Sweet Escapes Kit by Wander Beauty

Disclaimer: I purchased this.

I purchased the Sweet Escape Kit ($36) during Sephora's 15% off sale back in April, and now that I've been using it a while, it's time for a review. Wander Beauty is a new to me brand, and is marketed as a luxury travel-inspired brand informed by the experiences of co-founder and supermodel Lindsay Ellingson.  

The Sweet Escapes Kit consists of three products:

• Exquisite Eye Liquid Shadow in Champagne (0.17 oz.)
• Glow Getter Mist (2.02 oz.)
• Beach Balm in Sangria (0.16 oz.)

The packaging is lovely and definitely gift-worthy, plus these are all full-sized products with a value of $99. But are they good? Yeah, yeah they are. Although one of them gets some major demerits for it's packaging. Let's investigate.

First up is the Glow Getter Mist ($28). I've been on a bit of a facial mist kick lately, even though I've been concocting my own with really good results. But the exotic ingredients in the Glow Getter Mist intrigued me, cause who doesn't want Icelandic glacier water that's been filtered through layers of volcanic rock? Not to mention the 25 nourishing oils and six fruit and herbal extracts. Plus it's a four-in-one primer, hydrating mist, setting spray, and skin refresher.  

But OMG, the nozzle spray on this sucks. SUCKS. I felt assaulted the first time I used it and had large blotches of liquid drops on my face, not the fine mist I was expecting. I gamely gave it a second go, thinking maybe I needed more distance between the bottle and my face, but it was still a miserable experience. So, I've transferred it to another bottle that does give me a fine mist, and I like it now. Will it replace my homemade concoction? I can't say it will, but I will happily use this up.

I love liquid shadows, and the Exquisite Eye Liquid Shadow in Champagne ($26) is my kind of color. The formula also features green tea, aloe, and vitamins C and E to help sooth and condition your lids. My lids need all the help they can get #agingskinissues, so I'm game. Thumbs up on this one, as it is opaque, smooth, easy to apply and wears beautifully.

The final product is the Beach Balm in Sangria ($22). This is for both your lips and cheeks, although it's gel formula is a bit too emollient for me to wear as a blush. I love it on my lips though, as it's got enough color that I can wear it on it's own or over a lip liner when I want to add some gloss and color. Some balms actually make my lips feel more dry, but this one feels hydrating and is comfortable to wear. I can get about 3 hours of wear from this, sans eating. I like it.

Overall, this is a really nice set and a good introduction to Wander Beauty! The nozzle spray on the Glow Mist was a nuisance, but the mist itself is nice. The two color products are ones I will definitely get lots of use from. Worth checking out if you are curious about the brand, IMO. I also like that these are cruelty free and that the set was made in Korea, as I associate Korea with more advanced formulas, at least when it comes to skincare.

Countdown to Gorgeous Day 3: Nude Passion

One of the reasons the Countdown to Gorgeous advent calendar interested me was because of the Pop of Passion Lip-Oil Balms. I'd previously received a deluxe sample of Plumberry and really liked it, so was interested in collecting a few more. Color me happy that Day 3 delivered for me.

Nude Passion is the lightest of the eight shades and gives a barely there wash of peachy tan. There is a fair amount of product in the deluxe sized samples, and I think Nude Passion will get plenty of use in the coming colder days.

My lips need constant balm or they are uncomfortable as hell, and the Pop of Passion balms contain jojoba, sunflower, and passion fruit seed oils to help keep them hydrated and soft.

Since this is not a high impact color and it was getting too dark for me to take pictures of my FOTD outside, I'll show you the eyeshadows I decided to wear with the lip balm. All links are to previous reviews.

I used the Color Tattoo in Caramel Cool as my base, with bareMinerals Mai Tai (top right) in the inner corner and BFTE's Woozer (bottom) on the rest of the lid up to the crease.

Some mattes were in order to define the crease and outer V, so I used Kat Von D's MetalMatte palette. I haven't reviewed MetalMatte yet and it looks to be out of stock now, but suffice it to say I love it. I combined the peachy Fringe and the dark brown Oak in the outer V/crease, and then used the deep gold Flash to brighten the middle of my lid.

The Heating/Cooling repair guy is coming out tomorrow (Sunday!) to trouble shoot my furnace, so hopefully I've have heat before we hit freezing temps on Friday. I made an appointment to service my car on Monday and apparently none to soon, as my EPC light came on this afternoon. When it rains, it pours. It does help to have little treats like this to look forward to.

Posie Balm by Benefit

You know how sometimes you have low expectations for a makeup item and have no plans to buy it?  That's how I felt when I saw swatches of Benefit's sheer lip balms.  I have zero need for any more lip balms, as I'm currently swimming in them.

But then, I received a sample of Posie Balm in my July Birchbox.  I've got to admit, I really like it!  Yes it's sheer, but I like how glossy it is, how it moisturizes my lips, and how nicely it wears for several hours on my lips.  I've actually considered buying one once my sample is used up, which should be soon.

Over bare lips

Over Sweet Apollonia cheek & lip tint

The $18 is a bit steep for a sheer lip balm, however, so I may wait for my Birchbox points to build back up and get one that way.

Chanel Bohème Rouge Coco Hydrating Sheer Lipshine: Sample Series v. 6

I love samples, especially when there is enough product to allow you several uses so that you can really form an opinion. Factor in some of the more expensive brands like Chanel, and it's doubly nice when you can sample prior to purchase. 

Bohème was one of four new Rouge Coco Shine shades released this spring, and it's a lovely medium strawberry pink on me.  Interestingly, I've seen it described as a coral orange and as a fresh radiant red, but it definitely leans pink on me. 

It's sheer but can be built up enough that you get some color impact.  I like the finish a lot - plenty of sheen without the stickiness that can come with high shine.  The texture is lightweight and comfortable to wear, with a lasting power of about 3 hours. 

Quite pretty, but I'm not sure that it's unique enough to motivate me to purchase at $35.  I'll definitely use up the sample, however, and reserve the right to change my mind :-)

Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm in Just Plum Good and Truffle Kisses

 Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balms are supposed to give lips the comfort and care of a balm with the flirty color and shine of a gloss.  Being the lip balm/gloss junkie that I am, of course that is appealing.  Do they deliver?

First, let's look at the hydration claims of instantly doubling your lip's moisture level and tripling it if worn all day.  I'll give this a thumbs up, as I found these to be very comfortable and moisturizing to my lips.  There are only a few lip gloss brands that I can wear  exclusively without also resorting to a balm or lip salve for moisture at some point during the day (Buxom is one).  The Color + Care lip balms feel even better and I could completely forgo any other lip balm while wearing these.  Très à l'aise!

These are petrolatum based, which does a good job of locking in moisture.  Beyond that, however, we've got moisturizing ingredients like avocado and sunflower oils, vitamin e, and aloe.   They are lightly scented with a vanilla/creme brulee type of fragrance, which I smell for a short while after applying.  I find it pleasant, but if you don't like fragrance in your products...

Just Plum Good, Truffle Kisses

What about gloss and color?  Definitely more gloss than a lip balm, but sheer is the operative word when it comes to color.  I picked two of the darker color options, as most of the reviews I read prior to purchasing noted that the color impact was slight, with the lighter shades looking very sheer.  Yes, they provide some tint to my lips, but don't rely on them for any kind of statement lip look. 

Just Plum Good

Truffle Kisses

At about $6 each, I like these for their moisturizing abilities and that they do provide a nice sheen with a touch of color.  I could see them being a good topper for lip sticks we well.

Cherry on Top Colorsensational Color Whisper Lip Color

Marketed as truly translucent gel color,  Color Whisper Lip Color's are  supposed to deliver sexy, soft, see through color with a touch of shine, but without the heavy waxes and oils found in traditional lip color.  I picked up Cherry on Top recently, and this pretty pink shade does indeed give a translucent but noticeable wash of color. 

Unfortunately, there is something in the formula that also makes my lips burn a bit, which my brain translates as thinking my lips feel dry.  I've experienced this with other lip products, and I'm not sure what the culprit ingredient is.  

The texture of Cherry on Top is smooth and emollient, and there are lubricating ingredients in the mix such as jojoba oil and shea butter, but there is also something else in there that negates all the potential good.  It's a shame, as I do like the color and finish!  I'll have to stick with my Revlon Lip Butters, as I do not experience this issue with them. 

Has anyone else experience this with the Color Whispers or other lip products?  I've had this problem with Eos lip balms as well.

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

NYC Applelicious Glossy Lip Balms

I personally don't believe it's possible to have too many lip balms.  If I can find a good tinted lip balm, all the better!  NYC currently has some seriously cute ones with their Applelicious Glossy Lip Balms, and I have Big Apple Red and Applelicious Pink to show you today.

Big Apple Red, Applelicious Pink

Each of the balms has an apple shaped moisturizing core surrounded by the tinted balm.  With a trio of shea butter, jojoba, and avocado oils, these give moisture, sheen, and sheer color to your lips.  I was actually pleasantly surprised at the level of color in these!  They do have an apple scent which was noticeable enough that I could smell it after applying, but it does fade after a bit.

Applelicious Pink

Big Apple Red

For $2.99 each, these are worth checking out!

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

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