March 2016 Boxycharm Unboxing!

I skipped last months Boxycharm, but with a few sneak peaks into this months box, I just HAD to get it! Boxycharm usually gives you 4-5 full size products for only $21 a month, and it's definitely one of the better value subscription boxes out there.

Let's take a look!

I was so excited to see that we got not one, but TWO Makeup Geek Shadows!!! I've always wanted to try Makeup Geek shadows, and now I finally get to. I got the shades Cupcake, a matte mauve pink, and Shimma Shimma, a shimmery champagne. Both are beautiful, have great pigmentation and seem really blendable. Cupcake would make an excellent transition shade in the crease and Shimma Shimma would be good for inner corner, brow bone highlight and all over lid pop of shimmer. 

I also got a Luxie 512 Small Contour Brush! This brush is sooo soft and one of the prettiest brushes I own. I probably won't use it for contour because I like using bigger brushes, but I'll probably use it for blending out concealer or even using it to highlight.

I also got a full size Chella Tantalizing Taupe Eyebrow Pencil, Clarks Botanicals Anti-Puff Eye Cream, and a travel size Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris Perfume. 

I'm meh about the perfume just because I'm so tired of getting it, but at least it's a decent size and smells nice, like a light mix of citrus and floral. I've gotten Chella products before and I've liked them, so I'm stoked about this pencil! The color is a good match for me and the formula is on the waxy side, but I prefer that over too creamy a formula. 

I'm real excited for the eye cream though! It's a giant size, has a pump and seems like it'll be super nourishing and moisturizing without being too thick. Allergy season is upon us, and if it combats puffy eyes like it's supposed to this will definitely come in handy!

Like I've said, Boxycharm is probably my favorite, and I'm loving almost everything I got this month (minus the perfume).

What did you love in your Boxycharm this month?

xoxo

Jessica

Ipsy March 2016 Unboxing! #HelloSpring

Hey guys! As you may have noticed (or not), I kind of took a 2 week break from posting. Sometimes, life gets in the way and I was having a hard time finding time just to sit down and write a post, let alone take decent photos with so many thing happening in my life at once. That in combination with feeling pretty uninspired, I decided to take a little break. Hopefully I can get back into my groove of posting at least on the weekends.

Anyways, let's see what I got in my Ipsy bag this month!

It certainly is starting to feel like spring here in the PNW, and this spring themed bag is super adorable. I was so excited to see this Pixi by Petra Beauty Blush Duo in Rose Gold. One half is a gorgeous rose gold blush with a slight sheen, and the other side is a champagne highlight with amazing pigmentation. 

The blush however, I could not for the life of me get it to show up on my skin; and I have pretty light skin. Also, I use a pretty big blush brush so it was hard to fit my brush into the pan to just pick up the blush. So the blush is a little disappointing for me, but the highlight is on point. If you swirl them together, it's a beautiful rose gold highlight that I also enjoy! 

I'm not a fan of eyeliners in my boxes/bags because I get so many, but this Skone Insanely Intense Tattoo Liner in Jet Black is a pretty nice felt tip liner! I rarely wear eyeliner, but when I do I prefer felt tip ones to draw out my wing if I'm doing winged liner, and then fill it in with gel. It's super black and seems easy to work with, so I'm excited to try it out! 

swatches on swatches on swatches

I wish we got fluffier eye shadow brushes in our bags instead of your typical packing on color brushes, like this Beau Gachis Paris Eye Shadow Brush. This brush though is insanely soft, which actually surprised me because it kind of looks like a cheaper brush. I might end up using this after all, because I was thinking about passing this on to my sister.

The NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Pink Lust I will be passing on however because hot ass pink magenta is not my color. The formula seems nice and creamy, but I prefer reds, corals and deeper shades for my bold lip choices. I might have to pick up a different shade on my own to really give this formula a try.

Lastly, I got another Marc Anthony product, this time the Argan Oil of Morocco 3 Day Smooth Perfect Blow Out Smoothing Cream. What a name! I usually enjoy Marc Anthony products, so I'll start incorporating this into my hair routine before I blow dry to help tame my frizz and report back.

That's it for Ipsy! Not too bad, but I wasn't super thrilled with the products, mainly the lip color and disappointed with the blush pigmentation. 

What did you get this month?

xoxo

Jessica

Shadows To Make Your Eyes Standout

Choosing eye shadows based on eye color isn't anything new, and they even sell specially designed shadow quads and palettes for specific eye color. There is something magical when certain shadows are paired with the right eye color and makes your eyes the center of attention. Here are a few 'secret weapon' shades to make your eyes pop based on your eye color!

Secret Weapon for Brown Eyes: Purples, Emerald Green, and Cobalt Blue

Brown eyes are neutral, so us brown eyed gals can pretty much wear anything! But vibrant jewel toned shadows like purples, cobalt blue, and emerald green look especially gorgeous and make those brown eyes standout. Golds, pinks and golds also pair well!

I have a bunch of single shadows from Coastal Scents in a palette that are pretty much a brown eyed girls dream, complete with browns, purples, copper and a pop of green. I also love the Jordana 12 HR Made To Last Shadow Pencil in Endless Emerald and Prolong Purple because they have great pigmentation, staying power and lovely colors. I also have a sample of the Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Electric Blue, which adds a pop of color to the waterline and is creamy enough to put all over the lid. 

Secret Weapon for Green Eyes: Pinks, Mauve, Plums, Rose Gold

Want to make your green eyes be the center of attention? Wear pink shades, mauve and rose golds shades to compliment your green tones! The combination creates a soft, romantic look, and these shades don't overshadow green eyes. The Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette ( a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 3) has a bunch of beautiful pink, mauve and rose gold tones. The L'Oreal Infallible Shadow in Amber Rush would look stunning all over the lid for a metallic sheen! Earthy brown shadows also compliment green eyes nicely.

Secret Weapon for Blue Eyes: Reds, Oranges and Coppers

I am so jealous of you blue eyed girls because reds, oranges and coppers look absolutely STUNNING! The opposite of blue on the color wheel is orange, so it makes sense that these shades would compliment blue eyes. The Lime Crime Venus: The Grunge Palette is practically made for blue eyes with rusty reds, maroons, oranges and pinks. NYX Prismatic Shadow in Fireball is an amazing metallic red, and Colour Pop Shadow in Game Face is an amazing orange copper (totally forgot to include it in pictures). I love these types of shades, but reds are hard to pull of with my brown eyes without looking like I have pink eye.

Secret Weapon for Hazel Eyes: Plums, Purples, Browns

Whenever I see my hazel friend wear plum shadow, I cannot stop staring at her eyes. The plum purples emphasizes the green tones in hazel eyes so well! A, absolutely gorgeous combo. The Coastal Scents Revealed 2 also comes in handy because it not only has pinks and mauves, but a few deeper plum shades which the Naked 3 doesn't have. This Luxie Single Shadow in No. 290 is plum brown that would also pair well with hazel eyes! 

This isn't an exhaustive list obviously, but just a few shades that I find pair well with each eye color. But remember, these are not hard rules but suggestions. If you have blue eyes and want to wear green shadow, or have brown eyes and want to wear red shadow, go for it! If you like it, that's all that matters. :)

What are your favorite shadow/eye color combos?

xoxo

Jessica 

Products I've Used Up #4

Daaaammmnn Jessica... back at it again with another empties post! That #DamnDaniel video just lights up my life in a ridiculous, stupid way. Anyways, I have another round of products that I finished this month to share with you all and share my thoughts on them!

Enjoy!

I finished 2 hair staples, my John Freida Frizz Ease Dream Curls Spray and Macadamia Oil Flawless Cleansing Conditioner. I'm always repurchasing these two! The curl spray helps define my looser waves/curls and protects from heat at the same time. The cleansing conditioner is great for in between shampoos, is very moisturizing and cuts down on blow dry time!

The Catwalk Curlesque Strong Hold Mousse I got on sale at Ulta for, I'm not kidding, $1.97 when it's usually $19. My mind was blown, and kept asking the lady at the register if that was right, and surely it was. It's a pretty good, strong hold mousse that locks in my curls, but I probably won't repurchase again since it's usually so expensive. As for the Silk 18 Conditioner from Maple Holistics, I was sent it for my consideration and it's just an okay condition with nothing super special about it.

On to makeup!

My tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara is pretty much gone, so I decided to just toss it. I like it, but I bought it because it was half price online during a sale. I don't like spending more than $10 on mascara since the drugstore does it so well. Sadly, my tiny sample of benefit Gimme Brow is empty. I loved this product for filling in my brows quickly because of the tiny brush and fiber formula. it definitely is on my wishlist to get the full size! I also finished my Nyx Micro Brow Pencil in Taupe, which I've really loved up until discovering the L'Oreal Brow Stylist. It's more on the waxy side and comes in a variety of shades. If I can't find the Brow Stylist, this is my second favorite.

 Lastly, I squeezed out the rest of my L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation in 102 Shell Beige, an oily skin girls dream. It's got great coverage and helps my skin look flawless ALL DAY with minimal shine. However, their color selection is not that great for lighter skinned gals because the lightest shades are pretty pink toned that look a tiny bit off with my yellow/neutral undertones. But I do love this foundation regardless and it mixes well with other foundations.

What did you use up this month?

xoxo

Jessica

February 2016 Favorites!

Hey guys! I'm getting a jump start on my favorites this month, and reflecting back on what I loved during the short month of February, there were only a few standout items. Let's go through my favorites shall we?

Let me just say that Wet n' Wild is SLAYING right now with their products. I've been loving the newly reformulated Wet n' Wild Contouring Palette in Dulce de Leche and Wet n' Wild Coloricon Blush in Rose Champagne. These matte contour powders are way more pigmented and blendable than the originals, but still kick up a ton of powder. I don't mind, but they do get messy. I haven't played with the actual contour shade much, but the beige highlight shade I've been using everyday to highlight my face and help lighten if I went a little too H.A.M with my bronzer. The pan is a gigantic size for under $5! Uh, yes please.

I've also finally found a use for my EcoTools Complexion Collection Mattifying Finish Brush that has just been sitting in my collection forever! It surprisingly makes a fantastic contour brush believe it or not. The bristles are shaped kind of like a duo fiber/ stippling brush, so it doesn't pick up too much pigment all at once to help diffuse and blend my contour powders right under my cheek bones for a softer look. It's especially handy for powders that are darker and super pigmented, like my theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer that you can go overboard quickly on. It's my favorite contour brush at the moment.

Excuse the dirty brush though...

Back to the new blush; it's a gorgeous shade! A shimmery satin muted rose gold blush that literally goes with everything since it's a more natural looking blush. It looks pretty boring in the pan, but it's so beautiful on the skin. The formulation is different though, and is less pigmented than the OG Coloricon Blushes. But now they kick up less powder while still delivering buildable color, compared to before when you barely had to dip your brush into the pan. Some are disappointed that they changed the original formula since it was already awesome ( I have the old Pearlescent Pink Blush that I love), but I still like it! I'm less likely to apply too much now.

I've re-discovered my L'Oreal Infallible Shadow in Iced Latte, and found a new love, the L'Oreal Brow Stylist Brow Pencil in Dark Brunette. Guys, the L'Oreal Infallible shadows don't get nearly the love they deserve because they truly are some of the best shadows I've come across AND they are from the drugstore! The shade Iced Latte is a stunning champagne shade that I've been wearing constantly. It brightens the eye and has a metallic sheen while not being too over the top. Loooooove it.

The Brow Stylist is my favorite go to brow pencil now because it's creamy, pigmented and so easy to use with the skinny tip that allows for precise application with a convenient spooly on the other end. It's also a neutral/cool brown that isn't too dark! Hallelujah!

Top: Iced Latte, Rose Champagne, Contour and Highlight 

What were your favorites this month?

xoxo

Jessica

The Brow Age: Favorite Products for Better Brows

Creating the best brows has become an obsession in the makeup world, thanks to the comeback of the bold brow. Not only are thicker brows cool again (thank god), but well shaped and defined brows are the name of the game. But how to get brows that are 'on point' or 'on fleek' can be difficult, and Instagram brows aren't always the best in everyday, real life. I've gathered up some of my brow must haves to create better brows that are still on the natural side.

Grooming your brows with help a lot in the process of filling them in but can lead to disastrous results if you aren't careful! I generally tweeze the crazy stray hairs first and then carefully tweeze under the brow to help create my desired shape. What helps me a lot is tweezing a little up close and then stepping back to look in a mirror from farther away, that way I stop when I need to and don't over tweeze. Besides, not many people are going to be looking at your brows from that close anyways and will be looking at them farther away. 

I also cut super long hairs by brushing my brow hair up and cutting it straight across using small manicure scissors I have on hand. You can go out and buy brow trimmers, but I already have these and they work just fine. This is especially nice for trimming the front hairs so when I comb them up straight, they fit into the brow shape I want.

Definitely follow your natural brow shape though, because if you try to drastically change your brows it tends to look weird and is a pain in the ass to deal with when hairs grow back (or don't) in my opinion.

There are sooo many brow products available now, and great ones in the drugstore! You are bound to find the method that works for you, but it may take some experimenting and practice to figure it out. For those that just want their hairs to stay in place and just need basic shaping, waxes and brow gels are the way to go. This NYX Eyebrow Shaper Wax Pencil is great for taming those pesky hairs that don't want to stay down. My favorite brow gel at the moment is the NYX Control Freak Clear Brow Gel which I use to set my brow at the end or on it's own on really light, natural days. Colored or tinted brow gels are also an amazing option for filling in your brows and holding them in one easy step. 

Wanting some more shape or need some serious filling in? Pencil, powder or pomade is your best bet. I find that powders are easiest to work with personally, and better for those just beginning to fill in their brows. I've been using this Bodyography Essential Brow Trio and Brow Brush that I got in a Boxycharm a while back. The powders are a good color, meaning it doesn't pull too red and isn't too dark, and blend well into my brow. Having a nice angled brow brush and spooly is a MUST because it helps spread out the product and helps you avoid a too harsh of a brow. Thankfully their are now may cheaper options at the drugstore for around $5-$7! For days I'm in a rush, powder is my go-to.

For me, pencil is a little more time consuming and requires a little more practice to use but defines the brow better. I've fallen in love with the new L'Oreal Brow Stylist Definer in Dark Brunette! It has kicked my NYX Micro Brow out of first place because it's a little creamier, softer and has more pigment with a better spooly on the other side. HIGHLY recommend it! 

Honestly, I've been too scared to try a pomade because I feel like I would make my brows too hardcore and end up looking crazy. One day I will get the courage to try it out! I usually use a combination of all these products, and often switch back and forth between pencil and powder depending on my mood. I am still trying to master my brows and figure out the best way to fill them in. So if you feel like you struggle with your brows, you aren't alone! If you are a brow wizard, please teach me your ways.

And I'll just leave this meme here...

Source

What are your favorite brow products? Got useful tips and tricks up your sleeve? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Jessica

Ipsy February 2016 Unboxing! Pretty In #IpsyPink

My Ipsy is here! And of course, this month has a cute Valentine's Day theme bag. Cute! Let's take a look at what's inside my Febraury Ipsy bag!

I received...

Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in I'm Kind of a Big Deal

Margaret Dabbs London Miniature Crystal Nail File

Naked Cosmetics Mica Pigment in Sierra Nevada

VINTAGE by Jessica Liebeskind Sparkling Lip Gloss in Pink Sequin

Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Primer Oil

I already have a Trust Fund polish that I love, so I'm happy to welcome another one in a pretty pink shade! I love that everyone got a sample of the new Smashbox Primer Oil, but since I already have combo/oily skin I'm a little weary of putting this on my face. It certainly feels like an oil on the back of my hand, but girls with dry skin would love this I'm sure!

Fun fact: I HATE filing my nails with a fiery passion. I cringe every time I get a manicure and they bring out the file, so I will not be using this file haha. But this one seems like a really nice, quality file.

Top: VINTAGE lip gloss
Bottom: Naked Cosmetics pigment

The VINTAGE lip gloss would make a perfect center of the lip highlight since it has quite a bit of sparkle. As for the Naked Cosmetics pigment, it's a lovely earthy, bronze color but pigments and loose powders are just so messy. Every time I opened this up, pigment went EVERYWHERE and the packaging is pretty bulky.

This month was kind of a wash for me; I wasn't a fan of some of the products and I won't get most use out of them. *Sigh*. Love the polish though!

What did you get in your Ipsy?!

xoxo

Jessica