Marc Jacobs Archives - Makeup Deconstructed

Birchbox March 2016
Birchbox March 2016 Product List
amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
theBalm cosmetics - Stainiac in Beauty Queen
treStiQue Color & Smudge Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine
Wilma Schumanna Skin Care Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads

Included products in this month’s Birchbox:

First Impressions:

amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo: From the get-go, I was thrilled to see this dry shampoo in my Birchbox. I use a dry shampoo at least once a week, in between hair washes. First thing I noticed was that the scent (described as obliphica) was not overpowering like other dry shampoos. In fact, I will go so far in saying that the amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo has the lightest and nicest scent of the bunch I’ve ever used! In terms of end-of-the-day results, my hair continued to look fresh without a trace of oiliness. I can officially say I’m hooked and will purchase the full-sized version as soon as I run out of my Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo ($22 / 4oz. at Sephora).

FHI Brands Hot Sauce Thermal Heat-Activated Conditioner: I live in a hot, humid city and am always going to the beach or swimming in a pool. As a result, I’m always on the look out for a hair leave-in treatment that can help me combat my often frizzy, dry and mistreated hair. The FHI Heat Hot Sauce Thermal Heat-Activated Conditioner is a lightweight cream that smells heavenly. After washing and conditioning my hair, I applied it liberally and then flat-ironed. I noticed a change almost immediately. The tips of my hair looked less frayed and it left the rest with a healthy shine without looking greasy. While I will have to use it on a more continuous basis to get a full read on how well this product works, I would not hesitate to buy a full-sized FHI Thermal Heat Activated Conditioner given the early great results.

theBalm cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen: Anyone obsessed with makeup has probably heard about theBalm cosmetics line. If not, than this trial size of their cheek and lip stain would be a great introduction to their amazing range of products. As huge fan of thebalm, I was so excited to get this product and try it on especially because of my affinity for lip & cheek products (stay tuned for a later post on this topic). I applied this stain to both my lips and cheeks and fell in love with not only its natural rosy color, but also the staying power. This stain looks like a watercolor painting when placed on the cheeks giving one a natural flushed look. I must say that I prefer the stain more on my cheeks than lips, but that’s because I have a natural rosier lip and so it does not stand out as much as it could on someone of a different tone.

treStiQue Color & Smudge Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine: I love cream shadows. I have a collection of Bobbi Brown and Marc Jacob shadow sticks and was more than happy to add this little guy to the batch. The packaging for the treStique Color & Smudge Shadow Crayon is plain and unassuming. However, once you open the cap and apply to your eyelids, I have only one word to describe the results: WOW! This shadow crayon packs an intense opaque punch and will not budge under any circumstance. And while I personally don’t care for green shadows, this treStique Color & Smudge Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine would convert any nonbeliever. The color is a deep rich forest green laced with speckles of gold shimmer that transforms under natural light. I certainly look forward to exploring other colors in their shadow crayon set in the near future.

Wilma Schumann Skin Care Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads: Skincare is high on my list these days…especially as I approach my 40s. And while my affinity for Korean brands is no surprise, I am a newbie when it comes to European brands. Wilma Schumann Skin Care Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads targets the eye area with precision. The pads have a cooling effect that hydrate upon contact and certainly brightens the under eye area. As for plumping and softening my wrinkles, I would say it would take extended use of the product to give a more thorough review. However, I was more than pleased with my first test run with this European skincare product and hope to discover more.

INSIDER TIP

Once I decided to purchase the full-size amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo, I quickly researched where to purchase it. While the Birchbox website sells it for $24, I found Sephora selling it for 2 dollars less at $22!! The other advantage to purchase the amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo vs. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo, which had been my go-to dry shampoo, was that for the same $22, I get way more product…amika’s 5.3 oz. to Living Proofs 4.0 oz.! Talk about the ultimate deal.

Final Verdict: Splurge

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!

Long, full, and lashes for days…all this and more are guaranteed by all mascaras on the market today. Which leads to the ultimate question: what is the best mascara out there? With so many to choose from, how does one go about selecting? Well, I certainly don’t recommend breaking the bank in order to buy the most expensive mascara because there are too many options at every price point. Not only should your budget be a consideration, but also your intended daily usage. Here are questions all mascara buyers should ask themselves before deciding:

Do you wear mascara everyday, 2 to 3 times a week, or a handful of times a month?
Do you like mascara in just the color black or do you use a variety of colors?
Do you like to have both waterproof and regular mascara on hand?
What is your budget?
Is there a specific job your looking for in your mascara (i.e. lengthen, thickening, natural looking, curling, bottom lashes etc.)?

With those questions in mind, I’ve compiled some of my mascara favorites in the hopes of deconstructing mascara mania. 🙂

Maybelline The Falsies Big Eyes ($7.99): Talk about more bang for your buck. The Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes is the best value of any mascaras I have ever purchased. First and foremost, what draws me is the price. I mean $7.99, and with sales always being introduced (Buy 2, get I free currently on Ulta), makes this a budget winner. The other big plus is that it has brushes for upper and lower lashes. Now of the two, the lower lash brush is my favorite because it really does get the job done. However, you have to keep a steady hand because the brush is very small and not forgiving if you apply it too quickly.
Maybelline Great Lash Washable Mascara ($5.99): This mascara takes the title for best color options; six to be exact (Black, Browish Black, Dark Brown, Royal Blue, Soft Black, Blackest Black). Not to mention its an American classic for a reason because it simply works! If you want natural looking lashes with a some oomph, then Maybelline Great Lash is for you.
Dior Diorshow Mascara ($27.50): This is a mascara that gives volume and shape with just two coats. The Dior Diorshow Mascara also comes in four shades guaranteeing a color for every taste (blue, brown, black and purple) in addition to having a waterproof version. The biggest advantage is that this mascara is formulated without parabens, sulfates and phthalates (per Sephora website).
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara ($23): I normally gravitate to this mascara when I want to bring the drama without having to resort to false eyelashes. The brush is super thick and can provide full and defined lashes with just one coat. Some disadvantages I find with the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara is that it only comes in one shade (black), and if your not careful with the application, it can quickly get lumpy and smudges easily. So if you don’t have a steady hand or patience, I suggest you move onto other options like those below.

Honorable Mentions:

Marc Jacobs

Birchbox Review for March 2016

Mascara Mania