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NYX Infinite Shadow Sticks – Almond, Sweet Pink, Chocolate

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I have been a long time fan of NYX Cosmetics, having used their single eye shadows and lipsticks for quite a few years, but over the last year I have really loved the new products NYX has released.  Last year NYX rolled out their Infinite Shadow Sticks in nine different shades and I have three of them that I’m going to share with you today.  While these may seem similar to the Jumbo Eye shadow Pencils (JESP), these NYX Infinite Shadow Sticks are very different and offer something their jumbo eye shadow pencils do not.

NYX Infinite Shadow Sticks

The Infinite Shadow Sticks come in nine gorgeous shades that are geared more towards the wearable / neutral eye looks.  Each pencil (net wt. 0.19oz/5.27g) retails for $9.00 on the NYX website and about the same at Target and Ulta as well as other drugstore locations that carry the new NYX products.  These pencils are creamy, but don’t get it twisted, it’s very different from the creamy jumbo eye shadow pencils we are used to.  The shadow sticks set quickly and I love using them as a colored base or even on my eye lids without primer, because once they set, they don’t move on me.  If you are someone with watery eyes – try using these on your lower lash line to help smoke out your look, you will notice it will stay there all day as it has for me many many times.  While I’m a huge fan of JESP, I could not use them alone as they are so creamy, they move if they are not set or applied over primer… whereas these new pencils are meant to last – no movement, no budging until you take it off.

NYX Infinite Shadow Sticks

While creamy – the formula on these pencils is much drier than the jumbo eye shadow pencils, so you must blend it quickly or it will set and not move.  These really are smudge-proof (in my opinion) as the NYX claims and the shades available make for a great day or night look.  The color payoff and pigmentation on these – awesome!  I have my eyes on a few other shades I want to add to my collection as well.

NYX Infinite Shadow Sticks
Left to Right: Almond, Sweet Pink, Chocolate

While the packaging is a different material from the original jumbo eye shadow pencils, you can still easily sharpen these using a jumbo pencil sharpener.  I was pretty amazed at how easily they sharpened.  Using this product is as easy as any eye shadow pencil, simply apply the pencil directly to your eye lids and blend.  You can use this product alone or use as an eye shadow base.  Since my eye lids tend to be a bit dry, I like to apply a primer first then apply the infinite shadow stick over so that I can blend the pencil easier – but overall, using this product is simple.

I happen to like these a lot and I know I’ll continue to buy them in the future – hopefully collect a lot of my favorite shades as I have with the original NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencils.  But, just a note – if you are looking for a similar type pencil from the drugstore but at a cheaper price point – I definitely suggest the Jordana 12 Hour Made to Last Eye shadow pencils.  I don’t have a review on those yet (coming soon – promise), but at $2.99 – even if the colors are not the same, it surely is a cheaper alternative and it will stay all day as well.  Either way – if I had to suggest a shade to pick up from the NYX Infinite Shadow sticks – I would suggest Almond which is such a gorgeous metallic shade perfect for every day or smoky looks.

In the look above, I have used NYX Infinite Shadow Stick in Chocolate as a base for part of my look.  You can view the details of this look as well as a tutorial for it here.  Have you tried the NYX Infinite Shadow Sticks before?  I like them a lot and think they will continue to be a favorite in my makeup arsenal.

Signature Honey

 

Disclaimer:  Some of the products discussed in this post were sent to me for review / consideration while some were purchased with my own money.  While I did receive products for review, all opinions or views mentioned are 100% honest and my own.  Please note that affiliate links are also through out this post.

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Borghese Fango Mud Masks

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I absolutely love masks!  I think that masks offer me my own littler personal spa day when applying them and I also love what they do for my skin.  I have tried many many brands, types and price points when it comes to them and have a list of favorites I can turn to when ever I’m looking for some extra pampering.  Borghese Fango Mud Masks have become a favorite of mine now over the last few months and used in combination with my regular skin care line, they have been great on my skin.

Borghese Fango Mud Masks

The Fango line from Borghese is a popular one.  I have been talking with friends that have tried the brand before and each of them have said that they love the Fango line.  This particular line offers seven different masks that provide everything from skin tightening, lightening, cleansing and even brightening.  The line also includes serums, hydration mists and other products to assist with your skin care routine.  Each product can be used for a variety of purposes and I love that most if not all of the masks come in two different sizes to accommodate your pocket book and your needs.  Here are three that I have been able to try out and my thoughts on each.

Borghese Fango Mud Masks

Fango Active Mud for Face and Body (17.6 oz/430 ml – $72.50) can be used for both your face and your body.  This cleansing mud mask reminds me of mud with it’s deep army green color but works really nicely for my body and parts of my face.  You apply it on your clean skin – packing it on thickly and avoiding your eye and mouth area.  Allow it to sit for about 2-5 minutes (but do not allow the product to dry).  Remove with a wet sponge or rinse with cool water.  You can apply this mask once a week, but it can be a little too dry for me to use that often, so I use it once every two weeks.  I enjoy using this on my knees, elbows and on the areas I feel I have the largest pores.  This is the mask I use more to treat problem areas or spot treat so that it adds hydration and reduces fine lines (like around my nose).  Infused with Sweet Almond and Avocado Oils, this mud mask detoxifies and does away with dull skin, leaving the skin radiant and refreshed.  If you like that clean refreshed feeling – you’ll enjoy this mask.

Borghese Fango Mud Masks Fango Delicate Active Mud Mask for Delicate Skin (7.0 oz/200 ml – $37.00) is my favorite mask out of the bunch.  This light green mask reminds me of mint chocolate chip ice cream, but do not eat it. lol  Since I have sensitive skin I find that this is the mask I can use most often without it drying out my skin or cleaning my skin so well that it causes my eczema to flare up.  This mud is a purifying treatment that is formulated to cleanse and detoxify – leaving your most fragile and sensitive skin feeling refreshed and enriched with goodness.  It includes ingredients like Aloe Vera, Oat Protein and Mango Butter that helps to calm the skin and provide hydration.  Olive Fruit and Chamomille extracts soothe and alleviate the dryness leaving your skin soft and restoring the supple cushion your skin needs to feel comfortable and great.

Borghese Fango Mud Masks

The Fango Delicate Mud is one I can use at least once a week and I use it over my entire face without issue of sensitivities.  This mask makes my skin feel soft and hydrated which I enjoy and it is such a great little tool for offering me a bit of pampering after a long day.  If you have sensitive skin or you just want a mask that helps to clean but hydrate and will work effectively – I think this would be a great one for you to try out.

Borghese Fango Mud Masks

The last mask I have been using is the Fango Brightening Mud Mask for Face and Body (4.5 oz/127 g) this mask retails for $37.00 for the 7.0 oz jar and is a very cute pink shade that reminds me of Hubba Bubba bubble gum.  I love that this is a face and body mask like the active mud mask and offers a variety of uses.  I can’t use this mask more than once every two weeks because the citrus in the mask can cause my eczema to flare up if used too often, but it is one I know I will continue to repurchase in the future when I run out.  This mask is the perfect mud for brightening the skin and helps to remove the dull look I can sometimes get after a long week.  Instantly my skin and face is glowing after removing.  With ingredients like Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Sweet Almond and Avocado oils, this mud minimizes pores, evens your skin tone, corrects imperfections and promotes a smooth, clear luminance I desire.  This will particularly be a favorite of mine during the summer months when I notice my skin just loses its luster.

Borghese Fango Mud Masks

I no longer see it available on their website, but the Fango Muds to Go are a great option if you are looking to travel and have your favorite mud with you or if you want to try out something to see if you like it and it works with your skin.   I hope it’s just sold out and they will be bringing this back because it is a great option.

Overall – I am loving these.  I am a huge fan and lover of masks as I stated before but I had to tread lightly when using them as many can cause adverse affects with my sensitive skin.  While some work, others may dry me out so bad that my sensitive skin freaks out and I have an eczema flare up.  These masks worked with with my sensitivities and they were easy to apply.  I used my fingers to apply each one and I loved how they felt on the skin.  Each mask is in a cute mason jar style container which I love.  While the jars are glass, they are reasonably sturdy (though I do not suggest dropping them) and work well with any decor you may have when storing them.  While I love the three that I used I really enjoy the Delicate Mud which is my weekly spa pampering treatment and Brightening Mud.  Active Mud is great – but I can’t use it more than every two weeks – but I love to use it on areas on my body as well.  These masks/muds may seem pretty costly – but you are getting a huge amount of product for the price and a little of this stuff goes a long way.  After using these now for the last 3-4 months, I didn’t notice the product getting hard or difficult to continue to work with… which is a huge plus since I’ve purchased highend masks that are expensive and only have 2.0 oz of product and they dried up within a month.  Removing the mask is easy with the sponge that Borghese offers, but I prefer using a wet wash cloth or my fingers and remove with luke warm water.

I am consistently impressed with the products Borghese has been offering lately.  I look forward to trying out more of the muds available from the Fango line because these have become a favorite.  Using these products in combination with my normal skin care regimen and other masks I love – they have made a huge difference in how my skin feels and looks.  Having turned 35 in January – I’m do my best to keep on top of my skin care and I know these will continue to be a favorite for years to come.

Have you tried anything from the Borghese Fango line?  If not – are there any that interests you?

Signature Honey

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Don’t Hide Your Curls Away – Love Your Curls With Dove Quench

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This post was sponsored by Lunchbox.

When I was a little girl, I had really long curly hair.  Since I got my curly hair from my dad, I remember thinking that I was so out of place since my mom’s hair was straighter than mine and I had this misconception that I was supposed to look like my mommy.  My mom wasn’t quite sure how to take care of curls and my dad, well – he thought pulling it back would be the best option to keep it tame and out of my face.  It tangled all the time because no one in my family really knew how to care for them and detangling was something I dreaded.  I cried sometimes, hating the hair I had and praying that God would make my hair straight overnight.  For years I struggled with this head of curly hair, so much so that if you look at some of my childhood photos, my hair is pulled back and out of the way.

Love Your Curls

It was a rare occasion that I left my hair down and flowing and that routine followed me well into high school and years after graduation.  I always looked at all the girls who had straight hair and thought to myself that their hair was so pretty straight and so easy to take care of.  Dancing Hula was the only time you would catch me with my hair down and out and I hated every minute of it and couldn’t wait till my performance was over so I could pull it back. When taking my high school senior portraits, my mom wanted me to wear my hair down since she thought it was beautiful, I did so – but hated every minute of it.  After graduation I discovered a flat iron and really put stress on my locks by straightening my hair constantly.  My husband always encouraged me to leave my hair down and love my curls, but it was such a struggle. About 4 years ago, I finally decided that… it’s time to stop hiding my curls away.

Love Your Curls

Now that I’m well into my thirties, I have realized that I need to love my curls and embrace them.  It’s taken me most of my life to figure this out and I encourage everyone to not only love their curls, but love the skin you’re in.  Part of the reason I wasn’t too happy with my curls is that they became frizzy quickly and I had no idea how to care for them.  After years of trying a plethora of hair care products, I finally found some that are made specifically for curly hair.

Dove Quench

I have used Dove beauty products for years and the Sensitive Skin body wash is a holy grail in my household.  Having tried Dove hair products before, I knew I would enjoy this line, but didn’t realize how much exactly.  Dove Quench Absolute is a new hair care line for the curly haired gals.  Dove Quench is a part of Dove Advanced Hair Series and is great for perfectly nourished hair plus 4x more defined and natural curls.  The product line is affordable for anyone to buy and provides your hair with the moisture needed to pamper and quench your curls.  After the first use, I noticed my curls were much more defined and held their curl through the heat and wind that Hawaii has been experiencing lately.  After using this product line the last couple of weeks, I am proud to say it will become a household favorite.  My hair smells so nice and looks beautiful.

  • Dove Quench Absolute Ultra Nourishing Shampoo – I was a bit apprehensive in using this product at first since seeing that one of the main ingredients in this product is SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulfate).  I’ve done my best the last few years to eliminate sulfates from my hair care routine because it had dried my hair so badly but was VERY impressed with how my hair felt with this product.  My hair felt really soft and moisturized and though I do not shampoo my hair every day – with consistent use I noticed it still had not dried my hair as other products with SLS have done.
  • Dove Quench Absolute Ultra Nourishing Conditioner – This product had a different consistency then what I had been using when it comes to conditioners.  It doesn’t have as much slip to it as other products I have used but isn’t overly thick like a masque either.  I use conditioners to detangle my hair while in the shower, so I was impressed with how easily this product moved through my hair and allowed my hair to move easily through my fingers.  After rinsing and drying my hair was soft and left silky like I had used a mask.
  • Dove Quench Absolute Intensive Restoration Mask – My hair is absolutely in love with this stuff that I’m finding it hard not to want to use it every time I wash my hair.  My hair is soft, manageable without needing to detangle.  It seems like my tangles almost fall out of my hair when I apply this and run my fingers through my locks.
  • Dove Quench Absolute Supreme Creme Serum – This pump is nice, but it can be a pain when your hands are slippery since you need a little more pressure to get the product out.  However, the product itself is thick and since my hair is so long, it took a lot of product to work through my entire head of hair.  Having used other types of curly hair products in the past, I was worried that my hair would feel crunchy, sticky or weighed down but none of that happened.  I love to apply this to my hair when it is damp and then leave in my pineapple bun overnight to release beautiful, smooth curls in the morning.  If you are someone who uses gel or mousse to hold your curls, this is not it… but will work well together to keep your curls nicely formed.

Love Your Curls

Do you have a curl story?  Head on over to Dove’s Website and share your Curly Hair Story.  You could be included in their e-book of Curly goodness, so be sure to check it out.  Everyone who submits a story will get a copy of the e-book.  Also 5 lucky winners will receive a Dove Prize Pack that includes hair products and other awesome goodies.

If there is one thing I wanted to get across with this post, it is that I want women and girls around the World to love themselves, love who they are and love their curls – no matter the size, the length or the type of curls, they are a part of you and YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

Signature Honey

This post was sponsored by Lunchbox.  All content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Love Your Curls

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Milani Moisture Matte Color Statement Lipsticks – Swatches and Review

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It’s absolutely no secret that Milani lipsticks are quite possibly some of my favorites at the drugstore and I recommend them consistently.  I was quite impressed when Milani rolled out the new Moisture Matte Color Statement lipsticks to their line and couldn’t wait to get my hands on them.  These gorgeous lippies are packed with stunning color, a matte texture and finish and all kinds of gorgeous.  Here are my thoughts and what I think about each.

Milani Moisture Matte Color Statement Lipsticks

The Milani Moisture Matte Color Statement lipsticks come in a total of 8 new shades and retail for $5.99 on Milanicosmetics.com.  These lipsticks are starting to pop up at local CVS, Walgreens and Fred Meijer stores as well as select Kmart locations.  So why the hype?  Milani went bold and daring with some of the shades this year but also offer a matte texture (in my opinion they are more of a satin-matte type) in shades you can’t often get at the drugstore.  These bold pops of color offer a wide range of shades to compliment your style, skin tone and are going to be a hit this Spring and Summer.  Besides the eight shades, Milani also rolled out 2 additional pink toned shades to add to the fun.

Want to see me try-on each lipstick and provide swatches live?  Check out my video here.

Each lipstick is matte in texture, but I’m pretty impressed at how they feel on the lips.  They are much more comfortable on the lips than I would expect from any matte lipstick however, since they are not as drying as most mattes, they also do not have the staying or staining power of a regular matte lipstick.  Don’t get it twisted, these still have nice staying power, but a little more slip than a matte lipstick that I’m used to.

Milani Moisture Matte Color Statement Lipsticks

Catwalk and Power pink are new additions to the original Color Statement collection.  Both of those shades are matte / satin like textures and apply smoothly and nicely to the lips.  Both are bright shades and gorgeous for the Spring and Summer months.

Ingredients: Isononyl Isononanoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Synthetic Wax, Mica, Stearalkonium Hectorite, C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Dimethicone, Propylene Carbonate, Dimethicone, Ethyl Vanillin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Laureth-4, Dicalcium Phosphate. +/- May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 (CI 15850), Red 28 (CI 45410), Red 34 (CI 15880), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Manganese Violet (CI 77742).

Milani Moisture Matte Color Statement Lipsticks Swatches

Now, if you have dry lips naturally – you surely want to make sure you exfoliate your lips prior to application.  While these have an almost satin like feel on the lips, they can still accentuate the dryness and cracks in your lips.  Honestly – after using a variety of matte lipsticks from high-end and drugstore brands, this can definitely happen, so preparation prior to application is the key.

Milani Moisture Matte Color Statement Lipsticks SwatchesLooking for a dupe for MAC’s Candy Yum Yum?  Check out Milani’s Matte Diva (63) because it is almost an exact dupe except Milani’s lipstick is much more comfortable on the lips.  You can click here to watch the video as I swatch them side by side.

Milani Moisture Matte Color Statement Lipsticks

If you are a matte lipstick lover, I definitely would recommend these.  I think the shade range is nice and if you are a pink lover, you’ll find some pretty awesome pinks in this bunch.  While they are reasonably comfortable on the lips, they can still be drying and I definitely suggest exfoliating your lips or applying lip balm prior to application.  Since these do not stain as much as a normal matte lipstick, I also suggest a good lip liner (Milani has quite a few shades) applied before putting these lipsticks on to keep them in place and to help eliminate some of the slip they have and for longevity.  Overall at the price point, they are still pretty nice and I have been enjoying them.

Have you tried these new lippies from Milani?  If you have, what are your thoughts on these?  Be sure to check out the Video embedded above or click here to watch directly on YouTube for live swatches on try-on of each lipstick shade.  Go to Milanicosmetics.com to see the selection of shades or your local drugstore that carries Milani products.

Signature Honey

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Olay Total Effects 7 in One CC Cream – Pore Minimizing Cream With Sunscreen

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Over the last two years I had to stop and rethink my skincare game and that included eliminating use of foundation on my face as well as other products that caused my skin to be irritated.  While getting rid of a routine that used to be the norm for me, I noticed that my skin was affected by so many different products and I didn’t even realize it.  Did stopping the use of foundation and concealer mean that I had to give up that “flawless, airbrushed appearance” that we sometimes swoon over on others?  Well, no… but let me tell you, finding the right BB Cream or CC Cream that offered me great benefits, some sun protection and looked nice on the skin was surely difficult to find.  After two years of watching the BB, CC and DD cream trend evolve, I found a product that has absolutely turned into a favorite.  Now, don’t get me wrong – I don’t use it often… but when I need a little coverage or feel like I need some minimizing of the pores, this is the product I now turn to.

Olay Total Effects 7 in One CC Cream

The Olay Total Effects 7 in One CC Cream retails for about $17 – $25 depending on where you find it and I love that it is easily available at most drugstores and retailers like Walmart, Target and Kmart.  The tube pictured on the box is the actual size so there is no guessing on whether or not the product is half the size of the box and 1.7 fl oz (50mL) is quite a bit a product since the product blends nicely and a little can go a long way.

Olay Total Effects 7 in One CC Cream

This CC cream is a pore minimizing cc cream with sunscreen (broad spectrum SPF 15) and is a multi-tasking moisturizer with light coverage that helps to minimize the pores.  You can find this in three shades:  Fair to Light, Light to Medium and Medium to Deep.  I use Medium to Deep… which in my opinion is a great shade match for me.  When squeezing it out of the tube initially – I thought it would be too light… but it blended into my skin perfectly leaving my skin looking fresh (my skin but better) and I didn’t have any white cast or flash back when taking photos.

fall inspired makeup using MAC blue brown

In the photos above I am using the Olay Total Effects CC Cream as my all over coverage.

The CC cream has 7 benefits for healthy and radiant looking skin and include:

  1. Evens skin tone and appearance
  2. minimizes the look of pores
  3. enhances brightness
  4. visibly smooths fine lines and wrinkles
  5. reduces the look of spots
  6. hydrates for a firm look
  7. replenishes moisture

Olay Total Effects 7 in One CC Cream

Oil-free so that it will not clog pores, lightweight, non-greasy and Dermatologist tested, the Olay CC Cream is a liquid like cream but a little thicker than that of a liquid foundation.  While this product is not marketed as a primer, it does state on the packaging that it can be used alone or as a primer under make-up.  I believe this product is a perfect base for your makeup if you are a foundation wearer or if you want a little more coverage than just bare skin.  As with other CC creams, this one has CC Coverage to help with tone correction and gives you an airbrushed look without the feel of having anything on your skin.  I apply using my beauty blender or a flat top kabuki brush for even distribution and my skin will continue to stay hydrated and moisturized through the day.  While this is a squeeze top packaging, I didn’t notice that I was getting too much or too little when trying to apply the product – the packaging works okay.  If you have uneven skin tone, I think you will absolutely love this product to help even your tone out.

Olay Total Effects 7 in One CC Cream
Olay Total Effects 7 in One CC Cream
Olay Total Effects 7 in One CC Cream
CC Cream prior to being completely blended
Olay Total Effects 7 in One CC Cream
CC Cream completely blended on the skin

Like most Olay products, this one can be a little more in cost than those you normally find in the drugstore, but overall I think it is a great product for the cost considering I didn’t get any flare ups, skin sensitivities, break outs or any affects I would normally receive from using foundation or bb cream type products.  Besides the price, I think that they could benefit in adding a larger shade range, though I was pretty amazed at how well the product blended into my skin and looked like it wasn’t even there while still offering a bit of coverage for every day use.

If you are someone who uses full coverage foundation to cover up any scarring or problems you may be experiencing, while I think this product will overall benefit your skin and help to keep it moisturized, I do not think it will provide the coverage you may be seeking.  Since my skin tone and overall skin appearance is okay, the coverage this product offered worked well for me.  While I don’t use face products like foundation, concealer or bb creams often, I found that this has been a favorite of mine.  After using this product over the last several months, I didn’t see any negative affects on my skin and overall I loved the application, ease of use, and how it feels on my skin.  I definitely think this would work for anyone who has sensitive skin as I do because I didn’t have any issues.  Would I buy this again?  Yes, most certainly.  If you are like me and rarely use face products as I mentioned but are looking for a product to use like I do for days you want a little coverage or just want to have a finished and polished look, I think you’ll like this product as I have.

Looking for a video review?  Click the link here and see what I have to say about it or watch the embedded video above.

Have you tried this before?  If you have… what are your thoughts on it?  If you haven’t… is this something you would be interested in checking out?  Comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  This product was sent to me as a gift for consideration.  In no way was I required to provide a review or paid to provide a review.  All thoughts, opinions and such are my own, unbiased and 100% honest.

 

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