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.
Labels:
Mama Cooks,
Nielsen-Massey,
recipes
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!
Labels:
Control Twist,
hair,
hair styling,
pureology
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Roundup
- Enter Mai's first Birthday Giveaway to win the Limited Edition Sugarpill Cosmetics @#$%! Eyeshadow .
- It doesn't matter old you are, Hello Kitty is for the young at heart."Kitty's" created a fragrance, and it arrives in truly cute kitty fashion. The Advice Sistersgives you the scoop on this adorable (and wearable) fragrance.
- Retrodiva's Beauty has decided on her look for the fall - and it's very unusual for her. It's all neutrals with a retro twist. Check out Anastasia of Beverly Hills' She Wears It Well palette and all the looks Retrodiva was able to re-create.
- If you love high quality multitasking products that are gorgeous and a joy to use- then behold Le Métier de Beauté's Créme Fresh Tint for Lip and Cheek in Poppy & Mystique! Lola's Secret Beauty Blog LOVES these!
- This week on Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist's blog, its been all about nails. We are wrapping up the week with a give away from Julep, the nail polish sample box. Enter to win a sample box from Julep!
- Need summer hairstyle ideas? TheFabZilla shows you this quick and fun hairstyle called "The Spiral".
- Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom spotlights some of the gorgeous polishes from various Layla Cosmetics collections.
- Phyrra is giving away a $100 Too Faced Gift Card!
- Midnight Manicures brings you a dazzling baby girl nail art manicure using It's So Easy Nail Art products.
- Can't get enough of neutral palettes? Check out the new Anastasia Beverly Hills She Wears It Well eyeshadow palette over at BeautyTidbits.
- The Nail Network shares swatches of the stunning new OPI DS shades for fall, Luxuious and Indulgence!
- Wait until you hear about the new nail polish brand, LACC, La Couleur Couture, that Polarbelle found at Cosmoprof 2012!!
- NYX Cosmetics has introduced a new approach to eyeliner - ergonomics! Check out BeautyJudy's review and swatches of The Curve Liner.
- Ashley from Peek & Ponder shares her review of the She Wears It Well eye shadow palette by Anastasia.
- Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog has fallen in love with another taupe, NARS Lhasa!
- Oh So Lacquered falls head over heels for Orly Preamp.
- Connie from Mimi's Mani's shares some eyeshadows with anti-aging ingredients for her aging eyes!
- Stephanie Louise- All Things Beautiful is ready for fall nail colors! Here is Zoya's Diva Collection. I promise you'll want AT LEAST one!
- Beauty Info Zone has two giveaways this week. Come see what goodies you can win.
- REVIEW: Salon Grafix Conditioning Cleanser. Shades Of Beauty, Inc blog asks, do I need to spend the money on WEN by Chez Dean?
- Sheila from Painted Ladies shares three simple steps to smooth, callus-free feet in the latest Breaking Down Beauty.
- Check out Miss L´s from Beauty by Miss L eye makeup look done using only blue from MAC Dynamic Duo 2 and Blackout from Urban Decay Naked 2 palette.
- Making Up the Midwest gets a little messy with her spilled paint nail tutorial!
- Summer may be drawing to a close, but beauty trends are still heating up. Check out The Lacquered Lady'smust-have summer beauty products.
- Short nails can be cute nails! Check out this easy dotting tool manicure at Cosmetics Aficionado.
- Sarah from Scottish Beauty Blog finds out how to get flawless makeup with Laura Mercier's national makeup artist, Chris Howells.
- BB Cream is a huge beauty trend these days, and Christina from Curls N Pearls decided to give the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream a try. Was she sold on it? Check out the review here!
- Pammy Blogs Beauty is Too Faced's "Beauty Blogger of the Month" (Level 3) for August 2012! Come check out the announcement post and a $25.00 Too Faced Gift Card Giveaway!!!
- Head to Spontaneous Chick to find out why she loves Cristophe hair products and findout if they're right for you.
- Get golden eyes this Summer!
- Don't let becoming a sweaty mess keep you from getting your workout done! Mama Fashionista shares some beauty essentials that will help you keep it together!
- Need a lift? Check out GG Gatsby's Over-the-top Root Lift Spray!
- Are you an AVEENO Active Natural? Hello Dollface wants you to learn more about it and enter to win some cool gardening tools!
- Olympians aren't the only ones sporting gold right now. Check out Blushing Basics for tips on what golds are available for you.
- Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013 continues to steam up the beauty scenes with innovative hairstyles and thanks to TRESemme's Matthew Curtis, from the UK -- Elite Socialistas grants you access to these sexy hair trends -- haute off the runway!
- Brooke from BlushingNoir dives into the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and surfaces with an exclusive Chanel Quad! See how to apply a neutral, smoky eye with Rives!
Labels:
BBC,
BBC Roundup,
Beauty Blog Coalition
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!
Labels:
fall 2012,
Lancome,
makeup,
Midnight Roses collection
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!
Labels:
GMYMO,
Lumene,
Sally Hansen
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