Lushie 4 Lyfe: Lush's BB Seaweed Face Mask, D'Fluff Shaving Soap, and You Snap The Whip Body Butter

It is no secret that I love Lush products. So when I had five empty black pots, I headed straight over there to get some more that I could use up and turn in for another free face mask.

I ended up getting BB Seaweed at the recommendation of the Lushy girls (who are always amazing). It's made with seaweed, honey, rose, and aloe vera so it's not only soothing and moisturizing but it smells amazing. This mask didn't leave me feeling dried out like some others do, but left my face feeling really soft and silky. I was really really pleased and I can't wait to continue using it. Plus the joy of hearing WHY IS THERE SEAWEED CRAP IN MY FRIDGE from my father is totally worth it.

Second pick is D'Fluff Strawberry Shaving Soap. First off, this shit smells so good you want to eat it. I'm serious. My boyfriend kept smelling my legs like a freak. Plus, I have never been left so silky smooth after a shave. No razor burn, no missed spots, only clean and smooth and strawberry-scented skin. Loving it that I may as well go back and buy a huge pot of it now because I'm never gonna use another shaving cream ever again.

I love me a body butter, so I went with You Snap The Whip this time instead of King of Skin. It's got charcoal in it, which is the new thing for beauty products - charcoal soaks up impurities, so its great for a deep clean. Plus, this little beauty has exfoliating stuff in it too, so you're cleaned, scrubbed, and moisturized all in one. And let me tell you, I am about that life. That's the goal right there.

All in all, it was a successful mini-Lush haul. No regrets here.

Foam Party: Rituals Zensation Foaming Shower Gel Sensation

I acquired this in possibly the best way possible: for free, on the street.

The Rituals girls were just....gifting them. It was amazing. I was on the way back to the office from lunch and they were there on the corner giving away free shower gel. Bless Soho, man. They were also running some instagram contest at the same time, so I guess this was a promotion. But it worked, because it did get me interested in the brand and wanting to go back for more. So good job, Soho Rituals store.

Most importantly, this shower gel is the coolest. It's not your average Dove or whatever. I think most people don't really think about their shower soap even though they should. So you just slather it on, rinse it off, and be done with it. But cleansing the rest of your skin is just as important as cleansing your face, and especially for me and my dry skin, it's important to take care of my whole body.

Ritual's Zensation sets itself apart because it foams. And it's so boss.

It starts as a gel and as soon as it hits water, it foams up and gets all creamy bubbly. This is great for two reasons: one, because it makes me feel like a kid again. Two, because a little bit really goes a long way, and you can use a dime sized amount to cover your whole body. Zensation smells clean and fresh (it doesn't have a really distinct scent so it isnt overwhelming and won't conflict with all your other smelly products) and  does leave me feeling clean and silky.

But honestly, it's just fun to play with foamy bubbles in the shower. I am all about that.

Confessions of an Arbonne Consultant

I went to my first Arbonne party a few months ago when my friend Julie announced that she had become a consultant. And I was a bit skeptical - from what I'd seen, it seemed geared towards old ladies who wanted anti-aging crap. And I'm 26, I'm not quite there yet. 

I was pleasantly surprised. 

The party started with Julie's sponsor introducing the business, and then we got to try some products. I was shocked at the range of products that Arbonne offers - I had no idea that in addition to skincare, they also offer makeup, diet supplements, and products for men. And it isn't overwhelmingly geared towards the anti-aging crowd. There are a lot of great products, and honestly I feel much better about my money going to support my friend than to some Corporate Conglomerate. 

The RE-9 system (pictured above) is basically their starter skincare regime kit - it's cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, eye cream, and a night cream. It's a lot of shit but I mean, most people use at least half of those products anyway, and I like the idea of having a system with similar ingredients so they all work together in harmony. The formulas are smooth and creamy, they don't smell like anything in particular which is great, and your face really does feel great when you take care of it properly. 

I also ended up buying  the Nurturing Day Lotion moisturizer from their FC5 line because it had 20 SPF, which I've been happy with so far. I went with the Sparkling Citrus Sugar Scrub because I am a sucker for sugar scrub, and its fucking great. It's oily so it leaves your skin super duper soft and smelling nice and fresh and lemony and I dig it and use it all the time.

But don't take it from me, take it from Julie, my Arbonne Consultant:

What got you interested in being an Arbonne consultant? 
When I met my sponsor I was 9 months pregnant & definitely looking for something more in my career. I've worked side-jobs before, and Arbonne offered an extra stream of income on my own schedule. Her success inspired me that this could be a full-time job & business, not just a fun hobby.  She was able to quit her teaching job, which I would love to be able to do and work from home with my daughter.  The brand is amazing, and I was already spending money on personal care products- as a consultant I would receive a 35% discount + turn an expense into a profit.

What do you think sets Arbonne apart from other beauty brands?
Our stand-out quality is our motto: "Pure, Safe, and Beneficial". Arbonne products are natural and botanically based, not filled with the toxic and petroleum ingredients found in most other beauty brands. Our nutrition line is vegan & gluten-free, nothing is tested on animals- these are all things people are looking for today.
We also offer more than just beauty products, we have a market for everyone- men, babies, health & wellness, you name it!

What is the benefit of hosting an Arbonne party and buying through a consultant? 
Party hosts receive wonderful rewards such as the option of being "consultant for a night" and getting our 35% discount on their purchase. We also offer hosts package options that will give them $100+ worth of free products.  There is the added perk of having a fun night with friends & being able to try our products for free!...Buying from a consultant gives you the benefit of becoming a preferred client (20% discount), and being first to know about any special sales your consultant is offering.  You get to buy products you're already using from family & friends instead of giving your money to faceless corporations.

What are your favorite Arbonne products?
I LOVE our Intelligence CC cream- it has built-in primer, moisturizer, and color correction; provides lightweight coverage for everyday wear, and gives you a dewy "glow"
I'm a huge advocate of our ABC baby line; it cleared up my daughters dry patches in days, after months of using Aveeno & Burt's Bees to no avail.
Our FC5 facial scrub gives you a nice exfoliating cleanse.
I enjoy our pomegranate fizz sticks added to water for a natural boost of energy to replace daily coffees.

What products would you most recommend to people who have never tried Arbonne before?
 Our most popular line is our RE9 anti aging skincare.  Cleanser, toner, day/night cream, lift gel, eye creme- it offers something for every facial need, and makes your skin look & feel beautiful!  The cellular renewal masque gives an amazing glow & tingle the following morning
Our makeup primer is a best seller- feels like silk on your skin to prep it for flawless makeup.
Our FC5 daily shampoo/conditioner doesn't lather & strip hair; and Pure Vibrance line nourishes color-treated hair.


Use consultant ID 21331334 to order through Julie and try Arbonne for yourself!

A Rose By Any Other Name: Korres Wild Rose Moisturizer

It takes a lot for me to want to break up with my favourite moisturizer. I really love Fresh's Soy Moisturizer - it works for my dry skin and has SPF. But it's fuckin pricey, dude. And it's seriously hard to find. Sephora doesn't seem to be carrying it anymore, so when the Fresh store by my office closed down and I ran out of supply, I was forced to go hunting for a new moisturizer. 

Enter: Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizing & Brightening Cream . Swoon. 

Because of my amazeballs nighttime moisturizer (see this post), I really don't have to use a moisturizer every morning (I know, I know, I should be putting SPF on my face everyday. Death is coming. Whatever.). Korres offering is the perfect balance - where Origin's Night-A-Mins is thick and creamy, Korres is light and airy - like putting silk on my face. It's so soft and smooth you barely feel a thing, yet it's keeping me well moisturized and balanced. Plus, it smells like roses. 

It's a little less expensive than my usual too, so this might be a repurchase. If it had SPF, that would be even better, but I live a vampire life anyway so not a huge loss. 

Nightynight: Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Nighttime Moisturizer

This is a story about a product that transformed my face. 

I have very very dry skin. I'm talking itchy, flaky, sensitive, easily damaged dry skin. And it's not just my face - its my scalp, arms and legs, everywhere. For a very long time I ignored it, because I believed that nothing would ever help, and I just had to deal with my skin being the way it was. But since I've started this blog and started really looking for skincare, I've discovered that healthy skin is possible. And Origins Night-A-Mins Moisturizer is a total game changer. 

Not only is my skin thoroughly moisturized, but its almost oily - I'm serious. Within about a week of using this product, my skin was totally different. It feels like I don't have to moisturize every day anymore. It feels soft and clear and bright, and I'm seriously in awe. Like, I want to put this stuff on my whole body it's that good. This is a miracle product. And it makes your face smell like oranges.

So pretty much I am going to recommend the shit outta this stuff for anyone who has super duper dry skin. You may not even have to use it every night after a while, just maybe three times a week or so and you'll be good to go with totally smooth, soft skin. Just like, fucking do it already, okay? Okay. Glad we had this chat. 

LUSH Madness: The Sequel

Okay y'all, you know I love me some LUSH products. I actually have been meaning to do this post for a while. I ended up returning a few products from my first haul and exchanging them for the above, and again had a wonderful experience in the store near my hometown.

This time I'm much happier with the products I picked up, and I can't wait to go back for more!

T for Toes is much more useful and practical than the foot mask I initially picked up - it's a fresh smelling powder to put in your socks/shoes and it really does work. I've always had a problem with my sneakers and flats getting a little stinky and so this has been a miracle for me. The only downside is if you're like me and you don't wear socks, it will stick to the bottom of your feet. So make sure you clear it out of your shoes before you put them on and then wipe down your feet before you go padding around anywhere.

The Jasmine & Henna Fluff-Eaze hairmask has been good so far. I don't see a gigantic difference in how poofy my hair is, but it does calm down the frizz. The best part is, the great, floral smell stays for a while, even after shampoo and everything. Every time I showered it seemed to re-ignite the smell, and I was really into that. It's 25 minutes on dry hair, then shower off. Easy peasy.

I also picked up Lovely Jubblies which is not pictured. It's a firming cream specifically made for your ta-tas, but I've been also using it on my thighs. Again, it smells amazeballs. It's one of those things that isn't gonna show immediate results, but I don't want my tits to sag later on, so whatever. Firm them babies up.

Bubblegum lip scrub is pretty boss - not only does it work great as a gentle exfoliant, but it also smells great and doesn't taste gross like my favourite Fresh Brown Sugar Lip Scrub does - cuz I mean, it's on your lips. You can't avoid licking your lips or getting some in your mouth. It happens. This lipscrub is actually totally safe for that, and it even says on the back that you can lick the rest off after you scrub. Nice and smooth lips, good aftertaste. What more could you want?

I decided not to pick up either Dream Cream or Dream Wash again - it doesn't make a huge difference with my itchy skin like I was promised, so I was a little disappointed. But I did get a sample of Charity Pot, which is another body lotion. It smells much better, and the proceeds also go to Lush's charitable efforts (read more here ). It's a good lotion, and for a good cause. Another win for Lush.

I decided to pick up 9 to 5 Facial Cleanser instead of Ultrabland, which I found left a weird residue on my face. And okay those thick balmy cleansers are supposed to be great. But I thought it was weird, so I was recommended 9 to 5 instead. 9 to 5 is more of a lotion, it's much thinner and easier to use and leaves my face feeling clean and naked. It smells nice, works fast, gets off all my lipstick and eyeliner, and I'm very pleased with the switch. I think it's definitely a rebuy.

King of Skin body butter is a game changer. It's a bodybutter unlike any other. I actually picked it up because I saw someone on twitter write that it left her skin "so soft it cried at the end of Armageddon", and if that's not a glowing review than I don't know what is. But seriously, this shit works. It's sort of a thick, moisturizing coat on your skin. So you take it in the shower, get it a bit wet, rub it all over (seriously, do it everywhere), and then you're left with smoothy smooth silky soft super touchable. I was seriously going around telling people to touch me. It was probably pretty creepy. Downside to King of Skin is, there isn't enough of it. It runs out too quickly. GIMME MOAR.

Dark Angels is seriously the most badass cleanser of all time. It's a charcoal based product, and charcoal is the new in beauty thing so of course I had to try it. It's kind of hard to use cuz it comes dry and you sort of have to scoop it out of the thing and then mix it with water yourself, but it goes on black and makes you feel like a jungle warrior. It's punk cleanser, that's what it is. It works great, but you do kind of have to scrub off the blackness. I'm enjoying it, but I will admit it's mostly for the novelty factor. It's not the most convenient thing in the world.

All in all, I'm still pretty satisfied with Lush's products, and I want to give a big thank you to the amazing help I got again, so shoutout to Victoria from Quakerbridge Mall!

Can't wait for the next major Lush haul!

Beauty Boxes: The Good, the Bad, and the Glossy

One of the first things I did when I decided to start experimenting more with makeup and skincare was sign up for some monthly subscription boxes. I wanted a way to try a lot of different types of products from brands that might be new to me without having to commit to buying a full size. Plus, I really like getting packages in the mail. I always say it's like Christmas. 

The first one I found was actually Glossybox, through ICovetThee.com, which is one of the first beauty blogs I started reading and still one of my favourites. Glossybox is by far still my favourite. The quality of the products is higher for the price point, and the amount/size of products is totally worth what I pay each month. I always get about 5 products, some full size and some more of a travel size. I have found some really great brands through Glossybox (Anatomicals and Fresh, to name a few), and I always am really pleased with the type of products given. When you sign up, you let them know your skin and hair type and what kinds of products you like (makeup, skincare, etc) so that the products are tailored for you. Like most beauty boxes, you can also order products you like through the website and leave reviews. By far, I've been most impressed by the products I've gotten through Glossybox. It's super high quality, and totally worth it. It's the first box I recommend to people looking to try new products.

This month's box features Puffy the Eyebag Slayer by Anatomicals (their product names are the BEST - my other favourite by them is a rose-scented body wash called You Need A Blooming Shower); City of Angels nail polish by Lauren B (an emerging brand); Truffle Therapy Serum by Skin&Co Roma (great moisturizer); Colour Fanatic Hair Beautifyer for Coloured Hair; and Kala black eyeliner pencil by Sumita Beauty (which is dooooooooope and exactly the kind of dark black badass eyeliner pencil I've been searching for). Other boxes has gifted me with Fresh and Vichy brand moisturizers, great hair products, exfoliants, and even an eyelash curler and the BEAUTYBLENDER! Winner.

Julep was the second box I signed up for after seeing ads for it. One of the best things about Julep is that you can get your first box free with the code FREEBOX when you sign up (use my link here ). You create a profile based on your colour preferences and style, and each month you get two new nail polish colours and a beauty product (three nail colours if you're an It Girl). As a Maven, you'll also have access to special deals and Secret Shops during the month. One of the best things about Julep Maven is that you can preview what will be in your box and change your profile choice if you aren't happy with that month's colours, and often if they're sending out beauty products, you'll also get to pick what colour you want in that too. 

Julep offers high quality nail varnishes (seriously, they last all week) and products. I've gotten lip glosses, eyeshadow palettes, and their new liquid eyeshadow (and this month, a special candy treat! They sent candy corns for Halloween too). I've always been really happy with the colours, and their customer service is great. I received a broken product only once, and they were quick to replace it with a new one. 

Sign Up to be a Julep Maven here

Wantable came to my attention fairly recently, and I wanted to give it a try. It's more expensive than the other boxes at $32 a month, but boasts high quality luxury products and a more selective tailoring system. When you sign up for Wantable, you choose not only what types of products you like but also colours, textures, and styles - as specific as whether you like metallics or mattes, lipsticks or lip glosses, etc on a like-neutral-dislike scale. I was excited about this system because I'm really picky about the colours I use. 

However, my first box (top photo) was a huge disappointment. I don't wear blue or brown as a rule and two of my products were blue tinted, and the lipstick was more brown than I really liked. After contacting customer service with my disappointment, I learned that you can actually return your box - either completely or partially  - and get a refund. I ended up keeping only one product from my first box and then ordering another one (bottom photo) which was much more satisfactory. I'm still not 100% impressed, but the second attempt was better. But if the whole shtick is that you can be selective about colours, at least let me put in what I absolutely do not want! I ended up emailing them after ordering the second box to make sure I didn't get any ugly blue things again. I'm going to give it one more month to see how the next month is. Wantable also has intimates and accessories options for monthly boxes if that's more up your alley. 

Sign up for a Wantable box here

I also tried Birchbox in the beginning but ended up cancelling - the product sizes were small (only "tester" sizes/packets and barely worth it. The only thing I like about Birchbox is that they have a wide range of brands they work with and an online shop where you can buy fullsizes. 

Overall, I cannot sing the praises of Glossybox and Julep Maven enough. Wantable is still a wait and see, but I loved the concept of subscription boxes. 

Does anyone have any other subscription boxes they'd recommend, or great/negative experiences! Share in the comments! 

From the Queen of Bones: Testing Too Faced Bronzers, Scrubs, and Julep Polish

A while back, my good friend the Evil Queen passed some product my way. I’ve yet to repay her for her kindness but this is a start! Her castaways ended up being some of my favorite products. Now, I’ve never been one for a daily makeup routine, but when I do wear makeup, I go all out. 

A bit of background:

My mother has blessed me with three things; decent skin, big boobs, and a fast metabolism. Only one of those is relevant to this blog post. My skin is neither dry nor oily, I only use face wash 3-4 times per week, and I only break out around that time of the month. I’ve been using Kimberly Sayer’s Almond & Lavender Face Scrub for the last year or so with awesome results. It’s an organic product (you can actually see the chunks of almond in the scrub) and is gentle but effective for all skin types. It’s a great exfoliator and smells fantastic. The Sayer scrub just randomly appeared in my house and no one was using it so I obviously claimed it as mine like any good Queen would. Unfortunately I’ve run low and since I’m an adult still living on a college student budget, I’ve reverted back to St. Ive’s Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange Scrub, available at your local drug store. It’s not bad. Less exfoliating but still satisfactory for my skin, plus I prefer the smell of citrus in the morning.

 That being said, I don’t do a lot to my face in terms of foundation. I have awesome freckles and I don’t like covering them up. Regularly, I only use my Eucerin moisturizer +SPF and maybe a little bit of concealer under my eyes and on problem areas. I started using BB cream when I do put on a full face of makeup because it gives me light coverage and a nice healthy glow. This is where Christina’s presents come into play. She gifted me a Sue Devitt pressed powder, Too Faced bronzer, Julep polish, Too Faced Beauty Balm, and Marchesa perfume. I began using the Sue Devitt Triple C-Weed Pressed Powder in replacement of my crummy NYC translucent powder with miraculous results. It was still sheer and shine absorbing but gave a much smoother finish on top of my BB cream. 

 I tended not to use bronzer outside of the summer months because I’m so pale it just makes my face look dirty. I also haven’t used bronzer since I figured out how to use it correctly. Now that I’m educated its been working out much better for me. I look less dead in the winter now. I really like the matte finish of the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer and it smells like cocoa powder. No joke. Its amazing. 

The item I was most excited about that Christina sent me was a Julep nail polish. It was supposed to be the only item I was getting but she tossed in the others for funsies. When I was working much less back in May/June than I am now so I spent a lot of my free time experimenting with nail art and new polishes. A majority of my polishes right now are Revlon or Wet-n-Wild so I was thrilled to have a polish in my collection with strong pigment that I didn’t need to apply 5 coats to achieve the color it was supposed to look like. I was gifted Julep’s  “Brielle,” a really nice, rich pumpkin color. The picture here is literally one coat of polish and then topcoat. My final decision on it is that I’m in love and when I have spare money to sign up to be a Maven (Sign up for monthly Julep Maven boxes here!) , I’m taking that opportunity to chuck all my junky polish and start anew with some more sophisticated colors.

I’ve yet to try the beauty balm (saving it for a special occasion since its such a tiny tube) and I’m not a big perfume person so I can’t speak to the actual notes in Marchesa but I can say it smells really nice. I’ve also tried Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Cream as per the Evil Queen’s review and I’m in LOVE. I don’t get the sticky residue I got from other products after touching my hair and I get nice soft curls instead of that gross crunchy look. An added bonus is that it’s affordable and readily available at drug stores.

Stay beautiful,

From The Good Queen: My Amazing Sephora Experience featuring Estee Lauder, Urban Decay, NARS & more!

I've been in a rut lately. Around Christmas I began trying new moisturizers because my tried-and-true BareMinerals was just not cutting it in this dry winter air. Also, I'm now in my mid-30s and not only is my skin changing, but it's time to get serious about anti-aging. I've also been feeling as if I need an entirely new routine. A dear friend told me that you can get your face done at Sephora for free with a $50 purchase -  how easy is that?! - and I've been searching for a free weekend day to go. That day finally arrived. When I went to make the appointment I discovered that there is another option: a personal beauty consultation. More in-depth and a minimum $125 purchase. Sign. Me. Up.

The appointment is supposed to last for 90 minutes. But thanks to a cancellation, my personal beauty adviser (PBA), Rosita, spent two hours with me. A PBA-in-training, Sharee, set me up in a private room in the back of the store, offered bottled water and snacks, and made me feel like a real VIP.  Sharee removed the tinted moisturizer and concealer I had on with a Caudalie makeup remover product and, because I mentioned dry skin, applied an amazing, life-changing product called GLAMGLOW Thirstymud as a masque. Rosita and I talked for a while at first about my concerns and what I was looking to achieve that day. I also brought along a all the e.l.f. brushes, e.l.f. geometric eyeshadow palette and Stila Portrait of a Perfect Eye my fabulous sister The Evil Queen gave me for Christmas, but I unfortunately have no idea how to use.

The next step was prep. The store was hosting an Estee Lauder global makeup artist and skincare expert named Derek for the day. Rosita had him come in and give me a mini-facial. Derek first cleansed with a product called Perfectly Clean, which is a non-foaming cream cleanser that doubles as a moisture mask. He recommended applying before I get in the shower, letting the product and steam work some magic, and either rinsing or buffing off with my Clarisonic. Then he used a pair of classic serums: Advanced Night Repair and Advanced Night Repair Eye. After the serums he applied Advanced Time Zone eye cream, a new product called Revitalizing Supreme, and Resilience Lift Night for the neck and decolletage.

LESSON #1: "Night" creams and serums can and should be used during the day. 

Between the GlamGlow and the fabulous Estee Lauder products, my skin has never felt better. I bought the GlamGlow, cleanser and serums. They were expensive but worth it. 

I will use the moisturizers I have (Clinique Moisture Surge Intense and Moisture Surge Eye) and will consider the Estee Lauder creams when it's time for new. And one of my self-discovery items that I may keep up forever is Clinique's Take the Day Off oil cleanser. I've been using it at night only for two weeks and I'm obsessed with it. Oils are a new trend that I hope stays around, because this cleanser is an absolute must for my dry winter skin.

Rosita stated with eyes. I had my face done at the BareMinerals boutique once and they did this also. I think the reasoning is so you don't get eyeshadow dust all over your under eye concealer. I've been trying this at home for a few days and it's a trick I will stick with. She applied Urban Decay Primer Potion using a brush, which allows for more control and only the amount of product you need, as opposed to applying with your finger. Rosita taught me how to play with color, which is something I've never been good at, and how to layer and blend eyeshadows. We went through my brushes and pallets at the same time so I could replicate the look at home. She used a BareMinerals Ready 4.0 pallete called The Happy Place: a pretty peach shimmer on my lids, matte grey in the crease, and shimmery plum as eyeliner.

LESSON #2: Apply eyeshadow first.

LESSON #3: Apply eyeshadow primer with a brush.

LESSON #4: Blend your eyeshadows!

Before we got started with foundation, Rosita color matched my face using this neat Sephora + Pantone computer system. Basically, this device takes pictures of your face in three places and spits out a code, which you then plug in to the in-store system or the Sephora website to get a complete list of all the foundations that match your skin color. You can email it to yourself and save it to your Sephora.com profile. No more testers! No more buying something that is perfect in the store but looks weird in natural light! It's pretty amazing. We tried a few different options but settled on Makeup Forever Professional Face & Body Foundation. The product is lightweight, sheer-to-medium coverage, and made of 80% water. Rosita applied Makeup Forever Professional HD primer and foundation using a cute pink Beauty Blender sponge. She applied a NARS concealer to my under eye area in a V-shape, extending the V up past the outer corner of my eye for a lifting effect, and blended with the sponge. Then she added a Sephora Smoothing & Brightening Concealer in rose to the inner eye and dark circles and blended with the sponge. The combined effect was fantastic and I've been able to replicate it successfully at home.

LESSON #5: Have your foundation color matched by a professional. It's free and easy!

LESSON #6: Apply undereye concealer in a V shape for a lifting effect. 

Rosita then brought out a NARS palette called NARSissist cheek: bronzer, Orgasm blush, and highlighter in one. She taught me how to use all three products for a combined sculpting effect that is great for everyday contouring and highlighting without being full-on Kim Kardashian. She finished the look off with a Sephora Collection Nano lip liner and lipstick, and a fantastic Tarte pencil called EmphasEYES Inner Rim Liner in nude that gives a natural bright and awake look. Advising that I shouldn't need to set with powder, Rosita gave me a light spritz of a Caudalie spray by L'Wren Scott and, after checking that the mascara I'd applied at home that morning was still in good shape, I was good to go. 

I've been able to replicate everything successfully at home because the entire concept of the PBA is to teach you how to do it all yourself. I use Urban Decay All-Nighter setting spray before leaving the house in the morning. At lunch, I use translucent powder (BareMinerals READY luminizing Mineral Veil) on my nose to reduce shine. It's been a week and I am very pleased with the long-lasting effects. My skin is happy and I feel fabulous.

Evil Queen Beauty's Favourites of 2013 Part 3: ELF palettes, Serge Normant, Bumble&bumble, Not Your Mother's, and Fragrance picks

So I posted a little bit about the major E.L.F. hauls that I had this year, but I want to talk more about the palettes. ELF has a lot of great palette options that are so inexpensive it's insane not to stock up. There are a ton of their geometric palettes in all sizes and colours - mine is the 32 piece - which are coordinated for every kind of use - lots of great neutrals for everyday in varying shades, plus great bright colours for something special. They're just the right amount of shimmer, and the great thing about all of these palettes is that they can fit in your purse. The Prism Eyeshadow Palette are perfect jewel-tones which are great for going out looks and are completely my colours, and is my favourite palette out of the ones I have. The 22 piece Mini On-The-Go Pallette is smaller than your cellphone and is great for travelling. It comes with 12 eyeshadows, 4 lip colours, 3 blushers, and a mascara with a wide range of colours. If you're looking to get some colours into your makeup kit without buying individual eyeshadows, these are a great option.

I'm pretty weird when it comes to fragrances. I think of scents as colours and the colours have to match/coordinate with what I'm wearing. My standard is Pink Sugar which is obviously a pink scent, then I also use Wild by Ralph Lauren (red) and Fame by Lady Gaga (black). I got a sample of a Tokyomilk Dark scent in with a Sephora order and immediately fell in love - they're dark, mysterious, sexy scents and I've loved all the ones I've picked up so far. Right now I have both Destiny #79 which is a very musty, woody, midnight floral scent (Jasmine, Fresh-Cut Ginger, Honeysuckle, Rose, Davana notes - a black or purple scent) and Tainted Love #62 which is lighter, more fruity (a pink or lime green scent). I carry both in my purse. I love them, I want to have their babies, I want to smell like Tokyomilk Dark forever. 

BCBG's Bon Genre is definitely a pink scent, it's floral and spicy, and very light. It came in one of my Glossyboxes, which is great because I love having the little rollerballs or spritzers to travel with. I forget to put perfume on sometimes so I carry them in my bag and spritz on the train (probably much to the annoyance of my fellow travelers, but whatever).

This year has definitely been a huge development in the haircare department. I have huge, frizzy, poofball hair that has always been hard to manage. I was just flat ironing the hell out of it and hoping for the best or curling and ending up looking like Shirley Temple, without much thought to finding the right products.  I'm glad I made a real effort this year to help my poor poofball head.

The Serge Normant products are amazing, especially the Meta Silk Shampoo and Meta Velour Conditioner. I also really love the Meta Luxe Hair Spray and the Meta Sheer Dry Oil which is great for calming frizzies and flyaways without being too oily. I can't WAIT to try the Meta Revive Dry Conditioner, cuz I think it's going to be a haircare gamechanger. Definitely worth the investment.

At some point I'm going to do a full post about Not Your Mother's, but I cannot rave enough about Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream. It has been quite a search for a curl cream that appeals to my laziness - I want something that I can just put in, scrunch a little, and let air dry and it'll come out with great curls/waves. This is it. I've tried a few other curl creams and the Not Your Mother's is by far the best, plus it smells amazing.

The Lock Luster Oil Treatment also smells amazing and is great for pre-styling heat protection. It gives my hair a nice and sleek look without being too heavy or oily, and I only need a very little bit to get the effect I want.

I posted before about my temporary pink hair which I totally loved, and it was all thanks to Bumble&bumble's Spraychalk. So easy to use, great colour payoff even on my dark hair, and it completed an absolutely perfect look.  I want to try all the other colours. No. I want to dye my fucking hair pink. I will do it one of these days!


And that concludes my 3 part 2013 favourites! Back to your regularly scheduled EQB posts soon!

Evil Queen Beauty's Favourites of 2013 Part 2: Friends with Benefits

On my first Sephora haul, I picked up a sampler box of Benefit products called "Goodtime Gals", and it contained the absolute gem that is Girl Meets Pearl. It's sort of a liquid highlighter with a really good sheen that gives you that dewy, radiant look without being too overpowering. What I've been doing is putting a little on the apples of my cheeks and my cheekbones to get that highlight, but you could really use it just about anywhere you needed a little bit of a light reflector.

Watt's Up has a similar highlighting effect but much more subtle. It's a cream stick instead of a liquid and is a little less powerful than the Girl Meets Pearl. I've been using it when I want just a little bit of glow on my cheeks and also under my eyebrows. I have Watt's Up in a travel size too, so it can go in my purse and I just swipe some  on when I need it for that little lift. They're maybe not every day products, but they work really well. Definitely going to buy the full size when it comes time to do so.

A lot of bloggers have been raving about the They're Real Mascara, and I kind of have to join in a little bit. I used to use Benefit's Bad Gal but found that it flaked a little too much. Since then I've been using Buxom Lash for my everyday, which is great but doesn't give me as much drama as the Bad Gal did. They're Real is all up on the drama. You get thick, long lashes and it's a great effect for going out. I had a little trouble with clumping but not so much with flaking, which is great. It's still a great product from Benefit and definitely worth a buy.

Now the Benefit Skincare Kit is definitely something I want to rave about. I'm always looking for great moisturizers and exfoliators, and Benefit is one of my favourite brands so I was looking forward to trying out their skincare line. The Total Moisture Facial Cream is fucking perfect. It's thick, creamy, lasts all day, smells nice, soaks perfectly into my skin, and is definitely a fullsize purchase. I've been using it at night and my Fresh Moisturizer during the day, but you could also use it during the day. Definitely loving it.

Out of the skincare kit I also really love the It's Potent Eye Cream which is so smooth and great for my tired morning eyes. It helps  moisturize that area (which I need, from scrubbing off all that winged eyeliner) and brightens any darkness that's there. I've also just started using the Moisture Prep Toning Lotion after reading Into The Gloss' "What Is Toner" and I'm liking it so far. It gives me a nice base before my moisturizer in the morning, and is cooling and creamy.

I really like that you can get a sample pack, and I highly recommend it if you're looking for a new skincare line to try, and the packaging is very old-timey apothecary looking which I love. They remind me of Harry Potter potion bottles! They have other products like the Remove It Makeup Remover and the Ultra Radiance Facial Re-Hydrating Mist that I'm interested in trying too.

Over all, loving what Benefit is doing right now.

Evil Queen Beauty's Favourites of 2013 Part 1: Getting Naked with Urban Decay & Fresh skincare

Happy 2014, Beauty Queens! It's time for the obligatory 2013 favourites post.

I'm going to start off with the best thing that 2013 had to offer, the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette. The Naked Palettes have been a big hit with the blogger world, but up until now, they've all been too, well, brown. I'm not a brown person, and actually I actively avoid it. All these "natural" palettes are brown and beige and fucking boring. So I haven't really been all that thrilled with the Naked palettes until now. There was a huge buzz when UD announced that they were doing a third version, and I was SO THRILLED to find that it was a beautiful pinky palette. They call them "rose gold" shades, and they range from soft glimmery pinks to more golden colours, and a lovely defining grey and black with red glimmers at the end. It's safe to say I'm in love, and there are so many beautiful combinations that I really feel like I never need another palette again. The colours blend flawlessly and last all day, and the brush that comes with the set is pretty much perfect for creating a multitude of looks. I'm so pleased and it was totally worth the money.

Urban Decay is one of my favourite brands, so the other products I'm putting on this list are the Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup which I use every day and pair with their Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion and I always set with All Nighter Setting Spray. I used to use their cream-to-powder foundation, but since that has been discountinued, the liquid foundation has been serving me well. I definitely recommend using the primer though as I find it wears a little bit by the end of the work day.

The B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray was something that came in a sample bag and I was a little bit confused as to what it was for, but I use it before I put on my moisturizer and it really helps my skin absorb the moisture and stay moisturized throughout the day. Right after I shower I spritz it on and I never feel wanting for moisture, even with the winter cold. It's really useful if you have super dry skin like me.

Fresh is definitely my favourite skincare brand of 2013. They're a little bit on the pricey end but I really love the products and they've lasted me a good long time, so I don't regret shelling out for them. The Soy Face Cleanser and Moisturizing Cream are part of my daily skincare routine and have never failed me. My skin has never felt softer and smoother.

The Brown Sugar Body Polish works wonders for my skin. I have very dry skin which can get scratchy and flaky, and this stuff makes everything smooth as all get out. The first time I used it at my boyfriend's place, he said I was "all marinated", so it passes the boy touch test! I use the Sugar Lip Polish before I put on my lipstick and it really helps soothe my chapped winter lips so that my lipstick goes on flawless and stays flawless throughout the day. Pretty much is my entire skincare routine was Fresh products, I'd be really happy. I'd be broke, but really happy, and with fucking flawless skin.

Stay tuned for part 2,

Tearing My Skin Off: An Adventure in Exfoliating

I feel like sometimes I don't really get the point of exfoliating. It's supposed to clear off all the dead skin cells so my skin is all radiant and such, right? Right. But sometimes it just feels like I'm scrubbing my face off. 

Okay so last post I talked a little bit about the Soap & Glory Greatest Scrub Of All (which is on sale at Sephora now for anyone looking for stocking stuffers). Super smooth, really gentle, smells really nice and pepperminty, and definitely a keeper. And I still love the Fresh Umbrian Clay Mattifying Exfoliant , but I'm running out of it. So it was time to try some of the samples that had come in my Glossybox/Birchboxes. 

So, I'm not as impressed with Birchbox as I am with Glossybox. I feel like I get higher quality and better sized products from Glossybox. But I wanted to try the Dr Brant Microdermabrasian Exfoliant because I've heard a lot of good things about the brand. 

I used it in the shower in conjunction with my Soap & Glory Clarity Face Soap which was probably a mistake because afterwards I felt like my face was on fire. Apparently cleansing and then exfoliating with this stuff is a recipe for disaster, which is weird because I didn't have that problem with any of the other ones. Maybe that means it's good, maybe it's supposed to burn my damn face off. Maybe some people need their faces burned off to get that ever elusive youthful glow. But now I'm terrified of it. 

However, not as terrified as I am of the Sesha Renu Exfoliating Gel which came in my Glossybox. THIS IS NOT A JOKE. IT PEELS YOUR FACE OFF. I'm not even kidding. You rub it on dry skin, and it's a gel formula so it goes on wet. And then it dries. AND THEN YOUR SKIN PEELS OFF. Little white flakes of your FACE. And it smells like a damn electrical fire, which is cool for the first minute until you realize that it's ON YOUR FACE. And it seemed to work pretty well, I felt nice and smooth after. But it's JUST SO WEIRD AND TERRIFYING. 

I think I'll try the Dr Brant again without cleansing, but honestly, I am not in this for my face to get destroyed.  In fact, quite the opposite. So I think I'll stick with Fresh and Soap & Glory, thanks. 

x

Christina

Glorificus

I have to admit that what first interested me in Soap & Glory products was the packaging. I'm a sucker for anything retro looking, and whenever I'd see S&G in Sephora, I'd think "Shit, that stuff looks so cool, it must be really good, I have to try it one day." So finally I did, and I'm really pleased about it.

I've had A Great Kisser for a while and it's one of the best lip balms I've ever tried. It's really moisturizing, but not sticky at all, so when I kiss my boyfriend I don't feel like I have to wipe it off (or wipe it off him). It stays for a really long time without drying out, which is awesome. Mine is peach scented, but I hear it also comes in peppermint or vanilla (which I think is the one I'll try next, when this runs out).

Both The Greatest Scrub Of All and Flake Away Body Polish are very gentle exfoliators, for face and body respectively. Last post I talked about the Fresh face and body exfoliators that I have, and in comparison, these are very much lighter and creamier. My skin is very dry so sometimes I feel like I need a really great scrub, but these are good for every day/every other day or if your skin is sensitive. The exfoliating beads are very gentle, and the smell is very subtle and pleasant.

Clarity 3-In-1 Daily-Detox Vitamin C Facial Wash feels much more gel-like in comparison to the Fresh cleanser, and also has little exfoliator beads for a gentle massaging effect. It's cooling and minty which leaves my face feeling very refreshed, which is great after a workout or a long day out when I feel particularly dirty and worn down.

There are a lot of other Soap and Glory products I want to try, particularly their hand and foot creams since everything else I have by them is so moisturizing. But all in all, the products are very gentle and smell great!

x
Christina

VIB status achieved!

So the other day I leveled up at Sephora and became a VIB! I'm actually really stoked about this, because the package not only came with 10% off my next purchase and Free shipping, but also a card for a 45-minute makeover, which I am totally going to cash in for my birthday next month. Playing at Sephora is one of my favourite things to do when I have the time, and I've had pretty good luck with the recommendations they've given me, even at my local store.

I went in there to look into skin exfoliants, especially a sugar body scrub, after reading this article from Huffington Post about SW Basics of Brooklyn (which I still fully intend on trying, because the article was hilarious and convincing). I picked up Fresh's Brown Sugar Body Polish and Sugar Lip Polish, as well as samples of their Umbrian Clay facial exfoliant and Soy Moisturizing Cream. I'm loving pretty much all of it, especially the Sugar Body Polish and the exfoliant, which works much better than the Grand Central Beauty S.M.A.R.T. Skin Perfecting Polisher. That left my skin feeling dry and tight, and Fresh's product doesn't at all. There are lots of little microbeads in there that make me feel like I'm getting a good scrub, and I can feel my skin getting softer already and I've only used it twice. So next time I go back to Sephora I'm going to pick up full sizes of those, for sure, though I'm tempted to try the Facial sugar scrub too! Sugar scrubs all around!

I also picked up a small size of Urban Decay's Naked Skin BB cream to try. I'm a big fan of Urban Decay and have been using their products for a long time, and recently switched over to their Naked Skin foundation. My friend Michaela of A Mane of Her Own uses a BB cream and loves it, so I wanted to give it a go. It gave me a really nice glow and was nice and thin, very light and easy to wear. However, I didn't feel like I got enough coverage without a proper foundation. I think a BB cream like this is great for weekends or lazy days when I don't want to wear a lot of makeup or just need a little SPF, though. Definitely great for the no-makeup makeup look.