Bold Ass Brows

Guys. GUYS. I have a life-changing product to tell you about. I've been meaning to tell you about it since I got it, but well, I've not felt like blogging much.

Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown

BUT FOR REAL. This has changed my life and it's not even an exaggeration. Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade. This product has made my life infinitely better. If I could only buy one cosmetic the rest of my life, it would be this.

My brows are a MESS currently. The last wax I got was a disaster, she went way too thin and I looked like one of THOSE people. People with bad brows. You know the ones. So I'm letting them grow wild and free until I figure out a place that is actually going to listen to me when I tell them I don't want them thinned out, just cleaned up.

Anyway, enter this product. The Dipbrow Pomade. I purchased mine in Dark Brown and it's a perfect match. I use the e.l.f. Studio Small Angled Brush to apply. A little seriously goes a LONG way. I got a little too much on the brush the first time I used it and had Peter Gallagher brows. He has a strong brow game, but really wasn't what I was going for. After using quick, small strokes to fill in and shape my brows, I use one of those little spoolie brushes just to blend it in a little bit and make it look natural.

A picture is worth a thousand words, right?

Left: Product Right: None

Ok, so my face is incredibly asymmetrical, but ignoring that fact. LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE. My left brow looks so polished and put together while my right brow is partying and seems to be missing the middle section. Not even I know what's going on there. 

In short, get this product. You can give yourself bold ass brows, like I prefer, or use a little less for a light look. It's $18, but honestly, it's going to last me quite a while. It's totally worth it. Totally. I'd probably even be willing to pay a little more for it, it's that good. Luckily, I don't have to. 

The Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade comes in 5 shades, so most of you guys and gals should be able to find a match. Do it. Change your life. 

xx

I got Naked with Herbal Essences and Influenster

So I'm a proud member of Influenster, where you can unlock badges related to your interests (mine are decorating, pet, and beauty products, mostly) and if you have enough social media clout and meet the requirements they're looking for (found out via email survey) you'll get a box of goodies sent to you to test out and review. I recently got sent a box with Herbal Essences naked Moisture shampoo & conditioner, as well as the naked dry shampoo. 

Super excited to see this in the mailbox

The Herbal Essences naked line comes in three flavors - shine, volume, and moisture. As I said, I got sent the moisture shampoo and conditioner to try. According to the HE website, the naked line is "free of heavy residues, parabens, and dyes." I've been testing these for about a week and a half now, and want to share my thoughts.

The goodies!

The moisture version like smells like mint and lavender, I believe. It's got a really pleasant scent. I currently work in a deli, so when I get off work I'm a smelly, sweaty mess. I smell of fried chicken and meats. so it's important to me that my hair products smell good and actually get rid of the food smell. Trust me, the smell of grease permeates hair. BUT, this shampoo and conditioner does a really good job of making my hair smell fresh.

Shampoo

As you can see, the shampoo is clear - you know, the whole "no dyes" thing.

Conditioner

My hair is pretty healthy, since I got it chopped off not too long ago, so I don't really NEED a moisture shampoo. Heck, even when I needed one I still opted for a volume/body shampoo. Priorities. But, this definitely left my hair soft, clean, and smelling good. It was, perhaps, a little too heavy for my fine hair. This might be something I try again in the winter, when my hair needs some added moisture. 

Dry shampoo

I really like the dry shampoo - and BONUS - it was full sized :) It gives my hair a little volume and texture on days that I let it air dry, and it revives my second day hair rather nicely and prevents me from feeling like a grease monster. Plus, any bedhead I might have, this takes care of it.

I really like the naked line from Herbal Essences. I probably won't be repurchasing the moisture line until winter, because that's when I need moisture the most. I've used the volume version of the shampoo and conditioner before and really liked it. I definitely recommend trying this line out when you need to get some new hair products.



xx

Ariel Knows.

How perfect is this? Ariel knows what's up.

And a quick note - I know my posts have been lacking. School is KILLING me at the moment. Also, I haven't been really buying beauty related items. I've got a few things to talk about though. Look for that within the next coming days, my school work is winding down, so I should have some time to spare.

How I Met Your Mother Series Finale.

This post contains SPOILER ALERTS and a lot of CURSING. I have too many feelings right now. 

You guys. I have to talk about this. I have never EVER been so disappointed in a television show ending in my life. 9 years of plot and character development just went down the drain.

First of all, an entire season dedicated to Barney & Robin's wedding, only to end with a divorce that came out of nowhere? Then Barney goes back to his womanizing ways? NO. I could have bought it had it been because he missed Robin and regretted the divorce. I was really, really hoping #31 was Robin and they had a baby and were getting back together. That was the only way it was acceptable. I mean, they really did Barney a disservice. All those years of Barney giving Robin *that* look and him realizing she was what he wanted all along? I'll admit, him meeting his daughter was adorable. I am seriously just so angry at this whole situation.

Secondly, ROBIN AND TED?! FOR FUCKSAKE. 9 years of showing how incompatible they were and then just "LOL, WHO CARES?!" Never did I once support Robin & Ted as a couple. Even at their best moments, I just didn't believe it. They lived completely different lives. And I know the (very few) supporters of the ending said it was all about the journey and they needed to go through it all to end up together, but I'm calling bullshit.

Also on the whole Robin and Ted note, the way they treated the mother was awful. Her and Ted truly were the perfect couple. Ted even admitted it! But it was like 20 minutes of their lives together and then, "Hey kids, mind if I bang your aunt Robin?" NO. The whole thing Ted's girl said about they story not being about the mother and about being how much he loves Robin is true.

I am just so disappointed in this finale. I realize it's supposed to be "realistic" and people get divorced and die and whatnot, but this was an awful ending. I feel led on, deceived, and emotionally abused. I started the episode out so hopeful and happy, and then, BAM - DIVORCE. It was at that moment I knew how it was going to end. I still hoped it wasn't going to happen, that Robin was #31 and she and Barney would get back together again, but I knew how it was ultimately going to end.

It ended in disappointment. I am way more angry at this ending than I should be. I know it's just a television show and I shouldn't let it ruin my night the way it did, but damnit, we waited 9 years for this story to resolve. I was even starting to warm up to Ted this season (previously, I really didn't like him because he was a pretentious douche who was hung up on the idea of Robin). He really showed growth, and then they just reversed everything they had built up over the last two seasons.

At least Lily & Marshall remained awesome. Long live Marshmallow and Lilypad.

March 2014 Popsugar Must Have Box Review

I was incredibly shocked when I got an email at the beginning of last week telling me my Popsugar Must Have Box was on its way. Mostly because I thought I had cancelled after getting last month's half-off. I meant to cancel it.

Honestly, I'm glad I didn't cancel it though. I really enjoyed the contents of this month's box (well, except for one, but we'll get there) and I'm thinking of maybe forgetting to cancel one more month. Let's move on to the goodies.

The contents

First thing's first: The pink bundle in the lower left corner is a mini exercise ball. That was the one item I would have liked to be something else. I'm sure it's good and has many uses in regards to getting fit, but I know my dog will pop that sucker in no time. So for now, it's going to stay in storage, deflated. 

Snapea Crisps

The must-have food item was a bag of snap pea crisps. I LOVE these things. They're crunchy & light and SO tasty. I'm actually not sure I've had just the plain lightly salted kind, but I don't think you can go wrong. The wasabi ranch flavor are my hands-down favorite and incredibly tasty. They're a perfect snack, but I tend to eat most of the bag at once. Oh well, they're healthy, right? 

Brokedown Scarf

FINALLY! I got a popugar box with a scarf (yes, ok, this has only been the 3rd I've received, but still. This is from the brand Brokedown, and it's soft. The colors are perfect for me. That shade of blue is one of my favorites to wear and I paired this with a white tee, black jeggings, black flats, and a "leather" jacket today. It was actually 60 degrees and I swear I was in heaven. I just sat outside being warm in the sun between classes. It was glorious. 

Dogeared Necklace

I've been on the Dogeared website before and wanted a piece of jewelry from them, so of course I'm thrilled it was included in this month's box, along with a 20% off purchase code. I'll probably pick something else off. Anyway, you're supposed to make a wish when you put this necklace on, and when the cord breaks, the wish will come true. In the mean time, wearing it is supposed to bring luck, with it being a horseshoe and all. I'm going to Atlantic City next week, so I definitely need all the luck I can get. Hell, I'd need all the luck I could get even if I weren't going. Anyway, this necklace is delicate and definitely something I'd choose if I could pick on my own. 

Bauble Bar Ring Holder

How adorable is this bauble bar ring holder? You just slide your rings down the elephant's trunk for safe keeping. This is a fantastic, creative idea. However, like everything else, the dog ruins this for me. He has a tendency to take things off my bedside stand when he thinks I'm sleeping in too late in the mornings. He'd definitely grab this if it were up there and I don't want him ruining it. I also REALLY REALLY don't want him eating my wedding ring, so I think I'm going to put this in the bathroom to keep track of rings in there. 

Jurlique Serum

This Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum is pretty great. I currently have a slight rash on my hand from the gloves/chemicals at work. I rubbed this over the rash, just to test it out when I first opened it. When I looked down a few hours later, the rash had definitely healed up some. I'm going to rub it on tonight too, and hope it goes away. I used it on my face this morning and it hasn't made my face greasy or anything. I broke out from the Argan Oil serum in last month's box, so I'm glad this one worked out. It also brightens the complexion up too. I might try it out without any makeup over it to see how I like that. 

Fig Bar

A Nature's Bakery Fig Bar was a special little extra this month. I think these are tasty and I'll definitely throw it in my bag to snack on during the day. 

This month's box was a clear winner. I don't know whether I liked the scarf, necklace, or serum the most. I think I'm definitely going to forget to cancel this subscription for one more month, and hope April is full of spring-y happy items like this month's was. 

XX

Covergirl Bombshell Mascara & Almay Conceal and Brighten

Today I used the Bombshell by LashBlast mascara that I posted about yesterday and wanted to report back. I also used the Almay Conceal & Brighten I found in my makeup cabinet that I thought I had lost without getting to use it. My makeup cabinet is the spot under my bathroom sink and I FINALLY got it 98% organized today. I just have to figure out a system for my brushes and blushes. I would kill for a room for my clothes & makeup. Someday, perhaps.

Top: No makeup
Bottom: Mascara & Conceal and Brighten

Initial impressions: Mascara is WONDERFUL and the conceal & brighten is meh. I mean, it worked, and if I would have also used foundation my dark circles probably mostly would have disappeared, but I don't think it worked better than any other products I've used before.

Left: No makeup Right: Mascara & concealer

As you can see, the Bombshell mascara really did have a noticeable effect on my lashes. They look longer and much darker. I was shocked how good this mascara worked. I think I'll pick up a volumizing mascara to use with this for a little fullness, though. I think that's the only thing that's missing from this mascara and preventing a true "bombshell" look.

Top: The "bombshell" side
Bottom: The "intensifying" side

The top wand is the first step in the two-part process. It adds volume and length to the lashes. Then the bottom wands lengthens the lashes even more and darkens with a really pigmented mascara. It truly does "intensify" the whole look. I was surprised at this mascara. I think it may be one of the few mascaras out there that truly does what it promises. Of course it's not going to give you the false lash look that's in the ads unless you already have to-die for lashes to begin with. 

The bottom line is this mascara is fantastic. I was skeptical going in, but this is going to be a definite repurchase. Very few mascaras make it into that category. Do yourself a favor and try it out. I honestly can't rave about this enough and I don't know that I've ever felt this strongly about a beauty product. 

Almay Brighten & Conceal in Light

Annnd, this product. The concealer has an orange tint to counteract the blues/purples in dark circles, but doesn't look unnatural to wear it without any other makeup. It was okay. I've used better products though. The brighten works pretty well. It's pink tone and, well, brightens up the eye area. I'll definitely use the brighten side up before the conceal side. 

Pick up the Covergirl Bombshell mascara as soon as you possibly can and skip the Almay Conceal & Brighten, it's nothing special. 

xx

CVS Haul

I have a beauty buying problem. I think I need some sort of rehab. Let's chat about what I picked up. 

It's really not that much

Looking at it now, it's not that bad. Half of it is for trying to fix my awful, painful, dry lips. I'll just give you a quick rundown and initial reactions. 

Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara

Maybelline Illegal Length Waterproof Mascara is my favorite drugstore mascara (so far, at least). The waterproof formula holds the curl in my next-to-impossible-to-curl lashes. It also truly seems to lengthen my lashes. I have never had any problem with it clumping or making my lashes stick together. 

Covergirl Bombshell Volume Mascara

Bombshell Volume by LashBlast Mascara is a new product. For both me and Covergirl. Mascaras are the only cosmetics from Covergirl that I really ever buy. I'm just not really a fan for some reason. I used their products in high school and a lot of them made me break out. Anyway, I'm always up for giving interesting-looking mascaras a try. Apparently, the 1 side gives bombshell volume and then the 2 side intensifies the look. I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm excited to try. I'll report back after giving it a few days. 

Covergirl truMagic "the Sunkisser"

As you can see from the first picture, this truMagic bronzer came as a sample with the Bombshell mascara - SCORE! It's a cream product that feels like a powder once you start applying it. I just swatched this real quick on my hand, haven't face-tested it yet. A light swatch didn't provide a lot of color, but when I used more, it turn orange. This product is definitely going to take some experimenting. Oh, and the formula also comes in a clear mattifier and a gold luminizer. 

Maybelline Eyestudio Color Tattoo Metal

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Inked in Pink is another new product try for me. I mostly bought this to use as a base for my Naked 3 palette. I've been using a nude shadow primer, but a lot of the colors in that palette don't show up on my eye. I figured if I use a base similar to the colors, they'll translate a little better. We'll see how it works. But, this is a pink, shimmery cream shadow. 

Neosporin Overnight Renewal Therapy

I have been on the hunt for a kick-ass lip product. I love My Favorite Night Balm from Bath & Body Works, BUT my dog got ahold of my tube, so RIP lip balm :( Until I can make it to B&BW to get a new tube, I figured I'd give Neosporin Lip Health overnight renewal therapy. It's white petroleum jelly and a mix of antioxidants and essential lipids (according to their website) that provide intense moisture and healing. I've only used it one night, and it definitely helped to improve some of the dryness and pain. It's really thick, but that's the point. 

Nivea Olive Oil & Lemon Lip Balm

Finally, my new favorite everyday lip balm, Nivea Olive Oil & Lemon lip balm. I was a little worried about it smelling/tasting like lemon cleaner, but this didn't. It was just a touch of lemon. It's light & fruity and crazy hydrating. It's not nearly as slippery as I thought it was going to be, which is a good thing. I hate slick lip balms. I don't feel like they're as moisturizing as thicker ones. It's not so thick that you can feel it and be annoyed though. Anyway, I recommend it. I think I might have to buy about 5 more, so I can have one everywhere. And then lose them all because that's what always happens. 

You'll see in the first picture I got a Blistex lip balm as well. I didn't take a separate picture of it. But, I was not a fan. It's one of those slick lip balms that I mentioned in the last paragraph. It just felt weird on my lips.

I got $6 in Extrabucks (from Maybelline & Covergirl items) so I'm going to have to head back to CVS soon and make sure they don't go to waste ;) 

xx

Trying to Beat the Winter Blues

This is the winter of my discontent.

Seriously. I hate everything about this year so far. It's been an unrelentingly cold. It will NOT stop snowing. I know it's been a lot worse in other places, but I can't even imagine how miserable I would be in those places. I never want to get out of bed, for real.

I truly have been a sack of miserable lately, so I decided I needed to do something to try and beat my winter blues. I don't have a ton of extra income, so flying to the Bahamas until the winter is over is out of the question. I have a ton of makeup and actually have no desire to buy more at this moment (that won't last long). It's really hard to find enough time to clean our whole house, especially with Jax making a mess behind me.

So I decided to give our bathroom a quick makeover. It was done in navy and nautical accessories, but that was a little dark and I wanted to do something brighter and happier.

Thank you Walmart! 

LOVE IT! This is the only thing I've replaced so far, but once I get the mat and towels, I'll post a few more pictures. Seeing this first thing in the morning is a happy way to start off the day.

It's the little things you can do to make a space look better and feel luxe. Instead of getting one of those plastic shower curtain liners, I bought a fabric one and it truly makes the shower an experience as opposed to a necessity. 

I'll upload pictures of the whole look when I get everything updated. Stay tuned! 

xx

High End Hump Day: Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Edition

Woot Woot! Welcome to another edition of High End Hump Day. Again, I'm not talking about Dior or Guerlain or anything here. I'm talking about things that are expensive for my minimum-wage part-time working student self.

Today I'm going to be telling you about Too Faced's Better Than False Lashes Nylon Lash Extension System (whew, mouthful!) This is a two part system that's supposed to make your lashes look like falsies.

Picture from Sephora

That is a picture of the system. The left gold tube is the mascara and the right white tube are the fibers that's supposed to be the extensions.

What you do is use the mascara, then apply the fibers over it while it's still wet, then use another coat of mascara to make the fibers black and look like your natural lashes. So how'd it work for me? 

Wait, where are my lashes? 

Yes, so these are my puny little baby lashes, sans curl and product. I started off using the eyelash curler I got in my September (October?) Glossybox. Whichever box it was, it was the best eyelash curler I ever used. I then applied the black mascara, and immediately used the fiber extensions, then switched back to the mascara to finish it off. After that I moved on to the other eye. It's just easier for me to do it that way. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE??!!! I know that's what you're all thinking. 

What up lashes?

I realized after applying my eyeliner that I probably wouldn't get a great open-eye lash picture. My bad. But you can really tell the difference in the closed eye comparison. There's a definitely learning curve with this system. The first time I tried it, I got the fibers in my eye and hated everything for the rest of the day. To be honest, I'm still figuring out the best way to use this, but I've used it enough times to give you an educated opinion on it. 

I was expecting miracles. I hadn't really read a ton of reviews, so I built it up in my mind all by my little self. It definitely makes my eyelashes look much fuller, but it didn't add as much length as I was hoping. It's $35 and I definitely won't be buying it again. It takes a lot longer to apply than normal mascara and doesn't really have a huge impact. I think I mentioned before that I long for length more than volume, so this just missed the mark for me. I think if you have more patience than me (probably everybody does) and want volume, this might be something you're interested in. 

So I know there's people reading this - follow me! Leave me some comments. Show me you're out there and interested. And of course, I'm always open to suggestions. I might not be able to do anything about it, but I'd love to hear them! :) 

xx

FOTD & Products

Welcome to my first "Face of the Day" post! I decided to do this one with all drugstore/cheapo products since this blog supposed to be about values (and also splurges that are worth it. We'll get there)

Let's start with how I look after I showered and blow dry my hair.

Sans makeup/hair styling

AHHHH! Just kidding. I go out without makeup a lot because I'm lazy. But I had time before class today and doing my makeup helps to pick me up when I'm feeling bummed. Let's take a look at the products I used this morning. 

Face o' the Day

So these items are what made my face possible. The brushes in the lower left corner are a mix of e.l.f., Revlon, Real Techniques, and the Urban Decay brush that came with a Naked palette.

 I started out with Maybelline's Baby Skin face primer (at the top middle of the photo), which is most definitely my favorite drugstore primer. It's the same formula as Smashbox Photo Finish primer, but cheap! And available at Walmart. It smooths out my skin, minimizes the appearance of my pores, and makes for a nice smooth foundation application. 

I then use the Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer in Neutralizer. It's a yellow tint, which counteracts the purple of my dark circles (which have been hella bad lately) and I also use it on my cheeks and nose because there's some redness there that I need to cover up. I really like this product and, while it doesn't completely eliminate the darkness, it's a really good step. 

Then I move on to Revlon's Colorstay 24-hour foundation in Sand Beige. This is my absolute favorite foundation out of all that I have tried. I can't feel it on my face, which is key for me. I hate being able to feel makeup. I use the dry/normal skin formula and it will sometimes emphasize the flaky skin on my forehead, but I try to exfoliate every other day because the cold is really zapping the moisture from my skin and making me all scaly. This foundation stays put ALL day, even through tears. (Yeah, I had a few breakdowns while wearing this foundation, and it held strong)

On my eyes I used the e.l.f. eye enhancing palette for hazel eyes. Mine are green, but the colors that work well for hazel work well for green and vice versa. I'm not really crazy for these eyeshadows. The color payoff is really poor, even over an eyelid primer. I wasn't looking for any dramatic eye look, so it was ok. I just wanted a subtle eye, so I used the green color, darkened the out corner and crease with the purple, and used the pink on the inner eye to brighten my eyes up a little bit. Then I used the Maybelline eyebrow pencil to fill mine in a little bit. Also, I realized I didn't have my mascara in the above picture, but I use Maybelline's Illegal Lengths Waterproof mascara in very black. It's my favorite mascara (and I've tried A LOT). The waterproof formula actually keeps the curl in my lashes, which is next to impossible, and it really does work to lengthen my lashes. Length and definition are what I tend to look for in a mascara as opposed to volume. 

And, for my cheeks, I used the City Color Be Matte Blush in Fresh Melon that I received in this month's ipsy bag. This blush is PIGMENTED. I actually had to use a flat-top brush to buff it out. I'll definitely have to use a lighter hand next time, but honestly, it was easy to blend out. I topped the apples of my cheeks off e.l.f. studio powder blush in Passion Pink, which is a gorgeous pink that just lights up my whole face and makes me glow. I really like this for spring. It makes me look healthy in the dead of winter. 

And then on my lips I used the POP! Beauty mini lip gloss I got in my ipsy bag, along with L'oreal Caresse Wet Shine Stain in Coral Tattoo to create a pretty pinky-coral lip.

And the finish product made me feel bright & happy.

Plus fixed my hair up. 

So that's my FOTD and product reviews. Tune in tomorrow for another version of High-End Hump Day where I'm going to review Too Faced's Better Than False Lashes Nylon Extension System. 

xx

P.S. It's pretty safe to say my favorite drugstore cosmetic brand is Maybelline. I never really thought about it before, but that's definitely the brand I have the most of. 

Aromabeads Candles

We're going to take a hot second here to chat about Walmart's Mainstays brand candles called Aromabeads. I know, I know. Walmart? Candles? They can't be that good. Well, read on, my friend. Read on.

I'm a big candle fan. I love my house to smell good. I have a dog, and dogs are stinky, so candles burn fast in this place. I'm NOT a Yankee Candle fan. They smell fantastic in the jar, but I can never smell them while they're burning unless I'm right beside them. They cost entirely too much money for something that doesn't work. I used to buy all my candles from Swan Creek Candle Company, but I had to order them online because the local stores that carry them only have ones that were baked-goods scented. I'm not a food-scented candle lover. They're soy candles, so they burn well, and they smell wonderful and have a good throw. BUT, sometimes you don't want to have to wait for candles to be shipped and delivered.

So I typically buy my candles from Bath & Body Works when they're on sale 2 for $22, plus I always have coupons. They have a nice selection of fresh smelling and masculine scented candles, which are the type I typically buy. But, they're a little pricey and I have to drive at least 30 minutes to my closest Bath & Body Works.

My candle haul from today
From right: Lilac Breeze, Tahitian Sunset, Flower Bouquet, Wild Honeysuckle

Enter these babies. My mom burns candles even more than I do (she's got 5 big dogs) and told me all about these. Thanks momma!  These burn really well. They smell just like what they're supposed to smell like. Well, at least the ones that have distinct smells. Tahitian Sunset smells like coconut, fruit, and a hint of exotic floral. But the floral ones I bought smell just like the flowers they're based on. The labels are ugly, yes, but they peel off easily and you're left with a cute jar that you can reuse for storage. The throw of these candles is unbelievable. I have no idea about the square footage of my townhouse, but when I light one of these, it seriously fill my entire home. I can smell it when I'm upstairs.

If you're a candle lover, I cannot recommend these enough. Run out to Walmart right now and pick some of these bad boys up. Oh, and the best part? THEY'RE $5! That's five dollars. Amazing. They have a bunch of scent types to pick from. I like the Coastal Wood, which is fresh and slightly woodsy. All of the floral ones are really lovely and perfect to give you hope of spring during this cold, miserable winter. But honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the scents in this line. 

xx

February Popsugar Must Have Box

Popsugar Must Have box is a monthly subscription box that sends you "must have" items in categories like food, beauty, fashion, etc. The box is $39.95/month, but it's discounted if you buy a 3, 6, or 12 month subscription. I got my first box back in October and it was ok. I got the wet brush, which when my hair was long was a lifesaver after showering.

Anyway, even though it was a deal price-wise, it just wasn't something that tickled my fancy. However, there was a 50% off coupon for the February box, and that was pretty hard to pass up. So, I broke down and got the box. Again, it was a deal price-wise, but it was just OK.

One of these things is not like the other...

So this is everything packed nicely into the box. I just love getting stuff in the mail, especially when it's loaded with goodies. So let's move forward and see what everything is.

NCLA Rodeo Drive Royalty Nail Polish

The color is a little darker than pictured. I love a good red polish and this brand wears really well. I'm not really much of a nail polish girl, but I do like getting it in subscription boxes so I never have to buy it on my own.

Nourish Organic Argan Face Serum

I've been wanting a serum to use before moisturizing, but I just couldn't decide what kind to try. So this was definitely an A item for me. It's supposed to even complexion and brighten, as well as help your facial moisturizer be more effective. I think it's definitely helped to brighten my skin. I don't know about making lotion more effective because I've had to use lots of lotions and potions on my parched winter skin.

Gorjana Brooks Jewelry Roll

This is a poppy red color and the string you see on the left ties it up. The only jewelry I wear on an everyday basis is my wedding ring, so I don't know how useful this will be as a jewelry roll. But I can definitely use it for something. It's a good quality and if I ever become a jewelry wearer (I'm trying. I love the look of accessorizing, but can't stand feeling it on my skin) I'll use it for its intended purpose.

Modelco Lip Pops Duo Lip Gloss and Lipstick

A nude I actually like! When looking at spoilers, I thought for sure that this was going to be too light for me and make me look corpse-y. I have fairly pigmented lips to begin with, so it can be hard for me to find a nude that works. This is moisturizing and smells yummy! I also like the lipstick/gloss in one combo. Makes traveling easy and the casing is durable, so it won't fall apart in a bag. 

K Hall Designs Peony Travel Candle

This is a tiny little candle, but supposedly has a burn time of 20 hours. I'm itching for spring right now, so this is a perfectly scented candle. It's a very pretty floral that makes me ache for sunshine and warmth. The tin is classic-looking. It's currently burning in the bathroom, which is TINY, so I'm not sure about the throw. 

Sugarwish Cinnamon Hearts

Sorry for such an AWFUL picture. I tried to get the card, which reads "Always expect something sweet is about to happen" but it didn't work so well. By the time I realized how crappy the picture was, I had already eaten the candy. These were delicious and a sweet little treat perfect for Valentine's Day. They included a discount code so you can send someone (or yourself - which is probably what I'll do because I'm a candy fiend!) a sweet little sugarwish to brighten their day. 

Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash

This was a "special extra" that Popsugar included in the box this month. I read a lot of blogs and comments where people were upset by getting Dial in what's considered a "higher-end" box. However, I like it. Yeah, sure, some sort of fancy, essence-infused, boutique body wash would have been nice. But this smells fresh and fruity, which is my main concern with this depressing winter weather. It's also lotion infused and, obviously, supposed to help bring moisture to the skin. Who couldn't use a body wash like this? And it didn't take the place of any items, it was just a nice little extra we got. 

So, all-in-all, I think I liked this box better than the one I received in October. Also, it was half-off, which makes it even sweeter. I probably won't be ordering this box again unless I can find another good coupon code. I've seen some AWESOME boxes, but just never the ones I order. MAYBE I'll get the box for March, because it should include some spring-related items. Popsugar Must Have boxes do have a good variety of items and you can usually find something new that really works for you. But it can also be kind of expensive for something that might be a dud. 

xx

 

If I Were...

I know I've been lacking in my posts lately. I promise I'll be back soon with hopefully more regular posts. But for now I thought I'd do this fun little thing for a peek into my mind.

-If I were a month I would be: October.
-If I were a day of the week I would be: Thursday. I really have no reason for this. I just feel like a Thursday. 
-If I were a time of day I would be: Sunrise 
-If I were a planet I would be: Mars
-If I were an article of clothing: A pair of lace-up boots
-If I were a direction I would be: East
-If I were a piece of furniture I would be: A gigantic, overstuffed chair. One of those big circular ones. 
-If I were a historical figure I would be: Sylvia Plath
-If I were a drink I would be: Room-temperature coffee
-If I were a stone, I would be: Opal
-If I were a room, I would be: A luxurious bathroom 
-If I were a bird, I would be: Chickadee
-If I were a tool, I would be: Electric Sander
-If I were a flower/plant I would be: Dahlia
-If I were a kind of weather I would be: Sunny, but with a chill in the air. 
-If I were a mythical creature I would be: Mermaid
-If I were a musical instrument, I would be: Tambourine
-If I were an animal, I would be: Cat
-If I were a color, I would be: Black
-If I were an emotion, I would be: Melancholy, but still a little hopeful
-If I were a vegetable, I would be: Green onion
-If I were a sound, I would be: Ocean waves in the early morning
-If I were a car, I would be: Cream VW Beetle with tan convertible top
-If I were a song, I would be: "Amie" by Damien Rice
-If I were a movie, I would be directed by: Tim Burton 
-If I were a book, I would be written by: Chuck Palahniuk 
-If I were a food, I would be: Medium steak with blue cheese topping
-If I were a place, I would be: South of France
-If I were a material, I would be: Velvet
-If I were a taste, I would be: Citrus
-If I were a scent, I would be: Honeysuckle
-If I were a word, I would be: Serendipitous 
-If I were an object, I would be: Paperweight
-If I were a body part I would be: Small of the back
-If I were a facial expression I would be: Slightly amused, slightly skeptical 
-If I were a subject in school I would be: Classic American Literature
-If I were a shape I would be: Sphere
-If I were a number I would be: 12

High-End Hump Day

                                                                 From google images

Hey all! It's time for my first installment of high-end hump day! I'm not talking Dior or Chanel or Guerlain yet. I'm talking about high-end for me. 

Up on the menu for today is the Hourglass Ambient Light blushes. At $35 a pop, this is definitely an expensive, luxury item. I've been a blush fiend lately, so I was itching to get my hands on this baby!

I bought the shade Mood Exposure, which is described as a soft plum. I'd say that is an accurate description. This shade is a mix of the Ambient Lighting Powders in Mood Light (which is supposed to mimic the most forgiving pink light to brighten the face) and the color. 

Swatches on the left, mostly blended on the right. 

I wanted to absolutely love this. I truly did. Obviously, at $35, I expected to rave about this. The reality is, though, it was kind of a letdown. The color is pretty, it's easy to blend, and it lasts all day, only fading after about 8 hours (but I really don't have problems with blush fading throughout the day). 

This blush was not as silky as I expected it to be. It was pretty powdery. No noticeable glitter or shimmer. I expected this to make me look all glowy, because I was under the impression that's what the Ambient Powder did. However, I didn't notice any glow in natural light, incandescent light, or around the lighting in my house. 

I was just pretty bummed out by the lack of effect this blush had. Again, it's a pretty color, but I have a Maybelline Masterflash blush that's a similar color and, since I don't have blush fade issues, wears about the same. For a LOT I'll have to do a comparison post to test that theory out. 

I'm definitely going to hold off on buying any more of these blushes or the Ambient Light Powders until I can test them out in person.

Close up of the blush in action, after about 9 hours of wear.

So I'm trying to post from my iPhone until I get my laptop charger. If anyone is having issues seeing anything or it looks funky, please let me know so I can stop wasting my time until I get a more blogger-friendly device working. 

Quick Update

Hey all! My computer crashed and then our laptop charger stopped working, so I've been without a computer to post lately. 

I'm still trying to get the hang of using my phone to blog. :(

Tune in tomorrow for the first installment of "High-End Hump Days" where I showcase the more expensive brands I own. 

Hopefully the blogger app I downloaded will make uploading a little easier and I can get back to spreading joy and my opinions. 

This was a little test to see how easy it is to insert a picture. Piece of cake! Enjoy our puppy, Jax, hanging out in the bathtub while I do my makeup.