Lost and Found!

Ok, it's been a super-duper long time since I blogged, and I miss it.  So, I'm back (not that anyone ever reads this blog - it's just fun for me).

To catch up - we finally moved and are pretty much settled in our new home and new neighborhood.  We build our new home from the ground up and it was a long process.  The good news is that it's done, we are moved in and life is returning to normal - and we love it! 

On to beauty news!

I'm heading out today to re-purchase an eyeliner that I have worn for a couple of years.  It's MAC PowerPoint liner in Buried Treasure.  It's a super dark brown with tiny little flakes of gold.  Black eyeliner tends to look too dark on me for daytime wear, and this is just perfect.  I'm also going to consider MAC Pro Longwear Eye Liner in Rich Experience.  I saw it reviewed on makeupandbeautyblog.com (a beauty blogger I read often) - check out her review here.   It is also a very dark brown eye liner, but has no gold or shimmer.  I'm so oily on my face that I need these long wearing eyeliners just to get me to the afternoon (I typically have to reapply my make-up after lunch).

I'm also planning to purchase a few things that Kristina reviewed on her blog - PrettyShinySparkly (another blog I love to read/view).  She did a great Best of 2012 product review here so be sure to check it out. There were a few things on her review that I plan to try for myself - Maybelline Color Tattoo, Revlon Color Ready Concealer, and Rimmel Stay Matte powder.  Excited to try those (especially if I get an Ulta coupon in the paper this weekend).  I'm excited to try the Maybelline Color Tattoo, as eye color and liner tend to slide off me).

I'm realizing that I need more anti-aging products in my daily skin care routine.  The first step was to get a new skin care routine.  My skin had a very rough year.  It began to revolt against products that I've been using for some time.  I was getting a LOT of breakouts and my once always oily skin started to have dry patches.  I'll always be on the hunt for great skincare products!  Right now, I am using Mary Kay's Timewise products.  I needed to test my skins reaction to anti-aging and extra moisture. I had gotten out of the habit of using moisturizer (especially during summer months).  I'm wondering if that is the reason for my skins revolt!  I'm sure that the stress of building a house and moving had a lot to do with it as well.

I'm still a Birchbox subscriber.  I enjoy it a lot.  I haven't used much in the last couple of boxes, since I've been moving and such, but I'll try to review the January box when it arrives (got the notice that it shipped last this week, so it should be next week).

April Birchbox

I anxiously await the arrival of each Birchbox!!  I wait for the email and stalk the site and my mailbox until it's arrival. I had already seen some online reviews and a couple of bloggers were disappointed with their selections.  I was not one of the disappointed ones!  I'm very happy with my selections.

I love the idea of natural and organic products.  I don't know that I have every gravitated toward a natural product versus an unnatural product, but I like the idea.  Let's review the items in the box:

Pictured here are one Juice Beauty Oil Free Moisturizer.  The BB card says "Feed your skin with this standout hydrator, which is made with an organic fruit-based formula that won't clog pores.  The card that comes with the sample tube says it is Blemish Clearing.  I plan to give it a try during my next breakout to see if it really is clearing.

The next item is very interesting.  It's a WEI Black Soy instant lifting face treatment pad.  The package says it is skin firming.  I'm looking forward to trying this after the kiddo and the dogs go to bed so that I don't frighten anyone.

I got my first perfume sample.  It's Yogini by Harvey Prince.  I was pleasantly surprised by the scent.  It's fresh and clean but still smells like perfume.  I was expecting a fresh cotton type smell, but was pleasantly surprised.  This sample spray is going in my purse for sure.

I love the Zoya polish sample.  The color is called Bevin and it's a beautiful pale green color from the True Spring Collection.  I just did my nails, but I plan to try this beauty out real soon!

My beauty extra is a MicrodermaMitt face mitt.  The description says "This all-natural silk mitt gently exfoliates away dead skin cells and pore-clogging debris.  I'll be using this one tonight.

Overall, I'm very pleased with my Natural Wonders April Birchbox.  I'm looking forward to trying each of the products and writing reviews on the Birchbox website.

March Favorites.....better late than never!

Late March/early April has been very hectic, so I'll jump right back in.  

I only have two favorites for March.  First, I received in my March Birchbox.  

One Love Organics Skin Savior Waterless Beauty Balm.  I use this balm on my cuticles and elbows and feet.  I love that it is absorbed easily and the citrus scent is a nice treat as well.  The full size jar of this wonder-balm is $65, but I think it would be worth it!  I would love if they would also sell the sample size so that I could keep some in my purse.  Love this product!!  Can be purchased at birchbox.com

My other March love:

Korres Pomegranate Grenade make up removing wipes.  I have expressed my love for my Clarisonic Mia 2...in order to keep the bristles on my Mia from getting dingy and gross, I take my make up off first with these miracle wipes!  Even though I am oily, these wipes are not too drying on my skin.  I take off the bulk of my eye make up and then wipe off my foundation, blush, and the rest of my eye make up with these wipes and they do no burn my eyes either.  Love them.  These can be purchased at Ulta.

I should get my April Birchbox next week, so maybe I'll have a new favorite in there!

Much Love,

L

Birchbox finally arrived!!

I was so excited to see the pink Birchbox in my mail box today!  I got an email with tracking information and track it I did!  I was mailed on March 9th.  It was supposed to arrive on the 13th, however it took a detour in Iowa after it made a brief stop in Dallas.  I called Customer Service on Friday, March 16.  They were very nice and offered to send a replacement box if it didn't arrive by today.  I was very happy with their customer service.

On to the box.

There are many things in here that I can't wait to try.  For now, I'll give the Birchbox description, then my first impression.  Once I have an opportunity to use each product, I'll review them.  What fun this is going to be!!

I believe that Birchbox does more several different boxes each month, I got the Spring Training box.

The above is a picture of how it was packaged.  Love their attention to detail.

On to the contents:
Miss Jessie's Original Quick Curls.  BB says - Tame temperamental curls with this anti-frizz cream: just run it through damp hair to beat back frizz.  I don't wear my hair curly very often, I blow it straight.  I'm not sure when I would use this product again.  But I will add that I love their packaging.  I am such a sucker for packaging.

I Coloniali Invigorating Tibetan Shower Cream with Rhubarb.  BB says - This Italian brand's rich shower gel is made with rare eastern rhubarb to revitalize your skin.  The packaging is awesome!  It's in a metal tin with a cardboard outer wrapping and a very generous 3.3 oz package.  It smells wonderful and can't wait to try it.

Color Club Nail Lacquer in Jackie Oh!  BB says - Brighten blah fingers and toes with this on-trend pink polish.  I have lots of pink polishes.  It's a great color I'll see how I like it.

One Love Organics Skin Savior Waterless Beauty Balm.  BB says - This all-natural two-in-one cleanser and moisturizer is completely free of fillers, which mean sit's extra concentrated and extra effective.  I did try a little bit of the balm, and it is very moisturizing.  I applied it to my cuticles and it did a nice job.  I'll talk more when I find other uses for this little gem.

WEI Pomegranate Buffing Beads.  BB says - Each of these perfectly portioned packets has enough powdered exfoliant to create a gentle, antioxidant-packed scrub.  Just add water!  I love a good scrub, so I can't wait to try this.  Again, I adore the packaging.  There are two small packets and they are in a cardboard envelope together.

Lifestyle Extra - I Coloniali Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh.  BB says - Go ahead and redeem those unclaimed back-rubs:  this delicious massage cream leaves skin smooth and supple.  I've never tried anything like this, so I'll have to write about this later. It's in a package that is clued to the inside of the above cardboard package.

I am super happy with my box.  I wasn't really sure what to expect.  I had seen a few boxes on other blogs, but I think my box is the best!  Now I can't wait until the April boxes come out!

Much Love!
L