Dre Does a Colour Pop Cosmetics First Impression

Chances are that if you keep up with the social media beauty world you've at least heard of Colour Pop Cosmetics and maybe even own a few products. I kept seeing the brand popping up on Instagram and after talking with a client while working for Benefit (Hi Michelle!) I decided I needed to browse the website more in hopes of buying a few of my own products.

Let me set up the scene for you later that night. My friend and I whom are both makeup addicts, open a bottle of wine and begin discussing recent new product launches. I mention that a client had earlier talked about how much she was obsessed with her recent Colour Pop purchases and after a quick refill of the wine glass and browsing of the iPad, I had my own Colour Pop order on it's way to me.

Warning: Drinking and browsing makeup is dangerous. Whoops...

Fast forward to 2 weeks later, and I had a pretty little box in my mail. I will say, it took FOREVER to get here. I placed my order, was told it shipped a few days later and after receiving a tracking number, my package mysteriously stopped updating. It was supposed to get to my place on a certain date and when that day came and went, I was getting worried. I was warned from my client that their shipping takes a long time so I'm not sure if this was a delivery service issue or a Colour Pop Cosmetics error, but it took over 2 weeks to get my products. I don't mind this as long as they update the information so I don't think my package has been lost.

Regardless, I received my package and I have been so happy. I only purchased the Super Shock Shadows because they were the thing I was most intrigued by and only 5 DOLLARS A SHADOW!! However, now that I am so happy with them I can see myself trying other items as well.

The reason that these Super Shock Shadows are so unique is the texture and formula of the product. It is unlike any product I have ever felt. It's as if the shadows are a cream, mousse, and powder hybrid. They don't feel wet at all like a cream, yet blend so effortlessly. The only thing I was worried about with them was creasing. I was not expecting them to stay put since they blended so easily. Boy was I wrong though! They lasted all day and are so easy to work it. I love how the company sends a few info cards on how to best apply the product depending on the result you want. I used both my fingers and synthetic brushes as recommended by the info cards and was really happy with the result!

As you can see below I stuck with my usual warm neutrals because when I'm testing out a new type of product I like to stick to shades I know I will use so that I will actually test them out a lot.

 

 Truth (Satin Finish):

 

I <3 This (Metallic Finish):

 

Desert (Satin Finish):

 

Amaze (Metallic Finish):

 

LA LA (Ultra Metallic Finish):

 

Girl Crush (Matte Finish):

 

Game Face (Ultra Metallic Finish):

 

Mittens (Matte Finish):

 

(None of these swatching pictures having any filters in order to show the truest shade of the shadows).

I will say that I love the satin, matte, and ultra metallic finishes best. The metallic finish is less pigment and more glitter as you can see in the swatches, but the ultra metallic looks more like a foil and is very pigmented. Overall, I can see myself using every color I got frequently and would recommend them all!

Have you tried anything from Colour Pop Cosmetics yet? I'm looking to purchase the new blushes and highlighters soon, and obviously some lip products because who would I be if I didn't! haha 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation Review

I mentioned in my last post that the new NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation was a favorite of mine and if you wanted a more in depth review of it, I would share. So here we are! Shout out to those of you who requested it! Before we get started, always remember that foundation is very specific to each individual so what works well for me or someone you know may not work well on your skin. 

Incase you missed my current favorites post, I mentioned that I tried out a sample of this foundation because I had been hearing such good things about it but I was scared to fall in love with it because of the price tag; $48 a bottle...As an oily skin type I'm always wanting the glowy skin but terrified I will look greasy instead, so I've always gravitated towards a matte finish foundation. Well you guessed it, I fell in love and purchased a bottle about a month ago. 

The NARS website describes the foundation as "Full, natural-looking coverage with unexpectedly weightless, 16-hr wear. Highly pigmented and perfectly balanced, this breakthrough formula builds and blends effortlessly with just one drop..." While I don't necessarily agree with 'one drop', I have to say I agree with the rest of it. You can definitely build up a full coverage look easily. I personally use 2 drops on average when my skin is behaving and 3 drops during those temperamental skin times, but you really do use very little product compared to foundations I have used in the past. The best part is how natural it looks. The finish is gives your skin has such a beautiful luminosity that doesn't by any means look greasy. The NARS website also talks about how there is 'Even Tone Technology' that neutralizes redness and dullness and helps long term to diminish the appearance of discoloration. I would agree with these statements as well because I have a lot of redness due to Ezcema on my cheeks and it does a wonderful job of covering it. As far as overall discoloration, I will have to report back once I've been using it longer! 

Another positive for me about this product is that it is oil and paraben free. I have very sensitive and acne-prone skin so if my skin can't breathe I will not like a foundation. Due to the addition of it also being so light and weightless, I love how it feels and wears on my skin throughout the day! 

Now before I get you too excited, I will say that I don't think this is will be the best option for you if you have dry skin. I purchased it when I had just gotten back from Puerto Rico and my nose was extremely dry from the sun. I noticed that the foundation clung to the dry patches and didn't look natural at all. Once the dryness subsided though, I loved how it looked on my skin. Overall I would say normal to oily skin types will probably love this product best. I use it over my Benefit Cosmetics Porefessional Primer and it works like a dream. I'm curious to see how it would go over a hydrating primer though so I will probably test that out on someone soon. Leave me a comment if you've tried it this way or if you've tried the foundation at all!

(Disclaimer: Yes it looks a little too yellow for my hand because my face is different than my hands. Hence why you should always color match on your face not your hands! For reference I wear the shade Medium 1 Punjab.)

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does Skincare and Body Product Empties

Product empty videos and blog posts are some of my favorites to watch because you get a full opinion on the product and get to know whether or not the person plans to repurchase the product. I think it's fun to see what stuff people actually use up because their opinion is more trustworthy to me when they've used the whole thing. For this reason I love to share them with you. I decided to split up my hair and skin care products with the empty makeup products I have because it would be a crazy long post otherwise, so here are my empties regarding hair, body, and facial skin care items!

First up we have hair products:

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo: This is my favorite spray dry shampoo of all time because it doesn't leave a residue in my dark hair. You can't see it or feel it so you don't feel like you have dirty hair. It does a great job absorbing all the excess oils and giving volume. I love the smell of all Amika products too!

Verdict: I am trying to switch to dry shampoos that are not in aerosol form because they contain butane so I am not repurchasing this product if I can find a powder dry shampoo that gives me a similar result. If the butane doesn't bother you, I'd so get this one for sure!

Amika Touchable Hairspray: If you need a moderate hold hairspray that doesn't feel crunchy this is for you. If you'd like more of a review on Amika products I've tried click here for a post I did on these two and some more!

Verdict: I really loved it and once I'm done with all the hairsprays I currently have to go through (thanks 100 Day No Buy) I will probably go back to this one!

Klorane Dry Shampoo: I received this dry shampoo in my Ipsy bag a few months ago and I went through it quickly because it was really great. It leaves a little more residue in touch and color than the Amika one but it was good. I liked having it in my purse incase my hair started to look greasy and I wasn't home. 

Verdict: If I could purchase this small size for travel I would so I will have to look into it!

Next up we have body products!

Bath & Body Works Sweet Pea Shower Gel: B&BW products are kind of blah for me. I used this up because I had it but it wasn't my favorite. I do prefer shower gels over bar soaps but I don't feel like this did anything special for my body. I like that they have an array of aromas though. I think I had this because I received it as a gift.

Verdict: I doubt I will ever buy B&BW body products again because there is so much better stuff to try, but if received as a gift again I would use it or keep it for travel.

Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub: These scrubs are some of my favorite. I love the mango and Brazilian nut aromas the best. As far as exfoliation goes they are on the more mild side so if you have sensitive skin you would probably enjoy these. They are nice and moisturizing too!

Verdict: I will be repurchasing them after I run out of my current exfoliators. I love to use them prior to shaving my legs. 

Lastly we have face products (my personal favorite)!

Aveda Bontanical Kinetics Exfoliant: This product is a holy grail one for me. I've gone through bottles of it since I graduated from Esthiology school and it is something I will always have on hand. I love how it gently exfoliates my skin chemically as I sleep (I apply it every night after I cleanse). I am a huge proponent of chemical exfoliation over mechanical so I can't be without this product! 

Verdict: Do I really need to say more? Haha I obviously already replaced it!

Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Cleanser: This is another great product that I always have. Whether I try new cleansers or test out some new ones, this is a cleanser I go back to a lot. It is made for oily/acne prone skin but even though it's winter it doesn't strip me of too much moisture and the aloe soothes any blemishes if I get any. 

Verdict: If you have oily and acne prone skin, give this cleanser a try. It's worth the money, cleanses very well and feels wonderful.

La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water: This facial spray was recommended to me a long time ago and that's what made me buy it. However, I don't have the most sensitive skin so I feel like I can use something a little stronger. I think this probably works best for those with sensitive and dry skin. If you like a facial spray that you can spray on your face in the sun to keep you hydrated you would love this. 

Verdict: I probably won't ever buy this again unless my skin changes and becomes more dry or sensitive.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover: I have really sensitive eyes when it comes to eye makeup remover and a lot of products burn mine. This remover and the regular blue remover wipes are two products that I will keep repurchasing because of how my eyes never burn with them.

Verdict: I already have two backups of this remover under my sink so you know I'll be repurchasing this for a long time. 

Origins Ginzing Eye Cream: I love this eye cream. I really feel like it helps depuff my eyes when I need it and I think it helped decrease the darkness of my eyes. I also love how light it feels on my skin because so many eye creams are so heavy and can cause my undereye concealer to crease later on in the day. 

Verdict: I will probably purchase this eye cream in the summer when I'm done with what I'm using now and my skin becomes oilier. 

There you have it. This is what has been in beauty trash haha. If you like this kind of post and find it helpful let me know! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a Tarte Chic to Cheek Collection Review

Happy Saturday morning friends! If you've been reading my blog for awhile you know that I am a huge tarte cosmetics fan! I love that their products are formulated with Parabens, mineral oil, and a lot of the other chemicals you find in makeup. I have multiple holy grail items from this company, one of them being their Amazonian Clay 12 Hr Blushes. Every year I get so excited for them to debut their holiday collections. It used to be mainly for the Lip Surgence lip crayons but now I'm a sucker for the wonderful blush sets they do for the holidays. Last year they did a set of three mini blushes plus a brush which I was obsessed with so I was dying to see what they would bring to the table this holiday season with their Sweet Dreams Holiday Collection. 

This year they brought out the Chic to Cheek blush set of 4 mini blushes. I'm happy they ditched the brush and did a fourth blush instead because I have enough brushes but clearly not enough shades of these blushes...haha 

L to R: Classic, Prim, Amour, and Daydream.

The set is only $35 at Ulta and includes amour (rosy pink), classic (candy pink), prim (soft apricot pink), and daydream (plum nude). While I agree with the descriptions of amour and daydream, I feel like classic is much more of an apricot shade than prim. Regardless, I feel like all four shades are different enough that this set is worth it. They are all matte except for amour which has a slight bit of shimmer in it, but nothing too crazy or intense. The pigmentation and wearing power of these blushes is just like the original full size blushes and if you like blush variety I highly suggest these. If you've never tried out the Amazonian Blushes at all, this is a great chance to do so! Hurry though, because they're going fast at the store I work at! 

Have a beautiful weekend,

Dre

Dre Does a Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Lipstick Review

I have been hearing so much about the new Maybelline Color Sensational Matte lipsticks since they came out and have been patiently waiting for the ULTA I work at to get them in. However, after a few weeks and nothing showing up I decided to go on the hunt for them because they keep getting such rave reviews! I found them at my local Meijer and they were around $5.50 each. The line has ten shades but I picked up my favorite five and have swatched and applied them for you below! 

First let's talk about the formula. They are such creamy matte lipsticks! They are one of the most moisturizing feeling mattes I have ever tried, yet they give a completely matte look which I love. They also feel so smooth and soft on the lips. The pigmentation is awesome as you can see below and they wear really well. I love how moisturizing they feel especially after some time. When you put your lips together you can feel some smooth product on your lips instead of the dry roughness you normally get with typical matte lipstick formulas. They also don't dry your lips out as much as typical matte formulas. 

Now for some swatches! 

Daringly Nude (655)

Lust For Blush (665)

Mesmerizing Magenta (680)

Siren In Scarlet (690)

Divine Wine (695)

I highly suggest you go check these out if you like matte lip products, and even if you don't I think you'd be surprised how nice the formula is for the price!

Have a beautiful week friends,

Dre

Dre Does a Stila 'In the Know' and 'In the Moment' Review

So on Friday I mentioned that I bought two Stila Eyeshadow palettes for half price thanks to Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty event going on now until the 27th of September. All of these palettes retail for $39 but last Thursday they were only $20 each! The 'In the Light' palette is probably the most well known of this bunch, but since the shades reminded me a lot of the original Naked palette that I already own, I decided to be rational and only get the two palettes...(that's rational right? Haha). The 'In the Garden' palette is also a part of this little Stila palette family but the Ulta I work at was out of them before the beauty steal began.

I knew I wanted the 'In the Know' palette for sure because it has some really warm and really cool tones that are all matte. I love the texture of these shadows and that they blend really easily. While there is a little fallout with them, I don't find these shadows chalky at all which is great! You can see in the swatches below some of the unique shades that it offers. I knew it would be a good one to have in my kit. 

The swatches below are in the exact same order as they are in the palette and the smudge stick in Halfmoon is that swatch on the end!  I love the slate cool toned shade of the smudge stick. I think it really complements the palette and it's a unique color that I didn't already own.

While both palettes do come with an eight page look book for inspiration, I wanted to play with the colors before I looked at it. I created the look below for work last week the day after I bought these palettes and I love how it turned out. It's a warm and deep neutral look that I love for fall! I used Desert on my lid and Wind on my brow bone. Then I slowly worked at darkening my crease, inner corner and outer corner by first going in with a fluffy brush and Clay. Then I used Fire (the shade I'm most excited about in this palette) and Earth. I love how the extra warmth from Fire really changes the overall look. 

Next up we have the 'In the Moment' palette! As a woman with big brown eyes I'm always looking for beautiful purple shades because they make my eyes pop! I love the shades in this palette because when half the shades are neutral, it gives you the ability to make the look more wearable without having to use another palette! I have to be able to create a whole look with a palette in order for me to buy it so I love that I can with this one. 

This palette has a good mix of satin, matte, and shimmery finishes. The satin shades are my favorite because the texture is so buttery. While the shades are soft like the other palette and do create a little fallout, I don't think it's that bad and I like working with them. 

Once again the shades are swatched the same as in the palette and the smudge stick in Tetra is on the end! This smudge stick is so beautiful because it is pretty dark with some purple shimmer. It's not too colorful for everyday wear and adds a nice pop of color when the light hits it right. 

I have yet to create a look with this palette but I will make sure to do one soon and share in a Looks of the Week post for you all! I hope you enjoyed this review! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does an Ipsy Review

It's that time of the month already and I'm back again with another Ipsy Glambag review for August! Here is a photo of everything I got this month. 

The bag this month was school themed so I liked that they switched up the shape of the Ipsy bag and made it a round pencil case-like shape! 

But now for the good stuff that came inside! 

First up was this Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk. I really loved this dry shampoo. The dispenser was awesome because it sprays out a very dense mist which is great at getting all of your roots. I also love how it doesn't leave my hair feeling really sticky and dirty like most dry shampoos. It also doesn't smell that bad so it works well in my book! I even found that while it was a white product, it wasn't that hard to work into my scalp to get rid of any sort of white cast that you traditionally get with dry shampoos.The full size is valued at $19.50 so this 1.06 oz size is worth $6.46!

The Jersey Shore Sub Mongongo Nutrient Dense Anti-Aging Lip Conditioner was the next item I found in my bag. It's in the flavor Mandarin Green Orange Ginger and it's a great moisurizer. I've been keeping it by my bed to apply at night before I sleep and I've been loving it! This is the full size chapstick and it's worth $5.50 bringing the total to $11.96!

Next, I received a Flying Solo Individual Eyeshadow from J.cat Cosmetics in the shade Half Naked. While I thought it was very cool that the packaging includes a mirror if you flip up the shadow, I wasn't very impressed with the shadow. The shade is awesome but the pigmentation isn't quite there. It took me a few swipes to get what you see above which is not what I like in a shadow. This is a full size shadow but since it retails for only $2.99 I'm not very surprised with the pigmentation and quality. This brings the bag value to $14.95.

 

Next up we have the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer. I really liked the texture of this primer as I applied it. However, I felt like it was very drying as I blended it into my skin. Almost as though it felt a little rougher as I blended it in which I can only imagine it feels worse on dryer skin since I am very oily. It's more expensive than my holy grail primer Benefit's Porefessional so I don't think I would ever repurchase it. I did like how my foundation blended over it though so I think it does a good job of filling in your pores. The full size will set you back a good $45, so this .25 oz deluxe sample is worth $11.25! Now we are at $26.20!

Lastly, we have a deluxe sample size of Urban Decay's new Perversion mascara. I have been curious about it so I was excited to be able to try it out. I was shocked at how much it didn't do for my lashes though! It felt as if the brush was too dense and my eye lashes couldn't properly get through the bristles to pick up any product. I had to do three coats of it to notice any difference on my lashes which honestly just looked like one coat of any other mascara. The worst part was that by the end of the day I couldn't even see any remaining mascara on my lashes. It wore away to the point of looking like I hadn't put any on. Let's just say that I'll be sticking with my favorite Benefit's They're Real Mascara! A full size Perversion mascara is worth $22 so this deluxe sample is worth $5.50 and brings the final value of August's Ipsy Glambag to $31.70!

While this bag was technically the lowest valued bag I've received so far, I wouldn't say I was disappointed with it. The products I liked made the value still way over $10 so as long as I'm getting my money's worth, I'm happy!

As usual, here are the previous months' reviews and values!

August Ipsy Review ($43.73)
May and June Mini Review ($37.67 & 37.36)

March Ipsy Review ($46.71)

February Ipsy Review ($45.02)

January Ipsy Review ($38.17)

December Ipsy Review ($57.17)

Click here to subscribe to Ipsy yourself!

Have a beautiful weekend,

Dre

Dre Does a Lorac PRO Matte Lip Color Review

I was going to wait until I picked up some more shades of these before I did a review but I can't wait any longer! I am obsessed with this lip product. I swatch them all the time at work and recommend them to women almost daily haha. If you haven't played with them yet, you need to! I own the shade Mauve and it is amazing. It's basically a darker shade of my natural lip color. As it wears it dries a little darker but I love it just the same. These lip colors go on so smoothly for a matte product. I love that they are in a twistable pencil form because it makes them so easy to apply (like a fat lip liner). They definitely don't feel matte when they go on but after a little while they dry to a nice matte finish. What I love about them though is that they don't dry your lips out or look super cracked and dry as they wear. I feel like they almost make my lips look fuller and more plump because of how they wear. 

Now let's talk about the staying power. They last so incredibly long! The main color and outline will for sure last you all day but I'd say that the only part I had to touch up was the inner part of my lips but that's from eating and drinking throughout the day. I recommend them to women always if they are looking for a matte long wearing lip color. The range of colors is great too; all the way from nude to a deep Merlot shade. I especially love how they have a few rosy shades, like Mauve, that vary in tone so everyone can find a natural lip color that suits them best. 

Overall there are 12 shades in total (I will probably buy most of them for my makeup kit because they are that good!) and they retail for $16 each! Now for some swatches of the shade Mauve!

If you try one out let me know which shade you chose! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does an Ipsy Review

I hope you didn't mind my quick posts of my previous two Ipsy Glambags! I'm back with my review of my July bag and I couldn't be more excited to share this month's bag because it is my favorite so far. Let's start off with this bag. It's a hot pink faux leather material with gorgeous scalloped edges! I would seriously use this as a clutch on a night out because it's so adorable. I used it recently to hold makeup items on a day trip to Chicago and the bright color makes it super easy to find in a massive black purse and I even got a compliment on it from a stranger!

Now you'll notice that my bag has an extra 6th item in it because I chose to redeem some points! Each month when you receive your bag, you get the opportunity to share your bag on Facebook, take some surveys, etc. in order to not only keep Ipsy updated on what your liking and disliking, but also you can earn points! You can also earn points if someone signs up for Ipsy with your link. Once you reach 1,000 points, you can choose between a few different options and redeem them for another item in your upcoming Ipsy Glambag. I saw this bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lipstick as an option and after receiving a baby sized one in a previous Glambag, I knew I had to snag this lipstick! I love the formula and the shade that was offered 'Light It Up', is a beautiful coral for summer! I was expecting to get another baby sized lipstick so you can imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to find that this redemption got me a full sized lipstick valued at $18! This month was already off to a great start with the beautiful bag and free full sized lipstick, but let's get onto the actual July bag!

First up, we have another bareMinerals product, that I was dying to try. I work for Benefit at an Ulta Beauty so I am surrounded by new makeup products and I had been eying these BB Cream Eyeshadows.  They are 5-in-1 and claim to do these five things; provide 12-hr long wear, prime the eyelids, have powerful brightening effects, smooth fine lines, and protect with an SPF 15. I received the shade Divine Wine which is a pretty taupe brown shade that I really love. I have only worn it once, but I was really happy with the application and wear of it. I like how thin the product is so I think if you want to create a very specific shape for your eye look, this would be an amazing product to start with. It was very easy to apply shadows after and blend so I can't wait to wear it more. A full size 5-in-1 BB Cream Shadow is 0.10 fl oz and valued at $18. So the adorable 0.03 fl oz size included in the Glambag is valued at $5.40!

Next, we have the Marrakesh Endz Argan & Hemp Oil Therapy Split End Mender & Preventer. This product smells absolutely amazing and I can already say I will be buying a full size of this product once my current hair oil is gone. I have been putting it on my damp hair after I get out of the shower and I can see a huge difference in how soft and moisturized my hair feels once dry. I love that the product contains NO: animal testing, animal ingredients, drying alcohols, parabens, THC, Dyes, propylene glycol, petroleum, or phthalates. The full size is 4 oz. and valued at $17.99, so this 1 oz. deluxe sample is worth $4.50, bringing the Glambag total so far to $9.90.

I received another product from the brand Hang Ten this month, this time it was a Dark Tanning Oil with SPF 8. While I haven't had the chance to spend much time in the sun recently, I can say that I'm happy to have received this tanning oil because it is organic and does still have an SPF in it. I will update you in an Instagram post probably once I use this and the Hang Ten SPF that I received in a previous bag, so if you aren't already following me on there go do it! CLICK HERE for the link! This tanning oil uses a natural sunscreen and is water resistant so I know I will like it! The full size is worth $11.99 at 8 oz, so this deluxe sample of 1 oz. is valued at $1.50. Current total of the Glambag? $11.40!

Next we have a deluxe sample sized nail polish from the brand Whet in the shade Facetious. I love that the definition of whet was on the packing and said "[hwet, wet] to stimulate curiosity, appetite and desire". I had never heard of the brand before but was super intrigued by the color. The polish is three free and vegan, made in the US and claims to be 7 day chip resistant. I wore it when I went on that Chicago day trip and it was such a beautiful color. The best way I can describe it is as a neon cobalt blue, which seems silly because cobalt is dark, but in the sun it was so vibrant and beautiful. I have to say it didn't last the whole 7 days without chipping, but I rarely find a nail polish that actually stands up to claims like that so I'm not too disappointed. A full size Whet nail polish is 5 fl oz. and is valued at $15, so this 0.3 fl oz. sample is worth $9, bringing our current total to $20.40!

The last item to come in my July Glambag was the cutest little baby pencil eyeliner I've ever seen! Haha! It is a Black SILK mini kajal kohl-liner by Lord & Berry. I have yet to use it but it seems like your average black pencil eye kohl liner pencil. It has a semi-matte finish and is very dark and creamy. I will do a similar Instagram update when I have used it and seen it wear throughout the day!
While I can't seem to find how much product is in a full size pencil, I know it's worth $16 and if I had to guess I would say the sample is about a third of the size of a normal pencil, so we're going to estimate and say this sample was worth $5.33! This brings our grand total to $25.73.

To be honest I'm shocked that this bag is only valued at around $26! I think it goes to show that you don't have to spend ridiculous amounts of money on really high end products, when there are cheaper alternatives that do a great job as well. Even though this bag is worth the least amount of all the Ipsy Glambags I've received, I would still say it was my favorite! With the bonus bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lipstick that I redeemed too, this bag is worth $43.73, which is even better when I technically only paid the normal $10!

As usual, here are my previous Ipsy reviews:

May and June Mini Review ($37.67 & 37.36)

March Ipsy Review ($46.71)

February Ipsy Review ($45.02)

January Ipsy Review ($38.17)

December Ipsy Review ($57.17)

Click here to subscribe to Ipsy yourself!

 

Have a beautiful week my friends!

Dre

Dre Does Products I've Used Up

If you watch any beauty related YouTube videos consistently, you're probably familiar with people doing videos on products they have used up or 'empties' as they're sometimes called. If you are unaware of this topic, I think it's a very valuable one because it allows you to see the stuff I'm using. If I've used it until it is gone, I think it gives me enough time to really decide how I feel about a product and give you ladies a better opinion. Plus it allows me a chance to say whether or not I would repurchase it! So here we are with a post devoted to products I have recently used up!

1. Neutrogena makeup remover cleansing towelettes (the original blue pack): These are my favorite wipes to this day. I always use a makeup wipe to remove my face and residual eye makeup before I cleanse and I have been using these for years! I've tried numerous other brands and even the store brand versions of the Neutrogena ones but I always come back to these. They are gentle enough and don't burn my eyes, but still manage to get all of the makeup off. I like the texture of the actual wipe too! I actually have a bag that I have been collecting all of these empty products in and it holds 3 of these! Case in point. Haha 

Verdict: Buying, bought, will continue to buy them again. Haha

2. Bioré Makeup Removing Towelettes: Here I was trying out a new wipe and I hated these. They burned my eyes so terribly and I wasn't even using them to remove my eye makeup. These got reassigned to switching duty. I always keep cheaper makeup wipes on hand by my makeup collection and where I do my makeup so that if I need to remove anything off my hands or fingers, whatever, I have something to wipe with. These were only used for this reason. Haha

Verdict: Don't waste the money!

3. Forever 21 Love & Beauty Lavender Makeup Cleansing Tissues: I'm not even going to pretend I tried these on my face because to be honest, I'm a little scared to let something so cheap ($2.80 for 30) touch my face so these were bought with the intention of only using them for swatching and they got the job done! Loved them for this! (The only picture I could find was of the grapefruit scent. As with most Forever 21 stuff, the actual colors and styles you find in the store are really hit or miss so who knows what scents they currently have! Haha) 

Verdict: For the face? No, but worth it for swatching reasons.

4. Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil Deluxe Sample: I'm obsessed with this stuff and so sad that I used it up. It lasted me a long time because you need hardly any but it really is the perfect facial oil. Even though I'm oily I loved how plump and bright it made my skin feel. Some people like to use it as their moisturizer but you can also use it before or after it. While the big bottle is pretty expensive at $45 I know that it will last a long time, so I'm excited to be picking it up soon. I got my sample through Sephora so keep an eye out if you're wanting to try it. They do make a smaller roller ball version if you don't want to commit to trying the huge bottle but I will always recommend this awesome product. 

Verdict: Yes! Let me bathe in Maracuja Oil. Hahaha ok slightly dramatic...

5. Jane Water-Resistant Eye Liner in Black: I've mentioned these eyeliners before and I love them. This is seriously such a hidden gem as far as drugstore makeup goes. It's so inexpensive and I've gone through at least 3 of these. They come in a multitude of colors too! It is so creamy and dark and really stays on so well. I love that it is a twist up pencil so you don't have to worry about sharpening it, but it doesn't break constantly. Sometimes I find that twist up products dry out and break super easy but this isn't the case with this liner.

Verdict: Yes! Get one in every color, especially black.

6. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector in Medium: This honestly got thrown out because it was old. The reason it sat so long and got old was because I wasn't the biggest fan. It's not that it was specifically bad, it just didn't do much. It was too thin of a texture for me. As far as BB creams go, I think there are far better products to try since everyone is creating BB and CC creams now, so I think I would want something with more coverage that has better ingredients in it.

Verdict: Probably won't ever try again and wouldn't recommend. 

There are the first six products that I've used up. These posts will usually be really random collections of products but I'd love your feedback on this type of post! I like stuff like this so I can get people's opinions but I want to know how you enjoy it!

Have a beautiful day, 

Dre

Dre Does an Ipsy Review

Long story short, I moved and my Ipsy Glambags got lost and delayed. So we're here now 3 months behind. Whoops. Instead of completely skipping over two months worth of IPSY Glambags, I've decided to include what I got for my May and June bags with the price breakdown and then I'll do my normal July review within the next week! 

To be honest this bag for May was the most underwhelmed I've felt so far with Ipsy. I was surprised to calculate that it was worth $37.67 because I didn't think it would be. If it wasn't for the Pur-lisse hydra-moist face moisturizer sample valued at around $16 though, it wouldn't have been worth as much. I do like to see deluxe sizes of expensive products though so in the end I think it was a smart move for Ipsy if the rest of the products weren't going to be valued at as much. I think for a spring bag it was great to get more skincare related products than makeup because I really like to keep my skin in check with the summer weather changes. Both the Hang Ten SPF 50 sunscreen and Avène Thermal Spring Water are great to keep in your purse for when you need a high SPF or your face deeps some moisture from a facial spray. Click here to read about my pool routine so you can see why I like to keep them on hand! I always love a good cream shadow base, so it was nice to try one from City Color in a pretty gold shimmery shade. Lastly, the full size Nailtini Polish was a nice addition since in May it's time to start making sure those toes are looking good at all times with the upcoming sandal weather! 

My June bag was valued at almost the exact same at $37.36! While I was completely in love with three products, I threw out the Be a Bombshell mascara (because it smelled so terribly of cheap tar) and I'm not a huge fan of perfume samples in a sample pack I'm paying for, so the Real Tree sample wasn't my favorite. A NYX butter gloss that I already love is always a plus in my book, so when paired with a Marc Anthony Beach Spray for your hair that smells like summer and a universal eyebrow pencil from OFRA, I was happy with the month of June. I like that you can get various shades of the product based on how much pressure you apply, so many people can use it! And can we talk about how great the bag was for June, designed by Rebecca Minkoff?! I love the floral print! 

Stay tuned for my July Ipsy Review friends! We will get back to how I normally review the bags with descriptions of each product individually and price breakdowns! I can't wait to show you how great the July bag is! Thanks for hanging tight in the mean time because I know how much you guys love the Ipsy reviews. If any of the products above caught your attention though, please feel free to comment on them and I'll be happy to answer questions or review them further!

And as usual, here are the links to my previous Ipsy Reviews! You can tell just by the numbers the past few months haven't been worth as much as previous months, but I like that I'm getting a larger variety of products so this doesn't bother me. The whole point of a subscription service like this is to try new types and brands of products, so as long as I'm getting a value of over $30 for spending only $10, I'd consider it worth it!

March Ipsy Review ($46.71)

February Ipsy Review ($45.02)

January Ipsy Review ($38.17)

December Ipsy Review ($57.17)

Click here to subscribe to Ipsy yourself!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a Cover-FX Primer Review

Primers are a very important first step in getting a great makeup application.  When I talk about them with people I find that a lot of women think they are hyped up, excessive and unnecessary products that just add to our makeup routines. Most of us are trying to get out the door in the mornings as quickly as possible and the thought of another step seems crazy. However, a foundation primer can completely change the way your makeup looks, feels, applies, blends, and lasts. 

Primers have come a long way in the last few years and come in various forms. There are color correcting, moisturizing, and illuminating just to name a few, but my personal favorite of the moment (especially because of the summer heat) is this Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment by Cover-FX. It is formulated without Parabens, Mineral Oil, Talc, and Gluten. If you have oily and acne prone skin this is going to be a primer I suggest you try. If you visit your local Sephora which carries the Cover-FX line, you can ask for a sample which will get you a few uses to see if you like it! The ladies at Sephora are very nice about this so don't be afraid to ask!

This was the first product I had ever tried from the brand Cover-FX but I will definitely be checking out more after this awesome discovery. As you can see I bought a small size from the checkout area of Sephora (you know the trap that you always give in to by the registers haha!). The full size is 1 oz. and costs $38. This little baby was literally half the size and only $16 (so yes a much better deal). Full size doesn't always mean it's the best deal!

The thing I love most about this primer is the texture. A lot of primers (i.e. Smashbox Photo Finish and Benefit's Porefessional) have that very silicone-type texture in order to smooth, fill in pores and make you look flawless. However, this primer has a much lighter feel while still having that feeling of smoothness. It's completely clear and leaves no color on the skin so any skin tone can wear it.

 

I also really love how it makes my makeup last all day. It's waterproof and I feel like it really does combat oiliness. I find that my foundation lasts longer and applies more evenly as well. The anti-acne treatment that it claims on the package is the addition of 1.0% Salicylic Acid. I really like this since I do have acne prone skin. It's awesome that a primer can now treat skincare issues while you're wearing your makeup every day. One thing to be sure of though is to always wear sunscreen when wearing using this primer because Salicylic Acid is an betahydroxy acid (BHA) which can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun because it gently exfoliates your skin. Anytime you exfoliate your skin you should make sure you're being religious about the SPF. 

Have you tried this product before or do you have a favorite primer that you really enjoy? Let me know in the comments because I'm always willing to try new products!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre