#GotItFree: A review of the Hydrating Bubble Mask from Influenster's #elfVoxBox

As an Influenster member, I occasionally receive products for free to test and review.  I was lucky to receive the e.l.f. Cosmetics voxbox featuring skincare items I've been wanting to try for months, including the new bubble mask released this year.

And I really like it!  There are, however, a few things to know that may help you decide whether this product is for you.  Read on for my experience with this product.

INSTRUCTIONS 


The mask itself is a gel, and is packaged in a glass jar with a push-top.  You're meant to push the top, and the product will ooze out of the hole in the top.

This product is meant to be applied to damp skin, and then the bubbles will activate within 15-20 seconds of the gel hitting the skin. When the bubbles start to dissipate, you massage the product into your skin and then wash your face with warm water. 






INGREDIENTS

MY REVIEW


I have oily skin, and I don't find this to be overly drying.  The first time I used it, however, I didn't immediately follow with moisturizer, and my skin was left feeling pretty tight and stripped. 


I do not think people with sensitive skin will like this- it caused slight redness on me, which typically means a potential reaction for people with skin conditions or sensitivities.  But for people with oily skin, I think this type of mask will help manage that issue and purify pores. 

I don't find this mask to be hydrating AT ALL.  For me, it's more like a purifying mask that resets oil production and allows the following products to penetrate better.  I think of it as a second-step cleanser; after washing my face or removing makeup thoroughly, I follow with this mask and then finish with a serum, moisturizer, and occasionally, a sheet mask. 


The packaging suggests that it takes 5-10 minutes for the bubbles to start to dissipate, but that hasn't been my experience.  Typically the bubbles last from 3-5 minutes, max. 
 

MY RATING


Used as I do, I give this a 3.75/5.  The packaging doesn't consistently dispense product (although the pump-top is very hygienic), and I think this should be marketed as a purifying (versus hydrating) product to more accurately set expectations. Overall, I'm happy and I definitely will repurchase this!




Have you tried the e.l.f. Hydrating Bubble Mask?  What do you think of it?

#GotItFree: A review of the #ChooseToSmooth Vox Box from Influenster

So happy that I was given the opportunity to review the Gillette  Venus Swirl!  I received this razor in a voxbox from Influenster at no cost to review. 

Cost


The Gillette Venus Swirl starter pack (handle plus two heads) retails for about $10.  This is a refillable product, which is a bit more green, but a box of four heads goes for twenty to FORTY bucks!  Whew.  This thing better be good!

Packaging


First off, this was VERY easy to get into, as there's a perforated little pop-top deal that doesn't require 8 hatchets and a flamethrower to open.  I have long-ish natural nails.  This little detail is important.  :)

Once open, the razor is in a little tray that slides right out of the plastic packaging.  Included in the kit are two heads - one to use now, as well as a backup.  These identical heads have five razors protected on either side by a moisture strip and comfort shield (some kind of plastic-y rubber).

The handle has a "flexi-ball" that is intended to help the razor contour to the user's shape... and it does!  It was super simple to snap the head right onto the handle and I even practiced popping it off.  The flexi-ball really does help the had bend gracefully with just a bit of pressure!  Look, I buy all my razors at the Dollar Tree, so I'm not used to this kind of technology!  :D  And speaking of Dollar Tree...




Comparison

Here's a look at the Gillette Venus Swirl versus my trusty Dollar Tree go-to-, the Noxzema Triple Blade razor (which is a two-for-$1 disposable).

As you can see, there's a lot more built in protection with the Venus Swirl, so that you can fool-proof your shaving experience and blood-proof your leg (Yes, I have literally hacked away at my skin while shaving, but- thankfully- not for years).




Results


Finally, here's a look at a before and after, using the Gillette Venus Swirl on the left, and the Noxzema Triple Blade on the right. 

 

In both cases, I used my patented (no, it's not patented) blend of shea butter and black soap, which froths up beautifully but is still moisturizing and you really need to try it and that's all I'm sayin'.

Bottom line:  Duh, the Gillette was waaayy better.  Effortlessly glided across my skin and removed hairs without causing any irritation.  And the flexi-ball really works! 

I really have no complaints, but just one teensy caution: I don't know what's in the moisturizing/lubricating strip.  So, vegan?  I dunno.  Dye-free? Not sure.  Good for sensitive skin? No idea.  See what I'm saying?  Still, these are the same kind of issues other razors have, so... I'll definitely repurchase!

Battle of the $1 Liquid Liners!

Miss A recently released some new liquid liners, so- since they're just $1 apiece- I decided to give them a try.








I'll be using the following scoring system:
Value= Up to 5 points
Brush= +1, 0, or -1 point (I know this is subjective, but I prefer a firm felt tip)
Opacity= +1, 0, or -1 point
Finish = +1, 0, or -1 point (also subjective; but for me, the matter, the better!)
Wear= +1, 0, or -1 point
Longevity= +1, 0, or -1 point





Pictured, top to bottom: products in their packaging, product swatches (lined up with their packaging), swatches after washing my hands with soap and water.

In green: the Amuse Super Fine Liquid Eyeliner (.2 oz). The tip is a firm felt material that helps with precise application. It has a slight sweet scent that's subtle and pleasant- it seems organic, and not the result of added fragrance. Love it, but FYI, it doesn't dry down to completely matte. It's solidly satin, with the potential to go fully glossy with added coats.  A good option if you're looking for a longer-lasting option and aren't married to a matte finish. 
Value=5, Brush=+1, Opacity=+1, Longevity=+.5. Overall score: 7.5/10.
 

In yellow: Cutie Bear Precise Liquid Eyeliner. This has the same firm felt tip as the Amuse liner above, but with a slightly shorter profile and longer, tapered handle. This also doesn't dry down to matte, and has about half the product (.14 oz) of the Amuse liner. A little bit more fragrant than the first product, but still a nice sweet scent.  A nice, cute option for your vanity, but not especially long-lasting, and not matte. 
Value=5, Brush=+1, Opacity=+.5. Overall score: 6.5/10.

In sepia: Starry Intense Black Waterproof Eyeliner. Same firm felt liner as the first two and with a tapered handle similar to the Cutie Bear liner, but with double the product (.2 oz). Actually dries down to matte, but didn't hang in there quite as long as the others. It has a very slight chemical scent with a hint of something like... bergamot? I've been sniffing these pretty hard, please don't mind me. 😁 I much prefer matte to long-lasting (if I have to choose), so I'm putting my money on this one. 
Value=5, Brush=+1, Opacity=+1, Finish=+1. Overall score: 8/10






$1 each at www.ShopMissA.com




Have you tried these?  What do you think of them?

$1 Makeup Review! Santee Aqua Stylish Silky Milk Foundation

All images, www.ShopMissA.com

Recently, a few WOC-friendly foundations popped up at one of my favorite low-cost retailers, Miss A. 


Miss A can be found online at www.ShopMissA.com or- as of Spring 2016- in Dallas, Texas at the Grapevine Mills Mall.




Miss A Careers Page: http://www.shopmissa.com/pages/careers

One of Miss A's major draws is that everything on the site is just $1!  Offerings include accessories, makeup, hair care, cosmetic tools and implements, stationery, and general kitsch.

I noticed a new foundation on the site not too long ago, and decided to give it a try.  It is the Santee Aqua Stylish Silky Milk Foundation, and it's offered in a dozen shades, including some mid-range browns for Women of Color.

Miss A product link

I purchased shade number 12, which is as close a match as I could hope for based on an on-screen comparison. 

My foundation equivalents

I am a woman of color, deep tan-brown with golden undertones, and this foundation was just a teeeeensy bit too orange for me.  Other than that, though, I was extremely pleased with the shade match.

L-R: Santee, Revlon Nearly Naked, Maybelline Mineral Power, Maybelline Dream Wonder, Estee Lauder Double Wear, Black Opal Truly Topaz.

Moving on! This definitely gives you a dewy finish, and- in my opinion- it needs to be set with a pressed powder.  It's also a bit difficult to blend - I used my flat-top kabuki, and then felt I needed to finish blending with a dampened AOA Wonder Blender sponge (or use a Beauty Blender, Real Techniques blender sponge, etc.) to work out the streaks. 

I put it over the Santee primer (also $1 at www.ShopMissA.com), and set with KleanColor True Self Pressed Powder in Walnut (except where I had used the KleanColor White Lies Orange corrector stick, which I baked with the Santee baking powder), and it stayed flawless all day. 

The coverage is good, but a bit sheer, and it gets a little tough to blend when you add layers, so I would call this light-medium. Basically, if you have severe dark circles or hyperpigmentation, you'll still need a concealer.

Bottom line: I was very happy with this product, and I would definitely recommend giving it a try!

Pardon the migraine face.  :-|
On the lips: KleanColor Madly Matte Liquid Lipstick in Mademoiselle

Notes: Oil-free, SPF20, no cruelty-free branding.

 

INGREDIENTS: dimethicone copolyol, phenyltrimethicone, dimethicone & dimethiconol, cyclomethicone, silica, distilled water, pentylene glycol, allantoin, tocopherol acetate, imidazulindinyl urea, sodium chloride. MAY CONTAIN: red oxide of iron C177491, yellow oxide of iron C177492, black oxide of iron C177499, titanium dioxide C177891, mica, perfume.   

c.Booth Egyptian Argan Oil Body Butter

c.Booth Egyptian Argan Oil Body Butter
An Influenster Review



I was recently given the opportunity to review a c.Booth product of my choice at no cost, thanks to Influenster.  While Influenster tends to send out VoxBoxes full of products to review, they occassionally offer coupons for products and I was lucky enough to receive a coupon for a free full-size product of my choice!

c.Booth has a variety of bath and body products - bath oils, body butters, and more- that are typically sold in drugstores for around $10.  After doing some research online, I decided I was most interested in the Egyptian Argan Oil Body Butter, which is offered in an 8 ounce tub.





Egyptian Argan Oil Body Butter at Ulta.com

The package pictured above is exactly what you get.  Inside the tub, there's a seal that can be easily lifted and removed.  The product itself is creamy and moisturizing, but not at all greasy.

Swatch Sunday #6 | elf Cosmetics

SWATCH SUNDAY #6 | ELF COSMETICS

As you know, I am a big fan of makeup bargains, and elf cosmetics knows the way to my heart.  The brand's "essential" line typically retials for $1-3, while the "studio" line is typically $3-6.  Those are amazing deals, but they get even better!  elf offers 50% sales once or twice a year, which bring the price down even lower.  I decided to swatch some of my recent finds as well as some past favorites.  And from now on, I will have a special guest swatching along with me - my husband! 

I often, in my YouTube videos, mention that cosmetics products can appear drastically different on deeper versus lighter skin tones.  Well, we finally had the brilliant idea to do double swatches, and I am SO excited that we did!

Here are some highlights from this week's Swatch Sunday video.

Pictured above are elf All Over Cover Sticks.  They are retractable cream foundation/concealer tubes, and they typically retail for $1 on eyeslipsface.com.  I purchased these for just 50 cents during a 50%-off sitewide sale.

These are creamy and pigmented, and they blend out very nicely.  The major downside, in my opinion, is that these never really set.  They really need to be set with a powder, or they can tend to transfer easily. 

Bottom line: these are a great concealer - try the middle shade to offset dark circles.

 
 
 

 

I found these HD Blushes at Dollar Tree, and they are also currently available at eyeslipsface.com in five different shades.  I really like all the shades, and, since the product is very creamy, I decided to try swatching on my lips. 

 

 This went on very smoothly and set semi-matte.  I absolutely love all of these shades as lipsticks, and will definitely be using them in this way.  I also imagine they would make great eyeshadow bases, and will be sure to try them that way as well. 

 

Two thumbs up for this product!

 

 

 

I purchased these bronzers online during an elf sitewide sale, when they were just 50 cents.  I got several of each, on the off chance they were awesome as highlighters, and- guess what?- they totally are!

 

I swatched these on my hand and my husband's hand to show how they appear on different skin tones.  In my opinion, these wouldn't be very effective as bronzers even on fairer skin, but I'll let you be the judge. 

 

 

 

I have used all of these as highlighters (I typically go with Luminance- the lightest of the three- during winter), and am a huge fan of these. They're creamy and blendable, and give off a nice sheen.  I would recommend picking these up, if you're not afraid of a little bit of sheen at the high points of your cheek and under the browbone.

 

There are more swatches in the YouTube video, so be sure to check it out!  If you've used any of these products, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 

Thanks, as always, for reading!  See you next time.  :)

Wishlist Wednesday #5 | Dollar Tree

WISH LIST WEDNESDAY #5 | DOLLAR TREE 

 

If you're anything like me, you've probably made mental lists of all the awesome finds you've seen hauled at Dollar Tree in hopes that one sweet day you'll find them, too.  I'm no different - except I actually make visuals to help me keep track and I update them every week as new sightings occur.

 

On each of the items, I listed the Instagram account of the person who found them.  I also linked all the accounts in the caption so you can check out their other posts and follow them!

 

https://instagram.com/prettynflawed/
https://instagram.com/natdagreatest/
https://instagram.com/phonejones.on.the.yt/
https://instagram.com/thedollardiva/

I wasn't able to find out anything more about the Klar and Danver body washes or the Fall-themed duct tapes, so I'll just leave those images there for now.  If I find them, I'll be sure to review the body washes for you!

 

I have tried the hand soaps from this brand, and I did like the scent.  The formula wasn't my favorite - it had the gelatin consistency that many of the cheapie brands have- but it lathered up just fine and the quantity for the price is pretty unbeatable. 

 

 

 

So, I would likely pick up one of each scent to test before loading up on these body washes.

 

Next up is this Maybelline Pure Blush.  I have actually seen this product at Dollar Tree in the past, and I know that the quality is pretty nice.  The formula is soft and not too powdery, the pigmentation is pretty good, and it's nice and blendable. 

 

 

 

Since this product is discontinued, I have no way to compare the Dollar Tree price to a regular retail price.  I will say, however, that these are still popping up from time to time on eBay, where they sell for $7-12 apiece.

The reviewers over at Makeup Alley are giving this product a general thumbs-up, with the major cons being oxidation, staying power, and 

packaging (many referenced an included brush, which the ones I saw did not have... hmmm.)

 

Read the reviews here and here

 

However, there were 3 or so negative reviews, a handful of average reviews, and the rest were glowing.  I'll still plan to pick up as many of these as I can get my hands on.

 

 

Next up: two elf products!

 

The HD blush starting hitting the shelves at Dollar Tree last week.  This week, a powder blush from the Studio line was spotted.

 

 

 

There are currently a lot of these shades still available for sale (retail: $3) on the eyeslipsface website, and the reviews, again, are overwhelmingly positive.  The major cons appear to be pigmentation, shade compatibility issues, and shimmer. 

 

 

elf Glossy Glosses are also popping up at Dollar Tree, although I'm not sure how many shades have been found.

 

 

 

There are currently four shades being offered for sale on the elf website, and their normal sale price is $3. 

 

There are major complaints ranging from lack of pigmentation to packaging problems to taste, color fidelity, and stickiness.  I would suggest starting with one shade, since the reviews are truly all over the place with this product.

 

Check out my YouTube video for a list of colors currently being offered as well and positive and negative reviews on both elf items.

 

Jelly Belly flavoring syrups are also being sold at Dollar Tree.  I believe these are meant to be used for snow cones, which means they are likely super concentrated and absolutely chock full of sugar.

 

 

 

Still, I'd at least like to take a look at the nutritional information to see if I can bear to use these.  If they're not overly sugary, I'd like to try a few of these as flavorings for my cheesecakes.

 

 

Lastly, more flavors of the Campbell's Soups for Easy Cooking have been making their appearance.  I have purchased one or two flavors, and would like to try others.

 

 

 

 

These can be used alone, but are marketed as starters for other dishes (recipes are included on the boxes and on the Campbell's website).  Check out my YouTube video to view the nutritional information for each of these.

 

Thanks for reading!  Please comment below to share what's on your wishlist.  :)