Makeup Geek Eyeshadows and Travel Vault | Review

Having heard about Makeup Geek for a long time now and the hype about them being comparable to MAC eyeshadows, I finally took the plunge.  I've checked them out many times online but could never chose between all the beautiful colors.  So when I had some birthday money at the end of the year, I finally caved in and narrowed down my list.  

As I was narrowing down my list, I saw a sale pop up that took the shadows from the usual $6 to a mere $4.80!  Shipping is so reasonable from $1.99 for shadows but $3.99 for the shadow plus the Travel Vault.  At the drugstore there are some shadows that run around $8 so this was a steal even with shipping!

{This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}

Makeup Geek is an online brand started by Marlena of YouTube fame.  She set out to create quality eyeshadows at affordable drugstore prices, and the lines includes blush, highlighter, brushes, pigments, lipstick, and is constantly growing.

Originally, I was going to get the Starter Kit and Vault Palette Bundle which is a Marlena curated bundle of 9 starter eyeshadows that all work together.  Instead, I took that list of shadows and kind of created my own little kit of shadows that I thought would create different looks together.

These are the Makeup Geek Eyeshadows I got:

Shimma Shimma - shimmery ice cream vanilla
Homecoming - shimmery cool toned beige/brown
Moondust - shimmery cool toned taupe
Prom Night - shimmery pale gray-toned purple
Drama Queen - shimmery deep plummy purple
Nautica - shimmery navy/midnight blue
Corrupt - black with subtle silver glitter

All the eyeshadow pans have a  weight of 0.064 oz [1.8G] and are cruelty free.

I also ordered the Makeup Geek Travel Vault Palette to put them in.  The travel palette holds 9 eyeshadows or four blushes/bronzers or two blushes and six eyeshadows.  The fact that you can customize your configuration for whatever trip you are going on is so fantastic.  The MUG eyeshadows don't require any extra magnets to hold to the palette, they magnetize right to the bottom automatically.

The package came in a small black cardboard box with a round Makeup Geek sticker over the closure.  Inside, all my products were nestled inside tissue, then the eyeshadows bundled in their own tissue and the travel palette in a box.  The eyeshadows have the signature pink and black on the outside.  The packaging is very reminiscent of what MAC eyeshadow pans come in, if I remember correctly.


My first look I did was using Homecoming all over my lid, Shimma Shimma in the inner corner, and Corrupt on the outer corner.  I also swept Homecoming to line my lower lash line to define it a bit more.  I thought it was a neutral look that was a little bit smokey on the over v, but looked appropriate for day or night.

The quality of Makeup Geek shadows is amazing!  I cant believe how little you need to get such great pigmentation.  I am so impressed, especially for the price.  I will definitely be ordering more and making these a staple in my collection!  The travel vault is super sturdy with a strong magnet, and not nearly as heavy as I thought as it would be.  The only bad thing is that you may get fingerprints on the outside, but that's easily fixed with a quick wipe down with a makeup wipe or soap and water.

The ONLY downside (and this only being nitpicky at this point) is that the shipping can take up to a week (at least for me) - mine was about 5 days once it shipped.  They were also backed up with holiday orders and the mega-sale so it took about 5-7 for it to ship.  I was just too excited to get my MUG goodies!  Seriously though, even the expedited shipping wasn't a terrible cost, so that's a definite option for next time I order.

I definitely want to check out their brushes and blushes next time I order.  The quality and price of the shadows I got was amazing.  Using a mix of drugstore and high end, I wouldn't even have known these were drugstore priced eyeshadows.

Their customer service is on point too - I emailed them twice with questions and they always answered back within 24 hours and were super super nice.

I would love for you to check out Makeup Geek!  The quality and customer care is so worth it.  I always appreciate extra help, so here is my personal affiliate link if you are so inclined.  As always, the money goes towards running this blog and doing what I am passionate about.  Thank you from the bottom of my makeup loving heart ❤️ 💄!

What I Wore in High School | Makeup Throwback to High School

I know many YouTubers are doing the "What Makeup I Wore in High School" tag, but KathleenLights was the first one I saw with this video tag on this topic and I thought the idea was so cute!

Here are the products I used in high school - which is when I started wearing makeup.  Keep in mind I went through high school in the late 90's and early 2000's so it was a lot of that grungy neutral brown lip.

- CoverGirl Clean Foundation and Powder
This was the first combo I used, but then found the Neutrogena which I liked better so I struck with that.

- Neutrogena SkinClearing Liquid Makeup Foundation in Toasted Honey (100)
I had super oily skin in high school (more so than I do now) and had breakouts as a result of it.  They weren't the worst breakouts by far, but enough that I was bothered by them.  This foundation helped a lot!  I wore this through college and its so light and has an almost cooling effect to it.  I had another shade that sometimes I would mix or use for the other season.

- Neutrogena SkinClearing Pressed Powder
This is now discontinued but replaced by Skin Clearing Mineral Powder.  Again, wore this through college and really loved that it wasn't super cakey.

- Neutrogena Soft Color Blush in Sweet Raisin
This was replaced by the Healthy Skin Custom Glow Blush & Bronzer Duo in Raisin Glow which I used too.  It was more shimmery than the original, but still a nice color.  They now have the Healthy Skin Blushes which are just a square pan of blush.

- Neutrogena Weightless Volume Wax-Free Mascara
Again, this is now discontinued but it came in a black tube and was super light weight and so pigmented, I loved it.  It didn't feel like anything on your lashes but made them stand out.  I naturally have pretty long lashes, so all I need is something to volumize them and make them stand out a bit more when I wear an eye look.  I wish they still made it.  Possibly my fave mascara...ever.

- Cover Girl Eye Slicks in Purple and Green
I was all about the purple eyeshadow since my eyes are a hazely-green color.  It was pretty much the only color I used I would bet.

Neutrogena Skin Clearing Makeup | CG Eyeslicks

© BeautyFreckled

- The Body Shop Eyeshadow Palette
My cousin bought this for me and it came in a red tin that had about four neutral and purple shadows, a few lip pans, and some matching brushes with a mixing palette in the lid.  This was used all the time.

- Bonne Bell Lip Smackers Vanilla Frosting Lip Gloss and Lip Smackers Lip Balm in Strawberry Kiwi Comet
It was the late 90's early 2000's...enough said.

- GAP Makeup Bag in Silver
It was a small rectangle similar to the small Sonia Kashuk bags.  I could fit my basic daily stuff in it: foundation, powder, blush, mascara.

- GAP Dream Perfume
I didn't realize they don't sell this anymore in the original GAP stores but I know they have it at their outlets so if you were a fan of any of the GAP scents check them out there.

- The Body Shop Spirit of Moonflower Perfume
This was about the time I became obsessed with The Body Shop and probably beauty products in general.  It also led to my Tea Tree obsession.

I was HUGE on lip glosses and lip balms and always had about five in my pocket or bag at a time.

I didn't wear eyeliner until college, and even mascara was later in high school I believe.

If you have been reading BeautyFreckled from the start you probably know I am a Neutrogena superfan and as you can see, I have been since back in my high school days.  I think their products are such good quality and I love that they are about the skincare behind the makeup and how they can have a dual purpose.  (Totally not sponsored and I am in no way affiliated with them - I wish!).

I hope you all enjoyed this trip down memory lane.  Comment below if you used any of these products and what YOUR high school favorites were!

Chocolate Banana Smoothie Recipe | New Year's Resolutions 2017

My New Year's Resolutions are generally all the same every year, and not always because I fail, but because I know there is always room for improvement.  So for 2107 I will share them again, just to remind myself:

1. Take better care of my skin
2. Drink more water
3. Exercise more, and more mindfully
4. Meditate more, be more mindful
5. Eat better, learn to eat clean

{This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}

In 2017 I will also take advantage of what I have around me (including using up some of those beauty products in my closet before buying new ones!) so I am starting with my trusty Nutri Ninja Pro to share with you a delicious smoothie I just whipped up!


Chocolate Banana Smoothie
1 banana
2 Tbsp PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter
1 Tbsp cocoa powder (I used Dagoba Organic Pure Cocoa Powder)
1-2 scoops protein powder (I used Orgain Organic Protein Powder in Vanilla - optional)
1 handful ice
a splash of water

Blend until desired consistency.  Serve with Hummingbird Glass Straws.  The Hummingbird Glass Straws are so comfortable to drink out of, and I hate wasting straws (or getting smoothie all over my face from drinking right from the blending cup - I'm that kind of klutz) so these were a great purchase for us.  My daughter can use them too - great for kids.  I saw them on the Weelicious blog and knew I had to try them - we love them!

I hope you enjoy this Chocolate Banana Smoothie recipe I created.  It reminds me of the Jamba Juice Peanut Butter Moo'd that I used to love, but without costing me 470-770 calories!  Next up is trying that Wendy's Frosty dupe smoothie recipe!

Stay tuned for more of my smoothie recipes to come!

Let me know your favorite smoothie blends below AND what your 2017 resolutions are?

** This post is NOT sponsored in anyway. I did not receive the products for free.  I paid for all the products above with my own money.  Reviews are 100% honest.  Recipe is by myself, BeautyFreckled, using ingredients I had on hand and to my own personal taste/preference.  Please check with your doctor before starting any new diet or fitness regimen. **

New Years Eve Look - elf Cosmetics | Tutorial

This New Years Eve look was inspired by an elf eyeshadow trio I wanted to use, so I tried to use as much elf cosmetics as possible.  I love seeing navy blue eye looks for New Years so I took that as inspiration and created my own look.

Wet the elf C brush and use to pick up the navy blue color.  Pat all over eyelid up to crease.  Using a clean crease brush blend Milani Bella Taupe into crease.  Using elf contour brush, smudge black color in outer corner and slightly into crease.  Blend Bella Taupe in crease again to blend everything out.  Use clean elf contour brush to place white color in inner corner/tear duct.  Pat blue in center of lid again to brighten it up.

Line eyes with Creme Eyeliner and Eyeliner Brush.  Wing out if desired.

If I did this look again I would put down a base like the elf Pro Eyeshadow Primer or lay down a shadow stick as a primer like elf Studio Eyeliner and Shadow Stick in Black/Smoke or the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Black Bean to make the blue even more vivid.

Products used for my NYE eye look:

elf Baked Eyeshadow Trio - Smokey Sea

elf Creme Eyeliner - Black

elf Contour Brush

elf Eyeshadow "C" Brush

elf Eyeliner Brush

Milani Bella Eyes Gel Eyeshadow - 05 Bella Taupe

What else I'm wearing:

elf Radiant Glow Primer [see my full review here]
elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder - St Lucia

   ---> used with elf Blush Brush

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation - 100 Ivory

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - 004 Sandstorm

Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Waterproof - Very Black
Dior Addict Lip Glow - Pink

This post is not sponsored and I didn't receive any of these products for free.  I just thought it would be neat to do as much of my face in elf as possible since I was inspired by the elf eyeshadow trio.  I would love to do a full elf look one day!

Slow Cooker Chicken Cheesesteaks | Recipe | Slow Cooker Sunday

I've been making this slow cooker Chicken Cheesesteak recipe for a while now and have amended it enough that we kind of make our own version of it.  We often make this on Sunday nights (we really should just call it what it is - Sunday Slow Cooker Day 😊).  It's a great lighter and more healthy version of steak or beef cheesesteak (which we call Steak and Cheese here in Massachusetts).

Read on for our version of Slow Cooker Chicken Cheesesteaks...

Ingredients:

• 1 yellow pepper
• 1  green pepper or orange
• 1 red pepper
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves (optional)
• 2  tsps paprika (I like more)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 8 oz beer - like an IPA
• 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• butter
• 4-6 sub rolls
• Slices of Provolone or American cheese

Directions:

Slice the peppers and onions thinly and place in the bottom of the slow cooker.  Throw all the seasonings in on top of the veggies.  Pour the beer over them as well.  Give everything a swish around.

Place the chicken on top of the veggies. Cover and cook on high for 4-6 hours [or low 6-8 if you prefer].

Shred the chicken using two forks or tongs.  Mix everything together.

Place oven on the broiler setting.  Butter both sides of each sub roll.  Place two slices of provolone cheese on each side of the roll.  Lay the rolls out on a baking sheet and place under the broiler for a few minutes until warm and toasty, and the cheese is slightly melted.

Add chicken and peppers to each roll and add whatever toppings you might like - hubs loves Sriracha on his.

Makes: at least 4 fully loaded sandwiches

This is one of those recipes that gets better overnight as the flavors meld together.  

Reheating: Just toast your bread the same way in a toaster over, redheat your chicken mixture and you're good to go!  This would be a great party recipe to make you could just leave some rolls out with a variety of sliced or shredded cheeses and have people add their chicken mixture and toppings.

eDiva Duchess | Review

I was gifted the eDiva Duchess for my birthday this year and I am beyond excited!!!  I have wanted one of these bad boys ever since I saw them on Saaammage's channel on YouTube (her organization tips on them in her makeup collection videos are great so check them out).  I do store my makeup in an old vanity that used to be in my grandmothers house but I wanted something that I could put on top where my go-to products would be to streamline my process.

The Pros and Claims:
- Stylish and cute with rounded corners
- Dividers included to organize drawers
- Super durable 1/2 inch acrylic 
- Guaranteed against nicks, chips, etc.
- Shipping is super fast and FREE

Because I wanted to put it on top of my vanity, I chose the Duchess size which is the smaller out of their two sizes [the Princess being the larger].  It measures 10" x 10" x 12" and is made of high quality acetic with rounded corners.  For someone who is a tad clutzy like myself, especially when rushing to get ready - I won't nick myself on any sharp corners.

With the way I used the dividers I had enough for thee drawers worth, which worked perfectly for me.  I tried to pretty much organize the drawers in the order I would put my face on in with a few slight exceptions that dividers made a bit tricky.  I think the end result was pretty darn good and I am super happy with it!

Here is a quick rundown of my drawers from bottom to top:

First [Bottom] Drawer: Foundations

Second Drawer: Concealers, Powders, Mascara

Third Drawer: Blush, Highlighters, Fave Lip Products

Fourth Drawer: Eyeliners, Eye Bases (stick & pots), Single Shadows

Fifth [Top] Drawer: Palettes, Double Ended Brushes

On top I have a letter divider I picked up at Marshall's with some palettes I love and use a lot in it, a bowl that was my grandmother's with my beauty blenders and a few small brushes in it, and some Urban Decay Primer Potion.

I am simply loving the eDiva Duchess.  It streamlines my most used and favorite products and makes it so easy and quick to find what I need.  The quality is so much better than the acrylic boxes I have seen at Marshalls or Target.  Also, the fact that eDiva has a payment plan is a great option that I haven't seen anywhere else.

eDiva's organizers are amazing for a variety of people from those who have a small makeup collection thst just want to keep everything consolidated on a dresser or in a bathroom without a vanity to the makeup extrodionIre who wants to showcase high end makeup to those like me who are the happy medium and just want to streamline the process.

Check out eDiva on their website here.

I hope to do a whole vanity tour soon - it's a vintage mirror and vanity set that was my grandmother's and it means so much to me.

Ethan & Emma Stroller Organizer

We recently upgraded our Britax B-Agile for a Baby Jogger City Mni GT (I love trying new strollers - we've been through a small arsenal).  After doing a lot of research into what stroller organizer people liked best for the GT and what was the best value for the money, what I found over and over again was people recommending the Ethan & Emma Stroller Organizer.

Ethan & Emma was founded by parents who, like many of us, couldn't find the exact product they desired within a budget.  So they made the stroller accessories themselves!  

I have to say I totally understand their plight over at Ethan & Emma because I too, found many organizers too expensive, too flimsy, or not able to work with a variety of strollers.  The accessories at Ethan & Emma are made with high quality, durable materials that are made to last both through the daily spills, messes, shopping, as well as the more rugged trips with the stroller.

Their stroller organizer has so many pockets and add-ons that you won't even find yourself needing a whole lot extra in terms of diaper bags or purses with you.  It features two extra deep insulated cup holders to keep drinks hot or cold, a middle compartment with a silent magnetic closure with a mesh storage pocket on top, a zip off pouch, a mesh cell phone holder in front, and a large roll up bag for extended storage.

I always have a water bottle for myself and my daughter with us so the generous cup holders are a must have for me and the added insultsrion is awesome.  I love the middle compartment for keys if we're out and about.  The mesh pocket on top can be used for money, store cards, or coupons to keep them within easy reach.  I hate losing coupons in the bottom of a cup holder.

My iPhone 6s with a Lifeproof case on it fits perfectly in the mesh cell phone pouch but I don't think a 6+ or anything bigger than a 6s would fit.  Still a great sized compartment, and could be used for coupons, change, keys, etc. as well.

The little zip-off pouch on the front is great for money, credit cards, store cards, ID, or anything else you might need when you run into a store, or perhaps those little baby sunglasses (my daughter loves hers and calls them her "eyes") that need to be stored safely but still within quick reach.

If you need to being a jacket or sweatshirt for baby, the roll down bag is fantastic for that.  It rolls down and anchors to the back of the stroller frame.  It can easily fit a jacket plus snacks, and a changing station like the Skip Hop Pronto one we use and love {see my diaper bag review here for a mini spotlight on the Pronto}.  This would save you having to lug a diaper bag around with you if you didn't want to.  When you don't need the mesh nag anymore it rolls back up and velcros to the bottom of the organizer out of the way.

I can see this organizer being great at a park like Disney World and will be awesome for our trip to DC coming up.  So much storage and do many options make this the perfect organizer for light errands to all day trips and vacations.

The City Mini closes perfectly and stores in our Jeep truck with the organizer attached.

Overall, this is a great addition to our City Mini GT and I would use it on our City Select as well.  The organizer is super sturdy and so well made at a great price.  I would defiantly recommend it!

Check out the Ethan & Emma Stoller Organizer on their site here!

Disclaimer:  The super nice folks at Ethan and Emma were enough to send me their stroller organizer for review purposes.  I wasn't otherwise compensated to write this review, nor was I paid for a positive review.  All reviews are 100% honest.  Always.