Tag: Beauty Review

I tried the Rare Beauty mascara, and my lashes are *very* grateful

Published on by Crystal LeeLeave a comment

REASONS TO BUY

  • +First of all, the packaging is gorg
  • +It elongates and fans out the lashes without being clumpy
  • +Lasts all day, no flaking to be found

REASONS TO AVOID

  • -Wish it came in a brown shade
  • -On the pricier side for a mascara…
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I tried the Rare Beauty mascara as a lover of natural-looking, perfectly fanned-out lashes—and I think it deserves a bit more love and attention…

@heybriajones

Can only keep an eye out for Selener if the lashes are on fleek @rarebeauty #mascara #blackgirl #makeup #rarebeauty

♬ PRETTY BOY FLOW – STURDYYOUNGINN🥷🏽™️

It’s safe to say that finding your go-to, daily mascara is just as important as selecting your best non-comedogenic foundation or ride-or-die sunscreen for your face. It’s a very personal journey and one none of us beauty enthusiasts take lightly—especially when there’s so much choice.

Do you opt for waterproof, brown, lengthening, or super volumizing? And how can you tell which of the best mascaras will deliver lusciously long lashes, without that pesky mascara flaking all over your cheeks before you drop your hard-earned cash on them? All very important questions.

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This is why I’ve done the leg work for you when it comes to the Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes mascara, wearing it on the daily, seven days a week. And much like with the Rare Beauty products, I have some thoughts…

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MY MAKEUP PREFERENCES

I keep my makeup pretty natural. For my base, I wear a glow filter (usually Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight), followed by Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation, eyebrow gel, blush, and highlighter.

Eye-wise, I keep it pretty minimal, just opting for mascara on a normal day—sometimes I pair it with an all-over eyeshadow, but I’m not an eyeliner gal, despite there being some great eyeliners for beginners out there. So, I rely on my mascara to make me look awake and somewhat put together, while still keeping it natural—so preferably, no clumps in sight

@realstephaniegreene

Taking the @rarebeauty perfect strokes mascara out for a spin tonight ✨ use code LASH23! today and get a free travel size mascara with a purchase of $40+ at rarebeauty.com to celebrate national lash day 😌 #rarebeauty #rarebeautygiftedme #beautytok #beautyreview #rarebeautymascara #rarebeautyreview #blackgirltiktok #blackbeauty #blackbeautyblogger #nomakeupmakeup

♬ just like magic – Ariana Grande

IS THE RARE BEAUTY MASCARA WATERPROOF?

Now, onto the key info, is the Rare Mascara waterproof? 

It’s described as having a ‘water-resistant formula,’ so theoretically it should be able to withstand getting caught in a surprise rain shower or a gentle cry sesh. Technically though, it’s not fully waterproof—but I prefer that as it’s easier to remove with a makeup remover or micellar water, without needing to be too vigorous.

HOW TO APPLY THE RARE BEAUTY MASCARA

To apply this mascara, I’d recommend curling your lashes first with your preferred eyelash curler, before then gently wiggling the mascara wand from side to side as you stroke up along your lashes, from root to tip. This side-to-side motion will feather out your lashes and will help to get an even coating on your lashes and avoid clumps.

WHAT’S IN THE RARE BEAUTY MASCARA?

This mascara is formulated with castor oil, which helps to condition and nourish your lashes—plus it’s vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, ophthalmologist-tested, dermatologist-tested, and suitable for anyone with sensitive eyes or contact lens wearers.

BEAUTYLEEBAR VERDICT ON THE RARE BEAUTY MASCARA

So, is this Rare Beauty mascara good? My answer is yes. It does everything it promises to do—it’s buildable, comfortable, volumizing, and lasts all day without smudging.

I’ve worn it every day, seven days a week, for over a month, and haven’t experienced any transferring or flaking. I’m also a big fan of its chunky tube, with its soft, matte pink finish. It feels expensive and looks soo cute in my makeup bag.

It’s also easy to apply, even with a slightly large wand, which I wouldn’t necessarily have gone for, but didn’t find it in any way messy or hard to handle. In fact, with every use, it leaves my lashes looking lengthened, voluminous, and curled up—and it lasts all day long, so everything you can ask of a mascara. The formula itself feels great on the lashes as well, not super stiff or brittle.

@nikkissecretxx

In honour of seeing @Selena Gomez last night @Rare Beauty event I HAD to try out this little hack😍 #selenagomez #selenagomezmakeup #rarebeauty

♬ original sound – 444.songss
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This Rare Beauty mascara fends off moisture well (from tears and even sweat from a gym sesh) but comes off like a dream with a bit of micellar water.

My main gripe with this product though is that it’s only available in black—if this came in a soft brown shade, it would be a real game-changer. There’s also the question of the price…

This mascara will set you back $20 which is pretty pricey for a mascara. That being said—like with all of Rare’s line-up—the amount of product you get for the money is generous since the tube is pretty chunky.

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So, my final verdict: it’s great and if you’ve been hunting far and wide for a mascara that is both gentle on your eyes but still delivers length and volume, this could be one to try. I will say this though, other mascaras out there are comparable and more inexpensive on the market, but if you’re a Selena stan looking to make another (or your first) Rare Beauty purchase, I’d recommend it for the cute tube alone!

Youthforia Blush Review: Clean and Fun Makeup

Published on by Crystal Lee2 Comments

Say what you want about TikTok, but it most certainly gets BeautyLeeBar credit for all of its beauty suggestions. Thanks to the app and our frequent 4 a.m. viewing, we have managed to be kept in the loop with some of beauty’s most viral products before they’ve sold out, including THE ICE FACIAL TOOL That Kourt and Kendall Love and now, the Youthforia BYO Blush.

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The BYO Blush is the world’s first color-changing blush oil that is said to include all skin types and skin tones (you had me at inclusive). Its formulation reacts to the skin’s natural pH to give your cheeks a unique pop of color. It’s supposed to make your cheeks look naturally flushed and works with and without foundation. While it is a blush, it’s technically formulated as a makeup and skincare product, which is a double win. For context, the Founder; Lee has a dry-sensitive skin type which doesn’t cause her too many issues, however certain makeup products, whether powder, water, or oil-based can leave her skin with evident dry patches, or leave her skin break out instantly, particularly on her cheeks and forehead. But there wasn’t a day that she couldn’t go on TikTok to see this infamous blush so she decided it was time put the innovative $36 BYO Blush to the test to see whether it was as good as she hoped.

@thirteenlune

@Youthforia’s BYO Blush gets a 🤌🏾 from a black girl blush entusiast

♬ KU LO SA (Edit) – KV

Youthforia truly created some next-generation blush technology, but does it work as great as it sounds? Keep reading to find out if this blush oil does create an ideal, lasting shade.

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Lee has been using her BYO Blush religiously for almost a week now and each time she is blown away by just how glowy and glass-like her cheeks look. A little certainly goes a long way with the application, and the brand recommends you start by adding two dots to your cheeks, wait a few seconds for the color to change, and then blend it out with a brush, sponge, or your fingers. Lee oscillated between her blush brush and fingers, with the latter being her preferred way as the blush looked extra glowy, and it felt much easier to control the application. However, using a brush is great for applying when out and about and when you don’t feel like coating your fingertips in a product.

@imkianajordyn

My summer blush💗 @Youthforia #blush #blushfordarkskin #youthforiablush

♬ original sound – kiana jordyn🤎🧿

The TikTok-worthy packaging includes a vibrant coral cap and transparent bottle, which unveils the green-Ish oil formula (it applies as a sheer oil and then instantaneously reacts to the skin’s pH to unveil a universally flattering shade) and is a nod to Youthforia’s super fun and playful brand message — which is exactly what founder Fiona Co Chan envisioned when creating the brand. Youthforia is a post-Covid company, and Chan tells BeautyLeeBar that she wanted the customer experience to be filled with constant excitement and optimism for all the upcoming occasions customers plan to wear their blush, whether that’s a dinner with friends, or like Lee, a long-overdue mooch around Target.

@rancobeauty

@erinduganjurchak @youthforia Has anyone else tried it? #blush #colorchangingblush #darkskinblush #learnontiktok #blacktiktok #prgift

♬ original sound – Rancobeauty
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In terms of the ingredients inside this little tube of joy, it contains 20 plant-based antioxidant-dense oils that provide targeted treatment for your cheeks, including jojoba oil and Macadamia seed oil. It’s also fragrance-free, silicone-free, vegan, and cruelty-free, making it a great option for anyone prone to sensitive skin. Each Youthforia product is certified by USDA BioPreferred Program to contain 98% biobased content (meaning there’s only 2% of fossil fuels within the formula) which has helped to reduce the brand’s carbon footprint, which is pretty impressive considering the brand is still fairly new.

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The Value: Pricey but a unique, worthwhile find

Youthforia’s BYO Blush is out of this world, and it’s the most unique product—it’s beneficial for the environment as well as your skin. At $36 for 0.22 oz., it’s a little pricey for a blush, but there’s nothing else like it on the market. A little goes a long way, so it will last you quite a while, plus the results are stunning, with a healthy, custom flush that complements any makeup or non-makeup look. The product is quite simple to blend, works wonders on Lee’s dry, sensitive skin, and heralds the beginning of something truly fresh in the makeup industry. BeautyLeeBar thinks it’s worth the investment, especially if you’re having trouble finding the right shade of blush for your skin tone.

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Final Verdict

Overall, Youthforia’s BYO Blush is definitely worth the hype and is Lee’s new go-to blush (Rare Beauty, you still have our heart okay chica). The consistency and formula have impressed us far more than any other powder and liquid blush has before — and that’s coming from a beauties who loves to coat their cheeks in a liquid blush or two.

@themelanin.method

Replying to @dramadeja14 ABSOLUTELY! 💕 What do you think?! #youthforia #colorchangingblush #byoblush #darkskinblush #blushreview #liquidblush

♬ original sound – Erin | Licensed Esthetician
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Youthforia’s BYO Blush Color Changing Blush Oil is the most unique and creative blush Lee has ever used. It goes on clear but quickly changes to pink on your cheeks. The texture is very smooth on the skin, and the unique technology provides the ideal natural glow appearance for your skin tone and gives your lips that natural rosy color. Youthforia’s BYO Blush works and builds beautifully. It doesn’t feel greasy, just hydrating and smooth. Oh, and the color lasts. Best lazy girl makeup product ever!

@sarah_novio

#stitch with @youthforia WOW 🤯 ✨✨✨ #youthforia #makeup #makeupreview

♬ Bundles (feat. Taylor Girlz) – Kayla Nicole
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We hope that other brands will follow in the footsteps of Youthforia, which has paved the way for pH color-changing blush oils. If you’re on the lookout for a new beauty staple for the Fall/winter, then look no further than Youthforia’s BYO Blush.

@officialzeopatra

Trying the @youthforia blush #blush #nomakeupmakeup #easymakeup

♬ original sound – zeopatra
@kali.ledger

Hands down the easiest dewy blush, that actually lasts but stays dewy 🤭✨#greenblush #dewyskin #dewyblush #makeuptutorial #youthforia

♬ original sound – KALI
@nishabalsara

this is not an a d, I am just a chronic oversharer @youthforia also has some great videos on her Tiktok! #youthforiablush #colorchangingblush

♬ Wii Shop Channel – McTweet
@makeupbymonicaa

This is THE BLUSH for HOT GIRL SUMMER☀️💋 I’m obsessed ❤️😭 @Youthforia #blush#browngirlblush#summermakeup#glowymakeup#summer2022#hotgirlsummer#youthforia

♬ What your favourite curse word remix – Duke & Jones

Have my beauties tried TikTok Youthforia’s BYO Blush?! If so, what are your thoughts? Is this black/brown girl approved?

#HelloBeauties #BeautyLeeBar

R.E.M Beauty by Ariana Grande: ‘Out of Body’ Collection

Published on by Crystal LeeLeave a comment

R.E.M beauty is stepping into complexion products. The fourth collection ‘Out of Body’ features 60 shades of a skincare-infused, multi-tasking sweetener concealer supercharged with R.E.M’s proprietary essence for clinically proven results. The collection also features a blending sponge, face primer, and blotting paper sheets to control oil. The array of concealer shades and accompanying products of the ‘Out of Body’ collection will be available to purchase today July 28th on the R.E.M beauty website. 

Source: @rembeauty on Instagram

OUT-OF-BODY COLLECTION:

The ‘Dream Cloud Blender’ is a latex-free blender that is carefully sculpted to fit the contours of your face. The domed point gets into the creases around your eyes and nose while the rounded bottom can be used to softly blend out your concealer.

‘Dream Cloud Blender’
Source: @rembeauty on Instagram

Grande chose the cloud-like foam texture because it was just right: not too soft and not too dense. The sponge is infused with antioxidant-rich Ashwagandha for an extra boost. A bonus is the blender works wet or dry, with liquid or powder products.

‘Lunar Magic Blurring Primer
Source: @rembeauty on Instagram

The ‘Lunar Magic Blurring Primer’ is a long-wearing primer formulated with hydra-blur essence, which was previously found in the ‘Full Nights Sleep Cooling Under-eye Balm’ to cool, even, and hydrate your complexion. The primer also includes soothing micro-algae, anti-pollution ectoine, and brightening vitamin C-rich Jeju lemon. These ingredients will blur, smooth, and improve makeup wear for up to eight hours.

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‘Satin Sheets Blotting Paper’
Source: @rembeauty on Instagram

The ‘Satin Sheets Blotting Papers’ are black bamboo charcoal-infused blotting papers that quickly diminish shine, soak up excess oil, and purify pores. The slim packaging makes it easy to fit into any bag and is accessible to use when needed!

‘Sweetener
Concealer’ Source: @rembeauty on Instagram

The ‘Sweetener Concealer’ is perfectly designed for a smooth, lightweight application. The creamy formula can be layered to your desired level of coverage for a soft matte, veil-like finish. The goal with this product is to allow you to completely customize your look! The concealer is infused with R.E.M’s hydra-smooth essence. It is powered by skin-loving ingredients including hyaluronic acid, Ashwagandha, and Vitamin C. The ‘Sweetener Concealer’ will leave the skin looking sweeter than before.

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Primp-Tip: For the best application, apply with the new latex-free dream cloud blender sponge and lunar magic blurring primer for a seamless, streak-free finish.

Source: @rembeauty Instagram

‘Sweetener Concealer’ is available in 60 different shadows to ensure you will be able to find your perfect match. Two artistry shades are also included in shades black, and white to lighten or darken a shade.

Source: @rembeauty Instagram

sweet how-to

01 finding your shade for all-over concealing: choose a shade closest to your skin tone. identify your shade level (fair-rich) & undertone. shades progress in-depth as you go from 1-10 within your shade level.

02 for spot concealing: use a concealer the same shade as your foundation. to conceal a pesky blemish, dab some concealer on top and wait 2 minutes before blending it out.

03 for brightening: choose a shade at least 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone or use fair 1 for the ultimate, bright white highlight.

04 for correcting: choose a color correcting shade within the lineup. a pink-toned concealer helps conceal blue and purple tones in lighter skin and covers up dark spots and dark circles under the eyes. an orange-red concealer helps cancel out dark areas on darker-toned skin. a yellow concealer neutralizes redness around the mouth and the nose and brightens the undereye area. top with a skin tone shade to even out complexion.

05 for contouring: choose a shade at least 2-3 shades deeper than your skin tone.

06 to lighten a shade: mix in our true white: fair 1

07 to use rich 10, the blue-black shade: use to deepen the tan to rich shades and make them cooler, correct what you need, and contour the richest skin tones. a little goes a long way, so use sparingly and add as needed.

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And because, being in the industry, Ariana has all of the tricks of the trade, the r.e.m. beauty fact sheet also shares all the “sweet tips” you’d want to know to find the best concealer shades for all-over, brightening, contouring or correcting, as well as a few pointers for raising your makeup game.

PRIMP TIPS FROM ARI

  1. After filling in your brows, apply a small amount of concealer underneath the brow to create a well-defined arch line.
  2. Use to sharpen your winged liner. With a small brush, clean up the bottom of your wing liner with long strokes.
  3. A tiny bit of light concealer in your eye’s inner corner appears more awake.
  4. Clean up your lip lines and take a bit of concealer in the same shade as your foundation on a lip brush. Carefully outline your lips to create sharp lines.
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The ‘Out of Body’ collection launches today July 28th on rembeauty.com. The collection will soon be available in your local Ulta stores. You can keep up to date with the collection through R.E.M Beauty’s Instagram.

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We are excited to see what Grande and R.E.M Beauty explore further into complexion products. Will you purchase any products from the collection? Leave a comment down below!

VERSED SKINCARE – WHAT’S WORTH THE MONEY

Published on by Crystal LeeLeave a comment

We feel like Versed Skincare has taken over social media. We see so many posts about their products. One of our favorite parts of this brand is they have affordable skincare! All of their products are very reasonably priced! We have recently had the chance to try out a few of their products, and we are here to give you our opinion on what’s worth your money!

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Acne Calming Cream Cleanser | $16.99

We feel that cleansers are mostly all the same. It’s on your skin for such a short amount of time that they aren’t going to make a drastic change to your skin. But since we started using this cleanser, we have noticed a difference in breakouts. We have been breaking out a lot less since we used this every night. If you struggle with acne, you’re going to love this cleanser! We also have found this does a good job of taking off your makeup as well!

This face wash is made with 1.5% Salicylic Acid which will help you get rid of any breakouts. The other main ingredients are Blue Tansy and Apple Fruit Extract. The Apple Fruit Extract is a very gentle exfoliant, and the Blue Tansy has anti-inflammatory properties and gives it the blue color!

Originally some of us editors were using Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser, but we found that it was drying our skin and irritating it which was causing us to break out more. We switched to this cleanser and will never go back. The formula leaves the skin feeling fresh, and we can see noticeable improvement! We use this product every so often to address minor breakouts we have. At the first sight of a pimple, we will use this product morning and night to treat and stop the breakout from getting worse! This product is so gentle yet effective! We love using it with a facial brush tool as well!

If you have acne-prone skin and are looking for a new face wash, we recommend picking this up. We love how it makes our skin feel, and how it helps with our breakouts, and we love that it is on the affordable end!

Weekend Glow Daily Brightening Toner | $17.99

This is the perfect toner for anyone that is struggling with dark spots or pesky marks left from breakouts. The weekend glow toner is made with a four-acid complex including Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Azelaic Acid, and Kojic Acid. It also has bearberry extract and Vitamin C to help brighten your skin. We love that it is gentle enough to be used daily! We rotate this with other chemical exfoliants throughout the week, so we use it about 3 nights a week. We think this is our favorite out of everything we have tried from Versed.

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Be careful with this toner since it is similar to witch hazel and a lot of customers have said this caused them to break out even worse than before. It has a slight smell for a second then it disappears once dried down.

Using this after the Acne Calming Cream Cleanser is the perfect combo! So, if you are someone that struggles with hyperpigmentation or dark spots this is going to be the toner for you!

The Shortcut Overnight Facial | $19.99

This overnight facial cream is made with Lactic and Glycolic Acid and Vitamin A to help exfoliate and brighten your skin. You apply this on your face 1-3 times a week at night and leave it on all night. It absorbs right into your skin, so you don’t feel like you are sleeping with a sticky mask on all night. We truly love the idea of this product, because it is kind of a two-in-one. You get your chemical exfoliant and your moisturizer all in one.

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The blend of lactic and glycolic acid works together to break down dead skin cells. Vitamin A is one of the most powerful and proven ingredients for aging skin. Vitamin A exfoliates, brightens, and hydrates while skin-conditioning allantoin, rosehip, and vitamin E keep the skin calm. It’s pH-balanced, non-drying, and non-irritating—basically, it’s a non-scary treatment that won’t leave you red or flaky (just bright and refreshed). It’s even gentle enough to use on back-to-back nights, and it absorbs into your skin just like a lotion, residue-free so your pillows are safe too.

This overnight facial works on sensitive skin as well. It does make your skin feel soft the next day, but this is a product you’ll have to use consistently for a few months to notice a difference.

Mood Lighting Luminizing Glow Drops | $17.99

This was by far the product we were most excited to try out because we love anything that is going to give us a glow. But we honestly weren’t super impressed by these. It is supposed to give you a natural glow, something that can be great for summer bare face or use with makeup!

We did give the LUMINIZING GLOW DROPS to our friends, and they love it. However, we do like that this is a serum, so it has ingredients like Peptides, Blackberry Extract, and Vitamin E. We just found we didn’t get the glow we were expecting from this, we had to use quite a bit of product to notice a difference. We started to break out and that is a no-no for us! It does feel nice on the skin and does give a very subtle glow, but we still find ourselves reaching for the Glow Recipe Dew Drops more.

Virtually weightless, each glow drop pumps up hydration levels and plumps up elasticity for noticeably smoother skin. How? The peptide polyglutamic acid—a.k.a. hyaluronic acid‘s more powerful relative that can hold 4000x its weight in moisture—works alongside antioxidant-rich blackberry extract to strengthen skin’s barrier.

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This comes in two different shades – Sheer Bronzed and Sheer Golden. We did get both shades since we all are not the same skin color.

You can use these by mixing them with your foundation, wearing them as the last step in your skincare routine, or mixing it in with your moisturizer. Our favorite way is using it as a highlighter on our cheekbones!

Just because we didn’t love these doesn’t mean that they won’t work for you. We are just someone that loves a more noticeable dewy finish. So, if you are more on the subtle side.

Silk Slip Lip Oil | $9.99

We thought this was going to be tied with the Acne Calming Cream Cleanser as one of our favorite products! First off, the pink packaging just gets us! Second, it is the most hydrating lip oil, and it makes your lips look amazing! We wanted this to be one of the main beauty essentials that we always keep on us!

We honestly did enjoy this product for the most part. Our lips were always hydrated when applying, but the only thing we did not like was that they would dry a bit sticky. Also, after a while, the product produced this awful odor which was odd. We even repurchased because we thought maybe we got a bad batch. Very disappointing and a waste of money. Looking online we are not the only one with this issue, so they seem to have a problem with the formula going bad quickly. Hopefully, they fix this ASAP!

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They chose ingredients that will help hydrate your lips instead of leaving them feeling dry a few minutes later like most lip balms. They said your lips will stay soft and hydrated with a subtle, healthy sheen (not a glossy shine). Most important, you can still feel the moisture on your lips even after the oil is fully absorbed. 

SILK SLIP CONDITIONING LIP OIL contains Camellia Oil, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, Sunflower Seed Oil, and Sesame Oil. And I feel that this does live up to the hydrating claim completely. It has a great smell and doesn’t leave a weird taste in your mouth.

They also have tinted lip oils that we dying to try along with other products that we already ordered to try!

Have you tried anything from Versed Skincare? If so let us know your favorites in the comments! Some were better than others, but that is how it’s going to be with skincare. But overall, we are genuinely so impressed with their skincare, and we will be picking up some more to test out!