Tag: makeup

BECCA x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to share my thoughts on the stunning highlighter created by BECCA Cosemtics and YouTube beauty guru Jaclyn Hill. I don’t typically spend a lot on makeup products, but I just had to gave this limited edition product, especially because I love Jaclyn and knew anything she created would be amazing. I decided to purchase the Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop in my latest Sephora Haul (see everything I got HERE). I’ve been using it nearly every single day since! Let me show you this stunning product, and share my thoughts with you.

BECCA x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop

BECCA x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfecter in Champagne PopFirst things first, I wanted to mention the stunning packaging in which Champagne Pop comes. The box is a beautiful rose gold that is so metallic and shiny I had issues taking a decent photograph of it! I normally don’t keep boxes, but I think I will be hanging onto this one because it is a special product, and a huge splurge item for me. I just had to point out the beautiful box to all of you!

BECCA x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne PopThe product itself is also well packaged. Champagne Pop comes in a sturdy compact with a large mirror. Moreover, the highlighter is beyond beautiful. It is a golden shimmer that truly packs a punch. I used to be really afraid of shimmering skin because I tend to be oily, but Champagne Pop is so gorgeous that I feel confident whenever I wear it! The formula is so soft and satiny, and blends out beautifully. I use a very light hand during application because I have very fair skin, but it shows up well and looks stunning. I really can’t praise this product enough!

BECCA x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop
BECCA x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop

Here are swatches of Champagne Pop both in artificial light (left) and natural sunlight (right). I do blend out the product much more when wearing it on my face, but I wanted to show you how strong the shimmer effect is on the skin. You can 100% control how much the product shows up on your face. I recommend using the Real Techniques Setting Brush, which is perfect for powder products.

All in all, I am obsessed with Champagne Pop. I don’t wear makeup every day, but when I do I’ve been reaching for this product nine times out of ten. I’m so glad I decided to purchase it! Champagne Pop is a splurge product at $38, but I highly recommend it. If you have a makeup lover in your life, this also makes the perfect holiday gift! You can buy it exclusively at Sephora HERE.

Have you tried Champagne Pop? Let me know in the comments!

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Birchbox Haul | Hair Care & Makeup

Happy Friday! It’s the last day of Haul Week here on the blog! Today I have a small haul from Birchbox. Although I am no longer subscribed to the Birchbox subscription program, I had saved up $10 worth of points that were expiring this month. I decided to use my points and pick up a hair care favorite, plus a few other goodies. Let me show you what I got – all for $25!

Birchbox Haul Hair Care & MakeupPerhaps you didn’t know that in addition to its subscription program, Birchbox has an amazing online store! It’s a bit like Sephora, but there are often sales and coupons, and even freebies! There is a rewards system as well called Birchbox Points. While subscribers earn points very frequently, anyone can earn points just by shopping online. Each dollar spent is one point earned, and 100 points equals $10. I always save my points, but because they expire in a year’s time, I needed to use them right away!

Birchbox Haul | Hair Care & MakeupFirst, let me share the products I purchased. I had to grab my holy grail dry shampoo from Klorane. No matter how many dry shampoos I try, this one is still a favorite. Unfortunately, it costs $20, so I only pick it up when there is a deal. I also decided to purchase a trio of mini lip glosses from Cythnia Rowley. I received one of these glosses in a Birchbox last year and really loved it, so I grabbed it for $15. I am a little disappointed with how tiny these glosses are, but I’m still happy with them. I’ll have a full blog post showing them off soon!

Birchbox Haul | Hair Care & MakeupThe rest of the items in this haul were freebies! I got an email from Birchbox with a coupon code for this travel size dry shampoo from Living Proof along with the L. Erickson headband. I’ve been doing PiYo for over a month now, so this headband really comes in handy for my short hair. Plus, I am always up for drying out another dry shampoo. Maybe this one will beat out Klorane!

Birchbox Haul | Hair Care & MakeupFinally, Birchbox has a Bonus Shop that lets you add additional freebies to your order depending on what you buy. I always go for the Mystery Sample Pack. If you spend $35 or more, you can add this pack to your order for free. It contains two deluxe samples, but you don’t know what they are. This time I got the Templespa In Good Condition Hair Conditioner and Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Blue Lagoon. These are great products, but I think I’ll be passing them on this time.

All in all, I’m really happy with this Birchbox purchase! I do miss the subscription program, but still recommend it for those of you who have an extra $10 to spend each month. You can subscribe using my referral link HERE if you’re interested.

What is your favorite hair care product at the moment? Let me know in the comments!

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Huge Sephora Haul | Basics Stock Up & More!

Happy Monday, and welcome to Haul Week here at Adventures in Polishland! I’ve done a lot of shopping lately, mainly because October is my birthday month and I wanted to take advantage of all the sales and coupons I received. Plus, I keep my eye on sales all the time, so I shop when the prices are lowest. I asked on my Facebook Page HERE if you wanted me to do a week filled with haul posts, and many of you said yes! Today I’m kicking things off with my biggest Sephora Haul of all time. I had to stock up on a lot of my basic products, but of course treated myself, too. Let me show you what I picked up!

Huge Sephora Haul | Basics Stock Up & More!

First things first, I made this purchase because I was out of a lot of basic products that I use regularly. I also wanted to get my free birthday gift. I waited until Sephora was on Ebates for double cash back, and then made my purchase. Ebates is a website that allows you to earn cash back on many of your online purchases. I’ve used it for years now, and LOVE it! Sephora is typically 4% cash back, but it is often doubled for 8%. Always wait for the double cash back if you can. If you’re not an Ebates member, sign up for free HERE and you’ll get a $10 gift card when you join!

Huge Sephora Haul | Basics Stock Up

While I am normally all about the fabulous and affordable beauty products, there are a few things I am always willing to spend more on because of the amazing quality. I ran out of BeautyBlender Cleanser a few months ago, and my normal brush cleaner is just not cutting it. I decided to get the big size of of the cleanser, because I know it will last me a long time. Plus, it has a pump top that I can keep on the sink! I also grabbed the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I used a sample last year and fell in love with it. I waited until my other primers ran out before I picked this up! Finally, I grabbed my favorite setting spray, Urban Decay De-Slick. I only need a new bottle every 8-12 months, depending on how often I use it, and it is 100% worth the price. This is the third time I’ve purchased it now!

Huge Sephora Haul | Fun GoodiesI decided to pick up a few extra goodies for myself. I’ve wanted the Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop Highlight from the brand BECCA since it came out, and I finally decided to grab it. I am so in love! It is a stunning gold highlight, and I’ve been wearing it every makeup day since it arrived. I’m planning on doing a full review of Champagne Pop so you can see up-close swatches of this product. I also purchased the Sephora Favorites Give Me More Lip value kit. It has 15 high end lip products, mainly in deluxe sample sizes, but there are a few full size products as well. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to try some high end lip products. Plus, I plan on using some of the lippys for gifts and giveaways. It’s just so fun to try out so many goodies!

Huge Sephora Haul | FreebiesOf course, no Sephora order is complete without a few freebies! First, I have the Beauty Insider Birthday Gift, which is a NARS lip duo. I think that is an amazing freebie! I then got the three free samples that come with every order. I picked the Fresh Black Tea Lotion, First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser, and Dior Lip Addict Lip Plumper. I always love getting these extras!

All in all, I did spend a pretty penny at Sephora, but I was able to grab a lot of products I use regularly, plus some treats for my birthday. By shopping during double cash back at Ebates, I got over $14 back on my purchase. I’ve already started putting many of these products to use, and I plan on showing in-depth reviews in the coming weeks! If you’d like to shop for anything you see here, you can use the widget below, which helps support my blog. Make sure to stay tuned for more hauls all week long!

What is on your Sephora Wish List? Let me know in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Drugstore Beauty Haul! | Couponing Tips & Tricks

Happy Friday! Here at Adventures in Polishland I am always focused on living a fabulous and affordable life. One of my favorite parts of each week is going through the Sunday paper and clipping coupons. I then match the coupons up with the weekly sales to score awesome deals at the drugstore. I like to buy beauty products regularly, not just for myself, but for blog reviews and giveaways. I’m able to purchase items at a fraction of the cost thanks to the time I spend planning out my purchases and using coupons. Today I want to share a quick drugstore haul and show you how I got over $35 worth of makeup for just $15. Let’s get started!

Drugstore Beauty Haul  Couponing Tips & Tricks

I went to my local CVS for this particular shopping trip. There were two deals that I wanted to check out, one from Maybelline and the other from L’Oreal. Each brand was having a sale where when you purchased two items, you got $5 in ExtraCare Bucks (“ECB”) back. CVS has an amazing rewards system called ExtraCare where you score tons of great coupons and can earn ECB, which work like free money. If you’re not a member yet, I highly recommend signing up HERE. Otherwise you won’t get exclusive sale prices and coupons! I’m going to break down the two deals I made during this purchase so you can see how I used my coupons.

MAYBELLINE DEAL – Buy 2 Products, Get $5.00 ECB

Drugstore Beauty Haul | Maybelline

I really wanted to purchase the Maybelline Shine-Free Foundation from the Fit Me line because I used it in the past and really loved it. I always recommend you buy products that you either know you’ll use, or you really want to try. There is no use buying items just to use a coupon! I grabbed the mascara up for either a gift item or a future giveaway here.

Items Purchased:

Maybelline Great Lash Big in Blackest Black = $5.99

Maybelline Shine-Free Foundation in Classic Ivory = $9.79

Coupons Used:

$2.00 off Maybelline Mascara (manufacturer’s coupon)

$2.00 off Maybelline Fit Me Product (manufacturer’s coupon)

Money Spent: 5.99 + 9.79 = 15.78 – 4.00 = $11.78

ECB Earned: $5.00

L’OREAL DEAL – Buy 2 Products, Get $5.00 ECB

Drugstore Beauty Haul | L'Oreal

Next, I grabbed a couple items from L’Oreal. My favorite drugstore mascaras come from L’Oreal, so I figured I would try the Miss Manga because I’ve heard great things about it. Plus, I like to have mascara on back-up because it’s good to change up mascaras every three months. I was also on the hunt for a new blush for the fall, so I picked one up from the True Match line to try.

Items Purchased:

L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Blush in Baby Blossom = $11.49

L’Oreal Miss Manga Mascara in Black = $8.49

Coupons Used: 

$3.00 off L’Oreal True Match Product (manufacturer’s coupon)

$1.00 off L’Oreal Eye Product (manufacturer’s coupon)

Money Spent: 11.49 + 8.49 = 19.98 – 4.00 = 15.98

ECB Earned: $5.00

Drugstore Beauty Haul | Couponing Tips & Tricks

I used one manufacturer’s coupon on each item, as I showed above in the deal breakdowns. CVS also allows you to use CVS coupons, too. For this particular purchase I had a $5.00 off any $15.00 purchase coupon that I received in my email. Sometimes I have specific coupons for beauty products, other times I will receive percentage off coupons, but it changes every week. What I can tell you is that CVS will always send me at least one CVS coupon that I can use on each purchase!

Money Spent: 11.78 (Maybelline) + 15.98 (L’Oreal) = 27.76 – 5.00 = $22.76

Now, $22.76 would be your total if all you had was the manufacturer’s coupons and CVS coupon. That is still an incredible savings! The retail price of all the items totals $35.76, so there is already a savings of $13.00, or 47%. But because I am a regular CVS shopper, I had $7.00 in ECB from my last purchase. That means I only spent $15.76! I saved $20 just by clipping some coupons and paying attention to sales. Plus, I earned a total of $10.00 in ECB to use on my next purchase! Every week I earn some ECB that I can use the next time. It makes saving so easy, and shopping really fun!

All in all, I hope you enjoyed this Drugstore Beauty Haul and found my couponing tips and tricks helpful. I go to the drugstore about once per week, so if you would like to see how I use coupons to save money on a regular basis, please let me know in the comments! I am not affiliated with nor am I sponsored by CVS, but it is definitely my drugstore of choice for beauty deals at the moment. Make sure you stop by for some new goodies, either for yourself, or for your friends – the holiday season is just around the corner!

What beauty products have you purchased from the drugstore lately? Let me know in the comments!

Rimmel London Wonder’Lash | Lift Me Up Mascara Review

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to review a brand new mascara from the Rimmel London Wonder’Lash line. The Lift Me Up Mascara has a unique formula with vitamins and cucumber, and is designed to provide lift and volume to the lashes for an eye-awakening look. It comes in a bright green tube with a twisted design, which is sure to stand out in your makeup collection. The Lift Me Up comes in two shades – Black and Extreme Black. Let me share my thoughts on Extreme Black with all of you!

Rimmel London Wonder'Lash  Lift Me Up Mascara Review

THE FORMULA

Rimmel London Wonder'Lash  Lift Me Up Mascara Review

First things first, let’s talk about the formula. The Lift Me Up has a wet formula, much like the Covergirl Lashblast Volume and the Benefit They’re Real. I personally prefer dry mascara formulas, because wet formulas weigh my lashes down. That being said, I do find that the Lift Me Up does a great job at separating the lashes, and really pulling them up to give the lashes a fuller look. While I do wish the formula was lighter, if you like wet formulas you will really like this one. Keep in mind that the mascara does have a cucumber scent to it. While I can’t smell it once it is on my eyes, and I haven’t experienced any irritation, the scent is strong during application. Finally, the formula is great in terms of staying power. The mascara does not flake, and only comes off with eye makeup remover. The Lift Me Up is definitely long-wearing!

PRECISION BRUSH

Rimmel London Wonder'Lash  Lift Me Up Mascara ReviewThe Lift Me Up also comes with what Rimmel is calling a Precision Brush. The brush is quite thick, and I have a lot of trouble with it. For some reason I end up with mascara all over my eyelids despite a careful application. I can’t even feel the brush hitting my eyelids, but I always have to clean up with cotton swabs afterwards to remove the mess. That being said, I usually like to stick with rubber applicators, as these brushes don’t work well for me. If you like mascaras with this type of applicator, I think you’ll have better luck.

All in all, I think the new Rimmel Lift Me Up mascara is good, but much better suited for someone else. I will not be repurchasing this mascara simply because it doesn’t work well for me, but I do think the wet formula and full brush will suit many of you well. The mascara retails for $8.99, but keep an eye out for sales at your local drugstore or department store. I’m interested to hear your thoughts on this mascara, so please let me know what you think of the Lift Me Up in the comments if you’ve tried it already!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

 

NYC New York Color City Proof 24Hr Waterproof Eyeshadow | Review + Swatches

Happy Wednesday! Today am excited to share with you four of the brand new City Proof 24Hr Waterproof Eyeshadow sticks from the brand NYC New York Color. These fabulous and affordable eyeshadow sticks are designed to glide on smooth and stay crease-proof all day. Each has a rich pigmentation and stunning shimmer that can be worn as eyeliner or a cream shadow. Let me go ahead and share my thoughts on these shadows with you!

NYC New York Color City Proof 24Hr Waterproof Eyeshadow | Review + SwatchesBefore I jump into individual reviews, I wanted to mention a few things that apply to all four shades I tried. I absolutely love the packaging on these shadow sticks. They are retractable, so you don’t have to worry about sharpening them. Plus, the cap snaps back on tightly so it doesn’t get lost. As for the formula, they all glide on really smoothly, but I do recommend wearing an eyeshadow primer to get the best pigmentation and crease-free look. I used the Manna Kadar Prime Time, which worked really well. Finally, these eyeshadows are truly long-wearing. While they do blend out well upon application, once they set you need an eye makeup remover to even budge them! I found the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes worked just fine.

Rockefeller Center Snowflakes

NYC New York Color City Proof 24Hr Waterproof Eyeshadow – Rockefeller Center SnowflakesRockefeller Center Snowflakes is a gorgeous white shadow with iridescent shimmer. I really love this shadow, but the formula is a bit patchy upon application so make sure your eyes are primed. Rockefeller Center Snowflakes can be used as a lid color, or even a brow bone highlight when blended out well.

Empire State Building

NYC New York Color City Proof 24Hr Waterproof Eyeshadow –  Empire State BuildingIf you love a smoky eye, you need Empire State Building! This is a gorgeous graphite shade with green and purple shimmer. Empire State Building is a great eyeliner shade, but can definitely be blended on the lid for a night look. The shimmer in this shadow is not as noticeable, so I find Empire State Building one of the more wearable shades of the bunch.

East River Romance

NYC New York Color City Proof 24Hr Waterproof Eyeshadow –  East River RomanceNext up is East River Romance, a vibrant blue shadow with blue and silver shimmer. This eyeshadow has almost a metallic finish, and is definitely the most shimmery of the bunch. I think it is beautiful smudged under the eye for a pop of color. I’m definitely intimidated by this bright shade, but it’s undeniable that the formula is great!

Madison Square Park

NYC New York Color City Proof 24Hr Waterproof Eyeshadow –  Madison Square ParkLast but not least is Madison Square Park, a deep emerald green with green and gold shimmer. Madison Square Park is my favorite of the bunch! This pigmented shadow is so smooth and creamy, and the color is really beautiful. I like that the shimmer is more subdued in this shade, too.

All in all, I’m really impressed with the NYC New York Color City Proof 24Hr Waterproof Eyeshadows. The formulas are really great, and I’m amazed with the great pigmentation. The four shadows I shared with you today are part of a much larger collection of ten shades. You can find them at your local drugstore or department store for just $2.99 each. As always, NYC New York Color continues to amaze me with its quality products at such affordable products!

Will you be picking up any of these shadows?! Let me know in the comments!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Affordable Eye Makeup Starter Kit | Measurable Difference Desert Nights Eyeshadow Giveaway!

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m excited to share with you how to put together an eye makeup starter kit that is fabulous and affordable! This kit is great if you are just starting to wear makeup, but can also be a gift for the makeup lover in your life. Everything featured in this post is under $10 each, so you can be sure to find some awesome products without breaking the bank. Make sure to stay tuned until the end of this post to find out how you can win a Measurable Difference Desert Nights Eyeshadow palette!

Measurable Difference Desert Nights Eyeshadow GIVEAWAY!

BASE / CREAM EYESHADOW

Maybelline Color Tattoo [BUY]

I like to start off any eyeshadow look with an eye base using a cream eyeshadow. The Maybelline Color Tattoo products are excellent quality, and can be purchased on Amazon for just $4.99! I recommend the shade Barely Branded, which is a light tan shade with just a hint of shimmer. You can wear it alone or layer under other eyeshadows. Plus, it’s easy to apply with your fingers!

EYESHADOWMeasurable Difference Desert Nights Eyeshadow Palette Measurable Difference Eyeshadow Palette – Desert Nights [BUY]

I always recommend a neutral eyeshadow palette for beginners. Neutrals are easy to wear during the day and at night, and look good on anyone! The Desert Nights palette from Measurable Difference contains five different shades from light to dark that can create a variety of eye looks. This palette retails for only $6.99 as well, so you can try a good amount of shades for an affordable price tag!

EYELINER

Covergirl Intensify Me! EyelinerCovergirl Intensify Me! Liquid Liner [BUY]

If you have trouble applying eyeliner, I strongly recommend the new Covergirl Intensify Me! Liquid Liner. The tip of the liner is sturdy, and has both a flat side and a skinny side so you can get a really precise line. I love that the liner on this product is a really dark black, and I never experience skipping during application. There is no reason to fear liquid liner with this product!

MASCARA

L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes MascaraL’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes [BUY]

Last but not least, my favorite eye product is mascara. The L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes is one of my all-time favorite mascaras, and I recently repurchased it for the first time in a couple years. It gives a really full look to the lashes, and truly lives up to the voluminous name. I highly recommend it!

GIVEAWAY

Chrislie.com is giving away the Measurable Difference Desert Nights Eyeshadow Palette! I am sharing this giveaway with all of you, but please know the giveaway is being run by the brand. All information can be found in the giveaway widget. Good luck!

I hope you found this post helpful whether you are a makeup newbie or are simply looking for some new products to try. Be sure to let me know your favorite eye makeup products in the comments!

The giveaway in this post is being hosted by Chrislie. This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

JGOB Blending Sponge for Beauty | Review + Giveaway

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to bring you a review of a beauty sponge from the brand JGOB. You all know that I love the BeautyBlender, but I don’t love the $20 price tag. That being said, I’ve stuck with the BeautyBlender because I haven’t found a more affordable option that works. When I got the opportunity to try the JGOB Blending Sponge, I couldn’t resist. It is about $8 cheaper than a BeautyBlender, which is a decent savings. Let me share my thoughts on the sponge, and stay tuned to the end for a giveaway!

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

JGOB Blending Sponge for Beauty | Review + Giveaway

The JGOB Blending Sponge comes in 11 colors and in a screw-top travel case. I got the neon green to review. The sponge is designed to reduce waste by having the perfect density so the makeup goes on your face without getting trapped in the sponge. JGOB also designed the sponge to be soft to the touch and the perfect shape to work on all areas of the face. Finally, the sponge is easy to clean and use again.

MY THOUGHTS
IMG_0772

As you can see, the sponge is very similar to the BeautyBlender in size and shape. It does feel very soft to the touch in my hand, but it also feels much denser than the BeautyBlender. This made me very nervous to use the product. However, I was so surprised when I went to apply my foundation! The JGOB sponge applies my foundation even better than a BeautyBlender. I definitely find that more product ends up on my face than usual, and I get a beautiful finish. The one main drawback for me is that the sponge is a bit rough on my face. I do use it damp, but it is nowhere near as soft as a BeautyBlender. That being said, I think that is a fair trade-off for having such an amazing application.

JGOB Blending Sponge for Beauty | Review + GiveawayI also used the JGOB Blending Sponge with my favorite CC Cream. I didn’t enjoy that result quite as much, but it was still comparable to how it applies with the BeautyBlender. Finally, I did wash the sponge and the product came out nicely. The sponge was stained a little, but the majority of product washed out easily. I’m really impressed!

FINAL THOUGHTS

All in all, I am really loving the JGOB Blending Sponge! I’ve been reaching for it to apply my foundation all the time now! I still really love my BeautyBlenders, as they feel super soft on the skin, but if you are really on a budget and want a comparable product, I highly recommend this sponge. You can buy it on Amazon HERE for just $11.97!

GIVEAWAY

Now it’s your chance to win one of these awesome Blending Sponges from JGOB! They are giving away one sponge to one winner in the United States. Please read the complete Terms & Conditions in the Rafflecopter widget before entering. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Decluttering My Makeup Collection | How to Destash in 3 Easy Steps

Happy Wednesday! A few months back I did a big clean-out of my makeup collection, and shared some tips on how to destash HERE. It felt great to get rid of so much old makeup, but after my move I realized I still owned a lot of products that I wasn’t using or loving. I decided to go through my entire makeup collection a second time and toss a lot more. I wanted to share my decluttering with you again because I’ve come up with three steps to follow to make this process extremely simple. Let me show you how to clean out your beauty collection!

Decluttering My Makeup | How to Destash in 3 Easy Steps

STEP ONE – EXPIRED PRODUCTS

How to Destash in 3 Easy Steps | Step OneI always start my decluttering process by going through my entire makeup collection and checking the expiration date on each and every product. Most skincare items will have an expiration date printed on the top, and almost all beauty products have THIS symbol printed on them to help you distinguish how long to keep open products. Of course, I also use my own judgment. Although I love the Julep lip gloss pictured above, I’ve had it for a couple years and the formula was looking all goopy. Similarly, I’ve owned the Avon eyeliners at the bottom of the photo for WAY too many years. Goodbye, expired products!

STEP TWO – DOUBLE PRODUCTS

How to Destash in 3 Easy Steps | Step 2Now that all the expired products are gone, take some time to see if you own doubles of anything. This is the time to look at products side-by-side and see if they are so similar that you don’t need to own both. I got rid of the L’Oreal eyeshadow and mini eyeshadow quad above because I own an eyeshadow palette that has these shades in it. In the same way, I own a smaller size of the Manna Kadar Sheer Glo, so there is no need to keep this big one when I rarely use it. This step is difficult, but don’t rationalize – if you own double products, get rid of the one you don’t like as much.

STEP THREE – PRODUCTS YOU DON’T USE

How to Destash in 3 Easy Steps | Step 3Last but not least is the most difficult step, and that is getting rid of products you aren’t using. I find this hard because I might use these products at some point in the future, but now is really the time for honesty. While someday I might need a blue or green eyeshadow, I’ve literally never used those eyeshadow shades since I bought the CoverGirl palette you see in the picture. In the same way, I will never use the three lip products because the shades don’t work with my skin tone even though I like them. Make a rule for yourself that if you haven’t used a product in three months, it’s time to get rid of it. I use a three month time period because makeup does expire somewhat quickly. Plus, my makeup collection has a tendency to grow quite a bit in a three month period, so that is a good number to keep in mind.

All in all, it feels great to declutter my makeup collection every few months. It leaves me with a stash filled with products that I love, and allows me to get some new goodies, too. I hope you found these tips both motivational and simple to follow. Please let me know if you would like to see an updated makeup collection tour!

How do you declutter your makeup?! Share your tips in the comments!

NYX Butter Gloss Reviews | Merengue, Créme Brulee, and Peach Cobbler

Happy Friday! Today I have swatches and reviews of three Butter Glosses from the brand NYX. I am pretty new to NYX, and am trying out the brand’s many products slowly. I am so glad NYX is now easily available at CVS Stores, and at Ulta both in store and online so I can try out these fabulous and affordable products! NYX has a vast product line, but I decided to start with the Butter Gloss lip gloss when I got a coupon for it at CVS last spring. I fell in love, and had to pick up a couple more! Let me show you the Butter Glosses I have in my makeup collection!

NYX Butter Gloss Reviews | Merengue, Créme Brulee, and Peach Cobbler

MERENGUE

NYX Butter Gloss – Merengue
NYX Butter Gloss – Merengue

Merengue is a pink lip gloss with cool undertones of blue and purple. Like all of the NYX Butter Glosses, Merengue has a slight vanilla scent that I really love. In addition, it packs a sheer amount of color to the lips, and can be worn alone or over another lip product. I’m not really a fan of Merengue with my skin tone, but I think it would look gorgeous with dark skin. I’m going to try layering this one to make it more wearable for me.

CRÉME BRULEE

NYX Butter Gloss – Créme Brulee
NYX Butter Gloss – Créme Brulee

My favorite of the bunch is Créme Brulee, a peachy-pink nude gloss that for me is a ‘my lips but better’ shade. Créme Brulee is the first Butter Gloss I purchased, and definitely my most worn. It is perfect for daily wear, and can be layered over many nude or pink lipsticks. The formula of each NYX Butter Gloss is awesome as well, because while they are a bit tacky, that slight tackiness allows the product to be long-wearing. They are comfortable to wear, and I would not label them “sticky.”

PEACH COBBLER

NYX Butter Gloss – Peach Cobbler
NYX Butter Gloss – Peach Cobbler

Last but not least is Peach Cobbler, a bright red-orange gloss. Peach Cobbler is quite pigmented, and brighter than I normally wear. It does look great with my fair skin tone, and I just need to go ahead and wear it. Peach Cobbler is a great gloss to wear any time of year as well!

All in all, I’m really enjoying the NYX Butter Gloss lip glosses. While I’m still trying to find out the perfect shades for me, I don’t mind experimenting because these glosses cost just $4.99! Plus, both CVS and Ulta offer coupons and sales on NYX on a regular basis, so you can score these for just a couple dollars (if not less!). These glosses are really great quality for the price, and I highly recommend them!

What are your favorite NYX products? Let me know in the comments!