Sunday, June 9, 2013

{Review} Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes

Hey there! Today's review is for a new product my mom actually introduced me to earlier this year. She has a Costco card and is a big fan of their beauty section. She knows that I've been using their Signature Baby Wipes (these!) probably for about the last five years and she thought that I might like to give these makeup wipes a try. They are the Daily Facial Towelettes, ultra mild formula.



According to Costco (click here to see this product on their site) these makeup wipes remove eye and face makeup effectively and are gentle enough to use around the eyes. Now, I NEVER use any kind of makeup removing wipe to attempt to remove eye makeup. I usually use an oil based makeup remover (I used to use Almay and now I use straight up coconut oil) to dissolve the eye makeup. I only use a wipe as a carrier so to speak for the actual eye makeup remover. 

The reason I do not use makeup removing wipes to get rid of eye makeup is that my eyes are very sensitive. Since I started wearing contacts my eyes have become extremely sensitive, especially given that I wear them sometimes from 4 or 5 am to midnight or later. Even the most natural and gentile of makeup wipes still sting and make my eyes red, so honestly I did not have high hopes for these wipes. 



Now, Kirkland markets these towelettes as ultra-mild. I would have to disagree with this. When I attempted to remove my eye makeup with one of these wipes, they stung horribly, even though I kept my eyes closed. For that reason, I can't really speak to how well these remove eye makeup because I honestly did not try to finish removing it with these wipes.

I can however say that these towelettes do an amazing job at removing face makeup. The actual wipes are much larger than any other wipe I've used before and are very damp. In addition, they are soft and have a faint quilted design imprinted on them. They look, feel and smell luxurious.

The dampness of these wipes is a big plus for me. I love that the people at Kirkland put a plastic snap lid on container. I absolutely hate it when there is a large sticker because the wipes always dry out on me. These were perfectly moist until the very last one.  The dampness greatly contributed to a very clean feeling face. Sometimes when I got lazy (not often, I promise lol) I would just use one of these on my face and not feel like I had to wash my face after. They leave your face feeling that clean.

Also, when you buy the large pack you also get several small travel 15 count packs which are very convenient. On the Costco site they are listed as $37.99 for 300. I think my mom bought a pack of 150 in the store, and payed around $15 or $20.

Although I did enjoy using these wipes, because they sting my eyes I will not be repurchasing these. I think I'm gonna stick to their Signature Baby Wipes because not only are they cheaper ($30 for 900, 3 cents per wipe) but I can use them around the eyes without worrying. Take this review with a grain of salt because my eyes are extremely sensitive. If you prefer to use towelettes to remove eye makeup I say give these a try because they are very nice.

Info:

Price: $37.99 for 300 wipes (link), about 13 cents per wipe.

Ingredients: Water, cetearyl isononanoate, ceteareth-20, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, glycerin, cetyl palmitate, ceteareth-12, propylene glycol, chamomilla pecutita (matricaria) flower extract, centaurea cyanus flower extract, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, camellia oleifera (green tea leaf) extract, tocopheryl (vitamin e) acetate, aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, fragrance, methylparaben, propylparaben, sodium citrate, citric acid, disodium EDTA, 2-bromo-2nitropropane-1,3-diol.








Saturday, June 8, 2013

{Favorites} May 2013

Hey there! Been a while since I've done a favorites post, but I figured I'd get back into the swing of things. This past month I've been relying on a few oldies but goodies as well as a couple of new products :)


Eyes:
For the yes I've been using my Shimmer Cubes Plette in 07 from The Body Shop. I bought this during their Black Friday 3 for $30 sale, so I got it for $10, a steal given that the original price was $22. I've been using it daily but as you can tell, except for the brown shade they don't even look dented. You're getting 4g of each shade, so a lot of product that I am never going to finish lol.

For me, this palette is incredibly versatile. I can use it dry for a natural look or wet for a more intense look (though it does mess with the shadows consistency as you can see in the pan). I use the light silvery shade as a highlight for not only my eyes but my entire face. The pink looks beautiful as a shadow or a blush/highlight. I've especially been loving the combo of the pink and the brown. It really brings out my blue eyes. I keep this in my makeup bag because paired with mascara and liner I can do anything from a simple day look to a dark smokey look in minutes just using my fingers. I highly recommend this palette and if you can get it on sale even better!

A word of caution with these, however: they do crease on their own. I always wear them with a primer, especially in the summer.

When you apply them dry they look very natural.

Applied wet they are more intense, both more pigmented and shimmery.

Face:
For the face I've been relying on a couple of oldies but goodies.

I found the Physicians Formula Health Wear Tinted Moisturizer in the shade Ivory to Fair at an Ocean State Job Lot last year for $4 (not the $12-14 I see it for at CVS!) and have since purchased my second tube. This stuff works great for me. It's got a bit more coverage than the average tinted moisturizer, but still feels light. It also seems to dry down after application, so when paired with a powder (lately my Rimmel Stay Matte) it lasts fairly well on my. I'm also loving that it has SPF 50. I don't know if you can still purchase these in regular drugstores but I still see them at Ocean State Job Lot if you're interested. The only downside to this product is that like many other drugstore tinted moisturizers the shade selection is lacking.

I've also been loving Benefit's Highbeam. I bought the smaller size that comes in a travel friendly tube with a doe foot applicator for $10. Honestly, I'm never going to finish this thing. You just need the tiniest little bit of it for dramatic effect. I'm loving how multipurpose it is as well. I use it to highlight my face, as an eyeshadow, I mix it with a cream blush or my tinted moisturizer, sometimes with my lotion. It just gives a beautiful glow.

And a tip: for a bit of an understated highlight put it on your skin first and then apply your base on top of it. That's how I've been wearing it with my tinted moisturizer. I have oily skin so doing the opposite can sometimes be a bit much.



Lips:
For the lips, I've acquired a few new goodies :)

First, Ive been absolutely loving any sheer tinted balms. The Skinnygirl Tinted Lip Balm in Bright Red has been a favorite this past month. Don't let the shade of the balm scare you--it is very sheer. It gives that nice just-been-kissed kind of red lip. Very understated, very moisturizing, and very chic. And best of all? I got it for $2 at Five Below.

Next up is the Jemma Kidd Red Carpet Lip/Cheek Stain and Gloss in Dress Up. It retails for $18, but I got it on clearance for $4 at Target. I'm loving it! It's a purply pink shade that I've been using mostly on my lips. The gloss on the other side is clear and not sticky at all. They pair beautifully and last very well! They have a red shade as well called Glam Up, but they didn't have it on clearance and I didn't want to pay full price.


My only complaint about the stain is the applicator. The stain side has a roller ball and it makes getting a precise application tricky. It can also look patchy if you go over one area too many times trying to get right up the the edge of the lip. I wish it was just another doe foot like the gloss side. My solution has been to use a lip brush or to put it on with a roller ball and then quickly pat it with my finger to blend it out. 

My go to gloss on days I didn't feel like making much effort has been the Victorias Secret Beauty Rush gloss in Melongrageous. It looks pink in the tube it applies clear. This stuff smells DELICIOUS!!! My roommate introduced me to this and I've been in love ever since. I can't even explain it--very sweet and fruity. My favorite scented gloss. Using it always puts me in a better mood. It's a bit stickier than I like, but it lasts well so I can't really complain. 

Finally, I've got the Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate. It's a nice peachy pink lip balm that is multitasking. I use it as a lip balm, a sheer lipstick, and in a pinch as a blush. I love it. It leaves my lips feeling very soft and it the color is so pretty--what's not to like? Well, actually one thing: it's in a pot. I've been such a germaphobe lately and have detested sticking my finger into the pot. I don't know if you can tell, but I've been using a lip brush to apply it (though I used my finger to do the swatch :/ ).

Top to bottom: Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate, Victorias Secret Beauty Rush Lip Gloss in Melongrageous, Jemma Kidd Red Carpet Lip/Cheek Stain in Dress Up, and Skinnygirl Tinted Lip Balm in Bright Red.

And here's how well the Jemma Kidd stain lasts--this picture was taken after about a minute of rubbing with a makeup removing wipe! Pretty good I'd say :)

I hope you enjoyed this post! What have you been relying on this past month? Let me know in comments!

xoxo
Natalie