Ipsy | June 2014

This month's Ipsy bag is here, and let me tell you - it.is.AWESOME. 

If you aren't familiar with Ipsy, it's a monthly subscription service for beauty samples. Ipsy has amazing value; oftentimes the bags are filled with a mix of deluxe samples and full-size products. And always the value of the bag surpasses the $10 it costs each month. If I were to recommend a beauty subscription service to anyone, it would flat out be Ipsy. Click any of the hyperlinked "Ipsy's" in this post to start your subscription.

This month's theme is "Pretty in Paradise" and features a bag styled by Rebecca Minkoff. This is easily the cutest Ipsy bag I've received - I LOVE the design of it! Now let's dive in to what goodies it came with...

• Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray - I've never really gotten too excited about "beach" sprays. I like to keep my hair mostly free of product because I like to go 2-3 days without a wash, but I will definitely have to try this out and maybe my mind will change.

• Essence of Beauty Fine Fragrance Body Mist in Forever Paris - This smells surprisingly good, and I really like the size of it! Perfect for summer travels.

• Be a Bombshell Lash Out Mascara - I always like to sample a new mascara. This seems nice, although I have yet to test that theory.

• Nicka K New York Shimmer Eyeliner - This is a beautiful emerald green eyeliner that is so dramatic and fun! I will certainly be giving this a go this summer.

• NYX Butter Gloss in Apple Strudel - You know how much I love these. These made my best of beauty 2013 list and it's a miracle I got a shade I don't already own! Score!

What do you think of June's bag? I'd give it a 10/10 - this was probably one of the best bags I've received yet! I love me some Ipsy!

Four or More

I was recently scrolling through my bloglovin feed when I stumbled upon a blog by Kate Spitz called "Four or More". Now first and foremost, if you don't read Kate's blog, you need to go check it out right now! I absolutely love reading her reviews. Her blog is a treasure trove of beauty goodness! So her post, "Four or More" is all about the products you own four or more of. Why? Because if you own that many it must mean you love them - which I totally agree with! I knew I had some items in my own collection that I certainly had four or more of and I thought I'd share my picks with you today!

Maybelline Color Tattoos - It's no secret these cream eyeshadows hold a special place in my makeup-loving heart. Maybelline Color Tattoos come in a wide variety of shades, they retail under $10 and they're the best thing to happen to drugstore makeup in a LONG time (if I do say so myself). I use the Color Tattoos both alone and as a base for other shadows, as the wear time is crazy good. I couldn't recommend these more!

Britney Spears Perfume - Long have I been a fan of Britney's perfumes. I know so many people love to hate on celebrity fragrances, but these are no joke! The wear time is impressive, and there's a scent for everyone - from sugary sweet to deep and feminine. My current collection holds the classic Curious fragrance, Midnight Fantasy, Circus Fantasy, Hidden Fantasy and Believe. 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains - Okay, I realize one of these is not the stain version, but really, I just enjoy these lip crayons by Revlon. The formulation is really nice, and the staying power of the stain crayons is just insanity. They're under $10 and the range of shades offers something for everyone. I've loved every one I've tried, and I'm certain my collection will grow to much more than 4 in the future!

Zoya Nailpolish - Zoya is, hands down, my favorite nail polish company. They're 3-free (a.k.a. free of bad stuff!) and they always seem to make shades that I can't resist! I've got far more than 4 of their polishes, and my collection is always growing because they release the best collections ever. You can pick them up in select Ulta stores, or online at zoya.com (which is where I get most of mine). You can tell just from the picture above that the color selection is all across the board. Go get you some!


I'd love to know what you have 4 or more of in your beauty collection! It's always interesting to see what others are loving - keep me posted in the comments below!

This Week #6

L to R, Top to Bottom: Bridesmaids//Winnie being patient//Reading//Blooms in my yard//The bride & I//Grilled dinner

Happy Sunday, ya'll! What a blur these last 2 weeks have been (I skipped one week of these posts) - but they were filled with so much fun and happiness! I talked about it for quite some time, but last weekend my best friend got married! Above you'll see pictures of the bridesmaids and a picture of the bride and I on her Vietnamese wedding. She had two gorgeous ceremonies: a traditional Vietnamese wedding last Friday, followed by an American ceremony last Saturday. I was so thrilled to be her matron of honor, and honestly her wedding was the BEST time ever! I want to go back and do it all over again!

The week after her wedding, I spent a lot of time trying to catch up but the week was still a whirlwind. Winnie had her second Puppy 2 class which was a lot of fun. She's learning to go through tunnels (an intro to Agility class) and we're trying and trying to get her to learn "heel" but it's proving rather tough, despite what a smart girl she is. I'm sure she'll get it in no time.

One of the most exciting things about this week was receiving our first CSA box, or farm share. The boxes start out rather small, but we got a delicious haul of asparagus, rhubarb, a couple different kinds of lettuce, cilantro and some yellow onions. We've eaten nearly all of it already! I can't wait to see what next week's box will have - one thing is for sure, it will be fresh, local and organic! All three are a win!

I'm nearly finished reading my book (seen above) and I can't put it down! I'm currently reading Breaking Night by Liz Murray. I had the pleasure of hearing Ms. Murray speak last summer and she has such an inspiring story about going from homeless to Harvard. I absolutely had to pick up her book, and let me tell you - it doesn't disappoint. I'd highly recommend it.

This weekend is being spent with family as we celebrate Father's Day with both Jake's father and my own. On top of that, we're squeezing in tons of cleaning and load after load of laundry as all chores were put to the side during these last couple busy weeks. Boring, but someone's gotta do it!

See you all on Monday! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

May 2014 Wantable Makeup Box

Back in October I had the opportunity to try out a Wantable Makeup box, and come May I was offered the chance to try another! I really enjoyed the one I received a few months ago, so I was really excited to see what this box would bring.

For those of you who don't know much about Wantable, it's a subscription service that costs $36/month. You take a very detailed survey about your likes and dislikes and they send you a variety of beauty samples and full size products that fit your tastes. Below you'll see a snapshot of what my survey said I liked and disliked. To sign up for Wantable, just click here.

Here's what I received in my May Makeup Box.

• Cailyn Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm in Coral (value: $19) - I received one of these in a past Ipsy bag, although it was in a different shade. These aren't my favorite, as they're not very hydrating, but they do add a nice pop of color to the lips.

• Mirabella Lip Colour in Berry (value: $22) - Kind of an odd shade for a May box, this deep berry color screams fall in my mind. I really like it, but it seems more appropriate for a September box.

• Ofra Universal Eyebrow Eyeliner (value: $10) - This is far too dark to fill in my eyebrows, so unfortunately this is a dud for me. It feels like a nice quality pencil so I'm disappointed I won't get to use it.

• Vincent Longo Liquid Concealer in Fair (value: $28) - Oddly enough, my information sheet says I was supposed to get a Vincent Longo Dew Drop Blush, and I so wish that was right. Instead I got concealer which I don't use on a regular basis as I feel it brings out my fine lines. This is a nice high quality concealer though, and it isn't a cheap product so I'm happy regardless!

Overall, I think this was an OK box. I liked the one I received back in October better, but I do think this has some cool brands and products that I will have fun trying. I think the value you receive in a Wantable box is definitely worth the spendy price tag of $36, especially considering this box had a value over $70!

What do you think of Wantable? Let me know if you're a subscriber or plan to be!

PURE & Essential Minerals Morocco Argan Oil Hair Mask

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I love a good hair mask. I typically like to deep condition my hair at least once a week, which for me means every 2 washes as I wash my hair every 2 days. It feels so good to nourish my hair with a really intense conditioning treatment, so needless to say I jumped at the chance to try this hair mask by PURE & Essential Minerals. 

This is a pretty teeny little jar of hair product, measuring at just 4 oz. Considering this is a rather pricey product, retailing at $29.99, that is not nearly enough product for my cheap ass (unless something is a real miracle worker, of course). Interestingly enough, this hair mask comes in a glass jar, which I don't like because things tend to slip out of my hands in the shower. What can I say - I'm a klutz! The product itself is a creamy white color, and has little to no smell, which is unfortunate. Don't you always think of a fancy salon smell when you think of an argan oil hair mask? (Even if it's totally a fabricated smell) Personally I like my hair to have a lingering scent from the products I use, so this was a disappointment.

When using this mask, I first washed my hair with my argan oil HerStyler shampoo, a favorite of mine to use with my deep conditioner. (click here for a full review) I then applied the mask all over my hair, scalp to ends, as the instructions suggested. I left it in for about 5 minutes as I washed my body and shaved my legs and what not. It rinsed out easily.

Unfortunately, the results were mediocre. In fact, it was probably the worst deep conditioning hair mask that I've ever tried. I allowed my hair to dry naturally, and it was frizzy and tangly and didn't feel nourished in the least. I've used regular conditioners that do more for my hair than this. I guess on the up-side it didn't weigh my hair down, but it just didn't do much for me at all. 

One of the main claims of this product is that it restores moisture and shine, and my hair felt neither hydrated nor did it look shiny. Overall, I felt this was a pretty blah and boring product. I certainly wouldn't spend $30 on it. If I'm going to spend that much on a deep conditioner, I'm going to repurchase my holy grail. 

Check out this PURE & Essential hair mask on Amazon to read even more reviews. And if you've tried this product, definitely let me know how you liked it!


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Empties #6

Holy cow - these empties posts are becoming a monthly occurrence! I have to say, I feel rather accomplished using so much stuff up! It feels good to scale back on buying and go through what I've got stored up. If you're unfamiliar with empties posts, basically I show you my trash and give you a quick review as well as comment on whether or not I'd repurchase the item. Let's go....

• CHI Farouk Royal Treatment Ultimate Control Fast Drying Volume Shaping Spray - Ugh, kill me with that long title, geez! This is my *holy grail* hairspray. It smells like an expensive perfume and holds a curl without weighing my hair down or being sticky. Love love love. Would I repurchase? Yes, already have.
• Creation's Garden Shampoo w/ Argan Oil - I purchased this on a whim at TJ Maxx because it's organic and natural. This stuff was okay - it wasn't amazing. It didn't foam up much nor did it have much of a scent, but it cleaned my hair and that was good enough for me. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Pantene Ice Shine conditioner - Is it just me, or is it way easier to go through conditioner than shampoo? Anyway, this was nice. It left my hair really smooth but I didn't notice any added shine. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Suave Moroccan Infusion Weightless Dry Shampoo - I purchased this because I love the smell of the Suave Moroccan shampoo/conditioner, but I absolutely hated the scent of this. It did just an OK job of soaking up extra oil in my hair, but I definitely have tried better. Would I repurchase? No. 

• Satin Care Passionista Fruit Shave Gel - This is your run of the mill drugstore shave gel. I didn't care much for the scent, but it did the job of keeping me knick-free. I hate how the bottom always rusts on these bottles - ya feel me?! Would I repurchase? No, I'd rather try something else. 
• Yes to Blueberries Ultra Hydrating Body Wash - Remember this from my Yes To haul? I had high hopes for this, but I didn't love the smell and it definitely wasn't hydrating. Would I repurchase? No. 
• Secret Clear Gel deodorant in Cocoa Butter Kiss - All Secret deodorants smell inherently the same, IMO. This one had that same Secret smell, and not a lot of cocoa butter scent. I like these gel deodorants in the summertime when I need an antiperspirant and don't want it all over my clothes. Would I repurchase? I already have, but in a different scent. 

• Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Cleansing Facial Towelettes - Also got these in my Yes To haul. I had hoped these would be as amazing as my favorite Cucumber Yes To wipes, but I didn't care for these. The smell was blah and they weren't very wet. Would I repurchase? No, but I have one more pack of these to use up.
• Simple Eye Makeup Remover Pads - I got these in last year's Allure Beauty Box. They were just OK. They got my eye makeup mostly off, but I usually needed to use another makeup wipe to fully get the grime away. Would I repurchase? No. 

• Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Gentle Milk Cleanser - Another thing from my Yes To haul - really going through that stuff recently. I used this every morning as it's nice and gentle and moisturizing. I wouldn't use this if I needed to deep clean my skin (which I don't in the mornings because I wash my face at night) but its perfect for a gentle wash. Would I repurchase? Probably. 
• Michael Todd Honey and Oat Gentle Deep Pore Cleanser - I really liked this cleanser, which I used morning and night (until I switched to using the Gentle Milk cleanser above in the mornings). It smells like lemon and really cleans the skin without stripping it. Also, it's 70% organic which I personally like in my skincare. Would I repurchase? Yes. 

• Aquafresh Ultimate White toothpaste - Jake and I went to town on this with the tube-wringer (my favorite thing ever) and got every last drop of toothpaste out. It was pretty good, tasted fine. Did I notice a difference in the whiteness of my teeth? No, but whatever.... do you ever really see one with a whitening toothpaste? I certainly don't. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Bath & Body Works AntiBac in Stress Relief - I use these pre-makeup application to ensure I have clean hands. I don't love the smell of the Stress Relief line from B&BW, but the scent dies away rather quickly on the hands. Would I repurchase? No, I'd rather try another scent. 
• Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo - This was a nice little travel size of dry shampoo. I got quite a few uses from it, too. It smelled fresh and soaked up excess oil. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Pantene Aqua Light Conditioner - Meh, it was OK. Nothing brilliant. I get like one use out of these little mini travel sizes. Would I repurchase? No.

• Ulta Plush Drama Volume Mascara - This was surprisingly good. It was volumizing and it made my lashes look really nice. However, about a month in, once the formula had been exposed to air and bacteria or whatever, it started making my lashes really clumpy... and then it got thrown in the empties bag. Would I repurchase? Probably.
• Calvin Klein Euphoria eau de toilette - This smells really nice. I got a few uses out of this and enjoyed smelling it all day. Would I repurchase? If I found this  for a good deal, I would definitely consider buying a full-size version. 
• Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm - Carmex is a tried and true favorite of mine. I always have one somewhere and it always soothes my lips. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil in Vanilla Apricot - I got this in a gift set for Christmas. I used it every night on my hands before bed and I could tell it actually made a difference in my hands...I used less lotion throughout the day because of it. The scent of this was kind of weird - while my husband would disagree, to me it smells like butter on my hands... hence why I started using it at night before bed. Would I repurchase? Yes.

• Mainstays Candle in Wild Honeysuckle - This candle is from Walmart, and I got it on sale. It smells really nice and spring-like. The scent-throw was just OK, I felt like somedays I could smell it better than others. Would I repurchase? Yes.
• Slatkin & Co Wallflowers in Cool Tropical Breeze - I really don't like to use these because they're full of bad chemicals that you probably shouldn't be breathing in, but I get them as gifts now and then and I'm not just going to throw them away. This scent smells like a coconutty beach and I enjoy it. Would I repurchase? Not myself, no.

Ooff.... there you have it. Let me know if you've tried any of these items or what you've been using up this month! I love to hear from you! :)

This Week #6

L to R: A quick trip to the park with my favorites//Fancy nails for a fun occasion//Winnie started teething//Fun makeup

Happy Sunday, everyone! How was your week? I had a simply wonderful one, and a short work week at that! (wahoo!) 

Monday was Memorial Day here in the States which meant no work. We took full advantage of the rather hot, sunny weather and had a grill out with family. As we moved in to our house in September, we haven't been able to truly enjoy our wooded backyard and porch until just now. I find it so recharging to relax with family and enjoy each other's company. It felt like the weekend, yet it was a great way to start the week.

On Tuesday Winnie graduated from Puppy 1 class. Jake and I had a good laugh, as they played the graduation song and everything! She starts Puppy 2 this coming Tuesday which should be really fun. On Wednesday, we noticed Winnie lost her first tooth! One of her front teeth. I'm so glad she's finally teething - I can't wait for her super sharp little baby teeth to be a thing of the past. As of today, she's already lost 4 and I can tell some others are loose!

Thursday brought a final dress fitting for my best friend. I won't spill a single detail, but I will say she looked absolutely STUNNING. I can't wait to share pictures from her wedding day because she is going to be such a beautiful bride. We celebrated with dinner at one of our favorite places, dining out on the patio to soak up the gorgeous weather. 

Friday..... Friday was my favorite day of the week. I don't want to give too much away yet (there's going to be a post dedicated to this coming soon!) but Jake and I were asked by a local photographer and friend to be part of a styled wedding photo shoot. I've seen a couple pictures already, but let's just say I have a huge girl crush on Amy, the photographer, because she somehow worked a miracle and captured some amazingness. The photo on the bottom right (above) is the makeup I did on myself for the shoot. Stay tuned for even more on this coming soon. 

I've been all over the place this weekend doing random things here and there - getting my wedding ring cleaned, taking Winnie to my favorite park in the city I where I went to college, random house chores and overall - spending quality time with my husband and pup.

What have you been up to? Let me know!

Catch ya'll on Monday! Have a great Sunday!