NOTD: Joy by Julep

Joy is a smoky mauve creme, and was part of March's Boho Glam box that I received.  It's not a color I would gravitate towards on my own, which is one reason I enjoy subscription boxes, as they often take me outside my comfort zone.

Joy could be a one coater with careful application, but since I'm not very careful, this is two.  It's thick but does a good job of self leveling.  I used Julep's base case and gel topcoat and application was problem free! 

 Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

The Nail Files weekly linkup:

NYX Bellini Kiss Eyeshadow Palette from the Love in Florence Collection

Bellini Kiss is the second of the Love in Florence eyeshadow palettes that I picked up recently.  Like Gelato for Two, it has some nice and not so nice performing shadows.  The shadows are not named individually, so I will show them going clockwise starting with the gold shadow.  All arm swatches are on bare skin, no primer.

The first shadow is a gold micro glitter that was dry, crumbly, and did not seem to bind together.  Consequently, particles would fly all over the place when I tried applying, and it was hard to build up color.  The second is a pale peach shimmer that performed fairly well and made for a nice lid color to build upon. 

The third color is a copper shimmer that was very smooth and pigmented.  Nice.  Next was a dark brown with copper micro glitter.  It wasn't very pigmented and applied rather patchy, but did okay as a liner.  I tend to use shadow over my pencil liners to soften the edges, and this shadow worked fine in that capacity.  Last is a another copper color that swatches darker and more orange than it looks in the palette.  It kicked up a fair amount of powder but still applied well.

It seems like each of the palettes I've tried had 3 pretty good shadows and two that weren't, which when you consider their price of about $8, is not that bad.  I think if I was to purchase any NYX shadows in the future, I'd have to just accept that it was a gamble and that some will work well, and some won't.

Bellini Kiss

Combo of Bellini Kiss with the gray from Gelato for Two

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

Empties! Products I Finished in February

As usual, the majority of products that I hit empty on in February were skin or hair related, although I did manage to get through one deluxe sample of bareMinerals matte foundation. Those that I've done reviews on will be hyperlinked to the review.

Deluxe sample size:

• Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 40+:  I would use this on weekend when I was going makeup free and walking my dogs.  It was a bit too shiny for me for under makeup use.

• Peter Roth Unwrinkle cream:  this is some pricey stuff ($110 full size).  I'm glad I got to try it, but I wouldn't pay that price.
• Algenist Firming & Lifting cream:  another pricey cream at $94 for full size.  I liked it okay but wouldn't pay that price.
• Ojon Restorative conditioner:  I enjoy samples of this, but wouldn't purchase on my own as I've got others I like better.
• Clinique Pore Refining Solutions serum:  couldn't tell it did anything.
• J.R. Watkins hand cream in Aloe & Green Tea:  a good natural cream for the body.  Inexpensive and worked well.
• Bare Minerals matte foundation:  Pretty good, but I had to make sure I buffed it out well or it was a bit mask like.  I like getting this as samples but I've got less expensive mineral makeup I like better.

Foil packets:

• DHC BB cream:  it's expensive at $45 and settled into my pores.  It's a true BB cream, but there are less expensive Asian BB creams out there that I like.
• DHC Velvet Skin Coat:  probably the first skin primer I ever tried.  It's good, but there are others I like better.
• DHC Acerola Cream:  love the Acerola line!  I use the Acerola gel moisturizer in the summer.
• Beneficial Rose Skincare Complete Moisturizing Cream:  this was really nice!  I signed up for their mailing list and will investigate the products, as they seem to have a natural emphasis, are paraben free and created by  L'Occitane.

 Disclaimer:  These were all samples with purchase or purchased by me.

March Julep Boho Glam: Get Ready to Play!

Julep's theme for the March maven boxes was "Get Ready to Play!", and the colors reflect the beginnings of spring - smoky cremes inspired by colored chalk.  My maven profile is Boho Glam, and I've been sticking with it most months as those are the colors that have appealed to me the most or that I thought would best round out my collection.




















Since I have almost zero yellows, Leila's pale yellow opalescent shimmer seemed like a good bet.  I can also say I don't have anything quite like Joy, a smoky mauve creme.

Also included were Rock Star hand cream and a strawberry-mint lip balm.  I've been impressed with Julep's non-nail related products, and these two have not disappointed.  Rock Star is non-greasy with a faint floral scent that is not obtrusive but does linger.  I'd be interested in a non-scented version, although I don't think the scent of this is strong enough to offend.

The lip balm rocks!  It is very soft and emollient and has a tart strawberry scent.  It is so soft that I smushed it when I was swatching, so this is not the kind of thing you would want to carry in your pocket.  It feels great on and does a good job of hydrating my lips.  I may have found a new favorite!  Julep's products do not contain parabens or sulfates and feature more natural ingredients, so I'm quite pleased.

Very happy with my Boho Glam box this month, now bring on the warm weather!

Disclaimer:  I subscribe to Julep Maven's program for $19.99/mo.  If you would like to subscribe as well, please consider using my referral link.  Thanks!

NYX Gelato for Two Eyeshadow Palette from the Love in Florence Collection

Gelato for Two

I picked up two of the Love in Florence eyeshadow palettes by NYX recently, and today I've got Gelato for Two to show you.  This is my first foray into NYX shadows, and I thought the design of these palettes was very appealing, although I associate the long, thin strips with liner colors, which does not apply here.  It wasn't difficult to fit my brush into the thinner pans. although I did have to be a bit more careful.

The individual shadows are not named, but I've swatched them clockwise starting with the darkest shade.  Swatches are on bare skin, and they do intensify a bit over primer.  The mattes were surprisingly smooth, and I'm pleased to have found a soft gray matte that works for me (4th color).  The first and last shades do have micro glitter in them, which resulted in fall out. 

The first color looks like a black matte with copper and pink colored micro glitter in the pan, but it swatches more of a navy with multi-colored glitter.  It's sheer and so so in smoothness.  I doubt I'll use it.  The second shade is a matte pale pink nude in the pan, but swatches more of a pinkish lavendar.  It was smooth and easy to work with.

The third shade is a pale copper shimmer that had good pigmentation and was easy to apply.  The first of the long, thin strips is a medium gray matte.  I was pleased with how this applied, as it was smooth and applied evenly.  It's not intense in color, but that actually works well for me.  The last shade is a mauve shimmer with micro-glitter.  This one was dry, powdery, had poor pigmentaiton, and fall out from the glitter.  Definitely the poor performer of the group.

 Wear time over primer was surprisingly good, although I did notice some finding at about the 8 hour mark.  There are 10 of the Love in Florence  palettes, and I had originally wanted Ciao Bella, which was sold out at the time.  I may still pick it up, as I'm moderately happy with the two I've tried thus far, even though the shadows with the micro glitter are problematic.  For the price, however, these as not bad!  They retail for about $8, and I got mine a bit cheaper with an Ulta BOGO sale. 

Inside lighting

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

The Natural Beauty Box: February

I've reviewed two other The Natural Beauty Boxes (TNBB), which is a subscription box service for natural beauty products originating out of Canada.  Unfortunately, TNBB recently announced they were raising their price from $20 to $29.95/month due to increased shipping costs. 

• Wine Delights Beer Natural Nourishing and Extra Hydrating Shampoo:  I believe this is a TNBB product, although I don't currently see it in their shop.  Someone needs to use spell check, 'nuff said.

 

• Pharmacopia Verbena Everyday bar soap:  Nice size, smells good.
• Overall Beauty Minerals shadow in Champagne:  a flesh colored shimmer

• Kynk Naturals In the Raw Shea Butter:  will make a good overnight hand moisturizer, as it is a bit to heavy for day use.

• Scentuals Body Care bar soap:  I personally like sample sized soaps, as they are perfect for washing my hands after applying makeup.
• Selma Valentine Whipped Body Butter in Sweet Sensations:  smells very similar to Aquolina's Pink Sugar.  I've also got a LaLicious body butter with the same scent, so I'm thinking it's a fragrance you can buy to include in body care products.  I like it.
• Beauty Without Cruelty body lotion:  it's unscented, which will make it great for combining with my BPAL scented oils.  Nice size.
• Just Pure Minerals blush in Girly Pink:  pretty color, will have to see if the shimmer emphasizes skin imperfections.

February's box did feature a nice variety of products and brands, although the $40.80 value was considerably less than the two previous boxes I've received.  This could possibly be due to the inclusion of a greater number of brands outside of The Natural Beauty Box products.  Their prices were a bit inflated, IMO. 

There have been a few glitches with The Natural Beauty Box subscription service that I am aware of.  I had actually ordered the January box, but TNBB sent out an email saying there was a delay in receiving some of the samples so they were going to skip a month in order to catch up.  I've also heard stories of poor customer service and delays in receiving requested refunds. 

I know that several sample subscription services have had issues, folded, or otherwise revamped due to poor business plans, so TNBB could be experiencing some growing pains or may not have started with an adequate plan.  Regardless, the price increase puts them outside of the range I'm willing to pay for a sample service, as I do get a fair amount of natural beauty samples from my Eco Emi subscription for $15 a month. 

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.

New! Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sorbet

Sorbet

Revlon has released four new Colorburst lip butters, and I was able to pick up one of them recently.  Sorbet is a vibrant fuschia pink and perfect for Spring's pink lip trend.  It's also perfect for me, as it is pigmented but sheer enough that I can build color to suit my comfort level.

I'm a fan of the lip butter formula, as they contain mango, shea, and coconut butters and are moisturizing enough that I can wear them on their own without that dreaded dry lip feel that can distract me to no end.

Sorbet is one of the four new colors recently released, along with Wild Watermelon, Pink Lemonade, and Juicy Papaya.  I've yet to find the others, but I'm sure they will pop up eventually.  I got Sorbet from ulta.com during a recent BOGO offer, along with Creme Brulee. 

I was thinking that some of the other lip butters might be close in color to Sorbet, but when I looked through the ones I own, none were even close! Lollipop may be the closest in color, but I don't have that one so could not compare. 

Disclaimer:  I purchased this.