Anastasia Brow Wiz: Worth the Hype?

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If you follow the beauty social media world, by now I’m sure you've heard all the hype about Anastasia Beverly Hills' Brow Wiz! It’s been on my list of makeup products to try for quite a while now but I didn’t decide to take the plunge until Ulta knocked down its price tag during its 21 Days of Beauty sale. I’ve been using it for a couple of months now so I thought I’d share my experience with you all 😃  

Product & Packaging: Brow Wiz is a pencil format brow product with a thin twist-up pencil on one end and a brow brush on the other. At first I actually wasn’t too impressed with the product but the more I used it the more I fell in love with it! I found myself reaching for it again and again over any of my other brow products - which is always a good sign! 

I love the design of the product because I’m always searching for my brushes and when the brush is right on the other end of the pencil, it saves me tons of time! Plus, the tip of the pencil is a lot thinner than most of the other brow pencils I use, which means you can get a much thinner, more natural, and “hair-like” effect. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (top) compared to Elf Cosmetics Brow Pencil (bottom)

Application & Experience: Prior to getting Brow Wiz, I was using one of Elf’s brow pencils and since the formula was much creamier on the Elf brow pencil, I initially found that Brow Wiz did not go on as smoothly as I wanted it to. Over time, however, I’ve realized that although Brow Wiz may not apply as quickly as other bigger, creamier brow pencils, this also means that the application is much more precise and the product stays on your brows much longer!

Cost: I purchased this during Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty sale (a dangerous sale if you’re a makeup addict!) which meant it was half off the original price of $21 - so I only paid $10.50 for it! I think the normal price is definitely a little on the steep side for such a small brow pencil so I don’t know if this is a product I’ll be buying regularly, but whenever it’s on sale, you’ll probably see me snagging a couple :)  

Final Verdict:   

So is it worth the hype? Yes…..but it’s still a little on the expensive side! :( I love pretty much everything about the product, but its price tag is just a little too steep for me. I’ll snag it on those Ulta sale days, but will still be on the hunt for a more affordable brow pencil! Have you tried the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz? Do you know of a good drugstore dupe for it? :P I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Birchbox: June 2017

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It's month 3 back on the Birchbox train and I'm so excited to share with you guys the products I've received this month! I love testing out subscription boxes, both new and old, and love getting to see what products are sent each month! I've been loving Birchbox over the past couple of months but I can't quite figure out if that's because the products I've received are better or if I now have a better appreciation for all things beauty and skincare! Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription ($10/month) that sends full, deluxe, and sample-size beauty, hair, make-up and skincare products! 

amika: Perk Up Dry Shampoo

I’m not a frequent user of dry shampoo since I wash my hair every morning, but it’s always nice to have a small can of dry shampoo for summer lake days or camping trips! I used this dry shampoo before a day of paddle boarding and it left a little bit of white residue initially but ultimately kept my hair from looking greasy all day - so I’m pretty happy with it! My only complaint is that I received a product from amika last month so I'd really like to try some other brands as well :( 

COOLA: Mineral Face SPF 30 Rosilliance in Golden

I enjoyed trying this product out but it just isn’t something I would use on a regular basis. It’s described as a BB cream/sunscreen hybrid that also offers sheer coverage. When I applied this to my face, it didn’t look like there was any coverage at all 😔 At least it offers some SPF? 

Balance Me: Instant Lift Primer

I love the feel of how this primer applies to the skin - it feels much more like a serum rather than a primer. To be honest, however, I couldn’t really tell if the primer did much for actually smoothing out pores or helping the staying power of my make-up. This is a product I was happy to try but probably not something I’d go out and buy for myself.

The Beauty Crop: Blush Duo in Papaya Don’t Preach

I wasn’t too sure about this blush duo at first but I’ve grown to love it the more I’ve used it! It’s a powder and cream blush duo - but the powder blush is so shimmery/bronzey that I’ve been using it more as a highlight. The cream blush is SUPER pigmented so be prepared to blend it out but I love that due to its strong pigmentation, the blush still shows through after I’ve dusted setting powder over the top! 

Benefit Cosmetics: Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer

I was so, so excited to receive this concealer because I’ve heard lots of good things about Benefit’s new airbrush concealer. For me, however, it did not live up to the hype. According to its description, it offers sheer to medium coverage the doesn’t crease, cake or crack - but those were the exact things I experienced when I tried to blend it into my skin! To be fair, I’ve been experiencing some especially dry skin on certain areas of my face but most of my other concealers have still looked fine blended on top of it. This concealer did not blend easily, didn’t offer a ton of coverage and looked a little too cake-y. I still think I’ll get some good use out of it for lightening up my dark circles, but for any other spots on my face, this is a no go.

Overall, I’m pretty happy with this month’s Birchbox! Although I didn’t love every specific item in this box, all of the products sent to me were things that I would use in my regular routine and I love getting the opportunity to try new brands of products that I already use in my everyday life! What did you think of your June Birchbox? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

PopSugar Must Have: June 2017

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The PopSugar Must Have box is a monthly subscription ($40/month or less if you make a 3, 6, or year long commitment)  that sends subscribers full-size versions of the season's must-have beauty, fashion, and home products. I’ve subscribed to a lot of boxes in my time and the PopSugar Must Have box is my all-time favorite by a mile! If you’re looking for a box that gives you a ton of value and awesome products, this is the box for you! Oh and this month's featured furry friend? My current foster kitten, Lace! ❤️

Billabong: Aloha Forever Trucker Hat - Retail $17.95

According to the description card, this product is embracing the “trucker hat trend” and I have to admit, this just isn’t a trend I’m going to be embracing anytime soon! Simply as a matter of personal preference, this item was a flop for me. 

Captain Blankenship: Mermaid Sea Salt Hair Spray - Retail $24

Subscription boxes seem to really love sea salt spray! This spray contains aloe vera and sea kelp extract and smells a lot better than the sea salt sprays than I’ve received in some other boxes (looking at you FabFitFun). So far, I’ve enjoyed using this spray to add some texture and hold on the days that I decide to curl my hair. Plus, it comes in a beautiful glass bottle that makes using the product a little more glamorous 😃 

NCLA: Cuticle Oil - Retail $18

This product is actually called “mermaid tears” but that actually confused me at the beginning as it’s meant to be cuticle oil! Although I haven’t noticed any huge changes in my nails, this is still a really nice product to have to incorporate in my at-home manicures - my nails probably need it! 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Retail $26

I am always a fan of receiving books in subscription boxes! I love owning books but can never really justify purchasing them since I live near a fantastic library system! This book is described as “full of intrigue, emotional twists, and Hollywood glamour” - I can’t wait! So far, I’ve enjoyed all of the books I’ve received through PopSugar so I’m excited to dig into this one!

Aloha Collection: Mid-size Ocean Coco Palms Pouch - Retail $36

The is a splash proof zip pouch that’s made for beach trips in the summer. Although I’m not really a fan of the print on the pouch, I definitely think it will come in handy for the pool or the beach or for holding all of my liquid products when I travel. It also makes a great cat bed :) Lace approves!

Meri Meri: Blue and White Party Straws - Retail $5.95

These festive little party straws are so cute! Although I probably won’t be throwing any cute summer parties anytime soon, I love the festive feel they bring to any everyday drink 😃 

Belgian Boys: Mini Cookie Stash - Retail $0.99

This is the second time I’ve received a cookie product from Belgian Boys in my PopSugar box and I have to say - I am not a fan! As fun as it is to receive cookies in a subscription box, both times, I’ve felt that the cookies were way too sweet, almost sickly sweet. This one’s a flop for me.

Starbucks Frappuccino - Retail $2.19

This little frappuccino was the bonus item for this month and although it’s not a product that’s new to me, I was happy to receive it! I am a coffee addict through and through and these little frappuccinos can be found shoved into my bag on those particularly rough days where I need an extra shot of coffee and sugar 😛 

This month was just a meh box for me. For some odd reason, I always seem to have a love hate relationship with most summer themed boxes. They usually seem to center around hanging around pools and throwing parties whereas the winter boxes are all about cozy homeware items. I guess my introverted homebody tendencies are showing 😛 What did you think of your June PopSugar Must Have box? Leave me a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts!