Month: March 2017
Influenster Vox Box – Rosy Vox Box
Ooooooh! I finally qualified for a good vox box from Influenster. (I received one with coupons for gluten free stuff a few months ago. No. Thank. You.)
I was most excited to try the two Vera Wang Embrace fragrances in the box. Rose Buds and Vanilla is my jam. It’s a very mature rose scent, reminiscent of Cartier Goutte de Rose. I likely will buy it when I can find it in a store (not at Ulta or Sephora yet – I checked. The other scent is Marigold and Gardenia, also very mature…but not in a good way. I wore it all day yesterday – that powdery gardenia scent is not for me.
Also in the box: Fancy Feet Ball of Foot Cushions (I’ve pretty much given up on heels, but these might make them more comfortable for me…and an excuse to go shopping); Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant (I’ve never felt like I am particularly stinky or sweaty, but a good deodorant nonetheless); Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Soft Waves Sea Salt Spray (I have sooooo many sea salt sprays, but they work so well to add a wave with a simple hair twist); and Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Naturals (I admit, I don’t use hand sanitizer if I can help it – it makes my knuckles bleed…but I’ll be keeping it in the car for the kids).
Good job Influenster – I’ll likely be buying a full size of at least one product in the box…
As always, products were received complimentary for review purposes. Want some free stuff? Check out Influenster for yourself…
March Julep Maven Box – Spring To It
I was a little bit heartbroken when I open this month’s Julep box and found that there was no insert describing this month’s box – “Spring to It”. I don’t really do anything with it after I read it, but I like having it. No candy either, although there were a few bonus Julep One-Step Nail Polish Remover Pads. That’s something I guess.
I got over my heartbreak as soon as I remembered what was in my box – Bombshell “Lara”, shell pink with gold shimmer. Yes, I finally got my very own Julep polish. I’m so happy I could shit! I also picked Boho Glam “Rosemary”, modern brick creme (dried blood, if you ask me). I also got Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum. I was expecting it to have a scent, but it doesn’t smell like anything. It’s much lighter than cuticle oil, and it doesn’t get all over everything.
I can’t wait to try my namesake polish!
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Pepper
Did you know that cornflowers don’t actually grow on corn plants? I never actually thought they did, but I had to google “cornflower”, because it occurred to me that I’d never seen a cornflower. My only experience with cornflower is the crayon.
My sudden fascination with cornflower sprang from Julep “Pepper” – cornflower multidimensional shimmer. It’s another polish from my big mystery box order. (I’ll get through them all eventually.) I started with Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat, two quick coats and topped with “HK Girl”. The shimmer is silver and very striking – this is a wonderful polish.
It’s already been several days and my nails still look perfect. I also did my toes, so I’ll be able to enjoy “Pepper” for quite a while.
Purple Hazed
Behold…Sinful Colors “Hazed”, not to be confused with “Purple Haze”, a polish I tried out a few years ago. To be honest, this polish has been sitting around for a few years – I bought it back in August 2015. I don’t know why I’d avoided it – it’s a lovely matte light violet polish. Actually, it’s demi-matte, not all the way matte. The formula isn’t quite as good as the newer mattes, but still decent.
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and did two coats of “Hazed”. It was silky smooth and I *thought* it dried quickly, but when I awoke the next day…I found sheet imprints on a few of my nails. Argh.
Ciao Renaissance
I may have made a grave mistake. Ulta sent me a 20% off coupon and I used it to try out the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette ($42)…and it’s one of the most beautiful palettes I own. The quality is outstanding – I’ve never had shadows that blend so well, and WITHOUT primer. The colors meld together seamlessly and they complement each other perfectly. I don’t want to use any other eye shadow ever again.
Okay, I may have exaggerated on that last bit…but it seriously might be one of the very best formulas out there. Luckily, none of the previous ABH palettes are available to buy retail – or I’d be buying them all right now. That was my mistake – another brand to be in love with. I should’ve known there’s a reason all the Social Media Influencers (Manny, Jeffree, Skelotim, NikkieTutorials) keep coming back to this palette.
I’m done gushing…about eye shadow. I’m also in love with the new scent I discovered in the Ulta flyer this month. I also smell the scented flaps, gag, and then forget about the scents…but not with Vince Camuto Ciao. It smells so good, that I kept the scent card in my purse, so I could re-smell it. I don’t usually like sickkly sweet scents, but there is something about Ciao. As soon as I got the coupon, I went ahead and ordered the rollerball ($22) . My only complaint is that the scent doesn’t seem to last on me past a few hours. Sigh.
In my sample pack, I got Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer in “White” and “Smoke” (Ooooh, I’ve never tried dark primer), and ogx Bamboo Fiber-full Shampoo & Conditioner. I also got a few extra free samples – Urban Decay Perversion Mascara and Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.
This order made me so, so happy!
Sephora Play! February 2017 – The Soft Side
The first thing I noticed about February’s Sephora Play…that blush pink bag. It’s so soft and silky, I just wanted to rub it all over my face. I guess that’s why this month’s theme is “The Soft Side”?
Right off the bat, I am NOT excited about Too Faced Lip Injection Glossy in “Milkshake”. If I wanted to have my lips burnt off my face, I’d use Taco Bell Hot Sauce – it’s free. I won’t let that ruin my excitement about the rest of the box: Tom Ford Neroli Portofino (not a fan of Neroli – it gives me a headache); Clinique Pep-Start Hydroblur Moisturizer; Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream; Sephora Lashcraft Length + Volume Mascara; and Bite Beauty Multistick in “Cashew” (I’m supposed to use this on my eyes, cheeks AND lips – won’t I end up monotone?).
Although I am not happy with everything in this month’s box, there’s still lots to love!
If you haven’t signed up yet, I suggest you sign up TODAY? This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Put on the Red Light
Julep “Roxanne” is strictly black tie – a fancy, fancy polish. I feel like I should be more dressed up just to wear it. I did wear it to watch the Oscars, so it’s almost like I went somewhere fancy. It was another gem from my massive Julep score over the summer.
Even though it’s intended as a gold and black glitter top coat, I decided to try it on it’s own. This is two simple coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat and under “HK Girl”. I feel like it gives very good coverage by itself. The glitter is rather jagged and rough. A few of the edges poked through the “HK Girl” and drove me NUTS.
I need to try it over another polish…perhaps a red, to match my red dress?