Month: June 2016

Sephora Play! June 2016

Included products in this month’s Sephora Play! bag:

  1. Bumble and Bumble Don’t Blow It (Full size, $31)
  2. BareMinerals bare Skin Bronzer (Full-size, $28)
  3. Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara(Full-size, $24)
  4. BECCA Backlight Priming Filter (Full-size, $38/1oz)
  5. Tarte Tarteguard 30 Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30 (Full-size, $32)
  6. TOCCA Beauty Florence Perfume (Full size, $68)

First Impressions:

Bumble and Bumble Don’t Blow It:  I’m a sucker for hair products, especially those that claim to give a “laid-back, air-dried style (as per The Minimalists booklet included in this month’s bag).  So for those of you who have fine hair and are looking for an airy summertime wavy look, I would recommend giving the Bumble and Bumble Don’t Blow It a try.  Just simply work the product into wet hair and then proceed to loosely braid your hair.  Once your hair is dry, take it out of the braid/braids and you’re good to go. I added some hairspray to keep the waves in a light hold since this products will not withstand in a high humidity environment.

BareMinerals bare Skin Bronzer:  Wow…just WOW!!  This bronzer is amazing.  As you all may know from a previous post, I’m a big fan of using a bronzer when looking for a summery glow.   However, I never entertained the idea of using a serum version of bronzer.  Well, I was really surprised with how natural and dewy the BareMinerals bare Skin Bronzer is.  And while at first application the serum may look really dark, it actually blends into sheer tint.

Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara:  This mascara needs no introduction because anyone who is a makeup fanatic will have heard of this gem. In fact, I recommended the Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara in a previous post.  So don’t think twice about it the next time you run out of mascara – run and purchase the Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara!

BECCA Backlight Priming Filter: I use a primer on a daily basis because it allows my makeup to stay in place.  At the moment, I use Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance ($36/1.7oz) because I love the illuminating effect it gives. I’m happy to announce that the BECCA Backlight Priming Filter is a great addition to my short list of recommended primers.  The overall finish of the BECCA Backlight Priming Filter’s finish is very similar to the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance, the only difference I found was that the BECCA product is a bit more watery compared to the thicker consistency of the Laura Mercier.  If you’re looking at the bottom line, then the Laura Mercier primer will give you more bang for your buck ($36/1.7 oz vs $38/1 oz). However, at the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter which of the two you use because they are that good.

Tarte Tarteguard 30 Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30: Of the group of products in this month’s Sephora Play! bag, the Tarte Tarteguard is the only flop of the bunch.  First off, it is extremely expensive for a sunscreen at $32 for 1.7 oz bottle.  The price alone puts this product at a severe disadvantage.  However, I was willing to put price point aside and focus on the product itself, but it didn’t get any better.  The Tarte Tarteguard is greasy in nature – like really greasy. It also has a very heavy scent that many would be turned off to. I mean, sunscreen is meant to be applied liberally. While, in theory, giving a sunscreen a pretty scent is a good idea, in reality it can be just too much and will ultimately keep consumers from using this product. Since most of us will be buying sunscreen this summer, I recommend you by pass the Tarte Tarteguard 30 Suncreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30.

Bonus Perfume

TOCCA Beauty Florence: Thank you Sephora Play! for helping me stock up on summer inspired scents.  The TOCCA Beauty Florence perfume is a lovely mix of violet petals and other scents which give a light and timeless scent.  While this is not a perfume, I would buy in full size because I tend to go for musky scents. However, the TOCCA Beauty Florence is a great addition for those days I want something completely different from the norm.

NOTE:  Every Sephora Play! bag comes with a Sephora Play! Pass which gives you 50 extra Beauty Insider Points with any purchase.

Final Verdict: MERGE

Kiss Kiss

Makeup Deconstructed Rating System:

1 Kiss = Purge: Only one of the products in the box/bag is worth keeping.

2 Kisses = Merge: Two to four products make this box/bag worth merging into your makeup collection.

3 Kisses = Splurge: All five products are amazing and worth splurging on!

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Happy Father's Day

If your wondering what gift your father would appreciate on Father’s Day, let me recommend two things.

  1. Sit and watch his favorite sports team in action.
  2. Spoil him with some of his favorite skincare products (Kiehl’s is always on top of our list 🙂 ).
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  • June 2016 Birchbox

    June 2016 Birchbox

  • Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel in #3 Medium

    Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel in #3 Medium

  • The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick in Raisin the Roof

    The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick in Raisin the Roof

Included products in this month’s Birchbox:

  1. Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel in 3 Medium (Full size, $24)
  2. Coola Mineral Face SPF 30 Unscented Matte Tint (Full-size, $36)
  3. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray  (Full-size, $44)
  4. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (Full-size, $28)
  5. The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick in Raisin the Roof (Full size, $14.95)

First Impressions:

Let’s begin with the box – it is GORGEOUS!  Simple prism-like boxes in a gradient of colors, it’s by far my favorite Birchbox box to-date.  As for the products:

  1. Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel in 3 Medium: Talk about a no-brainer.  When it came to choosing what Birchbox I wanted for the month of June, I automatically chose the one with the new Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Gel sample.  Before this point, I had never used another tinted brow gel other than the Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel ($22).  Well that is about to change because the Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel (in #3 medium) works just as well and helps create a stunning full brow without much work.
  2. Coola Mineral Face SPF 30 Unscented Matte Tint: If you are in the market for a moisturizer that has a matte finish, then look no further because the Coola Mineral Face SPF 30 fits the bill. From the onset, I was highly intrigued with the concept of a matte moisturizer because I have always wanted a product that would not leave my face looking and feeling greasy.  And true to its word, the Coola Mineral Face moisturizes while simultaneously offering sun protection with a flawless matte finish.  If there is any downside to this product, it would probably be the price.  At $36 (1.7 oz.), it is certainly at the higher end of what I would pay for a moisturizer.
  3. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray: What else can I say other than you cannot go wrong with any Oribe product, especially with the Oribe Texturizing Spray.  This spray is perfect to use if you are looking for beachy curls or sexy volumized hair.  Again, the only negative I can find is perhaps the price as it comes in at $44 for a full size can!  If the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is out of your price range, don’t fret.  The Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray (currently only $10.99 at Ulta.com) can do the job just as well.
  4. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant: This was my first time trying out a leave-on exfoliant and my experience went really well.  The application of Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is no different than with a toner, simply use a soaked cotton ball of product and apply all over the face.  While the product itself looks like water and goes on as if it was water, it does leave behind a thin glossy film which in turn makes any complexion absolutely radiant.
  5. The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick in Raisin the Roof: The PBJ Smoothie Stick is such a lovely addition to my ever-growing chubby lip crayon collection.  The sample sent not only looks like a full-size product, but boasts amazing ingredients such as sweet almond oil.  I would also consider the color, a lilac pink hue, to be understated, but really pretty for everyday use.  My only suggestion, considering the shade color, is to exfoliate really well before application because any excess skin will be apparent upon application of this lip crayon.

Final Verdict: Splurge

Kiss Kiss Kiss

Makeup Deconstructed Rating System:

1 Kiss = Purge: Only one of the products in the box/bag is worth keeping.

2 Kisses = Merge: Two to four products make this box/bag worth merging into your makeup collection.

3 Kisses = Splurge: All five products are amazing and worth splurging on!

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