Oh Sugarpill, How I love thee

               I am sure you are sick of seeing this look but I simply adore it. I used Midori, Afterparty, Poison Plum and Dollipop. My liner is Jordana Fabuliner, mascara is Stila Major Lash, cheeks are Pink Tutu by Flirt and lips are Tarte Lipsurgence in Peaceful.

 

Beauty Blog Link Love

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed thinks size does matter and tests out her theory with Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara - check out her results and see if you agree!

My Funny Valentine is proud to present...A vain person's guide to water sports: how to waterproof your makeup and deal with chlorine.

Nail bling strikes again! Musicalhouses shows you her silver and blue nail art with pearls and hearts!

At Lipstick Musings, Shannon embarks on her first-ever fragrance review with the all-natural artistry of Aftelier Perfume's Cepes and Tuberose.

With the BB cream craze in full swing, Rae takes a moment at theNotice to review (and swatch) the much-hyped Marcelle BB Cream. Find out it if this new wonder-product is all it's talked up to be!

New year calls for new product launches! Miss Beauty Nerd tests out Maybelline's newest - their SuperStay Lip Colors and EyeStudio Color Tattoos.

Beauty In The Mirror has been reviewing the very popular OCC Lip Tars. Pop over for some great pictures and advice.

Kajal Couture shares her tips on preventing eyeshadow fallout.

Prime Beauty is dreaming of spring with the Nordstrom Exclusive Dior Garden Party Milly Garden Clutch.

Looking for some double duty beauty products? Check out Krasey Beauty's recs!

Kimberly at Kimmie Karma Love shows her New Years Eve makeup and the day after pictures!

Phyrra presents a variety of lovely lipsticks and pigmented lipglosses from Morgana Cryptoria.

Tracy at Beauty Reflections has a new PRECIOUS called Guerlain Cruel Gardenia Meteorites.
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Join Anita in celebrating reaching 400 followers and win yourself a gorgeous Accessorize Eyeshadow Palette!

My Glam - January Bag

              So last month My Glam was the buzz of a beauty group I am in. Everyone was excited about it. Of course I was late to the party as usual and missed out on the December bag. I subscribed late December which entitled me to a January bag.
             So what is My Glam? It is similar to Birchbox. It is subscription based, $10 monthly entitles you to a bag filled with deluxe samples and full size products. In my opinion it is more makeup themed than Birchbox. So far it has included more well know, high end brands and more actual makeup than Birchbox.  Here is some information from the My Glam website.

        Michelle Phan has inspired countless girls around the world through her beauty video tutorials on YouTube. Every day, the question Michelle gets asked the most is: “What are the right products for me?”
         With infinite beauty product combinations in the marketplace, choosing the best items for your needs can be a challenge! That was why Michelle created MyGlam. Michelle and her team of stylists have selected products they love, for you to try. Each month, subscribers will receive a beautiful Glam Bag with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products. Members can watch and play along with the stylists with the same products that they are using. All for only $10 a month. 


                 This is only the second month of operation for My Glam. The response to this company opening has been tremendous and they already have over 50,000 fans on facebook. That being said, they do seem to have some issues so far with billing, subscriptions and shipping. Quite a few people who were supposed to get January bags did not and some people got 2 or 3 bags by mistake. I personally had no issues at all. I am hoping that they are able to remedy the issues and run smoothly in the coming months. I recieved my box around the 18th. It came in a pink shiny bubble mailer. Total glam touch!!

            Everything ( except for the full size Freeman product) was inside of this little pouch. It is cute but I would have prefered another sample product in place of the bag. The theme of this months bag was " Back to Nature". I wasnt thrilled with this only because it seems like Birchbox has been on the same theme for a few months now.

 Concealer Duo by SHEERCOVER

What it is:
• A creamy dual shade concealer that can be custom blended to create the perfect shade for your skin tone.

What it does:
• The Sheer Cover Duo concealer instantly conceals blemishes, scars, dark spots, hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone for a flawless, natural look. It provides variable coverage – sheer and creamy perfect for under eye circles or more opaque for blemishes, scars etc.

What else you need to know:
• The Duo Concealer is enriched with natural, moisturizing Jojoba to help nourish and restore the skin’s natural moisture balance. It provides antioxidant protection from free-radical scavengers while allatoin helps calm and sooth sensitive, irritated skin.
  Dermatologist-tested

                SHEERCOVER  appears to be a mineral type company and this concealer is available for purchase only in a large skin care/makeup set which I find annoying. I only use concealer on my brow bone. I normally use a cheap stick concealer because it is easiest to apply but I tried this one out and liked it. The colors seem to match well with my skin tone. Overall it is a nice product but I would not purchase it because it is only available in a set and I prefer the stick style concealer.

Hot Ticket Nail Polish by The Balm

                 I was very excited to see this polish and even more happy about the color. I took it with me to the nail salon and it is so pretty!!! At $10 a bottle it is a bit pricey for my taste especially when there are so many well known brands that perform awesome for under $10. I probably would not buy this brand of polish because of the price.

Cleansing Conditioner by Wen

What it is:
• Wen is a single step Cleansing Conditioner with natural ingredients. The most important thing about Wen is actually what it’s NOT. It’s not a shampoo.

What it does:
• Wen avoids sodium laurel sulfate and other damaging detergents usually found in shampoos, so it won’t strip hair and scalp of natural oils. The astringent and antibacterial properties found in the Cleansing Conditioner thoroughly cleanse the hair without lather or harsh ingredients. It’s designed to add sheen, luster, moister, manageability and helps enhance color retention.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
• Sodium laurel sulfate
• Harsh detergents

What else you need to know:
• Wen is the creation of the celebrity stylist, Chaz Dean, and is the must have hair product for stars such as Alyssa Milano. It can be used for straight, wavy, curly, color treated or ethnic hair!

                I am on the fence about this one. I have been using it for the last 11 days or so. At first I really liked it. My hair looked really good but now it is starting to seem quite limp and greasy. I have read that this is expected because Wen contains no detergents and is basically a form of "No Poo".  I have also heard that if you stick with it past the whole greasy hair stage you will be amazed at the results. I however caved and used some normal shampoo. Once again this product is only available in a hair care set. A 30 day supply is $29.95 which isn't bad if you are used to a more expensive hair care regimen. I personally use Suave Professionals on the advice of my hair stylist. You could also just google " No Poo" method which is much, much cheaper then Wen.

Cucumber Facial Peel-Off Masque by Freeman

  What it is:

• Get hooked on a Feeling: A Feeling Beautiful skin care product, that is! Feel Beautiful with Freeman Beauty’s favorite facial mask!

What it does:
• This ever so fun mask gently peels away impurities while Cucumber extract leaves skin silky smooth. Perfect for normal to combination skin.

What else you need to know:
• Freeman Beauty products are loaded with botanical ingredients that naturally cleanse, moisturize, soothe and refresh to have you looking and feeling your best! Looking like a million bucks shouldn’t cost a million bucks and Freeman offers affordable products that make premium beauty care within reach to all. So lather up, slather on, spritz in!
• At Freeman Beauty, we live and breathe beauty! We know that beauty is more than skin deep – that’s why we’ve loaded our products with botanical ingredients that naturally cleanse, moisturize, soothe and refresh to have you looking and feeling your best! Looking like a million bucks shouldn’t cost a million bucks and we are proud to offer affordable products that make premium beauty care within reach to all. So lather up, slather on, spritz in! No matter what Freeman Beauty product you use, we’ve got your back. In fact, we’ve got you covered from head to toe!

          This product reminded me of being 16 again. I used to love this mask and this company. I was happy to see a full size product but not too happy about this mask in general. I am just not into the whole peel off thing. It is gross. So I tried to just wash it off which was pretty difficult. It did make my skin feel refreshed and hydrated so that was a plus. I would not buy this mask but I would buy a different mask by Freeman because it is affordable and available at Target.

    
          So that was My Glam bag for January. Do you subscribe to My Glam? If so, did you get a bag this month? What did you think about it? I liked this bag. I have a great time trying new products even if they arent something I would normally buy or are out of my price range. I really like the polish . The My Glam website is a little boring and basic compared to Birchbox. Another thing I dislike is that you can't purchase products directly through My Glam. If you click the "Buy Now" option it takes you to the product ( company) website. Overall I am pleased and will continue to subscribe. I hope in the coming months My Glam smooths out all the wrinkles, jazzes up the website, offers products for purchase through the My Glam site and starts a points program like Birchbox for referrals and reviews.

Thanks for reading.          

Sorry!!!

I am super sorry for the lack of posts during this last week. My internet was down unexpectedly and it took until today to get it fixed. I was going nuts not being able to blog!!! I have lots of posts planned and a bunch of fun stuff coming up!!! I will be back to blog tomorrow morning!!

A bit much just for a trip to Target........

                Well I have never been known for being subtle that is for sure. I had to run to Target so I decided to make myself look like a nut. There should be a "People of Target" website. I would be on it at least once a week LOL.  I was wearing a leopard print shirt so I thought I would match it to my makeup. I used my Coastal Scents 88 Palette. I used A5, B7,J6 and K8

                I also spackled on some gold glitter. My liner is Jordana Fabuliner, Mascara is Stila Major Lash, my foundation is Maybelline Dream Mousse Matte, Blush is Pink Tutu by Flirt and my lips are Tarte LipSurgence in Peaceful

Thanks for reading,

 

Super Duper Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!

              Today I am duping the LOVELY Duvessa from One of Beauty's Daughters. I instantly fell in love with this look. It is breathtaking. After doing the dupe I realize that the reason this look is so gorgeous is because it is on her LOL. Her skin and hair color, bone structure plus her technique fit this look PERFECTLY. On me.....not so much!!!

             Duvessa used Dawn Eyes Cosmetics , Merry Go Round ,Sparkling Jade and The Chrome Collection, dark green from Sleek Storm palette. Liner is Golden Moss by Gosh. Saint Germain by MAC on the lips. I have NONE of these colors so I improvised.

         I used Blow by Virus Insanity, Tako by Sugarpill, Ol'School by Moi Minerals, Dark Fantasy by Fyrinnae, Kiwi by Pretty Addictions, Midori by Sugarpill and Skimp by Urban Decay as a highlighter. My upper line is Jordana Fabuliner. I forgot mascara. LOL. My lower eyeliner is Sephora Flashy Ultra Green with Dark Fantasy patted over it and NYX eyeliner in black. My blush is Brooke by Moi Minerals and I used Shattered Pearls as a highlight by Pretty Addictions. I also dusted my whole face with elf pressed powder.My lips are a combo of elf Runway Pink and Peaceful Lipsurgence by Tarte.

                I do not think this worked as a dupe but I did like the look. The shape and liner is different for me and it was a refreshing change. What do you think? If you have a look you would like me to dupe please let me know!!

Thanks for reading,

January Birchbox

                     I got my January Birchbox! It came in the mail on the 13th which was a bit earlier than I expected. If are not familiar with Birchbox you can read through my first Birchbox post here or jump to the end of this post for more information. I know a lot of ladies have been unhappy with the items Birchbox has been including in the boxes but once again I am very pleased with my box. For $10 I feel like I have gotten some great products to try out.

               Birchbox has really nice sturdy clean packaging. This month was no exception. I really like their attention to detail!

               The theme of this months box is "Clarity" Here is some information taken from the Birchbox website.
                    Happy New Year! January sets the tone for the rest of the year, which is why we’re focusing on bringing clarity to every aspect of our lives — from our minds to our beauty regimen. Accordingly, we’ve included products that will help you start 2012 with a fresh face and optimistic mood.

For starters, overhaul your complexion with a smart moisturizer that uses glycolic acid to revitalize dull skin. Keep your limbs equally healthy with a silky soap loaded with antioxidants. Now that you have the basics down, revamp your eye makeup with a pop of color: stila’s velvety liner does the trick. You’ll also find a lovely scent to update your fragrance wardrobe and a tasty snack to help you ward off vending machine cravings.

We’ve also included a list of our favorite mind, body, and soul detoxes, plus a Birchbox magnet so that you can fasten reminders to your fridge. Online, you’ll find in-depth info about your products, as well as a video tutorial of a rosy winter makeup look, tips to avoiding skin freakouts, and much more.

Here’s to a phenomenal year,
Katia, Hayley & the Birchbox Team

 Archipelago Pomegranate Body Soap

$12.50 for a 6.9 oz bar.

That drugstore bar soap isn’t doing your skin any favors. Trade up to Archipelago’s triple-milled formula, which pairs a pure vegetable oil base with rich mango seed and shea butters. White tea and cranberry extracts provide an antioxidant boost but the star is pomegranate, a power ingredient that has benefits for both skin and psyche.This fragrant soap is packed with botanicals, including pomegranate extract. The ingredient has plenty of claims to fame, including its ability to repair cell damage and encourage collagen production. In addition, the formula has Phase II Enzyme boosters, which help to detoxify skin and neutralize free radicals.

            Well, ummmm, it is a $12.50 bar of soap. That is it. It smells good and does its job but it seems nothing more than a bar of soap . At $12.50 it is extremely overpriced in my opinion. I see no difference in this soap compared to a bar of soap you would get in a cheapy bath set. Definitely not buying a full size but I will use it for sure. I mean, who doesn't need soap!!!

Clark's Botanicals Smoothing Marine Cream

 $115 for 1.7 fl oz

What’s a girl to do when she’s battling dullness, fine lines, and dry skin? Overhaul her complexion with an uber-effective moisturizer, of course. Clark’s Botanicals’ runaway best seller transforms lifeless skin with a potent blend of exfoliating natural acids and energizing algae extracts. It’s no surprise it’s a cult favorite. All Clark’s Botanicals’ skincare products use Jasmine Absolute to rebalance troubled skin. Culled from nocturnally blooming jasmine flowers, the precious oil has anti-inflammatory and immuno-boosting properties. In addition, this moisturizer features a gentle dose of glycolic acid to slough away dead cells, plus marine algae extracts to soften skin.

                I have used this twice and like it so far. It is very moisturizing which I need right now. In California we are having a very mild warm winter and it has been windy so my face is SO dry. The price for this cream seems a bit high. Okay well a lot high. I use Ponds Rejuveness cream sometimes and this reminded me of that except the Ponds is less than $10. I would not buy this in full size unless it turned out to be some sort of miracle cream.

stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner

        

 $20.00 per eyeliner

The quickest way to update your eye makeup? Swap your black eyeliner for a rich colored one. stila’s Smudge Stick liners are gorgeously wearable and come in four rich shades that make eyes pop. There’s Purple Tang, a blackish aubergine; Moray, a golden olive; Peacock, a shimmery azure; Blue Ribbon, a deep cerulean; and Lionfish, a chestnut brown. Better yet, the liners are waterproof and stay vibrant all day.Maximum pigment and minimum fuss. Each smooth, creamy liner goes on easily and won’t migrate all over your eyes. We love how the twist-up pencil allows for precise applications, no sharpeners required.

              Okay I like and dislike this. How is that for confusing. I feel like the $20.00 price tag is a big high for a Stila product and I dislike the color names because they do not match what the color actually is but I really like the product and the way it performs. I swatched

Birchbox Magnet

                  This was an extra in the box. Some people were annoyed by it. It did not bother me at all. I just stuck it on my fridge. I can always use another magnet.

 LÄRABAR Mini Bars

$14.95 for I assume is a multipack??

        Whenever we get a craving for something sweet, we turn to these all-natural snack bars. Not only do they taste yummy, they’re also good for you. Made without preservatives and fillers, they come in fun flavors like Blueberry Muffin, Carrot Cake, Peanut Butter Cookie, and (our favorite) Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Each bar has nine ingredients max, and you’ll love the wholesome blends of dried fruits, nuts, and spices. There are no icky additives like high fructose corn syrup, and they’re vegan-friendly too.

               I have had Lara Bars before and liked them. They are an acquired taste in my opinion as are any of the natural type bars like these. This however was tart as heck!!! Yikes!! I couldn't eat more than a couple of bites. It tasted just like cherry pie filling.  My son sure loved it. I would buy full size Lara Bars but not in this flavor.                  

Juicy Couture - Juicy Couture - 3.4 oz

$89.00 for 3.4 oz 

         Life is too short to wear boring fragrance. This youthful blend of fruity and floral notes is designed to make you feel fabulous, even if the most exciting thing on your calendar is laundry. Accordingly, the glamorous glass bottle comes bedecked with playful charms. One spritz and you’re ready for anything.Top notes of watermelon, passion fruit, and mandarin combine with bright whiffs of marigold and green apple. Rose, vanilla, and yummy caramel undertones anchor the scent.

                 LOVE this scent!! The perfume samples are one of my favorite parts about Birchbox. I love trying out new ones without having to commit to a large expensive bottle. I think at $89.00 this is actually an affordable perfume. I plan on buying it from Birchbox as soon as I get a few more points.

       So that was my January box! Overall I liked it. There was some products I loved but all of them I will get some use from. Do you subscribe to Birchbox? If so what did you think of this months box? If you are not a subscriber read below for more information. If you decide to sign up please use my affiliate link below or click the Birchbox image on the right <3

           

What is Birchbox you ask?

Birchbox delivers the best products and the best insider secrets, without any fuss. Every month Birchbox members will receive a curated box of luxe beauty samples. Each box will span beauty categories and deliver exciting products that fit into both your day-to-day routine, and into those days when you want to turn up the drama a notch.
Co-founders Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp met at Harvard Business School. They created Birchbox to help women cut through the clutter of the beauty world to find products that really work for them.
Each month, you'll receive a  selection of 4-5 samples that we’ve tried (and retried) ourselves.  You'll receive anything from skincare to makeup to cult beauty tools, from well-known brands as well as emerging gems.

 Each month there are 6-10 different products and each box gets a variety of those.When you sign up for Birchbox they will ask you a few questions and that helps them decide what products to include in your monthly boxes. You can buy full-size versions of your sample in the Birchbox shop. You earn a point for every dollar spent and 100 points translates to $10 to spend on more full-size products which is really cool. You also get 10 points for each product you give feedback on. I used my feedback points for the last 3 boxes along with a 50 point I got from someone signing up using my link and got a full size Benefit Porefessional for absolutely free!!!

If you are interested in joining Birchbox click here . That is my affiliate link and I will get points when you sign up. Month to month subscriptions can be canceled at anytime. Just make sure you cancel before the end of the month!

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? If so what did you think of this months box?

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Weekend Beauty Reads!

At Musing on Beauty, Mariella gives Japanese brand Suqqu a try with their Reset Cleansing Oil.

At long last, BB creams are (finally!) hitting it big in North America. Check out theNotice's BB cream coverage, which has only just begun.

polish insomniac shows us how to make a difficult polish look good!

The Pink Sith has FINALLY finished her quest for the elusive L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadows! Read about the colors she got and see what she thinks!

Have old dried out nail polish strips and don't know what to do with them? Musicalhouses shows you how to save your dried out nail polish strips!

Miss Beauty Nerd loves nude colours, especially ones by Bobbi Brown. Currently, she's coveting the Bobbi Brown Nude on Nude Eye Palette!

Check out Jenn from Spiced Beauty's current obsession from Sleek makeup.

Phyrra shows you the latest lip product she's been lusting after, new Fyrinnae Lip Lustres.

Looking for a full coverage foundation that doesn't feel like a full coverage foundation? Gouldylox Reviews checks out this one from Tarte and puts it's lofty time promises to the test!

My Lips But Better learns the hard way Tweezerman's nail files aren't nearly as good as their tweezers.

Wishing for Spring like Tracy at Beauty Reflections is? Then take a look at the new Lise Watier Aquarella Spring 2012 Eyeshadow Palette.


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Beauty Crazed is giving away a giant pile of makeup to celebrate the new year! Come enter and decide for yourself just how crazed they really are!

Spotlight on Pretty Addictions

                   Next up in the spotlight is Pretty Addictions! Kassandra who runs Pretty Addictions sent some wonderful sample packages to be included in the gift bags during the holidays. Thank you so much Kas!!  I have already done an in depth review of Pretty Addictions and interviewed Kas which you can read here. Pretty Addictions is a fabulous company and is coming up on its 1 year anniversary in March!! Kas hosts awesome contests and other fun things on the Pretty Addictions facebook page. Check it out!! Kas also has a great blog which includes Pretty Addiction news plus she reviews other brands and companies.

            I placed my order, got the shipping notice within hours and my package was here 2 days later. It does not get any faster than that folks. My previous order also was in my hands within 2 days of ordering. Kas really has her shipping time down pat. That is something I really love about this company.

           Another thing I love is the great packaging. Kas really glams up each package. Everything is wrapped, sealed and glamified to perfection. My previous order was also packaged beautifully. I love this!!

             I paid $17 for this order. I chose a luminizer, 6 clamshell samples and I got a free 5 gram pot of Darkness because my order was over $15. Pretty Addictions always offers a free pot of pigment when your order is over $15. That is a very nice touch. I also received 6 samples baggies of some new colors.

              Pricing for pigments varies from $1.25 clamshell sample, $3.50 for a 5 gram pot and $5.50 for a 10 gram pot. That is a bargain!! Blush, Luminizer and Bronzer pricing also varies from $2.00 sample to $7.50 for a 20 gram jar. They are also now offering pressed shadows!!!!!!!! I seriously need to pick some of these up when I am not broke!!!

              Pretty Addictions currently offers over 60 different mineral pigments and has recently added jewelry to their product line. I have also seen on the facebook page they will be adding some hair accessories soon!

              I realized after swatching that I already own Obnoxious. Duh. Oh well, I love the teal so it will be put to good use. The colors that really caught my eye were Gossip, Tickled Mermaid and Royal Rebel. So pretty!!!

Swatches sunbathing <3

             I have been using Urban Decay Skimp as a highlighter/ luminzer on my face. It is a small size shadow and I love it for blending out the top edge of my eye makeup and right under my brow so I figured I should stop using it all over my face and save it for that. Kas has talked about Shattered Pearls here and there and said it is what she uses all the time. Her face looks amazing so I thought I would give it a try. I paid $7.50 for a 20 gram jar.

             I really like this so far.  I really can't get good pictures of things on my face for some reason . Any tips? Usually it just looks like my plain pale face when I am trying to take blush/bronzer/luminzer pics.

          My overall thoughts on this company are pretty much the same as my last review. IT ROCKS. Fabulous product, insane fast shipping time and it is run by a VERY generous girl. What more could you ask for!! If you have not placed an order with Pretty Addictions yet you are missing out!!! Get on it!! I would really love if my readers would help support the companies who donated and were so kind during the holidays with the gift bags.

Thanks so much for reading!!!