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Makeup

ColourPop Crystal Liquid Highlighter in Aquamarine

By Erin on July 21, 2017

ColourPop released a set of crystal-inspired products recently and I went ahead and placed a small order the day I received the promotional email about the launch. I didn’t go crazy, I just decided to get the Aquamarine shade of the Crystal Liquid Highlighter to try the formula out. At this point most of the stuff is out of stock on the website, but as I write this Aquamarine is the only Crystal Liquid Highlighter that’s still available. I think people may be underestimating the beauty of a bluish highlight, though, because I think it’s really nice.

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Skincare

The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10%

By Erin on June 11, 2017

I have another item from The Ordinary to talk about, and it’s the first serum I’ve tried from them that targets wrinkles. Argireline is a peptide complex, and I hadn’t heard of it before shopping on The Ordinary’s site. In all honesty I think that if I had done more research before placing my order, I probably would have bought something else, but it’s not a bad ingredient and I’ve found it an interesting one to learn more about because it has a different kind of effect than a lot of others I’m familiar with.

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Makeup

BH Cosmetics Marble Collection in Warm Stone, Supernova Baked Eyeshadows, and Blacklight Highlight Palette: Swatches & Review

By Erin on April 27, 2017

BH Cosmetics Marble Collection in Warm Stone ($11.99), Supernova Eyeshadow Palette ($15.99), Blacklight Highlight 6 Color Palette ($16.99), and Studio Pro Total Coverage Concealer ($5.99)

I’ve had some really good luck with BH Cosmetics lately and recently saw that they launched some fun new stuff for the spring season. I have three new palettes that I’ve bought: the Marble Collection in Warm Stone featuring 12 eyeshadows ($11.99), the Supernova 18 Color Baked Eyeshadow Palette ($15.99), and the Blacklight Highlight 6 Color Palette ($16.99). These are each quite different from each other, but all have their own unique appeal. I’d like to share some swatches and thoughts on all three.

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Skincare

Noxzema Ultimate Clear Anti-Blemish Pads

By Erin on April 20, 2017

There was definitely a time when I was reviewing acne treatments on a regular basis, and in the last year or so I’d found a couple of products that worked really well for me and I kind of quit because I just wasn’t trying a lot of new things anymore. Well, recently when I went to the drugstore to pick up more Stridex Maximum Strength 2% salicylic acid treatment pads but found they were out of stock, and so I ended up looking around at other options. I bought what looked to be a comparable option from Noxzema, which are these Ultimate Clear Anti-Blemish Pads with 2% salicylic acid and cost $5.99 for 90 pads.

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Makeup

Milani Cosmetics Baked Bronzer, Stay Put Eyeliner, Stay Put Brow Color, and Easybrow Tinted Fiber Gel: Swatches & Review

By Erin on April 18, 2017

Milani Cosmetics Baked Bronzer in 09 Dulce ($9), Stay Put Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil ($7), Stay Put Brow Color in 01 Soft Brown ($8), and Easybrow Tinted Fiber Gel in 04 Brunette ($7)

Prior to about a month ago, I think I had only tried one product from Milani Cosmetics, and it was their single most famous product: the Baked Blush in Luminoso. But really, they aren’t sold in all drugstores and I just don’t get a ton of exposure to the brand. I recently took a good look at their website because I had become curious about some of their new releases, and in the end I purchased some solid basics, including their Baked Bronzer in 09 Dulce, which is a newly released shade, the Stay Put Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in 01 Linked on Black, the Stay Put Brow Color in 01 Soft Brown, and the Easybrow Tinted Fiber Gel in 04 Brunette.

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Skincare

Innisfree Olive Real Cleansing Foam

By Erin on April 13, 2017

The last time I purchased from Innisfree, I took a chance on a couple of products that were new to me and were on a buy-one-get-one-free offer. This foaming cleanser from their Olive product line was one of them, so I ended up with two big 150 ml bottles of a cleanser for just $12. The Olive line is intended to be moisturizing and nourishing, and I’d previously tried and loved Innisfree’s Olive Real Serum as a moisturizer to layer under a cream. Normally I’d steer clear of foaming cleansers because they can be drying, but since I think Innisfree tends to make lovely moisturizing skincare I decided to trust them.

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Skincare

The Ordinary skincare: Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution, Azelaic Acid, and Plant-Derived Squalane

By Erin on April 7, 2017

The Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F ($17.80), 100% Plant-Derived Squalane ($7.90), and Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% ($7.90)

The Ordinary is really new to the skincare scene but has quickly caught everyone’s attention for their really straightforward and affordable products (also, cruelty-free). I have purchased 5 items from them so far but can’t try them out all of them at once, so I thought to start out I’d talk about 3 products that I’m using right now: a vitamin treatment, a direct acid, and a hydrator. Today I’m reviewing the Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F (vitamin C in a lightweight oil, $17.80), Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% (multifunctional brightening treatment, $7.90), and 100% Plant-Derived Squalane (lightweight hydrator, $7.90).

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Makeup | Skincare

YADAH Cosmetics: Brightening Ampoule and Angel BB Cream

By Erin on March 17, 2017

YADAH Angel BB Cream ($8.77) and Brightening Ampoule ($23)

YADAH Cosmetics is a brand I hadn’t heard of until recently, but I’m excited about the couple of products I’ve tried because they’re quite nice and very affordable. And how cute is the branding on the packaging? YADAH is a Korean cosmetics and skincare brand focused on gentle, hypoallergenic, and plant-based formulations, with products available on the BB Cosmetic website. I’ve been trying their Brightening Ampoule with niacinamide and Angel BB Cream with SPF 20/PA++.

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Makeup

Corvus Cosmetics highlights in Mary, Lottie, and Sleigh Bells

By Erin on March 14, 2017

Corvus Cosmetics Highlighters in Mary, Lottie, and Sleigh Bells ($5.75 for mini jars)

Indie brand Corvus Cosmetics is one that I purchased from for the first time over Black Friday, and I bought a mini jar collection of eyeshadows as well as a few of their highlighting powders. I was really impressed by the selection of highlighting shades available—there are 10 shades ranging from pale creams to deeper pinks and peaches, and even icy green. They’re also very affordable. Sample bags cost $2, mini jars cost $5.75, and full sized jars cost $10. I have three to chat about.

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Makeup | Skincare

Sephora Collection Supreme Cleansing Oil and Cleansing Cream

By Erin on March 8, 2017

Sephora Collection Supreme Cleansing Oil ($15), Sephora Collection Cleansing Cream in Rose ($7.50)

A few weeks ago I bought some basic cleansing products from Sephora recently because I was kind of at a loss for what to buy once I had run out of my old stuff. Sephora Collection has added some more cleansing products since I last shopped in their section of the store, and so I walked away with a bottle of the cleansing oil and then a bottle of their cleansing cream in the rose scent to see what they were like.

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