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October 21, 2013

Birchbox & Ipsy for October 2013

Posted in Hair, Makeup / Cosmetics, Nail Polish, Skin Care, Subscription boxes

Birchbox & Ipsy for October 2013

In my Ipsy Glambag for October 2013:

Zoya Nail Polish in Neve – as always, another great Zoya color. Perfect for fall and winter and really great because it’s a classy cobalt blue shade. All Zoya polishes are 3-free.

Sexy Hair Blow Dry Gel – dimethicone, can’t use it personally. Cosmetics database rates it a 6! Remember, lower is better!

Coastal Scents Medium Shadow Brush – this is going to be my goto eyeshadow brush. I love this shape brush and previously had been buying the ELF brushes that are this shape (a brush doesn’t always have to be expensive to be quality.) The quality of the ELF brushes has gone downhill however as my last purchase of these brushes from ELF, the brush bristles were a little mis-shaped. The Coastal Scents brush is a little long but otherwise it’s a real step up from the ELF brush in terms of quality. The bristles are in the perfect shape and size and the handle coating is much better. This seems like it will last a much longer time and I’ll probably be buying a few more in the near future. It is a synthetic brush in case that is a deciding factor for you.

La Fresh® Eco-Beauty® Oil-Free Face Cleanser Wipes – I haven’t used this yet but I’m looking forward to trying it. I think they’ve changed the ingredients some since the last time I checked out this product because the current ingredients are healthier than what I remember. I’m already a big fan of the LA Fresh nail polish remover wipes. Cosmetics Database rates this a 4 … I suspect the real life rating would be lower if EWGEWG Environmental Working Group - an organization focused on research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment. would account for natural scents. Checked without the “fragrance” this was a 2.

Wet n Wild Photo Op Eyeshadow – dimethicone, can’t use it personally. Cosmetics Database rates this a 1! I’m surprised! But I still can’t use it personally. :/

Sign up for Ipsy:

http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-h051sec1kqq5g8p
{affiliate link – I get 250 points which points equal products but it’s still a little unclear how many points to the dollar}

In my Birchbox October 2013:

Bain de Terre macadamia oil NOURISHING CONDITIONER – argh dimethicone, so I can’t personally use. Cosmetics Database score is a 4.

POP Beauty Aqua Lacquer – nothing to keep me from trying this but it’s not exactly healthy either. It uses mineral oil, propylparaben, and fragrance. The color is a fun color that reminded me of a cherry lollipop but goes on a little more subtly like a thin layer of something that should pop over neutral lip tone. The color is good. It is fairly sticky sticky however so even if I hadn’t looked over the ingredients, I’m not sure I would choose to wear this regularly. Cosmetics Database score is a 4.

ChapStick® Hydration Lock – dimethicone, can’t personally use. Cosmetics Database score is a 5. Remember, lower is better.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser Starter Kit – INCREDIBLE ingredient list. The only one I wasn’t sure about in terms of personal allergies is hops. I know I have some problems consuming hops but I’ve never had the occasion to try anything topically so I don’t know if I have a skin sensitivity to it. I HAVE used this though for the last 4 days both morning and night and so far no problems. I’m in love with this. My face looks and feels healthier. It doesn’t cause my face to get oily, it doesn’t strip away like a regular soap cleanser might AND I still feel clean after using it. This is a tough thing to accomplish, healthy natural ingredients and not left feeling like you still need to clean.

Really – my face has a nice healthy glow to it now. I can’t tell how much of that is the muslin cloth and how much is this cleanser but this cleanser is definitely good still. Liz Earle has done an excellent job with this product! Cosmetics Database score is a 3.

Liz Earle Pure Muslin Cloths – LOVE this. Already tried this and absolutely love love love it. This is just the right amount of exfoliation for 1-2 times per day use. It’s surprising because holding the cloth I really didn’t think I was going to be that impressed by it. It doesn’t feel like it’s going to scrub much but somehow it does. I don’t know if all muslin would be scrubby or if Lis Earle has just sourced the perfect cloth but I think I’m in. As long as I can find a better way to store / dry these I think I’m going to buy a few more to have on hand / keep as backups!

Still not signed up for Birchbox?

http://birchbox.com?raf=3l3e7
{ yes it’s an affiliate link, I get 50 points which equals $5 credit – share the love! }

March 27, 2012

Glittery Pinks – Essie “Luxe Affects” Multidimensional Top Coat in “A Cut Above” vs Wet N Wild Shine in “Sparked” or 435G

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Nail Polish, Subscription boxes

Right to Left (reverse of what you’re probably used to): 1 coat of Essie “A Cut Above” then 3 generous coats, 1 coat of Wet N Wild “Sparked” then 3 generous coats, and the last one on the left is one coat of “A Cut Above” over 2 coats of Essie “A Crewed Interest.”

The color is almost identical but the application is totally different. I almost would say you shouldn’t compare the two and would not consider this a “dup.”

If you’re looking for a finer glitter I would go with the Wet N Wild but if you want a more confetti glitter look I would go with the Essie.
If I had to pick between the two and could only buy one, I would go with the Essie even though it’s more expensive because it just somehow looks a bit more upscale and classier. I did however get the Essie in the March “Teen Vogue” Birchbox.

There is also apparently a Revlon color that is, based on the swatches I see online, somewhere in between the two I’ve reviewed here. Revlon 261-Sparkling.

And Butter London also has a pink glittery color called “Rosie Lee.” B-you-tifullness via Pretty Project via High on Polish via Snappette (aka I saw it on Snappette and the source is B-you-tifullness) has a great example of a pink glitter and nude mani using the Butter London “Rosie Lee.”

I did a quick little video so you can see the two colors I reviewed just a little better.

via YouTube

December 10, 2011

Confetti Masquerade Ball & Wet N Wild Sparked {nails}

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Beauty & Skin

Anyway I was aiming for a wine color but it’s not quite as perfect as I wanted. This is more the shade I wanted: http://dillydallas.blogspot.com/2011/11/nail-inspiration.html

But I like the idea of a pop of pink sparkle on top of the wine color. There was a dress that was inspiration for this pink and burgundy combo but now I can’t find that link that. Oh well.

So here we have Confetti in 041 Masquarade Ball & Wet N’ Wild in 435G Sparked. I think I want to try this with something that has a bit more red purple to it like a cabernet. Somehow this turned out looking less red than I had hoped.

I did just a quick swipe of the glittery pink on each nail and didn’t cover the whole thing and like how that looks.

Click any of the photos to enlarge.

November 11, 2011

Zoya Loredana & Wet n Wild Shield

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Beauty & Skin

Zoya Loredana on ALL of the nails and then Wet n’ Wild Shield (231) over the ring finger nail for a metallic shine and contrast.

This is the first time I’ve really left the matte gray on for awhile and I wanted to note that because I can’t put a top coat on this, it REALLY doesn’t last nearly as long as the glossy colors.

Has anyone used any matte top coats like Essie’s “Matte About You”? What do you think about them? Does your nail polish last as long without chipping with it on?

November 3, 2010

Burt’s Bees VS. Wet N Wild Natural Blend LIP SHIMMERS

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Makeup / Cosmetics

I previously talked about the WNW Natural Lip Shimmers here:
http://clothingcult.com/2010/08/12/wet-n-wild-natural-blend-lip-shimmer-review/

Now I have some photos so you can see these Lip Shimmers compared to the Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmers. I also did the swatches on my arm in different lights since it can often be hard to tell what color something is online. Sorry that the first photo is a little blurry.

Burt’s Bees VS. Wet N Wild Natural Blend LIP SHIMMERS bottom line:

As you can see, many of the colors are similar but only a few could be mistaken for one another. Wet N’ Wild’s “Frost” is almost indistinguishable from Burt’s Bees “Champagne” Lip Shimmer and both “Nutmeg” colors are pretty darn close.

As I mentioned in the previous post, the ingredient list is natural with no parabens, no synthetics etc. which is very surprising for a cheap drugstore brand that doesn’t usually focus on natural products.

And when I say cheap drugstore brand, I really do mean cheap. Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmers are $5 each whereas the Wet N Wild Natural Blend Lip Shimmers are only $2 each. You can typically find then at Walgreens but if you don’t see them in the stores you can still buy them online. Amazon.com carries them but at a much higher price so I would recommend Walgreens.com or Drugstore.com if you’re having trouble finding them locally.

UPDATE: If you prefer lip gloss in tubes, check out my post on the Burt’s Bees new Lip Gloss:
http://clothingcult.com/2013/03/13/burts-bees-new-lipgloss-tubes/

August 12, 2010

Wet N Wild Natural Blend Lip Shimmer Review

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Makeup / Cosmetics

http://wnwbeauty.com/Product.php?Pid=49

I am rather amazed at the quality of these for the price. They are a lot like Burt’s Bees lip shimmers so if you like those, you will probably like these. Also like Burt’s Bees the colors on the caps aren’t quite what’s inside. They aren’t quite lip glosses and they aren’t quite lipsticks so if you’re looking for something with just hint of color and shine these might be a good choice. At about $2 a pop I went ahead and bought 4 colors:

Tart / Peche 101P – I included the french name from the plastic because it really is a peachy color. I like this one a lot – it’s peachy coral lip color that’s not too strong but pigmented enough that if you know you don’t look good in peaches, you should pass. This was the least sparkly of the group.
Cocoa 107P – A strong taupe color. This one looked horrible on me but it would probably look good on someone with olive undertones or darker skin. I tried mixing it with other colors but it just didn’t work on me at all. Reminded me of Burt’s Bees Toffee lipshimmer which also did not work on me whatsoever. I don’t think I have that to compare to currently though so I might be thinking of the Burt’s Bees Cocoa color.
Frost 100P – Almost white … just a hint of pink and lots of sparkle. This one seems more moisturizing than the others for some reason. It reminds me a bit of Burt’s Bees lipshimmer in Champagne but even whiter. If you go REALLY light it can be worn by itself barely. It’s really better for making other colors lighter and I will consider it a staple item for this reason. Added to the Tart and I had an almost warm neutral which didn’t make me look dead like most neutrals lipglosses do – super happy with that combination.
Sugar 102P – A light bubble gum pink. Again very sparkly. I’m somewhat ambivalent on this one. It’s probably going to work on more skin tones than the rest of the colors. I don’t love it but I don’t hate it. It’s boring and somewhat girly at the same time… I’m not sure. Glad I bought it but wouldn’t buy it again.

As for ingredients you’re probably wondering if they are actually natural. Well they are NOT organic but the best I can tell they ARE much healthier than most lip glosses and lipsticks. I do wonder about possible consistency issues from tube to tube because of the difference in how each felt.

Ingredients (abbreviated – skipped the scientific names): Castor Seed Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Beeswax, Macadamia Seed Oil, Carnuba Wax, Candililla Wax, Peppermint Oil, Thyme extract, Peppermint extract, sorbic acid, Organium Vulgar Leaf extract, Rosemary extract, Lavendar extract, Cinnamon Bark Extract, Olive leaf extract, Citrus lemon peel extract, linseed extract, rice bran extract May contain: Mica, titanium oxide, Iron oxides

Here’s a PDF scan I did of the plastic tubing from the lip glosses if you want to try and read every little thing: WNW natural ingredients

I’ll try and post some swatch and lip photos at a later date.

Will I buy more? I really want to try the maple and nutmeg colors and for $2 each I’m buying them if I see them.

—–
Update: (purchased)

Nutmeg 103P

Maple 105P

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Swatches located here:
http://clothingcult.com/2010/11/03/burts-bees-vs-wet-n-wild-natural-blend-lip-shimmers/