Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation

For the last couple months, I've been in the search for a perfect foundation. I find most foundations I try tend to either be the wrong shade or not enough coverage. I finally feel like I found a good one with the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD foundation.

I found it on a recent Sephora trip. After spending an hour trying to figure out what formulas  and colors of foundation are better for me, I decided to just ask for help to simplify it. I got another ColorID test. I took one a while back when the technology first launched, but I quickly forgot the match and never looked up my results. This time around, I tried out a few of the matches I had (3Y09). I had more limited options based on the strong yellow undertone in my skin and the overall shade tone. Out of the matches, I tried a Smashbox, Laura Mercier and this Make Up For Ever foundation. Out of the 3, this one matched my skin the best. And after the first few minutes, it oxidized the least. I knew right away that if it looked good all over, I would buy it on the spot. My sales associate kindly applied it all over my face and it looked fantastic. After a few hours of wear, the foundation still looked great that night. I didn't want to wash it off at the end of the night.

The first thing I love is that the shade is a perfect match for my skin tone. I use the shade Y385. It isn't too pink or yellow, and it does not oxidize. Another is the formula. It is extremely lightweight. When you pump it out of the tube, it comes out quite watery. I use my damp beautyblender to blend it into my skin. A single layer is too little coverage for me. I prefer medium to full coverage, and a single layer provides quite light coverage. But the thin formula allows me to build it up as I need it to without looking cakey. Even with 3-4 layers, it leaves my skin with a demi matte finish and quite flawless looking skin. In general, this foundation isn't providing me with Double Wear level coverage, but it is making my skin look more like skin, but a more flawless version.

This foundation also photographs beautifully. Im not one for a lot of selfies, but i do find that the formula is perfect for photos and looks great in person. Many of the foundations i've used in the past tend to have horrible white casts due to spf. This one doesn't have spf which allows it to look great in photos, but spf is always an essential under my foundation.

My only complaint about the formula is that it does cling to some of my dry spots. Over the years, my skin has transitioned from being very oily to being quite dry. And I now have dry spots that sporadically appear. They haven't been as noticeable lately because I exfoliate more often and switched up my moisturizer, but nevertheless, the formula will emphasize it if you have any.

Overall, I found that this foundation being a perfect color match has led me to downgrade my coverage. I don't really miss the excessive amount of coverage I used and I love the fact that it doesn't transfer either. I haven't worn anything else since purchasing this foundation. I highly recommend trying this one out if you struggle with color matching like I do.

xx, Lexy

Makeup Decluttering

Over the years of blogging and collecting, I have amassed quite a substantial amount of makeup. Much of what I have collected has been sitting in one of my drawers for a few years since my most used things moved with me to LA. I figured this summer was the perfect time to reflect and reorganize. I've spent the last couple of months tossing, passing on and deporting various things in my collection. drawers went from barely closing to being neatly organized.

Purging wasn't easy. Many times I sat there feeling horrible about how impulsive i've been with my collecting. The money I spent that just got tossed away like a magazine from two years ago.

But a purge was necessary. As I continue to blog and review products, I continue to add more things to my collection. Why should I keep a 4 year old lipstick if i never plan on using it again or should use it because its old.

I found that much of my makeup was old and needed to be tossed because much of it had just gone off or was about to. Most makeup products have indicators telling you how long they last for. For instance, a mascara has a shelf life of three to six months after its been opened. Lip products were my biggest purge. Probably 3/4ths of my collection went to the trash. Much of it was old and some smelled bad. Old lip products tend to harbor bacterias which could in turn make you sick.

The best thing was to clear out the old, clean up the things that were good, and make space for new additions. My favorite tip for cleaning out is to think of when I purchased it. For most of the things I tossed, I couldn't remember when it was exactly but it wasn't recently. Another thing was to think if I would ever use it again. If I have 6 red lipsticks, do I need another one? Is the formula or color special? 

Once I successfully purged things, I made sure to clean out each drawer well and placed different organizers in them to make it easier to find things. Some of my favorite are old glossy boxes and Birchboxes. I have many of these laying around and they perfectly separate different types of products like foundations and concealers. My most used favorites went towards the front of each drawer and the products I use less go towards the back. 

Overall, I purged at least half of my stash through a combination of tossing, passing on and depotting. I hope this will inspire many to do the same. Just think, holiday collections are around the corner...

xx, Lexy

Folle de Joie Parfum

For quite a while, this fragrance has been on the top of my fragrance wishlist. I received a sample of the fragrance nearly a year ago in one of my Birchboxes. Like mist of the fragrances I tend to like, this one was a bit pricey. At $98 for a 3.4 oz bottle, I found it to be a little much to justify splurging on it, especially with as many fragrances as I owned.


Returning back from Uni in LA, I found it necessary to do a massive life restructuring. This meant purging a lot of things I had that I no longer used, including purging many things with "emotional" attachments. One of the areas I had done this is in my perfume collection. I found I had 50+ bottles of perfume, many of which I haven't used in 3-4 years. I purged over half of the fragrances I had, and so I finally decided that I could splurge on a few that I have been lusting over for the last year. Folle de Joie was one of these. Instead of the sickly sweet scents I used to love, I now gravitate towards softer floral scents.  Folle de Joie is just that. A beautiful soft floral with notes of citrus. It is described as "The perfume opens with a burst of freshness from a blend of citrus and a light woodsy floral, giving way to hints of cognac. Its middle notes——jasmine and Damascenia rose——give the scent a carefree, summery vibe. Warm base notes of spicy woods and rich leather add a seductive finish." The citrus and the floral notes blend together beautifully without being too overpowering, and the citrus brightens up the fragrance. 

I do not have any other fragrances with rose as a note, so this for me is quite unique in my collection. The only other fragrance I can begin to compare this to is Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet, which smells similar at first sniff, but dies down completely differently. Something I really like about this fragrance is the longevity. It last much longer than many other fragrances I have. This is likely due to a higher concentration of perfume oils, but it outlasts many other eau de parfums I have. 

Overall, I am quite happy with my purchase. It was a splurge, but it is a fragrance which I have not been able to put down since getting. 


xx, Lexy

Victoria Beckham x Nails Inc. Judo Red

For months, I have been lusting after the VVB Victoria Beckham x Nails Inc. collection of polishes. This collection consists of two colors, Bamboo White (a blush toned white) and Judo Red ( a orange based red). I was drawn to the white shade, as I have been in love with neutral nails these past few months. Each of the two polishes retail for $25 USD, or in a duo pack for $45. I opted to just pick up the duo from Birchbox.com since I did have some points saved up.

I can honestly say that I wasn't in love with the shade Judo Red. I normally hate reds, especially orange based reds. I feel like they look terrible on my NW40 skin, in any form. But for some reason I absolutely love this polish. The shade may not be my favorite, but there is something amazing about this formula. It glides on my nails beautifully and blurs the imperfections in my nails. It lasts much longer than any traditional polish on my nails. I have no clue why, but by the next day, my nails always seem to chip somehow. with these polishes, both shades seem to last fairly well. At least 4 to 5 days without a chip. This is amazing for me. I am absolutely in love with both shades of these polishes, but in awe that an orange based red has risen to the top of my nail favorites. It may not be a color I like usually, but this formula has pushed me to go outside of my comfort zone to use a shade I traditionally loathe.

I highly recommend this shade of polish, and I do think it was worth the hefty price tag it carries. I do hope they will release a few more shades in the future.

xx, Lexy

Birchbox.com Haul!

After purchasing the Lovely Day limited edition box a few months ago, I have been saving up my points to splurge on a couple items I have been lusting after for quite a while.

The first item I picked up was the Anastasia contour kit. I have wanted this for quite a while, but I have resisted picking this up because I already have far too many bronzers and contour palettes. But after being tempted for so long, I decided to finally just invest in it. I decided last minute to order the medium to tan palette rather than the standard light to medium most people have. I figured the shades would suit my skin tone a bit better than the lighter palette.

I also decided to finally splurge on the polishes I have been lusting after for quite a while. They are the VVB x Nails Inc. polishes in Judo Red and Bamboo White. These two shades were created in collaboration with Victoria Beckham. The first shade Judo red is an orange based red, and the shade Bamboo White is a pinky cream shade. I decided to pick up the duo rather than single because I save $5 picking up the duo ($45) rather than $25 individually. After hearing a lot about the formula I knew I just had to try it.

With a 25% promo code for being a box anniversary and 500 points, I spent a total of 19.49 including a little over $5 in sales tax.

I'm already beginning to plot my next purchase. The 20% promo codes always get me.

xx, Lexy

Radha Beauty Skin Clearing Serum

For this week's beauty post, I am reviewing Radha Beauty's Skin Clearing Serum. The company was kind enough to send me the item to test out for review purposes.*

What does it do:

This product aims to help repair blemished skin. This product is perfect for those with acne prone skin who also want to use products to help with anti-aging. The description from the website states: "This Serum will help reverse the signs of aging while improving blemished skin and hyper pigmentation. In this powerful serum sulfur penetrates and creates elasticity while Niacinamide takes the red out and prevents inflammation that underlies all troubled skin issues. 20% Vitamin C repairs micro scarring, reverses sun damage, provides significant natural sun protection and rapidly creates smooth supple glowing skin. Stealthy superior retinol and salicylic acid unclog pores, speed cellular turn over, and undo the signs of aging skin."
How to use:

Apply a small amount of the product with the fingertips to the face nightly.

Verdict:

After testing this product for about two weeks, I found this product to be a nice substitute for the retinol serum I had previously been testing. I have acne prone skin so anything that can assist with that while providing skincare benefits is perfect in my book. I did see some minor success at skin clearing with this product within about a week of use. I definitely liked to see a good multitasking product which actually helped out my skin nicely.

Overall:

5/5. I liked the fact that it was both a product which contained ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid while also being effective in skin clearing with salicylic acid. I saw results after about a week of use with minor skin clearing and a nice amount of skin plumping. Overall, no complaints. 

Links: 

• Company Website
• Skin Clearing Serum

xx, Lexy

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Birchbox Lovely Day

I had some birchbox points burning a hole in my pocket so I decided to pick up their newest limited edition box the second it launched on the site. 

Each box contains:

• Cargo Powder Blush (colors will vary) or Cargo BeachBlush™

• Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum - Sample Size

• Davines Anti Aging Hand Cream

• Greenleaf Bella Freesia Candle Tin

• Harney and Sons Fine Tea Wrapped Sachets

• Illume Go Be Lovely Demi Perfume (scents will vary)

• Jouer Hydrating Lipstick (colors will vary)

• Living proof.® Perfect hair Day® (PhD) Night Cap Overnight Perfector - Sample Size

• Two (2) Nails Inc. Gel Effect Polishes in Mayfair Lane and Porchester Square

• Rituals Foaming Shower Gel - Travel Size

In my box, I received the variation of the blush in Cannes, the fragrance in coconut milk mango, and the lipstick in meg. 

Verdict: 

I was happy to see the selection of products this year contained so many full sized products. The blush and lipstick were so so colors for me. Both were too light for my taste and not something I would get much use out of. The hand cream is fabulous and smells fantastic. I also really love all of the tea bags they included. I absolutely love tea and the quality of these teas is great! The nails inc polishes were a bit of a disappointment for me. I had high hopes for the polishes and love the color. The formula however was not as impressing. It cracked and flaked off my nails fairly quickly and the formula was too watery to apply evenly. The candle smells incredible and was actually significantly larger than I had originally expected. The rollerball was quite sweet and fruity, but not a scent I would use on a daily basis. But nice nevertheless.  I have not gotten a chance to try out the rituals,living proof or the caudalie as of yet. 

Overall: 

Based on the product variations I received, I would give it a 4/5. I was thrilled to see the potential variations I could receive, but I just was disappointed in the ones I personally received. Luck I guess. But it overall was worth the $62 it retails for. 

xx, Lexy

Amara Organics Eye Gel, Retinol Serum, and Hyaluronic Acid Serum Review and Giveaway

For this week's beauty post, I am reviewing a trio of products from Amara Organics. I am testing their Eye Gel, Retinol Serum, and Hyaluronic Acid Serum . The company was kind enough to send me these items to test out for review purposes.*

 

What does it do:

According to the Hyaluronic Acid Serum attempts to:

- Plumps and hydrates skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles 

- Locks in moisture, giving skin a dewy, supple glow
- Boosts collagen production, restoring skin's natural elasticity
- Softens and smooths for a more even skin tone
- Leaves skin looking radiant and youthful

The Retinol Serum attempts to:

- Repairs skin on a molecular level to erase fine lines and wrinkles
- Stimulates collagen for firmer, smoother skin
- Speeds up skin cell turnover to fade brown spots, discoloration, and acne scars
- Improves texture and tone for a smoother, softer, more radiant complexion
- Unclogs pores to clear up acne and prevent future breakouts

The Eye Gel attempts to:

- Get rid of dark circles under eyes, puffiness, bags, sagging, and crow's feet
- Soothes and cools skin around eyes to reduce inflammation - Plumps and hydrates to fill in fine lines and wrinkles
- Tightens and firms sagging skin around the eyes
- Improves texture and tone for bright, radiant eyes

How to use:

For each of the products, apply a small amount of each product to the face morning and night. 

Verdict:

I liked each of the products. After testing out the two serums, I think both products are good in their own ways. I preferred the retinol serum for my own skin care concerns, but both products are good products. The retinol serum should only be used every other night for the first few weeks, and the hyaluronic acid serum can be used morning and night. I have been using the retinol every other night and using the hyaluronic any other time I am not using the retinol. In the mornings I follow up with a sunscreen to make sure to protect my face. The eye gel I use morning and night after whichever serum I am using that time.

Overall:

5/5 I liked all of these products. The combination of the 3 products has helped my skin feel much more supple and smooth. I haven't yet seen any benefits from the product yet aside from texture, but they often take a couple weeks to see. I will update you all to see how my skin gets along with each of the products later on.


Links: 

• Company Website
• Hyaluronic Acid Serum
• Total Repair Eye Gel
• Retinol Serum

Giveaway!

Amara is also running a giveaway of 3 of their best selling products. Included in the prize is their Vitamin C Serum, Total Repair Eye Gel, and Retinol Serum. 25 winners will be selected to receive all 3 products. Two of the products I just reviewed are included in the giveaway and also the Vitamin C Serum which I reviewed here.



Good Luck!

xx, Lexy

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March Ipsy 2015

Another belated Ipsy post (sorry), but since I decided to keep Ipsy for another month, I thought I should review that bag as well.

Pur~lisse pur~delicate gentle soy milk cleanser

This product is a 4 in one cleanser, makeup remover, skin soother, and a toner all in one. I found it to be an okay face wash. It wasn't remarkable, but it was a nice face wash that didn't dry out my skin too much. It did remove my makeup, but I still felt like it needed a little help removing my mascara.

LeeAnni Eco. 3 in 1 Revolution LIGHT Toner Serum and Moisturizer in ONE

This product is another multi use product that is a toner, serum and a moisturize. I haven't had the opportunity to test out the product yet, so I cannot give a review of the product at the current moment. 

NYX butter lipstick in Little Susie

I was first put off by the shade. I expected it to be an unflattering coral shade that I hardly ever use with my undertone. I was pleasantly surprised how creamy the formula is and how the shade was much more pink toned than it appeared in the tube. It isn't extremely pigmented, but good for everyday wear. 

Crown Brush AC012 Shadow/Crease Duet

I was really happy to receive this product in my bag this month. I am a sucker for a good brush, so a double ended eye brush was like getting two brushes at once. The quality was quite good and I would consider picking up a few more in different forms.

Pixi by petra Mesmerizing Mineral Duo in Apricot Glow

This product I was quite disappointed in. The shades looked really pretty online. I was expecting a nice duo with an espresso brown matte shade and a shimmery champagne. Unfortunately, the brown was much lighter than expected and slightly red toned, and the shimmer shade was much more orangey than gold toned. 

Overall

I thought this bag was okay, but it didn't wow me as much as last month. After hearing that Birchbox will have a partnership with rifle paper co, I thought it would be better to try and get two boxes than an okay Ipsy bag. I wasn't completely unimpressed, so maybe I would resubscribe in the future, but not for a while. Also, if they changed their point system I would likely stick around a little longer. 

xx, Lexy

Leather Nova Leather Cleaner, Leather Conditioner & Restorer, and 2-in-1 Leather Conditioner & Cleaner

For this week's beauty post, I am reviewing Leather Nova Leather Cleaner, Leather Conditioner & Restorer, and 2-in-1 Leather Conditioner & Cleaner. The company was kind enough to send me the item to test out for review purposes.* 

What does it do:

This trio of products aims to clean, protect and shine leather products. The leather cleaner works to clean leather products of oils, dirt and grime. The conditioner helps to waterproof and protect your leather items. The leather conditioner and cleaner does both cleaning and protecting your product. 

How to use:

Apply a small amount of the product with the cloth or sponge that is provided with the product.

Verdict:

After testing this product on my handbags, I found the product to work. I was amazed to see how dirty my bags have gotten over time. I really liked that the cleaner allowed me to use a safe product to clean my handbags without worrying that I would ruin them. I found that the conditioner was a little too much for some of my handbags and would likely be better suited for other products like couches that would like more of a shiny finish. I prefer the cleaner and the conditioner to be used first, and future cleaning and protecting is best done with the two in one product as a quick follow up product. 

Overall:

4/5 I liked some of the products more for certain items and others for different purposes. Overall it was a good product. My tip would be to make sure to test the product in a small corner before applying to the whole thing to make sure the product is suited to your product.


Links: 

• Company Website

xx, Lexy

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