Ipsy: The Look of Love

     Ipsy February 2014 was titled "The Look of Love", and fittingly so with the aisles of every department store, drug store, and liquor store reminding us that Valentine's Day was to celebrated by those in love, and loathed by those who find themselves single. I like gift giving (and receiving, since we're being honest) but the romantic stuff always seems absurd to me on February 14, if you love someone you love them, everyday, no time frame or gift card needed (but even saying that is beginning to sound cliché isn't it). Anyway, back to Ipsy...this would be my second glam bag and upon first opening up my package I mumbled "mehh" to myself, looking at the plain light pink bag. Upon opening it I reconsidered my pouty face as I saw the leopard print bag interior and all the products that poured out. Basically what I'm getting at is that this was a rad little bag.

 

 

 

 

     Looks pretty rad for a subscription box, right?! I thought so too. Let's discuss.

*pop Beauty Plump Pout mini

I've used products from pop before and my first impression then was a tad unsavory; it was the aqua lacquer and I found it too be really sticky. This Beauty Plump Pout, however was definitely redeeming for the brand. It gives the shine of a gloss and the lasting power of a stain. I can say that it definitely has the lasting power because I put it on before bed, kissed the PR and went to sleep. When I woke up, I still had some of the color on!! It has a really creamy texture, similar to a lip stick, but it applies like a gloss would. It's plumping qualities were, however, different from what I anticipated, having used other plumping products in the past. I didn't feel a tingle like with the others, it was more like a fresh feeling on my lips. The plumping factor comes from a combination of plumping peptides, avocado and jojoba oils. A full size Plump Pout costs $16 and you can purchase online at popbeauty.co.uk.

 



 

 

Shade: Peony Petal



 

*Zoya Nail Polish

Zoya is a professional nail lacquer brand (visit zoya.com). It's a really nice full-coverage polish (2 coats will give you color match to the bottle) available in many shades. I received the shade "Odette", which is described as a "sultry orchid maroon"; which is rather fitting to receive now being that Orchid was named Pantone's color of the year. This shade is a cool tone that falls within Zoya's nude/mauve color family. A bottle costs $9, so it is comparable to retail competitors like O.P.I. and Essie.

 

 

    

 

 

*Mally Beauty Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Eyeliner

I always love full-size products instead of little samples, especially when they are good products like this month's bag contained. Most of us have heard of Mally, her stuff is often seen on the home shopping channels, and for good reason: her line is incredible and needs to be purchased by the masses!! This is a water proof eyeliner in the shade "starshine". It has a nice texture that allows it to apply smoothly (think Urban Decay's 24/7 glide-ons), and it's long lasting as well. You can use this the way you would normally use eyeliner, but this shade is quite ideal for highlighting the inner tear duct to open up the eye and add a little hint of sparkle. A single eyeliner will cost you $15, but they are also available in duos and multi-packs, so there's a potential for savings there! Check out mallybeauty.com to view the entire collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*City Color Be Matte Blush

A full-size, cruelty-free, highly pigmented blush. Yes! This matte blush by City Color(citycolorbeauty.com) is very rich in pigment so a little product goes a long way. Great color pay out too for a product that retails for $2.99. City Color is a newer line too, it actually first made it's debut at IMATS LA in 2013. The matte finish is perfect and the product itself is easily blended and built upon to achieve your desired look. The Be Matte formula comes in 8 different shades; the one I received was "fresh melon".



 

*J.Cat Beauty Eyelashes and Eyelash glue

The final product in my February bag was a set of eyelashes, so yes, it was love. J.Cat was an unfamiliar name to me but the lashes looked so pretty (see below). They are 100% human hair so they have a much more natural overall look to them, and you can clean them easily to be used again. The lashes came with a latex-free adhesive, which is what ever. I typically do not use the little glue pods that come with lashes. More often than not I prefer Duo or Lash Grip adhesives. J.Cat offers over 30 different styles of lashes ($3.99 each), so there is something for everyone, from the novice to the pro. To check out their selection visit jcatbeauty.com.

Lash style: EL213





There you have it ladies (and gentlemen??). I was thoroughly impressed/satisfied with my glam bag this month. I am not missing Birchbox at all you guys!!

I am also working on a blog redesign, so things will be changing up soon, which is both nerve racking and exciting (more nerve racking as I sit here and type this). I feel super busy, and even on my day off I have clients this week.

What a blessing to live in a world that gives us tangible experiences, people, emotions, and so on. We are lucky people you guys. Sometimes I am guilty of losing sight of the most important things. I often feel like the worry overpowers my logic and it all spirals out. Here's to moments of clarity grounding us all to the people we love and the lives we live!!

If you have any suggestions for future posts/product reviews/etc, please comment below so I can entertain such ideas.

 

Happy Monday.

XO,

J.

 



Birchbox: Power Play.

POWER PLAY: Noun. \'pau(-e)r 'pla\

A move that puts an individual in a position of victory and strength...and/or maximizes one's happiness or confidence...and allows for extreme freedom.

((ok, so the phonetics may not have worked out correctly as I typed them, but I do fancy that definition))

Do you ever think you are starting to be on top of things...work, cleaning, organizing, what have you?? I totally had that moment and then when my August Birchbox came in today I was going to write my open box thoughts/review and realized that I never posted anything on July. I blame the Royal Baby...oh Royal Baby.

Then I remembered that I did in fact take pictures of the July open box, but that they were on my android and I now have the iphone...so the best I can do is offer my thoughts on this one, guys.

**CONTENTS**

*Kerastase Fondant Chroma Captive-Treat.Hair products...oh my indifference yet snobbiness to them. This one claims to use ionic technology to keep hair color shiny and vibrant for up to 40 days longer than if you didn't use it. Sorry, but I am a pretty much a creature of habit and already gave this to my mom.

*ModelCo FIBRE LASHXTEND Lenghtening Mascara

Mascara. Sweet, sweet Jesus I am a mascara whore. Yes, whore. This fiber mascara is actually really nice, and they sent me the full size which retails for $24. The formula is a little wet in comparison to my other daily mascaras, but it is also quite buildable and workable to get that separation and lengthening effect. I do like this better than Maybelline Falsies for the record.

*theBalm cosmetics InStain Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush

I am forever smitten with theBalm cosmetics, so I always love seeing them in my Birchbox. This one is a long wear blush that really does last all day, even if you don't set it with setting spray!! A little goes a long way too, so a $22 full size price isn't too too crazy considering that. Oh a swatch, a swatch, my kingdom for a swatch. Check out their site to see all the radness...believe me, all of their products are amaze.

*BENTA BERRY G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream

This is a french brand, so I was excited to try, although I haven't yet. I actually just tossed it in my bathroom drawer to be next in line for use I do believe. It is supposed to both hydrate and purify because of the ingredients of blueberry and dead nettle...interesting combination, huh?? Full size is $22 so I may do further investigation on this. Right now I am so in love with my Origins Vitazing moisturizer.

*BIRCHBOX bobbypins

They're fun and glittery and who doesn't need extra bobby pins. ::especially ones that sparkle::

There you have it. I have already unboxed the August box and taken photos. My husband received his second Birchbox man box this month and let me tell you, the male boxes are incredible...so much good stuff and he uses almost all of it!!!! It's $20/month vs. the $10/month for BB classic, but seems so worth it so far. I'm hoping he will give me some reviews on some things too so I can post from a male perspective!!

Hope everyone is set up for a fabulous weekend.

XO,

J <3.

"Keep your head up, or else the crown falls"

Birchbox: Best Year Ever & Updates.

     Happy 6 weeks old to my sweet little nephew!!! January is flying by, oh my goodness. I feel like there is oh so much to do and hardly the time to do it...and let's face it, I don't foresee giving up nap time when it does become available ;) I'm glad to be back in the studio working on different shoots, and I was able to work with a new photographer last weekend. I'm looking forward to building my portfolio and also have a few part time "job" jobs potentially lined up...it's all about marketing yourself I suppose. I am also in the process of revamping my kit and incorporating a few new product lines for client use...it's taking some time though, so somedays I feel like I should stick a big "under construction" sign on my train case. Keeping with the updating things, the husband and I have been slowly, but surely, redecorating the house and it seems to be coming together. Right now I'm a little obsessed with finding the right couch throw pillows...it's like a legit mission...and when I do find some I like, the hubs doesn't...and it always reminds me of the year we got in a fight in the middle of Target over which Christmas wrapping paper to get...it was like war in the seasonal section. We truly do fight over the most dumb things...never money, vacations, etc etc...throw pillows and wrapping paper...and each other's shoe purchases. Change is big for us this year too, we have some exciting things in the works, and the hubs starts his new job very soon, so naturally I am quite proud of my permanent roommate.

Onto January's Birchbox, titled "Best Year Ever", and here is hoping for just that!!

Box Contents



*Aerie Shimmer Fragrance... A blend of bergamot, peony and vanilla.

*Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre 24-hour Miracle Cream... Now, I love discovering new, great skin care lines/products, but I must admit that the word "embryo" in Embryolisse was a tad bit off-putting, maybe it's just me...This is a french brand (supposedly a favorite of models and makeup artists...we will see about that!). It is a moisturizer that heals dryness and leaves skin primed for foundation. Now, I have talked to a few makeup artist friends/colleagues who have said they have of recent been using a BB cream instead of a silicone based primer. I haven't tried this yet, although I did have the intention of doing so. A good primer can be pricey...I prefer the line by Smashbox and those by Victoria Secret. I do love a good BB cream, and of course something in that category by Garnier or L'Oreal would be a much more affordable alternative to a primer if your skin does respond effectively to it. So, if this moisturizer can act as a primer as it claims, it is only $16 for a full size product, which falls at the middle point, monetarily speaking, between a primer and BB cream. (for the most part anyway). I shall put this product in my "To try" box.

*Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo... I always say this, so excuse any comment that may be broken record-esque...I am always skeptical about new shampoos and conditioners...this is a clarifying shampoo by the brand Number 4, which I was not familiar with until receiving this sample product. It has a "low-suds" formula that removes any buildup without stripping hair of essential oils. It's $32 for a full-size bottle, so, even without trying it, right now I say "mehh".

*theBalm cosmetics Hot Mama... Yesss...I love theBalm cosmetics...they make some of my favorite products so I was pretty excited to get this little gem. This is a 2-in-1 blush/highlighter. It is a really pretty pigment with a subtle golden shimmer. I've swatched it below, but believe me, the swatch does not do it justice!! And a full-size is only $20, which is a great price for the product quality...check out their website for sure.

*Deborah Lippmann the Stripper to Go... This was a scented nail polish remover mitt (finger sized mitt) that was supposed to have a sweet scent and make changing your polish super easy. Notice my use of the past tense "was"??...yeah, I tried this out, and for the Deborah Lippman brand I was surprisingly disappointed. The package label said it was equipped with enough of the solution to remove polish from 10 nails, I think I got through 6 nails when there was no hope for attempting the other 4 with this mitt contraption. I was actually trying to take of the polish in the picture above, light gray and one accent blue nail (OPI's French Quarter for Your Thoughts and Dating a Royal...two faves!!). So, I had to hunt down a bottle of acetone and finish them up. Also, there was no sweet smell that I could detect; just your everyday finger nail polish remover smell. I much prefer the little container of remover that you just stick your finger in and twist...I'll be sticking with that. Sorry DL.

I hope everyone is having a great week thus far!! If you had a different content list for your January BB share below, or let me know if you have any fave products similar to those mentioned above!!
XO,
J.