Weekly Beauty Tip # 78 Pluck eyebrows after a shower

The best time to pluck your eyebrows is after a shower. The steam from a shower will soften the hair and open your pores so that the hair will come out more easily.

February Glambag Review

 Yup, it's that time again. Time for me to review all of the products I received in my Ipsy Glambag this month. If you would like your own (They're just $10!) please, please, please use this link: http://www.ipsy.com/r/1bhk

The theme this month was a love/Valentines day theme. It came in this really cute bag:

 There was also a really cute pattern inside:

Without further ado, here is everything I got in my bag followed by my thoughts on each. 

                                                Pop Beauty plump pout lip gloss

This is the best lipgloss I have ever tried. I even like it better than Nyx's! Im not a huge lip gloss fan, but I can see myself wearing this one a lot. 

I got this in the shade Peony Petal. It goes on very pigmented, so you don't need to cake it on to get good color payof.. I only used the smallest amount possible. It is very smooth! Not sticky at all. It is also very lightweight. The formula is great. This is the best lip gloss formula i have ever tried. I even forget that I'm wearing it.

 

The only con: the size. It is a nice size for travel or to put in your pocket. But it's on the small size. Retailing at $16 a piece, there is way too little product for the price. However, despite the size this lip gloss is worth the price if you are a gloss lover.

                                         Jessie's Girl eye color collection in Behind Blue Eyes

I am not a big fan of the colors in this palette. I have blue eyes, so I do not really wear blue eyeshadow. This palette wasn't anything too spectacular, just ok in my opinion. Maybe I would have liked it better if I had gotten a different color selection. I haven't tried every single shade, but I did try a few. What I did try was a little chalky. I used them without primer, I didn't get super pigmentation. With a primer, however I'm sure the pigmentation would be great.

                                                             Zoya nail polish in Odette

Zoya is my favorite nail polish brand, I am always happy to get more. This color is from the new Natruel line. Zoya describes this color as being "Sultry orchid maroon cream". I would say that it is a mauvey purple. It is a beautiful color. As always with Zoya, it has amazing pigmentation and wear. I have never gotten better wear from any other brand.

                         Mally Beauty Evercolor Starlight waterproof eyeliner in Starshine

I was really excited to try this product, I will from time to time watch HSN and QVC when they show makeup. I have seen Mally Beauty featured a few times and I have always been curious as to how their products are. 

That being said, I was hugely disapointed. I first tried to use this on my waterline and it would not even show up. It was too rough and wouldn't leave any pigmentation. I tried  using it in the corner of my eye and got much better color payoff, but the eyeliner wasn't creamy as I expected. 

                                                    Uberbliss Straight Efect Rituoil 

This is a hair oil made to tame frizz. I don't really have an issue with frizz, but I do have a problem with staticy hair. I didn't try this as directed (applying to hair, blowdrying then straightening) but I did try it on my ends. It seemed like it helped to moisturize my ends and it smells really good.

Skin79 Orange BB cream review and comparison

I received a sample of this when I originally bought my Skin79 Hot Pink BB cream last year (you can read that review here). It had been sitting in my sample drawer for some time when I finally pulled it out and tried it.

The color is lighter than the hot pink BB cream, it also has more of a yellow undertone where the hot pink BB cream starts with a grey undertone. Once applied it does completely oxidize to match my skin tone. This BB cream is matte (the hot pink BB has a dewy finish). It has a  medium coverage which is also very buildable since it is matte. I have found that this covers my redness better than the Hot Pink BB cream. It brightens and contains SPF 50, which is perfect for my fair skin that burns easily.

                                 (Back of the package listing all of the benefits and directions)

Here is a little comparison between the products to make it easier:

Orange:      SPF 50    Matte   Yellow undertone    Lighter color  Medium coverage  More buildable

Hot Pink:    SPF 25   Dewy    Grey undertone                           Medium coverage


The packaging is the same as the hot pink BB cream, except of course it is orange. I love the pump packaging, it looks very sleek and it is very sanity. Not to mention a lot easier to get product out.

You don't need to use a lot of product. I found out that I had been using way too much product with my Hot Pink BB cream. It applies best with clean fingers. I find that it blends and matches my skin tone better when using hands over using a brush or sponge. But if you don't want to apply with your hands, I suggest using a stipple sponge.

Lasting power is good, it won't last the entire day on a hot day, especially when you would sweat. You would need a touch up. It does last way better with the use of a setting spray.

I love this BB cream so much that I had to buy it. I still love the hot pink, but I feel that this matches my skin tone even better and it is great for when I don't feel like having a dewy finish.

If you are looking to try a good BB cream, turn to a Korean one. They are so much better than the American versions. Also, depending on which one you chose they are often cheaper. I recommend Skin79. If you are on a budget or don't want to spend a lot of money on a BB cream to try, I recommend one from Holika Holika. Most American BB creams are just basically tinted moisturizers. Korean BB creams have a lot of added skincare benefits. Trust me, you need to try one.

Something to keep in mind: When buying Korean beauty products, buy directly from the brand or a trusted seller. Some products, are bootlegs. Skin79 is one brand that does get bootlegged a lot. If you buy from the brand, or a trusted seller with a high rating you should be fine. All of the Skin79 BB creams come with authenticity labels. This is how you know you have an authentic product. Their labels also happen to show you if the product is opened or not.

Weekly Beauty Tip #77: Trick for lasting lipstick.

Valentines day is tomorrow, ladies! To keep your lipstick on (and not on that special someone) Try these little tips:

1. Apply a lip primer before your lipstick. This will make a big difference.

2. Apply lipstick then blot with a tissue.

3. Lightly pat on some translucent powder

4. Apply another coat of lipstick and you're good to go!

Montagne Jeunesse Glacial Clay Spa face mask review

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for free, but this is my 100% honest review. 

I have always loved face masks, they were the first real skincare product that I used growing up. Montagne Jeunesse was actually my very first face mask (their chocolate mask to be exact). 

I received this mask sample from Pinchme, which is this really cool free sample service that I found. They send you boxes of samples of your choosing completely free. I was very excited to see that they were giving these masks away. So excited that I tried it out as soon as I got it.

So what exactly is this face mask? The packaging says "Crushed Arctic Cloudberries Glacial Clay Spa" and "sensational skin clean" also "clay infused fabric"

Yes, this is a fabric mask! Fabric masks (or sheet masks) are really big in Korea and are just starting to become a thing here in the US. I've been wanting to try one for a very long time. Fabric face masks are just masks made out of fabric covered in a face mask sort of serum that you put on. They are supposed to supply your skin with a ton of nutrients. 

Fabric masks are a bit different than your average face mask so it's important to follow the directions, which I did. The directions with this particular mask are:

Cleanse
Apply
Relax
Massage
Rinse

These directions come with diagrams so no worries. Just wash your face, put on the mask and chill for 10-15 minutes. Then take off the mask, massage whatever of the mask serum is left on your face and rinse.

When I took the mask out of the packet, I just laughed. It reminded me of Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre anyone?). It went on fairly easily and fit my face for the most part. If it is too large for your face, you can fold it over. When you fold it, it will stay on.

There isn't any picture of me wearing the mask (that would be scary) but here is what the mask looks like:

The mask formula is very thin, like a serum (which is why I have referred to it as a mask serum earlier in this review). It smells pretty good, I can't pinpoint what the exact scent is. It is very refreshing. This would be a great mask to use in the summer.

After taking the mask off and following the rest of the directions my face felt a bit tight, probably from the clay.  My skin felt extremely soft and smooth. It actually amazed me how smooth it was!

Overall, this is a fun face mask. It is a great way to pamper yourself. I expected a little more from this but I did love it. I would definitely buy this. 

These masks are new, I have never seen them in a store where I live. But I'm sure you could find them at a Walmart or any sort of drugstore that sells Montagne Jeunesse products. They are on Ulta's website for $2.49.

January Glambag Review

This is belated (since it's February now) but it's finally time for my January Glambag review! If you would like to subscribe to get your very own Glambag every month please, please be super awesome and use my refferal link: http://www.ipsy.com/r/1bhk .

The theme for this month is 19 reasons. The bag is really cute, it is supposed to be a city skyline made out of various bottles and tubes.

Without further ado, here are the products I received in my bag this month and my thoughts on each one.

Elizabeth Mott Shadow Stick in Pearl

I was really disappointed at the size of this. It is a small sample sized pencil, not a full size as I expected. But, I was really happy with the color. This shadow stick is a beautiful champagne color. I tried using it as an eyeliner on my waterline to brighten, but it wasn't noticable. I used it on the corner of my eyes and just outside of the waterline and it really brightened and made my eyes look more awake. This product is pretty creamy and glides on nicely. It is super sparkly though.

Apothederm Bright Skin Serum

I really hate giving incomplete reviews, but sadly I need to with this product. I was able to try this only once. Sadly the first time I went to try it, the pump was broken and I could barely get any product out. I was barely able to get enough for a full application out. This was a bummer, I was super excited to try this product. But I emailed Ipsy and a new one is on the way to me as I type this review.

From the little I was able to use, this serum went on pretty smoothly and I applied it mostly on the reddest areas of my face and some acne marks. It did seem a tiny bit sticky. I didn't notice any difference at first. But the next day my skin did look a little nicer. I can't wait until I'm able to try more.


Mica Beauty Tinted Lip Balm in #5 Natural

I would say that this product is mislabeled. It was nothing like a tinted lip balm to me, it was more like a matte lipstick in a pot. It is very pigmented. It feels very lightweight and pretty nice, but it is drying. The texture reminds me of the Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream. I feel that it stays on pretty well. The color I got I am not a fan of. The lighting in my picture above doesn't show the true color. In the pot it looks like a natural "my lips but better" shade. When I put it on, it seemed to have more of a brown tone.

Absolute! Makeup Cleansing Tissue

I am a makeup wipe junkie. I always like trying different once and I always need to have a pack (sometimes even a backup) at all times. They are just so useful! I always use one to remove all of my makeup before continuing with my skincare routine. Or when I'm just too tired to do my full routine I clean all of my makeup off with them. 

I got these in the pomegranate scent.  At first they smelled wonderful but after a little while of cleaning my face with them they didn't smell so great. The clothes themselves are very soft and somewhat flexible. They cleaned pretty well, I had a little issue getting some glitter off with these.  These are pretty good, but you may have some problems with stubborn eye makeup.


Sexy Hair Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner

Because of Ipsy, I have been able to try many Sexy Hair products. This one I was pretty excited to try. My hair can get pretty dry sometimes. This leave in conditioner is very convenient. Just spray a little in wet or dry hair and comb/brush. It feels very lightweight and it does indeed condition well! It left my hair nice and soft. I like to use this on my ends after I get out of the shower. I got this in a travel sized bottle, which is perfect to toss in a bag and use any time you need a little pick me up.

Weekly Beauty Tip #76: Exfoliate before applying a serum

Before applying any sort of serum to your face, it is best to exfoliate. Getting rid of all of the dry/dead skin will help the serum sink in and work better. Also remember to apply a moisturizer on top to seal it in and of course moisturize.