Makeup Geek Whimsical Foiled Eye-Shadow

Even though I wasn't highly impressed with Houdini and Mesmerized, I felt differently after trying In the Spotlight.  With a small amount of trepidation, I decided to try again.

Makeup Geek

One of the first colors I decided to try was Makeup Geek's Foiled Eye-Shadow in the color Whimsical.  It is $9.99 for a full size .064 oz refill pan that works well in a Z Palette.

Whimsical

As with the other Makeup Geek eye-shadows, Whimsical is Cruelty Free and made in the USA.

Whimsical is a pale silvery pink.  Or more silvery with a kiss of rose.  It is very pigmented and should be used with caution on eyes that are starting to age as it may accentuate lines and cling.  It feels close to the concerns I had with Shimma Shimma.

It is a pretty color, a little on the cool side.  It is opaque and long lasting, especially over MAC Painterly Paintpot. It didn't last as long as some of the other Foiled Shadows I have.  It has a creamy texture, not like ColourPop creamy, but a very buttery powder.  It might crease on oily lids.

Makeup Geek Foiled Eye-Shadows have the tendency to be more pigmented in a finger swipe than with the brush, however in this case, it's very close to having similar pigmentation and finish in brush use.

Makeup Geek  Foiled Eye-Shadows don't require anything like Fix+ or water to make them foiled.  They have that quite naturally.  I didn't have any fall out from this shadow.

I still think ageing eyes should use caution with this shadow, as it may crease into lines.  Overall though, this shadow is pretty good.

* I got Whimsical all by my lonesome without any outside assistance.  No one asked me to get Whimsical or to share my thoughts on getting Whimsical.

Makeup Geek Honeymoon Blush

I have really been trying to try more blushes.  I realize my collection of blushes could be considered quite pathetic.  There are others who have less than I do.  So, I feel there is some necessary balance.  Recently, I gave Makeup Geek's First Love Blush a go.  It made me want to try more, so I purchased Makeup Geek's Honeymoon blush.

Makeup Geek

This color was described as a "light pink with mauve undertones and silver glitter."  Either the batch I got was way off or I just don't see it.  This is more like a rosy peach with silver glitter.

Honeymoon

You can purchase this blush as either a compact for $12.99 or a refill pan that fits well in a Z Palette for $9.99.  This has a slight gritty texture from the glitter.  If you don't like glittery blushes, this one won't be for you.  They are talc and paraben free.

It isn't highly pigmented.  It you blend this well, it will lessen the glitter, just make you glow.  It might look glittery in the sunlight though.  It is pretty over other blushes as well.

If you want a pigmented blush, this won't be for you.  It will work on fair to medium skin tone for a blush, anyone as a blush topper, and might even work as a high light on some people.  I don't know if it'll work as an eye-shadow, I don't know if the glitter in it is okay around the eyes.

Overall, it was okay.  It can be a pretty color, especially for the summer.  But it wasn't anything spectacular.

* I paid for my own Honeymoon, it was all expenses included.

July 2015 Universal Yums Box First Look

Are you in the mood for something a little different?  Something, tasty? So on one of my forays into the search for sneak peaks for what I would receive in my Boxycharm I saw a monthly subscription box for treats from around the world, it's the Universal Yums Box.

My boyfriend subscribed ten minutes later.  He just received his first monthly box and he was watching the mail like a hawk.

It comes with a card that has some Japanese trivia on the front and a description of each candy on the inside.  On the back it gives clues for you to figure which country will be the focus of next month's box.  The clues aren't hard to figure out, but I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for anyone wanting to subscribe.

Boxes are shipped the 8th through the 15th and they ship quickly.  There are two boxes to choose from, the Yum Box which sends out 6 or more snacks for $13.00 or the Yum Yum Box which has 13 or more snacks for $25.00.

Universal Yums

The box has tissue paper on top to give homage to the flag of the country of which you will receive the treats.  This box was very easy to guess what it would be from the clues and even though I'm an American, it wasn't hard to recognize which flag it was supposed to look like either. :D

Shrimp Chips

The first treat we pulled out of the box was Shrimp Chips.  They were wasabi flavored.  I was totally dreading this one.  I only like fish occasionally.  A snack that was shrimp flavored?  It was actually quite good.  It only tasted very slightly like shrimp and the wasabi added a nice little kick.  I liked the texture and it was nice that it was baked.

Karl Cheese

 The next item is supposed to be like Cheetos.  It's also Japan's first savory snack and was created in 1968.  It is similar to Cheetos but has a softer, more powdered milk flavored cheese.  It wasn't bad, but as a lover of cheese, I find fake cheese kinda doesn't hit my buttons quite right.  My boyfriend really liked them though.

Hello Panda

The next item was also by Meiji, like the Karl Cheese.  They are a thin outer crust of shortbread and filled with a creamy chocolate.  They were delicious.

Snowpea Crisps

The Snowpea Crisps were made by the same company that made the Shrimp Crisps.  I have always enjoyed snow peas.  They are also baked.  They are very delicious and could be addicting.

Pocky

I think this is one that most people would actually know.  They are delightful little cookie sticks with a cookies and cream coating.  I'm not sure how long these survived once my candy loving boyfriend got them in his clutches.

Baum Roll

I love lemon in the summer.  Baum Rolls are soft cake rolls with a lemon frosting.  Twinkies only wish they could could taste this good.  They are a perfect little size so you get that delicious little pop without over board.

Kuro Ame

Apparently, Kuro Ame Brown Sugar Candy is one of Japan's oldest candies and has been around since the 1860s.  It is a brown sugar candy.  I couldn't eat this because I remember making brown sugar candies and my little sister choked on one when I was a kid.  Kinda left me not liking that style of candy, but my boyfriend thought they were good.

Hi-Chew

Next up is the Hi-Chew mango Fruit Chews.  They are hard at first and then become soft in your mouth and practically melt.  They are another candy that American's might be familiar with.  My boyfriend ate all of these his self.

Flower Kiss Candy

I found the packaging on these to be adorable.  The Flower Kiss candies are a hard candy with a milk fruit flavor.  My boyfriend did not share these.

Kasugai Gummies

The box had four flavors of Kasugai Gummies; melon, lychee, ramune, and kiwi.  It is a soft gummy but not like a gummy bear.  They were very good.  This was yet another unshared candy.

Botan Rice Candy

I had this candy as a child.  This has a sticker and a citrus gummy, but the memorable part of this candy is the inner wrapper.  It is rice paper and melts in your mouth.  He didn't share this either, but I have my memories to keep this warm at night.

Aero

This candy was the best of the whole box.  This was a very special candy.  This was the Nestle Aero Matcha.  It has an aerated green tea filling that is made to be foam and light.  It is coated with chocolate.  But it doesn't have the waxy taste of American chocolate of recent years.  It is smooth and just melts in your mouth beautifully.  I was very happy to have tried this.

* My boyfriend bought this box himself.  I was lucky enough that he shared some of these with me.

ColourPop Aphrodisiac Super Shock Cheek

I have enjoyed so many ColourPop products that I decided to give the the ColourPop Aphrodisiac Super Shock Cheek a go.  Unlike the other ColourPop products, the cheek products are $8.00 for .15 oz, which is still very reasonable.

Super Shock Cheek

Like the other Super Shock products, this is not tested on animals, is made in the US, and is Vegan.

Aphrodisiac

Aphrodisiac is described as a "soft beige brown in a matte finish."  It is mostly neutral but has a slight hint of a ruddy undertone.

This color makes for a good contour color on fair to medium skin tones and may work as a blush.  It could use a little more pigmentation.

Size comparison

Overall, I like it but it's not highly pigmented.  It is matte but has a subtle glow that just makes it look natural on the skin.  It has the same cream/powder formula as the eye-shadows and might be good for people who prefer a more subtle contour/blush.

* I bought my own Aphrodisiac.  No one tried to slip me this Aphrodisiac on the DL.

July 2015 Birchbox First Look

Birchbox is another $10.00 per month subscription box.  It has sample sized beauty items.  They have both men's and women's boxes.  The men's boxes are $20.00 and sometimes they make me jealous.  I really like their points system.  You receive 10 pts per review and 50 for referring friends.  100 pts is $10.00 in the Birchbox store and you can use it towards anything in their store.  

Another fun box

This year Birchbox has had some fun boxes.  The print on this one was very vibrant and summery.  Next month's box looks beyond adorable and they have some nice things on the picks for next month.

This month's theme was Go Bold.  Birchbox always includes a card with the prices and is very helpful.

Avène

My first item was the Avène Eau Thermale.  I know these things are pretty gimmicky, but some part of me wanted to try this.  This thermal water is supposed to be healing and refreshing.  It 's $18.00 for 10.5 oz.  

Amika

Next up was another item was pretty excited to try.  I keep thinking I want to try a texturizing spray and then Birchbox sends me one.  The Amika Un.done Texture Spray has Sea Buckthorne Berry and zeolite.  It is $23.99 for 5.3 oz.  It has a light scent that is nice and has a leaping bunny.

Dr. Jart+

The next item was another I was thrilled to receive.  It was the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Liquid.  It's supposed to provide a barrier against moisture loss.  It has a chemical scent.  It's $39.00 for 5 oz in the full size.  I have tried it before and loved it, I did have a friend that it made break out, so this probably isn't for the super sensitive. 

Caudalie

Oh man, this box is on a roll.  I've also really wanted to try this as well.  As a general rule, I'm a fan of Caudalie.  At least, my skin is.  My wallet, not so much.  Caudalie's Divine Oil is $49.00 for 3.4 oz.  They also have a .5 oz for $9.00 and 1.7 oz for $32.00.  The site calls this "subtle" and I will respectfully disagree.  This scent is strong, but not overpowering and may irritate the skin of people who are sensitive.  It does fade quickly though.  It looks as though the full size has a spray and that might help to make a lighter scent as only a little will come out.

Stila

My next item was the one I got to pick early.  It's the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in the color Bella and $24.00 for the full size .10 oz.  First off, I love the new packaging on these lipsticks.  I have a post with Patina in the old packaging here.  This is a very bright pink and I love a bright pink lipstick, but not everyone would feel the same.  It is long lasting and quite opaque.  It does transfer at first and doesn't fully last through eating.  I was very happy to receive this in my box.

Previously it had been Birchbox: 3 to Ipsy: 4.  I have to say that Birchbox tore this box war up for me and the score is now tied 4 to 4.

* I pay for my own Birchbox subscription.

July 2015 Ipsy First Look

This month the theme for Ipsy was Summer Lovin'.  Ipsy is a $10.00 per month subscription service.  You get points for referring friends.  However, the points system isn't that great.  Most things require 1000 points and if it's less than they're usually sold out.

Another ugly couch bag.

I'm not too big into the bag.  It reminds me of an ugly brown couch that seemed to be everywhere when I was a kid.  I'm probably the only who sees this bag that way, so feel free to ignore me.

My first item was the NudeStix Magnetic Eye Color in the color Gilt.  It retails for $24.00 for the full size .10 oz.  This was actually full size.  It is gold and metallic, it is long lasting, water proof, blends well, and does not crease.  It is a great color for summer.  It is supposed to be good for people with oily lids, so this is one of those good for the summer types of things.  It does come with a sharpener and one was included in my bag.

City Color

Next up was the City Color HD Powder and is $5.99 for the full size 7 gram product.  I hope I like it, because that is a great price.  It is 100% silica and Cruelty Free.

Jor'el Parker

At first I was pretty excited that we got a perfume that wasn't Harvey Prince.  Not that I have a problem with the brand, it's just that it seems to be the only perfumes we get in our Ipsy bags.  This perfume is Jor'el Parker's Classico, otherwise know as Harvey Prince's Sincerely.  There goes the thought that we got a new brand! It is heavily floral.  I honestly think it's a little heavy for summer, maybe at night or something.

Crown

I also received some Crown Brush Tweezers in the color black.  It looks as though it is either pink or black was sent out.  It looks as though they retail for $6.99.  They look okay, but not the best.

Pur-Lisse

My last item is something I've wanted to try for a while.  It's the Pur-Lisse Pur-Bright serum.  It's $76.00 for a 1 oz full size.  I hope I don't end up loving it!  It has a lotion like consistency.  It is supposed to brighten and give you even skin tone.

It was a decent box.  I think the best items were the Nude Stix and the Pur-Lisse.  I'm excited to see what Birchbox brings!

* I pay for my own boxes.

July 2015 Boxycharm First Look

Boxycharm is one of the newest subscription boxes I'm playing with.  It is $21.00 a month and each box has four to five full size products.  This month had the theme of Summer Time Radness.

Radness

Although, I can't agree that the items followed the theme, I can't say that they didn't.  They're items that would follow most themes.

My first item was MDMflow Greater Than Mascara and it's a brand that most people in the US would not have had a chance to try.  MDMflow is a brand out of London, is the creation of Florence Adepoju and is £21.00 and will be available for $35.00. It is quite black, on the drier side, held my curl, works well with the Estée Lauder Little Black Primer, and I liked that it came out very clean on the brush without a lot off excess product.  It is a nice mascara.  Not the best in the world but it's nice.  I love that I got to try a brand I wouldn't have access to normally and I love getting mascara.

YourMinerals

My next item was yourMinerals Transparent Veil Setting Powder in the full size of medium (4 g), which retails for $26.00.  It is very fine and doesn't feel as silconey as Makeup For Ever's HD powder.  It is formulated with kaolin clay.

Next was OFRA Cosmetics Universal Eyebrow Pencil and retails for $13.00.  After their highlighter, I was really looking forward to this.  This is supposed to be water resistant and a universal color.  It is recommended to apply at an angle with light pressure.  It is made with synthetic beeswax and that might be part of why it's not my favorite pencil.  I feel it's a little too soft for eyebrow use.  Although, if you like soft brow pencils, you may like this.

Gorge

After that was the Gorge I'll make You Look Amazing Daily Spray which is $29.95 for 4 oz.  This smells wonderful, like a splash of green tea and lime, but not heavily perfumed.  It is supposed to protect, condition, detangle, give shine, and a host of other things.  It does have silicones, but it is vegan, gluten free, non GMO, and made in the US.

My last item was one I was the most excited about, the Vasanti Professional Blush Brush and is $29.00.  It has nylon bristles, a lovely pewter handle, and silver ferrule.  It feels light and I'm not sure I would pay $29.00 for it, but it's a nice brush and I love receiving brushes.

The total value of this box was 132.95 and I definitely feel that I got my moneys worth.  Koda also thought I got my moneys worth.

* I paid for my monthly subscription with my own money.