beauty blog

Review: Sample Society March 2015

I decided to keep trying Sample Society, at least for another month, because I was so excited that Benefit’s Roller Lash Mascara was going to be included. I’m familiar with all of the brands this month, so I’d say that from the start, this box is a win.

Juicy Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer: $45

I’ve been on the fence about Juice products. I’m so excited to try them, but usually I can’t get past the smell. I now have several tubes and jars from the line, so perhaps I’ll give it a shot, and work past the smell. Anyone out there a Juice Beauty fan? Let me know what products you like!

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara: $24

I was SO excited to get this because of all the hype surrounding this product. I should admit I haven’t used it yet, since I have so many tubes that I’m trying to work through and finish up. Can’t wait to try it!

Oscar Blandi Pronto Texture & Volume Spray: $24

I do like their dry shampoo, so I was thrilled to give this a try. I’m interested to see how it compares to the Oribe version.

Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm: $12

I’m not a huge lip balm gal, but the write up in the pamphlet in the book makes me want to give this a shot. Especially if it isn’t greasy. I’m weird and LOVE sticky glosses, but I can’t stand greasy balms.

Cargo Essential Lip Gloss: $16

Mine is in the color Madrid, which is a dark plum color. Since we’re going into spring I would have preferred a lighter pink or coral, but I do enjoy a vampy lip.

Verdict: This box (as I mentioned above) is a win for me. Brands I have heard of, coupled with products I actually wanted to try. Way to go Sample Society.

Carmindy & Co. 5 Minute Face

Last September I received the Carmindy & Co 5 Minute Face kit for my birthday. I’ve always been a huge fan of Carmindy’s on What Not to Wear, so I was hoping I would fall in love with her products. And for the most part, I do.

The kit comes with 5 beauty products, plus the adorable bag – all in a gorgeous tiffany blue color. The packaging is fantastic and I love the cosmetics bag.

One of the best items is the elevating mascara in black. It isn’t anything overly special, but it is one of the items I use most often. And is perfect for day to day use.

The item I use ALL the time is the love struck blush in Universal Pink. I literally use this everyday, and the color mixes and blends beautifully. I can’t recommend this blush enough.

The Carmindizing Highlighter is great. One side is powder, the other is cream, and the color matches my pale skin perfectly. I don’t use a highlighter everyday, but this is the one I reach for whenever I want to use one.

The Kiss Me Lip Butter in Rose Passion is just ok. It is a coral/red color, and is extremely sheer. More of a balm consistency. Perfect to run errands with, but not so great for work or for going out with friends. It isn’t that pigmented, so I find it similar to chapstick consistency. I’m a lip gloss kind of gal.

The product I don’t like at all is the Ever After Eyeliner in Espresso. It isn’t dark, rubs off easily, and I can’t stand the brown color. I love dark, black eye liner, so this naturally doesn’t fit my routine. If you use brown eyeliner though, you might really like it for a soft look!

Overall I love the brand. This kit is sold out at HSN, but I believe you can buy the products separately if you want. I know she has many other products in her line, and I can’t wait to try other products from Carmindy!

*Edit* I found this kit on this site: http://www.softsurroundings.com/P/Carmindy_5_Minute_Face_Kit/

Favorites: February 2015

This past month I found several products that I can’t wait to rave about. Not all of them are new to the market, some have been around for a while. But they are new to me, and I’m super excited I’ve found them!

Hempz Vanilla Plum Herbal Body Moisturizer

Typically, I’m not a lotion kind of gal. In fact, I avoid it at all costs because I’m used to greasy lotions that leave your hands with a gross film. When I was at the hair salon recently, I fell in love with the lotion they used to do my hand massages. The Hempz lotions absorb immediately, smell FANTASTIC and leave my hands feeling fantastic. The scent in the salon wasn’t the vanilla one, and I liked that one too – but the vanilla plum smells so incredible, I keep reaching for it. This brand can easily be found at Ulta.

C. Wonder Zodiac Votive Candle – Virgo

When I first moved to New York, I stumbled across a (then) new store call C. Wonder. It was owned by Tory Burch’s ex husband, and mirrored her style, but was so fun and playful. I LOVED that store. Unfortunately, C. Wonder closed down last month. Luckily I found the brand on shopbop.com and noticed that they had some adorable home decor items for great sale prices. I picked up this candle and it smells so rich that I want to burn it all the time. It also says “VIRGO” in gold on the back. A few are still on sale at shopbop – for $6ish!

The Balm – Hot Momma! Shadow/Blush

I discovered The Balm when I first subscribed to Birchbox. I had a sample of this blush and used it up so fast, and never repurchased because I was so busy trying other blushes. Recently I saw that The Balm was on Hautelook and was excited that the blush was discounted. I fell in love with this all over again. It is the perfect pink/peach shade and mixes beautifully.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black

During a recent trip to Sephora I wanted to try out new perfumes. After smelling what felt like the entire store, I came across this one. It smells somewhat like mens cologne, but has a feminine twist. With hints of violet, sandalwood and vanilla, it has become my perfect scent for winter. I bought the rollerball version to keep it in my bag. It is rare that I will like a new fragrance, but this one totally won me over.

Review: Glossybox February 2015

Last month I didn’t cancel my plan before the monthly deadline, so I wound up receiving the February box. I have to say, as annoyed as I was at myself for not remembering to cancel earlier, the theme of the February box was adorable.

Julep Color Treat in Heartleigh – Full Size $14

This is so cute for February, but I don’t find Julep nail polishes to be all that great. There is a tip included on the card regarding how to best use it, but I don’t think I’ll be giving this a shot.

Unwash Bio-Cleansing Conditioner – Full Size $36

This is supposed to replace shampoo and conditioner. I’m always skeptical of these types of products, but considering I have crazy hair I’m always willing to try new products.

Royal Apothic Tinties Lip Butter in Pink – Full Size $14

This is the cutest little tin of lip balm. I prefer lip gloss to these little pots, but it would look cute just sitting on a dresser as a decorative item.

Scalisi Skincare Cleanser and Exfoliator – $25

This promises to be a “mini facial” and I’m SO excited to try it. I’m testing cleansers and I can’t wait to add this one to the list.

Rituals Cosmetics Foaming Shower Gel Sensation in Yogi Flow – $15

I wanted so badly to love this product. The packaging is adorable. However, when I tried it out the Indian rose scent was so incredibly overwhelming, there is no way I could use this. Total bummer.

I thought the presentation and products in the box are adorable. They all have a romantic vibe and would be perfect for date nights.

Review: Birchbox February 2015

Last year I suspended my subscription to Birchbox because I became unhappy with the selection of samples in the box. Over the past few months I’ve been closely following what changes Birchbox has made, and I decided to give it another shot. I must say – this box was a great way to begin!

theBalm cosmetics – Read My Lips Lip Gloss – BAM! Full size $15

I am a huge fan of theBalm since discovering their products from Birchbox ages ago. This color is ok – definitely more of a summer color, but I love the formula. I may be purchasing some other colors.

Paula’s Choice Clinical KP Treatment Cloths – Full size $22.40

I also discovered Paula’s Choice through BB, and it is another brand that I absolutely adore. I have yet to use these, and while I don’t have keratosis pilaris, I still want to see how they are on my skin.

Laura Geller Beauty – GlamLASH Dramatic Volumizing Mascara – Full size $24

This is another mainstay brand, and I was thrilled to receive an LG mascara. I LOVE this mascara, which is surprising, because the brush is so itty bitty. Usually I layer on a few mascaras for the effect I like, but I love how this looks!

Harvey Prince – Ageless – Full size $55

I have yet to try this, and to be honest, I used to hate receiving perfume samples. I recently looked through my pile of them, and I have received over 4 different samples from Harvey Prince, so I wasn’t that excited. However, I want to test all of the perfumes for my blog, so this makes a great addition to the pile.

Davines MINU Shampoo & Hair Serum – Shampoo Full size $25 – Serum Full size $23.50

I haven’t tried the shampoo yet, and I’m curious to see how it works. I have however tried the serum (hence the open package in the photos) and I’m not thrilled with the smell. But I have crazy hair, and am always looking to try new photos.

Review: Sample Society February 2015

Back in January I purchased a subscription to Sample Society. This is a subscription from BeautyBar.com and Allure Magazine. Last month there was a great coupon that allowed me to purchase a one month subscription for $10, instead of the regular price of $15. I adore Allure Magazine, and thought this would be the ideal opportunity to give this a try.

nugg Face Mask in Deep Cleansing, Revitalizing and Hydrating – $9.87

I have yet to give these a try, but I’m researching different types of face masks for a future post, and thought these would be perfect to add to the mix.

Nails Inc Polish in Prince’s Palace – Value $9

Gorgeous light purple. I don’t wear this type of color often, but because it seems to be on the grey side, I’m willing to give it a shot.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush – $1.75

I always love dry shampoo, but I can’t get beyond the scent of this one. I find it to be very floral-y and I will most likely be swapping this one.

Chloe Love Story Perfume Sample – $3

I was very excited to try this, and am thankful for the sample. However, the scent is a little strong for me, so I doubt it would be something I can wear everyday.

StriVectin Intensive Illuminating Serum – $22.25

This was the most exciting item in the box for me. I’m thrilled to be able to try this, and the sample size is quite generous.

Overall, I’m relatively happy with this box. I always love having things to try, and I’m always up to swap some things for products I can use. I’m not sure if I’ll continue to subscribe, but the box isn’t that expensive, so I’d be interested to see what next month brings.

Guest Blog Post – All About Red Lipstick

I recently did a guest blog over at Posh & Spicy... and the post just went up today. Click on the link and go check it out!

Hair Care: Fresh from the Salon

This past weekend I went for my standard hair appointment, and as always, brought along my latest Pinterest hair obsession. I should note here that I have naturally curly, thick, unruly, dark blonde hair. I prefer to have it straight, light-platinum blonde (working on the platinum part). While my stylist worked to get my hair the perfect shade of blonde I wanted, she also showed me products that will help protect and prolong my color, and keep my hair healthy. Below are a few of the products I’ve picked up as a result of her fabulous suggestions over the past few months:

Bumble and Bumble’s BB Repair Blow Dry $30 – This is quite new to me, but I felt like I had to add a thick cream to my blow dry routine. I’ve used it a handful of times, and it seems as though my ends feel better after being subjected to heavy heat.

Bumble and Bumble’s BB Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer $27- I’ve had this now for several months, and I LOVE it. I’m obsessed with the entire line, but this product is great to use before doing my hair.

Hairkop’s Obliphica Professional Intensive Hair Serum $38- I received this in a Birchbox ages ago. I purchased a similar product from my salon’s line, and this is the closest item I can find in stores. The smell is so fantastic and my hair is the smoothest its been. And it works great after a blow out to keep it smooth.

When I choose to curl my hair I use the Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play Hairspray ($10.99). It gives the hold I need, and the can lasts me a while.

Soon I’ll do a post on the hair tools I use, what I’ve used in the past and what I absolutely adore.

Favorites: January 2015

It is hard to believe the first month of 2015 has already come to an end. I wanted to start a monthly series where I share my favorite products, as well as ones that I discover each month.

Over the past few months I have been searching for a new make up primer. I came across several blogs that highly recommended Too Faced’s Hangover Rx Replenishing Face Primer. It leaves my face looking slightly dewy, which I like, and it is filled with ingredients that help to rejuvenate the skin. Although I’ve now tried several primers, I find myself reaching for this one 99% of the time.

Recently I re-discovered one of my absolute favorite perfumes: Givenchy’s Hot Couture. According to Sephora.com it has hints of Raspberry Dew, Jasmine, Bergamot, and White Musk. I only have this in the roller ball size, but I can’t get enough.

While watching YouTube videos I came across several vloggers who mentioned Buxom’s Full-on Lip Cream in the color White Russian. It is a gorgeous nude/pink, and OMG – I haven’t left the house without it in weeks. It leaves your lips tingling, and has a minty smell. The color is beautiful and while this is definitely a sticky lip gloss, it is also very creamy.

Another item I have been searching for over the past few months is a new wallet. I’m picky about wallets, because I like wallets that are easily accessible for me. While surfing ShopBop.com I came across a Rebecca Minkoff wallet that I just adore. It is their Continental Single Snap Wallet in Crimson (click here for a similar wallet). Fortunately the wallet was on major sale AND since they are partnered with Amazon I was able to buy it through Amazon and use a bunch of gift cards that I received for Christmas. Sadly the wallet is no longer available but the link above will show their updated version of mine, which is now in a GORGEOUS marble pattern.

The last product I discovered this month is Korres’ Volcanic Minerals Volumizing Mascara. I received it in the holiday GlossyBox. I typically use mascaras that are very dark, and enhance and volumize my lashes, and this does not disappoint.

Let me know if you discovered any other great products this month!!

Review: GlossyBox January 2015

Today I received my January GlossyBox, which I was very excited to receive. I should mention two things: 1) I purchased this box on my own and 2) I have had extremely unpleasant experiences with GB in the past.

I was a GlossyBox subscriber for several months last year, and enjoyed the box very much. Eventually though I decided to cut down on my subscription boxes, and decided to cancel for a while. In December I purchased the holiday box (which I LOVED, btw) but it took so incredibly long to ship. After a long back and forth with GB, the box unfortunately arrived after Christmas. I had previously purchased an offer from Ruelala and wanted to use it for the January box because two items caught my eye – the toner and the Tweez Trendy Cosmetics brush. Unfortunately I received the Tarte brush, and while I can use it, it wasn’t what I had hoped would be in the box. (I absolutely love Tarte products, but again, it wasn’t what caught my eye).

Now for the box:

The first item is the Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Serum. I’m super excited to try this – it has an interesting fragrance. While it isn’t a heavy scent, it may bother some who are sensitive to smells. It absorbs rather quickly into the skin, and I’m excited to use this over a long period of time. The downside is that the full size tube is $80.

Next is the Tarte Undercover Bamboo Concealer Brush. Fortunately I could really use a nice concealer brush, but as I mentioned above, is a bit of a bummer.

The Kueshi Revitalizing Face Toner was one of the items I fell in love with in another blogger’s review – and it does not disappoint. I adore the fragrance of aloe vera, camomille and calendula. I’m looking forward to using this product and lucky for me, unlike many other GB subscribers, my toner made it completely intact.

The Vichy Purete Thermale 3-in-1 One Step Cleanser is new to me. I’m not necessarily new to the brand, but this product is new for me. I love trying new cleansers and believe I will get great use out of this product.

The final item in the box, Lollipops Eye Pencil in Goodbye Moon is a new brand for me. I enjoy receiving eye liners that aren’t pencils that I need to sharpen. So I will definitely give this a shot. Plus, being a Jersey girl, I can’t pass up anything pink AND leopard print.

In the box was a $40 Hello Fresh gift card. I’ve explored the site in the past and I’m not sure that I’d be their best customer (cooking isn’t quite my forte)… but I’m totally willing to give the service a shot.

Overall, I will get use out of everything in the box, and am pleased that I waited for January to use my Ruelala offer.

GabGoesGlam

Beauty. Lifestyle. Fashion.