Affiliate Links

A Sweet Feit Vanity Mirror

by

Feit Vanity Mirror

Now that I have space, I get to enjoy the luxury of a vanity. The majority of my setup is simple, and we’ll get into that another time. I’d acquired all of the critical pieces (and, in fact, already owned part of it), but I lacked a mirror. Since I own this Jerdon mirror, it wasn’t a big deal.

But Let’s Talk about Vanity Mirrors

Sure, you can get those retro-looking lit mirrors rimmed with globe-shaped bulbs if you’re into that whole vintage glamour thing. You can also roast in the heat they offput, hoping desperately that your makeup doesn’t start to melt as soon as you apply it.

But why? Those setups can be expensive, then you have the ongoing cost of bulbs to manage, and so forth. (But if that’s the vibe you want, live your best damn life.)

As for me, I don’t put much stock into that; I need functional, not luxurious. And although I didn’t explicitly set a budget for this project, I was inclined to keep the price low since I have a low overall beauty budget for 2018.

Costco to the Rescue

So when I happened across the Feit 24″x32″ LED vanity mirror on a recent trip to Costco (on sale for $50 through 8/31; $80 regular price), you better believe I snatched it up. The Feit mirror can be mounted horizontally or vertically; I chose a horizontal installation for my vanity to give me some flexibility in how I sit when I use it to get ready.

Read more

Coastal Scents Elite Brush Set – Unboxing and Review

by

This is a legacy post that has been given a facelift. Content has been edited for clarity and readability; additional thoughts are noted in-line. Enjoy!

In late 2013, facing a dearth of brushes and a wedding to pay for, I took advantage of a sale Coastal Scents was running and picked up their Elite Brush set. I’ve been meaning to share since then but lost the unboxing photos I took, so that delayed things.

Coastal Scents Elite Brush Set

The Details

This 24 piece synthetic brush kit normally retails for $69.95, but I picked it up during something like 50-60% off – all in all I think I spent around $38, shipped. The package, a bubble mailer, came quickly via USPS (shocker, right?). I did notice that the packaging had a peculiar smell, but the contents were unaffected. Inside was this tidy, cute white box that had been protected further by a generous layer of packing paper.

Coastal Scents Elite Brush Set Unboxing

The Brushroll

Popping open the box to slide out the contents reveals a black brush roll protected further by cellophane…

Coastal Scents Elite Brush Set - Brush roll front

There isn’t much to look at, but the front cover of the brush roll has, “Coastal Scents,” inset. Simple isn’t a bad thing, I don’t think. Tools don’t need to be loud.

Coastal Scents Elite Brush Set - Brush Roll Thickness

The thickness of the rolled up, occupied brush roll is about an inch, maybe a little more. Considering its contents, it isn’t too bad for travel if you genuinely need an assortment.

Read more

A Busted BioSilk Cap, A Product Spilled

by

Once I finished my bottle of Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum, I bought a bottle of BioSilk ($25). I’ve been using it for a while, but was not really ready to give a comprehensive review of it. So if you came here hoping for that – this isn’t that.

After leaving my hair in a Turbie Twist for about twenty minutes post-shower, I returned to my bathroom to blow out my hair. Upon opening my hair drawer, I smelled BioSilk’s signature scent. Not a touch, but a lot. Gagging. Too much!

Uh oh.

A Spill

Read more

Stila Stay All Day Liner Review

by

This is a legacy post that has been given a facelift. Opinions are the same, content has been edited for readability, clarity, all that jazz. Additions are noted in line. Enjoy!

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner

I’m not sure what it is that sparks my desire to challenge, well, everything that I challenge. But like the lipstick, if I see something that claims to Stay All Day, I can’t help but want to prove whether or not it is true. You know, for science, and love and justice, whatever.

In the same holiday set that I received the aforementioned lipstick by the same name, I received a smaller-than-normal tube of Stila Stay All Day Liner. Though more favorable than my initial reaction to the name of the lipstick, I still couldn’t believe it without seeing it. Since receiving it, I have worn it with success but I never really documented how long it lasted – and, “more or less all day,” isn’t enough for me.

The Test

Yesterday, I slapped some on my face before work around 6:15AM (contrary to my programming, I am the early bird at work. 2018 Update: SO CUTE. My makeup is done by 5:45 these days.). This is what it looked like at 6:30AM:

Stila Stay All Day Liner - 6:30AM

Well of course it looks decent, freshly applied. Also, I am an airhead and hadn’t even slapped on mascara, yet.

Read more

Contouring: An Observation

by
This is a legacy post that has been given a facelift! Content has been edited for clarity and readability, but opinions are the same. Recent additions are noted in-line. Enjoy!

If I had to name a single beauty trend for 2015, I’d say it was contouring. (2018 Update: Agree with this assessment of the time. In 2018, people are still contouring a good bit, but it seems like the frothing-at-the-mouth quality has since transitioned to blinding, occasionally holo, highlight.)

Granted, people have been using darker-than-their-skin products to contour and enhance features – cheekbones, jaw lines, what-have-you for ages. I think the rise to prominence in the past few years is thanks to the artistry routinely done on a certain famous-for-nothing-really celebrity who I won’t bother naming (not Voldemort, I’ll say that). If you’ve seen her without her makeup, the difference is stark. So contouring has been trendy for a while, but the market for products intended for it exploded this year.

Most notable brands came out with something dedicated to it this year (unless they already had it). Cream sticks? Palettes? Special brushes? Name a brand and I can name you a product.

Here’s an observation about a lot of the products coming out, though, for you:

Read more

COOLA Organic Suncare

by
This is a legacy post that has been given a facelift for clarity and readability. Opinions are the same; in fact, I laughed as I re-read it because I wouldn’t change a thing aside from adding headers. Enjoy!

Sometimes, I don’t even have to look for ridiculous marketing.
Sometimes, it walks right into my inbox.

Email from Ulta advertising some new, shiny products includes this:

COOLA Organic Setting SprayUlta e-mail ad for COOLA Organic Makeup Setting Spray

Oh, setting spray! Good. Even better, it has SPF. Wait. Organic? Organic setting spray?

Read more