Summer Beauty Essentials

         Hi everyone! Today I am back with my essentials for summer. You will be seeing a moisturizing theme since that very hot volcanic sun of ours is working at full force to roast everything on Earth (at least here in California). Also keep in mind that you don't necessary need the exact same items as I have or even the same type of items. These are just the ones I constantly cling to in the summer.

Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Lotion Sunscreen

This goes on my body every single day! Skin cancer is not very cute. Though you should be applying sunscreen every single day regardless of the season, most people spend more time in the sun in the summer than say winter so you must protect that skin!

Boots Expert Shine Control Lotion

With Summer comes the hot, humid weather, and me sweating profusely. So to keep me from looking like a grease ball, I have been using this! Bonus, it's suppose to help control oil in the long run too.

Lumene Pure Radiance Day and Night Cream

Moisturizing is a definite must! These have been keeping my face super moisturize. I mean it's so moisturizing that when I wake up, I feel as if my face has just been soaking in lotion all night. There is also a day version, with SPF, that will keep you moisturize all day too!

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater

So ever come home and you feel like your face is overheated and full of sweat? Well this product is great for refreshing your face!

Suave Visible Glow Self-Tanning Body Lotion

If you tan super easily like me, then you know that it's a curse! You have 1 arm that's darker than the other, which is a different color than your neck, which is a different color than your face, and etc. So to even all it out, I use this! It's a gradual tan, but it's easy to control!

Bath & Body Works Secret Wonderland

By far my favorite scent from Bath & Body Works. It smells great, and is super moisturizing on the skin. Honestly your skin will be so soft you can't stop touching it! 

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream

This is definitely one of my favorite BB Creams. First off, it smells great! Second, it has sunscreen! Third, I love the light coverage!

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation

You can't even read the label, because I have used it that much! (Actually, I currently don't own it, but I did last summer and I'm dying without it this summer. It was perfect! Last all day, matte finish!) 

Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder

If you are an oily monster like me, then you need powder every single day to keep that oil away! I've been loving Coty because it's translucent, cheap, and comes in a huge container!

Yea, it's a little swatch heavy...

E.L.F. Blush in Pink Passion

I honestly didn't wear this blush for the lognest time because I was afraid of the color. Turns out, if you use a light hand and blend just a tad, it will be okay! Not to mention it gives the most lively glow to your cheeks!

Nivea A Kiss Of Vitamin Swirl

So this may have vitamins, but it also has that special ingredient, SPF! Most people put sunscreen on their face and body, but forget the lips. Let me tell you from experience, having a sunburn on your lips is not fun!

Maybelline Color Tattoo by Eyestudio

By far my favorite cream shadows on the market. They come in great colors and they last all day, even in the hot sweaty summer. Another bonus, they make great one shadow eye looks so you are bound to save time in the morning!

Seashore Frosts

Bad to the Bronze

Tenacious Teal 

          So hopefully you found this post useful! If you didn't the main take away message is, stay moisturized and keep that SPF on you at all times! Anyways, if you have any summer essentials you have been loving, I would love to know in the comments below! 

Until next time...

-Cindy

Lip Monthly July 2014 Unboxing

Lip Monthly Unboxing- There are 2 lip products in the box, the rest couldn't fit.

          Hi everyone! Today is a different post! It will be my unboxing of a subscription service called Lip Monthly I found out about through youtube. I'm not really into subscription boxes, but this was only $5 for the first month for 2-3 full size lip products and $10 each month for the following months! I thought it was worth is considering I usually pay about $3-4 for a lip product. For July, I got 4 full size lip products and a travel size hair product. Let's just into it shall we!

First off you get a card!

Then, you get the 5 products in the "box." The box retails for ~$36.47. 

Appeal Cosmetics Lipstick in Mock Up - retails $22

It's a nude with a slight hint of light pink.

City Color Lip Balm in Bright Red - retails $2.99

It's a bright red.

City Color Lip Lush Luscious Lip Color in Charm - retails $2.99

It's a glittery brown with red undertones

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss in Sunbaked - retails $6.99

It's a matte mauve color. 

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Straight Fixation Smoothing Creme- retails $1.467 (based on calculations from the 5 ounce bottle)

          For $5, I think the box is worth a try, however I don't think this box is worth $10. First off, though City Color lip products are $2.99 on their website, I have seen them in the drugstore for under $2. They also gave you 2 products from the same brand! I thought the point was to try out different brands. Not to mention, I believe the Appeal Lipstick is actually a mass produced product that makeup companies don't make but buy from manufactures and just slap their label on it. Here's my evidence...

 

Are you seeing double?

          They look mighty suspicious right? IF they are the same lipsticks, but just labeled different, then the Appeal Lipstick is really worth $2.99 and you are basically getting 3 City Color Lip Products. Aside from all the pricing and brand double dipping, I didn't think the box was appropriate for Summer. You got a bright red and a nude pink, which is great for Summer! But then, they throw in a brown lip crayon and a mauve lip gloss, which scream fall to me. Besides all that, I think what redeems the box is the quality of the products. The Appeal Lipstick applies so smooth and evenly. The City Color Lip Balm is surprisingly pigmented and moisturizing. The Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss is creamy and non-sticky. The only product I didn't really like is the City Color Lip Lush. It lacked pigmentation, it was not creamy, and I just don't like the color. I feel as if this box could be amazing if they tried to be on trend! The quality is there, they just need to attend to the details! 

          As of right now, I am unsure whether to continue my subscription. In their card they did say they would be theming the box in a  unique way, so I am quite curious! If you subscribe to Lip Monthly, I would love to know your thoughts!

Until next time..

-Cindy

Review: Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

          Hi everyone! Exciting review today, a product that is not even out yet! As the title suggests, today's review will be on the Urban Decay Perversion Mascara! I was sent this mascara from Urban Decay when they were doing a small giveaway for people to try it out. I was lucky enough to receive one and let me tell you I am so happy I got one! This mascara doesn't come out until July 13, 2014, but I figured I would give my thoughts on it if you were considering purchasing this mascara. It will retail for $22 and you can buy it on the Urban Decay website July 13th. I am unsure when you may purchase this in store at this time.
          As always, lets see the product in action before we just into the review!

With 2 coats of mascara

          According to the packaging, the product is described as:

"Get sexed up in one stroke. So intense, you might need a safe word. Perversion Mascara glides on and gets you sexy in one stroke, yet it won't quit until you say when. Like a second skin, our ultra-creamy, volumizing formula coats each lash with triple-black pigments and a deeply nourishing ingredient blend. The twisted trim on our big brush separates and defines as it lays down a generous amount of mascara-for bigger, blacker, badder lashes."

           Do I think this mascara works with just one stroke? Definitely not, I don't think any mascara can do that.
           Do I believe this mascara is ultra-creamy? Most definitely
           Do I believe this mascara is volumizing? Oh yes!
           Do I believe this mascara is pigmented? Yes!
           Do I believe it separates and defines? Yes! (As long as you don't use to much, as with all mascaras)

          According to the Urban Decay website, the product is described with stronger claims:

"Get bigger, blacker, badder lashes with our ultra-creamy, lengthening and volumizing mascara. Includes a deluxe sample of Subversion Lash Primer! So intense you might need a safe word, Perversion glides on and gets you sexy in one stroke. (Yet it won’t quit until you say when.) It’s insane how black it is…the purest, deepest, most intense black color imaginable. 

Perversion has a creamy, full-bodied texture that’s not too dry, not too wet. This allows just the right amount of “pull” so it glides through lashes. The result: incredible control for insane lashes. Go ahead and pile on coat after coat. Want to apply more before you go out at night? No problem. Even if it’s been all day since you applied, more Perversion always means more beautiful lashes. Our formula NEVER gets brittle or clumpy.  

Perversion Mascara contains Hairdensyl, a complex blend of proteins and amino acids—including marine glycogen, known to stimulate lash growth. Honey extract provides deep nourishment, sea idrolized elastine stimulates the hair follicle, and marine collagen protects. 

Perversion has a creamy, full-bodied texture that’s not too dry, not too wet. This allows just the right amount of “pull” so it glides through lashes. The result: incredible control for insane lashes. Go ahead and pile on coat after coat. Want to apply more before you go out at night? No problem. Even if it’s been all day since you applied, more Perversion always means more beautiful lashes. Our formula NEVER gets brittle or clumpy. 

The twisted trim on the high-tech, volumizing brush latches on to each lash to separate and define; finally, a volumizing mascara with a clean, clump-free finish. It pulls through lashes smoothly and lays down a generous amount of product. No need to wiggle the wand or maneuver it at all different angles! 

If you need to apply in public, you’ll look good holding Perversion. We emblazoned our gorgeous, highly metallized black tube with a big purple “Perversion” and our tagline: “Bigger. Blacker. Badder.” 

           So you can see, quite a lot more claims than what I saw in the package they sent me. the only big claim they make on their website and not the packaging is that it "NEVER gets brittle or clumpy." That is definitely a claim I do not believe in.

           Some interest facts about the brand and product:

1. There are no parabens in this mascara.
2. Urban Decay does not test on animals, according to their website! 

          As for my thoughts on this mascara, I really like it. Trust me when I say I don't like many mascaras, but I do like this one. Most mascaras wear heavily on my upper lashes and somehow starts sticking to my bottom lashes. This mascara doesn't do that! If you use 1 coat, it separates extremely well and provides volume without clumping. It's also extremely opaque and will coat over your lashes as black and not a grey black like some mascaras do. It also applies very smoothly and combs through your lashes very well. Best part about this, it doesn't flake or smear as the day goes on. It isn't waterproof so it has held up phenomenally through the summer heat! However, this mascara is far from perfect. This mascara does not build very well. If you apply a second coat, your lashes will gain more volume, but the clumping will start. Not to mention, the crunchiness starts. I never went past 2 coats, but I imagine these effects will only get worse with more coats. But, all of these effects could be avoided with just 1 coat.

          So to summarize:
Pros:

• Smooth application
• Does not wear your lashes down
• Opaque pigmentation
• Combs through lashes well
• Volumizes
• Lifts lashes well
• Doesn't flake or smear
• Easy to remove

Cons:

• Clumps and crunches with more than 1 application
• Expensive

My Overall Rating: 90/100

          Anyways, let me know your thoughts! Are you thinking about getting this or maybe not so much? Hopefully I could be as helpful as I can!

Until next time...

-Cindy