Hot Product of the Week: Elf Mad for Matte Eyeshdaow Palette

I have heard nothing but great things about the Elf Mad for Matte eyeshadow palette and finally got my hands on it! This palette came out back in 2016, so it is not a brand new product to Elf, but it is to me! 

Keep reading for my review and swatches of this palette! 

This all matte palette retails for $10 and comes with 10 pigmented shadows as well as a mirror. 

Right off the bat, I am so happy that I bought this palette! I have been using it everyday since and it never fails to impress me every time. The shadows are very smooth and buttery to the touch, and have great pigment when applied. Even though they are pigmented, they are still easy to blend. When you go in with a brush, they do have some kick-back, but for a $10 palette that doesn’t bother me personally. 

The colors themselves are nothing special, but if you are looking for a great inexpensive neutral palette, this is the one to buy! Even though I have so many palettes that have these same shades, I still find myself reaching for this one because the quality is amazing and they blend out effortlessly. 

MOTD: Soft Brown Eyes + Metallic Navy Lippie

I’m back with another bold makeup look! I wanted to keep the eye makeup neutral and simple, then kick it up a notch with a bold lip color. This MOTD was inspired by a Linda Hallberg makeup look (once again lol) but I always go to her Instagram when I need some inspiration!

For product details keep scrolling or check out my Insta @marinaleebeauty! 😘😘😘

EYES

• Wet N Wild eyeshadow primer
• For the crease shades, I used my Morphe 35o palette.
• I used the shade Half Baked from my Naked 2 palette on the center of my lid.
• Used the NYC black liquid eyeliner to create a wing.
• I curled my lashes and applied a coat of the Essence I Love Extreme Volume mascara to my top and bottom lashes. Then I applied a pair of Ardel 110 lashes.
• I used the same crease shades from the Morphe palette on my bottom lash line.

FACE

• Primed my face using the Trader Joe’s Nourish Antioxidant Serum
• For foundation, I used the Too Faced Born This Way (shade warm beige) mixed with the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless (shade 128).
• I applied the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye full coverage concealer under my eyes.
• I set my concealer and face using the RCMA no color powder.
• I contoured using the cream contour from the Tarte Tarteist Pro Glow palette and set it with the powder contour shade from the palette as well.
• For bronzer I used the Wet N Wild PhotoFocus pressed powder in the shade Cocoa
• For blush I used the Elf blush in Mellow Mauve
• Highlighted my face with the Makeup Revolution baked highlighter in Golden Lights. I also used this under my brows and on the inner corners of my eyes.

BROWS & LIPS

• I filled in my brows lightly with the Skone Cosmetics eyebrow pencil in chocolate and brushed it through with the Wet N Wild clear brow gel
• For lips, I applied the Maybelline lipstick in Midnight Blue (Bolds collection) and then dabbed that same Half Baked eyeshadow overtop for a metallic finish.

My January Ipsy Glam Bag!

Here’s a peek inside my January Ipsy bag! Keep reading for quick reviews on each product! 

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination shade medium: I really like the original Bye Bye Under Eye concealer and in my opinion, the Illumination one is pretty much the exact same thing. It has the same thick consistency, same full coverage, and blends the same as well. Both of the concealers also claim to be anti-aging and waterproof as well. I do really like this concealer, it just isn’t any different from the original one. 

Trust Fund Beauty “Lipgasm” Lipgloss in the shade Method to the Madness: This is a really nice lipgloss. I was expecting it to be a little more pigmented, but it is actually quite sheer and just gives a slight tint to the lips. It lasts a good amount of time, feels very moisturizing, and isn’t sticky. I do really like this product for what it is, but I most likely would not go out of my way to spend money on it. Also, it does have a really strong glue smell when applying, but it does go away quickly. 

Temptu Base Smooth & Matte Primer: I actually really like this primer! It feels really hydrating, but also does a pretty good job of keeping my face from looking like a greasy mess. I would call it more of a moisturizer for oily skin though, rather than a mattifying makeup primer. I still like it though and will continue to use up the sample! 

Manna Kadar Beauty blush in Paradise: This is a gorgeous shade, but for a blush it is extremely too pigmented and shimmery for my liking. I will probably use this more as an eyeshadow. It has fine gold shimmer, which I typically don’t mind, but since the product is so pigmented and powdery it is hard to blend and easy to go overboard. I am going to see how I can use it in an eye look, though because it is a gorgeous color! 

Clinique Take The Day Off makeup remover for lids, lashes, and lips: I have never tried this makeup remover before because I typically just use coconut oil, but it does work really well for taking off my eye makeup, even waterproof mascara. I find that I don’t have to tug too hard on my eyelids. I will use up the sample, but probably won’t purchase the real thing because coconut oil just breaks down the makeup so much quicker for me. 

Miracle Product for Acne Scars!

It’s no secret that 100% pure and natural raw honey is amazing for your skin. It is very hydrating, helps with scarring, pigmentation, and evens out your complexion. BUT, Manuka Honey definitely takes the cake and is way better than regular honey. 

I have struggled with hormonal acne and the scars left behind for the past 6 months or so and, after trying almost every product and remedy out there, I finally found the product that reduced my scarring by half OVERNIGHT!  

Keep reading to see what exactly makes Manuka Honey different from regular Honey and how I use it on my skin! Also, since this is an expensive product (the jar in the picture is $20 for 8.75 oz), I will also list some purchasing tips and a few different prices from different retailers. 

So what makes Manuka Honey different from regular Raw Honey? 

• Manuka Honey comes from one specific plant only found in New Zealand- the Manuka Tree. Since the Honey comes from this one plant, you will not be getting a bunch of different blends of Honey in one jar- it is 100% pure Manuka. 
• Manuka Honey contains about 100 times MORE antibacterial/ anti-microbial/anti-inflammatory  compounds than regular Honey. This is what makes Manuka Honey an excellent healing treatment for acne because it does an excellent job of drawing impurities out of the skin. 

What to look for when purchasing Manuka Honey 

• You want to make sure that it is “Active” and that this is stated right on the label. 
• You only want to purchase Manuka Honey that is from New Zealand. The Manuka Plant is unique to New Zealand so if it is coming from somewhere else, it’s not real Manuka Honey! 
• Make sure that there is a rating on the front label of 15+-16. These ratings relate to the level of antibiotic activity in the product. 16 is ideal, but anything below 10 is pretty much just regular Honey. 

A few different brands of Manuka Honey 

• Manuka Doctor 15+ Bio Actove Manuka Honey-$20 (pictured above,found it in the Organics section of my grocery store) 
• Trader Joe’s 10+ 100% NZ Manuka Honey-$12 
• Wedderspoon 100% Raw Manuka Honey 16-$28 at Walmart 

How I use this miracle product 

• Since this is a natura product, I feel comfortable using this multiple times a day and my skin doesn’t react in any way to using it this often. I like to use this as an all over face mask and leave it on for at least an hour morning and night if I can. 
• I make sure that my face is cleansed before applying the Honey, then I dampen my face with some warm water. 
• I use about two finger scoops of Honey for my entire face and just massage it over my face and neck. 
• I let this sit in my skin for at least an hour and then massage/ rinse it away with warm water. It comes off pretty easily. 
• You could apply it over night as a spot treatment and then put a piece of tissue or band aid on top so that it doesn’t mess up your pillow, but I prefer to rinse it off right before I go to sleep. 

It’s a very easy product to use and I have noticed a huge difference in the way my skin looks! I did not expect the Manuka Honey to work so fast, otherwise I would have taken before and after pictures.

If you struggle with acne, acne scarring, or any other skin issue at all, definitely purchase a jar of Manuka Honey and I promise you, you will not be able to live without it!! 

$10 Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Dupe?!

The Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (the original clear one) is a cult favorite amongst the beauty community. I do love this primer myself, but it is really expensive for a product that you typically use almost everyday. 

If you are unfamiliar with Trader Joe’s stores, it is a neighborhood-style grocery store with specialty items from their own brand. Everyone always raves about Trsder Joe’s, but I have never heard anyone talk about their skincare line. 

In my opinion, their skincare products are extremely underrated and this Antioxidant Serum for $10 is no exception. When I first used this serum, I noticed right away that the thicker consistency was pretty much identical to the Smashbox primer. This is because both products have a main ingredient of dimethicone. The TJ serum also contains grapefruit extract as an added bonus. Grapefruit is very high in Vitamin C and helps to plump the skin and blur fine lines over time. This serum applies very smoothly and sinks into the skin quickly, so it won’t feel like you have a layer of primer sitting on top of your skin. 

For me, the Trader Joe’s serum is a near perfect dupe for the Smashbox primer and I am so happy that I stumbled upon this amazing product! I use it mostly as a makeup Primer, but sometimes I will apply it when I’m not wearing any makeup to give my skin a smoother appearance. I find that this serum makes my makeup last just as long as the Smashbox primer and allows my makeup to go on smoothly overtop. 

I prefer this serum over the Smashbox Primer because, 1) it smells like grapefruit (but the smell does not linger) and 2) it is only $10 versus $36 for the Smashbox one. I highly recommend this serum and encourage you to try out the other products from the Trader Joe’s Nourish skincare line! I bought mine at a TJ store, but you can also find it on Amazon. 

Added tip: The oil-free Antioxidant moisturizer is hands down my favorite and perfect for any skin type! 

MOTD: Peach Tones

Peach tones have been trending lately with the launch of the Too Faced Sweet Peach Collection as well as Kylie Jenner’s new Royal Peach eyeshadow palette, so I decided to create a makeup look based off of these gorgeous shades!

I wanted this makeup look to be bright and colorful while also being a fresh and natural look that can be worn casually.

As always, keep reading to see a full list of the products that I used and be sure to keep up with me on Instagram too @marinaleebeauty!

FACE

• Primed my face using the Murad Oil Control Mattifier and Benefit’s Porefessional primer.
• For foundation, I used a combination (to get the right shade) of the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in Creamwhip and Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundation in 128 Warm Nude.
• For concealer, I used the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Full Coverage concealer in the medium shade.
• I set my under eye area using the RCMA No Color powder and the rest of my face using the new Wet N Wild PhotoFocus pressed powder in tan beige.
• I contoured using the Wet N Wild MegaGlo contouring palette in the shade Dulce De Leche and bronzed with the Becca Multi-Tasking Perfecting Powder in Warm Honey.
• I highlighted the high points of my face using, of course, Becca x Jaclyn Hill’s Champagne Pop.
• For blush, I used the Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso 

EYES

• I primed my eyelids with the Wet N Wild PhotoFocus eye primer and set it with a translucent powder.
• I used the light and deeper peach shades from my Morphe 35B palette to create this look. I applied the lighter shade in my crease and all over my lid. I went in with the darker shade to deepen up the crease. Lastly, I used a medium brown shade to deepen up the outer corner of my eyes slightly. I brought the same light and medium peach shades on my lower lash line as well.
• I skipped out on eyeliner for this look because I wanted it to be more on the natural side and just applied some falsies. I used the Kiss lashes in the style Ritzy.
• To finish off the eye look, I applied a nude eyeliner from Rimmel in my bottom waterline for a fresher look.

BROWS & LIPS

• I filled in my brows lightly using the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in medium brown.
• I lined and filled in my lips with the new Wet N Wild PerfectPout lipliner in the shade Bare To Comment (peachy nude shade).
• I applied the new Wet N Wild Liquid Catsuit matte liquid lipstick in the shade Nude Peach overtop of the liner. This shade applies kind of streaky, so I do recommend applying a lip liner underneath it.

Dark Chocolate Makeup Look

I recently picked up the Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme in the shade Covet and wanted to create a makeup look inspired by this deep chocolatey shade!

Keep reading to see a full list of the products used to create this look (I used a bunch of new products!) and as always, follow me on Instagram @marinaleebeauty! ❤️❤️

EYES

• primed my eyelids using the Wet N Wild Photo Focus eye primer
• I used some Scotch tape to create a sharp winged effect with my eyeshadow.
• From the Tarte Tarteist Pro eyeshadow palette, I used the shades  Whimsy and Bold as my transition shades. To blend these out, I used the Ulta eyeshadow in shade Camel.
• On the putter corners of my eyes, I used the Ulta eyeshadow in shade Brownie and Smoked from the Tarteist Pro palette. I also used these shades on my bottom lashline.
• On the center and inner portion of my lid, I applied a bronze shade from my Morphe 35O palette, but any bronze shade you have will work beautifully for this look!
• I skipped out on eyeliner today and applied a pair of bold lashes instead. I used the Kiss Blooming lashes (sorry can’t remember the style!)
• Lined my waterline with the L’Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner

FACE

• primed my face using the Trader Joe’s Nourish Antioxidant Serum  and Benefit’s Porefessional primer
• For foundation, I used a new product from Wet N Wild- their new Photo Focus foundation in shade Golden Beige (this stuff is amazing, post coming soon)
• For concealer, I used the Smashbox Studio Skin concealer in light/warm
• I set my concealer with the RCMA No Color powder and the rest of my face with the Wet N Wild Photo Focus pressed powder in Tan Beige
• I contoured using the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer and bronzed up my face using a combo of the Nars Laguna bronzer and MAC’s Give Me Sun Mineralized Skinfinish
• For blush, I used Makeup Revolution Matte Blush in Nude
• For highlighter, I used a new favorite- the Makeup Revolution Pro Illuminate highlighter (one shade)
• I set my face with the Wet N Wild setting spray

BROWS & LIPS

• Filled in my brows using Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown
• And for lips, the star of the show, I applied the Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme in Covet (shade 19). The formula on this liquid lipstick is amazing! It did not apply streaky whatsoever and is very opaque. It dries completely Matte and is, in my opinion, very comfortable to wear.

Hot Product of the Week: NYX Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipstick (Cashmere Silk)

I know I haven’t posted in a while, but I’m back with my latest hot product of the week!

I have heard nothing but great things about the NYX Lip Lingerie liquid lipstick line and I decided to try out a shade for myself!

I have been wearing the shade Cashmere Silk non-stop since I bought it at Ulta. It is the perfect pinky Nude shade for my skin tone and goes with every makeup look!

The formula is very thin, yet opaque and is not too drying on the lips. I do like to apply a lip balm before using this liquid lipstick, but I think it is pretty comfortable without one as well. This product lasts ALL DAY and is almost completely transfer proof.

The Lip Lingerie line consists of all neutral shades, but those are the shades I am drawn to most of the time anyway. I am so in love with the shade I own and am definitely going to pick up some more!