BIG The Beautender Update

Hi guys,

Just wanted to keep you in the loop, since I haven’t been publishing as much as I usually do. The Beautender will be moving and undergoing a MAJOR makeover! I’ve been working on setting up a few new updates on the site as well as the possibility of integrating a YouTube channel. Thank you for the follows, likes and comments you’ve shown me through this time. Can’t wait to share this new chapter with you all.

xx

Jade

NYX’S Lip Lingerie Gets It Right

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And by “it” I mean a matte liquid lipstick. The same day Kylie Jenner’s Lip Kit dropped, they announced that they too would be releasing a line of nude liquid lipsticks called Lip Lingerie. As soon as I caught wind of the news I was on the lookout up until three weeks ago when they were finally released to the public! Available in 12 shades, the lipstick has an almost mousse-like texture that does not dry out your lips (even though I always suggest “balming” up the lips before any mattifying product) and are super weightless. I picked up the shades “Beauty Mark” – a light cocoa brown, “Embellishment”, a light lavender and “Bedtime Flirt” a pretty blush pink, to test out.

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All three dried almost immediately and are build-able which can take your look from the office to the bar in no more than two swipes.  The good thing I liked the most is that the formula is so lightweight that your lips don’t feel heavy or gunky. A lot of other matte lipsticks have such an intense formula that your lips look cracked and have you running for your favorite lip balm because of how drying they can be. Would I recommend these, definitely. The shade range is so vast that they work on every type of skin tone and for $7, you can’t go wrong!

Have you tried them? Let me know in the comments below!

#LipKitbyKylie by Kylie Jenner Review

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Just when we thought the only Kardashian/Jenner to break the internet was Kim, here comes along the youngest member of the squad, Kylie. In a few minutes her much-anticipated #Lip KitbyKylie by Kylie Jenner was sold out and we all lost it. Like many people, I tried to get my hands on it, but it didn’t happen. Luckily, the holidays were right around the corner and one of my good friends gifted me the Lip Kit in “Dolce K”. Now that I had one of the 2015 products of the year in my hands it was time to test it out.

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I fell in love with the color, which is a mauvy nude that reminded me of my favorite, but now discontinued MAC Cremestick Liner in “Beurre”. Before I applied anything on my lips I made sure they had been exfoliated because I had already been warned that it would dry out your lips. The consistency of the liquid lipstick was very much like Colour Pop’s Ultra Matte Lips, and this actually caused chaos in the press with people claiming it was the same formula, but with the price bumped up due to who it was associated with. I have a pretty extensive collection of the Ultra Matte Lips and I can definitely say that these are two completely different formulas. The liner definitely makes the application of the liquid lipstick more precise and overall both dried pretty quickly. It claimed to have long wearing properties, which were definitely true because it withstood many glasses of wine, beer and food! The only downside is that it really does dry out your lips. I would recommend smearing a crap load of lip balm or rose salve, which is what I did, before applying the color.

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Would I spend the $29 on it? Probably not because there are so many other brands that carry dupes for way cheaper. Kylie is currently working on new shades, which I’m hoping we will see in the near future!

Have you guys tried Kylie Jenner’s Lip Kit? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

H&M Beauty

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I know, I’m a little late to the H&M beauty party, and after purchasing and reviewing a few of their items I’m mad at myself for not getting my hands on them earlier! I received my first round of products, which consisted of their Dip Liner Liquid Eye Liner and their Clean Canvas Lip Scrub. a few months ago, and added on the Pure Radiance Powder Blusher in Brown Sugar , Control Chic Mascara and Cucumber and Aloe Face Mask about two weeks ago. H&M has always been the go-to spot for great clothes at affordable prices and now that they’ve added in their beauty line, there is no stopping the retail giant. Just like their line of clothing, H&M beauty proves that you can get great formulas without breaking your wallet.

After reviewing the products, I was immediately obsessed with their mascara, which gave my lashes the thickness and volume that I always crave, and their blush gave me a nice pay-off that didn’t overpower my entire look. I was a bit disappointed in their eyeliner because of the streakiness it would leave, but the finish is true to its word – matte black. As for their lip scrub, it buffed away all of the dead cells and it was a perfect way to prep my lips before adding on a matte color.  I haven’t tried the face mask yet, so I’ll report back as soon as I do. Below are the products I purchases with the prices that ranged from $3.99-$12.99!

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Clean Canvas Lip Scrub – $9.99

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Press Powder Blush – $9.99

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Revitalizing Face Mask – $3.99

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Dipliner Ink – $6.99

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Control Chic Macara – $12.99

I’m super excited to try out more of their products and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on your favorites!

Colour Pop’s Creme Gel Colours and Gel Liners

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If you’ve been following my blog, you know I’m a huge fan of ColourPop Cosmetics. When I caught wind that they would be releasing an eyeliner collection that consisted of 24 Creme Gel Colours and matching Creme Gel Liners for $6 each, I was immediately hyped! I typically use liquid liners due to the precise application, but I was willing to go back to my roots – when I first started doing my makeup in high school I would you a Hard Candy gel liner kit, LOL.

I decided to skip on the Creme Gel Liners and purchase three pots of their Creme Gel Colours – “No Shame” a deep plum, “Timber”, a cool grey, and “Swerve” a simple black. All of the colors I purchased claimed to be matte, but I wasn’t convinced. I’m not sure if it was the formula, but the texture was pretty slippery and had a bit of glossiness, making the application process a bit messy. I used the Morphe G29 brush, which helped me get a sharp wing, but the product kept sliding and I had to be careful with how much I was using from the pot. I tend to get oily on my eyelids, so by the end of the day the eyeliner was close to being gone. I absolutely love the range of shades, but was a bit disappointed with the overall product. Will I be re-purchasing? Probably not. But for $6, you can’t really go wrong.

No Shame – $6

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Timber – $6

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Swerve – $6

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What do you guys think of this new collection? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

My Winter Skincare Routine

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I might be one of the few people that genuinely enjoys fall and winter! The fashion is great, your hair looks amazing and your skin seems to always be on point, IF you take care of it properly. Just like the warmer seasons, it’s crucial to adjust your skin routine. Your creams need to get thicker and your cleansers a little bit less harsh. I have combination skin, which I’ve learned, requires a rotation of products – especially in the colder season! I know, it might seem like a lot, but hear me out. Using a group of products that cater to your skin can really give you results and prevent you from caking on the pounds of makeup that we’re all guilty of using when a blemish appears on our face. The products below may not work for your specific type of skin, but I highly suggest purchasing something similar that will work for you.

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La Roche-Posay Effaclar Kit

This 3-step system includes a gel cleanser, clarifying solution and Effaclar Duo dual action acne treatment. The first few days of using this my skin was even and super soft, but after a week and a half of using it, my skin got so dry! The blemishes were gone, but the dryness was real. I don’t use all three together unless I broke out, but on regular days i’ll use the clarifying solution and gel cleanser. Available at Target stores and target.com – $30

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Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel

Once I stopped using all three of the LRP products all together I decided to swap in this gentle, non-lathering cleanser in the mornings and to my surprise my skin went back to normal. The Enzyme Cleansing Gel is one of the most popular products in the Mario Badescu line, and for good reason. With just a small amount I walked out of the shower with a refreshed and hydrated face without any tightness on the skin. Available at ulta.com – $14

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NUDE Skincare Advanced Renewal Moisturizer

The thickness of this cream scared the crap out of me. When I felt the texture I kept thinking of all the pimples I’d probably wake up with, but to my surprise I reported back pimple-free! Lol. Unlike other moisturizers that just sit on your face, I really felt like it hydrated my skin and left it even healthier!. A little does go a long way, though. Available at sephora.com – $88

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NUDE Skincare Overnight Repair Mask

I’ve never been an overnight mask kinda gal. I always had this assumption that they’d be too heavy and somehow end up on my pillow rather than deep in my pores. But NUDE skincare’s overnight mask has introduced me to a new world. After adding this to my night skincare routine, the game has been officially changed, ladies! The morning after using it, my skin felt revived and it was super soft. I use this immediately after applying the LRP toner, while my skin is still damp to improve the efficacy of both products. Available at sephora.com – $48

What does your winter skincare routine consist of? Let me know in the comments below!

Glossier’s NEW Boy Brow & BeautyCon NYC

Now that BeautyCon has officially ended we get to talk about all the fun that ensued at the yearly beauty convention held at Pier 36! Among the many brands at the event was a favorite of mine, Glossier! During our scouring we came across their kiosk decorated with their signature bumble gum pink and found ourselves talking to a few of the glossier girls including CEO herself, Emily Weiss. I was surprised to know that they would be making an appearance at BeautyCon, but even more shocked when we realized Weiss standing there right next to their brand new product, BOY BROW! I’m all about a BOLD and clean brow, because I truly believe that they frame the face, so when I found out about this new release I went ahead and decided to give it a try.

My friends, Caroline, Nya and I stood around, and Emily was kind enough to give us a quick recap of what she calls a product inspired by “mens mustache wax”. Unlike other brow products, this one isn’t a gel but instead has a pomade like texture to give you a natural, fluffy look. When she applied the product on me I already had a ton of gel and powder on, but she still managed to give me the fluffy look celebrities like Lily Collins are rocking on the red carpet. The consistency is very muck like wax, which will keep your hairs from straying, but I want to continue to try it out to see if its like any other product I’ve used or something completely different. Boy Brow will be released on 10/19 and will go for $16 a piece – available in shades Blonde, Brown and Black. Check out our quick pow wow with Emily on “Boy Brow” here – a full BeautyCon recap will be up next week with my first official vlog, which will kick off my YouTube channel! *Insert sentence telling ya’ll to subscribe* 😉

Did you guys attend this year’s BeautyCon NYC? Let me know in the comments below!

Rocksbox: The Accessories Subscription Box (Receive 1 month free!)

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Monthly subscription boxes have been all the rage during the last few years. Something that started out focusing on makeup, skincare and hair products has blossomed into other avenues and more companies are using this method to connect with their consumers. When a representative from Rocksbox contacted me about one of their boxes I was caught off guard because I didn’t think a box focused on ACCESSORIES was available! I mean, let’s be honest, how many times have we bought a pair of earrings or a set of rings, worn them and then wanted to a whole new set of jewels? Rocksbox let’s you bring the accessories on a test run and either keep or return them. I agreed to check it out and was surprised by how focused they are on each of their customers. For a monthly fee of $19 you’ll receive personalized choices from a designated “stylist” who will pick out your jewelry every month based on what your style preferences are.

I like that they offer high quality jewels by designers such as Loren Hope, Kendra Scott and House of Harlow (Nicole Richie is my spirit animal, so I was extra excited about this). My style is very laid back and simple, nothing too flashy and gaudy, so for my first box I received a shimmer necklace with a small triangular pendant from Gorjana, a pave pendant necklace in gold by Sophie Harper and square stud earrings with diamond accents from CC Skye. The great thing about Rocksbox is that once you’re done, you can send the accessories back and have your stylist update your wishlist for a brand new set. If you fall in love with any of the pieces, you simply keep it and they’ll charge your account once Rocksbox receives your box.

And for the final reveal! (Because I wouldn’t review something without readers benefiting from it!) You’ll receive 1 month of FREE Rocksbox using the code: thebeautenderxoxo!

Thoughts on Rocksbox? Let me know in the comments below!

bareMineral’s bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer

I’ve always referred to bareMineral’s as the “acne prone skin savior”. Their lightweight formulas and skin enhancing effects bring out a natural glow to the face without you having to cake product on to cover any blemishes. As soon as their NEW bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer was released I knew I needed to add it to my already extensive bareMineral’s collection.

For the past few month’s I’ve been relying on UD’s Naked Skin Complete Coverage Concealer for those pesky dark spots and horrendous, haven’t had a proper night of sleep, eye circles that make my morning routine even more painful. But, I figured I could try out bare’s concealer and see if I would have another option I could rely on when I truly can’t go out sans makeup! 

Formulated with antioxidant Lilac Plant Stem Cells and hydrating humectants that help nourish the under-eye area, it brightened up my face  and diminished the appearance of circles and discoloration.The consistency of the concealer is thin and definitely build-able, like all other BM products, but I had a bit of a hard time blending it with my finger, so I would suggest using a beauty blender or concealer brush. The applicator is the same as the UD one, which I was happy about because the flat section of the brush makes it easier to apply directly to your ender eye areas and blemishes that you want covered up in a quick second. Like all other BM products I’ve tried, their NEW concealer does not disappoint and I definitely recommend it to those who have combination skin.

Have you guys tried it? Let me know in the comments below!

ColourPop’s Ultra Matte Lip Review

Ever since ColourPop Cosmetics took over every beauty blogger/vloggers vanity and makeup bags a little over a year ago it has become a huge success. Not only do they have cute and simple packaging, but their products range from $5 to $20! (Talk about a bargain) The first products I purchased were from their adorable Lippie Stix line, which are still my go-to lip products. When I found out that they were jumping on the liquid lipstick bandwagon, I had to get my hands on some of them!

Last week, I finally placed an order for their Ultra Matte Lip, a thin and lightweight liquid lipstick that dries matte, while adding hydration. With fall quickly approaching, I wanted to get shades that will be perfect for transitioning into the season, which is why I went with the below. The formula is very runny and there were a few mishaps while using each, but other than that you don’t need to add more than two coats on your lips. Each runs for $6 and the line includes 24 shades! (You’re guaranteed to find a color that suits you.)

Tulle is a mauvy burgundy that reminds me of KVD’s Lolita- perfect for a day and night look.

Trap is the perfect dupe to LimeCrime’s Cashmere. A gorgeous dusty gray, this color is sure to complete your entire makeup look!

Limbo is a deep chocolate brown, very reminiscent of the 90s.

LAX will probably be the shade of the winter, its a rich vampy red that will look great during the upcoming months.

What other shades are you into from the Ultra Matte Line?