Curly Qs!

     Hello Beauty Junkies! I realize I promised my next blog would be my late Birchbox reviews, but because of fun life surprises (broken down car, concerts, weddings, making wedding presents and an incredibly awesome job opportunity) I have had a hard time keeping up with them. I have decided to take a temporary hiatus from Birchbox reviews, however I will still be blogging beauty advice so always stay tuned!

     Today I would like to discuss mascaras and eyelash curlers. I have loved makeup from a young age and have always been obsessed with eyelashes. I have always been insanely jealous of people with long, black, thick, perfectly naturally curled eyelashes. My eyelashes aren't nonexistent, however they are rather straight and I always longed for curled eyelashes. Now even though I've always longed for these curled eyelashes, I could never figure out eyelash curlers to save my life! My eyes are long and slanted rather than open and wide so most curlers would pinch my eyelid and didn't fit the whole length of my eye. If I could manage a curl that wasn't kinked, I couldn't get it to hold and all the pinching and time spent was completely wasted.. I called it quits for a very long time and just figured they just didn't work for me.

     After a few years, I went on a huge Sephora shopping spree and decided to purchase a $19 Shu Uemura eyelash curler after reading RAVE reviews. I was super excited and got all this hope.... only to have it crash down once again. While this curler didn't pinch my eyelids like every other and fit the whole length of my lash line, I could not get a natural curl that would hold. I tried everything from $20 curling mascaras to heating my curler with my hair dyer and after nothing worked, I almost returned it.

     One night a friend came over and we were talking makeup. I pulled out my recent purchases and showed her the eyelash curler and told her how I couldn't figure out how to use it. I then realize how wonderfully naturally curled her eyelashes looked and asked if she curled hers. She showed me her technique and I decided to give it one last try before giving the curler away. Instead of pinching as hard as you can at the root, she would pump gently while moving the curler up the lashes from the root often referred to as the "walking" technique. It took me a few tries to get the hang of it and once I did, I was getting a wonderful, natural looking curl.

      REJOICE!.....?

     NOT SO FAST!!!!!!

     So I got super stoked because I was getting this awesome shape and yet every time I put on mascara my eyelashes went back to their normal straight shape. Once again, I was disappointed. Then finally while googling the subject I came across just the right article that suggested using waterproof mascara. Waterproof formulas contain waxes that hold your curl! Right away I purchased two drug store mascaras (Maybelline FullnSoft and DefineALash) in their waterproof formulas and started curling away. Sure enough, the waterproof mascara held the curl! YES!!!!!!

REJOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   The shape and quality of your eyelash curler is very important and unfortunately you can only find the one that works for you by trying them. I advise going somewhere like Ulta that has a variety of brands and range from high to low in price. They also have a pretty good return policy so you don't end up with a bunch of curlers you hate and wasted money. There are all different kind of eye lash curler pads, but I find the ones that are most comfortable with the best curl shape are mushroom shaped and made of silicone.


     The best and most coveted curler in the "industry" is the Shu Uemura eyelash curler pictured above. The bummer is not too long ago, Shu Uemura pulled all its products from U.S. shelves but you can still order it at http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/. It comes with two silicone pads that should be replaced after about 3 months or when you notice them wearing down. Shu Uemura does not sell replacement pads for its eyelash curler because you are supposed to purchase a new curler after the two pads wear down for hygienic reasons. However.... if buying a new curler doesn't fit your budget or you just don't want to by a new curler, the replacement pads for the Shiseido eyelash curler ($6 for two) fit in the Shu Uemura and give you pretty comparable results. I've had my Shu Uemura for several years and have had no experience in the curler itself wearing down, just the pads. I do disinfect my curler the best I can, but I should probably be a good esthetician and purchase a new one for myself.

     If you do not want to order your curler online, my next recommendation would be the Shiseido eyelash curler because it is the closest to the Shu Uemura. You can purchase Shiseido products at Sephora or Ulta, however if its the only reason you're going in I would call your local store first to make sure they have it in stock.





     Now.... regarding mascara. Mascara is pretty important to your overall look whether you are going for a soft natural look or a dramatic night time look. No one wants clumpy, spider lashes so the shape of the brush is as important as the mascara formula itself. The shape of your eye is also important because not all mascara brushes work for all eye shapes. Just like with many cosmetics, different products work for different people so if you want to explore the mascara world I suggest doing so somewhere with a generous return policy.




     I enjoy many high end products and if my budget permits, will insist on using them. However, mascara is one product where I enjoy the drugstore formulas more than the high end formulas. I've tried many high end formulas including Buxom, Tarte and Bad Gal and while they weren't terrible products, I didn't feel I was getting a big enough difference to spend $15-$25 dollars on a product I use pretty much every day. Both the Buxom and Bad Gal brushes were too big for my eye shape. I couldn't open my eyes wide enough to coat the last from root to tip. I liked the Tarte "Lights, Camera, Lashes" formula, but even the waterproof formula smeared a bit by the end of the day and wouldn't hold my curl.

 

     After buying and returning several high end mascaras, I ended up going back to a brand I used back in high school... good old Maybelline. I purchased Full N Soft waterproof formula and Define-A-Lash waterproof formula and tested away! Both of these mascaras are great at holding my curl and are pretty smear proof, even through tears. I feel the Full N Soft adds volume with its thick, round brush and  Define-A-Lash separates and adds length. They are also less expensive which can make a huge difference in your budget for everyday cosmetics.

 

     So there you have it. My take on mascara and eyelash curlers. Curling your eye lashes opens your eyes up and draws attention there. Finding the right products for your eye shape is pivotal and remember to know a stores return policy just in case you don't like it. Hopefully this helps you find a product that works for you! Stay tuned for more advice articles........

 

 

 

p.s. Just because I'm taking a hiatus on Birchbox reviews, doesn't mean you shouldn't sign up! Go to Birchbox.com to sign up for their waiting list and wait for you samples!

    
    

    

Gifted Body Wash... Grrrrrr!

     Hello Beauty Junkies! I apologize for such a gap between posts... life has been a bit hectic, but very fun lately. I realize I did not post a review for the June Birchbox, but I shall catch up and post it when I post the review for my July Birchbox which will be coming soon.



     My topic for this post is the annoying pest known as gifted body wash/bubble bath. I am incredibly grateful to receive any present, but gifted body wash has begun to irritate me over the years. Most women love wonderful smelling items so for many people its a fail safe when purchasing gifts for females you aren't necessarily close to. There is an exception... if a female you know LOVES a certain body wash and you know that for sure, then by all means it's an awesome gift. However, if you aren't very close/personal, step away from the body wash. Every Christmas, I would put the body washes I accumulated that holiday in my linen closet, saying I would use them one day. Lo and behold I would forget about their existence until the next time I moved and once again I would say "I'll use it one day" and "one day" never came.



     I enjoy scented body wash, however I prefer to use Dove bar soap because of the way it moisturizes my skin. It has a soft fresh scent that I enjoy, it leaves my skin moisturized so I don't have to apply lotion and its inexpensive. Anyway, after storing body wash after body wash away while using my Dove soap I realized I was accumulating a body wash hoard hahaha. In the past few months I made a dedication to use EVERY body wash/soap in my linen closet before purchasing more Dove soap... it's been about four-five months and I have about four left! LOL if you know me personally and you are reading this post:

NO MORE BODY WASH!

     So if you can't buy her body wash and you don't know what to buy her, what do you do? My answer is BODY SUGAR/SALT SCRUBS! While every girl probably has her own favorite soap/body wash she purchases on a regular basis, sugar and salt scrubs are something us women will always use whether its in the shower or next to our hand washing sink and most of us don't have a favorite, we love them all.

WE LOVE SCRUBS!

     We all know how much I love exfoliation and scrubs most important benefit is they exfoliate, leaving skin feeling smooth and soft especially after shaving or waxing. They also benefit shaved/waxed areas because they remove dead skin cells that can cause ingrown/infected hairs. However, always use caution when using products on shaved/waxed areas; hair removal can cause the area to be more sensitive. Always use caution when using products on bikini lines/genital areas, as these areas are naturally more sensitive. Grapeseed oil and Jojoba oil are less likely to clog pores than other oils, so a scrub with a grapeseed oil base could help with body acne by removing dead skin cells and preventing them from clogging pores.

 P.S. NEVER USE A BODY SCRUB ON YOUR FACE!

     Another benefit to scrubs is the circular motion you use while using them increases circulation to your limbs and provides an invigorating effect. 

    

While you may not know every women's favorite scents, there are many fail safe scrub scents you can opt for:

*Nutmeg/spicy/cinnamon scents are usually enjoyed by most because they give a warm, cozy feeling that is great for fall and holiday seasons.
*Peppermint is a great holiday scent that is energizing and refreshing.
*Gingerbread is another good holiday scent enjoyed by most.
*Brown sugar/vanilla is a great scent combination that most enjoy all times of the year, even men. It brings up memories of fresh baked cookies, coziness and warmth.
*Citrus scents are great for spring and summer seasons. They are uplifting, energizing and clean.
*Stay away from floral scents, they can be much too flowery and overpowering.
*Stay away from anything too musky or specific, such as Nag Champa. Not all enjoy those heavy scents.


     You can purchase body scrubs in most retail stores that sell body wash  for decent prices. If you are purchasing them for more than just a couple of people it may be more cost effective to make the scrubs yourself. This involves a carrier oil (almond, grapeseed, hazelnut, ect.), a sugar/salt (brown sugar, organic sugar, Epsom salt, ect.) and your choice of essential oils. You can add fun elements to your scrubs like crushed candy cane, sprinkles, dried flowers, ect. to give them a personal touch. There will be another post entirely dedicated to making your own body scrubs so stay tuned! If you can't wait until then, do a search for DIY body scrubs on Pinterest... there are hundreds of recipes out there! 

     Men enjoy scrubs too! Here's my scrub-loving-man story:

    
     The Christmas after I enrolled in esthetician school, we made our own scrubs in class. I enjoyed it so much I decided to make scrubs as gifts for family and as favors at my work party. I made several different scents, such as Candy Cane, Cinnamon, Brown Sugar Spice, Vanilla Brown Sugar and Nag Champa (that one was for a special lady). Anyway, I gave two scrubs each to my boyfriends sister and sister-in-law. The next Christmas, at my boyfriends parents house we were talking about past presents and the scrubs got brought up. My boyfriends brother had an injury on his knee and shin that resulted in a large scar. He said this scar would itch and developed excessive eczema like dryness and all the lotions he tried would not relieve it. One day, behind closed doors (haha), he decided to use the cinnamon scrub because it had an oil base and thought it might provide some relief. He loved it! It relieved the dryness as well as exfoliating the dry, flaky, itchy skin. Men love a good exfoliation too!

     They have uses outside of the shower as well! Oil based scrubs help remove sticky residues off hands such as motor oil, paint, stains, sap and glue. I do recommend washing hands with a very small amount of hand soap after using an oil based scrub because your hands will feel a tiny bit oily, like right after you use lotion.

     So this next holiday season, instead of going for the body wash for that female coworker you drew for Secret Santa, get her a body scrub instead. Chances are she doesn't have a million already and its an item she will still enjoy! If you aren't sure of her favorite scents and you are somewhere like The Body Shoppe or Bath and Body, ask the sales clerk if any scents are the most popular. Variety packs/gift baskets are nice because you get a few different scents. If you're daring, make your own!

Stay tuned for my June and July Birchbox reviews!

Urban Decay Product Review

     Hello Beauty Junkies! As you may know from my previous post, I recently made a purchase of Urban Decay products from the Hautelook.com website. My first post was entirely about the of Shadows and in this post I will be reviewing the other products I bought.


     I purchased the Urban Decay Lash Kit which came with a set of UDs false lashes in Minx, a small tube of Urban Lash False Lash Mascara, a small 24/7 pencil liner in zero (black) and some lash adhesive. The lashes are very pretty outwards swooping lashes rather than curled upward. This gives them a feathery look. The quality of the lashes are great, they are very soft and aren't shiny or plastic looking like some lashes can be. However, the band on these lashes is SUPER thick. My eyes are a bit small and slanted and these lashes would not bend to my eye shape. They kept lifting in the corners no matter how I trimmed them. I got fed up that time around, but saved them for another day. I tried again, only this time I cut them into pieces and glued the pieces on individually. The effect was nice, but they were pretty heavy and rather uncomfortable. Gluing them on like that was timely and also made reuse a bit difficult. I used the False Lash Mascara which is a formula made to blend your lashes with the false ones for a more natural look. It was coating my lashes and the false once nicely until I got too close to my water line and got some in my eye. Excuse my language, but HOLY S*** it burnt the hell out of my eye! If I feel adventurous I may use it again with a steadier hand, but maybe not. This mascara at full price is $19. The eyeliner is great, I love the travel sizes for when I can only bring essentials and who doesn't need black eye liner?  I believe this kit originally sold for $19 and I bought it for $5. All in all, this kit was not for me, but at $5 it wasn't a big deal. This lash kit is no longer available through Urban Decay's website.




    It seems Urban Decay has been doing some spring cleaning remodeling its label and also
discontinuing some products, one of these being the Urban Glow skin highlighter. Normally I use Smashbox Artificial Light in Flash which is a peachy, iridescent pink tone in a liquid formula but at $24 a bottle and money being a bit tight I had to find a cheaper alternative. I was pretty happy when I came across this on Hautelook for $6 (normally it is $24) and couldn't wait to give it a try. I bought the shade Moonshine, which like Flash is an iridescent pink but isn't as peachy as Flash is. It has a bit more white pearl to it. It comes in a cream cake and liquefies on touch from your body heat. I dab a few dots on my cheek bones and blend to add a bit of glow to my face. It has a nice texture and blends well without being overly shimmery. I like this product and would use it again if it weren't being discontinued. This product is still available on Urban Decay's website but only in the shade Wicked, which is a pinky shimmery shade.


    I was also excited to come across a five pencil set of UD's 24/7 shadow crayons. These are jumbo crayons in shades of your favorite UD shadows. They are a quick precise way to apply shadow and these can also be used for a base for other shadows. I already had a few full sized crayons ($19 each) and enjoy them so I figured five small crayons for $9 (Orig. $32) was a killer deal! It came with Sin (champagne shimmer, one of my fave shades), Clash (shocking bright blue), Juju (med. beige shimmer), Rehab (dark brown shimmer) and Delinquent (dark purple with glitter). I already owned a full size Delinquent and enjoy the shade so an extra mini was a plus. Sin, Rehab and Juju are great for a natural daytime look, while Clash and Delinquent are perfect for a night out on the town. These have a creamy texture and are pretty blendable, however they set rather quickly so you might want to be quick with your blend. The brush that works best for this is UD's 24/7 Shadow Pencil brush, a small dense brush with a tapered tip. This kit was a steal and I would purchase more of these crayons in their full size.



     I also picked up a 24/7 Concealer Pencil for $5, normally priced at $18. The only shade left was CIA, which is rather light but I can make it work. Normally I don't use heavy concealer around the eyes because it can settle into fine lines making even young eyes look older. However, after a stressful night with some redness and swelling, this did a pretty good job at covering these imperfections (after treating the swelling with cool teabags). I would prefer a tone closer to my own skin tone, but after setting this with powder it works. I wouldn't purchase it at full price simply because I do not use it enough. One thing I'm a bit confused about.... the pencil is plastic instead of wood. The bottom does not twist and I have no idea how you are supposed to get the rest of the product out!!! >..<


     I also purchased the Urban Decay Temporary Tattoos. These were $2 and seemed like fun, but I have yet to use them. They take a steady hand in applying and I just haven't played around with them yet. I am excited to try them, but am conscious of when I experiment in case they do not look as good as I hope. When I try them, I'll definitely do a post on how I like them!


     While I wasn't 100% pleased with this purchase, I liked enough of the product for it to be worth it. I see why Urban Decay has changed a lot of it's packaging... some of it just isn't practical. I am the most pleased with the Urban Glow highlighter and the 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner. The eyelashes were of great quality, but the band was much too thick. I probably won't purchase lashes from Urban Decay in case they are all like this.

    Stay tuned for my next post... most likely a review of the June Birchbox! Have a beauty question you'd like help with? Let me know! I'd love to do Q&A posts! Until next time!
   

May Birchbox!

     Hello Beauty Junkies! I apologize for the delay in posts.... I've been a bit lazy with blogging lately. May's Birchbox included a tinted moisturizer, a small bottle of gold nail polish, a perfume vial, a tinted chap stick and a pink hair tie (not pictured). Also included was a cute note card with a matching envelope. I used the hair tie before I could take a picture because it looked so cute! Anyway, here is my May Birchbox review!

     The first product I used from this box was the pink Twistband hair tie. This hair tie boasts no snags and no crimps or dents in your hair. While I'm not fond of the color pink, this hair tie is too cute to pass on just because of the color. I love that it looks like a ribbon instead of an elastic. My only complaint about this hair tie is it just doesn't hold my hair tight enough. My hair is fine, but I have a lot of it so my hair is moderately thick and is naturally curly. If I tried to wear a high ponytail or messy bun with this tie, it would loosen and migrate downward within the hour. However, these ties work great for braids or pigtails. A recent hair trend I have loved lately is the braid and I love to wear the Hunger Games side french braid. These ties add a little bit of color and girliness to your hairstyle while being subtle. On Birchbox.com they run $18 for a pack of 12 and you can choose between bright colors or neutral colors. $18 is a little pricey for hair ties, but I would purchase them for the fun colors.  All in all, if I saw these ties at the grocery store I would purchase them. However, the only way I would order these online is if I was already purchasing another item.

     The next product I used was the Color Club Foil Collection in Disco Nap, a nice shimmery gold color. First I must say, I love mini nail polishes. Over the years of purchasing a TON of nail polish, I have never been able to use a full bottle completely before it gets chunky and goes bad. I love these little bottles because they are good for 5+ applications and you don't end up wasting money on product you didn't use. This polish applied great and even and dried rather quickly. I only had to apply one coat as it is not a very sheer polish, which I like. I find it annoying when you have to layer on coat after coat to get a solid wash of color. The first time I used this polish I didn't apply a clear coat and it chipped in about a day. Using a strong clear coat made it last a bit longer, however due to constant hand washing at my job even the strongest polish doesn't last long. This polish would look great with chunky gold sparkles over the top! The mini bottle is 0.25 ounces while the full size is 5 ounces and sells for $8 on Birchbox.com. I would possibly buy this polish in a full size, however I would love if they made a set of minis instead.

P.S. Urban Decay makes super fun mini polish collections! At full price the sets are a bit expensive ($20+), if you keep your eye out they frequently end up on sale on Hautelook.com or Urbandecay.com for as little as $8! Totally worth it for seven mini polishes in bright awesome colors!

     My favorite product that I have received in my Birchbox so far is the fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment. This is an awesome tinted chap stick that nourishes and hydrates your lips while giving you a little hint of color and SPF 15. It's free of petroleum and sulfates as well as synthetic dyes. I loved that they kept the original packaging and made it a little mini twist up chap stick. I absolutely hate lipstick, lip liner and most lip glosses, so tinted chap stick and lip stains are the extent of lip make up I wear. This one goes on smooth, gives just enough color to not end up on your teeth and leaves your lips soft. Too bad I washed and dried mine while doing laundry ARRRRGGGHHHH!!! It came out of my clothes pretty easily with some degreasing stain remover, but I was super sad because I really love this product! I would purchase this product at full price $22.50, which is pretty expensive for chap stick but that is just how awesome this product is. They have several different colors and formulas on Sephora.com, all of which I would like to try. The only thing that would make this product more awesome is if they sold a set of minis! I love minis!

     The next product is Dr Jart + Water Fuse Beauty Balm. Essentially, this is a tinted moisturizer but it boasts that it is a sunscreen, serum and moisturizer to save time and product. It seems that one size fits all for the shade as well as skin type. I put this on instead of my moisturizer and found that it wasn't moisturizing enough to be used alone. It was tinted, but not tinted enough to make a difference, so I still applied my powder. All in all, for $32 for a full size, I would not purchase this product. It doesn't seem to match every skin type and doesn't hydrate as promised. If I were going to buy a pricey tinted moisturizer, I would purchase Laura Mercier for $42 instead. This tinted moisturizer hydrates better, causing you to use less product and with SPF 20 it's great for summer. You can also pick your shade and choose between a few different formulas like oil free that would best match your skin type.

     Last, is the vial of Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée Petite Cologne Absolue perfume. This perfume has notes of vanilla and jasmine as well as brown sugar. Its subtle, but rich and could be too heavy for a summer scent. I enjoy the smell of this perfume, but I hate the packaging! Its in a vial with a cork top that is somewhat difficult to remove. You get more perfume on your fingers than anywhere else and because of this, I believe it prevents you from truly smelling how the scent sits with your body chemistry. For $65 at full price, I wouldn't change my perfume, but I feel if this scent were packaged differently I could have enjoyed it more, possibly enough to change my mind.

     This was an awesome Birchbox and I can't wait for next month! I will most likely be purchasing a full size Sugar Lip Treatment and hoping they bring out a mini set.... maybe for the holidays? I'm also hoping Twistbands are sold somewhere other than online... but I might just have to cave and buy them online. Next few posts should be on the rest of my Hautelook Urban Decay purchase and June's Birchbox. Till next time!

Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV Review

    Hello Beauty Junkies! As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently made a purchase from Hautelook.com when they had their Urban Decay sale. I'm breaking my review into two parts because the review on just the Book of Shadows IV is a fairly long one by itself. Stay tuned for a review on the rest of the product I purchased!

    The main reason I made this purchase was for the Book of Shadows IV (or BOS IV as I will sometimes refer to it). This palette came out awhile ago and while all the Book of Shadows are awesome, this one just really didn't catch my eye, especially with a $62 price tag. I assume many other UD junkies felt the same way because the last two Books of Shadow, I Heart NY and Alice in Wonderland, sold out rather quickly right off the bat and have never been a sale item. Anyway, when I saw this palette on sale on Hautelook.com for $24 I figured it was a steal. Urban Decay palettes are always worth the money because if you purchased each shadow individually at $18, it would end up costing $288. It also gives you great variety in your look instead of purchasing one or two shadows by themselves and each palette comes with a small bottle of shadow Primer Potion. This palette also came with a full size 24/7 liquid eyeliner, a small tube of Super Curling Mascara and a little speaker with a USB cable. The speaker is to be used with a smart phone. There is a little card included with QRC bar codes you can with your phone and it takes you to several tutorials.

    So far, my satisfaction with this palette has been a little across the board. I would assume all UD shadows are made with the same quality, but when I used Blue Bus (blue shade, top left corner) and Gravity (second row from top, purple second from the left) the color didn't transfer to my lid. Instead of Blue Bus being a periwinkle with a purplish shift like it is in the cake, it looked like a smudgy, dirty mess. Gravity was the same way. Instead of being a soft dark purple, it looked blackish and dirty. I ended up trashing this look and removing these shadows. On a different occasion, I used Bender (green shade, first in second row under Blue Bus) and got the same results. Instead of being a nice green, it looked like a blackish smudge with no real color definition. I have never ran into an Urban Decay eye shadow I didn't like, so this was disappointing to me.

    

     On the other hand, I have used Zephyr (white shade, bottom right hand corner) several times as a highlighter and it is awesome. Its a golden white tone that is great for the corner of eyes and under the brow bone. I also used Bust (bottom left hand corner), Missionary (right of Bust) and Lost (brown tone under black shadow, second row) in a natural look and was pleased with their texture and color payoff. I am very excited to use Crystal (light blue shadow above Zephyr). It is a very pretty light blue with a silvery shift. If anyone recalls the scene in the movie Everafter when Drew Barrymore's character is in the ball gown with the wings, she has a "mask" painted on her face that is bluish, iridescent with shimmer and glitter. This shadow would be perfect for that look. Haha sorry for the tangent, just had to share what this color reminded me of. Another perk to the shadows is this palette is not many are repeats and ten were new shades. If you are a UD fan and you have several palettes like I do, you being to accumulate a few popular repeat shades such as Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, Sin and Bake.  Anyway, while I am not 100% pleased with all the shadows, at $24 it  was still worth the buy.

     Included in this palette was a full sized tube of 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. I have used this several times and have liked it for the most part. The brush is very small, which I like because it makes it easier to maneuver around your eyelashes, especially if they are curled. The formula is pretty black in color, another thing I like, but it tends to get a little shiny. I prefer my liquid eyeliners to dry very dark matte black. I have yet to use it on my bottom lash line and am a bit reluctant because it's more likely to get in my eye that way and sometimes that stuff really burns! What I don't like about this liner is the way it comes off. It peels off in little pieces that got stuck in my eyelashes that weren't easy to get out, even with my heavy duty makeup remover. I'm glad it came with this palette, however I'm not sure I would purchase it at $19 by itself.

    

     Also included with this palette was a small tube of mascara in Urban Decays Super Curl formula. After a few uses, this mascara is okay. It didn't curl my lashes as promised and isn't waterproof so it couldn't even hold a curl from my eye lash curler. It did go on very smooth and I liked the shape of the brush and its bristles. Every lash got clump free coating which is always nice. This formula gets great reviews on the Urban Decay website, however since it's not waterproof it's pretty much a deal breaker for me. You can buy this travel size for $10 if you'd like to give it a try. Stay tuned for a post on my favorite mascaras and eye lash curling tips!

    The small speaker is kind of cool, but it doesn't really give your phone any extra volume. I didn't find the speaker necessary to play the tutorials from my smart phone. The tutorials are useful, especially if you are a beginner and gave some fun, funky looks you can do with this palette. Overall, I feel a booklet of instructions or just the address of the tutorials would have been more effective than the speaker/USB system and the palette probably would have cost less.

     Overall, it was worth the $24 to purchase this palette. However, I would not have purchased this palette at regular price. I feel part of the reason this palette was more expensive (UD BOS are usually around $50-$53) was because they included the USB equipment and the speaker which were completely unneeded. The small primer potion and mascara were nice perks and I was very happy it came with the full size liquid eye liner because I have been wanting to try it for awhile. Not a terrible palette, but it didn't live up to the expectations I hold for Urban Decay. I've been happy with every shadow palette before this and I own seven! You can still purchase this product on UrbanDecay.com for $29.

Stay tuned for my May Birchbox review! 

    

Prime Before You Beat Yo Face!

    Hello Beauty Junkies! Today I would like to stress the importance of primers! Have you ever purchased an eyeshadow that looks beautiful in the cake, but the color doesn't transfer the same to your lid? Does your eye shadow crease halfway through the day? Does your foundation fade halfway through your day? Does your face get shiny by lunch causing you to reapply powder? Would you like a better coverage from your powder without wearing heavier foundation? Does your lipstick fade quickly? All of these problems can be solved with PRIMERS!!!


    First I would like to discuss eyeshadow primer because I feel this is the most important of all. I've been asked what beauty products I couldn't live without and eye shadow primer is definitely one of them. We've all purchased eye shadows, absolutely in love with the color in the store and on our hand until we go home and apply to our lids and the color magically disappears. Another conundrum with eye shadows is you find a shade you love, apply in the morning and by lunch half of the shadow has migrated on your lower lash line and the other half has weaseled its way into your crease. GET A PRIMER!!! An eye shadow primer can fix all of these problems and I promise it will change the way you wear eye shadow. Your eye lid gets oily and is relatively smooth, so when you apply eye shadow it has nothing to stick to which results in lack luster color and creasing. You end up with a color that isn't bright, isn't defined and is uneven. When you use a primer, you are giving the shadow a surface to stick to. This makes your color pop and your shadow lasts all day looking as fresh as it did that morning!


     My favorite eyeshadow primer is Urban Decay's Eye Shadow Primer Potion. It comes in four different shades to best suit your shadow needs. I have all four and love each one of them for their specific purpose. The classic potion (purple tube) is nude and goes on invisible and is great for any shadow colors. Greed (gold tube) is a gold shade with a hint of shimmer that goes great with golden toned shadows or it wears great by itself for just a hint of shimmer especially on darker skinned ladies. Sin is a champagne hue that goes great with neutrals and earthy tones. Sin (tan tube) can also be used to highlight cheek bones on lighter toned ladies. I love Sin because it looks the best by itself out of all the shadow primer potions. Eden (beige tube) is a matte tawny shade that is meant to make dark shadows pop. It is great for bringing out color because its matte, lighter shade makes shadows appear brighter. Think painting... colors look brighter when painted on top of white rather than grey or tan. However, because of its light color I wouldn't wear it by itself. These may run a little expensive for some junkies taste, but for $19 a tube it drastically changes your eye shadow looks and lasts a pretty long time. If you are a beginner, I suggest the classic potion or Sin. These are the most useful and versatile. I love Green and Eden, but I just don't use them as much as classic and Sin. I discovered this primer while just beginning to experiment with makeup and because I was so pleased with it, I haven't used other eye shadow primers. However, I have heard that Too Faced and Smashbox both make excellent shadow primers as well so they may be worth a try depending on what works for you.


     As I mentioned in my post before about exfoliating, I love smooth skin. When your skin is smooth it helps your foundation look natural. When skin is rough and unexfoliated, foundation clumps around dead skin cells, making your foundation appear uneven cakey and unnatural. The first step to smooth foundation application is exfoliating and the second is a primer that works for your skin. Just like the eye shadow primer, face primer gives your foundation something to stick to and also prevents it from fading and creasing throughout the day. The right face primer for you is going to depend on your skin type. If you have oily skin, a primer that contains the words matte or mattefying is going to work best for you because it will reduce the oiliness and will prevent your foundation from sliding off. I have used Urban Decay's De-slick In A Tube and it did the job, however my skin is not very oily so it was a little too dry for my taste. I could see it working very well for someone with oily skin. If you have dry or combination skin, a soft gel like primer will be best for you. These are usually clear and may feel a little slick at first, but the way your foundation goes on after applying is amazing. A little goes a long way, so you can make them last awhile.








      My favorite face primer so far is Tarte Clean Slate. It's fragrance free, has a lot of natural and beneficial ingredients, last a long time and makes my foundation last all day.  Another primer I used recently after receiving a sample is the Sephora Collection Perfecting Ultra Smoothing Primer. This is very similar in look and feel to Tarte's Clean Slate, however I found it's lasting power wasn't as long as Tarte's. After logging onto Sephora.com I just found out that Tarte no longer makes just the Clean Slate primer. They now have two different formulas, one that is mattefying and one that is brightening. As of right now, I do not think either is similar to the original formula which disappoints me. Tarte's primers are close to twice the price of the Sephora Collection primer, however you get 0.5 ounces in the Sephora bottle and 1 ounce in the Tarte bottle. All in all, I feel Tarte is better to use because of the natural ingredients. Shop around and find a primer that suits you. If you are skeptical, next time you are in Sephora purchasing something, ask the cashier if there are any primer samples they could give you. If they don't have any samples, purchase what you think might work and if it doesn't, Sephora has a great return policy.

     There are two other primers that can prove useful depending on your beauty routine. I do not wear lipstick AT ALL so a lipstick primer isn't something I need. Just like shadow and face primer, I'm sure lip primer helps your lipstick last and prevents it from s feathering out from your lip line. Urban Decay makes a lip primer that has pretty good reviews. It can also be used with lip gloss.The other primer out there to discuss is eye lash primer. It is meant to condition your lashes and create a coating around them so they appear to have more volume. My own experience with lash primers is the majority of them are white, so you have to be sure to cover them completely with mascara. I like to curl my lashes and priming them makes them way too heavy to hold the curl, so while I have the Urban Decay Eyelash Primer Potion I never use it. If you don't curl your lashes and are looking to thicken your lashes up a bit, this might be the product for you.


     In closing, any good painter will tell you they prime whether its a canvas or a car. Any good make up artist will tell you they prime their artwork as well. Experiment and find what works for you, just remember to be familiar with the vendor's return policy just in case you aren't happy with the product. We all know it really sucks to spend money on a cosmetic that doesn't work for you.


Stay tuned for my next post.... I will be reviewing the May Birchbox... it's an awesome one!

Birchbox Product Reviews

     Now that I have used almost everything in my Birchbox (except the fashion tape) its time to post my reviews. I did not get a chance to use the fashion tape and didn't want to wait longer to review because my Urban Decay order is arriving soon and I don't want to fall behind. Now to begin.


     I'm going to start with the Befine moisturizer and exfoliating cleanser because these were the largest product samples.

     The exfoliating cleanser contained a decent amount of product, however it was rather difficult to get out of the pouch so depotting it proved to be a little difficult. I just used the entire pouch each time I used it. The exfoliator was surprising because it started out very gritty, but it foamed up a bit and the grittines wore off the more you rubbed it around. I liked using it, but was a bit disappointed with how my skin felt afterward. I expected it to leave my skin a lot smoother than it did, however I like an aggressive exfoliator. This product would work great for someone with more sensitive skin because it is effective while still being gentle. It contains oats which are great for calming sensitive skin. It also contains brown sugar which is a great exfoliator that dissolved in hot water and sweet almond which is another good exfoliating media. It is also a natural product with vegetarian proteins that is allergen and fragrance free which once again makes it a great product for sensitive skin. At $25 it is a little expensive, however if you have sensitive skin it may be worth it.
    
     The two moisturizer pouches came with a very generous amount! I depotted it into a jar and have enough moisturizer for a month, possibly more. It contains SPF 15 which is always a plus and while it has a faint smell of sunscreen at first it fades to a fresh smell that reminds me of the beginning of summer. It doesn't leave you feeling greasy and melds into your skin very nicely. I've been using it for a week and my skin still feels hydrated at the end of the day. Just like the exfoliating cleanser, this product is also natural without fragrance and parabens. I can see this moisturizer working for all different skin types and it lasts a pretty long time. At $25 a bottle and how long you can stretch this product, I definitely recommend it.

     This fragrance is Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture and came with enough for more than a few applications. I like the scent because it's not overpowering and wears rather light. However, I felt it faded pretty fast and wouldn't last throughout a whole day. I love the notes of wild berries, mandarin, honeysuckle, gardenia, jasmine, amber, sandalwood, caramel, vanilla and praline, but I would have liked more of the wild berries and florals and a little less of the more musky smells like amber and sandalwood. It's a great combination, I just would tweak the ratios a bit. While the smell is nice, at $69 a bottle I'm not sure I would recommend this product.

    
     The next sample is a small vial of Shu Uemura Essence Absolue leave in oil for dry hair. Some stylists have referred to this product as "liquid gold". My hair is long and fine, but for being fine it is a little thick and naturally curly/wavy. I do not color my hair and I don't use heat styling tools very often. I like most serums and light oils, so I was excited to use this. Normally I use Moroccon Argan Oil by Organix and love it. While this product definately made my hair shiny and soft, it didn't feel that different from when I use the argan oil. I could see it being very nourishing and good for color treated or heat damaged hair. Because it is an oil and you should use them sparlingly to avoid your hair looking greasy, you could definately make this product last. I would reccomend this product, however at $68 a bottle I suggest purchasing it from a vendor that has a good return policy in case you don't like it.

     Last product is the Stila eye shadow card. These are great natural colors and give you your lid color, contour color and high lighter with enough product for about two applications depending on how you apply. Stila makes great eye shadows with great pigment, especially when used with an eye shadow primer. My only complaint is the colors are a little tame and neutral for my taste. I can definitely wear natural makeup, however I love the bold and experimental so not much of my makeup time is used doing natural looks. Regardless, I recommend Stila eye shadows and suggest purchasing a palette for the best value.


    
    So far, I'm very glad I decided to subscribe to Birchbox and I can't wait for my next one! Like I said before, if you know a girl/woman that loves makeup and beauty products this makes a great gift. After surfing the Birchbox site a little more I discovered they are offering Birchbox for men. All in all I am very pleased. Stay tuned for my next post on primers and the difference they make in your cosmetic application.