From the drugstore to the dollar store to Sephora...it seems I can find fun beauty products just about anywhere. One example? The Beauty Boss Lip Gloss from Stila that is pictured above actually came from a duty free store. Makeup clearly is my weakness, even during times of travel. For a reasonable $10, it was possible to try out Blue Sky, an iridescent blue/purple lip gloss. That unusual shade was simply too tempting to resist. Ready to see what it looks like? Find out if it was worthwhile?
I've tried a handful of Quo Beauty products over the years. Standouts include their makeup brushes and some of the Pride Collection items. Despite testing out a few items from Quo Beauty in the past, I am not overly familiar with the brand offerings, since items are tried on a rather sporadic basis. However, every now and then, I attend an event or receive different beauty samples with purchase, and am able to try out an assortment of products. More recently, that included some Quo Beauty lip products. Want to find out how these perform? Here are some mini reviews of the Lip Boost Plumping Gloss and Lipstick.
Finding a good concealer is difficult. Finding a good concealer to replace an old favourite? Even more difficult. I absolutely adore the Hard Candy Glamoflauge Full Coverage Concealer, but it is becoming harder and harder for me to find. At the stores around me, the Hard Candy displays have either been removed or reduced, and there are rarely a lot of products to choose from. I stock up whenever it is possible to do so, but I never know whether it will or will not be available. Talk about frustrating! My husband suggested I try something from another brand so I have a different option, should the Glamoflauge Full Coverage Concealer not be available. After browsing the displays at the drugstore, it was the Elf 16 Hr Camo Concealer that I decided to purchase. How does it compare? And is it a viable alternative for my beloved Hard Candy concealer? Keep reading to find out...
Back in the early 2010s, one of my most beloved beauty products was this trunk from Tarina Tarantino. At the time, products from the brand were sold at Sephora. It might have been around the holiday season that the trunk was released. It had an eyeshadow palette built in, a gorgeous red lipstick, and a glowy face primer. I was obsessed with all of the products inside, but especially this one taupe eyeshadow. It was gorgeous. Though that trunk is long gone, my memories of that taupe eyeshadow remain. Maybe that is why the Taupe Notch Eyeshadow Palette from Violet Voss immediately nabbed my attention. It brought me back to the makeup looks that I used to create. It brought me back to another time in my life. Add to that the fact that Violet Voss is a brand that I have had a lot of positive experiences with (some of their eyeshadow palettes are on my all-time favourites list) and it simply had to be added to my cart. It is time to take a look at this taupe-tastic makeup release.
What is it about Hello Kitty? This iconic character is beloved around the world. Created in the mid-70s, her popularity never seems to wane. Even today, it is common to see this adorable cartoon on everything from backpacks to t-shirts, purses, buttons, shoes, and even beauty products. An example of the latter is the Pixi + Hello Kitty Glow Tonic. Since I happen to adore Hello Kitty...it was impossible for me to resist this themed product. And since my skin has needed some extra attention lately, it was a win-win situation. Ready to find out how this adorable Glow Tonic performs? Here is everything you need to know.
My obsession with Sailor Moon began when I was in elementary school. I remember watching that first episode on YTV (a local channel that was a favourite for much of my adolescence) and immediately being hooked. From that point on, I was begging my mom for the Sailor Moon action figures and all sorts of Sailor Moon stickers at the dollar store. I remember getting in trouble by my fourth grade teacher, because I prioritized drawing pictures of the characters instead of paying attention to the lessons. Yes, the show was a full-blown obsession. Though I have had many obsessions over the years, Sailor Moon was, and still is, special. It is an important part of me. It represents my past, but it also represents my future. When I watch the episodes, I am reminded of what matters most to me and what I base my life on: fighting for love and justice. That simple message inspired me as a child and it continues to inspire me today. The world is dark and many people are cruel...which makes it even more important to fight for what is right. Sailor Moon is not just a television show to me. It is a reminder of what matters.
It's hard to believe how far into January we are already. It seems like only yesterday, we were celebrating the start of a shiny new year....and now 2024 is well underway. Though 2024 has had a bit of a slower start for me (the January blues arrived earlier in the month and I am only just starting to feel like myself again)...there are been good moments scattered throughout. Like nights at the movies, listening to John Denver records, and re-focusing on some personal goals. Something else that has been making me smile? The BH Cosmetics Garnet For January 7 Color Shadow Palette. This was a previous Winners find for $5.99 CDN that I had been intentionally saving for January to roll around. Garnet is the birthstone for January and is thought to represent protection, friendship, trust, commitment, and love. This gorgeous red stone is represented well in the BH Cosmetics release thanks to the themed packaging, eyeshadow names, and colour story. Ready to take a closer look? Keep reading for a full review of the BH Cosmetics Garnet For January 7 Color Shadow Palette and a January birthstone inspired #FOTD.
The minions kind of have a special place in my heart. When my husband and I first started dating, we quickly realized that there wasn't a lot of overlap in the kinds of movies that we liked. He was into action movies and superhero movies while I was into comedies, musicals, horror movies, romantic movies, and other such things. However, the minions were something we could both agree on. We have watched all of the Despicable Me and Minion movies released...and have some random minion merchandise scattered around our home. The adorable yellow characters are funny, silly, and beloved. Well, it was exciting to see my love of all things minion collide with my love of all things beauty, with the Vita-C Hydrogel Eye Patches from TonyMoly. I was instantly excited to try out the minion themed eye patches for myself. So....does it work?? It is time to find out.
This is always a strange time of year. All of the Christmas decorations are still up in my home (though those will be coming down shortly) and there are all of these hopes, dreams, and resolutions to focus on for the year ahead. I feel a little out of sorts, with one foot back in 2023 and one foot firmly in 2024. So, while I am in this in-between, it only makes sense to focus on a few holiday highlights. These posts are all about seasonal items that were in heavy rotation during the last month or so. One example? The Popcorn Balls Bite-Sized Eyeshadow Palette from Too Faced. This compact, limited edition, holiday themed eyeshadow palette has an adorable theme and eight different eyeshadow shades inside. Ready to find out more? Here goes...
How are you all settling into January so far? It's hard to believe that December is behind us and a new year has arrived. 2023 was not my favourite year ever, so I am currently holding on to hope that 2024 will be much improved. One way to kickstart a shiny new year? Talking about makeup, of course. I mentioned the Let It Snow Globes Three-Piece Eyeshadow Palette Gift Set in a revisited review last month...and now it is finally time to share some thoughts and some seasonal makeup looks. The Let It Snow Globes set has been in my makeup collection for the last few months, but I wanted to make sure there was familiarity with all three palettes before I wrote down my thoughts for a post here on Mansa Fashion. Ready to take a look at these holiday themed eyeshadows? Find out how each Too Faced palette performed? Keep reading for all of the details.
