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Josie Maran Argan Balm and Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter

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SELF PURCHASED / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

I am a huge fan of cleansing and moisturizing with oils so it’s no secret that Josie Maran Cosmetics is one of my favorite brands.  Let’s face it, the woman is gorgeous and I love the products she offers.  While I have been a long time user of the Josie Maran Argan Oil, I haven’t tried the Argan Balm or Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter until recently.  Once these products touched my skin, I was immediately sold.  Since I have dry skin and Eczema, I am always looking for products that will work hand in hand with my beloved coconut oil to provide my skin with the moisture and protection it needs and I’m beyond impressed.  Today I’m going to share these products with you and my thoughts on each.

Josie Maran Argan Balm and Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter

While these products are available in full size, I am showing and sharing with you the travel sizes of each.  If you are looking to try these out before getting the larger size, the travel sizes are the perfect amount for you.  The Josie Maran Argan Balm in Vanilla Apricot (Net Wt. 28g / 1oz – $12) is formulated to help nourish and protect the skin.  Made in the USA, this balm is filled with healing and hydrating properties of Argan Oil that are concentrated in solid, leak-proof form.  It is the perfect companion for you when you need an intense hit of moisture.  I use this balm at night prior to bed to get a deep dose of hydration.  I apply it to my elbows, heels, hands and even on my lips and wake up with soft, moisturized skin in the morning.  I also apply this as a cuticle oil and with winter right around the bend, this will be my cold weather protector.  Anyplace and anywhere you think you need a little more moisture or protection, apply this balm for a whole lot of awesome.   Made with 100% pure argan oil in a base of rich shea butter and soothing essential oils, this balm is free of synthetic fragrances and parabens and is not tested on animals.  It is the perfect “on the go” treatment for your skin and I LOVE IT!  This balm comes in two scents (and an unscented I believe) and I’m loving it.  It has a light fragrance, but smells so yummy.

Josie Maran Argan Balm and Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter

Next on the list is the Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter (Net Wt. 59mL / 2 fl.oz. – $12.00).  If you have been following this site for a while, then you probably know that I love The Body Shop body butters, so this is a new thing for me.  The Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter from Josie Maran is rich in essential fatty acids and scented with Vanilla / Apricot.  There are a few other scents for this particular product.  It is formulated with cold-pressed argan oil and is rich in vitamins and minerals as well as other beneficial ingredients that are good for your skin.  I absolutely LOVE this body butter.  The whipped texture is light and makes it very light weight on your body.  It has a light fragrance, but you can still smell the Vanilla/Apricot scent.  Applies evenly and smoothly and feels wonderful on my skin.  If you are not the type of person that likes oily body butters but wants the benefits of oils within, you may like this one.  I can feel the argan oil on my skin, but I’m still able to grip certain items without my hands being too slippery and I love this product all over my body.  This is my ultimate treat after getting out of the shower and my skin is left moisturized, soft and smooth.  “My husband loves how my skin feels too – which is the ultimate approval – lol.”   A little goes a long way with this product, massage all over your arms, legs, body, hands, neck and chest… and feel pampered and wonderful.

Josie Maran Argan Balm and Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter

Last is the Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Intensive Hand Cream (Net wt. 30mL / 1 fl.oz. – $12).  The travel is perfect for my purse and I have been using it as such.  Included is Josie’s ultra-hydrating formula that is infused with pure argan oil, shea butter and aloe vera to help hydrate, heal and protect dry, cracked hands.  This cream absorbs quickly into my skin, making it a great cream for on the go.  I don’t like to use hand creams while driving because my hands are too slippery but I do not have that issue with this cream.  It’s rich but not too heavy and I love treating my hands with this product while doing a manicure.  It smells yummy, feels great on my skin and I have noticed an improvement of my skin and how soft it feels since using this product.  I love it.

I have a ton of different moisturizing products and have my favorites.  I definitely think these products are going to be life long favorites after using them.  My skin feels great and I love how I can get so much use out of little products.  I’ll be picking up the full sized items once these run out because I do really enjoy them tremendously.  Besides Josie Maran’s Argan Oil – what other body products have you tried and enjoyed from her brand?

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  All products discussed in this post were purchased by me with my own money.  All opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased.  I was not paid to provide my thoughts or feature these items however, I do have affiliate links posted through out.

 

 

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Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

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SELF PURCHASED / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

Over the years, I have come to find that Tarte has become one of my favorite brands.  With so many gorgeous cosmetics to offer, to say I have been impressed, is – well, and understatement.  A more recent purchase from Tarte during their Friends and Family sale gave me the opportunity to try a palette I’ve been eyeing for a few months.  I’ll be honest, while I had my sights on it, I wasn’t quite ready to make the commitment.  But at the price point, I couldn’t resist.  I am very very happy to have the Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette in my makeup arsenal.  After just one use, I fell in love.

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

The Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette retails for $38.00 (I got it at a discount for $26.60 plus free shipping during the Friends/Family sale).  It includes six eye shadows, a bronzer, highlighter and blush.  Powered by Amazonian clay – this palette is packed with gorgeous shades that can be worn year round to create the subtle every day looks to gorgeous runway showstoppers.  The palette features six never-before-seen shadows that are stunning and a full size blush that is perfect for summer months but can be worn year round.  Like most of what Tarte offers, each shade through out the palette offers a punch of color and are blend-able for your gorgeous looks.

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

Palette break down:

0.80 g /0.03 oz x 6 eye shadow:  Amazonian clay shadows – showstopper copper (bronze copper), go for the gold (gold), you’re a natural (nude), steel the scene (steel taupe), rose to the top (rose gold) and dim the lights (black brown)
6 g / 0.21 oz Amazonian clay blush: fame (warm peach)
4 g/ 0.14 oz Amazonian clay matte waterproof bronzer: park ave princess™
4 g/ 0.14 oz Amazonian clay highlighter: champagne pink

A full list of ingredients can be found here.

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

Now anyone that has used Tarte before knows that the Amazonian clay products from the brand offer longer, truer wear that feels great on the skin and with the additive of mineral pigments, you have all kinds of love for your eyes and face that apply beautifully.  When this palette was first released, I honestly didn’t even give it a double take the first time I saw it.  The shades just looked like a neutral palette or two that I own and the only thing drawing me to the palette was the packaging (hello, gold & purple – win).  But I couldn’t pass up the sale so I decided to grab it after my friend Heather (Crazybeautifulmakeup.com) said it was definitely a nice palette.

I purchased the palette wondering if I would enjoy it and after the first use, I was sold.  In the pot the shadows look like they are just your basic neutral shades.  But applied on the eyes, they are gorgeous and used over different eye bases provide a gorgeous look every time.  I am amazed at how dimensional these shades are offering up a variety of hues I had no idea this palette included.  I am really loving it and used over some of my smokey brown bases, I have created gorgeous smoky eyes that are just fabulous for Fall or year round.  (No photos of looks, but I promise I’ll have a look or tutorial up soon utilizing this palette).

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

Now – while the shadows are gorgeous, I also am getting great use out of the highlighter, bronzer and blush.  The blush is a stunning coral shade that is so pigmented that a little goes a long way.  The bronzer while a little lighter than I am usual is one I have tried before and I love using it on days where I don’t have much makeup.  It’s the perfect contour and warmth shade that offers subtle shadows along my cheek bones that give the illusion I have a chiseled face without going overboard.  And, well – the highlighter, I need a light hand when applying, but it is absolutely gorgeous.

Each product within this palette has a soft, blend-able feel that is easily applied and packs pigment in one swipe.  If I had to critique anything about it, it would be that I really wish Tarte would print the names of the shadows, etc. on the actual palette instead of providing the plastic sleeves that I think are such a headache to keep around.  Overall I’m very impressed and I’m glad I decided to pick this palette up because I would have just admired it from a distance and not realize how beautiful it really is.  Definitely a winner in my book and one I may add to my travel arsenal since it includes most of the products needed to create a look, or two.

Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette

So – have you tried this palette from Tarte?  If not, is it one you may be interested in looking further into?  I am amazed at how each shade of shadow has rose hue undertones- I’m just loving it.  You can get this palette at Tartecosmetics.com or Sephora.

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  The product(s) mentioned in this post were purchased by me with my own money.  All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased.  I am not being paid to feature this product however I do have affiliate links through out this post which I do make money on if you click them.

 

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Roses For My Cheeks – Milani Rose Powder Blushes Fall 2015

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SELF PURCHASED / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

Be still my heart!  Milani has done it again and this time, these gorgeous shades are ready for your Fall 2015 looks.  It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the Milani Rose Powder blushes, so much so that I practically own every single one available.  These gorgeously embossed beauties are favorites in my collection and these two new addictions are no different.  If you haven’t seen them hit your stores yet, you will be seeing three gorgeous Limited Edition Rose Powder blush shades.  I currently own two of the three shades available and I wanted to share these with you.

Roses For My Cheeks - Milani Rose Powder Blushes Fall 2015

The two colors I have added to my collection are Awakening Rose (10) and Blossomtime Rose (11).  Awakening Rose is a Dusty Rose pink that has light silver shimmer that adds a subtle highlight and glisten to the cheeks.  The shimmer in this shade is iridescent and depending on the highlight I’m using that day – though it looks silver in the pan, it can create a soft golden hue on my cheekbones.  Blossomtime Rose which is my favorite out of the two is a Peachy Pink blush with Golden Pearl shimmer.  This particular blush is gorgeous and has been my favorite to add a little peachy blush golden hue to my skin.

The packaging is gorgeous… absolutely stunning and what has me swooning over them each time Milani rolls out a new set.  I was so bummed when I dropped one of them when photographing these and my finger nail scrapped it up.  The embossing lasts quite a while with lots of use… I have several blushes I use consistently and I’m barely putting a dent in the embossing.

Roses For My Cheeks - Milani Rose Powder Blushes Fall 2015

Each blush retails for $7.99 and includes a Net. Wt. 0.60oz/17g.  You get  a lot of product for the money and I love how the blushes feel against my skin and how pigmented they are.  The only downside to these is the Talc which is included in the ingredients, but I haven’t noticed any issues with my skin when using these and since I own at least 10 of them, that speaks volumes for how much I enjoy these.  Using a large powder brush or a stippling brush will apply these colors nicely on the cheeks.  They are a little powdery but a quick dusting of your brush prior to application and you are good to go.

Ingredients: Talc, Synthetic Wax, Aluminum Starch, Octenylsuccinate, Hydoxylated Lanolin, Isopropyl Lanoate, Petrolatum, Cyclomethicone,, Lanolin Alcohol, Cetyl Actate, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Methylparabne, Proprylparaben. +/- May Contain: Synthetic Flourphlogopite, Mica, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 28 (CI 45410), Red 36 (CI 12085), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Carmine (CI 75470), Ultamarines (CI 77007), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Manganese Violet (CI 77742).

Roses For My Cheeks - Milani Rose Powder Blushes Fall 2015

These gorgeous beauties should be arriving at a Walgreens near you soon or they are also available at Milanicosmetics.com.  Many of the Rose Powder blushes available in past collections were more matte, which I love – but I also enjoy the fact that these offer a light shimmer and iridescence so they add a little extra highlight against the skin.  I think I found a few new faves now that I have gotten my hands on these… Warm Petals (no longer available) has been a favorite for over a year, and I think Blossomtime and Awakening Rose have now stolen the show.

Have you seen these beauties in your local stores yet?  Have you tried any of the Rose Powder blushes from Milani?  If so – what are your thoughts?

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  While I have been sent Milani products in the past for Press / Review consideration – these were purchased by me with my own money.  All opinions as always are my own and 100% honest and unbiased.  I was not paid to provide my thoughts on these items though I do have affiliate links through out this post which I do and can make money from.

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ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks – Thoughts & Swatches

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SELF PURCHASED / AFFILIATE LINKS

 

I have been sitting on the thought of writing up this post now for a few weeks but just never got around to it so I’m sharing it with you all today.  Last month after a huge fiasco, website crashing and overall craziness, I was able to get my hands on the ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks.  When I say fiasco, I mean it.  ColourPop has this thing about releasing their new products earlier than they state and it causes a huge frenzy sometimes.  After almost 12 hours of trying to get their site to load, I was able to place my order and add 13 of the 25 liquid lipsticks to my cart.  Here are some swatches and my overall thoughts on the products.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks - Thoughts & Swatches

The ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks retail for $6.00 through Colourpop.com.  Considering I own a few liquid lipsticks from other brands like Stila, Kat Von D and L.A. Splash – I consider this to be a great price point.  You get 3.2g/0.11 oz worth of product which is a lot considering the price you pay for each liquid lipstick.  These liquid lipsticks are now available in over thirty shades (new ones recently released this past week) and are a variety of colors.  They are a thin formula and consistency which makes applying them pretty easy and they dry quick and to a matte finish.  The formula does glide on fairly easy for me and I haven’t noticed any patchiness with the shades I have upon application.  I love the color payoff on each and the rich shades make a matte lip show stopping.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks - Thoughts & Swatches

While these claim to be kiss proof and long wearing – I think it really does depend on what you are eating and drinking and on your lips.  You must apply these to your lips that are bare (no lip balm) and dry.  Since the product dries quickly – I suggest you start with one coat and for the most part – one coat is enough for me.  The formula is thin, which makes layering colors a little easier with this particular liquid lipstick then others that I own however, too much product will cause the lipstick to feather or start flaking off.  I can get approximately 6 full hours of wear time without eating or drinking anything that has oil in it and if anything I consume does include oil, I will need to touch up shortly after eating.  I don’t normally like to bring makeup with me when out and about but I take my lipstick with me to touch up.  I find that because the formulation is thin that it makes reapplying or touching up easy vs. other similar products.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks - Thoughts & Swatches

I like the packaging on these a lot though I’m a bit bummed that most of my lipsticks no longer have the ColourPop signature holographic logo as they have wiped off.  But I think it is great that we can see through the packaging and can pick out the color we want to wear for the day or night without issue.  Each lip color has a twist off cap (similar to that of a lip gloss) and a basic doe foot applicator which applies the product pretty nicely for the most part.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks - Thoughts & Swatches

When applying the product – I tend to follow these steps:

  • Make sure your lips are moisturized and exfoliated (or all the lines and cracks in your lips will be visible with this product).
  • Lips must be bare and dry – so if you have moisturized or applied lip balm, be sure to remove or pat off your lips.  (this helps with the longevity and adhesion of the product)
  • Line your lips if you feel you must.  I apply the product directly to my lips without liner and clean up any mistakes quickly with a little jojoba or coconut oil and Q-tip.

These lipsticks leave your lips with a dry texture, so if you have have dry lips, it can exaggerate the lines in your lips.  I suggest that you apply a lip balm over the lipstick through out the day – dab the lip balm off and then reapply the liquid lipstick for use the remainder of the day.  However, while it can be a matte / dry texture, I didn’t notice that my lips felt overly dry.  I have used many liquid lipsticks that dry down matte but leave my lips feeling cracked, sore and too dry -these are fairly comfortable.  They don’t have a scent – which I really enjoy and it makes the lipstick easy on the nose when applying.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks - Thoughts & Swatches
Top to Bottom – Left to Right: Mars, Quiji, Tulle, Bumble, Trap, Midi, Solow Lychee, Drive-In, Seesaw, LAX, Avenue, Creeper

The swatches above are done on the inside of my arm which is not an accurate shade reference to my actual lips which have color – but I figured I would swatch them anyway so that you could see some of the color range.  Since my arm didn’t get any exposure to oily food the swatches lasted until I removed the lip product with coconut oil.  Oh – and that brings me to removing the lipsticks.  I have had some other brands which don’t budge when removing.  These actually are quite easy to take off with a little coconut oil or my Josie Maran Cleansing Oil or InstaNatural Cleansing Oil.  A little bit of oil and a little rub will remove these fairly easily compared to others I own from different brands.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks - Thoughts & Swatches

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks - Thoughts & Swatches

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks - Thoughts & Swatches

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks - Thoughts & Swatches

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks - Thoughts & Swatches

I do enjoy these liquid lippies quite a bit and have been getting a lot of use out of them.  If I had to choose my favorite from the shades I currently own, they would be Tulle, Trap and Avenue – though I think it’s because I get the most use out of those three.  At the end of the day – I really enjoy the shades I own and I am looking forward to adding more to my collection.  You can’t beat the price point – I just purchased some from Milani that are $8.99 so I’m over the moon enjoying these.  While there are some cons to the longevity I think I really like how easy they are to apply and they leave my lips matte, no sticky texture like some can do.  Also – my favorite combos to layer and pair are Trap and Tulle and Tulle and Seesaw.

So have you jumped on the ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick trend?  If so – what colors do you love and if not, what colors are you hoping to try?  If I have my way – I may collect them all. 😀

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  All products discussed in this post were purchased by me with my own money.  All opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased as is anything on this site.  I was not paid to provide my thoughts on these products or to feature in this post.

 

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Affordable Clothing and Accessories – 599Fashion.com Haul & Review

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I’m all about saving a buck and finding things on sale or at a discounted price but finding clothes that fits this voluptuous body of mine can be a struggle and a challenge.  A few years back I was introduced to 599Fashion.com and have been a fan of the site since.  While I was sent these items for review and feature from 599Fashion.com – I have purchased from the site a lot over the years and I wanted to share the newest threads I acquired this time around.

Affordable Clothing and Accessories - 599Fashion.com Haul & Review

So what is 599Fashion.com?  This is a website that offers you a variety of clothing and accessories that cost $5.99 or less.  Now, over the years they have added other items like footwear that do cost a tad bit more – but for the most part, nothing is over $8.00 from what I can see.  You can find everything from regular sized clothing for women and plus sizes too (woohoo for me) but there is also a lot of accessories from jewelry to handbags and other fun items all at reasonable and affordable costs.  What I enjoy about 599fashion.com is that they not only ship to Hawaii, but shipping costs are not outrageous like other sites can be.

Check out my video haul! Subscribe and comment too.

Affordable Clothing and Accessories - 599Fashion.com Haul & Review

I am all about comfy and casual clothes but I also love lace so I’m always excited to see lace on the site.  The top I’m using in the photo above is a ribbed racerback style tank that has lace down the back and is comfy and cool.  This top is just $5.99 and was available in several different colors.

Affordable Clothing and Accessories - 599Fashion.com Haul & Review

Since I tend to find lace on the site often, I’m always picking up something with a little lace detailing.  The top in the photo above is a black round neck top with lace illusion back and sleeves.  I love it.  Made of a cotton and spandex blend, it’s comfy and cozy and again – just $5.99.  It is also available in a variety of colors too.

Affordable Clothing and Accessories - 599Fashion.com Haul & Review

I think the tops that are offered on the site – especially those for plus sized gals like me are fun and flirty and you simply can’t beat the price tag.  After years of shopping on 599fashion.com I have found a variety of maxi dresses, tops and even cute flip flops that I have loved.  The only downfall about the site or company is that due to the demand, supply and the affordability the products on the site can sell out quickly.  One day it can be there and the next it is completely gone.  Because of this you want to ensure that you get it when you see it or it may not be there the next time you come back.

Affordable Clothing and Accessories - 599Fashion.com Haul & Review

Now let’s talk about the ease of shopping on the site.  It’s simple really!  You can search or select your size to make shopping easier or simply browse the site.  It’s updated consistently and new things are added each week.  I love the fact that when I order something, I can see the sizes available and know that I’ll get the product if I ordered it.  My experience with shopping on 599fashion.com is always seamless and there are never any issues.

The quality of clothing that I have purchased and received over the years are actually not bad.  Considering the price point, you are getting the same kind of quality as you would from stores like RAVE, Jeans Warehouse (Hawaii), Forever21 and even Charlotte Russe.  I examine all of the clothing when they arrive to ensure they are not ripped or damaged and I have NEVER had an issue.  I have personally ordered from this site at least 10 times and have never had a piece of clothing arrive damaged.  I especially love the maxi dresses from this site because they fit well and are so comfy for dressy days or lounging.

If you are looking for something affordable or to get a great buy for your money, I suggest checking out the site and seeing if there is something you may want.  While I was sent these products for review and feature, I have been and continue to be a customer of the site.  Another thing I enjoy picking up is little toys and trinkets for my sons – which are also available.  Stop by and check it all out.

Have you shopped at 599fashion.com before?  If not, why not and if so – what are your thoughts?  If you haven’t already – stop by my video and check out my haul here.

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  The products mentioned or featured in this post were sent to me for review and consideration however all thoughts and opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased.  My thoughts in this post are based solely on my own experience only.  I was not paid or monetarily compensated to feature these products or brand on my site.

 

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