Physicians Formulas Shimmer Strips Review + Swatches

A photo posted by Jacqueline (@jaqinator) on Sep 12, 2014 at 11:18am PDT

Posting this super late, oops.  Hi everyone!

Here are swatches of the Physicians Formulas Shimmer Strips All-in-1 Custom Nude Palette for Face & Eyes.  Each one is with two swipes. I like it! Mostly the more bronze (8-12) type of colors since they make my blue eyes pop (I personally rather use these as shadows). 

This palette is said to be used as the following: Shadow, Eyeliner, Bronzer, Blush, or highlighter.  As with most products that promote multiple ways to use it, the shadows won't have extreme staying power or pigmentation.  This rings true with the lighter colors, which are mostly used as a highlighter or blush (Top two rows).

I found these to be soft, and not chalky, and they were smooth when applying. It does a great job at giving you a subtle shiny and glowing type of look.  While I did love this product, I did find that the shades would swipe and fade away easily after leaving it there for a while.  This can be due to user error, since I did not wear any sort of primer. 

 In conclusion: There are SOO many products that have these exact same shades, or have better staying power.  What sets this apart from others is the texture and smoothness of it. It does give you a glowing appearance without seeming chalky or packed onto your face.


*Note: While each row is made for a specific purpose, you can mix and match to your liking.
These retail for: $13.95 online, but in some places you can get this for about $10 in stores.

TrimStyle 2 in 1 Razor Review

Schick Hydro Silk TrimStyle Razor

Like all razors and trimmers, you should always make sure you use something to moisturize and give a slick 'canvas' in order to ensure that it'll catch more hair.  I have been using this for a few months and found that it worked pretty well, if not a tad bit better than my previous razor.

The TrimStyle is a dual ended grooming item that has a razor on one end, and a trimmer on the other.  In the center, where you twist it off, lies the battery.  Do not worry, for the TrimStyle is waterproof and won't mess up if you use it in the shower.

The razor end is just like any female razor- it comes with a moisturizing strip to help shave off any hair. However I have found that this makes it become super sticky and it starts leaving too much residue that sticks everywhere.  I personally prefer using my own shaving cream or gel (or as a last resort- soap works too), rather than solely rely on the moisturizing strip of the razor.  Otherwise, I have found that this works perfectly fine and doesn't nip me. (*Note: I generally wet the area I'm going to shave, with hot water, which  tends to 'open up' the pores, and let the hair cut off smoothly. I do this first before applying any shaving cream or gel. )

The trimmer side was a new thing for me.  I have never used one before, and was a bit scared and hesitant.  The trimmer has a mini comb on it, that you can push up or take off completely.   For me, I found it easier to remove it all together, since it provided a easier trim.  I like it.  It trimmed close to the skin and didn't leave too much noticeable black  hair spots.  Also remember: Don't shave or trim against hair growth.  I have learned this the hard way, and got a few nips and cuts, and ingrown hairs.  I also found that this vibration was a bit too loud for me. (To be fair, this is because I live with my family, and they tend to question every little noise that comes from me.)

Overall, I really do like this.  The only downsides for me was that it the moisturizing strip leaves behind a sticky mess and that the trimmer end vibrated too loudly for my taste.  This, however, does not stop it from being a pretty great razor.  I think another positive is that this can be found for $10 in walmart. I'm not sure if that was on sale, or if it's the same in other stores.


*Note: I got this free from Bzzagent as part of the 'Schick Hydro Silk TrimStyle Razor' campaign. All opinions are my own.*

Double Review- April and May Ipsy 2015- LAST MONTHS

 Hi everyone! So sadly my streak with Ipsy has ended.  The last few months have been disappointing,  and I feel as if I keep getting the same item over and over. With that said, here are the double reviews of April and May Ipsy 2015.

x[ April Ipsy 2015 ]x

Contents:

JulieG- Nail Color in Damsel
A pretty hot pink color.  I don't use nail polish, so this will be given to a friend or to my mother.

Klorane- Dry shampoo with oat milk natural tint
I tried this a few times and didn't see any drastic result.  This left a streak of white powder in my hair, which I assume is the tint.  It smells fine but I would not repurchase.  

theBalm Cosmetics- NUDE Dude Eyeshadow Single in Flirty
What a gorgeous color this is! It's a brownish purple shimmer eyeshadow.  I am ashamed to admit it but I have not fully played with it.  It's too cute to mess up!

MicaBeauty- Eye primer
Basic eyeshadow primer.  Nothing too special.  I didn't notice anything dramatic about it.

Starlooks- Satin Finish Lip gloss in Cuddle
I'm pretty sure I received a starlooks lip gloss before in another bag. This looks like a copper brown-neutral type of color.

Bonus Item:  NYX Cosmetics Butter lipstick in - Susie Pop
I kind of love this lipstick.  It's a nice hot pink that you can layer up to make it more bolder and almost neon.  I love how smooth this lipstick is, and doesn't go into the creases of my lips.

All the items together.

Opened eyeshadow and primer.

x[ May Ipsy 2015 ]x

Contents:

Briogeo- Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray
I have not touched this.  I have received so much hair products over the past few months, it's getting hard to review them all when I can't put too much things in it, due to psoriasis in my scalp. 

Urban Decay- 24/7 Glide on Lip Pencil in Ozone (+ sample of Revolution high color lipgloss)
This lip pencil goes on clear and will help prevent feathering (when the lipstick runs around and smudges everywhere).  This is always great to have on hand, especially when dealing with darker bold colors such as purple or red.  I have not tried any of the sample glosses.

BellaPierre Cosmetics- Waterproof Mineral Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Ebony
This has become my go-to eyeliner.  This is a nice gel eyeliner in a charcoal-black looking color. You can use it in the waterline or on the eyelid and it won't smudge nor flake.  It can last a few hours on your eyes without looking faded, even in extreme hot humid weather.  The only downside for me is that the pencil tip is super soft and breaks off easily. 

AMIE- Morning Dew Matte- Finish Mositurizer
I have not tried this.

Luxie Beauty - Tapered Blending Eye brush 205
This is such an amazing brush.  Usually I would never say this because I don't see the 'big deal' about brushes.  But after trying this for weeks, and feeling it...it has become my go-to eyeshadow brush.  The handle is a nice smoothie/pastel looking pink, whereas the bristles are super soft to the touch.  When I use this to blend my eyeshadow, it doesn't pull or prick at my eyes (compared to the cheap $1 ones you can find).



Overall:  These were my final months of Ipsy.  I cancelled it because I was getting the same type of thing over and over, and most of them will never be used.  On the plus side, I did managed to find a few favorite items within these last two months, but I don't think it was worth all that money.

Bonus Image:

A photo posted by Jacqueline (@jaqinator) on Jul 9, 2015 at 3:50pm PDT

Image above shows me wearing: 
Used: Luxe 205 tampered blending brush (from ipsy)
Wearing:  Bella pierre cosmetics gel eyeliner in Ebony (from ipsy),  Nyx butter lipstick in Little susie (from ipsy)

Double Review- February and March Ipsy 2015

Hello everyone! Welcome to another Jaqtastic Review! Today I will be reviewing the February and March Ipsy bags of 2015. So late. I need to find a better way to transfer my phone pictures.

February Ipsy 2015

This months bag was one of the only ones I liked all year.  Its a diamond patterned pink and grey bag.  I have no idea what type of material it is, but it was sturdy enough. 

Contents:

Emite Make up - Professional Eye Lash Curler
I don't use products like this and frankly after many reports of this breaking apart on people...I just threw it away in some corner. I'm not willing to risk someone I care about, or me , to hurt themselves over this.

ModelCo- BLUSH Cheek Powder
This is such a beautiful peachy gold! It really is too bad that I don't wear blush at all. Though this is making me want to go out and try it.

Demeter Fragrance Library- First Love Roll On Perfume Oil
At first I didn't like how this smelled. It was overly sweet and floral and kind of a generic scent you'll recognize when you randomly walk by someone.  It reminds me a bit of how detergent smells like. However, after trying a few times and letting it linger on my skin longer, I found that I might like this.  It starts off sweet, but ends in a clean 'after shower' type of scent.  It's nice I suppose.

City Color- Creamy Lip Stain in Flirtini
This was perhaps my favorite item in the whole bag. Which, to be fair, is not really at all surprising since I am a lip junkie. The stain was super pigmented, as you can see in the swatch above, and such a gorgeous pink. It is creamy, and a little goes a long way. The downside is that it smells horribly of chemicals.

Mitchell and Peach- Fine Radiance Face Oil
I like using face products, however I never got to try this.  I already have too much face oils to try out. Still, these are always useful.


Overall, the month of February was not too exciting.  I have not found myself reaching for any of the products.


                                                               March Ipsy 2015
The month of march had another loely bag.  It was blue and floral, and kind of abstract looking.

Contents:

Wonka Randoms- Endless Gummy Variety Review

Wonka- Randoms Endless Gummy Variety

The box itself. Words to live by: Be Happy!

   Hello Everyone! How do you do? Today, I will be reviewing this new Gummy candy from the Wonka brand. 

This new 'Endless Gummy Variety' comes in an assortment of 70 different designs, and 3 different textures (Regular, one filled with a jam, and one with a foamy whipped marshmallow). Each bag is randomized, and thus never holds the same type.  

Inside the Smiley Box. So pretty and organized.

The treasure! Two full sized bags, one for you, and one for sharing. Sweet!

I found these to be really good. Usually my brother and I tend to snack on the 'Welch's Fruit Snacks' , and while these are probably less healthy, we found that the Wonka Randoms held a more stronger noticeable flavor.  Which is great when you're craving something sweet and fruity.

Sadly, my brother immediately devoured the bigger, re-sealable bag, after this photo.

Surprisingly, my favorite happened to be the textured variety that has some sort of berry jam in the middle. The jam filled variety has a marshmallow bottom, with a regular gummy top.  The jam lays in the center.

I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting from it, but it did taste as real as any jam can be. Silly I know, but I'm not used to eating jam in general.  I didn't really care much for the plain marshmallow textured ones- the taste on the marshmallow was rather nonexistent and added nothing to it- whereas the ones with the marshmallow and jam were 100% better for me.  Perhaps cause it made it much more sweeter.

My favorite textured one! Jam filled gummy with a marshmallow bottom.

Some of the gummies in my bag.

Overall, I liked these. I probably will purchase these again, especially for my brother.  The re-closable ones are great to throw in a bag, for a quick snack.

If you have a Walmart near you, you can get a 10 oz bag for about $3. Prices may vary.

Note: I received this product free of charge from Smiley360. All opinions are my own.

Arnotts Tim Tam Review

Hello everyone! Today I will be reviewing the sugary sweet, Arnotts Tim Tam. The one and only original flavor.

The basics: Arnotts Tim Tam originates from Australia, however they are now able to be purchased in the United States at Target, for about three dollars a pack. Currently, the original and caramel flavors are sold.

Deceivingly sweet and melts in your mouth. A secret candy bar.

To say that I had high expectations is an understatement. For years, I have seen dozens of rave and praise on youtube and blogs all around.  For years, I salivated and dreamt about holding these in my hands. Of course, back then I was obsessed with all things chocolate and sweet.  I am older now and my sweet tooth is not as strong.

Tim Tams are said to taste exactly like a candy bar, except it is a cookie.

I am delightfully amazed that these cookies, do indeed, taste like candy bars.  They remind me a tad bit of the milky way candy bar, mostly because of the soft center. Of course, I can be completely off the chart with this comparison, as nowadays I don't eat too much chocolate, however the taste does stir up some nostalgic memory for me.  

Tim Tams consist of two biscuits/wafers coated with chocolate, and squished between them: a nice  chocolate filling.  The main difference between a Tim Tam, and a regular chocolate candy bar is how smooth it is.  Every bite delivers a nice crunch, without any sort of chewiness or tough bite to it.

Now the filling. The most delightful part.  The chocolate inside the bar melts in your mouth in a good feel type of way. I'm not sure if it leans more on the fudge or milk chocolate side, but it has the consistency of a cream.  I can see why people love pairing this with a nice hot beverage on the side.

Dunk this in a glass of milk, or a cup of coffee and you'll probably get your daily dose of sugar for the day.

Personally, the only downside were how insanely sugary these tasted. I am only able to consume on bar per day.  I don't think I will buy these frequently due to this reason, but I would as a treat or a reward.

Note: I got this for free as a bzzagent, all opinions are my own.

Quick Ipsy Review (November & December 2014 + January 2015)

Hi everyone! Wow, I haven't posted in such a long time- but I do have a reason! I have been spending time with some family in a different area, and have been getting back into the art of drawing.

In any case, here are some quick reviews on my Ipsy subscription during the months of November, December, and finally this month of January. I have to say, my excitement for Ipsy has dropped substantially.

November Ipsy 2014

A photo posted by Jacqueline (@jaqinator) on Nov 17, 2014 at 12:03pm PST

Items included:

Marc Anthony - Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Volume Shine Hairspray
Be a bombshell - eye base in Submissive
Elizabth Mott- You're so fine waterproof liquid eyeliner
J.Cat Beauty- Wonder Lip Paint in Red Potion
Temptu- S/B Highlighter in Pink Pearl

* Swatches of the lip paint and the eye-base included. Keep in mind, the base took 4 swatches to show up that wait. The lip paint is one little dot.

I have to say, I was pretty pleased with Novembers bag.  The eye base was a winner for me- I love using gold eyeshadows a lot, so this base was super helpful. I have also found that it was nice to just use on its own, to add a bit of depth on my natural eyelids.  It had a nice and smooth consistency however I did notice that it took a lot of swipes to get much of any color.  I suppose that would be considered a good thing since it's a base.

 My next favorite was the J.Cat Beauty lip paint in Red potion. The color leans more on the vampy burgundy red color, and kind of reminds me of the Hikari lipstick we got in a previous bag. One biggest flaw I found in this lip paint was that it applies patchy on your lips and will settle on any dry skin your lips may have. Exfoliating prior to applying this helped a bit for me. This product is not completely matte.

My last favorite was the Elizabeth Mott eyeliner. I recently got to try it during Christmas time, and it was simply amazing.  There wasn't too much of a sheen on it, but it wasn't a pure matte eyeliner either. There were tiny bits of glitter, which again was not too noticeable. The brush is a fine tip point that made using it easier, and provided a better grip to make a sharper wing. The image below shows me wearing it, don't mind how splotchy it looks since I kept rubbing my eyes, ha. Which is another point- it takes a very strong hand to completely smudge or wipe it off, and I was out in the rain with this, and it did not smear around.

I don't have much of an opinion over the highlighter and hairspray- products I don't use at all.

A photo posted by Jacqueline (@jaqinator) on Jan 14, 2015 at 12:59pm PST

December Ipsy 2014

A photo posted by Jacqueline (@jaqinator) on Dec 18, 2014 at 2:47pm PST

Items included

Sexy Hair - Blow dry spray
Beauty without Cruelty- Facial cleanser
Cailyn Cosmetics- Just mineral eye polish in Orchid
NYX- Butter lip balm in Marshmallow
tarte- lights, camera, lashes 4-in-1 mascara

I was not pleased at all with the bag of December. The lip balm is from NYX and is always highly praised as being the best in regards to their lip products. Initially, I was excited and pumped to try it out, till I saw the color I received.  I received mines in 'Marhmallow', which is an orange nude color.  Orange or brownish lip colors do not match my skin tone and makes me appear sickly. The eye polish is extremely sheer and I'm not quite sure how to get more product out- but this is perhaps a fault in myself, rather than the product.  I don't use hair sprays nor mascara. The facial cleanser I have not tried yet.

January Ipsy 2015

A photo posted by Jacqueline (@jaqinator) on Jan 16, 2015 at 9:22am PST

Items included:

Elizabeth Mott- All over shadow brush
Nourish Organic- Renewing eye cream
BellaPierre- Shimmer Powder in Excite
Pacifica- Natural mineral coconut eye shadow in Treasure
MALIN+GOETZ- Mojito Lip balm

My January Ipsy for 2015! I'm severely tempted to just cancel the subscription. I have dozens of lip balms and bronze/gold eye shadows already. The shimmer powder doesn't show up at all on my pasty white skin and eye cream is just that. Eye cream.  It will be put to use, but I don't really like the Nourish Organic brand. Their products never seem to really work for me.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Pacifica eyeshadow.  One swipe and it shows, and it is a super nice smooth feeling. You are able to build up with it after 3 swipes. Compared to the other eyeshadow we got from this brand, this one is leagues better.


x-x

There you have it, have any of you decided to drop Ipsy? I feel they are no longer trying anymore. What a let down. 

x-x
 What is Ipsy?

Ipsy is a monthly subscription service for only $10 a month in which you receive deluxe and full-sized samples of beauty products.

If you would like to sign up, please use my referral link: http://www.ipsy.com/r/1boz - thanks if you do! Note: There IS a waiting list.