December 2013 Favorites

Hi, Beauties!

The month of December has flown by, is that just me or what? It's crazy that next week will be the start of 2014. In a state of nostalgia, here is the list of my favorites from the past month. 

Lorac 3D Liquid Lustre - Amethyst 

I know, I know. This again?! I am in love with these, obviously. I've used this color for more looks this month than anything else. The subtle purple and coppery look it gives is so pretty and brings out my eyes. So yes, I wear it often. I promise these products won't be in my next favorites post.

Studio 83 Piece Essential Makeup Collection - White

This is totally meant for summer because of the bright colors and the shades of the bronzers, but I wear it in the winter and don't care! I love colors and have used this palette often to spice up my everyday looks. It also helps that a few of the eyeshadow colors perfectly match some of my sweaters in my closet. 

Victoria's Secret Fragrance Mist - True Escape

I love, love, love this scent so much. The funny thing is I only find myself wearing it in the fall and winter. When I was shopping in Victoria's Secret I was smelling the fragrances and immediately knew this one was a must. I literally have never had such an intense feeling of I want this more than anything. I've broken this fragrance out for the season and am happily in heaven smelling it all day. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

This was an obvious pick for the favorites this month because I absolutely love this mascara and use it everyday. I'm going to be sad when this sample runs out.

Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner - Perfect Black

This eyeliner has changed the way I look at other eyeliners. Even the Starlooks one that I have raved about before (although I still love it). It comes off so dark even over eyeshadow. It's creamy and so smooth to apply. Can't get enough.

That's it for the December favorites. Have a happy New Year! I can't wait to see what 2014 brings!

What's your favorite scent from Victoria's Secret?

Thanks for reading!

Brianna

7 Beauty Subscriptions to Look into for the New Year

That's right Beauties! 2014 will be a whole new year of beauty and glam. As I've stated before, beauty subscriptions are awesome for trying new things for cheap and helping you find products you would have never known you loved. They extend and expand your beauty knowledge, as well as your collection. Here is a list of 8 beauty subscriptions that I think are worth looking into for the new year.

1. Glossybox

This beauty subscription service offers 5 luxury products for $21 a month which they keep secret until it's delivered. It's also available in certain countries outside of the United States. Try it out here.

2. Julep Maven Boxes

For the nail polish addicts or for the girls who are simply trying to expand their collection. This service offers at least two nail polishes along with some beauty products all for $19.99 a month. The nice part about this service is you can view what you are getting around the middle of the month. If you don't like the colors you can opt for a new style or you can send your box to a friend for no additional charge. Along with that you can add discounted products to your Maven box. By becoming a Julep Maven, you get free shipping and 20% off their website. Try it out here.

3. Birchbox

Birchbox is a subscription that offers 4-5 products in mixed categories for $10 a month. The box usually includes beauty, grooming and lifestyle products. This service offers boxes for both men and women which is different than most beauty subscriptions. For this one you have to request an invite which normally is a two week wait. You can check it out here.

4. Ipsy Glam Bags

Ipsy is the only beauty subscription service that I'm subscribed to right now. As you all know I love it and can never stop raving about it. Ipsy offers 4-5 beauty products for $10 a month. The products come in a different reusable bag every month that are absolutely adorable. You can see my posts about what I have received in the past to get a good idea of what you can expect to get. Here's my referral link or if you prefer to check out the site this is the link.

5. BeautyArmy

BeautyArmy has a cool idea with their service where you choose 6 products from the 9 shown each month for $12. You have the option to pick less than 6 if you really wanted to, but the price stays the same. You have the option to a skip a month with this service. These products are mostly sample sized with very few full sized products, but they offer the full sized products on their website. To check it out click here.

6. Wantable

This subscription service not only offers a box for beauty, but also one for accessories and intimates. Each one is $36 a month or $40 for a one-time box. The beauty and intimates boxes have 4-5 products (all full sized beauty products) and the accessories box has 3-4 products. You have the option to skip the box for the month in this subscription as well. Check this one out here.

7. Beauty Box 5

Beauty Box 5 ships 4-5 beauty products to your door every month for $12. This beauty subscription is one of the only ones on this list that isn't customized to you. Check this service out here.

Are there any beauty subscriptions that you like that I didn't include? Let me know in the comments below and include the details!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and have a Happy New Year! Thanks for reading!

Brianna

Ipsy's December 2013 Glam Bag: Celebration

Hey Beautiful!

My Ipsy Bag came in the mail on Monday! Yay! This month's bag is a good one, featuring some products and brands that are new to me. I'm really excited about it! And an added bonus is that the bag is super cute this month and doesn't feel as flimsy as some of the others have.

Here's the list of products in this month's bag:

• Pop Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio - Naturally Bare
• Be a Bombshell The One Stick - Girl Crush
• English Laundry Signature Fragrances - Signature and Signature Pour Femme
• Nicka K New York Nail Color - Classic Taupe
• J. Cat Beauty Big Lip Pencil - Red Rose

This bag sets up a nice winter look for the holiday season, which is something I really like about it. The red lipstick is a little bright for my skin tone but I'm sure I can find a way to make it work. The One Stick by Be a Bombshell is a really cool product because it's a three in one product. It can be a lipstick, eyeshadow, or a cream blush. This shade is too light to be a good lipstick for me, but as a blush it is very flattering. I'm really starting to like the brand Be a Bombshell thanks to Ipsy! Overall this month's bag was a success. 

What did you like or dislike about this month's bag, Ipsters? 

Thanks for reading and see you on Christmas!

Brianna

Too Faced Better Than Sex Amazing Eyes Set Review

Hey Beauties!

I was Christmas shopping a week or so ago and found some pretty awesome sets at Sephora that I couldn't resist. One in particular was the Too Faced Better Than Sex Amazing Eyes Set. I have seen the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara at Sephora before and have always wondered the one and only question: is it better than sex? Below is why Too Faced is quickly becoming one of my new favorite brands.

The set comes with Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara and Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Perfect Black. 

Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Perfect Black

The eyeliner lives up to the name by being a very rich black eyeliner. It's extremely creamy and easy to go on. The awesome part? It doesn't budge for the entire day and it's waterproof. Normally eyeliner fades or smudges by the end of the day, but this product literally didn't move. I think I'm in love. 

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

When I first saw this mascara in Sephora I was intrigued. It runs for $23.00 and claims to be "better than sex," so naturally I assumed this mascara must be fantastic. Another part of mascara that I'm really big about is the brush. This brush is thick with a unique shape. When I first used the mascara, it went on like no other mascara ever has. It separated my lashes and lengthened them like so many other mascaras have tried to promise. The mascara is also dark and one sweep of the wand is all you need to have beautiful lashes. 

The Bottom Line:

Yes, I would definitely recommend these two products. They live up to the names and prices. 

Pros:

• Vivid dark color
• Creamy application
• Easy application
• Lasts all day
• A little bit of both products goes a long way

Cons:

• Expensive

Have you tried these two products? What are your thoughts on them? Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

Brianna

The Differences in Lip Products

Hey Beauties!

Today's post will go over the differences in the different kinds of lip products. I was inspired to do this idea because I know a lot of people who are confused by the different types of lip products. I was also going through my makeup and realized I had organized my lip products into the different types and thought it would be interesting to do a post based on this idea. Hope this helps!

Lip Balm:

Lip balm is a moisturizing lip product that helps heal and protect lips against dryness. ChapStick is one of the best known brands (along with Blistex, Nivea, etc.), but is often confused as being its own type of lip product because that is simply what we call it. I always use the term ChapStick when referring to lip balm because that's basically all I use. Lip balm can be tinted or not. If it is tinted, it's normally not very pigmented because when using lip balm, you aren't normally looking for a full coverage lip product. If it's full coverage you're looking for then you will want...

Lipstick:

Lipstick is a thicker lip product that is highly pigmented and used for full coverage. The thickness of lipstick is sometimes a deal breaker for some women because it feels different than a lot of other lip products. The opaque coverage and the usual matte finish are what really make this product popular. Lipsticks don't have to all be matte though, there are tons of lipsticks that are shimmery or have some glossy looks to them. The downside of using lipstick, is that most of them don't last all day (although some brands do have long lasting kinds). If it is long lasting color you are looking for then you'll want to try...

Lip Stains:

Lip stains can be pretty awesome because they last a long, long time. They can add a nice touch of color without being too much, like lipstick sometimes can be. The issue with lip stains are that they tend to be very drying. Some of the higher end brands do a better job at fixing this issue though. You want to make sure to use some sort of moisturizer after using lip stains.

Lip Crayons:

Lip crayons are a "new-ish" product on the market. They are a more sheer type of lipstick that doesn't have the weight that lipstick does. Due to its shape, it is also slightly easier to apply. I like lip crayons because they are a nice subtle color without drying or without too much thickness to them. It's a happy medium.

Lip Gloss:

Lip gloss is a very glossy lip product (hence the name) that is more sheer. It can be shimmery, sparkly, flavored, and scented. It is a staple throughout late middle school and high school for a lot of girls. It's a quick way to play up your look if you want to make up your eyes, but not look too heavy in the day time. I find it to be more sticky than anything else, and don't usually prefer it. The particular lip gloss in this photo is from Sephora and is made to match your skin tone using pH. It's actually a really cool idea and works pretty well. No more fighting with trying to find a shade that looks good on you because this product does it for you. 

Plumping Lip Gloss:

If lip gloss doesn't give your lips that juicy glossy look that you want then plumping lip gloss may be your thing. Plumping lip gloss has all the perks of regular lip gloss, but is supposed to "plump" up your lips by temporarily irritating them. Lip plumpers use ingredients that increase the flow of blood to the lips such as different types of mint or cinnamon. The increased blood flow causes lips to swell temporarily. Lip plumpers are used to make lips look more full. The cheaper brands, such as e.l.f. (above), don't make much of a difference, but I can't speak for higher end brands because I haven't tried them. 

I hope this list helps clarify things a little bit!

Do you think I missed anything? Comment down below! Also let me know what your favorite kind of lip product is!

Thanks for reading!

Brianna

November 2013 Favorites

Hey Beautiful!

Happy (late) Thanksgiving to all who celebrated it yesterday here in the U.S. I hope you ate lots of food and had a great time surrounded by family, or just one on one with someone special if that's what you prefer. Every last Friday of the month I decided to post a monthly favorites list composed of the top 5 products I loved. It's fun to recap on the things you've used and loved the most and I thought why not share that with you!

Here is the list of what I loved this month:

St. Ives - Daily Hydrating Vitamin E Body Lotion

I have used this almost every night because of how cold and dry it's starting to get. The lack of moisture in the air combined with how many times I have to wash my hands while at work makes for very unhappy skin. St. Ives has helped sooth and protect my skin all month long.

Chapstick Moisturizer - Green Apple

Since we are already on the topic of dry skin, I found this chapstick a couple months ago at my local grocery store. I love green apple products and I also like the different flavors that Chapstick makes. Last year I got an apple cider flavor and it was amazing. This lip product is my go-to in the fall and winter. 

Lorac 3D Liquid Lustre - Diamond

I know I just did a post on these, but I still can't get over how much I love them. I really like all of them a lot, but I figured putting them all on here was kind of cheating. The Diamond shade is a nice touch to any look because it's neutral and goes with everything. Use it all by itself or use it to spruce up some eyeshadow, either way it's definitely awesome. You can find my review on this product here.

Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil - Obsidian

I love love love this eyeliner. Maybe it's because I only ever buy myself $1 eye pencils from the drugstore, but either way, this is like heaven. It goes on so smoothly unlike any other eyeliner I've EVER had. And you don't have to work for a dark line, it's super pigmented. I love Starlooks pencils.

Be a Bombshell Lip Crayon - Shameless

I love this new product I got in my Ipsy bag because it is one of the only lip colors I've actually liked on myself. I don't know what it is about lip colors, but to me it just never looks right. But this one is perfect. 

What are your favorites for this month? Do you disagree with some of the products I posted? Let me know why in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

Brianna

Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Volumizing Mascara

Hey Beauties!

This post is half a review and half a challenge. I received a sample size Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Volumizing Mascara in my September Glam Bag, which I was extremely excited about because I love trying new mascara. I went to the website, as I do for all products I receive in my Ipsy bags, and checked it out. I like to see the cost of the products I'm getting and what else they offer. It's a really cool way to find new brands and new favorites. That's how I fell in love with CAILYN Cosmetics. But when I checked out the website, I found that Elizabeth Mott offered two things; mascara and what they call a lash card. My immediate assumption was wow, this mascara must be pretty good if that's all they sell. On the homepage you can see that they have two pictures comparing eyelashes with two and ten plus coats with this mascara. The eyelashes with ten plus coats looked completely unreal. That lead me to my next thought: challenge accepted.

The thing that has always bothered me about mascara and the companies that supply them is the fake lashes they use for advertising. Maybe it's just me, but I want to know how it ACTUALLY looked on that model! Then at least I could have some sort of clue how it would look on me. But instead, the commercials are fake and you just have to spend the money to find out for yourself. Which is exactly why they do it and it works like a charm. But unfortunately for them, they have beauty bloggers and the power of reviews so if they have a below par product, everyone has the opportunity to find out. 

Also a side note here: 

When reviewing mascara products, I'll always show you what they look like on me. And I do understand that it looks different on everyone. At least I can give you a better clue what it REALLY looks like unlike the commercials and ads. 

So continuing on with my story. I decided to put the ten plus coats to a test to see if my lashes really did look like the picture advertised on the front page of Elizabeth Mott. After all, if they did, then they can have all my money and that's what I'll switch to. 

These are the results. The three pictures on top from left to right are the first, fifth, and tenth coats respectively. The picture on bottom compares both eyes after using ten coats but in different ways. My right eye was the one used in the above images where I took a picture after each coat. This gave it time to dry slightly before applying more. My left eye was me applying ten coats one right after the other. Definitely a difference there. The right eyelashes are darker and fuller.

As you can see in the images above the tenth coat isn't as glamorous as the one on the website. Although from far away it's not too far off. This leads me to believe that they, too, used false lashes for advertising. I must point out that I didn't use a lash card which could have helped reduce clumping as it claims on their website.

Overall though, this mascara isn't as bad as I first thought. After a couple coats it does look rather nice. It does clump a little bit as you can see, but not as bad as others I've had. It doesn't smudge or flake off throughout the day; it stays put like a good mascara is supposed to.

The Bottom Line:

No, I would not recommend this. It's not worth the $20 to me. I have drugstore brand mascara that works better than this using less coats.

Pros:

• Doesn't flake 
• Doesn't smudge
• Stays put all day
• Lengthens

Cons:

• Expensive
• Requires at least 3 coats to look lengthened and volumized
• Drugstore mascaras are a better option (cheaper and seem to work better for me)

Do you own or have you tried Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Volumizing Mascara? What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it!

Brianna

Ipsy's November 2013 Glam Bag: Glam It Up

Hey Beauties!

I just got this month's Ipsy Glam Bag on Monday and I'm really excited to share what I got with you guys. This month was really awesome because we got an additional product on top of the 4-5 we normally get. Since Michelle Phan curates the bags for Ipsy she gave out a product from her new line, em michelle phan, to all the subscribers. If you haven't subscribed to Ipsy yet, you probably should. I can't stop raving about it.

Here is the list of the products I received this month:

• Be a Bombshell Lip Crayon - Shameless
• Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil - Amethyst
• em michelle phan Waterliner Intense Color Eyeliner - Amazing Grey
• Kiss everEZlashes Lash Double Pack - Lash 03
• Pixi Beauty Bronzer - Subtly Suntouched

I've already tried the Be a Bombshell Lip Crayon. It's an awesome shade for my skin tone and it's a creamy formula that feels nice. I'm going to do a review on Starlooks pencils in the near future because I love them so much and want to share that with you! 

If there are other things that you would like me to include in these Ipsy posts just let me know. As of right now I'm trying to find a good way to share them with you without making them too short. Also if you would like to join Ipsy you can use my referral link here or if you don't want to be pressured into using it you can use this link.

If you're an Ipsy member, how did you like your bag this month? If not, what's your favorite makeup brand and why?

Thanks for reading!

Brianna

12 Awesome Cruelty Free Cosmetics Brands

Hey Beauties!

I know that today's post could get a little controversial. For this reason, I will explain further what I mean for this post. This post will NOT be a discussion on what is right or wrong, or what you should believe in or support. I will not discuss my views on this topic because this post isn't for me. This post is for those who actively want to support cruelty-free brands, and I want to help make that easier by listing several options below.

1. NYX Cosmetics

2. Too Faced

3. Stila

4. E. l. f. Cosmetics

5. CAILYN Cosmetics

6. Burt's Bees

7. Wet n Wild

8. L.A. Colors

9. Jesse's Girl Cosmetics

10. Tarte

11. Urban Decay 

12. Smashbox

BONUS: Elizabeth Mott

You can find a MUCH longer list of all the cruelty-free companies at the websites below:

List of Cruelty-Free Companies (PETA)

Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide (Leapingbunny)

Did I miss your favorite cruelty-free brand? Let me know in the comments below! (Comments that I feel are inappropriate will be deleted)

Thank you for reading!

Brianna

LORAC 3D Liquid Lustre Review

Hey Beautiful!

The other day my roommate and I set out on a mission to get her some new makeup and happened to land ourselves in Sephora. Every time I manage to go into that store I find myself just outright giddy. I can't even control myself in there. My roommate can attest for how excited I get, I almost do laps around the entire store even though I've seen almost everything a million times. It doesn't even matter to me. So because of this 'giddiness,' if you will, I decided that I would not leave that store without buying at least one thing. So as you can probably assume by this point, I left with the LORAC Rockin' Red Hot 3D Liquid Lustre Set. That is a mouthful. Just try to say that three times fast. If you can do that, I'm thoroughly impressed with you.

The set comes with four liquid eye shimmers: their most popular shade, Diamond, and three other limited time shades, Amethyst, Platinum, and Topaz. It does not include their other shade Gold. I actually really wanted to try the Gold, but these shimmers are $16 a piece. The only way I justified spending that much money was when I found the set for only $28. Score.

Here's the swatches

I have to say, I absolutely love these eye shimmers. When I came home after buying them I immediately took the Amethyst shade and tried it out. I didn't use a primer because I wasn't really trying out a full look. I just wanted to see what it looked like on my eyes. To my surprise it stayed. All night. When I went to wipe it off before bed that night, it had BARELY faded. I was expecting it to have creased worse than normal eye shadow, but it didn't! I mean, yes, it did crease a little, but not even half as much as I was assuming it would. I was shocked and delighted all at the same time. 

So fast forward to last Saturday and I wore it at a Halloween party. I wore the Diamond shade because I went as Marilyn Monroe and she was known for wearing a whiter eye shadow. I did the unthinkable and fell asleep that night without taking my makeup off. I woke up the next morning and it was still there FULLY intact. Even after tossing and turning all night, my eyeshadow hadn't budged an inch. Talk about good quality and long lasting.

Alright, moving on to the packaging. The applicator is an eye dropper that you drop one drop on your finger and then apply. You can apply more or less depending on the look you are trying to achieve. It blends out a lot better than how it looks in the swatches, I just wanted to give you guys a look at the consistency and the color: which you can see better by clicking on the image. Also make sure you shake before using because the shimmer settles to the bottom. 

The Bottom Line:
Yes, I'd recommend this!

Pros:

• VERY long lasting
• Very pretty shimmer/shades
• Easy to build upon or leave as is
• Great deal
• Can be used on eyes or cheeks!

Cons:

• A little difficult to apply with finger and actually get it where you want

If you have tried these, tell me how you feel about them in the comments below! What is your favorite purchase from Sephora?

Thanks for reading!

Brianna

Ipsy's October 2013 Glam Bag: The Art of Beauty

Hey Beautiful!

First and foremost I must apologize for taking such a large hiatus without saying anything. I didn't say anything because I didn't exactly intend to stop blogging. I have had a very busy month. Next time this happens though, I'll make sure to take a moment and let you all know!

On to the real topic for today's post! I'm writing about the most recent Ipsy Glam Bag that I received which is the October bag: The Art of Beauty! Here is the picture of my bag below.

And the list of products:

• Zoya Nail Polish - Mason
• La Fresh Eco-Beauty Oil Free Face Cleanser Wipes
• Bella Terra Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Shimmer - Navy
• Coastal Scents Medium Shadow Brush
• Sexy Hair Texturizing Spray Clay

I will give product reviews for all of these in the near future to let you know how they are. This month's bag wasn't my favorite, but I still have yet to be disappointed. Ipsy is an awesome and cheap beauty subscription that you should definitely sign up for it you love trying out new makeup! You can see my semi-review of Ipsy here.

Are you an Ipsy member? If so, comment down below and let me know what you thought of this month's bag and if you liked what you got! 

Thanks for reading!

Brianna

E.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation and Studio 83 Piece Collection Review

Hello Beautiful!

Today you get a 2-in-1 review because I recently ordered from e.l.f. Two of the items I purchased stuck out enough for me to write a review about them. The Flawless Finish Foundation in Sand and the White Studio 83 Piece Essential Makeup Collection.

I'll start with the 83 Piece Collection because I love colors. I've had my eye on this collection for quite a while. I've also had it in my cart on several different occasions willing myself to spend money on it. I hesitated for a long time because I was unsure of how much I'd use and if I'd like it. I finally waited until they had a nice enough sale and I bought it for half off. I'm glad I did buy it because it's better than I originally thought!

Here's what it includes:

• 64 Eyeshadow Shades
• 8 Lip Gloss Shades
• 4 Blush Shades
• 4 Bronzer Shades
• 1 Lip Brush
• 1 Eye Brush
• 1 Face Brush

It also comes in two different color collections: white and black. The white collection has more of a summer feel with the bright colors and darker bronzers (as pictured above). The black collection has a more winter feel with the more natural, neutral shades.

As far as the quality of the product goes, it's actually pretty good for a makeup palette. The lip gloss actually comes off quite pigmented, although, as expected, it doesn't last too long. The shimmery eyeshadows are very pigmented and the blushes are all a very pretty shade too. Below are the swatches for the eyeshadows and lip glosses. The lip glosses are in order from top to bottom as they appear in the palette, while I just took some of the prettier colors I liked from the eyeshadows.

The Bottom Line:

Yes, I'd recommend this.

Pros:

• Very pigmented shades (eyeshadows AND lip glosses)
• Beautiful blush shades
• Lots of bright colors to choose from
• All contained in a nicely packaged palette

Cons:

• Very cheap brushes that shed (with exception to the lip brush which has been great for me)
• Lip gloss wears off fairly easy
• Some eyeshadow shades are more pigmented than others
• Can be messy if not taken care of as with any palette

The Flawless Finish Foundation in Sand has quite a few ups and downs. I bought it because I'm in desperate need for a good foundation and have been trying to find one that matches my skin tone. E.l.f. foundations are fairly cheap and I figured I'd start here. 

What I really liked about this foundation is the finish. It honestly lives up to the name of "flawless finish." It is more of a matte finish, but it smooths out the skin well creating an even surface to keep building.  I also really like the pump and the sleek packaging in general. It makes it really easy to use. One thing to keep in mind is that this foundation has a perfume smell to it when first applying it. I personally like it so I don't mind it, but I know some of you are sensitive to this and I wanted to let you know now. It does go away once it's dry. Another thing I noticed about this foundation is that it has an orange tint to it. I read this in some of the reviews on e.l.f.'s website, but decided to take the risk because it didn't happen for everyone. So here is my thought, it didn't work for my skin tone, but it might work for yours. You'll never know until you try it, but don't be disappointed. 

The Bottom Line:

I'm at a toss up here for recommending this. It didn't work for me, but I know some people who swear by this foundation. So take in the pros and cons I have listed below and you can make up your mind.

Pros:

• Literally a "flawless finish"
• Nice sleek packaging with an awesome pump
• Makes skin very smooth and easy to build upon
• A nice perfume smell when applying

Cons:

• Orange tint
• Perfume smell for those of you with sensitivities

What are your thoughts on these products? Does the Flawless Finish Foundation have an orange tint on your skin tone? If you have the 83 Piece Collection, which one do you have?

Thanks for reading!

Brianna

Ipsy Glam Bags

Hey Beauties!

Beauty subscription services are really cool in that they give you a chance to go out of your comfort zone a little. They let you try products that you might not buy for yourself. The one I'm currently in love with is Ipsy.

Ipsy is a beauty subscription service created by youtuber, Michelle Phan. For $10 a month you get a cute bag filled with 4-5 beauty items, some of which are full sized products! This is the perfect way to go out of your comfort zone and receive products that you probably wouldn't think to try (and for cheap!). For me a lot of the items I get in the Glam Bags are much more expensive than I would normally spend on my makeup. It gives me the opportunity to try these products that are normally out of my reach.

To just seal the deal for you, my first bag had over $60 worth of products that I paid $10 for. How can you beat that? To add even more excitement to that the products are all awesome. Every bag I've gotten has been a new and exciting experience. I have yet to be disappointed by Ipsy. Of course there are some products that just don't fit me, but that's the point of trying new things. You need to find the misses as well as the hits to truly know what is and isn't for you. And to look on the bright side of that, you can just gift the things you don't like to your friends or family! I'm sure someone would like to try it. It's ultimately a ton of fun because the products are awesome, cheap, and the excitement when you get the package in the mail is priceless.

I've been subscribed to Ipsy for four months now. Here's a list of all the products I've received by month...

June: On the Wild Side

• Starlooks Lip Pencil – Bare
• Nyx Blush – Golden
• J. Cat Beauty Sparkling Cream Palette – Volta
• Cailyn Cosmetics Line-Fix Gel Eyeliner with Brush Built-In –  Iron
•  Chella Highlighter Pencil – Ivory Lace

July: Beach Beauty

• Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon – Coral Crush
• BH Cosmetics California Collection Eyeshadow Sample – One shade from each California Collection palette: Malibu, San Francisco, and Hollywood
• Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray
• Coola Mineral Face SPF 20 Unscented Moisturizer
• Demeter Roll On Perfume Oil – Salt Air

August: Glamour Academy

• Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick – 69
• Pixi Beauty Lash Booster Mascara – Blackest Black
• MicaBeauty Eye Shadow – Bronze
• Michael Todd Pumpkin Nutrient-Rich Facial Mask
• Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer – Mai Tai

September: Classic Beauty

• Elizabeth Mott It’s So Big Volumizing Mascara – Black
• Nyx Single Eye Shadow – Sparkle White
• Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil – Obsidian
• John Frieda’s Full Repair Full Body Shampoo
• John Frieda’s Full Repair Full Body Conditioner

If you would like to join the community and subscribe to Ipsy, you can do that with my referral link here. I highly suggest it! For those of you who do decide to subscribe, I hope you love it as much as I do! I will continue to post what I get each month from Ipsy, so stay tuned!

Are you subscribed to Ipsy? If so, what's your favorite product you've ever gotten? Would you recommend it to friends?

Thanks for reading!

Brianna

Cailyn Cosmetics Line-fix Gel Eyeliner Review

Hey Sweethearts!

I am subscribed to the beauty subscription service called Ipsy. I will be writing a post about Ipsy and the details in the coming posts. In the June Glam Bag, I received one awesome product that I can't stop raving about: The Cailyn Cosmetics Line-fix Gel Eyeliner in Iron.

This eyeliner is the BEST eyeliner I have EVER used. Once dry it is smudge-proof and waterproof for more than 24 hours. So it doesn't smudge, and it stays on FOREVER. As you can see in the picture it has a really unique packaging that includes a built-in brush. It's awesome for traveling purposes and keeps the brush in good condition as well. The Iron color that I received is a beautiful metallic grey that is much more subtle than a black. It looks much more flattering on me with my light skin and blonde hair than a dark black liner ever would. It's a very smooth formula with great pigmentation.

I honestly have YET to find anything wrong with this product. I wish I could come up with something just to make it fair, but I honestly can't. It is just by fair the greatest liner I've ever used. The product also goes a long way so you don't have to take much for it to line your lid. This enables for long lasting product which we all want if we are going to spend the money on it!

This product can be found here for $21.00. A little on the pricey side for my tastes, but well worth it!

The Bottom Line:
Yes, I would most definitely recommend this!

Pros:

• Goes on smoothly
• Built-in brush
• Easy for on-the-go
• Smudge-proof and waterproof for up to 24 hours
• Great pigmentation

Cons:

• None!

Do you own any of these liners? Do you love them as much as I do?

xoxo

Brianna

E.L.F. Eyeliner and Shadow Stick Review

Hey Beauties!

For those of you who don't know what e.l.f. is I want to talk a little bit about that first. Eyes Lips Face, or better known as e.l.f. (eyeslipsface.com), is an online cosmetics website that is absolutely magical. The website has tons of affordable makeup products that are very decent in quality. Occasionally some of the products are on the cheaper side if you buy the items for a dollar, but it's one dollar! Most of the time it is completely worth it! You can also find e.l.f. products in stores such as the Dollar Store, Walgreen's, and Target. Personally, I always shop from the website because it is the only place where you can find the full collection. I also shop there because they ALWAYS have some sort of sale or special going on. This website is an amazing place for both starting a beauty collection or extending it!

For this post I will be reviewing the Eyeliner and Shadow Sticks from e.l.f. These products are, you guessed it, eyeliner and eye shadow in the same packaging. They are $3.00 on the website and come in six colors. I have all but the Midnight/Blue color.

The eye shadows have a creamy formula that goes on fairly smooth. It has great pigmentation, which I have swatches for below. The major downside is that it doesn't last all day. It creases rather quickly even with a basic eye primer. Wearing a good eye primer with this product is a must. The eyeliner is pretty decent, but not the best I've tried from e.l.f.  My favorite part about these products is that since they are dual ended I don't need to bring a ton of products with me. If I plan on going somewhere I normally grab these first before grabbing an eye shadow palette and eyeliners. These save space and are very pretty for on the go.

I originally bought the Brown/Basic color to give the product a shot. On the website, the Basic color looks pink which is actually one of the reasons I bought it. Beware because it is NOT pink; it's a coppery brown, which is still beautiful. One thing I do have to point out is that when I received it, the packaging was slightly broken and I had to glue it. It wasn't anything to complain about though because it still functioned properly and I still loved it. I wanted to mention that for any of you that would be highly discouraged by this. Some of e.l.f.'s products aren't always the best, but it's not high end makeup, so I personally don't mind. My Pearl/Glow shadow stick is broken off, as you can see in my picture. That is mostly because of the fact that it was rolling around in my makeup bag for a while. These sticks are rather fragile and can't handle too much wear and tear.

Here are the swatches, so you can see yourself. The first word refers to the color of the eyeliners, which are on the bottom and the second refers to the eye shadows, which are on the top.

I really don't have an absolute favorite color out of these because they are all very pretty in their own way. Smoke is more of a darker metallic grey (although it looks blue in the picture). Purple is the least shimmery out of all the colors, but it is gorgeous. I really like Glow because it's such a flattering shimmery white and same for Basic.

The Bottom Line:
Yes, I'd recommend these. But I can't promise that they will be as good as what I got. Sometimes the packaging is more cheap than others.

Pros:

• Goes on smoothly
• Beautiful color choices
• Great pigmentation
• Saves space

Cons:

• Fades quickly
• Fragile
• Cheap Packaging

Do you own these products too? What are your thoughts on them? Feel free to completely disagree with me!

Thanks for reading!

Brianna