Lash Love with Esqido

Hello lovely readers - how are you?  It's been a whirlwind of changes for me over the last 5 months, and I do apologize for the absence, but... We recently welcomed a little adventurer to our family, so my time has been occupied by this wonderful new addition! However, when I was given an opportunity that I could not pass up, I thought "this would be a great time to get back into blogging"! 

Esqido reached out to me, and offered me the chance to try out a pair of their lashes, as well as their lash glue*. I own a pair of Esqido Mink Lashes lashes that I purchased while at IMATS in NY, but at the time I was into the whole "go big or go home" makeup life, so the lashes I chose were pretty ridiculous extravagant (they didn't earn the name Lashmopolitan for being "natural"!).

The flamboyant Lashmopolitan lash, $29

 As much as I thought I'd wear them when I went out, I only rocked them once or twice because they are just so voluptuous, and frankly, over-the-top for regular use! So, when Esqido told me I could pick any pair I liked, I decided to play it a little more low-key, and chose the Starlet lash   - a little less dramatic than the Lashmopolitan, but with a bit of a pop to emphasize my eyes. The Starlet is a medium volume mink lash with a length of 4-10 mm (they start off smaller on the inside, and increase in length on the outer edges). 

The sexy yet demure Starlet lash, $29

Per the website:

"Get that glamorous starlet makeup look with this pair of clustered and wispy mink lashes. Short yet voluminous, this lash is designed to provide enough volume at a shorter length to accentuate your eyes without looking too long. Suitable even for smaller eyes. The ends are also winged out to give a beautiful lifted effect to your eyes.

The ultimate in luxury, our mink lashes meticulously handcrafted with premium mink hairs, and a soft cotton band. Discover our collection of beautiful styles you can wear again and again, suitable for any occasion."

In addition to the lashes, I was sent a tube of the Companion Eyelash Glue:

Companion Eyelash Glue, $10 for .18 oz

"Our best selling Companion Eyelash Glue is the only eye lash glue that offers an extremely strong & sticky hold, with a safe, long lasting formulation. You’ll never have to worry about your false lashes falling out. It also gets incredibly tacky in seconds, for quick lash application. Specially formulated for sensitive eyes and all types of false eyelashes, our lash adhesive is latex-free, hypoallergenic, and formaldehyde free, paraben free, and 5-free. It’s also waterproof. Great for those who experience watery eyes or are irritated/allergic to other glues. Goes on white, dries clear.With a precision brush tip, it’s super easy to simply brush on the perfect amount to your fake lashes. Compared to drugstore eyelash glue, the Companion glue is non-latex, and packs a good amount of product in a beautiful bottle. When you’re ready, it’s easy to remove with oil free makeup remover." 

When I received the package in the mail, I was so stinking excited to try them out! The packaging is so nice - the lashes came in their own little reusable bag! Unfortunately, for me, #momlife does not often give me the opportunity to wear falsies, so I had to wait for the chance. But, as luck would have it, my SIL was getting married and I was a bridesmaid getting all dolled up for the wedding - what better time to try out my new lashes?!?

With the Lashmopolitans, I had to trim off some of the outer edge so they would fit my eye, and I was hoping I wouldn't have to do so with the Starlet lashes, but I did. The lashes, though shorter and "suitable for smaller eyes", were still fairly long band-wise. I typically don't have this problem with falsies - I am pretty much able to wear them straight out of the package, so I found the need to trim them slightly annoying. However, I do understand that people have different shaped eyes, so while they may have been to long for me, they are probably the perfect length for someone else, and might even be too short for others. I did have to take a few extra minutes to fit them to my eye, but it was an easy fix - I used some tiny scissors to take off a few segments off the outside edge - and they then fit my eye perfectly. 

These lashes are definitely high-quality, the band is cottony vs the plastic band that comes on less expensive brands, but that makes them slightly harder to work with, in my very humble opinion. Practice makes perfect though, so the more you wear lashes, the easier they are to apply. The lashes themselves, being made of mink, are very soft, and blend in seamlessly with your natural lashes. 

The Companion Eyelash Glue is downright luxurious when it comes to lash glue. The packaging is so pretty - a clear frosted tube with gold accents, and the formula is just as fabulous! I am a big fan of brush-on glue - I just find it so much easier to apply the perfect amount to the lash band. The glue goes on white, with almost a pearly finish, but it dries completely clear. It did take a little longer than I expected to get tacky, but that allowed me a little flexibility to make sure the lashes were perfectly positioned on my eye. As described, the hold is VERY strong; once applied, these lashes did not budge, and I needed a jackhammer firm hand to remove them. Additionally, there was no irritation from the glue as there can be with other glues, my eyes did not water when they came in contact with the formula, and there was no lingering redness once the lashes and glue were removed.

 The website is user-friendly and easy to navigate, and offers a large selection of lash styles to choose from, both real mink and Unisyn -  their premium synthetic lashes.  If you're new to lashes, or are not quite sure which direction to take as far as style, they offer an interactive lash guide to help you find your perfect pair. There is a blog that offers loads of useful information (though I do think their post for stay-at-home-moms is a little far-fetched...I wish I had the luxury of applying lashes before running out to the grocery store!), as well as a reward program with some pretty fabulous rewards. 

Overall, I am really happy with the Esqido Mink Lashes and the Companion Eyelash Glue. I think for the quality of the product and the longevity of the lashes when properly handled, the price is fair. Sure, you can get lashes for much less - some for even $1-2 a pop - but you will immediately see the difference in craftsmanship and performance. Whether you are a beginner, or a true lash aficionado, you will undoubtedly feel elegant, sexy, and more than a little pampered while wearing Esqido lashes.

Do you have any experience with falsies?  What are your favorite lashes? Any tips for easier application? Please, share in the comments below!

Thanks so much for spending some time with me today! Hope to see you again soon!

Live a beautiful life,

~Jessica

*This product was gifted to me in exchange for my unbiased review. I have no affiliation with Esquido, nor do I receive compensation for any purchases made from my review / links in my blog. 

Favorite 5: ColourPop Lippie Stix

Hi Lovelies -

I'm a HUGE fan of affordable, high-quality makeup products - and if it's cruelty-free, it's for me - which is why I love ColourPop! They have an amazing selection of lip colors and formulas, and have been growing rapidly to include brow, eye and face products a well! They come out with new products and develop new shades on the reg, making it easy to keep up with trends without doing too much damage to your wallet! They offer some great kits that contain several of their fabulous products to try for one low price, and it's always worth it to check out the Last Call  section of their website to snag some discontinued products at a 20% off!  I enjoy so many of their offerings, but my biggest addiction is their lip products - Lippie Stix, Lippie Pencils, Ultra-Matte, Ultra-Blotted, Ultra-Satin, Ultra-Metallic Liquid Lips...there is truly a lip shade and formula for everyone! I am almost always blown away by the pigmentation, high-end feel, and longevity of their lip products, and for $6 or less with free shipping over $30, you seriously can't beat the value.  There are so many of their lip products that I love and reach for daily,  I want to share my favorites with you. I'm going to break it down into two posts to make things easier - Lippie Stix, and then Liquid Lip colors; today, let's talk about my 5 favorite ColourPop Lippie Stix :)


Lumiere - $5

Source

Lumiere was one of the first ColourPop products I ever bought, and it remains one of my top must-haves; it definitely sparked my addiction to ColourPop! It is a dusty mauve pink, definitely leans cool, and IMO is simply stunning! It can be worn alone for a more subtle look, or paired with the matching Lippie Pencil for a more opaque, intense mauve lip that lasts and lasts.

Lumiere - natural light

Lumiere - artificial light

Cookie - $5

Cookie is described as a warm brown nude, and it is my most reached for of the five Lippie Stix. This color goes with any look, from "no-makeup makeup" to the most outrageous smoky eye. If I don't want to think about it too much, I just want things to be simple and easy, or I'm not sure what color will work best with my LOTD, I go with Cookie, and it always works.

Source

Cookie swatch 

Cookie

Cookie - indoors

Cookie - natural lighting (outdoors)

Tootsi - $5

Source

Tootsti is a pinky greige shade, a cooler take on Cookie. It has that gray undertone that might scare some people, but for those of you interested in trying out the trend, it is definitely user-friendly and not too over-the-top...really, it's the perfect greige shade. It also has a matching Lippie Pencil.

Tootsi swatch 

Tootsi - with flash

Tootsi - no flash

Tootsi - indoors

Grunge - $5

Source

A mid-toned red brown, Grunge is a bit of a darker take on your everyday lip color. I must admit, I was initially drawn to the nostalgia of the name more than the color, as I was a child of the 90's and definitely lived that grunge life for awhile (Doc Martens, flannel everything, dog collars and my dad's old sweaters were my wardrobe staples - don't judge). However, when I actually put Grunge on my lips, I knew it was the perfect shade for those days when you want a little more oomph, but still want to keep with a neutral-ish hue. It is a true 90's lipcolor - matching Lippie Pencil and mini-backpack optional.

Grunge swatch

Grunge - with flash

Grunge - no flash

Grunge - natural light

Brink - $5

Source

This terracota rose shade is my ultimate YLBB (your lips but better) color. When I'm feeling drab or not quite up to adulting, this Lippie instantly brings life back to my face and makes me feel pulled together when I'm not.  Lippie Pencil also available.

Brink swatch

Brink - with flash

There you have my 5 favorite ColourPop Lippe Stix! Have you tried any ColourPop Lippie Stix? What do you think of the product? What are your favorite shades?

Thanks so much for reading - remember, live a beautiful life!

~Jessica

Review: Benjabelle Sunflower Brush Tree

Hi Lovelies -

Hope you are well, and that spring has sprung where you are! We are expecting a SNOWSTORM here in New England, and it's no April Fool's joke!

To get my mind off of snow and on to warmer weather, I've been thinking about flowers...Sunflowers to be exact. For Christmas my DH gave me a Benjebelle Sunflower Brush tree*, and I've been meaning to review it; so, what better time then now - with snow in the forecast, but spring on my mind?

Benjabelle is a small, Madison, WI based company owned by Ben and Jan. According to their website, one day Jan was washing her makeup brushes when she asked Ben if they could  create a device that would allow her brushes to dry vertically, thus minimizing dry time and reducing the space the brushes take up on the counter. They put their heads together, and voila!-  the Benjabelle brush tree was born!

There are 5 different styles of brush tree to choose from, all of which are available in your choice of black, white or pink:

• Original $34.95- holds 14 large brushes or up to 42 small brushes
• Daisy $19.95- accomodates 2 large brushes, 4 medium, and 8 small
• Mini $24.95- dries up to 24 thin brushes
• Tulip $24.95- holds the same number of brushes as the Daisy, but in a more compact setup
• Sunflower $39.95- the largest of the brush trees, and the one I will review for you today

There is also an optional Spinner available for $12.00, which converts any of the above models into a rotating brush tree, and creates 4 "cubbies" in which you can store small items, like brush cleaner or makeup sponges. In addition to the brush trees, Benjabelle also offers organic brush shampoo, foaming wash, and cleansing balm. 

The Sunflower Brush Tree

The Sunflower is the largest of the 5 brush trees available from Benjabelle. It costs $39.95, plus shipping ($4.95 in the US).

Benjabelle Sunflower Brush Stree

Please excuse the water spots - it's a well loved brush tree :)

 The brush tree consists of a plastic "top" with various silicone holders for your brushes, as well as the base (two plastic "legs"). It is simple to set up and to disassemble, and takes up very little space on your counter. When broken down, it is about the size of a typical tablet, and can be easily stored away.  All materials used in the brush trees are made in America, and the silicone used in the gripper slots is peroxide free and FDA approved.

Close up of the silicone brush holders

This brush tree easily fits all of my makeup brushes

According to the website, the Sunflower can dry 4 large brushes, 6 medium brushes, and 16 small brushes; however, I can tell you from personal experience that, depending upon the thickness of your brush handles, you can get many more brushes comfortably into the slots. IE: For small eye brushes, I can typically get two per small slot, making a total of 32 brushes just in the small holders! I can fit up to 4 small brushes in the medium slots,  2 medium brushes in the large slots, etc. - it's exceptionally versatile! On this particular day I did not have too many brushes to clean, but on a typical day this tree is packed! I can wash practically every brush I own, and I'm able to fit them all in with a little strategic placement.

Simply push the brush handle up through the silicone slot, and you are good to go!

Water drips down from the brushes, resulting in shorter dry-time

I'm amazed at how quickly the brushes dry when hung upside down like this! I used to lay my brushes down on top of the microfiber mat, prop cans of hairspray underneath so they drained properly, and even went to far as to individually wrap each brush head in toilet paper or paper towels to facilitate dry time! Talk about time-consuming! This is so quick and easy - wash the brush, squeeze out excess water, and pop it up into the silicone slot! Within a couple of hours, the small brushes are dry, and the larger brushes are well on their way to being dry! What used to be a 24 hour process has been cut down by at least half!

The Sunflower Brush Tree can accommodate a variety of brush sizes

Drying brushes upside down gives your brushes a longer life

 Drying your brushes in this vertical position (bristles down) helps prolong their life. When brushes are dried on their side- or worse, bristles up -  water can pool at the base brush. This causes damage to both the bristles, as well as the ferrule (part that holds the bristles together and attaches the brush head to the handle), resulting in a loss of bristles, or even the total destruction of the brush. The more you know... (insert musical notes here).

When I opened my brush tree after getting it for Christmas, I was very sad to discover that one of the plastic legs was cracked in half. I tried to glue it back together, but it just didn't line up correctly. I emailed Benjabelle, and quickly received a response from Ben, who told me that he was sorry to hear that I received a broken leg and that he would mail me out replacement legs right away. Only a few days later, I received my new legs, along with a bonus brush Cleansing Balm! So thoughtful! I am very happy to say that not only is the product amazing, but the customer service is wonderful as well!

Benjabelle Organic Brush Cleansing Balm

The Cleansing Balm is available for $14.95 on the Benjabelle website. It comes in a small metal tin, making it easy to use and store. It is made with natural ingredients, free from preservatives, artificial colors and fragrances, and animal byproducts. I was impressed with how well it  deep-cleaned my brushes - removing all traces of foundation and concealer - and that it also conditions the bristles, leaving them so soft and well-maintained!

Filthy foundation brush, ready for a thorough cleaning!

So easy to use, simply dampen, swirl in the the tin, and rinse!

I give the brush a little swipe over my Sigma Express Spa Glove, and then rinse away the old makeup!

Sparkling clean, well-conditioned brush!

Final Thoughts

I am thrilled to have received this brush tree for Christmas - it has been a game-changer for sure! I still may not LOVE the task of brush washing, but having this little gem makes things so much easier; it takes up less of my time and counter space, and it drastically reduces drying time! I have had such a great experience with the products and the company that I highly recommend the Benjabelle brush tree and the cleansing balm to anyone who owns makeup brushes.  I am thinking of ordering the spinner soon to see how it works...if I do, I will be sure to let you all know my thoughts! 

Have you tried any of the Benjabelle Brush trees, or a similar product? What are your thoughts?

Thanks so much for checking out this post! Have a great weekend, and live a beautiful life!

~Jessica

*The Benjabelle Sunflower was purchased at full price. This review was not sponsored by Benjabelle in any way. All opinions are my own, and are based on my experiences. 

Seeing Double: MAC Vex vs MUG Rockstar

Hi Loves!

With all of the makeup options available to us on the market, we are bound to run into color dupes. Unless we have both products right there in front of us, it can be hard to tell if an eyeshadow or lipstick you're thinking about buying is the same color as one you already own. I've run into this problem most often when shopping online, and it's so frustrating! I've decided to start this new series, Seeing Double, to swatch and compare the most recent products I've had this issue with (many of them are Makeup Geek and MAC products - so many possible dupes between the two!). I hope it helps make some of your future buying decisions a little easier :)

Is MUG Rockstar a dupe for MAC Vex?

MUG Rockstar

MAC Vex

When Makeup Geek  launched their Duochrome Collection *, they re-promoted some of their existing shades, Rockstar being one of them. To me, from the online swatches and pictures, it looked like it might be a dupe for MAC Vex eye shadow, so I decided to order it to find out. I was secretly hoping that they were just different enough that I wouldn't have two of the same shadow colors in my makeup arsenal. I'm sure that there are many of you out there that are wondering the same thing - is Makup Geek's Rockstar a dupe for MAC's Vex? Let's take a look:

Adore or Ignore: Magic Makeup Remover

Hi loves - welcome back!

Today I'm going to give you my thoughts on an item I received for Christmas - the Magic Makeup Remover. 

The Magic Makeup Remover is a cloth that is designed to remove all of your makeup - including mascara and eyeliner - without the use of other products that may contain harsh chemicals and fragrances. It is very simple to use: wet the cloth, and wipe off your makeup!