Category: Health + Beauty

Sephora Haul + VIB Rouge

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 27 September 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I recently picked up a few things from Sephora with my birthday gift cards and was super excited because I got a bunch of extra freebies and renewed my VIB Rouge status!

I purchased another bottle of the Purity cleanser by Philosophy. I really like how well it removes makeup and doesn’t leave my skin feeling dried out. I also bought the Lancome Regenerie Lift Multi-Action moisturizer — I use this as my morning moisturizer because it has SPF 15 and it is so smooth and hydrating. (It smells great too!).

And everything else was free!

I had to pick up two bottles of the 100-point perk – Lancome Genefique! I’m running low on my actual full-sized bottle and these are basically free, so I picked two!

I’ve never heard of DevaCurl, but the sample of this One Condition Daily Conditioner was huge and I have curly hair, so I thought it would be cool to try it out.

This Bare Minerals Best in Show set was free with $35+ purchase, and I really like Bare Minerals. It comes with a duo eyeshade with Mixologist, a light shimmery pink, & Cognac, a gold bronzy color; Speak Your Mind, a rose colored lip stick; and Beauty, a rose colored mineral blush!

You know I love all of the Josie Maran products, so I also got this free, 5-day sample set. It has five sample pouches of the Argan Cleansing oil, which I’ve never tried but always wanted to; the 100% Pure Argan Oil (which I LOVE); and the new Argan Daily Moisturizer with SPF 47.

Since it was around my birthday, I also got the Sephora/Makeup Forever VIB Rouge birthday gift to really make this a true Sephora Haul. This little set comes with the MUFE Smokey Extravagant mascara, the MUFE Rouge Artist Natural lipstick in N9, and the MUFE Aqua Eyes eyeliner for VIB Rouge only.

And finally, since I re-upped my VIB Rouge status, I got this Formula X – X❤Rouge nail polish. Pretty cool for a free gift.

I am super excited about everything I received! YAY SEPHORA!

Blog Health + Beauty

Happy Birthday | Lush

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 6 September 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I am so excited about this gift box from Lush. I love the fun, colorful wrapping paper and bright orange bow. I love getting individual items from Lush, but it always extra nice to have a neatly wrapped package. 🙂 I received this wonderful box…well, for my birthday. And what a Happy Birthday indeed!

The Happy Birthday gift box comes with four bath bombs and two bubble bars. (And fun streamers and a noise maker!!)

Everything smells amazing — like Lush! The set comes with The Comforter (my fave) bubble bar, Pop In the Bath bubble bar, Avobath bath bomb, Big Blue bath bomb, Phoenix Rising, and Fizzbanger bath bomb.

These are a few of my favorite bath goodies at Lush so this is a perfect gift for me. Plus, I love all the colors. They’re almost too pretty to use! Almost. 🙂

Tags bath bomb, birthday, bubble bar, gift, gift box, happy, happy birthday, lush, muffinchanel, perfect gift, the comforter

Blog Health + Beauty

Hello Gorgeous | Lush

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 30 July 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

The Hello Gorgeous box from Lush looks like a perfectly wrapped present. The floral print on the colbolt blue box is beautiful and the silky pink bow makes everything just pop!

This set comes with The Comforter bubble bar (my favorite!), Sakura bath bomb, Rub Rub Rub shower scrub, Vanilla Dee-Lite body lotion, Lemony Flutter cuticle butter, and Gorgeous facial moisturizer!

I’ve told you how much I love the comforter, but I’d never tried any of these other products and was super excited when my mom gifted me — Thanks, Mom!

I used the Rub Rub Rub and Sakura the other day and I really like the scrub.

The scrub is a super pretty blue and the sea salt makes it look like there’re bubbles inside. It smells nice and the scrub is coarse — good for exfoliating the body, not your face.

The Sakura bath bomb was just “meh” to me. Nothing really special — it did smell nice but it made the water kind of murky looking. It might be better to use with a bubble bar (like the Comforter :))

The next thing I tried was the Gorgeous facial moisturizer; the star of the show in this set. Regularly, the Gorgeous moisturizer sells for $80-90 and whenever I go in to a Lush to look at their skincare, they always rave about it, but I wasn’t interested because of the price.

I’m so excited that it was included in this set (a mini version) because I’m very pleased with it so far. It smells a little weird, but my skin feels great and looks more even to me. It’s not very greasy feeling and it absorbs well. I’ve been using it morning and night the last few days and I’m really liking it.

Next up to try: Lemony Flutter and Vanilla Dee-Lite. Have any of you used the Gorgeous facial moisturizer? Do you love it? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter!

Tags gift box, hello gorgeous, lush, lush cosmetics, set

Blog Health + Beauty Lifestyle

Jus By Julie – 3 Day Cleanse | REVIEW

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 30 June 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I ordered the Jus by Julie 3 Day Cleanse because my cousin mentioned it to me and I’d been interested in a detox of some kind. I found a deal on Groupon and scheduled my delivery. This was my first juice cleanse and I was very excited to try it out.

The ordering process was very easy. What’s great is that you can select the date you want your juices delivered and they overnight the juices so they are super fresh and ready to go.

The Cleanse was delivered overnight through Fedex.

Inside the box was a large green insulated bag with 3 clusters of 6 bottles of juice and ice packs banded together (18 bottles total). My juices were cool feeling (not cold) by the time I was able to open them.

I put all of my juices in a cooler and was ready to start the cleanse the next morning. Information in the box said that one should freeze the juices if not able to drink them within three days.

Day One

Jus Lineup

Morning Glory – romaine, celery, spinach, apple, kale, banana, strawberry, water
Spicy Lemonade – lemon, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, water
Sweet Spin – spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, mango, water
Acai Blend – acai berries, strawberries, banana, water
Choco-Nana – chocolate, banana, strawberries, water
Sweet Spin – spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, mango, water

Near the end of the day, I was feeling tired and kind of weak. I’ve seen other reviews where people feel very energized on the first day but I was seriously dragging.

Day Two

Jus Lineup

Morning Glory – romaine, celery, spinach, apple, kale, banana, strawberry, water
Spicy Lemonade – lemon, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, water
Sweet Spin – spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, mango, water
Chia Berry – strawberries, chia seeds, lemon, pomegranate, water
Not So Chunky – peanut butter, banana, water
Sweet Spin – spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, mango, water

I was a little agitated all day and feeling tired and weak again by the end of the day. I did have some steamed broccoli to help calm me down and I felt instantly better.

Day Three

Jus Lineup

Morning Glory – romaine, celery, spinach, apple, kale, banana, strawberry, water
Spicy Pome-nade – pomegranate, lemon, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, water
Sweet Spin – spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, mango, water
Chia Berry – strawberries, chia seeds, lemon, pomegranate, water
Island Coconut – coconut meat & water, date, cinnamon
Sweet Spin – spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, mango, water

I felt pretty good in the morning; clean and “light”. I was feeling tired and annoyed near the end of the day and had a few almonds to tide me over. I wasn’t a fan of the Island Coconut. I wish I’d gotten another of the Not So Chunky or Choco-Nana instead.

Overall Cleanse

I liked this juice cleanse because it was very simple. I looked forward to the variety of the next flavor and the numbers on the bottle made everything very simple. My favorite juices were the Spicy Lemonade, Chia Berry and Spicy Pome-nade. The Choco-Nana and Not So Chunky were very welcome when it was time for juice #5.

I tried to wait 2-3 hours between juices and I drank a lot of water in between. Anytime I was feeling hungry, it was time for my next juice. I wasn’t really ever feeling “hungry” but I’d feel grumpy and irritated, which is usually a side effect of hunger for me.

One thing that was interesting to me about these Jus By Julie juices is that they are blended; not cold-pressed. I haven’t really seen any other juices that are blended and I thought it was cool because the juice feels more “substantial” with pulp and seeds included. The juices aren’t overly chunky, don’t get me wrong, but they aren’t strained juice like you may have seen from other companies so the texture might be a little weird to some.

Maybe it’s because they’re blended, but I thought it was weird that each juice contains water as an ingredient. There is already water in all of the fruits and vegetables so I don’t know why any would need to be added. Especially when the Cleanse + shipping was a pretty penny, I definitely don’t want to feel like I’m getting watered down juice.

I was a little disappointed when I found out that these juices were not Organic. I think it’s really important, especially with fruits, to be chemical/pesticide free. When I do another cleanse in the future, I’ll make sure to find one that’s only Organic.

I am happy with the 3 day Cleanse; it was the perfect amount of time and I do feel detoxed and “cleaner”. I think my skin is looking brighter and I feel encouraged to make better choices with diet and exercise.

If you are interested in the Jus By Julie cleanse, check out their website or if you’ve done the 3 day cleanse, let me know what you thought. 🙂

Tags 3 day, a healthy obsession, cleanse, delivery, detox, Drink, fruit, healthy, juice by julie, juice cleanse, juicer, jus by julie, lemon, not organic, review, three day, vegetables

Blog Health + Beauty

NARS Matte Multiple (Altai) | Review

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 10 May 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Matte makeup looks are supposedly really on trend this summer. I was really excited to get this matte color stick from NARS during the Spring Social Event at Sephora. I chose the color Altai because it looked like the perfect contour color for my medium toned skin. I had seen some pictures on Instagram & it either looked amazing or really orange, but I decided to give it a try.

I’m really happy that I did because it is not orange at all but instead, it’s an amazing natural bronze color that is perfect for contouring.

It is $40 for only .26oz, but it will last you a long time. Altai is very pigmented. You can apply it directly to your face or lips for a very strong color payoff or you can apply it with a wet applicator for a more sheer look. I use it directly in the hollows of my cheeks and blend out for a more natural contour.

The formula is very smooth and creamy; very easy to blend but not greasy at all. I love the consistency. It lasts all day for me and looks flawless over my Tarte Airbrush Foundation. I really like Altai and how it’s so easy to apply and blend in but for the price, I don’t think it’s worth a repurchase.

Have you used any of the Matte Multiples? Which colors are your favorite and will you be repurchasing?

Tags airbrush foundation, altai, Beauty, bronzer, color stick, Contour, cream, formula, haul, lips, makeup, matte, matte multiple, nars, price, review, Sephora, summer, tarte, ulta, value

Blog Health + Beauty

Tarte Amazonian Clay CC Primer + Airbrush Foundation | Review

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 23 April 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I picked up some Tarte goodies during the VIB Rouge Spring Social at Sephora and I’ve had some time to use the products to give a proper review. I purchased the Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation in the shade Light-Medium Neutral, the CC Primer in the shade Light, and the Airbuki brush.

Routine

I have been using the CC Primer and the Airbrush Foundation everyday I wear makeup since I purchased them. I start by prepping my face with sunscreen (usually the Josie Maran Daily Argan Moisturizer) and then I’ll use the Tarte CC Primer as a base for the powder foundation. I lightly buff on 1-2 layers of the Airbrush Foundation and I’m out the door. It’s all really fast and easy.

CC Primer

This primer is different than others I’ve used. It comes in a chubby tube and twists up like a lipstick. It’s more like a light foundation/cover stick than a silky primer. The POREfessional by Benefit, for example, is super silky and blurs away the appearance of pores. The Tarte CC Primer is divided into four sections, two with the “foundation” color, one with a green color corrector, and one with a pinkish purple color corrector. I just apply the CC Primer directly to my face and blend it out with my fingers.

The CC Primer evens out your complexion, neutralizes hyper pigmentation and gives sheer/light coverage. The CC Primer is perfect alone for running a quick trip to the grocery store, yoga day, or just a “no-makeup” makeup look. The primer makes a perfect base for the Airbrush Foundation.

Airbrush Foundation + Airbuki Brush

First off, the Airbuki brush is super soft! It’s amazing and I haven’t seen any hairs falling out or anything. It’s the perfect applicator for this Airbrush foundation but probably would work well with other types of mineral foundations as well.

The Airbrush Foundation comes in a sleek container with a bamboo screw off lid. What is unique about this powder foundation is the mesh liner/netting between the mouth of the jar and the product.

The lid actually has a little knob that, when screwed closed, keeps the mineral powder from escaping the netting. It’s great because it really helps control how much powder comes out and prevents you from wasting. Unlike other mineral foundations, you don’t need to invert the powder through the sifter and swirl/tap your brush to load the powder. The Tarte Airbuki is made to fit perfectly over the mesh lining. You simply press your brush into the net and get the perfect amount of powder on your brush; not swirling or tapping needed.

This design is awesome, especially for travel since you won’t have to worry about all the powder getting out from under the liner. I like to gently press the powder into my face and then buff it out to blend. The mineral powder gives a beautiful airbrushed finish and feels lightweight.

My skin is dry/normal and when I first used the Airbrush Foundation, I noticed that the powder clung to the drier parts of my face and made the area look flaky and bad. That’s where the CC Primer really helps me — the Primer either makes those areas less dry or creates such a smooth base that I haven’t had that problem since targeted those dry areas more with the Primer.

The Airbrush Foundation is long-wearing although I haven’t won it more than 10 hours. I do find though, that it starts to look even better as the day goes on. I love the fresh-faced airbrushed look it gives after first application, but as the day wears on, it seems to really melt into your skin and gives me a clean, healthy glow. I love it.

The foundation is build able up to medium coverage, but even at that medium level, your skin still looks like skin and not a cake mask. I have freckles and I really want my foundation to even out my complexion and make me look radiant but not cover my freckles and make me look unnatural. This Tarte Airbrush Foundation does just that! I definitely recommend this to everyone!

Tags airbuki, Amazon, amazonian clay, argan, bare minerals, Beauty, best, better, brush, cc cream, cc primer, clay, compare, daily spf, dry, flaky, foundation, hair, Hydrating, josie maran, liquid, makeup, mineral, nails, paraben free, review, Sephora, sephora haul, skin, skincare, summer foundation, tarte, tarte beauty, Tarte cosmetics, vegan

Blog Health + Beauty

Argan Summer Hydrating Skin Savers + Argan Daily Moisturizer REVIEW

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 18 April 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

This super cute set by Josie Maran is perfect for summer! The Argan Summer Hydrating Skin Savers set from QVC comes with the new formulation of the Daily Argan Moisturizer, the Light version of the signature Argan Oil, and the Argan Color Stick in the color Glow.

The light version of the Argan oil is super light and absorbs quickly into the skin. It’s described as having a semi matte finish and, compared to the regular version, it is more matte, but it’s still an oil. Since it is so light, it would be perfect for day time, wear in warmer months, or if you have oiler skin.

I love the Argan Color sticks; my favorite color is Dreamy Pink. This Color Stick is a beautiful pink with some silver shimmer/glitters. It can go on lips and cheeks and is a perfect travel item because of its multiple uses.

The new formulation of the Argan Daily Moisturizer is great and with SPF 47, perfect for summer or wearing year round. If you are a fan of the old formulation of the Daily Moisturizer, but aren’t sure about trying the new formulation, here is a quick comparison:

At first glance, both formulations look the same and smell similarly. Both are slightly more runny than traditional sunscreens. The new formulation is more like a traditional sunscreen in that, as you rub it in, it leaves a white residue. Both formulations absorb quickly, but you have to rub the new formulation in a little longer for it to absorb completely. This may be because it has a higher SPF (47 vs. 40).

The new formulation actually seems to hydrate the skin more than the older version and it smells great. I feel like it gives more sun protection and helps prep my skin for makeup. I love the new formulation and this amazing gift set!

Blog Health + Beauty

FRESH Sugar Lip Polish | Review

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 4 April 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I picked up the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish at the Spring Social event last Sunday at Sephora. I’ve been using it every night and have noticed a difference in my lips already!

I prefer this lip scrub over the Lush ones because the scent/flavor is better and because it is more hydrating. I have the Bubblegum and Mint Julips variations of the Lush sugar scrubs but I stopped using them because I didn’t really like the scent anymore. I never liked the Bubblegum & Mint Julips was ok, but it was weird to me to smear chocolate-mint flavor on my lips. The FRESH Lip Scrub is a plain, sweet brown sugar scent; very neutral and clean.

The Lush lip scrubs are more abrasive than the Lip Polish from FRESH. I always felt like they were really getting off the dry flakes, but they seemed to make my lips drier. I’d follow with a nice balm but the next day my lips would be peeling and uncomfortable; it was a horrible cycle. The FRESH Lip Polish is so much better! The sugar pieces seem finer and there are oils built into the scrub. So, I feel like it’s gently buffing away and dry or rough areas while hydrating at the same time.

My lips have been in better condition anyway since I began using the Dior Creme de Rose Balm. But now using the FRESH Lip Polish in conjunction with Creme de Rose, my lips feel soft and amazing. I gently rub the Lip Polish on my lips and then let the sugar sit for a couple of minutes and just wipe it away with a tissue. I then follow with the Creme de Rose as usual and wake up with happy lips.

You don’t have to use the Lip Polish every day…probably once to two times a week would be fine. It’s a nice way to pamper yourself and help your lips to be soft and hydrated! There are no parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs, or triclosan in this scrub, so your lips will be happy and healthy!

Tags Bubblegum, chocolate, comparison, dry, flakey, fresh, haul, hydrated, lip, lips, lush, lush cosmetics, lush sugar, mint, mint julips, review, scrub, Sephora, sephora haul, soft, spring social, sugar, sugar scrub, vs.

Blog Health + Beauty

VIB Rouge Spring Social + Sephora HAUL

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 30 March 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

The Spring Social was Sephora’s first store-wide VIB Rouge event and we had so much fun. If you were already VIB Rouge, you might have received your invite in the mail or through email.

The event was “closed door” from 9-11am today for all VIB Rouges who RSVP’d. My friend and I got there about 9:30am and the store was super busy! They checked us in at the door and we were greeted by everyone. There was fun music, Starbucks, cute little waters & snacky pastries in the back.

Two hair styling stations were set up in the back and every beauty station had someone getting her makeup done. It was such a fun vibe and it was cool to shop with other people who love beauty, skincare and makeup as much as I do.

I had a list of everything I wanted to get and I was super excited about the extra 15% off + VIB Rouge goody bag!

My bag kind of got messed up in the car, but the products are all that matter!

tarte – colored clay CC primer (light)
tarte – Amazonian clay full coverage airbrush foundation (light-medium neutral)
tarte – airbuki | bamboo powder foundation brush

fresh – Sugar Lip Polish

NARS – Matte Multiple (Altai)

And then the freebee bag is really cute and quite large with the zip around opening. I think it might be too big to throw in my purse, but it’ll be nice as a small travel makeup bag.

I had a really great time today at Sephora and I’m really excited to try out all of my new products. Did any of you go to the Spring Social in your store? If you didn’t get a chance to make it in to the event and you’re VIB Rouge, you can still get the 15% off with

PROMOCODE: ROUGETICKET

Tags 15%, airbuki, airbus, altai, amazonian clay, Beauty, cc cream, clay, closed door, code, deal, event, eyebrows, foundation, free samples, freebies, fresh, gwp, haul, makeup, Mascara, matte, matte multiple, nars, paraben free, perks, private event, promo, rouge, sale, Sephora, shop, skincare, spring, spring social, sugar scrub, tart, tarte, The Spring Social, vegan, vib rouge, VIB Rouge event, VIB Rouges

Blog Health + Beauty

10 Spring Break Beauty Tips

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 18 March 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

It’s still snowing in some parts of the US, but in just a few days it will officially be spring! Which means that, for some of you, Spring Break is here or is just around the corner!

As you dig your bikinis and flip flops out of storage, it’s important to remember these Spring Break Beauty Tips whether you’re going to Cancun or hanging out with your family by the beach!

1. Drink plenty of water. Water is your best friend. It’s important to stay hydrated especially when out in the sun for extended periods of time. But also, if you’ll be traveling for your break, nothing will help your body acclimate faster than staying nice and hydrated.

2. Give your skin a break + let it breathe a little during your vacation. Try out some “no make up” looks if you choose to wear makeup. Otherwise, go for a natural sunscreen + chapstick only dewy look.

3. Try a fresh and fruity cleanser. Clean & Clear has this oil free pink grapefruit foaming scrub. I love the way this cleanser smells; so clean and fruity! It’s awesome and has these gentle exfoliating beads that help smooth away rough spots. It also contains salicylic acid which helps clear my skin up!

4. Use Sunscreen. Lots of it. Everyone wants to come back from spring break with a nice healthy glow, but be mindful about how long you’re in the sun. Sunburns are serious so apply a UVA/UVB sunscreen often and wear a hat or stay in a partially shaded area. Make sure to use it on your face and body.

5. Try some no-heat hair styles. If you’ll be in the sun but out of the water, opt for some fun braided, no-heat hairstyles. Braids are a soft, feminine way to keep your hair out of your face while giving you a nice, put-together but beachy look.

6. Try some new hair ties! Hold your braids together with cute, fun hair ribbons. If you haven’t used these ribbon hair ties before, definitely give them a try. They prevent breakage and come in a variety of colors. Check out some of the different varieties: here, here, and here.

7. Lock in the moisture in your hair. The sun + chlorinated or salty water can dry out your hair. If you’ll be in and out of water, try first to wet your hair and coat the ends with conditioner to lock in moisture.

8. Exfoliate. Pre, during, and post Spring Break. Exfoliating is the best way to keep your skin super soft and vacation ready. Before you embark on your journey, exfoliating will help you apply sunless tanning lotion evenly and prevent streaking. During your excursion, exfoliating will keep your skin from peeling or flaking from being out in the sun. And once you’re back home, it will help keep you looking glowy and fresh! I like to use the brown sugar and oatmeal body scrub from the San Francisco Bath Salt Company.

9. Get a Mani/Pedi. Nothing says Spring Break more than fun bright nail color! I like neon and bright pink nail polishes. Bright nail color can help you look extra tan. I really like Collide by Ilamasqua.

10. Hydrate your skin with an After Sun Lotion. I really like this lotion from Hawaiian Tropic it has aloe and feels nice and cooling on your skin after a long day in the sun. Your skin will thank you.

What are your plans for Spring Break? Share your Beauty Tips in the comments!

Tags beach trip, Beauty, Beauty Tips, blog, braids, clean and clear, collide, cute, drive, essentials, exfoliating, fly, grapefruit, hair, hair ties, hydrate, makeup, nail polish, nails, no makeup, party, photography, Pink, relax, ribbon, Sephora, skin, skincare, spring, spring break, summer, Sun, tanning, travel, ultra, vacation, water, weekend

Blog Health + Beauty

Anastasia Brow Duality | REVIEW

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 2 March 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Now that my eyebrows are cleaned up, I wanted to buy a highlighter stick to help define them. Of course, I had my eye on High Brow by benefit — I loved it when the esthetician used it on me — but I couldn’t decide whether to go for the matte color ($20), or the shimmer ($20).

MuffinChanel Anastasia Brow Duality Benefit High Brow Matte Shimmer highlighter eyebrow

I swatched them both in Sephora but couldn’t decide….but then I found the Anastasia Brow Duality ($23) and I didn’t have to! The Brow Duality pencil has both a matte and shimmer color in one pencil! Yay!

MuffinChanel Sephora haul anastasia brow duality review pencil

I bought the Matte Camille / Sand Shimmer color and it’s awesome. It’s a great highlighter and the consistency is nice. I prefer it over an eyeshadow because it’s slightly creamy and I can blend it out better for a more natural look. Plus, it’s compact and easy to throw in your purse for an on-the-go brow lift.

I’m really pleased with this purchase. I also bought a sharpener separately, as the pencil is chubbier than a “normal” pencil. The color/highlight lasts all day and isn’t greasy or chalky.

Tags Anastasia Brow Duality, anastasia brow express, anatasia, benefit, brow bar, concealer, eye lift, eye shadow, eyebrow routine, eyebrows, haul, high brow, highlight, Matte Camille, matte color, review, Sephora

Blog Health + Beauty

Urban Decay Electric Palette

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 25 February 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Urban Decay is coming out with a new eyeshadow palette that promises to be electric!

urban decay electric palette

The palette is going to be full of fun bright colors — a nice contrast to the Naked palettes! I’m really excited to see these new electric shades for summer.

Urban Decay’s teaser ad.

UPDATE: Alleged swatches from the Electric Palette.

UPDATE: ^ It’s real. They are “pressed pigments” and some of the colors are “neon” and shouldn’t be used on the immediate eye area. :/ Kind of a deal breaker for me…what do you think? Check out this review by Temptilia. The Electric Palette will be released on March 18th for $49 at Sephora, Macy’s and Ulta stores.

Tags avoid eye area, bright colors, chaos, coming soon, electric palette, eyes, eyeshadow, eyeshadow palette, freak, fringe, gonzo, jilted, makeup, Naked, neon, pressed pigments, revolt, savage, slowburn, sneak peek, spring, summer, swatches, thrash, urban, Urban Decay

Blog Health + Beauty Lifestyle

Benefit Brow Bar Experience

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 22 February 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I love a nice, thick eyebrow. I fill my eyebrows in with the ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Beauty Express For Brows and Eyes and I’m usually pretty pleased with how they turn out, but I haven’t ever really had them “shaped”.

Filled in with Anastasia Beauty Express — Surprise! Lots of stray hairs; not a very “clean” look + my “brow-hawk” ^

I’ve attempted to use the stencils in the Anastasia kit but they never worked for me. I’ve drawn the lines for my “perfect ratio”, but was always reluctant to tweeze in case I took too much and messed up my face. So, I left my caterpillars alone and I told myself that I was “growing them out so I could get them professionally done”.

So, when I started hearing more about the Benefit Brow Bar, I thought this would be a good time for me to clean up my brows and get them professionally shaped. I’ve had my brows waxed at the nail salon many years ago and I thought it turned out alright, but they just cleaned up the stray hairs; they didn’t map out the best shape for my face.

There’s a Brow Bar in a nearby Macy’s and an Ulta, but I opted to go to the one in Ulta because the Macy’s one had a few bad reviews. I’m all about the reviews; I always check places that I’m interested in going! If any of you are the same way, I hope this experience review helps you out! 🙂

So, I go over to the Benefit section of Ulta and two estheticians are already with clients. One of the girls asked me if I had an appointment, and I told her no & asked if they took walk-ins. She said that she could take me in 5 minutes. So I looked around for a while before she called me over.

I sat in the chair and told her that I just wanted a brow wax. They also do brow tinting and lip waxing. She had me sign a waiver that basically says that Benefit is not responsible if you breakout or get a rash from the wax and that you acknowledge that you aren’t taking accutane or using retinol.

Brow Mapping

She walked me through the process since this was my first time and cleansed by brows with a cotton ball and some solution. She then used the Brow Mapping technique to find that perfect ratio for my face and drew lines with a brown makeup crayon. I looked at the outline in the mirror and she asked if I liked the shape or if I wanted my brows to be thinner. I told her I wanted a fuller brow and she told me that she was going to wax everywhere outside of the lines she drew. She then used a spoolie to comb all of my brow hairs up to trim them with scissors and then the same thing after brushing them down.

Waxing

The wax was a pearly white color and she applied it with a thin wooden applicator. Everything was really sanitary and clean. She applied a cloth to the waxed area, pulled the skin taught, and pulled the cloth away. It didn’t hurt but it surprised me at first. The rest of the waxing was easy since I knew what to expect.

Cleaning/Soothing

After the wax, she used a cleanser to help remove any excess wax. She applied Almond Oil to help soothe and calm the redness & then she put on a moisturizer. She really let everything soak in and gave my face some time to relax.

Tweezing

She used a spoolie to comb through the hairs and help her get to the stray hairs that needed tweezing. There wasn’t much to be tweezed after the wax.

Styling

After everything, she used a concealer crayon above and below my brows, some foundation to help cover up the redness, and filled in my brows so that I wouldn’t look like I’d just gotten them done while running the rest of my errands.

Results

Overall, I am super happy with the way they turned out and I will definitely go back. I knew that brows really framed your face and could change your look, but I didn’t realize what I was missing! My eyebrows look so clean and sharp now; it’s awesome! So happy I went! The service at the Benefit Brow Bar was great. I really appreciate how they take the time to explain each step of the process & how they touch up your makeup before you leave.

Tags after, before, before and after, benefit, benefit brow bar, benefit cosmetics, boiing, brow bar, brow zings, brows, clean, esthetician, experience, eyebrows, eyes, face, gimme brow, grooming, hair, hair removal, high brow, macy's, review, San Francisco, Sephora, sharp, skin, threading, tweezing, ultra, waxing

Blog Health + Beauty

GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD | Review & SUPERMUD Comparison

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 19 February 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Packaging

I got the GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD (.5 oz) as part of a gift set from Sephora. The kit came with the white jar SUPERMUD (1.2 oz.) in a pink/blue “reversible” gift box for $69. The kit is a good value because a 1.7 oz. size of either the YOUTHMUD or a 1.2 oz. size of the SUPERMUD alone would cost $69. Still, 70 bucks is a lot to pay for a face mask. The packaging probably has something to do with the price — that Gift Sexy packaging is quite clever and the actual mask jars are weighty and substantial feeling. The YOUTHMUD jar was sealed with a foil seal (unlike the SUPERMUD).

YOUTHMUD

The mud is a light brownish color with a few chunky bits here and there. The scent was subtle and clean/minty smelling; I actually liked it a lot.

Application

I applied the mask with a flat foundation brush. The mud is not too thick, but does have chunks of leaves and other ingredients in it. I sort of painted it all over my face, avoiding my eye area. The product spreads easily without being runny or super thick. I did apply the mask to my entire face, but you could also just use it as a spot treatment. With the .5oz. size, I estimate that I will get 1-2 more full face uses out of the GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD.

Wear

I had read that this mask is “extremely” tingly/stingy. All the reviews I’d read recommend not using the mask if you had been tanning or using a retinol recently as it might make your skin extra sensitive and cause a rash/breakout. The mask was slightly tingly about a minute after I applied it & that feeling lasted a couple minutes. It wasn’t uncomfortable at all. I let the mask dry for about 30 minutes and it dried to a smooth, light grey color. The mask felt slightly tight and there were visible chunks of leaf all over.

Removal

To remove the mask, I splashed a little bit of water on my face to loosen it up and get rid of that tight feeling. I then softly rubbed my face in small circular motions. The mask has very fine, sand-like particles inside that worked to exfoliate and remove any dull/dry skin. The mask was easy to remove in warm water and then I patted my face dry with a towel.

Results

I quite like this mask a lot. I didn’t experience extreme stinging/tingling/burning like I’d heard, the smell was pleasant, and the fine exfoliating particles left my skin feeling soft and smooth. My skin was glowing and had a nice, rosy (not irritated) flush look. My skin felt only slightly tight/dry after but I felt that it really prepped my skin to absorb my serums and nighttime treatments.

Comparison

If you haven’t read my full review on the SUPERMUD, you can check it out HERE.

This will be a quick side-by side comparison between these two masks:

Both masks are great and I think they work well together. If I had to choose only one, I’d get the GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD in the black jar because I like the exfoliation and it’s a better value.

What do you think of the GLAMGLOW mud masks? Which is your favorite?

Tags Beauty, black jar, clay, cleansing, comparison, difference, exfoliate, face, face mask, gift, glam, glamglow, glow, Health, hollywood, mask, mud, pores, review, Sephora, sexy, side by side, skin, skincare, spot, supermud, treatment, white jar, youth, youthmud