Beauty Tuesday: November Favorites

It's been a while since I've done a monthly favorites round up, so I figured this post is long overdue. Lately as  sleep has become more of a priority in my life, I've begun to focus on mastering a five minute look. I swear it's quite the change from my working days were I routinely spent 20 minutes on just my eyes every morning. Ha. Now I feel good if I use more than 2 eye shadow shades.

Brown eyeshadow / blush / CC Cream / black mascara / Revlon Lip Stain

So let me take you through my quick routine. I wash my face, then moisturize. While I'm waiting on my lotion to dry I go ahead with an eye shadow primer, then a light all over color, maybe blend a slightly darker color in the crease. I'm loving both the coastal scents natural palette and even the bronzer from the Naked Flushed palette. If I'm feeling really good I may even add an eyeliner. Ha! Then a quick swipe of the benefit they're real mascara (seriously the best mascara ever!) and I'm done with eyes.

Next up, blend the Supergoop CC cream all over. Great coverage, I don't even need a concealer! Finish with a setting powder, a little blush from my Naked Flushed palette. Done.

Then it's coffee time and apply the revlon just bitten kissable balm stain on my walk to campus.

Easy. What are your five minute face tips?

Beauty Tuesday: Resvology Age Corrective Eye Cream

I received a sample of the following product for review through BrandBacker. As always all opinions expressed are solely my own.  

Today I want to introduce y'all to a new must have product in my medicine cabinet, it's the Resvology Age Corrective Eye Cream. Now... I can here y'all saying now, this girl is crazy. She's using an age corrective cream at 25? What's wrong with her? Well I hate to break it to y'all but the collagen production in our skin begins to slow once you hit your mid twenties. I'm lucky that I only have a few wrinkles on my forehead... that seem to appear after a long day of studying and thankfully disappear by the time I wake up in the morning, but that doesn't mean I cannot benefit from an eye cream now.

Now, Resvology promises this eye cream minimizes crow's feet, fine lines and wrinkles. It reinforces skins firmness and elasticity. Unfortunately, I can't really say if the cream actually does that or not, since I don't current have any of those issues.

However, I have crazy puffy bags under my eyes in the morning. Without fail. If I got tons of sleep, they're there. Not enough sleep, yep there again. And they only get worse throughout the day, Well... this eye cream also promised me it would deflate puffiness and brighten dark circles, and let me tell you what. It absolutely did reduce my eye puffiness. IN ONE WEEK I've seen a notice reduction of those silly bags, so hopefully the cream can help me combat my ongoing battle for sleep with that crazy law school monster.

I should also note the company claims this hydrating and rejuvenating anti-aging eye cream infused with active peptides, botanicals and the multi-patented 4-AR Molecule, is clinically-proven to help fuel healthy gene activity by 330%.

Also it's safe for all skin types, which is awesome for my super sensitive skin.

I will say it's pricey at $89 a bottle, but a little goes a long way with this stuff. I would absolutely recommend this eye cream if you're in the market. You can purchase it here. Also, visit the Resvology Facebook Page for deals and giveaways!

I was selected through BrandBacker to view this product. However all opinions are my own. 

August Birchbox

I can't believe it's been a whole month since the last subscription box link up! August just absolutely flew by. My August Birchbox was a great one!

My absolute favorite find in the box was the Stila stay all day liquid lipstick.  This stuff is absolutely awesome. Mine is this crazy bright brick red called "Tesoro" but it comes in a whole bunch of other colors too. The coverage is matte and dries in seconds. It survives drinks and eating (though you may need a touch up to two). 

Next up, the Whish Deodorant Swipes with Hair Inhibitor. These are handy little deodorant wipes which are super convenient and they smell lovely. I really like the concept of this product because we all know there are days where our deodorant doesn't quite cut it, but who wants to carry a whole stick of deodorant in their purse? Not me. Needless to say this is a great idea, my only qualm is that they are a tad to expensive for me to justify in my law student budget. 

Whish Exfoliating Body Wash is a gentle exfoliant with sugar cane and oatmeal extracts. It smells great and isn't too rough. This would be a perfect pre-sunless tanning body wash.

Next up a product I've been dying to try. The KMS California Freeshape Hairspray. As a self proclaimed hairspray addict I've been intrigued by the idea of a pre-dry hairspray. Essentially you spray it on damp hair before you blowdry and you won't need any hairspray afterwards. It protects your hair against heat, and it's non-aerosol so yay for saving the environment! The hold is definitely loose, but I can tell a major difference as opposed to just using my normal heat protectant!

Finally, the OC8 Professional Mattifying Gel. Did you know in a previous time in my life I worked for a dermatologist? Well I did. It was just a summer gig, but I got to know quite a bit about the products she sold. One was this OC8 gel. So it is most definitely a professional mattifying gel. Unfortunately, I didn't have great success with it. I know when I tried it in the past it was GREAT, but this time around I didn't really have ANY mattifying results beyond my normal primer/foundation/powder. 

So, that's it for my August Birchbox! Don't forget to visit all the other lovely ladies in the link up! 

July Birchbox

Well hello there, y'all didn't think I would miss my favorite monthly link up did you? We all know I love my subscription boxes, and I'm a birchbox faithful (nearly 2 and a half years strong!). So, without further adieu, here is my July box, don't forget to link up with the lovely ladies below.

Caldrea Lotion | I.C.O.N India Oil | Model and Co Lipstick | Birchbox Bobby Pins | Dr. Jart + Ceramidin Cream

Caldrea Lotion: Love this stuff, smells yummy like it's right out of the spa. Long lasting moisture. Great overall, but still too pricey for me to justify. Would be a great present for someone though!

 I.C.O.N India Oil: I still go back and forth on the hair oils, but this one has been a lifesaver for my ends. My stylist even commented on how good my ends look 10 weeks after my last cut! Not a ton of scent (which I like), a little goes a VERY long way. Make sure to use it on your ends first! I like using about a dimes worth on wet hair, then even less after a blowout just to smooth some flyaways. 

 Model and Co Lipstick: I absolutely LOVE this lipstick. I have peony and it's a gorgeous bright pink! I've vowed to be that girl in law school with the pink lipstick (I'm weird, I know) and this one will definitely come with me on my first day. Stays put for HOURS. 

 Birchbox Bobby Pins: I'm absolutely obsessed with these giant bobby pins! First of all they are SO cute, but then they work like a dream to! They are a little hard to "open" but c'est la vie.

 Dr. Jart+  Ceramidin Cream: This stuff is supposed to have cult following for dry skin. This time of year dryness isn't really an issue for me, but I do have a few eczema patches and this stuff made them disappear in 2-3 days. I'm definitely holding on to this beauty come winter.

So were you happy with your box this month? I know I was! Don't forget to link up and share the love with the other gals!

Beauty Shopping at Costco!

Who doesn't obsess over Costco? While I always seem to spend way more money than I intend to, you can't beat that ice cream at the end. Well, on your next trip to the big box giant you need to stroll through the beauty section because Pati Dubroff (celebrity makeup artist) has just created a line of products exclusively sold at Costco! You read that right, Costco. Check out this gorgeous Perfect Palette. 

It comes with twelve gorgeous shades, matte, shimmer and glitter. Oh and you get a matte black liner too. Just looking at the palette the colors remind me a lot of the UD Naked 2. But I'll let y'all decide

I will tell y'all, I haven't actually picked this up yet, but when I stumbled across it online yesterday I was far too excited to keep this little gem of a palette to myself. Can you believe this is only $17.99? Such a steal. 

Summer Nails

I don't really know when it happened, but in the last few years I've become a bit of a nail polish junkie. I sorted through my collection this weekend, tossing any bad polish that won't me relocating to New Orleans with me. Unfortunately I've been left with an array of dark "winter" shades, but very few options for summer. So what's a nail junkie to do? Go shop the Essie 2013 summer collection. Duh.

This summer I'm absolutely loving the light nail trend. Opaque whites, pinks and blues feel fresh, a trend held over from Spring that I fully approve of.

What nail colors are you loving this Summer? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

June Beauty Favorites

Even though we are ten whole day's into the month of July, I still want to share with y'all my june beauty favorites. June was a month of quick and easy makeup for me. It's hot, it's humid, and I love sleeping in, so my morning prep has dropped off to less than 20 minutes (including a shower). Actually some days it's even less than that.

1. Eyeko Liquid Eyeliner (Black)- Instead of bothering with primer and a trillion different shades of eyeshadow, I've been forgoing the stuff all together lately! Instead, I've opted for a strong black liquid line. Still makes a great impact, and I'm loving the new look. This eyeko liner is seriously my favorite liquid liner pen out there. I've had it for almost a year and it's still going strong!

2. Covergirl TruBlend Minerals- This is a loose mineral powder foundation. I love the medium coverage of this stuff, and it's been a favorite of mine for years! There is a slight shimmer in it though. I love it for summertime, but if you're looking for a matte loose powder, this isn't it.

3. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream- While I haven't done an official test of ALL the drugstore offerings of BB creams, I have tried quite a few. For my oily and splotchy skin, I've decided this one is my favorite hands down. Pretty great coverage for a BB cream, long wearing (especially if you set it with a powder foundation) and it has an SPF.

4. Covergirl Eyeshadow Trio in Cafe Au Lait- An oldie but a goodie. The perfect trio of bronzy browns for summertime. I love the pigmentation of these shadows, and honestly you really can't beat the value of the covergirl trios and quads. Plus they take all the guess work out of shadows, which is great when you don't want to "play" with shadows in the morning.

5. Viva La Juicy La Fleur- I'm absolutely loving this light and sweet floral perfume this summer. Best of all, it seems to linger for hours which many of my other scents don't do in summer.

Beauty Box 5 Review

*I was provided with a press sample to review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are solely my own.*

We all know I have an on-going love affair with Birchbox and last month I talked about my new found obsession with beauty army. Well I have another one for y'all.

Beauty Box 5. 

How it works: for $12 a month (or less if you increase your subscription length) you get 4-5 deluxe beauty samples ranging from drugstore to high end, some cult favorites or some vegan products. The folks a Beauty Box 5 are committed to introducing you to your new favorite products. 

What I got:

MODEL Co Illusion Lip Enhancing Pencil - Full size ($20) - This is a nude lip liner allows to to create the perfect lip shape i.e the perfect pout. Super creamy, long wearing, and it comes with a sharpener on the lid! Genius. 

Blinc Mascara - .02 oz  ($3.68) - I've actually already tried this product and I loved it! "Tube your lashes" don't paint them. This mascara basically wraps your lash in a tube that not only lengthens your lashes, but the mascara stays put all day and night! No flaking or smudging. I love it! But you definitely need a good eye makeup remover at the end of the day. 

Bodyography Foundation Primer - .53 oz ($15.90) - I received the clear primer and I have to say it's awesome. So silky smooth, great at reducing shine, odorless. All around great primer. 

Jean Pierre Oil Absorbing Facial Tissues - full size ($1.99) - These help absorb that dreaded summer shine, and they do a great job. They definitely are more absorbent that other brands I've tried so I like that I only need 1 sheet for my whole face. Not 2 or 3. 

Brazen Eye Shadow Full size ($7.49) - This is a loose mineral eyeshadow. My sample is in "birthday suit" which is a tad dark for me, but has great pigmentation and is a gorgeous matte lid color. I've never really used loose eyeshadow, but I like it! 

What I thought: Great box! I was really happy with everything I got. I thought it was a good mix of low and high end products, and the sample sizes were great! If you do some quick math my box was worth $49.06 so not a bad return on a $12 investment. 

A New Subscription Box: Beauty Army

I shared my May Birchbox yesterday, so today I wanted to share my my experience with Beauty Army. I should note, this post is completely un-sponsored. I simply want to share my honest opinions with y'all about these two services. So let me introduce you to 

Unlike most subscription boxes out there, Beauty Army allows you to actually choose what products you want to sample in your box. You take a fairly extensive profile quiz about your beauty preferences, then a slate of 9 products is presented to you. You can choose up to 6, or try re-taking the quiz to see what the other options are. 

One of the best parts is you you actually get to see what size the sample is. Because lets be honest, I'm going to be a whole lot more excited about a 1.5 oz sample of shampoo as opposed to a little .2 oz packet. 

I will say, when I got the box I didn't get quite the same thrill of "oooh what'd I get?" as I do with birchbox, but you know what? I'm 100% happy with my box, so no disappointment! 

The cost is $12 a month, but you can easily opt out of a box month to month which is great if you're overwhelmed with samples, or just want to test the waters to see what else is out there. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, it comes in the cutest little pink box that is pretty enough to use over and over again (mine just happens to coordinate perfectly with my bedroom and is proudly displayed on my vanity). 

Now, here's what I got this month.

Nelson J Argan Oil Non-Foaming Shampoo- This shampoo promises to cleanse your hair with out harsh detergents that dry out hair, meaning it should in theory be great for my dry color treated hair. Well, it actually did make my hair look great, but I was an oil slick within 8 hours. Thank goodness I had some dry shampoo with me. Maybe I used it wrong? Or not enough? But I thought it was kind of hard to tell if my hair was clean or not after using this, and I'm not going to lie, I missed the lather. 

GG Gatsby Raise Volume Conditioner- This conditioner smelled great and definitely didn't weigh my hair down when I tried it. I don't know that it left my hair quite as bouncy and voluminous as promised, but I don't really have anything negative to say. 

Say Yes to Daily Pore Scrub- I tried the grapefruit version a few weeks ago, so I was happy to test out this "tomato" version. I definitely love this line, and this version left my skin feeling fully scrubbed and a little tight (in a good way). I do think I prefer the scent of the grapefruit scrub, but this one is great too if your looking for something a little less scented. 

Mark. Scanda-Lash Black Mascara- I was actually really surprised with how much I liked this mascara. Lengthening like woah, and even a little volume to boot. I would compare this to the iconic Maybelline Great Lash in that iconic pink and green tube. Definitely a great option at only $6.50 a tube. 

New York Streets Dry Shampoo- This dry shampoo is probably one of the finest mists I've ever tried. Lightly scented, but still enough to make your hair smell great. For you darker haired ladies, this is one of the "clearest" powders I've tried. Plus its sulfate and paraben free, who doesn't love that! 

 

Addiction NV Gel Liner Pot in Gold Digger- Oh my gosh y'all. This is hands down the best gel liner I have ever tried (moment of honestly I've only tried like 3-4 others). The consistency is super duper creamy, tons of pigment and dries quickly. I've been wearing it every single day since I received it. I've also tried it as a cream base shadow, and it works perfectly. 

So that's my experience with Beauty Army. Any other subscriptions out there I need to try? 

May Subscription Boxes

Alright y'all, this month I added a new box to my repertoire and let me tell you it was a good one. So, I wanted to link up with my favorite texas gals for....



Now, I have a lot to say about these two boxes, so I'm actually going to make this a two day link up (keeping you on pins and needles I'm sure). First up, my standby, Birchbox! I actually just celebrated my 25th Box! I can hardly believe how much $$$ I've given them it.

COOLA Sunscreen- This it seriously the best feeling/smelling sunscreen I've ever used. It smells like cool cucumbers and isn't thick and gloppy like so many other sunscreens. It goes on lightly, but still provides 30 SPF? I'm completely obsessed. All my pale girls out there (well really all you girls out there) you need this.

amika Nourishing Mask- This is a deep conditioning hair mask that seriously smells amazing. But I'm not going to lie, I don't think it was as nourishing or deep conditioning as I would want from a product being sold as a mask. I left this on my hair for almost thirty minutes and I still had some tangling issues. I have long damaged

Pilot Acroball PureWhite- This is a seriously great pen, and it's even pink. But guys...  this is such a strange thing to include in a box.  I'm just not feeling it. But thanks for the pen.

Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner- This eyeliner impressed me right off the bat. Quite possibly more than any other eyeliner I've ever tried. It just glides on with seriously no effort and is instantly set. You have mere seconds to blend it (my favorite eyeliner technique at the moment), so thankfully I have a steady hand! Seriously though, the staying power is amazing. The color power is awesome. Birchbox seems to be low on color options at the moment, but for a while they had a 4 mini pack for $21. Seriously y'all... I think this is my favorite eyeliner, ever.

Fabulous by Isaac Mizrahi- This perfume is definitely fabulous. It just screams "I'm a girl" It's sweet and floral, but light at the same time. I really don't have anything bad to say about this scent, but I'm not sure. I guess it's just not "me."

Marvis Toothpaste- This toothpaste is awesome. It is just a middle of the road perfect toothpaste. Not too flavored or scented or foamy. But I'm more of a whitening toothpaste gal so I'm sticking with my sensodine white.

Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow! Don't forget to link up with the fabulous ladies above!

May Beauty Favorites

Holy Cow! How is it the last Wednesday in May? Seriously, when did that happen? After a wonderful long weekend and a very stressful start to the work week I'm feeling slightly dazed this lovely Wednesday. But you know what makes me feel better? Being able to share my May beauty favorites with you! Monthly favorites are some of my favorite posts to write, so I hope you enjoy reading them!

I have to say, this month was pretty epic. I did a little birthday shopping at Sephora, so I had lots of new goodies to play with!

1. Benefit They're Real Mascara- I am officially a believer in this mascara! If you want LONG and defined lashes you need to try this mascara. I will say the formula is probably the wettest one I've ever tried, but after a few coats I've never quite seen my lashes look as good as they do. I will say this isn't the most volumizing mascara (i.e. thickening), but my lashes are definitely longer and more defined than with any mascara I've used... ever.

2. Suave Dry Shampoo- I've gone back and forth on this product a lot since I've discovered dry shampoo, but I have finally decided this one is the best deal on the market. First of all, it's the least expensive one out there, it smells amazing and it works! I think that I have to use a little more of this product than some of the higher end dry shampoos I've tried, but for the price it's still worth it.

3. Simple Soothing Eye Balm- I have a full review of this and a few other simple products coming soon, but I am loving this eye balm after only a few days. When I turned 25 I decided it was time to start taking care of the skin around my eyes a little better and I can't tell y'all how much better my eye area looks already. If you're guilty of not taking off your eye makeup way too often every now and again, you need this product. It soothes the tired eyes you didn't know you had, plus it helps keep those dreaded bags at bay!

4. Benefit Watt's Up! Oh my goodness. Hands down the best highlighter I have ever used. I love this creamy little stick of glowing perfection. Mendi and Jayme of HLNC did a highlighter review recently and I couldn't agree with their assessment of this product more!

5. Juice Beauty CC cream- Okay, I'm eating my words a bit with this one. In my last birchbox review I didn't exactly give this product glowing reviews, but oh have I changed my mind. I guess it's something in the product but my skin has been absolutely glowing with this product! I stand by the fact that it's on the light to medium side coverage wise, but it has definitely improved the condition on my skin. PLUS my baby sample lasted me almost 4 whole weeks of daily use! Love that!

6. bare Minerals in Warmth: Remember when we all used bareMinerals for everything? I never used up that container of the matte warmth powder, but I'm loving it as a bronzer lately. Since I've switched to liquid foundations I've forgotten about how great this brand is. Definitely loving this as a bronzer to finish out spring.

7. Sephora Pro Lesson Palette: Blue Eyes in all honesty I quickly added this palette to my shopping cart so I could get the free shipping, but I'm so glad I did. First of all 6 shadows for $9? Great deal. Plus it comes with instructions for 2 different looks. On top of the good deal the shadows are extremely rich and very smooth. Only one is matte, with the rest shimmery, but no glitter. My favorite shade is the coppery color (they call it soft beige), it had such pretty pigmentation that is very build-able.


In other big beauty news I've decided to add another subscription box to my beauty buying regimen. I may be going a tad overboard but when I found out about Beauty Army I couldn't help it.  Unlike most subscription services you actually get to pick your products (love that)! You start by filling out a pretty extensive beauty profile then you get 9 options to pick from (you can order up to 6). If you don't like the options? Just re-take the survey! It's $12, but I have to say this month I'm getting 3 full size products and 3 more large samples. While I still haven't received the box, I have to say I'm loving it already! If you want to learn more or sign up yourself just click here. 

Alright girls. I think that's about it for my May beauty favorites! What have you been loving this month?  

April Beauty Favorites

This month I've picked up a few new things, and rediscovered some old ones. As always I have tried to pull together some high end products and some drugstore ones (though this month leans heavy on the high end, woops).

1. Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle -- This came in my April Birchbox (post coming soon, I promise) and let me tell you, I will never be caught with out this stuff again. DARE I say it's better than my it's a 10. I don't know y'all. My hair is thicker, stronger, shinier and I definitely have less fly-aways.

2. Kate Spade Twirl perfume-- I got this stuff in a birchbox a long time ago, and it has been one of my favorites ever since. After I heard that this perfection in a bottle was being discontinued and was making its way into TJ Maxx stores across the country I've been on the hunt. Well... I finally found it when I was in New Orleans, and I've already gone through a good chunk of the 1.7 oz bottle. Guess I needed to buy it in bulk.

3. Maybelline Color Whisper in "Who Wore It Red-er"- I just picked this up last week at CVS. Y'all know I'm all about the Revlon Lip Butters, but I was curious... While my allegience still lies with Revlon, this is a great product. Super creamy, decent pigmentation and tons of moisture.

4. Supergoop CC Cream-- Now that warm weather is quickly approaching I'm a bit concerned about my face melting off... ha. Last year it was all about the BB, this year I'm sure it will be the CC, oh and did you hear? The DD creams are coming. While it's starting to get a bit out of hand, I liked what the CC claims to offer a little more coverage while still being lighter than your average foundation. While this one is a bit pricy, I really think it delivers.

5. MAC Paint Pot in Painterly-- I think I'm the last beauty enthusiast to hop on the paint pot trend, but y'all this stuff is awesome. If you aren't familiar, it's essentially a super thick tinted cream shadow/ base. You can use primer with this, but you really don't need it. I can't believe the staying power this stuff has, and it makes my other shadows pop!

6. Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder-- I've actually had this stuff for a while now, but never loved the coverage it gave me. In an effort to shop my stash I reached for this and paired it with the CC cream and absolutely loved the effect! As someone with oily skin this stuff keeps me matte for a good 7-8 hours. Just touch up a bit for happy hour and you're ready to go!

So those are my April Beauty Favorites. What have you been loving this month?

March Favorites

Well March is almost over, crazy! So I can't believe there still aren't any real cherry blossom sightings around here! This post is supposed to be my march "beauty" favorites, but it's apparently all about the hair this month!

1.  Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner. I've been using this for color treated hair and I absolutely love it! I really think my hair is more manageable and shinier! I occassionally suffer from dry scalp, especially in the winter, and I'll tell y'all I haven't had any issues since I started with Clear. But it doesn't make me overly oily either. Loving it!

2. Maybelline the Rocket Volum' Express Mascara. I picked this up a few weeks ago and I'm absolutely thrilled. While I wish it lengthened a little more, the density it provides is great, without being overly clumpy. *I have the shortest eyelashes of anyone I've ever met... so length is a constant problem.

3. Ojon Reparative Serum- I got a nice little sample of this serum in a birchbox a few months back and it's fabulous. I've been growing my hair out for the last year or so, and the ends were starting to look a little brittle. Put a teeny tiny bit of this serum on the ends and they look good as new. It's on the pricy side, but I haven't found anything quite like it.

4. TRESemme Tres Two Hair Spray. My lifelong favorite hairspray hands down. I absolutely love this stuff, and as a southern girl who loves volume this stuff is a godsend.  Don't buy anything but level 4, and the aerosol is my fav. (Sorry environment--- I promise to save you, but I can't give this stuff up).

5. Philosophy eternal grace perfume. I have loved another scent in this line, amazing grace, forever. But I was at TJ Maxx this weekend and spotted a 4 oz bottle of this stuff for $20 bucks. (Normally it would cost $90+) so I went ahead and grabbed it. I'm so glad I did because this is my new go-to and will be for years to come. Like most philosophy scents its very clean and feminine. It does have a few citrus notes and is ever so lightly floral. I think its a perfect balance for daytime. Another plus with this brand, more than any of my other perfumes, I feel like the staying power is fantastic.

I'm also loving the natural shadow smokey palette I received to review from BA STAR.

Included in this palette are three satin powders that have great staying power. Then there are two fabulous glitter gels. The products are geared towards cheerleaders and competitive dancers, but I'm not going to lie, I kind of loved the glitter!

plus, BA Star is nice enough to offer Blue Dog Belle readers a 50% discount to get this and any other palette from their site.  Just put in "BBSMOKY" at checkout, then let me know what you think!

So let me know, what have you been loving this spring so far?

*Note the smokey palette was supplied to me free of charge. All opinions voice here are always my own. 

March Birchbox

Another month, another Birchbox. I can't believe it, but we're coming up on my two year birchbox anniversary (something else has an anniversary this week too, stay tuned)! I was absolutely thrilled with this month's box! So many great products and fantastic samples! 

Wish Shave Crave Shaving Cream

This is a blueberry scented shaving cream. Perfect because spring is coming, so I need be a tad more vigilant about shaving. It's super creamy and smells SO good. Plus my legs stay super moisturized after I use it! Loving this stuff so far, but not sure it's really worth $20 price tag for the full size, but I'm loving the sample!

MAKE Satin Finish Eyeshadow

I got this sample in the gorgeous grey color called: great lakes. Now we all know how much I love grey, so this is perfect! Plus I don't have a single mid-toned matte grey in my collection. Thanks Birchbox! I really love the formulation of this shadow. It's not hyper pigmented, but it blends well and is very buildable for more color impact. Plus 30% of every MAKE product goes straight to charity! Love that.  

MAKE Face Primer SPF 30

More MAKE stuff. I'm really impressed with this new brand because this primer is right up my alley. I love that it has 30 SPF, because this girl doesn't want any more wrinkles or skin cancer while were at it.  This primer is awesome. It's kind of tacky when you apply it, so it doesn't blend super well. You need a decent amount to properly cover your face, but I feel like the texture really binds with my foundation, so that stuff is not moving! Definitely considering buying this in full size.

Nick Chavez® Beverly Hills Color-Saver Sulfate Free Shampoo

Once again, birchbox knows me so well. I'm almost out of my super expensive shampoo that I was talked in to last summer. MAN was I stingy with that stuff. 1-2 times a week MAX. Anyways, I'm super excited to try this stuff out!

Plus they send me a great floral emery board! and lord knows I always need more of those. So what did you get in your box this month? Have you gotten it yet?

February Beauty Favorites

As a girl constantly battling shine the Urban Decay Setting Spray has been a life saver.  Lightly mist it on your face before you apply your primer. Then again once you've put on all of your makeup and you'll be solid for hours.

While I've been loving the dark lip trend this winter, I just haven't been able to pull the trigger and wear anything too deep on myself. Lately I've been loving Revlon Lip Gloss in Peony. We all know I love anything revlon does for a lip, and this gloss is a little bit milky and has some glitter. I absolutely love it!!!

Thanks to my roommate Becca for introducing me to the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation last year. I recently finished my third bottle of the stuff and I'm so obsessed. It's a medium coverage liquid foundation, and is definitely buildable. I love to use a damp sponge to apply it (like the beauty blender) for an airbrushed finish.

So I've been using theBalm Hot Mama Shadow/Blush solely as a blush, and then I actually read the cover and tried it as a shadow and now I'm even more obsessed. I've been using it as a crease shade with a nude over all shadow for a neutral look. You NEED to try your blush as a shadow y'all! Go home right now and do it.

I received theBalm Put a Lid On It Primer in my January Birchbox, seen here. At the time I still preferred a creamier primer to this more liquidy version, but this product has completely changed my mind. I can't even believe the staying power of this primer. I'm completely obsessed.

I'm kind of loving NYX Cosmetics The Smokey Shadow Palette. The pigmentation is insane for the price. I've been loving these shades too. 

February Birchbox Brag!

Guess what I'm bringing back?

Yep. That's right. It's been a hot minute since I've linked up with Katie and Tara, but like I said yesterday, I am refocusing the blog a bit-- back to basics if you will. Well, I have a makeup obsession--- and that's really why I started this blog--- but you wouldn't know it if you've been reading lately. #Fail. Oh well. There's no time like the present. So here's what I got in my Birchbox this month! 

Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator

Birchbox says: To fully appreciate this dermatologist-quality scrub, a mini skincare lesson is in order. Let’s start with enzymes: these potent ingredients actually dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. Microderm crystals, on the other hand, are ultra fine minerals that buff away tired skin. Vasanti’s multi-action exfoliator includes both enzymes and micro crystals, plus healing natural ingredients. The result? Renewed, decongested skin without any redness. A single tube will last you four to six months.

Blue Dog Belle says: I adore this stuff. I have been using it daily since I got it and I can tell such a huge difference. The micro-scrubbing power of this stuff is like nothing I've ever come across. It's definitely expensive, but a little seems to go a VERY long way. I'm so happy with this! I'd definitely recommend it!

TIGI Catwalk Session Series Transforming Dry Shampoo

Birchbox says: if you’re a devoted Birchbox reader, you’re probably well aware that we have a serious infatuation with dry shampoo. Our latest obsession is this game-changer from hip brand TIGI. A couple of quick spritzes instantly zaps excess oil, perks up flat locks, and lets us go an extra day (okay, four) without shampooing.

Blue Dog Belle says: game-changer is not an understatement. Smells amazing. So effective. Dare I say it even lets me rock day 3 hair. Eww. I know. But its happened. I will DEFINITELY be buying a full size. 

Juicy Couture Couture La La 3.4oz

Birchbox says: Created with the fearless free spirit in mind, this brand new scent from Juicy Couture is a punk rock update on the original Juicy Couture. One part fruity, one part tart, and one part floral, it’s neither too sweet nor too girly. Plus, the glam bottle is worthy of a front-and-center spot on your vanity.

Blue Dog Belle says: I'm a big fan of Juicy perfumes, and this one is lovely. But it's not my favorite. It's a little youthful for me, but I think the birchbox description is definitely accurate. 

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint

Birchbox says: Ever since we discovered Jouer’s best selling Luminizing Moisture Tint, the skin perfector has been our secret to getting a healthy, glowy complexion. We never thought anything could come between us and our beloved LMT—until we met this brand new mattifying version. The oil-free formula controls shine all day long and gives skin a soft, velvety finish. It blends in easily and keeps your face protected with SPF 15. We don’t see anything wrong with having two favorites.

Blue Dog Belle says: again, love the brand, not this particular product so much. I like fuller coverage foundations so this product is automatically not what I'm looking for. I felt that the pigment wore off quickly (with in 6 hours or so) and it didn't really keep me matte for long. If you're looking for a matte verion of their tints, this is definitely it. Just not the right formulation for me or my preferences. 

Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel SQUARES

Birchbox says: As Mary Kate and Ashley, Simon and Garfunkel, and Mickey and Minnie would probably attest, it takes two to make a thing go right. Enter our latest Birchbox Find: Ghirardelli’s melt-in-your-mouth milk chocolate squares filled with velvety caramel. The individually-wrapped squares are perfect for snacking, and each is just under 75 calories. If you can be convinced to share, they make thoughtful treats for fellow chocolate-lovers.

Blue Dog Belle says: Okay. LOVE these, and I guess this month was valentines with lots of chocolate around, but I really want my birchbox to introduce me to new PRODUCTS not random chocolate I can buy at any corner store in North America.

That's all she wrote. I was a little disappointed in my box this month. I had some really great finds, but I'm not sure, I just wasn't wowed.  What did y'all think? Do you get birchbox too? 

Four Things for a Beautiful Valentines Day

Today I wanted to introduce you to one of my soon to be favorite weekly link-ups. In all of my craziness over the last few weeks (did I mention that I'm applying for 14 different law schools right now--- yes I'm crazy), I've kind of forgotten about Valentines Day.

Judge away. I'm single and I could careless about the whole thing--- though I will probably go out drinking with my girlfriends on the 14th. Great excuse? I think so.

Anyways. The lovely Ashlyn recently started this great link up with one of my other favorites, Kristen of the Fancy Things.

Obviously today's theme is valentines day--- so I'm going to interpret this as perfect valentines day beauty items.

The Kate Spade Twirl perfume has been on my wish list for so long now. I've gone through like four sephora samples--- I'm thinking I may need to cash in some birchbox points and treat myself hmm.

This OPI polish In The Spotlight is just that. This is the perfect pink we've all been searching for.

Who doesn't love NARS Blush, and Orgasm is still all the rage. But as opposed to a powder, have you tried the illuminator? It's a brilliant glowy highlight but definitely has some depth of color. Plus its universally flattering, so it looks gorgeous even on our pale February skin.

Finally. I'm all about pink cheeks lately and this stila cheek palette has been on my radar for a few weeks now.

So those are my 4 favorites for valentines day beauty. Come link up y'all!

January Birchbox

Hello! Long time no see ladies, sorry for dropping off the face of the earth yesterday. No post. No instagrams, nothing on Facebook. Not even a tweet. What is happening to me? Well--- I'm a tad stressed about life right now. So much to do, so little time. And I didn't write any posts over the weekend- I normally write outlines for all of my posts on Sundays. So we're winging it. Woohoo. aka--- I might go MIA again until after the inauguration. But I promise to update Twitter and Instagram like a crazy person. 

Anyways. I received my Birchbox in the mail a few days ago, and I've been loving some things... others not so much. First up.

theBalm® cosmetics Put a Lid On It™

I'm still semi- new to the Balm product, but so far I love what I've seen. This is no exception. Great primer. Takes a bit to dry, but one it does you are set for the whole day. I still prefer my UD primer potion, but this is not to say I won't love using this lovely sample. Thanks!

Ojon damage reverse™ Instant Restorative Hair Serum

Birchbox must have read my mind, because I just ran out of my argon oil. Seriously, the day before my box came. I'm not sure I love this more than my orofluido elixir, this is a great product. You can use it on wet or dry hair (I've only tried dry), and a little goes a long way. Smooth the product from the mid-shaft to the ends to reduce frizz and protect ends.

alessandro Nail Polish

I'm kind of obsessed with this nail polish. The color is Blue Lagoon, and actually comes off a little closer to navy than this pictures makes it seem. The formula is great though, super pigmented color. Goes on smooth, and three days later I still have yet to see a chip. Plus they have tons of other fun colors!

Harvey Prince Skinny Chic - 50ml

I may be the only one out there who likes getting perfumes in my box, but this one was a miss for me. I can't quite put my finger on what I don't like about it, but I'm just not feeling it. Sorry. Birchbox says: 

"The dominant note of crisp green apple is tempered by marine mint and lovely lotus blossom. In the background, notes of grapefruit, bergamot, fennel, white cedarwood, amber, and iris mix and mingle."  

Which if you ask me sounds like a lot of different smells that don't necessarily mingle well.

Fresh Lotus Face Cream

Loving this great face cream. Smells lovely- very light and as you might think... fresh. It definitely moisturizes, so I would only ever use this at night, plus no SPF, but it's great! I'm new to night creams, so I don't really have anything to compare it to, but I'm a fan!