REVIEW: Flower Beauty

One of my favorite things about beauty blogging is seeing the effect that the phenomenon has on the industry. It's creating more demand and competition among brands and women now have more accessibility to higher quality products for their dollar. Not long ago, I received a package from Flower Beauty, most of the products in the fairly new line to review. Drew Barrymore launched Flower Beauty in 2013 with the goal of bringing high-end beauty to the masses. She chose to sell in WalMart stores because she "wanted it to be in people's hands." While Flower Beauty products sell for $4.98 to $13.98, everything about the products is meant to be prestige -  formulas are made at the same price as luxury products, so Flower is paying two to three times what mass beauty lines pay for production. They're able to sell at smaller prices because they don't pay for advertising, among other things, and rely on social media and word of mouth.

My first impression upon opening the giant box of goodies (besides sheer joy) was even better than I expected. I had seen the products online and read reviews about flimsy packaging, but have to say I didn't really experience much of that. The packaging on most of the products (except the eye pencils and lip/cheek chubbies) is pearly white with rose gold accents, and overall really pretty. The majority of the packaging is plastic, with some glass on a few items, but feels durable and high-end. One thing I did notice is that none of the eyeshadow quads, creme foundations or powder compacts have mirrors, but rather a transparent plastic on the lid so the product is entirely visible. I love that the product is visible but think a mirror would be a nice extra. Either way, for the prices, I can't complain - I have 75 other mirrors to choose from in my makeup bag.

I finally sat down this weekend and created a look using some of the many products I received. I used some of my own products as well, mostly primers. Below is a list of everything I used - Flower Beauty products with reviews, and non-Flower Beauty products listed under that. Keep an eye out for Part 2 of this review, coming soon!


FACE



Skincognito Stick Foundation In Shade 2
On a scale of 1 to 10, this foundation gets a 7. This one was tricky because the shade 2 was probably one level too light for my skin. It did glide on smoothly, straight from the stick. I love this because liquid foundations have to go on my hand first and cream foundations you have to stick your fingers or a brush in. This was easy, really just the one step and then you blend. I started blending with my Real Techniques sponge (the Beauty Blender Dupe), and had a difficult time, but I think this has more to do with the sponge than with the actual foundation. I switched the RT sponge for my Beauty Blender after struggling for about a minute and finally was able to blend the foundation to a desired finish. Once my look was finished I was able to appreciate the foundation a bit more. The coverage is good, and while I did noticed in some spots that I was starting to see a little shine come through, the finish isn't heavy at all. I set this with a powder, and hours later it still looked fresh and in its place, and coverage was still as good as when I first applied.

Powder Up Loose Powder in Shade 1
I rarely wear powder, and know that it's great for setting makeup, but sometimes I prefer not to add another layer of product. However, when I did notice that little bit of shine coming through from the foundation, I applied a thin layer of this to my finished look. I was very pleasantly surprised at how nicely this went on. Most powders I've bought at drug stores LOOK like powder when applied. This does not. It's quadruple-milled (something that mass beauty brands don't have), so it's super fine, and very little goes a long way. I was also nervous when I saw the sticker for shade 1 because it looked so light, but when I opened up the packaging, I noticed this was a little bit darker, and with more yellow undertones than the sticker showed. This worked out perfectly for my face. I love face products with yellow undertones to combat my redness, so I will definitely be using this often. The packaging for this is beautiful, it's also the signature white with rose gold. The lid comes off and is pretty deep, so I used this as a bowl to drop a sprinkle of the powder and then sweep it up with a brush. It looks SO pretty at my makeup station too.

Glow Baby Glow in Beachy Keen


The pigmentation in this one really surprised me. I gently applied the bronzer with an angled contour brush and drew a bold line under my cheekbone. I didn't think the color payoff would be so intense. I took a fluffy stippled brush and buffed this out until I got the soft I was looking for under my cheekbones (what little cheekbones I have). There's a slight shimmer in this that became much more noticeable when I began to contour my forehead. While I'm really happy with the pigmentation and the fact that a little goes such a long way, I don't think I'll be using this as a contouring bronzer -- at least not for my forehead. I was able to buff this out again, until I got a result I was happy with. The blush, like the bronzer, has amazing color payoff. A tiny bit went a very long way here, too. There's a little bit of a gold shimmer in here, but this one's more faint -- I was hoping I'd get more of a glow. Either way, the color is intense, and really pretty. I've decided I'm going to get this same duo in Shimmering Goddess because the blush in that duo is the prettiest shade of bright pink.

Kiss Me Twice Lip and Cheek Chubby in Think Pink
I used this on my cheeks, not my lips. Think Pink is a fun, bright pink shade that's so summery, and as I'm finding with many of the Flower products, a little goes a very long way with this. I applied it to the palm of my (clean) hand to warm up the product for easy blending, and applied a dab onto the apples of my cheeks with my finger. Even a dab was more than enough to get a rosy tint. I even removed a little of what I used. This wore well for hours, and since it applies like a stain, it looks like a natural flush. I loved it, but definitely starting with much less and then building up the color next time.

EYES

Color Play Creme Eyeshadow in Good as Mari-Gold
I love this product - everything from the packaging to the color payoff and the texture, this has to be among my favorites. This creme eyeshadow goes on so smoothly, feels weightless like a mousse and is very buildable. I used it as both a highlight on the inner corner of my eye and eyelid, as well as a base for the rest of my bronze eye look. It dried like a powder, made blending smooth and seamless and never creased. Do note that I primed even prior to this base with my Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I never go without shadow primer. Even seven hours after applying the color, it still looked and felt fresh, and all my shadow was perfectly in place. I also adore the packaging for this product. It's a heavy glass container with the signature white and rose gold lid. It looks and feels like a prestige product (for only $8 a shadow!). Definitely keeping this in my top makeup drawer and using on a regular basis. Also, definitely going to run and pick up the Lilac You a Lot (because I love, love, love purple shadows and this one is so fun!).

Shadow Play Eyeshadow Quad in Foxy Browns


I was impressed with how this product applied, they also don't swatch as well as they applied with the Good as Mari-Gold Creme Eyeshadow underneath. This quad includes four shades: a soft shimmery pink, a bronzy, coppery brown, a taupe with a tiny hint of shine and a very dark, matte brown. I used all except the taupe for my look. After applying the Color Play shadow, I covered my lid (except the inner corner) from my lash-line to my crease in the coppery shade. I used the soft pink under my brow, and the dark matte brown on the outer corner of my eye as well as the outer corner of my bottom lash-line. The colors all went on smoothly, weren't chalky (I'd read reviews some of these were chalky), hardly flaked and blended very softly. The color payoff is great, they're all very pigmented. I would definitely recommend these mini palettes - they're a steal for the price ($10) and easy for travel or to just carry in your makeup bag when you can't bring along all your giant palettes. I really want to try the Face the Grey palette because it has three shades of purple! I'll report back on this one.

Raise Some 'Brows Defining Brow Pencil in Dark Brown
At first glance, this dark brown brow pencil scared me a little because the shade was so dark. I have very thick, angled eyebrows and when I fill them in with my actual shade or a shade slightly darker, they can look harsh. I started with tiny, gentle strokes on the bottom brow line and dragged that across then worked my my way upward mimicking my hair. I finished off, brushing generously with my spooly to soften the overall look, which I was happy with. The pencil applied lighter than it looked and actually worked pretty well, and for $6, I could totally see myself buying this again. I did notice the pencil itself felt like it moved around a bit inside the package and felt a little bit flimsy, but not so flimsy I thought it would break. I plan on buying this in the Light Brown shade and trying for a bolder look to see what happens.

Eye 2 Eye Eye Marker and Volumizing Mascara 
Here I only used the Eye Marker, which applied smoothly, in jet black. It applies paint-like and is pretty long-lasting. My only issue with this is that the tip is very thick - I guess they don't call it a marker for nothing. It makes applying difficult if you want to do a thin line, which I often prefer. I stayed close to my lash line and did a teeny tiny wing at the end of my lash line. Seven hours later that wing was still intact. I definitely recommend this for everyday and if you prefer a thicker line. This will have a learning curve, because like I said, the thickness of that tip can make application tricky.

LIPS



Kiss Stick High-Shine Lipstick in Baby Buttercup


(Insert worshipping hands iPhone emoji). This. Is. Amazing. I don't usually use such pastel shades of lip color, and was a bit nervous when I first put this on, but once I finished applying, with my Too Faced Lip Insurance primer, of course, I was SO, SO in love with it. It instantly reminded me of that coral-pastel shade of nude lip that JLo often wears and that I've also seen Desi Perkins wearing quite a bit. It's great for summer, but I'm wearing all winter...the hint of coral made my entire face glow. That and Andres immediately told me he loved it (and he rarely has such strong opinions about my lip color). This one's a keeper! The formula is also super hydrating, and wears for quite some time - again, I primed, and you should, too. The packaging for this is a little different in that it's black and rose gold, but still really beautiful. I'm definitely getting this in a few more colors.

Shine On Lipgloss in Plum Pansy


I used a tiny dot of this on the center of lips for an extra bit of shine, but was scared to use too much because it's darker than the Baby Buttercup and I didn't want to overpower it. I swatched this on my hand and it feels creamy. The pigmentation is great, it's not sheer at all, which I really like. Plum Pansy is a mauve shade that's perfect for fall/winter. I'll definitely be using this often.

Non-Flower Beauty Products Used:

FACE

• Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer 
• Benefit Cosmetics Lemon Aid Highlighter
• NYX Cosmetics Above and Beyond Full Coverage Concealer 

EYES

• Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer 
• Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara 
• Laura Mercier Full-Blown Volume Supreme Lash Building Mascara in Black
• Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Perfect Black

LIPS

• Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer in Nude