Thursday, December 31, 2020

Mask Review: Fourth Ray Beauty The Big Detox Mud Mask

'Ello folksickles. Today's review will be for the Fourth Ray Beauty The Big Detox Mud Mask






AvailabilityThis retails at $14 for 1.7 oz. (50g) and is exclusive to colourpop.com and fourthraybeauty.com.

Would I buy this again? Probably not.

What is this product? What is it supposed to do?
Product info according to fourthraybeauty.com:
Hit the reset button and enjoy refreshed, smoother skin with this deeply detoxifying mud mask. Formulated with potent Bamboo Charcoal, and paired with purifying Kaolin Clay, The Big Detox helps refine pores and reduce impurities, leaving you with a clear and healthy complexion.

Does this contain any special/beneficial ingredients?
Once again, according to fourthraybeauty.com:
Bamboo Charcoal: is known to absorb impurities and detox skin. 
Kaolin Clay: is known to absorb impurities and refine skin.
Glycolic Acid: known to exfoliate and renew skin texture.
Tea Tree: known to purify and promote clarity.
Eucalyptus: known to provide balancing and purifying benefits.

What is the texture like?
This has a soft clay feel. 

Is this scented?
This smells earthy (which I assume is a combination of charcoal and clay) with hints of tea tree and eucalyptus. 

What has my experience with the product been like?
This is mostly a very traditional clay mask that fully dries on the skin. I will warn you that if you have dry skin, this mask can feel rather tight, itchy, and uncomfortable as it dries so my suggestion is to maybe only use it on oilier areas (you will see the oil it draws out as it dries, which is cool) or on spots - as it's absolutely fantastic in drawing acne out onto the surface. Despite it drying in a somewhat uncomfortable way on my dry skin I don't find that it actively dries my skin out though. When I remove this, my skin feels super silky, soft, and smooth. Another warning, however, it's VERY MESSY to remove so my suggestion is to use a damp washcloth or Makeup Eraser rather than just trying to remove it. I definitely love the results this mask gives me and its price point but it definitely needs a little work-around. 

Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

DisclaimerI paid for this myself.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Candle Review: Bath & Body Works Pineapple Sunrise

Hi folks, so I have another home fragrance post for you. 

Candle: Bath & Body Works Scented Candle in Pineapple Sunrise
Availability: This scent has been discontinued, I'm unsure if it's returning this year. Update as of May 2022: They do have one called Pink Pineapple Sunrise that retails at $26.50 for 14. 5 oz. (411g) - I'm unsure how the scent compares.
Would I buy this again?:Yes.
Notes: I purchased this because, as you know, I LOVE pineapple and pineapple scents.
Here's what I'm getting from smelling the candle cold - it smells like pineapple juice with maybe the slightest hint of lime.
As the wax warms and burns, the scent intensifies, though it doesn't change. 
I find this candle melts and burns very well; it has a throw that smells up my entire room. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: Bought this myself.

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Concealer Review: lune+aster Hydrabright Concealer

lune+aster Hydrabright Concealer in Ivory




AvailabilityThis is to  exclusive to bluemercury.com and macys.com along with their physical locations where it retails at $26 for 6.50 g (.22 oz.).

Would I buy this again?: No.

What is it supposed to do?
Quoted from bluemercury.com:
WHAT IT IS
This water-based concealer helps to hydrate and plump skin, while blurring imperfections and hiding dark circles under the eye area for an instantly refreshed look.
BENEFITS
• Blurs imperfections.
• Hides dark circles under the eye area.
• Helps to hydrate and plump skin.
• Water-based formula that will not settle into fine lines or creases.
• Luxurious, weightless coverage.
• For all skin types.
Gluten-free & vegan.
For all skin types.
Dermatologist & allergy tested.
Paraben & phthalate free.
No animal testing.

Does this come in any other shades than the one pictured above?
This comes in 7 shades. 

What's the coverage/consistency like?
I'd say this is a light to medium coverage with a luminous finish.

Does this have any beneficial ingredients in it?
According to bluemercury.com:
Hyaluronic acid helps to plump and replenish the skin’s moisture level.
Shea butter helps to provide deep and lasting hydration.
Vitamin E helps to hydrate, repair and protect.
Vitamin C helps to protect against environmental stressors and promote elasticity while boosting skin's radiance and tone.
Vitamin B5 helps to replenish moisture.

Is this scented?
This has a soft, clean scent.

What has my experience with the product been like?
Honestly I just find that this doesn't give me the kind of coverage I want. If I can apply one layer of concealer and have it cover all my imperfections while still looking like skin and having a bit of a dewy finish, that's hitting the jackpot for me. With this concealer, unless I'm covering something minor, I feel like I have to do about three layers before achieving the coverage I want. I also feel like the applicator hardly dispenses any product and I have to keep going back for more. Frankly I feel like this is a product meant more for the "natural" crowd and for those that like a fuller coverage, like myself, it's just not it. 

What do I use to apply the product? 
I apply this with  my AOA Wonder Blender - Pink Teardrop.

I feel like this review is as thorough as it gets but please let me know if you have any questions or comments. 

Disclaimer: I paid for this myself.

Monday, December 28, 2020

Eye Cream Review: GLAMGLOW BRIGHTEYES Illuminating Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream

Hello folksickles. Today's review will be for the GLAMGLOW BRIGHTEYES Illuminating Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream
Availability: This product retails at $39 for 15 ml (0.50 fl. oz.) and is available at sephora.com, jcpenney.com, bluemercury.com, and nordstrom.com along with their physical store locations as well as at glamglow.com.

Would I buy this?: Yes. 

What is this product designed to address?
According to sephora.com this is what the product is and what it does:
What it is: An energizing eye cream that brightens dark circles and reduces visible signs of fatigue for glowing, well-rested eyes.
Skin Type: Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily
Skincare Concerns: Dark Circles, Fine Lines and Wrinkles, and Dryness
Formulation: Lightweight Cream
Ingredient Callouts: Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and mineral oil. This product is also gluten-free.
What Else You Need to Know: Never look tired again. This fast-absorbing cream works on all skin tones to energize and brighten under and around the eye for a well-rested look. With linoleic acid, watermelon, apple, and narcissus extracts, it helps repair the delicate eye-area skin’s moisture barrier and prevent future signs of fatigue while gently erasing the look of fine lines and wrinkles in just four weeks.

Does it contain any special/beneficial ingredients?
Again, according to sephora.com:
-Illuminating Spheres: Brighten dark circles.
-Caffeine: Energizes and revitalizes.
-Hyaluronic Acid: Plumps and hydrates all day.
-Peptides: Help reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles around the entire eye area.

What is the texture like?
I'd describe the texture as hydrating and creamy, it's a bit on the thick side but not painfully so. 

Is it scented?
This doesn't have much of a scent to it.

My overall experience/comments on the product:
I really like this eye cream because it goes on soft and silky - it provides me with enough hydration to keep my eye area looking plump and soft but isn't so heavy or slick that makeup slides all over it. It also has a nice pinkish pearl to add instant brightness. Overall I like the effect that this has and it's a reasonable price point where I'd consider purchasing it.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Disclaimer: This was provided for testing purposes. I am under no obligation to mention this product on this blog.

Sunday, December 27, 2020

ColourPop Mint to be Pressed Powder Palette Look

Hey folks, today I bring you a minty look to finish out the year which... given that it's me, is kind of appropriate to end the year on a good note with my favorite color. I didn't purposely plan for the jewelry to match but it was a happy accident.


Enough blabbering, tutorial time!
I  applied the blush from the Lune+Aster Desert Moon Palette as a base for Hourglass Strobe Blush, Iridescent Rose with my Sephora Collection Pro Mini Airbrush 55.5. I also applied illuminator from the Lune+Aster Desert Moon Palette as a base for Hourglass Strobe Powder, Iridescent Strobe Light using my Sephora Collection #74 PRO Small Blush and Contour brush.


As a base for my eyeshadow I applied NYX Professional Makeup Faux White Inner Eye Brightener in Mint Cream and blended it out with my Crown Pro C511 brush.


For the crease I applied Seltzer along with Ice Cold with the Sonia Kashuk Essential Blending Crease Brush No. 273 and Crown Pro C511 Brush, respectively.(sorry I forgot to photograph this part).

For the lid I applied Mojito Mami wet using the innisfree nourishing mist with canola honey and  my  Crown Pro C510 brush. I also applied Chill Factor on the outer corner of the eye to create a bit of definition, using the same brush.

To highlight the brow-bone and the inner corner of the eye I applied Kat Von D Melanie  using my no-name gigantic paddle brush from Crown and Crown Pro C528 brush, respectively



For the lower lash line, I applied Freshman using my Bubbi Detail brush.
The look sans lashes. 


For lashes I used  ColourPop Falsies Faux-M-G Lashes in Chick along with the Duo Quick Set Striplash Adhesive.
Hope that you liked this! :D It was super fun for me to put together! 

Please let me know if you have any comments or questions. 

Disclaimer: The Sephora 55.5 brush, Hourglass. and Lune+Aster products were provided for testing purposes.  I paid for everything else you see here myself. 

Saturday, December 26, 2020

ColourPop Mint to be Pressed Powder Palette Review

 Today I bring to you the ColourPop Mint to be Pressed Powder Palette



AvailabilityThis is exclusive to colourpop.com where it retails at $14 for 9 eyeshadows (1.10 g / 0.04 oz. each). 
Would I buy this again? Yes!
NotesHonestly my wife sent me a pic of this when it first launched and given how mint is one of my favorite colors I HAD TO HAVE this.
Get Fresh is described as a matte pastel mint, I'd agree with their description.


Mintea is described as a vibrant mint with a gold sheen, I'd say this is a metallic minty green. 


Play It Cool is described as an icy green mint with a duochrome shift, I'd say it's an icy minty off-white with a mint pearl.
Seltzer is described as a soft aqua with silver pinpoints, I'd agree with their description.
Mojito Mami is described as a true mint, I'd agree with that description, it's the kind of shade you think of when you think of a "mint" shade.

De Menthe is described as a soft dusty mint, I'd say this is a soft cool-toned green.
Ice Cold is described as a electric mint, I'd agree say it's a cool-toned grass-green-meets-turquoise shade.


Freshman is described as a mid-tone mint, I'd say it's  greenish mint with a golden pearl.

Chill Factor is described as a  deepened mint,  I'd say this is a cool toned olive green.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

DisclaimerI bought this myself.