Sunday, September 28, 2014

Ipsy Glam Bag September 2014

I am a huuuuge fan of beauty boxes/bags.  I love the idea of being able to try a bunch of different kinds of products, while not breaking the bank.  Honestly I have found some of my favorite products from beauty subscriptions.  This month's Ipsy bag has one item in it that I have used religiously every day, and makes me want many many more of them.


-The spoils from this month's bag-


Hikari Lipstick in Cabernet-  I love me a good red lipstick, and this is a good red lipstick.  With fall and winter coming I can't even complain about another lipstick coming in a beauty subscription.  Next time I'm crossing my fingers for a dusty rose, or a muted plum.

Briogeo Deep Conditioning Mask-  I actually already have the full sized product so I will be giving this away.  It is one of my favorite hair masks for when my hair is doing well, and the smell is just divine.

Pacifica Eyeliner in Fringe-  I don't usually use brown liners, but I may just break out of my comfort zone a bit and start using this to fill in my brows or under my lower lash line.


LeeAnni Eco Toner-  I am not a huge fan of toners, but this smells pretty good and may just be my missing link when I am too lazy to wash my face like an adult.  AKA when I use face wipes and wonder why I wake up with crazy looking skin.

Dual Ended Shadow/Crease Brush by Crown Brush-  Obsessed comes to mind when this brush is mentioned.  It's soft, picks up and puts down the right amount of shadow, and the little nubby side is great for putting shadow on your lower lash line.  Can I have all of them?  

This was this month's bag, and the collection was called Street Style.  The bag reminds me of being a teenager when everything needed studs, and anything that looked the color of duct tape as an accessory was not considered taboo.  I do think this bag is a good size for traveling, but could easily go just as nicely tucked inside a cute looking bag on a night out.

Overall I give this bag a B.  While I did find one item I truly loved, and two I liked, the other two were either a repeat of something I had, or something I don't see myself using regularly.  I hope that next month gets a little better and has more products I love.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Allure Sample Society September 2014

I love this box so much I bought it for my mom for a present recently, and even the lady on the phone said things were going to start getting really good.  I'm glad she was right!


-Well helloooo gorgeous-


Dahlia Divin- I love getting perfume samples in boxes, but I rarely wear them. This fall I vow to wear my samples, and this baby is first on my list.

Restorsea Eye Cream- This eye cream is $85.  I have never in my life bought one single makeup or skincare item for $85.  It smells amazing, comes with a little scoop/spoon thing, and makes me feel fancy with it sitting on my dresser.  My other eye cream is running low so this will be next in rotation!

Alterna Caviar Protien Cream-  I can't say enough good things about this hair care range.  I owl the seasilk oil, the CC cream, and now this!  It smells just like the other products and ::fingers crossed:: will help my hair from breaking off as much.


Tarte Brazilliance Self Tanning Face Towelettes-  I don't self tan so I have no real need for these, but who knows, this winter may just change my tune.

Lorac POREfection Mattifying Primer-  I have been digging around for a primer lately (I usually never wear one, but when makeup starts sliding off your face it's time for a change)  and couldn't for the life of me find one in my stash, even though I know I have some.  Hopefully this helps with my falling face problem.  Fingers crossed!

Overall this box gets an A-.  I love everything but the self tanning towelettes, and I especially love the Restorsea eye cream.  

Are you signed up for the Allure Sample Society Box yet?

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Birchbox September 2014



Just a forewarning, if you don't subscribe to Birchbox you may be feeling some envy right now.  They've gotten even better this month than last month!


-The whole kit and caboodle-


Macadamia Healing Oil Spray: I have never tried a Macadamia product and this was the first thing I saw when I opened my box this month.  Super pumped.

Avene Facial Wash:  You know me, I love a good face wash.  Especially with winter coming and the copious amounts of makeup that accompany that change in weather.

Hello Fragrance:  Not a fan, but I can see a few people I know liking this fragrance.

Tocca Green Tea and Lemon Hand Cream:  In love with the smell of this.  Even more in love with how this feels.  Gimme more!


Chapstick Hydration Lock: This was an extra this month and I feel like it will get a lot of use come winter time.

Temptu Champagne Highlighter:  I am not a huge fan of liquid anything, I'm a powder addict, but I do love me a highlighter.  I will find a way to fit this into my routine, it's too beautiful not to.

Overall I give this box an A+.  Keep it up birchbox, you're blowing me out of the water lately.

Are you subscribed to Birchbox?  If not, did this box make you want to subscribe?

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Blush Mystery Beauty Bag September 2014

So sorry for being absent these past few weeks.  Work has been nuts, I lost my camera, and I've been under the weather to boot.  But I do have some nice pictures taken and some posts coming up so I hope that helps you guys out a little bit.

Who wants to see the goodies that got dropped on my doorstep in my Blush Mystery Beauty Bag this month??

Goodies!

Lumene Face Wipes- I haven't used face wipes in a long while.  I've been working on getting my skin back into shape, but I really could have used these babies this past week.  12 hour days call for late nights and early mornings.  I'm happy to have these babies on my desk for this upcoming crazy week as well.

Color WOW 1 Minute Transformation-  What?  I watched the video for this and it looks perfect for my hair. My only concern is it getting waxy after a few hours, but on crazy days this could just be a miracle worker.

Klorane Dry Shampoo-  I have this. I like it.  Nuff said.


Vapour Organics Bronzer Stick-  I love the whole stick concept being thrown around. I have sticks for my eyes, my lips, blush, and now bronzer.  I don't think the color is for me, but maybe this winter I can use it to perk me up on dark days.

Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in Organic Pink-  Usually I run for the hills when I come across shimmery glosses, but this one isn't bad.  It's got sparkles, but it feels slick and not goopy and grainy.  I actually had a friend compliment me on it, so on no-makeup makeup days this could be my ticket to not looking like the living dead.

SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector-  I do have rosy red cheeks, and some spots from blemishes, so I'm quite excited to see how this works out.  As long as it doesn't do the opposite, or break me out, I can't see not loving this stuff.

Overall I give this bag a B.  It's full of very useful things, but nothing that made me go "wow" when I opened the bag.  The past few months have been like this and I'm just hoping that they start to add some more wow factor into their next few bags.

Have you tried anything from this month's bag?  


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Mauve Lips

For the past week or so now I have been absolutely obsessed (I'm talking 30 lipsticks in my shopping basket obsessed) with finding a particular shade of lipstick.  Well, two actually, but I have recently found one (link).



A few months ago I received a teeny tiny baby sample of lipstick from Diego Dalla Palma from his Rossorossetto line in the shade #113 Mauve.  I tried it, thought eh, it's nice, winter is coming and it will get some use. Then the Kylie Jenner lip trend happened, then I started watching Luther on Netflix (amazing series by the way), and I decided screw winter, 90's inspired dusty rose lips needed to happen right meow! (But without the $34 price tag)

http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/luther/26047/why-you-should-be-watching-luther
In case you don't watch Luther, this is Alice Morgan.  Her character intrigues me, and the variety of dusty rose/mauve lips makes me want to buy every lipstick ever made.  Added bonus, if you click on the picture it will bring you to a site that tells you exactly why you should be watching Luther.

For the past week, or more I think, I have been desperately trying to mimick the mauve shade by Diego Dalla Palma, and always end up just short on either the pink side, the purple side, or the brown side.  Even though it seems like I've failed I have still found some really great lipsticks in that same color collection.



Insanity I tell you, insanity!

From Left: Starlooks Liner in Tickle Me Pink,  Bella Donna Love Lips Collection in Luscious, Wet n Wild Lipstick in Mocha-licious, NYC Lipstick in the shade Berry Me, Wet n Wild Lipstick in the shade Smokin Hot Pink, Wet n Wild Lipstick in the shade Wine Room, Mary Kay Lipstick in the shade Rose Petal, Diego Dalla Palma Lipstick in the shade #113 Mauve

My collection will continue to grow until the day I have the perfect dupe shade.  But with all of these lipsticks you're probably asking "why not just splurge on the shade you want?"  Principle people principle.

Up Side? I have my very own berry lipstick army to take on fall in style.

Do you fave a favorite berry lip shade??

Monday, September 8, 2014

Wet N Wild Megaslicks Review



Fall is upon us and that means fall lip colors galore!  On a recent trip up north to visit my parents I stopped by a drugstore and picked up these beauties.

Welcome to my life Wet N Wild Megaslicks! How have I never known you existed before?



Wet N Wild Megaslicks

First Impression: Why is everything in crayon for lately?  Do I really need these?  Do I even own any drugstore lip crayons I like?  What the heck, I'll get em.
After Application:  Well this is not what I put on my lips an hour ago.  Are these supposed to change colors?  Hmm.

Overall: Lady and the Vamp is a purple toned wonder that starts off looking a little deep, but  gradually lightens up to the most amazing berry shade on my skin.  I got compliments all day on this color when I wore it to work.  Win!  Rico Mauve starts off very berry toned and surprisingly turns a hot pink color on my lips after about an hour or so.  I love wearing this on a minimal makeup day when my face needs a little pick me up.  Not to mention the feel good vibes I give off when I wear it. These are very moisturizing and the wear time is about two hour before you find yourself touching up. They actual product doesn't last through eating, but the stain sticks around for days, literally.  The only weird thing is how drastically the color changes after about an hour (like how Rico Mauve turns hot pink?!).  I'm not saying I hate it, I'm just saying a little warning would have been nice.  If you like a long wearing stain, don't mind the changing colors an hour after you apply it, and don't mind applying every few hours, these are great.  No really, they are, even if that sentence made them sound otherwise.

Repurchase: I would.  For a few bucks you get a balm, a stain, and good color payoff.  I feel like these will more than satisfy my need for any sort of "chubby stick" lip color I may want in the near future.

What are your favorite lip crayons?



Saturday, September 6, 2014

My Skincare Routine, Or As I Like To Call It, My Non Routine

Want to hear a secret? I am terrible with routines.  The minute I think I have one down it flies out the window and I'm left scrambling to pick up the pieces.  It happens with my blog, my life, and definitely with my skincare.

Because of this fact of my life, I have taken to a non routine, routine.  I don't call it a routine for fear of abandoning the idea entirely, but I do think of it as a habit.    A very good, helpful, makes me feel pretty habit.


First lets start off with the washing of the face.  I use either this Skinn cleanser or another makeup removing type cleanser to get all of the tough stuff off my face.  Then I go grab a more gentle cleanser (like the Derma New Cleansing Cream) to really finish the job of cleaning all of my makeup/sweat/whatever else without making my face all red and puffy.  About three or four times a week I use the BrightenUp! exfoliator (or any exfoliator I happen to grab out of my drawer) to really make sure that my skin gets a good once over.


After exfoliation comes face masks!  Sometimes I use one, sometimes two, and even sometimes three depending on how my skin is feeling.  If I only use one it's a deep cleaner, if I use two it's a deep cleaner followed by a more calming mask, and if I really go all out and decide three's the charm I use an deep cleaner, a gentle mask, and a moisturizing mask.

These are only two of the seemingly endless masks I have accumulated over this past year, but they are my most loved.  Speaking of which, I need more!




After mask time, or cleanser time, comes a few mish moshed steps.  If I haven't exfoliated I use the Paula's Choice Exfoliator, and if I have I either apply a serum and an eye cream (see below) or I put on my Peter Thomas Roth Oiless Oil (or any good moisturizer if my skin is extra angry).

 If I've remembered to use a serum it's been the 8 in 1 Power Serum, followed by the Glytone Eye Cream, then a good moisturizer.  Or some such mix of those steps.

See, you can't really call that a routine.  I mix up my products depending on the day and my mood, and I usually forget one or two in the mix, but it seems to be working for me right now.   

Do you have a skincare routine you stick to, or are you like me and flip flop products to your little hearts content?

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Ipsy Glam Bag August 2014


Who's ready for an Ipsy review??

Goodies



Mannai Sheer Glo- I'm all about highlighter right about now, but this is more of a sheer barely there shimmer.  I can see wearing this on a bare face, or under makeup on a dry wintery day.

Lord & Berry Eyeliner in Black Silk- I don't wear pencil liner so I'm not overly thrilled about this, but if I ever change my ways this is the perfect size for a clutch on a night out.

Urban Decay Perversion Macara- What?!  I'm really excited for this. I'm currently using up a few different mascaras so I can't justify using yet another mascara just yet.



Free Your Mane Reviving Spray-  Being on the fence about dry shampoo's I'm nervous to try this out.  It's supposed to revive second day curls and volume.  I feel a trial period coming up!

Bee All Natural Lip Balm in Grapefruit-  I love this. The smell is on point, there's no crazy taste, and it's the perfect amount of waxy and smooth on your lips.  It's perfect for dry cracked lips, and it's organic to boot!

Overall this month's bag was exciting.  I'll use almost everything, and the things I won't I'm still not too unhappy with.  

Are you an Ipsy Subscriber?