Glamglow Powermud Dualcleanse Review

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I’ve tried Glamglow Thirstymud not once, but twice. Over the past few Sephora visits, the staff there offered up some pre-made samples of the Glamglow Powermud Dualcleanse Mud-to-Oil; in spite of my less-than-pleasant experiences with Thirstymud, I accepted them.

Glamglow Powermud Dualcleanse ReviewGlamglow Powermud Dualcleanse Mud-to-Oil

I’ve finally had time to play with new products, so I sat down last week, removed my makeup with a Kirkland makeup wipe, and set out to slap Glamglow Powermud on. I smoothed the product – which, like Thirstymud, smells amazing, by the way – onto my skin in a thin layers with fingers. Following the instructions, I left it on until it dried, about 6 minutes in my environment. Like any clay mask, it felt taut (but not extreme like Aztec Healing Clay), but because the consistency is thinner and the application is thinner, it wasn’t uncomfortable.

At the prescribed time, I rinsed it off; you don’t go at this one with a washcloth, though. To remove Glamglow Powermud, you ought to hop in the shower or be the skincare commercial face-splashing-girl (what I did). I splashed with warm water and massaged my face as most of the product melted away. Some of it required a bit more scrubbing than massaging, but it did break down into what felt like an oil, and eventually washed away.

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Worth it? Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask

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I’ve used Queen Helene Mint Julep mask on-and-off for over ten years – every time I would change, I’d find myself going back to it. It was reliable, refreshing, and whipped my skin into shape. Aztec Healing Clay is no doubt effective (and I still have a ton!), but it is a labor to remove, and it isn’t convenient to mix or apply – but it’s also pretty intense. It doesn’t really irritate my skin, but it isn’t something I’d do right before going out.

Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask
Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask

I’ve been wanting a gentler approach. I still want clay masks, but I’m longing for the long-discontinued one (got2b Pure Intent kaolin clay mask). I found this Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask at Ulta and gave it a shot. You might have noticed that it wound up in my October 2015 Favorites post last week.

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Skip This: Sonia Kashuk Ombre Obsessed Brush Set

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Unless you’re in need of a whole set and can compromise on quality, I’m generally against buying limited edition holiday brush sets. Even MAC has been known to sacrifice quality in their LE sets.

Currently, my favorite angled-bristle liner brush comes from Sonia Kashuk. The Target-exclusive, upper-tier-drugstore-price-point brand has a lot of solid contenders, both tool and product wise. They come out with limited edition sets from time to time, but this one, the Sonia Kashuk Ombre Obsessed Brush set, is a doozie.

Sonia Kashuk Ombre Obsessed Brush Set

The handles do look cool, but one does not buy brushes merely to marvel at the handles. Dye (especially red!) + brush bristles (or sponges!) = …you’re gonna have a bad time. Just ask the folks unfortunate enough to reach for the limited-edition red beautyblender.

And I love the beautyblender, but that was a miss.

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October 2015 Favorites

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The sky might be falling. I tried a Pumpkin Spice Latte. There are two people in the world who could get me to do such a thing: 1) my husband (but he wouldn’t; unlike me, he is not a coffee drinker, and like me, he doesn’t get the PSL-mania) 2) my best friend, who came to visit – this was her doing. I don’t know that I’d order it again, but it wasn’t as weird as I expected it to be. It certainly isn’t a favorite, but I felt compelled to share.

October 2015 Favorites

October 2015 Favorites
1. Alpha Hydrox 10% AHA Moisturizing Lotion, $10 / 2. Freeman Clay, Avocado, & Oatmeal Mask, $6
3. EcoTools Eye Enhancing Duo Set, $5 / 4. Naked Juice Smoothies, varies

Anyway, it’s the first week of November, which means two things: the end of 2015 is nigh, and that it’s time to share my October 2015 Favorites. You can check out my favorites this time last year here.

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TBT: Sephora’s Jem and the Holograms Collection

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So there’s a Jem and the Holograms movie that’s come out recently. Apparently it has more-or-less bombed in the theatres, but old fans riding the nostalgia wave are still sure to appreciate all the tie-ins it has generated.

Truth be told, Jem is before my time. So I won’t wax faux-fangirl with you – I’m pretty sure I never saw so much as an episode in my childhood.

That said, Sephora has come out with a Jem and the Holograms Collection. Before I restate it on EACH item in the collection, if you’re buying these for a Jem fan, it will likely go over well, regardless of any other factors, even if for the novelty/nostalgia factor.

First up, the Truly Outrageous Palette:

Sephora Jem and the Holograms Collection - Truly Outrageous Eyeshadow Palette
Sephora Jem and the Holograms Collection – Truly Outrageous Eyeshadow Palette

Housed in glittery black cardboard-style packaging with very 80s-feeling lightning bolt motifs inside, the Jem and the Holograms Truly Outrageous shadow palette features 24 shades with a variety of finishes. Looking at it, it’s pretty loud – which falls in line with the show and, arguably, the decade, with a few neutral shades thrown in. To me, it feels very much like a Vice palette from Urban Decay – but I’m fine with this (after all, UD did not release it). As it turns out, though, it is much smaller – the pans are roughly the size of the pans you’d find in a Lorac PRO or Lorac PRO2.

What I am wholly skeptical of, though, is the quality of the shadows. Some Sephora shadows are great, but others lackluster (a challenge many house-brands have). Couple that with the fact that this is a limited edition promotional tie-in, and… well, I’m doubting these shades, pretty though they are, are knocking it out of the park with pigmentation and performance. Reviews on Sephora’s site are mixed. Unless you’re a die-hard fan, memorabilia collector, or gifting this to someone, I would personally pass.

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