Sunday, June 28, 2015

BoxyCharm | May Box - Bold & Beautiful


It has been a long time since I've reviewed a subscription box so I'm SO happy to announce that they're back for a little bit with BoxyCharm! I know this is going up a little late but better late than never! I promise the June box will be up ASAP.


BoxyCharm is a beauty subscription that comes to your doorstep every month with 4-5 full size luxury items for $21 a month. While that might sound a little more expensive than other subscription services, consider that you're getting guaranteed four full size products every month while compared to Ipsy where it's only $10 but they're usually smaller samples. The promise of full sized products alone totally got me hooked on it!

Let's check out May's box!




Lauren B. Beauty Nail Polish in #imjuicing ($18) - Can we talk about how freakin' cute that name is? Now I want a smoothie. In all serious though. This color is IN-SANE. I know I read that a lot of girls weren't happy with the color but I'm in love. It's totally something I would rock. "Like kiwi sloshed with apples, this slick little shade is delicious and bright." That describes it perfectly!

The Lip Bar Lipstick in Kiss Me ($20) - This. Packaging. Is. EVERYTHING! Can all lipsticks come like this? Kiss Me is a stunning neon coral. Unfortunately, I didn't get to play with it much besides a quick swatch on the arm because it fell out onto the floor and smushed. So bummed. I tried to salvage it and put it back in the tube but it fell out again and that was the end of that. 

This lipstick contains Vitamin E, shea butter and avocado oil to moisturize and soften your lips.

Model Co. Bronzer Shimmer ($22) - YASSSS! Love, love, love this! It's a great bronzer for summer. Pigmented and finely milled, I feel like this is just perfection. It does have shimmer which I know makes or breaks it for some but I feel like it's subtle. This picture does however lighten and saturate the true color. It's a bit brighter but not orange.

Bodyography Essential Brow Trio + Brow Brush ($19 each) - I was excited to see a brow powder trio in this box (plus a brush!?). The colors are very pigmented and a little goes a very long way. Using the brow brush, I usually start in the middle and concentrate the majority of the color there and then use the left over on the edges of my brows. I also love that there's a shade for basically everyone.

The Lip Bar Kiss Me, Model Co. Shimmer Bronzer + Bodyography Trio - Swatches

Overall: I'm VERY impressed with this month's BoxyCharm. Did I mention each product is full size? Oh yeah, baby. Everything was something I would use. Minus the mishap with the lipstick, I still find myself using something from the box at least once a week.

BoxyCharm | Shop + $21 a month
* Press sample
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

#FOTD | Cherry lips, crystal skies. I could show you incredible things.


I have so many looks saved in my drafts that I decided to start posting some of them (finally)!

What I'm wearing:

  • Foundation: Estee Lauder Doublewear
  • Bronzer, Contour + Blush: Smashbox MasterClass Palette III 
  • Eyes: Lid: ColourPop Girl Crush + Outer V: Smashbox Nocturnal + Inner corner: ColourPop Flux + Girl Crush,
  • Lips: Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Countess
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Maybelline Blushed Nudes Palette | Swatches + Review


Ah, it's so nice to catch up on some blogging. I have been absolutely drooling and DYING to get this post out after I spotted this palette in my Rite Aid Network's box. 

The new Blushed Nudes Palette is the latest in Maybelline's 12 pan palette series. Previous palettes include The Nudes (review) and The Brights. This palette is a bit more softer and feminine than the previous two with shades ranging from pinks to plums to rose gold.

Something I didn't notice on The Nudes Palette was that the shades are placed purposely in the palette to work together as you can see above. That is SO genius and really handy! The quad covers a base for the lid, an all-over lid shade, a transition shade and an outer-v shade. The trio handles everything minus the outer-v and the duo covers just a base and transition shade. Basically, there's a whole lot of options here.

Instead of going through each shade and reviewing them individually, I'll just sum them up all together. They pretty much all performed the same minus a few shining stars I'll get to at the end. The color payoff was just alright although I do think they work the best with a primer/base underneath. The mattes were a bit powdery but had okay color payoff. The metallics, on the other hand, were surprisingly pigmented! The biggest downside, for me, is that they don't have names! Rawr. I hate that. How else am I going to tell people what I'm wearing!? ;)

My favorites are (going from left to right) #'s: 3, 4, 6 and 8.

Lid: #5 | Crease: #4 | Inner: #3 | Outer v: #11 | Lower: #6

Overall: So does this compare to a lot of the rose gold toned palettes out there? Eh. It's hard to tell (and compare). For a drugstore palette, it does well. It works best with a primer or base to really get the colors to pop and wears well. It's really a toss up. If you're looking for a good palette that won't break the bank, I recommend this!

So, will you be grabbing this palette?

Maybelline Blushed Nudes - (price varies) | Found at your local Rite Aid
* Press samples
Friday, June 19, 2015

Makeup Revolution | I Heart Makeup Lip Lavas in Tremor, Forgiven, Shockwave, Unleash & Firestorm


Hey cutie pies! I am SO excited (when aren't I?) to share these babies with you. These are the Makeup Revolution "I Heart Makeup" Lip Lavas! What's that? Their packaging looks kind of familiar? That's because it's very reminiscent of the Too Faced Melted Liquified Lipsticks. One would even say a dupe for them? In fact, Makeup Revolution has a whole bunch of dupes/lookalikes for a lot of Too Faced products (as well as some super unique products!). Unfortunately, I don't actually own any of the Melted lipsticks (I admit, I suck) so I can't compare but I can promise some in-depth reviewing so you can decide for yourself. Let's do this thang!

So first things first. Makeup Revolution is from the UK. I know, I know. Shipping, however, does even out with how much you're saving buying those dupes instead of the real thing. *Shrugs* So there's that?


The Lip Lavas come in a squeeze tube with a soft, sponge applicator. The consistency is a little thick but so smooth and easy to work with. I think that's the Vitamin E in it making it all creamy to work with. All of them have incredible pigmentation of a lipstick and the intense shine of a lipgloss. Shockwave and Firestorm are actually even glossier, if that's possible, than the others. What's pretty awesome is that one swipe pretty much covers both lips without having to squeeze more product out! I am so unbelievably impressed with these, guys. For $4.59 each, you really can't go wrong. I was going to pick out my absolute must-have from this group but to be honest, they're all pretty incredible. Wear time is about six hours and the gloss does kind of wear down but I wouldn't say it loses its pigmentation. Also, no scent or taste to report which is kind of weird in a beauty world where everything has a scent. It's kind of refreshing!

  • Forgiven - a brown-toned nude (dupe for Nude?)
  • Unleash - a neon coral tangerine. (dupe for Coral?)
  • Tremor - a bright ballet pink. (dupe for Peony?)
  • Shockwave - a neon lilac. (dupe for Violet?)
  • Firestorm - a bright cherry apple red. (dupe for Ruby?)
Overall: Putting that they may be dupes for the Melted Liquified Lipsticks aside (which is always a win in my book!), these are ah-mazing! I am such a huge fan of them. The consistency, the applicator, the wear time, the colors themselves - just amazing! I highly recommend you guys treating yourselves to these babies!
Makeup Revolution | Shop ($4.59US)
* Press samples
Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Celebrating the Anchor in Our Life with | Nautica "Life" Gift Set at Macy's + GIVEAWAY!


This shop is compensated by Collective Bias Inc., and it's advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
#NauticaforDad #CollectiveBias


Hi loves! June 21st is Father's Day and I'm super-duper excited because this year will be my fiance's first Father's Day to celebrate. Hey, usually it's the baby's firsts we're celebrating so we'll take our own when we can get them ;)


This year I wanted to celebrate a new dad - my fiance (although I absolutely love my dad!). Anthony has really been the anchor in our lives. I think all new moms can relate that those nights of no sleep + cranky baby = a large cup of coffee and break time for mom and I'm so thankful that Anthony understands that and helps out as much as he can instead of running for the hills. Every day he comes home and cooks dinner, does odd jobs around the house and watches the baby while I get my blog on. Guys, he even handles dirty diapers. How lucky am I? The best memory (so far!) of him being a dad has been the day Hunter was born. Anthony completely took over and was changing diapers in the hospital and everything. 

But what do you get said anchor when he has everything?

I really wanted to get something that ties in everything that he likes. Not only is he big into wearing cologne but he also loves boats (and fishing on them!).


On a trip to the mall, I popped into Macy's to browse around for ideas. I eventually settled on getting him a cologne and spotted the Nautica Life Cologne Gift Set! Not only does it smell amazing but it incorporates Anthony's love for boats so it's an all around win/win. I also had a great experience at the cologne counter. The man helping us even brought it up to the counter for me while I looked around. How sweet is that?

The Nautica Life Gift Set ($65) is a $128 value. It comes with 2.5 fl oz. after-shave balm, 3.4 fl oz. cologne and a 1.0 fl oz cologne for on-the-go and a cute travel-sized shower gel. Nautica Life is a composition of freshness, mysterious herbal flavors and seductive woodsy notes. Honestly, it's a man's man cologne and perfect for Anthony! How cool is that "rope" in the bottle? 

Want to make Father's Day extra sweet? Don't forget to enter the giveaway below. One lucky person will win a $4,000 Cruise Package while five other lucky winners can win a Nautica's Men Fragrance Gift Package! Must be 18+ to enter.


Monday, June 15, 2015

Night Time Skincare Routine | with Bioré® Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser


This post is compensated byCollective Bias but all opinions/tutorial is my own.
#ad #BioreStripDown #cbias


If there's one thing I've learned as I've gotten older, it's to take care of my skin. There was once a time with days where I could go without even washing my face and still wake up pimple-free and ready to take on the day. Those were also the same days I could go to the bathroom by myself. Needless to say, having a baby has changed things. Including my face. 


A few weeks ago, I was at Target (AKA my home away from home) and came across Bioré®'s new Natural Charcoal line while perusing the skincare aisles. Charcoal is the "it" medium in skincare right now. The line includes the Bioré® Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips, the Bioré® Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser and the Bioré® Self Heating One Minute Mask - each containing Natural Charcoal that draws out and traps deep impurities. I am all over that! I ended up giving the Bioré® Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser and Bioré® Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips a try and after a few days of use, added them into my nightly skincare routine.



Every night, once the little babe is asleep or my fiance is holding down the fort, I sneak into the bathroom for about 15 minutes of a little relaxation. Unfortunately, I can't say it's uninterrupted because I'd be lying if I said it wasn't but hey, I'll take what I can get.

1. First, I take off any makeup I have on with a gentle makeup remover and some cotton balls and rinse my face.


2. Next I apply the Bioré®  Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser. This cleanser won an award for "Best Face Wash" by People Magazine in 2014! After I wet my face, I apply the cleanser with my hands and create a light foam with it. This cleanser has such a cool, tingly feeling when it's on your face and smells so amazing. It's infused with a Japanese Skin Purifying Technology that leaves your skin smooth every, single time. I have yet to be disappointed by this baby! This cleanser really deep cleans. I usually apply this in circular motions and then rinse and pat my face dry but leave my nose damp for the pore strip.


3. Next is the Bioré® Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strip. Your nose (or wherever you decide to put it) needs to be wet or it will not adhere. I place it on the bridge of my nose and leave it on for 10 minutes. The strip is of natural charcoal that draws out all the dirt and gunk that causes blackheads. Kind of like a magnet! It also promises to keep oil at bay for at least 24 hours. During that time, I brush my teeth and yell at the dogs to stop scratching at the door and give me a few more minutes.

4. You should keep it on for about 10-15 minutes. It'll feel stiff once it's ready to be pulled off. Once the time is up, I peel it off and stare at all of the gunk the strip just pulled out. Staring takes at least three minutes of my time.


5. Lastly, I apply my favorite moisturizer and hit the hay. Kidding. I'm a mom!

Depending on how my nose looks, I'll skip a day with the Bioré® Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips and just use them every other day. I've been really impressed with how these two products work amazing together and highly recommend using them. What is your night time skincare routine look like?

Want more beauty tips? Check them out at Target here! Make sure to visit your local Target and check out the Bioré® Natural Charcoal collection!
Saturday, June 13, 2015

MayBeauty | The Incredible Face Mask + Review


Hey babes! So lately, there's been loads of pictures circulating on quite a few beauty sites about this infamous black face mask that's supposed to take out all of the junk from your pores. Have you seen it? It's basically supposed to be one of those nose strips on steroids that you can apply to your whole face! Strangely enough, one of the lovely people at MayBeauty contacted me right as I was going to order off eBay. How crazy is that? 

They ended up sending over "The Incredible Face Mask" - a mask that removes blackheads, prevents acne, removes oils and removes dead skin. 


The directions are pretty easy-peasy:

1. Start with a clean, dry face. I have heard that to get amazing results, apply a warm compress over your face to open your pores. I read that hint after I tried this out so I will definitely keep it in mind the next time I do it. DO NOT APPLY THIS TO YOUR EYEBROWS OR ANY HAIRY AREAS. THIS WILL WAX IT RIGHT OFF. I REPEAT. DO NOT APPLY THIS TO YOUR EYEBROWS. It's that crazy sticky.

2. Apply the mask. The brush MayBeauty sent with the masks worked beautifully to apply with. The masks consistency is THICK (like molasses!) so using your hands to apply it can get a little messy.

3. Let it sit for 30-45 minutes. Wash your makeup brushes, catch up on some Keeping Up With The Kardashians or heck, take a nap. It'll feel tight, like rubber, when it's done. After the time is up, simply peel it off (and don't freak if it *ahem* hurts a little).

4. Wash your face with warm water. This will also take off any that is left over.

5. Marvel at all your gunk stuck in the peeled-off mask.


I think the "after" speaks for itself. My nose was so, so soft and smooth. It was kind of bumpy from the little blackheads in the "before". I can't get over how cool this was. Do keep in mind that this removes everything - hairs, oils, blackheads and dead skin so I don't recommend doing this every night because it could make your skin very sensitive. I would rate the sting of taking it off as like, a one. It's not too bad. Like ripping off a bandaid but I didn't expect it with removal. So. Yeah. Surprise! The consistency is like a thick syrup and when it dries, you can feel it's really kind of grabbing onto everything. The mask smells amazing, by the way and isn't overpowering at all. It also feels cooling when it dries.

Overall: I get the hype! It really did pull out a lot of blackheads and left my nose feeling super soft and smooth. I think the next time I try the mask, I'll try to open my pores more with some hot steam and see if it pulls out even more. I absolutely loved the scent of this and the "cooling" sensation it gave when it started to dry. The mask drying to rubber and feeling like pulling a bandaid off the skin was a little unexpected but anyone who gets their eyebrows waxed can handle this like a champ.

MayBeauty.UK || Shop (use this link to get 30% off!)
* Press sample / affiliate links
Saturday, June 13, 2015

Vita Liberata Trystal Self Tanning Bronzing Minerals | Review


Towel? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Bikini (and high-waist bottoms)? Check. Sunscreen? Check. Bronze-y glow? Double check! Let's get real: none of us are out in the sun to get tan anymore. I'm all about that fake tan life. As much as I love staying skin cancer-free by not laying out in the sun, I'll admit that constantly applying fake tan can be a little time-consuming.


Vita Liberata is trying to change all of that - at least for your face. This year they've come out with the Trystal Self Tanning Bronzing Minerals - the first loose mineral self-tanning bronzer that creates a long lasting tan. It's also gluten, oil, paraben and cruelty-free which are all pluses in my book.


The Trystal Self Tanning Bronzing Minerals come in two different shades - Sunkissed (light) and Bronze (medium). Trystal also comes with a super soft and dense kabuki brush that works beautifully with the powder to create an natural, even tan. It's basically foolproof, guys.

So, the directions say to apply this over a foundation or moisturizer but I found applying this on bare skin or very light moisturizer gets the best results. Maybe it's my foundation (Estee Lauder DoubleWear) but it almost blocks the tan from through to my skin to create a lasting tan. Womp, womp.


I apply this on bare skin/lightly moisturized skin starting in all the spots the sun would kiss my face/every where I would normally bronze. Cheeks, forehead, chin, neck, chest. Then I go back in and contour. I apply a bit more on the hairline, under the cheekbones, under my jaw, etc. What I love about this is that the powder is so sheer yet creates such a gorgeous tan. It's incredibly lightweight and doesn't clog your pores. At the end of the night, you just wash it off and are left with a nicely tanned face.

 I'm also happy that you can just use this as a normal bronzer (with an added plus that it'll last a few days!) without any orange-ness or streaks. The kabuki brush that comes with it is perfect for contouring with and sculpting out your features without it getting messy. 

I've read that this is also great for your body as well but can admit that I have not tested it out anywhere other than my face and chest. The lasting time using my method got me about three to four days. Using the method of wearing this over foundation really only got me that night until I washed it off.

Before | Right after application

Two days after applying

Overall: I recommend giving this a try. As someone who does fake tan somewhat often, I found this to definitely cut some time out. For me, the face is always kind of tricky with getting an even fake tan without looking too overdone. This gives a gorgeous, natural tan that blends with the rest of my body. I even feel confident rocking just the Trystal Self Tanning Bronzing Minerals and some mascara and heading out the door! 

Vita Liberata || Shop ($55)
* Press Sample
Wednesday, June 03, 2015

It Girl Contest | Sponsored by It Cosmetics + Grapevine


Call all beauty vloggers in the USA, Canada, Australia and UK! It Cosmetics & Grapevine have partnered together and are launching a contest on Youtube with a prize total of $81,000 (insert jaw drop here)!


It's called the It Girl Contest and three winners will receive $5,000, a trip to New York and a chance to collab on a new It Cosmetics product with the founder and CEO herself, Jamie Kern! How amazing is that? Registration is now until June 14th. To enter, all you have to do is connect your Google account that's associated with your YouTube channel. Second, confirm all your information. Lastly, apply to the contest! Easy-peasy, right? Click here to register. Good luck, babes! xx

Will you be entering!?


Wednesday, June 03, 2015

"Spread The Love" with the #UltraHug Selfie Contest!


Thank you to Huggies for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to try Huggies Snug & Dry Ultra Diapers!

If there's one thing I love more than makeup (and my child, of course!) it's supporting a good cause. Huggies feels the same way (well, maybe not about the makeup) and is looking to "spread the love" with an amazing contest going on right now!

We're participating in the Huggies #UltraHug campaign by takin' lots of selfies. Side note: anyone else's selfies with their babe look like the one below? Yeah. Almost every time. He's so fascinated with the camera. Total ham!


With this campaign, Huggies Snug & Dry Ultra (exclusive to Walmart) is giving away $2,000 to 10 different local charities of your choice! You can get in on the love by snappin' a selfie of you and your little babe, nominating your favorite local community project and post to Twitter or Instagram - don't forget to use the hashtag #UltraHug!


I'm nominating The Spooner House - a shelter that provides food, housing and supports people in need. It is currently the only homeless in the lower Naugatuck Valley and one of the few in the state that welcome individuals as well as families and children. 

From April 20th to June 25th, Huggies will be accepting nominations and selfies posted on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #UltraHug. Only July 6th, they will narrow down the 20 finalists to 10 and award them a $2,000 grant to the community project of choice.  Make sure when you post your selfie, to include a name or description of the charity you're nominating! Who will you nominate?

Thank you to Huggies for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to try Huggies Snug & Dry Ultra Diapers!

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