Tarte Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel

Eyebrows - the things I ignored for so long but have recently come to realize they really put your whole face together. But, I'm not skilled enough, nor do I have enough time to fill in my brows with a pencil, so I found tinted brow gels. I started with Benefit's Gimme Brow which had a smaller brush, but it started getting clumpy after a month. So I tried Lancome's tinted brow gel, but the wand is pretty big and sometimes deposits too much color. Then I heard about Tarte's new Amazonian Colored Clay Tinted Brow Gel. I figured I'd give it a try.

This product comes in 3 colors and has a teeny tiny brush. So far.... it's just ok. It does give a very natural look, but doesn't quite fill in the sparseness of the tails of my brows. If I had thicker eyebrows (not that mine are super thin, but I have fine hair naturally) this product would probably be perfect. I love the teeny brush though! It's perfect for brows. The problem is that it doesn't hold too much product being that tiny, so I end up having to dip it in the container several times for each eyebrow. 

I still really like Benefit's Gimme Brow, but I don't want to pay $21 if it's just going to clump after a month of using daily. So I'll stick with this Tarte product until something else comes along.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch

Back to work at the office. I'm a PA for a network show so I had the summer off, but now we've started up again! I usually work about 7am to 6pm so I started looking for something to brighten up my face mid-afternoon. I knew I wanted some sort of liquid highlighter, preferably a pen style for easy travel. After looking at a lot of different options - I also wanted it cheap - I settled on the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Radiant.

The color Radiant is a little bit pinker than the others, which is why I like it so much. 

As a concealer itself, the coverage is lighter than I would like. I have some pretty dark circles so I've been buying more expensive concealers. But as an afternoon pick-me-up, this is perfect.

I've also used it in the mornings if I feel my concealer isn't hiding as much as I want it to. I've been drawing an inverted triangle (pointy side down) across the darkest parts of my dark circles (not all the way up to my lids) then down to blend out and it seems to smooth everything out. I also start to get a little redness showing through on my cheeks midday, and this completely erases it. I can't believe how much more awake this makes me!

I do have a couple suggestions: I had a problem trying to get the product to come out the second or third time I used it. I had to click about half as many times as I did the first time just to get the product to the tip. Since then, I've been storing it lid side down and haven't had another problem. It doesn't leak out into the cap either. I also usually click a couple times, then brush it onto the back of my hand to get rid of any excess and dab it on from there. I used a sponge to blend it out the first few times, but I've started to notice that my fingers work a lot better. I think it needs to be warmed up a little bit.

There isn't much in the tube, and I think it was $7.99, but you don't need very much each time. I actually like this so much, I'm probably going to buy another one so I can keep one at work and one with my makeup at home.

Benefit Posietint and High Beam

Curse you sample section next to the registers at Ulta! This was just sitting there, taunting me. I've actually always wanted to try Benefit's Posietint and HighBeam though. I love my Benetint and was interested in what the creamier formulas would be like.

The top picture is how creamy they are when first applied. The bottom picture is the product smoothed out a bit. The Posietint really does stain if you don't work with it fast enough!

I don't really like the Posietint on my cheeks as much. It just never seems to give me the color I want, always too sheer. I didn't think I would like the pinkiness (is that a word? Is now!) of the color, but after using it, I really do. Once I do find the right amount of color, it looks pretty natural, like a just-got-in-from-10-degree-wind-chill flush (oh believe me... I know what a negative 40 degree wind chill flush looks like too, it's not fun.) On my lips though, is where I love it! It takes a couple layers to get the color I want, but it will stay on there. Very nice pink color that I'm not used to but I like a lot.

I also love the HighBeam! I've been using it every day so far on my cheekbones and under my eyebrows. It just gives a nice glow when you turn your head. Once it's sheered out, it seems to set to a powder finish. I've rubbed my cheek before and my finger comes away a bit sparkly, which I didn't think would happen with a liquid.

If you're curious about either of these products, this is the perfect package for you. The samples sizes have a lot of product in them and one full size bottle of just one of these is $30! Save yourself some money and get these two for $13.

bareMinerals 5 in 1 BB Cream Eyeshadow

I received a sample of the bareMinerals 5 in 1 BB Cream Eyeshadow in my July Ipsy Glam Bag in the shade Divine Wine. I really liked the formula so I went out to buy something that would hopefully be a little more of an everyday color. I bought Blushing Pink.

Sample size (left) vs full size (right)

The sample and the full size came with the same applicator. It's not quite a doe-foot, because it seems to be fluffy on 2 sides and more flat on 2 sides. The application is very easy, but I prefer to use a brush with it. I usually swipe on 2 lines of color on my eyelid, then quickly blend out with a brush. If I want the color a little darker, I'll wait until I've done the other eye, then go back and add one or two more swipes and blend again.

The 5 in 1 is supposed to be: long-wearing color, primer, brightening, smooths line, and protects with SPF 15. I can attest to the fact that this will not come off. It doesn't ever crease on me, and lasts all day! Even when I swatched it on my hand, it wouldn't budge after it dried. I really like that this has an SPF of 15 too. So few eye products have SPF, even though it's one of the most sensitive areas of the face, and somewhere where you probably never put sunscreen.

I'm a little disappointed in the color - I was hoping the pink would be more pink, but on my skin it just sort of blends in. I hope bareMinerals will come out with some bolder colors soon because I don't just use this as a primer, but an actual colored shadow.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles

Ok, I've been wanting to try this concealer for a while, so I finally read some more reviews and decided to buy it.

The Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles comes in a small tube with a spongy applicator tip. Lots of people are concerned with the cleanliness of the sponge tip - I'm not one of them. Maybelline claims that it's coated with some sort of antimicrobial something to keep it clean. I never thought about stuff like that until I started reading reviews. Maybe that's the Midwest farm girl in me? Not afraid to get dirty walking in the corn field, or the scenic painter who doesn't care how much soy or latex paint is on my skin. *shrug* Maybe I should be more concerned, but I'm just not.

The first time, you have to twist about 10 times to get any product to show... and I mean twist 10 full turns, not just 10 clicks. When you barely start to see something come up, you can slow down to just a couple clicks. For me, I have to do about half a turn each time I use it. (I like to use a good amount.) I decided to get the color "Light". They do have 2 corrector colors too - one more pink and one more yellow. I probably could've benefitted from either of those, but all I really wanted was a simple concealer.

I usually dot the product on and swipe it around a bit, but I still use my beauty blender to really blend the edges. Overall, I really like this product. It doesn't cover as well as some of my higher end concealers, but it is quick and travels really well. I like to use it on the weekends where I might just be going out shopping or to a movie, when I don't need a full face of makeup. If you're not plagued with super dark circles like me, this would probably be perfect for you!

Birchbox July 2014

Birchbox is a monthly subscription box service. For $10 a month, they will send you 4-5 'Beauty and Lifestyle' samples. 

They also have a points system, which is the best I've seen. 100 points = $10 to spend in the Birchbox shop. Earn 1 point for every dollar you spend (monthly boxes don't count, except for the first one) and they offer a lot of promo codes to get extra points. You can also earn 10 points for each review of your monthly samples. That's like getting $4-5 back each month! You also get 50 points for each person who signs up through your referral. If you would like to try Birchbox, please consider using my link: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/pdwbx

This month's theme: Power Up

This month, Birchbox partnered with Women's Health Magazine. They included a little booklet of "challenges" to try, including "Get out of your color comfort zone" and "Take a cold shower". Personally, I'm not that motivated. I've been washing my hair in cold water since I dyed it a couple weeks ago and that's long enough for me. 

They also included a card for a free one year subscription to Women's Health. I haven't decided if I want it yet or not... I don't really read magazines, but it's free. But here's what else I got!

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk: ($19.50 for 3.2oz) I've been using dry shampoo a lot since I dyed my hair again. It's great for the days in between washing, which helps hold the color in. This particular dry shampoo is supposed to be pure and blah blah... it performs like any dry shampoo. Maybe it's better if you have long hair and you're trying to keep curls from the day before. But for my short hair, it's just another dry shampoo. It also claims to not leave residue, but it still does. Oh well. Nice travel size. I love dry shampoo so this was a great sample, but I won't be buying it.

Marcelle New-Age 8 in 1 Power Serum: ($34 for 1oz) I have to keep looking at what the 8 things are, so I've just copied the description off the Birchbox website: "The lightweight formula boasts five peptides, the amino acids that amp up collagen production and improve elasticity, plus xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol that helps skin retain moisture. These potent ingredients work in eight great ways. When it comes to lines, they smooth, provide a filling effect, and visibly reduce even deep wrinkles. They also firm, lift, and strengthen, while working to boost radiance and improve the texture of your complexion. Even better? It does all of this without parabens or fragrance." I haven't noticed much of an effect, except that it makes my face feel smooth. I also haven't decided if I should use a moisturizer on top of this since it's a serum, or by itself because it's supposed to "retain moisture". Overall, I really like this but I don't think I can justify spending $34 on something that I'm not sure all what it's doing. Maybe in 10+ years when I need help with wrinkles?

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Creamy Lip Stain in Sugar: ($20 for .17oz) This month we got to choose one sample from a selection given to us. I liked the Cynthia Rowley Stain in Valentine I got last month so I decided to try Sugar this month. At first I was disappointed because the color looked like the plain glosses I've been getting from Ipsy - kind of made my lips disappear. I figured out that it was just my horrible bathroom lighting and it natural light, it did add a nice natural pinkness to my lips. I love the texture and the stain left behind. I would buy the full size, but I have a lot of lip products I rotate so this little size will last me a while. It also fits very nicely in a pocket or purse.

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion: ($24 for 250ml) So this lotion is all natural with olive oil, avocado oil, and shea butter. I'm not someone who only buys organic and natural (I'm not that Californian yet... lol but kudos to you if you are!) so to me, this is just lotion. It smells kind of like my BeeKind lotion did - lemony but not bad. This is a good size tube so I think I will leave it in my desk at work. 

100% Pure Gingerade Shower Gel: ($15 for 13oz) Like every other Birchbox subscriber, I was disappointed in the amount of product in this package. The package is small enough, but there was barely a teaspoon of product in there. It doesn't lather like it claims, and the smell was just ok. I only used one of these packets so far, but it's enough to know that I do not like nor need a product like this. Wasted sample if you ask me.

I also finally took advantage of the Birchbox Plus offer this month. This is the Triple C Designs Power Card Ultra Thin Battery in Blush. I had been looking to order a portable phone charger (for those long days at Disneyland and whatnot) and this seemed perfect. I was a little more expensive at $28, but it's very thin. So thin that you need to push open the USB slot to make it large enough to fit the USB cord. It also has a small button on the side that lights up with how much power is left. I've used it a few times now and it's been really nice. You also receive Birchbox points for your Plus items. 

Ipsy Glam Bag July 2014

Each month, subscribers will receive a beautiful Glam Bag with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products. Members can watch and play along with the stylists with the same products that they are using. All for only $10 a month. 

When you sign up, you take a "beauty quiz" to let them know what you like. I guess Ipsy is kind of a social network-type beauty website, but I don't do all of that. There's also some sort of points system that I haven't quite figured out. You get 10 points for each review, but you usually need 1000 points to get some kind of bonus product, of which they only have 3 to choose from at a time. There are points for referrals too, but I don't badger my friends into signing up. If you would like to sign up, please consider using my referral link: http://www.ipsy.com/r/4q7r

This month's theme: Sensationally Sunkissed

The bag this month is a little bit bigger. Closer in size to the April bag, kind of square. I really like this size to use as an actual makeup bag. It's soft on the inside and plain white, but I wish they would've spent a little more time making them. Two of my three "scalloped" sides don't line up.

This month was much better than last month. I'm pretty ok with everything I got. There wasn't much else that I would've rather had either. I'm not sure how well most of it fits with the theme, but whatever.

bareMinerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow Broad Spectrum SPF 15 in Divine Wine: I was so excited to get this! I just saw it in my Ulta ad and was curious about it, then saw it was an option for this month's bag. The 5-in-1 is supposed to be: long-wearing color, primer, brightening, smooths lines, and protects with SPF.  I'm really impressed with the long-wearing claim - this swatch has not moved in the few hours that I've had it on since I took the picture. Once it dries, it is on there. There is a faint shimmer to it that I didn't notice until it dried too. The color seems pretty dark but I've started using this with a blending brush - just swipe on one line of product, then blend out with a brush so it's not so intense. Makes a nice soft shadow color that lasts all day! I hope they start making this in other colors, not just neutrals. I may go buy one of the pinks I see on the package though.

Clear Clinic Laboratories Vanished Clear Spot Treatment: I guess I didn't even know this was an option but I can always use a spot treatment. I think it has menthol in it, because I saw some people complain about it, but I like the cooling effect that happens once you put it on. I can't really tell if it does anything. I think it does. I don't have too many problem areas at the moment though.

Lord & Berry Kajal Stick in Black Silk: A teeny tiny eyeliner that a lot of people seem excited about. Looks just like a perfect travel size eyeliner for me. But I guess it's supposed to be closer to the kohl that Egyptians used or something? I don't know. It's smooth and smudges easily. Nice and dark. Don't see much different than other eyeliners I have. Will keep this in a bag for travel I think.

Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil SPF 08: A LOT of people complained about this product when I was announced as an option. "Blah blah skin cancer blah" over and and over again. Or "blah blah I'm too dark to use tanning oil I can't believe you sent this to me blah" but others used it as a moisturizer. Personally, I'm glad I got it. I like tanning. I usually only use about SPF 8 or 10... the lowest I can find at the time. I got the Hang Ten SPF 50 sunscreen in one bag and have not used it, but this I will definitely use. I wouldn't say it has a great smell, but it's horrible either.

Models Own Nail Polish in Red Sea: This is the only product I'm not happy with this month. I like glitter nail polish but this is just cheap. The description says you can wear it alone or on top of your favorite color for a "glistening top coat". Clearly, I can't. I expected the red to be more clear after reading that but this was one coat. And it doesn't apply evenly either. It's thick and doesn't spread very well - the red itself... not because of the glitter chunks. This will go in the back of the cupboard and I'll forget about it. I don't have anyone younger to give stuff like this to like others so I'm stuck.
*Update: I did legitimately try this on all 10 fingers and it was terrible. Hard to spread, took hours (yes, HOURS!) to fully dry - it didn't wipe off or anything, but stayed very gel-y for a long time. And it is the worst to take off! I've taken off glitter before but this was chunks of confetti. Awful.