Stephie Estie | Page 18 of 39 |

October Birchbox Unboxing 2015!

October 13, 2015

Disclosure: This post contains a referral link.

Welcome back readers! October’s Birchbox arrived over the weekend and the theme is Positive Force in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Birchbox has teamed up with The Estee Lauder Companies Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to fund one year of breast cancer lab research hours. Take a look at the samples I received for this month.

Avene Cleanance Soap-Free Gel Cleanser

A blue tinged cleanser that vaguely smells like Dove Soap (without the soap of course) and is infused with French thermal spring water. Definitely geared towards oily skin as this thoroughly removes oil and deep cleans.

Davines LOVE Smoothing Shampoo and bonus sample LOVE Smoothing Conditioner

I’m a fan of Davines’ products and these two are no exceptions. Formulated with oilve oil and rice protein, the shampoo cleans without stripping hair and the thick conditioner helps calm frizz. *Note: Personally, I have to alternate shampoos because there is an ingredient in here that over time makes my scalp and body itch but every time I use it, I love the results.

derma e Purifying 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask

Activated charcoal is scoring brownie points in the skincare and health realms so I was anxious to try this. It has apricot seed powder to exfoliate along with kaolin and bentonite clays to absorb oil and help decongest the skin. This crazy SoCal weather is causing me to breakout a bit so I’m testing to see if this will help clear it up.

Eyeko Black Magic Mascara

One of the sample choices this month, this is a water-resistant mascara that is long-lasting, curls and adds volume. I have yet to test this out but it sounds promising.

Penhaligon’s Juniper Sling Eau de Toilette

The sample perfume has notes of juniper, cardamom, soft leather, black cherry and amber. I cannot stomach the scent of juniper, so this sample will be given away.

Fragrance sample aside, I thought this box was good. Not my favorite but still worth it.

If you like what you saw and are thinking of subscribing to Birchbox, click here to use my referral link and earn extra points to use at the Birchbox shop.

Stephanie

Skin Tip: Pumpkin Seeds for Acne!

October 9, 2015

With pumpkin-themed items surrounding us everywhere, here’s some food for thought. Pumpkin seeds contain zinc which may help relieve acne as zinc helps control the sebaceous (oil) glands and aids in healing the skin. Something to think about next time you choose a snack, no?

Have a great weekend everyone and I’ll see you back next week,

Stephanie

Disclaimer: The contents on this website, and any related links, are provided for general informational purposes and should NOT be considered medical advice. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here. Please consult a healthcare provider if you have any questions about a particular health condition.

The Ultimate Urban Decay Naked Fall Looks Collaboration!

October 7, 2015

Happy Wednesday everyone! I’m very excited today to bring you a special collaborative post featuring a few of my favorite bloggers. We’re taking the Urban Decay Naked palettes and coming up with makeup looks that are perfect for fall. Grab your Naked 3 to create my look and check out the looks of these amazing bloggers using the other Naked palettes: Janet from Jan and Jot, Jennifer from In the Beauty Box, Kaily from Hello Kaily and Karen from Confetti and Curves.

Get the Look

Foundation: Lancome Teint Miracle in Buff 4C

Concealer: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla

Eyeshadow:

Highlight: Strange

Lid: Limit

Crease: Limit/Nooner

Mid/Outer Lid: Nooner

Lower Lashline: Darkside

Directions: Apply Limit on the lid and Nooner on the mid and outer lids. Use Limit on the crease and to blend out Nooner on the mid and outer V. Use Strange as the highlight shade beneath the brows and just above the crease color. Take a pencil brush and apply Darkside to the lower lashline.

Eyeliner: MAC Fluidline Eyeliner Gel in Dipdown on the top lashline and Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil in Ransom on the waterline, over Darkside (bottom lashline)

Mascara: Dior Diorshow Mascara in Pro Black

Blush: Burberry Light Glow Earthy Blush No. 7

Lips: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Lip Pencil in Nude and Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Birkin Brown

The finished look! I hope you enjoyed this segment and please don’t forget to check out all of the other bloggers I listed up above as they have more great looks headed your way. 🙂

Stephanie

SuperGoop Defense Refresh Setting Mist SPF 50 Review!

October 6, 2015

Hi everyone! How was everyone’s weekend? I’m hoping it was good. 🙂

On the posting schedule today is a quick review on the SuperGoop Defense Refresh Setting Mist SPF 50 which I received in July’s PopSugar Must Have Box. Let’s get to it.

Described as “an innovative three-in-one mist that sets makeup, helps control oil and shine, and refreshes your defense against photoaging UV rays with an uplifting scent of rosemary and mint.”

Pros

Portable/Travel friendly

Sunscreen factor

Mattifying

Excellent concept

Cons

Rosemary and mint can be irritating for some individuals

Created a burning sensation on my face

Potential health hazard from inhalation of sunscreen

Nozzle doesn’t always spray product on evenly

Overall: As much as I love the concept of this product- refreshing skin/makeup while providing essential SPF protection- it didn’t work for me. Every time I sprayed this product, my face has this uncomfortable burning/tingling sensation that lingered. Also, for most spray-on sunscreen formulations, it needs to be rubbed in for the full effect which is hard to do if you have a face full of makeup. There’s also the concern of potential health hazards with accidental inhalation of the product. I did find that this really kept the oily parts in my skin matte though. In the meantime, I take this with me to theme parks or when doing outdoor activities and use it on my body, making sure to hold my breath while applying. However, once it’s finished I will not be purchasing.

Have you tried this product? What are your thoughts?

Stephanie

*Note: Stay tuned tomorrow for a special collaborative post on fall makeup looks using the Urban Decay Naked palettes!

Skin Tip: Fall Skincare Tip!

October 2, 2015

Friday is here which means my weekly skin tip!

With fall and cooler weather around, now is the perfect time to have more invasive skincare treatments such as chemical peels and laser treatments to help with uneven skin tone and reveal a rejuvenated appearance.

See you next week readers!

Stephanie

5 Lip Colors for Fall!

October 1, 2015

Happy first day of October everyone! Lately it just seems as if the days are zooming by, right? While it still doesn’t feel like fall over here in SoCal-will it ever?- at least we can look the part using makeup. Here are my top favorite lipsticks for fall that I think will work on any complexion.

Buxom Full Bodied Lipstick in Menace

This beautiful rich wine color applies smoothly but can be sheered out with a little lip balm underneath to give it a glossier finish.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Birkin Brown

This matte lipstick feels creamy on application, delivering a chocolate cream opaque coverage in one swipe that stays put for a few hours. A chic and glamorous lipstick in every sense.

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Mattes in Touch of Spice

A more budget friendly matte lipstick, this rosy plum shade feels very comfortable on lips and fits in perfectly for the season’s nineties trend.

Nars Audacious Lipstick in Jane

You’ll be anything but ‘plain Jane’ with this lovely terracotta rose shade. One swipe provides amazing pigmentation and this color looks great when paired with bronze eyeshadow.

Sephora Collection Rouge Infusion in Red Essence

A similar concept to the YSL Glossy Stains, this dark red lip color applies like a gloss but dries to a stain. Very easy to reapply when you need to (which isn’t often) and provides a sophisticated look when worn with grey eyeshadow.

L-R: Menace, Birkin Brown, Touch of Spice, Jane, Red Essence

What are your go-to fall lipstick shades?

Stephanie

September Favorites 2015!

September 29, 2015

Happy Tuesday everyone! Hope everyone’s weekend was great.

October is practically here so here’s a quick post on items I have been enjoying this month.

Sephora Collection Pro Airbrush Concealer Brush

I have the older model of this brush but I’ve found myself using this practically everyday this past month. Not sure why I overlooked this brush for a while but I’m happy to have started using it again. This brush is bigger than most concealer brushes but I love it for that purpose. After applying concealer underneath my eyes, this quickly blends everything into place and it doesn’t tug the eye area.

Sonia Kashuk Core Tools Synthetic Buffing Brush 130

Another brush I have used frequently, as you can probably tell from the disappearing letters. I picked this up at Target and love using this to apply foundation/tinted moisturizer and it’s excellent for buffing out cream blushes or bronzers.

Origins VitaZing SPF15 Energy-boosting Moisturizer with Mangosteen Sheer Tint Release

A sample that came in this year’s Sephora Sun Safety Kit, this moisturizer goes on clear but within a few seconds turns into a tinted moisturizer. It’s a bit darker than my normal foundations but gives just enough of a tan glow that doesn’t come across as orange or fake. It gives an, “I’ve been on vacation,” glow without having to leave home and I use the Sonia Kashuk Buffing Brush with this one.

HydroPeptide Power Lift Advanced Ultra-Rich Moisturizer

I picked up a HydroPeptide set at the trade show and this moisturizer has been a pleasant surprise. The consistency with this one is very thick where I can flip it upside down and it takes a while to move. Normally, I run away from these types of moisturizers as they are too heavy for my combination skin and cause me to breakout. So far, this has worked wonderfully for my skin. I only use a pea-sized amount and it glides on my skin, making it feel hydrated and not tight. Surprisingly, it doesn’t feel heavy either. I use this at night and feel it will be perfect for the cooler weather coming up.

What were your favorite products this month?

Stephanie

Skin Tip: How to Soften the Appearance of Fine Eye Lines!

September 25, 2015

Friday is finally here- yay! Time for a skin tip.

An easy way to minimize the appearance of fine lines around the eyes is to moisturize with an eye cream. Lines and wrinkles are more prominent when the skin is dry and adding hydration softens the look.

Thanks so much for tuning in this week and make sure you are also subscribed to The Peachy Queen Blog for awesome fashion posts and to catch another exclusive post from me tomorrow! 🙂

Wishing you a great weekend,

Stephanie

R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo and Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner Review!

September 24, 2015

Hello everyone! I have for you today reviews on two R+Co products that I have been testing out. I purchased the Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner from the Birchbox store and the Death Valley Dry Shampoo came as a sample in my August Birchbox. For reference, I have curly, color treated hair and I tried both of these with my natural hair and then also when I straightened it.

R+Co comprises “some of the most forward-thinking, rule-bending hairstylists in the business.” Their products are free of parabens, sulfates (SLS or SLES), mineral oil, petrolatum and gluten. They are also vegetarian, cruelty-free, color-safe and most of the retail packaging can be recycled. Also notable from this brand is their androgynous fragrances and the colorful images that mark the containers they come in.

Let’s get started.

Death Valley Dry Shampoo

Described as “the quickest way to get volume and body into your hair.

Pros

Adds volume to hair

Nice, clean scent

Good product to refresh hair

No white residue left behind

Unique packaging/pictures

Available in travel-size

Cons

Does not absorb oil

Can feel a little bit sticky at times

A bit pricey- $29 for 6.3 oz/$17 for 1.6 oz

Overall: This dry shampoo didn’t absorb any oil and I felt that when it mixed with the oil in my hair, it made it feel a bit sticky and heavy. It smells very similar to the Dry Bar Detox Dry Shampoo but leans more towards a woodsy scent-I love it! This is best used on straight hair that isn’t too oily and adds good volume. I doubt I would purchase this as both the Dry Bar Detox Shampoo and Bumble and bumble Pret-a-Powder work better at absorbing oil and I do prefer the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray for adding volume/texture over this one.

Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner

Described as “the only step you need to weightlessly soften and condition, no matter what kind of hair you’ve got.”

Pros

Cleans pretty well for a product that doesn’t really foam up

Light, airy mousse-like texture

Doesn’t make hair feel stripped which is great for curly and color-treated hair

The scent is not overpowering

Unique packaging/pictures

Cons

You’ll still need to condition your hair despite the claims

Pricey- $29 for 6 fl oz

You do need to use quite a bit of product

Hard to tell how much product is left

Overall: I’ve tried several shampoos, including DevaCurl, that are designed to clean hair without foaming and while they were nice at first, my hair just looked greasy by the end of the day or over time. This cleansing conditioner though is one of the best formulations I have tried thus far. The product looks similar to mousse but a bit creamier and it really removes oil without making your scalp feel dry. I had to use about 3-4 pumps to cover my head and I did need to use conditioner on the end afterwards but my hair looked soft and significantly less frizzy. My only problem with this is that you can’t tell how much is left in the can and you do need to use more than is indicated in the instructions. It is pricey but well-worth the price and I will definitely be repurchasing this.

Have a great day and let me know in the comments below what your favorite or least favorite hair products are!

Stephanie