Review: Elf Cosmetics Studio Brushes | Dupes for It Cosmetics?

This post contains products I purchased myself, press samples, affiliate and referral links.* 

Hi guys! Remember way back long long ago when I hauled some new elf brushes? No?

They were the ones I got because I thought they were dupes for some high-end favorites. Still not ringing a bell? Well here's where maybe the elf haul post will jog your memory.

Anyway, I finally got my butt in gear and reviewed these, just in time for elf to release their latest brush collection (the new brushes hadn't been released at the time I filmed this video).

Regardless, some of you wanted to know what I thought of these brushes and if they were indeed reliable $6 dupes. The answer is: Yes.

Check out my video to see which brushes are dupes for my favorite It Cosmetic brushes and which dupes left me kinda disappointed.

e.l.f. Ultimate Blending Brush | It Brushes for ULTA 101 Airbrush Blurring Brush | It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Brush (press sample)  | e.l.f. Selfie Ready Powder Brush | It Brushes for ULTA 102 Airbrush Smoothing Brush | Real Techniques Expert Face Brush |  e.l.f. Selfie Ready Foundation Brush | e.l.f. Sculpting Face Brush 

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*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.”

Top 5 Beauty Favorites | August 2016

This post contains products I purchased myself, press samples, and affiliate links. 

I can't believe summer is pretty much over.

Don't get me wrong. It's not like I'm sad because the days of frolicking on the beach are coming to a close.

Let's get real. I'm in Florida.

Fall is just an extension of summer down here. So it's certainly not time to pack up the flip flops and bikinis. Heck, it might even be better than summer. Why? For starters fewer tourists, which means the beach is less crowded and fewer people are feeding the seagulls. The kids are back in school -- another contribution to the quiet beach ambiance. And, as long as hurricane season doesn't totally assault us, then it's still warm, but much less humid -- making outdoor activities (ahem, back to the beach) more tolerable.

Summer "light" does have its benefits.

No. I'm sad because I'm gonna miss that carefree summer feeling. Everyone at work will be coming back from their summer trips and the post-summer work frenzy begins. This time of year also makes me a yearn for some of the things the rest of you get to enjoy about fall. Particularly that crisp, comfortable fall air. It may not be bathing suit friendly, but boy is it refreshing (and makes for some amazing hair days!).

So, I'll be sitting around with my fall scented candles trying to recreate that awesome fall feeling -- even if I have to do it in sandals and tank tops.

But I digress.

We've officially put another month behind us as we speed through 2016. That can only mean it's time to round up my favorite beauty products from the past month. So let's discuss.

Mink Wink Lashes (Cherie) | Mirrovana 8" 5X Magnifying Daylight LED Mirror |  It Cosmetics Brush Bath | Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer | Makeup Revolution Rose Gold Lipstick  

Mink Wink Lashes 25% off coupon code: GirlyE (exp. 9/30/16)
NOTE: I do not receive commission on sales. This is just an opportunity to pass on savings!

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Join the ULTA Rewards program (free), get a $10 coupon! 

Use ebates for added savings and cash back when you shop! (and a $10 gift card when you sign up)

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.”

ULTA Beauty Haul | July 2016

It's been a minute and a half since I uploaded a beauty haul for you guys -- and I know that you like them.

So we're staring off this week by distracting you with a little bit of my weekend shopping shenanigans. Let's ignore Monday with a little weekend nostalgia. Shall we?

This shopping trip was brought to you by the 20% off entire purchase coupon from ULTA. If you haven't joined their rewards program, I'm not sure what you're waiting for. It's a damn good one. Earn points, cash those points in for money off your purchase, get reward member coupons. And if you make it to platinum status, you'll earn points faster, and get access to platinum member special sales, discounts and coupons.

I basically only shop at ULTA when I have a 20% coupon these days, unless I'm out of something and need to get it right now or if it's a non prestige item and I can use a regular ULTA coupon that comes in their weekly flyer. If you use my referral link to join the ULTA Rewards program, you'll earn a $10 off coupon (and then when you join you get your own referral link too!)

Ok, now let's take a peek and see what's in that shopping bag! Oh by the way, what was the last beauty purchase you made? Comment below and tell me!

Benefit Precisely My Brow (03) | Benefit High Brow (Linen Pink) | Benefit They're Real Mascara (mini) | Benefit Fake Up concealer | Benefit Posie Tint |  Benefit Porefessional (mini) | Japonesque Kumodori Highlight & Contour brush | Yes to Coconuts Ultra Hydrating Melting Cleanser | Nip + Fab Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum | NYX Micro Brow (Brunette) | 

It Cosmetics Brush Bath | Makeup Revolution Rose Gold Lipstick (Chauffer) |Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick (Crush) | Soap & Glory Sexy Motherpucker XL Extreme Lip Plump Gloss 

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Mink Wink Lashes 25% discount code: GirlyE (expires 9/30/16)

Disclosure of Material Connection: 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/program, I will receive an affiliate commission or referral points/rewards. 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.”

Products I've Used Up | Makeup | #Empties

I'm back! Please forgive my unpredictable posting "schedule" -- life's just getting in my way. And it's not even exciting life stuff. It's the mundane stuff that's not even interesting to post about on social media. Nobody wants to watch a Snap about me sitting behind a desk working all day. YAWN. (I nodded off typing that sentence)

So, let's just leave it at this: I've been adulting.

But one exciting thing did happen last week. We got a new couch, finally. Our old one had been through five moves (read beat up). Suffered countless spills. Had a hole that always swallowed the remote. And the cats got sick on it a few too many times (all thoroughly cleaned, but still, I knew the incidents happened). Plus, I was tired of looking at it and ready for a different aesthetic.

I finally got it. My living room is now brighter, cozier and more open and inviting. I'm currently typing from the cuddler corner of the couch (an extra large corner seating area) as giddy as a school kid meeting their favorite boy band member. It's which quickly become my cozy little pillow and throw blanket covered nook.

And that is what qualifies as exciting in my world lately. Yup. That's full fledged adulting. And just in case you think I've reached some adult life low, it's been worse. I've also gotten stupid excited about a new vacuum. Basically, couch excitement is a step up.

Ok. While I was adulting, I decided it was time to clean out some junk. Literally. It was high time I shared a video about all the products I've used up, so I can finally toss out the packaging.

So without further ado. Check out my video below to see all the products I've used up and whether I thought they're good enough to repurchase.

Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner Quick Dry Formula | Sephora Microsmooth Foundation | It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Powder | L'Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion foundation | It Cosmetics CC Veil Fluid Foundation | Sephora Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation | L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black mascara | Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara | Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye mascara | Starlooks Luxe Longwear Eyeliner Pen | Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner | Lorac Front of the Line Pro liquid eyeliner pen | Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner | Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz | NYX Micro Brow | Maybelline Define-a-Brow | Maybelline Age Rewind concealer | Make Up For Ever HD Concealer | First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy | Skindinavia Primer Mist | Model in a Bottle Sensitive Skin Setting Spray  

What was the last makeup product you used up? Is it something I need to try? Comment below!

Like what you saw? Subscribe for more videos!

Join the ULTA Rewards program, earn a $10 coupon.

Use ebates to earn cash back when you shop. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links” or "referral links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item or join a program, I will receive an affiliate commission or referral rewards. 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.”

Top 5 Beauty Favorites | December 2015

Happy New Year everyone! 

Let's kick this year off with some positive vibes by talking about some excellent products I've been loving lately. 

You know where we're going with this.  It's my beauty top five! Here are the five products I couldn't seem to put down throughout the month of December. 

Don't forget to comment, like, and subscribe! And if you want to see more products that made my coveted top 5 list, click here. 

elf blending brush | It Cosmetics CC Veil Foundation | Supergoop City Sunscreen Serum | Bare Minerals 5-in-1 BB advanced performance cream shadow | Muji Cotton buds 

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Join the ULTA Rewards program, earn $10 coupon.

Use ebates to earn extra cash back bonuses when you shop.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are  referral links and affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item/sign up for the service, I will receive an affiliate commission or referral points. 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.”

Review + Unbagging | Ipsy December 2015

It's that time again! We're gonna show you our December Ipsy glam bag and discuss whether the products received are worth it. Because, what's the point of watching an unboxing if you never hear about the products again, am I right?

I am.

Recently, I've been going in to my Ipsy account and actually reviewing the products I received and it seems to be paying off. This month, three out of the five products I received were pretty damn good. So I figured, if I'm gonna review them on the website, why not include that information in my Ipsy videos as well.

It seems like you guys agree because you said so much on last month's video. That's why we're gonna keep this up until I get tired of ipsy and move on to another subscription service.

While we're on that topic, any other makeup subscription services you think I should check out?

For all of you out there who are new to this blog or the ipsy thing -- here's the low down:

• You can join Ipsy for $10 (+ tax) per month. Every month you get five (5) personalized beauty samples. They typically include at least one full-size product and the rest of the items are deluxe samples. In other words, you get a lot more than $10 worth of products. 
• You can get additional discounts using Ipsy discount codes if you decide to buy full-sized versions of the products you received. 
• You can earn points by reviewing the products you receive or through referrals and you can use those points to add additional items to your glam bag. 
• Also -- just as an aside -- I pay for my subscription out of pocket, so these posts are not sponsored nor are the items press samples. 

For a full list of the products I received (including pricing and links) click here and scroll down to the information box -- everything is laid out for you all neat and tidy there.

Like this video? There's more where that came from. Click to watch more Ipsy videos. And subscribe to my channel for more beauty videos in general. 

Top 5 Beauty Favorites | November 2015

I'm probably going to say this every month, but: Where the hell did the month go? How are we already in December? When did I enter this bizarre time warp?

Well lovelies, since another month has come and gone, you know that means it's time for another favorites post. These are the top five beauty products that had me swooning throughout November.

Featured products: It Hair Care 12-in-One Amazing Leave In Treatment ($10) | It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream in Medium ($38) | It Cosmetics  Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder in Medium ($35) | L'Oreal Blow Dry It Quick Dry Primer Spray ($4.99) | Mehron Touch Up Matte Finishing Anti-Shine Gel Treatment in Medium ($10.95)

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.”

Haul | ULTA | August 2015

We should all know by now that I love to shop. There's just something about getting a new something (anything) that's rewarding and fires all the happy synapses in my brain.

I can't be alone here -- otherwise, why bother coining the term retail therapy?

Heck, I'm certain I'm not the only one. The popularity of haul videos alone suggests that even living vicariously through someone else's shopping has some kind of soothing/joyful effect on others.

By that logic, my shopping is a charitable act. I do it for the good of myself and society. Who knew doing good was this easy (and fun!)?

Being the do-gooder that I am, I engaged in some ULTA retail therapy recently because adulting is hard work and I needed to let off some steam by parting with my hard earned money. Also, ULTA tempted me with a 20% off (entire purchase) coupon.

You've heard me rattle on about my inability to resist this coupon and ULTA sends it out to its rewards members a few times per year. It's one of the many perks of their awesome rewards program. My other favorite perk -- your points convert to cash back that you can apply to future purchases. Points hoarders rejoice -- you can save up your points and get some nice money off future purchases. Once you hit platinum status, your points accrue even quicker and they don't expire, so you can hoard to your hearts content. All that awesomeness is also free, so go sign up now.

Back to the topic at hand.

I got my favorite ULTA coupon. I had some very busy and stressful weeks at work. I decided it was time to relieve some tension by buying myself gifts online.

Come see what I got.

What do you think? Anything you've been wanting to try out? Anything in my haul you already own and love? 

Review + Demo | It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil

I'm pretty sure you've heard this before, but I'm going to say it again: Brows are important. Please don't neglect them.

Don't believe me?

Take a photo and airbrush the brows right off your face. (This is less drastic than shaving them off)

Do you look like an alien from some far off galaxy? Be honest. Because you probably do.

You know why?

Because eyebrows frame your face and give your face expression. Without them you end up looking like a hairless cat. Except far less cuddly.

With that in mind. I'm making it my mission to test out brow products, review them, and show you how I apply them to my face. In essence, you get a product review and eyebrow tutorial all wrapped into one snug package. Perhaps this can become a semi-regular series. You guys tell me. Are you interested?

I've already shown you how I shape and fill my brows when using a pigmented tinted brow gel.

Today, we're switching gears and focusing on the easy stuff: brow pencils.

In my opinion, brow pencils are one of the best tools for beginners when it comes to brows. We all know how to hold a pencil, scribble with it, and use it for shading. Even if you don't consider yourself artistic, this is some pretty basic stuff. Press harder and you'll get a darker pencil stroke. Use less pressure and you can create a softer shadow effect. That's why I love a good brow pencil. It's just so easy to use, which is especially perfect if you're just getting started. And because they're so much easier to use, they're great when you're pressed for time. You can get those brow snatched (on fleek is so last year) and run out the door.

Now all you have to do is pick the right pencil for you. There are tons of options out there. So today we're going to talk about the It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil ($24).

This pencil is fantastic for beginners and pros alike. The universal shade takes the guess work out of picking the right color. All you have to do to adjust it to your hair color is apply more (for darker) or less (for lighter) pressure when you apply. Easy peasy. Add to that the fact that it's waterproof, long-lasting, easy to blend, and natural looking and you've got a sure fire winner. No wonder it's on of the brand's best selling items!

Check out my review and demo below to see why I love this pencil so much and how I use it to beat my brows down.

Money saving tip: The travel-sized Brow Powder Mini will save half the price. And it has plenty of product to get you through at least a month of daily use.

Well, what do you think? Would you consider using this product?

GRWM: My New Year's Day Makeup

This post contains press samples and items I purchased myself

Ok, I'm declaring right now that I'm going to make a bigger effort when it comes to doing my makeup on camera. I tend to focus mostly on reviews because I know that there are a lot of people out there doing tutorials. But the thing is, I have all this makeup, I work at home (I live in my yoga pants), and I want a reason to use the stuff I purchase. I'm not a collector. I buy my makeup because I want to play with it.

Plus, I've learned a few great tips along the way while I've been running this blog and my Youtube channel (I can't thank The Makeup Show enough for a lot of the things I've learned). Many of the useful tips I've tried to share in posts, but sometimes, it just clicks when you see someone doing it, rather than just being told. And sometimes, I forget about a useful tip because I use it so often it's become second nature to me -- I forget it might be new to someone else. 

I like the idea of doing Get Ready With Me (GRWM) videos because it let's you just see what I do on a regular basis and how I do it. I feel like it takes the pressure off of coming up with a whole new fresh and innovative look. And let's be honest, it's getting harder and harder to do that these days. I'm not a professional makeup artist. I'm a makeup enthusiast. I want an approach to doing makeup videos that's more personal. Kind of like when you get ready with your friends before going somewhere. It's less formal, but you still learn things here and there along the way. 

That being said, here's my first GRWM video of 2015. 

Note: I filmed this video on January 1, before the whole Revlon lawsuit story was released. I use a Revlon product in this video, but have decided that I will not be using or reviewing Revlon products on this blog or on my channel going forward. I find the allegations very offensive. I am even more disappointed with how the company has chosen to react and respond to this incident. I will revisit my decision over time, depending on how this all plays out. You may or may not agree with me, but I simply don't feel right endorsing the brand at this time. 

Video Music: "Saturday" and "The Bottom" by Josh Woodward (Creative Commons Attribution License)

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. 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.”

The Cara Cosmetics items featured in this video are press samples. The rest of the products I purchased myself. This is not a sponsored video. For more information regarding the difference between a press sample and a sponsored video please visit my disclosures page. 

Review: It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe 6-piece Brush Set with Travel Case

I've been curious to give It Cosmetics a try for some time now after spending the better part of a year hearing and reading about people's great experiences with this brand. Almost everyone I follow who has used this brand has been thrilled with it.

Among the products I've heard people rave about are their brushes. But they're a bit pricey, which made it hard for me to take the plunge. I understand the value of a good brush, but I have so many makeup brushes, it was hard to justify the expense.

But this holiday season, It Cosmetics released a six-piece brush kit that I simply couldn't resist. For starters, the price was right ($39.50). But I was also in the market for a travel brush set. Let's be clear, I didn't need a travel set. I just always have a hard time narrowing down my selection to something reasonable when I'm on the go.  That's why I wanted a good set of brushes that I could have already packed up and ready to go at a moment's notice. This set fit the bill.

Since I'd been eyeing their brushes for a while, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. Boy am I glad I finally did. These brushes are fantastic (even more so because they didn't break the bank).

Here's what It Cosmetics says about this set:

The ultra-luxurious, ultra-plush collection of brushes work with all your favorite products but take them to a new level of airbrush application! The sophisticated travel case flips around, becoming a vanity stand for your brushes.

 Each Heavenly Luxe Brush sets a new standard for quality and makes for the most effective distribution of your favorite cosmetics. The soft brush hair is perfect for all skin types. 

• 100% Synthetic, Cruelty-Free Hair.
• PETA Friendly.
• Pro-hygienic.
• Soft for even the most delicate skin
• High brush count for airbrush finishing
• Love at first application- guaranteed

The set includes:

• Heavenly Luxe Travel Multi-Powder Brush
• Heavenly Luxe Travel Flat Foundation Brush
• Heavenly Luxe Travel Flat Concealer Brush
• No-Tug Travel Crease Brush
• No-Tug Travel Allover Eye Shadow Brush
• No-Tug Eyeliner and Brow Brush with Spooly
• Travel case

Take a look at how nice they are. Talk about not skimping on aesthetics.

It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe 6-piece brush set 

Don't worry, they're more than just pretty. But the name Heavenly Luxe fits them quite well. These brushes are soft. Legit soft. Bunny rabbit soft. But they're vegan, so no bunnies were harmed in the making. You can tell they're good quality when you hold them, as they feel well balanced and comfortable in your hands. Plus, they look super sleek.

Using this brush set and my hands, I was able to complete a full face of makeup with no problem. The brushes packed on color and blended out makeup effortlessly and feel fantastic to the touch. You pretty much have almost everything you need. I say almost because I can't be without my MAC 217 (and it's dupes). But other than that, I didn't feel like I was missing a thing.

I like to use the concealer brush as an eye shadow brush because its shape and stiffness makes it great for packing on color. This worked out well for me because I tend to prefer using my fingers or sponges to apply concealer. I'm also totally in love with the blending brush. It's so fluffy and soft. Plus, I have a minor infatuation with blending brushes. They're my favorite kind of makeup brush. And this one is no exception. The all over shadow brush is also fluffy, but a little flatter, so it makes it great for laying down color and blending it out.

I'm also thrilled that this set includes a spooly because this is usually the item I'll forget to pack and then I have to improvise (think procuring a super cheap toothbrush or even using my hair brush -- it's not cute). Interestingly, that angled brush is stiff enough to be great for brows and liner, but still feels amazingly gentle on your skin.

And let's not leave out the face brushes. The powder/blush brush is the perfect size. I don't like oversized powder brushes as I find it difficult to control product placement. I feel the size of this brush and it's fluffy bristles make it easy to apply blush and powder precisely and blend it out flawlessly. The foundation brush is also a nice blend of fluffy bristles that allow you to blend without streaks, but are also rigid enough to help you pack color wherever you may need added coverage.

By the way, these brushes didn't shed either. Not when I used them and not when I washed them. And, they retained their shape nicely after washing.

It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe 6-pc brush set with travel case

This set comes with a soft black, faux leather travel case that's not overly bulky and has a velcro closure. It Cosmetics says the case can be flipped around to create a vanity stand for the brushes, but I didn't find it stayed propped up well. Not a deal breaker. I'm happy to just lay it flat on the counter top when in use. 

Oveall, I'm over the moon with this brush kit. These brushes are soft, effective, and a great introduction to It Cosmetics' brush line. If you're in need of a travel set or just want a nice set of brushes, definitely give these a shot. You won't regret it. 

Do you have a set of brushes you reach for religiously for travel? Have you tried It Cosmetics brushes before?