Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you're enjoying your day and feasting to your hearts content. Don't forget to take a moment to just sit back and take it all in because surely we all have a lot to be thankful about -- even if sometimes we take it for granted.
And I'm pretty stoked that you stopped by today. After all, there are about a million other things you could possibly be doing.
So thanks!
Let me try to make your visit worthwhile by sharing something us beauty lovers just LOVE to talk about: Lipstick.
Specifically, we're discussing the matte variety. Because, beauty trends.
Matte lips are still having their moment. And I'm still dutifully here for it.
By now, there are plenty of matte lipsticks out there for you to choose from. But today we're offering up the spotlight to Bdellium Tools' newest product line, their matte lipsticks.
Loyal readers know I've been a big fan of this brand for years now. They offer a fantastic array of makeup brushes. And over the past year, they've started branching out into makeup. They totally floored us with their lip crayon release (man, were those pigmented and creamy and all-around fantastic). So naturally, I was anxiously awaiting their next product launch.
I have to tell you, they didn't disappoint — brining us seven new lipstick shades that include everyday nudes, bright oranges and reds, and deep vampy shades.
I bought five of the seven available colors (below): Touch of Eden, Kylie, Dorothy, Last Call, and Wait a Minute.
Bdellium Tools matte lipsticks retail for $16 each. The formula is enriched with shea butter and macadamia oil, which means that those matte lips won't be dry or uncomfortable. They're also vegan, paraben free, and fragrance free.
You can tell that Bdellium put effort into the product development. Like the lip crayons, the lipsticks offer fabulous color pay off. And they're encased in a matte black case with cool yellow lettering that's both laid back and a little hipster.
But don't let the casual design fool you. The casing is sturdy, with a nice weight to it. And my personal favorite feature? It's magnetized so you don't have to worry about the cap falling off in your bag and your lipstick (or bag) getting ruined.
Check out the five shades I purchased in my video below so you can start figuring out which ones you'll want for yourself (hint: probably most of them).
Oh, and since it is Black Friday weekend, you can save 30% on your purchase with code FRIDAY30 (coupon valid starting at 6 p.m. PST 11/24/16-11/28/16). Once Cyber Monday is over, you can still save 10% on your purchase with code GIRLYTHINGS. And, as always, free shipping on purchases $20 or over.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This post contains press samples and affiliate links.*
If you haven't been avoiding social media altogether, then you've probably noticed that oval makeup brushes are having a moment.
And my moment, I mean: They're everywhere!
And since I'm not immune to curiosity, I have been wondering how effective they are. But, I'm also not keen on jumping on all the trends. And those fancy oval brushes will set you back a few dollars.
So, I waited. I was too nervous that I'd drop a pretty penny of a brush that I didn't like. And I have a serious aversion to buyer's remorse.
Like, I legit feel guilty when I buy something on a whim and it turns out not to be good. It's ridiculous, I know. But sometimes it keeps me from making impulsive choices (that are also expensive).
Anyway, you can imagine my sense of excitement and relief, when more affordable brands started releasing their own oval makeup brushes. But then something magical happened. Bdellium Tools released their own oval makeup brush.
Why is that magical? Because I already know that they made quality professional makeup brushes and they make them at affordable prices. And then, as if to throw a unicorn into the mix, they sent me one to review.
*Cue the victory music*
So today we are sharing a review and demonstration of the new Bdellium Tools 950 Oval Multipurpose brush ($15). But first, a little info about the brush directly from Bdellium Tools' site:
The Studio 950 Oval Multipurpose brush is a professional grade quality brush that allows you to blend, contour, powder, and set foundation. The soft synthetic fibers and curved handle give you a precise, and flawless application with ease. It is great for all formulas.
Bdellium Tools products are cruelty free and all orders over $20 ship for free. Use code: GIRLYTHINGS for 10% off your purchase (I do not receive commission when you make a purchase using my discount code).
Now the question is, does it it really deliver? Let's discuss!
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Also, some of the links in the post above are "referral links" or “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item or sign up for a service, I will receive an affiliate commission or referral rewards.Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I cannot believe that we're already nearly half way through November. When did this happen? Weren't we just all talking about Halloween? Aren't we all still eating leftover candy? November just crept up on me! Next year, someone slip some Tic-Tacs into November's pockets, so I can hear that sneaky little month coming.
Regardless, November is here. Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. And I have some favorite beauty products to share with you.
Remember when I was worried that I wouldn't have enough products to share every month? Well, that was clearly nonsense. No my friends, the problem I'm having is narrowing it down to just five products every month!
So it seems that favorites videos might be here to stay! Hooray!
Now let's dive right in to the five products I couldn't get enough of throughout October.
P.S. -- What do you think of the new background? Comment below and tell me how you feel about it.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Additionally, I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I am so excited to share this post. As you may know by now, I'm a big fan of Bdellium Tools. I have purchased their brushes at various shows (The Makeup Show and IMATS) and I've even chosen to work with them on reviews because I love their products so much. You can see previous Bdellium Tools posts here.
So when the brand reached out to me again to tell me they were releasing a new line of lip crayons, I was instantly interested. I know they take good care to bring quality products that are also affordable and was psyched that they are branching out into makeup.
Of course I wanted to take the new lippies out for a test run! C'mon, that's a no brainer.
I received four of the seven available shades: Helen of Troy (dusty rose), In the Nude (peachy-nude), Sinister Rouge (vampy burgundy) and Kadooment (orange-red).
I love a nice lip crayon because they are easy to swipe on and carry around. These have a nice slim (not chubby like the Revlon or Clinique variety) casing and a simple glossy black metal packaging. At first glance they seem pretty unassuming. The colors I received are pretty simple to wear. Nothing too wild. They range from easy every day shades (Helen of Troy and In the Nude) to bright (Kadooment) and vampy (Sinister Rouge).
BUT! Once you swipe these on, they're far from ho-hum. They give you everything you want for only $10 each (1.5 g):
Moisture for days: They're made with shea butter so they are buttery smooth and keep your lips soft and hydrated.
Lip balm feel, high impact color: These may feel like a buttery lip balm but they deliver lots of pigment. No sheer, hiding-in-plain-sight colors here. Nope. Think high end color quality.
Besides looking and feeling awesome there lip crayons don't require a sharpener (just twist the bottom like you would a lipstick tube) and they are paraben and fragrance free.
I've been wearing Helen of Troy and Sinister Rouge on heavy rotation for the past 3 weeks. One of the two colors is always in my purse. You know, in case you have trouble deciding which of the seven shades you want, those are just my suggestions (wink, wink!).
You can purchase the Bdellium Tools lip crayons here. Bonus: Free shipping on orders over $20 and 10% off your order with coupon code GIRLYTHINGS
Which colors will you get?
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Ladies and gentlemen, I survived my first IMATs -- and in the process had a blast visiting New York with my sister. We attended on Sunday, so it was the day after all the big YouTubers went and got kicked out. I have no idea how it compares to Saturday's apparent mayhem, but it seems the event was nice and calm for the first few hours we were there. It wasn't until a little later in the afternoon that the crowds started to get a little thicker and it started to feel like other trade shows I've attended in the past (e.g., The Makeup Show, Premiere Orlando).
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it was better or worse without the YouTubers there. I wasn't there to witness the crowds that would surround them. I don't know what the YouTubers did or didn't do to merit getting booted. I only know what I heard. If the rumors are true, and judging by the venue and event layout, I can see how too many people crowing around to take photos with their favorite "gurus" could have resulted in the vloggers getting the boot. All I'm saying is that I can understand how it would become a safety concern.
Anyway, that's all I've got to say on that subject because I wasn't attending with the goal to partake in any YouTube meet and greets (although I probably would've said hi discreetly had I seen any of them -- I am friendly after all). I understand that some people attend hoping to see their favorite internet beauty personalities and can see how it would be disappointing that they're not there. My main focus, though, was to shop and chat with brand reps to learn about products and what not. So for me the trip was a total success.
With that said, I promised an IMATS haul and that's exactly what you'll get! So check out my video below to see everything I got (and even some swatches).
The first time I tried out Bdellium Tools brushes was about two years ago when I saw them at The Makeup Show. I'd heard about them from watching YouTube videos and when I saw their booth at the show, I simply couldn't pass them up.
OK, I also couldn't pass them up because I have a minor (*cough* major *cough*) makeup brush addiction. But that's neither here nor there.
Regardless, I picked up a few of their brushes and liked them. So, I was incredibly excited when Bdellium sent me some brushes from their Maestro series and travel sized collection to test out and review.
Maestro series
The brushes from the Maestro series are made with both synthetic and natural bristles that are soft and have professional full-sized handles in a sleek black and silver design. The brushes feel comfortable and balanced in my hands. But part of what caught my attention the most is that the bristles are antibacterial.
Bdellium uses an antibacterial agent on the brush bristles to guard against harmful bacteria, fungus and mold to help make their brushes more hygienic. However, while it guards against bacterial growth, you still need to wash the brushes regularly to maintain them. You can read more about the antibacterial properties in Bdellium's FAQ section.
Note: Bdellium is discontinuing the antibacterial agent in May, so if this is a selling point for you, make sure to nab some brushes now.
For a brush lover, I have very few angled eyeshadow brushes in my collection. If I'm coming clean, Bdellium's 766 brush is only my second angled shadow brush. I know, I've been shamefully slacking on my angled shadow brush game.
For some reason, I just never reached for these types of brushes often. Clearly, I needed to change my misguided ways.
While testing the 766, I rediscovered just how useful the angled shadow brush can be. The shape makes it perfect for placing color along the outer corner of the eye and make that outer V look sharp. It's also perfect for contouring along the crease and other smaller areas of the face or even to sharpen the cheekbone contour. And the bristles are nice and soft so it blends effectively too.
Basically, this little sucker can mulititask.
The quality of the brush rivals other well known (and pricier) brands. The brush hasn't shed at all. Not even when I washed it.
If there's one type of makeup brush that I hoard, it's a blending brush. I'm drawn to them like a magnet. I don't need any more of them but it still takes all of my self restraint not to buy one when I see one. It's a problem people. And that problem magnifies ten fold when I'm face to face with a MAC-217-like brush. (By the way -- the Bdellium 776, which I own in the Studio version, fits that bill and is an excellent dupe in case you're wondering)
Anyway, Bdellium knows the way to this girl's heart because they sent me a blending brush and I was over the moon about it.
The 785 is fluffy and soft and blends effortlessly. If you're looking for a dupe for MAC's 224 or an alternative to Sigma's E40, check out Bdellium's 785 brush from the Maestro series.
I specify the Maestro version because I own the Studio 785 and while it works well and is good quality there is a telling difference. The bristles on the Studio version of this brush aren't quite as soft. In fact, they're a bit scratchy. So, the $2.50 price difference is well worth it in my book.
(Note: I own five other brushes from the Studio line and none of them are scratchy so don't let my experience with the 785 in the Studio line deter you from trying out the Studio brushes. It is possible that my experience is an anomaly because the according to Bdellium the Maestro and Studio line bristles are identical -- you can read this in their FAQ section. However, my Studio 785 is definitely not as soft as my Maestro 785. So perhaps it's a fluke?).
I didn't experience any shedding while using Maestro 785. However, it did shed a few hairs the first time I washed it. No biggie though. It hasn't happened again since.
Now here's a brush I was particularly excited about because I really don't have one quite like it in my collection. The 944 is great for contouring. It should be, because that's specifically what it's made for. It's tapered shape and slimmer size (compared to a typical blush brush) mean it fits perfectly in the hollows of my cheeks to carve out my cheekbones and slenderize my face. The shape, size and bristles place color exactly where I need it and blend it out just right. (Read: No thick Snickers-like contour on this girl's face).
I've been using a fan brush for a long time to chisel my cheekbones and it worked excellently (Read: Perfect for avoiding thick contours reminiscent of a candy bar) so I never really gave much thought to getting a brush specifically made for contouring. That is, until Bdellium sent me this one. It's like having a face-sized version of the 785. It blends my contouring out even better than my fan brush (which is still quite a good option if you're wondering), making it seem even more natural. I didn't even know that was possible! And, just like my fan brush, this is also great for lightly sweeping highlighter on my cheekbones. Although, I must confess, I turn to it more for contouring than highlighting.
In summary: Zero shedding. Perfect cheekbones. The 944 takes home the prize.
Travel sized series
Bdellium's travel brushes are basically the same as the Studio line brushes, except that the handles are shorter. By the way, like the Maestro series, the bristles in the Studio and Travel line are also treated with antibacterial agents and the bristles are both synthetic and natural fibers.
I don't know about you, but I do love a nice travel set. It's great to have them set aside and at the ready (read: clean and organized) when I need to head off to some far off place (or more likely a weekend jaunt). It's always a good idea to have your favorite brushes in a mini size (or a back up in regular size) for just such occasions. You can grab and go without having to set aside time for a brush cleaning session before you pack. Plus, when you have them at the ready, you're less likely to forget to pack your absolute must-haves. One less thing on the to-do list is always a plus.
Let me just pause for a second to say this: I'm really diggin' the signature yellow handles. The sunshiney color just brightens my mood.
When Bdellium let me know they were sending me some brushes to review they also told me which ones they were sending. So, like a good little blogger, I immediately did some extra recon. I dutifully went online and studied the brushes I'd be testing. When I saw the Angled Face brush #990 online, I thought it would make a great contour brush. I mean contouring is suddenly all the rage in 2015 after all. So, if we're jumping all over the contour kits out there, we may as well also arm ourselves with some contour friendly tools, right? That's my logic anyway. You can justify things however it suits you.
When the 990 arrived in the mail, I was a bit shocked. This brush is large! The width of the bristles spans across the palm of my hand. And the bristles themselves are pretty dense, long, and soft. By comparison, many of the contour brushes I've seen out there with a similar shape have shorter, stiffer bristles, which made me wonder whether it would be as effective a contouring tool as I originally thought. So I started to experiment.
You see, it's much fluffier than your typical angled foundation brush and narrower than your typical angled blush brush. And upon first inspection, I thought the bristles might be too flimsy for effective contouring. But I would not be deterred. I would try everything I could think of anyway.
Luckily, Bdellium offers suggested uses for their brushes on their packaging, which came quite handy for me with regards to this brush. Here's what the packaging said:
"Perfectly suited for whisking powder of the face gently or brush off any excess."
After reading that, I thought, this is basically like a large fan brush. And that's how I proceeded.
What I found is that this brush works great as a powder brush. It doesn't pick up too much product, so it keeps me from over powdering, which is nice. And it's shape fits exceptionally along the contours and angles of my face.
It's also handy for contouring cheekbones. The soft bristles blend well and the angled shape fits well into the hollows of the cheek. Since it's not as wide as a angled blush brush, it also keeps you from making your contour too thick -- once again avoiding a chocolate bar sized streak on your face (are we noticing a pattern of avoidance here?). Because its bristles don't pick up loads of product, it allows you to build up color better and it's great for highlighting the top of the cheekbones without ending up looking like a shimmer bomb.
Oh by the way, no significant shedding when washing (maybe a hair or two?) and no shedding during use.
Other useful things to know:
Receive free standard shipping on purchases of $20 or more.
All Bdellium Tools natural hair bristles are either pony or goat hair. They do not use exotic animal hair fibers and there is no animal cruelty involved in the production of any of their tools.
Vegan brush options are available.
Discount code (10% off): GIRLYTHINGS
All in all, I'm a fan of Bdellium Tools. Every brush I have of theirs in my collection is great quality and their prices are really fair. I have and will continue to spend my own money on their stuff, so clearly I'd recommend them.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Some of the links in the post above are "referral links" or “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item or sign up for a service, I will receive an affiliate commission or referral rewards.Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
