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PopSugar Must Have Box Unboxing April 2016!

April 21, 2016

Happy Thursday everyone! Subscription box week continues with April’s PopSugar box! This monthly box includes items that range from fashion, beauty, home, fitness and food, making it a well rounded subscription box. All items are full size and valued at over $100. This box is$39.95 per month while the new PopSugar mini box is $18.95.

Take a look at what’s inside!

Chrissy Tiegen’s Cravings: Recipes For All the Food You Want to Eat, $29.99

A cookbook from supermodel Chrissy Teigen that features craveable concoctions including some of John Legend’s top picks. I’ve flipped through the pages and this cookbook does not disappoint with recipes including Sweet Chili & Mustard Glazed Salmon and John’s Crispy Roasted Potatoes. Yum!

Canvas Home Tinware Salt & Pepper Shakers, $12

These vintage-looking hand glazed salt and pepper shakers are from the Canvas Home’s bestselling Tinware collection. They are super cute and antique looking.

Noon Design Shop “Lemons” Flour Sack Tea Towel, $18

A handmade supersoft towel that is made in the US and gets better with every wash. A dish towel is always welcome and will come handy.

Next By Nature Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans, $3.99

“These dark chocolate espresso bites are a natural alternative to your favorite candy-free of gluten, corn syrup, and preservatives, they are a healthier way to satisfy your sweet tooth.” I ‘ll take dark chocolate covered espresso beans any time and these ones are delish! I can satisfy my cravings without indulging in The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf’s Black Forest drink.

Royal Apothic Field Poppy Conservatories Hand Creme, $24

Inspired by recipes from an antique apothecaries manual, this rich hand cream has notes of fig, tea, jasmine, lily, moss and leaf. I found this hand creme to smell a bit more on the masculine side, sort of like Giorgio Armani’s Acqua di Gio. I do like the scent but I’m not sure I’d want it for a hand cream.

Bloom That $20 Gift Card

A special extra, this gift card can be used to treat yourself or a loved one to beautiful floral arrangements. It feel this will come in handy as Mother’s Day is just around the corner.

Farmacy Sleep Tight Firming Night Balm, $48

Applying this lightweight balm before going to sleep will transform into a gentle oil gel to replenish and nourish skin overnight. I have yet to try this item but it seems interesting.

I’m happy with this month’s box, especially the cookbook. Can’t wait to try out the recipes. 🙂

What did you think of this month’s box?

Stephanie

April Birchbox Unboxing 2016!

April 19, 2016

Happy Tuesday everyone! April’s Birchbox is in and I have to say that this month’s box design is gorgeous. Very spring and elegant. 🙂

Scroll on down to see what’s inside!

amika Silken Up Dry Conditioner

This dry conditioner detangles and softens strands to “make them manageable and lustrous.” I was very happy to see that my box included an amika product. This product smells so good. Hard to describe but it says Sea Buckthorn Berry so I’m guessing it smells like that. When I use it on straight hair it tames the frizz a bit but I didn’t notice any added shine. On curly hair, it didn’t make much of a difference except make my hair smell nice.

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

An ultrahydrating mask with avocado, sweet almond and argan oils to condition and strengthen hair. It also has a blend of vitamins B5, D, A, E and biotin to repair damaged hair. This was the sample I choose for this month’s box since I am looking for a good deep conditioner now that my hair is lighter. I’ve only used this once but I was very impressed with how smooth and soft my hair felt. If this works out, I wouldn’t mind purchasing the full-size.

rms beauty The Ultimate Makeup Remover Wipes

These makeup remover wipes are made with, “pure, naturally antibacterial coconut oil, which melts away even the most stubborn makeup.” The coconut scent on these is very prevalent and reminds me a a coconut popsicle. Unfortunately, the scent is the only thing I liked about these. The wipes felt a little dry and hardly removed my mascara. Since they were a bit dry, they felt abrasive and rough. I’ve heard great things about rms beauty but this just didn’t work for me.

The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick- Guava Nice Day

A lip crayon offers a tint of color that “features hydrating, good-for-you ingredients,” like sweet almond oil. Another great smelling product that features a nice spring summer lip color. The lasting power on this is decent though I like to put on a little bit of lip balm underneath so that it applies smoothly; otherwise, it will cling to dry patches.

A swatch of PBJ Smoothie Stick in Guava Nice Day

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream- Lavender

A shea butter, green tea, coconut oil and jojoba seed oil shaving cream that is infused with a lavender scent. The lavender scent on this is not really my favorite as it smells kind of artificial. It spreads evenly though, has a smoother glide due to the oils and does leave skin a bit hydrated, which is great for summer time.

Overall, I was happy with this month’s box. They also included a discount coupon for Rifle Paper Co and I’ll definitely be checking that out as the designs are pretty.

What was your favorite item in this month’s box?

Stephanie

Ben Nye Luxury Banana Powder Review!

April 5, 2016

Happy Tuesday everyone! I’m bringing you another review on a cult classic product within the makeup and beauty blogger/vlogger community: Ben Nye Luxury Banana Powder! This powder generated a mass following after it was discovered that Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist used this on her. Does this powder live up to the hype? Take a look!

Ben Nye Luxury Powder in Banana

Described as, a ” silky-fine, mattifying translucent setting powder. The versatile Banana shade suits a range of skin tones as it softly and subtly color corrects surface redness and pink undertones, as well as neutralizes blue under eye circles. Each one is specially formulated to absorb excess oil and soften the appearance of pores and texture.”

Pros

Multiple sizes available

Sifter included with 3oz (avoids cross contamination)

Nixes shine

Finely milled and soft

Subtly smooths skin’s appearance

Fragrance free

All sizes will last you a long time

Cons

A tad costly but you receive a lot of product for the cost

Accentuates dry areas

Contains talc

You need a container/tissue to pour the contents onto first

Settled around eye area

A bit messy

Overall: I like this product however it is not my holy grail must have. I have a bit of discoloration under my eyes and I didn’t notice the neutralizing effects but rather the powder accentuated dryness. If you can’t tolerate talc, definitely stay away from this product. As for this product being used as a highlighter, it could work for darker skin tones. I prefer my face makeup to look as natural as possible so I skipped the ‘baking’ trend commonly used with this powder. I appreciate the fact that this powder is soft and finely milled so it doesn’t feel heavy and it does a nice job of providing a soft focus look to my skin. I have combination skin so this nixed the shine in my T-Zone area, though after a few hours, the shine peeked through. Not sure I would purchase again as it didn’t do anything special that my Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder however it’s a good product to try to see how it will work out for you. Oh, and thankfully, this does not smell like bananas, haha.

Do you love the Ben Nye Banana Powder? Comment below!

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

PopSugar Must Have Unboxing March 2016!

March 24, 2016

Hi guys! March’s PopSugar Must Have box has arrived and if you haven’t heard of this it’s a monthly box whose items range from fashion, beauty, home, fitness and food, making it a well rounded subscription box. All items are full size and valued at over $100. Subscriptions range from $18.95-$39.95.

Take a look at this month’s inspiration plus the contents inside!

Inspiration behind March’s box.

Hello Extra Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste, $4.49

This toothpaste is peroxide and preservative-free, vegan, packaged in a recyclable carton, and made in the USA, making it good for you and the earth. I’ve received samples of the Hello toothpaste in one of my Target Beauty Boxes and I liked it. Will try this soon.

Govino Go-Anywhere Carafe and Water Glass Set, $14.95

Made from BPA-free polymer, this carafe and glass stylishly helps you hit your daily water intake goal. It resembles fine crystal but is shatterproof, making it easy to take it anywhere you go. Picnic anyone?

Goodie Girl Cookies Toffee Chaos, $4.99

Toffee and chocolate cookies. Need I say more? Oh, they are also gluten-free, made with kosher dairy and sans peanuts, and have a low fat, sugar and calorie content. Share at your discretion. 😉

Miss Ivy Pearl Five-Tassel Necklace, $38

This necklace is minimal enough to be worn with other beachy baubles or alone. I love the color but am not a huge fan of tassels. We’ll see if I can make this work.

Nanette Nanette Lepore Classic Rose Gold Watch, $55

For lovers of the rose gold trend (me!), this watch exclusively designed for PopSugar features a neutral strap that makes it easy to pair with all of your favorite outfits. So glad this one was included. *Swoon.*

LOLA Gift Card (Special Extra), $10

A gift card that provides a free box of tampons made with 100 percent cotton. Not sure if I need a subscription box for feminine products but I’ll keep it in mind.

Pixi by Petra Book of Beauty, Minimal Makeup, $24

A beauty kit that has two highlighters, two cheek tints, and four eyeshadows. It’s your secret weapon to create the perfect “no makeup” look that will enhance your natural glow and eliminate the guesswork from your daily beauty routine. As pretty as this looks, I will be gifting this away as I already have similar colors.

That’s it for this month’s box. It’s not my absolute favorite box from PopSugar, but I love the watch that was included so no loss here.

What do you think of this month’s box?

Stephanie

March Birchbox Unboxing 2016!

March 22, 2016

Hi everyone! I’m back from my short blogging break and it’s just in time to bring you my March Birchbox review. Let’s hop to it! 🙂

Cargo Land Down Under Eye Shadow Palette

These smooth eyeshadows are said to be highly pigmented and easy to blend to create a variety of looks. Most likely I will not try these as I have something similar already, however if they’re anything like their blushes, you can bet these claims are true.

Number 4 Hydrating Shampoo

This sulfate-free, vitamin-rich cleanser claims to repair and protect dry and brittle hair. I have curly hair which can definitely benefit from extra hydration. This shampoo lathered nicely despite it being sulfate-free, and left my hair feeling smoother and clean. In my opinion, the scent is a little more on the masculine side but not overpowering.

Number 4 Hydrating Condition (Bonus)

Oddly enough, I have yet to try this one but once I do, I will try to update it on here.

Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm

This “100% natural formula,” rehydrates skin, soothes sunburns, tames unruly brows and nourishes thirsty cuticles. I’ve only tried this as a lip balm and I quite like it. It has a very thick consistency, much like the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask, which intensely moisturizes lips but makes the product hard to squeeze out of the tube.

theBalm cosmetics Stainiac Beauty Queen

I’m a fan of Benefit’s Benetint, so I was curious as how this would compare. Stainiac is theBalm cosmetics’ best-selling stain that gives cheeks and lips a sheer and rosy tint. Unlike Benetint, the consistency on this is a little bit tackier instead of watery. It leaves behind a nice rosy color that has good lasting power but comes off while eating and drinking. I like it for a sheer wash of color and it’s as good as Benetint to me.

Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum

This 5-in-1 eye serum, “lifts, firms, smooths, hydrates and restores the sensitive skin around the eye for a more youthful look.” I’m fond of a couple of Kiehl’s products and I was glad to see another sample from them. I didn’t see a huge improvement with this eye serum, perhaps because I don’t have major issues with my eye area, but it is lightweight and didn’t migrate into my eyes which I love.

A swatch of theBalm Cosmetics Stainiac.

Overall, I thought this box was well rounded and I’m happy with it. 🙂

Have you tried any of these brands? What’s your favorite product from them?

Stephanie

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette Review!

March 14, 2016

Hi everyone! As I mentioned last week, I will be taking a spring blog break but before I do, I have a review of the new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow palette! It’s available online and in-stores and yes you guys, it’s beautiful.

Here is what the case looks like when it’s closed-very fun and pretty.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette

Described to, “define and defend lids from everyday aggressors with this eye shadow palette. Introducing plush shades in a velvety formula, they’re powered by tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea™ complex, formulated to hydrate and balance lids with a creamy powder is that is never drying or chalky.”

Pros

Creamy and easy to blend

Great pigmentation on darker shades

Little to zero fallout

Variety of looks can be created from natural to smokey

Long-lasting (with primer)

Cons

No true matte shades

Didn’t experience the hydrating aspect

A bit pricey $34

Lighter shades take a bit to build up color

Overall: I really love this palette! It’s a bit smaller than I initially thought but the shadows are a good size so no problem there. The shades are creamy, easy to blend and the fallout is little to none. These are definitely smoother than my Urban Decay Naked 3 shadows. They last all day on me but I always use a primer. I will say that I didn’t find any true matte shades as Sand and Cove still have a bit of a sheen to them but nothing overly shimmery. The lighter shades, like Seashell and Mermaid take about 2-3 passes to build up a discernible color while the darker shades have opaque coverage in about 1 pass. These don’t have any pop of colors which I don’t mind since I love neutral/bronze shades and this is right up my alley.

Here are some swatches

Sand- Ivory (this shade blends in with my skin, lol)

Mermaid- Gold

Seashell- Pink

Wave- Slate

Cove- Tan

Starfish- Bronze

Reef- Copper (my favorite shade!)

Abyss- Dark brown

That’s it for this week readers. I’ll be back March 21 with new posts so please stay tuned for that. 🙂

Will you be adding this palette to your collection? Let me know in the comments below!

Stephanie

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre Review!

March 3, 2016

Hello everyone! I hope all of you are doing well. 🙂

Today I have a review on the Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate. This moisturizer is praised by celebrity make-up artists and considered a staple in their arsenal so naturally I was curious to try it. Let’s take a look at what I think.

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate

Described as, “a wonderful care product-a real beauty secret, favoured by dermatologists for decades; a combination of ingredients of natural origin with recognised virtues, rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins. The Lait-Creme Concentrate can also be used to cleanse the skin or remove makeup, as a repairing mask, an after-shave cream or as a baby-care product.”

Pros

Formulated without parabens, sulfates or phthalates (if these ingredients concern you)

Cruelty-free

Multi-tasking product

Light-weight feel

Absorbs quickly

Smooth makeup application

Tube form makes this hygienic and easy to apply

Cons

A bit on the pricey side- $28

Can sometimes pill when used in conjunction with a sunscreen

Not for all skin types

Contains beeswax, so take heed if you are allergic

Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil) is the second ingredient and may clog pores

Overall: I like this product but wasn’t overly impressed with it. I love how it provided a light-weight feel and absorbed quickly into the skin; it also helped the makeup glide on smoothly though it doesn’t help blur out imperfections like other primers. Although it claims intense hydration, my face still felt a little tight on the drier parts of my skin. If I used this in the morning with sunscreen, I noticed that it pilled. Also, even though it states that all skin types can benefit from this, the inclusion of mineral oil as the second ingredient may be problematic for acneic skin; however, as a makeup remover, it works nicely. I will use this product up but I am not sure if I will repurchase again.

Have a favorite multi-tasking product you love? Share it in the comments!

Stephanie

First Impressions: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash!

February 25, 2016

Happy Thursday everyone! Hope you are all doing well. 🙂

So when a new item is launched based on a cult favorite product, curiosity and excitement is bound to arise. At least, this was the case for me when skincare brand Kate Somerville announced that their new cleanser stemmed from the best-selling exfoliating treatment ExfoliKate. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll know I love, love, love Kate Somerville’s ExfoliKate so I immediately went to get a sample at Sephora.

Is it just as good as the ExfoliKate? Keep reading for my thoughts.

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash

Described as, “a daily foaming cleanser that contains AHA’s and natural fruit enzymes to purify without over-drying.”

Pros

Thoroughly removes oil

Has exfoliating properties with fruit enzymes plus lactic and glycolic acid

Easily lathers

Refreshes skin

Paraben, sulfate and phthalate free if you’re concerned about these ingredients

Cons

A bit pricey compared to other professional brands- $38 for 4oz

Can feel a little stripping at times

Exfoliating properties may be too much for some as a daily cleanser

Overall: When I was trying this cleanser, I expected (and kind of hoped) that it would have the same earthy scent of the exfoliator but it doesn’t. The scent on this is citrusy, almost like lemongrass, but not overpowering. It lathers well and does a great job in removing oil but there were days were I felt it left my skin a little too tight so this might be a great choice for summer, when I tend to get more oily. Although the instructions say to use this twice a day daily, I feel this might not work for everyone’s skin type as it can overexfoliate and dry out skin. Personally, I would use this once a day, 3 times a week, especially if my skin is congested. So while I do like this cleanser, it didn’t impress me enough to purchase the full size. I prefer to stick with ExfoliKate.

Have you tried Kate Somerville products? Which is your favorite?

Stephanie

February Birchbox Unboxing 2016!

February 18, 2016

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for the sweet comments I received yesterday for my 2nd blogiversary-it made my day! 🙂

February’s Birchbox has arrived so let’s take a look at what’s inside!

Cartier Baiser Vole Lys Rose

“From a brand that knows elegance, a romantic floral scent with notes of fresh, powdery lily.” I usually like rose scented perfumes but I think the combination of lily made this a bit overwhelming and I’m not a fan of it.

Marcelle NewAge 8 in 1 Power Serum

This is a lightweight anti-aging gel that is supposed to provide, “eight transformative benefits in one tube.” A quick glance at the ingredient list shows a few peptides, which can help with ant-aging issues. I’ve only used this once and it is light with a silky, almost silicone-like, feel when applied. My skin felt and looked a bit smoother afterwards.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar- Black Metal Dahlia

A cruelty-free, cult favorite product, this liquid lipstick offers matte and opaque coverage with the tiniest application. I haven’t tried this one because I’m thinking of giving it away as I already have something similar to this.

Ouidad VitaCurl Define & Shine Styling Gel-Cream

This ultrahydrating, non-sticky formula is said to enhance the texture of curls and waves while leaving a luminous finish. I’ve used this once and it did provide a hold to the curls without leaving them crunchy. Since the sample size on this is generous, I will keep testing this out to see how it works in the long run.

Whish Revitalizing Cleansing Oil

“This skin-balancing cleansing oil melts away makeup, oil, and impurities.” I’ve used this at night and I rub a dime size amount over my face to help breakdown my makeup. I then rinse with water and follow up with my cleanser. I do like this product, however as with most cleansing oil/creams I’ve used, this leaves behind a greasy film and I really have to remove it with the cleanser. I just wished it would rinse off a bit cleaner.

Overall, this wasn’t my favorite box but there’s always next month’s box.

What’s your opinion on February’s Birchbox?

Stephanie