bloggin' about beauty products

Amber S. is the Real Techniques giveaway winner! Check your inbox, Amber! Many thanks to everyone...

Wed, 23 May 2012 21:32:00 -0400

Amber S. is the Real Techniques giveaway winner! Check your inbox, Amber!

Many thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway!

I'm giving away two sets of Real Techniques brushes!

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:07:40 -0400

Visit this post for more information!

Overview & Photos: Birchbox Man

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:59:38 -0400

It’s no secret that I love Birchbox, so when the company started a monthly subscription service for the boys, I convinced my boyfriend, Chris, to sign up! He received his first Birchbox Man box this week!

If you’re familiar with the women’s Birchbox, you’ll notice that the men’s box is not only bigger, but is also constructed differently. I quite like the design of the men’s box and actually prefer it over the women’s box. Though, either design can prove to be very useful for storage and organization!

Another difference is the price. The men’s subscription costs $20 per month, so it’s a bit pricey than the women’s subscription, which costs only $10 per month.

Like the women’s box, the men’s box also includes a card detailing the contents of the box, as well as features on the Birchbox Man website. And, of course, everything is packaged neatly in tissue paper.

If your boyfriend, husband or best male friend doesn’t use anything past a three-in-one shower gel, the products included in May’s box can ease him into a more detailed, but still streamlined grooming routine. The products are straightforward and easy to use, plus the colorful socks are a fun addition that will add a pop of color to any man’s wardrobe.

Here’s a quick overview of Chris’ thoughts on the products:

1: Kiehl’s Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap: He’s not a fan of the soap’s scent, but said he could feel the soap opening his pores thanks to the exfoliating bits.

2: Billy Jealousy Liquid Sand Exfoliating Facial Cleanser: He said that the sand’s exfoliating properties are noticeable, but didn’t find them to be irritating or harsh on the skin. He plans to continue using it to determine further results.

3: CoSTUME NATIONAL Scent Intense: He likes the cologne’s scent and finds that it isn’t overpowering.

4: Richer Poorer Socks: He said that the socks are comfy. (And what more can you ask for from a snazzy pair of socks?)

Will you be signing your favorite man up for Birchbox Man, or have you done so already?

And in case you missed them, you can read the Lush reviews Chris wrote here: Seanik Solid Shampoo, Volcano Foot Mask and Dirty Springwash Shower Gel and Dirty Soap!

Giveaway: Real Techniques Brushes

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:17:00 -0400

I raved about my Real Techniques brushes and now I want one of you to add these brushes to your collection!

One person will win one (1) Core Collection and one (1) Starter Set as pictured above.

To enter, send an email to glossandgab@gmail.com with the subject line “Real Techniques Giveaway” and include your first name and last initial in the email. One entry per person, please.

You must be 18 or older or have permission to enter. The giveaway is open internationally. The winner will be chosen via random.org. The winner will be contacted via email. A post announcing the winner will be published on gloss & gab.

All items included in this giveaway are brand new and were purchased by me.

The giveaway will run until Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Review & Photos: Real Techniques Brushes

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:58:46 -0400

Samantha Chapman, makeup artist, blogger and one-half of You Tube’s Pixiwoo can add “creator of the most fabulous range of makeup brushes” to her list of accomplishments. Her line, Real Techniques, sold at Ulta and the company’s website, features a wonderful assortment of well-made, affordable and multi-purpose taklon bristle brushes each outfitted in bright aluminum ferrules. You can read more about the specifics of the brushes at the Real Techniques website.

I own two Real Techniques sets: the Core Collection and the Starter Set. The Core Collection includes four full-size face brushes and the Starter Set includes five full-size eye brushes. Each set retails for $18 and includes a panoramic brush case that can be closed for travel or fashioned into a stand-up holder with the attached toggle as shown below.

Here’s a quick overview of the brushes and my thoughts on each!

From left to right: Detailer Brush, Contour Brush, Pointed Foundation Brush, Buffing Brush

Core Collection —

Applying concealer is a breeze with the Detailer Brush. It precisely places concealer on bumps, spots and other pesky skin problems. I especially like to use it with Benefit’s Erase Paste, a thick and opaque concealer, which applies better with a brush than fingers.

I’m not a fan of foundation brushes and must admit that I’ve never used the Pointed Foundation Brush included in this set. Many reviewers comment that this brush is much too small for applying foundation to the entire face. I’ve never liked the idea of painting my face with this type of brush. I prefer to use the Real Techniques Stippling Brush or my fingers when applying foundation. I might just use this brush, however, to apply my favorite skincare treat – a face mask!

The Buffing Brush is another Real Techniques brush I obsess over. It’s perfect for applying powder or blush. I especially love using it to apply my MAC Mineralized Blush in Warmth of Coral. The brush disperses the blush beautifully and gives my cheeks a fresh glow.

The Contour Brush paired with Benefit’s Hoola is a match made in contour heaven. This brush fits perfectly into the hollows of the cheeks and creates a diffused, but effective contour. I love the brush’s slightly tapered point.

From left to right: Brow Brush, Deluxe Crease Brush, Pixel-Point Eyeliner Brush, Accent Brush, Base Shadow Brush

Starter Set —

The Base Shadow Brush packs eye shadow onto the lid effortlessly and creates a perfect base for any eye look. It’s flat and just wide enough to fit onto the lid without causing unwanted color to be taken into the crease.

I am obsessed with the Deluxe Crease Brush. It’s my favorite brush in my collection because it distributes color beautifully across the crease and diffuses any harsh lines easily. Sometimes, I get a little messy with dark crease colors, but this brush allows me to blend the color to create a much more polished look.

The Accent Brush is a perfect tool for applying an inner corner highlight or running a bit of dark eye shadow along the lower lash line to create a smoky eye look.

The Pixel-Point Eyeliner Brush is a thin, perfectly portioned brush for eyeliner application.

I gifted the Brow Brush to my mom because her brush collection needed a boost and she loves it. She says that it allows her to apply her brow powder easily and she really enjoys using it.

These two sets – along with the stippling brush (a review on that brush will follow!) – have completely revamped my collection. The brushes are fantastic and certainly worthy of a spot in your beauty arsenal.

Photos & Swatches: Naked Cosmetics Color Collection in Mother Nature

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:53:25 -0400

I purchased this stack of Naked Cosmetics pigments at IMATS a few weeks ago. According to the company, these mineral pigments can be used not only as eye shadow, but also as eyeliner, lipstick, blush, bronzer and temporary hair highlights. They can also be mixed into a clear nail polish to create a customized manicure. You can learn more about the versatility of the product at the company’s website.

I decided to purchase the Mother Nature stack following a demo by a super helpful and informative woman at the Naked Cosmetics booth. She demonstrated how the red shade in the stack could be worn as a lipstick when combined with a clear lip gloss and also how the white shade can be worn as a gorgeous highlight. Then, she created a wet swatch of the brown pigment (featured in the first set of swatches below) and it turned into a gorgeous blue-brown duo chrome. I fell in love and determined that I had to purchase this stack.

A quick note about application (and the swatches that follow): The sets of swatches below show the pigments both wet and dry. The dry swatches are light and quite transparent, while the wet swatches offer a better representation of the color and are much more saturated. I highly recommend wet application because it will result in much better color payoff and less fall out. Also, wet application just makes the pigments look more gorgeous!

Luxe is the best word to describe my May 2012 Birchbox. The company drew inspiration from the TV...

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:57:10 -0400

Luxe is the best word to describe my May 2012 Birchbox. The company drew inspiration from the TV series Gossip Girl and filled the boxes with high-end, decadent products inspired by the show’s Upper East Side socialites. When the series first launched, I watched it religiously and loved it. Though I haven’t watched Gossip Girl since season three, I still have a spot in my heart for Chuck Bass. Don’t we all?

Let’s take a look into my Birchbox. I received the following: Miracle Skin Transformer Body SPF 20 in Glow, Dior Diorshow Extase Mascara, Dior Miss Dior Eau de Parfum, Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo and a cute notecard.

Miss Dior is the first perfume sample I’ve been excited to receive since the Kate Spade Twirl sample in my June 2011 Birchbox. I used to own a full-size bottle of Miss Dior and I miss it, but not enough to shell out nearly $70 for a new one. I’m happy to have this sample. While it won’t last too long, it will allow me to a get a few wears of this lovely perfume.

The Diorshow Extase Mascara is another welcome item! I’ve developed into a mascara junkie over the last few months, so I’m super excited to try this beauty!

The Shu Uemura shampoo will certainly be a luxurious treat. The description card describes it has an “ultra chic yuzu-scented cleanser” that “transforms into a purifying foam that leaves hair clean and bouncy.” Sounds fancy! I’m excited to give it a try.

My mom is currently using another item from the Miracle Skin Transformer line and she really likes it, so I’m looking forward to giving this a go. It’s one part tinted moisturizer, one part illuminator. It offers a hint of color to smooth the skin and a bit of shimmer for a pretty glow.

What items did you receive in your Birchbox this month?

Target recently launched a series of limited edition in-store...

Sun, 13 May 2012 12:01:10 -0400

Target recently launched a series of limited edition in-store shops - aptly named “The Shops at Target.” The Shops feature items “collected and curate” from shops Target “fell in love with.” These shops include The Webster from Miami, Privet House from Connecticut, Polka Dog Bakery from Boston, The Candy Store from San Francisco and Cos Bar from Aspen.

I picked up a few items from the Cos Bar shop. Cos Bar is a cosmetics boutique located in Aspen, Colorado that launched in 1976. The Cos Bar shop at Target can be found in your store’s beauty section likely situated on an endcap. The items range from $1 to $20 and include soaps, body scrubs, nail polish, false eyelashes and nail files, among other items.

I picked up a light-up mirror ($10), tweezers ($4) and cleansing towelettes ($4). I love the packaging on these items - the leopard-print design is adorable! Also, the light-up mirror will come in handy, not only as a mirror, but also as a flashlight when I’m digging around in my purse in the dark.

The shops launched about a week ago and will open for a limited time only. You can find more information on the shops here.

Face of the Day: May 12, 2012 | Eucerin Daily Protection...

Sun, 13 May 2012 10:15:19 -0400

Face of the Day: May 12, 2012 | Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion SPF 30, Smith’s Rosebud Salve, Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream, Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Eye Firming Treatment

As much as I love makeup, sometimes I just don’t feel like wearing it. Yesterday was one of those days. Instead of piling on foundation, powder and blush, I piled on moisturizers. I’ve decided that the Garnier moisturizer is my holy grail moisturizer. It’s perfect because it keeps my oily T-zone in check, but provides hydration for the dry patches on my cheeks. I used it yesterday to perk up my skin and because it’s SPF free I followed up with the Eucerin lotion. I, then, applied another holy grail item - the Yes to Blueberries eye treatment. And I topped everything off as I do everyday with Smith’s Rosebud Salve.

New Goodies: Revlon Edition | Custom Eyes Palette in Beach...

Sun, 06 May 2012 21:25:00 -0400

New Goodies: Revlon Edition | Custom Eyes Palette in Beach Party, Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Charm, Colorstay Smoky Shadow Stick in Torch, Photo Ready Cream Blush in Pinched

I visited Harmon more times than necessary last week and stoked up on four new Revlon products. New releases always make me giddy, especially those from Revlon!

The Smoky Shadow Stick reminds me of those shadow sticks from Covergirl. I used it earlier today and I’m on the fence. It’s a great concept, but there isn’t much color payoff. I do like the pink end as an inner corner highlight. Plus, the eye shadows didn’t crease. (I did apply them over a base - MAC’s Paint Pot in Painterly.) I’ll have to use this product a bit more to form a better opinion on it.

The cream blush is a gorgeous color and application is a breeze. I love the finish of it - just a pretty sheen, no unnecessary shimmer or glitter.

I haven’t yet used the palette or lip stain, but I’ll be sure to write about those items in a future post!

Have you purchased any of Revlon’s new products?

Face of the Day: May 6, 2012 | Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin...

Sun, 06 May 2012 20:28:47 -0400

Face of the Day: May 6, 2012 | Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream, MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural, Stila Forever Your Curl Mascara, Revlon Colorstay Smoky Shadow Stick in Torch, Benefit Erase Paste, Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Roller, Urban Decay Naked Palette, MAC Paint Pot in Painterly, Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blush in Pinched

Photos & Chit Chat: IMATS New York 2012

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:51:00 -0400

This year, my sister and I ventured across the Hudson to IMATS in New York City. The event was held at Pier 94 and featured brands like Stila, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Kett, NYX, Naked Cosmetics, Eve Pearl and Inglot. We attended IMATS on Sunday, April 15. The crowd was smaller than I expected it to be, but that just made it easier to navigate the floor, find brands and choose products.

My favorite booth was NYX. It was magical, seriously. There were so products to chose from and I could have easily spent an entire paycheck at that booth, but I refrained and only purchased a handful of items.

I found lots of great products, many at a discounted price. I was especially excited to finally have the opportunity to purchase an OCC Lip Tar and the Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer and Treatment. Here’s a look at the rest of the other items I purchased!

Royal & Langnickel eye brushes

NYX goodies and a gorgeous luminizer by makeup artist Melanie Mills

Naked Cosmetics stack, OCC and Stila goodies, Eve Pearl concealer

I had lots of fun at IMATS and I might attend again next year! Did any of you attend IMATS New York?

Photos, Swatches & Review: Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Ready Eye Shadow 2.0 in Scenic Route

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:02:00 -0400

Bare Escentuals was my go-to makeup brand throughout college, but over the last three years curiosity got the best of me, and I abandoned the company for everything Sephora, Ulta and drugstores have to offer. With the release of Bare Escentuals’ Ready line, the brand wrangled me back with the purchase of this gorgeous eyeshadow duo.

As I opened this beauty, I was first impressed by the product’s packaging - the box, that is. I love the sleek design, the blurb written on the inside flap and the greeting sitting atop the eye shadows.

I also love the compact’s design. It’s a rubberized compact comparable to NARS’ packaging. It’s thin, but durable, which makes it perfect for travel.

These eye shadows are stunning. The color is vivid and the formula is creamy. Though I’m not usually a fan of green eye shadow, I’m obsessed with Spectacular, the golden sage shade. It’s so gorgeous and looks wonderful packed onto the eyelid with a wash of the color into the crease. The golden white shade - Breathtaking - imparts a beautiful sheen on the eyes. I use it in the inner corner of the eye and blend a bit into the crease to add more sparkle to Spectacular.

Scenic Route creates a beautiful look for any time of the day. I highly recommend it. The duo runs for $20 at Ulta and Sephora and the line offers a lot of other lovely shades. I’m eager to add another duo to my collection.

April 2012 Birchbox | Befine Skincare Sampler, Yes to...

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:29:00 -0400

April 2012 Birchbox | Befine Skincare Sampler, Yes to Blueberries Brightening Facial Towelettes, Lulu Organics Lavender & Clary Sage Hair Powder, Zoya Nail Polish in Bevin and Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift

This month’s theme is Natural Wonders, so Birchbox took the “green” approach with environmentally-friendly, healthy and organic products. My favorites in the bunch are the Yes to Blueberries Brightening Facial Towelettes. I’m a big fan of Yes to products and I use at least two makeup removing towelettes a day (one to clean up any stray makeup in the morning and the other to wipe my face clean at night), so this was a great sample to receive. I also like the Taylor Swift perfume, Wonderstruck. It’s sweet and yummy - a perfect scent for summer. The Befine Skincare Sampler had lots of promise - two packets of a moisturizer with SPF and three packets of an exfoliating cleanser. Unfortunately, the moisturizer passed its expiration date, but luckily Birchbox awarded those who received an expired sample with 100 points. (Birchbox alerted subscribers by e-mail, so if you received the same skincare sample, check your inbox!)

The remaining two products - the hair powder and nail polish - won’t find a home in my beauty stash since I’m not a fan of dry shampoos or Zoya.

I want to be sure, however, that the products are not wasted, so I’m going to randomly select one person who likes this post by Monday, April 30, 2012 at 11:59 EST and I’ll send that person the hair powder and nail polish, along with a few other samples. Everything will be new and unopened. I’ll contact the winner via the Tumblr messaging system. The winner is gnora.tumblr.com!

New Goodies: Bright Pink Lips Edition | From left to right: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar...

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:41:00 -0400

New Goodies: Bright Pink Lips Edition | From left to right: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Queen, MAC Lustering Lipstick

I purchased these two beauties recently and I think each will pair perfectly with minimal makeup or a bare face during the summer months. OCC’s Queen is the punchier half of the duo with richer color and a slightly heavier formula. MAC’s Lustering has - as the name suggests - a Lustre finish, which makes it a great choice for a daytime look.

Favorites: April 2012 As each month ends, I’ll share 5 of my...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:33:04 -0400

Favorites: April 2012

As each month ends, I’ll share 5 of my favorite products from that month. Think of these posts as recommendations of a handful of great beauty items!

Here are my favorites from April:

1: Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation
2: Stila Forever Your Curl Mascara
3: Ralph by Ralph Lauren
4: Urban Decay Naked Palette
5: MAC Warmth of Coral Mineralized Blush

What were your favorite products this month? Reply to this post or share in the comments below!

Hi friends, First, I want to say hello and welcome to my new followers! Second, I want to apologize...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:08:03 -0400

Hi friends,

First, I want to say hello and welcome to my new followers! Second, I want to apologize for how quiet I’ve been over the last several weeks and for the lack of new posts. I usually dedicate my weekends, specifically Sundays to writing and preparing posts, but the last four weekends have been hectic due to two friends’ weddings, IMATS and other things. But I promise to get back to blogging this week. Upcoming posts will include an IMATS recap, April favorites and an overview of my April Birchbox, so stay tuned!

And, as always if you have questions or requests, be sure to send me a message here on Tumblr or email me at glossandgab@gmail.com.

gloss & gab around the 'net!

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:54:00 -0400

Hi friends! Here are a few places to find me around the Internet. I’m especially excited because I can finally add Instagram to the list.

Twitter: glossandgab
Instragram: glossandgab
E-mail: glossandgab@gmail.com

Stop by and say hi! :)

Photos & Thoughts: March 2012 Birchbox

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:57:00 -0400

March marks my one year anniversary as a Birchbox subscriber. Throughout the year, I’ve experienced both excitement and disappointment with Birchbox and this month’s box created an odd combination of the two.

Birchbox offered two types of boxes this month - its usual box curated by the Birchbox staff or an exclusive box curated by Teen Vogue’s Eva Chen. I opted for the Teen Vogue box. Upon receiving the box, disappointment took over when I came to find it contained two items I received in previous boxes - Kate Spade’s Twirl and a Twistband Hair Tie. I also received a nail polish from Essie Luxeffects collection, Kerastase Elixir Ultime, a Mod Cloth discount code and a full-size Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint. That last item would have been great, but it turned out to be the shade Lucky, which I already own. And I do recognize that is not Birchbox’s fault. I blame it on my addiction to pink lip products.

Overall, I wasn’t happy with the box because I felt like I was cheated out of two items. I love (I mean, LOVE!) Kate Spade’s Twirl, but I own the full-size and I’ve already owned a sample, which I received in an earlier box (Where do you think I discovered this beautiful gem of a perfume?), so I didn’t want another sample of it, or any perfume for that matter.

I professed my disappointment on Twitter, complained to my boyfriend and sister a bit and forgot about it. That is until this email from Birchbox popped up in my inbox.

To say I was impressed is an understatement. The company recognized its mistake without a word from me. I never contacted the company by e-mail, Facebook or Twitter. Birchbox just figured it out by itself! And that, my friends, is what we call terrific customer service.

Sometimes, I complain about the contents of my Birchbox (perfume samples, anyone?), but I’ve always been impressed by the company’s customer service and ability to recognize and fix mistakes. Kudos to you, Birchbox, for a job well done!

And this is where excitement sets in because I now have $40 worth of points in my Birchbox account and I can buy something fabulous! Now, I just have to figure out what to buy!

Favorites: March 2012 As each month ends, I’ll share 5 of my...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:38:00 -0400

Favorites: March 2012

As each month ends, I’ll share 5 of my favorite products from that month. Think of these posts as recommendations of a handful of great beauty items!

Here are my favorites from March:

1: Burt’s Bees Citrus Facial Scrub
2: Mark Please Hold Eye Primer
3: Lush Creme Anglaise Hand and Body Lotion
4: MAC Mineralize Blush in Warmth of Coral
5: bareMinerals Ready Eye Shadow in The Scenic Route

What were your favorite products this month? Reply to this post or share in the comments below!