Agave Kisses Set by Bite Beauty

I have heard such good things about the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask, so decided to get this set to try the mask, lip balm, and sugar lip scrub.  I really like two out of the three, which did a great job of  keeping my lips moisturized and happy during the cold snaps we had in Mobile in January/February. 

The Agave Lip Mask is quite thick and was somewhat difficult to squeeze out of the tube. I had to apply so much force that I was afraid the tube might split, but it didn't. This lip salve was deeply hydrating and became my night time lip balm, replacing the Smith's Rosebud salve which I've been using for years. Layering the mask over the stick lip balm resulted in lips that were soft and hydrated in the morning, with lingering product still protecting my lips.

The stick balm is a harder, more waxy texture that wears for a long time. It's not one of those balms that you continually have to reapply, no doubt because it is a thicker consistency. I ran out of the balm before the mask, and considered repurchasing it but decided the mask was the true star of the show for me and where I wanted to spend my money. Cause these aren't cheap at $26 for the lip mask and $18 for the balm. Ultimately, I did repurchase the lip mask but chose the Champagne version for a bit of shimmer this time. Hopefully the formula is the same.

Now for the item that was sub par IMO - the sugar lip scrub. I don't think there is enough sugar in the mix to make it an effective scrub.  I could be biased as I do like the Fresh Sugar lip scrub, which is much more dense and less soupy than this one. It's not so bad that I'm going to trash it, but it's not a formula I'm sold on. Maybe I should add more sugar to it and see if that helps, although the only sugar I have on hand is brown sugar I use to top my oatmeal.

I don't see this set on Sephora at the moment, and I'm not sure if it's something they bring out periodically or if it's gone for good. The Agave lip mask has become something I don't want to be without though, so I guess this sampler served it's purpose :-)

Kakadu C Amethyst Clay Detox Mask by DERMAdoctor

Disclaimer: I received a sample as a GWP.

I've received and used about 3 of these DERMAdoctor Kakadu C Amethyst Clay Detox Mask samples from Ulta whenever they offer their GWP sample bags, so I think it's about time to give my impressions. First, let's discuss the benefits of magnesium for your skin, since this purple mask has it high on the list of ingredients.  Namely, it is supposed to have a calming effect, which is good for those with acne or rosacea.  It's also necessary for the enyzmes that regulate DNA replication and repair. Actually, there is quite the list of health and beauty benefits when it comes to magnesium, if you would like to delve more into that subject. I've taken magnesium supplements in the past, and this is reminding me I should probably restock.

"Magnesium rich amethyst clay absorbs impurities and detoxifies without removing natural oils. Provides gentle resurfacing exfoliation and helps leave skin feeling smoother, brighter, and softer. Enriched with stabilized vitamin C, Kakadu plum, Tasmanian pepper berry, lilly pilly and Muntari berry." (Source: Ulta)

I'm also a big fan of vitamin C in skincare, and this mask features a stabilized version from Kakadu plums that is supposed to be 55 times more potent than the vitamin C found in Florida oranges. Plus, I really like the purple color. My 3 uses is not really enough to tell any long term benefits and at $58 for a 1.7 ounce jar, this is a pricey mask. A group of twenty people who did use it 3x/week indicated a variety of skin improvements, including improved skin tone, clarity, brightness, and texture.  Bottom line, I like it and it's got a 5 star rating (38 reviews) on Ulta.  I may have to invest in a jar with my next Ulta 20% off coupon for prestige brands.

My Must Haves Palette by Essence

Disclaimer: I purchased these.

Hey, long time no see! I'm still playing with lots of makeup and skincare and today wanted to share my impressions of the Essence My Must Haves singles, which retail for a whopping $1.99 each at Ulta.  I picked up a bronzer, two blushes, and an eye shadow to go into the 4-pan palette ($3.49). I've been playing with these for over a month now, let's see if they are any good!

First of all, the palette arrived without any packaging and was scratched on top :-(  Not good, Ulta, especially considering the claims against you about reselling products that have been returned. Fortunately, each single comes securely packaged in it's own container and was in good condition, so no complaints there.  They are not magnetized but do fit nicely into the palette, which is a rather flimsy plastic.

The bronzer shade also works as an eyeshadow, and I've been using it as a crease shade as well.  It's best suited for fair complexions and I've reached for it quite a lot in the last month.  There are 3 blushes on Ulta's site and I purchased Rosy Glow and Coral Dream. 

Rosy Glow is the more pigmented of the two, but I like them both and find that they can be built up in color without getting cakey.  The single eye shadow I chose is Brownie Licious, which is a dark brown matte that applies smoothly and can also be built up in color. 

None of these are groundbreaking, but I do like them and would take them with me when traveling for a nice one and done natural look. I hate taking expensive makeup with me when traveling, as I've been known to lose items, plus things get broken. At this price point I wouldn't be heart broken and I do like them!