ipsy Glam Bag Review: February 2019

March 10, 2019 sarah.elizabeth614Leave a comment

Hey, y’all!

Sorry I’m a little behind with this one, but February flew by, and with it came a cute lipstick print cosmetic bag filled with some fabulous goodies!

Glowstarter™ Mega Illuminating Moisturizer in “Nude Glow”

from GlamGlow

A dewy finish isn’t really my thing (I tend to go more matte), but I went ahead and gave this a whirl anyway. The sweet citrusy scent was a little strong, but I used a small enough amount that it wasn’t overwhelming. I used the moisturizer like I would a highlighter (mainly on my cheekbones and the tip of my chin) before I put on primer. Let’s call it a “pre-highlighter” for when I’m feeling a little extra. I definitely had to wash my hands afterwards. It comes in 2 other colors: “Pearl Glow” and “Sun Glow;” “Nude Glow” was pretty and seems like it’d be pretty universally flattering. Do I think I’d purchase the full-size, though? Probably not. It’s just not my cup of tea. *shrug*

My Rating: 2/5

Fierce and Fine Graphic Pen in “Black”

from Doucce

I’m not as big a fan of felt tip liners because they sometimes skip a little, but this one goes on fairly smoothly. The only issue is the tip is so fine that I have to go over the same area multiple times. It’s waterproof and lasted all day without flaking or budging, but it still doesn’t top my $7.50 NYX Liquid Matte. What can I say? A higher price doesn’t always mean you’ll like it better.

My Rating: 4/5

Pressed Eyeshadow in “Taupe”

from Meech n Mia

This color is perfect for work when I’m short on time and just want a subtle wash of color on my lids. This mauve-pink shade is really flattering, and I can wear it alone, or use it to add a little depth to my eye look. The pan size is pretty generous, so this might become a workday staple. It went on velvety smooth and had no fallout and minimal kick-up.

My Rating: 5/5

Powder Brush 50F

from F.A.R.A.H. Brushes

It’s so fluffy! I find it odd that I can’t find this exact brush anywhere on the F.A.R.A.H. website, but you can get one from their rose gold collection for $15, so I assume this one would be roughly the same price. The bristles aren’t quite as dense as my IT Cosmetics Luxe LBD Powder Brush #307, so it doesn’t pick up quite as much product. (Sometimes that’s a good thing.) Not to mention, this one is about 1/3 of the price, plus it’s 100% vegan and cruelty-free. According to ipsy, it’s versatile enough that you can use it for setting powder, bronzer, or blush. You know I love multi-use tools and products. 🙂

My Rating: 5/5

Studio Fix Powder Foundation in “NC30”

from MAC

I started out not loving this foundation, but I warmed up to it. I hated it when I used the sponge applicator because it left my skin feeling kind of cakey and dry. It also ended up breaking up over the course of the day, even with makeup refreshing spray. I gave it another shot using a foundation brush. That was more successful, but given how small the pan is, it was somewhat inefficient, and I was paranoid that I wasn’t getting even coverage. It did hold up better over the course of the day, though, and it seems that the coverage is buildable. Maybe with a larger pan I’d have an easier time, but I’m also still a fan of the color-correcting properties of my Laura Geller pressed powder foundation.

My Rating: 3/5

This month’s bag had an average rating of 3.8. How did your beauty subscriptions treat you in February? Tell me 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!

ipsy: Get 5 personalized products + a cute cosmetic bag delivered each month for only $10! You also get to enjoy to the ipsy app and website, which give you access to tutorials, articles, and ipsy Shopper.

Yes, Oh Yas! February 2019

March 3, 2019 sarah.elizabeth614Leave a comment

Hey, ya’ll!

Sorry I’m a little late on this one. Between February being a short month and celebrating our wedding anniversary last weekend, I’m a little behind on my posts. This month’s YOY box had 7 items! Check ’em out.

*Note: prices listed as photo captions are what I found on the respective product websites at the time of posting. This month Yes, Oh Yas! stopped listing individual item prices and just provided the total suggested MSRP, based on the information they received from the individual partner companies.

Waterproof Velvet Smooth Eyeliner in “525 Royal Blue”

from Kokie Cosmetics

Ok, truth time: as soon as I saw this blue eyeliner, I was really hesitant to give it a try. Other than the occasional deep plum or olive, I tend to shy away from bold colors. After reading some tips online, I went for it…and I ended up loving the finished look! This liner glided on like a dream, and I was able to smudge it beautifully. It made my hazel eyes pop without looking over-the-top. It’s good to push yourself out of your comfort zone every now and then, even in little ways. 🙂

Emerald Eyeshadow Palette

from Beauty Creations

First off, I’m confused about the actual name of this palette. Clearly it says “Emerald” but on the Beauty Creations website it’s called “Esmeralda.” Huh?

Anyway, as far as the palette itself, I love how many mattes it has. I feel like the tones are more autumn than spring, but at least most of the colors are subdued enough to use for work. With all of the palettes I’ve been getting, I need to have a de-potting party soon!

Lip Crayon in “Dangerous”

from Bang Beauty

This was another product I was hesitant to try because the color was outside of my normal palette. I was brave, but as soon as I applied it, I regretted everything. I didn’t feel like I could pull it off at full intensity (this was too far out of my comfort zone.) I blotted it (quite a few times), so it ended up being more sheer, which I didn’t mind one bit. I ended up using it as more of a lip stain, which worked out okay. I’m not sure how often I’ll wear it, though, because even after blotting it’s still so. dang. bright.

Crease Brush, Angled Brush, & Small Concealer Brush

from Inmo Cosmetics

You can’t buy any of these individually, but they come as part of the 12-piece “Essentials” set.

Crease Brush (top): I got one of these from ipsy recently, so this new one is going in my giveaway bag.
Angled Brush (middle): Unlike my other angled brushes, this one has shorter bristles, so it helps me apply shadow on the outer corner of my eyes with a little more control.
Concealer Brush (bottom): I don’t see myself using this very often for concealer because it’s pretty small, but it could come in handy for highlighting the inner corners of my eyes.

Wholly Addiction Eyeliner in “Shimmer Bronze”

from J.Cat Beauty

I’m reeeeeeally not a fan of regular wooden pencil eyeliners. They tug and skip, and I love a clean defined line. I just swatched this one, and then added it to the giveaway bag. Meh. Reasonable price point, at least.

Total Value: $93*

*If you go by the current website prices, the total comes out to $50.23 (I took the brush set and divided by 12 to estimate each brush’s value.) For $14.99 + shipping, those are some great savings!

Any new favorite products in February? Leave a comment, and do tell!

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!

Spoil Me Sunday: So Fresh

February 17, 2019 sarah.elizabeth614Leave a comment

Hey, y’all!

My skin has been a little red and uneven the past few days (probably not enough sleep or water), so I finally got around to trying this green tea mask that I bought a few months ago.

Green Tea Detox Mask

from Teami

Before I even peeled the foil off the top of the jar, I could already smell the fresh, clean scent of this mask–perfect for a lazy, sunny afternoon. I used my mask spatula to apply, and the coolness of the product was soooo soothing on my skin. Popped it on for 15 minutes, then gently rinsed it off with a washcloth. It would have been a lot more difficult with just my fingertips. My skin felt clean and refreshed afterwards, and the redness was visibly reduced. I went ahead and used my skin scrubber on my nose afterwards–definitely productive.

Key Ingredients:

Organic Matcha Green Tea–detoxes skin, reduces redness, and gives your skin some yummy antioxidants that help with reducing and preventing signs of aging
Lemongrass–brightens skin
Betonite & Kaolin Clays–soothe and nourish your skin

This mask is great for all skin types, and I love that it comes in a jar, which I can re-purpose when I use the product up. If you’re looking for a clay mask to try, I recommend this one.

How often do you use products that contain green tea? What are some of your favorites? Do you see a difference in your skin afterwards?

Hope you 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!

ipsy: Get 5 personalized products + a cute cosmetic bag delivered each month for only $10. You also get to enjoy to the ipsy app and website, which give you access to tutorials, articles, and ipsy Shopper.

Obsessed

February 10, 2019 sarah.elizabeth614Leave a comment

Hey y’all!

I got a new skincare product that I’ve fallen in love with and wanted to share!

Oil Obsessed® Total Cleansing Oil

from bareMinerals

I’ll be honest, I hadn’t really paid much attention to bareMinerals until recently. There was no particular reason; I think I just assumed it was another hyped up brand with a cult following. As I’ve tried their products here and there, some have been “eh” and some have been “wow.” This one falls into the “wow” category.

I started double cleansing probably about a year and a half ago now. The practice comes from Korean skincare, and it involves using a cleansing oil, balm, or micellar water to remove makeup, dirt, and debris before you cleanse your skin in the traditional sense with a water-based cleanser. Before I tried it, the term “cleansing oil” seemed like an oxymoron. The whole point of washing my face was to get the makeup and excess oil off my face. Why would I intentionally add more? After reading more in-depth about it, the idea made more sense, and I decided to give it a shot.

I started out using Love Your Bare Face Hydrating Cleansing Oil from Julep, a Korean skincare brand. (I figured a Korean brand was a good place to start.) I enjoyed it–it smelled really nice, and it left my skin feeling great. It was a little pricey, though, and it was no match for some stubborn makeup, especially some of my liquid liners. Once I used it up, I moved on to Nourishing Rose Cleansing Oil from Derma E, since I love rose scented things, it’s cruelty-free, and it had a lower price point. Unfortunately, this one was even less effective at removing my makeup, but I still used it up (I hate wasting products.)

After using up the Derma E oil, I thought about going back to Julep. It gets the job done, more or less. Then I came across this bareMinerals oil that was then on sale at Ulta. I figured, why not? At that time it was cheaper than Julep, and it was very highly reviewed. On top of that, I was getting almost twice the amount of product that I would from Julep (6 fl. oz. vs 3.5.)

I tried it for the first time last night, and we’ve found a winner. The instructions say to use 3-4 pumps, so I used 3, but it seemed like too much, so next time I’m going to try 2. The smell is really fresh and not artificially perfume-y. I massaged it into my dry skin, and my makeup didn’t stand a chance. Even my waterproof Urban Decay liquid liner (probably the most stubborn one I own) was no match. Once I had broken up all the makeup and debris, I wet my fingertips and kept massaging my face. That turned the cleansing oil into a cleansing milk emulsion. It was really easy to rinse off, and my skin felt so soft and clean afterwards. Confession: I was lazy and didn’t even follow it up with a regular cleanser. I did my regular skincare routine, and even the next afternoon my skin feels softer and more hydrated. I’m curious to see how long a bottle lasts.

Key Ingredients:

Bilberry, Borage, Cucumber, and Sunflower Oils–hydrate and nourish your skin
Sea salts–provide minerals that help refine and cleanse

If you’re looking for a cleansing oil, I highly recommend this one.

Do you double cleanse? What are some of your favorite products? Leave a comment to let me know.

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!

Yes, Oh Yas! January 2019

January 30, 2019 sarah.elizabeth614Leave a comment

Hey, ya’ll!

Lots of pretty things in my first Yes, Oh Yas! box of 2019! Let’s get right to it.

*Note: prices listed as photo captions are what I found on the respective product websites at the time of posting. Retail values below my descriptions are what was listed by Yes, Oh Yas! based on the information they received from the individual partner companies.

Longwear Matte Lipgloss in “Kiss Me”

from Beauty Creations Cosmetics

I knew I liked Beauty Creations’ eyeshadow formula, but it seems their matte liquid lipstick is a winner, too! (I don’t know why they call it a gloss, but I digress.) First of all, the color is super flattering. More importantly, though, it lasts all day! After eating beef chili for lunch, I only saw the tiiiiiniest bit of fading around the center of my mouth, but it wasn’t bad enough to warrant a touch-up. For the price point, I’d definitely recommend giving this a shot if matte liquid lippies are your jam.

Retail Value: $8 USD

10-Color OMG Eyeshadow Collection Palette

from Crown Pro

Photo of 10-Color OMG Eyeshadow Collection from Crown Brush — *$9.99; Crown Pro*

I was really torn about whether or not to keep this palette, but then I saw the richness of the colors and found it hard to resist. I’ve been receiving so many neutral and warm tone palettes lately that they’re getting a little boring. While those are useful for everyday looks, the jewel tones in this palette are difficult to turn down! I can’t wait to take them out for a test run on a weekend look. There’s a nice mix of matte and shimmers, and the pans are a pretty generous size. I did experience a little fallout with some of the more neutral shades. Sigh.

Retail Value: $10

Universe’s Star Highlighter in “Twilight”

from Inmo Beauty

While I’m generally a lover of highlighters, this one was too orange for my taste, and I’ve already got so many to get through. This one’s going into the giveaway bag! It’s a nice subtle finish–not glittery at all, just a little glow.

Retail Value: $10

Charcoal Pigment

from Appeal Cosmetics

Loose pigment eyeshadows seem to be a popular beauty box item this month, since I got one in my ipsy bag, too. This charcoal is stunning, with just the right amount of shimmer to take your classic smoky eye to the next level by adding more dimension. Even though I tapped the excess of my brush before applying, I still ended up with some fallout on my cheekbones. I guess it’s not too surprising with a loose powder eyeshadow.

Retail Value: $21

Luxury Gold Glitter Nail Lacquer

from NCLA Beauty

Just because New Year’s has passed doesn’t mean glitter season is over (is it ever, really?) Anyone who uses nail polish can always use a good gold glitter in their collection. You can use a single coat over your favorite color to make your nails pop, or you can use multiple coats alone to amp up the bling. (What you see in the picture above is one coat.) Only time will tell how the durability fares. This color is called “This is Hollywood,” but I think you can only get it as part of the Hollywood Glam duo (one silver, one gold.) It’s also currently on sale. 🙂

Retail Value: $21

Total Value: $70*

*If you go by the current website prices, the total comes out to $54.98. For $14.99 + shipping, you’re missing out if you’re not a subscriber!

Any beauty products you’re determined to try in 2019? Leave a comment to tell me about them! Maybe I’ll have to add some of them to my list. 🙂

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!

ipsy Glam Bag Review: January 2019

January 27, 2019 sarah.elizabeth614Leave a comment

Hey, y’all!

2019 is here and already speeding along. The bag itself looked a little to springy or summery for January in my opinion, but here’s what was inside!

Heavy Metal Eyeshadow in “HE-04”

from Naked Cosmetics

I tend to shy away from loose powder eyeshadows, but I have to admit that this coppery bronze is really pretty. (The color is much brighter than it looks on the Naked Cosmetics website.) There was a little fallout onto my lashes, but I dusted them off without too much trouble. This line of shadows comes in 6 shades, and the bottom of the pot is threaded to screw onto something. I assume you can take the lids off of them and just screw them together in one neat column. That could help with storage, rather than having individual pots lying around.

My Rating: 3/5

Nail Lacquer in “Feverish”

from Color Club

I’m enjoying the last of winter before central Florida starts heating up again, so I had no qualms about using this gorgeous vampy red when I got a pedicure this past week. Professionals always do it better, so we’ll see how well this polish holds up. I probably would have only done one coat if I were doing it myself, but the nail tech did two (maybe that’s why professional pedis last longer…) I love that this company was founded by women and creates everything in NYC. Get it, ladies!

My Rating: 5/5

Pumpkin Turmeric 2-in-1 Radiance Polishing Mask

from Yensa

I tried this mask for a Spoil Me Sunday recently and fell in love. You can read all out it here.

My Rating: 5/5

1010 Small Contour Brush

from Luxie Beauty

It’s odd that I can’t find this brush anywhere on the Luxie website. Based on the other brushes in the Pro Tools Collection, I’m going to guess this one would run somewhere around $30-$35. It’s cruelty-free and vegan, and the bristles are super soft. I prefer my e.l.f. brush for applying contour, but this smaller brush is great for highlighting.

My Rating: 4/5

Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15 in “Light Neutral”

from Tarte Cosmetics

Since my skin has cleared up, I’ve been using pressed powder foundation instead of liquid full-coverage. I tested this one out, though, and it was nice. It wasn’t cakey, it lasted all day, and the color was spot-on. Definitely worth keeping in my makeup cabinet for when I need more coverage.

My Rating: 4/5

This month’s bag had an average rating of 4.2. I’d say 2019 is off to a good start. Was January good to you as far as your beauty subscriptions were concerned? Let me know in the comments!

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!

Spoil Me Sunday: Polish, Spice, and Everything Nice

January 13, 2019 sarah.elizabeth6141 Comment

Hey, y’all!

I got this mask in my January ipsy bag, and I was totally excited to try it out.

Pumpkin Turmeric 2-in-1 Radiance Polishing Mask

from Yensa

Turmeric is a great part of a healthy diet: it’s an excellent source of manganese, iron, fiber, potassium, Vitamin B6, magnesium, and Vitamin C. Did you know it can do wonders for your skin, too? Benefits include:

Anti-inflammation–reduces redness and calms skin conditions like eczema and rosacea
Antiseptic–helps to stop spread of bacteria, so it can help control acne
Reduces dark circles–stimulates circulation
Fights UV damage–improves appearance of fine lines and brown spots; improves elasticity loss caused by long-term sun exposure (that doesn’t mean you can skin on your sunscreen, though!)
Treats and prevents stretch marks–improves the function of skin membrane cells
Improves dry skin–speeds up the removal of dead skin cells and protects healthy cells from future damage

In other words, we can all afford to get a little more turmeric in our lives!

This mask is packed with great-for-you ingredients that will make your skin glow:

Pumpkin–boosts collagen production
Turmeric–(see list above)
Papaya–helps reduce discolorization
Grapefruit–brightens skin
Ginger–evens skin tone
Carrot–packed with Vitamin C and Beta-carotene, which your body converts to Vitamin A
Honey–anti-bacterial and soothing properties
Orange–more Vitamin C, plus citric acid to exfoliate

This mask had me at hello. It has a gel texture with lots of exfoliating granules (I think it’s cocoa shell powder.) I could smell the cinnamon, too, which reminded me of ExfoliKate. After washing your face, leave your skin damp, and massage a thin layer of the mask all over. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes (I did 10), then wet your fingers with warm water and massage the mask into your skin for 30 seconds before rinsing off.

My skin felt so clean, refreshed, smooth, and soft afterwards. I have a painful pimple on my upper lip right now, and I’m hoping that this mask plus my skin scrubber tonight will help me get rid of it. I would definitely recommend this mask if you’re looking for one product to address multiple skin issues.

Have you used skincare products with turmeric before? What did you think? Tell me about your favorite in the comments! Hope you 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!