Tag: Sephora

Fresh Rose Hydrating Eye Gel Cream Review

Published on by Demetra MarieLeave a comment

Hello lovelies! Today I’m sharing with you my thoughts on the Fresh rose hydrating eye gel cream. I received this as a freebie from a Sephora order. I thought that I would get a good solid week out of this sample. However, I got a little over two weeks of use from this sample. When I say a little bit goes a long way, I mean a little bit. If you use too much it doesn’t quite sink in and it balls up on itself. Let’s get into the specifics on the product and then I’ll share up my thoughts, pros/cons, and whether I would use it again.

Treatment Ingredients:

Rosewater

Golden Root Extract

Bambara Groundnut Extract

Hyaluronic Acid

These four ingredients combined offer all day moisture and brightness. I would agree with the claims of providing moisture and brightening up the under eye area. I noticed a slight change just after a few days. I noticed a slightly smoother and brighter under eye area. One day I accidentally pushed out way too much product, which most of it went to waste. However, I remembered reading somewhere that you can take your eye cream and pat a little bit onto your lips. I decided to try this little hack and my lips never felt so smooth and soft. Makeup goes on beautifully over this. I haven’t had a problem with concealer, primer, eye shadow layered on top. They go on so smoothly and last as long as they normally do. I find that it is not a heavy eye cream, which for me works out. My skin loves a gel formula, and just drinks it up. So for me, the formula is a huge plus. Here comes the big thing, the scent. I found the scent to be nicely balanced between rose and a much more natural, neutral fragrance.

PROS:A little goes a long way

           A container will last awhile

           Makeup goes on top nicely

           Light, gel formula

           Scent is not overwhelming

           Brightening

          Made without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates

CONS:It balls up if you use too much

            Some people may be sensitive to the scent

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this product. I wish I had a bigger sample of this so I can see more long term effects. I would purchase this during the Sephora VIB sale once I go through a couple other eye creams that I have.  It retails for $41 for half of an ounce. I’m looking forward to having this in my skin care routine again. That’s all for today. I hope you all have a great week!

 

 

February Play! by Sephora Unboxing

Published on by Demetra MarieLeave a comment

Hello lovelies! February’s Play box, was long awaited. When I first opened the box, I was blown away by the look of the bag. I felt like I was opening a luxurious gift. The bag is a rosy pink satin bag and says SMITTEN #Sephoraplay on the bottom.  The theme of this month’s box is ‘The Soft Side.’ It is all about subtle, smooth, and neutral tones, embrace your natural beauty ladies! Let’s jump in and see what I got. I will kind of go in order in which I would apply them.

First up, the cult favorite, Origins GinZing eye cream. I just started a new eye cream, and have one more before I can actually get into this one. There is a slight scent that I can’t quite put my finger on. It is a neutral fresh type scent. It doesn’t pull in one specific direction. The full size retails for $30. If you were to purchase the size that came in the box it would retail for $7.50.

Next, let’s moisturize and prep our face. The Clinique pep-start hydroblur moisturizer claims to be kind of an all in one product. You can moisturize and it can act as a primer for those gals that have an oily skin type. It can also help blur pores and fine lines. The weather is still on the cold side here in Chicago, so I won’t be able to test this out until it gets warmer out. My skin tends to be combo-dry in the winter and combo-oily in the summer months. Full size retails $29.50, Travel size retails $9.50, Box size, if sold, $4.75.

How many of you have tried out the Sephora Collection? I have tried a few items out and have been pretty happy with the things that I’ve tried. This month’s box included the Sephora Lashcraft length and volume mascara. Like I said about the eye cream, I have a couple of mascaras to use and test out before I start using this one. When I read the reviews, it seemed that people either loved it or just didn’t like it. Retails: Full size:$12, Travel size: $7, Box size(if sold): $3.50.

This months box included two lip products. I got the Nars Velvet Lip Glide in Bound and the Too Face Lip Injection Glossy in Milkshake. Ever since the Nars Velvet Lip Glides came out, I have wanted to get my hands on it. The one thing that I noticed, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has a problem with the way colors appear online. For me on the Sephora website, Bound looks like a rosy pink. In person and in the tube it looks much more of a mauve-y rose color, in certain light looks slightly purple. The lip glide swatched beautifully, I didn’t notice any patchiness, and there is just a slight vanilla cupcake scent, which I love. The Too Face Lip Injection Glossy is a milky nude shade, so the name Milkshake is definitely appropriate. On the website, it says that you may experience a tingly feeling for the first 5-10 minutes after application. Swatched on my hand, I don’t feel any tingling, but it may be different on the lips. The formula is sticky, so if you’re not a fan of sticky lip glosses, this one may not be for you. I noticed in the tube there is a gold shimmer in the gloss, and no, there is no grittiness. Retails: Nars Full Size: $26. Box Size: $12; Too Faced Full Size: $22 Box Size: $5.50.

Top: Too Faced, Bottom: NARS

Last up is the perfume sample. You could get one of three different scents.  I received the Marc Jacobs Divine Decadence. My first impression was that it is slightly strong, but it smells really good. At first there is a real strong floral scent. after awhile,there is a subtle hint of floral, with a creamy sweet mellowness. I’ll say this about receiving fragrance samples. I like that I can test out a different scent every month, but sometimes I wish I could just get an additional product instead. This month however, I love the fragrance only after it settles. Initially it is a bit too floral for me. I looked up this fragrance, and the bottle is absolutely gorgeous. I even like the simplicity of the roller ball.

Well that is everything that came in my February box. What would you like to see reviewed or used in a look? Let me know! I hope that March has been treating everyone well. Have fun and be safe this St. Patric’s Day weekend.

January Play! by Sephora Unboxing

Published on by Demetra Marie1 Comment

Hello lovelies! It has been awhile since I’ve posted. I have been extremely sick for the last couple of weeks. Today is the first day that I have felt healthy enough to do anything. To kick off February, I’m sharing what I got in my January Sephora Play box. The theme to January’s box is Beauty, Set, Go. It contains different items that are quick to use and great for on the go. Let’s jump right in!

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Products

Ouai Treatment Mask; Retails: $32 8pack

Tarte Frxxxtion Stick; Retails: $22

Youth to the People Kale + Spinach Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Moisture Cream; Retails: $48

AmorePacific Color Control Cushion Compact Broad Spectrum SPF 50+; Retails: $60

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey; Retails: $17

Tory Burch Love Relentlessly; Retails: $68

That’s everything that came in my box. The one thing that I’m really looking forward to trying out is the Tarte Frxxxtion Stick. I’m hoping that it will solve some skin peeling issues I have on my face. The Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is something that I’ve had my eye on for a long while and very happy that I received it in my box. I’m still on the hunt for a foundation or foundation like product that will mesh with my skin type and is quick and easy for those out-the-door days. My skin is dry/combo/acne prone in the winter and have some larger pores, while in the summer its oily/combo/acne prone and the pores are the size of Saturn. If anyone has any suggestions drugstore or high end let me know. While I have a few deluxe samples of face moisturizers, I’m intrigued and excited to try out the Youth to the People cream.

I’m looking to change up the format for this post. What would you like to see? A first impression? An update a couple of weeks later? Let me know in the comments below. I’m open to all kinds of suggestions. Have a great week!

 

2016 Favorites

Published on by Demetra Marie2 Comments

Hello lovelies! I am sharing with you my favorites from over the course of 2016. I don’t have too many favorites, but they’re a good mix of things I’ve been using for years and some that while not necessarily brand new to the market are completely new to me. All of these products have changed my life and I try to use them as much as possible.

img_2360Foundation and Concealer:

  • Maybelline Fit me! foundation Dewy + Smooth in 125 Nude Beige (my summer shade)
  • Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in Neutralizer; great for my under eyes!
  • Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Coverage foundation in 125/Y315 Sand (summer shade, sample from Sephora, need to buy the full size and in my winter shade)

img_2359Powders and Tools:

  • E.L.F. High Definition Powder in Sheer: used to set my concealer under my eyes
  • Real Techniques Setting Brush: used with powder for my under eyes
  • Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: used with liquid foundation that doesn’t work well with my Beauty Blender
  • NARS Bronzer/Blush Duo in Laguna and Orgasm: my go to blush and bronzer

img_2365Eyes and Lips:

  • Maybelline Brow Drama in Deep Brown: great for quick run out the door days
  • NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee
  • Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden: this truly keeps my eye shadow on all day!
  • Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in White Russian: Can I just buy all of these?! I love this!

That’s all for my 2016 favorites. This year has been such an adventure and I can’t wait to see what will be in my favorites for 2017. Have a great day! See you in my next post!

 

What I Got for Christmas 2016

Published on by Demetra Marie5 Comments

Hello lovelies! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday. Today I’m sharing with you everything that I received for Christmas. I want to preface everything with: I’m not sharing this to brag with what I got. If anything, it is quite the opposite. I would much rather find the perfect gift for someone else.  To keep this post from getting too long, let’s jump in.

img_2344teal snowflake pj set, cream striped sweater, black trousers(all are getting returned, they’re the wrong size!)

img_2345shea-infused socks, adult coloring book w/ colored pencils, chocolate reindeer, lottery ticket

shoe liners, gold & stone earrings, Sephora, Subway & Starbucks gift cards, gold music note ornament

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Too Faced Natural Matte Eye Shadow Palette

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Urban Decay Revolution High-Color Lip Gloss in Failbait

img_23513-Wick Marshmallow Fireside Candle, Winter Candy Apple Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel, 2 15×10 Cookie Sheets

As I was working on this post, I realized I didn’t include the Jingle Bell Berry Hand Cream, Warm Vanilla Sugar Body Lotion, and a winter mug fill with peppermints, candy canes and candy, an all natural honey and oats scented soap, and body mitt.

I truly feel blessed, and am lucky to receive gifts that I absolutely love. I hope that you all had a wonderful day with your family. I’ll see you in my next post.