Revive: Makeup Blending Applicator (vs Beauty Blender)

I was shopping at Marshalls during my lunch break and I came across multitudes of makeup blending sponges just like the Beautyblender. These on the other hand, were 3 times cheaper at $5 dollars originally being $10. The store carried two different shapes, one being the tear drop we all know and the other was a hourglass egg.

I have tried searching around for this brand but there does not seem to be any news on this brand or the blender itself. The sponge came in many colors including, blue, coral, purple, pink and the signature beautyblender color which I purchased. This sponge seems to be very durable and will last a very long time, it will expand to twice it's size when submerged in water which is shown in the picture below.

I have not tried the Beautyblender but this is a cheap alternative to those who do not want to spend too much money but want to try this method of applying makeup. Good Luck! 

**Update: I recently received the Beauty Blender in the May Popsugar Must Have Box and there is definitely a big difference between the two sponges. The revive sponge is a lot denser and harder and holds a lot more water than the Beauty Blender. When applying makeup with this sponge, a lot of the makeup sticks the the surface and does not fully meld into the skin. The Beauty Blender is a lot easier to work with and can easily soak water and much softer when using on the face. If you like using the sponge technique when applying makeup, you should definitely give the real thing a try because it definitely makes a difference on the overall finish of your foundation and is much better than the cheaper sponge. (Tried really hard not to like the real thing, but... fell into the hype. xD)

Amazing Cosmetics Concealer Review

Claims: AmazingCosmetics' AmazingConcealer is the most amazing concealer available today. This highly pigmented, super-emollient, waterproof formula blends seamlessly into the skin, creating a flawless complexion that looks and feels natural.

Opinons: I have been getting back into the Amazing Cosmetics Concealer recently due to the higher pigmentation and coverage that it provides. I use concealer mainly for my under eye circles  The concealer holds up very well for a few hours then there needs to be reapplication. It does live up to its claim of a waterproof formula with blend-ability but this concealer does not look the most natural.  The best use for this product would be on pimples or redness on the face but people will definitely notice that you are wearing makeup. Cons about the product would be the price ($42 for 0.5 oz) and caki-ness of product when a heavy amount is used.

The best method for this under the eye would be to apply with a brush or your fingers and pat into the under eye area in a triangular shape making sure to sweep down and blend into your skin. After you have built up the necessary coverage, you finish off with a setting spray and creasing will be minimized. If you do not use a setting spray, there will be creasing and setting into fine lines around the eye.

My shade is medium beige which matches my medium warm yellowish skin. For comparison, I am a NW25 in MAC shades and light med in most other shades from other companies.

Rating: 3.5/5

Price: $42 (for 0.5 oz)

Loccitane Original Hand Cream Review

Claims: Enriched with 20% Shea Butter, this super-creamy balm penetrates quickly to protect, nourish and moisturize hands. Honey, almond extracts and coconut oil are blended with Shea Butter to create this extremely effective formula. The rich texture leaves hands soft and smooth with no oily traces, and can be applied as often as needed.

Opinion: This Loccitane Original hand cream is a decent find. I got my hands on a travel size when they were offering them for free at Loccitane. The first thing you notice when applying this lotion would be the strong baby powder smell which dissipates after a few minutes. The application is on the greasy side but is hydrating for those really dry hands. All in all a decent cream and a nice addition to ones travel bag.

Rating: 3.5/5

Price: $10 (10 ml)

Carols Daughter: Ecstasy Shea Soufflé

Claim: Lightweight and non-greasy, each emollient-rich soufflé leaves dry to extra-dry skin feeling soft, supple and smelling delightfully divine. Moisturizing never felt so good! 

Opinion: I received Carols Daughter: Ecstasy Shea Soufflé in my Glossy Box a few months back and have been using it on and off for a two months or so. The lotion is true to it's claims! It is the only body lotion that I find non-greasy on my body and is the best remedy for my extra dry skin after a long hot shower. After using the lotion, even my hands are left with a soft moisturized feeling. The scent of this product is amazing hence the name ecstasy I am guessing... it smells of strawberries and cream mostly with a bit of other tropical scents mixed in. 

Rating: 5/5

Price: $13.50 (4 oz.)

Stila: Stay All Day Waterproof Volumizing Mascara

Claim: A water-resistant mascara that delivers exceptional volume and stays in place until you say when. 

Stay All Day Waterproof Volumizing Mascara is an innovative, long-wearing mascara that contains a special polymer with an extremely high resistance to water. The rich formula pumps up the volume of lashes, is buildable, and unlike other waterproof mascaras, leaves lashes soft, supple, and shiny without smudging or flaking. The unique 3-D triangular brush utilizes three wells to dramatically load a generous coat of mascara onto lashes for extreme volume and three rows of combing bristles to lift, lengthen, and define each and every lash for eye-popping results.

Opinion: This mascara was very volumizing and will leave your lashes feeling natural and smooth which I prefer. My curl stays put for the whole time and no sign of drooping. The waterproof part did not work out for my oily lids resulting in the dreadful panda eyes. The mascara does last for a good 3-4 hours before things start slipping. Product is a bit on the pricey side but there is always samples you can try out before purchasing. 

Waterproof? No
Keeps curl? Yes
Natural looking? Yes

Rating: 3/5

Price: $22

Pangea Organics Facial Scrub - Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Bean & Cranberry

Claims: for all skin types

This dual-action scrub polishes the skin's surface without disrupting its delicate balance. Never harsh, drying or stripping, this Scrub is gentle enough for daily use.

Enzymatic exfoliants work to dissolve expired skin cells while mechanical exfoliants gently free them up to be rinsed away. Raw, ground-up adzuki bean has been used in skin preparations for centuries in Japan. It provides gentle, manual exfoliation while its astringent properties help clarify and tighten pores. Both cranberry seed and geranium oil offer skin-brightening attributes, which assist with reducing hyper-pigmentation (dark spots due to sun exposure and past acne breakouts). The ingredients in this Scrub nourish the skin with antioxidants that scavenge free-radicals and optimize cellular function, resulting in more radiant skin and increased cell turnover.

Opinion: This scrub definitely does what they say it is suppose to do. I use this scrub every other day in the shower and it leaves my skin smooth, free from flakiness and dryness, without it being stripped from all the oil or moisture. The scent is definitely a fruity cranberry which leaves me feeling hungry some of the time. The texture is a grainy feeling, not the beaded scrubs which some people may or may not prefer. I love the fact that this product is mostly natural which cuts down on the chemicals I am putting on myself. Last but not least, this is one of the only products that I have finished. Thumbs up to using everything up! This scrub will last you about half a year using it 2-3 times a week.

Rating: 4/5

Price: $32

Steve Madden Purple Bluuna Crossbody Bag

Nice and sturdy bags are really hard to come by at a very affordable price but I have found the perfect bag on sale at Nordstrom Rack for $30 (Original $78). The Steve Madden Bluuna Crossbody bag was too good to pass up with a 62% off. This bag was a gorgeous dark purple color that adds color to a dull outfit which I tend to need most of the time with my very bland outfits of black, white, and gray.

The size is a bit on the small side which makes it hard to put many things in it but it will fit a decent amount of items. The bag can fit a long wallet which may take up all the space but it has a large added front pocket for your phone or small item for easy access.

The bag measures around 9-1/4" W x 6" H x 6" D but when folded in depth, it tends to crease or wrinkle around the fold. This is minor detail and can be disregarded when the bag is filled with things. 

Rating: 4/5

Price: $30 (Original $78)