It's not unusual for folks to have a go-to beauty box, and I'm no exception. I have a big cardboard box that I got a Korres set in that I've been carting around for a few years. I know I should upgrade to something a little,um, sexier, but I'm waiting for it to
completely fall apart first (the lid is halfway held on with duct tape). I keep this box by my bed and it's filled with items that I use every day (like my moisturizer du jour) or else the basics that I'll need when I'm running late and I have to put my makeup on in the car :-) I keep a little bit of everything in there so that I'm always covered. The Husband always knows to what I refer when I tell him "Don't forget to grab my makeup box!" If I'm throwing it into a weekender bag, I just put a rubberband around it (just gets classier and classier, eh?). So with no exaggeration or embarrassment, here's what is in the current incarnation of my Ugly Brown Box.
Laura Geller Kabuki brush
My previous review "
I love using this brush to apply mineral foundation or veils, because it's so smooth and rounded that it gives even, flawless coverage. It doesn't pick up too much powder at one time either or give you those weird poofs of hidden deposits that have to be rubbed off. It's very thick and fluffy. What I like best is the handle, it's thick but longer than most kabuki handles making it really easy to have natural control over your application."
Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths now officially hold the title of my 2nd favorite face cleaning wipes (Nothing has topped Korres Pomegranate wipes so far). They remove even the most stubborn eye makeup with no stinging and your skin feels fresh and thoroughly clean. They really do get everything! They don't have anything soapy of foamy that leaves a residue, either. When I use these, my hubby will often use the other side after I'm done, even though getting him to wash his face as a separate event from bathing or shaving is generally a foreign concept to him. Metrosexual he's not! Nothing is worse for your skin than going to bed without washing your face, particularly if you're wearing makeup, but these bad boys leave you no excuse!
Colorescience All Clear Sparkle Sunforgettable
What I said before "
I have become OBSESSED with Colorescience Sunforgettable Sun Protection! It's a powder that provides EXTREMELY water resistant protection. Because it's a powder, it goes on evenly and you don't have that awful shiny greasy feeling. Every time I pull this stuff out, everyone is clamoring to try it. I adore the powder puff in the orb, and it's a perfect stand in for your regular foundation. I use it just like a mineral foundation with wonderful results. I look great and don't have streaky, blotchy or cakey makeup. Since it is so water resistant, it sticks even when sweating. I wore this on my face on the 4th of July at the lake and didn't get even a hint of sunburn on my albino face!
There's also a roller style that looks like a Ban deoderant that makes application a breeze on larger areas like your arms and legs.
They're available in tons of shades, and I especially the the Sparkle shades. They have a touch of glittery sparkle to them that makes me look like Ziggy Stardust :-)
The two I used most recently were the orb in All Clear Sparkle and the Rock N Roller in All Clear Shimmer."
Using this stuff at the pool last weekend garnerned tons of attention. One of my friends said to another "Julie Ann always has the coolest makeup!"
Green Gardens Naturals Silky Face Daily Moisturizer is made with emu oil, which is rife with cosmetic properties. There's an excellent article that explains all of the benefits to your skin from emu oil
HERE. It's an extremely concentrated moisturizer, I find that I only need a tiny bit for complete moisturization. It absorbs beautifully without feeling greasy and is gentle and healing on the skin. Noncomodogenic and full of antioxidants, this cream is also packed with beneficial natural ingredients such as neem oil, comfrey, and black willow bark. They make their products by hand, so you can always be assured that what you're getting is fresh and prepared with love. If you go to their
Facebook page you can see what current discounts and specials are available. Thank you
All Natural Beauty Mall for introducing me to them!
MAC Select Sheer Loose Powder
What I said previously "
It's feather light, microfine, and provides some mattifying without being cakey- your skin keeps a luminescence that can often be dulled by too heavy powder. A tiny bit goes a long way, so it lasts forever, too. And I really like the way it smells, too. Very clean and fresh. It balances out skin tone and helps to diminish the appearance of imperfections without looking like you tried too hard."
Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist- ooooooooooohhhhhh. aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh. That is all.
Just kidding! This stuff is divine! It's a definite multitasker- it hydrates your skin, sets mineral makeup, refreshes tired makeup and skin, soothes skin irritations and redness and smells absolutely heavenly to boot! A few spritzes on a hot day will give you instant relief, too. As a side note, I also really like the bottle :-) Seriously, it's glass, but it's such a heavy thick glass you don't worry about accidentally breaking it and I also get the feeling you could give someone a nice little concussion if you swung it at their head!
Laura Geller Spackle Trio
What I said before "
Thursdays are always painful for me, I have to be at work at 7:30am and I'm a night owl who does not like to hoot that early (unless I'm still up from the night before). Needless to say, my thursday makeup tends to be subdued. On these days my primers make the most of what my sad tired face has to offer and gives me the optical illusion of rest. On days like this, I'm uber grateful for the one type of spackle that I actually put on my face on purpose, and that'sLaura Geller Spackle Trio Primer , which rocks. You got your face primer, eyes and lips all in one handy dandy jar, and a perfect little mirror to boot. This is also a travel essential since you don't have tubes to explode or leak and you have everything you need in one place. Love it!"
MyChelle Dermaceuticals Cream Foundation, Concealer
What an idea! Mineral makeup in a cream! No spills, no mess, just simple and smooth application. You control the application by using as much or as little as you desire- it's easy to go from light coverage to heavy depending on your desire. I like to use the foundation lightly and then touch up areas of concern with the concealer, which blends seamlessly with the foundation. It lasts all day and doesn't settle into my pores, and when my skin starts to oil up around the t-zones, a few dabs with a blotting paper and I'm good as new! Though their website says these are good for all skin types, I don't know that I'd recommend the foundation to those with super oily skin.
Check out some of these ingredients:
Key Ingredients:
1. Grape Seed Oil (Vitis Vinifera):
this flavonoid-rich antioxidant has many therapeutic benefits—it inhibits allergic reactions and guards the skin’s own stores of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.
2. Camellia Seed Oil (Camellia Oleifera):
this light yet deeply penetrating oil also boasts antioxidant qualities plus it works overtime as a wrinkle-inhibiting brightener that gives skin a beautiful glow and texture.
3. Silica:
this wrinkle-reducing ingredient also helps controls sebum for a consistently smooth, matte finish throughout the day.
4. Natural Vitamin E:
a fantastic antioxidant that protects skin from oxidative stress and reduces wrinkles.
5. Prunus Persica (Peach) Extract: this moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial ingredient also has antioxidant properties.
Nature's Gift Calendula Repair Cream is awesome! After I discovered the joys of calendula, it quickly became an ingredient that I always look out for. Calendula is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and it works healing wonders besides. I tend to rub this into my arms and legs at night before bed and I love the calming and soothing scent. Unlike heavily perfumed lotions, this one is a gentle herbal scent that doesn't overwhelm and can be used by my hubby too! (Whenever he wants to use lotion, he tends to look around for a big bottle of Curel that he keeps around 'cause I punkd him a few times by giving him something girly to use, I'm evil, I know...) Check out some of the other ingredients "Subtly scented with the healing essential oils of Rose Otto, (antibacterial and soothing), Palma Rosa (anti-fungal), Neroli (gentle sebum balancer), and Sandalwood (again, skin balancing and anti-bacterial) this rich soothing lotion has a unisex appeal." Another product that I have to thank the
All Natural Beauty Mall for introducing me to!
Ulta Cheek Color in Bashful
I am a big fan of Ulta cheek colors, they have smooth and even application and don't clog my pores. I find them just as good as some of the pricier brands. This has been my go to cheek color of late because it tends to look good with almost any shades of eyes and lips and does an excellent job of contouring my chubby little face so that you can see that yes Virginia, there are cheekbones!
| Nucelle Mandelic Eyelift Creme
When I first received this in a SkinCareRx.com Beauty Cache, I intended to wait to use it until I'd done a video of my recent cache. Oops. One trial and I was hooked and started using it daily from that moment on. I use it at night and when I wake up, my eye area looks toned and refreshed. I haven't had a problem with dark circles and my fine lines seem to be diminished (at least temporarily). It absorbs easily and doesn't burn if I get too close to my peepers. |
Ulta lipstick- Totally Berried is a lovely shimmery lipstick that again, seems to go with almost everything. Goes on smooth and rich and doesn't feather, even without any sort of liner or lip primer. Very moist application with good color stay. The shimmer isn't drag queenie over the top, just a bit of a twinkle. I'm sad that mine is almost gone (yes, I have used up the whole tube!) but I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't buy color repeats since I want to always be experimenting with different cosmetic colors and lord knows I OD on lipstick anyway! Is there a rehab clinic for lippie addicts?
Birchbox eyebrow brush
This was one of the extras in a recent Birchbox shipment, and I LOVE it! I have eyebrows that are perfectly clear, so I will often use a brow shadow to darken them up and make them stand out a little more. My eyebrows are thick and lush, but invisible! This little guy grooms them into submission and makes sure that I perfectly distributed the color.
Smashbox O Gloss
I was really skeptical about this stuff. It's like a mood ring for your lips, changing to a different color on everyone. My BS-ometer went off the charts, but guess what? It really DOES look different on everybody! It's a lovely flush of color, light but sexy. It turned a brighter pink on a friend with darker skin and on me is a light berry pink. It has great staying power and looks divine in photographs.
Lancome Cils Booster XL lash primer
Brigette's Boutique even has mini sized versions for $3.50 and the full sized for only $16.95!!!!!!
What did I say in a previous review?
"
Wedding bells are ringing for me and Lancome-Cils Booster XL-Mascara-Enhancer It's simply mind-blowing. Just like foundation primer and shadow primer, this stuff gets you the best performance out of your mascara for out of this world sixties sexpot lashes. It makes such a tremendous difference with the majority of mascara brands. You HAVE to put your mascara on right after application though or it doesn't go on right and thin formulas will need multiple coats. It takes some experimenting, but it's worth it! "
Cherry City cuticle stick -Mandarin Clove
Not only do I worship at the altar of Cherry City, but the cuticle oils are DA BOMB. I've always had raggedy sad cuticles that tore easily and looked like absolute crap. Not anymore! These handy little cuticle oil sticks come in an applicator similar to Stila lip glosses. A few clicks to release the oil into the soft brush at the tip so there's no muss, no fuss. You swipe it directly onto your cuticles and I like to run it on so I get the extra into my nail bed for additional moisturization. As with most Cherry City products, you get to choose the scent from an extensive list of fragrances. I'm a sucker for the Mandarin Clove because it's a bright, clean smell that perfectly combines the two scents. A little goes a long way, so this will last you some time. It doesn't effect your polish either, so you can apply it over bare or painted nails.
Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss -Crystal
What I said before:
"Smashbox Lip Enhancing Sheer Gloss in Crystal is awesome by itself or over a lippie that you want to make absolutely the shiniest it can be. Really moist, really shiny, and gives the illusion of plumper lips with the use of polymers that reflect the light. It's a gel like texture, but not insanely sticky, like some glosses this texture can be. It also has good staying power, you aren't reapplying it every time you speak. 4.2 out of 5 on Makeup Alley."
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil- Zero
What I said before:
"
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil in Zero is a perfect basic black. It's soft enough to go on creamily and I can even use it in my waterline- something I almost never do because it irritates my eyes. It's extremely gentle and keeps in place most of the day (I work 2 jobs, so my day is extremely long). The pencils sharpen cleanly and easily without becoming splintery, which I find to be a huge plus- nothing more irritating than losing half your freakin' pencil every time you try to sharpen it! Urban Decay knocks it out of the park with their eye products."
Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencil- Tanzania, Kalahari
What I said before:
"
Man, I love these eye pencils! They do create a thick line, but they are creamy as a baby's bottom and they DO NOT run all over your face. They are water resistent, but come off easily with cleanser. The color I love most is the tanzania for my green-blue eyes because the brick shimmer makes me eyes stand out. I wouldn't use this liner if you're going for wacky eyemakeup, because this seems to stand best with earth tones. Oh, and it has a built in smudgie!"
"The eyes today are lined in Sue-Devitt-Eye-Intensifier-Pencil-in Kalahari , a really interesting greyish sort of color. These pencils are crazy thick, so they're more intended for a smoky smudged look than a super sharp line. They have a handy dandy smudging sponge on the other end, too. The only bad thing about these is that they're so soft and smudgable that you have to make sure you haven't rubbed any off during a long day- I'll carry mine with me so i can do any necessary touchups."
Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiageing Antiwrinkle night cream is an all natural formulation designed to target expression lines most specifically. I love Korres products, and this has been no exception. While as a night cream it is heavier than your daytime stuff, it doesn't clog my pores or make my skin feel oily (perhaps because I use a small amount.) Within a week of using this one, my skin began to feel 'plumper'. I've seen before and after photos from studies Korres did, and when used on heavily wrinkled skin, it makes a HUGE difference. Knock on wood, I'm not too wrinkly yet, but it's never too early for preventative therapy. Besides, maybe it's the preventative measures that had me mistake for a full decade younger than I really am at the pool on Sunday. (and that was sans makeup!)
Quercetin and oak is the first natural, clinically proven alternative to retinol. An ultra-powerful antioxidant derived from the oak tree, it works fast to help minimize the signs of aging and keep skin looking younger.
Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation, first of all, looks FABULOUS in photos. I prefer to apply this with a foundation brush to get the most even coverage. It's VERY sheer, so if you want heavy coverage this isn't for you. It's mostly for "I was born this way" skin. In my problem areas, I use a concealer instead of trying to build this up heavily. That way, my face still looks fresh and natural but I can hide areas like scarring. I recommend shaking the bottle a few times before application- this is an oil free formula so the color can separate from the carrier without a heavy binding oil. Thumbs up for SPF and hygienic packaging. To the people I've seen complaining about the pump clogging- well, um, honey, it isn't too hard to run your pump under the water to clear it, is it? I'll take a barrier between my skin and bacteria any day. This looks best if you use a blotting paper as the day goes on instead of trying to pile powder up over it. Sometimes simple really IS best.
Cherry City After 5 Roll in undetermined scent as the label has come off. :-)
The great thing about these is that they're in a roller ball applicator so they're convenient to carry in your bag or for travel without worrying about spills. The formulation is about as easy as you can get- jojoba oil and fragrance. No weird chemicals, nothing bizarre that will make you have 3 headed babies. And right now you get a free lip butter with any order!
Pur-lisse pur-bright Ultra Skin Brightening Serum
I started using this at the beginning of the summer, knowing that I'd have higher levels of sun exposure, which aggravates my lupus thus giving me ruddy and uneven skin tone. During a flare up, it's not unusual for me to look like I just ran a marathon because my face will get so red. While pricey, this stuff is worth it's weight in gold for my skin. This is the first summer that I haven't had massive redness issues ( I've been using this in conjunction with Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Corrector). I apply this nightly before my moisturizer, applying it to my face and my decolletage. This is for evening skin tone-I've seen so many reviews from people who thought it would, I dunno, make 20 years of sun damage disappear or something. This is to protect you from what you are being exposed to NOW. Oh- a little bit goes a LOOOOONG way- one bottle will last you forever. Also comes with a hygienic pump dispenser! Yay!
Ulta dual sharpener
This is a great pencil sharpener! 2 holes so you can sharpen those big stubby pencils, and a little trap door to catch all of your shavings until you feel like emptying it. I've been using mine for at least 2 years and it still works great. It's cheap, too!
Talika Lipocils Experts eyelash gel
HOLY SCHNIKEES! It actually WORKS! Seriously! I truly didn't expect it to- sounded like so much BS hype. Well knock me over with a tail feather! My lashes have gotten waaaay longer since I started using this. It hasn't increased the curliness of my lashes when bare, but they seem to curl better now with mascara. This really does create a thicker lash line, that's for sure. My guess is that the conditioners are strengthening my lashes allowing them not fall out so quickly. They're certainly thicker, longer and stronger. I started noticing a difference in just a few weeks, but after 2 months of use I can't even believe that these are my once sparse stubby lashes transformed.
Nuxe Paris Tonific Intensive Firming Cream works really well at firming the skin in high stress areas (thighs, buttocks, bust). Do not expect miracle creams, but this does a good job and does tighten up the skin considerably. It's quite thick, so I tend to only use this at night, but it absorbs smoothly when massaged into the skin. Feels quite luxurious and has a fairly ordinary, non offensive scent. The one drawback is that it is impossible to find in the US now, it seems! I used up my jar a few days ago and am having a really hard time finding a place to get a replacement! Argh!
Sephora Glossy Gloss- Think Pink A light, non sticky gloss with good staying power. VERY high shine with a glass like finish. Normally glosses like that feel gloppy, but this one doesn't. Mine is fairly glittery, but it's a more sophisticated glittery- not full of chunks and not like something a child would wear. These are really moisturizing and have a pleasant fruity scent. I chose a more sheer color, but the darker shades are known to have a quite pretty tint to them.
Ulta brush
This is from what I think of as their 'economy line'. Not the best brush in the world, but a good cheap everyday use brush. I use mine as a blush brush because I have to use a light hand due to my fair skin. This is soft enough to provide a loose glowing application without creating the Alexis Carrington Dynasty look.
Ulta eyeshadow quad
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