Skincare

September Boxycharm Review

September 17, 2019 itsamandaburnett 2 Comments

Another month, another BoxyCharm review!

At the beginning of each month, I’m always checking Boxycharm’s Instagram to see sneak peeks of what they’re offering each month! Septembers Boxycharm is a good one! This month’s theme is All Access. All Access makes you think of events, right? So whatever they were adding to the boxes, they had to be things that would be great for events or parties. That’s especially exciting since the holidays are right around the corner!

Before I get into my products, I wanted to let you guys know that I’m posting to YouTube again and I made a video reviewing what I got! I also created a makeup look using these products.

Products In My September Box

Tarte | Clay Play Face Shaping Palette ($45)

First Impression: This is the first product that I pulled out of the box and I was automatically excited because Tarte is one of my favorite brands. This palette contains 12 Amazonian clay powdered shades including three bronzers. The shades are gorgeous!

Review: When I opened the palette up, I was in love. I love neutral colors in general, but it’s fall now so it’s time to start creating the best smokey eyes! The eyeshadows are also smooth and silky. Before this palette, I only had one bronzer that I liked using but it still wasn’t the best. This palette gives me three! They’re all so beautiful on the skin too.

Dr Brandt | Hydro Biotic Recovery Sleeping Mask ($52)

First Impression: The sleeping mask claims to reduce redness, irritation, and locks in moisture overnight. As a girl who deals with very dry and irritated skin, I was super happy to see that I received this! I’ve also heard great things about this brand in general so that was a plus in my book.

Review: The texture of this mask is very silky and almost water-like when you apply it to your face. I put a dime size on my fingers and worked it into my skin. When I woke up the next morning, my skin looked healthy and felt hydrated!

Moda | 5 pc Brush Set ($27.95)

First Impression: Getting more brushes to add to my brush collection is never a problem! I was excited to see that I got this along with the Tarte palette I got as well. I knew I was going to have fun pairing them both and creating a fun eye look!

Review: I automatically had to take them out of the package and feel the bristles – so soft! I think the part that I really love is how the handles are textured for a nice grip and they’re labeled! Since I’ve been applying eyeshadow for a few years now, I know what certain brushes are for but this would have been a lifesaver when I was first getting serious about makeup. When applying my eyeshadow, the brushes blended everything beautifully!

Hank & Henry | Blickity Black Eye Liner ($20)

First Impression: I’m running out of eyeliner all the time so I’m so thankful to get this in my box! This eyeliner is vegan and claims to dry into a satin/matte finish. It also says its ‘extremely’ long-wearing and transfer-resistant. Yes, please!

Review: To be honest, I’m completely blown away by this eyeliner! It’s the best I’ve used in years. The tip is perfectly long and the amount of product that comes out is amazing. I barely even had to press it against my eyelid for the rich black pigment to glide across! I will hands-down purchase this again after it runs out.

Billion Dollar Brow | The Microblade Effect Brow Pen ($18)

First Impression: Now this product, I think I squealed a bit over because I’ve been needing a good brow product. It’s supposed to mimic the look of actual brow hairs for a more natural look. The brow product I’ve been using is nice but it creates more of a dramatic look. This brow pen also claims to be long-lasting!

Review: Sadly, I wasn’t too impressed with this product. I had high hopes for it and I loved the idea. Although, not a lot of product came out of it. It almost felt like it was dried out so maybe it was just a dud! When I was able to get some product come out of it though, the result was beautiful!

What’s It Worth?

Amazing products, right? Now let’s add it all up and see how much everything in the box is worth.

162.95!

Wow. For only paying $21 for the whole box this month, I basically got $141 of products for free! That’s insane. If you like getting a bang for your buck, Boxycharm is where it’s at. If you’re interested in trying Boxycharm, click here!

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I loved making it! Remember, there will be a video up on my YouTube channel if you like watching reviews and seeing how I created a subtle fall look with these products.

Fourth Ray Beauty: New Skincare Review

September 9, 2019 itsamandaburnett 3 Comments

Skincare is one of my biggest beauty obsessions besides makeup. My biggest problem is when everybody starts talking about a new and fabulous high-end product. I wish I could be that girl that could go out and buy that new $60 moisturizer without much thought. Instead, I’m the girl at Target deciding between two moisturizers under $15. Since I know I’m not the only one who needs budget-friendly options, let me introduce you to Fourth Ray Beauty!

I first saw Fourth Ray products when I was adding things to my Colourpop basket (but not planning to purchase anything, of course!) and I saw a toner for $10. You’re kidding, right? That’s when I realized Colourpop had a new sister skincare line! I clicked on the Fourth Ray beauty brand to see a whole page of skincare pop up. That’s when I got really excited.

First of all, the packaging is just very cute. Then I saw the prices and even though I shouldn’t have been that shocked because Colourpop is pretty affordable as well, I was. The most expensive product they have is $20! I think the best part of their products though is that they are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and each product has a custom crystal blend!

That’s when I gave in and added 5 Fourth Ray Beauty products to my bag and…I bought them! It’s been a little over a week since trying these products out so I want to tell you a little bit about each product and how my skin is reacting to them.

AM To The PM Gel Cleanser – $12

Fourth Ray Beauty's AM To The PM Gel Cleanser

The first Fourth Ray Beauty product that I added to my cart was this AM To The PM gel face cleanser because I was running out of the face wash I was using at the time. The name is pretty self-explanatory – you can use this day and night. When I saw the ingredients in this face wash, I got really excited! Most face washes have a nice description but you can’t understand the ingredient list. The main ingredients in this face wash contain Lychee, Hawaiian Ginger, Lotus, and Jojoba protein. Looking further into the ingredients, I found that it contains a bunch of other fruit extracts and even quartz!

The first time I applied a dime size of this cleanser on my Clarisonic, I noticed it had a pleasant scent of watermelon! Not that Jollyrancher watermelon though. Like, the actual inside of a watermelon! After I washed it off, I noticed my skin felt really soft and not tight like a lot of cleansers that I’ve used.

After a week of using this product, I’m pretty sure I can say that I’ve found my new favorite face wash! My skin hasn’t had a bad reaction, it has stayed clear, and it just feels really good after each wash.

Keep Clear Clarifying Tonic – $10

Fourth Ray Beauty's Keep Clear Clarifying Tonic

I love using toners after washing my face and for only $10, I couldn’t say no to this one! When I use a toner, I really want to see that it removes any excess makeup that cleanser didn’t get and that it helps remove dead skin.

The main ingredients in this toner are Ginseng, Willow bark, Papaya enzymes, and witch hazel. It also contains tea tree, eucalyptus, quartz, and more fruit extracts!

After I used the cleanser, I put some toner on a cotton ball and swiped it all over my face. When I looked at it though, I was shocked. There was little to no foundation to be found! That’s pretty rare or at least it is in my experience. That only made me realize how well the cleanser worked. My skin also felt really refreshed! It does smell a bit like eucalyptus which I really like.

A week after using this toner, my skin has honestly cleared up and the pores around my nose have shrunk quite a bit! The only downside is that I wish the bottle was a bit bigger because its nearly halfway gone already! But for $10, I cannot complain.

Rose Face Milk – $8

I noticed that Fourth Ray Beauty has a lot of face oils and face milks! I was intrigued by so many but I really love rose products so I had to try this one out first.

The main ingredients of this face milk are argan milk, rose milk, oat milk, and chamomile. With these soothing ingredients, I decided that it would be my new day moisturizer.

A week after using this product, my face does feel very soft and even looks more radiant. My face can get quite red and irritated but this helps calms everything down very quickly. This would be perfect for somebody who has sensitive skin.

After Hours Detox Face Oil – $10

Fourth Ray Beauty's After Hours Detox Face Oil

Once I had a day moisturizer, I wanted to add something for nighttime. I saw this detox face oil and I got pretty excited! I hate waking up with a new pimple or full-on breakout so if a product can help prevent that while I’m sleeping, I need it!

This face oil contains bamboo charcoal, tea tree oil, salicylic acid, cucumber oil, and turmeric!

After a week of using this, I’ve been waking up with glowing skin and no new breakouts! It contains ingredients to battle problematic skin but it’s also very moisturizing so I never wake up with dry patches. This has become a staple of my nighttime routine for sure.

Black Satin Bow Headband – $6

The last product isn’t skincare related, but it is super cute! I initially bought this to use when I was using my skincare products, which I do, but I find myself wearing it when I’m out and about because it just makes an outfit that much cuter!

Final Thoughts

After a week of using Fourth Ray Beauty, it’s safe to say that I love this brand. It’s a brand that believes that good skincare containing good and clean ingredients shouldn’t be ridiculously priced. I’m also obsessed with how each product is packed with skin-loving ingredients! The best part about it all though is that the products work.

I recently just stopped my birth control after 5 years of taking it. I read that “detox” acne is supposed to be pretty horrible but so far, my skin is looking radiant with minimal acne. I really believe these products are the source.

I only got 4 products this time but I already have a list of products I want to try next!

If you are needing a budget-friendly skincare brand, I really recommend Fourth Ray Beauty!

My May Ipsy Bag | A Full Review

May 22, 2019 itsamandaburnett 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 Pixi Skincare Collection

April 8, 2019 itsamandaburnett 1 Comment

What Attracted Me To Pixi Beauty?

For the longest time, I’ve been seeing ads all over social media for Pixi beauty. Then every time I go to Target, the Pixi section full of their natural skincare and makeup products catch my eye. If you know me, I love trying new skincare products but especially from brands I haven’t tried yet. I knew that I wanted to try their products eventually but when I saw their ‘rose infused’ line, I couldn’t hold back any longer. Anything ‘Rose’ has my heart. Before purchasing anything, I have to do extensive research of the brand and the products. Pixi beauty is all natural and the products have beneficial ingredients for the skin. Products that create a “naturally radiant” look? I’m all in!

The first two products I received at Target are the Rose Oil Blend facial oil and the Rose Glow Mist.

Rose Oil Blend

I decided on purchasing the Rose Oil Blend facial oil ($24) because the face moisturizer I was using at that time wasn’t doing enough for my very dry skin. I looked at the ingredients and was pleasantly surprised. There were hardly any ingredients listed that I couldn’t pronounce or understand. This face oil includes sweet almond, jojoba, rosehip, pomegranate seed, and rose geranium oils! This product, along with most other Pixi products, had such great reviews. That night, I put this on and was pleased with how this felt on my skin. I didn’t need more than a few drops! By morning, it was absorbed and my skin looked and felt amazing!

Rose Glow Mist

I purchased the Rose Glow Mist ($12) because I love facial mists in general but the thing that attracted me to this product the most is it claims to be packed with 7 flower oils, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. I’m loving these natural ingredients! You can see all of the oils at the top, you just have to shake the bottle before you spray. The website says you can use this face spray before makeup, after makeup, and obviously without makeup. I had to put it to the test. When I sprayed it before my makeup, my makeup applied well and looked more radiant. When I sprayed it after my makeup, it gave my whole look a “glow from within” look. My makeup stayed put too! On no makeup days, I love spraying this throughout the day to keep my face moisturized and refreshed.

After these two products, I wanted to try more! This time, I went to Pixi’s website to purchase the Rose Ceramide Cream and the popular Glow Tonic.

Rose Ceramide Cream

I purchased the Rose Ceramide Cream ($24) because as I said above, the moisturizer I was using before this wasn’t working for me. This moisturizer has rose oil and ceramides in it to keep the skin hydrated and plump. When I saw that this was “ultra-rich” I was scared it was going to be super thick. But when it finally arrived and I rushed to try it, I realized that it was rich but at the same time lightweight. A tiny bit of this cream goes a long way. I only need a pea-sized amount to cover my whole face! I also want to note that it smells heavenly. It’s a light scent of roses and citrus. The next morning, my skin was glowing and looked so healthy. I don’t know if it’s related but my skin even seems to be clearing up! This is definitely my new holy grail moisturizer.

Glow Tonic

The last product that I have in my Pixi collection is the Glow Tonic! I actually have tried the mini size a few years ago and remember loving it. Good news, I still love it! It gets any remaining dirt/makeup off and even any dead skin you have sitting on your face! I’ve definitely seen a change in the appearance of my skin after a week of using this. It’s already brighter, my complexion is more even, and my pores are shrinking!

That’s all of the products in my Pixi skincare collection so far! If you’ve tried any of their skincare/makeup, let me know what your favorite products are and what I should try next!

Xoxo,

Amanda Burnett