Month: June 2020

BoxyCharm Premium June 2020

On By Manda JanetteIn boxy charm, makeup1 Comment

I finally got my Boxy Premium in the mail today!

This box retails for $35 a month. You receive 5-6 full sized beauty products.

Unfortunately, the box did not come with an info card, and I never received an email containing one.

Let’s get right into the products.

Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Sleeping Mask $49

This was one of the teased items for this months box. I believe everyone was supposed to receive it. I am almost finished with my current sleeping mask, which is also from Glow Recipe, so I am excited to try this one out.

Skin & Co Sardinian Spirit Shower Gel $22

I love soap. So much. This shower gel has strong floral and citrus notes to it. It’s beautiful!

Grace & Stella Anti-Wrinkle and Energizing Face Masks (x6) $25

This is the bulkiest packaging I have ever received face masks in. I am always happy to try more masks. Especially when they are cruelty free, vegan, and sulfate and paraben free like these.

Battington Powder & Contour Brush Set $90

$90 for two brushes!? These better blow my mind. They do feel very sturdy, and the bristles are very soft. But, $90? Come on.

Lashaholic Lashes “They’re real, I swear” $14.99

I rarely wear lashes. However, I think this style is really pretty. I am going to keep these around for the special occasions when I do wear lashes. They aren’t too much, but they aren’t too subtle either.

Too Faced Cocoa Contour Palette $44

This was also a teased item for this mont that all premium subscribers were supposed to get. However, I have seen in Reddit groups that there were some issues with that.

Once upon a time I had the original Cocoa Contour palette. It’s kind of neat to have the super pretty updated version. I do wish it still came with the little kabuki brush though. I loved that brush, and mine has vanished. I think this palette would fit a wide variety of skin tones, which is fantastic!

Over all, I think this was a pretty nice box! High quality items, all of which I am excited to try.

My box came to a total of $244.99. Not too shabby for a $35 sub!

What was in your BoxyCharm this month? What was your favorite item? Comment below!

Thank you for reading 🍐

Find me on IG @_notan__alien

SC @manda_janette

BoxyLuxe June 2020 | The Oasis

On By Manda JanetteIn boxy charm, makeupLeave a comment

It’s a new season, which means it’s time for BoxyLuxe!

BoxyLuxe retails for $50 quarterly. You must have an active BoxyCharm base subscription.

Let’s dive right in!

Pürlisse Perfect Glow BB Cream “Light” $35

I have been looking for a BB cream to wear through out the summer, so this arrived at the perfect time. From a swatch I did the shade seems to be a pretty good match.

Kylie Skin Foaming Face Wash $24

I have tried this face wash before. It worked alright, but I only used it once, so I couldn’t gather my full thoughts on it. It is pretty neat to see Kylie products in a subscription box!

Hallmart Collectibles Satin pillow and mask set $50

This was one of the products that I picked. For some reason I have always wanted a satin pillow case, but never bought one. Please note! The insert card says this set costs $50, I found it online for $36.

Malin + Goetz Recovery Treatment Oil $82

“A luxurious facial treatment that combines nine natural oils to help protect skin from free radical damage and renew skin’s appearance”

I love oils and serums. I am excited to see how well this works. Especially for that price.

Bodyography Lip Pencil Set “Pouty and Rosewood” $28

For some strange reason I am really into lip pencils, so I am always happy to get more. I have an excessive amount, and my toxic trait is that I don’t care.

Lily Lashes Triple X Mascara $24

I picked this item as well. I have high hopes for this mascara, because of the brand name. I will update you all on rather or not it crushed my hopes.

Billion Dollar Brows 5-Piece Charcoal Brush Set $55

Brushes! I love getting brushes in subscriptions. I can never justify buying them anymore. The bristles of this set are very soft and the handles seem very sturdy and well made.

Tarte Tartiest Pro Amazonian Clay Palette $49

I am so glad I got this palette over the remix. I have always been curious of its quality and I’m excited to try it out.

I think this is the best Boxy Luxe that I have gotten. I am excited about every single product.

My box came to a total of $347. What a great value for $50!

What was in your BoxyCharm or BoxyLuxe this month? Leave a comment!

Thank you for reading 🪐

Find me on IG @_notan_alien

SC @manda_janette

Midas Cosmetics Decaf Chocolate Raspberry Quad

On By Manda JanetteIn fotd, Hotornot, indie beauty, inexpensivemakeup, makeup2 Comments

Today, we are doing a little look and review with the Midas Cosmetics Decaf Chocolate Raspberry Quad. This quad retails for $12, though it is currently sold out. However, I still wanted to give it a little attention.

You get 3 mattes and a shimmer. All pinky berry shades.

  • Whole Bean- A pink matte
  • Soy Milk- A matte pink-berry
  • Drip- A shimmery Pink
  • Roasted- A deeper berry matte

For some reason the shades are showing up a bit more orange in the swatches than they actually are.

  • I primed my eyes and set it with a matte cream shadow.
  • I used a fluffy brush and worked Whole Bean into my crease and a bit on my lid.
  • I used a more tapered blending brush to work Soy Milk just into my crease.
  • I used a shaded brush to place Roasted on my outer corner and crease.
  • I placed Drip over the rest of my lid.

  • I used a more pointed pencil brush to place Roasted close to my lash line.
  • I buffed that out with a mixture of Soy Milk and Whole Bean.
  • I popped a random highlighter in my inner corner.

I am in love with this little quad and have been getting a ton of use out of it. $12 very well spent!

The formula is very buttery and the pigmentation is top notch.

I highly recommend keeping your eye out for this little guy!

Thank you for reading 😋

Find me on IG @_notan_alien

SC @manda_janette

I Found a Random Ulta Palette | Let’s Review it!

On By Manda JanetteIn drugstore, Hotornot, makeup, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I was digging through my collection the other day and found this random Ulta gift with purchase palette.

I figured, hey! Let’s give it a go and see what it’s like!

It is a very cool toned palette. It has three matte and three shimmer shades. As well as a rosy pink blush with some shimmer, and a duo chrome pink highlighter.

As you can see, the swatches aren’t impressive. Besides the blush. I am enjoying that.

  • Sugar Coat – light shimmery grey
  • Mocha- dark matte gray
  • Glaze- deep shimmery purple
  • Sweets- matte light pink
  • Drizzle- dark shimmery gray
  • Indulge- matte gray-purple
  • Cotton candy- pink blush with some glitter
  • Frosted- white highlight with a duo chrome pink shift.

Hopefully you can tell in the picture, but the shimmers basically are non-existent in a swatch.

  • I primed my eyes then set it all with Sweets. So far so good!
  • I used a fluffy blending brush and buffed Mocha into my crease and a bit above.
  • I used a more precise brush to buff Indulge into my crease.
  • I placed Glaze in my outer corner.
  • I placed Drizzle in the middle of my lid.
  • After that I placed Sugar coat on the rear of my lid and the inner corner.

  • I placed Indulge closets to my lower lash line, and blended it out with a mixture of Mocha and Sweets.

Over all thoughts

The mattes from this palette did their job well enough. But, the shimmers are non-existent.

The highlighter also, did absolutely nothing.

However, I kind of love this blush! It showed up well, and gave my skin a healthy flushed look.

This is not a palette that will stay in my collection. Honestly, I am probably going to depot the blush and trash the rest. I don’t even thing any of my sisters will want this disaster.

Do you have this GWP palette in your collection? What are your thoughts? Comment below!

Thank you for reading 🐍

Find me on IG @_notan_alien

SC @manda_janette

Ipsy Ultimate June 2020 | Make Waves

On By Manda JanetteIn ipsy, makeup, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Today, I am going to Un-box my Ipsy Ultimate for June 2020 and give y’all my thoughts.

Ipsy ultimate is $50 a month. You get a larger makeup bag, 8 full sized products, and 4 deluxe sample sized products.

My Add Ons

This month I was a day late for add ons, so a lot of the cool stuff was gone. But I did get a few things I wanted!

Hanalie Full Face Sheet Masks pineapple, pear, lychee, and papaya

These masks came in a set of two, I bought both. They address a variety of skin concerns, and I’m sure I’m going to love them.

Luxie 640 Pro Precision Tapered

I already have one of these and love it for highlight. These was either $4 or $6 add on and I just couldn’t pass it up.

First Aid Beauty Pores be Gone Matte Primer

This is something else I have already tried and loved. This was a $4 add on. Just couldn’t pass it up!

Murad Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30

A perfect day cream for the summer, can’t be mad about that!

Biorace Pore Tightening Pearl Clay Mask

The other day I noticed how bad the pores around my nose are looking. I am definitely going to use this mask to spot mask the area around my nose and cheeks.

Sunday Riley UFO Ultra Clarifying Acne Treatment Facial Oil

I have never tired an acne treatment in an oil form, I’m excited to give it a go. I hope it works. Lord knows I need it.

H2O+ Hydration Oasis Nourishing Gel Cream

And we have another face cream. I am probably going to pass this little one on to a friend. I have one that really likes gel creams and always asks if I have any I want to pass on.

Dr.Brandt Pores no More Luminizer Primer

I have one of these primers currently in my rotation and it’s almost empty, but I love it! This was the item I picked for my box this month.

Yensa Super 8 Lip Oil “Pink Shine”

I enjoy lip oils. They feel soooo nice. I’m excited to try a new one out. I just hope the color doesn’t show up much on the lips.

Verb Hydrating Mask

This is a hair mask I have already tried and love. It works very well and smells great. I am happy to have another sample of it. I get about two uses out of this sample size.

Pixi Fresh Face Blush “Beach Rose”

The formula of this blush is really buttery and nice. It’s a rosy brown, which is a color I have been leaning to a lot lately for blush. So this is perfect!

Ciaté London Dewy Stick Highlighting Balm “Glow”

I have had one of these before from boxy charm, and I hate it. It broke me out really badly. I am going to pass this along to one of my sisters.

Wander Beauty Frame your Face Precise Brow Gel “Clear”

I wish I would have gotten this in a tint so that it could be a one and done brow product. But, whatever, I can always use a clear brow gel- I fly through them.

Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner “Black”

I have been wanting to try this liner out of curiosity, but I can never justify purchasing eyeliner, because I get so much in sub-boxes. I am happy I get to try this one out!

The Balm Auto Balm Pic Perfect

At first glance and swatch, I am not too excited about this palette. It just isn’t one I think I will use. I am going to test it on my eyes before I make a decision. However; I’m pretty sure this is another product I am going to pass on to one of my sisters.

LaRuce Brush Set

I couldn’t find this specific set online to link. The set name isn’t on the packaging and ipsys included card is useless. I wish I could have found it through! The brushes are very soft and seem very sturdy and well made.

The set includes a flat foundation, angled contoured, small kabuki, tapered blending, and shadow brushes.

That is it for my Ipsy this month! It isn’t my favorite box of all time, but I definitely will use all but like two of the products, which isn’t bad for a subscription box to be honest.

What was in your Ipsy this month? Comment or link below!

Thank you for reading 🪐

Find me on IG @_notan_alien

SC @manda_janette

Karity Picante Palette | A look and Review + Swatches!

On By Manda JanetteIn cruelty free, inexpensivemakeup, makeup, Uncategorized, vegan1 Comment

Look! A post that isn’t subscription box or empties related!

Today, I am going to give y’all my thoughts on the Karity Picante Palette.

It is a warm toned palette, with beautiful splashes of berry and purple.

The Picante palette retails for $29, Pick it up here! It is cruelty free and vegan, as well as paraben free. There are 21 shadows, coming out to $1.38 a shadow.

  • Delia- Matte Peach
  • Fearless- Shimmery Champagne
  • Dune- Matte Mustardy Brown
  • Embers- Shimmery yellow gold
  • Pimento- literally a matte version of the orange shade in Pimento cheese.
  • Bronzed- Shimmery Bronze
  • Mornin’- Shimmery Gold

  • Sunrise- Shimmery orange gold
  • Bobbie- Warm matte brown
  • Fuego- shimmery reddish brown
  • Harvest- A very warm matte brown. Lots of orange
  • Hayley- shimmery copper
  • Flamenco- A matte warm brown, a lot of red undertone
  • Fahrenheit- This one is hard to describe. A shimmery reddish brown but deeper.

  • Spicy- Matte Berry
  • Passion- Shimmery berry
  • Epice- Matte purple
  • Sass- Shimmery lighter purple
  • Flora- Shimmery basic purple
  • Aish- another warm matte brown, midtone.
  • Bittersweet- matte deep warm brown

As you can see, there are a lot of warm browns in this palette, you will never need another warm blending shade in your collection.

Every single one of these shadows is very buttery, pigmented, and easy to blend. This palette is a breeze to work with!

* Peep my boyfriends Hawaiian shirt I wore for the luau themed rehearsal dinner for my brothers wedding!*

  • I started off by priming my eyes and setting them all over with Delia.
  • I then used a really fluffy brush to buff Pimento into my crease.
  • I used a less fluffy brush to buff Flamenco into my crease and outer corner just a bit.
  • I then used a flat brush and placed Sass all over the lid.
  • I popped Embers into the center of my lid with my finger.

  • I used a liner brush and placed Epice as close as I could to my lower lash line.
  • I used a clean fluffy brush to buff Epice out, using a mixture of Dune and Delia
  • I popped Fearless into my inner corner.

I promise one day I will start listing the actual brush I used. Just know they are mostly Luxie.

I LOVE how the look turned out. I highly recommend this palette. It’s so easy to work with and the shadow quality is phenomenal. This has quickly become my most reached for palette. Honestly, it’s probably one of my favorite palettes in my collection!

Have you ever tried this palette or another one from Karity? What are your thoughts? Comment below!

Thank you for reading 🍷

Find me on IG @_notan_alien

SC @manda_janette

Another Month, More Empties | Reviewing the Highlights

On By Manda JanetteIn empties, makeup3 Comments

From Mid- May til Mid- June I made a pretty big dent in my collection! I thought I would share some of my thoughts with you on the products that were this months highlights!

Earth Therapeutics Elixir of Dreams Pillow Mist $11.99

The packaging of this product has changed in the time it took to use up.

I love pillow sprays, I use them most nights. I really like the scent of this one. The price isn’t too bad either!

RP? Once I finish up my current one, I will be repurchasing Elixir of Dreams!

Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm $10.99

I love cleansing balms, and I have been trying to find an affordable dupe for the Farmacy Green Clean.

This balm is 97% organic, nicely priced, and readily available at Walgreens. It does work very well and has a nice light scent.

RP? No, you don’t get very much, so I went through this very fast. When you have to repurchase so much it defeats paying less. The Farmacy one comes with so much! I suppose my search continues.

Yes To Cotton Micellar Cleansing Water $7.43

I enjoy micellar waters and I’m not picky when it comes to them. I really enjoy the Yes To brand. They always seem to be on sale at Walgreens and Ulta, which is super nice!

RP? Probably! It cleanses well and actually seemed to soothe my skin.

Found Active Exfoliating Cleanser Stick with Coconut

The brand Found is sold at Walmart, however I couldn’t find this product actually for sale on their site. This product was sent to me in PR.

RP? No, I just do not like cleansing sticks, they seem really unhygienic to me.

Derma E Radiance Toner 1FLoz mini

I really enjoy the brand Derma E. They have some amazing products. This toner works very well and I did see an improvement in my skin while I was using it.

RP? Yes! But, the full-size.

Pure Heals Propolis Softening Toner 1 FLOz mini

I got this toner in an Ipsy bag. It was a nice toner, but I didn’t see much of a difference in my skin while I was using it.

RP? No, I prefer the Derma E one.

Illamasqua Hydra Veil Primer Mini $12.54 (£10)

This is another product I got in Ipsy. I do enjoy how my makeup wears over it. However, the scent is a little too strong for me.

RP? No, I have a full-size and once I use that up I think I’m done with this primer. I worry that what causes the scent is going to break me out.

Smashbox Photo Finish Smooth and Blur Primer Mini $15

I have had this since the holiday collection came out last year, maybe even the year before, and I finally got around to using it! I had had this primer previously so it’s nothing new. It works very well.

RP? Probably, but only during a sale.

MAC Fix Plus Mini $16

This mini took me longer than I thought it would to get through. I love fix plus, I just really wish MAC was Cruelty Free.

RP? No, I have a million comparable sprays, none of which are $16 for a small size.

Tarte Shape Tape “Fair” $27

The infamous Tarte Shape Tape. I think a lot of people’s opinions on this product have been changing, but I for one, still love it.

RP? Yes, after I finish up a few of my current concealers, including a Shape Tape in another shade.

Ofra Cosmetics Laguna Beach Mini

If my memory serves me correct, I received this liquid lip in an Ipsy bag ages ago.

The shade is beautiful and I love the formula.

RP? Not yet. I have a few other identical shades. But, if I ever use those up, I think this is the one I would purchase again.

Over all, the past month I used up $194.67 worth of products. That is including the products I did not give an individual review of.

Not to shabby! I am happy to have made a nice little dent in my collection, but there is still a long way to go!

What is a product you used up this month? Have you tried any of these products? Comment below!

Thank you for reading 💚

Find me on IG @_notan_alien

SC @manda_janette

Studio Makeup Ease To Wear Palette | Subscription Box Win or Whomp?

On By Manda JanetteIn boxy charm, makeupLeave a comment

Welcome!

Today, we are going to play with and talk about the Studio Makeup Ease to Wear eyeshadow palette that came in the recent BoxyCharm.

The Ease to Wear palette retails for $35.

The palette contains 9 shades.

  • Sheen- A shimmery cream
  • Flaxen- A shimmery copper
  • Bare- A mid tone cool brown

  • Gilded- A shimmery cool tones almost gold
  • Wicked- Shimmery cool toned brown
  • Lace- a very light cool tone matte brown

  • Dusk- A satin pink
  • Blush- A matte light lilac
  • Fate- A matte warm toned dark brown

The look

  • I primed my eyes and set them with “Lace”
  • Using a larger fluffy brush, I placed “Bare” into my crease and a bit above.
  • Using a tapered blending brush I placed “Fate” on my outer corner and into the outer crease.
  • I placed “Gilded” on the remainder of my lid.
  • I popped shade into the inner corner and under my brow bone.
  • Using a liner brush I placed “Fate” right along my lower lash line.
  • I blended that out some with a mixture of “Bare” and “Lace”

Over all thoughts

Initially I didn’t think I’d like this palette. I thought it was going to be poor quality and something I would just pass along. However, I really enjoy it! The color story is pretty, and the shadows are so easy to work with.

However, if I hadn’t gotten it in BoxyCharm, I would not go out of my way to purchase it. It isn’t particularly unique. I would just go for a ColourPop palette rather than spending the $35 and shipping on this.

Have you tried this palette? What were your thoughts?

Thank you for reading 🐌

Find me on IG @_notan_alien

SC @ manda_janette