For those with kids, i have a special post for you today. With the way technology is now a days, i have yet to meet a mother / father who doesn’t allow their child to play with their phone, laptop, etc. I am very skeptical with what i let my daughter play with. I monitor what she watches on T.V., what toys she’s allowed to play with, and especially what she uses on my phone. I have been using this app for my android device for over a year now and never really praised it like i should have. This app is amazing. Not only does it teach my kid all types of things that she’ll need her life, it’s fun for her and occupying for when you need a few minutes to yourself.

Zoodles is an amazing app that can be used on computers, tablets, and phones (android or iphone devices). It offers a ton of games, videos, and books for your little ones. It’s customized to YOUR child and their age group. It features a parent dashboard that allows you to block certain games, characters, etc. If you want your child to learn more about math for example, you can change the features to showcase more math then other subjects.

I highly recommend this as an app that all parents should have if they allow their child to use electronic devices. There’s so many features, that your child cannot get bored with it and they update it frequently with new stuff.

My daughter has learned so much from this app and it amazes me to watch her play memory games and learning to read simple words. The best part of it is, it’s FREE! So give it a try and if you already use it, how do you like it?

Smith’s Rosebud Salve (Original)
Purchased @ Sephora – $6.00

Claims: This cult-favorite, multi-purpose lip balm soothes dry lips, calms and heals irritation, and soothes the sting of minor burns. Try dabbing on dry elbows or knees to condition, and relieve dryness. Also an excellent remedy for the treatment of diaper rash.

Contains: Cotton Seed Oil and Aromol, with essential oils blended in a special petrolatum base.

My Rating: ?????
(Loved it – Will purchase time & time again).

Pros:

• EXTREMELY Moisturizing.
• Multi-use Product. More bang for your buck.
• One of the 2 items that relieves my very dry, cracked, and chapped lips.
• A lot of product for the money.
• Wondeful smell. Like Roses! (Hence the name).
• Not sticky and glossy.
• Works well under drying lipsticks to ensure moisture through the day.

Cons:

• Container. Not very hygienic and only for 1 person use. Squeeze tube available though.

My Opinion: This is one if my HG lip conditioning items. I suffer from severe dry, chapped, cracked, flaking, bleeding, you name it type of lips. They’ll be fine one day and if i don’t use anything on my lips, within a few HOURS my lips will suffer again. I have gone through several and when i say several i mean over a hundred different type of chapsticks / lip treatments to get my lips to be at least “normal“. I guess it’s my lack of moisture in my body since chapped lips is the number one sign of dehydration (shame on me since i never drink water).

But like i said, this is one of the two HG items for my lips. I love this and it’s absolutely amazing. I will never replace this since it works so well for me and i do highly, HIGHLY recommend this to anybody who has any of the conditions i stated above. It’s very light weight so it doesn’t make you feel like you have a ton of Vaseline on your lips (you know what i’m saying?). It has a very light scent of roses which i don’t mind, but for those who do have scent sensitivity, you may not like this product then.

I use this religiously throughout the day and especially as part of my night time regimen. I cake a little more than normal on my lips right before i hop in to bed, since that’s the time where you’re not licking your lips and its completely absorbed in the morning. My lips are plump, moisturized, and NORMAL. I use this throughout the day and switch between this and my other HG chapstick (review to follow). I will use this under lipsticks that are drying and also over lipsticks if i don’t feel like using a gloss. It has a very light sheen and glossy affect that makes your lips look physically moisturized. If your lips are chapped, flaky, and cracked – it immediately covers that with the glossy sheen so you don’t have to walk around self-conscious about what your lips look like.

So in conclusion, i highly recommend this. I told myself not to “recommend” products anymore on my PR’s since everybody is different and have different reactions / skintypes / etc. But i have to recommend this item since it truly is a HG item.

Rosebud Parfume Co. also has 2 other Salves that i will be PR shortly. I have yet to try them but will once i get a good sense of how they work in (;

MAC Fix+ Skin Refresher / Finishing Mist
Purchased @ Nordstroms (MAC Counter) –  $19.00

Claims: An aqua-spritz of vitamin and minerals, infused with a calm-the-skin blend of green tea, chamomile, cucumber, topped off with the fresh, natural, energizing scent of Sugi. Adds radiance, finishes makeup. Spray it on. Skin drinks it up!

Contains: Water, Glyucerin, Butylene Glycol, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract, Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caffeine, Panthenol, Arginine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol.

How To Use: Hold bottle 12″ away from the face and spray evenly. Use before or after makeup.

My Rating: ?????
(Loved it – Will purchase time & time again).

Pros:

• One bottle lasts me 6+ months.
• Great on days with / without makeup.
• Leaves skin feeling very supple and soft.
• Handy and stylish spray bottle (Nice to showcase on vanity).
• Great for wet use on eyeshadow, foundations, etc.
• Moisturizes on extra dry skin days.

Cons:

• Does not well prior to foundation.
• Bottle will leak if opened and closed.
• Contains caffeine, so may  not be suitable for caffeine sensitive individuals.

My Opinion: This mist is absolutely amazing. As many of you know and have heard, FIX+ has been ranted and raved by everybody, especially YouTube Gurus. Personally and in my opinion, i will have to agree on this one. I’m currently on my 2nd bottle and had initially had mixed feelings about this product. But once you figure out what works best for you and your skin, it should become an HG item for you also.

I love to use this on days when i don’t wear a hint of makeup. I will spritz this all over my face after my morning routine and after about 15 minutes, spritz FIX+ all over my face. The caffeine in it wakes up my complexion and helps my dull tired skin from looking “dead“, especially when stepping out with no makeup. Now i noted that one of the negatives to FIX+ would be the added caffeine for some, cause i am aware there are individuals out there with caffeine sensitivity. I am not one of those types, so unfortunately i cannot tell you how this will affect those. But like always, patch test is key when trying new products.

Now like i stated about having mixed feelings about this initially, i figured out i was just using it all wrong. I was spraying this on my face BEFORE i was applying foundation. Now, when i say foundation i’m meaning all types. Liquid, Cream, Powder, and Mineral. After i would be done, i would notice i was super super cakey / dry looking. No matter how little i would use. I would then “set” my foundation with this also, which would help ease the cakey-ness but it really left my face feeling like i had a layer of foundation that was not blended in with my skin. Kind of like i had another layer of skin on top of mine. My foundation would feel heavy all day and all i would want to do is go home and take everything off. So i did what most people would do, STOP USING IT! But i went back to it because i wanted to really love this product.

Am i glad i did. Instead of spritzing my face BEFORE my foundation, i only do it after. I will start off with my normal AM routine and then foundation and eyebrows. Afterwards i’ll take my stippling brush, spritz the ends of it and stipple it all over my face while doing LIGHT circular motions. Re-sprintz when you feel like the brush is dry. I will also pay really close attention to areas i am very dry or flakey, and this will drastically improve and moisturize that area, keeping it all at bay.

I do this anytime i wear foundation now. Not only does it set the makeup but gives you that additional pick me up and moisturizing you need on dry days. Hope this review helped anybody who was skeptical on purchasing MAC FIX+ but in my opinion, i believe it’s worth the buy (:

Origins Brighter By Nature:
High-Potency Brightening Peel with Fruit Acids (P) & Skin Tone Correcting Serum (S).
**Note: (P) is the peels & (S) is for the serum.

Purchased: Origins Free Standing Store (Bellevue Square Mall)

Claims: (P) These clinically-proven, skin brightening peel pads rival the instant smoothness and radiance restoring benefits of a professional 30% glycolic peel without the redness. Plus they help restore clarity and improve evenness of skin tone. (S) Considering costly laser resurfacing or chemical peels? Nature has an effective, yet gentle alternative. This clinically proven plant serum with Japanese Basil Leaf, Cucumber and naturally-derived Vitamin C helps create more even skin tone and zap the appearance of dark spots. Helps prevent future spotting. There’s no scarring or scorching skin. No downtime, no hefty price tag. It’s true brightness with no regrets. ? 73% instant improvement in skin clarity. ? 42% visible reduction in dark spots and discolorations.

How To Use: (P): Use twice weekly on clean skin. Apply in a circular motion and avoid eye area. A slight tingly sensation is normal. Follow with Brighter By Nature Skin Tone Correcting Serum. (S): Apply A.M. and P.M after cleansing and before your moisturizer.

My Rating: ?????
(Loved it – Will purchase time & time again).

Pros for (P):

• Very exfoliating, really makes you feel like it’s getting deep deep down to the inner skin.
• Actually WORKS, which is a miracle.
• Not a daily regimen so you don’t have to always “remember” to do it.

Cons for (P):

• Hate the smell. It’s got a strong medicinal smell, but diminishes quickly.
• Exfoliating, but ROUGH. Leaves my skin red afterwords for a few minutes.

Pros for (S):

• Smooth consistency. Goes on easily and dries quickly.
• Bottle comes with a pump that locks. Perfect for travel.
• Very light weight. Doesn’t feel heavy on skin.
• Also, works and pairs well with the pads.

Cons for (S):

• Also a medicinal smell but goes away very quickly.

My Opinion: First and foremost, let me go ahead and state that i have tried everything and anything i could get my hands on when it comes to lightening my post acne scars / dark spots left behind. I’ve even had several facials done to try to help (Chemical Peels & Microdermabrasion) Although i  have very very minimal sun spots, i did notice a few spots on my hands more than anywhere else (probably due to the fact that i drive a lot). One of my best friends had mentioned to give Origins a try out cause she’s heard great things also. She personally never used it but had also heard great things. I honestly didn’t take her “recommendation” right away, actually i skipped over it COMPLETELY and purchased several other products before remembering about the Origins and one of the only reasons why i did remember it was because i happened to walk past it when i stopped by a local mall to grab a bite to eat.

Now let me tell you, these 2 products are my HG dark spot faders. I use the serum on a daily basis where as the pads are used only 2 times a week. The pictures i have above are only after 4 uses. ONLY 4 USES! I even was brave enough to go extremely close to the skin to show you how it’s actually all disappeared.

I do use these products in conjunction of other skin lightening / dark spot fading creams but just for clarification, i know that these are the products that are the ones that are helping my dark spots because i have been using the other products for over a year with no change at all (i’m only trying to rid the products since i bought them). So on to the reviews.

The pads are absolutely amazing. They are so potent that they are equivalent to a 30% glycolic peel you would get by a professional. I use this every 3 days right after taking a shower and exfoliating with my CURE Natural Aqua Gel. Afterwards, while my pores are open, i go through with 1 pad. I first run it over my face insuring i saturate my entire face with the magic and then i go all over my face in circular motions and paying close attention to my dark spots. There is a downfall though. The pads tend to feel rough. If you have every used an Oxy Pad, it’s very similar. It stings and WILL make your face red, but no pain no gain right? Plus the redness diminished on me in about 10 minutes after doing the treatment. The smell is horrible. It’s bad enough that i breathe through my mouth instead of my nose just because it has a strong medicinal smell and i can’t stand that smell. After the treatment, my face feels amazing! It feels super clean and slightly tingly but nothing to bothersome.

I follow it with the serum. It’s very lightweight and penetrates into the skin very quickly. No greasy film or that heavy weight feeling you get after using thicker serums and creams. The bottle comes with a lock / unlock pump so it’s perfect for travel and you can put aside the fear that it’ll get all over the place. I use this AM & PM to ensure that i’m getting the most benefits out of this product. The smell on this isn’t that great either but much more tolerable then the pads and it diminishes extremely fast also.

With these 2 products, i believe it seriously is a miracle. I have tried so many products from Ambi to Clinique Even Better Clinical with no luck. So i honestly didn’t have high hopes for this either, but this seriously is fast working and amazing. The pictures can only justify it to an extent but in person it’s absolutely amazing. I no longer have to use cover up on my dark spots to try to camouflage them any more.

So in conclusion, i HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this to anybody looking to lighten their dark spots. It’s absolutely amazing and worth every penny. If you have any questions or want more updates, please feel free to comment below. Also to those who have used these products, please let me know if it worked for you. I would love to know your feedback and results also!

** Please also be aware that none of these pictures have been photoshopped nor manipulated in anyway. I’ve only watermarked them and circled my dark spots to show them for those who can’t see / or tell.

Body Laundry’s Light Moisturizer
Sent by: Body Laundry

How To Use: There’s no specific instructions but for me, i use daily in the morning & at night after cleansing and toning my face.

My Rating: ?????
(Loved it – Will purchase time & time again).

Pros:

• Very Very VERY lightweight.
• Absorbs quickly.
• Instant brightening effect.
• Not sticky.
• Dubs great for a primer also!
• Inexpensive.
• HOMEMADE!

Cons:

• Bit of a medicinal fragrance but not harsh at all.
• Cannot purchase at a store, online ordering only.

My Opinion: First and foremost, just to let you know i am a skincare addict. When i say addict i seriously have an obsessive tendency to continously purchase skincare products (especially moisturizers). I’ve gone through cheap drugstore brands to spending over $200.00 on a moisturizer. Although i am NO professional at skincare, i can tell you that my opinions of moisturizers are pretty “legit” in my eyes since i can say i’ve tried so many in my life.

Now back to the review, this moisturizer is by far one of the best ones i have tried. Not only is this super lightweight it absorbs into the skin almost immediately. So i don’t have to sit and wait for 20+ minutes waiting for it to absorb before apply my makeup. Also, as you can see in my Pros, i stated it dubs well as a primer. Now i have no idea how it works so well but when i use this moisturizer i never and when i say never have to use a primer to keep my foundation in place. It dries to a pretty matte finish and my foundation sticks to it perfectly. Mineral, powder, cream, and liquid ; i’ve tried it all and each time i never have to worry about my makeup sliding off or anything else. I seriously say this is a 2 for 1. After apply this i also noticed that my skin instantly looks brighter. It gives me a very glowy appearance suitable enough for me to go out without a hint of makeup on but knowing my skin doesn’t look dull. Now i have combination / oily skin in the summer an dry skin in the winter and after using this product for over a year now, i can tell you that it’s worked with both my skin conditions and transitions with the weather without any hesitation, leaving me to resort to another product. This is an item i HIGHLY recommend if you’re looking for a good moisturizer for daily use.

Although i love this moisturizer, i do not use this at night since i tend to go for a thicker and creamier night cream. The only downfall to this is that it does have a hint of a medicinal smell but nothing to much to drive me crazy. It goes away quickly so for those who are sensitive to smell, this may be the only downfall to it.

I would definitely purchase this time and time again. Not only is it cheap but it lasts a long time! I was fortunate enough to receive a sample for my lovely Julie, the creator behind Body Laundry and i’ve been using the sample almost everyday and i still have product left. I would highly highly recommend you all to check her out. Her skincare line is amazing! I have tried her purifying blemish clay mask and will be doing a PR on that shortly. She has other products i have not tried but will be purchasing to test out and PR also. Not only do i like the fact that her products work, but they are also homemade by her.

So once again, make sure you check her out. The moisturizer is a MUST-HAVE in my book and she also has sample sizes so you don’t have to go and buy the huge container. Trust me, the sample size goes a long way. Don’t forget to mention i sent you!

**FTC Disclaimer: I was sent this product by Body Laundry. I am not being paid for this review or receiving any incentives for referring customers. I am only showcasing an item i truly and honestly believe that works. This is my honest opinion and my personal review on the product. Some may not agree with me but this product worked on my skin and i hope it will for you too.

CURE Natural Aqua Gel
Purchased at Beauty Carousel — $29.84 (Before Shipping)

Claims: Best-selling skincare product in Japan for 7 years! 1 bottle is sold every 20 seconds!

A gentle, non-abrasive water-based exfoliating gel made of 90% activated hydrogen water and plant extracts of aloe vera, gingko and rosemary. Contains no fragrance, no alcohol, no artificial preservatives or coloring. Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin.

It removes dead skin cells gently and effectively to help in skin renewal for softer, smoother and brighter skin. A basic skincare must-have to prevent skin problems such as enlarged pores, blackheads, pimples, blemishes and dull skin tone.

Discover how your face brightens up and how your make-up glides on beautifully after using CURE.

Contains: 90.66%  Activated Hydrogen Water from Purified Water, 5% Glycerin, Crosspolymer (Acrylares/C-10-30 Alky Acrylate), Dicocodimonium Chloride.Steartrimonium Bromide, Aloe Barbadenis Leaf Extract <1%, Ginkgo Biloba Extract <1%, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract <1%, and Butylene Glycol <1%. For more information on what these items are, please visit: http://www.japalang.sg/cure/About_Cure.html

How To Use: Use on dry face. Massage face very GENTLY in a circular motion. Do not use too much force as it may cause redness. Great for removing dead skin cells on the neck, armpit, elbow, back and knee too. Safe to use on alternate days or when necessary. (Recommended: 1 – 2 times a week).

My Rating: ?????
(Loved it – Will purchase time & time again).

Pros:

• Very lightweight.
• No harsh exfoliating beads.
• Instant results, leaves face super super super smooth.
• No harsh smell at all. Very very light scent if any.
• As disgusting as it is, it’s so cool to see your dead skin ball up immediately.

Cons:

• Cannot find this anywhere (locally).
• On the steeper side, but worth EVERY penny.

My Opinion:  This is my HG exfoliator. I have a serious obsession with exfoliators (due to my “bad” skin) so i’m on the constant hunt for exfoliators, regardless of bad / good reviews. But CURE offers so far the BEST and when i say best i mean the best exfoliator out there.

The first thing that honestly really caught my attention is that 1 of these bottles is sold every 20 seconds in Japan. Seriously?! And they don’t even advertise. When i first tried this product a few months back, i was very very skeptical for many reasons. One, it’s 91% water, so seriously how is that suppose to honestly clean anything and two, WHERE ARE THE BEADS?! Seriously, i have never used an exfoliator without beads. Now i’ve tried it all, big beads, little beads, soft beads, hard beads, bursting beads, and so on. You catch my drift. But this has absoutely NO beads, so it honestly once again, didn’t make any sense at how it would exfoliate. I honestly STILL can’t tell you how it works but it’s the best stuff out on the market.  As you can see from above, all those little white balls are DEAD SKIN CELLS. Amazing right?

CURE recommends you to use anywhere from 2-3 pumps but honestly i only use 1. It’s a lot of product and i’m very conservative with my stuff, so i try to use minimal amounts if possible. 1 pump is honestly more than enough so i do encourage to save this god sent product. So with the amount of product you get this will definitely go a long long way. I use this twice a day followed with a mask and it honestly has improved my skin texture a lot.

After using this only twice, i was complimented by my whole family and a few friends about my skin, saying that it looks a lot healthier, brighter, and glowing! Honestly to hear comments like that make me feel a lot better since i’ve been doing everything i can and purchasing anything i have a slight amount of faith in.

The only downfall to this product is that it is a Japanese product so you can’t find this locally. If you were like me, i hated online shopping and refused to do it due to identity theft, but now that i do shop online, it’s a lot easier for me to get this. I’ve hunted and hunted and hunted for the best pricing and so far Beauty Carousel is the cheapest i can find and ensures that it’s 100% authentic, which i can claim that it is.

For more detailed information, i highly encourage you to visit the manufactures website and to read through it all. It’s so enticing and as a devoted user, i can tell you that what they claim is 100% honest in my opinion. So for more information here’s the link: Click Here

I will continue to purchase this over and over and over and if they ever discontinue this product, i will buy myself a whole box to make sure i have enough to get me by for the rest of my life! Lol! That’s how much i honestly loveeeeeeeeeeeee this product.

Shiseido Purness – Refreshing Cleansing Water
Purchased @ Macy’s ($21.00)

Claims: A gentle water-based cleanser that whisks away the impurities, makeup, and oil that can clog pores and lead to imperfections. Maintains skin’s natural balance. Leaves skin feeling refreshed. pH-balanced formulation. Recommended for oily, combination and normal skin. Use daily morning and evening. Oil-free. Alcohol-free.

Contains: Unfortunately i threw away the box so i can’t really give you any information on this.

How To Use: Saturate a cotton pad and wipe gently over face.

My Rating: ?????
(Loved it – Will purchase time & time again).

Pros:

• Smells amazing! Like a floral scent.
• Light weight and penetrates skin fast.
• Cleans face (dirt, oil, & sebum) deeply.
• Leaves skin soft and touchable.
• Great to use anytime for any reason.
• Priced reasonably for a high-end product.

Cons:

• NONE!

My Opinon: This is an item that has totally made my HG list. As you can probably tell from the picture, i use this frequently. Part of my AM skincare routine, i actually do not wash my face since i have combination dry skin and the more frequently i wash, the drier i get. So in the morning when i wake up i just take a cotton pad and use about 2 – 3 pumps of this amazing product and wipe my face. It removes all the sebum, left over moisturizers, and creams from the night before, leaving my face refreshed and clean.

It also controls my oil. Since i am combination-dry i do tend to get oily around my nose and sometimes my cheeks, but since i’ve been using this i have not had a problem with oil at all. I have gone days without it and noticed the oil on those days but when i use it not a spot. It’s weird and i can’t really explain why it does but all i know is that this product works for me.

Please note though, this product works well for me but may not for others. I would recommend requesting a sample if you want to try it before making the purchase, or to purchase this at Nordstroms since their return policy is very lenient.

I initially wanted to do a PR on this when i had first got it, but wanted to push it off until i actually really used the product. Now i’m more than halfway through the product and this is so worth the product. It’s relatively cheap for a Shiseido product in my opinion, and lasts quite some time. I noticed that when i use this product and then continue on with my normal AM skincare routine (moisturizing and etc.) it leaves my skin a lot softer than it would be without using it.

I highly highly highly recommend this product for individuals who don’t wash their face in the morning and need to eliminate dry skin and control oil. Since i am almost out, i do plan on making a purchase of this item again and will continue to do so since this is an HG item for me.

Claims: These 10 color palettes contains the original best selling NYX shadows in one sleek case for design, storage, and mobility. Whether you are looking for various color combination or a palette suited for your particular eye color, then look no further! As with our popular eyeshadows this product offers bold colors, high pigmentation, and lasting wear.

Includes:

• 10 Eyeshadows
• Mirror
• 1 Double Sided Eyeshadow Sponge

Contains: Mica, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Mineral Oil, 2-Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Bht, Methylparaben, Propylaraben. May Contain: Cl77499, Cl16035, Cl77007, Cl77492, Cl77891, Cl77491.

My Rating: ?????
(Loved it – Will purchase time & time again).

Pros:

• Great color payoff; very pigmented.
• Huge mirror for the size of the palette.
• Cheap!
• Minimal fallout
• Very minimal shimmer, matte & satin mixture.

Cons:

• Eyeshadow sponge is very flimsy & not useful for me.

My Opinion: I absolutely love this palette. This is my first item from NYX and am very very impressed with the pigmentation it offers and love how smooth and satiny it is. It has minimal fall out which is definitely a plus for me. The colors are perfect for an everyday neutral look. It offers everything you need from highlights, crease, and outer v colors. I have not tried these colors without an eyelid primer so could not tell you if they are long lasting or crease proof without a primer, but i’ve used these both with Urban Decay Potion Primer & Too Faced Shadow Insurance and they’ve lasted me all day through high heat and sweat without a single crease, smudge, or fading. I honestly and persnally like the top left color better than my normal highlight “MAC’s Rice Paper“. Color pick-up is great. You don’t need a lot at all. I just tap my brush in the darkest color to get the color i have for my outer v (seen below). So when i say very pigmented, i really mean it.

As for price wise, it’s super affordable and worth every penny. I plan on purchasing more of these palettes in other colors since it’s super cheap and very good quality.

The palette is small enough to bring with you for travel and touch-ups (honestly you don’t need to if you have a good primer). The mirror is huge, covering the entire top lid of the palette so you don’t have to be to close up to it while applying.

I am NOT a fan of sponge tip applicators, so this applicator is really of no use to me. It seems a little flimsy to and don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing since i never use sponge tip applicators to apply my eyeshadows.

So in conclusion, i highly recommend this palette for anybody looking for a neutral everyday wearable look who isn’t looking for to much shimmer but not matte either. I would most definitely purchase another one of these if i ever run out. I do plan on purchasing more of these palettes in different colors since i am very happy with this purchase. NYX also offers these palettes in other colors, so be sure to check those out as well. Since this is my only one (so far) i can only do a PR on the one. Hope this was helpful.

Coastal Scents 88 Color Eyeshadow Palette
Purchased @ CoastalScents.com ($18.95)

Claims: Highly pigmented shades, all shadows can also be applied wet for a deeper longer lasting effect. The compact case makes it easy for storing and traveling. The colors do not have a ton of shimmer in them if this is what you are looking for, you can always dust shimmer over top as I did in the above photo. It is nearly a 50 50 mix of matte and satin with slight shimmer. The case has a matte surface and measures 9″ x 6.5″ (23 cm x 16.5 cm) closed, The pots are Dime Size around and contain plenty of powder for many excessive uses.

Includes:

• 88 Eyeshadows
• Mirror
• 2 Tip Foam Application

Contains: Talc, Mica, Mineral Oil, Kaolin, Titanium Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Lanolin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, BHT. May contain: Mica and titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ultramarine Blue, Manganese Violet, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide, Chrome Oxide Greens, Chrome Hydroxide Green, FD&C Red No.40 AlLake, FD&C Yellow No.5 Al Lake, FD&C blue No.1 Al Lake.

My Rating: My Rating: ?????
(Loved it – Will purchase time & time again).

Pros:

• Great color payoff; very pigmented.
• Tons of colors!
• Cheap!
• Very minimal shimmer, matte & satin mixture.

Cons:

• High shipping costs.
• Large case, to flimsy for my taste.
• Fall out.

My Opinion: For the price, Coastal Scents offers a lot. I use this on a daily basis but honestly i should of gotten the 88 Warm Palette instead since i don’t use much “color”. But regardless, at least i have every color offered. It’s well worth the money but shipping was high, the only downfall to this purchase.

The colors offers a really nice mixture of a matte and satin finish. They’re highly pigmented but does have some fall-out when applying. I normally pat this on before i start sweeping to prevent excess fall out. This is another one of my HG items. If you haven’t already picked yourself up one of these, i highly recommend it.

I would rather purchase this than buy individual MAC colors since i don’t wear colors much. It’s great for artistry use and also if you follow YouTube Guru’s, a lot of them use this palette in their tutorials.

Kirkland Signature Borghese 15pc. Brush Kit (2009). Purchased @ Costco ($20.00)

Claims: Our premium professional cosmetic brushes are made with anti-microbial and synthetic, cruelty-free bristles. They are perfect for the application of fine mineral powders, liquid foundations, and gels. The high-quality bristles are treated with an anti-microbial formula that helps prevent harmful bacteria that can easily gather on brushes. It promotes glowing healthy, protected skin. Includes:

• Powder Brush
• Flat-Top Bronzer Brush
• Angled Foundation Brush
• Eyeshadow Brush
• Eye Blending Brush
• Flat Eyeliner Brush
• Eye Smudger
• Angled Brow Brush
• Brow Spoolie
• Premium Eyelash Curler
• 4 Premium Travel-Sized Brushes (Powder, Blending, Eyeshadow, Eyeliner)
• Designer Brush Case
• Designer Travel Size Brush Case
• Eyelash Curler w/ 1 Refill

My Rating: My Rating: ?????
(Loved it – Will purchase time & time again).

Pros:

• Super super super soft.
• No shedding! Even after washing!
• Duo Fiber Brush Style.
• Soft super grip handles.
• Anti-microbial formulated bristles.
• Synthetic – Animal Cruelty Free!
• Cheap but great quality!
• Cute diamond patch cases and small to bring with you.

Cons:

• Dirties easily!

My Opinion: Now i’ve always been a Costco shopper since i can even remember, but never really ventured into their cosmetics. I remember when they first came out and my mom bought me a lotion from them that was “okay” so i basically steered clear of their line. After going to Costco to pick up some Diapers & Wipes, i stopped by to the cosmetic aisle to check our their Strivectin and this caught my eye. $20.00 is a STEAL for a complete brush set. The look of these brushes also look pretty expensive so i told myself why not try it. Now i know Costco offers these brushes and comes out with a new set every year, but this is my first year purchasing it. What can i say? I absolutely freaking love love love these brushes! They don’t shed, they didn’t even smell when i first opened it. They’re so so so soft and dense and are perfect. I know i will be purchasing all of their brushes each year they come out with it from now on. The only negative i could find is that they dirty easily because of the white bristles. But it helps encourage you to keep your brushes clean – so i guess you can see this in a negative and positive light. I highly recommend all of you new and experienced makeup users to pick up a set. It’s well worth the $20.00 and honestly i don’t believe you would have any regret.