Lorac PRO {The Original}

Everybody and their mother has been talking about the Lorac Pro Palette 2 and here I am all like "hey everyone take a look at my brand new original Lorac Pro Palette!"... but seriously! How did I miss out on this the first time around?

If you, like me, never picked up the Original Lorac Pro Palette when it was first released, please read for all the reasons and pretty swatches as to why you should now.  

First of all, let me say that since Sephora stopped carrying Lorac, this product (or any other product from Lorac Cosmetics) is not easy to get a hold of if you're a Canadian.  I did find out that it is available on the Kohls website (and they ship internationally through a third party site) but fortunately for me my beautiful friend Karen from KPSays offered to send me the Lorac Pro (and by minor miscommunication also the Lorac Pro 2 haha) all the way from Georgia so I would be lucky enough to get my hands on what is now my new favorite palette.  For those of you in the United States this palette is available at Ulta, the Lorac website, and any other Lorac retailer.  It retails for $42 USD.    

On to the good part...

Let me just say that when I first opened this palette I didn't want to use it. I didn't want to swatch it, or touch it, or ruin it in any way, it is that gorgeous.  

Both Pro palettes house 16 extremely soft, extremely pigmented shadows.  The palette is organized so that the 8 matte shades are lined up along the top row, and 8 shimmer shades along the bottom.  While it is a neutral palette I found there is a great range from the brightest to the deepest of colors. 

The packaging is veryyyy slim, I was actually quite surprised!  It is the same length as the Naked palettes only a little bit taller and half the width (yes, half).  It is a rubberized cardboard palette so I do find that shimmer and powder from the shadows, my fingers, and just regular wear and tear clings to the packaging but can be wiped off easily with a damp towel or makeup remover wipe if you really need to.  Side note: Wouldn't it be nice for all of us OCD organizers if all eyeshadow palettes were the same dimensions? Storage would be a dreammm.

Matte Shades:  Light Pink, Taupe, Cream, White

Matte Shades:  Mauve, Sable, Expresso, Black

Matte Shades:  White, Cream, Taupe, Lt. Pink, Mauve, Sable, Expresso, Black

Overall, the majority of the shades in this palette are very warm in tone which I absolutely love; shades like Sable, Expresso, Gold, and Garnet stand out to me the most.  However there are  select cooler shades that round it out nicely and make it very versatile; such as Mauve, Pewter, and Slate.  

Shimmer Shades:  Nude, Champagne, Gold, Light Bronze

Shimmer Shades:  Pewter, Garnet, Deep Purple, Slate

Shimmer Shades: Nude, Champagne, Gold, Lt. Bronze, Pewter, Garnet, Deep Purple, Slate

Like I said, the shadows themselves are extremely soft, pigmented, and easy to blend.  They're especially easy to work with if you're a novice such as myself.  But because they're so soft they can make a small mess of the palette (see below) when you dip your brush or fingers into them.  This being said I don't find that there is a lot of fall out while blending these shadows into my eye looks.  With a soft hand a little goes a looong way; if you're generally an aggressive blender, these shadows may not get along with you!  

I've been experimenting a lot with this palette but my favorite look so far is to buff Taupe into the crease (which is actually a really great everyday blending shade), then pack Gold all over the lid.  I then deepen the outer v and crease with Garnet and lined/ smoked out the waterline with a black liner and the shade Black.  This is a look I can see myself replicating a lot, especially as we transition into some cooler months.

Another one of my favorites is to build up the matte brown colors in the crease, starting with Taupe, then moving to Sable,and Expresso and then applying one of the lighter shimmer shades all over the lid.  I just happened to use a mixture of all three.  It's easy to start with just Taupe and Sable in the crease for a more day time appropriate look and then build the intensity up with Expresso to transition into an effortless yet more intense evening/ going out look.

Original Lorac vs. Pro Palette 2

Finally, since Karen did send me both palettes I took the opportunity to snap a side by side comparision.  As you can see the Lorac 2 is much cooler in tone but again has a few warm shades rounding it out like Nectar, Rose, and Cocoa.  While equally beautiful it's too cool for my personal taste so I actually sold it to a friend, which is why I didn't dip my fingers into it as well.

Since this is my first time using any Lorac product and I have to say that I am so disappointed I didn't take advantage of having access to the brand while they were still in Sephora *kicks self* I honestly think that the Pro Palette(s) give the Naked Palettes a run for their money.  The shadows are equally pigmented, and maybe even softer than Urban Decay's formula.  Not to mention that it cost me less to buy and ship the Lorac Pro to my house than what it costs to go to my local Sephora and pick up any one of the Naked palettes ($56CDN bought/shipped vs. $64CDN retail)   Have you tried both?? Which do you prefer?

I want to thank you Karen 100x over for taking the time to send these to me.  

If you can't already tell, I am in love.

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xoxo

{NEW} Makeup Geek Blushes

On June 15th this year, Makeup Geek released thirteen brand new permanent blushes in their line; each one of them uniquely beautiful. There are four shimmer shades and nine mattes in the collection.  Since my love  affair with MUG Eyeshadows I couldn't pass them up, so only three days after the launch I chose three of the warmer peachy shades; Bliss, Romance, and Infatuation.  The collection is so diverse and honestly has a shade (or three!) for everyone.  See/shop the entire collection here. 

Claims: "Perfect for every skin tone these blushes are made with only the finest ingredients, as they blend effortlessly into the skin for a natural radiance. Talc free, cruelty free, and made in the 

U. S, these finely milled powders guarantee a creamy, smooth consistency that glides onto cheeks and blends with ease. The fade proof formula promises long lasting color and the rich pigmentation offers a buildable custom shade every time."

Finish/Texture:  Bliss and Infatuation are both considered matte shades, but remind me more of a satin as they have a very natural and skin like finish whereas Romance has a beautiful shimmer throughout it.  All three have an unbelievably silky, soft texture just as they claim.  But because they're so soft, and similar to some of the eye shadows, there can be fall out if you're too aggressive with your brush so I definitely recommend using a light hand! 

Price/Availability:  You can purchase these blushes on the Makeup Geek website either in a pan for $9.99 or a compact for $12.99.  I chose to order the compacts because it's easier to throw them in a bag and take them with me on the go (and also because Infatuation was already sold out in a compact and the OCD part of me couldn't bring herself to order two pans and one compact LOL)

Packaging:  This being said I'm actually glad I chose to go with the compacts.  The compacts themselves are a sleek gunmetal gray.  For a size reference, the pans are the exact same size as a MAC blush pan but the MUG packaging is about half the width.    

Pigmentation: I cannot rave enough about the quality of MUG products.  The swatch below is only one swipe of my finger, and when blended out they're so easy to build up.

How I Used It:
Bliss is a true peach shade.  I've been wearing this swept over the apples of my cheeks and brushed back into my temples.  I've never had a shade this color and it gives the perfect balance of pinched color and warmth to the face.
Romance has been compared over and over to the infamous NARS Orgasm. To quote Jaclyn Hill it's "Orgasm on steroids!"  It's absolutely beautiful, again on its own, or what's even better is pairing it with Bliss and using it as a highlight shade focusing on the top of the cheek bones.
Infatuation is a gorgeous terra cotta shade which is unlike any other blush or bronzer in my collection.  It creates a gorgeous warm, bronzed flush on the cheeks which I am loving this summer but on fairer skin tones could be used as a contour shade as well.  Infatuation has the softest texture of the three, so I do expiration the most fall out with this shade.  

Bliss, Romance, Infatuation

Bliss, Romance, Infatuation (blended)

Likes:

• Beautiful finish
• Silky texture
• Bold pigmentation

Dislikes:

• My only dislike for the compact form of these blushes in that the actual pan seems very loose within the compact.  On the website it says "they are designed to open easily and also easy to de-pot in case you want to put the blush in a palette" so they may be loose to make them easier to depot.  This being said I chose the compact because I didn't want to depot them.  But we'll see!  
• The fall out.  I debated whether or not to even include this as a dislike because I find it is give and take when a product is so incredibly soft.  

Overall: ★★★★★

I am yet to be disappointed with a Makeup Geek product and these blushes are no exception.  I've been reaching for them every single day since they arrived.  I can not wait to see what Makeup Geek has in store for the future!

10/10, do recommend!

Did you pick up any of the new MUG blushes?  Are any shades on your wishlist?

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xoxo

Younique 3D Fiber Mascara

Younique is a cosmetic company based almost entirely online with individual presenters selling products through various social media outlets.  Their collection ranges from highlight and contour products, lip glosses, pigments, the most talked about 3D Fiber Mascara, and so much more. 

Recently Kristin from www.ineedlashtherapy.com was kind enough to send me a package of Younique products to test and try out.  I was sent a monthly promotional package that included (of course) the Moonstruck Fiber mascara, Lucrative Lipgloss in the shade Luxe, and Moonstruck Pigments in both Angelic and Confidence.

Left to right: Angelic wet, Angelic dry, Confidence wet, Confidence dry

Moonstruck Minerals Pigment Powder: These loose pigments ended up being my favorite products in the bundle!  Their main ingredient is Mica, which is a mineral that gives them their shimmer.  They're extremely buttery and easy to blend into other shadows.  Angelic (left) is a creamy butter yellow color, whereas Confidence (right) reminds me of a duo chrome; brown in some lights but also reflecting gold in others. They apply like a dream when used dry but mixed with a little Fix+ become even more intensely pigmented.  

What's most impressive about these pigments is their longevity, after a six hour restaurant shift my eye makeup looked as it did when I had began.  I'm excited to play around a little more with them and maybe try applying Confidence wet (with a small liner brush) to create a wearable day time wing. Retail: $10.00 each

Luxe

Lucrative Lipgloss:  If you aren't a fan of sticky glosses then you will love the formula of these lip glosses; they're soft and comfortable on the lips (they're chalk full of moisturizing/ softening ingredients!)  I found on it's own the gloss lasted about an hour before I wanted to reapply.  My only complaint about the lip gloss is actually the packaging.  I love that it has a mirror, similar to the Whitening Lightening glosses but the plastic is so lightweight it's almost nothing and the material of the actual applicator has a stiff fuzzy texture that feels funny on the lips.  Retail: $15.00

3D Fiber Mascara

Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lashes:  Finally, the most anticipated fiber mascara.  It comes packaged in a beautiful black case with two tubes, one of "Transplating Gel" and the other of "Natural 3D Fibers" which are made from green tea!  Application instructions say to first apply one coat of your favorite mascara (it's recommended you use a lengthening one), then gel, fiber, gel, repeat, until you reach your desired look. However, with Kristin's advice I skipped the first coat of mascara and went immediately in with the transplanting gel.  She also recommended I do one eye at a time which I found made application a lot easier and prevented the gel from drying before you can adhere the fibers.

I won't lie to you, it takes a minute to get the hang of application as it can get messy! But this is the mascara I now reach for when I'm going out and want to fake a false lash look.  It gives big, thick, long lashes that are way easier to apply than falsies!  The best part is that if you seal the fibers properly with a good coat of the transplanting gel they will not budge; not a flake, even if you're out dancing and sweaty (I don't lie to you here- this is real life stuff!)  You can build the fibers on top of each other until you reach the thickness and length you're going for (I used two coats).  And finally, if you aren't a fan of thicker "clumpy" lashes, go in immediately with a  lash comb when the gel is still damp and comb them out. Retail: $29.00

Have you heard of these Younique products?  Are they something you're interested in trying?

Thank you so much to Kristin for giving me the opportunity to try and review these products!

If anyone has any additional questions or is interested in purchasing any of the products 

mentioned above you can contact Kristin at ineedlashtherapy@gmail.com or 

visit her website at www.ineedlashtherapy.com

Please note the thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own and have not influenced in

 any way by any third party advertisers or individuals.

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xoxo

Color Your Smile Lipgloss Bouquet {Review}

Recently Jaclyn Hill teamed up with cosmetic company Whitening Lightening to create the "perfect rose gloss" which she appropriately named Rose Hill. When she announced that it was available online, I had another fan girl moment (much like when I ordered her Sigma brush kit) where I paused the video, and instantly placed an order.

You can order Jaclyn's gloss on it's own, or order a bundle for a discounted price.  I chose the "lip gloss bouquet" which features Rose Hill along with three other of Jaclyn's favorite lipglosses from the Color Your Smile line.  It was only $11 more to get the four gloss bundle than it would be for me to order just Rose Hill and Nude (another gloss I was interested in).    

Left to right: Pink Tiara, Nude, Coral Craze, Rose Hill

Jaclyn Hill Lip Gloss Bouquet:
Rose Hill: "Jaclyn’s perfect rose gloss"
This is definitely one of my favorites in the bouquet.  It's the perfect balance between warm pink and red.  I like to wear it when I'm out and about because it gives a nice flush of color without being too much of a bold red for day time.    

Pink Tiara: "a sophisticated and sultry baby pink"
Pink Tiara is the only gloss in the collection I'm a little unsure about.  It's a very pale, blue based pink which I usually steer far away from.  This being said, since it's a gloss it seems to be more wearable than an opaque lipstick.  Karen, from KPsays, describes it as a "pepto bismol pink" which is a spot on color description, but hopefully I will find a way to make it work this summer!

Coral Craze: "a sun-drenched peachy nude"
I'm so excited to wear this over my favorite "Coral Bliss" lipstick from MAC.  It's one of those beautiful peachy pink corals that is perfect for this time of year.  I find with my warm complexion that corals suit me better than most pinks.  This gloss was a definite win.

Nude: "a timeless and flawless nude that is a must in every collection."

I've wanted to order this color for a long time so I was excited that it was included in this package.  This nude gloss is talked about so much on YouTube and I now know why.  It's so versatile and wears well on its own, or over almost any lipstick. I also like to wear this layered with Rose Hill for more of a muted rosey lip.

Claims:

"Our fresh and fun lighted lip gloss has created quite the buzz. COLOR YOUR SMILE Gloss is a highly-pigmented velvety smooth formulation that contains collagen peptides to boost moisture and fullness for the perfect pout. Infused with anti-aging ingredients, this innovation is a luxurious lip product that will make its way into your everyday makeup routine."

Formula/ Pigmentation:

The formula of these glosses is so creamy.  It's comfortable and moisturizing which makes them easy to wear for long periods of time. The pigmentation of these glosses is unreal too.  Each swatch below was completely opaque after just two swipes of the applicator.

Left to right: Rose Hill, Pink Tiara, Coral Craze, Nude

Lasting Power:

The longevity of these glosses is another thing I was really impressed with.  I find they last on my lips for around 2 hours before I need to retouch them.

Scent:

They have a weird "unscented" scent.  They definitely don't smell good, but they don't exactly smell bad... if you know what I mean.

Packaging:

You either love it, or you hate it.  I personally think it's a bit gimmicky. Each gloss has an LED light that turns on every time open it, and a mirror on the side of the square tube.  I will admit, the mirror is handy but I find the light makes it hard to see how much product you're applying.  They say  "our LED light and mirror make it the perfect purse companion for touch ups on an evening out."  However, on the average afternoon out, I really don't have a need for an light up LED lipgloss.  

Price/Availability:     

Online each gloss retails for $24.00, or you can purchase bundles.  Mine was the Jaclyn Hill lipgloss bouquet which cost $59 for four glosses.  But there are a few other bundles also available on the website.  Whitening Lightening constantly has coupon codes offering site wide discounts on their products, so make sure if you place an order you don't pay full price!  If you follow them on Instagram they are always sharing their latest coupon codes that give you discounts ranging from 10-25% off so make sure you take advantage of them!

Likes:

• Creamy comfortable formula
• Excellent pigmentation
• Cute mirror
• Staying power

Dislikes:

• I really wish the LED light had the option to turn off 
• Despite my 25% off discount code, these glosses turned out to be more expensive than I expected.  Shipping to Canada was $9.50, and then I also had to pay custom charges when I received my package (another $15.75) 

Overall: ★★★★

What I love most about all of these glosses is the quality of the formula.  Between the texture, pigmentation, and longevity you seriously can't go wrong.  However, the light does bug me (I think it's a little tacky) and when I had to pay an additional $15 when I received my package you could say I was a little less than excited.  This is why I probably won't be purchase anything from the Whitening Lightening site in the near future, but overall I am very happy with my lip gloss bouquet.

Have you tried the Color Your Smile lip glosses or any other Whitening Lightening products? 

I'd love to hear what you think!

xoxo

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Naked Skin {Review}

It wasn't very long ago that Urban Decay expanded their "Naked Makeup" line to include various face and lip products.  They introduced powders, foundation, concealer, BB creams, lip glosses, lip liners, etc.  

I was interested in the "Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup" in particular, because of it's claims to be a natural medium coverage foundation, which is my style. They offer 18 different shades ranging from .5 all the way to 12; those ending in ".0" have warm undertones (yellow, golden, and olive) and those ending in ".5" have pink and rose undertones for cooler completions.  I'm somewhere in the light/ medium range with warm undertones.  I first bought 3.0 "light shade with golden undertones" and although the undertones were right, it was too fair for my completion and I found it washed me out too much.  I then exchanged it for 4.0 "medium-light, with golden olive undertones"  the shade is perfect, but I find the undertones are a little too "green" or "olive."  So for that reason I wish there was just a 4.0 "golden," something in between the two shades I tried.           

Claims:

"This formula helps skin achieve a natural, illuminated and bright finish— like the beautiful skin you were born with. Naked Skin is formulated with light-diffusing spheres, transforming you to look professionally retouched. Buildable coverage allows women to customize their look" 

Finish/Texture:  "Matte, never flat, and luminous, but not shiny."  

The best way to describe the finish of this foundation is natural.  I have "normal" dry/ combination skin, where I get shiny only in my t-zone as the day goes on.  Although the product has a liquid consistency, it is not runny or watery.  It's easy to apply evenly and blend out quickly.

Lasting Power:

Without a primer I find it wears throughout the day ( and only fades in the areas where I have the habit to touch my face alot (around my nose, and chin),  I can get a good 7-8 hour of good wear before I find that I want to touch up my t-zone with some sort of powder or skin finish.  With a primer, it lasts a lot longer and I've worn it for up to 10 and 12 hours.  I still use a powder to touch up the areas where I tend to get some shine.   

Packaging:

Beautiful.  The foundation is packaged in a clear sleek pump bottle with dark silver cap and silver lettering up the side. 

Price/Availability:     

$45- for 1 oz of product. 

I purchased mine in my local Sephora, but it is also available at Sephora online and the Urban Decay website

How I Use It:

I dispense 1.5 pumps onto the back of my hand and then buff it into my skin using the Sigma F80 flat top kabuki brush (read my recent Sigma brush review here)  I then apply a thin layer of MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Medium Plus only to my t-zone before continuing with the rest of my routine; blush, bronzer, etc.  

Likes:

• Buildable coverage
• Easy application
• A little goes a long way.  Like I mentioned in my last Sigma review, I used to apply it with a Beauty Blender which took 3 pumps to achieve my desired coverage.  Not with my F80 I only use 1.5
• Beautiful packaging 

Dislikes:

• The vast difference between 3.0 and 4.0, like I said I felt the undertones of 3.0 was perfect and the 4.0 was the correct depth, I feel like if I could mix the two I would have the perfect color match.  The olive isn't terrible but it isn't quite right for me.  
• Price, I would have been happier spending $25-35 on this foundation.  It won't be a re-purchase for me.

(L) one pump of naked skin foundation (R) blended

Overall: ★★★½

Like I said, I can happily get a full day of comfortable wear from foundation but I find the range of shades is too limiting.  I sometimes mix it with a more neutral toned drugstore foundation to make it a better match.  The finish is beautiful and it despite it's liquid texture it dries quickly and stays put.  Will I spend another $45 to repurchase this when I finish it? No.  But will I enjoy it while it lasts? Absolutely.  

Happy Thursday!

xoxo

Lush Butterball

My oh my.

I had never used any bath products from Lush so I bought this Butterball a short while ago because I was in need of a little self care... and now a couple weeks later I'm finally getting around to enjoying it.  

Claims: 

"Our vanilla-scented Bath Bomb is anything but boring when you lay back into a cozy white blanket of creamy, buttery froth. This little fizzer is the ultimate in comfort with chunks of creamy cocoa butter; it’s fantastic for rehydrating dry skin. Baths can dry your skin if they’re too hot, so if you’re in need of a long, lingering bath pop one of these gorgeous beauties into the tub for a vanilla custard soak to lull you into a deep relaxed state – and leave with sweeter, softer skin."

Price/Availability: 

$4.95 both online and in store

How I Used It:

I ran a warm bath and dropped the entire bath bomb into the water.  It instantly started foaming up and fizzing around and tiny chunks of coca butter were released and then dissolved into the water.  

Likes:

• This bath bomb made the bath water feel silky, like I could rub it in between my fingers.
• When got out of the tub it felt like I had literally bathed in body lotion.
• The scent is heavenly. Vanilla bliss.

Dislikes:

• My only dislike is that I didn't buy more than one!

Overall: ★★★★★

This bath bomb was exactly the pick me up I needed and I honestly can't think of a bad thing to say about it.  My skin drank up the moisture and it was so relaxing to soak in the silky scented water.  What's even better is the next morning my skin still felt moisturized... Even my boyfriend noticed and that is saying something.  

What's your favorite Lush bath bomb?

xoxo

Coco and Lulu by Cake {Review}

Where have you been all my life?

I stumbled across this nail lacquer in Chapters of all places and had to pick it up because of both the bright color and the cute bottle (of course).  When I went to check out with my polish and a few other items the cashier commented on how much she loved the line... and before I paid another employee walked by and commented "Oh! Great polish!" So I knew I was on to something good.  

The shade I picked up in Ma Belle, a true fuchsia.

2 coats of Ma Belle Nail Lacquer

I googled the product when I got home and I found out that Cake is a Canadian beauty brand (go Canada) that teamed up with Chapters/ Indigo to create an exclusive line of polishes that are on trend each season.  Now that I've found them I'm actually disappointed that I missed out on their winter collection because they are still pictured on the Chapters website.  They look fabulous but are all "Out of Stock". Wah.  Teasing me.  

Claims: "Specially formulated for a long-lasting, high gloss finish and free of dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde. 0.5ml/0.5 fl.oz."

Finish: Glossy

Lasting Power: About two days of chip-free wear and then another 3 days with minor chips. 

Packaging: Perfection.The glass bottle is substantial and sleek.  It looks beautiful displayed on top of a vanity.

Price/Availability: $8.50CDN both in stores and online.  

How I Used It:
I first applied OPI Nail Envy, which is technically a nail strengthener and not a base coat but I use it as one anyway. Then the first coat of Ma Belle was a little underwhelming however once I applied a second coat the color deepened beautifully.  I skipped applying a top coat because I don't actually have one at the moment!  If anyone knows of a great one, please leave any recommendations down below. 

Likes:

• Bright pigmentation 
• Smooth formula
• Buildable color
• Beautiful finish
• Cute packaging and label

Dislikes:

• Limited shades in store!  It's hit or miss if you're going to find them in stock but online they've just released their Spring line which 6 colors.  I've ordered Call  Me L8R that is described as an aqua green (but looks to me as more of a minty blue) and OMG I Love This Color which is a bubblegum pink.

Overall: ★★★★★

Even though I was somewhat disappointed after the first coat I know this color will be well loved this Spring/Summer. It's the perfect neon fuchsia, which isn't something I would normally wear on my hands but is everything I could ever want in a pedicure.  The formula applies smoothly and easily, and like I said before the bottle is so cute.  I own a lot of Nicole by OPI polishes and the application and formula of Coco and Lulu trumps them without a doubt.   

Have you tried Coco and Lulu or Cake before? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Thursday!

xoxo

DIY vs Fresh Sugar Lip Polish

They say the secret to a bold lip is smooth/ exfoliated lips, but in my opinion the secret to any lip color is a polished base. When lips are exfoliated color not only goes on smoother but they will absorb moisture better, allowing for your lips to look and feel healthier.

A little over a month ago I purchased the Fresh Cosmetics "Sugar Lip Polish" from Sephora because my lips were in desperate need- I was really hesitant at first because of the steep price tag but I eventually went for it anyway because who doesn't love to try new things?

"What it is:

A sweet treatment that that leaves lips incredibly soft and smooth.

What it is formulated to do:

This unique formula is enriched with real brown sugar crystals to gently buff away dry flakes. It nourishes the lips with the oils of meadowfoam seed, jojoba seed, and grapeseed while shea butter provides long-lasting moisture."

This being said I still wasn't sold on the $26 price tag! However- I did decide that it would be a good opportunity to compare it to a (much more affordable) DIY lip scrub you can make at home using ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. If you're considering splurging on the Fresh Cosmetics Polish but sitting on the fence my experience may encourage you to try an at home remedy before opening your wallet.

After some quick research on the Pinterest machine and found tons of at-home scrub recipes which were all very similar (people are so crafty).  The one I chose to try seemed simple and called for 1 part olive oil, 1 part honey, and 1 part brown sugar.

After mixing it all together I wasn't completely happy with the texture so I decided to tweak it a bit and ended up using around double the amount of brown sugar than in the original "recipe".  Therefore all together I used 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 1 table spoon of olive oil.

So why do these ingredients work??

Sugar acts as a natural exfoliant- which is why it is the common ingredient in both scrubs.
Olive oil is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids which allow it to nourish and rejuvenate and protect skin.
And honey acts as a glue, holding all the ingredients together and also has moisturising qualities of its own.

To use either of these products simply rub a small amount into your lips for a few minutes then rinse away any excess sugar with a warm wash cloth.  Apply lip chap as needed and only use once every 2 or 3 days.

Direct Comparisons:

	DIY	Fresh Cosmetics
Scent/ Taste:	Sweet	Citrus-y (contains "Citral")
Texture:	More gentle exfoliant	Coarser
Shelf Life:	About a week	Unknown (similar  Lush scrubs have a 14 month shelf life)

The bottom line: While I hate to say it...considering I spent almost $30... I think I actually preferred my DIY version (biggest facepalm) because it was more gentle on my lips.  If you're interested in a more "intense" exfoliant you can simply replace brown sugar with raw sugar and get a coarser texture.  I found both do a great job and left my lips moisturized and smooth- therefore I can't justify the price difference when the results were ultimately the same. I guess I was hoping there would have been some magical ingredient or blatant different in my Fresh polish that would have made it obvious I didn't waste my money. For my own purposes it would have been wise to compare them earlier, before it was too late to return my purchase to Sephora.

This being said is the Fresh Sugar Lip Exfoliant a good product? Yes
but is it worth $30 when you can make one in your kitchen for a fraction of the cause? Absolutely not.

While I am suffering from a small dose of buyers remorse I will continue to use and enjoy my lip scrub from Fresh, although it will not be a re-purchase.  I learned that there are so many other natural scrubs you can make at home! I'm considering using the remainder of my home made sugar scrub on my legs, although I think body scrub recipes call for a different ratio of sugar to oil and honey.  We'll see how it turns out.

Have you ever made a scrub at home? What are you favorite recipes?