rimmel – Adventures in Polishland

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5 Beauty Brands I Wish Would Go Vegan!

Posted on March 12, 2018May 24, 2018 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I thought it would be fun to share with you my top five beauty brands that I wish would go vegan. Of course, in a perfect world, all brands would stop testing on animals and using animal ingredients and byproducts. That being said, there are a handful of brands that I really miss using now that I’m vegan. While I can almost always find vegan replacements for products I used to enjoy, there are a few things that I would love to be able to repurchase with a vegan formula. Here are the five beauty brands that I wish would go vegan!

1. Sally Hansen

Adventures in Polishland began purely as a nail polish blog, and my favorite brand was always Sally Hansen. Not only does Sally Hansen have extremely budget friendly options, but the quality of the polishes is excellent as well. From the ultra-affordable Xtreme Wear line, to the stunning Miracle Gel formulas, I could always find a polish I loved from this drugstore brand. I would love to see Sally Hansen go vegan, as it can be difficult to find affordable vegan nail polishes at the drugstore.

2. CoverGirl

Another drugstore brand I miss using is CoverGirl. My favorite product was the TruBlend Liquid Makeup foundation. I went through several bottles of this product, and it was my go to foundation. I also really liked the Clump Crusher mascara. While I have been able to find a drugstore foundation from Wet ‘n Wild that I like, it still doesn’t compare to my old faithful TruBlend. Plus, it would be great if this classic makeup brand would take a stance against animal cruelty, and provide customers with affordable and vegan products.

3. Benefit

The one high end brand on this list is Benefit. I liked testing and trying a lot of Benefit’s products, but the ones I miss the most are the blushes. My go to shade for years was Hervana, and I even had a Benefit blush palette that I used all the time. I currently love the blushes I use from Tarte, but the vegan shades I own are all limited edition. I would love for Benefit to stop testing on animals and begin creating product formulas that do not contain any animal derived ingredients.

4. L’Oreal

When it comes to hair care, I really miss the L’Oreal shampoos, conditioners, and styling products I used to use. Not only are L’Oreal hair products really affordable, but they were also very effective in caring for my hair. Since going vegan, I’ve struggled to find products that work as well at the same price point. I don’t mind spending more if it means getting a vegan product, but it would be awesome if L’Oreal would commit to going vegan. I also need to mention that the L’Oreal mascaras were some of my absolute favorites. Wouldn’t it be awesome if I could buy the Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara again?!

5. Rimmel

Last but not least is Rimmel, another budget friendly brand from the drugstore. The main reason I miss Rimmel is because the brand makes my Holy Grail setting powder in the Stay Matte Pressed Powder. I went through several of these powders, and am having a hard time finding a vegan dupe. Of course, I also loved the Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation and the Keep Calm Lip Balms. I hope that Rimmel will take a stance against animal cruelty, and go vegan very soon!

Some Final Thoughts

It’s important to note that many of the brands I mentioned today either claim to be cruelty free, or write misleading animal testing policies on their websites. I highly recommend checking out sources like Ethical Elephant, Logical Harmony, and Cruelty Free Kitty if you are ever unsure about a brand’s cruelty free or vegan status. Please click HERE to learn more about why Benefit, L’Oreal, and Rimmel are not cruelty free.

Moreover, while I do miss using some non-vegan products, particularly the ones mentioned today, going cruelty free and vegan is overall quite easy and always worth the extra effort. There are so many brands that are either 100% vegan, or offer a lot of vegan products. I can still go to the drugstore or Target and pick up many of the products I need, or I can place an online order with Ulta, Vitacost, or Sephora if I have trouble finding things in the store. I highly encourage you to transition to a cruelty free and vegan lifestyle, and I think you will find it is much easier than you expect!

Follow me on Instagram HERE for daily vegan beauty and lifestyle tips!

April Favorites | 7 Springtime Loves

Posted on May 3, 2016April 25, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! May is here, and that means it’s time to share all of the things I loved in April with all of you. I’ve been trying a lot of new products lately, and thankfully many of them turned out to be amazing. I always love discovering new products and sharing them with you. In addition to the products, another favorite of mine has been the warm weather. I’m so glad spring is here! Let me share some of my springtime loves from the month of April!

MAKEUP

L’Oreal Power Volume 24-Hour Mascara in Black – [BUY]

I’ve had really bad luck with mascaras lately, but thankfully this one from L’Oreal is amazing! I typically don’t like thick brush applicators, but this one is fabulous. I can see my lashes grow as I apply this mascara. It gives a really full look to my lashes, and wears all day. I got this during the CVS clearance sale back in December, and am glad I did. L’Oreal has some of my favorite drugstore mascaras for sure!

Rimmel London Natural Bronzer – [REVIEW] [BUY]

I can’t believe it, but I’m finally using bronzer! I’ve slowly started adding this bronzer into my daily routine, and I’m really enjoying it. If you have very fair skin, this bronzer is the way to go. It is very light, and perfect for beginners like me, because if you mess up a little you don’t need to redo your entire face of makeup. I’m so glad I finally gave this a try!

MAKE Matte Finish Eyeshadow in Alabaster [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’ve also been loving this eyeshadow from MAKE. Alabaster is perfect for cancelling out all the discoloration in my eyelids, and giving the eye a nice brightening effect without needing a full eyeshadow look. Feel free to read my full review by clicking the link above, where I include swatches as well. This is a high end product, but definitely worth the price!

NAIL CARE

Julep Conditioning Nail Polish Remover [BUY]

I went back to my all-time favorite nail polish remover this month, and that is this acetone free one from Julep. This remover is amazing. Not only does it not have a strong smell, but it removes my nail polish easily and it does condition my nails. It is on the expensive side, so I don’t buy it often. Luckily I’ve received a few as gifts lately! I highly recommend this!

BODY CARE

Bath & Body Works Shower Gel in Beautiful Day [BUY]

I got this shower gel for free last spring thanks to a coupon, but am just opening it up this year. I love to have seasonal scents going in the shower, and Beautiful Day is fruity and fresh. I absolutely love it! Plus, my bathroom smells great for a while after I get out of the shower. I do wish this product had more natural ingredients, but I still love Bath & Body Works.

TELEVISION

Dancing with the Stars

I am really loving this season of DWTS! I thought I would be rooting for Jodie Sweetin, since I am such a huge Full House fan, but I’m also loving Wanyá and Nyle DiMarco! I’m excited to see how the competition continues, and I am really glad Len is back as a judge this season.

FOOD & DRINK

Dunkin’ Donuts Cookie Dough Iced Coffee

My last favorite this month is Cookie Dough iced coffee! I typically drink my coffee black every morning, but in the warmer months I love a nice, sweet iced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts. I’ve been treating myself to the Cookie Dough flavor recently, and I’m obsessed with it. If you’re looking for a sweet treat, I definitely recommend it!

That wraps up my monthly favorites for April! I hope you enjoyed learning more about my springtime loves. Definitely share your favorites with me in the comments, or use the hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media so I can find your posts! If you’re watching DWTS, definitely let me know who you think will win the mirrorball trophy this season, too.

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Simple Glam Makeup Look featuring Rimmel London | All Drugstore Products

Posted on February 19, 2016February 11, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have a makeup look to share with you featuring products from the drugstore brand Rimmel London. I was recently sent a package from Rimmel filled with products to create a glam makeup look. I couldn’t wait to test out all of the goodies and share them with you! In this post I’ll first be sharing each product individually and my first impressions of the product. Then I’ll share my completed makeup look at the end! Let’s go ahead and get started with this simple glam makeup look using all drugstore products!

THE PRODUCTS

Lasting Finishing Skin Perfecting Full Coverage Foundation – $7.99

I was really intrigued with this foundation. It claims to be a long-wearing, 25-hour formula, and it also is formulated to be full coverage. I received the shade Classic Ivory, which is a bit too dark for me right now. The formula is definitely a medium coverage, and I recommend it for those with combination or oily skin, because it does stick to dry patches. That being said, it dries to a beautiful semi-matte finish. I love the feel of it on the skin, and it wears nicely throughout the day. I think this is a good pick for a drugstore foundation!

Rimmel London Natural Bronzer Natural Bronzer – $5.99

I was a bit hesitant to try out this bronzer, but if you’re going for a glam look you might as well go all out! I’m really impressed with this bronzer. It applies so smoothly and blends out beautifully. It truly is a natural bronzer, and I highly recommend it for bronzer newbies like me. I received the shade Sun Bronze, which worked well with my fair complexion. I’m excited to continue using this product!

Rimmel Scandaleyes in Bulletproof Beige Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick in Bulletproof Beige – $4.59

I went for this shimmery gold eyeshadow stick for my entire eye look. I applied this cream shadow over the lid and into the crease. It’s a beautiful color, and because it’s shimmery it can stand on its own. I like that this is a no fuss product! Plus, because I was wearing a bold lip, I knew I could go lighter on the eyes.

Scandaleyes Xtreme Mascara – $6.99

I’ve had mixed luck with Rimmel mascaras in the past, but I have to say I am really impressed with this one! The brush has the rubbery texture that I like, and it definitely gives me both volume and length. The formula is a bit on the wet side, but I’m sure once it dries out a bit I will love it even more. I got the shade Black, and I highly recommend this one!

Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick Moisture Renew Lipstick – $7.99

Last but not least is the Moisture Renew Lipstick in Red Alert. While this shade is outside of my comfort zone, I am loving the formula! It definitely feels very moisturizing on the lips, and it applies very smoothly. I often feel weird when wearing lipstick, but I found this one very comfortable to wear. The red color is a bit staining, but I used a makeup remover wipe and that worked well. I will be checking out the other shades in this line for sure!

THE MAKEUP LOOK

Here is my final look! I used all drugstore products in this look, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. I would wear this for a special occasion or a night out, or I would wear a lighter lip color for a day look. All of the products I used will be listed for your convenience.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Skin Perfecting Full Coverage Foundation in Classic Ivory http://amzn.to/23ZBxvN
Rimmel London Natural Bronzer in Sun Bronze http://amzn.to/1V6Q7LO
NYC New York Color Blush in Riverside Rose http://amzn.to/23ZCnbY
L’Oreal True Match Lumi in Rose http://amzn.to/23ZBNL9
Maybelline BROWdrama Pro Palette in Blonde http://amzn.to/1Q9Z4jc
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick in Bulletproof Beige http://amzn.to/1V6QVQZ
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Xtreme Mascara in Black http://amzn.to/1Kei2cq
Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent http://amzn.to/1V6Rieg
Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick in Red Alert http://amzn.to/23ZD6d8

All in all, I’m so glad I received these products from Rimmel to test out for all of you. I’m quite impressed with the great quality, especially with the mascara and lipstick. Rimmel is often on sale at the drugstore, and coupons can sometimes be found in the Sunday newspaper. I highly recommend trying out these products! Also, please let me know if you’ll be recreating this simple glam look!

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

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Sticks in Paranoid Purple & Bulletproof Beige | Swatches & Review

Posted on February 10, 2016February 9, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! I recently received a bunch of new products from Rimmel, and wanted to jump right in with some reviews for all of you. First up I have two shades of Scandaleyes, Rimmel’s eyeshadow sticks. The Scandaleyes line is designed to provide a 24-hour wear and is formulated to be waterproof. I will be sharing Paranoid Purple and Bulletproof Beige with you today. Let’s jump right into the shadows!

I want to begin with my thoughts on the Scandaleyes in general. Both of these eyeshadow sticks have a really nice formula that provides an opaque look. While they do smudge out a bit, they are not very blendable, which is a drawback for me. I also wish these were twist-up sticks instead of sticks that need to be sharpened. Otherwise, I think the packaging is sturdy and sleek. These shadows also remove easily with eye makeup remover, which I really appreciate!

Paranoid Purple

Paranoid Purple is a deep purple cream shadow with purple shimmer. I am really impressed with how pigmented this shadow is. It would make a beautiful eyeliner, but also a great pop of color. Paranoid Purple would work well in a smokey eye if you are looking for an alternative to black and grey. It’s outside of my comfort zone, but is definitely a beautiful shadow.

Bulletproof Beige

Bulletproof Beige is a gorgeous yellow gold shade with bronze and green shimmer. Just as with Paranoid Purple, Bulletproof Beige has a pigmented formula with an opaque finish. I really like that this is a neutral shade that is very wearable. It can act as a cream base, or can be applied over another eyeshadow look to add a pop of shimmer. If you are looking to try out the Scandaleyes line, I think Bulletproof Beige is a great place to start.

All in all, I think the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Sticks are great drugstore products. They are not comparable to high end cream shadows in terms of blendability, but they are long wearing and apply smoothly. You can purchase Scandaleyes at your local drugstore or department store for $4.49 each, or online HERE. Be sure to let me know in the comments if you’ve tried any Scandaleyes, or if you plan on picking some up in your next beauty haul!

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

Rimmel London Keep Calm and Lip Balm | Swatches & Review

Posted on November 25, 2015November 18, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am very excited to share with you three new products from the drugstore brand Rimmel London. I absolutely love tinted lip balms, because they are really easy to apply and wear. Rimmel just released a new line called Keep Calm and Lip Balm. Not only is the packaging extremely adorable, but the product is designed to increase lip moisture by 22%. With the colder weather in full swing, I couldn’t wait to test these out! Let me show you swatches of the three colors I received, and share my thoughts on them.

Each product has a sheer wash of color in addition to its moisturizing qualities. I do really like the formula of these lip products. They glide on easily and feel very soft and nourishing on the lips. I don’t find that these work as well as a medicated lip balms – while my lips feel nice while wearing the lip balm, they are not healed upon removal. Nevertheless, these are a great option if you want an affordable tinted balm that will not irritate your dry lips. Let’s jump right into swatches of the three I received!

Keep Calm and Kiss is a pale pink shade that Rimmel describes as Pink Blush. It’s not highly pigmented, but adds a nice wash of color. I think it’s perfect for the winter months. It looks great with my fair skin tone, but I think it can work on anyone! I should also mention that each of these balms has a sweet candy smell. It’s not overpowering, but I love it!

Next up is Keep Calm and Rock, a berry shade with purple undertones. I’m so impressed with the rich pigmentation of Keep Calm and Rock! This is the perfect product for those who want to try out darker lips, but may be intimidated by a lipstick. I love this for the holiday season as well!

Last but not least is Keep Calm and Play, what I would describe as a rosy coral shade. It has a light pigmentation, and is a ‘my lips but better’ shade for me. This is definitely the shade I would wear on the daily!

All in all, I am loving the Keep Calm and Lip Balm line from Rimmel London! While these are not a replacement for a healing lip balm for me, they are the perfect product to wear all day for a hint of color and a moisturizing feel on the lips. These will make an excellent stocking stuffer this holiday season, and are a fabulous and affordable $2.50! Keep an eye out at your local drugstore and department store, or use the store locator on Rimmel’s website HERE.

Will you be grabbing any of these? 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.

Rimmel London Wonder’Lash | Lift Me Up Mascara Review

Posted on September 25, 2015September 16, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

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!

THE FORMULA

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

The 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.

Back to School Week | Daily Makeup for School

Posted on August 26, 2015August 21, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today for Back to School Week I’m going to be sharing my go to makeup products for school. There are a lot of factors to consider when getting ready for school every morning. You want your makeup to last all day, feel light and comfortable, and be quick to apply in the morning. I am also a huge fan of wearing minimal and natural makeup to school. I’ll be showing you the makeup products that I use on a daily basis, whether I’m heading to school or not. They are all drugstore products, and won’t break your student budget. Let’s jump right into my favorite daily makeup!

FACE PRODUCTS

I like to stick with a three product system for my face makeup. First, I use a primer. This will ensure my makeup stays put all day. A great option from the drugstore is Maybelline Baby Skin. It measures up to other high end face primers for a fraction of the price. I then follow up with a liquid foundation. My all-time favorite is the Covergirl trueBLEND, which is under $10 at the drugstore and comes in a wide range of shades. It is a light to medium coverage, but is quite buildable. It also blends out really well. Finally, I set my foundation with the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder. This is a cult favorite, and I’ve repurchased it what feels like a dozen times. It is beyond awesome at keeping your face matte and in place all day – take my word for it.

EYE PRODUCTS

I keep my eye makeup very simple on a daily basis, especially when I was in school. I think there are really only two must have products. First is a good eyebrow product. I love using the Milani Brow Fix Kit because it contains everything I need to fill in my brows – brow powder in two shades, a highlighter, tweezers, angled brush, and sponge applicator. I’ve tried a lot of drugstore eyebrow products, and this is by far my favorite. Next, I love a good mascara. It adds a lot to your face without being much trouble. My favorite of the moment is the Covergirl The Super Sizer. It lengthens and adds volume in one!

BLUSH & HIGHLIGHTER

While I like to keep my makeup pretty simple, blush and highlighter are quick ways to add some dimension and color. I’ve been completely obsessed with the new L’Oreal Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator in the shade Rose for highlighter. It’s so beautiful and wearable! In addition, I love the elf Studio Blush Palette in Light, which I reviewed HERE. This $6 palette includes four different blushes, so you can pick a shade based on your mood and outfit. It’s awesome!

LIP PRODUCTS

Last but not least are lip products! One of my most used lip products is the Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain in the shade Honey. It stays on all day through eating and drinking, so it’s perfect for going to school. Another product that I love is the NYX Butter Gloss in the shade Créme Brulee. It is a great ‘my lips but better’ color, and can be worn over the Revlon stain or on its own. These are both a great way to finish your daily makeup look!

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That brings us to the end of the post! I hope you enjoyed seeing what my daily makeup is for school. Of course, you an make this your own by adding more products, or simply wearing just powder and mascara. The key is to be comfortable so you can focus on your studies and not worry about your face. Make sure to stay tuned as Back to School Week continues!

What are your go-to makeup products for school? Let me know in the comments!

Top 5 Makeup Products Under $5.00!

Posted on March 4, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m excited to share with you some of my all-time favorite and most affordable beauty products! I’ve seen this type of post on YouTube countless times, and figured it was about time I go ahead and share my Top 5 Makeup Products Under $5.00 on my blog. After all, Adventures in Polishland is dedicated to fabulous and affordable beauty! Let me share some of my favorite makeup products with you!

Just a quick note before we get into the products – the prices reflect the retail price that I found online. Pricing varies by store and by region, so keep that in mind when you go to your local store. The good news is, you can buy each item online with the links provided!

RIMMEL STAY MATTE PRESSED POWDER

$3.97 on Amazon [BUY]

I’ve loved the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder for years, and I’ve repurchased it time and time again. It does an excellent job of controlling my shiny skin, and it’s never cakey. I use the shade 001 Transparent, which does not add color to the face. It’s perfect over any makeup look, or on days you just want to reduce shine. I’ve tried other pressed powders, but always go back to this one. I’ll need to purchase a new one soon!

e.l.f. STUDIO BLUSH

$3.00 on e.l.f. [BUY]

This is the first blush I purchased when I started trying out makeup in my everyday life a couple years ago. I grabbed it because of the cheap price, and I’m so glad I did! The shade you see above is Pink Passion, and while it may look very bright and intimidating, it’s actually quite wearable because it blends out flawlessly. I also love the sleek packaging. I hope to try out more shades from this line very soon.

PHYSICIANS FORMULA MATTE EYESHADOW

$4.37 on Drugstore.com [BUY]

I don’t wear eyeshadow often, but when I do I automatically reach for this quad. The matte formula is great, and I can create a complete eye look with these four shadows. In fact, I only use three – the dark grey is not my style. I picked this up during a coupon deal at Rite Aid a while back, and I’m so glad I did! It’s a must if you’re seeking affordable matte shadows.

JORDANA FABULINER EYELINER

$2.49 at Kmart [BUY]

This eyeliner is such an insane bargain! I first learned about it from my favorite YouTubers EleventhGorgeous a couple years back. I have trouble applying eyeliner, and I thought this marker-like tip would be helpful. It’s definitely easier to apply, and it leaves a nice, black line. I appreciate how affordable the Jordana Fabuliner is, because I very rarely use eyeliner and don’t have to worry about wasting my money on a product that’s almost never touched. If you’re looking for a perfect eyeliner, you need to try this one!

BABY LIPS TINTED LIP BALM

$3.68 on Amazon [BUY]

I’m a Baby Lips superfan, and if you’ve followed Adventures in Polishland for a while I’m sure you know that already! Lately I’ve been loving the Dr Rescue line because of the added moisturization (the shade Berry Soft is pictured above), but I honestly love them all and wear them so frequently. I have 13 Baby Lips in my collection, and it pains me that I don’t own them all! The light wash of color is just perfect, and Baby Lips are definitely one of my all-time favorite product lines.

That’s it for my Top 5 Makeup Products Under $5.00! I hope this post helped you discover something new at a great price. Keep in mind that these items often go on sale, plus you can use coupons for an even cheaper price. How awesome is that?! Share some of your favorite affordable products in the comments, and let me know if you’d like a nail polish edition of this post as well!

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

Influenster Uni VoxBox Unboxing

Posted on March 29, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I have a box of goodies from the website Influenster to share with all of you. Influenster is a free website that anyone can join. Once you create a profile and interact with the site a bit, you become eligible to get free products to test out. I was recently sent the Uni VoxBox. This box is filled with products geared toward college students. It contains a mix of beauty and lifestyle items, so I thought I would share it with all of you!

I was pretty excited with the size of the box! I knew there had to be some fun goodies in there!

First up are the beauty products! From the left to right, the products are:

NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Forever Fuchsia – $1.99 – I’ve never tried an NYC lipstick before, but this looks like a bright pink that is great for the spring season. I’ll have to give this a try soon!
imPRESS Press-On Manicure in Straight Up – $7.99 – I am so excited to try these press-on nails! Grav3yardGirl, one of my favorite YouTubers, talks about these nails all the time, and she really loves them. I will be sure to do a true wear test on these and report back!
Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation – $5.49 – You already know how much I love this foundation! See my complete review HERE if you missed it.

The Uni VoxBox also had a few lifestyle products inside.

Red Rose REAL TEA Premium Water Enhancer in Black Tea – $4.49 – I love iced tea in the warmer months, so this water enhancer might be a great way to make my own on the go! I’m a bit disappointed that this does contain preservatives, but I’ll still test it out for sure!
Playtex Sport Fresh Balance Tampons – $4.99 – I was super surprised to find a full size box of tampons in here! Feminine care products tend to be more expensive, especially for a college student.
Pilot Acroball PureWhite Pen – $1.53 – I can always use a good pen! I’ve been hearing about this line a lot recently, so I wonder what the hype is. I’ll have to find out!

I’m really excited about the Uni VoxBox! It contains over $25 worth of products! I will definitely post a review of the imPRESS nails, but if you want to learn more about any of these products, please let me know in the comments! If you would like an invitation to join Influenster, please send me your email address.

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

Drugstore Foundation Review: Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse

Posted on February 19, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I have a review of the brand new Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation. I’ve been using the Stay Matte Pressed Powder for years now, so when I saw that Rimmel expanded the Stay Matte line I had to try it out. Since I have combination skin that gets oily throughout the day, I hoped this new foundation would help control that shine and keep me fresh faced all day long. Let me share my thoughts on this foundation with you!

The Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation comes in a squeeze tube at the standard foundation size of 1oz. There are eight shades in the line, and I got shade 091 Light Ivory. This foundation is advertised to be lightweight and control shine, as well as blend flawlessly for a natural look. It retails for around $5.49 at drugstores (I got mine at Duane Reade!).

As for the formula, I find it to be a bit on the thick side. It’s definitely a heavier consistency than I expected, but it blends out flawlessly. I’ve tried it both with and without primer, and I do prefer to use a primer just to have a smooth and flawless base. To apply the foundation, I use a damp BeautyBlender, which works perfectly! This is definitely a full coverage foundation, but it does not feel heavy on this skin. No cake face here!

The Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation also has an amazing wear time! I’ve tested this for about two weeks now, and when I get home after an eight to ten hour day, my skin still looks great. While I do get a bit shiny without any touch ups or oil absorbing sheets, I see a huge improvement when I use this foundation. It is definitely one of my new favorites!

All in all, I am really impressed with the new Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation. It is so affordable, and my skin loves it! I highly recommend it, and now want to try the other new products in the Stay Matte line. Let in me know in the comments if you’ve tried the Stay Matte BB Cream or Primer!