FabFitFun - Winter Box Goodies

Last fall, I decided to stop my Birchbox shipments. No particular reason, I just wanted a change and had learned of the FabFitFun VIP Box. FabFitFun is a quarterly subscription box ($49.99/quarter) and it includes over $120 of the hottest of the season items from Giuliana Rancic and the FabFitFun team. This is the second box that I've received from FFF and so far I am really enjoying the goodies I receive! Below are the items that were in my winter box and a brief description/review of each: 

Winter Fab.Fit.Fun box (kitty not included)

Beauty For Real Lip Gloss in Light My Fire ($22) this is one of the products that makes you think, "Damn..why didn't I think of this?" The packaging on this item is awesome - the gloss has a mirror on the side of the tube and a light! In the tube, the gloss looks like it would be really dark which is not something I'd normally wear but when you put it on it's a pretty red/berry color. And it's a plumper...score! I am going to look into getting some other colors when mine gets low. This is a new brand for me, but so far I'm super impressed.

MeUndies Gift Card ($20) - I've never heard of MeUndies before - am I alone? As a loyal Victoria Secret undies girl, I wasn't too impressed with this item in my box. But, it's $20 so why not give it a shot. I went to the website and checked out the prices. Whoa.. 5 pairs of undies for $89?? I think I'll just buy one pair and see how that goes. They do have other items such as socks, t-shirts and pants that look pretty comfortable. A couple cool things about this company (a) they have a subscription service - underwear sent directly to your doorstep! and (b) free shipping..all the time

Skyn Icelandic Relief Eye Cream ($45) Again, another brand that I've never heard of (that makes 3/3 now) so far I'm loving this eye cream. It is really thick and really creamy but it feels light and smooth when you put it on. Another thing I love is that it feels so cool against your skin which is nice and refreshing. The cream is supposed to reduce puffiness, dark circles and fine lines, so far I can't really say that I've noticed a huge difference but it's only been a couple of weeks. I do remember to put it on every day, and there's not a lot of products I can say that with - that counts for something. 

NYX Eye shadow Palette ($8) A couple days before receiving this box, I had splurged and bought the Urban Decay Naked 2 eye shadow palette so I didn't experiment with this one for a while. I decided to try it out, and I like it OK - the colors are what I would have probably bought anyways but with the Naked 2 monopolizing all of my eyelid real estate, I think I'll tuck this one away for a while. 

Simple Foaming Cleanser - not pictured ($7.49) I love a foaming cleanser, and I am still using the one I received in my last FFF box (Bliss Oxygen Cleanser) but I am excited to start using this one. I have wanted to try the Simple products due to the fact they don't use dyes and keep things as natural as possible. 

Bioxidea Miracle 24 Face Mask ($20) I've never heard of this brand either but I am really excited about using this face mask! I was going to use it on the weekend but I think I'll wait until I have someplace important to go since it's supposed to make your skin look visibly younger - I need all the help I can get in that department. 

The Giving Keys Never Ending Necklace ($55) love, love, LOVE the idea behind this necklace! I have to admit that when I first got it I  wasn't sure if I would wear it, let alone give it to someone else. However, after doing some more research on it and thinking about the concept - I really fell in love with this idea. I also love the idea of this necklace getting passed from person to person. The company behind the Giving Keys employ people transitioning out of homelessness, how great is that?! The necklace I received is "Strength" so I'll make sure to pass it along when I come across someone who could use it. 

Lorna Jane Bracelet ($29.99) I wasn't familiar with this brand either (I must be really out of touch!) but after visiting the website, I like the items I see! The pricing is higher than my normal workout attire, but I could see myself splurging on some of these clothes. The bracelet is to be worn as a symbol of sisterhood, and to remind us to Move, Nourish and Believe - a wonderful message. The color is too bright for my taste, but I do really like it regardless. 
After visiting the website I am now obsessed with ordering the 2014 Move Nourish Believe Diary. With my FFF box, I received a 20% off coupon and the site has free shipping.

Physique 57 Online Classes ($25) This coupon is good for five online workout classes. I am pretty into my CrossFit/Running regimen now, but I can see myself using this for when I travel and I'm stuck working out in a hotel room. A great concept for those who don't/can't make it to a gym. 

TruEnergy Earbuds ($39.99) Who doesn't need another pair of earbuds? Don't know about you, but I keep losing mine or they get so tangled/quit working. I loved seeing this in my FFF box! I love the color (coastal) and they are comfortable and they work well. They also have the splitter feature so you can share your earbuds with someone else

The retail value of this box was $272.47!I would say the $49.99 was a good price as I'll use the majority of these items. 
I'm already looking forward to the next FFF box!

AJ

May Birchbox Review

Once again, I am posting a bit late on the May Birchbox. Upon opening this box, I was excited to see some brands that I have been wanting to try. 

Below are the contents that I received in the box for May: 

Kérastase Bain Chroma Captive - this shampoo states that it will offer protection to color-treated hair while keeping the color radiant. This was very timely, as I just got my hair colored and wanted to make sure I kept the color looking good as long as possible. I have been wanting to try this brand for some time, now but the products are a bit on the pricey side. I would say that I do really like this shampoo - it didn't give me Jennifer Anniston's locks or anything, but it did make my hair feel more smooth. The jury is still out on whether I'll purchase the full-sized version. Kérastase makes tons of other products so maybe I'll check out another line instead. 

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel - This organic line has been on my 'must try' list for a while now. I like the idea of using organic products and I've read good things about this brand. This peel is an alpha and beta hydroxy acid complex with apple, lemon, grape, raw sugar and willow bark. 

I really loved this peel! It goes on creamy like a moisturizer, and tingles a bit (which I love..makes me feel like it's working). You leave it on for 15 minutes and then wash it off. It left my skin feeling really smooth and tight. I am looking forward to doing it again (probably tonight!) I would like to buy the full-sized sample but it runs around $45 so I'll use up some of my other products first. This was definitely my favorite item in the box! 

Cargo Water Resistant Blush in Los Cabos- I wish I would have taken the picture with the cap off to show the color but it's a deep coral and very pretty. I have used it a few times, but it tends to go on a bit darker than I'd like so I have to rub some off after applying. There's a slight sparkle to it, but it's not too bad - you won't walk around looking like someone threw glitter on your face :) 

Coola Organic Sunscreen SPF 30 - I have my HG sunscreen (Elta) that I use, but I have used this a couple times so far - it smells delicious, like cucumbers. It goes on smooth and isn't greasy at all. I like the fact it is organic, but I love my Elta so much that it would take a lot for me to use something else. 

Hail Merry Macaroons - These vegan, gluten-free and raw treats came in the chocolate almond flavor. I love anything that is chocolate, and these were pretty good for being so healthy. :) I just had an actual macaroon for the first time (in Paris!) and they were like little pastel colored bites of heaven. These weren't bad, I guess I was just expecting something sweeter. I do like that these are vegan and gluten-free - if I had a bag of these at home I would totally eat them but I don't think I would buy them. 

So far, my three favorite products have been the Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel, Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Mask (I just bought the full-size from Ulta last week!) and the Marcelle BB Cream I reviewed in the March post. I should also mention that I received my first issue of Women's Health magazine that was offered in April's box and it was such a great issue! I'm really looking forward to my June box, which should arrive this week..whoot! 

-A

April Birchbox Review

I'm a bit behind on this post, but I wanted to make sure to do a review for April's Birchbox. As mentioned in a previous post, I subscribed to Birchbox back in March as a way to get a monthly gift of makeup, skincare and hair products (because who doesn't love getting 'fun' mail?). So far, I would say the small $10 per month price tag has been worth it. I do have to admit that I have been bad about using the products that I get but I am trying to get better at that so I can report back on what I liked/didn't like.

Below are the contents that I received for April: 

Caudalie Divine Oil - I feel like I am up to my eyeballs in different types of oils. I use olive oil to remove eye makeup, coconut oil for my lashes/eye area, Josie Moran oil on my hair so I have to admit that I haven't used this oil too much. When I have used it, it's been on my hair which is super dry and wouldn't look smooth even in if poured a whole bottle of oil on my head. Nothing miraculous happened after applying, unfortunately. However, I will keep using it in my rotation because it does have a good smell and is light enough where it doesn't make me feel greasy.

Nexxus Youth Renewal - I love hair products...maybe a bit too much. As mentioned above, my hair is super dry from all of the heating tools, coloring,  products, etc. This product is a shine-boosting serum that will revive dry hair and fight against the aging of your hair. I have to admit, I was really excited to get this sample because I've had some good luck with Nexxus products lately. This was just mediocre at best.. I did not see any difference in the way my hair looked or the amount of shine. :( However, I will see the sample out until it's gone.

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Anti-Shine Mattifier - It wouldn't be fair for me to say anything about this product since I've never used it. My face tends to be on the drier side than shiny, so for now it's in one of my makeup drawers waiting to be used. 

StriVectin Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles - I do like StriVectin's products, and I especially love any product that is going to promise the reduction of fine lines and puffy circles. I have used this a few times, it goes on smooth and isn't too thick - I can't really vouch for the diminishing of fine lines and wrinkles yet but I'll keep at it. The sample is a good size that should last quite a while! 

Welda Body Lotion - I'm not a huge body lotion fan (I know) so I haven't opened these yet. I am pretty intrigued by the different scents and I bet they smell really good. In my box I received Pomegranate  Wild Rose and Sea Buckthorn. 

Women's Health Magazine - I think in the April box, I was most excited to get this! It's a free year subscription to the magazine. I love magazines, although a lot of mine seem to go unread for a while. :) I especially love Women's Health so I'm anxious to get my first issue! 

As you can probably tell from my "meh" reviews, this wasn't my favorite box so far. I actually just received my May box yesterday (I said I was behind) and I was excited about the contents, so I am looking forward to that post which hopefully will be coming up soon! 

Update on a product received in the March box: 
I used the Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Mask and it is AWESOME. It makes your hair feel so soft and silky, not to mention the smell is like a vacation. I will definitely be purchasing the full size of this product! 

-A

2012 Product Review

Confession: I am a bit of a product-holic. I love makeup, skincare, and hair care products. One of my very favorite pastimes is to scour some of my favorite bloggers to see what they recommend, then review some more online, finally i go to Sephora and get samples to try them myself.I am not sure when this obsession with products started, since growing up and through my teen years I don't think I owned a bottle of foundation or knew how to properly apply eyeshadow (still struggle with this, by the way!) 
I was introduced to a lot of great products in 2012, some most of which have become staples in my makeup/skincare routine and I thought I would share (and yes, I realize this post is a bit late as we are already in February): 

                1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 

1. Clairsonic Mia 2

It took me a while to jump on the whole Clairsonic bandwagon. I just couldn't justify the cost of purchasing a device that a washcloth or $3 face brush could do. One day after talking with a friend about how much she loved hers I decided to at least do a bit of research. I have never been a stickler for washing my face at night (I know, I know...) and when I did I was sure that it wasn't as long or as deep of a clean as it should be. Nordstrom was having a sale one day and I broke down and bought it. I do love how I feel like my face gets a deep clean every time I use it. Have I noticed any miraculous transformations in my skin? Not anything drastic and I've been using it for at least 6 months. Because I do like how clean it makes my face feel, I thought it was list-worthy. 

2. Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara

if there are two products I love to buy, it would be mascara and lip gloss. I have an obsession with both and I'm constantly looking for the holy grail product that I'll use forever and ever. I would say this mascara has been a staple of mine for some time now, not to mention that it is a drugstore brand and retails for about $7 (holla!)

3. Make up Forever Aqua Rouge (in #2 Rosewood)

I love this lip stain/gloss combo. My friend in Austin let me try hers when I was there visiting and complimented me on how it looked so much that I was starting to get uncomfortable. ha..But for reals, this color will stay on your lips forever - I can put it on the am, drink my coffee on the way to work, drink water throughout the day - maybe put on another coat at lunch and it's still there when I get home from work. The gloss part does wear off a lot quicker, but that's OK. This has been my 'go to' for lip color since at least November of 2012. 

4. NARS blush - Orgasm

I finally gave in and bought this cult favorite! So glad I did, too because it is the perfect peachy/pink color and gives you that flushed, healthy glow. I was hesitant to spend over $20 on a blush (I've never been a big blush gal) but I think this one has turned me around and I can honestly say that I will be buying it again. 

5. Benefit's They're Real Mascara

See #2 above about the products I'm obsessed with. Normally, I don't like to buy pricey mascaras because (a) I feel like the drugstore brands are just as good, if not better and (b) you should throw mascaras out in like 6 months so why spend a lot of money on them?  This is a mascara also introduced to me by my Austin friend - she's a bad influence. Although, in her defense I am the one who introduced her to the magical kingdom of makeup known as Sephora... anyway, I digress... I love the way this mascara makes my lashes look longer and fuller. I am noticing that as I age my lashes are becoming more sparse so I will use just about anything to thicken those puppies up! 

6. Josie Moran's Argan Cleansing Oil

I've commented before on Josie Moran's products (specifically the argan oil I use on my hair) so when I saw oil for the face my first thought was, "oil? for your face? wouldn't that break me out?" the answer is yes, oil on your face is amazing. No, it will not break you out. This oil has such a hydrating texture and the best smell (although bitter taste if you accidentally get some on your lips..be careful!). I use it at night, just putting a small amount on my fingers then rubbing it into my skin. I then use my clairsonic to scrub my face and voila! Smooth, hydrated skin is yours. 

7. Butter London Nail Polish - Yummy Mummy

One day, when I was at Nordstrom minding my own business a sales lady came up to me and asked if she could get my opinion (whaa? this is a switch, but whatever) She asked which nail polish color I liked best on her - i guess these are the perks when you work in the cosmetic department. I was drawn to one color in particular because it was such a nice, neutral shade with just a hint of glimmer. Perfect for summer, but also great for fall/winter too. Anyway, I bought it that day and have been wearing it ever since. I will say that during the winter months I like to wear darker colors (OPI - You don't know Jaquues is a fav, as well as OPI Chocolate Mousse) so I don't break out the Yummy Mummy as often but it still remains on my 'list'! 

8. Philosophy Miracle Worker

Just to be totally honest and transparent, I have only been using this product for about 2 weeks now so I can't do a full review on it just yet. I bought it because I had been looking for a product with retinol in it to help with dullness and fine lines (and acne scars). So far, I like it OK. You use this particular product at night and just wipe the pad over your face. Easy peasy. I've read that it could make your face worse before it gets better, but since my face is pretty used to a lot of product and skin treatments it didn't do that for me. So far, i don't see any huge differences but I've been using it for a short while. Another thing to note, don't use it in conjunction with a glycolic face wash/product. Apparently the retinol and glycolic counteract each other...I typically use the Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic face wash so this was an important piece of info especially since neither product is cheap! 

Well, there you have it..my favorite products! However, since creating this list I did think of a couple other products that I have been using religiously and really like. Because of that, they deserve an honorable mention: 

Honorable Mention #1: organic extra virgin olive oil - yep..olive oil, like the kind you cook with. This stuff takes off eye makeup better than anything you'll ever use. Give it a try! Also, it is awesome because it is natural and cheap. I bought a huge bottle at Trader Joe's for like $6. You don't need a lot, just dab a corner of a cotton ball into the oil (I have a container I put some oil in) and swipe it across your eyes - you'll be amazed at how easy makeup comes off! 

Honorable Mention #2: organic coconut oil (are you thinking, "what is with this girl and her oils??") I've read about the benefits of coconut oil for some time - it does wonders for the skin, hair, nails, etc. I will do a coconut oil mask for my hair about once every couple weeks but I use it nightly on my eyelashes. I put some of the oil in a small container and every night i just rub them on my lashes. I read that it makes them grow and I think it really does! Even my coworker made the comment about how my lashes looked fuller! Also natural and cheap - a jar at Trader Joe's was almost $5. 

This was probably the longest post in all of blogging history! I hope this was helpful if you are trying to pick out some new products for 2013!

Sephora/Ulta Haul

Time for my next Sephora and Ulta haul!! Until last week, I was an Ulta virgin but now I can really understand what the hype is about. It's a Sephora and department store makeup section combined in one nice, neat, well-organized location *dreamy sigh*


First, from Sephora (and I guess it's not really a "haul" because I only got one thing and the rest were samples):


I received a sample of the Amazing Cosmetics "Amazing Concealer" from my last Sephora order. I know why it's called "Amazing Concealer". It honestly covers everything. Dark cirles? covered. Acne Scars? nope! I have olive skin and the medium beige worked well for me.

Amazing Concealer (Medium Beige)

Next.. a I got a sample of the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum. I had used this a few times in the past and I love it!! I used to just use it in the morning but I've been putting it on after using my PTR Max Correcting Pads

Ole Henrickson Truth Serum

I also received a sample of the Givenchy Photo Perfexion foundation - so, one thing you have to know about me is that I am not really a foundation type of girl. I just never feel like I put it on right, I'm always worried about the dreaded "line" on your face and not to mention most foundations make my face look cakey. I've always used Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer (in sand) but I fell in love with Givenchy's foundation..which kinda sucks because it's more expensive than LM. Sigh. This foundation goes on smooth and light. No cake-face!

Givenchy Photo Perfexion - Praline

 Time for my Ulta buys: 


I've been dealing with some cystic acne lately, mostly on my jawline and around my nose. I feel very fortunate that growing up and through my teen years I was blessed with good skin, however I feel like my good fortune back then is kicking me in the butt now. I didn't even know what cystic acne was until I read about another blogger raving about this product. After a few months of painful spots (and a few scars..ugh) I decided to buy this buffering lotion. This lotion is really runny, and smells like getting your ears pierced (strange, I know) but it does help...so far no breakouts! I don't use this every night, maybe every other night or so. 

Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion

Urban Decay eyelid primer...one of the holy grail items of many bloggers and eyeshadow lovers. I was noticing my eyeshadow creasing pretty badly throughout the day so I went ahead and bought this. I do like it a lot, and can see why everyone else does too. I read that this product is Urban Decay's best seller.  

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer

*all photos by www.Sephora.com*

Product RAVE!

I wanted to do a quick post about a couple of newly-purchased beauty products I love. First, as mentioned in an earlier post I bought the PTR Max Correcting Pads. I love them!!! I truly feel like my face is more clear and bright. Score!

image from sephora.com 

Second item I bought on a whim after reading about it on some blogs. It is Maybelline's Dream Bouncy Blush (in Peach Satin). Everyone commented on the texture - it's not a powder, but it isn't a liquid. It's almost like a silly putty consistency. Weird, but fun. It goes on really light - I personally like this, while others found it to be frustrating. I also apply this with my fingers, you can use a brush but IMO that would be more difficult. 

image from Maybelline.com