Makeup Academy is a wallet friendly cosmetic company from the UK. I first heard of the brand while watching one of Lauren Luke’s videos. I requested a few of their eyeshadows during a swap with my friend Rae and received shades 5, 6, and the subject of this review, 18. Makeup Academy calls their single eyeshadows “super pigmented, smooth, and easy to apply, these are a must have item from Makeup Academy”. Shade 18 is one of only 5 matte eyeshadows in the range. Each eyeshadow contains 2g and retails for £1 ($1.60 USD). Click through for a full review. 

Swatches of 1, 2, and 3 coats of Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto Mascara

Loova is a local Pittsburgh based company that specalises in “hand made bath and body product bursting with essential oils to sooth, revitalize, and relax your body, mind, and soul.” A while back I was out to lunch with Dean and stopped at their shop in Station Square and picked up three of their Mini Bath Blasters. I’ve always thought bath bombs and the like were a silly thing to spend money on, but Loova’s are pretty reasonably priced, selling for $2.50 each, or 3/$6 or 6/$12. I picked up two in theirSweet Pea scent, and one in Citrus Bliss. Loova offers eight scents total. Loova says that the size of their mini bath blasters shouldn’t fool you because they’re “packed full of cocoa butter and yummy oils to moisturize and sooth.” Loova products can be bought through the brand’s website, at their two stores in Station Square and Castle Shannon, and at specialty boutiques throughout the country. Loova products are handmade right here in Pittsburgh, and of course they’re cruelty free. Click through for the full review

 

 Avon’s new Glow Bronzing Gel is a “lightweight, buildable bronzer that instantly gives you the look of a sunkissed tan.” This innovative new product is promised to be stain and streak free. Avon offers two shades; Light Bronze and Deep Bronze, my review is featuring Light Bronze. This liquid bronzer contains 1 fl oz (30ml), the same amount in a standard foundation. The full price for the Glow Bronzing Gel will be $11, but it’s currrently available for $4.99, which is how much I paid for it.Click through for my thoughts on this product.

 Balea is the home brand of the Canadian drugstore Shopper’s Drug Mart. My friend Steph sent me a packet of their 3-in-1 Cleansing Cloths in a swap a few months ago. I think out of the whole box this was one of the products that excited me the most, I love trying new skincare. Balea describes their 3-in-1 Cleansing Cloths as “an easy and effective way to maintain a complete skincare regimen in just one step. They gently deep clean the skin to remove makeup, minimize pores, and moisturize the skin. Hypoallergenic, oil free, dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested. Gentle on eyes and safe for contact lens wearers”. Balea also promises that these cleansing cloths contain good for you ingredients like chamomile, vitamin e, and triple tea complex.Click through for a full review. 

 Pixi’s much buzzed about Correction Concentrate is a “highly pigmented correcting concealer that instantly erases darkness, softens, and blurs lines. Skin immediately looks fresh, rested, bright, and youthful. This ultimate ‘good night’s sleep in a jar’ camouflage cream is correction perfection in a pot.” This tone corrector contains “Vitamin E to nourish and protect, Vitamin C to brighten and revitalize, Vitamin A for an anti-aging effect, and rose hip extract for it’s cell regenerating and skin elasticity boosting properties.” Pixi is a brand that really appeals to me, but I’ve always felt like the products were overpriced. Luckily, Correction Concentrate is one of the brand’s most affordable products, retailing for $15 for 3g (.1 oz) of product. Pixi is exclusively available in Target, as well as the brand’s website. I bought this concealer for myself as a birthday goody after hearing my favorite YouTuber EmilyNoel 83 rave about it and compare it to pricey products like Benefit’s Erase Paste and Bobbi Brown’s Corrector. Pixi products are cruelty free.Click through for the full review. 

 Essence is a European drugstore brand that offers some pretty unique products, including their Volumizing Lash Powder. Essence calls this product “artificial mini fibers for a false lash effect.” I picked up this lash booster at Ulta for about $3.50. Each jar of Volumizing Lash Powder contaisn .6 oz (1.8g) if fibers. This product was made in Germany, Essence’s home country.This product is not safe for contact lense wearers. Click through for my full review.

 I just received my May Ipsy Bag with the theme of “Spring Fling”. For the first time, Ipsy had lots of of options for what you received. This month, Ipsy partnered with nine brands: NuMe, Macadamia, St. Tropez, Zoya, Anastasia, Pacifica, Juice Beauty, Mirabella, and Yaby. If you aren’t familiar with Ipsy, you can click here to read my “My Thoughts on Ipsy” post. In short though, Ipsy is monthly subscription service that sells for $10/month. Each month you receive 4-5 beauty product samples, deluxe samples, and full size items.Click through to see what I got!