Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Beauty Haul & Review | Fall 2019


Hi Beauties!

I hope 2020 is finding you well.
I wanted to share with you so of the products I've been loving over the last few months and that are worth checking out. Here we go!


P.S. You can check out my haul video here



1. Too Faced: Chocolate Bon Bons Eye Shadow Palette




Brand: Too Faced
Product: Eyeshadow
Name of Shades: Various
Colors: Multiple
Finish: Shimmer, Matte
Formula: Pressed Powder
Fallout: Very Little
Blendable: Yes
Chalky/Flaky: A Little (2 shades)/No
Lasts for: 8+ Hours 

Why I Love It:

Super soft and blendable shadows with very minimal fallout (a little from the shimmer shades).
The shades are a lovely range of cool to warm chocolate browns with fabulous hits of fun colors mix in to make this the ultimate box of "candy". 
There are two larger pans of base shade shadows so you won't run out while creating endless candy-coated makeup looks.

The palette is esthetically pleasing as well, with heart shaped eyeshadow pans and a pink tin cover to give this palette the appearance of a box of chocolates. It also comes with handy little look-book which shows you how to create three delicious eyeshadow looks.  

And of course, as with any Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette, it is scented with the sweet smell of cocoa powder. 



Side Note: I ordered this palette from Too Faced's website: toofaced.com at the end of  August, during their semi-annual 75% off sale, along with their two other palettes: 
White Peach palette (on sale for $20) and their Sweet, Sexy and Too Faced Eye Set, which included their Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow palette, Sketch Marker Liquid Art Eyeliner in Black, and Travel Size Better Than Sex Mascara (all together on sale for $15).
I was so excited to get so many great palettes for such a great price. Then time went by... 

In the middle of September my Chocolate Bon Bons palette arrived with my free samples.
 My order slip indicated that my other palettes were out of stock. 

I waited a few days and then reached out to Too Faced customer service via email. 
A very polite customer service representative replied to me within a day and informed me that the items I ordered were out of stock and that my order would be cancelled and my money refunded.

However, I looked at their website an hour after receiving this email and saw that both items I had ordered were back in stock but at FULL PRICE! 
So, instead of honoring the discounted price that I had purchased these items at not three weeks prior, they cancelled my order and "restocked" the products at full price.
I expressed my discontent in a rather lengthy email reply, but to no avail.

I then went on social media and found 100s of comments on Too Faced's posts from irate customers that had been mislead by Too Faced as well and noticed #toofacedlies was trending.
I wasn't the only customer who was lured in with the appearance of a sale and then had my products held for ransom of full price.

I still love Too Faced's actual products, they make great cosmetics, however, I will NEVER purchase from their site again. I will either order from Sephora or Ulta if there is a Too Faced product I am interested in.

I wanted to share this story with my readers, especially if you are considering purchasing products from their website. 
I want to provide you with honest and helpful reviews, not just of the products themselves, but of the companies and venues involved as well.
I find Too Faced's online business practices to be exploitative, unethical, and deceitful.
Beware of their rather shady "sales" 

  


2. Morgan Taylor: Nail Lacquer in J’adore My Mani




Brand: Morgan Taylor 
Product: Nail Polish
Name of Shade: J’adore My Mani
Color: Sparkly Magenta
Finish: Glossy
Number of Coats to Get Bottle Shade: 1
Lasts for: 2 weeks

Why I Love It:

I'm a sucker for sparkles ✨
This is such a spunky magenta pink shade! Just looking at your nails boosts your mood when you see the color.
It has a nice glossy finish that lasts for a pretty decent amount of time, and I put my nails through a lot (dishes, cleaning, etc.)
Whether you like to keep your nails shorter or longer this polish gives a fun, pretty vibe.
I purchased this shade at Sally Beauty Supply (50% off sale!) 




3. ColorProof: Crazy Smooth Anti-Frizz Shampoo, Conditioner, Treatment Masque 


Brand: Colorproof
Line: Crazy Smooth
Product: Shampoo, Conditioner, Treatment Masque
Formula: Cream

My all-time favorite shampoo right here! 
Colorproof has so many different options, but the one that works best for me right now is the Crazy Smooth line. 
I have seen significantly less frizz since I started using the shampoo and conditioner.
And once a week I use their treatment masque to deep condition my hair.

The shampoo scent is sweet, but not sickeningly so, it gives a light white tea and Camellia scent. 
The conditioner has subtle notes of sandalwood, and the treatment masque has the aroma of candied ginger.
They're sulfate-free and safe on colored hair.
These hair products are truly wonderful and they leave hair feeling soft and looking shiny.

Colorproof products are available at most elite salons and online.  




4. Too Faced: Cookie Party House Makeup Palette


"House"
Brand: Too Faced
Product: Eyeshadow
Name of Shades: Various
Colors: Multiple
Finish: Shimmer, Frost, Matte
Formula: Pressed Powder
Fallout: Minimal
Blendable: Yes
Chalky/Flaky: No/No
Lasts for: Approximately 12 Hours

"Roof"
Brand: Too Faced
Product: Bronzer/Blush/Highlighter
Name of Shades: Various
Colors: Multiple
Finish: Matte/Shimmer
Formula: Pressed Powder
Fallout: None
Smudges/Streaks: No/No
Blendable: Yes
Chalky/Flaky/Crumbly: No/No/A Little
Lasts for: 12+ Hours

"Door"
Brand: Too Faced
Product: Eyeshadow
Name of Shades: Various
Colors: Multiple
Finishs: Glitter, Matte
Formula: Pressed Powder
Fallout: Minimal
Blendable: Yes
Chalky/Flaky: No/No
Lasts for: Approximately 12 Hours

Why I Love It:

First, I bought this from SEPHORA, so it actually was sent to me and for the price I purchased it for.

I love making gingerbread houses and decorating them with candy and frosting and sprinkles.
So, when I saw a gingerbread house palette, I just had to get it. 
This palette 'breaks' into three separate pieces.

The main house is an eyeshadow palette with shimmer, frost and matte finishes.
The colors range from softer, more neutral browns all the way to more brighter purple and teal shades.

The roof is three face products: a highlighter, a blush, and a bronzer.
This are super blendable and can be used for a sheerer appearance or be built up to more intense color.

The door has six eyeshadow shades: two matte finishes and four glitter/foil finishes.
The matte shades are really lovely neutrals and the glitter shades are fabulous for creating a fun party ready look.

I am currently working on full review of this palette with swatches and several different looks you can create with it. I'll put a link to it here when it's up (or you can subscribe via email so you won't miss it 😉 )




5. Sephora: Sample Bag


Kiehl's: Ulta Facial Cream
Drunk Elephant: Protini™ Polypeptide Cream
Atelier Cologne:Vanille Insensée Cologne 
Verb: Ghost Hair Mask™
Clinique: Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly
Anastasia Beverly Hills: Liquid Lipstick
Milk Makeup: KUSH High Volume Mascara

I have to say; I love the beauty offers you can get from Sephora.
There are always codes you can add at the checkout to get some really nice products.
I've gotten a bunch of foundation samples, skin care products, lipsticks, etc. 
And these offers are on top of the two free samples you receive with your order.
I am loving the products listed above and will give them each a review in time (subscribed yet?)




6. Bath & Body Works


Vanilla Bean Noel 
Winter Candy Apple
Twisted Peppermint 
Ultra Shea Body Cream, Shower Gel, Super Smooth Body Lotion, Fine Fragrance Mist, Body Scrub

I'm pretty sure I bought out half of Bath & Body Works supply of Vanilla Bean Noel.

One thing that was new to me this time was the Vanilla Bean Noel Whipped Confetti Body Scrub.
It honestly smells like vanilla frosting and the colored exfoliating sugar makes you feel like you're exfoliating with sprinkles.
It's a really terrific exfoliating scrub with a super sweet scent.




7. JC Penney’s




Worthington: Black Skirt
Liz Claiborne: Essential Belted Skirts

I have such a hard time finding a decent black skirt. 
They are a wardrobe staple and I love how versatile the can be. 
These two from JC Penney's are perfect; comfortable, functional, and can be dressed up or down.

Arizona: Women's Denver Block Heel Riding Boots

My favorite type of footwear is without a doubt boots, maybe it's because I'm from New York where it snows seven months out of the year☃
Regardless, these brown boots are super warm and attractive as well.
The rose gold details give them an extra touch of class.



8. Disney+



Okay, so this is technically not a beauty product but, I am such a Disney Nerd that it borders on insanity. 
I was super stoked when Disney+ was released, and yes, I purchased it the first day it was available. 
I was like a kid in a candy shop, I spent hours adding movies and shows to my Watchlist.

They have all the classics from the Vault (I watched Robin Hood yesterday), newer releases (2019 Aladdin), and if your a 90's kid like me they have all of the 90's shows. 
I'm currently re-watching Boy Meets World (love my Cory & Topanga). 
They also have several movies from FOX. 
I never have to leave my house again!
Out of all of my fall purchases Disney+, although intangible, is probably my favorite.




And that about caps off my fall beauty haul!
Again you can catch my video review here



Thank you for checking out my beauty favorites of late.
What products are you currently loving?
Drop me a comment below and let me know!

Stay tuned for more reviews and tutorials.
And to make sure you don't miss a post why not subscribe  😃


Thanks again for stopping by!


XOXO


Ultima Beauty



Want more makeup fun between blog posts? Check out my social media pages! 

Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Facebook
Subscribe on YouTube

1 comment: