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?

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 +.

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!

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.

Mini Ulta Haul

I'm a pretty fickle person when it comes to my hair.  That's why I rarely ever repurchase any hair products.  In fact, other than hair dye, I can only think of one item I ever repurchased related to my hair, which was the Alterna Caviar CC Cream.  I find that products either make my hair greasy, dries it out, or makes it a tangles crazy lions mane.  I also have a problem with my scalp.  It's dry, itchy, and overall it just drives me absolutely insane.  Combine these two things and I become pretty intolerable to salt sprays, dry shampoos, and clarifying shampoo.

If you have issues similar to mine, let me introduce you to some holy grail products I will forever repurchase.

Look at these beauties!

 Fekkai PrX Reparatives: Holy moly moly holy. I love this stuff.  It smells like marshmallows, feels like heaven on my hair, and bonus, if you take a bath with this in your hair by the time you get out and rinse, this stuff has turned crispy locks into enviable hair by all.  It's not too pricey, lasts forever, and needs to be in everyone's hair arsenal.  I should really write a full review on this stuff, it's just that amazing. 

Wella Calm Treatment: For those of you with irritated scalps, this stuff is a dream.  It has zero smell, and is the first thing I turn to when my scalp starts to turn against me.  It's moisturizing but not greasy like you would expect it to be.  It actually feels like it forms a barrier to keep moisture in, while at the same time soothing any current irritation.  I've always had a pretty sensitive scalpand can never find anything that works to make it better, so when I picked this up on a whim and it worked, by golly I was just floored.

Do you have any holy grail favorites for haircare?  Any suggestions on others products for me to fall in love with?

Sephora Trip and Great Customer Service

Warning:: This post contains a lot of words, not a lot of pictures, and one kick ass customer service experience.  If all of these things appeal to you, read on!

So the other day I ventured out with a friend and we somehow ended up at Sephora.  I was really excited to pick up my favorite eyeliner again and get my friend hooked on the Sephora Cream Lip Stain.  What I was not excited about was how absolutely overwhelming Sephora can be.

A few minutes into our trip we were greeted by an associate who works there named Beatriz.  I was thrilled at how thorough she was with out consultation, and how knowledgeable she was.  She also gave her opinion, which let me tell you, both me and my friend were more than thrilled to hear.  After about thirty minutes into the consultation we stopped playing around with lipsticks (I totally got my friend hooked on the lip stains by the way) and we switched over to face mode.

Apparently I am not as pale as I though.  When I was color matched (that color matching machine is amazing and I want one) I was the shade IR06.  It is apparently code for "not as pale as snow white, but still pretty darn pale".  Being that I was on the hunt for a new foundation, this knowledge made me feel invincible!  Now I know my shade!  IR06!  Wait.. that's not a shade that I've ever heard of. This can't be right... Oh but it is my friends, it is so very right.  You just type it into the little Sephora machine and it tells you what shade you are in EVERY FOUNDATION EVER!  Well, every foundation that carries your shade that lives in Sephora.

After I got color matched Beatriz listened to my skincare woes (coverage, blemishes, meltdown face, weird application issues).  Not only did I end up with the most amazing foundation ever, I also found out the solution to my makeup meltdown issue.  My friends, let me just say, if you ever find yourself with makeup meltdown, just dust some setting powder like the Bare Minerals Mineral Veil, and you will be set! Pun intended.  If you are ever in the Northern Virginia area and happen to need to go to Sephora, go see Beatriz.  She will knock your socks off, empty your wallet, and you will want to hug her she's so amazing!

Now that you guys know how amazing Beatriz is, how awesome the color matching machine from Sephora is, let me tell you about the few things I picked up that have been my favorite products these past few weeks:

Urban Decay Naked Skin in the shade 3.5-  Can I drool over the interwebs?  I am obsessed with this foundation.  It's medium coverage, a little watery which makes it a dream to apply, and feels like nothing on your skin.  I had co-workers ask if I was going bare faced, it's that good at mimicking your skin.  That and this is the first foundation that has ever matched my skin so well I actually get sad taking it off at night.

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil-  Love this stuff.  Best twenty something dollars I've ever spent.  I can't believe I've never tried this before, and never want to be without it again.  No more makeup meltdown, no more streaky face, no more weird patchy skin where the foundation has "disappeared".  Need I say more?

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper-  Holy grail eyeliner.  Holy freaking grail.  The applicator is a brush, not a nib or a felt tip, but a darn brush.  It gives the most precise line, lasts for ever, and when it does come time to take it off it comes right off with makeup remover like it was never there to begin with.  I've repurchased this about three times now, and even though I went a few months without it I finally feel like it's back home on my dresser where it belongs.

Samples-  The fresh face cleanser is still un-opened (super lazy with packets over here), but the Dior perfume is almost gone.  It smells like Soap and Glory Hand Food Hand Cream, so if you love that smell as much as I do, go get yourself a sample!  Or a bottle!  And maybe one for me while you're at it.

Disappointing Product: RevlonColorstay Liquid Eye Pen in Black

I really don't like being a negative nancy.  I try to like everything, I really do, but when I try something and it immediately disappoints me, I can't help but cry a little inside.

Recently my favorite black eyeliner dried up *Insert sobbing here* and I dug through my stash to try and find a suitable replacement until I could get to Sephora to buy a new one.  None of the options I have made me the least bit happy, so on a trip to Target I picked up a promising looking eyeliner.  Keep in mind I said promising looking.

 

Well hello Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen!  Nice to meet you.  You look very promising.

 

Does that look promising to you? No.  The top line took me three swipes, and the bottom line is just one swipe of the pen.  I was really disappointed to say the least. It looks almost gray on my skin, the nib is too large to get a thin crisp line, it bleeds like a son of a gun, and even my boyfriends said "well that's no good" when he saw it. 

I wore it today for work and it bled wherever I put it on my eyes, even over eyeshadow, and the nib really bothered me because it was so large. I had a really hard time applying it and it looked like a hot mess. 

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, and even went so far as to tell a co worker not to ever buy it.  

Have you ever tried this eyeliner?  Tell me how you liked it.

Have We Found A Dupe For Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie in Get Ready?

Have you ever found a lipstick and fell in love with it, only to have something catastrophic happen to it like lose it or break it?  I have, just recently actually, and it was absolutely devastating.  The lipstick in question is Bare Minerals Marvelous Movie Lipstick in Get Ready.  It was so devastating I went out of a mission and could not get my little mind to calm down until I rectified the situation.  First I thought, well maybe I should just buck up and buy another tube.  Then I thought, well if the first tube is any indication of what might happen to my next tube, maybe I should try and find a dupe, and I succeeded!

Look at that color match!  Near perfection.

This folks is what happens when you live in a humid and hot state that is unforgiving in the summer months.  Your poor baby lipstick just melts and breaks and gets everywhere.  Such a heartbreak.  Sorry for the bad picture, even my lipstick is ashamed to be seen in it's disheveled state.

This is the dupe!  Wet and Wild lipstick in the shade Wine Room.  It's the perfect mauvey pink for my skin tone and looks like "my lips but better".  The formula is different, but nothing I dislike enough to ditch the dupe.  The Bare Minerals lipstick is creamy and glides on your lips like butter, and leaves an almost glossy finish to your lips.  The Wet and Wild version is more of a matte finish which can either be left on its own, or finished off with a gloss if you're into the shiny lip thing.  Me being more of a matte girl likes the matte finish just a little bit more, but you do need a really good exfoliation before you put this on your lips like with any other matte lipstick.  The wear time is good for both lipsticks as both are fairly pigmented, and both face nicely (AKA don't leave a line around your lips reminiscent of cherry koolaid). 

It took everything in me not to leap for joy when I found out this was a dupe, and for a fraction of the price it's a huge steal.  

What types of dupes do you go crazy for?

Sephora Cream Lip Stain

Or as I would like to rename them "Forever Lipstick". 

Sephora Cream Lip Stain

First Impression: Pretty pretty pretty I want them all. 

 

After Application:  Not drying? Check.  Lasts through drinking coffee? Check.  Looks fan-freaking-tastic?  Check check check!

Overall: The display is part of the larger Sephora Collection display, and it took me a minute to locate the Cream Lip Stains, but as soon as I started swatching I was drawn in and couldn't just walk away without getting one, or two. I picked up two shades- Always Red and Endless Purple.  I already have too many red lipsticks but I couldn't resist a smudge proof formula, and the purple is deep and rich and perfect for winter for me.  I swatched every color they had available and almost walked away with Strawberry Kissed as well, but I stopped myself, this time anyways. 
The formula glides on super smooth, and you really only need one coat they're so opaque.  I found that applying more than that made the stain roll up and bunch on my lips which is a big no no. They're not drying, but I would still recommend prepping your lips by exfoliating and using a thick balm beforehand.  The color lasts through absolutely everything, and while it isn't the easiest to take off it's well worth it. I found that soaking a cotton pad in makeup remover and holding it on your lips for a few seconds does the trick.

 

Repurchase: Uhm yes.  Yes so much.  So much yes.  I am absolutely positively in love with these. Strawberry Kissed is next on my "what beauty product do I want to splurge on" list.  My only hang up is the shade range, which I hope will expand into even more amazing long lasting colors.

 

Have you tried these holy grail lip colors?  

NYX Butter Gloss in Apple Strudel

Can I just say this little beauty may have started me on my summer lip color binge?  Not only that, but it also may have officially converted me to a lip gloss girl?

NYX Butter Gloss in Apple Strudel

First Impression: Eh, another gloss.  I like the color, I've heard good things about this, but eh, its another gloss.

 

After Application:  What?  I like this.  I like the color, I like how it feels, I like it.  Dare I say I love it?  I love it.

Overall:  I know, I know, all really big claims for such a little tube, but it's true!  I've been trying to avoid lip color this summer, silly me, but after getting this NYX Butter Gloss in my June Ipsy Bag I've been craving a little bit of color in my everyday.  Now to the claim this may have been the gloss to convert me to a gloss girl.  It's not another sticky goopy messy gloss like the others in my collection.  It's smooth, doesn't make everything stick to it, doesn't attract my hair like a magnet, the color is just enough to make a statement without looking overdone, and it's just glorious.  

Repurchase: I would.  Maybe in a more mauve pink color, but I would. 

 

It's opened my eyes to how wonderful a good gloss can be and how much I've been missing by avoiding a good lip color.  Do you own any of the NYX Butter Glosses?  What shades do you like the best?

Nicka K Shimmer Eyeliner in Green

Who's ready for a review?

 

Nicka K Shimmer Eyeliner

First Impression: Shimmer eyeliner?  Is this gonna flake off and get in my eyes?  Is this going to make me look like a disco ball?  Is this stuff even going to work?  I'm concerned.

 

After Application:  Mermaid.  I feel like a gosh darn mermaid.  Where has this been all my life?

Overall: At first I thought the idea of shimmer eyeliner was a little absurd.  Who is going to wear green shimmery eyeliner after the age of 13?  Me, that's who.  This makes me feel spunky, and pretty, and it brings out the green in my eyes, and I love it. The formula goes on a little thin at first but two swipes and it's fully opaque.   It can be a little tricky to apply if you try to get a fully opaque line in one try, but if you go slow and draw the outline first and then fill it in the payoff is amazing.  I included a picture of the applicator so you guys could see what it looks like.  It's plastic/silicone and it's surprisingly not as hard or hurtful as I initially thought.  It leaves a precise line that's comparable to a brush if you learn how to work it correctly. I also included a picture so you guys can see that this can actually be made into a wearable look (this liner is the one on my top lid with the Kat Von D Tattoo liner in Trooper in a very thin line under it, and on the lower lash line is the butter LONDON Wink eye pencil in inky six.)  I've dubbed them mermaid eyes.  I'm obsessed, don't judge me.

 

Repurchase: I would.  I think that for the price (I found the range for $2.99 a piece HERE) this stuff is more than worth it.  It's perfect for summer, they have some darker shades I can see myself pulling off in the winter, and I am more than impressed with this product.  

Are you a fan of shimmery/bright liner?  Do you have any suggestions on what brands to try?

Phytokeratin Hair Mask

Review Time!

PHYTOKERATIN Hair Mask

First Impression: Yay! Metal tube!  I love these things.  Generous size, I'm liking everything so far.  I think we will get along nicely hair mask.

 

After Application:  Smells kind of chemical-ly.   I hope it fades pretty soon.  Man my hair feels weird.  It feels really thick and heavy.  I hope this fades soon too. 

Overall: Now I know some people would be like "hey, you have thickish nice fluffy hair, you don't need this stuff" to which I will respond "my hair is fried, I look like a lion, my ends are thin and crazy, I do what I want".  Unless it comes to this product, where I in fact don't do what I want, I stay away.  Now for people whose hair responds positively to thickening masks and what's in this product, you'll love this stuff.  The chemical smell fades after your hair dries, it leaves your hair fuller and noticeably seals the cuticles, but for my hair type and with the way that I like to leave it to air dry, we did not get along.  My hair was thicker yes, but that led to it also being fuller, bigger, and generally harder for me to manage.  It also made it impossible not to wash my hair the next day it looked so greasy.  Maybe if I straightened my hair after I washed it I would like this product, but I don't do that, and now that it's almost 100% humidity all day long straightening this mess is not an option.

 

Repurchase: No.  I love hair masks and have three currently in my shower being rotated around, and this sadly did not agree with my hair.  I would recommend girls with very thin or fine hair to give this baby a try because it really does thicken your hair, it just wasn't for me. 

What are some of your favorite hair masks? 

Sonia Dakar Flash Facial: Not The Typical Review

So I'm not one to post a review in haste, or before I've given a product a fair shot, but this had to be done.  If you're in for a nice gushing review, look the other way.  If you're ready for the truth (Or my opinion), here it is.

Sonia Dakar Flash Facial

First Impression: A facial in under five minutes?  No crazy prep work?  I'm excited for the promise of a lazy kids pamper sesh.

 

After Application: Oh god. What is that smell? Did I put vodka on my face? Why does this hurt?  What have I done?

Overall: First off this smells like vodka.  Cheap awful vodka.  It's pretty overwhelming to be honest and very off putting.  If it wasn't for the promise of nice smooth happy skin I would have washed it off right then.  It dries very quickly, which kind of diminishes the smell but not entirely.  When it's time to take the mask off you're supposed to rub your face in circular motions.  It sounds easy, but it's like putting glue on your skin and rubbing it off, it's painful and time consuming.  It pulled all the little baby hairs on my face and left my face red and covered in little balls of gel.  When I finally washed the little balls of gel off my face it felt tight and uncomfortable.  I have never felt anything like it before and for something promising a pampering experience I never expected it to turn out so backwards. It's not an experience I want to relive, and this sample is going straight into the bin. 

 

Repurchase: Goodness no.  This is terrible, and unless you like the feeling of ripping glue off your face.  I do not recommend this to anyone.

 I know this was a rough review but the whole experience from start to finish was not enjoyable. I hate to be so unhappy about the things I try out, and I usually don't write negative reviews, but I'm a firm believer in letting people know when things are downright unpleasant. 

Phone Case of The Month

So a few weeks ago I was parusing the many blogs I follow on Bloglovin and I saw a review for Phone Case of The Month.  I'm a sucker for an inexpensive subscription, as you may be aware, and was in the mood for something non-beauty related, so this really tickled my fancy and I signed up.  The subscription is available to the newer generation iPhones and the newer Samsung Galaxies. 

Around the first of the month I got an email letting me know my case was on its way and not only was I more than surprised at how quickly the case shipped out, I was even more surprised that two days later it arrived at my door.   

Now this is like any other surprise subscription where you don't get to choose your case, which for me is awesome because I can never settle on anything (ask the boy, he hates it, if it wasn't for him we'd never end up with something for dinner). It ended up working out really well and I got the case I was drooling over on the site!

 How amazing is that case? Not only is it super cute but it came in a pretty red bag to store it in when it's not being used.   The case itself is plastic, and unlike most other cases it leaves the top and bottom relatively open (awesome for charging and listening to music).  The case itself feels sturdy and is really soft which makes me happy because it no longer sticks to everything, like the inside of my pocket for example.   The design looks printed on the case and isn't 100% flawless around where the cutouts and buttons are, but that makes me like it even more. 

I love this subscription service and how it gives me the option to dress up my phone every month in a new case.  They also give you a rebate code when you sign up to give away to friends and family which will be at the bottom of this post.  I highly recommend using this service if you have one of the compatible phones.  You never know what awesome case you'll receive!

Phone Case Of The Month Code

I Won A Facebook Sweepstakes!

So a few months ago I entered a facebook contest raffle sweepstakes thing for what I thought was chocolate.  Dove dark chocolate to be exact.  Something I was very much looking forward to, and something that upon arriving at my door was completely different than I had imagined.

See, it looks like I'll be getting chocolate, and maybe some nail polish samples or something.

Ta Da! Not chocolate.  Not edible.  But!  Two full sized polishes?  What?  Yes my friends.  Two full sized, very dark chocolate inspired polishes arrived at my door.  The new Dove Chocolate line by Nicole by O.P.I.

Better after Dark (on the left) can best be described as a caramel red color which is shimmery and a perfect fall shade.   It's still a little sheer after two coats, but it's the nice kind of sheer.  The kind that looks intentional and not spotty.

Promises in the Dark (on the right) is a really nice dark chocolate color.  In some lighting it looks almost black, and in others it looks just like a bar of dark chocolate.  It's opaque after two coats and doesn't give you any streak problems along the way.

Both are beautiful colors for fall and winter, and I'm a little sad I got them towards the beginning of spring, but hey, polish lasts right?  

Oh, and a little update for those of you who don't follow me on social media (you should, I'm pretty cool), I got a new kitten!  Her name is Rosie, shes a six week old blackish brown stray kitten who I absolutely love with all my heart.  She's my little muse, and the thing that I can already tell will be turning my haphazard life around.  Maybe we'll even get more structure over here on Hey There Dollface.  She will be making her way onto this blog soon enough, promise!

Peter Thomas Roth Oiless Oil

I'm a recent convert to the glory of skincare and skincare products.  I spent years using only the St. Ives Apricot Scrub, the Clean and Clear Dual Action Moisturizer, and occasionally a spot gel for pimples.  That's it folks.  Nothing else made it past the first use before being given away or hidden in the back of the medicine cabinet.

As a result of this recent conversion I've been much more excited to try different skincare products, one of which I'm very very excited to share with all of you.

Peter Thomas Roth Oiless Oil

First Impression: Oh goodness, not another oil.  Wait, not an oil?  So it's like water then.   What the heck is squalane?   Only one drop?  Do they know how big my face is?  Jeepers.  Well lets see what this overpriced water can do.

 

After Application: Oh wow that's nice.  A little shiny, but it is more or less "oil" right?  I can't even feel it on my skin.  I hope this won't clog my pores and make me breakout tomorrow.

Overall: "Ding ding ding, we have a winner!"  I love this stuff.  It says it's 100% squalane, which is the stuff in your body that keeps all the moisture in your skin.  (oooh fancy)  It went on smoothly.  You really only need one drop of it and the glass pipette is just too cute.  It's a little hard to keep it on your fingertips to get it to your face, but if you get it right on the pads of your fingers you're golden. You can barely feel this on your face, and it doesn't get your hair stuck in it or leave a residue on things like most "oils" do. It also hasn't broken me out any of the times I used it and left my skin feeling soft and happy after. I have a hard time using another moisturizer in place of this, but for me I find it's really spectacular to use at night so it gets to sink in.  That and it's too darn sunny not to wear an SPF during they day here, and that plus this would be far too much.

 

Repurchase: Yes.  Guaranteed.  It's $38 for a full sized container, but if it replaces all the other moisturizers I have it will be well worth it.  Especially with how little you have to use to cover your whole face it will last quite a while.

Laura Gellar Cream Eyeshadow in Silver Sands

Who's ready for a nifty new product review??  ::Raises hand excitedly::

I recieved this Laura Gellar Cream Eyeshadow in Silver Sands in my Blush Box and I can honestly say I've never been more shocked to love a product in my life.

First Impression: Erm is silver appropriate for spring?  Should I really be wearing this all over my eyes?  Is this too much?  I literally have five minutes to get out the door and I have eyeliner to put on, this will have to work.  This isn't as silver on my skin as it looked in the tube, but I still liked the color.

 

After Application: Huh, this lasted all day.  There was no creasing to speak of and after nine hours at work on a humid day it still looked like when I first applied it.  It's a little sheer but very build-able for all over lid coverage.

 

Overall: I think this would be really nice in the corner of my eyes, or underneath another color as a base.  I never expected to like this product, but I do very much. It's not an everyday product, and it's messy to apply, but for special days or days I have extra time the results are pretty fantastic.

 

Repurchase: No.  Even though I don't have a negative thing to say about this eyeshadow I just know after the tube is finished I won't be longing to have it in my arsenal again.  I am such a powder shadow, quick swipe on the lid person.  

Blush Mystery Beauty Box May 2014

The first week of the month is always my favorite time of the month.  Not because all my bills get paid and I stop worrying about it, or the fact that it's one month closer to my birthday.  It's because my Blush box comes in the mail and I always drool over the things I get.

Bioxidea Miracle 24 Hand Mask-  I got another mask like this, but for your face, which I have not yet tried, because I can't justify using a $25 mask for no good reason.  I don't have the smoothest lady hands, but with spring coming I might just get over myself and try it.

Peter Thomas Roth Oilless Oil- Apparently this is an oil, but not, but it's supposed to be good for your skin, and does not contain shark (erm...).  That's what the bottle says anyways.  I like it.  No smell, cute little dropper, large little bottle. I'm sold.

Glo Minerals Blush in Bare/Hibicus-  These colors wouldn't be something I picked for myself but I will definitely give them a try.  Maybe if my face gets a little tan I won't look like I stood in the wind on top of a cold mountain for hours like most blush does to me.

Laura Gellaar Cool Lids Cream Eyeshadow in Silver Sands- I usually run away screaming from liquid eyeshadows like this, but this really intrigues me.  It says silver but comes off like a nice taupe on my skin.  With a primer I can see this being a springtime favorite.

Purlisse Pur Moist Hydra Balance Moisturizer- I think I already have this.  I don't know if I actually need another moisturizer but maybe, just maybe, I can convince my boyfriend to use this.  Fingers crossed people.

Miracle Skin Transformer for your Face-  I have a few of these.  They aren't anywhere near my skintone.  Or anyone's I've ever seen before.  I don't like it and if I never get another one I will be the happiest person ever.

Overall I think the high end items I got make up for the two I'm not super happy about.  I can't wait to try all of this stuff out and hopefully find something to share with you guys!