2020 Favorites

March 11, 2021 | Beauty | 2 Comments »


PR Sample/Purchased By Me

2020 Favorites

I know it might seem silly to do my yearly favorites post a whole 2 months later, but it’s tradition. I couldn’t just skip it. So I know I really struggled with blogging last year. There are many reasons for that. First, I always felt guilty any time I tried. It didn’t seem right blogging about sometimes pricey beauty items when the whole world was suffering. Then my entire household got sick. Not all at once. My husband was the only confirmed COVID case. I was sick much earlier on in the year and no doctor would see me. As an asthmatic this was pretty scary. Not to be dramatic, but I honestly believe that if I didn’t have my inhaler I would have died. Thankfully we all recovered MONTHS later. Yes, it took months. 1 1/2 months for me and 2 months for my husband. My son was mildly sick for a few weeks. It was stressful. Finally, I decided that 2020 was the year that I was going to really throw myself into my business. Why? I don’t know. Quarantine boredom? I’ve been baking on/off for the past decade. But I never really put myself out there. So that’s been taking up most of my time. But still, I’d like to at least dedicate one day out of the week to my blog. That’s the plan anyway. Believe it or not I do still do a full face about half of the week. I don’t want to look like a gremlin dropping off orders.

Now that I’ve cleared that up I can move onto my top 10 of 2020. Keep in mind that my favorites are not always makeup or even beauty related.

“Dyson

Dyson Corrale
I purchased this flat iron just before the pandemic. I never even got around to properly reviewing it. It’s very pricey and I can see why many people think that it’s overpriced and can’t justify the purchase. What sold me on this flat iron was the claim of needing less passes resulting in less damage to your hair. Since my hair was in a much more fragile state in the beginning of 2020, this definitely got my attention. I liked the idea of being able to smooth my hair out while curling it in one session. I know you can use any flat iron to achieve the same results, but most either don’t do anything for my hair, or they work too well and fry it. It did take a while to get the hang of it. The first time I dried my hair out so bad that I ended up at the salon begging for another treatment. Oops. So you can still do some damage if you keep it on your hair for too long. Which is what I did. Once I got used to it I could style my hair in less than 1/2 hour. Something that used to take me well over an hour to achieve in the past. So for me this is well worth the purchase. Plus the cord free capability makes things so much easier especially when you have as much hair as I do. This was easily one of the best purchases of 2020.

“Pixi

Pixi Beauty Summer Glow Palette
This has been my go-to face palette of 2020. In fact I’m still using it regularly. I might have to clean it off and put it away for a while. It’s time to show some of the others some love. I love how convenient it is. For me it’s a nice all-in-one palette. I’ve created a whole face using just this palette. It’s natural enough to wear daily while still offering a nice glamorous glow.

“ColourPop

ColourPop Blush Crush Palette
If I had to pick just one palette of 2020 this would be it. I love the soft rosy tones. It’s a beautiful natural palette that I can wear just about anywhere. It’s easily one of my favorite ColourPop palettes of all time.

“Tatcha

Tatcha The Water Cream
This is another product I didn’t even get around to reviewing yet. I did mention it in an empties post though. I remember liking the sample and so I purchased the full size. It’s very pricey, but it’s gentle enough to use on my super sensitive skin. Also, I swear I haven’t had many rosacea flareups since using this cream. I’ll still get red if I’m standing over the stove, but it settles down almost immediately. This product is really the only thing that has changed in my nighttime routine. It doesn’t have a strong scent, it’s lightweight, and incredibly moisturizing. A little goes a long way too. This truly is a beautiful cream.

Mary Kay Lash Love Mascara

Mary Kay Lash Love Mascara
For those who know me you’re probably asking ‘Really?’ I really really dislike MLM and their products. I have made some exceptions because I really liked the product. But I mostly keep my distance. I’ve had very bad experiences. Well, before the pandemic my son had a girlfriend. I briefly met her mother, found out she sold Mary Kay, told my MIL all about it, and she’s been buying from her ever since. My MIL loves her Mary Kay products. I happened to swipe her mascara sample (oops?) and fell in love with it. It doesn’t flake, smudge, clump, or feel heavy. It does a great job at separating and lengthening my lashes. I wouldn’t say that it leaves them looking super full, but it’s easily one of the best mascaras I’ve tried all year. And this includes some of the higher end brands.

“Raycon

Raycon The Performer Earbuds
My son is very tech-savvy and gets all of the coolest gadgets. When his new earbuds arrived I had to give them a try. Traditional headphones hurt my ears. This includes the wireless kinds. When I tried these out I fell in love. My husband ordered me a pair in rose gold. They’re super cute. They feel very comfortable. They don’t fall out. The sound quality is pretty damn impressive. I love that I can easily connect to my TV at night and watch it as loud as I want without disturbing anyone.

B3 Brazilian Bondbuilder Instant Restore & Protect Reconstructor

B3 Brazilian Bondbuilder Instant Restore & Protect Reconstructor
I decided to try this nifty product out during quarantine. It really did help during the months salons were closed. My hair started to feel less dry and was more manageable again. Now it’s part of my hair care routine. I apply it after my conditioner and just before my hair mask. It’s a whole extra step and a little pricey, but it makes a world of a difference.

I actually didn’t even make it to 10. I really monitored my spending and tried to focus more on saving. I did splurge a bit here and there, but mostly on essentials. I’ll probably continue throughout 2021. I really need to start using up the product I have now. I’m in the midst of Spring cleaning and questioning everything. Like am I a hoarder or not? Hahaha!

What were some of your favorites last year?

*I received some of these products complimentary. I was not paid or compensated in any way to write this post. All opinions are completely my own.

Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves

October 19, 2020 | Beauty, Pixi Beauty | 7 Comments »


PR Sample

I know that it’s no longer Summer, but I’m still wearing these products regularly and just had to share them. Funny story. When I first received this palette I initially thought it was an eyeshadow palette. I remember thinking that these were some huge pans. Then I thought it would make a nice face palette too. Turns out that it is a face palette. But I went ahead and used it on my eyes too because I thought it made for a nice subtle yet glowy look.

Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves

Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves

Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves

Summer Glow Palette

Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves

Summer Glow Palette

Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves

Swatches: Sunkissed, Subtly Suntouched, Sunswept, Bronzed

Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves

Swatches: Sunshine, Summertime, Suntan, BareGlow, Midsummer

Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves

Large Lash Mascara

Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves

Endless Shade Stick

Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves

Swatches: LipLift Max in Sweet Nectar, Endless Shade Stick in CopperGlaze, MatteCocoa

The Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves include the Summer Glow Palette which contains some really pretty bronze shades and some gorgeous highlighters. The Large Lash Mascara has been my go-to mascara lately. The wand is a little chunky, but it wasn’t messy or difficult to work with. It did help my lashes appear fuller and longer and didn’t smudge. The LipLift Max is a nice nude gloss that did plump up my lips a bit. At least the bottom lip looks a bit fuller. I liked the cooling sensation too. This is a huge plus during the Summer. The Endless Shade Sticks are creamy and nicely pigmented. These are so convenient and also work nicely as a base.

You can see the Summer Glow Palette, Large Lash Mascara, and LipLift Max in action below.

Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves
Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves

Overall, I’m loving everything! You will definitely see some of these on my yearly favorites post. I haven’t put the palette and mascara down since I received them. Seriously, look at that glow! Sometimes when I’m in a rush I just use this one palette for everything. It makes for a nice wearable look.

Have you tried any of these products? What are your Summer must-haves?

Info

Product: Pixi Beauty Summer Must-Haves
Purchase: pixibeauty.com

Look

Face: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, Pixi Beauty Summer Glow Palette, MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Eyes: Pixi Beauty Summer Glow Palette, ColourPop BFF Creme Gel Liner in Swerve, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper, Pixi Beauty Large Lash Mascara, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Ash Brown Lips: Pixi Beauty LipLift Max in Sweet Nectar

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

October 12, 2020 | Beauty, ColourPop | 10 Comments »


Purchased By Me

I’ve given up making excuses for the long gaps between posts. Let’s just blame it on 2020. This year has been a hot mess. I do have lots to share though. I’d also like to catch up on some of your posts. But it’ll all have to wait until I have enough time. I have a lot on my plate these days. But I’m not ready to say goodbye to Midwest Glam any time soon. So I’ve just decided to do what I can when I can. That being said, here’s a new post!

ColourPop’s collections have been stressful lately. Or maybe more people are home these days so the launches are just extra chaotic? When this collection launched I had everything in my cart. I went to checkout and poof! Gone. I was pretty mad. But I waited on the Ulta launch and was lucky enough to get all of the items I wanted. You can see everything below complete with swatches.

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Gather Round Sisters Palette

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Gather Round Sisters Palette

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Swatches: Full Moon, Hello Salem, Brew Potion, On Toast, Coven

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Swatches: Come Little Children, Tis’ Firm, Thackery Binx, Yabbos, I call It A Bus

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Swatches: Wench, Night Of Frolic, Dead Man’s Toe, Bewitched, Goodbye Cruel World

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

I Put A Spell On You Lip Duo

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

I Put A Spell On You Lip Duo

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Swatches: Lippie Pencil, Creme Lux Lipstick

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Swatches: Trick Or Treat Liner, Sistas! Liner

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Clever Witch Faux Lashes

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Clever Witch Faux Lashes

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Boss Witch Faux Lashes

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Boss Witch Faux Lashes

Obtaining the products was stressful. The actual products are pretty great. I love that they go all out for these collections. The packaging is super cute. Even the lash boxes. This was my first time purchasing their lashes too. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality. They’re not the greatest, but they’re really nice and I’ll definitely purchase more. The lip duo was pretty amazing. The lip liner glided on my lips so effortlessly. The lipstick was so creamy and made for a really comfortable wear. It’s been a while since I wore tube lipstick. Or any lipstick for that matter. Mask wearing makes it impossible. But this lipstick made me miss the good old tube lipsticks. I’ve purchased a few of their eyeliners and really love them. These are great additions. They’re much softer though so you have to be careful during application. As for the palette… what can I say? It’s the perfect Fall palette! I know most of us probably have many of these shades already, but a few are definitely unique in my collection. Like the olive shades and even that glitter. I also appreciate the addition of a nice brow bone shade even if it does have a little sparkle in it.

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Overall, I have to say that this was beautifully done. I don’t have a single negative. Except maybe easier launches and more product to go around. You can see everything in action below. I’m not wearing any of the eyeliners though. The lashes worn are Clever Witch. Palette shades used are Full Moon, On Toast, Dead Man’s Toe, and Wench.

ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection

Were you able to purchase anything from this collection? What are your thoughts?

Info

Product: ColourPop Hocus Pocus Collection
Price: $8.00 – $130.00
Purchase: colourpop.com

Look

Face: MAC Prep + Prime Skin, MAC Pro Longwear Foundation, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, Pixi Summer Glow Palette in Sheer Sunshine, MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Eyes: ColourPop Gather Round Sisters Palette, ColourPop BFF Creme Gel Liner in Swerve, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper, Pixi Large Lash Mascara, ColourPop Clever Witch Faux Lashes, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Ash Brown Lips: ColourPop I Put A Spell On You Lip Duo

Welcome

Welcome to Midwest Glam! My name is Lisa Marie and this is where I blog about all things beauty, food, and photography. While I mainly focus on beauty topics, I do weekly photography posts as well as the occasional recipe. Thank you so much for visiting!

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