Benefit Dandelion Boxed Blush Review~!

Hey Guys~!

Today I'm reviewing one of my favorite blushes, the Benefit Boxed Powder in Dandelion. I have wanted to review this for a long time, and now I'm finally getting around to writing it. So let's start~~!

I absolutely love the packaging for this blush. I think it's super cute and unique compared to other blushes, that are often in compacts. The design itself is really simple, but looks nice. Also I really like that there is a mirror inside. However I am worried to travel with this since I'm not sure how sturdy it is.

There are many other boxed blushes, but I got this one because I think that the color is the most natural looking. Dandelion is a muted light pink with tiny flecks of gold, which are barely noticeable.

Here's a swatch. . .

Like I said, this is meant to be a natural blush, so it is pigmented in that sense. But if you want something bolder, than this probably isn't the blush for you. Unlike many other powder blushes I've tried, the texture is really smooth, and not really powdery at all. When I wear it, it looks very even and natural, which is really nice too.

This blush costs $28, which may sound kind of pricey. However I've often found drugstore blushes to be really bad quality. Also I don't wear blush all the time, so this will last me for a while. Therefore I think it's worth it. But if you have a favorite blush, this may not be worth it.

Packaging: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Pigmentation: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Texture: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Price: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Overall I really do like this blush. I often have problems finding blushes that I do like, but this one really works for my skin tone. Also the formula doesn't look splotchy or anything like that on my skin, which I do like. So if you don't really like drugstore blushes, but want a natural one, give this a try.

I hope you guys enjoyed this review. If you've tried the Benefit Boxed Powders, let me know your thoughts on them in the comments below. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

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Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate Review~!

Hey Guys~!

I have another review for you guys on a product I've mentioned many times before and this is the Korres Lip Butter. Now if you've been reading my blog for a long time, you would know how much I love tinted lip balms and this one is no exception. So let's start~~!

The packaging for this is pretty simple, a container with a screw on lid. I don't know if it's just mine, since I haven't read many other reviews on this, but the cap for mine sometimes gets stuck and it's really hard to open it sometimes. 

There are seven colors available on the Korres website, and there is a nice range overall. I chose Pomegranate because I like the pink/coral tint.

Here's a swatch . . .

It is a lip butter, so isn't supposed to be as pigmented as a lipstick. However it is much more pigmented than I expected it to be. I really do like the color and the texture is really unique. It's almost like a jelly consistency, similar to the Holika Holika Aqua Jelly B.B. Cream. It applies on very smoothly and I do find the formula to be very moisturizing. 

The price for one of these is $12, which for this quality a product, I think is really good. I have had it for a while and I haven't really made a dent in it. Some drugstore lip products that are this nice a quality are around this price, and it is one of the less expensive high end lip products, so overall I do think the price is reasonable.

Packaging: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Color Range: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Pigmentation: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Texture: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Formulation: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Price: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I really, really like this product. If you have the money for it, I'd definitely recommend it. There is a color I think for everyone, and if you have chapped lips like me, then this lip butter will not only moisturize them, but also give them color. I do want to get some of the other colors from this line, since I really enjoy it.

I hope you guys enjoyed this review. If you've tried any of the other shades the Korres lip butters come in, suggest it in the comments below and maybe I'll try it out. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

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Mini Update~!

Hey Guys~!

Right now I'm really sick ₊·(ϱ॔﹏ᵕ๑॓)‧* which would be slightly okay since it's almost vacation.

However I have a ton of exams tomorrow and I'm going on a trip in two days. . . This was literally the worst time to get sick. 

I was planning on filming a video today, but I feel so sick right now, and I really need to get better before my trip. 

So I sadly I won't have a video for you guys, but I will try to have a few posts for when I'm away. 

I'm really sorry you guys, since this blog means so much to me and I hate letting you guys down. 

Hopefully I'll have a review or two for you guys, and I do have my yearly favorites for you all to look forward to.

Thank you guys so much for everything and I hope to be well soon~!!

xo

Alyss

Jordana Fabu Liner Review~!

Hey Guys~!

Recently I've been improving on my eyeliner techniques, and have been wearing eyeliner more often. I thought I'd review one of my current favorite liquid eyeliners, the Jordana Fabu Liner. I think you can only buy this Walgreen's, so if you've seen it anywhere else please let me know. So let's start~~!

The packaging for this eyeliner is pretty simple and plain. I don't think it needs to be anything visually exciting, but I did think it was boring. I really hate it when makeup has either cheap gold packaging or writing, and this is no exception.

The eyeliner comes in two colors, black and brown. The one I own is the black one. It's a felt tip eyeliner, which I find the easiest to apply. The felt tip is very sturdy, and it hasn't broken or frayed like other felt tip liners I've used.

Here's a swatch of the eyeliner . . .

Like I said before, I really like how easy this is to apply. Also it applied very pigmented and evenly. My only problem I have is that this eyeliner isn't waterproof. I don't have oily eyelids or anything, but I just prefer using waterproof products around my eyes.

Also I took a picture of me wearing it. Here's me wearing it to do this winged eyeliner. . .

Price wise, this is great. It only cost $2.99 which is one of the cheapest liquid liners at the drugstore. I really do like how it works, so I'm really happy it isn't super expensive.

Packaging:  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Pigmentation: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Formulation: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Price: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Overall:  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Overall, I really like this eyeliner. The main issue I have is that it's not waterproof. If you don't need your eyeliner to be waterproof, this is definitely one I would recommend. But besides that it's well pigmented and the formula is really nice too.

I hope you guys enjoyed this review. If you know any liquid felt tip eyeliners that are waterproof, please recommend it to me in a comment below. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

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Sleek Blush by 3 {Lace} Review~!

Hey Guys~!

Over the summer I posted a Korean and English Cosmetics Haul, {click here} to check it out, where I showed this blush palette from Sleek. I already reviewed the single blush from Sleek I got, {click here} to read it, and since I liked that one so much, I had high hopes for this palette. I've been playing around with it, and now it's ready for a review. So let's start~~!

The packaging for this is the same as Sleek's other blushes, it's a matte black compact with shiny black writing. I really enjoy how simple and classic it looks. Also I really like how large the mirror is, which is really nice.

This palette comes with three blushes, none of which you can buy individually I think. The three colors are Crochet, a warm toned matte coral, Guipure, peach with gold shimmer, and Chantilly, a matte orange.

Here are some swatches. . .

The pigmentation of these blushes is great. They can be worn lightly, but the color can be built up. For me, I have to wear them lightly. Also the texture and formulation is great. They all are smooth, and not chalky. Usually matte powders have a lack of pigmentation and texturally feel bad, but the two matte blushes are really nice. The shimmery one is nice too, the shimmer isn't too bold and it leaves a nice glow to the skin.

This palette cost around $13, which I think is really worth it. The three blushes are decently sized and the quality of the three is really nice too. There are blushes these colors and this good a quality that cost way more. And when you think about it, each blush costs around $4.30, which is cheaper than most blushes at the drugstore.

Packaging: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Pigmentation: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Texture: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Price: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Overall, I really enjoy this blush palette. The colors are really nice and are well pigmented. And for the quality, it's really cost effective. I definitely want to try some of the other blush palettes from Sleek, and maybe some of their other products too.

I hope you guys enjoyed this review. If you've tried anything from Sleek, suggest it in the comments below and I may try it  out.  Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

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Ten of my Favorite Anime from 2014~!

Hey Guys~!

A few days ago I posted a list of the worst anime I watched in 2014. Today will be on a happier note as I share my top ten anime of 2014. As a disclaimer, not all of these came out in 2014, but I watched them this year. Also your favorites don't have to me mine, this is just my opinion. And they aren't in any particular order, but I did like some of these more than others. So let's start~~!

Rozen Maiden Zurückspulen:

     This is the fourth season of one of my favorite anime. The Rozen Maiden is a supernatural series about seven dolls, that were created by a man named Rozen, to fight each other in a battle called the Alice Games, in order to become the perfect doll. The series begins with the seventh doll awakening, and after seeing the dolls getting along, decides to target them one by one and win the battle. Don't let my summary of this anime being about dolls fool you, there are some scenes that are cringe worthy and some of the emotional scenes really pull at you. There were new animators for this season, and visually it was beautiful. I would recommend watching the other seasons first, but at the beginning of the series, they're is a summary of sorts explaining what happened.

Dangan Ronpa:

   I really did enjoy this anime. It's about fifteen students that are trapped in a high school and are told that the only way they can get out is to murder one of their classmates. But they have to get away with murder too after an investigation and a trial. It's kind of like battle royal/hunger games, but instead of real red blood, there's pink blood...Yeah, I thought that part of the show was a little weird too. But none the less, the animation is really unique and I really did enjoy watching it. It is a psychological horror anime, so if you don't like anything graphic or get scared easily don't watch this show.

Golden Time:

     The first romance anime on this list~!! This one is about a guy who suffered amnesia and is now struggling to figure out how to deal with his past and future. He falls in love with a girl, but soon after he reconnects with another girl from his past. I really, really, enjoyed this anime. The relationships between the main character and the two girls are well written and you can really feel what they're feeling. The animation is also very well done. And this is one of the few romance anime that I got invested in so much that I cried at the end.

Higurashi When they Cry:

     Speaking of crying, here's an anime that may make you cry is you get scared easily. I can't really explain the plot without spoiling everything. So all I can say is that the anime is about a guy who moved to a rural town with his family. Every year at the towns cotton festival, one person is murdered.  However once he moves to the town, he starts becoming suspicious of his new friends. It is a mystery and as you watch it, you figure out little things, and I personally really enjoy it. This anime is of the psychological horror genre, and I will say that some of the gore in this is very graphic and did bother me.

Say "I Love You":

     Another romance anime, which surprised me since I'm usually not a fan of this genre. This romance is between a popular guy and a shy girl, sounds really cliche I know. But the romance in this anime works like an actual romance, the two characters aren't instantly in love with each other, and their feelings take a while to develop. I really thought that was unique and enjoyed that part of the show immensely. If you're not a huge fan of romance anime, but enjoy character development and well written relations between them, I definitely recommend this one. Also I love the opening to this anime, the song is gorgeous.

Terror in Resonance:

     I can honestly say this was probably my overall favorite of the year, and I'm completely serious. The plot is unlike anything I've ever watched. It's about two teenage boys who escaped an experiment facility and now are terrorizing the people of Japan as their revenge. It sounds kind of weird, and at first I thought it was yaoi based on Funimation's trailer, but a girl is introduced and the relationship between her and the two guys, is so well written. One of them hates her and sees her as a failure, and the other cares about her, but also acts creepy towards her. You feel sympathetic towards all the characters and the beautiful animation compliments this show perfectly. Also the opening to this anime is one of my favorites too.

Date A Live:

     One of the weirdest anime I saw this year by far. The plot of this is that spirits from other worlds are teleporting to earth, creating earthquakes. There are two organizations trying to stop the spirits; one is using weapons and violence to kill them, and the other is taking the spirits out on dates and locking their powers with a kiss...Yeah it's weird, but I really enjoyed it. It's classified as a harem anime and usually I don't really like this genre. However when watching this, I really didn't see it as such. The main romance is between the main guy character and the first spirit he interacts with, and their relationship is really heartfelt and cute. I do like the other spirits too, and apparently there's a second season, and I plan on watching it soon.

Nisekoi:

     As I watched this anime, I realized how similar it is to another favorite anime of mine, ToraDora. It's about a guy who ten years ago made a promise with a girl that they'd get married, and exchanged lock and key necklaces. Of course he doesn't remember the girl's name, and forgets about it till he is forced to date a girl in his class, who's a classic tsundere. I really enjoyed this anime. Visually it's pretty and I really liked the tsundere character. I will just say that I found the ending unsatisfying, but I heard they may make a second season, so I'm hopeful.

Inuyasha:

    I can't believe it's taken me so long to watch this. I did watch it as a kid, but I really wanted to re-watch it, now that I'm older. If you've never hear of this, basically it's about a girl who's transported to feudal Japan where she encounters demons in search of a jewel that grants immense power. What I've enjoyed about starting this from the beginning is reliving my nostalgia for this anime, and reliving my crush over Inuyasha <3 I do enjoy the action scenes along with the character development, and how together they create a really enjoyable anime. If you like action, watch it. If you like drama and romance, watch it. If you like both, watch it.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica:

     Don't let the name of this anime fool you, it is dark. It's about magical girls, again don't be fooled, that fight witches. I can't say anymore without spoiling it, and you really don't want to spoil this for yourself. The dark topics that come up in the anime are really heart wrenching. Also the anime is visually beautiful. The witch worlds that they fight in are stunning. They're creepy and have very unique art styles and color schemes. If you want an anime on the dark side of magical girls, or you don't mind a little horrific tones, definitely give this a try.
     
So those were my top ten anime of 2014. If you guys have seen any of these anime or have any recommendations, let me know in the comments below. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

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Worst Five Anime of 2014~!

Hey Guys~!

With 2014 ending soon, and since I like ranting about things I don't like, I thought I'd share five anime that I hated. As a disclaimer this is just my opinion and you may like these anime, but they just weren't for me. Also not all of these anime came out in 2014, but I watched them this year. They're in no particular order, since they're all equally as bad. So let's start~~!

Pupa:

     This is one of the worst anime of all time. I read the manga before watching the anime, and even thought I knew the plot, the anime made no sense. Each episode was four minutes long, and there were twelve episodes...What~?! There is no plot to the anime, just random clips of stuff from the manga with no explanation. I really liked the manga, and thought it was a unique premise, but this anime is just awful. 

Diabolik Lovers:

     I watched this while I was on vacation in Florida, and it's just bad. Why can't I find one good vampire anime~!!!! The main character is bland and makes stupid choices constantly. I get it if she messes up everything at first and then learns from her mistakes, but she just continues to screw everything up. The guys are good looking, but they can't even save this train wreck because they have no personality, just character archetypes that a million other anime have done better.

Cat Planet Cuties:

     Okay, when you read that name, you probably rolled your eyes. In my defense, I watched this only because it was free on cable and I had nothing else to do with my life. And because I like watching bad things just to laugh at how stupid they are. This anime is the definition of a bad anime. There are a million plot holes and enough fan service to call it a hentai. I watched the English dub and I was horrified to see my favorite voice actors playing such horrible characters. 

Kamigami no Asobi:

     This anime came out in the spring I think and it's probably the worst anime from the spring season. The plot is a jumbled mess and really cheesy. The guys are really weird, and the animation overall kind of bothered me. Maybe it was intended for a younger audience, but I just found it boring and childish. I couldn't finish this show because it was laughable to see how hard the writers tried to make it interesting. 

Tokyo Raven:

    I can say I was most disappointed in this anime, over any of the ones on this list. Reviewers and friends had told me how much they enjoyed this anime, and I did too at first. But after a while it just got dull and predictable. I enjoyed the side characters, but found the male protagonist generic and he was slow to understand what's going on around him.

So those were five of the worst anime I saw this year. My next post will be a list of my favorite anime that I watched this year. If you have any anime suggestions, let me know in the comments below. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

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Too Faced Matte Eye Palette Review~!

Hey Guys~!

Recently I reviewed a Too Faced Kit, {click here} to check it out. And while at Ulta I decided to get this kit. Instead of doing a full review on the entire kit, I decided just to review the palette. If you want a review on the mascara and eyeliner, let me know in the comments. With that out of the way, let's start~~!

I do really like the packaging for this palette. It's not like any other palette I've used, it has a magnet that keeps it shut. The designs are really pretty and elegant too. However I am worried that it's not super sturdy. I would be cautious to travel with this since it's like a thick cardboard like material.

This is the Matte Eye palette, so all the eyeshadows are matte. Pigmented, matte eyeshadows are really hard to find, so I was very excited to try these. Like other Two Faced palettes, there are three rows with three shades, Day, Classic, and Fashion.

Here's some swatches. . .

Tufted Suede - Tan 

Chinchilla - Neutral Toned Brown

Coffee Bean - Neutral Toned Dark Brown

Velveteen Bunny - White

Pebbles - Cool Toned Grey

London Fog - Navy Blue

Fresh Linen - Pale Pink

Vintage Violet - Muted Purple

Midnight - Dark Grey

Each of the trios look really nice together, and mixing and matching them too creates really pretty combinations. I especially have been enjoying wearing the Day row and then adding Vintage Violet on the lower lash line for a pop of color.  

All of these colors are well pigmented, which surprised me since matte eyeshadows can sometimes be sheer. Also the formulation on these is really nice, they aren't chalky or powdery. 

For the quality of these shadows, the price is totally worth it. The palette itself costs $36 for nine eyeshadows. So basically it is $4 per eyeshadow, and for matte shadows this nice, $4 is great. If you're looking for matte eyeshadows, this is definitely a palette I would get. 

Packaging: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Pigmentation: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Formulation: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Price: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I really like this palette~!! Matte eyeshadows that are this nice a quality are hard to come by, and if you too are looking for matte shadows, then this palette is perfect. The packaging in my opinion isn't travel friendly, but if you pack it safely it should be fine. But otherwise this palette is great and I totally recommend it. 

I hope you guys enjoyed this review. If you have any questions on this palette or a request for a future post, let me know in the comments below. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

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November Favorites 2014~!

Hey Guys~!

The year of 2014 is almost over ;_; and I feel like it's been going by super fast. Anyways it's the end of November, so I thought I'd share my favorites from this past month. A lot of these became favorites towards the end of the month, but none the less I enjoyed them. So let's start~~!

Makeup

Covergirl Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation: This foundation is one of my favorites. Recently I've been breaking out, so I wanted something a little more full coverage than my BB creams. The finish is a powder finish, so it's long lasting and you don't need to set it. Also it covers everything, so I don't need a concealer with this.

Elf Eyeshadow Duo #33036-1: With fall here, I've been experimenting more with my eye makeup. This Elf eyeshadow duo has a copper color and a cool toned brown, which together create a nice metallic look. It's nothing like what I usually wear, but I've been really enjoying it.

EOS Lip Balm in Passion Fruit: You guys know I have an unexplained obsession with lip balms, mainly Baby Lips and EOS. This month I got a new EOS and it is my new favorite. It smells amazing and I have noticed that my lips aren't dry and gross. 

Skin Care

Freeman's Clay Mask: I've gotten into a stricter skin care routine, and I've found this clay mask really great. It absorbs oil and has overall helped with the clarity and tone of my skin. The redness I've had has really gone away too. 

Video Games and Apps

Pokemon Alpha Sapphire: I showed this game in my Black Friday wish list, and I go it yesterday. I freaking love it~!!! The graphics are beautiful and the game itself is very nostalgic for me. If you like Pokemon games, I definitely recommend this one.

Two Dots: I started playing this game at the beginning of the month. I've been stuck on the same level for the past week and I still can't beat it. But it's still really fun and if you haven't played it, I guess it's like Candy Crush, but harder. 

Books

The Great Gatsby: I started reading this for English and I've been really liking it. The time period is really interesting to me. I also really like the plot and the language used in the book. I haven't finished it yet, but I still love it. 

Movies

Big Hero 6: This is one of my new favorite animated films. I really do like Disney movies, and this one is as great, if not better, than Frozen, in my opinion please don't hate me. The visuals are really bright and colorful. The characters are well thought out and developed, and it's just so good~!!

The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 1: I saw this two days ago, and it was amazing! I loved everything in this movie, and as usual Jennifer Lawrence did a great job. I can't wait till next year for the final movie, and I hope it will be as good as this one.

So those were my November Favorites. Let me know about some of your favorites from the past month in the comments below. Thank you guys so much for reading and I'll see you at my next post.

xo

Alyss

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