powders all of the time because of my dry skin, so I just can’t see myself dropping $80.00 for this limitededition palette right now. It looks absolutely beautiful though and I’m sure the quality is top-notch. If you are interested for yourself or as a gift for someone, there are 3 face powders, 1 bronzer that’s exclusive to this palette, & 2 blushes (one shade is exclusive to this palette).
What is on your anti-wishlist this month? I’d love to know!
I’ve spoken a few times on here about my love & obsession with the MatteRevolutionLipstick in PillowTalk from CharlotteTilbury. It’s a beautiful lipstick with luxe, fluted rose gold packaging that to me embodies what is often referred to as a “modern matte” texture. It’s a velvety matte that is so cushy & comfy, but at the same time clings to your lips for longer than a cream lipstick generally would. This is an extremely popular shade from the brand, with 1 sold every 2 minutes in 2017 according to their website.
But CharlotteTilbury is quite a premium brand so this formula comes at the hefty price tag of $34.00. I personally think it’s worth the money, but others may not think so. Or perhaps you like the idea of the “modern matte” texture, but can’t fathom spending $30+ on one makeup item. I hear you, and I got you. A few months ago I picked up one of the MixN’MatteLipDuo’s from FlowerBeauty in the shade HoneyNude for a mere $10.00, and I tell you it’s just as beautiful & comfy as PillowTalk! According to FlowerBeauty’swebsite, this product is also a best-seller for them.
From L to R: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk, Flower Beauty Mix N’ Matte Lip Duo in Honey NudeA closer look at the lipstick bullets. Top is Pillow Talk, which has a square-shaped bullet that makes application super simple. Bottom is Honey Nude, which has a traditional slanted bullet shape.
I’m going to compare these lipsticks on 3 elements: color, texture & longevity. At the end I’ll give you my verdict on if these are dupes or not. So let’s get into it!
COLOR
PillowTalk is described on the CharlotteTilburywebsite as a “nude pink matte lipstick,” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s definitely a lot more on the pink side of nude than HoneyNude is. HoneyNude pulls a bit more brown & dark. Hopefully you can see the difference in the swatch photo below; there are also post-application photos towards the end of the post.
Top swatch is Pillow Talk. Bottom swatch is Honey Nude.
TEXTURE
I’d say the textures on both these lipsticks are quite similar. They both apply extremelysmoothly & veryopaquely with minimaltugging. Both are lightweight and almost “set” onto your lips. When you rub your lips together, there’s a definite feeling of moisture and a bit of give there. A few subtle differences: PillowTalk feels a bit more velvety or almost powdery (but not in a bad way), while HoneyNude feels more creamy. HoneyNude is also a bit thicker than PillowTalk to be honest, but not by much. At no point during the day do my lips feel dry with either of these lipsticks on, even after eating or drinking.
LONGEVITY
While both lipsticks dolastquitewell on the lips throughout the day, you will have to touch up after a big meal with both formulas. These are not liquid lipsticks that shrink-wrap onto your lips; you kinda know that going in. That being said, both formulas have lasted on me about 6to7hourswithoutmajorfading. Actually HoneyNude has lasted a little bit longer since the formula is slightly thicker than PillowTalk.
Honey Nude matte lipstick on left. Honey Nude pearlized gloss on right.Honey Nude swatches from left to right: matte lipstick alone, pearlized gloss alone, & pearlized gloss layered on top of matte lipstick.
If you’re chomping at the bit now to get your hands on HoneyNude from FlowerBeauty, you should also know that you get 2 products in 1! (It ain’t called a LipDuo for nothing!) On the opposite side of the matte lipstick, you get a pearlizedgloss that you can wear on its own or layered on top of the lipstick. Honestly, I’ve only worn the gloss once on its own so I really can’t say much about it. But it’s cool that you get 2 products for only $10.00! You can check out more info on Flower Beauty’s website.
Honey Nude applied on the lips. On the left, I have the matte lipstick on alone. On the right, I have the pearlized gloss layered on top the matte lipstick.Pillow Talk applied on the lips. If you’re curious, I also have the NYX Grind Machinist Palette on my eyes!
So, do I think HoneyNude from FlowerBeauty is a dupe for PillowTalk from CharlotteTilbury? After analyzing both formulas, I would have to say theyarenotdupes. However they are quite similar to each other, so I would call HoneyNude a great drugstore alternative to the more expensive PillowTalk. In fact, for less than one-third of the price you get 2 products that feel & last just as well as (if not slightly better than) PillowTalk. A total steal, I’d say!
Have you tried either lipsticks from this post before? If so, what did you think? Do you know any drugstore dupes or alternatives to PillowTalk? I’d love to know!
It’s been a while since I’ve written exclusively about a base product on here but that’s simply because I wasn’t using anything new for quite a long time in my routine. Or I wasn’t using much base at all to be honest, besides concealer. However, I am always interested in finding the best, most affordable tinted moisturizer out there so a few weeks back I picked up the BareMineralsComplexionRescue from Sephora. (Click here to read the post where I hauled this product.) I’ve been using it quite consistently since then so I’m ready to present you with my review!
Note: all text under the next two sections was sourced from the BareMineralswebsite. There’s a wealth of info about on this product on there (I didn’t include everything here), so if you’re interested go check it out.
PRODUCTDESCRIPTION
$30.00 for 35 ml of product
Oil-free tinted face moisturizer boosts hydration, protects with non-chemical mineral-based broad spectrum SPF 30, and evens out your complexion with dewy, natural-looking coverage. It’s the multi-tasking makeup you need in your life!
Our hydrating gel cream blends effortlessly onto skin and allows you to build coverage from sheer to medium, with a naturally radiant finish.
PRODUCTBENEFITS
Titanium dioxide mineral sunscreen gives you safe and effective non-chemical protection from damaging UVA/UVB rays. Plant-derived squalane and energizing mineral electrolytes quench dry skin with all-day hydration that feels light and refreshing.
Non-comedogenic
Non-acnegenic
Hypoallergenic
Dermatologist-tested
Formulated without parabens, binders or fillers
None of our products are tested on animals (100% cruelty-free)
FREE OF:
Parabens
Phthalates
Fragrance
Chemical sunscreens
Sodium lauryl sulfate
Mineral oil
Triclosan
Formaldehyde
Talc
Gluten
Animal-derived ingredients
WHO IS THIS PRODUCT FOR?
I think this product is for anyone who, like me, has dryskinandwhodoesnotgravitatetowardsfull–coveragebaseproducts on the day-to-day (i.e. someone who doesn’t want or need a lot of coverage or who wants to put on their base in one minute or less). However, it could also be useful to someone who likes layering their base products; so then this product would be the first layer underneath a more fuller coverage foundation perhaps. Lastly, those who are newtomakeup or are youngteenagers might also like this product.
HOW I USE & APPLY THIS PRODUCT
I use this as my main base product with nothing layered on top (with the exception of a higher-coverage concealer in certain places). As the instructions on the back of the product recommend, Iusemyfingertipstodotandblendthisintomyskin. I gravitate between using apea–sizedamountoramoregenerousquarter–sizedamount. Sometimes I use stippling motions to get the greatest coverage; sometimes I blend it in like I would a moisturizer. I found using a beauty sponge can take away whatever coverage this product offers since sponges tend to absorb product. I have not tried applying this with a brush.
MY THOUGHTS ON…
Packaging: I absolutely love the packaging on this. It’s a squeezytube which makes it really easy to control how much product comes out. It’s totally clean & hygenic as well.
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Application: This blends right into my skin without very much effort. A few swipes of my finger and I’m set. Easy-peasy. BareMinerals calls this a “gel cream” consistency but I’d say it’s just a creamconsistencyofaveragethickness. It feels quite moisturizingonapplication as well.
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Coverage: Let’s face it, when you buy this product you know what you’re getting into. It’s a tinted moisturizer which is going to give you sheercoverage at the very best. While BareMinerals says this can build from “sheer to medium” coverage, I’m not so sure about that. I’vebeenabletobuildupalittlecoverageintheareasIneedit, but not enough to say “medium coverage” in my opinion. Perhaps if you apply it with a brush you could build it up to medium, but I personally haven’t experienced that. That being said, I’m totally ok with sheer coverage cause that’s what I signed up for! I’d rather add coverage where I need it with concealer.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Finish: This product gives me a verynatural, slightlyglowyfinish. However the glowinesssubsides once the product settles into the skin. There is also notackiness once it sets into the skin, so it doesn’t make my skin feel nearly as plumped or moisturized as the BobbiBrownSPF 25 Tinted Moisturizing Balm does (full review here).
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Opal, the lightest shade available in the Complexion Rescue range.
ShadeSelection: There are 16shadesindifferingundertones to choose from in this line, with most shades falling into the light to medium category. Typically brands don’t bring out as many shades in tinted moisturizer formulas since they’re largely sheer coverage products. However in this case since BareMinerals claims this product can be built from “sheer to medium,” there really should be more tan-to-dark shades represented then. I don’t see why there can’t be like 20 – 25 shades in this line.
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
Longevity: Despite its lightweight nature, thislastsonmequitewell throughout the day without any powdering. I don’t notice much, if any, fading at all. But do keep in mind two things: 1) I have dry skin, and 2) I’ve only been wearing this in the cooler fall weather when everything tends to stay put on me perfectly.
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Price: Youpay$30.00 for35mlofSPF30, hydration& sheer coverage with this product. While I’d love for this to be a few dollars cheaper, I personally think that’s a fair price. Chances are if you think tinted moisturizers are unnecessary or overpriced, you’re not buying them at all. But let’s quickly compare the ComplexionRescue to other high-end tinted moisturizers. Both the NARS & LauraMercierTintedMoisturizers are $45.00 for about 50 ml of product, respectively; the ITCosmeticsYourSkinButBetterCCCream is $38.00 for 32 ml of product. And let’s not forget the insanely overpriced (but oh so gorgeous) SPF25TintedMoisturizingBalm from BobbiBrown: $60.00 for 30 ml of product! Taking all this into consideration, I don’t think BareMinerals is overcharging for the ComplexionRescue.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
FINAL THOUGHTS
All in all I think this is a veryniceproductforthosethatloveorliketintedmoisturizers. It’s extremelyuser–friendly and low–maintenance to apply and wear. I just wish it made my skin look a bit dewier than it does (I’m still really hung up on my beloved BobbiBrown product, I can’t help it!). If you’re not into tinted moisturizers, I’d say skip this altogether and spend your $30.00 elsewhere. I’d really love to find a great drugstore tinted moisturizer, so if you know one please pop it down in the comments below!
A new video for you today all about two mascaras that have been in my rotation for a while now. I hope you enjoy and get something from this if you’re looking for a new mascara to purchase. Make sure you scroll down after watching the video to see brush & post-application photos.
Without further delay, here we go!
To see the original post where I hauled the Volume + LengthMascara, click here.
To see the original post where I hauled the LashSlickMascara, click here.
The Kokie Volume + Length Mascara on left; the Glossier Lash Slick Mascara on right. The Kokie wand is slim with short bristles, and the Glossier wand is a bit thinner with short plastic bristles. The Kokie wand has a lot more product, while the Glossier has much less product.Kokie mascara. Hopefully you can see that my lashes are thicker & more volumized.Glossier mascara. Hopefully you can see here how lengthened my lashes are. They are not too thick though.
I’m gonna get right down to it. If you’re currently in the market for an affordable autumn eyeshadow palette, look no further than NYX Cosmetics. [UPDATE11/9/18: thispaletteisnolongeravailable.] I recently picked up the limitededitionGrindMachinistShadowPalette from Ulta and I’m completely obsessed with it! The colors, the textures, even the packaging; everything is awesome. If you swapped NYX’s name on the front of the palette with a high-end brand, I wouldn’t blink an eye. That’s how good these shadows are. I can’t remember the last time I used shadows from NYX, let alone loved a product from them as much as I love this palette.
When I first saw the color scheme my immediate thought was that it looked kinda similar to the ABHSubculturePalette (which I believe is now discontinued?), especially with the greens, mustards & warm brown mattes. Now while I never owned or used the SubculturePalette myself, its infamous reputation for intense fall-out and difficult blendability seemed to taint its lifecycle.
I can say that these shadows from NYX have none of those same reported problems. Theyblendeffortlessly, havebeautifulpigmentation, andlastquitelongwithoutfading (about10hours). I also do not notice any creasing (when applied over a primer), nor do I notice much fall-out during application. Near perfection in my eyes.
Interior of Grind Machinist PaletteThe colors in direct sunlight
Here are some fast facts on the palette:
$12.49 @ Ulta for 12 shadows
7 mattes, 4 shimmers, 1 duo-chrome
The GrindMachinistPalette is part of a larger limitededition collection containing 3 eyeshadow palettes, 3 lipsticks, 3 lip lacquers, & 3 highlighting duo’s. I believe this collection is exclusive to Ulta, but you can also purchase it from nyxcosmetics.com. But do keep in mind the prices at Ulta are much cheaper than from NYX, at least in regards to the palettes. For example, this palette retails for a whopping $25.00 if you buy from NYX!
SWATCHES
Row 1 swatched from left to right in the palette. Top shade is a soft yellow-champagne shimmer; second down is a matte dark green; third down is a matte charcoal; bottom is a matte mustard yellow.Row 2 swatched left to right in the palette. Top shade is a peachy-pink shimmer; second down is a light matte cream; third down is a matte sepia brown; bottom is a matte chocolatey-brown.Row 3 swatched left to right in the palette. Top shade is a green shimmer; second down is a duo-chrome warm brown with blue-green flecks; third down is a matte red-brown; bottom is a coppery shimmer.
I absolutely love that there are moremattesthanshimmers in this palette. Usually in the drugstore the ratio more heavily favors shimmers over mattes. You can do any variety of looks with these colors, so I see this as a rather complete palette (meaning you won’t have to bring in other colors from other palettes to complete a look). The mid-tone mattes give it a wonderful wearability for work or school, while some of the shimmers and darker tones make it adaptable for more dramatic looks.
My favorite shades from this palette are the mustardyellow (totally gorgeous & quite wearable when paired with the matte browns), the sepiabrown (looks beautiful all over the lid), the duo–chromewarmbrown (it’s like a more dramatic version of Club from MAC), and the mattegreen (so rich but make sure to use a primer under this shade, it can stain).
SOME LOOKS USING THIS PALETTE
Two very wearable looks highlighting the warm matte brown shades. (They may look the same but there are subtle differences, I promise!)Look highlighting the beautiful mustard yellow shade.Look highlighting the coppery shimmer shade.
So if you like what you see here, get yourself down to Ulta quick! I’m not sure how long this product will be in stock. I think it’s a truly unique palette for the drugstore that offers awesome quality & trendy colors for an affordable price tag.
What was the last item from NYX that you loved? Would you pick up the Grind Machinist Palette? I’d love to know!
Drugstore beauty is taking another leap into the future! After hearing that CVS Pharmacy partnered with Glamsquad & eSalon to create the “Beauty IRL” store-within-a-store (which I wrote about here), I recently read that its drugstore competitor Walgreens is getting in the game as well. They are partnering with Birchbox, the well-known beauty subscription service, to bring Birchbox boutiques to 11selectWalgreenslocationsin6U.S.citiesstartingthisDecember! See the image below from Walgreens’ Instagram with city listings/times.
This is very similar to CVS’s “Beauty IRL” concept in that these Birchbox-branded boutiques will “live” within a larger Walgreens store. But while Birchbox (and most other beauty subscription services) are synonymous with mini or sample sizes, these boutiques will be stocked with full–size makeup, skincare & haircare products from Birchbox’s roster of brands. To be more specific, this partnership will introduce 40 new brands into Walgreens including Sand & Sky, Wander Beauty, Embryolisse, Winky Lux & ARROW, to name a few. How exciting!
Interestingly, the products will be merchandizedbyneedandnotbybrand inside these Birchbox boutiques, which I think is really cool and unlike a lot of other shopping experiences we know. So if you’re not the biggest beauty shopper nor very brand-loyal, this may be something that excites you.
A rendering of a Birchbox-Walgreens boutique. Image source: Businesswire.comA rendering of a Birchbox-Walgreens boutique. Image source: Businesswire.com
Supposedly each boutique will have “Birchbox-trained” beauty consultants to assist you, plus a “BYOB” (Build Your Own Birchbox) section where you can curate your own Birchbox from a selection of beauty mini’s. I think this is such a cool idea as I’ve been a Birchbox customer for a number of years now (and I love a mini anything). And if you don’t live in or near any of the cities listed above, the Birchbox offerings will also be available online at walgreens.com.
I think this will be another great option for beauty shoppers (big or small). It’s awesome to see drugstore retailers making big investments that will ultimately give their customers a different, more exciting experience. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Are you excited for Birchbox to come to Walgreens? I’d love to know!
