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.
Derma E has long been a brand I've seen people talk about, but I've never tried it. It's not sold anywhere around me, and if I'm being totally honest, I found the packaging cheap and I wasn't sure if it was a reflection of the brand. So fast forward to a month or so ago, I was offered the chance to try out a couple Derma E products, especially because they are rebranding and want people to see their new design. I practically wanted to jump for joy, because the environmentally-friendly/organic-loving skincare freak in me can so get behind the Derma E brand, and now the Marketing professional in me can stop being a chump and get over my distaste for their packaging and branding. Trivial I know, but I work in the marketing field, for goodness sake! I get picky about weird things like that - even when I KNOW I would like the products!
I was sent the Derma E Hydrating Day Cream in the old packaging, and the Hydrating Night Cream in the new redesigned packaging. I don't think you need to be a marketing professional to see just how much the aesthetics have improved...
Ok, let's back up a little bit and talk about Derma E as a brand. I so love what they stand for. Their mission states that they're committed to creating products that are healthy, good for your well-being and good for the natural environment. Their products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and free of parabens, SLS, petrolatum, mineral oil, artificial colors, gluten, soy and GMOs. As they've rebranded, their mission has stayed the same and their products haven't changed either - they just decided to give themselves a face lift.
If you look through these pictures, you can see the big upgrade! On the left is the old packaging, and on the right is the face lift! I absolutely adore the new packaging - I think it looks classy, elegant and actually looks more "natural". I think that's what peeved me so much about the old packaging - it didn't convey that the brand cared about good ingredients and the environment. The new frosted glass, lighter blue, and simpler logo convey a more natural brand. I have to imagine they did some crowd sourcing to see exactly what people thought about their new look before rolling it out, because it really is spot on design!
All packaging aside, the products themselves are wonderful, too! I have been using the Hydrating Day and Night Creams (each$29.50 for 2 oz) for the last couple weeks and my skin has absolutely loved them. I have normal to combo skin that's been changing almost daily since having a baby (hormones gone crazy!), and this has worked for me when my skin has been drier and even on days when I'm an oil factory.
Both the day and night cream have hyaluronic acid to help plump up the skin and retain moisture. The day cream works great under makeup and the night cream is a little bit thicker to really nourish the skin as you sleep. Both are lightly scented, nothing that lingers and nothing offensive that attacks your nose. If the nearly $30 price tag turns you off, consider for a moment just how much product you get. You get 2 whole ounces - that's a lot of product! These will easily last me three months or more, plus the ingredients are pure and natural and the packaging is nice sturdy glass. All pluses!
The newly rebranded Derma E line (seen above in its entirety) will roll out now through March 2017. You can find Derma E products at Ulta, Whole Foods, CVS, local co-ops, and other stores, as well as at dermae.com!
What are your thoughts on their packaging face lift? Do you think it looks more natural? Let me know!
The fall Walmart Beauty Box showed up at my door a couple weeks ago and it has a bunch of fun samples! This seasonal box is just $5 and everything in it can be purchased in full size at your local Walmart. If you're interested in subscribing, you'll receive four boxes a year, and you can sign up here.
Some of the smaller samples included in this fall's box include:
Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails gummies, which I've tried and they're delicious
EcoTools Makeup Brush Cleansing Cloth
Biore Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips, which I've tried and did not enjoy at all
Village Naturals Therapy Concentrated Mineral Bath Soak
The deluxe sized samples in the box include:
Hello Pure Mint Extra Whitening Toothpaste
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, which I've used before and is great for sensitive skin
Dove body wash in Sweet Cream with Peony - I always love Dove body washes, they smell amazing and are really hydrating
Clean & Clear Deep Action 60 Second Shower Mask
Batiste Original Dry Shampoo, an absolute favorite of mine.
I think you definitely get your money's worth and then some with this box. It's fun to try things you can get at the drugstore so you don't have to bother with a full size of something and then hate it.
Let me know if you get the Walmart Beauty Box and what you think of it!
About half way through September, I was thinking my empties post was going to be pretty meager. And then all of a sudden I started using a million things up. Feels good to work through my stash, as I'm really making a concerted effort to use up the stuff in my backstock without buying things, and I've been on a recent mission to use up all the dang samples I have - you'll notice that when you see what I've gone through. Let's get to it...
Yes to Grapefruit CC Cream (would not repurchase) - As you can tell, this isn't even used up, but it did go bad and smells weird so it's time to part ways. This was more of a tinted moisturizer than a CC cream in my book. It didn't do much to even out my skin and it made my skin feel greasy. I wouldn't bother with it again.
Gotz Bad Ischl Oxygen Facial Tonic (would repurchase) - This wasn't bad, wasn't great. Had a weird smell that reminded me of feet or something... but it still wasn't a horrible product. Full review here.
Neogen Code9 Gold Cacao Cream (would repurchase) - This was a really nice moisturizer that I got in a Memebox ages ago. It is especially good for those with dry skin. I used it at night since it's so hydrating. It does have a gold shimmer in it, so it could look nice under makeup, too.
Swisspers Cotton Rounds (would repurchase) - These are always in my empties. I use them to remove eye makeup and apply toner. They're great, and I continue to repurchase them.
Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths (would repurchase) - I loved the smell of these, a yummy orange scent, but they weren't wet enough for removing my makeup. I wouldn't shell out money for a full size of these.
Dr. Bronner's Peppermint All-One Toothpaste (would not repurchase) - I love the Dr. Bronner's brand, but this was a miss for me. It didn't leave my mouth feeling fresh and clean, it sort of felt like it just dissolved away in my mouth.
Himalaya Herbal Healthcare Exfoliating Walnut & Wood Apple Face Scrub (would repurchase) - I love this scrub so much that it made my August favorites. It reminds of the St. Ives scrub but it's a tad more gentle and not as many weird ingredients.
Origins Checks & Balances Frothy Face Wash (would not repurchase) - It's safe to say I hated this. It was a free gift with purchase so I used it up, but it wasn't good. It burned the CRAP out of my eyes if I got it anywhere near them and it just didn't do anything for my skin. It's so not worth the money.
Covergirl The Super Sizer Fibers (would repurchase) - This was really good! It separated my lashes and lengthened them without being clumpy in the least. It's not your average gross, clumpy fiber mascara. Full review here.
e.l.f. High Definition Undereye Setting Powder (would not repurchase) - This is super old and I didn't enjoy using it. It has glitter in it, which is really weird. I think that's supposed to be brightening or something, but it just looks like glitter. No thank you.
Benefit Gimme Brow (would repurchase) - I got this as a point perk from Sephora and fell in love! There are little fibers in this that give you just enough tint and definition, assuming you don't have super sparse brows. If you don't have much brow hair, this probably isn't for you.
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (would not repurchase) - This is a cult shade of lipstick that unfortunately just didn't look good on me. It's hydrating and perfect for any occasion, but it isn't my thing.
Yu-Be Lip Balm (would not repurchase) - I didn't care for this lip balm. It felt nice on, but it had that camphor taste and truth be told, this was actually pretty old and needed to go which is probably why I didn't care for it anymore. Full review here.
NYX The Curve eyeliner (would repurchase) - This is a felt tip liner that made drawing a skinny, precise wing nice and easy. It takes a bit to find this shape comfortable for application, but once you get the hang of it, it's quite nice.
The Body Shop Satsuma Body Sorbet (would not repurchase) - This was a really weird body moisturizer. It had a creamy gel texture and provided very light hydration. It smelled great but just wasn't my favorite.
Lush Beautiful Shower Gel (would repurchase) - I like Lush shower gels. They foam up nice and even these little sizes last me a long time. Beautiful wasn't the best scent, but it wasn't bad.
Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate (would purchase) - Obviously it's hard to say if this did anything for my skin with just a small sample, but I definitely enjoyed using this. It smelled amazing and I'd be curious to see what long term use does for me.
Paula's Choice Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum (would purchase) - I really liked the feel of this serum. It was moisturizing and I liked how it felt on my skin. I think I will get a full size of this in the future.
Paula's Choice Hydralight Moisturizer (would purchase) - This wasn't amazing, but wasn't bad. It did the job and it doesn't have bad ingredients, so I'd consider getting a full size.
Murad Clarifying Wipes (would purchase) - I reallllly liked this wipe. It was kind of minty on my skin and it was so refreshing. If I saw these for a good deal, I would totally get more.
Arbonne Sheer Glow Highlighter (would purchase) - This is a liquid highlighter that adds a gorgeous natural glow to the skin. It looked good in low light and looked natural and gorgeous in sunlight. Worth picking up if you're looking for a highlight that isn't too shimmery.
Miss Jessie's Creme de la Creme (would purchase) - I really liked the smell of this. It wasn't quite a deep conditioner, but it did a good job of keeping my hair from being tangly.
Proganix Soy Protein + Caffeine Conditioner (would repurchase) - This doesn't have the best smell, but it made my hair feel nice and when I used a blowdryer it did give me volume. Full review here.
Suave Strengthening Light Leave-In Cream (would repurchase) - This was a really nice leave-in conditioner. It smelled great and really did soften my hair. It's cheap, too!
Jo Malone Wild Bluebell perfume (would not purchase) - I really enjoy Jo Malone perfumes, and Wild Bluebell was nice, but it's not something unique enough that I need to own, and it doesn't particularly smell great with my body chemistry.
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (would not purchase) - I don't quite understand the hype around this stuff. If you watch beauty videos or read blogs, you've surely run in to people RAVING about this stuff, but it just didn't do anything fancy for me. Plus, it had a weird smell like orange Emergen-C which I did not enjoy.
Fresh Rose Face Mask (would repurchase) - This little sample was enjoyable. It made my skin feel clean and refreshed, it smelled nice like roses, but it's ridiculously expensive so I probably wouldn't shell out the cash to get it because I'm cheap.
The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter (would repurchase) - This was a great cleansing butter. You smooth it on dry skin and it turns in to an oil and removes all traces of makeup. This also lasted me quite a long time, so it's definitely worth the price.
Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask (would not repurchase) - I got 4 or 5 uses out of this, and enjoyed it all but my last use. The last time I used it, it was a bit drier and my skin reacted badly to it. It got all red and felt burnt. For that reason, I wouldn't buy it again.
Woodwick Seaside Mimosa wax melts (would repurchase) - Oh my gosh, these smelled heavenly. Grapes and citrus, a true summer scent. I loved these.
B&BW Malibu Smash candle (would not repurchase) - This is hella old... like years old. I found it in my closet and burned it up. It was a pretty boring scent, a typical B&BW summer fragrance. The scent is comprised of citrus, blackberries, bourbon, brown sugar and mint. It smelled mostly fruity.
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?
Welp people, this is my last Ipsy Glam Bag. I've been thinking about cancelling my subscription, even though there have been many great bags recently, I just wasn't loving or needing all of the samples I received. Plus, I want to scope out some other beauty bags, and heck - I want to save $10 a month while I decide what's next for me. I will still be receiving the Play! by Sephora subscription, so I'll continue to post about that each month (I'm liking it more than Ipsy, which was just another reason I decided to cancel).
Without further ado... my last Ipsy Glam Bag...
Dr.G Daily Safe BB in Fair - This is a Korean BB cream that claims to provide coverage, smooth, hydrate and protect skin from the sun.The grammar freak in me can't stand that they spelled "sensitive" stupidly on top. I'm not a big BB cream fan, to be honest, and most don't actually match my skin tone, but we'll see how this performs.
Avene Hydrating Serum - This serum says it provides moisture for a full 24 hours, it feels like a primer and relieves tightness and irritation. Avene is a wildly popular French brand and I'm looking forward to trying this out since my skin has been on the dry side lately.
Pixi Matteluster Lipstick in Rose Naturelle - This matte lipstick is formulated with peptides, hyaluronic acid, and Vitamins C and E for a smoothing sensation. The color is gorgeous and would look good on virtually anyone.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day - This product does five things: smooths, conditions, volumizes, strengthens, and polishes hair. I have a few of samples of this stuff and it's not bad. It does weigh my hair down a little bit, but it definitely keeps me frizz-free and conditioned, but I wouldn't say it's super volumizing. Overall though, it's a good product to get your hands on.
It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara in Super Black - A mascara made with peptides and proteins for a punch of volume and length. I've never tried anything from It Cosmetics, but I'm looking forward to putting this to the test!
I'm not gonna lie... I think this month's bag is one of the weakest Ipsy bags I've ever received. It made parting ways that much easier. Ipsy has been good to me, but it's time to move on. Maybe I'll be back, maybe I won't. Only time will tell.
What are your thoughts on Ipsy? Do you think it's worth $10/month? Let me know in the comments.
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.
