Wake Up For Makeup

05/18/2018

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser Review

Some products have such fun sounding names, you don’t even care what’s in the bottle. Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is one such product. However, I’m here to tell you that beyond it’s fun-to-say name, there’s some pretty damn good stuff in the bottle as well.

Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is a gentle face wash. The PH-balanced, non-foaming cleanser is safe for use in the eye area so it really can be your one-stop-shop makeup remover + cleanser, just how I prefer it. Ain’t about that double cleanse life here.

Texture
True to it’s name, the texture is a jelly that turns milky when combined with water. I find the texture super enjoyable to use.

Packaging/Value
The 6 fl oz. pump bottle retails for an affordable $18.

Scent
Though I’m a notorious rose scent hater, I actually really like the scent of Milky Jelly Cleanser!? I knew it contained rose water so I was glad I got to try a sample first, assuming I’d despise it. Not so. It’s light and subtle, not overpowering or old lady like.

Ingredients
Milky Jelly contains soothing rosewater and comfrey root extract so it’s kind to most skins. Other key ingredients are Poloxamer, a gentle cleansing in agent also found in contact lens solution, allantoin, glycerin and sodium hyaluronate.

Effectiveness
This does a pretty damn good job at breaking down makeup and leaves skin cleansed and soft but never dry or stripped. I have noticed that some eye makeup does require a little extra cleaning afterwards to fully remove it.

Do I recommend Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser?
For sure. It’s really such a gentle, effective and affordable cleanser that I think almost any skin type would enjoy. I always look forward to using it and I think that is the key with routine use skincare products.

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05/16/2018

Biossance Review

I never thought I’d be here. In my 20’s, I only cared about makeup, and like 3 other things. I didn’t get all that excited about skincare, aside from the occasional mask.

But then I turned 30 and lo and behold, all hell broke loose. I’ve also become fascinated with skincare ingredients and now, here I am, just as excited about skincare products as I am about makeup. I’m excited to tell you about a brand I recently tried called Biossance.

Biossance is a skincare brand based in Berkley, California, with plant-derived squalane as the foundation of their cruelty free line. It’s a very clean and green line overall, EWG-certified and free of artificial fragrances, dyes, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil and petroleum. This clean beauty cheat sheet will tell you more.

Biossance squalane is derived from sugarcane then bio-fermented. This method is eco-friendly and sustainable. Some squalane is actually derived from shark liver. Blech. No go for me there.

They offer cleansers, oils, serums, eye creams and moisturizers that range from $30-$78.
Biossance is available at Sephora but you can also get great extras and special deals by shopping the Biossance site directly. They so kindly sent me their Weightless Hydration Essentials set to try out.

Biossance 100% Squalane Oil
This is one of my new favorite skincare oils. It has a lighter-weight feel, absorbs nicely and really does seem to speed up healing of blemishes, dry patches and rough texture. I love that it has absolutely zero scent to it.

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
This oil seems to be the regular squalane on steroids. It has the brightening power of vitamin C. It does have a rose scent, and surprinsgly, it doesn’t offend me as most rose scents do. I think could be because it actually smells like real roses and nothing artificial. In addition to rose, it has a magical sounding ingredient called Chios Crystal Oil that promisees firmness.
I would have to use this more long term to determine if the brightening/evening effects are there but I definitely enjoy the feel and hydration of it. A vitamin C product is something pretty much everyone can benefit from using daily to encourage skin to make more collagen and even things out.

Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer
This product hits on 2 skincare trends-probiotics and lightweight water gel textures. It does both very well. Again, I adore that it has no scent, it has no silicone so causes no pilling when excess is applied and hydrates without a heavyweight feel. I was stoked to see it contained one of my skin’s favorite ingredients, lactic acid and also lineolic acid that helps breakouts.

Bissoance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel
I prefer a richer cream texture for my eye area but this is nice and light for daily use, under makeup, especially in warmer temps. I think oily skin types would really love it. I’m impressed with the inclusion of tried-and-true ingredients like argireline and swiss apple stem cell extract to help dark circles and anti-aging peptides. In addition to those, it also has de-puffing caffeine, sodium hyaluronate, goji and grape extract.

Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Cloth
Ok, this is literally the only product I didn’t like. I don’t really like makeup wipes in general, especially oily ones. Even if it was bomb, I just wouldn’t pay a lot for fancy makeup wipes anyhow because I just prefer traditional face wash to remove makeup.

Do I recommend Biossance skincare?
Oh hell yeah. I can almost find nothing wrong with this line. It checks so many boxes, does so many things right and would be suitable for nearly anyone. I think it’s an excellent skincare line and I’m ready to slam down some of my own money now to try more.

I am personally now dying to try the Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum and Squalane + Mineral SPF 45.

What are the must-haves?
Your best intro to the brand and value would be the Weightless Hydration Essentials set that I tried. Out of the set, the 100% Squalane Oil and Probiotic Gel Moisturizer were my top faves. You can score free samples on the Biossance site too; you just pay shipping.

Biossance products provided for review purposes. No financial compensation received. Post contains affiliate links.

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05/15/2018

Glossier Lidstar Review

Among other things, eyeshadow is one of the products people have been begging Glossier for. Staying true to the minimalist Glossier vibe, I was excited to see them do a liquid/cream shadow formula as I find those to be the most user-friendly and effortless to apply.

When you have a cream or liquid shadow in a flattering shade with a great formula, you can create such a simple, fresh, one shadow look with few artistry skills required. Is Glossier Lidstar the key to the chic, one shadow look? Read on.

From top
Fawn: a silvery, purple taupe. I would categorize this as a cool tone shade, nice for a smoky eye look. This was first seen on Beyonce at the Grammy’s and was the shade Glossier automatically sent to me when it launched. For my cool tone eyes, I would have not chosen this shade. However, I’d like to try it over a black cream shadow base for a super smudgy, dramatic eye.

Moon: I was hoping this was the perfect, everyday champagne shimmer. It really isn’t because it has a strange, frosty blue shift to it. I like it for highlighting the inner corner and brow bone but it’s not necessarily the everyday ivory shimmer I was hoping for. Bummed.

Cub: This is my favorite shade by far as it’s exactly what it looks like-a flattering rose gold. It looks really beautiful with blue or green eyes and is the shade I hoped for. It seems to be the most pigmented of the shades I’ve tried as well.
Wearing Lidstar in Cub, Stretch Concealer in Light, Boy Brow in Brown, Cloud Paints in Dusk and Beam, Generation G in Zip and Cake, Lip Gloss.

Shade Range 7/10
While I think there are flattering shades for most skin tones, I would have still liked a true bronze. Fawn isn’t it and Cub is rose gold.

Pigment 6/10
These are far more sheer than I expected. When applied with a flat brush and layered, you can get a bit better payoff but I wish these were more pigmented out of the gate.

Formula 7/10
The formula reminds me very much of Glossier’s Cloud Paint in consistency. I really like that these can be mixed together for custom shades. They dry down with no stickiness and crease minimally.

Wear 8/10
I didn’t experience any fading but a few shimmer specks on my face by the end of the day.

Packaging 8/10
I really love the little test tubes. The doe foot applicator is quite easy to work with and I love that the packaging is transparent, allowing you to instantly see the colors.

Value 7/10
Glossier products are pretty modestly priced and Lidstar is no exception at $18 each or $30 for 2.

Overall Score: 72%
See Lidstar in action in my Glossier full face tutorial video.

What I like

Easy of use
Non-sticky feel
Blends out easily without any special skills
Can layer and mix for custom shades

What I don’t

Very sheer formula with low pigment
Lacking core colors like bronze or champagne

Do I recommend Glossier Lidstar?
I recommend Cub but not the other shades so far. Fawn and Moon were disappointments and that bums me out to say. I do still want to try Lily and maybe Slip and experiment with more mixing.If you want to try Lidstar or any of the other Glossier products, make sure to shop my link here.

Thank you for reading, my Glossier loving pals!

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05/09/2018

Christian Siriano x elf cosmetics

When makeup and Project Runway ~~alum~~ legend Christian Siriano collide, good things are bound to happen. This isn’t the first time that he’s jumped into the makeup game though.

Christian Siriano launched a makeup collection back in 2009 for Victoria’s Secret and has collaborated with other accessible brands like Starbucks, Spiegal, Payless, Kiss and Lane Bryant. He also famously stepped up to dress comedian Leslie Jones, when no one else would.

Of course I love Christian Siriano’s taste level, his designs, his always current vision but perhaps most of all, I fiercely admire his lack of qualms about who he collaborates with and desire to be accessible to everyone. While some designers might stick their nose up at budget brands like Payless and e.l.f., Siriano smartly recognizes he can reach a far wider audience by appealing to the masses.

I love him even more for it. Because of all this, I was so thrilled to receive the e.l.f. x Christian Siriano collection. Read on and I’ll tell you what I thought of this makeup bag, eyeshadow palette, liquid lipstick and lip gloss. The collection includes an eyeshadow palette, makeup bag, liquid lipstick and a lip gloss. This collaboration was inspired by Siriano’s Spring 2018 RTW collection, described as “psychedelic greenhouse” which I just absolutely love the sound of. The packaging is just darling and happy. It makes me smile. That’s important with makeup. Christian Siriano Eyeshadow Palette
I’ll overlook the fact that I hate blue and green eyeshadow because I love a lot about this eyeshadow palette.

This is a $12 eyeshadow palette and you wouldn’t know it based on the formula. The mattes are very nice and blendable, the shimmers are pigmented and lovely. Aside from blue and green, the other shades are all wearable and lend themselves to creating a variety of looks.

I love that it includes a soft champagne gold, matte pale pink, matte black for using as liner or smoking out looks, a pale white gold and my favorite of all, the matte berry. It’s so fun and good. I’m wearing it in the photo below.

The blue and green could be used on the lower lashline but you act with caution, ok?
The included brush might look silly but it’s honestly pretty functional too! Do I recommend the Christian Siriano Eyeshadow Palette? Yes, you bet. It’s such a fun steal at $12. Christian Siriano Liquid Matte Lipstick
I just love a fiery hot pink like this. The formula is definitely ultra matte though. It’s so matte, that it feels like the desert on the lips. I’ll show you an iPhone car pic and maybe you can see what I mean. Do I recommend it? I like the color, I don’t like the formula. No can do. Also, are you sensing a theme that I basically live in my car? This time of year, I basically do.

Christian Siriano Tinted Lip Oil I was real jazzed to see this because I already loved the e.l.f. Lip Oils. They’re awesome so I was happy to get another one. Until I saw the color on myself. Ick. Return to sender. Do I recommend it? Opposite of the liquid lipstick, I love the formula, sdon’t like the color. If you have a cool undertone, you might look better in this than I did.

Christian Siriano Cosmetic Bag The bag is so cute but I can’t tell you how much it holds because I will literally never be able to open it. The fabric is stuck in the zipper and when I had my husband try to get it unstuck, he ripped the tassel off and I scolded him. So it sits in my makeup room now, the tassel sitting sadly next to it, never to be used. So, guess I can’t recommend that one!

Overall Thoughts
The eyeshadow palette is worth it for sure. The liquid lipstick is too dry, the lip oil is great but not a good color for and I couldn’t open that damn bag so we’ll never know.

If you’re hoping to check out the collection, it’s limited edition so see if your local Target has it or shop the e.l.f. site for the best deal because you can get 15% cash back with eBates right now.

Product provided for review purposes. No financial compensation was received. Post contains affiliate links.

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05/02/2018

Urban Decay Backtalk Palette Review

The Urban Decay Backtalk palette is a recent release that I was particularly amped up for. I’m in a pink/mauve/dusty rose mode as of late so this monochromatic selection of shades totally spoke to my desperately seeking spring soul. Urban Decay definitely knows how to do a palette and this particular one intrigued me enough that I would have purchased it myself had it not been sent to me.

I wanted to test drive the Urban Decay Backtalk palette for a while before I gave you the deets. I’ve been wearing it the past month and formulating my thoughts. Read on to find out my honest thoughts on this new launch.

The Urban Decay Backtalk palette contains 8 eyeshadows, 2 highlighters and 2 blushes, making it a multi-functional color palette for eyes and cheeks. It retails for $46.

The palette was inspired by their best-selling shade of Vice Lipstick, Backtalk. I own that lipstick and I totally love it. It’s a wearable, mid-tone mauve, pictured below. I am really into the monochromatic makeup trend for spring so I really couldn’t wait to try The Urban Decay Backtalk palette out.

Eyeshadow Shade Descriptions

3 Sheets: matte, pinky ivory. I like this for a light, matte lid, brow bone highlighter or for blurring out the top edge of a crease color.
Bare: very pretty, rose champagne shimmer. This is my favorite lid shade in the palette and the most universally flattering.
Curve: slightly taupe/purple shimmer. This is a nice lid color for more medium skin tone but I find I don’t reach for it as much because it’s a bit cooler-tone.
Backtalk: matte mauve, inspired by the Vice Lipstick shade of the same name
Shade: jewel tone, berry shimmer
Attitude: coppery, rust shimmer
WTF: mid-tone, peachy brown matte
180: cocoa shimmer

Party Foul: a champagne highlighter that is quite subtle. It was nothing revolutionary but certainly wearable.

Speaking of parties and champagne…

In college, I never liked beer. I tried, and I tried, but I always hated it and still do. So I was the girl who would bring her own bottle of champagne to parties while everyone else drank keg beer like normal college students. Looking back, I was both extra and boujee before those words existed in our vocabulary. Trailblazer.

Low Key: At first glance, this looks like a pretty, shimmery peach blush, but turns out it was nothing more than a low-pigment peach highlighter. I think it’s nice as a blush topper maybe but then why not just use a shimmery peach blush, ya know?

Speaking of low key…

I low key love eavesdropping on stranger’s conversations. It’s so fascinating. I know it’s rude, but I can’t stop. I always learn interesting things. If you follow my Instagram stories, you know I do this all the time at Target.

Double Take: This mauve rose is my ideal shade for blush and a matte texture to boot. It’s not the most amazing blush formula I’ve ever tried, but it works. It just takes more than you think to see payoff.

Speaking of double takes…

I did one the other day when I noticed how full my brows were looking without filling them in a pinch! It’s the castor oil, you guys. It’s working.

Cheap Shot: A plummy, purple blush that would be so lovely on medium to deep skin. I like it but it can have a bit of a bruise effect on my fair, yellow skin.

Speaking of cheap shots…

I don’t do them. I only drink white wine, champagne (yep, still doing that) and tequila.
I’m including some very unprofessionally-shot iPhone selfies of me wearing it too, just because I think you deserve the best.I’m wearing the Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Naked in the photos above. On my light skin tone, it’s a more monochromatic than the more mid-tone Backtalk lipstick. I love this lipstick. Naked is a real bomb pink for spring.

The Backtalk Breakdown

Shade Range 8/10
The color selection is my favorite part. This is a flattering, spring palette of blossom-like shades. There’s a nice array included here to create many soft day looks and slightly smokier eye looks too. However, I rated this category an 8 as it contains no deeper shade than 180 and I would have liked to see a deep plummy matte brown to round out the eye part of the palette.

Cheek color-wise, I find the peachy shade better suited color wise to a blush but formula-wise, it’s definitely a highlighter.

Pigment 5/10
This is the confusing part. The shadows do not feel or behave like Urban Decay shadows. They are hard, low pigment and strange. I can make them work and I can get pretty results from them with the right brushes, but, it doesn’t come easily as with the Urban Decay shadow formulas we are used to.

The cheek colors are ok, but the highlighters feel weak to me.

Formula 6/10
As mentioned above, the eyeshadows feel hard and papery. They blend out ok surprisingly but they just don’t feel like the softer shadows you may be used to from Urban Decay and other brands. Due to their harder texture, there is little to no fallout which is actually quite nice.
The cheek color formula is nothing spectacular and I expected a richer pay-off from them as well.

Wear 8/10
I didn’t really have any major issues with wear as I religiously use the Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden. The shimmer eyeshadow shades seemed to wear away quicker though without an emollient texture to adhere them to the lid.
The cheek color wear was about average.

Packaging 8/10
The packaging is darling, fun and functional. I like the mirror that separates the eye from the cheek products, though I’m not sure if I care that it’s removable.

Value 6/10
At $46, that breaks down $3.83 per pan. That would be an amazing deal if the formula was easy to work with and the pigment was super charged, but it’s not and it’s not.

Overall Score
33/60, 55%

What I liked

Color selection
Range of matte and shimmer finishes
Packaging
Minimal eyeshadow fallout

What I didn’t

Shadow and blush formula
Low pigment
Hard, dry shadow texture
Lack of deeper eyeshadow color

Do I recommend the Urban Decay Backtalk Palette?
Sadly, I cannot. I love the color palette, but the pigment and formula aren’t what I expect from Urban Decay, and that makes me sad.

For the price, I think you can find a palette with formulas that are more user-friendly. I will continue to use mine and I can make it work for me, but I think the average consumer who is not a makeup artist will find it difficult to work with.

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Product sent via Urban Decay for possible review purposes. No financial compensation was received in exchange, nor was a positive review encouraged. Post contains affiliate links.

04/30/2018

Men’s Grooming: Duke Cannon

I really enjoyed listening to Fat Mascara’s most recent episode with Garrett Munce, Products Don’t Have a Gender. The topic of men’s grooming products and how they are marketed was at the top of my mind when I came across a soap from a brand called Duke Cannon.

I was attracted to the product for it’s large, chunky size. My husband and I go through bar soap often and I’m always looking for new, interesting kinds to stock the shower with.

The packaging was attractive and I liked that Duke Cannon Supply Co. donates a part of all proceeds to support veteran causes. So far, so good.

When I read the copywriting on the packaging, I was honestly shocked.
In 2018, the following messages are being used to market mens grooming products:

Duke Cannon doesn’t drink lattes, cry at movies (or funerals, for that matter), and he sure as heck has never had a manicure.

Duke Cannon doesn’t care much for small dogs, appletinis or shows about singing and dancing. He’s not the most interesting man in the world (nor does he aspire to be), but he once bowled a 260. And he can fix damn near anything.

Duke Cannon’s idea of a great night does not involve going to that fancy vegan juice bar downtown or binge-watching vampire dramas on the Internet. No, Duke Cannon’s perfect night is under a starry sky, by the light of a glowing campfire, where stories are told without emojis and memories are made without selfies.

Duke Cannon doesn’t spend all day typing emails on a laptop. He sure as hell hasn’t gotten a manicure. His hands build tangible things like V8 engines and two story decks. And hard work makes hands dirty. Further insightful copy from the Duke Cannon website

After all, Duke Cannon doesn’t dine with vegans and he couldn’t give a damn about your new ipad. Duke Cannon comes from a different era–an era when men had a greater purpose than building spreadsheets and spending their saturdays at banana republic.

In Duke’s time, men pursued meaningful endeavors. they worked with their hands. they took pride in the things they built, not the things they bought. and the mindset was simple: men wanted to win, not find the “win-win”.

And then the whole metrosexual trend came and screwed men up even worse.

Now exists a generation of men who have spent more time in a Pottery Barn store than a hardware store. Hell no.

Needless to say, the Duke Cannon Supply Company is not a big fan of this trend. it’s time for man to devolve, not evolve.

Yeah, I definitely do not like this Duke person. Like, at all. Smells like a man should. Should? Wow.

Duke Cannon mentions vegans and manicures at least twice. For not liking them, they sure do seem fascinated by them.

Why can’t you make your soap, honor veterans and not insult anyone?
Can you even fathom how this would be received if this product were for women and marketed similarly. If a brand was telling a large group of women, “try again sweetie, you’re just not womanly enough.”

My issues with Duke Cannon’s marketing
Keep in mind, this is not a product review but rather, why I have concerns with the marketing.
Duke Cannon’s messaging is problematic for several reasons. Among other things it:

Perpetuates negative stereotypes about men.
Reinforces a type of masculinity that is dangerous, especially right now.
It celebrates a mindset that is arguably homophobic, judgmental and intolerant of others.
It blatantly says there is only one way to be a man.
It alienates a portion of the population, telling them they aren’t good enough to use the product.
It uses the words feminine and girly as a negative adjectives.
It insinuates that only certain jobs and skills are worthy and masculine.
It discourages men from expressing emotion.
It dumbs grooming down, telling men, you don’t know any better, you don’t care, so here, ya big dummy.

Duke Cannon makes it seem as though men are ineligible for self care and if they dared indulge in anything not overtly masculine, they’re probably going to get called a pussy for it. I’m not having it; I’m not here for it.

Masculinity is a word that doesn’t mean one one thing.
It can mean smelling rugged, but it can also mean working hard to provide for yourself and your family, whether thats via spreadsheets or sheet metal.

Masculinity can mean chopping wood and also tomatoes for dinner.
It can mean setting up the wifi, the Christmas tree and the table.

To me, masculinity is a self-assured confidence and the feeling of safety that someone provides. It is a caring nature that makes you feel loved and protected. It has nothing to do with anything else.

This is not the time, nor the place for this, Duke Cannon. And you should try a manicure sometime…unless you’re afraid you’ll like it.

Here are a few great men’s grooming lines that don’t appear to be hell-bent on insulting people.

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04/25/2018

Miracos Makeup Brush Review

I could never, will never have enough makeup brushes. It’s a fact. I’m impressed with how technology has advanced to create synthetic makeup brush fibers that mimic animal hair and perform well in liquids, cream and powders. Miracos Makeup reached out to partner on this post, offering to send me their synthetic Premium Bamboo Makeup Brushes.

I was intrigued by Miracos description of the bristles “that release ions to reduce skin oxidization, improve cleanliness and provide an anti-bacterial barrier, making them suitable for sensitive skin.”

The set contains 7 brushes in a magnetized brush roll case. I really like the magnetic feature and wish all my brush rolls had this!

I like the see-through plastic brush flap overlay for cleanliness. The included brush guards are also nice to retain the brush head’s shape and would be nice to keep for reshaping brushes after cleaning.

It’s also smart that the brush inserts are mesh as they will be far less likely to collect product residue this way. There are definitely a lot of practical features incorporated into the carrying case.

I will review each of the 7 brushes individually, telling you their intended purpose, what I found them useful for, and how they performed. First up, the face brushes.

From left
Oval Powder Brush: I found this to be a really nice blush brush thanks to it’s domed head and graduated cut bristles. It reminds me of a slightly larger version of my beloved Real Techniques Blush Brush. You could also use this brush for setting powder and bronzer.

Round Blush Brush: I wouldn’t apply powder blush with this as it’s too dense but I found I really loved applying cream and liquid foundation with it. It’s just dense enough to lay down product but the bristles have enough flex to also blend and buff out. I loved applying my cream blush with this too, but I just think it could be unforgiving with powders.

Tapered Foundation Brush: This felt a little abrasive on my often reactive skin. I didn’t enjoy applying foundation with it but will reserve it for applying face masks instead.

From left
Eye Sweep Brush: I prefer my all over shadow brushes to be a bit flatter but I found this applied shadow to the lid nicely due to it’s density. It would also work for placing darker colors on the outer corner, but the bristles aren’t really long enough to blend those colors out seamlessly.

Angled Eyeliner & Brow Brush: This was my favorite brush of the bunch. It’s one of the thinnest angled liner brushes, enabling me to create really crisp, beautiful winged liner and brows. I used it on a few of my makeup clients and I was really impressed with the clean lines I was able to create.

Lip Brush: I will never understand why brush sets include these, especially those geared towards consumers. I don’t know any woman that frequently uses a lip brush, and even as a makeup artist, I use a lot of disposables these days. I would have loved to have seen this brush swapped out for a fluffy crease brush to really round out the set.

Point Concealer Brush: This is nice for blending out dense, drier concealers like this one, but for liquids and creams, it can leave a few brush strokes. I also liked using this for applying cream and liquid eyeshadows.

Quality 7/10
I experienced some mild shedding, however, this is not a luxury line by any means and the price point seems accurate. The brushes are all very soft and the only one that felt abrasive on my skin was the foundation one. The others are very gentle. The handles are made of bamboo which feels very lightweight in the hand. Bamboo is a sustainable material so that’s really nice to see that vs. plastic handles.

Packaging 9/10
The included case is darling and useful. The brushes also came in brush guards which is really handy for keeping their shape!

Value 8/10
When using my 25% off code (enter IVY25 at checkout), these break down to about $2.14 per brush which is a mega deal. I rated it an 8 because I can’t say every single brush is super useful.

What I Like

The included case is stylish and functional.
The angled liner brush is an awesome shape and I will continue to use in my freelance kit.
I really like the Round Blush Brush for applying foundation. It’s very soft and the bristles are just the right cut for this.
The price point is highly affordable for a 7 brush set.
I like that these are all synthetic fibers.
It’s nice to see a sustainable material like bamboo used for the handles.

What I Don’t

I did experience some mild shedding after the 2nd use.
I don’t love the feel of the handles. They are bamboo so they are lightweight but I think I just prefer a bit heavier feel in the hand.
I hate the color green so I do wish the bristles were black, as petty as it sounds.
I don’t need another lip brush and wish this were a crease brush instead.

Do I recommend the Miracos Makeup Brush Set?
For the price, included case, and at least 4 very useful brushes, they are totally worth it. They are soft, cruelty-free and versatile. If you’d like to order a set, make sure to use code IVY25 to save 25%. I don’t make any money from the code, you just save money.

Want to win a set for yourself?
Miracos will be giving one Wake Up For Makeup reader their own Bamboo Makeup Brush Set. Leave me comment to enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday, May 2nd.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Post sponsored by Miracos Makeup. Product provided for review purposes.

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04/23/2018

How to shave your face

I am writing this post for 3 reasons.

I have no shame.
People ask me about this topic all the time.
I sincerely want to help out a fellow hairy girl out there.

I’ve been shaving my face for probably 5 years now. For me, this is the best method of hair removal I’ve found as my skin has reacted really poorly to both waxing and threading.

Why shave your face?
I shave my face because I have dark hair, therefore it’s visible.
I also shave it because products like highlighters, meant to reflect light, often aren’t effective on my skin as the hair creates a texture that the light reflecting pigments don’t play well with.
I shave it because if I notice a dark shadowy mustache waltzing into the party univinited, I can take care of it instantly, without and appointment, from the comfort of my own home.

Oh, and just a disclaimer: If you say “I mustache you a question,” you will be blocked/unfriended/broken up with/cancelled. It’s the wazzuppp of our generation.

Some credit shaving with providing a form of manual exfoliation and making for better, smoother makeup application. I will say, due to the reduced texture of peach fuzz, my makeup does lay better. My skin reflect light better and looks brighter.

I wanted to share exactly how I shave my face, in hopes of helping someone else, so I made a real up close and personal video. I’ll show you in this post some of the tools I use, though it’s really just one! The eyebrow razor!

See exhibit A.
You can either order these online or find them with the nail accessories at your local drugstore/Target. I don’t think the brand matters much really but I like the Ardell ones. You’ll almost aways find these in a 3 pack and you’ll often see them at places like TJMaxx, Marshalls and the like.

You’ll also want some sort of astringent or toner to use afterwards. You can either use witch hazel or a spray toner like Mario Badescu Facial Spray.

Ok, are you so ready to shave your face? I knew it. It’s so exciting.

How to shave your face

Begin with a clean face. Do not apply any skincare. Dry face is best.
Hold your razor at a 45 degree angle.
Pull skin taut (as much as I hate that word).
Use small, downward strokes with not pressure.
Once complete, apply your toner or face spray.
Do not apply any skincare products or makeup for several hours.

Make sure to watch this defuzzing in action in the video above. I didn’t shave my face on camera for nothing.

I truly do hope that this has been helpful. It’s not always easy being a hairy girl, but you know what the best part is?

Fabulous, full eyebrows.
Lashes.
A head of thick hair.

So just remember, it’s not all so bad. If you struggle with the arm hair thing, might I suggest bleaching it? I have a post and video on that too of course!

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