REVIEW: Too Faced Shadow Insurance

REVIEW: TOO FACED SHADOW INSURANCE

OVERVIEW

PROS
-eyeshadow lasts longer
-a lot of product
-easy to use
-good packaging

CONS
~

VERDICT:
I will continue to use this product.

THE DETAILS

I have been using Too Faced Shadow Insurance for a little over 2 years now, and am currently on my second tube. I use it pretty much every day, since I almost always wear eyeshadow/eyeliner, and I am so impressed by how much product is in it, and how long each tube has lasted me despite the amount I have used them. As for the quality, I really do notice a huge difference in how long my eyeshadow lasts when I use this product. My eyeshadow lasts all day, rather than only one or two hours when I don't apply it, which is especially important if you're spending a lot of time on your makeup and don't want it to smudge and look worn out after only an hour or two. It prevents creasing, and goes on pretty transparently like a cream, and doesn't affect the color of the eyeshadow or anything. I haven't tried the Urban Decay primer potion, the main reason being that I much prefer the application of the Shadow Insurance as it is in a tube and doesn't have a brush which I read reviews that can be difficult to get the most of all the product inside. Whereas with the Too Faced version it's certain that you can squeeze out every last bit of product and get the most out of it. In general I have no complaints so far, and am truly content with my experience, and highly recommend this product.

MENTIONS:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Urban Decay Primer Potion

REVIEW: Soap Works Shampoo Bar

REVIEW: SOAP WORKS SHAMPOO&CONDITIONER BAR

OVERVIEW

PROS
-no sulfates
-cleans hair well

CONS
-very little lather
-drying

VERDICT:
I will continue to use this bar.

THE DETAILS

I purchased this shampoo bar because I was interested in trying out the no-shampoo method, but was having trouble finding a shampoo bar that does not contain any sulfates. With the already limited selection in stores, (I don't live in the USA so I couldn't purchase the Chagrin of the Valley ones), I also found that the shampoo bars at Lush contained sulfates, so I went with this one that I found at the Nutrition House store. It is all natural, and although it says shampoo and conditioner, I still think it's necessary to use a apple cider vinegar rinse, because I initially used it without the acvr and my hair ended up much too dry. This bar is easy to use, it has a slight lather, but nothing major. Some people really like the huge lather, but it doesn't really bother me at all, and I like how it forces me to really massage my scalp and clean more thoroughly than a liquid shampoo. So far I've liked how it affects my hair, however I have only been washing my hair about twice a week, so I'm not sure if it would be too drying for someone who washes ther hair multiple times. All in all, I have been happy with how this shampoo bar has been complimenting my no-shampoo routine this past month, and would recommend it to people looking for an all-natural shampoo that contains no sulfates or harsh chemicals.

MENTIONS:
Learn about the no-shampoo movement
Soap Works Shampoo Bar
My experience with the No-Shampoo Method

HAIR: No-Shampoo Movement

NO SHAMPOO MOVEMENT: MY EXPERIENCE

OVERVIEW

PROS
-more volume in hair
-healthier looking/feeling hair
-inexpensive
-time efficient
-easy

CONS
-lack of shampoo/conditioner scent in shower

VERDICT:
I plan to continue using this routine, and seeing
if it has consistent positive results.

THE DETAILS

[If you do not know what the no-shampoo movement is about, click here to find out more.]

My experience with the "No-Shampoo Movement": I have been trying out the no-shampoo trend for about a month now, and my experience so far has been interesting. I use the soap works shampoo bar, and then rinse with a combination of 1/4 apple cider vinegar, 3/4 water. What I love is that I have noticed my hair being able to withstand longer durations without becoming oily. I try to avoid washing as much as possible, and I have noticed that even when I do wash it, it’s a lot calmer and less frizzy and tangled than usual. I also have found that I have more volume. For example, before when I would curl my hair the hair near my roots would lay very flat and disproportionate to the curls. However, now when I curl my hair there is a lot more volume, and in general whenever I style my hair, it seems to stay put a lot easier.  It’s also been saving me a lot of money, that I can now spend on purchasing better quality products such as heat protectants for when I occasionally do use heat on my hair, or serums. I have been trying to avoid using heat on my hair, and tying it into tight hairstyles. Normally I put my hair into a loose braid or bun, to protect the ends from friction that can lead to damage. The only thing I’m not a huge fan of, is not having the nice smell of shampoo and conditionerin the shower , but now and even when I did use shampoo and conditioner, I could never smell anything anyway so it’s not a big deal. I just use a nice smelling body wash, and am fine.

P.S.

I kept reading on blogs that people said their family/friends thought it was weird that they stopped using shampoo and conditioner and I never thought much of it, or thought they were being dramatic. But honestly, I have had so many people say it’s strange that I try not to mention it anymore. I thought it was a cool interesting trend I wanted to share with people, but I really ended up with a lot of unimpressed friends who thought it was unhygienic and what not, which I find completely ridiculous. But alas, I guess I will simply keep it to myself and my blog from now on haha.



MENTIONS:
Learn about the no-shampoo movement
Soap Works Shampoo Bar I use
My review on the Soap Works Shampoo Bar

REVIEW: ELF Studio Brushes

E.L.F. Studio Line Makeup Brushes

OVERVIEW

PROS
-soft
-long-lasting
-overall good quality
-inexpensive

CONS
-inconsistent

VERDICT:
I will continue to us them, and
would definitely repurchase.

THE DETAILS

E.L.F. studio line brushes are incredibly inexpensive, and surprisingly all-around good quality brushes. I initially purchased a couple to try them out when they first came out, and I really loved the quality, and then I made a huge purchase about 4 years ago, and  still use them today daily. I absolutely love the softness, and they have withstood my many washes and cleaning and usage over the years. They are some of my favourite brushes, and they have a nice sleek black design which I really appreciate as well. The main problem I found is that it's strange, but you can get two of the same brushes and they can be quite different. For example, I have a couple "eyeshadow C" brushes, and they are significantly different in theur lengths! It doesn't affect anything really, but their quality checking might be a little off as I have also purchased a two"contour" brushes and one is extremely sparse while the other is a lot ore dense. So just note that they can sometimes be slightly inconsistent with their products. In general though I would definitely repurchase them, although I doubt I will need to seeing as with proper care these brushes can last a very long time.
P.S.
I suggest signing up for their email newsletter if you are about to about to make a purchase, because I have gotten 50%-75% discounts. They have sales all the time, so if you keep an eye out you can save a lot on these already incredibly inexpensive brushes!


MENTIONS:
E.L.F. Brushes

REVIEW: Mac Blunt

MAC "BLUNT" MATTE POWDER BLUSH

OVERVIEW

PROS
-smooth application
-blends easily
-very pigmented
-doubles as amazing eyeshadow

CONS
-too warm for contouring

VERDICT:
Can't use it as a contour powder, but I
love it as an eyeshadow, so I will keep it.

THE DETAILS

Mac "Blunt" is a very warm brown tone matte powder blush, and I decided to buy it after watching a video on contouring I saw on youtube (I thought it was Makeup Geek, but I simply can't recall the exact video! Grrrr. But many people on makeupalley recommend it anyway.) Upon trying it, I found that the shade was very warm, and much too reddish to work as a contour powder. Consequently, in a recent "Gregory Gorgeous" video in which he goes over contouring, something interesting he briefly mentions is how he likes the greenish undertone of the blush he uses because it wored well as a contour. At the time I thought nothing of it, but now I realize how important this is. The reason is that when you use a reddish toned contouring powder, it tends to blend in with the red/warm tones of the blush you're wearing. For me it resulted in my face looking super flushed, rather than the natural sunken in cheekbones I was trying to achieve. Before purchasing "Blunt" I had been using my NYX nude matte shadow in #10 "Underneath it all", which I bought since I wasn't able to go to a Mac store soon, and it is a more yellow-toned medium brown. It has great pigmentation and the color simply worked perfectly on my skintone as a contour. Much more natural, and really complimented whichever blush I chose to wear, as it defined my cheeks while making the blush color stand out rather than blend in into one big mess of color. So in my opinion there are many cheaper alternatives, and "Blunt" is not worth the price as a contour, but if you go through a lot of warm-brown eyeshadows, this may save you some money in the long run (slightly more expensive than mac pan eyeshadows, but much more product!)


MENTIONS:
Gregory Gorgeous Contour Video
MakeupAlley Review of "Blunt"
MAC Powder Blushes 
NYX Nude Matte Shadows
Swatches of "Blunt"