favorite makeup Archives - The Cousin Connections

Anastasia Brow Freeze vs NYX Bush Tamer

Anastasia Brow Freeze vs NYX Bush Tamer (Netflix Sex Education) – that is seriously the name!! We are BACK with another blog post finally! Better late than never 🙃

Dawn here…Both of these products are GREAT! 😍

Anastasia Brow Freeze vs NYX Bush Tamer! let's compare shall we!

So let’s start with the basics.

Both products are easy to use: Just brush them onto brows and style in place to create brow-raising looks that will hold up to 16 hrs.

I’ve been a big fan of the Anastasia Brow Freeze since it came out. We talked about it HERE and HERE. It WAS very difficult to find because it was in such high demand. When I literally couldn’t find it anywhere, I decided to try NYX Bush Tamer. Boy oh boy was I pleasantly surprised how well it worked and you can’t beat the price!

Here are some details:

Brow Freeze: $23 – 8g/0.28 oz

styling wax
no residue or flaking
water-based formula
paraben free
cruelty free
vegan

Bush Tamer: $8 – 5.0g/0.17 oz

clear brow styling gel
non-sticky, transparent formula with natural finish
quick & easy to apply
vegan formula
cruelty free

a cheap brow alternative...BUSH TAMER!!! Anastasia Brow Freeze vs NYX Bush Tamer

A FEW NOTES:

Brow Freeze needs to be applied with a spoolie brush. There is definitely a learning curve to get the right amount of product on the brush, it’s not as easy as 1,2,3!

Bush Tamer comes with a mini brush for more precise application. This makes it easier to control the amount of product on the brush and it is as simple as 1,2,3!

For both -A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY!!!

Bottom line: You can’t go wrong with either one. It really is your own personal preference. If I HAD to choose one…I would pick NYX Bush Tamer.

NOW. Look at pic below.

Which product is on which brow?!

NYX BUSH TAMER on left brow
ANASTASIA BROW FREEZE on right brow
Anastasia Brow Freeze vs NYX Bush Tamer — I did one of each….take a guess!

Hope you enjoyed this post! I loved reviewing both and love the price point of NYX. Tell us what you think!

September 30, 2021September 30, 2021

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Let’s talk milani!

LET’S TALK MILANI!! Have you heard of this brand before?

Dawn here.

I stumbled across this brand at Ulta. It’s no secret Eva & I love it there AND we love trying new products! 🙃

I decided to buy the undereye tint and the multistick. YOU CANNOT BEAT THE PRICE!! So why not?!

So what on earth am I talking about? Look below.

Milani super charged undereye tint - perfect for concealing those dark circles at a budget price

Nourishing, lightweight texture creates a smooth canvas for concealer application or when worn alone
Available in tinted shades
Vegan
Made in the U.S.A.
Cruelty-Free

Ultra-creamy, nourishing cheek + lip formula
Easy-to-apply gel stick format glides onto cheeks and lips, melting into skin
Leaves a buildable wash of color for the perfect luminous finish
Made in U.S.A.
Cruelty-Free

Milani two in one multi stick! bang for your buck!

Now for my thoughts and review! LET’S TALK MILANI!

I will keep this quick & to the point! 🤩

I like both the undereye tint and multistick equally. They both apply nicely.

The undereye tint is great along without concealer over it. I don’t like to wear heavy makeup under my eyes because it just makes me look so much older – I like a more natural look.

milani under eye tint... works well and you can't beat the price.

The multistick bronzer I also use alone on my cheeks (if I am pressed for time), but if I have more time it is great for contouring! ALSO – it can be used as a lip color but I will not use it for that; it’s way too dark for me!

multi use sticks!! milani is a great price point.

Both are under $10!!

BEFORE SETTING MY MAKEUP:

AFTER in two different outfits!

I really like to try products a few times before I give a review.

SO.. a super simple review today… but you get the point! I love when a less expensive makeup product really works. I had never heard of Milani before, and I’m glad I stumbled upon it. It works well on my more mature skin, so I can only imagine how much Eva will love it, too.

Speaking of.. did you see her post last week on a much less expensive lash primer that works?!

If you use this brand, what is your favorite product?!

XOXO, DAWN

July 15, 2021July 15, 2021

thecousinconnections2 Comments

a new lash primer

HELLO!! Long time no blog. lol! Welcome to a new Lash Primer review.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram to keep up with our latest shenanigans.

Eva here. and I’ll get straight the point!

I was randomly at Ulta a few weeks ago and discovered this BLUE lash primer. The price point sold me if I am being honest. I spend quite a bit on our beloved Lancome one – it has been a staple for me and Dawn for YEARS!) – and decided to give this a shot.

The DETAILS!! ⬇️

“Morphe’s The Big Prime Lash Primer’s unique blue shade preps your lashes for larger-than-life volume and amplifies the effects and color intensity of your mascara.”

I couldn’t agree more.

I was pleasantly surprised with at only $10.00, how well this worked. Let’s check it out.

What the Morphe blue primer actually looks like — It’s VERY BLUE.

What the Morphe blue lash primer actually looks like on your lashes

What the Morphe primer actually looks like on your lashes - it's very blue

You can see above, it really does coat your lashes blue.

SO WITH THAT SAID… you need to be patient. The blue doesn’t just disappear with one coat of mascara. I will be honest, it takes many. Like 3+.

SO PATIENCE IS A MUST WITH THIS PRODUCT!

But like all good things…it’s worth the time it takes because it really does work.

Here is the after:

Nice and full lashes after using Morphe blue eye lash primer — These are my real lashes. I don’t have fake ones.

I will say this though: if I am in a rush, I will use my beloved Lancome. Sometimes I only have like 20 seconds to throw on makeup and I don’t want to put the million coats of my usual mascara. lol. Dawn and I have issues and use like 10 different mascaras at a time…haha.

To sum it all up: this Morphe Lash Primer a great alternative at an amazing price point. The only con is it does require more patience than white coated primers. I can’t speak yet to how long this lasts because I am still on my first one (Lancome primer lasts FOREVER).

So we are trying to get back to the swing of some blog posts! How is your summer going so far?

Let us know please if you found this review helpful!

July 8, 2021July 8, 2021

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FIVE THINGS FRIDAY PART 28 – Sephora must haves

FIVE THINGS FRIDAY PART 28 is all about SEPHORA today!

If you are a beauty insider, you must take advantage of this SALE!

Most of these you have seen us talk about already, but it is a great time to restock or add to your product collection 🙃

five things friday part 28 - some of our Sephora Must Haves!

The Absolute Best Body Lotion!

This was one of our very first blog posts in the summer of 2020. *note the links in this post are to ULTA, but Sephora also has this heavenly cream.

Want to feel like your skin has nylons on that instantly smooths out cellulite? Well this Bum Bum cream is ALL that AND more.

Dawn and I are both obsessed. The smell? Just delicious. lol.

Huda Beauty Legit Lashes

This fabulous mascara is a two in one. Saves you TIME AND MONEY!

In fact, it came out right when we started our business, and it was our very first blog post.

huda beauty legit lashes 2 in 1 mascara. sephora steal!!! Five Things Friday part 28

I, Eva, go through phases where I use a product for a bit, take a break, & then go back. Well I have gone back to this a few weeks ago,and OMG… obsessed. Thick, full, and LONG eyelashes. Saves me time because usually I am using 4-5 mascaras (so does Dawn.. it’s just our thing lol)…and this once I can get away with just these 2.

It delivers and I’m ordering more now because of the Sephora sale.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Styling Wax

Dawn here.. I AM OBSESSED!!! We talked about this last FTF post…there is a learning curve. BUT SO WORTH IT.

Brow Freeze.. you need this! Sephora must haves!!

We haven’t been able to find it at Ulta… get it from Sephora!

Few tips:

a little goes a long way
to apply use a spoolie brush (see picture)
clean brush in between applications – if you let the wax dry on the brush it will cause clumping and flaking the next time you use it
brush eyebrow hair upwards -it will give you a feathered look
if you fill in your eyebrows let wax set then fill in.

Nars Blush & Bronzer

LIMITED EDITION!!

This is a fabulous blush and bronzer combo. If you are just starting out in makeup this is a staple and must-have.

nars must-have blush and bronzer set. Exclusive to Sephora! Sephora must haves!!

What we love about it: it has very good pigment and goes on effortlessly. The bronzer blends nicely and the blush adds the perfect amount of glow and pop to your cheeks. This set is perfect & a great deal.

Tip – blend upwards towards ears. Never down! We don’t want to help gravity here. haha.

I know Eva is pumped for a deal, lol.

Last but not least FIVE THINGS FRIDAY PART 28…

Huda Beauty Eyeshadow

Oh my gorgeousness…. Eva and I just HAD to include this. These palettes are absolutely gorgeous.

Huda Beauty gorgeous eyeshadow palette - great price! Five Things Friday part 28

The colors are extremely pigmented and a little goes a long way. These brown shades will absolutely make your eyes pop.

Again, this is a good place to start if you are new to makeup or even just in the market for a gorgeous palette!

Huda Beauty is easily becoming one of our favorite makeup brands in 2021, too. A little goes a long way and therefore the price point 100% is worth.

We have so much more to come but don’t want to overwhelm you. lol. We hope you liked FIVE THINGS FRIDAY PART 28 Sephora Edition.

If you missed other FTF posts of ours, the whole list is found here.

What do you have going on this weekend? What’s your favorite product from Sephora?! Tell us!!

April 9, 2021April 9, 2021

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Makeup Vanishing balm remover!

This incredible makeup vanishing balm remover was found by ACCIDENT!!

I, Dawn, took advantage of a sale with our favorite haircare company, and this somehow was added to my cart and I bought it. When it arrived, I was like hmm, I don’t remember getting this, but it looks pretty and let’s try it!

Eva also does a video below showing how much better it takes makeup off compared to that of makeup wipes 🤩 .

makeup remover balm. all natural! — It melts instantly. It’s so cool!

Let’s get into the details.

What is this? ⬇️

It eliminates the need for HARSH makeup remover (and wipes!) and literally melts into your skin & removes your makeup.

I couldn’t believe how good it felt the first time I used it, and I know Eva absolutely loves it, as well.

It is infused with naturally-derived key ingredients, such as our favorite oil Rejuvenique & Natural Fruit Acids (AHA’s). Like it is really that simple.

Look at the video Eva made – you really see the difference between the vanishing balm and makeup wipes. Incredible!

I swear we don’t have black eyes; it’s the loads of mascara coming off, lol. We both wear at least 3-5 different brands of mascara at one time. So with that said, a good makeup remover is a must

makeup remover balm. all natural! we dont have black eyes lol

Eva here – in all seriousness, this is why you will love the makeup balm remover ⬇️

At this point, we both literally don’t find a need for harsh makeup wipes (except for maybe on the go or in an emergency), and have been overly happy with this!

And the fact that Dawn loves it and looks amazing & is aging in reverse (see pic below), I will do whatever she does 🤣🤗

Let us help you get this <3 Our goal is always to help you with self-care and to #ageinreverse

February 5, 2021February 5, 2021

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Mascara primer – our absolute favorite

YOU GUYS! This mascara primer is our absolute favorite. It is tested, tried, and true.

We BOTH absolutely love this mascara primer: “Lancome Cils Booster XL Lash Thickening Mascara Primer“. We have both tried many primers of ALL price points and always go back to this one. Truly is the #1 in our opinion.

lancome mascara primer..THE BEST! — LOOK AT THIS BEAUTY!

Here are the reasons why.

Dawn here!

Here are the reasons I love Lancome Mascara Primer so much:

Multi-purpose product and get more bang for your buck!
- Conditions
- Lengthens
- Thickens!!! <– OUR FAV.
Does not irritate eyes (*this is huge for me… my eyes are super sensitive).

A few tips:

Apply a thin base coat from roots to tip then immediately (for best results DO NOT let the primer dry), apply your favorite mascara (see pictures below on how to use).
Use before bedtime on clean lashes to help rejuvenate and nourish your lashes.
and…. STAY TUNED! We will be doing a lot of informative content on eyelashes NEXT week!

Don’t let it dry… immediately put your mascara on!

Eva here… Dawn actually bought this amazing mascara primer for my 34th birthday and I have been hooked since for 2.5 years now. I have tried many others, mostly trying to go to the less expensive route, and I cannot find anything even comparable to this one. We both love to wear mascara and of course love long lashes, so this really helps achieve that look. I actually also find that this primer helps the mascara stay on my eyelashes all day, EVEN AFTER teaching two fitness classes back to back. WIN!

This is true, also: most students have come up to me after classes and asked “how do you get your makeup to stay on even after teaching Zumba?” (which is an intense cardio-dance class), and honestly, it’s because I always use primers!

See the proof!

How to use it:

STEP 1 – Apply to clean lashes – as in no makeup / mascara on them whatsoever.

Step 2 – Apply mascara! We both do use several different mascaras at once. lol. We can’t help it.

Step 3 – FINISHED LASHES! LONG, STRONG, and NOURISHED!

I am sorry if those pictures are creepy.. LOL! We found them a little creepy when we took them.

If you want to check out a few of favorite mascaras to use over this primer…go here!

We tried to keep this short & sweet. If you are looking for a longer-lash look, a product that nourishes, and helps your mascara stay on, this is a must-have and one of our staples.

On another note, next week we are talking about so many different lash serums (you know, what ones that claim “grow your lashes”)… have you tried any? What is your favorite?

October 20, 2020December 15, 2020

thecousinconnections4 Comments

IT COSMETICS – YOUR SKIN BUT BETTER

IT Cosmetics “Your Skin But Better” foundation is brand new and we have our hands on it! (Yes, we bought it ourselves).

I, Dawn, have been using this for 3 weeks now… and… your skin but better? It’s JUST THAT! Seriously, I love it. I do use and love a lot of IT Cosmetics products, and I am always trying their latest & greatest.

As I have gotten older I don’t like a lot of foundation or anything thick on my face. With that said, I also spoke about this yesterday with Eva when we were preparing this post, and she doesn’t like using as much foundation either as she has gotten into her 30’s (which actually doesn’t surprise me since I’ve been the same through the years…more on that later). So, this is a nice solution to a light foundation that covers.

First and foremost, to apply this foundation, I use the IT Cosmetics Foundation Brush, makeup sponge, or my fingers, and ALL work great. I do like the brush the best because I also hate makeup all over my fingers.

To make it simpler for you all to read, and since I like bullet point lists, I am going to concisely write out my pros first:

Lightweight foundation but still manages to provide coverage.
AMAZING coverage, actually
- I DO NOT LIKE A HEAVY FOUNDATION!
Very natural looking
Covers blemish marks, redness, and discoloration goes unnoticed
The color matches my skin tone almost perfectly
- I usually have to mix 2 colors to get my skin tone, but not with this one (I use #32).
A little goes a long way
It gives a flawless finish – *does not settle into lines*
Not oily – big plus for mine and Eva’s skin that gets oily as the day goes on
Goes on silky smooth

MY ONLY CON!

IT Cosmetics “Your Skin But Better” does not contain sunscreen.

And while that is not a deal breaker because I have a lot of great skincare products I use underneath that have sunscreen, I just wish this did, also. As I get older I try to be more conscious of the sun exposure to my face.

I mean, the packaging really is nice, too! It is super easy to apply with the brush and as I said a little goes a long way. So back to Eva…

Eva here quick – This is crazy for me to say, but like Dawn said above, as we were talking about how as I’ve gotten older, I do use less and less foundation, and I like the feel of “less is more”, too. I used to love an insane “full-coverage thick look”, but the past few years or so, I’ve really strayed away from that. Reason being, is by 3 pm, it just really doesn’t look good on my face… hello MELTING! 😂 I have also taken so much better care of my skin the past few years with good skincare products, that I don’t really need a lot of full coverage like I used to.

IN CONCLUSION! You cannot go wrong with this IT Cosmetics “Your Skin But Better” foundation that is “nice n light” & provides good coverage. The name lives up to its promise and we are thrilled with it.

*this is not sponsored by IT Cosmetics and ALL opinions are our own! We purchased ourselves. We only earn a small commission if purchased through our links which helps us keep the blog up and running!

October 6, 2020October 6, 2020

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