Beauty Review

makeup monday: cocoa contour palette

March 19, 2018Cruelty-Free, Beauty, Beauty ReviewKristenComment

Contouring always scared me. I was so intimidated when I first saw Kim Kardashian and beauty tutorialistas beating their faces to perfection. This semester, my beauty guru friend started contouring me with Too Faced's Cocoa Contour Palette, and I kind of fell in love. I asked for it for Christmas, and my wonderful parents blessed me with the gift of a chiseled face. Like I said, contouring really scared me until I realized that it was basically like coloring your face! This particular palette comes with a little brochure thing with three basic contouring looks - Instant Cheekbones, Skinny Sculpt, and Celebrity Contour. I started with the first, Instant Cheekbones, which is pretty basic. I also love highlighting my defined cheekbones (thanks Mom!!!) It just works really well with my face and the rest of the makeup I wear. I've tried the others on occasion, and they were great too.

I also really love how simple this palette is! I always expect contour palettes to be weird and big and complicated. This one only has four shades, Light Cocoa, Medium Cocoa, Dark Cocoa, and Pop of Light, so I wasn't super overwhelmed when I first opened it. And it even comes with a lil angled kabuki blending brush that's insanely soft!

As most people know, the Cocoa Contour Palette smells like chocolate! you all know how much I love things that smell good. Like the Origins primer I just reviewed, the yummy scent is such a great addition to my morning beauty routine.

Overall. I 100,000% recommend this palette to anyone, but especially to people who have never contoured before or people who are just starting out! If you’re interested in going cruelty-free, check out PETA’s Searchable Database and Cruelty-Free Kitty’s alphabetized list of cruelty-free brands. If you have any cruelty-free recommendations, please comment them below!

milk makeup dab and blend applicator

March 12, 2018Cruelty-Free, Beauty, Beauty ReviewKristenComment

A little while ago, I reviewed e.l.f.'s brush cleaner, and was incredibly disgusted when I saw how dirty my brushes were, and how this brush cleaner didn't do anything! Since then, I've been looking for new brush cleaners and better brushes, but also different ways to apply foundation. There are so many options for me to try, and I'm so excited to share this one with you all!

When I first saw people using silicone and gel applicators for makeup, I was so confused! I had never seen or heard of it before, and I didn't really know why it was a thing. I did some research and found out that the silicone (or gel) applicator, unlike a sponge, won't absorb whatever product is on it, so you can save a lot of foundation. Because of this, silicone applicators also do a phenomenal job at blending.

At this point, I was very intrigued, so I grabbed one of my Sephora gift cards and made the pilgrimage to my closest store to grab Milk Makeup's Dab and Blend Applicator. I had seen cheaper variations at CVS, but honestly, rubbing anything other than a sponge on my face was kind of freaking me out, so I wanted the real deal. Also Milk is a cruelty-free, generally awesome brand that I've been meaning to try forever, so why not splurge on a pretty applicator with sparkles in it?

Basically, this thing blew my mind. I'm pissed someone didn't think of this sooner! We're honestly not hyping this up enough. Guys, the amount of foundation I saved using this was insane. I picked up a relatively small amount, and it carried my foundation way across my face. I was astounded. Of course, using less foundation is great because you save money, but this also helped me avoid the cake-y, unblended look that I really hate. This applicator really makes the difference.

And, it's blending capabilities are seriously prime. Once again, this applicator doesn't absorb anything. All the action occurs on your face! I usually just wipe the excess foundation off the applicator with a tissue and run it under warm water to clean it. I haven't ever been grossed out while using this!

I think the only critique I have for this tool is that it doesn't work well with BB creams, CC creams, and other thinner formulas (like the foundation serum I'll be reviewing soon hehe), which is kind of annoying, but I don't mind using a brush or my hand every once in a while and using the applicator to blend my contour and everything together.

If you couldn't already tell, I highly highly recommend this applicator! It's one of the best things in the world, and it's seriously life-changing. Everyone should get their hands on one, seriously. A must-have product. If you’re interested in going cruelty-free, check out PETA’s Searchable Database and Cruelty-Free Kitty’s alphabetized list of cruelty-free brands. If you have any cruelty-free recommendations, please comment them below!

origins pore perfecting cooling primer with willowherb

February 22, 2018Cruelty-Free, Beauty, Beauty Review, SponsoredKristenComment

I have a fun product for you all today! Origins sent me some of their new Pore Perfecting Cooling Primer with Willowherb to review. Before you keep reading, I have to warn that Origins gets a little weird on the cruelty-free scale. While they don't test their products on animals in America, they do test where required by law, which means their products sold in China are not cruelty-free. However, their website states that they're partners with the Institute for In Vitro Sciences, which aims to end animal testing everywhere, which I think is pretty cool. I'm a fan!

I actually really love using this primer. My favorite part of it is that it smells like grapefruit! It honestly makes such a difference when I get ready in the morning. I get this fresh burst on my skin, and I feel like I'm glowing!

I'm not gonna lie, I was a little scared when I opened my package and saw the top. The primer has an interesting texture. It's kind of foamy, but fairly dense. Sometimes it's weird because I feel like I'm putting mousse or some haircare product on my face, but like I said before, putting this on in the morning wakes me up and kickstarts my day. It's a cooling primer, and you feel it literally as soon as you put it on.

My skin has also looked great since I started using this primer. I didn't break out or anything, which surprised me because my face can get temperamental sometimes. My pores have looked great, and like I said before, I feel like I'm glowing! It's probably because Origins is a really natural company. All their ingredients are non-toxic and high quality. Their products are formulated without phthalates, parabens, DEA, paraffin, propylene glycol, petrolatum, mineral oil, animal ingredients, and polyethylene beads.

Another great thing about this primer is that it keeps your makeup looking great, which is why I originally started wearing primer in high school. I've been through a couple different primers since then, but this one is definitely up there! Since I've been using it, I've had to leave my makeup on overnight a couple times (I know I know), and it helps my makeup look flawless the next day. I get so many compliments!

Overall, I would definitely recommend this primer! It's a little pricey, but it is high quality. I have lots more makeup reviews coming for you guys, I can't wait!

If you’re interested in going cruelty-free, check out PETA’s Searchable Database and Cruelty-Free Kitty’s alphabetized list of cruelty-free brands. If you have any cruelty-free recommendations, please comment them below!

Seven Reasons You Should Buy Kiss My Face's Newest Sunscreen

June 25, 2017Cruelty-Free, Beauty, Beauty Review, Sponsored, WellnessKristenComment

You guys know how passionate I am about sunscreen. So when Kiss My Face asked me to review their new All Natural Dry Oil Spray Sunscreen in SPF 15, I couldn't say no! Read on to find out why you should get your hands on a bottle.

1. It works!

The purpose of sunscreen is to keep your skin safe from the sun's harmful rays. This sunscreen did just that! One day I put it on my whole body, but I missed a spot behind my neck, and I got a nasty sunburn. But the rest of my skin was perfect! The sunburn sucked, but it proved how well the sunscreen works. It's also water resistant for up to eighty minutes, which is perfect for a day at the beach.

2. It still gives you a little tan

A lot of people don't use sunscreen because they want a tan. However, Kiss My Face's sunscreen gives you a little "sun-kissed glow." I'm hopelessly pale (thanks, Irish heritage...), and this sunscreen still gave me a little bit of color so I didn't look like I've been locked in my basement for ten years.

3. Its ingredients

This vegan sunscreen is free of gluten, phthalates, SLS, parabens, and artificial fragrances. Since this sunscreen is air-powered, you don't need to worry about chemical propellants being in there either. It's made with vitamin E, coconut oil, argan oil, and green tea, ingredients that absolutely pamper your skin. So not only are you protecting your skin from harm, but you're only putting good things into it.

4. It's animal friendly

I started using Kiss My Face because they made high-quality products that were cruelty-free (and vegan!). This sunscreen is no exception! It's so great to find a company that's as passionate about ending animal testing as I am. For this sunscreen, Kiss My Face partnered with the Beagle Freedom Project, an organization that aims to end animal testing and give released animals a second chance at a normal life. When you purchase this sunscreen from Amazon Smile here, a portion of the purchase will be donated to the Beagle Freedom Project.

5. It's environmentally friendly

Kiss My Face makes a different type of spray that's just better in general because it's not an aerosol. It sprays from any angle, including upside-down, so it's perfect for getting those hard-to-reach places (like the back of your neck, when you actually remember to apply sunscreen there... but I'm not bitter...). It's not harmful to the environment like aerosols are. The bottle is also made of recyclable aluminum!

6. It smells yummy

I've always loved the smell of sunscreen! When I applied this, I also got a little hint of coconut from the coconut oil in the formula. As I mentioned before, this sunscreen is free of artificial fragrances, so you smell good, real good.

7. It's lightweight

Usually, sunscreen is gross and greasy, but not this one. This formula is so lightweight you don't even need to rub it in. I don't even feel like I'm wearing sunscreen!

Basically, if you're looking for some high-quality sunscreen that actually works and does a lot of good for the world, look no further than Kiss My Face's All Natural Dry Oil Spray Sunscreen. Buy it here through their website, or here if you'd like to make a difference with the Beagle Freedom Project! Thanks Kiss My Face!

More Cruelty-Free Mascara

April 10, 2017Beauty, Beauty Review, Cruelty-FreeKristenComment

You all know how much I love my mascara, especially when it's cruelty-free! A while ago, I switched out my old mascara for another one of e.l.f.'s mascaras, and I absolutely loved it. So when someone posted an unopened bottle of this e.l.f. mascara on my school's Free and For Sale page, I had to jump on it.

What I'm Using Now: e.l.f. Lash Extending Mascara

At first, I used this mascara by itself to see what it would do. Basically, the brush of this mascara is much thinner and has a lot of spikes. It's basically made to separate your lashes finely, which is great since I hate it when my eyelashes get super clumpy. Also, the brush can move and bend like the other mascara's, which really makes a difference for me.

Though I do wear this mascara on its own every now and then, I do prefer my e.l.f. 3-in-1 Mascara, mostly because the brush has so many shapes that it can really get everywhere it needs. I do like wearing this mascara on its own when I want a more feminine look, but most of the time I use it to top off the mascara that I already have. Like I mentioned before, the brush is super fine, so it helps me separate my lashes when they get gross and stuck. Usually, I use it to top off my eyelashes and give them that extra spidery kick.

Overall, I would 100% recommend this mascara, as I do with basically everything I review with e.l.f. For more information about going cruelty-free, check out PETA’s Searchable Database or Cruelty-Free Kitty’s alphabetized list of cruelty-free brands.