November Favorites 2012

Shopping too much leads to having lots of new favorites- silver lining? maybe? tell it to my bank account.

Orofluido Shine Spray- since my hair has been incredibly dull as a result of the aftermath that was ombre'd hair over the summer. I've never had trouble with shine, but this stuff is great to finish off after I'm done styling my hair.
REN glyocol lactic renewal face mask- one of the best face masks ever. leaves your skin feeling glowing and amazing. great smell- only downfall is that the texture is a little tacky, and it never fully dries on your skin, but it's worth it.
Laura Mercier flawless face polish- my absolute holy grail face exfoliator. I use this about 2-3 times a week in the shower. You only need a pea sized amount, the exfoliating beads are tiny so it doesn't feel like it is scratching your skin, and it leaves your skin feeling squeaky clean.
Diorshow Maximizer- This is a lash primer that you put on before your mascara. I love it, don't think I will ever not have this on. Makes every mascara look amazing- love it!

Illamasqua Naked Rose blush- I have been really loving nude/ natural color blushes that go with any eye color or lip color combination. These Illamasqua blushes are super pigmented and SO soft and buttery. They can be a little powdery, but you only need a little bit.
Nars Sin blush- my absolute favorite blush EVER- beautiful berry/plum color with gold shimmer. Leaves the most amazing color on your cheeks and wears beautifully. Just like most Nars blushes true to pan color, and super soft.
YSL pur couture in Rose Carnation- love this lipstick formula- so creamy and moisturizing. It doesn't cling to dry spots on your lips. This color is a mauvey pink color- gorgeous and wearable.
Stila smudge crayon in Pink Violet- I love this chubby eyeliner stick and the color is so pretty. Just like the Stila Smudgesticks, it is very long lasting. I like to pair this with the cream eyeshadow shown. FYI I can't find these on sephora's website, but I can find them in person.
Buxom cream eyeshadow in Mutt- beautiful taupey bronze color- goes on smooth and blends really well. Good pigmentation and not patchy.
Tarina Tarintino eyeshadows- so sad that these are being discontinued at Sephora- and that it took me so long to find them!!! Incredibly soft eyeshadows and blend very well- some of the best I've used. BEAUTIFUL!

November empties 2012

I keep waiting for that month where I really don't go through much stuff at all, and yet these things keep emptying! It is so satisfying to use something up completely- loving this! So here's my garbage.

Still working through my box of samples, and everytime that I make a big dent, I get more!! Pretty sure the samples will be never ending.

Deborah Lippman Stripper- nail polish remover towelette that you keep in your purse. It smelt somewhat of lavender- which was odd for a nail polish remover but not terrible. It worked well and was convenient since my nails always look like complete shit about 90% of the time. However, I would not pay whatever the price is for it- may look for a cheaper alternative.
Smashbox BB cream- another American BB cream- this one has great reviews and people seem to like it best. The color was a little too light for my skin, I didn't find the coverage to be more than a tinted moisturizer, and felt it left my skin greasy and tacky. Didn't even use the entire sachet, wasn't a fan.
Bliss youth as we know it moisturizer- another sachet of this. still like it and still won't pay $79 dollars for it, YET! we will see.
Sephora moisturizer- this was a decent sized sample and I got multiple uses out of it. It wasn't amazingly moisturizing and didn't leave my skin any different, but I think perhaps under makeup as a daytime moisturizer it would probably work well.
Rodial Dragon's blood sculpting gel- LOVE this. love the texture, love the smell, love how it makes my skin feel- and it's red. I am strongly considering buying this product- on the long list of maybes! I have another sample of this coming in- so after that I may have a definite answer as to whether I might buy it.

Miracle Skin- can't read the label anymore- completely worn off (hate shitty packaging) This is supposed to be a tinted body lotion that evens your skin tone. I used this on my legs a few times- it was definitely tinted- had an odd texture. But it also had shimmery glitter in it that would get all over your hands, terrible. The pigment from the lotion also transferred onto clothing and wore off pretty quickly. definitely would not purchase this.
Clinique eye makeup remover- I got this sample in a gift with purchase set, which I've pretty much given everything else in the set away. I bought the full size of this product- but won't buy it again. It is OK, doesn't get off mascara as well as I had hoped and leaves skin a little greasy, but plus side is that it doesn't burn eyes.
L'occitane hand cream- This was the hibiscus scent- it smelt more citrusy than I thought it would be. It was nice, went on smooth, sunk into skin quickly. I put this on every night before bed- I would consider purchasing more of these.
Organic Indulgence Body wash- LOVED this smell it was pear and fig. amazing. It lathers well, smells good, and doesn't dry out your skin- what more can you want in a body wash. I purchased another one in a different smell, but do LOVE this smell.
Up and Up cotton rounds- another bag of these gone. they are OK- do leave some fuzz on your face- so that is annoying.

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque- so at first I was completely smitten with this product, towards the end, not as much. Still LOVE the smell of this, but I don't feel like it is repairing my hair like it says, I think it is just a deep conditioning treatment that will make my hair feel soft for a little bit but eventually wears off. I am trying other hair masks to see the difference.
Benefit They're Real Mascara- such a sad day when this was too dry to use anymore, and unfortunately that day happened to be Thanksgiving. I attempted to put it on- and it was FULL ON spider lashes- looked terrible. So, since my eye makeup was already done, I had to McGyver a makeup wipe to get off the mascara and apply something different. I will definitely repurchase this mascara. I have a lot of others that I am trying to get through, but after that- this will be mine again. It adds volume, length, everything- constantly get compliments on my eyes when I wear it.
Joico Color Endure Conditioner- I know a lot of people like this brand, but I wasn't crazy about this conditioner. It was decent- but nothing great. Wouldn't repurchase.
Lush Ocean Salt- went through another tub of this- again love the smell. Leaves my skin soft, and I do love this salt scrub. I am using other scrubs now, but would repurchase this again.
Espa soothing face mask- as you  can see I didn't use all of this up. It claims to be a soothing mask, but it would immediately start to make my face tingle and burn and would leave my skin red and irritated. Pretty sure that this broke me out too. Not sure if I'm allergic or it's the actual product that sucks, either way its garbage.

October Empties

Another month, and more stuff that I have used up. Definitely feeling accomplished and making a dent at all the crap I am forcing myself to go through. Say it with me, "no more hoarding!"

Unfortunately, this month was using up a lot of products that I wasn't really crazy about... so a lot of this starting to get the pump and dump while using it. Made me feel better than just throwing it away. DAMN YOU CONSUMERISM!!!!

More Samples!!!
Philosophy Salted Caramel Shower Gel- nothing special about the shower gel, I guess the only reason people get these are the smells. I found the smell to be nauseating and sickly sweet. Luckily, the smell didn't linger long on the skin.
Hourglass Veil Foundation in No. 1.5- perfect match for my skin and amazing finish on this. I LOVE this foundation, and once I start going through some of my other foundations I will definitely consider purchasing this!!!!
Biore makeup removing towelette- it was OK, decently moist (hate that word). I am not a big fan of makeup wipes- but this wasn't terrible.
Freeze 24-7 icecream moisturizer- liked this- didn't love it. But it was pretty good, sunk into the skin well, and left my face feeling soft.
Urban Decay Naked Skin foundation in 2.0- another foundation that I actually really liked. It wasn't heavy, but still had decent coverage, and left a good finish on the skin.
Strivectin Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles- I liked this- really liking all of the Strivectin samples that I got. I purchased a gift set for my mother for Christmas already, I would possibly purchase this for myself as well. 

Clean and Clear Morning Burst Facial Scrub- the smell was nice and that is where the liked end. The exfoliating beads were huge, pretty much just scratching the surface of my skin, and didn't really exfoliate much of anything. At about the halfway point of using this, I just started using it to scrub my hands and feet too, and maybe some extra squirts down the drain in every shower. It has sulfates and all kinds of gross stuff, will never be repurchasing.
Neutrogena Naturals purifying pore scrub- not really any scent, pretty liquidy for a scrub. The exfoliating beads were not as big, but still didn't notice that this did anything to my skin. This has no sulfates or parabens, but didn't really notice any difference in my skin. Wouldn't repurchase, since I found my holy grail face scrub!!!!
Clinique Clarifying Toning Lotion- not a lotion- this is a very astringent toner, I used half and dumped the rest out- I had it for about a year. Really strong, and didn't do much for my skin, and felt like it was a bit drying to my skin. No repurchase.
Say Yes to Cucumbers Night Cream- god i couldn't wait for this to be done!!! The scent was OK at first, and I was SO sick of it by the middle of it. The cream sat on the skin, and left my feeling oily, but I feel like this lasted FOREVER!! It just wouldn't end! Finally done, no repurchase.
Ren Replenishing Night Serum- This was pretty good. Sunk into the skin quickly and I love the Ren Brand- no parabens, sulfates, etc. It was a gel like serum, but pretty liquidy as well. I liked it, but not sure if I would repurchase.

The Body Shop body butter in Japanese Cherry Blossom- wasn't crazy  about the smell, and definitely not crazy about the finish. This really didn't sink into my skin quickly, at all, and I always felt a bit oily after using it. Not a fan, will not repurchase this- or really anything from Body Shop, haven't been impressed by anything.
Melaluca liquid soap- random product, but I am absolutely OBSESSED with this scent (grapefruit splash). Yes, I am a sucker for anything grapefruit, but this is amazing. Love it!
Sensodyne Pronamel- yup, another one, and still no allergic reaction. Will continue to repurchase over and over and over.
Maybelline ustoppable eyeliner in onyx- who even knows how old this is. It sucked, didn't go on well, transferred like a mother, and would clump up in the corner of my eye almost immediately.
Lancome L' Extreme mascara- I had only used Lancome mascara since I was 17 years old, and I have tried them ALL! I would say this and the Hypnose mascaras are my favorite. I know that the Definicils is hyped up and their best seller, but it is probably my least favorite of their mascaras. I have repurchased this mascara about 3 times, and once I go through some of my other mascaras, I would consider repurchasing it. However, I have a sample of the new Hypnose star mascara, and I have a feeling I am going to love that, and probably purchase that one instead. The L'Extreme was my day time mascara, didn't give a ton of volume but really good length on the lashes. No flaking, or transfer- good mascara.
Fresh lip treatment- this is the original brown sugar one, and if this lip balm wasn't so expensive, I would definitely repurchase it. I am very intrigued by the advanced therapy lip treatment, since my lips are prone to being very chapped during winter. Love the smell of these- lemony- and they are super smooth and great to put on before bed.

A-Z beauty tag

Name a brand and suggest a product(s) from that line.

A- Anastasia brow wiz and brow powder- woman knows her brows
B- Benefit porefessional and they're real mascara- primer is great at filling pores and smoothing skin and mascara is my holy grail favorite
C- Caudalie cleansing water- Best makeup remover. I've been using it for 5 years, leaves your skin feeling so clean and still moisturized. So on those nights you are too tired or too drunk, you can use this and not worry
D- Dior amber diamond highlighting powder- beautiful perfect highlight and can be used as eyeshadow
E- Elemis papaya enzyme peel- one of my all time favorite masks
F- frederik fekkai ironless straight smooth serum- I can put this in and not have to use any heat to make my hair look good- the least amount of work the better
G- Guerlain terracotta four seasons bronzer- four colors, I usually stick to the lighter colors, but there is a reason why everyone says Guerlain makes the best bronzers. They do!
H- Hourglass mineral veil primer- another great primer, the best at making your makeup last. The mineral veil foundation is really nice too
I- Illamasqua powder blush in naked rose and cream blush in zygomatic. Most wearable blushes, blend beautifully, and great pigmentation.
J- Jack Black lip balm- love this stuff, want to try the different scents. I have only tried the original
K- Kerastase nectar thermique- ultimate smoother, leave in conditioner, and heat protectant. Worth the high price
L- Laura Mercier flawless face polish- usually don't like physical exfoliants(prefer chemical) but this stuff is awesome. I leave it in the shower and do it when I wash my hair. I also love Laura Mercier second skin blush in rose bloom and lush nectarine
M- Mario Badescu glycolic acid toner- great product always makes my skin look brighter and healthier
N- Nars blush in sin, deep throat, luster, gaeity - love these blushes great pigmentation and long lasting also love Nars eyeshadows in ashes to ashes, ondine, and Galapagos
O- Origins super spot remover- will put this on a pimple before bed and by morning it has helped significantly! Will always have this on hand!
P- Phyto hydrating botanical cream- leave in treatment that doesn't weigh your hair down
Q- Queen Helene mint julep mask- just as good as lush mask of magnaminty , less messy and has a longer shelf life and better price point
R- Ren glycol lactic radiance renewal mask- best mask ever. Plumps skin and makes it bright and healthy. Amazing. I also like the clear calm clay cleanser too.
S- Stila smudgestick crayon in pink violet- beautiful color and so easy to use. you can find these in stores but think they are discontinuing them. Shame! Love Stila stay all day liquid liner and smudge stick liners- waterproof and really do stay all day without flaking
T- Tarte Amazonian clay blush in exposed- good blush not blown away by texture or performance but a good blush
U- Urban Decay setting spray dew me- I have dry skin so this is the best one for me. Sets makeup and gives it a Dewy, glowy effect.
V- Vichy I have never tried any of their products but have heard good things
W- Wet n' wild eyeshadow palettes in silent treatment and walking on eggshells. So surprised at the quality of these shadows and they are only a couple dollars! Total bargain
X- Xen tan dark lotion - this is my winter self tanner. Thicker than the st tropez mousse, which is my summer self tanner. Moisturizing and doesn't have super potent tanner smell
Y- Yves saint Laurent touché éclat- amazing brightener, can just wear this and it immediately makes you look awake. Also love the shocking mascara and pur couture lipstick in rosé carnation
Z- Zoya nail polish in Snow White- amazing. Could get away with one coat and would look great. I also put this under other colors as a base to make the top color pop more.

Loved this tag!! Really made me look through my collection and find things I hadn't used in a while!

September Empties!

A month of hoarding my garbage has gone by, and I used up a LOT of crap! thank god because my house only holds so much- new motto- one out, one in. Let's all see how well that goes.  I love seeing Empties posts because you actually get a pretty decent opinion since they used up the whole product.  This is actually forcing me to look at what I have and get it out, and either repurchase or stay away. Yayy for less clutter... well theoretically.

Samples!!! glad to use these up. I will quickly go over these because, honestly, how much can I actually gauge from these tiny packets.
Sephora Body Butter- ehh ok. smell was ok. texture was ok. result was ehh... nothing great.
fresh Umbrian Clay mattifying serum- didn't notice anything different. not great for me.
Clinique bb cream- awful color match, was so light on me so who knows, maybe it's good?
Murad energizing pomegranate moisturizer- nothing special- really small sample
Ahava extreme firming eye cream- NOTHING extreme about this. no results. nothing special.
Bliss anti aging night cream- this was great- loved it, wish it was bigger/ wasn't $79.00. I am saving this sample so I remember that I liked it, and would purchase it.
Caswell-Massey almond & aloe hand and body emulsion- nothing special. smell was good though
Strivectin intensive concentrate for stretchmarks & wrinkles- I honestly believe that if I had a bottle of this it would work- I could see differences in 3 uses- another one that is around $80... saving this sample too

Deluxe Samples! yes, bigger is always better.
pure DKNY body butter- must have got this with a Nordstrom/Macy's purchase because I don't own this perfume. The scent was really strong and not really up my alley, but as a moisturizer it was pretty good.
Peter Thomas Roth Shampoo and Conditioner- brought these to NH with me on a weekend trip (I hoard shampoo/conditioner samples in case of these trips that I almost never go on) these were ok- nothing great- didn't notice any difference to my hair.
fresh Sugar Rose lip treatment- got this sample in a birchbox- loved the smell! kind of reminded me of pink lemonade- was really moisturizing and left a rosy tint to my lips.
Sephora blush in rose petal- loved it. already bought it. great color. not powdery. good color pay off and staying power.
Ahava Essential Day Moisturizer- again. not essential- not terrible. just nothing. typical of Ahava- I notice no difference and it's just... there. wah wah wahhhhh (a la debbie downer)
Maybelline BB cream- why people are going nuts about this is beyond me- it's a glorified sunscreen. no color pay off- leaves skin feeling wet- not dewy.
alessandro pedix foot balm- liked this a lot- sunk in really quickly- and didn't leave my feet greasy. don't think they sell this in US yet though.
Lancome renergie eye cream- i've had multiple samples of this. nothing special. not sold.

Show Off beauty addicts mascara- I'm not even done with this- used it a handful of times and quite possibly the worst mascara I have ever used. Super clumpy, wet, way too much product on the wand. Terrible. Tried leaving it slightly open to dry up a bit... it didn't. Throwing it out.
fresh Umbrian clay absolute concealer- too wet for my liking- I like a thicker concealer and the color pulled a little orangey on my skin- glad to be done with it.
Colgate cavity protection- had been using this for YEARS because I have extremely sensitive gums that would freak out if I ever changed toothpastes- and then I tried the Sensodyne pronamel- and nothing happened--- THANK YOU JESUS!!! loving the pronamel by the way.
Generic Target cotton rounds- yup. reeeeal interesting. these actually kind of suck and fall off when i'm using them on my face.

Loreal EverPure Shampoo- smell was good. sulfate free. was pretty good- especially for the price- I would buy it again.
H20 Sea results serum- wasn't blown away by this. I felt like it sat on my skin and didn't really penetrate. did like texture of it. wouldn't buy it again.
Body Shop seaweed deep cleansing facial wash- couldn't wait to be done with this. really didn't do much for skin, but felt like the bottle was never ending!!!!
say yes to blueberries facial wipes- the smell was good for the first 10 wipes... then got a little nauseating. I only used these on SUPER lazy days that I just wanted to go to bed. they did leave my skin feeling soft- not irritating. I might consider the cucumber ones.

Soap and Glory Clean on Me- this was one of those internet influenced purchases that people RAVE about how great it smells and how soft it makes your skin... umm neither happened. smell was ok- a little too powdery smelling for me, and definitely did nothing to my skin. Never mind the fact that it has sulfates and parabens and all kinds of great stuff.
Lush ocean salt- I have a love/hate relationship with Lush. They promote how they hand make all their products, but their products have sulfates and parabens. But everytime I walk past a Lush, the smell sucks me in and I HAVE to go in. The second you add grapefruit to something, I'm sold. This salt scrub works good, smells good. but has parabens. I already repurchased it- and will be saving these tubs to bring back to Lush for a free face mask.
Lush mask of magnaminty- here is where bigger isn't always better. I had to throw away half of this. Had a shopaholic lapse of judgement and bought the bigger size even though it expires in 3 months. works good- but wasted a lot. I bought the Queen Helene mint julep mask- it works about the same. *has parabens

Products Regret Buying

Most of the time I swatch things and really think about it before I purchase it- and then sometimes I am in the mood to make a dent in my bank account from home and make online purchases. Most of these were online and never swatched-- and some of them just suck even after a swatch.

MAC Crew highlighting powder- this came out for the Summer 2012 Mac Hey Sailor collection. The packaging of this collection really won me over and made me purchase more than I would have usually. I'm a sucker for nautical. The way this looks in the pan is AMAZING, but I don't understand this product. The white shimmer is an overlay and will be dusted off, leaving the pink, orange, and purple. The colors are so muted that even when I attempt to use it as a blush, it barely shows up; and the lasting power sucks. So, I pretty much have no use for this, except to look at it and think its pretty- definitely not worth $30.

MAC Bronzing powder in Soft Sand- looks pretty- even swatches pretty. Except when I pick up a brush and put it on-- it's nonexistent!!! I could pile this on my face and you still can't see it. The color is great-- if only you could see it.

MAC mineralized eyeshadow in Love connection- ok swatched color is a BEAUTIFUL gold and champagne-- again with the brush-- the pigmentation sucks-- AND the fallout is terrible!! more of this ends up on my cheek than on my eye. I know you can use this wet or dry, and I have tried wetting my brush first, which now just makes it impossible to blend-- so either way-- I hate this.

Nars eyeshadow in Emmanuelle  - OK, don't get me wrong I LOVE Nars shadows, and I do LOVE the texture of this, and I do love the color in the pan and when I swatch it. But, unfortunately, I can't figure out a way of using this without it looking like I am extremely sick! The color is a burgundy red with some iridescent shimmer. It is beautiful! So if anyone can find a tutorial or something using this color, definitely let me know!!!

Stila one step bronzing- this is supposed to be a primer, brightener, bronzing, and evens out skin tone. I would say it bronzes and leaves your skin looking greasy, not dewy, greasy. I think it sucks as a primer and haven't noticed any brightening. Not impressed at all by this.

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tenacious Teal- I bought this thinking I would be adventurous and wear it on my lower lash line as an accent color. I have yet to even open the container. I don't know why I thought I would wear it.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Precious- I have 5 of these and this one is by far my least favorite- these are great to keep in your purse. The stains do last a while (even though they do darken throughout the day and dry out your lips a little bit) The balm is not great and doesn't really do much for my lips. But the worst part of this one is the COLOR, or lack there of. This "nude" does NOTHING! There is no color pay off- and without that it makes this product useless.

Nyx round lipsticks- I have 2 different colors (chic and gala) these are so dry- the texture is terrible. They give me the dead look and accentuate every little dry spot on my lip. I know nyx has decent lip products, these are not them!!!

Most Worn Things- Summer 2012

1. Most worn Nail polish- Essie cute as a button - perfect pinky coral color

2. Most worn hair product- dry shampoo- helps to keep the grease at a minimum- I use Batiste and this Suave-- the Suave smells better

3. Most worn foundation- Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, perfect for summer- lightweight and just evens out my skin tone perfectly

4. Most worn Bronzer- Nars Laguna, I have been using this but it is not my favorite favorite bronzer- it can sometimes look a little orange and muddy on my skin

5. Most worn Blush- Nars gaeity- amazing summer blush bright baby pink and gives you the perfect flush

6. Most worn mascara- Benefit they're real- it curls, lengthens, volumes-- everything-- love this.

7. Most worn lip product- Buxom lip cream in Cremecicle- such a pretty pink lip gloss with a pretty opaque color- beware it is plumping -- so it does tingle.

8. Most worn eyeshadow- Chanel emerveille- cream shadow in this champagne pink color- the texture is like a mousse and goes on so smooth. Perfect eyeshadow to throw on in the morning to brighten up your face.

9. Most worn fragrance- Prada Candy--- pretty sure this is going to be perfect year round. no doubt.

10. Most worn shoe- Jessica Simpson turquoise sandals- wore these ALL the time- dressed up or dressed down. Unfortunately this past weekend I had to walk more than I thought I would and they gave me some pretty big blisters on the bottom of my feet. So that sucked, but other than that they have been great all summer.

11. Most worn accessory- Michael Kors runway rose gold watch -- this was summer number 3 with this watch and I still absolutely LOVE it.

12. Rebbecca Minkoff mini mac bag- great bag for summer- forces me to take out all the crap that I hoard around with me all year. I have had to change bags now that I started classes again, but this was awesome for summer

13. Most worn clothing item- Maxi dresses... this has been a long time obsession... I have a LOT! they are the easiest thing to throw on in the summer time to dress yourself up without putting in too much effort, or having to shave your legs. let's be real- that's the main reason.
from left to right: Rebbecca Taylor, BCBG, Rachel Roy

August Glossybox

I will begin with saying that this month's glossybox is the best beauty box I have ever received. HANDS DOWN! amazeballs!

1. Biolage ExquisiteOil Replenishing Treatment- This is a hair oil that should bring back shine and get rid of dry and dull hair. I have been using this (not so regularly-oops) on the ends of my hair. It doesn't weigh my hair down, which I like, I haven't noticed a HUGE difference yet. But I will keep trying it and see if it is something that I might buy- but I have had my eyes on the Caudalie Divine Oil-- which comes in a spray and can be used for skin, hair, nails

2. Ellis Faas Ellis Lips- we got the full size product which is 35.00!! the texture and packaging are amazing!!! however the color is TERRIBLE ... it's a dark brown that looks absolutely ridiculous on me... so that sucks... a lot.

3. Illamasqua nail varnish- well this makes up for it... a full size nail polish ($14.00)... I  got the color purity, which is like a cremecicle orange color. I love it. amazing application, I needed 2 coats and it was completely opaque. The lasting power is amazing... I have had it on for about a week... NO CHIPS!!! I will definitely be getting more Illamasqua polishes FOR SURE!

4. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum- obsessed! i LOVE the ole Henriksen line, it's one of my faves. I have used this stuff- its amazing- sinks in so quick! the full size is 1 oz. and we got .5oz ... sooooo good definitely large enough sample that I will be able to tell if it works or not.

5. Touch in Sol Feel like Honey Moon Skin Base- So this is a face primer before you put on makeup. I have used this a few times and I like this- not LOVE- but it works good.

this box's theme was pure luxury-- and they definitely came through- this box was worth over $80.00... and even if you take out the ugly lipstick... it is still pretty amazing.

Cinco de drinko

A Summer Night with no air conditioning?? let's draaaank! and what better way then a margarita... i'm in!It didn't take much to sell me on this, and I may or may not(may!) have added more tequila and less water... but who is to say... boozey drink deliciousness!

Pink Lemonade Margarita 

INGREDIENTS:

- 1 (12 oz) can of frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed

-3 (12 oz) cans of cold water 

-1 (12 oz) can of tequila

- 1/2 (6 oz) can of Grand Marnier 

optional: salt rim, lime wedge

Chill in the fridge and serve over ice. ENJOY!

**I was thinking of adding Prosecco or Champagne next time for some carbonation/booze**

July 2012 Favorites

I don't really like much makeup for the summer, so these are the products that I have been grabbing the most throughout July.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

My holy grail foundation. I'm not pretending like I wear makeup everyday, most days it's just a little concealer, but when I do- it's always this. I always get compliments on my skin when I wear it. Perfect lightweight coverage and makes your skin look dewy and flawless. 

Benefit creaseless cream shadow in Birthday Suit

This is a perfect base for shadows, but most of the time for daytime I just use this by itself. Really pretty color, and definitely doesn't crease. 

Tarte emphaseyes brightener

Brightening eyeliner for your waterline- skin toned color that takes away the redness and makes your eyes look bigger. I do like this- but I think I like the Paula Dorf doll eyes better.

Benefit They're Real Mascara

This does it all... volume. separation. length. Makes my lashes look amazing.

YSL Rouge Volupte in #30 Faumburg Peach

Nothing beats the creaminess of these lipsticks, so luxurious. Lasting power sucks- but it looks so pretty when you reapply so who cares. This color is the perfect peachy color for summer. 

Dior Addict Ultragloss in Sari Pink

Perfect bright pink color- not sticky- great paired with lipsticks or worn alone-- I paired this with MAC cut a caper and it looked really pretty.

Nars Joie de Vivre Palette

A Nordstrom exclusive that came out with their anniversary sale this month!! AMAZEBALLS! i like it much better than the Danmari palette. It has Laguna Bronzer, Albatross Highlight, Orgasm blush, Gaeity blush, Luster blush, and Angelika blush. So nice to have all of these in one place-- again for that vacation I'm never taking this on (Debbi Downer).

MAC mineralized Skinfinish in Light Year

This just came out with the Heavenly Creatures Collection- such a pretty pink and gold highlight and can also be worn alone as a blush.

Sephora cream blush in Coral Flush

I have been wearing this as a base for other blushes and on it's own. LOVE THE COLOR! perfect coral with gold shimmer- so pretty- very blendable. First purchase by the Sephora brand, and I really love this product.

and 2 non-beauty favorites...

My two new kittens!!! Introducing the extremely dapper Hookah and Falafel.

HAULuhhhhhh

I made an online order from Sephora last week. Unfortunately only half of it came, however they have been really good about it and have already shipped the other half (arriving Tuesday). 

Buxom Samantha's Smoky Eye kit

SUCH a good deal, all of these full size products for $20!!! You get a Buxom Smoky Eye Stick in Pistol, dark black, great pigmentation. A Buxom Smoky eye brush- good quality- smudged out the liner well. Buxom mascara- haven't tried it yet, but have heard good things on it. and Buxom lipgloss in Samantha- a true nude gloss- really pretty. 

And the rest of this I got for free! I have been wanting to try a sample of the new Lancome Hypnose Star mascara, that was a 100 point perk. The Fresh sugar balms was a birthday gift from Sephora. And with an online code I got a full size Benefit creaseless cream shadow in Silver Spoon- a true silver. Always check the weekly specials for great deals!

And then I made a trip to the mall...

Lush Whoosh

They know how to suck me in--I was complaining about my lack of a soakable bathtub and then the clerk swoops in about having fun in the shower (awwwwkward). So then she demonstrated the Whoosh on my arm-- OH MAN! I had seen this product and was turned off by it - not sure why. The smell is amazing- fresh and citrusy. It has a VERY cooling feeling on the skin, lathers up well, and leaves your skin feeling super soft. SOLD! I got the smaller container for $5.95, and can't wait to use it! 

Nordstrom:

                              

Nars Cactus Flower

Nars is by far my favorite blush/eyeshadow products, but I had never tried a cream blush. This blush is an amazing color- a bright coral with gold flecks. Blends out really well and staying power is great. 

Nars Galapagos

Like I said I love Nars eyeshadows, great pigmentation, little fall out, and great staying power-- super soft and buttery. This is a true chocolate brown with finely milled gold flecks that don't show up glittery at all. Perfect crease color. 

Bobbi Brown desert twilight palette

I have been lusting over this since it came out. Such beautiful colors and colors that I would use more than my NAKED palette. There is a good variation between matte and shimmery colors- although the shimmery colors are not as soft as the matte colors. And I love the sleek packaging- a great palette. 

Macy's:

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy

Amazing my lips but better color- with a glossy finish. I'm obsessed. This is the best daytime color I have- love it!

Sephora:

because sephora.com was sold out of this... 

Buxom lip cream in White Russian

The perfect pinky nude color. Beware this is a "plumper". I don't notice that these really plump my lips, but there is definitely a cooling sensation. I forgot to warn my boyfriend before sharing a drink, and he thought he was having an allergic reaction. (HA!) 

I also got a Rachel Roy dress for my birthday--possible pictures to come?

July 2012 Glossybox US

Glossybox has just been introduced to the US- this is my 3rd box so far. It is a monthly service that brings you about 5 beauty samples (and some full size products) to try out every month. It is around $21.00/month. Compared to Birchbox ($10.00/month), it is definitely more money, but I have been MUCH happier with the products and sizes of samples with Glossybox and every box has been well over the $21.00 price tag.

Allessandro International Pedix Heel Rescue Balm

I have been using last month's shea terra organics on my feet, would use it on my hands, but the smell is white chocolate (hated it). So once I use that up I will switch over, I was happy about getting this product.

Ofra Universal Eyebrow Pencil

Claiming to be a universal color to all shades of hair, I have tried it once, and it was right for my hair, but I have very dark brown/black hair- and the color of pencil is quite dark. Not sure how this would work for blonde hair. 

Sebastian color ignite shampoo and conditioner

I love the size of the samples, and its great that it is supposed to help your color last longer and nourish hair. I  always save big samples of shampoo and conditioner for that imaginary vacation that I think I might go on in the future. My stockpile is getting fairly large, and I have still YET to go anywhere. 

Senna Double Dose lip lacquer

The colors shown on the website are really pretty and perfect for summer, however I got one pretty color and one more fallish brown color- not that thrilled about getting this product, but we will see. 

Caswell-Massey Almond and Aloe Hand and Body Emulsion

We got 2 packets of this, but I do hate getting packets of product, it's a pain to use/store. There wasn't as much product in this as I thought, nor does it go a very long way. I used an entire packet after the shower as a body cream. It was OK, but don't think I would be able to judge the product after 2 uses. So this was ehhh. 

All in all the box was OK, it wasn't my favorite so far, I will use the products but I wasn't loving any of the samples. Still pretty happy with my glossybox subscription, especially with the packaging, under my bathroom sink has never looked prettier! 

SPOILER ALERT!!! for August's box they announced a red Illamasqua nail polish... YES PLEASE!

Favorite Summer Scent

PRADA 'Candy' Eau de Parfum Spray- Nordstrom 1.7oz $80.00

It is always difficult to find a scent that both you and your partner can agree upon. Usually, I will find something that I love, and will get a grimace from him. (which doesn't mean I don't get it anyway) Luckily, I received a sample of Prada 'Candy' in one of my recent orders and decided to try it. Almost instantly he is asking me what scent I am wearing. SCORE! He told me that it reminded him of Nag Champa ( his favorite hippie smell). Usually, I gravitate towards floral smells, but the base notes in this are vanilla, which is a smell that I usually hate- but this is an AMAZING scent. Right now I could only find it at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, but my Macy's associate told me they were expecting it the first week of August. 

Summer Beauty Essentials

 I have a love/hate relationship with summer. Summer means beach and sunshine, but it also means dry hair and dehydrated skin (and sweating--I hate sweating). These are some items that I use to combat the summer sun.

Face Sunscreen

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream for the Face SPF 55- defends skin against UVA/UVB rays and is water and sweat resistant. This sunscreen is moisturizing and lightweight, and doesn't clog my pores. 

Face Mask

Mask of Magnaminty- a deep cleansing mask that I like to use on days that I have used a lot of sunscreen, to prevent clogged pores. Unlike other Lush masks, this one does not need to be refrigerated, and lasts about 3 months. Magnaminty is a clay and peppermint mask that leaves the skin feeling tighter and smooth. 

Lip Balm

Dr. T's Supergoop! Acai lip fusion lip balm- This lip balm has an SPF 30 and is super nourishing on your lips, instantly hydrating them. The acai has some coloration but there is a clear 'mintfusion' option available.  

Beauty Elixir

Caudalie Beauty Elixir- I use this both before my moisturizer and also intermittently throughout the day. It has a peppermint smell and has a cool, refreshing feeling on the skin and leaves your skin looking dewy and glowing. This has also helped clear away redness on my chin area.

Shave Cream

EOS shave cream - Clearly a necessity for warm summer days without disgusting my fiance. This is more of a lotion and not your typical shave cream, leaving your legs totally moisturized and soft. 

Hair Mask

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque- After being out in the summer sun, and ombre-ing my hair, it was the driest it had ever been- NEEDING a deep conditioning treatment. This hair mask smells amazing, and leaves your hair feeling so soft and smooth without weighing it down. I LOVE this stuff!

Self Tanner

St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse- Since I don't tan (lots of SPF,umbrellas, and cover-ups), self tanning is great for taking the translucency out of my legs. I love this mousse, not orange, not streaky, and doesn't have horrible tanner smell. I would suggest buying the mitt to apply- makes a world of difference.

Body Moisturizer

It is always important to stay moisturized, I have been using a Body Shop Body Butter, however, I am not in love with it. It doesn't sink into my skin and kind of sits on top of my skin- not really nourishing enough for me. I have been lusting over the Kiehl's Creme de Corps and will be purchasing this when I finish my body butter.