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Play! By Sephora Review March 2017!

March 30, 2017

Hi everyone!

It’s almost the end of March and I have a review for the Play! by Sephora box. In case you haven’t heard, this is a monthly $10 curated subscription box featuring samples of different brands available at Sephora. You also get a bag with your products inside that display cute catchy phrases.

The theme for this month was The Gleam Team, featuring products with “high-wattage shimmer to a natural gleam that redefine shine.” If you’re anything like me and you’ve visited the Sephora website recently, you’ll see that highlighting products are trending, making this bag a perfect fit.

Let’s take a look at how these products performed.

Benefit Cosmetics Watt’s Up! Cream to Powder Highlighter

This easy to apply cream-to-powder highlighter “dials up the radiance to any complexion”. The twist up format makes it perfect for on the go. I received this product a few years ago as part of the free Sephora birthday gift (I think?). It’s a champagne tinged highlighter that blends in nicely to skin but while I do like it, it’s not an absolute must have for me.

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Pink

Super creamy and waterproof, Bobbi Brown’s eyeshadow stick is a shimmering peach pink shade that can be worn on the browbones and inner corners of your eyes for a hint of brilliance. It’s also said to be crease and flake-fee wear. Guys, they’re not joking when they say shimmering. This product doesn’t just have a sheen, it has full on shimmer particles that are visible a mile away. And that’s really not a bad thing with this type of product, especially if you want to brighten up your eyes. It’s a gorgeous shade and with a great primer, does not budge.

Top to Bottom: Benefit Watt’s Up Highlighter and Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick Golden Pink

GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer in Nude Glow

A two-in-one moisturizer and luminzer that hydrates, blurs, and enhances any complexion with a lit-from-within finish. It can be worn alone or layered under foundation. The first thing that stood out with this product is the scent. It has a very strong sweet scent that I personally don’t mind and I can’t smell it after I put it on. I tried using it as a stand alone product, but it’s way too sheer to cover up my redness. It works well under makeup and does give a beautiful glow, but $49 for the full-size is a bit steep and I have other similar products that do a similar job just fine.

Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm

This makeup and skincare hybrid has a whipped formula that gives skin a, “soft-focus luminosity whether you use it as a primer or for a finishing touch.” I’ll admit when I first saw this product, I was hesitant to try it out as I have combination skin and the consistency appeared thick and heavy. As soon as I dabbed a bit on my finger, it had a silky texture and wasn’t thick like I had anticipated. Unfortunately, this didn’t do much in terms of providing a glow factor. Whether I wore foundation over it or applied it on top of my cheeekbones, the sheen disappeared as if I had not applied anything on.

Top to Bottom: GlamGlow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer in Nude Glow and Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm

Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast

Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast is a weightless spray that delivers, “long-lasting volume and texture for thicker, fuller-looking hair that is silky soft.” The spray can also double as a style refresher, thanks to an oil controlling blend of ultra-lightweight powders that absorb dirt and impurities. I have naturally curly hair that needs no extra volume thank you very much. However, when I straighten my hair, it usually looses some of the volume so products like this come in handy. I prefer to use this as a style refresher as it does a good job at absorbing oil and imparts a nice clean scent.

Chloe Fluer de Parfum

I was pretty happy to see a fragrance from Chloe as at first glance I thought it was Love Story. To my dismay, as soon as I spritzed it, I realized my mistake. This fragrance is a floral blend with notes of absolute verbena, freesia, rose, cherry blossom, bitter almond and amber. The dominant note here is rose and while I do love that scent, this was just way too overpowering for me when mixed with the other scents.

Overall, this was another great box from Sephora. I can’t wait for next month. 🙂

What are your favorite products to get your glow on or are you over the highlighting trend?

October 2016 Favorites!

October 27, 2016

Happy Thursday everyone!

October is coming to a rapid end so here’s some products that have gotten me through with stellar results. Take a look!

L’Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion in C3

Words can’t express how much I really love this cushion BB cream. It provides a natural “my skin but better” look and leaves behind a nice glow that is not overwhelming. One of my go-to products for practically any given day.

Too Faced Lip Injection Glossy in Milkshake

Included in the Too Faced Naughty Kisses and Sweet Cheeks holiday set, I’m pretty obsessed with these lip glosses. With just the right amount of shine, I love the plumping effect of this gloss and they last a pretty good while.

It’s a 10 Miracle Shampoo plus Keratin

Pretty much my holy grail shampoo at the moment! Finding a shampoo that does not make my scalp or skin itchy is painstakingly difficult. This sulfate free, sodium chloride free, paraben free, keratin protein infused shampoo lathers nicely, cleans my hair without feeling harsh, smoothes my curly and often times unruly hair and the best part? No irritation.

Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask

Basically the only worthy product included in my Birchbox box this month, I like using this mask in the shower to gently exfoliate my skin. Although it’s compared to a traditional peel, I disagree. I can’t see the levels of willow bark and pomegranate enzymes these have but it doesn’t appear to be too concentrated as I felt no activity once I placed it on. I like this for cooler weather at the moment because it provides hydration without feeling heavy.

Clinique Nude Pop Cheek Pop Blush

This blush is one of my favorites for a reason. It provides both a natural look and finish and is perfect when you want to look put together in a jiffy. It blends seamlessly onto skin.

Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel

Look no further than this product when you need to groom and define your eyebrows stat! Since this has a spoolie like application, a few quick strokes helps fill in sparse gaps and brush them at the same time to save you time.

What are your favorites this month?

Stephanie

Play! By Sephora Unboxing October 2016!

October 25, 2016

Hi everyone!

I have a look into the October Play! By Sephora box. In case you don’t know, this is a monthly $10 curated subscription box featuring samples of different brands available at Sephora. The theme for this month is The Cool Cut, with products that truly stand out from the crowd and destined to become mainstream with breakthrough formulas.

How cute is this Lipstix and Chill bag?!

Let’s get into the rest of the contents!

Skin Inc Pure Revival Peel

An advanced, non-abrasive peel that is supposed to gently exfoliate skin to reveal a bright and renewed complexion. The active ingredient is AC-11, which is derived from cat’s claw and helps gently exfoliate. As an esthetician, I have a different expectation for a peel. Personally, I didn’t see a difference with this at all and it actually left behind a sticky feel and residue. Not impressed at all.

Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil

A conditioning hair mask that strengthens strands while enhancing color and shine. The unique ingredient in this is prickly pear oil that comes from the seeds and contains over 80% fatty acids that provides an unparalleled amount of deep nurturing oils to hair. This mask it quite thick and has an interesting smell. When I used this mask, I found that it did leave hair shiny but it didn’t have a conditioning effect as I assumed it would. It does not state that it’s supposed to condition hair so it’s best to mix in your own conditioner with this mask to get knots out.

Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Driver’s Seat

This matte liquid lipstick claims to last 8 hours and have a water-resistant, non-feathering formula. Jojoba, apricot and sunflower oils are included to provide a non-drying finish. The shade I received was Driver’s Seat which is described as a warm pink however I kind of find it to be a terracotta-red type shade. The shade is gorgeous and it is highly pigmented. This does come off when drinking and eating food and I do find this formula drying to lips. If you’re looking for a true matte liquid lipstick, then definitely check this one out.

Blinc Mascara Amplified

What makes this mascara special is the innovative “tube technology” that coats lashes with easy-to-remove, tiny water-resistant tubes that won’t run, smudge or flake. Removing this mascara is simple as you only need warm water and a cotton round or ball to remove. I’ve used this mascara before as part of my simple makeup routine and I love it for a natural look. I find that it doesn’t provide much volume though.

Belief The True Cream Aqua Bomb

This South Korean skincare brand is made with Scottish botanicals and based on the research of Duncan Napier, a Victorian botanist from Edinburgh. This lightweight gel-cream is meant to tighten the look of skin and sink in for a smooth, supple feel. It can also be used as a mask and tissued off after 5 minutes. I love the feel of this cream and it does feel very lightweight and refreshing when applied. However, I did notice that as I was using this, my face started to breakout. I’ve discontinued use and will try again to see if this was the source of my breakouts.

Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris

Inspired by a love for the sophistication and allure of Paris, this scent layers fruity and floral notes over a musky base. It contains notes of bergamot, pear, raspberry jasmine, musk and patchouli. My sense of smell hasn’t been the best so I haven’t tried this one yet but I will update this once I’ve had a chance to give it a fair try.

Overall, I’m happy with this month’s box and look forward to receiving November’s.

What did you get in your box this month?

Stephanie

September Birchbox Unboxing 2016!

September 22, 2016

Hi everyone! The last subscription box of the month is here and this month’s theme was all about multitaskers.

Take a look below to see what I received!

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

A creamy cleanser that sweeps away dirt and makeup while gently exfoliating. This product was paired with a muslin cloth to aid in the removal of it, although you can remove it separately. First off, I really love how this product feels- so very creamy and luxurious. However, it did leave a film behind and although I tried to remove it with a different cleanser, it never really went away. It kind of made me breakout a little too. I will try this again once the weather cools down.

Coola Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer

An eco-friendly, lightweight sunscreen that has a cucumber scent. This is a chemical sunscreen that has antioxidants like evening primrose oil and acai which are a nice addition. It doesn’t feel heavy at all but as much as I like Coola products, I’ve been receiving them a lot lately and would love to explore other brands.

Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Perk

This lip and cheek stick melt on contact with body heat for sheer, buildable color. The sheer coral shade is a great option as a cheek color or lip shade. I prefer to use it as a cheek shade and it goes on nicely and blends out evenly. I will be trying this out further to see if it causes breakouts or not.

Oribe Glaze for Beautiful Color

A lightweight formula that protects and adds gloss to hair ans strengthens and nourishes hair with watermelon, lychee and edelweiss. I’m a fan of a few Oribe products so I was curious to see how this worked since I have color treated hair. This did make my hair feel softer and left a nice, glossy sheen behind. However, most Oribe in shower products cause a little bit of a reaction on me and this made me slightly itchy. I might just use it sporadically to minimize the reaction time as I was impressed with the results.

Bonus: Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner for Beautiful Color

While I really like the Oribe shampoos and conditioners (hello amazing scent and lovely feel!), I do seem to have a reaction to them as my hair and body start to itch. I decided to hold off on these as I tried the Oribe glaze and didn’t want to increase the risk for a reaction.

Tocca Florence Eau de Parfum

Notes of grapefruit, bergamot, jasmine, blue iris, blonde wood and white musk make up this scent. Unfortunately, this was a no-go for me as the scent of jasmine was a bit overwhelming.

Overall, this box was just okay. I could do without the perfume and while I appreciate the sunscreen, I have plenty samples to last me a while.

What do you think of this month’s Birchbox? Will you be keeping your subscription?

Stephanie

July Birchbox Unboxing 2016!

July 21, 2016

Hi everyone! Thursday is finally here and I don’t know about you, but this week felt pretty long.

So, Birchbox arrives awhile back so if you’re interested in seeing what I got, keep reading!

MDSolarSciences Mineral Creme SPF 50 Broad Spectrum UVA-UVB Sunscreen

This sunscreen is safe for acne and rosacea-prone skin and has a silky formula that absorbs quickly without leaving a white cast or greasy sheen. I’ve tried my fair share of sunscreens and I can confidently say that this formula is unique and unlike anything I’ve ever tried. It feels almost silicone-like and it blends in very easily in the skin. No breakouts so far and I’d be inclined to purchase this in the future.

Rene Furterer Karinga Hydrating Styling Cream

A silicone-free styling cream that is said to utilize 100% natural active ingredients to combat frizz, static and dry hair. I haven’t got around to tying this one but I’ve tried something similar from this line and it was okay but not my holy grail.

dr. brandt PoreDermabrassion

An exfoliator that contains, salicylic acid to unclog pores, caviar lime to brighten and lentil seed to strengthen and tighten pore walls. I’ve been curious to try this product for a good minute and I was excited to see this in my box. It’s a cream-like exfoliator that has tiny abrasive particles to scrub away dead skin cells. While I didn’t see a a huge difference in my pore size, my face definitely felt and looked smoother.

Marcelle Xtension Plus Curl Mascara

Describes as. “a hypoallergenic mascara that curls even the tiniest of lashes for a doe-eyed look,” I really ended up liking this mascara. It didn’t seem to irritate my eyes and I noticed that it fanned out my lashes in a nice and natural way. I will definitely continue to try this one out.

Comptoir Sud Pacifique

A best selling fragrance, this combines a tropical blend of Tahitian vanilla, jackfruit, and apricot. One of the first fragrance samples that I’ve actually liked from Birchbox. This fragrance is on the sweet side but I feel you can layer it under other fragrances to balance them out. I wouldn’t mind wearing this on its own but I’ll be testing this with my Jo Malone fragrances I have and see how that works.

Overall, I thought this box was good. Unfortunately, this may be my last box as I’ve accumulated a lot of samples that I feel like I may need to take a break for a while.

What did you think of this box? Are you looking give Birchbox a try or are you thinking of cancelling?

Stephanie

Play! By Sephora Unboxing May 2016!

May 24, 2016

Hi everyone!

I was recently scratched off the waiting list for the monthly Play! By Sephora subscription box and couldn’t resist giving it a try. This box is $10 a month where you receive 6 deluxe size samples from prestige brands. This is a curated box so you can’t choose what to receive but with so many amazing brands carried at Sephora, you’re bound to receive something you like.

Let’s take a look at what’s inside!

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Kimchi

The Amuse Bouche Lipstick is a new formulation for Bite Beauty that, “provides saturated lip color with weightless coverage and a citrus flavor made from fresh pressed fruit.” I really love the citrus scent to this and the shade Kimchi is described as a shocking pink. You can tone down the shade by blotting down and applying some lip balm.

Korres Wild Rose Sleeping Facial

This is an overnight mask that is supposed to moisturize and brighten the skin thanks to the vitamin C found on here. I had a bad experience with the Korres Greek Yoghurt line so I am a little scared to try this one. My skin has been a little bit more oily so I may save this for when it’s feeling dry.

Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine

Notes of blood orange and geranium are found in this scent that is supposed to bring to mind relaxed mornings, sunrises, and soft sea breezes. It’s classified as zesty, energizing and playful. I’ve spritzed this a few times but I can’t seem to bring myself to love it. It’s a bit overpowering and not really my type of scent.

Top-Bottom: Bite Beauty Kimchi and Tarte Lip Crayon in Latergram

Here’s a swatch of Kimichi and Latergram. (See below for description of Latergram).

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

I was excited to see this mask as it was included in a previous Birchbox and I really loved how soft and manageable this made my hair. Read my review here.

Tarte Tartiest Lip Crayon in Latergram

This is a mauve colored retractable lip pencil that has a matte finish. It’s purpose is to help prime and line lips for a perfectly contoured look. Personally, I haven’t jumped on the lip contour trend and as of now, I don’t plan to. However, the staying power on this lip liner is incredible and it’s highly pigmented.

Origins Maskimizer + Drink Up and Clear Improvement Masks

I haven’t had an opportunity to try these yet but basically it’s a kit that has a charcoal mask for deep cleansing, a hydrating mask for moisturizing and a primer for the face mask that’s supposed to help it work better. I’m a little bit skeptical of the primer as it’s only ingredient is a marine algae complex and it may work good for hydrating but not necessarily help the mask work better.

So far, I’m happy with this subscription box! 🙂

What are your thoughts on Play! By Sephora?

Stephanie

April Favorites 2016!

April 28, 2016

Hello everyone! We’re a few days shy of the end of April and I’ve got a great collection of items to share so let’s get started!

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Double Dare

One of the items I picked up at the Sephora sale, I can’t get over this beautiful shade. If you’re in the market for a great liquid lipstick, pick this one up, if you can find it.

Colour Pop Ultra Satin Lip in Echo Park

If you’re looking for an affordable liquid lipstick, then Colour Pop is your brand. At $6, this warm peachy nude applies smoothly and surprisingly lasts even though it’s not a matte formula. It does come off as it never fully dries and I did find this to be on the drying side but lip balm underneath helps.

The Estee Edit by Estee Lauder The Barest Lip Color in So Bare

A collection I initially dismissed, I’m glad I went back to take a closer look. A lipstick/lip balm hybrid, this feels creamy, hydrating and imparts good pigmentation

Lancome Juicy Shaker in 252 Vanilla Pop

Lancome’s newest take on the original Juicy Tubes, this lip oil is unique. You shake the bottle to mix the lip oils and pigments to create a nice, albeit sheer, wash of color. The applicator is a stubby sponge attached to the cap which feels plush and melts the product onto your lips. This product gets addicting so you have been warned. 😉

L’Oreal True Match Lumi Cushion in C3

I was a fan of the Laneige BB Cushion Compact so I wanted to give this one a try. This does give a nice luminous look to skin that doesn’t feel heavy. I’m not a big fan of the sponge that’s included so I use my beauty blender to apply the product. Overall, I’m happy with this one.

Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation #3

I requested a sample of this foundation at the Charlotte Tilbury counter and this one is pretty much perfection. It’s light-weight and provides enough coverage for me where it doesn’t look cakey and covers up my redness. I was worried that this would be to glowy for my combination skin but so far it gives a nice sheen without looking like an oily mess.

Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze and Glow

Another iconic item from Charotte Tilbury, I had to pick up this Film Star Bronze and Glow palette after one of the makeup artists tried it on me. I will say that the Sculpt shade is lighter than expected but it sculpts cheek bones in a not-so-obvious way. It blends in pretty nicely too. The highlighter is also not that obvious looking but adds a subtle ethereal glow.

Becca Mineral Blush in Wild Honey

I love using this blush as it blends effortlessly and looks great applied over bronzer. It’s not matte and has small shimmer particles but when it’s on me, it looks a bit matte.

Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzer

A perfect shade for sculpting and contouring, I’m only sad I didn’t try this sooner. Love that the color is dark enough to define cheekbones but not overpowering. I use this instead of the CT Sculpt shade when I want more definition.

Renee Rouleau Soothing Eye Makeup Remover

I received this when Renee was in town and I have to say that this did not irritate my sensitive eyes. Sometimes certain makeup remover wipes or formulas sting my eyes but this one was very gentle with no burning feeling. It did well in removing minimal eye makeup but I had to use something more oil based if I had heavier eye makeup.

Skin Script Glycolic Cleanser

I ordered a few samples of these and boy these are very active products. Containing 17% glycolic acid, I use this about twice a week when I’m experiencing some breakouts. It’s also doubling as my beauty blender cleanser as it effectively removes all the gunk that accumulates on it.

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

I’ve been impressed by this hair mask. As soon as I apply this, it leaves my color treated hair softer and smoother feeling.

Govino Go-Anywhere Carafe and Water Glass Set

I know this is missing from the main picture, but I didn’t have it with me at the time. I received this carafe and water glass set in my March PopSugar Must Have Box and since I’ve kept it with me at work, I’ve been staying way more hydrated than I normally do. The carafe is 28 oz and I refill it a few times a day. I also love the fact that it’s easy to store and doesn’t take up too much space as you can place the water glass upside down on top of the carafe.

Please let me know your favorites this month and if you’d want a full review of any of these products!

Stephanie

March Favorites 2016!

March 31, 2016

It’s the end of March guys! Can you believe it? This means it’s time to see what my favorite products of this month were. Let’s get started!

Laneige BB Cushion

I received this sample in a Target Beauty Box and I absolutely love the finish it provides. It’s enough to cover up my redness while still maintaining a natural and satin look. It’s a bit pricey so I’d love to try out the L’Oreal one too and see how it compares.

IPKN Flash Cream Radiant Primer

This product was included in my January Birchbox and while it wasn’t initially my favorite back then, I tried this on when my skin looked a little lackluster and it gave such a pretty glow. I’m still not a fan of the scent, but this is a nice, subtle product to use when you need a bit of a pick me up.

NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Apple Dumpling

Another Spring 2016 shade that I picked up at the NYX store, I love how pigmented these glosses are as well as inexpensive. You literally can just swipe this on and go as you’ll get opaque coverage with a glossy finish.

Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm

There’s always room for a lip balm and I really love this one. The formula is thick but spreads easily without feeling goopy on the lips. It nourishes skin and helps keep them feeling soft and hydrated.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette

I’m in love with the creamy pigmentation of this formula as well as the neutral colors. For a full review, click here.

Above is a swatch for NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Apple Dumpling.

beautyblender

I purchased this last year and while I used it here and there, it’s been pretty much on the back burner until now. I’ve been using the beautyblender regularly and there’s no cakey foundation here. It really helps to blend everything in.

Dermalogica Hydrablur Primer

I picked this up when I went to the Dermalogica Headquarters and I’m so happy I did. Although I don’t experience much hydration from this, it really smooths out my skin’s surface and helps minimize the appearance of my pores. Definitely provides a smooth canvas to work off of.

Joico Color Balance Blue Shampoo

A few weeks ago I dyed my hair and got highlights. I was advised to buy a shampoo that would help prevent a brassy hue and after visiting my local beauty supply store, I found this shampoo. It’s supposed to neutralize brassy/orange tones to maintain lightened or highlighted brown hair. It literally lathers up blue and kind of stains your hands with a blue shade. It reminds me of that scene in Bride Wars where Kate Hudson’s hair turns out blue. Fortunately, this does rinse off clean and after a minute or two, the color washes off from your hands-no need to wrap your hair with a shirt or book an emergency appointment with your hairstylist. So far, so good.

Here’s a picture of my highlighted hair though it’s a bit lighter now.

What are your March favorites?

Stephanie

Best of Beauty 2105 Part II: Skincare and Hair Products!

January 7, 2016

Welcome back to part II of my Best of Beauty 2015 segment where I’ll be covering skincare and hair products I’ve enjoyed throughout the year. Let’s get to it. 🙂

Skincare

Cleanser

Monarch Beauty Herbal Milky Cleanser

Love using this creamy cleanser when my skin is dry and it also doubles as a makeup remover.

Renee Rouleau Purifying Face Wash

This unscented cleanser deep cleans skin without leaving skin stripped of moisture and will last you a long time.

Toner

Monarch Beauty Transforming Toner

A soothing mist integrating green tea and chamomile that helps calm skin and restore skin’s pH levels.

Rhonda Allison Cucumber Spritz

A light toner that is perfect to take on the go to refresh and hydrate skin.

Facial Moisturizer

Skin Script Cacteen Balancing Moisturizer

This medium-weight moisturizer contains prickly pear cactus to help heal and is rich on olive oil fatty acids that help retain moisture in the skin.

HydroPeptide Power Lift Advanced Ultra-Rich Moisturizer

When my skin needs a little bit of extra moisture, this one is perfect to use as the thicker consistency glides on skin without making me breakout.

Eye Cream

SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair

The fast absorbing and light texture makes this easy to work with plus the blend of peptides, retinol and vitamin C and E help firm, brighten and smooth the eye area.

Renee Rouleau Total Eye Repair

Another fast-absorbing eye cream that contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin and works very well under makeup and concealer.

Exfoliator

Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

One of my favorite go-to exfoliators, this contains several acids and enzymes to exfoliate skin while cinnamon helps blood circulation.

Sunscreen

Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50

This product streamlines my morning skincare routine as it’s a moisturizer and sunscreen in 1.

Mask

Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Masque

Perfect for spot treating, this has kaolin and bentonite clays to this soak up extra oil and salicylic acid to treat breakouts.

Body Moisturizers

Skinfix Ultra Rich Body Butter

An unscented moisturizer that absorbs quickly and allows you to customize it with your favorite essential oil.

Lush Cosmetics Charity Pot

Another great moisturizer that helps lock in moisture and the ylang ylang cocoa butter scent is soothing.

Hair

Shampoo

Acure Organics Repairing Shampoo Moroccan Argan Stem Oil + Argan Oil

I received a sample of this in a Target Beauty Box and I really liked how it cleans hair without taking away too much moisture-crucial for curly hair!

Tessa Water Colors Shampoo in Molten Bronze

Love using this color depositing shampoo about every week or so to help refresh my hair color.

Conditioner

Nelson J Beverly Hills Argan Oil 7 Moisture Healing Mask

This hair mask helps smooth out the frizz factor from my curly hair and makes detangling easy.

Dry Shampoo

Bumble and bumble Pret a Powder

This travel sized option quickly blends into the hair, absorbing any excess oil.

Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk

Fairly unscented, this also helps absorb extra oil in hair without leaving behind a white residue.

Shine Spray

Dry Bar Sparkling Soda Shine Mist

Adding shine to hair is very easy with this portable spray and it leaves hair smelling amazing.

Heat Protectant

Treseme Keratin Smooth Flat Iron Smoothing Spray

The best affordable heat protectant spray that makes straightening my hair easier and leaves it smooth and shiny.

Are any of these your favorites too? Let me know in the comments below!

Stephanie

December Birchbox Unboxing 2015!

December 17, 2015

Happy Thursday everyone! December’s Birchbox is in so let’s get to it! 🙂

Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk

For a few years now, I have been wanting to try out this dry shampoo so when I saw it was included, I was happy. After trying it though, I found it to be sticky and it doesn’t have a scent per se but still smells kind of odd, if that makes sense. Not my favorite dry shampoo yet but I’ll give it another shot. Bonus points for not leaving a white residue behind.

JUARA Coconut Illipe Hand and Nail Balm

This balm is supposed to hydrate, firm and plump hands as well as improve nails and cuticles and with this cold weather, it was good to put it to the test. It is fast-absorbing but not as hydrating sometimes as I would like. The scent reminds me of the beach so it’s a nice little pick me up during the afternoon.

Harvey Prince Sea Salt Texturizing Mist

I’ve seen this in multiple beauty blogs and I’m glad it was included. It has a citrusy, floral-esque scent and it gives a nice, beach-like texture to my ends when I flat iron my hair. Would definitely invest in the full size bottle.

Coastal Scents styleEYES Eyeshadow Palette- socialEYES

This month’s sample was an eyeshadow quad from Coastal Scents. While I love the colors, a vibrant turquoise and lovely gold, I will be giving this one away, hence the reason for no swatches.

theBalm Cosmetics FratBoy

You gotta love the packaging on theBalm Cosmetics and the nifty names they come up with. Again, the color looks lovely but I will also be giving this one away as I have colors that look similar. Although I am not entirely fond of the size of the sample-it looks like it would be an eyeshadow sample-my previous experience with their blushes was great so I am sure this is no different.

Overall, this was a good box filled with items I have been eyeing for a while now.

What’s your opinion on this month’s box?

Stephanie