Sephora Play

     Joining the likes of Ipsy, Birchbox and countless other subscription boxes is Sephora with Sephora Play. This works pretty much the same way as other boxes. You receive four to five deluxe or samples size products (how ever you see it) each month. There is no personality quiz to customize your likes everything is picked out for you. It comes shipped in a nice box with paper like Birchbox. In the box you receive a mini booklet with a fun fact related to each product.

I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures floating around on the Internet of this month’s first box but seeing it just makes this box a reality. This month’s box included a mini Marc Jacob’s Highliner in Blacquer. I’ve never tried anything from the brand Ole Henriksen but it’s a brand I’ve always wanted to try.

Everybody loves lip product right? From the Sephora Collection Rouge Infusion in Peony, this lippy is a pinky/peach color. (Is it me but I see them sending a lot of Sephora products). GlamGlow is what makes this box. If you have ever tried or seen GlamGlow you know it’s a pricey product. This is a great sample size and in my opinion worth the cost of the box alone. Bumble and Bumble is a hairline that is worth the money. This last item was a sample size of Elizabeth and James Nirvana White.

The best thing about this service is that it counts toward your points. It cost $10 a month plus tax (yes, there is tax added) but they give free shipping. This box was shipped out Friday and I received it Monday, I’m not sure if it’s because I have two day shipping but I received it pretty fast. I’m not sure if this will be every month thing but in the back of the booklet was a card to receive 50 additional points with any purchase made at Sephora.

There are only two downsides to this. 1) Right now you have to be invited to receive this box. Starting next year it will ‘roll out’. 2) Because you don’t take a personality test you get what they give you (at least that’s what it seems right now). Despite all this, I know what brands Sephora carries in their stores so I know it won’t be a random brand I never heard of. I really like this months box; I can’t wait till next month!

-Melissa

My Evening Routine

Last week I posted about my morning routine; it only fits to talk about my evening routine. I mentioned I am currently experiencing some brake-outs along my chin area and on cheeks. Let me mention that I suffer from Rosacea and my skin is sensitive. Let’s add the fact that my skin is oily and that makes for a complete mess.

When I get home I remove all my makeup. I have been using Boscia Makeup-Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil. This oil removes all traces of makeup, the best part it actually works at taking it all off. To remove my eye makeup I use Boots Botanics’s Soothing Eye Make Up Remover. This eye makeup remover is a separated type of liquid, so you will have to give it a good shake. It’s great at removing waterproof mascara and eyeliner.

After I remove my makeup I begin with Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleaner, this cleans my entire face to prepare for Clean & Clear’s Advantage Acne Control. I like using this facial wash on a clean surface because I feel it does a better job fighting acne.

If my face is feeling dry (like the winter months), I will use First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream. This is designed for sensitive skin and does it’s job. Sometimes products claim or say they work for all skin types, but sometimes I find some of the ones that state that don’t really work…this one does.

Since I’m breaking out (broke out) I have been using Clean & Clear’s Advantage Acne Spot Treatment. I place this with a Q-Tip on the places I need this. This product has salicylic acid. I’m allergic to Benzoyl Peroxide so I have to find something milder but works. I use a Q-Tip because I want to apply this product with something I know is extra clean. 

My last step for the night is applying a lip balm and eye cream. Lately I’ve been using Dior’s Crème De Rose. It’s an expensive product by keeps my lips from getting chapped. For under eyes I have been using Origins Eye Doctor. This has helped my when I apply under eye brightener. It keeps under eye products from settling in the crease of my eyes. There is a slight smell to it but it’s a faint smell. I really enjoy it. I’m not on my second tub of this stuff. That means something right?

-Melissa

My Morning Routine

    I hardly break out but when I do it’s an all out war on acne. I broke out this summer, it's been me vs. my face... I think I’m winning. I’ve mentioned it before but if you’re new to my blog I have Rosacea not to mention my skin is oily and sensitive. It took some time to find products that work with my skin. Even products that claim they are ‘sensitive’ can irate my skin. I've found a routine that has been working so far, but with this is me cutting back on caffeine. I'm addicted to ice tea. 

I use Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleaner, every morning. I wash my entire face with this. It doesn’t have a smell and doesn’t irate my skin. It's the best product for someone who has sensitive skin. It's very gentle on the skin. 

Since I'm currently at war with my acne I have been using Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Control; but because on my skin I use this only on the places where I currently have acne. Lucky for me I only get it on the bottom half of my face. I rub this in for 30 seconds and rinse.

Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer is another great product for those with sensitive skin. There is a light smell but goes away quickly so it’s not even an issue. It’s important to use a moisturizer with some SPF especially when you have Rosacea but it's a good idea regardless. Your face needs all the protection you can get.

When it’s really hot outside (nearly year round in Houston), I reach for some additional help. Hello SPF! I wanted something with a high SPF content but something that won’t make my skin breakout. I have been using First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Pure Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer with an SPF of 40. It is a very pricey SPF but it’s worth investing in especially when it comes to the skin. A lot of the sunscreens I've tried have broken me out and this one doesn't. I just wish the price was a little cheaper  ($30) but avoiding the cost of a dermatologist sounds better. 

-Melissa

My Favorite Face Brush’s/Sponge

     When it comes to foundation the brush I use is just as important as the foundation. I have quite a few face brushes but there are three that I keep going back to and of course a sponge (that everyone and their mama knows about).

    I absolutely love RealTechnique's Expert Face Brush not only because it’s cheaper than most face brushes but also because it’s actually good. I stipple the foundation all over my face and blend. I use this with light coverage foundations because I find it doesn’t work well with thicker foundations (full coverage).

    Sephora makes some of the best brushes. I have quite of few of their brushes and yes they can be expensive but I think of it as investing. Their Airbrush Precision Foundation Brush#56 is so good. I stipple light to medium coverage foundations all over my face and use swipe motions; I find I get good coverage using this method. I brought this one long ago when they still had silver handles on the brushes and it’s still in top shape condition.

     I first heard about this brush from YouTuber (blogger & vlogger) Lily Pebbles and I love it (not to mention her)!  I’m talking about Bobbi Brown’s Full Coverage Face Brush. This is a very pricey brush but a great investment. I use this with all my foundations from thin to thick. At first I couldn’t get how to use it but now I know, I again stipple the foundation all over and buff. This gives such a flawless look. Although I will warn you I don’t like to use it too much with lighter weigh foundations because it seems to soak the product up but I love this brush nevertheless.

     I think we all know about the Beauty Blender and what kind of finish it gives the face. I love using it just not with foundation but it works well with concealer. It can be a pricey given you need to replace it every three month or so but finish you get can’t compare. I’ve tried dupes but something about the original just makes me comes back… oh yeah the finish.

What’s your favorite brush?

-Melissa

My Least and Favorites Palette(s)

     There are just so many palettes out there that it can be a little overwhelming especially if you are new to makeup. When my friends ask me about beauty recommendations I always start off with works well for me and on to things I heard about. One of the questions I’ve been asked is about eyeshadow palettes. It’s quite an investment because for the most part they aren’t cheap. There are two that I love (one more than the other) and one I regret buying (the minute it came out).

The Good…

Naked Palette (the original)

This has everything you need for various looks. It has matte and shimmer shades. I love this for an everyday eye as well for dramatic looks. I love the color buck as a crease color and all over color. Hustle, is such a good outer V color. There are two colors I may never use but it’s still one of my favorites. The colors blend well and have good pigment. I just wish there were more matte colors.

Lorac Pro

Let me start off by saying I was really against buying this. I owned a small Lorac palette I purchased years ago and it was crap. I finally caved (no idea why) and I freaking love it! (That wasn’t too dramatic was it?) It has all the right colors for a day to night look. You seriously don’t need another palette; this one does all the work. Highlight color, check. All over color, check. Crease, check. I love using the shade mauve all over the lid and placing pewter on top, put a little sable in the crease with cream in the enter corners and you have my fall/winter look. These blend well and are so pigmented. Seriously, you need no other palette. This one is worth the money.

The Bad…

Naked Palette 2

Maybe it was my skin tone but I did not get along well with this one. I actually gave it away to my best friend. The colors didn’t work well and I feel this one doesn’t work well on it’s own. If I’m going to spend some good money on a palette I don’t feel I should be reaching for another to make a look. The colors are pretty but the mix of colors in this one just didn’t do it for me. It had good pigment but I felt the qualities of shadows were missing something. I feel it fail short from the original. Needless to say this was a fail.

What’s you least and favorite palette?

-Melissa