March Birchbox

It's that time of the month, again!  Okay, no... not that time.  I mean Birchbox time!  It's awesome having something so fun to look forward to every month.  I was especially excited about this one because I saw other people's boxes and loved what I saw.

First, this $10 off voucher from ModCloth.  Kind of cool, except that you have to spend $75 first.  I don't have that kind of money right now, but I would totally use this if I did!

Shiseido Oil Blotting Papers.  I haven't actually used these, yet.  Maybe I'll put them in my purse tonight and use them while I'm out.  My skin doesn't get very oily.  In fact, just the opposite, my skin is so dry all the time!

Okay, this was the one thing I was so excited about.  Tarte Lipsurgence Lip Tint in Amused.  I have two other Tarte Lipsurgence colors, one shimmer and one matte.  I absolutely LOVE them and wear them all the time.  I was so excited to get this one because they're too expensive for me to purchase regularly.  This was hands down my favorite part of this box.

Another thing I was excited for.  Essie nail polish in some sparkly color.  No, I don't remember what the actual name is.  I love this stuff.  I don't paint my nails often, but this will definitely be the next polish I use.

Lastly, a perfume sample and another one of those hair band things.  I like these hair bands, but I don't have enough hair to use them.  So they just kind of hang out around my house.  This perfume is nice, though.  I really like it.  

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

November Birchbox

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  Okay, I know it was a couple of days ago, but I hope you all had a good one, anyway.  I definitely did.  Jason came to our "family" Thanksgiving this year, and it was a really great time.  I say "family" because it's actually not my family, aside from my parents and younger brother.  Every year since I can remember we've had Thanksgiving with our neighbors' extended family.  It's a wonderful tradition and always a lot of fun.

Enough jabber, I have a Birchbox to share with you!  This is the November Birchbox that I'm just getting around to posting.  I wanted to wait until I had tried all of the products before I posted, but that was taking too long.  So here we are!

First, Oscar Blandi Jasmine Protein Mist.  I think it's supposed to be a sort of "next-day hair" volumizer.  Like a dry shampoo, but different.  I think it works, but again, I'm not totally sure what it's supposed to do.  I like it, though!  And it smells delicious.

Zoya nail polish in Noel.  I haven't tried this yet.  I'm not a big fan of the color, to be honest.  I'm also not a big nail polish wearer.  I tend to put it on, and then never do anything with it again until it all chips off. 

Klorane Soothing Eye Makeup Remover with Cornflower Water.  This stuff works really well!  Actually, I can't really say that.  I've only used it once and the only eye makeup I had on was a thin coat of mascara.  But it did take it off!  

LaROCCA Skincare Champagne & Shimmer Body Polish.  This is another that I'm not sure what it's supposed to do.  I guess it's a body scrub, with some shimmer in it.  I haven't tried this one, either, because I'm just not sure how I feel about it.

Lastly, Chuao Chocolatier Firecracker Chocopod.  This is a chocolate bar, with popping candy and chipotle in it.  Holy moly.  It was pretty good, but I was definitely sick of it by the end of the small piece.  It was a very interesting flavor sensation.

Hopefully I'll be able to test out all of the samples in the December Birchbox and really tell you all about them!

I hope everyone has a great day!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

IFB Project 16: Morning Beauty Routine

I know, I know.  I bet you all thought I had fallen off the planet.  Well, I haven't.  I've just been moving.  I'm finally mostly settled in, and just got internet installed on Tuesday so I can come back to you all and start blogging again!  I definitely missed you all.

This week's IFB challenge is Morning Beauty Routines.  Now, I'm super late posting this, so it's not actually going to be posted on the IFB page, but I already took the photos and I thought I'd post them anyway.  I hope you all enjoy them!

A little notice before I begin, I try extremely hard to use only products that are not tested on animals.  I have not purchased from companies that do in a couple of years, and I'm currently trying to use up those products that I have purchased in the past.  I will let you know when a product I feature is cruelty free.

This is me without makeup.  Right after I've woken up.  The only thing on my face is my moisturizer, seen below.

I LOVE the Yes to Carrots brand.  I use Yes to Carrots daily facial moisturizer, body lotion, and one of their lip balms.  I also use Yes to Cucumbers makeup removing wipes every single day.  I love every one of their products.  Also, they don't test on animals.

After my moisturizer, I use Stila's Perfect and Correct Foundation.  If you remember from my birthday haul, I purchased this for myself as a birthday gift from Sephora.  I'm totally in love with it.  I've really grown to love Stila products in general.  I use their Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer in the summer, and it's amazing.  Stila does not test on animals.

Next, I use Urban Decay's 24/7 Concealer Pencil and Sonia Kashuk's Hidden Agenda concealer palette.  I love both of these so much.  I also got this Urban Decay Concealer for my birthday, and I've really grown to love it.  This Sonia Kashuk palette is from Target, and it's super inexpensive and works really well.  I use it with E.L.F's Professional Concealer Brush, also from Target.  Urban Decay does not test on animals, and as far as I know neither do Sonia Kashuk or E.L.F. (If anyone knows for sure, please let me know!)

On a typical day, if I'm just going to work or running errands or something, I do the same eye makeup.  First I use my Urban Decay Primer Potion (in a sample size that I got with my Naked palette), and prime my lids. Then, I use the shade Buck from the Naked palette all over my lid, and a little in the lower, outer corner.  Next, I'll take my E.L.F Professional Eyeliner brush, and using some of the shade Creep (far right side), I line my upper and lower lashline.

See?
This palette is amazing.  I know it's been everywhere on makeup blogs and youtube videos since it came out, but seriously.  There's a good reason.  I use this every single day and I don't know what I would do without it.

To finish off the eyes, I use Hard Candy's Ginormous lash, and the Wet n' Wild's Mega Plump on top. I love the Hard Candy mascara, but it's not waterproof, while the Wet n' Wild one is.  Neither of those companies test on animals.

Lastly, I use Stila's Convertible Color in the shade Lillium on the apples of my cheeks.  This is another product that I'm not sure I could do without.  I don't like using powder blush because I have extremely dry skin, so this cream blush is really amazing.  It's a perfect color, a perfect texture, and it lasts all day.

Don't mind the grainy iPhone photos in my living room, but this is the finished look.

And here are all of the products I ended up using.  (Brushes are Eco Tools, Urban Decay, and E.L.F)

I hope that didn't totally bore you all and that you all have a great day!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

(On a completely unrelated note, I have 195 bloglovin posts to catch up on from not having internet!  Agh!)

21

Happy birthday to me!

That's right, it is my 21st birthday today.  I feel as though I have been waiting for this birthday for a million years.  As someone who has always had much older friends, it's a huge deal for me to finally be able to go out with them in the evenings.  I'm greatly looking forward to new hang outs and time with friends.

Below is a little birthday haul I did.  Just a few items that I purchased for my birthday, as well as an item my mom got me.  I hope you enjoy it!

I hope you all will understand if I do not post for a day or two.  It is my 21st birthday, after all!  I promise there will be a post featuring my birthday outfit, though I cannot promise what day it will appear.  Life is hectic with shooting this movie and jury duty!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

September Birchbox

I feel like I've been waiting for this new Birchbox forever!  In reality it's probably been about a month, since the last one.  But it feels like a long time.  I was so very excited when I came home to find this waiting for me.  

This month's Birchbox is really great!  I know a lot of people were less than thrilled with last month's box, but with it being my first one, I didn't have anything to compare it to.  I must say, though, that this one is much better.

Jurlique Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer - Not bad!  I love the scent (smells like Aveda hair products) and the fact that it's all natural. 

This slightly blurry item is the special gift for this month.  A cute Birchbox bracelet!  I totally love it.  It's small and understated, but the pink is a great pop of color.  It's also super versatile and I can see it working with a lot of things.  

Incoco Nail Polish Applique - I've been hearing all about these nail polish appliques, but have yet to actually try them.  They seem to be kind of expensive!  But what better way to try it than with Birchbox, right?  I'm going to put these on today and I will let you all know what I think afterward.

Jouer Lip Enhancer - This was literally impossible to get a photo of.  So, I'm sorry.  But I was super excited when I opened up my box to find a lip product.  I am a lip-balm junkie.  I use it religiously, and I'm always up for trying something new.  I love this product, but I'm not sure I'd spend the $14 retail on it, especially with the frequency that I use lip-balm.  It's very smooth, not at all sticky, and tasteless as well as colorless, making it really versatile.  

LIV GRN Natural Eau de Parfum - I LOVE this.  So much.  I definitely plan on buying a full size of this as a little birthday present to myself (the 24th guys, mark your calendars).  It's a really bright scent, with some definite citrus hints.  I love it.  Plus, 10% of sales go directly to Global Green, and environmental non-profit.  Not bad!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!  I'm off to watch some 30 Rock, do my nails, and clean a little.

xoxoxoxoxoxo