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Fresh And Clean With Pacifica Beauty

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PRESS SAMPLE / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

I know what you’re thinking… Spring is here, Summer is right around the bend and if you are anything like me, you are prepping for the warmer months.  Since I live in Hawaii when it comes to Spring and Summer I tend to wear less makeup or none at all so that I can always be ready to jump into the cool, blue, beautiful ocean at a moment’s notice.  Living in Paradise is a benefit and I want to be sure that I can take full advantage of it as much as possible.  In the case I get caught off guard or ill prepared, I have two products from Pacifica Beauty that I know will be available for me when I need them.  The Pacifica Essential Makeup Removing Wipes and Pacifica Underarm Deodorant Wipes.

Pacifica Beauty Wipes

The Pacifica Brand has been one I have loved and adored over the last few years and I’m always intrigued by the new products they release.  Exclusively available at Ulta, the Underarm Deodorant Wipes and Essential Makeup Removing Wipes are packaged in cute and colorful packs (perfect for Spring and Summer) and are ready for you when you need them, whether on the go or in the comforts of your own home.

Pacifica Underarm Deodorant Wipes

The Pacifica Underarm Deodorant Wipes ($10) is something new and innovative to help with any underarm issues.  These wipes include a blend of natural essential oils and coconut milk that help to neutralize odor.  They are aluminum-free, biodegradable and keep you smelling fresh and feeling great for hours.  I have been loving these wipes for days I know I’m hitting the beach and throw it into my beach bag to keep me smelling great all day – even after play.  Since the ocean water (or pool or pond) can take off any deodorant you may have put on prior, these wipes are handy and essential in keeping me feeling fresh.

Pacifica Underarm Deodorant Wipes

These deodorant wipes are soft, with a light fresh scent.  They are great for all skin types, 100% Vegan and Cruelty-free.  I keep one in my purse always and I love that this makes things so convenient.  I pull them out when needed and use on its own.  These wipes help to stop malodors and don’t use harsh chemicals which is a big deal for me and my sensitive skin.

Pacifica Essential Makeup Removing Wipes

The Pacifica Essential Makeup Removing Wipes ($6) is a new addition as well.  Infused with coconut milk and jasmine, these biodegradable towelettes help to gently remove makeup, daily pollutants and all the things you don’t want to sleep with.  (Honey note:  These should be used in combination with your facial cleansing routine, not in place of it)  I love the inclusion of Jojoba Oil and Aloe Vera which help to make these wipes gentle on my sensitive skin and leave my skin moisturized.  These are different from the Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes as these are made to really remove makeup and they do not burn or cause sensitivities to my skin as the Purify wipes have done.  (Read more about that here.) While these wipes work good in removing makeup, I still find that in comparison to my normal makeup removing wipes, these still need a little more effort in removing some of my waterproof makeup.

Pacifica Essential Makeup Removing Wipes

These wipes are soft, feel great on the skin and are gentle.  They do dissolve makeup and I love keeping a packet on hand with me so that on those days I want to jump into the ocean, I can remove my makeup before splashing around (or after to do a fix up).  These wipes smell nice, really refreshing and clean and like the Underarm Deodorant wipes, these are also good for all skin types, 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free.

Summer Essentials

Hawaii is my playground and there is no time to stop and think about how my makeup looks or if my deodorant held up.  When ke kai (the ocean) calls, I just want to jump right in and feel its arms wrap around me. ~ Honey

What I love about Pacifica products is that like me, these are products developed by ocean and beach lovers.  Living in Hawaii has its challenges with cost of living and availability but that doesn’t make it any less of a paradise to me and no matter where my future may take me, it will always be my home.  Pacifica is brand that always reminds me of the paradise I love and has a product line I’m fond of.  Founded by Brook Harvey-Taylor, Pacifica products offer quality with island and beach living comfort.  Luxury that doesn’t have to come at great prices to consumers, animals or the planet.

Have you tried any of the Pacifica Beauty brand wipes before?  If so, which ones and what are your thoughts on them?

Signature Honey

 

Disclaimer:  These products were sent for press sample (review / consideration / gift).  All opinions expressed are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and while I did receive free product, no monetary payment or compensation was received to provide this feature.

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ColourPop In Bloom Collaboration With Jamie Greenberg

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NOTHING TO DISCLOSE

 

Well well, Spring is definitely in the air!  Between my love for the florals and fauna you can find through out Hawaii and the gorgeous weather we’ve been having I can’t believe how quickly this year is already flying by.  Besides the bright shades surrounding me (and my allergies that come with the season), I am drooling over the gorgeous cosmetics that companies are rolling out this year.  Bright hues of pinks and corals, I’m in awe over the pretty of it all.  It’s absolutely no secret that I am a huge fan of ColourPop.  It’s been about a year since I placed my first order for the squishy and pigmented treats that I adore so and I have been enjoying all of the products I currently own.  I’m so addicted, that when I seen the ColourPop In Bloom Collection rolled out, I knew I just had to have it.  The collection was created by Celebrity Makeup Artist Jamie Greenberg and includes a combination of bright shades that are Red Carpet ready for Spring and Summer.

Colourpop In Bloom

This gorgeous collection is packaged together in a beautiful box (perfect for the theme).  In Bloom is definitely a “bloom” of wonder and a great gift for yourself or anyone who loves makeup.  It sports three full sized blushes and three full sized lipsticks that are limited edition to this collection.  Retailing for $39.00, this set is a great starter for anyone looking to try out the blushes or lipsticks from ColourPop for the first time.

Shades included in the set:

Cheeks –

  • Tongue Tied (described as a bright/warm coral shade with a matte finish)
  • Double Dip (described as a soft peach with subtle highlights – satin pearl finish)
  • Hysterical (described as a cool-toned plum pink with a matte finish)

Lips –

  • Sweet Thing (described as a cool-toned medium true pink/cream finish)
  • Freshman (described as a hot pink/cream finish)
  • Frenemie (electric warm toned coral/cream finish)

Colourpop In Bloom

While I did own quite a bit of shadows and lipsticks, I haven’t had the opportunity to try out any of the new blushes since their release, so I was really excited to take them for a test drive.  Like their shadows, the blushes have a squishy, cream like texture and I have found that while applying with my fingers work well, I have had a lot of luck and easy application with my ELF Small Stipling brush for a nice airbrushed look that leaves my cheeks looking sunkissed and flushed.  Like the eye shadows from ColourPop these blushes have pretty nice staying power as I can apply in the morning without setting it and find hours later that you can still see them on my cheeks.

Colourpop In Bloom
Left To Right – Tongue Tied, Double Dip, Hysterical

Double Dip has been a favorite highlight for my cheeks and cupid’s bow the last week and I absolutely love Hysterical on my cheeks.  Since I don’t use coral shades as often, I am still using Tongue Tied with a light hand, but overall – I’m impressed with these blushes and have been enjoying them.  If you were or are a fan of the Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blushes, I think you’ll like these.  The texture and application process remind me of those a lot and they were a favorite of mine for quite some time.  I think these will be taking its place.

A little insider tip from Jamie?
“Mix Double Dip with both  Hysterical and Tongue Tied – this creates a very glowy, bright cheek. Also, the lip colors can go on super full or just dab them for a lighter stained look!”
ColourPop In Bloom
Sweet Thing

Sweet Thing is my favorite out of the three lippies included in this collection.  It is a gorgeous pink that works well with my skin tone and is a wearable, everyday type shade that could be used by any skin tone.  Out of all the shades, I think this one will be a favorite of mine to come.  As described it is a cool toned medium pink with a cream finish.

ColourPop In Bloom
Freshman

Freshman is a fun hot pink lipstick with a cream finish.  This lipstick offers a gorgeous look that is bold but not overdone, over powering or too much.  I think this particular lippy could lend for a great supplement if you don’t like red lips but want a punch of color.  This is a gorgeous shade for my fair skinned friends.

ColourPop In Bloom
Frenemie
Frenemie is a gorgeous warm toned coral shade that has a cream finish.  I do not use coral tones as often but I find that this one is much deeper in hue than a regular coral shade.  It’s really pretty and I like the finish.
ColourPop In Bloom
Left to Right – Frenemie, Sweet Thing, Freshman

Overall I think this collection is definitely a great one.  Offering you great color payoff, gorgeous shades and fun to use product, the In Bloom collection has been a favorite of mine now since I received my order.  I would love to see ColourPop offer some of these shades (if not all of them) in their permanent line so that it can be purchased individually – especially since I know I’ll be using up some of these products now that they are favorites.  You can’t beat the price point that this brand offers and the selection of shades in such a short time since the company was founded is great.  While using the product may take a little getting used to, I enjoy them all nonetheless.

ColourPop In Bloom

Have you seen this collection?  Have you tried any of the ColourPop blushes or lipsticks?  You can purchase or check out this set here: Colourpop.com

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  The products discussed and mentioned in this post were purchased by me with my own money.  In no way is this a sponsored post and all opinions are my own, honest and 100% unbiased.

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NYX Control Freak Eyebrow Gel

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AFFILIATE LINKS

 

After using this product for a year and having purchased it at least twice, I think it’s about time I finally get it together and talk about it here.  It’s no secret that the NYX Control Freak Eyebrow Gel is a favorite of mine, having featured it in a few monthly favorites and various makeup looks and tutorials, so I’m surprised I haven’t talked about it sooner.  The NYX Control Freak Eyebrow Gel is my go-to when I am on the go and need to set my unruly brows in place for the day.

NYX Control Freak Eyebrow Gel

The NYX Control Freak Eyebrow Gel (0.3 oz / 9g) is a drugstore product that I have been loving the last year.  Depending on where you purchase this product (I’m excited to have found it at my local Target – since new NYX products are hard to find here), this particular brow gel can retail anywhere from $5.50 – $9.00.  This simple tube has a lot of power to hold my long and full brows in place on days I don’t want to fill them in and need them to stay put, or if I have filled in my brows and want that “stay all day and play” control.

The gel itself is clear and much like many on the market today but what I love about this product is once my brows are set with it, they don’t budget or move.   I wouldn’t consider it to be waterproof – if I went for a swim, it would come off in the water, but I enjoy that I can set my natural brows with this and for the most part of the day and many hours it will stay in place.  Now, I can hear you saying to me… “There are a lot of products that do that…” but truth betold, I like how this gel doesn’t feel crunchy on my brows or stiff and it is NEVER clumpy.  The gel sets quickly and even if the brush seems simple and lacks uniqueness in the package, I never have to worry about clumps or patches of gel on my brow.  I think the wand stopper literally cleans the brush so that each time you take it out to apply, it provides you with the perfect amount of product each and every time.  No globs of goop.

NYX Control Freak Eyebrow Gel

If you look at the photo above, you can barely see the product on the wand.  This awesome stopper really helps in providing you the same amount of product each time and no more goopy brows!  What is great about this product is that it is not sticky at all as others have been for me and again, it dries quickly so you can use this on the days you are on the run.  Looking for a clear mascara?  This product can also do double duty if you want it to.

Obviously, if you are looking for something with tint or to add color to your brows, this is not it.  It’s merely a product to set your brows in place… but since my brows are naturally full, I find that this product works well for me on a daily basis to keep them tamed and in place.  Again – while I still have movement in my eyebrows so that simple things like lifting my brow looks natural and not stiff, I know my eyebrows will stay in place.

soft smoky eye
In the photo above I am using the NYX Control Freak Eyebrow Gel to set my brows in place and have used a brow shadow to fill them in.  

So – have you tried the NYX Control Freak eyebrow gel?  If not, is it something you would be interested in trying?  What is your go-to eyebrow gel?  Do you favor a drugstore brand or highend?

Signature Honey

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March Ipsy Glam Bag Reveal 2015 and Why I Unsubscribed

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SELF PURCHASED / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

Looking back at the calendar, I have been with Ipsy for almost 5 years (just under 5) and I have seen Ipsy in all its glory.  Having been with them for so long, I figured it was time to move on since I wasn’t quite getting the same experience out of my monthly bags as I once used to.  So, today I bring you my March Ipsy Glam Bag Reveal and my reasoning for unsubscribing.

March Ipsy Glam Bag 2015March’s Glam Bag – themed Floral Fantasy was based around gearing us all up for Spring.  For just $10 a month, Ipsy sends out a monthly subscription that includes everything from Indie and Drugstore brands to samples of highend cosmetics.  This month, my bag included a combination of all and I received two full sized products.

“Wake up your imagination with a crazy beautiful explosion of flowers.  Vivid shades and inviting textures collide this March.  Let the blooms begin.”

The bag itself is cute, though I would have loved to see more pink in the mix of the bag.  I had been seeing images from Ipsy Photoshoots including some of their brand ambassadors and would have loved to receive a bag with similar floral creations.  I wished the bag had included bolder floral pattern as those in the backdrops for the photoshoots, but nonetheless, this bag is still cute and I’m sure I’ll get use out of it.

Check out the video below for all the details 😀 Click here to watch directly on YouTube.

Included in my bag this month – I received:

Coolway Glow Oil Treatment – a sample size

NYX Butter Lipstick in Hunk – I failed to find this in my video so I didn’t mention it.  I have a swatch of this on my blog already – so you can check that out here.  This was a full sized product.  I have seen others get different shades, though I would have liked to see a color that looked a little bit more pink and on the Spring-like side.  I use this lippy for Fall, so I felt it was too dark for a spring look… just my opinion, though it can be used for spring months.

Marykay at Play teal me more eye crayon

MaryKay at Play Eye Crayon in Teal Me More – This product is full sized and I love the color.  It’s a little too creamy and will need to be set with a powder for longevity purposes but I enjoy it.

Marykay at Play teal me more eye crayon

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels – I love the brand Skyn Iceland and was introduced to this brand through Ipsy.  I haven’t used these eye gels yet, but I’m very excited to try them out and I wish there were more than just 2 pairs in our Ipsy bag.  Being a Skyn fan, I’m sure I’ll be getting these in the future.

Laneige BB Cushion SPF 50 – I just recently seen these at my local Target.  Ipsy provided four samples, though I probably could only use one since they are all based on my skintone and provided in color range.  I haven’t tested this product before, but still found it interesting it made it into my bag considering I had marked foundation, concealers and BB’s, etc. as “Not For Me” at least a handful of times.

Overall I know I’ll get some use out of the products I got in my March Ipsy bag.  Since I already have the Hunk lippy I’ll be giving that to someone or putting in a future giveaway.  Should I test out the products, I’ll be sure to talk about them here in a future update.  Having been with Ipsy for so long, I think my subscription has run its course.  The monthly cost is just $10 – a total steal considering you will usually get over $30 worth of products each month.  But, after so many years, I think I found that a lot of the products I used to enjoy, I’m no longer wearing and some of the brands and I are not compatible.  Should Ipsy change in the future, I will definitely look into signing up again, but for now – I think I am happy that I have unsubscribed… no more samples that I need to find homes for.  Shipping for Ipsy took its toll as well.  At one time, I received my Ipsy bag on time and over the last year, I was getting it six to eight weeks after it was shipped.  While it wasn’t issues from Ipsy – I had noticed that anytime I received a bag with nail polish, perfume or aerosol, it slowed the shipment down as it needed to be sent parcel (by barge).  It was a challenge to ensure I was no longer getting these items and sometimes I just didn’t want to deal with it.  As mentioned before, I learned about a lot of brands I enjoy because of this subscription service – Skyn Iceland, Healthy Sexy Hair and many others were brands I tried for the first time because of Ipsy – so I’m glad I was a part of it while I was.

So – what subscription services do you have?  I find that because I live in Hawaii, shipping is always a challenge and in some cases, many of them do not send boxes to me.  But, I’m always interested in checking them out.  Leave you favorites below so I can see if they’re a match.

Signature Honey

 

Disclaimer:  I purchased the products discussed in this post, however – I do have affiliate links through out.

 

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Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes and Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream – Review

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PRESS SAMPLE / SELF PURCHASED / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Pacifica fragrances and body butters, but I absolutely love the brand and their award winning products that are both 100% Vegan and Cruelty free in general.  As a Hawaii girl, Pacifica products have always been a favorite, offering me a bit of the ocean feel without getting my feet wet or touching the sand (not that I don’t like those things. lol).  Recently released, the Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes and Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream have been products I’ve been testing out and enjoying.

Pacifica Purify and Alight

Now, we all know I’m not one for face products like BB & CC Creams or foundations and concealers and I don’t use them often due to my sensitive skin.  You could say I kind of banished them from my makeup routine in general and only use in case of emergency or if I feel my skin needs it.  But I am always interested in trying new products and was quite intrigued with a BB Cream that not only beautifies the skin and reduces pores, but it also helps to hydrate and fight the signs of aging.  Many products lay claim to those notions, but I have yet to find one that I enjoy.

Pacifica Alight BB Cream

The Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream is a bare skin tint with floral stem cells ($16.00 1 fl. oz) and is an all-in-one weightless formula that has mineral pigments that instantly adjust to your skin shade.  I have tried many products similar and since my skin shade is different than most, I didn’t think this product would work and I was worried it would give me a white cast or look out of place against my skin tone.  Boy, was I surprised.  It was easy to apply, light weight and felt nice on the skin.  I noticed micro shimmer when applied, but it left my skin looking dewy, not sparkly or glittery as other products have done.  I also felt moisturized while using it and was pretty impressed.

Pacifica Alight BB Cream Before After
Left – Before putting on Alight BB Cream, Right – After putting on Alight BB Cream

My face looked radiant with the product on and I received quite a few compliments already.  Since I don’t normally use products such as these, I worried that it would not look natural, but as you can see from my before & after photos – it doesn’t look heavy or glittery at all.  If you are someone like me that rarely wears face products and likes a natural look, I think this would work well for you.  It’s a bit costly for the amount of product you get, but I think it would be something for anyone – any skin type and any skin tone.  It helped to even my skin out, without looking like I had makeup on.

Pacifica Alight BB Cream

Key Ingredients include:  Jojoba esters, sweet iris leaf cell extract, damascus rose leaf cell extract, coconut water and kelp extract.

Ingredients: water, gylcerin, caprylic/ capric triglyceride, cetearyl olivate, sorbitan olivate, sorbitan sesquioleate, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) esters, iris pallida (sweet iris) leaf cell extract, rosa damascena (damascus rose) leaf cell extract, cocos nucifera (coconut) water, laminaria hyperborea (kelp extract blend), hyaluronic acid, potassium cetyl phosphate, hydroxyethylcellulose, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, iron oxide black, mica, potassium sorbate, sodium dehydroacetate, sodium benzoate, citric acid, punica granatum (pomegranate) extract, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, white tea extract, aloe barbgadensis leaf juice, fragrance (all natural).

Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes

Next to talk about is the Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes Facial Towelettes.  First of all, I was really stoked to see the words “coconut water” on the packaging as anyone who reads this blog knows I swear by coconut oil and coconut water for skin care needs.  The towelettes ($6.00 – 30 towelettes) are soft and the feel of the wipe itself is really nice against the skin.  I love the thickness of these and I think they are really nice for anyone on the go.  Sadly though, these sting my eyes when trying to remove eye makeup and I have a warm sensation (not necessarily in a good way) when used on my cheeks or near my under-eye area.  I love the scent of these, they remind me of a beach with its coconut fragrance, but unfortunately, these didn’t work well with my sensitive skin and I had to discontinue using them near my eyes.  As much as I wanted to love these, they were a miss for me.  I don’t do well with products that have papaya fruit extract in them… so that may be the cause of the burn.  But, in general, these didn’t work well for me in removing makeup.  I used it to clean my hand of swatches and it took a bit of scrubbing to get it off.  If you like to cleanse your skin overall, without removing makeup… and just want a clean and exfoliated type face without the harshness of an actual exfoliation, I think you may like these.  And, if you love coconut scents, you’ll love the smell of these.

Note – the site states that this product will remove most makeup however, due to the fact that it does not include chemical solvents, it will not remove most water-proof makeup.  This definitely was proven to me after trying to remove mascara which was waterproof as well as a waterproof eye shadow base.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin (vegetable), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Water, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract , Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Extract , Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance (all natural).

Pacifica Purify and Alight

I have tried lots of products from different brands to know that what may work (or not work) for me, may not be necessarily the same result for someone else.  So – if you are one that loves makeup remover wipes as I do – I think you may want to give these a try and see if they work for you.  If you love face products or are like me and don’t use them often, but want something to give you a little “something something” while still offering you a “tinted moisturizer” with benefits, I think you’ll quite enjoy this BB Cream too.  I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

These products and more are available at Target, Ulta, Whole Foods and other fine retails near you.  You can also learn more about these products and purchase at Pacificabeauty.com

As I mentioned before, I am a huge fan of Pacifica products and now that we finally got a Target near me, I’ll be sure to try out more of the products from their line.  If you want to see more reviews on products (I do own a few that I love), please let me know.  Have you tried any of these mentioned today?  What are your thoughts on these and will you be adding them to your next shopping must-have list?

Signature Honey

 

Disclaimer:  The products mentioned in this post were sent to me for PR purposes for review and / or consideration.  I was in no way obligated to review the products and was not compensated for my post.  All opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased.

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