Hey guys,


I am extremely behind in my posts, but finally I am getting time to write about a foundation that was sent to me by Studio Gear Cosmetics through a campaign with BrandBacker.   Studio Gear Cosmetics was one of the first brands I worked with on BrandBacker, so I was excited to have the opportunity to work with them again.   When I read that the foundation that was being offered for review was the Dual Identity Wet/Dry Foundation, I was immediately intrigued.  Foundations are a tricky situation for me due to my oily skin and the humid environment I live in, so I have a massive pile of them in my collection.  Typically I wear my foundations for anywhere in the range of 8 to 12 hours, and if I can find something that is even remotely close to still being on my face when I get home from work in the evenings I know that I will use it and it won't get lost in the bottom of the pile.

The Dual Identity Wet/Dry Foundation is actually a loose mineral powder that can be used like any other loose powder.  As a dry powder foundation it has wonderful coverage; however, the wet aspect of the foundation is what is truly different.   Studio Gear mailed out their Revitalizing Day Serum to use with the foundation.   The idea is that the foundation can be mixed with the serum to create a serum foundation which is a great idea.  Typically I don't like serum foundations because they either don't have enough coverage for me, or they break down on me super fast.  I love that this foundation allows me to customize the consistency of the foundation to my liking.

To be completely honest I didn't have high hopes that this foundation would last on my skin at all; however, I was proven wrong pretty quickly.   I mixed up some of the powder with two pumps of the Revitalizing Day Serum in a glass bowl I leave on my vanity with a flat foundation brush and smeared it on my face (for lack of a better way of putting that).   I first tried blending the foundation in with the #3 Domed Foundation Brush by Studio Gear Cosmetics; however, I didn't like the way that it was working with the foundation, so I switched to my Tarte Kabuki brush that I use for my regular foundations and everything blended in evenly.

The two pumps of the Revitalizing Day Serum turned the foundation into a fairly dry paste.  You can always add more of the serum to create more of a liquid foundation.  Even with the two pumps the foundation it spreads out smoothly with my kabuki brush.  Once I have the foundation on I use the same loose powder to set the foundation which is nice because it is guaranteed to match the foundation.  The combo lasts all day on my oily skin, and typically doesn't break down until late in the evening.   My biggest complaint with the product is the amount of time it takes to apply since you have to mix the foundation.  I find myself not reaching for the product in the mornings as often as I do a regular foundation for this reason alone; however, on the weekends when I have plenty of time I have been reaching for it the most.

The #3 Domed Foundation Brush that Studio Gear sent with the product has a great shape to the brush, and a nice density.  While I found I don't like it with the consistency of the foundation I mix, I have been reaching for it when I use a thinner liquid foundation, or a BB cream.  The bristles of the brush are soft, and the length of the bristles really spread the foundation well.  However if I use it with thick foundations I have found that it leaves my foundation streaky and uneven.

Overall I really enjoy this foundation, and have found that it lasts well on my oily skin.  The only real issue I have had is that it can tend to look a little cake-face if I don't use enough serum in the mix.  The foundation is really comfortable, and didn't break up in the heat and humidity.    If you are interested all three products can be found on Studio Gear Cosmetics website.

• Dual Identity Wet/ Dry Foundation - Available in 8 shades - $28
• Revitalizing Day Serum - $40 
• #3 Domed Foundation Brush - $40

Has anyone else tried a foundation like this?













The products mentioned in this post were provided for review by the company through a campaign on BrandBacker.  All opinions are 100% my own! 

Hey guys!

I have another review of a Valentia product to share with you guys today!  If you have been around for any period of time, you know that I have reviewed several other Valentia products which I will provide links to at the end of this post.  Overall I have had a really great experience with the brand, and my experience with this particular mask was no different!  I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to review the new Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask from the brand since I have particularly oily skin.  I also have quite large pores due to the excess oil my face naturally produces so I really like masks like this one.

Hey guys!


Today I have a quick review of a couple MAKE Beauty products that were set to me to try out.  MAKE Beauty is a new brand to me, and I know I love discovering different brands.  MAKE Beauty is a brand that believes there are no beauty rules, and is dedicated to self expression.  All of their products are produced in New York City and all products are hypoallergenic, manufactured without parabens, and never tested on animals.  The best part of MAKE Beauty is 10% of every sale supports women-led, worker-owned businesses in at-need communities through their non-profit partner, We See Beauty Foundation.


The first thing we are going to talk about is the Matte Finish Eyeshadow in Alabaster which is described as a soft eggshell with peach undertones on the MAKE Beauty website.  At first glance I thought this shadow would just be another cream shadow in my collection; however, this shadow has a slight bit of a peach undertone to it.  The shadow itself is very soft and doesn't have tons of powder that gets kicked up with a brush.  


You can barely see the shadow in the above photo, but I have been using this shadow as a base shadow from my lash line to my brow bone.  The shadow itself is so close to my skin tone that it just doesn't show up on me, and typically I use shadows like this to set my shadow primer.


MAKE Beauty has 35 colors of the Matte Finish Eyeshadows that retail for $25 each.  I really like how the website is laid out.  In my opinion it is extremely helpful for a product to have the color description with it when you can't pick it up and see for yourself.  I know Sephora has the same thing with the products listed on their website.



Next let's talk about the lipstick I was sent.  This is one of my go to colors of lipstick, and I have no doubt that I will reach for this one often.  This is the Silk Cream Lipstick in Taffy which is described as a medium pink with purple undertones.


Again this is one of my favorite colors of lipstick.  The color is actually really close to my natural lip color, so it isn't too bold but it just evens out the color of my lips and provides a bit of moisture.  This lipstick formula is really creamy and it tends to be a bit sheer.  The lipstick is really comfortable and lasts a decent amount of time for a cream finish lipstick.   The reapplication of the lipstick over itself is really smooth.


The MAKE Beauty Silk Cream Lipsticks come in 16 shades and also retail for $25.



If you want to try out some MAKE Beauty products for yourself, they offer a sampler set for $10.  The sampler kit includes a mini Silk Cream Lipstick in Maraschino Cherry, this will be the same size as the sample I have photos of in this post.  It also includes a Nude Satin Eye Shadow in Bentonite Clay, and a Matte Eyeshadow in Cement, both of these will be the same size as the sample I have photos of in this post.   The kit will also include a travel size makeup remover, and a sample of their silky liquid foundation.  The foundation may not be your color, but you will be able to test the quality and wearability of the foundation.   I will likely order the sampler set myself to try out more products from this brand myself.

If you want to see more of MAKE Beauty you can follow them on Instagram at @makebeautyofficial and on Facebook here.   Remember if you purchase anything from MAKE Beauty that 10% of the sale will go to the We See Beauty Foundation!













The products mentioned in the above post were sent to me for review through the company and BrandBacker.  All opinions are 100% my own. 

Hey guys!

I know I have shared a review of Valentia's Even Glow Serum and the Valentia Organic Rosehip Oil in the past, so when the company reached out to me to review their True Glow Eye Cream and Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask I knew I couldn't pass the opportunity up!  If you have read my blog in the past you know that I have oily acne prone skin and I have some significant dark circles under my eyes.  Normally I stay away from anything that claims to be hydrating.


The Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask was the product I was less excited to try.  I just assumed that I wouldn't get much use out of the product due to my skin's usual needs.  However, I have found myself using it more than I expected!  I have never used a mask anything like this one before.  In the jar it is a pale orange gelatinous mixture that smells like Sweet Tarts.  The mask is very thin when spread onto the face and has a nice cooling sensation.  The mask remains wet for at least fifteen minutes, the recommended minimum time to leave on the face, and once it dries it doesn't feel tight unlike every other mask I have tried.  Once the mask dries out it remains sticky, but it was so light that I forgot it was even on my face.


The Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask includes antioxidants such as Japanese Green Tea and Aloe Vera which Valentia claims will help reduce fine lines, increase collagen, and fight environmental irritants.  They also say that the mask contains Botanical Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, and Sea Buckthorn Oil which add moisture into the skin.  Each container of the Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask includes 4 fluid ounces of product and retails for $25 on Amazon and Valentia.com.  Each application doesn't require tons of product, so this jar will last a long time!


Those circles under my eyes have been developing some fine lines in the past several months, and I was finding my concealer settling into them and looking even worse than they were, so I was the most excited to try the True Glow Eye Cream.  I feel like this eye cream is much richer than the others in my collection, so after using it in the morning and at night for a week I decided to only use it at night.  I found that it was just a little too much for the daytime; however, it was excellent for my nightly eye cream.  I only need one pump of the product for both eyes, so this bottle will last quite some time! I noticed my fine lines under my eyes started to seem a little more diminished and my concealers weren't settling in those little lines through the day.  My dark circles are still around, but I feel like the only solution to those are lots of restful sleep!


According to Valentia the True Glow Eye Cream contains Astaxanthin wich helps to increase moisture levels in the skin which in turn will smooth fine lines and wrinkles while restoring elasticity into the skin.  It also contains Resistem which according to Valentia are natural plant stem cells which will protect the skin from harsh environmental elements.  Valentia is known for their products including Vitamin C in them, and the True Glow Eye Cream is no exception, this ingredient will leave the skin smooth and bright; this is the ingredient that you can smell the most in this product.  The next major ingredient is Organic Rosehip Oil which on its own I am not a huge fan of; however, according to Valentia it will provide intense hydration which will in turn reduce fine lines and wrinkles.  Finally the eye cream contains Arnica which is an anti-inflammatory which will help diminish dark circles.  The True Glow Eye Cream contains 1.18 fluid ounces of product and retails $25 on Amazon and Valentia.com.

In my opinion it was interesting to promote both of these products at the same time; however, by doing so I was able to try two products that I have fallen in love with.  Even if you have oily skin like I do you need to try the Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask I truly feel that the product added the right amount of moisture to my skin and helped to control the oil a bit.  I feel like I will certainly find myself purchasing the True Glow Eye Cream many more times in the future, and I look forward to sharing more Valentia products with you guys in the future!

What is your favorite hydrating mask or eye cream?

Interested in my review of Valentia's Even Glow Serum? Check that out here!  Or if you are interested in my review of Valentia's Organic Rosehip Oil you can find that here.














This post contains affiliate links.  The products mentioned above were provided for review from Valentia through a campaign with BrandBacker.  All opinions are 100% my own.  

Hey guys!

I hope everyone had a great Wednesday!  Tonight I am going to share my review of the Radha Beauty Skin Clearing Serum.

The Radha Beauty Professional Age-Defying Skin Clearing Serum will help reverse the signs of aging while improving blemished skin and hyper pigmentation. In this powerful serum sulfur penetrates and creates elasticity while Niacinamide takes the red out and prevents inflammation that underlies all troubled skin issues. 20% Vitamin C repairs micro scarring, reverses sun damage, provides significant natural sun protection and rapidly creates smooth supple glowing skin. Stealthy superior retinol and salicylic acid unclog pores, heal acne, speed cellular turn over, and undo the signs of aging skin.

The consistency of this serum is very thin, and it is a milky color.  The serum absorbs quickly into the skin.  The scent of the serum is very hard to describe; however, it does not smell pleasant.  I can get over the scent of products as long as I see a benefit from them.  I have used this serum for a month now, and I can honestly say I saw no change in my skin.   It certainly didn't help clear my skin, and I have since quit using it because I feel that it is an unnecessary step in my daily routine.

I received this product to review through a campaign with the brand and BrandBacker.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Hey guys!

Photo: Amazon.com

I have an awesome giveaway to share with you.  20 lucky winners will win their own 5 oz bottle of the Evian Facial Spray!  The 20 winners will be chosen at random by the Wilkes Group which is the distributor of Evian.

So what is the Evian Facial Spray?  The company claims that the spray will penetrate and rehydrate the upper layers of the skin.  Evian water has a unique mineral balance along with an exceptional purity that makes the spray perfect for all skin types.  The spray will leave skin looking healthy and refreshed.

If you are interested in being entered for your chance to win a 5 oz bottle of the Evian Facial Spray you can use the form below!  If you can't see the form you can click this link!  The giveaway will end on 3/29/2015.

Happy Friday everyone!

We are smack in the middle of moving so things are chaotic around here.  Not to mention the weather this week has been absolutely crazy.  With all of that going on I am just now getting around to reviewing the InstaNatural Dead Sea Mud Mask for you guys.  I know I have reviewed a ton of InstaNatural products over the past few months and in general have had a really great experience.

Hey guys!


I have a review of three of Radha Beauty's products.  I have been really enjoying these products, so I am excited to share them with you!  When I was accepted into the campaign to review their Intensive Youth Eye Gel was not expecting Radha Beauty to offer two additional products to review.

Radha Beauty is a relatively new brand that primarily sells their products through Amazon.  The brand was started in July of 2014 to provide high quality skin care that is actually good for you!  The products they provide are organic and are packaged in eco-friendly packaging.

Hey guys!


I hope everyone had a great time with their friends and families over the holiday season!  If you are new to my blog then I will preface this review with my hair type.  I have really thick hair that is naturally wavy when it air dries.  When I dry it with a hair dryer it tends to poof up (think 80's volume).  Generally it is easily tamed with any hot tool but I have a large patch of hair at the back of my head that is really coarse (I like to call it my horse tail).

Hey guys,


Today I am reviewing the Kiss InstaWave Automatic Curler.  This was sent to me through a campaign with BrandBacker and Kiss, and I have to say that I was really excited to try it out.  Once the box arrived I immediately ripped the box open and started to use it.  My hair is naturally wavy and really thick.  I have recently cut most of it off so it's now at my shoulders and in the past it was down to my ribs.  I was disappointed with how difficult it was to use with my short hair.

Hey guys! 

I have another giveaway to share with you!  In this giveaway there will be 50 winners!  The giveaway will be open until December 4th.  Each winner will receive one Makeup by One Direction kit.  The possible kits you could receive are the Electro Glam Mascara, Liquilights Glow Glosses, or the Rock Me Nail Kit.  

One Direction Electro Glam Mascara

Give your look a jolt of electric color, with this limited-edition trio of ultra-bold colored mascaras for hair and lashes, in three heavily pigmented, buildable colors. 
FOR LASHES- Make a subtle statement by adding a pop of color to the tips of your lashes, or add coats to your entire lashes for a shockingly chic look. The more the better!
AS A HAIR MASCARA- Apply to small sections of hair and swipe through for instant ELECTRIC highlights.

One Direction Liquilights Glow Gloss

Rock Me Nail Varnish Kit

ROCK ME NAIL KIT, featuring NEON UV-REACTIVE Nail Varnish and UV-REACTIVE GLITTER nail toppings that add even more sizzle to your mani, for nails that light up day and night. 
Sprinkle the glitter over wet polish for a subtle accent, or go for the glitz and dip your entire wet mani in mega-watt sparkle! 

Nail Varnish:
Happily– UV iced blue glitter 
Moments- UV neon pink 
Diana- UV 3D holographic 

Glitter Toppings: 
Kicks- UV snow cone blue
Not afraid- UV electrified pink glitter 
Star-- UV holo glitter 

These kits will be released on November 15th at the following stores: 
Macy's














The pictures and descriptions above were provided by Markwins and BrandBacker.  The giveaway is run by the brand and the winner will be chosen randomly by them.  Giveaway ends on December 4, 2014.  Promotion through Markwins and BrandBacker.  

Hey guys!

I know I love to burn candles in my house, and these little candles are a wonderful new addition to our home.  As you can see from the box, there are three 2 ounce candles in each set which you could use as stocking stuffers or small gifts for your friends!   Each set of three candles is $25 on Amazon and each candle has a burn time of 20 hours.


The set I chose is the Fall Harvest set.  This set includes Pumpkin Spice, Cranberry, and Autumn Leaves.  The Pumpkin Spice candle and the Cranberry candle are my favorites in the set.  They smell exactly like their scents and the scent completely fills the room.


I personally love the rustic labels on the candles since that is very much my style.  Each candle is also just a simple white soy wax which doesn't bother me.  Each time I go to light these candles I find that I need to trim the wick as well which isn't a problem for me but it's something to be aware of.  The size of these candles is really great for a smaller bathroom, but I have been enjoying them in our living room.  I have found that the scent fills the room quite well.


Cranberry has become my favorite and I wish that I could have it in a large candle for the rest of the Fall!


As you can see in the above picture, there are 12 different candle sets from Old Factory Candles.  Some of which are quite interesting, but you won't have a problem finding a set for yourself or your friends and family!  The best part is gift wrapping is available if you wish to purchase this as a gift. Again these can be purchased for $25 on Amazon.

Also if you finish these candles before Christmas you could always clean out the jars and fill them with a DIY body scrub, lip scrub, or even your own candles to give away as presents!

As for the giveaway, one of you will win one of the Old Factory Candle sets of your choice for yourself!  This giveaway will be open until midnight on November 10, 2014.

**Giveaway is open to US residents, also you must have an Amazon account and a PayPal account for shipping reimbursements.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway













The product mentioned was sent to review through Old Factory Candles, Red Rover Naturals, and BrandBacker.  All opinions are 100% my own.  This post contains affiliate links.