MEMEBOX Special #52 WTF: Wonderful Treasure Finds

The MEMEBOX Special #52 WTF (Wonderful Treasure Finds) showed up on my doorstep recently and it's another good one, folks! MEMEBOX (pronounced Me-Me Box) is chock full of Korean beauty goodies, and is available for purchase on a need-to- have basis, so you don't have to sign up for a monthly box and receive a bunch of things you don't want. You get to decide when you want one and then pick a box that you like. 

The Wonderful Treasure Finds (WTF - hilarious!!) box is comprised of new, under-the-radar items that are secret treasures! They're new and upcoming products, so get on the train and try these goodies early! Here's what's in the box:

• Yadah Capsule Tok Soothing Gel ($11 for 6.7 oz) - This gel is a blend of aloe vera water, green tea extracts, and cactus flower extracts and is meant to moisturize, rejuvenate and soothe the skin. It can be used as a hair treatment if mixed with conditioner, or as a body scrub if mixed with sugar. What's cool about this product is that its use is up to you! 

• MUMUR Air Waterdrop Cooling Hand Cream Snow Blossom ($9 for 1.7 oz) - This is a very unique product. It's a lotion that supposed to create tiny dew drops of moisture on your skin as it's massaged in, "as if a snowflake has melted on your hands." I didn't see any dew drops forming on my skin, but this formula is a bit lighter-weight  and more watery than any lotion I've tried. I don't know how I feel about this product - I don't think I'd repurchase it.

• Bath Charm Store Dead Sea Salt Pearl Natural Soap ($6 for 3.5 oz) - This is a totally natural soap made of dead sea salt, pearl powder, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, lavender essential oil, and rose fragrance. It helps brighten and treat troubled skin. I've come around to bar soaps for the face, and I like the pretty shape of this one.

• Skindeco Comedo AC Power Serum ($36 for 1.7 oz) - Oddly enough, this serum is formulated with garlic extract (don't worry, doesn't smell like it!), and ginger extract. It's made to soften the skin and unclog pores to improve the appearance of the complexion. I liked using this and I'm sure I'll end up using the whole bottle! 

• dearberry Play Choux in Peach Choux ($14 for 1 oz) - This is a pearlescent face primer that aims to perfect the skin before applying makeup. Peach Choux adds a healthy glow to the face. I've been adding this in to my foundation and it adds a very subtle glow that I love! This is my most favorite product in the box this month. See how glowy it is:

• Elinette BMS Cure Cream ($65 for 1.7 oz) - This cream stimulates skin turnover, and aims to soften, smooth, moisturize and firm the skin without alcohol or parabens. This is meant to be used both morning and night. I liked using this. I didn't notice any major change in my skin, but maybe after continued use I will see an improvement. 

• Tonymoly Mr. Smile Patch ($2) - These patches are to be used on smile lines to smooth and firm the skin. They're formulated with "black secret complex", or blueberry, black bean, black sesame seed, and mulberry extracts. These are just plain fun to use!

Would you buy Memebox? What products are you interested in? Let me know!

January Favorites

I used a lot of new (to me) products in January. Not all of them are worthy of chatting about, but some of them are worth more than just chatting about -  they're worthy of a favorites post. Here's what I loved in January.

• eva nyc Freshen Up Dry Shampoo - This stuff smells amazing and it does a really good job of soaking up excess oil. This allows me to go 2 days between washes. I can't even stress how good this stuff smells. 

• Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Bachelorette - This lipstick is seriously pigmented and has crazy staying power. It goes on like a gloss and then dries to a beautiful matte pinkish-red shade. I wore it ALL DAY and I reapplied only once. I tend to lick my lips a lot when I wear these long-lasting lipsticks, so my lips did get a bit dry from it, but it was totally worth it.

• Josie Maran Argan Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil - This is intended for use on dry patches of the face, but I have been using it mixed in with my hand lotion at night for extra hydration. A little bit goes a long way I wake up with soft hands thanks to this extra little boost.

• Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - To get rid of zits faster, this drying lotion is where it's at. You take just a dab of it and keep it on any problem area overnight and your spots will dry up a bit quicker than normal.

• CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine in Ultra - This clear gloss is super minty and tingly, and tastes good - it actually claims to freshen breath. It soothes sore, chapped lips and I will forever keep some version of this in my stash.

What did you love in the month of January? Let me know!

MAC Viva Glam Miley

Say hello to the newest Viva Glam release from MAC - Viva Glam Miley! Yes, Miley Cyrus has signed on to be 2015's Viva Glam representative. Love or hate her, it's a cause that's easy to get behind and the lipstick is to die for.

If you don't know already know, all the proceeds raised from the sales of MAC's Viva Glam products go directly towards helping men, women and families affected by or living with the HIV/AIDS virus. You can feel good about splurging at MAC on Viva Glam products because every penny goes to a good cause!

I do love me some Miley, and when I saw the shade months ago in a teaser for this line, I knew I'd be buying it the day it came out. And buy it I did. I think the packaging is adorable - it's adorned with Miley's signature on the inside, and I love the touch of pink on the lid and inside.

It was hard to capture what this lipstick really looks like on the lips. In the image above, it looks like it leans more magenta, but in all reality, it looks more like the lipstick pictures above. It is the perfect barbie pink. This is an Amplified Creme formula - known to have opaque coverage while still being slightly hydrating. It really is opaque, and needs just a once or twice-over on the lips before it looks perfect. I haven't worn this much yet, but I've heard it gets around 4-6 hours of wear and stains the lips nicely. 


Will you purchase Viva Glam Miley? What's your favorite MAC lipstick? Let me know!

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!

Ipsy Glam Bag | January 2015

If you like trying new beauty products, like I very much do, you have got to subsribe to Ipsy. It costs just $10 a month and you get lots of great products to try, and often times, a few full-sized things, too! Click here to sign up. (Disclaimer: If you sign up through this link, I get points credited to my Ipsy account)

Here's what came in January's Glam Bag:

• La Fresh eco-beauty good day. day moisturizer - This is an interesting sample pack, but it looks like I'll get lots of uses out of it. This moisturizer is chock full of quality anti-aging ingredients and appears to be formulated with natural ingredients.

• Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer - I was really excited to see this in my bag - Jouer is an awesome brand! This balm is meant to increase the fullness of the lips, decrease fine lines and hydrate.

• Pacifica Natural Mineral Coconut Eyeshadow in Ethereal - Pacifica is a good option for a natural brand, but I have to admit I'm not thrilled with this formula or color. It's SUPER light, but might work better as a highlighter! Glad I tried it before buying a full size.

• BellaPierre Shimmer Powder in Whesek - I wasn't so sure about this mineral eyeshadow.... until I swatched it (see swatch below). It's the coolest silver color. I need an excuse to wear this ASAP! 

• Elizabeth Mott All Over Shadow brush - I love this brush! It's really soft and works great for applying eyeshadow. Cute color, too! 

If you're not fully convincined that Ipsy is awesome - check out some previous bags here:

Ipsy - March 2014

Ipsy - August 2014

Ipsy - October 2014

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

OPI - German-icure

Leave it to me to show you a nail polish that is majorly OLD NEWS. Like... came out in Fall 2012 kind of old news. But it's so pretty, and it's been complimented about a zillion times, so I just had to share it with you. Besides, you can still find this beauty on eBay and Amazon, so I don't feel bad that it's old news.

ANYWAY. This gorgeous nail polish is OPI's German-icure from their Fall 2012 Germany line. 

German-icure is the coolest brownish-red shimmery metallic color and it is completely unique in my collection. I own nothing like it, and I have never really seen anything quite like it. It's pretty in normal indoor light, but when this baby catches the sun it is simply stunning. It also has pretty good wearability, too. I got some tip-wear and chipping about 3 days in, but I touched it up and got a couple more days out of it, which is pretty shocking for a shimmery metallic polish which almost NEVER last on my nails.

What I'm trying to say is - you need this if you like deep, rich, shimmery unique colors. For reference, I'm wearing 2 coats topped off with Sally Hansen's InstaDri top coat.


What are you wearing on your nails this week? Let me know!

Empties #11

My bag of empties is spilling over and you know what that means - it's time to dig through my trash! Why do I do these posts? Because if I've used something up, you can bet I have a solid opinion on the product and it's the easiest way to do a whole bunch of reviews quickly! Ready? Here we go...

L'Oreal Vive Pro Glossy Volume Conditioner - This was just OK. I really love the moisturizing version of this conditioner (in the yellow bottle) but this version didn't wow me. I didn't care for the smell either. Would I repurchase? No. 

Dove Dry Shampoo - This is a really good dry shampoo. It soaks up oil and allows me to skip a wash or two. I'm not crazy about the scent, but I can ignore it because it works so well. It's also cheap, which adds to my love for the product. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Nexxus Therappe Ultimate Moisture Shampoo - This shampoo is expensive. Granted, I found it on clearance when I bought it. But with that said, I wouldn't pay full price for it because I don't think it did anything miraculous to my hair. It compares to any drugstore shampoo I've used. If I saw it on sale again, I'd probably repurchase it, but I wouldn't spend full price. Would I repurchase? No.

B&BW Pumpkin Latte & Marshmallow Shower Gel - I purchased this last fall, and oh my GOSH it smelled so good. The scent was seriously amazing. Despite being formulated with shea, it's quite drying so you'll need to use a lotion after your shower if you have drys skin. I really hope this scent is re-released next fall because I will stock up! Would I repurchase? Yes.

Argania Spinosa Organic Argan Oil Special Treatment Masque - I found this hair mask at TJ Maxx about a year ago and HAD to have it because the scent is unreal. It's easily the best smelling hair mask ever and it will make your hair soft and silky. It's made my favorites before for good reason! I loved every minute of this, and sadly I can't find it anywhere to repurchase! I hope I find it again at TJ Maxx because it's great! Would I repurchase? Yes.

Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Conditioner - I keep seeing this stuff hyped in magazines, and honestly I'm not sure why. I used up this little sample size just for the heck of it, and I didn't feel like it did anything for my hair but make it smell good. I didn't notice my hair looking shinier or cleaner. It was just a novelty. Would I repurchase? No.

Yes to Cucumbers Calming Night Cream - This was nice. It's a light moisturizer that didn't irritate my skin or break it out. I think this is a good option in the warmer months when you don't need intense hydration. Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW Cashmere Glow Body Lotion - I kept this little bottle of lotion on my night stand to use before bed because I'm not a fan of the smell (so I didn't want to use it in the daytime). I don't know why I bought this because I can't imagine I ever DID like the scent. The hydration level was just OK - I started adding argan oil or shea butter in with it since I like a heavier lotion at night. If you like the scent and don't like greasy lotions, this is for you! Would I repurchase? No.

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation - Yep, another one of these. Full review here. Would I repurchase? Obviously.

Kiehl's Abyssine Lotion - Unfortunately, this has been discontinued. I mixed this with another moisturizer in the morning for sun and wrinkle protection. It was fine, but I'm not mourning that it's discontinued.

Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil - I really  really liked this. It broke down my makeup well, even waterproof mascara! It has a nice citrus scent and this little bottle lasted me forever and a day. I think I'll be purchasing a full size in the future! Would I repurchase? Yes.

Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray - I really like the Urban Decay setting sprays.  They do an excellent job of keeping my makeup lasting for hours. De-slick was nice, but I guess I never really noticed if it actually controlled oil on my face. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Landeva Organics Rose Nourishing Toner - I did a full review of this toner sample here. It was nice! Would I repurchase? Yes.

OPI Avojuices in Winter Huckleberry and Vanilla Snowflake - Both of these scents were nice! Winter Huckleberry is subtle, but Vanilla Snowflake is VERY sweet and smells a bit artificial. These provide quick relief from dry hands but they don't penetrate deeply enough so by the next hand wash you'll have dry skin once again. I like them anyway, especially to have in my purse. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara - I really enjoyed using this! It did transfer a bit under my bottom lashes which I hated, but it made my top lashes look full and voluminous. Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW Antibac in Brown Sugar & Carrots - This smells exactly like it sounds. It was a nice fall scent. I like to use antibacterial gel before doing my makeup so I'm not transferring anything yucky on my face or in my eyes. I typically use the B&BW versions because they have so many fun scents. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Almay Oil-Free Makeup Removing Towelettes - I wasn't a big fan of these. They irritated my eyes which immediately turned me off. They were wet and got my makeup off, but I won't bother with them again. Would I repurchase? No.

Swisspers Cotton Rounds - I don't normally include these, but I've been experimenting with different options so I thought I'd throw 'em in. I got a huge pack of these at Costco since I like to use these to remove my eye makeup. These are nice. They have a textured side and a normal side, and I prefer to use the softer, normal side. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Lush Rose Jam Bubbleroon - Unnghh, I LOVE Rose Jam. It smells simply amazing... a mix of rose, vanilla and lemon. I split this bubbleroon in two and it made both of my baths moisturizing, bubbly and heavenly scented! Would I repurchase? Yes.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer - I loooove this concealer. It works wonders for concealing dark circles. It's reasonably priced but performs like a high end option. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette in Light - I've had this for ages, so long that they've actually changed the packaging. It's black now, if you want to look for it next time you're in Target. If you need some heavy duty concealer that's light and not cakey, this is the one. I only used the lightest color (which is still a bit too dark for me) but I absolutely love it. I only used this to conceal spots.... it'd be a bit too much for the undereyes methinks. I think the concealer is better in the quad than the ones you can buy individually... the formulation is different. Anyone else notice this? Would I repurchase? Yes.

NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Powder in Translucent - This is an amazing face powder. It costs under $5, but I think you could fool someone that it cost much much more. It's lightly milled and never makes me look cakey. Would I repurchase? Yes.

Givenchy Dahlia Noir perfume - Yuck yuck yuck yuck. I spritzed this on my wrist and regretted it instantly. This smells like an old lady. I would never in a million years buy this. Would I repurchase? No.

BCBGMAXAZRIA bon genre perfume - This perfume, on the other hand, smells absolutely amazing. It's fruity with a bit of spice. If I saw this on sale, I'd totally buy it. Crossing my fingers it shows up at TJ Maxx. Would I repurchase? Yes.

fresh Rose Face Mask - Well you know I loved the scent of this. And to make things even better, it has rose petal pieces in the actual mask. I think this is a really great product. It makes my skin feel balanced and soft. If it wasn't expensive and I didn't have a million face masks, I'd buy it. Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW 'Tis the Season & Marshmallow Fireside candles - Can you read that it says Snowday 2013 on these two? I bought them last year.... and they sat around because I don't like to burn things out of season. (#candlehoarder) Of the two, Marshmallow Fireside was my favorite because I love "fireside" scents and I love "marshmallow" so duh. 'Tis the Season really does have a Christmasy scent, but it's not really my favorite. Would I repurchase? Yes.

B&BW Black Tie candle - This candle smells like a man's cologne. They bring this scent back around New Year's and it's really nice. I'm not in love with it, but if I got gifted it, I'd burn it. Would I repurchase? Maybe.

B&BW Holly Jolly Christmas candle - I absolutely loved this candle. It honestly smells like Christmas bottled up in candle form. It's sort of a pine-y fruity scent. My husband and I both really liked this one. I hope it gets brought back next year! Would I repurchase? Yes.



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