MakeupMaiWorld invites you into Maile's world and asks you to embrace your imperfections and highlight the beauty that shines from within you. Nobody is perfect but everyone can be their perfectly imperfect selves. You can't be the person you want to be and stay the same.
The Beauty market is always bringing us the latest and greatest in palettes and sets, especially coming up on the Holiday Season. Sometimes you wonder if you should pick up yet another palette or if you should just invest in those one or two key products you love from a brand. What if you didn't have to choose? What if you knew the products that were going to be used in a palette and rather than having to spend a lot of money on one or two, you were able to get eleven products that are tried and true favorites in a single palette? Well...I was so lucky to take find this little gem at my local Kohl's store after work the other evening. I'm a sucker for a good palette since I appreciate a single product that contains many options. I was really impressed by this new palette from the Balm Cosmetics. This clever company took some of their best sellers, shrunk them down and put nearly everything you need to create a full look into one streamlined product.
As you can see from the packaging there are many familiar Balm products collected for one palette.
I own the full size products for many of these products and since I've used them for years I knew that the quality, color saturation and wearing power were going to be on point. With this palette you get three blushers, a bronzer, a highlighter, four eyeshadows and two lip products. The great thing about the colors/products that theBalm chose to include are that each of them can do more than one job. You have lip colors that can be used as cheek tints and you have a bronzer that can be used as shadow, brow powder or contour powder. Here is a closer look at the products included: Hot Mama Blush
This is a bright peachy coral blush that is really shimmery and saturated. This can be used as a cheek color or as an eye color. Instain Blush
This is a bright pink blush that has a satin finish. It's that healthy glow that comes from the sun and would work for cheeks and eyes. Cabana Boy Blush
This is a berry toned blush that is the deepest included in this palette. This is perfect for the fall season and can be used as a cheek or eye color. Bahama Mama Bronzer
This is a matte brown bronzer that compliments many skin tones. This can be used as a contour powder, brow powder and eye shadow. Shady Lady Eye Shadow - Insane Jane
This is a shimmery taupe color. It has a pewter like finish and would be great on its own or in the crease for a smoked look. Shady Lady Eye Shadow - Mischevious Marissa
This is a satin medium brown shadow that has a peach sheen. This can be used as an eye color or highlighter depending on skin tone Nude'tude - Sexy
This is a deep cranberry matte eye shadow. This can be used all over the eye for a smokey look or in the outer corner for some drama. Balm Jovi - Lead Zeppelin
This is the least traditional color from the palette. This is a deep army green color that has flecks of gold throughout. Mary-Loumanizer Highlighter
This has been one of my go to highlighters for years and I find that this powder can be used sheer for a beautiful warm glow or with a dense brush this can be applied to the eye lid or tear duct for some true shimmer and shine. How 'Bout them Apples - Caramel
This is a natural nude lip tint. It can be applied sheer for a bit of natural color or layered for a more opaque look. This can also be applied to the cheeks for a bit of color. The Balm Girls - Mia Moore
This is a true deep red lip color. You do not need much to achieve an opaque red lip. This is a blue based red color and can also be used as a cheek tint. Dab a bit onto the cheeks to create a natural flush. I know that many people will look at this palette and think, why are all of these well known products being sold as a palette? Can't The Balm come out with a new shade or two just for this palette? I would tend to agree but in this case I am really grateful that all of these are collected into one manageable place. I own all of these blushes, the bronzer, highlight and Nude'tude palette and don't have room to throw them all into my work bag or makeup kit. The price point makes it a great buy for those people looking to "try" out these products or for those who, like me, just want more travel friendly sizes of products I trust. No matter the reason I think that this is the palette for the season. If you would like to see my first impression of this palette please click on the video below. You can also enter to win this palette for yourself after watching the video. Thank you all for stopping by! With all Mai Love!
Do you fear the zombie apocalypse? Do you want to have the best possible "protection" against these monsters? Then you need to check out he Fortune Cookie Soap Company's Zombie Collection!
This Zombie themed "first-aid kit" consists of bath and beauty products that at first glance may seem like the perfect weapon against a Zombie attack but is more likely to make you smell amazing and moisturize your skin. When opening the box the first item my eyes when to was...
Retail Price: $13.99
At first I thought it was one of those bags of sour candy syrup...but no! This is a bag of liquid body wash. Although it is a bit disturbing to think of washing up with a liquid soap that looks like something I've drawn from a patient, I know that it fits the theme perfectly and I have a member of my family who will want to take his next few showers if he can use this. My nephew saw this soap and knew instantly it would be his.
According to the FCS website the wash smells like grape bubblegum which is perfect for my nephew.
The second item in the box their signature fortune cookie soap.
Retail Price: $3.99
These fortune cookie shaped soaps are what this company is known for. In this case I got what looked like a charcoal fortune cookie that had an eerie iridescence to it. The soap smelled like a strawberry's and cream muffin and had a little paper fortune sticking out of one end. As with the real life fortune cookie's, I can't wait to open this one up and see what the message inside says...
The third item from the themed box was Rule #47.
Retail Price: $10.99
This caramel apple scented moisturizer was surprisingly thick and creamy when I dabbed a bit on the back of my hand. It melted into my skin quickly and didn't leave behind a greasy feeling that I usually get when using a thicker cream. My skin did feel more hydrated after applying and the scent was sweet and not at all overwhelming. This is definitely a cream I would use prior to bed so my skin can reap the most benefits.
Next up I was happy to see a Zombie Repellent.
Retail Price: $7.99
This room spray is the perfect scent for fall. What's more is that this is the perfect size spray bottle to take with you if you are travelling. I love taking a small candle or room spray with me when I travel for work or for the holidays and this one smells wonderful. It's all of those scents that remind you of fall...apples, cinnamon sticks, brown sugar, vanilla and oak. If you've ever had a chance to smell a Bath and Body Works Leaves candle, this is the perfect room spray to match with it. Very similar in those autumn and a little fireside scent. I loved the warmth and sweetness this spray brings with it.
The next item in the box was Liquid Courage Perfume Oil.
Retail Price: $6.99
This perfume oil is very light and sweet. If you are looking for a more "fall scent" this is not for you. If you prefer the light and sweet scents...then this is DEFINITELY for you. You get a tiny bottle of perfume oil in the box and when I dabbed it on my wrists I picked up the sweet candy like scent. It's not a sickly sweet that you may expect when I say candy, it's more like a summery scent that is perfect for day wear. This is going into my travel case.
The Weapon of Choice OCD Hand Sanitizer was the next item I pulled out of the box.
Retail Price: $2.89
This is another product I've come to expect great things from when purchasing it from FCS. Their OCD Hand Sanitizers are not only great smelling but the formulation is so much better than those you can purchase at Bath and Body Works or your local drug stores. The reason I say that is that being a nurse I have doused my hands in Purell and other hand sanitizers and have found them so drying. The only thing about this hand sanitizer is that it is not at all drying. I thought it was a fluke when I received my Tink hand sanitizer in another FCS themed box but the formula of this hand sanitizer is exactly the same. Unfortunately this one didn't stay in my possession for long and was given to my brother because of his love of zombies and the scent.
The next item I found in the box was Wound Repair Salve.
Retail Price: $9.99
This product actually surprised me...I was thinking that I was getting another hand cream in this little container and was greeted by the sight of something that looked like a lip gloss. This wound repair is very similar to Burt's Bee's Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. It looks like it can be used for the same things as well. Dry cracked skin or cuticles can be treated by rubbing some of this onto them. It feels like Vaseline but smells like chocolate cake. I'm not too big on the feel of this since I don't care for very greasy consistencies but I would use this when doing a manicure. I just hope that the scent doesn't make me want to bake a cake...
And finally the last item I pulled from the box was this Airborne Steam Me Up Scotty.
Retail Price: $5.99
Unfortunately I've never actually gotten to use this product before myself but I did give the only other Steam Me Up Scotty I've owned to my nephew when he was sick and congested. These little cubes are used in the shower out of direct contact with water and they give off a aromatheraphy scent. In this case it's coffee, caramel and chocolate. Zombies must really like the darker, richer sweets in life. LOL. I will be giving this one a try when I'm dragging one morning to see if these scents give me the lift I'm looking for. Overall I think this was a great little themed box. Perfectly suited for the time of year. If you'd like to try out any of the Fortune Cookie Soap's products, please click on the link below and check out their online store. You can also find out more about their subscription box service while you're there.
I'm so excited to write this post reviewing this season's FabFitFun box. With fall...or autumn (depending on where you live) in full swing it's time to pull out those light weight jackets and put away those shorts. I love this time of year since it kicks off the holidays with Halloween at the end of this month. With the holidays now looming it more important than ever to keep yourself in good spirits and treat yourself! My treats just so happen to come on a regularly scheduled basis in the form of subscription boxes. If you'd like to check out or purchase your own box click on the link below:
Bring on the FabFitFun Fall Box for 2015! This box was jam packed with so many goodies and for the price I'm super pleased with this edition.
First and foremost I love that upon receiving the box I noticed that it says "in support of the purple purse". If you aren't familiar with the Purple Purse organization, they are a charitable organization that empowers and offers aid to victims of domestic violence and financial abuse. They also strive to educate people on these forms of abuse to hopefully empower victims to separate themselves from those damaging situations and find a safe and secure place to heal. With October being Domestic Violence awareness month I think it is appropriate and heartwarming to see a company such as FabFitFun to partner with this much needed organization. I personally have dealt with domestic violence and to know there are finally places for people to go to seek help in a non-judgmental way brings me hope that others will be able to get out of their situations as I had to learn to. For more information on this organization please click on the link below:
Now onto the goodies...Above you can see that this box was filled to the brim with really usable items. It's not often that I get a subscription box where I can actually see myself using every single product included but in this case I did!
The first product in the box was the Gold Radiance Luxury Facial Mask with Collagen and Rose Oil by Passport to Beauty.
I was really shocked when I pulled this out of the box since I'd never seen a sheet face mask that appeared to be actual gold. I love sheet masks and have a nice collection of Asian masks I go to time and again. I will definitely be giving this mask a try and am curious to see how the ingredients...including gold...react on my sensitive skin.
Here are the claims from the FabFitFun insert:
This facial mask is truly more precious than gold! Help stimulate circulation, increase enzyme activity, and sooth skin with one of our favorite beauty picks for fall!
The second item in the box was really unexpected...I mean who would think to add in an umbrella and a cute one to boot?! The FabFitFun x Tappan Collective Umbrella was a great addition to this season's box.
FabFitFun partnered with Tappan Collective to design this creative little umbrella. The Tappan Collective brings together different artisans in one place and let's their creativity run wild. In this case the artist Ashkahn created simple design that emulates streams of water running down as it hits the top of your umbrella.
The print is made up of the words "Rain, Rain Go Away" which is so adorable. It reminds me of the nursery rhyme we used to sing in school on rainy days when we couldn't go out to recess.
The umbrella opens with a push of the button and needs to be pushed down to close.
Overall I'm really pleased with the design and style of this umbrella. It compact enough to fit into my laptop case or larger purse and feels solid. I'll let you guys know how well it works against the weather after our next rainy day...
The FabFitFun insert has this to say about the umbrella:
This uh-dorable umbrella could brighten even the rainiest of days We teamed up with Tappan Collective (an online platform for up-and-coming artists), to bring you this one-of-a-kind umbrella. With a quirky, colorful print created by LA-based artist Ashkahn Shahparnia this design is sure to cure the rainy day blues.
The third product was the Lucky Lip Stain by Manna Kadar Cosmetics.
I'm used to getting beauty products in the subscription boxes I receive so I was happy to get this lip gloss from Manna Kadar. Being that beauty and makeup are my passion, I'm always ready to try a new product. This lip gloss is a beautiful natural color which would flatter many skin tones and when I opened it I was happy to see a doe foot applicator instead of a brush.
The reason why is that I find that the brushes included with products don't always tend to be the most flexible and can move the product you are layering the gloss on top of. The consistency of this gloss is creamy and has great color pay off for being a gloss. I'm excited to use this in an upcoming fall tutorial so I can see how it performs.
FabFitFun's insert says:
We're getting you lip locked and loaded for fall! This 3-in-1 product will be your pout's new BFF. We're talking primer, lip gloss and lip stain all-in-one, plus it adds moisturizing treatment to your lips to keep them super kissable.
The next product in the box were the deluxe sample packets of the 3D White Brilliance 2-Step System by Crest.
The FabFitFun insert says, Experience the brilliant whitening results with this two-step system. Step 1 cleans thoroughly and Step 2 polishes and whitens to keep your smile up to 99% as white as a professional polish (with daily use; stain assessed 4 weeks after a dental cleaning)
So in the box you receive to pouches of each step. Being that I've never tried these before I'm eager to try it out. However these systems are usually pricey so I'm glad that the sample includes a $2 coupon.
I'll definitely be giving this a try but I'm not sure if I'll spring for the full size after trying these samples...We'll see!
The next item was a skin care product! The Flawless Skin Fluid by Doctor D. Schwab.
I love new skin care products and when I saw this full size moisturizer from Dr. Schwab I was really hoping it would be something I could use.
The Flawless Skin Fluid comes in a 1 oz tube, which I love since I don't have to dip my fingers into a tub to get the product out. When I squeezed a bit out on the back of my hand I was surprised that even though it is a nice thick consistency, it absorbs in quickly and feels like it's done the job of a moisturizer and a face primer. I'm going to be travelling soon and I think this will be the perfect time to try this out. And hopefully, if my suspicions are right, this product will replace a couple I'm currently using.
The FabFitFun insert says:
This lightweight moisturizer is perfect under makeup on its own to smooth and visually correct uneven skin tone. All natural ingredients including grape stem cell extract and powerful peptides help to balance and brighten the skin and give it a youthful-looking, flawless glow.
This sixth item in the box is from the Allstate Foundation Purple Purse. As I said up above this organization exists to bring awareness and support to those suffering with Domestic Violence and Financial Abuse. The item they included in the box is this beautiful purple purse charm.
The beauty of this charm is that it can hang on the outside of your purse as a great accessory and in addition can be an indication of your support of this cause. It can also increase awareness of this issue and bring more people together to fight against it and support those going through it.
So if you see this purple purse anywhere, know that there are others out there spreading the word on this organization and helping to bring awareness to this epidemic. If you'd like to learn more or lend your support please visit the site below. You can also purchase your own purple purse charm to assist the cause.
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness month this October, we have joined forces with Allstate Foundation Purple Purse to help spread awareness of this worthy cause. By attaching the purple charm to your purse you can help support women in need and join the fight against domestic violence and financial abuse.
The next item in this season's box is the HISY Battery Pack.
I've been in the market for one of these portable power packs since I'm always running my phone down to no charge at the most inconvenient of times. This is going to be a great addition to my purse. I travel quite a bit and I'm always afraid that I'll need to get a hold of someone and have no battery left to do it. I was stranded at an airport in Helena, Montana and my phone was slowly draining it's battery life. Lucky for me I found a random electric outlet to use but if I hadn't I would have been stranded and phone-less. This little guy will definitely give me peace of mind as I travel at the end of this month. And of course it's BLUE, which I love!!
In the FabFitFun booklet is says:
Stay charged and ready to go wherever you are! This rechargeable device is a great companion for all of your fall travels. This handy battery pack pairs with iPhone and other devices.
I'm really excited to use the next items included in the Fall Box. From Merrithew, a exercise equipment and video company, FabFitFun included an ankle resistance band and lower body training DVD.
In the past year I have really focused on working to get healthier and become more fit. These two items are going to help me keep on track with my goals. I can toss either or both of this products into my luggage and be able to get a lower body workout wherever I go. I do HATE leg day but it is a necessary evil. I'm already starting to use the ankle resistance band today and it really adds more intensity to my already hard lower body workout. This box is just full of great items I would never have thought to buy on their own.
The FabFitFun insert says:
Strength Tubing Ankle & Total Body Tone with Tubing: Lower Body & Core DVD by Merrithew. Thighs, glutes, and calves - oh my! This full length workout will tone your lower body and core to get maximum shaping and sculpting results.
Item #9 in the box is a beautiful and delicate Glass Crystal Bead Bracelet by Tribe Alive.
When I saw this bracelet packed in the box I was immediately drawn to it. It's so delicate and simple, which is exactly my taste in jewelry. When I read the card the bracelet is wrapped around I was taken in by their slogan "Hope is out message. Fashion is our medium." I LOVE THAT!
Then I researched a bit more about the company and was impressed that their products are created by women in countries where they don't normally have an opportunity to find employment such as this.
This is the company mission directly from their website:
>>> MISSION
Tribe Alive’s mission is to build sustainable partnerships with marginalized women in developing countries by connecting them to the global marketplace. We work to break the cycle of poverty by providing female artisans with the tools, training and support needed to reclaim their futures and thrive as independent business women
Empowerment of people around the world is paramount in the survival of our world and I appreciate that this company is doing their part to contribute to such a great business/world model.
On the FabFitFun booklet is says:
Glass Crystal Bead Bracelet by Tribe Alive. Brace yourselves for the cutest addition to your fall accessories collection. With hand-cut glass crystals, this sparkling bracelet is sure to amp up your T-shirt and jeans look. Tribe Alive works with artisan partners all over the world to employ impoverished women by providing them with a sustainable income.
The 10th and 11th products in the box are gift cards to online stores. The first is a gift card from the Jewelers Wife.
I visited the website to see what they carried and found that they carry jewelry and watches from various designers. The price range varies and it looks like I can get myself into trouble on this site. They carry Dogeared and Alex and Ani which are two of my favorite designers. Uh Oh!
The FabFitFun folks had this to say:
Gift Card by Jeweler's Wife. Treat yourself too something sparky! Jewelers Wife features designers such as Michael Kors, Alex and Ani, Kendra Scott, and more. This online jeweler is out favorite destination for the latest in beautiful baubles. Put your $15 gift card to good use (plus, some lucky members might receive more!) Oh, and shipping is always free.
The last item in the box is the Picture it On Canvas gift card.
I am a big lover of putting up pictures of family and friends. I've also loved photography since I got my hands on my Mom's old Canon SLR 35mm camera when I was 13. This gift card is an amazing item for someone like me. I have an entire wall of my house covered with framed pictures and I've been wanting to have our family picture enlarged on a canvas print. This gift card will come in handy for the holiday season.
I checked out their website and Picture It On Canvas customizes canvas, household items and helps you create photo books. I'm going to have fun customizing some pictures I've taken over the past year.
In the FabFitFun insert they say:
Gift Card by Picture It On Canvas. Your best photos can be turned into coasters. posters, canvas prints, iPhone cases, and more. Whether you create a one-of-a-kind gift, or choose a personalized items for yourself, this gift card is picture perfect. Free U.S. shipping included.
So that was the FabFitFun box I received for the Fall season! Like I said before it was a great combination of products that I'll definitely use. I also appreciate that this company only send out boxes each season so their $49.99 price tag is much more bearable than paying $30 to $40 per month for other subscriptions. So if you're in the market for a subscription box to try out, you might want to start with this one. For $49.99 I received over $300 worth of products. What a bargain!
If you'd like to check out my reaction as I opened this box please click on the video below.
If you'd like to check out or purchase your own box click on the link below:
