EOS Lip Balm-Moisture For Your Lips!

 Nothing too exciting but wanted to share my newfound love of EOS lip balms. I love these little cuties! I have been using them for a few weeks now and had no intention of writing about them but then I read some not great reviews and thought I would write my own. 

I like them, I like the way they feel, I like the shape-it's unusual for a lip balm. It is not glossy, kind of the same texture as Chapstick. EOS stands for Evolution of Smooth. These little round buggers are the one's that everyone knows about but they have them in stick form as well. They also have other products such as hand and body lotion. I tried the Honeydew (green) and the Strawberry Sorbet (pink). As far as flavor goes, Honeydew wins hands down. Honeybuns thinks they taste synthetic. 

The moisturizing effect last a pretty long time. I have had super dry lips this winter due to my central air trying to escape the obscene chill that has been calling the North East home. If I apply EOS before bed, I can still feel it slippery on my lips when I roll over in the wee morning hours. They also last through my sweaty gym classes. 

According to the website

eos lip balm in Honeysuckle Honeydew is 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth.

• Long-lasting moisture
• Shea butter & vitamin E
• Smoothes on clear
• Precisely glides on lips
• Twist-off top

• Gluten-free
• Paraben-free
• Petrolatum-free
• Phthalate-free
• 0.25 oz

 Ingredients

 Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Beeswax/Cera Alba (Cire D'abeille)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Natural Flavor (Aroma), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Tocopherol, Cucumis Melo (Honeydew Melon) Seed Extract*, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract*, Limonene**, Linalool**. *Organic. **Component of Natural Flavor. Certified Organic by Oregon Tilth.


We've already discussed organic and natural so take that with a grain of salt (I don't even know what that means), however they are made without a bunch of crap in them (parabans, phthalates, etc) so that's always a plus in my book. They cost around $3.00 each.

Click HERE to learn more about EOS

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Labels and What Do They Really Mean?

Once upon a time, in a land where rivers flow with perfectly formulated foundations, the sky the beautiful colors of Chanel's Fascination Eye Shadow Quad and the sea as aqua green as MAC's Aquadisiac, there was a decision made by the land's rulers to make labels so all the sensitive skinned Goddesses and the acne prone kittens would know what luxurious lotions and potions could be placed upon their skin. So the rulers requested that the sweet smelling lotions and flower hued blushes that were created in this magical land be labeled hypoallergenic or noncomedogenic to guide the afflicted in their beauty quest. However, the rulers also decided they were not going to keep an eye on the ingredients that went into these specifically labeled goodies and pretty much turned a blind eye. And then a gorgeous (smart, honest and funny too!) Goddess showed up to school the masses so they can truly be informed!

That's right peeps, while I am on a label bender, I figured I should give you a quick lesson about the labels that are placed on some products and what they really mean. I am here to bust up your fairy tale, while educating you in the process. 

Some of you have probably noticed when you are shopping for products, they are sometimes labeled Hypoallergenic, Noncomedogenic, Natural or Organic. Here is a quick lesson on all 4. 

Hypoallergenic: Basically means that the product should cause less allergic reactions than other products. There is no standard as to what makes a product hypoallergenic. The label "hypoallergenic" is not regulated by the FDA (or anyone for that matter) and the manufacturers do not have to test any ingredients to prove they will not cause an allergic reaction. It is impossible to know if a product is going to cause a reaction so your best bet is to do your own skin patch test to determine if it's good for your skin. 

Noncomedogenic: means that the product will not clog pores. Again, another term that is not regulated. I feel the best way to determine if something is going to break you out is to become familiar with ingredients that do not agree with your skin. Even though  a company may be using products that are truly noncomedogenic, it is still best to rely on your judgement of what works and doesn't work for your skin, than relying on a label that is not regulated.

Natural: This one is my favorite. First, natural is not always better. Lavender is natural, lemon is natural, both can be very irritating on your skin. Natural means the ingredients are derived from natural sources with no synthetic compounds. Guess what? Natural is NOT REGULATED! Again, read the ingredients and run for the hills if there is lavender or feverfew or any other naturally irritating crap involved. I had read somewhere that a company can call their product natural if there is a certain percentage of natural ingredients in it. Spit is natural. Can I spit in my foundation and call it natural regardless of any other ingredients? Doesn't matter because no one is watching. 

Finally, Organic: Again, organic is not regulated. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ECOCERT has a system that regulates organic plant claims. If you can meet their very strict standards you can put their USDA Organic label on your product. There are a whole bunch of other private companies that will certify your product organic, however they all have different standards for what they consider organic. So what is truly organic? Who's standards are correct? From what I've read, they will also certify you for the right price. Shocking. 

Ok so that should do it for my label ranting lately and I will be back next week with some new products for you to read about :-)
I'm also on the hunt again for a new foundation. Again. It will be a never ending quest.   

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Ingredients List-Where Did All the Ingredients Go?

I think I have established that I am an ingredients reader. Besides reading the ingredients in my skin care, I also read the ingredients in the foods I am going to eat (it takes me an hour to get through the bread section with all the toxins I avoid). Funny enough, I very rarely read the ingredients on my color cosmetics. I don't know why I choose to ignore the cosmetic ingredients but I am a little obsessive about reading my skincare ingredients list. I, by no means, claim to understand every ingredient included in these list. I am mostly reading them to avoid the ones that may be harmful or just do not work for me. I will research the whole list if the mood strikes me. 

This leads me to how misleading the cosmetics industry can be with their marketing. With all the photoshopping and false claims, I already do not trust a word they say. Something that really gets my goat, is when a company seems to be hiding something, such as their ingredients list. Some companies only list partial ingredients list. What is the deal people, list it all-what is all the secrecy. 

Let's discuss the information in an ingredients list. First, there are Active Ingredients. Active Ingredients are ingredients that must adhere to specific regulations mandated by the FDA. They must be listed first and must be approved by the FDA. Inactive Ingredients are the ingredients that are not regulated by the FDA, they are listed by quantity. The more of it, the higher it is on the ingredients list. This is where you will find the unregulated fillers in a product. 

I decided to write this post due to an email that I had recently received from Aveda. I have been in the market for a new toner and a serum. I was looking through Aveda's website and naturally wanted to research the ingredients. Imagine my surprise when I clicked on the ingredients list and 1 ingredient showed up. I thought the site was broken. Let me repeat, 1 ingredient and they seemed to highlight the ingredient that seemed natural, such as jojoba or lavender (which can be quite irritating in skincare products). Their tag line is "the art and science of pure flower and plant essences" so of course they would list a plant. 

**********************************************************************************
So I decided to ask them where the rest of their ingredients are, this was their response:


Hello Jessica:

Thank you for your inquiry to Aveda Online. My name is Alicia and I am happy to assist you today!  I understand that you are looking for a full list of ingredients on our products. Regrettably, this information is not listed on our website as we want to ensure our guests are getting the most up-to-date ingredient information. This is housed with our corporate Consumer Team and they would be happy to provide you a detailed list on any of our products. This team is the true ingredient experts!

Is there a specific product you are inquiring about? I  would be happy to forward that information to our Consumer Team and they can respond to you directly with a list. This team can also be reached at: 1.800.328.0849 M-F between 8am-5:00pm Central Standard Time or via email at ConsumerCare-US@gcc.aveda.com.

Have a great day!
For a greener planet,

Alicia
Aveda Online Advisor
***********************************************************************************

I smell bullshit. I have no idea why they would not just post the damn list but I am sure not everyone would go through the trouble of emailing them to see it and I am guessing they are banking on that. Also, from what I have read, the FDA does not double check these list so I am sure some companies are not including ALL of their ingredients on their labels so what does it matter because we may never know what we are actually putting on our skin. There is no one watching so again, as I have said many times in this blog, research as much as you possibly can. 

***********************************************************************************

This was my response to Alica from Aveda:
 

Hi Alicia,

Thank you for your timely response. I have been in the market for a good serum, as well as a toner. 

I am an ingredient reader, as I like to know what I am putting on my face. Your company's policy of not including the full ingredient list on their website makes it quite inconvenient for your customers to be well informed. I really do not have the time to make a list of all of your products I am interested in, email them to you and then have to wait for a response. Because of this, I will not be purchasing your products. I hope your corporate office reconsiders their policy. Seriously, how often are they changing the formulations that the information would not be able to be kept up to date? It sounds like an excuse to me.

Thank you so much for your time,

Jessica Savino
***********************************************************************************

You will never know if you do not ask questions. It doesn't mean you are going to get the answers you expect but you should still question everything! 

                                                          UPDATE

So I received another response from Aveda. We are going to have to agree to disagree. A lot of people purchase online. If Aveda is ok with inconveniencing their online customers, who am I to argue? Here is Aveda's response:

**********************************************************************************************************************

Dear Jessica,

Thank you for taking the time to contact Aveda Consumer Relations.

We are happy to clarify your concern regarding our website not displaying full ingredient listings. Primarily, our website is a marketing tool which we highlight organic ingredients and key aromas. We do not disclose of the full ingredients as they are already listed on the packaging. 

Additionally, as Aveda is committed to providing our customers with the best in products and services, we continually strive to improve ingredients offered in our formulations.  Ingredient listings on the website may not reflect the most current ingredients in a formulation.  It is always recommended to use the ingredient listing on the package that will reflect the formulation found within.

At Aveda, we are committed to providing our customers with the best in products and services.  Please be assured your comments will be forwarded to our executives so that they may be taken into consideration during future planning.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns.

We appreciate the opportunity to assist you. We hope you will continue to look to Aveda with confidence and satisfaction for all of your beauty care needs. Should you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to let us know. We invite you to contact our Consumer Relations team at800.328.0849 between 8am-5:30pm Central Standard Time to speak with a Customer Service Representative.

For a greener planet,

Tricia C
Aveda Consumer Experience Representative

**********************************************************************************************************************
Click here if you are interested in learning about Aveda's products or questioning them about their ingredients policy.
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Spoiler Alert- March Birchbox

Another month, another Birchbox. Lately, I am feeling as if me and Birchbox are having a bad romance. I am so addicted to it but have not been happy in quite a few months. Maybe I am setting my expectations too high, maybe I should reevaluate what I expect from a $10 per month subscription box. My loyalty to Birchbox is strong, however I know there are other monthly subscriptions available, maybe I will start looking into those. 

What makes a great Birchbox for me is a fabulous makeup product from a company I've been dying to try, or from a company I've never heard of, plus a nice skin care product. That makes me a happy Goddess. The rest is just filler. I feel like I'm mostly getting filler lately. Birchbox, where are my concealers, eyeliners, foundations and lipglosses? These boxes were very makeup heavy when I first subscribed and now they are trying to include a little bit of everything to make everyone happy. Stop that shit and just make me happy!

 

So this month's box included a Coola Tinted Matte SPF 30 for Face (full size $36). I feel like I receive a lot of Coola samples and I am always confusing them with Goop. This product is ok, I always like trying new SPF. The fact that it is tinted makes no difference to me, as I will most likely apply foundation over it. 

Next up DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew (full size $42) This is ok as well. It's a very light, oil free moisturizer that has a gel like consistency. I would be excited about this if it weren't for the multiple parabans included in the ingredients. The parabans always ruin the party for me. If parabans are not a concern for you, then maybe you may want to look into this. 

I also received a Gilchrist and Soames London Collection Body Lotion (full size $16) I have not used this yet and generally do not get excited about body lotion unless it smells tropical like mangoes or coconuts. I do love the Brits and this sounds so English so that's a plus. If this is very perfume-y, I will hate it no matter how British it is. 

Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Treatment + Restorative Hair Treatment Plus (full size $33) Basically two hair restorative treatments, just like the name suggest. I seem to receive a ton of hair samples from BB. 

Lastly, English Laundry No.7 for Her (full size $90) No interest. I have no idea what it smells like or even care that it has the word "English" in the name, it is most likely going into the trash. 

Oh they also included an additional gift of Ghirardelli  Cherry Tango Square-dark chocolate and cherry. Hell yeah! I always appreciate chocolate!

Click here to learn more about Birchbox or to purchase any products.

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The International Beauty Show at Jacob Javits Center

The beautiful ceiling at the Jacob Javits Center

The International Beauty Show was just in town this week at the Jacob Javits Center. Three full days of crazy creativity!

The energy at these shows are just incredible! It really hits you like a wall of sound, beauty, fantasy and theatrics all at once.

I have never attended IBS before. This show focuses more on hair, nails and spa treatments then it does makeup. That combined with the fact that I had a bad head cold probably saved my wallet. I could not think of anything but climbing into bed. And hot soup, I thought a lot about hot soup. I did walk away with Ardel lashes, a brush from Crown Brushes and Hair Chalk in purple, which does not show up at all in my hair. I have to figure out if I am not applying it properly, otherwise this will be purple hair chalk for my eyebrows.

All of this cost me a whopping $19! Love the savings at the trade shows!

Ardel lashes are available at any drugstore, supermarket or beauty supply store. 

Click on the links below to learn more about:

Crown Brushes  Hair Chalk Color

I will figure this out and I will have purple hair!

I love this Crown Brush-it comes to a little point. Perfect for the outer corner/crease.

 I love the trade shows and usually attend IMATS and The Makeup Show but I find them so damn overwhelming that sometimes it is hard to truly enjoy them. I usually go with a plan. I make a list of the products I need and the companies I want to visit and tackle it that way, otherwise I am like a deer in the headlights, wanting everything and purchasing nothing. Pair your favorite products/companies with blasting music, tons of beautiful visual stimulation, thousands of people all trying to look at the same products you are and your favorite stars of the makeup world and it can be quite a lot to absorb all at once.

Like I said, this show focused on hair and nails. We all know how I feel about nails so I really could not care less about nail related products but I am in the market for a good hair dryer. There were around 200 different distributors of hair dryers there with a selection of approximately 1000 different options. I left empty handed. I will have a much easier time going to Ulta and choosing from the 5 they offer that are in my price range.

So here are some photos. I wish I captured some good photos of the massive crowds. Blast some beat driven music and get the full experience! Enjoy!

Eve Pearl, award winning makeup artist, on her hustle.

Body makeup at Mehron

Hair design on the main stage

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ULTA Shopping Trip with Anastasia Dipbrow and NYX

While I was on vacation in Florida visiting the parents, me and the mother went makeup shopping at Ulta. Mother had never been to Ulta and she was interested in purchasing an Anastasia Dipbrow, as well as a new foundation. I was just interested in shopping for makeup. She also kept calling it Ultra which would be another post about my mother's vocabulary that she has made up. She makes up her own words. Similar to if you told her your name was Steve, she would call you Stove. We went to Selby gardens, she kept calling it Shelby Gardens. You get the picture. It brings me endless entertainment and material to tease her with. 

Hi Mom! **WAVES** 

While we are discussing my mother, that woman made a $125 skin care purchase without consulting me. What the hell was she thinking? AND she's not even using the damn product! Her irrational behavior concerns me. 

So this is what I purchased, another Dipbrow in Auburn, NYX HD Photogenic concealer, an Ulta Gel Liner, Ulta Automatic Liner, NYX Retractable liner and an Ulta Lipstick.

First Dipbrow ($18.00). I love this stuff but OMWow! You need to use a light hand because it's very easy to go from natural to Groucho Marx in the very quick swipe of your brush. The Auburn is much better suited for me especially with the hair color I am rocking right now but if you are not careful, your brows can look a little intense. 

Next up, NYX HD Concealer in Yellow. This stuff is yellow so if you're in the market for a yellow toned concealer, this is definitely an option. The texture is thin which is good for High Def and I've had no issues with it settling into fine lines, however the coverage did not blow me away. This is good if you don't have a ton to cover. You can use it as a color corrector and possibly a highlighter if your skin is darker toned. Either way it cost $4.99 so how can you go wrong?

The Ulta lipstick was a BOGO so the mother bought one and I got mine for free. Thanks Mom! The color I chose was #206 which is an orangey, coral-ly, peachy color(?) I picked it because I actually wanted a lipstick with color. I am a nude lip girl but when I get around sunshine and warm weather I look for a color a little more juicy than pinky beige. Which I guess is pretty much any other color besides pinky beige. Anyhoodles, I was underwhelmed. It wasn't as juicy as I had hoped. I will probably wear it when the summer roles around but for now it's in the drawer. I want a delicious violet color which is also my niece's name so that would be two pluses.

 

Ulta Gel liner in Storm, Ulta Automatic in Black Plum (both $8.00) and NYX Waterproof Retractable liner ($4.49) in Turquoise Blue. Although green and purple are my favorite colors for brown eyes, I have not gotten much use from the Ulta purple liners but have been using the Green every day! I love a bright green on the waterline. I will use the purples this week and report back.

So that was my trip, the mother purchased a Dipbrow in blond, a Calvin Klein foundation, some lipsticks and nail polish and I can't remember what else. 

Some more updates for you, the breath mints that I received in my last Birchbox-they are freaking POP ROCKS! What am I 12? What adult wants to walk around with Pop Rocks popping off in their mouth? They aren't even minty-they taste sweet which can be cloying and not refreshing. 

Also, I keep reading about people using lemon juice on their face as some kind of brightener or face treatment? PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS PEOPLE. Besides the fact that lemon is highly irritating when applied directly to your skin, from what I understand it can cause a phototoxic reaction which basically will burn and blister your skin which means you are DAMAGING YOUR SKIN. Please stop blindly following people who tell you to do this crazy shit to your skin (and your eyelashes). Research everything. Even the stuff that I tell you, research and make sure I am correct.

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Random Ramblings

Oh hi there my Goddesses. I had a few random updates that I wanted to share with you and I thought I would put them all in one post. 

First, the great olive oil on your eyelashes debate. It does not work. End of. It just does not. I applied olive oil to my eyelashes every night for 1 month because that is how long "they" said it would take. After the month was completed, my lashes were so long I was being mistaken for a baby giraffe so I threw away all of my mascaras and false lashes and now I am touring the land, werking under my drag name Ardell Lashalot, teaching all of you skinny lashed bitches about the magical wonders of coating your eyelashes and ultimately your eyeballs with oil. 

So besides the fact that oil on your lashes does not work to make them longer, if you are not careful you will be rubbing oil out of your eyeballs which is not much fun. I will admit, I got lazy and did not take another photo of the finished product however the finished product looks exactly the same as the beginning product, so you can just go back and look at those photos. 

Also just to make it official, the lovely ladies at Wise Optical in Bayonne NJ say oil on your lashes is a bunch of hooey and to please not do it. Smart ladies. Click HERE for original olive oil post. PS-My original photos are not showing up on the original post but trust me-my lashes look malnourished.

Next up my Retin-A update. After 7 months I have finish both of my tubes of Tretinoin and .......I really did not see any life changing differences. My acne is cleared up, however I had changed a few things about my routine so I am not sure if it was due to the Retin-A or my new routine. What did happen-some peeling skin and not much else. My nose did not like Retin-A at all. The inside of my right nostril was pained beyond belief! So bazaar! That was my barometer for when my skin needed a rest. The inside of my nose hurt so bad, I could not touch it. I have not used it for a few weeks now and I do not miss it. I honestly believe my skin sees more dramatic, quicker results from a quality AHA/BHA treatment. I did not dislike it but it did not rock my world.

Speaking of AHA treatments, remember my blog post about the egg white/milk/apple juice mask and I said it made so much liquid you can save it in the fridge for your next use? I also said I was not sure if you can do that but I was going to do that? Yeah don't do that. The acids from the milk and apple juice cook the egg (kind of like an egg ceviche') so you end up with gloppy egg whites in milk and apple juice. No bueno! Maybe just half the recipe to make less?

Lastly, this beauty^^^^^ has finally arrived to mi casa and will be reviewed accordingly after many uses! I am so excited! 

I know I already said lastly but one last thing, I highly appreciate the emails I receive from my followers. I would much appreciate it if you left comments so everyone can see whatever it is you would like to share. Unless you want to bitch me out about something, then you can just keep it to yourself. 

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RESIST Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 Review

Summer is fast upon us! Not nearly fast enough but be patient my little goddesses, it will be here before you know it. 

Every year I re-post my sun protection post reminding you why you need to wear sun protection. I usually post it in April because the weather starts getting nicer, the sun is out longer and everyone starts spending more time outdoors. Let me be clear my lovelies, it goes without saying that you should be wearing sun protection all year long, everyday no matter the season. 

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am a Paula's Choice fan. I look for certain things in my products that she usually has in her products so it's a no brainer. Also besides producing quality products, she will suggest other companies products as long as she feels they are up to par. That's a great supportive trait to have as a successful business woman. 

I decided to try PC's Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30.

PHOTO CREDIT

PC's Resist line is aimed at anti-aging so all of the products have ingredients with anti-aging properties. 

According to the website, Resist Anti-Aging Collection:

Smooths Wrinkles

Builds Collegen

Fades Dark Spots

 
RESIST Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 is a daytime moisturizer with sunscreen designed for combination to oily skin with signs of aging. Its multi-purpose formula not only protects skin from sun damage, but also fortifies it with potent antioxidants to repair and stimulate collagen production for firmer skin. You will see a more even skin color, fewer visible lines and wrinkles, and the return of a younger healthy-looking glow.

I choose the  Super-Light because it is supposed to have a shine free finish. A lot of mineral based sun protection can make you look a little shiny and I was looking for a more on the matte side, natural finish. I had tried the Hydralite sunblock and although a good product, it was a bit shiny for me. It is also supposed to be shine-free. It was not.  

I have been wearing this for a few weeks now and I am very happy with it. I wore it for 1 week in sunny Florida without any burning/tanning issues and no breakout issues as well. It has a high Zinc content so it is tinted to combat the white cast that comes along with Zinc and Titanium Dioxide products. I find the tint to be an odd shade of pinky mauve although it does not translate that way on the skin (or in the photos). Once applied, there is absolutely no white cast and really no tint to speak of.  

One pump out of the bottle.

Blended into the skin.

My one complaint is Paula's Choice packaging for their suncare products suck! At the least the one's I have tried do. This comes in a plastic tube that you squeeze to get the product out. Have I mentioned that it sucks? It squeezes out way too much product and you can easily waste your product. I usually re-package the product into a dark, glass bottle with a pump that used to house a competitor's sunblock. 

Please Paula! Put a pump on your squeeze tube! 

This is supposed to be good for Oily/Combination skin. I have true combination skin, oily t zone, normal in some spots and dry in others. I have read reviews from people with dry skin saying it looked a little chalky on them. I have had no problem at all with chalkiness on any dry parts and it has been very cold in NYC. I do apply a moisturizer underneath this product.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Paula's Choice products. 

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Spoiler Alert: February Birchbox

I have not been happy with my past few Birchbox boxes. 

I am still one of BB's biggest fans, I recommend them so much I should have an affiliate link on my blog for them (I do not).

This months box consisted of shampoo and conditioner, an eye cream from StriVectin, a "Miracle Skin Transformer", and breath mints. 

What the fuck is that?

Seriously Birchbox, I know you were also giving away concealers and eyeliners but neither of those made it to my box. 

 I watch the YouTube video that you post every month, revealing all the cool items that are going to be shipped and I am starting to feel like I never receive any of the makeup items that you offer. 

So back to the products, I am interested in trying the StriVectin-AR Retinol Eye Treatment although it is the 2nd StriVectin eye product I have received from Birchbox (April and I'm still using it), a shampoo and conditioner from Bain de Terre even though I received a shampoo and conditioner from Bain de Terre in my October box, Miracle Skin Face Transformer Spotlight (the one makeup product that I did receive which is going to be a glorified primer/bb/tinted moisturizer multi use product) and an effervescent breath treatment by Thomas P Connelly DDS (almost as exciting as the foot wipes they sent me). 

If they would have sent me another nail polish, I would have lost my mind. 

Not that these are terrible products but I was looking forward to some of the other products I know they were giving out so I'm pouting about it. 

This box gets a 4. It would've gotten a 5 but I removed a point due to my crappy attitude towards this month's box. Anything that makes me pissy deserves a point taken off. 

 

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Welcome Home to Me! Now Time to Dig the Car Out!

Hey guys! 

I am back from my vacation and have a ton of catching up to do! 

I will have all new post this week, some reviews on new products, a little mini Ulta haul (dislike that word for some reason) and other random ramblings!

So bear with me as I get my life back in order and I will be in your inbox tomorrow with my usual witty banter! 

Benefit They're Real Mascara Review

Long, luscious eyelashes are a sign of youth. Have you ever looked at the long, gorgeous eyelashes of a baby or a toddler. Don't ya wish you can just bottle that up like fairy dust to sprinkle on your own sparse lashes? I do, it would be much easier than fake lashes, glue and olive oil (does not work). 

Benefit has tried to bottle up the magic of long, thick lashes with their They're Real! mascara. According to the packaging, this is beyond mascara.

According to their consumer panel:

• 94% saw dramatic length & volume~I would not call it dramatic
• 90% saw base to tip curl~I did not
• 94% saw visible lift~I did not
• 100% saw long wearing results~This is very true, it did last a long time. 

I do like this mascara but I would not say you will look like you're wearing false eyelashes. It is definitely long lasting and there was no flaking at all, however if I am reviewing based on the name, it did not have the same dramatic effect a pair of false lashes do. I think it is a very good, solid mascara although I do think it should be a little darker but that's just me. I think you can find a comparable mascara for a 1/4 of the price at the drug store.

The draw of this mascara is the unusual mascara wand. Instead of bristles, they are little plastic spikes that go all the way around the tip of the wand so you can grab every eyelash. The tip is like a little ball and allows you to get into all of the corners. 

Now I don't think this is the best mascara ever and even if I did, I  probably won't repurchase the full size due to cost($23). Mascara is a hard product for me to splurge on because most of the formulas, high end or drugstore are similar so you can probably find it for much less. The difference I feel are mostly the wands but is this wand worth $23 every few months? 

Now ya know what I do believe it is the best for? Lower lashes. This is the best mascara ever for lower lashes. That little spiky ball tipped wand, very gently grabs and coats every single lower lash without smearing, smudging or causing any kind of mess. All you are left with is a little sexy caterpillar sitting on your lower lash line. For that reason, I will purchase the travel sized version ($10) and always have perfect lower lashes.

To learn more about Benefit They're Real Mascara,

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Yves Saint Laurent ROUGE PUR COUTURE Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain – Rebel Nudes Review

So I need to revisit my Sephora gift card that I wrote about last week. My honeybun felt that I downplayed his gift, as if it were from some rando. So to set the record straight, the gift card was from my very generous honey and he can give me a Sephora gift card anytime he wants to. I am mostly impressed with the fact that he actually reads my blog!

Now on to my review, I was very excited about these lip gloss stains when I heard about them. YSL created an extension to their Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain called Rebel Nudes.

 According to the website:

What it is:
A revolutionary nude glossy stain with all-day 3D luminous effect.
What it does:
This glossy Stain captures the shine of a gloss, color of a lipstick, and the long wear of a stain. Rebel Nudes is the first to premiere Euphoric Pearl technology for an all-day 3D luminous effect.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates
The colors are absolutely drop dead gorgeous. They are mostly pink and purple "nudes" with a gold sheen going through them. You guys, pink and gold! I could not wait to try them so I purchased Violine Out Of Control which is a vibrant violet and Fuchsia Fugitive, a soft golden fuchsia. 

I know I always scream about how pink and gold is my favorite color combo on the planet and everyone should own something pink and gold but I think Violet is my new favorite color! Also, purple's are very on trend right now thanks to Pantone's Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid. Let's just discuss that for a moment, I never knew there was a color of the year and now all I've heard about this year is Radiant Orchid, it's on everything-lips, nails, clothes, etc. It is a beautiful color and I want it to always be the color of the year.

These glosses have a texture that I was not expecting and am not sure I love. It went on very wet and felt almost cooling on my lips. As shiny as it is, it didn't feel glossy if that makes any sense. These also are not as opaque as I had imagined although Fuchsia Fugitive is more opaque than the Violine. This is not only a gloss but a stain and the color stays on forever! Well I'm not sure about forever but a really long time and I really liked the flat paddle applicator.

A lot of the reviews I read online said these glosses caused the reviewer's lips to be really dry. I did not get to wear these long enough to find out, like I said they don't feel very glossy. I would not describe these as hydrating.  

These do have an overpowering God awful odor to them. I think it is supposed to be rose scented, however my nose was offended. I am smelling vinegar or something pungent. Not pleasant at all. Also, I had read online but did not research the claim that YSL does animal testing (Boo!). Like I said, I did not research but if this is important to any of you looking to try any YSL products, I suggest you research their animal testing policies.

So something unfortunate happened with these glosses that probably will not affect you but I have to share my full experience. My lips do not agree with certain ingredients in some lip glosses which causes me to have an allergic reaction. Sadly this happened with these glosses. My lips get very itchy and irritated, swollen and red. The swollen and red part is awesome because my lips blow up like I had lip injections, the irritated part is not so awesome. I have not been able to pin point the ingredient but it only happens with glosses and only with glosses that have shimmer in them but not all glosses with shimmer in them. Follow? I will be returning these but 
this should not affect your decision to purchase if you want to try them because this allergic situation is my own weirdness and will most likely not happen to you. Unless of course you have the same allergy as I have. 

These glosses will cost you $34 for .20 oz at Sephora. 

You can read more about YSL Rouge Pur CoutureVernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain – Rebel Nudes HERE

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