Benefit Gimme Brow: Tame those Unruly Brows!

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My brows strugggle. Really. They are super thick, they constantly need trimming and plucking, and they never seem to naturally go in the right direction. Brow gels were invented for unruly brows like mine. So, when Birchbox asked me to review their new product Gimme Brow by Benefit, I was happy to try it out!

Benefit's Gimme Brow at Birchbox:

I love the ease of this brow gel! I use the light shade. While I am blonde, my brows are on the dark side. The light tint shade is a light cool-toned taupey-brown. Gimme Brow features a water-resistant fiber gel that adheres to both your skin and brow hair. It holds my brows in place very well and it gives them a nice tint, too.  The color looks very natural on and it seems to automatically "fill in" those sparse areas. Plus, I love that the brush is super small! I find that it is easy to control and very precise. The gel holds my brows in place all day without giving them an overly stiff feel like other brow gels tend to do.

Special Offer and GWP at Birchbox: 

This product retails for $22.00 in the Birchbox shop. Plus, this month, Birchbox subscribers get 50 extra Birchbox points when you purchase this product *and* if you enter the code BADGAL in at checkout you will also get a deluxe sample size BadGal mascara!

What do you do to tame your brows? Are you a brow gel user, too? If so, be sure to scope out Gimme Brow! :) I love it!!!

"Your Most Beautiful You" Collection from IT Cosmetics: July 13th QVC Special Value Kit!!! (first impressions)

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Wow! What a great deal! I just had to share about this QVC special value "Your Most Beautiful You" Collection from one of my favorite brands: IT Cosmetics! 

A bit about IT: 
IT Cosmetics is an innovative cosmetics company that features anti-aging formulas in their color cosmetics. This seems to be a trend with cutting edge cosmetics companies. I, for one, would much rather use cosmetics that pack in extra anti-aging ingredients that are proven to work! I am in my late 30s and want to do everything that I can to fight off age! Plus, I just feel better about using cosmetics with skin-loving ingredients like antioxidants.

IT Cosmetics makes product that are cruelty free! Also, the products are free of talc, parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, mineral oil, petrolatum, synthetic fragrance, and phthalates. Overall, this is a fabulous brand and I have literally loved everything that I have tried from IT Cosmetics! The products are really amazing! :)

The "Your Most Beautiful You" Collection from IT Cosmetics:

This "Your Most Beautiful You" Collection gives you all you need for dark circle coverage, illumination, glossy lips, fabulous brows, and flawless brush application. The kit contains not only fabulous bestsellers, but also a brand new product, and two amazing brushes. Since I literally just got this kit and want you to know about it right away so that you might take advantage of the special QVC offer, I am doing a "first impressions" review! :)

Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer:
I am no stranger to this product! I am actually already a fan and use this product all the time. This concealer is a cult-favorite and one of IT Cosmetics bestsellers! The ingredients and coverage of this product are extremely impressive. You only need the smallest amount of this product for complete, opaque coverage. If you have very dark under eye circles (like me!), then you totally need to try this! I love how it covers completely without looking or feeling heavy or cakey. This is a feat in the under eye area. Plus, it treats your skin with hydrolyzed collagen and Vitamin K. The Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer in this kit is a super-sized 1.0 fl oz in the shade Neutral/Medium (which would likely work for many people-but not me, as I wear the light shade of this concealer). To hear a bit more about this concealer, check out it's mention in my Waterproof Makeup Makeup Wars post (yes, this fabulous concealer is even waterproof!!!).  

Heavenly Luxe Dual Airbrush Foundation/Concealer Brush: 
If you have never tried IT Cosmetic's makeup brushes, you are in for a treat! Their brushes are fabulous!!! This dual-ended brush has a rounded concealer brush on one side and a dense and soft foundation brush on the other side. I have never tried a rounded concealer brush like this before! It almost looks like the shape of a fat crease brush. I am excited to try it! The size and shape of the foundation side looks ideal for flawless foundation application. All of IT Cosmetic's brushes are synthetic and cruelty-free. 

Hello Light Anti-Aging Creme Luminizer:
Ooooh! I am so excited about this product! I am already a huge fan of the Hello Light Luminizing Powder. So, I have a feeling that I am going to love the creme version of this product! This product is designed to give your skin a "dazzling kiss of glowing light" wherever you place it. It has a beautiful silky texture that does not feel greasy. The shimmer is just beautiful! The finish is luminous without being at all glittery. This product can lift your face and erase shadows and darkness. Plus, it is doing all of that luminizing while also drenching your skin with peptides, hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed collagen, silk, and vitamins A, C, & E. Makeup that hydrates and conditions your skin while also giving you a beautiful, luminous finish? Yes, please!!! Plus, the silver compact is just gorgeous.

Heavenly Luxe Pointed Precision Complexion Brush:
Yay! Another fabulous IT Cosmetics brush! This one is a medium sized, dense, pointed synthetic brush. This reminds me a lot of the Sigma Sigmax brushes (there is one of the same shape that gets a lot of buzz). This brush would be perfect for precision foundation or concealer application. I think that point could get into areas like around your nose or the corners of your eye with ease. I am excited to give this brush a try!

YBBB "Your Brows But Better" Brow Power Skinny Pencil:
As you know, your brows "frame your face". So, brow grooming and care is essential! This super-skinny automatic brow pencil has a super fine point that allows for such a natural "real hair" look. One side contains the pencil and the other has a skinny spoolie brush. The shade is a light-medium brown that will work just perfectly for me! This brow pencil is actually IT Cosmetic's #1 Best Seller!

Vitality Lip Blush Hydrating Gloss Stain:
Last, but not least, here is the NEW gloss from IT Cosmetics! This Special Value "Your Most Beautiful You" Collection marks Vitality Lip Blush's Worldwide Launch! As a fan of most of the "Vitality" products from IT Cosmetics (I adore the Vitality Lip Flushes and the Vitality Cheek Flush), I am excited to try the Vitality Lip Blush Gloss Stain! I, for one, prefer my glosses to have a moisturizing feel. This gloss is infused with rich butters and oils to provide hydration. Plus, the formula also contains collagen, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. This is like a serum for your lips! Plus, you get a gorgeous gloss finish and a lip stain (the resulting color is your "natural flush" color). The shade is "Je Ne Sais Quoi".

All-in-All, what a fabulous collection of products! Soooo, here is what I know: This kit is available for one day only on QVC as a "Today's Special Value" kit. This QVC exclusive will be featured on July 13th, 2013. While I do not know the price, it will be listed on the QVC site on the 13th (and it would be less than the cost of these products combined). If you are an IT Cosmetics fan, or if you are looking for an affordable way to try the brand, this kit could be a great option for you! I know that I am excited about all of the items inside this kit! So, be sure to visit the QVC site tomorrow if this kit intrigues you! :)

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!
XOXO!!!

Anastasia's NEW Bold & Beautiful Kit!

I am always excited when Anastasia Beverly Hills releases a new kit! Anastasia's kits are not only beautifully packaged and elegant, but also each kit seems to have its own "story" or "theme". These kits were just meant to be collected! They are that special. :) The elegant packaging almost always has a retro glamour vibe.

The new Bold & Beautiful Kit from Anastasia is both beautiful and extremely functional. The "theme"? This kit contains a pair of palettes that stack together like books! Even if you have enough space to store away all of your makeup, you are going to find that you want to set this kit out on display. Plus, I love that the set is sleek and compact enough that you could travel with it. That is always a plus! No bulky packaging here.

Do Your Brows Need Help? Frame Your Face with Billion Dollar Brows

Nothing finishes your look better than well groomed brows. I always hear from makeup artists that brows "frame your face" and that you should never neglect them. I have even heard that if you only have a few minutes to do your makeup, that brows are a top priority. Even though I know this, I must admit, I often neglect filling mine in.

I constantly struggle with my brows. They are thick and unruly. Yet, they have sparse patches as well. While my hair is blond and highlighted, my brows are dark. So, I don't need to draw or fill in my brows to make them visible. I need to groom them and pluck them to keep them from getting too thick and crazy. Honestly, if I gave up plucking, I would probably have a unibrow! Thank God for tweezers!!!

There are a few key things to think about with brow grooming:

• Shape: Brows should be plucked (waxed, threaded, etc) to create an ideal shape. This shape is different for everyone depending on the topography of your face. 

• Trim: If your brow hairs are long, they might need to be trimmed.

• Color/Fill-in: If you have very light brows, you might need to draw them. If you have sparse patches, you should fill them in. 

• Set: To hold brows in place, you can set them with a clear or colored gel or a setting wax. 

Whew! That is quite a task list for brows. No wonder mine often get neglected. It sounds like a lot of work! Well, no worries! Billion Dollar Brows is to the rescue. They have quite a variety of kits and products to help you sculpt and shape your brows into the ideal shape.

I tried out a variety of items from this line and am happy to say that I have been very pleased with the improvements in my brows! To check out my reviews for Billion Dollar Brow's Brow Buddy Shaping Kit, Brow Powder, and Brow Brush, please keep reading!