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Hello, my lovelies! I’m back with another cruelty-free beauty review. I told you guys a while ago that I’m trying to think out of the box more and try some new things! This time around, I decided to check out Milani’s Conceal and Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation and Concealer. When I was researching cruelty-free foundations, this one came up a lot! People said it had a really great finish and amazing coverage.

I definitely agree that this foundation is great with coverage, but unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan of this formula. Obviously, coverage is essential with foundation, but I think because this is both a concealer and a foundation, the formula is super thick. I had a really hard time applying this evenly, so I didn’t get that flawless finish I read about.

This also wasn’t really my shade. There was a limited amount of shades at CVS, and the darker shade was too dark, so I went with this one, 00 Light Natural. Now that I’m looking at Milani’s website, I see that there are way more shades, and 00A Porcelain, which is Fair with Neutral Pink Undertone, would probably be better for me. This one made me look really yellow, most likely because it has a peach undertone. Maybe if I really needed the coverage, this would’ve looked better (even though this is considered light-to-medium coverage).

Overall, this foundation was just a little too thick, so my face looked really cakey and unnatural. Most of the time, I had a really hard time matching my face to my neck. If you’re looking for something full-coverage, definitely give this formula a try and let me know how you like it in the comments! It’s just not for me.

If you’re interested in going cruelty-free, check out PETA’s Searchable Database and Cruelty-Free Kitty’s alphabetized list of cruelty-free brands. If you have any cruelty-free recommendations, please comment them below!

cruelty-free beauty! e.l.f. beautifully bare foundation serum

April 14, 2018Beauty, Beauty Review, Cruelty-FreeKristenComment

Happy weekend! Every now and then when I run out of things, I grab something new for fun, or because I can’t find what I wanted. This instance was a bit of both! While I was looking for the e.l.f. foundation I usually use, I came across e.l.f.’s Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum, which looked pretty cool. Based on the packaging, I figured it was just a mineral-based foundation that was also SPF 25. I had never used a serum before!

This was definitely different than what I thought it was. I don’t know exactly how to explain it, to be honest. It’s thinner and runnier than a BB or CC cream, which was a surprise! I guess you could compare it to a tinted moisturizer or something, but don’t take my word on that because I’ve never used one of those either (I have a lot to explore hehe). I tried using my Milk Dab and Blend Applicator and it literally slid right off, which disappointed me a bit because I freakin’ love using that thing. I’ve found that the best way to apply this serum is to just use your fingers.

Even though this formula is super thin, this serum actually does a great job of acting as a foundation. It blends really well, and keeps my face looking natural and glowy. I can’t use it on my lips because it absorbs really quickly, but in general the coverage is great.

Unfortunately, I can’t really tell if the mineral/serum part is kicking in. My face has been a bit dry because of the harsh northeastern winter, and I’ve been breaking out a bit near my temples. It could be the serum, the fact that I’m applying it with my fingers, or something completely different.

Overall though, I recommend using this serum if that’s the sort of thing you’re looking for. Take a look through the reviews on the product’s page, which I linked above. Some people love it, and some people hate it! I say give it a try. I’d definitely use this for a lowkey event or a ten-minute makeup look, but maybe not every day. If you’re interested in going cruelty-free, check out PETA’s Searchable Database and Cruelty-Free Kitty’s alphabetized list of cruelty-free brands. If you have any cruelty-free recommendations, please comment them below!

milk makeup dab and blend applicator

March 12, 2018Cruelty-Free, Beauty, Beauty ReviewKristenComment

A little while ago, I reviewed e.l.f.'s brush cleaner, and was incredibly disgusted when I saw how dirty my brushes were, and how this brush cleaner didn't do anything! Since then, I've been looking for new brush cleaners and better brushes, but also different ways to apply foundation. There are so many options for me to try, and I'm so excited to share this one with you all!

When I first saw people using silicone and gel applicators for makeup, I was so confused! I had never seen or heard of it before, and I didn't really know why it was a thing. I did some research and found out that the silicone (or gel) applicator, unlike a sponge, won't absorb whatever product is on it, so you can save a lot of foundation. Because of this, silicone applicators also do a phenomenal job at blending.

At this point, I was very intrigued, so I grabbed one of my Sephora gift cards and made the pilgrimage to my closest store to grab Milk Makeup's Dab and Blend Applicator. I had seen cheaper variations at CVS, but honestly, rubbing anything other than a sponge on my face was kind of freaking me out, so I wanted the real deal. Also Milk is a cruelty-free, generally awesome brand that I've been meaning to try forever, so why not splurge on a pretty applicator with sparkles in it?

Basically, this thing blew my mind. I'm pissed someone didn't think of this sooner! We're honestly not hyping this up enough. Guys, the amount of foundation I saved using this was insane. I picked up a relatively small amount, and it carried my foundation way across my face. I was astounded. Of course, using less foundation is great because you save money, but this also helped me avoid the cake-y, unblended look that I really hate. This applicator really makes the difference.

And, it's blending capabilities are seriously prime. Once again, this applicator doesn't absorb anything. All the action occurs on your face! I usually just wipe the excess foundation off the applicator with a tissue and run it under warm water to clean it. I haven't ever been grossed out while using this!

I think the only critique I have for this tool is that it doesn't work well with BB creams, CC creams, and other thinner formulas (like the foundation serum I'll be reviewing soon hehe), which is kind of annoying, but I don't mind using a brush or my hand every once in a while and using the applicator to blend my contour and everything together.

If you couldn't already tell, I highly highly recommend this applicator! It's one of the best things in the world, and it's seriously life-changing. Everyone should get their hands on one, seriously. A must-have product. If you’re interested in going cruelty-free, check out PETA’s Searchable Database and Cruelty-Free Kitty’s alphabetized list of cruelty-free brands. If you have any cruelty-free recommendations, please comment them below!

Makeup Monday

August 14, 2017Cruelty-FreeKristenComment

When I first started using brushes to apply my makeup, I used to spritz some e.l.f. Daily Brush Cleaner on them whenever I was done. But one day, I ran out, and I never purchased it again, not because it was bad, just because I kind of forgot. And now that I think about it I haven't actually cleaned my brushes for about three months, which is disgusting. It may be the reason I've been breaking out a TON lately. So, I decided to try a product that I've had in my makeup bag for a while, but have never had the chance to try, e.l.f.'s Brush Shampoo.

Today, I cleaned my foundation brush, blush brush and concealer brush, which are all made by e.l.f. The directions on the bottle say to wash them in warm water and work a small amount of the shampoo from the base of the bristles up, and that's exactly what I did. Since the concealer brush is super small, I didn't really have a problem cleaning it, and my blush brush didn't seem to be that dirty.

My foundation brush was a whole other story. As I was washing it, caked up foundation started oozing out of it, which I figured was a good thing! But I was washing this brush for like ten minutes, and old makeup was still spilling out of it. I put it to the side and tried again, and it just kept coming. Now that all of my brushes are dry, I realized that the shampoo really didn't do anything for the foundation brush. When I fan out the bristles, I can still see my makeup in between them, and I get crap all over my fingers.

So to be honest, even though I love e.l.f.'s products, this one was definitely a disappointment for me. Maybe I'll see a bigger difference when I use my brushes to apply my makeup, but I'm kind of afraid to use my foundation brush now knowing that there's still so much stuff in it. I feel like I should just buy a new one. I'm extra disappointed because I used a shampoo made by e.l.f. on e.l.f. products, so I thought they would work really well together. I guess I was wrong.

Now that I've had this unfortunate wakeup call, I'm on the search to find a brush cleaner that actually works. I heard that coconut oil is a good one! At least this brush shampoo is cruelty-free, though. If you’re interested in going cruelty-free, check out PETA’s Searchable Database and Cruelty-Free Kitty’s alphabetized list of cruelty-free brands. If you have any cruelty-free recommendations, please comment them below!