Mary Kay Influenster Box

Hi everyone! If you haven't heard about Influenster, I highly recommend checking them out. It is a program were you can take surveys to become eligible to receive a complimentary box full of goodies! This is the second box that I've received, you can read about my first box here.

 

This box is full of products from Mary Kay which I've never tried before. I wasn't in love with this box, however I wasn't completely disappointed. I enjoyed some products, were indifferent about other products, and was unimpressed by a few products. The price deters me from repurchasing some of these products in the future. The quality isn't as nice for the price. Many of these products are drug store quality in my opinion. Take my reviews with a grain of salt! You may fall in love with these products. Everyone has different opinions.

 

 

What I received:

Lash Love Lengthening Mascara (retail for $15)
Claim: strong, seriously separated lashes.
My thoughts: I did not enjoy this mascara as a girl who loves dark and bold lashes. This was WAY too natural to me in which it was borderline non-existent on my lashes.
Recommend: NOPE
Repurchase: No way

Lash Primer (retail for $15)
Claim: dramatic definition, fuller-looking lashes.
My thoughts: PIECE OF CRAP. This did absolutely positively NOTHING to my lashes.
Recommend: NOPE
Repurchase: No way

Cream Eye Color/Concealer Brush (retail for $10)
Claim: the perfect brush for applying any cream product.
My thoughts: This I enjoyed! This brush stood up to the deep clean test - no excessively falling out bristles or running of the dye.
Recommend: Yes
Repurchase: No

Cream Eye Color in Violet Storm (retail for $22)
Claim: soft, creamy, long-wearing formula.
My thoughts: This was a decent product, however I don't see myself using this a lot. I rarely wear any color, but if I were it would be purple. I used this as a base underneath eyeshadow. I don't think that I would wear this alone because I can see it fading and creasing over time.
Recommend: Not for $22
Repurchase: No

True Dimension Lip Stick in Pink Cherie (retail for $18)
Claim: intensely moisturizing, exquisitely smoothing.
My thoughts: This was another decent product that I liked from this box. The color is gorgeous! It is true to color on the lips as it is swatched. The lipstick has an odd smell to it, however it goes away after wearing it for a little while. I didn't find this intensely moisturizing, but not excessively drying either.
Recommend: If you don't mind paying $18 for a lipstick
Repurchase: No


Have you ever tried Mary Kay products or Influenster?
XOXO

 



May 2012 Favorites, Haul, & Empties

Hi everyone!

I've decided that in addition to my monthly favorites, I will be including any collective purchases I've made this past month, and the products that I've used up this month (or empties). I originally saw this idea on Gaby's Beauty Blog, however The Sunday Girl also does this every month. I may not have an empty product every month.

May Favorites:

MAC blush in lovecloud (from the tres cheek collection)
MAC blush in full of joy (from the tres cheek collection)
Benefit creaseless cream shadow in bunny hop (discontinued)
Urban Decay single eyeshadow in sell out
NYX single eyeshadow in taupe
Revlon single eyeshadow in pure pearl
Covergirl eyeshadow trio in cafe au lait





MAC blush in lovecloud & full of joy - I bought these from the tres cheek collection that came out in April. I absolutely love these colors. Lovecloud is described as a bright mid-tone pink and full of joy is described as a lavender. If they are still available near you or online, I highly recommend them. They are perfect colors for spring and summer.


Top picture (left to right): lovecloud and full of joy.



Bottom picture (top to bottom): full of joy and lovecloud.

Benefit creaseless cream shadow in bunny hop is my first and only benefit product. I'm not sure if I would purchase another shade, only because I want to try out similar products such as MAC paint pots. The color is very natural and creamy. I haven't experienced any creasing while using under eyeshadow or alone. I think cream shadow is useful as a base or as a wash of color on a lazy day.

Urban Decay single eyeshadow in sell out is a universal shade. I use this as a highlight under my brows and in the inner corners & all over the lid for a 'wide awake' look.




NYX single eyeshadow in taupe is a "best friend" color as dubbed by Allison or Amarixe on YouTube & another blogger. I love using this shade to blend out any other colors that I'm wearing. Sometimes I'll wear this all over the lid for a natural looking eye.


Revlon single eyeshadow in pure pearl is something that I have owned since high school (5+ years ago). Obviously I haven't used it in awhile and not often since there isn't a single piece of pan showing! I originally bought this WHITE shadow since it was something similar to what a friend bought. I have since moved on from white eyeshadow across the lids. Thank god I didn't follow that trend for long!! Now I use this as a highlight shade to help when I look tired.


Covergirl eyeshadow trio in cafe au lait is one of my project pan items. I've had this eyeshadow palette since high school as well, however you can clearly tell how much I've used it since then! These are nice shades for a natural everyday look, however the pigmentation can be lacking sometimes. The eyeshadows will fade throughout the day no matter what brush I use to apply it or what primer I place underneath it. I want to try shimmering sands after I finish with this palette.


Top picture (left to right): double espresso, mocha latte, and sugar rush

Bottom picture (top to bottom): sugar rush, mocha latte, and double espresso

May Collective Haul:

My new purse is from goodwill (brand is relic). This is a perfect bag for summer with the bright colors. It also helps that it was under $5.00!

The sunglasses are from Charming Charlies. They are brown with diamond accents around the sides of the glasses. These were around $12.00, however one of the diamonds fell out already! I still like them and I'll still wear them since it's not very noticeable. I like these better than the huge white pair I was wearing to replace my other favorite brown pair.

The watch is the brand studio from Kohl's. I still want a Michael Kors watch, however I'm going to wait until I graduate to buy one. This one will get me through nursing school.

The wallet is from the Coach outlet. It was on sale for $50. I use it for my cards and I absolutely love it! If you zoom in on the picture, you can see the zipper wrist wrap (whatever its called!) has a bow on it. Too cute.

This was the watch I originally bought for nursing school, however it's a little busy. I usually don't like all the bling but this watch is very pretty. I purchased this at Charming Charlies for $20.00. I love the crystals inside the watch.

Another nursing school purchase - an owl stethoscope ID tag. I bought this at Affordable Uniform for $5.00. I have been obsessed with owls for about 4 years now when I joined my sorority. If you weren't aware, I am a proud alumna member of Chi Omega!!

May Empties:

Bare Minerals mineral veil is the first and only bare minerals product that I have ever tried. I thought that this was a good finishing powder to wear over your foundation. I wear mineral foundation (non bare minerals), so I don't know how this would look over liquid foundation. I won't repurchase this (at least not right away), because I want to try other similar products.

WOW. I think this is the longest blog I have ever written. It took awhile but it was fun sharing all of this with everyone. Let me know what your May favorites and empties were! Or what you bought this month. Look out for a new blog post idea coming up within the next couple days.

XOXO