Monroe Misfit Makeup | Beauty Blog: January 2018

January 31, 2018

BOXYCHARM Rock 2018 Subscription Box


January's BoxyCharm is so awesome that I'll just say go go go now and subscribe. This month's theme is right up my alley, ROCK 2018. It contains all the glam rock metallic beauty for your rock n roll makeup soul. Let's see what's inside!

For $21 mo. BOXYCHARM gives you 4-5 Full Size Beauty Products and free shipping. It is the best beauty box subscription out there.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Luminizer ($38)
Luminzer Primer delivers a natural radiant glow while blurring pores and imperfections for a beautifully illuminated flawless complexion. I am a huge fan of the dr. Brandt pores no more line, but have only tried out the skincare so far. I don't normally wear primer, but the lumizing aspect has me intrigued.
It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil ($24)
This is one of my favorite brow pencils! Brow Power is a universal taupe shade with an angled twist up design and spoolie on the end. I was so happy to get this as I has strayed to other brands for my brows but really love having this pencil in my collection. It gives beautiful, natural looking brows and works for all shades depending on the pressure applied. It's fool proof for quick and pretty brows.


CROWN PRO Glam Metals Palette ($25)
Rock your look with the Crown Pro Glam Metals eyeshadow palette. The highlight pigmented, utterly blendable shadows make smokey looks a breeze. How awesome is this cute little palette? The mirror is guitar shaped! I really love this! It has all those sultry smokey yet not too dark shades to create the perfect concert night eye look look. I had no idea Crown even did makeup so that's cool!


PUR Bronze & Brighten Cheek Palette ($34)
When I opened this up it was like WOW. Like, right now. The shimmer is insanity. It's shimmering highlight, blush, and bronzer in one. Featuring PUR's fan favorites Afterglow and Mineral Glow along with a new blush shade, Blushing glow. This will be perfect for Spring & Summer too.


Grande Cosmetics Grandelips Hydrating Lip Plumper ($27)
This lip plumper instantly plumps lip volume while hydrating dry areas. The packaging looks a little dated and cheap but it's a nice gloss that doesn't hurt or burn. The juicy orange is such a pretty shade and a departure from the usual lip colors we see in Boxycharm's.

Wow! This box was incredible! The name brands and beautiful products? Boxycharm is rocking 2018 like no other!


*sample *affiliate

January 22, 2018

Urban Decay x Kristen Leanne Collection Review & Swatches


Urban Decay has launched the Kristen Leanne Collection and it's full of colorful goodness. Who is Kristen Leanne you ask? I have NO IDEA. After looking it up, I found out she's a beauty influencer. I normally scoff at these collaborations that praise photoshopped instagram "makeup". That being said, the pretty packaging and whimsical bright colors of this collection could turn even the most jaded of makeup enthusiasts in to an overly highlighted beige matte lipstick wearing fiend with skin as smooth as the facetune blur tool. Okay that might be going a little too far. Kristen's image is in line with the brand and who says celebrity's should be the only ones to do a collab? So lets take a look!

URBAN DECAY X KRISTEN LEANNE MAKEUP COLLECTION

Kristen Leanne is a cruelty-free beauty influencer known for bright colors, glitter, beautiful tattoos and her full-of-life personality. Her videos range from everyday wearable looks to over-the-top glam tutorials, utilizing her artistry and creativity every step of the way. We tapped into Kristen’s amazing makeup talent and discovered what inspires her. Then we bounced color ideas back and forth until we created her perfect makeup collection.

So, I LOVE the packaging design of the Kristen Leanne Collection. The bright pink transparent outer casing clashing with the colorful textures and thoughtful text inside are a welcomed change in this not much happenin Winter months of makeup. If only Spring would come sooner than later..and if only they had put as much thought in to the products as the exterior.

Kaliedescope Eyeshadow Palette ($39)
The limited-edition Kaleidoscope Dream Eyeshadow Palette features 11 vibrant shades, including a uniquely shifty yellow, vivid brights, and an out-of-this-world split-pan duotone. Each shade is named after something close to Kristen’s heart, like LCW (a nod to KL’s fave song, “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress,” by the Hollies), and 13th Floor (one of her favorite Twilight Zone episodes). Every shade has a velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power and blendability.
 

I enjoy the small size and lightness of this palette. After that colossal Holiday Heavy Metals palette, which is awesome, UD needed to chill out on the big is better stuff. The colors in here are eclectic and interesting being duochromes, yet really don't go together at all. I think they could have coughed up a few more shades for the nearly $40 price tag.

The layout of this palette is an utter waste of space and full of design flaws. I can't believe this atrocity got approval! Visually it is unappealing and is lacking in quantity. Quality is also not what we expect from Urban Decay. A good chunk of the shadows (particularly the mattes) are dry, patchy, and difficult to blend. I had to swatch many of these from the pan two-three times to get an even color pay off so keep that in mind.

I have outgrown colorful eyeshadow, but I still appreciate bright shadows done impeccably well. This is not it. It just feel like they could have went all out with a cohesive set of brights mixed in with some duo-chromed vivid pastels. It would have conveyed the Kristin Leanne aesthetic better (from what I can tell). This looks as if a bunch of reject eyeshadow pans laying around UD were haphazardly thrown together. It lacks in substance and creativity. Does anyone feel a Basquait Tenant color-theme rehashed here?

Corona was the only shade that I really liked in the Kaleidoscope Palette. The metallic rose gold bronze has beautiful complexity and shine. I wish it wasn't wasted on this palette! The metallics along with the orange & black matte have decent pigmentation. Total duds are the center circle holographic LEO+Braxton and Dye is a dry crumbly mess.

Shades included:
  • Spitfire Bright pink satin with purple shift
  • Stay Gold Metallic yellow-gold
  • Tajin Orange matte
  • LCW Metallic teal blue
  • TRM Metallic deep navy blue
  • LEO + Braxton Holographic green pearl shift / holographic red pearl shift
  • Lime Time Metallic neon green
  • 13th Floor Black matte
  • Dye Violet satin
  • Corona Metallic soft bronze with gold shimmer  
Daydream Eyeshadow Palette ($26)
When she’s not dropping amazing rainbow makeup tutorials, Kristen creates the dreamiest neutral eye looks. Loaded with five new shades, the limited-edition Daydream Eyeshadow Palette is her go-to for matte perfection. Plus, every shade has a velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power and blendability.

Shades included:


  • LUCY (ivory matte)
  • DAYDREAM (soft nude matte)
  • 12/12 (soft peach matte)
  • SUBSCRIBE (warm nude matte)
  • EIGHT (rich warm brown matte)
  •  

    Daydream is a dream! The matte shades are all warm and very Spring-like. While nothing innovative or spectacular is happening with the shades in here they are easy to wear and the matte's are rich in color and pigmentation. These are all new shades but do resemble what came out in NAKED Heat. Still, having a tiny little palette like this is appreciated for traveling and it makes for some lovely warming up the crease colors. Here's the catch though, you only get .02 oz of shadow. If I had to choose anything from the collection to pick up it would be this palette. It is soft, flattering, and the shades easily diffuse out. I have been wearing Lucy, Daydream, and a swipe of Stila Liquid Eyeshadow in Kitten on my eyes. It creates a beautiful barely there look. Plus, how pretty is the floral interior?



    Beauty Beam Highlighter Palette ($34)
    Kristen digs highlighter almost as much as she digs Mexican food. After bonding over our shared love of tacos, we got down to work on her ultimate highlighter palette, Beauty Beam Highlight Palette. Wear these golden shades individually, or cocktail two or three for a custom glowy effect. Stay gold, Foxes.


    What would an influencer collection be with out a highlight palette? I swear Urban Decay had done a bronzer highlight palette just like this with the NAKED collection? This set is made up of three shades: soft rose-gold pearl, white-gold pearl, and warm golden pearl.


    I have to say I was surprised that this highlighter palette was so WEAK. I mean isn't the point of this gaudy instagram/youtube style of makeup to have your cheek highlight beaming to the Gods? These are soft shimmer powders. I am happy about it because I prefer a more natural look, but it is not what I expected. All are pretty subtle glowy highlighters, at this point though we all have something similar already.


    UD x Kristen Leanne Vice Lipstick ($17)
    Is there a lipstick Kristen Leanne can’t pull off?! Doubtful. Since we couldn’t create every shade she wanted, we helped her choose her must-have matte shades of Vice Lipstick. There’s Bun Bun, a nude comfort matte (and the nickname of Kristen’s bunny, Brixton), Cloud9, a magenta comfort matte, and Spellbound, a deep plum mega matte.


    Urban Decay's VICE Lipstick are my favorite over any other so I love seeing new shades released. That being said I don't like nude and I don't like purple and that's what we have here. Bun Bun (comfort matte) is a dark nude. Cloud9 (comfort matte) a bright magenta, and Spellbound (mega matte) a deep dusky plum.


    Bun Bun, a dark nude, was my favorite as it is the most wearable and flattering shade. Cloud9 is pretty much hideous bright purple but the formula and pigmentation are excellent. Spellbound looked like it was going to be a rich, gothy blackened grey purple but went on patchy and lackluster. Formulating this color in a Mega Matte was a mistake. Choosing these shades for a Spring Collection is perplexing to me. They are not the fresh, bright, vibrant lip colors that most people are going to want to wear in the Springtime or can even pull off for that matter.

    Is this what makeup dreams are made of? Nah, maybe for a pre-teen that still watches youtube beauty videos. For me, it's a limited shade range that will only appeal to a specific set of people (followers) and lacks in quality and value. It wasn't all a bust though, Daydream eyeshadow palette is a lovely matte set for Spring and the Beauty Beam Highlight Palette gives off a pretty non-blinding glow.  

    This is the first UD Collection I have been a little underwhelmed by in ages! I like it, but don't love it. After the holidays this type of filler release can kind of be expected though. Pretty on the outside but not much going on on the inside. Here's to hoping there is more to come from UD for Spring 2018!


    *sample *affiliate links

    January 09, 2018

    Boscia Charcoal Skincare Line Review


    I am a huge believer in the powers of Activated Charcoal. It has saved me from food poisoning after a Hawaiian Lu' au, freshened up a nose turning laundry room, clears pores, and whitens teeth. There are so many uses for it! I have been making my own charcoal masks for years, but the straight powder was a little harsh on my sensitive skin. The Boscia Luminizing Black Charcoal Mask was a the perfect replacement. I have been using this mask since it came out, so I was excited to try out a few of the other products from the Black Charcoal line. I'll admit some of them sound and look a little weird, so hopefully this review will change your mind about putting black goo on your face! Yes, it looks weird going on but it's oh so magic for the skin!

    boscia is a preservative-free, natural beauty line targeting a range of skin-care needs. Using the gentlest and most effective ingredients in nature, they work to create radiant and healthy complexions. 


    Boscia Luminizing Black Charcoal Mask ($34)
    This unique peel-off mask is filled with powerful antioxidants, such as activated charcoal, that help visibly shrink pores, firm skin, reduce redness, and strip away dead skin and impurities for noticeable results.  An innovative, powerful, mineral-rich mask infused with activated charcoal that peels off to deliver powerful detoxifying, purifying, and brightening effects. It's great for all skin-types.


    This mask is so awesome and way too much fun to wear. Instead of a rinse-off mask with this one you peel it off. You can almost see the gunk coming out of your pores and even see it on the under-side. Boscia Luminzing Mask does everything it claims to. It removes impurities and excess oil, makes pores look smaller, and leaves a lovely healthy glow to to your skin. This has become one of my favorite skin masks to use and I have a lot!


    Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding Intensive Wash-Off Treatment ($38)
    The Charcoal Pore Pudding Intensive Wash-Off Treatment is a unique two part Pore Pudding powered by black and white charcoal, where white charcoal is known to absorb 1,000 times its weight in impurities, purifying and deeply cleansing skin. The powerful pair work together to minimize the appearance of pores while balancing skin for ideal results. It lifts away clogging impurities and excess oil without leaving skin feeling dry, irritated, or stripped. Meanwhile, binchotan white charcoal moisturizes and balances skin’s hydration levels, and kaolin clay boosts the benefits of both black and white charcoals by absorbing excess oil for a smooth, radiant complexion.


    This mask is the best of both worlds. It has a black and white swirl of Activated Bamboo Charcoal and Binchotan White Charcoal Powder. The black detoxifies the pores while the white hydrates. It's the most luxuriously creamy texture product I have ever put on my face. It literally feels like silk pudding. The swirl effect is so neat you almost don't want to mess it up. Once combined it creates a grey mask that you leave on for 15-20 minutes.


    Much like the Luminizing Mask this also clears your pores and leaves your skin glowing. It's like instant gratification or rather 20 minutes to a gorgeous complexion. My skin feels so soft and super clean after I use this. Even though charcoal is quite powerful, my sensitive skin is never irritated or red after. The fresh herbaceous scent and texture has you feeling like you are at a spa. I have been using this weekly I love it so much. You get a huge amount in the tub so it will last quite awhile.

    Boscia Charcoal Makeup Melter Cleansing Oil-Balm ($32)
    This oil-balm formula gently yet effectively removes makeup and impurities. Sunflower oil carries black and white charcoal—which detoxify and balance skin—into skin to remove even the toughest waterproof makeup with no tugging or pulling.


    Okay, so putting a black balm on your face to remove your makeup seems completely insane. It's like totally the opposite in your mind of what you want to happen. We normally try to remove all that black residue coming from our liner and mascara! It really works though, even on water-proof mascara. I normally remove my makeup with a makeup remover wipe, but I really liked how this took off my eye makeup especially. It melds in to the skin, emulsifying in to a milky cleanser that makes wiping away makeup effortless. I don't use this daily, but for those days when I have heavy makeup on it is my go-to makeup remover. All remnants of makeup are removed and your skin just feels clean, hydrated, and makeup free.

    Boscia Charcoal Jelly Ball Cleanser ($20)
    This one-of-a-kind jelly-textured face cleanser deep cleans pores with purifying activated black bamboo charcoal, leaving skin refreshed and balanced. Tamarindus indica seed gum and hinoki oil calm, soothe, and hydrate for a stronger, more youthful-looking complexion. The unique, innovative jelly consistency creates an indulgent cleansing experience: simply squish and lather the charcoal-based formula directly onto your face, or lather and massage in with your fingertips. Featuring its own portable case, the non-liquid formula makes this product travel-friendly, so you can cleanse on the go.

    If you thought the black melting balm was the craziest product in the line, nope it's this Jelly Ball Cleanser. How crazy cool is this thing? It is based off of the boscia Japanese Cleansing Ritual. For centuries, the cleansing ritual has been seen in Japan as the most important step in maintaining flawless skin.


    After you "break" the ball from the balloon casing you just squish it to release the cleanser. It feels like one of those squishy stress relief balls. A very interesting experience to say the least! There is no gimmick here though, the cleanser is actually really really nice.  I have been using it nightly for the past month and I am sold on it. It cleanses well, removing all leftover traces of my makeup while being gentle. There is no dry or tight feeling after wards just a super clean feeling. My skin hasn't had a break out all month even though the stressful holidays! I am not sure how practical the jelly ball is, but it's a lot of fun and it works! There also seems to be quite a bit of product inside it.


    I am really enjoying the addition of the Boscia Charcoal Line in to my skincare regimen. The products are fun to use and innovative, but most importantly they are loaded with fantastic skincare. Most surprising to me was how gentle all of the products were considering the detoxifying power of charcoal. If you are new to the line go with the best seller Charcoal Luminizing Mask. It does not disappoint! I can't wait to check out the new Pink Charcoal Mask, how cool does that look? #boscia


    *sample *purchased *affiliate link