Birchbox September 2015

The Main Box 

Helmut Lang Curion: This smells like EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT STORE EVER. It smells good, don't get me wrong, but it leaves me with a headache and a need to check my bank account to make sure I still have money.

Tocca Esfoliante da corpo: At first I thought this was a hand cream and I was kind of disappointed. But it's a face scrub so I'm still kind of disappointed because I don't use scrubs.

100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream: Dun Dun Duuuuuuuun. The one thing I should be doing that I just never do in my routine. Hopefully if I leave this on my desk I'll actually use it. Otherwise it goes into the graveyard and never gets seen again.

ModelCo Ultra Long Lasting Lipstick in Smitten: They should have just called this marsala. It's gorgeous and smells like vanilla and I really want a reason to wear this.

Rene Furterer ABSOLUE KERATINE Sublime Renewal Leave in Cream: Yay! This will come in handy. I've been abusing my hair lately and it needs the kind of pick me up only a leave in conditioner can give.

 (I already broke this lipstick so that's why I didn't show the bullet to you guys. I cut a huge chunk out with the cap when I opened it.) This is Smitten AKA Marsala AKA needs to be on my lips ASAP.

 The Extras

bbrowbar Highlighter: This is GORGEOUS. It's the perfect shimmery, easy to apply, lasts forever kind of product I adore. It's a brow product but it's so pretty it's also an inner corner product.

Peripera Peri's Tint Water: This stuff is potent. It stains in seconds and just blends out instantly like a little watery paint. I have no idea where to use this and if I'll use it. But it's cute!

Swatches!

I am really loving the upgraded Birchbox. The full sized items are things I would never buy for myself but am super glad to have. The contents of this month's box were absolutely amazing as well.  Will next month be fall themed? Maybe.... purple things?

Allure Sample Society: Revamped

Recently Allure re-vamped their beauty box and all I can say is WOW. I love every little piece I get in there and just opening a box I know is full of high end products is amazing.

Yes, it warranted three pictures.  I cannot tell a lie I was pumped to show you the goodies from this month's box.

Soap & Glory Pillow Plump Lip Gloss in Pinkwell: Okay so on first impression it's adorable as hell.  I'm not a huuuuge gloss person but I can see this coming in use in my fall collection.  The smell is... unique. Chocolate marshmallow fluff with cocoa?

Jane Iredale Smooth Affair: This is a primer and it comes from one of my favorite brands and I want to wear makeup again so I can use this!

Erno Laszlo Firmarine Bar Soap: I don't use bar soaps so I will be gifting this but it smells like the ocean. I really wish I liked bar soaps more so I could use it and reveal it's magical properties (it claims it won't dry out your skin and actually improves it), but I just can't get behind them.

Tangle Teezer: This brush can be used on wet or dry hair and has two different bristle lengths. I am intrigued. I have thick hair and I've broken a few brushes before.

Caviar Anti Aging Replenishing Moisture Milk: I love this brand. I would marry this brand if I could. I can't wait to try this!

Pixi Glow Tonic: I have heard so many good things about this product and I'm a little hesitant to use it.  It says it's a toner and exfoliant and my skin is pretty sensitive lately.  I may end up like a tomato. 

Kaplan MD Cellular Rejuvenating Concentrate:This comes in a itsy bitsy dropper bottle so I don't expect to feel the full effects of what this can do, but I love the packaging so much I don't care.

I am in awe with this box,  I love almost everything, will use almost everything, and feel like a spoiled princess with what I got. Can't wait for next month! Maybe there will be a fall lippie in there? Or some highlighter to swoon over? 

Ipsy Glam Bag September 2015

 Ipsy this may just be my favorite bag design yet!

Ipsy is one of my favorite monthly bags.  It always has a grab bag feel and I have never went a month without making one product a permanent in my stash.

NAOBAY Oxegenating Cream: Yet another moisturizer that will soon find itself in the hand cream pile.  The smell is inoffensive and citrusy and I like the idea that it's Eco Certified, but I just have too many face creams in my collection to try out before this.  Anything scented on my face tends to be a no go anyways but as a hand cream I think it will work just fine.

NYX Eyeshadow Trio in IPSYNYX01: Love the name guys.  Very clever. Love the shadows guys. Very nice.  Your trio's tend to be the ones I like more than your pallets when it comes to eyeshadows and this has the PERFECT colors for me.  In fact, it's a culmination of the only 3 colors I wear on a daily basis.  Good job Ipsy!

Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvinator: I already have this and have used this many a time when I want to manually exfoliate my face.  I'm happy to have another so that I can use the other one up and not feel so guilty.

J. Cat Beauty #MOTD Waterproof Slide on Pencil in Bronze: I swatched this on my hand as soon as I saw it and it was still there the next day.  It takes some serious scrubbing to get this baby off your skin.  Which of course means it's perfect for me and my smudgy eye area. Bring on the Bronze!

Formula X Nail Polish in Ignite: I put this on my nails the same night I got it and I am in love.  The perfect red shade that looks like a candy apple without the mess. The size, while very small, is perfect for someone like me who doesn't switch up her polish often and has a whole bunch of polishes cluttering up her space.

Overall: A
I loved the products, found three I will be obsessing over this fall, and two I can make work in my routines.  The only reason it's not a plus you ask? Aw what the heck. Here's your +.

Blush Mystery Beauty Box Review September 2015

I realize I haven't done a box review in some time, and this month had some pretty good boxes, so it's about time I stepped it up and reviewed something! Or multiple somethings! ...Yah.

Holy moly that's a lot of stuff from one box.  One very inexpensive (Under $30) box.  Can I get an Amen?

Sanitas Lemon Creme Scrub: This little bundle of joy was the first thing I smelled when I opened this box. Now it took me a minute to open this. I tried to screw it off and got very upset it would not open and then I looked at the top of it.  It says pull to open. How cool is that?! Needless to say I want to use it and smell like lemons and drift off in a lemon haze. (sorry for the long description but I just had to share that it opens magically)

dr. brandt BB CREAM with signature FLEXITONE: This product is a lie, it smells like a lie, it is way too dark for my skin and does not "blend seamlessly with your own skin tone providing an alternative to traditional foundation:. It would be swell for people who are a little darker than me but it by no means blends to my skintone.

Nick Chavez Starlet Shine Spray:  I have not yet had a chance to spray/smell/experience this, but when I do a full review will be up on the blog.

NIA 24: I seriously have no idea what this stuff is.  The description makes it sound like a beefed up sunscreen but without the sunscreen smell. I just may like this.

L'Occitane Extra Gentle Soap in Verbena: What can I say except I don't use bar soaps.  It smells delightful but sadly will probably be gifted.

SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF: Anything that comes in a little vial makes me squeal with joy.  I think this is a serum, I'm not sure, but the fact that it's in a vial with a dropper makes me want to use it without asking questions.

Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain in Forever Peach: I have the pink version of this so I already know I like it. It smells like fruity candy, goes on true to color, and stains just enough but not too much. Only problem is it's so darn small I just might lose it.

SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair: I don't use eye creams very often (tsk tsk), and I already have so many waiting to be used, this baby sample will be going in the donation box.

Raw Spirit  Eau De Parsum in Summer Rain: Oh sweet baby Jesus I love this smell.  It smells like a mans woodsy cologne mixed with a floral womens perfume. Give me a full sized bottle and I may just faint.

Avene Retrinal 0.1 Intensive Cream: So this may just become a cuticle cream as I have many a face cream to use up and this one just doesn't jump to the front of my list.  It's small enough to be put into a pocket and perfect for my rough and flaky cuticles.

I am very impressed with this month's box.  It smelled great when I opened it and looked even better when I removed the tissue paper covering.  I will definitely be getting some use out of these products and there may be a review up on my most exciting finds from this month's boxes.

Xoxo

Summer Lovin

Summer is the time of year I go from full faced makeup to practically nothing.  I usually throw on a shadow, put on a liner, and go.  Anything else just melts right off and that is no good folks, no good.

Here we go! My summer face!

Blush: Cable Beach by Cargo

Brushes: Black (e.l.f bulsh brush) , copper (Real Techniques Contour brush)

Mascara: Big Curls by NYC

Pot: Ain't That Sweet smudge pot from e.l.f

Eyeshadow: Orchid Eye Polish by Cailyn

Brow Pencil: Universal Taupe Brow Power pencil by IT Cosmetics

Eyeliner: Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper

Concealer: L'Oreal Dream Lumi in Radiant

Eyeshadow: Maybelline in Made For Mocha

What do you wear in the summer? Anyone else excited for fall?!

Wet N Wild Haul

Do you like lipsticks?

Do you like saving money?

Do you like hella good products at an affordable price in your local drugstore?

If you said yes to all those questions this post is definitely for you.

I went on a little binge a few weeks ago and spent,what should have been a ton of money, on new things.  One of those things? (or should I say a handful of those things) Lipstick.  12 Wet and Wild Lipsticks to be exact.

Here they are!

 (the swatches start at the bottom left and work to the right and then go to the top row.  A little confusing I'm sorry)

This is by no means the full range, but it's a pretty good sample size. I got mine at CVS but I've seen them at target and drugstore.com.

The best part of these lipsticks? $1. The other best part of these lipsticks? Never come off.  The worst part of these litpsticks? Never come off (they stain like craaaaaazy).  But for a dollar I really am never going to complain.

My only little harumph moment with these is the top of the lipstick is above the top of the casing, so smudging and smashing, and general messiness can happen if you are not being super careful when putting the cap back on.

Otherwise I say GO FOR IT! What do you really have to wait for? Good lippies at a very good price in a bagillion colors all for the taking!

Selfie Snap

I am a member of the shaky selfie club.  We can't hold the phone straight, it wobbles all around, we can never find the damn snap button, and our selfies look like we are entering the early stages of a shaking disease.

I have to constantly apologize for blurry selfies, take thirty of the damn things, and then go deleting all the ones I can't use while keeping the "ehh I guess it'll do" ones.

Enter into my world the "Selfie Snap".  You download the app on your phone, open it up, and snap away. All while holding your phone securely in one hand and hitting a button in the other.  No more "losing" the snap button on your phone, jostling things around to find where the button is, and best of all no more shaky hands! I mean, there will always be shaky hands, BUT NOT AS BAD!.

My only hangup with this little gem is I keep forgetting about it.  I go about my day and forget it's in my pocket. It also makes this terrible noise when you take pictures so if you thought this would help you with your "descrete" photos of the odd people you see during the day, this does not help that agenda.  

Go Get Selfie Snap!!!

E.L.F. HAUL

Does anyone else love a good sale?

How about a good sale on already inexpensive makeup?

I have been a religious devotee to the world of E.L.F makeup, so when a sale flyer popped up in my inbox I threw caution to the wind and went wild.

Now I know this looks a little crazy, and I do agree it is, but all this for well under $50? Uh yes please.

I did give some away, and one nail polish came already dried up so that went in the bin, but I kept/love/use/will use a lot of this.

I'll do a review on some of the pieces I thought were really neat later.  

Do you guys have any E.L.F favorites?

Any extra special websites you visit to get makeup? You know, a girl can never have enough!

Forever 21 Jewelry Binge

Hi Guys! Long time no post. 

Sorry for the absence but I've been dealing with a little bout of the good 'ol blues. 

But enough of the sad stuff and onto the shiny goodies!

About a month ago I went home to see my beautiful starfish Marceline turn one! The trip was full of family and food and reflection. It also called for a shopping trip beforehand so I knew I was summer ready and full of that extra sparkle for those late night trips out.  Tenesha and I headed out to Forever 21, caught a hella good sale, and went craaaaazy with the jewelry.

Oooh

Ahhh

Mmmmm

Shiny

Bluuuuuue

Honey

As you can see I went a tad bit overboard with the nose rings.  I really want to get one but I'm still unsure if I want to make that commitment.  So instead of jamming a needle through my nose I got some faux rings to see A) If I can handle anything being in my nose like that, and B) If I still like how it looks after 5 minutes.  The answer to both of those is I still need a little more time to decide.

I got some feathers for my hair (which I didn't use because my hair was never down), some pretty ear cuffs, a gorgeous chain for my hand and a HONEYCOMB RING! (Can you tell which one I like the best?).  

What are some of the summer accessories you picked up along the way?

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks in L.U.V.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks in L.U.V.

First Impression: Cute packaging? Check Perfect purple color I've been looking for in a liquid lipstick for months? Check. Kat Von D? Cheeeeeeeck

After Application:  A little patchy after one coat. A little patchy after two coats. Super duper dry and non transferable. Maybe I need to exfoliate more?

Overall: I have mixed feelings on this product.  I love love love the color.  It smells fantastic.  It's going to be my favorite winter color for sure, and definitely goes with my skin tone.  Only downside is it's a little patchy.  I exfoliate, moisturize, and still this stuff clumps up on the edges and thins out in the middle.  

Repurchase:   Honestly no.  I'd rather spend $6 on the ColourPop Ultra Matte Lippies and get 4 really awesome colors than $20 and getting a really awesome color that is patchy and clumpy.  This will definitely do for now (until the ColourPop Lipsticks come back into stock) but I can think of other products I would like to try out for $20.

Birchbox: June

I haven't done one of these babies in a while, so forgive me if I'm a little sloppy.

All the things

L. Erickson Grab & Go Pony Holder: Soft, pretty, stretchy.  The only hang up is that it will slip out of my hair like a knife through butter.  But it's a great looking bracelet!

Templespa In Good Condition Hair Conditioner: I wish I needed another conditioner but I really don't.  This will end up being my backup if my big bottle of conditioner runs out, but other than that I don't need anything else added to y hair routine right now.  Otherwise it smells good so it's got that going for it.

Templespa Good Hair Day Shampoo: It says it's best for daily use but I don't wash my hair daily. I'm worried it won't actually clean my hair (you know with the whole "safe for daily use" thing, but it smells good like the conditioner.  I still don't have a need for any more shampoo but this is in line for a backup if mine runs out soon.

Paulas Choice Skin Perfecting 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant: Love her products, love this brand, can't wait to try this! I'm suffering from some pretty messed up skin right now so this is a blessing.

Coola SPF 50 Sport in Mango: So upset it's mango (I'm hella alergic). This will be a giveaway.

Marcelle Waterproof Eye Pencil: Blue eye pencils make me a little annoyed, kind of like pink nail polish.  Get more creative with your colors.  My "pop of color" is not blue, it's green or purple or maybe even yellow.  Other than it being a color I'm not super happy with it's still very pretty and perfect for my mother and her blue eyes.

Overall I am happy but not ecstatic about what I received.  The quality of products has definitely increased with the time I've been subscribed to Birchbox, and I understand the need to please everyone, but I would love to see more makeup. 

Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine in 01 Milan

I picked this up at CVS about a week ago.  I know I know it's not a huge length of time to have a product before a review, but when you know you know.  I know this is not something I like and I know I want to tell you why.

Wow! Look at those colors!

Oh so shiny!

Excuse me?

What even is this?!?!?!

Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine in 01 Milan

First Impression: The packaging is to die for.  Gold, shiny, reflective.  Everything a girl could ask for.  The price? almost $11(what?!) Is it worth it? I sure as hell hope so.

After Application:  No no no no no.  Not even two hours later and my Kat Von D Tattoo Liner was fading away.  Four hours in and the creasing was only getting worse.  After an 8 hour work day you can see what my eyes ended up looking like.  I was so embarassed that I walked around like this for hours at work, but sill me has no backup makeup in my bag so I had to endure. All in the name of... beauty? Ugh

Overall: I am so very disappointed in this product.  I knew it would be wet because of the liquid on the product when I first bought it, but I had no idea it would be this bad.  Creasing, flaking off, making my other eye makeup disintegrate.  This is okay for inner corners but that's about it. Even the under eye might be stretching it (shiny raccoon eyes here I come).  For $11 I could have bought a nice pigment which is what I would recommend that you do instead of buying this product.

Repurchase:   God no.  No amount of inner crease work will make a dent in this thing and I can't justify spending money like this on a product that makes me look like an oil slick/late night party girl.

New Beginnings

So I tried it guys.  I tried to diversify my blog and ended up losing all motivation to do ANYTHING creative and just hibernated for a bit.  I stopped writing, took little to no pictures, still amassed a huge collection of makeup and things, and selfishly kept it all from you guys.

Well my dears that time is over.  I have decided that instead of trying to make one blog every blog, I would have four blogs and separate them into all of my different creative parts. Some people have four YouTube channels, I have four blogs.  Seems right to me.

First things first is this baby.  Its Poker Dollface is going to be as it first was meant to be, my beauty and hair and makeup and girly girl place of refuge.  It's where tutorials, hauls, monthly favorites, and wishlists will live,  It will be where you get to find out how I do my hair, what I use in it, and what styles I'm gushing over lately.

Next is Tell Tales Dollface. This blog will be dedicated to my written adventures.  My poems, short stories, novels, anything literature related.  I hope to post to this twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday) so go follow me to keep up on the action!

We also have Lets Dine Dollface which I blame on my father.  He said I needed to get out more so expect some food reviews, some dining out (with drinks of course), and ::Fingers Crossed:: interviews with some local business owners.  So far I have a huge list of places to go and not nearly enough elastic in my waistband.

Finally we have the odd baby blog out.  It has been named LiveLoveEats and is going to be my personal blog.  My stories, my experiences, my friends and family.  I know it doesn't keep with the same dollface theme but I needed a little home away from home blog and that's what I came up with!

There ya go! A rundown of my new endeavors and a hint hint that things are starting to change in my neck of the woods.

Thank you for everyone who has stuck with me through my lack of communication with the outside world and welcome everyone on my new journey!

Cleaning House: Beauty Edition

Disclaimer:  This month has been pretty hectic. I was insanely busy at work trying to follow up with all of my customers as soon as the new year hit before I hopped on a plane on the 4th and spent a full 5 days in Atlanta Georgia for work.  I flew back home on a Friday and on Sunday night I got a call my grandfather had passed away. This past week has been full of training my partner in what I learned while I was away and just trying to hold it all together on the family front.  I honestly though this month would be full of posts and pictures and inspiration and so far it has just been full of stress and work and life.  Sometimes things happen and what you thought were your priorities suddenly change.

::Onto the real post::

In just the past two months I have acquired what you see below:

All from beauty boxes, and a few gems from Christmas gifts from friends.  (The few gems are a handful of lip products.  These beauty boxes are spoiling me with goodies.)

I decided I've had enough of my hoarding tendencies and started furiously going through my drawers and boxes and either throwing out, giving away, or re-organizing everything.  My poor mother is getting a bag full of hair products and a box full of makeup and skincare.  Sharing is caring!

Especially after these past few weeks I feel like I need a fresh start.  A clean out of all my old habits and things to make room to grow and really start to figure out my place. I started with my makeup, next is my clothes, and then for the less materialistic things in my life. Sidenote: My boyfriend LOVES that I suddenly want to clean.  Win win!

This is a super short post, a little update into my life, and a promise that next month will be filled with some pretty awesome things. Maybe I'll become a real blogger and actually start carrying a camera around with me.  Wouldn't that be neat?