The Budget Beauty Blog

Ulta is one of my favorite stores on the planet because they have just about anything you're looking for when it comes to beauty, whether it's drugstore, high-end or everything in-between! So when I was putting together this list of my favorite beat-the-heat beauty products, I thought of Ulta right away because they carry every single one of these products...in one place!

So without further ado, here are some of my favorite products for maintaining a melt-proof look this summer...

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade ($18)- This creamy pomade is waterproof and sticks to your hair and skin for brows that stay put all day!
Becca Beach Tint ($25)- This blendable stain works for both lips and cheeks, making it a total timesaver, plus it stays put for hours! I also love the fruity watermelon scent.
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush ($28)- This powder blush stays put all day and the Amazonian Clay formula absorbs oil, so it's perfect for those humid days!
Coola Matte Makeup Setting Spray ($36)- This weightless, no touch/no rub spray sets makeup with a matte finish and protects your skin with SPF 30. It's also 70%+ certified organic.
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Waterproof Concealer- $23- This concealer hides everything with it's full coverage, oil free formula and it comes in an easy to use stick that's perfect when you're on the go, or for touch ups. Plus, it's waterproof so it lasts all day.
Ulta RainCoat Waterproof Mascara Topcoat ($10)- I don't know about you, but even supposedly smudge-proof mascaras still run under my eyes when it's hot outside. This topcoat dries fast and makes your mascara stay on your lashes until you take it off!
Living Proof No Frizz Humidity Shield ($22) - This weightless spray leaves no buildup on your hair and you can use it anytime throughout the day on dry hair to prevent and also correct the first signs of frizz. There goes my excuse to wear a ponytail all summer!

What are your favorite melt-proof makeup items? I'd love to hear about them!

Kiko Essential Bronzer from the Modern Tribes Collection ($27, On Sale $12.90) is hands down one of the most beautiful bronzers I've ever seen with it's wooden packaging and marbled powder. A Kiko store just opened near me and I was so excited to finally purchase some of their products after seeing raves on YouTube and Instagram...but then I hesitated to review them because they had no online store in the US and only a few retail stores on the East Coast. I felt bad posting a review of a product that not everyone would have access to, but that's all changed thanks to the fact that Kiko has just opened up their US web store! Plus, for a limited time, a lot of site is on sale, including this bronzer so it's a great time to grab it if you want one. So let's take a look!

Kiko Modern Tribes Essential Bronzer Review & Swatches

Kiko Milano Modern Tribes Essential Bronzer in Warm Melange

This bronzer comes in two shades, Warm Melange, which is the lightest of the two and Sienna Melange which is darker. Since I have light skin, I chose Warm Melange...it has swirls of creamy off-white powder mixed with a lighter brown to create a really pretty marbled effect.

These are baked bronzers that are made in Italy so they have very creamy, soft and pigmented texture. They're also infused with a vanilla scent that's absolutely heavenly! A sales girl at my local Kiko store told me it was a marshmallow scent and when I got home, I thought it smelled a bit like my Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette. Then I looked on the website and it says it's actually vanilla...to me it doesn't smell like straight up vanilla but maybe vanilla and chocolate mixed together. Whatever the scent, it's delicious!

Kiko Modern Tribes Essential Bronzer Review

Kiko Modern Tribes Essential Bronzer in Warm Melange

The packaging is unlike anything I've owned before...this bronzer comes in a fairly large wooden box. It's definitely not travel friendly, but it looks great on your sink, makeup table or vanity! The lid comes all the way off, so it's not hinged- instead, it attaches to the bottom part using magnets. There is a large mirror inside the lid and the bronzer itself is huge, so you can easily use it for both face and body. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a brush so you'll need to use your own. They do sell a Modern Tribes brush separately (Reg. $23, Now $10.90) and it's really beautiful as well!

Kiko Milano Modern Tribes Essential Bronzer in Warm Melange

The shade Warm Melange is the perfect color for lighter skin tones. It's not too dark or too orange, and it doesn't have shimmer or glitter in it. But it's also not matte...it does have a bit of glow, almost like a subtle pearl effect but it doesn't translate into making you look shimmery, even outside. I think it just helps to keep it from looking flat. I've seen people on YouTube have compare this to the Hourglass Ambient bronzers, but I haven't tried those so I can't really compare them.

Kiko Modern Tribes Essential Bronzer in Warm Melange

This swatch is a really heavy one but I wanted to make sure it would show up. To give you an idea of the pigmentation, I swirled my finger around in the powder 2-3 times and this is how it came out!

Kiko Modern Tribes Essential Bronzer Swatches

Kiko Modern Tribes Essential Bronzer Warm Melange Swatch

Here, I dusted it along my arm so you can see the effect once it's blended with a brush. It's very subtle but the color is buildable if you're looking for a bit more. I noticed that it totally cancels the redness in my skin and even the blue veins near the top of the photo...it just evens everything out. You can also see in the after photo how it has a glowy finish but it's not shimmery (and these photos were taken outside).

Overall, the Kiko Milano Modern Tribes Essential Bronzer is a total win in my book...it has a beautifully soft texture that blends easily, a nice glowy effect on the skin, and of course, that packaging! To check it out along with the entire Modern Tribes collection, please visit Kiko Cosmetics.

The Foreo Issa Electric Toothbrush ($199 at Foreo.com) is unlike anything I've ever seen and is really unique. This is my first toothbrush review, but I would say it definitely qualifies as a beauty product since a beautiful smile is an important part of your overall look right? I've used electric toothbrushes in the past, but I have to be careful about which ones I choose because I have sensitive gums and ones that spin too fast or have rough bristles can make my gums inflamed and irritated.

So when I was eligible to try this out for free with my iFabbo membership, I jumped at the chance. I loved the Foreo Luna facial cleansing device so I was excited to try another Foreo product. Let's take a look!

The Foreo Issa is different from regular electric toothbrushes in so many ways:

It has a silicone brush head that only needs to be replaced once a year, and it also doesn't harbor bacteria like regular brushes do. The silicone brush is also much more gentle on your tooth enamel and sort of rubs your teeth clean rather than scratching them.

It also lasts up to 365 uses on one charge, which is 6 months if you're brushing twice a day.

It has 8 speeds so you can decide which one is most comfortable for you. It also gives your gums a great massage and doesn't irritate even my sensitive gums!

The Issa comes in four colors: Mint (which I'm reviewing here), Lavender, Cobalt Blue, and Cool Black. I'm so happy they sent me the mint because robin's egg blue is just about my favorite color on earth and this looks beautiful on my sink.

It's super easy to use...there's a power button near the bottom of the handle and it has + and - buttons on either side that you can press to increase or decrease the speed of the pulses. The instructions say to divide your mouth into quadrants...top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right. Every 30 seconds, the brush vibrates to let you know it's time to move on to another quadrant for a total of 2 minutes. I love that feature because even though dentists recommend brushing for a full 2 minutes, I never really timed it before. This does all the work for you!

The brush head is on the larger side, but I don't mind that because it covers more surface area. Unlike electric toothbrushes that rotate, this doesn't do the scrubbing for you. It vibrates so you still have to use it like a normal toothbrush using a back and forth motion across the surfaces of your teeth.

The first few times I used the Issa, I was impressed with how soothing and comfortable it was to use. I had no gum irritation and my teeth felt clean. However, after about 3 uses, I noticed that my teeth didn't feel squeaky clean after brushing. They had a slightly fuzzy feeling when I ran my tongue across them like I hadn't brushed earlier that morning. This feeling continued the longer I used it so I started to worry that plaque was building up. This was such a disappointment because I love absolutely everything about this brush!

Overall, I think that the Foreo Issa is a fantastic product as far as the concept, design and how it functions with the exception of the most important part...how it cleans. I think the silicone bristles, while gentle, aren't abrasive enough to scrub sticky plaque from your teeth. I admittedly eat sweets pretty much daily (I know...it's bad) so I think I need something a little stronger to scrub away the sugary stuff.

But if you don't have issues with plaque or don't eat a lot of foods that cause buildup, the Issa may be a great option for you. It's portable, hygienic and gentle on your gums!

You can read more about the Issa and purchase it at Foreo.com or at Sephora.com.

**Disclosure- The product featured in this review was provided to me by iFabbo in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not paid to write this review.**

There's a new brand called Bairly Sheer that's now exclusively at Ulta and it's a range of spray-on, airbrush products that are at a great price point of $12.99 each. It's not just foundations either...they have a spray on blush, body blemish cover, pearl radiance for the body, plus a makeup sealant and a foundation primer. Let's take a look...

I've included a short 30-second video on each product that shows how to use it (you can watch it right in this post, it won't take you off my blog).

Bairly Sheer Spray-On Foundation ($12.99) is a buildable, blendable light-to-medium formula with creamy minerals that minimize imperfections, lines and texture without drying out the skin. It claims to last 18 hours too!

Here's a how-to video from the brand:

Bairly Sheer Spray-On Blush ($12.99)- A spray-on blush is something totally new to me, especially since in the how-to video, it shows the model spraying it directly on her cheeks. I assumed you would have to spray it on a sponge or into your hand first...interesting. It comes in three shades and is a water-based formula ideal for sensitive skin. Bairly Sheer Spray-On Body Blemish Cover-Up ($12.99)- This comes in 10 shades and is lightweight and buildable. It claims to be sweat and water proof and cover hyperpigmentation, tattoos, bruises, varicose veins and more. Bairly Sheer Spray-On Mist Body Shimmer ($12.99)- This shimmer comes in 4 shadesand claims to leave a subtle, natural glow to the skin. I wonder how shimmery it is...if it's more of a natural glow like they say, I'd be interested in this one...otherwise not so much. Bairly Sheer Spray-On Waterproof Makeup Sealant ($12.99)- This makeup sealing spray is supposed to keep makeup in place for 18-24 hours and makes it sweat-proof, water-proof, and tear-proof. Bairly Sheer Spray-On Primer ($12.99)- This primer hydrates to prevent dryness and soften fine lines and texture for a smooth, flawless canvas. The water-based spray contains olive and Vitamin E extracts for an antioxidant boost.
What do you guys think? Do these interest you and if so, which ones? I kind of want to try them all!

Solutions 24 Clinical Corrector Sticks ($11.23-$12.48 at Walmart) are a new and totally different way to treat your skin with clinically proven anti-aging formulas. Instead of pumping a runny serum into your hands and applying it all over your face, you just swipe these on your area of concern and go! Right now, they're exclusively available at Walmart, but will be coming to Ulta and other drugstores later this year.

Today, I wanted to do a first impression post and then revisit them in a few weeks with a full review to see what my results are after I've been using them twice a day. Let's take a look!

Solutions 24 Clinical Corrector Sticks review

The Solutions 24 Clinical Sticks come in three different types based on your skin concerns. There's one that reduces puffiness plus lifts and firms the eye area, there's one that lightens dark circles and brightens the eye area, and then the third one corrects dark spots.

I've been using skincare for about 15 years now and tried just about everything under the sun during my 4 years working at Sephora and I can say with certainty, I've never used a skincare product in a stick form before (except for sunscreen). After trying these, I started to wonder why no one had ever invented them before? They're so super easy to use! The sticks are twist up and they feel solid at first, like a lip balm. They're meant to be used after cleansing but before your moisturizer as a treatment.

I like to use each one just in the area where I need it, not all over my face which is definitely a timesaver, plus you don't waste product by pumping out more than you need. I use the Dark Circles and Puffy Eyes formulas underneath my eye area and the Dark Spot Corrector on my cheeks where I have sun damage and brown spots. I just glide the stick across the area of concern, then I go back over the area with my fingers quickly and just pat the product into my skin. They take a minute or so to sink in and dry, so at first I found them to feel a little bit sticky. Once dry, I apply my moisturizer on top and that's it!

The Dark Circles Corrector Stick ($11.23) works by using a type of yeast (Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract) which strengthens the weak blood vessels just underneath the surface of the skin, which is the main cause of dark circles.

Solutions 24 Clinical Corrector Stick dark circles

The Puffy Eyes Corrector Stick ($12.48) helps to correct signs of aging and puffiness around the eyes by improving fluid drainage and stimulating collagen production. Alfalfa Extract combined with Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein (an amino acid) has been shown to increase fluid drainage and Alfalfa has also been shown to be a milder, non-irritating alternative to retinol.

Solutions 24 Clinical Corrector Stick puffy eyes

Solutions 24 Clinical Corrector Stick puffy eyes treatment

The Dark Spots Corrector Stick ($11.23) has been shown to significantly lighten skin pigmentation by reducing melanin production in the skin, using a red algae called Palmaria Palmata. This will cause existing dark spots to fade and the skin to have a more even tone.

Solutions 24 Clinical Corrector Stick dark spots hyperpigmentation

Solutions 24 Clinical Corrector Stick dark spot lightener

Overall, I'm really excited to start using these and share my results with you. I'll be taking before and after photos to show the changes they've made to my skin. I think I'm most excited about the Dark Spots corrector because I have a lot of sun damage on my face and need pretty full-coverage foundation to cover it. I don't really suffer from dark circles but my under eye area could definitely be a little brighter. I also don't have chronically puffy eyes (unless I haven't slept) but I do have some fine lines that I'd love to see reduced.

Stay tuned for my full review in a few weeks! To purchase, please visit Walmart.

This post is a little different from what I normally do, but I wanted to share this product with you guys because it's just amazing! Last weekend, I was at my cousin's bridal shower in the Hamptons and I got to chatting with my cousin's friend Corinne. We have kids the same age and traded stories most of the party. She also mentioned to me that she's a skincare consultant for Rodan and Fields (the doctor's who created Proactiv) and before we left, she gave me a small organza bag containing a "mini facial", which I thought was really nice. After I got home, I looked in the bag and there was a packet of their Micro-Dermabrasion Paste, a capsule of their Redefine Night Renewing Serum, and a capsule of their Lip Renewing Serum.

I currently use Dr. Brandt's Microdermabrasion and have used it for many years, ever since working at Sephora (and I left there in 2007). Until now, I just never found anything I liked better for getting my skin baby smooth. Up front, I will say that the Rodan and Fields Micro-dermabrasion paste is expensive at $78 for a 4.2 oz. jar... BUT it costs quite a bit less than Dr. Brandt's version which is $78 for less than half the product (2 oz.) and a 3.5 oz. tube of Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion will run you $99! So the R&F version is way more cost-effective.

Also, at the end of this post, I'll let you know how to get 10% off and free shipping which brings the cost down to $70.

Mini Mini Facial Samples

The Rodan and Fields Micro-dermabrasion paste contains sugar and salt crystals to polish the skin and unlike some scrubs that contain oils, this has a silicone base which helps the paste glide across your skin without leaving an oily residue.
It smells kind of medicinal but it wasn't offensive or strong in any way, and as I was massaging it into my face, the smell sort of faded and I didn't notice it anymore.
One of the nice things about this scrub is that you can customize it to your skin type. If you're not too sensitive and you're in need of a deep-down clean or have stubborn dry patches (or even areas of the body that have more stubborn dry skin like elbows, knees and feet) you can use this scrub on dry skin for maximum grit. If you want a gentler exfoliation or have slightly more sensitive skin, you can apply it to a damp face and add more water to lessen the intensity.

Rodan and Fields Micro-dermabrasion Paste

I started out using it on a dry face and it was pretty intense...in a good way! It starts out thick like a paste but as you start to massage it in, it takes on a melty texture that spreads easily. I massaged it in for about 30 seconds and then rinsed, and let me just tell you...my face was super smooth and velvety, like a baby's! Normally, my face has different textures in different areas...my cheeks sometimes get little tiny bumps and dry patches and my chin has a somewhat orange-peel texture that's really annoying when trying to get a smooth, flawless look with foundation. After using this scrub, my entire face felt the same texture-wise...it was just smooth all over and had an amazing glow.

I still had some more of the paste in the sample packet, so a few days later, I used it again, this time on a damp face since I didn't think I needed the full intensity of the paste so soon after my first experience. This time, it felt very gentle and left my skin glowing and bright. So no matter how your skin is feeling, you can customize the intensity. However, Rodan and Fields do not recommend this for very sensitive skin types, so if you don't normally react well with scrubs, this probably isn't for you.

Even though this review is of the Micro-dermabrasion Paste, I also wanted to mention those two little capsules that were included with my mini facial. The blue one is from R&F's anti-aging Redefine line and it's called Night Renewing Serum.

It's a fragrance-free serum that contains both retinol and peptides so it's pretty much an anti-wrinkle powerhouse. It has a silicone base so it feels really nice, almost like a primer going on and seemed to instantly fill in fine lines as it works to treat them.

The little gray capsule is the Lip Renewing Serum which is a hydrating treatment that feels like a glossy balm. It contains antioxidants and peptides to smooth your lips texture and decrease wrinkles. This felt so luxurious on my lips and left a beautiful glossy sheen.

Overall, I'm really impressed with the Rodan and Fields products in my mini facial kit and I couldn't wait to share them with you. In fact, I contacted Corinne and told her that I was a beauty blogger (she had no idea before) and that I wanted to write about the products she shared with me. She was thrilled and said that she would give my readers 10% off and free shipping (to take advantage of this, contact her directly at coriliscio22@gmail.com).

To check out all of the products Rodan and Fields have to offer, please visit their website...in addition to anti-aging products, they also have an anti-acne line for adults called Unblemish, as well as a line for sensitive skin called Soothe and a line to combat brown spots called Reverse.

I wanted to share a cool new app with you guys called StarShop! It was created by Shark Tank judge Kevin Harrington, and it's a collection of celebrity-curated products. Celebs like Beyonce, Katy Perry, Eli Manning and Justin Bieber have already teamed up with the site to offer products that they themselves have created or products that they represent.

First up though, is a line of customizable hair products called Profile Pro and they've partnered with Paula Abdul to bring customers totally customizable hair products. For a limited time, following the launch of the site, StarShop is offering a free travel sized shampoo and conditioner to the first 50,000 people who visit, worth $15. Keep reading to find out how!

Here's how it works:

Download the StarShop app, or visit Starshop.com.
Click on the Profile Pro Link on the homepage of the website- here's what it looks like:

Add it to your cart and checkout...you don't have to add any credit card information.
Check your email and you'll find a link to go to the Profile Pro site to customize your products!

From there, you fill out a questionnaire that asks you about your hair type, your routine and the issues you'd like to solve. They even let you put your name on the label, which is a cute touch! You can choose from five different scents...Jasmine, Citrus, Coconut (yesss!), Lavender, and Vanilla.

That's it! You don't have to enter any credit card info...just an email and mailing address. This offer will expire as soon as they reach 50,000 sign-ups, so hurry over to Starshop.com to take advantage of it now. :)

My shower routine is ever-changing....as new and exciting products come out, I'm always swapping out one thing for another- a new body wash here, a lotion there. I tend to focus a lot of my reviews on makeup so a lot of my skincare products never get a review before I'm on to the next thing, and every day, I'm using these products and saying, "man, I still haven't reviewed this yet!"

Unfortunately, there's just not enough time in the day.

So...I decided to create one post to talk about some of my favorites rather than try to review each product individually. Some of the products I'll talk about today have been shower staples of mine for quite a while now while others are new. But I figure I can do a post like this every once in a while as new products come in and old ones go to their final resting place under my bathroom vanity. I decided not to include hair products or this would get way too long, so I'll do a separate post about that. Let's take a look!

The Julep Rethink Your Shower Hydrating Cleansing Oil ($38) and the It's Fun To Exfoliate Konjac Body Sponge ($16) came in one of my Julep Maven boxes (which are only $19.99 so it was a great value) at the beginning of the summer and I've been hooked ever since!
Rethink Your Shower contains Grapeseed, Coconut and Kukui Oils to soothe and hydrate the skin, Grapefruit Peel to cleanse and start the exfoliation process, and glycerin and urea to keep your skin retain moisture. It smells lovely with a subtle citrusy grapefruit scent. This oil actually foams up nicely on it's own but when you add it to the It's Fun To Exfoliate Konjac sponge, it's a whole new experience! It creates a creamy frothy lather that's actually hydrating rather than stripping, while the sponge, which contains charcoal to clear impurities from the skin and cleanse pores, exfoliates gently. Popular in Japan and Korea, these sponges are made with Konjac Root, a natural fiber that's much softer than a loofah yet it still gets the job done. To me, it felt so soft and squishy I was like, "no way this is going to exfoliate me" and yet by the end of that first shower, my skin was glowing and smooth. It's like magic!

It looks rough, but it's super soft and squishy!
It's Fun to Exfoliate Konjac Sponge and Rethink Your Shower Cleansing Oil at Julep.com

On days when I'm in need of more exfoliation, especially in the winter (or when I get those little bumps on my legs) I turn to my Clarisonic Smart Profile ($269). I picked this up on QVC several months ago and did the 5 monthly payments to my Amex because this thing isn't cheap (I love that they offer that option)! But it was well worth the cost because it comes with a face brush and a larger body brush (and a foot smoothing disc that isn't worth mentioning because it doesn't hold a candle to my Amope Pedi Perfect or Emjoi devices). The body brush has made such a difference in my skin! I used to have Keratosis Pilaris (those little bumps) on my thighs and backs of my arms and using this in combination with an AHA body lotion has made them completely disappear! It also gets rid of rough patches on my knees, elbows, and tops of my feet. So even though I love the face brush, for me, the body brush has made it worth upgrading from the Mia to the Smart Profile!

Clarisonic Smart Profile

For my face, there's one product that's been a shower staple for many years and that's Philosophy's Purity Made Simple cleanser. It's the best makeup removing cleanser I've found and it leaves my skin deep down clean without drying it out, which is a rare thing!

I recently got the Foreo Luna in June and I've been using it more often than my Clarisonic because it's gentler yet still gets the job done. I still break out my Clarisonic when I want a bit more exfoliation but for the most part, the Foreo is my go-to these days. (see my full review here).

Foreo Luna and Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser

I found the new Palmer's Cocoa Butter Clinical Intensive Relief Cream Oil at Bed, Bath and Beyond a few weeks ago. This is an AHA formula that gently exfoliates the skin. I was using the Gold Bond Rough and Bumpy Skin Cream (see my review here) and I love it, but I finished up my tub of that and thought I'd give this a try instead. This pumps out like a runny lotion but melts into a light oil in contact with the skin. Oddly, it doesn't leave an oily residue at all...in sinks in very fast like a lotion would. I actually prefer this over the Gold Bond in the summer because that one is very thick, almost like a body butter, so I think I'll go back to that in the Winter. Both products do a great job of keeping Keratosis Pilaris bumps away. Also, this Palmers version is unscented (no chocolate smell here!).

Palmers Clinical Intensive Relief Hypoallergenic Cream Oil

Finally, there are some days when I don't want to mess with all of these problem solving products and I just want to relax and use something that smells amazing and makes my skin feel soft and pampered. I recently posted about the new Victoria's Secret Body Care line that just launched so I went to my local store to check it out (along with my monthly coupon for a free pair of underwear...love those!). I was pretty sure I was going to buy the Coconut Milk scent, but sadly it didn't really smell like coconut to me....pineapples maybe? I don't know, but I fell in love with the warm, comforting shea butter scent so I purchased the Smoothing Scrub Wash and the Hydrating Body Lotion. The scrub is very gentle so I wouldn't expect much exfoliation from it...it's more body wash than scrub, with a few microbeads thrown in. Still, it has a rich creamy lather and smells sooo good! The Body Lotion could be my favorite body lotion ever...I can't even describe how soft this makes my skin! It has what VS calls a "cotton moisture complex" and I have no idea what that is, but I was hooked the minute I tried the tester in the store. I couldn't stop touching the arm where I put it. It sinks in really fast with no residue and leaves your skin feeling like velvet...it's amazing.

So that's what I'm using in the shower...well, except for hair products of course. I'll definitely have to do another post on that very soon.

What are your favorite shower products? I'd love to hear about them! :)

One of my awesome readers Jessica just spotted the new Simple Micellar Cleansing Wipes ($5.97) at her local Walmart and she shared pictures with me, so I wanted to pass the info on to you guys!

I'm a huge fan of Simple's Cleansing wipes because they're non-irritating and actually leave my skin feeling clean and fresh instead of sticky with residue. So I'm really excited to get my hands on the new Micellar wipes because they have the makeup-removing power of Micellar water in them!

I actually use wipes often to remove makeup but they usually can't get all of the stubborn long-wearing eye makeup I wear so I end up having to use an eye makeup remover in addition to a wipe to make sure I get everything off. So the idea of being able to use a wipe to remove everything is really exciting and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that these will be that holy grail wipe I've been looking for!

Photo courtesy of reader Jessica

These cost a little more than Simple's other wipes and Jessica shared Walmart's pricing with me below:

$3.49(Cleansing)
$3.59(Exfoliating)
$4.49(Radiance)
$4.96(Oil balancing)
$5.97(Micellar)

She said it's the same price as Simple's bottled Micellar water, but with these you're not paying for a cotton round as well (or dealing with the hassle).

What do you think? Are you excited about these new Simple Micellar wipes?

You can find them at Walmart stores or at Walmart.com

The Fall 2015 makeup collections have been hitting the stores the past several weeks and there are some exciting new lip products that have just been released from Bite Beauty, Urban Decay, Pur Minerals and Buxom. Let's take a look...

Bite Beauty Opal Creme Lip Gloss ($22)adds a pearlescent ultraviolet cast to bare lips or any lip color. I just picked this up the other day and I'm already obsessed with the color. It adds a perfect glow with a touch of violet, pink or blue depending on the angle. I've been wearing it by itself but I want to test it over other lip products to see how it enhances/changes them before I post a full review. Also, I want to mention that there's an Opal lipstick as well if you prefer that formula to a gloss.

Buxom Big & Sexy Bold Gel Lipstick ($22)has a lightweight gel formula that delivers high-pigment, one stroke color. It also comes in an unbelieveable 30 shades! They also come in both satin and matte finishes. I really like all of the Buxom products I've tried so far, so I'm looking forward to these. Also, the packaging looks very Kat Von D, doesn't it?? Right now, they're only available at Sephora if you're a VIB or VIB Rouge, but give it a little while and I'm sure they'll be available in stores shortly.

Urban Decay Matte Revolution ($22)is a matte lipstick that (finally) doesn't dry out your lips! Urban Decay claims that it feels as rich and buttery as the original Revolution formula and it comes in never-before-seen shades. I haven't been on board with the matte lipstick trend so far because I have perpetually dry lips, but I'm really excited to try these in the hopes that it'll be the first one that's truly comfortable to wear!

Pur Minerals Lip Lure ($24)is a rich, saturated lacquer that gives full coverage, high shine color in one swipe. They also have a unique flocked "showerhead" applicator that delivers the perfect amount of color every time.

So there you have it...four new lip products for Fall. Have you tried any of these yet, or are you planning on picking any of these up? I'd love to hear about it!

I was so excited when Colourpop recently launched a line of Sheer Lippie Stix ($5 each). Before they were released, I thought about ordering some of their matte liquid lipsticks but they sold out in a hot minute and then I decided it was probably for the best. I've tried enough matte liquid lipsticks to know that they're not for me. I've always had really dry skin and my lips have quite a few lines in them now that I'm in my mid-thirties so I'm at the point where I try to look for moisturizing lipsticks, balms and glosses. Anything that feels dry or accentuates my lines is just a bad, bad idea, no matter how trendy it is.

So getting back to these...I was so happy to see a sheer, moisturizing formula (they're enriched with coconut oil) that I jumped online and ordered all 8 shades, because, well...they're $5 and they're Colourpop so that's all I needed to know! Let's take a look...

Colourpop Sheer Lippie Stix Review & Swatches

Colourpop Sheer Lippie Stix
Left to Right: Tiger, Peacocky, Whip, BYOB, Juice Bar, Kiddo, Safari, Crunch

These look identical to the original Lippie Stix that come in various finishes but these feel more moisturizing on my lips. While I loved some of the original finishes, the mattes, satins and cremes felt a little bit drying...not terrible but the most comfortable ones for me to wear were the glossy and hyper glossy finishes, for sure.
The Sheer Lippies also have the same yummy vanilla scent!

The thing that really surprised me about these is that even though they're sheer, they're not "sheer". Maybe if you did one quick pass over your lips they'd look sheer but you can't do that with these anyway. The bullet is small so for me (because I have fuller lips) I have to go back and forth a few times to cover the entire surface area. Plus, even though these are moisturizing, they don't glide easily, they still drag a bit during application and end up looking patchy. So I ended up going over my lips a couple of times and I was impressed with how much these can be built up! As you'll see in my photos below, you can get these to completely full coverage in about 2-3 passes!

Here are the swatches on my arm first...this is two swipes each and they lay down some impressive coverage for a sheer lipstick! They also leave your lips with a really pretty shine that's not super glossy. They also stain the lips so these last several hours on me without fading and when they do, they fade evenly without patching or leaving a ring around the outer edge of my lips.

Colourpop Sheer Lippie Stix Swatches

I'm really loving the color range too. In all honestly I didn't expect to love every shade, especially Safari because it looked like a scary orange in the tube. Peacocky and Tiger also scared me because I usually steer clear of dark shades, yet somehow, they all work! Safari isn't nearly as scary once it's on your lips and the sheerer formula makes the darker shades ideal for those who are afraid of red lips like I am...they're much more wearable than you'd think.

Crunch- Peachy Coral
One of my favorites! This looked totally different on my lips...it looks very light peach in the tube, but more coral-pink on.

Safari- Bright true orange
Definitely orange in the tube but I guess because it's sheer the pink from my lips shows through and tones it down a bit.

Kiddo- Warm taupe pink
One of my favorite shades...it's the perfect pinky brown/MLBB!

Juice Bar- Cool toned berry pink
Another one of my favorites! I love cool-toned lip shades and this one gives a pop of color without being too bright.

BYOB- Cool-toned neon Barbie pink
I'm not sure I'd wear this one out of the house...I love the color but I have no idea where I would wear this, haha!

Whip- Vivid blue-violet
This looked straight-up purple in the tube, but kind of like Safari, I think my lips add an element of pink to it that keeps it from looking too severe.

Peacocky- Blue red
I usually don't like red lipsticks but this cool-toned one is really pretty!

Tiger- Rich plum wine
Another darker shade that I wouldn't normally wear but in a sheerer formula it seems more wearable!

Overall, I definitely recommend these to anyone! If you have dry lips like me, you'll love the moisturizing formula and forgiving finish and if not, you'll still love them! They go from sheer to full coverage easily so you can really play around with these and get the look you want. They do drag a bit going on but I don't mind because if they were too slick they wouldn't have the staying power.

Have you tried the Colourpop Sheer Lippie Stix yet? What are your favorite shades?

I just saw a teaser on Benefit's Instagram page of a brand new eyelid primer they're releasing on Sept. 1 called Air Patrol. Since I'm a huge Bene-babe, I hauled over to their blog to see what it's all about! Turns out, it's not just to keep your eyeshadow from creasing...let's take a look!

Photo Courtesy of @benefitcosmetics on Instagram

In addition to preventing eye shadow creaseage, Air Patrol protects the delicate eyelid skin we normally neglect with SPF 20 and EnviroDefend Complex which combines Shea Extract, Silktree extract and Licorice Root to protect, defend, and soothe. It also has a "cushion calm tip" inspired by gel foam mattresses and pillows for "stress free, pressure free application that's softer than your pinkie!"
Not to mention I love the retro aviation-inspired packaging...it's too cute!

Photo courtesy of the Benefit Blog

Benefit Air Patrol is landing in stores on September 1st!

The Balm's Mary-Lou Manizer ($24 at Kohls) is my favorite powder highlighter...the color is so on-point, the shimmer is very fine with no chunks of glitter, and the soft buttery texture makes it really easy to blend. I think a lot of you feel the same way about it because over the years, finding a Mary-Lou Manizer dupe is something I've gotten many requests for. Whenever I review a new highlighter, I pull out Mary-Lou and see if it's a dupe, but so far I haven't found anything that comes close to the color...until now!

It came from the most unlikely place too...a bronzer. Hard Candy's So Baked bronzer ($10 at Walmart) comes in four shades and the lightest one, Tiki is more golden than bronze. I assume it's meant to be a bronzer for fair skin tones but it's way too shimmery for all over bronzer use. That got me thinking about using it as a highlighter and when I compared it to Mary-Lou, well...see for yourself!

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer ($24) vs. Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in Tiki ($10)

As far as the packaging goes, I think The Balm has Hard Candy beat. Mary-Lou comes with a mirror and it's in a slim metal compact that feels really solid. Tiki is in a cheaper-feeling plastic case with no mirror, but as I've said in the past...packaging isn't everything!

Left: Mary-Lou Manizer
Right: So Baked in Tiki

Hard Candy's version is baked while The Balm's is a pressed powder, so I expected them to feel very different. However, Tiki feels just as soft and is just as pigmented as Mary-Lou Manizer! They both lay down a lot of color in one swipe of my finger as you'll see in the swatches below.
Looking at them together in the pans, the shades look pretty similar but Tiki is a little bit of a deeper gold. It's hard to tell from looking at the pans because the Hard Candy one is also domed while The Balm's is flat so the light hits them a little differently.

Left: Mary Lou-Manizer
Right: So Baked in Tiki

The true test is in the swatches! As you can see, these swatch very, very close! Mary Lou is a little lighter while Tiki has slightly more gold (as we saw above). But I think there's less difference between them once they're swatched than looking at them in the pans.

Overall, if you're looking for a Mary-Lou Manizer dupe, this is the closest one I've seen so far, plus, there's a $14 price difference! I'm not sure what Hard Candy was thinking when they decided to call Tiki a bronzer, because it's too light even for my fair skin to use as a bronzer, not to mention way too shimmery. But as a highlighter, it's gorgeous, so I would definitely recommend heading to Walmart and picking one up!

What's your favorite powder highlighter? I'd love to hear about it!

Benefit posted another sneak peek on their Instagram tonight! Last night, I posted about their new Air Patrol BB Eyelid Primer that's coming out for Fall 2015, and now the newest product in their upcoming lineup is a matte highlighter called Shy Beam. I haven't seen too many matte highlighters but from what I can see from the swatch below, it definitely highlights!

The good news is, you don't have to wait for it to be released (Benefit didn't say if it'll launch in September with the Fall line or at a different time) because there's a deluxe sample inside this Operation Pore-Proof kit from Sephora ($34).

Benefit Operation: Pore-proof $34 at Sephora

So what do you think, are you excited to try Shy Beam? Have you used a matte highlighter in the past?

Pixi Beauty has become one of my favorite brands the past year or so...I started with their Shea Butter tinted lip balms that I purchased on a whim at Target and loved them so much, I started picking up a new Pixi product every time I went back!

They're definitely on the more expensive side for Target, but are pretty affordable if you're comparing them to most of the brands at Sephora. I would say they're a nice middle-ground...with Pixi, you're getting the great quality of a higher-end brand at a lower price point.

So I was really excited to see some new Fall 2015 products pop up on the Pixi Beauty website (I haven't seen them in Target yet) and I wanted to share them with you!

First, the Mattelustre Lipstick ($12) is described as a full-coverage, adjustable finish lipstick and claims to give you vivid lip color with a plumping effect. It also comes in 11 shades, a few of which I definitely have my eye on!

The Colour Correcting Powder Foundation ($20) claims to color correct and give a matte, flawless finish in just a few sweeps.

The EndlessBrowGel Pen ($11) is a hybrid formula that shades and shapes in one step, making it easy to get perfect brows! I've been loving Pixi's Natural Brow Duo (I plan to review it soon) so I'm really excited to try this!

When I reviewed Glow Tonic back in June, a lot of you told me that you really wanted to try it but the $29 price-point was too steep for a first-time purchase, mainly out of concern that your skin may not like it. Well, I'm happy to report that a smaller 100ml version of Glow Tonic is now available for $15 (the full size is 250ml). So now you can try it first and if you love it like I do, you won't mind springing for the full size (it's so worth it). With skincare, you never know how your skin will react so it's nice to have a smaller, less expensive option to try first.

The Natural Contour Powder($20) is a one-shade-fits-all matte powder that effortlessly contours the face with buildable color.

Finally, Cat Eye Ink ($14) is a liquid eyeliner with a slanted felt-tip applicator for a foolproof, precise cat-eye every time!

Are you excited to try any of the new Pixi products? I'm hoping they'll be in Target soon so that I can play with the testers a bit and I'm also crossing my fingers that Glow Tonic will be coming to Target, as that's currently an online-only option.

This month, Etude House sent an exciting box because it was filled with...skincare! I haven't really had the chance to try a lot of their skincare products so I was definitely happy to see them. There were a lot of different samples, plus a Wonder Pore skincare kit. They also sent four of their Play 101 Eyeliners in bright, bold colors. Well, there's a lot to talk about, so let's get to it!

Wonder Pore is described as a total 10-in-1 solution for cleaning and firming pores. This kit comes with the Deep Foaming Cleanser, Freshner (this is a toner with a cult-like following that I was really excited to try), Tightening Essence, and Clearing Emulsion.

The 10 Benefits of Wonder Pore are:

1. Deep Cleans Pores
2. Minimizes the appearance of pores.
3. Control a large amount of sebum
4. Moisturize inside and outside of your skin
5. Create a smooth, glass-like texture
6. Balance skin's ideal PH level
7. Refine skin tone
8. Keep the elasticity of pores
9. Remove dead skin cells from the surface
10.Cleanse pore insides with cooling effect

I have really dry skin so I was concerned that this would totally dry me out since it's geared toward oily skin types, but at the same time, I do have some visible pores on my nose that are prone to clogging, so I wanted to see how this takes care of those.
All I can say is wow! The first night I used this, I was blown away. The Deep Foaming Cleanser is thick and rich and the foam feels like whipped cream. It also has exfoliating beads in it that got my skin really smooth, even though it felt gentle. By the way, it smells sort of like mint and eucalyptus...really fresh and clean! Next, I used the Freshner which is like a toner. It had a bit of a cooling sensation and made my skin feel hydrated and balanced. Then, I used the Tightening Essence which looked and felt like a serum. It also had the same cooling effect and made the surface of my skin so smooth. Finally, I layered on the Clearing Emulsion which felt like a light moisturizer and made my skin feel velvety. At this point I was going to bed and I wondered if the Emulsion would be enough moisture for me, so I patted some of my Dr. Jart Ceramidin cream on my drier areas. When I woke up this morning, my skin looked bright and radiant with no redness! It also feels as smooth as glass...it's amazing considering I didn't use anything super abrasive like a microdermabrasion. I can only assume that these products worked to clear all the gunk out of my skin without scrubbing or causing irritation. I will absolutely continue to use Wonder Pore...maybe not every night because my skin is dry, but a few times a week to keep my pores clean and my skin smooth. If you've been wanting to get into Korean skincare but don't know where to start, the Wonder Pore line is a great option, especially if you're normal to oily or have large/clogged pores!

The Play 101 Eyeliner pencils ($7.80 each) are creamy, waterproof pencils that twist up from the bottom, so they never need sharpening. I've tried these in the past and they're really long lasting and easy to apply with no tugging at all.

This time, the colors they sent me were the limited edition Summer colors and they're a pretty bold, especially the bright orange! The bronze one I would wear on an everyday basis and the dark blue and seafoam green could also be fun to use depending on my outfit. But I can't see myself ever using the orange one, haha!

Play 101 pencils are really creamy, nicely pigmented and last all day! Here you can see how bright and bold they are:

I haven't tried all of the skincare samples yet, but there were some really nice cleansing oils and even Silk Scarf shampoo! I'm obsessed with Korean skincare products and Etude House is very affordable so I definitely want to buy some of their skincare to try soon, especially Wonder Pore.

Have you tried any Etude House products yet?

*Disclosure- I received the products featured here from Etude House in exchange for a review. I was not compensated to write this review and all opinions are my own.*

I've been dying to get to Ulta to see the new J.Cat and Makeup Revolution displays but the closest store to me is over 45 minutes away, so I don't get there that often. But when I do go, I try to make the most of it and end up purchasing a bunch of things all at once. I also stopped into Sephora quickly to get a couple of things since I had a gift card to use up (and it's 4x points this week for Rouge members). So here's what I got!

I'll just quickly talk about the two products I got at Sephora first and then go into my Ulta haul.

I recently used up the Dim Light in my Hourglass Ambient Lighting palette and that's my favorite one, so rather than buy the palette again, I figured I'd just buy the full size Dim Light since I know I love it and use it all the time.

I also picked up Bare Minerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream eyeshadow in Blushing Pink. I have four other colors and am just obsessed with these, and use them on their own or as a base for eyeshadow. Come to think of it, why have I not done a review of these yet? I'll get right on that!

Ok so moving on to my Ulta purchases:

I didn't end up getting any Makeup Revolution products because the display was pretty much wiped out...at least of the things I wanted to try. But I did end up finding the J.Cat display, so I picked up a Liptitude 24/7 Hydrating Lip Stain in Blow Your Mind ($5.99) and two of their #MOTD Slide on pencils ($3.99)...one for eyes (bronze) and one for lips (natural).

I've really been wanting to try some Laura Geller products...I see her shows on QVC all the time and I just love her! I decided to try the Balance-n-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation ($33) since it's color correcting...it looks amazing when I see it on TV, so I'll definitely post a review soon. I also got the Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator because it's a highlighter and I just.can't.stop.with the highlighters. It was so pretty, I just didn't have any willpower against it!

Also, I didn't even realize there was a gift with purchase for Laura Geller so I ended up getting a little pink organza bag with deluxe samples of her Glam Lash mascara, Lip Strip lip exfoliator, The Real Deal concealer (which I also wanted to try), and the Color Drenched Lip Gloss.

I've also been wanting to try Stila's new Huge Extreme Lash Mascara from the Modern Goddess fall collection. I'm obsessed with their Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector (see my review here) and have been wearing it every day, so I wanted to try something else from the collection.

I also bought Too Faced's new Lip Insurance Glossy. The original one felt too drying on my lips, so I'm hoping that this version will feel more hydrating, plus add some glossiness to whatever I'm wearing on my lips!

For hair, I wanted to try Living Proof's Blowout spray in the travel size ($14). First of all, I love Living Proof, but this stuff sounds amazing! It's supposed to speed drying time, keep your style locked in all day, creates an optimal level of grip for working with a brush, gives 450 degree heat protection, and can be used on second-day hair as a touch-up.

I also spotted a line of products called Rouge Underground by Luminess Air (although I can't find it on Ulta's website). They had a whole line of airbrush foundations and primers, but this is actually called a Skin Detexurizer, which instantly erases lines, wrinkles, and pores and has a clear, serum-like texture. It seemed interesting, so we'll see!

Finally at the checkout line, I grabbed a Pedi-Scrub foot buffer ($2.99). I've never tried these before but it looked great...it's a little sponge that's filled with product that cleanses, exfoliates and moisturizes your feet. Mine need all the help they can get!

Whew! Well, that's everything. If you've tried any of these products I picked up, I'd love to hear your thoughts on them! :)

Bite Beauty Opal Lip Gloss ($22 at Sephora) is a brand new pearlescent lip gloss in a stunning opal shade. When I saw this at Sephora last week, I couldn't wait to try it because it's so different from anything else out there! It can be worn alone or layered over other lip colors to change the base color and add a pearly sheen. There's also an Opal lipstick in the collection and both products can also be used as a highlighter on cheeks. Let's take a look!

I chose the gloss version because I felt like it might be easier to layer over other lip colors than the lipstick would be. I can totally see another lip color getting all over that beautiful white lipstick bullet and maybe I'm a little picky, but that would just bother me to no end. Even with the gloss, when I'm layering it over another color, I don't like to use the wand directly on my lips because I'm afraid of getting other colors back into the tube. So I usually swipe some onto my finger and pat it over my lipstick and that works great. But honestly, I love to wear this by itself so most of the time, I do use the wand to apply it directly to my lips.

This gloss is super creamy and balm-like, and it feels really moisturizing on your lips. It contains organic and natural ingredients, many of which are super nourishing, like shea butter, jojoba oil and olive oil. The scent is hard to describe but to me, it almost smells "green" like plants and also a little bit fruity. It's not my favorite scent, as I prefer sweeter scents such as vanilla, but it disappears very quickly after application.

The founder of Bite Beauty Susanne Langmuir was inspired by the opal's ability to diffract light into a beautiful spectrum of shades and this gloss certainly does that. Depending on the light, you can pick up gorgeous hues of ultraviolet, blue and pink.

When worn alone on the lips, it translates into a light, baby pink that makes your lips a little bit paler in color and adds a beautiful pearly sheen. I don't see any glitter in the formula at all, which is a good thing!

I was a little worried that it would give my lips a white cast and give a "dead" effect, but thankfully it doesn't! It ends up looking like a pale pink and the blues and purples in the formula make your teeth look whiter, which is a total bonus.

bite beauty opal lip gloss review and swatches

Below, I'm wearing Kiko Ultra Glossy Stylo Lipstick in #813 on the left, and the same lipstick with Bite's Opal lip gloss over it on the right. The Opal gloss definitely takes the color from a pinky-brown to a more pinky-mauve but the color change is subtle.

Overall, Bite Beauty's Opal Creme Lip Gloss is a really fun way to jazz up your lips, whether you wear it on it's own for a really pretty, subtle effect, or layer it over another lip product to add shine and dimension. I've been having a lot of fun playing with this but my favorite way to wear it is just straight out of the tube as an everyday lip gloss with a little kick!

You can find Bite Beauty Opal Creme Lip Gloss at Sephora stores and Sephora.com.

If you're on Instagram, you may have seen all the swatches of the brand new Shimmer Shadows that City Color Cosmetics released today. These babies look absolutely incredible and they're only $6.99 each! They come in 16 gorgeous shades and offer seriously intense color payoff with a metallic finish.

From @citycolorcosmetics on Instagram

City Color just posted short 15 second videos of these being swatched on Instagram (4 at a time) so you can see those HERE, HERE, HERE& HERE.

Watching those pretty much sealed the deal for me...I just picked up 9 shades! I'm thinking Makeup Geek Foiled dupes perhaps? :)

So what shades are you guys drooling over? You'll have to let me know which ones you end up getting! These are likely to sell out quickly, so I wouldn't wait too long! You can find them at CityColorCosmetics.com.

Julep

Maven is the only subscription box I still receive, and for good reason! It's always been my favorite because you always get full sized products and it's so customizable, you can always make sure you get what you want. Plus, Julep

isn't all about nail polish (although their 5-free formulas and color selection is amazing)...they also have beauty products that are so great, they've never let me down in the year-and-a-half that I've been a Maven!

When you join, you take a quiz that will recommend a certain box for you, whether it's an all nail polish box, a nail polish/beauty product combo box, or all beauty products, but you don't have to stick to that...you can go with whatever box you'd like. I usually make my decision every month on the 20th when you're allowed to peek inside your box. If I'm not happy with what I'm getting, I switch!

That being said, I almost always stick with the Beauty box and use the points I accumulate each month (just for having the subscription) to add on a nail polish for free. This month, instead of adding on a nail polish, I added on something a little different...so keep reading to see what was in this month's box!

This month I decided to stick with the beauty box again because I really wanted to try their new Skip the Brush Creme-to-Powder blush stick ($24). They were originally giving me a bronze shade called Moonlit Sand, but because Julep is awesome, they let you swap colors. So I ended up choosing Golden Guava instead, which is a pretty peachy pink shimmer.

This blush stick is so creamy and smooth and very pigmented going on. It does have quite a bit of shimmer, but on my cheeks, it gives a highlighted sculpted look so I don't mind at all. Here's what Golden Guava looks like blended, and straight from the tube.

Julep Skip the Brush Creme to Powder Blush Stick in Golden Guava
Left: Blended, Right: Swatched

The other product that came in this month's beauty box was the Feels Like Velvet Eyeshadow Duo in Champagne and Caviar ($16)...these shades are so gorgeous!! They glide on like butter and feel velvety soft (hence the name). They're also incredibly pigmented so I'm really happy with this as well.

All told, this month's box contained $40 worth of beauty products for $24.99 (or in my case, $19.99 because I have a 3-month at a time subscription rather than paying by the month, so you save $5 a box that way). Julep's beauty products aren't cheap, so getting them in the monthly box is the most cost-effective way to try them! As I said before, in the year and a half I've been a subscriber, I've tried everything from makeup to skincare to body products and I've been impressed with everything they've sent me!

Each month on the 20th when you can choose your box, you can also choose add-ons (which cost extra unless you use your points). Usually I choose a nail polish, but this month, I noticed a little kit with their Love Your Bare Face Hydrating Cleansing Oil and their Konjac Sponge for the face. If you read my recent post about my Shower Routine, you'll know that I've been loving their body cleansing oil and the larger Konjac body sponge that they sent a few boxes ago. So when I saw this duo for $14.99, I added it on to this month's box so I could try it before I purchase them separately. As it turns out, the facial cleansing oil is fantastic (just as I thought it would be) and the konjac sponge is the same, just a smaller version. It contains charcoal to draw out impurities and exfoliates yet feels really soft and squishy so it's not irritating at all!

So if you haven't joined Julep Maven yet, I can't recommend it enough, especially if you've been disappointed with sample beauty boxes in the past. With Julep, you can control what you get and every single product is high quality (and full size!).

This month, there are two free welcome boxes to choose from for new subscribers! One contains 2 Luxe Up Your Lips Glosses and 2 Nail Polishes (worth $78), and the other includes 3 Nail Polishes and a Bonding Base Coat!

To claim these offers, click on one of the banners below...whatever one you would prefer to receive, and it'll take you straight to the page for the free welcome box!

If you've tried Julep Maven, I'd love to hear about your experience with them!

Melt-Proof Makeup From Ulta!

Kiko Modern Tribes Essential Bronzer Review & Swatches

Foreo Issa Electric Toothbrush Review

New! Bairly Sheer Sprays now at Ulta!

Solutions 24 Clinical Corrector Sticks First Impression

Rodan & Fields Micro-Dermabrasion Paste Review

FREEBIE: Get a FREE Customized Shampoo & Conditioner with StarShop

My Shower Routine + Current Favorite Products

Simple Micellar Cleansing Wipes Spotted at Walmart

New Lip Products for Fall 2015

Colourpop Sheer Lippie Stix Review & Swatches

New Benefit Air Patrol BB Eyelid Primer SPF 20 Lands on Sept 1

Is Hard Candy's Tiki Bronzer a Mary-Lou Manizer Dupe?

Coming Soon: Benefit Shy Beam

Pixi Beauty Fall 2015 Collection

Etude House Play 101 Pencils and Wonder Pore Skin Care Kit

Yesterday's Ulta and Sephora Haul

Bite Beauty Opal Lip Gloss Review and Swatches

City Color Shimmer Shadows Have Launched!

Julep Maven August 2015 Box Review + Free Box Offers