Play! by Sephora | January 2017

January's Play! by Sephora box arrived, and I have to say, I think it;s the best box I've gotten yet. Lots of deluxe samples from brands I love. I won't rave for long... let's get right to it. One last thing, though - if you want to subscribe, click here. It's $10/month and if you love to try beauty products from Sephora brands, I don't think you'll regret your purchase. 

Here's what came in January's box...

• Dermablend Loose Setting Powder in Natural - A loose setting powder that boasts 16 hours of wear time. Locks in makeup and enhances wearability.

• Ouai Treatment Masque - A hair mask that aims to make hair soft and smooth. Claims to repair hair and mend split ends. Free of parabens and pthalates. 

• Pinrose Wild Child perfume - A perfume comprised of tiare flower, bergamot, gardenia, jasmine, frangipani, vanilla bean and amber. 

• Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey - A lipstick made for any skin color or look, made to be universally flattering (although this color does not look good on me). Free of parabens. Black Honey is a deep brick red color that washes lightly on the lips in an almost balmy way. 

• Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser - Good for all skin types, this cleanser helps with oil, pores and uneven skin texture. It's a cleanser, exfoliator and mask in one. Free of parabens and pthalates. 

• Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Face Lifting Moisturizer - A decent sized moisturizer sample that's oil-free and aims to sculpt the face, firm and smooth lines. Free of parabens, sulfates and pthalates. 

Play! by Sephora | August 2016

You guys, I am loving Play! by Sephora. It is totally worth the wait on the waitlist. The brands are prestige, the samples are a nice size, and overall the quality is there for $10/month. You can sign up here if you're interested - this isn't an affiliate link, FYI.

Here's what came in the August box...

• Makeup Forever Artist Eyeshadow in Pink Granite - This is a gel-powder eyeshadow that's super silky and easy to blend. The color is gorgeous, perfect for a day or night time look!

• Clean Reserve Blonde Rose - I normally hate the Clean perfumes, but Blonde Rose smells so good. It has notes of rose, peony, jasmine, cedarwood, sandalwood and musk. It's floral with a deeper musky vibe and it's perfect for late summer. 

• Urban Decay Perversion Mascara - I loveee this mascara. It's lengthening and volumizing and will making your lashes look like a million bucks. 

• Lancome Energie de Vie The Smoothing & Glow Boosting Liquid Moisturizer - This moisturizer works to eliminate dullness, uneven texture and dryness in the skin. It's chock full of antioxidants to nourish the skin, and it's made without parabens, phthalates, and sulfates.

• Caudalie Resveratrol Eye Lifting Balm - This eye balm has all sorts of good ingredients that help reverse aging around the eyes, reduce puffiness and dark circles and smooth the appearance of wrinkles.  

• Sephora Contour Eye Pencil 12 Hour Wear Waterproof - This eyeliner boasts as 12 hour wear that doesn't budge or smudge. Free of parabens, phthalates and sulfates. 

Have you tried Play! by Sephora? Let me know your thoughts! 

October Empties (#19)

This month's empties bin filled up really quickly. I seemed to finish a little bit of everything at once. Some good, some bad, I'll fill you in on whether or not each product is worth trying or repurchasing. Here's what I used up in the month of October:

• Loreal Everstrong Bodify Conditioner (would repurchase) - This was nice. It made my hair smell good, feel soft, and look shiny. I like the EverStrong line. I'd definitely get this again in the future. 

• Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship (would repurchase) - This used to be my jam in college, and the smell of it certainly brought me back. I don't love it as much as I used to, but every now and then I don't mind using this for old times sake.

• Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo (would not repurchase) - I got this to clean my brushes, but I didn't like the smell so I wouldn't buy this again. It did a fine job of cleaning my brushes, but from here on out I think I'll be using Dr. Bronner's castille soap instead.

• Sonia Kashuk Brush & Sponge Cleanser (would not repurchase) - What I didn't like about this is the packaging. When washing my brushes, my hands get wet (duh) and this packing is slippery to hold on to and spray on to brushes. I couldn't even get the last bit out with the pump at the end, so out it goes. 

• B&BW Mad About You Shower Gel (would not repurchase) - Ooooweee... this body wash had an overly perfumey floral scent (very young scent) and it lingered for a good while after showering. I got this as a free gift with purchase, and I won't grab it again. 

• Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Buttercream (would repurchase) - I love Soap & Glory products, and this body butter is amazing. It smells like a key lime pie and does a great job of moisturizing without feeling greasy. This won't be the last time I get this stuff!

• Philosophy Loveswept Body Lotion (would not repurchase) - I got this in a sample bag of some sort, and while it smelled really good (perfumey), it is extremely overpowering and not something you can wear with perfume. I used it at night on my hands and it did a nice job of hydrating my hands, but I prefer a much lighter scented lotion for daily use.

• Loreal Voluminous Butterfly Waterproof Mascara (would repurchase) - I liked this mascara. I'm not the biggest fan of waterproof formulas, but I like to keep one on hand for my bottom lashes or for weddings, or any day that I know there are going to be some waterworks! This was one of the better waterproof formulas I've tried recently - it built up volume nicely and separated my lashes. 

• Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect (would not repurchase) - I was not a fan of this spray in conditioner. Not big in to the scent, and the formula did nothing for me. It's expensive as well, not worth the money when there are better, cheaper alternatives. 

• Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo (would not repurchase) -I didn't enjoy using this dry shampoo. It has a strong citrus scent and hardly soaked up any oil in my hair.

• Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer (would repurchase) - This is the second or third one of these I've gone through. I really like this concealer because it covers up dark circles, and doesn't get cakey underneath my eyes. 

• Paula's Choice Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser (would not repurchase) - I really like the Paula's Choice brand, but this cleanser was just too basic. It felt like I was rubbing lotion on my face, and it didn't seem to clean my face all that well. Unfortunately, I just didn't love this and I won't buy it again. 

• L'occitane Hydration Face Mist (would not repurchase) - This is a heavily scented face spray. If you're sensitive to fragrance, this is not for you. It has a fine mist, which is nice, and it did leave my makeup looking more natural after I sprayed it on, but I won't buy it again. There are others I like better, that have better or less of a fragrance.

• St. Ives Apricot Scrub (would repurchase) - Despite how bad this probably is for my skin, I still love it. My face feels baby soft and super clean when I use it, but the uneven scrubbies are probably causing micro-lacerations on my face which isn't good, soooo.... I won't be buying it again. 

• Botanic Farm Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbet (would repurchase) - I got this from Memebox and I absolutely LOVED it. Best cleansing balm I've ever used. I would highly recommend using this as a makeup remover, if you're in the market for a good one. Full review here.

• Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Anti Gingivitis Rinse (would not repurchase) - This mouth wash had a cinnamon taste, which I don't enjoy when it comes to mouth wash. It did a fine job of rinsing my mouth out and making it feel clean, but I prefer a mint rinse instead.

• Pronamel & Sensodyne Toothpastes (would repurchase) - I have a million samples of these and we're working our way through them. They're nice, minty, and make my mouth feel clean. 

• Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - I get these in bulk from Costco. They're good cotton rounds, and I'll keep buying them for use in applying toner and removing eye makeup.

• Organic Surge Overnight Sensation Night Cream (would repurchase) - This is a very gentle overnight cream that smells of lavender. It's natural and has good ingredients, it didn't break me out either. 

• Reviva Labs Alpha Lipoic Vitamin C Ester & DMAE Cream (would repurchase) - I got this sample on Vitacost ($10 coupon for the website here)and I really liked it. This lightweight night cream felt nice on the skin, and I'd be curious to see how it performs with extended use. 

• Mario Badescu Drying Lotion (would repurchase) - This made my favorites in months past, and for good reason. It helps shorten the time a zit hangs out on my face - who could ask for more?

• Miyu Beauty Di-Stress Mi Beauty Essence (would repurchase) - Ages ago I received this from Birchbox, and it's a really nice peppermint face spray. It smells good and feels nice on the face. I'd definitely purchase it again. 

• Alterna Bamboo Abundant Volume Shampoo & Conditioner (would not purchase) - I didn't really care for the smell of this, but it was an OK combo. I know it's kind of pricey, and I wouldn't shell the cash out for it.

• Rituals Magic Touch Cherry Blossom & Rice Milk Body Cream (would purchase) - I already have a full size of this. It's makes my skin soft, and has a nice light scent that isn't overpowering.

• L'occitane Precious Cream (would purchase) - This night cream was soooo nice. My skin felt soft and smooth, and I liked the herbal scent of it. I'm fairly certain it's pricey, but it might be worth splurging on in the future.

• Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer (would not purchase) - I know people swear by this stuff, but I can't say I was impressed. It didn't do anything for the longevity of my makeup wear, and it didn't make my skin look any better.

• Caudalie Vine Body Butter (would not purchase) - This was just OK. It smelled fresh and was hydrating on my skin, but it wasn't so great I need to run out and buy it. Especially not for the price.

• Mario Badescu Drying Cream (would purchase) - This stuff really helped my skin clear up. It smelled pretty gross, but the results were good enough that I didn't mind.

What did you use up this month? Have you ever tried any of these products? Let me know!

Sephora Love | Roseville

Back in my interning days in college, I worked with an awesome gal named Natalie. Natalie now works for the Sephora in Rosedale Mall in Roseville, Minnesota. This used to be my local Sephora and I miss it SO much! The ladies there, especially Natalie, will take good care of you - so you know who to talk to on your next visit! Natalie and the girls there sent me some skin care goodies that I can't wait to try out, and I had to share with you! Let me know if you've given any of these products a try before!  Thank you, Natalie!!!! This is like one big awesome Sephora Birchbox! 

Amore Pacific Vitalizing Masque | Nude ProGenius treatment oil | Caudalie Vine Body Butter | Caudalie Broad Spectrum SPF15 Radiance Day Fluid | Caudalie Purifying Mask | Caudalie Intense Moisture Rescue Cream | Caudalie The Eye Cream | Murad Clarifying Wipes | Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture | Murad Acne & Wrinkle Reducer | Origins GinZing refreshing eye cream | fresh Black Tea Age-Delay cream | fresh Rose Face Mask | fresh Seaberry Moisturizing face oil | fresh Soy Face Cleanser | Rosa Centifolia Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser | Dr Dennis Gross alpha beta peel original formula | First Aid Beauty face cleanser | Clarisonic Acne Daily Clarifying Cleanser | Josie Maran Argan Infinity Cream | GlamGlow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment | GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment | Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer

April Birchbox

Today I've got a different sort of post for you. Typically, I write only about various nail polishes that I use; however, while I love nail polish, and reviewing it for you, my love of the beauty industry spans more than the nail polish sector. I try out so many products and have an opinion on most of the items in the cosmetics aisles, and I want to share that with you as well. So, from today on out, I've decided to expand the scope of my blog to include more than just nail polish. Yay!

I figured, what better way to kick this off than to show you my April Birchbox. Let's back up for a second - for those of you who are unfamiliar with Birchbox, it's a monthly subscription service for beauty products. Each month, you get a box filled with 5 or 6 sample products to try out. Full sizes of the products are available on Birchbox.com if you like what you've tried! It's an awesome way to "test-drive" often expensive products before you shell the money out on them. For only $10 a month, you can't beat it! I've been a subscriber since October of 2010, and I've been really happy with it so far.

 If you're interested in signing up, click this link to join: www.birchbox.com?raf=owwcv

This month Birchbox teamed up with Women's Health to create a box designed by their wellness experts, filled with a collection of their favorite products. It came like this: 

Inside my Birchbox are the following items:

Caudalie Divine Oil | Full-size: $9-49

This is a 0.1 oz sample of Caudalie's Divine Oil. This can be used in a number of ways: on the skin, hair, or nails, adding a glow where you need it. It has a floral scent that, in my opinion, is a bit overwhelming. I will most likely use this just as a cuticle oil. The packaging notes that the Divine Oil is ideal for the face, but there is no way I'm putting this oil on my acne-prone skin!

Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Elixir | Full-size: $20.99

I was really excited to see this sample, as I love Nexxus products and I'm pretty sure this is a new one! This is an anti-aging elixir that boots shine and cures dry ends, while reducing the odds of age-related breakage. It smells wonderful, and is a nice 0.14 oz sample. 

StriVectin-SD Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles | Full-size: $65

This is the product I am most excited about from this month's Birchbox. This is an anti-aging cream designed to diminish fine lines and reverse puffy circles. This is also a pretty decent sample size at 0.25 oz. It doesn't have any detectable smell, which is nice. I'm all about preventative anti-aging skin care, so I will certainly be using this sample until it's gone.

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Anti-Shine Mattifier | Full-size: $36

This is an interesting sample. This mattifier zaps shine when you apply it to your T-zone (prior to applying foundation). This little pot is a 0.05 oz sample, and really I'm not a fan of this packaging. I'm not sure if I'll get much use out of this (I'm a little skeptical), but I'll certainly give it a shot. It feels sort of oily on the skin, which is odd for a "mattifying" product.

Weleda Body Lotion | Full-size: $16.50

I always enjoy lotion samples; it's kind of fun to try out something different than the lotions sitting on my vanity every day. These are 0.13 oz samples by Weleda in three distinct fragrances: Wild Rose, Pomegranate, and Sea Buckthorn. I have yet to try these out, but a friend of mine who is also a Birchbox subscriber mentioned that one of these smells like pickle juice - yuck!  I'm certainly not going to spend $16.50 on a pickle-juice scented lotion!

Women's Health One-Year Subscription

A cool little perk in this month's box is a free one-year subscription to Women's Health magazine. Being that I'm a big magazine junkie, I'll gladly take a free subscription! I almost looked past this little goodie, until I watched Eleventh Gorgeous' video for their Birchbox and Ipsy unboxing where they mentioned it - so I have to say a big thanks to them for cluing me in! 

Stay tuned! I'll be doing these Birchbox unboxings monthly and I've got lots of new, fun things up my sleeve! 

** This post contains my referral link. If you click on the link and sign up, I will earn credit towards Birchbox products.

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