beauty blogger – Page 2 – Hoots of a Night Al

Global Purpose: Connect to Positive Change

March 7, 2017 4 Comments

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” -Anne Frank

And when you can improve the world on your weekly grocery shopping trip, why wouldn’t you? …but I’m getting ahead of myself. If you are blessed enough to live in the great state of Texas, you have graced the hallowed doors of H-E-B. Next time you’re there, head over to the H-E-B Blooms section and seek out the Global Purpose display. You won’t be disappointed.

Global Purpose is owned and operated by native-Texan Kaylynn Jordan and her husband Jon Jordan, and assists others in achieving more sustainable and humane practices. According to their company, they provide “education and income opportunities for women and children living in vulnerable communities, including India, Haiti, and Uganda.” Can you imagine impacting that many lives with your weekly trip to buy groceries?

Global Purpose was kind enough to send me a sari scarf, wooden bangles, and a drawstring bag from their Village Artisan line, and each item is beautifully handmade by women in India. I loved reading about some of their artisans and what an impact this opportunity has made in their communities. It’s not a coincidence that I’m sharing their mission on International Women’s Day. A quick story about one of their artists, Uzma shows the strong affect she has on her fellow artisans: “Not only does she teach the kantha stitch but she, with her life, teaches them to believe in themselves, to work hard and honestly, and to treat others with dignity and love.” Doesn’t that sound like the kind of person you want to support with your purchases?

If there is anyone that deserves attention today, it’s purchase with purpose companies like Global Purpose. They are directly impacting the lives of others by creating positive change in communities that need it. I’m so thankful I learned about their incredible work, and I cannot wait to purchase more of their items the next time I visit H-E-B. I hope you’ll do the same!

If you want to learn more about Global Purpose, you can find them online here:

Maybelline Dream Cushion Liquid Foundation

February 16, 2017 No Comments

According to their website, Maybelline’s “Dream Cushion Fresh Face Liquid Foundation delivers complete luminous coverage for fresh-faced perfection.” I only agree with some of that statement. While it does give you a luminous, fresh-faced look, I don’t think it gives you complete coverage or perfection. I recently received the Dream Cushion Foundation to try for free from Influenster.

This is the first cushion foundation I have ever used, so I was excited to test it out. I decided to try it for the first time with the cushion applicator included in the package. According to the instructions, you’re supposed to simply slip the cushion onto your fingers, press it into the cushion foundation, and tap it onto your face to apply the foundation. I found this method gave me moderate coverage, but it took a very long time to ensure there weren’t any bare patches or streaks.

For my second application attempt, I used my damp Beauty Blender. Once again, I pressed the blender into the cushion foundation and applied it to my face using a tapping motion. This worked slightly better than the cushion method, but it made the already light coverage of the foundation even sheerer.

Finally, I tried applying the foundation with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I dabbed my brush into the cushion foundation, stippled it onto my face, and buffed it out. This definitely seemed like the best application method to me, so consider trying different techniques if you purchase this foundation.

I found that the Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation provided a luminous, dewy affect. However, the coverage was definitely lacking. I tried to build up the foundation some, but it didn’t provide that flawless, matte look I’m used to wearing. (Duh, I don’t think it’s meant to.)

It definitely smoothed out many of my imperfections and evened out my skin tone, but I still had to use a lot of concealer for certain areas. Also, it did not wear well at all. I have combination skin, and anywhere I generally get oily, this foundation slid right off my skin. I did wear it with a primer and setting powder, but that didn’t seem to help at all.

I don’t think this claims to be a long-wearing foundation, since Maybelline advertises how easy it is to apply this on-the-go and carry it with you at all times. However, once I apply my foundation I add concealer, setting powder, contour, bronzer, blush, and highlighter…pretty sure if my original foundation is coming off, I don’t want to apply a second layer on top of all that.

Negatives aside, I do think this is a great foundation. If you’re someone who wants to simply even out your skin tone and prefer a fresh-faced look, this could definitely be the foundation for you. I think it would work best on dry skin types. However, with the right combination of primer and setting powder, it may work for any skin type. I can see myself using the Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation on days when I’m running errands and just want a bit of foundation and some mascara.

There are currently 8 shades (for reference, I’m wearing shade 20 Classic Ivory), and this will set you back about $16. That’s a little high for a drugstore foundation to me, so if you’re on the fence, purchase it somewhere that is good about returns like Ulta.

Have you tried the Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation? Any tips for me to help it stay put longer?

Primer

Nivea Men’s Sensitive Post Shave Balm (Full Review)

Foundation

Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation in 20 Classic Ivory

Concealer

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair 15 (Full Review)

Setting Power

Wet n Wild MegaGlo Contouring Palette in Dulce de Leche

Contour

Wet n Wild MegaGlo Contouring Palette in Dulce de Leche

Bronzer

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer

Blush

Wet n Wild Color Icon Blush in Pearlescent Pink

Highlighter

Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Palette in Catwalk Pink (Full Review)

Eyeshadow Primer

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded (Full Review)

Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette (Full Review)

Eyeliner

Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx (Full Review)

Mascara

Covergirl Super Sizer Fibers Mascara (Full Review)

Eyebrows

Ulta Brow Powder in Medium

Lips

Revlon Matte Balm in Sultry (Full Review)

Tools

Beauty Blender

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Wet n Wild Large Eyeshadow Brush

Wet n Wild Crease Eyeshadow Brush

Wet n Wild Contour Brush

Wet n Wild Angled Liner Brush

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

I received this product for free to review, but, as always, all opinions are my own.

Beauty

L’Oreal Pure Clay Masks

December 6, 2016 3 Comments

L’Oreal Skin recently released 3 Pure-Clay Masks, and I was lucky enough to be sent some to try out. Each of the masks are $12.99 and are supposed to treat different types of skin issues or concerns. I have tried out each mask a few times, so I wanted to share my opinions with you.

L’Oreal launched these pure-clay masks with the already popular concept of multi-masking. Basically, you use a different mask on different areas of concern on your face. For example, if you have an oily T-Zone and dry, patchy cheeks, you’d apply one mask to your T-Zone and a different mask to your cheeks. You can see an example of me multi-masking below.

The red algae pure-clay mask claims to exfoliate dead skin cells and unclog and tighten pores using three pure clays and red algae. This mask takes 10-15 minutes and is supposed to leave your skin glowing and smooth. I think this is the least transformative of the masks. It works fine as an exfoliant, but don’t expect any huge differences from using it. I think it may work best over the long term as a gentle exfoliant 2-3 times a week.

The black charcoal pure-clay mask claims to use three pure clays and charcoal to improve dull and tired-looking skin. This is supposed to work as sort of a detox mask and help draw impurities out of the skin. My skin definitely didn’t react well to this mask. I have fairly sensitive skin, and when I washed this mask off my face was BRIGHT red. Like Rudolph’s nose red. It was very tender for quite awhile afterwards also. I would use this mask in moderation or if you know you don’t have sensitive skin.

The final mask is the green eucalyptus pure-clay mask and is my favorite. This mask uses three pure clays and eucalyptus and is recommended for oily and shiny skin. It is supposed to help purify and clarify your skin if you have clogged pores and leave your face looking matte but refreshed. This mask didn’t over dry or irritate my skin, and I saw an immediate improvement in some of my breakouts. This mask is my favorite because it definitely improves my skin, while being gentle enough to use multiple times a week.

Overall, I’m very pleased with these L’Oreal Skin Pure Clay Masks. At just over ten dollars, they’re a great value considering I’ll be able to get roughly twenty to thirty uses out of each jar. Also, the glass jars feel more luxurious and well-made than many other drugstore products.

While I was sent these for free, I could see myself repurchasing the eucalyptus mask in the future. Have you tried these before? What were your thoughts? I know masks seem to be all the rage right now; are there any you recommend?

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

I received these products for free, and all opinions, as always, are my own.

Beauty

Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon

November 30, 2016 2 Comments

I recently received three of Bite Beauty’s Matte Crème Lip Crayons to sample and review. As described by Bite, they’re “A collection of lip crayons in timeless matte shades that provide superior hydration. Bite Beauty’s latest breakthrough formula boasts a collection of beautiful nudes, striking reds, and deep burgundies with a matte yet moist texture. The secret is the moisture-locking power of orange peel wax along with the antioxidant properties of resveratrol. Each gorgeous shade is water-resistant and long wearing.”

Read on to see what I thought!

First of all the packaging is so slick. It’s a matte smoky gray with the Bite logo in a subtle gloss at the bottom. I love how chic they look! The cap securely clicks on and off, so I know there’s not risk of them coming open in my purse. I do wish there was a small color indicator of which shade was which on the exterior however, so I don’t to find the tiny name to read each time. Not a huge issue, just a personal preference.

The colors I received are Glacé, Red Velvet, and Cava, as seen above. Let me walk you through each shade!

Glacé

Glacé is described as a dusty mauve, which is accurate. This shade has quickly become my go-to everyday shade, since it goes with basically any daytime look I create. I love natural shades like this. If you’re looking for a lipcolor you can get tons of wear out of, I recommend Glacé without hesitation. A similar drugstore option with a slightly more matte look is Revlon Matte Balm in Sultry.

Cava

Cava is listed as a lilac beige shade. It is one of the most unique lipcolors I own. Personally, I prefer a bolder lipstick on myself, but I could see this being popular with a lot of people. It’s a great “nude” (not a literal nude hopefully…if someone’s natural lips are purple, they’re most likely freezing or suffocating. Please help them out.). I’d love to see how it looks on someone not as fair-skinned as me. Cava would be great paired with a darker smoky eye.

Red Velvet

Red Velvet is a rich, deep red. Who can resist a classic red? Not this girl. Red Velvet is a great red to add to anyone’s collection as it glides on smoothly, doesn’t bleed, and should be flattering to most skin tones. I wear this shade almost as often as Glacé, since I’m a big believer in red lipstick whenever you can squeeze it in. 🙂 A similar drugstore option with a slightly more matte look is Revlon Matte Balm in Standout.

As you can see, the Bite Matte Crème Lip Crayons offer lots of diversity in their color choices. Overall, I’m very pleased with these! I wouldn’t consider them a matte, as they always retain some shine and are not transfer-proof. I always have to reapply after I eat with one of these on. However, they don’t bleed and are very moisturizing, which I love. This would be a great demi-matte option for people who don’t like drying, matte lipsticks.

They “crayon” shaped tube is nice, since the smaller tip allows for easier application. These are nice if you have thinner lips or just like a skinnier product.

Finally, I wanted to mention that these have a strong tea scent. It fades after application, but when applying, they smell just like tea leaves to me! If you’re sensitive to smells, I’d give these a whiff in person before purchasing.

Overall, I’d recommend these to anyone looking for a good, moisturizing, relatively long-wearing lipstick. They are exclusive to Sephora, but some can be found on Amazon at the links I included above. Have you tried any of the other shades? Let me know!

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

I received these products for free from Influenster, and all opinions, as always, are my own.

Beauty

5 Amazing Lip Balms

November 2, 2016 2 Comments

Every fall and winter, temperatures drop, and we turn on our heaters. For me, that leads to dry, chapped lips. In case that’s you, too, here are five lip balms that never fail to moisturize my lips!

Chapstick Classic Spearmint

Chapstick has been around for years, and there’s a reason for that. This timeless classic has such a great formula that hydrates your lips without making them too slick or sticky. It also doesn’t make your lips look shiny at all for the days you’re feeling a totally natural look.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

This balm has a dual-purpose as it provides both moisture and a beautiful color to your lips. My favorite colors in this line are Honey and Crush, but they have several gorgeous options. It’s great to wear when your lips need some hydration, but you want to rock a lipcolor as well!

eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm

Have you ever wondered what “eos” stands for? evolution of smooth. How fun is that? I have always loved the packaging of eos lip balms; the unique shape makes them so easy to find when I’m digging around in my purse. Plus, their wide range of flavors is fun to explore. My favorite is Honeydew, but I love so many of them!

Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy

I have been using this product every night for the last couple of years, and I love it. On the rare nights I forgot to apply it, I woke up with painfully dry lips in the morning. It soaks in throughout the night, and I wake up with moisturized, soft lips to take on the day!

Blistex Ultra-Rich Hydration

This is my favorite lip balm to apply for instant hydration and moisture. I love that it is scent and flavor-free for times when I don’t want either. The ingredients in the inner and outer cores combine to leave my lips feeling healthy and conditioned. Plus, it has the added benefit of SPF 15.

Did I leave out any of your favorite lip balms or remedies for chapped lips? Let me know!

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

I was compensated for this post, but, as always, all opinions are my own.