May Birchbox Opened

May Birchbox

This is SUPER late, I know. I don't have much of an excuse, except that I had sun poisoning and a severe second degree sunburn, which I mentioned in my last post. I'll get more into that and the products/remedies I used for tomorrow's (Wednesday) post.

I wanted to get this up as it's my last Birchbox. :( I had only wanted to try Birchbox for a couple of months and then switch to another beauty box service, as I can't afford to have multiple beauty box subscriptions at one time. I was accepted (is that the right word? Haha) for an ipsy subscription which will start in the month of June.

The first two items in this month's Birchbox was The Beauty Protector Protect & Shampoo and the Protect & Condition. I have yet to use these products, as I plan to use them during part of my trip in London in July. The sample sizes make perfect travel products. I will let y'all know what I think of them sometime in July. :) The full-size bottles are each $21.95 and are said to add shine and volume (shampoo) and to protect and detangle (conditioner).

The next two products were the Supergoop Everday SPF 30 Sunscreen with Cellular Response Technology and the LAQA & Co. Sheer Lip Lube Pencil. The full size product of the Supergoop is $19. (I probably should have used this before I had my garage sale where I got sunburned really bad...) The full size of the lip pencil is $18. I did a swatch of it and it is really pigmented. I really like the color of it also. I'm more of a pink lip/subtle lip kind of girl. :)

The last products I got were the 32 Oral Care Effervescent Breath Crystals with IsoVoxy. A pack of 16 is $9.99 and a pack of 60 is $29.50. I have yet to use these as I think I might save them for traveling or maybe keep one in my purse in case of an emergency. To use them, you are supposed to swish them in your mouth until they begin to pop. That is how you know they are working. It kind of reminds me of those pop rocks that I used to get as a kid. Oh, nostalgia... Haha. I'm excited to try them out though. I love minty, fresh breath. :)

So that's all I got in this month's Birchbox. If you have a beauty box subscription, let me know in the comments which one you have and if you like it. :)

Thanks for reading.
xoxo

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March & April Birchboxes Opened!

March & April Birchboxes Opened!

I'm so late to getting this blog post up, that's why I have both March and April together. This won't be really a review as I haven't had a chance to use all of it, but for the products that I've tried out, I will for sure let y'all know what I thought of it. So let's get started, shall we?

March Birchbox

The first thing in the box was the little card that comes in every box that tells you exactly what each product does and how much the full size products are. 

The next thing you see when you remove the wrapping paper is the Caudalie and Coola products. The Caudalie product is a Moisturizing Sorbet. And the Coola product is a BB Cream with SPF 30 in it. I have yet to use these products as I haven't ever used a BB Cream before, but everyone raves about them. Maybe I should give it a go..? ;)

The next item in the box was a 'surprise' product, Jergens BB body for All Light Skin Tones. I've heard so many good things about this product and plan to use this for when I go to London this summer. This BB Cream is for your body and helps to correct your skin tone. 

The next item in the box is the air repair Rescue Balm. I actually have used this product. I used it when my lips were chapped and on my elbows when they were dry. The product works really well. You can use this product anywhere on your body where it is dry or chapped. While I did like the product, I'm not sure I would buy the full size as it is a little pricey.

The next product is the Agave Healing Oil Oil Treatment. I have yet to use this product, but have heard good things about it. I'm not sure I would purchase the full size though, as it is definitely on the pricey side.

April Birchbox

The April Birchbox came with a couple of products that I have used already and really like. The card that comes in every Birchbox was especially cute this month. Every Birchbox also came with a little card that gave you a tip on how to make your rainy day bright. :)

The first item was another 'surprise' item. It was the KIND Healthy Grains Maple Pumpkin Seeds bar. I haven't tried this as I have to make sure it doesn't have any nuts in it. I recently found out I'm allergic to almonds, so I'm staying away from all nuts for the time being until I can go to an allergist.

The next two items were the Salon Technician Color Care shampoo and the Color Club nail polish. I have yet to use the shampoo as I keep forgetting it when I get into the shower, but I have used the nail polish and I really love it. It is really easy to apply and stays on for quite awhile. I didn't use a base coat or a top coat, so I was surprised at how long it lasted until it chipped.

The next two products were the How 'Bout Them Apples? Cheek & Lip Cream in the shade Pie and the Cynthia Rowley Eyeliner Crayon in silver. I haven't used the eyeliner as I don't usually play around with eyeliner colors, but am interested in trying it out in the next few weeks. 

I have used the Cheek & Lip Cream on my lips and I really really love it. The pigmentation is really good and the product is really smooth. Also, the color is just perfect. I'm excited to try it out on my cheeks next! :)

And that's it for my Birchbox unboxing post. Let me know in the comments if you have a subscription to any beauty boxes and what you think of them. :)

Thank you so much for reading.
xx

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OOTD | May 1, 2014

Outfit of the Day - May 1, 2014

Yesterday was another lazy day. I picked my dad up from the airport in the afternoon and then went to my mom's house for a couple of hours. Because I didn't really have anywhere to be, I wanted to play around with some lipstick. I never wear lipstick, but really want to start wearing different colors and broadening my horizons. It's my first time wearing red lipstick and I am in love. I am also literally in love with the hat I wore today. I got it off of eBay and it was delivered the other day and I have just been itching to wear it. :)

Outfit:

Top- "Overdressed" crop top from Jawbreaking

Shorts- Charlotte Russe High-Waisted shorts

Hat- Bowler/Fedora hat from eBay

Shoes- White converse from Kohl's

Sorry for the dirty mirror pic. I forgot to take photos of my outfit/makeup with my camera

Makeup:

Eyebrows- Lancome Powder Pencil in Taupe

Eyeliner- Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner (top lash line) // Avon Black Eyeliner

(bottom lash line)

Mascara- Maybelline the Rocket Volum' Express
Concealer-Revlon Colorstay in 01 Fair
Foundation- Maybelline Fit Me in 110 Fair
Powder- Maybelline Fit Me in 110 Fair

Bronzer- Wet 'N Wild in Ticket to Brazil

Blush- E.L.F in Peachy cheeky
Lips- Maybelline Color Sensational in Very Cherry

Hair:
Herbal Essences Naturals Dry Shampoo
Kor Straightener

In the comment section down below, let me know what lip colors you are excited to rock this Spring/Summer. :)

Thanks for reading. xoxo

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Ombréd Hair (from blonde)

My friend, Jamie, and I.

 Ombréd Hair (From Blonde)

Hey everyone! As you might have noticed, I dyed my hair!! I'm totally in love with my new hair and wanted to tell y'all how I accomplished it.

It actually took a couple of days to do (with a day in between the last section. Does that make sense? It will in a second..)

Things Needed:

Hair Dye Applicator (I used two different bottles)

Gloves (I actually just used my hands. But they were stained for a few days..)

A darker hair dye (I used Wella Color Charm Dark Ash Blonde 6A liquid hair dye)

Bottle of 20 Developer

Bottle of 40 Developer (I used it for the light blonde section)

A lighter hair dye (I used Wella Color Charm Light Blonde 8N liquid hair dye)

(photos from SallyBeauty.com)

This is how I achieved my ombréd hair:

1. Mix up the hair dye and developer (Follow the instructions)
2. I applied the hair dye to roots/one-third of my hair. I let that sit for 10 minutes.
3. I applied more hair dye to the next third of my hair. I let that sit for about 10 minutes.
4. Then I applied hair dye to the ends of my hair (I wouldn't recommend doing this as that is why I had to go back and fix it)
5. After letting it sit for 1 more minute, I hopped in the shower and used my mom's Ion Color Defense shampoo/conditioner.

Next day (because the ends of my hair were a gray-ish color instead of blonde)

1. I went to Sally's again and picked up the Light Blonde hair dye.
2. I mixed up the hair dye and developer.
3. I then applied the hair dye to the ends of my hair and let it sit for 15 minutes
4. Then I applied more hair dye a little further up my hair (not going past my jaw line) and let it sit for another 10-15 minutes.
5. Then I washed it out in the shower.

Two days later (because the color still wasn't where I wanted it and I wanted to wait a day in between all the dying):

1.  I used the same hair dye from the previous attempt. (I'll usually leave hair dye in the bottle sitting on my bathroom counter for a couple of days, just in case I missed a spot)
2. I applied it to the ends of my hair again and let it sit for about 30 minutes.
3. I then hopped in the shower and washed my hair with my Tresemme shampoo/conditioner

And FINALLY, I got the color I wanted!

& this is the finished look. It's super easy and looks great. I was really nervous before I did it, but I went to my mom's house just so she could make sure I got the back of my hair. And I think we did a pretty good job. :)

Let me know what y'all think.
xoxo

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Date Night: Outfit, Makeup, and Hair

Date Night!

Hey everyone! So tonight (2/6/2014), I went on my first date! I know, I know, 20 years old and I have never been on a date... I've just never been asked. *blushes*

So I figured since this was my first date, I would create a blog post about what I wore and how I did my makeup and hair.

So let's get started...

These are the products that I used

Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me 110

Powder: Cover Girl Loose Powder in 105 Translucent Fair

Blush: Revlon Powder Blush in 1707-13 Love That Pink

Eyeshadow: Cover Girl Palette (The name rubbed off)

Eye Primer: Elf Eyelid Primer

Eye Liner: Avon Ultra Luxury Eye Liner in U01 Black

Elf Waterproof Eye Liner Pen in Black

Mascara: Maybelline Lash Blast Volume

Eyelash Curler: From Walmart

These are pretty much the products that I use every day. I don't really switch up my eye shadow color. (I need to work on that.) I'm really comfortable with the neutral shades, but I'm going to start using more colors (hopefully) soon. The only extra thing that I did for tonight, that I don't usually do, is the winged eye liner. I used my Elf Waterproof Liquid Liner Pen to get the wing. Although my wing didn't turn out as well as I had hoped it would. I just need a little bit more practice. :)

Close up of how I did my makeup.

For my hair, all I did was put it in a half up-half down style. I washed my hair the night before and blow dried it straight (although the ends and back weren't totally straight). I then left my hair in a braid over night (that's where the curls came from). 

Outfit:

Dress: From Target

Tights: H&M (I got these in London when I visited in Winter 2013)

Socks: Target

Shoes: either Kohl's or Target. I can't remember.
Jacket: Kohl's

Hope y'all enjoyed this post. Let me know in the comments if you like the outfit or how you would have done your makeup. I'm always open to new ideas. :)

Thanks for reading. xx

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