Ipsy August 2014 (first impression)

I was really excited to hear about makeup subscription "boxes". You pay a set fee, and get surprises delivered to your mailbox each month. Something that isn't a bill and is sparkly in my in box? Yes, please. Based on other reviews, I decided to go with ipsy.

Now, before I get onto my first impressions of my first box (yes, I'm totally qualified to review the service!), I want to mention the few minor negative experiences I've had with Ipsy. These involved their "waitlist" and their web page.

So, apparently there is a wait list to become an Ipsy subscriber. This is a bit annoying, but the more annoying part is that you can almost always get off the wait list with a few Facebook likes and other social media moves that benefit Ipsy. So, essentially, you need to jump through all these hoops to subscribe to a service that you pay for (and I'm guessing Ipsy gets most of these items for free since they're promotional items, but I could be wrong). Anyway, that's not a huge deal, just a minor inconvenience. The annoying part is that every time I clicked any "skip the wait!" link (including those directly sent to my own e-mail address), they just would not work. They would load indefinitely. I've seen other reviews mentioning this, so I think it's a website issue.

Anyway...once I finally got my page to load and got off the wait list, this was the reward for my patience...

This came in a fun, pink bubble mailer. As far as I can tell, the orange sheet is just an advertisement for Ipsy, nothing specific and no coupon code. The Perversion ad contains a sample size of the new Urban Decay perversion mascara. 

The little bag is cute, though small. It might be a nice way to travel with liners and some brushes. The "Ipsy" zipper is a nice touch. The thing that I couldn't get past though, was the smell. Seriously, the second I opened the bubble mailer, it smelled strongly of cheap plastic. I know this sounds petty, but it was really not a turn on. I hope it airs out, otherwise the bag aspect, which is supposed to be a feature, is pretty useless. 

The rest of the bag contained samples of Klorane extra dry shampoo with oat milk, Dr. Brandt pores no more, and full sizes of Jersey Shore Sun Mongongo balm and J. Cat Beauty Flying Solo shadow in Half Naked. I've never heard of J. Cat, but the sticker on the side of the shadow single was cute:

The shadow itself, though it doesn't look exciting, is actually a color I'd probably use often. It's a champagne shade that leans almost orange. Although it's sheer, I think it'd make a nice wash of color over the lid or as a highlight.

So, was it worth the $10? Here's the breakdown of "value":

J. Cat full sized shadow $2.99

Jersey Shore Sun full sized balm $5.50

Klorane dry shampoo sample sized $8.99

Dr. Brandt Pores No More sample sized $11.25 ($45/oz)

UD Perversion Sample $0 (since this has been readily available for free, I’m leaving it off)

= $28.73 (not taking into account the UD mascara & the free bag)

Now, value is really subjective, because, if I couldn't or wouldn't use the products provided, they're worthless to me. I can see myself using the vast majority of these (save maybe the Pores No More, I'm not a big fan of primer on my skin), so it's just a fun way to try new products. Also, getting a fun "surprise" in the mail is not quantifiable, but adds value to the Ipsy bag. So, I will definitely continue my  Ipsy subscription and will update monthly to see if I still find it worth the money. 

A+

Poubelle Pretties (Empties)

So, I love empties posts. I think it's a combination of the fact that I get so excited when I personally finish a product, and also that I feel that a makeup addict's word that she not only used up a product but will repurchase it, is really a testament to the quality of a product. I love trying new things, as do all beauty bloggers, I assume, so a repurchase carries some serious weight. 

And so, with that in mind, I obviously feel the need to share the contents of my trash. And it's a lot more fun with a catchy name. So, "poubelle pretties" it is. I mean, poubelle means trash in French, forms an alliteration with pretties, AND has the word "belle" in it, so I figure it's as good a title as any. I'm going to stop blabbing now and get to the good stuff.

So, let's get the most embarrassing item out of the way first. Not that this item is embarrassing, but the evidence of me eeking out every last drop certainly is. I considered substituting a stock photo, but I'm just gonna be real here and show you what I do to foundation that I really love when it tries to run out on me:

Since you can't really tell because the bottle is pretty much painted in foundation, this is Covergirl 3-in-1 foundation. I'm ashamed to say that I resisted buying this foundation forever because I associated Covergirl with subpar quality products (in high school, Covergirl was all about the Noxema scented foundation and unpigmented shadows), but I am so glad I gave it a chance. First of all, despite the fact that the dried foundation looks pink, this shade actually matches my neutralish/yellowish pale undertones very well, which is hard to find in a foundation. It also has great coverage, yet isn't unnatural looking (I use a damp Real Techniques Sponge, which helps make it look more natural on my dry skin). By great coverage, I mean that it covers my hyperpigmentation, hormonal acne, and freckles without concealer (yeah, I know, it's a thing now to have freckles show through foundation, but it's not really my thing). The best part is it lasts all day. Oh, and it comes with a pump, which is awesome (though I removed it when it was almost empty, and turned the bottle upside down to get every last drop out, hence the huge mess. Worth it!). 

Verdict: Will repurchase

Next, Jergens BB Body- another item I was surprised to love. I expected it to go on like body makeup, but it's actually nothing like that. It's a very, very gradual sunless tanner that contains some very fine shimmer and a light tint. Essentially, the shimmer and very light tint tend to blur imperfections, and make my limbs look glowy, and the gradual tanner helps extend the life of my weekly tanner. The tint is barely noticable, and I even use the "medium-dark" variety, despite my fair skin. It doesn't transfer to clothing. The scent is kind of interesting- I don't know how to describe it, but it's definitely apparent, and this may be a deal breaker for some if you don't like the scent. So, smell before you buy. As for me, I enjoy the scent, and I use this everyday before I get dressed for work.

Verdict: Already bought 4 backups. 
I saw these on clearance and bought 4 out of fear they were being discontinued. Luckily, they're not. Maybe they repackaged them? Anyway, I definitely recommend.

Aaaaaaand the trend of using everything until the last, embarrassing drop continues. Everyone in my life conspired to buy me the same gift one Christmas after I offhandedly mentioned that I like the Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple seasonal scent, so I still have about 3870483 of these puppies to go through. It's a really nice scent, and I like the formulas of the body butters. They are quite thick and can leave a bit of a film is you apply too much, but they're very moisturizing, and great for extra dry spots like heels, elbows and knees. 

Verdict: I have a lifetime supply of these puppies, so no repurchasing for me

I don't buy body scrubs often, because I generally use a brush in the shower with body wash, and that exfoliates very well, is cheaper and is easier to use (usually) than a scrub, but I love the ingredients Shea Moisture uses, and it was on sale, so I tried it. Shea Moisture Olive & Green Tea Hand & Body Scrub is a great, simple sugar scrub. The main ingredients are oils and sugar, so it's exactly as I expected. Although I can easily whip up a similar formula with the ingredients in my kitchen, this smells soooo good. It's a fresh, green tea scent, with light florals. It's just yummy and refreshing. The scrub seems like it would leave an oily film, but the oil it leaves behind absorbs into my skin shortly after I exit the shower and leaves me moisturized and glowy. 

Verdict: May rebuy

Again, I don't generally buy body scrubs, but this one is making me reconsider. I will definitely buy another item with this scent, though. Yum. 

Next, Maybelline Dream Lumi concealer and L'Oreal Miss Manga mascara, two raved about products that fell a bit flat for me. While the Dream Lumi is very pigmented, and does seem to brighten areas on my face, it's very thick, and this just doesn't work on my dry skin (and I may or may not be starting to see wrinkles under my eyes, which this doesn't help, either). I can't keep it from looking cakey after a while, no matter how I apply it. The Miss Manga, while it does seem to give me the doll look if I work at it, is just too hard to use. I have fairly long eyelashes, and the way the head flexes seems to make me whack myself on the eyelid, making a mess. It's also too wet of a formula for my preferences.

Verdict: Won't rebuy

It Cosmetics YSBB CC cream....love! Smells good, excellent SPF, surprising coverage for a CC cream, and a natural finish. What more could you ask for? 

Verdict: Will likely repurchase

And two very similar products: Jordana Fabuliner in black and Physician's Formula Felt Tip Eye Definer. These are both nice, felt tip black liners. They both worked well, were dark enough for my preferences, and didn't smudge. As you can see, the tips are pretty similar:

Verdict: Will probably repurchase at some point. 

Neither are really exciting products, but they serve their purpose. I've been trying liners with more flexible tips lately, because they seem to work better with some of the loose skin on my eyelids, but I'd still recommend these for felt tip liners. I'd probably go with Jordana just because of the lower price, though I have been seeing the PF liners pop up in Dollar Trees, so keep an eye out for those.

Burt's Bees Almond Milk Hand Cream. This came in a kit I got for Christmas, and it is a nice, moisturizing hand cream. I keep it on my nightstand and apply on my hands, and extra on my cuticles, before bed. When I wake up, my hands are very soft and moisturized. The one downfall of this product, is that it leaves a definite, oily residue immediately upon application. So, it's not a product to keep in your purchase. It really only works if you have lots of time to let it set in or put on socks immediately after (in the case of using it on your feet). This doesn't really bother me in the context of a night cream, but I can see how this could be an issue for some people. It smells like almond extract, which is very pleasant and my hubby loves that. 

Verdict: Probably won't rebuy

It's a fine product, but really nothing special, and I have lots of other hand creams

And, finally, not an empty, but a sad goodbye to my Real Techniques base shadow brush. I really loved this brush, as it packs on shadow well, and was also fluffy enough to blend. Turned to the right angle, it could even work color into the crease. Unfortunately, I made the unwise decision to use it to swatch way too many shadows, and vigorously rubbed each color off in between, destroying it. It's particularly tragic, since you can only purchase this brush as a part of the Real Techniques Starter Set.

Verdict: Tempted to repurchase, despite my overflowing brush containers

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoy reading others' empties posts!

A+

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream Dupe?

 As you can tell from this photo...I love me some It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC cream. It was actually a surprise favorite, as I'm not one to go for the natural look, and so BB/CC creams aren't generally my thing. I originally got the CC cream in a sample with an Ulta purchase, and I immediately bought the full size. But, despite my love for the IT Cosmetics CC cream, I couldn't help but search for a cheaper dupe, because a. that means more makeup purchases, and b. why pay $38 if there's something comparable and cheaper?

And this is where Physician's Formula Organic Wear CC cream comes in. It's not an exact dupe, but it's pretty darn close for about 1/3 the price.

It Cosmetics Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 9.015%, Zinc Oxide 6.305%. Inactive: Snail Secretion Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hexyl Laurate, Stearic Acid, Calcium Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Disodium EDTA, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Pinus Sylvestris Leaf Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Niacinamide, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Lactobacillus/Honeysuckle Flower/Licorice Root/Morus Alba Root/Pueraria Lobata Root/Schizandra Chinensis Fruit/Scutellaria Baicalensis Root/Sophora Japonica Flower Extract Ferment Filtrate, Perfluorohexane, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Cholesteryl Isostearate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower Extract, Cholesteryl Nonanoate, Cholesteryl Chloride, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Perfluorodecalin, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sprout Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Pentafluoropropane, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Steareth-20, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Colloidal Oatmeal, Hydrolyzed Silk, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Silica, BHT, Potassium Sorbate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tocopherol, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Retinyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Niacin, Folic Acid, Chrysin, Carnitine Hcl, Biotin, Ascorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Chlorhexidine Digluconate. May Contain: Red 7 Lake (CI 15850:1), Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499)

Physician's Formula Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (3.9%), Zinc Oxide (1%). Other: Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Water, Dodecane, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Titanium Dioxide, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Silica, Glycerin, Lecithin, Water, Magnesium Sulfate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Beeswax, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum, Lauroyl Lysine, Leuconostoc / Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate. May Contain: Iron Oxide

As you can see, the main ingredients are the same (though Physician's Formula has less, hence its SPF 15, as opposed to It Cosmetics's SPF 55). I appreciate that they both contain physical sunscreens. It Cosmetics obviously has a quite longer list of ingredients, but I appreciate Physician's Formula relatively pure ingredient list. 

They both come in one ounce containers, though It Cosmetics comes with a pump (I'm not showing mine because it's embarrassing, so you'll just have to take my word for it), which I prefer. Physician's Formula comes in a squeeze tube, which works just fine and is hygienic. 

It Cosmetics has a pleasant, orangey scent. This must be due to all the citrus related ingredients, which, though I like the scent, is really a detriment, as these ingredients are photosensitive. Physician's Formula doesn't have much of a scent. 

Yes, both of these are used when I'm sunless tanning, but let's just pretend these almost match my skin right now. It Cosmetics is on the top right (Light), Physician's Formula on the bottom (Light-Medium). They're both the same texture...a creamy texture that's not too thick but not too runny. I do appreciate that It Cosmetics has kind of a yellow/olive undertone, though their shades run very dark, in my opinion. 

Here you can see them just slightly sheered out (It Cosmetics on top). As you can see, they are very pigmented, which allows them to offer medium to full coverage. They have a very similar finish, which is natural without being overly shiny or dewy. For the record, I like applying these with a dense, flat topped brush (I love the Jessup brushes- which I'm planning to review soon- the face brushes are seriously a steal). 

I have dry skin, so I like the fact that they are not drying (though don't really add moisture in any way, but they also don't dry out the skin or enhance lines). They also both wear pretty well on me. Not as well as a Revlon Colorstay or Covergirl 3-in-1, but the wear time is decent. I would say I get 6 hours before either starts to break down on me or fade. For a CC cream, I think this is pretty reasonable. 

So, in conclusion, both products have a similar consistency, apply equally as smooth and with the same finish, wear for the same amount of time and both contain sunscreen. It Cosmetics edges out Physician's Formula on SPF, scent and packaging, but I think Physician's Formula Organicwear CC cream is a great substitute (and only $13-15, often on sale!). 

Are there any other great CC creams out there (that aren't completely sheer?). I've shied away from so many for fear of lack in coverage, but these two really shine, so I'd love to try others!

Sleek Cosmetics iDivine Review

I had heard so much about the brand Sleek, but I was hesitant to order, because I assumed there would be high shipping costs and a long wait time. For a "drugstore" product, I wasn't really into paying so much more than some of my regular drugstore go tos. I'm definitely glad I decided to give them a chance, though, because their eye shadow palettes are great quality, and it's really great to have full palettes available at a drugstore level (I know that Maybelline has just released a few, but I'm seeing less than stellar reviews).

When Sleek ran a 30% off sale over 4th of July, I jumped at the chance to try some new things. Shipping was only $3.25 to Montana, which was a pleasant surprise! My order shipped within a day or two, but it did take the full 10 business days to arrive at my doorstep. This was a bit frustrating, as the package was not tracked, but it's not something I can hold against Sleek. They're very transparent about the shipping and, for the price, it's petty to complain. Still, I'm impatient!

I chose the "Mattes V2 (Darks)" palette, and the limited edition "Rio Rio". I have seen so many great looks with the Urban Decay Electric palette, but, being a neutral girl myself, I just wasn't willing to splurge on something that may only get used a handful of time. I thought Rio Rio would be a fun way to experiment with bright colors without breaking the bank. I'm always on the lookout for inexpensive mattes, so the Matte V2 palette looked right up my alley.

They come in very cute boxes, and the palettes themselves are very thin and sleek. I LOVE the giant mirror that comes in them. I think these would make great travel palettes.

One of the shadows broke during shipping. I immediately wet it down with some alcohol and glycerin and pressed it. It's not beautiful, but it didn't seem to impact the shadow quality, so no harm done. 

As you can see, the shadows do kick up some dust, similar to a Wet'n'Wild or Lorac shadow. This doesn't hurt the quality of the shades, but it does result in some fall out, so I recommend applying shadow before face makeup. 

Your (camera) strap's showing

Here are some quick and dirty swatches of Rio Rio. I swatched them over Wet'n'Wild Fergie primer, and just did one quick swipe of each color. As you can see, they're very pigmented without much work. If I were thinking something other than "OMG FINALLY MY STUFF IS HERE, I NEED TO OPEN IT ALL AND SWATCH IMMEDIATELY", I would have kept the plastic insert that listed the color names, but I hate those things, so I threw it away immediately. Does anyone really keep those? What's the point of naming colors if you're not going to put the label somewhere you'd actually see it while using the product? 

Anyway, I really like these shadows. They are very pigmented (save the white shade, but that could be my fault). It's exactly the amount of color I need to get a little practice with color without dropping $50 for the Urban Decay favorite. Surprisingly, my favorite shades are the purple, bottom, second to the right (it almost has a fine, blue duochrome, so pretty!) and the light green (so pigmented and brightening!). The champagne shade is also very nice and versatile. There are really none in the bunch that I dislike or can't work with. 

Look at that green & purple!

This is a poorly lit photo of a look I did when I was jealous of everyone on /r/Makeupaddiction's Electric looks. I apologize for the color (apartment bath lighting is the worst), but you can see that this palette is very fun and colorful, but still flattering (in my opinion). 

And, onto some less exciting, but equally high quality shades...

And here are the mattes. Since I am apparently the most boring person on the planet, my favorite shade is the 3rd from the left on the bottom row (got that), i.e. the one that looks almost exactly like my skin. It is just such a great crease shade. I've worn it almost everyday since I got it. I blend it into the crease before the rest of my eye make up, and it just gives a little warmth, slight definition, and makes blending darker shades over top easier. It's what I expect Makeupgeek's "Peach Smoothie" to be like (still haven't gotten around to trying Marlena's products, but I'm hoping to do so soon!). 

Although the mattes are pigmented, and pretty easy to blend, as far as mattes go, I'm a bit disappointed with the color selection. The peachy shade is great as a base crease color, and the yellowy shade is good for blending out edges, and there are plenty of dark shades in the bunch, but there aren't enough medium shades or flattering highlight shades for me. I just find it hard to do combinations of colors in the palette, I guess...?  I think this is a great companion palette to mix and match fun, dark, matte shades with other palettes, or (as I already said) for a base crease color in conjunction with other palettes, but I just don't see myself traveling with this alone. 

Here's a side by side comparison of my eyeshadow freshly applied (left), and ~6 hours later (right). As you can see, the purply pink shade hasn't budged. Just a small amount of fading on the blackish shade. Not too bad! (I used Fergie primer and NYX milk under my shadows).

Overall, I think these are great shadows for the price. They have great color variety, I love the packaging (woo, mirror) and the fact that they are a drugstore brand that makes palettes. I'm not wild about the color selection in the matte's palette, but I'm excited to try much more from Sleek!

A+

Dupe for an Old Standby

I, as many women my age, started my forte into "higher end" cosmetics with Clinique. The brand is known to give out freebies with purchases, and many of those freebies inevitably wind up being passed down to teenage daughters/nieces/granddaughters who know very little about makeup outside of the drugstore (okay, I'm speaking for myself here, but surely there are others with similar experiences). 

You know what I'm talking about...all those unpigmented powder products, and always a sample of the iconic lotion

I was enamored with Clinique at the time, it was "fancy" and "expensive" and I believed it must contain "better" ingredients than the drugstore products that were readily available to me. So, when I became a waitress with more income than a teenager needs (I so wish I had appreciated this fact at the time), I started purchasing a few items from the Clinique counter at Macy's (pretty sure it was still Kaufmanns, at this point, but you get the gist). During this time, I started using Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. I liked it, and it felt a bit luxury with the simple square bottle and the nice pump.

As I started learning more about makeup and skin care, I eventually drifted away from Clinique products. They seemed simple and unexciting compared to all the other options available. After going through all the hormonal changes that came with having a child, my skin was the worst it'd ever been. I spent a few years trying everything, and no fancy regimen helped. That's when I decided to give simple, boring Clinique another shot. This stuff should not be amazing, there's nothing really exciting in the ingredients, or even the claims, but it manages to keep my dehydrated skin supple and doesn't irritate it, which other products just couldn't seem to do, for whatever reason.

All this detailed background to say that my sensitive skin doesn't really like trying other moisturizers (and I've tried plenty), but I also think Clinique's DDML seems to be a simple formulation which should be dupable. So, when Equate came out with a "dupe" I was excited to try it. I decided to share my experience, since I've had a difficult time finding reviews on the product, and I know there must be others out there, like me, who would love a less expensive dupe.

Obviously, my original is well loved, and I also lost the cap

First of all, you have to appreciate the name Equate chose for the dupe: "Strikingly Unique Moisturizing Lotion". It makes me chuckle every time I reach for it. As you can see, Equate is definitely trying to imitate Clinique's packaging. It's slightly more bulky (though they're both 4.2 oz), and just overall less "sleek" looking, but that's not a huge deal to me, they did a fine job. They also imitated the yellow shade of the lotion, which is honestly my least favorite part of Clinique's lotion, but that's not really an issue if it performs well.

Both come with a pump, which I LOVE. Sure, the Equate pump is slightly less classy looking, but they're both just plastic pumps that work fine.

Clinique Ingredients: Water, Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil, Urea, Lanolin Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Trisodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 33.

Equate Ingredients: Water, Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil, Lanolin Alcohol, Saccharide Isomerate, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber Fruit) Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Red 33. 

The ingredients are very similar, as you can see. I saw someone mention on a blog that the Equate lotion was heavily perfumed, but I can't detect any fragrance in either lotion, and neither has any ingredients that would cause them to be fragranced.

It is really hard to show texture in an image, but I've tried my best here. Clinique is on top, and Equate is on the bottom. As you can see, Clinique has a thicker texture. When I first purchased the Equate Strikingly Unique (Seriously, that's a great name), I was a bit disappointed during my first use, because I figured the thinner texture would mean less moisture and different results. 

Here, you can see both lotions rubbed in slightly. Again, you can see that the Equate version is runnier. Even though I was apprehensive at first, I have to say, the Equate version performs exactly the same. I've been using it for a month (for the record, my routine is to wash with a microfiber cloth+water, then use BHA pads, then use a rosewater spray, and, finally, apply the lotion), and my skin is just as moisturized every morning, and I have had no bad reactions. Awesome!

I am very pleased with the Equate lotion. For just $12.87, in comparison to Clinique's $24.00, I think I will continue buying the Equate version. 

A+

Introduction and a Shiro Haul Part Un (AKA That Time I Bit Off More Than I Could Chew)

My name is Leah, and I'm a little bit addicted to beauty and wine French things...hence the title of this blog. I love to read product reviews, and, despite the enormous number of beauty review blogs in existence, I honestly believe that there can never be enough beauty reviews (Hopefully I'm not the only one who stays up late reading makeup reviews and mentally planning which products I want to try next, hoping I can get my hands on the latest LE Wet'n'Wild palette...), so I thought I should add my own voice to the mix. Here, I hope to add detailed reviews where I share not only swatches, but also how well the product wears on my face (because that's what really matters!). Because I love a great deal as much as the next person, I plan to find dupes for more expensive products and also put well known dupes to the test. I can't wait to share my deals, my experiences and my experiments, and I hope others can gain the same enjoyment I get reading of others' passion for all things beauty.

So, as a first post, I thought nothing would be more fitting than my Shiro haul, as it pretty much exemplifies my beauty obsession, and the way I go about things in general. I tend to bite off a bit more than I can chew, and this haul/review hopeful is no exception. I've always been a lover of mainstream makeup (and still am), but, when I heard about a brand called Shiro, where you can buy samples for in amazing shades that I don't see often at the drugstore, I was pretty much sold. And, in my usual style, I jumped in head first:

I love the idea of samples because, if you're like me, you have more eye shadow than anyone could probably wear in a lifetime, and so this seems like a great opportunity to buy more makeup try new colors without adding to the problem (too much). I also love the idea of supporting a company where the owner herself is more of a tangible presence than, say, the owner of Urban Decay. And, although I don't have direct experience communicating with Caitlin, I have heard nothing but good things about her customer service and business acumen. 

Anyway, onto the swatches- these shades all look amazing when swatched. In indie makeup circles, a glitter primer tends to be recommended, but I had great luck with the WnW Fergie primer. I tried to do these in the light which would show them most accurately, which was either direct natural light or indirect natural light depending on the colors. And, without further ado...

L to R: Equivalent Exchange, Chimera, Gandorf

L to R: Zora Sapphire, Evolve

L to R: Equivalent Exchange, Chimera, Gandorf

L to R: Ossuary, Genius Billionaire Playboy Philanthropist, Queensguard, Sweet Honey, Mourning

This is one of the last swatches I took, and, as you can see, my skin was UNhappy with me. Totally worth it, though.

Exhumation, Filth, Nymph, Little Bird

L to R: Enormous Green Rage Monster, Kokiri Emerald, Snake, Favore's Wind

If I had managed to get a shot that didn't have a giant shadow in it, you would be able to see that Enormous Green Rage Monster looks like this:

L to R: He Loves His Hammer, Kaepora Gaebora, Hypothesis, No Men Like Me

And, finally, some blushes. I tend not to gravitate towards blushes as much as eye shadows, so this was a low risk way to try some new shades out. And, I have to say, I'm not disappointed.

L to R: Revive, Cyanide, Concubine, Potion

The blushes are beautiful, but my skin...not so much. Sorry about the red rashiness. 

I had intended to do a full review of all of these, including before/after shots to demonstrate wear time, and a description of how they work over different kind of primers, but I'll save that for Part Deux once everything is compiled. For right now, my first impressions are that they are beautiful, pigmented shades at a great price, and I can't wait to do more experimenting with these and other indie pigments. 

A+