Thrive Causemetics: Taking on the Trio
For months, Thrive Causemetics ads populated my Instagram feed. I’m a sucker for a good before/after video, and I was intrigued. The most popular products were their Brilliant Eye Brightener and their Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara. With names like those, how could I go wrong?
I finally took the bait and went to their site to order my first products. These products would definitely fall into the “swanky” price range for my budget, since the Brilliant Eye Brightener, which is a highlighting eyeshadow stick, is $24 on its own. The mascara is also $24.
AND I ran into a very annoying catch–In order to get the 10% off of your first order, your order needs to add up to $50 BEFORE tax, which meant that with the eye brightener and mascara in my cart, I was $2 short. Not cool, Thrive Causemetics. This “gotcha” pricing did NOT make a great first impression, but I would find out later that taking advantage of this deal and signing up for texts/emails is definitely worth it (more on that in a bit…).
In the end I decided to order a bundle of products from their site, and one that is often advertised is the Build Your Own Set trio of eye products. I chose the mascara, eye brightener, and Infinity Waterproof Eyeliner, and the set altogether was $63. It was still a pretty penny to pay for products that I hadn’t been able to test out, but hey—you guys are worth it.
I had mixed success with these products, but in the process, I found a new swanky favorite. Let’s take the bundled items in order from worst to best, shall we?
This eyeliner is a whole lie. I want my eyeliner to go the distance, and this one didn’t make it to infinity (or beyond). First, I found that it goes on a bit too slick, so it needs time to “set,” which made it very easy for me to slip and make mistakes, or to rub it off in the application process. I prefer my eyeliner to go on a bit more “sticky” (like Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner does).
I gave it a chance though, thinking that maybe once it had set, it would form some magical bond with my eyelids and give me cat eyes that wouldn’t quit. Alas, although this eyeliner is supposed to be waterproof, it is NOT. After just a few hours of sweat, it usually smudged around my eyes or wore off almost entirely. I won’t be purchasing this product again.
I do not have impressive lashes to start with, and I have not yet been brave enough to try the sorcery of actual lash extensions. So, since this product was touted as the holy grail for lash amazingness in the ads I saw, I REALLY wanted this product to be a full win. Unfortunately, this mascara did only half of what I wanted it to.
On one hand, this mascara definitely adds length to my lashes. In fact, they appear to extend each time I draw the wand through them. Also, this mascara absolutely goes the distance. It doesn’t flake or smudge under my eyes at all throughout the day, since it is a “tubing” mascara.
What is a tubing mascara, you ask? Does this mascara enjoy waterparks or summer trips to the lake? I digress. This means that rather than simply coating each lash, it sets into rubbery strands around each eyelash, which gives it amazing staying power.
However, while this mascara adds length, it doesn’t give me the fullness that I want. Those rubbery strands that add length cling well to individual lashes, but they just don’t plump them up (like one of my savvy favorites, Loreal Voluminous Original, does).
Also, while this mascara is completely smudge and flake proof, it comes off with only water (as advertised). This makes for easy removal, but if you forget you are wearing it before jumping into the pool, ocean, or shower, you very well may end up with a clump of black strings dangling from your lashes that resembles a dead spider and may startle you into smacking your own eye in the shower—or so I’ve heard… 😉
We have a WINNER!! I purchased Muna (a “mauve taupe shimmer”), and I have since gone back to buy Stella (a “champagne shimmer”) as a light, complimentary shade. This product is AMAZING, and it delivered on everything I had hoped for.
This product is basically your favorite eyeshadow in stick form. It goes on velvety smooth and blends like a dream. The colors are soft, and they use something they call Ring Light Technology to add a subtle shimmer that brightens my lids, but not in a glittery way (like Disco Ball Technology does).
The tip comes sharpened, but it quickly rubs down to a rounded tip about the size of a pea, which is perfect since this product does not have to be applied very precisely. I just scribble the darker color onto the outer lid and into the crease, then scribble the lighter shade on the inner lid and my browbone. I blend it with an eyeshadow brush or my finger to blend it, and voila! Soft, smoky eyes for hours.
The beauty of this product is that it is very natural looking but is also buildable for a more dramatic look.
Also, it Does. Not. Budge. You would think that a product that blends this easily would wipe right off, but once this product sets, it stays ALL DAY. And I say this as someone who lives in FLORIDA, where humidity and sweat are my constant companions.
The only downside of this product is that, since I now use it as my daily eyeshadow, I tend to go through it quickly. But I have learned a few tricks to getting the most out of Thrive’s website, without having to pay extra for shipping.
Buying on a Budget
When you go to Thrive’s site the first time, go ahead and sign up for e-mails (and text messages, if you opt in). This will give you 10% off of your first order of $50 or more, which helps you make the most of your order. Then, you will start receiving messages from Thrive each time a special offer or new product is available.
Not all of their offers are great; however, they offer free shipping on orders of any amount on a regular basis! This is a good deal since normally, you have to purchase at least $35 of products to get free shipping. They also offer bundle deals and BOGO 50% off on some of their most popular items. If you stock up on the key products you need while these offers are available, you’ll save money and shipping costs while earning points to save money on future purchases.
The Verdict
This bundle was more than what I would usually pay, but in cosmetics, as in life, sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs until you find your perfect smoky eye.
Shine on, lovelies!
