ipsy Glam Bag Review: May 2018

May 31, 2018 sarah.elizabeth6142 Comments

Hey, y’all!

I look forward to that pretty pink mailer envelope every month! This month’s theme was “Go There.” The bag is a cute faux leather with passport stamps all over one side. It reminded me how excited I am for our belated honeymoon in Ireland this fall! I don’t know about you, but our travel bucket list is long; Ireland is just the tip of the iceberg. Well, enough about #travelgoals–let’s jump into the goodies inside the bag!

Style Sepia French Garden Gel-Liner with Diamond in “Jardin”

from Touch in Sol

If I’m not using liquid liner, gel is my next choice, and I tend to be a pretty big fan of Korean beauty products. Those Koreans know their stuff! ipsy describes the shade as a “rich brown with subtle green shimmer.” I didn’t really notice the green shimmer until I was taking it off, but that’s fine with me. It goes on smoothly and stays put really well. The color wasn’t intense enough for my taste, but the formula is good; maybe I’d like black better. What can I say? I’ll always be a die-hard liquid liner gal through and through.

My Rating: 4/5

Sparkle Everyday Glam Beauty Sponge

from SLMISSGLAM

The shape of this sponge makes it very versatile, but all in all I was left unimpressed. The size is adorable, but it makes it difficult to use the various surfaces effectively. It seems to stain really easily; no matter how much I washed it, I couldn’t get all the foundation out. I’ll probably toss this in my travel makeup bag as a backup, but I don’t see this little sponge being worth the price. I’m much more impressed by Real Technique’s sponges, and they’re a much more reasonable price point.

My Rating: 2/5

Moisture Healing Mask Argan Oil Formula: Coconut Scent

from Nelson J Beverly Hills

This is the reason why my bag smelled like coconut as soon as I took it out of the mailer envelope (no, it didn’t leak), and I’m not mad about it. The coconut scent was divine and gave me total summer vibes. According to the website, the mask has 7 benefits:

Detangles
Controls frizz
Prevents hair color fading
Seals split ends
Protects from chlorine & salt water
Restores silkiness & shine
Enhances hair natural body

I’d say it did those things, but I can’t speak to some of them. I don’t color my hair, I don’t have any split ends because I got a trim recently, and I haven’t been in any chlorinated or salt water. There wasn’t anything about it that stood out to me over any other hair mask I’ve owned or tried, but it did the job. With all of the hair masks I already have, I don’t feel the need to purchase the full-size of this one, but this sample size will be another great addition to my travel bag.

My Rating: 3/5

Centella 65 Green Tea Pack

from PureHeals by Nature Village

I used this for Spoil Me Sunday recently, and you can read my full review here.

TL;DR: You can buy this at Ulta, and I’m totally planning on it.

My Rating: 5/5

Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder

from Tarte Cosmetics

This is a really nice translucent powder; I like to use it to set my eyeshadow primer so I get the smoothest possible eyeshadow application with the boldest color. It works well as an overall finishing powder, too, of course, because it minimizes the appearance of pores and doesn’t have any flashback. I find it odd that it’s nowhere to be found on the Tarte website, but it’s available at Ulta and Sephora. Who knows? Anyway, I still prefer my Becca Under Eye Setting Powder to set my under eye concealer because of the brightening effect. When I run out of my CoverFX translucent powder, I’d consider switching to this Tarte powder for setting the rest of my face, though. I like that it has a little bit of a finer texture, so it gives me a softer finish.

My Rating: 5/5

This month’s bag had an average rating of 3.8. Have you tried any of these products? Are you interested in any of them?

What did you get in your subscription box(es) this month? Any new favorites? Tell me all about ’em!

Love,

Sarah xoxo

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Spoil Me Sunday: Sea Salt and Vinegar

May 27, 2018 sarah.elizabeth6142 Comments

Hey, y’all!

Nope, I’m not talking about potato chip flavors, I’m talking about haircare–Himalayan Pink Sea Salt and Apple Cider Vinegar, to be exact. I got this sample a couple of weeks ago and was curious to try it out.

Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Scrub

from dpHUE

This scrub has 4 simple ingredients:

Apple Cider Vinegar
Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
Avocado Oil
Aloe Vera

Just rub 1-2 tablespoons between your hands and then work it into your scalp, starting from your hairline to the middle of your head and then from the bottom up. This scrub gets rid of dead skin cells and product buildup without stripping your scalp of its natural sebum. Your hair can only be as healthy as your scalp. I don’t dye my hair, but if you do, this product also helps balance your hair’s pH after color treatment and helps the color last.

I was afraid it would leave my hair smelling like vinegar, but the smell rinsed away completely and left my scalp feeling incredibly clean. I used it after shampooing and conditioning, but the instructions didn’t specify whether to do it before or after. The only drawback for me was that the price point seems a little steep for just those 4 ingredients. I found a somewhat similar recipe for a DIY scrub here that I’m going to try out. I don’t mind a little DIY to save at least $30! Happy scalp, happy wallet, happy Sarah. 🙂

Do you have a favorite scalp scrub product or recipe? Do tell!

Love,

Sarah xoxo

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Yes, Oh Yas! May 2018

May 26, 2018 sarah.elizabeth6141 Comment

Hey, y’all!

The theme for this month’s Yes, Oh Yas! box was “Miami Art Deco”. I got 5 full-size products this month, and I was pumped to try them out. This month’s products gave me total beach vibes and made me want to at least sit poolside with a fancy drink in my hand.

*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!

Liquid Lipstick with LED Light

from Cosmoholic

I thought having LED lights built into the wand was really clever, and the mirror built into the tube was also smart. The color wasn’t indicated anywhere on the tube that I could find, but in looking at the website, I’m assuming the color I got was “Prudish Pink.” I’ll admit I only swatched this product; as soon as I realized it was a lip gloss consistency, I wasn’t interested. I prefer matte finish liquid lipstick; I haven’t been a fan of lip gloss since middle school. Not saying this is a bad product, just not my thing personally, so I’ll be giving this away.

If lip gloss is your thing, you should definitely check this product out. It has some ingredients that your lips will love:

Vitamins C & E–antioxidants to protect skin from environmental damage
Jojoba–moisturizes chapped lips
Macadamia Nut Oil–full of antioxidants and fatty acids that moisturize
Green Tea–more antioxidants!

This product can be worn on its own, over lipstick, or even as a blush, according to the product website.

Retail Value: $25

Havana Eyeshadow in “Playa”

from Nomad Cosmetics

This eyeshadow is absolutely gorgeous. It’s a beautiful golden shimmer that’s universally flattering, and I love that it works well as a highlighter, too! It has Papaya Seed Oil in it to nourish your skin and help the color stay vibrant. The packaging had a classy luxe feel to it, although it is a little bulky.

I didn’t experience any fallout while using this product, which is always wonderful. This is perfect for wearing to work because I can just wear it alone for a nice subtle look, but I can also use it to highlight a more dramatic look on weekends. Versatility always earns points in my book! Cruelty-free and vegan, too? Yes, please!

Retail Value: $18*

*Not sure how to explain the $6 discrepancy, but not a huge deal.

Dew Me Baked Highlighter in “Afterglow”

from Estate Cosmetics

I’m a sucker for a good highlighter, and this one is gorgeous. I was afraid this shimmery purplish pink might be a little much for wearing to work, but if I go easy on it, it’s perfect. It blends easily, isn’t glittery, and gives my cheekbones a lovely glow.

Retail Value: $12*

*Maybe that’s including sales tax?

Smearproof Eyeliner in “Charcoal”

from Sormé Cosmetics

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a liquid liner kind of girl. I like the crispness of the line and the color intensity, plus I like not having to worry about sharpening it. I gave this a shot anyway; the square shape reminded me of some professional colored pencils I’ve seen before at the art supply store.

The color is a lovely deep charcoal, and the formula is really creamy and goes on smoothly. It has Vitamins C & E to nourish skin, as well as Lecithin to prevent dryness. It’s waterproof and smearproof, which means it lasts all day. My only complaint is that it’s difficult to keep it sharpened to continually be able to draw a precise line. I don’t know if it’s the creaminess of the formula or the square shape of the pencil, but it kept breaking off as I sharpened it. I can sort of make it work, but if I want a charcoal eyeliner, I’m pretty sure I’ll find myself reaching for my liquid liner most of the time.

Retail Value: $18*

*You can’t buy directly from their website, but they direct you to third party sellers. Maybe this seller in particular just gives a better deal.

Lip Pencil in “Retro Red”

from Laritzy Cosmetics

A good red lip liner and the perfect red lipstick are two staple items in almost anyone’s makeup collection. This pencil has a nice creamy formula that applies easily. It’s pigmented enough to be worn on its own or as a base for lipstick. I don’t know if I like it better than my Clinique Quickliner in “Intense Cranberry,” but this one is brighter, so it works better for some of my brighter reds (I own 5). I don’t get to wear red lipstick that often because I try to wear more subtle shades to work, but on the weekends, anything goes!

Retail Value: $18

Total Package Value: $91*

*If you go off of website prices, it’s $76.98, but that’s still a heck of a value for $14.99!

I loved getting to try 5 new brands for the first time! Have you tried any of these products before? If not, are there any you want to try?

Hope you’re having a great weekend!

Love,

Sarah xoxo

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Spoil Me Sunday: The Answer is in the Tea Leaves

May 20, 2018May 20, 2018 sarah.elizabeth6141 Comment

Hey, y’all!

It’s been raining a lot for the past week here in Orlando, and in addition to making my old back injury hurt, this weather makes me sleepy and a little lazy. I was excited to try out the mask I got in my ipsy bag this month while I was hanging around the house.

Centella 65 Green Tea Pack

from PureHeals by Nature Village

My skin is healing from some hormonal breakouts, so I was all about a calming mask. I’m a huge fan of green tea when it comes to drinking it, as well as in my skincare products. The antioxidants are so good for your skin, and their anti-aging benefits are nothing to sneeze at. Some of the active ingredients include:

65% pure Centella Asiatica extract–helps to reduce redness
Kaolin Clay–balances oil production without drying
Green Tea Leaves–tighten skin and soften fine lines thanks to antioxidants
Salicylic Acid–fades blemishes, exfoliates skin, reduces inflammation
Glycolic Acid–exfoliates skin, anti-aging benefits

When I opened the sample pod, all I smelled was green tea. No perfumes, no artificial fragrances–it was perfect. I used my mask spatula to apply it evenly all over my face and then let it sit for about 15 minutes. It felt really refreshing and left my skin feeling hydrated after I washed it off. The tea leaves did make it a little tricky to rinse off, so I used a washcloth.

When I was looking up where I can buy the full-size product, I was glad to see that it’s available online from Ulta and that it comes in a jar that I assume is recyclable. I can’t find any concrete information on whether or not this brand is cruelty-free, so that’s still a question I have.

Have you tried any products from PureHeals before? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Have a great week!

Love,

Sarah xoxo

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Spoil Me Sunday: Spoiled Rotten

May 13, 2018 sarah.elizabeth6142 Comments

Hey, y’all!

After a long week, I was excited to do some head-to-toe pampering this weekend. I picked up this $25 Spoiled Rotten At-Home Pampering Kit from Patchology for 30% off during 21 Days of Beauty at Ulta. I don’t see this particular kit on the Patchology website, but they have lots of others to choose from. This kit includes 1 of each:

FlashPatch Rejuvenating 5-Minute Eye Gels

I started out with the eye gels and the lip gels at the same time. The instructions say to leave them on for 5 minutes or a little longer, if you want. I did 10, but I noticed that they were starting to dry out. Once you remove the gels, gently pat any remaining serum into your skin. Active ingredients include:

Caffeine–improves circulation to brighten and reduce puffiness
Sodium Hyaluronate–helps skin retain moisture
Centella Asiatica–encourages collagen synthesis while preventing inflammation
Hydrolyzed Collagen–improves skin hydration, elasticity, tone, and density
Portulaca Oleracea Extract–rich in Vitamin C and Omega3s, so it brightens.

There’s a fine silver glitter inside of the gels, which was pretty, and the cooling sensation was heavenly. I like that they’re also reversible, so you can put the wide part on the inside or outside of your eyes, depending on whether you’re trying to target crow’s feet or undereye bags.

I loved the product, but I hate how much packaging is involved. It seemed wasteful, and it wasn’t recyclable, plus the gels then need to be disposed of, as well. I’m trying to become a more conscious consumer. Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad if you got the jar of 30 pairs instead of the individually wrapped pairs.

FlashPatch Hydrating Lip Gels

I left the lip gel on for 10 minutes, as well, and noticed it starting to dry out, too. I would recommend maybe 7 minutes. Just like with the eye gels, gently pat any remaining serum into your skin after removing the lip gel. Active ingredients include:

Peptides–soften fine lines and wrinkles
Green Tea Extract–antioxidant and soothing properties
Niacinamide–fatty acid that helps skin retain moisture

There was a pretty pink glitter inside of the lip gel, and it was so soothing on my skin! I loved this product, too, but hated the amount of packaging. At least the lip gels are biodegradable, which doesn’t appear to hold true for the eye gels. Maybe the packaging wouldn’t be as bad with the jar of 24; I’m not sure if there are plastic dividers in between.

FlashMasque Illuminate 5-Minute Sheet Mask

After the eye and lip gels, I moved on to the sheet mask. It was one of those cloth sheet masks, rather than gel, so it didn’t stay adhered to all the contours of my face. It didn’t have a protective film, so that was at least less waste, even if it meant it was a little tougher to unfold. It had a clean scent to it that wasn’t overpowering. Active ingredients include:

Licorice Extract–brightens and evens skin tone
Grapefruit Seed Extract–provides antioxidants

You only have to leave it on for 5 minutes, but I did 10 for this one, too. Afterwards my skin looked revitalized and felt hydrated. This was a nice mask, but I’m gravitating away from sheet masks because of how wasteful they are. I’m going to try to purchase masks that come in (preferably recyclable) jars and tubes in the future, rather than single-use masks.

PoshPeel Exfoliating Pedi Cure

Photo of Poshpeel Pedi Cure Treatment from Patchology — *$20 per treatment or $35 for 2; Patchology*

It was time to move on to my feet, and because I go barefoot so much with aerial, they need some help. This treatment was interesting. It comes with a pair of plastic Foot Masque Socks that have a cotton lining and two packets of Activating Essence (one for each foot). You empty one packet into a Sock, distribute the treatment evenly throughout, then put it on your foot. There’s an adhesive strip attached to the Sock that you remove the backing from to be able to cinch it around your ankle. Active ingredients include:

Glycolic Acid–penetrates skin to exfoliate
Salicylic Acid–softens and removes dead skin cells
Lactic Acid–hydrates and encourages skin to slough off
Citric Acid–helps speed up new cell turnover
Botanical Extracts–brighten skin

Sit back and relax for at least 60 minutes while the ingredients go to work, but you can leave it on for up to 90 minutes, which I did. Progressive peeling will take place over the next 3-7 days, so we’ll see how that goes. My feet do feel softer already, but my heels are still pretty tough, so the jury is still out. One thing I noticed is that it caused some of my toenail polish to peel off. Not a huge deal because I’m overdue to give myself a pedicure anyway, but just something to keep in mind.

Overall, I really liked the products in this kit, but the amount of packaging and waste left me feeling guilty, so I’m honestly not sure if I’d repurchase. How much does environmentality factor into your beauty purchases? What are some great eco-friendly brands you’ve found? I’d love to hear about them!

Have a great week!

Love,

Sarah xoxo

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Spoil Me Sunday: Green Tea

May 6, 2018 sarah.elizabeth614Leave a comment

Hey, y’all!

This week left me exhausted to the point where I slept for 15 hours last night. I had planned to give myself a pedicure and do a mini spa day, but waking up at 2pm didn’t give me much time, so I tried out a new mask instead.

7th Heaven Green Tea Peel-Off Mask

from Montagne Jeunesse

Some of the key ingredients in this mask include:

Ginger–anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and antibacterial properties
Lemon–antibacterial and antiseptic properties, plus brightens skin
Green Tea–antioxidants to protect skin from free radicals

Thanks to these ingredients, the mask had a very clean scent and left my skin feeling refreshed after I took it off. My one complaint about it is that the consistency is very runny for a peel-off mask. It got drippy around my jawline, and it ended up running into my eyebrows. Considering all of the other peel masks I’ve tried and liked, I don’t think I’d repurchase this one. I’ve liked the other masks I’ve tried from this brand, the 2-in-1 being my favorite. This one just didn’t quite do it for me.

Do you like peel-off masks? What’s your favorite?

Have a great week!

Love,

Sarah

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Ulta Beauty Haul: April 2018

May 3, 2018 sarah.elizabeth614Leave a comment

Hey, y’all!

This month I needed to restock on a couple of items, but I also wanted to try out some new products, and I’m pretty excited!

Skincare

completely SMOOTH Moisturizing No-Bump Shave Gel

from Completely Bare

I used to shave using baby oil, but it would make my shower-tub really slippery, which became a safety hazard. I’ve been using this shave gel religiously for about 9 months now, and I absolutely love it. The aloe vera, jojoba oil, and other botanical extracts prevent razor burn far better than any shaving foam or gel/foam I’ve tried. A tube lasts me about 3 months, and it doesn’t leave any annoying residue in my shower. I absolutely love this shave gel, especially for the price point and the fact that it’s vegan and cruelty-free!

don’t grow THERE Body Moisturizer & Hair Inhibitor

from Completely Bare

This sample came with the shave gel, and I’m looking forward to trying it out! It’s vegan and cruelty-free, and it uses natural ingredients to reduce hair length, thickness, and growth. The lemongrass and tea tree scent sounds wonderful, too. I’ll keep you posted!

Superfruit Complex Bubble Bath & Body Wash

from Shea Moisture

I love Shea Moisture body washes; I’ve been using the African Water Mint & Ginger Detox and like it, but I wanted to get something a little more moisturizing. This one caught my eye. The combination of shea and mango butter sounds heavenly, along with fruit extracts and green coffee bean extract to improve skin elasticity and radiance. Can’t wait to try it out!

Makeup

Under Eye Brightening Setting Powder

from Becca Beauty

I’ve seen several beauty gurus on Youtube talk about how much they love this product. My baking powder seems to be a little too heavy for under my eyes, so I figured I’d give this a try. It’s light-weight and infused with pearl powders to give some nice reflection. It’s definitely lighter weight than my baking powder, but it still settles into the little creases under my eyes, just not as bad or as quickly. Le sigh. Still a fan, though.

Hair Care

Biolage Cleansing Conditioner for Damaged Hair

from Matrix

I work out rigorously 6 days a week to the point where dry shampoo doesn’t cut it, so I’ve been washing my hair 6 days a week, even though I know it’s bad for my hair. I didn’t know what else to do to get my scalp clean after all that sweat. Then I read about cleansing conditioner, which sounded like exactly what my hair needed. I’ve enjoyed other products I’ve gotten from the Biolage line, so I picked this one up. I absolutely love it!! The mango seed oil and ceramides help give my hair the moisture it needs to shine, and the mango scent is fantastic. It left my hair feeling silky smooth, even after blow drying. I’m planning to go to shampooing once or twice a week and using this one the other days. Love, love, love!

No-Poo Original Zero Lather Conditioning Cleanser

from DevaCurl

While I was at it, I also decided to pick up a travel size of this cleansing conditioner. I don’t have curly hair per se; it’s more just randomly wavy. Still, I figured it couldn’t hurt. I love this even more than the Biolage. My hair felt amazing after blow drying, and it smelled like roses, even almost 24 hours later. I felt like a weirdo because I realized I was sitting in a meeting sniffing my hair without even realizing it. Oops! lol

I’ll probably go with a full size of this once I use up the Biolage. The only hesitation I have is the price point. Vegan plus sulfate, paraben, silicone, and cruelty-free! Some things are worth a little extra…

What lovely things did you pick up in April? Any new favorites? 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!