January 2015 Birchbox

Hello Beauties!

First, can I just say how in disbelief I am that I haven't updated since DECEMBER?! It is May and I never would have guessed I have neglected my blog for this long. I have a few posts to do so I'm excited to finally get back into it with, naturally, my January 2015 Birchbox!!

Products:

Tocca Crema da Mano- Hand Cream in Cleopatra

MyChelle Advanced Argan Oil

Coastal Scents Revealed Palette (Latte Sample)

Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips

Oribe Shampoo for Beautiful Color

They're all pretty good products that I get plenty of use out of! My favorites are by fat the Coastal Scents Revealed Palette and the Tocca Hand Cream (smells like grapefruit in the most delicious way and ultra hydrating). I cannot believe how creamy and pigmented the eye shadows are! I am going to invest in all of the Coastal Scents Palettes (Only $19!!!)

That's from only one swipe each!

Overall a great box! I am not picky so I am usually pretty happy with my box contents. I would prefer to not receive "high end" shampoo/conditioner because I tend to not be impressed with them as much, as well as facial/hair oil products. They still get used though so no complaining here!

Birchbox December 2014

Hey lovelies!

It's been a few months since I've been subscribed to Birchbox but I recently joined back up. This month features a gorgeous blue and gold box for the holidays and the theme is 'Decked Out'. It is so cute!! I love that Birchbox recently added options to really customize everyone's birchboxes! You can do one of three things: Pick one of the (usually) 3 samples guaranteed to be in your box, pick one of the curated boxes, or be surprised! Each option is completely free and therefore gives you plenty of options to really make sure you're happy with your box. December's sample choices were all beauty items and I'm so upset that I signed up after we could choose! January's are all skincare products, which I like, but am not as excited for.

I received:

 Manna Kadar Lip Locked in Lucky which is a gorgeous mauvy-pink and is an "all-in-one primer, stain, and gloss that's loaded with nourishing vitamin A and E" and is surprisingly matte!

Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa Firming Tea Treatment Mask "made with antioxidant-rich tea, this mask firms and brightens skin in just eight minutes"

Rusk Texture Spray "This medium-hold spray gives any hair volume and shape--- while keeping its natural bounce".

Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner in Jaipur Gold "this soft wax pencil delivers rich, long-lasting color that won't irritate eyes".

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream "this all-over hydrator heals and softens everything from rough heels to chapped lips".


I've gotta say, this might be the best box I've ever gotten. I am excited to try and will definitely use everything! I swatched the Manna Kadar and Sumita and they're both GORGEOUS with awesome staying power. I had to scrub the eyeliner hard and for a while to get it off, and I don't see that as a bad thing since so have hooded lids and eyeliner tends to bleed and smear. The Sumita is a pretty olive green with gold sparkles and the Manna Kadar has a cute little gem on the end of it.

Valentia 20% Vitamin C Even Glow Serum Review

Hey guys!

Today I wanted to talk about this amazing product I have recently added to my skincare. I have extremely dry skin that's pretty dull in the winter, so I am always looking for
products to give me major hydration and to even my skin and give me a glow! My usual skincare routine is exfoliating with my Clarisonic, moisturizing with a cream moisturizer (my HG St. Ives Timeless Skin) before bed and in the mornings.

I have always heard about the benefits of adding a serum to your skincare but hadn't tried any until now. The product I'm using is Valentia Even Glow Serum 20% Vitamin C Antioxidant Treatment by Valentia Skincare. I absolutely LOVE it!! It claims to even skintone, increase glow and radiance, absorbs rapidly, boosts collagen production, and reduce wrinkles and fine lines. I've gotta say, it honestly works. It comes in a glass bottle with a squeeze top drop applicator which makes it super easy to apply. The serum isn't clear like I had anticipated, instead it's a bright orange that smells like oranges! Not in a overly powerful or pungent way, but in a refreshing way. It absorbs so fast and my skin immediately feels refreshed and firmer. After a few uses I could see how much my skin has improved. I look more radiant and my skin feels firm but soft, more even skintone. You can but it off of amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HJD8NLY/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1419303367&sr=1&keywords=vitamin+c+serum.   List price is $85 but on Amazon you can get it for only $35!



















*Product was sent to me for reviewing purposes. All opinions are accurate and my own.

Cranberry and Gold Holiday look!

Hello lovelies!!

In honor of the holidays coming up, I wanted to do a colorful and festive look perfect for going out, holiday parties or anytime! Cranberry seems to be an up and coming shade that a lot of people have started wearing either in their wardrobes or in their makeup looks. It's such a beautiful shade that compliments any skin tone and eye color. This look is very easy but packs a lot of punch!

I first prepped my face applying Vitamin C serum by Valentia Skincare (review coming next!) to my face and neck. After that dried, I moisturized with St. Ives Timeless Skin and waited about 15 minutes to ensure my face was properly moisturized. I proned my face using Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base. Next, I lightly dabbed Hard Candy Glamoflauge concealer onto my most problematic areas (on my chin and around my nose) and on any blemishes without completely blending it in. I then buff L'Oreal True Match Lumi first starting with a light later and applying a second layer to ensure proper coverage. Next I applied Benefit's Boi-ing concealer under my eyes, on my chin, along bridge of nose and on forehead and blended to create a highlight.

After basic skin prep, I filled in my brows using Benefit's Brow Zings and cleaned up lines using Benefit's Boi-ing concert again.  Then I primed eyes using Lorac's Behind the Scenes Eye Primer.  Using the cranberry shade from Bh Cosmetics 120 Eye Color Palette 3rd edition, I blend the color into crease and slightly on outer edges of lid.  Then pack on Gold from Lorac Pro Palette onto lid and around tear duct.  Using Espresso also from the Lorac Pro Palette I carve out a 'V' shape to accentuate the putter edge of my eye. I take the Cranberry shade again and blend into lower lashes and Espresso over top. Then I line my eyes with L'Oreal Telescopic waterproof liquid eyeliner and coat lashes with Benefit's They're Real Mascara and L'Oreal Butterfly Influenza.

Next I lightly dust face with setting powder and contour hollow of cheeks and nose with Benefit's Hoola bronzing powder. Then I finish with Cargo's water resistant blush in Los Cabos to apples if my cheeks and apply L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Rose Elixir onto my lips for a suttle, basic color.

Emerald and Gold FOTD

Today I wanted to try something out of my comfort zone. My usual eye makeup tends to err on the conservative side, lots of browns and tans and sometimes pink. Lately I have been absolutely OBSESSED with emerald green. Emerald dresses, shirts, dresses, jewelry, and makeup. So I dug out my bh Cosmetics 122 Color palette (third edition) and make a colorful FOTD. Of course, the emerald green caught my eye and I had to use that!

Face: L'Oreal True Match Lumi; Benefit's Hoola; Revlon Powder Blush in Mauvelous

Eyes: Lorac Eye Primer; BH Cosmetics 122 Color Palette Third Edition; Lorac Pro Palette; L'Oreal Telescopic Waterproof Eyeliner in Black; L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Intenza Mascara in Black

Eyebrows: e.l.f Eyebrow Kit in Medium; Revlon Photoready Concealer in Fair; Benefit's Watts Up Highlighter

Lips: NYX Lipliner Pencil in Ever; NYX Matte Lipstick in Whipped Caviar

I was a little disappointed with how the green turned out. It was a tad lighter than I had hoped/expected. It looks pretty dark in pan and even with eye primer. The eyeshadows are a tad on the chalky side as well. They don't blend that great, and can be hard to work with. It does vary color to color, though.  Some are pigmented and beautiful, some blend just fine, and some don't seem as chalky. It's hit or miss. The gold is from the Lorac Pro palette. I adore the Lorac palette. The colors are buttery, blend-able, pigmented, and just all around gorgeous. 

CVS Beauty Club Twitter Giveaway Review

Hey Beauties!

The CVS Beauty Club Twitter had a #WINthelook giveaway about a month or so ago. There were several winners and each one received a Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara (I received it in light brown), a OGX Kukui Hydrating Oil, a Makeup Academy Intense Moisture Balm (I received Red), and a L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Intense Mascara.

It took four weeks for the package to arrive and I couldn't wait! I can't even pick one product I was most excited for. I have been obsessed with lip products lately and I have been experimenting with brow products, but I was also running low on mascara and my hair is super damaged. So pretty much I needed everything that I won! 

The first product I tried immediately when I brought the package in from my mailbox, was the brow mascara.  I'm glad I got it in light brown since I have pretty dark eyebrows considering my natural hair color is blonde.  Right away, I was skeptical of the brush. The end of the wand features ball-shaped bristles and then has regular, short bristles immediately after.  My biggest concern was how large the ball of bristles are. It seemed too big to have enough control for brushing your brows.  How big the ball of bristles are compared to the short bristles seemed awkward and hard to manage.  That is definitely what I found when I actually tried using the brush.  Very awkward at first but I'm sure it's something that comes with practice.  As far as the gel, it was not as pigmented as I anticipated but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  It would be good for those "natural" make up days.  When the gel dried my brows did feel a little crunchy, but I don't really mind that because I know my brows will stay put. 

A lot of beauty blogs have been raving about the Makeup Academy line that recently came to CVS.  No one particularly mentioned specific products, but the way people talked about the line, I had pretty high expectations for this lip balm. 

Top swatch: Multiple Swipes

Bottom swatch: One Swipe

The color is more pink than red, but I don't mind. It's a pretty shade. My problem with it is it smears very easily and then stains your skin. I'm someone very low maintenance and I wouldn't want to have to worry constantly over if it is staying in place. It smells faintly of peppermint and feels moisturizing. 

I have been on the hunt for oil moisturizers for not only my face, but also my hair.  The prospect of these hydrating powers intrigued me and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this Kukui Oil by OGX.  I did a test spray on my arm just to see how heavy it sprayed and I was so pleased when it was a light mist.  It'd be very hard to over oil your hair with this spray. You have complete control and would be great to use even on dry hair to help control frizz. Not only was the spray perfectly light and misty, but the oil smelled amazing, too. It doesn't have a heavy scent, but just enough that you get a nice whiff of it every now and then when your hair brushes your face.  I haven't used it enough on my hair to give a valid review on its healing powers, but the one time I did use it, it seemed to have worked great!




There has been a lot of talk lately about the L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Intense Mascara. I have seen nothing but reviews raving about how well it works, especially for a drugstore mascara, and I definitely agree! It doesn't take a lot to get long, dark, full lashes.  The brush is a little odd, which I'm sure is what they named the mascara after (or why they designed the wand like that). One side of the wand is more flat, while the other is thin. I do find that the bristles on the wand aren't long enough and I had a little bit of trouble with clumping, but a few more swipes and they mostly went away. I really do love this mascara, and I think it will become my new go-to drugstore mascara.

I'm wearing the Brow Mascara and MUA lip balm in this picture.

Deans List Voxbox Review

Hey guys!

Last month I was chosen to receive one of Influenster's Voxbox's! This one was the 'Deans List' Voxbox which featured products good to use for school. 

If you don't know what Influenster is, it's basically a review website where you join, connect your social media accounts and review products! The more accounts/followers you have, the higher your 'impact score', and the more perks you receive. You review products you already use, and once in awhile, depending on your impact score, they will send you complimentary, FULL SIZED products to test and review. Pretty awesome, right?

In this box I received:

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance

Pilot FriXion Clicker Erasable Pen

AirHeads bites

Kiss Looks So Natural Lashes

Luden's Watermelon Throat Drops

softlips Cube in Pomegranate Blueberry

*I was also supposed to receive Sinful Colors No Text Red but that was missing from my box.

I loved pretty much all of the products in this box. I am not a usual tampon user but I'm glad I had these because they ended up saving me in an early 'surprise' this month. They worked wonderfully and kept me smelling fresh! The Pilot pens are AMAZING. They write SO smoothly and the eraser works so well. Forget all of your previous hesitations about the usual erasable pen, these actually work! The airheads taste just like the original so of course, super yummy! I wasn't a huge fan of the lashes I got because they were just SO long. I like my lashes looking full and long, but not to the point of the tips touching the TOPS of my eyebrows. They have tapered ends which do make them look more natural, so I would just rather have gotten a shorter pair. The throat drops taste like candy and I haven't had a sore throat since I've gotten them, only my husband has, but I'm sure they work just fine. And lastly, the softlips. OMG. I am in LOVE with this lip balm. I was already in love with the classic softlips lip balms, they immediately make my lips feel so smooth, and moisturized and this cube just took it to the next level! The packaging is adorable, and the scent is soooooo good. I seriously cannot get enough! I will for sure be buying the other flavors. I am super bummed I didn't end up getting the nail polish like i was supposed to. It looked like such a pretty red! 

*These products were given to me free of charge for testing and reviewing purposes. All reviews are my own honest opinion.