Beautiful Sunshine

Mary Kay Vox Box from Influenster (pic heavy)

2013-08-07T13:41:00.000-07:00

Hello Lovelies! Today I will be reviewing the Mary Kay Vox Box from Influenster.

The Box included:

Mary Kay Lash Primer - $15
Mary Kay Lash Love Lengthening Mascara - $15
Mary Kay Cream Eye Color in Violet Storm - $14
Mary Kay Cream Eye Color/Concealer Brush - $10
Mary Kay True Dimensions Lipstick in Rose Cherie - $18

Mary Kay Lash Primer - First off, I really like the brush. It's very "full" most primers I've tried come with a skimpy looking brush. Second, it's the only primer I've tried that isn't white. It's completely clear. However, I haven't really noticed a huge difference while using this. Below is a photo of my lashes with just the primer (sorry it's so blurry)

In the primer's defense, I have really light lashes so there's not much to see anyways. It does "lift them up" a bit, but that's pretty much it. I haven't noticed it making my mascara last any longer, but I don't really have a problem with smudging/running mascara in the first place. So overall, I'm pretty indifferent to this. Don't hate it, don't love it. I will use it when I want to "put forth extra effort" but I wouldn't cry if I lost it.

Mary Kay Lash Love Lengthening Mascara - This I really like. However, if you look at the photo below you will see that it is almost identical to the Covergirl Clump Crusher

The brush and the formula seem pretty similar. I will say though that the Mary Kay does give me a bit more length than the Cover Girl. But with the Mary Kay being $15 and the Cover Girl being only $5, I don't know if I would purchase the MK instead.

Excuse the sloppy application... I took the other photos a few weeks ago, but when I went to type this up I realized I had none of the products actually on, so I threw it on really quick to take one.

Mary Kay Cream Eye Color in Violet Storm - While I am definitely a more neutral girl, when I decide I want color, I always go for purple. So I was super excited to receive this! It is very creamy and easy to blend, but once it dries, it's not moving. It dries pretty fast, but not so fast that you don't have time to blend. My only complaint with this, and it might just be this color, is that it's not super pigmented. It looks it in the swatch, but I applied two layers to my lid, and it doesn't really look like anything's there...

So I would suggest using it more as a base instead of an actual eye color. I really want to try it under Wet n Wild's Kitten, but I haven't yet.

Mary Kay True Dimensions Lipstick in Pink/Rose Cherie - I will go ahead and admit that I am not a lip product person. I just can't pull it off. So I wasn't at all excited about this, especially when I pulled it out and it was bright pink. But it's actually wearable! It reminds me a lot of the Revlon Lip Butters. It's really smooth on your lips and it just leaves a slight tint of color. Now I don't think it's marketed this way, so if you bought it expecting a full on lipstick, you would be disappointed. But it could just be this shade. Below is a photo of it on...

It really reminds me of the Strawberry Shortcake Lip Butter from Revlon

And lastly, it came with a cream eye/concealer brush. This was probably the most exciting this for me because who doesn't love a new makeup brush? It's very sturdy and densely packed. I haven't tried it for concealer, but I have used it on cream shadows and it works amazing!

Well that is all I got in my box! If you got one, let me know below what you thought about the products, and if you got the same shades/colors as I did! Until next time, <3 Rebecca

Holly Jolly Christmas Tag!

2012-12-09T23:27:00.002-08:00

1. Do you start your Christmas shopping on Black Friday or wait until the last minute?

I normally start pretty early, but never end up finishing until the last minute. This year is looking to be the same way, seeing as it's already Dec 10th and I have only bought one present...

2. If you could be in any Christmas movie what would it be?

The Grinch!!! I would absolutely love to live in WhoVille!

3. Which do you like better: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Christmas Day. When I was little, I always loved Christmas Eve because we would always go to my aunt's house to open presents and pop fireworks, and it was super exciting knowing "Santa" would be coming later, but as I've grown up I am more partial to Christmas Day

4. When does your family put up your Christmas tree and who decorates it?

I always decorate it :) I've never had a set date, just whenever I get in the mood. Usually around the first week of December. This year I put it up in the last week of November.

5. White lights or colored lights?

White definitely for the tree. Outside lights can be colored as long as they're not blue. Don't get me started on my hatred of blue Christmas lights...

6. Are you guilty of peeking at your presents or do you like the surprise?

I prefer the surprise. One year (I was 13 I believe) my mother was gone for the day and I unwrapped all of my presents, then wrapped them back haha. Christmas morning definitely wasn't as fun because I already knew what everything was. Granted, I do normally pick out my own presents, but there are always a few surprises :)

7. Would you rather live in a gingerbread house or in Santa's Workshop?

Santa's Workshop! I just think of the movie The Santa Clause and how fun it looked

8. Tell us your Christmas Eve traditions!

As I said before, when I was little we all went to my aunt's house. We quit doing that around 3/4 years ago and started going to a cousin's house. We always go to my husband's family usually the day before Christmas Eve, or the day after Christmas.

9. If you could be under the mistletoe with anyone who would it be?

My husband I guess :)

10. What tops your tree?

An atrocious bow... Well, the bow itself isn't that bad. But the ribbon I did it with doesn't blend with the rest of the tree, and I couldn't get it in the perfect position. I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to Christmas decorations lol

11. Can you name the 12 days of Christmas?

I can do about 9...

12. Have you ever gone Christmas caroling?

No.

13. Do you countdown to Christmas? If so, how many days are left?

I used to have a countdown decoration, but I always forgot to change it...

14. What are some foods and treats you can count on having every holiday season?

Better Than Sex Pie! Omg it is so delicious! I will have to post the recipe one day. And of course the typical turkey/ham/dressing. I am a total pig around the holidays...

15. How has Christmas kept its magic for you as you've grown older?

I am the only one who tries to keep up the Christmas magic lol. If it was left to the rest of my family we probably wouldn't do anything. Even though I try to convince them that it's the most wonderful time of the year (also my fav Christmas song. Click it, you know you want to!), they don't see it like I do.

Beauty Bloggers Vox Box 2012

2012-12-04T00:06:00.002-08:00

I know it's been a while, but let me first say that I think 2012 is trying to kill me... Without a doubt, this has been the worst year of my life. My father got really sick in April and passed away on July 1st, my husband's Grandfather (who raised him and was essentially his father) passed away on November 2nd, then I came down with a sickness that I can only describe as the Plague. Okay maybe not that bad... 2012 can officially kiss my ass. If I make it to 2013, I will formally kiss it's ass :) But enough about my horrible year...

Today I will be reviewing/showing what I received in the Beauty Bloggers Vox Box. All in all, I was pretty impressed with it.

swatched over included primer

close up of the Illuminator

NYC IndividualEyes Eyeshadow Quad in Union Square for Brown Eyes - I actually already owned this exact one, so I used my old one for swatching purposes. I really like it! The bronzy shade is my fav! They are decently pigmented on their own, which is great considering it retails for only $4.99. Over primer, the pigmentation is awesome! It comes with 4 eyeshadows, a primer, and an illuminator. This was actually the first primer I ever used. It works pretty well too. It's great at making your shadows more pigmented. The lasting power isn't as good as some others I've tried, but you can get a good 6-7 hours with it. Or at least that is the case with the one I already own. When I bought mine they weren't labeled for brown/blue/green eyes. They may have changed the formula since then.

Kiss EverPro Lashes - I feel I must admit that I am not a false lash user. Not because I don't like them, but because I have never been able to get them to work. I figured since these came with a handy dandy applicator that I would have better luck, but alas I did not. So I can't really tell you that much about them :( They do look like they would be super dramatic/obviously fake when worn. The glue smelled like Elmers... not sure what that says. I wish I could tell you more, but I don't know what it is with me and lashes. I try to place them and it will not stay. I let the glue get tacky, but no luck. It will stick to the inner corner, then when I try to make it stick to the outer corner, it detaches from the inner. Maybe my eyes are just shaped weird *shrug*

Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin - I have used these before and let me tell you, they are amazing! No matter how thick your hair is, it shouldn't take more than two of these to make your hair stay up! I personally only use one... They last super long, and are super comfy! Love Love Love!

Not Your Mothers Frizz Control Hair Cream - I had a love/hate relationship with this. It smells amazing! It actually does reduce the frizziness of your hair. But it is so sticky! When my hair was wet, it was so bad that my hair actually stuck to my hands as I was trying to dry it. And you would think that maybe I put too much, but I only used about a dime sized amount. Once the hair is dry, I didn't really notice a stickiness. But it kinda makes the ends of your hair feel super dry. But once I straightened my hair, I didn't notice it. I don't know if it was my heat protectant that nourished it back to life, or if I got used to it...

White Barn Candle in Nutmeg and Spice - Not much to say about it except it smelled great! It didn't have as much of a scent throw as the bigger ones do, but for it's size it was pretty good.

Well that's all folks! There was also another one of the Eboost energy powder things that you add to water, but I forgot to take a photo of it. But since I already talked about it in the Naturals Vox Box post, it's all good :) Sorry once again for being so MIA this year :) I promise to try and make 2013 better! Until Next Time! <3 Rebecca

P.S. I wrote a post around the beginning of November that I just noticed I never published... My bad. Which is kind of a good thing cause after re-reading it, it's one huge ramble that makes absolutely no sense. I may try to salvage it, but basically it was just me saying that I'm currently doing a "use it up" project, where I'm trying to use up all the haircare/skincare/lotion I have accumulated. It's insane how much of a hoarder I am... So expect a few "recent empties" posts coming up soon :) That is all...

NOTD Zoya Caitlin

2012-10-22T12:13:00.000-07:00

Today I have a quick NOTD featuring Zoya Caitlin. This is one of those colors that I always hear about, but never purchased. Anytime I asked someone for a recommendation of what polish to get from Zoya, they always told me Caitlin. Looking at pictures (these included), I never saw what the big deal was about it. Just a regular bluish gray...
Well last time I ordered from Zoya I had to pick out 6 polishes (they were having a BOGO sale and if you had 6+ bottles you got free shipping. I started out with 4 but once shipping was added, it was only $2 cheaper than if I had gotten 6. So $2 for 2 more bottles sounded like a great deal to me...) After looking around the site and picking my fav's, and of course asking SayAnythingBr00ke what she recommended... which ended up being Zuza and Caitlin. So I figured what the hell! Everyone says it's awesome, and I do like gray...
OMG guys! This is the more perfect beautiful color ever! For some reason, it just does not photograph well! In person, it is kind of what you see in pictures, but so much more! It is gray, obviously, but there is also blue and purple if you hold it in the right light. In short (not that any of this was short) it is now in my top 5 polishes of all time! Seriously, so beautiful! So without further ado, here are the (not very accurate) photos!

Excuse my nubby nails... I had broken 4 nails in 2 days, so I got aggravated and filed them all down... and as you'll notice, I didn't apply my topcoat very carefully so there are some tiny bubbles. And this had been on for about 3 days by the time I remembered to take a picture...

Review: Alice In Wonderland EOS Balms

2012-10-14T17:39:00.003-07:00

Hello Lovelies! Today I will be reviewing the Limited Edition Alice In Wonderland EOS Lip Balms (found only at Target). When I first heard about these I was super excited :) NOt because I am a huge Alice fan, but because the flavors/scents sounded wonderful! Then I heard they were only at Target and cried a little inside because I live nowhere near one... But thankfully my little sister needed a Homecoming dress so I tagged along so that I could go to Target and try to find them! As you can see below, I was successful...

The back

It contains 3 flavors, Blueberry Potion, Watermelon Wonderland, and Sweet Vanilla Nonsense. I was most excited about Sweet Vanilla Nonsense, but as it turns out, it is my least favorite because it isn't very heavily scented...

Blueberry Potion - Probably my favorite. I was a little worried about this one because I don't like strong candy-like blueberry scents. But this, to me, smells like blueberry muffin batter. It's got the blueberry, but it also has a sweet bakery-type scent to it also.
Watermelon Wonderland - I was kind of worried about this one too because I am picky with watermelon scents also. But it has a nice smell, kind of like other watermelon lip products you see/smell. It also reminds me of a not as strong watermelon bubblegum.
Sweet Vanilla Nonsense - As I said before, this was the one I was most excited about, and if they had sold them individually, the only one I would have bought. Kinda glad they didn't because it kinda sucks. It smells very "plasticky". Once it's on your lips, you can kind of smell the vanilla, but not really. I am disappoint...

As for the formula, to me they are exactly like the other EOS balms I've tried. Probably not the best lip balm in the world, but definitely one of my favorites. Here are some more photos...

On the seal, they have a cute little Micky Mouse design, where the regular ones have just that little circle, without the ears. As seen on my Summer Fruit one...

Disney sticker on the bottom

My poor deformed Blueberry Potion. When I was trying to pull it out of the package, I didn't realize that I had unscrewed it some and when I jerked it out, the lid came off and my fingernail dug into it :(

When you get all the balms out of the packaging, and remove the plastic panel, there is a really cute picture inside. But somehow I forgot to photo it, and I have already cut it out and taped it above my vanity... I suppose I could have just took a picture of it on my wall, but I didn't think about it until now... It shows them all sitting at a table and says "Very few things indeed were really impossible". I love that :) If you would like to see how it looks you can visit Nouveau Cheap's blog about it. She had the sense to take a picture before cutting it up and taping it to the wall...unlike myself. Well that's all for now :) Untill Next Time <3 Rebecca

Naturals VoxBox 2012

2012-10-12T03:07:00.002-07:00

Hello Beauties :) I know I've been gone for a really long time... It's a very long and complicated story but in short, after a very long and hard 3 months, my father passed away in July. I was going to do a whole blog post about it, explaining where I've been, but I just can't find the right things to say. Or if I even want to say anything. So I figured instead of waiting months and months until I feel up to it, I would just go ahead and start back up and if I feel like talking about it later, well then I can do it later :)

Today I have the Naturals Vox Box from Influenster. In case you don't know what that is, I will explain it really quickly... Influenster has "VoxBoxes" that they send out periodically. If you want to join, it is completely free. All you do is go to their website, click Request An Invite (which is totally new... I just signed out to see what you click and I could have sworn when I signed up it just said "register" or something like that... I guess once you do this they will send you an email saying you can join?) then enter your email, name, stuff like that... Once you are a member, you complete "badges" which consists of taking surveys to see if you fit in with the badge. As in, if you want the Beauty Badge, you click it and take a survey which asks you different questions about beauty related things and if you qualify, you get the badge. When they are having a VoxBox going on, if you fit the criteria (aka, if it's a beauty box and you have the beauty badge) you will get an email saying you qualify, and it gives you directions on how to get it.

I just made that sound so confusing lol... I swear it took me 30 minutes just to type out that paragraph... I apologize, it's 4am, I haven't slept, and my brain isn't working... If you didn't manage to follow that, which I don't blame you if you didn't... Go watch this video by SayAnythingBr00ke, she explains it much better than me... But now, On with the box!

When I opened the box...

The card with everything on it

EBoost - This is a powder that you add to your water. The package says it's "A proprietary formula of vitamins, minerals, and super-nutrients, that deliver a boost of energy and immunity in an easy to mix effervescent packet". Obviously I can't tell if it is indeed a great source of vitamins and nutrients... But I can tell you that it tasted like orange... As for the caffeine, I didn't notice a difference. But I am pretty much immune to caffeine seeing as I drink it constantly... But it did taste nice :) if you like orange that is...

It came with a coupon and recipe suggestions

Tea Recipe

Nectresse - This is, as the package says, a sweetener. Now I will go ahead and say that I am not a huge fan of sugar-substitutes. They all leave a weird aftertaste to me. This one didn't have a horrible aftertaste, but I could still tell it was there. If you like sweeteners though, you will probably like this one

Card that came with it

GeoDeo - Oh how I wanted to love you. First off, it smells amazing! But I'm afraid that's all I loved about it. One thing, I'm not very big on gel-type deodorants. It seemed to take forever to dry, and when it did "dry" it was super sticky. Which didn't last too long, but neither did the rest of it. Not going to go into any gross details, I'll just say it was a good thing I tested this out on a day I was home and not out in public...

Look at that cute little bee!

LypSyl LypMoisturizer - Now this I like :) It feels SOOO smooth and soft on your lips! It has a minty scent but it's not very powerful. (for reference, I hate anything mint flavored/scented but this doesn't bother me) It's also got another scent to it, but I can't place it and it's driving me insane. I suppose it could be the beeswax... The only issue I have with it, is that after about 15 minutes, you can't feel the actual product on your lips anymore. I guess it sinks in, cause your lips feel very moisturized, but when you rub your lips together, you can't feel it anymore.

Country Life Maxi- Hair Vitamins - After taking these, my nails did seem to be a bit stronger. I didn't notice any significant growth though. (although, it does just promise "healthier nails" not longer...) I want to think that my hair is a bit stronger, but I think it's just in my head because I want it to be true lol. The only issue I have with these is that they're $17.99 for 60. They would have to do some serious business in order for me to purchase them. Which they have not... Not saying they're bad. They actually seem to work a bit, just not $18 worth...

Trying to show the size of it, but some of it got cut off

And last but definitely not least...

The Original Dish Drying Mat - Is it odd that this was what I was most excited about? Granted, I do already own one... They are just so handy to have around! Especially if you are only washing a few dishes, you don't have to (in my case at least) drag out the big dish drain. It's super absorbent, and when it gets dirty, you just throw it in the washing machine. Absolutely love this :)

Well that's all I got in my Naturals VoxBox :) Overall I was really impressed & happy with it. I know the vitamins were a part of the "extras" so if you got one, what was your extra? Hope you enjoyed this post :) I will be back soon with more reviews/hauls/whatever other random crap I post :) Until next time, <3 Rebecca

P.S. It was supposed to come with CleanWell Hand Sanitizer Wipes, but mine didn't have any :( I don't know if they ran out or just forgot to give them to me...

Review: Olay Pro-X Facial Cleansing System

2012-03-16T07:28:00.000-07:00

I have had this for almost a year... When I bought it, I said I would wait at least a month until I did a review so I knew for sure if I liked it. We all see how that went... Then I said I was going to wait until I had a good skin care routine down and just do a whole post about that. Well it's been 10 months and I am still jumping from cleanser to cleanser. The only routine thing I have is a moisturizer... I had actually forgot about doing it until I was going through my photos to look for something to post about today. But I'm rambling again...
Ever since the Clarisonic became all the rage in the beauty world, I wanted one so bad! But at around $200, I didn't want it that bad lol. I don't remember where I first heard about this one, but I remember that it was being compared to the Clarisonic, so I decided to give it a try.
If my memory serves me correctly, it was around $30. I didn't really expect it to make that much of a difference. I mean, sure I knew it would exfoliate but so does a $3 bottle of St Ives. But after using it just once, I was hooked!

Excuse my horribly chipping polish...

It runs on 2 AA batteries (included) and now that I think about it, I don't think I've changed them out since I bought it... Also included in the box is a replacement brush and a sample bottle of the cleanser from the same line. I wasn't a huge fan of the cleanser though...

The top button is the power button. Pretty self-explanatory. The other one controls the speed, high/low. The biggest difference I've heard about between this and the Clarisonic (besides price and the brush head is slightly bigger on the Clarisonic) is that this rotates, while the Clarisonic oscillates.

This completely changed my life. And I don't say that lightly. The entire texture of my skin has improved! Plus it helps keep clogged pores and blackheads at bay. It can be used with any cleanser, brand or type. I do suggest though, that if you have overly sensitive skin not to use an exfoliating cleanser with it, as it may be too rough for you. After using it for a few weeks, I felt like I couldn't wash my face without it. It just felt like the cleanser was just sitting on my face and not deeply cleansing it. I got over that finally lol, and am now able to wash my face without it if I'm in a rush. I personally use it just about every time I wash my face, morning and night. Unless I'm using a cleanser that contains salicylic acid (like now) because I find it dries out my skin. Which I believe is the salicylic acid, because my skin reacts funny with it sometimes. But if you have sensitive skin, I would recommend just using it once a day, or even once a week for a deep cleansing until you know how your skin will react to it.
There is something so therapeutic about using it. Especially in the mornings. It just feels like it's getting deep down in your pores and purging out all of the dirt and yuckiness that lives in there. The first time I used it, it sort of tickled my face. It was the weirdest feeling ever, but it was so nice! Now I guess I'm just used to it because it doesn't tickle anymore, it just feels like a little massage.
Like I said above, it comes with 1 brush replacement head, which needs to be changed every 3 months. They also sell just the heads, which come in a pack of two for $10 I believe.

They say that you can either apply your cleanser directly to the brush or on your face. I've tried both and the way I prefer is to rub it all over my face, wet the brush, then use it on high. When done, just rinse the brush out and you're done! This post is getting to be super long, so I will wrap it up by saying this is awesome! Seriously, if anything ever happens to it, I will promptly buy another one. As for how it compares to the Clarisonic, I honestly can't say because I've never used one. But in itself, it is an amazing product! Your skin feels so smooth and clean, but not overly exfoliated (mine doesn't anyway). It seems to make your makeup go on so perfectly! The cleanser, as I said before, wasn't that great to me. It wasn't horrible, just not worth it to be (I believe it's $20). On the box it says you can use any Olay face wash with it, but I'm sure that's just advertising haha. I have used many many brands with it and it worked perfectly fine! Wow, I was supposed to be wrapping up... I just feel like I could rave about this all day! I honestly can't think of a single bad thing about it. Maybe that it's so addictive? Well that is all for now girls and boys! Until next time, <3 Rebecca

January and February 2012 Favorites

2012-03-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Lovelies! Long time, no see! (< understatement of the century) I wanted to get back into doing monthly favorites, but (obviously) I missed January. But since they were essentially the same, I decided to combine them. I had wanted to do a 2011 Favorites, but I kinda missed the ball on that one too... I still might do it though, since we are only 3 months into the year... But before I start rambling, here are my Jan and Feb Favorites!

**Makeup**

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara - this was my January Favorite. My lashes were being really stubborn that month and for some reason, this was the only mascara they liked.
Jordana Best Lash Extreme Mascara - To be honest, I had never tried or even heard of Jordana until very recently. I can't remember if a blogger or youtube'r mentioned this, but when I saw it at Walgreens I grabbed it. It's awesome! It's volumizing and lengthening, without being clumpy :)
Revlon Colorstay Lipgloss in Crystal Lilac - I first heard about this from Amy on YouTube when she absolutely RAVED about them. She also said this was her favorite shade, so when I saw it at Walgreens for $3.50 I was super excited! I'm usually not much of a lip product person, but I absolutely LOVE this shade! It's a light pink with a purple tint to it, but not so purple that you feel like Ke$ha...
L'Oreal Tru Match Foundation - Honestly, I'm not that into this. It (once again) was on sale at Walgreens. I am currently out of my MUFE Mat Velvet + and I have been too ~~lazy~~ busy to order another one since I don't live anywhere near a Sephora... This has been an okay replacement. It's gotten me through the past few months, but I don't know if I would repurchase it.
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad To The Bronze - If I could pick only one favorite for the months, this would definitely be it. I was a little skeptical about these at first, but when I heard a lot of people, mainly TiffanyD say they were great and comparable to Mac Paint Pots (which I can't attest to since I've never used one) I had to try it. I own 3 now, but this is my absolute FAV! It is the most perfect color for everyday wear. To me, it's more of a mix between bronze and taupe than a true bronze. It is so quick and easy to just swipe it on the lid and go. It also makes a great base for under-pigmented shadows. Overall, these are just so much win!
Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki - I have had this about a year now, but I've just now really started using it regularly. Mainly because of the L'Oreal foundation. I usually apply the Mat Velvet with just my fingers, so it was unused. But since I've ran out, I've been using it more often, and I love it :)
Wet N Wild Shadow Singles in Nutty and Brulee - Nutty is my absolute favorite eyeshadow. It is just perfect to put on the lid and crease in like 5 seconds and look perfect. It changes colors in the light, so it looks like two different colors. I cannot say enough good about this shadow! It's wonderfully pigmented and the consistency is awesome! And I am so scared they are discontinuing it, because I haven't seen it anywhere lately. I finally found some at Rite Aid... I now have 3 backups. And Brulee is the perfect highlighter "eraser" shade for me. Basically, if my eyeshadow goes up higher than I want, I use this on a dense brush to fade it out, aka erase.
Physicians Formula Blush in Nude Glow - This came in a set I bought around Christmastime because I wanted the powder foundation in it. When I first opened it, I did not have high expectations about it. It was the most non-existent color ever. It looked like nothing would show up, and if any possibly did, it would be such a light pink that you wouldn't notice it anyways. I finally did give it a try though, and I love it! I don't know where the color comes from because what shows up on my face is nowhere near the color in the pan. It is the most perfect "everyday" blush shade! (apparently this was my thing these months because I've said that about everything...) But I love it and will probably repurchase it when I run out :)
Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer in Light - Holy Hell! I'm going to try and not go into too much detail because I am going to do a separate review on this, but this is amazing! I have never really used concealer because everyone I tried (and believe me, I tried a lot!) never worked for me. Under the eyes it was always cakey and gross looking, and over blemishes it never covered anything, wore off after like 30 minutes, and just looked like a caked up mess. But this is Awesome! I just can't say enough good about it! I honestly can't remember how I wore makeup without it.

**Hair**

Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy - In case you can't tell, I was obsessed with this line! But I put the focus on Was... I just don't really know how I feel about this now. It was the best shampoo/conditioner system I had ever used, then I used another shampoo and now I just don't know haha. I am going to fully review the whole line in a separate post, but I will say that I do still love the Anti-Breakage Serum. And I don't hate the deep conditioner... It's mainly the shampoo I have an issue with. But I will get into that later. But for these months it really was a fav!
Ionika Hairbrush - Honestly, if someone had told me they had a favorite brush of the month, I would think they were crazy. I mean, a brush is a brush right? Well obviously, one you get for 50 cents isn't going to be all that awesome, but for the post part they're the same. Wrong. Seriously, I feel like such a weirdo for my love obsession with this brush. This was in my "gift basket" from my cousin this Christmas (she knows what I like lol) She is notorious for leaving the tags on things, and I think it said it was around $17. I don't remember the exact amount, but I remember thinking "Holy crap I hope she got this on sale! Why would someone spend so much on a hairbrush?" Can you tell how cheap I am? haha. I figured I wouldn't even use it, because it looked like your hair would get caught in the rhinestones. But I gently ran it though the ends of my hair to test, and it didn't so I tried it. Now I'm not saying this is a life-changing brush. But I will be really sad if anything ever happens to it. It just detangles my hair so effortlessly and there is virtually NO breakage! I say virtually, because I haven't noticed any, but I guess I can't be 100% sure... And when I blow dry my hair, it seems to help it straighten and reduce frizz. Now it's not anything super noticeable, since my hair is crazy frizzy, but it makes me smile a little inside :)
Sedu Ionic Ceramic Pro Flat Iron - This was my "main" Christmas present. I knew I wanted a new straightener, but I had no clue as to which one. I was leaning towards Chi, because I had heard of a lot of people liking them. But one night I was just researching them (I can't help myself, I must find reviews of big purchases before I buy them) and I ended up on Folica. I have heard of a visited this website before but never ordered anything. I think I was looking at their best selling items, or highest rated I don't remember. But this was the number 1. Well, it was the 1.5 inch and I got the 1 inch... The site says it is originally $150, but they sell it for $119. Plus there was a Christmas coupon thing going on where I think you got 30 or 35% off your purchase. It ended up being about $80. Which isn't bad I think, since I love it so much :) At first, I wasn't sure about it. It just felt wrong in my hand because it was so small and light. My old straightener was a 1 inch too, so the plates are the same, but the actual handle and stuff is so much smaller than a regular one. But once I got used to it, I absolutely love it! It straightens my hair so much faster than any other one I've ever used. It goes from 250 to 410 degrees. The first time I used it I put it all the way up and it burned my ends a little, but now I keep it on about 340 and it works perfect :)

**Skin and Body**

Bath and Body Works Vanilla Bean Noel Body Wash and Lotion (forgot to photograph) - This is an all-time favorite for me, but seeing as I can only get it around Christmas it is usually just a winter fav. I have always been a huge fan of the Triple Moisture Body Cream over the Lotion, however, I ended up with 2 bottles of it for Christmas. I was super excited. Then when I go to put it in my drawer, I found a colony of B&BW lotions I forgot I had. So I decided to start a "use up all my lotion mission". Of course I started with the Noel, and to my surprise, I think I like it better than the Triple Moisture Cream for the whole body. The Cream is better for more dry areas or just in the Winter when I have really dry skin, but the Lotion is lighter and I think will be much better for Summer. Not to mention, my skin literally feels like silk. I'm not sure if it's just this scent, as it's the only one I've made it through so far, or if all of them work this great. Either way, I like it.
Yes To Carrots Cream Cleanser - This is kind of like the Shampoo I mentioned earlier, as in I loved it when I was using it but afterwards I'm not so sure. I think I'm going to do a separate post about it, but I'll give a quick rundown... It feels like the weirdest cleanser I've ever used. It literally feels like you're putting lotion on your face. When I first applied it, I knew I was going to hate it. It does not feel like it is cleaning anything at all, however, when you wash it off, your face actually does feel cleansed. I can't explain it. It was great when my skin was really dry since it moisturizes amazingly. I just don't know how I feel about it now, this was more of a January fav. I will have to use it again before I do the post on it, so I actually know my current feelings about it haha.
Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub in Coconut Lime - I needed a new exfoliater, this was the only one my Wal-Mart had to offer. I expected to hate the smell, since I'm not usually a fan of "beachy" smells. But surprisingly, it's not that bad. I won't say it's the best, but it doesn't make me nauseous lol. But I absolutely LOVE the formula. It has the weirdest consistency I've ever felt. The best I can describe it is a gritty gel. But it works so amazingly!! It doesn't leave the skin feeling dry or "over-scrubbed" at all! The other day I saw they had a Honey Almond scent I think, and I was going to get it but it smelled like grossness. Seriously, so bad. nothing like honey or almond at all....
Olay Active Hydrating Moisturizer - Holy Grail product for sure! I don't know why, but this is the only moisturizer my skin likes. I don't know what I'm going to do if they ever discontinue it... I have tried SO many others from SO many brands, including Olay, and nothing works for me like this does. It makes your skin feel so hydrated and "plump" (haha, that's the only way I can think of to describe it) It doesn't make my skin feel oily at all, it's just overall an amazing product! The only downside I can think of is it's pretty heavily scented, so if you are sensitive to those kinds of things, then this might not be for you...
JLo Still Perfume - I first smelled this when I was 15. I don't want to think about how old that makes me now... Anyways, a friend of mine was wearing it and I fell in love! I never bought it though... But this Christmas, I was trying to think of what I wanted from my sister, (we never pick out each others gifts lol. we pick out our own and instruct the other on what to buy) I knew I wanted perfume but I couldn't think of which one. After weeks of trying to decide, I thought "is there one that I used to love way back but haven't had in a while" Then I remembered it. And I am SOO glad I did! I can tell though, it's one of those smells that smells totally different on everyone. Just like her Miami Glow (my fav perfume), it smells amazing on me, but if you just smell it out of the bottle it kinda stinks. I don't know what it is about my body chemistry that works so well with JLo perfumes, but I love it!
Katy Perry Purr Perfume - There's a story behind this one also haha. I smelled this in a magazine I believe, and loved it! I had mentioned to my husband before that I wanted it but thought it was too expensive (I don't know why I had it in my head that it was like $70 for a small one, apparently I read the wrong thing) Well, for Christmas he bought it for me. He hunted all over the place in order to find it (nowhere around us sold it for some reason) He finally found it at Buckle, which I didn't know sold perfume... He was so excited to give it to me, and I was excited to receive it! Then I smelled it... Apparently, not only did I read the wrong thing according to price, I also smelled the wrong perfume. And this was before Meow came out so I have no clue what I smelled, but it wasn't this. It's wearable, but it's nothing I would have picked out had I known what it smelled like. I like sweet, fruity, or "cool" smells (as I call them. I have tried and there is no way I can describe what a "cool" perfume smells like but it's just how my brain describes it) This is none of that. It's kind of floral, which I don't mind sometimes, but it's strong. I think it contains lavender, which we all know is Satan's flower... It will probably take me years to finish (when I wear it, I spray an extra spray in the air so it will empty sooner and the husband won't know I don't love it) But, it has the cutest bottle I have ever seen. It is a favorite, just because seeing that bottle everyday makes me smile. And knowing what he went through to get it, and how happy he was for me to open it. But will I ever repurchase it? Not even if it's on the 90% off rack...

Wow, that's a lot of blog. I guess it's been so long that once I started, it was hard to stop. But I am going to go right now and type a couple other posts while I'm in the mood. I have SO much I want to post about! It's just hard for me to actually get up and do it. I'm not a huge writer lol, every time I get a new product, I immediately take photos and plan out the blog post in my head, but it may be a month or two before I actually get around to it. I AM going to try and be better! I promise :) Well that's all for now! Until Next Time, <3 Rebecca

Mini Weekend Haul

2011-12-18T17:14:00.000-08:00

Hello Darlings! So, I've been trying to finish up my Christmas shopping the past couple weeks and I finally finished this weekend! And of course I had to buy a few things for myself haha! So this is what I got...

First I went to Sally's because I needed to get the stuff to dye my hair, and I saw this China Glaze Holiday Set on a display for only $7.99! They also had another one that had a dark blue sparkly polish and a white glittery one (don't know the names, sorry). I told myself I only needed one, and I had a hard time choosing but ended up going with this one because it came with 3 polishes :) Here's a closer look at them...

*Poinsettia, Twinkle Lights, Holly Day*

Then I noticed the clearance rack... haha. They had a bunch of different brands of polish, but I contained myself and just got 2 China Glaze's in Crimson and Tempest for only $1.99 each!!! I definitely would have gotten more but the only other ones they had were a yellow that I knew I would never use and a blue that looked severely discolored :( Here is a photo of them...

*Crimson, Tempest*

Crimson is a very dark purple, it almost looks black. Tempest is a blue-purple duo-chrome. I couldn't get a good photo of it, but it is more purple than it looks in the picture.

**Other Random things I bought**

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Daily Treatment Conditioner- I bought this because I love the shampoo, and I love the normal Daily Treatment so I figured I would love this too :)

Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Scrub - I've never tried this before either. But with the cold weather, my skin gets pretty dry, so I like a gentle scrub to keep it from getting too flaky. The only scrub I currently have is the St Ives Green Tea scrub, which I love, but I find it to be too drying for the winter months

And last but not least, Walgreens has the Yes To line buy one get one 1/2 off, so I got the Carrots Daily Cream Facial Cleanser and the Blueberries Makeup Remover Wipes. I haven't tried either of them yet, but when I do, I will be sure to post a review! Well that's all I have for now, until next time <3 Rebecca

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!!!

2011-12-13T16:10:00.000-08:00

I know I have been a really bad blogger lately, and I promise to get back on a regular beauty posting schedule!! But for now I have a cute little Christmas tag for you...

1. Favourite Christmas movie?
I absolutely LOVE Christmas movies!! I can't pick just one, so I have 3 :) A Christmas Story, The Grinch (Jim Carrey remake!) and The Santa Clause!

2. Are you on the Naughty list or the Nice list?
Nice I suppose...

3. Show us an embarrassing Christmas Card photo! (We know you have one)
We actually don't send out photo Christmas cards :( Maybe next year...

4. Have you ever had a White Christmas?
No :( If I could have one thing before I die, it would be snow on Christmas...

5. Where do you usually spend your holiday?
Christmas Eve, we go to our (non-immediate) families house, and Christmas day we spend with my parents and siblings :)

6. Play or sing your favourite Christmas song!
I don't play an instrument... or sing. But I'll list my top 3 again! Carol of the Bells, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, and The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

7. Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?
From random family members, yes. But not our "main" gifts

8. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen... and Rudolph...

9. What holiday tradition are you looking forward to most this year?
cooking :)

10. Is your Christmas tree real or fake?
Fake

11. Hands down, what's your all-time favorite holiday food and holiday sweet treat?
Dressing (stuffing) and Better Than Sex Pie!

12. Be Honest: do you like giving gifts or receiving gifts better?
Giving. Because I am such an awkward gift-receiver! lol. I never know what to say besides "thanks" and it just seems rude haha

13. Show us your tackiest Christmas attire (eg: Ugly Sweater)
I don't own any Christmas clothes.

14. What would be your dream place to visit for the holiday season?
Anywhere there's snow!

15. Does your family have a special holiday recipe you like to help make?
nothing specific

16. Are you a pro-present wrapper, or do you fail miserably?
Pro! And if it's too difficult, I put it in a bag lol

17. Most memorable Holiday moment?
There isn't one specific one, just being little and not being able to go to sleep because I was so excited, and then finally waking up Christmas morning and getting to open my presents!

18. What made you realize the truth about Santa?
I don't really know. I just remember knowing that he wasn't real, but I didn't want my parents to know because I thought if I didn't believe then I wouldn't get presents. haha.

19. Do you make New Years Resolutions? Do you stick to them?
No

20. What makes the Holidays special for you?
My favorite thing about the holidays is all if the decorations and Christmas trees! I am totally Clark Griswold when it comes to Christmas!

Now I tag all of you to do this!!! Merry Christmas everyone! and a Happy New Year!!!

Much Ado About Nothing...

2011-11-08T16:53:00.000-08:00

So this is a really random post, forgive me :) I recently got a new vanity (yay me!), well new to me. It was my mother in-laws, and she is moving and wasn't going to have room in her new bathroom, so I took it :) I have wanted an actual vanity for years! I have just had everything on my dresser in random containers. I've been looking for one for a while, but I wanted a larger one and they are super expensive! This one is on the small side, but it has a lot of storage, so I guess it's about medium size lol. I really like it. I just wish it was white (it's like a medium brown color. It's oak, if that means anything to you lol.) I'm trying to talk the husband into sanding it down and staining it a really dark color. I said if I couldn't have white, I wanted black. lol. So all this week I have been trying to get it all organized. I didn't realize how much crap my dresser held! Here is a photo of the mess...

The little container things in the middle are what I kept my makeup in before. The rest I kept in a drawer or just strowed on the top. The main problem is that on the other side of the bed, is the pile of stuff that was in the junk drawer, aka that stuff that has no other place to go. Well, now that I don't have a junk drawer anymore, the poor stuff is homeless. So I've been trying to rearrange my whole room and closet to find random holes to stick the stuff. The vanity came with a bench when she bought it eons ago, but it got broken throughout the years, so I am on a chair finding mission! A stool would match better and take up less space, but a chair would be more comfy. All I have found so far is metal furniture :( So I went to random thrift stores trying to find an old one that I can refurnish. No luck so far. I am kind of excited about it though! Once I get it all together, I am planning on doing a "vanity/makeup collection tour", not sure if it will be just photos or if I will be brave enough to video it lol. Well, I've rambled long enough! Once I get this all organized, I will be back to regular posting, I promise! Until next time, <3 Rebecca

P.S. I found a link to the vanity on Amazon... I didn't think they would still make it since she bought it like 15 years ago, but if anyone is curious, this is it.

Target Beauty is My Bag Samples

2011-11-06T14:48:00.000-08:00

Hello Lovelies! I finally got my Target sample bag last week, and I am just now getting to post about it (details why in next post :) I haven't tried any of them out yet, but from what I can tell, I like the contents of the last bag better. But I like the actual bag better in this one. So without further ado, here are the photos!

I couldn't get a proper photo of this. It is more pink than purple...

Pond's Evening Soothe Makeup Remover Wipes
Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Shampoo & Conditioner
John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo & Conditioner
TRESemme Naturals Shampoo & Conditioner
Loreal Youth Code Day/Night Cream
Burt's Bees Radiance SPF 15 Day Lotion
Coupon booklet of Target beauty coupons

I've seen in other posts that some people got an Aveeno lotion, but I did not. From what I've seen about half of the people who got them received it. Overall, I really like what I got. I was really excited about the Youth Code moisturizer because I have been wanting to try it for a while. And I really like the bag it came in. Did you get one of these? If so, did you get the lotion, or were you one of the unlucky ones like me? haha. Until next time, <3 Rebecca

Weekend Haul! (pic heavy)

2011-10-23T17:58:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a long time! Almost 2 months! I highly apologize. I had a lot going on, and when I had time to sit down and blog, the internet wouldn't cooperate :( But I'm back! And today I have a little weekend haul for you. Me and the husband went shopping and I got a few things I wanted to show :) Enjoy!

From Walgreens:

-Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Peach Satin, Wet N Wild Limited Edition Holiday Color Icon Palettes in Bake Off Contest and Baked, Not Fried

I could not get a good photo of the blush for the life of me. It kind of looks just like the lid on the packaging, but it's a bit off.

*A closer look at the palettes*

Baked, Not Fried

Baked, Not Fried is a coppery/gold palette. When I first saw these on display I knew this was the one I had to have! (they were BOGO half off, so you might wanna check your local Walgreens to see if you have them too!) It is such a pretty palette! and it also looks beautiful swatched, but I really had to build it up to get it that way :( I haven't tried it out on my eyes yet, but just from swatching I am not that impressed. To me, they aren't nearly as good quality as the normal WnW eyeshadows :( But I will have to wait and test it out on my eyes to be sure...

Bake Off Contest

Bake Off Contest is a cool blue/gray palette! I couldn't decide what else I wanted to get, it was between this and the purplish 8 pan palette, but the bottom left blue color won me over! Which is odd, because I never wear blue eyeshadow. I don't know what's up with the top right color. It is pretty transparent, but for some reason in the photo it is coming off as a tan shade... I feel pretty much the same about this one as I do the other one so far :( Also, both palettes come with a sparkle eyeliner. Brown for Baked, Not Fried and Silver for Bake Off Contest. I know I took a photo of them, but it is nowhere to be found right now... (And on a side note, I'm hoping that is the concealer I applied to my hand making it look so wrinkly *makes a mental note to buy more hand cream*)

From Burlington Coat Factory:

I love earrings!!! And I really love cheap earrings! These were so cute, I just couldn't pass them up. And at only $4.99, why would I?? And I have been wanting a key necklace since Spring, but I just never found one. This isn't exactly what I've been wanting, but I thought it was really cute. And it was on sale for only $2.98!

From Big Lots:

Clean & Clear Morning Burst In-Shower Facial - I used this forever ago and liked it, but I haven't been able to find it anywhere! So I had to pick it up again and see if it was as awesome as I remembered!
Clean & Clear Finishes Even Tone Cleanser - I've never tried this before, but I like foam cleansers and I liked the moisturizer from this line, so I figured I would give it a try!
Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara in Very Black - as if I needed another mascara, lol. I remember when this first came out I wanted to try it, but for some reason I never did. I had actually forgot about it til I saw it, and I had to grab it!
Eyeshadow Brush - I have no clue what brand this is. It just says "eyeshadow brush". I haven't used it yet, but I took it out of the package and it feels pretty soft. I just needed a larger shader brush, and for only $1.50, I figured it wouldn't hurt to try it

From Target:

Revlon Facets of Fuchsia - This photo does not do it justice! I'm sure you have seen this on a million blogs already, but in case you haven't it is a black base with fuchsia glitters in it! I haven't tried it yet, but when I do I will be sure to post pictures!

And my last Target purchase, which isn't beauty related, but it goes with the season...

Hocus Pocus!!!! Probably my favorite movie ever! Every year around this time I have to watch it, but I didn't own it :( So I would have to wait for it to come on tv and suffer through commercials, or borrow it from my sister. I look for it every year, but I never could find it til now :) And the 4th season of Psych because it is one of my favorite shows and Target had it on sale for $12.99 :)
Wow, that was a lot of pictures! Once I try everything out I will be sure to post reviews/photos! Once again, sorry I've been gone so long! I promise to be better :) Until next time, <3 Rebecca

HUGE sale going on at Ulta!!!

2011-09-08T22:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Lovelies! My internet is fixed, yay! And I promise to get back to regular posting soon! But for now, I have awesome news for you! Ulta is having their 21 days of Beauty Sale going on right now, and there are a lot of things going really cheap! The one I'm most excited about is Too Faced Shadow Insurance, which is on sale for $9!!!! Which makes it 50% off! Bad news is it's for today only (9/9)! I meant to put this up earlier, but I never got around to it. I don't know exactly what time it started, but I placed my order at around 12:30 am and it was already on sale. So I'm guessing you have roughly 23 hours to place your order and get it for cheap :) Happy Shopping!

Target Beauty Bag is Back!

2011-08-29T00:18:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! So, my Internet is down again :( (posting this from my phone, which is quite annoying might I add...) so, since I can't do a real post with photos and such, I just wanted to let you guys know that Target is doing their "beauty is my bag" (I think that's what it's called) again! I know a lot of people missed out on it last time so maybe you will be able to grab it this time before it's gone! Just go here (if that doesn't work I apologize, I'm not used to trying to do this on my phone! Just google target samples and it should come up!) and fill out the form! This one looks to be better than the last, to me at least. I promise to get back to regular posting once my Internet is fixed, they should be here sometime this week I hope! Until next time, <3 Rebecca

Review: MakeUp ForEver Mat Velvet +

2011-08-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Lovelies! Today I will be reviewing the Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + Foundation... (this has been sitting in my drafts for quite awhile, simply because I just can't find the proper words to describe it. So forgive me in advance for the poor job I know I will do :)

Price - It is a bit pricey at $34. But I bought it around March, and I've only used about half of it. So it does last quite a while, so you are getting your moneys worth.
Formula - It's hard to explain... It's thick, but blendable. Like, it isn't one of those thick ones that when you put it on your face, you have to blend straight away or it dries. (I think I'm making it more confusing that it should be...) A little goes a long way with this foundation!
Coverage - It is definitely a full-coverage foundation! But it's not super cakey. It covers all you need covered, but it leaves a natural looking finish. I don't wear concealer with this foundation. After I apply it, if there are any spots that need more coverage, I just add a tiny bit more over it and it covers perfectly!
Does it last? - Yes! It definitely lasts all day! Which is saying something for me, since my skin has a tendency to get oily throughout the day and my makeup usually sweats off.
Application - For me, it works best applying it with my fingers. I tried applying it with the Sigma f80, but it just seemed to use more product than necessary, and I didn't get as good of coverage with it. But if you don't like applying foundation with your fingers, I'm sure you could make it work with a brush/sponge. I just prefer my fingers :)
Where to buy - as far as I know, Sephora is the only place that sells this (other than sites like Amazon and Ebay) Since I don't live near a Sephora (insert pity here, lol.) I ordered mine online. I was a bit iffy about picking out foundation online, but they have really nice descriptions that helped me pick out the perfect shade! (#30, Porcelain)

So, final thoughts? I love this foundation! When I first bought it, I said I wasn't going to repurchase since it was so high, but after using it for so long and seeing how long one bottle lasts, I think I will be buying this again when I run out! Have you tried this foundation? If so, what did you think of it? See you next time! <3 Rebecca

Mask Week! Day 5

2011-08-12T23:11:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies! So today is the final day of Mask Week! I really enjoyed doing this because it has helped me stay on track and not be a blog slacker :) If you want me to do another "week" of certain products, let me know and I promise to do it if I can! So for today, I will be reviewing the Freeman Clay Mask Mint & Lemon

I know you're probably thinking I am obsessed with this brand, lol. I bought all the others because they had a big display of them, and I remembered using them as a kid and wanted to see how they worked now. This one, I bought a while back because they had it on clearance... not sure why though, cause it says "new" on the bottle. And the only other mask brands I own are the Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask, which I'm sure everything either owns or has at least read a review about, and the Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox which I have already semi-reviewed in a Favorites post. But anyways, onto the actual review...

Scent - I was a bit worried about the lemon scent. Lemon is one of those scents that can either be awesome or horrible (in my opinion). Then mixed with mint (which I feel the same way about as I do lemon) I was definitely worried. But it's not that bad. To me, it kind of smells like a lemon scented bathroom cleaner. But not in a bad way, lol.
Formula - It feels like any other clay mask I've tried (I'm starting to realize that all clay masks are pretty much the same, haha). And it has the same green color than a lot of other clay masks have. But it seems like this one gets tighter (not in a bad way) than the others I've tried. I think it shrinks my pore size better than others too. I also like that it doesn't have the burning effect that most other mint masks have on me. It says on the back, "Helps control oil production and reduce the appearance of large pores. Perfect for t-zone and oily skin types." I have combination skin, and it doesn't over-dry my "dry parts", so I would think this would be a good buy even for those with dry skin, if you have larger pores.

So all in all what do I think of this mask? I love it! I think it is my favorite one that I own :) I actually have it on my face while I am typing this review, haha. This will definitely be a repurchase when I run out!

Mask Week! Day 4

2011-08-11T18:58:00.000-07:00

Hello!! Today I will be reviewing the Freeman Enzyme Mask Pineapple...

If you are wondering what an Enzyme mask is supposed to do, (like me, who only bought it because I saw "ananas" and thought it said "bananas", and was all like "ooh, I like banana's. I'll get this one!" Then to get home and realize it says ananas, and have no clue what ananas are, but decide to just use the mask anyway...) It says it restores radiant skin. Then on the back, it says "gently exfoliates while lightly moisturizing, leaving your skin soft, supple and younger-looking" So, now that you know what is it supposed to do, here is what it did...

Scent - I must admit, I am not a huge fan of pineapple. And while in the packaging, it does have a semi-strong pineapple scent. But when applied to the face, it doesn't have a smell at all. Kinda like plastic, but definitely not pineapple.
Formula - It is sort of a watery and gel-like in consistency, but it has small exfoliating grains in it. It kind of reminds me of a face wash. It is clear, which I am not a fan of. When it dries, you can't see it on your face,and it just feels like your skin is really rough (exfoliating grains)

When washed off, it turns back into a gel, and it rinses off very easily :) But I noticed no "radiant, younger looking skin". I mean obviously I wasn't expecting to look younger, but I did expect to see some difference in my skin. But it looked just the same as when I had applied the mask :( The only difference was my face seemed more oily than usual. This one sort of reminded me of the hydrating one but with exfoliators in it. To be honest, I was not a fan. I don't think I will be repurchasing this one again. But it might work for someone with drier skin. It just wasn't for me. Don't forget to come back tomorrow for Day 5! <3Rebecca

Mask Week! Day 3

2011-08-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

Hello :) Today is Day 3 of Mask Week! If you missed the first two, you can find them here and here...
Today I will be reviewing the Freeman Anti-Stress Mask with Dead Sea Minerals...

Sorry for the horrible glare, my flash would not cooperate :(

Scent - First of all, it was not at all what I was expecting. I had imagined "dead sea minerals" to smell very earthy or even herbal. But to me, it smelled like Sweet Pea. Seriously, just straight up Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea. Which to me, is not a bad thing, seeing as that is my favorite scent. But I can see where others may not like it, so if you are not a Sweet Pea fan I definitely do not recommend this mask.
Formula - The formula of it is just like any other clay mask to me, but unlike any other mask I've tried, It's bright blue! Like it matches the packaging. I was pleasantly surprised :) When it dried, it was more of a teal color, but it could vary depending on skin tone.

I don't really have that much to say about this mask... I loved the scent and the color, but other than that, it worked just like any other clay mask I've tried. I will definitely finish it up, and I will probably repurchase it just because I like the smell :) But if you don't like Sweet Pea, I don't recommend getting it, seeing as you can get something that works just the same in another scent. I didn't notice any "anti-stress" properties either... But overall, I liked it. I just don't think this is a mask for everyone. Hope you enjoyed this review, and I will see you tomorrow for day 4! <3 Rebecca

Mask Week! Day 2

2011-08-09T16:26:00.000-07:00

Hello! It is Day 2 of Mask Week :) If you missed yesterday's post, you can view it here...
Today I will be reviewing the Freeman Facial Hydration Mask!

Formula - This is the weirdest mask I have ever tried! It feels kind of like a gel when you are applying it, it's kind of thick but not gooey feeling. You only need a very small amount, and it glides onto your skin very smoothly. It doesn't really dry (like a clay mask would) it more just absorbs into your skin like a lotion. Once it dries, which it does very quickly, it doesn't even feel like you have anything on your face, your skin just feels soft. You can't even see it on your skin, it just looks as if your face is slightly shiny. I left it on for about 10 minutes, then rinsed it off. Once it gets wet, it turns back into a gel consistency. One thing I didn't like about it was that it was hard to tell if I rinsed it all off because it wasn't visible.
Scent - It says on the packaging that it contains Goji Berry. I must admit that I have no clue what this is, but it has a nice fruity scent :) It sort of reminded me of pomegranate mixed with some tangy citrus scent (I can't place it and it's driving me insane)
After effects - My skin felt really soft, and my moisturizer glided onto my face really nicely, I only needed about half the amount I usually use. After a few hours though, my face started getting kind of oily. I don't know if it was the actual product, or the fact that my skin isn't very dry in the Summer (especially in this 200 degree Louisiana weather...)

So, would I use it again? Maybe in the Winter if my skin is really dry. I didn't really notice it being much more moisturizing than any of the other masks I tried (except for making my skin oily). I really enjoyed the application/experience of this mask, but not so much the final results, or at least not for the Summer. Have you tried this mask? If so, how did it react with your skin? Stay tuned for Day 3 tomorrow!!! <3

Mask Week! Day 1

2011-08-08T01:37:00.000-07:00

Hello Darlin's (it's been a long tiiiiiiiiime, you're just as lovely... :-p) Sorry for the lack of posting lately, but this time it wasn't laziness! I recently bought some of the Freeman Face Masks, and instead of just reviewing them as I used them (which would result in lazy posting) I decided to have a Mask Week! By giving it a name, I'm making it sound all fancy, but basically, instead of reviewing them as a whole I will be reviewing one a day all this week :) But I only have 4, so I might just review some other masks I own to make up for the lost days... But without further ado, may I present the first contender for Mask Week 2011...

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The first mask I will be reviewing is the Freeman Detoxifying Chocolate & Strawberry Face Mask (sorry about the photo quality, the only photo I had of it was a "group photo" after I had already used it once, so I had to crop it out of the pic because I already finished it and threw the package away :( also, about 2 weeks after I bought this one, they changed the packaging, which is why this one looks old and the others will look newer)

Scent - This smells absolutely amazing!!!! I usually hate chocolate scented things, but this smells super delicious. I think it might be the strawberry that counteracts it or something, not really sure. All I know is that I want to lick my face when this is on
Formula - It looks kinda gross when you squeeze it out. It looks like mud. It's not very dark though... when you apply it (or on me at least) you can't even really see it, it just blends in with my skin color. It feels kinda chunky, too. Once it dries, it lightens up in color and you can actually see it on your face. The actual formula feels like any other clay mask I've tried (except for the chunkiness). Once it dries, I just rinse it off, then wipe my face with a wet washcloth :)
Does it work? - After I wash it off, my face feels super clean. But not over dried. My pores do look a lot smaller, but after about 2 days they go back to normal. Which is how I think every mask does, or the ones that I've tried at least. My face feel super soft, and my moisturizer seems to sink in so much better :)
Price - I think they are well worth the money. Seeing as they are less than $2 (at my Wal-Mart) and I think I got 4 uses out of this one. I'm sure you can buy it in an actual bottle somewhere, but my store only has these little packets. (I do have the full sized bottle of a different mask and I think it was around $4)

So what is my overall opinion? I love this mask! Even if it didn't work well, I think I would still use it for the smell. But I love the way it makes my skin feel! I am super sad that I ran out of it and I will definitely be picking another one up next time I go to Wal-Mart. This one definitely gets a thumbs up from me!! Have you tried this mask? If so, what did you think of it? And don't forget to come back tomorrow for Day 2! <3 Rebecca

Review: Clean & Clear Fruit Infusions

2011-07-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

Hello my lovelies! Today I will be reviewing the Clean & Clear Morning Burst Fruit Infusions Purifying Cleanser seen below....

It says it is made with real Mandarin Orange, and it *cleanses to purify pores*. I have been using this for about 2 weeks, I believe. I hadn't heard or read anything about them coming out, I just stumbled upon them in Wal-Mart and thought the bottle looked so cute! There are 3 in this line, Pineapple Hydrating Cleanser, Pomegranate Reviving Cleanser, and Mandarin Orange Purifying Cleanser. While I was reading them, I was trying to tell myself that I didn't really need another face wash... but that didn't work out too well. So I read what they were for, and decided that I would need the purifying one (instead of just smelling them and deciding which one I wanted based on smell, and then getting home and not being able to use it because it isn't formulated for my skin type. This has happened to me more times than I would like to admit...) So, after deciding which one I would need, I looked at the scents. When I saw that it was the orange one, I was almost excited, because I figured it would smell like the regular morning burst orange scent, which I don't like. But I smelled it and was in love!! So of course, I just HAD to buy it! But on with the actual review....

Scent - This smells heavenly! If you like orange scents, of course. It smells like an orange smoothie :) Or that's how I would describe it at least... It doesn't really have the tangy smell that most citrus scents do. It sort of reminds me of something Bath and Body Works used to have. I think it was called Mango Mandarin, but I could be wrong. I just remember it was the most amazing orange smell!
Formula - It says it is infused with Mandarin Orange, Acai, and Strawberry Seeds. There are for real Strawberry Seeds in here! lol. But it's not that many. In each pump you might get 1 or 2... It's so creamy yet not overly drying. My skin reacted well with it, which is saying something since my skin has been super picky lately! It bubbles up awesomely, too :)
Packaging - It has the cutest bottle! It kind of swirls off at the top, which reminds me of a cupcake :) It also has a pump, which I love!!! It contains 9 FL. Oz, which is awesome for the price! (around $5, I can't remember exactly)

So my overall review? I love it! I want to go back and get the others to try out, or at least the pomegranate... I might save the Pineapple for the winter when my skin is more dry. Have you tried any of these? If so, let me know which is your favorite/what you thought about it! Until next time, <3 Rebecca

Jumping on the Bandwagon...

2011-07-06T20:19:00.000-07:00

With all the hype surrounding the Wet N Wild eyeshadows lately, you would think that I would own one of each, right? Wrong. I don't really know why I never got any of them, I look at them every time I'm in Walgreens or Rite Aid, I just never bought any. I bought some blushes, lip products, nail polishes, and other random stuff... but no eyeshadows. (well, I did buy one of the single shadows forever ago but I don't think I've ever used it because it's blue and I never wear blue... come to think of it, I don't know what possessed me to buy blue eyeshadow...) I think one of the reasons I never purchased any was because the one's I liked were similar to things I already owned so I talked myself out of it... Here lately I have been seeing people post about the new collection they are coming out with for Summer, so when I was in Rite Aid a couple days ago I looked to see if they had it. They didn't, ( I don't know if they are just not out yet or if it is going to be a Walgreens thing or what...) but while I was there, I browsed the WnW shelf. They had everything BOGO 1/2 off :) so I finally talked myself into getting the one I had been eying since they came out, a second one that I am pleading temporary insanity about, and some nail polishes.... Here's what I got...

Spoiled Brat - I don't really know what I was thinking when I bought this lol. The hot pink just screamed "buy me!!!" Which is weird because I never wear pink eyeshadow. For those of you that haven't seen it in person, the pink is a lot brighter than it looks in the photo. But I do like the silver and the black, so if I can't make the pink work ( and believe me, if I manage to make this not look like clown makeup, I will definitely be posting pics! ) then I will still be able to get some use out of the other colors. I've just never tried to wear hot pink eyeshadow before. I've seen others do it and it come out looking nice, but I'm just not that confident that I will be able to pull it off...
I'm Getting Sunburned - This is the one that I have been eyeing since they came out. I'm totally obsessed with gold/bronze shadows! But I do have quite a few of them so I just couldn't make myself get this. Oddly enough, the main thing that kept me from caving in and buying was the baby pink shade. Don't get me wrong, I love pink! Just not in eyeshadow form... But as I said before, I am going to experiment around and try to make it look wearable :)

I tried to get swatches on my hand, but my camera would not pick them up properly. I was highly impressed with the above picture though, that is how they look in person (aside from the hot pink). kudos to you, camera!

Then I got some nail polishes...

I had to take one with and without the flash because they weren't coming out right... The top one is how the glitter looks irl, and the bottom is more how the purple/pink one looks :)

Hannah Pinktana - No clue why this is called "pinktana" because it's purple... It's a sheer purple glitter, that I think would be best on top of another color as a glittery pop :) Although, I do have it alone on my nails now because I wanted to see how it looked... I have on 3 coats and it's very light, but I kinda like it :) It's super glittery, but it's very fine glitter, so no disco ball nails lol.
FuchsiaRama - At first glance, this looks like a really bright purple, but the more you look at it, the more pink it starts to look... I call it purple though. I haven't tried this one out yet, so I don't know how well it applies, but I do have high hopes for it!

Well that's all I have for right now ladies! I will probably be playing with the hot pink shadow for the next couple days and if I have any success I will be sure to post pictures!!! If anyone has any advice on how to apply hot pink eyeshadow and not look like you have pink eye, be sure to let me know! lol. Until next time, <3 Rebecca

It's not you, It's me...

2011-07-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

...Well maybe it is you. Hello Darlings! (long time no see... I'm lazy... blah blah blah, on with the post ;-p ) Do you ever buy something just knowing that it is going to become your new favorite thing in the world but when you try it out it totally sucks? I do this all of the time :( Just about everything I buy, I am convinced that it is going to be my new Holy Grail beauty product, and 9 times out of 10 it never is. Usually, I end up liking it, just not as much as I thought I was gonna. But then sometimes there are products I hate so much that I want them out of the house immediately (see, fushigi ball). These are some of those products... I was going to split them up and do separate posts, but I figured I would never get around to it, so I just combined them all. Enjoy!

i forgot to add this to the original photo, then when

i found it covered in dust in a corner, i just had to include it...

Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Scrub - (it says wash, but it is totally a scrub...) Oh how I wanted to love this... And I did love it! For about 2 days. It made my face sooo soft and it smelled awesome!!! Then it happened... My face (mostly around my chin and forehead) was so dry it was unbearable. Not only was it dry, but it had a bumpy kind of rash, and it itched like crazy! Even after I stopped using it, I itched for like a week :( Which has led me to the conclusion that I can't use Salicylic Acid anymore. I think that was why the Biore Astringent dried my face out so bad. I used to never have problems with it. But within the past year, my face has become a lot drier and more sensitive than it has ever been (it's because I'm getting old, I just know it!) But I really haven't used anything containing it in a while and now that I sit and think about it, every product that dried out/messed up my face has had salicylic acid in it. So in this case, it probably is me and not the face wash. If you don't have any problems with SA then I would recommend it :)
Infusium 23 (repair)ologie Leave In Treatment - I bought this at Big Lots a while back because it was like 2 something and you know how I am about things on sale... I liked it because it smelled like the line used to smell back when it was in a white and blue bottle (ahh, memories) I did not like it because when I would spray it in my hair and just let it air dry, (never tried it while blow drying) when my hair would dry it would look like I had sprayed gel in it or something. And it was semi-crunchy. I did read on the back that you are supposed to "massage" it into your hair, so I tried that the next time and it wasn't as crunchy, but it still just looked and felt weird. I was not a fan...
Pantene Heat Protecting Spray for Fine Hair - I don't really have "fine" fine hair, but it is definitely not thick... The reason I didn't like this was because it left behind a greasy residue in my hair and made it feel weighed down. I don't know how this is marketed towards people with fine hair...
Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion - I have seen people talking about this for years but never tried it. I decided to give it a whirl about 2 months ago... It lasted 3 days. I swear this is like putting Crisco on your face. It says it can be used all over the body and that it exactly what it feels like, body lotion. It is super super greasy and it will never soak into your face, I eventually just had to wipe it off. I suppose if your skin was insanely dry, this would be good for you, but I don't see how people with normal/oily skin can use this. Now maybe I grabbed the wrong kind and this isn't what everyone has been raving about, but this is just horrid....

<3 Rebecca

Bath and Body Works sale + coupon code!!!

2011-06-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!!! Sorry I have been so MIA lately :( I wanted to get this post up Thursday night when the sale started, but I had a pretty busy weekend and never got around to it... But anyways, Bath and Body Works is currently having their Hello Yellow Sale!!! (also known as the semi-annual sale) This is by far my favorite time of year!!! For those of you who don't know what this is all about, twice a year (June and December) B&BW has an awesome sale where they bring back discontinued scents and mark them 75% off!!! You can get body washes, sprays, lotions, and moisture creams for $3!!! They have candles 50% off... the Aromatherapy line is 50% off... and there are Wallflower refills for $5!!! It started online June 9th and in stores June 10th. I think it goes on for the whole month but I'm not 100% sure, and I couldn't find any info about it online... The only downside to this sale is that things sell out quickly!!! Which is why I wanted to post this Thursday night...sigh. But since I was such a bad blogger and was late posting this info, I dug around online and found a coupon code for you guys!!!! Enter the code THANKS20 at checkout and you will receive 20% off! I know it's not that much, but it's kinda like getting free shipping :) and since everything is so cheap anyways, it's still pretty awesome! Well that's all for now guys, I hope I wasn't too late and you can still get the things you want! I will do a haul post when my stuff comes in!!! Til Next Time, Rebecca <3