Jazzy Blue

UNFINISHED W7 Makeup ON THE ROCKS eyeshadow palette (swatches + review)

2019-09-23T19:40:00.001-05:00

Before I moved here a year ago, I left all of my makeup home in the States so I could start new here. One of my favorite inexpensive makeup brands here in Copenhagen is W7 Makeup. There's a beauty/household item store here called Normal where I buy W7So far, I have four of their palettes, which will be swatched and reviewed soon. I reach for all four of them quite often, but the first palette I bought was the On the Rocks palette. This palette caught my eye because of the tone of the palette and the ease that I could see myself incorporating some color into my normal neutral everyday looks.

The palette contains a total of 14 shades with 3 shimmer and 11 matte shades.

Description from w7:

W7 On The Rocks is an on-trend eyeshadow palette featuring a range of 14 cool toned shades.

A combination of earthy, natural tones with a punch of creamy golds and deep yellows throughout. The shades within the product are blendable with a high level of pigmentation. This provides the ability for everyone to create soft, natural looks all the way through to striking, bold eyes.

The finishes and textures vary within the palette, with shades ranging from metallic glitters to creamy mattes shades.

Not only does On The Rocks have smooth, highly pigmented mattes, her metallic shades are just as smooth to apply and just as high in quality.

Here are some swatches!

Top row shades:

Sugar Rim is described as a "duo-chrome opalescent pink." It is a lavender-pink shimmer shade with pink and blue microglitter. (2/5)

Moscato is described as "a matte nude." (4/5)

Martini Olive is described as "a deep peridot." (5/5)

Espresso Martini is described as "a metallic coffee." (4/5)

Maraschino Cherry is described as "a soft burgundy." (5/5)

Cheers is described as "a neutral grey." (5/5)

Caracao is described as "a deep teal." (4.5/5)

Bottom row shades:

Body Shot is described as "a pretty peach." (4/5)

Champagne Toast is described as "a statement gold metallic" (4.5/5)

Bloody Mary is described as "a deep tan." (4/5)
Bellini is described as "a fiery yellow orange." (5/5)
Magnum is described as "pine green." (5/5)
Pina Colada is described as "a nutty mustard." (5/5)
Last Call is described as "a deep purple." (4/5)

I actually reach for this palette quite often. The mattes and shimmers are alike buttery, although the Sugar Rim is a bit difficult to get out of the pan enough to show up on me eye (I tried my finger as well as a brush). The shades I reach the most for are Martini Olive, Maraschino Cherry, Cheers (it's a great transition shade for light/medium skin tones), and Champagne Toast. Overall, this palette is well-worth the money.

Score: 4.35 (our of 5)
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The palette is £9.95 and can be purchased from the W7 webstore from this link (non-affiliate, direct link).

Has it really been FIVE years?!

2019-09-23T07:46:00.000-05:00

Wow, you guys. It's been five years since I updated this blog. A lot has happened since then - I graduated with my bachelor's and started my masters in Denmark last year! I work a part-time job here, so I actually have some extra money to spend on makeup here so I'll try my best to do some reviews on the decently-priced stuff I've been using here. So far, I'm really loving Makeup Revolution, w7 Makeup and Sleek Makeup and it's all so inexpensive!

In a little over two weeks (October 10 - 14), I'll be travelling to Bucharest, Romania for some much-needed vacation. I've been in the process of researching products to buy from there and I already have my list going! Some reviews on those products will definitely be up in the near future about those items as well.

I have some thesis stuff to work on tonight but if I can get a break, I'll upload something later. Until then!

Mary Kay VoxBox!

2014-05-02T22:58:00.000-05:00

So I have a few posts to make, but let me start off first with the Mary Kay VoxBox I received from Influenster a few days ago. I haven't reviewed an Influenster box in quite awhile, so here we go.

DISCLAIMER: All of the items in this review were received for free, but I am not compensated in any way for this review.

Here's what I recieved:

Translucent loose powder

My thoughts: I only used this product once, so I don't know if I can really give an accurate description. It is supposed to get rid of shine, but I didn't really notice any difference with it.

Swatch!

Bronzing powder in Light/Medium

My thoughts: I am so excited to finally have a bronzer! I love the color and I think it does go well with my skin color. I just have to learn how to use it, haha.

Cream eye color in "Apricot Twist"

My thoughts: I love the color! I have it on one eye now and after an hour, no creasing! I have very oily eyelids so this is great. The swatch I did on the top of my hand won't budge when I rub it with my finger. I would probably buy another color of this!

NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in "Mango Tango"

My thoughts: It feels nice on my lips, but not really my color. I will have to play with it a little bit, I think. It's very pigmented though!

Lash Love Mascara in "I <3 Black"

My thoughts: First of all, please excuse the oiliness and the Brown Forest that is my eyebrow. It's been a rough month. haha. Anyway, I LOVE this mascara. I've worn it a few times and I think it's really good and worth the money.

My thoughts: It's a really beautiful coral with golden sheen, but I don't wear blush because I have freckles and my cheeks are already always pink.

Gel Eyeliner in "Jet Black"

My thoughts: Don't use the brush. Other than that, I love it. It dries down to a pretty matte soft black. I haven't been able to test the wear yet, but I will soon. Stay tuned!

And now, the brushes.

There was a powder brush and a creme eyecolor/concealer brush. I didn't really care for either of them, to be honest. They felt kind of cheap, especially the powder brush.

Overall, I would say my favorite products were the mascara, the creme eye color, and the bronzing powder. I am sure I will like the eyeliner too once I get to try it. My MAC version just recently dried up almost completely, so this is perfect timing. :)

Have you purchased from Mary Kay before? What are your favorite products? I would like to try more if I can!

I've been chosen!! Mary Kay VoxBox

2014-04-21T20:06:00.001-05:00

So it looks like I will be making a swatch/review post soon! I qualified for Influenster's Mary Kay VoxBox and I am actually pretty excited about it! I've never tried Mary Kay cosmetics because I always thought they were a little expensive. It's always nice to try new makeup brands, especially legendary ones . :)

Stay tuned!

It's been a long time!

2014-04-21T02:25:00.002-05:00

I know I have really been neglecting this blog and I am sorry for that! I hadn't really been buying anything for awhile, but I finally broke down and made some pretty significant purchases. Hopefully I will be able to review what I bought once the goodies arrive!

I recently went to Ulta for the first time and bought the Naked 3 palette. There are a ton of swatch reviews out there, but once I have the time, I will try to swatch that. I barely had time to open it and look at it (I work and I'm in school now).

Then tonight I made a pretty big purchase from Sleek. I bought:
- i-Divine eyeshadow palettes: Oh So Special, Au Naturale, Original, i-Candy, Vintage Romance, Lagoon, Garden of Eden, and Del Mar Vol. 1
- Matte Me lipgloss in Party Pink
- Face Contour Kit in Light

I also bought from Glamour Doll Cosmetics (they were having a 35% off sale), Shiro Cosmetics (Intertubes are being discontinued, so I picked up Why Not Zoidberg? and Smashing as well as a few Detrivore matte shadows), and Darling Girl Cosmetics.

Also, I bought Lime Crime's Velveteens in Suedeberry and Pink Velvet from someone I know on Facebook.

Whew!

I'll try my best to get those swatches up on here. I am really going to be seeing my mailman a lot this week. :)

Indie Spotlight: Dawn Eyes Cosmetics (Swatches)

2013-07-06T21:28:00.002-05:00

I think I've had these pigments for over six months now and I never really got the chance to play with them until now. One night, the girls in the indie makeup group I am in decided to make orders with Dawn Eyes Cosmetics after seeing a blog post of swatches on one of the members Emily's blog. I'd heard of Dawn Eyes before, but I never bought from her simply because of the website. It's a little difficult to navigate, but the shadows are worth it!

All swatches are over Pixie Epoxy. I usually provide links to the colors, but the site doesn't have separate pages for the

Copper Fog: "Why a copper in the purples? Well, it's really a purple, kind of…It has a strong coppery pinkish undertone and a smoky heart, it looks orange in the jar and is strongly sprinkled with blue sparks." (Clearance)

Fantasy Flowers: "A bright medium purple with a blue undertone over primer and drenched in pink, teal, and silver glitter." (Clearance)

Caramel Truffle: "A deep chocolate/golden brown, satiny and loaded with golden sparkle and the occasional flash of a pink gleam! It looks good enough to eat!" (The Sweets Collection)

Plum Pudding: "Rich brown base with a delicate burgundy satin overlay, naturally shimmery but no sparkle."

(The Autumn Tease Collection)

Paleflower: "A lovely tea rose with a shift to a golden coral, decorated with color shifting glitter that runs pink to gold and sprinkled with silver stars!" (The Sunrise Valley Collection)

Nearly Neutral: "Lovely pink/beige loaded with golden glitter." (Office Hours Collection)

Fleeting Flame: "Metallic pink copper with a shift to a rich golden copper, glitters with pink, gold, and copper sparkle in addition to a pink to gold color-shifting glitter! Dancing like a romantic fire on a chilly night!"

I loved all of these and I love Dawn Eyes! My favorites were Copper Fog, Plum Pudding, and Nearly Neutral.

More swatches to come!

Indie Spotlight: Innocent + Twisted Alchemy (Swatches)

2013-06-26T22:14:00.002-05:00

Awhile back, maybe at the end of last year or beginning of this year, I made a purchase from an indie brand called Innocent + Twisted Alchemy I had really never heard of until I joined an indie-loving makeup group on Facebook. The owner, Linda, is in the group and she is super sweet and super awesome! Anyway, I made my purchase awhile back when I was ordering a ton of eyeshadows and fell way behind on my swatching. I really loved her shadows, so I decided to make another purchase with her.

I will be swatching the shades I got before eventually, but for now here's what I purchased. All swatches are over Fyrinnae's Pixie Epoxy.

Contaminated Wastelands (LE): "silvery-brown with a slight green sheen and shimmers" - from the

Draugr (LE): "dirty white with a dirty green undertone"

Caviar & Foie Gras: "silver-y brown with blue sparkles"

Little Crush (not listed on site)

with flash:

Lost in Dispair: "cool toned brown with red and turquoise sparkles"

Fragile Dream: "purple with a turquoise duochrome and light blue sparkles"

Acqua Mirror (not listed on site)

No Fairytale (not listed on site)

Aren't they beautiful?! I can't even pick a favorite! I am on a neutrals kick right now, but wow, I love Acqua Mirror! I don't own anything like this and I can't wait to figure out how to wear this and still have my makeup be work-safe. :)

When I first ordered from i+ta, I only ordered samples. I was so impressed that this time I decided to order some full sizes (which I rarely do for any company) and I was definitely not disappointed! I can't wait to make another purchase with her! <3

What do you think? Have you tried i+ta?

Indie Spotlight: Chequered Lily Apothecary (Swatches)

2013-06-19T22:15:00.000-05:00

I came to work today and my boss says, "Oh yeah, you got mail yesterday." Yesterday. Awesome. When I saw the lime green envelope, I knew it had to be Chequered Lily Apothecary, a Canadian-based company with whom I've had the pleasure to buy from earlier this year. I'm still unbelievably behind on swatches, so I'll go ahead and swatch what I got today and work my way back.

I purchased the 7-sample pack for $4 plus $1 shipping. Pretty awesome! I love a deal! Kimberly, the owner, included a free sample of Invocation so really I got 8 samples for $5. Not bad at all. :)

Anyway, here's what I received. All shadows are over Pixie Epoxy:

Seafoam: "Soft Cool Sea-Green with Pale Golden Shimmer"

A Dustland Fairytale: "Pale Dusty Rose with Gold and Copper Highlights"

Invocation: "Creamy Ivory with Copper Shimmer and Purple Reflect"

Vanilla Lace: "Creamy Shimmering Ivory with bronze glitter"

Swatches with flash

Fireflies: "Inky Purple/Gold Duochrome with Green/Gold Color-shift"

Hearts in Ice: "Royal blue with subtle violet undertone and intense red iridescence"

Grimoire: "Smoky Plum with Pink Undertone and Copper Shimmer"

Stormbreak: "dark grey with red and pink highlights and silver reflect"

Swatches with flash

I love them all! I am kind of collecting samples right now so I know which ones I want to get full sizes of. My favorites of this bunch are Seafoam, Invocation, Hearts in Ice *dies*, and Stormbreak. I have no other color like Hearts in Ice, and I think it's really beautiful. The red shimmer in it is much more visible in person than my camera wanted to pick up.

Have you ordered from CLA? Thoughts?

Indie Spotlight: Femme Fatale Cosmetics - Part 1 (Swatches)

2013-06-19T00:32:00.000-05:00

Sometime last February I placed an order with Femme Fatale Cosmetics, a company with shadows I had been lusting over for quite some time. Femme Fatale is an Australian-based mineral eyeshadow company that also sells face powders and some of the most beautiful handmade nail polish I've ever seen. Unfortunately, the polish isn't able to be shipped to the US since it is a flammable substance that cannot be shipped via aircraft (even within the US). No worries, I still got me some pretty awesome shadows.

Since international shipping is rather steep these days, Femme Fatale offers a deal for their international customers: sample baggies for $1.10 each and free shipping on those baggies! Pretty sweet. I actually snagged these babies during their Easter sale (goes to show you how much of a procrastinator I am, yes?). I ordered 23 samples and only paid $21.31! Yes!

Anyway, here are a few of the shadows I received. All are swatched over Fyrinnae's Pixie Epoxy:

Candied Apple: "pale redwood pink with a green duochrome, and blends out to have an almost brown undertone to it"

Jinx: "pigmented mid purple with blue undertones and a warm tone (copper/red) duochrome finish"

Nightlash: "rich mid-range purple with cool undertones and brassy copper shimmer"

Swamplord: "rich mossy green with strong yellow tones and bold yellow/green shimmer"

Swatches with flash:

Archangel: " translucent yellow-toned ivory complimented by a soft violet duochrome shine. Archangel is very versatile and is great applied alone on the lid, as a highlight or over a dark base to make the violet shine pop!"

Genesis: "soft sea foam turquoise with light golden shimmer. Genesis is a great soft shade with just that little extra kick from the duochrome shimmer, and makes an amazing pastel-looking liner when foiled."

Crystalline Scale: "delicate pale thistle purple with pink tones and a soft blue duochrome finish, suitable for every-day wear or highlighting."

Azuremist [discontinued]: "pale light blue with very subtle pink shimmer"

Swatches with flash:

Oh my goodness, aren't these gorgeous?! I honestly could not pick a favorite out of all of these. They apply like a dream and are so pigmented. My camera wasn't able to pick up the duochrome in some of the pictures (like in Archangel), but it's there! I recommend Femme Fatale 100%. I can't wait until I get paid so I can make a big order of some full-sizes! :)

Have you tried Femme Fatale's eyeshadows? How did you like them?

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) Lip Tar: January Rising (swatches + photos)

2013-05-25T12:05:00.000-05:00

A few months ago, I saw a post on Facebook about a fundraiser that is still going on to benefit January Hunt for her gender reassignment surgery. One of the perks for donating $25 was an exclusive OCC Lip Tar, called January Rising. I'd never tried the Lip Tars before but heard much praise about them, and this was for what I believed was a good cause, so I decided to make a donation.

Here's what I got:

And here's what it looks like on my lips in natural light. I used only ONE small drop to get it this opaque.

I love this color and I love this product! I am so glad I made this purchase! Once I move, I will definitely be purchasing more OCC Lip Tars (any suggestions?? lol).

Etsy Spotlight: Smash Cosmetics Eyeshadows Part Two (Swatches + Photos)

2013-03-10T22:07:00.002-05:00

I didn't think I was going to be able to get this post together by tonight, as I've been working like a mad person all day, I am finally done so I bring to you the second installment of my Smash Cosmetics review and swatches.

Here are the goodies:

And here are the swatches:

Strange, Cyprus, Storm, Savannah, Mint

Again, I didn't apply any primer before I applied these and they still went on like a dream. "Strange" is a unique color--it is a deep burnt orange and it has lots of blue sparkle to it. My camera didn't capture the sparkle very well, but you can see it a little bit. I had been looking for a matte mint green shadow, so I was very happy to get "Mint," although I think it may be a little too pale for me.

I loved these shadows! The owner is currently on vacation, but I can't wait to order again once the shop is back up!

Follow Smash on Facebook.

Etsy Spotlight: Smash Cosmetics eyeshadows Part One (Photos + Swatches)

2013-03-06T23:49:00.002-06:00

I know I haven't been as productive with this blog as I would like to be, but my goal is to get the rest of the reviews out of the orders I made a few weeks ago in the following week. *crosses fingers*

So, tonight I bring you a relatively new indie company called Smash Cosmetics on Etsy. Ashleigh, the owner has one of the biggest selections of loose eyeshadows that I had ever seen. I knew I had to order! I purchased a blogger review pack, which was on sale at the time for 25% off. For 10 samples in clamshells, I paid $3.75 + $2.00 shipping. Best deal ever!

Anyway, I am going to split this review up into two parts, so here are the first five shadows:

And now the swatches!

Death Star, Asteria, Hurricane, Espresso, xxx

I really liked these colors. They are very pigmented! These swatches were over bare skin! I do wish the label on Asteria wasn't hand-written, but we are all human and I know she is a relatively new company. Also, I didn't understand the name for the shade "Espresso," since it's gold and not brown. Maybe I'm missing something? I am satisfied nonetheless. :)

When I bought these shadows awhile back, she had all shadows and maybe six lip glosses. Now she has a whole array of shadows, lip glosses, primers, etc. It will be fun watching this company evolve.

Etsy Spotlight: The Chequered Lily Apothecary (Photos + Swatches)

2013-01-12T00:11:00.002-06:00

So I went a little crazy on Etsy a few nights ago. I made a total of four orders in one night--something I've never done before. Things had been a little on the down side when it came to finances, but now that things are finally rounding out, I can get back to doing what I love most--shopping for new indie makeup brands!

As with the last company I checked out, Glamour Doll Eyes, this company came after I saw a raving blog post awhile back from A Bit Prissy. I also belong to a indie makeup group on Facebook, and saw a few positive reviews on there. So here I was, ordering samples from a brand I'd never heard of before, The Chequered Lily.

I bought a listing for 7 samples of shadows plus one of the owner's choosing. Here's what I received:

Lime green envelope! <3

I LOVE the personalized note. Extra points when companies do this!

For storage purposes, I much prefer my shadows to be kept in jars rather than baggies. Since I have a ton of jars from having my business, I just put these in them.

Oxalis

And here are the swatches:

Oakmoss, Oxalis, Haute Cocoa, The Penny Arcade

December, Czarina, Bayou, The Labyrinth

First off, let me say that I absolutely love this company! I purchased these four days ago on the 7th of January and they arrived today. Awesome, that's what it is. This was the second to last order I made and it came the first. Go figure. On her Etsy page, Kimberly (the owner) states that TAT is 5-7 business days. How's that for arriving at my doorstep in four days? :)

I love the presentation of these too. The labels are clear and concise, letting me know what's in each shadow. They state which are and aren't lip safe and whether or not the shade may stain. I have such a hard time choosing my favorites with this lot.

Best of all (and most importantly) is the shadows. Absolutely stunning. When I received these and upon peeking into the bags, I thought I would be disappointed with The Penny Arcade, but boy was I wrong! The black is so pigmented and there is just enough copper sparkle...Beautiful. I love them all, but I would have to say that Oakmoss, December and The Labyrinth are my favorites. I will most likely buy full sizes of each of these.

I can't wait to purchase from this company again. When I do, I'll also purchase some more samples because I am really dying to see what other beautiful colors they have to offer.

I leave you with a simple look I did with a few of these shadows.

Bayou (on lid), The Labryinth (in crease), The Penny Arcade (outer V) and Czarina (lower lash line)

January 2012 Julep Maven -- It Girl (Photos)

2013-01-10T13:17:00.001-06:00

For the first time in awhile, I actually was able to pick my Julep Maven monthly box. I get the email every month, but I have been forgetting to respond in time. To be honest, I rarely like the polishes I get in my "style" - Classic with a Twist. I just haven't bothered to change it to anything else.

Anyway, the theme this month was neons. Yay! Right up my alley! I chose the "It Girl" style because I didn't really want the product of the month, which was a hand and cuticle stick.

Here's what was in my box:

(color descriptions from Julep.com)

Nikki: electric highlighter neon yellow creme

Nina: electric orangesicle neon creme

Amelia: light champagne frost

Super excited about the neons! I can't wait to wear these this summer!

If you're interested in becoming a Julep Maven, it's only $19.99 per month including free shipping. I know it seems like a lot for just three polishes, but these polishes are really awesome. I think I have about forty of them so far! haha. I love them.

Here is my referral link ---> Become a Maven!

Indie Spotlight: Glamour Doll Eyes (Review + Swatches)

2013-01-06T22:14:00.002-06:00

Ever since a Amber over at A Bit Prissy told me about an indie cosmetics company called Glamour Doll Eyes, I decided I must give them a try. It had been so long since I made an indie purchase, so why not go with a bigger name indie company? GDE is owned by a woman named Vanessa Barney and is a "one woman team." I had actually ordered because I saw Amber made a post announcing GDE had their holiday gift deal on sale 50% off. So instead of $24 for four full-size shadows, I paid $12 for four. I also added on a sample size of another shade to my order.

Anyway, here are the goodies.

"Corrode" from the "Pick Your Poison" collection.

Undercover, Love Affair, Tabloid and Cajun.

Corrode: "a deep taupe base with a green duochrome"

Undercover: "a taupish brown"

Love Affair: "a pinkish goldish color"

Tabloid: "a maroon with pink sparkles"

Cajun: "a medium to bright pink with orange and gold sparkle and sheen"

And here are the swatches!

from left, Corrode, Tabloid, Cajun, Love Affair, Undercover; top half of swatches are bare skin and the bottom half is over Fyrinnae's Pixie Epoxy.

I love them all! Love Affair is sheer but a beautiful inner corner color, in my opinion. I only order Cajun for the name (born and raised in Louisiana, baby!). As for Corrode and Undercover...wow. I am really into neutrals right now, so these were right up my alley. I don't have anything like Tabloid, either. Score for unique colors!

What stood out to me the most with this company though was the presentation and professionalism. Every little tidbit really wowed me, especially from an indie cosmetics company point of view. Beautifully, beautifully done.

I did a look using all of the shadows except Undercover. I will admit that I am not too experienced in creating looks and I am no makeup artist, so bear with me. I did have a little fun doing though. I hope to include a look or two with each review, so you can see how the colors actually look on the lid. Excuse the eyebrows, please! :)

Cajun on lid, Tabloid on outer corner, Love Affair in inner corner, and Corrode on bottom lash line.

I cannot wait to order from Glamour Doll Eyes again!

Sole Society (Review + Photos)

2013-01-06T19:15:00.001-06:00

I know this isn't at all makeup-related, but I figured I would follow up on my order and experience with Sole Society. For those of you unfamiliar with Sole Society, this isn't one of those show subscription websites (like Shoe Dazzle or Shoe Mint), but rather a simple online shop for fabulous shoes. What makes Sole Society different from other shoe and accessory websites is their referral program and free shipping. You don't get a referral link, though; you have to actually email your friends to tell them about the program. Kinda sucks, but the shoes are gorgeous nonetheless.

In my holiday Influenster box, I received a $25 off coupon off my first pair of shoes. After much poring over the website, I decided on a beautiful black and silver pair of heels named "Miley." They were regular $49.95, but on sale for $33.47. After my coupon, Miley was $8.47 shipped! Awesome deal, right?

Here is the stock photo of Miley from Sole Society's website:

Here's what I received (delivered via UPS):

I am in love with them! I usually wear a size 8 in shoes, but since I have wide feet and wasn't sure how these would fit, I ordered an 8.5. They are just the tiniest bit snug, but comfortable enough to wear.

I do have one with Sole Society, though. One is their no returns on sale merchandise items policy. I know I'm not the only person who can fit into one size of one shoe and another size of another. Without the coupon code, I would have paid $33.47. If they didn't fit, I would have been a bit upset after wasting over $30. Even for some full-priced shoes, sales are final. After all, this is an online shoe store. My advice is to read the shoe description carefully to see which shoes you can and can't return or exchange.

All in all, my experience was quite pleasurable. I have another $25 off coupon they sent to my email, so I'll be using that soon.

To save $25 off your first pair of shoes from Sole Society, use code INFLUENSTER25 at checkout! Offer ends 1/31/13.

Have you ever ordered from Sole Society? How was your experience?

2012 New Year's Julep Mystery Box! (Photos + Review)

2012-12-26T17:04:00.002-06:00

Julep really gets me every time with their mystery boxes. There's always that glimmer of hope that you'll get that major box with a ton of nail polishes that will make you jump for joy. They are always only $19.99, and usually claim to be worth $60-$200, but this time the boxes would be even bigger, worth a minimum of $100 going up to $500.

Here's what I received:

Sicilian Orange Foot Soak - $26.00
nail polishes: Georgia (Boho Glam - "peachy microshimmer"); Cindy (Bombshell - "emerald green with gold micro-glitter metallic); Erica (Boho Glam - no description); Stella (Boho Glam - "mustard yellow creme"); Sienna (Classic with a Twist - "sophisticated, shimmery gold" - $84.00
polish remover pads (3) - 3.33 ($9.99 for 10 on the website)
TOTAL: $113.33

Not an amazing box, but still well worth my $19.99. I am still waiting for that box. I can't wait to try the foot soak, too. I work on my feet all day, and I know I can put this to good use! :)

Also, I know you're wondering why I have that I received six polishes when I took a picture of five, I think I may have left one at work. :( I'll see if I can find it once I go back tomorrow and photograph it as well.

If you're interested in joining Julep, please use my referral link! <3

Holiday 2012 VoxBox (TONS of Pictures + Reviews)

2012-12-26T16:14:00.002-06:00

I'm back, beauties! I had to take some time off to get my life in order again, but I am back with some boxes and reviews for you guys! Hopefully I can make this a regular thing again.

Anyway, a few weeks ago a received an email from Influenster that said I was pre-qualified to receive their next VoxBox, and that all I needed to do was fill out a short survey. I did, and a few weeks later, I got the confirmation email saying I would be getting the VoxBox in the mail shortly. I though, EEK! My first VoxBox! So exciting. But the best part about it? It arrived Christmas Eve. Talk about awesome timing on Influenster's part. :)

Anyway, here is what the box looks like and what I got in it:

NYC Liquid Lipshine in Nude York City:

I own this already, but I rarely use it. Or, I should say I have never used it for no particular reason except I usually reach for neons and pinks for my lip colors. I should try this one out though, if not for just an every day lipgloss. I love the smell particularly: strong, sweet vanilla. Very sheer but glossy application.

Goody QuikStyle hair brush:

I seriously can't wait to try out the hair brush. I have been keeping my hair short as of late because it's so thick. When it was longer, I never blow dried it because it would take way too long. This is right up my alley! I will be reviewing this separately.

Kiss Nail Dress in KDS12:

I have never tried any nail decals before so I am super excited to try these out to see how they apply and wear! At my job, I am very rough with my hands (as a manager, you have to be the cashier, stock person, as well as the paperwork goddess), so I am very eager to see how well these perform. Since it will take time to test the wear on these, I will also be reviewing these separately.

Quaker Real Medleys in Peach Almond flavor:

I have just recently come around to eating oatmeal. I'm from Louisiana, and here we eat a lot of grits (lots of butter, bacon and some black pepper for me, thanks!). I love that this is single serve and comes in its own container to pour water into and heat. This was actually very good. Not too sweet, but sweet enough. The chunks of peaches and crunchy almonds go very well together. I will definitely be buying this at the grocery store!

Eboost Natural Pink Lemonade flavored energy drink

I have a confession to make. I have a ton of drink mixes sitting in my cabinet from online sample forms I've filled out over the past few months. None of the ones I have "effervescent," so this was different. When I emptied the packet into a glass of water, pinkish foam formed at the top. It settled down after a minute though, but still didn't look very appetizing, as you can see in the pictures. Eboost contains "no sugar, no artificial flavors, and only 10 calories." The smell is that of pink lemonade, but to me more pink grapefruit than anything. The taste was very much sugar free, with the aftertaste of sugar substitute. Not my cup of tea at all. I'm not one for citrus-y flavors, though.

Montague Jennesse Deep Cleansing Clean-Up Mud (with Aloe Juice for Blemish Prone Skin):

I am very much excited about this one! I have used many of their face masks over the years, and I really like them. I'm not sure if it's company-wide, but the Walgreens by my house doesn't carry them anymore, and neither does Rite Aid. :( I caught some on clearance at Rite Aid, and the only ones I have left are the chocolate ones. The one with the blue mask was my favorite, for the scent as well as how it made my skin feel. This one will be replacing that one. One thing about these masks though, the color of the mask on the model rarely matches what the color of the actual mask is. Marketing purposes, I suppose. When I opened it, I detected a piney-minty scent, which could only be blamed on the aloe and rosemary that are in there. I put it on, and within minutes, the mask was dry enough to wash off. My skin feels tight and clean. I love this mask. However, I wouldn't advise it for those with sensitive skin, since the scent is so very strong. Overall for me, great product.

As a bonus, I received a $25 coupon from Sole Society, and I half already used it yesterday! I bought a super cute pair of black heels for $8.47 shipped! I am such a sucker for a good deal! I ordered them a half size bigger than what I normally buy, since the sale was final. I want to see how these fit before I order anymore.I can't wait, and I will definitely be doing a review on Sole Society based on what I purchased.

Here is the shoe I bought, "Miley":

Here is my referral link: Here!
With this code, you automatically get $25 off your first purchase!

What an awesome VoxBox, right?! I seriously hope that I will be able to participate in more of these.

Virus Insanity Halloween 2012 Lip Glosses (Lip Swatches + Photos)

2012-10-02T14:36:00.000-05:00

Well hello there, strangers! It seems like forever since I last updated, hasn't it? I come to you all today with two new lip glosses from Virus Insanity. I have been following them on Facebook for quite sometime now, but about two or three weeks ago they ran a special for free shipping. I *had* to jump on that! :) They are only $6 each.

Anyway, here's what I bought:

Excuse the Band-Aid. I cut myself on a cardboard box at work.

Swatches of both on bare skin:

Rotten Kisses is described on the company's website as "a grey toned green sticky gloss." It is chai tea flavored. Perfect for fall, in my opinion!

Here's how they look on my lips:

Cadaverous is described as "a pink toned purple sticky gloss with duochrome iridescence that shifts from green to blue." It is passion fruit flavored.

Here are the lip swatches:

I tried to take a picture with a lot of light so you could see some of the iridescence. It's not that noticable, but it's there.

In all, I love these glosses. I can't think of too many places where I would wear Rotten Kisses, but I do love the color! I have already worn Cadaverous to work, and I love it. I will definitely be ordering from Virus Insanity again!

Etsy Spotlight: ReliqMinerals (Swatches + Photos)

2012-09-11T23:59:00.002-05:00

It's that time again! Etsy shopping! I know, I really need to venture out into the world outside of Etsy, but for now it is satisfying my craving. Lol.

Anywho, here is what I received:

And now for some swatches!

Tranquil, Cadmium

Mint, Peacock, Aztec Blue

Ivory, Nudist, Wheat, Khaki, Wine-Oh

In all, I like these. I wish the Mint color were a little more "minty," but the matte shades have amazing color payoff. Shipping was very fast, which I love. I would definitely order from this company again in the future.

What do you think of ReliqMinerals?

Julep Maven Septemer 2012 Trina Turk ENTIRE COLLECTION photos

2012-09-11T23:44:00.000-05:00

I made a decision right before Hurricane Isaac struck us here in New Orleans to go ahead and order the entire collection of Julep's Trina Turk-inspired collection. Extra money I did not have, but I couldn't resist when I saw all of the absolutely gorgeous nail polishes that were available to each maven "type." Besides, it was *only* an extra $30. :)

Boy, was I glad I made that decision. I really love Julep's cream polishes, and all but one of the ten were cream. Anther deciding factor for me. I haven't opened any of these yet, and I even resisted the urge to open the box until I got home.

Here's what I received today:

Eileen, Hoch, Annie, Alma, Gunta, Sophie, Popova, Brandt, Delaunay, Otte

The ones that stood out for me were Alma, Sophie and Otte. I have no other collors like these, and I have never seen shades like these with any nail polish brands.

Otte, Sophie, Alma

This month, Julep also unveiled their mascaras! I have yet to try these, but I am super excited because I really loved their lip gloss in Camellia. So yay! Plus, I don't have any brown mascaras.

I just love Julep's packaging too!

What an amazing deal for $49.99, I think. I am super happy this month, as I always am. I have almost 30 polishes from Julep now, and my collection is ever growing!

If you're interested in signing up to be a Julep Maven, here is my referral link: Click here!

I can't wait until next month! :)

Review: Evil Shades Blushes (Swatches + Photos)

2012-08-19T21:50:00.000-05:00

Finally, my last installment of my Evil Shades review. I actually never buy blushes, as I am freckle-faced! However, when I saw these shades, I knew I just had to have them. All of these listed are sample sizes.

Here they are:

Skön - "berry/plum with strong pink shift (skön is Swedish for beautiful)"

Kona - "shimmering light neutral pink highlight (Hawaiian for lady pronounced cone-uh)"

Atomic - "hot orange cooled down with a blue shift"

And here are some swatches:

Skön

Kona

Atomic

Actually, I have never owned a face highlight shade either, so I am really loving Kona as well as Skön. I haven't found an occasion to wear Skön yet, but I really believe it's gorgeous! I will have to do a look with it soon. As for Atomic, it's VERY pigmented, as you can see, so it may take a bit more to blend out.

I love these blushes! I will most definitely be ordering more samples again soon! <3

Coastal Scents Mica Swatches (x5)

2012-08-19T21:08:00.001-05:00

I know I haven't been swatching my Coastal Scents micas like I should be, but to be honest I totally forgot about them. I have about a ton of them in their little sample baggies, and one of these days I will get to swatching them all.

For now, I leave you with just five. I picked these five because they are all on my "buy next time I order from Coastal Scents" list. :)

Australian Amber, Emerald Isle, China Jade, Tibetian Ochre, Blackstar Red

I hope this helps in your mica-buying adventures! Let me know what you think! <3

Review: Evil Shades Eyeshadows (Swatches + Photos)

2012-08-18T21:46:00.000-05:00

And now, the real reason I wanted to try Evil Shades: the eyeshadows. There are so many to choose from on the site, I really had a hard time choosing five. If I could have my way, I'd have them all. :D

Here we go!

Reondite - "medium aqua with pink shimmer"

Panic - "pink-toned coral with shimmer"

Nightshade - "bright red-based purple/fuchsia (as close to neon as can be made with eye-safe products)"

Mad People - "tangerine orange"

Heartless Queen - "true red with pink undertones and shimmer"

Swatches, you say? Well, here you go. All shadows were applied over Fyrinnae's Pixie Epoxy.

Heartless Queen, Reondite, Mad People, Nightshade, Panic

Beautiful, unique colors. I was shocked that I don't have any true red eyeshadows. I'm not sure where or when I would use it, but I suppose it's a color one should have on hand. :) The only disagreement I have is that Nightshade doesn't lean anywhere near neon on me, but that's only why my eyes see. I still love this color!

Overall, I love these and I love these colors and this brand. As I said before when I reviewed the lip products, I can't wait to buy more!

August 2012 Birchbox! (Photos)

2012-08-18T21:28:00.000-05:00

It's that time of month again! I hadn't even realized it, but I was super excited when I got that cute orange package from my mail lady today!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with how Birchbox works, here it goes. For a $10 monthly (or $110 annually) subscription fee, you get a pretty good assortment of samples (and sometimes full sizes!). Not bad at all.

Anyway, here is what I received for this month:

Here's what I received this month:
- Schick Hydro Silk Razor
- Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream
- Viva La Juicy La Fleur perfume
- Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream

I really like this box! Actually, I ha just bought a new razor from my job, which was supposed to be a knockoff of Venus, and I hate it! So I am so glad the razor came in. Secondly, I LOVE Viva La Juicy La Fleur! It's such a wonderfully feminine scent. Even though it would set me back a whole $70, I definitely think this fragrance is worth it. I don't fall in love too easily with fragrances, by the way. :P As for the other two products, I haven't tried them yet. The Whish shaving cream smells pretty good though!

For those of you interested in signing up with Birchbox, here is my referral link! Show me some love, why don't ya? :)