Beauty Product Reviews | Page 2

Benefit's Hoola Bronzing Powder is one of their cult favorite Box-o-Powders. This bronzer is extremely popular among fair ladies like my self. Benefit says that you should "dust this soft bronze powder over your complexion for a healthy natural looking tan year round, it's pure color, no sparkle or shine!" Hurray for matte bronzers, they're a rare breed. I got a little 3g (.1oz) mini Hoola Bronzer in the Ulta exclusive "Sexy Six" value kit, which retailed for $24. The full size of the Hoola Box-o-Powder sells for $28 for 8g (.28oz). That gives my little sample a value of $10 (I paid $4 for it, technically). This bronzer was made in America. Benefit does not test their products on animals; their testing policy can be found in their FAQ. Benefit products can be bought on the brand's website, department stores with Benefit counters, Sephora, and Ulta (and their websites) Packaging for the sample size of Hoola is kinda crappy. It's black plastic and flips open. The full size of Hoola looks much nicer, a purple cardboard box with a removable lid and bamboo detailing on the sides. the name of the product and Benefit logo are written in aqua lettering along with two piece of bamboo and a small white flower. The full size of Hoola, and all Box-o-Powders comes with a small natural hair brush. I'm not sure what info can be found on the full size, but a full ingredient list and a little bit of company info can be found on the back of this bronzer sample. The Benefit Box-o-Powders are renowned for their excellent texture. Hoola is soft, but it doesn't kick up any residual powder. This bronzing powder is very finely milled, it almost feels velvety, very luxurious. Its pressed well and feels sturdy in the pan. Hoola has good pigmentation for a bronzer, its not sheer, but it's not too pigmented; even if Hoola doesn't give you quite enough color at first, this bronzer is buildable. Hoola is a slightly yellowed bronzer with a grey undertone. You know what grey toned bronzers are fantastic for? Contouring. What makes a grey toned bronzer ideal for contouring, opposed to peachier or redder options? Think about it, contouring, when done well, is supposed to give a shadowed look to the face, and shadows tend to have a grey cast to them. Hoola, even though it's grey tinged, is still great for warming up the face. This is a very natural looking tan shade that's definitely best suited to pale to lightly tanned chicks, it won't show up on people with medium to darker skin tones. The best part of Benefit's bronzing powder is that it's 100% matte, there isn't a speck of shimmer to be found. This is really the ideal bronzer for those who are often too lightly complected for most of the orangey-brown bronzers out there. I've become addicted to this bronzer for contouring. I've never found one that looks this natural and is this high quality. Just this little sample size less than 1/3 of the full size will last me quite a while. I barely need to touch my brush to the powder to pick up a decent amount of product. Speaking of brushes, I always use Avon's Glow Bronzing Brush to apply this product, unless I contour my nose, in that case I use ELF's Studio Fan Brush. I'm really loving Benefit's Hoola Bronzing Powder, it suits my skin tone really well, better than any other one I have. The grey undertone of Hoola makes it excellent for a natural looking contour. The texture of this bronzing powder is great and it possesses perfect pigmentation. Full size packaging is cute and includes a brush that I hear is decent, but not great, quality. I probably wouldn't purchase a full size of Hoola, but if you choose to, it's a good value, the Benefit Box-o-Powders contain a ton of product. If you got money to burn, love the contoured look, and have fair skin, Benefit's bronzing powder in Hoola is an amazing option. When I finish this bronzer I'll be on a quest to find a cheaper dupe, mainly because I think bronzer and other powder products are a silly thing to spend a lot of money on.

Benefit's High Beam is a "luminescent complexion enhancer", i.e a highlighter. This product is described by Benefit as "a satiny pink liquid highlighter to accent cheek and brow bones for a radiant glow. Use as a spot highlight or delicately blend all over your complexion. Looks perfectly radiant on all skin tones. It's the 'Supermodel in a Bottle!". That's a hell of a big claim to make! I got a smallre 4ml (.13fl oz) sample of this cult favorite highlight in Ulta's exclusive "Sexy Six" value kit, which ran me $24. The full size 13ml (.45fl oz) bottle retails for $26. My mini High Beam has a value of $8. Benefit does not test on animals and offers some details about their animal testing policy in their FAQ. My High Beam sample was made in France. Benefit products can be bought at department stores with Benefit counters, Ulta and Sephora and their respective websites, and directly through Benefit via their website. Packaging for High Beam is a clear, round, hard plastic tube. The name of the product and the Benefit logo are written on the front in black lettering. A small amount of product and company info can be found on the back of the tube. High Beam's tube is topped off with a white plastic cap. Screwing the cap off reveals a stiff brush application absolutely saturated in product. Not the most hygienic applicator, nor should the brush be used to try to blend out High Beam. That's actually be a total disaster, like I said the brush is just loaded with product, so you'd end up with more highlighter on than you'd need for a week. I use the brush to dot the product on them and blend with my fingers. Anyway, packaging is simple and looks nice enough, not super sanitary though. It kinda reminds me of nail polishing packaging with the brush and all. High Beam is a light creamy peachy pink highlight with a thin texture. This liquid highlight blends with ease. Only the littlest bit is needed. I use about eight tiny dots of product per cheek bone or two under the brow. That may seem like a lot, but really it's not. Once blended out, High Beam takes on a shimmery, ever so slightly pink tone. The shimmer particles are small and only noticeable if you look quite closely. The only way anybody else will see any actual shimmer from High Beam is if they're seriously invading your personal space. I find High Beam to be quite similar in color to That Gal, Benefit's brightening face primer. High Beam has more of a pearlescent finish. They're not dupes or anything, they're not even the same kind of product, I'm just commenting on the similar shade. Compared to a similar product like the golden hued Benefit's Girl Meets Pearl, High Beam gives a much more day time appropriate, softer, more natural highlight that gives the look of healthy, well moisturized skin, as opposed to a candle lit glow. High Beam is excellent for highlighting both the cheek and brow bone. The effect of High Beam lasts all day long no matter where I put it. I don't agree with Benefit that this liquid highlighter would suit all skin tones. It's slight pinkness would likely look pretty fake on those with very warm or very dark skin, if you fit into one of those categories you should probably opt for Girl Meets Pearl. I like the naturally highlighted look that Benefit's High Beam gives. Luminescent is the perfect work to describe it, good vocabulary Benefit. The texture is thin but not watery and it blends easily. I think this highlighter is best suited to cooler complected people, just because of it's light pinky peach tinge. The packaging is function but some may prefer something a little more sanitary. As much as I like High Beam, I wouldn't repurchase it because I feel like I can find a much more affordable dupe for it, I've read about a couple of them and I'd like to look into it. If you want to try Benefit's High Beam highlighter, opt for one of their value kits. This is one of their most loved and most popular products, so it's included in most kits. Its a very good quality highlighter, and I recommend if it you have the money to spend on it.

Benefit's The Porefessional is "pro balm to minimize the appearance of pores". Pro balm is pretty much just a fancy way of saying "primer" if you were wondering. This primer is translucent with an "oil free formula that compliments all skin tones and helps makeup stay put". The formula contains Vitamin E derivative to "known to protect skin from free radicals". Benefit says that this primer can be used over or under makeup and recommends applying it in the morning after moisturizing, but before applying foundation, and then patting a bit more on if you notice your pores reappearing throughout the day. I got a .25fl oz (7.5ml) deluxe sample as a gift with purchase at Ulta. The full size tube of The Porefessional retails for $30 for .75fl oz (22ml). That means my sample is 1/3 the full size, so its valued at $10. Yay for easy math, I didn't even have to ask my boyfriend for help. Praise my skills! Benefit does not test on animals. This product was made in the USA. Benefit products can be bought online at the brand's website, department stores with Benefit counters, Ulta, and Sephora, and their respective websites. My little sample of this primer came in a box with the name of the product on the front along with the Porefessional, looking like she's in quite a hurry. The pretty aqua box flips open to reveal the sample tube, as well as two small diagrams depicting how to use this primer. A description, more detailed instructions, company info and a full ingredient list list can be found on the back of the box. The little tube it's self is similar in design to the box. A light aqua with beige stripes with the Porefessional on the front as well and a description on the back. The tube is sealed with a black twist off cap. Unlike Girl Meets Pearl and That Gal, the full size of The Porefessional comes in a squeeze tube like this one. Benefit should wise up and package all their primers like this, its convenient The Porefessional primer has a really unique texture that I didn't expect at all. Its hard to describe. I guess velvety would be an appropriate characterization. Its an almost pasty, but soft balm with a slight flesh tone tint to it. It blends out beautifully, a small amount can go a very long way. The slight tinge of color blends completely away, truly translucent. The Porefessional gives skin a much smoother, more mattified feel and appearance, giving the skin an air of perfection. That being said, it doesn't fully cover pores or anything. The Porefessional does diminish the look of pores a good amount, but its not a miracle worker by any means. Actually I think The Porefessional gives just the right amount of "porefection", the completely poreless look is a little too flawless in my opinion. If slightly enlarged pores are your only issue, you may not need any face makeup over this primer. For those of us that do need a concealer and foundation, lets talk about how the Porefessional works as a primer. I don't use The Porefessional over my entire face, just over targeted area such as my nose, chin, and parts of my cheeks where my pores are larger and I tend to get slightly oily in the same areas (i.e where foundation can break down a bit). The Porefessional gives a much smoother texture to the skin which obviously results in much smoother application and adherence of foundation and a little better coverage as well. Wear doesn't seem to be prolonged aside from on the sides of my nose, the only place where I ever have wear issues. When I combine The Porefessional with my best concealer, foundation, and powder, my skin looks really great. The only potential downside to this primer is that I've noticed a couple itty bitty white heads popping up on the side of my nose. I get similar pimples from time to time, usually around my nose stud, but they seem to be popping up a little more often. I'm not sure if The Porefessional is causing this flare up or not. I don't think it is, but it's probably not helping the situation either. I like Benefit's The Porefessional. It really does help with the appearance of large pores. The texture is really interesting and feels good on the skin. The look of my skin is much improved when I wear this product, it really gets a near flawless look. Foundation, BB cream, and concealer apply smoother and seem to have enhanced coverage. They just stick to the skin better, if you know what I mean. I've been using this primer very frequently and I've barely put a dent in it, so I think when the time comes, I could actually justify buying a full size, it seems like it'd last me forever. If you have large pores and some extra cash, investing in Benefit's The Porefessional Pro Balm might be worth your while, or if you'd like to try a lot of Benefit products at once, check out their value kits, they usually include this product.

Best Beauty Investment I've Ever Made.

Are you sick of hearing about Urban Decay's Naked Palettes and how great they are? Yeah, me too, but just hear me out for a couple paragraphs. The Naked2 Palette is my first ever Urban Decay purchase, and the single most expensive beauty buy I've ever made. I was never really interested in the original Naked palette, but I've been craving the Naked2 ever since it launched roughly a year ago. The color scheme, which Urban Decay calls as a mixture of "taupe and greige", suits my coloring and personal preferences much more than very warm Naked palette. The Naked2 Palette contains twelve full size eyeshadows, all of which are made of Urban Decay's revamped formula, which is said to be "richer, smoother, and velvety, the revamped formula delivers insane, crease free performance". I believe each shade is available for individual performance, if you don't want to invest in the palette, but if you like more than two of the shades, this palette is totally worth the $50 price tag. This palette also includes a dual ended Good Karma brush, as well as a baby sized Lip Junkie gloss in Naked (these will be reviewed separately). Just the eyeshadows alone give this palette a value of over $200. This palette was made in the USA but assembled in the Dominican Republic. Urban Decay calls themselves a cruelty free brand, and while that is true, the brand was recently acquired by L'Oreal (who owns a huge chunk of the beauty industry as it is), who does conduct animal testing. Several of the shades in this palette are vegan friendly. I bought my palette at Ulta, but this and other Urban Decay products can be bought at Sephora and through the brand's website. The Naked2 Palette comes in a cushioned cardboard tray that also houses the itty bitty lip gloss. Flipping the tray over offers a description of the palette in both English and French, labeled images of each of the shades, and a full ingredient list for both the eyeshadows and the gloss. The palette it's self looks lovely, every time I catch a glimpse of it I still can't believe I own it! The palette is made of lightweight but sturdy heavy duty greige plastic. Urban Decay's logo and Naked2 are written on the palette in raised dark olive green letters. The palette opens to reveal a large, great quality mirror. Each eyeshadow is in rectangular pan is labeled. While I love how it looks, I have a couple qualms about this palette's packaging. First off, several shades are loosely glued into the palette, and both Verve and YDK fall out completely! Come on, Urban Decay, I know yinz can afford some good glue. This seems to be a common issue as well. Also, my palette doesn't like to snap shut firmly. For a $50 product from a prestige brand, I'd expect a little better quality. I travel internationally a couple times a year and would definitely be nervous about stashing my Naked2 in my luggage, despite it's seemingly sturdy outer packaging. I believe that the palette is recyclable. Compared to the original, cult classic Naked Palette, Naked2 is significantly cooler in tone. I appreciate the variety of colors and finishes in the palette. The range really is great, it spans from an extremely light flesh toned shade to an incredibly intense black with so many gorgeous and wearable neutrals in between. Urban Decay says that this palette features taupes and greige shades, but I don't think there is a true taupe or greige in the palette. When I initially swatched the Naked2, I was kinda disappointed. The texture of all the eyeshadows felt amazing, but only some of them looked great. I immediately regretted blowing fifty bucks on an overhyped palette with whole pans of product falling out. Then I tried it out on my eyes, and my opinion changed instantly. All of these eyeshadows are perfectly pigmented and blend beautifully The shades in Urban Decay's Naked2 Palette work so well together. There is the perfect amount of variety in color and texture. The proportion of shimmers to mattes could be a little better, but I heard that Urban Decay's mattes are high or miss, and that seems true in this palette. As a whole, the quality of this palette is phenomenal, there's only one flop, and it's still workable. All of the shades wear well. I've worn each of the twelve colors over a variety of primers and bases, and I've only had a couple incidences of creasing, most of which were probably caused by the primers or environmental factors, not product flaws. I've used Naked2 almost every single day since I bought it. I don't think I've ever fallen quite so hard for one single product before. Looking back on it, I feel so silly for talking myself out of buying this palette so many times and I can't thank everyone who encouraged me to buy it enough! The Naked2 palette is 100% worth all the hype and is totally worth the $50 I paid for it. I would repurchase this palette without question and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who is interested in this excellent palette.

They're Real...ly not that good.

Benefit's They're Real! is a wildly popular. Never have I ever wanted to try a mascara so badly, so I was overjoyed to get a mini tube as a gift with purchase at Ulta. Benefit says that this mascara will "lengthen, curl, volumize, lift, and separate. Our jet black, long wearing formula won't smudge or dry out. A specially designed brush reveals lashes you never knew you had!" Benefit claims that their consumer panelists say "94% more visible lift and volume", "90% base to tip curl" and "100% say long wearing results". Benefit's They're Real! mascara retails for $23 for an 8.5g (.3oz) tube. Don't want to invest in a full size? This mascara is also available in a $10 mini tube, and in multiple Benefit value kits. It's also frequently offered as a gift with purchase. Benefit does not test on animals. This mascara was made in France. Benefit products can be purchased through the brand's website, at Benefit counters and free standing boutiques, Sephora, and Ulta. Like just about every Benefit product, They're Real! comes in pretty cute packaging. The mascara comes in a black cardboard box. The name of the product is printed on the front of the box, clinical claims and a "before and after" photo can be found on the side of the box. Directions and a full ingredient list are offered on the back of the box. The mascara's tube is grey and topped with a silver metal cap. The name of the mascara is printed vertically on the tube in black and orange lettering. What's supposed to make They're Real! so special is the brush. They're Real!'s brush is quite large, about an inch long. The rubber bristles are pretty average and uniform in length, except at the tip of the brush, which comes to a rounded poit. The bristles on the tip are significantly longer than the ones on the body of the brush; these longer bristles are meant to separate and catch the shortest lashes. These elongated bristles are loaded with product and can be difficult to clean off. Benefit has a suggested method for using this unique brush. You're meant to wiggle and sweep the brush from root to tip, as usual, but you're then meant to turn the brush vertically and use the rounded tip to separate and add lift to the lashes. So how does that work out for me? Not so well, sadly. I find Benefit's They're Real! very clumpy, heavy, and hard on the lashes. One coat of this mascara looks nice, but doesn't deliver the dramatic false lash look Benefit promises. Well, that's an easy fix right? Just apply another coat or two. It's not that simple with They're Real!, this mascara begins to clump immediately when I begin to apply the second coat. I've tried a few application methods, including the one suggested by Benefit, all with no luck. The formula is very heavy and quite stiff on the lashes, causing my lashes to lose any curl they had and stick almost straight out. They're Real! is quite lengthening, but the length is canceled out by the heavy formula. This mascara also leaves weird little balls of product at the tips of my lashes that eventually flake off if I don't manually remove them. So They're Real doesn't give me dramatic lashes, but does it live up to the long wearing claim? Oh my yes. Aside from the weird clumps on the tips of the lashes, They're Real stays in place all day. It's actually pretty difficult to remove even with my best makeup remover. I don't think this mascara is truly waterproof, but it certainly performs that way. Benefit's They're Real! is one of their bestselling, most buzzed about products. Its been recommended to be by friends and bloggers alike. I'm so disappointed that it didn't work out for me. Application can take some time and practicae. The formula doesn't layer well, more than two light coats and my lashes stick together. The length They're Real delivers is awesome, but they stiff, heavy formula uncurls my lashes, and what good is length without curl? If you're looking for a super long lasting but non-waterproof mascara, Benefit's They're Real! might be a good choice for you. I wouldn't repurchase this mascara, I'll stick to BadGal Lash when it comes to Benefit mascaras. I really wish They're Real! was as great as it is for almost every one else. If you're looking to try this mascara out, check your local Sephora or Ulta for the mini tube first.

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stains are marker style lip stains with a clear lip balm attached to the end. Just Bitten is "kiss proof color with soft shine, meets a moisturizing balm for supreme comfort." These stains are available in 15 shades. I have the color Gothic, a bright red. Revlon products are not tested on animals. This stain was made in the USA, as are most Revlon products. I can't find the amount of product you get in each pen, actually Revlon barely offers any info on their product on their website. I purchased this stain on sale at Rite Aid for $4.99 on sale, but they usually retail between $8 and $12, depending on where you buy them. My local Rite Aid sells them for $10.99, so I scored quite a deal! Just Bitten Lip Stains come in color coordinated tubes with loosely attached caps, which isn't good considering marker style lip stains already dry out easily. The name of the product, and the name of the color are written on the tube in silver lettering. It looks pretty nice. Once again, Revlon comes out with attractive packaging, specifically by drugstore standard. I really wish the caps were sturdier and stayed on better. I wouldn't suggest throwing this product into your purse or makeup bag unsupervised. I also wish Revlon would offer more product information on the tube and on the website. The felt marker tip is well saturated with product and comes to a rounded tip. Not too conducive to drawing thin lines to line the lips, but because of the additional width you need fewer swipes to cover your lips. Application is easy, but Gothic can go on a bit uneven and needs two coats to be fully opaque, however it's no where near as sheer as most lip stains are. Some of the more active parts of your lips, such as the corner of your mouth may need extra coats to keep the color even. No matter how many coats you apply, the color will not show up even in close up flash photography. I learned that today while taking pictures for this post. It will appear even irl though, and that's what matters, at least on a daily basis. The color of Gothic is kinda great, but it definitely doesn't suit the name. Gothic sounds like it would be a deep, plummy color or a blackened purple, or at least a deeper, more burgundy red. Gothic is actually a bright, almost blood red when first applied, that dries down to a more classic, red lip color. It leans just a little bit cool, but could be considered neutral. Obviously, like with most lip stains, the resulting color varies on the natural color of your lip. The swatch on my arm looks like a different color than how it appears on my lips.Gothic suits me really well, which is great because I tend to have a harder time pulling off red lips, because of my pink cheeks and nose. I, personally think it looks quite good on me, though Roommate makes hooker jokes, and mum says it's almost overwhelming. What do they know though? The balm on the end is controversial. Not many people seem to like it. Lots of people say that their balm popped out or broke off the very first time they applied it. I have yet to have any issues with this balm, but it's also not anything to write home about. It's pretty much just regular chapstick stuck on to a lip stain. It's not really moisturizing, but it adds a nice shine to the matte stain. Of the four lip stains I've tried, Just Bitten is probably the most comfortable. It's a little, tiny bit drying, but nothing the balm can't handle. Just Bitten feels weightless on the lips, which is great. I actually tend to forget to touch up sometimes. Oops. On the subject of touching up, Revlon doesn't get very specific about how long their Just Bitten lip stains are supposed to wear. Good thing, because I don't get super wear from Gothic. Gothic fades in a patchy manner after 3 or so hours. The stain is still there, but it's no where near as bright red as when freshly applied. Reapplying in public may draw you a few strange looks. I guess people just aren't used to a girl coloring in her lips with what appears to be a marker with a chapstick stuck on the end. Revlon's Just Bitten stains are the first ones that I haven't noticed a slight artificial, fruity scent or taste, so if you have a scent sensitivity, consider choosing this stain. I like Revlon's Just Bitten lip stain in Gothic. I like it equally as much as NYC's Smooch Proof Lip Stain. You won't get hours and hours of wear, unless you layer a lipstick over it; I really like to layer NYX's Sunflower over Gothic. I think the color of Gothic is lovely and a true classic. Good job Revlon, this is the kind of color yinz are good at making. I do think Gothic was a weird name choice for the color. Just Bitten lip stains are pretty pricey for what they are, and I would never pay full price for it, but they're a solid buy if you get the on sale or with a coupon, or better yet, both. I would repurchase this stain if I could get a deal on it. Though Just Bitten isn't a perfect lip stain, they're pretty dang good. Pick one up if you like stains or if any of the colors catch your eye.

Essence Bronzing Compact Powder in Bronzing Queen is a fairly light bronzer with a little bit of shimmer. Essence makes a short, simple claim about this bronzer; "silky smooth powder for a shimmery and tanned finish". Easy enough. I purchased this bronzer at Ulta for $2.99 for 9g (.31oz), which is a really good value. Essence is a German drugstore brand, therefore they do not test on animals (I believe animal testing for cosmetic purposes in the EU). This bronzer was made in Poland. Essence can be found in most European drugstores, Ulta and Fred Meyers in America, Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada, and most recently Priceline and Target in Australia. Packaging isn't anything special, it's actually pretty cheap. Just a clear plastic compact that opens and shuts easily and firmly. The front of the compact features the name of the product in gold, the lettering is starting to rub off. I'd rather that not happen, but I've had this bronzer for several months now, so I'll accept it. The back of the compact has a grey label affixed to it with a good amount of info on it including a product description in a couple languages, some company info and a full ingredient list. This label seems to attract other makeup, it has mysterious eyeliner smudges on it and the like. My only actual complaint about Essence's Bronzing Compact packaging is that the pan isn't glued in the compact securely, it's not loose and falling out, but it does shift around during use. Essence calls this bronzing powder silky smooth and while I agree that it's silky and soft and nicely milled, I wouldn't exactly call it smooth. It's actually quite powdery. The softest touch with a bronzing brush can kick up quite a lot of excess powder. Boo potential for wasted product. Aside from powdery issues, this bronzer is nice. It has a good texture and has the right amount of pigmentation for a bronzer. By the way, this bronzer has little butterflies and dots on it, some of them raised and other indented. They disappear after a few uses, mine are just about gone, but then again I'm close to hitting pan. It's a cute touch to an otherwise boringly packaged bronzer. Bronzing Queen is on the lighter end of the bronzer spectrum. A light but buildable warm, soft tan with moderately noticeable shimmer. It's fairly subtle on my very light, cool skin, and might actually function better as a highlighter for tanner people. The glitter actually appears sparkly as opposed to a sheen, so those who prefer matte bronzers should steer clear of Bronzing Queen (Essence does make a matte version). The glitter isn't crazy though, it just adds a playful bit of sparkle. Clearly you shouldn't use this bronzer for contouring, but it's nice for a hint of tan with an even slighter hint of sparkle. I apply Essence's Bronzing Compact with my beloved Avon Glow Bronzing Brush, using a combination of buffing and sweeping motion, which can make it quite subtle. You should also know that this powder is scented. Essence's Bronzing Compact smells fairly strong of a perfumey, sunscreen scent. It isn't noticeable after application, but it's quite strong as soon as you open the compact. I actually kinda like it, but it may be a turn off for some. Overally Essence's Bronzing Compact Powder in Bronzing Queen is ok. Not that great, but it definitely gets the job done. Packaging is cheap, the texture is nice but powdery. The color is good for pale girls like me, but it has the potential to be a really pretty highlighter. It's not the most useful bronzer because of the shimmer, so I don't recommend it unless that's what you're looking for. I probably won't repurchase this bronzer, but it is good value for the price. Not bad, just not for me.

EcoTools calls this six piece brush set an "eye makover on the go". Each of the five brushes is designed to have multiple functions. These brushes feature "soft, cruelty free taklon bristles, recycled aluminum ferrules, and sleek bamboo handles." EcoTools is a wildly popular brand among bloggers big and small. As most already know, EcoTools make very reasonably priced brushes and other cosmetic accessories that can be bought worldwide at just about any drugstore and major retailers. I bought this brush set at Rite Aid on a buy one get one free deal for $7.99, the MSRP, but I've seen it priced for as low as $6, a great deal. I believe EcoTools products are made in America, they are a cruelty free brand. The five brushes come wrapped up in a small hemp and cotton brush roll that resembles an envelope when closed via velcro. A small mirror can be found inside. It's a decent quality mirror, but too small to do your makeup with, except maybe lipstick or gloss. Five elastic loops inside hold the brushes in place. The case isn't cute by any means, but it's functional and well made. I don't store my brushes in this brush roll, but I do use it for travel purposes. The brushes in this set are travel size, about five inches long from bottom of the handle to tip of the bristles. Each lacquered bamboo handle features the EcoTools logo and brush name carved into them. The aluminum ferrules are firmly attached to the handle and hold the synthetic bristles in place well. Each brush is dense, silky soft, splay free, washes well, and doesn't shed. The quality is fantastic, especially considering the price. The first brush in the set is the Blend brush, also known as the Large Eye brush. . Large Eye brush is, in my opinion, a more apt name for this brush for two reasons. First off, it's an entirely different shape than most blending brushes, instead of being fluffy and round, this brush is flat but full, coming to a slightly rounded tip, not really the shape I think of for blending. The other reason? This brush's head is legit the same size as my eyelid. How can I blend with something that takes up the entire surface of my eyelid? That being said, this brush does blend really nicely, but I prefer to use to to apply a light wash of color over the whole lid in one go. This is a lazy day kind of brush. Next up is the highlgiht brush. Long bristles taper into a softly pointed tip. I have never once used this brush to highlight, mainly because it's the perfect crease brush for my eye shape. I would buy this whole set again just for this brush. It applies and blends shadow into the crease flawlessly. It's the ideal shape for hooded, deep set, almond, or Asian shaped eyes, anyone with a small crease. Thinking about it, I suppose this brush would be good for highlighting for those with larger, rounder eyes. The precise point would be good for applying just a touch of shadow under the brow or in the inner corner. The third brush in this collection is the Smudge brush. I think this brush could be improved upon a little. What would I change? I'd make it just a little stiffer. Because EcoTools Smudge brush isn't quite the stiffness I'd prefer, I find that it doesn't smudge shadow or liner as well as I'd like, but it could get the job done in a pinch. I prefer to use this brush in the outer V and to define the crease, it's the perfect size, shape, and density. The Shade brush, a.k.a. the Petite Eye Shading Brush, is a teeny tiny shading/paddle brush, definitely the littlest one that I have. This brush is perfect for it's assigned function, it packs on eyeshadow beautifully, can be used to blend a bit, and is thin enough to use along the lower lash line. This brush is ideal for detail work and precise, perfect application. Last and probably lease is the Crease brush. A gently angled brush, it's only a little too big for my crease, but it should be fine for most eye shapes and sizes. I use this brush when I want an extreme, rounded crease but it's otherwise impractical for me, personally. It's not a bad brush, it's just not suited for my smaller eyes. It blends really nicely, and creates a nice shape. This is the brush I reach for least frequently. I really like the EcoTools 6 Piece Eye Brush set. There isn't a bad brush in the bunch. However I don't feel like it's fully complete. This kit could use a little angled liner brush or perhaps a fluffy blending brush. Of course I feel like most kits need an angled liner brush though, they're my favs. Aside from that, EcoTools offers a good selection of eye brushes, definitely all you need if you're traveling. This brush set is excellent, potentially some of the best brushes on the drugstore level, but I think everyone says that. I would repurchase this brush set if I needed to, but they seem very good quality, so I likely won't have to at least for quite a while. Go get these brushes, it'll be eight bucks well spent!

Lashes stay sticky :(

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara is a "100% Natural Origin" mascara that promises to lengthen, volumize and define lashes. Apparently this is the first ever certified organic mascara. The formula contains "EcoBlend to protect and perfect". What is EcoBlend? Supposedly a mix of "OrganiSoy to moisturize and help nourish lashes, and Eco Olive, a natural antioxidant to shield lashes from harsh environmental aggressors." Wow, so many buzzwords. Who are you trying to impress, Physicians Formula? I bought a duo pack of this mascara at Ulta for $9.99, which I believe is the normal retail price for just a single tube. I gave away the other tube as part of a gift. This mascara contains .26 oz (7.5 g) of product. This product was made in America. Physicians Formula does not test their products on animals. As with most of their products, Organic Wear is ophthalmologist tested, hypoallergenic, and fragrance free, as well as safe for those with sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Organic Wear comes in a leaf printed recyclable cardboard box. There's tons of information on the box, barely a square inch isn't covered in claims. There's even a chart on the back explaining the difference between Physicians Formula's organic ingredients and the synthetic ingredients that make up more traditional mascaras. An ingredient list can be found on the bottom of the box. I love the look of this mascara's tube. The tube is beige with leaves all over it. The name of the product and Physicians Formula logo adorn the front of the tube in green lettering. The cap of this mascara is really cool. It's A LEAF. A SHINY GREEN LEAF. So cool, yet so impractical. It's difficult to get a good, solid grip on the leaf shaped handle. You know, its ok though, I got used to it and I give Physicians Formula credit for getting creative with their packaging. The "EcoBrush is 100% recyclable. Physicians Formula says that this "innovative green brush is good for the earth and defines each lash with ultra soft, plastic bristles. The brush, about an inch long, is kinda an elongated football shape. I find it similar to Maybelline Volume Express One by One's brush, but with shorter bristles. The plastic bristles are evenly spaced and fairly short, tapering towards the ends of the brush, longest in the middle. A lot of product gets stuck on the tip and bottom of the brush. Do not like. However I go do like how this brush applies mascara, it sweeps through the lashes with ease. The Organic Wear formula is "100% free if harsh chemicals, synthetic preservatives, parabens, smudging, clumping, flaking, fibers, and dyes". Slow down there, Physicians Formula, we both need to take a deep breath after that. This mascara has a strange consistency. It goes on like a normal mascara, but it wears with a strange, sticky, tacky feel to it. Not cool. Cat and bunny fur stick to my lashes when I wear this mascara, irritating my eyes. That being said ,the tacky but not too wet formula holds a curl pretty well. Organic Wear mascara offers a nice amount of length and a fair amount of thickness, but I wish it gave me more lift. I feel like it kinda makes my lashes go straight out, then up, instead of that beautiful, delicately curled look. You know what I mean? While I agree that this mascara is smudge and flake free, I wouldn't call it clump free, though clumping isn't a major issue for Organic Wear. It wears well aside from the strange stickiness. This mascara doesn't give me itchy eyelashes, but it sets me up for itchy eyes in general if I'm going to be hanging out with my fuzzy friends. This mascara removes easily, but just because its natural doesn't mean it won't burn if you get it in your eyes in the removal process. Ow. I didn't like it at first, but I've been warming up to Physicians Formula's Organic Wear mascara. The texture is a little weird, but I like the results, otherwise. It gives very nice length while still looking relatively natural. It can feel a little heavy on the lashes, but it doesn't actually weight them down. Packaging is pretty cool, but not the easiest to work with. This is a decent mascara, but I wouldn't repurchase it, yinz know how I like to try new things. I also prefer a more dramatic lash look. Plus, $10 per tube? That's kinda steep. This mascara might be a good option for you if you're into the all natural, organic thing. Personally I feel like some things aren't meant to be organic, and mascara is one of them.

More of a cream than a butter.

Yes to Carrots Super Rich Body Butter is meant to "indulge your skin with a nourishing, revitalizing, and long lasting moisture treatment that will leave your skin feeling smooth, soft, and hydrated, and you feeling amazing - naturally." Lol good play on words. Yes To says the key ingredients in this butter is shea butter and organic carrots, though there are lots of beneficial ingredients in this moisturizer. This is the first body butter I've used for quite a while, but I really like them and hold them up to higher standard then most lotions. Yes To is a cruelty free brand that strives to make their products as natural and organic as possible. This body butter is paraben free. Yes To products are made in American and Israel. I bought the 1oz (28g) sample sized jar at Target for $1.99, which is a kinda sucky value. The full 8.45 oz tub retails for $12.99. Yes To products are available at just about any drug and grocery store, Ulta, Target, and Walmart in the US. I've also seen Yes To products being sold at a reasonable price at Priceline in Australia. Yes To can also be purchased from the company's website. This body butter comes in a small, white, recyclable plastic jar with a screw on lid. The bright orange label peels off to reveal a $1 off coupon for any Yes To product over $7. That's a bangin' coupon! The orange and white label on the front of the jar features the Yes to Carrots logo, product name, full ingredient list, and some warnings. I like how thorough Yes To is with their packaging, even on their mini products. Every brand should do this. Yes To gets really, really creative their their description of this body butter. It's so ridiculous that I feel the need to copypasta it right into this review. "Close your eyes. Imagine: A rich, creamy lotion being relaxingly messaged all over your delicate, hungry skin. A faint, light, refreshing scent fills the air around you. Now stop imagining, open your eyes, and a jar of Yes to Carrots Super Rich Body Butter". Calm down, Yes To. Don't get too excited. Was that supposed to be like, some sort of hypno-therapy session? It seems to me that Yes To takes their body butter way too seriously. On to the actual product. This body butter is more of thick cream than butter, you know what I mean? It doesn't have that super dense, melty quality to it. That's what separates a body butter from a body cream/lotion, isn't it? It applies very smoothly, but you don't have to spread it on like a body butter. You need less of this product then you think. When I first opened this little jar I thought I'd use it twice and it'd be gone, but I've gotten 3 or 4 uses out of this little 1 ounce jar, and I still have 1/3rd of the product left. Not bad. This product moisturizes well. I kept it in my purse on the plane to Aus, as 15 hours on a plane can lead to some very dry skin and it kept my skin feeling hydrated. I don't think this particular body butter gives the kind of rich, deep moisture a body butter should, I really do consider it more of a thick, maybe whipped cream. Just because it isn't a true body butter, doesn't mean I think it's a bad product though. It's a really nice hand cream that sinks in quickly but gives lasting moisture. The mini version the perfect size to carry around with you and is more portable than most hand creams. This butter is also a fantastic lip balm when you're in a pinch, though the "external use only" warning on the side leaves me to believe that using this butter on the lips isn't the best idea. You probably also shouldn't use it on your face either, but I did once out of curiosity and it gave me the softest skin ever with no negative reactions. Even though it's great on the hands, lips, and face, the places you aren't necessarily supposed to apply it, it gets poor marks when used on the body, where it is meant to be used. It doesn't give me any special, impressive results. My skin is soft, smooth, and fairly hydrated, but no more so than when I reach for any old Bath&BodyWorks lotion, and I get way better results from my St. Ives Intensive Healing Lotion. I will admit that my elbows, where I have my driest skin, seem less red and scaly than usual. Maybe this body butter is best used in areas where it's most needed, as opposed to all over. The scent of Yes to Carrot's Body Butter isn't what I expected. I guess I assumed it'd smell like carrots (which I thought was a safe bet). But it doesn't, and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. When I was reading reviews on this before I started using it, an overwhelming number of people described the scent as "heavenly". Why? I, and the 5 people I surveyed, all agree that this body butter is baby powder scented. Baby powder isn't heavenly, just powdery. I guess if you want a lightly scented body butter that doesn't linger, this is a good choice, but if you want a more heavily scented one, go to B&BW. Overall, I'm kinda torn on Yes to Carrots Super Rich Body Butter. On one hand it's great for use on my hands and lips, and the sample size is purse and pocket friendly, but it doesn't excite me otherwise. This butter lacks the texture and moisture I expect from body butters, it smells like baby powder, and isn't the best value; though it is more affordable than some butters which tend to be on the pricier side in general. I probably will buy another mini jar of this butter to keep in my bag, but I won't purchase a full size. I recommend trying the mini jar first to see if you like it before investing in the full size tub. This body butter is alright, it just isn't buttery enough for my liking. I might've liked it better had it been called "Super Rich Body Cream", which in my opinion is a more accurate name