December 2015 Play By Sephora Box

Posted on January 3, 2016January 3, 2016 by Beauty Cin

Hey y’all! How’s it going?? I sure hope everyone’s new year is off to a great start! Mi e has been rather pleasant 😊 So anyways, I had previously mentioned that I was trying some of the products from my December Sephora box and I figured I could share my opinions with you.

Same cute box with six new products to try

Included in the December box is

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Matte Black
Dr. Brandt Skincare PoreDermabrasion
Smashbox Full Exposure Eye Shadow Duo
Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil
Nude Skincare Advanced Renewal Serum
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb fragrance

A super creamy but smudge-proof, highly pigmented and waterproof eyeliner. This pencil is available in over 20 colors! The possibilities are endless when you have that sort of variety. It’s sold for $19 and is said to have been tested underwater for five hours along with the rest of the Aqua collection. Worth the money? Yes, yes, yes!

Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion Pore Perfecting Exfoliator

To be completely honest, this wasn’t my fave. But I base that opinion on my own skin and it’s needs. The exfoliation in this product isn’t very strong, it’s described as non-abrasive. If I had oily or acne prone skin this would be what I want. It is said to clear pores, and reduce shine. The standard 2 oz. tube is $58 and is recommended to use along with Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer for your daily skincare needs.

I liveeeee for the Smashbox Full Exposure and Double Exposure palettes! They blow UD Naked palettes out of the water! This little duo is great to toss in your overnight makeup bag for a quick trip or to just have on hand for a little bit of color throughout the day. The colors are pigmented and apply so smoothly. Such a great add in. 😍 You can purchase the Full Exposure Travel Palette ($24), the Full Exposure Palette ($52), and the Double Exposure Pallete ($39) all at Sephora or Ulta. Definitely a must-have for your collection.

I love Fresh products. Jeffree Star himself uses several of their skincare products and we all know how perfect his skin is 👌🏻 I was super excited to try this product. Seaberry Oil is native to Siberia and has been used for generations as a natural cure for all sorts of things. Sea buckthorn (Seaberry) provides 10 times more vitamin C than oranges, has lots of antioxidants and is super high in omega fatty acids. All the good things your body needs, this oil has. This specific formula also contains cranberry seed, camellia seed, grape seed and sweet almond oils. All perfectly blended to give your skin a boost and to maintain a youthful appearance. It protects your skins natural barrier, calms and soothes, and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth! I’ve used three or four drops every other day for the past week and I’m in love love love! 😍😍😍 You can purchase a 0.5 oz for $18.50 or a 1.6 oz. for $50. Super worth it!

The reviews I’ve read on the Nude Skincare line of products are very 50/50. Either people absolutely love it and want everyone to buy it, or they hate it more than words can describe. It doesn’t help that the line is on the pricey side, given less people would be willing to try it. It’s said to contain Japanese Sea Kelp to improve elasticity and firmness, as well as Omega 9 fatty acids to hydrate and protect your skin, and also a polypeptide repair complex to renew and prevent signs of aging. As for me and this product specifically I really liked it. I noticed a bit of firming around my eye area after using this nightly for the past week and maybe in a month I’ll have no eye wrinkles?! 🙏🏻 The box included 7 samples, and 1 sample lasted nearly 3 nights for me. You can purchase the full-size product for $78.

If you along with everyone else this season are obsessed with floral, buy this! It really smells amazing and is a bit on the strong side. Which I love. It has four different floral notes including sambac jasmine, centifolia rose, cattleya orchid, and ballerina freesia followed by base notes of patchouli and vanilla. It’s a long lasting scent that will be wearable throughout spring. You can purchase several different sizes from $29-$215.
I really really liked the December box. These products, with the exclusion of the exfoliator, are things I actually want to use and most likely will purchase. ✌🏻️

Until next Sunday! Bye y’all 😘

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Lip Scrub

Posted on December 28, 2015December 28, 2015 by Beauty Cin

Hey you guys! Sure hope you’ve had a great week! Today we had a snow day ⛄️ which was awesome cause I love cold weather ☺️ Although I’m not a fan of what it does to my skin, including my lips. So I thought I’d share a product I’m super obsessed with and think you should be too!

We all know how much I love Jeffree Star Cosmetics, not only because of Jeffree himself but because the products are amazing. And his line continues to grow. He had spoke about these lip scrubs a few different times and finally they were released along with 5 holiday edition liquid lipsticks. Of course I had to buy them all.

There are currently 4 different flavors available and they’re $12 each. They’re vegan, cruelty-free, and edible. Spearmint, Mojito, Root Beer, and Strawberry Gum are the four different flavors. The Mojito flavor is my fave, it smells and tastes exactly like a Mojito. They all actually smell just like their name suggests and taste very alike as well. The jars are a great size for the price. It’s suggested that you use it before you apply your lipstick or as a part of your daily skin care routine. As for me because I’m super prone to getting very dry skin and lips, I use this nightly after I wash my face and then on occasion in the morning before I apply any makeup at all.

I think that in comparison to the Lush, Mary Kay, e.l.f., or other brands of lip scrubs I’ve tried these would go to the top of my list. They don’t leave a film like feeling on your lips and aren’t so rough that it’s irritating either.

Definitely a winner in my books, but what else would expect from Jeffree? I plan to soon do an updated swatch of all the other liquid lipsticks that have came out since my last JSC post. And I’ve also been trying the products from my December Play By Sephora box and will post that review soon! Until next time y’all!😘

I’m Real Avocado Mask Sheet

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Beauty Cin

Good evening! Hope you all had a great week! I stayed pretty busy, but made a little time to try out something that I believe is going to be a new must-have for me!

So sheet masks became a beauty trend these past two years and there have been several different brands and different types to help with allllllll your skincare needs. I’ve tried some here and there if I find an interesting one that I think could help me out. A month or so ago I stumbled across a few different ones by Tony Moly. I purchased three different types but the one that really stuck out to me was the I’m Real Avocado Mask Sheet. Let’s just say I love avocados, I love to eat them, smell them, draw them, and now wear them on my face! 😍

This product was $3.75 and is a one time use. You simply take it out, unfold it, and stick it on your face for 20-30 minutes. It’s supppppppppppperrr slimy. But just let it be. In that time frame you’ll feel the product absorbing into your skin and eventually there isn’t much slime left but enough to just massage into your face and finish it off.

This mask specifically is made with avocado extract and macadamia nut oil to really give your skin some nutrition. And I must say, my skin feels amazing! I love it! Super soft, fresh, and glowing!

Tony Moly has several products available at Ulta. Skincare, masks, and some lip care too. Keep an eye out the next time you stop in! Grab a mask and try it out! It’s a small price to pay for such a great feeling, and would be a smart way to start each week. Invest in your skin, you’ve got to keep it forever!

Bye y’all! Enjoy your week 😘

Current Face Routine

Posted on December 14, 2015December 14, 2015 by Beauty Cin

Hey y’all! I thought that for this post I’d share my most current foundation/face routine. It’s fairly basic and I use products that are super accessible and easy to find. I am constantly changing how I do things, but that comes with the territory. 😜 This however is the most current:

Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer
Tarte Clean Slate Timeless Smoothing Primer
BareMinerals Bare Skin Serum Foundation
NYX Cosmetics HD Concealer
Lorac Pro Contour Palette
BareMinerals All-Over Face Color

So of course I start with a fresh naked face. Which is key, as you don’t want to layer makeup on top of yesterday’s makeup. That’s just ABSURD. 😩

I start with my moisturizer. I struggle with very dry skin and despite many efforts I don’t always have the best experience with skin care or products to help me out. But this moisturizer came to my rescue!

This I purchased at Ulta for $16-$18 and it has lasted a long while now. Cetaphil is also widely available at many retailers like Walgreens, CVS, Target and Walmart. I use a very small amount, 1-2 pumps, and apply it all over my face. I let this sit for 3-4 minutes before doing anything else. You really feel the product absorbing into your skin, as it should. And it’s 50+ SPF, so it can be used all year around and even just by itself!
After my moisturizer has had a bit to absorb into my face I put on some primer.

I switch between using a stiff foundation brush and my ring finger to apply this. The texture is really odd on it own but once it’s on your face it’s magic! It’s as if you’ve melted it on your skin, creating a completely smooth canvas for your foundation. It fills all your pores, fine lines, and wrinkles giving you a timeless refreshed look. It’s infused with Vitamins C & E, as well as Green Bean Extract and mineral pigments. I purchased this at Ulta also for $39.00.
After my primer is completely smoothed out I apply my foundation.

BareMinerals Bare Skin Serum Foundation & Perfecting Face Brush

The first time I originally purchased this was in the BareMinerals Experience Bare Skin Kit. I went with this option because it included a full size brush, a deluxe size serum foundation, and a skin perfecting veil powder compact for $35. The brush on its own is $28, and the foundation is $29. I won on that deal 🙌🏻. I did at a later time purchase the foundation on its own, when BareMinerals was 2X points at Ulta!

The foundation itself comes in 20 different shades and is build able in coverage. I use shade Bare Linen 03 and only need 2-3 tiny drops for my entire face. Amazing right? Well that’s where this brush comes in.

The foundation on its own is great, but this specially designed brush takes it to a whole other level! Using just 2-3 drops in the small reservoir of the brush and in swift circular motions your face is beat in no time! You of course can add more drops to increase the coverage, but 3 is more than plenty. You end up with a smooth, almost naked feeling on your face. Definitely a must for a natural, no makeup, makeup day. I let this sit for just a bit before moving on.

As for concealer I prefer this one over any other.

I don’t use concealer everyday. I use it when I’m extra red or have a blemish I need to hide. This one specifically goes on super creamy, and doesn’t leave my face feeling dry or cakey. And it’s only $5! It comes in 11 different shades including a lavender, yellow, and green for color correction needs. Ulta typically has a BOGO 50% off for NYX products so you can stock up and play with different shades for a reasonable price!

After I conceal, if I need to, I move on to some slight contouring. Nothing crazy or extravagant like BellaDeLune’s gorgeous self but definitely something to give my face a shape other than round. 🙈

When the ABH contour palette was released I was obsessed. But then Lorac dropped this baby along with a special contour brush. I don’t use the brush as often, since I’ve instead opted for a fluffy face brush by e.l.f. for my contour. The palette and brush combo is $45 and I was super fortunate to purchase the set before it was released in stores and online. There are 3 highlight shades and 3 contour shades. As you may have noticed in the photo above I’ve hit pan on 2 of the 6 so far. They’re so velvety smooth that I JUST CAN’T HELP IT. They’re oil and fragrance free and create the perfect, yet simple, sculpted look. This palette is perfect for beginners and even includes a how-to photo guide to help you out!

I first apply the medium contour shade on my cheek bones in an angled downward motion, then the light contour shade just slightly on my forehead and the sides and edges of my nose. On days that I’m doing an extravagant lip I like to also apply a small amount of the light shade under my bottom lip and in the “medusa” above my top lip. I actually add blush then go back to highlight with the shimmer highlight in this palette.

BareMinerals All-Over Face Color in Enchanted Beauty

This has been my fave blush I’ve ever purchased! It’s the prettiest sheer peach glow that warms your entire look! I bought it in the BareMinerals Enchanted Beauty bag that include a total of seven products and a super cute makeup train case! It was $45 and I’ve utilized each and every piece so far. Definitely worth the splurge!

I apply this with a BareMinerals blush brush directly above my medium contour. I do so in a downward angle again until it’s perfectly blended.

I finish this up with my shimmer highlight from the Lorac Pro Contour Palette above the blush and slightly inward toward my nose, down the bridge of my nose, and right at the Cupid’s bow of my lips. It’s like a perfect Neopolitan ice cream cheek and just a great look for everyday!

I sure hope this was interesting for you guys and I wish I had a better photo in good lighting to show my work. 😞 I thank you all for reading, and until next Sunday!

Bye y’all! 😘

Play by Sephora November 2015 Box

Posted on December 7, 2015December 7, 2015 by Beauty Cin

Hey! I’ve been gone for…awhile. But I decided to commit to this again for a second time, and hopefully I put out a new post every Sunday! #goal 😁

I’m sure a lot of you have heard of the new Play by Sephora monthly box you can subscribe to that includes beauty products for you to try out. It’s super similar to ipsy, Birchbox and the Beauty Box but will come with things you probably have seen in Sephora and wanted to try. Which is what is appealing to me. I want to be sent something that I will actually use and from brands that I know I can go into a store and find again. It’s around $10.00 a month and the box is automatically shipped to you. My first box was the November box and along with a small booklet explaining each thing, here’s what it contained:

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Hydraring Primer
Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Rhubarb
Buxom Full-on Lip Cream in Dolly
Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12HR Wear Waterproof in My Boyfriend’s Jeans
Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil
Stella McCartney Stella EDP fragrance

I feel like six products for the monthly subscription price is a great deal! Considering that they’re much larger than sample size and are products I have already had my eyes on.

First up is the MUFE Hydrating Primer. I am obsessed with primers, especially those that I feel should help my skin because of how dry it is.

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Hydrating Primer

This product is just 1 of the 10 formulas that is offered in the Step 1 Skin Equalizer primer collection. This one is specifically targeted to those with normal skin, and is designed to just smooth and hydrate lightly before applying your foundation. I dabbed a bit of this on my face and it did leave a refreshing feeling. I have yet to wear it under my foundation but just based on what it felt like on its own I think I would like it. 😍 And using a primer on its own can keep your skin looking young and rested 😉

I think MUFE is a great brand and is super clever for creating and making available soooooo many different options for each of their products. I look forward to trying this under my makeup and maybe buying it in the future! You can pick this full size product up for $36.00 and choose which of the 10 options is best for you and your skin.

Now the Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil. I have previously tried a few of the lipsticks that these guys put out and the pigment is great!

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Rhubarb

I really like this pencil for an everyday application. It left a super soft and dewy finish and reminded me a lot of the Laura Geller Lip Crayons. The pigment wasn’t as dark as I was expecting based on just looking at the color but still was a nice shade of rose. The size the box sent is great and will last quite awhile. This is probably one of those products I would keep in my purse for days that I don’t have lipstick on and just want to add a bit of color and moisture to my lips.

The Buxom Full-on Lip Cream is a great little lip gloss! I loved the tingly sensation it gives that most lip plumpers do. The tingly feeling lasted quite awhile and I noticed a small change in what in lips looked like. They seemed a bit fuller but like most similar products that fades away quickly. The pencil costs $24.00 and there are nearly 19 other colors you can add to your collection! This is a deluxe sample and I’m super pleased with it!

I loved the tingly sensation it gives that most lip plumpers do. The tingly feeling lasted quite awhile and I noticed a small change in what in lips looked like. They seems a bit fuller but like most similar products that fades away quickly. This is a deluxe sample and I’m super pleased with it! The standard product is $19.00 and there are 14 shades to choose from. This color, Dolly, is perfect for everyday, natural looks and can be used over any other lip product too. Maybe over the Rhubarb pencil from Bite? 😁

Who doesn’t love the Sephora Collection? This little sample pencil doesn’t fail you. The color is super BLUE and gorgeous!

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12HR Wear Waterproof in My Boyfriend’s Jeans

Nothing super exciting or extravagant but definitely a nice pencil to have in your collection. The regular price for these pencils will run you $10.00, which is below average for any eyeliner. You never can have enough eyeliners after all!

This next product was what I got the MOST excited about. I mean, you can’t go wrong with Josie Maran and you definitely can’t go wrong with a beauty oil. I’m super happy to be adding this to my beauty routine. It doesn’t get any better than 100% Pure Argan Oil.

You can utilize this product in sooooo many ways! Josie Maran herself even adds a few drops to her morning smoothies. 🙌🏻 Argan Oil is one of the richest forms of essential fatty acids and vitamin E. It’s also one of the rarest oils, giving her 4 oz. bottle a price tag of $96.00. But definitely worth it! There is cheaper options too ranging from $16-$48.

Last but not least, the Stella McCartney Stella EDP fragrance. It smells sooooo amazing! Lots of rose and hints of peony, amber and manadarin! Spray it on you for a perfect pick me up as rose scent is a great antidepressant!

This could quite possible be my next fragrance purchase, since I really like it!
Have you subscribed to Play by Sephora? What are your thoughts on the November box? Which product was your favorite? Which one will you buy again? I can’t wait for my December box! And until next Sunday y’all! ✌🏼✌🏼 Thanks for reading!

Pro Pencil VS. Wonder Pencil

Posted on April 10, 2015April 12, 2015 by Beauty Cin

Hey y’all! I hope everyone has had a great few weeks, I know I have 😊. I wanted to post about a product a recently purchased: NYX Cosmetics Wonder Pencil. I bought it a week or so ago at Ulta because I was also getting three NYX HD Concealers and had to choose a fourth product to take full advantage of the buy one get one half off deal they had going on. I had read somewhere that the Wonder Pencil is very similar to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Pencil, which I already use. Over the course of a few days I alternated between the two pencils and found that they are actually VERY much alike.

First the Pro Pencil. We all know ABH has amazing products. This pencil doesn’t fail you. It’s $18.00 and most likely you’ll also want to purchase the ABH sharpener to go along with it. The sharpener is $6.00 and perfectly fits all of the different sized ABH pencil products. It’s also recommended to use the #20 Straight Cut Brow Brush ($18.00) with this product. My local Ulta is always out of this brush so I don’t actually own it but I do use a similar one made by e.l.f. until I get around to ordering one or finding one in store!

As for the specific uses of this pencil it has the capabilities to replace five different beauty products. Concealer, eyeshadow primer, highlighter, lip liner, and brow fixing. I have tried using it for each of these things but mainly stick with the under brow lining and outer lip lining. I wasn’t pleased with the way it concealed because of my skin, but I could see how it would work well for someone with oily or normal skin. It does blend out super easily but can feel very heavy.

It comes in two different shades, either Base 1 or Base 2. Being that there are only these two options it doesn’t leave much of a choice for all different skin tones or complexions.

I really probably should use Base 1, and I’m not sure what made me choose Base 2. It still blends out well and serves its purpose 😊.

Now the Wonder Pencil. I personally love each and every product I have purchased from NYX Cosmetics. And we can add this to the list! It’s $4.49 and if you shop regularly at Ulta you usually will find that the NYX products are on sale and if you have a coupon you can use it also!

This pencil potentially conquers three different makeup needs. Lining, concealing, and brightening. I have used this pencil as an outer lip liner and a brow definer. It perfectly edges out your brows and will blend flawlessly. I use the same e.l.f. brush with this product.

It comes in three different tones. Light, medium, and deep. I feel like this gives more of a selection to people with different skin tones and complexions as compared to the Pro Pencil only having the two yellow toned options.

I use the light tone and it leaves a very natural finish. It’s my favorite to use around my lips to prevent bleeding or feathering and to fix any imperfections around my brows.

Which would I choose again? Hands down I would choose the Wonder Pencil. It blends out better and less heavily and also I love the fact that it isn’t a huge chunky pencil but a small standard sized pencil. Being smaller it allows more precision which is super important when it comes to lips and brows. And not just for me personally but for other makeup wearers also I would suggest the Wonder Pencil over the Pro Pencil. You have more color options and it’s also perfect if you’re on a budget!

Although both products have proved useful to me I do favor one over the other. I suppose these two pencils could fall into the dupe catagory because they’re more similar than different. Have you tried these products? Which one would you buy again? Or is there another similar product you like even better?

Bye 😘

Obsessed: Jeffree Star Cosmetics

Posted on March 23, 2015March 23, 2015 by Beauty Cin

Hey there everyone! Hope you’ve had a great weekend 😊 I haven’t posted in several days because I have been super busy moving into a new apartment! But I wanted to share something on my blog that I am beyond obsessed with, the Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipsticks. If you’ve tried these I’m sure you’re just as pleased as I am, and if you haven’t you should wait by the computer and order them all as soon as they are back in stock!

The creator of the brand, Jeffree Star, is a genius that has seemingly captured lippie perfection!

There are currently eight different shades available and there is talk of a ninth shade to be released this summer. The shades in the photo above are from left to right : Redrum, I’m Royalty, Prom Night, Celebrity Skin, Unicorn Blood, Weirdo, Queen Supreme, and 714.

Each lipstick is $18.00, but there were bundles of three available at certain points for $45.00 (if I remember correctly). But either way in comparison to other lip products, both high end and drugstore brands, I do feel like these are worth every penny!

I also apologize ahead of time for the lengthy post and the awful lighting in my swatches 😕

These three shades were the first released and I purchased them in a bundle. I tried I’m Royalty first. I couldn’t get over just how beautiful the purple shade is, and how complimenting it is on so many skin tones and complexions. It lasted so well all day and without lip liner or lip primer. I found that my lips didn’t dry out, and I could eat, drink, kiss, and lick my lips without removing or smudging any of the product! As the week went on I tried both Prom Night and Redrum and learned that they also did not disappoint. Prom Night is the prettiest neon pink you’ll find, and will be such a gorgeous summer shade. If you’ve been on the hunt for the best pigmented, and rich RED, Redrum is what you’ve been dreaming of. It stops traffic I swear.

These two shades were the next released and I ordered both of them at the same time. They became available to order online at midnight PST so I waited up until 2 AM (CST) to order them, and thankfully I did because they sold out in just a matter of hours!

Celebrity Skin is the perfect “mocha nude” I would say. And I actually, more often than not, wear this for an everyday look. Unicorn Blood is such a beautiful deep red, and is everything Elvira would want in a lipstick.

This shade was released all on its own and is actually the first black lipstick I’ve ever purchased. When I picked the package up from the post office I was in the process of unpacking boxes from my storage unit and bringing them into my new apartment so I never had the chance to actually wear the color on my lips. But I did put a swatch of it on the top of my hand and it stayed there the entire day as I was cleaning, dusting, unpacking and moving furniture. It wasn’t until I showered that night that it scrubbed off. The wear on these lipsticks is so long-lasting and makes them, in my opinion, some of the best on the market.

These are the two latest shades and were released as limited edition. I believe I read Queen Supreme would be made a permanent shade, but I could be wrong. It would be perfect if it were made permanent though 😍 It is the prettiest spring pink, with the slightest lavender tint. 714 was named after the Orange County area code. I can’t decide if it’s a orange coral, or a pink coral. But I have decided that it’s also a perfect spring color.

I am absolutely in love with these products! Pictures do not do these lipsticks justice. Although I have still purchased other lip products from other brands I am constantly comparing them to these liquid lipsticks. I feel like these are hands down the best. The long lasting wear, the smooth application, and the matte realness is just PERFECT. I am wishing and hoping that the Jeffree Star Cosmetics line eventually broadens and has even more to offer. And with Jeffree in the drivers seat I can only imagine the domination.

Have you tried these products? I can’t say I recommend them enough! If you’re a lipstick person, try them out. I don’t think you’ll find any disappointment. 😊

And please feel free to follow my Instagram account by clicking the link at the bottom or searching @beautycin91 I have some makeup looks featuring some of these lipsticks posted there! Thanks! 😚

Beauty Cin

I Hope You Feel Beautiful Today

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