Life & Reviews

REVIEW: Skinnygirl On-the-Go Bar

2013-02-27T11:50:00.004-08:00

I was stoked when I received this Skinnygirl bar in my Sweetheart Voxbox. I've never tried any Skinnygirl products but I've always wanted to. I love Bethenny. Anyways, I thought I would enjoy this bar as a post-workout snack. I had the Greek Yogurt Blueberry Crisp flavor and let me tell you, it was delicious! The bar was very soft, similar to Luna Bars, which I like in a granola bar. It was sweet, but not overly sweet. You can click here to view the nutritional content and here to view ingredients.

Now I try and steer away from granola bars unless they are made from really good ingredients. This bar has some OK ingredients, but isn't as natural and raw as I would prefer. There is some added sugar and oil raising the sugar level to 10g and the fat to 7g. However, this bar does provide 5g of fiber and 8g of protein which is a plus in my book!

You can purchase these bars on www.skinnygirldaily.com or a local retailer that sells Skinnygirl products. I rarely see these products though, so this could be a bummer if you can't find them and are forced to pay shipping costs online. The second bummer.. the price. These are a little pricey at $9.99 per box which contains 5 bars. A $2 bar + shipping is quite costly, in my frugal, college student opinion.

So overall, the flavor is definitely there, and is perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle. However, there are better granola bars out there that are more natural, more readily available, and more inexpensive.

Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk Creamy Devotion Bar!

2012-03-12T23:03:00.003-07:00

So as you saw in my last post I received the Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk Creamy Devotion 32% Cacao Milk Chocolate Bar in my Influenster Love VoxBox. Being a chocolate lover, of course I dove into the chocolate bar like it was nobody's business. Ghirardelli never disappoints. This chocolate bar is a chocolate lovers dream. It was super creamy, smooth, rich and truly melted in my mouth. The bar breaks up into the individual squares like the ones Ghirardelli sells individually wrapped. My favorite type of chocolate is dark chocolate, however this milk chocolate was probably the best I've ever tasted! You can get your hand on this chocolate bar wherever Ghirardelli chocolate is sold for $2.99.

Influenster Love VoxBox!

2012-03-09T23:40:00.001-08:00

I received my third VoxBox from Influenster today! It's the love VoxBox and I am SO excited to test out all of the products! Heres a peek into my box:

Gillette Venus & Olay Razor: $8.99-10.99
Kiss Nail Dress - Fashion That Sticks: $6.99
Stash Tea Herbal Tea Sampler: $3.50
Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk Creamy Devotion Bar: $2.99
Truvia Natural Sweetener: $3.99 (40 ct)

Look out for reviews soon on all of these products!

Meryl by Julep Swatches

2012-02-28T12:25:00.002-08:00

I received my first Julep polishes yesterday and had to use one of them asap! So here are swatches of one of the colors I received: Meryl. Julep describes this polish as "The perfect neutral, sophisticated gray creme." I think the formula of the polish is great; it's definitely a higher quality polish. I LOVE the bottle of these polishes because they are unique and easy to hold. I'm not the biggest fan of the brush because it is a bit narrow, but if you like smaller/narrower brushes then you'll love this. Meryl is a bit sheer, so I suggest using three coats for complete opacity. In the pictures below I did only two coats and used a top coat.

I plan on doing a full review of the Julep Maven program and talk about the company as a whole once I test out all the products I received.

X Out Acne Treatment Review

2012-02-21T20:00:00.000-08:00

I received this product from Influenster.com through their VoxBox program.

Photo: www.xout.com

Okay, here is a quick background explanation of my skin and acne problems. I have struggled with acne on my face for about five years now (currently 19 years old). I have tried many different cleansers, toners, topical treatments and oral medications. I will say that my acne isn't incredibly terrible, but I do almost always have a breakout somewhere on my face. My skin type is combination/dry.

Having said that, I didn't really have high expectations for this X Out Wash-In Treatment. However, the results it left we're pretty good.

Packaging: I have nothing to complain about with this packaging. It comes with a convenient pump which I really do like. You can see what it looks like in the photo above.

Product: Since I am used to having some harsh treatments and strong medications on my face, this product wasn't too bad. However, if you are someone with sensitive skin, this will probably irritate your skin. This treatment is 8.5% benzoyl peroxide, which is the strongest percentage of medication I have ever used. The product is a gritty white cream; one full pump is plenty for the entire face. While it is on the face, it has a cooling effect, which is something I like because I feel like it is working. There are three uses for the product: a all over wash (my preferred, and suggested method), a spot treatment, or an all-over mask. I have used it as a spot treatment, but found it to be too harsh leaving my skin very red. Therefore, I have never used it as an all-over mask. I find the best method, for me, is to just use it in the morning and at night as a cleanser.

The Result: After using this product, my skin does feel dry. This is good though, because it is removing all the oils that cause acne. I just compensate the dryness with my regular moisturizer and my skin is fine. After using this product I found that my acne settled down quite a bit. I have breakouts every now and then, but they are only minor if I stay consistant with the X Out Treatment.

Overall, I think this is a great product for those who struggle with finding the right acne treatment. However if you skin is very sensitive, I do not recommend this product. It really isn't gentle.

As far as I know, X Out is only available online at www.xout.com: $19.95 for a 30-day supply or $39.90 for a 60-day supply.

If you have ANY questions at all PLEASE do ask in the comments below! I am happy to help :)
xoxo, Steph

NOTD - Tangerine Dream by Nina Ultra Pro

2012-02-18T20:56:00.000-08:00

So when I first picked up this color from Sally's, the polish looked a lot more coral than orange in the bottle. When I came home and put it on, it turned out to be a true tangerine color. Orange is my least favorite color, but I thought it was an essential bright polish for the upcoming spring season. Enjoy!

Trish McEvoy Beauty Emergency Card for Eyes - Swatches

2012-02-18T20:46:00.000-08:00

Hello lovelys! Here are pictures and swatches of Trish McEvoy's Beauty Emergency Card for Eyes. This handy, compact palette is great for traveling and everyday looks. This palette is available at your local Trish McEvoy cosmetic counter or online here: http://www.trishmcevoy.com/p-207-beauty-emergency-card-for-eyes.aspx for $38

Top Left to Right: Deep Aubergine, Peach Shell, Sugar Plum, Gilded Bronze

Bottom Left to Right: Brow Definer in Natural, Rose Quartz, White Peach, Gilded Taupe

Deep Aubergine & Peach Shell

Sugar Plum & Gilded Bronze

Brow Definer in Natural & Rose Quartz

White Peach & Gilded Taupe

Top Left to Right: Deep Aubergine, Peach Shell, Sugar Plum, Gilded Bronze

Bottom Left to Right: Brow Definer in Natural, Rose Quartz, White Peach, Gilded Taupe

Top Left to Right: Deep Aubergine, Peach Shell, Sugar Plum, Gilded Bronze

Bottom Left to Right: Brow Definer in Natural, Rose Quartz, White Peach, Gilded Taupe

My Winter Nail Polish Picks!

2011-12-01T18:46:00.001-08:00

Hello there beauties! Long time no talk, I know. Finals are next week and have been DYING with the amount of studying I have to get done. However, I managed to film a video today for you guys! I hope you like it :)

Nina Ultra Pro in "Glamrock"

Zoya in "Dea"

China glaze in "Stella"

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in "Blazing Blue"

Orly in "Luxe"

NYC Nail Enamel in "Plaza Plumberry"

China glaze in "Going My Way?"

Ulta Nail Lacquer in "Racey Red"

NOTD - Sinful Colors "Gorgeous"

2011-11-09T22:03:00.000-08:00

Changed up my nails today with a not so fall season color. I was at Target recently and of course I had to look at the nail polishes and I found myself in the Sinful Colors section. I only have one other polish from this inexpensive brand, so I thought I'd give another on a try. I picked up Gorgeous, which is a metallic blueish-green shade. It applied very well and was completely opaque with two coats. It is a tiny bit streaky, but not enough to bother me.

I will say, the polish looks more pretty and complex on the bottle than on the nail. Regardless, it's still a nice shade, especially for the price.

Got My First VoxBox!

2011-11-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

Before I get into the products I received, I should first explain Influenster.com to all of you who have never heard of it. So Influenster is a website, in which anyone can sign up for for free! Its fast and easy. Then, you simply fill out short surveys about anything from food to beauty to pets, which earn you badges. Once you start earning some badges, Influenster will decide whether or not you quality for their next VoxBox. If you qualify, they will contact you, ask for you address if you wish to participate, and send you a box full of products to try out. Did I mention you don't have to pay a dime?

All you need to do in return for these awesome products is share and review the products through the wondrous ways of social media. This can be Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or a blog.

If I left anything out, or you would like more information just visit Influenster.com!

Now, enough blabbering! Let's get to the good stuff!

I was extremely excited to see what was in my Voxbox. The first item was a Venus ProSkin Moisture Rich razor, the second was a Vitabath body wash in Spa Day, and lastly, the Proactive 3 Step System!

As I try out all the products within the next month, I will make notes of my likes and dislikes of each of the products and do a full review either here on my blog, or on my youtube channel: StephhanieTV

Be sure to watch my unboxing video as well:

Xoxo, Steph

DIY Eye Makeup Remover!

2011-10-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

Looking for an inexpensive alternative for eye makeup remover? Use EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL! Or EVOO in the language of Rachael Ray :)

Using an oil based makeup remover can really help take off that stubborn waterproof and water-resistant eye makeup. A little side note: although olive oil is a GREAT moisturizer for the skin, if you have acne prone skin like I do, I advise you to only use this on your eyes.

I first got my EVOO out of the kitchen. I have found that organic, cold-pressed oil is best.

Next I found a small container. I used a clean, emptied 3 fl oz. bath and body works shower gel bottle.

Then, just pour 1 part oil and 1 part water into the container.

The water and oil separate, so make sure you shake it well each time before you use it.

HOW TO USE:
Shake up the oil/water mixture WELL.
Pour a small amount onto a cotton pad or cotton ball.
Place the cotton pad/ball onto your eye and GENTLY rub off your eye makeup.
Should end up with something like this...

Simple! Right?

Give it a try! Let me know how it works for you :)

xox, Stephanie

I Posted A Video : September Favorites!

2011-10-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

I know I'm a week late, but here are my favorite products for the month of September! Hope you enjoy :)

xox, Stephanie

NOTD - The fall's "it" shade!

2011-10-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

WELCOME TO MY BLOG :)

To kick-off my blog I thought I would should you the color I painted my nails today. This olive green shimmer polish is perfect for this fall. This shade falls perfectly into this season's military green polish trend. I bought this nail polish a couple days ago from Sally's Beauty Supply and it is by the brand Nina Ultra Pro in the shade Mossy Britches. Guess how much this was? $2.99! Nina Ultra Pro's entire line is on sale NOW at Sally's.

I feel as though no one talks about this brand of polish on Youtube or blogs. I've only seen this brand at Sally's, but these polishes aren't bad at all! They have amazing dry time, a large brush, and go on smoothly. For such an inexpensive price it is definitely worth it to go out and purchase some.

In other, random news I'd just like to say R.I.P. Steve Jobs. You changed the world.

Thanks for stopping by. I shall try as much as possible to blog for you all! Leave a comment and leave some suggestions for me :)

xox, Stephanie