Sigma Beauty Spa Brush Cleaning Glove Review

It's no secret that I'm a huge Sigma fan. I love their brushes and when I'm in need of a new brush, their site is always my first stop. The quality of their brushes is so high-end but the prices are perfect, and a lot less than MAC, Sephora, etc. I also love the packaging that my Sigma orders come in, and they always send a nice little sample. With my last order, I got this mini sample-sized spa glove. I was a little skeptical at first - do I really need a "spa glove" to clean my brushes? I had been using MAC brush cleaner and my hand for forever... a "spa glove" seemed a little high maintenance and gimmicky to me. Just another product to spend a ton of money on and end up not using. I threw this in a drawer with other minis and samples and forgot all about it.

I discovered this again recently and used it to clean all my brushes and I LOVED it! It really does help get into the brush hairs to clean deeply and thoroughly, and I instantly regretted that I haven't been using it this whole time. This is just the mini, so you don't put your hand into it and it is small - it fits in the palm of my hand. After using it (and loving it) I got online to see how much the full version costs. To be honest, I really did like this product, I think it's a good idea, but I wouldn't want to pay a ton of money for it. Especially since I have this mini - I would be happy just using this one for brush cleaning. On sigma.com, they have a dual-sided Spa Brush Cleaning Glove (it comes in four colors: purple, pink, turquoise, & black) that you can put your hand into like an oven mitt. It has a "face" side and an "eyes" side with different textured areas: refine, wash, & rinse. It is suggested to use the area between the thumb & fingers to shape the brushes before drying. The full version is $35.

To be honest, I think the price is a bit high, but not so outrageously high that I wouldn't buy it. However, because I have this mini version, I'm definitely not running out to buy the full glove anytime soon. I do think I'd like to have this in my collection, and I do think it is really handy and helpful during the dreaded (but necessary) brush-cleaning time, but I would consider it a wish-list-splurge item. If you're a makeup artist or working in a field where you need to clean a large amount of makeup brushes frequently, this would totally be worth the money. If you just do makeup on yourself and don't have a huge collection of brushes, this isn't a must-have. If you have the mini - try it out and if you really hate cleaning your brushes, this may help motivate you and also speed along the process. 

Overall, I like the idea and I love the product, but I don't love price. It's on my wish list, but if the price came down by even $5 or $10, I would be much happier! Have you guys tried the Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove? Are there are brush cleaning gloves or tools out there? If so, which ones have you tried? 

Until next time! xoxo

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil Touch Up Review

I picked this up a few months ago at Ulta where they have a really large selection of Bare Minerals products. I actually found this near the register (gets me every time) on my way out. I have tried mineral veil before and it's a product I always go back to. For me, it would be the perfect product if I could change one thing. I hate loose powders! They're so messy, especially if you want to keep one in your handbag. The powder gets everywhere and when you open the lid you end up dusting it all over yourself. I decided to try this because it's in a compact and it has a mirror. It comes with the standard pad/sponge inside but it also comes with a mini brush, which is nice for traveling. This is perfect to throw in your makeup bag or take it to-go in your handbag. I also like the idea that it adds a little glow. 

Let's be honest - the packaging is what made me buy this. It's super cute and seemed to be very handy for on-the-go situations. I really like Bare Minerals brushes, too, so I was happy that this came with a travel-sized powder brush. I've mentioned before that since I'm very dry, I don't usually powder my face. However, on really hot days, oily days, or days that I know I'm going to be wearing makeup for an extended period of time, I like to at least set my under-eye concealer. Lately, I have been using this under my eyes and in my t-zone to set everything and keep it matte (but not flat) on long days out. This never looks cakey, it sets everything really well, and illuminates without being sparkly or shiny. I have been using it so much, I may pick up a full-size illuminating mineral veil to set my makeup, and keep this in my handbag for touch ups. They also have a pressed translucent touch up powder (full size) if you're not into loose powders. 

I've been really happy with the brush, too. It's soft and the perfect size to set under eye concealer and touch up smaller areas on the face (like the t-zone). I've been using this for my t-zone and anywhere else I tend to get oily after a long day, and this Real Techniques setting brush for under my eyes. I'm not usually a fan of powder mineral foundations, but Bare Minerals has so many other products to offer. They have expanded so much and they really seem to have something for everyone. Some other products I love include their bronzer and sometimes their loose powder mineral foundation to set my liquid foundation and add a bit of extra coverage. 

What are your favorite Bare Mineral products? What products do you use to set under eye concealer and/or ward off an oily t-zone? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time... xoxo

4 Book Reviews: Herland, All the Light We Cannot See, Defending Jacob, & The Kitchen House

I loved writing about my 52 Books in 52 Weeks and sharing mini book reviews on the books I've read. I'm still going strong in 2015 - I have finished 4 books so far. The beginning of January is always a good time to get some reading done! I'm on a roll so far; all the books I've read have been really, really good. I had a lot of good feedback on my 52 Books post, so I thought I would continue the book reviews as I go through my reading list for 2015!

Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman - ★★★

I loved this book but I also recognize that it probably won't be for everyone. This one is about 3 men who stumble upon a feminist utopian society. They end up staying and observing the way this all-female world works and how it has become far superior to our own. I found this very interesting, but not for the usual reasons. The plot was okay - it didn't grab my attention and leave me wondering what's going to happen next, but the reason I got through this book so quickly was because I found the idea of a feminist utopia so interesting from a psychological and sociological standpoint. If you're interesting in psychology, sociology, even anthropology, I would recommend this to you. It's a good story, but rather than falling in love with the characters and being captivated by the plot, I was most interested in the inner working of the society and how their way of live worked so uniquely for them. Very interesting and also a quick read, so if it's not your cup of tea, it won't take you long to get through anyway.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - ★★★★★

I loved this book. The beginning was a bit confusing and it took me some time with the characters to understand the story. Also, the author jumps from one character's point of view to another's in each chapter, and he also jumps around in different time periods from chapter to chapter. At times, I had to take a minute to figure out what year it was and which character I was hearing from. I wasn't so confused that I couldn't figure out what was going on and I actually liked all the shifts, it's what kept me so interested. The story is told mainly from two points of view - a young, blind, French girl living with her father in Paris, and a young, orphaned, German boy in an orphanage with his sister. The book jumps from before, during, and after World War II and shows the two contrasting lives of a French girl trying to understand the war and stay alive, and the German boy trying to fit in with the other members of Hitler's Youth while still trying maintaining some sort of moral compass. It was was very emotional and beautifully written. All throughout the story I was waiting for the moment when the two stories would finally intertwine and I was not disappointed. Loved this!

Defending Jacob by William Landay - ★★★★

I'm not usually into courtroom dramas, but I really enjoyed this and was impressed with the plot twist at the end. The town's DA is investigating the murder of a middle school boy when he is suddenly removed from the case. As it turns out, his own son is being suspected of the murder and is set to be tried in court. The father has his own secret and will stop at nothing to protect his son. Just when you think the story is over, Landay hits you with a huge twist that totally changes the outcome of the story. I couldn't put this down. Also, it was so entertaining that instead of worrying about whether or not Jacob was guilty, I was just enjoying the story without trying to think ahead and solve the mystery. The writing isn't astounding, but the story is very entertaining and unique. Definitely a story you'll remember and would make a great movie!

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grisson - ★★★★★

This is by far my favorite of this year, so far. I have to warn you, it's incredibly sad, in the same way that My Notorious Life by Kate Manning is. I would call this historical fiction, although I use the word historical loosely. It doesn't incorporate a ton of historical information, but it is set during the late 1700s to early 1800s and so it provides some (fictional) accounts of slavery, indentured servitude, and the role of women during that time period. Books about slavery, civil rights, and racism in early America are nothing new, but I do find them to be very interesting, although terribly sad, but this book takes on a whole new perspective. I've read several books from the point of view of the slaves (maids, servants, whatever they're referred to during that time period) like The Help by Kathryn Stockett & The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (a couple of my favorites), but this story comes from the perspective of a child who finds herself as an indentured servant. She was immigrating to America from Ireland and is now an orphaned, indentured servant for a white family in the South on a big plantation. Since she is serving out her years, she lives with the "house slaves" and comes to view them as her family. She is raised by these men and women and has an extremely strong emotional bond with them. When she grows up, however, her servitude ends and now that she is free, she is viewed as a normal white woman. She is expected to marry and, through her husband, own her own slaves. She finds herself in an extremely difficult situation that she struggles to understand. Some part of this were very hard to get through - reading about the atrocities of slavery is never easy - but there are certain storylines in the book that were so heartwarming I was moved to tears. Get your tissues ready, I was crying before I had even reached 100 pages. It was such a good book, I fell in love with the characters and was sad to see the story end. I read this in about 2 days as I could not seem to put it down. I would say this is a must-read of 2015. 

Please share your opinions and your own book reviews with me below. I am, as always, accepting recommendations for 2015. My reading list is always growing!

Until next time! xoxo

Disappointing Product: Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer

Sorry, Maybelline, I still love you... but this product was a miss for me. I picked up the Dream Lumi Touch highlighting concealer hoping it would be a similar product (maybe even a dupe) to the YSL Touche Eclat, which is a pricey $41. The Dream Lumi Touch is around $8 so I thought I'd give it a try. I was pretty disappointed with the product. Disclaimer: I have not yet mustered the strength to splurge on the YSL original, so I can't compare the two. I can only tell you what I thought about the Maybelline version on its own - compared only to my thoughts on how it should or is supposed to look. The YSL touche éclat is definitely on my wish list, but a major splurge item. 

There are tons of Maybelline products that I love, but I do find it hit and miss with skin products sometimes. I believe this is solely because of my skin tone. Maybelline tends to be on the warmer side of the spectrum and a lot of their face products can be too warm or too orange on my skin. This is no fault of the brand, it just simply doesn't work as well as some other brands with my skin tone. That being said, I still have several Maybelline foundations, concealers, powders, etc. that do work with my skin and look great. 

The shade I picked out is a pink-toned highlighting color. I knew I would be using this as a highlight rather than a concealer. I understand the same is true with the YSL product - it's not so much an under-eye concealer as it is a highlighting pen - meant to highlight, not necessarily cover up. Because I had read reviews on the touche éclat, I went for a pinky/salmon shade rather than a normal "ivory" shade because I wanted to test this out as a YSL dupe, rather than just another under eye concealer. I was planning to use this on my cheekbones as a creamy highlighting product.

My first complaint is the packaging. I'm not a big fan of the twist-up brush applicators. As you can see in the photo, things get messy pretty quickly. The packaging also felt very light and cheap, which is probably true as it only costs $8. Also, I had to twist forever to get any product to come out. Another reason I hate this sort of packaging is because you can't tell how much product you're dispensing. I might twist 5 times and get nothing... so I twist another 5 times and tons of concealer comes spewing out. My advice is twist slowly and be patient. The color is my second complaint. I know I chose a rosy shade (radiant 310), but it's much too pink. It comes off as a salmon color that's a little too orange and a little too pink. It just doesn't look good on my skin. I think I could possibly make the shade work better if it had a different formulation, but the consistency of the product is my biggest and final complaint. It's thick and dry... it doesn't blend well or easily and it ends up just being a cakey mess. You can see the lines where the highlight ends and your skin begins. It never seems to blend in seamlessly no matter what application method I try. 

You may be able to tell just from the photo how it settles into fine lines, looks thick and cakey, and doesn't have the right silky consistency that these type of products need to look good. You can also see the color here - it's a very bold salmon color that just isn't flattering on my skin tone. I have not tried any other shades of this product simply because I wasn't a fan of the formulation, but I could have just picked the wrong shade for my coloring. Maybe I should have gone with my trusty "ivory" pick, instead. I don't think I'll be finishing this product as I can't figure out a way to use it that works. 

Have you tried the Dream Lumi Touch highlighter? What were your thoughts? I'm also open to other drug store highlighting pen suggestions! I will still keep the YSL touche éclat on my list - let me know your thoughts on that as well! Is it worth the splurge?! Let me know in the comments!

Until next time! xoxo

Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner Review

The name is definitely a mouthful, but the ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner is the best eyeliner I have ever used. I use this daily, no matter what. Whether I'm sporting a full face of makeup or having a "no makeup" makeup day, I always use this liner. I like to tight line my eyes most of the time, and I tend to prefer tight lining over a winged liner or smokey eye. Even with minimal makeup, tight lining really adds thickness to your lashes and frames your eyes. 

Two things I look for in a standard black liner are water resistance and softness. I like a really smooshy liner so that it applies easily to the inner lids without pulling or tugging on my eyes. This glides on and the liner is really dark and pigmented. Sometimes the waterline is... well, watery and it can be difficult to get liner to "stick," but not this one. My other requirement is that it's waterproof. Again, your waterline can be a tricky place to not only apply makeup, but also make it last. This liner lasts all day and night on my waterline and never smudges or fades. If you swatch this on your hand, you can see that it won't budge after it dries. This is especially useful if you have watery eyes, allergies, etc. 

As you can see, I have just about used up my last pencil and have already repurchased a backup. I keep one of these on hand at all times. I have tried several other similar drugstore options and nothing else compares. If you like to tight line your eyes, or are looking for a really good waterproof liner, I highly recommend this! Also, since it's Rimmel, you can find it at your local drugstore for under $5. They offer a range of other colors as well. My only complaint about this liner is that you have to sharpen it. I am always on the hunt for a twist-up liner that is just as black, just as waterproof, but still soft and easy to apply.

If you've found a liner ever better than this one, please let me know in the comments! If you haven't tried this yet, I would definitely recommend it. Tweet or Instagram me with your pics, favorite liners, etc!

Until next time! xoxo

MAC bronzing powder & Sigma F05 Brush Reviews

MAC Bronzing Powder in "Golden" & Sigma Small Contour F05 Brush

Bronzer can be really tricky when you have fair skin. It takes a lot of trial and error to find the perfect one, and when you do - you tend to stick to it. I have been using this bronzing powder by MAC for years, and I always come back to it. It is probably my holy-grail bronzer. As always, the quality is very good and it's just formulated really nicely. I don't use a lot of bronzers, but this has always been a staple in my makeup drawer. It's not matte, but it isn't shimmery either. It has a glow to it, but it's subtle enough that this can still be used as a contour shade. I use this not only as a cheek bone contour  but all over my face, too. Golden is the lightest shade, and it's the perfect color for my skin tone. I struggle to find a good bronzer because they're always much too dark and I have to dip my brush in very lightly, be sure to dust off most of the product, and then blend like crazy to make sure it doesn't look scary. I also struggle with finding bronzers that don't show up orange. In my opinion, an orange face is one of the biggest makeup faux pas. This is light, but buildable. I start off with just a little, and if I wanted a more intense contour, or to add more color to my face, I can build up the color to be pretty dark. I definitely see myself continuing to repurchase this - even if I try out other products, it's nice to have this as a trusted back-up. On darker skin tones, this would give a really nice glow all over the skin, perfect in the summer. 

I recently placed an order with Sigma specifically for a small counter brush. I found the F05 small contour brush and knew it would be perfect. I'm a big fan of Sigma brushes - I always check their website before I look anywhere else. They are really high quality brushes - right up there with MAC brushes, but they're a fraction of the price. Literally, they are half the price of MAC brushes. This small contour brush is $21 which, in my mind, is still a lot to spend on one makeup brush. The MAC version of this particular brush is a whopping $35. I still think the $21 was a splurge, but I had really been wanting a small brush with this exact shape just for contouring, which is something I do quite a lot, so I felt it would be worth it. As usual, I was not let down! I love this brush - it's perfect for contouring. It gets right into the hollow space under my cheekbone for a really precise application. As with all Sigma brushes, it's super soft and never sheds. Another perk about shopping with Sigma is that they always have a promotion or sale going on. Free shipping? Yes, please!

These two products are a match made in heaven. I have been using them together daily and have a feeling they will be making their way into my January favorites! What are your favorite bronzers? I would love to try out a good drugstore bronzing powder. Let me know in the comments!

Until next time... xoxo



PS - Don't forget to check out my "52 Books in 52 Weeks" book giveaway! 

52 Books in 52 Weeks: GIVEAWAY! (closed)

**This giveaway is now CLOSED**


It's giveaway time again! If you haven't seen "My Reading Year in Review" post/book review yet, you can check it out here. Last year, I read 52 books in 52 weeks and did short reviews and some commentary on each of the books. To start off the new year, I wanted to give away one of the books on my list to one of you. 

Snippet from "52 Books in 52 Weeks: My Reading Year in Review"

Steps to enter:
1. Follow me on Instagram (@beautyhighsandlows)
2. Follow me on Twitter (@beautyhisandlos)
3. Comment on My Reading Year in Review post which book you'd like to win

*Bonus: If you subscribe to my blog, you will be entered twice, and double your chances of winning.

Giveaway closes on January 21st at noon (central time).


Until next time! xoxo

Review: e.l.f Jumbo Eyeshadow Sticks

I love e.l.f. products - they're super cheap but you can find some really great products. I have to admit, it is hit or miss with e.l.f., but when I find a hit, it usually becomes a staple product that I love and continue to use regularly. These are my two favorite shades from the jumbo eyeshadow sticks - forest nymph (left) and turkish coffee (right). They're soft and creamy and come off really pigmented. The forest nymph is a shimmery dark brown olive green, and the turkish coffee shade is a warm brown with some shimmer. These are super easy to swipe on, blend, and go. They don't have amazing lasting power, but I use an eyeshadow primer or set these with a powder shadow and they last long enough for me. These are more of a casual, everyday eye product for me, so I don't mind that they aren't super long-wearing.

Forest Nymph (top) & Turkish Coffee (bottom)

As you can see, they're highly pigmented and they have just the right amount of shimmer to them. I prime my lids with some type of eye primer or a MAC paint pot to minimize creasing and make the color last longer. I swipe a few strokes onto my lid and then blend it out with my finger. If you want extra insurance against creasing, top it off with a powder shadow all over the lid & into the crease so that it sets the cream shadow. I have a few other shades, but these are my favs and I use these most often. The best part is: these huge twist-up shadow sticks go for $2! I love a good e.l.f. find and these are definitely worth it. I pick up my e.l.f. products mostly at Target but you can order online, too and they often have sales and deals going on. 

What are your favorite e.l.f. products? How do you prefer to wear cream shadows? I'd love to hear your opinions!

Until next time! xoxo