I love cruelty-free beauty. That, and a desire to help others, are what drove me to create IntegriBeauty. However, there are some other things brands can do to stand out and make an impression in my book. I admire brands that formulate their products to be vegan-friendly, and also those that keep their products affordable to be more accessible. Even more admirable, is when a brand sets out to make the world a better place in some way. One of those brands that I just discovered recently, is Barks and Beauty Cosmetics. In today’s post, I’ll be reviewing the Barks and Beauty ExtraMatte Lipsticks.

First, I’d like to provide more information on this amazing brand. Barks and Beauty Cosmetics is a new indie beauty brand based in California. I have spoken to the owner, Ashley Forsythe, several times and she is a great person with a special purpose in her heart. Like me, she loves both beauty and dogs (she is a dog mom of seven!). She combined those passions to create Barks and Beauty Cosmetics. 

The mission of this brand is to offer quality products and fight both animal abuse and cosmetic animal testing. A portion of sales are donated to animal rescues. The brand’s launch was actually delayed because when the pandemic hit and hand sanitizer was in short supply, Ashley decided to put production on hold and focus on making hand sanitizer for animal rescues and veterinary clinics.

Barks and Beauty Cosmetics was able to “soft launch” in August 2020 with its hand sanitizers. It wasn’t until July 2021 that the Barks and Beauty ExtraMatte Lipsticks, the brand’s first makeup products, launched. These lipsticks are currently the only makeup products available from the brand, but I look forward to seeing what they launch next!

After I expressed interest in Barks and Beauty Cosmetics and explained to Ashley what I’m all about, she added me to her PR list. I couldn’t be more happy to be working with such a special brand that aligns so closely with my own mission. I was thrilled to receive all four of the Barks and Beauty ExtraMatte Lipsticks to test and review. I’ve had these lipsticks for a few weeks now and really enjoy them. Please continue reading to learn more about these lovely lipsticks that help animals in need!

Please note that while I did receive these products in PR, that in no way has swayed my opinion of them. Barks and Beauty Cosmetics didn’t ask for anything other than my honest opinion, and that is what I share in the following product review.

Product details

• Price: $14.00
• Net weight: 0.14 oz. | 4 g
• Made in Italy
• Cruelty-free (Leaping Bunny certified)
• Vegan
• Shelf life: 24 months
• Where to buy: BarksandBeautyCosmetics.com
  • BarksandBeautyCosmetics.com currently only ships within the United States; however, that may change as the brand grows
• Overall rating: 6.8/10
  • Shade range: 3/10
  • Packaging/ease of application: 9/10
  • Hydration: 7/10
  • Staying power: 8/10
  • Price: 7/10

Please note that I am not a makeup artist. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, as a regular person that loves makeup.

Shade range

Barks and Beauty Cosmetics launched the ExtraMatte Lipsticks in the following four shades:

• Teddy: Warm beige nude
• Chihuahua: Neutral beige nude with a touch of pink
• Bambi: Medium pink
• Pimento: True bold red (it looks like a deep pink in most of my photos, but this shade really is red in person)

L to R: Pimento, Bambi, Chihuahua, Teddy

The shade “Chihuahua” is currently unavailable, but I am hopeful that it will be restocked. Between the two nude shades, I prefer that one over “Teddy.” They are both nice nude shades, but “Teddy” almost looks like a concealer shade on my lips since it is close to my fair neutral skin tone. Those with skin tones different from mine are likely to feel differently about these shades.

This is a very small shade range for lipsticks. However, I understand that Barks and Beauty is a very small brand and also very new. It made sense for them to start small. I expect the shade range will expand over time, especially as they receive customer feedback.

There are several shades that I would like to see added to this range. Specifically, a brown nude, berry, and a bright orange. There are many other shades that would also be nice additions to address every shade preference.

I rated this shade range very low, only three out of ten. However, I’d like you to take that with a grain of salt since this is such a young brand. Considering that fact, I think the shades chosen are great choices. Nudes are always good to have, then “Bambi” is a good “middle of the road” option, and “Pimento” is bright and bold! They’re all very pretty and can be customized by pairing with a lip gloss and/or lip liner.

Packaging/ease of application

Barks and Beauty ExtraMatte Lipsticks are traditional bullet-style lipsticks. The packaging is black plastic, but it looks very nice and sleek. While this packaging is quite basic, it is just as effective as any twist-up bullet-lipstick I’ve ever had. My only complaint about the packaging is that the lipstick shades aren’t visible anywhere on the outside. There is a sticker on the bottom that shows the shade name, but you can’t see the actual color of the lipstick without opening it (you’ll see this in another photo later in the review).

You likely can’t see it in this photo, but there are actually lips and paw prints printed on the outside. Very cute! I love that special touch. It’s a nice reminder of what Barks and Beauty stands for. 🙂

The application of these lipsticks is very easy. These are obviously matte lipsticks, but the formula feels and applies more like that of a creamy lipstick. There is no tugging; they glide over the lips smoothly.

I rated this category nine out of ten because the three lighter shades aren’t very pigmented. Pigmentation is subjective, as some people prefer more pigmentation while others want less. I don’t feel that strongly either way, but I thought it was worth mentioning. 

When applying “Teddy,” “Chihuahua,” and “Bambi,” it takes a few layers to achieve full opacity. “Pimento,” on the other hand, is much more pigmented and doesn’t require as much building up. I probably still spend just as much time, or maybe a little more, applying “Pimento” just because it is such a bold shade, I want to make sure I don’t smudge it.

Hydration

Matte lipsticks have a bad reputation for being very drying on the lips. Not only do many of them not provide hydration, but it seems like some suck the moisture right out of your lips! I’m very happy to report that the Barks and Beauty ExtraMatte Lipsticks have a non-drying formula. I think this is partly because they contain vitamin E which moisturizes and strengthens the skin barrier.

Since the formula of these lipsticks is quite creamy, they’re also very comfortable. The texture feels smooth and lightly hydrating. To illustrate this, I’ll share a comparison. When wearing some matte lipsticks, you can’t really rub your lips together because they’re so dry. With these lipsticks applied, however, you can still easily rub your lips together.

While the Barks and Beauty ExtraMatte Lipsticks provide enough hydration to make them comfortable, I don’t consider them to be very hydrating compared to some other types of lip products out there. One thing that makes me say that is that when these lipsticks wear off, I don’t feel as though there is any hydration left behind. Lip glosses, balms, and some lipsticks that are very hydrating will leave some hydration on the lips after the color and shine has disappeared.

As far as matte lipsticks go, I’m actually quite pleased with the level of hydration and comfort these provide. The focus of most matte lipsticks is color-payoff (which is understandable) and lovevity, but the comfort factor is often overlooked. I’m really glad Barks and Beauty didn’t make that mistake. 🙂

Staying power

While matte lipsticks aren’t generally thought to be hydrating, they are generally very long lasting. In most cases, there is a “dry down” that makes matte lipsticks resistant to smudging or fading. The Barks and Beauty ExtraMatte Lipsticks don’t really do that, which is tied to the fact that they are pretty hydrating and creamy for being matte lipsticks. Unfortunately, this means they also aren’t the most long lasting.

This was a tough category for me to rate because the staying power of these lipsticks isn’t consistent between all of the shades. I find that the staying power of the two nude shades isn’t very good. “Bambi” has average staying power, and “Pimento” stays in place the longest. I think this is at least partially due to the varying levels of pigmentation. In a previous section, I mentioned that the nude shades are the least pigmented, while the bold red “Pimento” is very pigmented.

All of these lipsticks will last pretty well through normal wear, i.e. talking and drinking water. If you’re wearing the nude shades all day, you’ll likely need to reapply at least a few times, especially after eating. “Bambi” performs similarly, but lasts just a bit longer than the two nude shades. 

“Pimento” will fade a bit over time when I drink water or eat, but the color never goes away fully until I wash it off at the end of the day. This shade fades very gracefully. Like many red lipsticks, this one fades to appear like a dark pink shade. Even when most of the lipstick is gone, my lips will still be tinted pink from this shade as it seems to have a staining effect.

You might be surprised to see that I rated Barks and Beauty ExtraMatte Lipsticks eight out of ten for staying power since overall, their staying power isn’t the best. I took into consideration that while these lipsticks have a matte finish, the texture is creamy and somewhat hydrating. Therefore, it makes sense that they would perform more like creamy vs. matte lipsticks. The good news is, these lipsticks aren’t too fussy to apply so I don’t mind reapplying these.

Price

I am very supportive of companies with a philanthropic mission. However, many of those companies price their products quite high in order to afford the added expense of donations. Since Barks and Beauty Cosmetics donates a portion of its sales to animal rescues, I was afraid their products would be in the high-end price range.

Barks and Beauty ExtraMatte Lipsticks are $14.00 each. There are several drugstore lipsticks available for less than $10.00, some only a few dollars like the e.l.f. SRSLY Satin Lipsticks. Compared to those lipsticks, these from Barks and Beauty are quite expensive! On the other hand, they are also less expensive than high-end which usually starts around $18.00 for lipsticks.

While I wish the price of these lipsticks could be lower (maybe $10.00) I understand why they cost a little more and I think $14.00 is fair. I already mentioned the added expense from donations to animal rescues, but Barks and Beauty Cosmetics is also a very small new brand. It’s expensive to start a cosmetics brand. 

I am so grateful to Barks and Beauty Cosmetics for sending me their ExtraMatte Lipsticks! Their mission, first and foremost, is amazing and warms my heart. I am very happy to have the opportunity to work with them!

The Barks and Beauty ExtraMatte Lipsticks have all gotten a good amount of use since they joined my collection. They are comfortable and I’m almost always able to match one of the four shades with what I’m wearing. If you’ve been on the hunt for a matte lipstick that doesn’t dry out your lips, these may be perfect for you!

I’ve actually surprised myself because I was never one to wear nude lipsticks much (with the exception of brown lipsticks), but those shades are the ones I’ve worn most from this collection! Since I have fair skin, I feel that they look best when worn with a lip liner to give my lips some definition, but they really are great! I enjoy the other shades as well but don’t wear them as often since they aren’t quite as versatile.

Which of the four shades is your favorite? While I’ve worn “Teddy” and “Chihuahua” the most, “Pimento” is actually my favorite! It’s such a pretty red shade.

Are you interested in trying the Barks and Beauty ExtraMatte Lipsticks, or possibly future launches from the brand? If so, please let me know in the comments! 

Lauren

Bronzed luminous skin is a look that many of us are after. That kind of look is especially popular in the summer months. However, I don’t see why this trend shouldn’t continue all year long for those that enjoy that kind of look! Until this summer that just ended, I exclusively wore matte bronzers. I felt that they were a better choice for my combination skin. However, I’d been eyeing the Milani Baked Bronzer (which has a shimmer finish) for quite some time simply because I heard several influencers on YouTube talking about it. Well, I finally gave in and tried it a couple of months ago!

While I still very much enjoy my matte bronzers, I’ve had fun testing Milani Baked Bronzer. I don’t have anything else like it in my makeup collection. I do have two of the Milani Baked Blushes and enjoy them very much, so I was almost certain that I’d like their Baked Bronzer formula as well.

In today’s post, I’ll be providing a detailed review of Milani Baked Bronzer. I’ll cover many aspects of this product such as inclusivity, packaging, pigmentation, staying power, and price. If you’re interested in Milani Baked Bronzer, please continue reading!

Milani Baked Bronzer product claims directly from MilaniCosmetics.com

When it comes to bronze brilliance — we’re all about the baked. Our Baked Bronzer will give your face a perfect glow and your complexion a bold, warm vibe. As part of our baked makeup series, this bronzer has been baked on Italian terracotta tiles. Part of a power couple with our Baked Blush, the Milani Baked Bronzer offers a streak-free glow with a smart shimmer finish. Choose from diverse color options like a hypnotic soft gold or a tantalizing electric tan. All three flattering shades give a glamorous vibe that always looks authentic and fresh. Our baked bronzer gives you a natural, lit-from-within luminosity — it’s light done right.

Disclosure: IntegriBeauty includes affiliate links within product review posts. I receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Additionally, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. IntegriBeauty is independently owned and all products discussed within IntegriBeauty product review posts are thoroughly tested and given honest reviews.

Other product details

• Price: $9.99
• Net weight: 0.25 oz. | 7 g
• Made in Italy
• Cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Shelf life: 18 months
• Available in three shades
• Where to buy: MilaniCosmetics.com or Amazon.com (currently only available in two shades on Amazon)
  • MilaniCosmetics.com ships internationally, but they currently don’t ship to Mexico, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Spain, Iraq, or Turkey.
• Overall rating: 8.4/10
  • Inclusivity: 6/10
  • Packaging/ease of application: 10/10
  • Pigmentation: 8/10
  • Staying power: 9/10
  • Price: 9/10

Please note that I am not a makeup artist. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, as a regular person that loves makeup.

Inclusivity

Milani Baked Bronzer is available in three shades. That’s not unusual for drugstore brands. However, I don’t think it’s enough. I’ll list the available shades below. Milani unfortunately doesn’t provide shade descriptions. I’ll do my best to describe them, but I highly recommend that you take a look at the photos of all three shades on Milani’s website before choosing one for your own skin tone.

• 04 Glow: Light gold shimmer (this is the shade that I purchased)
• 05 Soleil: Slightly deeper gold shimmer compared to “Glow”
• 09 Dolce: Golden tan shimmer (this is the deepest shade)

I’m curious if there used to be more shades since the numbers skip from “05” to “09.”

You can probably guess this since all three of these bronzers are golden shades, but they are all quite warm. The “Glow” shade works well on my fair neutral skin to warm up my complexion. However, I think those with cool-toned skin may find these bronzers to be too warm.

In these photos, you can see how “Glow” looks applied to my skin. I should’ve probably taken all four photos in natural light, but I hope you can still see how much this bronzer warms up my skin. It gives me a lovely glow!

As far as the depth of these shades go, it looks like there is some range, but it’s minimal. “Glow” is quite light and good for fair skin, but may not work on light skin. I assume that “Soleil” and “Dolce” would work for light and medium skin tones, respectively. Unfortunately, I don’t think any of these shades would work for those with tan to deep skin.

Milani Baked Bronzer is not a new product, and Milani isn’t a small brand. For those reasons, it’s hard for me to understand why they only offer three shades in this product. I think Milani should seriously consider adding at least a few more shades in this range so there are options for every skin tone. Part of Milani’s product philosophy is to offer products that meet the needs of every skin tone, but in that regard, I think they dropped the ball with this product.

Packaging/ease of application

If you’ve tried any of the Milani Baked Blushes, the packaging for Milani Baked Bronzer is very similar. Just like the blushes, these bronzers come in a gold compact that looks like it could be high-end. The lid is easy to open while also snapping closed securely. 

There are a couple of differences in packaging between the blushes and bronzers. The bronzers contain about twice as much product as the blushes, so the compact is larger. Also, the blush compacts have hidden compartments underneath the blush, containing a brush and mirror. I’ve always found the brush and mirror to be very unnecessary, so I was happy to find that the bronzer packaging doesn’t have that hidden compartment.

I like to use my trusty EcoTools Blending & Bronzing Brush to apply Milani Baked Bronzer. It’s actually the only bronzer brush I own, because it does a great job applying every bronzer I’ve ever owned. Since this is a baked bronzer instead of a standard powder bronzer, it isn’t a very powdery formula. That means you can swirl a brush in this bronzer without coming away with too much product. I never need to tap off excess bronzer before applying it to my skin.

Milani Baked Bronzer doesn’t feel buttery smooth if you dip your finger into the pan, unlike the Milani Silky Matte Bronzing Powder. Fortunately, that doesn’t translate to application. This bronzer applies smoothly to the skin and never looks patchy. I get an even application with this bronzer every time.

One thing worth noting that isn’t directly related to ease of application–the only part of my face where this bronzer sometimes doesn’t look quite right is on my forehead. That’s because I have a wrinkle on my forehead less than an inch south of my hairline and the subtle shimmer in this bronzer makes it stand out more than it normally would. I generally don’t have any other types of texture on my skin, but I think this formula has the potential to emphasize texture anywhere on the face.

Besides the minor issue with my forehead wrinkle, I’m always happy with how Milani Baked Bronzer looks on my skin. It’s easy to apply and gives me a bronzy glow that makes my skin look healthy.

Pigmentation

Milani Baked Bronzer isn’t nearly as pigmented as the other bronzers in my collection. In these arm swatches of my shade “Glow,” you can see that it is very light. The swatch on the left is only one swipe, while the one on the right is three or four (I wanted to build to maximum opacity).

While I wish this bronzer was very slightly more pigmented, the low pigmentation actually makes it easier to use on my fair skin. If it was highly pigmented, I’d need to be cautious when applying this bronzer, and use only a very small amount. As it is, I can’t really go wrong with this stuff! I build it up until I achieve the look I’m going for, but it never looks like too much.

Staying power

It’s rare that I think about reapplying or touching up my makeup, so I have high expectations for most of my makeup products to last all day. I’m very happy to report that Milani Baked Bronzer’s staying power is really good! 

I usually wear my makeup for 9-12 hours and I notice only a minimal difference in the appearance of this bronzer on my skin at the end of the day. It hangs on quite nicely, but there is a small amount of fading. I do use a setting spray, but it’s not one that’s meant to make a big difference in the wear time of makeup, so I think the staying power of this bronzer is great even on its own.

Price

Milani Baked Bronzer is $9.99, which is the same price as the Milani Silky Matte Bronzing Powder that I previously reviewed. I gave that bronzer 10/10 for price, but decided to give Milani Baked Bronzer 9/10. That’s because the matte bronzer contains slightly more product and less of it is needed since it is more pigmented than this bronzer.

Does that mean I think Milani Baked Bronzer is overpriced? Nope! However, I think it’s a bit inconsistent. Since more of this bronzer is needed to give skin a similar effect, I think Milani should consider increasing the amount of product in the pan.

Compared to bronzers from other drugstore brands, Milani Baked Bronzer’s price is “middle of the road.” There are some that are around $5.00, and others that are $15+. I think $9.99 is very fair for the quality of this bronzer.

When I think about all the bronzers in my collection, I have to say that I still prefer my matte bronzers over this slightly shimmery formula. However, that’s really only because of that pesky forehead wrinkle that I mentioned. I’ll continue to use Milani Baked Bronzer on days that I want a little extra glow! 

Let’s take a look back at the product claims for Milani Baked Bronzer. Milani’s first claim is that this bronzer gives skin a perfect glow with bold warm color. The level of “glow” is perfect! However, I wouldn’t call the color “bold” since it isn’t very pigmented. This bronzer (at least the “Glow” shade) is more on the subtle side. 

Next, they state that this bronzer is streak-free with a smart shimmer finish. It does apply streak-free, and never clings to certain areas like some cheek products. The shimmer finish is just right, as there’s no glitter and the shimmer is so subtle it really does just look like a natural glow on the skin. Now for one claim I don’t agree with: diverse color options! The shade range for this product is lacking and certainly should never be considered “diverse.” I hope Milani will consider creating additional shades.

Even though Milani Baked Bronzer isn’t my personal favorite, I still think it’s an excellent bronzer! If there is a shade in this range that would be appropriate for your skin tone, and you like a glowy bronzer (or want to try one), I definitely recommend this one. It is a beautiful product!

Do you prefer matte or shimmer bronzers? If you answered “shimmer,” do you wear them all year-round? I’m planning to wear this one whenever the mood strikes, regardless of season!

Lauren

Lip gloss isn’t my favorite type of lip product, but I’ve been in the mood for it this summer! I’m not sure if it’s because I’m not wearing a mask quite as often anymore, and therefore able to wear lip gloss more easily, or if it’s something else. I definitely love the shine and moisture that lip glosses tend to provide.

E.l.f. Cosmetics has been one of my favorite cruelty-free brands for a long time now. It wasn’t until this year that I finally tried some of their lip products. I previously reviewed e.l.f. SRSLY Satin Lipstick and Calm Balm. One that is mentioned more often in the beauty community, sometimes as a dupe for high-end lip glosses, is the e.l.f. Lip Plumping Gloss.

I’ve really enjoyed this lip gloss and added a second shade to my collection shortly after purchasing the first! I’m happy to share a full review of the e.l.f. Lip Plumping Glosses in this post. I’ll discuss shades, packaging, hydration, how it layers over other lip products, and price. If you’re interested in learning more about this product, please continue reading.

e.l.f. Lip Plumping Gloss product claims directly from ElfCosmetics.com

Plump up the volume! This moisturizing formula instantly enhances lips for a fuller, pillowy pout. Swipe on the gloss and evenly coat lips with a sheer wash of color and high-octane shine—it also delivers a mild-yet-alluring tingling sensation that soothes lips and makes you feel the fullness.

Disclosure: IntegriBeauty includes affiliate links within product review posts. I receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Additionally, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. IntegriBeauty is independently owned and all products discussed within IntegriBeauty product review posts are thoroughly tested and given honest reviews.

Other product details

• Price: $6.00 (for the standard shades) or $4.00 (for the shades in the Mint Melt Collection)
• Net weight: 0.09 oz. | 2.7 ml (for the standard shades) and 0.08 oz. | 2.5 ml (for the Mint Melt shades)
• Made in China
• Cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Special ingredients:
  • Coconut oil soothes and hydrates
  • Vitamin E nourishes and softens
• 14 shades currently available (10 standard shades; 4 additional shades in the Mint Melt Collection)
• Where to buy standard shades: ElfCosmetics.com or Amazon.com (not all shades are available on Amazon)
  • Amazon ships internationally to over 100 countries, but not all items will ship to every country. Update your default shipping address to see items that will ship to your location.
• Where to buy Mint Melt shades (these may be limited edition): ElfCosmetics.com
  • ElfCosmetics.com ships within the USA and internationally to the following locations: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudia Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and UAE
• Overall rating: 9.6/10
  • Shade range: 9/10
  • Packaging/ ease of application: 9/10
  • Hydration: 10/10
  • Team player: 10/10
  • Price: 10/10

Please note that I am not a makeup artist. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, as a regular person that loves makeup.

Shade range

The shade range for e.l.f. Lip Plumping Gloss has always been pretty good, but it just got better! Three new shades were just recently added. Here are all 14 shades currently available (e.l.f. doesn’t provide shade descriptions, so I’ll do my best to describe each one based on swatches from ElfCosmetics.com):

• Champagne Glam: Very light peach with champagne shimmer
• Mocha Twist: Cool mauve-brown (no shimmer)
• Pink Sugar: Cream with silver shimmer (may have pink reflect)
• Peach Bellini: Cream (no shimmer)
• Praline: Cool rosy brown (lighter than Mocha Twist; no shimmer)
• Sparkling Rosé: Light pink (no shimmer)
• Pink Cosmo: Very light pink with subtle silver shimmer
• Pink Paloma: Very light pink (no shimmer)
• Mauve Lady: Berry with shimmer
• Bahama Mama: Orange red (no shimmer)
• A Hint of Mint (Mint Melt Collection): Very light green (appears clear on skin; no shimmer)
• Mint Chocolate (Mint Melt Collection): Warm rosy brown (no shimmer)
• Chocolate Chip (Mint Melt Collection): Warm chocolate brown (no shimmer)
• Mint Sprinkle (Mint Melt Collection): Clear with iridescent shimmer

There are arm swatches of all shades (except Pink Paloma, Mauve Lady, and Bahama Mama) on ElfCosmetics.com. If you’re interested in this product, I recommend that you take a look at them to see the subtle differences between some of the shades. The swatch photos are very helpful because they show the glosses swatched on light, medium, and deep skin tones.

Since these lip glosses are meant to be sheer, some shades look similar. However, there are nuances, and those that enjoy a variety of lip gloss shades will probably enjoy this range! I appreciate the variety of colors and undertones. The only additional shades I can think of that may be good additions would be a purple and a true red.

I’d like to note here that some shades are more pigmented than others. I currently own the shades Champagne Glam and Chocolate Chip (see swatch photo). Champagne Glam is very sheer, and Chocolate Chip is on the opposite end of the spectrum. I wouldn’t say it’s fully opaque, but the color is intense on the lips, for a lip gloss. It’s a good choice for those that like to wear gloss without layering over a lipstick, but still want color. The shades Mocha Twist, Sparkling Rosé, Praline, and Mint Chocolate look like they may be similarly pigmented.

Packaging/ease of application

This section is tricky, because the standard shades of e.l.f. Lip Plumping Gloss have slightly different packaging than the four shades in the Mint Melt Collection. I’ll start by discussing the packaging of the standard shades. It’s very typical lip gloss packaging, with a plastic tube and doe foot applicator. I like the applicator very much because it’s not too big (which means it doesn’t pick up an excessive amount of lip gloss) and it curves to hug the lips and make application easy.

The packaging of the e.l.f. Lip Plumping Glosses in the Mint Melt Collection isn’t vastly different. The tube is a bit smaller with slightly less product. There’s still a doe foot applicator, but the style is different. It’s even smaller than the doe foot applicator that the standard shades have (very little lip gloss is picked up, so sometimes I need to go back in for more product), and there is no curve to it. It’s not difficult to use, but feels a bit cheaper than the applicator in the standard packaging. On that note, it’s important to remember that the Mint Melt shades are less expensive than the standard shades.

While there is some inconsistency in the packaging of e.l.f. Lip Plumping Glosses, the formula feels consistent based on the shades I have (since one is a standard shade and one is from the Mint Melt Collection). These glosses, even Champagne Glam with its shimmer, are very smooth and glide over the lips effortlessly! Shortly after the lip gloss is applied, there is a very slight tingling sensation that isn’t unpleasant. That’s the “plumping” action, but I’m not entirely convinced that my lips are actually plumped from these glosses. I do, however, think they make lips at least look plumped because the shiny finish gives that effect.

Hydration

Like most lip glosses, e.l.f. Lip Plumping Gloss feels very hydrating. The formula isn’t long wearing, but the moisture it provides hangs on after the glossy shine has gone away. I appreciate that e.l.f. added coconut oil and vitamin E to these lip glosses because those ingredients provide even more hydration to the lips.

The hydrating nature of these lip glosses is a factor in their versatility to be worn alone or with other lip products. It’s a great hydrating product all by itself, but it could also be used to provide much needed hydration layered over a matte lipstick that may be drying. I’ll get into that subject more in the next section!

Team player

My favorite way to wear the e.l.f. Lip Plumping Glosses is to first apply my favorite lip liner and then apply the lip gloss (that’s simply my preference; they wear well on their own, too). That gives my lips good definition while still keeping the look simple. The lip liner I like to use is the Essence 8H Waterproof Lipliner in the shade “Because Duh.” It pairs nicely with all of my brown and nude lip products. You can see both my shades of this lip gloss worn with lip liner in the first two photos below.

I don’t usually layer a lot of lip products, but I know a lot of people do for various reasons. As I mentioned previously, lip gloss can be worn over lipstick to add hydration. It can also be worn to add shine. If you have matte lipsticks that make your lips look dry, using a lip gloss to add shine will much improve the overall lip look.

The e.l.f. Lip Plumping Glosses work extremely well layered over lipsticks. In the third photo above, you can see Champagne Glam paired with the e.l.f. SRSLY Satin Lipstick in Nectar. That lipstick is meant to have a satin finish, but I find it to be quite matte. Once it dries down, there is no shine to its finish. It looks just fine that way, but if I want to add some shine, Champagne Glam is the perfect topper. It adds a lot of shine and makes my lips look very smooth.

Price

The standard e.l.f. Lip Plumping Glosses are $6.00 for 0.09 oz., and the ones in the Mint Melt Collection are only $4.00 for 0.08 oz.! Both are great bargains. Even moreso when considering that these glosses are frequently touted as dupes for high-end alternatives that are $19+.

There are quite a few affordable lip glosses from drugstore brands. Admittedly, several of them are even less expensive than the e.l.f. Lip Plumping Glosses. However, some of them seem to provide a small amount of product or have poor reviews. Also, there are even more drugstore lip glosses that are more expensive than the e.l.f. Lip Plumping Glosses. I found some priced as high as $14.00! I feel that the e.l.f. Lip Plumping Glosses are priced just right.

The e.l.f. Lip Plumping Glosses are popular, but since they have been around for a while, I don’t think they get as much praise from influencers anymore. Don’t let that deter you! These are great lip glosses and I honestly had a hard time finding anything negative to say about them in my review. The shades are beautiful, they’re easy to reapply, they keep my lips feeling hydrated, can be worn different ways, and are very affordable!

Let’s take a look at e.l.f.’s product claims again to see how their claims stack up against my experience using the Lip Plumping Glosses. The first claim is that the moisturizing formula instantly makes lips look fuller. I think that’s true because the glossy finish does make lips look plumped (there may be some real plumping action as well, but I can’t be sure). Next, they state that the gloss evenly coats lips with a sheer wash of color and “high-octane shine.” It is very easy to get an even application of this gloss with both types of applicators. Both of my shades do provide a lot of shine, but as I mentioned before, one shade is much more sheer than the other so the level of opacity isn’t consistent among all shades. 

Lastly, e.l.f. mentions the tingling sensation and claims that it’s soothing and makes you “feel the fullness.” While the tingling sensation isn’t unpleasant to me, I know some people don’t like that feeling. I also wouldn’t call it soothing and I’m not sure what they mean by “feel the fullness.” That’s probably just a reminder that the tingling sensation is usually associated with a plumping effect.

One last thing of note about the e.l.f. Lip Plumping Glosses is that they are fragranced. I personally enjoy the scents/flavors and don’t find them to be too strong. The fragrance in the standard shades (or at least Champagne Glam, and I’m assuming the others are the same) is a subtle vanilla. The Mint Melt shades have a vanilla mint scent that is stronger than the scent in the standard shades. However, I don’t notice the scent for very long at all once the lip gloss is applied.

I’ve really been enjoying my two e.l.f. Lip Plumping Glosses and I think you probably would, too! Are you planning to give them a try? Please let me know in the comments!

Lauren

For a long time, my favorite light to medium coverage product was the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream. That was until I found out that Missha isn’t cruelty-free. I was so disappointed and thought I’d never find another BB cream as good as that one. Over the last year or two, I heard people comparing the Missha BB cream to the PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream. I was skeptical since PURITO’s BB cream is the only makeup product from the brand, but when I recently learned that PURITO is cruelty-free, of course I had to give their BB cream a try!

Are you looking for a cruelty-free alternative to the Missha BB cream like I was? Then I encourage you to read my full review of the PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream. These products aren’t identical, but they are very similar. I’ve only been using the PURITO BB Cream for a couple of weeks, but I’ve been impressed with it every single day that I’ve worn it. I have very strong opinions, so keep reading to learn more!

About PURITO

If you’re new to PURITO like I am, let me share some information about the brand with you. First of all, PURITO is 100% cruelty-free and vegan! PURITO is a Korean skincare brand, offering several products made with clean ingredients. The brand also values sustainability and making the world a better place. PURITO donates portions of its profits to KFEM (Korean Federation for Environmental Movement) and Best Friends Animal Society, which is an animal sanctuary/welfare organization located in Utah.

PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream product claims directly from PURITOen.com

This BB cream provides a natural and radiant finish, protects from both UVA/UVB rays, and strengthens the skin barrier. It gently absorbs into the skin and has a long-lasting formula. This product does not contain artificial fragrances, essential oils, and harmful ingredients, which can cause irritation, making it great for people with all skin types including sensitive skin.

Disclosure: IntegriBeauty includes affiliate links within product review posts. I receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Additionally, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. IntegriBeauty is independently owned and all products discussed within IntegriBeauty product review posts are thoroughly tested and given honest reviews.

Other product details

• Price: $9.80 (this price may vary, as prices on Amazon fluctuate often)
• Net weight: 1 oz. | 30 ml
• Made in Korea
• Cruelty-free
• Vegan
• 3 shades ranging from fair to medium
• SPF 38/PA+++
• Free of phenoxyethanol, parabens, artificial dyes, sulfates, triethanolamine, essential oils, and artificial fragrance
• Appropriate for all skin types
• Shelf life: 12 months once opened
  • Be sure to check the date stamped at the top of the tube (on the back) to verify that the sunscreen ingredients haven’t expired.
• Where to buy: Amazon.com (PURITO products are not sold directly from PURITO’s website)
  • Amazon.com ships internationally to over 100 countries, but not all items will ship to every country. Update your default shipping address to see items that will ship to your location.
• Overall rating: 8.2/10
  • Inclusivity: 3/10
  • Packaging/ease of application: 9/10
  • Staying power: 10/10
  • Ingredients: 9/10
  • Price: 10/10

Please note that I am not a makeup artist. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, as a regular person that loves makeup.

Inclusivity

Korean beauty brands have a bad reputation for offering small shade ranges. That’s because their products tend to cater to Korean skin tones, which don’t go very deep. Some Korean brands have been doing better, but sadly the PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream range is puny with only three shades. 

This is not unheard of for BB creams, even from American brands, but that doesn’t make it OK. Brands, especially those selling internationally like PURITO, should be cognizant of the wide range of skin tones and plan shade ranges accordingly.

PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream shades:

• #21 Light Beige for fair skin (this is the shade I have, swatched above)
• #23 Natural Beige for light skin
• #27 Sand Beige for medium skin

PURITO actually doesn’t provide shade descriptions. However, each shade is shown online and based on that, I think they’re intended for fair to medium skin tones. I’m not sure about the Sand Beige shade (it appears to have a warm undertone in photos online), but I can tell you the undertone of the two lighter shades is quite unusual (I only have the lightest shade, but I’ve seen Natural Beige swatched and it’s similar). 

They look a bit gray before they’re blended into the skin. That may sound intimidating, and may not work on every undertone, but it actually blends into my neutral skin extremely well. Those with very cool or very warm skin may struggle with this, but if your undertone isn’t too far in either direction (as long as your skin is fair to medium) these shades will likely work just fine for you. That’s partly because this is not a full coverage product, and therefore has flexibility.

If this BB Cream was meant to provide full coverage, I wouldn’t have given it even 3/10. Frankly, I think shade ranges this small are shameful. I recognize that PURITO is primarily a skincare brand. However, this abysmal shade range is unacceptable and I can’t believe there are still ranges this small and non-inclusive. PURITO, please add more shades!

Packaging/ease of application

PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream has very simple, yet effective packaging. It comes in a plastic squeeze tube. What I really like about this product’s packaging is that PURITO uses sustainable materials. The box it comes in is made out of sugarcane and the text was printed in soy ink. The squeeze tube is made from recycled plastic and can be recycled again.

The only reason I deducted one point from this review category is that I like a pump to dispense foundation. I think a pump makes a big difference in controlling how much product I use because it’s easy to dispense too much with a squeeze tube. This is a very very minor complaint, however, and I recognize that the packaging is more sustainable because they opted not to add a pump.

I squeeze this BB cream directly onto my fingers and dot it all over my face. It’s a very smooth creamy formula, so this takes almost no effort at all. I’ve applied it with both a sponge and a brush, and both work very well. 

I normally use a brush to apply foundations, and since that’s a habit for me, that’s the tool I usually reach for to blend this BB cream into my skin. The instructions actually state that fingertips or a sponge can be used (brush isn’t mentioned), but I’ve never used my fingertips. I find that when I blend coverage products with my fingers, I don’t get a smooth application.

When I applied PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream yesterday, I used a brush on one side of my face and a sponge on the other. As you can see in this photo, there was very little difference between the two sides. I did notice, however, that the sponge side looked a bit more glowy. If that’s the look you’re after, I recommend using a sponge. 🙂

I’m very pleased with how easy it is to apply and blend this BB cream. Some coverage products can be fussy, but this one blends like a dream. I get nice even medium coverage every time I apply this product, no matter which tool I choose to use. The finish looks natural with a beautiful glow. Since I have combination skin with an oily t-zone, I always set it with powder. I try to apply powder lightly because I think the glow from this BB cream is very pretty. I find that it pairs perfectly with e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder. 

Staying power

BB creams are definitely not known for being long-wearing. In fact, I’d say it’s quite the opposite, especially for hydrating glowy formulas like this one. I don’t know how PURITO does it, but the staying power of their BB cream is crazy impressive!

I’m telling you, PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream looks great on my skin from the moment it’s applied to when I wash it off at night. It does not budge! It will settle into fine lines a bit, but somehow it’s less noticeable with this formula than it is with any other coverage product in my collection.

I know those with oily skin are probably wondering about oil control. Unfortunately, this formula does not control excess oils at all. I have combination skin and I definitely see my t-zone getting more and more oily throughout the day when I wear this BB cream. Blotting and/or touching up with more powder would take care of that, but I’ve been embracing the extra dose of glow from my natural oils.

I planned to do an 8-hour wear test for PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream yesterday, but it turned into a 9-hour wear test! I know these photos aren’t the best for this purpose because you can’t see my fine lines well, but I’ll tell you my findings. Also, I’d like to note that for this wear test, I didn’t use primer, color corrector, or concealer, but I did apply a light dusting of powder all over my face. I used all of my regular morning skincare products (including sunscreen) before applying the BB cream.

At the 4-hour mark, I definitely noticed that my skin was starting to look oily in my t-zone. Otherwise, the BB cream still looked flawless. At the 9-hour mark, my skin looked even more oily, but I wasn’t bothered by that since it didn’t cause the BB cream to budge one bit. I did notice some settling into fine lines on my forehead, under my eyes, and around my mouth, but that was minimal and not noticeable from a distance.

I am extremely happy with the staying power of PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream. Whatever sorcery they’re doing to make it last so well on the skin, I wish they’d share it with other brands! This BB cream is my new go-to choice for reliable beautiful coverage.

Ingredients

I don’t normally review the ingredients in makeup products, but I make exceptions when there are claims about the ingredients or skincare benefits. There usually are skincare claims for BB creams, and this one is no exception. There are actually quite a few ingredients in PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream that I was happy to see due to their skincare benefits. Here is the full list of ingredients:

Water, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Lauryl Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Zinc oxide, Mica, Sodium Chloride, Zinc Stearate, Dextrin Palmitate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminium Hydroxide, Allantoin, Panthenol, Glycerin, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Adenosine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Ultramarines (CI 77007)

*Please note that this ingredient list is from the product packaging which varies slightly from the ingredients currently listed online. I’ve found that this is pretty common among a variety of brands because the ingredients often aren’t updated online when changes are made to the formulations.

There are likely a lot of ingredients on this list that you don’t recognize. I know there were several I’d never seen before. That’s largely because this is primarily a makeup product, and I mostly research ingredients for skincare products. With that being said, there are fifteen ingredients (including UV filters)  in this formula that provide skincare benefits! I’ll provide brief descriptions of those ingredients:

• Titanium Dioxide
  • Mineral UV filter
  • Reef safe
• Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate (aka Octinoxate)
  • Chemical UV filter
  • NOT reef safe
• Ethylhexyl Salicylate (aka Octisalate)
  • Chemical UV filter
  • May not be reef safe
• Niacinamide
  • Improves appearance of enlarged pores
  • Regulates oil secretion
  • Improves uneven skin tone
  • Minimizes fine lines
• Zinc Oxide
  • Mineral UV filter
  • Reef safe
• Centella Asiatica Extract (aka “Cica” or “Gotu Kola”)
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antioxidant
  • Wound healing
  • Stimulates hyaluronic acid synthesis in the skin
• Madecassoside
  • Wound healing
  • Skin soothing
  • Antioxidant
• Asiaticoside
  • Wound healing
  • Antioxidant
• Madecassic Acid
  • Skin regenerating
  • Wound healing
  • Moisturizing
• Asiatic Acid
  • Wound healing
  • Moisturizing
• Allantoin
  • Skin soothing and conditioning agent
• Panthenol
  • Moisturizer
  • Humectant
• Glycerin
  • Natural moisturizer
• Adenosine
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Helps with barrier repair and protection
• Tocopherol (vitamin E)
  • Antioxidant
  • Strengthens skin barrier
  • UVB protection

I was so excited to find out that PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream contains UV filters to provide SPF 38 sun protection! I do wish they hadn’t used the two chemical UV filters since one is definitely not reef safe and the other may not be either. The good news is that, while chemical sunscreens can be irritating (especially around the eyes), I’ve never experienced any irritation when wearing this BB cream.

In addition to the UV filters, I was very happy to see some of these other skincare ingredients! Niacinamide is actually one of my favorite ingredients in skincare products because it’s such a great multi-tasker. I believe it’s even helped to reduce the oiliness of my t-zone somewhat over the last year. All the other skincare ingredients I mentioned speak for themselves! 🙂

In addition to the ingredients I just discussed, there are also 22 “neutral” ingredients that don’t help or harm the skin. Instead, they support the formula and make it effective in a variety of ways. These ingredients vary greatly and include things like solvents, texture enhancers, emollients, preservatives, and colorants. There are some ingredients in this formula that are controversial: silicones. Silicones are very common in coverage products because they make skin feel smooth. They don’t bother me. However, some people don’t like to use products formulated with silicones. If that’s you, then you may want to skip this product.

I was so happy to see that PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream doesn’t contain any ingredients that I have labelled as “bad”. The most common culprits in that category are fragrance ingredients. This product is free of natural and artificial fragrance! I think that since there is no fragrance and there are anti-inflammatory ingredients, this BB cream would be great for even very sensitive skin. The ingredients in this product are really excellent!

Price

Since I’m not familiar with PURITO and just recently started looking at their products, I wasn’t sure what to expect for the price of this BB cream. Imagine my surprise and joy to find out that it’s less than $10, currently priced at $9.80 on Amazon! This low price point lands PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream firmly in the drugstore price range.

The only product similar to this one I’ve ever tried was from Missha as I mentioned before, and this one from PURITO is actually even more affordable than that one (at least for now; this could change as they’re very close in price and prices on Amazon fluctuate often)! Looking at drugstore BB creams and foundations as a whole, they vary greatly in price. You can find some as low as a few dollars, but others are priced at $20+. PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream is definitely a lot more affordable than many other coverage products available. Not only that, but it’s an above average product! The quality is outstanding, which makes it an even better value.

This might sound overdramatic, but I’m so grateful that I found PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream! It gives me everything I need from a coverage product for everyday wear. It perfects my skin while allowing my skin to show through, and looks great all day long. I’m very happy that it also provides sun protection, hydration, and other skincare benefits. My skin loves this product as much as I do!

I don’t often repurchase makeup items, especially coverage products. That’s because I generally take so long to use them up and also because I test a lot of products to review. In this case, I think I’ll fly through this tube of BB cream! I’ve been wearing it almost every day, and I enjoy it so much I’ll definitely have to repurchase it when I run out.

Now for the part where I go through PURITO’s product claims and compare them with my experience using their BB cream. First, PURITO states that it provides a natural radiant finish. That’s an easy one, I absolutely agree. They state that the formula provides UVA/UVB sun protection and strengthens the skin barrier. I believe this is true based on the UV filters and skincare ingredients included. 

Next, they say the BB cream gently absorbs into the skin and has a long-lasting formula. I’m not sure how much of the BB cream absorbs into the skin, but it definitely seems to “mesh” with the skin well and it does last a very long time! Lastly, PURITO points out that this product doesn’t contain fragrance or any other harmful ingredients, making it a good choice for everyone, including those with sensitive skin. Once again, I agree! This is rare, but I agree with all of PURITO’s product claims.

I highly recommend PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream. It’s truly an outstanding product! The only people I would not recommend this product to would be those with oily skin (unless you don’t mind touching up your makeup), and those with skin tones deeper than medium since there are currently only three shades and they’re on the lighter end of the spectrum. Hopefully someday PURITO will expand the shade range so every skin tone can enjoy this great product.

Have you ever tried a Korean BB cream? Do you think most are similar to this one? I think PURITO Cica Clearing BB Cream would be very hard to beat! Please share your thoughts with me in the comments below. 🙂

Lauren

BH Cosmetics is one of those brands that I’ve admired from afar for years because I thought it wasn’t cruelty-free! Well, I was very excited when I recently learned that BH Cosmetics is actually 100% cruelty-free! Since this brand is well known for high quality eyeshadow palettes, that’s what I was most excited to try first. I wanted a colorful palette, and while there are several to choose from, the BH Cosmetics Blueberry Muffin palette is the one that stood out most to me.

I love blueberries in general, but especially blueberry muffins. BH Cosmetics did a great job taking the idea of a blueberry muffin and turning it into an eyeshadow palette! You may understand what I mean better once you see my arm swatches later in the review.

The BH Cosmetics Blueberry Muffin Eyeshadow Palette is part of the Weekend Vibes collection which is brunch themed. I love food, so this whole collection is calling my name! I only have the Blueberry Muffin palette so far, but I’d love to try more products from the collection. There are two other eyeshadow palettes, bronzer/highlighter palette, highlighter palette, blush palette, brush set, and lip glosses.

I haven’t had this BH Cosmetics palette for very long, about a month or so. I usually like to have an eyeshadow palette for a longer period before reviewing, but I’ve been using this one a lot. It’s been rare for me to use anything else on my eyes since I got this gorgeous palette! To learn more, please continue reading for my full review of the BH Cosmetics Blueberry Muffin Eyeshadow Palette.

BH Cosmetics Blueberry Muffin Eyeshadow Palette product claims directly from BHCosmetics.com

Scrumptious down to the last bite. Treat your eyes to Blueberry Muffin, our vegan 16 Color Eyeshadow Palette full of rich blues, toasty neutrals and smokeshow hues that are perfectly blendable and buildable. The array of velvety matte and shimmer finishes provide unbeatable pigment payoff, and are versatile enough so you can flex on ‘em during every meal of the day.

Disclosure: IntegriBeauty includes affiliate links within product review posts. I receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. IntegriBeauty is independently owned and all products discussed within IntegriBeauty product review posts are thoroughly tested and given honest reviews.

Other product details

• Price: $18.00
• Net weight: 0.56 oz. | 16 g
• Made in China
• Cruelty-free (Leaping Bunny certified)
• Vegan
• Free of parabens, gluten, nano-particles, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban
• Dermatologist tested
• Allergy tested
• Shelf life: 24 months
• 16 shades (BH Cosmetics doesn’t provide shade descriptions, so I’ll do my best! Also, can we take a moment to appreciate how cute these shade names are?)
  • Sweet: Peachy shimmer
  • Cheat Day: Cool purple matte
  • Crumble: Champagne shimmer
  • Decadent: Deep plum matte
  • Sugared: Icy white shimmer with a gold shift
  • Cravings: Soft pink shimmer
  • Treat: Cool gray matte
  • 350°: Rich warm brown matte
  • So Good: Cool purple matte (deeper than “Cheat Day”)
  • Tempting: Ocean blue shimmer with a purple shift
  • Yummy: Mauve shimmer with a silver shift
  • Baker’s Dozen: Black matte that contains small flecks of blue and purple glitter 
  • Hot & Fresh: Silver shimmer
  • Delish: Periwinkle blue matte
  • Fluffy: Soft peach matte
  • Stud Muffin: Deep purple shimmer (almost looks blue)
• Where to buy: BHCosmetics.com 
  • BHCosmetics.com ships internationally. Due to COVID-19, the countries they ship to are currently limited. Click here for a full list of countries they ship to.
• Overall rating: 9.0/10
  • Inclusivity: 10/10
  • Texture: 8/10
  • Pigmentation: 8/10
  • Staying power: 9/10
  • Price: 10/10

Please note that I am not a makeup artist. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, as a regular person that loves makeup.

Inclusivity

I know it probably seems odd that I’m rating the inclusivity of an eyeshadow palette. However, I think it’s important to evaluate the ability of a palette to be workable for a variety of skin tones. I also consider the versatility of palettes for subtle and bold looks.

The most important thing to me in this section is that the palette will work for all skin tones. Or, that there are at least options from the brand that will work for other skin tones if a particular palette is too light or too deep for some. BH Cosmetics Blueberry Muffin Eyeshadow Palette is in that perfect sweet spot. 

It’s got a good mix of light shades and deep shades. Some people may look at this palette, zero in on the very rich shades, and think they wouldn’t work for a fair skinned person like myself. Some of the deeper shades do take a little extra effort for me, but I can use all of them! To give you a visual representation of this, in the far left photo here, I used Decadent (the deep plum shade) in my crease and it looked amazing!

On the other end of the spectrum, I think this palette would work incredibly well for those with deeper skin tones. There are only a couple of shades that may not show up well on the deepest of skin tones. Those are Treat (cool gray matte) and Fluffy (soft peach matte).

Moving on to the versatility of this palette. At first glance, this looks like a very colorful blue and purple palette. However, there are a lot of neutral shades in this palette. They pair nicely with the blues and purples, but they can be used separately to create more subtle looks if desired. 

For example, yesterday I used Fluffy as my crease shade and Sweet on the lid for a soft wearable look. Honestly though, it’s hard for me to resist the bolder shades. Cheat Day and Delish are my favorites!

It was so easy to give BH Cosmetics Blueberry Muffin Eyeshadow Palette 10/10 for inclusivity! If this palette’s color story calls out to you, then I think you’d enjoy it no matter your skin tone. I recognize that it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. However, I think this palette would be a nice choice for someone wanting to try more colorful shades without fully committing to only bold shades. This palette could be used for both subtle everyday looks, as well as fun colorful looks!

Texture

The BH Cosmetics Blueberry Muffin Eyeshadow Palette contains seven mattes, eight shimmers, and that one oddball shade Baker’s Dozen that’s a matte with subtle shimmer that doesn’t really show up on the skin. The first thing that impressed me with this palette when I received it, was the beautiful selection of unique shades. Next, I was shocked by the amazing textures as I created my first eye look. I really didn’t know what to expect since this is my first BH Cosmetics palette, but I truly am so impressed.

As a whole, the eyeshadows in this palette are buttery smooth, blendable, and very easy to work with. However, there is variation in performance among the mattes and shimmers. I don’t think any of them are poor quality, but some don’t perform quite as well as others. 

• Decadent (deep plum matte) and 350° (rich warm brown matte) can be a bit difficult. This is partly because they are rich, fairly deep shades. However, they can also be a bit patchy when blending. When I use these shades, I go in knowing that I need to be patient. I start with a very small amount and build slowly to keep it from looking patchy.
  • I suspect that Baker’s Dozen (black matte with flecks of glitter) performs similarly based on swatches. I can’t say for sure because I generally only use black eyeshadow as eyeliner, and that’s the only way I’ve used this shade.
• Sugared (icy white shimmer with gold shift) and Stud Muffin (deep purple shimmer) are a bit chunky compared to the other shimmers. I have to be more careful when applying these shades compared to the others. These aren’t the only shimmers that may have fallout, but I’ve experienced it most often with these two.

For the best performance from the shimmers in this palette, I apply them with a fingertip instead of a brush. The one exception is when I want to apply shimmer to the inner corner of my eye. I use a pencil brush for that area and usually go with Crumble or Cravings.

Pigmentation

BH Cosmetics Blueberry Muffin Eyeshadow Palette is without a doubt one of the most pigmented palettes I’ve ever owned. If you’re familiar with Juvia’s Place palettes, I’d say the pigmentation of this palette is on par with my Juvia’s Place Nubian 3 Coral Eyeshadow Palette. Juvia’s Place is known for its pigmented eyeshadows, so this is really saying something. 🙂

I am really happy with the level of pigmentation in this palette overall. I think the majority of the shades are just perfect. The exceptions are some that I’ve already mentioned in previous sections. 

Decadent (deep plum matte) and 350° (rich warm brown matte) are very pigmented and I think they’d be a little more blendable if they weren’t quite so pigmented. They’re still beautiful shades that I don’t hesitate to use, but they aren’t the most beginner-friendly. While these shades are highly pigmented, I want to note that they do not stain my skin.

On the other end of the pigmentation scale, Treat (cool gray matte) and Fluffy (soft peach matte) are the only shades that aren’t very pigmented. I enjoy using these shades as they’re buildable. However, they’re pretty light shades and not very pigmented, so that’s why I previously stated that they may not work well on deeper skin tones.

You might’ve noticed that the four shades I mentioned above are all mattes. The pigmentation of the shimmers is fantastic. What you see (in the pans) is what you get with the shimmers!

Staying power

I’ve created some looks with this BH Cosmetics Blueberry Muffin Eyeshadow Palette that I’m really proud of, and of course I always want them to last all day! I have hooded oily eyelids, so I always use eyeshadow primer first to prevent creasing. The one I’ve been using for years is the Milani Eyeshadow Primer. 

I usually don’t have problems with the longevity of powder eyeshadow formulas. This one is no different, with one exception that I’ve noticed. Stud Muffin (deep purple shimmer) does crease a little bit (even with eyeshadow primer), but it’s probably not noticeable from a distance. I’ve also noticed that I sometimes get a tiny amount of fallout with that shade after my whole eye look is completed.

Unless you plan on using Stud Muffin a lot in your eye looks, I personally feel that you shouldn’t let it sway your opinion of this palette as a whole. My eyeshadow always looks good at the end of the day when I’ve used this palette. That includes days that I use Stud Muffin because the creasing isn’t too severe and neither is the fallout. I just mentioned those minor issues because I want to disclose as much as possible!

Price

I truly don’t think you can beat the price of this palette when you consider its amazing quality. BH Cosmetics Blueberry Muffin Eyeshadow Palette is only $18.00 for 16 shades! I don’t have a lot of experience with high-end palettes, but I think it’s safe to say this palette performs like high-end. That’s because it outperforms most of the palettes in my collection, and I have several that I enjoy very much!

When I think about BH Cosmetics, I get a vibe similar to Colourpop and L.A. Girl which are also affordable brands. Colourpop only has a couple of 16-pan palettes available currently, but they’re $24.00. Still affordable, but not as much as this one from BH Cosmetics! L.A. Girl makes several 16-pan palettes, and they’re all $18.00, right in line with BH Cosmetics. 

I own quite a few Colourpop palettes and I must admit that they are not as good as this one! I’ve never tried L.A. Girl palettes so I can’t comment on their quality. All I’m really trying to say here is that I think BH Cosmetics Blueberry Muffin Eyeshadow Palette is a great value! 🙂

If you can’t tell from my glowing review, I am really enjoying the BH Cosmetics Blueberry Muffin Eyeshadow Palette! So many of the shades in this palette are unique and unlike anything I’ve ever owned. They inspire creativity in a way that I haven’t found with many other palettes. 

I’ve definitely gone outside of my comfort zone with some looks I’ve created with these shades. The one in this photo isn’t the most bold, but I tried a new technique that made me nervous. I used the shades Cheat Day (cool purple matte) and 350° (rich warm brown matte) to do a “double wing” (I’m not sure if that’s the correct term, but I hope you can see what I’m talking about). I look forward to creating more fun looks like this one using this beautiful palette!

BH Cosmetics nailed the description and claims for this product. First, they describe it as “scrumptious to the last bite” and you know I won’t argue with that! If I can’t have a real blueberry muffin, this is the next best thing. 

They state that the shades are perfectly blendable and buildable. That is true with the exceptions I mentioned in the review. Next they say the mattes and shimmers provide unbeatable pigment payoff. Again, very true except for two shades that aren’t so pigmented. Lastly, they state that these shades are versatile to be used any time of the day (I’m paraphrasing). That’s definitely true as many shades are light and subtle, while others are deep and sultry.

I haven’t decided what I’m going to try next from BH Cosmetics, but I know there will be more in my future! Will it be another eyeshadow palette, or maybe a blush palette? There are so many great choices!

Have you tried any BH Cosmetics eyeshadow palettes? What about other types of products from the brand? I would love it if you’d share your thoughts with me in the comments below!

Lauren

The under-eye area is such a tricky one, especially as we age. There are several issues specific to that area that many of us try to address, but a big one is darkness. Color correctors and concealers are the most common products used to camouflage under-eye darkness. Unfortunately, those products can be heavy and sometimes make the area look more aged than it should. I personally prefer to use a lightweight color corrector, but a lightweight concealer that I’ve also been enjoying is the e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer.

The most popular concealers from e.l.f. are the original e.l.f. 16 HR Camo Concealer and the more recent e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer. Both of these concealers provide medium to full coverage with claims that they are long wearing. E.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer is the newest concealer from e.l.f. and it’s meant to work as a brightener rather than a traditional concealer (like the others I mentioned) that provides coverage.

I don’t use e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer every day, but it is nice to have on hand for days that I’ve got all my makeup on and want a little extra brightness under my eyes or on other parts of my face. This concealer has been in my collection for quite some time now so I’ve had plenty of time to test it. Read on for my full product review which will include information on the shade range, packaging, ease of application, hydration, staying power, and price.

e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer product claims directly from ElfCosmetics.com

Luminosity is a click away! Create a brightened, flawless complexion with a flick of a pen. Use this buildable, brightening concealer to highlight all over your face. This luxurious but lightweight formula brightens and highlights your key features. Infused with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, this formula works to conceal uneven skin tones.

Disclosure: IntegriBeauty includes affiliate links within product review posts. I receive commissions for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. IntegriBeauty is independently owned and all products discussed within IntegriBeauty product review posts are thoroughly tested and given honest reviews.

Other product details

• Price: $5.00
• Net weight: 0.07 oz. | 2.3 ml
• Made in China
• Cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Shelf life: 6 months
• 18 shades
• Where to buy: ElfCosmetics.com 
  • ElfCosmetics.com ships within the USA and internationally to the following locations: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudia Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and UAE
• Overall rating: 8.4/10
  • Inclusivity: 8/10
  • Packaging/ease of application: 8/10
  • Hydration: 10/10
  • Staying power: 7/10
  • Price: 9/10

Please note that I am not a makeup artist. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, as a regular person that loves makeup.

Inclusivity

When e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer first launched, I believe it was only available in 12 shades. Fortunately, six additional shades have been added for a current total of 18 shades. If this was a medium to full coverage concealer or foundation, I’d say the range still needs to be expanded further. However, as I stated previously, this concealer is meant to provide very little coverage and instead brighten or highlight.

The 18 shades of e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer range from fair to rich. I reviewed each shade and they are distributed as follows:

• Fair: 2 (1 cool; 1 warm)
• Light: 3 (1 cool; 1 neutral; 1 warm)
• Medium: 4 (3 warm; 1 neutral)
• Tan: 3 (1 warm; 2 neutral warm)
• Deep: 3 (2 warm; 1 neutral)
• Rich: 3 (1 warm neutral; 1 cool; 1 neutral)

I’m very happy to see that e.l.f. included shades for every “category” of skin tone. I have fair skin and purchased the lightest shade which is Fair 10 C. It is a very light shade. It would probably work well enough for even the lightest (very fair) skin tones. 

When considering the shades in this range, it’s important to note that they aren’t meant to exactly match skin tones, they’re meant to be a bit lighter in order to brighten skin. If this was a traditional concealer, Fair 10 C would be too light for me, but since it’s meant to simply brighten, it works! 

Looking at each of the individual shades and their undertones, I admit that I’m a bit confused. Starting with the fair shades, I’m not sure why there isn’t a neutral option. I have fair neutral skin, so I would’ve preferred this concealer in a fair neutral shade rather than fair cool. I went for fair cool because I thought the pink undertone would be more brightening than the golden undertone of the fair warm shade.

Next, I noticed that there isn’t a medium cool shade, but there are three medium warm shades. Those with medium cool skin tones would probably have the best luck with the medium neutral shade. There are odd things about the tan, deep, and rich shade ranges as well.

There are two tan shades that are described as “neutral warm.” I’m not sure what that means! I wonder if those shades are actually just neutral, as there is also one tan shade with a warm undertone. There are again no tan cool shades, so those that have tan skin with a cool undertone would probably need to use one of the tan neutral warm shades.

The deep shade range is also missing a cool option. Lastly, the rich shade range looks pretty good. However, the first rich shade has a “warm neutral” undertone, and again I don’t know what that means! If you can explain that to me, I’d appreciate it if you would comment below. 🙂 Other than that funny little oddity, the rich shades (and also the light shades) seem to make the most sense.

I realize that I did a lot of nitpicking in this section. Despite being confused about some of the choices of shades, I think this is a good range. As I said before, I’m able to use a shade that doesn’t really match my undertone and it looks fine, so most others in the same boat will likely have the same experience.

Packaging/ease of application

E.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer isn’t packaged like most concealers which usually have a doe foot applicator. Instead, this concealer comes in a click-pen. When you click the button on the end, concealer flows through to a brush applicator. 

I don’t care for the click-pen aspect of the packaging. First of all, when you open this concealer to use it for the first time, you have to click several times before any product actually comes out. You have to be careful because if you click too many times, much more product than you need will come out. It’s a bit more consistent once the flow has started, as I now reliably get the correct amount of product from two clicks of the button.

I only have one other complaint about the packaging. Since the packaging is opaque plastic, you can’t see when the product is getting low. With this type of concealer, I think it’s wise to purchase a backup for when you unexpectedly run out.

Now for a couple of good things about the e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer packaging! I really like that the color of the packaging matches the shade of the concealer inside. I only have the one shade, but I think the color of the plastic is a very close match to the actual concealer. This would be helpful to those that want more than one shade (i.e. makeup artists or those that wish to have some shades meant for contouring).

The brush applicator is also very nice. It’s quite small to allow for precise application anywhere on the face. I primarily use it to brighten my under-eyes, but I’ve also used it to highlight the bridge of my nose and my chin. 

The instructions from e.l.f. state that fingertips or a concealer brush can be used for blending. I’ve found that a brush works best for smooth, even blending. The lightweight texture of this concealer makes it extremely easy to blend. Sometimes I struggle with blending out other concealers, but this one is always a breeze.

Hydration

E.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer contains sodium hyaluronate (the sodium form of hyaluronic acid), a humectant, which helps to keep the skin hydrated. It’s unfortunately pretty far down the list of ingredients, but that’s not surprising to me since this is a makeup product rather than skincare. I’m still happy to see this ingredient listed!

Since I primarily use concealer under my eyes, it’s important to me that every concealer I use provides at least some hydration. I don’t have extra dry under-eyes, but a lot of concealers make them look dry after just a couple of hours. Hydrating concealers are my best bet for maintaining the appearance of smooth youthful under-eyes.

I feel that the level of hydration provided by e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer is on par with e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer. It feels very hydrating when first applied, and I think that helps with blendability too. Once it is fully blended, it doesn’t feel quite as hydrating but there is definitely still some added hydration that lingers. 

Staying power

The staying power of e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer largely depends on how it is applied and set. First of all, it’s important not to apply more than necessary. The more concealer is applied, the more likely it is to settle into fine lines and look cakey (this seems to be true of all concealers). Next, I know that some people like to let their concealer sit for a minute or two before blending; I advise against that with this one. I’ve found that if I don’t blend this concealer right away, it settles into my fine lines more than it normally would.

Once this concealer is fully blended, it needs to be set with powder. I like to use my e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder which is a lightweight loose powder. If I forget to set this concealer with powder, it will very quickly settle into my fine lines. While I feel that powder is necessary with this concealer, it’s best not to use too much because powder can cause that area to look dry. I pick up just enough on my brush to lightly set under each eye.

As long as I follow all of those “rules” for applying this concealer under my eyes, it stays in place well and looks good almost all day. On certain days, however, I’ve noticed that it appears to have worn away a bit by the end of the day. That is unusual and I’m not sure of the cause.

So far I’ve only addressed the staying power of this concealer when it is applied under my eyes. It’s not very often that I use it on other parts of my face, but when I do I feel that the staying power is good. I powder my whole face (and usually use setting spray too), so that certainly helps.

Price

E.l.f. has long been known for its affordable prices and they came through BIG with the e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer. That’s because I’ve heard from multiple sources that this humble e.l.f. concealer is a dupe for YSL Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Pen which is $38.00 (YSL is not cruelty-free, by the way)!! Granted, YSL’s concealer pen contains 0.1 oz. of concealer versus 0.07 oz. in e.l.f.’s dupe, but e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer is only $5.00! That’s a steal!

Comparing e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer to other brightening concealers at the drugstore, it remains a good bargain. The only reason I deducted one point from this category is that on a per ounce basis, it’s not as good of a value as the more popular e.l.f. Camo concealers. They are $6.00 for 0.2 oz. of product, whereas this one is $5.00 for 0.07 oz., a very small amount. I’m not sure why they didn’t just make the click-pen a bit larger to hold more concealer.

Overall, I think e.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer is an excellent product and value. It’s definitely worth $5.00 if you’ve been considering trying it!

E.l.f. Flawless Brightening Concealer is a really handy little product to have around. I’m glad I decided to try it! While there are some minor improvements that I would appreciate (mainly different packaging) seeing, I think e.l.f. did a really nice job on this concealer. 

I hope you can see the brightening effect from this concealer on my skin in these photos. My whole face looks brighter in the second photo and that was unintentional, I think I must’ve been standing at a different angle for that photo. Despite that little hiccup, I think you can still see that my face appears much more highlighted overall in that second photo. In the first photo, the difference appears subtle, but in person I could really see a difference between the eye with concealer and the one without.

E.l.f.’s product description includes a few primary claims. First, they state that the concealer is buildable and brightening to highlight anywhere on the face. I agree completely! Next, they say it is lightweight. Again, I agree 100%. In fact, this is probably the most lightweight concealer I’ve ever used. Lastly, the description states that the formula conceals uneven skin tones. This is where I’m hesitant because the formula and coverage are very light. It covers some unevenness, but for any intense discoloration a medium to full coverage concealer or foundation is more appropriate.

I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a brightening concealer. It is very effective for that purpose. I also don’t think you can beat the price!

Do you enjoy using concealer to brighten your complexion? If you think you might enjoy this one from e.l.f., let me know in the comments!

Lauren