Pure Fiji - Coconut Sugar Rub in Coconut, Mango - pics, swatches, review

Hello, Beautiful!

Back in October I posted a review on the Pure Fiji Coconut Milk Shampoo & Coconut Creme Conditioner. I loved them and have since completely used them up! I've had some mini's of some of their body products and sort of completely forgot to post reviews on them, but since I recently used them up I thought I'd get reviews up! In this post I have the Pure Fiji Coconut Sugar Rub, which I have in scents Coconut and Mango. I'll have a review on the Coconut Body Butter and Coconut Body Lotion coming soon as well. Check out all the product info on the Coconut Sugar Rub, along with my full review, after the pics!

Pure Fiji Coconut Sugar Rub
Scents: Coconut, Mango

 

Pure Fiji Coconut Sugar Rub Info & Review:

Cost/Availability: $44.00 (15.5 oz full size). Available on the Pure Fiji website, at Dermstore, and everywhere else Pure Fiji products are sold. Click here to find a retailer near you.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Kisses

Product Info...

Discover the South Pacific secret to beautiful skin with this amazing two in one treatment. With naturally occurring alpha hydroxy agents in raw sugar cane, and the deep moisturizing and nourishing properties of cold-pressed virgin coconut and drift nut oils, this natural body polishing treatment enhances your skin's own natural rejuvenation process for glowingly beautiful skin.

Fresh sugar cane crystals manually exfoliate while naturally occurring alpha hydroxyls gently buff away aging skin cells, polishing your skin clean and uncloging pores. The deep moisturizing blend of oils nourish, moisturize and protect your beautiful skin leaving it glowingly healthy.

Available in 11 scents: Coconut, Mango, Gingerlilly, Pineapple, Passionflower, Starfruit, Fangipani, Coconut Milk & Honey, Island Bliss, Orange Blossom and Guava.

Key Ingredients: fresh sugar cane, cold pressed virgin coconut oil, and exotic nut extracts.

Usage: Ideal for all skin types. Use 2 to 3 times per week to keep skin healthy and glowing. Always apply to wet skin.

TIP: Their most versatile product, this extraordinary two-in-one exfoliating product is excellent for all-over body use or in memorable manicures and pedicures. For younger looking and glowing skin, use the sugar rub over whole body twice a week.

TIP: While in the shower, step back from the water or turn off and apply 1 scoop evenly over body massaging in until it turns to honey. Leave on for 10 minutes for maximum benefit, then rinse.



My Review...

I really loved these body scrubs! I have a body scrub obsession; if you search for body scrubs on my blog you'll see many, many reviews. I really can't get enough of them! I've tried a range of body scrubs from drugstore to indie brands to high-end, and I really did love the Pure Fiji Coconut Sugar Rub! It stood out from other scrubs I've used, mostly for the scent, but it did a great job at exfoliating too.

I only have the travel size versions, which are 2 oz each, so I did use them sparingly - which is why it took me awhile to use them up, because I loved them so much that I'd use them and then not want to use them again because I didn't want to run out! The full sized version is a bit pricey at $44 for 15.5 oz. They do say you get 15 to 18 uses from a full sized jar, but that's still about $2.50 to $3.00 each time you use it. For me, this is definitely a luxury product.

I have two scents, Coconut and Mango. They both smell really good. If you love tropical scents that are true tropical scents - not that artificial smell or sunscreen smell - then you'd really love the Pure Fiji line of scents.

I did notice that the Coconut one was a bit drier in texture at the top, it seemed like the oils had sunk to the bottom. Where as the Mango one was evenly distributed and looked wetter. You can see what I'm talking about in the photos. However, you can easily incorporate the oils into the sugar, so that wasn't a big issue to me - as I've found this is something that happens with several body scrubs.


Final Thoughts...

Pure Fiji is a luxury brand, and if you're okay with the $44 price tag for a body scrub, then I would absolutely recommend this one. It feels great, smells wonderful, and leaves your skin soft and smooth! They do sell travel kits on their website, and some do (or at least did) include the mini sizes of this scrub, along with other products, so that may be a way to try out a few products from the line before committing to the full size.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this product? Have you tried this or is this on your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

Madison Street Beauty - Eye Shadow Primer (original & neutralizing) - pics, review

Hello, Beautiful!

I have another Madison Street Beauty review for you today - this one on their Eye Shadow Primer! They offer two: their original (not called original - but that's what I am calling it for the purpose of this post) and their Neutralizing shade, which is more yellow based. This is a moisturizing, very emollient primer that would be great for those with dryer eye lids (like myself) but those with oily lids/oily skin should probably skip this one. Check out all the product info, along with my full review, after the pics!

Madison Street Beauty Eye Shadow Primer
Shades: Original, Neutralizing
Continue scrolling down to see more pics of each individual shade.

Madison Street Beauty Eye Shadow Primer Info & Review:

Cost/Availability: $5.99 (7.5 g/0.26 oz full size). Available on the Madison Street Beauty website and also on their Etsy Shop.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Kisses

Product Info...

Their vegan eye shadow primer is a cream based primer that moisturizes the eye area and prepares the eye for eye shadow application. This all natural eye shadow base helps to increase the color payoff of your shadow as well as helps extend the wear of your shadow. The Neutralizing Eye Shadow Primer helps to neutralize the look of redness, darkness and discoloration.

Very emollient rich and because of that, they don't recommend this if you have very oily eye lids/skin type.




My Review...

I thought these shadow primers perform really good - I was impressed! Especially because they are so affordable - just $5.99 each at regular price. At the time I am writing this post, you can get these on sale for just $2.40 each!

When I originally looked at these, they seemed like they would be opaque in color but they actually go on very sheer and almost clear. The original version looks like an ivory/cream/white shade in the jar - but blends out clear on the lids. The Neutralizing shade looks like a yellow toned beige in the jar, but also goes on almost clear - but that little bit of yellow helps to neutralize the lids. Honestly though, I don't find it does an amazing job at neutralizing the lids especially if your lids have a lot of discoloration - but it's a helpful bonus if you're going to be applying shadow primer anyway.

When you rub your finger in the jar you'll notice that it almost melts on contact as the warmth from your finger warms up the product. These shadow primers are very creamy and smooth, and contain very emollient ingredients that make it moisturizing... perfect for those with normal to dry eye lids (like myself). If you have oily eyelids I would skip these primers, as they may just make your shadows slip around and crease becasue of that.

I like that these go on easily, feel moisturizing on my eyelids (but not greasy), they make my shadows pop and prolong the shadow wear. There was no mention in the product description of preventing creasing, but I didn't notice any creasing at all when I used these as a shadow primer.

These come in little jars just like their eyeshadows, which if you were storing them all together, would make them an even and easy fit along side of them (I store my shadow primers in their own drawer.... because I'm a weirdo and need to organize my makeup way over board, haha). I typically prefer my shadow primers in a tube, like the Too Faced Shadow Insurance, but I don't mind the jar packaging -- plus, with the texture (a solid cream formulation) I don't see any other option but jar or compact.

I used the original Eye Shadow Primer as the primer for my swatches in my most recent post with swatches of 13 more shades of the Madison Street Beauty Eyeshadow. Check out that post by clicking here to see how this primer made the shadows come to life and really pop!

Also, if you like to wear glitter and don't own a glitter primer, I find this works well for glitter to stick to. Just work one eye at a time, apply the primer and immediately follow up with applying your glitter. It will be wet/sticky enough when first applied to grab and hold onto the glitter!



Final Thoughts...

I liked these shadow primers and really enjoyed how they felt moisturizing on my eye lids. I seem to get drier and drier eyelids as I get older (I'll be 30 on April 12th!).

If you have oily eyelids then you'll want to skip out on these. If you have normal to dry skin/eyelids, then I'd say you may really enjoy these shadow primers. Go for the neutralizing one if you have a lot of discoloration. It won't work miracles compared to more pigmented products, but it will help just a little more than their original version - but really, they both perform the same and to me, seem nearly identical on the lids so you can't go wrong with either one!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this eye shadow primer? Have you tried this or is this on your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

Biore - Self Heating One Minute Mask - pics, review

Hello, Beautiful!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: If there is one skin care product I am obsessed with, it's masks/peels! I will continue to try more and more, and it's often the first item in any skin care line that I check out. I have yet another mask review. This is the Biore Self Heating One Minute Mask. It really intrigued me, so I had to try it! Check out all the product info, along with my full review, after the pics!

Biore Self Heating One Minute Mask

Biore Self Heating One Minute Mask Info & Review:

Cost/Availability: $6.49 to $7.99 depending where you shop (per box; each box comes with 4 single-use packets. Each packet is 0.25oz). Available at Target, Walmart, Ulta, Walgreens, at Drugstore.com, and pretty much everywhere else Biore products are sold.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses!

Product Info...

Melt away the stress, dirt and oil! Infused with natural charcoal, this thermal mask opens pores and draws out dirt. It finishes with a cooling sensation for tingly-smooth skin in just one minute. Oil-free. Dermatologist tested. Mix this charcoal face mask with water to increase heating action by 2x.

May be used up to 2 to 3 times per week.


To Use: 

1. Wet face and leave your face wet. This mask is activated by water and won't work properly without it. 
2. Then apply mask with dry hands. Just open the packet and squeeze out into your hand, and spread it onto the face - avoiding the eye area. Like mentioned above, add some water (just a little) to your fingers to help spread the mask and activate the warming. 
3. Massage onto your face for about 1 minute. As you massage the mask will heat up. For more heating action, or for your preferred consistency, massage in a little water. NOTE: This mask does NOT dry or harden!
4. After one minute, rinse off to remove the mask.

My Review...

I'm going to start off by saying what I didn't like/what I wish was different. I don't like the fact that you only get four uses out of a box, and they're each in individual packs. I feel like masks in a jar or tube are easier to control how much you use. For example, maybe I only wanted to use the mask on my t-zone but with the single-use packets that this box comes with, I would have extra that would go to waste.

With that being said, that may be my only negative to this product!!!

This stuff really works! You will definitely feel it heating up.... it's pretty intense the first few seconds, but dulls down a bit. You can intensify the heat by adding water. The heat is key for this mask to open your pores, so if you're not a fan of masks that get warm, you may not enjoy this.

It does a really great job at drawing out the impurities in your skin. Feels good going on too. I don't necessarily use this for any other reason but to draw out impurities. I don't care that it doesn't exfoliate, because I can use a scrub if needed (or another mask that does just that). I love this for getting rid of all the nasty stuff that needs to leave my face! After I use this mask I will take a toner and go over my face because sometimes you can see some things still on your face, but the toner will take them away and your pores will look and feel cleaner! One of the best masks I've used - drugstore or high-end - to get rid of impurities!

I guess the only other negative is you get 4 packets in this box, and they say you can use this 2 to 3 times a week -- which means every 1.5 to 2 weeks you'd have to get another box if you were to use it 2 to 3 times a week. Using it once a week would mean you could get a month's use from it. This needs to be sold with more packets in the box - although I guess that would increase the price and they probably want to keep a lower price point so you'll buy it.

If you want to get the most use of a single box I'd probably recommend using it once a week, and if it's that time of the month and your face is acting up, use it twice that week.



Final Thoughts...

This is a great drugstore mask that heats up and draws out impurities. It has an affordable price point (it's about $1.62 per mask if you purchased it for $6.49). I'd recommend picking this up if you're looking to remove impurities from your face because this will do a really good job! Try to find a coupon or sale, because since it's a drugstore item you can do that and it will reduce the cost even more for the per-mask-price!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this face mask? Have you tried this or is this on your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Mauvelous - pics, swatches, review

Hello, Beautiful!

Back in September I reviewed three shades of the Be A Bombshell Lip Gloss - shades Sangria, Taupeless and Hot Mess. Since then I've gathered another three shades! In this post specifically I am focusing on the shade Mauvelous because it is absolutely my favorite of all the six shades I have. It's so much more pigmented then the others, and it's absolutely a stunning shade. I have pics and swatches of Mauvelous, as well as a comparision of all six shades I currently own swatched next to each other. Check out all the product info, along with my review, after the pics!

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Lip Gloss
Shade: Mauvelous

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Lip Gloss
Comparison of all 6 shades I own
Shades: Mauvelous, Vixen, Taupeless, Summer Lovin, Sangria, Hot Mess

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Lip Gloss Info & Review:

Cost/Availability: $14.00 (0.11 oz full size). Available on the Be A Bombshell website.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 Kisses for the shade Mauvelous and 4 out of 5 Kisses for the other five shades I own

Product Info...

These glosses have long-lasting color with a high-shine formula. Currently available in 18 shades.

Here is a list of the shades and their description, as per the Be A Bombshell website:

• Mauvelous: mauve - an opaque medium mauve
• Vixen: rusty red - a coppery red with shimmer
• Taupeless: nude - an opaque nude
• Summer Lovin: the perfect amount of shimmer enhanced by sheer coral
• Sangria: deep wine - a sheer raspberry wine
• Hot Mess: true red - an opaque red
• Daddy's Girl: light pink - an opaque light pink
• Hooked: dark mauve - a dark mauve with light shimmer
• Kiss Off: bubble gum pink - a light pink with shimmer
• Saucy: red - a classic red with shimmer
• Sugar Lips: light pink - an opaque light pink
• Caliente: this spicy shade of coral packs a punch - the opaque formula goes on smooth and is perfect for day or night
• All Dolled Up: rose - medium rose with shimmer
• Last Call Girl: fushia pink - an opaque bright pink
• First Kiss: plum - the perfect plum with shimmer
• Nude Beach: sandy tan - a light neutral brown with shimmer
• Coco Delight: chocolate - a medium brown with shimmer
• Diamond: clear - a basic clear gloss

My Review...

I've always liked the Be A Bombshell Lip Glosses, but after trying Mauvelous I really LOVE them... well at least I am in love in the Mauvelous shade!

The shade Mauvelous is way more opaque than the other shades, and almost looks/acts as a liquid lipstick - that's the kind of intensity it has. Still has great shine, feels very comfortable on the lips, and the color is absolutely stunning. A perfect mauve-pink! I also love that Mauvelous doesn't have any shimmer in it - it's just a cream shade.

They just came out with I believe 4 new shades, Mauvelous being one of them, and I hope they continue to create new shades - especially non-shimmer, cream finishes. Still on my wish list: Last Call Girl, All Dolled Up, and Caliente.

Like I mentioned, I always liked these glosses but I was never wow'd by the formula; in my original review I mentioned there wasn't anything about the formula that bothered me - it just wasn't life changing. Just a nice, good lip gloss. They all leaned on the sheer side until I tried Mauvelous. Maybe Mauvelous just seems more pigmented because more product comes out on the applicator. That's something the other shades I own seem to lack, but I'm not real sure.

Final Thoughts...

If you've tried Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Lip Glosses before and wasn't blown away or in love, but want to give them a second go, then I highly recommend the shade Mauvelous. If you haven't tried them yet, then I'd recommend starting off with the shade Mauvelous (as I think it will flatter a lot of skintones).

Really LOVED Mauvelous (as if I didn't say that enough already). It was like a completely different lip gloss formula compared to the other shades I own. Love it and would recommend!

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this lip gloss? Have you tried this or is this on your beauty wish list? What shade is your favorite? Discuss in the comments below.

Zoya Spring 2014 Awaken Collection & Monet Special Effects Topper - all shades - pics, swatches, review

Hello, Beautiful!

Zoya has come out with another pretty collection. This is their Spring 2014 Awaken Collection with the Monet Special Effects Topper. The Awaken Collection includes the typical 6 shades that they normally release in any collection, but then also a Special Effects Topper that can be used alone or over any of the Awaken collection (or any other polish). In this collection I have some favorites (like Dillon and Hudson), but I also have some I wasn't thrilled with. Check out all the product info, along with my full review, after the pics!

Zoya Spring 2014 Awaken Collection
& Monet Special Effects Topper
Shades: Monet, Dot, Cole, Hudson, Dillon, Rebel, Brooklyn
Continue scrolling down to see more pics of each individual shade.

Zoya Monet Special Effects Topper
Shade: ZP726 Monet

Zoya Awaken Collection
Shade: ZP720 Dot

Zoya Awaken Collection
Shade: ZP721 Cole

Zoya Awaken Collection
Shade: ZP722 Hudson

Zoya Awaken Collection
Shade: ZP723 Dillon

Zoya Awaken Collection
Shade: ZP724 Rebel

Zoya Awaken Collection
Shade: ZP725 Brooklyn

Zoya Awaken & Monet Collection Info & Review:

Cost/Availability: $9.00 each for the Awaken polishes and $10 for the Monet polish (0.5 fl oz full size). Available on the Zoya website, at Ulta, and everywhere else Zoya polishes are sold.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Kisses

Product Info...

The Zoya Spring 2014 Awaken and Monet Collection includes 6 shades of the Awaken collection, and the one shade from the Monet collection. Below are the shades descriptions, as well as their undertone (cool, warm, neutral), color family, finish, and their opacity level from 1 to 5 (1 = sheer, 5 = opaque).

• Monet - a multi-colored, cellophane holographic special effect topper. Has a neutral undertone and is in the purple family. Special Effect finish. Opacity level 1. 
• Dot - a full-coverage pink petal cream (originally released as Dot for fashion designer Zang Toi's SS14 Collection). Has a cool undertone and is in the pink family. Cream finish. Opacity level 4.
• Cole - a full-coverage peach whisper cream (originally released during NYFW as Stella for Peter Som's SS14 Collection). Has a warm undertone and is in the orange family. Cream finish. Opacity level 4.
• Hudson - a full-coverage purple orchid metallic with silver shimmer. Has a cool undertone and is in the purple family. Metallic finish. Opacity level 5.
• Dillon - a full-coverage green mint metallic with a silver shimmer. Has a warm undertone and is in the green family. Metallic finish. Opacity level 5.
• Rebel - a full-coverage blue sky metallic with a silver shimmer. Has a cool undertone and is in the blue family. Metallic finish. Opacity level 5.
• Brooklyn - a full-coverage white-gold shimmer metallic. Has a warm undertone and is in the gold family. Metallic finish. Opacity level 5.

My Review...

I was super excited for this collection because I am more than ready to see spring shades hit the shelves! The colors are very spring and very pretty. There are two cream shades, 3 shimmer/metallic shades, and one metallic/satin shade in the Spring 2014 Awaken Collection. Plus the Monet special effects topper.

I'll start by talking about the shade Monet. I was super excited for the Monet shade, which is a topper, and I used it in a NOTD - which I posted on my Instagram - over top the shade Dot from the Awaken collection. I find it to be very thick and gloppy - unlike other Zoya polishes in consistency. It's still usable, and best with just one coat or it gets very thick and will make your nails look a little thicker than they should. I used two coats in that NOTD on Instagram. I think it looks best with two coats because you get the most iridescent pieces on your nail. I also used two coats in the swatch photo showing it on the nail wheel. Even though this was maybe the one I was looking forward to the most, I find it my least favorite to apply.

Now let's get into the Spring 2014 Awaken Collection, talking about each shade...

Dot - This is a baby pink cream shade that is a bit more sheer than the metallic/shimmer finishes in the collection. It needs two coats for sure - and depending on how thick you apply your coats, you may need a third depending on your preference. I loved this pink shade and it's also the base shade I used in my NOTD I posted on my Instagram.

Cole - This is a creamsicle like orange shade; very spring and even summery orange. Just like Dot, this also isn't quite as opaque as the metallic/shimmer finishes in this collection. It needs 2 coats as well. I like this one too!

Hudson - This is a gorgeous deeper lavender shade with a shimmer/metallic finish. Opaque in 1 to 2 coats (I use 2 just out of preference, but you may be happy with 1 coat). It's not a typical pastel spring lavender, but it's not a purple-purple either. It's somewhere right in between, and it's gorgeous. I love the shimmer in all the shimmer shades from this collection.

Dillon - This is probably my favorite shade. A gorgeous seafoam green! I'm not a big green polish fan, but this leans more seafoam in tone than it does green. It also has that same gorgeous shimmer to it, and is also opaque in 1 to 2 coats. Love it!

Rebel - This is a gorgeous blue shade. I was trying to think of the right way to describe it, but I really couldn't think of the right words. A tropical blue? A blue with a teal undertone? I'm not sure - but it's pretty and just like Hudson and Dillon, it has gorgeous shimmer and is opaque in 1 to 2 coats.

Brooklyn - This was my least favorite shade. While it's pretty -- it's a pale gold -- I'm not a fan of this kind of metallic/satin finish. It shows every brush stroke really pronounced, so it's hard to get an even look to it and I don't have time to fuss with it to get it how I would prefer.


To sum it up, my top three favorite shades are: Dillon, Dot, Hudson and my least two favorites are Brooklyn and Monet (and Monet is only a least favorite due to the formula, because I love how it looks).




Final Thoughts...

I think this is a pretty collection from Zoya that is perfect for spring. It's like a breath of fresh air when I've seen so many darker shades for the past few months. I'm not sure this is a collection I would recommend buying the whole set of, because I'm just not a fan of the shade Brooklyn (plus, Monet is sold separately as well). I also don't know if I'd recommend buying Monet only because of the formulation - it was just too thick and gloopy. But I would definitely recommend all three of the shimmer/metallic finishes: Hudson, Dillon, Rebel - and I may even say the two creams are good too (but I feel like Dot is a pretty standard shade, and Cole may even be pretty standard, but it seems a bit more unique).

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this nail polish collection? Have you tried this or is this on your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below.