March is flying by already, it seems. Between this whole house buying process, increased hours at work, and getting ready to move, I feel like March is already over! I’m exhausted just thinking about it, but I’m grateful to be so busy and preoccupied during this month, because, as many of you know, it’s pretty a pretty complicated month for me.
Anyway, I finally sat down and got to write out some thoughts about some of my favorite products that I’ve been using over the last few months. So I’m coming at you with the February edition of 5 Favorite Things and the best of #myvibrantlife! I don’t have a fail this month, surprisingly, but don’t worry. I’m sure something will disappoint me soon!
5 Favorite Things
Wet n’ Wild PhotoFocus Setting Spray
I’m a huge fan of MAC’s Fix+ and the Urban Decay De-Slick setting spray, but man, those sprays expensive. I’ve been on the hunt for an effective, but more affordable setting spray for months and I finally found an amazing contender with the Wet n’ Wild Photofocus Spray.
This spray does an amazing job of setting down my powder and gives a beautiful blurred finish to my skin. I do notice a significant increase in how long my makeup lasts throughout the day when I use this product, as well. And for 5 bucks, you just can’t beat the price.
I will say that the first bottle I bought has a really awful spritzer. It would spray the product out in big drops instead of a fine mist. I ended up putting the product in an old UD spray bottle so I could have a better application. However, the second bottle I bought had a much better spray pump, so I think I may have gotten a dud, or Wet n’ Wild just made some improvements to the packaging.
Regardless, this is a great affordable setting-spray product for those of you looking for a spray that won’t break the bank.
BleachBright Teeth Whitening Kit
The kind folks over at BleachBright sent me their teeth whitening kit to try out and I was excited to give it a go. I’ve shared how insecure I am about my teeth before (chemo wasn’t kind to them) and I’ve been trying different ways to get them back to their former glory.
I love that this set is REALLY simple to use. No molds, no putty, no layers of different gels. I simply apply the whitening gel to my teeth and then use the small LED light for 10 minutes (repeating this 3 times.) I have definitely seen a difference, although it’s not as drastic with previous systems I’ve used. That doesn’t bother me as much since it’s a simpler and less invasive process. I also haven’t experienced any tooth sensitivity, either!
If you want to give this set a try, my friends at BleachBright are offering 80% off their kits with the code “Chelsie80.” It’s not an affiliate, just a save-you-some-money code!
NYX Total Control Drop Foundation
This is the first time in a couple years that I’ve had to really live through a real winter, so consequently, I’m the palest I’ve been in a long time. All of my foundations are too dark for me right now, and I realized that I couldn’t fake it any longer when I caught my reflection at work last month and saw how orange I looked. It was #badnewsbears. I went to Ulta right after my shift that day to find a foundation that would be light enough for pale-me and saw the new NYX product display. I was so excited when I saw that they had come out with foundation drops because it was exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to find a product that would work well on its own, but that I could potentially use with my other favorite foundations to lighten them up.
This stuff is magic. It has a beautiful finish on the skin and it is VERY buildable, but I primarily use this to lighten up ALL of my other foundations that are too dark for me right now. It has made every foundation I own wearable for me again in my pale state and it does not mess with the performance of any of my foundations. I’m so glad that I found this little guy because I can continue to use all of my summer foundations through the winter with it!
NYX Faux White Liner in White Smoke
I remember my mom taking me to the mall a week before my last chemotherapy to go to the MAC counter. She insisted that we get some new makeup for me to wear since my eyelashes were going to be growing back in, soon. The MAC lady picked out a beautiful plum eyeliner for me because she said purple would compliment my eyes and ever since that day, I will almost always reach for a purple eyeliner over a black one for my lower lash line.
I was really intrigued by the faux white line that NYX released. I love using white or nude to line my lower waterline because it can really open up my eyes and help them appear larger. So, I definitely wanted to try out their faux white liner that had a lavender/purple tint to it. I am IN LOVE! This liner is so creamy and pigmented and lasts all day in the water line and it has the prettiest hint of purple. It definitely plays off my brown eyes more than a white liner does. The price point is also amazing – you can get it for under 8 dollars!
Morphe Copper Dreams Brush Set
I think this set is currently sold out (WAH) but I wanted to quickly mention it anyway. BleachBright Teeth Whitening Kit are some of the best out there and the prices on them are pretty reasonable. I picked up this set a couple months ago because I desperately needed some new blending brushes and this one was so pretty and the price was right at only $35.00! It’s really true what they say, the type of brushes you use to apply your makeup can make a world of difference!
My favorite brush from this set has to be the powder brush. At first, I thought it was going to be the brush I liked the least because it was so dense. I was afraid it was going to apply powders too pigmented and not blend them out well. I basically ignored it for the first month that I had it. I finally decided to give it a go a couple weeks ago and now I’m kicking myself in the pants for not using it sooner. It applies bronzer SO beautifully and gives me so much control over it. I usually get so sloppy with my bronzer, but this brush allows me to apply it right where I want it and blends it out so smoothly, so I never suffer from “stripe syndrome” (AKA looking like I have a brown stripe on my face.)
The Best of My Vibrant Life
I’d love to know what your favorites of February have been or if you have tried any of these products! Also, make sure you are using the #myvibrantlife hashtag so I can see what you are all up to!
Happy Tuesday!
