Origins Checks and Balances Face Wash and Dark Spot Remover

One of my goals for 2014, has been to get my face back to a state that I can be happy with. The English weather didn't do my face any favors and this chocolate skin was in desperate need for some sunlight and moisture.  No matter what kind of facial wash I bought, or how well I moisturized, the UK was brutal to my skin.  But since I've been back in the states, I've noticed a difference in the brightness, my complexion, and how soft my skin is.  So I thought I would share my favorite face wash with you.

I've been using checks and balances face wash on and off since 2009.  Why on and off? Because I tried so many things to to try and get my face in order over the past few years, but I always end up coming back to this.

And origins itself.

I am completely in love with this company. Origins' mission is to "create high performance skin care that is powered by nature and proven by science".  A friend of mine from Phoenix was obsessed with the company and bought me little gift set for my birthday. I've been hooked ever since.  After a few months, I barely put on any foundation.  I hoping to get back to that life.

This is what the packaging looks like.  All that pretty tissue paper makes me feel like I'm getting a present!

Usually, when you order over 30 worth of products, you get to choose between a few free samples. I've lost them all lol.

Checks and Balances Frothy Face wash- I am completely in love with this product. It actually feels like lotion right out of the tube, but a little water goes a long way and you are full of lather before you know it.  I literally put a pea sized amount in the center of my clarisonic and my face is covered with later when I'm done.  Don't be put off if you don't have a clarisonic because I used it for years without one.  Its rare that I have absolutely nothing bad to say about a product, but it's so true.  I absolutely looooooove this face wash.  My skin feels soft, clean, and it smells delicious. $21.00

 This was the best example of a lather I could work holding a camera in my other hand.  I promise it gets frothier than that!

Skin tone Correcting Serum-  As I've said before, these damn dark spots on my face wont quit.  When I lived in Phoenix, I used this serum and got great results.  The problem is that I hate waiting on them.  It's been about 3 weeks and I've seen them lighten up a bit, but I not enough to make a serious statement about the effects.  I am going to revisit this in a few more weeks.  But I DID get rid of my spots a few years ago with this stuff, but they weren't as bad as they are now.  Alas, only time can tell. But it definitely makes my face feel like butter!  $55

I tried to get a good shot of the ingredients but you know how those cell phone cameras are.  I wont get my DSLR until all of our furniture arrives from England, so this will just have to do.

What's your favorite face wash?  Are you a fan of Origins?

Ebay Jessup Brushes Review

I set out to increase my brush collection, and boy did I!  This was actually the first set that I bought, but it took longer to arrive than the Style set.

Ok, let's be real, you know I wanted this set because it's pink!  I can't even front.  I did see a youtube video about these and they got great reviews.  So far I've used a few, but not all.  I have 31 brushes now so I couldn't possibly use them all.  Look at me, feeling all important and stuff!

Don't they look so pretty!?  You know I have an obsession with pretty things, and these brushes are no exception.

Ok, Here are the deets:

• Purchased here
• $29.99
• Free Shipping from Hong Kong
• Individually wrapped in clear plastic.  
• I washed them as soon as I opened them (with baby shampoo)
• Extremely soft
• Holds product well.  Just enough so that I don't have to waste any.
• Not extremely dense but they are great for powder.  
• Took a little over 3 weeks to arrive.

I know I've already pointed out how cute they are, but come on, they are soooooo pretty!  I can't wait to put them in a pretty holder in the suite. My pink and cobalt room.  I can't figure out if I want to put the blue couch in my room, or keep my raggedy tattered chair puke green chair.  It's absolutely horrible to look at but so comfortable- and it has an ottoman.  Oh decisions, decisions.

Here are the detailed descriptions of each brush from the manufacturer:

Handle Length : about 16.5cm--20cm

Brush hair :Synthetic brush hair

1. Eye Liner: . Use with gel or liquid liners.
2. Pencil: Soften and smoke out lines. Soften pencil liners along the top and bottom lash lines, add shadow to line the eyes, or use to highlight inner corner of eyes.
3. Tapered Blending: Using just the tips to apply color, sweep back and forth through the crease for a diffused and blended finish.
4. Eye Shading: . Place color across the whole lid for an even and strong application of product.
5. Large Shader: Apply cream shadow base or cream shadow for quick and even coverage.
6. Small Angle: . Use with gel, cream or powder liners.
7. Medium Angled Shading: Use for brow highlighting or to blend the crease.
8. Concealer: Conceal the hardest to reach areas such as around the nose and eyes
9. Large Powder: Uniform blending of powder products onto the face and body.
10. Large Angled Contour: Use the angle to softly contour the cheekbone. Can also be used to apply blush.
11. Duo Fibre: Can be used with powder, liquid or cream products.
12. Foundation: Apply liquid or cream products such as foundation and primer.

My final thoughts are that these brushes are worth the $30 dollars and the 3 week shipping.  I absolutely love the angled contour because it's not super dense and my contour looks fantastic.  The eyeliner brush is also really soft.  LOOOOOVING them!  Makes me want to play in make up RIGHT NOW!!! But first... more packing.  Time to break out the Songza!  Today I do the kitchen and the Living room.  #Killme.  

Think you will try these brushes?  

And what should I do?  Cute blue couch to match my room, or puke green chair that I love?

Sigma Brush Dupes From Ebay

I love dupe posts!  Now, I thoroughly believe that the originals are original for a reason, but sometimes that hype...is hype.  Don't get me wrong, I love MAC brushes and Sigma brushes are a great back up as well, but I don't have MAC and Sigma money all the time.  In fact, more like none of the time.

I found myself in need of a new set of brushes.  I'd been waiting for the Elite set to go on sale at Coastal Scents, but they've been playing games with my life.  I didn't buy them when they were 50% off for Black Friday, and I should have, so I was in the market for a new set.

I wish I could remember how I came to find out about these brushes.  I think I was on youtube, but I have no idea what I searched or how I found them, but once I caught wind of them, I went on the mega hunt for all things concerning these delicious Ebay brushes.  And after seeing a really good description on Beautiful Reports, I figured I would go ahead and pull the trigger.

The brushes came from Hong Kong.  I ordered them on 2/8 and they arrived on 2/22.  Keep in mind that I live in England so everything takes longer to arrive.

Ok, Here are the Deets:

• Purchased Here
• Amazingly priced @ 14.55
• Free Shipping
• Individually wrapped in clear plastic
• Strong smell when removed from packaging, I immediately washed them in baby shampoo and warm water.
• Soft to the touch.  
• Most of the brushes are dense and full, I feel that the flat top Kabuki could stand to be a little denser (So I used it for my translucent powder finish). 
• There were just a few hairs that were longer than the others (As you can see in the pictures), I just snipped them off and kept it moving.
•  I haven't used them all yet, but below you can find both the manufacturers description and what I used it for.  I WILL find uses for ALL of them lol!

1、Angled Kabuki----Buff cream blush or bronzer onto the skin.

I use this one to contour my face.  I screwed up initially because the damn things hold product so well I ended up looking like a drag queen!  I fixed it though.  The key for this one, minimal product.  

2、 Flat Kabuki---- Application of liquid or cream products to flat areas of the face such as the forehead and cheeks.

I like this one for putting on my translucent powder.  It's not quite as dense as the others

3、Round Kabuki---- Blend mineral products onto the skin.

4、Tapered Kabuki---- Apply cream and liquid foundations onto the harder to reach contours of the face.

5、Precision Angled----Apply product to areas such as the sides of the nose and the hollows of the cheeks.

I LOVE using this to put the concealer under my eyes.  Definitely photo finish quality.

6、Precision Flat---- Stipple concealer on sun spots, blemishes, and other small imperfections.

This one is great for applying highlighter to my cheek bones.  Made me glisten!

7、Precision Round---- Apply eye shadow base or primer onto the lid.

8、Precision Tapered----Exact placement of concealer in harder to reach areas such as around the eyes and nose, chin, and around the mouth.

Here are a few close ups of the handle.  The brushes feel really good in your hand; they are a good weight.  I love seeing them all fancy looking in my makeup brush jar!  I can't wait to move into my new house so I can set up "The Suite".  Sooooooo looking forward to it!

Love the gold accents.

All in all, I can honestly say that I love the brushes.  They hold product so well, and for $14.00 they are extremely worth the price.  I am very happy with the quality, look and feel of these brushes.  I recommend them if you are looking for a cheaper alternative to Sigma.


Juicy Tidbits:
~~I'm thinking about waxing my upper lip for the first time. I'm nervous
~~I keep trying to starting cleaning and packing...I've not been successful
~~I have become Obsessed with "The Murdoch Mysteries" = I'm Lame
~~I've turned my moleskine into serious planner...cuz I'm creative and stuff.

Have you heard of these brushes before?  Interested?

And now a question that has nothing to do with anything...

If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Inglot Makeup Haul

Yep.  I see what's happening now.  As clear as the nose on my face...

I'm substituting bad food with good shopping...

What a shame. I  decided to go hang out with my girlfriend on Wednesday since my work wasn't calling me in, so of course, we went to the mall.  She had to return something annnnnnnnnnnnnd  I had to buy something.  I originally went for something sexy to wear for valentines day evening ....ahem *clears throat*...  Buuuuuutttt I didn't buy that.  Nope.  Before you judge me and my failure, know that I looked for quite a while and all they had was ugly bullshit they didn't have anything to my liking. And it was after I bought the makeup anyway so maybe I was extra picky.  But hey, we will be on our *SECRET VACATION*, drinking wine and seeing the sights.  I think that is romantic in itself.

Now that I've talked myself out of shoppers guilt (that I really don't have).  On to my haul.

I've been looking for a setting powder and something to contour my face.  Every time I've tried to contour my face I end up looking like a drag queen.  And not the super hot drag queens that know what they're doing... the other ones.

Left to right- Blush (40), setting powder (64), contour compact (61 I think), freedom Pallet

I don't know if you are super familiar with Inglot (link takes you to USA site), but they are an international company with only a few stores in major cities in the USA (Miami, New York, Las Vegas, ect).  Once I leave and move to Georgia I will have to order online, or drive to Orlando (NOT).  Luckily for me, one of the stores they have in England is in Cambridge or I never would have found this Gem.  And the freedom system is amazing...details below.

Contour (That splotch is a trick of the light)

I went in and of course, I had to let the MUA show me some contour stuff.  And Lo and Behold, I looked amazing.  I absolutely loved the way it made my face look thinner.  I'm at work right now and I have on Zero make up (except brows) so I'll  have to post a pic later.  I got the contour in a 61 or 67 (the box is at home, I will update as soon as I know for sure).  The MUA informed me that I was probably having contour issues because I have such deep red undertones to my skin and I'd been using dark browns instead of reddish browns.  This was $13.00

Magnetic pallet

This is an empty freedom system pallet.  Inglot makes it so that you can mix and match your items to make the perfect pallet for yourself.  They come in all different sizes and you can add, face powder, blush, eye shadows, and lipsticks to have your own custom pallet. I adore it. This pallet cost £8 or about $13 yesterday because it was 20% off and it is the "2 powder pallet" which gave me a little freedom with my options.  They are all magnetic pieces so fall out isn't a problem.

Here is what it looked like after I put in my setting powder and my new blush.  The setting powder is fabulous and it made my makeup last all day yesterday! And let me just say that this blush is one of the best colors I have ever put on my chocolate skin.  It goes on perfectly and has just the right amount of pinks and browns.  This is in a color 40 and costs $11.

I didn't like the gap at the top, so I took two of the eye shadows out of an old FP and stuck them in here.  Can I just say how much I love taking this fresh adorable pallet out of my make up bag.

Here is a close up of the blush (at the bottom) and the eye shadows.  The blush looks really pink, but there are beautiful brown and gold undertones.  Look at those gold flecks! DREAMY!

And of course... what is a makeup haul without some new makeup bags.  I stopped at Primark to pick up a few new bags for my Face products and my make up.  They were £4 a piece, or about $7.00.

Here's a shot of what's inside.  The top bag holds my Face wash, clay masks, scrubs, Clarisonic Mia 2, Q-tips, cotton pads and toners.  We have a tiny bathroom with absolutely no storage space, so I have to keep all my things together.

The bottom bag holds my go to make up.  It includes the Coastal Scents Eye shadow pallet I posted, my new Inglot pallet, the contour,  a few lipsticks, concealer, NYX eyebrow cake, and my foundation.

That is all!  I know it was wordy right!  Yikes!  So no sexy night time out fit, but adorable day time makeup! I'll take it!

What are your plans for Valentine's Day this year? 

Saturday Fun Day DIY Beauty

I went grocery shopping today and decided I wanted to get a new nail polish as well.  One nail polish...turned into this.  I wouldn't necessarily call it a haul, but I love NEW STUFF!!!!

The Pink Grapefruit shower gel from The Body Shop is my favorite.  It makes me feel so fresh, especially after a workout.  I also have the oil and the body spray, but I needed to re-up on the shower gel.  It lasts quite some time.

The Pink Chiffon mist from bath and body works was a total impulse buy, just like the limited edition Feathered Musk from Victoria's Secret.  That musk smells like Sex..okay not literally because that would be stinky, but it is absolutely heavenly. While I was at it, I went ahead and got the Smooth Kiss from Victoria's Secret as well.  And the name says it all ladies.  I came home, gave myself a facial, a clay mask, took a shower, and pink chiffoned my body.

This mask Seaweed clay mask from Body shop is also fabulous.  I am almost out but I will use it to the very last drop.  Say goodbye to your big ass pores!  I put this on while I soaked my feet before my pedicure!

The nail polish...the reason I went to begin with, is called Lolli Pop by Orly. It is so deliciously pink.   But you know I can't just paint my nails and call it a day.  I gotta switch it up a little bit.  I am really liking the few Orly Nail Polishes I've purchased in the last few weeks.  I know people are die hard Essie or OPI fans, but so far I can dig this Orly.  We shall see the staying power of this manicure 'Tis all for this lovely Saturday afternoon.

What is your Favorite Nail Polish Brand?

Coastal Scents Haul

ThiA few weeks ago I purchased a huge haul from my one of my favorite websites, Coastal Scents. If you've never purchased anything from Coastal, you are really missing out. I am so in love with their eye shadows, not to mention the fact that the prices are so amazing.  

                  

I bought these thing when the prices were half off of everything... My favorite Coastal sale. 

This is my " Make your own pallet". Hot pots are usually $1.99 but they were half off.  You would think they would be horrible as they only cost 2 bucks, but they are amazing.  I absolutely love the pigment of these shadows.  I like the make your own pallet because I generally use the same colors over and over, golds, pinky/peaches, blues, and greens. I also have the original 88 pallet for when I want to go outside the box. You buy each hot pot you want, a case and you out them in order the way you want them.  I use this thing everyday. 

                                         

This is the blush pallet.  I'm still trying to figure out my favorite blush color.  My skin does some weird things in the wintertime so I bought this pallet to give me A few to choose from.  So far I've tried the 6 at the bottom and they all look good on chocolate skin.  My favorites are the two links in the middle.  Gives my skin the perfect rosy color. 

                                  

I bought these two oils for my skin and hair.  I believe they were originally $7.95 a piece, but again, they were half off.  So far I've used this to make a Shea butter pomade for my hair, removing markup before I use my clarisonic (my friend Brianna but me up on that, review coming soon), and a light oiling for my hair on wash days. I love that there isn't a strong smell with these oils so I could add some lavender essential oils to them. There are so many oils to choose from as well.  

                                  

Next up is the Small Synthetic Classic Buffer brush.  I needed something to highlight my under eye area. I will admit, I was worried this brush wasn't going to be dense enough.  I had a few flops when I purchased my first few brushes from Coastal, but I think that was because I'd bought a cheap 10 piece set. This brush was completely dense and hold the power/highlighter perfectly. I'd really like to pick up the elite brush set, but I pay $70.00 for no man hahahaha. I keep kicking myself because I should have bought them when they were half off.  Anyway, this one is great. 

                                           

Lastly, I bought these fragrance oils to burn in my diffuser.  I have been buying the vanilla lavender for 2 years now, but I try other scents as well.  I love the honey almond but it's really strong.  I have to dilute it with more water than normal because for some reason the oil burns faster than the others.  But they do make the house smell luxurious.  

Well, that's my haul from Coastal.  I'm going to throw in another close up of my shadows.  

Obviously they are my favorite part of the haul. Those pinks are to die for, especially if you use a primer.  I use the Nyx primer on my lid before I throw this on.  

Ok, its 9:15am and I haven't had my coffee yet... Toodles