Spring Fling VoxBox Review

*Disclaimer: Everything in this post was given to me complimentary from Influenster. However, this post contains my 100% honest opinions and thoughts, as all of my posts do.

I got another VoxBox from Influenster!! For those of you unfamiliar with Influenster, they're this awesome company that helps you voice your opinion on products. If you're lucky they'll send you a free box of products to try in exchange for reviews. It's a fun program and I love trying all of the things they send me as well as completing all of the tasks and challenges. I've been working with them for two years now and it has been a great experience! If you would like to join the Influenster website, I have available invites! Send me an email or comment below with your email address if you would like to be invited (you must be actually serious about it).

Here is everything that I received in my box!

•Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara
•Kiss Everlasting French Nails
•Peach Pie Car Freshener from the Labor Day movie
•Playtex Sport Fresh Balance tampons
•Nivea skin Firming Hydration Lotion 

Some lucky people also go the new Softlips cube in their box. Sadly I wasn't one of them :( .

Now, onto my thoughts on each item:

                 Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara in Extreme Black 003

I have tried another ScandalEyes mascara (which I love) so I was really excited to try this one! Especially since it is supposed to be a super volumizing mascara.

Packaging claims:
"bold, wide eyed look. No clumps"
"Exclusive hourglass brush shaped to the lash line to plump lashes, fanning them up and out for bold, wide-eyed volume."
"Coats lashes individually for big, false lash look in one simple stroke. No clumps!"

I'm not sure if this would be classified as a claim, but the packaging also informs that this is a suitable mascara for sensitive eyes. 

But did this mascara live up to its claims??

Picture from my personal instagram of the mascara in my cluttered train case

It mostly did! This mascara gave me so much volume! That paired with my already long eyelashes made my lashes look like false lashes! It definitely made my eyes look wider. My only complaint: clumps. I did get some small clumps and too much product settles at the tip of the brush. But this can be fixed by squeezing a tissue around the brush to take off excess mascara. It stayed all day with minor running (due to sweat on a humid day). I absolutely loved this mascara, it is even better than the regular ScandalEyes. I really liked the shape of the brush, which was a nicely sized hourglass shape. It felt like it hugged my lashes. I actually liked it better than some of the high end mascaras I've tried. I think I've found a new favorite!



                                                         Kiss Everlasting French Nails

I went pretty in depth with this review, so it will be posted separately right after this post is up.


                                                        Peach Pie Car Freshener

This was in my voxbox as a gift from  Paramount Pictures in honor of the movie Labor Day (that romance movie starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin) coming to DVD and blu-ray. I have not seen the movie, it does not seems like my cup of tea (I much prefer a horror movie or a Studio Ghibli film). This was a nice surprise though. Not much to review here. The air Freshener looks like a pie and smells like peaches. Not a strong scent. I don't drive, so I put this air Freshener in front of my air conditioner. Sometimes I will get a faint whiff of peaches but nothing strong.

                                                   Playtex Sport Fresh Balance tampons

Okay, I'll be up front. I felt weird and even a little embarrassed about reviewing tampons. It after all isn't something most women discuss. But, we are (I'm assuming) all ladies here and we shouldn't be embarrassed to discuss feminine hygiene products. This review will be done in a tasteful way, (no worries of any grossness!).

I am not a tampon person, as they just aren't comfortable to me but I will use them in emergencies or when needed. These particular ones are regular absorbency. They are also scented "lightly". I wouldn't say they are lightly scented, as soon as I opened the box I smelled them. I can even smell them through a closed box. I personally did not like the scent, to me it smelled like laundry detergent.

Packaging claims:
"360 degree protection + odor shield"
"360 sport level protection tampon design to fit your body and its every move for a protective leakage barrier"
"Flexfit interlocking fibers work quickly to trap leaks"
"Odor shield technology designed to neutralize odors"
"Contoured applicator for precise, comfortable, precise placement"

Did the tampons live up to these expectations?

It did indeed live up to the odor shield promise. However, it did not completely trap leaks. I do not play sports and on a normal day (especially during that time of month) I don't do anything extremely strenuous. They did not absorb and preform as I expected them to. I did not like these tampons and would only use them in an emergency.

                                                  Nivea Skin Firming Hydration Lotion

Lotion on my bookshelf. Yes, that is a Daenerys Targaryen figure. I am a big fan of the Khaleesi! And yes, Manga underneath if you look closely.

I use lotion a lot and Nivea is a brand I trust (they make my go to lip balm) so I was happy to see this product.

The scent is pleasant and not overpowering. It also feels nice on the skin and soaks in rapidly.

Packaging claims:
"Improves skin's firmness in as little as 2 week"
"co-enzyme Q10 and hydra IQ deep long  lasting moisture"
"Skin Firming Hydration Body Lotion with Co-Enzyme Q10 Complex and HYDRA IQ technology firms and tightens skin's surface in as little as two weeks. Use daily for softer, smoother more toned skin.

Did it live up to these promises?

Yes and no.

This lotion is very moisturizing. The moisture is very long lasting and seemingly deep penetrating. I really liked this lotion! But I did not notice firmer skin. However as a lotion alone this is great.

September Glam Bag review

It's the end of the month, know what that means? It's time for my review of this month's glambag (well obviously once you read the title). If you would like your own bag with 4 - 5 full and deluxe sized products for just $10 a month, please please please sign up using my refferal link ( http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-h051r3lzwoa89xn ). If you do, I will give you a thank you shoutout.

Each month's bag has a theme, this month's was classic beauty. I don't think all of the product options given fit the theme, but all off the products i got sure do. I love the bag its self, it is a beautiful blue color with a cute pattern. I actually am currently using it as my purse makeup bag.

Anyway, on to the products. 

 

Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Big Apple
*Full sized 

I'm going to get this out of the way first: Cailyn majorly mislabeled this product. It is nowhere near anything like a tinted lip balm. It is not moisturizing at all and it is way too pigmented to be a balm. Now that I have gotten that out of the way, I really did love this product. It is a lipstick in a pot that comes with a built in brush. The packaging is exactly like the Cailyn gel eyeliners  but in a different color. For a lipstick it is pretty bulky, but it is nice that the brush is attached so that it won't get lost.

Big Apple is a gorgeous matte (yes, matte) red. I have many reds but only one other matte one so this was definitely welcomed. Application was a breeze. It went on nicely and is very pigmented. It feels so lightweight that I nearly forgot I was wearing it. It can be pretty drying though (like most matte lipsticks). Lasting power was great until I ate. Overall I absolutely loved this product even though it is labeled as a tinted lip balm.

Nyx Single Eyeshadow in Morocco

*Full sized

I love Nyx and own several of their products. I own many of their eyeshadows. They are always very pigmented and non chalky. Blend great and stay. They come in so many different colors and finishes. Also you can't beat the price. The shade I got is a beautiful deep purple. I love the packaging of these eyeshadows, they're very compact and the lid to it is attached so you don't have to worry about losing it.

 Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Volumizing Mascara
*Deluxe sample sized

I had high hopes for this mascara. It claims to be a very volumizing mascara, which I need. Many mascaras I've tried just lengthen, my eyelashes are already long and do not need length but volume. This mascara does volumize a bit, but not as much as I'd hoped for. The very end of the brush gets clumpy but that is fixable. The formula and color seem nice. For me this was an ok mascara. Nothing phenomenal that I absolutely have to buy.

Butter London Nail Laquer in LA Moss
*Deluxe sample size

I have wanted to try some Butter London nail polish for the longest time, but the steep price tag has always held me back. I nearly literally jumped for joy when I saw this product in my glam room. I thought it would be a full size, but I'm not at all disappointed in the size. I have heard mixed things about Butter London polishes. Many people say they're great. But when I saw the comments on the Butter London page on Ipsy for this month's bag people were saying it chipped easily.I knew as soon as I saw the color, that I couldn't compare the formula to any of their other shades. The higher amount of pigment in darker/deeper nail polish shades cause them to chip more easily. This is something to keep in mind when trying out dark polishes.

LA Moss is a beautiful deep berry red. In the bottle I thought it would be an Oxblood color, but it has more berry tones. It went on fairly easily and pigmented. But, with such a deep color it took 3 or 4 coats to get the color as deep as it looked in the bottle. I was very impressed by how long it lasted, especially for a deeper color. It did not chip for at least a day or two then I got very minor chipping. I will definitely be trying more from this brand someday. I absolutely love the formula (it is three free as well) and the color.

Starlooks Obsidian Kohl Eye Pencil in Onyx

I mostly wear gel eyeliner, even in the outer rims of my waterline. I do sometimes use eyeliner pencils. My favorite eye pencil being Urban Decay's 24/7 liner. Compared to that, I absolutely did not like this eyeliner. It dragged and I could not get it to draw a straight line. I had to smudge it to get the liner on all the way. It wasn't creamy as I come to expect from eyeliners. It for me also ran. However, I gave this to my mom and she loved it. She applies her eyeliner to her waterline and she says that it stays on and it works great for her.

There was also a sample in my bag from Michelle Phan's new makeup line, Em cosmetics. This particular sample is from the Life Palette: Career Life. It is labeled look 4 natural talent. It contains 3 eyeshadow colors and a blush. The eyeshadows are pigmented and blend very nicely. The blush is very pigmented and does blend nicely as well.

I liked this bag. Although I was disappointed by some products I really loved the Cailyn tinted lip balm (lipstick), the Butter London nail polish and of course the Nyx eyeshadow.

August Glambag review

It's the end of August, know what that means? Time for my review of the Ipsy August Glam Bag! For those of you that still may not know, Ipsy is this great beauty subscription service that sends 4-5 products (a mixture of full and deluxe sample sized) for just $10 a month. This is my fourth bag and by now I can for sure say these bags are worth it! They are great if you want to try new products. If you decide to sign up, please use my refferal link ( http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-h051r3lzwoa89xn ). If you do, I'll be sure to thank you in a post on the blog.

Here are the products that I got in my bag this month: 

Smashbox Photofinish foundation primer

 

Size: Deluxe sample

This is one of my favorite primers, I was very happy to get this in my bag. I have already reviewed it in my Smashbox Try it kit review. If you would like to check it out, you can read it here.

                                   Pixie Beauty Lash Booster mascara in Blackest Black

Size: Deluxe sample

This mascara didn't do much for me. I naturally have very long lashes that usually need a bit of volume. This mascara lengthens, defines and even curls a bit. The extra bit of curling I got from it was nice. I wear glasses and often have a problem with my eyelashes hitting the lenses if not curled enough. If you have shorter lashes, this would probably great for you. It is indeed waterproof as promised. It survived through rain and some emotional moments. I personally wouldn't buy this mascara, as it doesn't have the one crucial benefit I need.

                                                  Micabeauty Eyeshadow in Bronze

                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 

Size: Full

This is a great eyeshadow. It is a beautiful bronze shade which looks great paired with my blue eyes. Although I have a few similar colored ones, I still really liked this.  It is a loose eyeshadow. Many people don't like loose shadows simply because they don't know how to work with them or think they're too messy. I personally love working with them. The packaging is simple and good for a loose shadow. It has a two holed sifter rather than a four holed one which I have seen a lot in loose powder products. I like it, as it doesn't allow too much product out. The eyeshadow its self is really pigmented. It blends very easily and has a great texture. I never apply eyeshadow without primer, it lasted well with it. I didn't notice any fallout.

                                                   Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in 69

 To clarify, I am pale, but not that pale! I had to take this picture on my phone and it just happened to make me paler.

Size: Deluxe sample

I was really excited that I got this. Urban Decay is one of my favorite brands. When I saw this new lipstick line, I was over the moon! I was a bit disappointed at the size, but I am just happy I had the chance to try it at all. The shade I received is 69. In the tube it looks like a classic bright red. When applied it has a pink undertone. It is a pretty unique shade of red. On me, the pink undertone is more obvious. In the swatch picture above, the pink undertone was captured a little too much. The actual product is a bit redder, but this is a great representation of what shade of undertone there is. This is a very pigmented lipstick! One layer contains full opacity, which is nice. It goes on smooth and creamily. You may want to wear a lip primer with this lipstick though and you may need touch it up a few times as it transferred easily. It did feel a tad dry after a while but for me that isn't a problem. I absolutely loved this lipstick. I am a queen of red lipstick, I have a lot. I always say I have too many and won't get more...but then I find another shade that I have to have. This is one of those. I will for sure eventually be purchasing the full size and it will be a great addition to my lipstick collection.

                                    Michael Todd Pumpkin Nutrient Rich Facial Mask

 Size: Deluxe sample

This is another product I was excited for. I love face masks. I have been looking for one to have around to use when I run out of my beloved Lush ones and can't get to Lush to buy more. This is deluxe sample/travel sized which turned out to be a pretty decent size. This mask claims to be nutrient rich and provide anti wrinkle as well as softness benefits. It also says it is suitable to all but sensitive skin types. Although I'm not old enough to have wrinkles, it made my skin feel amazing. My face definitely felt full of nutrients. Very soft and notably smoother. The texture is good, it isn't heavy and you only need a thin layer. To me, it looks like pumpkin baby food. The pumpkin scent is nice but strong. Perfect for pumpkin lovers. The only issue I had was that this mask burned for about the first 5 minutes of wear. It is definitely not for super sensitive skin. I didn't particularly enjoy the burning but I didn't mind it. This face mask won't replace my Lush ones, but I did like it. If you don't have sensitive skin and love pumpkin, try it!

In all, I really liked this bag. My favorite item being the UD lipstick. The bag its self this month was super cute! It is purple with a gold crest print all over it. The crest has little makeup pictures in it. It is a sturdy material. I really want to use it as my purse makeup bag. The theme was Glamour Academy which I think fits well with the products in it. Great for beauty beginners with some basics and some new products to try. I would have loved to try the cheek stain that some people got, but I am very satisfied with what I did get.

I can't wait to see what  I will be getting next month!

Smashbox Try It Kit Review and Primer Comparison

When I saw this kit at Sephora, I had to buy it. I had never tried any products from Smashbox. I love little try it kits like this so of course I was so happy to get it.

This kit costs $19 and contains deluxe sample sizes of 5 products.

Photofinish Lid Primer: 

(Please ignore the background of some of these pictures, I had to take them outside)

This is a great primer. Every time I have worn it, my eyeshadow has lasted all day. The color is darker than the primers I'm used to using ( Elf Essential eyeshadow primer, Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original and Eden) I wish it was lighter like these primers. It has a doe foot applicator (show above) and is very easy to apply.

Hyperlash Mascara:

This is my new favorite mascara, it is literally the best I have ever used. It separates, volumizes and lengthens. With my already long lashes, this mascara makes them look like false lashes. I also love the brush on this mascara. It has a kind of comb on it and it works wonderfully. Whenever all of the mascara samples I have from various sampler kits run out, I definitely want to buy this.

Limitless Eyeliner:

At first, I loved this eyeliner. It is a great shade of black, it's creamy and it glides on smoothly. But it didn't last long and it runs.


Photofinish Foundation Primer:

I have wanted to try this primer for so long. So many people rave about it. I have been using Elf Mineral Face Primer, which people claim is a dupe for this Smashbox primer. But how do they compare?

The Smashbox Photofinish foundation primer is clear, like the Elf primer. The Smashbox primer is thicker than the Elf primer, it also doesn't feel oily like Elf's primer can. I think the Smashbox primer is better than Elf's. Elf's primer is still a good primer, though.

I love the Photofinish primer. It keeps my foundation on all day and it eases application. This is now my favorite primer. I definitely want to buy the full size, but this is a really expensive primer.

Lip Enhancing Gloss in Illume:

This is an alright lip gloss. It is pretty and in a universally flattering color. It is very shimmery. It isn't as good as some other high end glosses that I've tried (Urban Decay Lip Junkie and Too Faced Glamour Gloss). It is a tad bit sticky, while the other glosses aren't. I feel that someone who absolutely loves lip gloss would really like this. I'm not a lip gloss junkie, so I am very picky with lip gloss when I decide to wear it.

Overall this is a good kit if you want to try some Smashbox products, I'm so glad that I bought it.

Weekly Beauty Tip #49: Mascara guard

To  prevent mascara from getting all over your face when applying and messing up your makeup, try using a mascara guard. A plastic spoon makes a great, cheap one. To use it, just place it behind your lashes when applying mascara.

Weekly Beauty Tip #42: Don't pump mascara in the tube

Do not pump the mascara wand in and out of the tube, it will dry the product out faster.

Weekly Beauty Tip #20: Mascara guard

Use a plastic spoon as a mascara guard to keep mascara from getting anywhere but your eyelashes when applying.