What's up with subscription boxes?!

Subscription boxes have become all the rage in the beauty industry.

For a fee as low as $10 a month or a fee as high as $39.99 a month depending on what company you subscribe to, you will receive a box or a bag of beauty or health related products ranging from lip stains to the newest health foods.

With all of them you will go through a style or life style profile questionnaire thingy, Which from what I have read they don't even pay attention to. But you need to fill out regardless.

With most boxes you will receive  deluxe sample sizes of the newest and freshest products to hit the market from new companies or from old favorites.

When Ispy sent out full size Urban decay revolution lipsticks in venom, you could hear women praising the makeup gods from across the land. The lipstick itself paid for the subscription that month the rest of the products were bonuses.

When a company like Urban Decay want to spread joy and mayhem throughout the universe they do things like offer it through a subscription service to get a buzz going. After that box was sent out, that's all you heard and seen in the beautywebuverse. I just made that word up I like it.

After that I noticed a trend that the boxes have gotten so, so and people were questioning whether or not to cancel their subscriptions.

I don't think anyone should cancel their subscriptions. the truth is you get to try new products you may have never heard of, or only seen on the interwebs. So in my book its worth it.

Their are three major players in the Beauty subscription universe and please note these are only my views as who are the players here.

Ipsy at ipsy.com. There were around before Michelle Phan joined the team she helped skyrocket them into god like status.

Birchbox at birchbox.com. From what I have seen BirchBox is more of a skin care are of beauty rather than actual cosmetics. They also have a mens box which is kinda cool.

Then there is PopSugar Must have box from Popsugar.com. This box offers full size products with a little of everything from fashion, beauty and health foodie type stuff.

There are other subscription boxes for other countries but I haven't looked into any of them.

The thing is, keep your subscriptions going, you may not get a wow product every time, but you won't want to miss the next big thing to hit subscription boxes.

what beauty subscription service are you subscribed to?

Thanks for reading and have a great day!!

Tarte Friends and family 30% off* Extended!!

Tarte cosmetics has extended their 30% off holiday promotion!!

Click this link for the

Extended! 30% Off* orders on tarte.com with code DECFF at checkout.

Just wanted to share the news!!

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

My Favorite Elf Products of 2013

ELF (Eyes, Lips, Face) Has come along way in the past few years and they are truly picking up their game.

With many dupes of high name brands you really cant go wrong for the price.

Many Elf items are priced between $1 to $6.

Not all of their products will wow you, but any makeup junkie will have some Elf staples in their stashes.

Elf makes just about any beauty product you could imagine From Brushes to shampoos to wash your favorite tools and is readily available and any Walmart or target as well as online at eyeslipsface.com

On a recent trip to Walmart I picked up a few goodies.

Elf Matte Lip Colors

These pencil lipsticks are amazing! Application is always smooth and the creamy formula makes them great for anyone who appreciates a great lip color. These lip colors can compete with higher end lipsticks all day long. The color range is in itself very real from nude through a vibrant cranberry.

These are perfect and well shaped to create a ombre lip or worn on their own.

Nearly Nude

Praline

Rich Red

Natural

Coral

As you can see these lipsticks are perfectly shaped for application.

They are twist up and you get a lot of product.

From left to right Nearly Nude, Praline, Rich Red, Natural & Coral.

The only color I was a bit disappointed in was (rich red) as you can see its more of a deep berry pink then a red, but I don't mind with a good liner it can still be rocked as a red.

These retail for $3.00

e.l.f. Essential Cover Everything Concealer in corrective yellow.

This is a creamy concealer that will help to hide any redness, however it isn't a full coverage.

I use this product as a highlighter under eyes, down my nose and on my cheek bones 

before I set my face with powder.

This Retails for $2.00

As you can see it is quite thick but blends easily leaving a nice highlight behind.

Elf Small Stipple Brush

This brush has received raves reviews from expert to amateur brush lovers.

I have been after this brush for a while now and I understand what all hype is about.

This brush is perfect for concealing, highlighting and contouring.

It is soft and just plain lovely.

This brush retails for $3.00

e.l.f. Studio Brush Shampoo

Eyeslipsface.com says:

An anti-bacterial brush cleanser for thorough cleaning in-between makeup applications. Disinfects brushes to provide a fresh and clean application every time. Washes away traces of dirt, makeup, oil and debris from your brush while conditioning the hair to provide a clean and soft application for every use.

I have been using this to clean my brushes for a while now and I love it!

Its disinfects them, cleans them and conditions them leaving them like new once dried.

I hate washing my brushes, but this makes it easier :)

This retails for $3.00

I do love these elf products and will continue to repurchase again.

Elf has come a long way and I hope they continue to rise and wow us with affordable beauty products.

Whats your favorite Elf product?

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Meaningful Beauty Crem de Serum

I received the product from influenster about a month ago.

Meaningfulbeauty.com says:

This crème de la crème treatment takes a triple approach to combating the signs of aging with three powerful anti-aging ingredients: superantioxidant melon complex, anti-aging peptides and hyaluronic acid. Combining the power of a serum with the rich, moisturizing effects of a crème, this super-boost is designed to help protect, increase hydration and prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

This product has a wonderful light melon scent that awakens the senses.

It is a thick for serum more like a gel, the application goes on smooth leaving your skin soft and silky without feeling greasy. 

I apply a thin layer and allow my skin to drink it up. They recommend applying it at night to work its magic.

I have not seen this product do anything to my current lines, but its does not claim to remove lines or wrinkles. 

This is a prevention product not a solution to an ongoing problem.

Prevention is better in my book and something I wish I would have done earlier in life.

This product is apart of a larger kit that claims to help with ongoing skin problems.

This kit retails for $39.95 on Meaningfulbeauty.com

I can say that I have not seen any new arrivals of fine lines since using the product and for me that is just as good and having them disappear. 

Thanks to influenster for the wonderful product.

So my question for you today is,

have you tried meaningfulbeauty?

Thanks for reading and have great day!

4 reasons to use a High Definition Powder

HD powders come in a universal shade that works with any skin tone.

Not only do they make the skin look radiant on film it also sets your foundation  and matifies

your skin without changing its natural contours.

This powder can be worn over and foundation or alone.

It is a silicone based formula the blurs pores for a flawless look.

This powder is finely milled therefore is is naked to the naked eye and film.

This product is meant to be used lightly in a simple dusting motion.

If not you will have a filmy residue and it will show up in photos especially with a flash.

As you can see in the photo above applied heavily with flash photography

it shows up giving off a white film on the skin.

Applied lightly and blended well it gives the skin a lovely radiance as promised.

I have been using HD powders for a few years now and I honestly don't think I can go back.

HD Powder Points

1. It's universal for all skin tones

2. Very light feeling formula not caking at all.

3. Blurs and softens the look of pores

4. A little goes a long way

The only down side to this product is that the packaging does not contain

the power very well. It can and will go everywhere if opened carefully.

There are two HD powders that I use often.

Elf HD Powder

$6.00

Make Up For Ever HD Powder

$36.00

The price range on these two powders is extremely different

But I will tel you the MUFE powder is more finely milled.

I use the Elf HD Powder for daily use and the MUFE HD Powder for more special occasions.

Have you tried a HD Powder?

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Makeup Forever Favorites

Makeup Forever Products


Makeup Forever is one of my favorite cosmetic lines. I fell in love with MUFE about three years ago.
They're products are of the highest quality and used by professional makeup artist around the world.
 
The Packaging screams quality and the products offer never failing results.
I love other product lines but I always return to Makeup Forever.
With luxury and quality in every application its easy to see why its a industry standard to any makeup buff.

The Products I am going to share with you today are among my favorite.

Makeup forever Pro finish multi-use  powder foundation

The Makeup Forever Pro Finish Multi-use Powder

It can be used as foundation or a powder to set your makeup.

It has the ability to to be a full coverage foundation but I find this can be quite heavy on the face.

I use this product as a powder with a large fluffy brush and a light hand to set my makeup.

I achieve a sheer finish when applied this way to the skin.

You can also use a wet sponge to apply this to the face for a sheer finish foundation.

As you can see in the photo above it be used as a full coverage powder foundation.

Makeup Forever Mat Velvet+ Matifying foundation

The Mat Velvet Foundation is full coverage foundation.

It is a light formula and feels very similar to a moisturizer while applying.

I apply a small amount to the back of my hand and stipple it to my face in a light coat. over my T zone then blend out.

I do not feel the heaviness I have with other full coverage foundations.

I allow this to set on my skin for a few minutes before I set the foundation.

I have been using this foundation for three years now, I have ventured to other foundations, but this is the one I always come back to time and time again for that flawless matte look.

This foundation has wonderful staying power I have never had issues with needing to blot or touch ups.

Apply and go is what this foundation offers, It also holds up to humidity very well.

Makeup Forever lipstick rouge artist intense number 22 

This Lipstick is one of my all time favorites. I love this nude shade to play with as a base

 to give me a clean slate on my lips instead of applying a drying foundation or concealer. 

This matte formula applies very creamy, it glides across your lips rather then tugging at them.

It works great for creating a ombre lip on even the most darkest of lips.

It can be worn on its own with a gloss applied for a nice nude lip or in the center of the lips to add a fuller looking pout.

Makeup Forever lipstick rouge artist intense number 32

This color is a beautiful light mauve color. It is a creamy formula that leaves behind a nice pigmented wash of color.

This lipstick glides on the lips and it very true to color on any skin tone.

Perfect for daily wear with any makeup look it adds just the perfect amount of color to the lips.

It leaves a nice soft sheen to the lips that isn't overpowered with shine.

Makeup Forever lipstick rouge artist intense number N40

This is a beautiful coral shade that was my go to shade all summer. This formula is very pigmented but sheer at the same time.  I wore this when I wanted some color but didn't want anything on my lips.

It glides on very smooth and is very similar to a wet lip balm.

It isn't creamy and quite translucent so exfoliate before  applying this lipstick.

I adore this color but would have loved it in a creamier formula but applied on top of the nude above its perfect.

Over all I truly do love Makeup Forever And I will continue to be a loyal customer.

Have you used Makeup Forever?

What are your Makeup Forever favorites?

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Bloglovin!

Bloglovin is a site that allows you to follow your favorite blogs from any device.

However it does have one flaw that I have found.

When you add your blog to Bloglovin you have to paste a code onto your blog to claim it as your blog, which is fine and dandy.

But this is just a way for them to know you are the owner of said blog.

The second step is to add a follow this blog button which is fine and dandy, they do have some cute buttons that will go with any style layout however there is something they don't tell you!

As you can see the top buttons ask you to follow me, which means the persons profile NOT their blog.

This is becoming an issue with people gaining personal followers on bloglovin but not their blog.

It is best to choose an icon button or the blue or pink button for actual blog followers.

When you click on the follow button make sure it is the blog itself you follow and not the Author.

otherwise you will only get notifications of their actions and not of the blog itself.

I have lost over 40+ followers by looking into this, so please be careful with which button you choose!

Thanks for reading and have a great day!