Category: Subscription Boxes

Deck of Scarlet · Subscription Boxes

Deck of Scarlet – Edition #12 – Review Time!

Maritza1 Comment

I honestly don’t know why Deck of Scarlet does not get more hype. They are pretty darn awesome for the following reasons:

  • They are very interactive on Instagram. When you make a comment on a post, they always take the time to reply. I think that is very polite.
  • They don’t just send you a palette, but also an extra item.
  • They evolve and listen. They just introduced a monthly plan for $29.99 which gives you the option of a palette or kit which has a range of full size items.

I still subscribe to the bimonthly plan, which includes a palette and an extra for $29.99, but I have a feeling that will be phased out soon for the monthly plan. Regardless, it’s a great subscription because the products are top notch.

Edition #12 was curated by Lupe Cuevas and its a bright, kick ass palette with the following shades options:

  • Obsessed- muted matte pink
  • Cocoa- mid tone matte brown
  • Groove- dark purple shimmer
  • Crystallized- icy pink highlighter
  • Inst- Famous- bright fuscia blush/shadow
  • Dizzy- icy pink lip topper
  • Undone- creamy grungy brown lip color

I really enjoyed all the shades, except I found Crystallized to be a bit too pressed to get much of a color punch or glow without having to scrape the top layer.

Colors from top to bottom: Obsessed, Cocoa, Groove, Crystallized, Insta-Famous, Dizzy and Undone

Don’t be afraid of Inst- Famous. Although it’s very bright, it won’t leave you looking clownish and it makes a lovely eyeshadow as well.

Undone is the real winner for me. It’s this grungy 90’s inspired brown and it’s GORGEOUS! As a true 90’s teen/ young adult, it brought back many memories.

Now, if only Deck of Scarlet would make Undone into a lipstick, I would be set!

Do you subscribe to Deck of Scarlet? If so, let me know what you think of the latest palette or new monthly subscription offering.

Till next time, my friends!

Maritza

Holidays · Subscription Boxes

Last Minute Holiday Gifts – Subscription Boxes

MaritzaLeave a comment

So you waited till the last minute, huh?

It’s ok. We’ve all been there, but don’t worry, there is always a solution out there and in 2018 it’s called the Subscription Box.

The nice thing about a subscription service is that it’s literally the gift that keeps on giving. Seriously, all you have to do whip out your credit card, choose how many boxes you want to give and then print out the confirmation and stick it in a card or envelope.

How easy is that?

Now there are a million services out there willing to send you just about anything, however, below are my absolute favorite.

I either currently subscribe or have gifted these boxes to friends and family and they have been received wonderfully. Maybe not when they open that envelope and just see a receipt, but just wait till they get their first box. You will be getting a text from your love one and most definitely get tagged in a Facebook or Instagram post.

Rocksbox ($21/monthly). My all time favorite box. I love accessories and I love that I can just rent them or opt to buy them. Rocksbox has the option of gifting that special someone either a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription and even add a little something extra if they want to buy something.

Stitch Fix (up to $1000). Give your fashion challenged friend the gift of style. Unlike Rocksbox, you are not gifting them a monthly service, but rather the gift of a stylist. I do Stitch Fix on a quarterly basis and love almost everything I have ever received. I get 5 items, which can include clothes, shoes, bags and jewelry and keep what I like and return what I don’t. It super easy!

VineOh! ($59.99/quarterly). Another great device for that wine lover in your life. But wait! There more! Not only do you get 2 full size bottles of wine, but also 5-6 handpicked goodies to go along with it. I’ve gotten beauty products, treats, candles and lots of other neat things. It’s all curated based on the season, so it’s a nice little box to come home to after a long day at work.

Candy Club ($29.99/month). I love giving this to kid. Yeah, I may get a little stink eye from the parents, but the fact is that when that first box arrives, everyone eats something. Each box contains 6 jars of candy, selected off the candy profile you created when you redeemed your gift subscription. It’s a great treat box and the nice thing is that it can be for the whole family.

What are you favorite subscription services? Leave them in the comments below.

Happy shopping, my friends!

Maritza

Deck of Scarlet · Subscription Boxes

Deck of Scarlet – No. 11 – Review Time

Maritza4 Comments

I have a burning question that I can’t seem to find the answer to (at least not within the first page of hits — lazy bones!) on Google.

Why is it called Deck of Scarlet?

I get that that some people call palettes a deck, but Scarlet??

Is it a weird play of words on some card game that I don’t know about? Are they making a reference to Gone with the Wind? Is it like a reverse Scarlet letter, in which you wear the makeup proudly instead of in shame?

Am I overthinking this?

Inner Maritza: Yes…to the last question. Now move along.

Ok. If anyone has the answer, just drop it in the comments. That way I can sleep at night.

Anyways, Deck if Scarlet is a bimonthly subscription that sends you a complete palette, with the ability to create multiple looks all for $29.95. Each “deck” has 3 eyeshadows, 2 Cheek, 2 lipsticks and 1 freestanding item, like a mascara or liner.

Each palette is curated by a YouTuber and you can collect them all or if one doesn’t seem to be to your liking or you can opt to skip that month.

I actually like that. Unlike Boxycharm or Ipsy, if you don’t like it or want it, you can just say “Next!”.

Palette #11, which is the latest palette and my first ever deck, was curated by KristinaxMakeup. Not very familiar with her, but she is very pretty and seems to know how to do makeup very well. I like that she tends to use her fingers a lot when creating a look, which I do as well.

At first when I got my palette, I was little thrown off by it though. It has a sort of bumblebee vibe with the bright yellow (Limoncello), golden shimmer (Tan Lines) and black matte (Onyx) eyeshadows. However, I can see how you can create three very easy looks by just quickly tapping any one of the shimmers on your lid and then using the matte to deepen up the crease.

You can also for a much more strategic look, and easily create a halo or cut crease and use all three.

The shadows all perform beautifully and are extremely pigmented. Limoncello is probably the hardest for me to incorporate in a look, but it’s such a unique shimmery neon yellow, that I’m happy to have it as part of my eyeshadow collection.

Let’s not forget the larger pans, which are supposed to be the highlighter (Bad Behavior) and blush (Moonstone). These can be used as eyeshadows in addition to cheek products and provide you with even more options.

Actually, I love Moonstone. This kind of peachy brown shade is my JAM! Its such a beautiful color and it goes on so nice and smooth. Same for the highlighter. I thought it was going to be a bit too dark for my complexion, but I use a light hand and it compliments the blush so nicely.

Also, they look beautiful on the eyes as well. Just blend Moonstone on the crease with a fluffy brush and tap Bad Behavior on the lid and you are done. If you like a little shadow, then lightly tap the fluffy brush on Onyx and apply that to the outer V and the lower lash and your done.

Another favorite shade of mine in this palette is the lipstick Metal Rose. Oh my Lord! It’s like a peachy red shade that sounds strange, but looks so pretty. I just dab it with my finger and it gives such a nice blotted look. If you layer it on top of Coy, it brings out the peach tones even more. The lipsticks are not particularly long lasting and are a bit thin in consistency, but the shades are both nice.

I do hate that that the lipstick is part of the palette. It just makes reapplying so hard unless you want to lug your palette around with you, but the heck wants to do that? If only they could detach that part and send it as a small side item, I would even forgive them that I have to carry around a lip brush or use my finger to apply all the time.

Speaking of side item. This set also comes with a glitter eyeliner in gold that you can definitely use to line your eyes or even apply it on top of the shadows for a fun nighttime look. It looks really nice, but the color does flake off after a while, so I don’t tend to use it.

Overall, I really like this palette. Yeah, it’s not structured conveniently and I don’t think you can get 20 looks from just this palette, but you can get a fair range of looks and for $29.95, it’s a good price. I’m looking forward to the next one.

Anyone else try out Deck of Scarlet? What do you think?

Till next time, my friends!

Maritza

Boxycharm · Subscription Boxes

Boxycharm – April

Maritza2 Comments

I feel like I am no longer a Boxycharm newbie. Having received 4 boxes now, I think that I’ve developed a relationship with them. Sure it may be completely one sided at this point, but it runs deep and I am totally invested in it.

Boxycharm, I love you and if you continue to send me stuff that I enjoy and use each month, I feel like I will love you to the end of time.

Winners

Colourpop My Little Pony Palette. A few months ago there was a battle of the My Little Pony palettes with both Colourpop and Pur coming out with their own versions. Having only seen the Pur one in picture, I think it was way brighter in color than this Colourpop one and I think that’s why I gravitate towards this one. The shades are colorful, but slightly muted and if you are a little hesitant to use color, then this is a good starter. It has neutrals (top row), bright berries (middle row) and shimmery and dark cool greens (last row). I created the look below using all of the middle row colors and they blended beautifully and color did not fade at all. I really like this palette!

Brow Gal Eyebrow Gel. Anytime I get a brow product in a box, I do a happy dance. As a girl with sparse and blonde brows, I love having lots of options in the case I lose something, but trust me, I won’t be misplacing this little love anytime soon. The wand is quite tiny, which is nice and I’m sure there is not much product in there, but this little beauty provides just a hint of dimensional color in the form of a tinted gel and it keeps your brows in place without giving you that crunchy feeling. Winner!

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner. I’m a big fan of Dr. Brandt. They are a Miami brand and you all know I support my Miami peeps, but brand loyalty aside, they also make pretty damn good stuff! This is a mask, that when you first apply, it’s white and the blue beads burst turning your face Smurf like. Immediately, there is a cooling sensation and then it dries down and you wash it off. I didn’t see any dramatic reduction in pores right away, but I did feel that it reduced the overall shininess and that was nice. It made for a good makeup day.

Somewhere Between Winner and Meh

Adess New York Hi Definition Liquid Lipstick. When I first tried this lipstick, I wasn’t too much of a fan. It was a little sticky and I didn’t like the feeling of it. However, the color is GORGEOUS! It’s like a slightly red toned brown and it’s great for day or night color. It’s not a liquid lip, so there is no longevity what so ever and the gloss wears off fairly quick, so reapplying is a must. I think I’m still fairly ambivalent about this product and that’s why it’s between winner and meh.

Meh

Tartiest Pro Glow Liquid Highlighter In Stunner. I love seeing big brand names in my Boxycharm, but this Tarte product is not for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love liquid highlighters, but this was just too glittery for my taste. Also, as the day wore on, the shimmer faded and in its wake left and sea of glitter particles on my cheekbones. Beware!!!

What did you all think of your Boxycharms this month? What are your likes and dislikes? You know where to leave them!

Till next time, my friends!

Maritza

Boxycharm · Subscription Boxes

March Boxycharm Bae-cation

Maritza6 Comments

Alright, Alright, Alright!

That’s what I was saying to myself as I was opening my Boxycharm this month. Also, I had just finished seeing one of Mathew McConaughey’s artsy, yet slightly cringy, Lincoln commercials and I couldn’t stop myself from saying it. However, I would be lying if I said this box was just alright. This box was actually pretty freaking awesome!

As usual, some items were definitely better than others and I’ll be giving you the lowdown, however, this box, more than the others, gives me an almost complete look. If it had a lipstick or a gloss, I would have a full face.

Winners

On the top of the list for me was the Butter London Double Decker Mascara. You all know that I am a mascara junkie. If I had to choose one beauty product that I could never live without, it would be a brow pencil, but for sure mascara would be next (#blondehairproblems). This one didn’t have my preferred curved wand, however, it had fiber bristles and they didn’t make my lashes clump at all. Also, my lashes look really long! If I had one complaint was that it seemed like the thickness dissipated through the day. I know that is weird, but it just seemed that by the end of the day, the color and length was still there, but the volume sort of left. No visible flaking though, so have no idea where it all went. Wonder if that is just my imagination?

Next on the winner board is the Pur Cosmetics x Boxycharm pallete. I know that if you break this palette down, all it is a bunch of neutrals and then a bright blue and purple, but that’s ok. It’s a nice little compact palette that can take you from day to night in a jiffy. The tops row of peaches (3 mattes and 1 shimmer) all perform well. It took a bit to build the colors, but as transition shades they were fine. The middle row of shimmers were a bit uninspiring to look at, but swatched really nice. The pink shimmer one called Bae was my favorite out of that row, but I will say that ALL of them benefit from a little setting spray to foil. The last row is all about MIA (Teal Blue shimmer) and BFF (Purple matte). Both colors require quite a bit of build up and MIA does have a bit of chunky glitter, so expect fallout, but they are nice. If you are looking to dip your toes into color, I think this palette is a great introduction.

Somewhere in between Winner and “Meh” is the Pretty Vulgar blush in Prim Vixen. A very bright looking hot pink with a slight purple hue, it’s actually way more sheer than I expected, which is good. I wouldn’t know what to do with such a bright color on my pale skin if it swatched as bright as it looked. The problem I had with this blush was that I found it a little hard to blend. Wherever the initial color was placed, that’s where the strongest concentration of color remained no matter how much you blended or what type of brush you used.

“Mehs”

Dipping into the “Meh” category where The Vintage trio brush set. Consisting of 2 flat brushes and 1 crease brush, I found these did not blend out the shadows well for me. They were just a little too stiff for me and the handles were a little too short for me as well. I like my brush handles to be a little bit longer as I find that I like to hold them closer to the end for a more diffused look.

WAYYYYY Down in the love list and actually more like in the “NOPE” category were the South Mane Eye Gel Packs. This stuff burned my under eyes about 15 seconds after sticking them on. The first time, I thought it might be because I had just recently exfoliated and my skin might, therefore, be a little sensitive, so I suffered through the required 30 minutes. I didn’t really see any reduction in puffiness or dark circles, in fact, for the rest of the day, the skin looked red and was sensitive to the touch. Being the masochist that I am, the next day, I went for Round 2 and decided these were just not for me after experiencing the same burning sensation. Big. Fat. NOPE.

What did everyone else think of their Boxycharm this month? You know where to keep the discussion going?

Till next time, my friends!

Maritza

Rocksbox · Subscription Boxes

RockBox Reveal – Volume 3

Maritza2 Comments

I feel like it’s been forever since I have done a Rocksbox Reveal! I know that I skipped the month of February altogether because I must have gotten like 50 emails from Mandy at Rocksbox wanting to know if I wanted to refresh my set yet.

Mandy don’t play, people!

I did eventually return my last set and in about 1 week, a new box appeared at my doorstep. If there is one thing I have to say about Rocksbox is that the minute your box is dropped off at the post office, they are already working on your next set. They don’t waste time and I really appreciate that.

I did receive an email a few days before my new set was sent asking if I wanted to switch any of the pieces my stylist picked, but I opted not to. I like to be surprised and sneaking a peek into my set and switching something, kind of takes the fun out of a subscription service, in my opinion. So I scrolled by Mandy’s email and put my trust in my stylist to pick something that I like.

If you caught my first Rockbox Reveal post, you would know that I really dig the natural stone look and am a total sucker for turquoise, slate and anything earthy looking and once again, my stylist took note of that, but this box was a little mixed for me.

When I opened my box, it looked like my stylist paid attention to my previous notes and purchases and tried to mimic them. However, as I dug into the box a little more, I have to admit that my enthusiasm dwindled a bit. The Ava Rose Tyler Pendent in Gold and Turquoise was the first item I opened and my initial thought was that the rectangular pendant was really bulky looking and heavy. However, it ended up being my favorite piece for those very reasons. You see, I’m not a petite girl. I’m 5’11 and “Curvy”, so small things have a tendency get lost on me, but this piece nicely straddled my love for delicate jewelry with my healthy body frame. I’ve worn it a couple of times and I really like it with a simple white t-shirt and jeans or a collared blouse and work trousers. I think this one is a contender!

The next item, I thought I was going love, but ended up hating it. I love ear jackets. I like how they hug the curve of your ear and add a little fun to an otherwise simple stud, but the Sophie Harper Starburst Ear Jacket didn’t look like ear jackets to me at all. First off, they looked more like Palm Trees than Starbursts and that was an immediate turn off. Secondly, the part that is supposed to hug the ear looked like a simple dangly earing, except there was no fluidity or movement to it, so it was just very stiff looking. Totally skipping this piece.

The last item, I knew before I even tried it on that I wouldn’t be purchasing it. I’m not much of a bracelet kind of girl. I prefer a watch on my wrist and not much else and even then I find myself taking the watch off halfway through the workday and putting it in my purse. So when I saw that my stylist added the Slate Amina Stacking Cuffs to my box, I was a bit perplexed. I don’t even have any bracelets on my Wishlist, so you would think that would be a big clue into my dislike for wrist ornaments. Not saying the actual cuffs are ugly, they are really pretty, but just not for me. Also, they are tiny! I think they were made for children or at the least very petite women with delicate, birdlike wrists.

As usual, I left feedback on all my pieces and, immediately got an email from Rocksbox about the sizing issue with the cuffs asking me if I wanted to exchange them for a different size or style. Although, this box was not as spectacular as past ones, you can’t beat the customer service. I feel like they are really invested in their product and in their customers and want to make sure you have a pleasant experience. That in itself is a real treat.

If you want to check out Rocksbox for yourself, feel free to use my referral code, MARITZABFF39. Your first month is FREE and I get a $25 credit to use for any future purchases. Win/Win!!!

Till next time, my friends!

Maritza

Boxycharm · Subscription Boxes

February Boxycharm – Galaxy Glow

Maritza2 Comments

Does anyone do a little happy dance when they check their email and see a notification letting you know that your Boxycharm is on it’s way?

No shame admitting it. It’s one of the highlights of my month. Since I got off the waitlist last month, I actually got my box in pretty early on and I got a chance to play with my goodies for a few weeks. Once again, I feel like I got a really strong selection of products, but it’s time to separate the winners from the “Mehs”.

Winners

Hands down, my favorite item was the Ofra refill blush in Godet. It is a beautiful warm peachy tan blush that I have used as both blush and eyeshadow. It’s pigmented, blendable and the pan is large enough to last you for a long time. I have only a few Ofra eyeshadow singles that I got in some Ipsy bags, but the colors never wowed me. This color is something I would have picked on my own and I am so happy that it was included in my box. Score!

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It also came with a magnetic Pop Up Palette to store your single blush and I have to say that the Universe has a funny way of providing. A few days before I got my box, I made my first ever order of single shadows from Devinah Cosmetics. I didn’t own any Z palettes to store them in and figuring that once I get them in, I will just order one from Amazon or something. Well, the same day my Devinah order came in, my Boxycharm came in and it was like it was meant to be. My Pop-Up Palette has more than enough room to store my 7 eyeshadow singles, my Ofra blush and probably a good 5 more items.

Thanks, Universe!

The next winner of the bunch for me is the PUR Plumping Lip Exfoliator. First off, I love a scrub that you don’t have to dig your finger into a pot to apply. It’s just makes it so easy to uncap and apply right from the tube. The sugar scrubs dissolves fairly quickly when you rub your lips together and combined with the shea butter, leaves them nice and soft.  There is definitely also something minty about this balm, which leaves your lips buzzing gently for a bit. I’m sure that’s the plumping factor, but the effect isn’t really too visible. The seller for me is the exfoliation and the convenience factor.

“Mehs”

The middle of the lineup is held up by Vintage by Jessica Leibskind black eyeliner pencil and the Crown Pro Brush Trio. These were good, but nothing out of the world for me. The eyeliner was creamy and applied fairly dark and when I applied it to my waterline it held up and didn’t dissolve or pool up in the inner corner. However, it’s just a black eyeliner and I have like 5 of them currently in my collection that I feel similarly about.

The Crown Pro Brushes are very pretty. All white up to the very tip of the brushes, where they are topped off with a light shade of pink. The handles have slight divots which allow you to rest your finger and thumb comfortably and I find that interesting, if not exactly useful as I have found myself applying makeup with my finger no where near the divot, but I like that they thought of that. My favorite brush is the powder brush, which interestingly enough I like to use to apply blush. The bristles are soft and pick up just the right amount of color. I really have not found a use yet for the middle brush. I suppose it could be good to apply undereye concealer or even highlighter, but I just prefer my regular brushes to do that. The small flat brush is good to pack on some eyeshadow, but once again, I have others that do the job well.

Now you are probably wondering why I am leaving the most hyped product from the February box last. When I saw a sneak peek of the CoverFX Shimmer Veil on Boxycharms Instagram, I was so excited. I live by their liquid highlighters and am always wanting to try more of their products. However, I’m a little torn by the product and will say that yes, it’s not my favorite and that’s why it’s the last on my list, but I have more thoughts around that and will dedicate an entire post to it. So stay tuned!

Anyone else get their boxes? If so, let me know what you got and what you think. I am totally loving Boxycharm and hope that they keep sending out quality items in the months to come.

Till next time, my friends!

Maritza

Rocksbox · Subscription Boxes

Rocksbox Reveal Vol. 2

MaritzaLeave a comment

My post man is the nicest gentleman ever and every time he has a package too big to fit in the mailbox he always makes sure to knock on the door and personally hand it to me or if I am not home, always tries to hide it carefully under the welcome mat or between my door and the gate so no one can steal it. If I am home, he always chats and asks about the kids and dog and I always spend a few minutes talking with him. However, the other day, I saw he had a Rocksbox envelope in his hands and I feel like it took FOREVER to get rid of him so that I can tear into that package.

I’m such a snot!

Anyways, I got my goodies, which for the record, were all from my Wishlist again and I have one definitive winner and two so-so’s to share with you. But that’s ok, because if you subscribe to Rocksbox you know that you can always return what you don’t like for new stuff or rent your set and then refresh it all for something new whenever you want.

Let’s start with the WINNER, which I will definitely be purchasing with my $21 credit. I got these GORGEOUS Slate Arya “Hoops” in Gold ($46). Not sure why they are classified as a hoop as they are clearly triangular-ish in shape, but let’s just go with it. They have this beautiful  design with pave accents running down the center, that sometimes have me thinking Art Deco and other times give me total Rock n’ Roll vibes. I have been wearing them non-stop, which is usually a good indicator that I will not be parting with them.

I also received the Kendra Scott Beth Necklace in Rose Gold and Ivory Mother of Pearl ($70), which checks off all my current style preferences, but I had issues with the length. The chain is adjustable, which is a great concept as I could definitely see this necklace worn closer up between your collarbones or lower down your chest, possibly even layered, however, the adjustable clasp did not hold. I found the necklace moves around as you go about your day and while it may have started out as a choker at breakfast, somewhere around lunch time, the pendant was nestled between my boobs. Yeah. No.

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Wearing Slate Arya Hoops and Ava Rose Chandler Ring

The last piece sent to me was the Ava Rose Chandler Ring in Gold and Labradorite ($51). I love the gold combined with this beautiful jade green stone, but I decided that I was just not that fond of the elongated shape of the stone. I definitely prefer something a little less chunky and will go back in to my Wishlist and adjust some of my ring preferences as it wasn’t until I wore this ring that I decided that I’m more of a simple band kind of girl.

So 1 out of 3 is pretty good, in my opinion.

Remember, if you want to try Rocksbox, feel free to use my referral code, MARITZABFF39 and you get your first box free. I will also get $25 for a future purchase, so it’s kind of a win/win.

Till next time, friends!

Maritza

Boxycharm · Subscription Boxes

January Boxycharm – Rock 2018

Maritza3 Comments

Folks, this month has had it’s ups and downs, but one of the highlights was finally getting off the Boxycharm waitlist.

I swear, when I see myself typing stuff like that, I feel like I really need to get my priorities straight, but, WHATEVER! It’s the little things in life that get you going, right?

Anyways, I had always heard really great things about Boxycharm from my friend Elsie, however, never really joined as I already had so many boxes, that I felt like adding another one would be overkill. However, having recently decided to take a break from my Birchbox and Ipsy, I figured there was no better time than the present.

FUN FACT: Birchbox headquarters are located in Miami, FL. You all know I love supporting my Florida peeps.

I purposefully avoided reading up or seeing any of the January Boxycharm unboxings as I wanted to make my own opinions and, OH BOY, was I happy I did so because I am IN LOVE with basically everything I got. Seriously, I have loads of good things to say about everything and maybe just a few MEHs.

First off, let’s start off with what I loved the most, which was the Glam Metals eyeshadow palette by Crown Pro ($29.99). You all know that I am an eyes girl, and when I opened this palette and saw all these gorgeous rusty, copper and silver metallics, I was “Shot Through the Heart….”.  The colors are all silky to the touch, very pigmented and I had zero problems blending any of them. I created a quick eye look (pic below)   using The Wicked on the crease, Rebel on the lid and Black Metal on the outer V and lower lash. Finished it off with a little Pop Rock on the inner corner and I was channeling my inner Video Vixen big times.

Sticking to the eyes, the next product that I was totally digging was the It Cosmetics Brow Power in Universal Taupe ($24). Supposedly this color works on anybody and all you have to be is mindful about the pressure you are applying when doing your eyebrows as gentle strokes will work best for lighter hair colors and adding a bit more pressure will deepen the color for our darker hued guys and gals. The formula is a tad stiff when swatching it, but I suppose making it too creamy wouldn’t allow for it to be a universal shade, but don’t let that deter you as  I found it super easy to use and I didn’t really have to think too hard on how much pressure I was applying to create a perfect brow.

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Eyes: Glam Metals by Crown Pro. Brows: It Cosmetics Brow Power Cheeks/Face: Pur Cosmetics Dreamer Palete Primer: Dr. Brandt Luminizer Primer

Next on the list is another hometown favorite brand, Dr. Brandt. I LOVE Dr. Brandt products and I was so happy to get the Pores No More Luminizer Primer ($38) as I have been wanting to try it for so long, but we all know this stuff is a little pricey. On application, it looks a bit like foundation or a BB cream, but doesn’t have any coverage. It does, however, leave your skin glowy. It’s also supposed to minimize the look of pores, but I felt that the real draw was the luminizing effects.  I applied this under my foundation and my skin looked healthy. Not shiny or greasy, which is always my concern with these types of primers. It also worked really well under my Covergirl Vitalist Foundation and never made it slip or breakdown. Winner!

The next two products didn’t make my Top 3, but that doesn’t mean I dislike them:

Grande Lip Hydrating Lip Plumper ($27) in Hot Fuschia is surprisingly hydrating, however, I really didn’t see my lips plump much. What I did like was the glossy wash of pink color I got from wearing it. Seriously, I looked like I made out with the Hubs and then applied lip gloss. The effect was super sexy!

Pur Cosmetics Cheek Palette in Dreamer ($34) is so pigmented that you have to go in with the lightest hand possible with all three shades in order not to look clownish. However, I used the bronzer, blush and highlighter in the look above and feel like I pulled it off well. I can totally also see this being used as eyeshadow. The blusher has a BEAUTIFUL coral pink shimmer that all over the lid would make blue or green eyes POP! No need to foil that’s for sure!

Since I purposefully avoided any Boxycharm reviews or unboxings, what did everyone else think of their box? Sound off on the comments below and let’s get the party started!

Till next time, friends!

Maritza

Facetory · Subscription Boxes

Facetory Sheet Mask Subscription Roundup and Review

Maritza2 Comments

In December, I made a conscious effort to focus on skincare. Partly because my skin was in desperate need of a change, but also because I came to the conclusion that no matter how much makeup I buy, it’s never going to look right if my skin is not properly moisturized and prepped.

I figured there was no better time to invest in my skin, especially since I’m 40 and, let’s face it, not getting any younger. As part of my revised skin care routine, I decided incorporate more masks and subscribed to Facetory as they will send you a curated array of Korean sheet masks each month.

There are 2 subscriptions, Four-ever Fresh (4 sheet masks for 5.95 + shipping/ month) and Seven Lux (7 sheet masks for $15.95 + shipping/ month). If you want to read up on how each plan works, check out their FAQ.

Since this was my first foray into sheet masks with Facetory, I chose the Four-ever Fresh set and the only thing I regret so far is that I only got four. Seriously, I can now see why my Instagram feed is always clogged with selfies of people wearing masks. They may make you look like that creep from Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but when you peel one off, its like you anti-aged 2 years. Your skin is just so plump and moisturized!

The last box/envelope I received was actually in late December, but I just finished my last mask and wanted to give you my thoughts.

First thing firsts, I don’t get the impression that these masks are curated by your skin type, but rather by month. Meaning that each month everyone may just get the same masks, which, admittedly, is the only downfall to the subscription as not everyone has the same skincare needs. Out of the four I received, my favorites were:

  • G9 Skin Strawberry Milk Bomb – creamier than the others as the name suggests. No need to apply moisturizer if you use this one. Soaked right in after removing mask.
  • Baroness Pomegranate- light and gel like in consistency. I applied this one in the morning and then put moisturizer and makeup about 30 minutes later and –OMG– my skin looked fantastic.
  • The Face Shop Aloe Mask – also gel like in consistency, but not sticky as the name would imply. This mask smelled like aloe and was a really cooling, light mask. I think I wore this on a makeup free day and my face looked bright all day.

All three also felt like a direct infusion of hydration to the skin.

The Miko Pore Control mask was nice, but the tackiest of them all and made my skin feel as if I rubbed hair gel on it. It also didn’t make my makeup sit as nice throughout the day as the others did.

**Check out ingredients and product details on the December masks, by clicking here.**

Personally, I think the price is phenomenal. I usually pay about $6 a mask from Boscia at Sephora and these masks are at par quality wise and obviously cheaper. Also, they are delivered right to your door each month like a fresh bouquet of flowers, except they don’t die and make your skin glow.

Can we say win?

If you want to try out Facetory, feel free to use my referral code by clicking here. First time subscribers will get 10% off their first order. Please note that this referral link is given to ALL subscribers and if you decide to use it, I get 10% off a future order as well.

Let me know if you use face masks and which ones you recommend. I’m want to look 35 by end of year, so help a sister out! 😀

Till next time, my friends!

Maritza<<<<<<<