April Ipsy Bag!

 April's Ipsy bag got here, and the first thing that popped out was the packaging.  I actually love it!  This is my first Ipsy bag, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I love the mailer.  I even looked up where to buy them, so I could use them for my jewelry biz.  Too cute and fun! Makes a statement, and is memorable.

So off to open it I went.  And, inside the mailer bag, another bag holding (most of) the goodies!  

I am not sure what I will use the little bag for, but as an ultra organizer (albeit with ADD) I will find a use for it to be sure.  Right now, I am thinking it can hold the umpteen billion hair ties I have running around here but can never seem to find.

Inside the bag was this little postcard type thing.  On the back is an invitation to take photos or blog or whatever of your "Glam Bag Goodies" and share them, for a chance to win a year subscription to Ipsy.  I was doing this blogging thing before, so score for winning on something I already do!!  (Not that I won...just...a figure of speech.  Don't want there to be any misunderstanding.)

Okay, now let's get down to business!

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant .25 oz (Value of $9.75) ★★★★

I have to be honest, I haven't had an opportunity yet to actually use this.  Shortly after Ipsy came knocking on my door, my husband and I started renovating the back yard, and Ive had a fairly disagreeable sunburn for days.  BUT I did run a db between my fingers, and am pretty sure I am going to love it.  I looked it up on Sephora, and a 2 oz. bottle costs $78, and the reviews are fairly glowing, much like my skin will be after I use it.  However, it may be a decent week or so before I can, because, seriously...I am pretty badly burned.  I gave it 4 stars because that is my initial score on it, and it may go up or down after actual usage.

Starlooks Luscious Longwear Lip Pencil in "Naked" (full size pencil, $12.99) ★★★★3/4

A brand I am unfamiliar with but I think I will love.  It's creamy without being smeary, and a good color for many of my more nude lipsticks.  It does have a tiny pinky/coral tint to it.  I thought I should mention that because when people think "nude", they tend to think of a more neutral light brown.  This is a bit closer to a nude-but-pink lip.  Great for everyday, for most paler complected ladies.  I am not sure where else to get it though.  Is it a new company or just exclusive?  A quick Google search for "Starlooks Lip Pencil" came up with the Starlooks website, Ipsy and Amazon.  Maybe it is available at other stores and I just didn't dig past the first page.  Due to that, and only that, I knocked off a quarter of a star for not easily found in say, Sephora or Ulta.

Elizabeth Mott's Pop Goes The Shadow in Champagne ($12.99)★★★★

So, I pull out this little box and my first knee jerk reaction/thought was..."oh, dear.  A box of Chiclets??" Perhaps I have been living in the south for too long. Another company I am unfamiliar with, but that's why I am doing this year long beauty box subscription box experiment...to learn more about the smaller and/or up and coming and/or awesome cosmetic companies that I personally don't know about. (I hope no one takes offense to that.  It's me...seriously...not you.)

 Anyway, I pull out the shadow and this is what I see.

Honestly, quite a pretty color.  Again, due to working in the back yard day in and day out for 2 weeks, I haven't had a chance to try it out much, but I did play with it a little bit.  The pigment is good yet buildable. Once it's on (use your eyelid primer, ladies!!  And thank me later!) it stays on.  It compliments my fair skin nicely, but (And only because of my skin tone) I would have to make sure not to build up too much or it may look a little orangey.  Again, though...that is a problem with lots of redheads and cosmetics.  I believe it will blend nicely with my UD Naked 2 palette.  As for long term usage, and buying it myself, that will remain to be seen.  I just need more time with it.

Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide On Eye Pencil in Black Velvet ($15) ★★★★★

If I haven't let this be known already, I love Urban Decay.  Love, Love, LOVE UD.  So, I admit, a squealed like a 12 year old girl when I pulled this out of my glam bag.  I hadn't used THIS product before, so I was anxious to give it a shot.  It absolutely glides on. And it feels like velvet.  It won't pull your eyelid.  It's soft and smooth and not likely to dry out, as long as you keep the lid on it.  You do meed to be careful about application because this is BLACK and once it's on, it's pretty much on.  But, still, totally stoked at THIS item.  UD lists this as $20 for .04 oz, and my pencil was .03 oz, so let's say this is a $15 dollar value.  Will likely buy this again!!  Especially if it came in other colors.

CoastalScents Make Up Brush Medium Shadow Brush ($2.49)

As an add, Ipsy threw in this little make up brush.  I can't tell you much about it as it is still in it's wrapper.  I promise, I or my teenage daughter WILL be using it soon.  Just haven't had a chance.

There you have it.  My $10 a month subscription to Ipsy got me a tidy $40ish or more in product.  Nice!!  I don't know if Ipsy is always this awesome, or if I just lucked out with my first bag.  Time will tell!!

XOXO, Sam

April BeautyBox5

Finally back to subscription reviews!  I opened and photographed THREE subscription boxes a while ago!  And today's review is for the April edition of BeautyBox5.

(The others will come in the coming days.)

I wasn't exactly thrilled with the size of this box.  It seemed almost the size of the box that my business cards came in.  And it was light.  Perhaps this wasn't exactly fair to BB5, as I had gotten Birchbox and Boxycharm a couple of weeks ago, and their boxes a very generous in comparison.  Plus, it seemed on the light side as far as weight is concerned, and everything was rattling around on the inside.  Still I was willing to give it a chance.

Now the other two boxes I received before were packaged rather well, yet BB5 seemed to just throw things in there.  Still, perhaps this is just an off month.  I always try to keep these things in mind, and give the benefit of the doubt.

Blum Naturals All Purpose Cleansing Wipes ★★1/2 $6.99

Not exactly what I expected in a beauty box, but okay.  These are okay...and the travel sized container is nice for your purse.  I didn't see, feel or smell anything special about them.  Perhaps these are good in a pinch or on a plane?  The wipe sizes are quite small and dainty, and as a mother of 4, that does me no good.  Still, I suppose if you were childless and travelled a bit, these might be okay.  I have no use for them, nor would I, in a million years, spend $6.99 on something like this.

Jergens Natural Glow 3 pack, Medium to Tan ★★★★

I've used Jergens Natural Glow before.  Too much sun is a no-no for anyone, but as a redhead "too much sun" can be 15 minutes without any sunscreen on.  Plus, we redheads tend to come in either alabaster white or lobster red...nothing in between...which can be blindingly obvious when it comes to summer and shorts season.  So, I use Jergens Naturals to give me a little bit of color.  Like any other sunless tanner, you have to be sure that you put it on evenly, and exfoliate before your first application.  Unfortunately for me, this pack is for "medium to tan" which will turn me a burnt orange color.  This will end up going to my daughter or my sister.  "A" for effort, though.

bh Cosmetics California Collection  ★★★1/2 

This cutesy little compact eyeshadow has nice packaging, but the colors were a bit shocking when I first opened them.

These didn't photograph that well, but Hollywood is a deep yet bright shimmer purple...San Francisco is a shimmery nude and Malibu is...shimmery golden yellow?  Alrighty then.  These do not appear to be too highly pigmented, but the color is build able.  I can see myself using SF and maybe Hollywood but the Malibu is not for me.  Again, though, it might just be my skin coloring...and not everyone is paler than milk.  It might be nice on a darker skin tone.  I am not sure how much BB5 wants me to believe this is worth, but it has to be super cheap when a 26 color palette on Amazon is $16.99.

Bonne Belle Lip Definer in Ash Rose $1.99 ★★★★

Who doesn't have experience with Bonne Belle?  It's rather on the low end of the price line at any department or drug store, and most of us cut our cosmetic teeth on Bonne Bell lip glosses.  The pencil is nice enough, and the color almost exactly matches most of my more subdued lipsticks.  I usually prefer a creme pencil, but this one will do the trick just fine.

NickAK New York Lipstick in Concerto - $4.99 ★★★

I had never heard of NickAk New York before, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  At $4.99, this is...well...a cheap lipstick.  The color is great for me, and it pairs perfectly with the Bonne Belle Lip Definer listed above.  It's especially pretty with a rose or nude lip gloss over it. I don't know that I would go out of my way to get this lipstick again...but this will get plenty of use.  Who knows, though?  Maybe I will fall in love with it.  I don't discount anything.

And there you have it.  Yup, that's it.  I can't feel but a little gypped with this box.  At $10 a month, I don't think I got $10 worth out of it.  Personally, I feel like subscription boxes should make you feel like you are getting a great deal, if not your money's worth.  I am holding out that maybe this is just an off month for them? Surely not every box is this...cheap?  

Maybe BB5 will surprise me next month.  

My first look at Ipsy in a few days!  Stay tuned!

Xoxo,

Sam

Revenge of the Nerds

Hey guys!  I know its been a while since I updated the blog, which almost borders on cliche for new blogs.  Many blog writers get lofty goals, and then burn out quickly and I am sure some of you are thinking that is what happened with me.

Mais non, mon amis!!

See, what had happened was, I launched my business at the same time as the blog, AND business has been booming, and I got a bit compulsive about the inner workings of my business.  I got super obsessive with creating sales trackers and inventory forms and super duper organized date sheets awaiting my input.  I got a trifle caught up in the moment with it all at first, but as I am finding my professional rhythm, I aim to get back to blogging here.

I've gotten THREE subscription beauty boxes in the last week or so, and have only opened one.  I will blog more about that tomorrow.  So far, the one I opened is a box that I had never received before, and...well...I was less than impressed.  Details will follow within about 24 hours or so.

But before I go much further, I wanted to get something off my chest.  Are you ready for this, Blogosphere?   Are you ready to hear the thing that has been eating away at me for quite some time?

I love nerds.

Seriously, I love nerds of all kinds.  Yes, there is the traditional nerd that wears bow ties and pocket protectors and performs calculus functions in their sleep.  Those nerds are awesome, and great, and wonderful and I do love them.  But I love all nerds.

I love music nerds, and computer nerds, and gaming nerds, and make up nerds.  I love fitness nerds.  I love movie nerds.  I love literary nerds.  I love car nerds, and sports nerds, and trivia nerds.  I love beauty nerds, and clothing nerds, and philosophical nerds, and photography nerds, and social issues nerds, and theatre nerds, and dance nerds, and animal nerds, and political nerds. I love all nerds. ALL nerds.

For me, a nerd is someone who has a passion.  And having a passion for something...anything...is sexy, for lack of a better term.  Sexy in a non-sexual way.  I love passionate people, and I find their passions to be contagious because, while I may not be completely excited about what excited them, their passion is stimulating.  Being around passionate people has a way of opening my mind and my soul to new experiences and knowledge.  I could honestly give a rats patootie about HTML coding or how to rebuild a carburetor. But I can be completely mesmerized in learning about those things when my educator is passionate about the subject.

Nerds are beautiful.  I really and truly believe that because that is how I comprehend them.  They may not have symmetrical features, or they may be plump or have a lot of piercings or tattoos, or be a societal beacon of beauty.  That doesn't matter.  You can be "pretty" and boring, and I ill find you off putting.  Be "plain" but passionate about something, and I am drawn to you like a moth to a flame.

I review make up and skin products and hair products, and I sell jewelry, not in effort to encourage someone to conform to a societal definition of beauty.  Actually, I hope to lend someone a helping hand in accepting the fact that they are beautiful.  Applying a complimentary shade of lipstick or accessorizing an outfit with the right earrings doesn't, in fact, make anyone more or less attractive to the eye.  What it does is raise someone's confidence level, and that is a change that is visible to the eye and can make someone more attractive. And, THAT, dear readers, is my end game.

So if there are any of you that feel less than awesome because Cosmo hasn't begged you to be on their cover...find a passion.  Have a passion?  A real burn-in-your-gut-and-heart passionate that gives you the giddy rush you can feel in your bones passion?  Well, then darlin', you are gorgeous and sexy and beautiful.  You are a nerd.  Embrace it.  Love it.  And love yourself.  The rest is nothing but cake.

Until next time,
Xoxo
Sam

My Love Letter to You

Why do I do what I do?  Four words:  I'm on a mission.

I got into my new business because I want to help women feel a bit better about themselves.  Many women who inspire me, especially local women, are on the same mission, and this is just my way of joining the effort.

I know first hand what it's like to feel like you don't measure up; to feel like you are past your prime, you aren't pretty, and to feel depressed about it.  And I know that, on the surface, it might seem silly. "How do $5 trinkets help women?"

I did my research.  I bought some of these baubles from another local rep.  These are cute and affordable, and the variety is so vast, you can find things to go with any outfit, no matter what your "look".  I experienced first hand how a few accessories help pull an outfit together, and, in turn, make you feel better about yourself and turn your day, your week and even your life path around.  I want other women, whether family, friends or perfect strangers, to have that same experience.

While it pains me to see so many of my friends feel down about themselves, I totally understand.  I also understand the proclivity of women to not do much for themselves because they tend to want to do more for their family, especially for children.  So, oftentimes we forgo getting things for ourselves so that we can do more for others.  What my company offers is a way to do both...treat yourself to a few accessories and trinkets without spending a fortune, so you don't feel guilty, and can still afford to do things for the rest of your family.

It really is that simple.  It's empowerment.  It's confidence building.  And, in my own little way, it's important.

Until next time,
XOXO
Sam

March Boxycharm!!

Since I subscribed to my boxes mid March, two of the box companies sent me March boxes a little later in the month than everyone else, as I was not yet on the mailing list when the boxes originally went out... which is why my review is late compared to most other bloggers.  Two companies won't send me a box until this month (April)...different strokes for different folks!

Okay, so my Boxycharm box came in last week, and they scored points off the bat, as the shipping box was black, sealed closed with purple duct tape.  Purple being my ABSOLUTE. FAVORITE. COLOR. EVER!  I have no idea if this is their normal colors, or if it merely matched the theme of the month.  But either way, I might have been squealing with delight...a little bit.  The inner box was shiny black with the logo in silver, and completed with purple bow.

The card inside said "Spring Beauty - Charmers!  Spring is in the air!  We are so excited of this Spring Beauty Box that is filled to the brim with amazing full size beauty products that have a value of over $100.  We can't wait to pack up those winter clothes and do some Spring cleaning (and shopping!)  Bring on the color and head out for some fresh air, and looking beautiful."

MakeUp Base by bellapierre ★★★★★

So, the first thing that I pull out is a "MakeUp Base" by bellapierre.  I don't know much about this brand, but it was in my shade (awesome) and the box said "This wonderful product helps transform all of our shimmer powders from shimmery to matte; it also provides a water proof base for any of our pigments."  I've never used a product like that before, but I am not knocking it.  I have several shimmery eyeshadows that I think would look better as matte.  What you do with this product is lightly apply with a clean finger on the eyelid where you intend to use the eyeshadow.  Apply your eyeshadow with a brush, and what was once shimmery is no longer, but it supposedly retains the color.  It's also an eyelid primer, and will help your eyeshadow stay in place longer.

IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE:  Aside from being a primer, this makes a GREAT concealer.  That's what I used it for.  Use sparingly, as it is thick and dot on any blemishes you want to conceal. This tiny jar (0.3 oz) retails for $18.99.  Don't let that scare you though.  As you should apply it very sparingly, a little dab will do ya, and this will last you for quite a while.

Shimmer Powder by bellapierre★★★★★

Also, from the same company was a little jar of shimmery eyeshadow in the shade of Earth.  I assume they paired this with the MakeUp Base so you can test both out yourself.  Well...I didn't use the base with this.  It IS shimmery, but I usually wear Urban Decay, and am used to it.  It's a very pretty shade. A shimmery cross of pink and brown with a tiny bit of copper thrown in.  Likely to be flattering for most women of any shade.   This is HIGHLY pigmented and so, again, a little dab will do ya. Quite reasonably retail priced at $14.99 for .08 oz.  I know, it sounds like such a minuscule amount, but I promise you, it's going to last.  Like I said, I did not use the makeup base with it, so it is a bit shimmery, but I am sure it's gorgeous matte as well.  In fact, I will try it matte tomorrow!

Party Proof Cream Lipstick by ModelCO ★★★★ 1/2

Another brand I wasn't familiar with until now.  What can I say, I usually stick with brands I already know, and don't usually branch out...these beauty box subscriptions are allowing me to change that.  This is a full size lipstick and what is nice is ModelCO imbeds a mirror in the cap to help you with application/touch ups on the go.  I have to admit, when I first opened the tube and saw the shade ("Pinking Of You") I was afraid.  VERY afraid.  Barbie doll pink seemed to be a more apt name.  Now, I have always done a darker, more neutral lip...a more classic look, let's say, and at first, I hated this color.  It almost looks like a color a 12 year old would wear.  But, in an effort for an honest and fair review, I put it on this morning.  My husband LOVES the color.  I am still getting used to it, because, again, for 20 years I have worn a more mauve/neutral shade.  It is very creamy and feels good on.  I also don't notice that normal "lipstick" taste.  There really isn't a taste.  I took a half star off the rating ONLY because of the shade...and only because I am not used to it.  All in all, something I may definitely buy myself.  At $17 for a stick, I don't know that I would commit to this particular shade, but maybe.  Who knows?

STRANGEBEAUTIFUL Nail Lacquer by Jane Schub ★★★★1/2

Yet another brand I am currently unfamiliar with.  The names of the colors on the label were "Bandaid" and "Pussy Willow".  This is a nail lacquer that is free of phthalates, parabens and formaldehyde.  Not bad at all!  I did my nails with these last night.  "Bandaid" on 4 nails of each hand and the diva finger done in "Pussy Willow". Don't let the names of the colors scare you off.  "Bandaid" is actually more of a medium pink, and "Pussy Willow" is a blue gray.  They have high pigmentation as well.  (you don't have to put on 4 coats to achieve the color as it looks in the bottle...one would probably do it, but a good rule of thumb is 2 coats.) The lacquer is thick and the bristles of the brush are a little stiffer than most nail brushes, so I had to apply a clear top coat to sort of mask the obvious brush strokes (It lost half a star for that.)  Without the bad chemicals in it, it doesn't really smell like normal nail polish, either.  This duo retails for $17, which is more expensive than drugstore brands, but for formaldehyde, paraben and phthalate free nail color, it's probably worth it.

pur-moist hy-dra-balance moisturizer by pur-lisse ★★★★★

I was SO excited to see this!!  I know of the pur-lisse brand, and know it can be a little bit expensive. But in this box was a full size tube of it! It glides on smooth, it feels light, it has vitamin E in it which helps fight fine lines and wrinkles, as well as White Tea and Blue Lotus which helps fight free-radicals.  Use morning and night, after washing your face, as part of your daily routine. Doesn't take long to dry/soak in, so you can wear it under your makeup.  Made in the USA, this 1.7 oz tube retails for $55!!  I don't know that I really want to spend THAT much on a moisturizer (I prefer the term frugal or pennywise instead of cheap) but I will use it while I can.  Who knows, though...maybe pur-lisse will prove it's goodness and I will go ahead and buy it.

So, there you have it.  Boxycharm is $20 a month in subscription, and for my $20 this month, I received $124 dollars worth of product.  I don't know if every month is that generous yet, but I did get a sneak peek from Boxycharm for April and more ModelCo will be in that one.  That's at least $20, so I think it's safe to say next month is gonna be a winner too.

Until next time,
XOXO
Sam