Play! by Sephora | Summer 2017

I figure I better start this post with a "uhhh yeah, I'm still alive" disclaimer! Blogging has taken a back seat this summer to family time and any extra minutes of sleep I can possibly get. Family is always my #1 priority, but I sure do miss blogging! 

It's been a while since I've shared my Play! by Sephora box and I have really been enjoying it. I thought I'd spare you multiple posts and instead lump June, July and August's boxes all in one conveniently long post. 

If you're on the hunt for a great $10/month subscription beauty service, look no further than Play! by Sephora. All of the brands featured in the bag can be found at Sephora, so naturally you get some great deluxe samples to try. If you're interested in signing up, you can so do here (not an affiliate link). 

JUNE

• Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium perfume - This is a cult favorite perfume. It's musky yet sweet, not for the beginner perfume-wearer. I think this smells like a knock-off of Flowerbomb and because I love that perfume so much, I'll probably never purchase Black Opium.

• Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in K-Dub - This formula of lipstick is super-long wearing. Like, will hold up through a hurricane long-lasting. I have found it to be extremely drying, but I am so impressed by the pigmentation and longevity of it. I'm not excited about the shade they selected, but perhaps I'll have a reason to get funky with my lip color and I'll pull this out.

• Benefit Porefressional primer - This primer smooths pores for an even and flawless makeup application. I've used it in the past and really liked how it seemed to give me a blurred base to apply my foundation on to. 

• IGK Rich Kid Coconut Gel - A coconut-infused hair gel that nourishes and conditions. It's not marketed like your typical gel; it seems to be more of a leave-in conditioner than something that's going to hold a style all day. It's also said to be good for both wavy, curly and straight hair.

• Ouai Rose Hair & Body Oil - This is a silicone-free multi-purpose oil. It's said to be quickly absorbed in to skin or hair. Use this product to restore and repair dry skin and hair and reduce the appearance of scars and redness. 

• First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer - An oil-free primer comprised of super-food ingredients. It'll blur the appearance of pores and provide a dewy finish to the skin. It can be worn alone or underneath makeup. 

JULY

• bareMinerals GEN NUDE Matte Liquid Lipcolor in Swag - This lip color is infused with a primer and hydrating ingredients for a cream-to-matte finish. Swag is a really pretty everyday color, perfect for the office or to dress up your look. 

• Milk Makeup Cooling Water - This is a caffeine-infused stick of... something? that you can rub on to your skin or under eyes for a cooling, de-puffing effect. You can also leave it in the fridge to amp up the effect. It seems a little gimmicky, but maybe it really is the next best thing? TBD.

• It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara - This mascara's aim is to be like skincare for your lashes. It volumizes, lengthens and stretches lashes while conditioning and strengthening. 

• Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding Intensive Wash-Off Treatment - First off, can we just talk about how gross the term "pore pudding" is? Ughh... anyway. This is a fancy swirled face mask that detoxifies the skin and reduces the appearance of pores in the process. It's formulated with white charcoal and kaolin clay, both known for removing impurities in the skin. 

• Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine - If you're a citrus-scent lover, this one's for you. Orange Sanguine features notes of bitter orange, blood orange, amber, and sandalwood. It's not my favorite scent, but I prefer far warmer, woodsier scents than this typically.

• Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray - This is a lightweight leave-in conditioner. Spray it on damp hair and let it work its magic. It aims to reduce flyaways, protect against UV rays, and hydrate hair. It's also 96% naturally derived! 

AUGUST

• Alterna Cavier Anti-Aging Miracle Multiplying Mist - A treatment and styler in one. It claims to provide volume both instantly and over the course of using the product. It strengthens hair to reduce breakage and restore it's natural thickness. 

• Kat Von D Saint & Sinner Perfumes - Two new fragrances from Kat Von D. As you can guess, Saint (the white bottle) is the lighter, fruitier version of the two. It has notes of vanilla, jasmine and tiare flower. Sinner is the warmer, darker version, comprised of notes of patchouli, wood and cinnamon. Neither fragrance smells very unique to me, so not something I'd bother picking up for my own collection in the future. 

• Clinique HIM Dual-Ended High Impact Mascara & Primer duo - The priming end of this duo helps boost the appearance of the mascara you put on top, adding volume and length. It goes on white, so over top you layer the High Impact mascara for color and fullness. 

• Beauty Blender Micro Mini - This mini version of a beauty blender is teeny tiny. I use mine for blending out under-eye concealer and getting in to any nooks and crannies that my normal-sized beauty blender can't. Not essential to have, but convenient from time to time. 

• GlamGlow Volcasmic Matte Glow Moisturizer - This moisturizer claims to hydrate the skin for a glow without shine. It's marketed as a "water balm" formula, which I've heard is complete crap, but hey... it has decent reviews on the Sephora website, so maybe it's not so bad.

• Too Faced Mascara Melt Off Cleansing Oil - This oil is meant to take off both waterproof and normal mascara. It has a small wand that almost looks like a bristle-free mascara wand, and you just rub that along your lash line to coat your lashes, let it sit for a minute, then wipe away the product and mascara with a wipe. Not really essential, especially for $17, in my opinion. 

Play! by Sephora | April 2017

You guys.... was this month's Play! by Sephora bag made for me or what?! They should've told me I'd be featured on this month's bag! ;) In all honesty, I'm keeping this forever and ever because I'm a narcissistic little POS and this graphic speaks to me deeply. 

I can assure you the contents inside of the bag are also quite good, too. For $10, I'm pleased. If you want to sign up, you can do so here (no affiliate link, just the website).

Here's what came in this month's bag...

• Kate Somerville Exfolikate Cleanser - I'm really excited about this little sample because this is a mega-pricey little exfoliating face wash. People swear by it, you could go broke buying it, and I secretly hope I hate it so I don't feel the need to splurge on a full size.

• Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume - I've used up a full size of this in the past, and I do like this perfume. My nose has kind of distorted what I originally loved about this smell after years of wearing it (know what I mean??), so I don't think I'll ever own a big bottle of this again, but it'll be nice to revisit this fresh, floral scent again in small doses. 

• Makeup Forever Aqua XL Eye Pencil in Black - I'm not crazy about pencil eyeliner, but I'll give this a shot. It claims to be creamy and long wearing, both of which I require in any eye liner pencil I touch, but it will remain to be seen once I test this guy out. 

• Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream - This is a hydrating hyaluronic acid cream, with 30% of that active ingredient packed in to this creamy punch. It claims to provide hydration for up to 72 hours, which is no small boast. If that's true, this just might be worth a full size purchase (which'll set you back a whopping $52 for 1.6 oz)

• Smashbox Photo Finish Primer - I've used this before, and I quite like it. It makes my skin appear poreless and it gives a nice, natural looking blur to my skin. It does help slightly with longevity of foundation wear, too. I have so many samples of this stuff I'll never need to shell out for a full size bottle. 

• Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover - Would anyone turn down a travel eye makeup remover? I certainly wouldn't. This stuff comes in handy as heck when traveling. And while I use a cleansing cloth, or oil, to remove my makeup every night, I always start with an eye makeup remover first because I hate smearing eye makeup all over my face. I have high hopes for this stuff, as I've never tried it before. 

Play! by Sephora | March 2017

If you remember, last month I wasn't crazy about my Play! by Sephora box. But they made up for it in March and I was all googly-eyed over what came in this month's box. This subscription is just $10/month and features deluxe-sized samples of brands you can find at Sephora. For more info, or to subscribe, click here. 

Let's take a closer look...

• Benefit Watts Up highlighter - This product is a favorite of mine. I've tried it before, and I adore it. It's a cream-to-powder formula that gives the most natural glow. I like it because it doesn't travel all over your face by the end of the day, making you look like some crazed disco ball, the same way some powder highlighters do. You can purchase it for $30 for 0.33 oz.

• Bobbi Brown Long-wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Pink - These shadow sticks are pricey, ringing in at $30 for 0.05 oz, so I'm excited to get to test one out. These can be used for an all-over color on your lids, or a highlight on your brown bones or inner corner of your eye. You decide. They come in a range of 13 different shades, most of which are neutral and universally flattering colors. 

• Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast - This spray is meant to texturize and volumize your hair. Personally, I haven't quite figured out how to make these kinds of products work for me, but if you're on the texturizer train - you're currently on-trend, or so it seems. This claims to give volume without weighing down your hair. You can pick it up for $29 for 7.5 oz.

• Fleur de Chloe perfume - I love the Chloe perfume range. It's certainly not for everyone, but I find it to be a very sexy, feminine scent. This version incorporates notes of rose and freesia for a more floral take on the well-loved original. If you like this fragrance, it'll cost you, totaling up at $75 for a 1 oz bottle. 

• Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm - I've been intrigued by this product, so I was excited to see it in this month's box. This product is essentially a makeup primer that adds glow to the skin. You can also use it as a highlight after makeup is applied. Personally, I think it seems to creamy for that. It's made with good ingredients that have anti-aging properties, so you're treating while looking amazing. I love a good 2-in-1 product. A full size costs $36 for 0.5 oz.

• Glamglow Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer - Glamglow has finally expanded their skin care line beyond face washes and masks, and I'm sure the beauty world will go gaga. There are three different tones you can purchase this in, the one included is "Nude Glow". This moisturizer has a bunch of glow-inducing ingredients, as well as "pearl particles" (aka shimmer), which may not be everyone's cup of tea. A full size costs $49 for 1.7 oz.

What is your favorite product from this month's box? Let me know! 

February Play! by Sephora

Oopsie... I'm a tiny bit late here with my low down on what's in the February Play! by Sephora box. Sorry guys, I blame new mom motivation syndrome. Sometimes, when I finally get 5 minutes, I just want to veg: read a book, mindlessly flip through Instagram, go on a Pinterest binge... you know what I mean? And then there was the whole website outage thing. I tweaked one little thing on my website host and caused myself a week of stress with a website I couldn't get running again. Argh... ANYWAY.. I'm back! Hooray!

I found this month's Play! box a little underwhelming, but the redeeming factor are the quality of the samples and relevancy. All brands are pricier, high-end brands, and all items are talked-about or newer items. Let's dig in...

• Too Faced Lip Injection Glossy in Milkshake - Full size retails at $22, but this deluxe sample will last you quite some time. Aimed at softening, plumping and tinting lips, you're bound to find a shade you like with 6 different shades to choose from.

• NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Bound - Full size retails for $26. A semi-matte gloss in a pinky rose shade. It's formula is somewhere between a lipstick and a gloss. Provides hydration with a burst of color. 

• Marc Jacobs Decadence perfume - Notes of champagne, orange blossom, bergamot and vanilla (among others) make up this sensual fragrance. It'll cost you, with a 1 oz bottle retailing for $72.

• Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream - Kind of a cult classic, this eye cream energizes tired eyes. It helps with dullness, puffiness and dark circles. You'll get a lot of use out of this mini sample, but a full size will cost you $30. 

• Sephora LashCraft Length & Volume Mascara - A double sided brush with a flat paddle wand. Jet black color, and volumizing formula. The price is reasonable, ringing in at $12.

• Clinique Pep-Start HydroBlur Moisturizer - This Pep-Start line is fairly new to Clinique, and is targeted to a younger audience looking for more affordable prices (in my marketer eyes, at least). Good for oily and combination skin, this lightweight moisturizer hydrates while leaving the skin matte and blurring imperfections. A full-size will cost you $29.50.

Play! by Sephora costs $10 per month, and it really is an awesome way to get to try deluxe high-end brands before shelling out the big bucks. See other months here, here and here. If you're interested in signing up, click here - no affiliate link, just sharing the love! 

Play! by Sephora | December 2016

I've been subscribing to Play! by Sephora for just over half a year, and it's no surprise that I'm still loving it. December's bag had a slew of good things, setting me back only $10! If you're interested in signing up, click here. (not an affiliate link)

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

• Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Always Red - A Sephora house brand lip stain that actually kicks a lot of ass. It stained my lips without making them feel like the Sahara and the lasting time was amazing. They are a little pricey though, ringing in at $14, which I feel is a little steep for a house brand product.

• Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer - Aims to balance skin and perfect makeup application. Also assists with skin tone and increases wear time of foundation. A full size retails for $37 for 1 oz, which is not cheap, but this will probably last you ages. 

• Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo - A dry shampoo to absorb oil and add body to the hair. Drybar is a great brand, but their products don't come cheap. A full size retails for $23 for a measly 3.3 oz. 

• Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray - A setting spray that makes your skin look more natural after makeup application and increases wear time. I swear by this stuff and never go without it. It costs $31 for 4 oz, but you can often find sales on this elsewhere (2 for $50 is a common sale at Macy's and Nordstrom).

• Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara - A mascara that touts added volume and "super-saturated length" for dramatically poppin' lashes. $30 freakin' dollars for a full size! #toocheapfordat

• Elizabeth & James Nirvana Bourbon perfume - Ya'll already know this is one of my favorite newer perfumes, worth every penny. For a full review click here. 

As you can see, the full sizes of all these products are pretty spendy. But that's what I love about Play! by Sephora. You get a chance to try out all these products (for just $10/mo) before splurging on an expensive full sized version! Gotta love that!

What do you think of this month's box? Let me know in the comments!

Play! by Sephora | November 2016

This month's Play! by Sephora box is themed "Best in Glow" and features products that help combat winter dullness with products that revitalize and perk up the skin. 

For those of you new to the Play! by Sephora subscription, it costs  just $10 per month and you get deluxe sized samples of premium brands sold at Sephora. It's one of my favorite monthly beauty subscriptions. Interested in subscribing? You can sign up here - this is not an affiliate link! 

Here's what came in this month's bag:

• Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Rose Gold - A long lasting, creamy eyeshadow stick that's pigmented and super soft. 

• Stella McCartney Pop perfume - A fruity sweet scent, characterized by notes of tomato and violet leaves, plumeria, cedarwood and musks. Definitely more of a young, girly scent in my book. 

• CoverFX Illuminating Primer - A primer free that gives the skin a glow and is free of silicone. It preps the skin for makeup and improves skin tone. 

• Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gel in Pin Up Pink - A mega-shiny lip gloss inspired by gel nail polishes. It sits comfortably on the lips and adds a subtle pop of color. 

• The Estee Edit Dissolve the Drama 2-in-1 Makeup Remover + Cleanser - An oil cleanser that removes makeup and cleans the face with aloe and cucumber. 

• Glam Glow Supermud Clearing Treatment - The face mask EVERYONE talks about. Designed to visibly improve the skin and clear breakouts, you can see problem areas being treated by this mask when you apply it. Super expensive, but feels so nice on the skin. 

Have you signed up for Play! by Sephora? Let me know your thoughts on it! 

Play! by Sephora | October 2016

My one and only beauty subscription box, Play! by Sephora, continues to keep me excited each month. October's box is full of some fun goodies, all of which are available for purchase at Sephora. This subscription costs just $10 a month, but there is a short waiting list (it takes about a month to get off of it), and you get a handful of samples from prestige brands.

If you're interested in subscribing to Play! by Sephora, click here. 

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

• Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Driver's Seat - A lippie that boasts 8 hours of wear time. Driver's Seat is a warm pink color and this sample size is large enough to get lots of use out of.

• Too Cool for School Egg Mellow Cream - A moisturizer infused with collagen for younger looking skin. Good for dry, sensitive, normal and combo skin types. Free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates. 

• Skin Inc. Pure Revival Cream - A non-abrasive peel that sloughs away dead skin for brighter, renewed skin. Safe for blemish prone and sensitive skin. Free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates.

• Nudestix Intense Matte Lip & Cheek Pencil in Belle - A multi-purpose pencil for lips and cheeks. Dries matte for all day wear. Belle is a plum nude color. Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, gluten, preservatives, cyclomethicones and animal-derived ingredients. 

• Verb Leave-In Mist - A hydrating mist that tames and detangles hair while prepping it for styling. Good for straight, wavy and curly hair. Free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates.

• Tom Ford Orchid Soleil - The newest Tom Ford fragrance, characterized by notes of tuberose petals, black orchid, vanilla, chestnut, and patchouli among others. Warm and floral. 

What product are you most excited about in this month's box? For me, I think it's the Egg Mellow Cream. Let me know yours in the comments!

The Perfect Bite Set | Bite Beauty

It's holiday set season, people! I freakin' love holiday sets. It lets me try out a brand at a better price, and typically with better variety, than the other offerings during the year. Also, I'm totally OK with the smaller sizes because when it comes to eyeshadows, lipsticks, etc... I do not need more full size items that I'll never get through. 

This season, the Bite Beauty "The Perfect Bite Set" caught my eye. I am in love with Bite Beauty's lipsticks. They're made with food-grade ingredients, they're highly pigmented and they're super comfortable to wear and moisturizing, too. If any of that is intriguing to you, I'd recommend this set, available for $25 at Sephora. 

The set comes with four mini colors. From left to right, the colors are Fig, Pepper, Honeycomb, and Nori. The first three are neutral, work-friendly or nighttime friendly shades, while Nori is a bold fall-toned red. If you can't tell already, I got excited and wore Pepper before I could take pictures.... oops! 

Check out the swatches of these gorgeous shades below...

I love this set. It has colors I will easily wear often, and it's a great deal! Full size Bite Beauty lipsticks retail for $26 each, and with these four sizes you actually get more product than one full size lipstick. I highly recommend checking this out if you need an easy, affordable way to add some new colors in to your lipstick collection.

Play! by Sephora | September 2016

If you saw last week's post, you know I canceled Ipsy. There's a number of reasons I made that choice, but one of them is Play! by Sephora. I've really been loving this subscription. It's the same exact price ($10/month) but the items are from higher end brands - a.k.a. the brands Sephora carries - and it's packed with things I actually want to use. 

There is a waitlist for this subscription, but from what I've seen and heard from people, it only takes about a month until you're in. If you're interested in putting your name on the list, you can sign up here. Not an affiliate link, just passing along the goods! 

Here's what fun stuff came in September's bag...

• Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel - This is good stuff. It's just a clear brow gel you can use to set your brows in place. I've used this before and really like it, but I don't often purchase it because it is rather pricey ($22 for a full size). This came just in time as I'm getting low on brow gel! 

• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper - I know I ranted against this liner in the past, but I actually like the Trooper version. Unlike the one I talked about in that other blog post, this one has a brush tip. It does dry with a bit of a sheen, so if you prefer a very matte finish, you might not be a fan. 

• Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation - This is an oil-free moisturizer with AHA to even skin tone. I've used it in the past and didn't think it was anything special, but it's pretty expensive (in my book), so I don't mind giving it another go to see if I change my mind. 

• Atelier Cologne in Sud Magnolia - Atelier Colognes make fancy and high quality scents. This one is described as floral and fresh, with notes of magnolia, blackcurrant, bitter orange, musk and cedarwood. 

• Sephora Rouge Shine Lipstick in Love Spell - Simply put, this is described as a moisturizing lipstick with a rich, glossy shine. I've never put Sephora's house brand lipsticks to the test, so I'm looking forward to it! 

• Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Night Cap Overnight Perfector - This stuff aims to give you up to a week of shiny, manageable hair, with benefits that last through five shampoos! I like the Living Proof line so I'm excited to give this a try! 

Are you a Play! by Sephora subscriber? What sample are you most excited to try?

Elizabeth & James | Nirvana Bourbon & Rose

I am such a fan of the original Elizabeth & James Black & White fragrances - they're easily in my list of top perfumes. You may recall I did a review on them back in the day. This fall, two new versions were added to the line - Bourbon (the brown bottle) and Rose (the red bottle). Without even a single whiff, I ordered them on the Sephora website as fast as I could, knowing I wouldn't regret it for a second.

Spoiler alert - I was right about how awesome these are. These perfumes are simply amazing. I think if you like the first two iterations of this perfume, you will easily love these next two. 

Nirvana Bourbon is the perfect fall/winter scent, or sexy date night aroma. Sephora's website describes it as a mix of oakwood, vanilla bourbon, and a hint of tuberose. I get a whiff of musk in there, even though it doesn't say anything about musk. This is definitely the heavier of the two fragrances, and if you're not a fan of amber, sultry, smoky scents, this is not for you. Furthermore, I think if Nirvana Black was your favorite of the original scents, you're going to be a big fan of Nirvana Bourbon, as the two are similar (although different!). A full size 1.7 oz bottle retails for $85 on the Sephora website. I picked up the rollerball which was only $25.

Nirvana Rose on the other hand, is something that can be worn any time of year, and is maybe more suited for summer, unlike Nirvana Bourbon. Nirvana Rose is described as a blend of rose de mai, geranium and vetiver. It's certainly rosy, but I think even those who aren't over the top about rose-scented products will enjoy this take on the floral note. This is easily the lighter of the two fragrances, and will probably be favored more by the general public than the darker, more unique Bourbon scent. If you're a fan of Nirvana White, Nirvana Rose is your obvious next purchase. Much like I said with the other fragrance, White and Rose are very similar, but have their obvious differences, too. Pricing for Nirvana Rose is the same as listed above for Nirvana Bourbon. 

The cool thing about both of these fragrances is that they mix together easily, so you can create a unique scent of your own by layering them as you choose. If you own both Nirvana Black & White, you have a handful of combinations to test out and find which you prefer. (I almost never wear White or Black alone, but typically some sort of combination of the two each time).

Very few perfume releases excite me these days, as it seems many scents are just so predictable or rip offs of something else, but that is untrue for the Nirvana line. It's in a league of it's own, and unlike any other perfumes I've smelled or owned in the past. These four perfumes are exclusively sold at Sephora, so make sure next time you're in the store you give them a whiff! I can't recommend them enough! 

What Nirvana perfume is your favorite? Let me know in the comments - I'm always curious which iteration people prefer most. 

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! 

Play! by Sephora | July 2016

July's Play! by Sephora box arrived at my door, and let me tell you - this box keeps getting better and better! If you haven't heard of this subscription, it's a $10/month box filled with goodies you can find at your local Sephora. It is not customizable to your preferences, but there's something for everyone in every box. You can sign up to get your own box here. 

Here's a look at what came in the July box...

• Citrine by Nest Fragrances - A lovely scent that's perfect for summer. Hints of lotus flower, freesia, lemon blossom and precious woods. This smells so nice! 

• First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay - Good for most skin types, this cleanser helps fight oil, acne and troublesome pores. This is a foaming gel cleanser and it works by drawing impurities out of the skin with powerful antioxidants and red clay. 

• Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation Primer (Pore Minimizing) - This primer helps skin look flawless and pore-free. It blurs imperfections for up to 8 hours. 

• Too Faced Soleil Matte Bronzer - This bronzer smells like chocolate (bonus!) and will give skin a sunkissed glow. The formula is smooth and it blends easily. This is the darker of their two available shades, better for darker skin tones than pale girls like me. 

• Ouai Wave Spray - This is a texture mist that gives hair an effortlessly messy look. It's formulated without parabens or pthalates. Rice protein works to add hold for easy waves without crunch. 

• Beautyblender Blotterazzi - A blotting sponge made of BeautyBlender material, this can be used time and time again. They'll absorb excess oil without smudging makeup. 

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know what you think is worth a full-size purchase! 

Play! by Sephora | June 2016

This month's Play! by Sephora box has arrived and it's full of lots of fun goodies! This beauty box costs just $10 per month and you get a handful of deluxe and regular sized samples. This box is not customizable, everyone gets the same thing, but so far that hasn't been a problem for me.

Here's what came in this month's box...

• Tarte Tarteguard 30 Sunscreen Lotion - This is a non-chemical sunscreen that can be used as a moisturizer. It protects against UVA and UVB rays and claims to have a lightweight non-sticky formula. 

• BareMinerals bareSkin Sheer Sun Serum Bronzer - This is a bronzer and serum in one. It can be used to bronze up your face as a contour, or over top of a foundation for an all-over glow. 

• Benefit  They're Real Mascara - A mascara aimed at lengthening, curling and volumizing lashes. I've used this before and really liked it. It'll make your lashes look like a million bucks.

• BECCA Backlight Priming Filter - This makeup primer helps blur imperfections and adds a glow to the face. 

• Bumble & Bumble Don't Blow It - This hair cream works to enhance texture and add body. It conditions to keep hair soft and hydrated.

• Tocca Florence Perfume - This perfume is comprised of notes of bergamot and violet petals, gardenia and blonde wood. This is a really fresh scent. I have a mini rollerball of this scent and it's one of my favorite Tocca perfumes. 

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know how you like what you've tried! 

Ipsy Glam Bag | June 2016

June's Ipsy Glam bag is here, and it's jam packed with good stuff all conveniently packaged in a cute graffiti-ed keepsake bag. Ipsy costs just $10 a month and all sorts of cool deluxe-size samples and full-sized products show up at your door! Want to sign up? Click here. 

Here's the rundown of June's bag...

• clariSEA Deep Pore Detox Activated Charcoal Exfoliating Mask - Clears breakouts, gently exfoliates and refreshes the skin. It's a mask "disguised" as a cleanser; just mix it with water for deep cleaning. 

• Hey Honey 24Seven Day & Night Revitalizing Cream - Heals and hydrates, balances out the skin, and perfect for use either day or not. 

• Seraphine Botanicals Happy Hibiscus Blush - A rosy blush shade that you can layer to the intensity you desire. It's 98% natural (nice!) and claims to last up to 8 hours. 

• Sephora Formula X Nail Polish in Wingwoman - A reddish-pink summer red. Formulated without parabens, pthalates or sulfates. I love the Formula X polishes, they're long lasting and apply easily. 

• Urban Decay eyeshadow in Fireball - A peachy-gold shimmer shade that switches appearance in the light - a "shade-shifter". Velvety smooth and easy to apply. Urban Decay shadows are among my favorites. 

What did you get in your bag? Let me know!

Play! by Sephora | April 2016

April is the second month I've received the Play! by Sephora subscription service, and I was pretty excited to see what goodies would be inside. This subscription costs $10 per month, and you'll typically get 5 or 6 samples, one always being a Sephora brand product. I liked March's box, and I'll spare you my thoughts on April's until the end. If you're interested in trying out this beauty box, you can sign up here. 

Let's take a look at April's Play! box....

• Sephora Colorful Cheek Ink Blush Gel in Peony - This is a gel stain for your cheeks. It's quite light, and would take a bit of product to actually build up to something noticeable on your face. But, if you like a barely there blush, and you don't use much foundation (I could see this wiping away most powder and liquid foundations if applied on top), this might be the perfect thing for you! 

• Derek Lam 10 Crosby perfume in 2AM Kiss - Derek Lam perfumes are crazy expensive, so getting to try one out is a treat. 2 AM Kiss has notes of salty woods (salty woods? wtf does that even mean??) and amber. It was inspired by scenes outside of Derek's SoHo studio.... fancy. I actually really like this scent, but it reminds me of something I've smelled before, and if I can freakin' remember what it is, I'm sure I'd rather buy that than then spend $95 on a 1.7 oz bottle of this stuff.

• Milk Makeup Sunshine Oil - This oil is meant to be used from head to toe. It's made up of fragrance and essential oils including avocado, grapefruit peel, tangerine peel, mandarin, and lemon peel for a boost of hydration. It's free of parabens, sulfates and pthalates. 

• NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien - This is a dusty rose lip color, and honestly, a bit of a disappointment because this exact color was part of the birthday gift from Sephora last year..... meaning, I already have it. It's not really my color to begin with, so I'll pass this along to a friend. 

• Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream - This is a new product in the Clinique line. It aims to hydrate and de-puff the undereyes. It's formulated with peptides that help support your skin's natural collagen reserves (aka the stuff that plumps up your skin and makes it look youthful). It's oil-free and can be used under makeup if desired.

• Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment - Of all the samples, I am most excited about this one. This serum is supposed to exfoliate the skin and visibly reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. I've heard so many good things about the Sunday Riley line, and everything from the brand is CRAZY expensive, so I'm excited to try one of the products out! 

Overall, I liked April's box, and I continue to be happy with this subscription. I like that all the samples are big enough to get plenty of use out of that you'll know whether or not you want a full-size.

Have you subscribed to Play! by Sephora? What are your thoughts on it? Let me know! 

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Play! by Sephora | March 2016

I finally got off the waitlist for Play! by Sephora!!!! I'm so excited! Play! is Sephora's $10 monthly beauty subscription. You get deluxe-sized samples from premium brands, and typically something from Sephora's house brand, too - from what I've seen. It comes packaged in a super cute, durable box, and it has a nice magazine-style booklet to explain each product.  Unlike Ipsy or Birchbox, everyone gets the same Play! box every month - it's not customizable to your preferences.

Interested in a new beauty subscription? Get your name on the Play! waitlist here.

Here's what came in the March box:

• Replica Beach Walk perfume sample: You'd never ever guess, but this is an uber-beachy scent. It smells like a day at the beach - sunscreen, coconut, surf and sand. If you like Bobbi Brown Beach or Bronze Goddess, you'll love this scent, too. 

• Murad Invisible Perfecting Shield: This is a silky sunscreen with SPF 30 for protection from the elements. It also functions as a primer and moisturizer.

• Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil: I got a sample of this in my February Ipsy, but have yet to try it. This oil claims to sink in quickly to add radiance and make skin appear smoother and camera-ready. I have to admit, I'm a little nervous to try this for fear of an uber-oily face!

• Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: This gentle cleanser is ideal for sensitive skin. I've used samples of this in the past and I really like it. It's expensive in a full size, so I'm excited to have another mini bottle.

• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner: I was surprised to find that this liner had a way different brush than the ones I bashed in my overrated products post. This formula is mega-waterproof and very black. I'm excited to give this a go since it seems better than the others I've used in the past.

• Sephora The Perfectionist Airbrush Sponge: Here's Sephora's take on the BeautyBlender. The interesting shape is supposed to help get in to small facial curves for an even makeup application. I already tried this out and I can't say I'm a fan. It seems to soak up all my foundation without applying it to my face and the shape isn't very convenient. The BeautyBlender still holds the title as best beauty sponge in my book.

Overeall, I'm excited about this box. I can't wait to see what I receive in the upcoming months. Have you signed up? Let me know how you like it! 

Elizabeth & James | Nirvana Black & White

Oh lordy, girls. It's about time we talk about Elizabeth & James scents. They are my latest obsessions. Granted, I'm a tiny bit late to the game, but after Christmas, I finally have both in my possession and I couldn't wait a second longer to talk about them.

Elizabeth & James are a cool, unique duo in the perfume world. Crafted by the uber-popular Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen, these scents are polar opposites. As you might suspect, Nirvana White is the lighter, more floral option, while Nirvana Black smells darker, more of sandalwood and earth. 

For those of you who like floral feminine scents, Nirvana White is for you. The most notable scents are peony and musk. It's certainly not overly musky, if you're not in to that kind of thing. It's a very fresh scent, perfect for daytime. I have the rollerball, and it gives off the perfect amount of scent with just a few rolls across my wrists and neck. 

This is a great option for daytime wear in the office or even out and about on the town. It's fresh, and kind of preppy (think Abercrombie, but not in a bad way) and is the perfect spring/summer scent. 

Nirvana Black was the scent I wanted first (before white), and is what ultimately spurred me to lust after Nirvana White. I tend to lean towards scents like Nirvana Black. It's darker (obviously, hence the name), characterized by sandalwood, vanilla and violet. This is a really sexy scent, and is more night-time appropriate, but I've been known to wear it to work, too.  I read that Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen smelled something like hundreds of variations of sandalwood before picking the one they did for this perfume. I can tell, too - it's unique, and doesn't smell like every other classic sandalwood.

The cool thing about both of these perfumes is that they're meant to be worn separately, or layered together. I really like wearing them together. I put Nirvana White on my wrists, and walk through a spritz of Nirvana Black. They smell heavenly together. Despite their complete differences, they work like magic when combined.

Another cool thing - you can get either of these scents in a variety of different formats. Not only is there a spray version (3 oz. or 1 oz.), and rollerballs, but you can also get body oils, and a solid perfume has been released for a limited time. 

Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black & White are exclusively sold at Sephora, ranging between $22-$75 depending on the format of perfume you prefer.


Have you given these perfumes a whiff? Which do you prefer? Let me know!