GlossyBox August 2012: PURE LUXURY

This month's GlossyBox did not disappoint!  The theme this time is Pure Luxury and contains products for your hair, nails, lips and two for your face.  Near perfection! Great job GlossyBox!

As you can see there is something from Ellis Faas, Ole Henriksen, Touch in Sol, Biolage, and Illamsqua.

Touch in Sol: Feel Like Honey Moon Skin Base.  I had not heard of this product before and the packaging was intriguing. "All in one moisturizer and make up base." I thought it was going to be a type of primer, but it was more like a gel. Once it soaks into the skin, my face feels like new canvas and it does not leave any noticeable residue. Clean almost citrus scent and with tiny gold particles.  I have been using this and am very pleased.  Check out the website for more products!

This must be the most anticipated nail collection in quite some time! Illamasqua is not a nail polish or gel its a VARNISH! Beware it dries super fast and two coats will provide amazing color that doesn't chip and it comes in over 50 different shades! If you add a clear top coat you can go a week without seeing a chip.
I also had some difficulty removing the varnish too. Otherwise, its a great product line!

I was thrilled to see this since I've heard so much about Vit.C being so good for your skin, especially to diminish fine lines around the eyes. It has a nice citrus scent and quickly soaks into the skin.  The best part is a little goes a long way, but I can see myself buying more in the future.

Hair oils are being a dime a dozen now, but I was excited to see a sample of the Biolage Exquisite Oil Replenishing Treatment.  It tames frizz and fly aways while making my hair soft and shiny without weighing it down.  I use about 3 drops, rub it in my hands, and then my hair.  If you have fine hair 1 drop may be all you need!

I wasn't sure that to make of this!  I had not heard of this product before and it looks like a powerful silver bullet. Amazingly enough this is one of the best (if not the best) lip moisturizer out there. Its not thick and sticky, it is surprisingly light weight and the color can last for HOURS! Now, I wasn't thrilled with the color I received which is L209 that resembles well, light colored mud. However, my lips felt great, soft and velvety. 

 If I can find a more suitable color, like a soft pink then I will definitely purchase!

Oh! And don't forget to read this months mag with lots of insightful information and gorgeous photographs!

Let me know what you thought of the August box and what your favorite item is!

Beauty Bar: August 2012

While this wasn't my favorite Beauty Bar/Sample Society box, it does contain some awesome products!

At first glance I didn't know what to think because nothing super duper really jumped out at me.  But after taking a closer look I started to realize how cool most of the items are.

I love the Deborah Lipmann purple but wasn't sure if it was a color I could pull off, but I received so many complements on it that I don't think I'll be shy wearing it.  I do have to go shopping to find some blouses that match the color (yeah shopping)!

When you begin to enter your 40's all moisturizers are good, even for oily skin.  I have combination skin that leans toward more dry than oily.  This product goes into the skin and lasts all day without any skin irritations.

I have wanted to try this brand for a while now.  Its a great treatment you soak into the hair about 15 minutes and wash  it out.  I shower at night and allow my hair to air dry.  In the morning my hair is super soft and shiny!  Love this!

At first I wasn't sure what this was, but its a toner (Arcona) and a very good one with a soft cranberry scent.  It smells incredible and doesn't over dry my skin. I usually skip the toner due to my dry skin but this just may change my mind.  I also Love this one!

This is another product I had not heard of and its another moisturizer (when you are my age, no you cannot have too many) and I use it at night before bedtime.  Its a little runny and a little goes a long way.  I use it on my face and neck and I am very pleased with it.

Jane Iredale is a product I am becoming more and more familiar with and this thickening mascara is a little too thick for me.  I wear contacts and this sometimes gets into my eyes so I gave it to my teenager who sports with uber long lashes.  She loves it and doesn't leave the house with out it.

Overall this really is a great box with a nice variety of products to try and I can't wait to see what they come up with next month!

Glossy Box July Edition: Summer Nights

Its always a great surprise to receive Glossybox and see the wonderful items inside!  The glossy mag is full of wonderful products to try.  I just try to look at all of the pics before my teenager comes along and "borrows" the mag and will return it "in a minute" and I never see it again.  At least I can get the box to the bathroom, lock the door and enjoy the samples!!

This month's box does not disappoint!  It has everything you need to keep that summer loving going strong while looking fantastic! Goodies include Sebastian shampoo/conditioner, a wonderful hand and body lotion, a little something to help out with that pedicure, sexy summer lip gloss, and an eyebrow pencil to create those dramatic eyes like a Hollywood starlite!

Here you have fab basics to keep your glowing good looks including a great shampoo/conditioner to keep those locks healthy,

This luscious lather for your hands and body will keep the dry skin far away and out of mind.

Every girl should have pretty feet and if you don't have time for all of the fab nail art (would stick people look good on toes anyway?) then you can at least exfoliate and moisturize.  Strappy sandals or flip flops you'll look like you've just stepped out of the salon. I use this at night and love the non greasy feel!

Loose lips sink ships but not with this double whammy of sexy glittter sand colored lips gloss and sexy beachy sunset colored lip gloss. Each gloss can be used together or separately and the gloss lasts forever!

I've been reading a lot into eyebrows.  Why?  Well, normally its something I just do not put a lot of thought or work into.  Mine are somewhat thin, not much of an arch, and darker than my hair color.  To me they are easy to maintain and I think that's the way it should be!  However, they could use a little definition to become a bit bolder.  I was thinking of using an eye brow stencil.

Have you used one and what was the experience like?

Beauty Army: July Box

 I was very excited to receive my first Beauty Army box and to discover all of the goodies inside!  Its always nice to open up a box that says "Hello Gorgeous" (And that's what my hubby calls me-Gorgeous!) and shows a pic of a woman gazing out at the city and ocean!  Ahhh!

Overall, very happy with this box of 6 samples that I can use!  I'm skeptical of the dry shampoo but very happy with everything else.

This was not something I wanted but it kept coming up in my choices.  The list of ingredients is scary (Butane, Propane, SD Alcohol 40-B, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Isobutane, Cyclomethicone, Fragrance) and I saw this in a local drugstore for about $3.00. Dry Shampoos are becoming popular so I will give it a try. I am notorious for not washing my hair on the weekends to give my strands a break and this may be perfect if suddenly I need to assist a pal in retail therapy!

This is a great moisturizer what quickly absorbs into the skin and does not leave a greasy residue!  Within seconds you can apply your make up over it and remember a little goes a long way.  I don't like the scent and thankfully it does not linger.

I was thrilled to receive this and I have wanted to try a product from Cover FX for some time now. This is the "prep clear" primer that also fights acne!  It has a nice light scent, absorbs quickly and leaves a matte finish to apply your foundation or tinted moisturizer. I also want to try Cover FX's concealer to see if it will help even out my skin tone.

This tiny sample contains an emulsion cream that can do wonders for your complexion.  Not only does it reduce puffiness, hydrates, and exfoliates...it claims that sun damage will "virtually" disappear over time.  Since I have sun damage but not quite hyper-pigmentation I may purchase the full size to see if those claims are true! But it also depends on the definition of "disappear over time" is because my pocket book may not be able to afford 2 purchases since it is rather expensive.

I'm not a big fan of placing oil on my face since I am always trying to keep oil OFF my face.  It smells good and comes with a tiny dropper. I'm thinking this would be great with a facial while soaking in a deep, hot bath. (and maybe add a few drops to the water!)

Last but not least, this is actually my favorite item in the box. I don't usually wear mascara due to my contacts and allergies, but I've seen the NYX brand in stores and magazines and decided to give it a try. I have "La Amoureax" which is suppose to lengthen and curl my lashes.  I love the curved brush, no clumping or smearing and my lashed look great all day!

So what do you think of your July Beauty Army box and what goodies did you receive?

Birchbox Man: June Edition

This months box came with a lot of manly gadgets to play with, a sexy scent, a toothpaste whitening system that actually works, and a product to help with razor burn.

Normally I wouldn't give a hoot about an item that kept my cords separated or my earphones from strangling other items in my bag. However this is right up my hubby's alley and both have been keeping him busy for days.  I thought we were going to fight over the Supersmile toothpaste & accelerator since the sample was rather small. But in the end we shared and I liked it more than he did since he likes his teeth clean and I thought the whitening effect was pretty neat.

Hubby is always looking for awesome products that make shaving tolerable and the John Allan's Slickwater appears to be almost be a winner but with the sample being rather small he isn't sure he wants to invest in it just yet.

The big surprise was the CoSTUME National scent which was sexy, deep and exotic.  And we both liked it! I am a bit more picky about such things due to sensitivity to perfume/cologne (ie makes me sneeze which can disrupt an intimate moment) or the scent just lingers too long the next morning.  This is great outdoors where scents are slightly diluted and indoors in small doses or close proximity.

Overall this was really a great Birchbox Man month with a nice variety of products.  Will be anticipating what may be in store for next month and still hoping the sample products are slightly bigger.  I know it sounds like constant complaining, but it can be difficult to decide on a product sample you only get one or two uses from especially when it comes to determining allergies, skin irritation, breakouts or redness!