beauty | skincare & makeup. / Noted Joys

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What started as a digital diary to document a newfound journey as a stay at home mom / wife has quickly evolved into my own little corner on the internet where I share all that life brings my way -- the good, the bad, and everything in between. Thanks for stopping by; I hope you stay awhile!
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1.09.2024

Self Care Routine + Refresh

Her Morning Regime (1956) by Wayne Blickenstaff 

hello, hello! 

today we're chatting self care in the form of skincare, hair care, body care, and the make up that make me feel like I am pampering myself. I just want to preface this by saying that I am the most low maintenance person when it comes to self care and skin care which may or may not be a good thing.  

I have dry skin patches on my forehead, eye lids, eyebrows, and around my cheeks near my nose + upper lip. it's something that has appeared within the last two years and I've been trying to control / minimize . I also suffer from cystic acne and have many scars to prove it. random redness and wrinkles have also graced my face lately, so I feel like I am a mess.

I've stopped wearing make up because I felt like it looked terrible with the dry patches. I would also breakout the next day, so there's that. I've gotten a better grip on the dry patches, but have stayed away from make up in fear of breaking out which is why I only use mascara these days and eyeshadow. I've debated getting my lashes tinted and extensions to eliminate mascara altogether, but we will see if I ever do it.

so with this post, I am going to share the few things that I have found to help me my skin and the things I want to try as well as other products that I use in my "routine" if you can call it that because if I'm honest, I'm a mom and self care is always on the back burner no matter how hard I try to make it a priority.

*before we start on the routine, let's insert the FDA required statement that some of the links below are affiliate!

 

 

 things that are staying in my routine

 

Ahava Refreshing Cleansing Gel

this is the only face wash that does not make me break out, and for that fact alone. I am keeping it in my routine. I read somewhere that you should only wash your face in the evening and I'm gonna try and see how that pans out this month. I'll keep you guys updated. 
 

Ahava Hydration Creme Mask

I received this in a subscription box awhile back and it's become a staple. I love using it as an overnight mask when my face feels super dry and needs a pick me up. 


Differin Acne Retinoid Treatment Gel Adapalene 0.1%

this is my go to product when I see a cystic acne spot appear. it's the one thing that works for me. it's another staple for me. I love how efficient it is -- depending how big and deep the spot is, they usually disappear within two to three days.

 

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel Moisturizer

I have been using this product since September and so far I really like it. I use it in the morning and throughout the day now that the winter weather is here. 


Neutrogena Hydro Boost Night Facial Serum with Hyaluronic Acid

like the moisturizer, I have been using this product since September. It's a thicker consistency than the moisturizer, but it really helps relieve the tightness + itchiness that those dry patches bring about. If I'm not using the ahava creme mask, this is the next thing I am reaching for. 

 

Smear by Brit's CLEAN Whip

first, let me start by saying that this is beef tallow and I've been using it over a year. it's the first product that helped fix the dry patches on my face and it's become a balm for all. it's what I use for my eczema flare up and after the shower on my knees and elbows to soften them up. It's great as a lotion and as a diaper rash cream for the kiddos. it's perfect for soothing burns and chaffing, it's really such a versatile product to soothe the things that most people often ignore. I just love it. 

for those days where I want to lather myself in lotion and smell divine. I know that most people say t stay away from fragrance, and normally I'd agree, but this is my one exception. I love how it smells and I'm keeping it. 

 

Ahava Shower Gel

you already know, I am an ahava girly and so of course, the shower gel is in routine. It smells so good and is my favorite shower gel.

 

Function of Beauty Shampoo

love that it's personalized and it's one of the three shampoos that I use on my hair for my natural curls! 
 

number two shampoo for my curls. it smells so good! I love it. 

 

Opalex Shampoo

the third and last shampoo in my round up! I know what you're thinking -- that's a lot of shampoo, but there is a reason to the madness being that my hair tends to get dull and oily if I use the same shampoo for a long period of time. I've perfected the routine and alternate these three.

like the shampoos, I have three products for curl definition that I use interchangeably. This mist is my go to for a curl refresh when I'm in a rush. 

this product is my absolute favorite and a staple. It's the one product that made me realize the potential of my natural curls. if I shower in the morning, this is the product I am always reaching for. It gives my curls so much definition and I cannot get enough!

Pacifica Swirl Curl Definition Cream

another curl definition cream that I like to use especially when I travel because it's so light and compact. 

in the flavors mango and birthday -- always on hand, a go-to favorite, must have lip balm! now, I do wnat to say that I bought all the lip balms flavors that they had because I've heard such good things. they're all good, but birthday + mango, those are the ones I will be repurchasing. 

if I'm honest, I've always been a lip balm girl, so trying these lip treatments was going out on a limb for me because they are more glossy that I typically like, but I love them. I literally bought every flavor + tint that they had. they're all amazing, but I am head over heels for the watermelon slice flavor.

like I said before, I loved the treatments so much, I bought all the tints too. I like them, I'm just not used to the tints, so I'm working on that. ribbon is my current favorite since it's the most sheer (and jellybean, but that's a limited edition flavor)! 

the perfect bath gel for those days when I need a pick me up. 

Sugars Lip Balm Treatment

this the balm I put on before bed, super hydrating and luscious feeling.


things that I'm trying out right now

Ahava Facial Renewal Peel

Ahava Purifying Mud Mask

Function of Beauty Personalized Conditioner + Hair Mask

Glossier Lidstar

Glossier Lash Stick Mascara

Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Liner

 

things that I do for "self care" 

ᥫ᭡. drink tea in the evening
ᥫ᭡. take a bubble bath
ᥫ᭡. listen to a sermon / podcast / music 
ᥫ᭡. read the bible
ᥫ᭡. go for a walk 
ᥫ᭡. watch a cheesy rom-com; the typical chick flick / hallmark film
ᥫ᭡. de-cluttering my spaces (office, closet, dressers, cupboards, etc)
ᥫ᭡. take a long shower
ᥫ᭡. pray (aka, chat with Jesus)
ᥫ᭡. create something (draw, need felting, write)
ᥫ᭡. watch a period piece 
ᥫ᭡. bake
ᥫ᭡. have a fancy coffee
ᥫ᭡. sit by the fireplace. disconnect and stare into the flames
ᥫ᭡. put on some essential oils
ᥫ᭡. light some candles 
ᥫ᭡. watch documentaries 
ᥫ᭡. look for new recipes to try out
ᥫ᭡. look at home / cooking magazines
ᥫ᭡. do a hair / face mask
ᥫ᭡. buy fresh blooms
ᥫ᭡. paint my nails
ᥫ᭡. make the bed
ᥫ᭡. clean out inboxes (text messages, social media, emails, etc.)

 
and that's a wrap! 
that's my self care routine refresh -- it looks like a lot, but it's not that much. it's heavy on moisturizing products, relaxing baths, making my curls look good and balms for everything. pretty minimal, right? I like to think so.  until next week, I hope you get in a little self care yourself in there! xoxo

 
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8.13.2021

Review | DemarkQ Zit Zapper


Hi guys, today I wanted to talk about my tiny zit zapper from DemarkQ. It's a tiny device that uses light therapy to "zap" your zits. Before I begin talking more about it, I just want to mention that this product was gifted to me by the brand this; however, this review is 100% my own. 

So, let's talk about this little device -- if you know me and have been following this blog for a while, you know that I'm pretty skeptical when it comes to skincare product claims and, if I'm being honest, when I received the product, I wasn't impressed with its size or the claims on the box. 

How It Works 

The website says that its "blue light's antibacterial properties shrink pimples and help them disappear faster. Red light's anti-inflammatory benefits fast-track recovery and reduce inflammation, so your skin stays even, hydrated, and healthy." 

Basically, you wash your face and then you cover your pimple with the device and turn it on. The treatment lasts for 3 minutes and the device turns off itself giving you a little beep, so you know that it's done. 

Does It Work

So, it takes a few treatments to have the zit disappear, but if used daily, you can see the zit disappear completely within a few days. One thing that I loved was as soon as I started using this little zapper on those deep cystic pimples, it decreased the pain + throbbing of the zit almost immediately after the treatment. 

One thing I found to work is zapping the pimple as soon as I feel it come in. That way, you don't allow it to fester a big red spot on your face. If I see (or feel) a painful bump on my face, I automatically grab this little device and get to zapping. 

Another thing I love is that it's so tiny and compact which means it's perfect to take with you while traveling or dropping it in your purse on those busy days. I've been known to do a little zit zapping in the parking lot while waiting to pick up groceries. It's a great little device to have on hand for those pesky pimples.  

In short, it works and it's a great device to have on hand when you feel a pimple coming in. I love the size and how travel-friendly it is. It's a device that everyone should have on hand especially if you suffer from cystic acne. 

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10.12.2020

Skincare | 3 Cleansers I'm Loving Right Now

If you've been a long time reader, you've probably read that I need to start a skincare routine in every single new year resolution post I right. And while I am terrible at keeping these resolutions, the skincare resolution finally was accomplished this year. I am a newbie as they say and would not count myself as a beauty blogger just yet. However, I'd like to share three cleansers that I have stumbled upon and am currently loving. 


Good Molecules Instant Cleansing Balm | $15

this is my go-to when it comes to cleaning my face. the first step in my skincare routine as this helps get off most of the products on my face. this product is formulated with sea buckthorn oil, camellia oil, and shea butter. it melts on contact with skin to dissolve makeup, dirt, environmental pollutants, and other impurities and rinses away with just water, leaving skin comfortably clean—not tight, dry, or stripped which is a big thing for me! 

I alternate between the next two products depending on what I feel like my face needs that day / night. 


First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser | $21

this product is for days when my skin feels like it needs a break or is about to break out. I've noticed that I tend to break out around that time of the month and so a few days before my cycle arrives is when I would reach for this. I love that it's gentle and yet still powerful enough to clean my face. 

Murad's Essential C Cleanser | $40 

this has been a staple the moment it arrived in my FabFitFun box. I grab for it each morning and it smells heavenly because of the citrus oils in it -- so that's a bonus. This cleanser is gentle on the skin and leaves my skin feeling super soft. This cleanser lathers + foams up nicely and does a great job of washing away any leftover makeup the cleansing balm missed. 


↓ S H A R E ●  S A V E ●  P I N  ↓




❊ per usual, I want to insert a little note here stating that some of these links are affiliate links meaning that I make a little commission if you decide to purchase through them. other products were sent to me via PR boxes and some products I bought myself because I wanted to try them out. regardless, this is not a sponsored post -- all products shared in this are because I truly love them and all opinions shared are 100% my own. also, I just wanted to say that there is no pressure to buy anything ever, but if you do, I really appreciate your support as this is one way I can support my little family financially. every click, like, buy, save, tweet and pin mean the world to me and I am so thankful for each and every one of you!



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3.31.2017

4 Affordable Products for Acne Breakouts


It's your worst nightmare: looking into the mirror and spotting a red mountain taking over your face -- usually just in time for an important event in your life. panic! You're life is officially over.... unless you can get rid of it! So out comes the smartphone and start looking for the fastest way to get rid of those pesky pimples. I don't know about you, but acne breakouts always come at times when something big is going to happen. Pimples love appearing for photo ops -- they're not camera shy in my experience either. Here are 4 products that make life a little bit easier when that happens. 




e.l.f Acne Fighting Spot Gel with Aloe or e.l.f. Zit Zapper

I love these little guys! They really work for me. Whenever I see a slight red bump on my face, I attack it with one of these e.l.f products and it dries it up! These roll-on products kill the bacteria before it gets a chance to get bigger and more noticeable. I usually use this when I see a pimple trying to emerge, but if you wake up with a huge zit, I'd still say give this a try -- just apply it multiple times throughout the day for a few days. 

Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion

If you've read my blog from the beginning, you know that the Drying Lotion is one of my all time favorite products to use on acne. All you have to do is take a Q-tip and dab it in the pinkish clay. The clayish mixture is not hard, so don't try to dig in because that doesn't do anything. You then proceed to dab all the zits you want to dry out. After application, I let the mixture dry a bit (be warned, it's a little tingly at first, but that goes away after about 3 to 5 minutes after the initial application) and then to to sleep. When you wake up, your pimple should have shrunk in size or have completely have vanished.

Smile's PRID Drawing Salve

This product has proven to be a miracle worker -- especially for those who have (or suffer from) cystic acne. I know it to be 100% effective because it saved my life! Here's the story: four days before my engagement party, a huge cystic pimple took over my entire chin from the stress of planning. I didn't even have a chin anymore to be honest, it was just a huge red throbbing zit that you could not hide no matter how hard you tried. Cystic pimples are deep, so you can't see the pore that's infected. It's just this red spot and boy, oh boy does it hurt! With my engagement party coming up, an even that would have 100 of our closest family and friends -- I was soooooo desperate to get rid of it, and I tried literally everything you could possibly think of: it just wouldn't go away. Luckily my fiancé (now husband) took it upon himself to read about remedies and he found this miracle worker. When I first put it on, the smell really bothered me, but I was desperate, so I lathered it on my chin, covered it up with a bandage and went to sleep. When I woke up and took off the bandage, I was shocked to see the pimple half the size it was 8 hours earlier. It took two days for the pimple, the size of an egg, to completely vanish! Whenever I see a cystic pimple, I grab this stuff and lather it on. 

Baby Aquaphor or Desitin :: DiaperRash Cremes

I know this sounds strange, but I live by this method. When I break out, I take a little bit of my son's diaper rash creme (I have the brands Desitin and Baby Aquaphor at home) and apply it to the areas that I broke out. Don't put to much creme on your face because it is rather thick. You want to take a little bit of the creme and rub it on your pimple until your skin has absorbed most of the creme. Do this at night after washing your face and before going to bed for best results. If you'd like to use this method, then make sure you buy diaper rash creme and not healing ointment -- the creme needs to have Zinc Oxide in it.

So, yah!

These products have helped me throughout the past few years when it came to getting rid of acne. I've tried each of these methods and they've worked for instant acne relief. I'll eventually write a post about brands that claim to help with acne and whether or not they've helped me because I've tried quite a few! Until then, I hope that you find at least one of these methods useful.

How do you cope with pimples? Tell me all your beauty secrets in the comment section!




NOTE: 
the commentary given in this post is my personal opinion. 
there was no compensation given to me for writing about these products. 
each product that is mentioned in this post worked for me personally.

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2.17.2017

Review | Physician's Formula Eyelash Extension Kit


My next review is on Physician's Formula Eyelash Extension Kit! I bought this on a whim during one of my "go to the store and carefully browse the make up section" part of my trip. I stumbled upon the Physician's Formula make up section right about as I was about to leave the store. And yes, it's true -- I go to the store, and if they have a make up/beauty section, I take my time and slowly walk through the isles and carefully look at products and contemplate if I want to buy them. It can take hours at times and the people working there come and ask me if I am finding everything alright more times than I can count, but I like to take my time.
Anyways....... I've wanted to try Physician's Formula products ever since I was in high school, but since I wasn't really allowed to wear make up, I just stayed away. When I started wearing make up in my early college days, I stuck to Neutrogena and CoverGirl products because I wasn't really using anything other than face wash and foundation. So, naturally, I when I stumbled across the Physician's Formula section in a store, I was intrigued. When it comes to eye lash extensions or "falsies," I tend to stay away. I've tried them on twice and find them super inconvenient  --
A full fake eyelash is SO heavy. I don't know how you ladies do it! Kudos to the ladies who wear those babies because it's rough. I wore them for a total of five minutes and my eyelids were exhausted. I had single falsies on for my wedding day and I loved the way they looked and how they felt, but I would never wear them on a daily basis because it takes forever to put on and take off (ouch!). After those two eyelash experiences, I came to the realization that I'm more of a mascara and nothing else kinda girl. Which makes getting a full lash effect hard.
& then I stumbled upon  Physician's Formula Eyelash Extension Kit! The Eyelash Extension Kit comes with a mascara wand and an extension wand. To be 100% honest, I wasn't really crazy about the mascara wand when I first saw it and when I tried it, those feelings were only strengthened. I find that the tip of the wand is super clumpy and when applying and it makes your eyelashes stick together. I tried wiping the wand with a tissue and then going at it again, but it seems that the only way I can fix the problem is by using another mascara. The mascara wand is a 1.5/5 for me. I really wanted to love it, but I felt like it was just useless.
The extension wand reminds me of a cat because it looks "furry" (that's the best way I can describe it). It leaves behind little black hairs during application, so I recommend paying attention to your face because if you're not careful, you can walk out our your house with little sheds of black hair on your cheeks, lower eyelid and pretty much all over. (I did that a few days ago and it was so embarrassing...) This wand literally sheds like a FURRY CAT. With that being said, I feel as the extension wand gives you a lengthier full eyelash look and it's so simple and easy -- not to mention how fast it can be applied. The extension wand is a 3.5/5 mainly because of the little furry droppings that are left on your face.
All in all, the kit gets a 3/5. I love the fact that I don't have to get falsies to get a FULL eyelash look, but the fact that I am constant paranoid that I have little fur babies under my eyes really is disheartening. If the mascara wand wasn't completely useless and the extension wand used a formula that would make the extensions only stick to my eyelash instead of making a mess, it get a 5/5.
In all honesty, I probably will not buy the kit again just because of the mascara wand. I paid about 15$ and for that price and the size of the wands, I expected them to really amaze me and it didn't fully come through for me.
&&& that's a wrap! I hope you've found this information helpful! What is your favorite way to lengthen your lashes? Let me know in the comments below!
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Buy Online at:
Ulta: $14.99
Walmart: $12.97
Amazon: $11.04

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2.03.2017

7 Subscription Boxes I've Tried


In my 50 facts About Me post, 
I mentioned that I went through a subscription box phase.
& I promised to write a post on all the boxes I've tried, 
so this is me making good on my promise.
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Subscription boxes are small boxes that are filled with goodies whether it be food, makeup, clothes, or anything else that you can think of. These boxes are shipped to you either monthly or seasonally. 
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Here are the 7 boxes I've tried and my thoughts about if they're worth it or not. 
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⇉ click the title of each subscription to be directed to their official page & learn more about their subscription plans ⇇
ipsy [$10 a month]: 
this was my first subscription box ever, so naturally, I was very excited for it. ipsy is a little makeup bag that comes to your door with four to five beauty samples in it. After you receive a bag (or as ipsy would call it a "glam bag"), you go online to their website and rate the items you received  The idea being that the more items you rate, the better they can cater to your makeup style when sending you future samples. As an extra incentive, the reviews rack up points that you could redeem later on full size beauty products. At first I really liked this subscription, but the excitement wore off when they kept sending me samples of colors that I hated like purples, greens, and bright reds -- even though I was an avid reviewer. I was also annoyed that they never sent me a palette or something big, like the products they advertised in the emails they sent me for each month. I always happened to get really small samples which made me feel like I wasn't getting my money's worth. I would check the hashtags on Instagram every once in awhile and I saw quite a few people get really cute palettes and colors, but they just weren't coming my way.. so that made it even more disappointing. I ended up subscribing to ipsy for a whole year because it was cheaper in the long run (you get a free bag if you subscribe yearly), but I started to getting annoyed with it by month five. I finally decided it was time to canceled it around month eight -- thinking they'll refund me the remaining four months, but instead, I received the remaining four bags in my subscription period and then the bags stopped coming. Another thing I really disliked was the actual bag they sent each month. I know that's something that everyone loves about ipsy, but I just felt like a hoarder when I stuffed yet another little bag (that I found practically useless) in my drawer. I kept the first bag and opted to give the bags to my mom and little sister who surprisingly found good uses for them, but if I am going to be honest, I really would have preferred a cardboard box that I could recycle. I will say that through ipsy, I found my favorite exfoliator and the glam bag did expose me to a few products that I really loved using, so even though I canceled my subscription, it wasn't all bad -- I just wanted bigger products. 
{Rating: 6/10}

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e.l.f play beautifully box [$19.99 every 8 weeks]: 
I actually really loved this subscription. The e.l.f. play beautifully box is a cardboard box filled with only e.l.f products -- which is nice because the packaging and aesthetic is always on point! The brand e.l.f stands for eyes, lips, face and they are known to be a really affordable makeup line. It's an added bonus that this makeup brand happens to be infused with minerals, is vegan and cruelty free! I used to always pick up e.l.f. brushes at Target because they were always so affordable and sturdy, so when I saw an advertisement for this box, I thought why not try it? I received 11 items in the play beautifully box and I used every single one! I was so excited to get my second box, so when eight weeks rolled around, I anxiously ran to my mailbox to see if it came. Sadly, it never did. I saw that they had charged me for the box, so after a week of the "estimated shipping date," I contacted customer service who kindly responded saying that they never even sent my box because of some server/technical issues they were having and asked me to be patient -- which I was for another three weeks. I ended up contacting them again, to ask if they sent my box yet and they told me they were still having issues. I decided cancel my subscription right then and there asking for a refund because I was fed up with waiting. They gave me my refund and that was the end of my relationship with the e.l.f play beautifully box. The box itself was great, but the the shipping issue really just made being subscribed seem pointless.
{Rating: 5/10}

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Walmart Beauty Box [$5 every spring, summer, fall and winter]:
I heard about this box when I was browsing YouTube on day and I wanted to try it out. $5 four times a year seemed like a reasonable price to pay for beauty samples right? Wrong. I know I only paid $5 for a box, but I was extremely disappointed with this subscription -- I ended up canceling it after receiving the 3rd one. I think the only actual "beauty" products I received was a Burt's Bee's red lipstick which I didn't even like and a CoverGirl mascara I already owned. Most of the box is composed of packets of shampoo and conditioner, little lotions that are good to place in your purse for a few applications here and there, little Dove travel samples you can get at your local 99 cent store, and really tiny packet samples of the more expensive stuff like eye cream or mineral bath soaks. The little packet samples are frustrating because they are good for one use only and I never am convinced a product truly works after just one use! I need to see how it makes me feel after several times using it. The beauty box also tosses in a few coupons that I never used. I just felt like the box was pointless because I never stumbled upon a product that I loved or wanted to go out and buy. 
{Rating: 2/10}

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BoxyCharm [$21 a month]:
BoxyCharm is a makeup subscription that I absolutely love. You receive 4 to 5 full sized products in each box and sometimes they throw in a bonus product! The boxes usually have a retail value of $100+ and you're paying less than a fourth of that -- what a bargain! Each box I've gotten thus far has had some type of palette in them whether it be a Z-Palette with a few trays inside, an eyeshadow palette or a bronzer highlighter duo. Thanks to BoxyCharm, I don't even buy make up anymore. I just wait for the box to be shipped to my house and then I cater my look based on the products I receive. All the products you get are either by established brands or makeup brands that are emerging in the beauty realm, so you get the best of both worlds. Another thing I love about BoxyCharm is that even if you receive some products you may never use, they are always going to be full size which makes it super easy to give away or regift. (I've always felt super awkward giving away small samples as a gift..) I also like that everyone usually gets the same thing each month, so if you want to watch someone unbox it online, you know that you're getting the same products they are. I've been subscribed to BoxyCharm for 6 months so far and as each month comes, I am always left thinking that the latest box is my favorite box! I don't plan on unsubscribing any time soon, and I would definitely recommend BoxyCharm to anyone and everyone who is thinking about subscribing!
{Rating 10/10}

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GlossyBox [$21 month]:
GlossyBox is a subscription box that claims to be filled with 4 to 5 "luxury" beauty products. When I subscribed to this box, I enrolled in the 12 month plan because it saved me $42 dollars which meant that I'd get two boxes for free. I was pretty intrigued by the idea of "luxury items," but at the end of my subscription period, I was found myself being glad that it was finally over. While GlossyBox exposed me to a few brands that I ended up loving, I had a few mishaps during my time with them. For starters, I received a box with only three things inside, and if it wasn't for the information card they send you with each box, I wouldn't have known something was missing. The item that was missing happened to be the prettiest eye shadow and when I contacted customer service, they told me it was out of stock. To make up for it, they sent me a list of products that they had in stock, and had me choose one that I'd like which they sent to me in the next box. Another issue I had was that they sent me a few damaged items. I received a nude lipstick that fell out of the tube the moment I opened it, an eye shadow stick that had the cap jammed on so tight which made it impossible to open and unusable and a lip/cheek stick that had the bottom fall off durning application. I didn't even bother contacting customer service again. Instead, I canceled my subscription and patiently waited for my current period to be over. I will say that each month, you get this pretty blush pink colored box (unless it's a special edition box) that is sturdy and reusable. I used them as boxes for Christmas presents last year! BUT that is probably one of the only upsides to the box. Many of the products inside the box can be kind of a disappointment. I honestly wish I had done a bit more research because they don't really live up to their "luxury" advertisement. For $21 a month, I expected all products sent to me to be full sized, but quickly noted that many of them were just samples. I was so excited about this box at first, but that excitement quickly dwindled down.
{Rating: 4/10}

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FabFitFun [$49.99 per seasonal box]:
FabFitFun is a seasonal lifestyle box which means you only get four boxes per year. FabFitFun is probably the biggest subscription box I've ever gotten in the mail, averaging about 7 to 8 items in each box. The items can range from beauty, fitness, fashion, to home decor. If you buy the box every season, you pay $49.99 per box, but the retail value of each box is $200+ and it really ends up being a great deal. Because the boxes are seasonal, I subscribed to a whole year for $179.99 -- making your first box half off! So far, I've been loving this subscription because it truly becomes an experience! fabfitfun has a magazine online that has all kinds of cool articles about the items they send in the boxes, and a many other things ranging from health, beauty, home, fashion and much more! They also have such a sweet little community that allows you to chat with other FabFitFun members! People share their excitement for the boxes, suspicions and requests for items they might receive and the staff of FabFitFun sometimes ask for member opinions about certain items and ideas on the community boards. Another neat features are select and add-on items. Select items are like a sneak peak into your box where you can choose certain elements about those products. For example, in a fall box, they sent everyone a blanket and they gave you the option to select the color you wanted or you could have chosen the surprise option! I find the select option so much fun because they cater to your preference with some items and surprise you with others! Add-Ons are items that you can add to your box from the fabfitfun shop -- at a discounted price. Items on the shop are usually seasonal, but I've also spotted items from past boxes as well! It's a great way to stock up on items you love without paying full retail price! They also sell "Editor's Pick" boxes which is a contemplation of all of the boxes of the year -- giving you some of the community's favorites items all in one box. You can pay a little extra if you like the element of surprise and add a mystery bundle to your seasonal box!  This subscription is so much fun and the creators are always adding fun new things that end up making everything about their boxes unique. FabFitFun was a subscription that I was hesitant about at first, but it is also one that I will be renewing when my period is up!
{Rating: 10/10}

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BlessBox [$29.99 a month]:
BlessBox is a box I've just subscribed too -- or rather a subscription box that my husband gifted to me for my birthday this year. I stumbled upon BlessBox on Instagram and they launched their first box (ever) in December of 2016. I mentioned that it looked super cute to my husband and he took note! This month's box (pictured above) will be my first box, so my initial reaction to this box is that I looooove it! I really like that it incorporates beauty, style, home and make up. I cannot wait to see what else it BlessBox has in store! 
{Rate: 10/10}

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RECAP:


Out of seven boxes, I currently am still subscribed to three: BoxyCharm, fabfitfun, and BlessBox. The subscription box phase has slowly dwindled down, and now I am just enjoying the products I've accumulated. I think subscription boxes are a lot of fun, but sometimes you're left feeling like you're not getting your money's worth, so I'd suggest to do some research before you subscribe for the yearly ones! What subscriptions have you tried and loved? Which ones did you end up canceling? I'd love to hear about your experiences!


⇉ Note & Disclaimer ⇇
the rates given in this blog post are my personal opinion. 
there was no compensation given to me for writing these reviews.
the reviews are not meant to offend, encourage, or discourage anyone 
from subscribing to any of the subscriptions listed in this post. 
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1.27.2017

Review | L'Oreal Paris True Match Foundation



I thought I'd do a foundation review because I found one that I actually love and I've been on this search for a really long time. L'Oreal Paris's True Match in the shade N2 (classic ivory) with neutral tones is amazing!
Before I bought this, I was using CoverGirl's (CG) AquaSmoothers in the shade Buff Beige (725) and I found that the pigment in that foundation made my skin look unnatural and yellow.
Finding a foundation for my skin has proven to be difficult. I went to Sephora to get my skin matched by their new technology which they've advertised on their website for some time now, and the lady helping me swatched my skin with her skin-foundation matching device (looks like an iPhone), the foundations the computer said would look best on my skin ended up being to yellow for me, so she had to go down a few shades. When she found something she liked and swatched those, I thought that they made me look super pale, sickly almost, rather than giving me that glowy feel I was looking for (which is the purpose of make up - to make you feel like you're glowing and radiating beauty, right?). I'm eastern European, so my skin is a light olive with pinkish, warm/neutral tones and I guess that isn't a tone that the computer registered. Leaving Sephora, I was disappointed because I really wanted to make a foundation transition but left empty-handed. It was a sad day for everyone.
When I got the True Match, it was on a whim at Target, and I've found that I really really REALLY like it.
It comes in 1 ounce, and the packaging says that it's SPF level is 17, which is great because dermatologists say that 15 SPF is what normal people should be aiming for. So, that fact alone makes me really happy. The packaging also claims it's super blendable -- which is TRUE. The color really blends into my skin and makes it look like I am not wearing makeup. I find that so nice because I am into minimal, barely there makeup looks and it's a dream to own foundation that helps you achieve that!
When you first open the bottle, you'll notice that the foundation is a runny liquid. At first, that made me nervous, but upon application, I loved how smooth it felt and how natural it looked after I blended it on my skin with a beauty blender. The nice thing about this foundation is that a little amount goes a loooong way -- the picture above shows how much I use to cover my entire face and neck, while still having a little bit of product leftover, which I used on spots that I felt needed a little bit more coverage (you know, for those dark acne scars). Every time I use it, I'm left impressed on how little it takes to cover my entire face and how good the coverage is! I like that it spreads evenly and blends into your skin very quickly. You don't have to spend 5 minutes on application to make sure it's really blended into your skin without patchy spots. It truly is a quick and easy application which makes me adore this product even more! As the day went on, I noticed that I didn't need a touch up because I never looked cakey -- it wasn't creasing (a BIG issue I had with CG).
True Match N2 really is a match made in heaven for my skin and I only paid $8.99 at Target! I can't believe I was going to drop $50 on some higher-end brand when this is JUST as good (if not better).
I haven't purchased the True Match powder (yet...), so I don't know how that well that works. Typically, I stay away from powder because I find that powder makes me look cakey and usually gets patchy during the day..  I'm not a fan of powder products in general. Liquid products are usually my favorite with a few exceptions. I might try it out since I loved this so much, but we'll see.. I'm currently in love with this product and it's satisfying all my foundation needs at the moment.
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My face after 7 hours of everyday wear,
no editing, just natural light!


TIP: When I first applied the foundation, I placed it on my hand and got too much on my hand and felt like I was wasting the product. So, to help, now I place the foundation on a board before I take my brush and spread it on my face and then blend with the beauty blender. With the remaining product that has not been touch/used, I just scoop it back into the bottle because every little bit counts.
Okay, so to end this review, I rate L'Oreal Paris's True Match a 4.6/5 only because of the runny consistency, but other than that it is a SOLID product which I will repurchase.


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Buy Online at:
Target for $7.49
Walmart for $7.97

L'Oreal Paris for $10.95
Amazon for $7.12
⇈
 eligible for free shipping with Prime
Walgreens for $11.49 
⇈
buy one get one 1/2 off until 1/28/17
 [[ prices don't include shipping & handling ]]  
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⇉ Note & Disclaimer ⇇
the rate given in this blog post is my personal opinion. 
there was no compensation given to me for writing this review.
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1.17.2017

Review | Jelly Pong Pong Liquid Gossamer


Today I'm reviewing on of my all time favorite products that a received from IPSY (a make up subscription) -- the Jelly Pong Pong Liquid Gossamer! It's one of my favorite highlighting tools because it is so lightweight and soooooo easy to apply. 

Before receiving this product in my ipsy glam bag, I never heard of Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics, so I did a little bit of research. I found out that Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics is based in London, United Kingdom and that they pride themselves in "creating make up a little bit differently." I found that tagline to be rather intriguing and kind of cliche because it seems like all make up brands rave about how "differently" they make their products compared to other brands. 
The Liquid Gossamer is intended to give the face "instant radiance while keeping the skin moisturized." The full size product was made in Italy and is labeled as having 8 mL/0.27 oz of the product inside. The packaging states that it is 48% water based and 78% Natural.
The website claims that it's "formulated with ultra-fine, light-refracting coated mica pigments in a sheer, soft cream that gives your skin an ethereal, youthful-looking glow" and I can attest to that! This product makes your cheek bones look so glowy -- I love it!
When I first got the liquid gossamer in the glam bag, I thought it was a sample size because it was so small, but when I looked at the Jelly Pong Pong website, I couldn't find the product in bigger size. I was sort of upset because I LOVED the product and thought it wouldn't last a long time, right?  Wrong. I received mine in November 2015, and it lasted until March of 2016 which was really surprising. 

When you open the cap, be sure to hold it upright because if not, the product will droop right on out. The product is very very runny -- hence the 48% water based claim. They really weren't kidding. The first couple of times I used it, I put to much on the board and because of my "no wasting make up policy," I ended up having a really glowy look. With time I learned that a small dot goes a really long way if you like a subtle, natural look.

I wish I had a photo for you guys to see how it looks applied, but I don't -- I ran out of the product before it graced my mind to take a picture!
The pricing, in my opinion, is kind of outrageous. It's listed as $22.95 + shipping and handling and it's not even one ounce. I do love this product, but to me the price isn't worth it when you can drive yourself to Target and get L'Oreal's True Match LUMI Liquid Glow Illuminator (review coming soon!) for more product and cheaper. I would probably consider this luxury make up since you technically have to import it from Europe. Due to that fact alone, I wouldn't repurchase this product. I loved it, but I just can't convince myself that one ounce for $23 + shipping and handling is a good idea.
So, I'll give the Jelly Pong Pong Liquid Gossamer a 3.7 out of 5
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If you'd like to try Jelly Pong Pong's Liquid Gossamer, click HEREhttps://jellypongpong.com/collections/face/products/liquid-gossamer-48-water-based-78-natural.



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⇉ Note & Disclaimer ⇇
the rate given in this blog post is my personal opinion. 
there was no compensation given to me for writing this review.
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