Beauty to Go: Packing Challenge 1 - Weekend Trip

I have to brag - I'm KNOWN for being a great packer. I rarely overpack and I NEVER pack more than I can carry myself. It comes from years of living out of business travelling and trying to avoid checking any bags. You just become hyper aware of what you need, what you don't and what you can buy on the road to avoid taking up more precious space in a carry-on bag.

However, this was BEFORE the makeup obsession kicked in.  I've acquired a LOT of product lately and I've been experimenting with everything like a kid with a finger painting set.

Last week, my guy and I went away for a fun weekend trip. The night before, I wondered, "How the heck was I going to edit my makeup and pack it into a small cosmetic bag???

Here's what I brought:

First things first - this is my new favorite makeup bag. Why, you ask?  Well, scroll down for the answer....

 Ta da!!!!  It lays out flat, which is awesome. No more digging around looking for products at the bottom of your bag. No more dumping out your cosmetics on the hotel bathroom counter. The material is a tad flimsy (for all those who put a lot of miles on their travel stuff, which I do)  and I do wish they came in color, but I love the concept.  I found mine on Amazon for $27 with free shipping with Amazon Prime.

*Lay N Go Cosmo Bag can be found on Amazon HERE

WHAT I BROUGHT & WHY

I focused on bringing products that were long wearing, easy to apply or could do double duty to reduce the number of things I had to bring.

1) Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Honey and Lovesick. Honey is a great "your lips but better" color and Lovesick is perfect for a pop of color on the lips. They couldn't be any easier to apply or tote around and the fact that it's a stain gives it more staying power than a regular gloss.

2) NYX Matte Lipstick in Perfect Red - Matte formulas are big this season and I love a red lip. We were going to a couple of really nice restaurants for dinner and there's nothing like a red lip to make an outfit.

3) Eve Pearl Dual Salmon Concealer in Medium/Tan - Great for covering up any dark circles from a late night out. Some people have complained that this creases on them, but with a primer before and setting with powder afterwards, I haven't yet had a problem.

4) MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder in Medium Deep - The key to giving your makeup staying power is to set it with powder. I love how this lays on the skin without getting cakey.

5) Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara - I discovered this on imomoko.com and it's my new fave mascara. I've tried DOZENS of mascaras that promise to keep my stick-straight Asian lashes curled, separated, defined without flaking or budging, but nothing except my L'Oreal Voluminous Waterproof in Carbon Black could keep up. I will still use that one, but this has been what I've been using exclusive since I got it - the formulation is thinner than L'Oreal's and I prefer the wand of this one for defining my lashes and keeping the curl "perky" all day long.

6) Eyeshadow Pencils - Sue Devitt Eye Intensify Pencil in Tanzania / NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in French Fries - I love my Naked 2 Palette, but I HATE toting it around. It's heavy. It's clunky and for a weekend trip, it seems a bit excessive. I chose two metallic shades that complemented each other and could be layered easily to give my eyes a bit of sparkle and definition.

7) Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner in Deep Black - Another great Asian beauty product find on imomoko.com. I feel NAKED when I don't line my top lashline. It's my go-to, my security blanket, my safety...I generally use MAC's gel liner in Blacktraxx and an angled brush, but to save from packing an extra brush and another little glass pot, I used the felt tipped Dolly Wink Liner. It's easy to apply....I find that when used over eyeshadow, the color is more muted than I would like, but on it's own without a lid color, it is every bit as opaque and defining as a traditional gel liner.  Staying power is great, too.

8) Brow products - MAC Eye Brow Pencil in Spiked - No sharpener required and such a fine point to draw in brow hairs.

9) NYX Brow Wax Pencil keeps everything in place for hours

10) Shu Uemura Lash Curler - I swear, this would be one of my "If you could only take 5 items with you to a desert island" items. Even before I turned product junkie, I've had a Shu Uemura curler in my makeup bag since my aunt gave me my first one at 16.

11) Youngblood Mineral Primer - I admit, this initially made the cut for it's diminuitive size. I got this in a beauty subscription box and hadn't tried it until this trip.  I didn't want to go lugging my HUGE tube of Laura Mercier foundation primer, so I opted for this and was pretty impressed. The clear, gel-looking formula seems as though it has to potential to be sticky or shiny on the skin, but it went on so smoothly. The texture reminded me a bit of Benefit's poreFESSIONAL, silky, almost powdery.

12) Benefit's Stay Don't Stray Shadow Primer - Another sample sized product from a beauty box. These are the perfect sizes for short trips. I love Benefit and I like their shadow primer. I'll be honest, I'm too much of a makeup newbie to be able to discern the difference between shadow primers like this or Urban Decay's Primer Potion or Too Faced's Shadow Insurance. The bottom line is: my shadow pencils (which I would generally use as a base for powder) didn't crease or fade and the sample size was perfect for travel.

13)  NARS Blush in Madly - It's not much to look at in the pan, but it's great for giving my cheeks a bit of a sculpted look and some color all in one go. It's neutral enough to go with anything. Love this color!

14) Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream in No. 31 Golden Beige - This has been my go-to foundation all summer. It's got more coverage than other BB creams while still providing all the moisturizing and SPF benefits.

15) TOOLS:  BareMinerals Travel Kabuki Brush, BeautyBlender (LOVE THIS!), MAC 228 mini shader brush, Sigma E25 Blending Brush, Sigma F40 Large Contour Brush and a spoolie


SO that's that. I am proud to say that I used all the products I brought with me and nothing was wasted space - HUZZAH!   Maybe I'm patting myself on the back too early - do you pack more or less for a weekend away?  I would love to hear from you - what's in your travel makeup bag?

Next week, we'll be heading back to Toronto for a 10-day visit with my family. I'll be writing another post on how I packed for that longer trip. Stay tuned!

Tale of 3 Boxes - Birchbox vs. Sample Society vs. Glossybox ROUND 2

Ok, folks. It's time for round 2 of the Battle of the Boxes for September 2012. For complete reviews of my September Birchbox,  Sample Society and Glossybox, just click on the highlighted name.  Here's the breakdown:



                                     PAID                    VALUE        No. of Products Used      Overall Impression

Birchbox                        $10                        $20.71                       3/4                                 B-
Sample Society             $16.33 (w/ tax)      $37.21                       3/4                                 B+
Glossybox                     $22.86                   $64.99                       3/4                                 A


As you can see from the numbers, even though Glossybox is still the most expensive, it was definitely the best value for the money. I gave Glossybox an "A" because there were 3 full-size products included this month. Also, one of the products (the Missha M Perfect Cover BB cream) was one that I love that and have paid the full $29.99 for.  AND Glossybox sent me the right shade. Color me impressed.

Sample society fared better than Birchbox, giving me 2 makeup products in totally wearable shades. The Stila Smudge stick is a gorgeous bronze color that is perfect for the fall. And though I normally think of perfume samples as "filler" products, I have been loving the Diptyque fragrance that was included - so much so, that I've already put down the full-size bottle on my Christmas list.

Birchbox included products that I used - the twistband is always handy, though it's getting a little repetitive (this is the 3rd twistband product I have received from Birchbox). The nailpolish is something I know I'll wear this fall and I actually took the YoungBlood Mineral Primer with me on a weekend trip. Great size for travel and the product itself is decent (texture reminds me of Benefit's POREfessional).   A solid box, but with the tea sampler and digital download and coupon from Madewell, it was a little all over the place and didn't really have anything to wow me.

So Round 2 goes to Glossybox, which is rapidly becoming the box I look forward to getting the most every month.  Good job, Glossybox!

If you want to check out last month's Tale of 3 boxes post, click HERE.

September Glossybox aka full-size product love

Oh, I love Glossybox delivery day. I literally squeal and rip the package right out of Manny the Mailman's hands. (We've become buddies, though - so he is totally amused by this.)  And this month, the reaction was totally justifiable.

There were THREE - count 'em - THREE full-size products waiting for me when I opened this month. Without further ado, here's what was in my Glossybox:

1) GKHair Moisturizing Shampoo - full size 10.1oz for $20.00 / sample size approx 2oz value $4.00

2) GKHair Moisturizing Conditioner - full size 10.1 oz for $20.00 / sample size approx 2oz value $4.00

Looking forward to trying both of these out as the colder / drier weather approaches. Anything moisturizing is a big plus

3) Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water - FULL SIZE (double yay!) - value $13.00

I got the cleansing wipes of this brand in another beauty box subscription of mine. I really like cleansing waters and wipes, particularly while travelling and this is a great sized bottle for just that purpose. 

(L-R) Swatch of Glossybox by Kryolan Lipstick in Glossy Pink and swatch of Missha M Perfect Cover BB cream in No. 31 (Golden Beige) - though it looks a bit light on my arm, this is my shade (which I wore all summer). Minutes after applying the BB cream, it oxidizes and adjusts to my skin tone. 

4) Kryolan for Glossybox Lipstick in GLOSSY Pink - FULL SIZE (yay!) - value $14.00

Now some people might think this is a cop-out since it is a Glossybox-branded product. However, the lipstick was made by Kryolan - a brand that has gotten a lot of love from MUA for their pigmentation and quality. The shade itself might be a tad light for my skintone, but for the most part, it's a very wearable dusky pink shade. I probably wouldn't wear it on its own, but I can see myself using this to warm up a nude shade.

5) Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream in No. 31 Golden Beige - FULL SIZE (ok, now you're just spoiling me, Glossybox!) -value $29.99

I have actually been using this product all summer long and I love it.  It's a BB cream, but has fantastic coverage. And yes, I paid the full $29.99 for it. I was ecstatic to get this in my Glossybox. Not only was it full-size, it was in my shade, too! This is the first time ever - with ANY of the numerous beauty subscription boxes that I have received - that filling out the initial survey asking me about my coloring was used to personalize a product choice for me. Way to go, Glossybox!

TOTAL GLOSSYBOX VALUE: $64.99

Bottom line for this month:  I heart Glossybox. Great brands, great value and a step up in the personalization factor. Big win.

ALERT: Another "New" Subscription Box - MyGlam Relaunches As Ipsy

Ah, the beauty subscription box. Every week, it seems, there's a new one or the announcement of the demise of another.  MyGlam Bag has just announced it is relaunching as Ipsy.  As an alternate subscription service at the $10 price point (like Birchbox),  I was intrigued to see whether or not the company would address the myriad of customer concerns previously expressed and decided to sign up. 

From the website: "ipsy (formerly MyGlam) is an online community for discovering and sharing beauty and style products and looks. Using videos from our well-loved YouTube stylists, as well as videos from our devoted and engaged user community (growing by the day), we are changing the way women learn about and experience beauty products."

A few months ago when I was researching which subscription services I wanted to try, I came across MyGlam - and it was getting a lot of hate. Complaints ranged from too-small samples (rather than the promised "deluxe" size), missing products from shipment,  the inclusion of old / discontinued products. A few consumers complained that the company pulled a "bait and switch".

I'm hoping that the relaunch takes care of these issues.  If my bag looks anything like the one pictured, I'd be a happy camper. 

MyGlam - The Stats:

• $10/month including shipping 4-5 samples
• Affiliation - youtube video makeup guru Michelle Phan

Things that make this different than other boxes:

• Continuing in MyGlam tradition, every month you get your items in a re-usable cosmetic bag
• If you like watching beauty vids on youtube, the Ipsy online community and in-house stylists might be just your thing. 

"Each month, subscribers will receive a beautiful Glam Bag with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products. Members can watch and play along with the stylists with the same products that they are using.All for only $10 a month. "

I'm new to Michelle Phan and her youtube videos. She's adorable and her makeup tutorials are easy to follow. I appreciate that she isn't pushing particular brands and shades in her looks and makes it easy for me to try and re-create looks with things already in my beauty arsenal.  All in all, my biggest concern is that this service might be a bit to twee and best suited for a teenaged market.  In any case, I'll give it a couple of months and see whether or not MyGlam is a real competitor to Birchbox for the $10 beauty box price-point.



*I was not asked to do this post. It was not sponsored and I paid for my subscription.  As usual,  all opinions are my own.

The "OMG-I-Spent-Too-Much-This-Month" Mega Haul - THE FINALE

WARNING: Long Post - hey, I told you this was a MEGA haul!

There's gotta be a 12-step program out there for this kind of addiction. *facepalm*

Yes, dear friends. I am laying bare my complete lack of self control.  Hey, I said in the last Mega Haul  post that the finale would be a doozy, so I've broken it down into categories: Tools, Face, Eyes, Lips, Cheeks and Skin. It is a CRAZY amount of stuff to have acquired in such a short time-frame. 

The products range from drug store to high-end and all were chosen based on glowing reviews from other bloggers. Forgive this inventory list - as I test and use these products, I'll be coming up with a Fave Products post and let you know how everything I've bought is performing. For now, onto roll call!

Tools of the Trade

1. Real Techniques Powder Brush  2.  e.l.f. Studio Powder Brush  3. Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush 4.  Real Techniques Expert Face Brush  5. Sigma F40 Large Angle Contour Brush  6. Sephora Face Contour Brush  7. Real Techniques Setting Brush  
8. Bdellium Tools 936 Anti-Bacterial Concealer Brush  9.  Sigma E35 Tapered Blending Brush  10. MAC 217 Blending Brush  11.  MAC 219 Pencil Brush  12. Sephora Professionals Dome Shadow Brush  13.  Real Techniques Shader Brush 14. Sephora Flat Liner Brush  15. Beautyblender Sponge

Some thoughts on brushes:

-Holy heck, what was I DOING all those years using those little foam applicators or mini brushes that came with the kit? For any newbies (like me) that might wonder where to start -  I would say if you were going to get just one good brush that helps heal most application ills - get a blending brush. 

-Real Techniques, yup. I'm jumping on the bandwagon. Super affordable, great quality. The Expert Face Brush got a lot of youtube thumbs up from makeup gurus way more experienced than the rest of us mere mortals. I use it to put on foundation and it ROCKS.

-Beautyblender - pricey, but worth it. I dunno what it is about this tool, but many have tried to copy it, but none have come close.  Totally foolproof...if foundation is your "can't-leave-the-house-without-putting-it-on" item and you don't have a Beautyblender, now is the time. Wet the sponge, squeeze out the excess water until just damp, dot on foundation and simply pounce the bright pink sponge all over your face and watch the awesomeness happen.

About Face

1.  Ben Nye The Final Seal  2. MAC Pro-Longwear Concealer (NW 35)  3. Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation (8.0)  4.  Jouer Luminzing Moisture Tint (Bronzed)  5. Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream (No. 27 Honey Beige)  6. Missha  Perfect Cover BB Cream (No. 31 Golden Beige)  7. Bare Minerals Stroke of Light Eye Brighterner  (Luminous 3)  8. Ben Nye Banana Powder  
9. MAC Sculpt and Shape Powder (Warm Light / Definitive)  10. MakeUp Forever Mat Bronze (40)   11. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish (Medium Deep)  12. Face Atelier (various foundation shade samples)

Note on face products:

-Figure out how much coverage you want (or can stand - I generally dislike the feel of foundation on my skin) - from tinted moisturizers, BB creams and full coverage formulas, there is something out there for everyone to help even out one's skintone.

-Get matched. Especially important for newbies. It's like clinging to the idea of one's dress size (I am guilty of this)...even if it's clear that it's no longer a fit, we get rooted in the idea that we are this one particular size or shade, in this case.  For those who tan easily like me - I am almost 2 shades different at the end of the summer than I was at the beginning and needed to adjust my base makeup accordingly because the lighter one just looked like a mask. Not pretty.

-Set with powder. Just a little will do. Also, doesn't have to be expensive - LOVE the Ben Nye Banana Powder. Great for tanned skin (there are other shades for the lighter-complexioned lasses) - it's inexpensive, the jar will last forever and it wears beautifully.

The Eyes Have It

1. Loreal Infallible Eyeshadow (L to R) Golden Emerald, Smoldering Plum and Bottomless Java  2.  Chanel Illusion D'ombre in Illusoire  3. Ben Nye Cake Eyeliner  4. Maybelline 24 Hr. Color Tattoo Eyeshadow (L to R) in Painted Purple, Bold Gold, Tough as Taupe, Bad to the Bronze and Pomegranate Punk  5. Inglot Freedom System Custom 5 Pan (from L to R): 389 matte, 72 amc,  
349 matte,  31 shine, 461 ds

                                    

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (L to R) - 1. Sparkle Nude  2.  Sparkle Leopard  3. Iced Mocha 3.  Purple Velvet 

 4.  French Fries and 5. Yogurt

                                                                                                     

Lessons Learned About Eyes:

- As an eyeshadow novice, I still am learning about how to layer shades and put it all together into one look.  Crease, brow, lid...all the colors just end up looking muddy in my inexperienced hands. But that doesn't mean one can't play. Most everything I chose looks great as a single color blended across the lid. It's EASY.  For more experienced makeup mavens, I'd love to hear suggestions on how to combine everything.

-For newbies or girls on the go, I highly recommend the NYX jumbo eye pencils. They're creamy, blend out super easily and can make even a novice look like pro.  They are my new go-to product. And  the price can't be beat at $4.49 a pop - there's even a special a BOGO 50% off special going on at Ulta right now. Love!

Pucker Up

1.  Tarte Lipsurgence Matte Lip Tint (Envy)  2. thru 5. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick, Honey, Smitten and Rendezvous  6.  NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in Deep Red  7. NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in Honey Nectar  8. thru 10. NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme in Amsterdam, Addis Ababa and Monte Carlo   11. Smashbox Limitless Longwear Lipgloss in Endless

1. thru 6.  Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars in Melange, NSFW, Queen, Strumpet, Vintage and Clear  7. MAC lipstick in Peachstock  8. Too Faced La Creme in In The Buff  9. NYX Matte Lipstick in Perfect Red  10. & 11.  Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Fig Jam and Sugar Plum

Things I Learned About Lip Stuff:

-Exfoliate. No matter what color or formulation of lip product you use, it's all going to look awful on flaky, dry, cracked lips. It's as easy as using your toothbrush to gently buff away the dead skin and then using your fave chapstick or balm (my longtime fave is Jack Black's Intense Lip Therapy in Grapefruit)

-Lip brushes are great for precise and even application, but for a pretty, quick and easy look, I'm loving the balm stain - jumbo pencil type thingys like the Tarte Lipsurgence or Revlon Just Kissable Balm Stains. Just color in your lips and go!

Get Cheeky!! (I know I did face already, but cheeks needed their own category!)

1.  NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Hot Pink  2. NARS powder blush in Orgasm  3. NARS powder blush in Dolce Vita  4. Illamasqua powder blush in Excite  5.  NARS The Multiple in G-Spot

Thoughts on Cheeks:

-Nothing will make you look healthier, younger or more chipper faster than rosy cheeks.  There's just something so enlivening about it. If you feel you're looking sallow, washed out, wan - reach for the blush. 

-There are a variety of formulations - cream, powder, cream-to-powder, gel stains, mousses....no matter what kind you get, don't put it too near your nose, it looks weird or that you've got a cold. If you can see concentrated spots of color, you've put on too much. The key is to blend, blend, blend - outward towards your temples. 

Skin(care) is In

1. Comodynes Sensitive & Dry Skin Make-Up Remover Wipes  2. Bio-Oil  3. Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist lightweight spray moisturizer  4. Alpha H Liquid Gold skin refiner  5. Bioderma Crealine H2o Ultra-mild Non-rinse Face and Eyes Cleanser  6. Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover  7.  La Mer Creme De La Mer moisturizing cream  8.  Nuxe Reve Du Miel Lip Balm  9.  L'Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream

Newly-gleaned insights on skincare:

-This should be a no-brainer. Take your damn makeup off at night. I have pretty good skin and I am hella lazy about taking care of it because I think, "Hey, my skin is pretty good anyway. No worries." I deserve to be smacked. The quality of my skin has improved a hundred-fold since being really disciplined about taking it all off at the end of the day. If you're tired or like me, just plain lazy sometimes, keep a pack of makeup removing wipes on your nightstand. 

-If you wear waterproof mascara (like me), makeup removal does not have to sting and hurt and cause wailing and gnashing of teeth. Cleansing oils are great for this very reason.  If you want to go out and get a dedicated eye makeup remover, look for ones that specifically target waterproof makeup or you'll be scrubbing a little too hard around that delicate eye area.

-Moisturize. And don't forget your lips.

WHEW.  Are you tired yet? I warned you this would be a helluva long post.  Yes, there is a TON of stuff, but I feel like I'm catching up after years of being clueless. Think of it this way - I'm spending my money just so you don't have to - or so that you can get a better sense of what you might want to get and what you feel you can pass on.

If you'd like to see specific reviews or more swatches of anything I've posted so far, just let me know :) Ta for now!

Sample Society First Look - September 2012

I love this time of the month when all of the sample boxes start to roll in, or as my friendly neighborhood UPS carrier calls it - "overtime."

Yesterday, I received my second-ever Sample Society box. I was blown away by my first box which had Deborah Lippmann's Private Nail Polish (a gorgeous metallic purple) in it, that I could barely wait to rip open the box to see what was in store this month.

September Sample Society Box

What's Inside:

Stila Smudge Crayon in Umber - Full Size 0.04 oz for $22.00 - Sample size ? Est Value. $4.40 (I estimate this sample is about 20% the normal amount of product, so that's how I got the est. value)

Diptyque Eau De Toilette Fragrance - Full Size 3.4 fl. oz. for $120 - Sample size 0.06 Fl. oz. valued at $2.12

Borghese B Gloss in Fiore - Full size 0.21 oz for $18.50 - Sample size 0.16 fl oz valued at $14.10 - practically a full size product!

Ahava Purifying Mud Mask - Full size 4.4 oz for $30.00 - Sample size 0.9 oz valued at $6.14

Cellceuticals Extremely Gentle Skin Cleanser - Full size 6.7 fl. oz for $35.00 - Sample size 2 fl oz. valued at $10.45

Total approx value of September SS Box = $37.21


Even though this is only my second Sample Society box, I have to give credit to the company for managing to pick shades that would have wide-spread appeal. Nothing is sadder to this tanned girl than when I get a makeup sample that was made for only the fairest of the fair.

Below are swatches of the Borghese Fiore Lipgloss and the Stila Smudge Stick in Umber.

Borghese Lipgloss in Fiore (natural light)

Stila Smudge Crayon in Umber (natural light)

Fiore is a shimmery pink nude lipgloss. While I thought it would be a tad too light, when I applied to my lips, it was a very pretty neutral shade, great to wear when trying to balance out a strong eye makeup look or for a pretty everyday look.  I've never used a Borghese gloss before, so I'm not sure if it's the formula or the sample I received, but I was surprised by how thick it was and how much I had to "push" the product around with the wand to get an even coat. It's not so thick, tacky or heavy to be off-putting, just surprising.

As for the Stila Smudge Crayon, this thing does NOT budge. It is a BEE-YOU-TI-FUL bronze-y color that I think would complement the shades of my Naked 2 palette nicely. I have fabulous plans for this as a refreshing alternative to black eyeliner.  That being said, I'm not sure how this would work as an eyeshadow.

As a product touted as a smudge stick, I would expect it to well, smudge *duh*.  Again, not sure if it's a sample that's a bit dried out, if it's the formulation or if I'm just not quick enough with a makeup brush, but it took 2 tries for me to blend out the swatch above. The first time, the color locked and it wasn't going ANYWHERE - so, yay for great staying power, but not so great for blendability.  The second time, I did manage to smoke it out, but you can even see from the picture it's a bit blotchy and like I said before, once the color locks, it ain't moving.

Overally, I'm really happy with this month's Sample Society box - even with the perfume sample, which I normally detest as a filler product, but Diptyque is a brand I've been DYING to sample as their candles smell so utterly divine and have such a cult following. I was uber curious to have a go at their perfume.   Sample Society is quickly becoming THE box I look forward to most for value, variety and for the overall happy-happy-joy-joy vibes I get from it.

Stay tuned...I'm just waiting with baited breath for my Glossybox to arrive (seriously, it's an AGONIZING wait till the end of the month) and I'll be doing "A Tale of 3 Boxes" part deux.

September Birchbox First Look

After getting spoiled at the Birchbox NYFW event a couple of nights ago, I had to remind myself not to hold a bias against the regular Birchbox delivery. September's box arrived yesterday afternoon, so it was with just a little trepidation that I opened it.

Color Club's Status Update - a nice flat dark grey that will go well with fall fashions. Not as harsh as black, but still with a bit of an edge.

Inside my box this month:

Benefit's Foamingly Clean Facial Wash and Refined Finish Facial Polish - sample value  $0.96

Color Club Nail Polish in a custom color for Birchbox called "Status Update" - $8.00 - full size product, yay!

Nexxus Pro-Mend Split End Treatment System - sample value $0.85

Youngblood's Mineral Primer - sample value $6.97

Twistband Lace Pattern Hair Tie - Value $2.33

Extra - Sampler Sachet from Mighty Leaf Tea Company - sample value approx $1.60

Extra - Birchbox Digital Download from Tristan Prettyman and $25 coupon off $75 at Madewell

Total box value: $20.71

Now, I normally spend the next couple of weeks STALKING other beauty bloggers to see what they got in their Birchboxes - I was astounded a couple of months ago to find out that Birchbox could send out upwards of 25 different types of boxes!   Today, I was lucky enough to stumble on Tiffany of the My Makeup Boxes blog and she lists the contents of ALL of the other Birchboxes that were sent out this month. 

Find the list WITH PICTURES of all the other Birchboxes you didn't get HERE:

All told, I think this is a pretty solid box. I'm looking forward to trying out the Youngblood primer - a brand I hadn't heard of before. The Benefit products also catch my fancy and I quite like the nail polish.  There were a few products in the other boxes that I would have liked - such as any of the WEI samples, but here's crossing my fingers that they'll appear one of my future boxes. For now, I'll paint my nails grey and sip on a cup of organic tea from my spoils this month.

Birchbox's NYFW Event - The Hosts With the Mostest / "I-am-a-greedy-sample-whore" Haul

My haul from Birchbox's NYFW Event @Chelsea Market 09/10/12

What do you think heaven is for a beauty junkie? Two words: Open Bar. No, make that three words - open SAMPLE bar.

Last night I had the chance to go to my first beauty blogger event being hosted by Birchbox* for New York Fashion Week.  OMG. I had the time of my life.

Having a quickie dinner with my guy at Chelsea Market in NYC last night, we ran into two friends of ours - none other than the fabulous Carla Holtze and Kim Skelton, the dynamic duo behind the revolutionary shopping website,  Have To Have.  (I will do a whole other post on Have to Have sometime soon but for now, this is about my sample avarice and the kick-ass party.) Carla and Kim were at Chelsea Market for the Birchbox event, which was open early for beauty / fashion bloggers and industry peeps.

Well whaddya know?  Even though I'm new to the beauty blogging world, I AM a beauty blogger.  Carla and Kim encouraged me to go on in, so with all the confidence and swagger I could muster, I waltzed right on in. Yup, that's right dear readers. I crashed. And let me tell you, it was soooooooo worth it.

There were mini manicures and brow shaping by Benefit and hair consultations also available, but with only a few minutes to spend before an appointment, I made a beeline for the sample bar.

Words cannot describe the joy I felt at being handed an empty Birchbox and told to go help myself.  Many times as a kid, I wondered what it would be like to go to a candy store and be allowed to get as much stuff as I wanted.  *sniff* Last night, that dream came true.

I think I visibly drooled a little at the sight of Birchbox's spread.  They definitely know how to host a party.  Thanks, Kim, for the pictures!

The menu of samples that was available last night. You'll notice how many I had checked off the list.


Oh, Birchbox, I know we've had our ups and downs this past few months months,  but you've more than made up for it with last night's event.  You had me at, "Hello, please take some samples."

*Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription service with over 100,000 subscribers. For $10 a month including shipping, Birchbox will send you a prettily wrapped package with 4-5 curated samples of beauty / skincare / haircare products.  

The "OMG-I-Spent-Too-Much-This-Month" Mega Haul Part 2 - I Heart Imomoko

And more evidence of my inability to exercise any shopping restraint this month continues....Part 2 of my "mega haul" series are more Asian beauty products. 

imomoko.com is a US company, based in California. The selection is vast and there are constant sales and promotions making already good prices even better. Shipping is also FAST (See Part 1 of my Mega Haul series).  I heart imomoko - and no, I'm not getting paid a promotional credit to say that :)

As you can see from the picture below, I am OBSESSED with lashes. I have stick straight Asian lashes. They're relatively thick and are a decent length, but I have been on a seemingly endless quest to get those sinfully long, fluttery, flirty, lush lashes that dreams are made of.  In short, I want to be a giraffe.  I know that sounds strange, but have you ever SEEN a giraffe's lashes?  They go on for miiiiiiiiiiles.  And I covet them.

However, since I was not naturally born with those lashes, I have to resort to mascaras, growing serums, eyelash curlers, extensions, perms and falsies to get the desired effect.  Asian beauty sites like imomoko.com are a false lash hoarder's dream.  But I digress....

Let's get onto the goodies:

1) Jealousness Diamond Beauty False lashes (various) - Like I mentioned above, the dizzying selection of lashes at imomoko.com will make deciding what to buy difficult. From doll-like fringe to cat-eye outer corners and everything in-between, you'll find it at all at great price points.

2) Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara - This mascara might deserve a stand-alone review. If falsies aren't your thing, or you're keeping your everyday makeup routine simple, but still want some oomph, this may be the mascara for you. I've tried fiber mascaras such as Love Alpha, but while I would get length, I found the formulas to be clumpy and the fibers to weigh down my lashes and straighten out the curl within minutes. Not so with this mascara. It holds curl like a dream, doesn't smudge and lengthens as promised. My lashes a bit stiffer with this than with other mascaras and I'm sure that without my trusty oil cleanser, this would be a bi-atch to take off, but it gives me lashes that practically touch my brow bone. I'm closer to being a giraffe than I ever thought humanly possible. WIN!

3) Kose Softymo Nose Pore Cleansing Pack 10 pieces - Black - This is a HOLY GRAIL ITEM for me. Confess - you've done those Biore pore strips and you spend countless minutes after removing that familiar white strip investigating with horror and fascination all the gunk it just pulled out of your pores.  For one thing, they stick on to your skin loads better than any of the US brands that I've tried. Second and most importantly, they're black....translation - you can see all the gross stuff that much better! Come on, you know you want to!I bought these on eBay, but since it fit in with the Asian beauty product theme and arrived the same day as my imomoko.com order, I included it here.  

4) The Face Shop black Head EX Charcoal Pore Strip - Same idea, different brand. I prefer the Kose Softymo, but these might be easier to procure in the US.

5) Lioele A.C. Control Trouble Patch (60 count) - These spot treatment dots are clear patches containing tea tree oil and salicylic acid are small and discreet. Put them on overnight and watch your blemishes clear up faster. I've only tried this on one pimple so far, but by the next morning, it was practically gone!  I will definitely be repurchasing these!

6) Moe 24hr Long Lasting Gel Eyeliner (Deep Black) - Lashline or waterline, great gel pencil applies easily and waterproof, long-lasting and doesn't smudge. I've only used this a couple of times and have been impressed, especially since pencil liners tend to smear because of my oily eye area. 

7) False Eyelash Applicator Tool - For those who need help putting on falsies, this could be the tool for you. The tweezers clamp firmly down on falsies and are optimally shaped for placement on the lash line. I purchased these for under $10 on eBay. Shu Uemera did a version of these tweezer retailing at $50. For those who might need help putting on falsies because of the coffee shakes (GUILTY!), these are great.

8) 10 Pair Ballet Criss-Cross Lashes - 10 pairs for under $10. SOLD!  From the same eBay seller I got the last applicator tool from. Many other styles available.

9) DHC Deep Cleansing Oil (not pictured) - Since my skin tends to go oily, I avoided oil cleansers thinking that they would just add more unwanted greasiness to my complexion. Boy, was I wrong.  I wear waterproof mascara everyday and while I love how it looks on, I DREAD taking it off at night. Not so with this cleanser. The rich formula glides over skin taking off my waterproof mascara with minimal effort. But the BEST part of DHC is that a little water emulsifies the oil and makes for easy rinsing off with no greasy feeling left behind. Seriously, the most effective makeup remover I have ever tried. Instant favorite that I can foresee buying again and again over the years. 

4 All Star Products in Part 2 of the Mega Haul alone? That's gotta be some kind of record :)

                        

                 

Top Left: Kose Softymo Black Nose Strips, Top Right: DHC Cleansing Oil

Bottom Left: Kiss Me Heroine Volume & Curl Mascara,  Bottom Right:  Lioele Patches

Coming Soon: Part 3 - This one's gonna be a doozie! Stay tuned!

The "OMG-I-Spent-Too-Much-This-Month" Mega Haul - Part 1

Warning: this post contains graphic images of carnage - mostly done to my credit card. I spent waaaaaaayyyyyyy too much money this month, but boy, oh boy, did I have fun doing it.  After writing an earlier post on having indulged too much, I did it AGAIN. I seem to have a knack for overspending with abandon.  (You can't see it, but my guy is shooting me a stern look right now :S)

ANYHOW, I thought I would share pics of the bounty - er, damage - no, bounty, because haul posts and videos are some of my favorite things to read and watch.

I probably *should* state at the beginning of this that I'm not trying to show off, but really - isn't that what a haul post is supposed to be? You are proclaiming to the world, "HEY LOOK! I BOUGHT THESE THINGS AND I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THEM!"

But to those critics who might look at this and shake their heads at my boastfulness, I say earnestly that I'm hoping this helps folks who might also be looking for new things to try. It's a shopping public service announcement, if you will. So THERE.

The products come from a number of sources, though I tried to group them accordingly. Haul part 1 is from sasa.com - a Hong Kong-based website chock-full of Asian beauty products.  Haul part 2 is from imomoko.com - a California-based website also featuring Asian beauty brands. Finally, there is the "miscellaneous" part 3 - products come from Sephora, Ulta and even eBay.

Onto Part 1- Sasa.com

This was my first order from Sasa. And while they have a great variety of products and better prices than you'd find with US merchants, the free shipping option is slow. REALLY SLOW.  I can see where that phrase "a slow boat from China" came from. It took close to a month for all of the products I ordered to show up at my door.  If I do shop with them again, I would pay extra for shipping, just to avoid the agonizingly long wait.

1) Cotton pads - I know, I know. Boring - but after hearing for so long from other beauty gurus that Asian cotton pads are so much softer than their US counterparts, I had to try them out. They are both the Suzuran brand, but green box is LilyBell and the white package is named Attirer.

2) Scinic Eye / Lip Makeup Remover - great upright pump applicator. It needs to be shaken as it's a bi-layer product. Goes on like water, no oiliness or greasiness. Good at taking off eyemakeup, but still not the best for waterproof mascara, but for the regular stuff, it's pretty great. No stinging or red eyes afterwards!

3) Pretty Eye 3 pair eyelashes - PE-56 Cross - Great for when you want to give your lashes some subtle ooomph.

4) Kai Hair Pins - lol, just as interesting as cotton pads, right?

5) Arezia Powder puff - I promise it gets better!

6) EYE eyelash adhesive in clear white

7) Kose SUNCUT Essence In UV Protect Milk SPF50 PA+++ Waterproof - loving the milky formula for easy application; also no white cast. As a tanned gal, finding a good face sunscreen that doesn't leave you with a white / ashy coat on your skin is key. Oh, and it's waterproof.

8) Kuan Yuan Lian Cucumber Water Spray with Refill - Just as refreshing as putting cucumber slices over your eyes, but with the convenience of a spray bottle. Perfect purse size. Great for those humid days.

9) SILK WHITIA QUICK MOISTURE Anti-Oxidation Whitening Mask (5 piece)  - Ahhh, the reason I visited the Sasa site to begin with. These masks were on a 2 for 1 promo. I am a recent convert to Japanese sheet masks. They provide great hydration and my skin feels baby soft the morning after using them. I started off using MyBeautyDiary masks, but decided to try Silk Whitia after hearing rave reviews.  These are my new standard for face masks. The promo is still going on, so pick some up if you get the chance.

So I realize there wasn't any makeup in this order, just skin products. Dont' worry, there will be much more makeup in parts 2 and 3 of the Mega Haul.  Stay tuned!

COMING SOON:  Part 2 of the Mega Haul - imomoko.com

PopSugar’s Must-Have Box Review (Aug 2012) - Now THAT’S What I’m Talking About

My PopSugar Must-Have August Box arrived just in the nick of time to still call itself an August box.  I’ll be blunt. I didn’t like the first box.  It was overhyped and more importantly, the value promised wasn’t there.  But like after many a bad first date, I agreed to try it again, to ensure I wasn’t being too hasty in dismissing a potentially great thing based on a bad first impression.

I opened it and was happily surprised and impressed this time around. (I wish I could say the same for half of the second dates I talked myself into :S )

To cut right to the chase, here’s what was inside:

Tatcha blotting papers,  a cute striped baggu bag, stemless shatterproof wine glasses?  Yes, please!

Alora Diffuser ( Isola scent)  - $60.00 value

Baggu reusable bag (striped) -  $9.99 value

Set of 4 Govino 16 oz. Shatter Proof Stemless Wine Glasses -  $12.95 value

30 ct. Tatcha Blotting Papers - $12.00 value

Pop Physique Original Butt DVD - $14.99 value

1 oz. bottle of Sprout Exfoliant - $7.00 value (4oz. full size $28.00)

1 oz. bottle of Sprout Cleanser $6.00 - value (4oz. full size $24.00)

7.2 oz. bag of Original Pretzel Crisps - $3.00 value

1.35 oz. bag of Bear Naked Fruit and Nut Granola - $0.45 value (12oz. full size $4.00)

Postagram Prints gift card good for 10 prints - $10.00 value

2 paper coasters with a 15% coupon for Benziger Family Winery  

The total value of this first PopSugar must have bag is $136.38 - great for a $35 price tag.   This is still well under the original $150 value (I know, I know, I have to learn to let things go. Unlike last month, I knew what I was getting into this month) but the novelty and variety of the products were great. This is definitely a lifestyle box and it’s refreshing from all of the pure beauty-based subscription services that are now being offered.

While this month was definitely a winner in my opinion, PopSugar still has some kinks to work out.

CONS: 

-Lack of communication prior to box release – maybe let subscribers know the theme to give them something to look forward to

-AGONIZINGLY slow shipping and arrives very late in the month

-some complained about the change from Must-Have Bag to “Must-Have Box”….when I signed up I certainly didn’t expect a bag every month like other folks did (there WAS a baggu bag in this month's box). For me, it's not a big deal as the canvas beach bag was the first thing I gave away last month, but yet another unannounced change (like lowering the bag value) could definitely be frustrating for those who signed up because they wanted a monthly bag.

So by my count, PopSugar is 1 for 2. This month’s box has made up for the disappointment of the inaugural box and let’s hope they continue the trend.  I’m still betting on PopSugar to live up to their brand and surprise and delight their subscribers with the MustHave bag....er, box...Whatever. I’m subscribing for another month and will keep you posted. 

*I bought the PopSugar box at full retail price with my own money. This review is not sponsored in any way, nor have I been compensated. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.