Monthly Archives: April 2013

Glossybox April 2013

Posted in Beauty Talk, Sample Clubs by


So, here it is! My new Glossybox for April, and it’s divine. I’m so excited to share my new samples with you.

Here’s the pretty box it came in. All nicely packaged with a card that explains the samples they included. This months theme is all about being good to your body. After a long Winter, we all can use some feel good items to make us feel like the Summer Goddesses we are. So, let’s see what’s inside.

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1. A letter from the Chief Executive Officer “Work That Beauty” - This card explains the thought around why they wanted to do theme around natural beauty for the transition into Summer.

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2. Inside the card is all the information you need about the samples they have chosen for you with a short description about the product and what it retails for. Love it!

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And now, here are the prized possessions I can’t wait to use:

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Alterna Bamboo Waves - A weightless texturizing mist that instantly gives hair that “just got back from the beach” day. I can’t wait to try it out, I love this casual look on the weekends. Goes great with any boho chic outfit.

BLGARI Perfume tea bag for the bath - Relaxing and calming with white tea notes. Perfect for after the beach, when you want to just relax and enjoy the rays you soaked up.

Honest Lip Balm - Made from organic jojoba and oils from oils, sunflowers and coconuts. Yes, coconuts the perfect Summer combo. Perfect to use after those long Summer days to keep your lips happy and healthy.

TIGI Cosmetics Glow Blush - Because we all want to glow in the Summer, this soft baked powder formula gives you the perfect glow and looks great on all skin tones.

Wash with Joe - This has an invigorating blend of coffee and mint that helps revitalize the body and mind while keeping skin superbly clean.

Le Metier De Beaute, with a $75 coupon - This replenishing daily solution is rich. It protects and hydrates your skin, and the best is that is Paraben-Free.

Once again Glossybox has not let me down. Amazing samples and a bonus coupon that’s worth $75 off the full size purchase. I’m excited to use them all and keep you posted. Stay tuned…. I should be receiving my Sample Society box any day. The anticipation is killing me!

I hope this has inspired you to give it a try. Let me know your thoughts, have you already ordered your box?

Lately there is magic in my make up bag.

Posted in Beauty Talk by

It took me a lot of trial and error over my lifetime to figure out when you find makeup that works, STICK WITH IT.

 

Lately, I’m having so much fun getting ready in the morning and here are the reasons why:

 

God gave me a lot of amazing things that I love about myself, but he sold me short on my eyelashes! But, a girl doesn’t need to fret anymore because I found the perfect mascara.

 

They’re Real Mascara by Benefit – This lengthens my lashes better than any fake pair I’ve ever used. And trust me so much more comfortable. You can buy it pretty much anywhere, and it lasts for at least a month. A little pricey at $23.00. But, to me it’s worth the money because I feel lovely wearing it.

 

Who else loves it?

Star Beauty Awards, best mascara 2012 
Teen Vogue Beauty Awards, editors’ pick for best mascara 2012 
Cosmopolitan, UK, Cosmo’s 10 Best Mascaras 2012 
Power List, Glamour UK, [Best] Lash Lifter 2012

 

I’ve always wanted the perfect glow, and admired the girl who could do it with various beauty tools. But, than I found my match.

 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder - It’s an all in one finishing and highlight powder. It immediately brightens my face and gives me a healthy glow. And the best part, it really does last all day. It’s easy to apply, you can use it however you want and get the perfect look you need.

 

It’s out of stock now at Sephora, but you can find it on their site and Amazon is selling it as well.

 

My love and hate relationship with make up and concealer has gone on for years. I have combination skin, and I’m constantly on the run with no time to make touch ups. Here is the one and only that works for me.

 

Make Up Forever Professional - I’ve tried so many different types of make up brands. I was a huge fan of Bare Minerals for years… And than, I found my match in Sephora of course. Where you can get a starter kit for just $79.99. This is the most amazing make up I have ever used. It stays put, and for me that means a lot. I’m not the type that wants to be stuck in the lady’s room at work 3 times a day doing touch ups. With my busy day, I way too busy for that. But, I want to look together. This make up makes meets those expectations.

 

I know everyone has different skin types, it’s not one size fits all. However, if you have struggled like me on the topics I posted above it’s worth a try. All of the links I posted above are through Sephora.com. Another trusted site I adore, however you can easily search the web and find them at other sites as well.

 

Share with me some of your favorites. What works for you?

Not so dazzled anymore.

Posted in Fashion by

Change is good; it’s necessary for growth. But, if you’re going to change than make it a positive one that will keep your loyal members happy.

I joined Shoedazzle.com back in August of 2010. Each month, I would anxiously await their new selections, which ranged from shoes to accessories. I paid my $39.99 a month membership, and rushed to my showroom to find my personalized picks.

My closet was overflowing with cute finds wrapped in bright pink boxes that my friends adored. It was an amazing relationship. I had a personal stylist that would fill my showroom based on my profile, which I took time to fill out. Each month they would also showcase a celebrity shoe and the money you spent on it would go to a charitable cause.

I would spend money, and earn rewards fair and square. It was exhilarating to get enough points to earn a free pair of shoes. I felt like I was getting such a great exclusive bargain.

What would I spend the points on? Heels, boots, sandals or jewelry? They even offered special daily promotions where you could get a cute umbrella set or a closet organizer. Amazing! The shopping possibilities were endless, and I was faithfully on their site everyday to see what was new.

Then, they changed its business model. No longer were you a member like everyone else earning points and enjoying the thrill of buying moderately priced shoes. No more celebrity picks, or personalized recommendations.

Now, you paid like everyone else. Or, you had the option to be a VIP member and get 15% off.

However, the prices of the shoes changed. Not every shoe was $39.99; some were as high as $79.99. The selections were narrowing down, and earning points felt like an ETERNITY based on their new model.

So, what went wrong? The business model changed in a way that it stripped away the feeling of a sense of belonging. I no longer felt like a valued member, I was like everyone else shopping for shoes. Except now, I would pay only $9.99 a month to get 15% off a pair of shoes.

Don’t get me wrong, they still offer cute shoes and accessories. And there are some perks to being a member. You still earn points, although the structure is different and I’m still trying to figure it out. You don’t have to spend the $9.99 a month, you can “bank it” for when your ready to do a shopping spree or you can use it toward a pair of shoes every month.

But for me, the thrill is gone. I’m waiting to rack up my last amount of points and than I’m canceling my VIP membership. I’m not going to say I will never shop on their site again; I do like their selections. However, to me they are now a shoe website I will shop and compare against for the best deal available.

Let me know your thoughts? Are you still a member? Have you tried them? What do you think went wrong?

Beautybar.com - One of my trusted sites for brands I love.

Posted in Beauty Talk by

Check out the offer to join Beautybar.com I posted. You can receive 20% off your first order, just be sure to enter the Refer-Friend-Code when you check out.

For each member that signs up I have decided to donate $5 to the Best Friends Animal Society. This is a cause that is dear to my heart, I love animals and want to see them have a good home.

Hope you decide to join. They are an amazing site, that have trusted products. I order from them often, and have never had a problem. As you know, I’m also a member of their sample club which is a great program. You can read more about it under my “Latest Obsession…” blog.

Earth day 2013. My recommendations for going green.

Posted in Going Green by

drugstore.com

Earth day is Monday 4/22 and here are some items I think would be perfect to use to support the day. Make sure you can leave the car behind for a couple of hours and take a nice bike ride. If you don’t have a bike, try walking to your nearest store or restaurant.
Save on water, skip washing your hair and throw it up with some comfy cotton ties. Choose shoes like Toms that are recycled. What I love about their company is every time you make a purchase, they donate the same amount to a charity in need. So, you are paying it forward in so many ways.
When it comes to make up, switch it up for the day and try some organic brands. You can find decent brands in many drug stores that are inexpensive, like Burt’s Bees and Yes refreshing face towels. I’ve personally used them while traveling and they’re amazing and affordable. They also come in many different options, like lavender and blueberry.
Enjoy the day, and remember any little change in our daily routine that is good for the planet is good for us . So, while you can practice these little changes on 4/22, consider incorporating them into your daily routine as well.
Earth day set list

Toms flat
toms.com

Matte lipstick
$23 - nelly.com

PUBLIC C7 2012
publicbikes.com

My latest obsession….

Posted in Beauty Talk by

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with beauty sample clubs. I’ve always enjoyed trying new products based on recommendations from my friends. However, joining these clubs has opened up a world of new products for me.

They come wrapped in a gorgeous box and each month has a theme, with a mini catalog describing the samples you receive. If you can afford to spend between $10-20 a month, than give it a try. The best part is sharing them with your family or friends. Even better, you can “gift” them as well. What woman wouldn’t love a surprise box with beauty samples in it?

Listed below are my top 3 favorites, hopefully they will become your favorites as well.

1. Glossybox - This is the most expensive of the 3. But, believe me you get what you pay for. One month I received a full-sized deluxe sample of BB cream from Model Co. I love it, and it’s now a staple item in my make up bag. The price is $22/month. They even offer gift boxes that you can send to a friend. Brilliant.

2. Sample Society - Designed by Beautybar.com and Allure Magazine. The best sample I received from them was a Butter Nail lacquer. The price is $15/month, and I absolutely love their website. When you login you can see all of your past samples. The best part about this club is each month you get a $15 coupon offer to use toward a $50 item. So, you’re basically getting your $15 back if you buy a full size product from that monthly box.

3. ipsy - This is the least expensive of the 3. Lately, I’m not excited by what they have to offer. Each month you receive your samples in a make up bag, which would be great. But, often they’re cheap and not worth using. The samples are okay, but you can find them in any drug store. It’s a cheap option if you want to start small.

Give them a try. If you’re not fully satisfied, you can cancel easily. To me, it’s always fun to get a package at the door with a surprise in it.