Birchbox September

I heard that this month's box wouldn't be very good, since not many new products come out in September.....Some of the products were okay. I was really excited about trying out Jouer's Matte Moisture Tint but it came in the tiniest sample ever! What a bummer...I'll get like two uses out of it maybe. It was smaller than the JB Dart BB cream tube that I got back in May. I also think that I am missing a packet of the nail polish remover...I only got one and the picture shows two. I'm going to watch some videos to confirm before I email them.

Image directly from Birchbox.com

I'll take pictures soon and post them. I also got an email from Birchbox inviting me to be an affiliate so I could get moneys for putting links up on my blog. Unfortunately, because I live in Illinois there is some tax put into place and so I can't be a part of it. Another bummer! Oh well, I guess I don't have much time for blogging anyway. School is still pretty demanding, but at least I will no longer be working on the weekends after this coming weekend! YAY! :D

Sucks because I'll be losing out on money, but I'll make it...hopefully!

Sorry for disappearing!

Hey guys!

So I definitely went off the radar there for a little while. Working everyday and now that school has started, I have been extremely busy. I have so many things to post about. I just one Influenster's Sally Hansen brand challenge! Yayy! So I get a free Sally Hanson Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips. Anyone ever tried those? I haven't before and it sounds like I need to grow out my nails! 

Here's what a box looks like from the website: 

Hopefully they fit. I have super small nail beds and things like this don't tend to fit me.

Yay! I won another giveaway :D

It seems like I have had a lot of luck lately with giveaways! This time I won an ear cuff from Karmadia sponsored on Shang's blog The Feminine Crusade. I can't wait until it arrives and I will post pictures! 

Have you won any giveaways lately? Share your prizes!

Thanks for stopping by! :D

Posting Update!

Got my Birchbox in the mail and I believe I am getting my Myglam bag in the mail today. Already made one video, as well as one for a giveaway I won. Will post when I can! Just wanted to let you know that new posts will be coming soon!

Harvey Prince: Hello & Fling

"Real Perfume For Real Women: Feel Good, Feel Young, Feel Happy" - Harvey Prince

If you are a Birchbox subscriber then you may have gotten a sample of Harvey Prince's Hello in your July box. Some lucky members are receiving their scent Flirt in the August box. I absolutely adored Hello and so I added Harvey Prince on Facebook and checked out their website to look at some of their other products.

One day, a few weeks ago they had a contest to ask how their fans had heard about Harvey Prince and to post a picture. I took a picture of my Birchbox for July and posted it on their wall. I was one of the 10 winners to get a free 8.8 ml bottle of Fling as a prize. The only thing I had to pay for was shipping, which was only $3.50! The bottle itself cost $26 so it was a great deal :) I thought the box was cute and creative. They included another sample of Hello which I was so happy to get, since I was running out of my previous sample. They also gave me a discount code for my next order!

I really like how this company started out and their mission statement. They really want to empower women! Gotta love the two brothers who founded the company!

I really want to try out Flirt and Yogini next. What fragrances have you guys tried?

Thanks for stopping by! :)

CVS Haul - Great discounts this week on beauty products!

I stopped into CVS last week to see if there was any deals on beauty products. They have a ton of sales going on, 50-75% off certain brands and a bunch of deals where you spend $10-$15 bucks on a certain brand and get CVS reward bucks toward your next purchase.

I picked up a few Wet and Wild items for $.69. I couldn't pass up the deal! I haven't had too many bad experiences with Wet and Wild products, but they aren't always the greatest quality.

I got two nail polishes in black (434A) and a pink glitter (345G). I needed the black so I can do some panda nail art that I've been waiting to try out :D

I also got a purple eye liner pencil. I haven't used eyeliner pencils in awhile, so it'll be weird to use one again. Hopefully I don't poke my eye out!

Lastly, I got Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails Nail Strengthener to help harden my nails. They are pretty flimsy and I've had two break on me this week. I was a sad panda :/ But hopefully this stuff works, so I don't have to worry about having weak nails anymore.

Have you tried any of these products before? How do you feel about Wet and Wild? What has your experience been with them?

--UPDATE--

So I've gotten a chance to use the lipsticks and I love them! My current favorite is the hot pink-ish one pictured on the left. I need to go home and write down the number/color of these two. I also really liked the purple eye liner, it just dulls pretty quickly.

I haven't gotten to try the nail polishes yet. I used the Sally Hansen Hard as nails and they helped for a little. My nails kept breaking at work though, because I have to wash my hands or sanitize them often so my nails are pretty vulnerable. Hopefully when they grow back they will be stronger!

What other types of nail hardeners would you guys recommend?

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Pammy Blogs Beauty Too Faced $25 Gift Card Giveaway!

Pammy was chosen by Too Faced as one of three Beauty Bloggers of the Month! The lovely Jenn Staz and Phyrra were also picked! To celebrate she is giving away a $25 eGift Card to their site! How awesome! 

Click here to enter her giveaway! Hurry the giveaway ends August 23rd!

Good luck to everyone :)

July Glam Bag Review! - Sorry this is late!

The good thing about posting so late about the products in my July 2012 Glam Bag is that I've actually had time to use the products and have formed more accurate opinions about the products I received. If you also received the bag and got different results from these products then I did, please let me know!

Here is my initial Video:


Contents:

• Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion (4.2 fl. oz. Bottle = $26.00)
• NuMe HydroPunch Hydrating Conditioner ($24.99)
• Yes To Cucumbers On-The-Go Facial Towelettes (30 Wipe for $5.99)
• Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain in Tango and Jitterbug
• Circus by Andrea's Choice Nail Polish in White (Available in Fall 2012)

I love the facial lotion, the makeup remover wipes, the lip/cheek stain, and the nail polish! I have yet to use the conditioner.

The lotion is similar to Philosophy's Take a deep breath moisturizer. It doesn't smell as good, but works in a similar way. It leaves my skin feeling clean and oil free. 

The wipes are amazing! Very comparable to e.l.f.'s makeup remover wipes that I love. I feel like I am less fearful of using these wipes around my eyes than e.l.f.'s. There is no burning or tingling sensation with using these wipes and the results are great! They are a good size where I don't feel like I am wasting any product. I will definitely purchase these when I run out (which is very soon!).

My lip/cheek stain in Tango unfortunately dried up in about two uses, but thankfully Myglam is amazing and sent me a replacement! I got the new product in Jitterbug and I fell in love! I am really digging these lip and cheek stains. They are so convenient! This product is exactly like how it is described, just like a marker (notice how I said like a highlighter in the video). 

I did love the nail polish, but it seemed to peel off easily. Looking for another top coat where I don't have to worry about this problem. Any suggestions?

I will post pictures soon! Sorry for the delay. I seriously don't have a day off..so its hard to find time to blog! :(

Thanks for stopping by!!

Enter QOQO's 4th giveaway with some adorable prizes!

Check out QOQO adorable giveaway!

The products look amazing, good luck everyone! This giveaway ends July 30th!

Prizes include:

• 1 set Sophie Monk's Natural Doll EyeLash (No.1)
• 1 elf Essential Lipstick - Flirtatious #7710
• 1 K-Palette 24H Real Lasting Eyeliner, WP (Super Black)
• 1 set Sasa Limited Edition Mini Nail Polish
• 1 Majolica Majorca Eye Shadow (GR162)
• 1 Essence Gel Eyeliner - Midnight in Paris 01

Extremely Busy Bee.

Okay, I haven't been able to post my myglam bag yet, nor my Influenster video/blog review. I hope to on Friday! Wish me luck. There so much going on and working two jobs doesn't leave much time for anything but sleeping and eating. Please continue to follow my blog :) I really appreciate all the comments and such. Its nice to know someone is reading and hopefully getting something out of my blog. :)

Only Dreaming's July Glam Bag Giveaway!

Not a current Myglam subscriber? Still on the waiting list? Well here is your chance to win a July Glam Bag!

Bag contents:

• My Glam July Beach Make Up Bag
• Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion
• Yes To Cucumbers On-the-Go Facial Towelettes
• NuMe HydroPunch Hydrating Conditioner
• Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish
• Circus by Andrea’s Choice in Reverso

I loved all of these products (except the Buxom lip polish since I didn't receive this) in my own bag, so I wish everyone luck in this contest!

This contest ends August 1st!

Closet Voyage: Eyecandy Lens and Dolly Eye Giveaway!

Check out Closet Voyage's current giveaway for Eyecandy Lens x Dolly Eyes! Win a pair of lenses and adorable Rohto Lycee Eye Drops! :)

Details:
Www.eyecandylens.com is kindly sponsoring a giveaway with one lucky winner bagging a pair of lenses of their cohice from Eyecandy Lens, and their very own cute hard candy lookalike vial of Rohto Lycee Rewetting Eye Drops to care for your eyes in style!


This giveaway looks super fun and who wouldn't want to try out these cute lenses?!


Ends July 31st!

Bunnyfuldays July Giveaway!

Check out Bunnyfuldays July giveaway for your chance to win some super cute prizes!

Prize one includes:

• Tony Moly Ice Queen Crispy Tropical Pack
• SK-II Facial Treatment Lotion
• Microline Comb and Mirror
• Cyber Colors Blotting Paper
• Tony Moly Puff | Chinese False Lashes
• Samples: Nymph Aura Volumer x 2, Etude House Dressing Room, Etude House BB Cream, Etude House Black Charcoal Chin Pack, Missha Super Aqua Cell Cream

Prize two includes:

• Tony Moly Latte Art Milk-Tea Morning Pack
• Luminous Change False Eyelashes 05 - Natural Volume Eye
• Kanebo Kate Gel Eyeliner BK-1 
• Love Alpha Eyeshadow Palette 
• The Face Shop Charcoal Pore Strip 
• Samples: Skinfood Agave Cactus Toner, Missha Cho Bo Yang BB Cream, Missha Sosaeng, Scinic Aqua Ex Jelly Cream

Summer Beauty Influenster Voxbox

So I just got my summer voxbox in the mail and I will be making a video and showing you the contents of my box. I'll do a post on my first impressions of the products and will do a full review on my favorites or per request. Yay so excited to test out these great products! :)

Attention Beauty Bloggers! I will host/share your giveaways :)

Hey fellow bloggers!

If you are hosting a giveaway I'd be more than willing to share your giveaway on my blog. I'd love to help you out and get you more exposure :D I can even host your Rafflecopter widget if you'd like. Just let me know by commenting here with a link to your giveaway or emailing me the details at boyscrangl24@gmail.com.

I currently do this for free so take advantage!

Sweet Elyse's Beauty Box Giveaway!

Sweet Elyse is hosting a giveaway of some of her favorite beauty products. She put together a box containing the following items:


- EOS Lipbalm Sphere in Honeysuckle & Melon.
- Professional Systems Nail Polishes x 3 to get the perfect French manicure. 
- I pack of nail tip stickers. 
- Espirit Nail Polish in clear & Glitter - to make that french manicure super cute. 
- Sample of Loreal Mythic Oil. 
- Garnier Lotion Samples 
- 2 x Handmade Quilted coasters to protect your dressing table from polish spills. 

Its very easy to enter! Just follower her on GFC.

See her post describing some of the products and enter here.

July 2012 Birchbox: Glamour's Five Senses of Summer

Woohooo! I got my Birchbox early and I'm sooo pleased with it! I filmed another unboxing video. Again, I appoligize for the traffic noises, living on a busy street sucks especially when the living room is the only one with enough natural lighting to film. The video really captures my impression of the box and my first impression of how I feel about the products. Please let me know which products you would like to see a full review for :)

Apparently there are 31 variations of this month's box (crazyyy). View them all on Zadidoll's site.

Video:




Theme: Glamour's Five Senses of Summer

 Contents:

#1 [Touch] Alterna - BAMBOO UV+ Color Protection Fade-Proof Fluide

      "This finishing gloss prevents UV rays from fading color while organic bamboo extracts keep hair strong and soft." 

- Full size (2.5 fl oz) retails for $24

I can't wait to try out this product. I don't know if I should wait until I color my hair again to actually see if the color lasts longer...

# 2 [Sight] Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in black

     "Direct from London, these punchy color liners feature a pen-style applicator that's truly goofproof."

- Full Size .07 oz retails for $15

Other people got different colors such as purple, turquoise, and olive. Would definitely love to have gotten any of those colors. I swatched this liner on my hand in the video. Its very similar to my marbella semi permanent eyeliner except that it actually goes on black and doesn't stain my skin when I wiped it off, thankfully.

#3 [Smell] Harvey Prince - Hello

     "Get a glass half full disposition with this optimistic blend of juicy Meyer lemon, white grapefruit, and pink plumeria." 

"We started Harvey Prince in dedication to our mother, and we craft exceptional fragrances that empower women to feel young, happy, slim, and beautiful."

-  8.8 ml retails for $26 and 50 ml for $55

The sample packaging is super cute and the scent is so light and fresh. I also love that the tube has a spray applicator! I'm sure this will be one of my summer favorites. I can totally rationalize spending $26 for this fragrance. 

#4 [Touch] Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum

     "Wear this award-winning brand's silky SPF 30 serum under your makeup for a weightless UV shield."

-20ml retails for $20 or $42 for 1.6 oz

Saw from someone else's video that they were sent two packets of this. Wondering if I should send an email to Birchbox asking for another packet.

#5 [Taste] Tea Forté® minteas - Cocoa Mate

"Keep these refreshing, tea-infused mints on hand for quick pick-me-ups." 

"Fight fatigue with nature's natural energizers of uplifting Brazilian erba mate and rich, deep, chocolaty Columbian cocoa."

- 3 pack retails for $9.95

After filming the video I was able to try the mints. They are like mint chocolate! So delicious and there are a ton in the tin. I can't wait to use these. I am a bit tired at the moment, so I'm not sure how much they've helped "pick me up" but I'm sure I'll use them when I had a normal nights sleep and that 2:30 feeling comes along.

#6 [Hearing] Birchbox Exclusive - Neon Green/Pink Earbuds

"We designed these neon headphones just for you. Pair them with your best playlist."

The headphones are fairly comfortable. They drown out a lot of outside sound which is really nice. I absolutely love the neon green :D

Overall Verdict:

Totally in love with this box. I do with the supergoop! sample was a little larger, but I can't complain. I am glad that I got a full size eye liner, too. Can't wait to see what other people got!

What did you get in your Birchbox for July? If you don't already have a subscription and want to sign up please click my referral link here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stila One Step Bronze Review

I can't thank Birchbox enough for sending me Stila's One Step Bronze in last month's box. I use it fairly often and have fallen in love with it. I was so intrigued by the design of the product inside the container, which is kind of like a helix of the three components of the bronzer. This product is very shimmery, so it might not be for everyone.

Birchbox explains this product very well:

"Birchbox Breakdown

This bronzing serum may look like a sci-fi invention, but don’t be intimidated. The three-in-one primer, bronzer, and skin perfector addresses our three main concerns: oversized pores, unevenness, and lackluster skintone. Made with a triple helix of bronzing, highlighting, and illuminating pigments, the creamy formula has a mousse-like consistency, and is subtly laced with coppery shimmer. We love how it blends easily and dries to a matte finish. Plus, it keeps your skin’s oil levels in check, so your makeup doesn’t slide off midway through the day.

How it Works

The formula uses a trio of complementary pigments: coppery bronze adds warmth, pink-toned bronze evens out skin tone, and Kitten (one of stila’s best-loved shades) brightens and conceals with its soft shimmery champagne hues. When you push down on the applicator, these pigments swirl together to create a lightweight serum. In addition to sheer coverage, it delivers an anti-aging mineral complex that helps regulate oil production while shrinking the look of enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.

How to Use

Apply this serum to clean skin for an all-over glow. You can wear it by itself or follow with foundation or tinted moisturizer for extra coverage. For subtle highlighting effects, dab on to cheekbones, brow bones, and the tip of your chin. Blend well."

This small amount is all I apply to my entire face.

This might look scary partially blended (and on a smaller portion of skin) but it blends in well.

See all the sparkles? Like I said before, this product may not be for everyone. I don't mind it, because I want the shimmery tone when I'm out in the sun. 

This was taken about 20 minutes after the previous picture. I wanted the redness to go away from rubbing in the product and to show that some of the sparkles do fade. 

Like Birchbox said earlier in their description, this serum helps balance out my naturally oily skin (mainly in the T zone). I don't really have fine lines or wrinkles, so that part doesn't apply to me; however, this does help even out my skin tone. I love any product that does that. Recently, acne scars have been staying noticeably longer and I need something to help reduce their appearance. Lastly, I also love that it keeps my skin hydrated and nourished. This is crucial, especially in these summer months!

I like layer this product with my sunblock or favorite foundation. 

Have you tried this product? What do you think of it? What other Stila products do you recommend?

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Target Summer Beauty Bag

I was so excited to receive my Target Summer Beauty Bag in the mail!

I got this a couple weeks ago, but haven't had the time to post lately. I really loved all the contents of this bag, even more so because it was FREE! :)

The only thing that was a bummer about the bag is that I didn't receive the TRESemme Conditioner sample or the Aveeno scrub (which I was really looking forward to). No big deal though, I really can't complain.

My favorite product is the Neutrogena sunblock. It has come in really handy, since I ran out of sunblock. I try to use it everyday, since I'm out in the sun for work.

I also really love the makeup bag it came in. I haven't tried the Revlon Color Burst or the shampoos. I've been waiting for my current shampoo and conditioner to run out before I use any others.

Did you get a Beauty Bag? If not follow Target Style on Facebook to try to get their next bag! If you did get the summer bag, what did you receive?

Thanks for stopping by! :)

NOTD #1: ELF Nail Polish in Champagne

So by now I'm sure you know I'm a huge fan of ELF products. This nail polish came free with my
 e.l.f Collections Sunkissed Summer Set (see post here).

I love the color Champagne and I think its great for summer! Its kind of copper-y, too, so it goes well with my skin tone and my hair color.

I use two coats and top it off with a clear nail polish and I'm good to go! It lasted about a week and then I got bored and changed my nail color (I'm surprised I lasted that long without changing it). I also like this color because I can wear it at work and its perfect for a more professional environment.

I hope to try some more colors soon. What do you recommend if you've tried ELF's polishes?

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Busy Bee

I haven't been able to post lately because I started a new job working overnight shifts. When I find some free time I will finish a few posts I have already in draft form.

Have a great rest of your weekend!

Le Edge Exfoliation Tool

Hey everyone!

A few weeks ago I won this exfoliation tool from a giveaway. I've gotten to use it for about two weeks now and my skin feels smoother. I'm not how much it makes my skin look younger since I'm still pretty young. But I do like knowing that dirt, oil, and my dead skin cells are being removed!

 

I like that it has a nice non-slip grip and is easy to use. The metal "blade" isn't sharp or anything, it doesn't hurt if you put a lot of pressure on your skin, and its great that its hygienic! I was worried about rust since it's in my shower all the time.

I like to use it before I shave, because it evens out your skin surface. Its nice for men too because it helps lift ingrown hairs before shaving.

I'd definitely recommend it to anyone. I didn't normally exfoliate before. Sometimes I'll use a shower gel that has the exfoliating beads in them,  but I don't feel like those actually do anything. This tool shows you that you are removing dead skin cells, so you know its working.

I also like using it to remove my daily facial cleanser, because I can see the dirt and makeup residue that it is removing. I also think it is helping soften the skin on my elbows.

Do you own one of these? How do you like this product? Check out the website to find out more about this awesome product!


Thanks for stopping by! :)

Mae Minerals is changing their name and their mission: Giveaway for a great cause.

Mae Minerals, a company that makes mineral makeup as well as provides a monthly subscription service. I haven't tried their products yet, but I've been trying to win some of their giveaways to try them.

This image is directly from Mae Mineral's site.

Their service includes three levels (eco-beauty: $8/mo, sprout: $10/mo, and garden: $20/mo):

• Each level includes brand-new & limited edition products from Mae Minerals like:
• Mineral Makeup (Foundation, Blush, Eye Shadow, Bronzer, etc.)
• Skin Care (Face, Body, Special Needs)
• Lip Gloss/Lip Stain
• Mascara/Eyeliner
• Brushes/Accessories

They are changing their name and their mission statement. Their new site will launch tomorrow! Here's some more information directly from their site.

"For every cosmetic purchased, we will donate one to a woman in need. You buy one, we give one.

We are working directly with women's shelters to provide makeovers, beauty tips, education about safe cosmetics and most importantly to get the women's wish lists of the shades and products they would like. For every item purchased, we'll donate an item from a wish list. We've set a goal: help 7,400 women by the end of 2012.

We will also be launching an affiliate program were you will be able to earn a commission on all sales you refer using a special link. Affiliates will also have the option of applying to be a volunteer ambassador and help her local shelters get set up with our program."



I think its great that they are empowering women in shelters by providing them with cosmetics. Normally shelters only provide the essentials to survive, and they don't consider makeup one of them. This company is so kind and thoughtful!


They are also having a giveaway! "For every prize won, we'll donate one. Second, the more entries we receive, the more prizes we'll give away! We're starting out with 10 prizes packs that include an eye shadow & lip gloss. Once we reach 2,000 entries, we'll add 10 more prize packs. And for every 2,000 entries after that we'll add another 10 prize packs."

Sounds pretty awesome, yeah? Enter here! Good luck!

e.l.f Collections Sunkissed Summer Set

A few weeks ago I ordered some e.l.f. products and got this great set for free (a $21 value). I thought this set had some items I really wanted to try out, so I figured I'd jump on the deal.

This image is directly from e.l.f.'s site.

The Set Includes:

·         Essential Wristlet in Bronze ($5)

·         Studio Lotion Wipes in Vanilla & Coconut  ($3)

·         Studio Waterproof Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara  ($3)

·         Studio Cream Eyeshadow in Dawn  ($3)

·         Essential Eyelid Primer in Sheer  ($1)

·         Essential Nail Polish in Champagne  ($2)

·         Essential Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Black  ($1)

·         Essential All Over Color Stick in Golden Peach  ($1)

·         Essential Super Glossy Lip Shine in Honey Do  ($1)

·         Essential Eye Shadow Brush  ($1)

My favorite products in this set include: the cute wristlet case, the mascara, the cream eyeshadow, and the nail polish. 

The wristlet is nice to use as a makeup bag or even as a clutch. The mascara goes on really smoothly, doesn’t clump my lashes, and really gives them nice volume. It works best when I take the time to curl my lashes. The eyeshadow is great because it is a nice neutral/natural color. When I’m in a hurry and I don’t want to spend forever doing my makeup I use this product. It goes on fast, it’s easy to blend, and I just add mascara and go. Lastly, the nail polish is a great neutral shade that is perfect for the summer time. I feel like it is professional and one I can wear to work. It’s a pretty classic color that goes well with my skin tone. These polishes are so cheap, I'm thinking about buying some more!

I haven't used the lotion wipes because I already have some that I haven't gotten to open yet. I have sooo many lotions. I just need to put these in my purse to have on-the-go. I think that the gloss is really sticky but does stay on relatively long. I'm also not sure how I feel about the all over color stick. I don't think it goes well on the lips. I've used it as shadow and a high lighter for my cheeks or collar bone area.

Sadly, my eyeliner pen was dried out when I received it. I think it might be too late to ask for another one. The primer is something I already have and use often, so its nice that I have an extra once I run out. I also had the eye shadow brush, but you can never have enough. This one is wider than the other one I have. I wasn't impressed with the quality of this one, some of the synthetic hairs are longer so I had to trim it down. It was losing a few at the beginning, but has been fine lately. 

I'll post some pictures when I get home. I forgot my camera today. If you want an individual review of any of these products let me know :D

Thanks for stopping by!

New posts coming soon!

Hey guys! Sorry I have been so swamped lately I have not been able to post as much :( I plan on writing at least one (hopefully more) post by Tuesday.

#1 & #2 Elf haul and photos in two posts. I want to post what I ordered along with the set that came with it for free!

#3 full Review of the Stila One Step Bronze that I received in my Birchbox this month, per request.

Pride Parade 2012 Makeup

Hello all! Hope your Wednesday is going well. On the bright side the week is half over! :)

This past Sunday I went to the Pride Parade and decided to wear some colorful makeup. 

The look:

Products used:

To begin, I used my Dr. Jart + - Waterfuse BB Cream (now I'm all out [super sad face]) and my e.l.f. Studio Flawless Finish Foundation that also had SPF 15. I knew I'd be out in the sun for a few hours and needed protection. Next I applied my Urban Decay's Eye Shadow Primer Potion to my eyelids.

I tried to make some kind of rainbow using the colors I had in my e.l.f. Studio Makeup Clutch Palette and my Too Faced World Domination Tour All Access Backstage Beauty Kit (no longer available) that were also in my tie-dyed shirt.

From my e.l.f. palette, I used a shade of green, aqua blue, peach, and pink on my lid. I used a golden yellow on my brow bone and the purple under my lower lash line from the Too Faced kit.

For my eyeliner I used my Marbella: Permanent Eyeliner Pen. I really love this eyeliner, because its long lasting and doesn't smudge. That being said, I did have a really hard time removing it because I put it on thicker for this look. It stained my lids faintly mostly in the outer corner of my eye. When I put on makeup the next day it was hardly noticible. I will add a picture soon. I snapped one but I forgot to bring my camera with me to work. (Yes, I write posts at work since there is nothing else to do. )


I also use my Three Custom Color Specialist - creme to powder blush in "Beige" and the Andrea modlash Starter Kit from the giveaway I won (see post here). You can kind of see that the lash is starting to come off. This picture was taken after I got home from the parade. Sorry about the bad quality, its from my cell phone. 


Let me know what you think of the look :) If you also went to Pride in your city, how did you do your makeup?


As always, thanks for stopping by! 

Nail Dilemma! What should I do?

Hey there!

Recently, I've been trying to grow out my nails. This used to be extremely hard for me, because I bit my nails all the time. During college I was able to stop when I wasn't stressed out (during summer, mostly). Graduate school led me to start biting my nails again and I haven't been able to keep them long enough to look okay painted. I've made so much progress and my nails actually seem somewhat strong. Although I have bent them back on accident at work (ouch!). 

So, back to my dilemma. I really want to learn guitar and my boyfriend finally started teaching me how. I realized that I can't have the nails on my left hand long, because my finger can't properly hold down the string as close as it needs to against the fret. This was so frustrating! Especially because I found a super easy tutorial on panda nail art on WikiHow. 

Here are my nails now:

Right 

Left

Would it look really stupid if my nails were slightly longer on my right hand? I just plan on doing the panda art on my thumb nail of my left hand (since I don't need to use that one) and painting the rest of the nails on that hand black and white. Maybe trying the ombre look, who knows! 

Let me know what you guys think! Thanks for the help in advance!

:)

Check out Sneakpeeq!

Hey there!

If you haven't heard of Sneekpeeq its a site that features some unique boutiques that you can browse, like their Facebook page, and purchase items at a discount. First you take a quiz so they can determine which boutiques you would like best. You don't initially see the prices of the items, but you can "peek" at them and see your discount. You get 20 "peeks" a day.

They have had several different start up gifts during the past few weeks. I joined and was able to get this Dazzling Gems summer cocktail ring. These retail for $37. I definitely would not pay that much, so I was happy to get it for free! Right now for just checking out the site you can get Hearts of Beauty earrings for free, which are a $49 value!

I received my ring with a "lucky gemstone" in orange which represents Joy. They send you a surprise ring, so you don't know the color, size, or material. I was worried that when I got the ring in the mail that it wouldn't fit, but luckily it did! I guess it really was lucky.

I read that some people's fingers turned green after wearing the ring, but thankfully mine hasn't yet. The quality doesn't appear to be very good, but hey it was free. I think its a cute ring and I really like wearing it. Its similar to something I would purchase on my own (maybe in a better quality, though).

I think there are some really great boutiques on the site though and I would recommend checking them out! I really love the vendors that sell purses, home decor, and makeup. If I had more money I'd totally buy from them. The discounts that you get sometimes are mind blowing! You can also earn badges where you get free shipping from some of the vendors or 10-20% off your purchases. These expire however, so you have to use them pretty quickly.

Here is my referral link if you are interested. You get $10 when you join and free shipping on the item they feature for free.

"Get $10 when you sign up for sneakpeeq - Discover emerging designers, artists and food makers! https://www.sneakpeeq.com/r/NTk1Nzk1 "

My first Look Bag: June - Full Contents Review

Sorry that this post is so late. It was extremely difficult for me to find accurate retail pricing for some of these products, because they are no longer available on their manufacturer's sites. I also found some deals on these products, for much cheaper than their asking price. One thing that dissapointed me is that The Look Store does not have a list of the products from this month's bag up yet. You can't even see what was in last month's bag. I was waiting to post this until I had accurate info on the pricing...


Anyway on to additional information about the contents!

#1 - Atopalm: Intensive Moisturizing Cream 
(.25 fl oz/ 8 ml) Worth ~ $2.20
Full size = $30.00 (3.4 fl oz / 100 ml)
NeoPharm is based in Camarillo, CA - Product is made in Korea

"Formulated without the use of parabens, this incredibly rich moisturizing cream is a gentle yet thorough way to replenish hydration. By mimicking natural skin lipids, it is able to replenish lost lipids while simultaneously preventing over-evaporation of the skin’s natural moisture. Finally, Intensive Moisturizing Cream shields the skin against the damage and discomfort associated with environmental stress, leaving the skin feeling fresh, soft, and perfectly comfortable."


Really great for sensitive skin too! I have used this some on my elbows and heels. I haven't seen much of a difference as of yet, but I have not been using it consistently. The sample size is really small, so I was debating about keeping it until the weather gets dry again. 

#2 - Snowberry: Cellular Regeneration Night Cream

.14 fl oz/ 4ml (Worth ~ $11.50)

Full size: 1.7 fl oz is $96.00; .5 is $41.00

Snowberry is based in New Zealand and Product is made in New Zealand

I actually received a "rich day cream" so I'm kind of confused if I should apply it at night or in the morning. This was one product I really wanted to check out on their site to see if I received the wrong one.

I watched another members video on youtube and she mentioned that this product was $159. I do not know where she got that price from, but the online stores that sell this product (linked directly from Snowberry) all have $41 or 95 depending on the size of the bottle. Maybe the night cream is actually $159. The pricing above is for the day cream.

"Designed for normal to dry skin, the Rich Day Cream is a powerful and highly absorbable anti-aging formula that nourishes, smoothes, moisturises and revitalises.

• Helps to smooth, restructure and hydrate the epidermis.

• Contains Mycosoprin Extract that clinical trials have shown assists to protect the skin from possible per-oxidation via UVA and environmental pollutants

• Helps to maintain healthy skin ecology

• Helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles

• Contains Superoxide dismutase that clinical trials have shown assists the natural production of Collagen, Elastins, Fibronectins, Keratinocytes and hyaluronic acids.

• Increases moisturisation and cellular hydration.

• Non Irritant (Occular & Dermal Tested)

• Non Sensitising

• Significant skin moisturisation improvement activity of 39.64%

• Anti-free radical activity (3D test)"

• pH Balanced
• Botanical Ingredients
• Paraben Free
• Clinically and allegery tested; non-irritating                       

Our formulators were inspired by sensual botanical ingredients and the challenge of creating a healthier body crème with the potential to make skin appear younger and evoke delight and desire.

For centuries, vanilla has been considered an aphrodisiac and in studies men associate its scent with Love."


It does a lot of great stuff so I can't wait to actually try it! You can find products at thelookstore.com or thedermstore.com.

#3 - Korres: Eyeshadow in Golden Green (Full Size)

full size 1.8g/0.06oz for $5-18 depending on the site.
Korres products are made in Greece.

This color kind of looks like a poop green just in the case, but it really is a golden green shade (see picture below). It blends together nicely and applies smoothly and evenly. The packaging is very simplistic. The brand isn't stapled on the top, it just says Athens, where this product is manufactured. From some research online, Korres is really passionate about using only natural and organic ingredients in their skincare products. 

Swatched on my arm. 

#4 - Prescriptives: Lip and Eye Pencil Sharpener
Full size for $1.50-5, again depending on the site. 

Again, I had a tough time finding this product online. It is not listed on their site under makeup accessories. It used to be at Macy's but is no longer there. This company has been around since 1979, where they targeted "custom colors for women," but has only recently   (2011) "refreshed" their products. Their products are sold exclusively online now. 

#5 - Naked Princess: Body Souffle in Vanille Blanc (Personal product based off my Beauty Profile)

.92 fl oz/26 ml worth ~ $9.00

$55.00 for 5.6 fl oz/ 166 ml
Naked Princess Worldwide LLC is based in Beverly Hills, CA - Product is made in the USA.

"A luxurious vitamin-rich body crème formulated to hydrate, nourish & pamper skin.

Inspiration:

It's nice that I got lotion for my personal product, since I love any kind of lotion, but since this whole bag had skin care products, it would have been nice to get something else. Other people got lip gloss or lip liner.
I can't smell too much of the vanilla, but it does have a nice scent. I haven't used it much yet, since I have so many different kinds of lotions. 

Overall Verdict:
I will give the Look Bag another month or so, but I have to cut down on one of my subscriptions in September, so this one might be it. Nothing against the Look Bag, I just need to save money. What did you get in your Look Bag for your personal product? How did you like this month's bag?


Video:
Again here is the link to my video :) Sorry that for some reason none of the items will focus on my camera.. :/




Thanks for stopping by! :)