e.l.f. Brow Mascara Review

e.l.f. Brow Mascara Review

From the Brand:
Achieve glossy, shiny, healthy-looking lashes and brows, infused with long wearing conditioning agents in our Wet Gloss Lash & Brow mascara. Flawless lashes and brows have never been easier!

Retails for:  $1.00


Where to Buy:  EyesLipsFace.com, Target, Walmart, and Walgreens.com


My Thoughts:  This is one of those impulse buys that ends up in my cart every time I go shopping at Target.  I inevitably browse my way through the cosmetics department, just "to see what's new" and end up with a bunch of products tossed in with my bread, sponges, and whatever random other things I convinced myself I had to leave the house to buy that day.  (I swear, it's really just for their pretzels and the peace and quiet of wandering the aisles sans kiddos.)  For a buck, I figured it was a justifiable purchase.  However, I was quickly convinced that this is a definite underrated gem by the uber inexpensive e.l.f. brand!

I usually don't use brow mascara/gel at all, since I keep my brow hairs trimmed pretty well.  And if they are a bit on the unruly side, some hairspray spritzed on a spoolie does the trick quite nicely.  That all changed when I tried this stuff.  Now, every time I do my makeup I put a little bit of this over my brows to give them definition, a touch of shine, and staying power.

It goes on easily, and honestly I can't tell a difference between the "gel" side and the "mascara" side.  Both work the same for me on my brows.  I don't bother with clear mascara on my eyelashes. I figure if I'm going to put something on them, I'm going to be using black mascara.  It doesn't dry super crusty or hard, and it doesn't take forever to dry like some brands can.  It also doesn't dry super matte, so they have just a little bit of shine to them like naturally shiney healthy hair rather than slicked up gelled hair.  You know what I'm talking about.


Final Verdict:  If I could only pick a handful of e.l.f. products to own, this would be one of them!  Amazing product for the price!

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Yes to Blueberries Skincare Review

Yes to Blueberries Skincare Review

From the Brand:
Intensive Skin Repair Serum (Size: 1.0 oz / 41 ml)
Formulated with Wild Acacia to reduce wrinkle depth and appearance and Cupuacu Seed Butter to 'plump' skin. Let us do the wrinkle-fighting, time-erasing work, while you sleep!
At least 95% Natural

• Fragrance Free
• Petroleum, SLS, & Paraben Free
• Cruelty-free

Yes to Blueberries Daily Repairing Moisturizer with SPF 30 is formulated with Organic Cotton Thistle which is clinically proven to help boost natural collagen production and aid skin rejuvenation, and Blueberries to help fight external skin damage. A blend of Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide provide gentle, natural UVA and UVB sun protection. Go on, enjoy that sunshine!
•97% Natural
•SPF-30; UVA/UVB Protection
•Free of Parabens, Petroleum and SLS

Retails for:  $19.99- Serum, $17.99 in stores, but $14.39 online at Target- Moisturizer


Where to Buy:  YesToCarrots.com, Target Stores and Target.com


My Thoughts:  At first I really liked both of these products, but after I while they didn't work as well for me as they did in the beginning.  The serum is more like a lightweight lotion in consistency, and it sinks into the skin nicely.  There's no fragrance to it, but it doesn't smell amazing like the makeup remover wipes I've already reviewed by this line.  It does a good job to perk up my hydration for the rest of the day, but other than that it wasn't anything super amazing.

The moisturizer was ok, but it goes on very chalky and leaves a whitish cast on my skin if I don't really rub it in well.  It's more like a sunblock than a moisturizer, and it has a sunblock smell to it, too.  I didn't notice any particular super hydration coming from this and stopped using it after about three weeks. I wanted to give it a real thorough test before making my opinion about it, and it failed to impress every time.


Final Verdict:  If you're looking for a lightweight serum to go under your moisturizer, I'd recommend the serum.  It's much less expensive than high end brands and does a good job of upping the hydration factor.  I'd skip the moisturizer unless you're looking for something that's just a bit of hydration and more of a sunblock.

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Boots Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm Review

Boots Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm Review

From the Brand:
Reveal a beautiful, radiant complexion with this hot cloth cleansing balm from Boots. Part of the Botanics Organic collection, it contains a luxurious blend of shea butter, rosehip and jojoba oil. The gentle polishing action of the muslin cloth helps remove dirt and impurities for cleaner, healthier-looking skin.

Retails for:  $8.49


Where to Buy:  Target stores and Target.com, and Drugstore.com


My Thoughts:  Let me just tell you about how much I love this stuff!  It's awesome!  It's helped me detox my skin and pull all the deep crap from in my pores out, and my complexion is so much better for it.  It was definitely a process.  The first time I used it, it was sort of similar to my Clarins Cleansing Milk.  I massaged it on my face to dissolve the makeup, then wiped it off.  The only difference is with this product, you use the included muslin cloth soaked in hot water to wipe the balm off. 

I use the cloth like a compress, holding it over areas of the face so the heat really soaks in and opens up my pores.  Then I wipe the balm off, repeating the process until my skin is clean.  Then I go back over and use the hot compress over my t zone areas, where I find that I get a lot of congestion.  Especially around my chin.  I'm forever finding little breakouts just sitting under the surface waiting to errupt on my next cycle.

The product smells really good, very fresh and clean.  I expected it to be more milky or sticky or something, but it's almost like a wax.  It melts a bit with the heat of your face and the compress, but it never fully liquifies.  It's one of those not really a solid kind of deals, sorta like peanut butter.  Not a solid, not a liquid.

I noticed after the very first use that my pores were getting a good deep cleaning.  Of course, that also led to a lot of breakouts immediately after, as things are being pulled to the surface.  You have to get past that in order to really appreciate how good this is for your skin.  Just like going and getting a deep pore cleaning from a facial.

After a few uses, I realized that I needed to switch to a gentle foaming cleanser afterwards in order to make sure that all the residue was off my face.  It does a really good job of removing my foundation, but at the same time I like to follow up with either a quick wash or at the very least some good toner.  Twice a week I use an exfoliating face wash, as I didn't find enough exfoliation from the muslin cloth itself.  I am also using less moisturizer as well, since this helps to hydrate my dry skin while removing my makeup.

My only drawback to this product is that you have to wash the cloth after every use, or else you're rubbing dead skin cells and old makeup and bacteria into your skin.  I tried using a foaming antibacterial wash from Bath and Body Works after to clean it and left it over the faucet to dry, but it wasn't getting it clean enough.  I have to put it through the wash with the rest of my towels, which I only wash once a week.  I switch out to new towels every other use, so I'd like to be able to buy extra muslin cloths to use a clean one every time.  But that's a relatively small complaint I think.



Final Verdict:  Helps to really purify your skin while removing your makeup.  Plus, the heat feels really good.

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

OPI Nail Color Swatches- Brazil

Product Info:

Set 1: OPI Brazil CopacaBabies 4 pc Mini Kit
Tropicalicious shades - sizzling and spirited! OPI's Brazil CopacaBabies Mini Pack contains:

• Next Stop - The Bikini Zone
• Kiss Me I'm Brazilian
• AmazON - AmazOFF
• Where Did Suzi's Man-go?

No DBP, Toluene, and Formaldehyde Free

4-mini nail lacquers (1/8 fl oz.)  $12.95 at Ulta

Set 2:  OPI Brazil Beach Sandies 4 pc Mini Kit
Four vibrant Liquid Sand minis from the Brazil Beach Sandies Collection.

Set includes:

• Samba-dy Loves Purple
• I'm Brazil Nuts Over You
• What's a Little Rain Forest
• You're So Flippy Floppy

No DBP, Toluene, and Formaldehyde Free

4-mini nail lacquers (1/8 fl oz.)  $12.95 at Ulta- available online only

Individual Shades available at Ulta and Ulta.com for $9.00 each

My Thoughts:  These are ok colors for the OPI brand.  I'm used to a bit more pigmentation, and I'm not sure whether it was because it's in a mini bottle or not?  I felt that most of the textured shades needed three or more coats to come out looking even.  The solid colors were much better, but they still needed at least two coats.  My favorites overall were the Live Love Carnival and Where Did Suzi's Man-Go.  I love these for the summer, and I'm sure I'll be rocking them quite a bit.  My favorite shades for summer are corals and pinks.

I like the shade range overall in this collection.  There's a little something for every taste.  Plus, it's fun that some of them are sandy textures, kind of like the beach.  I was most disappointed in the blues, as I didn't think they were all that original.  The teal is pretty, but it definitely needs lot of coats.  You can see in the photo even after three coats it's still not perfectly even.  The light blue is very streaky as well, and it's just a rather boring light blue.  The only think that makes it a bit different is the texture.  I do just adore the shade names of these nail polishes.  As expected, OPI has the best shade names for their nail polishes.

These last about what I'd expect for nail polish on my nails.  Since I'm constantly typing and working with my hands, polish only lasts at max two days before it chips. 

I bought these kits from Ulta back in March, but I thought now would be a good time to review them as they are really fun summer shades.  You can probably still find them online from Ulta.com or full size bottles at dugstores.

Final Verdict:  The mini bottles in the kits are a great way to try out new OPI shades without having to pay for a full size bottle you may not wear often.  Especially good for people like myself who buy way more nail polish than they could ever wear!

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter Review

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Highlighter Review

From the Brand:
Studio Secrets Magic Lumi Concealer highlights contours while playing down imperfections, Instantly enlightens shadows and dark circles and illuminates corners and brows for a wide-awake effect.

Retails for:  $12.99


Where to Buy:  Walgreens.com, Ulta stores and Ulta.com, Drugstore.com, and anywhere you like to shop for your drugstore makeup


My Thoughts:  I had this highlighter for months before I ever actually used it, and I mistakingly tried to use it as a concealer at first under my eyes.  It wasn't such a big hit.  However, I've loved using it lately as intended, to highlight areas of my face.  I use it after my foundation and concealer, up along my cheekbones, the bow of my lip, down the center of my nose, forehead, and chin to bring some light.  It's got a slightly pinkish tone to it without being too "pink".  It doesn't have a shimmer, but it reflects light nicely.

I apply it straight from the wand to the areas I want and let it sit for about 30 seconds.  Then I pat it over the skin with either my fingertips or a damp beauty sponge.  I have pretty fair skin, but this is light enough without being too white.

The consistency is very creamy, and it doesn't dry and flake or crease at all.  If you use it as a concealer though, it won't last.  This works best when patted over the top of foundation or concealer, and lightly set with translucent powder.  I wouldn't recommend it for skin types too much darker than mine, as it will look ashy.


Final Verdict:  A great highlighting product without being shimmery that won't mess with the makeup underneath.

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

Yes to Carrots Nourishing Night Cream Review

Yes to Carrots Nourishing Night Cream Review

From the Brand:
Stars aren't the only things that shine at night - so does your beautiful face! With Yes To Carrots Repairing Night Cream , your skin gets that extra evening boost in hydration levels. By promoting moisture retention, it softens, smoothes and firms your face, leaving you emanating a gorgeous, soft, healthy glow, so bright you'll need a sleep mask to catch some zzz's!
• Paraben Free

Retails for:  $19.99


Where to Buy:  Target stores and Target.com, YesToCarrots.com


My Thoughts:  I love this night cream!  It's second only to the Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Facial.  This is a nice night cream that is thick enough to give a huge does of hydration without feeling greasy on my skin.  It soaks in quickly and keeps the moisture in my skin all night long.  It's also lightly fragranced with a soft powdery scent, almost like a bit of baby powder but not like a baby lotion.  Hopefully that makes sense!

I also really love that this if formulated without harsh chemicals and no parabens.  The whole Yes To line is great for people who like natural based products.  While I'm all about anti-aging and looking younger, I also don't like to put harsh ingredients on my skin.  My sensitive skin get very irritated with lots of exfoliating acids and chemicals and intense doses of Vitamin A. 


Final Verdict:  Big fan of this night cream!

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. This article contains some affiliate links provided through Viglink.com. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.