The Good, The Bad…And The Clumpy!

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog!!

My goal in 2020 was to get back into it and and then….well, we all now what happened! On the up side, I had extra time to test out lots of skincare and beauty products, so there are more posts to come! I especially focused on eye makeup since face coverings made it pointless to wear lipstick (I must confess I still wore it under mine sometimes…)

Since makeup has been all about eyes this year, I thought a list of best and worst mascaras could be helpful, just based on the ones I’ve tried. I’m counting backwards from 10 to 1; starting with the bad and ending with the fabulous! Enjoy!

10. Gold Waves Mascara by Kiko Milano. I’ll start with the positive and say that the packaging is beautiful, and I loved the gold tube! I had very high hopes for this beauty brand from Italy! Unfortunately it didn’t work for me. While it was lengthening, the brush was too big and the formula was very wet. It gave me raccoon eyes!

9. L’Oreal Volumizing Mascara.

I read great reviews about this one as well and since there was a sale on Amazon, I gave it a try! The pros are that it does add volume to your lashes (if that’s what your looking for) and it’s less expensive. However, it was very wet, and it just smudged onto my eyelids and under-eye area. Not ideal for applying in a rush before going to work! For a drug store mascara it’s decent, but not as earth-shattering for me as some of the reviews claimed. Retails for $5.99 on Amazon .

8. Buxom Mascara, full size is $22 at Sephora. This was “meh” for me. Not impressed. I tried the sample size and am happy I didn’t spend money on the full size. If you like a more natural look, this might work for you. I didn’t get much product from the tube and had to apply several coats to get some volume. Overall it also did not last that long, the tube dried up quickly. Not worth the price if you ask me!

7. it! Cosmetics Hello Lashes 5-in-1.

This one was also a sample size, and, as with the Buxom, I didn’t not like it enough to buy the full size. Overall, it was very clumpy and flaky. Since it!Cosmetics was acquired by L’Oreal in 2016, it is possible that the formula has changed. So many customers raved about it when it first came out that I had high expectations, but was unfortunately disappointed by the quality of this product. $25 on the it!Cosmetics website!

6. Tarte Big Lash Mascara.

Hello raccoon eyes! Another fail for me- sigh! Retails at Ulta for $23 full size, $15 for the mini. (I received my mini as a sample, I think perhaps in one of my Ipsy bags?)

Now the Top 5! (with 5 being the lowest rating and 1 the highest)

5. Physicians Formula Organic Wear at Duane Reade/Walgreens.

This is one of my go-to drugstore mascaras. It can get flaky after a few hours, but I like that’s it’s organic, gives volume, and it’s only $9.49! You can find it at Walgreens/Duane Reade.

4. Marc Jacobs.

If you need a mascara that won’t come off, this is it!! This will stay on no matter what: rain, sweat, cold winter air, bring it on!! In addition to that, it is lengthening and easy to apply! Retails for $27 at Sephora. (You can get a mini size for $14 to try it out!)

3. Hourglass Mascara.

I was pleasantly surprised by this one! Applies evenly, it’s lengthening, no smudging, stays on all day. Need I say more? Mini retails for $14, full size $29 at Sephora

2. Benefit Roller Lashes. Retails for $26, mini for $13 Sephora. If your looking for a curving and lifting mascara, this is a good one! The wand is shaped so that it helps curb your lashes, it’s not clumping and doesn’t bleed. Overall, good quality for the price!

1. Wander Beauty Mile High Club Mascara. $26 at Sephora. Also winner of the Allure Beauty Award! This is my current favorite!!

I received this mascara from my Fab Fit Fun box, and I’m obsessed!! It’s lengthening, volumizing, water-resistant, and it doesn’t clump! I also love that it dries quickly so it doesn’t “bleed” into the under eye area. When I cleanse, it just flakes and doesn’t run down my face! I now understand why it won the Allure Best of Beauty Award! I will definitely purchase this one when I run out! I received mine in my Fab Fit Fun Box, but you can find at Sephora for $26.

Honorable Mention:

L’Oréal Primer in Millenial Pink. Retails for about $9 at Duane Reade/Walgreens or Amazon. Do I really need this? No. However it’s fun and it adds extra volume when I want a more dramatic effect. Also it’s pink!

That’s it for now! Stay Chic!

My Top 10 Beauty Discoveries of 2019

Hi all! As 2019 comes to an end, I wanted to share new products that I discovered this year that became part of my beauty routine! The first set of 5 products I actually discovered through my Fab Fit Fun box subscription! For more information visit Fab Fit Fun (the subscription is $49.99 quarterly)

1. Blaq eye mask with hyaluronic acid. Each pack contains 5 eye masks and retails for $29; you can also find them on Amazon for $19. As a member of Fab Fit Fun, I was able to buy them for $10 when I ran out!



2. The 111 SKIN Rose Gold Brightening Facial treatment. I got mine in the Fab Fit Fun box,  a pack of 6 usually retails for $160, but it’s worth it!

3.  Harper + Ari exfoliating sugar scrub cubes by Juice Cleanse. You can find them on Amazon for $16 Amazon . Paraben, sulfate and cruelty free.

Beautycon NY, 2019

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and I purchased the ticket to this event

Happy Summer y’all! I finally have a little time to catch up on my blogging, and I wanted to start by sharing my experience at Beautycon NYC. I went back to Beautycon this Spring,  so in case you’re interested in checking it out, you’ll have to wait until next year. However, if you’re in California, BeautyconLA is happening on August 10th and 11th!

One of the first booths I stopped at was a hairstyling one. I always wanted to try extensions, so I did and I loved the transformation! Needless to say, I purchased them, although they were highly discounted!

Once my hair style changed, I had to stop to get some hair products. Fortunately the Verb booth was around the corner! In addition to receiving a free canvas bag and Ghost oil sample, there was a sale going on, so I decided to give their shampoo and conditioner a try! They also had this fun tub set up for photo ops!

Bioderma was another brand I was excited to see at Beautycon! I had been meaning to try their cleansing products. I bough a 2 pack of makeup remover wipes for $14.90, and I received a free travel micellar cleansing water with the purchase of a large one. They were also giving out samples of their face cleanser. (See picture below)

Best Places & Products of 2018

Hi Everyone!!!

Yes, I know, I haven’t “blogged” since December of last year, which is why I thought I should write at least one post before the end of 2018! Speaking of which, you can always find me on Instagram @chicprettyfun.  I’ve been posting pictures of my travels and experiences as well as mini-reviews and unboxing reviews. My New Year’s resolution for blogging in 2019 is to post at least once a month, so here we go, I’m getting a head start 1 day early!

Below are my top places and products and events of 2018 ⬇️

Top Places:

1. Savannah, Georgia

Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah                                                                                                    (featured in the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil)

The Prohibition Museum

2. Lavender by The Bay, Long Island, NY

You can pick lavender on weekdays in June and July, or just buy a bunch from their store. You can also purchase pillow mist and lavender sachets.

3. The Portrait Gallery- Washington D.C.

President Obama’s portrait is the latest addition

4. The Spanish Steps-Rome, Italy (ok, I’ve been a thousand times, but still one of my faves)

5. Abbruzzo, Italy (The Beach)

6. Downton Abbey Exhibit, NYC

Top Products:

1. Nars blush in Orgasm (you can find at  Sephora for $39 – and it’s worth it!)
2. Yves Rocher Lavender Lotion and Scrub

Yves Rocher is a brand from France. I discovered it during one of my trips to Quebec over 10 years ago. I’ve only been able to purchase their products abroad, usually in Canada or Europe, but there is (finally) an American website (Yves Rocher), however I’m not able to find the same exact products I’ve found in stores.

3. Kiko Milano- eyeshadow and mascara (In stores and online Kiko).

4. Bite Lipstick and Lipgloss  ($26 at Sephora in stores or online)

 

5. Disney Designer Collection by ColourPop Cosmetics

 

6. My Collagen Hydrogel Lip Patch Amazon

 

Wishing Everyone a Fabulous New Year’s Eve! See you in 2019!!!

My Best Beauty Secrets of 2017!

Hi everyone! After taking a long break from blogging, I decided to end 2017 with a list of my top ten beauty “secrets” and favorite products for this year. With new beauty products launching every week, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Hopefully this list will help you narrow things down as you start the New Year! Enjoy!

 

1. Cala Unicorn brushes! $9.99 @Marshalls

2. CYO Eyeliners. $4.25, @Walgreens.

St. Ives Mixing Bar

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Curious about this neon sign? Well, this summer I made a discovery: St. Ives opened a pop-up mixing bar in downtown Manhattan! (Soho to be exact). I’ve always liked St. Ives products, but I kind of forgot about them for a while and this motivated be to give them another try. (Side note: the pop is only open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. until September 30th, so get there while you can!)

When walking into the shop, right away you see the neon sign, the shop is very bright and everything is white, green and apricot-the St. Ives colors! One of the sales associates sent me to an area with sinks to try the products, she also gave me a form to fill out with my preferences. I could choose between a customized body lotion or face scrub- I went with the face scrub (you can also get both). Since I have sensitive skin, I choose the Avocado Honey Scrub, which hydrates and nourishes the skin and is a moderate exfoliant (I would have gone with the mild scrub, but it was sold out).

As I was standing online to hand in the form, I noticed these fun shelves decorated with different fruits that represent the St. Ives ingredients. You can see the watermelon and avocado display below.

 

Fab Fit Fun!

Hi everyone! After a long break, I’m back to blogging! I’ve been active on Instagram and Twitter, so you can always find me there in between blog posts. Hope you’ve been having a great summer! Summer is my favorite season, I love going to the parks, the beach and traveling (stay tuned for my future post about my  California trip).

Speaking of which, I decided to try out Fab Fit Fun right before summer began, so I received the Spring box full of summer goodies! I had a discount code of $10, so the box cost $39.99. The regular price is $49.99, but it’s a quarterly box rather than monthly and the value of the box is way above $100!

 

 

As you can see from the pictures, it’s a pretty large box! Also when you register you have to complete a profile, so you can tailor it to your preferences. I love everything and have been using all the products, so I’d say  my first box was a success! I also like that the bx contains a mix of different products, unlike other boxes which focus on just one specific area (skincare, makeup etc). See below for more pictures and details of the products inside!

This small box contains a set of red lipstick, lip cream and lip pencil!

Funky Earrings

This round tie-dye beach blank is one of my favorite finds from the box, together with the green bikini bag. I’ve been using both all summer long!

Since I have a monthly makeup subscription at the moment, I decided to cancel my FabFitFun after I tried this one box. However I would consider subscribing for a year in the near future, given the value and amount of products and how useful and fun they all were. I also discovered that after you cancel you can reactivate your account when you wish to continue with the subscription.

I hope that this post was fun to read as well as informative. Until next time!

Valentia Skincare Discount Code and Spongellé Body Wash Review

 

Disclaimer: All opinions are 100% my  own

Hello everyone! I hope that your President’s Day weekend is off to a great start! My post today is a little different from my usual product reviews. I have some exciting skincare news for you!

The first news I want to share with you is  that I can now offer all my readers a special discount for Valentia Natural skincare products!!! If you use my special code, Chic Pretty Fun, you can receive a 15% discount on your first purchase! To receive the discount, click on the following link http://www.valentia.com?rfsn=497912.4369e3 and use code Chic Pretty Fun at checkout. If you’ve never heard of Valentia before, or have read my previous reviews, head over to this link https://chicprettyfun.com/2016/12/04/valentia-night-revive-retinol-serum/ and checkout my review of the Valentia Night Revive Retinol Serum (picture below).

Valentia Night Revive Retinol Serum

Disclaimer: While I received this product complimentary for testing purposes, all opinions are 100% my own.

Hi everyone! Fall is in full swing and I’m looking forward to the upcoming holiday season! I have unwillingly taken a break from blogging while I getting over a cold-this crazy weather didn’t help!  However, the upside is that I had more time to test the product that I’m reviewing today! Valentia Skin Care has a new product: the Night Revive Retinol Serum!

Here is the product description from valentia.com:

“A potent blend of Retinol, with essential vitamins and botanicals specifically chosen to enhance Retinol’s efficacy work together to create the serum your skin care dreams are made of. Retinol works down to the cellular level to stimulate collagen production and diminish even the deepest of wrinkles. Vitamin C helps Retinol penetrate deeper into the skin, while Vitamin E and Squalane nourish and hydrate, counteracting the drying effects of Retinol and maximizing anti-aging benefits. This transformative retinol serum will turn back the clock, giving you visibly smoother, rejuvenated skin.”

After testing this product for several weeks, I have only good things to say about it!

First of all, as someone with sensitive skin, not only does it not irritate my skin, it actually helps my skin recover from irritation! My evening skincare routine is too cleanse and apply toner, then moisturize- I also exfoliate 3 times a week. I’ve noticed that when my skin seems a little irritated  and red after cleansing, the next morning the irritation vanishes if I apply the Valentia Night Revive Retinol Serum. Needless to say, I am now applying this serum every night!

I also like that it’s a nighttime serum, because I prefer to apply retinol at night since it can increase sensitivity to sunlight. According to the directions “Apply nightly to cleanse face and décolleté, before moisturizer. If irritation occurs, use every 2-3 night until skin adjusts. Use an SPF moisturizer during the day time”

Another bonus is the applicator, which I love because it makes it easy to control the amount of serum I want to use on different parts of my face.

DERMA E is back: Same Amazing Formula, Brand New Look!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, however all opinions are 100% my own.

Hi everyone! If you are looking at the picture above thinking “Gosh I wish it was still summer!”- well, so do I!!! One of the reasons summer is my favorite season-other than I love going to the beach- is because my skin is happiest in the summer! As I’ve mentioned in other reviews, I have dry skin, and as the weather cools down, my skin begins to get dry and itchy-insert sad face here.  Fortunately, DERMA·E is always here to save the day- now with a brand new packaging design! DERMA·E will be rolling out the new packaging until 2017. Their skincare line is available in many of your favorite retailers and pharmacies, including Whole Foods, Target, CVS, Walgreens and Ulta, to name a few.

DERMA·E has been one of my favorite skincare brands since I discovered it last year when I was selected to review the Hydrating Day Cream (for more information read my review here:https://chicprettyfun.com/2015/11/06/love-fall-but-hate-dry-skin-derma-e-is-here-to-save-the-day/ ). Here is some information about the company:

Ethical Beauty

Since 1984, our passion for health, wellness and
environmental sustainability has grown strong.
We have high ethical standards and never
compromise on skin health and safety. Our
100% vegan, cruelty-free formulas do not
contain parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates,
petrolatum, mineral oil, artificial colors, gluten,
soy or GMOs. Now that’s honest-to-goodness
skin care.

Purchases support global communities and the
environment.

One of my favorite  DERMA·E products is the Hydrating Night Cream – it’s the only night cream I use now during the Fall/Winter months. Here it is below, with the new packaging design.

I love the new design! Compared to the old one (see picture below), the new packaging has a lighter feel to it. In my opinion it is also more elegant and gives the product a top of the line appearance, which is what you will get with any DERMA·E skincare product. The lotus represents beauty and efficacy, a stamp of commitment to eco-ethical quality. The font is also easier to read, so can quickly identify which product you is best for your skin type.

Old Lotus Design

Old Packaging

To learn more about the brand, and to receive information about sales and special offers, go to www.dermae.com

Additional Product Information

DERMA·E is 100%:

• Paraben-Free
• Cruelty-free
• Gluten-free
• Soy-Free
• Dye-Fre
• GMO-free
• Vegan
• Recyclable
• Wind Energy Certificate

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