Favorites and Disappointments - January 2015

This has been a pretty crazy month, and I'm just now getting a chance to post this. A lot of my time was spent gowned, gloved, and in a hospital mask. Subsequently, I kept my makeup routine minimal when I used any at all, and most of my skincare focused on repairing extremely dry and damaged skin.

Favorites

Lips: Tinted Lip Balms

I don't know about anyone else, but when I wear a hospital mask, I wind up breathing primarily through my mouth, which does an absolute number on my lips. I carry several tinted lip balms with me at all times. Depending on the situation, I usually reached for Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Honey Nectar or Benefit BeneBalm. I love the Pixi balms; I just wish they would come out with more colors. My favorites are the Honey Nectar, Natural Rose, and Comfort Clear. I absolutely love the vanilla scent of these, and they are very strongly pigmented. If they weren't so moisturizing, they could definitely pass for a lipstick. Benefit’s balms are OK, but I actually don’t think they’re worth the price. They’re decent lip balms, but the scent of rose can be really overwhelming and the color payoff isn’t that great. (Photos courtesy of Target and Sephora websites.)

Eyes: Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio in Filter

For the most part, this month I’ve gone very basic with my eyes. Many days, when I did anything at all, I just used eyeliner. But if I did use more than just eyeliner and maybe a cream shadow, this trio was one of my go-tos. Being neutral, I knew that I could get a basic eye out of it without even thinking much about it. I like that it runs a little darker than Wet ‘N Wild’s Walking on Eggshells trio, so you can get a stronger eye look with it. I received this in a kit at Christmas so I don’t believe the one I have is full size, but it is great for just throwing in my bag and having a ready-made eye look at hand. The shadows themselves are soft and blendable, making my first experience with Smashbox shadows a good one.

Face: Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser

I received a sample of this from Birchbox in June 2013 and am already on my second full-size jar. I am trying to use up my other samples, but I have had a portion of this in my gym bag. And let me tell you, I have missed this! Being a sugar scrub, it has good exfoliating properties while also being gentle since it dissolves quickly. The lemon scent is fresh, not sour, and helps to reinvigorate and energize me. (Photo courtesy of Birchbox.)

Fragrance: Elizabeth and JamesNirvana Black

I got both the white and black version of this fragrance in a rollerball set. I had tried the white before and thought it was decent, but I think it may be more of a warm weather scent. The black, on the other hand, is much deeper, more robust. I'd call it more womanly and sensual. It reminds me a lot of my beloved Killer Queen and Taylor. This one also seems to last better than the white on me, which I always appreciate.

Skincare: Aquaphor

This is an old multi-use standard, and it came in very handy in the hospital. I used it in place of my Body Shop face cream when I didn't have that available. I put it on really dry patches on my hands prior to putting on gloves for extra moisturization. I even used it in place of lip balm when I didn't want to use a tinted one. I now make sure to always have a small tube with me. (Photo courtesy of Target website.)

Hair: The Tangle Teaser

Oh Blogosphere, you were right again.  YouTube made me buy this, and it definitely lives up to the hype. I have found that I only like to use it on wet hair, but it does glow right through it without pain and without ripping out half my head. The kiddo, on the other hand, prefers to use it only on dry hair (me brushing dry hair leads to a giant ball of frizz). We have strategically placed these everywhere throughout the house and in several gym bags. (Photo courtesy of Target website.)

Book: Choose Your OwnAutobiography by Neil Patrick Harris

I finally finished my previous book and got to start this one. I read Choose Your Own Adventure books as a kid and loved them, so I was really looking forward to this, and it did not disappoint. If you are an NPH fan in any way, I highly recommend you pick this up. (Photo courtesy of Amazon.)

Other Greats: Aerosoles Joyride boots, reverse hair washing, multi-use products, TJUH BMT Unit nurses, clothes you can sleep in, using up samples/products, Maybelline Master Smoky eyeliner

On to the disappointments... Ellovi Tinted Lip Butter (no color and weird texture), family member's scary hospital stays (cancer sucks), L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly mascara (very perfume-y)

What were your favorite products this month?

Empties January 2015

I am not one to make New Year's resolutions.  Yet, like many others in the blogosphere, I've decided that, this year, I am going to work on using up the products that I have in my collection already.  I'm especially making it a point to use up the various samples and travel sizes I have accumulated.  That being said, I plan on posting empties monthly to keep the length down.  (Unfortnately, as you'l see below, that didn't work as well as I had hoped!)

Makeup

• Ellovi Tinted Lip Butter – Sample from Birchbox. This was awful! This was supposed to be tinted, but no color came through on my lips except when I wiped them on a tissue. But the worst part for me was the texture. So many times when I went to put it on, it was chunky in the tube. It wound up applying evenly, but who wants to feel that on their lips? Purchase: NO!
• Hourglass Hydrating Base Serum Primer – Sample from Sephora. I really liked this. Just the slightest amount was needed to fully prime the face, although you did need to make sure to wear makeup over it or your face would look wet or greasy. The only reason I stopped using this sample was because it the sample packaging I received from Sephora leaked everywhere and I didn't want to fight with it anymore. I would definitely buy this if it didn't cost so much. Purchase: Maybe.
• Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara – Deluxe sample from Tarte kit. I started this mascara on 12/8/14 and stopped using it on 1/11/15 due to it starting to dry out and really tugging on my lashes. At first, I couldn't stand this mascara. Then I found that the best way to work with it when it was new was to scrape off a good part of the product before applying. I'm still not a huge fan of this, but I'll be able to get through the other samples I have. I don't think I'll go out and purchase a full size, though. Purchase: No.

Face Care

• Acure Brightening Facial Scrub – Sample possibly from Birchbox. I really like this product. I know some people don't like physical facial scrubs, but I prefer them over chemical scrubs or microscrubs. This one has a refreshing minty scent and mild cleanser to accompany the scrubbing agents. I actually received another sample of this product and was thrilled to see it. Purchase: Yes.
• Comfort Care Essentials Make-up Remover – Mini hotel sample. The kiddo tried this out while we were traveling for a swim meet. She really liked it because it didn't burn or sting while using it. I love the fact that it was available as a freebie in a hotel room, but don't know where to get them elsewhere. Purchase: No.
• Neutrogena Hydrating Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes – Full Size. Now, of all the face wipes I have used, this is what I started out with and what I will always go back to when in doubt. LOVE THESE! Repurchase: Yes!!!!!
• Pond's Original Fresh Wet Cleansing Towlettes with Vitamin E – Sample from Walmart. I really liked these. They have an open weave, and that helped them to really clean well. They were wetter than many of my typical face wipes, but that could be due to the size of the sample pack. Purchase: Yes.
• The Body Shop Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream – Full Size. I have been using this both day and night all winter by suggestion of a sales associate at The Body Shop. It has definitely helped tame some very dry, red patches. I can definitely tell if I miss using it for even a single application. Repurchase: Already have.
• Vasanti Detox Nutrient-Rich Purifying Facial Cleanser – Sample probably from Birchbox. This was a mild face wash that worked OK for both me and the kiddo. It didn't break us out, didn't cause any irritation, and seemed to clean fine. I just have others I prefer. Purchase: No.

Skincare

• Curel Daily Moisture Original Lotion for Dry Skin – Travel Size from hospital discharge gift bag. This was a sample first used by the hubby on discharge from the hospital that I then finished off. It worked really well on his very dry, scaly skin. Since it was unscented it didn't bother his overactive sense of smell. Purchase: Yes.
• Figs & Rouge Roseberry Nourishing & Soothing Hand Cream with Shea Butter – Full Size from Ipsy. I love the texture of this hand cream. It definitely feels like a hand cream, being extra moisturizing and lasts on the hands, yet also sinks in. The fruity smell is mouthwatering. This is the first hand cream I carried on me at all times, and I have continued the habit with other, similar-sized tubes. Purchase: Yes.
• Paul Mitchell Teatree Lemon Sage Energizing Body Lotion – Mini hotel sample. This is a relatively light body lotion with a nice citrusy scent. Like some others on this list, it was nice to receive for free, but I don't need to go seeking it out. Purchase: No.
• Soap and Glory Clean on Me Creamy Moisture Shower Gel – Mini from gift set. Yummy scent in a decent shower gel. Purchase: Yes.
• Terra Green Body Wash – Mini hotel sample. Standard body wash/shower gel. This one definitely smelled like soap as opposed to having a yummy smell. Purchase: No.

Fragrance

• Marc Jacobs Honey – Sample from either Sephora or Macy's. I have been coveting this for years. Purchase: Already have.
• Tom Ford Velvet Orchid Eau De Parfum (x2) – Sample from Sephora. I really liked these samples I got, and am glad I received 2 because they were very small samples on paper. I hope they come out with a rollerball or purse spray because I can't afford a full size. Purchase: Maybe.
• Versace Bright Crystal – Sample from Sephora. I have talked about this one before. It is not one of my favorites, but not bad enough to throw away samples when I receive them. Purchase: No.

Hair Care

• Bath and Body Works Rainkissed Leaves Volumizing Shampoo (shampoo not currently available) – Mini hotel sample. This was OK, and worked fine. I enjoyed the fresh fragrance. I wouldn't mind if I received more, but I wouldn't go seeking more out. Purchase: No.
• Comfort Care Essentials Gentle Cleansing Shampoo – Mini hotel sample. This worked fine for a hotel sample. I'd use it again if I received another sample. Purchase: No.
• Comfort Care Essentials Revitalizing Conditioner – Mini hotel sample. This was pretty standard for a hotel conditioner. I prefer mine stronger. Purchase: No.
• John Frieda Radiant Red Color Magnifying Daily Shampoo – Full Size. This was really good when paired with the conditioner, and definitely extended the red coloring, at least a little bit. It was recommended by my hair stylist, and I agree that it's worth it if going red. Repurchase: Yes.
• John Frieda Radiant Red Color Protecting Conditioner – Full Size. See the accompanying shampoo above. This conditioner is nice and thick, just the way I like it. Repurchase: Yes.
• Neil George Shampoo – Sample from Birchbox. I finished the conditioner last month, and finally finished the shampoo now. It works fine as a shampoo, but it does have a pretty strong smell. Purchase: No.
• Pert Plus 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner Classic Clean for Normal Hair – Travel size. Nice size and good, classic 2-in-1 (if you like that). Repurchase: Maybe.
• Suave Professionals Sleek Conditioner for Dry or Frizzy Hair – Full Size. This was the kiddo's swim/gym bag conditioner, and she said it was awesome! She used it kind of like a hair mask. When her hair was really knotty after swim practice, she would pile a good handful on and the knots would practically dissolve. She said it is one of the best she has used in her gym bag yet.
• Templespa In Good Condition Hair Conditioner – Mini hotel sample. This conditioner is OK, not bad for a hotel sample. I tend to like mine stronger in general. Purchase: No.
• Ultra Swim Chlorine Removal Shampoo – Full Size. This is the kiddo's HG swim/gym bag shampoo. Considering she swims at least 4-5 nights a week, this is a necessity in her life. How well does this work? Who really knows at this point because of how permanently damaged her hair is from the chlorine. But without it, who knows how bad it would be.

Toiletries

• Avon Skin So Soft Fresh and Smooth Hair Minimizing Anti-Perspirant (not currently available) – Full Size. I've used deodorants from this line before, and I like some of the scented ones better. I'm not generally a huge fan of roll-ons, and you do have to be careful in the application and storage. This one had broken and overflowed after having it for quite a while, so I decided it had lived a good life. I'm not sure how well it works at “hair minimizing” due to my own personal grooming preferences. Repurchase: No.

Other

• Bath and Body Works Midnight Pomegranate PocketBac Anti-bacterial Hand Gel (hand sanitizer not currently available) – Travel size. I have been using a lot of hand sanitizer lately to keep the hubby safe, so you will likely be seeing more soon. Good scent, and a wonderful aroma. Repurchase: Yes to the scent, Already have more product.

Giveups

• I didn't really have any giveups this month. The deodorant and primer kind of fit in this category, but not because I didn't like the products. I stopped using the primer because the packaging leaked, and the deodorant bottle broke and leaked. Otherwise, I would have gladly kept using both.

Well, that's (finally) it for this month.  Did you finish anything up that you think I should try?  Please share!

Birchbox January 2015

The theme of this month's Birchbox is Let's Do This! 

Honestly, the box seems rather empty this month. All of the samples seem really small, and there just doesn't seem to be any substantial heft to the box.

On to the samples:

• Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper Gel – This may be a great product, but it will probably be a while before I use it because of the packaging. It came in a cardboard rippy packet, which means there is a decent amount of product, but it is also not resealable. I will probably transfer this to another container prior to use, and I just don't have the time for that right now.

• Cynthia Rowley Beauty Creamy Lip Stain in Sugar – The beauty editors at Birchbox have been raving about this product for what seems like forever, so I was excited to finally get a sample. The color I got is a pinky nude, but comes across lighter on the lips than in the tube. The texture seems to be smooth yet thin. I don’t know if this will ultimately be one of my go-to colors, but I look forward to trying this out more to get a better feel for it.

• Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal Eye & Face Concealer in Medium – This seems like it is a nice formula and blends out well, but the sample sent to me is WAY too dark for me. I might be able to use this if I use it under a medium to full coverage foundation.

• Essential Elements Wake Up Rosemary Body Lotion – I really liked the shower gel from this brand, so I was excited to see this sample. It smells the same, and the feel of the lotion is very nice. The bottle doesn't really squeeze so getting it out is sort of difficult, but I'll manage.

• Key West Aloe Gentle Aloe Facial Cleanser – I love the citrusy smell of this cleanser. The sample is a decent size, so I should be able to get a good feel for the product. I haven't tried it yet, but the kiddo has without complaints.

Overall, the samples are OK. I like the Cynthia Rowley Lip Stain, but it is a really tiny sample. I do like the Rosemary Body Lotion, and I think I may like the facial cleanser. But the concealer is the wrong color for me, and the gel packaging is difficult to handle.

So, not my favorite Birchbox. Hopefully February's will be better.

What did you get this month? I haven't been choosing from the sample choices lately, or using Birchbox plus.  Do you customize your boxes?

Ipsy January 2015

The theme of this month's Ipsy bag is Fresh Start. 

I think the bag this month looks very sleek, textured vinyl with one side white and one side royal blue.

I really like the products this month. I think there is a good variety, and I think I may actually use all of them. All of the products this month are from brands I had not heard of before, which I like because it allows me to discover new potential favorites that I may never have had a chance otherwise.

• Teadora Nourishing Body Cream in Rainforest at Dusk – In the bottle, this body cream has a light, fresh scent. However, once applied, this smells very strong and reminds me of church incense. Also, I would not call this a cream, since it is rather thin like a lotion. This would probably be considered a decent unisex scent, even though it is listed as having several flower aromas included. I haven't decided if I like this, but I know I will have to be very careful using this.

• Hikari Mechanical Eye Liner in Storm – As the name implies, this is a mechanical eye liner pencil in a slate gray color with a slight silver shimmer. Based on the color name, I wasn't expecting the shimmer, nor was I expecting it to be quite as light as it turned out but I'll be able to use it.

• Probelle Nail Lacquer in Into the Blue – This is a very pretty light blue color with a hint of gray. I often reach for similar blues throughout the summer when I wear polish, though not so much at this time of year.

• Pacifica Natural Mineral Coconut Eye Shadow in Ethereal – This vegan and cruelty free shadow appears to be the perfect multi-tasker! It is a beautiful light, almost off-white or light tan color that I could easily use on the lid as a base for an eye look or even on its own with a light application. It can be used as a shimmery inner corner and brow highlight. I can see it being used lightly dusted over a finished eye look to give it a hint of added shimmer. When I swatched it, a single swipe was relatively sheer, so this would be forgiving if using as a face highlighter even though it is shimmery. It has such a smooth texture, I almost wanted to play with it. :-)

• Astrida Naturals Lip Balm in Orange Mint – This natural lip balm smells yummy, and doesn't seem to have the odd, chunky texture of the last natural lip balm I used.

I am really pleased with my box this month. What about you? What did you get this month?

Sorry :(

I'm sorry I've been absent for the past several weeks.  We've had some serious personal situations going on at home which have demanded all of my attention.

Right now, I'm behind on my blog posts, but I do have several lined up and a few more planned for the near future.

Here's to hoping things stay calm around here!

Jen

QVC Liptastic Lip Color Discovery Collection

My hubby is such a great guy. He has been supportive of, and even encouraging, my interest in and blogging about beauty. For Christmas, he was the one that picked out the majority of my gifts.  Recently, while laid up in the hospital, he took up the dangerous habit of watching QVC. This led to many of the aforementioned gifts, and one that I mentioned briefly before, the Liptastic Set.

The QVC Liptastic Color Discovery Collection is a set of 8 full and sample size products from mid to high end brands. Most are nudes or pinks, and you get a range of glossy cream to glitter.

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Rebel is a very light sheer pink gloss with a light peppermint scent. This has a sticky texture, but not exactly in a pleasant way. It is not as creamy as the buttercream formula, which is actually what I tried first and I much prefer. I'm not a huge fan of the color, but being so sheer, I should be able to make it work.

Doll 10 Beauty Nude Lip Wardrobe Lip Gloss in Buff is an opaque shimmery nude that smells like caramel. Doll 10 Beauty is the only included brand I hadn't heard of prior to receiving this box, and so far I am fairly impressed. While I personally don't like wearing this on its own, I found that it is a nice one to use to add shine over another lipstick. Also, this is a great weekend color for the kiddo.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF15 is the clear lip treatment version of their very popular product line. This is very hydrating, and really helped heal my painful lips this week. I love that it smells like lemon poppyseed muffins (one of my favorites!). My only issue with this is that, because the stick itself is rather thin in width and soft in firmness, I feel like it may break when I'm applying it. I have noticed that there are marks on the sides of the stick from the edges of the tube, so I am being extra careful when I put it on.

IT Cosmetics CC+ Lip Serum Anti-AgingHydrating Crème Gloss in Love is a warm pink/dusty rose glossy cream liquid lipstick with a pleasant, non-descript scent. They definitely chose the right name for this color, because I am in love! It is a perfect MLBB shade that can be worn with anything. The formula is somewhat sticky but not overly so, so you know that you're wearing something on your lips but they're not sticking together. The applicator has depression in it like Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer, pleasant non-descript scent. My biggest complaint is that the applicator does not pick up a lot of product, so it takes several dips into the tube to completely apply the color to my liking.

Josie Maran Cosmetics Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil in Everlasting Honey is described on the Sephora website as a rosy nude, and I found it has a pleasant, slightly fruity aroma. This product does need to be blended in with brush or fingers since the tube itself does not come with an in-place applicator, likely to ease its dual purpose usage. I found that shaking before using, even just to swatch, provided more even product out of the tube. It does sheer out thoroughly, so it will definitely not be as dark as when it is first dispensed. The consistency is something I had to get used to, since it is a cream-to-oil product, rather than the cream-to-powder I have grown more accustomed to. With my dry skin, I don’t think I’ll have any problems with oiliness, especially in the winter, but others might have issues. I really like this as a cheek tint. It adds just a hint of natural flush while moisturizing and soothing dry skin. It is very sheer and very thin, so it doesn’t really show up well on my lips, but and only sort of feels like you have a thin layer of something on. Since receiving this product, it has become one of my go-to blushes, I'm just not a fan of it as a lip color on me.

Laura Geller Beauty Sparkling CocktailLip Gloss in Cosmopolitan is a red glitter in a clear gel base. I would suggest shaking before using this one. This somewhat sticky gloss is very red and very glittery, so I won't be wearing this alone. But I think it would look great over a red lipstick for a holiday or party look. It comes in a squeeze tube with an angled plastic tip for applying, which reminds me of lip glosses sold for kids or even certain drugstore lip balms, which I think cheapens this a bit. Definitely not my favorite of the group...

Mally Slimline Highshine Liquid Lipstick in Must Have Pink is a lovely peachy pink liquid lipstick with lots of shine, a little shimmer, and a slight fruity scent. Since the tube is so large, I didn't realize until I recently got a full-size one that this wasn't! I think this is a great color and would probably wear it more if it wasn't for the applicator. The applicator is a brush that you have to twist bottom to click product up. Unfortunately, since the product comes up through the middle of the brush, it causes the bristles to spread out and causes the color to apply unevenly and streaky.

Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Enchanted is a sheer reddish glossy balm with a peppermint scent that and causes the lips to tingle. It has a very slippery texture, so I have to be careful when I apply it to prevent feathering. This plumping product leaves a significant stain after only a short time. It showed up much brighter than I thought it would (from the tube I thought it would be a dark berry, it was more a darker bright pink), so don’t need to add a lot of product to get good color payoff. This is my first LipSurgence product, but now that I've figured out some of the tricks, I should have no problem wearing it. I understand why they are very popular, but the aren't currently my favorite balm because of how careful I have to be when applying it. If you have any tricks, please let me know!

Overall, I really like this set and have been using several of the products as part of my standard rotation. That being said, I do think this is missing a few things to make it complete. This set does really well on the glosses, but I would have liked to have had at least one cream and/or matte lipstick to round out the color set. Also, if they had truly wanted to stick with pinks and nudes, then I probably would have chosen a different Tarte Lipsurgence color and Laura Geller Lip Gloss. My favorites so far are the IT Cosmetics and Josie Maran items, which I find myself reaching for all the time.

Have you ever gotten any of the sets from QVC? Have you tried any of these items in particular? What did you think?