Unboxing: Saladbox x Benefit's Better Together February 2017 Box

February a.k.a the Love Month may have already ended but just before it did, Saladbox in collaboration with Benefit decided to show us how much love they have to give 💓! Presenting: February 2017's Better Together box.

This would be my second box and I'm a bit sad my three-month subscription is about to end. I really liked their Mary Kay January 2017 box and it looks like I will like this month's box as well. Are you makeup junkies excited to see what's inside? Let's take a look, shall we?

The items inside didn't really come as a surprise as Saladbox has been revealing the items that may be included in the boxes even before they started shipping.

What surprised me was on the Sample Select e-mail they sent, I chose Box B which includes the They're Real Mascara and the Porefessional Pore Minimizing Makeup, instead of their Benetint and Porefessional Primer, but I still got Box A. Oh well, they did say it is first come first serve, it's a good thing still ended up liking what I got.

1. They're Real! Double the Lip in Lusty Rose

Full lips that keep it real

Get fuller-looking lips in one easy stroke with they’re real! double the lip. This lip liner & lipstick in one features a Custom Teardrop Tip that grabs and defines your lip line and fills in lips with complementing color for the appearance of volume and dimension. This semi-matte lipstick comes in neutral to bright shades for visibly fuller, sexier lips.

• 91% said lips look visibly fuller & sexier*
• 92% said it grabs & defines the lip line*
• 8-hour longwear lipstick**

2. The POREfessional Face Primer

Pores...now you see ‘em, now you don’t!

Quickly minimize the appearance of pores & fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin! Apply this silky, lightweight balm alone, under or over makeup. The translucent formula contains a vitamin E derivative known to protect skin from free radicals.

• Oil-free
• Complements all skintones
• Helps makeup stay put

3. Goof Proof Brow Pencil

Good-proof brows...really!

Presto…everyone’s an expert with this super easy filling & shaping eyebrow pencil. It features a custom, non-sharpen “goof-proof” tip, soft color and a glide-on formula for easy & fast brow filling. Comes complete with built-in blending spoolie-brush and signature Tips & Tricks!

• 12-hour* waterproof** formula
• 95% said it was easy to fill & shape brows***
• 94% said it gives beautiful brows on the first try***

4. POREfessional Matte Rescue Gel

Your secret weapon against pores

Matte rescue instantly minimizes pore appearance. The lightweight, water-based gel overpowers shine and absorbs excess surface oil, leaving a natural-looking matte finish. Skin feels smooth and refreshed. Contains diamond powder known for its soft-focus pore-blurring effect.

• 92% said it mattifies shine instantly*
• 92% said skin feels clean, refreshed*
• 89% said it absorbs excess surface oil instantly*

5. Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain

The sexiest flush you can get from a bottle!

Our original rose-tinted stain is kiss-proof, see-through color for lips & cheeks that lasts for hours. Originally created for an exotic dancer in the 1970s, benetint has soared to cult fave status. It's loved by celebs, makeup artists and gals around the world.

• Sheer & sexy on all complexions
• Innocent yet provocative
• Long-lasting wear

Product description from https://www.benefitcosmetics.com/ph/en

I also would like to show you what they had in store for the guys in their Saladbox Man January-February 2017 Reboot Box.

I only got a a month's worth of subscription (Php 600) as a gift for my husband. Unfortunately, I didn't get it in time for Valntine's Day, although he did like the contents. I hope I don't end up having him hooked on subscription boxes too. Lol!

Xoxo,

Missus C 💋

Product Review: Zoeva's Naturally Yours Palette

If you are a makeup junkie like me, you probably have heard of the German brand, Zoeva. They are known for making high-quality brushes, and most recently, thanks to Kathleenlights, their Cocoa Blend Eyeshadow Palette. But since I already have a palette with shades similar to Cocoa Blend, I opted to go with something I thought I would be able use everyday, so I got every neutral lovers' dream palette, Naturally Yours. It has 10 shades, 5 of which are matte while the rest have satin/shimmer finishes.

This palette retails for about Php 1,060 on Sephora PH's website, which is a lot cheaper compared to brands like Tarte, Urban Decay or Too Faced.

It comes in a slim, sturdy, and light-weight cardboard packaging with a magnetic closure. Fantastic for travels! Sadly, it does not have a mirror.

DESCRIPTION

Exquisite, but pure and simple. Enhance your natural features with a healthy dose of basic shades or create a bolder look with smoked up contours. Earthy hues like mocha, cocoa and taupe build this must-have palette.Nude is timeless, nude is coolness, nude is en vogue!

Formula: Micronized Pigments // Paraben Free // Mineral Oil Free

Finish: Matte // Satin // Metallic // Duo Chrome

PACKAGING / CONTENT

1 eyeshadow palette with 10 powder eyeshadow colorsincl. free Eyeshadow Fix sample (2 x 0.3ml, 1 sample per palette, while supplies last)

Made in Italy

Size of palette (closed): 18.8 x 8.8 x 1.0 cm

Diameter per pan: 2.6 cm

Net weight: 10 x 1.5 g / 10 x 0.05 oz

These nude colors are a must-have for every casual look. Enhance your style with these timeless earthy shades.
From www.zoevacosmetics.com
For the list of the ingredients, scroll to the bottom of the page.

Now, let's go through the shades.

Top Row:

Pure - a matte cream with a touch of pink. Great as a base or highlight for the browbone. 

Soft & Sexy - a matte warm milk chocolate/medium brown. I use this mainly as a transition shade.

Smooth Harmony - a shimmery duo chrome mauve/pink that shifts to a champagne gold in certain lights. 

Forever Yours - another duo chrome brown that's a bit darker than Soft & Sexy with blue/silver and green sheen. 

Slow Dance - a matte dark brown. My least favorite shade in the palette as it's not as pigmented as the others. Applies patchy and chalky, which is a bummer as it could have worked wonders in the outer V to give smoky looks more depth. 

Bottom Row:

First Love - another matte ivory cream that's good as a base or highlight in the inner corners of the eyes or browbone.

Casual Elegance - just like the name entails, a shimmery muted and elegant yellow gold. I use this all over the lids or just the center for shine and dimension.

Sweet Sound - one of my favorite shades in the palette. A rich shimmery copper which I use on the outer half of my lids. It can also work great as an all over the lid shade.

Lovely Monday - a dark brown with shimmer. A satin version of Slow Dance. It is also a little powdery but still better than Slow Dance.

Timeless Chic - a matte black. I use this instead (in place of a matte brown) on the outer Vs to deepen and darken the looks I create.

For the price, I'd say this is an okay palette. But, if you're just starting your makeup collection, this would be awesome and perfect for you! You can just get this one palette, and you're good to go. It's great for everyday/office wear and at the same time, still give you that party/glam look if necessary.

All their eyeshadows, with the exception of Slow Dance are highly-pigmented and are easy to blend. They last a long time on the lids and do not crease or fade even without a primer.

One of the very few cons I have to say about this palette is it's a bit powdery. Especially with the matte shades, which has a lot of kick back. Although one can just tap or knock the excess off one's brush to avoid fall-out. Another con would be, granted it is a neutral palette and they have limited colors to put in, some of the shades I feel are just too similar, which becomes more apparent when placed on the lid. And since (this is not the palette's fault by the way) I already have several palettes with a lot of browns, I feel the colors are repetitive and I almost always end up reaching for another palette (for a different color) to finish the looks I create.

So if you're lacking a neutral palette from your collection or you're just starting it, I say, go buy this, if not, then you don't have to rush online to purchase it. Although you may want to look at Zoeva's other palettes.

Until next time.

Xoxo 💋,
Missus C

Ingredients eyeshadow palette: First Love, Forever Yours, Timeless Chic, Slow Dance: Talc, Zinc Stearate, Mica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Polybutene, Octyldodecanol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lauroyl Lysine, Dehydroacetic Acid, [+/- CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 77492 (Iron Oxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide)].// Soft & Sexy, Sweet Sound, Casual Elegance: Mica, Talc, Magnesium Stearate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Nylon 12, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethiconol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, [+/- CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)]. // Lovely Monday: Mica, Talc, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Magnesium Stearate, Dimethicone, Nylon 12, Silica, Dimethiconol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide), CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 77492 (Iron Oxide). // Pure: Talc, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Magnesium Stearate, Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethiconol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Cera Alba, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77492 (Iron Oxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide). // Smooth Harmony: Mica, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Talc, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Magnesium Stearate, Dimethiconol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cera Alba, Dehydroacetic Acid, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide), CI 77492 (Iron Oxide), CI 75470 (Carmine).

From www.zoevacosmetics.com

Product Review: Sephora's 01 Always Red Cream Lip Stain

Are you looking for the perfect red lipstick? Look no further, I just may very well have it here in front of me!

If like me, you are dreaming of a true red lipstick that is vibrant, matte and long-wearing, girl, you absolutely need this in your life!

One swipe

Sephora Always Red is a cool red with a matte finish that is limited edition and retails for $14.00 and contains 0.17 oz.
 From www.temptalia.com




Description 

About

Available in an array of rich shades, this high-coverage stain is contains avocado oil for a texture that transforms as you wear it from creamy to silky and lightweight. Lips achieve stunning, high-pigment color and feel soft and comfortable all day.

Benefits

• Enriched with Vitamin E.
• Available in matte and satin finishes.
• Not tested on animals.

HOW TO

• Starting from the center of your upper lip, glide the stain to each corner.
• Repeat the process on the lower lip

Ingredients:

Isododecane, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polybutene, Petrolatum, Cyclohexasiloxane, Kaolin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Aroma (Flavor), Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Propylene Carbonate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Tocopherol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Benzyl Alcohol. May or may not contain (+/-): Mica, CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake), CI 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 15850 (Red 6), CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 75470 (Carmine).

www.sephora.ph

The first time I saw this on Mimi by Coffeeandsparklesbymimi, I went crazy! It looked soooo good on her! I instantly searched for it and saw it was available on Sephora PH's website for Php 804 (and during this time I started hearing angels sing 😇). I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to order it, as I couldn't bear paying extra for the shipping. So when they announced they had free shipping for Chinese New Year, I quickly submitted my order (it was in my cart for what felt like forever!). The package arrived in good condition a little over a week after placing the order. The packaging with its standard doe foot applicator and tube made of plastic isn't something that's really rave-worthy. It's what's inside that counts...

It reminded me a lot of Ofra's liquid lipsticks and NYX's soft lip creams as it is lightweight, but not runny, and also has a moussey consistency. It didn't feel sticky. In fact, it feels a bit powdery after it sets and most importantly, doesn't dry out my lips. It dries down matte (I don't think you can get any matte-r than this!), has a mild sweet smell and lasts an insanely long time. I can go the entire day without touching up, in fact I can still see traces of it after stepping out of the shower, and that's saying a lot since my facial wash has argan oil. However, with this being such a bold color, I wouldn't dare not to reapply after the 7th hour.

At around the 6th hour, if you have eaten anything oily and, if like me, have been drinking coffee/juice/tea non-stop, you'd start seeing the lip cream stain break down along the portions of where your lips are moist the most (inner and middle parts). You might also see a slight bleeding around the outside/outline (I didn't use a lipliner) of your lips. And if you have flakey/dry lips, some of the little bits may get inside your mouth or on your teeth. But even with those tiny flaws, I still love it as the color vibrancy is still spot on!

I have to say, this has got to be one of the best (and most gorgeous) if not, the best lip creams/liquid lipsticks I've ever tried and I can't recommend this enough! And if you're still undecided whether you should get this or not, let me just leave you with this swatch to torture and haunt you. Lol!

Xoxo 💋,

Missus C