Belloccio®: Airbrush Makeup Beauty kit in Fair Shade #Review #Belloccio

I have been in a mad hunt when it comes to trying beauty related devices, from those that make your skin smoother, clear your skin, help you achieve younger looking skin to those that help my eyebrows from becoming one. Not all devices are equal and if you are like me and suffer an insomniac night every now and then, the infomercial bug bites you and opens a whole new door to new systems, beauty regimens and more. Airbrushing is something I was curious about. Fashion and beauty magazines rave about brides achieving perfect and flawless looking skin by using a true airbrush finish. Beauty blenders, sponges, and applicators all claim to emulate a perfect “airbrush finish”. So, I started wondering if a true air brush application could make me leave doing my make-up the old fashion way with beauty brushes, blenders and even just my hands. Depending only on what I imagine feels like a breeze of air that leaves behind color and a flawless finish without me ever touching my face…….one wonders.

 

Well wonder no more! I finally got my hands on a Belloccio Beauty Airbrush System. I had to relearn everything! As a kid, I pretended I could apply fake cosmetics with my Mom’s make-up brushes, to then having to do it “for reals” in my early teens to now. That is a lot of years of learning and perfecting my application methods and letting go is hard but I always believe in broadening my horizons.

The Belloccio Air Brush System comes with everything you need to get started. When I say everything, I mean it:

• You start with a quick reference guide and DVD you can view to get an idea what to expect and how to use and clean the system.  Do not wing it if you are unfamiliar with compressors and systems of this kind.  If you do crafts and are familiar with an airbrush system, you could do great with just the guide to get an idea of how many drops (minimum and maximums), but take the time and watch the video.  Start right!
• An airbrush system, which includes the compressor, gun, rubber hose, and even an airbrush holder (for the gun to rest when not in use or in between applications).
• An Anti-Aging primer is included and this serves as a moisturizer and helps aid with achieving a more perfect finish, plus has ingredients that help keep your skin looking as young as possible.
• Belloccio offers several skin tones to achieve the perfect color match. You have Fair, Medium, Tan Complexion, and Dark Complexion to choose from. There is a total of 16 colors in the line to choose from and each kit comes with 4 shades that are used to match your complexion. I chose the color Fair kit, which comes with the colors Blanc, Vanilla, Alabaster, and Buff.
• Included is also a Sunless Tanning Solution if you wish to start working on your tan in Spring and be ready early for Summer.
• Belloccio also includes Bronzers, Blushes, and Highlighters. You get the color Radiant Brronzer and Sultry Cinnamon, which works both as a blush and bronzer. Charming Lilly Blush and Champagne Shimmer Highlighter.
• Plus, a cleaning solution is included to keep your system clean and bacteria free.
• You also get a Belloccio branded beauty bag to keep your system safe, clean, and ready to use when needed.  Everything fits in it, so it is not one of those bags that are a freebie but useless.  I safely was able to store the entire system, including make-up with inside the bag.  the bow is removable if it gets in the way but I will be using mine probably as a hair tie for when I use the system.
• All the cosmetics from Belloccio is FDA approved and made in the USA.  None of the bad stuff like parabens or oils are part of the ingredients.  Safe for sensitive skin and all skin types, plus Dermatologist approved (Hypoallergenic).  Belloccio offers a satisfaction guarantee and also a 1-year warranty on the system.  If in 30-days you are not happy, return the entire system and they will refund your purchase price (minus any shipping )

 

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Retail Price Point: The entire system is being offered at an introductory price of $99.96 no matter the complexion kit you choose. You get everything above, plus free shipping with one-day shipping with Amazon Prime.  You can also purchase the kits and all the other items on Belloccio’s site.

Compressor

Airbrush Gun

Verdict:

I read my guide and watched the DVD included. It was simple to understand and easy to get an idea how the system works. You first clean the unit and without make-up or residue, this was completed with about 7 minutes time. Easy! I then added the drops of color, which you will hear a ball inside as you do with some nail polishes. Don’t forget to give each bottle of foundation a good shake to get them properly mixed before dispensing into the cup of your air gun. The cup holds up to 7 drops of liquid. I was able to do 3 drops each of the darker tones, followed by 1 drop of each of the lighter ones to get the perfect match on the first time. Then you simply put your finger over the tip of the gun and press the the lever back (just a little) to allow air flow to enter and the solution to bubble and properly mix. You then begin applying. I used a paper towel to test flows and how the gun dispersed the solution. This gave me an idea what I should expect and how slow or fast I needed to move. You control the gun and that means you control the pace the solution flows, plus you have 3 settings to choose from in addition to how wide or narrow you want the “foundation mist” to come out. Being in control allowed me to………well, learn. I applied and it’s a learning curve. I could tell on the first application that staying the inches (6 to 8) they recommend is there for a reason because I would forget and I would end up with spots that were more rich in color than the soft, light, and even application I desired. Remember, we are relearning a new way to apply make-up from top to bottom here. Other than doing my own eye make-up, eyebrows and lips, the Belloccio system takes over by doing the rest. Other than my errors and I have used the system twice, the finish is as they say, flawless and so natural looking. The amount you need to apply is so little but the cover-up the foundation gives is amazing. I covered everything from acne scars to a new little pimple and poof it was gone! You control the foundation and it’s build-able, so you can address imperfections easily. Like my small scar had dry skin since it was new. With a brush I would have gotten a that dry skin ring you get when you apply concealer, no matter how much you moisturized before or blended. There are no bristles here, so the mist touches and makes everything you don’t like about your skin go away.

I was worried about the foundations and make-up themselves. The Belloccio make-up is better than the ones I currently use. From reading the labels the chemicals and bad stuff is just not there and it’s a short list of ingredients, unlike my other foundations. I am unsure if it’s the Belloccio foundations, the application or just the complete system of both coming together, but I was more than satisfied on my first try on how the make-up felt and it’s staying power.  It’s also easy to wash off once it came to removal with simple water and a face wash. I did not miss my foundation as I thought I would or my finishing powder.

I have only used the system twice and have had it about a little over a week’s time, so the only thing stopping me, is the cleaning. I clean my brushes and put my make-up away after every use. I dislike clutter and I don’t want to leave a bathroom looking like a make-up bag exploded all over the counter. I am used to washing my brushes after every use, getting dressed and then storing everything away (in a vented mesh bag) because by then my brushes are dry enough. This keeps anything from ever growing bacteria or worse, storing dirty brushes with clean ones just makes them all be dirty in my book. I then do deep cleans on everything once a month. Cleaning the Belloccio system is easy. You just do the same as with the foundation but in it’s place is the cleaning solution and you bubble it up. You then use a soft cloth or a cotton ball to clean up the residue and then you take the gun apart to expose the long needle that needs cleaning and so forth. I gave that job to my Husband and he is as meticulous as I am at cleaning and once he was finished (25 minutes later), it looked brand-new. Not a drop of anything but shiny steel. I again use the airbrush system and it never clogged. Ever! Not even a hiccup. Again, I go to clean it but I have to get ready and I am not leaving everything there to dry up and then gunk up the air gun. I start and he again takes over……again giving me a flawless clean system in 25 minutes time. <—-this was my only con of the entire system. You know how they say there is a price to pay, well the Belloccio system gives me the best finish so far I have ever had even better than when a make-up artist did my make-up for a commercial and she did a fine job! Just not as good as the Belloccio Airbrush system. The pain comes from cleaning it correctly. It’s not hard, not messy, or complicated but the foundation gunks up as it dries when you remove it and my Husband said, “I’m not leaving any residue as it tends to create little balls of foundation or whatever you use and that not only can create a clog but affect how the make-up comes out.” This is from a man that knows nothing of make-up but tools he knows. This is a tool and a mighty fine one but like everything, take care of your tools and they will take care of you 🙂 I will not be stopped from using the Belloccio system and my Husband has offered to clean it up after every use. So, you bet I’m a happy user! I am now off to play some more because I figure by the 5th time, I shall be an expert!

 

Let the Belloccio Airbrush System impress you and look them up at:

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Belloccio. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

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PMD: Personal Microderm Microdermabrasion Device #Review

The new year means I am keeping with the trend of trying at home beauty related devices, to see if they deliver better results. I have tried so far laser and a glass unit that was more cumbersome as time went on. So far, laser has been the technology that I feel has delivered visible results at a lower price point than what you get at a spa facility or even out of several jars of beauty creams!

My new unit is from PMD, a company that makes several Microdermabrasion devices and also has a skincare line. I have seen these units at Ulta, Sephora to even Costco. At Costco, the PMD representative allowed me to handle the unit and see how it worked, which is always a plus because the other beauty stores have the unit as an “on-line only” purchase. I noticed the unit was easy to handle, ergonomic in shape, which made it easy to maneuver and even though the abrasion technology used has a spinning motion, the unit did not vibrate so much that it made it awkward to hold. The technology used makes sure the user is able to just focus on the skin, versus a device that sometimes can be unwieldy. So, I had already a positive mindset when it came to using PMD tools. My only question was, does it work? Will I see a difference that justifies ownership and investing in refills?  Hey, I get upset when fragrance refills get changed and I they expect me to buy all new units!

I did not want this to be like printers of the past, where the ink makes you never, ever want to print in color and only printing in “fast-econo mode” when you print anything else, because a refill breaks the bank. Not bringing in another machine into this house that makes me feel guilty for using it! I first looked at refills and that fear was easily put to rest. Each disc is easily differentiated by a color coding system:

• White disc– Training / Ultra Sensitive
• Grey disc– Very Sensitive
• Blue disc– Sensitive
• Green disc– Moderate
• Orange disc– Coarse
• Red disc– Very Coarse
• Black disc– All Over Body
• Yellow disc– Intense Body

The cost was something I had to do a double-take because it was actually (dislike using this word) cheap, so let us say cost effective :). I know. I wanted an excuse before the unit was out of the box to convince myself that exfoliating was something that I was doing fine with by using a mask and/or scrub. Six individual refills costs $20.00. Okay, but what does that bring to the table? Well, one disc has a lifespan of 3 to 4 treatments. You do one treatment a week……..well, this is actually cheaper than my scrub that I use every 3 days, not counting the daily one! What the heck! I had to redo the math and somehow PMD found a way to not “get you” with the refills like so many other companies tend to do. This is why I do not use my facial scrubber machine because I do not want to kill the rechargeable battery and/or buy another refill. In the end, I am trying to make my face scrubber last longer by not using it! Yeah, no logic in that!

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Retail Price Point: The starting price for PMD tools (units) start at $159.00 and go as high as $199.00.  Visit here to compare the devices and the differences, plus see what tools suites your needs best.

So, I am past the refill fear and get this, this device requires no charging or batteries. As I was reading the manual, I plugged in the device thinking I would get somewhere in the manual while reading it, where it would state how long to charge for, or unplug when whatever light turns green. I had a laughing moment when I read you just plug it in and go. Okay, PMD……you are making me like you!

Verdict:
It all comes down to results. Is PMD going to give my skin same like results that I can’t achieve cheaper via another method. This is how I break down what products stay and what products go in our home. It’s all about what they bring to the table. PMD discs use aluminium oxide crystals and I started really reading about the material and what it can do. The aluminum oxide crystals are hypoallergenic, so already a plus because there is no chemical or ingredient like in a scrub that may irritate the skin. So, that already takes that worry out of the equation and also no beads that are not only harmful to the environment but also plumbing. The ability for the disc to not grow or spread bacteria is important, because when we exfoliate or do Microdermabrasion procedures at home, we are causing the skin to open (i.e. minor damage) in order for it to heal and resurface a new layer of skin that has a better appearance. You are not going to yield great results if a product has fragrance or welcomes bacteria to the party! There is no scrubbing here, the device just glides (once over each section of the skin) and does all the work. The user is key and that means be mindful that you pass only once over each treated area and the PMD device does all the work. This unit can also be used for the face and body, and again easy as the discs clearly tell you what and where they can be used. I like having that option and choice!  The PMD device also helps circulation, so your skin will increase collagen production and help the skin look plumper and healthier over time.  So, this is more than just discs removing dead skin, this is a total skincare system!

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Final Verdict:
I did as instructed and removed all products that could irritate or really were being replaced by what PMD’s system does for you. Check! No retinol, no acids, no peels, no anything and just allowing PMD be what my skin depends on and getting use to the idea of only using this unit once a week and nothing in between but a good moisturizing regimen to pick up the rest. Doing less in the beauty world is always welcoming but when you have habits and someone tells you do this once a week and you will be more better than fine, like your skin will look and feel better…….well, you get suspicious (or at least I do). I had a few bumps from using a new hair spray, which were beginning to sort of emerge but not fully on the sides of my forehead. I did the PMD treatment and I was done quickly after doing my practice run a few days before that only made sure I got the hang of it, but that I would not experience irritation. I just softly pulled my skin taught where needed and the PMD device did all the work. I was finished with my face in 5 to 7 minutes. No masks or peels take that little time and it was odd not worrying about cracking a mud mask by laughing and not talking for 20 to 25 minutes. The feeling on my face felt like when I do an aspirin mask, that fresh and clean feeling but not over dry. Day three, my pimples submerge. Like with any beauty treatment, this is something I brought to the party and I wanted to see how PMD would deal with it. Hey, I get breakouts here and there and I need a system that knows this and not have a rule that my face has to be 100% clear to use it because it might as well go hang out with the face scrubber! Week two comes by, and my pimples never fully went all angry on me. I always get 2 or 3 when they come out what I call in “island formation” that are going to be pests. No pests and I did not pick (man, that was hard), but I did not want to pick at my face and blame PMD for the ouch. Again, I do another treatment and you can see my skin gets a little red but within one hour the redness is gone and I do the treatment at night.  This is something I always did to allow my skin to calm down. My pimples do not get white heads or clog up. You know how when a pimple pops but then wants to do it again 3 days later (when it gathered more bacteria making buddies)? That did not happen. Healing happened. They did not over peel as I stayed away from anything that would hurry the turn-over process up and cause irritation to the “good skin”. Then I noticed when entering week three, that the pimples I had in week one is all the pimples I have dealt with. The non-pimpled skin is smoother and softer, but remains pimple free. My skin is not missing the daily scrub, masks, peels, and you name it. I then noticed when ending week three that my skin has improved dramatically. I took pictures and I have no scars I will have to work with. Just little peeling skin where the pimple was but no pimple revisiting and I just used one disc to do all this. One disc, only once a week and no battery to charge! That means my one disc costs about $3.50 ($3.33 to be exact) and that is all it took for almost a month’s worth of treatments. This is also the disc price with no coupons as PMD advertises on the site discounts to add that usually take 20% to 25% off, so the deal can be sweetened! The sweeter part is my face. I love it! Scars do come off on me from acne because I thankfully do not get deep ones but it takes 2 months to lighten them up to the point you can’t see them. The PMD device made sure not only did I not develop scar making marks (blemishes, zits, blackheads, white heads, pimples, bumps of unknown origin, ect.) but started to race up my healing periods. I am done with scrubs that tend to over dry my skin and the discs PMD offers means I can just change discs as the weather changes because this means my skin is more sensitive in the Winter months when it is cold. No new scrub I need to get that then will rot under the sink until I need it again 1 year later! The PMD works with your skin, not you needing to work for it!

This Valentine’s Day show your skin some love and Connect with PMD at:

• On-line

• Discount Codes:

1. Go to here (www.GetPMD.com/save) to subscribe and save 15%, plus get a limited lifetime warranty.
2. Use Code HEART20 to save 20% on your next order of replacement discs.
3. Use code: LovePMD to save on Pink Pro and Pink PMD.

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• #PMDBeauty #PMDSkin  #PMDPretty #PMD

 

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from PMD Skincare.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

AStorePlus®: 8 Pcs Nail Art Design/Detailing Painting Brushes with Dotting Pen Set #Review #NailArtBrush

As a nail polish enthusiast……okay, I have dozens of bottles and sometimes even accidentally buy the same color because I forget what I own! I have also been down the nail art alley of products, to now have a sense what works and what does not. Price wise, I have also paid well for brushes that their art was leaving bristles behind when used. I called it “surprise brushes” because you never knew when they would come apart and/or how many bristles they would surprise you with. This taught me when one brush shows any sign of failure, just trash the thing!

In comes AStorePlus with an assortment of 7 brushes and 1 dotting tool. I have a set that came in a zipper pouch and love that set. Never a surprise bristle attack and because the brush sticks are made of plastic that can be wiped to clean, acetone is not a something to fear when cleaning up my supplies. The AStorePlus collection features:

• Smooth Wooden handles painted in a White color with a black design
• A Dotting tool made of metal tip
• The 7 brushes come in different sizes with an assortment of thickness and angles
• A long metal shaft/sleeve, which holds the bristles tightly and allows the user to get a nice angle for easy use and cleaning

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Retail Price Point: A collection of nail art 7 brushes and 1 dotting tool for $5.25 with free shipping on Amazon.

Verdict:
When I received these, I noticed they feature painted wood handles, but what these brushes feature that others of like kind don’t, is that long metal shaft/sleeve to allow cleaning without seeping onto the painted wood area. Cleaning is a major concern both for hygiene purposes but also to keep the tools clean enough for longevity and re-usability. Other brushes feature a short metal shaft that can cause the consumer to accidentally come in contact with the wooden painted handle, making the manufacture’s paint bleed and disintegrate. Thankfully, the AStorePlus brushes avoid this from occurring and had the forethought of having long metal shafts to avoid this from happening. I use acetone because I don’t want residue on my nails from glycerin or additives that may not allow polishes or nail art to last, causing a short lived manicure. This means a brush has to be able to soak (short-term) in a cap of acetone, which I save the older caps from used bottles to do this with. The AStorePlus brushes sat in acetone and not once did the liquid wick up towards the top to meet with painted handle. I found the handles to be a comfortable length and ergonomic enough to allow my left hand to work on my right hand’s nails with ease. I have used the brushes 4 times and every time they clean and return to their natural shape and point when dried. I saved the plastic sleeves for each brush, so this allows me to keep the points in shape when stored in the same pouch I keep all my nail art brushes in. I have paid more for 3 brushes than what the 8 tools here cost on Amazon. The price point makes this an affordable hobby and also makes a perfect beginner’s set to own. Like with make-up brushes, I don’t use everything in a collection but I learned with time what heads I used more and later purchased duplicates of the sizes and angles I wanted. The same applies here and so far this set has the finer points I seek, so that means I use more of the brushes than I thought I would. I was able to let go of any cuticle wooden sticks, as now I use 2 of the brushes in this set to clean around my cuticle with acetone for a clean edge look. It goes beyond art and also a may to get the best looking manicure you can get without issues and this set from AStorePlus was problem-free for me. I did my Halloween nails using just the brushes and they cleaned up black and dark red garnet polishes with ease, as they did at making fine white roses on a black background. With the holidays approaching, these are the perfect stocking stuffer to add and a welcoming site for any nail art beginner!

 

Connect with AStorePlus on:

• Amazon
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• #NailArtBrush

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from AStorePlus.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

Un Rato Juntas: New Instyler Max Rotating Hot Iron (1 1/4″ barrel) #Review #Guapisimas

I have been watching and drooling over the Instyler hot iron commercials for a while now. Always wondering how it worked, does it work, to will my hair end up needing to be cut out at attempting the first curl. A girl wonders these things 🙂 and even with such in mind, you bet I still wanted to try it because beauty equals bravery in my book when it comes to new products.

Un Rato Juntas and Instyler, was kind enough to not only send me one to try but also one to share. The hardest part was picking what color I should keep. I figure I first try it out and then share my results with my BFF of the month. I have two and I figure I alternate months on BFF status as to what freebies I share with them. We all agreed that friendship matters but so do beauty items and we seriously say things like, “it’s May and my month, so I get it”. Hey, we all have crazy ways to make relationships work and no one wants to break a nail over trying to snatch a freebie….that would be uncivilized! 😛

I decided to let my BFF of the month decide on color and she of course went with the pink, so I tried the black colored iron. The Instyler Max features:

• No waiting time because within 30 seconds, the rapid heat-up system is ready to go.
• It’s a hot iron and a curling iron, all in one tool.  You can obtain soft curls that are loose and bouncy, to tight curls and even straight hair styles. This iron kicks all your other hair styling irons out of your beauty box (or drawer)!
• The barrel has a 2-way heating system that features black tourmaline ceramic plates, so you get shine and style at the same time. The smooth styles you create will remain gorgeous without damaging your hair. No one wants a crispy look!
• The Instyler iron has an auto-shut off safety feature, in case you get a text or walk out the door too soon because you are eager to show off your new style. Shiny and gorgeous hair locks can do that!
• You have several settings to choose from when it comes to your hair’s texture. You can choose from Fine, Medium, to Thick or Coarse hair. With four heat settings that have a maximum heat setting of 425 degrees.

Retail Price Point: $89.99 at Ulta and you can find the nearest store with their retailer locator here.

 

How does it Perform:

The Instyler Max Rotating Iron is a gorgeous piece of hardware but I’m not just leaving it on the counter to just show-off. This baby has to work and treat my hair nice, plus keep whatever style I choose looking fresh and vibrant. Curling takes time and I always look for products that allow the curl to be adjusted when it comes to tightness, but also keeps my hair polished with little to no damage. I figure we are in the day and age that technology should deliver such! I have long hair and recently had it shortened this Summer but it still remains long. I wanted to achieve loose “beach style” bouncy curls, that allow my length of hair to still flow but with a kick. I took the iron out of the package and once I became familiar with the literature included, I was able to start within 5 minutes and the Instyler was ready to go before I was in under a minute! Okay, it knows me and knows I don’t like to wait. I quickly began and my first lock of hair went in and the barrel began to softly rotate as it pulled more hair length in. Okay, I get it! This beauty tool not only straightens but quickly created a soft curl without losing one strand of hair. I felt nothing pull out of my scalp and in less than 5 seconds (I have fine hair but lots of it), I was done. Each hair strand really gets the royalty treatment and I was done in 10 minutes. This is counting me picking at my style to loosen the curls, spraying a finishing/setting spray, and a few holds, spray, tossing of curls here and there, and creating the framing around my face I desired. I was set and done and most importantly……super happy with the results. Like I found myself saying I should have done this before and even lecturing myself why I don’t style my hair like this more often. Yeah, I forgot that I now have the tool to easily do it with and this is why I avoided it. Avoid no more!

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Final Verdict:
I have always stated that all-in-one products most of the times do none at all well enough. Today, I’m sort of having to chew on that last statement. The Instyler Max Rotating Iron performed well and as advertised, but it’s one of those things you have to try yourself to believe. I sure didn’t at first and there is a reason I have scissors in my drawer in case of a mishap. I’m a cut-it-off before it singes my scalp kind of gal. There was nothing to cut off here but my other irons. It’s easier making room for one tool and I knew I had a problem with hair tools when I had to Swiffer the dust periodically off the tools I rarely use. Keeping them in case doom’s day comes, telling myself I better use them because I have to justify the purchase…….whatever reason I could come up with but now my reason is really talking to myself about what style I want and I can’t wait for colder weather to arrive and have hair that looks fabulous and shines!

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Connect with Instyler and pick the color of your iron (hey, I sort of miss the pink one) here:

• On-line
• Facebook
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• Pinterest
• Instagram
• #Guapisimas #Instyler

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Un Rato Juntas and Instyler.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.