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?

I Must Apologize

I'm here to say I'm sorry folks.  I've been on hiatus for about a month with no urge to blog, take pictures, or generally contribute to social media.  I got a case of the winter blues and decided to go out into the world and start enjoying it instead of hiding behind a computer screen.

That being said I realized some things.  I realized how much I like writing, how my life is much more than makeup, and how Its Poker Dollface is about to go through an overhaul.  If you want to see not only makeup but DIY tutorials, random adventures, the occasional poem or chapter in a miniseries (hint hint), or videos (hint hint) stick with me and enjoy the ride. If not I understand and hope we can still be friends.

Sometimes growth is about shedding old skin to make way for the new beauty underneath to flourish.

Birchbox November 2014

Birchbox is hitting it out of the park this month with it's subscription boxes.  There maaaay have been quite a few pig squeals happening when this box was opened.

All the things.  All the beautiful things.

Not Soap Radio Lemon Body Wash-  This smells like lemon candies and makes me one very happy little lady.  This will be perfect for this summer on a lazy day.  Who doesn't want to smell like candies?

Folle de Joie Perfume-  This smells like spring to me.  Fresh, happy, and lovely.  I'm still stuck in my musky winter manly scents but come spring I will definitely break this baby out.

Color Therapy Styling Oil-  I am always looking for the next best hair product.  I love that it works with colored hair, it's a light oil, and it doesn't have an offensive smell.  As soon as this winter static stops plaguing my hair I will definitely be trying this.

The Balm Mary Lou Manizer- This rose gold highlighter is not only adorably packaged but also one amazing product.  It's a "lit from within" kind of shine and it goes perfectly over any color blush.

Eslor Firming Day Cream-  This smells JUST like you would expect a facial cream you find in your grandmothers makeup drawer.  For that reason and that reason only I will not be using this.  It will be going to my mom.  Maybe she can stand the smell.

The one thing I didn't individually photograph were the coconut chips.  They were really good, as I find most coconut chips are, but they made me horribly sick.  I don't think it is a flawed product, I just think I can't eat coconut like that anymore.

I absolutely loved this whole box.  It gets an A from me.  Even with the smelly lotion I still loved everything enough to give it high marks.  

Are you subscribed to Birchbox yet?  You should be!

Blush Mystery Beauty Box November 2014

Everyone ready for the glory that was this month's Blush Beauty Box??

I know I am!

 Look at that haul!  It really is the month of giving isn't it?

Nuxe Purifying Mask-  I really needed a good face mask in my life and this is just what the doctor ordered.  It has a non offensive smell, and promises to clear out the mess that is my face right now.  To add to the glory that is this face mask?  It's French.  Nuff said.

Traditions by Nick Chavez Prickly Pear Restoring Mist-  It claims to liven up sad and depressed hair, which I must admit mine is this time of the year.  I'm not too intrigued with the word prickly being one of the ingredients, but momma always said never judge a book by its cover, or title, or something along those lines.

Lauren B Beauty Nourishing Hand Cream-  I am not usually a fan of gardenia/peony/supercrazyfloral scents but this is amazing.  It smells diving, works like a dream, and will be put smack dab in the middle of my hand cream rotation this winter.

Julien Farel A2B Technology Anti Aging Hair Treatment-  Now I already have one of these in my shower for curly/frizzy hair that I received a few months ago in a Blush box and I love it.  It really turned around how my hair behaves and made my new growth so much healthier than it used to be.  Now I still have grays popping up all over the place so it won't stop those babies from taking over your life, but it will make them smooth silky and loveable.

Jane Iredale Eye Gloss in Aqua Silk- The only disappointment in the whole box was this baby right here.  You either got pink or blue and I got blue, which is honestly a color I will never wear more than once a year if that.Under the eyes, yes, but as a whole lid shadow? Nope.  This will be a gift to my momma for sure.

Miracle Skin Transformer Face Spotlight-  I never like this line when I receive it in a box but this might be different.  Its an illuminator which will be amazing for my dry winter skin.  

Skin Medica TNS Eye Repair-  I am always intrigued at eye serums, and use one almost every day, so this is a welcome member to my little eye cream family.  I've sneakily used this once and woke up with a bright happy under eye area so I can only expect good things from this in the future.

Cool Lids Eyeshadow in Silver Sands-  I have this, I love it, end of story.  If you are looking for a taupey silver eyeshadow that wont wander look no further than this little tube.

I am super happy about this month's Blush Box. I love almost everything and got so many cool little products to keep me happy all month long.  I give this box an A+ and hope next month keeps up with the momentum this box started.

Stiletto or Almond?

Hey there Dolls!

It's a new month and I'm already behind on posts!    To christen my November blog posts I decided to write about my biggest accomplishment of the month, doing my own acrylic nails.

I bought the acrylic starter kit from Sally Beauty (get the low/no odor kind, trust me on this), which is about $20.  I looked around Sally's for a good half hour before settling on this kit. It comes with absolutely everything you need to do a full set of acrylics for a fraction of the price you would pay by piecing the kit together or going to a salon every two weeks.

This is what the box looks like

This is what lives inside of the box

Next step after deciding what kit to choose was to pick the nail shape.  I chose stiletto nails for Halloween, but more angled at the top to look like claws.  It makes me think my inner spirit animal is a wolf or large cat.  Not only do I love how they look, but it's a huge confidence boost to have really cool nails that I did myself.

First Set of Naked Nails

Painted a Deep Burgundy

Set # 2

A Little More Pointed Like Swords

Helloooooo Gorgeous

Overall I love how they look.  They make me happy, proud, and confident.  

Now on to finding my perfect eye makeup!  YouTube tutorials watch out!

Ipsy Glam Bag October 2014

Even though Ipsy hasn't been blowing me away lately,  I can say this month's bag gave me some new favorite products.

Figs & Rouge Mango Mandarin Hand Cream-  It smells just like you would expect it to.  I was a little wary because I'm allergic to mangoes, but with no mango/mango derivatives in the ingredient list I quickly got over my fears and fell a little in love.  I did have a hell of a time opening this though so that was disappointing, but otherwise I love the packaging.  It reminds me of a circus in the 1900's mixed with the colors you would expect to find at a yacht club.

NYC Big Curl Mascara-  I am currently drooling big time over this mascara.  No flakes, the biggest bushiest wand you ever did see, and black as I don't even know what.  This stuff may not curl your lashes, but it separates them and makes them look super full which is fine by me,

H2O Face Oasis Hydrating Lotion-  I love H2O products. They all have this really clean, wet, calming smell.  I always find H2O to be gentle on my skin and perfect for when I just feel like I want to have a spa like experience without the heaviness of the products.  I think I will enjoy this.

Starlooks Lip Gloss in Guilty Pleasure-  It's the PERFECT shade for my lips. It's creamy and shiny and makes my lips look even and happy.  Huuuge winner in my book.  I may even have to consider purchasing a full size someday.

Skyn Iceland Facial Wipes-  The smell of these really turns me off using them. They are super effective, but the smell combined with how harsh the cloth is makes these the only item in the box I can officially say I wish I never received.

Overall I give this box an A.  I liked everything but the wipes, found two things I love and two things I like.  I was going to drop the grade to a B but I feel like the two products I love balance out my disappointment in the wipes.

How did you feel about this month's Ipsy Glam Bag?  Are you subscribed yet?

Birchbox October 2014

Birchbox has really stepped up their game lately.  If the past few month's didn't make me realize that, this box surely did.

And The Angels Sang

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Antioxidant Serum-  I love Paula's Choice.  I just started seeing a change in my skin and adding something like this to my regimen can only  be a positive thing.

Essential Elements Shower Gel-  This smells really fresh and the bottle is to die for cute. If all of my gels and potions and lotions came in bottles like these I would absolutely love it. This is the perfect size to travel, or when I'm feeling like a change of pace.

Dr. Brandt Vacuum Cleaner-  The name sounds extremely unappealing but the principle is intriguing.  I have a killer case of blackheads on my nose and chin and have tried a bunch of stuff to get rid of them.  Fingers crossed this will do the trick!

Lord and Berry Sparkle Eye Pencil-  I don't really like eyeliner so adding eye irritating sparkles into it makes me wary to say the least.  This may be a giveaway.

Lumesh Lipgloss- I don't know the shade name on this sample but it's right up my alley.  Pink, not too sticky, and no offensive smell.  The sample size is extremely small though which is a little disappointing but for the amount of time I will wear this it's more than fine.

This box gets an A, two thumbs up, and a hug.  Gimme more Birchbox!