Fall 2012 Beauty Blogger Swap!!!

This is the second time I've participated in the Beauty Blogger Swap organized by Shannyn of Frugal Beautiful!  I was paired up with Tammy the owner and blogger of Makeup Wishes and Lipgloss Dreams!

She was so sweet to send me so many items including cute little Clinique makeup bags!!!  Thanks Tammy!

How did she know that I'm totally digging Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy shampoo and conditioner?  I am seconds away from reviewing the shampoo. My daughter and I have almost used the entire bottle.  I actually haven't tried the conditioner yet so I will try it a few times and review them together.  I noticed an immediate change in my daughter's hair and then I started using it more regularly.  More on that soon!

I also received a Crabtree and Evelyn hand lotion sample which I used immediately opening the package and never got a picture of it.  Oops!  Love me some Crabtree and Evelyn.  My hands have been particularly dry and tight as of late and the sample immediately helped remedy that!

Fekkai is such a great brand for hair.  And so expensive too!  I'm always looking for a good color protectant for my locks.  I'm getting ready to dye my hair again.  Ugh. Light brown/gray roots really stand out with dark brown hair.  lol

I am so excited to try the fresh Umbrian Clay Mattifying Serum.  You all know by now my issues with combating oil down here in the humidity.  Also The Body Shop Tea Tree line has been at the top of my list to try and now I have the facial wash to start off with.

I've already tried the Sephora Instant Moisturizer sample one night and I liked the way it made my skin feel.  Moisturized, but not greasy, soft and smooth.  I haven't tried it during the day under makeup yet.  Oh and the  "feel like honey moon skin base" looks really interesting!  I really have not had the best of luck with primers.  I sort of gave up on them but I am slowly revisiting the idea as my Rachel K cc cream renewed my interest.  They are necessary and keep your makeup intact for longer, you just need to find the right one!  Which I have (Rachel K cc cream) but it's always a good idea to have a backup.  :)

I actually already have an Atopalm Intensive Moisturizing Cream that I have been saving for those dry skin days of winter.  They do come in handy for me every once in a while.  Either too aggressive with the scrubs/treatments or a rendezvous up in wintery Massachusetts will do it!

My daughter has already claimed the tokidoki nail art stickers as soon as I opened the package.  We love our weekly mother daughter mani/pedis!

Oh how I love purple nail polish (second to green!)  Essie Sexy Divide is an interesting duochrome in the bottle.  Can't wait to see how it translate on the nail.

Well I really got an amazing selection of items!  Thanks again Tammy!

Did you participate in the Beauty Blogger Swap?  Leave your links in the comments below!

Just a day without shoes...

Today April 10th, 2012 is "One Day Without Shoes."  To kick it off, TOMS and Essie teamed up to develop a Limited Edition nail polish called barefoot in blue.    

15,000 bottles were given away between March 7th and March 21st via facebook and I was lucky enough to receive one!   It's a gorgeous periwinkle blue jelly.  I love it!

But the real issue here is not about polish, but to "raise awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child’s life by taking off our own."  

So I encourage you to take off those shoes, sandals, flip flops, for one day and see what it is like for a child growing up in poverty faces every day of their lives.  When we live in a world of excess, it is hard to imagine what life is like without such necessities.  Just never lose sight of how fortunate you really are.  Be thankful and grateful for each day.  :)

I will spare you of pictures of my feet.  This polish looks much nicer on my fingernails.   

Essie "barefoot in blue"

Easter Nails!

I've been wanting to try Essie's a cut above since I received if in my Birchbox Teen Vogue box and I was looking for the perfect color to layer it over with.  I didn't want white or pink.  I thought silver but then I suddenly reached for OPI Glitzerland and it was a mach made in Easter Heaven!

So dramatical for polish, I know...

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Birchbox Teen Vogue

I'm really behind on posting as you can tell!  But over a month ago Birchbox contacted some of their subscribers and asked if they wanted a Birchbox that was filled from items picked out by Teen Vogue editors.  I thought why not?

I was happy with the selections.  I can always use blotting tissues for my oily skin. I have used these and they do sop up quite a bit of my oilness.  I remember a friend of mine from way back was lucky enough to get her hands on Shiseido samples as her boyfriend's mother in college worked at the counter.  The product line just seemed so luxurious to me.  It's still does actually.  One that I really haven't tried.

I am very curious about trying the Shiseido Sun Protection Foundation as FleurdeForce on YouTube raves about it.  I just have no idea what my shade would be and have no way to get matched.  I suppose I'm somewhere between SP40 and SP50.  It's super waterproof and I would really benefit from that.  I love my BB creams but the humidity has already set in here in NC and I'm an oil slick way too early in the morning for my taste!  I do go on to Amazon.com every once in a while.  One of these days I will be brave enough to order it.

I've been using the Twistband Gold Metallic HairTie almost every day since I received it.  It is a bit stretched out but has outlasted the black bands I usually use.  I like to twist my hair up into a bun when it is damp for a head full of no heat beachy waves the next day.  I learned about this technique from BeautyFashionFitness on YouTube.  She uses Goody Spin Pins which I really want to pick up but with the Twistband you don't get the lines either.

The 2 full size products are essie a cut above and Tarte Lipsurgence natural lip tint in peaceful.

This wouldn't be a color that I would buy in this range of product due to the expensive nature of Tarte but I am very happy with it and use it quite often.  Usually when I am spending money on products like this I would pick something a bit more bold, more bang for my buck right?  And then it will sit in drawer for me to look at waiting for an appropriate time to wear it.  Sounds crazy but pretty much true!

It looks nice and subtle on the lips with a little plumping action from the peppermint oil.  It has a lovely scent and taste of it as well.  It's not sticky and feels more like a balm.  It is also formulated with Vitamin C & E and jojoba seed oil and all the bad stuff, i.e. parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate and synthetic fragrances are left out.  

I like the twist up applicator as well.  Sharpers and I do not get along.  I would like to try a darker color out to see if it truly stains the lips and see how long it actually lasts.  You can see this on my lips but it is subtle.  Which is what I do like about it.

Tarte has created a lovely range of products that I am looking forward to trying in the future.  You know, next year... :)

It's Brazilliant!

Sitting at my desk, I saw Essie Brazillant, a bright orange with a pink shimmer calling out to me.  Well, that's a bit dramatic.  But I painted my thumb nail and thought, "Yeah way too bright for February."  But who makes up those rules anyway?  But I knew I had to do something with it.  Add some glitter or shimmer to tone it down.

I came up with Jesse's Girl Firefly.  And this was the result!

Definitely not toned down...

Ready to go to the beach!  Actually we just might today after school.  I only intended for this color to be on my toes in the summer but since it is blazing hot down here in NC, (okay 70's but the sun is hot!) I thought that this was appropriate for today and tomorrow for that matter as it will be in the high 70's.

We did have a cray cray t-storm last night around 3.  Thunder that shook the house.

What seasonally inappropriate colors are you wearing for this unseasonable weather that we are having?

NOTD

This is Essie Coat Azure, 2 coats.  50% off at CVS right now!

My formula was kind of thick but it turned out great after a second thin coat.

Essie

This is my first and only Essie.  Ballet Slippers.  3 coats. 

This is the second time I have worn this polish since I bought it.  The first time I tried it I couldn't stand the formula.  I was also in a hurry and wanted 3 coats of polish to be dry immediately.  Impossible with this polish.  But pretty nonetheless.