Mary Kay VoxBox

     So I have some cool stuff to share today, a blog post that probably should have been written like a month ago but my cat ran away and it just wasn't on my list of priorities. But anyway...I joined this awesome site called Influenster and you create a profile where you can earn badges based off of your interests and review products. You connect all your social media sites to it and increase your "influenster" score. Then you can eventually qualify for something great called a VoxBox. It's a box sent to your house full of free goodies, which you in turn post about on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blog, etc. They give you different tasks to complete to share what you received. The more tasks you do, the better chance you have of getting another VoxBox. I joined in January and got my first box in the beginning of May, which just so happened to be from Mary Kay! I have never been a fan of Mary Kay, I have only tried their products once before and I was about 15 sitting at a Mary Kay party. I thought it was an old lady brand and never really thought about it again. So when I got my box I was looking forward to giving it a try. I figured I would be sent a few items to review and that would be it. Boy was I shocked! Inside this cute little box was nine full sized products worth over $120! I was thrilled and couldn't wait to try everything, especially with what was printed on a card inside the box: "Influenster and Mary Kay have teamed up to bring you the products you need to brighten you spring look and get ready for the summer! Inspire your audience with this season's on-trend shades including warm and sun-kissed tones, soft peachy pinks and bold corals."

So on to the good stuff!

 

Don't you just love when things come in cute boxes?

 

 

Mineral Cheek Color Shy Blush- $12.00

Translucent Loose Powder- $16.00

and Bronzing Powder- $18.00

I really liked all of these, I've never been a huge fan of translucent powder because most that I have tried just make me look chalky but this one is nice. It's light and has the slightest shimmer to it so it doesn't dull the look of your skin. As for the blush and bronzer, both are great. They are a little more powdery than I prefer but the colors are lovely! The blush is peach with gold shimmer (my favorite kind to wear) and the bronzer also has some gold shimmer in it. Overall I think they both work very well together.

 

Big fluffy powder brush- $16.00

Cream Color/Concealer Brush- $10.00

How cool is it that they included two brushes to use with their products?! I like both of these brushes, I have had multiple powder brushes and this one is my favorite. In fact I tossed the others because these bristles actually stay in place and don't fall out all over. The cream brush is perfect for the cream color eye shadow they included, and I use it for all my other cream eyeshadows now as well. It makes them so much easier to apply, since using your finger is not always the most precise method.

 

Cream Eye Color in Apricot Twist- $14.00

Gel Eyeliner with Expandable Brush Applicator in Jet Black- $18.00

I am in love with both of these products! I am obsessed with this apricot color, it's so perfect and light for Summer! My only complaint is that I wish it were more pigmented. It's deceiving when swatched on the hand because it looks fine, but when applied to the eyes I have to use quite a few layers. Still pretty, but it's definitely more of a subtle look as opposed to a really dramatic color. It's very similar to Maybelline's Color Tattoos but it's easier to blend, and since it's twice the price for a product that isn't nearly as pigmented, I probably would not purchase this. Next up is the gel eyeliner that came with a tiny little expandable brush-super handy! This is a wonderful eyeliner, super creamy and easy to apply with long lasting color. It is easy to use too much product because it's so soft but that also means you're able to get a really dark application. I go back and forth between this and my favorite Maybelline Lasting Drama gel liner in Blackest Black. I think they're very similar in terms of how long they last and ease of use.

 

Lash Love Mascara in I <3 Black- $15.00

NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Mango Tango- $14.00

It would be quite hard to choose a favorite product from this box but this pair here comes close. This is a great mascara, the description for the item states, "Mascara that defines, defends and delivers four times the volume" and I truly believe just that. As for the lip gloss, well I am a coral and peach freak right now so this was just up my alley. For those of you that don't like thick, gooey glosses this is not for you. I personally prefer them because I think they last longer and the stick factor has never been a problem for me. I prefer to use this gloss in combination with a lipstick because by itself it can be hard to get a completely even coat all over the lips and it tends to amplify any cracks or scabbed areas you have (which is me all the time because my lips are perpetually dry). But overall the color is beautiful and pigmented and lasts a pretty long time with very little bleeding into lip lines. Below is a picture with only the gloss on, and as you can see the lines in my lips are definitely more noticeable.

 

 

From top to bottom: Bronzer, Blush, Apricot Twist cream eye color, Mango Tango lip gloss and gel eyeliner.

 

I can't thank Mary Kay and Influenster enough, this was such an amazing surprise with perfect timing. I really needed a pick me up after my cat ran away and this came at just the right time to offer some distraction. This was a great first VoxBox and I really enjoyed the fact that they gave us enough products to create a complete look. I love using all of these products together for the perfect easy warm weather look. Don't forget to sign up to get your own boxes, everything from makeup and beauty products to snacks and health foods! Thanks for reading, I love comments! Please follow my blog and check out my other social media sites available under my contact tab.

 

 

 

*I received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster

 

 

Mac Alluring Aquatic Collection

Warning: The following post is a feast for the eyes. You may experience the following side effects- shortness of breath, racing heart, and a sudden desire to send all of your money to Mac. You have been warned.

 

If you have ever had a desire to be a mermaid, water nymph or maybe you just like water (okay maybe you like makeup too), then Mac's Alluring Aquatic collection is right up your alley. Summer is right around the corner which means some of us will be spending a lot of time in our bathing suits, or at least some smaller clothing than during the Winter months. That being said I think this collection is perfect for warm weather because of all the bronzers and shimmery finishes. I don't know what it is about Summer that makes me want to glow and break out those reflective, eye-catching shadows. Maybe it's the sun-when that sucker is out I seriously think something crazy happens and everybody suddenly becomes a lot more attractive, the rays bouncing off of our shimmery cheek bones and blinding the eyes of the men playing volleyball on the beach with their shirts off and their tan, chiseled abs...ahem. Um where was I again? Something about makeup...ah yes so without further ado I bring you Alluring Aquatic! Take note of the gorgeous packaging, reflective teal with raised "water droplets". When I first saw the promo photos I actually thought the items had been spritzed with water as part of the marketing, but the ingenious designers at Mac created the packaging to give the illusion of being wet, super cool!

 

 

 

 

First we have the Extra Dimension blushes $27.50:

-Sea Me, Hear Me- Beige pink

-Seduced at Sea- midtone neutral plum, but looks more like peach

 

 

Extra Dimension Bronzers $33.00

-Aphrodite's Shell- Golden bronze with a touch of fine shimmer

-Dephic- Soft brick tan with a touch of fine shimmer

 

 

Bronzing Powder $27.50

-Golden- Muted golden tan-beige with shimmer

-Refined Golden- Finely spun golden with soft pearl

Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner $17.50

-Black line- Black with gold pearl

-Black Swan- Black with pearl

 

 

Extra Dimension Eye Shadow (mini) $19.50

-Lorelei- Golden beige

-Sea Worship- Tarnished Olive

-Silver Sun- Midtone dirty seafoam green

-Soul Serenade- Deep plum brown

-Fathoms Deep- Deep blue

-Legendary Lure- Deep cerulean

Clockwise from top left: Silver Sun, Soul Serenade, Lorelei, Fathoms Deep, Legendary Lure, Sea Worship

 

Lip Pencil $16.50

-What Comes Naturally- Light nude

-Half-red- Soft burgundy

 

 

Tinted Lipglass $16.50

-Cleat Water- Sheer nude with multidimensional pearl

-Peachstock- Creamy true nude

-Water Deities- Light bronzey pink

-Seducing Sound- Midtone plummy bronze

-Modern Lure- Deep violet with pink pearl

 

 

Lipstick $17.50

-Siren Song (lustre)- Sheer pale beige

-Pet Me, Please (frost)- Light shimmering mauve

-Enchanted One (matte)- Midtone neutral pink

-Mystical (cremesheen)- Midtone creamy rose

-Goddess of the Sea (cremesheen)- Dark vibrant violet

 

 

Nail Lacquer $17.50

-Shimmerfish (pearl)- Sparkling platinum

-Neptune (frost)- Tarnished gold

-Submerged (frost)- Dark teal chrome

L to R: Submerged, Neptune, Shimmerfish.


Extras
-233 Split fibre eye shadow brush $25.00
-127 Split fibre face brush $35.00
-Makeup bag $35.00

Pretty impressive collection, right? These babies have almost sold out online but hit Mac store shelves May 22nd! Everything will go fast so if you see something you want-grab it fast! I would love to hear what you plan on getting your hands on, I myself will definitely be picking up the Enchanted One lipstick and Silver Sun eyeshadow. I might decide on something else when I actually see it in person-we all know how that goes!
If you'd like to see reviews and swatches, click any of the following links:
Temptalia
Allura Beauty-lipsticks
Allura Beauty-eyeshadows

Thanks for reading guys! Make sure to follow my blog and check me out on my other social media sites:
Instagram: Beautybyalaina
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/beautybyalainas

 

 

 

 

September Goodies

I had quite a long list of new products to buy after reading my favorite blog, DrugstorePrincess. She has pages and pages of dupes for basically any makeup product you could think of, and great posts about her own personal favorites. So I decided to go on the hunt this month at Target, Walmart, and Walgreens. This is what I came home with:

Target:

-ELF Contouring blush and bronzer duo $3

-ELF High Definition powder $6

-ELF Shimmering Facial Whip in Lilac Petal $1

-Revlon Photo Ready concealer $8.99

I bought the shimmering facial whip by ELF because it's a supposed dupe for Urban Decay's High Beam. It's a great little highlighter for cheekbones, brow bones, the inner corner of your eyes, and your cupid's bow. Not only is it the cheapest makeup product I have ever purchased (ONE dollar!!!) it also smells really good too. The blush in ELF's contouring duo is recommended as a dupe for NARS' Orgasm blush, although for me the verdict is still out on that one. I purchased the HD powder because of some reviews I have read on it, that it's supposed to kind of 'blur' imperfections for a photo-ready face. When used with the pouf they provide, I find the powder to be really grainy and noticeable on the skin. So I switched to a Kabuki brush and it is a little better, however you still have to spray your face with a setting spray or blot with a wet paper towel in order to avoid that powdery look.

Buy ELF online

Walgreens: 

-Wet-n-Wild coloricon pencils in 34091 Pink Suede and 717 Berry red $1ea.

-Wet-n-Wild lipstick in 918D Cherry Bomb $2

-Wet-n-Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow palette in Comfort Zone $4.99

-Wet-n-Wild Mega Liner liquid eyeliner in Turquoise $2

Top swatch is Berry Red lip liner, below that is the Pink Suede eyeliner (that will be used on my lips!) The lipstick on the bottom is Cherry Bomb. I found the lip liner to be great but the eyeliner to be a little too soft to create a perfect outline for your lips. I wore the lipstick for the first time today and it feathered pretty bad, so I would definitely recommend using a lip primer underneath first, such as Sally Hansen's Plumping Lip Primer. 

I love the color of this eyeliner, but the application is another story. It's just not easy to get a nice straight line with the brush, but on the plus side if you do manage to get it on just right it won't be going anywhere all day. That stuff is ON THERE. 

Somehow I laid my hands on the coveted Comfort Zone palette by Wet-n-Wild, said to be very similar to the Naked palettes by Urban Decay. I admit I feel a little guilty just waltzing into Walgreens right after I read about this palette and seeing it sitting there waiting for me to snatch it up, since so many have looked for weeks without any luck. The colors are beautiful, and divided into two looks, one on the left which is a neutral brown, and the right has a few green colors. For those that are just beginning to play with shadows, these palettes are ideal since there are directions included! I believe the shade they call the 'definer' is supposed to be used as a liner, although the bottom right shadow is way too pretty to be used just as an eyeliner! It's a two-toned color that looks almost copper in one direction, then a shimmery purple-blue in another. My swatch above are the shadows over NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil in 'Milk'. I would definitely recommend using a shadow primer under these since they tend to fade pretty quickly by themselves. Below is a better swatch from nonpareilboutique.com

Walmart:

-Hard Candy original primer $8

-Covergirl Flamed out mascara $5.94

-Maybelline Define-a-brow pencil $5.97

I hadn't thought much about primers until I read several reviews about them. Since I work next to a hot grill frying chips for a couple hours each day at work I figured it might be in my best interest to pick one up to keep my makeup in place throughout the day. I bought the much recommended Hard Candy Primer in the original ultra light formula. Ultra light it is, the primer feels like silk when rubbed on, which does make it kind of hard to feel where you have already put the primer on. The cost is about average for a drugstore primer, and works pretty well at keeping makeup where you want it when applied after a moisturizer and before any makeup. 

Flamed Out is the newest mascara from Covergirl, which is my favorite brand of mascara. It isn't part of the Lash Blast collection so the wand is your standard fiber bristles instead of the cool little rubbery ones. That being said it does make me like it less than the Lash Blast ones because the rubber bristled wands never get clumpy while fiber ones tend to get their bristles stuck together. However it still gets the job done with it's uniquely shaped wand and flares the outer lashes out, without any transferring or smearing during the day. Overall not a bad purchase at all.

I haven't bought an eyebrow pencil in a long time so I decided to give them another try in order to get a sharper line. I bought the medium brown to light auburn brown shade which ended up being too light but still matched the color of my current hair color so it worked out. I do like the formula, however a sharp line cannot be achieved without a really sharp pencil so I think this product is better used for filling in the brows. I probably wouldn't recommend this just because you can purchase a regular hand-sharpened brow pencil for a few bucks less with the same result. As for the Chap Stick, well I've been buying this brand for years and I never leave the house without one in my purse. This specific flavor is velvet cupcake, and there are many more to choose from. I recently tried out the Baby Lips collection from Maybelline and gave my Chap Stick a break but I just couldn't pass up on this yummy flavor. 

Well those are my purchases from the month of September! Do you have any of the above products and have an opinion about them you would like to share with me? Comment below and tell me what you liked or did not like about them, and look for more reviews and hauls in the future.

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