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doTERRA Review

My doTERRA girl Lindsey is responsible for helping me kick my daily Alka Seltzer/OTC heartburn pill habit. Acid reflux is one of my sexier qualities, for sure. I told her I was open to trying her witchcraft oils if it would stop me from taking antacids every day of my life. Shockingly, taking 1 doTERRA DigestZen softgel per day has completely eliminated all other antacid products. This has been huge for me.

So you’re probably thinking, that’s nice sweetie but why are you telling about your gross indigestion on a beauty blog? My success with the DigestZen products has led to me trying a few of the doTERRA personal care offerings too. 
What I tried
doTERRA OnGuard Natural Whitening Toothpaste
I love this toothpaste. It has a more cinnamon taste than mint and it leaves my mouth feeling totally clean, but not irritated. It’s mild and pleasant and actually enjoyable to use. It doesn’t seem to affect the taste of food afterwards the way others can. The only thing that is a bummer is that it does not contain fluoride and my dentist didn’t seem too jazzed about that. Because I’m real special, I have to use a prescription fluoride toothpaste at night so I just use this one in the morning and for midday brushing.

I use the OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate to clean my countertops and oddly enough, it isn’t weird to me that my toothpaste and household cleanser have the same scent.

doTERRA Verage Toner
It’s time for everyone’s favorite show, “now what smell is Ivy complaining about?” Today, it’s Ylang Ylang. This mist-on toner contains it, but a host of other ingredients I really like such as witch hazel, palmarosa oil and anti-inflammatory copper PCA.
The toner sprays out in little tiny bubbles so I prefer using it by spraying on a cotton pad, then applying on the face vs. spraying directly. I really like this toner, it leaves my skin feeling clean, refreshed and not tight. I just don’t care for the scent.

doTERRA Detoxifying Mud Mask
I don’t typically reach for mud masks because my skin is pretty damn dry. However, I can use them the week before my period with no problem. I really enjoyed this mud mask as it was mild enough for my skin, likely due to the shea butter, but effective.
I enjoy it’s cypress and juniper berry scent. It also contains skin-brightening grapefruit and minerals zinc, selenium and copper. Because of it’s ingredients, it’s different than your average clay/mud mask and one I’d reach for again.

Do I recommend these doTERRA products?
– Skip the toner if you don’t like the scent of Ylang Ylang, but maybe you love it? Lindsey told me it is an aphrodisiac so…
– I love the toothpaste so as long as the lack of fluoride isn’t an issue, I definitely recommend it.
– I enjoy the mud mask and it’s a gentler clay mask than many I’ve used before.

If you’re still curious about doTERRA’s other personal care products, hit up Lindsey because she is so helpful and knowledgeable. I ask her about oil potions and other weird stuff all the time.

Thanks for reading!

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Verb Ghost Line Review

I finally have a good reason to use an excessive amount of ghost emojis.👻🖤👻🖤👻🖤👻

Verb recently expanded their cult status Ghost Oil into a full line of Ghost products and it is scarily good. My hair went from spooky to sexy. My stands are looking boo-tiful. Look, I can do this all day. 👻

Instead, I’ll tell you why I’m so jacked up on puns.
What I Tried 

Verb Ghost Oil
Verb Ghost Dry Oil
Verb Ghost Hairspray
Verb Ghost Shampoo 
Verb Ghost Conditioner

Ghost Oil

I have thick, heavy hair that is wavy underneath and straight on top. It gets oily quickly and seems to hate excess product so I fully expected the Ghost Oil to weigh it down and feel gross.

I am happy to report that this lives up to its weightless claims. The Holy Ghost is on my side with this and it gives my hair a gorgeous, glass-like shine with no weight or greasy feel. It contains Moringa Oil and maybe that’s the secret weapon.

I don’t know the last time I was this amped about a hair product. It’s my new favorite thing and I think everyone needs some.

I test drove the Ghost Shampoo and Conditioner too. I didn’t notice anything remarkable about these aside from their fresh, green scent and zero residue left behind.

I have oily hair but dandruff (yeah, I’m awesome) so I felt like the shampoo was a bit too drying.

Verb Ghost Hairspray

I don’t really have a favorite hairspray. Until now! Like it’s ghostly cousin, this gives weightless hold, leaves hair soft and brushable and the scent is lovely and fresh. I’m into it.

The Ghost Dry Oil, like it’s little sis, has a lightweight feel. It’s nice to use as shine spray but I just use it conservatively if I’ve already applied the Ghost Oil.

If you could only get one product, it should be the Ghost Oil. It’s the best hair serum I’ve ever tried, affordable and gives you ample excuse for copious ghost emojis. 👻👻👻

Verb also makes an excellent hair mask and sea salt spray.🌊See that review here.

I love the price point of Verb products, with everything under $20. The line is cruelty-free of course and free of parabens, sulfates and gluten. I’m a huge fan of everything Verb and I think you will be too.

 





Urban Decay Naked Heat Review

In the past 5 years, I’ve received some pretty exciting PR packages, and it never gets old. Not because I need more makeup, or because it’s free. It’s so surreal to be validated by a brand you admire that, “we know you exist and we see you.” This Urban Decay Naked Heat package nearly brought me to tears for that very reason.

The Urban Decay Naked 1 palette was one of the first “nice” makeup palettes I ever had. It felt so special to me. Even though those early tutorials with it are so cringey and atrocious, I remember how excited I was.

But seriously though, it’s like I didn’t know about blending out the top edge of your eye shadow.

Urban Decay so graciously sent for my review
Urban Decay Naked Heat Vice Lipsticks in Fuel, Torched and Heat

I wanted to use these products for a while before forming my opinion but I did use them in this tutorial and I really like how the look came out.

First, I’ll take you through the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette.

Colors 7/10
This is obviously a warm palette, which is why I think it’s so pretty on cool tone eyes. We seem to be in a period where we all want our eyes to look ablaze with fire and this palette fits the bill. There are a nice balance of mattes and shimmers, transitions shades, lid and outer corner shades. A few gripes that lead to my 7:
  • No deep brown or black to use as liner. Darkest shade is Ashes, a deep purple
  • Scorched and Dirty Talk are so similar that I don’t see the need for both.
  • Ember is the most bizarre color and I’ve never seen anything like it. In the pan, it appears bronze. When blended out or swatched, it reveals a strange black base. Who knows? Maybe it’s made of real embers. I do like it used wet as a liner but not as a shadow.
  • I’d like to have one more light lid color in addition to Ounce and Chaser. A light white gold would have been useful.
A few faves:
  • Sauced is a wonderful transition shade for the crease
  • Lumbre is a super beautiful, chromatic rose gold for the lid
  • Chaser seems like basic bitch beige but it’s really such a nice day time lid color
  • Cayenne and En Fuego add beautiful rosy depth
  • I like deepening the crease with Low Blow

Pigment 8/10
At first, you won’t think these will be pigmented. They don’t swatch with a brush or finger super vividly. However, it’s just a different texture but I have zero issues building color to the shade in the pan.Formula 9/10
If you’re accustomed to soft, almost creamy feeling shadows like Colourpop, these will feel hard to you off hand. Hear me out though. They have virtually no fallout because of this, which is pretty awesome when working with such vibrant tones.

 
Wear 9/10
Like most of the Urban Decay shadows, with a primer, these wear great. I had no issues with creasing or fading.

Packaging 10/10
This is my favorite thus far of the Naked palettes. It’s double walled exterior is beautiful and feels very sturdy. The included mirror is great too.Value 9/10
I consistently use 9 of the 12 shades and the brush is not bad. This is a good value.

Do I recommend the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette? Yes.

Next, we’ll chat about the Naked Heat addition to the Vice Lipstick line. 

Wearing Scorched and Heat layered in the photo above. I love the cinnamon shade it created.

Fuel: Truly peachy nude, cream.

Scorched: Metallic bronze that veers copper

Heat: Gold-flecked metallic red. Mustache hair free of charge.

Packaging 10/10
These have a rose gold version of the Vice Lipstick bullet packaging. Very cool.

Colors 8/10
Fuel is a nude for light to medium skin tones, Scorched a metallic nude for women of color or fall lip for lighter skin and Heat is a beautiful holiday-like red that ended up being my favorite of the bunch. They all seem fairly unique.

From left: Scorched, Fuel, Heat

Formula 8/10
This is a traditional cream lipstick. They apply smooth. Heat can feel a smidge gritty with it’s gold flecks.

Wear 7/10
These are not meant to be particularly long-wearing, nor are they. They wear like a traditional lipstick. When I did the tutorial with Zoe, she said the shade Fuel wore away on the inner part of her lip in a very strange way though. It’s the most meh of the bunch probably.

Do I recommend the Naked Heat Vice Lipsticks? Yes, Heat and Scorched.From left: 24/7 pencils in Torch, Alkaline, Vice Lipsticks in Fuel, Heat, Scorched

24/7 Glide-On Pencils in Alkaline and Torch
These are identical to Urban Decay’s long-favorite pencil liners so I don’t really need to do a full review on them. They really do glide on, no skipping or dragging. They wear well and blend out really nicely before setting to a waterproof finish.

I liked using Alkaline, a true red violet, in the waterline and both shades to smudge out on the outer corners as a colored shadow base.

I recommend these pencils in general but the colors depend on if you have anything like it in your current stash.

Overall Thoughts
I think this was a really successful collection from Urban Decay and seemed to resurrect them from some semi-meh releases like the Naked Smoky Palette and Moondust palette. I look forward to using this palette and it’s becoming a part of my weekly wear.

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Current Faves

I was going to do this every Friday and call it Friday Faves. Then I didn’t, because I’m a dweeb.

I used to call it Loving Lately, and then I decided that sounded lame.

These are 5 products that I’ve been using a lot lately and just really enjoying. How’s that?

I’ve got some haircare, skincare and of course, makeup.

I’ll be honest, when I first started my blog, I seriously worried that because I called it Wake Up For Makeup, that I couldn’t ever talk about anything other than makeup. Maybe I’ll put a little tagline below it. Wake Up For Makeup…and other stuff too.

Speaking of other stuff, I’ll put a few non-beauty favorites below too. I always like when people include those.

Verb Ghost Oil This lives up to it’s weightless claims and gives my heavy, thick hair a gorgeous, glass-like shine. Nothing spooky about that.

EcoTools Total Perfecting Blender Here’s a really nice, affordable beautyblender dupe for ya. I really enjoy the angled edge for applying concealer right up under the eye. Others might enjoy it for baking or doing the powder stripe under you contour nonsense.

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick • Pepper This color is a plummy mauve that looks perfect for fall without looking too vampy or goth. I’m wearing it in my Fenty Beauty post here.

Pixi By Petra Glow Tonic To-Go The original Pixi Glow Tonic is worth the hype. For those of us that are so lazy or forgetful that we can’t even be bothered to stock cotton pads in our bathroom, this is awesome. This is basically an easier version with the same awesome AHA exfoliating powers. My skin looks tighter, brighter and mightier.

Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette I’ve been really enjoying creating warm eye looks with this. If my eyes look like a fire, I’m usually pretty happy. I love the contrast of these colors with cool tone eyes. I created a look on my friend Zoe here in this post. 

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Non-Beauty Faves

Hubble Contact Lenses
Not only does this ensure I won’t run out of my contacts, as I often do, but the lenses themselves are really comfortable. Honestly, they are probably the most comfortable I’ve worn. The first box is free; you just pay shipping.

So Delicious Cashewmilk Snickerdoodle
If you think this tastes non-dairy, I will fight you because it doesn’t. This is the best non-dairy “ice cream” I’ve tried. I’m honestly trying not to go eat more right now.

If you want to keep up with everything I’m currently trying, make sure to follow me on Instagram.

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Fenty Beauty Review

I’m not typically one to get excited about celebrity beauty lines or collaborations. I guess it’s the old lady in me. I’m 33 but it’s only a matter of time before I’m bird watching, doing crossword puzzles and yelling at kids to get off my lawn. Ok, maybe I already do some of those things…

Fenty Beauty is the exception and here is why.

I’ve been a fan of Rihanna, real name Robyn Fenty, ever since Jay-Z so kindly introduced us to her. I love her music, her style and I think she’s an overall gorgeous human being. I actually got to see her perform once when she made a surprise appearance during Eminem’s Lollapaloooza performance!

Rihanna launched her beauty line, Fenty Beauty this week. Here’s what made me fire up my Rihanna Spotify playlist and take note.

  1. The line is 100% cruelty free
  2. The foundation is available in 40 shades with multiple undertones
  3. The price point is lower than many lines sold at Sephora

What I tried
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation-130
Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Duo in Mean Money/Hu$tla Baby Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

Formula
A liquid foundation that blends out well with brush and damp beauty sponge but does set fairly quickly. There’s a slight scent to it that I’d describe as powdery. It’s pleasant and not bothersome to me.

Finish
Described as a soft matte, this is a self-setting foundation that dry skin like mine doesn’t need set with a powder afterwards. Throughout the day, as my skin’s oil comes through more, I like the finish better. It’s nice to save my setting powder and wear a foundation that seems to get better the longer I wear it. Shade 130

Color
Most impressive of all is the shade range of 40 tones. I chose 130 since it was described as a fair shade with yellow undertones. I’ve often struggled to find a foundation that has truly yellow undertones, with no hint of pink or peach and 130 is it. I thought it might be too light at first but I have to say, this is one of, if not the best shade match I’ve ever had.
For reference, I wear Ivory in Too Faced Born This Way, NC20 in MAC and Ceylan in NARS Sheer Glow.

Coverage
This is described as medium to full but it’s pretty much full. It covers my melasma and dark spots almost entirely.

Wear
The foundation describes itself as long wearing and I would agree. It outlasts most of those I’ve tried lately and never needed touched up or blotted once. Keep in mind, I do have dry skin. I primed my skin with my LimeLight One Drop Wonder. I applied it with both a synthetic kabuki brush and a damp beauty sponge and I prefer the sponge.

My oily skin friends have reported back that unfortunately, they still get oily pretty quickly with this and the oxidation factor is real, even with the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer. Who would have thought that a foundation called Soft Matte might actually work better for dry skin?! Value
At $34 for 1.08 fl. oz., this is an incredible value for a high end foundation, housed in a frosted glass bottle with a pump. Here are a few comparisons to put this into perspective:

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation
Plastic bottle
$43 for 1.01 oz.

NARS Sheer Glow
Glass bottle
No included pump
$47 for 1 oz.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk
Glass bottle and a pump
$64 for 1 oz.

Do I recommend it? Yes. Definitely.
If you’re dry like me, just make sure you moisturize really well beforehand. If you like full coverage, you’ll enjoy it. If you don’t, and you’re more accustomed to tinted moisturizers and BB creams, this isn’t for you.
Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Duo in Mean Money/Hu$tla Baby

Formula
This is a powder highlighter with a very silky feel, likely thanks to the dimethicone. Colors/Finish
The Mean Money side (left) is a really subtle, soft glow while Hu$tla Baby (right) is a more metallic gold-toned champagne. I like the shades layered or mixed together, as well as solo. This reminds me of the Stila Kitten Duo, which I’ve always loved.

Wear
This wears about like any powder highlighter. I always use an eye primer so they wore great as eyeshadows too, no creasing.

Value
At $34 for two shades that can be used on face, eyes and body I would say it’s a decent value. It’s pricier than many highlighters but versatile. Wearing the foundation and highlighter on lids, cheekbones, cupid’s bow and brow bone.

Do I recommend it? Yes. They are fun to use but nothing I haven’t really used before. I like the packaging and shades though. Have you seen this woman? JK, but for real. This is like a glamorous mugshot.

If you’d like to see how the foundation and highlighter apply in real time, make sure to watch my video review.

I hope that this review has been helpful, especially for my pale, hella yellow, dry skin men and women. If you’d like to see all 39 other shades, this post has photos of that. You also might spot a familiar face at 130 😉

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Best Fiber Mascaras…and worst

Two of these fiber mascaras are really great, one is ok and two are just bad. If you’re looking for length and volume and you have skimpy lashes, a fiber mascara might be just the thing for you.
However, be aware that they do have small fibers infused into the mascara formula and though I don’t have issues with most as a contact wearer, you’ll want to be aware of it in case of possible sensitivities.

If you came here hoping to find Younique’s 3D mascara, you won’t as I’ve already reviewed it in depth here.

Smashbox Full Exposure, $23
This is probably my go-to favorite of the bunch. I honestly didn’t even know until this year that it was technically a fiber mascara. I just knew that I loved it. The formula, the big, fat brush that seems to catch every lash. It’s just great for big, sexy lashes. My dedicated review with more photos can be found here.

Pixi Lengthy Fiber Mascara, $16
Now this little turd right here…this is no good. Think you can perhaps see how erratic the fibers look on the wand, which should have been my first sign things were going south. The formula simply has too many, and too long of fibers concentrated into it and the brush dumps too much product onto lashes. I love Pixi so I was bummed but I do still love their Large Lash Mascara so just opt for that one instead.

NYX Doll Eye Mascara, $8.99
So I thought I liked this one, at first. That is, until my eyes started getting itchy and full of sh*t later in the day. I found some of the fibers below my lower lid too and that was just no freaking bueno. I find the formula to be dry too so not sure if that’s how it is or just a bad batch? Either way, there are better fiber mascaras to be had.Flowfushi MoteMascara, $25
This mascara is off the beaten path. It’s from unknown brand Flowfushi. I got this from Skinstore in a box of goodies. If you want a really natural, subtle effect, this mascara creates very clean definition, but not a lot of volume. It does help with length but again, it’s very low key. On a side note, the packaging kinda looks like sex toy to me.LimeLight Perfect Mascara, $20
This mascara would be my second prize pick. It’s $3 cheaper than the Smashbox Full Exposure but delivers almost the same results. What I love most about this mascara is how truly buildable it is. I’ve never really used any other that you could layer this way without any clumps or spider legs. I bend my brush as you see in the photo above because I like to really push it up under the lash line for some extra lift and curl.
The fibers don’t bother me and though not waterproof, this has lasted through tears remarkably.

Pixi and Flowfushi mascaras provided for review. All others purchases with my own money.




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best wet n wild products

Don’t sleep on Wet n Wild. Not only is the brand super affordable, but PETA-certified and cruelty free, and has both vegan and paraben free offerings. I’ve reviewed their products before but I wanted to round up what I think are arguably the best ones. Arrow over and read on to find out about my favorite Wet n Wild cheap thrills.

Color Icon Blush
I wouldn’t think a $3 blush would have great pigment in a flattering shade. Not at all. This one proved me wrong. The shade Mellow Wine is a matte spicy, peach that has great color payoff and is the sort of blush I use when I don’t want to think. The price and pigment are crazy. 

Photo Focus Foundation
There’s a reason this one made it in my Best Drugstore Foundations. This has great coverage at an even better price.

Eyeshadow Brush
Despite it’s name, I use this as a concealer brush. The bristles have just the right amount of flex to blend out more dry concealer formulas with a feather light touch.

Megalast Liquid Catsuit Lipstick
My fellow makeup artist friend told me I had to try these and I am sure glad I did. I love Coral Corruption and recently got Rebel Rose which is such an awesome mauve-y purple color. I love it so much.

MegaLast Salon Nail Color
I’ll be honest; I don’t paint my own nails often. When I used to though, this cheap polish always seemed to outlast the pricier ones. I like it better than Essie. I talked about it way back when here.

Mattifying Powder
I’ve been using this lately and loving it. It’s super silky, magnifies and sets my makeup for hours. The only thing I noticed is that I’ve used it pretty liberally in the short time I’ve had it and already hit pan, so I think there’s a small amount in there. SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave

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Hourglass Confession High Intensity Lipstick Review

Thanks to Influenster, I got to try out the new Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick. Um, hi, longest name ever?!

I was immediately impressed by the gorgeous, sleek packaging design that seems inspired by a vintage cigarette holder. However, does the product inside live up to the beauty of the outside? Read on to find out.

The stiletto-esque gold casing reminds me a little of the Christian Louboutin Nail Polish. It’s super petty but I don’t love how it encourages everyone to want to hold it like a cigarette due to it’s shape.

Color
The shade I was sent is I Lust For, which is truly a peachy nude. There is no hint of pink in this. If you have a yellow skin tone like I do, you’ll be able to work this shade but if not, you’ll likely find it very orange. Don’t worry; there are tons of other colors.

Formula
Semi-matte cream with a slight rose scent I don’t like.

Wear
It wears like the average cream lipstick. It doesn’t claim to be long wearing though so I didn’t expect it to be.

Value
The first time you purchase, it’s $34. The refills are $22. The size of the product itself is very small when compared to other lipsticks.

Take the Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick at 4.35 grams of product for $26. The Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick clocks in at a scant 0.9 oz. for $34 or $22 for refills.

The applicator itself is small. Thin lips will appreciate the precise-ness but fuller pouts might find it takes a smidge longer to apply.

The refills are eco-friendly in that you keep the original metal packaging but it’s not exactly cost effective, no matter how you slice it.

Do I recommend it?
Yes, if it’s for a special gift, no if not. The product itself is nothing remarkable but the packaging is beautiful and feels truly special.




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Product was provided free of charge by Influenster for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

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