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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

August Birchbox



This month's Birchbox was Back to School themed. I loved the No. 2 pencil yellow color of the outer box, and the Beauty School Supply Kit theme maintained throughout, complete with a Beauty 101 booklet (not pictured) with tips on things like how to read the labels on your beauty products and how to achieve a close shave. I'm not going to lie, while I'm pretty happy with the contents of my box (especially the fragrance sample), I was mildly disappointed at the lack of cosmetic goodies. Overall, I'm satisfied with the box though, but it's definitely not my favorite turn out from them.

Here are the details on the contents of my Birchbox:

Sabon Foot Cream (Full size: 12.8 oz for $16)-Show your feet some love with this indulgent foot cream from this Israeli brand. It's packed with antioxidants and relaxing aromatherapy oils. Hardworking moisturizers like aloe and glycerin work to soften rough calluses and camphor and menthol give an anti-fungal punch to leave your feet fresh and clean.

Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue and Creme de la Creme (Full size: 8 oz for $22 and 12 oz for $16, respectively)- The Curly Meringue is a styling cream designed to calm stubborn kinks and tame frizzy curls. It's a custard like formula that is perfect for finger styling, coiling, twists, and braids. It delivers lasting hold, lightweight hydration, and shine. It's made with avocado, coconut, sweet almond and olive oils as well as aloe extract. Bonus: it smells like fresh pineapples! Creme de la Creme is a curly girl cult fave that will soften frizz prone hair without weighing it down. It's loaded with softening ingredients that help tame unruly ringlets and frizzy waves. It enhances your hair's natural bounce while adding manageability. It also doubles as a leave-in treatment for when you need an extra dose of hydration. 

Talika Lipocils Experts (Full size: 10ml for $55)- This gentle-yet-effective botanical formula is clinically proven to help curl, darken, and grow lashes by up to 2.5 mm in just one month. An updated version of the bestselling Lipocils formula—which has been French women’s best kept secret for over 60 years—it features a double-sided applicator that’s truly goofproof. Finally, there’s no need to go to great lengths to get ooh-la-la lashes. Mainstream lash serums derive their power from chemicals, which can cause everything from redness to side effects like darkening the skin on your lids or even your irises. But Lipocils Expert is different. It’s only made with botanical ingredients that have been tested to meet meticulous French safety standards. Nettle and horse chestnut stimulate growth and boost circulation to your capillaries, while soy lecithin and apple extract condition your lashes. Independent lab trials show that the serum lengthens lashes by up to 36 percent while curling and darkening them by up to 50 percent.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy La Fleur (Full size: 2.5 oz for $70)-  This new scent from Juicy Couture is a fresh update on the brand’s best-selling Viva La Juicy. The sheer perfume has the original’s fruity top notes combined with heady honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine. The uplifting scent opens with a sparkling cascade of mandarin and wild berries. Next, sweet notes of honeysuckle, gardenia petals, and jasmine peek through, followed by a lingering trace of waterlily.

Birchbox Extra: Schick Hydro Silk Razor ($9.99)- This innovative new razor has a water-activated moisturizing serum that moisturizes for up to two hours after shaving. Plus, the five blades have skin guards that follow the natural contours of your body to smooth skin and help prevent irritation. The result: silky legs, every time. Made with an innovative compact oval-cartridge head, each razor is equipped with five blades for an incredibly close shave. The blades work with your legs’ natural curves to make shaving tricky spots like your knees and ankles a breeze. 

Part of my slight disappointment in this box probably stems from the fact that I look to Birchbox for more makeup type goodies, and I try so many different hair products already, so receiving 2 hair products was kind of redundant in a way. But, Miss Jessie's is a hugely popular brand for curly girls and I haven't tried those particular items from the brand so I guess I'm excited to try them out. I am super stoked with everything else though (I'm totally buying a full size bottle of the Viva La Juicy La Fleur). What was in your Birchbox this month? Was it a hit or a miss for you? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Until next time...

Ciao, XxO

Q


Monday, August 13, 2012

Mama Cooks with Nielsen-Massey Vanillas



If you know me in real life, you probably know that I LOVE to cook. There is something very satisfying for me to know that I have helped meet one of the most basic needs of my loved ones AND have made it a pleasurable experience to boot. I find cooking to be relaxing and therapeutic; in fact, my hubby and kids know that when I utter the phrase "I don't feel like cooking," there MUST be something wrong with me.

As I've turned my attention to my health, fitness, and diet, I'm learning to examine my recipes more fully. I've learned to make smart replacements and incorporate new ingredients in order to expand my culinary repertoire. One of my discoveries has been Nielsen-Massey Vanillas and their line of high quality pure flavors. They are great for adding sophisticated flavor and pizzazz to any dish.

About Nielsen-Massey Vanillas
Throughout its more than 100 year history, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has earned its reputation as a manufacturer of the finest extracts in the world. The full line of Nielsen-Massey’s Pure Vanilla products include: Vanilla Beans and Extracts from Madagascar, Tahiti and Mexico; sugar and alcohol-free Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar and Certified Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract and Beans.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas also has a line of Pure Flavors: Pure Chocolate Extract, Pure Almond Extract, Pure Orange Extract, Pure Lemon Extract, Pure Coffee Extract, Pure Peppermint Extract, Orange Blossom Water and Rose Water. All Nielsen-Massey products are Allergen-Free and certified Kosher and Gluten-Free. 

Take Your Style to the Beach with Pureology's Control Twist


Even though fall is upon us, you can still make like it's summer by turning your tresses into perfect beachy waves!  Beachy waves are not just for summer vacation  - surfer girls and city girls alike will love Pureology’s newest addition to the Colour Stylist family, Control Twist high hold liquid wax.   Used on dry or damp hair, this versatile, high hold liquid wax is a must-have product for everyday styling for every season! 

photo via Pureology Website



Sunday, August 12, 2012

Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup






Friday, August 10, 2012

Fall Beauty: The Midnight Roses Collection from Lancome





I don't know if I've shared this with you lovelies, but one of my biggest dreams/goals is to go to Paris. In harmony with that, I'm sort of obsessed with all things chic and Parisian. Combine that with my love of cosmetics and my excitement for the new fall line from Lancome should come as no surprise!







Wednesday, August 8, 2012

GMYMO: Beauty Essentials for the Gym


The arrival of Back to School sales generally signals the end of summer for me. But just because bathing suit season is coming to a close doesn’t mean you should start cheating on your workouts! I know personally, the thought of becoming a sweaty mess sometimes deters me from getting my workout done. Never fear lovelies, with the products below, you can feel like you're rewarding yourself for working out as hard as you do AND you will look great before, during and after your workout. Check them out!


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