May Beauty Army Box: A big let down

Hello Lovelies!

After this month I am unsure if I will be continuing my subscription with Beauty Army , because in the past couple of months I haven't had many good products to choose from and a lot of the products have been repeats of what I have already tried. Although there are some products that I do love to receive multiple samples of it is hasn't been worth the $12 a month. I will show the products I received this month but since I didn't receive the greatest selection I honestly won't have a lot to say.

Cotz Face is a mineral sunscreen for natural skin tones with an SPF of 40. The tube I received is absolutely tiny and only included enough for maybe five to ten applications if I am lucky. When I first squeezed the sunscreen out of the tube I was surprised to find it the same shade as my skin tone and I initially tested it on the top of my hand. At first it has an almost mousse like consistency and when blended it turns into a lovely matte finish. This sunscreen would be great for days where you want to skip a couple makeup steps because it also offers a little coverage. I may find myself having to purchase this for this summer. 

Once again Beauty Army is filling it's boxes with tiny samples such as this one, they are so small that it's near impossible to give a good review. The Wild Rose Cream is suppose to moisturize and brighten the skin for 24 hours, and it's meant for normal and dry skin types. When I first ripped open the package I noticed that it is heavily scented and kind of smells between something floral and my grandma, I also notice that the majority of the package is not in English. Although this product did make my skin feel quite smooth, I honestly  didn't have enough to really offer a good review. 

I was honestly curious about the skincare line from Own receiving this small sample has me feeling defeated. Although the statistics of the skin line seems to prove that there products are wonderful I have actually heard a lot of negative reviews recently, and they say it takes up to 8 weeks to see results and this sample definitely will not last that long. Once again I can't really say much about this product which bums me out because I want to be able to fully review everything I receive for everyone.

 Another product I can not get any use of is this gel polish from Nail Luv because I do not own a LED or UV lamp which is required and I do not plan to purchase one. Although gel manicures look fabulous I would rather not raise my chance of getting skin cancer in the long run. Using UV lamps frequently for nails has the same effects as using a tanning bed frequently. Although some people don't seem to notice that these beauty regimens are risky, I am the type to avoid things like this. Basically if you do decide to follow this trend please apply sunscreen to your hands before your nail appointment. 

Last but not least, these products are ones I have chose before and decided to choose again for lack of better choices. I absolutely love the scanda-lash mascara from Mark, it has become my ultimate favorite because it makes my lashes look fuller and longer in one quick application. Although I do like the Teen Tone Color Touch Eye, Cheek, and Lip Glow, I find myself rarely using it because I do not like cream blushes and I own so many better pink lip products, but it is a very good product for on-the-go or travel purposes because of it's multiple uses. 

March Beauty Army Review

 Hello Lovelies!

I normally do my Ipsy and Beauty Army reviews at the same time, but this month Ipsy shipped extra early, which is always a nice surprise, so this time around they are separate. Overall this month I was pretty excited about my choices, I had a good selection of brands and products.

Amlactin Moisturizing Body Lotion 

According to Amlactin's website the body lotion is a special formula that contains 12% lactic acid. Lactic Acid is a naturally occurring substance that promotes retention of moisture that even Cleopatra was rumored to use in her skin regimen when she bathed in sour milk. Although it is a natural product during my research I found it can still irritate skin, especially on allergy-prone skin. I have never heard of this brand personally, but after my research I found it has wonderful reviews and they happen to carry it at Walmart for $14 for a 7 ounce bottle. (Also at Target, Walgreens, and CVS) Now, that is a little expensive in my opinion, but it is a well working lotion. Amlactin is non-greasy, fragrance free, and works really well at moisturizing skin.

Grand Central Beauty Skin Perfecting Polish

Now if you have been sticking with my reviews you would know I had a decently bad experience with the last product from Grand Central Beauty even though many people's reviews were spectacular so I was quite hesitant to test this out, but I knew I just had to. After doing a little research on the website I found that this is a brand new product and doesn't have much of a following yet, which makes me a little excited yet scared to try it, my skin is so sensitive. The polish is suppose to smooth, moisturize, reduce-redness, unclog pores,  and invigorate tired skin, and it has a built in neutralizer so you have the option to rinse or not. 

Directions (copied from the package)

•  Apply 1 pump (dime-size) onto clean, dry face.
• Massage face lightly and thoroughly for 30 seconds until clear sponge beads emerge, rolling away trapped dirt and dead skin cells.
• Buff off gently with fingertips. Rinse optional.
• Use at least 3x week on clean face.

I tested this polish on freshly cleansed skin and applied the dime-size like directed, but it didn't seem to be enough, and the sponge bubbles didn't emerge, so I added a little more and continued to massage. Eventually little bubbles were created, they kind of felt just like the beads in an exfoliating wash, and were slightly difficult to buff off. After I went through the process my skin begin to feel a little itchy so I decided it was best for me to go ahead and rinse. At first I noticed my skin seemed smoother, but the morning after I noticed my skin was greasier than it has ever been. I am not sure if it's just my skin type, but I do know that I will not be testing anymore products from Grand Central Beauty.

Yes to Tomates Daily Pore Scrub

As you know I love this brand and put my full faith in the products they make and the acne daily scrub didn't change my mind one bit. I have been having a lot of little break outs lately due to stress overload so this sample came at about the perfect time. I was concerned at first if it would be tomato-ish scented, because I do not like the smell of tomatoes, but it was a quite pleasant scent. Even though it's a facial scrub it was gentle enough to be non-irritating and worked well at leaving my skin feeling smooth, clean, and refreshed. I actually picked up a tube at my local Walgreens the same day that I tested this little packet and have been using it since and adore it. Some of the YesTo products are a little pricey, but I found this one for $7 for a decent sized tube, but all of the products I have tested are well worth price.

New York Streets Dry Shampoo

This is my absolute first dry shampoo and I was quite unimpressed. New York Streets is a brand I have never heard of before, but they specialize in hair products. For this size bottle of dry shampoo on the website is $17 which is a little pricey in my opinion compared to other dry shampoos I have heard a lot about, such as Freeman Beauty's Psssssst Dry Shampoo. One thing I did not like about this company is the website, they do not have customer reviews, and ingredients listings, and I find that it's important to have those open to the public. I tested this product in two day hair and the only thing it did for me was leave my hair smelling like my grandma. (I am not saying my grandma smells bad, just old, ya know?) Now, my hair doesn't really get greasy, even if I do skip a couple washes, so it's hard for me to tell if it adequately disguises greasy/shiny hair. I can say that it was easy and quick to comb through my hair, and it did seem to make a little difference when restyling. In conclusion I think that if you have styling products in your hair this will be no help to you, and it's not really worth the money if your hair doesn't get greasy.

Karuna Eye Renewal Mask

I am always excited to try items like this because I don't often get a chance to relax and these "spa-like" items are as much of a chance I can get. I applied the masks like instructed, on a freshly washed face, and let them sit for twenty minutes. At first they irritated my eyes a little bit and made them feel slightly itchy, but after a couple of minutes a cooling sensation set in and they began to feel good. After twenty minutes I removed the masks and rubbed in the leftover product around my eye area. I didn't notice an immediate dramatic difference, but I noticed that my skin felt softer. They are suppose to help fight signs of aging, decrease puffiness and discoloration, and improve firmness and tone around the eyes. Honestly this product may be amazing if used regularly, but for $36 for a small pack of four I can't see myself ever purchasing and giving them a good test.

Skinn Cosmetics Color Touch Eye, Cheek, and Lip Glow

I have never been a fan of cream blushes, but this one by far is the best I have tested quality wise. This shade is called "teen tone" and is perfect to create a slight flush, or a nearly nude lip. Typically I have issues blending cream blushes, but this one blends better than the others I have tested and seems to last quite long. My favorite use for it so far is to create a nearly nude lip combined with my favorite lip primer by Too Faced Cosmetics and a touch of gloss. With all that said after developing my thoughts about this product I pulled up Skinn Cosmetics website and realized that it is $17, which is quite pricey in my opinion.

 



February Ipsy Bag and Beauty Army Box

Hello Lovelies!

Ipsy Bag

 February's theme is "Red Carpet Ready"

I really hope that next month Ipsy decides to go with a printed bag, because I am very bored with these plain bags, especially this month's cheap vinyl black bag.

During my last little trip to Ulta I spied this mascara from Pop Beauty  and considered purchasing and I am glad I didn't because this is a nice size sample of it. This mascara does provide volume for the lashes, but I have noticed a bit of clumping, but if you pair it with the Lash Card that was also a sample this month it works wonderfully.

This Pixi Beauty Primer has become my current favorite, it leaves my skin looking smooth and bright. Lately I have been skipping my foundation routine and just wearing this instead. I was a little concerned at first glance because this primer is not a clear one, but it easily blended into my skin tone and was unnoticeable.

I LOVE Coastal Scents Shadows and have received many samples from them in the past. This month's sample set was called "Glitz & Glamour" and had my favorite shimmery white eye shadow called Candlelight included. These shadows are highly pigmented, easy to blend, and beautiful.

Once again it is the Lash Card, it seems this has become a favorite for subscriptions to provide as samples, although Ipsy's sample is the largest pack I have received yet.

Out of all the samples this month I was most excited to test the MICA Beauty Gel Eyeliner. Eyeliner is an essential to my everyday look and I am always on the search for something better. I do not typically use gel liners as much, but they do work wonders. This liner glides on smoothly and is easy to use if you have a proper brush, but I did notice that it is not pigmented enough for my liking.

Beauty Army Box

 Yay! for more Yes To products. I absolutely adore EVERYTHING from this company, and am always excited to get something else to try from them. This body butter is nourishing, non-greasy, moisturizing, long-lasting, and best of all it is 99% natural and paraben free. This company offers something for everyone of all ages, all ethnicities, all skin and hair types, and both men and women.

This happens to be the second Twin Set I have received from Skinn Cosmetics , the first set was the shade of Coral Poppy, and this one is called Pink Tulip. I believe that these shades may be ones specifically offered through Beauty Army because they are not on Skinn's website. Honestly, I think the wet lip gloss end is a waste because it is near impossible to get a decent amount of gloss out of the tube, and it is one of those glosses that leaves your lips feeling quite sticky. At first glance I thought I would never wear the Pink Tulip because it is a bright shade of fuchsia, but I actually like it. I always pair the lipstick with my Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer to make it last a bit longer.

 I don't typically choose products like this Olive Natural Beauty Bar because I do not use bar soap, but I didn't have many new options this month so I decided I would give it a chance. When I first pulled this product out of the box I was pleasantly surprised with the adorable little green package it came in, and also surprised that there is no brand markers what so ever on the soap or the package. This soap is suppose to have a lemon and lavender scent, but I do not smell even a hint of lemon in there and it kind of makes me think of my grandma. The bar itself feels quite slippery and oily and I was very hesitant to use it, but it is definitely moisturizing. If you are a person who likes organic products this is definitely something you want to try.

 I chose these Boo-Boo Covers because they are something completely different from anything else I have ever tried. They are basically little tattoos to cover your flaws, and I actually attempted to use them to cover my small, yet hated, tattoo. The first thing I noticed about this product is that they only make them in light skin colors, there is barely a variety, and they come on sheets like fake tattoos. All of the shades I received looked overly pink and unnatural, but it says to blend with makeup after application. I applied the lightest portion over my small tattoo and once it was on I noticed that you could still fully see my tattoo through it, and even though I am pale the coloring was terrible. I could possibly blend it in with A LOT of makeup and work, but there are so many better products than this to use, such as Kat Von D's Lock-It Tattoo Concealer.

This S.M.A.R.T Skin Perfecting Mask from Grand Central Beauty was another product I was quite excited to receive. This mask is suppose to smooth, moisturize, detoxify skin, reduce redness, and tone your facial skin. After you go through the process of mixing everything together you apply the mixture to the skin and wait 15 minutes for it to dry, then all you do is gently peel it off. I read many wonderful reviews on this product before testing it, but I am not sure what the hype is about. When I first mixed up this pink concoction I noticed that it doesn't smell that pleasant and once I put it on my face I could barely stand it, to me it had a slight scent of fish. During the whole fifteen minutes I had an itchy sensation on my forehead, underneath my eyes, and all over my cheeks, and I was so exited when it was time to take it off, until I realized how difficult it was to take off. While peeling off the mask it only came off in decent sized chunks around my cheeks and forehead, everywhere else I had to pick at it for what felt like forever, and when I was finally finished my face was red and itchy. I did notice that my skin was much softer and moisturized though. The night I tested this I went to bed not long after getting the mask all washed off and when I woke up in the morning my skin was terrible, it appeared oily, and I had mini breakouts all over. I know everyone is different, but after my little trial with this product I couldn't recommend it to anyone.

 Yes, it is yet another eye shadow from Whip Hand Cosmetics. This eye shadow is called Medal of Honor and it is a shimmery gold shade. Like I have said in the past I still absolutely hate these little containers because it makes a mess and I end up unintentionally wasting it. The shadow itself is highly pigmented and easily blendable, but the container makes me reach for it less often.

January Beauty Army Box and Ipsy Bag

Hello Lovelies!

This month seems to be going by very quickly and it is time to review my monthly subscriptions and give you guys an update on what's going on at the moment and what will be coming next. Before I begin my little review I would like to share some information with everyone. Lately I have been working on revamping my blog to make it more appealing for everyone, and hopefully within the month I should have some wonderful new custom graphics. If you have any suggestions at all feel free to comment or email me at briannagrim@gmail.com.

 

Do you like the hairstyles pictured above? If so then you will love the tutorials I am about to begin filming, I will be working on a couple different hairstyle tutorials all including a lovely victory roll so stay tuned.

Ipsy Bag

This month's theme was "Super Star" and was filled with quite the variety of products. The bag itself is a dark blue with a star print on the inside of the bag, it's nice, but I am getting quite bored with getting plain bags, I'm ready for a lovely print. (I am crossing my fingers for something vintage inspired.)

When I opened the package my first thought was, Yay! another makeup brush from SOHO! I received a SoHo Smudge Brush back in September 2012 from Ipsy and absolutely love it and use it on nearly a daily basis, so to add an eyeliner brush from them to my collection is quite exciting. This brush's shape includes a wonderful grip for klutzy women like me whom happen to drop their brushes a lot.

I myself feel that the right hairspray can make or break a hairstyle, and Big Sexy Hair's hairspray is wonderful, a little pricey for my taste considering I go through hairspray very quickly but it works very well. It is quite easy to go overboard with this spray and make your hair very stiff, so remember just a little goes a long way.

Since I am a "pin up girl" red lipstick and red nail polish are staples in my signature look and I am always on the lookout for better products to test and this month I received a lovely red nail polish from Tini Beauty called Bloody Mary. Now, the last polish I received from Tini Beauty that I reviewed I was not a fan of, it was a glittery polish in green and gold, but this one is wonderful. This polish only requires one application for a solid red color, and it dries quickly. I typically use a top coat when doing my nails but I wanted to test it's durability without one and it lasted three days with no chips. This nail polish definitely improves my outlook on Tini Beauty.

Like most people at this point I am definitely ready for spring and summer to come, and this Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter from Pacifica makes me even more impatient. Typically I am not a fan of orange scented items, but I absolutely adore the scent of this lotion, it has notes of orange which is offset with scents of strawberry and raspberry. I am very picky when it comes to lotions because I do have sensitive skin but my skin had no issue with this lotion and it doesn't leave that nasty greasy feeling some scented lotions leave behind.

 

Obviously, oils such as this argan oil from Josie Maran Cosmetics have been trending in the past year or so and I have received a lot of them with my subscriptions. This argan oil has many different uses which include skin moisturizer, skin treatment, split end treatment, and cuticle softener. I have yet to test all of it's uses but I did test it on my freshly dyed Ruby Rush hair and it did make my hair very soft yet a little greasy. I have yet to notice any difference in my split ends but I do like how soft this oil makes it and that my hair is a little less frizzy on its bad days.

Beauty Army Box

As you can see from this picture this month was Beauty Army's birthday so they included an extra choice this month and I decided to go with the Mark scanda-lash mascara in brown. I rarely purchase brown mascara, but I do like it for more natural looks so I decided to go with brown this time. This mascara separates the lashes wonderfully and is perfect for a more subtle natural look.

Apparently products from Mark have been a favorite for Beauty Army, last month I received this red Mark glow baby glow gloss and this month I not only received the mascara but this pink gloss called Honey, which nicely hook together. This gloss is another product great for a subtle natural look or a colorful eye and nude lip combination. Just like the red glow baby glow this gloss is wonderfully pigmented, non-sticky and quite long lasting.

The past couple months have been quite hectic in my household and honestly I do not make enough money to really have a true spa day so products like these firming eye gels from Skyn Iceland  are very welcomed as samples. Now I did find these soothing for about a total of ten minutes and my eyes felt a little refreshed after, but they are definitely not worth $30 for only eight in a pack. They are suppose to tone de-puff under eye skin within ten minutes, but honestly I didn't even notice a physical difference.

Like I have stated many of times in my posts I am not a fan of small foil samples such as this serum and moisturizer from Enspri Skincare because there is not enough in them to really make a judgement on the product. I did test them but within one application I seen no difference between them and any other average serums and moisturizers.

As you can probably see from my other posts I am a HUGE fan of the Yes to...   products, so I was excited to be able to try something new from them. Now once again back to the foil packet issue, but I did feel refreshed after using this eye treatment and noticed a slight difference, and I have full faith in all of the products from their arsenal. This company is known for their wonderful, hard working, natural products that have rave reviews from customers.

Simple enough this Lash Card  is meant to prevent clumping and smudging of mascara and it is nice to have on hand, but I honestly do not see the point of wasting money on the product unless you absolutely can not apply mascara without causing a disaster.

Yet another small sample of Whip Hand Cosmetics  Camo Collection eyeshadow, this shadow is a beige shade called Air Force. Like explained before this shadow blends well and works well for natural looks, but I really would like a better selection of makeup products then what Beauty Army has been offering lately.

Now, this picture is of a simple subtle two minute look I created using the Mark Scanda-Lash Brown Mascara, the Air Force shadow from Whip Hand Cosmetics, and the Mark Glow Baby Glow Lipgloss in the shade of  Honey.

December Ipsy Bag and Beauty Army Box

This month has not only been very busy for me, but it has passed by very quickly and I haven't had much time to dedicate to anything I need to get done such as my December Ipsy and Beauty Army review, but I have finally found a bit of time to finish it up and give you my full review. As I said last month I cancelled my subscription to Birchbox, so until I find another monthly subscription service that I love I will just be sticking to Ipsy and Beauty Army. I have been doing a little research into a couple other companies, but so far I haven't chosen one so if you have any suggestions feel free to comment. Also, before I get into my review I would like to share with you my plan for the new year, during 2013 my goal for this blog is to not only post more frequently, but to also make more tutorials and share more tips, and dabble more into my love for the rockabilly/pin-up beauty scene.

 

 

 

Ipsy Bag

The theme for this month's bag was simply focused on the holidays once again and titled "Haute Holiday".

 

 

For the past couple months Ipsy has been sticking with simple one shade makeup bags and I have been loving them, this month's was silver.

A woman can never have enough primer... I have tested many different kinds of primers in the past year and so far I really haven't been able to pin down a favorite but I do love this Mirabella Prime. I do not use it on my eyes because I use the NYX Cosmetics Eye Shadow Base, but it works wonders for fine lines and helps provide a smoother finish. As I am a HUGE fan of the rockabilly, pin-up, old Hollywood glamour scene making my skin appear flawless is very key to my everyday look and using a primer helps create this for me. 

 

There couldn't have been a more perfect time for me to receive this NYX Loose Pearl Eyeshadow  in Charcoal (darker than it appears in picture), I have been looking for a good shimmery eyeshadow that blended out well and came in a good variety of colors, and for only $3 a piece I definitely want one of these in each color. The color is highly pigmented and a little goes a long way especially when paired with eyeshadow base.

 

 

When we receive products like this 24/7 Eye Pencil from Urban Decay it makes the $10 I spend on my subscription seem so worth it because these bad boys are more expensive to purchase on there own, it also shows that Ipsy is definitely dedicated to us getting quality products. In my makeup bag/storage you could already find one of these pencils in white, but having a black one is definitely a nice addition. I love that these pencils are long lasting, and provide a very smooth application.

 

 

Once again this is one of those products that I am just too pale to give an honest review for, but I do love the concept of these highlighter papers by Mai Couture . They do work very well and provide a wonderful shimmery highlight for wherever you would like to apply, and you can blend them out with a brush if needed.

Honestly the name of this company in itself has made me instantly fall in love with them,  Be a...Bombshell Cosmetics , but they also have wonderful products. Since I have been a subscriber to Ipsy I have had the privilege to test not only this lip gloss but their eyeliner and have loved both products. The lip gloss I received is the shade of "Hot Mess", which is the perfect red hue for any true bombshell. My favorite way to wear this is over a red lip liner for a little extra pop.

 

 

 

Last, but definitely not least, this month Ipsy gave some subscribers, including me, a chance to test a product that hasn't even hit shelves yet called Naked Skin by Urban Decay.  This lightweight beauty balm is oil-free and instantly leaves the skin looking better and also works to better your skin within 8 weeks. Now, I have not been using it for 8 weeks and can not tell you in full detail how much this balm could do in that amount of time, but I do know that it does make an instant difference. This multitasking formula evens out skin tone, minimizes pores, lines, wrinkles and redness, protects with SPF 20, firms skin and improves elasticity, primes the skin for makeup application, and it also hydrates the skin. It works wonderfully and if you would like to try it out yourself it will be released exclusively to the general public on Urban Decay's website on January 8th.

 

 

 Beauty Army

  

 

Another red lip gloss!!! (I can never get enough.) This gloss is long lasting and a wonderful shade of red. I am very picky when it comes to lip glosses because I can not stand a sticky gloss, but this Glow Baby Glow lip gloss in the shade of Blow Kisses from Mark smoothly applies with very little stick.

 

 

I learned about this brand this summer when many women were searching for an easy way to create that textured beachy waves look and I stumbled upon the Not Your Mother's  Beach Babe, which works wonders. So, when I seen that I could test one that is made to help create volume I was excited especially considering a lot of my rockabilly hairstyles take quite a bit of teasing and volume. This hairspray is AMAZING to use when teasing, it took a lot less teasing for me to create perfect volume and it helped make my style last all day, but I barely could get past the disgusting scent. This hairspray is infused with Apple Blossom and Bamboo, but to me (and my boyfriend) it smelled terrible. I basically have to hold my breath when spraying and after I finish my hair I top it off with a spray of my regular good smelling hairspray to mask the scent a bit.

 

These products from Macadamia  quickly have found a place in my heart because I do love having healthy and shiny hair, but I also love being an unnatural redhead which takes A LOT of work. This deep repair masque left my hair smelling good, soft, shiny, and less frizzy. I also use their Healing Oil Treatment near daily and would recommend this brand to anyone.

 

This is one of those products that leaves me slightly puzzled, and I wonder why they would include this in samples, but I chose it anyways just to see what the hubbub was about. Now I have heard many controversial conversations about attempting to fade skin color, I even seen an episode dedicated to this on Tyra once were a women used harmful bleach on her skin in an attempt to lighten her skin color. This fade cream is from Dermisa which is sold in stores such as Walgreens and Target, and it is designed to erase age spots, sun spots, and dark spots, but makes me wonder what it would do for someone who has none of those like myself. I did apply this once but realized quickly that it does not work well with my sensitive skin, I became red and itchy very soon and learned that it contains Hydroquinone and can be harsh on people with sensitive skin.

Another small sample of eyeshadow from Whip Hand Cosmetics that is part of their Limited Edition Camo Collection. This eyeshadow is an almost olive green shade that blends out well but is mess to get out of the container. Whip Hand has wonderful highly pigmented, statement making shades, but I absolutely detest these little bottles that they package them in. 

 

Now I have heard of the Gatsby Salon somewhere at some point but never have heard of their products before I received this Ooh La La Volume Shampoo from them.  Apparently after doing some research into the products they sell a whole line dedicated to creating more volume for the hair, everything from shampoo to hairspray. Now, I do not know how long these products have been around but this particular product on their website has only 6 Facebook likes which leaves me kind of feeling like either no one is using Facebook these days or that a lot of people had the same experience with this product as I did..... nothing changed. I used this shampoo and my hair didn't seem even the slight bit different, no more volume to my hair than normal, and it actually was even duller looking when it dried. 

 

 

Alright, on and ending note I was pretty happy with all of my products from my subscriptions this month and in about a week I will have a post about some wonderful products from Urban Decay I am adding to my makeup collection and I will have full reviews for those and possibly even a lovely makeup tutorial.