Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes Plum Color Eyeliner Review

Hi y'all and welcome to my blog new and returning readers!

Recently I got my hands on the Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes eyeliner and after a few week of not trying it, I got the chance to try it yesterday. The color I got was 4L which is Shimmering Plum.

Pencil closed

Pencil open. There's a message asking to be careful closing it near the top.

When using the pencil it does come on creamy. It appears a lovely plum shade when swatched.

Swatched in Daylight lighting.

 

When I put it on, it wasn't that noticeable. It was easy to put on. Did have to go back and forth a few times to make the color more clearer when I put it on my eyelids. Would I wear this as a standalone liner? No. I paired this with a black eyeliner to bring out the contrast of the colors and added purple eye shadows to pop the eyes. A pleasant surprise was that this liner remained on my eyes for 8 hours.

My overall impression: It's pretty but not out of this world amazing.

This is from Sephora's site on what the color is supposed to be.

The color was supposed to be vibrant. It only became vibrant after added onto the original line a few times. It did stay on a long time and didn't fade away but this pencil just did not wow me. For $19, I would expect on first try the color. There are other eyeliners for that price that I feel for a different color eyeliner would be better. This is alright but not super. But I will use it since I hate wasting makeup.

Thanks for reading my review and hope y'all have a wonderful day.　

Where to buy: 

Sephora $19 Exclusive

Tis the holiday season and Nyx Wonder Stick review

Christmas is behind us and the New Year is fast approaching. So first off, sorry for missing 2 blog posts. With birthdays and Christmas it has just been a busy month. But it has been an awesome month. Got some new makeup to review and products to try out for skin care. Also found some amazing sites to purchase stuff which I will share soon. Here's to a wonderful 2016!

Now.....onto my review of a product that is not easy to find....Nyx Wonder Stick!

Packaging

How they show to do the contouring using it.

I will be the first to admit that I am a novice when it comes to contouring. I've seen some amazing results from people doing it but I am still in the beginner learning process. This has not been the first combine stick product with highlighter and contour cream but this was the most available to me. The first I've heard about was Em Cosmetic's Chiaroscuro which is forever sold out. I tried really hard to get my hands on a fair tone one to try. Recently found out that the reason it isn't restocking is that Michelle Phan bought the brand out from L'Oreal and is now reforumulizing the products so hopefully I can try their stick out if it ever reappears.  Lancôme recently released their Le Duo Stick for contouring as well.

So less rambling and onto my review of this product.  First, I tried finding this product at CVS. Didn't work so well. Didn't find it there. Then I was next to Ulta and remembered that they carried Nyx so I went in to find it. Upon arriving to their NYX Cosmetic area, it took me 5 minutes to find these sticks. I have a fair skin tone but that one was sold out. The colors left were Medium/Tan, Deep, and Universal. The Universal one has some shimmer in it while the others are more matte according to the description so I purchased Universal and Medium/Tan while they were doing the 'Buy 1 get 1 50% off' deal.

How this looks.

From Left to right: Universal Contour color, Universal Highlighter, Medium/Tan Contour, Medium/Tan Highlighter.

The texture for these are creamy but not super oily. They're easy to use and blend. When looking at the contour color in person, they both look the same shade. The highlighter for medium/tan appears peachier. It is easy to put on. You can build on it if you want. The universal doesn't shimmer too much. I appreciate that there are pictures on the side of how to contour for novices such as myself. It did help me have a contour that appears more natural that I still looked like myself and not a new person but with a thinner face. I can use it everyday for a fast simple contouring and for the price of $12, I would suggest trying these out if you can. Fits in your purse so easy to take with you on trips. The stick format its good for new people to contouring or wanting a simpler packaging for contour products.

What products do y'all use for contouring? Prefer powder or cream format?

Thanks for reading and hope y'all have an awesome day o/

Where to buy:

NYX Cosmetics
 Ulta $11.99
NYX Cosmetics $12


EmCosmetic Chiaroscuro
Em Cosmetics $24

Lancome Duostick
Lancôme Le Duo Stick $36
 Sephora $36
Ulta $36 + special gift while supplies last

Ever heard of Mustela?

Welcome new and returning readers to my blog. Today is Skincare Monday and for this edition we are talking about a company that makes skincare products safe for babies and adults. (None of my blogs are sponsored by any company.) This brand used to be in Ulta and is now appearing in Target and Baby R Us. It is Mustela.

Image from http://www.mustelausa.com/shop/our-products/multi-sensory-bubble-bath.html

Ever since I was a baby, this brand has been around my household. I just thought to share this since many new mothers seem to be seeking a skincare brand that can be used by parents and the children without breaking the bank.  I tend to go back to the facial moisturizer myself since the scent is not strong and it doesn't leave a sticky feel on my face.

Why is Mustela a good brand?

All their products are hypoallergenic and do not contain any parabens, phenoxyethanol, phtalates or alcohol.  The products are safe to use from prenatal to adulthood. Most of the ingredients used are organic ingredients. The products range starts as low as $6.

So if you are looking for a pleasant skincare brand that has products that you do not have to worry about having around children then this would be a good brand in my opinion.  What brands have you used since childhood?

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day.

Where to buy:
Mustela
Target
Baby R Us

Bellapierre Cosmetics Mineral Lipstick Review: Color P.I.N.K

Hey Y'all!

Welcome first timers and returning readers. Today I'm going to give my opinion on a product from Bellapierre Cosmetic that I was curious on. This is a brand that I haven't really heard anything on, but they create mineral makeup that is made with 100% natural ingredients.

The item I managed to get my hands on is their Mineral Lipstick in the color P.I.N.K which costs $20 on their website. In the Mineral Lipstick collection, they have 14 different colors to choose from ranging from the light pinks to the purples.

The lipstick is in a plastic packaging with a quilt like design on 2 sides of it. It didn't stand out on the packaging as some other brands do. The lipstick had a subtle smell to it. I want to say it smells a little like beeswax.

Swatched it once to show the color.

The product texture is creamy. It isn't a pure matte look but has a tiny shine to it when in the light. I've had it on a few hours and I didn't feel it drying my lips.

If you are a person who wants more natural products, then this may be the brand for you to try.  Unless you are in California or New Mexico, it will be hard to find a store that sells their products in the location so you can see it in person.

Opinon:
Overall, its a good lipstick. Goes on smoothly. Doesn't have an annoying scent that some brands have. Doesn't dry the lips. Stays on a long time. Beautiful color. Great pigmentation.

Concern:
This is not a well-known brand as other brands made with only Natural ingredients so I can see someone not wanting to pay $20 for a product they are not sure on. Especially since there are only two locations that the client can go and physically see the product. I wish there was maybe a mini set of 3 mini lipsticks at an affordable price so people would test it out first before making the commitment to paying the $20 for the original size.


Did any of y'all try this brand and what were your opinion on it? Feel free to post a comment, question, or suggestion and thanks for reading. Hope y'all have a wonderful day.


Where to buy:
Bellapierre Mineral Lipstick $20

Are you moisturizing the right way?

Hey y'all!

If you are like me, then chances are you currently have winter dry skin. With my current dry skin, I'm trying to learn as much as possible about moisturizers. One thing I came across in my search is moisturizing application. Never before had I considered that I needed to learn how to put on moisturizer. Do you tap it in? Are you the type to rub it in circles? Are you stroking it on? Do you put a lot on at once? Are you letting it soak in?

My current moisturizer Perfectly Post Night&Day Olive and Lavender Face Moisturizer for my everyday routine. Love the lavender smell <3

From a little light research, I learned I was putting on my moisturizer the wrong way. In Bobbi Brown's book Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual, she states that a person should 'use about a nickel-size amount of moisturizer' and put it on 'with firm, upward strokes, gently press the product into the skin until its completely absorbed (32).'

Makeup artists at Sephora have also commented that a little goes a long way. From 1:55 to 3:04 of the video below, the Makeup Artists will talk about moisturizing the proper way.

I will be the first to admit that I would put on a quarter size of moisturizer on my face. Instead of stroking it upward, I would make large circular motions to put my moisturizer on. This helped educate me better on how to properly moisturize my face for my skincare routine. If y'all have any tips and tricks on moisturizing please let me know. I wanted to just share this so that whose who didn't know like me could also look into this topic and reexamine if they are doing it the recommended way.

Thanks for reading my post and hope y'all have an amazing day! Feel free to comment to share your opinions.

Products mentioned:

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro
(I live in the US so these are links to places in the US that I know that sell this product.)

Barnes and Noble Hardcover $31.60 Paperback $14.63  Nook $9.99
Books-a-Million Hardcover $21.36    Paperback $16.56
Amazon Hardcover $21.99    Paperback $12.40  Kindle $9.99
Target Hardcover $27.20   Paperback $16.32
Walmart Paperback $12.40

Where is this blog going?

This is my first time blogging and I want to be organized on when to post and what to post for everyone. This post is just to give sort of a frame of when I'll update and what is coming up

Mondays: Skincare topics

This does not mean it will always cover recently released products, because that can be costly, but it will be along the lines of the topics. I love skincare so learning new stuff and sharing what I learn about it.

Wednesday: Beauty Topics

This is aiming towards makeup topics. Trends, products, tips and tricks, or things I'm curious about will be added here.

Friday: Random topics.

This is the etcetera days. Can be from crocheting, decorations, video games, or whatever comes to mind.

If there are questions or topics people are interested in seeing, then please let me know. Thanks for reading and hope you have a wonderful day.

Let's do a good deed for the holidays!

Hi y'all,

This isn't a normal post about beauty products but a post about a good deed we can all do to help make a child's day. I'll return to posting a beauty post on Friday.  This morning I woke up and checked the latest News articles. This article showed up about a burned girl who only wants Christmas cards for Christmas. The fire that disfigured her, claimed the life of her family.

If you wish to read more about what happened to her then you can read it here:

Burned girl who lost family in arson asks for Christmas cards

If you would like to help bring joy to this child's life by giving her a card then you may mail it to:

Sa'fyre Terry

P.O. Box 6126

Schenectady, NY 12306

Please consider sending her a card. The cards can be very inexpensive. Even handmade cards are wonderful to receive. Just wanted to pass this on to you.

Hope you have an awesome day and see y'all in my next post. 

Origins: GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream Review

Hi everyone,

Welcome new readers and returning readers to A Mysterious Journey. A few weeks ago, I made a purchase from Sephora and redeemed a code that gave 12 samples. One of the sample that came with it was the Origins eye cream. I was interested in trying an eye cream for depuffing and dark circles since those were issues I had in the morning. So this product peaked my interest. This isn't a first impression review since for products like this, I believe it is better to test it out awhile to see if gradually there's any changes so I did a two week test on it.

This is the bottle that was added to my bag. It has .17 oz of the product inside. If you buy the actual product then you would get a 0.5 oz jar (which is shown at the top of the page). Some of the sites stated that this product instantly lessened the dark circle upon wear. I wanted to facedesk at those reviews when I first opened the bottle. The product is tinted so it will look like your dark circles faded immediately.

The picture above shows how the product comes out. It is a little bit tinted which will make your circles appear lighter immediately upon wearing. I put a little bit more than I usually use on my finger to help show the color. A dot amount is enough to spread under your eyes. This coloring made my skeptical of the product dark circle claim. It did help with depuffing my eyes instantly.

So first impression, I didn't think this product would work. But I wanted to test it longer and over the next few days of continuously using it, I did see a change. I used to have navy blue tint under my eyes. It was so noticeable that people compared me to a panda. Now, its a lighter blue tint under my eyes which are less noticeable. Even without the cream on, it is lighter. As for the depuffing claim, it instantly depuffs. The cream doesn't feel sticky upon wearing and it feels light. I would definitely recommend people trying this product out but I would also suggest giving it a two week trial period to see results. If you are a person who does not want to look like you have a little makeup on but want to try this, then I would recommend wearing this at night before bed.

Thanks for checking out my blog and hope y'all have a wonderful day.

TIPS:
Some have gotten a sample of this cream from Sephora from their current promotion code: Surpris3
It is to be included with any purchase of $25 or more and you will get 1 full size sheet mask plus 7 mini samples. The eye cream is one of the potential 7 samples you may receive. The sample will be smaller than the one I received but it will allow you to test it out.


Where to buy it:
Sephora $30
Origins  $30
Amazon $37.49 + Free Shipping

Eborian's Pâte au Ginseng Black Concentrated Mask Review

Thanks to Sephora's sample (since this product retails for $61) I was able to test out this mask. Recently, there has been an influx of interest into Korean Skincare products. I will admit that I'm one of the people who are curious about it so when  Sephora gave me the sample of this, I knew I had to try to see if it does what it claims.

Claims:  
Make skin appear younger, smoother and firmer.

How to put on:
On a clean face, spread thinly and evenly. Massage onto face. Allow for ten minutes to pass before removing it with lukewarm water.

First Impressions:

When I first opened the bottle, I was expecting the mask to be a coal color since there is the word 'Black' in its name. This actually looks more like amber color with a honey-like texture in smoothness. It was not sticky at all to put on. There was no extreme smell from the bottle.

After the ten minutes passed, I made sure to use lukewarm water to remove the mask. My skin felt so smooth. Overall, for those looking for a younger, smoother and firmer mask, this product might be the one for you. It is on the pricey side at $61 but I can see the bottle lasting a long time before you will have to replace it with a new one.


For those interested in buying this product here are some links on where to buy in the US:

Sephora  Price $61 with Free Shipping and Handling
Erborian Price $61 with Free Shipping and Handling

Tips:

If you buy a Korean Beauty product at Sephora for $25, you can redeem a code Kbeauty which will allow you to claim a sample of this mask to try out before purchasing.

If interested in buying the product only, then it might be better to purchase from Erborian's official site since they do not have a location in the United States but only sell online so they do not add tax to the purchase.

Thanks for checking out my review and have an awesome day.

Feel free to share your opinion on this product or suggestions on future stuff.