A Beauty Detoxer's Wish List

Mmmm... I'm itching to spend some money!

1. Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Powder Foundation ($34) - If you follow me on instagram, you saw that I did a #sephorahaul of my mother's last week. (Yes...lame-o. I was spending her money, not mine. BUT, she's a doll and it went on my VIB card!) She got this gem, and... I used it. Duh! It went on so smoothly (not too powder-y/cake-y... you know how those powder foundations can be). I currently use a mineral foundation that is specifically for oily skin, and this Josie Maran gloriousness stayed matte (over my CC cream) all day! I could feel the argan oil actually balancing out my skin. I've read reviews that say it runs out really quickly (one user said 2 months), so it seems a bit pricey for the use, but it was wonderful. And, of course, I love how natural Josie's products are.

2. Soapwalla Deodorant Cream ($14) - I like to jump on Refinery29.com every now & then. They had a great article about beauty trends that are done... All-natural deodorant being one of those trends. I can attest to that. I do love my Lavanilla (I rave on & on in my first ever post), but the hubs doesn't when it doesn't last all day long. He will make me put my Dove on before I can hug him... Ha! So, I was intrigued by seeing that this spreads on as a cream, and supposedly lasts all day... I adore lavender, peppermint and tea tree. Woot woot! It has ALL THREE. Plus, you know I'm digging that it's paraben, chemical, alluminum and petroleum free.

3. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Creme Colour Concentrate in Pleasure Model ($20) - I've been on the hunt for a neutral cream shadow base. There are a bazillion out there (yes... I've counted), but as you know, I'm detoxing my cosmetics. I am interested in OCC; I've not used it before, but it's cruelty, paraben, sulfate and phthalate free! I would really like to see it in person, but nowhere near me carries it. I'll just have to order it online and return in-store if it's not what I'm looking for. Gotta love Sephora's return policy! I hope it's not like a warm pink. I need an almost-not-there pink for my albino skin. Crossing my fingers eyes!

4. Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment ($69) - Since seeing pictures of this mask in use on Pinterest of someone's gangrene-looking nose, I've been so fascinated. (Go ahead... google it or search in Pinterest. It's grossly awesome). Having struggled with acne my whole non-baby life, I like a good mask. If this wasn't $69, I'd already have it. Anyone else use this? Is it worth it? And, you guessed it... paraben, sulfate, phthalate free! It does have phenoxyethanol, which is scored as a 4 for toxicity on EWG's Skin Deep database. I'm feeling a little ok with it, because it's only sitting on my skin for 10-20 minutes max, twice a week max. 

5. Jurlique Eye Makeup Remover ($25) - Thanks to my monthly Birchbox, I'm getting exposed to products beyond what Sephora carries. Jurlique is one of those new brands I'm wanting to get more of! I read an article recently about how the French have some of the best skin in the world due to their toilette that they pass down to their next generation. It's a ritual! And they're much less harsh than we are on our skin. So, after all my years of astringent and acne creams, I'm moving over to sensitive, kinder products. This remover is missing all those toxins I've mentioned before (except for the phenoxyethanol). I'm having a hard time using more natural products that still get off all my mascara and gel/waterproof liner. My Bliss Lid + Lash Wash is working great now, but when it's gone, I'm not repurchasing, because of  the propylene glycol. I plan to use my Birchbox points when I get to 100 next month again to purchase this and try.

6. Stila Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eye Shadow in Titanium ($32) - This is my "naughty" wish... It's definitely not natural (primer has parabens), but I got hooked when watching this Sephora video. My brother's wedding is in less than a month, and I'm wearing a gray/silver dress in "mercury." This will go perfectly. I had a Sephora employee demo it for me last time I was in a store, and it is so versatile and beautiful. But $32 for one eye shadow is making me cringe a bit... We'll see if I make this unnatural plunge... :) Has anyone else used it? Thoughts?

I know it's dangerous for me to read other bloggers wish lists, because then I spend money... Tell me if I was a bad influence on you! It'll make me happy. (Is that wrong?)

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Beware the Fake Naked 2 Palette!

Heed this my cautionary tale, for I hath been bamboozled*!

That's about as much silliness as I can muster. Back to real English.

How many of you are regular deal hunters? I sure am. I frequent Sharing Spree for those deals pretty often. About a month ago there was a  doozy of a spree for the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette for... Wait. For. It. ... $25! Yes - twenty-five dollars. I was so stoked, because I had already told myself I wouldn't be purchasing any more palettes after the Lorac Pro and Unzipped robbed me of quite a bit of mula recently. But how could I pass up a $50 palette for half off?

You might be a more realistic, logical person thinking, Tara, that's too good to be true. It's probably fake! Well, where in the heck were you?! In my defense, I had no clue that fake UD palettes were a thing, or I would have been paying attention to it. (Or rather no clue that counterfeit makeup was a thing!)

What first clued me in was the shades were terrible! I mean it. I'm no expert, but I have used quite a bit of shadows, and I felt like I was using chalky children's fake makeup... I was thinking, What is the deal with this palette? All these beauty bloggers are insane..." Then I started to notice small details.

Like, the mirror seemed warped, and I could hardly see myself as I used it. The pans containing the shadows are bent. When I looked at pictures online of the brush, the real one's bristles were a different pigment, and the font went the opposite direction of the one I have. Lastly I wondered why the writing/font was already wearing off (see the "U" on the brush?).

On the back of the real one there is a sticker with a batch number. This did not have one.

I also noticed that the palette comes with a lip gloss through Sephora. This one didn't. 

BUM - freaking - MER!!

After sulking and thinking all kinds of negative "what is this world coming to" thoughts I started to google it. I stumbled across The Beauty Belle's story of experiencing a similar problem. She has great photos of comparisons between the two (packaging and swatches).  An even better post regarding this is by Vicky Hoang. She even found more issues than I ever saw. I was really quick to toss my packaging, but there are many discrepancies in that, too!

I reached out to Sharing Spree and the company that sold it - Bella Sweet Boutique. Sharing Spree jumped right on it, refunded my money and is providing a shipping label to send it back. Kudos!

I'm thankful they responded VERY quickly. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Bella Sweet. I see that there is an active deal for the same product on their Seattle page today with over 200 sold. So sad; I hope they both rectify it soon!

Ultimately, I know I got what I paid for. I think what bothers me the most is that we have no idea what ingredients are in the duped palettes. Since ingredients are important to me - and I try to avoid toxins as much as I can - it scares me to think what unregulated crap is probably in these fake 'uns! This article even quotes Interpol as saying counterfeit makeup helps fund terrorism and drug trafficking! Aaaah! It also relays that many tested counterfeits contain arsenic and mercury! So, if you are thinking, "I got it for cheap - might as well use it" please don't.

Now I'm doubting all my Amazon and Ebay purchases for Mac, Elizabeth Arden, etc products. Is it worth a bargain to risk putting arsenic and mercury in your bloodstream?

So, tell me: have you ever been similarly duped? Any of you lovelies own the real Naked 2 and can concur?

*Indicates the author is 99.2% certain it's fake. Obviously there is a chance in hell that it's real and Urban Decay just has some inconsistencies. I'm just saying for all y'all who want to be annoying literal. K?

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