NEW Colourpop Ultra Metallics Review + Swatches!

When the first round of Ultra Metallics Colourpop released ($6 each), I wasn't super excited by the colors since they were darker than I was anticipating. However, when they started announcing new colors that were brighter, I knew I wanted to place an order for one or two. I initially had my eyes on JIC, however it wasn't listed when I purchased mine so I decided on Lights Out and Flitter. However, now that I know I love the formula and finish, I may order a few more soon!

The texture for both of these Ultra Metallics is way thicker than the Ultra Mattes I own and have an almost mousse-like texture, similar to the way a Julep liquid lipstick I have feels. These definitely live up to their name and are stunning, shiny, eye-catching lip colors but even so, they are super smooth to apply and try to a kind of satin texture that doesn't transfer too much.

I originally wanted JIC, a gorgeous, light, cool-toned pink, but it wasn't available when I was purchasing so I grabbed Flitter instead. Flitter is a gorgeous warm pink that reflects gold and is a little less in-your-face of a metallic lip. It definitely needs either a thick coat or two thin coats for full coverage. I also found with this one to make sure it "dries" (it doesn't dry matte, but it definitely sets in and becomes less wet) before pressing my lips together or anything because it can pull of some of it.

Lights Out is a bright, super reflective true gold that's not too warm. I found that it applied really
evenly with one coat, but I probably ended up using more like one and a half coats so it was really opaque. I don't know if it's evident in the photos, but Lights Out reflects more like a linear shimmer than Flitter does, which reflects like a scattered glitter. I wore this color all day recently and it stayed on really well, even through eating!

Overall, I think I will probably buy more of these, depending on the other colors that they release. I do still want to get my hands on JIC so I may add pictures of that to this post if I do!

Have you tried these? Or any other Colourpop products?

Thanks for reading! xo
Hannah

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Self Tanning Routine ft. Toma's Liquid Spray Tan Review!

Summer's coming up which means my tanning routine is more frequent now than the rest of the year and is definitely something I enjoy pampering myself with. I haven't noticed Toma's Tan getting much attention from any YouTubers I watch or bloggers I follow but it's my favorite tanner so I figured I'd write a bit about my tanning routine!

I buy my tanner, Toma's Liquid Spray Tan, from Sally Beauty Supply for about $17. I have yellow under toned skin that gets warm when I naturally tan in the sun so some self tanners can make me look orange. This tanner is slightly pink-based when it goes on, cancelling the chance of it looking too fake (it is a fake tan, after all) so it works really well with my skin tone. I previously used the Toma's Tan Perfect Self-Tanning Lotion which, as the name states, is a lotion rather than a liquid spray. It's good as well, however I like that the liquid one isn't as warm toned and it's easy to apply with the mitt it comes with.

| Supplies |

• Tanning mitt
• rubber gloves
• coconut oil and sugar (or any scrub)
• kabuki brush
• thick lotion
• moisturizer
• Toma's Tan Liquid Spray Tan

| The Process |

I start off the day before (or morning of) by mixing up an exfoliant with coconut oil and sugar until it holds together well but isn't dry. Using gloves I exfoliate my legs thoroughly, my arms, and my upper chest as well. Basically I apply it to areas that can get dry skin or that tanner comes off quickly from.

Once I have applied my scrub, I lather it with body wash on my legs and shave them carefully. Since shaving after self tanner tends to take some of it off, I always shave before applying tanner to make sure it lasts.

When it comes to applying this tanner,, I always apply it at night. I wear rubber gloves and spray several times on the mitt and immediately work it in since it does kind of dry and can take of the indicator if I apply fresh tanner over dried tanner. I like to apply it starting with my upper back, then my upper chest and the underside of my arms (since my outer arms are darker during the summer), avoiding my elbows and hands entirely then move on to my lower back and stomach. I apply it to my legs last, avoiding my knees like I did to my elbows.

Lastly I grab a kabuki brush and apply tanner to my neck and the left over product on my ears. I mix a bit of facial moisturizer and a spray or two of tanner and buff it into my face thoroughly. For my hands, I remove my gloves and blend in a tiny bit of tanner upwards on the inside of my wrists so there's not a harsh line. For my knees, I use a mixture of about 80% lotion and 20% Toma's Tan since my knees are naturally a bit darker than the rest of my legs. I blend my ankles into my legs the same way I did my hands but with a bit of lotion.

Although this tanner does have an indicator (which does make it really easy to see exactly where it's been applied), it doesn't come off on my clothes or sheets so I always wear loose clothing and let it soak in over night. In the morning I wash off the indicator using some body wash and bypassing the loofah entirely so I don't disrupt my new tan.

That's my whole process! It doesn't take too long and my tan always looks really even. It usually lasts for a week or so, depending on if I swim, work out (extra showering) or shave. I also like to apply lotion daily to keep my skin from getting dry so it holds my tan better. For upkeep I apply tanner again without exfoliating every time, especially if my tan is wearing off evenly.

What's your go-to tanner?
Thanks for reading! xo
Hannah

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It Cosmetics Brow Power Review + Demo ♡

A long while back at Ulta there was a promotion for a free It Cosmetics Brow Power travel-size pencil with any $10 purchase, a deal I couldn't pass up. My sister and I both got one and, even though we have different colors of eyebrows, we both love it!

The color is Universal Taupe, something I was initially skeptical of, however since I usually reach for taupe-colored brow products, I was expecting it to match mine pretty well. Amelia, however, has darker, warmer toned eyebrows which I was excited to see the product on to compare.

The pencil is double ended: one end is a thin, twist up brow pencil and the other is a spoolie. I don't have any pictures of mine since I broke it off on accident and misplaced it, however Amelia has photographic evidence of hers. I love that it does come with one, especially since it's easier and faster to use and store. 

The most impressive aspect of Brow Power is its ability to match so many different colors of brows. I have neutral toned medium brown eyebrows and it matches them perfectly. I like to vaguely outline the top and bottom of my brows and lightly fill in the front using vertical strokes; the middle and tail I make a bit darker. Amelia has naturally thicker, darker brows than I do and it still looks really natural too!

I tried to swatch the pencil using a variety of pressures to demonstrate its range of changing tone and depth depending on the pressure applied to it. 

Have you tried this pencil? What hair color do you have?

Thanks for reading! xo

Zoya Naked Manicure Women's Starter Kit Review ♡

Zoya released a new line of polishes at the beginning of this month called Naked Manicure. Being someone who struggles with flaky, weak, thin nails, I was immediately intrigued and decided to purchase it. I originally set out to pick up the Women's Starter Kit in store at Ulta, however Ulta doesn't supply the kits and instead sells the polishes individually which is, unfortunately, much pricier. I ordered the kit through Zoya's website (linked earlier) and received it quickly. It comes with the Naked Base ($12), the Pink Perfector ($10), the Tip Perfector ($10), and the Satin Seal Top Coat ($12), a $44 value, for $25 total. My package also came with a pamphlet full of information about the polishes, before and after pictures, descriptions of the ranges, and color combination charts for canceling out tainted nail colors.

I wish my nails were strong and healthy (like my dad's!) but since they're not I have to do what I can to keep them presentable. I mainly struggle with flaking, however I am growing out some stubborn staining from a polish I used a while back. I did use a baking soda and lemon juice soak on my nails to lighten it and it definitely helped remove some slightly orange discoloration from the tips.

The first step is to apply Naked Base, a thin, clear, base coat that helps prep for the polishes and begins to mask the look of layers of nail on the tips of my nails. Pink Perfector is next which is a translucent rosy pink that helps correct discoloration and camouflages flakes. The Tip Perfector is a relatively opaque creamy white polish that is applied to tips to brighten and accent them. I read a lot of people's comments on Zoya's Facebook about how it's too opaque for nails to look natural, however I like to apply a second coat of Pink Perfector after using it to blur the tips before applying the Satin Seal Top Coat. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the top coat, but it's a gorgeous mostly matte finish which also blurs imperfections and really gives a natural appearance.

The wear, unfortunately, is not as long as I would like. With my nails I would say I can get maybe four days. I want to try it out with a bonding base coat and see if that increases its wear time! My friend wore it for over a week on her strong, long nails and it looked amazing the whole time.

Overall, I really like these products and I'm going to repurchase them when I run out!

Have any of you tried any other colors of perfector or Naked Manicure in general? What do you think?
Thanks for reading! xo

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush First Impression

I recently had a coupon for buy one get one half off Maybelline products. I figured it was the perfect time to use it since I had just been obsessing over trying a red cream blush and decided to pick out the Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in "Hot Tamale."

In regards to packaging, I do like the flip top lid with the raised, rounded product. The blush does feel "bouncy" in a sense; when I push on it a small indent forms that goes back to normal over time. I don't love the texture, however; it's somewhat frustrating since I like to use my fingers to apply cream blushes like this when I don't use my Beauty Blender and it ruins the appearance. The airy, "bouncy" feeling also makes the blush seem delicate and easy to ruin. The wear isn't as long as I would expect from a cream blush, however it does last for hours. It's very pigmented so a little goes a long way. The blush isn't as red swatched, though, in comparison to the color in the packaging.

What other Dream Bouncy colors are good? Does the texture freak out anyone else?!

Thanks for reading! xo

Hannah

March Julep Maven Unboxing ♡

It's Julep unboxing time again! These are some of my favorite posts to write especially since I love me some nail polish. This month I picked out Ali (Boho Glam) and Janet (It Girl) as my main box additions and Harmony (It Girl) as my add-on since I couldn't pass up anything holographic.

| Ali- Boho Glam | $14 ($11.20 Maven)
Ali is a light pastel mint/seafoam with a semi-silk finish. The finish doesn't mean much to me since I always use my Seche Vite top coat, but it does dry to a really nice texture. It looks more minty when it's alone, however it's brighter and more green than any of the other mints I own. The swatch color is the most accurate, however it makes Shelly look almost grey. True-to-color swatches for it are in my January unboxing.

| Janet- It Girl | $14 ($11.20 Maven)

This was the first polish I added to my box for March because who doesn't love peach everything?? I don't have any peach nail polishes, which I'm slightly alarmed with now, and this color is perfect. It's a very soft peach that also has the "soft focus" effect when it's dry. It's a lot lighter than Phyllis, another color from January, that I would've also put in the soft pink family. The difference between the two isn't quite as noticeable, I think the swatch is a little too dramatic. Does "Janet" automatically remind anyone else of the Rocky Horror Picture Show? That's probably part of the reason I love this polish so much.

| Harmony- It Girl | $14 ($11.20 Maven)

I almost didn't pick this one up since I already have Sally Hansen's Pearly Whites, which I thought was similar, but I'm so glad I went for Harmony. It's described as "holographic jagged-cut glitter" which is accurate. One of the main differences between Harmony and Pearly Whites is the color of the glitter. The latter's seems to have some pigmentation and small, circular flecks while Harmony's glitter is completely transparent. I love the way it looks over both Janet and Ali.

Totals:

Non-Maven: $42 

Maven: $33.60 

Those are my three beauts from the Pop collection! I'm slightly disappointed, however. I just noticed Ming was also available for March and it's a jelly so I'm hoping I can add it on for April!

If you'd like to take a shot with Julep's customizable nail polish and makeup subscription, use this link and the promo code "SPRING" to get a metallic, coral, and light pink nail polish with a bonus lip gloss all for free! You can cancel any time so there's no risk of being trapped. 

If you want to read any of my other unboxings, I've also written one for July, August, October, December, January, and February! 

Thanks for reading! xo Hannah

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask Review ♡

I bought this mask for 100 points with my Sephora Beauty Rewards points back in December and as of now I've used it four times. I wasn't sure what to expect since I haven't really used any masks before, especially one that's $34 for the full size which is 2.8oz instead of 0.7oz. It claims to brighten, detoxify, and purify to reveal softer, less oily, brighter skin.

When I use this, I like to put a Biore pore strip on my nose instead of this mask since clogged pores are my nose's main issue rather than dark areas or acne scars.

| Application and Formula |

This mask is black, thick, and sticky. I always leave a wide berth around my eyes since the first time I applied it, my eyes watered continuously.

I apply an even layer (or as even as  I can, obviously it wasn't perfect) and let it sit for about 20 minutes, or until the thickest areas are dry. I remove my nose strip first then gently peel off the mask, starting from my cheeks and gently rolling while pulling away from my face so it doesn't yank on my skin too much. I read a few reviews recently and most of them commented on the removal being painful but I've never had problems with it.

| Results |

I've used this once a week or bi-weekly for a little over a month now and I definitely think it has improved my skin! I notice immediately after removing it that my skin is softer and more even but over time it has definitely helped my hyper-pigmentation and overall skin appearance. 

I wish this wasn't so expensive since it works so well! I'd rather buy the small one for $10 every few months than shell out $34 since the price is about the same but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Have you tried this mask or an equivalent?

Thanks for reading!

xo Hannah

P.S. Ada (from my February Julep unboxing) is on my nails in the bottle picture!

February Julep Maven Unboxing ♡

I'm always thrilled about picking nail polishes and products for my Julep box and I was specifically excited this month. Back in January, Julep posted an Instagram picture (@julepmaven) of a nail polish all Mavens would be receiving in their box and it was gorgeous. I'm all about seasonal nails and free things so I was even more impatient for my box. In addition to the secret surprise nail polish, Hartleigh, I also grabbed Becky, Ada, and the Illume Eye Brightener in Champagne.

| It Girl- Ada | $14.00 ($11.20 with Maven)

It was really more of the description for this that grabbed my attention. "Rhubarb fizzy." How cute is that? It's a very deep pink or fuchsia with white flecks in different sizes, which is obvious in the bottle. From the pictures online I thought it had baby pink flecks but, as the swatches show, it only appears that way since the pink polish lightly covers them. I love the dimension with two coats, it turns into a really deep berry that is so pretty. I hope they release a million more polishes with this "fizzy" effect-- it's gorgeous!

| It Girl- Becky | $14.00 ($11.20 with Maven)

If anything is described as "oil slick" I will almost always buy it. I love this color. It's a deep charcoal-y base with purple and green shimmer, but not the early 2000's frosty way that looks miserable on me. I noticed when I was painting the swatches that it doesn't get streaky and it settles out so there aren't any brush strokes. It's a silk effect polish, which doesn't mean much to me since I always top coat, but the oil slick effect seems less noticeable with the nail polish alone. I tried to show in the swatches that from some angles it looks purple and in others it looks dominantly green.

| Classic with a Twist- Hartleigh | $14.00 ($11.20 with Maven)
I first saw this beauty on Julep's Instagram (@julepmaven) and I was head over heels when I found out it was a free addition to every Julep box in February. I adore when Julep adds free things to their boxes, especially since these gifts are actually pretty common. Online they describe Hartleigh as "holographic heart glitter," which I personally think downplays it a little. Not only does it have red glitter hearts, its base also has holographic microglitter (similar to Nell from my December unboxing) and similar white flecks as in Ada but larger and more hexagonal. I know I'm going to be wearing this year round because I'm obsessed.

| Illume Eye Brightener- Chapagne | $22.00 ($17.60 with Maven)

I don't usually go for Julep's beauty products (even though I know they're amazing) but I saw the before and after pictures on their website and was really impressed! I genetically have darker under eyes and it doesn't really bother me but when I cover them a little, my whole face looks much more awake. I haven't avidly tried to cover them in the past since I also naturally have two or three tiny lines under each of my eyes that easily accentuate with makeup. I picked up the Under Eye Setting Powder from E.l.f. at Target the other day and I'm excited to test these out together!

 
| Heart Decals |
I'm a sucker for decals and I grab them up almost every time they're available. Even though I knew I was getting a heart top coat, I couldn't resist these cuties. They're very small: only about 3mm wide and I love them. I like that both red and white came together since it gives me more options and also just because they're adorable.

| Totals | not including decals
Maven Total: $33.60
Full-Price Total: $42.00

That's my February loot! If you want to see these nail fancies in action, you can follow my Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest which are all @hannahvanhoozle. And, if you wanted to check out my other Julep unboxings, I've done July, August, October, December, and January!
If you want to join julep, sign up here. Use the friend promo code provided for a free red carpet box with three polishes and a liner!
Thanks so much for reading!
xo Hannah
 

January Julep Maven Unboxing ♡

I was very excited about this month's box when I found out that I could get a free "metamorphic top coat." I didn't know what the heck it was but I wanted it. I also picked out the It Girl nail polish "Shelly," Classic With a Twist polish "Phyllis," the Bare Face Cleansing Oil, and the Orbital eyeshadow "Borealis" as an add-on.This post is quite picture heavy (especially of Bjork) so let me know if it's overkill or if you wrists get tired from scrolling.

| Shelly | $11.20 Maven ($14 full price)

Described as a "wintermint creme," this is a slightly dusty mint, especially in comparison to Essie's Mint Candy Apple. I love that it's a little more muted but still bright. Unfortunately that was very hard to photograph, but the side-by-side bottle comparison is most accurate. This was actually a birthday present for my best friend's mom, Shelly, and she was very excited. I have to admit, however, that I'm a little sad that I'm not keeping it for myself!

| Phyllis | $11.20 Maven ($14 full price)

Julep calls this a "soft petal pink creme." It's definitely a soft pink, and, similar to Shelly, it's a little dustier than most of my pink nail polishes which the pictures don't particularly express. The color in the bottle is the most accurate! It's sort of a vintage-y color to me, which I love.

| Bare Face Cleansing Oil | $22.40 Maven ($28.00 full price)

I went a little out of the box with this pick (pun intended) but I tried this once at my sister's and I was totally hooked. First of all, the packaging is perfect as usual. I don't know who designs Julep's packaging, but they know how to do it. I love the pump since it's adorable but specifically because it feels very high quality. The plastic of the pump (and bottle) aren't thin whatsoever and the pump has resistance and isn't chintzy. Although this leaked during shipping, the lid is airtight so it all stayed contained. The smell has an ever-so-slight hint of citrus. I'm anticipating doing a full review of this later!

| Bjork Metamorphic Top Coat | not on the site yet, but likely $11.20 Maven and $14 full price!

This was actually a free bonus! Amelia texted me last month and told me about a magical offer for a free top coat. Obviously I snatched it up immediately, no questions asked. Bjork is a frosty top coat (similar to the Silk Effect top coat from my December unboxing) but shimmers blue, teal, hot pink, orange, and purple. So dang pretty! I'm hoping it's shown accurately in the million pictures I took of it.

| Borealis Orbital Eyeshadow | $14.40 Maven ($18 full price)

My mom picked this eyeshadow out for herself as an add-on and it is so gorgeous. The base is a deep, warm grey but it has a purple, green, and blue microshimmer. The site says it's a "charcoal with peacock pearlescence" which is absolutely spot on.

Totals: (excluding Borealis)

Maven total: $56

Full-price total: $70

That's everything I picked out! I've already worn Bjork twice and Phyllis once.

Do you like the totals at the bottom? I always see people do them with Birchbox (which I previously subscribed to) and I think they're interesting!
Here are my unboxings for December, October, August, and July.

If you want to sign up for Julep, here's a link. Use the friend code provided to get a free red carpet box with three polishes and a liner!

Thank for reading!

xo