BOXYCHARM 💫 FEBRUARY 2018 💫

BOXYCHARM 

FEBRUARY 2018

GALAXY GLOW

So the difference in this month’s box is that you dont see the usual blush or eyeshadow palettes (unless you got the other variation which comes with the Naked cosmetics highlighter palette.) Honestly, im not a huge highlighting psycho and with all the highlighters I’ve been receiving lately I’m actually glad that I did not get that palette this time round.

1. Ofra Pop up palette mini ($19) & Blush godet refill($12).

I like this far better than getting the highlighter palete because I’ve never owned one of this magnetic customizable palettes before. And to make it better, it also comes with a Blush from Ofra cosmetics. This is the winter rose glow blush, really pretty warm rosey shade. Its magnetic hence just pop it in the palette and we are good to go! (Swatches below)

2. Cover fx shimmer veil in Amethyst ($28).

This is something new and different that i have yet to actually discover how to really make full use of it. When swatched, it has a really nice shimmery highlight pigmentation, but then it dries down. Cover fx says that this has multi use, mostly i see that its used on the eyelids, but can also be used as liner, highlighter and on the lips as well. Btw this is full size 4ml!! (Swatches below)

3. Crown pro trio brush set ($29.99).

This looks exactly like the wet n wild new brush roll 17pcs collection tho im not sure who came out first so 🤷🏻‍♀️. These are high grade synthetic fibers, small brush is good for concealer and spot control, medium is for foundation or face contour and the large brush is for setting powders. 

4. Vintage cosmetics Jet black smokey eye pencil ($21).

This looks like a normal black eyeliner pencil and seems a bit overpriced to be above $20, however the pencil is actually really smooth and creamy, very pigmented jet black and does not tug or pull or leave pathetic grey lines. Only gripe is that yes you have to sharpen it!! (Swatches below)

5. PÜR X-faux lips - plumping lip exfoliator ($17).

Infused with shea butter, raw sugar & exfoliating beads, this exfoliating crayon smells super delicious like a sweet treat and it also helps exfoliate, plump, hydrate & soothes.

The swatch does not look obvious but the sugar particles are really tiny and non abrasive at all! It does feel slightllllly sticky but of course you still have to wipe off after exfoliating so not a problem there. And on my last days of pregnancy, my lips are getting drier and drier by the second, so this will come in handy.

Swatches:

I love this month’s box! Really gave me a few useful products like the magnetic palette and also i love receiving brush sets from boxycharm too. And the full size highly sought after shimmer veil is really worth the value. 👍🏾 February’s box will really keep you glowing. 

IPSY 🕸 FEBRUARY 2018 🕸

IPSY GLAM BAG

FEBRUARY 2018

Ipsy February glam bag - theme : unzipped. The rose nude trend is here again, hence the nude and lace bag design, also together with the theme of unzipping  oneself bare and exposed. Here are the 5 products in this month’s baggy.

1. Marsk eyeshadow pot in shade ‘Foiled again.’

Ive received a few of Marsk’s eyeshadows before from Ipsy and mostly they’re in pots and loose form. I rarely use them because loose powders tend to get messy easily and i rush around alot to get ready for work etc. ‘Foiled again’ is a silver grey metal shade that leans more to metallic finish. 

2. Luxie blending & shading dual eye brush 249.

Yes! I love Luxie brushes, they look mostly simple but thats a good thing too its easy to keep neat & tidy. This time we got a dual ended Luxie brush for blending & shading. I love it for when you’re on the go rushing or travelling and need to pack light and fast. As usual the brushes are cruelty free synthetic bristles yet soft and doesn’t shed. 

3. Mellow matte liquid lip paint in shade Tehran.

A mini size matte lippy in a nude shade. This has a matte finish but is very creamy, it does not dry to a super tight matte. Think of it like the colourpop’s ultra satin kind of finish. Colour is really pigmented tho as seen in swatch. I like that the shade does not lean too light or too pink either. 

4. it cosmetics Bye Bye under eye concealer in light(ultra light).

This is a highly controversial concealer with no in betweens, people either love it or hate it. It is meant to be a full coverage concealer and makeup gurus who are into the full coverage look love this stuff. For the everyday natural look type of girls, it is quite thick. 

I received this in light(ultra light) which unfortunately as seen on my hand swatch, its far too light for a light-medium warmer asian skin tone. My face is slightly fairer, however this shade did nottttt work out for me at all. It was definitely far too light, i tried my best to blend it out but it ended up looking too fair and ashy and it could not be saved until i packed more of my mac nc25 studio fix fluid foundation on top of the concealer in an attempt to even out the colour. I felt conscious the whole day at work that my under eyes were giving off the 90s white cast look. Safe to say that until i get the right shade, this product terrified me. 

5. Bio belle five minute facial mask #primer.

Firstly, this mask claims results in just 5 minutes time because its meant for makeup after. It is a primer sheet mask that contains key ingredients like tea tree oil, rosehip extract and vitamin C to prep the face for makeup use. But, you are required to rinse your face after the 5 minutes wear time, and then proceed with your usual makeup routine. Unlike normal masks which you can pat in and leave the serum on. If youre in a rush to work, better not use the mask as it would require extra steps, however if you have time to prep this would be a good mask to try.

And that is all the 5 products in February. I honestly  do like all the products received, altho i do wish the it cosmetics concealer was in a darker shade so that its still wearable. And also i wouldnt use the silver shade the Marsk shadow came in at all, wished that was in a different shade. But regardless, i love getting all makeup products and finally no hair samples in the way 😪

IPSY GLAM BAG 🌟 NOVEMBER 2017 🌟

IPSY GLAM BAG

NOVEMBER 2017

November’s bag has 2 variations basically its just 2 different colours. One matches my birthstone for November which is Topaz and the other is in a Sapphire blue. I received the yellow version, with 5 products inside.

1. Naked cosmetics shadow pot in shade ‘Mother Nature 06’.

Naked cosmetics has some really nice eyeshadow shades and they are an all natural brand that uses mica pigments purely for the shadows. This shade #MN-06 is from the ‘Mother Nature’ collection and this is the 6th shade from the lot. Its a really unique duo chrome shade that shifts between a dark brown and silver blue. You can see the specks of silver in the shadow pot but the colour is really pretty especially when they shifts. (Swatched below)

2. Sl miss glam for Ipsy - B36 Tapered highlight brush.

A baby blue brush with diamonte and soft ombre bristles, super cute and functional too as a tapered highlight brush (love the brush description on the handle). Unless you’re a pro at makeup, the rest of us highly appreciates a brush with the description for the purpose at the handle as a hint. Soft bristles and does not shed off much.

3. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in ‘Feisty’.

Fiesty is a warm toasty rose shade that suits light medium skin well as its not too brown nor is it too pink. I can’t seem to find reviews at places like temptalia for this shade tho. But im glad to receive this, tarte blushes sometimes doesnt show well on arm swatches but on brushes to the cheeks it is highly pigmented and buildable. (Swatched below)

4. Trestique twist up eye brow pencil.

Ive received some products from Trestoque before like the concealer crayon which is creamy and pretty good. But this twist up eye brow pencil is a miss for me, the product inside is really super dry, chalky and hard to draw a line. As seen in the swatches below, i had to really press into the skin to get a line and rubbing it repeatedly on my arm was already abrasive i cant imagine drawing it on my brows. 

Product swatches: Tarte feisty(top), Trestique(middle),Naked MN-06(bottom)

5. Too faced Hangover 3-in-1 replenishing primer & setting spray.

 I’m excited to receive a sample of this product cause you can never have enough of primers & setting sprays on hand. One might just run out on the last spritz. I tried this on cleanse and toned face before applying makeup, a lil tip, use this before & NOT after makeup. 

Because the spritz pump was super fast and hard that it doesn’t get release as mists, instead its like big fat water droplets hitting your face right where you spray.  (Like spraying febreeze on your face?) I had to spread it out evenly using my fingers after. I’m not entirely sure if its due to the sample size of the tube spray. Its a far cry from say ‘Cover Fx-illuminating setting spray’ that has a softer spritz that spreads through the face and also comes out as mists instead of droplets. 

Hence it will probably never work well if you spray it on after all the effort in applying your makeup, as the fat droplets will for sure ruin your hard work. So, i do not like the product for after, but for before, its not bad at priming the face.

Ipsy November is a great bag and i think the one i saw on a spoiler post have a few different things than what i got, but its okay as i still like most of it. Only the eyebrow pencil was the only one i hated because it was rendered unusable. 

ALLURE 🥚 NOVEMBER 2017 🥚

ALLURE

NOVEMBER 2017

November’s box is a bit more generous than the previous boxes received, there are 7 items in the box with a full size eyeshadow brush, lip crayon and face mask.

1. Juice beauty Lip crayon in shade 12 Malibu. 

Full sized item, Malibu is a very wearable everyday pinky nude shade. On the first application, i find that the crayon was abit too soft as the tip broke as im applying it on my lips. Its not soo bad because the formula was just really soft so the tip turned into a balm instead. The lip crayon tho is really creamy and moisturizes the lips well, it is not drying at all and pigmentation wise, colour payoff is very good. (See swatch below.) juice beauty is a cruelty free and vegan brand. 

2. Doucce freematic eyeshadow in shade 37 Bailey.

This magnetic shadow pod can be attached to the smaller doucce palette and you can switch it up with other shades creating your own custom palette. Ive heard of this brand from Allure as you will receive a small palette in your first box. Most of the pigmented shades i got so far are the shimmers, but some are abit more chalky like the matte ones. 37 bailey is a dark shimmery navy steel blue shade. (See swatch below.)

3. Royal & langnickel Moda Mythical Crease brush. 

What’s not to love about a unicorn horn shaped eyeshadow brush? Aptly named the moda mythical collection, this is the crease brush with fluffy ombre bristles and ombre twisted handle. This picks up shadows perfectly without kicking up too much powder and also deposits on the lids just nice. However, as a crease brush i find that the size is a bit too big for my eye shape and i could literally use this to pack the whole lid. Which is what i use it for lol. The whole collection is pretty nice tho.

4. Hey honey - good morning - honey silk facial serum.

This serum has a thin light yellow texture that smells sweet & honey-like. The scent is not strong at all so it does not irritate the skin. It absorbs fairly well without leaving any sticky traces. In fact it made the skin quite smooth and soft after. This serum is recommended to wear underneath makeup before moisturizer.

5. Caudalie Eye lifting balm.

A lightweight eye lifting balm that claims to lift all the eyebags and dark circles in the world. I do not have bad eye bags however this tested on the skin is wuite light and non sticky, absorbs well into the skin quite fast too. Has a very light scent that is non irritating too.

6. Too cool for school - all in one - egg mellow cream.

First thing you will notice is the scent, now, its better than smelling rotten raw eggs, however i find the scent to be too artificial and perfume like that it tends to be abit strong and overwhelming on the face (im not even sensitive to scents). This is a 5 in 1 firming moisturizer infused with egg yolk extract and collagen fiber to help with skin elasticity. 

There’s multiple uses for this, it works as a serum, priming moisturizer, eye cream, neck cream, and sleeping mask in one. It has a thick creamy yellow texture, for a moisturizer i think its best to have a light hand on this when applying on the face as the cream thickness and the strong smell might kick sensitive skin into overdrive. Use small dots and build up as you go.

7. Too cool for school - Egg cream mask (hydrating).

I like that we receive 2 products from the same skin care range and that you can use this mask before you use the moisturiser they gave. 

The mask is slightly different than other masks ive tried, firstly, there is a weird netting cover that you have to peel off before wearing the mask. 

Secondly, the mask is super soft and slippery (generous amount of serum inside) the white sheet reminds me of the inner part of a coconut skin. The serum is infused with coconut water + egg yolk.

Thirdly the mask size fits just nice on my face, there is no excess flaps at the side of face and it tucks nicely underneath the chin. But the mouth hole feels a little bit snug, and the eye hole is a bit too rectangular for my eyes. (Dont mind my lips are super dry 😭)

But in the end i still like the mask! The after removal left some serum to be patted in. It did leave a little bit of creamy residue, so i patted down my face with a thin tissue. The smell is better than the moisturizer tho, softer and not so strong. 

Overall November box is quite generous with the amiunt of products as you also get at least 3 normal full size products like the lip crayon, crease brush and sheet mask. The deluxe sizes are also good for trial purpose as they will be able to last at least a week of daily use in order for you to test the product claims & effectiveness.

SEPHORA PLAY BOX 🖍 NOVEMBER 2017 🖍

SEPHORA 

PLAY BOX

NOVEMBER 2017

November’s info sheet lets your creativity do the work and colour in the illustrations as a way of chilling out. I finally realised that sephora play box usually only gives sample deluxe sizes and very rarely gives a full size item unless its a nail polish or eyeliner item. So if its to be compared to Ipsy glam bag or Allure beauty box, it reduces the box value most of the time. However there is a higher chance of receiving high end brands from sephora as compared to the rest which introduces us to Indie or new up and coming brands. Ok lets get into the samples.

1. Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara.

This deluxe sized mascara has a really big bushy brush that ensures all the bristles are coated in the mascara before being applied on the lashes. Its buildable and does not clump when layered. However, i realised after 2-3 hours of wear, it flakes off slightly if you accidentally touch the eye area and you can see that it drops flakes on your under eyes. Otherwise the jet black shade really elongates and emphasises the natural lashes.

2. Caudalie vinosource s.o.s thirst quenching serum.

Infused with grape water and hyaluronic acid to give a boost of hydration and also to sooth the skin. I usually apply this after my toner and before the moisturizer step. It is pretty lightweight with a clear white texture so it easily absorbs without leaving any residue behind. 

3. Origins Active charcoal mask to clear pores.

Since this is to be used once or twice a week to clear the pores, the big tube size will last quite a while. This active charcoal mask can be used after prepping the face with a warm towel as it helps to open up the pores. (It reminds me of the Caudalie clay mask, or the Neutrogena Charcoal mask.) applies creamy and then it will dry to a lighter grey on the skin and absorbs the oils from the pores. Its one of those products that will leave you very satisfied at the end after you wash off the mask.

4. Sephora ultra shine lip gel in 04 perfect nude. 

Once again i do not wear lip glosses and this is ultra shiny and not at all semi creamy/matte hence i checked a swatch from temptalia.com instead of opening the seal as i intend to gift it. Here is the swatch link:

sephora ultra shine lip gel perfect nude swatch

It is described as a warm nude peach with pearls.

5. My Burberry Blush Fragrance.

I usually like most of the parfums sent by sephora and this is also turning up to be another nice scent. The Burberry Blush has a fruity & floral fragrance, with top notes of pomegranate and lemon. I can foresee wearing this often, or well at least until the sample finishes. 

6. Moroccan oil treatment for all hair types.

Moroccan oil as you know is beneficial for the hair and skin due to the richness of essential fatty acids that makes it an excellent moisturizer and thus helps in adding shine and moisture to the hair and skin. Apply this to the middle and tips of hair for a smooth end. This works pretty well on my girl’s curly hair, as it needs some good old oil to detangle the curls sometimes. And keeps it shiny and smooth too.

Thats the total for the November box. I really need more of cosmetics samples to try on as oppose to skincare/haircare products right now. I have an abundance of those from the previous boxes too. Hopefully next month’s box comes with more beauty tidbits.

FACETORY 🍋 JANUARY 2018 🍋

FACETORY X SAAAMMAGE

JANUARY 2018

FOUR EVER FRESH KIT

Here's the first look at the 4 ever fresh sheet mask kit from January's facetory. This month is a collaboration with 'saaammage' , I wasn't sure who she was actually so i did a little googling up, and erm i didn't exactly find alot of positive things per se so lets just say shes a beauty vlogger. Ok- 

1. Tea tree blemish treatment mask from Dewy tree.

As the main ingredient is tea tree, this is targeted to improve the appearance of blemishes and acne/pimples scars. 

2. Spring flower honey mask from Mimiang.

This has a milky honey scent on the mask and helps provide full moisture for rough and dry skin and also has whitening properties for more skin radiance.

3. Hyaluronic acid soothing mask from Purenskin.

If it has hyaluronic acid, you know its meant to be hydrating and moisturising as hell and meant to lock all those juicy goodness into your skin. It is also meant to soothe and brighten irritation dry skin.

4. Pure essence mask sheet lemon.

Vitamin C in the lemon extract helps to brighten and lighten up and also restore skin elasticity. 

And thats the 4 masks available from January's kit. I like that they all have different functions, there is all types of masks for radiance, clearing, soothing and brightening. Definitely useful for masking once or twice a week.