Hey guys! Today I wanted to do a makeup look primarily using samples. I always tend to let the makeup samples pile up so this time I wanted to challenge myself to put together a look using samples, but using regular items I already own if I need to. I would say this look was so simple and out of my comfort zone but I love it!! Below I will list everything I used in this look and review the samples: Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Oil-Free Pore Minimizing-Travel Size Purchased I have a travel size that I purchased because everyone was talking about it at one point and I really don’t like it so I’ve been trying to use it up! It always flakes right off my skin as I rub it in. Color Corrector: Becca Backlight Targeted Colour Correctors-Sample I normally use the NYX color-correcting palette that I’ve been using for over 2 years because it’s my favorite. I really liked the consistency of this Becca formula. Pistachio, which is green is supposed to neutralize redness. It definitely did! Violet neutralizes dullness and it did that as well. Papaya neutralizes deep blues and greens. WOW that color is a bright red/orange. I was so wary if it would work and I was impressed. I would consider buying these. Not sure how much they are but if they came as a palette I would buy them…also depending on the price. Foundation: Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation-Sample Shade Light Neutral This shade is way too dark for me since my skin is ghost like so when I applied, I had to cover my whole neck..mess. Anyways I really loved how smooth the application was, it melts into your skin. I usually apply foundation everywhere then blend with a beauty blender. However, since this is water based it started to dry almost instantly so I had little areas darker than others because my application didn’t go as planned but with a damp beauty blender to blend it out it worked really great! In a lighter shade I would definitely consider buying this. My skin does not look dry whatsoever. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation-Sample Shade 5 This foundation I’ve wanted for a while so I usually take samples of any shade because you can always contour with foundation instead of buying a whole kit. With the Tarte foundation I just applied, the 5 shade was the same color! So it did not work as a contour but I just applied it over my whole face and it gave my skin fuller coverage. Comparison: Both foundation samples were very runny. Tarte dries very fast; Giorgio is very pigmented to give a glowy finish. I would definitely buy both of these but at different times! Since summer is approaching maybe the Tarte would be a more beneficial purchase because it has SPF15 in the formula. Concealer: Cover FX Cream Concealer-Sample Shade Neutral Light I hated this concealer it was thick and didn’t have any coverage for me. It flaked immediately under my eyes, it was a disaster. Will not purchase this! Yves St. Laurent Touche Eclat-Sample Shades N1, N2 Both are light shades. 1 is pinker and 2 is more yellow. I used the 2 first under my eyes and I liked this so much better, but with the darker foundation I had to use the 1 to lighten it up a bit. When I used to go fake tanning, I bought the 3, which is so hard to believe because it’s so orange and dark. All-in-all, a good product but its so expensive. It’s not normally a concealer so I used it to cover the gross concealer I just used and applied my normal Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer. Blended with a beauty blender and set it with the Laura Mercier Invisible loose powder. I use this powder because I cannot use the translucent powder she makes. Additionally I used Mac Warm Soul Blush, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Urban Decay Cream Highlight in Sin, Mac Fashion Revival Lipstick, Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide on Pencil in Plushie(sample), Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cottage Cheese, Nars Audacious Mascara in Black Moon(sample), Anastasia Brow Wiz in Chocolate, Maybeline Clear Mascara. Brushes used by Mac. *For my lips, I lined them in the Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide on Pencil in Plushie to match my eyes because I do not have a shade that matches. I filled in the corners of my lips with that shade, to about the peaks in my lips, leaving the center of them without product. Next I added Mac Fashion Revival Lipstick in the center and blended it out with my finger. Lastly, I used Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Powder on a small brush and set my lips, so there would be a matte finish and the ombre effect would not bleed onto my skin. *When I used Nars Audacious Mascara, the brush/wand is very large and I did get a lot of fallout on the bottom lashes. It worked to my advantage because I could blend it in with a small brush to achieve a smokier bottom lash line. I have never done a look like this and I think from now on I will break out of my comfort zone a bit. I know this is a long post so expect to see any makeup related posts to soon be on YouTube!! If you want more information on the products I tried or the ones I own, comment below or email me!! I have recently received many emails asking what I use for my everyday look so with that being said, my first YouTube video will be my everyday look.
Thanks so to everyone for following my blog and asking questions! Make sure to follow me xo Instagram:@michellelobrace Facebook: www.facebook.com/sincerelymichelle Twitter: @SincereMichelle
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Hi Readers! I'm writing today about skincare samples! I can't believe I'm on the 6th one already!! I have had so many piling up and I figured might as well review the products so people can get the consumers take on them. Most of the products I have been trying out are from higher end brands, however I am open to trying more affordable options. Basically, I need some more affordable options for myself and I'm new to that area. So if you know of any that you LOVE I would do some research on how to get samples for those types of products. Anyways I hope you enjoy my reviews! Skincare Samples- Review Number 6! 1. Origins Eye Doctor $37 Sephora I’ve recently been having a problem with dry skin around my eyelids. On top and underneath, which is not normal for me. I was using something new on my eyes and was eating gluten so I figured that had something to do with it. I have switched to this cream and my eyes are still flaky, not as bad as they used to be but it’s slowly working. This cream is nice and cooling to the skin. There is some caffeine in the cream and it does burn my eyes if it gets too close to the waterline. It does help with eye puffiness as well as crow’s feet. Yes I have those because I have glasses and I squint! It does not help with under eye lines though. I think this is great for a day cream, but I am going to try to find something thicker for at night. It is so hard to find eye creams am I right? So far I would rate this a 3. 2. Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Power Eye Cream $45 Sephora This sample lasted me about a week because a little went a long way for a “one use” packet. It did not help with hydration, however I did see a difference in the appearance of fine lines around my eyes and crows feet. It works well before you apply makeup so I enjoyed that aspect. This product is a mid-range priced product, unfortunately eye creams or serums are overpriced. I think I would try this serum in the future because it lasts a long time so the price would be comparable to something you have to buy more frequently. As of now a 3 would be a good rating. 3. StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream $95-$139 StriVectin I was a little excited to try this product because of how expensive the full size bottles are packaged! I was also apprehensive because if I really liked it there was no way I could afford that. I do have to say the scent was nice. I can’t pinpoint exactly how it smelled but I liked it. It is a thick cream and I always hate putting lotion on my neck but I did like it. From always looking down at my phone I have those lines that they call “tech neck” I am SO guilty of doing this and lines are getting deeper and deeper. Finally I used this and it moisturized the skin and it slightly tightened the skin and the appearances of the wrinkles were a tiny bit diminished. Do I think this product is worth buying if you have the money? Yes. Do I think you can find something cheaper to try? Yes! I’m going to look into other neck creams that I can get samples of to try out. Also, you can tell someone’s age by their skin, mainly the hands and neck so start now! At the rate we use our phones we’re going to have turkey neck by the time we’re 35!! I’d rate this a 3.7. 4. Lancome Advanced Genefique Youth Activating Concentrate $20-$175 Lancome This sample was a deluxe sample and I am currently using it. After the first application I really liked how youthful my skin looked and felt! However, in my opinion Lancome’s products always have a flowery smell that I highly dislike but I sucked it up because it was a sample. I used the product for 4 days day and night and I very much liked it! The last day I used it I started to break out on my cheeks. I do not know if it was the serum or something else. I ate differently and was around cats (allergic) so it could have been one of those things. I still have some product left in the bottle and once the reaction goes away I will continue using to see if it was the serum or something else. Sorry for the rant, I just think it’s important to let you know the circumstances! I would definitely try this product again if I don’t break out from the rest. Lancome has a wide variety of sizes that are affordable, whereas other sites only have the more expensive bottles. I would rate this a 4. Thanks so much for reading my reviews! I know when I read reviews it makes me feel more secure in a purchase. Don't forget, these are my opinions on the products and people with different skin types might not feel the same way I do. Please continue to contact me with products you want me to try or review!!
Sincerely, Michelle. Make sure to follow me xo Instagram:@michellelobrace Facebook: www.facebook.com/sincerelymichelle Twitter: @SincereMichelle Hi Readers! Happy St. Patrick's Day!! I am lucky enough to be Irish so I always try to be festive in one way or another. I do not own any green clothing or makeup because the color looks horrible on me so...I will stick to food! My mom also wanted to make something to bring into her work for the celebration! Everybody has LOVED it and it ran out very quickly! I did not taste this personally because I can't have any of the ingredients...sad about this. With that being said this is NOT a gluten free, dairy free, corn free recipe. I will try to create an allergen free version of this down the road. We don't have a Whole Foods nearby, which makes it difficult for me to make different snacks/meals. Anyways, hope you enjoy this recipe! Thank you for continuing to read my posts! I really hope you like the content I’m providing! If you want me to try to make a certain meal, let me know. Also if there are beauty products you want me to try. I have a whole big list of things I want to share with you as well!
Sincerely, Michelle. Make sure to follow me xo Instagram:@michellelobrace Facebook: www.facebook.com/sincerelymichelle Twitter: @SincereMichelle Hey guys! I haven't posted about my samples in a while because my skin has been so weird lately! It's either really dry, breaking out, not sure what the deal is but I finally got around to trying some more. Check out my product reviews below! Also I'm thinking of making YouTube Tutorials or Reviews if you're not the type to read my lengthy posts!! Once I get the hang of filming, I will post something for you guys <3 *Remember these are my opinions on the products and nobody is endorsing me!! Skincare Samples- Review Number 5! 1. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate $46-$122 Kiehl’s I received this as a sample and I was interested in using it because it consists of essential oils that are supposed to help your skin. Oils featured in this concentrate are lavender oil, evening primrose oil, jojoba seed oil, among a couple others. The scent mainly smells of lavender because it tends to be a more distinct scent. It’s nice though, it wasn’t too overpowering to have on your face. The same was in the form of a dropper so I used about 2-3 drops and rubbed into my face after I washed it. It was oily however when I woke up my face was very smooth. I was impressed. My face can be oily to begin with and I did start to see a pimple form, but it went away shortly after I washed my face the next morning. All-in-all I feel that this is a great product for anyone with dry skin and could use the calming aspects of the oils to nourish the skin. Not sure if I will purchase this but maybe one day! I rate this a 4. 2. Cane + Austin Miracle Pad + $88 Sephora I’ve never heard of this brand before but I was interested in the sample. I actually just tried it and I wanted to let you know what I think. These types of facial pads vary by brand. This brand’s did not sting, smell, or leave a weird residue on my face. Although when I looked in the mirror about 15 minutes later I noticed my freckles and pores looked bigger than normal! I don’t know what the deal was but according to the package it says “our most intensive facial treatment to even skin tone, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, enlarged pores and the appearance of age spots.” Clearly 1 sample pad isn’t going to change everything but if you try something you usually notice a tiny difference. Dr. Dennis Gross, his facial pads are a lot more harsh than these and work a whole lot better. I’d rate this a 2 because it didn’t work for me but it wasn’t that awful of a product. Maybe it will work for someone else. 3. Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Peel $88 Sephora I like Dr. Dennis Gross products so I was interested in this sample. The peels or pads are always the same size as the regular full price items. If you play your cards right and know where to look, most of the time you can get these peels for free. Because this product has retinol, they say to use at night but I used it during the day because it was cloudy and I had nothing to do. It smelled a bit fruity, orangey and it didn’t burn my face or feel a stinging sensation. My face did feel a bit sticky afterwards but I never put lotion on after these peels to ensure the ingredients don’t interact or wipe away when moisturizer is applied. For this product I’m sure to see results you would need to use them consistently which is 2-3 times a week, according to the packaging but to be used less for more sensitive skin. With just one application I cant say it did much. I would rate this a 3 solely based on not having enough feedback for results. Like I said I love this brand’s products and I would try them again if I received more samples. 4. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 $7.50 Sephora I received this sample a while back in November but didn’t use it, but recently my lips became SO dry that nothing would work! I tried my go-to Chapstick, Vaseline, Blistex, everything I had on hand and I thought why not try this sample?! Usually SPF dries out my skin but let me tell you this is AMAZING. I had a tiny sample, which I used up in 3 days!! It was in the “original” scent of mint and shea butter. They also provide other flavors as well. I would rate this a 5. I plan on buying the full size very soon! Thank you so much for reading my posts. Make sure to comment below if you used these products or are interested in buying them! Also make sure to keep up with my social media accounts! Sincerely, Michelle. Make sure to follow me xo Instagram:@michellelobrace Facebook: www.facebook.com/sincerelymichelle Twitter: @SincereMichelle Hi! It is almost Spring, I can feel it in the air! The sun has been shining, even though it’s been a bit chilly, and there have been some warm days, mid 50s to low 60s. This is how I’m currently preparing for spring! I wanted to try a light pasta dish that you can eat without feeling weighted down. After all, swimsuit weather is creeping up!! I really loved this dish and I wanted to share it with you! This recipe featured below is gluten free, dairy free, egg free, corn free, nut free, vegetarian, vegan! I hope you enjoy this meal. It is very light and satisfying! I really like the combination of the broccoli, lemon and garlic with the pasta. It is fragrant and great for the spring or summertime. You may also want to add basil as a garnish or try a white protein with this as well. Let me know if you tried it with any of the additions. Enjoy!
Sincerely, Michelle. Make sure to follow me xo Instagram:@michellelobrace Facebook: www.facebook.com/sincerelymichelle Twitter: @SincereMichelle |
Michelle
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March 2020
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