Amanda Burnett

Lifestyle & Beauty

Reviews

My First Boxycharm | June Review

     5 Comments

For years, I’ve been receiving Ipsy bags and writing my reviews for those. On the 25th of June, I made the decision to pause Ipsy and try something new. I was tired of only getting samples and my Ipsy bag stash has been piling up. I’ve been seeing people loving Boxycharm so I thought, why not? For $20/month you supposedly get 5 full-sized products worth over $100. That sounded too good to be true so I needed some proof, you know?

The Day It Arrived

I’ll be honest, I was so excited to get this package that I was clicking that tracking link every morning to see where my package was. The morning that I clicked it and it said my package was in transit to my house, I was doing a little dance around my living room. Yes, makeup makes me that happy. Don’t judge me. But that excitement only grew when I saw that black box sitting in my mailbox.

What’s In The Box

The Products

Tarte – Be You. Naturally. Eyeshadow Palette

When it comes to eye shadow, I like to keep it natural and smoke it out a bit. Seeing the colors, I knew this was going to be one of my favorite palettes! There are 4 shimmer shades and 4 matte shades. Every shade is packed with great pigment, blends well, and creates a beautiful look.

The listing price is $36. This one product covers what you pay for this whole box plus some!

Steve Laurant Jelly Highlighter in Cotton Candy

If you’ve seen any of my Ipsy bag reviews, you already know how excited I get about highlighters! Out of all the highlighters I’ve collected over the years, I don’t own a jelly highlighter so I was proud to say this one is different from the rest. When I swatched it on my hand, I gasped. The texture is SO silky. I barely waited a whole minute before I went to go tap a little bit on my cheekbones and I’m obsessed. I would choose this over any powder highlight I have. It blends in so well and looks stunning. Literally.

The listing price for this item is $26.

Dominique Cosmetics Lemonade Lip Gloss in Peach Tea

My lip gloss is cool, my lip gloss be poppin’! As I mentioned above, I often go for a natural makeup look. This light pink lipgloss is absolutely perfect for a natural look. It’s a lightweight formula that’s not sticky! It smells kind of like chocolate and is very hydrating.

The listing price for this lipstick is $17.

Touch In Sol – No Poreblem Prime Essence

Primers never used to be my thing but I love when I get a good one that really makes a difference. The first thing I noticed was the packaging. I really love the applicator. The product itself is on the watery side and a little bit goes a long way. This claims to tighten pores and create a silky smooth canvas for your makeup. I’ve tried this a couple of times and this definitely makes my makeup look better!

The listing price for this item is $23.

Haruharu Wonder Maqui Berry Anti-oxidant Mask

I’m not usually a fan of sheet masks. The process of pulling them out of the package, them dripping everywhere when you’re trying to unfold it, then the task of correctly placing it on your face just isn’t very relaxing to me. The con of this product was all of that. Once I got it placed on my face, I let it sit for 20 minutes. It had a very light fruity scent. After the 20 minutes, I pulled the mask off and my skin definitely looked more radiant! I would do this mask again so I guess it’s a good thing it came in a pack of three!

The listing price for the three masks is $9

My Final Thoughts

For this being my very first Boxycharm ever, I’m very impressed! For a girl whos been receiving 5 samples every month for the past few years, I’m so excited about having the chance to get 5 full sized products for only $21 a month for a value of over $100! I’m obsessed with makeup and trying new products so I don’t think I could ever get tired of this subscription. Especially because I’m also obsessed with good deals.

So, let’s talk about the value of this box specifically. I added up all the prices of each product and it came out to $111!

Now let’s do some math. 111 – 21 = 90.

I got $90 worth of products for free. I don’t know about you but that just blows my mind!

Are you interested in trying Boxycharm? Check it out here!

Thank you so much for reading this review! I appreciate you lots. ♡

Tanologist Self Tan Water | Review

     3 Comments

I’ll admit, I feel more confident when I’m tan. Although, here in Washington it’s dark and gloomy most months out of the year so having a natural suntan doesn’t come easy. Self-tan products have been popping up all over my social media for quite some time now. I’ve noticed that a lot of self-tanners cost a pretty penny and I’m not one to splurge on products easily. Frugal Amanda over here!

Caught My Eye

Last week, my mom and I were at Target and actually only getting things that we needed. Seriously shocking. As we were walking towards the check out lines, we walked by the beauty section. I may have frugal habits but that isle never ceases to steal my money. I tried walking quickly by but of course, I spotted a display of Tanologist products and I was immediately intrigued. First of all, water that tans you? Crazy. The packaging was super cute and best of all, the price was great compared to other self-tan products out there! $16.99? Yup, that I grabbed that and didn’t think twice.

There’s three shades: light, medium, and dark. You’re supposed to choose your skin tone which I would be light. But my mom wanted to use it too and she’s darker than me so we settled on medium. I knew that results on me would most likely be a little bit more dramatic but I didn’t care.

My Thoughts – Pro’s & Con’s

When we got back from Target, we immediately pulled that bad boy out of the bag. We were planning on going to the park after so we thought, let’s apply it now then we can shower when we get back. Also, let me note that Target doesn’t sell tanning mitts and since I don’t self tan often, I didn’t have one. What could go wrong with using your hands? (If you follow me on Twitter, you already know.)

Pro’s:

  • It smells amazing and not like most self-tanners! When I looked at the ingredients, I did see it contains fragrance. I have sensitive skin, but this didn’t irritate me at all! It also contains lots of skin loving ingredients such as vitamins and fruit extracts.
  • Easy application. It comes in a spray bottle so all you have to do is mist it all over and rub it in.
  • Dries quickly and leaves no sticky residue!
  • The color ends up being beautiful and natural. I absolutely love the color my tan turned out to be! It was a bit dark because like I said, I got the medium shade so my mom could use it too and it still looked great!
  • Great to use on your face! Never broke me out.
  • Lasts at least a week! It’s week two and I just scrubbed the last of the tan off today. I’m impressed with how well this held up.

Con’s:

  • My biggest con to this is that it’s a clear formula (water’s clear so I guess that was a no brainer) but it’s hard to tell where exactly you’ve applied it well and where you haven’t.
  • This con is more towards Target – no tanning mitts to be found! This is an easy fix because you can find them pretty much anywhere else. Although, I wasn’t very smart because I applied this with my hands and since it’s a clear formula, I didn’t think about how it would stain them. I’ve only used self-tanners with color guides. Tip: Wash your hands (if you’re not using a mitt) after application. Then take a makeup brush and apply the self-tanner to the tops of your hands for an even finish!

Results

I would definitely recommend trying this self-tanner! For the price and how well it lasts – it’s my new favorite. Thank you for reading!

My May Ipsy Bag | A Full Review

     5 Comments

Welcome back to my blog! This week has been crazy. I was hoping to have this post up last week but long story short, my computer was stolen. I will most likely make a YouTube video better explaining everything that happened. I’m just happy to be blogging again. Now let’s look at this month’s Ipsy bag!

On May 11th, I opened my mailbox to reveal my favorite pink package from Ipsy. This was more exciting than usual because it was a day before my birthday so it kind of felt like a birthday present!

The Bag:

Glitter heaven! This bag is my favorite bag I’ve received so far! I’m obsessed with all things sparkly so this bag is a dream. I usually put my collection of Ipsy bags under the sink for when I need a travel bag but this is way too pretty to just put aside. This will be sitting pretty on my counter full of my everyday products!

The 5 Products:

Nature Cartel Multi-Purpose Stick in GlowBal Awakening

When I first tried this product, I wasn’t too impressed. It’s a very subtle highlight with not too much pigment and I guess I was hoping for it to be more dramatic. If you’re wanting a subtle highlight, it is actually pretty. I also thought the tone would be pink because the product itself looks pink. Surprisingly, it’s a golden tone!

Alterna Haircare Bond Repair Leave-In Hair Protection Spray

I explained in my previous hair blog post that I don’t like to use heat on my hair so I thought I wouldn’t have a use for this product. Although, it’s getting warmer outside which could dry out our hair so I spray this when I’m going to be outside for long periods of time. It smells so good and makes my hair feel soft! It’s also vitamin-enriched so you can feel good about spraying this all over.

F.A.R.A.H Brush in 22E Shade & Blend

Brushes are always good to have and I’m loving the double ended brushes! As you can tell, I’ve been using this brush a lot already! I always end up packing these when I’m going on a trip. Two brushes in one – very convenient! The bristles are extremely soft and apply product beautifully.

Pixi by Petra H20 Skindrink

When I saw this product in my bag, I squealed. I absolutely love Pixi beauty, I even made a blog post about my Pixi collection. I’ve heard great things about this H20 Skindrink so I applied it and was pretty impressed! This contains aloe vera, green tea, and rosemary extract. It smells amazing and it made my face so smooth and soft. It felt truly hydrated! I can’t wait to order the full sized.

INMO Velveteen Dream Eyeshadow in Super Bass

I’ve been wearing this eyeshadow almost every day since I opened it up! It’s such a pretty sheer pink. It’s great for everyday wear. The texture is very silky and stays on the lids without creasing.

That’s my May Ipsy bag review! Overall, I’m very happy with everything that I got in my bag this month. Especially the bag itself! Again, I’m sorry this post is up so late. Things are starting to fall back into place. Thank you for your patience!

If you’re interested in getting Ipsy, I have a referral link just for you! Check it out.

My April Ipsy Bag | A Full Review

     5 Comments

It’s that time of the month again, ladies. By that I mean, I got my Ipsy bag in the mail a few days ago so it’s time for another review! I’ve had a chance to try everything out this week so I’m excited to share my thoughts on the 5 products that I’ve received.

The Bag:

The bag this month is very cute, bright, and has a cute lemon print all over it. It definitely reminds me that it’s springtime even though it’s currently cloudy and freezing outside where I am. I also love how the zipper is on the front instead of on the top. It’s unique!

The Products:

  • TONYMOLY Peach Punch Sweet Foam Cleanser 5/5

When I first saw this in my Ipsy bag, I was intrigued. A peach cleanser sounds lovely! This cleanser contains peach extract so no surprise that it smells like an actual ripe peach! My first impression was not only that it smelt good but it actually felt amazing on my skin. The cleanser itself is a silky foam consistency and doesn’t dry out your skin at all. It even contains olive oil to help keep your skin moisturized.

  • Seraphine Botanicals Berry + Juice – Lip Gel in Cherry Compote 5/5

I feel like I’ve been receiving lip products in every Ipsy bag for a few months and I’m not complaining. A girl can never have too much lip gloss! Well, I guess this is considered a lip gel, which I wasn’t too familiar with. When I tried it, I realized it’s considered a gel because it’s a bit of a thicker consistency than a regular gloss. The pigment is a beautiful and sheer cherry red which I love. It also has a subtle scent of cherries and berries! Also, this lip gloss is 100% vegan. We love that.

  • It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer in 13.0 Light Natural 5/5

I’ve received this concealer in a previous Ipsy bag and when I saw it again in this months bag, I actually did a little happy dance. I told myself once I ran out of my first tube, I’d actually purchase the full sized product because I honestly love it that much. This concealer has incredible coverage! I dab some under my eyes and on any red areas/acne before my foundation and it truly hides those imperfections for a flawless makeup look. The tiniest amount goes a long way too.

  • Tarte Double Duty Base Tape Hydrating Primer 4/5

This is a brand new primer from Tarte. I was excited when I saw that it was hydrating because I have very dry skin. It has jojoba and grapeseed extract to moisturize and coconut to smooth. I noticed the hydration right away when I applied it. It’s like a lightweight moisturizer. I can’t give it 5 stars though because when I applied my foundation, I still had creasing under my eyes. It’s not a big deal considering I rarely use primers anyway but if you’re big on having a primer that helps keep creasing away, this might not be your favorite. But I’m giving it 4 stars because it’s very hydrating!

  • Nomad Cosmetics Eyeshadow in Blue Lagoon 4/5

I’m starting to be more adventurous when it comes to eyeshadow colors so I was excited to play around with this! It’s no doubt such a pretty shade of blue. I’m not giving it 5 stars only because there was some fallout and it was really hard to get a bold look even when using a damp brush. It could also be I’m just not an expert at applying eyeshadow yet! This is best if you’re just wanting to have a light pop of blue. Although, this eyeshadow does contain hemp seed oil so it won’t be harsh or drying on your eyelids!

That is it for my Ipsy review this month! Overall, I would give the entire bag a 4/5 because I wasn’t completely in love with a couple of the products but that’s the beauty of trying something new every month. These are all my own opinions so even if I don’t love something, doesn’t mean you won’t.

If you receive Ipsy, let me know your favorite product that you got this month!

Interested in trying Ipsy? Click my referral link here.

Xoxo,

Amanda Burnett