Hard Candy Blush Crush in Bombshell (MAC MSF dupe!)

Happy Tuesday, beauties! I was strolling through Wal-Mart & decided to check out the Hard Candy section, I've looked through a few times & even purchased some items for a friend overseas but for some reason never picked up anything for myself (THE HORROR!) This product in particular stood out to me because I have a love for all MAC Mineralize Skin Finishes...even with my pro discount, MSF's aren't cheap.  I grabbed the bronziest shade I could find and happily skipped to the checkout (ok, I lied, I just walked).  

The item I picked up is Hard Candy's Blush Crush Baked Blush in Bombshell. I'm such a sucker for packaging & I must say, Hard Candy's packaging is pretty dang fabulous!  I tried to get a good picture of the front of this blush but because of the reflective silver it made it a bit difficult...the best one I could get was this:

 See, told you the packaging was pretty awesome :)

The color Bombshell that I picked up is a medium golden tan with a touch of pink swirled throughout.  I don't see this being a very versatile color for different skin tones because of how orange it could end up looking. The good news is that although it's very pigmented, it can be sheered out with a bit of blending.  It's shimmery without being over the top e.g. no chunky glitter. I'd stay away from this if you have very large pores on your cheeks or wherever else you may apply this because it will definitely accentuate them. The formula is buttery smooth & applies beautifully, just like a MAC MSF. 

These 2 swatches were taken with studio lighting, the left is very heavily swatched & the the right is blended out.

These swatches were taken with natural light outside, as above left is heavily swatched & the right is blended out.

 I got about 4-5 hours of wear before this started to fade, which isn't too bad considering how fast everything fades on me.  The Blush Crush is only $7 & is .28oz (8g) which comes to $25 an ounce whereas MAC Mineralize Skin Finish is $29 for .35oz (10g) and that's about $83 an ounce! That's a huge difference! 

There were 2 other shades available which I'm looking forward to picking up during my next shopping trip.

If you're looking for a great MAC MSF dupe, definitely check these out at Wal-Mart, you won't be disappointed. 

Until next time,

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This or That Makeup Tag

It's been so long since I've done a tag so I was stoked when I saw that the lovely Caateryna tagged me in her post :)

Check out her answers here and while you're there take some time to look around, she's got some AMAZING nail art and one of my very favorites, her DIY Magnetic Palette! Your own homemade Z Palette for a lot less! Seriously, she rocks!

1. Blush or Bronzer? I'd have to say bronzer for sure!  In a pinch you can just use your bronzer to contour and blend up a bit and voila, blush!
2. Lipgloss or Lipstick? I used to be obsessed with lip gloss but over the last few years I am a total lipstick junkie.  I really can't even stand the feeling of gloss on my lips anymore, my hair just gets stuck to it! LOL
3. Chapstick or Lip Butter? Korres Lip Butter FTW!
4. Matte or Sparkle Eye Shadow? Well, I like a good mix of both but if I HAD to choose it would be matte!
5. Gel, Liquid, Cream, or Pencil Eyeliner? If I'm running late, pencil.  If I have time then I choose liquid. 
6. Foundation or Concealer? Foundation, with a good foundation I usually don't even need concealer, just a color-corrector depending on how my face looks that day. 
7. Liquid or Powder Foundation? Liquid for sure! I do use powder foundation to set the liquid though :) I've never been a fan of powder foundation on it's own. 
8. Neutral or Statement Eyes? Statement eyes 5 days a week, the other 2 days are usually neutral for me...so I guess I'd have to choose statement! Hehe
9. Pressed or Loose Shadows? Pressed, I only like loose when I'm doing something really artsy like fun designs. 
10. Waterproof or Non Water proof? Depends on what product...mascara = non.  Foundation = waterproof :)
11. Brushes, Sponges or Fingers? Brushes, with the exception of my Beauty Blender. 
12. Powder, Cream, or Liquid Highlighter? Powder on myself, liquid on my clients.

Thanks Cat for tagging me! I tag these beauties:

Vanity & Vodka

Glitter Gloss & Glaze

Makeup Junkie Nikki

FashionCHICsta

Geniabeme

The New Beauty Review

Gloss & Glitz

Lady Million

Your BFF

Until next time,

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July Starlooks Starbox - All Makeup Monthly Subscription Service!

Okay, let's face it...by now you all know how much I ADORE monthly subscription services!  Last month I reviewed my June Starlooks Starbox which can be seen by clicking here.  I thought that this would be one of those services where the first month is fabulous but the quality just goes down from there. Well, not with this company! This month is probably one of my favorites out of every sub service box I've ever recieved. I'm in LOOOVE!

Here's the box all nice and pretty :)

 All the goodies grouped together

Starlooks Shadow swatch in Gold Dust

This shadow is insanely smooth and highly pigmented.  This color makes a beautiful lid color as well as in the inner corner of the eye. 

 Starlooks Shadow packaging...it comes with an applicator and mirror inside. 

 Starlooks Blush swatch in Classy.  On lighter skin tones this would make a beautiful blush, for darker skin tones this makes an amazing highlighter!  I've also used this as an all over lid color as well as on my cheeks and it really warmed up my whole face.  The quality of this blush is very high quality. Super smooth!

Just like the shadow, their blush packaging comes with a mirror and brush for on-the-go touch ups!

 Starlooks Tendergloss Lipstick in Citron...this lip product is a lipgloss/lipstick hybrid.  I completely fell in love with the smooth, buttery texture the second I put it on my lips.  The color is out of this world!  It's a gorgeous coral/red with gold shimmer, you can really see the gold stand out in the swatch I've done.  I didn't experience and feathering or bleeding (yay!) This retails for $11 so that right there makes this box a superb deal!

Super cute compact with a regular and magnified mirror

My box also came with a quartz crystal! Unfortunately, I couldn't get the crystal to photograph well 

:( The quartz crystal is said to, "Attract energy, help maintain focus and is the ultimate symbol of beauty." Pretty cool little add-in, I've placed it on my nightstand :) 

I can't rave enough about this sub service.  It's an AMAZING deal for the products you recieve, I 150% recommend Starlooks Starbox if you're looking for an all-makeup monthly service.  This is also a great way to slowly build your makeup collection.  For $15 a month you get 3-4 full sized makeup items from the Starlooks store! 

I'm part of the Starlooks Starbox referral program, if you decide to sign up (awesome choice, btw) please use my YouTube/Blog user name mcubedmakeup in the referral box when checking out. 

You can sign up for your box by clicking here.

Until next time,

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$300 Summer Beauty Collab Giveaway!

Welcome to the first Summer Beauty Giveaway Event.

Each participating blog is offering a prize worth at least $25 all about beauty!

Make sure to hop around and enter all the giveaways listed. Have fun!


Be sure to enter the $300 grand prize hosted by Glamorousmama, Brunette Mafia,Mcubedmakeup, Ashleyelizabeth,  and Beauty101blog 

*Giveaway will start July 15th and will run till July 29th. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Beauty Army June Box

So by now, you all know I love me some Beauty Army, some months I have had to skip because I just wasn't in love with the products, but the months I do pick...WOW! I've gotten some amazing HUGE (a lot of the times full sized) samples! 

I honestly wasn't impressed with my June selections at all but I REALLY wanted to try the Ruddy Water Fragrance Towelette as well as the EyeCandy Coolers.  After 2 days, I decided to order.  

These are the 6 items I chose for my June box.  

EyeCandy Eye Coolers - 1 Full Sized Pack (WOOT WOOT!)

Youngblood Mineral Primer - .1 oz

Pssssst! Dry Shampoo - 1.76oz

Ruddy Water Blushed Fragrance Towelette - 1 Towelette

Atopalm Intensive Moisturizing Cream - .25oz

Besame Cosmetics Crimson Cream Rouge

My EyeCandy Coolers are ADORABLE! They look like little cucumbers and after a day of work like yesterday, they sure were nice to unwind and relax with! 

I haven't tried my Youngblood Primer yet, I see AMAZING reviews on it, but to me it seems like just another silicone based primer to me. They usually make my makeup slide off within a few hours.  I'm planning on trying it on a day off. Fingers crossed!

The Psssssst! Dry Shampoo is sooo awesome! I've tried them all when it comes to dry shampoos, lately I've been using the Suave Keratin Dry Shampoo, it smells good but leaves a funky residue. This Psssssst! one is everything a dry shampoo SHOULD be! Gives my hair extra volume, soaks up the greasies (ew) and doesn't live my scalp feeling coated with mess! I will definitely be purchasing some full sized ones!

Unfortunately, I haven't used my Ruddy Water Towelette yet...I really want to but I feel like I'm just going to be so sad after I use it up! My good friend Steph from StephsBeautyYT raved about it.  I'm going out for a girls night tonight, maybe I'll use it then. 

Atopalm was picked for my mom, she has very dry skin so I thought this would be great for her.  So as of now, I can't really comment on its effectiveness. 

Disaster Alert! So I don't know what came over me, but for some (blonde) reason I used this OVER my setting powder on my cheeks! What a mess! Thank goodness I wasn't going anywhere else.  I then tried it on my lips and it turned them a beautiful red...my lips didn't feel dried out at all either (SCORE!) I will use this with just liquid foundation next time I'm going out in the sun :)

So all in all, I'm not wow'd by this months selection, but I am excited to discover some new brands.  

You can sign up for your Beauty Army Kit by clicking here 

Pictures of samples are from the Beauty Army website.

This item was purchased by me, with my own money.

Until next time,

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The Makeup Show NYC & Haul (pic heavy)

I'm just going to attach my video about TMS & my NYC experience and haul!  All in all, I am so happy I decided to go! The deals were just unbelievable! I will definitely be going to the one in LA next March...I have to start saving already :-/ LOL! 

             

And my haul!

                            

Have you ever been to a makeup trade show or NYC? I'd love to hear from you!

Entrance

Yaby

OCC Lip Tars

Super cheap lashes!

Avant Garde for the Avant Garde  

Lime Crime

OCC Polish 

Mehron 

Crown Brush 

OCC Glitters & Pigments

Boo Boo's Bruises & Burns Seminar

Boo Boo's Bruises & Burns Seminar

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Want longer, fuller thicker lashes & brows?? Keep reading!

For about 2 years, I've been using a prescription product called Latisse to help my lashes grow longer and thicker.  It worked amazing for the first year...then I've started to notice horrible dark circles under my eyes (never had that before) itchyness on my lash line as well as very dry eyes.  I live in the desert and wear contacts, my eyes are already dry enough, I don't need anything to add to it.  I kept telling myself that it was okay to experience these side effects because I had amazing lashes. I was obviously in denial :-P

On top of the horrible side effects, the price is what KILLS me...$120! It depends on your usage, some people have to purchase every month, some every other...I've personally been able to spread it out every 2 1/2 months.

I was sent a bag of goodies from a brand I had never heard of, Talika. I did some research and was impressed! In 1948, a doctor Danielle Roches was working at a hospital in Paris treating war casualties.  She worked up an anti-bacterial salve to patients and when used on their face, she started to notice how long the patients lashes were becoming! Alas, Lipocils was born!

I couldn't believe all the amazing reviews for these products.  Where have they been all of my life?! 

The website and products claim that within 28 days you will notice a difference.  I have some BEFORE pictures (quality sucks, it was before I got my new camera) and some AFTER pictures, along with pictures with mascara!  

Lash Conditioning Cleanser  

I was surprised with the size! It's huge! Kind of a drawback because it would be difficult to travel with.  This says it removes even waterproof mascara..depending on my makeup for the day it sometimes didn't remove all traces of makeup.  Sometimes I needed to use another remover before or after BUT this left my lashes feeling super soft. Soft = hydrated. Hydrated = healthier lashes. Healthier lashes = less lash loss. Whoo hoo! I must warn, I got some right into my eye and it STUNG! BAAAAD! I don't see myself repurchasing this item.
Lipocils

I used this morning and night for 30+ days.  Within the first few days I noticed that my lashes were sooo much softer.  I don't think my lashes will ever be as thick as they were with Latisse, but I haven't had any side effects with this product. It's so simple to use, I just put it on like mascara 2x a day. So easy.  No burning, no stinging, no dry eyes.  I think this is more for length than volume.  I'm okay with that, beggars can't be choosers, right?  This bottle still feels like it's full! That's awesome because that means more money in my pocket each month of using this!  When I run out, I will DEFINITELY be purchasing another!
Eyebrow Lipocils

I shaved off my brows when I was in 7th grade...here's a picture to prove it

ACK! What was I THINKING?!
Anyways, they've never really grown back and I've always been very self conscious of it.  I draw them on every day! Within 4 days of using this I was able to see a difference as did my husband and my mom!  So 28 days goes by and I'm AMAZED at my left eyebrow, it has so much more shape and the hairs are so much longer! My right eyebrow is exactly the same *womp womp* What the heck?! I finally figured out that when I put it on my brows each night and go to bed, I was rubbing off the right side onto my pillow! Doh! Be sure to let this dry completely before bed or one eye will look awesome and the other, weeeeeell, not so awesome. This is very simple to use, it looks like a doe-footed lipgloss wand & you just apply it onto your brows 2x a day.  I love this product and just like the Eyelash Lipocils, it feels full! I will DEFINITELY purchase when I run out!

Eyelash Conditioning Cream

Conditioning Cream next to an EOS balm to show how small it is!

I didn't use this religiously...I actually plan on using this and only this on my lashes for the next 30 days to see how this is.  It's not as easy to apply as the Lipocils, but my lashes and lash line feel super soft after applying this.  I didn't experience any burning either!
Eyebrow Extender

See the little fibers?

I swiped it across my hand
to show how it looks.

This product  is supposed to be extensions for your brows.  The color I was sent was black, my brows aren't black so this looked a little unnatural on me.  I just clicked the bottom (like a lip gloss) and then applied it across my brows.  They looked very wet but not much more thicker. I was hoping this would make them look a lot darker!  Since I have to fill in my brows, this made it look really unnatural.  I think for a person who has more brows to begin with this may work pretty well!
Eyelash Extender

If you look in the picture, you can see how the little fibersare EVERYWHERE!

Wah! I really wanted this to work for me.  I saw so many awesome reviews about this product!
When I first saw this I was so confused, "Why did they send me a tube of black carpet fuzz??" Well, the so called "carpet fuzz" are little black fibers that attach to your lashes and create longer looking lashes without having to wear falsies.  I tried applying this sooo many ways but each time I was left with a million little black fuzzies on my face. They are like magnetic fuzzy guys :(
I put one coat of a mascara on, then I lightly tapped the fiber filled wand onto the tips of my lashes and then went in with another coat of mascara to seal it.  The little fibers went every-which way.  It made me look like I had spider lashes.  Not a cute look.  If anyone has tips on maybe how it worked for them please let me know! I had such high hopes for this but as of now, I'd have to say I will not be repurchasing this product.

BEFORE PHOTOS

Look at how red my lash line had become from using Latisse. Yikes!

AFTER PHOTOS (28 days after first application)

They have much more shape!!

Brows are very lightly penciled in.  Lashes are much darker.

Brows filled in & mascara applied 

 

 

I DEFINITELY recommend the Eyebrow & Eyelash Lipocils. I am loving the results and can't wait to see my brows even out!

These products, plus much more can be purchased from the Talika website (I've also seen it on the DermStore website!)

I'd love to hear your feedback or questions! Are you currently using an eyelash/brow growth stimulator? Would you ever try one?

Until next time,
Marina - mCubed Makeup

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