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❤️❤️

First Impressions - JLB Cosmetics Malibu Beach Collection.

I went out with my daughters the other day, because I had seen these at Ross the evening before, and regretted not getting them, especially after having unsuccessfully tried to find them online. 

So I went ahead and got the one I had initially really liked, and decided to get the other one as well, though I had not really cared too much for the colors at first.  These palettes sell for $12 a piece, according to Ross's price sticker, and I got them for $5.99 each.  I have to admit I am surprised at the low price for these palettes, for the quality.  I used the Sand palette yesterday, and really loved the look I created, and today I used the Surf palette and really love the purples that I used. 

JLB Cosmetics Surf The Malibu Beach Collection.  The outside of this palette is slightly textured and looks a little bit like rattan, or a straw hat weave.  It is constructed of pretty sturdy cardboard, and closes magnetically.

You get 12 pastel and summery shades in this palette, and there are no names for any of the colors, which makes it a bit difficult if creating a look and telling others what shadows were used.  Most of these shades are satin, with a couple being somewhat glittery, and one or two matte shades.  The colors are fairly pigmented, can be built up and blend beautifully.  They are pretty powdery, and can be a bit chalky, mostly just when swatched.  For the look I created today, I used the 5th shadow in the upper crease and upper eyelid area.  For the transition shade I used the 6th shadow, and for the lid, I used the 10th shade.  I used the very last shade on the browbone, under my eyebrow. 

As you can see in the swatches, the shadows are fairly light and pastel.  They are fairly washed out due to the lighting, but the first four (from the left) are very high sheen, whereas the next four are pretty satin.  The very last shade (far right) is matte, and difficult to work with.  It doesn't like to pick up on the brush very well, but as you can see in the pictures below, it does show up on the browbone.

This is my overall look.  I used The Balm Shelter tinted moisturizer for my foundation, Nars Super Orgasm on my cheeks, and a Burt's Bee's lip crayon in a pink color on my lips.  Highlighted with Hourglass's Ambient Lighting powder in Ethereal. 

Another angle of today's look.  You can see just a hint of the purple at the corner of my eye.

Please excuse the giant pimple between my eyes!  Here is the look I created today.  My phone does NOT show the color transitions very well but you can see how these shadows are just a bit shimmery, and definitely not glittery like some Too Faced or Urban Decay shadows.

Overall I really like this palette, way more than I expected to.  I'm excited to create some more looks with this, and play with it a bit more.  I feel like this was a pretty good deal for $6, and if you can find it, I really suggest picking it up, even if you're not sure you'll like the colors.  I was pleasantly surprised after I got them home and got a chance to swatch them.

Now for the other palette.  This is the one that I initially regretted not purchasing the night I saw it.  There is one shade in here that I just had to have.  The rest of the palette is beautiful too, but I really loved that one color, and don't have anything like it at home.  Ultimately that is the deciding factor these days, since I have so much makeup. 

This palette feels like it is wrapped in burlap.  It's a bit more textured than the other palette, but is constructed of the same cardboard with the magnetic closure. 

The shadows.  Ok you guys, this palette.  Those colors.  Just.... yes.  The palette was slightly damaged (the 9th shadow has a small chunk missing from it) but it is still functional, obviously.  The first four shades are matte, the second set of four shades are satin shimmer, and the last four are satin shimmer as well. There doesn't seem to be any really glittery shades, and I like that.  Though I think one glitter shade to help make a look pop can be nice. That burgundy though...  I had to have that color in my collection.

So, as you can see, the first four shades are definitely matte, and though they don't seem very pigmented (the middle two) they are...  they just match my skin tone very closely.  That last shade of those first four is a fairly pigmented white color that is great for the browbone.  And the next set of four, that gorgeous burgundy color.  I can't stress how much the camera just does NOT do it justice.  This is going to be a GORGEOUS color for fall and winter, for a smokey eye look, or as a beautiful crease color.  I can't WAIT to play around with that color.  The next three shades are satin shimmery and super pigmented.  There is a bronze, a golden shimmer, and then a very dark taupe shimmer.  The next set of four start with a beautiful dark copper shimmer, and from there the colors lighten up a bit, from a light gold, to a champagne shimmer, to a very light beige, almost white sheen that would be great for a shimmery browbone highlight.

This was the look I created yesterday.  Kind of a retro glam look with a beautiful classic red courtesy of Lime Crime Velvetines.  For this look I used all matte shades from the Sand palette and was really impressed with the pigmentation and how easily they built up and blended in order to create the natural eye look. 

So far, I really like these palettes.  I have used each one, only once so far though (which is why this is a first impression post.)  I will be working with these off and on for awhile, mainly because I'm so excited to try out all the colors!! 

Let me know what you think in the comments below! 

(All pictures taken with my iPhone 5s)