Rant-Storm: Beauty Product Reviews

Beauty Product Review-Hoola Bronzer: Benefit Cosmetics

Hello again ladies!! :) Hope you've all been wonderfully experimental with your makeup lately!! On this post I'm going to review Hoola Bronzer by Benefit Cosmetics :D

I'll give you my personal feelings on this popular bronzer and why or why not I think you should invest the money to equip your makeup bag with this product. I'm not affiliated with Benefit Cosmetics in any way shape or form, so this is an honest review. Okay so the pics below are of the bronzer, it's a cute little package that comes with it's own applicator (which I never use :p) and a mirror if you're applying on the go!

As with most Benefit Cosmetics products, this one can also be considered a little pricey, depending on the budget you give yourself to feed your makeup addictions ;) It goes for $36.00 at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora in Canada, I'll give you a link to Shoppers online site where you can buy it if you so desire. With that out of the way and hoping you don't have sticker shock at this moment, lets jump into the pros and cons of the Hoola Bronzer.

I'm gonna start with the con...strictly because I've only got one con with this product, the price! It's a significant investment, however, I do think you get a fair amount of product for the price. Mine is going to last me a long while, I don't use it EVERYDAY but enough and I still have a lot of product left, been using it for about two months and I'm nowhere near the bottom :D

So pros now...I absolutely LOVE this bronzer!! Can't stress that enough! If you're not overly thrilled with the "sheen" of most every bronzer on the market, then you're gonna love this stuff!! It's a matte bronzer :) Big win for me, I like to have control over where the shine, if any, will be on my face. I don't always want to look super shimmery LOL

If you've embraced the contouring craze like I have, Hoola Bronzer is a MUST have for you!! It's not crazy dark on the skin and is a pleasing color for every skin tone. It could potentially be too dark for the extremely fair or pale, but I think a lighter hand in application and the school of blend, blend, blend will fix any tone related issues.

This stuff lasts ALL day and night!! No need to re-apply :)

I've got some pics for you, I hope you can tell easily enough where I'd applied the Hoola Bronzer:

I'm just absolutely IN LOVE with this bronzer...as long as Benefit Cosmetics continues to make Hoola Bronzer they've got a customer in me!!

If you want to give it a shot here's a few links to sites in Canada and the US where you can purchase it for yourself:

Canada

Murale.ca
Sephora.com

US & Canada

Benefit Cosmetics

If you have any questions or requests for product reviews or application techniques please feel free to leave me a comment!! Would love to hear from you!

Till next time ladies, live, love and contour ;) LOL

Beauty Product Review-Shine Tattoos, Are they worth the $$?

Okay so I fell victim to a recent fad, I like to pride myself on being original enough to avoid money traps that are just silly fads. However, after seeing a few well done, likely Photoshopped pics of chicks wearing Shine Tattoos I had to try them! I mean come on, jewelry you don't have to take off before bed or lose after drinking a few too many at a local pub? Loved the thought of that!! So what is my verdict?? So I decided to rock them for a wedding that the man and I had to attend, what better occasion to try out a new fashion trend right??

From a distance I think they were quite striking! Up close they were far from perfect, but whatever, so am I :p

They were tricky to apply alone, but definitely not impossible. They claim to last from 4-7 days. However here's a pic of just 3 days later:

They'd lost some of their shimmer and were starting to wear away. Definitely not much more than the same concept of the temporary tattoos we all loved as kids (except much shinier :p)

Verdict? Skip this fad! MAYBE if they were extremely well priced I'd say go for it and rock them for a wedding or beach vacation, but for what they are and how long they last it really isn't worth the $$

Sure I did get respect from a 12 year old who absolutely LOVED them at the wedding, but for me, that's not enough to continue to buy them! Lucky me they were only $10 at a 60% off sale online ;)

If you'd like to get your hands on some Shine Tattoos and give them a try yourself there are many online stores offering them, or you could probably find them locally at an Ardene's or something like that. But I wouldn't pay more than $10 for something that's just going to end up looking shitty after 3 days!

There you have it, my two cents ;)
As always, live, love and experiment!!

Beauty Product Review-Arbonne RE9 Advanced Skincare

As a devoted user of all natural products I'm always rather curious when I hear about a product that claims being strictly botanical and natural while providing above average anti-aging benefits at the same time. I've provided a few screenshots of the promises Arbonne makes to their potential customers. If you haven't heard of Arbonne, don't sweat it I just learned of this company as well. We'll explore it together!

Direct from website Arbonne.com

So these are the claims that Arbonne has made, must say I do love the idea that their products are made without those nasty additives. Through some extensive research I did find out that they are not completely GMO free, however, for a company such as this providing high quality products I think this fact may be forgivable in the grand scheme of things. It's a good start for someone who'd like to rid their body and skin of the nasty chemicals that so many other companies ARE using. So with that said I did receive two sample packs of the Arbonne RE9 Advanced Skincare line from a friend of mine who happens to be a rep. I am not a rep, and am receiving no benefit from writing this review. I simply want to share my opinion with all of you. This is an expensive skincare line and I'm sure everyone wants to know if it's worth it before investing :)

Side note: Arbonne reps are happy to provide you with your own sample pack to try before you buy (nice approach in my opinion)

So here it is, the sample pack I received:

(I actually received two of these packs that contain 7 products in each)

Each pack contains one sample of the following products (lasts typically three days)
RE9 Advanced Smoothing Facial Cleanser
RE9 Advanced Regenerating Toner
RE9 Advanced Intensive Renewal Serum
RE9 Advanced Corrective Eye Cream (One of my favorites)
RE9 Advanced Restorative Day Cream with SPF 20
RE9 Advanced Extra Moisture Restorative Day Cream (My skin LOVED this stuff)
RE9 Advanced Night Repair Cream
(Not much of a scent with any of these products, should not aggravate someone with a mild to moderate sensitivity to scents)

The product line reports that based on an 8-week clinical study of 72 women who used this skincare line, with the oral supplement that they offer as well that after 24 hours 83% of women reported improvement in skin firmness. They go on to claim that after 4 weeks 92% of women reported a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles, 96% reported a reduction in fine lines and 100% reported improvement in skin texture, smoothness and moisturization.

Now regarding the claims of the 4 week results, I cannot accurately report on those as I've only been using this line for a week. But I can say that I've noticed alot of improvement in my skin.

My skin has been more "glowy" and the texture is remarkable! I have EXTREMELY finicky skin that likes to react to EVERYTHING :( It's always been a struggle for me to find anything to use that doesn't either break me out in pimples or over dry my skin resulting in nasty dry patches on my cheeks. Both issues result in weeks of recovery using either witch hazel for the breakouts or coconut or almond oil daily for the dryness and sometimes both. So whereas I LOVE my at home remedies with all natural products I do sometimes miss the anti-aging benefits that I'm not always getting. (Probably my own fault, I'm sure I could find recipes to use at home with all the same benefits :p)

So with that all being said, I guess it really comes down to, do I like the products? I sure do, do I like the price? NO, not at all! The company does offer some programs to give extra discount, I would suggest looking into those or speaking with a rep directly. Because at full price, there is definitely some sticker shock involved :p Is it worth it? I'd say yes, if you can afford it of course!

If not...if it's just far too pricey for you to justify, than stick with me, I plan to find the best alternatives to the pricey high end products for your skin. Check back or email subscribe to this blog because I'm going to make it my mission to provide you with the best product reviews and DIY hair and skincare options that I can find :)

If you're interested in ordering these products or finding information about these or others in the Arbonne line feel free to check out my friends webpage, http://www.arbonne.com/pws/jesicamacdonald/tabs/about-me.aspx

Till next time ~Love Life and Be Good To Others~ ;)

Beauty Product Review-Younique Order Delivered

Exciting day today, my Younique order arrived :D This relatively new product line is all over the internet from posts eagerly provided by the Younique salespeople to youtube how to vids on their most popular product Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes. I decided to hop on this fast moving train and place an order (compliments of my very sweet boyfriend for Valentine's Day :p) I am in no way affiliated with Younique, not a salesperson, not paid to review their products, just interested in the products they offer and willing to share my feelings with all of you :)

(Update, I am now over a year later a Younique Independent Rep, however my reviews have not changed and remain completely UN-biased)

So this first review is centered around my first impression regarding delivery and product packaging. I will be posting reviews for the individual products in the coming days and am VERY excited to try this stuff out!!

So lets get started! :)

Products I ordered from Younique:

Windows to the Soul Collection

Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes

Uplift Eye Serum

Moodstruck Precision Pencils - for Lips - Pompous

Moodstruck Precision Pencils - for Lips - Posh

Moodstruck Precision Pencils - for Eyes - Perfect

Lash Comb/Brow Brush

Moodstruck Shimmer Pigment - Heartbroken

Moodstruck Shimmer Pigment - Sexy

Moodstruck Matte Pigment - Glamorous

Moodstruck Matte Pigment - Precocious

So delivery was relatively prompt, I live in Canada, the product ships from West Valley City, UT it took exactly 1 week to arrive. Not too bad considering other items I've ordered from the US have taken up to 3 weeks to arrive.

Now this is the exciting part...the big reveal!!

Upon opening the box you're greeted by the makeup case that the collection comes in :)

Open the case and voila! Your new products

Must say I'm in love with their product packaging!

A shot of the products upon opening

And their most famous product, 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara

I don't know about you ladies but I just LOVE when companies use customized packaging for their products, details matter to me and this company delivers. It's all about the experience for me, when I open my order to find something as "simple" as branded tissue paper lining the box your order came in, that makes me happy!

This makes me feel as if the company you've just ordered from is sparing no expense in providing a great customer experience. They understand that you've just spent your hard earned dollars investing in their product and that the company plans to deliver on the quality that you expect! I was however a little surprised that Younique did not provide a sample or two of products I didn't order as a kind of thank you, but not terribly disappointed, just a little surprised.

Overall, first impression has been very positive!! I'm hoping the products nestled in this alluring packaging live up to my expectations, I'll be keeping you posted!! ;)

Check back in the next few days as I will be reviewing each of these individual products with an honest, in depth, un-biased review. I'll let you know if I feel the hype surrounding Younique is hard earned or just another fleeting trend!

Till then, live life beautiful!! ;)

Beauty Product Review-Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara

As Promised I'm beginning to review the individual products that I received from my Younique order. This review is for the ever popular Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara, I want to reiterate that I'm in no way affiliated with Younique, just a customer, yes I paid for my order, it was not supplied to me free of charge in return for a blog post. This post and all others are honest, un-biased reviews and I plan to keep it that way!! :)

(Update, I am now over a year later a Younique Independent Rep, however my reviews have not changed and remain completely UN-biased)

Lets get started!!

So this is what your potential new mascara could look like (yup it's a 2-part process :) but don't be intimidated)

I'm very happy with the packaging of this product, feels of great quality. But looks alone will not cut it, this mascara claims "Watch as your lashes transform into something you have only dreamed of!" (claim made on their website)

So does it work as promised??

I would have to say with some practice or perhaps a few youtube tutorial views (PLENTY of them have been made, super easy to find), it most definitely can! Warning though, if you're looking for something that looks more on the natural side, probably not for you. This mascara is not for the faint of heart it's more for the super dramatic!! Which fits my lash needs perfectly ;) The bigger, the thicker, the BETTER!! LOL

With that said, I've taken some before and after pics (first time application)


Before the Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara

After the Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara

Close up on After the Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara

I'm hoping with more practice I can perfect the application process :) But as you can see despite being my first time I was able to achieve a fairly dramatic effect. Overall I am happy with this product and anticipate falling in love with it upon overcoming the learning curve :)

Instructions for use:

1. Apply Transplanting Gel to lashes (Optional: Prior to applying you may also apply a thin coat of another mascara and let dry, purely optional)
2. Immediately before the gel has time to dry, apply the Natural Fibers to lashes
3. Seal the Natural Fibers with another coat of Transplanting Gel

Tips:
Apply and finish one eye at a time
Use a lash comb to separate lashes
Apply additional coats of both Transplanting Gel and Fibers sealing Fibers each time with gel

I used about 2 coats of each to achieve the above look, I could definitely tell it was building with each application. So definitely play with this mascara to figure out at which level you're happiest with.

So in closing I would say that the Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara by Younique is worth the money you'll pay IF you are looking for a VERY dramatic look and don't mind the learning curve as it is quite different to apply from the other mascaras on the market. I hope this information has helped you in making the decision to switch to the 3D Fiber Lashes or not if you feel that it doesn't suit you as well!! If you have any further questions or comments feel free to leave them below, I'd love to hear from you!! Happy Friday All :)

Till next time, Love life, feel beautiful ladies!! ;)

Beauty Product Review-Younique Moodstruck Precision Lip Liner

As you're all aware, I've been posting reviews for the past week of the Younique products that I ordered. Again to remind everyone I am in no way affiliated with or being rewarded for my reviews by Younique. These are honest, un-biased reviews that I've decided may potentially help some of the lovely ladies out there make the decision to buy or not to buy!! :)

(Update, I am now over a year later a Younique Independent Rep, however my reviews have not changed and remain completely UN-biased)

Today's review will be regarding the Moodstruck Precision Lip Liners, I received in my collection two of the lip liners. I chose the colors Posh & Pompous, I feel they are similar to the color samples on Younique's website, although not exact I feel they are close enough when applied.

The two lip liners I bought, Posh & Pompous

So how do I feel about them? Are they worth the investment?? Guess that depends on what you value about a lip liner. I'll break it down for you :)

Pros
When used without gloss, has incredible staying power!
Glides on nicely, texture feels rich
Color is quite dense, providing a nice line or full lip coverage :)

Cons
When used on full lip with gloss, it loses it's non transferable quality and gets on EVERYTHING!
Expensive for a lip liner (though not ridiculously expensive it's still a significant investment at $18 CAD per)
Currently only five colors to choose from :(

So with that all said I'll move on to reveal my pics...and yes there's even a duck face ;)

Posh Lip with gloss

Pompous Lip with gloss

(And there it is!!!The duck face I promised LOL)

I am very happy with these Younique lip liners, would I buy them again when these go to the makeup graveyard?? Probably not! At least not on their own, if they happened to come with a collection that I already wanted, then sure. But I'm not going to go out of my way, there are more reasonably priced lip liners at the local drugstore makeup aisle that can deliver the same results.

Do I like the fact that Younique claims to be all natural without all the unnecessary additives that other companies use? ABSOLUTELY!! But perhaps I'm just not the die hard lip liner user that maybe some other ladies are! I'd love to hear what you think, is lip liner worth it?? Can't live without it? Or just another product added to the long list of makeup bag contents that end up lonely and forgotten about when the novelty wears off??

Till next time ladies-Live, Love, Feel Beautiful!! :) xo

Rant-Storm

Beauty Product Reviews