Brighter Skin? Or Skin Disaster?

So about a month ago BzzAgent sent me four products from the L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Bright Reveal line try out and review.  I took the 30 day Brighter Skin Challenge to see what the Bright Reveal line could do for my skin.

The four products I received were:

Bright Reveal Brightening Daily Scrub Cleanser ($5.37)


Bright Reveal Brightening Day Moisturizer ($16.04)


Bright Reveal Brightening Peel Pads ($16.04)


Bright Reveal Brightening Dual Overnight Moisturizer ($16.04)


(All prices from Wal-Mart )


The daily scrub was OK.  It smelled nice, and the exfoliation wasn't too harsh, though the formula overall was pretty drying. I hoped the moisturizers would combat the drying formula, so I persisted using all four products.  Unfortunately using the scrub twice a day for two weeks was too much for my skin, and I went from having mostly normal/dry skin to having a super oily T-zone.


I feel like maybe the moisturizers went overboard to try and compensate for the constant exfoliation. The day moisturizer is also a sunscreen and so was somewhat greasy, though not as thick as other sunscreens I have used.  The night moisturizer is a dual formula that pumps out two different formulas that you then mix together and apply.  The clear gel formula seems like possibly it is a serum that is to be mixed with the moisturizer.  This seems to be a very nice formula overall.  Skin becomes softer and almost instantly brighter (though the results don't seem to be long lasting.)  It does have a tendency to pill up and roll off if rubbed within a few minutes of application.


My favorite of the four products was, hands down, the Brightening Peel Pads.  They seem to be gentle enough to use every night, but they could easily be used every other night, or 3 times a week.  They aren't harsh, and don't irritate my somewhat sensitive skin.  I will likely purchase these the next time I feel I need my skin to look and feel smoother.


Something I feel is worth noting is that all of the products smell like oranges, so they are not fragrance free by any means.  It's a nice uplifting, fresh scent, but it could irritate those that have super sensitive skin.


Looking at the big picture, I would say pass on the scrub and moisturizers, and try out the pads.  It's going to take me some time to get my skin back to being happy, normal skin.  And as you can see in the pictures below, there is no noticeable difference in the brightness of my skin.


Thanks for reading!  Would love to hear your thoughts on this line in the comments below!


(**Disclaimer** I received these products for free from BzzAgent and L'Oreal to try out and review.  All opinions are my own, honest feelings about the products.)

Looking for Some Drama?

I know, I know, who needs more drama in their life? But I promise you, a little drama can be a great thing!! Of course, I'm talking about falsies!

Most days I wear makeup, I wear neutral, everyday type makeup, but sometimes I like to glam it up. Date night, ya know? Anyway, on those occasions, I find myself reaching for more dramatic lashes (you know the type... you look like you could fly away if you blink fast enough?)  Well, recently I was sent a pair of 100% mink 3D lashes (these lashes are so fluffy!) from Tricky Hair to try out and review. I've been playing around with them for the last month, and let me tell you: they are NICE! 

As you can see, these lashes are really long, wispy and voluminous! I had to trim them down to fit my eyes (tip: trim them from the outer corner so they still look proportionate to the eyes!) but once they were sized properly, they were so comfortable and weightless. A word for those of you who wear glasses: they are REALLY long, and will get stuck on your lenses! I speak from experience 😂 

I have worn them with neutral looks, but I really love how they complement more dramatic eye looks. The following pictures are some examples of the looks I wore the lashes with: 

 

 

 

They currently have 4 styles of lashes (and beautiful clip in hair Extensions as well) available for around $36 on their website 

Tricky Hair

(Disclaimer: I was sent these lashes free of charge to try out and review, but all opinions are my own.  I appreciate the opportunity Tricky Hair has afforded me, by allowing me to try these lashes out and review them! Link above is NOT an affiliate link!)

Thoughts of a Startup Beauty Blogger

It's no secret, I am a beginner in the world of beauty blogging, and I'm still learning about everything. I started out doing this as a hobby (who am I kidding? It's still more of a hobby than a "job" or "career.") Everything I have, I have purchased myself, using my own money (well.... My husband's but that's beside the point. 😂 ) 

I've never pushed to try to collaborate with anyone, or try to get PR from any companies. I started an Instagram this summer, and really enjoy interacting on that platform, and the ability to use tags to get more visibility. 

Recently I have started testing the waters of PR and being a product tester/reviewer. Now, I haven't received anything yet, but if or when I do, I will be up front and forthcoming about it. My reviews will be honest and unbiased.

I feel that honest reviews are the only way a company or brand can better meet the needs of its customer base, and I feel that it is very important to remain professional while reviewing a product. There are companies and brands out there that I don't care for, so as of right now, I'm not sure how I will approach things if I am offered or sent product from those companies. Any review I do will be based on the product itself, and not my feelings or opinions about the brand, or who represents them. I will do my very best to remain objective, and not let my personal opinions sway my professional opinions and reviews.

Anyway, just some of my thoughts on receiving PR and being a product tester or reviewer. I will leave you with one final thought, and a picture.... 

One can never have too many eyeshadow palettes!!!! 😉😉😉

August 2016 Ipsy Bag!

My ipsy bag came the same day my Boxycharm did, and I couldn't wait to see what bag I had gotten! In case you don't know, ipsy is a monthly makeup subscription service. For $10 a month you get 4-5 deluxe sized samples. It's a great value, because sometimes they send full size items! 

Like I mentioned above, sometimes you get full size items, like this Ciate Paint Pot in Spinning Teacup. This is a beautiful dusky lavender color, that is more appropriate for spring than fall, I think. Regardless, Ciate makes great nail polishes, so this will definitely be used! 

The Organic Pharmacy line is quickly becoming a favorite. In a previous bag, I received a lip balm from them and I love it!! I haven't had a chance to use this Rose Facial Cleansing Gel face wash, because I like to use up my products before trying new ones, but I may make an exception since my current face wash will last me AWHILE. (Erno Laszlo Firmarine Bar is HUGE, and I think may last the rest of my life!) Anyway, there is a foil seal for freshness, and it smells like roses!! I am hoping my skin will like it too!

Moving on, we have Winky Lux Diamond Complexion Powder in Medium. This powder.... I'm just not sure what to think of it. It claims to have actual diamond powder in it (ooooh sparkly!) and says to use all over the face for a glowing complexion. The swatch picture isn't the greatest, but this powder is very yellow, and pretty... Glow-y? I'm not sure I would use this all over my face, but it makes a beautiful, very natural looking highlight. 

It Cosmetics has great products! I haven't had a chance to use this eyeline yet, other than to swatch it, but it really does glide on smoothly and is very pigmented. I am not a fan of pencil/gel liners, but I will try this one. After it sets, it barely budges! I'm pretty impressed by that, so we will see how it performs!

Okay, so... I don't want to be one of THOSE people who complain about always getting something they don't need or use in their bag, but...... My hair is a VERY fickle creature. It will go from super healthy and soft and shiny to dry as a bone and brittle in the blink of an eye if I use the wrong thing, so I tend to stick to my hair care routine. Having said that, I am NOT a fan of the Marc Anthony Argan Oil hair are line. It is one that dries my hair out badly, but it works great on my daughter's hair, so I usually pass these things on to her. 

As a bonus, I used my ipsy points to get these two samples: pixie beauty Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner and the NKD SKN Self Tan Tanning Mousse. I've heard great things about the pixi glow tonic, soil look forward to trying it out, and I'm a bit nervous to try the self tanner. Have you tried NKD SKN before? Did you like it? Let me know in the comments!

August 2016 Boxycharm!!!

 

My August Boxycharm came in the mail not too long ago, so I wanted to share with you what came in the box!! 

If you're not familiar with Boxycharm, it is a monthly subscription box that sends you 4-6 full sized samples with an occasional deluxe size, all for $21 a month. It's really the best value I've come across for monthly beauty subs! 

August's Box included some amazing products, and some that I wasn't a fan of. So, let's jump right in! 

This month we received five full sized products (and a bonus mini blush brush for the blush and bronzer palette.) 

Starting off with the Coastal Scents Blush  and Bronzer palette, there are a total of five shades in the palette. Two blushes, two bronzes and a highlight. 

The packaging is nothing special, just heavy duty cardboard, and the brush is a nice bonus, perfect for an on-the-go tool. 

Of the two blushes, one is matte and the other is a shimmer blush. The highlight is a standard light champagne-y color, and the two bronzers feature one matte and one shimmer as well. The consistency is dry, not chalky or overly powdery, and pigmented, though they swatch a bit patchy. The matte bronzer would make a very nice contour, and the shimmer one would be a nice color to warm up the face. The shimmer is barely detectable, and definitely not chunky. 

Just to the right of the palette is the Aloepure Skincare Time Repair Serum from Aloette. This serum claims to smooth lines and wrinkles with green tea extract and alpha and beta hydroxy acids. There is a light, fresh scent, and the serum feels nice and refreshing on the back of my hand. It appears to impart a healthy glow to my skin, without being sticky. If you would like to see a full review of this product after I've used it for 30 days, let me know in the comments below!

This Doucce Mascara is probably my favorite discovery in this box! The brush is pretty big and spiky, but it really does define the lashes and gives quite a bit of volume. (Please ignore the patchy eyebrows and dark circles. I tried the mascara out with no other makeup, and a massive headache!)

Next we have this Beauty For Real Shadow STX in the color All Day Latte, a kind of muted plummy brown. I used this the other day as a base for a plum smokey eye look, and it wore beautifully, without creasing, for several hours. I'm not usually a fan of cream eyeshadows because of their tendency to crease on me, but this is definitely a win, and will be put to regular use, especially for Fall! 

The last thing in the box was the Dirty Little Secret Liquid Lipstick in Phantom, a bright orange based tomato red. Orange based reds are not flattering to my skin tone, but beyond that, I found this liquid lipstick to be very uncomfortable to wear. It was very drying, and as it dried down, I could almost feel it pulling the edges of my lips tighter. Since this particular shade isn't flattering on me, I gave it to my daughter, who it looks great on, and she doesn't mind that it is drying. 

All in all, this box was a win for me, as always. Boxycharm never disappoints!! 

On Taking Breaks and Long Absences

Hi again everyone! As you may have noticed, I took a very long, but very needed break. My health was not the best, so I took some time to focus on that and to make some important decisions about my healthcare! 

I'm happy to report that I am BACK, and ready to bring you some new items, some old favorites, and some subscription unbox(bag)ings! 

I have a couple of things coming up in the next few weeks that I'm excited to share with you, and hope you love everything! 

I've also decided to expand my horizons a little, and dabble in perfume reviews as well. I have so many samples and full size favorites I would like to share with you! (And some blind buy horror stories as well!) 

So, here's to a new and improved Daily Dash of Glitter! 

See you all very soon!! 

XOXOXO❤️❤️