Kylie Lip Kits – Are They Worth It?

I have been eyeing the Kylie Lip Kits since they first came out – I mean, who hasn’t been? I wanted to wait to see more reviews on them, because everything I was reading at first was so mixed. I also wanted to wait and see more looks done with them on folks that have a similar skin tone as me! The struggle is real when you’re tan, people. Mostly, I couldn’t bring myself to purchase them knowing I had to pay $9 just for shipping. So once her site was updated to where shipping would be free for a purchase over a certain dollar amount, I knew it just had to try them – and I’m so glad I did!

These are two I picked out. Mary Jo K (on the left) and Spice (on the right). Spice is a new shade while Mary Jo is one of the OG shades. Each kit comes with a matte liquid lipstick + matching lip liner for $29.

Here are the two swatched. Both are extremely pigmented. Mary Jo K is a true blue red, while Spice is deepened raspberry-plum. Both are gorgeous and would look great on all skin tones.

I’m rockin’ Mary Jo K here. This shade was totally out of my comfort zone but I’m extremely pleased with how it looks and wears throughout the day.

Both of the shades smell amazing – like cupcakes almost. Both of them are kiss-proof and drink-proof, however I will say they’re definitely not food-proof. After eating I did need to reapply due to my lips looking splotchy and some of the lipstick got onto my chin area. Not a huge deal, but it’s something to be aware of before wearing these out for dinner. Because of this I rate these kits 4 out of 5 stars. Honestly, I do need to give the lip liners their own special mention because they’re some of the best I’ve ever used, they’re so creamy!

Have you tried any of the Kylie Cosmetics lip products? If so, what are your thoughts? I’m really excited to try some more.

Feel free to keep up with me on Instagram: IAMBEAUTYBEEXO + Facebook: IAMBEAUTYBEEXO 

XOXO, Bee

Mama Bee

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on my blog. Making the time to write has been on my mind but it hasn’t been a priority. A LOT has happened over the last several months. Pregnancy was rough from week 6 until labor, delivery, and postpartum. Now I’m feeling fine and life is great! My husband and I welcomed our sweet baby boy, Elijah Daniel, into the world on March 9th. Eli was born on his due date – he’s punctual, I know. I’m currently trying to get a hang of this whole motherhood gig before I return back to work.

I can’t tell you all how much TIME I spent during my pregnancy researching laundry detergent, baby soap, baby shampoo, diapers, wipes, etc. As a first time mom I wanted to make sure I was providing the best products for my baby when he arrived. I literally stressed out about this and looking back I find it slightly embarrassing. I’ve learned that sometimes it’s not our choice about what will work for our baby, but we need to listen to life’s queues and go with the flow. I want to expand my blog from just featuring beauty to include family and lifestyle as well.

Until my next post, I’ll just leave a newborn picture of Eli. {insert heart-eyes emoji}

XOXO, Bee

Special Announcement!

  
Hello WordPress loves! I wanted to take a moment to announce that my husband and I are expecting our very first bundle of joy in March! This little blessing is exactly the reason as to why I’ve been MIA the last few months. Unfortunately, I was not blessed by the pregnancy gods to having a smooth and easy pregnancy. I’ve been suffering with extreme all-day nausea, vomiting, exhaustion amongst many other symptoms, which include losing 16 lbs! In no way am I complaining or saying this baby won’t be worth it, but it has been very difficult to go to work and come home, let alone have a social life – so for that, I apologize!

I am feeling a lot better now and will be back on my blogging game very soon. I’ve got some exciting collabs in the works and new products to write about.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week! And you can always catch up with my on Instagram at IAMBEAUTYBEEXO.

XOXO, Bee

TULA • review

I’m so excited to finally give my thoughts on some TULA skincare items that I have. I own the purifying facial cleanser, exfoliating mask, and the illuminating face serum. I wanted to use the line a good amount of time before posting and seeing how my skin would react. A brief overview about TULA is that the brand name stands for balance. Balance is something that my skin needs to get together because my oils tend to be out of control! This line’s claim to fame is that all of their products incorporate probiotic skincare technology. All TULA products contain: probiotics, nutripeptides, vitamins A E + C, anti-oxidants, and omega 3 + 6 fatty acids.

What is is probiotic skincare technology? It helps against undesired, external bacteria and protects the skin against negative environmental influences. The actives stimulate production of vital defense cells making the skin more stress resistant to harmful influences.

Purifying Facial Cleanser: comes in a creamy gel-like form. I would say the consistency is similar to the Purity Made Simple, however, it is a bit thicker.  I love this cleanser because it foams a lot and that’s something that my oily skin needs. This product states that it is suitable for all skin types, which I do believe to be true. It thoroughly cleanses the skin without stripping it of any necessary oils. The smell of this cleanser threw me off a little at first. I can’t put my finger on the scent, but think of the spa mixed with a fresh spring waterfall. It’s not bad, but I did have to get used to it. I am able to remove all of my facial makeup with this cleanser, cake face and all – I haven’t tried removing my eye makeup because I’m scared that due to the smell it might burn. Overall, I do think this is a great clarifying cleanser for all skin types and I do recommend it if you’re wanting to try something new!

Exfoliating Treatment Mask: this has become a staple in my weekly skincare routine and is seriously a game changer! I did talk a little bit about this mask and the Illuminating Face Serum in my Rainy Day Mini Pamper Session post. This little baby provides both a chemical and physical exfoliation of my skin. It’s a clay mask, which again, is perfect for my oily skin. The jar says to use 2-3 times a week for 5 minutes each time. I’m a rule breaker, and I probably leave mine on a good 15-20 minutes and I haven’t had any harmful side effects. I do notice a difference in my oily production during the week if I implement this mask into my routine.

Illuminating Face Serum: is my favorite product of the bunch! It really is hard, because it’s very close between this and the mask. I just feel that this serum has truly given me the most results so far. Due to my skin being oily and acne-prone I have suffered from breakouts throughout my teenage years and early 20’s. Being 24 now, I still get occasional breakouts – I swear they will never stop, thank you Mother Nature. I have some dark spots related to post-acne scaring on my face. Over the years they have been able to fade slowly on their own, but this serum has drastically sped up the process! I have noticed a huge difference in my skin over the last month and a half. I use one pump day and night, right after the shower or cleansing my face and it fully hydrates my skin within 60 seconds. This serum is universal depending on your skin type. It can be used before a moisturizer, as a moisturizer, and even as a primer. I can honestly say it has replaced my moisturizer completely 6 days out of the week, because the hydration that I get from this is just as great as what my Philosophy Take a Deep Breath was giving me. I love, love, love this product and if you can try any of these mentioned I highly suggest this one.

If you’re not wanting to splurge on the full sizes of these products on QVC, then you could pick up the Discovery Kit. The kit will not contain the mask, but it will have smaller sizes of the serum, cleanser, eye cream, and the hydrating day/night cream. I have yet to try the face and eye cream, but I’m dying to get my hands on them!*

Have you tried anything from the TULA line? If so, what are your thoughts? What are your favorite skincare products?

Follow me on Instagram: IAMBEAUTYBEEXO

XOXO, Bee

Drugstore • Simple + Quick

   

 Happy Saturday! I hope everyone has a great weekend planned and the weather is beautiful wherever you are. The weather here is gorgeous and we have NO plans today, which are the best plans to have. We might head to a local art festival today, but we will see! 

I know that when you’re in a hurry and only have between 5-10 minutes to do your makeup, you’re not going to want to use your good high-end makeup to just slap on some look. More than likely, you’ll use your cheaper finds to accomplish a fast face. Here are MY go-to products that I use to accomplish a fast and simple daytime look that gets me out the door when I need to be.

  
 

1. Primer now if you’re an oily girl like me you know you can’t skip this step! My favorite primer from the drugstore is Rimmel Stay Matte. It’s perfect for laying down a matte base and filling in some large pores!

2. BB Cream I have been loving a lightweight makeup look, especially for work. I don’t want to look like I have 100lbs of makeup on, but I’m not exactly blessed enough to roll out of bed and show up either. I have some small post acne scaring that needs a little love. I’ve been using the Garnier BB Cream for Combination/Oily Skin. This is one of the best options for BB creams that I’ve found for oily skin. I know that Garnier has a Skin Perfector for those with dry to normal skin as well. I’m interested in trying the It Cosmetics CC Cream – any thoughts?

3. Conceal my dark undereyes with my holy grail drugstore concealer, the Maybelline Dark Circle Eraser! I have done a full review on my favorite concealers (drugstore and high-end) that can be read here. This was my first concealer I ever purchased and I’m so happy I did.

4. Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder to set my BB cream once it’s dry. I’ve done a full review on this powder plus the liquid foundation that you can read here if you’d like a more in-depth review. I will say in my original post I wasn’t too impressed with this powder, but I do think my opinion has changed a bit! It’s really growing on me, but I’m still not 100% sure if I would repurchase it.

5. Blush up my cheeks by sweeping on the extremely pigmented Milani Baked Blush in the shade Bella Rosa. These little blushes are such a great buy, and I haven’t even made a dent in mine yet because I need such little product. This pink shade gives me the perfect flushed look!

6. Mascara of course I reach for my Loreal Voluminous in Carbon Black. The formula is so perfect and buildable if necessary and the brush is so full of bristles. If you’re in the market for a new mascara and have never tried this one, definitely give it a go!

7. Brow Game I did purchase a new product that I kept hearing great things about! I picked up the Loreal Brow Stylist Plumper in medium to dark. I love the little brush that this comes with, it’s perfect for getting in between sparse hairs and very natural looking. 

There you have it! My simple and quick drugstore makeup look. Have you tried any of these products? If so, what are your thoughts? What are some of your favorite drugstore items?

Follow me on Instagram: IAMBEAUTYBEEXO 

XOXO, Bee

Rainy Day Mini Pamper Session

  Today is such a dreary day it makes me want to sit inside in cozy clothes and watch Netflix all day. Both of those will definitely be happening, but my plan for the rest of the evening will be to give myself a little pamper session!

Pampering Tools:

Tula Exfoliating Treatment Mask: this mask is my absolute favorite face mask that I’ve ever used! I can not say enough amazing things about it. I do plan to do a full review in a few weeks, but so far my face is loving this! This mask is clay based – perfect for my oily skin beauties – but at the same time it’s hydrating as well, so it’s great for all skin types! When I’ve finished with this mask my face is extremely soft and smooth and it just feels like it can breathe again!

L’oreal Nail Color: in the shade 114 Rainy, could there be a more perfect name for this occasion? I love the L’oreal polishes and to me they’re like little dupes for Essie! I know everyone is going bright for spring, but with this weather and my rebelliousness I’m gonna go dark. 

Tula Illuminating Face Serum: now I know what you’re thinking. “She has oily skin why would she use that illuminating serum!?” You guys. This stuff rocks! Full review will be coming soon, but this serum deeply hydrates my skin and sinks within minutes. It isn’t greasy at all, otherwise you know I wouldn’t be using it. It’s a magical bottle of goodness. It’s the perfect finish to the Tula Mask and leaves my hydrated all day + night.

 Have you tried any of the products mentioned? What are your favorite products to pamper yourself at home with?

Thanks for reading!

Follow me on Instagram: IAMBEAUTYBEEXO 

XOXO, Bee 

Rocksbox • Oh, yeah!

Good morning everyone! I hope you’re all having a great Memorial Day weekend so far! Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous here in the Midwest. Today is starting out rainy, I’m laying here with coffee listening to the pitter patter on the deck. BUM CITY, but kind of relaxing. Anyway – to brighten up my dreary morning I checked the mail and discovered that my very first Rocksbox had arrived!

What is Rocksbox?

It’s a subscription box just like any other box, i.e. Ipsy, Birchbox, etc. but instead of makeup + skincare, you receive jewelry! A stylist will hand pick three jewelry pieces for you and send them to you on loan. You do get to make a wish list and choose some pieces that are must-haves for them to send. The subscription is $19/month but every month you do receive $10 in shine spend money!

What is shine spend money?

This is money that can be used towards the purchase of any items that Rocksbox has. With the subscription being $19 a month, it really drops down to $9, because RB gives you this perk.

What do I do when I’m done with my jewelry?

Well, Rocksbox really is like the Netflix of jewelry! You receive your three pieces, valued around $200, and you get to keep them for as long as you’d like. Whenever you’re done with the pieces you just send them back and RB sends you new pieces right away. One of the coolest things is that you never have to pay for shipping. You even receive a return shipping label inside of your box!

I think it’s so fun that each box is personalized with your name, too! If you’d like to give Rocksbox a try for one month FOR FREE then head to their website and at checkout enter the code: iambeautybeexoxo and you’ll be able to try it risk free. On the website you’ll be able to get more information and browse around at some of the pieces that they have available!
Have you ever tried Rocksbox? If so, what are your thoughts? What is your absolutely favorite subscription box? I love reading comments!*

Thanks for reading!

Follow me on Instagram: IAMBEAUTYBEEXO

XOXO, Bee

Make Up Forever Step 1 • Mattifying Primer

  Happy Friday everyone! I hope you’re all having a great start to your Memorial Day weekend! I was trolling through my newsfeed and saw a review by Always,Bree for the CoverFX Matiffying primer which is a primer I was interested in, and at the end she asked if anyone tried the Make Up Forever Step 1 before. It reminded me that I had this review that I’ve been meaning to post for some time and what better time than now? So thank you for the reminder Bree!

Let’s get into the review shall we? 

 
Pictured here is the Make Up Forever Step 1 Mattifying Primer. This product has been extremely hyped up by beauty bloggers and bloggers everywhere. I have extremely oily skin, so I was looking forward to this becoming my new holy grail!

The product comes in a beautiful matte black squeeze tube with a precision point tip. The amount of product you receive is the standard 1 fl oz. I purchased mine from Sephora for $36.

Sephora’s website states that it “assists with balancing the skin’s texture and tone for smoother, more even, and longer-lasting makeup wear. Mattifying primer reduces shine.”

The smell of this primer was subtle and pleasant, it had a slight citrus scent in my opinion. The texture was thicker, but not as thick as the Rimmel Stay Matte or as fluid as the Hourglass Mineral Veil. It was a happy medium. I do feel this primer helped to fill in my larger pores. 

I have no other positives to say about this primer. It gave my face a strange texture and prevented my foundation from looking smooth over top. 

I did two tests to see if it was my mind playing tricks on me or if this raved about primer was really just a dud. Test 1: I layered this on top of my Rimmel Stay Matte to see if it worked better with another product. Result: NO NO NO, CAKE CITY. Just no. Test 2: I used Rimmel Stay Matte on one half of my face and the MUFE Mattifying Primer on the other. Result: I did not notice any difference in the longevity of my foundation. I still needed to blot around 3-4 hours. Honestly my Rimmel side held up better! The fact that my drugstore $6 primer held up better than this $36 high-end one, you better believe this was returned to Sephora. Sorry to those that love this product but it wasn’t for me and did not do anything phenomenal for my skin.

Have you tried the MUFE Step 1 primer line? If so, what were your thoughts? What are you holy grail foundation primers?

Thanks for reading!

Follow me on Instagram: IAMBEAUTYBEEXO 

XOXO, Bee

 

Jaclyn Hill Favorites Palette

      
Ahhhh I have finally been able to get my hands on the absolutely breathtakingly beautiful Jaclyn Hill Favorites palette by Morphe Brushes! This has been long awaited, because I missed the first time they went up for sale on Morphe’s website and the site crashed yada-yada-yada and everyone was upset. I have been a big fan of Jaclyn Hill for quite some time and I love the looks creates on her channel! She loves to construct gorgeous warm neutral looks + warm smokey eyes. I personally, am a huge fan of warmer tones, I just think they look better on my skin tone. So when I found out JH was developing an eyeshadow palette, I knew it was one I needed in my collection.

My experience with Morphe Brushes before purchasing the JHF palette has been overall positive. I purchased their 35W – 35 color warm color palette last year for only $20! That was an amazing price for the quality of the shadows that I received and the variety of shades. I will say the 35W shadows seemed a little bit “chalky” but not terribly, but they are well pigmented. In comparing the JHF to that palette the quality of the shadows are higher and more along the lines as if you were to purchase Morphe’s single shadows.

Let’s get on with the swatches shall we?

 
Row 1 • 5 shimmer + 2 matte– pictured here are some very beautiful highlight shades, as well as gorgeous transition shades. My personal favorite for an everyday simple look is just using the second from the end, that resembles the Too Faced Semi-Sweet palette color called peanut butter! 

  
Row 2 • 3 shimmer + 4 matte – this row is filled with beautiful browns, orange, and a pop of coral. These colors scream fall to me, which is my favorite season!

  Row 3 • 3 shimmer + 4 matte – hello beautiful pinks, chestnut browns, and deep burgundy shades. All so beautiful and highly pigmented. Actually the shade three from the top had some issues showing up. I don’t know if it’s that it resembles my skin too much, or if the formulation was off.  

  Row 4 • 5 shimmer + 2 matte – this is the wow factor row that has stunning cranberries, plums, and a pop of olive green!

 This palette retailed for $28 + I used JH’s coupon code to received 10% off. The shipping and handling was a little steep, but it came from Cali so it’s understandable! Overall, I have been absolutely obsessed with this palette and I’m extremely satisfied. Thank you Jaclyn Hill and Morphe Brushes for creating an amazing palette at a phenomenal price! All of the shades are buttery and highly pigmented, and I will be able to create an endless amount of looks!

Did you purchase the JHF palette, if so what are your thoughts? What are your must-have holy grail eyeshadow palettes? Please share below because palettes are my obsession!

Follow me on Instagram: IAMBEAUTYBEEXO 

XOXO, Bee

Fun Spring Nails • Jamberry

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Im just a plant mom, so I think today will be pretty relaxing! 😉

Today’s post is about nails, which is something that I never do myself. We all love a good manicure, but it can really get pricey if you’re getting them often! I used to get just a standard manicure, but then when shellac was introduced I decided to go that route, because it has great lasting power. Shellac typically lasts 2 weeks and at my nail salon, depending on what you get, costs $30 + tax and tip. That can seriously add up! 

My friend contacted me about a new nail phenomenon that is taking over called Jamberry! I never heard of it before and was pretty intrigued to see what the hype has been about so she sent me some samples to try out! 

 
PS – I found it very awkward photographing my own hand. Anyway, here is the finished product of my Jamberry nails that I did. I only did my two pinkies to add a pop to my spring mani. The application was difficult at first, because I had no idea what to expect. I found a YouTube video on how to apply and followed those steps. 

Application Process:

1. Measure your nail and cut the nail strip so that it covers the length of your nail and a little extra.

2. Heat up the cut strip with a hairdryer so it gets flexible.

3. Apply the strip to your clean dry nail and make sure not to leave any air bubbles and press firmly.

4. Once you have the strip applied, simply file the end of the nail off in downward strokes and TADA! 

 
I am in love with the finished product! Here’s a close up of my jamicure – I never paint my nails so I that step was kind of harder than applying my second Jamberry nail lol. I used OPI nail polish in the shade Hopelessly In Love on all of my other fingers. These nails last two weeks or longer, just as long as shellac and they are much cheaper too. A lot of people actually apply them to all of their nails, it really is up to you.They’re waterproof, so showering, bathing, swimming, etc will all be okay! 

If you’d like to check out all of the designs available, there are hundreds – or do a custom design, feel free to go online or you can contact msawyer83 on Instagram for more information.

  
Have you ever tried Jamberry before, if so, what are your thoughts? What are your favorite nail polishes + colors for spring? 

Follow me on Instagram: IAMBEAUTYBEEXO 

XOXO, Bee