I have pot to share with you all today. LoL.
Specifically, I have this little pot to share with you, the Glitter Pot that came in my December 2011 Julep Maven "Bombshell" box. Isn't it cute? And sparkly? I tried this out with Demi as an accent nail earlier this week. It looked super festive and pretty.
The way that I found works best for a cute little glitter pot like this is to take it in your fingers and sprinkle it on the wet polish of whatever nail you want. Then, you should wait (as I did not) for the polish to completely dry, then add topcoat. I was impatient, and ended up with Demi-covered glitter.
The nails with the glitter did tend to peel more than those that did not have glitter, but I again used the mysterious Julep fast-dry topcoat that may be responsible for peeling...
Please, Julep, put these on sale! I would pay a lot for them. They're a really nice little product, and I want to try the others!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Polish Review - Julep "Demi"
I have a polish that I have worn a few times this month. This one, Demi, came in my December Julep Maven "Bombshell" box. :)
Here, with a flash, you can see it (11) with a little bit of shimmer. :)
As you can see, it is a fairly bright burgundy, though a lovely color. Everyone knows I can never keep my hands off anything in the dark crimsons + burgundy family, so this was a welcome addition and my favorite choice out of all the Maven selections for the month -- and I already am a Bombshell! :)
Now, Demi does seem to have a mystery around her.
... where is Demi?
She's not under reds, pinks, purples, or anything else on Julep's website. Is she an unreleased color? Out of stock? Discontinued? Where is Demi? LoL.
Demi lasted pretty well. It tends to peel, though, and it peeled in some spots pretty quickly. I did apply it this time over my Color Club basecoat, though I think the first time I wore it, I put it over the Nail Therapy one. Both times I used the Julep fast-dry topcoat that also came in my Maven box. Now my topcoat is slightly tinted Demi. Haha. I am kind of tempted to try it over a tried and true polish and see if it makes that one peel as well. Short story: I love Demi, but I'm not sure about this topcoat buddy she brought along. But that's a review for another time...
Overall, I am really glad I picked this color out of my Maven choices. :)
Here, with a flash, you can see it (11) with a little bit of shimmer. :)
As you can see, it is a fairly bright burgundy, though a lovely color. Everyone knows I can never keep my hands off anything in the dark crimsons + burgundy family, so this was a welcome addition and my favorite choice out of all the Maven selections for the month -- and I already am a Bombshell! :)
Now, Demi does seem to have a mystery around her.
... where is Demi?
She's not under reds, pinks, purples, or anything else on Julep's website. Is she an unreleased color? Out of stock? Discontinued? Where is Demi? LoL.
Demi lasted pretty well. It tends to peel, though, and it peeled in some spots pretty quickly. I did apply it this time over my Color Club basecoat, though I think the first time I wore it, I put it over the Nail Therapy one. Both times I used the Julep fast-dry topcoat that also came in my Maven box. Now my topcoat is slightly tinted Demi. Haha. I am kind of tempted to try it over a tried and true polish and see if it makes that one peel as well. Short story: I love Demi, but I'm not sure about this topcoat buddy she brought along. But that's a review for another time...
Overall, I am really glad I picked this color out of my Maven choices. :)
GoGoGirlfriend - December 2011 Sample Box
Hey, guys!
Who else is incredibly glad that 2011 is almost over? This year was... ugh. Summer was pretty fun, but I wish all the rest could get a do-over. There isn't much worse than feeling like ten months was wasted!
Soooo, today I have a new subscription box for you all to see. I have the December (?) sample box from GoGoGirlfriend. Some of you know that I have had some frustrations with this company, mostly based on the shipping schedule compared to when I started paying for the box. I subscribed in early November, did not get a box shipped until December 06, and now I am still waiting on another box, since I signed up for the "a box every month" option. I'm not horribly pleased at this point, though I have not contacted them regarding my concerns yet. I am going to wait another month and make sure that they do not bill me again before I have received two boxes.
On to the box itself, though...
It's a cute little box, and I would say it's worth the half-of-$12.99-every-other-month that I paid for it.
What all is here?
1. Camille Beckman - "Mango Beach" Gift Set - $9.95
2. OluvFresh - Face and Body Scrub - $5.50
3. Blossoms Cosmetics- Eyeshadow - Dreamy Girl - $5.95
4. Elf - Eye Shadow Crease Brush - $1.00
5. Issey Miyake - "A Scent" Eau de Parfum - $1.00
6. Crystal Essence - Pomegranate Mineral Deoderant Towelette - $0.50
Approximate value - $22.00.
Not too bad, as you can see, though I am not sure I would have spent $22.00 on these products. I am looking forward a lot to trying the eyeshadow and Oluv scrub, and you should get reviews on all of the other products (except for the towelette, which is getting stuck in my purse for an emergency!) soon. :)
Who else is incredibly glad that 2011 is almost over? This year was... ugh. Summer was pretty fun, but I wish all the rest could get a do-over. There isn't much worse than feeling like ten months was wasted!
Soooo, today I have a new subscription box for you all to see. I have the December (?) sample box from GoGoGirlfriend. Some of you know that I have had some frustrations with this company, mostly based on the shipping schedule compared to when I started paying for the box. I subscribed in early November, did not get a box shipped until December 06, and now I am still waiting on another box, since I signed up for the "a box every month" option. I'm not horribly pleased at this point, though I have not contacted them regarding my concerns yet. I am going to wait another month and make sure that they do not bill me again before I have received two boxes.
On to the box itself, though...
It's a cute little box, and I would say it's worth the half-of-$12.99-every-other-month that I paid for it.
What all is here?
1. Camille Beckman - "Mango Beach" Gift Set - $9.95
2. OluvFresh - Face and Body Scrub - $5.50
3. Blossoms Cosmetics- Eyeshadow - Dreamy Girl - $5.95
4. Elf - Eye Shadow Crease Brush - $1.00
5. Issey Miyake - "A Scent" Eau de Parfum - $1.00
6. Crystal Essence - Pomegranate Mineral Deoderant Towelette - $0.50
Approximate value - $22.00.
Not too bad, as you can see, though I am not sure I would have spent $22.00 on these products. I am looking forward a lot to trying the eyeshadow and Oluv scrub, and you should get reviews on all of the other products (except for the towelette, which is getting stuck in my purse for an emergency!) soon. :)
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Product Review - Julep "Everyday SPF Hand Cream - SPF 30"
I have another product from Julep to share with you guys today. I have the "Everyday SPF Hand Cream - SPF 30," which I think came in my October Maven box. I was a horrible blogger all those months ago (lol) so I didn't do a complete post on the whole box at once.
The smell is not too bad, though the SPF adds a little bit of the "sunscreen" scent, though I cannot complain given what it is doing for my skin. It has a nice texture, again with a little bit of sunblock quality, but hey, it is a great product. I have not seen any drying of my hands from using it.
I will more than likely buy another of these when mine runs out. I am liking it for fall+winter -- I might need my Neutrogena SPF 90+ for spring+summer because I am transparent and vampiric -- but for now, it's in my "using daily" stash. :)
Giveaway Alert!
For those of you Julep fans out there, Beauty Tidbits has a giveaway up for a box! Go ahead and take a look!
http://beautytidbits.com/2011/12/julep-maven-sneak-peek-box-giveaway/
http://beautytidbits.com/2011/12/julep-maven-sneak-peek-box-giveaway/
Julep Maven - December 2011 "Bombshell"
A few weeks ago, I received a Christmas present in the mail!
... I mean, my Julep Maven box. :D
I stuck with Bombshell for this month, tempted though I was by the appliqués of some of the other boxes. But most of you know that I cannot get enough of rich burgundies and crimsons, and since Demi was one the polish of the month, I was lost in its creamy burgundy-ness. Also, and maybe someone can prove me wrong, but I imagine appliqués do not work so well in little, not-grown-out nails? I want to try them... but when I have some visible nail line. ;)
Soooo... I got...
OMG, the prettiness. I just love how it all color-coordinates... both with the items themselves and their wrapping and, magically, my couch!
So I received the polish, Demi, their fast-dry topcoat, a pomegranate body crème, and a special little glitter pot. I am not too lotion-happy, but this smells divine, and I was fortunate enough not to have mine leak at all!
So that's my December box. As always, it was just lovely. :)
... I mean, my Julep Maven box. :D
I stuck with Bombshell for this month, tempted though I was by the appliqués of some of the other boxes. But most of you know that I cannot get enough of rich burgundies and crimsons, and since Demi was one the polish of the month, I was lost in its creamy burgundy-ness. Also, and maybe someone can prove me wrong, but I imagine appliqués do not work so well in little, not-grown-out nails? I want to try them... but when I have some visible nail line. ;)
Soooo... I got...
OMG, the prettiness. I just love how it all color-coordinates... both with the items themselves and their wrapping and, magically, my couch!
So I received the polish, Demi, their fast-dry topcoat, a pomegranate body crème, and a special little glitter pot. I am not too lotion-happy, but this smells divine, and I was fortunate enough not to have mine leak at all!
So that's my December box. As always, it was just lovely. :)
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Conscious Box Giveaway Winner!
I drew today for the Conscious Box winner!
Yay!!! Congrats to Federica!
I am so excited to have hosted this giveaway for you guys and I hope that you had fun too. :) Thank you all for participating! I hope to have something else coming up soon!
I will contact Federica and if I do not receive a reply, I will re-draw on Friday. :)
Yay!!! Congrats to Federica!
I am so excited to have hosted this giveaway for you guys and I hope that you had fun too. :) Thank you all for participating! I hope to have something else coming up soon!
I will contact Federica and if I do not receive a reply, I will re-draw on Friday. :)
Monday, December 26, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Julep Giveaway!
Good morning, darlings!
Don't forget that Julep is running an amazing full-color set giveaway on Facebook!
Also, if you follow somebody's link to get to the giveaway, you give me a shot at winning a Julep Maven subscription for life, lol. Polish pix forever for you!
Don't forget that Julep is running an amazing full-color set giveaway on Facebook!
Also, if you follow somebody's link to get to the giveaway, you give me a shot at winning a Julep Maven subscription for life, lol. Polish pix forever for you!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Product Review - Supersmile Professional Whitening Toothpaste "Cinnamon Burst"
I have another old Birchbox trial for you guys today! I have a special toothpaste from Supersmile for you guys this morning.
This came in my November Birchbox, and I have been using it on and off (mostly as I have reached for it half-awake in the mornings, lol). Mine came in the flavor "Cinnamon Burst."
This is a nice little product. I liked my sample of it, and I am really excited to maybe try out the Green Apple flavor as well. I suppose I should not be seduced by the flavor as opposed to the product, lol, but green apple anything (hello, Mr. Smirnoff) makes me a happy girl.
I did not really notice any real difference in my teeth using it, though I am not the best for dental habits admittedly, and I also had to rotate it with a regular, super-sensitivity-inhibiting toothpaste too because otherwise I can't eat anything cold or even mildly sweet.
Cute Birchbox sample, though I think I would have to see them release a sensitivity + whitening toothpaste to jump over to it. Still, I a really intrigued by an apple-flavored toothpaste, as Birchbox has on their site! Am I oblivious to this being a huge trend?
Monday, December 19, 2011
Product Review - Julep "Nail Therapy"
It is with sad regret that I announce the death of my first bottle of Julep's "Nail Therapy" treatment/basecoat.
I loved using this product underneath all of my manicures, and I am grateful to my little bottle for months of great work! Hopefully I will be able to pick up another one soon -- this is the best product I have found as a basecoat, especially for my Maven reviews. :)
My Julep "Nail Therapy" lasted from my first Julep Maven box, months ago, and came with me all the way into this holiday season. This is an amazing product.
You can use it, as the website suggests, either as a separate "therapy" treatment or as a basecoat. It dries really quickly -- I would often toss on a coat of this before I headed out for the day, and then actually polish my nails over it that night. I also could always tell if there was a nail that missed its Nail Therapy basecoat, because polish would not adhere as well, and the nails often would be weaker.
This is also a great choice to solidify a small tear in the nail. In some ways it seems more solid than even a mere nail polish, but it is super thin and does not overly build up a manicure.
My only comment to frequent users of this product is that you should be very careful to seal your bottles carefully between uses to preserve hydration. Near the end of my bottle it got it a little bit gummy, probably because I am the worst at sealing my polish/treatment bottles.
I loved using this product underneath all of my manicures, and I am grateful to my little bottle for months of great work! Hopefully I will be able to pick up another one soon -- this is the best product I have found as a basecoat, especially for my Maven reviews. :)
Giveaway Alert - Meisie's Nails!
There are lots of wonderful holiday/follower giveaways running right now! Take a look at this nice one from a pretty blog - "Meisie's Nails"!
I love Catrice products, but I rarely find them in the US. Head to her blog to enter!
I love Catrice products, but I rarely find them in the US. Head to her blog to enter!
Polish Review - Zoya "Holly"
I have a beautiful nail polish to share with everyone today! I have Zoya's "Holly" from their Holiday 2011 "Gems and Jewels" collection. I would have chosen this one myself, but it was sent to me in my November 2011 Birchbox as a half-sized sample. I may have to buy the full-size eventually -- it's beautiful!
Forgive the dent (in #15) -- I think I may have smacked my nail wheel against the desk right after I swatched it.
As you can see, I do not have anything in my collection quite like "Holly."
I wore it as a pedicure color, since I wanted to get a good feel for how long it wore. It lasted fairly nicely, though I admit that I rarely am as much of a stickler for chipping or "mushing" on toes as I am on fingers. It is a fabulous color on, and looks great.
As a caveat, it takes forever to dry. I think I may have given this an overnight between coats, and the second coat still started to gum up a little bit. Definitely not a quick manicure, but so worth it once it is on and where it is supposed to be!
I also bought "Twila" from this collection from Birchbox when it had free shipping. Overall the collection is very original and very, very pretty.
You can really see the depth and texture of this polish, even in the bottle. I love greens and blues like this -- I think this one honestly looks like a true emerald green.
As you can see, I do not have anything in my collection quite like "Holly."
I wore it as a pedicure color, since I wanted to get a good feel for how long it wore. It lasted fairly nicely, though I admit that I rarely am as much of a stickler for chipping or "mushing" on toes as I am on fingers. It is a fabulous color on, and looks great.
As a caveat, it takes forever to dry. I think I may have given this an overnight between coats, and the second coat still started to gum up a little bit. Definitely not a quick manicure, but so worth it once it is on and where it is supposed to be!
I also bought "Twila" from this collection from Birchbox when it had free shipping. Overall the collection is very original and very, very pretty.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Product Review - Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Makeup Primer in Bronze
Hello, everyone!
I have a product from my October 2011 Birchbox to share with you. I received a small tube of Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Makeup Primer in the "Bronze" shade.
Although I know better, since I have no real facial bone structure to speak of without it, I rarely wear a blush or bronzer/sculptor product. I am so glad that I received this product, because now I most definitely do, and I can definitely tell that my beauty regimen is improved because of it. I have worn it both under my foundation, as it is supposed to be worn, and on top as more of a blusher.
I have more bluish undertones than golden, but this works very well overall. I am glad that I had the chance to try it, and I finally look like I have some cheekbones! I will definitely be repurchasing this once I run out of my trial.
I have a product from my October 2011 Birchbox to share with you. I received a small tube of Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Makeup Primer in the "Bronze" shade.
Although I know better, since I have no real facial bone structure to speak of without it, I rarely wear a blush or bronzer/sculptor product. I am so glad that I received this product, because now I most definitely do, and I can definitely tell that my beauty regimen is improved because of it. I have worn it both under my foundation, as it is supposed to be worn, and on top as more of a blusher.
I have more bluish undertones than golden, but this works very well overall. I am glad that I had the chance to try it, and I finally look like I have some cheekbones! I will definitely be repurchasing this once I run out of my trial.
Conscious Box - December 2011
I have a special treat for everyone today!
Like I mentioned on Facebook, it has been a sort of horrible past couple weeks for me. I endured through finals week, only to get knocked out with a serious infection and an even more serious allergic reaction to the antibiotics they gave me to knock out the infection, lol, so I have not been really lucid since December began.
That apology out of the way, I have something to share with you that should have been posted a few weeks ago, but it's getting love now. I have... the December Conscious Box!
This was a product sent to me for review. I am vegetarian, and I was really impressed with their mission -- and by the chance to try a lot of nice products that are the kind of things I would be very tempted by if I were at Whole Foods or a co-op.
As you can see, this box is jam-packed with goodies!
The following treats were included in my Conscious Box:
1. Yummy Earth - Lollipop in Pomegranate Pucker
2. Reserveage - Red wine antioxidant tablets
3. Mineral Fusion - Body cream
4. Amazing Grass - Superfood boost
5. Dr. Tungs - Toothbrush sanitizer
6. Yogi Tea - Tea sampler
7. Berryplus - Laundry soap
8. Dropwise - Aromatherapy sampler
9. Chimes - Ginger candies
10. 22 Days - Mocha bar
11. Eat Cleaner - Food wipe
12. Earth Friendly Products - Non-toxic air-freshener with cinnamon oils
13. Sparklehearts - Lotion
14. Justin's Nut Butter - Almond Butter sample
15. Sacred Mountain Herbs - Soap samples
Conscious Box costs $19 a month, including shipping. You can also buy extended subscriptions for a little bit of savings. :)
This is really an amazing subscription. I have multiple monthly beauty/product subscriptions, but I think this one might be one of my favorites by far. I love the treats -- I'm just hoping that they keep them all vegetarian like this month's was! I just signed up, too, since this first box was provided to me for free.
I plan to review many of these products over the upcoming weeks, though there are a few, like the toothbrush sanitizer, that I plan to hold until I travel or otherwise may need them a bit more.
And don't forget, guys, if you are hooked, you can enter to win a beautiful free Conscious Box at my giveaway until the day after Christmas!
That apology out of the way, I have something to share with you that should have been posted a few weeks ago, but it's getting love now. I have... the December Conscious Box!
This was a product sent to me for review. I am vegetarian, and I was really impressed with their mission -- and by the chance to try a lot of nice products that are the kind of things I would be very tempted by if I were at Whole Foods or a co-op.
As you can see, this box is jam-packed with goodies!
The following treats were included in my Conscious Box:
1. Yummy Earth - Lollipop in Pomegranate Pucker
2. Reserveage - Red wine antioxidant tablets
3. Mineral Fusion - Body cream
4. Amazing Grass - Superfood boost
5. Dr. Tungs - Toothbrush sanitizer
6. Yogi Tea - Tea sampler
7. Berryplus - Laundry soap
8. Dropwise - Aromatherapy sampler
9. Chimes - Ginger candies
10. 22 Days - Mocha bar
11. Eat Cleaner - Food wipe
12. Earth Friendly Products - Non-toxic air-freshener with cinnamon oils
13. Sparklehearts - Lotion
14. Justin's Nut Butter - Almond Butter sample
15. Sacred Mountain Herbs - Soap samples
Conscious Box costs $19 a month, including shipping. You can also buy extended subscriptions for a little bit of savings. :)
This is really an amazing subscription. I have multiple monthly beauty/product subscriptions, but I think this one might be one of my favorites by far. I love the treats -- I'm just hoping that they keep them all vegetarian like this month's was! I just signed up, too, since this first box was provided to me for free.
I plan to review many of these products over the upcoming weeks, though there are a few, like the toothbrush sanitizer, that I plan to hold until I travel or otherwise may need them a bit more.
And don't forget, guys, if you are hooked, you can enter to win a beautiful free Conscious Box at my giveaway until the day after Christmas!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Conscious Box Giveaway!
Hey guys!
I wanted to remind all of you that I will be extending my Conscious Box giveaway to the day after Christmas! I hope you enjoy the extension.
To enter, fill out this form:
I wanted to remind all of you that I will be extending my Conscious Box giveaway to the day after Christmas! I hope you enjoy the extension.
To enter, fill out this form:
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Conscious Box Giveaway!
Hey guys!
I have something special for you guys today. I am hosting a giveaway of a Conscious Box!
This is a beautiful new company with a great mission that is very new. I received one of their boxes to review earlier in the week, and as soon as finals are done, I will be sharing my box with all of you and looking through all of the goodies in that box a couple at a time. But trust me -- it's amazing, and filled with products that are great both for you and for the planet.
Each person will get an entry for each of the following things:
1. "Follow" the blog.
2. Like the Caryatid Couture Facebook page.
3. Comment on this blog with what you like out of the Conscious Box on the website or from my blog once the entry for the December box is up.
4. Get a friend to "like" the page and/or "follow" the blog.
Entries will be accepted until December 26, 2011 at 11:59p Mountain time. This is -2 from Eastern. Winners will be selected at random and emailed, then I will pass along your contact information to Conscious Box so you can get your freebie. :)
Make sure that you are 18 or have permission to enter, don't whine, and have fun. Otherwise, enjoy!
I have something special for you guys today. I am hosting a giveaway of a Conscious Box!
This is a beautiful new company with a great mission that is very new. I received one of their boxes to review earlier in the week, and as soon as finals are done, I will be sharing my box with all of you and looking through all of the goodies in that box a couple at a time. But trust me -- it's amazing, and filled with products that are great both for you and for the planet.
Each person will get an entry for each of the following things:
1. "Follow" the blog.
2. Like the Caryatid Couture Facebook page.
3. Comment on this blog with what you like out of the Conscious Box on the website or from my blog once the entry for the December box is up.
4. Get a friend to "like" the page and/or "follow" the blog.
Entries will be accepted until December 26, 2011 at 11:59p Mountain time. This is -2 from Eastern. Winners will be selected at random and emailed, then I will pass along your contact information to Conscious Box so you can get your freebie. :)
Make sure that you are 18 or have permission to enter, don't whine, and have fun. Otherwise, enjoy!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Giveaway Alert!
Hey guys!
Just to let all of you know, one of my favorite blogs, All that is Gorgeous, is doing an awesome giveaway for getting 100 followers! Go here to sign up!
Just to let all of you know, one of my favorite blogs, All that is Gorgeous, is doing an awesome giveaway for getting 100 followers! Go here to sign up!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Product Review - Chuao ChocoPod - "Firecracker"
Wow! I had an amazing Birchbox in November, I can't lie.
My "extra" for the month was a Chuao ChocoPod in the "Firecracker" flavor. I can't gush enough about how flavorful it was and how much I enjoyed this innovative food product!
It contains poprock-like candy, chipotle, and salt. It's definitely sweet, but so savory, too. Love love love. I just bought one of them in a full size, as well as another blog surprise for you guys to see reviewed soon. :) And here's the secret -- I don't even like chocolate! But this is so decadent and such a lovely product that I enjoyed it so much anyway I'd pay a full $6.00 for it. :D
Get one -- they're not THAT expensive, and you'll make some Birchbox points!
My "extra" for the month was a Chuao ChocoPod in the "Firecracker" flavor. I can't gush enough about how flavorful it was and how much I enjoyed this innovative food product!
It contains poprock-like candy, chipotle, and salt. It's definitely sweet, but so savory, too. Love love love. I just bought one of them in a full size, as well as another blog surprise for you guys to see reviewed soon. :) And here's the secret -- I don't even like chocolate! But this is so decadent and such a lovely product that I enjoyed it so much anyway I'd pay a full $6.00 for it. :D
Get one -- they're not THAT expensive, and you'll make some Birchbox points!
Product Review - Befine Lip Serum
Hey guys!
Today I have the Befine Lip Serum that came in my October 2011 Birchbox. I have been using it off and on for a few weeks to see how it worked.
As backstory, I have a love-hate relationship with lip gloss. I do not have sensitive skin at all, but I have strange, semi-allergic reactions to a lot of lip products -- but never lipstick. I think sometimes it has to do with the fact that I have an allergic to bee-products (bee wax and honey, chief among them), and a little bit of that can be hiding in the product.
This product does not have any bee-product, so I was in luck. :) I had a very, very slight chapping that started a week after I started to use it, but nothing like my usual "clown lips" reaction to most lip glosses/chapstick, so I can say that I can actually use this and may continue to!
On to what you guys actually want to know, since you don't have my bizarre reactions, haha. It has a mild "flour" taste which is actually very clean and refreshing. It also contains chamomile and beets, and is a very nice, natural product. I liked this a lot! I love Befine's "food skin care" idea, and I will probably pick this up in a full-size when I run out of my generously-sized sample.
A definite Birchbox winner! I was happy to try it.
As a note to other new Birchbox people, I am really disappointed to see that you cannot leave feedback for items once you receive a new box. :( This is a bad flaw -- I sometimes need more than a few weeks to really decide if I like a product. Bummer.
Today I have the Befine Lip Serum that came in my October 2011 Birchbox. I have been using it off and on for a few weeks to see how it worked.
As backstory, I have a love-hate relationship with lip gloss. I do not have sensitive skin at all, but I have strange, semi-allergic reactions to a lot of lip products -- but never lipstick. I think sometimes it has to do with the fact that I have an allergic to bee-products (bee wax and honey, chief among them), and a little bit of that can be hiding in the product.
This product does not have any bee-product, so I was in luck. :) I had a very, very slight chapping that started a week after I started to use it, but nothing like my usual "clown lips" reaction to most lip glosses/chapstick, so I can say that I can actually use this and may continue to!
On to what you guys actually want to know, since you don't have my bizarre reactions, haha. It has a mild "flour" taste which is actually very clean and refreshing. It also contains chamomile and beets, and is a very nice, natural product. I liked this a lot! I love Befine's "food skin care" idea, and I will probably pick this up in a full-size when I run out of my generously-sized sample.
A definite Birchbox winner! I was happy to try it.
As a note to other new Birchbox people, I am really disappointed to see that you cannot leave feedback for items once you receive a new box. :( This is a bad flaw -- I sometimes need more than a few weeks to really decide if I like a product. Bummer.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
A quick thank-you!
I just want to send out a huge thank you to The Trace Face Philes for getting a little bit of interest going in my blog!
I have a surprise coming up for you guys in a week or so, but right now, I want to let you know that I will be having an awesome giveaway (that relates to the surprise) for 100 followers, so get your friends following! I will announce it once I hit the magical three-digits, so keep an eye out! The first prize will be for a free month of a subscription to a beauty/lifestyle subscription box, but not one that you have seen before! Second prize will be a new Julep polish of your choice, currently available on the site.
Thank you all for your interest and lovely comments! You've made my weekend. :)
I have a surprise coming up for you guys in a week or so, but right now, I want to let you know that I will be having an awesome giveaway (that relates to the surprise) for 100 followers, so get your friends following! I will announce it once I hit the magical three-digits, so keep an eye out! The first prize will be for a free month of a subscription to a beauty/lifestyle subscription box, but not one that you have seen before! Second prize will be a new Julep polish of your choice, currently available on the site.
Thank you all for your interest and lovely comments! You've made my weekend. :)
Friday, November 18, 2011
Polish Review - Julep "Trina"
The last polish from the November 2011 "Polish Lovers" Maven box for you guys is Julep "Trina". Trina is a very pretty dark purple with a soft shimmer running through it.
The polish, shown here with a flash, is a very pretty color, though the shimmer is nowhere near as apparent in person. I ended up actually wearing it with a topcoat of Julep Vanessa in person because I wanted something a little bit more sparkly, and judging from the bottle, I was thinking Trina would be very sparkly on its own. No such luck. :( You can see this in the next photo, number 7 below.
Application wise, it's a little bit thick and difficult to get to dry. Because of this and its color, it reminded me a lot of China Glaze "Lofty Ambitions". While they are not dupes, they are definitely cousins. They are 7 and 10 in the next picture, just for comparison purposes:
It lasted very nicely, especially with the Vanessa as a top coat. There was very little chipping for the first couple days, though I must say that once it went, it was whole-nail flakes coming off!
Very pretty color. I like how Julep takes classic tones and makes them really special.
The polish, shown here with a flash, is a very pretty color, though the shimmer is nowhere near as apparent in person. I ended up actually wearing it with a topcoat of Julep Vanessa in person because I wanted something a little bit more sparkly, and judging from the bottle, I was thinking Trina would be very sparkly on its own. No such luck. :( You can see this in the next photo, number 7 below.
It lasted very nicely, especially with the Vanessa as a top coat. There was very little chipping for the first couple days, though I must say that once it went, it was whole-nail flakes coming off!
Very pretty color. I like how Julep takes classic tones and makes them really special.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Birchbox - November 2011
Hello, everyone! I am definitely running behind this month, but I have my Birchbox to share with you from this month. :)
Isn't it pretty? Minus the scratch from my scissors...
What are these lovelies?
I will have a complete review for each of these later, but right now you are seeing a prettily packaged...
1. Anastasia Beverly Hills | HydraFull Gloss in Sugar Pink
2. Harvey Prince | Eau Flirt
3. Supersmile | Professional Whitening Toothpaste
4. Zoya | Nail Polish in "Holly"
Treat - Chuao Chocolatier | Firecracker Chocopod
Wow! I've already tried out some of my box's products, and I have to say that they are amazing. I liked last month's box, but this one is awesome. I can't wait to see what December's brings!
Isn't it pretty? Minus the scratch from my scissors...
What are these lovelies?
I will have a complete review for each of these later, but right now you are seeing a prettily packaged...
1. Anastasia Beverly Hills | HydraFull Gloss in Sugar Pink
2. Harvey Prince | Eau Flirt
3. Supersmile | Professional Whitening Toothpaste
4. Zoya | Nail Polish in "Holly"
Treat - Chuao Chocolatier | Firecracker Chocopod
Wow! I've already tried out some of my box's products, and I have to say that they are amazing. I liked last month's box, but this one is awesome. I can't wait to see what December's brings!
Polish Review - Julep "Michelle"
Hello, everyone! I have another Julep polish for you guys today. This one is also from the November Maven "Polish Lovers" Box, which was released specially last month as a one-time option. It's a good thing, too! I probably would always pick that option and never try anything new out of Julep's wonderful products.
This is the dark navy blue creme out of the set:
The Julep is 15, in the middle. This is with a flash, and swatched next to Nina Ultra Pro "Sailor" on its left, which I thought might be more of a dupe than it really is.
Again, Michelle is on the left.
Finally, one without flash. You can see how dark this is! It's a black-at-a-glance for sure.
I lent out my OPI "Russian Navy" to a friend, but when I get it back, I will swatch them next to each other. I don't think they are dupes, but I know it's the only other dark navy in my collection.
This is a nice color to have; I think it's an essential for any woman because it is such a nice, basic color, and goes with so much. It goes on fairly easily, and it's only a two-coater. You could probably get away with one. There was some edgewear after a day or so, but it didn't start seriously chipping until I started picking at it on Day Three.
This is the dark navy blue creme out of the set:
The Julep is 15, in the middle. This is with a flash, and swatched next to Nina Ultra Pro "Sailor" on its left, which I thought might be more of a dupe than it really is.
Again, Michelle is on the left.
Finally, one without flash. You can see how dark this is! It's a black-at-a-glance for sure.
I lent out my OPI "Russian Navy" to a friend, but when I get it back, I will swatch them next to each other. I don't think they are dupes, but I know it's the only other dark navy in my collection.
This is a nice color to have; I think it's an essential for any woman because it is such a nice, basic color, and goes with so much. It goes on fairly easily, and it's only a two-coater. You could probably get away with one. There was some edgewear after a day or so, but it didn't start seriously chipping until I started picking at it on Day Three.
Polish Review - Julep "Diane"
Hello, guys! Today I have a polish from Julep, from the November "Polish Lovers" Box. I am so glad this month is almost over. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving break, but otherwise, I really can't wait to have this semester be in the rearview mirror. You guys will remember "Diane":
That murky and mossy green over at left? That's "Diane". :)
Here are some close-ups of the swatches of this polish. I wore it for about two days, and while it didn't chip too badly, I wish that I could say that the appliucation made me happy. The application was painfully bubbly. It was difficult to get it to dry, so it smudged and fingerprinted. I wasn't too happy with how it looked because of this, so I took it off pretty soon after I started to wear it. I'm not sure if it's just a really thick polish, or if something else is awry with it.
Number 9 is "Diane", followed by 10, "Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow."
Another interesting thing is that it is indeed a dead-on dupe for OPI's "Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow". You do not need both. The application may have been slightly better on the OPI, or I might have just been distracted and given it more time to dry between coats. Both polishes are definite two to three-coaters; one coat is a streaky green mess.
I love the color of the polish. It's chic and autumn and a beauty vampy green. I just wish it weren't such a bitch going on my nails -- it's pretty once it's there properly!
Here is one more odious photo for you guys: I have no idea how that hideous dent happened, and they look awful, but it gives you a better sense of the green and some of the mossy look with the flash:
You also can see that for some reason it was a dust magnet. Ow!
That's all for now -- look for "Diane's" sisters sometime soon!
That murky and mossy green over at left? That's "Diane". :)
Here are some close-ups of the swatches of this polish. I wore it for about two days, and while it didn't chip too badly, I wish that I could say that the appliucation made me happy. The application was painfully bubbly. It was difficult to get it to dry, so it smudged and fingerprinted. I wasn't too happy with how it looked because of this, so I took it off pretty soon after I started to wear it. I'm not sure if it's just a really thick polish, or if something else is awry with it.
Number 9 is "Diane", followed by 10, "Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow."
Another interesting thing is that it is indeed a dead-on dupe for OPI's "Here Today, Aragon Tomorrow". You do not need both. The application may have been slightly better on the OPI, or I might have just been distracted and given it more time to dry between coats. Both polishes are definite two to three-coaters; one coat is a streaky green mess.
I love the color of the polish. It's chic and autumn and a beauty vampy green. I just wish it weren't such a bitch going on my nails -- it's pretty once it's there properly!
Here is one more odious photo for you guys: I have no idea how that hideous dent happened, and they look awful, but it gives you a better sense of the green and some of the mossy look with the flash:
You also can see that for some reason it was a dust magnet. Ow!
That's all for now -- look for "Diane's" sisters sometime soon!
Monday, November 7, 2011
A Cosmetics Haul
Hi guys!
I had a little cosmetics haul, shamefully at Wal-Mart, the other day. I picked up a little bit of everything. :)
I picked up a few inexpensive nail polishes to swatch, as well as one of the Top Speed line by Revlon that I had been wanting. I also grabbed "Peacock Luster" in the Revlon Satin eyeshadows, an Almay purple mascara, and a new black eyeliner.
In spite of how properly Halloween-ish zombified I look, I did the mascara and eyeshadows for you guys to see -- the eyeshadow is done wet, damp, and dry from left to right.
Look for some reviews of the polishes soon! Comment if you want to see one sooner than the others! :)
I had a little cosmetics haul, shamefully at Wal-Mart, the other day. I picked up a little bit of everything. :)
I picked up a few inexpensive nail polishes to swatch, as well as one of the Top Speed line by Revlon that I had been wanting. I also grabbed "Peacock Luster" in the Revlon Satin eyeshadows, an Almay purple mascara, and a new black eyeliner.
In spite of how properly Halloween-ish zombified I look, I did the mascara and eyeshadows for you guys to see -- the eyeshadow is done wet, damp, and dry from left to right.
Look for some reviews of the polishes soon! Comment if you want to see one sooner than the others! :)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Product Review - Orofluido Elixir
Hello, everyone! Today I have a product that I sampled in my October 2011 Bircbox: Orofluido Elixir.
This is a beautiful product with a lovely scent. It is advertised as smoothing hair for shine and making it silky. It definitely does the latter, and I do think that I saw an improvement in shine.
This is a beautiful product with a lovely scent. It is advertised as smoothing hair for shine and making it silky. It definitely does the latter, and I do think that I saw an improvement in shine.
It also smells wonderful. Isn't that always a nice touch? It's oily due to the argan oil, but it isn't very messy, and it applies nicely. I'm sad that I have almost used up my bottle! I will definitely be buying a full-sized bottle of this. It's a really nice product and I enjoyed adding it to my beauty routine. I would recommend it to anyone with my hair type -- thick hair but fairly fine -- and I also would say it did not have any negative effects on my highlights, though it might have made them look a little nicer.
I applied it to semi-damp to wet hair, which dispersed it fairly nicely. With more of the product and less stuff going on, I would experiment more to see whether it's better if hair is on the dry or wetter side.
If you are interested in this or other Birchbox products, feel free to use my referral link to sign up. Thank you for reading!
Julep Maven -November 2011 "Polish Lover"
Hello, everyone! I have a package to share with all of you today.
Earlier this week, I received my Julep Maven box for November, 2011. Normally I'm a Bombshell, and while I liked the lipgloss and makeup bag combinations that they had offered, and I did like my nail polish color, but I didn't have the option of changing the color of the lipgloss, which I doubt would have gone very well with my skintone. Soo, I asked for a new shelf pull, and one of the new options they had was a special one-time "Polish Lover" option. In spite of liking the bag, I knew I had to go for that option!
This was a new style of packaging for Julep. Isn't it adorable? I love the little black fillings around the packaging case.
Here I included the special "Polish Lover" card that came with it. I'm always impressed with their presentation and their design team. So professional!
It came with three polishes. From left to right: Diane, Trina, and Michelle. It also came with three little samples of their glycolic hand scrub, SPF 30 hand cream, and the age-defying hand brightener. Since I already received the full sizes of all of these, I will be passing these along to my mother. :)
Swatches and reviews to come! I've already tried out Michelle, and I have a dupe in my collection for Diane, so keep your eyes out for my next posts!
Earlier this week, I received my Julep Maven box for November, 2011. Normally I'm a Bombshell, and while I liked the lipgloss and makeup bag combinations that they had offered, and I did like my nail polish color, but I didn't have the option of changing the color of the lipgloss, which I doubt would have gone very well with my skintone. Soo, I asked for a new shelf pull, and one of the new options they had was a special one-time "Polish Lover" option. In spite of liking the bag, I knew I had to go for that option!
This was a new style of packaging for Julep. Isn't it adorable? I love the little black fillings around the packaging case.
Here I included the special "Polish Lover" card that came with it. I'm always impressed with their presentation and their design team. So professional!
It came with three polishes. From left to right: Diane, Trina, and Michelle. It also came with three little samples of their glycolic hand scrub, SPF 30 hand cream, and the age-defying hand brightener. Since I already received the full sizes of all of these, I will be passing these along to my mother. :)
Swatches and reviews to come! I've already tried out Michelle, and I have a dupe in my collection for Diane, so keep your eyes out for my next posts!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Polish Review - Julep "Vanessa"
Hello again!
I have another Julep polish for you guys. This one also came in my October 2011 Julep Maven Bombshell box. Today I have "Vanessa" for you.
Vanessa is a really pretty, micro-glittery polish suspended in a clear base. It serves best as a topcoat, but I swatched it on its own below.
I think this picture is about 4-5 coats to get the maximum opacity that I could out of it, but as you can see, the glitter is really too fine for it to stand on its own and have full coverage. This picture does have a clear topcoat to bring out the glitter.
I like this polish a lot. When I wore it I wore it over an old, goopy, "never come off your nails" kind of L'Oreal white because it was the only white that I had. It never dried, but at least it was pretty until I had to take off the whole manicure. It looked like snow that has just melted a little bit, so at night it sparkles -- pretty!
Drying time is very quick on Vanessa itself, like any good glitter. It seemed like it wasn't very chippy, though I didn't get to wear it for very long before the bottom layer of white polish got squishy and started sliding off the nail. Ew.
My biggest problem with it is that it's a very goopy polish. For some reason this doesn't equal an impossible drying time, but it does equal going through a LOT of polish, very quickly! You can see that I've used almost a third of the bottle in the bottle picture above. I swatched it on the nail wheel, and I did a two-coat manicure. Eeps! I hope I don't have to buy another round of Van really soon. :(
Overall this is a pretty polish. I think I like it a little more than Chloe, which came in the same Maven box. This one is definitely easy on the application, and much more versatile.
I have another Julep polish for you guys. This one also came in my October 2011 Julep Maven Bombshell box. Today I have "Vanessa" for you.
Vanessa is a really pretty, micro-glittery polish suspended in a clear base. It serves best as a topcoat, but I swatched it on its own below.
I think this picture is about 4-5 coats to get the maximum opacity that I could out of it, but as you can see, the glitter is really too fine for it to stand on its own and have full coverage. This picture does have a clear topcoat to bring out the glitter.
I like this polish a lot. When I wore it I wore it over an old, goopy, "never come off your nails" kind of L'Oreal white because it was the only white that I had. It never dried, but at least it was pretty until I had to take off the whole manicure. It looked like snow that has just melted a little bit, so at night it sparkles -- pretty!
Drying time is very quick on Vanessa itself, like any good glitter. It seemed like it wasn't very chippy, though I didn't get to wear it for very long before the bottom layer of white polish got squishy and started sliding off the nail. Ew.
My biggest problem with it is that it's a very goopy polish. For some reason this doesn't equal an impossible drying time, but it does equal going through a LOT of polish, very quickly! You can see that I've used almost a third of the bottle in the bottle picture above. I swatched it on the nail wheel, and I did a two-coat manicure. Eeps! I hope I don't have to buy another round of Van really soon. :(
Overall this is a pretty polish. I think I like it a little more than Chloe, which came in the same Maven box. This one is definitely easy on the application, and much more versatile.
Polish Review - Chanel "Peridot"
I've been hinting at this for weeks and weeks, but.... I broke down and got a little box from Chanel. And what was inside this time? The object of all of my lust and desire itself: Peridot, from the Fall 2011 limited edition shades.
A little backstory on our romance? We first met in Zagreb at the same little salon I talked about a few months ago. However, Peridot was not yet on the market, so I got to try it out without being able to buy it, and went home with Black Pearl instead, haha. I then tried to order it a few months ago, only to find it was sold out. Then I made the mistake of checking back a couple of weeks ago, annnnnd...
Pardon the box's look of already having been raided. It was, hehe. And with Peridot and my little Eye Serum sample unboxed:
Peridot came along with two samples in all: a nice little to-go size of Vitalumiere Aqua in Beige Rose 30 (my color!) and Sublimage Eye Serum.
Peridot is a beautiful trichrome, flashing between a dark, almost jungle green, a burnt gold, and (especially in the bottle) a bright blue. It's hard as hell to pick up the jungle green on a camera, and nearly impossible to get that electric blue to come through on the nail.
Mmmm. Polish porn.
Application is really nice, and only the littlest bit brushstrokey. It also lasts a very long time once it's on the nail, with just a small amount of edgewear after some pretty rough treatment. It's a stunning polish, and it looks gold at first glance most of the time, but once you notice the multichrome, you can't stop looking at it!
I like Black Pearl a lot, but Peridot, my second Chanel polish, is just stunning. It was undoubtedly worth its price, and I think it will be sought after for a long, long time.
A little backstory on our romance? We first met in Zagreb at the same little salon I talked about a few months ago. However, Peridot was not yet on the market, so I got to try it out without being able to buy it, and went home with Black Pearl instead, haha. I then tried to order it a few months ago, only to find it was sold out. Then I made the mistake of checking back a couple of weeks ago, annnnnd...
Pardon the box's look of already having been raided. It was, hehe. And with Peridot and my little Eye Serum sample unboxed:
Peridot came along with two samples in all: a nice little to-go size of Vitalumiere Aqua in Beige Rose 30 (my color!) and Sublimage Eye Serum.
Peridot is a beautiful trichrome, flashing between a dark, almost jungle green, a burnt gold, and (especially in the bottle) a bright blue. It's hard as hell to pick up the jungle green on a camera, and nearly impossible to get that electric blue to come through on the nail.
Mmmm. Polish porn.
Application is really nice, and only the littlest bit brushstrokey. It also lasts a very long time once it's on the nail, with just a small amount of edgewear after some pretty rough treatment. It's a stunning polish, and it looks gold at first glance most of the time, but once you notice the multichrome, you can't stop looking at it!
I like Black Pearl a lot, but Peridot, my second Chanel polish, is just stunning. It was undoubtedly worth its price, and I think it will be sought after for a long, long time.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Birchbox - October 2011
Hello everyone! Today I have a post that should have been done a few weeks ago, but I have been insane with the amount of work I have had to get done, so fun work like blogging has had to go bye-bye. I'm also so behind on personal reading it isn't funny. At least the next few weeks should be a little less stressful!
That said, I have my October 2011 Birchbox for you today! I admit that I was a little skeptical of Birchbox, mostly because I haven't seen much in the way of nailcare in other recipients' boxes, but I have been trying to get better about establishing a beauty routine, and for that, Birchbox seems like the way to go! You can also review products on the website to get points to redeem for full-sized products.
So Birchbox was really aesthetically-pleasing in presentation. I was super happy with that the same way I was happy with Julep Maven. It comes in this pretty little box:
Inside all of the products were in pretty magenta tissue paper and there was even a nice little card with all of the information about the samples.
And the products themselves:
I plan to individually review these products both for my blog and for the extra Birchbox points, so check back for more information later!
Lastly, I went ahead and did a few swatches -- of the bronzer and of the lip serum. The bronzer is very, very dark for my skin. :( I'm hoping I can use it as more of a blusher than a true bronzer, since I wouldn't be able to put it on my face much unless I wanted to look like a tanning experiment gone really badly! The lip serum doesn't seem to have any color at all.
And I assure you that I actually am one of the living in spite of my skin tone. On the other hand, now everyone can see the bluish and slightly gold undertones I have.
That's all I have for now -- hopefully later I'll show you my Chanel goodies and my most recent cosmetics haul. :)
That said, I have my October 2011 Birchbox for you today! I admit that I was a little skeptical of Birchbox, mostly because I haven't seen much in the way of nailcare in other recipients' boxes, but I have been trying to get better about establishing a beauty routine, and for that, Birchbox seems like the way to go! You can also review products on the website to get points to redeem for full-sized products.
So Birchbox was really aesthetically-pleasing in presentation. I was super happy with that the same way I was happy with Julep Maven. It comes in this pretty little box:
Inside all of the products were in pretty magenta tissue paper and there was even a nice little card with all of the information about the samples.
And the products themselves:
I plan to individually review these products both for my blog and for the extra Birchbox points, so check back for more information later!
Lastly, I went ahead and did a few swatches -- of the bronzer and of the lip serum. The bronzer is very, very dark for my skin. :( I'm hoping I can use it as more of a blusher than a true bronzer, since I wouldn't be able to put it on my face much unless I wanted to look like a tanning experiment gone really badly! The lip serum doesn't seem to have any color at all.
And I assure you that I actually am one of the living in spite of my skin tone. On the other hand, now everyone can see the bluish and slightly gold undertones I have.
That's all I have for now -- hopefully later I'll show you my Chanel goodies and my most recent cosmetics haul. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)