September Empties

It's that time of the month - empties time! This month I used up a bit less products than I normally do and I also included anything that it's time to get rid off after summer (e.g. sunscreen that's gonna be expired next summer) or that doesn't work for me anymore. That's because I did some shopping throughout September and I want to enjoy all the products I have without forcing myself to use something that doesn't work well.

As always, I've gone through a bunch of sheet masks. I still love my Leaders 7 Wonders sheet masks (link), but this month I used a few more by this brand. Detox and Chill (link) are black sheet masks that feel thicker and more cloth-like than 7 Wonders line. I was expecting them to be like charcoal/mud masks, but the color didn't transfer to the skin and they didn't need to be rinsed off. I don't know what I was really expecting with these masks, but it wasn't as I imagined, so I'm not going to repurchase them. It's just me, but I prefer detoxifying/cleansing/etc. masks that are regular rinse off masks and sheet masks for hydration. Breakup with Your Ex-Skin Cells (link) was another Leaders mask that I tried out this month. I was expecting more glowy, more brightening results, but it was another mask that didn't need to be rinsed off. It felt comfortable and hydrating on the face, but I didn't notice anything special about it.

I've mentioned Biobelle #Glam (link) hydrogel mask many times. It's my favorite from the brand and I keep treating myself to it. Besides, the black lace in it looks super cute.

I love Andalou skincare products, but the sheet masks just don't go with my skin. The moment I put on this 1000 Roses Soothing sheet mask (link) my skin felt uncomfortable and I had a burning/itchy sensation. I've tried other products from 1000 Roses line and never had a problem.

This month I was very excited to try out Orgaid* sheet masks (link). These masks are formulated with USDA certified organic ingredients. I really love the packaging and that raw paper look. The brand offers 3 different masks and while I didn't notice much difference among them, I liked Greek Yogurt nourishing mask the most of all because of it's smell. The scent is light, but very refreshing. The masks had plenty of serum in them. The cloth wasn't too thin, but was comfortable on the face and applied well. These masks are not too big on the face and didn't reach my hairline on the side of the face. It's something I'm not used to as most masks feel bigger on the face, but being smaller is not a bad thing considering that I like to apply sheet masks as part of my skincare routine (I'll apply a sheet mask after a serum and before a moisturizer) and in that case the mask doesn't dampen my hair. The only negative thing I can say about them is that eyes were not cut out comfortably, so I had to adjust that myself.       

Pacifica Skin Revival micro dermabrasion scrub (link) was part of a mini facial set that I had from the brand. I tried my best to use it, but the smell was awful, so I finally had to get rid of it and not torture myself. The scrub itself was very fine and gentle and did a great job.

I received deluxe sample of Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser (link to full size) with some of my purchase. It was only a 1 oz. sample, but it lasted so long as a tiny bit goes a long a long way. I used this cleanser as my morning face wash during hot and humid days or when my skin acted up and I felt I might get a pimple. A lot of time I would massage it into my skin and leave for a few minutes as a quick mask. This cleanser really cleared my skin and prevented any breakouts without drying. I would love to repurchase.

I used Ogee Seeds of Youth* serum (link) as my moisturizer during the summer. I can get away with a more watery serum and some light moisturizer or a thicker serum on top during warmer weather, so this Ogee serum was great. It hydrated my skin well, applied and absorbed quickly.

I have a mini of Sunday Riley Luna Oil (link) that came in a set. I'm really not into oil based products, but I tried giving it a chance. I used it for a little bit, but I just couldn't stick to this product and I didn't see any results.

I received a sample of Bioderma Sebium Mat Control moisturizer (link to full size) in September's BeautyFix box. It lasted for a couple of uses and was a pretty nice moisturizer. It is light, yet hydrating. However, a few times it came out with liquid separated from the cream, which I didn't like.

For the longest time I've wanted to try Oz Naturals products and finally I've got a bunch of them. One of them was Vitamin C serum (link). It is a very watery serum, but I enjoyed using it a lot. I would apply it as my first serum and top it with another serum or moisturizer.               

I've also finished Ogee facial wipes* (link). They were ok, but nothing close to my favorite Ecocare wipes that remove the makeup in an instant. Ogee wipes were not damp enough and not "strong" enough, but I used them up to wipes my hands and makeup containers/tools when applying my makeup.

Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Coconut Water (link) smells heavenly! It's my second or third bottle. I spray this facial mist after cleansing my face before I apply any serums or moisturizer. I can't say I see some amazing effect from this water, but I enjoy the smell a lot.

Kiehl's Rare Earth deep pore cleansing masque (link) is one of those products that I thought would never end. I bought sometime in February and used quite often. At first I didn't like this mask as it applied unevenly and had pieces of masks in it, but then I changed the way I'm applying. Instead of taking out the whole needed amount and trying to apply it on my face, I would scrape off a bit of the mask with my mask brush and apply it to some part of my face. I would then go and repeat it on another part of the face. This made the application smooth and easy. The mask itself was a nice mud mask. It cleaned the skin, but didn't dry it. I would repurchase it in the future, but not too quickly as I got a little bored of using the same product for so long.   

The Natural Dentist mouthwash is my favorite for years, but I wanted to try a different flavor that's not minty, so I picked one from the kids line. I've got this rinse in Berry Blast flavor (link) hoping for a yummy taste. This mouthwash tasted sour, like a vitamin c water, so while I used it, I didn't enjoy it.

I couldn't get into using charcoal powder to whiten my teeth because of the mess it leaves in the bathroom, so I was excited to try My Magic Mud activated charcoal toothpaste in Wintergreen* (link). It seemed like a good idea, but I was wrong. The taste was ok, I wasn't crazy about it, but it was definitely more fresh, more minty tasting than plain charcoal. This toothpaste is black, so no matter what, it does leave splatter in the sink. I was fine with all that, but what bothered me was that sometimes the toothpaste would shoot out of the tube and water/liquid was separated from the toothpaste. No need to mention that it would make a mess on the counter, mirror or bathroom walls. I want easy to use products and since this wasn't one of them, I'm getting rid of it.

Rituals shower gel (link) is one of those different and exciting products. This body wash would come out like a gel, but would turn into thick foam almost instantly. It was fun to use, but I wasn't crazy about the scent and it felt like it may dry the skin in the long run.

Alba Botanica Acnedote scrub (link) is becoming a regular in my empties. I've been using it for years, I love it and I continue repurchasing it.

Every time I think about Brooklyn Botany Camellia Wonder Oil* (link) I remember its scent. It's a multi use product, but I used it as a body oil. I especially loved applying it on my legs during the summer or whenever I was wearing a dress as it gave a beautiful shine, but wouldn't make the skin greasy.

I've heard so many great reviews about Native deodorant that I had to get one myself. I got it in Coconut & Vanilla (link) and I didn't like the scent at all, but I could have used it if it worked. This deodorant turned out to be one of the biggest fails for me as it didn't do the job. The stick itself felt hard and didn't apply pleasantly to the skin. It also didn't seem to have uniform texture, so I would have to pat the deodorant in with my hand. Moreover, it didn't protect me at all, so I kept it for a while and tried in a cooler weather, but still it was a fail.

I love Bath & Body Works hand sanitizers (link) and keep them everywhere (in my bag, in the car, on my vanity, etc.). I always buy a bunch of them when a good deal is offered, so they're really cheap and they smell great.

I've had Acure Continuous Spray Sunscreen SPF 30 since the summer of 2016. After googling for a link, I realize it's not available anymore. I don't know if it's discontinued or repackaged, but I liked this sunscreen. I would apply a thick layer of it, but it wouldn't leave a white cast on my skin and it would protect my skin from the sun. I enjoyed it a lot, but since this summer I spent less time in the sun and used another sunscreen, I just couldn't use up Acure before the expiration date.

Coola SPF 30 sunscreen spray* (link) was the sunscreen I reached out for this summer. It was easy to use, it didn't leave white residue on the skin and it smelled nice. There are a few different scents to choose from, so that's a nice bonus. The container is almost empty, but it's past the expiration date, so I'm not keeping it any longer.

I love MooGoo as a brand and I enjoy their products. I've used up Skin Milk Udder Cream* (link), which I was using as a body moisturizer. It gave great hydration without making my skin greasy. It was also very gentle on th skin and calmed it down after shaving or after time in the sun. This cream smells like nuts and I enjoyed that a lot.

I'm also getting rid of leftover True Natural Organic Self Tanner in Light-Medium* (link). Since I have very light skin, I prefer buildable tan. True Natural one was the one that gives tan within a couple hours. It did save me a few times when I wanted to have a tan for going out that evening, but it's also a riskier product as any imperfection while applying will show up and there will be no time to fix it. It washes off pretty evenly though when I applied a few layers of this self tanner, it washed off more patchy. Also, the color is Light-Medium, but it's on the darker side of the light, so if you're pale, it might be too dark. I still prefer my Caribbean Solutions self tanner (review here - the packaging changed, but the product is still great), which needs to be applied 3-4 days to get the same tan, but it looks more natural and more even. 

I was using this Schoenenberger Acerola & Cranberry shampoo (link), but I didn't like it at all. First of all, I expected a nice scent, but it was almost scentless. The result wasn't great also. Actually, it made my hair blah and quite limp. I didn't finish the product, but I reused the bottle for Grow Gorgeous Back Into Roots hair mask (link). I didn't keep the original bottle, but I still wanted to include the product in the empties. This mask was amazing and I already repurchased it. While it promises volume for the hair, I didn't notice any crazy volume in my hair. However, I loved it for different reasons. This mask has minty ingredients, so it feels cooling on the skin and the feeling stays even after washing the hair. My hair is fine, so I was a little worried about putting a mask to my roots, but it worked out great. It doesn't feel oily and washes off easily. The hair is left silky, soft and shiny. I usually wash my hair every 1-2 days, but after this mask my hair looks great for 3-4 days. On the second day my hair still looks like I've just washed it. The only downside is that while the container is not that small, the mask doesn't last too long, because you need quite a lot for one use.

I've finally used up Rare Elements Essential Lite Conditioner (link). It lasted me since April. This is a salon quality product, so less is more. It left my hair soft and silky. I would repurchase it in the future, but for now I need a break.

I'm still experimenting with different hair color brands, so this month I used L'oreal Excellence Creme in color 9A (link). I usually use colors with "10", but this looked light enough in the photos. I should have known better as it wasn't light enough for me. While I'm not used to such shade, it does look nice and I enjoy it, but I still use a purple shampoo to give my hair more cool tone. The hair dye itself was nice and didn't smell bad. It applied easily and one box was enough for my long hair. I'll definitely use the same hair color in different shade next time. 

I've been using Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue EDT (link) on and off for the last 13 years. It's one of those popular scents that everyone wears and sometimes I wish I picked something else, but I just love it. I would repurchase it in the future.

I love the flavor selection of Greenland lip balms (link). It's a nice light lip balm that hydrated lips without applying too much product on them. I would use it again.

Coola Mineral Liplux SPF 30 in Tan Line* (link) is a smart spf product, because lips are often forgotten when it comes to sun protection. This tinted lip balm is on the harder side, but applied to the lips evenly. The color was very light and barely visible on the lips. I didn't like the taste as it tasted like sunscreen.

I really enjoyed YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipstick in 70 Le Nut (link to full size). The lipstick applied smoothly and lasted well. This specific color looked very natural and was barely visible on the lips. Unfortunately, the lipstick broke at the bottom, so I had to get rid of it.

I also loved using Tarte Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint in Rose (link to full size), but one day when I wanted to apply it, I noticed that the product was very dry. Since I have so many lip products, I decided to part with this one. By the way, I have the same product in another color and that one is still creamy and has nice texture.

MUFE Ultra HD foundation (link) feels light on the skin, but has good coverage. I wouldn't mind getting full size, but for now I love my YSL All Hours foundation.

I know a lot of people like Benefit They're Real mascara (link), but I'm not a fan of it. The bristles are too long for me and I keep stabbing my lid. The mascara itself doesn't do much to my lashes and I don't get the effect I'd like.

I also wasn't impressed by Lancome Monsieur Big mascara (link). Maybe I should have given it a chance and let it dry before tossing it, but I'm impatient. I like my mascaras to be great from the moment I open them. This mascara made my lashes clumpy and stuck them together.




* marks PR samples received complimentary 

Favorite Makeup Removers and Face Washes

No matter how hard I try to keep my makeup and skincare products under control, I can't help opening yet another new product. I'm impatient and I always find a good excuse why I need one more tube, on more bottle, one more package. Recently I've been going through my skincare to check what I'm using, what I've forgotten about, what I need to get rid of/re-purpose because I don't like the product or it's past the expiration date, and I came across the idea of telling about my favorite makeup removing products and face washes.

When it comes to evening skincare routine, the first thing is removing my makeup. It's a two step process for me when I remove my mascara and eye makeup and gently go with the same product all over the face, and the next step is to wash my face with a facial cleanser. Very often I choose micellar water for step one. Currently I'm using Bioderma Sensibio H2O (link) and Sukin (link) micellar waters. I've heard great things about Bioderma, but have never tried it until now. One use and I'm hooked as it's a really great product that does what it says without irritating eyes. Sukin micellar water is just ok. It does a good job, but to a degree as it's not tough enough on hard to remove mascara.

When I'm in a mood for some creamier product, I choose Andalou Lash + Lid makeup remover (link). One pump is enough to remover makeup from both eyes and to swipe over the face. I like it even though it's not as quick as a micellar water and I need to give a few seconds for the product to melt off makeup.

There are other times when for convenience (or out of laziness) I go with makeup removing wipes. I love Ecocare wipes that I've mentioned in my blog before, but since they're out of stock, I went ahead and ordered Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Cloths (link). When I got the first one out of the packaging, I was a little disappointed as it was on the dryer side. However, the wipes remove both eye and face makeup well, they don't irritate the skin and feel nice. I also love that they're individually wrapped making it easy to pack them when traveling. I like them a lot and I continue to use them without a problem.

For my second face cleansing step I choose a face wash. I  don't like makeup removing products that don't require rinsing off. I like using lighter products, but I don't prioritize a certain consistency - gel, cream or foam all work fine for me. While I like foam cleansers, I try not to use them too often so I wouldn't dry out my skin. Currently I'm using Natura Siberica Cleansing Foaming Mousse* (link), which is a very gentle, fragrance-free face wash. I tend to use it on the days when I wear no makeup or wear very light one as sometimes it doesn't remove makeup perfectly.

I love Pacifica face washes, so Quinoa Sensitive face wash (link) is no exception. It has a gel texture that feels light on the skin. It doesn't irritate my skin or my eyes, it removes makeup well and leaves my face fresh and clean without drying it. These face washes are not expensive, but they last well, so you really get your money's worth.

Another gel cleanser that I use is Drunk Elephant Beste Jelly Cleanser (link). When I purchased it, I was a little unsure as a lot of reviews mentioned that due to the packaging, the products keeps leaking. Though while I keep it on it's cap, I haven't noticed any leakage. I really like the design of it's tube and the face wash itself. It removes makeup well, yet works gently on the skin without irritating it.

Argentum Apothecary Le Savon Lune Illuminating Hydration Bar* (link) is a very special and very fancy soap. I tried using it at night to remove my makeup, but I prefer using it in the morning as my morning face wash. I wet my face, run the soap bar over it and massage my skin for a bit before rinsing it off. My skin feels awaken, fresh, soft and bright. It doesn't dry or irritate my skin and after washing it, the skin feels comfortable and not tight at all. It's a different product and I love it a lot, but the price tag is up there, so I try to make it last as long as I can.




* marks PR samples received complimentary
   

Beauty Tips & Tricks

I think I said this many times, but I'll say it again - I love makeup and skincare. Though with that comes something else. Piles of samples that I never use or there's too much product in them for one use (but the packaging is not user friendly for using again at a later day) and products that just don't work as expected. What do I do with those? The answer is simple - re-purpose! So today I'll share a few ideas on how I use up products that I would throw away otherwise.

Eye products: I'm sure everyone had that eye serum/cream/treatment that works fine, but seems to be impossible to finish up (and the expiration date was close) or something that didn't work as expected leaving skin sticky or not sinking into the skin. I've seen this trick somewhere on Instagram and after I tried it, I keep doing that. It's a very simple deal - cut your cotton pad in half (I round it up, but it's up to you) and apply your eye product generously. Apply these moistened pads to your undereyes for 10 minutes and you'll have the greatest eye mask!

Eye/face products: If you really don't like your eye or face cream/serum and can't use it as suggested above, use these products as neck or hand cream or as a body moisturizer. Anything goes for this tip, so you can use up samples, deluxe or full sized products.

Hair products: The tip for hair products is very simple. Any hair cream, leave-in conditioner, hair butter, etc that is too heavy for your hair type, that doesn't work or there's too much product in a sample can be used as a hair mask. Just apply the product literately on your hair before bedtime and wash your hair in the morning (or at least an hour before washing your hair). I have fine hair that can get overweighted by a lot of products, but I love using them up as hair mask. I apply them to my ends and halfway through hair length avoiding roots.    

Painful peel-off masks: Not all peel-off face masks are the same and while some are removed without a problem, others seem to be ripping the skin off the face. I'm not a fan of torturing myself, so I usually end up using these painful peel-off masks only on my nose area (almost like a nose strip). However, recently I came across this peel-off mask and the directions told to apply moisturizer before applying that mask. I tried this tip with another painful mask that I have and it worked! It peels off so much easier and pain-free (or at least less painful) and doesn't seem to interfere with mask's effectiveness.  

Face wash/cleanser: Face washes keep piling up in my bathroom as I don't use them up as quickly. Besides, there's always some face cleansing product that I need only a tiniest amount and it seems I can't finish it up for months. I try switching them not to gt bored, but life happens and when I get sick of using the same product over and over again or when I have sample/mini sized face washes, I use them for a different purpose. I use these cleansers as brush shampoo or as a body wash.

Lip balms: I have a ton of lip balms around my house (on my vanity, in the bathroom, on my nightstand, in the kitchen drawer, in my handbag, in my car, etc.). Sometimes I get tired of or just don't like the flavor of my lip balms, and other times I just use them as a multi purpose product. Lip balms are great as cuticle calms and the stick form makes the application easy. Also, if I'm on the go and forget/run out of my hand cream or need to hydrate my arms/legs, I can always trust my lip balm. Usually I'll rub some of it on my palm and rub my hands together to make the application more even and the balm to absorb quicker.


    

Brand Review: Passport To Organics

I love discovering new brands and introducing new products into my skincare regime, so I was very excited to try out Passport To Organics. I received three products from this brands and one by one I've included them in my skincare routine. So far they all have been working great for me and I wanted to review them.

I have some complaints about the packaging of Extreme Caffeine Eye Cream* (link), but I see that the container is different on their website now., but let me tell you about this cream first. The brand carries two caffeine eye creams and the one I have is extra strength, but it's also more fragrant, which means that it literally smells like coffee. While the scent is strong, I don't mind it and it doesn't last too long. The cream is tinted, so that helps in concealing the undereye area though it's not pigmented enough to do magic. This eye cream feels light, applies easily and sinks in well and quickly. It doesn't feel sticky on the skin. I'm using it both morning and night and I have no problems with applying other products or makeup on top of it. My only complaint is the container as the pump spits out the cream and often makes a mess around the bathroom (it gets all over the counter, walls, floor, etc.). Besides, it's hard to control how much cream comes out and usually it's more than needed. I almost learned to hold the bottle over the sink at an angle and pump really slow to have more control of how much of the product and how it comes out, but I'm usually not in a mood to burden myself with something simple as an eye cream. However, I mentioned in the beginning that it seems the company changed the container and now the cream comes in a pot, which probably doesn't cause any problems like that.

The next product that I've been using for a while now is Hyaluronic Acid Serum* (link). I usually use it at night under my moisturizer or under some other serum. This HA serum is on th thinner side, but it has some gel-like consistency and doesn't feel completely watery. The serum is fragrance free. It applies to the skin nicely, but it does leave a bit stickiness on the skin, which disappears after a while. Usually I don't wait for this serum to sink in fully and apply my other serum or moisturizer on top, and the sticky feeling disappears right away. I noticed that my skin is more hydrated and requires lighter moisturizer when using HA serum, and very often I will apply only a second serum on top of HA serum or some very light moisturizer.

I'm into acids, but I haven't used many retinol products, so I was really curious to try out Passport To Organics Retinol Cream 2.5%* (link). I use it only at night and I keep switching between AHA/BHA and retinol. While 2.5% is not the lightest concentration, my skin reacted great to this cream. I had no negative reaction, my skin didn't get irritated, it didn't burn/itch, it didn't dry out, it didn't peel. The cream has a light scent (I can't tell exactly what it reminds me of, but some spice from my kitchen cabinet) that goes away quickly.

The texture is pretty light, but it gives good hydration. The cream sinks in quickly, applies easily and one pump is enough for face and neck. After using this retinol cream for a few days, I could see that my skin was getting more even, smoother and looked better. While I have no big skin problems, I can tell a difference in my skin when I use this cream and when I don't. My skin looks better and brighter. I also love the container as it's very hygienic and it dispenses the right amount of the product.      


 

* marks PR samples received complimentary

BeautyFix September 2017 Unboxing and Review

I love surprises, but when it comes to subscription boxes, I'm torn apart. One part of me wants to open the package without any idea what is inside, and the other part of me wants to make sure that I'm getting what I will use and that I'm getting my money's worth. While I wear makeup everyday and take my skincare seriously, I don't need 5 eyeshadow palettes, 8 mascaras or 6 face creams. So the practical side of me wins and I check for spoilers before ordering any subscription box. I did a review on August's BeautyFix, and since I loved the spoiler, I decided to continue with my subscription. So here's what the September 2017 has to offer.  

NIA 24 Sun Damage Repair For Decolletage and Hands (link) was the product that got me to keep my subscription. I don't suntan on purpose, but during the summer I do get some color on my skin, especially on my arms and legs as those areas are uncovered. While I don't notice any sun spots or skin aging on these areas, I still want to take good care of my body and even out the skin tone or any sun damage that might not be visible yet. Hopefully this lotion will help me to do that. I've tested it on my arm and I liked the light, but moisturizing texture. It absorbed to the skin quickly leaving it very soft. The scent is light and pleasant.

The second spoiler that intrigued me was Bioderma Sensibio H2O micellar water (link) that I've wanted to try for a while now. I've heard so mane great things about it, but I've never tried myself.

I'm interested to try Dermalogica, so I was happy to see that BeautyFix included Precleanse Balm with Cleansing Mitt (link). I want to use up a few of my face washes before I try it out, but I can comment on the cleansing mitt already. Many brands offer them and I really don't see a difference among them. I actually have 2 of these silicone pads from Sephora and use them to wash my face every day. Since I am sensitive to vibration of different facial tools (I don't like the feeling), these pads saved me in giving my skin some extra love.

Hum included 6 packets of their Raw Beauty Green Superfood Powders (link). I'm a person who doesn't like all these powders and I usually don't like them no matter if they are mixed with water or juice or some smoothie. Though I will give these a chance and see if there is a certain flavor I prefer.

Lastly, there are 3 mini/sample sized products: Bioderma Sebium Shine Control Moisturizer (link), Manna Kadar Flutter Mascara (link) and Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Blackberry fragrance (link). I'm very excited to try the first two products as I've heard so much good about Bioderma products. I'm also always into trying new mascaras and mini ones are perfect for traveling and everyday. I use my mascaras for 3-4 months and since I never run out of one or use it up fully, these minis come in very handy. As for the fragrance, I like the scent, but it smells too edible to put on myself. Though I would love a candle, home spray or reed diffuser in that scent.  

First Impressions: Burt's Bees Fall 2017 Makeup

While browsing on Ulta.com I noticed a bunch of new makeup items from Burt's Bees. I love their lipsticks, so of course I had to try the new items. I purchased liquid foundation, mattifying powder, blush and eyebrow pencil. Ulta has a promotion until 9/9/17 giving Burt's Bees eyeshadows with $15 BB purchase, so I did get that as well. This is going to be my first impressions review on those items.

I'm showing Goodness Glow Liquid Foundation (link) in natural light and in sunshine. When it's in the sun, it shows true color though I still think this foundation runs lighter. I have light skin and purchased 1025 Natural Beige, but I wish it was a bit darker. I don't think the color selection is great in general. I do like the glass bottle and that it comes with a pump dispenser.  

You can see in these photos that I have quite a lot of product on my hand. Well, to cover my face and neck I needed twice the amount. This foundation is supposed to be full coverage, but I'd say it's more medium to full coverage as it still let my skin show through. Blending it out took longer than I'm used to, but it covered nicely on most areas of the face. The problem area was nose and around it. Those parts covered lighter and the foundation looked separated. The overall look was fine from further away, but up close you could see the imperfections.

The foundation lasted well for about 5 hours and then the nose area and the part above the lips started separating and looked patchy. I tried fixing my makeup, but it didn't seem to help. All in all, it's not a bad product, but since I have a foundation that gives me perfect results every time, I can't say this one is a great one. However, it's not the worst one and being a natural foundation it's worth a second chance.    

I purchased Mattifying Powder Foundation (link) in color 1110 Vanilla. The design of the packaging of all these products is very cute, but is made out of very light plastic that feels cheap (with the exception of liquid foundation). 

While it's called powder foundation, I don't think it's good used on its own. It's really a finishing/oil absorbing powder. This shade has a wide range fitting fair to medium skin tones, which I'm not sure about, but since I have light skin, I can't test this theory. It did look good on my skin, and it's one of the products I'm keeping.  

The powder compact is slim and it still comes with a mirror and a sponge. I use such sponges on the go, but at home I always use brushes. The powder quite impressed me. It is very finely milled and blends into the skin perfectly. It doesn't give a flat matte effect, and has some glow in it, which makes the skin look healthy and alive.  

I've got Blush (link) in shade Bare Peach. The packaging is flimsy, but the product is worth attention. The color is very universal and would go beautifully with any makeup look.

While the color is flattering on most skin tones, it's not overly pigmented. I bet you can barely see it in these swatches on my hand and it shows better in sunlight as the blush has some glow in it. While it didn't swatch too good on the hand, the color gave more pigmentation and showed up better once applied on the cheeks. The color wasn't too strong, it was quite light, but the glow was so beautiful and natural.   

Burt's Bees also came out with Eyebrow Pencil (link) that is offered in two shades: Blonde and Brunette. This pencil is very soft and cream, so it needs sharpening after each use. I don't mind it, but it's a product that won't last long. The color is very pigmented. The pencil has a spoolie on the other end making it easy to use at home and to travel with.  

I purchased both color as sometimes even darker shades work on my brows. The Brunette one didn't work for me this time as it had warmer tone, and I didn't feel like it suits me. I did keep the Blonde eyebrow pencil and I've use it almost every day since I first tried it out. The color fits me perfectly and it's actually almost identical to 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Eye Brow Powder Gel in Taupe, which is one of my all time favorite eyebrow products.   

I mentioned earlier that Ulta gives Eyeshadow (link) in Countryside Lavender with $15 Burt's Bees makeup purchase. I was interested in it anyway, so I was happy to receive it for free. However, after trying it out I'm very disappointed and this is the worst product from this line of makeup.

I'm into neutral earthy tones, and usually lavender shades aren't for me, but after seeing this palette in person, I wanted to try it as the colors seemed more beautiful and more wearable than I imagined. The top and bottom colors are matter and the middle one has glitters. The matte colors feel creamy, they're easy to pick up and are well pigmented. They do swatch better on the hand, but on the lid might need 2 layers. However, even one layer covers evenly. While thy are both nice colors, they're nothing unique and special and they're too basic to get me excited. While at last the outer shades apply well, the middle color is the problem one. No matter how hard I rubbed it, it didn't pick up with my finger and it didn't swatch on my hand. I also tried it with a brush and after dipping it and layering it on the lids at least 10 times, I could still barely see any hint of shade, and nothing that would be wearable and noticeable.