I have too much makeup, said no woman…ever!
Helllllo friends & Happy FRIYAY!
Hope you’ve all had a wonderful week.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Didn’t the Sephora Spring VIB Sale happen months ago?!
Yes, yes it did!
Nevertheless, here we are, ready to chat about some of the incredible products I picked up during the sale back in….April (oh my gosh, was it April?!). The good thing about posting this so late is that I’ve actually had time to test them all out so I can give you my honest thoughts on each item + tell you whether or not it’s worth your $$$.
You’ll also be happy to know that while I picked up QUITE a few lip products (shocking I know), I did manage to sneak in a few skincare products as well. And THAT my friends, is what we call GROWTH haha.
Anyways, let’s jump right into it! Here my friends, is what I picked up during the Sephora VIB Sale:
1) SEPHORA Nourishing Moisturizer* Hydrate + Repair
Okay, I’ll be honest, I’ve got mixed emotions about this little guy that I have YET to open. I love the moisturizers that Sephora Collection has however as you know, I preach about the importance of not buying from brands that test on animals. Since purchasing this Hydrate + Repair Moisturizer, I’ve discovered that Sephora’s line of makeup and skincare does in fact, test on animals.
As I move to a more clean beauty stash, I do love that the Sephora Collection has received the CLEAN stamp meaning that it is free of:
> sulfates SLS and SLES
> parabens
> formaldehydes
> formaldehyde-releasing agents
> phthalates
> mineral oil
> retinyl palmitate
> oxybenzone
> coal tar
> hydroquinone
> triclosan
> triclocarban
This product is also vegan, and comes in recycling packaging.
IN CONCLUSION, I am 99.99999999% sure that I’ll be making a trip to the closest Sephora in the next few days (mask and all) to return this. With the seal still in tact, I’m confident that I’ll have no problem returning it.
2) MILK Makeup Melatonin Lip Mask
VIB Sale + MILK Makeup Melatonin Lip Mask = add to cart
When I heard that Sephora was having their coveted VIB sale, there was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to purchase this new launch from Milk Makeup. Besides being totally intrigued by the stunning purple packaging, when it saw that it had melatonin, I mean….zzz!
Sephora describes this Melatonin Lip Mask as being:
> an overnight mask that replenishes, hydrates and calms so you wake up to smoother, softer, plumper-looking lips
> a lip mask that helps with dryness
> the recipient of the Sephora CLEAN stamp
“Sleep your way to softer-looking lips. Formulated with Persian silk tree extract, hyaluronic acid, and topical melatonin, this lip mask supports lips’ visible melatonin levels, hydrates, refreshes, and provides antioxidant benefits, while relaxing lavender oil and chamomile extract calm and soothe.”
Highlighted Ingredients:
– Topical Melatonin and Persian Silk Tree Extract: Help support skin’s visible melatonin levels and provide antioxidant benefits.
– Hyaluronic Acid: Hydrates for plumper-looking, smoother skin and supports moisture retention.
– Berry Blend of Goji, Acai, Blueberry, and Blackberry: Provides antioxidant benefits.
Now, if you read my April Empties post (click here if you missed it), then you’ll know the struggle for me to fall asleep is VERY real. So when I saw that MILK Makeup had come out with a melatonin lip balm, I was so excited and thought that this might finally be the cure for my sleeplessness!
Night one, with my usual melatonin tablet tucked under my tongue, as I climbed into bed + twisted off the bright purple lid, I couldn’t help but be taken aback (and not in a good way) by the overwhelming scent of…lavender.
If I’m treating myself to a day at the spa, I welcome the relaxing scent. If I’m prancing through a field of lavender (not that I’ve ever done it however it does sound lovely haha), then sure I imagine there’d be a light aroma of lavender in the air that I wouldn’t turn my nose up at.
What do I not want on my lips? LAVENDER! Anyways, stink aside, I lathered that balm on my plumped pout + braced myself for unconsciousness.
Fast forward to the next morning….
Now friends, think back to the last time you woke up feeling…hung over. Right, so I woke up feeling like I’d had a few too many vodka sodas the night before and THEN had then been hit by a bus (a slow moving, but moving bus none the less haha). To say the least, that day was rough + I can only assume that I had overindulged in my daily melatonin intake.
As you can imagine, I was a tad weary to test the lip mask out again, however I did decide to give it another try. This time, I decided to forgo my disolvable melatonin tablet and only use the lip mask. Thank the Lord I didn’t wake up feeling like death the next morning, I did however feel slightly dizzy.
SOOOO, the jury is still very much out on this one! I am open to experimenting with the amount of balm I apply before bed, however I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a tad nervous.
Has anyone else tried this balm???
3) MELT Cosmetics Crushed Glitter Lip Gloss
Two words…Johnny Rose! Actually make it 3 words.
JOHNNY
ROSE
CUPCAKES
MELT Cosmetics has been on my radar for a while now, and when I saw one of my favorite YouTuber’s (Julia Adams MUA) test out all 4 of their Crushed Glitter Lip Glosses I knew I had to bite the bullet and buy one.
The Crushed Glitter Glosses are available in the following 4 shades:
Sucker: is described as a white opal shade with pink reflect
Johnny Rose: is a baby pink shade with gold reflect
Stupid Cupid: is a grey gloss with rainbow glitter
As If: is a deep charcoal with galaxy glitter
These glosses are among my all time favorite. Not only do they smell INCREDIBLE (like the sweetest, most delicious vanilla cupcake), but they’re super glossy and make the lips look super plump + juicy (which is of course a prerequisite for any gloss of mine). They’re also free of parabens and are vegan and cruelty-free, YIPPEE!
A definite must have for gloss lovers!
4) Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops
I have been known to dabble in a self tan over the years, but this my friends, is THE self tanner of all self tanners! Without a word of a lie, every time I use these drops (which is every 3-4 days), everyone (on zoom haha) thinks I’ve somehow snuck off for a week in sunny, COVID infested Florida.
Remember the Friends episode where Ross Gets a Spray Tan?!
Much like Ross’ spray tan experience, the more Isle of Paradise drops you use, the deeper your tan will be.
1 drop = a very subtle glow
2 drops = you’ve spent a day in the sun
3 drops = you’ve spent a week in Portugal
4+ drops = you may have visited Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory
Unlike a ton of other self tanning products, these Isle of Paradise drops are SO easy to use. With my moisturizer, I add 2-3 drops (depending on how wild I’m feeling), mix it up in the palm of my hand + apply it to my face. **Oh, and don’t forget to wash your hands with soap and water after applying it to the face, unless of course you want to wake up with orange hands.** I only apply the tan at night and I love that I, 1) don’t have to worry about getting a streaky tan & 2) don’t have to worry about it staining my pillow cases.
Something else I love about the Isle of Paradise tanning drops is that it lasts. You don’t have to worry about washing your face…and tan away as is the case with many other tanning products.
These drops are available in 3 different strengths? Is that the right word haha?
For a light tan: choose peach.
For a medium tan: choose green.
For a dark tan: choose violet.
What Sephora Wants You to Know:
> They’re good for all skin types (normal, oily, combination, dry & sensitive).
> They have the Sephora CLEAN stamp.
> They contain avocado, chia seed, and coconut oils.
> The peach drops are formulated with Oxy Glow™ complex, which is clinically proven to brighten your skin, the green drops are formulated with Super Balance™ complex to reduce redness, calm the skin, and improve your karma, and the violet drops are formulated with Hyper Violet™ complex to reduce orange/sallow tones and raise your tanning game.
> Isle of Paradise’s products are made with color-correcting technologies to help even out skin tone for the most real looking, natural tan ever.
> This product is cruelty-free, 100 percent vegan, organic, and made using certified organic ingredients, actives at low pH levels, non-sensitizing ingredients, hypoallergenic ingredients, and pure oils. It does not contain mineral oils, petrolatum, gluten, GMO, or toxins.
I love these drops so much that I fully intend to always have a bottle (or two) in my stash so I can have a gorgeous glow all year round, because why not!
5) Viseart Moisture Boost Lip Shine
So when I hear that a product will plump my lips, I don’t need to hear anymore, I MUST have it!
Besides seeing the occasional Viseart eye shadow palette on Instagram, this brand was not on my radar. And how could it be? The brand isn’t sold in Canada and only recently was it added to the Sephora site.
And speaking of the Sephora site, here’s what they have to say about the Moisture Boost Lip Shine:
– It’s vegan, gluten-free, silicone-free and pretroleum-free
– It’s a hydrating oil-gloss with a high-shine, non-sticky formula
– It contains:
> Jojoba Oil: Smooths, intensely hydrates and nurtures lips
> Resveratrol: Supports, nurtures, and cares for skin
> Sunflower Seed Oil: Protects from oxidative stress on skin
– It’s cruelty-free, vegan and gluten-free
These Viseart Moisture Boost Lip Shines are available in the following 4 universal shades (from left to right):
Petale
Cerise
Fleur
Beignet
I’ll be honest, I don’t love this gloss. I find it to be super greasy, oily, and it has THE most peculiar scent. Luckily no one is around to watch me sniff the BEEP outta this gloss because I’m having such a hard time pin pointing exactly what it smells like. It’s like an unfortunate mixture of potpourri and… a doll haha. And don’t tell me you don’t know what a doll smells like, because I know you know.
It’s very possible that in true Ashley fashion, I’m jumping to conclusions + am not giving it the chance it deserves to win over my heart (and lips). However, I’ll be honest, I’m not hopeful haha.
6) FENTY Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush
Bikini Martini (insert ALL of the heart eye emojis).
Fenty Beauty launched their line of cream blushes + bronzers on what I believe was the morning of the VIB sale. Sadly, I was not quick enough and by the time I went to place my order, all of the blushes were sold out. Luckily they restocked these gorgeous little guys within a few days so I was able to make a second round of VIB sale purchases (that’s right, I made several orders during the sale, I’m sick I tell ya haha).
As I’ve mentioned previously, my obsession with blush is a new one, and one that is in FULL swing. I don’t know what it is about them that I’m so captivated with, however they’re like Pokemon and i gotta catch em’ all (haha yes I just said that)! You may be asking yourself why I need ANOTHER blush, especially during quarantine. And I hear ya friends, because of the 5 (or maybe 7) blushes I’ve magically acquired in the last few months, not one has graced these cheek bones, because who the heck is wearing blush when they’re working from home?! No one, I know BUT this is a cream blush, and I’ve yet to get my pretty little un-manicured hands on a cream blush, so I needed this … for like research!
Anyways that’s enough about me and my makeup obsession.
FENTY Beauty describes these gorgeous little blushes as being a light-as-air, non-greasy cream blush that instantly melts into skin for a wash of color and natural-looking flush.
This blush is easy to use and impossible to overdo in a lineup of shades designed to enhance every complexion with a youthful glow. Created by Rihanna, these shades are sheer, buildable, and melt into skin. The sweat- and water-resistant formula smooths over skin without feeling sticky or greasy.
Oh, and did I mention they’re vegan and cruelty-free!
Fenty launched a total of 10 shades of the Cheeks Out Freestyle blushes and take a look at some of their names:
> Fuego Flush
> Petal Poppin
> Strawberry Drip
> Summertime Wine
> Daiquiri Dip
Many of these shades are probably better suited for the pretty basic makeup looks I do on a daily basis, HOWEVER, this bright pink shade was totally calling my name so I’ll have to play around with it a bit to figure out how best to incorporate it into my no-makeup, makeup looks. In the meantime, I’ve actually started dabbing the cream blush onto my lips as a little stain and I must admit, I don’t hate it!
I do plan to do a more in-depth post about these little blushes so stay tuned for that!
7) Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick
Annnnd finally, the pièce de résistance mes amis!
The lipstick of ALL lipsticks…the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in the iconic shade “Pillow Talk”.
I’ll admit, this was a total impulse buy, but I’m SO glad I added it to my cart. Charlotte Tilburry is the queen of lipstick and if you know anything about lipstick, you’ll know that the shade “Pillow Talk” is coveted all around the world. My first experience with a “Pillow Talk” product was with the brands Lip Cheat Lip Liner. It’s THE perfect “my lips but better” shade, making it super easy to over-line and make your lips appear much fuller than they actually are.
What Else You Need to Know (according to Sephora):
Charlotte’s bestselling “Pillow Talk” collection features universally flattering nude-pink hues that are perfect for every complexion. The lipstick features 3D glow pigments that help lips appear wider and fuller. The matte formula is enriched with Charlotte’s secret ingredient and orchid extract to protect and soothe lips for a cashmere finish. The unique, square-angled tip mimics the shape of a lip brush for a precise application. This lipstick comes in a range of 12 shades, including the bestselling Pillow Talk, giving every woman the choice of a perfect nude or pop of color.
For anyone looking for the perfect “your lips but better” lipstick shade, definitely check out the {cruelty-free} “Pillow Talk” Collection!
And there you have it friends, the products I bought during the Sephora Spring VIB sale!
Have you tried any of the products that I’ve mentioned? Did you end up buying anything during the sale??
Thanks so much for stopping by & until next time,
xo