RealHer Moisturizing Lipstick Review

RealHer Moisturizing Lipstick

Hello everyone! Long time no see. I blame summer and all this lovely weather.  In any case, I got this lipstick at a discount, however all opinions are my own. 

I am Powerful, rawr.

The RealHer moisturizing lipstick comes in a dual white and black colored packing- completely squared. It's rather sleek and pretty modern looking. I really like this simple look.

I got the color, 'I am powerful', which is described as a 'wine' color. What exactly is wine colored? I'm not sure. In the image, it appeared as a very dark brownish red.  In person, its an almost burgundy type of red, however, it is lighter than I thought it would be.  (In a yellow light setting, the lipstick looked more pink based).

First off. A lip scrub/lip balm should always be applied when using any type of lipstick.  I found that applying it with some type of brush gives you better results.    If you apply it straight out of the tube, it layers on thickly, and goes deep into the wrinkles of your lips.  It does feather around the corners of your lips after some time, so  for this reason a lip liner would have been ideal.

Still. I'm not sure what to describe this type of lipstick, but it's semi matte.  While it does settle into the lines of your lips, it's not too uncomfortable. It does moisturize your lips and doesn't leave it feeling dry and sore. 

Now, do be careful.  The lipstick does smudge around, and it does leave a slight stain (I learned this the hard way, and ended up coming out as a clown, ouch).  If you let it sit for a few minutes, it holds out a bit longer, and won't get affected by water (unless you scrub super hard - just use makeup remover). This lipstick can hold for a few hours before it needs to be reapplied.

Swatches

A gorgeous matte type of lipstick.

Smudged all around. A lip liner would work here.

Overall, I really do love this color. I feel like it'll go nicely with most, if not all, skin tones.  I don't hate this product, however I do think the formula can be improved since it settles too much and is too thick.  And while this lipstick does settle in,  it doesn't suck out every moisture and leave you drier than a desert. Still. There are tons of lipsticks that are rather similar to this in color.

You can get this lipstick for $12.99 on amazon or via their website online.
They claimed that this lipstick is
"Certified Cruelty Free
Free of Parabens, Petro Chemicals, Synthetic Fragrances, Lead, Talc, Gluten, and Phthalates" and is made in the USA.

If anyone has any questions, do let me know. 

Hawaiian Tropic Silk hydration lotion sunscreen Review

Hello everyone! Today I will be reviewing the lotion sunscreen from Hawaiian Tropic Silk.

As silly as it sounds, I was amused by how the sunscreen was spiraled with a mix of yellow and orange; blended till it was nothing more than a pastel. I was severely tempted to use this as paint, but atlas, that's not the purpose of this product. So instead, I slathered this on to my body, as if I were a canvas.

It is scented with coconuts; sweetened as if holding hints of another fruit, which I can not pinpoint.  The lotion sunscreen does not leave any sticky feeling behind, and absorbs rather quickly into your skin.  It leaves your skin feeling nice, smooth, and cooled off.

With a spf of 30, and an 80 minute promise of keeping a resistance to water and sweat, I wore this all day hoping I didn't turn into a toasty marshmallow, or sweat buckets.

On the plus side, no damage to my skin,  nor any irritation.  On the downside, I don't think this worked as well during the extreme sweating I did.  I do think this is a good product, however, you will need to constantly apply this through out the day. So there's that.

**I received this product via crowdtap, however all opinions are my own. Thanks!

Francois et Mimi Elite HARDI Bluetooth Headphones Review

Hello everyone! How are you this nice and hot day? I recently was given some Francois et Mimi Elite Hardi Bluetooth headphones for free, and was delightfully excited to try them out.  Now, as a glasses user, typically, headsets are hard to use because they push against my glasses and cause head aches. So I won't be able to wear this for long extended periods of time (hours and hours of usage).

I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review.  With that said, the Hardi Elite Bluetooth headphones are a simple black on black headset.  It is packaged with a charging cable, an aux cable, and a user manual along with the headset. It is said to work within 30 feet and has a playtime of around 10-15 hours.  It also has a rechargeable battery built in. It is recommended to charge it before your first use.  I admit, I was a bit confused on the charging process for it kept flashing between red and blue, before settling for red, after 10 or so minutes. 

These headphones were moderately okay. They are cushioned on the top and on the ear pieces, and are comfortable to wear.  However, I did find that overall they are a bit flimsy, and feel as if one wrong tug can break them easily. As a glasses user, this didn't apply too much pressure onto my glasses, so that was a plus.

Now,  I did notice that there was some issue with the charging cable. It is unbelievably short, and is a bit hard to charge via the computer, or with an AC adapter.  I would recommend using one that is longer.  Besides that, the cable did not fit in correctly into the micro usb slot, and was a bit slanted and took a bit of work to get it in.  I worry that it might break in the future.

While the sound quality isn't the best by all means, it's good for what it does.  When you receive calls and talk, the sound is a bit foggy and distance sounding, however, the sound is clear for anyone on the other end talking to you.
Connected with the aux cable, the music is clear on both sides (some people have stated that it only works on one side), so that was a relief.

On the downside, the bluetooth is not picked up by my tablet, only my phone.  But that's a small issue for me.

Conclusion: Now, is it WORTH over $50? No.  It's more of a $20-25 headphone. Overall, the quality is moderate, the design is a bit flimsy, and the charging cable doesn't have a right fit to it.  Yet, despite it, it's  a good option to have connected to your phone when you want to be hands free for music and phone calls.

Carefree Acti-fresh Liners Review

 Hello everyone! Today I will be reviewing some panty liners.  I don't usually use these, but after trying these they have become extremely useful.
*This is an older review from months ago I forgot to upload, oops!
                                                        Carefree Acti-fresh Liners

I really liked these. These were perfect to use before and after menstruation- for days when you discharge, or when you have a light period day. I also used these on days that were hot- it helped get rid of any sweaty or uncomfortable feeling. It helps maintain a freshness to that general area.

It is comfortable in the sense that you do not notice it's there when you put it on, however I did notice that sometimes it'll slide off if there was TOO much heat/humidity (like if I was outside in the heat for a few hours with too much layers on, and went to use a bathroom). This can be a bother, so if you rely on just this, make sure you bring extra or backup.



Update:  I was in family dollar the other day and found similar ones by the brand 'Always'. It was only $1.  Same amount, and they work just as well,  minus the sliding off. Both are good options, however I think I'll reach for the Always brand since they are easier to find in my location. (Keep in mind,wearing panty liners for too long, can cause irritation)
 

I received the Carefree Acti-fresh Liners through Influenster for testing purposes, however all opinions are my own.

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.

ChapStick Dual-Ended Hydration Lock Day and Night Review

Hello everyone! Welcome to another Jaqtastic Review. Today, I will be going over a new chapstick that was sent to me by Smiley for free. (You may click on this link to receive .50 cents off this product!) However, my opinion is 100% my own. I may edit this post to update on anything new that happens with this product.

The kit itself.

The package came in a bubble wrapped large envelope with the Smiley logo stickered on.  The ChapStick kit included one ChapStick Dual Ended Hydration Lock Day and Night, and some .50 cent coupons to use on their products.

"Dual-ended premium lip balm for clinically proven healthier looking lips , Day formula is ultra-conditioning with SPF to protect your lips by day, Night formula contains tamanu oil and natural butters to replenish your lips by night"- Via Chapstick.com

The chapstick has two different scents to differentiate between the uses .  The day end is more of a soft vanilla, or frosting, scent. The day end has spf 12 in it, and is advised to use 15 minutes before you go out in the sun.    Whereas the day is a sweet sugary scent,  the Night end is more lemony and has a more soothing and subtle smell.

 This chapstick works pretty good as long as you use both equally, on a consistent manner.  Otherwise, it feels as if the daytime end doesn't moisturize enough as it does when you use it together with the night end, or if you use it everyday.  I did find that the first day of using this, it made my lips more dried out, and flakey, but after the second day it soothed it out.

After wearing this for a month now, I have to say- I love this!  After continuous use, it does seem as if its doing its job. I prefer the night time use as it contains oils that seeps into your lips overnight, and prevent it from dehydrating - A common thing that happens to me, especially as it nears winter cold nights.

However, the downside is that I noticed after a few days of forgetting to use it, my lips became extremely dry and peely, despite keeping hydrated.  It did soothe a bit when I began to use it daily, but my lips were still left a bit dried. Of course, there is a warning to not use this on broken skin, so perhaps this is why it didn't seem to work as efficient after my lips dried, cracked, and began peeling off. So I don't fault this product for that.


Overall, this is worth buying and keeping around in your purse.  This can become anyones best friend, and the best part? You won't feel a need to constantly reapply it like many other chapsticks.  While I do prefer the night end better, since it does a better job and hydrating your lips over night, I have found that both works pretty well if used together daily.  

These also are light enough on your lips to wear before applying lipstick on, especially for matte type of lipsticks.

You can buy these at your local drugstores or supermarkets, or anywhere that sell this type of product. They retail for about $2.99

Love With Food August Gluten-Free Box Code + Spoilers

Hi Everyone! I have some exciting news today for everyone.  I have a 50% off code for your first Love with Food box as well as some spoilers for the first ever Gluten-Free Box from the company Love with Food.

Love with Food

Here's a hint:  Cookie Mix, Multigrain BBQ chips, and nutty rice bites with blueberries. Excited? You should be! My stomach is already watering by the aspect of the yummy treats inside. Read on to find out the exact details of whats hidden inside the Gluten-Free box of August.

[ Code ]
Since this is what most people tend to look for, here is the code upfront! Below are the spoilers.

Use BLGGLUTENFREE to get 50% off the first ever Love With Food Gluten-Free box!
Sign up before August 1st to receive this box! Hurry! This offer WILL go fast.

[ Spoilers Ahead ]
* All images and info courtesy of Love with Food. Thanks!

Jordana Color Envy Waterproof liquid Eyeliner Review + Swatches

Hello everyone! Welcome to another Jaqtastic Review! Today I will be reviewing The Jordana Color Envy eyeliner in the color 02 Brown Desire. Swatches are at the end of the post.

02 Brown Envy.

I recently went to Kmart and wandered to the beauty section, in hopes of buying a cheap eyeliner or two in replacement of my missing black liquid eyeliner.  I found this for $2.99 and immediately grabbed the only brown one available.  After all, I have dozens of black pencil eyeliners, I might as well snag a brown liquid one to see the difference between the browns and blacks.

Fortunately, I have heard of this brand during my adventures of Ipsy *, a monthly beauty subscription service for only $10 a month. I have heard good moderate reviews on this, so my experimentation with this brand began.

For it's price, I have to say, this is a moderately good product.  The brush is a fine point that delivers an easy to make thin line. However, I found that this product leaked a lot.  Upon application, it had so much excess product, that it would smudge on my lower lash lines and above on my crease. Besides that, it manages to easily drip to my lashes, in which it will harden and cause my lashes to become brittle and weak.  Yikes, right? I'm assuming this is due to the waterproof aspect taking effect.

Besides those cons, I found that this eyeliner does last hours, and once it settles it does not smudge at all. With a heat wave that struck humidity down on us rather harshly, I was surprised that this eyeliner lasted about 5 hours before it began to fade and chip off.  This is including sitting directly in front of the sun.  It lasts longer if you use a pencil liner to fill in the cracks, or on any areas that fade.

I would suggest having a cotton tip and makeup remover on hand, when using this eyeliner, especially if it manages to smudge around or dip down to your lashes. 

Overall, for a $3 product, I got what I paid for. While there were many flaws to it, I did like how it long it last, and how similar to black it looked, without looking as harsh on the eyes. I also loved how it didn't smudge.  Be warn, this product does chip and fade after a few hours!

✦✦ S w a t c h e s ✦✦

Arm Swatches. Super liquidy.
Left - Bathroom Lighting.
Right- Natural Lighting.

Me wearing the Jordana Color Envy eyeliner in 02 Brown Desire.

* This is a referral link.  If you sign up under it, you have my greatest thanks!

Sleek MakeUp- Mini Birthday Haul Review + Swatches

Hello everyone! Welcome to another Jaqtastic Review! Long time no post, but I still haven't received my hard drive, so I figured I should do individual reviews of some recent makeup products I got for my birthday. :) My reviews on my subscriptions shall be posted within the next few weeks- stay tuned! Till Then, here is my

Sleek Makeup Mini Birthday Haul Review

{   True Colour Lipstick in the color Mystic   }

Price: $7.49

Left: Lipstick managed to break off with how soft it was. Natural light.

 A gorgeous purple color that is more on the pinkish tone side, with a hint of glitter and shine.  This is a matte lipstick that conditions and hydrates your lips.  Due to it being a matte, I do suggest applying a bit of lip balm with it.

I love this color and this lipstick. It goes on smooth, and gives a good pigmentation. I do wish it was a more true purple, but this is pretty nice.  It reminds me of many fuchsia lip colors like the Pop Beauty Lip Stain, but a tad bit darker.

The only downside is that this melts ridiculously fast. I'm assuming this is probably due to some wax in the formula.  Terrible considering that it is summer, and the temperature is reaching as high as 95 degrees.  I found that no matter where I placed this at, I would open it and find it half melted with  heat bumps all over it.  It seems like shoving it in the fridge is a temporary fix. 

I admit. I wish this was a pure darker purple color.

 ✦✦ S w a t c h e s ✦✦ (Click to

FOTD- Newbie tries hand at makeup again

Hello everyone! I haven't been able to update because I am having my laptop fixed over due to hard drive issues. So ALL my reviews and pictures are temporarily on hold till I get it back.  I decided I should just share a simple look I did because...well why not? I'm not an expert, and help would be appreciated of course.  I had fun with this, so haha.  I usually practice and experiment with different looks, and usually post the pictures on my instagram or facebook, so check it if you want. (:

Messy  hair, messy everything. What happens after you drink coffee! ((:

Products used
LIPS:
✦ POP BEAUTY Pouty Pop Crayon - Coral Crush

EYES:
✦ California Collection BH COSMETICS
- Colors used: Malibu and Hollywood

✦ SECRET KISS Twinkle Waterproof Gel Pencil Liner
✦ STARLOOKS Gem Pencil in the color Topaz
✦ VICTORIA'S SECRET Bold Line Liquid Liner

I need to invest in some base and primers. I know I know. Ahh.

Maybe I'll do this more often, and share more pictures while I wait for my hard drive to return to me. :)

Beauty Box 5- May Code + Spoiler

Hiya everyone! I haven't updated for a long while now, I know.  I underestimated how much subscription boxes I ordered, yikes. I been trying out the products, to get a personal feel of them, before I just plaster out a full review.  You can follow my instagram or my personal facebook if you wish to see preview pictures early on. (:

Anywho! In case any of you didn't hear: Beauty Box is currently running a promo code to get your first month absolutely free! For new Subscribers ONLY.  The best part? They already released a spoiler.

May Spoiler for Beauty Box 5

Image from Beauty Box 5.

All subscribers will receive a full sized Precisione Eyeliner by Cattiva. Eyeliner is always welcomed, especially in a free box.

Beauty Box 5
Use code: FIRSTBOXFREE3  to get your first box free! Be warned though! You will see a $1 charge on your bank card, if it was successful. This is in order to authorized that your card is legit.

If you would like this offer, please sign up now.  This offer expires on  April 30, 2014 OR while supplies last.

If that code does not work, please visit their facebook post, that shows this offer.

Referral link: I would really appreciate it if you used my referral link (: You don't need to if you don't want. Thanks if you do!

If not, just sign up on Beautybox5.com

Tohato Honey Yogurt Caramel Corn Review

Hello everyone! Welcome to another Jaqtastic Review! I decided to go back to my roots, and get off my butt and actually review some of the snacks from hauls I got months ago.  A few months back, I managed to go to the widely talked about Asian Store- Dainobu. It is a Japanese Deli + Grocery located in 12 ST E 47th Street in New York, NY.

I have to admit. I splurged. Even more so than usual because of the sales being held. I managed to get about 34 items for only $80.  Yikes, right? It was worth it!

Honey Yogurt Caramel Corn

Brand: Tohato

Price:  $2.98

Bought at Dainobu

First off, the packaging.  I noticed it right away because of the bold bright yellow bag.  Each flavor of the Tohato Caramel Corn snack comes in different colors with different expressions or faces on them.  The best looking ones are the Halloween editions, so cute!

Initially, I heard of this brand before, and was trying to find the original red bag one (Peanut one said to taste just like Cracker Jack), but instead found this one and an orange flavored one (Will Review later).   I'm not too much of a fan of honey flavored items, but I LOVE Yogurt stuff.  So why not try it? I'll say it now. This was a perfect choice.

To open, you have to grab the pointy edges and pull down; which causes it to open it from the side. Not exactly ideal if you want to save some for later (as I tend to do).

How curly!

This snack is a caramelized corn puff with a flavoring of yogurt and honey.  It has the consistency and texture of a cheese doodle- fluffy but not too airy,  and makes a slight snap when bitten. This snack is more lumpy and curly in appearance, compared to your regular corn snack.

It also melts nicely into your mouth, which is always good for small children. (Note: My greedy side wants to keep this all to myself because it is so addicting to eat).

I have to say, this snack is really good.  It's not too sweet, and it it tastes like that corn based cereal, Kixs. Anyone remember those? There is a slight tangy taste to it- from the yogurt, but it's not enough to taste sour or bitter.  From the honey, it is sweet, but not enough to feel like you're eating a pound of sugar.  Great to travel with, and child friendly.

Compared to a regular cheesy corn doodle, these are not too messy to eat. The powdering does dust off a bit on your fingers, so make you have a napkin handy just in case.

What are your opinions about this? Like? Hate?


Other places to buy this at
If you don't have such stores near you, you can always buy these online.
NapaJapan sells this flavor amongst other flavors.
Asian Food Grocer sometimes sell these. They usually run out quickly!

Ipsy March Review + Swatches

Hello Everyone! Welcome to another Jaqtastic Review! Today I will be reviewing the March Ipsy Bag. This review will be longer than usual because I had quite a lot to say about some of the products. (: Enjoy!

I  p s y   M a r c h

The bag chosen for the month of March is one that is exclusively made for Ipsy. It was designed by a San Francisco artist by the name Klari Reis. It is said that this design is supposed to represent San Francisco and the ipsy headquarters.  Honestly, I wasn't too excited by it initially when I first saw it as a spoiler online.  However, as the days passed with it in my hands, I am growing fond of it. 

It is charming in its own way, and it does remind me of the many paintings my sister and one of my best friends use to draw many times in high school.

Inside, the bag is a nice royal blue color. Not the best material out there, and overall the bag feels kind of like plastic, but it is unique.  On the card, it says Ipsy will provide some opportunities for other artists to create future bags. How fun!

Contents of the bag

As you can see, there were only four items for the march bag.  It was a bit of a let down since I was used to getting five, even six, items for some months. Still, I was pretty excited that the items chosen for me were right up my alley.

Pop Beauty Plump Pout Review + Swatches

Hello everyone! Welcome to another Jaqtastic Review. Today I will be reviewing the Full sized Pop Beauty Plump Pout, that was sent to me because of the issue with the mini size one that was sent last month in the February Ipsy Bag. Click here to read about the issue.

Came with a note. Said note is the same response that they sent by email.

This is the Pop Beauty Plump Pout (Full Sized) in Fuchsia Freesia. It is a liquid Lipstick Stain that is said to have a long wear and a bright shine.

Wicked big sized!  If you notice, the color is also more brighter and barbie pink than the mini size that was sent out. The full size it far wider, but also thinner.