This will be the last of the mattes I purchased from ColourPop in my last round of shopping fun time.  I picked up ColourPop's Fairfax because it looked like a beautiful chocolaty brown and I was hoping that it would fill the void of the color I dreamed MAC's Mystery would be.

Yay!  A box!

As usual, ColourPop shadows are $5.00 each and contain .21 g.

Fairfax

Fairfax is a cool toned matte deep brown.  It also comes in the usual plastic container that you want to make sure to full close to keep the texture in tact.

Swatched up

As you can see, this has great pigmentation.  As with the other mattes I purchased, I've found that the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush works really well for applying these.  It is dense enough to pick up the color but soft enough that it blends it out as you apply it.  The Real Techniques brush is not very expensive either.  You can get it in a set of five different brushes for $17.99.

Left to Right: CP Fairfax and MAC Mystery

Fairfax is not a dupe for Mystery, it is definitely more chocolaty and Mystery has a grey-plum tone.  Also the pigmentation and texture is very different.  Fairfax lasts all day on your eyes and does not crease.  I was pretty impressed.

* I bought my own matte brown from ColourPop.  No one sent me anything for free, asked me to review, or thought I should put them in my blog.

If you have watched YouTube lately you know that Lime Crime had a hit on their hands with the color Cashmere.  It is a greige (grey beige) that is just so unusual and somehow became a total hit.  It has a been described with a very inelegant although amusing term linking it to a certain orifice that doesn't often see the light of day. Like everyone else, I wanted it so bad, in spite of that likening.  I lusted after it.  That sounds so wrong.

Lime Crime wasn't a company that I felt I wanted to support.  If you want to read more on it, just Google it.  I'm not going there, but suffice it to say, I will not be buying Lime Crime.

So, I kept waiting for dupes and there have been some that looked promising.

Then my heroes, ColourPop, came out with Tootsi Lippie Stix and Pencil.  Wouldn't you know it?  I bought them.  They are $5.00 each.  It has a light vanilla scent.

Tootsi is a cool toned matte greige that is actually quite wearable.  It's kind of a nude but a more unusual nude.  As with all of ColourPop's mattes it goes on creamy and will dry down to a matte.

Swatchy fun time

 It does transfer, but the color will be with you all day.  Even after eating.  Although, if you have a bowl of oil surprise, it will most likely remove the color as that's just what oils do.  It has great pigmention and nearly covers the birthmark on my bottom lip.

Tootsi pencil and lipstick

As with Wet I found that it is fun to mix it.  I like mixing it with Westie as it adds a pretty punch of pink to the mix and creates for me another fun shade.

A subtle difference...

I also love the liner.  In the picture below I fully lined my lips with Tootsi Lip Pencil and then went in with the Westie Lippie Stix.  Again the difference is subtle but if you were afraid to roll with Tootsi this will pinken it up for you.

Tootsi liner and Westie Lippie

I really do like this Lippie Stix and Pencil and have felt the need to own Cashmere abate.  I will probably try other dupes I've read about, but it doesn't stop me from loving this one!  The down side is that so far this isn't part of ColourPop's permanent collection.  So, if you want to try it, I would suggest buying it sooner rather than later!

* No one gave me free Tootsi.  I bought my own Lippie Stix and Pencil in a frenzied shopping spree.

You can't mention Bill without mentioning his partner in crime, Girl Crush.  ColourPop's Supershock Shadow Girl Crush is a matte grey that may lean more lavender depending on your undertones and what you pair it with.

Girl Crush

It is  .07 grams for $5.00.  It is a cream to powder type eye-shadow and may seem daunting if you are not used to this type of eye-shadow.  It's actually really easy.  I usually use this color similar to how ShanShortcakeBeauty does in this video, to deepen Bill in the crease.

Crushing my Girl Crush

It has decent pigmentation and is somewhat like a cream eye-shadow, but not really.  The texture is just different.

It totally goes plummy on my skin.

I think once you get used to the formula you can do a very pretty look very quickly.  I did my makeup in less than 15 minutes this morning using Bill, Girl Crush, Fairfax, 3, and Chipper.

Left to Right: CP Bill and Girl Crush

I don't think you'll desolve into a puddle over this color.  It's not one of those dramatically beautiful shades that changes your life.  It is one of those staple colors that you start using you find that you really like.   I also like how long lasting it is.  For a $5.00 eye-shadow, I'm pretty impressed!

* I supplied my own Girl Crush.  There were no Girl Crushes given to me for kicks.

As you may have figured out by now, my addiction to ColourPop is real.  Every time I try to take a break, I see something else I want.  Then comes the rationalization part of our show.  It's only $5.00...  The hook.

Meet Bill

After I Heart This and Bubbly I started to get the itch.  I had to buy more.  They weren't the hot mess I was afraid of.  I decided to get ColourPop Super Shock in the color Bill.  It's $5.00 for 2.1 g in a container that screws closed to maintain the consistency.

Bill is a plummy taupe matte.  It is very creamy feeling.  It has been compared to MUG Unexpected and the colors are very similar.  Unexpected has higher pigmentation, but with the cream formula that ColourPop has, it works in its favor that it isn't quite so pigmented since it is a little harder to blend out than a powder.  I find Bill to have just a touch (a very small touch) more pink tones in it than Unexpected.  Unexpected is a tad more plummy.

Left to Right: MUG Unexpected and CP Bill

I find that if I use a synthetic brush like the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush I'm able to use this so quickly and easily.  The Deluxe crease Brush works well because it is dense but fluffy enough that it diffuses the eye-shadow as you apply this.

Swipe of Bill

Bill is easy to use once you get used to the formula.  It's also very long lasting.  It isn't drying, it doesn't crease.  It's just a good standard matte.

* No one paid me to be friends with Bill.  I met him when I purchased him from the Colourpop site.

Now for my other $10.00 monthly subscription makeup service.  Ipsy doesn't have as great of a points system and doesn't have cards that tell you the amount of the products, but they have won the last few months and they do have some fun bags.

"Fun bags"

Some of the bags had a chartreuse inner lining.  Mine was hot pink.  It wasn't my favorite bag, but it was a good size and it has a canvas outside and nylon inner shell.

Bronzer

My first item was a bronzer and as much as I love contouring, I'm just not that into bronzer.  I haven't been that impressed by Pixi as brand either.  I think it's $18.00 for the full size with kabuki.

Mmm honey!

The second I saw "miel" in the name I was excited, I love honey!  This was the Nuxe Rêve de Miel Face Cleansing and Make-up Removing Gel.  The full size is 6.7 oz with a pump and is only $19.00.  So, not that bad!  It smells like honey, works well, and doesn't leave your skin tight after using.  I really did like this product.

Yay!  Sunscreen....

Yup.  I got sunscreen in another bag.  So stoked.  Unlike the other one, this had a foil covering and did not leak.  It is the Bare Republic by Coola natural Mineral Sunscreen.  It is $14.99 for 1.7 oz.  It isn't greasy and doesn't leave a white cast.  It's also 30 SPF, which I like because generally anything more isn't real.  It has a pleasant, almost coconut smell.  It is creamy but feels like it starts turning powdery when you apply it.  It isn't chemical sunscreen and is cruelty free.  I was surprised by this one and I did end up liking it.  Coola does know their sunscreen though....

Black eye liner!

I also received black eyeliner!  I have so many black eyeliners from these bags!  It's the Bellapierre Gel Eyeliner in the color Ebony.  It is supposed to be hypoallergenic and made with more pure ingredients than your average liner.  The full size is $14.99 and for a more natural product that is a very good price.  It's also supposed to be waterproof and long lasting.  I think I would have been more excited had I received it in a fun color, but hey, what doesn't go with black eyeliner?

In the Ozone

My last item was Urban Decay's Lip pencil in Ozone with their Revolution High-Color Gloss.  I hate the little blister packs, it never really allows you to try a product that well.  I'll try not to hold that against them, because even though the white pencil looks scary, it isn't stark white or anything.  It's actually sheer.  This would be great with some of my brighter lipsticks as it's supposed to prevent feathering, fill in lines, and nourish your lips.  It's $20.00 for the full size.

Some people got really lucky in their Ipsy bags.  I was totally jealous of those with the Luxie eye brush.  There was also the It CC cream, but it's probably good I didn't receive it because they probably would have sent me a too dark color and I'd have to cry lol.

I really liked the sunscreen and the makeup remover from Ipsy, but in Birchbox there was the foot cream, the peel, and the hair oil.  The lip liner and the lipstick get honorable mentions, but this month actually goes to Birchbox!

Score: Birchbox: 2 Ipsy: 3

Coming Soon, BoxyCharm!

* No one sends my fun bags to try for free.  I have to buy my own fun bags.

Yay subscription box time!  As usual, we'll start with Birchbox.  It's a $10.00 a month subscription box.  I love their points system.  You can refer friends for 50 points and if you ever want to use my link it's here.  I wasn't really over the moon about the choices this month and picked something I already had.  The new sample choices are out and again, not thrilled, so spoiler for next month, I'll probably mention that.

Other than that, the box this month was super cute.  It was creamsicle with a gold emblem.

That's is not blue!

As always, it was packaged.  The box is one of my favorites.

Getting Chemistry

The first item was the Real Chemistry Luminous 3 Minute Peel.  I have had this in a box before and it was my sample choice, but I really did enjoy this mask.  It is one of those ones that peels off the fun balls of dead skin.  It's classified as a "protein peel."  The full size is $48.00 for 1.7 oz.  The About Section on the website reads like an infomercial, but don't let that hold you back.  If you get a chance to try this mask, it's pretty nifty.  I'm not sure if I would buy the full size, but I'm poor.  $48.00 is a lot to me.

Playing footsies

My next item was the Aruba Aloe Luxe Foot Créme.  The first thing I do when I get home is take off my shoes.  I live my life barefoot and as much as I love cute shoes, I don't wear shoes unless I have to.  My feet show it.  This stuff is great.  After a long day at work on your feet all day, putting this on your feet just gives you an "ahhhh" moment.  It says it has a mint smell but I don't get that, I really just smell the shea butter I think.  It has aloe, shea butter and vitamin e.  It is $18.00 for 2 oz of product and I think it might be worth it.

Shu Uemura products make my heart go thump thump

After that I pulled out a hair oil.  Who doesn't love a hair oil?  I love Shu Uemura.  They made my eyelash curler.  My boyfriend stepped on it and damaged it.  It wasn't broke, I bent it back into shape because it's not junk and all, but it wasn't the same so I had to get a new one.  I want to try Sheseido but I don't need two eyelash curlers, do I?  Okay, getting back on the subject.  The Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Leave-In Oil  contains camellia oil and is $69.00 for 5 oz.  Holy carp.  I hope I don't fall in love with this.  Although, it would last forever.  It does smell nice, nothing heavy.

Can you see the leakage?  Eww!

My next item was Cotz Flawless Complexion Tinted Sunscreen.  I like sunscreen, seeing as I'm so pale.  But I kinda get sick of getting them in boxes.  This one was leaking all over.  It is tinted, which may be good for people with darker skin so they don't get that fun white cast.  But it's so oily!  It's kinda gross!  It's $20.00 for 2.5 oz, which is fairly reasonable.

My last item was a ModelCo Party Proof Matte Lipstick.  The color I received may be exclusive to the trio available at Birchbox, this one is in the neutrals trio, it's the color Get Naked.  The trio is $20.00 for three .13 oz lipsticks. This color was a tad scary to me, it's a peachy nude.  But it is quite flattering.  It has a nice almost strawberry smell, which is different from the usual vanilla scented lipsticks.  It is comfortable and creamy but really sinks into any dry spots.  I've heard it's long lasting but I have no idea yet.


So, that was my Birchbox.  I did enjoy it.  But was Ipsy better again?

* I buy my own Birchboxes.

I have really really been wanting a rose gold eyeliner.  I know copper shades look better on blue eyes, but I've still been when wanting it.  I see rose gold as a sister of copper by the way because copper when alloyed with gold is what gives rose gold its rosy hue.

I wanted it as a water line color.  I do still love my black liner, but I was feeling a light color.  White sometimes looks weird and I just thought rose gold would look so pretty as a soft pop of color and brighten the eyes.

Since I was using my Birchbox points, I decided to try their Vasanti Kajal Extreme Intense Eye Pencil Duo - Rose Gold and Black.  It would have been $29.00 for two full sized 1.2 g pencils if I had paid for it with actual money rather than virtual points money.  On the Vasanti web site the rose gold was $18.00 and the black was also $18.00.

Vasanti duo

Vasanti is a Canadian brand.  The name is Sanskrit for "of spring" and they do not test on animals (yay fluffy friends).  These pencils are made in Germany, like Modster and Urban Decay.  I guess Germany can make some liners!

My pencil duo

These liners are supposed to be waterproof and long wearing.  Like my UD liners they are supposed to "lock in" after 30 seconds, so you have a little bit to smudge it out if that what's you're feeling at the time.  It also contains vitamin e.

These pencils were cool that they each contain a sharpener in the cap and a rubber smudger at the end.  The sharpener isn't like the Makeup Forever one I have that I have owned for years, but for an attached sharpener, it's pretty decent.  It's functional and didn't break off the liner like some cheap ones do.  The smudger isn't going to be a good as a brush, however, it is serviceable if you're on the go.

Rose Gold and Black

The application is very creamy.  They have good pigmentation and they do smudge out very well.  I do have to admit that I use the rose gold one way more.  It isn't a color I have in any other brand, I wanted it so bad, and it is really pretty on the water line.  I own so many black eyeliners that it is probably ridiculous.  These don't make my eyes burn, they do cause a little blurring at first, but it only lasts less than a minute.

I also like to take the rose gold as a thin line over the top edge of black liner in a wing for fun, smudged under my eyes, or in the corner.  It's just such a fun and pretty "of spring" color.

I was surprised by this brand because I wasn't expecting the quality to be there.  I just wanted that color lol.  The quality is very similar to UD.  I have found them to last through the day and even on the water line they wear well.

* Birchbox only sent these to me because I used my points as I wanted to get my gift they gave me for subscribing for a year.  If you want to give me points and try Birchbox, this is my link.

You already knew there would be at least one more color if I was buying one ColourPop eye-shadow.  I'm not sure what they put in their products, I just can't stop.  Okay, maybe it has something to do with the price and the quality.  None of their products are tested on animals and I am in love with this brand!

This was actually the first color I picked out.  It is ColourPop's Super Shock Shadow in I ♥ This.  It is $5.00 for .07 oz and is one of their metallic finishes.

I first saw this color in a video by MicklsAMom.  It was just such a beautiful way to add a punch to a neutral look.  Also, in this Sultry Bridal Makeup by Jenna Roisen.

I Heart This

I Heart This is a gorgeous glittery silvery taupe.  It is drenched in glitter.  The texture is very creamy almost a mousse, but not damp feeling.  It's kinda like a powder and a cream got together and had super shocking baby.  It comes in a plastic container that you want to make sure to fully close to make sure to preserve the consistency of this shadow.

Love at first swatch.

It is very easy to use with your fingers or a synthetic brush, being careful not to put too much pressure on the product so you don't trench it out.  This swatch again, does not do the product justice.  It is beautiful on the eyes.  Just a pop of pretty or you can go glitter ball blast.  Really, whatever you're feeling.  There is a little fall out.

I have not had a problem with these creasing.  I have found some of the glitter to fade through the day unless I use a setting spray, but it still looks pretty eight hours later.  I like eye primer, so I usually wear a primer with these.

I will definitely be buying more.  As a matter of fact they are on order now!

* I bought my own glitter laden taupe shade, ColourPop doesn't know who I am nor do I have a key to their warehouse to grab my own Super Shock.

After beginning my love affair with ColourPop Lippie Stix and Pencils I really wanted to try their eye-shadows.  I was a little afraid of them after hearing about their consistency, because once, many moons ago, I bought I glittery purple eye-shadow that came in similar packaging.  It was more gel like and ended up being a hot mess.  It was gloopy, terrible pigmentation, and I would gave been grateful if all it done was crease.  It was awful.

But I decided to brave the potential hype because I really like ColourPop.  I bought the ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in the color Bubbly.  It is listed as a metallic.  Like the lipsticks and pencils, it is only $5.00 for 2.1 g of product.

I have been digging into this stuff.

Bubbly is beautiful bubblegum pink with tons of shimmer.  It is brighter than the image online.

It's so pretty!

It comes in a white plastic container that needs to be screwed on and off to keep the eye-shadow in good condition.  The eye-shadow is very soft and almost mousse-like but doesn't have a gross wet feel, which was something I was concerned about.  You have to use caution when applying it, as with your finger or brush you can dig too deep and put a nice dent in it.

Bubbly!

This picture doesn't do it justice.  It is so shimmery and the flecks of glitter are silvers, pinks, and even a touch of a green (if you're really looking at it).  But it's nothing that is like, YIKES! she's being eaten by glitter.  It's just so pretty and you have a lot of control as far as how much pigmentation you want as it is more on the sheer side.

You can use your finger or a synthetic brush to apply these. I love applying this over shadows, like pinks and purples.  It does great for brightening up browns so that it doesn't make one look tired.  The glitter will fade slightly over the day, but it does for the most part, last all day without much fallout.  It is easy to apply.

I have received lots of compliments on this color when I wear it.  I have people at work requesting that I buy them one too!

I was definitely happy with this purchase and have been wearing it like pixies are going to come repossess my pretty pink sparkle.

* I bought my own pink bubbly.  ColourPop did not gift me with this beautiful shimmering delight.

I decided to try the Too Faced Hangover Rx Replenishing Face Primer because my favorite primer is so pricey.  Granted this is not cheap, it's $32.00 for 1.35 fl oz.  But it is cheaper than my normal.  I really want to find the one that makes me go all Harry Met Sally Restaurant Scene.  Yeah, I don't expect much.  I have seen quite a few YouTubers rave about this, so I thought, why not?

My box came from Sephora looking like that :(

I read the electrolytes as a gimmick because the absorption depends on dead skin cells vs living skin sells and positively and negatively charged ions.  Or at least as I understand the whole thing.

The probiotics were another matter.  I've been reading that probiotics may improve acne and rosacea even when applied topically.  Of course that usually comes down to a lot of things and since I'm not sure of the percentages that make this activate I can't say for science sure.

Those are some promises!

Now, because I've heard the myths about silicone I do tend to be like, "Yay, it's silicone free."  The truth is that silicone clogging pores and causing acne isn't proven and some say that because of its molecular structure, it's not possible for silicone to clog pores.  There are those that say that silicones are bad for the environment.  So, really to silicone or not silicone, it's up to you.  Why people like it it in makeup is it provides a "slip" that makes your makeup glide on smoothly, increases water resistance, and can blur out pores.  If you're feeling like avoiding silicones, this may be a benefit for you.  It was part of why I decided to give this a go.

The cute package that some think is not so cute

I like the packaging of the product.  I think it's cute and I like the pump.  It helps control the amount of product you use.  As with most primers, less is more.  It has a light coconut water scent.  If you hate coconut, this will be your deal breaker.  I like coconut.  It was a bonus for me.

When you first apply this it will feel hydrating.  It doesn't have a shimmer.  It feels like a light weight lotion or moisturizer.  It feels refreshing.  I think that this aspect of it would be good for people who have dehydrated or dry skin.  It absorbs in a few moments.  By itself it will leave the skin looking moist  and hydrated but it doesn't blur out imperfections.  It would most likely be best with a water based foundation.

It is not tested on animals, which is another bonus.  It does make your skin look a little healthier.  But it isn't going to cure you of a night out being bad and crawling home in the previous evenings attire.

Other than that it does prolong foundation a little but nothing to write a blog about.  It might be nice for people with sensitive skin, except that it does contain fragrance, which may break out those sensitive to that.  I'm calling this decent but suffers from the amount of hype behind it.

* No one decided to cure my hangover with primer, although coconut water is great when hung over.

Did you think I would just purchase one Lippie Stix?  No?  Well, couldn't fool you!  The spring collection ColourPop has out just makes me happy.  My sister made a big mistake by telling me she loved the Cookie Lippie Stix I got her for her graduation.  She's going to end up with more ColourPop Lippie Stix I think she'll like.  I have issues.

Okay, so I haven't seen this color too much on YouTube, but I really liked the description.  It was described as a "soft dusty baby pink."  Yup.  That's a me.  Plus, it's a cooler shade, which I like.  It's the ColourPop Lippie Stix in the Color Westie. I also purchased the matching Westie Pencil.  They were $5.00 each.

Accidentally threw the pencil box away before picture time.

The color description for Westie is quite apt.  It is slightly brighter than the pics online but still a great every day color and not an over the top color that can also be super fun!  It does have a soft purple undertone, nothing that is too in your face, but just something that really makes it a very nice pink.

Oh yeah, I've totally been wearing these

It has the light vanilla scent.  It is creamy and applies well.  It is the usual ColourPop matte, which will transfer at first but will dry down after a while,  This is an eight plus hour wear lipstick.  The liner is the same shade as the lipstick.

Westie swatches

This has quickly become my every day shade.  It goes with so many makeup looks and is perfect for being in a rush and just slapping something on.

The pigmentation is good.  I really love this color.  I might have to buy another one just in case they don't make this permanent.  Ack!  Such a scary thought.

I did buy some ColourPop shadows and I'm going to review those soon.  I can't wait for them to arrive.  I only have two until the other ones come!

Have a Happy Mother's Day!

* I bought my own pop of ColourPop pink.  No one left me this pretty every day color in a bouquet or something fun.

I really like ColourPop.  I wasn't planning on doing too many more reviews on ColourPop because I have done so many reviews on ColourPop.  Well...  Yeah, I'm doing more.  I kept seeing this color in Favorites Videos, and in tutorials and in more tutorials and in other tutorials and it was such a pretty nude that just seemed to work with so many looks.  I knew I was going to make a big order because at work for the Children's Miracle Network we do an auction for other employees, and I was going to get some of these for the auction.  My sister was also graduating college and she's not wild about lipstick, but this would look so pretty on her!

I had to add this to the order for me.  There is only so much altruism I can go for apparently :(

A box!

I bought the ColourPop Lippie Stix color in Cookie.  It doesn't have a matching lip liner, which is unusual for ColourPop, but it goes so well with other lip liners I have from them or by itself, so that wasn't world ending.  It smells slightly different than their usual.  ColourPop Lippie Stix usually smell like vanilla.  It still smells slightly vanilla but also has a plastic smell in it as well.

Cookie!

It is $5.00 for a 1 gram stick.  The shape really leans to having a perfect point and good application every time.  It goes on creamy, but does dry down to a matte.  It will transfer for a while.

 It isn't quite as long lasting as some of the other ColourPop Lippies I own, but it's still a good six to seven hours.  It is a basic peachy brown nude that even on me is flattering.  It's one of those colors.

The color isn't quite as opaque as some of my other ColourPop colors, but it does layer on well and I think the translucence does work for the flattering nude it is.

I do like this color, which did surprise me.  I was afraid this would be one of those shades that made me look dead.  It doesn't.

* I bought my own Cookie, it didn't come with a free a cookie.