Coppertone Clearly Sheer: A Review

 

I received an invite from BzzAgent to participate in a Coppertone campaign. I'm all over that because honestly we go through sunscreen in this house like its going out of style. For reals. I'm a pasty Irish girl who needs her sunscreen and I have two kidlets who must have sunscreen on for daycare. So what does a campaign mean? It means I get the opportunity to sample the product for free and then get to share my honest opinion.

Can I tell you that I honestly signed up because you can never have too much suncreen? Well, I did. I have a poor attitude that "sunscreen is sunscreen". However, I had an incident before my Coppertone arrived that changed my whole feelings on sunscreen. Last year had been using Banana Boat kid and this year I tried Banana Boat sport on my son. He had a terrible reaction. The rash on his face was so bad it almost made me want to take him to the doctor. We didn't realize right away that it was the suncreen either. After we figured it out I was talking to other people and it turns out it is not uncommon to have issues with sunscreen. Yikes! 

I've also been having mixed emotion in slathering my kids in this greasy gross product day in and day out. I mean preventing skin cancer is clearly a priority, but sometimes I get sick of sunscreen. I was excited to have the sunscreen from Coppertone, but truly wasn't putting much faith in finding something I like. Also I was bit nervous to even try something new on my son's skin!

So what's the deal with this new Coppertone anyway? Apparently it is built for every day wear. The "Clearly Sheer" line won't clog pores, feels lighter, and it supposed to leave your skin soft. My husband won't even wear sunscreen because he hates feeling greasy. He is in the sun the most because he does a lot of the yard work. He was excited at the idea of something he could wear mowing the lawn. Now, if I can get him to follow-through. (If he does, I'll post his opinion too!) 

Along with the Clearly Sheer for Sunny Days I also received a travel size continous spray. I've never used a spray on sunscreen as I didn't think they would work that well. Now that I have squirmy kids I don't think its a bad idea. I tried this right away on the kidlets. It was fast absorbing which was a great bonus. However, I DO NOT recommend using this inside. I left a nice sunscreen slick by our back door on the laminate.... My husband jokes that this can be used as floor polish as a second use. (He nearly slipped opening the back door... ooops!) I think this will be handy at the splash parks this summer. Fast absorbing and easy to put on. Perfect. Also, no skin reactions! 

Since my children don't really have an opinion other than a bit of whining about the "cold" feeling of the spray I figured I better get to trying this out myself. Plus I wanted to see if this "Clearly Sheer" was all it was cracked up to be. Most of the time my facial products have SPF so I don't require sunscreen on my face. However I do have the occasional product that doesn't and I don't always wear my BB creams or moisturizers with SPF. I decided the best test was on my face. I used the Coppertone Clearly Sheer under my foundation. MUCH to my surprise it absorbed well and did not leave my skin feeling greasy. You can see in this picture a few areas of shine but I've been wearing it all day and I think it has absorbed more because looking in the mirror I don't see those spots. I am not required to have a positive review but Coppertone, you have a fan. It really does not feel like I'm wearing sunscreen.

I have sensitive skin so I will update you to any breakouts, but Coppertone's website says they have done testing on both sensitive and acne prone skin. Hopefully my skin agrees but so far so good!

The part I'm not so sure about is that it is lightly scented. Why? It has a light citrus scent that at first I was put off by. The second time I used it I expected the scent and it didn't bother me. It doesn't smell gross like some sunscreen so that is a bonus, and perhaps without the light scent it would smell gross? Not sure. 

Also tried the Clearly Sheer on my boys. No rashes for the Clearly Sheer either! Two Coppertone sunscreens, no issues. Wahoo! I loved how it made their skin feel. Not like little greasy gross boys but just moisturized. I honestly don't feel as horrible about making them wear it every day. The Sunny Days that I am sampling is for every day and is an SPF of 30. They also make a Beach & Pool with a 50 SPF. Both Clearly Sheer lines have a variety of products both lotions and continuous spray. They both also have a face lotion but you can totally use the regular on your face. 

I have to say I will buy this again. I even went and scoped out pricing at Target today. A couponer at heart, I go for the cheapest. It seems to be not a whole lot more than the Up and Up brand but I didn't compare sizes. I would purchase this again at full price, and for me that's saying something. I just really like that feels like a lotion not a sunscreen! I'm definitely more likely to wear something for everyday that feels good on. 

Just a random end note- they specifically have a sunscreen spray for people with Tattoo's. Not something I need, but interesting to know it exists.  

Foundation Favorite: Maybelline Dream SMOOTH Mousse

Do NOT confuse this with the Dream Matte Mousse. Not the same. Not nearly as amazing. Think SMOOTH like butter...

I hate foundation. Have you ever noticed I hate a lot of makeup? The reason is there are too many choices, too many colors, too many finishes... it can be very frustrating. I had given up on any kind of liquid foundation, imagining my tween/teen years with poorly matched cheapy foundations. I had give up on drugstore foundation and became a mineral foundation girl. Then I became a couponer it made it easier for me to try many different types of makeup at low out of pocket cost. I also started becoming a pinterest junkie. Finding leads on great foundations was easier.

Then I found it. THE one. I can not tell you how amazed I am by this makeup. 

If this tells you anything, the one on the right was the wrong shade but I kept mixing it with a lighter foundation because I loved the coverage and texture!




Creamy Natural on the left, Nude Beige on the right

You can see that it really is a full coverage but it feels so weightless.

Let me tell you what I'm up against
-Large pores
-combination oily and dry skin
-pale but not ivory skin
-rosacea

I'm lucky because it was a couponing item I picked up on a whim during a Maybelline sale. I had tried the Maybelline regular Mousse foundation and I was neither here nor there on the product, so I decided to try something new. There were two ivory colors (110 porcelain ivory and 150 classic ivory) followed by 180 Nude Beige. I assumed I would be the next step up from ivory. (I don't want to be eagle face: white face, darker body) Unfortunately it was too warm for my complexion. I got it in the summer and it wasn't as bad, but in the winter it just wasn't working... I lightened it up by mixing it with another lighter foundation. (Frugal me couldn't throw it out!) So I just went to purchase another during a 40% off sale at Ulta. I went a step up with Creamy Natural 200 which is a different tone than the Nude Beige. For color concerns I would shop at Ulta or someone specializing in makeup with a good return policy on open makeup items.

This product provides amazing coverage. It is smooth and hydrating. It is super soft and creamy and doesn't feel thick. It doesn't cake up in my large pores and dry patches. It covers the red areas of my skin.

Before

After

After

Ipsy, April 2014: A Review

This month's theme was beauty rocks- "Celebrating our unique beauty to the sound of tunes and festivals that fill the spring air" I'm neither here nor there about the glam bag. It's purple which I like but meh on the graphic.

My look using this month's products.

 

This month my Ipsy Glam Bag contained:

• Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Apple Pink
• Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil Travel Size in Black Velvet
• Demeter Jasmine Perfume Oil Roll On
• Dr. Brandt microdermabrasion
• Elizabeth Mott pop! goes the shadow in Champagne

Review time!

 

Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm:

The packaging is very gimmicky but you know what? I love it. The top screws off to reveal the balm, and the handle comes off to be a nice little applicator. Since this is tinted the brush is a must. The color is called apple pink. I'm in LOVE with it. I feel like it is very unique color of pink. It is not quite coral but does have some orange/red hues in it. It is a matte lip balm. I'm into matte lips lately so this is nice change from overly glossed lips. They do have "shimmer" balms you can buy for a top coat. 18 matte color options and 6 pearly options. Check out their site here. So here is the downfall: Price. 19 dollars. That just seems like too much but I tend not to shell out for lip products. I would buy this as a splurge. Also of note they also have brow, and gel liner with the same packaging with the brush attached. Handy. I wanna sample the brow gel!

 

Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide on Eye Pencil:

I wish I loved eyeliner. I just don't. This was hard to work with. It contains more powder than the regular Urban Decay eyeliner to create a smokier look. That extra powder makes it extra crumbley quickly. It is crazy how much this looks like velvet though when it is applied. It is definitely not a precision type liner and as advertised is much better for creating smokier looks. The good news is that once its set it is waterproof and this baby isn't going anywhere! This travel size is 10 bucks and the full size is 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demeter Roll On Perfume Oil:

 Love Love Love Love Love. <3 <3 I checked out the Demeter website and their catch line is "Simple, Subtle, Singular Scents, Each Day. Everywhere." I had no idea I loved Jasmine so much! I guess that is the nice thing about this company is their aren't tons of notes to try to decipher what you want. They have a huge collection and I found their top 30 interesting- dirt, salt air, grass? Maybe not. But they also have dragonfruit, wet garden, snow, and vanilla icecream which intrigue me. They have a huge selection. They also have a variety of products in each scent- cologne, massage oil, diffuser oil, body lotion, etc. This little roller which I found to be a great size is only $10 bucks. They also have fun fragance collections - Zombie and Sanrio? Fun! I absolutely will be purchasing again from this company! Check them out!!!

 

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion:

 

I never thought that having two subscription beauty boxes could possibly have a downside.... until I got a duplicate. Oh Dr. Brandt how you try to get me to purchase your products. You can see my previous review here. Have not purchased this since my last sample. The good news is that so far I haven't broken out this time. However, if you are going to shell out the big bucks I've really grown to love my Goldfaden MD Doctor's scrub for microderm needs. 78 bucks for 2oz of the Dr. Brandt, or 75 bucks for 3.5 oz of the Goldfaden. (Although Amazon currently has it for 60.75!) I've had my Goldfaden for over 6 months now and still have plenty to last me awhile longer. It's good stuff.

 

Elizabeth Mott pop! goes the shadow:

Fantastic neutral color with a shimmery finish. It looks darker in this picture but is more of a champagne less of a bronze. I am loving this color and on my light makeup days this will be a perfect all over lid color (which was my base for eyeshadow in the pictures) Good pigment, not a lot of fall out. 12.99 is a little much for me on one shadow, though.

 

Join me on ipsy and subscribe to the Glam Bag! You get 4-5 beauty products every month delivered to your door, for just $10. Michelle Phan curates the bags! Check it out here



5-ish Minute Face Routine...

Erin's Easy Peasy Face Routine

I don't mind going sans makeup, but sometimes a little bit of makeup just makes me feel more put together. When I get up at 5:30 am for work, you bet that I opt for a quick option!

 



I was asked what I do for a 5 minute face. When I am hurried, I love having a quick and easy routine with minimal supplies. Its great for travel so I don't have to pack my full arsenal. I was really shooting for 5 minutes, but it took me 7. I was also hoping for 5 easy steps, but I have 6. So here we go! I look like I'm much paler in my after photo, but it is just the lighting.

Before



After

The Supplies: 

• BB Cream
• Blush
• Lip Butter (sub fave lip product)
• Mascara
• Eyelash Curler
• Cream Eyeshadow Crayon
• Liner Brush
• Brow Powder

The Steps:

1. BB Cream. Why BB? It is a great multi-tasker. See my anatomy of a BB Cream here. It provides coverage without being too heavy. I was actually testing out the Benefit Bigger than BB foundation which was just a tiny sample on a card. I do have a post forthcoming reviewing about 10 different BB creams. The BB cream I'm wearing in these photos is $38 full size. That's more than you need to spend. My favorite drugstore BB is Pond's Luminous Finish for 10 bucks and you can find it just about anywhere including Walmart and Target.

2. Blush. I use a cream blush for a couple of reasons. If you are trying to cut down on supplies, you don't need a blush brush. Next, I find it really easy to blend in a cream in a hurry. Sometimes when putting on a powdered or compact blush in a hurry you might not blend as well and it could look streaky. I'm not saying you can't do that type of blush, I just find cream to be easy. I am in love with the Ulta Extreme Wear mousse blush in Peach Glow. This blush is 8 bucks but watch for Ulta sales! Super natural looking! I think it would compliment a variety of skin tones.

 

3. Eyebrows. I recently did this quick face routine using my eyebrow pencil. Later looking in a mirror I realized how dark and sharp it looked. With a full face of makeup it might not have been so bad. I've grown to love eyebrow powder. I use NYX eyebrow cake powder in blonde. The brush it comes with has much more tightly packed bristles. For a softer look I am using an angled shadow brush. (When I want a darker more defined brow, I use the one that came with) I simply use a bit of powder and gently brush over my brows in their natural shape using my eyeshadow brush. I know you might be tempted to skip this step but it really makes a difference in your face! I've learned that hard way that pencils can be pretty harsh, powder is not as intimidating! 5.99 for this powder and you can find it at Target, Ulta, or Amazon.

















4. Eyeshadow. Chubby eyeshadow pencils are such an easy way to apply shadow in a hurry. When I do a full face I am spending time with multiple eyeshadow brushes doing a lot of blending. Eyeshadow pencils do not require you to have extra brushes, they apply very smoothly, and require little to no blending. I love this Almay eyeshadow dual pencil. The colors are "for brown eyes" but I think they are good neutral. The green gives a hint of color, and the champagne is a great neutral for the brow bone and upper lid. I also like that it is a duo. The other great thing about cream shadows is that if you have sensitive eyes it is not going to flake into your eyes like a powdered eyeshadow. This will run you 7.99. I know that there are a LOT of drugstore options for a variety of eyeshadow sticks.

5. Mascara. Curl those lashes! Then apply a coat of mascara. I applied two coats of Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara. I bought this mascara on sale for $10 but it is normally $19.
















6. Lips. I chose a lip butter because they feel very natural on. This is Revlon lip butter in Peach Parfait. Really just add your favorite lip product! I love lip butters because they add color and feel very soft. They don't feel thick like a lipstick on a light makeup day. They also aren't super sticky like a gloss. I don't mind a sticky gloss! 7.99 for the lip butter. You can check out my swatches of other lip butter colors here.

 

Birchbox Points Splurge

Are you a Birchbox subscriber? It's only $10 a month (that includes shipping). You get awesome samples of makeup, hair care and skin care products products shipped right to you. It's like Christmas once a month! You can check it out here. 

So you are a subscriber? Make sure you review your products and take advantage of the points system! Here is how it works:

• 10 points for every review
• 100 points or 10 reviews is $10 bucks in the Birchbox store!
• Every month you get around 5 products and if you review them, that's half of the cost of the box back to you to spend! 
• Shop the monthly brands and shipping is free
• Refer friends and earn more points! 

So I saved mine for a few months, got points for referring a friend (Thanks, friend), and also had sample mishap that they gave me points back on. I had saved up 400 points or $40 bucks. I also used a 20% coupon and ended up paying 3.20 out of my own pocket on $54 worth of products! 

After sampling a Coastal Scents brush from Ipsy (blogged about here), I knew I wanted more. I love that brush. So lucky for me Birchbox had a Coastal Scents palette and brush set for $34. It came with 3 brushes and the Revealed palette. After doing some research I found the colors heavily borrowed from the Naked palettes at a much better price. I had not ever tried their eyeshadow but dove right in! I am not disappointed. The eyeshadow has great pigmentation, the brushes are fabulous. 

My next purchase was $20. It is a hair mask that I am absolutely in love with. I have a review here. 

What have you splurged your birchbox points on? Are you saving for something in particular?

How I Upped My Makeup Game

There are few things I think I need to say first and foremost. I have learned everything I know by trial and error. I am not a professional. Secondly, I feel that makeup should be fun and if it works for you- ROCK IT! We are too hard on each other. What may look like crap to me actually makes that girl feel like a beautiful princess! Lastly, there are higher end products than what I have that probably do a better job. However, I am all about beauty on a budget. I get most of my stuff at Target or at the drugstore.

That before? That's not an uncommon makeup look I used to rock. I really tried not to overdo how I previously did my makeup. That is really how I wore it.

Quick and dirty on what have I changed and what have I learned

• Skincare, skincare, skincare
• Primer sets the stage whether for foundation or eyeshadow
• Eyebrows- Framing for your eyes, learn to do them! 
• Eyeliner- Now it is always under my lash line on my lower lashes
• Bronzer- Not just something you put your blush on top of
• Pink frosty lips do not equal nude lips (I used to think only a light lipstick if you have smokey eyes)
• Smokey eyes can be done in a variety of colors but black and silver are harsh
• Eyeshadow primer can make a difference for even the cheapest of shadows
• Tools matter- maybe even more than the makeup
• The angle at which I curl my eyelashes matters

Now to get a little more in depth: 

Step 1: Skin. For me that generally includes serum, daytime eye moisturizer, face moisturizer and primer. 

Primer makes a big different in my makeup. I have two different types depending on the look. The pixi primer is more of a luminescent dewy look, and the face perfector is a more of a matte look. (Unfortunately they no longer make that pixi primer. Sad day! I'll be on the lookout for a different option) 

Step 2: Foundation: Since I followed my skin routine including primer I will use regular foundation instead of a BB cream (I use that when I want to combine some steps). Today happens to be Colorstay Foundation by Revlon in 200 (nude). Sometimes I use a makeup sponge, today I used my fingers. 

Step 3: Highlight and Contour (HAC). My highlight and contour leaves a lot of room for improvement. It is a new step for me. (Please don't cringe, its a work in progress!) Lets just called it a modified HAC. I'm not sure I love the super dark with super light HAC routines I've seen. I use a concealer in the lightest shade (usually an ivory) and draw a line up the center of my nose and then fan out onto my forehead, an inverted triangle under my eyes, and a bit on my chin. The inverted triangle under my eyes does a a wonder for my dark circles and for the rosacea redness of my cheeks (which has improved greatly with better skin care). While that sets for a minute I take a bit of bronzer and darken the hollows below my cheek bone, and sometimes I used a bit on my nose to contour, and then under my jaw line.

Next I use my fabulous favorite tool: my buki brush! This is perfect for blending. I love this brush so much and could not live without anymore! This is more densely packed than an all out full size kabuki brush. Mine is a Bare Escentuals (Minerals) you can check out here for 20 bucks. Or for a cheaper version I would recommend the Coastal Scents brand here for 4.95. I use circular motions to blend in my concealer/bronzer. Depending on how my skin is doing, sometimes I use a stippling motion to blend the concealer out just where the edges are. This brush also works great with Bare Minerals loose foundation to give a heavier/thicker application. After blending I lightly sweep bronzer with in an E motion from around my forehead, hollows of my cheeks, under my jaw. I'm currently using a pixi bronzer I am sampling from Ipsy. 

Step 4: Blush. Nothin' fancy. I have a bare minerals blush brush that I use and apply from the apples of my cheeks (I usually smile a big cheesy smile and hit em right on) then I go outward along my cheekbone toward my ear. When I am feeling a bit fancy I will use a luminizer/brightener I got from Bare Minerals just on the top of my cheekbones near the outer corner of my eyes. 

Perhaps a bit better blending on my bronzer on the left but you get the idea. Before when I used to just use bronzer on my cheekbones followed by blush on my cheekbones it gave me quite the baked potato face. You can also see how the bit of bronzer around my hairline and under my jaw gives my face better dimension. Not just flat face. 

Step 5: Brows. I'll do a full brow tutorial at a later date with better pics. In the meantime here is a tutorial I like here. I use a blonde eyebrow pencil from Avon (I purchased for 1.99 on sale!) and make an outline. I draw the top and the bottom of my eyebrows. I left my natural brow shape be my guide. Next I use a blonde eyebrow powder from Nyx to fill in between my lines using the provided brush. (5.99 at Target) Then I take my lovely buki brush and brush it over the top just to soften the edges. My Nyx kit comes with a spoolie if you prefer to soften the look by brushing the powder with it instead. Then I use the wax to set them in place. I would say pencils tend to look harsh, so if you aren't using an eyebrow powder, consider it. 

Step 6: Eyeshadow and mascara. I have found that using an eyeshadow primer really helps me. I use a Nyx pearl (shimmery) base, but they also have plain white, nude, and beige and its relatively cheap at 6.99.  You can pick it up at Target or Ulta.

















I won't due a full tutorial on my eyeshadow today, but I've learned a few things.

First thing: Brushes, brushes, brushes. It will make a difference. I have tons of different brands of brushes, but my current favorites are Coastal Scents. Great quality and easy on the wallet. Also, I never use eyeliner under my eye. I use eyeshadow underneath my lower lashes smudged with a dome shadow brush. A small dome shadow brush is your friend. It works great for your crease as well as smudging things out. I started with an Avon one but have upgraded (even though it cost less) to this dome brush from Coastal Scents. You can see the middle of my lid is the palest color darkening at the edges and into my crease. I always use a light (but not silver) color for my brown bone. Shoot for pale skin color. My liner is not a huge thick line, just a nice tight line along the lashes (I used a Sephora liquid liner in brown today). Next so there aren't any dramatic lines I use a blender to blend the color. Again, mine is Coastal Scents. Previously I used a fluffy old school kaboodles brush. The blender works better. Haha. Seriously, tools make a difference so go buy some nice eyeshadow brushes!

Also do not be afraid of color. I used lots of purples and pinks here and it provides just as much of a smokey look as what I used to think black did. Black and silver are harsh. I'm not sure I will ever buy more of them. I've learned that liner doesn't need to be black to be dramatic either. This dark brown works great with the burgundies of my shadow.

This Chella highlighter does wonders on the brow bone just underneath the brows, sometimes I use a bit on the bridge of my nose. I highlight under my brows after I finish my eyeshadow and that just pat with my finger to blend.

Crimping my eyelashes with the curler at this angle rather than straight up and down gives a much better effect. I learned this little trick from pinterest and it actually works.

Have I mentioned that tools are important?! The way bristles are packed into the brush changes the amount of makeup they can hold and then put on your face. 

Two of my fave fave fave tools: My buki brush, and my doefoot blender brush. They are my little blending buddies. I can't live without them now. Even when I started using darker colors in my crease I wasn't blending very well. I'm sure I looked like a fool. 

 My beloved dome brushes! As you can see the Avon is a bit tighter and smaller. I like using this to apply eyeshadow below my lower lash line. The Coastal Scents brush is perfect for applying color into the crease of your eye. These have made a huge difference.

My final step is using a full size kabuki and loose powder.