Beauty Army--Monthly Beauty Samples Box

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to share with you what I got in my Beauty Army box, its like Birchbox, Glossybox, or any of the other beauty samples subscription services out there, really. It's $12 a month, or 12 months for $132. I've been really wanting to try out one of these suscription services, because I love packages in the mail and samples, and I think it's really a fun idea. I know you can go out and just pick up samples, but this way I get to sample products and companies I have never heard of, or don't have around here.

The main difference is that Beauty Army lets you choose your samples. You also fill out a Beauty Profile about your preferences, so perhaps that way their company can figure out what types of samples their customers are most interested in.

Here is my box!

I received:

Sun Fx Tan Extender 2.2 fl oz
Babor Cleansing Oils 10 mL each of Hy-Ol, and a Phytoactive Base Oil
Weleda Iris Facial Hydrating Lotion 0.17 oz
Shea Terra Organics Moroccan Argan Oil Sample, amount unlisted. Probably about 5-7mL
Lift Lab Lift and Firm Eye Cream, amount unlisted. Its the little white container above.
Cell Ceuticals Photo Defense Daily Skin Protector SPF 55+  .33 oz

What I think:

So far, I love the idea! It was fun to open up all my samples. I picked a lot of oils and moisturizers this month, because I am looking for a new facial moisturizer and new eye cream, and I am very interested in using oils to moisturize and cleanse.

I also like little sample containers to re-use when I go traveling, so that's nice as well. I will re-use these containers.

The box itself is very cute, and I will re-use that as well for storing makeup.


A quick side note, I went to Macys yesterday to get samples of Estee Lauder Double Wear Light, and had such a rude experience with the sales person. I look young, and was casually dressed, and when I go to Macys like that, I usually can count on that reaction. How snooty! I am a paying customer, and purchase a lot of makeup each year. I told her I was deciding between the Intensity 2.0 and 3.0, and she told me in a rude way to only choose 1 shade to sample, whereas with other sales associate they would always give me 2 shades to take home and try on. I also got no assistance with her to try on the new EL blushes I had my eye on. Anyways, to add to my annoyance, when I got home the 2.0 shade was too light. Grrrrrr.

Review: My Thoughts on Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

Have you tried this foundation? 

What Laura Mercier Says:

"Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation is a rich and luminous foundation offering full coverage while hydrating and protecting the skin. The long-wearing foundation evens out skin tones and increases skin luminosity and clarity for a radiant glow. Its rich, creamy texture glides over the skin effortlessly giving you ample playtime for perfect application and blendability. Perfect for rosacea and hard to cover pigmentation. Oil-free and ideal for all skin types."

Ingredients (Cashew Beige): Cyclopentasiloxane, Water (Aqua), Phenyl Trimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PEG-12 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Silica Dimethicone Silylate, Isononyl Isononanoate Polysilicone-11, Dimethicone Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Trihydroxystearin, Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Ethylhexyl Hydroxstearate, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Silk Powder (Serica), Saccharomyces/Xylinum Black Tea Ferment, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019).

What I think:

This foundation is definitely a full coverage foundation. It has a beautiful finish at first, but on my skin type it is not long-wearing. It evens out skin tone, and minimizes my pores very well. It is a gel/thick creme consistency. You only need the smallest amount for your whole face. This justifies the $42 price tag, in terms of cost per wear. 

My skin is combination/oily and my T-zone definitely gets pretty oily only 4 hours later. I need to touch up and powder. The foundation will fade on my T zone and chin the fastest. 

The biggest drawback is it doesn't set well on me. Besides having my oil break through only 4 hours after application (which means this is not going to be good for work for me), it also transfers onto anything I touch all day. Meaning: clothes, anyone I hug!, tissue, ANYTHING. I have tried all different setting powders, and methods of application. I think it's just the way the foundation is on my skin. 

I wish it would set better, since I love the way it looks on my skin. I use the shade 'Cashew Beige'. It transfers too much for everyday, but this will definitely be part of my special occasion makeup, since did I also mention it looks amazing in pictures?

February Favorites

Korres Blush in #15 'Natural'.

This is the perfect shade of blush/bronzer to warm up my face. I usually wear is as a bronzer under my cheekbones, and lightly dusted on my temples. Its the perfect shade for my current paler winter skin tone. I top with my Lorac Soul blush on cheeks for my every day look. Its a peachy brown, more brown than in the picture, but a warm brown, so it can be used for blush or bronzer on me. It reminded me of my all time favorite Dallas blush by Benefit, but perhaps with a touch more shimmer.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in 'Bisque'

I have been wearing this every day, I have needed a little bit more coverage, and my skin is a little drier with winter, so powder foundations are not working for me. I used the oil-free formula, and I use the primer as well. I have a deluxe sample size of the primer that I have been using. I like that this moisturizer has SPF in it.

Mac Eyebrow Crayon in 'Spiked'

This is so easy and fast in the mornings to do my eyebrows, and looks very natural if I do small strokes. I am liking this much better than powder eyeshadow, that I used before, or Benefit Brow-Zings, which currently doesn't match me. I use the color 'Spiked', which is the second to darkest color I believe. It is a very dark brown.

HoneyBee Gardens Powder Colors Mineral Color in 'Sedona'

This is such a pretty color. I recently purchased a few samples shades of mineral eyeshadows, a blush, and bronzer from HoneyBee gardens. I have been loving the shade "Sedona' this week. Its such a pretty bronzey-coppery sparkle shade. Its a much more orange/copper color than I have worn before, but I love trying new shades and going out of my comfort zone.

And I'm so glad I did! This is one of my favorite eyeshadow colors, and I love the gold sparkles in it. You can see a swatch in the 'Browns' row, IRL it is more orange than pictured. I wear it with Too Faced Shadow Insurance underneath.

Mini Blog Sale: Makeup Items (Update)

Please email me at mybeadifullife@gmail.com if you are interested in any of the following items. Thank you!

Sorry these are not my images, these are just google images so you can see the product. If you are interested in photos of an item, I will get those to you soon. Just send me your email and the item you are interested in. 

All items include shipping, if you buy more than 1 item, I'll take $1 off for each additional item. I use paypal only, sorry. Please email me for my paypal email address.

If you live outside the US, I will ship to you too, but shipping will be more. Let me know where you live and I will calculate how much it will be to ship there. Thank you for stopping by!

Unused items:

Estee Lauder Signature Powder Blush in 'Plum Nuance' Brand New in Box $15

(google image below) The blush changes in color from a coral peach to a plum. 

Swatched only:

Estee Lauder Double Wear ShadowCreme in 'Precious Jade'. $ 12     SOLD

   Swatched only. Green, with gold shimmer. A beautiful color. Would look especially good on people with green or hazel eyes. 

Estee Lauder ShadowCreme in 'Midnight Kohl'. $12  SOLD

Swatched 1x. Its a shimmery midnight black. Very dark black. 

Used:

Nars Blush in 'Exhibit A' $20. 

Used 2x. Image from google images. 

Mac Eyeshadow in 'Carbon'. $7 SOLD

Only used 2-3 times. Some glitter is in the pot from my other eyeshadows, I didn't remove it, so I wouldn't waste product. 

new makeup purchases

hi everyone! been so busy with starting my new job, but i have been reading all your blogs!

i just wanted to do a quick post about some new makeup items that i purchased this month that i am loving.

Tarte Park Avenue Princess Matte Waterproof Bronzer, $29

described on tarte.com as a light yellow/golden bronze. this is perfect for my paler winter skin. i actually got this on accident as I was in a rush, and going for the regular bronzer, which has shimmer.

but i'm actually liking this matte version even better than the regular, shimmery one. its also waterproof, which i think is great because it has been raining a lot lately, i don't really have to worry about it too much. i even went to the gym and it still looked great after.

2. Cargo Blush in "Laguna", $26

I really love this blush. its a bright orange color, but it is actually very sheer, so soft and smooth and just melts into your skin. it lasts a long time, but really blends very well with your skin.

I like how this color gives me natural color and really wakes up my skin.

3. Clinique High Impact Mascara in Very Black

I got this as a gift with purchase, and as usual with Clinique Mascaras, I love it! It definitely does what it says. So pretty, my lashes are huge with this on.

Mac Favorites Giveaway by Heart Kristel's Beauty Blog

Click here to enter!


Good luck!

hot pink lips!

think what you want about kim kardashian, this girl sure knows how to wear makeup!! this is so pretty.

I'm getting more into lipstick lately, and am loving a few shades the most :)

hot pink is my favorite lipstick color to wear! i just think its so fun and pretty. this is the best product shot i can find for my hot pink lipstick. it by josie maran and called 'bambolina'. its a lot brighter in real life than this shot shows.

it shows a bit like kim's shade. not quite as punchy, but close.

Starting A New Job

I will be reading blog posts, etc, but not blogging for awhile because I am busy with starting a new job! It is both incredibly exciting and stressful at the same time.

Happy Holidays everyone!!

Product Review: Revlon Colorstay Under-Eye Concealer

Revlon Color Stay Under-Eye Concealer.

I got this is the shade 'medium'. This is so far the favorite of all the drugstore concealers I have used. I am really liking the twist-up packaging that this one has, (the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind has this too).

It has a soft sponge on the tip where the product comes out that I have found to be very soft and good for blending out the product. Very easy!

This product is a thick liquid consistency, and it dries really fast! You have to blend fairly quickly. I usually only do one click and that has enough product for both eyes. If I want more coverage, I do thin layers, letting it dry in between.

I have tried it with my Clinique All About Eyes Cream, and L'Oreal Magic Makeup Base, and both work really well as a smoothing base for this concealer. I find I don't need to set with powder.

I have heard this is true of the Revlon Color Stay Foundation as well, but I haven't tried that one.

The medium matches my skin tone perfectly.

Grade: A
Coverage: Medium

Note: I reviewed two other drugstore concealers in recent posts, and I have been pleasantly surprised with how much I like them! In the past, I always wore foundation as concealer, if at all. I didn't wear much makeup while in school. But lately I've been trying out different brands to find a good long-wearing concealer for work, which I start soon!!

November--Most Used Products

"Croc Palette" by Lorac:

 I have had this palette for 3 years ( I think) , and it is often on frequent rotation, but lately I have been using it more and more. Its small and portable, and perfect for every day looks, and this shade of blush is my absolute favorite blush. I also use at least one of the eyeshadows every day. 

My go-to work look involves the matte chocolate brown & the two shimmery top shadows--top left for eyebrow highlight, and the top right shadow on the lid with matte brown in the crease. And finished off with the blush! Pretty and simple since it's all conveniently in 1 palette. 

24/7 Eyeliner Pencil by Urban Decay in "Whisky" (Dark Brown):

I got this double sided eyeliner with my Naked Palette, one side is a dark brown color and the other is a dark black. I haven't used the black yet, but I have been wearing the brown side almost every day this month! And I have to say, I am loving it.

Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Shampoo with Cedar Bark:

I LOOOVE this dry shampoo. I was just to the point where I was convinced that dry shampoo was not for me, then I purchased this on a whim after seeing Veronika from Veronika's Blushing blog about this. It smells amazing! Not citrusy, powdery, or anything. It looks white on the hair, but brushes out.

I used it today for a human resources appointment, and it was a lifesaver, my hair needed to be washed badly. And my hair looked great for my photo.

Clinique Acne Solutions Foundation in 03 Fresh Neutral :

My go-to foundation for years when I have to look put-together.

Make Up Forever High Definition Powder:

To set my foundation. This product is new to me, but I am liking it!

L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base-Face Primer:

I am loving this as a primer for my under-eye concealer. I did a review on this on my previous post. 

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles Eraser:

This concealer/brightener on me is very light coverage, and I was loving this on no makeup days.