March Birchbox, you outdid yourself.
I don’t always make time to show off my monthly Birchboxes, though I should. And I am not saying they’re not all wonderful, but the BB team has outdone themselves with fullsize items and fabulous comebacks.
Lets Chat.
I’ll start with my favorite fab! tarte’s lip tint in amused. I just LOVE a lip stain or tint to begin with, then there’s tarte which is a new(er)ly discovere fun line, THEN there’s the shade! This “amused” shade reminds me of Jouer’s lipgloss sample Birchbox sent in the past in “Birchbox Pink” shade (which I turned around and ordered 4 of). I like a stain or a tint for summer time because it’s not thick like a gloss and not sticky like a lipstick. It’s simply there to add a shade….a fun spring shade in this case.
Who doesn’t love essie polish?! I own an extensive collection of these jewels, but their new line of “luxeffects” is so wonderful! I love to paint my “blackberries” different than the rest and the luxeffects is such a different take on sparkles and shimmers. There’s a more muted, smooth look to their “effects”. I (had) almost the entire line of luxeffects with the exception of “set in stones” only because I have so many silver shimmers and sparkles by other brands. Thanks to Birchbox I now own the entire collection. AND, this was a FULL SIZE “sample”. eeeeee!! That makes me so happy.
Then there’s the Annick Goutal perfume, Petite Cherie. I am a self proclaimed perfume/scent connoisseur. Really, I can smell you coming from a mile away, and often times hold my breathe in public when people pass me by (because by the looks of it, things will not be smelling pleasant). I own roughly 7dozen bottles of perfume and body sprays. I’m out of control. I have a “book shelf” dedicated to particular seasonal scents, by-day, by-night, in the office, at the beach, to dinner, to “da club”, etc. Ok, Ill stop. Have I sold you that I know what I’m talking about?! Because, I’m not crazy about this. It isn’t BAD, but I’d never purchase it. It’s clean, citrus(y), but kinda old-ladyish. Catch my drift?
Peter Thomas Roth makes the Max Anti-Shine Mattifying Gel primer. I’m wrong for this, but I’m telling you I got it then turning around and telling you I haven’t tried it yet. Whaaaat! I spent the day at the beach, what do I need primer for?! So this is what Birchbox says: “This gel primer absorbs oil and sweat, ensuring that your makeup stays pristine for hours on end.”
Last but NOT least!!! Bring it back, bring it back!!!! The twistband Hair Tie. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these!! I got one in a fall 2011 box and fell in love…then somehow misplaced it. womp, womp. So, I was so excited to get this, even more excited that it came in silver. My old one was black, and being a black haired broad you couldn’t even see it.
Get you some here! Everybody’s doing it!
-Britt
Epiiii….OWWWW!
Can I PLEASE get tipsy enough to endure the pain of my new Epilady in order to tell you how wonderful this machine is?!
one shot, two shot, three shot, floor!
hehe, no really.. I first tried my Epilady Speed yesterday, which was only half an hour after UPS delivered it to my door. I’ve been SO excited to try it! Upon opening the package and prior to finding the owners manual I plugged her in and went to town! At this point, my pain level (from 1-10) is about a 12. I decide to open the manual and look at YouTube tutorials that instruct me how to better use my new epilator! Hello! All I’m testing is my upper arms (not underarms..phew).
After back and forth motions, teeth gritting, stress ball gripping 20 minutes…my upper arms are complete. Smoooooth like a babies booty!
Have you ever gotten a tattoo?! Do you understand the “pain-that-turns-to-numbness”?! Consider your tramp stamp similar to the Epilady.
My goal is to use this head to toe. It’s just a matter of containing my poseur long enough to seriously get a full review (for myself) for you, of course.
So….yesterday. Upper arms completed. Not too bad, skin slightly irritated but healed within a few hours, smoooooooooth, smooooth, smooth. Yelp!
I recently just tried under arms…dun,dun,DUUNNN. So dramatic! hehe. Eh, I’m not so sure we’ll be doing this again. After 3 cocktails this was still painful and drew blood. Ewwwph. Next up, my legs. But G’damn, do I really have to wait for the hair to get THAT LONG before I can epilate-it?! Sheesh. I’m not sure how I feel about this.
Fill ya in later!
Rain Cosmetics
I’d like to start off by thanking HauteLook for all the small addictions I’ve accumulated recently. Not only am I obsessed with “flash shopping” (particularly from HauteLook, but several others have made sales on my account as well), but the more rare and sometimes newer products and designer lines I’ve come across are those I don’t see in Macy’s. About a month ago there was a flash sale on Rain Cosmetics. It was sort of a starter kit with sample sized products. I finally received the kit 2 weeks ago and have used each piece consistently. Since then, I’ve also done a lot of research on Rain.
My mother started me in the make-up (and hair coloring) world when I was very young. She didn’t start me off as a Cover Girl, either. She made sure I had great lines in my Caboodle! I’ve stuck by my dedication to Estee Lauder foundation for 10 years. Clinique pressed compacts, Lancome’s mascara and blush, and a wide array of eye shadows. Thanks to Birchbox I’ve begun to think outside the box in trying new products. Some that tip the scale and some that don’t come close. I’m loyal.
About 2 years ago I started using Bare Escentuals, and as of late it’s pretty much all I use now that they’ve offered me a compact Mineral Veil, eye shadows with built-in primers, and a compact blush (way easier than lose powders..ugh). But, I have a couple of complaints.
Complaint #1) I wear a face mask in my profession. I’m constantly changing the masks (probably 2 dozen times a day), and always see make-up residue inside. Not to mention, sorry for all the hugs and shoulder rubs :/
complaint #2) I’m in sunny Florida for God’s sake. It isn’t as though I can spend a Saturday shopping in the outdoor outlets and think for a second my make-up will hold flawlessly till I drop.
I’m often “touching up”. A touch up to me, consists of face blotting pads prior to Mineral Veil. These two combined I’ve found leave a soft, matted look. Not cakey, flakey, or uneven. This is all good, accept I actually have to reach that point where I “need” a touch up before I actually obtain one. Why do I have to reach that point?
Rain Cosmetics answers and cures such complaints. I tried their foundation, bronzer, nude lip gloss, mascara, eye liner, and make-up remover pads.
Rain was established in Las Vegas, Nevada where the sun is always blazing and the air seems stale. The founder has kept this sort of weather in mind in creating this line, one that withstands heat, humidity, and even…rain! The flawless glow, no need to touch up, and pigmented colors is what has sold me thus far. Though, I’ve only given this product 16 days to review I feel like I have a good grasp on what they’ve to offer.
Their website is a pretty cool one, that explains in better detail what they are all about. You can even purchase the kit that I ordered at discount through HauteLook, or the full-sized product that you fall in love with!
-B
This is no traditional skin cleansing system. Hello, it’s 2012! A friend of mine once described this product like this:
“You know how you felt the first time you used a really great electric toothbrush? As if they’d never been so clean before. That’s how the Clarisonic does my skin.”
That makes good sense seeing as how Sonicare is the creator of the Clarisonic!
I’ve been using this tool just about a month now. I use it daily, in the morning paired with my favorite facial cleanser, Eau Thermale Avene gel. The brush heads are soft enough to not irritate your skin but abrasive enough to open pores and extract dirt, oils, and make-up residue. It has become an essential step in my skin prepping morning routine. I still remove eye make-up with oil free make-up remover pads prior to cleansing. The instructions recommend washing for one minute total and after those 60 seconds Clarisonic automatically shuts off.
I love love love this product and I know you will too.
You can buy the Clarisonic Mia like mine here. And if you’re not totally in love with your facial cleanser you can give mine a try here.
Home Sweet Home
It’s been 5+ years since I’ve really been “home”. I’ve had this blog on bookmark for a few years in case I’m feeling sick…home sick. Check it out.
You love Mr Mraz. Admit this to yourselves. I curl up on my couch wrapped in my fur blanket, I put my noise-blocking headphones on, and BLARE JM in my ears…till I believe in and want everything his music stands for. Give it a shot, you won’t be disappointed.
Selfish Bitch
You thought the world began turning in opposite rotation and I dropped off, yeah?
Well, kinda. Life has been a complete whirlwind the past few months. By whirlwind, I mean completely too busy, too exhausting, running myself ragged…it’s time I slow down and stop to smell these lovely roses.
No really, I bought myself 2 dozen yesterday.
So with a few “burdens” I’ve surpassed and mountains I’ve leaped over recently I have been able to stick to my 2012 resolution (as corny, cheesy, un-accomplishable as they usually are)….this one, however, I’ve not disappointed myself. This year I’ve declared to be a selfish bitch.
Yeah! She just said that.
I want nothing more than to practice saying “no”. I want to know when to stay in on most ”school nights,” and sit on my ass and enjoy my home I’ve worked so hard to put together. I want to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for work Monday-Friday, not just Monday-never. I want to spend more time with my puppy (5 year-old full-grown dog). I want to make weekly salon visits. You name it, I’m pampering. I want to stop bending over backwards for those who don’t necessarily for me. I want to do me; because if I’m not, nobody is.
So here I come, world. Look the efff out :)
-B
A lover of all things beautiful.
Artistic, Cultured, Quirky lost soul.
We’ve gained a new angel, one like none before.
