Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Derma E New Packaging + Review

Hello Ladies! I've been looking forward to this blog post. I finally got to try some Derma E products! I wanted to try the brand when I first heard of it so I can't wait to share my opinion with you. I also get to share with you the new packaging! 

About the Brand
Ethical Beauty

Since 1984, our passion for health, wellness and
environmental sustainability has grown strong.
We have high ethical standards and never
compromise on skin health and safety. Our
100% vegan, cruelty-free formulas do not
contain parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates,
petrolatum, mineral oil, artificial colors, gluten,
soy or GMOs. Now that’s honest-to-goodness
skin care.

Purchases support global communities and the
environment.

New Packaging

Derma E is re-launching their packaging design now until March 2017. It will be the same great formulation that everyone loves. They are updating their look to appeal 100% to their consumers. They have a full range of products like Anti-wrinkle, Hydrating, Purifying, Very Clear and more. You can find Derma E at Target, Ulta, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Bristol Farms, Sally Beauty, Walgreens, GNC, CVS, and Ralphs. I got to look at pictures of the other products in their new packaging and it all looks amazing! 





Review

The day cream came in the old packaging and I definitely like the new packaging more. If you have read the blog before you know how much I enjoy hyaluronic acid so I was happy to get moisturizers with it. The day cream is your typical moisturizer. It is thick so I don't care for it during the summer. The only con to this product is it doesn't blend into the skin easily. All of the other moisturizers I have tried I can just apply quickly this one I really have to take my time or else it leaves white residue on my skin.

I loved the packaging for the night cream. Derma E did a wonderful job re-designing the packaging. It looks like something you would find at a spa. The night cream is perfect for when my skin needs a little extra boost of moisture. I have a feeling when it gets colder I will need it. I also haven't had any trouble blending in this product.

The day and night cream are both 2 OZ and they cost $29.50 which makes me wish you got more product. I have 4 OZ moisturizers that cost less and are all natural of course with those I can't just run to the store to pick them up. If you would like to checkout the rest of their products you can look at their website they have a lot of products to choose from.


*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.


Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Valentia Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum Review

Hello Everyone! Today I bring you a review for Valentia Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum. I love to use their products so I was excited to test one of their serums. 

About the Product

A potent and luxurious lactic acid serum that supports natural circulation for an all over youthful and refreshed complexion.  

This Revitalizing Serum Will:
- Renew texture & tone
- Deeply moisturize
- Minimize fine lines
- Increase elasticity
- Brighten & Plumbs Fine Lines
- Evens Hyperpigmentation


KEY INGREDIENTS:

- Wakame Bioferment (Seaweed): Increases skin oxygen consumption to detoxify and boost antioxidant defense.

- Gotu Kola: Lessens the appearance of scars and increases skin firmness.

- Lactic Acid: A natural Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that increases skin cell turnover, for healthier renewed skin.

- Licorice: Lightens unwanted pigmentation and corrects skin discoloration.

- Argan Oil: Naturally rich in Vitamin E, this oil reduced water loss and protects skin's resiliency and elasticity. 








Review


As always I love Valentia's packaging. The only thing I don't care for is the size. It is a tiny bottle so you really don't get that much product. If it was 1.50 or 2 fl. oz. I think it would be perfect. This serum smells like argan oil and it is mother approved. I personally love the smell of argan oil so I enjoy it. I'm not sensitive to smells but I don't think it will bother anyone. And once it absorbs into your skin you can't smell it.


Like all of their serums it is really smooth and thin so it's easy to apply. You do need to spread it quickly because it absorbs into the skin really fast. All I need is two pumps to cover my face and neck. They recommend using it in the evening after cleansing your face. After it absorbs into your skin you can use your favorite moisturizer.


This is a really wonderful serum. It smooths my skin and helps keep it hydrated and even though I have some breakouts right now my skin looks good. It is made with 98% natural ingredients and it is cruelty free and paraben free. It is suitable for all skin types. It is $35 and I honestly think that's too much. I LOVE their products but I can't justify the price for such a small bottle. Yes they use quality ingredients but some of my favorite skincare is $4. If you don't mind paying the price you can purchase it on Amazon or their website

Also check out their Instagram and Facebook to see their other products.




* This product was given to me complimentary for my honest review. All opinions are my own.



Friday, September 30, 2016

20 Questions: The Makeup Tag


Hello Ladies and welcome to The Makeup Tag! Beth from La Blog Beauté tagged me and I was really excited to share a little bit about myself. So let's get started! 


1. Do You remember your first makeup item?


It was so long ago, but I think it was a CoverGirl eyeshadow trio and blush that my mom gave me. 




2. Describe your perfect mascara. Have you found "The One"? 


Volume, Length, no clumping. I don't think I have. There are so many mascaras out there that I haven't tried yet like Better Than Sex. However I really like Calvin Klein, Urban Decay Perversion, Benefit tinted Primer, and CoverGirl Super Sizer.    




3. What coverage do you like in a foundation?

It honestly depends on my skin and the look I am going for. If my skin is clear I prefer sheer coverage. If I have breakouts medium to full coverage.   




4. What's your favorite high-end brand?

It's so hard to choose! There is something about each brand that I love. I would say my top two are Too Faced and Urban Decay. 





5. What cosmetic brand are you desperate to try but haven't yet? 

Anastasia Beverly Hills, Bite Beauty, Bobbie Brown, and Kat Von D. Everytime I walk into Sephora I go straight to the Kat Von D section to swatch her palettes. 
    


 
6. Favorite drugstore brand?


Maybelline for foundation and NYX for everything else. I feel like they have the biggest selection of products especially for halloween looks! 






 

7. Do you wear fake eyelashes?


Only for special occasions and Halloween. When I get ready I don't have the time. 







8. Is there any makeup you can't leave the house without wearing? 



If I don't have time for a full face I will usually just use my Benefit tinted primer and a lip product. I'd much rather focus on my skincare. If my skin looks bad I will use a BB cream. 








9. What is your most cherished beauty product?



I have three! Champagne pop, the Chocolate Bar palette, and the Morphe 35O palette. 





10. How often do you buy a makeup product?



Not very often. It's usually only when I need to replace something or I see a good sale on things I've been wanting to try. 





11. Do you have a monthly beauty budget or spend freely?



I don't have a set budget I just know that I can't spend a ton of money. When I get money as a gift I will allow myself to spend a little more. 






12. Do you utilize coupons, rewards cards, and sales for your beauty purchases?



Absolutely! I've been able to save a decent amount of money during sales. I'm also an Ulta, Sephora, and Urban Decay member so I try to see if they have good sales.  







13. Which beauty product do you buy the most of?



Nail polish and eyeshadow! I love to go to Ulta's clearance section and find good nail polishes on sale. The Last time I got an Essie polish under 50 cents! 






14. Is there a brand that you really don't like? 


E.L.F. I know it's budget friendly but i'd rather spend a bit more on a brand that has better quality. 





15. Do you avoid certain ingredients in cosmetics like parabens or sulfates?


Not really. I've become more aware of what I put on my skin but I don't avoid certain ingredients unless they don't work well with my skin.





16. Do you have a favorite place to shop for makeup?



Ulta and Sephora. I like that Ulta has high-end and drugstore products and I like that Sephora has more high-end options.  





17. Do you like trying new skincare products or sticking to a routine?      


I try to stick to a routine but I like to switch it up every once in a while based on my skincare needs. I really enjoy trying new products though and finding new favorites. 





18. What's your favorite bath and body brand?



Bath and Body Works! I LOVE their shower gels so I stock up on them when they are on sale. I also like Lush's products.






19. If you could only buy from one brand, who would you pick?



This is a tough one. There is something about each brand that I love. For budget friendly I would choose NYX. For high-end I would have to choose Too Faced. They have really good products and the fact that some smell like chocolate doesn't hurt! 







 20. What do you love about makeup?


Everything! It helps me feel more put together and pretty. It can give me a confidence boost on my bad days. I also love how creative we can be with makeup! I love Halloween because I can kind of go crazy with the makeup.     





I hope you enjoyed the Makeup Tag I know I did trying to think about my answers for some of those questions! I would like to tag Mudpipes and Glitter and Glamour and Giggles.
  

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

MAKE Beauty Review

Hello Everyone! Today I bring you a review for the makeup brand MAKE Beauty. They are a new brand to the blog and myself so I will tell you a little bit about them. 

MAKE Beauty designs every product for personal experimentation. Every year they select a resident makeup artist to help create color palettes and limited-edition collections. It is made in NYC. Their products are paraben-free and never tested on animals. A percentage of sales is donated to their non-profit partner We See Beauty Foundation. They support women-led, worker-owned cooperative business across America. 

They sent me a sample of their matte eyeshadow in the color Alabaster and their silk cream lipstick in the color Taffy so let's get to the review!  



Review

When I was first accepted to this campaign I was really excited that I would be able to review some makeup. When I got it in the mail I was pretty disappointed in the packaging. When I looked at the lipstick I wondered how I would be able to properly review it when it doesn't look anything like the full size packaging and it was so tiny. The size wasn't an issue because I was able to test it enough but I obviously can't review the packaging for the lipstick. I can review the packaging for the eyeshadow because it's similar to the full size. I think it looks really nice, and I'm sure the full size looks better. It also has more product than most eyeshadows so that's something to consider. 

Now the product itself I was happier with. The lipstick is a pretty pink that gave me just enough color for a natural daytime look. It felt silky and conditioning on my lips. The eyeshadow is a matte peachy/eggshell. It is perfect for a base and the pigmentation looks pretty good. It would have been nice to try a color that's not close to my skin tone but oh well I love a good base shadow. It blends nicely. In the picture down below you can see both products are nicely pigmented. Both products are $25 and at first I didn't think it was worth it, but when comparing them to other brands you do get more product. And don't forget a portion of each purchase goes to the We See Beauty Foundation! 

Overall I think they are both wonderful products that are perfect for your everyday makeup. Honestly my only complaint is the packaging. When I review products I want to test everything so not being able to check out the full size packaging to determine if the product and packaging combined is worth the price was kind of bummer, but the quality product makes up for it. 

You can check out all of their products at MAKE Beauty



*These products were sent to me for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Monday, July 4, 2016

Fourth of July nail art TUTORIAL

Hello everyone! Today is the 4th of July so I thought I would do a quick nail art tutorial for you. It's really simple so anyone can do it.

What you will need:
• Base/top coat
• Red, white, blue, and silver glitter nail polish
• Stripper nail are brush if needed




1. Prep your nails for the polish.
2. Apply base coat
3. Apply as many coats of polish as necessary. I did two coats of red, three of silver and just one of the white.


4. Once the white is dry you can start your nail art. Just find the spot where you want the firework to start.


5. Wait for it to dry a little bit then add the next color.


6. Time for my favorite part GLITTER! I did it just like the others then I decided to go over some of the other sections so it would be really glittery.












7. Apply top coat and you are ready for the 4th of July!



Friday, June 17, 2016

Valentia Royal Rose Hydrating Serum Review


Hello everyone! Sorry I put this review off for so long but it's finally here! Today I am reviewing Valentia's Royal Rose Hydrating Serum.



About the Product
Royal Rose Hydrating Serum - A lightweight serum that boosts moisture and resilience while soothing and calming the skin.

This Hydrating & Nourishing Serum Will:
- Deeply moisturize skin
- Provide antioxidant protection
- Soothe & nourish dry skin
- Smooth skin tone & texture
- Boost skin radiance

Specially selected ingredients work together to achieve optimum results.

- Rose Damascena: One of the most nourishing and skin friendly natural oils, providing balance, moisture, and a variety of vitamins and minerals to the skin.

- Niacinamide (Vitamin B): This potent vitamin has been clinically proven to fade away hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and acne..

- Rosehip Seed Oil: Naturally rich in Vitamins C & A, these essential fatty acids work quickly to lock in skin's moisture.

- Evening Primrose Oil: Provides light, non-oily moisture to the skin, never clogging or irritating the skin.

- Bearberry: Reduces melanin production, thereby lightening the skin, revealing a brighter complexion.

- Lavender: Heals the skin, treating pimples, wounds, and sores. 


Review

 
Packaging: I always say this but I really love the way Valentia packages their products. The gold trim adds a touch of elegance and on this product they added gold roses.

Smell: It has a very nice floral scent. I think it's a nice mix of lavender and rose.

Texture: It's a very nice light serum. It feels really nice going on the skin.

Application: All you need is 1-2 pumps. Apply it evenly to your face and neck every evening after washing your face. After it absorbs apply your moisturizer and favorite eye cream.

Effectiveness: Now this is the part I haven't been looking forward to. I didn't feel like it did anything amazing for my skin. I think it felt really nice on my skin and I'm sure it helped a bit I just wasn't wowed like the Vitamin C Serum. My skin has been pretty nice lately so it's just been difficult to say if it's truly working for me. I will say my skin has been so nice because I've been using A lot of their products for reviews.

Value for money: It's $35 for 1.18 fl. oz. of product. Since I wasn't wowed I wouldn't pay $35 for it probably more like 25.

Availability: You can get it from Valentia's website or you can get it on Amazon.



*This post is sponsored


Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Blogger Summer Beauty Brawl: Lip Balm

Well ladies today is the last day of the Beauty Brawl. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I know there are a few products I want to try.



Product  90
Packaging  95
Price  95

I bought this product when it first came out but it didn't take me long to lose it so I knew I wanted to try it again for the brawl. The packaging is super fun like their other products. 

The lip balm feels really good on my lips and it has SPF 20. It smells and tastes pretty good. For some reason I always smell fruity pebbles. Weird right? 

I bought it at Walmart for $3.48 it is currently on sale. 

I really hope you enjoyed the Beauty Brawl. It's so fun to get to know the girls and learn about new products. Don't forget our hashtag is #beautybrawl16 also check out Mikayla's blog to see what she reviewed. 

Now that The brawl is over I have a couple of reviews that I am working on. I am also going to start doing nail art tutorials so if you have any requests leave a comment!

 



Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Blogger Summer Beauty Brawl: BB Cream

Wow is it day nine already! I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of the beauty brawl! I chose Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream.




Product  90
Packaging  85
Price  90

I like the packaging. I like that I just squeeze the product out and I can control how much product I want. 

I bought this for my trip to Disney. I didn't want to take my foundation because I knew it would be too hot but I wanted some sheer coverage so this was perfect. It has SPF 30 so you definitely need to set it. It gives me the perfect amount of coverage. It's all I've been using for foundation for almost 3 months now. 110 and 120 mixed together makes my perfect shade.

Walmart has it right now for $6.79 which is cheaper than what I paid.  

Check out Mikayla's blog to see her reviews. Don't forget our hashtag is #beautybrawl16. 


Monday, June 13, 2016

Blogger Summer Beauty Brawl: Setting Spray

Hello ladies! I can't believe it is day eight of the beauty brawl already! Today we are talking about setting spray. 


From the e.l.f. website



Product  50
Packaging  70
Price  90


I have had this setting spray for a while but I never use it. The packaging is very simple. I'm not a fan of the way the product comes out. This product only cost $3. While this brand is very affordable I have never been a fan. This product is no different. I can't tell if it does anything for me. Mine also doesn't smell very good.

Blogger Summer Beauty Brawl: Lipstick

Hello ladies! I went to Pittsburgh with my family yesterday so my post wasn't able to go up. Yesterday's review was lipstick and I chose Revlon. I have to work on three reviews so I am trying to keep them short.



Product  85
Packaging  85
Price  90

The packaging is simple but nice. The top is clear so you can see what color it is which is nice. 

The product is pretty good. The color is very bright and perfect for summer. I have been using it a lot when doing my makeup for work. Depending on what I am doing I can go a couple of hours before reapplying it. 

It cost $4.79 so it is a decent price. If you are on a budget I definitely recommend this lipstick. 

Go check out Mikayla's blog to see her review. Don't forget our hashtag is #beautybrawl16  

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Blogger Summer Beauty Brawl: Blush

Hello day six! Just like the Christmas Beauty Brawl this one is going by really fast. Today is blush day and I chose Makeup Revolutions blush in the shade Beloved.



Product  85
Packaging  75
Price  100


The packaging is just like the eye palette but I like it more for the blush. 

The blush is pretty nice. It feels very smooth and has very nice pigmentation. I decided to go with this color because it was perfect for summer. It's a very bright coral so for me a little bit goes a long way. 

This matte blush cost $5 and its a decent size. I want to try the other colors and the baked blush. It took me a little while to get used to the color but I really it.




Check out Mikayla's blog to see what she chose. Don't forget our hashtag #beautybrawl16 so you can follow us on social media.


Friday, June 10, 2016

Blogger Summer Beauty Brawl: Eye Palette

Welcome to day five of the Beauty Brawl! I can't believe we are halfway through the brawl already. Today is my favourite day because I love eyeshadow palettes. I Chose the Iconic 3 palette from Makeup Revolution. I was so excited when my Ulta started carrying Makeup Revolution so I knew I had to try it for the brawl.



Product  90
Packaging  65
Price  100

The packaging is very cheap I could see the lid breaking off easily. Of course that's what keeps the product so cheap. This 12 shadow palette only cost me $7 so I don't hate the packaging. I bought this palette because I heard it was a good dupe for the Naked 3 palette so I had to try it because $7 is WAY better than $54.

I can't say if it's an exact dupe but the pigmentation in this palette is impressive. I swatched the shadows as soon as I got home and I was happy I bought it. The dark pink and rose gold are GORGEOUS! The swatches down below don't even do it justice. 

I can't wait to play around with it some more. So far I have gotten pretty daytime looks for work but I definitely want to do a night time look. I also want to try more of their palettes. 







Check out Mikayla's blog to see her palette review.
Today was my sister's last day of third grade so we are going to enjoy some chocolate mug cakes while watching Zootopia. Have a good night ladies!