Maybelline's Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lipsticks

Want to know about one of my new favorite products that I have been raving to my friends about? It's Maybelline's new Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lipsticks! Okay, I have been loving Maybelline lip products for YEARS and these are no different.

The Vivid Matte collection has a great variety of colors (which is a plus).  You will find nice neutral colors as well as beautiful bright colors. The best thing is that one bottle gives you two looks! One layer gives you a nice matte finish that is not too dry, while two layers gives you a creamy mousse finish. Don't be fooled.. a lot of matte lipsticks (even when they are liquid) can dry your lips, but these Vivid Mattes are not drying at all! And you can mix colors together to make your special blend!

I received two products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.  I received the color Nude Blush and Rebel Rose.

Nude Blush is a nice neutral color.  I like this for daytime use of when I need to get somewhere fast. Just dab a little on the lips and you're ready to go! Nude Blush reminds me of their Caramel Infused from the Elixir line.

One coat of Nude Blush.

Left: Caramel Infused (Elixir line)

Right: Nude Blush (Vivid Matte line)

Rebel Red is a nice bright red that gives you just the right pop of color. I love this color for a night out on the town with the hubby.  This color reminded me a little of Signature Scarlet from the Elixir line, except Rebel Red is a lot brighter and has a hint of orange.

One coat of Rebel Red

Left: Signature Scarlet

Right: Rebel Red

These two Vivid Matte Liquid lipsticks have become staples in my beach bag. I can't wait to try some of the other colors in the collection!  Maybelline, you've done it again!

xoxo
Qttie1

Influenster Jingle VoxBox

It’s Influenster time again (I LOVE getting picked for VoxBoxes)!

I received the Jingle VoxBox after Christmas, but right before the New Year (it was like a late Christmas gift) and like always, this VoxBox did not disappoint! I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All of the products from the Jingle VoxBox were not only amazing, but also affordable.

As you can see from the picture, my box arrived a little bruised and beat up with an apology stamped on the box from the post office. The good thing is that the products were not damaged (with the exception of 1, but I will not complain as you will see below).

Do you want to know what was in the Jingle VoxBox? Then keep reading!

Biscoff

This was the one product that did not arrive in such great condition. BUT, they sent 3 packs, which is why I can’t complain (plus they were complimentary). One package was broken into a bunch of pieces, one was half broken into pieces, and the last package was perfect! Each package brought 2 cookies and OMG, they are very addictive.

Biscoff is known as  Europe’s favorite cookie and it is easy to see why. The cookies are crisp and sweet (but not over-the-top sweet). They go great with a cup of coffee or espresso in the morning or alone for an afternoon snack.  These yummy Biscoff cookies retail for $3.99

  

Hallmark itty bittys

These are the cutest things EVER! Hallmark itty bittys are small stuffed animals that come in a range of characters. I received Rapunzel from Disney’s Tangled (great movie by the way). She’s itty bitty (hence the name), soft, and looks exactly like the movie character.

Hallmark itty bittys make a great gift for kids or a great collector piece for an adult. They are perfect for stocking stuffers. My dog, Cory, has had his eyes on Rapunzel since the moment I opened my VoxBox! So, if you have pets… be careful (they are a great size for a dog toy)! The retail price for these Hallmark itty bittys cuties is $6.95.

Kiss

Who doesn’t love false lashes? Crazy question, I know. I did now know that Kiss made false lashes! How did I not know this?

I have a few pairs (maybe more than a few), but I love getting new ones. These True Volume Lashes from Kiss are amazing. They are 100% natural hair, wispy, and the tapered ends make them look very natural. These have quickly become one of my favorite pairs not only because of the way they look, but because of how they feel. Sometimes false lashes feel heavy on the eyes or they’re not very comfortable (at least in my case), but these lashes from Kiss feel light. I will definitely be getting a few extra pairs for myself and as gifts. The retail price for the Kiss True Value Lashes is $3.99.

Along with the lashes, Influenster sent a Kiss Strip Lash Adhesive. I received the one with Aloe in it. The adhesive comes in your regular tube, so it is very easy to use. The card from Influenster states that the adhesive is clear, but mine is black which blends in perfectly with my liner! I had no issues with the adhesive not working or the lashes not staying on… so I do not have any complaints. The retail value for the Kiss Strip Lash Adhesive is $3.99.

 

NYC New York Color

I think that NYC is one of those brands that does not get enough praises. This is such an AMAZING brand! All of the products that I have used are wonderful and just as good as any high-end product.  So of course I was excited that the Jingle VoxBox included an NYC City Proof 24HR Waterproof eyeliner.

Personally, I prefer black liners, but I know that brown is not so in your face. I have tried other brown liners and have never been pleased with them until I received this one from NYC. The Dark Brown (932) liner glides on smoothly, only needs one coat, and will stay put! No re-applying your eyeliner throughout the night… how awesome is that?!?! When I swatched the liner, I rubbed my hand…  hard, tried to remove it with water, tried to remove it with soap and water and NOTHING! I don’t like when I buy a “waterproof” liner and I can’t wear it on my waterline because it fades off.  This is definitely not the case with this liner from NYC. If you get this liner (which I recommend), make sure that you have a good eye makeup remover!

Yes, I will be going out to buy this liner in black! The retail value for the NYC City Proof 24HR Waterproof Eyeliner is $3.99.

Ore-Ida

Who doesn’t love tater tots? If you do, then more than likely you have had Ore-Ida tater tots. Or maybe you have tried their French fries. If you haven’t, you MUST try them!

Since this is a frozen food product, we received a coupon to redeem for Ore-Ida tots (very inexpensive at Walmart). These tater tots don’t taste like cheap, frozen food that you don’t know what you are eating. They taste like homemade, potato tater tots. The great thing is, you don’t have to eat them the traditional way! Add some ground beef and shredded cheese and you have a nice gooey treat to enjoy (especially when watching a game). Check out their website for some recipes!

This is another product that we will definitely be purchasing because there is sooo much you can do with it! The retail value for the Ore-Ida Tater Tots is $3.99.

Pure Ice

I love Pure Ice! Their polishes are great and they have an incredible variety of colors! The brush is nice…. It’s not one of those that you have to keep dipping in the polish to get more product because the brush is too thin. The consistency is nice, not too thick and not too thin. 2 coats of polish is perfect, but you can sometimes get away with just one coat.

I received the color Bikini, which reminds me a little bit of Essie’s Bikini So Tini (which I love). The color of Bikini is a paler blue than the one from Essie, but it is a good substitute.  I wore the polish (with a good base and top coat) and it lasted a full week without chipping (which is amazing, especially since I did not wear gloves to do the dishes, clean, or bathe the dog)! And the best thing is that you cannot beat the price! At $1.97 you can’t go wrong. You can try a variety of colors at a reasonable price with the same results of pricier nail polishes.  Pure Ice is sold only at Walmart (everyone has a Walmart) so go out and get a couple of polishes!

Cetaphil

Oh how I love Cetaphil! I am still using the Cetaphil facial cleanser to wash my face in the mornings and I take the cleansing cloths with me when I travel. You just can’t go wrong with their products. They’re products are great for sensitive skin… no wonder they are dermatologist approved.

The Jingle VoxBox included a deluxe sample of Moisturizing Cream, which claims to attract water to skin and prevent moisture loss. I used my Moisturizing Cream as a hand cream and I must say that it definitely helped keep them soft and smooth during the cold days (we keep having cold fronts in Florida). Instead of dry, cracked hands… my hands were soft and beautiful. This moisturizing cream will be great for the whole body and for the face! The retail value for the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream ranges from $8.99-$15.99.

Overall, this was an AMAZING VoxBox! Every product is incredible and definitely worth purchasing. They also make great gifts. Thank you again to Influenster for giving me the opportunity to enjoy these products. Thank you to all of the brands for creating these wonderful products.

xoxo,

Qttie1

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs

Hello lovelies!
I received the Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. Everyone is familiar with Sally Hansen. Who hasn't seen their big display at local retailers like Target, Walmart, or Walgreens? You know that you have few Sally Hansen nail polishes in your collection.  They really do have a great range of products!

Now, this Airbrush Legs was new to me when I was notified by Influenster that I was going to receive the product. Boy, was I excited to try this out! I received the box and had to open it right away! I received my Airbrush Legs in the color Medium, which looks pretty dark when you squeeze out the product. But don't let it fool you! It goes on pretty light as long as you blend it in. The great thing is, you can build up the color so you can go light or you can get a nice golden color! Just remember to blend it in so that you don't get streaks or get a blotchy look.   The smell and texture is of your regular body lotion and leaves the skin feeling smooth.

I absolutely love this product! It's like getting a tan, but the safe way. No tanning beds or laying out in the sun. And as I mentioned on Instagram, you can get this beautiful look all year long! No pale skin during the winter!

I give Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs a 10 out of 10. I could not find anything wrong with it. So, get out there and get yours today!

xoxo,
Qttie1

Ipsy June 2015 - Swim Into Beauty

Hello lovelies.

Are there any Ipsy subscribers that stalk the Ipsy site waiting for their Glam bags to be updated? Or to see when you can post on Facebook so that you can get a sneak peek of what is going to be in your bags? I am definitely one of those people! I also track my packages religiously online! I know it’s coming, but I want to know where it is at all times. Have you ever said, “Why is my package in so-and-so-place for 4 days?” (Mine is always in Orlando for 4 days). I think I say that every month! My husband just laughs at me.

I received my Ipsy bag last week. I must say that I haven’t been too impressed with my Ipsy bags the last few months. But then again, I haven’t been reviewing my products like I used to. Ever since Ipsy changed their site, I haven’t been writing my reviews. I started up again and hopefully I will start enjoying my bags as much I used to. Don’t get me wrong, I did get some products that I am excited to try… but how many times can you get a face primer! Yes, it’s from Smashbox and yes, I do love their primer… but I already own it! J

The theme for June 2015 was Swim into Beauty.

Let’s take a look into my Glam bag:

BioRepublic Face Masks

I am really into face masks right now, so this was one of the products that I was really happy about getting in my June bag. I received 3 different masks from BioRepublic: Cucumber Breeze, Green Tea Detox, and Aloe Rescue. All the masks are a made from a biodegradable fiber and they are made to fit snuggly on your face. My only complaint, it shouldn’t be that complicated to unfold the mask without breaking it! OMG, seriously!?!?

It’s very easy to use: open the packet, unfold the mask, place on your face and pat it down, wait – 20 minutes, then remove it. The instructions say that you do not have to rinse your face, just tap the excess product into your skin.

Cucumber Breeze is infused with cucumber extract and Vitamin E to soothe stressed skin, improve complexion, tighten pores, and reduce the singes of fine lines.

Green Tea Detox is infused with green tea extract and Vitamin E which provides a boost of anti-oxidants and reduces the appearances of blemishes and imperfections.

Aloe Rescue is infused with Aloe Vera juice and Vitamin E to sooth dry skin and hydrates it.

I tried the Cucumber Breeze and it felt amazing. I sat outside in our patio and my face felt cool and refreshed! I would definitely purchase this mask!

J.Cat Liptitude Hydrating Lip Stain

I love lip products and was excited to get this Liptitude Hydrating Lip Stain by J.Cat. When I think of a lip stain, I think of Benefit’s Benetint… this product by J.Cat reminds me more of a thick lip gloss or maybe a liquid lip stick. I received the color Blow Your Mind (the other color that Ipsy members received was Hikilicous). The color is a deep pink with some mauve. The consistency is a little thick, but overall the lip stain is beautiful. My problem… the stain bleeds… bad.  If you are going to wear this lip stain, you definitely need to use a lip primer or a waterproof lip liner.

NYC Liquid Eyeliner

I’m already a fan of NYC and this liquid eyeliner did not disappoint. The color is a very deep set black (love it!). The brush is thin so you can get that nice thing precise line on your eyelids or you can thicken it. It’s very easy to use and the end result is absolutely gorgeous! NYC proves once again that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a great product!

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

I have already written a review on this Smashbox primer. I have a deluxe sample of this primer that I received from a Smashbox contest. I have a small sample that I don’t remember where I got it from. I have the full sized product that I purchased from Ulta during one of their 21 Days of Beauty. I was surprised at how small the sample was that received in the Glam bag. I was a little disappointed to receive this, but it is a great product.

treStique Mini Shadow Crayon

The packaging for this mini shadowcrayon from treStique is really cute! When I received the bag, I thought that it was already open, to find out that the lid looks like a liner/crayon. I like the idea of shadow crayon, but I was not very impressed with the color that I received, which is called Kona Coffee. Kona Coffee is a very dark brown, which would be great for an eye liner. The crayon is very silky and goes on very smooth. The full sized product has shadow smudger at the bottom (I would have loved for the mini one to have this).

Overall, the bag wasn't too bad, but I wish that I had gotten some of the of the other products. I have already started reviewing my products and hopefully next month I will be more happy with my bag.

What did you get in your Ipsy bag?

What was your favorite product?

Until next time.

xoxo,

Qttie1

Walmart Beauty Box Supscription

It seems that there is a subscription box for everything and for everyone. I like to watch a lot of un-boxing and beauty haul videos on YouTube. I tend to watch one video and then check to see what other videos the vloggers have and that is how I found out that Walmart has a beauty subscription box! How crazy is that? 

The Walmart Beauty Box comes out each quarter and only costs $5 a box. That is a great deal! What I really like about this subscription box is that it is all stuff that you use... lotion, body wash, shampoo, lipgloss, etc. A lot of the products are samples, but I don't mind... they're great for when you are going on vacation or just going away for the weekend.

Winter 2014

My first box was the Winter 2014 box. The box is a nice size made out of cardboard and says "Walmart beauty"on the top and the front side. The other 3 sides have pictures of makeup and the bottom says L'Oreal Paris.

Each box comes with a small card from Walmart saying that the "Beauty boxes have you covered all year long." And that the products "will soon be part of your everyday routine."

                                  

The products are nicely packed with tissue paper (like most subscription boxes) and neatly placed in the box.

Now for the products...
The first product is the Burt's Bees facial cleansing towelettes with white tea extract. I love these towelettes because not only can you use them to wash your face, but they will remove makeup... great for those nights that you come home really late and are too tired to remove your makeup and cleanse your face! Not only are these towelettes 91% natural, they are also dermatologist and ophthalmologist approved. That's great for those with sensitive skin and those who wear contacts! The towelettes don't feel rough on the skin, leaves your face feeling refreshed, and the white tea extract and aloe do not dry your skin! The packet sold at Walmart brings 30 towelettes and retail at $5.97 (the one we received was a deluxe sample with 10 towelettes).

The next product is the Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash. This was a sample size of 1.8 fluid ounces. I feel that the scent is your normal Dove scent that everyone has come to love... it just smells clean. When looking at it and squeezing it out of the bottle, the consistency seems a little thick, but it lathers up quickly when using a pouf. This body wash feels soooo great and leaves the body smooth! In the past, I have felt that some Dove products have dried out my skin, but not this body wash. You can find different sizes of this Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash at Walmart and some are in a squeezable bottle others have the nice pump. Retail price at Walmart start from $5.47 for a 22 oz. bottle.

The next product is the Aveeno Active Naturlas Daily Moisturizing Lotion - Sheer Hydration. The ones I found at Walmart were fragrance free, but the sample I received has a light scent that I am not very fond of. Don't get me wrong, the lotion is great. It's a thin consistency and leaves the skin baby soft. I would definitely get this in fragrance free just for the fact that it feels great on! The lotion definitely absorbs in seconds as it claims, but I don't really understand why they say it has a powder like feel. An 18 oz. bottle starts from $8.97 at Walmart.

My favorite product the COVERGIRL Colorlicious Gloss in Juicy Fruit (this was a full sized product). The gloss comes in a clear bottom with the COVERGIRL logo and a twistable silver top. The consistency is thin, but pigmented. The color is a light pink with a little it of shimmer in it. I tend to put on a minimum of two layers. The retail price of the COVERGIRL Colorlicious glosses are $5.39.

The next product was a sheet with samples of perfumes from Flower. Flower is a beauty company that Drew Barrymore is one of the owners of. The sheet has samples of 3 perfumes: Cherished smells like flowers and baby powder, Radiant is pretty strong, I honestly could not smell it for too long or it would give me a headache (sorry), Sultry smells of flowers and spices (this one is pretty soft). Retail value starts at $14.11 for Cherished and $17.64 for the Radiant and Sultry at Walmart.

 

The next product was a sample of L'Oreal's Color Vibrancy Nourishing Shampoo, Conditioner, and Instant Shock Treatment. I don't color my hair (never have)... so I gave this product to my mother. She liked it... but didn't give me much details! All three products cost about $5.97 a piece at Walmart (shampoo and conditioner are 25.4 fl. oz. and the treatment is 6.8 oz.).

Next product were samples for John Frieda's Touchably Full Shampoo and Conditioner, These products were also for color treated hair. It says that it transforms fine hair. Prices start from $5.97 per product at Walmart.

Overall, great products for my first box.

Spring 2015

The Spring box looked similar to the Winter box only with a lot of orange! This box was full of samples and no full sized products, but again... all are great.

I had found list of the best drugstore beauty products and the Garnier Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream was on it. So, I was very excited to get it in my Spring Beauty box. This night cream hydrates the skin, reduces signs of tired skin, and claims that you will see less wrinkles over time. It feels great on the skin. This Miracle Sleeping Cream retails at $11.50 for 1.7 oz. at Walmart, but I also received coupon for $2.00 off. I will be definitely by using this!

The next product was a 3 pack sample of Ken Paves You Are Beautiful Smoothing Shampoo, Smoothing Conditioner, and Thick Conditioning Mask. I have not tried this yet, but will be doing this soon. The shampoo and conditioner is supposed to control frizz and seal the cuticles. They contain 100% essential oils and are paraben and sulfate free. The conditioning mask strengthens, nourishes, and protects your hair color. Retail price for the shampoo is $12.98 for 8.5 oz. and conditioner are $14.98 for 8.5 oz. Retail price for the Thick Conditioning Mask is $17.98 for 5.5 oz. All found at Walmart.

Next product is Lady Gaga Black Fluid Eau de Parfum. This perfume is supposed to feature: tears of belladonna, crushed heart of tiger orchidea, black veil of incense, pulverized apricot, and essence of saffron and honey drops. I don't normally like perfumes from artists (singers, actors, actresses, etc), but this perfume is very fruity and sweet. Not too bad, but I don't know if I would actually purchase it (I will let you know if I do). The retail value at Walmart is $18.77.

The next product was also in the best drugstore beauty product list! It's the Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream. After using this skin cream for 5 days you should see that your skin is hydrated, firm, illuminated, and the color should be evened out and corrected. I just started using it, so I will let you know if it actually does what it claims. I have used a normal Jergens body lotion in the past and have loved it, so I am excited to try this. Retail price at Walmart ranges from $7.89 - $8.28. You can also get the skin cream with SPF, which retails from $8.99 - $9.47.

The next product is Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E lotion. This lotion heals and softens rough, dry skin. Not just that, but cocoa butter helps with scars with stretch marks. The product is fragrance free, but it has a nice scent of chocolate! OMG, it smells soooo good when you apply it! The formula is pretty thick, but leaves the skin extremely soft with a little glow. There are many different versions of this lotion, but you can find it at Walmart for $5.28.

The next two products are the L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Total Repair 5 Restoring Shampoo and Restoring Conditioner. These products are for damaged or overworked hair and is used to rebuild fibers, strengthen the hair, give the hair vitality and shine, and also gives the hair the silkiness feel. I love the light fruity scent of the shampoo! Both smell very... clean. I straighten my hair twice a week, so I feel that I am damaging it... I will be trying these today and give more information in a later post. Retail price for a 12.6 fl. oz. retails at $3.97 for the shampoo and conditioner.

The next product is a sample of Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E Skin Therapy Oil for the Face. This oil is a skin perfecter that transforms your skin. It is made up of Retinol, Vitamin C, and the following 10 oils: sweet almond, sesame, coconut, macadamia, apricot, argan, rosehip, camelina, and sunflower. Seeing that I have really liked other Palmer's products, this will probably become a must have. I received a small packet to test, but I'm thinking of purchasing this soon. I could not find the face oil (the link above is just the oil, which I guess you can use for your entire body), but they must sell it in store. I found it on another site for $8.29.

Next in the box was a small 0.06 fl. oz. sample of Burt's Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum. This serum is made with Hibiscus and Apple and is supposed to restore the appearance of the skin's firm texture and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and deep lines. On the packet it states that "94% of women showed a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and visibly firmer skin after using" the serum after 8 weeks. The retail value for a 1.1 fl. oz. bottle is $18.76 at Walmart. I received a coupon for $3.00 off any Renewal Product.

The last thing in my Walmart Spring Beauty box was a coupon for one free Dry Spray Antiperspirant. That is awesome! I was a little upset because I looked at everything in my box, tried a few things, but did not really pay attention to this coupon. So guess what I did. I actually went and bought the Dove Dry Spray and later that same day saw this coupon! I gave it to my husband so that next time we go to Walmart he can pick one out. So the dry spray that I purchased was the Dove Dry Spray in Cool Essentials (it has a cucumber on the front). This is my first spray antiperspirant and I love it! It goes on dry (like it says) and is a little cold at first, but it lasts all day and has a great scent. I will definitely keep purchasing these dry sprays. I believe that they had 3 other scents and I want to try them all!

The Spring box was another great sample beauty box.

Overall, I am very happy with my subscription to Walmart's Beauty Box. Some of these products I would have never tried. Some of them, I may have wanted to try, but too afraid to try to then find out that I didn't like them or that they would react to my skin, contacts, etc.

What did you think of the 2 boxes?

Have you subscribed to the Walmart Beauty Box? If, you have... what did you get?

xoxo,

Qttie1