Five Years Later it’s Time to Say Goodbye

Five years ago I started BeautyinBudgetBlog. Five years. I didn’t know then what it would become. I don’t know if I would be any good at blogging. I didn’t know anything about product photography. I didn’t know if anyone would actually read it. And I didn’t know how important it would be to me. All I knew was that I loved makeup, and I wanted to talk about it.

Back then, it seemed like all the bloggers and Youtubers were talking about mid-range and high-end makeup, but very few people cared about drugstore. Here is what I put in the “About” section to describe BiBB. “My goal with this blog is to help you find awesome products that are also reasonably priced.  I like luxury products as much as the next girl, but not all of us are either willing or able to spend major bucks on our beauty items and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.  There have been huge advances in what is available in drugstores and online over the last few years, and the products are often comparable to items many times their price.  I hope that this blog serves as proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune to look like a million bucks.” I think, five years later, that I can say that I accomplished what I started. It is so hard to tell what is worth spending our money on, and that was my primary goal.  I have gotten countless comments over the years with people telling me that this blog has saved them money and introduced them to products that they never would have considered otherwise.  I’ve gotten comments from women who had given up on makeup, but now have a renewed interest thanks to the blog.  Best of all, I’ve gotten comments from people who feel more beautiful and confident as a result of playing with techniques and products that they have discovered through this blog, and I could not think of a better compliment. I am so happy that I have had a positive impact on someone’s life, even in a small way.

It still amazes me that people from countries that I hadn’t even heard of have read my blog. I can’t believe how many comments I have received over the years, and all the people I have been able to interact with. I can’t believe that any of you cared what I had to say and took my opinion seriously. Thank you so much for all of the support you have given me. When I think about the connections that I have made and the feedback that I have gotten, I am blown away and humbled by the consistent love and support that I have been shown. It is what I am going to miss the most now, as I say goodbye.

Five years is the longest that I have ever worked on any single project in my entire life.  I am so proud of what I have done here with this blog. My writing and my photography have both improved so much, I and I feel like I have been able to consistently put out really solid, high-quality information. But it is definitely time to go. I don’t feel like I have anything else to say about beauty. It was a difficult decision to come to, and one that I have been wrestling with for about a year and a half. I thought about quitting when I moved from NC to CA, but I just couldn’t walk away. BiBB had become such a huge part of my life. Finally, I decided that I simply don’t feel as passionate about beauty blogging as I once did, and it’s time for me to focus on other projects. I have been slowly weaning myself off the blog by posting less and less throughout 2016. Now that I’ve reached this milestone, it’s time to officially say goodbye. Five years is a really good run.

I am not deleting this blog, or anything like that. I’ll keep BiBB in its current state, but I won’t be posting anymore. I do plan to keep up my writing, just not here. Some of you may remember that I started a personal blog in 2012. I wanted a place that I could talk about non-beauty subjects, but I could not keep up with regularly posting to two blogs at the same time, so this one took precedence. However, now that I am retiring BiBB, I plan to start posting over there again. If you want to keep up with me and read more of my writing, check out Defies Description.

Thank you for coming with me on this journey. It’s been a hell of a ride.

Latest Favorites 2016

Latest 2016 Favorites

I have a Favorites post for you today.  I haven’t done a Monthly Favorites post for a few months because I didn’t feel like I had enough diversity in the products that I was using.  So instead I decided to do more of a seasonal favorites for the products that I’ve been loving for the last few months.  Some of these items have been featured in recent reviews, but most of them are new.  Let’s take a look.

Ofra Silicone Primer Gel

First and foremost, I have really been loving this Ofra Silicone Primer Gel.  I have always been a fan of silicone primers, and my usual go-to option is the Smashbox PhotoFinish Primer.  The Ofra Silicone Primer Gel has a great, silky-smooth formula.  It’s much more lightweight than the Smashbox primer, but still fills in my pores and wrinkles.  It really makes foundation glide on smoothly and last all day.  It also has a cooling sensation when applied that feels great and is nicely invigorating.  I am a huge fan of this primer, and am glad that I gave it a try.

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream is nothing new to the market, but I had never tried it.  I picked up a deluxe sample after a friend recommended it to me, and I really enjoyed it.  The next time Ulta offered me a 20% off coupon, I had to purchase the full size version.  I love the formula.  It has great coverage, but still looks casual and natural.  It’s the perfect foundation type product for the summer to look like you put in some effort but not too over-done.  It also has SPF 50, so it offers some good sun protection.  It’s a cult favorite for a reason, and I love it.

Makeup Revolution Blushes

I recently discovered Makeup Revolution Blushes, and I am so impressed with the formula and pigmentation.  It shouldn’t be a surprise, since I love Makeup Revolution Blush palettes, but sometimes the formula differs between palettes and single products.  That’s not the case here.  I started with The Matte Blush in the shade Fusion.  The pigmentation is off the charts here.  I use a duo fiber stipple brush to apply my blushes, so I love a blush with some really good pigmentation.  It is very finely milled and super smooth.  I’d say that it easily holds up to blushes that are 2 or 3 times the price.  Fusion is a lovely warm shade that looks great on my skin.  Next, the Makeup Revolution Baked Blusher in Make Love Instead took me by surprise.  I bought this blush on a whim because it is not my usual fare, but it is so pretty.  My cheeks just glow with it on.  I am way more likely to opt for something fun and shimmery in the summer, and this blush has been perfect.  It’s not as good quality as the matte blushes, but I’ve been enjoying it.  I have been so impressed with the Makeup Revolution brand in general, and these blushes have done nothing but keep the brand in high esteem.

Lorac Pro 3

It should be no surprise for you to see the Lorac Pro 3 Palette in this mix.  I love the Lorac Pro palettes, especially Pro 2, so when Pro 3 came out, I had to play with it.  I did a full review with swatches in June, so I am not going to get into too much detail here.  You can go ahead and click the link to get all of that information.  Let’s just say that the palette is great, surprisingly versatile, and definitely worth checking out.

TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette

I reviewed TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette earlier this week, so again, I won’t get into too much detail.  These shadows are really nice.  They will be especially good to have as we transition into Fall, but I’ve been enjoying them now too.  I definitely like this matte palette better than the previous matte palette from theBalm.  It’s laid out so much better and I feel like I will reach for it way more often.  In general, I think that theBalm is an underrated band, but this is a solid palette.  Be sure to check out my review post.

BECCA Beach Tint Shimmer Soufflé

Is there any better time than summer to wear the BECCA Beach Tint Shimmer Soufflés?  They are so gorgeous, and I think that the smooshy gel to powder formula is pretty unique.  I got these on a super sale, but I think that they are worth the splurge even if you do have to pay full price.  I apply them with my e.l.f. Small Stipple brush, and they go on smoothly over foundation and powder for a radiant look.  I am especially loving the Watermelon/Moonstone shade (left), but the Papaya/Topaz (middle) is a fantastic shade for that bronzed goddess look.  I also have Raspberry/Opal (right) which has a cooler tone, but is just as lovely.  I know that that they are rather splurgey for this blog, but they are so beautiful.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip in Bumble

I am still loving the ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip in Bumble.  It’s so good!   I love how transfer proof it is.  I hate it when lip product gets on my straws or glasses when I drink water (which I do all day long).  I am not going to reach for an ultra matte lip all the time, but I do love how I can put this on and forget about it.  I know that it won’t budge on me.  I also love this dusty terracotta color.  It looks so good with my skintone.  I need to pick up a few more of these.

Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette

A few months ago I pulled the trigger on the Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette.  I’ve used it several times now, and I really like it.  This is an obvious drugstore take on the Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning products that are ridiculously priced.  This handy little gadget is about $15, which some of you may still think is ridiculously priced, but you can use the Ulta $3.50 off coupon to knock it down to $11.50.  With two brush cleanser samples included, I thought it was a reasonable price to try it out.  Anything to make brush cleaning faster and more efficient.  It really works.  It fits comfortably on my hand, and the little nubbies do a great job of agitating the bristles to get a deep clean.  The lip catches water nicely and it is dishwasher safe so you can keep any residue from building up.  Thumbs up.

Ulta Regular Instant Nail Polish Remover

My final favorite is this Ulta Regular Instant Nail Polish Remover.  I have never used one of these sponge removers, so I’m not sure how the Ulta version compares, but it is so good and only $4.  It easily takes off my polish, even when I’ve done some stamping and there are several layers of polish and topcoat, or if I am wearing water decals.  I don’t find the smell particularly offensive, which I appreciate.  The cuticle dauber is great for stubborn spots and can be used on toe nail polish if you so desire.  I’ve been using it for a couple months, and it is still going strong.  I will definitely repurchase when this tub is gone.

That’s it for what I have been loving lately.  I am not someone who feels like I have to stick to seasonal trends, so they may not necessarily be summer specific products.  But they definitely are great products that I can not get enough of.  I hope that you saw something that you liked.

TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette

TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette

Today I want to show you the new(ish) Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette from theBalm.  Ipsy had the palette available for half off, so I went ahead and grabbed it.  I own the Meet Matt(e) Nude Palette, but I think that this new matte palette is better.  Though it is definitely not going to be a palette for everyone, the Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette is a great addition to my collection.  TheBalm describes it as “The special occasion palette. Featuring nine versatile shades, these matt(e)s are ‘suit’able for any occasion. With a velvety smooth texture, triple-milled formula and true-to-pan payoff, your look will live on happily ever after. Always easy on the eyes, Meet Matt(e) Trimony transitions from business casual to black tie in no time.” Take a look.

TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette

The Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette is a good palette for those who like neutrals and purple tones. It contains nine romantic shades that are great for a date night or a wedding, but neutral enough to fit in at the office.  The pans are huge and easy to get a brush into.  The formula is not creamy like Lorac and Urban Decay, but that could be a good thing for those who find soft shadows crumbly and hard to work with.  TheBalm shadows are easy to blend and have great pigmentation, but don’t have the same fall-out issues that softer shadows do.  I think it’s a good formula that applies evenly, blends smoothly, and looks great.

The shades in the Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette lean toward the purples, so if you avoid those colors normally, then you should skip this palette.  If you like purples though, Meet Matt(e) Trimony is laid out really well.  There are several medium crease or transition shades.  There is a lovely bold cranberry shade and a deep purple for your pops of color.  A matte cream, dark brown, and soft black round out your basic neutrals, making this a solid palette.  With my skin tone, I can create several whole looks with this palette, without needing to bring out any supplementary shades.  The brown and black make good liner shades.  This is sort of a simple, unassuming palette, but I think it is really good and worth picking up.

TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette Swatches

The Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette is available on thebalm.com for $42.  Like I said, I did not pay full price for this palette, and I’m not sure that I would do so (the Nude ‘Tude palettes are only $36).  However, it is definitely worth it if you can find it on sale.  TheBalm is often featured on Hautelook, and they have sitewide flash sales once or twice a year.  You can get 20% off theBalm right now (for a limited time) by using the code Ipsy20.  That brings the palette down to around $34, which is much more reasonable and I think a fair price for the Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette.  I think that it is definitely worth checking out.

Geek Chic Stamping Plate

Summer Fun nails

Today I have this Geek Chic Stamping Plate from the Born Pretty Store for review.  I am really liking these long rectangle style stamping plates.  They are such a bargain and hold so many stamps.  There are 14 large size, full nail designs on this plate.  They are all very different from each other and this is a really versatile plate for a wide variety of manicures.  You can go sci-fi futuristic, throw it back to the 80’s, or anything in between.  Let’s take a closer look.

Geek Chic Stamping Plate

Though Born Pretty advertises this plate as “Geek patterns,” that doesn’t tell the whole story.  You will find gears, circuit boards, and video game controllers in the patterns on this plate, which certainly qualify you for the nerd herd, but that’s not all.  You can create an adorable summer mani with the umbrellas and sunglasses.  Sneakers and pencils are great for the school year.  The planes, cars or directional arrows might be fun on vacation, and the goofy faces are good all year round.  There are a lot of option with this plate, and it’s a good addition to my nail art collection.

Summer Fun nails

I went with bright summer colors and some of the fun summery designs.  I wanted to show off as many stamps as I could, so I chose a different design for each nail.  Some of them are more tricky than others to stamp cleanly.  I had some trouble with the sunglasses design, but overall, it’s a good quality plate. The plate is currently on sale of $2.99.

I have several reviews for products that I have received from the Born Pretty Store, and you can see the other BPS reviews I have done by clicking on the Born Pretty Store link in the “Categories” section on the right hand side of the blog.  As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, the Born Pretty Store is located in China, so shipping will take a while.  It is normal for orders to take 2-4 weeks to ship to the US, and in my experience, I have gotten most of my orders within 2-3weeks.  You should definitely plan ahead if you are ordering something time sensitive like holiday items and order them early.  Orders ship within 24 hours.  Check out the BPS website bornprettstore.com, or their facebook page for more details.  For 10% off any regular priced items from the website, use coupon code BBBK31.

FTC Disclosure: The product reviewed in this post was provided to me for free by Born Pretty Store for consideration.  This does not guarantee a positive review, and my thoughts on these products are 100% honest.  No other type of compensation was accepted.  I do not get any kick backs or compensation from any orders placed.

Party Owls and More

Party Owls for my Birthday

My birthday was on Friday, and I had this absolutely adorable Party Owl manicure to help celebrate.  These owl and cupcake water decals are just a few of the great designs that are part of this 10-Piece Water Decal Set from the Born Pretty Store.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, water decals are some of my favorite things.  I am not very good at nail art, but water decals make it so easy to have a really interesting and complicated-looking manicure whenever I want.  If you want to talk about a great deal, this is it.  There are ten sheets of water decals with owls, flowers, and more in this set now available for a sale price of $5.00.  That’s only 50 cents each.  Most of these sheets are available individually for $1-$2 each, so getting them in this set is a huge savings.

BPS 10 Piece Water Decal Set

There are some great designs in this set.  I really love the cartoonish owls and the birds with feathers.  There is a pretty good variety of floral decals.  Some are pop-art and modern, and some are more classic and feminine.  And of course, you know me, I can not wait to use that nautical themed sheet of decals.  There are so many possible manicures out of this set that go from fun and funky to classy and sophisticated.  Here is a closer look.

BPS 10 Piece Water Decal Set

BPS 10 Piece Water Decal Set

BPS 10 Piece Water Decal Set

I haven’t had time to use all 10 sheets of decals, but here is a shot of three different manicures that I have done.  The party owls are over Essie Find Me An Oasis.  The blue flower/butterfly design is over Sinful Colors Snow me White.  The black floral decals are all by themselves with no base color.

BPS 10 Piece Water Decal Set

I can not recommend this 10 Piece Water Decal Set enough.  I really think that it is a great deal.  I have several reviews for products that I have received from the Born Pretty Store, and you can see the other BPS reviews I have done by clicking on the Born Pretty Store link in the “Categories” section on the right hand side of the blog.  As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, the Born Pretty Store is located in China, so shipping will take a while.  It is normal for orders to take 2-4 weeks to ship to the US, and in my experience, I have gotten most of my orders within 2-3weeks.  You should definitely plan ahead if you are ordering something time sensitive like holiday items and order them early.  Orders ship within 24 hours.  Check out the BPS website bornprettstore.com, or their facebook page for more details.  For 10% off any regular priced items from the website, use coupon code BBBK31.

FTC Disclosure: The product reviewed in this post was provided to me for free by Born Pretty Store for consideration.  This does not guarantee a positive review, and my thoughts on these products are 100% honest.  No other type of compensation was accepted.  I do not get any kick backs or compensation from any orders placed.