Poshmark

Hello all!

Yes, I have been gone for quite a while but I am still alive and kicking! I will, in future posts, explain what has kept me away but for today we are talking about one of the many tricks that I have found to have nice things and get them for cheap! That's right, money saving tips!

If there is one thing that my family knows about me it is that I am good at finding expensive things for a cheaper price. Or taking something old and making it look new again, but more about this later as well! I am just so good at it that I think everyone should know my tips and tricks so this will be a series of blogs! And today we start with a website/app called Poshmark! Now just to clear the air, I am not sponsored by or influenced by Poshmark in anyway, shape or form! Now that that is out of the way, here we go!

Poshmark is an app/website that you can buy and sell used or new items, sort of like an online thrift store. You can find items anywhere from home decor to makeup to skincare to clothing and shoes. You can choose to buy with money from a bank account or credit card or, my personal preference, you can sell items on the site and you get basically like store credit to purchase other things on the site with. You can choose to request a check for the amount that you sold items for as well.

Tips for selling items successfully:

1. Be truthful about the condition of your items! If you live in a home where smokers are, don't say that it comes from a smoke free home. The buyer might be allergic to smoke. And if you have dogs or cats, make sure to list in the description so. The nice way to do it would be to say "Comes from a pet friendly home". And always explain what condition the item is in such as using terms like: "Some wear and tear", "Has a rip", "Tag is missing", etc.
2. Accurately state the size/color/shade of your items! I had experienced this exact situation myself. Everyone that wears makeup knows that you don't buy a foundation that isn't your shade if you can help it. I am the lightest of the light in shade and I asked someone what the shade of an item was (because she didn't list it in her listing) and she said it was the lightest shade and it in fact was not. If this does happen to you, Poshmark has an ability for you to return the item if it is not as described and get your money back.
3. Packaging goes a long way!Even if it is a bottle of shampoo, wrap it in something. I at least wrap everything in tissue paper. If it's makeup then wrap it extra good, or if it is breakable! Some people go as far as to wrap the items like a present with a bow and all. And the notes people leave as awesome. It can be something as simple as a sticky note saying thank you, or a thank you card with a hand written message. It's like you bought yourself a present!
4. Ship items on time!When your item sells, Poshmark automatically sends you a shipping label. Ship your items out in a timely manner! If someone doesn't ship the item in 7 days it does give you the option to cancel the order, which I have done several times. But the faster you ship, the more people will want to come back to buy from you again!

Tips for buying items successfully:

1. "Like" items and watch them!When you find an item that you like but aren't happy with the price you have a few options here. You can "like" the item and it will go into a sort of "wish list" and when/if the seller ever lowers the price it will notify you. Then you can snatch that item up at a bargain!
   or
2. Offer the seller a lower price!When you find an item you like there will be a button at the bottom that says "Offer". You can offer the seller a lower price for an item. Not all sellers will accept an offer but if it is an item that has been in their store a long time or they just want to get rid of it, then they may accept the offer!
   or
3. Bundling!Bundling is a great option for SO MANY reasons! The main one being that you can get around the $6.49 shipping on everything...sort of. If I find an item that I really want and it is a good price I will ALWAYS look at the other items in their shop to see if they may have something else that I want. The reason being that you can by multiple items from 1 shop for 1 shipping price, whereas if you buy 2 items from 2 different shops, you will pay for shipping on each item! This is my favorite way of saving money on Poshmark!
4. Leave strong feedback!This goes the same with any site like this, such as Ebay. Leave strong feedback for each seller that you buy from. I had someone leave me 4 stars instead of 5 stars because "my packaging wasn't good enough". I wrapped it in tissue paper!!! It was a shirt!!
5. "Accept" your items as soon as you receive them!!!I can't even explain how it drives me bonkers when I ship an item to someone and the tracking says they have received it, but they haven't "accepted" the item. What I mean by that is there is this feature to Poshmark that is made to protect the buyer. It will not release the money for the item to the seller until you click on "Accept item" meaning that you have received it and it is in the condition stated in the listing. I under stand waiting a day...or even two. But when you have obviously received it and it has been 3 days...really? But lucky for us sellers, Poshmark has made a feature to cover us. If the item has tracked as delivered to the address and the buyer hasn't released funds after 3 full days, they release the funds to you on the 4th day. I personally "accept" items the day they arrive at my home.

And this concludes my tips and tricks for using Poshmark to get the most for your money! Hope you all enjoy and please don't hesitate to comment any questions! You can Click Here to go to Poshmark.com to check it out for yourself! You can also Click Here to check out my shop!

Happy saving!

Review on the Dermactin-TS Pore Refining Sheet Mask

I was at Sally Beauty Supply a few days ago to pick up some supplies to do my acrylic nails and noticed a sale they were having. It was sheet masks for 2 for $5. I love trying out new masks and since I was here I decided to grab a couple. I bought the Dermactin-TS Pore Refining mask and the Purifying mask.

A few days later I decided to try the pore refining one. I washed my face like usual and applied the mask to my face. This is a 2 piece mask, so you apply one sheet from your nose up and then one from your nose down. It says to leave on for 15-20 minutes so I left it on for 20 minutes.

Now I have very oily skin and large pores. There is not a single pore on my face that can't be seen ever. When I removed this mask I was in shock! There were patches of pores that were so small that you couldn't see them! And my larger pores were smaller! I couldn't believe it!

A few days later I tried the purifying mask and not only did it clean out my pores but it shrunk some of them as well. Not as many as the pore refining mask but it still visibly shrunk them!

So if you have large pores you need to try these masks! Even when they aren't on sale they are still only $2.99 a piece! And in the right hand bar I have placed a 15% off of your total purchase at Sally beauty. This should be able to be used online of in store! It is an affiliate code so I will make a small commission off of it.

If you enjoyed this blog review please do me a favor and follow using e-mail notifications for when I release new blogs! You can do that from the link on the right hand side of the page. Thanks and have a beautiful day!

May Ipsy Bag

Just got my May Ipsy bag in today and couldn't wait to open it and do a review for you all!

First of all it came in this bag this month. I am not a fan of the bag this time around. It is cute but it is not my style and it feels like a very cheap plastic to me. My daughter is excited though because when I don't like my Ipsy bags she gets them.

The first thing that I pull out is this Global Beauty Care charcoal mask. It says that it is a 15 minute facial therapy deep cleansing mud based formula that unclogs pores and lifts away impurities and is for all skin types. I'll do a first impression/review on this item when I get to try it out.

The next item that I find is the Island Life eye shadow palette from Pacifica. It is a natural mineral eye shadow that is 100% vegan and cruelty free. It has 5 neutral shades and all shades are shimmer, no matte. 

I finger swatched the shades on my hand and find that the 3 lightest shades have almost no pigment at all. This palette will be going to my mom who has very little makeup 

experience so it will be good for her to play around with.









There is also a brush in this bag. It is by the brand Royal & Langnickel and it is the Precision Angled brush. This brush is super soft, it reminds me of the IT Cosmetics brushes because they are some of the softest brushes I have ever felt. This brush would be perfect for contouring the nose.

The fourth item is a matte lipstick by the brand tre'Stique in the shade Tuscan Wine. It is a beautiful berry shade. 




It is not long lasting or smudge free. It is the definition of a matte lipstick.

The last item int his bag is the Urban Decay Afterglow 8 hour powder highlighter in the shade Sin. I love the brand Urban Decay, I have several of their products. I haven't heard anyone talk

about their highlighters though. I finger swatched it and got almost no color payoff. It reminded me more of a shimmer eye shadow than a highlighter.





Overall I am less pleased with this Ipsy bag than I have ever been. Hopefully next month will be better.  If you would like to sign up for the monthly Ipsy bags you can do so through this link and I will get a bonus 250 points towards the rewards program! If you enjoyed this review please do me a favor and follow using e-mail notifications for when I release new blogs! You can do that by using the link on the right hand side of the page. Thanks and have a beautiful day!

Jergens Natural Glow Face Moisturizer

This review is on the Jergens Natural Glow face moisturizer. I have been using self tanner lately and needed something to make my face match my body. I decided to try this moisturizer that gradually tans your skin.

I replaced my usual face moisturizer with this and am happy to report that it did not break me out or make my acne worse! It also did not make my face any oilier than normal. I got the formula for fair to medium skin. It also has 20 SPF in the formula.

It claims to gradually create flawless, natural-looking color when used once daily. I applied it every morning after washing my face. I really feel like it fulfilled its claims. My skin has a very natural looking glow. It did only darken about 2 shades but it looks very natural, not orange or streaky.

                                     Before                                                                                             After

Here is a before and an after picture. It's hard to tell a difference just looking at the pictures but if look at the difference between my face and my neck in both pictures you can see the change.

I am in love with this product and will continue to use and repurchase it! If you enjoyed this blog review please do me a favor and follow using e-mail notifications for when I release new blogs! You can do that from the link on the right hand side of the page. Thanks and have a beautiful day!

Amway G & H Hand Cream Review

This is a review on the new Amway G & H Nourish+ hand cream. Amway just released this new line. This stuff is awesome! It leaves my hands moisturized but not greasy and they stay moisturized for hours. I do my own acrylic nails at home and my hands and cuticles get very dry and I love putting this stuff on right after completing a full set or fill in.

The formula contains a blend of orange blossom honey, shea butter, and pumpkin seed oil. They say that the orange blossom honey is one of nature’s best moisturizers. Shea butter is naturally rich in vitamins and incredibly nourishing for skin. Pumpkin seed oil is a super food that is rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins. It is dermatologist tested, allergy tested, wheat-free and includes no animal products. They are also not tested on animals.

It also can not be bought at any store, it has to be ordered online. My mom is a distributor though and you can purchase it on her website here. It is $13.85 for 3 30 ml bottles which are the perfect size for your purse!

It is lightly scented and I do love the scent as well! I will definitely be repurchasing this product and will be making sure to keep it on hand!

If you enjoyed this blog review please do me a favor and subscribe to e-mail notifications for when I release new blogs! You can do that from the link on the right hand side of the page. Thanks and have a beautiful day!

clariSEA Sea Salt Solutions Mask

Today we have a review on the clariSEA Sea Salt Solutions Deep Pore Detox Activated Charcoal Exfoliating Mask...that's a mouth full! I received this in an Ipsy bag, though I can't remember which month it was. I love trying out new face masks! This product is all natural, paraben free, sulfate free, fragrance free, dye free, vegan friendly, gluten free, and cruelty free.



Charcoal masks are known for being good for acne prone skin because charcoal draws out the dirt clogging your pores. Cleaner pores = clearer skin! This is what my skin looked like after washing and before using the mask. Even after cleansing my skin the pores are not cleaned out, I still have several blackheads in my t-zone mostly. I typically use a knock off Clarisonic and that cleans out my pores better than standard washing, but for this review I did not do that so you could see the results of the mask alone.

So the instructions say to pour a quarter-sized amount into the palm of hand or a small bowl. Slowly add drops of water, while mixing, until a paste is created. Paint onto face in circular motions. Rinse off once dry. Exact: 1 teaspoon mask & 1/3-1/2 teaspoon water. The product is very light a fluffy until you add water and it turns into a mud like consistency. So I mixed it with water and applied it to my face. And this is how it looked.





When it had dried fully I used a warm, wet washcloth to rinse it away. It was easier to wash off than any other charcoal mask I have ever used. This is what it looked like after I removed all of the mask.

My camera quality is not fantastic but, in case you can't tell, a lot more of my pores are cleaned out than before. I would not call it a high quality mask but it definitely works. For the price, I think it is a fabulous deal. I think it is worth buying for sure. I might purchase it when/if I ever run out of masks to try.

You can purchase this item on their website here. It retails for $14 for a 2 oz bottle, which I would definitely consider to be drugstore pricing. Super affordable!

If you enjoyed this blog review please do me a favor and subscribe to e-mail notifications for when I release new blogs! You can do that from the link on the right hand side of the page. Thanks and have a beautiful day!

April's Ipsy Bag Review

Today I am doing an unboxing/first impressions of the April Ipsy bag! I wasn't as impressed with this month's actual zipper bag. It just wasn't my taste, but still useful. My brother's girlfriend liked it so it went to her!

The first item that I pulled out was a very soft brush. It is by Luxie and is the Precision Foundation brush. It is a soft, loosely packed brush. I will use it for contour because the ferrul is sort of flat, not round. And with the brush coming to a soft point I believe it will really work for contouring the cheekbones. It is a nice brush to add to my collection.

The next item I pulled out is a lip balm. It is by the brand Hey Honey and is a shea butter and propolis lip balm.When I put this on it makes my lips so soft and hydrated. The moisture lasts for a few hours, which is more than most lip balms. It's not greasy or oily on the lips either!





My next item is an aloe soothing gel. It is by Hanalei. Now this one I had to research. I have used aloe on a sunburn because I am a red head and, let's face it, sunburn is a regular occurrence with us. I have heard of using it in skin care but had not tried it yet, so this on I will have to update you all on in thee future.



My next item is a loose pigment. It is by Naked Cosmetics and is a beautiful coppery gold shimmer shade. I have read that this one you can mix with some lip balm to make a metallic lip topper or us it for a cram shadow. You can also mix with a facial moisturizer and use it as a highlight. I'll insert a swatch below as well.

And my last item is a eye liner. It is from Colourpop and it is the creme gel liner in the shade Swerve. Now this is my first ever item by Colourpop and by the packaging I thought it was a turquoise blue color, almost matching my nails as you can see. But is it actually black. It is very creamy and feels soft on the skin so it won't feel like you are stabbing yourself when you apply it in the water line. I am looking forward to trying this out! I'll insert a swatch below.

And that's all I have for this month's Ipsy bag. If you would like to sign up for the monthly Ipsy bags you can do so through this link and I will get a bonus 250 points towards the rewards program! If you enjoyed this review please do me a favor and subscribe to e-mail notifications for when I release new blogs! You can do that by using the link on the right hand side of the page. Thanks and have a beautiful day!

My Skin Care Routine

This picture in the left is my skin. It's my skin on a good day. The good thing is that I have more good days than bad days now. 2-3 years ago that was not the case. I have found a skin care routine that works for me and that involves the products in the picture on the right.

My morning routine is using my electronic face scrubber. I use the Philosophy Purity Facial cleanser for this step. The reason that I use it is that it is a cream cleanser, it's not abrasive, and it doesn't strip the skin of moisture. I also use this facial cleanser on my makeup artist clients because it truly can be used on any skin type. I usually have an affiliate coupon in the right hand bar if you are interested in purchasing it. I spend a good 2 minutes scrubbing my face on the slowest setting in gentle circular motions.

Next I wash my face gently with the Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser with my fingertips. It is so much easier for the face wash to clean my skin and pores because I have deep cleaned my skin and pores with the brush. I than put on the Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Daily Defense Moisturizer with SPF. Then I am set for the day!

My nighttime routine is first cleaning the makeup off of my face using the Amway Artistry Eye & Lip Makeup Remover to remove my makeup. I like this formula because it has an oil base that cuts through water proof makeup. You can purchase this remover from my Mom's Amway site here.

My next step is to use the Purity facial cleanser again. This time I just use it with my fingertips and I massage it into my skin for at least 2 minutes. I then apply the Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel. I also apply Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Serum and then I'm ready for bed!

This combination has made a world of difference in my skin. I am looking into what I could add or use to improve the texture left behind from years and years of acne but I haven't found that product yet. I am always open to suggestions on products to use so feel free to comment below.

And if you enjoyed this blog please follow me so that you can get notified when I post more. You can find that on the right hand bar of this page. Have a beautiful day!

Face Masks

Hi there beauties! Today I wanted to share with you my thoughts on some face masks that I have tried. I have combo to oily skin that is acne prone and sensitive.

I have tried a few different face masks but I am always open to trying any new, affordable face masks. I have always wanted to try the Glamglow Clearing face mask but that one is a little expensive for my taste. I do get the Ipsy bags every month and I like the fact that I get different ones in there.

Just an FYI, I am not sponsored by any of these brands. This is my honest, unbiased opinion on them. Here are some of the ones that I have tried and my thoughts on them:


I'll start with the Sally's box Secret Garden masks. I have received about 4 of these in various Ipsy bags over the last year. I find them to be very simple and moisturizing. I don't see a drastic difference in my skin when I use them other that it feels very healthy and hydrated.

It's a very comfortable sheet mask that isn't overly awkward to wear. One thing that I like about face masks is that I can wear my glasses while wearing them. I am blind as a bat without them and can not imagine just sitting somewhere without being able to see for 10-20 minutes.

This mask retails on Amazon for $8.99 a piece. Here is a link to the Amazon store where you can buy them: Amazon Sally's Box


Next we have the Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Oil Absorbing Mask. This came in my initial Paula's Choice kit.

I really can not tell a difference when I wear this mask. It claims to absorb excess oil, reduce enlarged pores and blackheads and smooth rough, uneven skin. I don't see any of these things happening with my skin when I use it.

I have tried it many many times, hoping that I didn't do it right one and ...nothing. I have tried it in the shower. I have tried just wearing it on my clean skin after I have washed it. I even tried it without washing it first and still no difference. I tried using it consistently for months as well.

Now that's not saying that it won't work wonders on your skin! It just doesn't work with mine.

This mask retails for $22 on paulaschoice.com. They do have 2 other masks on their website as well. Here is a link to the website where you can buy it: Paula's Choice Mask


Next is the L'oreal Pure-Clay Mask. I was inspired to buy this after watching Youtube beauty Guru ThaTaylaa's video on face masks. My skin type is very similar to hers and she has mentioned this mask in several of her videos. Here is a link to her face mask collection in case you are interested in watching: ThaTaylaa's Face Mask Collection

I love this mask! My skin feels so smooth and clean after I use it. It has a slight tightening effect but it is not uncomfortable. It  helps keep my acne under control and helps clear my skin of blackheads. When I wear this mask I usually put a piece of toilet paper across my nose over top of the mask so I can wear my glasses and go about my usual routine in the evening.

This mask retails for $12.99 on Ulta. I bought it at Meijer but you can pretty  much get it at any place that sells L'oreal items and you can get it cheaper when you watch for L'oreal products to go on sale. Here is a link to where you can buy it online at Ulta: Ulta.com L'oreal Pure-Clay Mask

And last but not least, the Dr Brandt Oxygen Facial Flash Recovery Mask. This one I got in an Ipsy bag, hence the sample sized pouch. I had heard about this brand and heard many good things about it but had never heard of this mask.

I had no idea that what was in this little pouch was going to do what all this did First of all, it comes out looking like a moisturizer and as I started spreading it on my skin it started to foam up. The whole mask did this and then I started to feel all of the millions of tiny little bubbles popping. It was an interesting sensation but not uncomfortable at all.

Once all of the bubbles pop you are left with what looks like flakes all over your skin. You wash this off with warm water and o...m...g...! My skin was super soft, my pores were unclogged, my skin was brighter and in general looked fabulous! I was in love!

The down side to this mask is the price. The full sized bottle is $70! Unfortunately I can not afford this at this time but it is a wonderful face mask and I will be purchasing it in the future! Here is a link to the Dr Brandt website where you can purchase it: Dr Brandt Oxygen Facial Mask. You can also purchase on Sephora.com and Ulta.com.


That is all of the masks that I have tried so far. Please feel free to comment with any suggestions that you might have for me to try. And if you enjoyed this blog please subscribe to email notifications when I post more. You can find that on the right hand bar of this page. Have a beautiful day!

Update 4/9/2017: I have found a dupe for this face mask at a much lower price! You can buy the Younique Royalty Detoxifying Mask and it has the same effect and results! And the price for this jar is only $49! A far cry from the $70 Dr Brandt product for the same results! Don't you just love dupes! You can purchase this item from my beautiful friend Stacey Gaither at this link: Younique

Intro to my skin

These are my face go to products

As I said in my intro, I am a brand new freelance makeup artist. I specialize in both beauty and special effects makeup. I love everything to do with skin and makeup. I am a very fair, very oily skin type. I also am very acne prone. This all means that I have some major texture on my face. I have finally gotten to the point where I have more good skin days than bad skin days. I have large pores which usually require a smoothing primer before foundation.

I also have an odd quirk with my skin. With some foundations my skin just completely rejects it. I haven't pinned down why it does it. I have tried sponges and brushes and sometimes it is just random, just it’s a thing and I am learning to work with it. I love trying new foundations out so feel free to comment or email me any foundations that you think I should try. Also, if you have ever had this issue please feel free to shoot me any tips you have. I have recently found a skin care routine that I love and it does really help. I will put up my full skin care routine here soon.

I try out all different brands of makeup. I am not the type of person to love one brand and use all of their stuff. I also have a pretty good balance of high end and drug store favs. I love trying out new things. I plan to review all different types of makeup.

Feel free to follow me on any of my social media platforms. Also, please check out my makeup artist page to see any of my work or if you live in the Louisville, Ky area I would love to do your makeup for your event!

Freelance Makeup Page: http://charmebyericka.wixsite.com/charmebyericka

If you enjoyed this blog please subscribe to email notifications when I post more. You can find that on the right hand bar of this page. Have a beautiful day!