Rimmel London Lasting Finish Powder Blush in Pink Sorbet: AKA My HG Blush

I'm going to be honest with you lovelies, up until fairly recently, my feeling towards blush have been a bit ambivalent. I mean, if I was going some place special and went through the trouble of putting on foundation, then I would apply some blush so that my face would have a bit of color. But I think I had been relying on the same 2 or 3 blushes I had from my time as a mark. rep (which was ages ago) and the blushes in a well loved (and also ancient) palette from Sephora. In other words, I had never purchased a blush on its own and simply because I felt as if it was a necessary component in my makeup routine. 

There's Never Been a Better Time to Become a Maven (+ a GIVEAWAY!!!)

It's no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Julep and the Julep Maven program. How could you not love a monthly subscription service that feeds your nail polish obsession? So I can't even describe how excited I am to be a part of their VIP Blogger program and to have the chance to share the perks of it with you lovelies!

Moisturize, Protect, and Prime in One Step with Suntegrity

There's really a whole lot to love about Suntegrity's Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen & Primer with Broad Spectrum SPF 30. As a mommy (and with a hubby who doesn't quite understand why it takes me so long to put on makeup just to look like I don't have on any makeup), I'm a huge fan of any product that multi-tasks and this wonder does just that beautifully. This 3 in 1 product is a face moisturizer, sunscreen, and makeup primer all in one. It hydrates the skin with luxe ingredients like hyaluronic acid (which holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water) and provides broad spectrum protection against damaging sunrays. Because it leaves your skin with a silky smooth and flawless finish, it also serves as the perfect makeup primer! 

Girl Crush: Coco Rocha for White Hose Black Market

I have had a total girl crush on Coco Rocha ever since I saw a version of this commercial on TV. There's a wit and humor about her that I just love! Well apparently I'm not the only one who loved that commercial, because supermodel Coco Rocha will be featured in White House Black Market’s Fall 2012 campaign. In addition to being featured in the print ads, Coco will once again be the star of White House Black Market’s television campaign, which leads to a surprise reveal, giving the spot a twist. I'm personally curious as to how they are going to top her tap dancing on a table (in high heeled, strappy sandals no less)!

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

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.