best summer products you never think of. Playa vox box.

Playa VoxBox

For the sake of full disclosure i received these products complimentary for testing purposes. I was not asked to say certain things or do anything but give my honest opinion on these products throughout the campaign and this was my experience. 

So i received my voxbox in the mail after viewing the sneak preview video online. I pretty much knew what i was getting and what theme this box was. The purpose was to test products that are fabulous for summer and to review them and take great pictures of them. 

We all received the first box of this design. It was a pale pastel purple color with little white designs all over it. It was one of the larger boxes. Very cute. 

Inside there was a full size bottle of franks red hot sauce original, a travel size Colgate Optic White toothpaste, two packets of EVA NYC hair serum towelettes, a coupon for a free full size daisy sour cream squeezables, a coupon for a little money off EVA hair products and a Suave Lotion. I received the coconut scent but it could have been one of six or seven. 

I took a video of me trying the products on my youtube channel. Heres the link. Copy and paste if not clickable. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4gzDDHsmrM
I had never tried Franks Red Hot Original so i opened it and tasted it straight out of the bottle. It tasted like the original, perfect buffalo wings taste in a bottle.  I had a perfect enchilada recipe for this that the squeezable sour cream would be perfect on. 

So i made my Betty Crocker recipe homemade Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas and i added the hot sauce to the chicken as a light marinade then used the sour cream to offset it for this perfect hot and creamy flavoring. It was delicious and the sour cream was awesome. Of course everyone has had Daisy Sour Cream. Im sure we have all had the issue of the dirty spoon leaving food remnants by our inconsiderate husbands or naive children lol. And of course there is the water that collects at the top that is so unappealing. With this those things never happen. The package is a soft, squeezable, pliable plastic pouch with a hard cap with a long, thin oval opening with a plastic waterproof type seal that only opens when product is being pushed out. With that water proofing it is as easy as rinse and close. Yoi do not even have to worry about wiping it and having a messy paper towel. I dont know what took so long but these improvements have been a long time coming and im glad they made it so easy to use and perfectly addressed all the issues but made it so easy to use my two year old could handle it. This is a definite hit!

Next up is the sample of Sonrisa Colgate Optic White Toothpaste. I have just about finished my bottle. It did make my teeth a tad whiter but always made them feel super clean and fresh for at least half the day or until my next meal. This would be great for coffee drinkers and smokers alike. It also does not offer that too harsh almost burning mint taste  that makes everything taste so disgusting for at least an hour and makes it impossible to drink my morning orange juice. This toothpaste offers the same cleanliness, freshness and subtle whitening as most of those without the harshness and grossness we all hate. It is on the pricier side but i think its great for summer. Its white and has a creamy consistency with a subtle mint taste and no grittiness. 

Next is the Eva Nyc serum hair wipes to go. Now i dont personally think these are cost effective for daily use or even responsible to use that often with all the trash it would make. I wish there were a bottle of the serum for that but as far as i know there is not. 
 What these are perfect for is your emergency beauty kit (read in previous post with same title.) Or for travel. Especially flying. We have all been there where we are getting on a flight and TSA is throwing away our most expensive products. Then after that we cant keep any of our things in our carry on bags and end up looking like trolls at the end of our long flight. These are TSA approved and priced nicely. 
 At first i disliked them. As you can see in the first photo i have really dry hair with bad split ends, flyaways and frizz. I have thick hair and use a serum daily. I wouldnt recommend these if you do not already use some type of serum or smoothing, moisturizing product. 
 The towelette was really decent sized unfolded but felt dry. So i grabbed a strand of hair, wrapped the wipe around it and slid it down. It looked wet it was so greasy. I was disgusted (see playa youtube video on my channel.) Then i decided to try it with a light touch on the ends first then on the bangs and flyaways. It was a little greasy looking at first but was normal looking after a couple minutes when my hair sucked up all the moisture. This was third day hair mind you. It also left a nice clean smell to my hair refreshing it without having too strong of a scent. The bottom pic is after using an eva wipe. 

Last but certainly not least was the suave lotion in coconut. Im sure we all had the Suave experience of the nineties. Where they are cheap, smell great but are of horrible quality. Had this not been in my box i wouldnt have given this the time of the day and honestly that would have been pretty unfortunate. Suave has come a long way since i was a kid and a teen. The lotion was not the thin, watery lotions of the past. No, instead it was a nice creamy consistency. It was still water based and not too heavy but still had weight to it. This makes it perfect for summer. It dries quickly and easily while still keeping you moisturized with no sticky or heavy residue if that sort of thing bothers you. Not to mention they have some perfect summer scents and are very affordable. I would recommend this to anyone who uses lotion. 

Overall this box had a ton of great summer products you need to make your summer great so go out and get you some. 
Instagram buzzybee25
Twitter snowbunnybeth90
Subscribe to my youtube link above. 

Life Hacks with dryer sheets! Beauty and home!

                            Dryer Sheets Life Hacks:

Life hacks are a great thing to look up because there's plenty of things you don't know that came from other people's mistakes, misfortunes and bad situations that can make those situations easier on you. 
So here's two situations I think everyone gets in and although I'm sure others have come across the same solution I came up with these by myself from my own experiences. 

These two only require a dryer sheet. If you've read my emergency beauty kit post and you now have one or are in the process of making one this is one thing you can add for these two common situations. 

   How to fix lint on clothes, furniture, etc. With only a dryer sheet:
 First grab your item of clothing. In my most recent youtube video (I will link at the end of this post) I used a pretty big, poofy fleece on the inside sleevless vest. 
But you can use anything. Even furniture. I then took a dryer sheet and started rubbing small areas in circular motions with a little pressure. This should remove any fuzzys. Then if there's a tiny bit left behind just whipe off the area with a firm hand or grab some tape, preferably duct tape and put it on the remaining lint and rip off like you're waxing yourself. Ta da! That's all folks!

 How to fix flyaways in hair with only a dryer sheet. 
 Use any dryer sheet brand or scent. You only need one. If you have those pesky flyaways then definitely do this if you're in a hurry and don't want to weigh your hair down with product or breathe in hairsprays. 
 Brush through your hair and after it's styled grab the dryer sheet, lay flat over your palm and then rub palm with sheet from roots to ends of hair. You don't have to use anything but regular pressure from your hand for this to work. If it didn't work the first time do it a couple more until flyaways are fully subdued. This is a great hack that not only tames flyaways but makes your hair smell and look amazing without weighing your hair down. 

Just a few more that I've learned over time and from others. 

Having to dust your computer screen often? The electronically charged screens around your home, like your tv actually attract dust. Dryer sheets stop that so you can hold off dusting them for a few more days than usual. You can use new or old dryer sheets for all of these remaining hacks. 

After washing chrome hubcaps or even your toaster it can be streaky. Use a used dryer sheet to get a streak free shine. 

Stick on the back of a running fan for a nice, fresh smell in your home. 

Use them as a freshener in your drawers, suitcases, laundry hampers, trash bins, couches, etc. 

Use to clean stained pots and pans just put one in with a pot of boiling water. 

Clean rings around the toilet. You can also use a pumice stone for really stuck on stains. 

Rub on your beautiful body to repel mosquitos without that nasty spray. 

These all work better with fresh dryer sheets but I've heard of people repurposing old used sheets for the same uses. 


 Hope you enjoyed my life hacks and if you did just let me know and I will do more posts like this. 

Always remember to follow my social media. 
Follow on Instagram at buzzybee25 for daily makeup looks, news, swatches and more. 
Twitter snowbunnybeth90
Pinterest callowayelizabeth
Snapchat buzzybee250
Youtube for makeup tutorials, hauls, tips, lifehack vids and so much more at 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6tWa9xZgk5Unq1UrgUCraA?app=desktop

Just copy and paste that link to get to my channel and the lint vid tutorial is the latest vid right now. Enjoy!

Stay beautiful and happy and know that it always gets better. 

Lancome idole Foundation & concealer review.

Lancome Teint Idole Foundation & concealer

 I received the Lancome Teint Idole Foundation stick and concealer complimentary for review and testing purposes. This does not mean that I will say I love something for no reason since I've already received it and only receive free items in order of a list of people when it's my turn and not based on my reviews I wouldn't and don't need to lie to get free things. Like the Loreal air dry it mousse and gluten free food I didn't like some of previously here, on youtube and instagram. 

 NOW ONTO THE REVIEW:

I received the stick foundation in the color Ivoire in 110. I'm a natural dirty dishwater blonde (hair is dyed) and I have light but not quite fair skin with a lot of pink undertones. This color is a near perfect match for me. I'm usually two or three Colors in from the lightest of every foundation collection. 
 I have extremely oily skin with bad acne. I have a really slick face an hour or two after washing if I don't use mattifying products like my favorites GlamGlow Volcasmic Matte moisturizer and Sunday Riley Martian Mattifying Toner. 
 Now the foundation costs about $42 USD at places like Sephora, Macy's, and other high end stores that carry the Lancome line. And as I always say DO NOT purchase high end makeup from anywhere but a retail store that has a great reputation and is well known or you will most likely get completely ripped off with a fake instead of getting a good deal. If you want quality you need to remember you get what you pay for. 
 This foundation is a bit high priced for what it is. Stick foundation has become quite a fad lately and this is Lancomes version. I believe it's right on par with the amount compared to brands like hourglass and Anastasia Beverly Hills stick foundations. What I mean by that is they may have more or less product but you need to use more or less product as well so they all will probably last about the same time. Fortunately this foundation has a lot of pros (despite the fact that I personally would not purchase it after I'm through most likely, but I will get to that later.). For instance you don't need a lot of swipes to get a good coverage. One to two swipes on each side of your face and you're covered. The best way not to waste it would be to spread it out with your fingers, than if you need to you can use a sponge, kabuki or stippling brush to even it out. Although, personally I've never had to do that since it has a perfect finish right from being spread out with fingers. 
 It offers a medium and natural looking coverage at first layer but can be built up easily to full coverage with two or three layers total. I would not personally go beyond that because at that point it's most likely going to feel a bit heavy and probably look that way as well. 
 It dries down immediately to an almost silky and powdery feeling with an airbrush finish. It's not at all sticky which was one of my main fears. I also worried that it would be thick and hard to work with like the Hourglass stick foundation but it's not at all. It's got a perfect finish and a natural feeling. I personally can't stand heavy feeling makeup despite the fact that I need full coverage I still want and need it to look and feel very natural and thin. I get that completely with this. 
 This foundation does not break me out since it's not oily feeling or oil based. So I think it's perfect for those of us with acne because it won't clog the pores as easily as some others like a lot of liquid foundations for example. 
 The foundation does not show texture like sinking into large pores and making them look larger or accumulating around acne and making it stand out. It's pretty amazing really. 
 This foundation is really easy and quick to apply which is one thing I think is a huge plus and almost makes this worth it for the convenience alone. No sponges or brushes to mess with as it just applies straight to the face in an even manner. This is huge as it cuts down my foundation routine from five min to under one. Everyone is busy these days whether it be the classic busy working or stay at home mom or even the teenage girl running late for school or the working woman, etc. This makes it quite easy to evenly put on your skin and cover any imperfections and go on with your day without having to worry. 
 Now the reason I don't think I would purchase this is as previously mentioned. I don't think it would last very long in the grand scheme of foundation lasting times and I can't personally afford $42 every month (granted that's just an estimation. I will come back and edit it when I finish it.). Although I could be completely wrong since you don't have to use much at all. I think this would be worth while to someone who had a bit more money than me that this kind of price and timeline would be practical for as well as someone who needs a really good foundation that's extremely easy to apply and saves you time in the morning. 
 I love it for that reason the most. It's just so quick to make perfect and so damn easy to use! The only other thing I don't like is that it seems a bit unsanitary since you rub it straight on your face so I would suggest washing your face before application in the morning, which you should be doing any way. As for touch ups you should probably just wash your hands and then apply it to your fingers and then to your face so you don't help bacteria breed on your makeup. 
 The lasting power for my skin type is about 6-8 hours with no primer or setting spray. A few more hours with one or both of those things. It has pretty amazing staying power to be honest. I only have one other foundation that could compare on my oily skin and that's the Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation but that stuff feels way too heavy for every day wear. This stuff is perfect for daily wear in my opinion though. 
 I'm still not sure if I would re purchase it. It all depends on how long it lasts. I really do love it but at that price I would need it to last at least a couple months with daily use and touch ups like most of my other foundations at this price point. 
 I would recommend this foundation to friends and family. 

 LANCOME TEINT IDOLE CAMOUFLAGE CONCEALER:

 This concealer comes in a squeeze tube with a pointed top for either precise direct application or controlled application to the brush and fingers, etc. This concealer is full coverage but does not break me out. This has more of a creamy, water based feeling to it instead of feeling oily which is a must for me.  This is absolutely lasting and covers with very little needed. It's $31 USD at the same places that the foundation is sold. This concealer lasts about 6-8 hours with no primer or setting spray. Longer with. My favorite part of this concealer other than it not clogging my pores is the fact that it doesn't sink into any lines. Now I don't have wrinkles but I have dry skin right under my eyes only and when I use concealer it sinks into lines I didn't even know I had there and makes me look really tired with bags under my eyes. The usual reason for that kind of thing is too much product but it seems to happen regardless of the amount I use. That doesn't happen with this concealer and that is just so amazing to me. Because of this I believe this would be perfect for any skin type like extremely dry skin or aging skin as well as extremely oily and acne prone skin. This is a great concealer. Unfortunately it is a bit pricey and the bottle is only about as thick and long as my thumb is, but if you're like me and need makeup that is high performance this is going to be perfect for you. 

All in all I would give both a 4/5 stars. The price for these particular products is what bothers me the most but I can definitely see how they would be worth it even though it would prevent me from purchasing it in the future unfortunately. These are great high quality products and I do believe anyone of any skin type or color would love these and their huge selection. 

Follow me on instagram for daily makeup and hair looks using these products and more listed daily with each look @buzzybee25

(Photo is of me wearing the foundation and concealer. Every photo on this post is owned and shot by me. You have permission to use as long as credit and a link is given with the photo(s).)

Twitter snowbunnybeth90
Facebook.com/buzzybee25
Youtube
Pinterest callowayelizabeth
Snapchat buzzybee250

Remember you're beautiful and loved!

I was not paid for this review and it is my honest opinion. I only received the items complimentary. I received these products complimentary and free for reviewing purposes from influenster. 

Lime crime Rose Velvet-Tins Review!

     LIME CRIME ROSE VELVET-TINS REVIEW!
      

To see video check out my youtube at this link (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6tWa9xZgk5Unq1UrgUCraA) and search my recent videos for that. Don't forget to subscribe! It makes me want to keep doing this if I know you guys are loving it. Now onto the review. 

 These are semi new as of the last few weeks. They came out around the time of the diamond crushers glosses. I had been wanting to try this brand for quite some time as a matte lipstick with a velvet finish and feeling are my absolute fav. I love to be comfortable but look gorgeous at the same time. Not to mention with a real velvet finish you get that gorgeous fleshy lipped look as opposed to that deeply lined, dried raisen lipped look that you get from most matte liquid lipsticks. My go to for a perfect velvet finish that feels like it's not there and lasts forever is the Ciate London Liquid Velvet Lipstick. This is the holy grail in velvet lipstick so this is what I'm comparing this formula against. Just in case you've tried the formula let's move onto the tins and get into the formula after that. 

 These tins come in five or six different color collections. I believe it was five and then the Red Rose Velvetine Liquid Lipstick color was released and another color tin was released to add this color. These tin colors do not correspond with the colors inside the tins. For example there is a blue tin, a purple tin, etc. Named after the color of the tin despite there being none of those colors inside the tin. 

 The price point of one full size liquid lipstick from this brand is approx. $20. The tins are $28.50 approx. The tins include three minis. These are about 1/2 sizes. These tins include either two metallic shades and one matte or two matte and one metallic. These tins are a great way to sample a good amount of colors without having to invest an arm and a leg to try a few colors. 

 The tins are very pretty. Pretty enough to keep on your vanity or in your bathroom out on a shelf. The lipstick holder mind is removed very easily so that you can even use the tins as storage for anything from beauty samples, to jewelry to your Lush Cosmetics bar shampoo and conditioner. 

 Now the formula is pretty decent. It isn't any longer lasting than the usual matte liquid lipstick. You will need to re apply after eating, drinking and just after a few hours of wear if that. That's even if you don't do anything with your mouth. It's not drying at all but can sink into lines slightly as time goes on. It's thicker in consistency and finish than Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks but thinner than a tube lipstick. The color selection is very unique and these are colors you can't find anywhere. I personally think that's why this brand of lipsticks is so well loved. This lipstick leaves a slightly velvet finish along with a thicker lipstick look. 

I would definitely recommend purchasing these if you are going to use at least two of the colors because who uses up an entire tube of lipstick ever? This way you get three Colors for $28 as opposed to one lipstick you'll never finish for $20. This is a beautiful gift fit for anyone from a little girl to a grown and mature woman. These tins are adorable and so pretty and there's a ton of colors and finishes for everyone. 

Did you buy one? I'd love to see yours. 

Instagram for daily makeup looks and more @buzzybee25
Twitter @snowbunnybeth90
Facebook.com/buzzybee25
Pinterest callowayelizabeth
Youtube link is two blogs previous

What my bipolar depressive episodes feel like

.

 I feel like this a lot. Especially at night when I can't sleep, which is most nights. That may be my schedule now but even when I want to I can't. I'm never thinking about anything particular... At first. Then everything slowly creeps back in that I've either thought I've dealt with and let go or built a wall around and forgotten. I plaster a smile on my face like most of us do but the difference is mine is hardly real. When I try to describe the feeling to myself I can't. I couldn't even begin to know where to start and even I don't get it. Then it comes back. 
 It's a deep sadness. It's not the kind of sad you feel when someone hurts your feelings and you cry and feel better tomorrow or even an hour from then. No, this sadness is a darkness and in the darkness is who I am. The sadness starts as a little bit of a headache, then anger. If anyone tried to talk to me or does anything I think is even a little annoying, which is usual everything, I think horrible thoughts about them and have to get away. Then I'm alone. Again. That deep down feeling of alone that I hate but can't live without. I have knots in my stomach. It's not small tight knots like when you're nervous, but more like one huge rock that fills me up all the way out and all the way up. It chokes me. I can't breathe. I don't even know if I want to but that's for later. I can barely swallow. Then when I do it's like I'm swallowing something even when I know I'm not. Then the thoughts creep in. I "feel" this anxious screaming in my head. Like a million people at once but there's no discernible words. I'm shaking. Just slightly. I'm smoking trying to calm my nerves. I'm watching t.v. On my phone to distract me but it only works briefly. Then I'm back. Back in my head. Alone. In the darkness. I feel the tears welling up about now. Again. They're not the kind that come easy when you're newly hurt. Instead these are the kind that come from years of pain, rejection, mistakes made, love lost, life lived, life lost, and the current situation in which I'm stuck. No one ever realized how lucky they are to have people and family who care and love them unconditionally and want the best for them so much that they sacrifice and plan for their success by saving for school, caring about their grades, helping them with college, etc. I know what I didn't have and that hurts too. These Are deep cuts. Too deep to scar over anytime soon. I remember as a teenager. I used to sleep around a lot. I was a "late bloomer". Never pretty by societys standards and ignored and teased by everyone. Then boys became hormonal and I became easy bait. I took it. I thought they had to love me. It's the only thing I'm good at. Then they always just went back to their girlfriends. Why would I think that I was special? How naive. You'd be surprised how far my low self esteem let me fall. That's more of it. The tears that fall aren't new. No, these are years that fall as well. Then I think of how cruel everyone can be. Don't worry. I'm not that crazy. I don't blame anyone else for my misfortunes. Everything that's happened to me I've let happen. I get that. I trust way too easily and find good even where there is none and am surprised in the end when I get hurt. People wonder why I stay alone. Why I don't go out. Don't make friends. Have bad social anxiety. Hell, most of them don't even believe me that I'm not the typical 25 year old. My, my, how looks can deceive. 
 Then more thoughts creep in. Why be here at all. I know I have things to live for and those who need me who came from me but I hate the thought of never becoming better. Life never getting easier. Never being given a chance to move forward and buy that big nice house or even a house at all. Hell, I can't even pay my bills. I'm living paycheck to paycheck in threat of everything always being shut off. There's worse still but there's just some things that aren't appropriate even here. 
 I often think about ending it but I'm too chicken shit at this point. So instead to stop the pain, or instead dull those senses I cut. No one ever knows. So it can't be for attention like so many like to think of people like me. I've been doing it since I was ten. I stopped a for a couple years until about a year ago. When I cut it feels good. It makes me feel like maybe it's possible to feel something. Anything at all. It also distracts from my emotional and mental pain. Then eventually I fall asleep and sleep and sleep so I don't have to deal with my life unless absolutely necessary. 
 Lord knows I've tried everything. Drugs for one. Who thinks they're gonna become addicted? We all believe it's not gonna happen to us. That we have total control. Until it does happen.  I've been clean for a while now. I'm not on any psych meds which is part of my problem. I was a lot better off when I was as a teenager. I tried to dull my pain and escape with drugs. Like a lot of people do with drinking, sex, food, shopping, etc. I stopped that because it was killing me. No I'm not going to sit here and say that's why I stopped. My god! That's what I hoped would happen! Unfortunately or fortunately, whichever way you look at it, that never happened to me. 
 Now when I feel that way my addictive personality seeps right back in and I cry while I do my hair and then force myself to stop while I do my makeup and get dressed up. Trying to put a mask on to make myself believe I'm ok and even happy. A lot of times I buy into it. I'm good at it now. It's even real to me. But then night time comes around and when the world is asleep and I'm truly alone again the truth comes back into my head. 
 To be quite honest I don't just give into my madness often. I've slowed down on the cutting and have figured out a way to cause maximum pain with the least amount of damage so no one knows when I've done anything like that. Most days I can avoid it. I take a bath with all of my aromatherapy and bright colors. Then do my makeup and look at the entire sephora site nightly to make myself feel better because these things truly do make me smile and feel better even when it's temporary. But even then another malady creeps in. Body dysmorphic disorder. I sit in front of a mirror or naked in the bath and tell myself how gross I am. I try to starve myself but then I'm week and I binge. Then I make myself sick to try and reverse it. I would give anything for plastic surgery. Just to fix my stomach and maybe some bigger boobs ;) I felt so good about myself for the first time ever when I got my breasts done. After the baby the weight I gained was horrid and I.would give anything for a gym membership but that's not available to someone with my income when I have other priorities. But even if I did get skinny there's all this skin from my c sections that sticks around and makes me look so much worse. I feel so ugly all the time. I hate myself every second of every day. I just am so unhappy. 
 The only thing that truly makes me happy is my son. He's so beautiful but that too is tinged with sadness. I can love him more than anything buy I know he will always be needing things I cannot provide. I just wasn't fortunate enough to.get a good head start and my mistakes will now always keep me here. It's sad he will have to suffer in poverty like I had to with my mother. I love her so but that didn't change the fact that I went hungry two weeks out of every month and only ate once a day at school during those weeks after the food stamps ran out. That's what I've done some pretty crazy things for money. Because I vowed that no matter what I have to do to myself, even if it hurts me more than anything has ever hurt me, I will sacrifice anything so he won't ever have to endure those things that a child should never experience. 
 I feel bad because the loss of my other children that I can love this one and be there physically. That too is hard. But he does make me smile and in the end I know that's what I was put here for. 
 A lot of this may sound crazy or disorganized because I was typing as I'm actually reliving these feelings once again and not giving a play by play of something past so I'm sorry. And I'm sorry if this is a bit graphic or weird but if I can help one person understand this illness or another know they're not alone than me coming out like this is worth it. 

Best high end foundations for extremely oily skin and acne.

Best Foundation For Oily & Acne Prone skin!

 After years and years of research and trial and error. Hundreds of dollars spent. Hours in The mirror. Days testing. Makeup returns and exchanges. I've finally found the perfect Medium to Full coverage foundations for everyone. That includes those who prefer powder, those who love liquid, those who like liquid but never thought they could wear it because of their skin, etc. 

 Firstly, a foundation is a great thing to even out the skin, blur large pores, discoloration and acne BUT everything has it's place. For instance, if you're essentially wearing a concealer as your foundation you're sure to break out. Not to mention your acne and discoloration will be a lot more likely to come through throughout the day. To cover these things you need to start with a concealer. Concealer is basically a super pigmented and focused foundation. It will cover blemishes, redness, dark circles, scarring, etc. And last all day if you have the right concealer. There's so many concealers that serve different purposes like color correction (erase paste by Benefit) or under eyes (it cosmetics has a wonderful one.) Or any number of issues. My favorite is going to be an all purpose concealer that will cover all of those problems and stay there. I've tried many different ones from all price points and the very best is Anastasia Beverly hills concealer. Its oil free, blends easily, a little bit goes a looong way and a years worth or longer of concealer only costs you $20. This stuff is $20!! It's pigmented enough to cover tattoos but is still breathable and lasts all day long by itself or on top of primer. On days I'm in a hurry I cover my blemishes with this stuff and pop a translucent powder over it (Laura Mercier Translucent Powder) and I'm confident enough to go. I have extreme acne, redness, scarring, large pores, dark circles etc. So that's really saying something!

 Now you can wear a primer and there's plenty of those to serve different purposes like filling in large pores, helping acne, color correction and so much more. I haven't found a holy grail primer that makes a huge difference all day long or makes my makeup last longer or look better but I have been using Benefit Porefessional primer below Benefit Porefessional Matte Rescue which is often mistaken for a primer but it is not. It's meant to go on top of primer to stop oil throughout the day. I honestly don't notice a huge difference but I use it anyway. I really have always loved and come back to Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. They come in a variety of Primers for a variety of skin issues or the original. A little goes a long way but it is a bit spendy. Fortunately they sell smaller sizes that are about $16 so you can buy as you need it. 

 Next and last before we get into the foundation is another thing that really helps and that is setting sprays and translucent powders. Most of the time we need a matte foundation. Dewy just makes us more oily so I don't recommend powder from the point of finishing your makeup as it will make you look powdery. It is however great for mid day shine control. Swipe a little on mid day and your back to matte. 
 Setting sprays on the other hand are great! Itkeeps my makeup looking as perfect as it did when I finished it at the end of the day. Even if I sleep on it mid day I wake up and my eye and face makeup hasn't budged. The only one I have tried is Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray Original. Although they also have a B6 spray, a moisturizing spray and an oil control spray. I just love the original so I don't mess with it.  This can be a bit spendy as well but it lasts a while. The full size is around $30 and the half size is about $16. 

 These things all prolong the life of your foundation but these foundations are amazingon their own. I've made sure to test them that way as well although they can be even better with the above products in the way they look and last. Those things are not at all necessary except for the concealer for acne or extreme discoloration. 

 First and a long time favorite is Christian Dior Airflash Foundation. This was the original airbrush spray foundation that started the fad. It's been well loved ever since. You can either spray evenly over your entire face and then blend by pressing in with finger tips or Beauty Blender or spray onto foundation brush or concentrated spots on your face and treat it as you would any liquid foundation. I have an in depth review of this on the blog so i won't spend too much time but let's get into the good and the bad. The good. This foundation gives a truly airbrush, matte finish. It is full coverage and covers most imperfections all by itself. It looks perfect and lasts all day long without any special products. It's super easy to apply and blend into a natural look. It feels light and like your skin can breathe. The bad. It can show a little bit of texture like a lot of matte foundations. By texture i mean it can show the pores and bumps on your skin. It's nothing major and a primer or setting spray combats this. This foundation is $62 usd.

 Next foundation is the Christian Dior Forever Foundation. This is my current love. I was getting really sick of the unnatural mask look of the super matte formula. It seemed that i would never be able to find anything different that would work for me. Finally i did. I got a free sample by asking for it at Sephora. She made it for me right there straight out of the bottle. I used it once and ordered it online immediately. I've been using it daily for a week now with no intentions of stopping. This foundation somehow gives a matte look with a slight dewy or bright finish. The best way to describe the finish is that it looks like skin. Perfect, better than natural skin. It doesn't accentuate any areas that arent smooth or break me out. It also lasts all day long with the same perfect skin look as when you applied it. It's super easy to apply. It's a bit more on the liquid side as opposed to the thick and creamy type. That doesn't detract at all from the coverage though. This stuff is buildable from medium to super full coverage and you need very little to cover your entire face and jaw line. This bottle will last you forever. There is no bad that i can think of other than the high end price which is $50 Usd. 

 Next up is the Marc Jacobs Remarcable Foundation. This foundation is $55 a bottle but you need a pea sized dot on the four corners of your face and that's it. That will give full coverage to your entire face. This is super full coverage and blends easily. It lasts all day and then some. Like the rest of these oily skin doesn't make it slide around or come off.  The bad is that it does have the potential to cause break outs and clog pores. Although unlikely, I have heard this from a couple people. 

 Next up is Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation. At around $42 Usd this is the highest coverage, longest lasting foundation of them all. Oil and shine will not come through this stuff. It lasts a minumum of 16 hours and covers every blemish and pore and more. This has an ultra matte finish that looks almost like velvet. This is a hard working foundation. If I'm going to be sweating a lot or know I'm having an extremely oily day this is the stuff i wear. Unfortunately, my skin can't breathe. It feels like I'm wearing a bit of a heavy mask. Because of this it's not an every day foundation. I only wear this on special occasions or very sweaty or oily days. Some people complain of break outs and oxidation. That's where the color turns darker after it's hit air and dries. That didn't happen to me but it's probably a good idea to test them first to find a good color match. 

 Now the last three are going to be full coverage powder foundations. 

 The first and second cheapest of all of these foundations and the one i wear most often is the Tarte Cosmetics Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation Powder. 
This stuff is $36. You apply this with any brush meant for powder. I prefer a Kabuki brush. It applies quickly and evenly and is full coverag3 with not a lot of product. There's a lot of product in this so it's definitely worth the money in my opinion. My skin can breathe, it doesnt clog pores, it helps suck up oil, lasts most of the day and there's a huge selection of colors and undertones for a perfect match. There's absolutely nothing bad i can say about this stuff. This is the best everyday foundation or foundation for during a break out when you need the least amount of product on your face. 

Second powder and another Christian Dior Foundation. Diorskin Forever Flawless Fusion Makeup. It's $54 and i have all the same things to say about it as the Tarte. The only difference is that it has finer powder particles so i believe it blurs pores and imperfections even better so there's hardly any texture. 

Last but not least is the cheapest. It's Bare Minerals Original Mineral Make up foundation powder. $38 for starter kit with other products, $40 for deluxe size and around $28 for original size. This is exactly the same in my opinion as the Tarte powder but is more of a mineral makeup. Some would say it's more natural. This is a great one but does require touch ups about once or twice a day depending on how oily you are. Love the starter kits and the deluxe size they came out with at an economical price point this holiday season. As of right now it's still available at Sephora.

And that's it every one. Years of drugstore makeup failures, makeup causing break outs, hours of experimenting and so much more i have a list of holy grail products. Hopefully i can help some of you avoid all of that. 

Also skincare is so important but that's dor another post. An honourable mention that i can't leave out is Christian Dior Dreamskin perfector cream. It's a primer, an anti aging serum perfector. It immediately takes away all redness, reduces pore size and discoloration and evens skintone. Over time it takes away fine lines and wrinkles and even healed my acne and helped lessen my oil production. It is costly at $115 1oz or $150 1.7oz. There's also a foundation in this line that's full coverage and has this serum in it but i have not had the luxury of trying it yet. That is $82 for the compact and then approx $46 for the refills for the compact when the first one is empty. 

Check out my daily makeup looks on instagram at buzzybee25

Follow on snapchat buzzybee250

Like this blog on facebook.com/buzzybee25

Youtube link at bottom of last blog post and in bio on instagram

Twitter snowbunnybeth90

You're beautiful! So have a beautiful day!
                       

My adventures in Gluten Free Food! Is it real or just cardboard?

         My adventures in gluten free eating!         

After many thoughtful reviews and hours answering questions I received my complementary VoxBox from Influenster. 
 There was a bag of Glutino Pretzels and three coupons for three free items of food. 
Those items, one each, were from the brands .evoL Foods, Udi Gluten Free Foods and Earth Balance. 

 I went to my local Kroger in Louisville, KY and looked around the organic foods section of the store. These brands were hard to find and were dwarfed by other brands like Simple Truth so I had to spend an unnatural amount of time for a mother on the go searching for each item. It was actually pretty frustrating. Then when I did find the specified brands there was only one to two items each to choose from which left my selection very small. Granted this is no Trader Joes or Rainbow Foods if you're from the midwest but I never even considered a grocery store brand would have such slim pickings. By grocery store brand I of course mean a brand big enough to be carried and sold by big chain grocery stores. 
 My point is I wish there was more of a selection available at main grocery locations

 Once I found the Earths Balance logo I grabbed the cheeze it type crackers. It was all they  had. They look just like the original cracker they are formed after but instead offer a gluten free and vegan, plant based option.  Now I'm a junk foor queen. I don't eat a lot and don't have an eating problem  and am not obese by any means but I love my sweet and savory foods. I love how food tastes and me and diet foods just don't get along. Lol. I gave these a try anyway because I vowed to taste at least every product given to me for moral reasons (millions of starving people) and efficiency reasons. 
 So back to the cracker. Again it looks, feels and smells like a cheese it. I popped one in my mouth after giving my toddler a few, and tasted it. It was surprisingly good! There's this real cheese taste that actually tastes like expensive, real cheddar. There was a little bit of aftertaste of that real cheddar taste but not much. It was salty enough and had a great crunch to it. The consistency and feel of it in your mouth is exactly that of the name brand and well loved cheese it. My two year old son liked them as well. I would say this is definitely a great choice for a healthy snack for anyone for any reason. If you can eat the same thing but it be healthier than why wouldn't you.  Not to mention it's vegan. It almost makes the vegan lifestyle seem not so hard or crazy sounding. 

 Next I grabbed the Udis Gluten Free hot breakfast sandwiches. Again there were only two things from this brand, both being breakfast sandwiches. One more diet like with turkey sausage, egg whites and Swiss cheese, and the other with american cheese, regular sausage and regular eggs. I chose the more regular. You have to wrap it in a paper towel and then defrost in the microwave and then stop, turn over and microwave fully. It all takes less than 3 minutes but if you're just looking for a press it and forget it this probably isn't it. Not to mention it's about $5 for two sandwiches which seems like a lot to me compared to a sausage mcmuffin for a dollar but organic food is always a bit more. 
 This sandwich looked unappealing because of the so called bread. They are two thin bread like wafers. They aren't rock hard but they're not bread soft by any means. I bit into it and it tasted alright actually. The bread was tasteless and firm and that through me off a bit so I removed the bread wafers and ate the middle of the sandwhich. Everything between it tasted just like it should. I would even say it was really good. The cheese was cheesy and the sausage was savory and the egg had some fluff and some taste to it. It was all great. The bread would take a bit of getting used to but it's an alright sandwich. No I wouldn't purchase these but for anyone whos on a gluten free diet I would definitely give these a shot. 

Next was from the brand .evoL and they had two frozen dinners and some frozenl bean and cheese burrito type things. I went for the goat cheese ravioli. Goat cheese is creamy. Like as creamy as cream cheese if you've never had it. It's yummy. So I popped it in the microwave and followed the simple directions and waited. It didn't take long at all and it was actually smelling really good while I was cooking it. I take it out and really give it a good look. Compared to the picture on the box it's markedly different. Of course it's always that way yes but I was a bit let down by the number of ravioli in this $6 dinner. There were only 3. For that price I'd expect a full bowl as pictured. Or at least a couple more. They were also a bit light on the cheese. Good thing I had a salad or I wouldn't have been full or been able to call this dinner. In it's own it's more like lunch at these sizes. 
 So onto the taste. The cheese was creamy enough. It tasted great. Just as it should. No weird texture at all. The sauce was really creamy and savory. None of this needed any extra seasoning. Not even salt. The veggies in it were nice and tasty and an added flavorful touch. I would purchase this again but the price will probably prevent me from doing that. As a young family we just don't have the money to spend that on a main course for one. If you're on an organic or gluten free diet I would give this a shot. 

Last in the box I received from Influenster was a snack size bag of Glutino pretzels. I love pretzels so I was reluctant to try these because I love my classic pretzel. I bit into a couple of these and gave them a good try. They taste fine. Just like a normal pretzel. The taste is exactly the same. I get why it's the number one gluten free snack. The search for normalcy probably brought you here because they're darn close. The only thing that was at all different was the texture. It was almost like the inside of the pretzel was made out of the outside of the pretzel. Less bready would be a great way to describe it. My friends and family loved them. Some said they even preferred them because they didn't dry your mouth out like normal pretzels and then they finished off the bag. Most of these praises coming from someone who doesn't like pretzels. 

 All in all my day of being a gluten free foodie wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Most of these foods were pretty decent. I liked a lot of foods and the ones that I didn't love were fine tasting and just had weird textures or something. I didn't dislike any of these which is surprising because I'm pickier than most kids. All of these foods would probably be a great thing to try if you are on a gluten free diet and are trying to try foods that taste as close to normal as possible. 

Thanks for reading my blog. I mostly blog about beauty things but that will blog about anything so follow and enjoy. 
Social media:
Instagram: buzzybee25
Snapchat: buzzybee250 
Twitter:  snowbunnybeth90
Facebook.com/buzzybee25
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6tWa9xZgk5Unq1UrgUCraA?app=desktop

I WAS NOT COMPENSATED FOR THIS POST; HOWEVER, I AM CREATING THIS POST AS PART OF A CONTEST