June Favorites!

June favorites are here and I have some truly awesome things to share with you this month. If you missed my May Favorites and aren't quite sure what this is all about, my "favorites" posts are a selection of products I have reached for over and over again over the past month, and I usually include a mini review as well. Here goes nothing...

 

Covergirl LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in 215 Watermelon Twist

First up is a lip "balm" (I say that in quotations only because it is far more pigmented than most "balms") that I am absolutely in love with. As you can see, it provides a really good coverage, it's a gorgeous bright pink, and let me tell you - it is perfect for summer. These are hydrating and shiny, and I would highly recommend them. You can find these at most drugstores for about $7-8 each, and they come in 14 different shades. 

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in 008 Candy Pink

If Barbie had a favorite lipstick, I imagine this would be it. I hate to share this because I think this might be a discontinued product line, replaced by the relatively new Revlon Lip Butters, BUT I HAD TO. It is seriously so awesome. It is a sheer pink color that is buildable to a good pink coverage. The nice thing about this product is you don't need a mirror to apply it - it's a good one to keep in the purse for apply-and-go lip color.

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation in Ivory

It's been a while since I've changed up my foundation routine, but after hearing nothing but good things about this foundation from some YouTube "beauty gurus" that I watch, I finally caved and picked it up. What the HECK was I waiting for? This stuff is an instant favorite. The 3-in-1 means this foundation functions as a primer, concealer and foundation. The things I love most about it are that it has full coverage without having to apply a ton of product (total necessity with hot summer weather), it lasts all day long, and the pump bottle applicator rocks. I'm in love. You can find this at most drugstores for around $10.

L'Oreal Clean Definition Telescopic Mascara in Blackest Black

Perhaps you've heard others praise the amazingness of the Telescopic mascara line, and if so - you can add me right in to this group of lovers. I'm not sure if you can still pick up the Clean Definition version of this product (I believe Shocking Extensions is the latest version of this mascara) but you can find it at times at stores like Big Lots. This mascara draws out your lashes, separates them, and makes them look so long and full without looking clumpy. The skinny brush makes it easy to apply in all sections of your eye, whether its the inner corner of your lashes or the long outer corner lashes. A must have mascara, for sure.

Maybelline Color Tattoo in 25 Bad to the Bronze

Helllooooo awesome cream eyeshadows! This line rocks my freaking socks off. I own a handful of these colors, but my favorites from this line include this one, Bad to the Bronze, because it is an easy everyday color. (Mix this with Barely Branded and you're set for the day!) These cream shadows are super pigmented, easy to use, and they really do last alllll day long without creasing. These are a great, and much cheaper, alternative to MAC's paint pots. You can find these at drugstores for around $6.

Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Blush in Blushing Nude

Since I bought this blush earlier in June, I have not been able to put it away. This is a seriously great product. The multi-colored aspect of it allows for easy blending and it adds a very natural looking definition to the cheeks. This is a great product to use when you're doing an all-over natural face look. You can find this product at most drugstores for around $10.

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil 

When I first heard of this product I was like "put pure oil.... ON MY FACE?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" And then I did my research and found that this oil won't clog your pores, and is actually filled with antioxidants that help soothe blemishes or acne. This is one oil that your face will absorb nicely, so it won't sit on your skin and feel oily and gross. Maracuja oil is also supposed to help with fine lines and wrinkles. I use this nightly, primarily around my eyes to mega-moisturize that area and fight off any future wrinkles and fine lines. Now and then I use it on my whole face which feels divine. This stuff is kind of pricey (I got it in a gift set, which was basically the price of one of these bottles alone), running about $45. If this is too much for your budget, you can get maracuja oil MUCH cheaper if you buy it without a brand name attached.

Lush Lip Scrub in Mint Julips

Lippies are my weakness, and nothing is worse than putting on lipstick with gross peely dry lips. That problem is solved completely thanks to this awesome product by Lush (a favorite brand of mine). Essentially, this is a sugar scrub for your lips. You take a tiny bit out, scrub it all around, and then lick it off (it's all natural, baby!). It tastes just like you would imagine it would, and it works a freakin' miracle on my lips. You can get Lush's lip scrubs at any Lush store, or online at their website. They run around $9 each. 

What products have you been loving this month? And do you love any of these same products? Let me know in the comments below. :) 

June Birchbox - Wanderlust

It's here, it's here! My June Birchbox is here, and it comes with an updated logo and branding. This month's box is all about wanderlust, or traveling - it includes samples to serve one well on any summer adventure. Let's dive in...

Color Club Nail Polish in Mod in Manhattan | Full-size: $8

This color is part of an exclusive collection created by Birchbox and Color Club called the Wanderlust Collection which was inspired by four of Birchbox's favorite cities. Mod in Manhattan is a milky off-white that appears to have the slightest tint of pink in it. I have to say I'm not the least bit excited about this color. I don't like my nails being all white - to me that looks like pure white-out, and is a bit sophomoric.  I like Color Club polishes a lot, but I'm not sure I'll be wearing this any time soon.

--What I love: The brand - Color Club polishes are a favorite of mine. 

--What I can live without: The color!

Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo | Full-size: $24

My first thought upon seeing this sample was how pleased I was by the size. I mean, when you get shampoo or conditioner samples in the little rip off packages, there's never enough product to truly tell how well you like it. But THIS is a good size! This shampoo has a really fresh natural scent that I love. This product claims to soften and nourish hair, especially dry and frizzy hair. I will definitely take this little sample with me while traveling, but I can guarantee you I wouldn't spend $24 on a full size bottle of this - outrageous. 

--What I love: The branding. I'm in love with this packaging - simple and modern.

--What I can live without: The price of a full-size bottle. 

Oscar de la Renta Perfume in Something Blue | Full-size: $85-115

Marked by a blend of mandarin and linden blossoms, Something Blue by Oscar de la Renta has summer scent written all over it! It seems most of the beauty world hates getting perfume samples, but I'm part of the minority that loves getting them! Unfortunately, this scent reminds me of a perfume from the Gap that I had in middle school. Considering I'm in my mid-20s, I'd like to think my scents have matured a bit since then.  

--What I love: Nothing, really. Boo.

--What I can live without: The aggravating sample packaging - I prefer spray samples, but this is the pop off top container. I can live without the scent, too. 

suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser | Full-size: $32.95

This product from suki is a two-in-one cleanser and exfoliater that lathers and smells like lemons. I like the scent a lot and I'm betting I can get a couple uses out of this sample - awesome! This is a brand I've never heard of before, but I'm looking forward to trying it out. 

--What I love: The scent and the two-in-one awesomeness.

--What I can live without: The price of the full-sized item - crazy talk. 

Davines Love Smoothing Conditioner | Full-size: $27.50

Another product from Davines, but am I missing something? Why in the world did I get a massive shampoo sample but my conditioner sample surely won't be enough to cover even a fourth of my hair?!?! This is one of my biggest pet peeves regarding samples - this little bit of conditioner will never give me an impression of your product, so why would I waste my time? Not sure I'll even bother trying this one out. If it were as big as the shampoo sample, it would be perfect.

What I love: I like that I got both the shampoo and conditioner to try out.

What I can live without: The sample size and packaging - total fail.

Davines Oi/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion | Full-size: $40

Yet another Davines product - and this one I'm really looking forward to trying. This oil claims to instantly tame frizz and strengthen hair over time. I'm prone to frizzy hair, so I will certainly get some use out of this. Considering how little oil you need to use in one application, I should get a good amount of use from this sample. 

--What I love: I love hair oils, hoping to love this once I try it, too.

--What I can live without: The packaging. A tube would have been much more convenient for multiple uses.

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Overall, I expected more from this Birchbox. After the announcement of their rebranding, which came about a week or two before I received this box, I expected they'd kick off their first newly branded box with some stellar products. The variety of brands and the tiny product samples were disappointing, and I'm not so sure it was worth my $10. 

On another related note, I signed up for Ipsy - a subscription service similar to Birchbox, but it appears you get much more value from the $10 a month price point. I'll get my first "glam bag" (as they call it) in July, and I can't wait to share it with you. A battle of the subscription services will have to happen... stay tuned...

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

Allure Beauty Box!

I am SO excited about what I'm going to show you today! I was lucky enough to snag an Allure Beauty Box when they went on sale a week ago. Within 10 minutes these babies were gone, and for good reason, too! For just $40, you get a bunch of full sized products valued at over $250! You read that right.... JUST $40!!!! And even cooler, a portion of the proceeds are donated to the Skin Cancer Foundation. If you didn't score a Beauty Box for yourself, don't worry - I'll give you all the details!

It came looking more organized than this, but I'd rifled through it a few times by this point.

BCBGMAXAZRIA Bon Chic 

According to the description, "Bon Chic celebrates style and joie de vivre." (whatever that means) This is a nice scent, but it's nothing unique and doesn't really stand out to me. I'm sure I'll use up the bottle, but I'm pretty sure it won't make it in to my favorites. 

Burt's Bees Lip Gloss in Spring Splendor

I've got a weakness for lip products, so I'm super excited to try this out. This is one of the new Burt's Bees lip glosses, made with natural oils and nutrients. 

Butter London Nail Lacquer in Bit Faker

Despite being a polish junkie, I have never tried any Butter London polishes as the high price is a bit of a deterrent. It appears to be full of bronze sparkles, and I can't wait to try it.

Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser

Cetaphil is a gentle daily cleanser that removes makeup, and oils without overdrying or irritating sensitive skin. I've tried this cleanser before and it's not bad, but with combination acne-prone skin, I often need something a bit stronger to keep things under control. 

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Damage & Color Repair Shampoo & Conditioner

This is a relatively new product line, and I haven't given it a try so I'm excited to give it a go. I've heard good things, and I can certainly use some damage repair on my hair! 

Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes

This is a product I'm excited to try! I already use Dickinson's witch hazel toner and have enjoyed it (aside from the smell, which is awful) so I expect these will be nice as well. Witch Hazel is great for the skin, especially for calming redness and blemishes. I'll probably throw these in my gym bag for a quick clean before or after my workouts!

GKHair Leave-In Spray

This leave in spray by GKHair protects hair while moisturizing and repairing split ends. I'm all about leave-in sprays, so I'm sure I'll use this down to the last drop.

Neutrogena MicroMist Sunless Tanning Spray

Due to the fact I'm basically blinding people with my pasty white skin, I am overjoyed to receive this in my beauty box! This MicroMist airbrush sunless tan is supposed to apply streak and missed-spot free. This fair-skinned redhead can definitely use a product like this!

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15

Buying moisturizer is one thing I hate doing. I absolutely need it, but hate shelling out $10-15 for it. Luckily, this moisturizer came included in my beauty box, sparing me a moisturizer shopping trip any time soon! This moisturizer is 100% alcohol, fragrance, dye and oil-free. 

Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20

This is a product I will always skip over in the cosmetics aisle because the packaging is so boring. It's true to Neutrogena's brand, but there are a million other lip balms that will catch my eye before this one (even if this product rocks!) As you can see I already opened it up and tried it, and I have to say I like it! It has a sheer tint and goes on nicely - I just wish it wasn't shaped in an oval; it's kind of uncomfortable to put on because of the shape.

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser

The thing that catches my eye about this product, is it claims to clean sensitive skin and remove 99% of dirt without stripping skin of it's natural moisture and softness. I will definitely be giving this a try soon!

Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Elixir

You might recall I got a sample of this product in my April birchbox, and to be honest, I haven't even tried it yet! I've heard nothing but good things about this product so far, so tomorrow I'm going to try this out and see just how great it is. 

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Hair Cream

This product claims to give hair a sexy tousled wavy look with a matte finish. I can see this being a great summer product to help control frizz and give the hair some volume.

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in No. 6 True Teal

I absolutely love Pixi products, so naturally, I'm thrilled to receive one of their long-wearing and waterproof eyeliners! This teal color will be bold and bright for summer.

Pureology Colour Stylist Supreme Control Maximum Hold Zero Dulling Hairspray

I don't go through hairspray quickly, but I'm looking forward to trying this product out - even if it's for color-treated hair (which I don't have). It claims to provide maximum hold with extra shine. 

Redken Control Addict 28 High-Control Hairpsray

I think I now have enough hairspray to last me a lifetime. This Redken hairspray claims to hold hairstyles for 24 hours! If this is true, I will certainly be impressed. It also says it won't flake, will dry fast, and is brushable without being stiff. 

Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Leave-In Treatment

According to the description, this is Redken's #1 selling treatment which reduces breakage and minimizes split-ends, AND serves as a heat protectant! This is a product I'd normally skip past for a cheaper alternative, so I'm looking forward to trying this out!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in #400 Get Juiced

We all know I love a good nail polish! I've tried out one or two from this line of Sally Hansen polishes, and didn't love or hate them, so this will be a good addition to my collection. I love a good coral color!

Sally Hansen Salon Manicure Dry & Go Drops

I have to admit, I'm pretty curious about this product. A good topcoat should pretty much eliminate the need for something like this, but perhaps they work well in tandem? Needless to say, I will definitely be giving this a shot.

Sally Hansen Zero Bumps Bikini Spray

This product helps keep skin soft and smooth between shaving and waxing by reducing bumps, irritation and in-grown hairs. Interesting that it's scented...

Sation Nail Lacquer in Love at First Byte

I have never tried the Sation brand of nail polish, although I believe I do have one sitting in my "untrieds" pile, and I know I've seen them at Wal*Mart. I wish this was a different color, as it's pretty darn close to the Sally Hansen polish, but I'll give it a shot!

Simple Kind to Eyes Eye Makeup Remover Pads

I love the Simple brand. I've tried a few of their products, and I'm currently using their cleansing pads (even on my eyes - oops!) so I can only assume that this will be another great product!

Suave Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil

Suave has stepped it up recently, eh? This product conditions without weighing hair down and smooths the cuticle for a long lasting shine. The conditioners in this product line weighed my hair down like no other (but smelled amazing!) but I'm willing to give this product a chance.

Tan Towel The Original Self-Tanning Towelette for Face & Body

I have to admit, I am REALLY skeptical of the product. How can a towelette have enough product on it to make your whole body evenly tan? I've also heard bad things about this (it's streaky, uneven, etc.) I would maybe attempt this on my legs while using another self tanner, but it will take some courage!

Tresemme Platinum Strength Strengthening Heat Protect Spray

I've used the Tresemme Heat Protect spray for years, only to change it up in the last couple months because I wasn't sure it was doing anything. However, I haven't tried this Platinum Strength version. I've been intrigued by this line of products, and even bought the shampoo and conditioner (which I have yet to try) - but I've heard good things and I can definitely get some use out of this product.

Well, that's all folks! Quite the steal, eh? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments below!