I’ve spent the past few weeks testing out all of the goodies in BeautyCon’s Summer Essentials Box featuring Kandee Johnson’s favorite summer beauty picks! I’ve been a fan on Kandee’s for a while now, so when I heard she was collaborating with BeautyCon I couldn’t wait to get the box.
Below, I’ve listed a few pictures from unboxing (I had help from my mini — she loves opening packages!) and all of the products with my review. I’m a sucker for good packaging — and BeautyCon nailed it. Very on trend with their color pairing, palm print box sleeve, and grid printed box. AND — I LOVE the material list that has a portrait of Kandee by Maria Björnbom Öberg (aka @bokkei) on the back!
Benzac Acne Solutions – Blemish Clearing Hydrator
I find this serum comparable to Murad’s Acne Clearing Solution. It has 0.5% salicylic acid to keep blemishes at bay and 100% pure, pharmaceutical-grade East Indian Sandalwood Oil that has been known to soothe and calm the appearance of red, irritated skin and help reduce inflammation. I give this serum a thumbs up – good product and a great price!
Overall I like this brush. The larger side is great for applying foundation and the smaller side is great for applying concealer or a highlight. I like the idea of two brushes in one, but I store my brushes standing up which means one of the brushes gets smashed.
Garnier SkinActive – Clearly Brighter Daily Moisturizer
I was pleasantly surprised with this moisturizer. I have oily skin, so I usually stick to moisturizers that are oil free or have a mattifying effect. I was expecting total grease face when I used this but that wasn’t the case at all. It absorbed into the skin quickly and smelled great. I’m not sure about how much ‘brighter’ my face looks (I also don’t have many dark spots at the moment to see fade), but I dig it.
La Fresh – Beauty & Personal Care Wipes
I liked both types of wipes. My box had the Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover and Instant Cooling Body Soother. I can see both of these in my next travel bag. The nail polish remover worked like a charm. I usually prefer acetone because it gets the job done faster, but these worked great. The body soother left my skin feeling refreshed and clean — great for hot days or long plane rides.
Neutrogena – Ultra Cleansing Oil
This one is a game changer for me. I almost didn’t even try this because the word “oil” is in its name. But, I’m so glad I tried it! I have completely ditched my other cleaners and will continue to use this one until it’s used up and will probably repurchase. It removes makeup, dirt, and oil easily and rinses off without a problem. It doesn’t leave any residue and leaves my skin clean and moisturized. Plus, it smells delicious! Definitely recommend trying this out if you’re in the market for a new cleanser. Great product at a great price!
NYX – Ombre Lip Duo in Peaches and Cream
I love NYX products and was excited to try this product out. I like that you can get several different looks from just one product. You can create an ombre lip by lining your lips with the darker color and filling with the lighter. It’s a satin matte finish and lasted about 6 hours on me. Thumbs up from me!
NYX – Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cashmere
I dig this! You can use this on your eyes, on your brow bone, or on your face as a highlight. Love products that can mulitask!
Redken – Fashion Waves Sea Salt Spray
I haven’t been a fan of sea salt sprays in the past because of that crunchy feeling it can give my super fine hair. After watching a few reviews on how to use it, I gave it a shot. I LIGHTLY sprayed the product on my damp hair, dried my roots using a diffuser on my blowdryer and left the ends damp. Then, I loosely braided my hair and let it air dry overnight. The next day I woke up in Tennessee with perfect beach hair! The key, I think, was using a light hand when spraying on the product. It didn’t weigh down my hair or give it the dreaded crunch.
Smashbox – Brow Tech Shaping Powder
I found this product interesting. The bottle and applicator looks like the item would be a liquid liner, but there’s loose powder in the base. I’ve been so attached to my Anastasia Brow Wiz that I was almost scared to use this product. But, it was much easier than I thought it would be. You can use it lightly to give your brows more of a natural look or go all out for a fuller look!
Too Faced – Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara
I love this mascara. I’ve purchased it in the past, but never tried the waterproof version. I wore this on a very hot and muggy day to the zoo. It kept my lashes curled and didn’t melt down on my face. I just hope it won’t dry out in the bottle like the regular version does.
VeraSpa – Face Moisturizing Gradual Tanner
This product claims that it hydrates skin, blurs fine lines and creates a beautiful tan. For me, it didn’t do much for fine lines but it did hydrate and put some color on my skin. I can see this as a great replacement for BB/CC creams!
I liked every item in this box. Fingers crossed that Fall’s box will be just as good! If you want, you can check out Kandee’s unboxing video on her YouTube channel here.
