March 2014 Empties!

Can you believe it is already almost April? Me either! I am so excited for April though, mostly because it is my birthday month! So expect some surprises coming your way from PrettyPandaMakeup!

So, what did I use up this month? 1. Up & Up Daily Cleansing Cloths (30 count) $5.99 for 60 (I used one of two packs): I have been buying these for a while...mostly because they are the cheapest I can find. I only use them for swatching and quick clean up that way. They are a bit too rough for my face. I will probably get more the next time I am at Target. 2. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths (10 count sample back with a larger pack at $6.99): Love these for my face. They do not make me break out and get off my foundation nicely. They do nothing for eye makeup though, but I don't expect them to.  3. Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Nourishing Shampoo (sample from PinchMe but regular size is $5.99): Love this and it has definitely stopped breakage in my hair in the 7 days it claims. Granted, my hair is healthier because I recently cut it, but even when I used it before the big chop, it helped. I might consider buying the full size, but I am more interested in trying the hair mask and conditioner as well. 4. Too Faced Primed and Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer (small size from Beauty Blogger Darlings set, but regular is $30). This lasted me a good two months with daily use and I used a lot. I like this and it works well, but I have so many other primers to get through to repurchase right now. 5. Too Faced Shadow Insurance (small size from Beauty Blogger Darlings set, but regular is $20): One of my favorite eye primers. This lasted me three months with daily use. A little goes a long way. I will wait to repurchase this one once I have gone through other eye primer samples. 6. Clarisonic Acne Brush Head ($25): Always change your brush heads every three months! And the time has come! I love the acne brush head, but I bought the sensitive skin one to try next, just because my skin has been a bit dry.
7. Benefit They're Real Mascara Deluxe Sample (full size is $23): Still in my top five favorite mascaras ever! What did you use up this month?

Studio Gear Hydrating CC Cream SPF 20 in Linen: Swatches, Thoughts, and Review

This is my first CC Cream ever! So, naturally, I was so excited to try it when I received the Studio Gear Hydrating CC Cream in Linen for testing purposes through Brandbacker.  I am already familiar with and like Studio Gear, and because the weather is starting to warm up in California, a CC Cream would be a nice break from foundation on the weekends.

Studio Gear Hydrating CC Cream SPF 20 in Linen retails for $34 (again, my sample was powered by Brandbacker). There are three shades: Linen, Natural, and Wheat. Linen is the lightest and this also has an SPF of 20. Here is a little bit about the product: "Hydrating CC Cream transforms and enhances your complexion in an incredibly light, smooth formula. This foundation simultaneously fights aging, retains moisture, and covers and treats blemishes with a non-oily, perfectly radiant finish".

Key Benefits:

"Prevents fine lines and wrinkles with collagen-building ingredients
Restores skin elasticity by promoting moisture retention
Brightens and illuminates skin with a non-oily, complete coverage application".
Do I agree with these claims made by Studio Gear? Yes...I do...from what I have tested so far.
This CC Cream is very hydrating and my skin feels good, but not oily, when wearing it, which is great because my t-zone is prone to being oily. It is also radiant and has that light, smooth formula . I do feel my skin is illuminated, but the coverage is very very light for me. It does not cover my acne well.
If you have a flawless face, this is all you need, but I needed to set this with a bit of powder to have more coverage, which is fine, because it is still lighter than foundation!
I cannot comment on the treating of acne or the preventing of fine lines and wrinkles because I have not tested it long enough to see long term results. However, I can say it has not aggravated any blemishes of mine further.

This is the first stage of the CC Cream--- (and this is about enough for a full face): Goes on white with little granules in it that produce the color.

Above it is smoothed out and rubbed in half way.

Sorry the picture is a bit blurry, but the tone is accurate. This is the CC Cream on my skin. Matches my skin well (maybe a bit too yellow right now, but will be perfect in summer---keep in mind I am VERY fair) and as you can see it minimizes redness but does not fully cover acne. You can layer on problem areas, but the overall effect is just dewy, healthy skin.

I can be into that...I need to let go of my fear of people seeing my skin anyway. Maybe Studio Gear CC Cream will help me with that!

Overall: Great product...and for my first CC Cream, I am surprised at how much I like it. It does smell like sunscreen, which does not bother me. Also, if you are very fair, like me...this is a good summer product but may be too dark for winter skin. Everyone else...go for it!

Want one for yourself...check it out at Studio Gear's website!

To help you try it out...or anything else from Studio Gear, the brand and Brandbacker has given me a discount code for you guys!

Reader Discount: 10% Off
Reader Discount Code: bloggercc

Happy CC-ing!

Influenster UniVoxBox 2014 Review

Class is in session over here at PrettyPandaMakeup with the Influenster UniVoxBox! I was so excited that this came just in time for the start of my second quarter of the Spring!

Let me make a note right now that I DID NOT receive the Red Rose Real Tea that everyone else got. No idea, maybe they just made a mistake or something, but I was excited to try it out. I will probably still buy it! Image below for your reference:

But lets talk about what I did get!

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance Tampons (16 for about $6): They work, 'nuff said! I like them for yoga and zumba classes, especially. Easy to throw in a gym bag or any bag and are really cute haha!

Pilot Acroball Pure White Pen (they come in a pack of all the pretty colors for about $12): I received the sunny yellow one. I was actually hoping it would write in that color...but its just black. However, I love it! Writes smoothly and very spring-y.

Next up is the imPress Press-On Manicure in It Girl, which is a pretty metallic purple ($5.99): These work really well but I did need to trim my long nails to make them fit. I do find the sizes are a bit small, so if you have really wide nail beds, you will probably hate these. These stay on up to four days for me, but usually I take them off after two or three because I like to polish my nails all the time. These are great for special events...and no dry time!

Now for the NYC Expert Last Lipstick in Forever Fuchsia ($2.85): I love this color! It is so bright, applies easily and lasts about 3 hours on me. It does have the typical 'lipstick' smell but for the price and color, I can overlook that.

So great for Spring! And I like applying this before class to give me a perk-me-up!

I think I can give my signature red a short break for this pink!

Last, but not least, is the Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation in Light Porcelain ($5.00): I picked this up a while ago, tested it, and took it back because it was too dark (it was the shade Light Ivory). However, the geniuses at Influenster sent me Light Porcelain, which I have not previously seen at my local Ulta. It is the lightest shade in the line and it works amazingly on me! It has fair/pink undertones.

This color is almost too light for me, but since this foundation (in my previous experience as well) oxidizes almost a half a shade darker nearly immediately, it is a perfect match. Thanks Influenster matchers! I love the airy-mousse formula of this! Really easy to apply and very full coverage.

Even the dollop show above is a bit too much. A little goes a long way! I will have a more extensive review up soon in another addition of the 'Fair Foundation Files'.

Thanks Influenster for the UniVoxBox and all these essentials for school! Woohoo! 

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."