Skincare Routine & Favorites: Weekly Treatments, Masks, etc.

Earlier this week I shared my Morning and Evening Skincare Routines, today I wanted to finish up my skincare favorites by discussing the products that I reach for weekly or as needed.  These are treatments, masks, and products that I'll use when my skin needs a little something extra.

When I'm experiencing breakouts, I'll use the Up & Up Maximum Strength Acne Medication (this is the Target store brand version of the Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10 Acne Medication) morning or night.  This is a 10% benzoyl peroxide spot treatment; a white cream that blends in to be completely invisible--perfect for use in the day.  As long as I use it in moderation (no more than twice a day), it doesn't dry out my skin but is effective in quickly reducing the size of active breakouts.  I'll also apply this anytime I notice a breakout forming and it tends to prevent them from growing.

For evening spot treatment, I love the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion which dramatically decreases the size of active breakouts overnight.  This product has two distinct layers, a bottom layer of calamine which calms irritated skin and a top layer that contains a liquid active with salicylic acid and sulfur to treat breakouts.  You insert a clean q-tip through both layers and dap the product onto active breakouts. You'll look pretty crazy when you use this product (pink dots wherever you put it), but it's worth the embarrassment for how effective it is.  I've been through a few bottles of this stuff and it remains my favorite spot treatment.

The Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion is fantastic for healing and shrinking large, painful cystic acne bumps.  This a product that you shake, then apply to the effective area with your fingertip.  It's mostly clear, but it does tend to leave a slightly chalky, white residue, so this isn't a product I use during the day.

Some nights when I have a little more time for my moisturizer to sink in before bed, I'll use a combination of natural oils in place of the night creme I mentioned yesterday in my Evening Skincare Routine.  If my skin is fairly clear with few breakouts, I'll simply use a little bit of organic virgin coconut oil rubbed onto my face and neck.  If I'm having a few breakouts, I like to combine a drop or two each of tea tree oil and lavender oil blended with pure argan oil.  Tea tree oil is antibacterial and helps heal acne while lavender has a calming effect.  Oils like these can be found in most health food stores and the like, though I usually purchase mine through Vitacost as they have fantastic prices.  As long as you buy pure oils, the brand shouldn't matter as they should perform the same.

Once a week at night I'll use the Paula's Choice Resist Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% AHA.  This is a powerful chemical exfolient; it's a liquid that you apply to the face with a cotton round after cleansing and toning.  I notice considerable results when I use this product: the next day my face will be dramatically smoother and overtime the tone of my skin has brightened.  I achieve gentle exfoliation daily when I use my Clarisonic, but I rely on the Resist Weekly Resurfacing Treatment for a thorough weekly exfoliation.  This is one of my favorite products in my skincare routine because I see such dramatic, immediate results when using it.  After having discovered this product, I no longer use any abrasive physical exfoliants on my face.

Another one of my must-have products is the Borghese Fango Active Mud for Face and Body, my absolute favorite mask for unclogging pores and absorbing excess oil.  With having oily skin, I rarely need moisturizing face masks and tend to prefer clay or mud-based masks that detoxify and control oil.  I originally received a sample of this in a Birchbox and fell in love, immediately purchasing it full size once I ran out.  I have never found another mask that absorbs as much oil and gunk as this one.  I could use this mask every day if I wanted, but I usually use it on days when I want my skin to look especially nice (even in texture with smaller pores).  I'll apply a generous layer in the morning, allowing it about 20 minutes to dry and do it's work before rinsing it off in the shower.

That pretty much sums up my Skincare Routine & Favorites!  Hopefully I've introduced you to a few new products that you'll love.  If you have any holy grail skincare products, I'd love if you shared them in the comments!

Don't forget to check out my Morning and Evening Skincare Routine posts.

Evening Skincare Routine & Favorites {Oily, Acne-prone Skin}

Yesterday I shared my Morning Skincare Routine & Favorites, so today I'm following up with my evening routine.  As I mentioned yesterday, I have oily, acne-prone skin and I'm concerned with preventing early signs of aging.  While I'm certainly not perfect and I crash many nights having only half-heartedly removed my makeup with a cleansing wipe, these are the products and the routine I aim to do in the evenings before sleep.  If you read yesterday's post, you'll probably notice that most of these items are the same as my morning routine.

1.) Before cleansing, I always begin by removing the bulk of my face and eye makeup with either a cleansing oil or makeup remover wipe.  I didn't picture either because I've yet to really find a favorite, holy-grail makeup remover.  I like wipes for their ease and convenience, but I haven't found any that I could completely rave about.  The Pond's Evening Sooth Wet Cleansing Towelettes have been the product I've repurchased the most, but the packaging drives me insane (usually about half-way through the package the seal is no longer sticky and the wipes begin to dry out).  I just recently purchased the Aveeno Ultra-Calming Makeup Removing Wipes which feature a clever seal to keep the product moist.  I've only used them a few times, so I can't give a full review on them yet, but I've found them effective and satisfactory thus far.

2.) After removing the bulk of my makeup, I cleanse using the Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash on my Clarisonic Mia.  Together these remove any remaining traces of makeup and give my skin a deep clean from the day.  My skin feels clean, but not stripped.

3.) After cleansing, as I do in the morning, I apply the Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner with a cotton round.  This toner is refreshing, soothing, and subtly moisturizing.

4.) I usually take advantage of the evening to impart extra moisture.  To be honest, my oily skin doesn't necessarily need a heavier moisturizer in the evening, but my absolute favorite skincare products to use are moisturizing serums and cremes, so I do this step partly out of the enjoyment of the pampering.  Lately I've been loving the Derma e Hydrating Night Creme with Hyaluronic Acid.  This is a thick creme that adds a ton of hydration back to the skin.  While thick, it's not particularly heavy or greasy and it absorbs quickly.  Some nights I'll replace this with natural oils (more details on that in tomorrow's post); however, if I'm moisturizing and immediately headed to bed, I'll reach for this night creme since it absorbs so quickly.  I apply a generous layer to my face and neck and when I wake up in the morning my skin feels incredibly smooth and hydrated.

5.) I use the Derma e Hydrating Eye Creme with Hyaluronic Acid in the evenings in a slightly more generous layer than I do in the daytime.  I think this is a great, basic eye creme.  It's hydrating and provides natural anti-aging benefits while being gentle (no stinging).  I don't suffer from abnormally dark circles, puffiness, or excessive fine lines and for me, at this stage in my life, this eye creme is perfect!

6.) I always apply a generous layer of lip balm before bed.  The Burt's Bees Ultra Moisturizing Lip Treatment is my favorite morning, night, and all throughout the day.

Tomorrow I'll share the last of my skincare favorites: items I use weekly and treatments/masks that I reach for as needed.  There are some real gems I've discovered and couldn't live without, so you won't want to miss them!

Morning Skincare Routine & Favorites {Oily, Acne-prone Skin}

This week I'm sharing my skincare routine(s) and favorite products.  I've been using nearly all these products since May and have been so pleased with the improvement I've seen in my skin.  For reference, I have extremely oily, acne-prone skin.  I would say that my biggest skincare concerns are blackheads and generally congested skin.  At twenty-six, I'm also concerned with preventing the signs of aging.

Prior to last spring, I had been jumping around product-to-product trying out new samples from beauty boxes and constantly switching from one thing to another when I would purchase items from the store.  In all that constant change, I had never found a set of products that worked together in a way I really loved.  My skin was at it's all-time worse, experiencing several new breakouts each week and quite a bit of redness.  My reaction was to fight the acne with harsh products that speckled my oily skin with dry patches.  The dryness I attacked with harsh exfoliants, further irritating my skin.

Early in May I started using yet another new cleanser, the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser.  After a few days of using that cleanser morning and night, my skin had broken out in the most painful, embarrassing chemical burn!  My skin was inflamed, dry, and covered in small bumps.  I freaked out!  In the hundreds of products I've used over the years, I had never experienced any reaction like that.  I completely avoided putting anything on my face for days other than Organic Virgin Coconut Oil.  I would slather my face every hour or so in it's healing, moisturizing goodness, and within a week my skin had completely healed.

After such a traumatic experience, I decided to completely change the way I treated my skin.  Seeing how beautifully my skin reacted to the coconut oil, I decided to take a more gentle, natural approach with (the majority of) my skincare.

Today I'm sharing the products that I use every morning.  I like to keep my routine fairly quick and my products rather light since my skin is already oily and doesn't require heavy moisturization in the daytime.  Later this week I'll be sharing my evening routine as well as products that I use weekly or reach for as needed (treatments/masks).

1.)  In the shower I cleanse with the Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash on my Clarisonic Mia.  This Simple cleanser was the first one I switched to after my incident in May and I've loved it ever since.  I wouldn't personally categorize it as a moisturizing facial wash as I don't find it actually imparts any moisture to the skin.  It doesn't, however, dry out the skin, which is glorious.  It has sort of a gel/cream consistency and lathers beautifully paired with the Clarisonic (or on it's own).  The Clarisonic Mia was one of my best Birchbox scores (bought with a coupon code + Birchbox points and only cost me $35 out of pocket).  I use the Deep Pore Brush Head and find it really does help clear out pores, minimizing them and improving the overall texture of my skin.

2.)  Usually the first thing I do out of the shower is brush my teeth.  After brushing, I like to exfoliate my lips using my DIY Brown Sugar & Vanilla Lip Polish.  This removes any dry skin and also adds a touch of hydration to my lips.

3.) I then apply a layer of Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner on a cotton round all over my face and neck.  This product is incredibly gentle and refreshing.  It leaves my skin feeling clean and comfortable.

4.) I moisturize in the morning with the Derma e Hydrating Serum with Hyaluronic Acid.  This is the perfect amount of moisture for me in the daytime.  It's light, but incredibly hydrating.  It plumps and smooths the skin and creates a perfect base for applying makeup.

5.) The Derma e Hydrating Eye Creme with Hyaluronic Acid is fairly new in my rotation (I've been using it about a month).  I really enjoy the feeling of hydration that I experience with a thick eye cream and I like to know I'm doing my part to prevent signs of aging around the eye.  This eye cream is intensely moisturizing without being greasy or heavy and it doesn't sting the eye!  Another eye cream I've used and loved in the past is the Clinique All About Eyes Rich.  Since discovering the Derma e Hydrating Eye Creme (half the price of the Clinique), I probably won't go back to the Clinique as I feel they perform about the same.

6.) Lastly, I cannot go about my day without first having put on my favorite lip balm, the Burt's Bees Ultra Moisturizing Lip Treatment.  This product provides a glorious kiss of moisturize and a pretty shine.  I really love the tube packaging (great for on the go) and I find that it provides fantastic hydration without any addictive or irritating qualities many lip balms have.

Lastly (not pictured because I'm currently out), for days that I'm going to be outside for extended periods, I like to apply the COOLA Face SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer (on top of or in place of the Derma e Hydrating Serum).  This is a fairly light facial sunscreen with a really pleasant, fresh scent.  I don't use a separate sunscreen daily because, honestly, most days I experience less than 30 minutes of direct sun exposure, and several of my base makeup products contain SPF.

I've really been loving the results of these products and I especially love that they are affordable!  I pick up my Simple Facial Wash and Burt's Bees Lip Treatment at Target or the grocery store and I purchase the Thayers Toner and Derma e products from Vitacost as they always have the best deals.  This combination of products thoroughly cleanses, tones, and hydrates my oily skin while improving it's tone and texture and preventing breakouts.  Most of these products are gentle and would suit a variety of skin types.  I honestly cannot recommend them enough.

Check back tomorrow for my evening routine and later this week for details on the products that I like to use weekly or as treatments when necessary.

What are your holy grail skincare products?  Do let us know in the comments.

November 2013 Sweet Taste Trunk

November 15th came and with it another irresistibly sweet Taste Trunk.  If you're curious to see what I have received over the past few months since subscribing to Taste Trunk in July, you can browse my previous posts here.

Each month Taste Trunk offers four main trunk themes: the Gourmet Trunk, the Health Trunk, the Sweet Trunk, and the BBQ Trunk which each retail for $29/month (plus $5.99 shipping) and include "5-10 products, discount coupons, backgrounds on companies and amazing recipe ideas."

Additionally, they recently added two new options: the Mini Sweet Trunk and the Mini-Healthy-Sweet Trunk which both retail for $13/month (plus shipping) and include "3-5 handpicked items from our favorite brands."

My November Sweet Trunk included six decadent items from four different brands:

Terrapin Ridge Farms - Chocolate Coconut Sauce/Dip ($7.60/11 oz)

"Creamy coconut is blended with bittersweet chocolate and chocolate liquor to create a luscious dessert sauce and dip.  Undeniably rich, warmed and drizzled over ice dream or crepes filled with fresh fruit.  Divine as a dip for pretzels."

I'm thrilled to have received this sauce/dip.  I haven't tried it out yet, but I really enjoyed the mustard I received from this brand in my September Gourmet Trunk, so I'm expecting good things.  I think this will be a handy product to have in the pantry for entertaining as I imagine this would be delicious in a million different uses!

Amella Caramels - Gray Sea Salt Caramels in Milk Chocolate ($9.00/2.8 oz or 6 pieces)
"Our Milk Chocolate covered caramel is made by hand with raw blue weber agave nectar in place of corn syrup.  The secret ingredient is pure cocoa butter.  It creates a unique consistency, like a caramel and truffle hybrid.  Lastly, we sprinkle them with Sel Gris, a Gray Sea Salt hand harvested off the coast of Brittany, France.  Your taste buds will find the silky texture and decadent flavor impossible to resist."

These are really delicious!  The caramel is especially smooth and silky and the contrast of the gray sea salt is glorious.  These has a truly artisan taste and texture.  Just delightful.  I think I'll be nice and even save one for the hubby.  Maybe.

Funky Chunky - Chip-Zel-Pop ($6.50/5 oz)
"Sweet and salty, chewy, crisp and crunchy.  Chip-Zel-Pop!  An incredible marriage of flavors which will keep you wanting for more.  And more.  Made with all-natural ingredients - crisp potato chips, pretzel sticks, and buttery caramel corn.  Our artisans then drizzle thick caramel and dark, milk, and white chocolaty drizzle."

What a fun snack!  Whole chips, pretzel sticks and pieces of popcorn are each drizzled in chocolate and caramel, so every bite is a different experience.  These are a nice sweet/savory mix, though they definitely learn more sweet as they are very generously drizzled with chocolate.  I'm saving these for our next Walking Dead/American Horror Story/HIMYM viewing.

Donsuemor - French Almond Cakes ($1.70/2 cakes)
"French Almond Cakes, or, as they are known in France, are elegant little cakes with the rich and nutty taste of sweet almond.  Soft and moist with crisp edges--a "Donsuemor signature"--these elegant treats are made with the finest quality."

Haven't tried these yet.  I'm not the biggest fan of whole or slivered almonds (neither is hubby).  I may set these out for guests to help themselves to.

Donsuemor - Dipped Madeleines ($2.81/3 madeleines)
"Donsuemor madeleines are elegant little French cakes with distinctive shell shapes.  Rich and buttery with a unique flavor and texture--soft and moist with lightly crisp edges--they are made with the finest quality, all natural ingredients."

These are good but nothing special.  They texture is a little dry and the chocolate dip is pretty low-quality.  To me these taste like something you'd pick up at any ol' grocery store in the cookie aisle.  Honestly not impressed.

Donsuemor - Lemon Zest Madeleines ($1.73/3 madeleines)
"Donsuemor madeleines are elegant little French cakes with distinctive shell shapes.  Rich and buttery with a unique flavor and texture--soft and moist with lightly crisp edges--they are made with the finest quality, all natural ingredients."

These Lemon Zest Madeleines have a better (more moist) texture than the Dipped Madeleines, but, again, don't really wow me.

Total value of my November Sweet Taste Trunk: $29.34

For the first time, I'm slightly disappointed with the contents of my monthly Taste Trunk.  I really loved the first three products and thought they were unique, high quality, and very tasty.  The three offerings from Donsuemor were a disappointment, however.  In presentation and taste, they just didn't seem up to the quality that I've grown to expect and appreciate from Taste Trunk.  I think the month would have wowed if the value/place of the three Donsuemor items had been replaced by something with more uniqueness and quality.

I was excited to see this card included among the info and recipe cards in my Trunk this month...  Taste Trunk will be offering One-Time Christmas Trunks for holiday gifting!  Order by December 5th and you (or your recipient) will receive the single trunk of choice by December 20th.  I think Taste Trunk would be a fantastic, unique holiday gift for any foodie in your life!  Every truck is packaged beautifully and would make a perfect present.  In addition to gifting, this is such a great way to try out one month of the service for yourself with "no strings attached."

If you would like to try Taste Trunk, you can save 25% on your first trunk with the code "winsomegirl25" which will bring your cost down to $21.75 (plus $5.99 shipping).  If you do decide to sign up, please kindly provide my name (Amy Kelly) as your referral during checkout.

*Full disclosure: I paid for the Taste Trunk subscription with my own money.  I receive no benefit if you use the discount code Taste Trunk provided me to share with you.  I am, however, an ambassador for the company and receive a very small commission when new members enter my name as their referral during checkout.

November 2013 Glam Bag

If you follow me on Instagram, you already saw a sneak peek of my November 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag.  November's "Glam it Up" bag was filled with some go-to products to help you get glam for the upcoming holiday events and parties.

My November Ipsy bag included six products:

TRESemmé - TRES Two Extra Hold Hairspray ($2.99/4.2 oz)
The TRESemmé TRES Two Extra Hold Hairspray provides flexible control that gives hair hold without the stickiness.  The humidity-resistent formula keeps flyaways smooth for 24 hours.

Sample size: 1.5 oz
Sample value: $1.07

As I mentioned in yesterday's Birchbox post, my favorite hairspray is Kenra Volume 25.  While that's my favorite that I tend to prefer for daily use, I do love having travel size bottles around for my purse or traveling, so for that this will be fantastic.  If I recall correctly, this is MakeupByTiffanyD's favorite hairspray, so I'm curious to try it out.  If it's good, you really can't beat the price!

Nailtini - Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer in Champagne ($13.00/0.5 oz)
Just in time for the year's most glamorous season, Nailtini is serving Ipsters gorgeous nails in two shimmering shades - icy golden Champagne and molten pewter Caviar Cocktail.  The perfect finishing touch to glam it up head to toe!

Sample size: 0.5 oz
Sample value: $13.00

I think this is my fourth or fifth Nailtini polish I've received from Ipsy.  In general I've found their quality to be great.  While I think this Champagne polish is a pretty color, pearly shades like this aren't ones I tend to like actually wearing.  They can be difficult to apply without creating a streaky mess, and I find the pearly finish usually looks a little dated, in my opinion.  I'm more a fan of solid creme polishes or creme bases with shimmer instead of an overall pearl finish (though there are a few exceptions).  This is probably a polish I'll pass on to a friend who will love it as I'm fairly certain it would go untouched in my collection.

Starlooks - Gem Eye Pencil in Topaz ($14.00/2.4 g)
The Starlooks Gem Eye Pencils provide a magnificent metallic finish and are so versatile, soft, and creamy that they can be used as a liner or eyeshadow base!  Each highly-pigmented, unique pencil has a gorgeous, micro-glitter finish.

Sample size: 2.4 g
Sample value: $14.00

{Swatch of the Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in Topaz}

This pencil is fairly soft (but not overly so) and pigmented.  I'm not sure how much use I'll get out of a silver metallic eye pencil.  I think it could potentially be pretty traced along the lower lash line, but I've yet to test that out.  The formula isn't smudge-proof by any means, which is a bummer.  I would have to be careful when wearing this not to rub my eyes lest I end up with silver glitter all over my face.

Be a Bombshell - Lip Crayon in Hot Damn ($14.00/2.5 g)
A glossy lip crayon with a smooth texture that is perfect for travel and touch-ups on the go.

Sample size: 2.5 g
Sample value: $14.00

{Swatch of the Be a Bombshell Lip Crayon in Hot Damn}

Admittedly I was disappointed when I first saw this as I feel like I have an overwhelming excess of red lip products in my collection.  However, upon putting this on my lips, I have to say I kind of love it!  It comes off a bit more pink on my lips and isn't so densely pigmented that it's high maintenance (which sets it apart from several of my other red lips products).  It doesn't have any fragrance that I can detect and feels light and comfortable on the lips.

Pixi Beauty - Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched ($18.00/0.36 oz + kabuki brush)
This bronzing powder gives your complexion the warmth and luminosity of naturally sunkissed skin.  Hydrating, silky-smooth & long-wearing, it also protects against free radicals.  Contains Vitamin E to protect the skin and mica, which provides dense natural pigment.

Sample size: 0.11 oz
Sample value: $5.50

{Swatch of the Pixi Beauty Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched}

This was another product that I was immediately disinterested in.  I'm happily fair skinned and never wear bronzer, so I didn't think I'd have any interest in this product.  Then, when I swatched it, felt how buttery soft it was, smooth, and saw how subtly golden it's color, I was intrigued.  If ever there was a bronzer to pique my interest in adding a slight sun-kissed radiance to my skin, this would be it.  I've never seen a bronzer this light and honey colored.  I'm looking forward to trying this out as a light wash to add a bit of warmth to my complexion.  I also think the shade would be a lovely eye shadow.

.em Michelle Phan - Pillow Plush Cushiony Lip Balm in Vanilla ($15.00/5 g)
Inspired by the girl whose lips deserve as much TLC as she does.  This cushiony, lip-smoothing balm gives your lips extra love with a sheer dose of color.  Bright pops of color tints for a juicy lip look.

Sample size: 5 g
Sample value: $15.00

{Swatch of the .em Pillow Plush Cushiony Lip Balm in Vanilla (right) - Pixi Bronzer on the left}

The .em Michelle Phan Pillow Plush Cushiony Lip Balm in Vanilla is a peachy nude shade.  I don't find this color particularly flattering on my skin tone, but the product is fairly sheer so it doesn't show up much on my pigmented lips.  The product has a very faint vanilla scent and smooth, slightly thick, sticky texture.  It doesn't feel particularly moisturizing on the lips, more like a thick balmy coating.  I'm not a big fan of the color and the texture sort of feels cheap.  While I love the packaging of this .em Lip Balm, I give it a pass on the product color/consistency.

Total bag value: $62.57*

Overall, I'm not overly excited about my November Ipsy Glam Bag.  The eye pencil, nail polish, and lip balm were duds for me, but I'm enjoying the bronzer and lip crayon and look forward to trying out the hairspray.

*This is an approximate value.  I couldn't find the exact full-size price/size on a couple of the products, so the actual value may differ slightly.

November 2013 Birchbox

The November 2013 Birchbox was all about giving, getting, and creating "More Good."  "As any Thanksgiving feast can attest, this is not the time for holding back.  Rather, this month--and the entire holiday season--is about abundance in all forms.  More thanks, more giving, more thoughtfulness, more samples, and of course more pumpkin pie and stuffing.  All month, we're bringing you ideas for how you can bring more good to your life, from a roundup of our favorite charitable beauty brands to easy ways to give back."

This month I received the following samples:

Aloxxi - Flexible Hairspray ($18.00/300 mL)
Semi-firm hold (read: no crunch) spray that tames flyaways while also protecting hair color.

Sample size: 50 mL
Sample value: $3.00

A girl can always use hairspray.  My current favorite is Kenra Volume Spray 25, of which I have a giant bottle in my bathroom.  I love getting little hairspray samples like this--perfect for my purse or for traveling.  This one from Aloxxi claims to be anti-humidity while providing a light shine and protection from UV damage.

Ayres - Midnight Tango Body Butter ($28.00/6.75 oz)
Full of natural skin-softeners, this moisturizer has a heady (dare we say sexy?) scent.

Sample size: 1 oz
Sample value: $4.15

This Ayres Body Butter has a fairly light (not at all greasy) and fast absorbing texture.  It leaves the skin soft without the long dry time of a lot of thick butters.  The Midnight Tango scent claims to be "a sensual combination of sweet vanilla and orange blossom."  To my nose, it has sort of an earthy, herbal fragrance upfront that fades away to more sweetness.  A look at the ingredient list reveals neroli, rosemary and ylang among the essential oils in the product, which I believe are the main notes I'm picking up on initially.  Overall I really enjoy the texture but the scent might be a pass for me.  I haven't used it head-to-toe yet, but I worry the fragrance could be overpowering if used generously.

Color Club - Nail Polish in Baldwin Blues ($8.00/0.5 oz)
On-trend pro-quality lacquer that will take you easily--and gorgeously--from day to night.

Sample size: 0.25 oz
Sample value: $4.00

I've sampled a few Color Club polishes from Birchbox over the past year or so.  The shade I received in this month's box, Baldwin Blues, is from Color Club's new Harlem Lights Collection.  Baldwin Blues is described as "a sophisticated not-quite-navy blue."  I'd say it's navy meets deep teal and it's quite pretty!  The swatch above is two coats.

Laura Mercier - Lip Glacé in Opal ($24.00/4.5 g)
A gorgeously pigmented lip gloss that provides rich color with a high-shine finish.

Sample size: 2.8 g
Sample value: $14.93

I received the Laura Mercier Lip Glacé in Opal, a "light pinky beige."  It has very subtle shimmer throughout and has a somewhat sheer, but buildable opacity.  The texture feels a little thick on the lips, but not sticky.  Unfortunately, for me, I couldn't get past the smell of this gloss.  I'm never normally bothered by scented lip products, but this one smells like a mixture of plastic, menthol, and vanilla.  YUCK!

Fatty Sundays - Chocolate Covered Pretzel in Toasted Coconut($7.00/2.54 oz)
Sweet and salty gourmet pretzel sticks that we can't stop eating.

Sample size: unknown
Sample value: unknown

I would have snapped a photo of the mini Chocolate Covered Pretzel, but oddly Birchbox provided no protective packaging for my products this month (everything was openly thrown in my box with no padding) and the poor pretzel stick was crushed to oblivion.  As such, I couldn't get the full effect of the product, but the crumbs tasted pretty nice.  This was my "Lifestyle Extra" this month so I'm not really bummed that it arrived broken, I'm just glad none of my other products were damaged due to the lacking packaging.

Total box value: $26.08 (plus the value of the Fatty Sundays pretzel sample)

I'm fairly happy with my Birchbox sample selection this month, save for the Laura Mercier gloss (I'm not sure I'll be able to get used to that scent), and the minor packaging fail that resulted in the untimely destruction of a poor, innocent pretzel stick.

Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation {Review}

I'm excited to have the opportunity to review the new Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation.  This foundation will hit US stores in January 2014, I have the pleasure of testing/reviewing it courtesy of Influenster.

I've had the pleasure of testing/reviewing a few products since I joined Influenster, but this new release from Rimmel had me the most excited.  As a foundation junkie with oily skin, I'm always on the lookout for new mattifying foundations to try.  I've bought and sampled a ton from expensive high end brands to budget drugstore lines.  I'm pretty particular when it comes to my requirements for a foundation: I want something with a matte finish and medium-full, natural-looking coverage that won't break down throughout the day on my incredibly oily skin.  After having used the new Rimmel Stay Matte foundation, I have to say I'm pretty impressed!

The Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation is "a breakthrough feather light, oil free formula with an airy mousse texture that's comfortable on your skin, never heavy or greasy.  Your new beauty staple delivers all day shine control and blends flawlessly for a natural looking matte finish, all while minimizing the appearance of pores."

The Stay Matte Foundation comes in basic tube packaging.  It's not overly pretty to look at or luxurious, but it's extremely practical.  I love that tubes like this really allow you to get every last bit of product, are lightweight, and travel friendly.

Influenster sent me shade 091 Light Ivory, which from what I can tell is the second to lightest shade that will offered in this foundation to US customers.  There are 8 shades available in the Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation varying from Light Porcelain to Sand, which should suit most light-medium skin tones.  Unfortunately the product doesn't cater to darker skin tones.

I've been using this foundation for about a week and thus far I've been really happy with it's performance.  Light Ivory is a fairly good match for my skin tone.  It's a tad dark, which requires some careful blending, but overall it's a good fit.  I certainly intend to check out Light Porcelain when the product launches in the US as I think it might suit me better.

The foundation, as claimed, does have an airy mousse texture which blends effortlessly and feels almost weightless on the skin.  I've been incredibly impressed with the application of this product!  It applies great with the fingertips, but my favorite way to get the most naturally flawless coverage is to dot the foundation all over my face and to blend, blend, blend with a damp beautyblender.  It doesn't take much effort to get even, natural yet flawless coverage with this foundation.  Unlike a lot of long-wearing and/or mattifying foundations, this one blends like a dream and doesn't look cakey on the skin.

On me, initially the finish of this foundation is beautifully matte.  As I do with any foundation, I set mine with powder.  I do have some shine showing up thirty minutes to an hour after application, but I have ridiculously oily skin and no mattifying product has ever kept my skin matte for more than an hour.  I imagine on someone with normal-moderate oily skin, this foundation would stay matte for at least a few hours.  Fortunately, even when my skin gets oily, this product doesn't break down and wear off in an unflattering way like many foundations can.  I don't notice any oxidation with this foundation either, which I do experience quite often with others.

Overall, I've been thoroughly impressed with the new Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation!  I think it will be a big hit when it launches in the US next January.  I can't find any specifics on how much it will retail for, but I assume the price will be in line with the rest of Rimmel's range, in which most of their foundations run between $5 - $7.


*I received this product complimentary of Influenster for testing purposes.  I am not being paid for this review and all opinions are my own and genuine.

The Bread Box Holiday Market {Seeking Artists and Crafters}

{Art by Cricket Press}

Those who follow me on Facebook or Twitter have probably heard the exciting news...  I'm co-coordinating my very first indie craft fair in Lexington, Kentucky!

Along with Penny Candy Studios, Cricket Press, and other artists of the Bread Box Studios, I'm pleased to announce the very first Bread Box Holiday Market.  This event is being lovingly organized and thoughtfully curated to create a dynamic selection of local artists and crafters for shoppers to browse this holiday season.  We have some exciting plans in the works for the market including: swag bags for the first 50 guests, an artist raffle, and a cheerful atmosphere with refreshments, decor, and holiday music.  You won't want to miss this unique and festive gathering of local indie artists and crafters!

Bring a friend (or two!) and come early.  Admission is free to the public.*

When:

Saturday, December 14th (1pm - 9pm)

Where:

The Bread Box Studios

501 West Sixth Street, Suites 180-185

Lexington, KY 40508

RSVP to The Bread Box Holiday Market event page on Facebook and follow our Twitter to stay connected and to hear more exciting details about the event as we release them.

If you're interested in applying as a vendor for the 2013 Bread Box Holiday Market, please submit our online application by midnight, November 15th.  You may access the application here.

*Please note that, with our sincerest apologies, the location is not handicap accessible.

Featured as Skirt! Lexington Blogger of the Month

Happy Friday!  I just wanted to pop in and share some exciting news...  I'm currently featured by skirt! Lexington as their Blogger of the Month.  If you're interested in reading more about my blogging history, what inspires me to write, how blogging has changed my lifestyle, etc. jump on over to the feature here.

October 2013 Julep Maven

Today I wanted to share my October Julep Maven products.  October's colors were themed "The Rebel Set, a collection to light up your dark side."  The colors from the collection were very festive for fall/Halloween.  Three of the Maven styles, including Classic With a Twist (the one I selected to receive), featured two polishes and a double ended Kajal Eye Glider & Sharpener.

The Kajal Eye Glider & Sharpener retails for $22.00/1.38 g.  "Two intensely pigmented colors--carbon black and brown shimmer--glide on smoothly and blend like a dream.  Bonus: the best sharpener we've ever used is included.  This richly hued pencil was formulated to mimic the texture of the Indian eye darker of the same name.  The smooth formula glides on effortlessly, without dragging across the fragile skin of the eye area.  Instantly delivers bold, clear, true color that easily blends and beautifies."

I like that the Kajal Eye Glider is dual sided (great for saving space in your makeup bag or for traveling) and the inclusion of the sharpener was a nice touch.  I also want to point out that the size of the sharpener is smaller than any I've owned previously which, again, is fantastic for saving space!

{Swatches of the Kajal Eye Glider in Carbon Black (left) and Brown Shimmer (right)}

Unfortunately my enthusiasm for the Kajal Eye Glider ended once I swatched the product.  Neither shade was particularly rich or pigmented (they actually appear quite a bit bolder in the swatch photo than they do in person).  They certainly don't impress me enough to make me want to reach for them over my other favorite eyeliners.  Additional, these never set on the eye and smudge like crazy, even if set with a powder.  I'd reserve these for smudging along the lash line and not much else.

At this point I've received so many pencil eyeliners in various beauty boxes and nothing ever compares to the Milani Liquid Eye or NYX Slide On Pencils in pigmentation and longevity.  I pretty much roll my eyes any time I receive yet another brown or black pencil eyeliner.  Unfortunately the Julep Kajal Eye Glider is a product I would pass on.

The two polishes I received in my October Classic With a Twist box were Anisa, a deep burgundy creme, and Winona, a buff beige creme.  Julep polishes retail for $14.00.  I actually hesitated on whether or not to purchase the October Maven box.  Most of the styles profiles had at least one shade that I didn't love.  While both Winona and Anisa were beautiful, they also looked like shades I could potentially already have in my collection...

{Swatches of Anisa and Winona, two coats}

Both shades applied opaque in two coats and dried with a beautifully glossy finish.  The formula on Winona was a little thick, but manageable.

Unfortunately my concern about having similar colors in my collection was founded.  I immediately pulled out the Julep polish Sophie from September 2012's Trina Turk inspired Julep Maven collection and compared it to Winona.  These two polishes are VERY similar.  Sophie (left above) is a touch more purple while Winona (right) is a little more khaki/green.

Then, out of curiosity, I looked through my Julep polishes and pulled out Demi (left above), a shade I received in my December 2011 Julep Maven box, which again is very similar to Anisa (right).

{Swatches left to right: Demi, Anisa, Winona, Sophie}

Julep releases quite a few polishes for their Maven boxes that are limited edition.  They don't seem to hesitate to create shades that are very similar to previous ones.  I've been a Maven since the program launch in 2011, since then I've collected quite a few Julep polishes that are extremely similar.  Fortunately the program is incredible customizable.  You do have the option to view your picks each month, choose a different style that month, or skip altogether.  I think I'll be a tad bit more selective in the future to make sure I only opt in when the polishes are really unique and will round out my collection.  That said, both the shades I received in my October 2013 Julep Maven box are beautiful and just my taste and I'm sure I'll get a lot of use out of them.

For October I also chose to "add-on" an additional polish for the discounted price of $4.99.  I picked Beatrix, a coal black with multidimensional glitter.

{Beatrix, two coats}

I thought Beatrix was a unique and pretty glitter.  The larger chunks are flat black and metallic gold and there are smaller pieces that are flat black and more that are a holographic gold.  I think this glitter could compliment a number of polishes beautifully, so I couldn't resist picking it up at the discounted Maven "add-on" price.

The Julep Maven boxes retail for $29.99/month and are guaranteed to include at least $40 in product.  The retail value of my October 2013 Julep Maven box was $50.00 (not including the "add-on").

If you're interested in signing up for Julep Maven, you can get your first box free by entering the code "FREEBOX" during checkout (just pay shipping).  You are free to cancel at anytime, but my favorite aspect about the Maven program is that each month you are able to preview your box and you may choose to skip any given month to avoid paying for that month's box if you'd like to pass for anyone reason.

October 2013 Glam Bag

The October "Art of Beauty" Ipsy Glam Bag was "a month of masterful makeup tricks and delightful beauty treats.  Whether you're headed to a fancy Fall ball or impressing the crowd with a jaw-dropping avant-garde costume, this month's brand partners have something to help perfect your Look!"

The October Glam Bag was white vinyl accented in hot pink with the quote, "Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art."  Most months I'm not really fond of the bags sent along with the products; they're usually rather cheaply made and a little juvenile in design.  This month was no exception.  However, I don't really mind because the bags aren't something I'm particularly interested in as I have plenty of quality makeup bags.  I've kept a few of mine around but usually give away or donate the ones that I don't love.

My October Ipsy Glam Bag included the following items:

be Delectable - Hand Cream in Strawberry & Cream ($10.00/4 oz)
Indulge your hands with a well-deserved treat.  This ultra nourishing hand cream is enriched with shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe vera to smooth, nourish and rejuvenate hands and cuticles.  Rich, and never greasy, this beautiful blend is kissed with a delectable scent.

Sample size: 2 oz
Sample value: $5.00

I'm really digging this hand cream!  The scent is seriously mouth-watering and the formula is very moisturizing but absorbs into the skin incredibly fast.  I may have found a new favorite hand cream!  If you're not a fan of super sweet food scents, this may not be for you.  I, however, am a huge fan.

Big Sexy Hair - Blow Dry Volumizing Gel ($16.95/8.5 oz)
The Sexy Hair Blow Gel is an alcohol-free gel that thickens hair while adding volume.  It also helps retain moisture so your hair never feels dry.  Delivers a light to medium hold.

Sample size: 1.7 oz
Sample value: $3.39

I've tried quite a few volumizing products over the past few years.  Nothing I've found really seems to give my fine hair lasting lift.  I'm happy to have another volumizing product to test out, and this is a generous sample size.  Here's to hoping I have good luck with this Blow Dry Volumizing Gel.

Buxom - Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly ($19.00/0.15 oz)
Tingle, plump & shine your pout to super-sexy proportions with sheer, shimmering Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly.  This bestselling dusty mauve gloss creates the look of fuller, more voluptuous lips while Vitamin A & E help keep them soft, smooth an protected.

Sample size: 0.07 oz
Sample value: $8.87

{Swatch of the Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly}

I don't normally like plumping glosses as many can be quite painful to wear.  This Full-On Lip Polish tingles the lips; however, I don't find it uncomfortable.  I really love the color I received.  Dolly is a gorgeous, wearable "shimmering muted plum."  This is a shade that would be lovely year-round.  I've heard so many good things about the Buxom glosses, I'm thrilled to have finally gotten to try one.

Zoya - Nail Polish in Mason ($8.00/0.5 oz)
Part of the Fall 2013 Cashmeres & Satins Collection, these shades are created to work together with this season's most stylish runway designs and luxurious fabric blends.  These ultra long-wearing, glossy nail lacquers by Zoya are BIG5FREE - free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).

Sample size: 0.5 oz
Sample value: $8.00

{Swatch of the Zoya Nail Polish in Mason - two coats}

I generally love Zoya nail polish, so I'm always happy to see one included in any of my beauty boxes/bags.  Mason applies beautifully and is entirely opaque in two coats (you can get away with one if you're careful).  The color isn't one that I'd normally reach for, but I'll probably wear it once or twice during the holiday season as it has a festive flair about it.

H2O Plus - Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment ($36.00/1.7 oz)
The H2O Plus Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment is clinically proven oil-free moisture gel that delivers deep hydrating.  Marine botanical rapidly replenish depleted skin and fills surface lines with a surge of moisture.  Vitamins A and E help fight against environmental damage and phospholipid microspheres deliver time-released hydration to keep skin looking revitalized all day.

Sample size: 0.34 oz
Sample value: $7.20

This Hydrating Treatment has a very lightweight gel-like texture.  I haven't tried it on my face yet, but rubbed into the back of my hand it seems fairly moisturizing without any greasiness.  I'm a little weary of the ingredients (lots of silicones and a hefty dose of fragrance, for example, which tend to break my skin out), so this might be a product I only use on my neck and chest.

Total bag value: $32.46

Overall I was pretty satisfied with my Ipsy bag for October.  I love the hand cream, will get a ton of wear out of the Buxom Lip Polish and look forward to testing out the Big Sexy Hair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel.