Bichbox Review| June

The heat is back, the clothes are short, and the desire for fun is high....Its June!

This month in my Birchbox (a monthly subscription box that offers high end samples for only $10 a month. Get yours here.) I received great products that came with many compliments.

The Benefits Cosmetics They're Real! Mascara earned me the compliment that my eyes looked much prettier than normal. I don't really like to use mascara because I tend to forget its there and have it all over or have the runny next day look. I found this to be one of the better mascaras I have tried and enjoyed the way it made my eyelashes really pop. If you are interested in this product you can get a full size for $23.

 

The Cynthia Rowley Beauty Creamy Lip Stain in Valentine was my favorite item in the box. I believe I have worn this several times during the week, every week since I received it in the box. I was also told that I must be dressing up for a man and that the pink looked great on me! I normally shy away from bold lips, as I have previously stated, but I am working on being bold and comfortable in my skin. I enjoy that the stain stays creamy for quiet a while before it sets. It is then less creamy but keeps the majority of its color. I only had difficulty when I forgot it was there and started biting the skin on my lips....whoops. A full size is $20. 

 

I will  never really get to form a solid opinion on the English Laundry Signature for Her fragrance because the second my mother caught a whiff of it she claimed it as her own. It was her birthday and how could I say no...but my mother says "I like it because it was not too strong and its soft scented". A full size is $90.

 

I used the Evologie Stay Clear Cleanser most days to see if it would result in less blemishes. I would say that it was pretty successful and was not over drying. I really never go without drying but that is simply my skin cycle. It was a nice marine scent and very nice feeling on the skin. A full size is $32.

 

The only product I didn't get to use is the Number 4 Hair Super Comb Prep & Protect product. It is a conditioning spray that protects from the sun. I have my hair braided and don't want to get any buildup that I can't cleanup. If this product works well it will likely be in my emergency travel hair kit. You naturals know what I mean:) A full size of this product is $32.  

 

 

The theme of this month's box is "Away We Go" complete with a

quiz to suggest where the Birchbox subscriber's should travel to....

How I wish I could take a vacation this year.

 

Birchbox Review| May

Birchbox is a monthly subscription services that gives you 5-6 high end beauty product samples a month and a lifestyle extra for $10 a month. 

 

See the video below for the products I received in May:

Caldrea: The body wash had a very strong perfume smell, but this smell wasn't overbearing once washed off. It did not leave my skin either dry or moisturized. It was a fine product and if I liked body wash (I'm a soap girl) and wanted to pay $18 for it I would consider this brand. Actually I wouldn't because I would be looking for something that left my skin moisturized.

Marcelle 8-in-1 serum: I am not sure how long you are supposed to use this product to expect results. I think I made it a week. I found that it fit in well in my routine and my face felt nice. I don't however think that a week is long enough for me to evaluate its ability to lift, firm and plump fine lines. A full size of this runs $34 so I fear I will never know. :)

Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm: This felt nice and I am still adjusting to the pop of color. It is a very mod shade (pink) and I rotate it in with the other things I like to flavor my lips with.  $8 for a full size.

Supergoop Everyday SPF 30 with Cellular Response Technology: I really liked this sunscreen. It has a pleasant not sunscreen smell to it. I also found that it didn't make me sweat, am I the only one who sweats when they put make up on their face? I will definitely be using this again and may even consider a purchase at $19 for a full time.

Lifestyle extra

Votivo candle in Azure Garden: I enjoyed the smell in the tin. The candle did not put out tons of scent while burning. A full size will run between $12 and $26.

When  think about it the issue with Birchbox is that it gives you high end samples for only $10 total and if you are frugal like me the real thing is out of your price point. But I will continue to enjoy my dabble into the high end each month I receive products. Happy Weekend!

Jamberry versus regular nail lacquer

 

 

 

 

Several weeks ago during her Jamberry launch a former classmate of mine sent me a sample of her Jamberry nail color strips. I have been a long time user of the Sally Hansen Salon effects nail strips. I was very pleased with this new option because painting my nails with nail polish never lasts for me. I tend to have chips before I even make it out of the house.

Jamberrys are a more natural version made with less harsh products. They also come with more options than the nail color strips you can find in most stores. I was excited to try out the product. I also received a new Color Club nail lacquer in Gold Struck in my April Birchbox. I must say that Color Club makes my favorite traditional nail poish.

Pros

Jamberry products are much longer  lasting than traditional nail color and do not require top coats for shine. They are also less harsh than other products. You can also safely reuse extra pieces for your dogs or children's nails. No Drying Time! Results remain the same the entire time the strips are on your nails with the exception of a few minor chips.

Cons

The biggest con for me is that the strips are subject to human error, this is a major concern for me because my fine motor skills are not the best, I ended up with lumpy nails. Also the nail strips require an additional step from the Sally Hansen products, you must use a heat source (according to the instructions).

 

You can pick up your own Jamberry products here. I also recommend actually watching the recommended video for application available here.

 

Over all I find this to be a great product that I would use for special occasions only because I would have to really focus to get a proper application. Other than that I plan to use up the traditional nail polish that I have gotten free through my Birchbox subscription or gifts.

 

Hacks for Straightening Natural Hair

Every few months I get tired of pretending to love the shrinking power of my natural hair. During these times I think of ways to switch up my look. Often I explore a straight style. 

Over the years I have learned a few tricks that result in straighter hair and love to share the wealth. 

To get from this :

To this: 

I use a blow dryer and a flat iron.

Tips:

1. Use a a heat protectant and make sure the hair is moisturized. 

2. Pull on the hair during blow drying rather than using a comb. 

3. Use a flat iron to follow a rat tail comb as you straighten the hair.

4. Limit passes with the flat iron. 

5. Part the hair in really small sections, this can be very difficult if you have thick dense hair and little patience. 

Dry hair breaks and that typically isn't the desired effect, hair also burns which would ruin my growth goals.  I find that pulling my hair while I dry it results in more stretching than using a comb. If you have ever attempted to straighten very curly hair without a comb I have just given you the best tool you'll ever use. Using the comb prevents the hair from remaining tangled and staying a flattened curly mess. Lastly to limit the potential damage I try to only go through the hair once or twice.   

Below are my most recent results. 

~Curls and love!

Pinterest Inspired Twisted Updo

I happened upon this lovely style on Pinterest and with a scheduled hair appointment I needed a style to recreate.

I was very excited going into my appointment I often attempt styles but don't always give myself and A with what is accomplished. I found the experience to be a bit of a let down though. I had to redirect the stylist to keep her following the style and then the result was a bit flat and wasn't what I expected. I attempted to help her rearrange but she was convinced that I needed to add some hair. I later fixed the hair myself and the last picture is what I ended up with.
I was also not thrilled with the cost given I really could have done this style myself, with the exception of needing help with the parting. I think in future I will have someone part my hair and do the twisting myself.

February Birchbox

As March sets in and my March Birchbox travels on its way to me I realize I neglected to share my February box. oopsie. 

The Agave oil is still my favorite of all that I received in my box, the oil made my hair feel so amazing. I have not yet used the OPI nail color, I have just not had the energy on the weekends (my typical painting time). I have not yet had the teas, not really my thing, but they are on my to do list. The Clauadlie face wash was nice, but not enough to replace my current scrub. The DDF oil cleanser is very light weight and fits in well with my normal routine.

Catch you later!
~Love~

My wig adventures

I have always been anti-fake hair....mostly because I fear someone would call me out if I wore hair not completely mine. Also because I like a more natural look, this comes from a time in my life when I wore contacts and make up all the time. I found myself unhappy with myself without these things and struggled to see the beauty in the mirror. I found myself wishing I had the attributes I did when I was "made up". I decided then to get more comfortable with me as is and that has stuck ever since high school.

This issue I face now is that straight hair is not an option for me because I workout too often, as a natural girl the result is no longer straight hair. It is also not an option for me to color my hair, its not in line with my natural, healthy hair care policy. My hair resists color until it is too weak to resist and what is left is beautiful color (not the one I wanted) and hair that breaks and splits until the color is gone. Since the base color of my hair is red when I try or a stylist tries for a blond or light brown I always end up with red.

For all of these reasons I decided to find a wig, to change up my look and not have to damage my hair with heat frequently. Check out the wigs I tried and the ones that I stuck with.

The funny things is after I picked the winning wig, I went to get it trimmed some. I walked into one salon and the stylist asked "you don't have extensions do you?" to which I replied "I have a wig." Her response was "We don't cut wigs here." So It may be a while before I have the courage to wear this lovely thing out and about.

 

~Love~