MaskIT Review!

I have a pretty awesome review for you guys tonight that I've been really excited about lately!!! This product is from a new company called MaskIT! They make a super cool and new, discreet, environmentally friendly way to dispose of your used tampons/pads! I am basically in love with this idea, even though I don't really have periods that often right now due to my birth control... I know that's TMI.. but it's truth. There's lots of people who do though, so I was really really beyond excited to share this one!! Here are some photos to start off with!

A Full picture of the various sizes and packages you can choose from!

MaskIT was kind enough to send me a ton of different samples in their various sizes. Here are some of the options you can choose from:

18 Pack for Pads, Wrappers, and Applicators

One thing I really, really like about their packaging is that each packet says what it is for. MaskIT makes different sizes, so they say on the package what they're for. This one in particular is a larger sized MaskIT that is for Pads. They also have a smaller size for tampons.

3 Pack for Pads, Wrappers, and Applicators

26 Pack and 5 Pack for Tampons

I also really like that they have smaller sizes that would be suitable for your purse, or for travel. I definitely will be throwing a pack of these in my purse. I really really like the idea of these. Honestly, who wants to see someone elses sanitary products when you're out in public and you have to go in the bathroom. They may be in that little silver trashcan... but still. They're oftentimes overflowing, and I feel bad for the janitors that have to clean them. If just EVERYONE would use MaskITs this would literally solve this problem.... uh... forever. lol

People should always buy these with their tampons and especially pads. Or maybe they should just come with them in the first place. Here's how they actually work!

Instructions!

They're really easy to use and I love that you just put your hand in so you don't have to touch anything nasty. I'm sorry but it is totally gross to take out a tampon in the first place. So this is totally great!

A first look at a MaskIT. Step one: Pull out your MaskIT!

Step 2: Put your hand in and make a glove.

Step 3: Pull out tampon or take off pad using the MaskIT as a glove.

Step 4: This is the only tricky part.. But its easy. I used the business card just because I didn't want to use a tampon. lol Invert the pouch so that the sticky strip is on the outside of the bag, making it ready to close.

Step 5: Pull the strip, revealing the sticky part and close your MaskIT. Throw it away!

Wham Bam Thank you Ma'am Now your sanitary products are ready to throw away and never to be seen by prying eyes, janitors, children who are like what the heck is this bloody mess, or anyone else!

I really really love these. First, because my dog likes to get tampons out of the trash and this will prevent her from doing so and I will no longer have to find nasty presents all over the place. Second, because of the public restroom dilemma I spoke about above. Third because they're compostable and environmentally friendly in general and I'm always looking for products like that! They prevent leaking and odor as well, so that's another plus!!! These are seriously awesome, and I will definitely continue using them from now on!!!

If you'd like to find out more about MaskIT or purchase some for yourself, you can CLICK HERE to check them out!!

Happy Masking!

xX Ashley C.

**Note: I received these complimentary for review, but as always my opinions are 100% honest and unbiased. **

Madison Reed Root Touch Up Kit Review!!

Hey Ladies!! I don't know if you remember, but a while back I posted about one of my new favorite companies, Madison Reed!! They send out HIGH QUALITY at-home hair dye kits and have recently added a new product to their line; They're Root Touch-Up Kit.

I usually wait awhile between dyes so my hair has a chance to heal up after being bleached and fried, so I figured this would be an excellent product for me to test! I was lucky enough to receive a sample to review and share with you guys so here it is! It's also designed to cover up any of your greys that might be showing through between dyes!!! It comes in a purple super portable compact with a nice little mirror like shown above and is so CUTE!

Here's my actual kit I received. It also comes with a little carrying pouch which is a nice touch. Madison Reed has the best packaging. They really take pride in their products!

My hair is currently dyed blonde from being very naturally dark brown, so honestly, it was a little bit hard to review it on my hair. I ordered the light brown shade and while it doesn't lighten my roots to the color I really needed them to be, if you have actual light brown hair it would work perfectly. I will say that these kits cover greys like a BOSS! I've used my kit on my husband as well as my cousin's husband, both of which have light brown hair with lots of greys showing through and they were GONE. We were basically amazed!!! This product is amazing and unlike regular dye, it is a powder and washes out between uses. It also kind of works like a dry shampoo and soaks up excess oil and leaves your hair nice and volumized. If they'd come out with a few more colors I think this product would be sheer perfection!!

And here's the shade I chose in light brown.Seems a teensy bit dark.

And ingredients!

Here's a really nice before and after shot courtesy of Madison Reed. It REALLY does work this well!

And here is how you apply it:

Essentially you just brush it on like makeup for your hair! Easy Peasy!

So yeah! If you're in between dyes, or frequently find yourself stressing out about grey hairs showing, then you should DEFINITELY check out this product, as well as their regular dyes and gloss kits! This is an AMAZING company with high-quality products that you can tell they have really put care into designing and making work great! You can purchase the Root Touch-Up Kit in 8 different shades HERE for $29.95!

Here's my after photo after doing the left side you can see in the picture. While it obviously didn't turn my hair blonde since I picked light brown, you can tell a different that it made my brassiness go away and makes my hair fade to blonde much better! I'm kicking myself now for not ordering the blonde color!!

One final thought: I've been a member of Madison Reed's affiliate program for awhile now, and honestly it's the one I've made the most money off of and the one that in my opinion, has the most incentives. From free products to try, to randomly bonuses for posts, to affiliate referral bonuses, I HIGHLY recommend you join them and become an affiliate too if you're interested in this kind of thing. They just recently added a color glossing kit to their line so I'm sure they will have some good sample posts for that coming up soon!!! If you're interested in becoming an affiliate for Madison Reed like me, it's totally FREE, and you can sign up using my link HERE and I would appreciate it times a million!! I've never had an affiliate company work with my so hands on to make sure I'm successful like they do! Thanks Char from their affiliate team for being awesome!!!

Later!

xX Ashley C.

*Note: This post contains affiliate links.*

Oleavine Beauty Kojac Sponge Review!

Recently, I was given the opportunity to try out a Kojac sponge with activated Charcoal from Oleavine Beauty. I LOVE kojac sponges and was super excited to try it out!
Here's a photo for your reference:

If you've never tried a Kojac sponge before, or don't know what they are here's some info. These sponges are 100% natural and made from kojac fibers. They are super gentle on your skin and super soft once wet. They provide an excellent way to gently exfoliate your face without harsh fibers or chemicals. This sponge contains activated charcoal, which helps to remove all the toxins and excess oils from your face. I LOVE charcoal products so this is awesome for me. You can also use these with OR without soap. 

This product really stands out to me because it's so large. It has a really nice teardrop shape to it that makes it easy to hold, but has a small end so you can still clean the areas around your eyes and nose with ease. All the other Kojac sponges I've tried have been ALOT smaller, and I like this bigger one ALOT better. I usually use mine with some kind of cleanser and it makes them foam up really really well and does SO much better at cleaning my face than just using my hands alone. It does an amazing job at gently exfoliating my face and would definitely be a great product for you to try if you've never tried one of these amazing sponges before!

For more information or to purchase, you can CLICK HERE!

Xx Ashley C.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The 5 Makeup Brushes That You Really Need!

The key to effortless makeup application lies in your brushes. I didn't really realize how vital they were to creating flawless makeup, until I went to this MAC seminar and learned about different ways to use them, and how to use them the right way. Here are my top 5 that I use literally EVERY time I do my makeup! I cannot live without them.

Beauty Blender

Before I got my first BeautyBlender, I just used regular foundation brushes. Let me tell you, this little sponge changed my entire routine. I was totally skeptical, but they are seriously awesome. The tapered end also eliminated the need for a concealer brush! I love it! You just wet it, squeeze it out, dot foundation/concealer to your face, and blend your way into flawless foundation and a perfect looking complexion. My favorite thing about it is that since you use it wet, it doesn't leave your face looking all cakey and gross.
Rea.deeming Beauty, Inc. - beautyblender PURE blender (single) by Rea.deeming Beauty, Inc. BEAUTY - $34.90, 4.99 shipping - Available at Amazon.com Marketplace

Make Up For Ever - Professional Angled Eyeliner Brush #262

If you're like me and use gel/cream eyeliner on the regular, a brush similar to this one is key for perfect eyeliner. I've tried all kinds of different liner brushes over the years, but these angled ones are the only ones that make a perfect, even line, and enable me to do winged liner, which I usually wear every day. Definitely check one out of you do winged liner like me. Sephora also has some affordable ones!

Make Up For Ever - Professional Angled Eyeliner Brush #262 Straight - $22.00, 5.48 shipping - Available at Amazon.com Marketplace

MAC Cosmetics - Brushes - #217 Blending Brush

Literally every time I do my eyeshadow I pull out my MAC 217 brush. It's nice and fluffy yet still rigid enough to get enough shadow on it for my crease. This is the best blending brush ever ever and works beautifully. MAC brushes are expensive but they last forever with proper care and are SO worth the price. You can use it for whatever blending you need done, but I typically use it only with darker colors in my crease.
You can also use this one to contour places that are smaller, like the sides of your nose. :)
MAC Cosmetics - Brushes - #217 Blending Brush (Eye) - - - $40.00, 4.99 shipping - Available at Amazon.com Marketplace

MAC Cosmetics - MAC 252 Large Shader Brush

This is the brush I use every day for basic eyeshadow on my lid. It's nice and wide and flat, and makes it a breeze to really pack the shadow on. MAC shadow brushes are what I prefer, but I've found a few other cheaper alternatives with I don't want to screw up my nice ones. Any kind of large shader brush like this one is what I recommend for applying shadow to your lid.
MAC Cosmetics - MAC 252 Large Shader Brush - $21.99, 5.48 shipping - Available at Fullfillment By Amazon
(6 reviews)

MAC Cosmetics - MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush

This is like the only brush I use for contouring. It's big, but not overly huge and fluffy and stuff has some rigidness so you can apply enough bronzer. Or maybe I just use too much? Who knows? :) Either way, I use this one every day!

MAC Cosmetics - MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush - $30.99, 5.48 shipping - Available at Fullfillment By Amazon
(12 reviews)

So, yeah! Those are my go to brushes that I use literally every single time I do my makeup. Anyone have any favorites they'd like to share?! I'd love to hear them! I'm always open to trying new brushes! I've found a few good ones from Ipsy too. :)

Happy Wednesday!
Xx Ashley C.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links provided by Postpresso.

My Konjac Sponge with Activated Bamboo Charcoal Review!

Next I want to review another product that I'd never tried before that I immediately have fallen completely in LOVE with. Its an Activated Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Sponge from My Konjac Sponge.

Here's some pics!

This is the one I received

But they also carry a bunch of other ones that I would definitely be interested in trying!

Overall this product is awesome. I use it in the shower when I wash my face. It comes as a hard sponge, you just get it wet and then wash your face with it and it works miracles. I swear within a day all of my acne and whiteheads and stuff had completely dried up, and all of the dry skin was gone! This is a miracle product.

I think it has something to do with the Bamboo Charcoal, because it works really well with my skin. The sponge itself is really soft and nice. When you're done with it, you just hang it to dry, and do the same thing for next time!

These are all 100% natural too, which is a great bonus! Apparently they're made with konjac fiber, which is taken from the root of a plant. It contains tons of vitamins and minerals that have been used in Eastern Asia for years. I seriously love this thing. I want to try all of them!

If you'd like to find out more about these awesome sponges, you can either visit your local Whole Foods, or visit them online HERE.

Happy cleansing!

Xx Ashley C.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Starlooks July 2014 Nylon Pink special edition!

Sorry this took so long . I was waiting for the mystery items to arrive from the last promo .
The special edition Nylon Pink box actually scared me at first since I knew it would have bright colors;  and well me and bright colors just don't go well together lol.
I will admit I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that I could wear everything but the lipstick (Ashley already claimed that since she's more brave with makeup lol)

Now the first time I got this box I was stalking the mail since it was 101 here in the south and well we all know how heat and lipstick go so well together lol.
So I'm driving my kids nuts sending them to check the mail every 15 min. But it didn't help.  So to be on the safe side I let it sit a bit. Ugh oh Texas ..... no dice I opened the lipstick (starlooks tender gloss in pooh bear) I had barely opened it and it fell out of the tube ( honestly my first thought was omg Ashley is going to kill me, then omg I have neon orange stuff all over my couch and carpet! ) yea it's bright alright! But it's pretty . I certainly can't pull it off though.  Even the lio liner in tipsy was melted.  Yea we don't have ac here either I dunno maybe that proves im a bit insane. ...
So I was actually on the phone playing with the shadow after I had emailed pictures of my melted box and while the c/s lady was doing her thing I was noticing how buildable the shadow was. It's really not as bright as I thought. And can be worn alone for a subtle look.  It came off as a very light gold  rather  than a yellow.  (Im certainly not complaining lol). My point of mentioning me calling c/s about the melted box is just another props to this awesome company.  I wasn't on the phone for longer than 10 min. I had assumed with s new box being sent that I would be waiting at least a week. I was actually amazed to come home from work 2 days later and find it waiting for me ( thankfully it was only a cool 96 that day snd yes I am aware how sad that sounds lol) I'm still on the fence about the eyeliner that came in the box.  The only way I can describe it is a bright smokey blue if that makes sense. I have blue eyes so I want to try it.  But will it be too much blue?  The lip pencil is really the perfect color for me . Its a great neutral color which kind of suprised me that it was in a box with such bright colors. All in all I t h ink this box was a great mix of bright and neutral colors .
The retail value of the box was 49$ and I only paid 17 and change.  (15$ plus s/h) a great deal IMHO
Here's all that was included &yes they are full sz products! 
Blue clill eye pencil- $12
Traffic yellow eyeshadow- $12
Pooh bear tender gloss- $13
Tipsy lip pencil- $12

I didn't think I would like this box but I really do love it! Awesome customer service doesn't hurt either! :)

~Melissa
If you would like to subscribe feel free to email me or click the link ( I'm working on including my link since I blog from my phone,  but you can always just tell them you heard about them from melissa spangle )

Rimmel London Stay Matte Foundation Review!

Today I want to share with you my favorite drugstore foundation! I don't typically use drugstore foundations, however, a few months back I went to Walmart during a makeup emergency and made the best decision ever!! To top it all off, I received another one courtesy of Influenster in my Uni Vox Box!

Sorry my bottles are dirty. :D I've been using both of them religiously since bought/received. On the left is True Ivory (103) and on the right is True Beige (203). I prefer the one on the right for summer and the left for winter. 

Who's ready for a swatch?!!?!

Left is True Ivory and Right is True Beige. When you first apply them, they aren't matte right away. These are FULL coverage foundations. I generally apply them with my beauty blender, otherwise they are a BIT too much and have the potential to be a little too much on your face. However, with careful application they can cover up basically any flaw and match my skintone perfectly.

Here's another where I rubbed them in to show you their matte quality. I HATE having shine on my face and these are an excellent solution when you don't have time for a matte powder or finishing powder or whatever you like to use. They are absolutely positvely NON-GREASY which is what I look for most in a foundation. I can't STAND having an oily, dewey, nasty looking face. It is like my number 1 pet peeve. Another thing I really love about Rimmel Stay Matte Foundations is that they provide a great base for your bronzer or blush. In my opinion they make them really POP since the foundation kind of acts as a primer as well. 

Here's a full makeup look using Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Foundation!

I have acne prone skin, and generally full coverage foundations break me out, but Rimmel Stay Matte does NOT! This is awesome and I will definitely be repurchasing when I run out.

Ready for the best part!?! You can get them for only $5-$10 at most drugstores and online!!! For a product that works as well as high end, this is a STEAL!!

Who's used these foundations?? Anyone love them as much as I do??? I really want to try the powder one as well. It's next on my list!

Until next time,

Xx Ashley C.

Butter London Marshalls HAUL!

So I randomly decided to go to Marshalls the other day in the middle of a unexpected TN blizzard, and found a serious nail polish deal!! Never in a million years did I think there would be Butter London at a place like Marshalls, but they were there, and they were there CHEAP! I picked up each of these for a mere $6.99 a piece, which is way less than the $15 regular price tag.  I also grabbed a bottle of OPI Nail Envy for Sensitive and Peeling nails for $7.99 so that was over half off as well. I haven't tried it yet, since I'm still testing out Butter London Horsepower, but I will let you know when I do! I've put together a couple swatches for you since I got these!  Hope you enjoy!

First up is Butter London's Jack the Lad. I've been wanting this color ever since I found out about the Butter London Brand!  It's a Moss green shimmer, and definitely a one coater!  Who doesn't love a one coater?! Two if you're like me and do one more for good measure!  :)  Here's a quickie swatch I did on break at work!

Next, I decided to use Butter London Thames & Butter London Scallywag together for a cute, blue and green mani! To me, Scallywag is reminiscent of Julep's Carly and similar to Zoya's Liberty, but without as much texture as Liberty, since it's part of their Pixie Dust line (which btw I have added a link to the Summer 2013 Pixies which are only $7.19 at amazon with free shipping! They're normally $9 plus shipping). Scallywag is described as a full coverage turquoise glitter in a clear base. I used it over Thames and again I only had to do one coat for complete coverage! Thames is also really really beautiful. I love green nail polish first of all, and I love anything shiny too so it's a double win. It's described as a soft, blue green polish with a small undercurrent of gold. I guess the gold is what makes it so shiny. Anyway here's my mani!

Lastly, I purchased Butter London No More Waity, Katie. This one I was on the fence about because it looks kind of weird in the bottle. I think it's going to be passed on to a friend, but some of you may really like it! It's not something I would normally wear for sure. It's described as a soft, lilac glitter,  but I find it to be a bit more on the grayish side with purple glitter just hanging out in it. Here's a swatch of it too for your viewing pleasure! :)

I hope you guys enjoyed this post as much as I did!  I love that my Butter London collection us slowing growing larger because they make such GREAT polishes!  As far as I can tell all the ones I own are 1-2 coats for full coverage, but I guess you get what you pay for!  At $15 full price, they're not cheap, but if you can score a deal like I found, definitely scoop some up because they are so worth it!

Up next is my Pretty and Polished beauty box for March!  I'm really really excited to share this with you all, and I have subscribed for a three month subscription so there will be one every month until May! And THERE MIGHT possibly some special swatches of two of Pretty & Polished's new color changers that will be released very soon! Have an awesome Monday!

Xx Ashley C.

Nyx HD Photogenic Concealer & Matte Lipstick Double Review!!

As promised, today I am reviewing the green concealer and pink lipstick I got in my epic haul at Ulta last week. I am absolutely, positively in love with both of these items and in my opinion there is no turning back now.  I love this lipstick more than words & the concealer is fabulous too.

Up first I will review Nyx's HD Photogenic Concealer in the color green. Until this point I'd never tried the magic that is green concealer,  but I'd been really interested in it. Why the heck would anyone want to use green concealer you ask?  Well green is on the opposite side of the color wheel as red, therefore it neutralizes any redness/acne on your face.

 Here's what it looks like compared to my skin.  Kind of a weird minty green color. 

Here's a fancy picture of what it looks like when you dot it on and then rub it in. You kind of resemble the incredible hulk. lol :)

You dab a little bit of this on any of your ugly red zits or other yucky red spots on your face, apply regular foundation over top,  and voila! Redness be gone!  It really does work too!  I've been super acne prone lately for some reason after a good month of having awesome clear skin so I got this just in time. You can barely even tell any of my hideous bad skin is under there with this concealer on. It's awesome! I highly,  highly recommend this product and honestly,  for only $4.99 you really can't beat it.  Especially when Ulta has Nyx for buy one get one half off!

Here's a pic of my face upclose, after all my makeup was complete. As you can see, there is visible green concealer and also no red spots or acne!

Next, lets talk about this gorgeous matte lipstick. This is also by Nyx, and I bought this in the shade Summer Breeze! This is my first pink matte lipstick and I'm super glad I got it instead of the regular kind that I originally had in my hand.

Here is a pic with no flash of Nyx's Summer Breeze. It's super pink and very pretty! :)

& Here is another pic with flash to give you a better idea of what it looks like in real life!

I've used matte red before and really liked it, so I figured why not give this a whirl. Maybe I'm biased because of my pink lippie habit, but the color is absolutely gorgeous and it lasts all day long with only a couple of touch ups along the way from eating, drinking, and smoking. It's also a really great color for ombre lips, which I tried today. If I had to describe this color, it's like a hot hot baby pink color, but since it's matte it really stands out. I'm in Love!  If you're into matte lippies, definitely grab some of these! I plan on buying more of these as soon as possible. They only cost $5.99 which is way cheaper than high end lipsticks and still cheaper than most drugstore lipsticks BUT it drastically out performs them both!

And here's a picture of all of my makeup from the day I made this tutorial! I also used my CK One Mascara that I got from the Ulta haul for my birthday gift... BTW it is WONDERFUL!

I hope you guys enjoyed this review! I have tons more coming this weekend!! Check out the Facebook page for sneak peek posts that I put up earlier!! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Xx Ashley C.

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Review!!

I totally have a love/hate relationship with face primers. I love them so so much, but there are some brands that I absolutely despise. And some brand that are men. And some brands that break me out like a teenager. I've been looking for a decent, cheaper substitute for Benefit's The Porefessional for awhile now, and have been unsuccessful in my search.

Until two days ago.

Meet Maybelline's "Baby Skin". As many of you already know I'm a BIG FAN of Baby Lips (See Top Ten Lippies Post HERE), so when I heard about this I knew I must have it. I spent a good ten minutes searching through the Maybelline section at Walmart trying to find this, and FINALLY snagged one for just $5.94. (Much cheaper than the $30 price tag of most higher end primers.) 

This primer, like most of the others, claims to minimize your pores with it's "blur technology". I've been using it for two days, and while it doesn't completely erase my pores like The Porefessional does, for the price, you honestly can't really beat it. They definitely look smaller, which is a HUGE improvement from the Julep primer that I've been desperately trying to use up (least favorite primer ever, sorry Julep!), which doesn't make my pores look any different at all.

Baby Skin makes my normal skin very very smooth, and makes foundation application a breeze!! I wouldn't be able to use it all by itself, but underneath my foundation it looks perfect! It significantly decreases any shininess that I have which is awesome because I like to add my own shine in the right places on my face with highlighter. ;) I also use a matte foundation (gotta review it later, Rimmel Stay Matte) with the baby skin so its double matte face time! 

As for makeup longevity, I've noticed that it makes my makeup last all day long, which is definitely a nice bonus for any primer to do. Actually, that's what I EXPECT them to do, and if it didn't (JULEP) I probably wouldn't use it or buy it again. 

There are some ingredient differences here between the higher end primers and Maybelline Baby Skin. While The Porefessional and Baby Skin are both silicone based, Baby Skin's main ingredient is water, while The Porefessional's is something called Cyclopentasiloxane. Another important difference is that Baby Skin is clear, while the Porefessional is a nice nude, tinted color which I really like. Hopefully in the future they will come out with a tinted version, as I think that is one of the main reasons The Porefessional works for me so well!

The Verdict: I love this primer ALOT. On a budget it is definitely a MUST HAVE beauty item. I'm probably going to be using this all year long and just buy a tiny Benefit or Too Faced primer for nights out.

Maybelline Baby Skin keeps your pores at a minimum, smooths out your skin for flawless foundation application, mattifies your face, and keeps your makeup in place all day!

I don't have a photo of before and after.. But trust me, this stuff is awesome.

Does anyone out there have a favorite primer? Drug Store or High End?

This is my very first drugstore primer. I want to try the Nyx primer next!

Xx Ashley C.