My First Stitch Fix!

Sorry if I’ve been blowing up your Twitter with little excited snippets about my first Stitch Fix being ordered, but I was so stinkin’ excited…and it came today! Yay!

Well, maybe we should start at the beginning. So what is Stitch Fix? Stitch Fix is a retail site that does some personal shopping for you and delivers it right to your door. You fill out a Style Profile (which entails some lifestyle questions, fit preferences, and selecting photos of clothes you like. You can also link your Pinterest if you have a Style board) and choose the date of your Fix. Then a personal stylist handpicks a Fix made up of five pieces of clothing and/or accessories that fit your profile. You get to try everything on at home with the things you already own, buy what you like, and return the rest in a prepaid shipping bag. Easy!

You pay a $20 styling fee up front – if you buy anything from your box, this credit gets applied to your purchase; if you return everything, Stitch Fix keeps the $20 as a fee for styling and whatnot. If you keep everything in your box, you get a 25% discount on the total. You have three days to try on everything and make your decision, which is ample time to see what you already have that goes with each piece, consult your girlfriends, etc.

I ordered a fix late last month and was expecting the box to come tomorrow. I stayed home from work sick today and was totally pumped when this morning I saw that my Fix was out for delivery. Every time I heard the downstairs door, I threw open the door and peeked around to see if the FedEx guy was here and probably frightened my neighbors a lot in the process (sorry neighbors!). Finally, this little gem was waiting…

This makes my sick day a lot better! Here’s what it looks like when you open your box –

A reminder on the process

The letter on top of the package is from my stylist, Avery. She gave me some suggestions on how to mix and match the pieces in the box and included styling cards for each item to show me different ways to wear each piece. Sorry these photos are a little blurry – maybe it’s because I was excited? I’m not sure, but I didn’t realize until I looked at them on my computer…oh well.

Beneath the papers is a little white bundle. Inside are all the goodies, folded up neatly in a way that I will never be able to replicate.

Item 1: Tullah Mini Link Pattern Bangle Set by Pixley ($42)

A shaky close-up on the clasp

I’m not much of a bracelet gal, but I actually really like these bracelets. I like that they’re not matchy-matchy but are close enough that they go together and, more importantly, with many different things. They feel heavy and durable. The bracelets open on a hinge and have a fitted clasp so that they won’t just pop off your wrist (especially if you have skinny wrists like me). They’re also very summery but can still be worn in other seasons. Still, $21 a bracelet seems a little much.

On a side note, I have these bracelets on in every clothing picture below except for the pictures for Item 3.

Verdict? Undecided

Item 2: Janet Embroidered Hem Swing Skirt by Under Skies ($58, S)

 

This angle is what killed this item for me. Yikes.

Detail on hem

I loved this skirt when I took it out of the box, although apprehensively loved it because I seem to spill things on everything I own that is white. It has a stretch waist and beautiful detailing along the hem (although it does  looks a little table cloth-ish). The skirt material has a slight textured look to it but is smooth and soft to the touch. The elastic waist cinches in at my natural waist, so I decided to tuck a tank into it. From the side? Beautiful and perfect for work. From the front? Eesh! It makes me look a little thick in the middle. My fiance started laughing when he took that shot and was like, “Man, you are going to hate this photo.” He’s right, I do! For $58, I couldn’t justify purchasing it when I only like how I look from the side.

Verdict? Return

Item 3: Lexis Chevron Print Henley Tank by Papermoon ($48, XS)

Generally speaking, I hate horizontal stripes on me. They look super cute on some people, but they tend to make me look wide (horizontal stripes draw your eyes outward). I’m very picky when I do purchase stripes, so it’s a rare occurance. Even so, there is something about a simple chevron print that I really like, so I didn’t check off “No stripes” on my Style Profile and just explained my pickiness in the comments section. Welp, Avery ran with it and put chevron right into my first Fix. Keep in mind, I like simple chevron – simple chevron this tank is not. I pulled it out of the box and was immediately like “Ick!”

Despite my initial reaction, I decided to follow Avery’s advice and try on everything in the box, regardless of initial impressions. I actually liked it a lot more once I tried it on. The first thing I tried the top on with was my bootcut jeans, but I felt that the boxy cut of the tank would go better with skinnies. My style card suggested mint skinnies, but I don’t own them in that color. However, I do own peach skinnies and they go well with the peach in the shirt. The tank is lightweight but feels well made and would look good with a cardigan for work or the fall. The tank grew on me more when I saw it in pictures – it’s actually really cute! Now the question is, is it $48 cute?

Verdict? Undecided

Item 4: Selfridge Cowl Neck Long Sleeve Top by 41Hawthorn ($48, XS)

This top was just a struggle for me from start to finish. When I grabbed it out of my box, it felt really nice – super soft and comfy. Then it struck me how thin the fabric was and I started being a lot more gentle for fear of tearing it. That is, until I struggled to put it on. There is a panel behind the cowl so that everything can drape and it’s like you have a cami in the front, but somehow I kept getting my arms under it as I slid it on. Then I had issues adjusting the cowl neck because it kept looking like just a huge mass of extra fabric (which I guess, technically, it is). As I adjusted the cowl, I kept finding spare strings gathered in the folds, like the top was already unraveling. I can see where this top would look nice on certain body shapes and builds, but it does nothing for my figure. I felt like it bulked me up (and not in the way a cozy winter sweater does).

Verdict? Return

Item 5: Wrenn V-Neck Jersey Top by Pomelo ($44, XS)

I really liked this top when I pulled it out of the box. The fabric felt great and the top seemed well-made. The color is fun and punchy, and the v-neck design is pretty unique in that it’s draped. I have a love-hate relationship with jersey though and this was no exception. It felt so nice on, but it skimmed my natural waist and then highlighted the part of my belly that I like shirts to skim across. It would be a great work shirt, but I honestly don’t think I’d wear it outside of that capacity. Avery suggested I try it with my Swing Skirt and ballet flats, and that was just a horrible combination on me.

Verdict? Return

 

In total, my box retails at $240. If I were to purchase everything in the box, which means my $20 styling fee applies plus 25% off, I’d pay $165. However, I will not be purchasing all five and am still undecided on two. I think this was a good start for Avery. I lean towards more classic clothes that I can dress up for work or style casually for everyday things (dinner dates, hanging out with friends, etc) and this Fix fits that bill. The great thing about Stitch Fix (besides the fact that a personal stylist sends you a custom box to your home!) is that you give lots of detailed feedback on each item at checkout. This means that I let Avery know what I think of the style, fit, cost, quality, etc. and she will take that all into consideration for my next Fix. I can make my fixes monthly or just sign-up whenever I’m in the mood for another.

What do you think of the two items I’m undecided on? Keep or return? What about my return items – should I reconsider before sending them back?

If you’d like to sign up for a  Stitch Fix account, I’d love it if you used my referral link! http://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3438864  Signing up for an account is totally free – you don’t get charged $20 until you order your first Fix. Don’t feel obligated to use my link, but doing so earns me credit when you sign up for your first Fix and I’d really appreciate it!  http://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3438864

 

Updates & Alerts!

Hey strangers!

Remember how I thought my life would be calmed down by now? It hasn’t calmed down at all. I’m still clawing my way out of the hole that I buried myself in at work and the two weeks that I had time to upload, my computer decided that it didn’t want to work or show any pictures in the system. Pretty standard for how things go for me, haha. Anyways, I’m working my tush off trying to get caught up and get my life back and get back to you beautiful people. Deepest apologies for leaving you all hanging, but I had to put on my big girl pants and focus on career before hobby and leisure (yuck).

Some updates for you in the beauty department before I get back to working (yes, on a Saturday night. Life is super lame in the buried-myself-in-work-hole):

1. I stumbled upon a fabulous new site/program for fashion lovers who are looking to expand or build their wardrobe or just get out of a fashion rut. Stitch Fix is like a beauty box but is a personal styling service for clothing and accessories.

You sign up and tell Stitch Fix your style, size, lifestyle, and budget preferences. The site shows you different outfits that you rate and you describe your personal tastes. The company matches you with a stylist who chooses items for your box that fit your profile; you can even link your Pinterest account to your Stitch Fix account so that your stylist can get a better idea of your fashion tastes. You sign up for a shipment date – no monthly plan here, you choose your own schedule! – and your stylist will send you five pieces that they feel suit you with suggestions on different ways to wear/style each item. You try everything on at home, decide what you want, and send back what you don’t want (return shipping is free). There is a $20 styling fee for each Fix. If you decide to keep an item, the $20 goes towards it; if you don’t keep anything, you lose the $20. However, there is bound to be something that you fall for and you get $25 off if you keep all five items. When you go back to Stitch Fix to purchase or pass on the items you were sent, you provide your stylist with feedback on each piece so that they can do an even better job on the next box. What an awesome way to be introduced to new brands and get stylish new wardrobe staples that you can try on from the comfort of home! I’m getting a Fix soon and will keep you posted. In the meantime, you can sign up for Stitch Fix too – let them know I referred you!  🙂  https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3438864

2. Hautelook continues to empty my wallet with a great array of beauty offerings. The site just had Sephora by OPI polishes for $3 a bottle and I forgot to tell you guys – beauty blogger fail. My bad. But the good news is that everyday brings new beauty goodies. Current sales include Crown Brush and a Beauty Bag, and Pur Minerals, Argan Magic Haircare, and Sibu Beauty are going live within the next few days. Sign up today and you get access to these killer sales! http://www.hautelook.com/short/3MYw6

3. I’m still getting Ipsy but haven’t been able to post my bags lately with my hectic schedule and stupid computer issues. My November and December bags were so-so, but Ipsy really brought it back to what I love with my January and February bags, so I think I’ll keep my subscription. For $10, it’s a cheap way to try new products that I might not have picked up on my own. Plus I feel like you definitely get your moneys worth – my last bag included a full-sized Zoya from the new Naturals line, which retails for about $8. This means just my polish alone was almost the cost of the entire bag, which included 4 other products plus the bag itself! Good deal. There is a waitlist for Ipsy, but sometimes the company puts up “Waitlist cuts” on Facebook where you get to skip the line, so keep an eye out if you’re interested.

Let me know if you sign up for anything and discover any new goodies that I should try! I’m hoping that I’m all caught up with work soon and can come back here with a vengeance; I’ll keep you posted along the way, so don’t forget about me!

– Jay

A Good Vice – Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette Swatches/Review

Vice ¹

      1.  An evil, degrading, or immoral practice or habit; Wicked or evil conduct or habits; corruption.

      2. Sexual immorality.

      3.  A slight personal failing.

_______________________________

I have a vice. A personal failing. Want to know what it is? I’m totally incapable of not buying Urban Decay holiday palettes and sets. Self-restraint completely abandons me and it no longer seems to matter that I have more eye shadow than any one person should. I lose reason in the face of those beautiful, colorful eye shadow pans and creamy eye liners. Sigh. And so it is without further ado that I bring you Urban Decay’s Vice 2 palette.

Click to enlarge all photos.

“Missed out the first time? Jonesing for your next fix? You’re in luck. This luxe, sophisticated palette is loaded with 20 ALL-NEW (and unbelievably gorgeous) Eyeshadow shades. Experiment with insanely cool brights, not-your-average neutrals, and sexy hits of smoke, all in our decadent, revamped formula. Every shade features our Pigment Infusion System™, the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives the formula its velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power and blendability. Even the case is luxe. It’s drenched in a pretty-but-edgy, abstract orchid design that’s applied with a special process—so no two palettes are exactly alike—and topped off with a gunmetal jeweled UD icon. With the touch of a button, the case opens slowly, seductively, to unveil all those gorgeous shadows, along with an oversized mirror and a double-ended, cruelty-free shadow/crease brush.”

First of all, I love the Vice 2 case! This sounds like such a weird thing to say, but I’m sure anyone who owns both Vice palettes knows what I’m saying. The original Vice palette was rubberize and, while it looked nice, powder, dust, and finger prints clung to it like it was nobodies business. Blech. This palette is smooth and easy to keep clean, plus it features a beautiful and unique print. Excellent choice, UD.

I also appreciate that UD kept the slow-release open of the original Vice palette for the second. Not only does it make the first time opening the palette seem a little epic, but it means that the case can stay open on its own while you play with all the pretty shades and/or use the big mirror inside.

Vice 2 is packed with 20 beauuutiful shades, which I will be breaking down for you by row, and a double-ended shadow brush. I’m a little “meh” on these Vice brushes. As it’s double-sided, it can really only be stored in the case. If I were to ever use up this palette and/or decide to keep the brush in a cup holder with my other brushes, one end would get smushed. I like the shorter-bristled end of this brush as I find the fluffy crease brush a little to big and fluffy for my taste.

The first row of shadows is what I have decided is a sultry-pretty line, combining feminine pinks and silver with smoke.

LtR: Smokeout, Lovesick, Shellshock, Coax, X-Rated in natural light

Shade

Smokeout, Lovesick, Shellshock

Smokeout is described by UD as a “dark taupey-black satin.” This is pretty spot on, although you can’t tell that Smokeout has those deep taupe undertones unless you look closely or blend it out so that some of the black fades away – it’s more of a smoky, sooty brown undertone than a taupe to me. Smokeout has a smooth, buttery formula that goes on with a lot of pigmentation but is easy to blend out (just be careful about how much you pick up! You only need a smidge of this for an entire eye).

Lovesick is a “black matte with iridescent micro-glitter.” Lovesick was a little dry and patchy, though still beautiful. The micro-glitter adds a lovely little spark that complements the girly shades in this row, but the drier texture made it harder to evenly blend.

Shellshock is a “bright metallic silver” that has amazing pigmentation and payoff. Shellshock is an extremely smooth and buttery shade with a frosty metallic finish. As with Smokeout, a little goes a longggg way. I wore some on the inner corners and bottom lash lines of my eyes and it reminded me of a cream shadow.

Shellshock, Coax, X-Rated

UD describes Coax as a “medium metallic pink with a golden iridescent micro-sparkle” – what a mouthful! Coax is a lovely pink with a subtle golden shimmer with good payoff. It isn’t as intense as Smokeout or Shellshock but builds nicely.

X-Rated is a “baby pink satin” that is cooler and more delicate than neighboring pink Coax. X-Rated has good payoff but was a little sheer on me.

The next row of shadows is what I classify as more earth-toned shades.

LtR: Prank, Madness, Strike, Stash, Poison in natural light

Shade

Prank is described as a “deep navy matte with turquoise floating pearl.” Prank is a beautiful, almost blackened navy with a turquoise shimmer that reminds me of a peacock. This shadow was smooth but could sheer out some due to a little powdery-ness, which you can see in my swatch. The shimmer looks so beautiful in the pan but I couldn’t get it to come out when worn. I tried Prank dry, wet, and layered, but the turquoise shimmer was faintly noticeable at best – UD wasn’t kidding when they described it as “floating.” Bummer.

Madness is a “bright metallic blue shimmer with blue micro-glitter.” Madness is smooth, buttery, and beautifully pigmented. The frosted metallic finish reminds me of Shellshock, though Madness is not quite as creamy. This shadow reminds me of the clear blue water of the islands, so I feel like this will be a summer shade for me.

Strike is described by UD as an “antique gold shimmer with silver micro-glitter.” Strike is an understated, frosty gold that didn’t stand out against so much as it complemented my olive skin tone. The color payoff was pretty good, but I had to build the shade up to really see it against my skin. I could see the silver micro-glitter in the pan but not when swatched or worn.

Strike, Stash, Poison

UD describes Stash as a “deep olive green shimmer with iridescent micro-sparkle.” Stash is a deep, beautiful olive with a khaki green shimmer and a frosted finish. This shadow had a smooth formula and blended pretty well. I really love the shade of this shadow and can see it pairing beautifully with a lot of different shades.

Poison is a “charcoal satin with iridescent micro-sparkle.” This is a deep, slightly brown-based gray with a fine blue shimmer. Poison was smooth to apply but had a slightly powdery formula that made it apply a little patchy and sheer in some spots, as you can see in my swatch. Poison appears more gray in person – my camera really picked up on the blue, although it was less noticeable in person.

The following row of shadows is what I classify as the jewel-tones of the palette (and is my favorite row!).

LtR: Radar, Damaged, Voodoo, Betrayal, Derailed in natural light

Radar, Damaged, Voodoo

Radar is described by UD as a “metallic brown shimmer with iridescent micro-glitter.” Wow, is this shade beautiful or what! Radar is a deep, warm brown with a golden shimmer and incredible color payoff. The formula was smooth, buttery, and reminiscent of a cream. Love it!

Damaged is a “bright metallic emerald shimmer.” Damaged is a mix of forest and shimmering emerald greens, with a frosty metallic finish. Damaged had a smooth formula that needed to be built up a little on the lid to be truly read as a green. I love this shade too.

Vodoo is described as a “metallic purple shimmer with iridescent purple micro-glitter.” Voodoo is a cool, blue-toned purple with a frosted finish. The formula was smooth and easy to work with.

Voodoo, Betrayal, Derailed

Betrayal is a “bright purple satin with blue shift.” This shadow is a pretty pink-toned lavender with a light blue shift and a pearly finish. The formula was smooth and had pretty good payoff, though it was a little sheer around the edges.

Derailed is described as a “medium metallic taupey-brown shimmer.” Derailed is a warmer, brown-gray taupe with a frosted metallic finish. This shadow was smooth, buttery, and creamy – so good!

The last row of shadows is comprised of neutrals to wear alone or mix-and-match with bolder shades.

LtR: Dope, Toxic, Habit, Ambush, Rewind in natural light

Shade

Dope, Toxic, Habit

Dope is a “warm champagne satin.” This champagne shade has some peach undertones and an almost frosted satin finish. This shadow was smooth with a nice payoff, though a little sheer around the edges. I like this for the inner corners of my eyes and/or as an under-brow highlight.

UD describes Toxic as a “metallic copper-pink shimmer with tonal micro-glitter.” UD does a great job describing this shadow, as it is copper with pink undertones and a copper shimmer. I found Toxic to be drier than most shadows, though it built up alright.

Habit is described as a “light nude matte.” This warm nude blends in well with skin, making it a great blending shade or subtle shadow for me. It had a buttery texture but didn’t always want to blend quite right for me because of it.

Habit, Ambush, Rewind

Ambush is a “metallic brown satin.” This bronzed brown had copper undertones and a metallic finish. This shade was smooth, easy to blend, and had great color payoff. I think this is such a pretty brown that stands well alone or as a complement to other shadows in this palette.

Last but not least, UD describes Rewind as a “medium brown matte.” This shade does not appear quite as dark in person as it does in my swatch. Rewind was smooth and buttery but just did not want to blend for me, becoming patchy and sheer as I blended it out. I haven’t used it much on eye looks yet, but I’m hoping it’s more cooperative.

Overall, I love Vice 2 as much as I love the original! This palette is made up of rows that work beautifully together but that can also be mixed and matched to create an endless array of eye looks. I love that with one palette I can create a neutral eye for work or can totally vamp it up for a night out. Vice 2 is gorgeous and well worth the price tag, especially given the price of individual shadows (though each Vice 2 shade is palette-exclusive…for now). Though some shadows were so-so, most are simply beautiful and have a wonderful consistency. My favorites are Stash, Radar, Damaged, and Ambush (with Madness bringing up the rear, though I know I won’t wear it as much). You can purchase this palette for $59 through Urban Decay, Sephora, and Ulta.

Did you snag Vice 2? What are your thoughts on this palette and the rest of the Urban Decay holiday lineup?

“The Art of Beauty” October 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag Review & Swatches

Another month, another Ipsy bag! Even though these bags seem to be coming later and later in the month for me, I still love coming home to find a hot pink package filled with makeup surprises waiting for me.  🙂  This month’s theme is “The Art of Beauty” – “Get ready for a month of masterful makeup tricks and delightful beauty treats. Whether you’re headed to a fancy Fall ball or impressing the crowd with a jaw-dropping avant-garde costume, this month’s brand partners have something to help perfect your Look!”

Every Ipsy customer receives a different array of products out of a possible 15 (which has been a point of contention for some subscribers who see products they want, but didn’t receive – although there is an Ipsy swap section). My Art of Beauty bag contained a full-size Zoya polish, a full-size Bella Terra Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Shimmer, a travel-size Big Sexy Hair Blow Dry Gel, a full-size Coastal Scents Medium Shadow Brush, and La Fresh Eco-Beauty cleansing wipes.

The first product in the bag I tried was the La Fresh Oil-Free Face Cleanser.

These eco-friendly, biodegradable wipes gently clean without parabens, sulfates, dyes, and other products that could irritate skin. The wipes contain good-for-skin ingredients like papaya, pineapple, cucumber, marshmallow, oat, aloe, chamomile extracts, and Vitamin C & Vitamin E. They gently clean and detoxify while removing light makeup. I’m so-so on these wipes. I don’t wear heavy makeup, but I also don’t wear light makeup – I strike a balance somewhere in between depending on how my skin is looking that day. These wipes remove a little makeup, but honestly don’t take off that much. They feel refreshing though, especially as a pick-me-up on bare skin. I also like that these cleansing wipes are good for skin and nature. A 30 pack of these wipes costs $9.99, so I’d value the 10-pack I received at 3.33.

The next product I tried was the Coastal Scents Medium Shadow brush. “This medium sized, versatile brush is ideal for applying any type of eye shadow. The pony haired bristles are both wide in shape and condensed, while remaining evenly distributed. This allows the artist to uniformly cover the whole eyelid in just a few simple strokes, which saves not only time, but eye shadow as well.”

As with the La Fresh wipes, I’m so-so on the Coastal Scents brush. I prefer synthetic bristles for texture and hygienic reasons, so I was wishing right off the bat that Ipsy/Coastal Scents had sent out the synthetic version. The bristles were a little scritchy and smelled weird (blechhh), although washing may solve both. On the plus side, I did like the shape of the brush and the density of the bristles. It applied the Bella Terra shadow quite nicely, but I think I’ll stick the brushes I already have in rotation. This Coastal Scents brush retails for $2.49.

The Coastal Scents brush went hand-in-hand with the next product I tried, the Bella Terra Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Shimmer in Emotion.

While the mineral shimmer is generally used as a dry shadow, Bella Terra suggests eight other ways to use the product –

8-in-1 Mineral Shimmers:

1. Creamy Shadow – moisten the brush to create richer, more intense eye color that doesn’t crease.
2. Matte Shadow – mix the Shimmer with Bella Terra’s Eye Primer for a matte shadow look.
3. Eyeliner – wet the tip of an eye liner brush and apply around the lash line for high-intensity eye definition.
4. Lip Color – mix any of our Shimmers with lip balm or lip gloss to create intense lip color.
5. Nail Polish – add to clear nail polish for a unique nail color that matches your eye shadow.
6. Body Glitter – mix with body lotion to create an all-over body shimmer.
7. Mascara – dip clear-color mascara or Bella Terra’s Mascara Primer brush into the Shimmer for amazing lash colors.
8. Hair Streaks – mix a small amount of Shimmer with hair gel and apply to a strand of hair for a funky, streaked look that easily washes off later.

I stuck with the regular, straight-from-the-pot eyeshadow application. Emotion is a lovely wine burgundy with shimmer that applies a little sheer but builds easily. I may try using this as a cream shadow or eyeliner, but will probably steer clear of the other suggestions just because they’re not up my alley.

Bella Terra Mineral Shimmers retail online for $14.99 each.

The next product I tried was my favorite from this month’s bag – Neve by Zoya. “Part of the Fall 2013 CASHMERES & SATINS Collection, these shades are created to work together with this season’s most stylish runway designs and luxurious fabric blends. These ultra long-wearing, glossy nail lacquers by Zoya are BIG5FREE – free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).”

Neve is a metallic sapphire almost-blurple originally designed for Zang Toi. The formula was a breeze and I love the jewel-tone of this beautiful shade – it just glows! This will be a great winter shade. Zoya retails for $8 a bottle.

The last product in my Art of Beauty bag is Big Sexy Hair Blow Dry Gel. “The Sexy Hair Blow Gel is an alcohol-free gel that thickens hair while adding volume. It also helps retain moisture so your hair never feels dry. Delivers a light to medium hold.”

I don’t blow dry or use any other heat stylers on my hair, so I haven’t tried this product and cannot vouch for it. I plan on giving it to my mom because she blow dries her hair every day and will actually get use out of it. However, I can say that I have hair care products by the line and like all of them. This travel-size bottle retails for $5.

All in all, the products in this bag add up to a total retail value of $33.81; add in the little bag and I’d round it up to $35. That’s a great value for a bag I paid $10 for – woohoo!  I certainly like this bag more than other recent ones and am getting my use out of the products already. I’m happy with Ipsy and can’t wait to see what the November bag brings.  🙂

 

Oh, Mama! theBalm Bahama Mama Swatches & Review

I was on a quest for quite some time. Not a “look.” Not a “search.” A quest.

I hunted high and low for the perfect bronzer. This one was too shimmery. That one was too orange. This one was too cakey. That one was too dry and powdery. This one wore off. That one looked like mud on my skin. Buy. Return. Buy. Give away. Buy. Swap with a friend. Buy. Hang head in defeat. I thought my hunt for the perfect bronzer would never end. And then…Hautelook featured theBalm cosmetics.

The first thing that drew me towards Bahama Mama was the cute packaging. Seriously, the old-timey pin-up style ladies on their packaging get me every time. But look how stinkin’ cute this is!

The second thing that drew me in was my experience with other products by theBalm. I have literally loved everything I’ve tried from the brand. Everything! And that’s super rare, at least for me. Usually at least one thing disgruntles me. The last thing was the description; it sounded exactly like what I was looking for – “Finally, a Caribbean getaway in a compact! This matte bronzer creates the look of beautifully tanned skin without any orange undertones for a fresh-off-the-beach glow. Bahama Mama also doubles as the perfect contour powder and matte brown eyeshadow. Yes, this tropical beauty keeps busy!” This usually $20 bronzer was only $10 courtesy of Hautelook and so it ended up in my basket.

Bahama Mama comes the same style packaging as theBalm blushes, which is to say that it comes in a sturdy little cardboard box with a mirror in the lid and a magnetic closure. I couldn’t help using this before I took a picture, so the bronzer is a little messy – sorry! Sometimes a girl just can’t help herself.

What I love about this bronzer is that it is matte, which means you can use it as an all-over bronzer OR as a contour. I swatched this while tan so it is a little hard to see against my skin if you don’t know where to look. However, the plus side for me was that the matte finish and grayish undertones meant that I was able to use it as a contour shade that helped to shade my face but in a way that looked natural instead of obvious. In the swatch photo below, Bahama Mama is swiped directly under my blog watermark.

Bahama Mama has a smooth formula that is a breeze to work with and that blends beautifully. There is no talc in the product and my skin responded well (some bronzers have made my cheeks go through horrible breakouts). You do need to watch how much you pick up on the brush because Bahama Mama is very pigmented, but that means that a little product goes a long way and it should be quite some time before you hit pan. Also, I found that using a heavier hand caused a little uneven pigmentation and spot-caking later in the day. However, I have oily skin that tends to break down products, which also affects how well products hold up on my skin over extended periods of time.

Dusted all over

I have been using Bahama Mama almost every day since my order came in – it may be safe to say that I finally found the one! We have our troubles here and there, but that happens in every relationship. For the most part, Bahama Mama and I are very happy together, especially when I have a tan. I think my compact of it will last me for a long time, but I see myself reordering whenever I do eventually hit pan.

What’s your go-to bronzer? Do you use bronzer to contour, warm up skin, or both? Let me know in the comments!

“Classic Beauty” September 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag Review & Swatches

It’s that time again – Glam Bag time! As you may have noticed, I skipped reviewing August’s bag. First of all, there was some kind of delay and I didn’t get it until almost the end of the month. I was excited for it (who doesn’t want a bag of surprise goodies delivered to their door?)…then a little perturbed but still pretty excited…then neutral…then irritated…and then it arrived. Secondly, I didn’t really care for anything in it. I got a “sneak peek” email preview with pictures of Urban Decay’s new Revolution lipstick and Smashbox’s primer and then opened my bag to find chapstick and a light mineral BB cream. Womp, womp.

September’s bag is better (although still not the best). This month’s theme is Classic Beauty and it features products central to classic, beautiful makeup looks. The bag also came with a little self-promotion from Michelle Phan (beauty blogger and one Ipsy’s founders), who is just starting a new makeup line.

 

Trial look card for em

 

 

This month I received Elizabeth Mott It’s So Big Volumizing Mascara, a NYX eyeshadow in Charcoal, Starlooks Obsidian Kohl Eye Pencil, J. Cat Beauty Fantabulous Lipstick in Honeycrisp, and skyn Iceland Hydro-Cool Firming Eye Gels. My bag featured products that could create a nude lip and smoky eye, so I can see where it fits under the “classic beauty” category. The bag is really cute this month, although I wish the outside wasn’t made out of nylon – it looks a little cheap up close (although I suppose it technically is). My other grumble is that Ipsy sent me a “sneak peek” email featuring Butter London but, just like with last month, I didn’t receive that product. I understand that each bag is different and customized, but listen Ipsy – don’t send me a teaser email for a product I’d love to have and then not send it to me. If it’s a mass email to everyone, maybe you should only do that with products that everyone will receive, like the Zoya polishes you sent out in the spring.

The first items I pulled out of my bag were the eye gels by skyn Iceland. I received two pairs and was actually excited to see these in my bag because I am currently trying to take really good care of my under eye area. The skin around your eyes is so sensitive and can age quickly; although I’m young, it’s never too early to take good care of your skin!

I haven’t tried these eye gels yet. I’m saving them for a rough day at work with my 11 year olds so that I can come home, kick back, and pamper myself. Here is how this product works – “In just ten minutes, this cooling transdermal gel patch infuses the eye area with concentrated doses of soothing ingredients to firm, tone and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Peptides and botanicals improve blood flow and reduce puffiness while advanced antioxidants help prevent future damage.” The website has some crazy before/after photos and the product has good reviews, so I am happy that these were one of my selected products. skyn Iceland eye gels retail for $30/8 pairs and I got 2 pairs, so this part of my bag is valued at $7.50.

The next thing in my bag is J. Cat Beauty’s Fantabulous Lipstick in Honeycrisp.

I groaned a little when I saw this in my bag, and not in a good way. First of all, I don’t like J. Cat Beauty. The products are cheap and the last J. Cat product that Ipsy sent me was a horrendous glitter cream palette that scratched the skin and was better suited to a 5 year old than a 24 year old. Second, the color peeking through the tube at me did not look like anything I’d ever reach for on the shelf.

It actually wasn’t as horrendous as I was anticipating, although I stand by my “J. Cat Beauty is a cheap brand” statement. The lipstick glides on, has a slightly sweet smell and creamy texture, and needs a few coats for even, opaque coverage. It’s hard to see on my hand, but it’s more of a natural nude on than it looks in the tube. It’s so nude, in fact, that my lips largely disappeared into my skin when I wore it. I tried taking a picture of this lipstick on but nothing looked quite right because you couldn’t really see my lips. Wear time is okay; I may wear this here and there when I wear a really bold eye and need a neutral lip to balance it out. J. Cat Fantabulous lipsticks come in 48 different shades and retail for $2.49.

Next up is Elizabeth Mott’s It’s So Big Volumizing Mascara. I don’t like opening mascaras until I need them because once you open a mascara and expose it to the air, you’ve introduced the product to bacteria. Once the wand has had that exposure and goes back into the tube, bacteria can easily grow because it’s living in a dark, moist environment. I don’t want that bacteria just hanging out for months until I happen to come back to that mascara; hello eye issues! With that in mind, I haven’t opened my It’s So Big (snicker) mascara yet.

This mascara is meant to lengthen and curl lashes without smudging and deliver the perfect amount of product to each lash because of the hourglass-shaped brush. Word on the street is that this mascara is nice for natural but noticeable lashes, although it won’t give you the volume needed for “Wow!” lashes. Users also report that it does hold a curl very well. It’s So Big! in full size is 10ml/$20; my sample is 4 ml, so I’d value it at about $8.

My bag also featured a NYX single eyeshadow in Charcoal. I’m kind of “eh” about NYX. They’re not bad products for the price, I just don’t love them. They’re nice but don’t knock my socks off, if you know what I mean.

I was pleasantly surprised by this eye shadow! I am a little hesitant to wear black or gray as eye shadow, but this charcoal shade was a light, buildable gray. It was pretty soft and easy to blend. Do I absolutely love it? No. Do I like it? Yes. Will I wear it? Sure! NYX single eye shadows are available in 50 shades in a variety of finishes and retail for $4.50 each.

Last but not least is the Kohl Eye Pencil by Starlooks in Obsidian. Starlooks has this to say about their product: “Dramatically emphasize your eyes with Starlooks’ intensely-pigmented Kohl Eye pencils! These ultra-soft liners glide across delicate lids without pulling. Try a smokey effect by blending outwards with a fluffy brush!”

This pencil stuttered and pulled a little as I first applied it but glided smoothly after the pencil had warmed up a bit against my skin. It gave a dark, even coverage and built up nicely. The liner is smudgeable when first applied and didn’t move on me after it had set; in fact, the swatch didn’t completely come off of my hand with soap. The only downside for me was that the wooden part of the pencil scratched me a little bit, just like my Starlooks lip liner. Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencils retail for $12.

In total, September’s Ipsy bag comes in at $34.49 in value – I definitely got more than I paid for this month! I like this month’s products. The eye liner and eye gels were my favorite things in the bag; I’m pretty impartial regarding the rest. I signed up for Ipsy to try new products and be introduced to new brands, but lately I’ve been receiving a lot of Starlooks, J. Cat, and Chella beauty products. I don’t like J. Cat and while the other two are nice, I would also like to receive a range of brands. Fingers crossed for October’s bag!

Hey Cutey!

Disclosure: The products in this review were sent for consideration by the brand or its PR office.

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You know those days where you have a lot to do and you stall and/or procrastinate instead of doing anything? Yeah, me too. I had one of those days earlier in the month and, instead of taking care of things that needed to be done, I started poking around on the web. Somehow or another I stumbled upon Cutey, a bracelet and bag website based out of the UK. As seems to always happen during web stumblings, I had no idea how I ended up on Cutey’s site – but was so glad I did!

Cutey is a newer brand committed to bringing buyers gorgeous, quality bracelets and bags. The company plans to expand their product line in the future, but is currently focusing on providing customers with existing lines done well and at a fairly reasonable price point. Cutey currently has two bracelet lines and sent me one from each for review.

The first bracelet Cutey sent me is a Shamballa bracelet – Inspired by the mythical kingdom known as Sambhala in Buddhism, regarded as a place of peace and happiness our shamballa bracelets are designed to bring a little happiness to your life. Made from the highest quality materials and available in a range of sparkling colours, these fully adjustable bracelets will fit any wrist like a match made in heaven. All with a total of nine beautiful jewel encrusted clay beads.

Each Shamballa bracelet has different colors that stand for different things. Cutey sent me the multi-colored version – Well, just look at it! There’s a festival happening right there on your wrist. Unbounded fun in the happiest of bracelets, you can choose today’s favourite colour to meditate on and plan your time off frolics.

This bracelet is so colorful and fun! It simply sparkles in the light and the fact that it’s multi-colored means that I can wear it with almost anything. Pictures can’t really convey this, but this Shamballa bracelet is so well made. The beads don’t look or feel like any of the jewels may fall out and the string is a tough, sturdy material. This is a bracelet that will last you until you get tired of wearing it! I also really like that the Shamballa bracelets are adjustable. All you need to do is slide the cords where they’re bound to open up the sizing or slide it together for a tighter fit.

Open as far as possible

Tightened to fit

So pretty!

My other bracelet from Cutey is a charm bracelet – Our charm bracelets each contain a selection of colourful beads and a range of charms. It’s also possible to remove and add charms as you see fit, giving you the ability to change the charm bracelets as you see fit…Our charm bracelets are each named after an ancient Greek deity, each bracelets design in someway corresponds to that deity’s personality, who will you choose?

I received the Typhon charm bracelet but honestly would have been happy with any of them. Unpredictable, quirky and wonderful, Typhon has the brightest of colours and embraces the unexpected. Perfect for you if you’re growing, searching and discovering. There are no limits… It’s like Cutey picked the perfect bracelet for me! I’m definitely quirky and going through a big period of growing and discovering at the moment. Plus this bracelet has a purse and starfish charms on it – ideal for a girl who loves to shop and go to the beach.  🙂

Like the Shamballah bracelet, the Typhon charm bracelet is very well made. It’s made of a sturdy linked metal and the charms all feel well-made, regardless of material. The clasp is the kind that you can tell won’t come undone when you least expect it, which is great because losing a beautiful bracelet is the worst!

Cutey charm bracelets are not able to be made smaller or larger, but you do have a choice between two chain lengths when ordering. You can also add charms to these bracelets, which means you can add your own flair to the Cutey designs and really make each bracelet your own. My bracelet is a little big on me, so the charms all tend to slide to the underside of my wrist – still super cute though!

I’m really digging these Cutey bracelets – they sure are cute! (ha, ha) When quality meets beauty, only good things can happen. I’d love to get my hands on a Cutey purse – the New York and Florence styles look so classic and chic! I can’t wait to see kinds of necklaces and costume jewelry pieces Cutey comes out with when they expand the jewelry line.

You can purchase Shamballa bracelets from Cutey for $29.38 each and charm bracelets for $20.09-$23.19. All prices on the Cutey site are listed in pounds but there is a currency drop-down menu that makes pricing easy! Head on over to www.cutey.co.uk/bracelets/charm-bracelets to shop around and follow Cutey on Twitter (@cutey) and Facebook (facebook.com/cutey.co.uk) for details and announcements.

 

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Disclosure: The products in this review were sent for consideration by the brand or its PR office. Wayfaring Beauty’s first commitment is to the reader – this means reviews are honest and personal opinions, not guaranteed product endorsements.

Summer Soap! KBShimmer Blue Hawaii Soap Review

A couple of months ago I ordered a six-pack of KBShimmer soaps to try. You may be wondering, “Really? Who needs a six-pack of soap?” A girl who cannot decide which scent sounds the best needs a six-pack. I guess “wants” would be a more appropriate word, but whatever. I tried out the Pumpkin Spice and Southern Belle soaps I ordered in the spring and was ready to bust out the summer soaps when June rolled around! Today’s post focuses on one such soap – Blue Hawaii.

As explained in the previous soap posts, I really like that these soaps are a little old school. Unlike soaps mass-produced by many large companies, these are made by hand using a cold process method that keeps all of the fatty acids from oils, butters, and fats. There are no chemical lathering agents added, so the only bubbles and lather you get are the natural ones (and you do get both). The soaps are hand-poured and cut, so no two soaps will be exactly the same.

Fall is my favorite season, hands-down, but summer fragrances are wonderful in their own way. I spotted the name “Blue Hawaii” and pictured myself on a warm beach with a drink in hand, smelling the ocean and tropcial flowers…ahhhh… The description on the back sounded like it fit my image – taire flower, cyclamen, bergamot, and kaffir lime leaves. Blue Hawaii was being discontinued though, so I figured I’d better act fast and snap it up!

As with the other KBShimmer soaps I ordered (as they’re all the same size), this is a sizeable brick of soap. I never finished Pumpkin Spice or Southern Belle because they last forever…I just let them dry and repackaged them when I was ready to move on to summer scents. I have a feeling I will end up doing that with Blue Hawaii as well because I have been using it for weeks and it still looks almost new. Below is the soap size and texture right out of the initial packaging –

This soap is pretty true to KBShimmer soap-standard described in the last two posts in that it lathers up well, is beautifully colored, and lasts ages. The cons are also the same – it leaves only a faint scent and leaves behind some wicked soap scum (in this case, bright pink soap scum) that is best to remove before it dries and becomes impossible to remove. It also makes my hand skip and stutter across my skin (say if I run it down my arm) once rinsed away as opposed to gliding across.

The biggest issue I have with Blue Hawaii is the scent. I expected to lather up and close my eyes and imagine myself on a beautiful Hawaiin beach. I mean…tiare? Kaffir lime leaves? Wouldn’t you expect that too? Instead, it just smelled…soapy. Which is like, the worst way to describe the scent, I know. “This soap smells soapy!” Lame. I just really have no other words to describe it. Tiare and cyclamen are flowers…Blue Hawaii does not smell at all like flowers. It just had a standard, bleh soap smell. So let down  😦   Maybe that’s why it was discontinued. Womp, womp.

You actually can’t purchase Blue Hawaii because it was discontinued, as noted, but you can purchase other KBShimmer soaps for $5.75/4oz. on the company site. And I promise that some of their soaps don’t let down in the scent department! See my other reviews for examples  🙂

Mary Kay Beauty – Influenster Voxbox

Disclosure: WayfaringBeauty received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

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I belong to a website called Influenster, which is a site where members give one another opinions on a variety of products and experiences. You can be an active member across all categories or narrow it down to the categories you are most knowledgeable about and interested in. Sometimes Influenster will send members exclusive discounts or products to review; last month I received two new Palmolive soaps to test, and this month I received something even better – a box full of Mary Kay beauty products! Woohoo!

This pretty little box contained five items – a lipstick, eyelash primer, mascara, brush, and eye shadow. I was excited to see and try everything in it, especially because these are my first Mary Kay products. I decided to try the lipstick out first.

The lipstick I received is the True Dimensions lipstick in Pink Cherie ($18.00). Mary Kay promises big things from this little lipstick –

• Instantly drenches lips in moisture and locks it in for endless comfort.
• Infused with advanced skin care ingredients, the formula smoothes the appearance of fine lines and helps lips look fuller.

I didn’t check the website first and had to pause for a moment to figure out how exactly to get the lipstick out of the tube. It’s housed in a sleek, seamless metal tube with a little clear window at the top to show the color, key term here for me being seamless – it didn’t click open like all my other lipsticks. Hmmm…

And then it hit me – you have to push the clear window down like a button, which releases the lipstick portion of the tube from the casing.  Voila! A little tricky, but very sleek. I also like that this little opening trick makes this lipstick very hard to accidently pop open in my purse or pocket.

Pink Cherie is a very light and lovely pink lipstick with a satin finish. The color of the lipstick itself is pretty true to color when swatched.

I swiped it on over bare lips. No balm first, no liner, no gloss after – easy peasy. I took photos with flash and natural light to check the color –

Mwah! With flash indoors

Natural light

The formula of the True Dimensions lipstick felt amazing and glided on like a dream. I always have dry lips and the lipstick felt wonderful and moisturizing. Unfortunately, it wasn’t lasting moisture, at least in my case. My lips did look and feel better for quite some time, but a few hours later my chapped lips started taking back control. Sigh.  Honestly, I don’t think this lipstick made my lips look any fuller. Like, at all. I really do love the color though; this is the kind of pink I was looking for when I picked up NYX Gala. The lasting power was pretty decent too! At least for my chapped lips, that is.

Next up is the brush. The Cream Eye Color/Concealer Brush ($10) is a synthetic with short, flat bristles designed for, as the name suggests, cream products. Mary Kay recommends that you choose to use this brush on cream shadow or concealer but not both for hygienic reasons. I don’t have a whole lot to say about this brush. The bristles are soft and pretty dense. The pointed tip makes it easy to reach or cover small areas on the face or eye. I like synthetic brushes better than natural. I used this for concealer and it worked well. Overall, I like this brush! Nothing to rave over, but a good price for what you get.

I was intrigued by the lash products and grabbed for those next.  I started with the Lash Primer ($15) – Add dramatic definition to your eyes to create fuller lashes when used as a basecoat under mascara.  Or wear the clear formula alone for a natural look.

First I started with nekkid lashes, naturally. Mine are not so impressive when bare –

I gave them a quick curl with some ho-hum lash curler I own, then applied an even coat of the primer. As with my mascara, I wiggled the brush back and forth as I drew the wand up through my lashes. The primer did give my eyelashes a little more oomph on its own. My lashes looked a little darker from the gloss the primer gave and had more definition. I don’t know that it really helped my lashes stay curled longer like Mary Kay claims but my lashes, like my hair, usually refuse to stay curled. So it goes.

I let the primer sit for a moment, then grabbed the Mary Kay Lash Love Lengthening Mascara ($15) in I ♥ Black. Mary Kay makes quite a few claims about this mascara – Long, strong, seriously separated lashes. What’s not to love?

• Creates bold, instantly intensified length of lashes.
• Lifts, curls and perfectly separates lashes.
• Conditions and strengthens lashes.
• Nonclumping, flake-free formula wears all day for over 10 hours.

As with the primer, I swept the mascara up my lashes, wiggling back and forth as I went. I used two quick coats for the photos below –

This mascara definitely made a difference on my boring lashes! The curve of the brush gave my lashes a boost as they were already straightening out from when I curled them (of course). It also gave my lashes nice separation and a little more length. It didn’t dry to a crunchy finish as some mascaras do and did not irritate my contacts. The mascara also came off easily at the end of the day but never transferred to my undereyes. This is a great mascara for $15 in my opinion! Lash Love Lengthening Mascara is also available in brown for fairer girls.

Last but not least, I tried out the Mary Kay Cream Eye Color in Violet Storm ($14). This soft, creamy, long-wearing formula glides on easily, lasts for 10 hours and can be applied in multiple layers to deliver more noticeable color while retaining a lightweight feel.

Mary Kay and Influenster sent me a beautiful shade that I would have picked out myself had I been given a choice. Violet Storm is a deep, dusky purple with small flecks of sparkle that light up like rainbows when the light hits right. You can see that sparkle in the first photo especially if you enlarge it. I decided to just swipe this onto my lid without a primer because the site description says that you can use this cream as a primer under mineral shadow. I applied one layer across my lid and then added a little more around the outer edge of my eye.

The formula of the Cream Shadow glided on easily and didn’t irritate my contacts at all. However, this shadow is too sheer for my liking, or at least this shade is. I tried to build up the shade along the outer edge and crease of my eye but could not really see a huge difference. This is a nice wash of color for a subtle look though.

This was a great introduction to Mary Kay products! My favorites were the lipstick and mascara  🙂   Do you own any Mary Kay products? What do you think of them or which products are your favorites? Let me know in the comments!

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Disclosure: The products in this review were sent for consideration by the brand or its PR office. Wayfaring Beauty’s first commitment is to the reader – this means reviews are honest and personal opinions, not guaranteed product endorsements.

 

 

The Balm Blushes – Swatches of a Fantastic Four

If you haven’t been on Hautelook.com yet, you should probably just avoid it before you lose all your money. On second thought, go check it out. Hautelook is a free, premier members-only site that offers private, limited-time sale events on a wide variety of brands. Brands can be anything from everyday ones like NYX or Speedo to higher-end brands like Lorac and Missoni. Stellar brands for amazing prices. I have a love/hate relationship with the site, largely because the sales are timed and expire after just a few days. Some sell out hours into the sale though, which means you have to act fast!

One of my favorite brands to snag on Hautelook is The Balm cosmetics. Every time The Balm is featured on Hautelook, all of the products listed are 50% off. The options are more limited than The Balm’s website but…helllloooo…50% off! I used the last sale as an opportunity to snag some blushes. I was happy with my basic Wet n’ Wild blushes, but my cheeks had been breaking out and I had heard good things about the The Balm blushes. I picked up DownBoy, FratBoy, Hot Mama, and Cabana Boy.

L: DownBoy
R: FratBoy

The Balm describes DownBoy as such – A polished and put-together woman makes the boys go wild and this baby pink shadow/blush adds just the right amount of color to ensure that you turn heads. The light-reflecting particles give off an aura of elegance without detectable shimmer. When you can’t keep the boys away, blame it on the blush.

FratBoy’s description doesn’t say anything about the color (FratBoy’s Talc-free, finely-graded powder formula adds just the right flush so you look pledge perfect around the clock), which is the perfect shade of peach.

L: Hot Mama
R: CabanaBoy

Hot Mama is listed as a blush/shadow like the blushes above, but also suggested as a highlighter. The Balm also says, “This pinky-peach hue adds a splash of color to your cheeks and a hint of shimmer to your lids, while illuminating your finest features.” This shade has a fine gold shimmer running through it and reminds me a lot of Nars Orgasm!

Last but not least, Cabana Boy –  Nothing is more satisfying than being indulged, and this dusty-rose blush will ensure that you have all the boys attending to you.

All of the blushes come in a little cardboard flip compact with a mirror inside for application or touch-ups. They come tucked in a little sleeve printed with the same design as the packaging itself. I was going to just toss the sleeves but ended up keeping them to make sure that the compacts stay shut whenever I pack them for travel.

Natural light

Shade

All of The Balm blushes were smooth and made of finely-milled powder. They applied evenly and easily and were a breeze to blend out. All of them are also talc-free, which can clog pores and cause breakouts for some individuals. I applied these to my cheeks with a light hand and added more to build up the color. I really love these blushes and, as much as I like my basic Wet n’ Wild blushes, I can definitely see and feel the difference between drugstore and The Balm blushes. I also love the pin-up style girls on the packaging – so cute!

These blushes retail for $21/3.3oz on The Balm website, but you can usually snag them on a Hautelook sale (if you have the patience to wait) for just $10.50. I highly recommend you give one of these beauties a shot. I have not and do not plan to use these as shadows like The Balm suggests trying, but let me know how it looks if you try it sometime!

On a side note, please use my invite code if you sign up for Hautelook ! Doing so helps me to earn points for future purchases so I would really appreciate it  🙂   http://www.hautelook.com/invite/JK7563

What do you think of The Balm blushes – do any look good? What’s your go-to blush?