The color of this blush is really nice and compliments my skin tone nicely with its light diffusing properties. It’s got Vitamin E and mica, which help it to blend easily. I also like the fact that it’s completely matte, so it looks really natural and subtle–perfect for everyday wear.
This is a new brand for me. It claims to be like a gel polish by filling ridges and lasting a long time without needing a lamp and that it removes easily with regular nail polish. I tried it out on my toes. After 5 days of ballet flats and aerial classes, it’s still holding up pretty well. Just some minor chipping that’s hardly noticeable. It’s free of 12 different chemicals (ex. Formaldehyde) found in many nail polishes, and it’s infused with Bamboo Extract, Shea, and Argan Oil. It’s a little pricey, but I’d consider looking into other shades. I’m not crazy about this shade–it’s kind of a dull brick red, which wouldn’t be high on my list.
You can’t by this eyeshadow individually; it’s part of the 12-shade Foiled Again palette. I thought this color would be a nice greige with some shimmer. It turned out much brighter and silvery than I expected. When I tried building the pigment, it only made the shine brighter, so I had to tone it down with a matte shade. I could see using this as a highlighting shade in the corners of my eyes, but I don’t think I’ll be reaching for this on a regular basis for day-to-day use.
I absolutely love this highlighter! The pearlescent oyster shade makes it subtle, with just enough shimmer to make my cheekbones pop. It blends so nicely and lasts all day long. Love, love, love!
My Rating: 5/5
This month’s bag had an average rating of 4.2. How many of these products have you tried?
Any new favs in your August beauty subscription(s)? Tell me all about them in the comments!
Love,
Sarah xoxo
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Instagram: sarah.elizabeth614 (You can also click the icon at the top of this page.)
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Yes, Oh Yas!: Get 3-7 full-size beauty products worth $65+ delivered to you each month for $14.99 + shipping. Use coupon code SARAH614 at checkout for 10% off your first box!
This month’s theme was “Cali Love,” and I got 5 full-size products. I absolutely loved the amount of pink in this box!
*Note: prices listed as photo captions are what I found on the respective product websites. Retail values listed below my descriptions are what was listed by Yes, Oh Yas!
This palette is absolutely GORGEOUS! It’s a perfect combination of 5 matte shades and 4 foil finish shades. Since last month’s palette was a warm tone palette, this cool tone was a nice balance. The pigment of all of the shades is fantastic. A couple of them have some kick-up in the pan, but there’s no fallout. I have a feeling I’ll be reaching for this palette a lot; it compliments my Urban Decay Naked 3 palette nicely.
I was excited to try these out because I didn’t read very closely, and I saw “Tea Tree” and automatically thought tea tree oil. I was disappointed to find that they didn’t smell like tea tree oil at all. Shows I need to actually read the information lol. They do absorb oil well (I tried one on my face and one on my husband’s), and with a pack of 100, they should last me a while.
Retail Value: $12*
*Sormé doesn’t sell directly from their website, so Amazon seems like a decent place to buy these.
I was a little apprehensive about this one because it’s not a long-wear liquid lipstick. I was afraid it was basically a tinted lip balm, which I’m not a fan of. Oh my goodness, this lippie is so incredibly comfortable, and it packs a lot more pigment than I expected. The avocado oil in it keeps my lips moisturized all day, and it was so light that I didn’t feel like I had anything on my lips at all. I just put it on, let it set for a minute or so while I finished getting ready, and then I lightly blotted with a tissue. It looked great all day and didn’t crack, flake, or get patchy. There are only 3 other colors available right now, but I’ve got my eye on “Daydream” and “Storm.”
I’m flush with blush brushes, so I’m going to add this to my giveaway bag. The main highlights of this brush: synthetic bristles, ergonomic handle, can be used with liquids, powders, or creams.
Retail Value: $22*
*Why does this seem to happen with Crown brushes every time? $22 is quite a difference from $14 and a HUGE difference from the current $0.95 sale price. What gives??
Based on the last time I tried a “primer” sheet mask, I’m pretty dubious about this one. I’m actually going to hold off on using this because we’re going to Ireland in about a month, and I wouldn’t mind being able to give my skin a moisture boost after a trans-Atlantic flight. The fewer liquids I have to transport, the better. This sheet mask is made of Tencel, which is a 100% biodegradable cellulosic fiber (why can’t all sheet masks be biodegradable??) The packaging is recyclable (hooray!) and their products contain no parabens, mineral oils, sulfates, phthalates, benzophones, artificial fragrances or pigments. Now this is a line of sheet masks that catches my attention.
Retail Value: $12*
*Again with the price differences. What the what??
Total Package Value: $94*
*If you go off of the website prices, it’s $52.94 (using the sale price of the brush), but for $14.99, it’s still a great deal.
I’m curious to see what September brings. I’m on the fence about the highlighter palette that’s coming because I already have so many highlighters, but supposedly there will be “brushes, brushes, and more brushes.” I’m hoping it’s the ones in this photo.
What goodies did you get in your beauty subscription(s) this month? Anything you recommend?
Love,
Sarah xoxo
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Instagram: sarah.elizabeth614 (You can also click the icon at the top of this page.)
Twitter: @SarahLiz614(You can also click the icon at the top of this page.)
Yes, Oh Yas!: Get 3-7 full-size beauty products worth $65+ delivered to you each month for $14.99 + shipping. Use coupon code SARAH614 at checkout for 10% off your first box!
Despite the title, this post has nothing to do with tanning. Behold the peel off mask that made me look like a female version of Xerxes from the movie 300 (minus all the bling).
“Take Away the Drama” Youth Boosting Honey & Copper Peel Off Mask
This peel off mask came in my August ipsy bag, and it’s so pretty! It comes out of the tube totally metallic, almost like a copper paint. The ingredients list says there’s fragrance in it, but I didn’t notice it.
Key ingredients:
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis (Tea) Leaf Extract, & Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter: provide moisture to the skin
Honey: antibacterial properties, full of antioxidants to combat aging, moisturizes, soothes, and clarifies skin–it’s a skincare powerhouse!
Lactic Acid: exfoliates
Copper Gluconate: copper peptides reduce signs of aging by increasing collagen and elastin production, helping to nourish skin and increase its elasticity
Zinc Gluconate: boosts skin’s healing process and can help fight acne
The mask went on pretty smoothly, but I had some trouble getting it off. I think I applied too thin of a layer, but with it being a fairly small sample, I was afraid to use too much. So many good-for-you ingredients, and my skin looked great afterwards, but I don’t know if I care to splurge on the full-size.
What are some of your favorite honey skincare products? Any DIY recipes you swear by? I’d love to hear about them!
Have a great week!
Love,
Sarah xoxo
If you’d like to be notified when new posts go up, please subscribe to Balanced Life Beauty.
Instagram: sarah.elizabeth614 (You can also click the icon at the top of this page.)
Twitter: @SarahLiz614(You can also click the icon at the top of this page.)
Yes, Oh Yas!: Get 3-7 full-size beauty products worth $65+ delivered to you each month for $14.99 + shipping. Use coupon code SARAH614 at checkout for 10% off your first box!
July flew by and with it came a new job offer (that I accepted) and new beauty finds! I’m so ready for fall, but in the meantime, check out my July haul!
When I first started using skincare products in middle school and high school, I used Clinique’s 3-step system a lot because it helped keep my acne at bay. I eventually drifted away from Clinique, but this moisturizer felt really nice.
Key Ingredients:
Caffeine–encourages skin’s natural rehydration system
Hyaluronic Acid–helps skin retain moisture
Activated Aloe Water–plumps skin
Humectants and Polymers–seal in moisture to reduce water loss
I’ve never purchased any products from Jack Black before. You can use this particular product as a cleanser or as a mask. I gave this sample to my husband, so we’ll see what he thinks of it.
Key Ingredients:
Glycolic Acid–removes dead skin cell buildup
Volcanic Ash–gentle physical exfoliant to help smooth skin
Kaolin Clay–draws out skin impurities, oil and dirt, plus helps control oiliness
The skincare angels heard my prayer and granted me a sample of Green Apple Peel Full Strength! (I had to buy $50 of Juice Beauty products, but whatever, it’s stuff I needed.) I tried it out last week for Spoil Me Sunday.
The full-size bottle is adorable and almost makes me want to buy it! This light and feminine eau de toilette has a combination of fruity and floral notes:
Top note: nashi pear
Middle note: pink lily of the valley
Bottom note: white amber
Skincare
Coconut & Hibiscus 2-in-1 Foaming Milk & Body Wash
Another great brand with a reasonable price point. Tomato extract, salicylic acid and micellar water gently cleanse, treat, and moisturize, so your skin isn’t left feeling dry. I had been using the Micellar Water from Formula 10.0.6 first thing in the morning, but honestly the bottle annoys me. Either I don’t get enough on my cotton ball, or I accidentally soak it. This dispenser method seems a lot better.
I’m a little confused about this product, though, because I bought it from Ulta for $2.25, but now I can’t find it anywhere on the website, even though it’s still listed on Yes to’s website. You can’t buy directly from their website at this time, so who knows? Anyway, you can still get the Charcoal one for $8.99 at Ulta.
I’m trying to find the perfect cleanser that gets my skin clean without drying it out. This one just might be a contender. Most of the ingredients are organic, and it’s cruelty-free.
When I got my birthday facial, the aesthetician recommended that I start incorporating Retinol into my skincare regimen, since I’m approaching my 30s. When I ran out of serum, I decided to try this out.
Key Ingredients:
Encapsulated Retinol–Retinol reduces signs of aging, but it’s a pretty unstable molecule. By encapsulating the molecules with lipids, it lengthen’s the Retinol’s shelf life. The capsules break when applied to the skin and helps facilitate better absorption of the Retinol into the skin.
Ceramides–protect against moisture loss and keep skin firm
This mineral sunscreen protects against UVA/UVB rays, plus it has a (supposedly) universal tint to it helps perfect your skin’s appearance. It’s oil-free, and I’ve had no issues with it underneath my makeup. Not sure I’d repurchase because of the price point (I had a gift card this time). Any mineral face sunscreens out there that you recommend?
I was waiting for a friend while she went through the checkout line at Ulta and she showed this to me because the name and the specificity of its use made her giggle. I was like, “Oh my goodness, they make something specifically for this? I need this in my life!” I’m probably about an F or G cup, and when you work out 6 days a week and live in Florida, the boob sweat struggle is REAL. I was hoping this was a spray that dried with a powdery finish, but it’s just a true powder that sprays out, so it’s a little messy. It smells great, though, and it’s cruelty-free and talc-free. It’s not an antiperspirant by any means, but it helps keep things a little drier and fresher until I can get home to shower.
Key Ingredients:
Aloe–soothes skin
Lavender Oil–natural antiseptic that inhibits bacteria growth
Chamomile Oil–source of antioxidants and essential oils to reduce skin irritation
Corn starch–absorbs moisture
I’m curious to try out a couple of their other products, as well: Thigh Rescue and Rosy Pits.
I was running low on my CC+ Cream from IT Cosmetics, and I think it was contributing to my breakouts, anyway. I thought I’d give this a try because it’s got 20% zinc oxide for sun protection, plus it’s free of synthetic fragrances. There are only 5 shades, but their website claims that since they don’t use artificial dyes, the colors work for skin tones from very light to dark as the colors blend and adapt.
It does seem to blend pretty well, but it’s thick, so I’m still trying to find that sweet spot of how much to squeeze onto my mixing palette for one use. I find it works best if I apply it with my stippling brush, blend a little more with the flat side of a beauty sponge, and then let it sit a couple of minutes before moving on to contouring and blush. I tried baking it, but my face came out looking really cakey, so I recommend doing the above and then finishing off with a setting spray and/or light layer of translucent powder.
I tried this a few months ago and loved it, but I wanted to see if a drugstore brand could do the same thing for a lower price. So I bought one, and it didn’t even come close. This one is waterproof (the other one wasn’t) and it keeps my brow powder in place, even when I’m sweating at the gym. I love the applicator, too! The long bristles on one side are great for the main part of my brows, the shorter bristles on the other side help tame the really unruly hairs, and the bristles at the tip get the tails of my brows just right. If you’ve got a drug store brand that you think can top this, I want to know about it!
I only bought this because I couldn’t find my usual 30 oz. Japonesque refill bottle on the Ulta website or on Japonesque’s. It’s back on Ulta’s now, so I exchanged it, since Japonesque’s is a better buy ($30 for 16 fl. oz.) What do you think? Have you used either one before?
Whew, what a month! Let’s go, August! How many of these products have you tried?
Love,
Sarah xoxo
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Instagram: sarah.elizabeth614 (You can also click the icon at the top of this page.)
Twitter: @SarahLiz614(You can also click the icon at the top of this page.)
Yes, Oh Yas!: Get 3-7 full-size beauty products worth $65+ delivered to you each month for $14.99 + shipping. Use coupon code SARAH614 at checkout for 10% off your first box!
I tried the sensitive peel a few weeks ago, and while it worked fine, I wondered if the full strength would do more. When I was first introduced to Juice Beauty, the rep told me about how uncomfortable she found the full strength to be the first time. I was curious to try it, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little apprehensive.
Key Ingredients:
Lemon Juice & Apple Juice: source of fruit acids that smooth skin and even skin tone
Aloe Juice: moisturizes skin
Lactic & Glycolic Acids: alpha hydroxy acids that chemically exfoliate the skin
Grape Seed Oil & Grape Seed Extract: source of antioxidants
Vitamin A: reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Vitamin C & E: nourish skin
Willow Bark Extract: beta hydroxy acid that exfoliates, moisturizes, and works both on the surface and within your pores; it BHAs also have skin calming properties
I didn’t really feel any tingling, but I did experience some flushing after I rinsed it off (it went away after 10 minutes or so.) I followed up with some Nutrient Moisturizer that I got in my Daily Hydrating Solutions Kit, which felt nice. My skin felt smoother and looked noticeably brighter afterwards. I’m curious how much effect this could have on my skin long-term, but I’m on the fence because of the price point. We’ll see!
What are you up to this lazy Sunday? Trying anything new?
Have a great week!
Love,
Sarah xoxo
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Instagram: sarah.elizabeth614 (You can also click the icon at the top of this page.)
Twitter: @SarahLiz614(You can also click the icon at the top of this page.)
Yes, Oh Yas!: Get 3-7 full-size beauty products worth $65+ delivered to you each month for $14.99 + shipping. Use coupon code SARAH614 at checkout for 10% off your first box!
Summer isn’t over yet, and this month’s super cute shimmery aqua bag is perfect for taking to the pool. The theme around this month’s products was all about keeping your skin and hair healthy and happy, in spite of all the sun, sand, salt, and chlorine. I loved that there were so many waterproof products you could get in your bag. Look at what I got!
It’s waterproof, hydrating, cruelty-free, oil-free, and has a matte finish. What’s not to love? It does a great job of staying put all day, even through a sweaty gym session. Not to mention, hooray for getting a full-size item! My only complaint is that it doesn’t have full enough coverage to completely conceal the dark circles under my eyes, so I’m still using my Shape Tape for that.
I’ve gotten City Color Cosmetics eyeshadows from ipsy before, and I love them! The formula has a smooth application with no fallout, plus there’s the great pigmentation, huge pan size, and really affordable price point. This color caught me by surprise because I thought it would be a shimmery light taupe that I could use as an all-over color when I’m low on time. It ended up coming out a LOT lighter and WAY more shimmery than I anticipated. I can basically only use it as a highlighting shade without looking like I just walked out of an early 2000s music video. Lesson learned.
I got this cleanser in my glam bag a few months ago and liked it. It’s got antioxidants to protect my skin, it’s fragrance-free, and it’s pH balanced to maintain skin’s natural acidity. Most importantly, it doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight and dry after I use it. This is perfect to have in my travel bag!
This water-gel cream moisturizer feels sooooo nice–I wish the sample was bigger! It has water lily extract to condition my skin and illuminating pigments to give it a subtle glow. I can feel a difference in my skin’s moisture level after using this. I love this product, but I probably won’t spring for a full-size jar.
This is a brand I’d never heard of before, so I was interested to try this gel eyeliner out. It’s waterproof, made with Vitamin E, and cruelty-free! The fact that it’s retractable makes it convenient, but it also means you can’t get a super tight, defined line. The formula is fine for sensitive skin, if that’s a concern, and this shade is a lovely warm brown with a subtle shimmer. It’s nice to be able to change it up from black to something else that I can still wear to work. 🙂
My Rating: 4/5
This month’s bag had an average rating of 4.2–the highest one of 2018 so far! How many of these products have you tried?
Any new favs in your July beauty subscription(s)? Tell me all about ’em!
Love,
Sarah xoxo
If you’d like to be notified when new posts go up, please subscribe to Balanced Life Beauty.
Instagram: sarah.elizabeth614 (You can also click the icon at the top of this page.)
Twitter: @SarahLiz614(You can also click the icon at the top of this page.)
Yes, Oh Yas!: Get 3-7 full-size beauty products worth $65+ delivered to you each month for $14.99 + shipping. Use coupon code SARAH614 at checkout for 10% off your first box!
