Hi! My name is Emma, and welcome to my beauty blog. Growing up, I watched my mom and grandmother put on makeup, and waited until the day I was old enough to wear it too. I always used drugstore makeup until an Ulta opened in my neighborhood, and I instantly fell in love with higher-end makeup. I love makeup and skincare and thought all of my excessive shopping could finally have a use. If you have any suggestions/ questions, feel free to message me on Instagram and I can always do a post about it!
Who doesn’t love a haul? Ulta’s 21 days of beauty are when I always stock up on some ride or dies, or try something new. As a college student who does not have a lot of money to spend on makeup, I always love the 21 days because many products are 50% off! I have bought and tried all of these products (goodbye bank account), so here are my honest reviews.
xoxo,
Emma
Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer, Originally $34
This primer claims to hydrate, smooth and brighten the face for a dewy, healthy look. I had never used this primer before, and the reviews were four and a half stars, but I was nervous because it came out white on my hand and I do not need to be any paler than I already am. When I rubbed it into my skin, though, it applied clear. I like this primer, but I’m going to need more time to test it against others.
Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner, Originally $22
I do not use eyeliner often. Maybe once in a while, I go for the super dramatic cat eye. Regardless, I let the 21 days of beauty excitement get to me, and I purchased this Stila eyeliner. I have only used it once, but I am in love! It is very black, so it’s perfect to put under false lashes. I would definitely recommend this product.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid Highlighter, Originally $41
I am a big Jaclyn Hill fan and had been dying to purchase Champagne Pop, but I am disappointed in this liquid highlighter. The color has a slight pink undertone and a great shimmer, and it swatched great! Unfortunately, when I put it on after my foundation, it completely took away my foundation and made my skin look horrible. It is possible it is my foundation that killed the highlighter, but still, super disappointed.
Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzing Powder, Originally $30
I feel like I’m the only person who has never owned this bronzer before because I have been ride or die for the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer for so long now. The Hoola bronzer has excellent pigmentation, is very blendable and doesn’t have too much of an orange undertone. It does not have a good smell like the butter bronzer, but I like it, especially for when I’m a little tanner.
Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Illuminating Primer, Originally $36
I have never used a Juice Beauty product before, and I have been missing out. I have found my new ride or die. This primer can be used with or without makeup and makes your face glow without looking oily. It is an excellent base for your foundation, and it doesn’t make your foundation break apart. I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a new favorite primer.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer Pencil, Originally $23
After using the Brow Wiz pencil for a few years now, I wanted to try the brow definer. It is a little harder to use than the brow wiz because the tip is thicker, but it is great when you want a more dramatic brow. I need some more time to compare this with my Brow Wiz pencil, but I think it will be a new staple in my makeup bag!
Ofra Nikkietutorials Glazed Donut Highlighter, Originally $32
Nikkietutorials was the first beauty blogger I ever watched, starting with her “Power of Makeup” video. When I saw she made a highlighter, I was interested because we have a similar skin tone and most highlights make me look like someone put glitter on my face. One great thing about this highlighter is that it’s buildable so you can have more or less BAM the way you want.
Flesh highlighters, Originally $18
Flesh originally became famous because of its forty shade foundation range (we love an inclusive brand), but the flesh highlighter is also fantastic! I love how it goes on sheer at first and has buildable coverage. I got it in the shade “starlet” which has a pearlescent sheen. Great for all my fair-skinned beauties out there! I would recommend this product, and the darker shades are fantastic for all my darker-skinned beauties out there.
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara, Originally $23
I have been using the Better Than Sex mascara for a while now, but I love this mascara just as much. This mascara gives a more natural look while Better Than Sex (BTS) is much more dramatic, so it depends on which look you are going for. I love this one because it does not clump as the BTS mascara can. It lengthens, curls, volumizes and conditions.
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, Originally $38
This has been a cult favorite for the longest time now and is one of the only skincare products in the 21 days of beauty. It claims to remove impurities and excess oils, so I was very interested. After using it, it did not make my skin feel dry and tight, but clean. It is perfect for those who do not want a crazy scent in their cleaners and those with sensitive skin.
Nudestix Concealer Stick, Originally $24
I have never used a stick concealer before and have always used a liquid. I ordered this in color Light 1. In retrospect, I should have gone a little darker, but it will be perfect in the winter when I’m super pale. One thing I do not like about this product is that there are only ten shades, and only two are deep tones.
SleepCycle Pillowcase with Silver Ion Technology, Originally $30
I have been using a satin pillowcase for a while now, but I love the way a cotton pillowcase feels on your skin as you sleep. It claimed to help with blemishes and oiliness, so I was intrigued. I have only used this two nights, but so far I’m in love! I don’t know if there’s a crazy difference between this and a regular one, but make sure to change your pillowcases often because they hold so much dead skin and oil! I do not know if I would recommend this product or not, but it is worth a shot.
Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette, Originally $49
Too Faced Palettes are always something I’m looking for on sale. I don’t think that 16 eyeshadows are worth $49 when I can buy a Morphe palette with 35 shadows for $38. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great palette, and smells AMAZING. Of course, some of the shadows are more pigmented than others. I would recommend this product, but wait for it to be on sale.
Thanks for reading my first ever blog post, make sure to check back bi-weekly for more beauty blog posts.
*All images courtesy of Emma Giambalvo