polish. impress. repeat.

Influenster Love

2014-11-19T20:19:00.001-08:00

I have been blessed to have the opportunity to receive a few of Influenster's VoxBox's full of goodies. I have gotten everything from skin care to hair care to makeup to food. Some of my favorite items I use are things I have received in VoxBoxes. Check out some of my previous posts that show off the boxes and all the contents. I haven't received one in a while, but hopefully I get picked for one soon and can share the review with you all.

Spring Fling Vox Box

2014-06-12T19:34:00.001-07:00

It always a good day when a Vox Box from Influenster comes in the mail! They send out free samples of items to try out. I was lucky enough to score one of the "Spring Fling" Vox Boxes. Here's what I got:

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara

Kiss Everlasting French Nails

Peach Pie Car Freshener from the Labor Day Movie

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance

Nivea Skin Firming Hydration Lotion

Softlips Cube

I'm interested to try these products out!

-polish. impress. repeat

JAdore Vox Box from Influenster

2014-02-22T15:13:00.001-08:00

The friendly folks over at Influenster have showered me again with a lovely box of goodies! Influenster is a company that sends out boxes of items for free to be reviewed. It has been a little treat to get one of these every few months. Here's what I got in my J'Adore Vox Box:

This is probably what I am MOST excited for. This is John Frieda's Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight Flat Iron Spray. It is supposed to help keep your hair straight for THREE whole days after straightening it. That would be amazing! My hair is naturally wavy and after a night's sleep it's like I never straightened it the day before.

This is Boot's Botanics Ionic Clay Mask. I've never tried anything from Boots, but I've heard awesome things about it! Anything to keep me shine-free is good! Excited to try this one too.

Some teachers and I have 'fake lash fridays' every once in a while and these will be perfect! These are Kiss's Looks So Natural Lashes. They are supposed to feel more natural than other fake lashes. They look nice.

This year I've taken a step away from my teas and have been drinking more coffee. I'll have to try these out though. Creme Caramel tea!?! Interesting. These are teas from Red Rose. The Lemon Chiffon one is decaffeinated.

Last, but not least. This big bad boy is a HUGE family bag of Hershey's kisses. I'm going to share this at work because Lord knows I would probably eat them all myself... haha.

-polish. impress. repeat.

Sally Hansen's Fanta-sea

2013-12-31T12:56:00.000-08:00

In my Violet Vox Box from Influenster, I got this pretty nail polish. It is the Sally Hansen Triple Shine nail polish in the color Fanta-Sea. #tripleshine.

It has a good formula and the brush is VERY wide. It worked well with the glitter. I used three coats since I just used this polish on it's own. I think 2 coats would look good over an opaque polish. The glitter is small, but it sure is pretty and shimmery. I cannot vouch for the 'shine' that this polish claims because it is glitter and it is already shiny on it's own. I think with a non-glitter, the shine effect would be easier to see. Overall, I'm happy to add this to my collection. I might have to wear this for New Years Eve tonight!

Have you tried any polishes from this line? What do you think?

-polish. impress. repeat.

Violet Vox Box

2013-12-31T09:08:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a little while since I've posted anything. I've been busy doing other things this year, but this is a well worth reason to post again. I received the Violet Vox Box courtesy of Influenster. It looks like this box is geared more towards an active/healthy lifestyle, and I like that. Here's all of what Influenster was so kind to send me for sampling:

First is the Goody Athletique Headbands. This is a cute little headband to keep your flyaways out of your face when working out and keep a little control on keeping less sweat from dripping down your face.

Next, is this fun sparkly Sally Hansen Triple Shine nail polish. It is in the color Fanta-sea. It is supposed to remain super shiny, even after activities like working out.

Next, is a Soyjoy bar in the flavor dark chocolate cherry. I've tried a few of these and really liked them and I love the combination of cherry and chocolate, so I'm sure I'll love this. It is made with soy, fruit, and other natural ingredients and is gluten and GMO free.

A few lucky influensters recieved some bonus items, and I got two! Here is one of them. It is is fabric clay mask from Montagne Jeunessse Clay Spas. This is the Glacial Clay Spa mask. I've never used one of these, so I'm interested to try it out!

Last. but not least, this is the Not Your Mother's Clean Freak dry shampoo. I'm picky about dry shampoos, so we shall see if this one does the job well. This is great for when you don't have time to wash your hair and just need a quick pick up.

Disclaimer: All of these products were sent to me from Influenster for sampling.

-polish. impress. repeat.

August 2013 Ipsy Bag

2013-09-07T20:14:00.005-07:00

I am very delayed in posting this, but my bag also took like what seemed forever to get to me. I am happy with this month's bag! The theme is 'Glamour Academy' which is ironically very close to Birchbox's that was 'Finishing School'.

I have decided I like Birchbox's cards better. They tell you specifically what products you are getting, what they are, how to use them, and their prices. Plus, they give a nice description and explanation to their theme. Ipsy just gives you brands and their sales, but you don't receive the coupon codes until later in the month anyways. Some of these brands, you don't even get in your bag.

They have teamed up with benefit to have Ipsy members host a Lash Bash party. I entered a while ago, and that would be neat to win and invite friends over.

I am most excited about this product. It is Michael Todd's Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub. I have heard amazing things about Michael Todd products. The other product you could have gotten was a pumpkin one and I LOOOOVE pumpkin, but I've always wanted to try a charcoal product too because they pull all that nasty stuff out of your skin.

Next is shimmer powder in Bronze by Mica. I have never heard of this brand before. I don't really use loose powders, so I'll probably give this away. I swatched it and it is pretty, but I have others that are similar that aren't loose.

I haven't tried much of anything from this brand, but I know they sell it at Target. This is the Lash Booster Mascara from Pixi in Blackest Black. I always love to try new mascara's so we'll see how this one holds up. I don't think it is waterproof, which makes me very sad.

This is a Multi-Mineral BB Cream from Pacifica. Again, a brand I've never heard of before. I wonder if this is one of the wannabe BB creams, or whether it is the real stuff.

Last is the Revolution Lipstick in Anarchy by Urban Decay. I want to be really excited for this product, but I'm not. I think when makeup is sent out, that it needs to be in colors that are more 'user friendly'/ neutral. This is a super bright fuchsia color and after getting so many of these colors from Birchbox and never wearing them because they are too bold, I was sad to see yet another color I probably won't wear. The little lipstick is so cute though!

This month's bag is not very cute. I will not be using this.

Overall, this month with Ipsy was good. Aside from the ugly bag, the super long delivery wait, and the crazy lipstick color, I liked it. What did you all think of your bags?

-polish. impress. repeat.

Birchbox: August 2013 - Finishing School

2013-08-14T15:00:00.003-07:00

I'm probably the last person on the planet to post their August Birchbox, but I've been preoccupied. My deepest apologies. This month's Birchbox theme is 'Finishing School'. Not like the end of the year finishing, but the finishing school where girls used to go to learn how to be proper and elegant. This box was a 6 on a scale of 10. Let's jump in!

The first thing on my card was Arangara "SHOWER GEL". Notice this isn't shower gel, it is body lotion. I'd prefer a body lotion anyways, so it wasn't a big deal to me. I didn't know if they sent me the wrong item or if it was a typo. Indeed it was a typo after confirmation from Birchbox's customer service. Olive and rose are two scents I don't really enjoy, but if this lotion is amazing, I can deal with the scent.

Next is the Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation by Becca. This is the most disappointing product I have received in a very long time. This colors are wayyyy to dark for my skin color. I can't even use ONE of them. I'll be giving this away. It seems great though; it is lightweight and it brightens, perfects, and soothes.

This is the Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Eyeliner by Mally Beauty in the color Sailor. This is the product I am most excited to use. It is a pencil eyeliner which I love. It is in a stunning dark blue AND it is waterproof! Yay! This will be a nice alternative to my staple black liner.

This is 100% Organic Argan Oil by Violet Oasis. I always get disappointed when I get oils in these tiny samples, but they actually last quite a while. A little goes a long way. I am excited because I have never used pure Moroccan oil before. This stuff is great for skin and hair to smooth and nourish.

Lastly, this was my "Beauty Extra". I don't know why it is an 'extra' and not just part of the box... Anyways, this is Creme de la Creme Conditioner by Miss Jessie's Original. I'm assuming this was also a typo because it says on my card that I was to be getting Shampoo. I can understand ONE typo, but two out of 5 products... Anyways, I love a good conditioner, so I'm not too upset.

I haven't ever had this many errors with Birchbox, but they weren't HUGE errors. I'm still a Birchbox lover and I think it is a great way to try out new products. If you are interested in joining, it is $10 a month and you can click here to sign up.

If you are a subscriber, what are you liking most from your August box?

-polish. impress. repeat.

Essie - The Girls Are Out

2013-08-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry again for the long hiatus. I'm back with a few posts for you all. This is "The Girls Are Out" from Essie's Naughty Nautical Summer 2013 collection. It is a bright fuchsia with bits of tiny silver glitter. It is gorgeous. I used two coats here and the formula was good.

I will say that this collection was a nice summer alternative to my beloved neons.

Now that summer is ending, what has been your favorite summer polish?

-polish. impress. repeat.

Influenster Slim-Fast Strawberries ’N’ Cream Shake Box

2013-07-31T17:40:00.000-07:00

I've been on vacation and so I haven't posted anything in a while. While I was gone, I was selected to get another box from Influenster. It is food and I know this isn't a food blog, but I thought I'd share this with you all anyways.

In my box I got a bottle of Strawberries and Cream Slim Fast, drink recipe cards, and a plastic martini glass. The recipe cards have mocktail recipes on one side and the alcoholic version of it on the reverse side. Considering I only have the Strawberries and Cream flavor, I can't use all the other recipe cards that use the other flavors.

I've never done a Slim Fast diet, and I don't plan on starting one any time soon. I'm doing well with exercise and eating healthier currently and I don't think I need to put Slim Fast in my diet.

I made my own version of their Strawberry Colada mocktail. I use a little of the slim fast shake, some frozen strawberries, ice, and a pina colada mixer. It was pretty good.

Have any of you ever tried Slim Fast? What has your experience been like?

-polish. impress. repeat.

****This post was created in connection with my appointment as a SlimFast Ambassador.

July 2013 Birchbox

2013-07-17T17:21:00.001-07:00

Birchbox time! This month's theme is 'Power Play' and it goes along with a new TV series from USA called Suits. I've never heard of it and from what I have now seen through Birchbox, I still don't think I'm interested. I was excited for this when I saw my card because one of my all favorite items I have received in a past Birchbox was from the brand Number 4 and I got something in my July box from them.

First is 100% Pure's Nourishing Body Cream. I'm excited because it looks like these have a coconut scent. Also, my skin is in dire need of moisturizers right now with the dry summer heat...

Next is Benefit's Gir Meets Pearl highlighter. I have used quite a few Benefit products, but this is a new one for me. Excited to try it out and see how luminous it is!

This is Number 4's Super Comb Prep & Protect. It looks like this is a heat protectant which is nice, but I think it is also a conditioner and sun protectant too. I'm interested to try it out.

I've wanted to try something from this brand! This is G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream from Benta Berry. Like I said earlier, moisturizers are my friends right now. I hope this is as amazing as I hope it to be!

My beauty extra this month are these Birchbox bobby pins. I have never used such thick bobby pins, so I'm interested to try them out. They came in blue and white which I would have preferred either of those over green, but I'm not going to cry about it.

Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription where you pay $10 a month to get 4-5 deluxe sized HIGH END beauty products. It's an amazing service that I really enjoy. If you are interested in joining, here's a link to check it out: http://birch.ly/1bJUrvA.

If you got a Birchbox this month, what did you get different in your box?

-polish. impress. repeat.

China Glaze - Bottoms Up

2013-07-17T16:48:00.003-07:00

I've been loving China Glaze's summer neon polishes, so no surprise that I have another one to show you! This is Bottoms Up (LOVE the name) and it is a neon Barbie pink. It is girly and perfect for summer. This is two coats, but it could have probably used one more because it was a little thin. It dries semi-matte, so I put a top coat on to make it glossy.

China Glaze - That's Shore Bright

2013-07-17T16:42:00.001-07:00

This is another gorgeous neon color from China Glaze's Summer 2013 neon collection. That's Shore Bright is a neon lilac/light purple color. It's super fun and different than any other neon purple color's I've seen. Sorry about my dry cuticles, as much as I moisturize them, they are still terrible... This is two coats and I DIDN'T even need to put a base of white down! It does have a semi matte finish as do most neon polishes, but with my top coat, it is glossy. :)

What are some other fun neon colors for summer?

-polish. impress. repeat.

The Color Run Manicure!

2013-07-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been a little while. I have been in the process of moving into a new place, so I've been quite occupied. We got a winner for my first giveaway!

I participated in The Color Run in Pomona a few weeks ago and of course had to paint my nails to match the occassion! If you have never heard of The Color Run, it is a 5k fun run where volunteers douse you with colored powder. It's a blast! Here's a cool video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EERSfHiqT8&feature=share&list=PLgPbppOsSu8PWIXHyqwk2jcZRN07E1vLy. I took the color scheme from my running shirt. I used Zoya's Creamy for yellow, Essie's Orange It's Obvious! for orange, China Glaze's Wicked Style for pink, and Ulta's Salon Formula in Blue Streak for blue.

I highly recommend The Color Run. I would definitely do another one!

-polish. impress. repeat.

My First Beauty Blog Giveaway!

2013-06-29T12:26:00.002-07:00

Here we gooooo! I'm super excited for this first giveaway! I'm hoping to reach out and thank those of you that already read my blog and bring in some new friends too! I will try and do a few of these this summer.

Here are the item's available in the FREE giveaway:

Essie Summer 2013 Mini Collection (colors include Naughty Nautical, Sunday Funday, The More the Merrier, and Full Steam Ahead) You can see Naughty Nautical and Sunday Funday worn here in one of my blog posts.
Bath & Body Works Shimmer & Shea Body Lotion in Japanese Cherry Blossom
NYC Quick Dry Nail Polish in Chinatown (deep shimmery purple)

Here are the guidelines:

You must be 18 years or older. If you are under 18, you must get parent permission to give me your mailing address.
Use the Rafflecopter section below to enter the contest. The more you do, the more times you are entered. *Note: You can share the contest on Facebook and Twitter daily. The other items can only be done once.
The contest starts Saturday 6/29/2013 and ends 7/10/2013 at 12:00 AM PDT.
Winner will be contacted by 7/12/2013. If winner does not respond within a week, a new winner will be chosen.
Have fun!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you everyone! Share this with your family, friends, and co-workers!

*****NOTE: This contest is NOT international. I will only mail within the United States for this particular giveaway. Thank you.

Empties!

2013-06-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

Here's another edition of the products I've used up in the last few months. :) I hope to go through a lot this summer. These are my honest opinions and whether I will be purchasing these products after this use. If you have any further questions on my experience with them, feel free to ask in the comment section below.

(LEFT to RIGHT):
Clarisonic Refreshing Gel Cleanser for normal/oily skin with bearberry scent. I received this with my Clarisonic Mia when I got it as a gift. It is a very large bottle of face wash and it took me over a year to go through. I suppose I could have used this as a body wash too... It smelled okay. It did leave my face clean, but it didn't clear up any acne or moisturize my face. Though, it isn't advertised to do those things either. It was nice, but I won't be repurchasing this.
Philosophy Purity Made Simple face wash. I received this little sample in a Birchbox a while back. This stuff is amazing. It leaves your face feeling soft, clean, moisturized, and it cleared up my skin! It has a clean scent to it. I don't love the scent, but the product itself works wonders. It was wonderful, and I was sad when it ran out. I will be purchasing this in the future.
Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser. I used this foil sample on my most recent vacation. I save up all my foil packages for vacations. Unfortunately, I only got three uses out of this and it wasn't enough for me to determine if it really clears up complextion or if it worked well long term with my skin. It did leave my face super smooth. The most interesting thing with this product is that it leaves your face tingle-y and cold for several minutes after you use it. I'm not sure I liked that sensation or how it added to clearing/cleaning my face. It also had a very weird smell that I can't describe; I wasn't keen to it. I probably will not be purchasing this.

(LEFT to RIGHT):
Skintimate Mouisturizing Shave Gel in Strawberry Tangerine. I have been using this shave gel for years and years. This is really the only scent I like. It has a very rich lather and helps for a clean/smooth shave. I will be repurchasing this.
Whish Shave Cream in Blueberry. This was a product I received in a Birchbox and the blueberry scent is exclusive to Birchbox. This stuff smells incredible. If they made this scent in a candle, I would buy a dozen. It smells like the best blueberry muffin/oatmeal you've ever smelled. Unfortunately, I won't be smelling this any time soon because it was a 'no-go' for me. It wasn't very creamy and didn't provide a good close shave. Bye bye little blueberry delightful smell. I was hoping I would love this, but I will not be repurchasing this.

(LEFT to RIGHT):
Bath & Body Works Peach Citrus Supercharged Body Scrub. It doesn't say, but I'm almost positive this was a sugar scrub. It smelled okay, but I wasn't a fan of this scrub. It wasn't that it was too gritty or that it dissolved to fast, I can't pinpoint it, but I just didn't love it. I can say that it didn't leave my skin feeling luscious like other scrubs have in the past and it wasn't very moisturizing. You know you've found gold when you have a good exfoliator that scrubs and leaves your skin soft and moisturized afterwards. This isn't that kind of scrub... I have another bottle of this in another scent, but after that, I will not be repurchasing this product.
Lush's Rub Rub Rub shower scrub. This product is one of my holy grail products. It is a cheaper alternative to their Ocean Salt scrub. It has a scent that is oddly like a cleaning product scent, but I love it! It is a salt based scrub and it cleans, clears, and leaves my skin smooth. I use this on my body and my face. I am already on a new tub. :) I will be purchasing this again and again and again.

(LEFT to RIGHT):
Pantene Pro-V Restore Beautiful Lengths Shampoo in Breakage Defense. I had gotten a coupon for a free full size shampoo and conditioner for this line of hair care. I'm almost finished with the conditioner too. The shampoo was okay. I have others I like better, but this would be a good switch for in between using other shampoos. It lathered nicely and left my hair feeling clean. It wasn't a SUPER good cleansing shampoo, but it was good for just a normal daily hair wash. It did okay with helping to cut down on the split ends. I might repurchase this some day.
Dove Shampoo in Nourishing Oil Care. Dove is probably my favorite drugstore brand of hair care. I love their shampoos, conditioners, and hair sprays. Their hair care leaves my hair feeling clean, soft, and full of nutrients. This shampoo cleans well and leaves my hair feeling wonderful. I will definitely be repurchasing this.
John Frieda Root Awakening Conditioner in Breakage Prone. When I first bought the shampoo and conditioner in this line, I LOVED it. It was probably the most that I had ever loved a shampoo/conditioner combo before. I loved the smell and the way it made my hair feel. The more and more I used this, the less and less I loved it. It just didn't seem to continue having the same effect on my hair that it once did. My hair went from being voluminous, soft, and shiny, to being my normal hair. I wonder if I spread using these products out in between other products if that would make a difference. I'm going to take a break from this product, but I may repurchase it in the future.
Fekkai Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner. I think I got these in a Target beauty bag. I used these on vacation. They have a flower-y smell to them that I wasn't impressed with, but other than that these were nice to wash my hair with. They left my hair super soft and manageable for the few days I used it. I might repurchase these if there was a deal, other than that, I'll probably stick to my Dove.

(LEFT to RIGHT):
Fabulous Fruit Body Butter in coconut. I'm not sure where this is from because I got it as a gift. It isn't super moisturizing and is quite watery. I love the smell of coconut and this has a wonderful scent. I ended up using this on my feet with socks while I slept to moisturize my feet. I think there are better body creams out there and since I don't know I would even buy this, I will not be purchasing it.
Bath & Body Works Lotion in Fresh Picked Strawberry. Bath & Body Works lotions are okay. I got this as a free sample one time when I walked in. I think I have the apple one in my last empties. I did not like this smell at all. It smelled so sweet that I felt sticky. The lotion wasn't sticky, but that's how strong the smell was. I would not want to smell like this at all. Not my cup of tea. The lotion itself was like a typical Bath & Body Works lotion. Not super absorbent, but gets the job done. I will not be purchasing this.

(LEFT to RIGHT):
Sampar Ultra Hydrating Fluid. This is a facial moisturizer that I received in a Birchbox. I LOVED this stuff. It is like a very liquidy lotion. I would put this on my face after I washed it in the evening time. It smells like rose (which I'm not a huge fan of), but other than that, I liked this product. It did moisturize very well and it left my face super soft. It is a little pricey for the full size product, so I'm looking for cheaper alternatives.
Target's Up & Up Moisturizing Lotion in Radiant Skin with SPF 15. This is Target's version of the Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Daily Moisturizer in SPF 15. I use this as my daily facial moisturizer. I make sure that I use SPF on my face daily and certain times of the year I get really bad dry skin on my face where I need a good moisturizer. This alone didn't get rid of my dry skin, but it helped a little. I recently purchased the actual Aveeno product since this has run out, and I like the Aveeno product better; it is a lot thinner of a lotion and easier to rub in.
Befine Food Skin Care Night Cream. This is a night cream I received yet again from Birchbox. This is a very nice light night time moisturizer. This is very easy to rub in and a little goes a long way. It was an okay moisturizer. While this was a good product, I like other products better and I probably will not be purchasing this.

(LEFT to RIGHT):
Pangea Organics Facial Cream in Nigerian Ginger with Lavender & Thyme. This did have a strong scent of lavender. I don't really like the scent of lavender, but it wasn't too bad. This was a thin facial cream and it was pretty moisturizing for a daily moisturizer. I only got two uses out of this, so I didn't get enough use to decide if I would use this on a regular basis. From the two uses I did get, it was okay, but nothing to brag about.
Ole Henricksen Truth Cream Advanced Hydration with Vitamin C. I got this foil package at Sephora with a purchase I made. I cannot review the effectiveness or quality of this because the scent was so strong that it made me gag and I couldn't keep it on. It is a weird citrus-y scent that is VERY pungent. I washed my face after about 10 minutes hoping the scent would disappear. I will not be buying this.
Sarah McNamara Miracle Skin Transformer with SPF 20. I got this as an add-on to a purchase I made from Birchbox. It claims to hydrate, prime, enhance, mattify, and protect your skin. I will say it was nice, but I won't say it was a miracle. This was enough for one use and I have one more foil package. It was nice to try, but I doubt I will be buying the full size.

(LEFT to RIGHT):
Stila Smudge Stick Water Proog Eye Liner in peacock. I got this in a Birchbox a while back. I didn't use it much simply because I'm not too wild with my makeup and teal eyeliner is a little bold for me. I opened this up the other day and it was all dried up. The lid was on tight, so I'm not sure how it dried out, but it did. I probably wouldn't have used this much, so I'm not too bent out of shape about it. When it wasn't dry, it was smooth and creamy and had great lasting power. I would probably repurchase this in a different color.
Stila Forever Your Curl Mascara in black. I got this in a Birchbox a while back, and I really like this mascara! This has a tiny little brush. If you want to see pictures, check out my post when I got it here. It was the perfect bottom lash mascara because the little brush got all the little lashes. It made my top lashes look kind of stringy. It did hold a curl like the name says. I would purchase the full size.
Benefit Bad Gal Lash. This is was in my last empties post. I still have a few of these little guys left and I could not be happier. This mascara is amazing. It is voluminous, it doesn't clump, and it makes my lashes look full. I love, love, love it. I will be repurchasing this when I run out of my little samples.

(LEFT to RIGHT):
Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray. This stuff is incredible. I bought it last summer, and only used it for special occasions. Now that summer is here, I bought the full size of one of these and I use it more often. This keeps your makeup in place all day long, even when you sweat. I have already bought the full size of this.
Orofluido Elixer. This is a hair oil I got in a Birchbox. It was nice. It has a hint of vanilla in the scent. This hair oil leaves your hair soft and shiny. I would use it on my hair both damp or dry. I liked it alot, but I liked my Amika hair oil better. I might repurchase this if I had a coupon or a special deal on it.
E.O.S. Lip Balm in strawberry. I have managed to collect a few of these. This one was in my purse and I used it ALL the time. I currently am using the raspberry pomegranate one and I have to admit the strawberry one is the best. This is a fun product and it leaves your lips moisturized. I don't think these have SPF in them which is the only thing I would change about them if I could. If I didn't already have more of these, I would be repurchasing it.

Crest Vivid 3D White Toothpaste in Radiant Mint. This is my go to toothpaste and I think it was in my last empties video too. It is a thick toothpaste that cleans a whitens well. I haven't used another toothpaste in years and I don't see myself switching any time soon. I will be repurchasing this.

Well, there we go! That took a while... I hope these short reviews helped you out or gave you some good ideas about the products and whether they are good or not.

What are some products you've used up lately? Good/bad?

-polish. impress. repeat.

Essie's Naughty Nautical Collection

2013-06-20T15:09:00.002-07:00

For my birthday last week, I got a few of the Essie Summer 2013 Naughty Nautical collection. Here are two of them that I am currently wearing. These are almost kind of jelly-like polishes with a bit of silver/grey shimmer. I really love the collection as a whole, but there where a few I probably wouldn't wear myself.

The coral color is Sunday Funday and the teal one I used for my accent nail is Naughty Nautical. These are not fully opaque, but not quite sheer. That's why I said they are almost a little jelly like. I used two coats and the formula was great.

Here are some pictures in natural light and in the direct sun light.

What summer collections have you been eyeing/trying?

-polish. impress. repeat.

My First Ipsy Bag! June 2013

2013-06-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

I gave in and signed up for Ipsy. I know when this company first started, they were getting a lot of negative reviews with things being broken, poor quality, cheap products, expired products, and bad selection. They revamped their company from what I've seen in the last several months and I thought I'd give it a go. There have been some really great products I've seen others getting in the last few months. I first signed up for Birchbox years ago wanting to get make-up products. I've discovered that I actually enjoy the skin care products more and have learned to appreciate what moisturizers, cleansers, scrubs, and serums can do for skin. Ipsy is more focused on make-up than Birchbox is. I am interested to see if I enjoy getting more make-up products.

Ipsy is also a $10 a month subscription. If you are interested in joining, here's the link to their website: http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-hgydekfset1iypv.

Ipsy is sent in a hot pink bubble wrap bag. The theme for this bag was 'Into the Wild' and the little bag matches it perfectly! You also get a card with all the brands that were sent out and discounts that you can get off Ipsy's website. Not all of these brands are sent to every person. You get 4-5 items.

First up is a full size cream blush from NYX in Bronze Goddess. It blends nicely and I'm happy I got a bronzer instead of a typical blush color. I don't have many bronzers and this will be fun to try out this summer. The formula felt fine and I like that it has the tiniest bit of shimmer.

Next up is a full size lip liner pencil from Starlooks in the color Bare. This is a taupe color and while it is pretty, I don't know that I'll be using this. I don't have any taupe lip colors and I don't think this is a good color for me.

I also recieved a full size highlighting pencil from Chella. I am so excited to use this! I have only used eye shadows as highlighters and it will be nice to use an actual pencil product!

I'm pretty sure this is full size. This is a glitter cream eyeshadow palette from J Cat. I have never heard of this brand or product, but I'm not sure I'll be using this either. The colors are pretty, but I'm not a fan of chunky glitter for my face... not since junior high anyways.

This product is the most interesting of the bunch. It is a fully size gel eyeliner from Caylin in the color iron. The brush is connected the the top of the lid. I don't really use gel eyeliner, but I'll have to give this a go and see what I think of it.

Overall, I am impressed that these were all full size products (from what I could tell). The little bag was adorable, but I know after I get one each month, I'm going to need to find something to do with all of them. I haven't heard of most of these brands, but that doesn't mean they won't be great products. I'll keep my subscription going and see what else comes from Ipsy.

What are your experiences with Ipsy/Glam Bag?

-polish. impress. repeat.

Color Club - London Calling

2013-06-20T12:47:00.002-07:00

I received Color Club's London Calling from my June Birchbox. It is a Birchbox exclusive color for their Wanderlust collection. If you are interested in getting them, they are on Birchbox's website here. The colors are gorgeous pastel neons. There is lavendar, coral, off-white, and this mint green. I LOVE the color and wore it during my vacation to San Francisco last week. I got many compliments on it!

I used two coats. It is very creamy and opaque and I didn't have to put white underneath it to get that 'neon kick'. I really liked it. The only down fall is that it 'cracked' after a few days. Some polishes peel and others just crack. It stayed put on my nails, it just had little lines throughout it. Other than than, I really like this polish.

P.S. This is one of those colors that makes you look super tan. Bonus!

What bright/neon colors are you loving this summer?

-polish. impress. repeat.

Unboxing my June 2013 BIRCHBOX

2013-06-10T19:08:00.000-07:00

Here we go! I was kind of excited for this box because it the theme is 'wanderlust' and it has to do with travel. In a few days, I am traveling to San Fransisco and then later this summer to Florida and I was hoping I'd snag a few great things for those trips. Now that I have the box, I'm not sure I'll take these particular items with me, but I'm happy for the most part with the items I received. If you aren't familiar with Birchbox, it is a $10 monthly beauty subscription service. To learn more, check out my blog post here where I explain the program in detail. If you are interested in signing up, click here.

Birchbox just recently got a new logo and a little bit of a face lift on it's website. I really did like the old logo, but this one looks cool too. I LOVEEEEE the new style of the box with the chevron style on the inside. I hope that this is a regular thing and not just this month because of the launch of their new look.

This is London Calling from Color Club. I have received a few polishes from Color Club in my boxes before, and so far, so good. There were a few other colors in this Birchbox exclusive neon collection that I really liked, but I'm okay with this color. It wasn't my favorite, but I don't have any neon mint green colors in my collection.

This is the Love Smoothing Shampoo by Davines. I've never heard of this brand before, but this is a HUGE shampoo sample (plus the bottle is great and has a flip cap!). This shampoo has Indian fig and olive oil to help moisturize your hair. I like shampoos with wonderful heavy scents and this has a light citrus-y smell to it. We'll see how I like it.

Next up is a Lil' Lip Duo by LAQA & Co.. This reminds me of a Tarte LipSurgence. From what I could tell from researching, I think this is the color Lambchop. It is a bright fuschia pink color. I don't wear bright lip colors often and this would be very bold for me to wear. We'll see if I go for it...

I LOVE me some scrubs, and I was excited to see on my card that I got the Exfoliating Foaming Cleanser from suki. I am a little dissapointed in the size. This will probably only be enough for one use and I don't think I'll be able to tell if I really like it or not after just one use. On the bright side, this smells deliciously invigorating like lemon candy.

I received some 'beauty extras' this month in a little envelope and they go along with the Davines shampoo. This is the Love Smoothing Conditioner and the Oi/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion. I am super dissapointed that after the size and container of the shampoo that these are both tiny little foil packages (especially the oil). I cannot imagine what mess getting oil out of foil package will make.

Lastly, Birchbox included these 5 postcards to go with their travel theme. Unfortunately I probably will not be using these. I'd rather send postcards from places I am currently visiting...

Overall, I am pretty happy with my box aside from the foil packaged samples. What did you get in your box?

-polish. impress. repeat.

Julep - Lena

2013-06-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

I just LOVE this color! I think I'll be wearing it a lot on my toes this summer. It is Lena from Julep. This polish is incredibly opaque and really only needs one coat. It is a little thick, but it goes on nicely and cleans up well. Lena is a gorgeous teal color with a little golden sheen to it. I used Zoya's Jules and Orly's Halo for an accent nail.

- polish. impress. repeat.

Disney Inspired Nails

2013-06-08T18:22:00.002-07:00

My school recently took some of our students to Disneyland. I LOVE Disneyland and haven't been in a long time since I don't have an annual pass anymore. I had a little time on my hands the day before we left, and decided to try some nail art. I am usually terrible at nail art, and so I don't do it often. I liked how this turned out (even though it took way too long to do).

Minnie Mouse

Mickey Mouse's Glove

Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse Ears

Random....

I will try doing more nail art to get some practice in. What do you guys think of this manicure?

-polish. impress. repeat.

Review of Tastykakes Reese's Kandy Bar Kake

2013-06-02T17:25:00.003-07:00

I received this little snack from Influenster in my Spring Fever Vox Box. This is the Reese's Tastykake Kandy Bar Kake. It wasn't as sweet as I thought it would be but it was pretty tasty. The only reason I wouldn't buy these is that there is a lot of calories for one of these and I'd rather eat something else with less sugar, etc. in it. It has a peanut butter filling. I wouldn't say it tasted like a Reese's cup, more like just peanut butter and chocolate.

-polish. impress. repeat.

Unboxing my Spring Fever VoxBox from Influenster

2013-06-02T17:07:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to recieve the Spring Fever VoxBox from Influenster this month. Influenster is a website that you can sign up for where you review products and you can qualify to be sent samples to review in VoxBoxes.

Here's a closer look into what I recieved in my box:

First up is the Secret Outlast Clear Gel Antiperspirant/Deoderant. I'm not a huge fan of gel deoderants, but I'm willing to give this a try. It claims to not leave residue on clothing with 48 hour protection. Does this mean I only need to apply it once every other day? Weird.

Next is the NYC New York Color Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm. This is a wonderful little gem! It smells like candy apple and has a great tint to it. I have worn it already and I really liked it. It has Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, and Avocado Oil, so it naturally moisturizes your lips. Plus, it is too cute with the little apple design in it.

Then, I received Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-on Manicure in Space Cadet. Being a nail polish junkie, I was excited for these. I used press on nails a few times in high school, but I haven't used them in quite a while. When I recieve nail products like this, they are usually colors/patterns I don't really like, but these are so adorable! They are a sparkly giraffe print. I'm excited to try these out.

The last beauty product I received was Schwarzkopf Professional's OSiS Dust It. Out of all the three products they were sending out. I'm SOOO happy I got this one. I wouldn't use the other two. This product mattifies and adds texture to your hair. I'm excited to try it out. It is a VERY fine powder with no scent whatsoever. I like my hair products to have a nice scent, but oh well.

Last but definitely not least is Tastykake Kandy Bar Kakes in Reese's. This is a snack cake available in Peppermint, Peanut Butter, and S'mores. I love me some chocolate, so this will be eaten soon.

Now off to try out these and see if any of them are gems. Have you tried any of these, and if so, what was your experience with them?

-polish. impress. repeat.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Orly - Rage

2013-05-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

A couple years ago, this polish was all the RAGE. *pun intended* This is Orly's polish in Rage. It is a metallic rose gold with shimmer. It is a polish that I've always wanted, but never picked up. Ulta had a sale recently to buy 2 get 1 free, and I caved. It is simply stunning and believe it or not, these pictures were taken THREE days after I painted them. Great wear time!!! I used two coats and you can see that it isn't streaky like a lot of metallic polishes are.

I love this color and I think it is one that can be worn year-round. What colors do you like that are good all year?

-polish. impress. repeat.

Ruby Wing's 'Peony' Color Changing Polish

2013-05-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

I received Peony by Ruby Wing in a Birchbox last month. I had never heard of this brand. Aside from it being a great summer neon color, the thing that excited me the most is that it changes color in the sun!!! Fun right!? It goes from a neon coral color to a neon darker coral color.

It is really sheer. I used three coats and it probably could have used four. Next time, I'll use this over a white polish to help. For an accent nail, I used China Glaze's 'Refresh Mint' which is one of my favorite mint colored polishes.

Are there any other color changing polishes you have used? I'd be interested to hear what other brands make them.

-polish. impress. repeat.