Twin Sisters in the City

TSITC - On Partial Hiatus for May!

2012-04-25T06:55:00.000-04:00

Twin Sisters in the City is on partial hiatus beginning now through May. We are both moving house and changing jobs so it'll be a hectic/busy month for us. So if you notice our posts are less frequent, that is why. Don't worry, we aren't going anywhere! We will be back and better than ever in June, ready to give you great reviews and giveaways! So stay tuned!!

There will still be reviews this coming month, including our monthly Birchbox reviews and some swatches of products we're loving. We also have one giveaway in the works for this month, so we won't be totally gone in May!

Review and Swatches - Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes

2012-04-16T17:53:00.000-04:00

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are an amazing solar-baked blush containing Amazonian clay which is meant for all skin types. If your skin is oily it will minimize oil and keep the blush in place. If your skin is dry it will hydrate your skin naturally to restore moisture. It is also meant to improve your skin's clarity and texture.

They also claim the clay is intuitive and will balance your skin if it is combination giving it a smooth and even appearance. The blushes contain Vitamin E (a natural preservative and anti-inflammatory), Vitamin C (fights free radicals) and beeswax (creates a protective barrier) as well. All three ingredients help with anti-aging.

I have three shades to swatch for you today, Peaceful, Glisten and Blissful. Peaceful is a pinky nude and appears to be matte. Glisten is a true medium pink with a slight sheen of shimmer. Blissful is a warm peach almost boarding on coral and is matte.

All swatches are in natural sunlight.

Peaceful


Peaceful

Glisten

Blissful

I love that these all are formulated without harmful ingredients like parabens, GMOs, sulfates or synthetic fragrance. The packaging is great. There is a pinhole on the back so you can take out the blush and put it into a custom palette if you wish.

I do love these blushes, added benefits aside. Even though they are powder they glide on with a smooth texture and are very pigmented. A little bit goes a long way!

Currently, only Blissful is available on Tarte's website but you can find the other shades on Sephora or Amazon. You receive 0.2 oz for $25.00.

Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Tarte, Sephora or Amazon. All products mentioned were purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

Music Monday - Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out

2012-04-16T15:58:00.001-04:00

Cuteness Overload - The World's Loudest Cat

2012-04-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

Review - Crane USA - Ultra Slim Mini Tower

2012-04-10T00:02:00.000-04:00

My apartment in the city is great, my heat is included in my rent, however, I can't control the temperature of the heat. This leads me to turning on my AC if it gets too hot. Now that April is here my apartment building has turned off the heat even though it dips to 50 degrees or less at times! I decided to get a space heater to warm my cold toes and nose when it got to be too chilly.

I wanted something compact but powerful, safe and energy efficient. That's when I found the Crane Ultra Slim Mini Tower! This is a sleek PTC ceramic heater (as opposed to convection).

This space heater is powerful, compact and sleek. I love that it doesn't take up much floor space in my apartment. It measures only at 19.8 inches high, 9.5 inches wide and 7.1 inches deep. It also comes with a remote!

This heater is safe and that's very important to me when you're dealing with a space heater. It's cool to the touch so I'm not worried about it hurting my pup. If it tips over or over heats, it automatically shuts off.

It has an actractive sensor touch display. From left to right is the oscillator button, the timer, desired heat setting (800 w or 1200 w), and the on/off button. At 800 watts this heater is still a power house and heats up my entire studio apartment (think your big living room at home) in approximately 10 minutes! And I don't have to feel so guilty about turning it for fear of my electric bill because of the lower watt setting it offers. You can set the timer from anywhere to only 30 minutes to 7 and a half hours. I also love that it's very quiet. It merely sounds like I have a quiet fan on and it's actually kind of soothing.

On the back, there is a handle to move the heater around. It's easy to move around as it only weighs 3.8 lbs. There is also a back panel which holds the carbon filter. It also has a main on/off switch so that you can keep it plugged in when not using it and not have to worry about it sapping electricity.

All and all this is a great heater that's not only safe and energy efficient but I wouldn't feel embarrassed having it in my living room due to it's great design.

It retails for $69.99 on Crane's website or you can pick up yours on Amazon for $55.09 (21% off).

Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Crane. Product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

Review and Swatches - Tarte LipSurgence™

2012-04-10T00:01:00.000-04:00

Tarte LipSurgence™ line first appeared as a lip tint and later expanded with Tarte LipSurgence™ matte lip tint and Tarte LipSurgence™lip luster. These lip products have LipSurgence™ technology which is a formula containing jojoba seed oil, peppermint oil, vitamin C and E which is clinically proven to increase lips' moisture content.

They also have skinvigorating™benefits because they're formulated without:

formulated without mineral oil

formulated without paraben

formulated without phthalates

cruelty free

formulated without sodium lauryl sulfate

All these claims deliver. These are great, non-greasy, non-sticky moisturizing lip products. They really are true tints and lusters offering sheer color to the lips in any of the given finishes (standard stain, matte or luster (a glossy finish)). They feel like a light balm going on and are easy to apply. They come in several different shades and finishes and it's quite easy to get addicted to collecting them! Between my sister and I we have six.

They have innovative packaging coming in a crayon like tube which twists up from the bottom similar to chapstick. No sharpening required. The packaging is kind o a mix between a lipstick and a balm which is fun and great. They also have a great peppermint scent and no taste. They are 2.6 mL or 0.08 fl. oz. and $24.00 each. You can purchase them at tartecosmetics.com, Sephora or Ulta.

On to the swatches! I have five to swatch for you today. We have two lip tints, one matte lip tint and two lip lusters.


L to R - fiery (matte), amused (tint/stain)

L to R - frisky (luster), sweet (luster)

L to R - sweet (luster), peaceful (tint)

Color Descriptions

fiery -matte red (matte)
amused - bright pink (stain)
frisky - bright pink (luster)
sweet - peachy pink, limited edition (luster)
peaceful - peach nude (no longer in stock) (tint)

Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Tarte Cosmetics. Products were purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

Music Monday - Jessie J - Domino

2012-04-09T00:01:00.000-04:00

Review and Swatches - Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

2012-04-08T18:22:00.002-04:00

"Creamy, forever-lasting, award-winning and waterproof, 24/7 pencils delight you with lush tropical hues, deep metallics, and unusually vibrant neutrals.

The best Eye Pencil ever, ever, ever! Never before has a pencil this creamy and brilliant been waterproof, too. Velvety-soft, this never-before-seen formula stays soft and creamy for blending (about 30 seconds), then dries down to a long-lasting finish that WILL NOT budge. Line eyes with a hint of color or go for the full artistic, multi-hued effect with the wide selection of lush tropical hues, deep metallics and unusually vibrant neutrals. Incredible with Urban Decay Eyeshadows!

Created with 50% moisturizing ingredients suspended in a sophisticated waterproof formula, 24/7 Eye Pencils offer long-lasting color and a dreamy, creamy feel when applied. With Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E and Cottonseed Oil."

Fill Weight: 1.2 g, 0.04 US oz, $19.00 each. There are 24 different shades total out now as of April 2012. I have 11 to swatch for you today. This is quite possibly my favorite eye pencil. They are all deeply pigmented, stay on for hours, don't budge and come in a great array of colors! They are great for your water line too.

All photos are in natural (albeit cloudy day) light. I should have sharpened a couple of them before swatching, but the left skinnier line is one swipe and the right side is a heavier swatch. Enjoy!

L to R - Perversion, Zero, Eldorado, Gunmetal

L to R - Gunmetal, Whiskey, Stash, Mildew

L to R - Rockstar, Ransom, Binge, Electric

Official Color Descriptions

Perversion - blackest-black matte
Zero - zealous black
Eldorado - gold
Gunmetal - gunmetal w/ teeny silver
Whiskey - currently limited edition
Stash - dark green w/ gold
Mildew - deep green
Rockstar - darkest eggplant
Ransom - bright iridescent purple
Binge - navy blue
Electric - bright aquamarine

Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Urban Decay. Product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

Happy Easter!

2012-04-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

Twin Sisters in the City hopes you have a festive and great Easter with your family and friends!

CVS is offering a great deal this week to help us all remember our Easter cheer!

CVS (April 8 - 14)

4 x 6 Digital Prints

Buy 60 4 x 6 Digital Prints and get 20 FREE

Have an Energizing Spring!

Music Monday - Alex Clare - Too Close

2012-04-02T02:40:00.001-04:00

Giveaway - UPrinting!

2012-03-28T00:01:00.001-04:00

About UPrinting

UPrinting.com, a leading socially responsible online printing, marketing and technology firm, has established itself as a major player in the industry with its distinct vision and clear approach to helping small businesses grow. It serves thousands of on-demand business printing and graphic printing orders online daily, using high-quality press printing and a robust yet simple and easy-to-use online ordering system, resulting in high-end printing services and reliable color printing at discount printing costs.

Prize Information

250 pcs. Custom Stickers (Labels) for One (1) Winner
2" x 3.5"
70lb Label Matte
Front Only Printing
4 Business Days Turnaround
*Free shipping

This giveaway is open to US residents only, 18 years old and above. No prize substitutions allowed. Winners are allowed to win once over a six-month period. Only email addresses used for the giveaway will be eligible to claim the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer: You should assume that the owner of this blog will receive free print product in exchange for the post. Any and all reviews posted are based solely on my own experience and may be atypical. Please practice due diligence in making any related purchase decisions.

Giveaway - 2 oz. Jar of Waxelene!

2012-03-28T00:01:00.000-04:00

I recently reviewed Waxelene on our blog. It is an amazing multi-purpose product and petroleum jelly alternative. Check out our review for Waxelene and enter below for your chance to win your own 2 oz. jar of Waxelene for yourself!

Please enter in the Rafflecopter widget below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review - Waxelene

2012-03-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

About Waxelene

Waxelene is an eco-friendly product with natural/organic ingredients and packaging. Waxelene is a multi-purpose petroleum jelly alternative (think Vaseline) with four simple ingredients you know will be safe for you and your family, including:

Organic Soybean Oil - Rich in anti-oxidants such as Vitamin E and B Complex which help keep your skin nourished and prevents wrinkles
100% Natural Beeswax - Naturally an anti-inflamatory, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant. The Mayo Clinic recommends beeswax to help prevent and treat chapped lips.
Organic Rosemary Oil - Certified organic and non-GMO, this oil is rich in anti-oxidants which help improve blood circulation. It also is a natural preservative and anti-bacterial making it possible to preserve Waxelene without using synthetic preservatives like harmful parabens.
100% Natural Vitamin E Oil - Distilled from non-GMO soybeans. Not synthetic like in other skincare products. Vitamin E is known for it's anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which aid in protecting and regenerating skin cells.

Uses for Waxelene (from their website):

Soothing and moisturizing chapped, dry skin:

Lips, elbows, knees, face, dry spots, anywhere!
Eczema & psoriasis.
Winter and dry weather skin protection and hydration.
Keep noses happy - prevents and relieves irritation on nose & lips from runny noses and constant wiping with tissues.

Make-up & removing make-up:

Add healthy glow to lips & face.
Apply to arms or legs for a subtle sheen.
Remove eye make-up - apply a dab to a towel or tissue and wipe off.
Add a bit to eyelids for a soft shine/dewy look.

Hands & Feet:

Relieve drying effects from repeated hand washings, doing dishes, etc.
Moisturize cuticles.
Put on base of nails to prevent nail polish from getting on skin.
Apply to feet or hands before bed, then put on socks or gloves for incredibly soft skin in the morning!

Babies:

Reduce diaper irritation.
Put on evebrows to prevent shampoo from running into eyes.
Apply for cradle cap.

Sports:

Running, biking, volleyball, diving, hiking, skiing, etc.
Lubricate and protect from chafing, friction, and wind burn all day long.
Wetsuit rash prevention - apply to neck and tight spots. Won't deteriorate wetsuit like petroleum products and no petroleum in the water!

Hair:

For dying hair, apply to skin around hairline and ears to prevent staining.
Use to prevent flyaways and for styling.
Rub into ends of hair to hide split ends.
Control wild eyebrows.

After Sun: Soothe and moisturize tender skin.
Shaving or Aftershave: For face/legs etc. Moisturizes & lubricates.
Use for anything you would use petroleum jelly for and more!

Benefits

Waxelene contains NO petroleum!
Revolutionary patent-pending aeration process creates a smooth and silky consistency without having to use hydrogenated oils (trans-fats), petroleum or other chemicals
Made of only Beeswax and the finest quality natural plant-based oils
All natural, eco-friendly, biodegradable, no GMOs
Recommended by professional make-up artists, pediatricians, athletes etc.
No parabens or other artificial ingredients
Stays on for hours
Contains organic ingredients
Water/sweat resistant
Not Greasy or sticky
Goes on clear
No animal testing

First Impressions and Review

First, I'm a busy girl and I'm on a budget so having a multi-use product is always something I look for as well as products that are paraben-free and have healthy anti-oxidant properties. It's also important to me that a product is not tested on animals and is eco-friendly. This product ticked all those boxes so I was excited to try it but hesitant because of my past bad experiences with petroleum jelly.

I first tried this on my lips right before bed and was instantly amazed when I first applied it and even more so when I woke up the next morning my lips were smooth and felt healthy. The product is so much better than petroleum jelly in terms of texture and taste. Petroleum jelly tastes terrible if you put it on your lips and has always been very greasy, sticky and heavy for me. I usually tend to avoid using it if I have to.

However, Waxelene replaces petroleum jelly with flying colors. It is smooth, creamy, scentless, non-greasy while feeling light and calming to the skin. It applies clear and really sinks into the skin quickly while leaving a light barrier of protection.

So far I've tried it on my feet, hands, cuticles (it was awesome for healing hang-nails) elbows and lips and I absolutely love it. My itchy sensitive skin which is always still bad this time of year is instantly moisturized, comforted and calmed and over time and overnight it improves even more. I'm sure with continued use it will continue to improve on my rougher dryer patches.

Because my skin is sensitive I always look for products without harsh chemicals. This product did not irritate my skin whatsoever because all of the products are natural. I can't wait to try it for other uses, like my hair for flyaways or to remove makeup! I'm also curious to try it on my dog's dry and cracked paws and see how it helps her. I am definitely a Waxelene fan! I only wish it came in a purse-friendly mini size so I could keep it with me at all times!

Where to Buy

You can purchase Waxelene at Whole Foods, online at Amazon or direct from their website. Waxelene comes in a 2.0 oz jar for $6.99 or a 9.0 oz jar for $15.99. My sister has already picked one up for herself after I raved about it!

Disclosure: A PR sample was provided in exchange for my honest review and opinion on the product. All opinions were my own. I was not compensated monetarily for this review.

Music Monday - The Hunger Games Soundtrack - Taylor Swift - Eyes Open

2012-03-26T17:10:00.001-04:00

Drugstore Beauty Deals - CVS - 3/25/2012 - 3/31/2012

2012-03-25T00:01:00.000-04:00

Buy One, Get One 50% Off!
ALL Revlon Cosmetics or Beauty Tools
Limit of 6 offers per household with card

Coupons:
$2 off 1 Revlon Age Defying with DNA Advantage Cream Makeup, p.56 More, Oct 2011 (exp 04/30/2012)
$2 off 1 Revlon Age Defying with DNA Advantage Cream Make-up, p.44-45 Redbook, Oct 2011 (exp 04/30/2012)
$1 off 1 Revlon Color Cosmetic 03/11/2012 SS Insert (exp 04/15/2012)
$2 off 1 Revlon PhotoReady Face Product at coupons.com

Save! $2.00
Any CeraVe

Coupons:

$1 off 1 CeraVe Product, p.73 First for Women, Dec 2011 (exp 07/01/2012)

$1 off 1 CeraVe Product, Rolling, coupons.com

You pay $9.99, Get $4.00 in ECB! It's like getting it for $5.99!!

Schick Hydro Silk

Razor 1 ct.

Limit of 1 offer per household with card

Coupons:

$4 off 1 Schick Hydro Silk Razor or Refill 02/26/2012 SS Insert (exp 04/08/2012)

$2 off 1 Schick Hydro Razor 02/26/2012 SS Insert (exp 04/08/2012)

$3 off 1 Schick Hydro Silk Razor or Refill

Sale! $19.99

L'Oreal Youth Code

Serum, Day Lotion, Eye, Night Cream 0.5 - 1.7 oz.

RevitaLift Clinical Repair 10 Day Treatment

corrector or day/night cream 1.6 - 1.7 oz.

Rebate/Coupons:

$10 Rebate When You Spend $30 on L'Oreal SkinCare! Click here!

$2 off 1 L'Oreal Paris Youth Code Product, Excludes Trial Sizes, Rolling, at L'Oreal Paris

$2 off 1 L'Oreal Paris RevitaLift CR10 Product 03/18/2012 RP Insert (exp 05/13/2012)

Sale! 40% Off!

ALL Physicians Formula Cosmetics

Coupons:

Watch for "peely" coupons Physician Formula Products

Spend $10, Get $3.00 in ECB

ANY Covergirl Eye, Lip or Face

Excludes clearance items
Limit of 1 offer per household with card

Coupons:

$2 off 1 Covergirl Tone Rehab Foundation 03/18/2012 RP Insert (exp 04/30/2012)

$0.50 off 1 Covergirl Lip or Eye Product 03/18/2012 RP Insert (exp 04/30/2012)

$1 off 1 CoverGirl Product 03/04/2012 P&G Insert (exp 03/31/2012)

$3 off 3 CoverGirl, Pantene or Olay Products, excludes Trial/Travel, p. 210 Glamour, March 2012 (exp 04/15/2012)

$1 off 1 Covergirl Lip or Eye Products 02/19/2012 RP Insert (exp 03/31/2012)

Spend $25, Get $10.00 in ECB

ANY L'Oreal Cosmetics

Limit of 1 offer per household with card

Coupons:

$1 off 1 L'Oreal Paris Eye 03/25/2012 RP Insert (exp 05/20/2012)

$1 off 1 L'Oreal Paris Eyeliner or Eye Shadow 03/25/2012 RP Insert (exp 05/20/2012)

$2 off 1 L'Oreal Paris Face Cosmetic Product, excludes Magic Perfecting Base, 0.17 oz 03/04/2012 RP Insert (exp 04/19/2012)

$2 off 1 L'Oreal Paris Face Product, excludes Magic Perfecting Base 02/19/2012 RP Insert (exp 04/01/2012)

Various L'oreal Paris Cosmetic coupons at L'Oreal Paris

You Pay 2 for $12, You Get $4.00 in ECB for 2

Caress, Dove or Lever

Bar soap, 6-8 pk. or Dove body was 18-24 oz.

Limit of 1 offer per household with card

Coupons:

$1 off 1 Dove Body Wash, 12 oz, excludes trial, travel, Men+Care 03/25/2012 RP Insert (exp 04/22/2012)

$0.75/1 Dove Beauty Bar, 6 bar pk+, excludes trial, travel or Men+Care 03/25/2012 RP Insert (exp 04/22/2012)

$1/1 Lever 2000 Bar Soap or Body Wash, 6 bar or 18 oz wash at Lever2000.com

Sale! 2 for $12

ALL L'Oreal Ever Hair Care

Coupons:

$1 off 1 L'Oreal EverCreme, EverSleek, EverPure, EverStrong Treatment 03/11/2012 RP Insert (exp 05/06/2012)

$1 off 1 L'Oreal EverCreme, EverSleek, EverPure, EverStrong, shampoo or conditioner 03/11/2012 RP Insert (exp 05/06/2012)

Sale! 7.99

Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Foam

Coupons:

$2/1 Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Foam 03/04/2012 RP Insert (exp 05/04/2012)

Sale! 2 for $7

ALL Tresemme

Ebates - Sephora is Double Cash Back!

2012-03-23T03:57:00.002-04:00

Ebates is having a special event called Spring into Fashion with Double Cash Back! Included in this event is Sephora. For a limited time Sephora will be doubled from 4% cash back to 8% cash back. That's awesome!

Signing up and using Ebates is FREE. All you have to do is click on the site you want to shop at through the Ebates site.

Here are some coupon codes to sweeten the deal:

PRIME28 - Free Hourglass No. 28 Deluxe Primer Serum Sample with $25+ order. (Exp. 04/11/2012)
FULLDEF - Free Shiseido Full Definition Perfect Mascara Deluxe Sample with any $25+ order. (Exp. 04/11/2012)
SPACLOTH - 2 Free Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Cloths with $25+ order. (Exp. 03/28/2012)
7DAYS - Free Lancome Genifique Youth Activating 7 Day Sampler with any order. (Exp. 04/02/2012)
No code required - Free shipping on $50+ order and 3 Free Samples with any order. (Exp. 12/31/2050)
No code required - $10 off the Sephora Collection Hot Hues Mini Brush Set, Four Pieces - Only $15. (Exp. 04/01/2012)

Other sites participating in the Ebates Spring into Fashion with Double Cash Back Event are Lancome (14% cash back), Kohls (6% cash back), Victoria's Secret (4% cash back), Macy's (6% cash back) and many more!

Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with 6pm, Zappos or any of the brands mentioned. Any products were purchased by us and all opinions are our own. Post contains a referral link to Ebates.

Swatches - Incoco Nail Polish Appliqué in Passion

2012-03-22T00:01:00.000-04:00


Incoco Passion (Day 1)

Incoco Nail Polish Appliqué in Passion is a creme red and retails for $7.99 at Incoco.

Disclosure: This is post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Incoco. Any products were purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

Cuteness Overload - Lion Cub Hugs

2012-03-21T00:01:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of Cute Overload

Music Monday - Kelly Clarkson - Stronger

2012-03-19T20:37:00.001-04:00

March 2012 Birchbox - Teen Vogue Beauty Picks

2012-03-19T20:16:00.001-04:00

Every so often Birchbox collaborates with other companies and beauty experts (most recently Cynthia Rowley) to put together a special Birchbox. This month Birchbox collaborated with Teen Vogue to bring you their Teen Vogue Beauty Picks.

I was given the option to get a regular Birchbox this month or get the special Teen Vogue Beauty Picks. They said we didn't have to be a teen to enjoy it so I went for it. I was so excited to see in this Birchbox I received two full-size products, one from Essie and one from Tarte!

To learn more about how Birchbox works, please check out my post here. If you are looking for my reviews on my past month's Birchboxes, please click on the Birchbox label below or click here.

On to the goodies!

shade - peaceful

tarte | LipSurgence™ lip tint (full size - $24.00, 0.08 fl oz., shade - peaceful)

On the card - "This long-lasting stain adds rich pigment and is designed to boost the moisture levels in your lips."

no sharping needed, bottom twists up product

from top to bottom: one swipe, blended out

two coats on lips

Impressions - I already own one of these lip tints from a kit from QVC called Sweet which I love. This shade was no different. These are always scary in the tube but great on. Like the other one I own, it applied smooth, non-greasy, had a minty scent and no taste. It was very moisturizing and was really like my lips but better with a soft peachy-nude tint.

The tints all have Vitamin C and E or moisture and jojoba seed oil which will protect your lips from free radicals. All of these crayon-like tints apply sheer and are really great for a casual day or a more subtle lip. I have already repurchased another shade in Amused (a bright pink shade) with my Birchbox points. I'd definitely recommend!

essie® | luxeffects (full size - $8.00, 0.50 fl. oz., shade - a cut above)

On the card - "Layer this glittery top coat onto any polish for an eye-catching look"

Impressions - Out with the crackle nail polish trend and on to flakie polish! This is Essie answerto the trend called "luxeffects" and is an over coat you can put on any polish. Flakie polish is simply irregular and different sized glitter. You can add one coat over polish to add a cool effect or just like I did it on a bare nail to show you as is. I love this rosy pink shade I received called a cut above. I wish I could own them all in the Luxeffect line! The only downside is I wish I could have gotten the glitter to reach all the way to the tip of my nail but I think that practice will help with that.

twistband | Hair Tie (deluxe sample - one tie, neon green, full size - $18.00, 12 pack)

On the card - "Give your ponytail a makeover with these colorful, snag-free elastics."

Impressions -These are just not my thing. They were in my Birchbox less than a year ago and I just didn't like how clunky and messy it was in my hair. It also didn't hold my hair very well and fell out easy. The neon green color I received didn't help! These just remind me of a revamp of the 90s scrunchy that should stay in the past! I will say they do have other styles which look nice so if you want to try them out I'd suggest going that route.

Shiseido | Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Papers (deluxe sample - 10 sheets, full size $18.00, 100 sheets)

On the card - "These mattifying tissues are coated with transparent rice powder to leave your skin perfectly shine-free"

Impressions -Blotting papers are simply a must have for me to control oil and shine whether I'm not wearing any makeup and want to control oil and shine or I am and I want to do so without disturbing my makeup. However, these are more than 50% more expensive than Boscia's blotting papers which they're famous for ($10.00 for 100 sheets available at Sephora.com) and to me work just as well if not better and come in a variety of scents and colors. These blue sheets just seem clinical to me and the scent is just okay. They do work well though but for me Boscia is just a better option with how much I go through these. Nevertheless, it was fun to try a new blotting paper/linen in my Birchbox.

Annick Goutal | Petite Cherie (deluxe sample - 3 ml or 0.1 fl. oz., full size - $85.00, 50 ml or 1.7 fl. oz.)

On the card - "A blend of fresh fruity notes and musk, this French fragrance is the definition of understated chic."

Impressions -I usually hate that I receive a fragrance sample as these are samples you can get free with purchase most of the time at stores like Ulta and Sephora. However, this scent was a pleasant surprise. I usually dislike the fragrances put in Birchboxes. They never seem to smell right for me or are my taste. Once I receeived one that literally reminded me of Evergreen scented room freshner. However, this scent is gorgeously feminine, girly, classy and subtlety sexy.

I would be buying it now on Birchbox if it wasn't so pricey!

Disclosure: This is post is in no way sponsored or affiliated with Birchbox. Product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own. Post contains a referral link to sign up for Birchbox.

Lucky Day Sweepstakes Event: Top Skincare Products from Perricone MD!

2012-03-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

Is today your lucky day? Find out and hop around to all participating blogs hosting sweepstakes. This event is hosted by Sason and Pobi.

Our Giveaway

Perricone MD is a brand created by board certified clinical and research dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone. His line of top skincare products is backed by his award winning research to help with a myriad of skin concerns and issues. Perricone MD's most famous product, Cold Plasma, is the best anti aging wrinkle cream with proven results.

Want to try Perricone MD? They offer free shipping on orders over $50 and have regular deals and coupons.

Twin Sisters in the City is giving away your choice of one Perricone MD product valued at $150 or less to one lucky reader.

Please enter in the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Link Up Your #Rafflecopter Giveaways

2012-03-12T00:30:00.002-04:00

Link up with us! Have a Rafflecopter giveaway you want to add to our linky? We have a special linky for rafflecopter only giveaways that is updated frequently. Please feel free to check it out for yourself, add a giveaway you've seen or a giveaway from your blog!

Music Monday - Katy Perry - Part of Me

2012-03-12T00:01:00.000-04:00

Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop: $25 Soap.com Gift Certificate!

2012-03-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop! Our hosts for this event are MamaNYC and Sweeping The USA! We have some great giveaways and even a GRAND PRIZE iRobot Roomba, which is a robot that will actually vacuum your floors!

This event will run from March 10-24, 2012. Keep reading to find out what I am giving away, but don’t forget to enter for a chance at our GRAND PRIZE - and hop down the linky list for a chance to win even MORE prizes!

ABOUT THE GRAND PRIZE:

The iRobot Roomba ($349.99) is a Vacuum Robot (amazing, huh?!). Here are some links just in case you’d like to familiarize yourself with the details and functions of the Roomba:

iRobot® Roomba® 530 Vacuum Robot

Combine a powerful vacuum with modern technology and you have this incredible robot that cleans your floors so you don't have to, automatically adjusting to tackle both carpets and hard floors. The robot intelligence efficiently cleans the whole floor, under and around furniture and along walls, while automatically sensing and avoiding stairs and other drop-offs. The anti-tangle system keeps the robot from getting stuck on cords, carpet fringe, or tassels. The two counter-rotating brushes in the vacuum reach deep into carpets to remove dirt, dust and pet hair. Dirtier areas are detected automatically and given heavier attention. The system cleans up to 3 rooms in a single cleaning cycle, and then automatically docks in the self-charging base! And your job in all this? Simply press the CLEAN button! One-year warranty. Model #530.

*Official iRobot Website: http://www.irobot.com

ABOUT OUR PRIZE:

Twin Sisters in the City will be giving away a $25 gift certificate to soap.com to aid you in your spring cleaning or something else fun for yourself! The gift certificate can be used at at any of their five sites in one cart: soap.com, wag.com, diapers.com, yoyo.com and/or casa.com. You can literally buy anything from cleaning supplies, food, dog treats, diapers, makeup, toys or household items and send them all to your house in one order! Not only that soap.com offers same day, next day or 2-day delivery on cleaning supplies, household items and groceries for FREE on orders $39 or more. They are a great asset to people living in the city or suburbs alike!

Please enter to win in the Rafflecopter form below and be sure to refer to the linky on where to hop to next! Open to US readers only! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cuteness Overload - Cute Kittens!

2012-03-07T00:01:00.000-05:00