Tag: Ciaté

Summer 2021 fabfitfun Unboxing

.Reading time 11 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            I am writing this post directly after I have written Sunday’s post so the energy might be the same, still at my current moment at the Ford dealership. I am going to preface this post with good news about the box. After the last few that have been extremely underwhelming I can say that this one was great! I loved most everything that I got so I am really happy to still be on the fff train. 

            I am probably going to get right into it, but this post is going to be a little different than posts in the past. Because of all the customization options I am not going to list them at the end of each paragraph because it’s just a lot. That is one things that I would like to see changed, don’t overwhelm with a billion customization options. Giver three or four that are mind-blowing and cut it off there. 

So what did I get though? 

Virginia Wolf Multi Wear Warp:

            I am going to use it as a tapestry to hang above my bed, but I absolutely love it. The pattern on it is amazing and it doesn’t feel strange which was one of my concerns when ordering a wrap in my box. I might wear it as a wrap when I get a chance because it is super cute and this was the product in this category that I was most excited about. I love monstera leaves and big tropical patterns. I just have to get this ironed and get it hung up, I have to figure out how to actually achieve that goal, I’ll figure it out and maybe I’ll have an update picture someday.

Rae Dunn by Magenta Guac/Salsa Bowls:

            Rae Dunn is one of those grands that you see everywhere now. I don’t have any, I think it’s cute but it’s also become such a cult decorative want. These are really cute, I don’t really see the full appeal though to having a bunch of it in my apartment. They will be cute for entertaining, which is what I feel like they are really for. Of all of the products that were offered this was my favorite. I would have gotten the obé resistance bands but I didn’t want the six month subscription, I would have wanted the trigger point ball but that was only available in the UK version. 

Corkcicle 12ox Wine Tumbler and Silicone Straw:

            I didn’t know that this one was a blue holographic! It’s really cute! This was the only one I really wanted in this customization option but seeing it in person made it so much better. I like stainless steel tumblers, I don’t drink a lot of wine so I will probably use this for other drinks. I am really excited to actually get to use it though, and it’s dishwasher safe (on the top rack). I have heard really good things about the brand of corkcicle, so I am hopeful that it is as good as people say it it. 

Ciaté London Watermelon Burst Setting Spray:

            I was just writing about another Ciaté setting spray that I got in my Glam Bag Plus and so now I have two Ciaté setting sprays and I am excited to use them both. I love a good setting spray and I really like the Watermelon Burst line that Ciaté has out. I have several items from the range and I have never been disappointed in any of them. So I am hoping that this one is just as good as setting sprays that I have used in the past. 

MineTan Body Skin Recovery After Sun Gel:

            I don’t go out in the sun much, I am very pale so being outside for even fifteen minutes can give me a nice not so healthy sunburn. I do use an aloe lotion after I am out in the sun but as a kid I spent lots od night’s during the summer soaking in vinegar like I was a salad marinating so the sting would go away. I also have gotten burns so bad I blistered because I was young and stupid and I didn’t want sunscreen. I am looking forward to giving this a try though at some point soon because inevitably I will be out in the sun at some point this summer and like an idiot not have any sunscreen on so I will need it afterward.

So with the last category in the magazine it was several items thrown into a bundle, I’ll talk about the three that I got.

Eyeko Double Act Shadow Stick: 

            It came with a sharpener and everything, I am used to eyeliner and lipliner pencils coming like this where you physically have to sharpen it when it gets dull. I am not used to having that in a eyeshadow, do I have other eyeshadows like this? I think so. I love the shades though so I am looking forward to figuring out exactly how to use this product. 

Barefoot Scientist Pedicure File:

            I use a pumice stone on my feet when I want to smooth everything out but I think that this is going to make that process easier. I know you have to be really careful with them because they are files and I don’t want to cheese grate my feet. We all want smooth feet during the summer with sandal season.

Aria Beauty Reusable Makeup Swabs: 

            I don’t feel like I have much to say about this one, I am going to have to figure out exactly how to use these, I thought they were just straight up cotton swabs like Q-Tips. I like the little case they came in but I am going to just have to figure out exactly what they are for and how to use them.

            Overall this box has been the best one that I have gotten in a while and I am really excited about that. I feel like the brand as a whole listened to some of the complaints that people were giving them over the last several boxes. I am looking forward to seeing all the spoilers for the fall box which should start in August? I actually don’t know, it might be sooner than that but that’s okay. If you want to see what I got in my Spring box, you can just click on the hyperlink. 

            I will be back later in the week with another post, I know what it’s going to be and I am looking forward to getting it posted. So until then I hope that everyone has a great rest of the week and a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend for my American friends, I have no plans except to avoid all the fireworks. (I don’t like loud noises, I never have.) 

            -MJ

June 2021 ISPY Glam Bag Plus Unboxing

.Reading time 9 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            I feel like I need to change the title of this post series because it’s not a box anymore. It’s in a bubble mailer and a drawstring bag, not a box, but I am a creature of habit and I want to still have the differentiation between this and my regular Glam Bag posts because I do have two a month. At my present moment I am sitting at my local Ford dealership (shouts out to them) getting my oil changed, like 2,000 miles late, oops. Get your routine maintenance done y’all, just get it done. I have also been meaning to write this post for days and just haven’t because I am a scattered human being. I am not going to do a bunch of exposition because I did that I lot when I started the blog and I don’t want to continue to ramble on about nothing. So let’s just get into the post itself.

The Bag: 

            Like the Glam Bag bag this month it looks like it’s covered in stickers and I am a fan. Scrolling through TikTok I see a lot of small business sticker creators and if I had the disposable income I would buy all the stickers and then just have them in a pile to stare at because I cannot actually commit to putting stickers on anything.

The Products: 

111Skin Rose Gold Radiance Booster:

            This brand is one of those brands that is ridiculously expensive so when I see it in my bag I get very excited. I have a few of their other products and I love all of them. The brand is super boujee, but I can’t complain because it’s worth the price point for how good it actually is. This 20 ml bottle is $135 so that’s absolutely insane, but as someone who actually has seen a difference in their skin since using better products I cannot complain. I know part of that may be in my mind because I know how expensive the product is, but it’s also scientifically backed and I love that.

Ahava Active Moisture Gel Cream:

            Everyone should know about my history with Ahava by now, if you don’t you can read my GB+ post from last month because I for sure wrote a whole paragraph about it. I like their products and I have been using them on and off for over a decade now. I love a good moisturizer and I have their day cream, night cream, hydration mask, and now this so I am excited to actually give it a try. Again, in real life outside of a box it’s expensive but, I worked at a salon in high school so I have watched this brand and change over the years. 

Ciaté London Everyday Vacay Coconut Dewy Setting Mist: 

I picked this one because I ran out of setting spray, I got setting spray in my Summer fabfitfun box (that’s a spoiler because that post doesn’t come out until Wednesday) and in my regular Glam Bag this month. So now I am set on setting spray. I liked my old one but, even though it was from the same brand as my fave setting spray (which they don’t make anymore) it just wasn’t the same. So I am on the hunt for a new setting spray. I love the Porefessional one I got in my Glam Bag and I am looking forward to giving this one a try when I am wearing makeup more in the fall. 

Best Face Forward Purifying Cleanser: 

            I could pretty much do an entire skin care routine out of this bag; which is actually pretty cool. I like trying new and different cleansers because I am never really sure if the cleanser is really great unless I have like 15 to compare it to. In the description it says it’s good for blemish prone skin and that’s me so I am excited to give this one a try. Though since I have started to change my diet I am seeing less and less breakouts which is super cool. I love the packaging and I am so ready to be able to give this one a try. 

Viseart Petit PRO Deux: 

            Well Viseart is one of those brands that you hear about from influencers and makeup artists all the time and a normal 12 pan palette from Viseart can go for $80+, so when this was offered as one of my options I jumped on it. I love the shades, it’s the perfect balance of summer warm shades and I am so excited to actually sit down and swatch this palette. I know it’s a mini palette, but that doesn’t really matter to me. I can take it traveling because it would be something really small to pack into my suitcase or makeup bag and just go with it. 

            So overall my bag this month was great. I am excited and looking forward to the bag choices next month, I will find out next week what’s going to be in my August GB+ and I am hoping that I have more amazing products to share with you then. 

            I will be back on Wednesday with another post as we ramp up into the Fourth of July weekend for my American friends. I hope that everyone has a happy and healthy start to the week and I will see y’all soon with another post!

            If you want to read about what else I have gotten this year, you can! January, February, March, April, and May. 

            Seriously, I hope everyone has a good last few days of June!

                        -MJ

Updated Highlighter Collection

.Reading time 14 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            I didn’t really mean to miss Wednesday this week but it was a rough week all around for me. Like really rough at work so I just kind of let Wednesday’s post pass by me. It was actually going to be this one but let’s be real it’s Saturday and again I am writing my blog post of tomorrow. Whoops, my bad. I have Spring Break starting after school next Friday (3/19) so I plan on getting a lot done over break because I need to. I am a mess of a human being this week and I’m trying to pull myself out of a funk that has been brewing for a while, my whole world fell apart on this day last year (3/13) as did a lot of people’s when the pandemic became a thing. It’s been a year, I cannot believe that. 

Beyond that though, that’s not what this post is about, not even a little bit because I have been meaning to write this post for at least a few months now because my highlighter collection has grown a lot since I did my blush, bronzer, and highlighter round up like two years ago. I also feel like I haven’t had a makeup post in a while and it’s time. Buckle in, this might be a long one. 

I am omitting any that were in the original post and sets that are more than just highlighter because some are in sets with blush and bronzer and for the purposed of this post I just want highlighter. Go and read the original post if you want what else I have in my collection. I have for sure gotten rid of some makeup in the last few months so even since I decided that this post was going to be a thing I have gotten rid of things. 

Also with this post just a warning or an FYI throughout, I will be linking to other blog posts that mention these products because most of them have come in ISPY boxes or fabfitfun boxes. Also the photos are mostly reused because I don’t feel like taking a bunch of new photos for products that I have already written about. I rarely have to purchase makeup because I get subscriptions that provide them to me. I have one in this month’s Glam Bag Plus and that post will go up next week at some point so look forward to that. 

Aight, let’s get started:

Liquid and crème highlighters:

            This list is a little shorter than the powder section so roll with me.

Ciaté London Dewy Stix in Glow:

            I wasn’t really sure if I should include this one because it’s not really a true highlighter but it’s a really subtle highlight if you want something like that. It spreads and diffuses really easily without leaving your skin feeling greasy because it is a crème texture. It just makes things a little shiny without adding a lot of pigment to it. I got this at some point but I cannot find the blog post that mentions it. I’m losing my mind y’all my entire mind. 

Jolii Cosmetics Spektra stick in Stella:

            This packaging on this product is for sure still one of my favorites I got it in my October Glam Bag Plus in 2019, I hoard makeup no one should be surprised by that anymore. It’s just really cool and I love the shade, it’s really pigmented and for a highlighter that is important. I haven’t gotten another Jolii product since about that time and I would love to get more with my GB+ but I don’t know if I will. 

Cover FX Shimmer Veil in Celestial: 

            This is pretty new to my collection, I got it in my January GB+ this year so I haven’t really gotten a chance to really try it out but I love the shade. I chose this one so I always kind of hope that I like what I chose because if I don’t that’s kind of disappointing with something that you pay for sight unseen (except a picture) until you actually get the products in the mail. 

Flesh Cosmetics Touch Flesh Highlighting Balm in Pinky:

            I love a good rosy gold highlighter and this is for sure one of those, it also diffuses out really nicely. We all saw this for the first time in my November GB+ from last year. I need to use it more (just like everything else on this list) because I do really like the shade. It’s also small enough that it could fit into pretty much any makeup bag and still give you a great pay off. 

The Beauty Crop Glow Milk in Blind Date:

            A little of this one goes a long way that’s for sure but it’s a good color for my skin tone. It came in a milk carton and again the packaging on this one was for sure one of my favorites that I have ever gotten. I got this in my fabfitfun box last fall and it was part of a really great box to be honest. I should be getting my Spring 2021 box in the mail here shortly so we will see how that goes. 

Powder Highlighters:

Colourpop Super Shock Highlighter Duo in Lunch Money and Might Be: 

            These were some of the first highlighters I bought when I moved and I love Colourpop. (even though they got rid of the concealer and setting spray that I like from my Ulta) It is one of those brands that are priced really well and has really great pay off in the long run. Lunch Money is a champagne color and Might Be is more of a copper because I cannot get away from the rose golds and coppers to save my life. 

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Supreme Frost in Hypothermia:

            I got this one in the summer mystery box two years ago and I still want to buy more cosmetics from him but that’s not in my cards at this moment. This shade gives me like mermaid vibes and I can’t explain why. The packaging is hot metallic pink and I can’t be mad at that, not even a little bit. 

OFRA Highlighter in Star Island:

            I have mentioned this one twice actually, when I got it in my May 2019 IPSY GB and a second time when it hit my Best in Beauty for 2020. It’s a real light champagne gold. It’s not super blinding but I am a huge fan of a subtle highlight for just normal days. I can’t really say much about it that I haven’t already said so if you want to read more about it click on the other posts. 

OFRA X Talia Mar Highlighter in Covent Garden:

            Between the two OFRA highlighters I have, I like this one better and guess what shade it is, it’s rosy and of course it is. This one also made two appearances, when I got it in my June GB+ last year and again in my Best in Beauty for 2020. I feel like I am running out of words to day about highlighter but here we are, pressing on.

The Palettes:

Huda Beauty 3D Highlighter Palette Pink Sands Edition:

            I like this palette, I have had it for a while it’s one of the oldest highlighter palettes I have, I got it in my July GB+ in 2019, that was when I was just moving into the apartment I live in now so it’s been in my collection for a while. I like the shades and the pans are huge compared to some of the other highlighters I have so I can’t be mad about it. I need to use it more but again with wearing a mask everywhere and every day why wear a highlighter when it will all come off anyway. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Moon Child Glow Kit:

            I got this as a Christmas present from my cousin this last Christmas and I have the other Glow Kit so it’s nice to have the set. The colors are a lot different than the other shades that I have and I cannot complain about that. I actually like having some out there not traditional shades to play with when it comes to highlighters. 

Nomad Cosmetics Sydney Bathers Highlighter Palette:

            This is the last one and I really like that Nomad uses different countries as inspiration, I have an eye shadow palette that’s inspired by Germany. This one does have one bronzer pan but I really enjoy the palette as a whole, I got this one in my GB+ last May so because of quarantine I haven’t gotten to try it much so here’s hoping that eventually that changes.

            Overall I have so many highlighters and I love all of them. This post has been on my mind for months now and it’s nice to finally get it out. I will see everyone later in the week with another post which I plan on writing at some point this weekend so I will be back on Wednesday with another post. Until then I hope everyone has a great start the week. Stay safe and stay healthy.

            -MJ

What Was in My January 2021 IPSY Glam Bag?

.Reading time 9 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ, 

            So I wasn’t planning on having two IPSY posts back to back this month but I got this in the mail and figured, why not? 

            I actually didn’t know when this was showing up because the tracking number didn’t work so it just showed up in my mailbox and that’s about it. We are already more than half way through January which is insanity to be honest. I know that so much can happen in just a few days, if last year was any indication to that fact but I hope that everyone is having a good week. 

            I didn’t pick anything for this bag, I told them to surprise me because I didn’t really know what I wanted from the choices so this one is just IPSY picking stuff for me. 

The Bag: 

            It’s a mostly clear bag but it’s frosted with the word Dream again in dot matrix across it like the Glam Bag Plus. It’s a top zip with a clear blue ring zipper pull. I like it because it’s plastic and that’s better for any sort of travel purposes than some of the other bags in the past.

The Products: 

Ahava Dead Sea Water Mineral Hand Cream in Sea-Kissed:

            This is the first repeat product I have ever gotten from IPSY I think, I know I got this in January of 2019 and I love Ahava so I don’t have any problem with getting another one. I don’t mind repeats of products I have gotten in the past and loved. It’s a good hand cream there is no doubt in my mind about that, if you want to feel really moisturized go with Ahava, all of their products are A+’s in my book. I have used Ahava for years and I am never upset about getting their products in boxes. 

Ciaté London Glow To Illuminating Blush in Matchmaker: 

            It’s a beautiful shade but I am not used to a blush being both pearlescent and glittery, it feels more like a highlighter than a blush. I like the shade though and that’s all that matters really. It has a pretty good pigmentation as well which is not always the case with blush. It’s a very summer shade to me though so it will be put away until the summer season hits if we are all allowed to leave our houses by then. Like seriously I only wear mascara, foundation, and concealers right now I would love to dive back into actually wearing a full face but with a mask that’s almost impossible, but mask up everyone, seriously. 

SLMissGlam P30 Angled Blusher Brush:

            This is the first glam bag I think I have ever gotten where I got a brush and the product that it’s meant to put on in the same bag. This brush feels really nice but to me as someone who has a lot of brushes this one is one that is not really me. I like the brush but the handle reminds me of those sets we got as kids, like a first makeup kit, a little juvenile. I normally don’t judge on looks and I still am trying not to because their brushes work really well it is just hard to clean with the rhinestones or whatever in the handle under the brush top. 

Soo’AE HangBang Sheet Mask Duo in Collagen and Hylaronic Acid: 

            Love me some sheet masks and I am really going to go through a lot of them this year, that is already a plan; get back into meditation with a sheet mask one at least once a week. I have not done it yet this year but I plan on actually doing one tonight. I really like Soo’AE as well, I have gotten products from this company in the past; cannot remember what but it’s not a brand that I don’t recognize. I will have to go through the archives and find out, I have their Rose water spray, that’s what it is. I love their rose water spray. 

 Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil:

            It has Maqui (which I had to look up because I have never heard of it before), Goji, and Acai berries in it plus prickly pear and it smells amazing. I cannot wait to give this a try because I have been getting more and more into skincare in the last few years and oils are a pretty new step in my beauty routine. Though there is some discourse on when to put it on. I have read that you put it on after toner and other places say to put it on closer to the end. I just kind of stick to doing it at some point before I moisturize because I feel like moisturizer should be the last step to seal everything in. I could be wrong but I am really looking forward to trying this one out. I love Youth To The People so I hope this works for my skin. 

            Overall I really enjoyed my Glam Bag, first one of 2021 and I am excited to keep unbagging them and telling y’all what I got. I am so used to listing out months here but I don’t have to. I think maybe at this end of this year I will do a top ten IPSY samples post if I remember because then I can go back and maybe suggest some of my favorites from the year.

            I will see everyone later in the week with another post and I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

            -MJ 

Makeup Prep and Finishing Roundup

.Reading time 9 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ, 

            Trying to get two posts in a week and that means that I actually have to write blog posts, that’s a good start, right? So here we are in August truth be told I have not worn makeup since about April because time isn’t real anymore and I don’t leave my house so here I am talking about makeup when I haven’t worn any in quite some time but here we are anyway. 

            This is for sure a more of a what I have kind of post as opposed to a what are my favorites kind of post but I will still tell you my favorites as I go.

Primers:

            I don’t use primer very often, I did use a color correcting primer from NYX for a really long time, I don’t so much anymore but when I do put on a full face I will put a primer on to help everything stay where it’s supposed to be. I also normally wear primer in the fall, winter, and spring but during the summer, it’s just too much when it feels like 100 degrees outside and you just don’t wanna. 

            I have a bunch of tiny primers because of my IPSY Glam Bags so while I took a picture of them I am not really going to talk about them because there are so many (10 to be exact). 

Ciaté London Watermelon Burst Hydrating Primer:

            Got it last month in my IPSY Glam Bag plus and I am excited to have a go at it. I like watermelon so we will see how I feel about it. 

Touch in Sol No Pore Blem: 

            I have used this one several times and love it, it’s just a really light primer with rose water and I really like Touch in Sol as a brand because that is also my current moisturizer and I love it so much. 

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Luminizer Primer:

            I like Dr. Brandt’s products and having this in the wings is a great thing. I don’t really have much to say about it because I haven’t gotten the chance to try it but I am excited to. 

Concealers: 

            I use concealer every time I put on makeup because I just look tired at all times so having concealer is really important to me. 

            There is a reason that I am not a huge fan of every shade being the same name and then they are vastly different colors, like both of mine are fair and they are vastly different shades. 

Tarte Shape Tape in shade Fair:

            This is the one that I am currently using and I really like it, it is worth the hype that surrounds it. This is one of the lightest shades and I really need to get their shade porcelain but I think when I was at Ulta they were out of it and so that was unfortunate, when I am tan this shade is great but in the dead of winter it’s too yellow.  

Colourpop No Filter Concealer in Fair 02:

            This one is my absolute makeup bag staple, it’s like a seven dollar concealer and I love it so much. It’s a lighter shade than the Tarte one so it does match my skin tone better with my foundation on.

Setting Powders:

Coty Air Spun in Translucent:

            I love this one, it just smells good and this is the one I use the most frequently of the two that I have. It is also a huge size for under ten dollars 2.3 OZ at Walgreens for like eight dollars so you know you cannot go wrong with it. 

Ciaté London Extraordinary Translucent:

            Much smaller but I got in an IPSY box so I cannot complain. I feel like most setting powders are roughly the same so I can’t really say that there is much difference in my opinion but it’s honestly not something I would buy on my own.

            Setting Sprays: 

Colourpop All Star Setting Spray:

            I am almost out of this one because it is the one I use every day when I wear makeup. I love it a lot but I do have to have a towel up on me because it does spray out all over the place. Yea, it’s a spray so of course it’s going to do that, but I would buy it again.

Urban Decay All Nighter Settign Spray:

            Other favorite, smells like cinnamon. I got a sample o this a while back and I bought a travel sized because I liked it so much and I am again running out of my other setting spray. I use the little size of this at my parent’s house so I guess I have two favorite setting sprays. 

            So I have a lot of random things in my makeup bag for prep and finishing for my face and I felt like I just needed to dump all of them into one place and here was the most logical place to do it. 

            Do you guys have any favorites when it comes to prep and finishing with your makeup? Any that you love that I should give a try? 

            I will see y’all with another blog at the end of the week! 

                        -MJ

July 2020 IPSY Glam Bag Plus Unboxing

.Reading time 9 minutes.

Hey, hey it’s MJ,

            Well so July is pretty much over which is still crazy to me because I feel like it was just February but let’s be honest with ourselves time isn’t real anymore and I just don’t think the concept of time is something that defines us right now. 

            So the Glam Bag Plus is changing next month with three customizations, three of the five products rather and that’s insanity to me, I know it’s to give more customization to the members. I like the idea of more customization but I don’t know what next month will bring because the customization doesn’t open until the beginning of August so I will have more information and insights next month on what I personally think of the new service. 

            The bag like the regular Glam Bag this month was plasticky which is fine and I know the bag will be changing next month, again I will let you know. The bag is cool though it’s purple and teal with wanderlust written on it, again, very 80’s to me and I still love it. I like this one more than the regular glam bag this month but purple is my favorite color so that makes sense. 

Products: 

Ciaté London Watermelon Burst Hydrating Primer: 

            I got a Ciaté watermelon product in my regular glam bag though, it was a lip oil and I wore it the whole time I was writing that blog post (which for me was yesterday but several days ago for you guys) and I actually really liked it. So this is a primer and I have so many primers now because of IPSY, like I like primers but let’s be honest you only need like two I have a good dozen and I have a lot of primers. I wish I used primers more but I don’t know how I feel about a watermelon primer but it says it’s really hydrating and that is something I for sure always need no matter what because I live in the south and it’s hot during the summer. It’s also silicone free and pore refining so I am going to give it a try.

Awake Glow Pill Super Serum:

            Two of my favorite things to see on packaging is cruelty free and vegan which is always great but I am for sure getting more and more into serums, I am currently loving the Better Skin Co. Epik C Serum and it has done so many good things for my skin. I remember a time when I just had to like rinse my face and it was fine now I have like an eight step skin care routine, you can check that out if you want. Back to the serum though it has B vitamins in it and it helps hydrate so it sounds like all good things and the packaging both on the cardboard outer sleeve and the component itself so I can’t wait to try this out (for now it’s going to go in fridge so it stays fresher longer) I really do need a skin car fridge and at this point with the amount of skin care I have now I really need like a dorm fridge for all of it. I mean really. 

Complex Culture Contour • Blush Brush:

            I have one other Complex Culture brush and I kind of love it but this brush looks so cool! I can for sure say that I do not have any brushes that are shaped like this so it will for sure go into my main brush holder. I like how it feels and I actually redeemed my IPSY points to get another brush from this same company because I like their brushes. It is a brush and a good brush is a good brush.

Tarte SEA Surfer Curl Volumizing Mascara:

            I love Tarte and that is no secret but I have never actually had a full size of their mascara, sample sizes sure but never a full sized so I am intrigued to use their mascara and this is a pretty new formula, I think. The packaging is nice and simple and it also has some of my favorite words, cruelty free and vegan. I am looking forward to getting to try it because again right now since no one is doing anything why am I going to use it and waste it so you know I will use it eventually. 

Pūrlisse Beauty Matcha Green Tea Antioxidant Priming Moisturizer: 

            I really like Pūrlisse and I have been using it a lot recently and I am a huge fan of a lot of the products I have gotten to use from them and I know that I will more than likely like this one as well because it’s green tea and green tea is a great moisturizer and a lot of their products have white tea in them which is great for sensitive skin so I’m excited about it. Their blue lotus eye cream is my current favorite so I am excited to have the opportunity to try more products.

            Overall it was a great bag, lots of skin care like mostly skin care but next month seems to present an interesting challenge and opportunity so I will report back on that next month. 

            Wanna see what else I’ve gotten this year? January, March, April, May, and June!

            Hope you have a good week and I’ll see y’all with another post soon!

                        -MJ

What was in my July 2020 IPSY Glam Bag?

.Reading time 8 minutes.

Hey, hey it’s MJ,

            July, I have no words really. I have been social media detoxing to be completely honest. I just decided to take some time away from the internet because social media has just gotten so toxic in our time of quarantine. Like we can be nice to each other but people just aren’t and it’s a lot for me to deal with. It just came to a point where I was feeling a lot of negative emotions that I don’t like feeling but I had to take a step back from the internet for a few weeks. Also my dad and I went back to Indiana to see some family friends, and a lot of people down here have been wearing masks but up there, not a lot of people were and we got a lot of funny looks but seriously, mask up for safety. 

            Beyond that welcome back to my blog, I will be doing this post and probably one other this month and I just, I want to get back to it but I just want to get back into doing things that make me happy as well still live in a world that is still really uncertain times so here is just something that is keeping my life sane at the moment. 

            So let’s talk about the bag, it’s plastic, I don’t mind it because it would be good to take to the pool or to the beach, (I go to neither so, I can’t shrug over the internet but shrug for me here) The zipper pull is an airplane and it says escape which feels really 80’s to me. (I am a child of the 90’s but it’s very neon!) It’s cute though so I like it.

Products: 

Ciaté London Watermelon Burst Hydrating Lip Oil:

            I got a Ciaté Watermelon product in my Glam Bag Plus as well (spoilers), I like watermelon products and I am usually not a user of lip oil and I will say this spells very lip smackers watermelon (again child of the 90’s). I like it and it’s not sticky like gloss so that is a plus for this. It’s like a weird consistency between a gloss and a lip balm and I like it, maybe I will use this to get more and more into lip oils. Who knows.

NeoGen Dermatology A-Clear Soothing Foam Cleanser:

            I got a cleanser last month too and I really like that one as well and when it says it’s dermatologically tested and usually those products don’t seem to dry my skin out or break me out. I will give it a chance here soon when my other little face cleanser runs out and maybe I will get come back here and tell y’all all about it. 

Luxie 205 Pack and Shade Brush:

            I really like how this brush feels and there is a notch in the handle for your thumb which is such a good idea! Such a good idea and I really like how the brush feels, it’s not as dense as some of my other packing brushes and I am totally cool with that. I’m just getting distracted watching YouTube videos and playing with the brush so that’s a good thing I guess. 

Space Case Eyeshadow in Space Food:

            Odd name for a shade but a really pretty neutral brown, I actually really like the shade and I like Space Case, I have gotten one of two products from them in my IPSY glam bags in the past so their eyeshadows are really nice, the pigment is great it is also a nice texture. It’s a nice brown shade and I don’t know what else I can say about it because it’s a great shade to just have many of. 

TheBalm Cosmetics Will Powder Blush in Perseverance: 

            Okay so on the website they call it highlighter, well they did in the review and that confused me because it is labeled as blush but I usually don’t see blush that is shiny like a highlighter. There is a lot of glitter in it and the shade is just a little too dark and a little too orange for my skin tone so while I love TheBalm this is just a little off for me.

            So there is my bag for this month and for the most part it was great, the Glam Bag is I feel more diverse with products and that’s great. The Glam Bag Plus is changing and I will talk about that in my other Glam Bag Plus unboxing that will be out later in the week (hopefully).

Want to check out my other Glam Bags from this year, January, March, April, May, and June!

            Have a great week and I will see you all with another post soon,

                        -MJ

June 2020 IPSY Glam Bag Plus Unboxing

.Reading time 7 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ, 

            I am again writing all of my IPSY posts back to back this month because I felt like it and they were what I had on hand. Again, we are almost in July and I cannot believe that because I swear it was just January. I hope everyone out there is staying safe all around.

            Again same problem I had with the Glam Bag, the card is exactly the same as that one, it doesn’t tell me the products anymore and I think that will continue to bother me but there isn’t anything that I can do about it. 

            The bag is exactly the same as the one for the Glam Bag this month but it’s a minty green, why have a bag if you are going to get multiple of the same if you subscribe to more than one of their subscriptions. I usually like the bags but this month really did miss the mark for me now that I have two of the exact same bags, same size and everything.

What did I get?

Jayjun Cosmetics Wakepure Sheet Masks (6):

            There are two of each kind so two of the Shiso Calming Mask, the Seaberry Brightening Mask, and the Avocado Nourishing Mask. I love sheet masks even though I don’t really use them during the summer because it’s just a lot for the summer. I am looking forward to trying them out because I have all my sheet masks in the fridge, as well as a lot of my skin care that I’m not using at the moment. I don’t have a skin care fridge I just have a small crate in my actual fridge full of sheet masks and I regret nothing. 

Shaina B Miami Eyes on Miami Brush Set:

            I have a lot of brushes and I think for now these are just going to stay in their little bag because while I love a full set of eye brushes ISPY really likes to send out brush sets, these may become part of my travel set of brushes but for right now I don’t need to add them to the rest of my brush cup. They are stylish and I really like how they feel and it is nice to get full sets of brushes (according to the IPSY page these would retail for $60) because I haven’t bought a full priced brush in probably four years. But at the end of the day a brush is a brush is a brush. 

Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Luminzer Primer:

            I do not wear a lot of primer, I probably should just for skin protecting and this one blends in really well with my skin so I am happy about that. Also I am a huge fan of Dr. Brandt because their products are great I have never had a reaction to any of them and that in my book is great news. It does for sure blur your pores, I put it on my hand and I can tell where it is which is crazy to me so I am hopeful that on my face it will have all the desired effects that it claims to have. 

Pūrlisse Beauty Blue Lotus 4-in-1 Cleansing Milk:

            I have a few of the Blue Lotus products from Pūrlisse including the eye cream and I think the sunscreen and I love both of them so having another cleanser to try out and one from a brand I know that my skin can handle is awesome. I am excited to give it a try when I run out of my Tula cleanser and it is soap and sulfate free so it won’t dry my skin out either which is really exciting for me. 

Ciaté London Marbled Metals Eyeshadow in Entwine:

            The color pay off on this is intense, it’s a beautiful pinky shade and while I like it, it’s really really glittery for me, I am not a person who frequently gets so full glam that my look requires something that is this glittery. It’s a beautiful shade and I will find a reason to wear it, even if it is a highlighter it just looks kind of chunky in the pot so I guess we will see. I’ll figure it out.

            Overall it was a pretty good bag, I’m not mad about it. If you want to see what else I got this year you can, January, March, April, May.

Hope you have a great rest of the week, stay safe y’all,

            -MJ

April 2020 Glam Bag Plus Unboxing

.Reading time 7 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ, 

            April has pretty much flown by even in quarantine and as I am writing this it’s like the 16th so hopefully as this is being posted maybe we will be able to reemerge into the world but who knows. 

            Let’s talk about what I got in my Glam Bag Plus this month though, like I said in my regular Glam Bag Unbagging this is a bright spot in my month. This month instead of a box the items came in a bubble mailer like the regular Glam Bag, they actually sent out a survey about it asking our opinions and I think it’s fine but I worry about the recyclability in my area where the box was recyclable pretty much everywhere/

The Bag:

            Like the Glam Bag this month it has the same floral pattern but it is a more muted minty green with a zipper around about 75% of the bag itself, that makes it a little hard to zip but over all I really like the idea of the different bags they are coming out with.

The Products: 

Ciaté London Triple Shot XXL Mascara in Black XXL:

            Mascara is one of my staple products and I am always in the market for a new good formula. Now this one claims to be a fiber formula so that does worry me a little bit; in the past with other fiber formulas I have had the fibers dry and get in my eyes and my eyes are sensitive to just about everything getting in them so I am hopeful that this one doesn’t have the flaking problem. 

Céla Crème Rose The Very Best Cream Rose:

            I love the packaging, it’s just really pretty, my one issue with the packaging is the thickness of the tube, it’s not very thick which for a lotion that has a hinged cap that makes it a little tricky to close, you have to be careful with it. The other scent notes besides rose are jasmine and peach. It does smell amazing and it soaks into the skin rather quickly so you don’t feel like you are caked in something. This one is for sure an exciting product even though I never need more lotion but I always loving getting it.

Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner in Black:

            Again, eyeliner; this is getting ridiculous on the amount of months I have received eyeliner, all black and all liquid which I don’t use. The only saving grace of this eyeliner is that it is double ended so it has a gel/pencil on one side which was the eyeliner that I grew up using, all pencil all the time. I think I used exclusively Maybelline’s gel/pencil eyeliner in middle and into high school. So this one is more up my alley so I might use this one but that leave the question of what to do with the other end of the dual ended eyeliner and what do I do with the rest of the liquid liners I have received, get it together ipsy, I never review eyeliners well.

Girlactik Beauty Jello Gloss Balm:

            I have been trying to figure out where I had heard about this brand and it was in a Tati video on YouTube. I love trying out new balms and I love the simplicity of the packaging on this one. It goes on like a balm and feels like a mixture between a gloss and a balm and for once I am not mad about it. It looks like a translucent pink in the tube and I am actually a huge fan of it. It’s one of those products that is a really good multitasking product and I am looking forward to using it more.

Sunday Riley Martian Mattifying Melting Water-Gel Toner:

            I chose this one, I really did because if they give me the option of a Sunday Riley product I will pick it. Sunday Riley is one of those brands I have coveted for such a long time and now I am using various products in my skin care routine. It doesn’t smell great but I think that’s because of the clay in it so it’s fine. A little goes a long way with this product and I am excited to incorporate this into my skin care routine on a regular basis as I do not currently use a toner. 

            So overall I really liked my Glam Bag Plus this month, even the eyeliner, that’s right even the eyeliner. 

            I’ll see everyone in May hoping that we are getting back to normal here soon, stay safe stay healthy!

            -MJ

September ispy Glam Bag Plus Unboxing

.Reading time 7 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ!

            Well I am back again with another post, it’s a bit unboxing heavy this month, with my regular ipsy glam bag and my Fall fabfitfun box. Here I am with my third and final unboxing post of the month.

            Like I said in my ipsy unbagging a few days ago ipsy is making some changes to their subscription services, including a makeup bag in every Glam Bag Plus, I mean it’s fine; I like the glam bag bags but I kind of like not having a bag with my Glam Bag Plus, but times and services change so I can understand the need to not stagnant within the business. Beyond that I am still excited to see ipsy move into the future.

            So what was in my box this month? 

Paris Hilton Skincare ProD.N.A. Dual-Action Cleansing Gel

            So I grew up in the era of The Simple Life and the whole Paris Hilton hype of the 2000’s. I did not know that she had a skincare line. I am willing to give it a try because “that’s hot” is still a phrase that I associate with her. It’s cruelty free and claims to be gentle enough to use in the morning and at night so that’s a good thing. It has a laundry list of really good ingredients like pineapple, apple, and white tea. 

Nomad Cosmetics Berlin Underground Intense Eyeshadow Palette

            So this palette has some amazingly beautiful colors, there is a design pressed into each pan and I have always loved the idea of that; depth in the pans themselves. The one problem with that is that I don’t want to ruin the design in the pans. (How many times can I use pan in this paragraph?) This is one of those palettes that has all of the neutral colors that you want in a full glam eye look but also the deep colors. It is a really punk palettes and I absolutely love it. The palette is actually quite sizable as well and with 15 shades it is a pretty standard number for a palette like this. Like I said I love the colors and the names of the shades though I am usually a sucker for shade names in eyeshadow palettes because usually they are topical or just funny. 

Illamasqua Antimatter Lipstick in Cosmic

            I’ve gotten some Illamasqua lip liners in the past in my May Glam Bag Plus and I think that the shade Media I got then will be a great color to pair with this shade which I love. I love mauve shades when it comes to lipsticks and this one is a shade I don’t actually have, shocking, I know. I haven’t swatched it so I don’t actually know how it feels on the skin but I am hopeful that it’s nice and creamy because it is a crème lipstick. I usually go for liquid lipstick but some days you just need the traditional crème lipstick. 

Ciaté London Extraordinary Translucent Powder

            I only have gotten into setting powder in the last year or so. I like Ciaté London so seeing this setting powder in my box was really nice. I don’t really have much to say about setting powder until I actually try it for a while but you get a nice amount of product (.52 OZ) and the packaging is really simple but very cute. 

Ofra Cosmetics X Madison Miller Squad Palette

            I think that most boxes and Glam Bags this month included an Ofra and Madison Miller collaboration product, in my glam bag I got the blush and in this I got the squad palette which is two highlighters and a blush. I like the idea of a trio pan and they are beautiful shades. I am such a sucker for highlighters so seeing more in my life is great. The packaging is simple and while I love crazy packaging but I also am such a fan of simple packaging as well. 

            Well that was my Glam Bag Plus this month. Per usual ipsy has very few misses when it comes to things that I will like and this month is just another example of that. 

If you want to read about what I got in my other Glam Bag Plus boxes this year, you can! May, June, July, and August.

Do you subscribe? Did you get a product this month that you love? 

I’ll see everyone on Sunday with another post.

Bye!

-MJ