yolauralikesbeauty

Makeup Product Reviews

Physicians Formula Organic Wear BB Cream Review

Affordable, Makeup Product Reviews0

Greetings, friends! My life somewhat makes sense again, so now I can get back to reviewing lots of products and spilling some tea! I got a new job, and I gotta tell ya, it’s breathing some new life into me. I have time to do my makeup for work now, so I’ve been using a lot of the Physicians Formula Organic Wear BB Cream.

I’ll be honest – I never jumped on the organic and natural makeup craze. I know many YouTubers transitioned their makeup to reflect their new lifestyle choices – veganism, vegetarian, cruelty free, etc. Personally, I can’t afford that, but kudos to everyone that can. The most I can pick and choose is between brands that violate my morals for future purchases.  My mom gave me 2 tubes of Physicians Formula Organic Wear BB Cream, so I figured I’d use ‘em and write a review!

Here’s the product breakdown:

  • Price: $14.99
  • Size: 1.2 oz
  • Claims: 100% of the ingredients in the Physicians Formula Organic Wear BB Cream are of a natural origin and 70% of the ingredients are organic. Revolutionary formula combines the benefits of a BB cream with skin-nourishing natural and organic ingredients with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help keep skin looking and feeling healthy, hydrated, bright and smooth. Ultra-lightweight, multi-tasking cream delivers all your skin needs for natural perfection: hydrates, smoothes, protects, nourishes, conceals, repairs, evens out, preps + primes.
  • Instructions: Precautions: For external use only. Do not use on damaged or broken skin. When using this product, keep out of eyes. Rinse with water to remove. Stop use and ask doctor if rash occurs. Keep out of reach of children. If product is swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

If I’m wearing this daily, you can tell right off the bat that I love it! I’m not a fan of BB creams in general because I feel like they don’t do anything for my skin. They don’t really have a tint or help powder products adhere to my skin. Foundations felt more comfortable, so I never really owned any BB creams.

The Physicians Formula Organic Wear BB Cream is the exact opposite! It’s my perfect color, so I can easily apply it without worrying I look like a cast member of Jersey Shore. I wear this with the Cover FX Illuminating Setting Powder on top, and it lasts alllll dayyyyy. It also has good enough coverage to cover some minor blemishes and make my face still look like skin.

However, my only qualms with this BB cream are the price and shade range. It’s $15+ with tax….why lmao. It’s a great product, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not a foundation. The BB cream has light to medium coverage, so it’s not ideal for someone with several skin issues. It brings little over an ounce of product, but it’s not enough to justify the price point. I know that Physician’s Formula is one of the most expensive brands at the drugstore, but I’m just not on board the price. And that shade range though…my mom is brown and all of the shades look ashy on her. The beauty market is extensive and isn’t comprised just of 3 shades of white and fake tan. Tbh, I could tolerate the price if the shade range were inclusive. Get with the program, PF!!

I give the Physicians Formula Organic Wear BB Cream a 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’m now interested in trying Physicians Formula’s new foundation, and the shade range is a huge improvement (but it’s not enough)!

Have you tried this BB cream or any for that matter? Have you tried any other Physicians Formula face products?

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

My Top Favorite Beauty Products in 2017

Beauty, Makeup Product Reviews0

Who else feels like 2017 was yesterday? I was looking at my makeup a few days ago, and I realized that I scored so many gems last year. Some of my favorite makeup to date was released last year, and I never really shared my favorites. It’s March ? but it’s not too late to share my top favorite beauty products in 2017!

Concealer:

Wet N Wild Photo Focus Concealer in Light Ivory

This is great for dry under eyes because the creasing isn’t intense. Said to be a dupe for the Tarte Shape Tape concealer!

Foundation:

Maybelline Dream Cushion Fresh Face Liquid Foundation in 20 Classic Ivory

This is my fave light coverage foundation. Love popping this one for a fresh faced (hehe) look!

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation in 170

You know I have to show support for Rihanna at all times. This foundation is literally a filter!

Powder:

Cover FX Illuminating Setting Powder

Powders are dry skin’s worst enemy, except for this one!

WNW Photo Focused Pressed Powder

Best. Drugstore. Powder. Ever.

Mascara:

L’Oreal Lash Paradise

For that fluffy lash look without the lash glue or annoying bands!

Benefit Roller Lash

Probably the only high-end mascara worth splurging on.

Eye Shadow:

Dose of Colors Marvelous Mauves

Mauvey goodness!

Too Faced Peachy Mattes

If I were a palette, I’d be this one.

Lips:

Okay, so I have a slight obsession with lipsticks…

MUFE Artist Liquid Matte

THROW AWAY ALL OF YOUR LIQUID LIPSTICKS. This is the only one you need.

Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Vice Lipstick in Abstract

This lipstick feels delicious on the lips. That is all.

Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb

No one can deny this is the best gloss of all time. Bet.

WNW MegaLast Matte Lipsticks

Tbh my lifetime fave matte lipsticks. I’m in love with the other formulas, too!

Bronzer:

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer

Get that tropical tan and scent with ease!

Urban Decay x Jean-Michel Basquiat Gallery Blush Palette

As if the Basquiat aspect of this weren’t great enough, this palette has become my fave cheek palette.

Highlighter:

Smashbox Spotlight Pearl Palette (Collaboration with Casey Holmes)

This is my fave highlighter formula on this Earth. I own manyyy highlighters, jus sayin’.

Urban Decay Afterglow 8-Hour Highlighter in Sin

Ugh in the best way.

Setting Spray:

Milani Make It Last Setting Spray

I’m strongly convinced this is God’s saliva. It’s too good to just be man made.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

Someone please tell Wendy to call this the For Life setting spray.

Brows:

e.l.f. Lock On Liner & Brow Cream in Medium Brown

This trumps Dip Brow.

L’Oréal Brow Stylist in Brunette

The fact that I’ve bought this pencil 5 times and took it to study abroad with me should be enough praise.

Brushes:

Sigma

The hype is REAL.

Wet N Wild

Affordable and beautifully blends eyeshadow and blushes, she’s Miss Wet N Wild Brushes.

Primer:

Becca First Light Priming Filter Face Primer

What are you waiting for if you have dry skin??

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden

Your eyeshadow deserves this.

*****

I’m going to be making individual blog post reviews for each of these products once a week. I have a few series planned to go live first, so stay tuned (wink) I want my blog to become a makeup review resource for popular and indie beauty products. Is there anything you enjoyed in 2017 that wasn’t on my top favorite beauty products in 2017list? Let me know in the comments below so I can try it and review it!

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

Is Ipsy worth your bucks? | collab with Budgetgirl

Beauty, Makeup Product Reviews, Makeup tea0

Hello this is Budgetgirl and I am taking over yolauralikesbeauty’s blog to give you guys some info on Ipsy and my personal thoughts for including this on my monthly budget.

Well, what is exactly is Ipsy you may ask? Ipsy is a monthly makeup subscription box that is $10 a month. This box includes a make up bag with 4-5 different products. The items are mostly full size products, which is great! I am not much of a makeup girl so when I receive these items they are great for me because they hook me up for the month. All you really need is a good lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow and bronzer and you’re set!

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Benefits:

  • You get to try out new products
  • Products are small and travel size
  • You get the essentials; mascara, lipsticks, eye liner
  • You get more than what you pay for
  • Cute new makeup bag every month

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So is it worth the price?

Absolutely! You only pay $10 and you get 5 items! That is an amazing deal, and trust me you will use everything you have. I have not had to purchase a new Mascara for months! All the sample products I’ve received have lasted me for ever. I got a shimmer stick that I literally use every day.

I’ve received products from:

  • Smashbox
  • Tarte cosmetics
  • Benefit
  • Ciate
  • And so much more…….

Customizable:

You can include your skin tone, eye color, level of expertise with make up and so much more. Each Ipsy bag is catered to you! Do you like skin products? Well you can include that when you choose what products you are interested in.

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Thank you so much laura, for collaborating with me! Two budget girls with awesome taste just HAD to join forces. Keep doing you girl!

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Here is a review I did for my March 2017 glam bag;

https://www.budgetgirlife.com/single-post/2017/03/16/IPSY-March-2017-glam-bag-review

Check my out on in the interwebz:

Blog: https://www.budgetgirlife.com/

Instagram: @Budgetgirlife_blog

Makeup Souvenirs | Study Abroad 2017

Beauty, Makeup Product Reviews, Things besides the glam, Travel0

I caught the travel bug last summer and decided to uphold my makeup souvenir tradition in my new adventure. I signed up for study abroad a few weeks after I came back from New York for the first time. I visited Spain, Morocco and France. BEST AND WILDEST MONTH OF MY LIFE.

I was SO HYPED to visit Sephora in Europe, especially after I read that sephora is a French company and their HQ is in Paris *squeals* lmaooo. I’m pretty sad to report that I was gravely disappointed ? Europe doesn’t have all the brands American Sephoras have. I should’ve expected that because not all brands are all allowed to sell in Europe or just don’t. Nonetheless, I found great things to take back with me to the states!

Study abroad things: calling the U.S. “the states” and avidly comparing everything to home lol

Spain:

Let’s just appreciate this view from my room. I stayed in Madrid for 5 days (I think lol). I was in Petit Palace in Gran Via (excellent hotel btw). To my surprise, there was a Kiko Milano store 2 minutes away. I visited the Miami store in Sawgrass Mall the weak before coming to Europe. I almost screamed lmaoooo.

I went inside and fell in love. The product line felt expanded. Kiko seemed hot because many lipsticks were sold out, including some I wanted ?

I ended up picking up another lipstick: Kiko Milano Smart Fusion lipstick in 434 Chestnut. This was like a cooler/ more neutral version of Mac Velvet Teddy in my eyes. Mac Velvet Teddy looked warmer and pinkier on me.

Chestnut on the left; Velvet Teddy on the right.

This lipstick was a light, creamy matte. It was so flattering and the perfect everyday nude to wear in Europe. I also think it wore nicely even after I ate. I was tempted to buy 10 more, but I decided that I should wait considering Europe had more makeup waiting for me and it was only the third day ? I really enjoyed this formula!

I rate the Kiko MilanoSmart Fusion lipstick in 434 Chestnut 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I found a Sephora about 10 minutes away from my hotel on the way to Museo Nacional Del Prado and decided to pick up a Beauty Blender. One of my classmates said it was cheaper in Europe than Miami so I ran to pick one up lmao, but it was closed.

Museo Nacional Del Prado ?

I finally went to Sephora when I went to Sevilla and picked it up. I actually tried the pink Beauty Blender back home, but hated it. I think I got a faulty one because it was oddly shaped when it got wet. I’ve always heard the black one is the best one and that always low-key pissed me off because a color shouldn’t affect how good a sponge is ?

Excuse my dusty beauty blender ?

I ended up really enjoying the Beauty Blender. It’s good, but I don’t think it’s as magical as YouTube made it seem lol. I owned the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge before and loved it. They honestly feel exactly the same to me. I feel like neither sucks up a lot of product and that neither leaves streaks. Also, the sponges also help foundation look smooth and great on my skin.

I feel like the only differences between the two is that the RT one is larger when wet and has a flat side great for cutting the cheeks with powder to bake and blending out cream contour. The Beauty Blender is great for precise blending because the tip is slightly more precise.

I rate the black Beauty Blender, and conversely the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Morocco:

Yeah no lol we couldn’t even eat food that wasn’t provided by our tour guide ??

France:

Even before my trip to Europe began, I dreamt of going to a Sephora in Paris. I visited the one in Champ Elysees and I nearly died of excitement lmfao. THERE WAS A RED CARPET LEADING INTO THIS SEPHORA; I FELT SO ROYAL.

I was set on buying a French company’s makeup in Paris. It just felt like the right thing to do. I decided to try MakeUp Forever’s new liquid lipstick. You can BET I almost cried when I saw that this Sephora didn’t have it. This Sephora was so large and the biggest one I’ve ever been in, so I couldn’t believe it. Like damn. I was crushed lmao. I decided to pick up their traditional lipsticks instead.

MUFE has such an extensive shade range in their lipsticks and foundations! I swatched like 10 lipsticks before deciding on the one I bought. I got MakeUp Forever Artist Rouge lipstick in shade M102.

This lipstick is breathtaking. It has such an amazing and lightweight formula. It’s sheer, but the pigmentation still packs a punch. This color looks so natural and stunning on my lips. It makes my lips look juicy, making it perfect for days where I barely wear makeup or focus on my skin. It surprisingly doesn’t bleed, despite being so sheer. Also, the packing is very sleek and feels expensive; I’m not really one to care about packaging, but this cost a pretty penny and it was so worth it!

I rate the the MakeUp Forever Artist Rouge lipstick M102 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Have you been makeup shopping in another country? Have you tried anything I’ve tried? Are my reactions in the Sephora in Paris too dramatic lmaooo?

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

Makeup Souvenirs | NYC 2016

Beauty, Makeup Product Reviews, Things besides the glam, Travel0

Summer of 2016 was big for me. It was the first time I visited New York; I went with my family. It was also the first time I began to truly love a city. I mostly traveled within Florida or to the Dominican Republic to visit family. You can definitely say I caught the travel bug that summer and that it motivated me to go on study abroad ?

I decided to start a new tradition during that New York trip — buy makeup as souvenirs. That way, I’d be reminded of that trip whenever I used the product. Seeing the Mac store in Times Square was my excuse for this tradition lmaoooo.

I was so mesmerized when entered that store. I was already floating and felt like I was in heaven when I first got to Times Square, so this elevated me to new heights. The Mac store in New York is small, but beautiful. It’s carefully decorated to match their current campaigns; it was Trolls at that time.

Once I registered that this was real life and not a dream lol; I decided to buy Mac Velvet Teddy. I owned the supposed dupe of this: Milani Teddy Bare.

Funny story: one of the employees asked what lipstick I was looking for and I said Teddy Bare instead of Velvet Teddy lmaoooo. She must’ve thought I was lame because I mentioned a drugstore name in a high end place. Her facial expression said it all ?

This lipstick was NOTHING like the dupe. Velvet Teddy is the most beautiful and softest nude. Don’t get me wrong; I love Milani Teddy Bare and it’s the lipstick I’ve used the most, but this was lighter and a lot less rosy. Teddy Bare is a light pinky nude that’s like my lips but better. It’s also matte, where Teddy Bare is satin.

I’ve heard people bad mouth Mac matte lipsticks, but I actually love it. It is a little drier than my other matte lipsticks when I apply it, but it doesn’t bother me. I don’t think it weirdly accentuates my lip lines either. It’s just perfect and looks lovely paired with a deep brown lip liner — like NYX Rose Brown lip liner.

I rate Mac Velvet Teddy 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What souvenirs do you usually look for when you travel? Am I the only one to have felt star struck in Times Square lol? What are your fave lipsticks?

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

Wet N Wild Gel Polish Review

Affordable, Makeup Product Reviews0

Long time no see… ? I didn’t correctly welcome myself back in yesterday’s post! I came back from study abroad and I’m finally getting settled with my blog again! I have lots of interesting things to share. However, let’s focus on some nail polish I’ve been using for quite some time: 1 Step WonderGel Nail Color.

I first bough this nail polish last year when Kathleenlights was raving about it. Disclaimer: whatever Kathleenlights says goes. Naturally, I picked up the first color on the left: Condensed Milk. 

This color, unfaithful to its stickers on the bottle, is a neutral nude polish. It isn’t streaky, but it’s fully opaque with two coats.

The brush tip is pretty large, making it easier to coat the nail with one dip into the bottle. I can get away with painting my smaller nails with one stroke.

As for the wear of this nail polish, it definitely doesn’t last 2 weeks like a typical gel manicure. I can get a good week out of this nail polish without major chips. I get tiny lil chips at the sides and ends of my nails that aren’t noticeable until I examine my nail or look at them in a specific angle.

This nail polish is more suited for those that change their polish color weekly. I’m that person ?? so this polish meets my needs. I only rock nail polish for 2 weeks when I have acrylic nails.

I think the price and color range are excellent. At only $5, you’re getting a nice manicure for a week with nice colors seen at nail salons. Wet N Wild recently added 3 new shades, further catering to the need to have our nails looking fleeky.

If you enjoy weekly, at-home manicures, I give this nail polish a 4/5. If you seek manicures that last at least 10 days without major chips, this won’t be your jam and it’ll be a 3/5.

What nail polishes do you recommend? I can’t stand OPI or Essie ??

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

Favorite False Eyelashes

Makeup Product Reviews0

I love to make a look “extra” with some false eyelashes. If I’m in the mood to feel glam, I’ll draw a sharp wing, pop on some falsies and wear a bright or bold lipstick.

My favorite kind of lashes are the ones that are wispy and seemingly feathered. It’s hard to find styles like these are affordable. I just can’t bring myself to purchase $20+ mink lashes!

Luckily, I stumbled across my ideal falsie style on eBay. Yes, eBay. They don’t really have a name so click here! eBay is actually a hot spot and my preferred place for buying eyelashes. My favorite in store alternative are Ardell and Andrea Lashes.


Makeup details: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow in Medium Brown, e.l.f. Cosmetics Clear Brow Gel, Kat Von D Beauty Tattoo Liner in Trooper + Wet N Wild, Maybelline Big Shot Mascara

I meaaaaannnnn, these lashes are so sultry and delicious lmao. The band is perfect and feels comfortable on my eyes. I can barely feel these eyelashes when I wear them. They blend easily into my natural lashes.

I know that some people might be skeptical about purchasing anything related to cosmetics from eBay, but it’s all about trial and error! It’s so affordable and worth trying. I honestly haven’t had a miss yet, so I’ll keep trying. Expect more eBay makeup reviews!

Would you try these lashes and more from eBay? ?  Let me know in the comments below!

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Empties #1 2017

Makeup Product Reviews0

Something I find difficult to do is use up makeup and beauty products. I feel like I have enough products to last me for a couple years without replenishing them. Cosmetics products, for the most part, bring a great amount of product, in my opinion. Whenever I use up a product, I get excited lmao. It’s an opportunity to repurchase it or try something new.

I’ll create a list every few months or so with my “empties.” I’ll give mini reviews and go more in depth later on. I think it’s cool to track what I use up, so I can cap the amount I’d ideally spend on these products and make a list of new ones to try. Let’s begin discussing my empties ?

Eyebrow pencils— the products I use the fastest. I use about one pencil a month! ?

  • L’Oréal Brow Stylist in Brunette (3) — MY FAVORITE BROW PENCIL OF ALL TIME❗️  Nothing compares to this. I’ve tried several other eyebrow pencils and this still owns my heart. Precise tip, ideal amount of pigmentation and stiffness + best color to match my brows.
  • NYX Micro Brow Pencil — a good brow pencil from the drugstore. The colors pull red, so be careful. I’d repurchase if I was in a pinch.
  • e.l.f. Instant Lift Brow Pencil in Natural (2) — amazing brow pencil at such an amazing price; its $2❗️ The color is great for a natural brow lol hence the color). The tip is a lil thick, so concealer clean-up is required.

Mascara

  • L’Oréal Telescopic Mascara — would totally repurchase! It’s my favorite mascara of all time…so far. I feel like I can love another mascara more, though. It lengthens, separates and darkens my lashes. It looks great with eyeshadow and doesn’t make falsies necessary. (I truly feel that not all mascaras are meant to pair with eyeshadow. I’ll elaborate l8r ?).

Skincare

  • Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Brightening and Smoothing Daily Moisturizer — great moisturizer with sunscreen + looks nice under makeup. It’s not my favorite, though. Sometimes it makes my skin slightly burn for a few seconds. I’d repurchase if I tried other lotions and didn’t like them. Still on the hunt for my fave.
  • Garnier Micellar Water Waterproof (3) — BEST MAKEUP REMOVER ON EARTH❗️ I’ve used 3 bottles of this❗️ Nothing has taken off my makeup quicker and better. Best part is that I don’t have to wash my face afterwards (even though I have the habit of doing so).
  • Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater (2) — CHANGED MY SKIN AND MAKEUP FOREVER❗️ It provides the necessary hydration for my dry skin so my foundation doesn’t look like cake batter. This made me like foundation.
  • Rainwater Botanicals Intensive Eye Cream with Antioxidant — I bought this from an Etsy shop per the recommendation of a friend. I bought the sample size and it transformed my undereyes! I’m still on the hunt for the best eye cream before I decide to splurge on this (full size is a lil pricey).

Lips

  • Aquaphor Lip Repair — LIFE SAVER❗️ Lips are instantly rejuvenated if you sleep with this on. I can’t live without this. I don’t leave my house or go to sleep without it. S/o to my former coworker Brittany for putting me on this.

Concealer

  • Maybelline Fit Me Concealer  — first concealer I ever owned. Great for highlighting, concealing pimples and using as a light base layer when I’m not feeling foundation. Also great for cleaning up my brows and evening out yellow foundations. Repurchasing UNTIL I DIE❗️
  • Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer – same as above, but I like this a bit more because it’s pretty pink toned and that’s my skin’s undertone (well that + neutral). Love this for priming my eyelids as well. I need both of these concealers at the same time.

Eyeliner

  • Maybelline Master Skinny Gel Pencil (2) — I love how skinny this is. I can easily line my upper and lower waterline. It’s long wearing for my upper waterline. I’m in the market for a better one; I feel like there’s something better out there!

 

Which of these products have you tried and what’s your thoughts on them? What do you recommend I try instead? ?

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TooFaced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette Review

Makeup Product Reviews, Treat Yo Self0

Many of the beauty videos on YouTube geared towards beginners in makeup suggest either an Urban Decay Naked palette or the TooFaced Chocolate Bar Palette as a staple and cobblestone for any and every makeup collection. I agree because I own the Naked 3, and it’s heavenly.

Because of all those videos I watched on YouTube, I decided to purchase a TooFaced Chocolate Bar palette. There are 4 kinds – the Chocolate Bar, the Semi-Sweet, the Sweet Peach and the Chocolate Bon Bons. I went with the latter because I don’t really have cool toned palettes in my collection.

My coworkers generously gave me a Sephora gift card for my birthday, so you best believe that I ran to my local Sephora to pick this up. I picked up an Anastasia Beverly Hills Lipstick that day as well. I reviewed it here.


I hate to give a negative review 2 days in a row, but I didn’t like this palette.

Granted, I was awestruck at first. I was so excited to finally own a chocolate bar palette that I forced myself to love it. I stopped using it for about a week or so because I just wasn’t in the mood to wear makeup. When I picked it up again, I wasn’t in love anymore lol.

This palette’s smell is pretty nauseating. I’m not really sensitive with smells, but I couldn’t stand this one. The only smell I can’t tolerate is pineapples, coconuts and a combination of those two. I’ve heard people rave about the smell and it straight up smells like a sugary nightmare. It’s not a pleasant smell. It doesn’t even really smell like chocolate.

Once I get over the smell, I realize that the eyeshadow quality is pretty mediocre. I’m pretty pale and some of the matte shades barely showed up on my eyes. Some of the shimmers weren’t the best either. I had trouble blending some of the mattes, so my eyeshadow looked patchy. You’d think that a $50 eyeshadow palette would blend itself ? My favorite eyeshadows were Molasses Chip and Cafe Au Lait, which were both shimmer shades.

My last gripe with the palette was that an eyeshadow was missing. I got my palette at Sephora so this could’ve been an issue on their end. I didn’t notice at first because the pan was the tinted the same color of the eyeshadow. When I tried picking up the eyeshadow with a brush, I struggled. I inspected the palette and realized that the pan was empty ? I was stunned that a whole eyeshadow was gone. Another shade had a fingerprint on it, and it wasn’t mine, so now I’m very curious about Sephora’s quality control ?

However, I had my dad and brother look at the pan of the missing eyeshadow. They thought the eyeshadow was there, but that the formula was so stiff that it felt like nothing was there and that I’m scratching the pan ?

My 2 cents on this palette — skip ⏭ If you’re looking for a cool toned palette worth the bang of your buck, check out Morphe Brushes palettes. The quality is good for the price, you’re given 35 eyeshadows and pan sizes are huge. The 35K palette is a stunning cool toned palette. Also, open your selected palette inside of Sephora to make sure no one touched it. The eyes are a very sensitive area and you don’t know if the palette has germs because of whom touched it. Only trust pre-owned palettes if it’s been confirmed that it was sanitized.

Let me know about your experience with TooFaced Chocolate Bar palettes! Maybe mine was a dud or maybe the original Chocolate Bar is just the best. Tell me in the comments ???

Don’t forget to subscribe and follow me on Instagram ?

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick Review

Makeup Product Reviews0

Anastasia Beverly Hills seems to be one of the most coveted high-end brands. Literally ANYTHING they launch sells out very quickly. I think their liquid lipsticks are one of their, if not their most, popular products. Their fall collection last year was sold out for many months.

I decided to jump on the bandwagon and purchase one of their liquid lipsticks from their spring collection. I picked up Stripped; I was seeking a nice, light brown nude. The color looked gorgeous in swatches and I was confident that I would love it.


I hate to say it, but this product was such a disappointment! This formula is extremely drying. This settled into every fine line I could possibly have on my lips. I feel like this created even more fine lines. I wore this twice and I hated it both times. I tried taking a picture of it on my lips, but it looked terrible.

The application was better when I wore it over NYX’s Rose Brown lip liner. It felt slightly less drying, but it wasn’t enough. The formula feels and looks dry on the applicator.

I’m not sure why these sell out. I’ve worn what people consider to be some of the most uncomfortable liquid lipsticks (yes Colourpop I’m looking @ u) and it was wayyyyy more hydrating than this.

I think I’m accustomed to more liquidy liquid lipstick formulas, and ABH is far from that. I only know one popular beauty influencer that didn’t like it either – Jamie Paige Beauty. (She’s great and gives good reviews.)

This product was a fluke for me, but I really respect the brand. For those that don’t know, Anastasia Soare owns this brand and her daughter Norvina is very involved in the manufacturing process, quality control and thinking up of new products and subsequent shades.

I admire this brand for trying to genuinely cater to different skin tones. This product just didn’t cut it for me, but I’m still interested in trying out other products!

I returned this to Sephora and purchased something else that I loveeeeeee wayyyyyyyy more! I also returned another cult favorite – come back on tomorrow to find out what else I returned 😉

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L.A. Girl Concealer Review

Makeup Product Reviews0

I feel like the L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealers are the most raved about item on YouTube. Every single person that mentions it in their videos is beyond obsessed with it. It’s given the brand L.A. Girl a lot of hype. It’s prompted me to try their other products.

I hate to be the needle in the hay stack, but I really detest this product. I bought the yellow corrector because I was basically brainwashed by YouTube that I need to color correct, although I barely have under eye circles or bags (that’s a different topic altogether — YouTube is a strange, yet great place. I’ll talk about that in a future post.)

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This concealer is not for me. It creases beyond relief. I liked putting it under my Maybelline FitMe concealer. It creased a lot at first, but then after like 2 weeks, it worked well for about a week. I would make sure my under eye area was well-hydrated. Then, I’d go in with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. (I’d like to point out that I would never dampen the sponge, although that’s recommended.) Afterwards, I’d set it with the NYC Smooth Skin Loose Face Powder in Translucent.

I’m not sure what happened after a week. I religiously repeated the same routine, and even switched up my setting powders because I thought that might’ve caused the creasing. I also tried blending it out with a brush, and I still got the same results. I think I got just got lucky the week that it worked. This product emphasized fine lines that I didn’t even know I had. It became very hard to work with, so I had to drop it.

I have very dry skin, and no other concealer creases this much in my under eye area. Not even using a primer on my under eye area could save me with this product. Baking was a fail, too. It only worked once during that successful week I had with the product.

I’ve heard people complain about the applicator, but I think that’s its best feature (besides the $5 dollar price point); it reminds me of a small concealer brush, allowing to appropriately and precisely place the product on my face.

It is worth trying because it seems to work on many people and it’s very affordable. However, the creasing ruins it for me. I won’t try other shades because of this. This is another YouTube product that failed me.

If you have any suggestions for making this work, please tell me in the comments in below. I want to love this 🙁 What other L.A. Girl products are phenomenal to you? I think their retractable lip liners are everything.

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Nevermind Cosmetics Review

Makeup Product Reviews0

Makeup is poppin’ and so many brands are up and coming. There’s more to the makeup industry than what is sold at the local drugstore, Ulta and Sephora, so I thought it’d be cool to try a new brand. As a result, I purchased a metallic lipstick from Nevermind Cosmetics.

I was really excited about this purchase because this company is based in Miami, and I’m a Miami native (well Hialeah, but whatever ?). Also, I was excited because this company only sells lipsticks (for now as far as I’m aware) and they’re affordable. The metallic lipsticks are $13 each and the matte ones are $15 each; you get a $5 coupon for signing up for their cute and non-obtrusive mailing list. When a company only sells one kind of product, I’m given the impression that they specialize in this. I get the same impression from Bite Beauty. I think it’s okay for a brand to only sell one kind of product because they’re able to dedicate all of their resources to continue producing it at a high-quality.


This was my first metallic lipstick and I was very impressed. The lipstick shape and feel is unique. It felt firm, yet creamy enough to glide on my lips. It could totally survive a Third World War with how firm and well-made it feels. The packaging is also very cute. I’m not one to really address packaging because I mostly purchase drugstore-priced makeup. I can’t really expect much out of packaging if the product is very affordable.

The presentation of this product is also stunning. The mailing package was baby pink and covered in Lisa Frank stickers! When I opened the package, it was filled with the type of confetti (I think?) that’s used to fill Easter eggs. In addition to receiving a lipstick, I got a baby pink choker and a handwritten note! This was the sweetest touch and shows the value of my purchase to the owners of this company.

I think Nevermind Cosmetics is definitely worth checking out. They have sales every so often, making their products even more worthwhile. I rate their lipstick a 5/5!

Which local brands have you tried and recommend? Which indie brands do you love? Let me know in the comments below!

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