Indie Brand Spotlight: Juvia’s Place
Indie Brand Spotlight

Indie Brand Spotlight: Juvia’s Place

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Juvia’s Place is easily one of my all time favorite indie brands, with their high quality products and affordable prices. In my opinion, they have one of the best eyeshadow formulas in the business. I first discovered them through Instagram when I saw their Zulu palette in the discovery page. There was a lot of hype around this palette and for good reason. It just so happened to be around Labor Day so I snatched in up immediately during their sale. Since then, I’ve watched them grow and expand their product range rapidly. They came out with a new highlighter formula, some eyeshadow palettes and now foundations and concealers. Although I haven’t had a chance to try out their foundation yet, I truly believe that it will be the product that skyrockets the brand into the permanent spotlight that it deserves. Before I elaborate on the foundation, I want to mention some of the products that I do have.

Eyeshadows

As I mentioned, my first purchase was the Zulu palette which contains 9 colorful shades. Not only are these shadows super pigmented, but they are so easy to blend out. A lot of times, really pigmented eyeshadows are a little difficult to work with but that is not the case for Juvia’s Place. Even the purple is absolute perfection, which we all know how hard a purple is to make. This palette includes 6 matte shadows and 3 shimmers and retails for $20. This is a great price point considering the quality and the size of the pans. An interesting thing about this palette is that the eyeshadows do not have names. Other palettes of theirs have names for their shadows but this one along with 2 others do not.

Pictured above: The Zulu palette with swatches

The other palette from Juvia’s that I have, The Douce, does have names. Once again, I picked this up during one of their sales and got it for $14. That’s another great thing about the brand, they often have sales. Now this palette I had been eyeing up for quite some time. When I saw that bubblegum pink shadow and that pastel green shimmer I knew I had to have it. The matte shadows are so soft that they feel like butter and the shimmers pack a powerful punch. Believe me when I say my swatches do not do these palettes justice.

Pictured above: The Douce palette with swatches

Highlighters and Blush

Another thing that Juvia’s Place is known for is their high impact highlighters. They offer them in loose, pressed and baked formulas. I have the loose highlighter in the shade Cleo, which is a gorgeous pale gold with silver shimmers. I’ve also heard great things about the baked highlighters, or Heroine Glow as they call them. They are all priced a little different, with the loose retailing for $14 for 8 grams, the pressed for $15 and the baked for $16. Although I haven’t tried the other formulas out, I can attest for the loose highlighter. It will leave you absolutely glowing and the shades that they offer look beautifully natural on all skin tones. I can’t rave about them enough. Another product I can’t get enough of is the blush. We all know that I’m obsessed with blushes and let me say that Juvia’s Place did not disappoint. I picked up the shade Serafina which is a beautiful light coral. Now, these blushes are pigmented so a little goes a long way. I use a light hand when dipping my brush in and I only dip twice, but that’s just me. Along with being pigmented, the blushes are super creamy and soft, gliding on effortlessly. They retail for $8 for the singles and $18 for the 6-pan palettes.

Pictured above: Loose highlighter in Cleo on the right (zoom in to see the fine glitter) and single blush in Serafina on the left

Pictured above: Swatches of Cleo on top and Serafina on bottom

Foundation and Concealer

Last but certainly not least, I want to briefly mention their latest products. I have not tried them yet so I can only give my opinion based off of reviews, but from what I read they are top notch. The foundation comes in a little squeeze bottle priced at $20 and is marketed as a velvety matte. More importantly there are 42 shades. Yes, you heard that correctly, 42. Another thing that this launch should be praised for is the extensive shade range for people of color. They have also completely switched up the shade names and started with the darkest shade in the 100s. To some this might not be a big deal but to others its a huge victory because they are putting people of color first. A lot of brands often neglect darker shades and leave a lot of gaps between the ones they do put out. They deserve a round of applause for this and hopefully other brands will take notes. Now, from what I’ve heard about the foundation, it is extremely full coverage. Some people do not like matte foundations because they are too thick and can appear cake-like. Going based off of what NikkieTutorials said, if you use the right hydrating primer and moisturize beforehand, this foundation will be the perfect combination of matte and velvet. As for the concealer, it is also full coverage and retails for $14. I hope to try them out soon so stay tuned!

Conclusion

For a smaller brand, Juvia’s Place really knocks it out of the park with not only the quality of their products but also their packaging. Their eyeshadow palettes come with intricately designed animations of African queens, rulers and rebels. That is the brands entire esthetic and let me just say they do it very well. The single blushes come in a magnetized cardboard with a mirror and a killer African design on the outside. The loose highlighters have a bright red top with a beautiful golden label. Chichi Eburu, the owner of Juvia’s Place, really shows her passion and pride for her brand in the quality of her products. She has created something magical and I know she’s only going up from here.

You can purchase Juvia’s Place products directly on their website or from Ulta Beauty. Not all of their products are available at Ulta currently, but their foundations and concealers will be sold in stores starting June 2nd. Also be sure to follow them on Instagram to keep up with their latest launches and sales.

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Kylie…Skin?

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Last week Kylie Jenner revealed that she will be launching another beauty line, this time full of skin care products. The internet went absolutely wild and, just as I expected, some of her products sold out within minutes of their launch. I can’t say I’m surprised by the news but what I was surprised by was the amount of products she already has lined up. On May 22nd Kylie launched 6 new skin care items, all available for under $30. There was also a bundle with all 6 products available for $125. I think this is an absolutely fantastic price point considering the brand. Kylie Cosmetics is not a drugstore makeup line so I would expect the same of her skin care line. However, compared to a lot of her competitors, her prices are extremely low. Tatcha, a brand heavily promoted by celebrities and influencers, offers a moisturizer for $68 whereas Kylie’s is only $24. Now I haven’t tried any of the products yet so I’m not sure if the quality will compare to a brand like Tatcha, but I will break down the products below using the information she has currently given us about them. 

Foaming Face Wash

The first product she revealed happened to be the very first step of skin care, face wash. This foaming face wash will retail for $24 and has a very light fragrance. Some of the ingredients include kiwi seed oil, glycerin and sodium hyaluronate. With these ingredients, the product promises to hydrate, brighten, plump and balance the moisture of the skin. Now keep in mind that most foaming face washes tend to be a little more drying and are better suited for those with oily skin. However, with the ingredients listed above I think that those with dry skin will be just fine using this face wash. Kiwi seed oil is a rich source of vitamin E and C which are both very moisturizing for the skin. It is also used as an anti-aging product and can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. As for glycerin, it is a humectant, which means that it preserves moisture. It draws water from the air and adds it to the skin’s outer layer, while at the same time forming a protective layer to lock in that moisture. Sodium hyaluronate works in a very similar fashion to glycerin, it’s just a tad bit more extreme. It binds to and holds onto water which slightly swells the face along with moisturizing it. This swelling reduces fine lines and wrinkles, making the skin appear more youthful. Foaming face washes are great for thorough cleaning and leave your face feeling fresh, especially for those with acne-prone skin. I think this product will work wonders for those with acne as it is the perfect combination of emollients and moisturizers.

Vanilla Milk Face Toner

The second step of skin care is using a face toner, Kylie’s being a vanilla milk toner. She has mentioned that it is alcohol free which means it won’t dry out your face but will leave behind some natural oils for moisture. So what exactly does face toner do? Face toner is used to remove all of the excess makeup and dirt left within your pores after you’ve washed your face. More or less its basically a deep cleanser for your pores, which reduces the size of them in the process. Some of the ingredients in this specific toner include avocado oil, apple fruit extract and apricot kernel oil. Just as the name suggests, this product does have a light vanilla milk fragrance and is priced at $22. I’ll break down the rest of the ingredients one by one, starting with the apple fruit extract. It is an astringent, meaning it causes skin cells to contract. This works tremendously for those with oily skin as it helps reduce the size of pores. It also works as an exfoliator and removes dead skin cells, leaving your skin looking brighter and younger. Avocado oil on the other hand is rich in vitamins A, E and D making it a natural moisturizer. It has also been found to protect against UV rays and promote collagen growth. The apricot kernel oil works in a similar fashion and can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This product contains ingredients that would benefit those with both oily and dry skin types, making it the perfect combination toner. 

Walnut Face Scrub

Next up is her face scrub, which has caused some major controversy due to one of its main ingredients. Yes, I’m talking abut the walnut powder. Now, the problem with using walnuts in exfoliators is that they are harsh and can cause micro tears in the skin. Some have argued however, that really any kind of physical exfoliator can damage the skin. This means that even taking a wash cloth to your face can tear it. Its very important to note that exfoliators should NOT be used daily. It is suggested to use them once or twice a week, depending on how your skin reacts. Now, Kylie has said that hers is very gentle and can be used every day if needed but I do not recommend that. I don’t have a problem with walnut scrubs, but I still don’t use them often. This one does contain some moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin, sodium hyaluronic acid and squalane. The latter is derived from olives and helps to restore the skin’s moisture barrier. Since this product is so controversial, I won’t go any further on it. It will be retailing for $22. All I can say is that I will be trying it and I will definitely write a separate post reviewing it along with the others. Don’t knock it til you try it is my motto and I’m sticking to it.  

Vitamin C Serum

One product that I’ve never tried but really want to is vitamin C serum. I’ve heard so many people rave about the wonders of different serums but never actually tried them myself. Kylie’s contains soybean oil which helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, olive fruit oil and vitamin C which moisturize and brighten the skin, camellia oleifera leaf which has anti-inflammatory effects and grape seed oil which protect the skin against free radicals. Free radicals essentially damage the skin and speed up the aging process, which is something no one wants. This $28 serum also promises to reduce redness and stimulate collagen. From my understanding, serums are kind of the holy grail of skin care in the sense that they provide so many different benefits.

Eye Cream

Now onto my favorite product in the set: eye cream. I have actually never used it before which is why I’m so excited to try it. I have a serious problem with puffy undereyes and I have some fine lines that I would love to make disappear. These are some of the things that Kylie mentioned this eye cream will do, whether or not it actually will is the question. The ingredients are caffeine, vitamin E, green tea and pomegranate extracts which are all supposed to have these effects on the undereye, along with brightening, so I have my fingers crossed that it really does work. I’m willing to gamble the $20 to find out. 

Face Moisturizer

Last but certainly not least, face moisturizer is one of the most common essential skin care products you could possibly own so of course Kylie has included one in her line. This one is marketed as “not too thick but not too creamy”, but judging on the videos I would say its a little on the thicker side. I can attest to the fact that moisturizer, as mentioned in the promo video, is a great base for makeup. I personally apply moisturizer every single day before my foundation and it really does help prevent it from cracking. This product contains orange peel extract, oat bran extract and banana leaf extract which all help to soften and smooth out the skin. It also contains shea butter for extra moisturizing effects and glycerin, which I mentioned previously when discussing the face wash. One other thing to mention is that this product is supposed to protect against blue light damage from using your phone. I could not find the specific ingredients that do this but I did think it was important to mention. This moisturizer will cost $24

The Launch

All of the above mentioned products are cruelty-free, vegan, paraben and sulfate free and gluten-free as well. These products will be suitable for all skin types although she has promised that she will launch specialized skin care for different skin types in the future. Unfortunately all of these products are currently sold out, but according to Kylie they will be restocking within the next 2 weeks. If you’re planning on picking any of these products up I suggest you log onto kylieskin.com the second they are restocked because I have a feeling they will continue to sell like hotcakes. You can also follow @kylieskin on Instagram for more updates on the products and the restock date. I want to try out these products for at least a month before I form any opinions, so stay tuned for my review!

Reviews

Battle of Best Coverage: #FauxFilter vs. Maybelline Super Stay

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People are always looking for drugstore dupes as a way to get the best bang for their buck. Foundation can be one of the most expensive makeup products on the market so it’s no surprise that there are hundreds of brands offering cheaper alternatives. The Huda Beauty #FauxFilter foundation is often touted as one of the best prestige foundations out there. It is a full coverage foundation that promises to cover anything and everything, and with a $40 price tag it better. Maybelline on the other hand is a much more affordable brand and they have really been upping their game recently. Not long ago they released their 24 hour Super Stay foundation which many have argued is an exact dupe for the Huda Beauty one. I happen to have tried both of these foundations and currently switch back and forth between the two. I’ll break down the pros and cons of each one and let you answer the question for yourself: which one is better?

The #FauxFilter foundation is exactly what is says, full coverage. My face looks absolutely flawless after applying it, as if I had just been photoshopped. It really does cover all of your imperfections so there’s no need to use FaceTune before you Instagram. However, the foundation has a floral scent to it, which in my opinion is a little too overpowering. I am sensitive to strong smells so I do tend to get headaches after wearing it longer than a few hours. If you don’t mind scented products then this is perfect for you, but if not then stay far far away. Another issue I have with this foundation is how slippery it is. It gives off a dewy appearance which with my skin type just makes me look kind of sweaty. On top of that, if I am actually sweating the foundation will come right off. If I so much as bump my hand against my face you better believe it’s taking this foundation along with it. I wear my glasses pretty much all day so I get the characteristic bridge mark across my nose. I haven’t found a foundation yet that will stay on under my glasses, however, I have noticed that it comes off much easier with the Huda Beauty foundation.

Maybelline pictured on top, Huda Beauty on bottom. #FauxFilter has a slightly thicker consistency.

Now onto the Maybelline foundation, which is also marketed as full coverage. It is priced at just $12 which is nothing compared to its above mentioned competitor. I 100% agree that this foundation is full coverage, just not as much as Huda’s. It gives a more natural full coverage appearance compared to a photoshopped one. There is no scent to it and it has more of a matte finish. I personally prefer Maybelline over #FauxFilter when it comes to everyday wear. I use it for work and it really is long lasting, maybe not 24 hours like its advertised, but long wear nonetheless. It leaves less of a glasses mark than the #FauxFilter, however, by the end of the day it does start to crack. My skin becomes rather dry looking by the end of a 10 hour shift so if you naturally have a dry skin type then this is not the foundation for you.

#FauxFilter used on the right side of my face (your left, side with the freckle) and Maybelline used on the left side of my face

I really do love both of these foundations and I use them for different occasions. If you want flawless coverage to take the perfect Instagram picture with or to wear at a short event, then go with the Huda Beauty foundation. If you need something more natural looking that lasts a little longer, Maybelline is your girl. There isn’t much of a difference when it comes to the amount of product each bottle offers, with Huda containing 1.18 fl oz compared to Maybelline’s 1.0 fl oz. However, there is a significant price difference between the two. If I had to choose one, which isn’t really my style since I’m an extreme makeup hoarder, I would go with Maybelline. It’s much cheaper, offers pretty much the same coverage and lasts longer. Since the coverage is almost identical the choice really comes down to skin type and what you will be using it for. Dry skin types are better off with Huda while oily skin types are better off with Maybelline. As for those of you with combination skin, the choice is all yours my friend.

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Blushin’

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I’m just going to come right out and say it: 2019 is the year of blush. It seems that recently a lot of 90’s trends (dark lip liner, scrunchies, neon) are coming back in style and I am certainly here for it. The days of heavy blush applications were well behind us until recently. Even I was skipping out on the it until a few months ago, leaving the color out of my face in the process. I’m not sure what it was about blush that I hated so much, maybe it was the memories of older woman with the bright red cheeks pinching mine. Regardless, I haven’t used blush since I was 10…but that all changed in January of this year. All I have to say is Blush, Bronze, Kylight.

There is just something about Kylie Cosmetics that makes me want to buy things I don’t even use. She has a way of making even the worst products appealing, whether it be her fabulous packaging ideas or her skilled marketing team. One thing is for sure: if she’s selling, I’m buying. Love her or hate her you have to admit Kylie Jenner knows how to pitch a product. While I don’t agree with the whole “self-made billionaire” concept, you do have to give the girl credit for building an empire. The point of all of this is that in January Kylie Cosmetics launched an entire collection of bronzers, highlighters and yep you guessed it blushes. Now as I mentioned before, I am a total sucker for her products so naturally I had to buy not one but three. Of course I also purchased a bronzer and some highlighters, but we’ll save that for another post. To make a long story short, these blushes are PERFECTION. They are buildable which allows me to put a very thin layer on and add more if needed. They are the most natural looking blushes I have ever used and I can’t rave about them enough. There’s nothing I hate more than when I go to apply my blush and suddenly there’s a bright pink stain on my cheek. I’m not trying to look like Mimi from The Drew Carey Show over here . Luckily for me, Kylie’s blushes apply effortlessly and flawlessly. They are easy to blend out and leave the skin feeling softer than a kitten’s belly. She has every shade of pink you can imagine, and even a few reds. They come packaged in a pink plastic compact with her signature drip imprinted on the product. Call me dramatic, but I don’t think I’ll ever love a blush more than hers.

Blush has now become a staple of my makeup routine and is quite honestly my favorite product. I love the life it brings to my face and I feel so beautiful when I am wearing it. The blush boom will eventually come to an end, every new makeup trend does, but you better believe I’ll still be wearing it when it does.

Pictured below are the Kylie Cosmetics blushes from left to right: Pink Power, Winter Kissed, Close to Perfect and Crush. (It’s no secret which one is my favorite)

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To New Beginnings

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Makeup has always been a passion of mine, but over the past year it has absolutely consumed my life. To some, that may come off as a negative but I can reassure you that I’ve never been happier. I’m going to be 100% honest: last summer I was extremely depressed. I felt trapped in a life that was not my own with no idea how to change it. I knew I wanted to be successful in the beauty industry, but I also knew just how saturated the field was. With the ever increasing pressure to stay in school and graduate with a 9-5 job, I never thought I would be able to turn my dream into a reality. 

See the problem with being incredibly shy and introverted is that you cannot possibly utilize your full potential until you let go of that fear of the spotlight. The beauty industry is extremely personal and in your face; something that I am most certainly not. In order to make a name for myself I needed to show myself, something that was not easy for me by any means. To this day I’m not sure what exactly compelled me to stop dreaming and start doing, but I haven’t looked back since. Of course I started with baby steps; making an anonymous Instagram account where I never showed my face. However, as I gained more and more followers and received an overwhelming amount of support, I began to give more glimpses into my private life. One day I finally took the plunge and I showed my face, feeling particularly vulnerable yet free. Free from the anxiety that held me back my entire life, free from caring about what others had to say about me. 

You see the beauty of makeup is that there are no rules, you can express yourself however you want. Sure there is more than enough drama in the beauty community, but you choose to involve yourself in that. It’s easy to take the same path as everyone else and claw your way to the top; it’s a lot harder to get there by remaining true to yourself. Instagram is a way that I can express myself visually and artistically, however it’s time that I do so verbally. I want to make my voice heard, no longer keeping my opinions to myself. That is why I am starting this blog, to share my thoughts behind the pictures I post. So grab some popcorn and buckle up because I’m not slowing down anytime soon.