My 3b Beauty Bag Unbagging for September 2015

It’s time to start the September Beauty Subscription unboxing blogs! I know I’ve been slacking on reviews but I’ve got some exciting personal stuff going on which I will update everyone on as soon as I can. I anticipate September and October to be very exciting! 

My first unbagging will be the 3b Beauty Bag subscription. 3b (beauty, beyond, borders) is a monthly subscription service that that focuses on Asian beauty. For $12.00/month they send you four to five sample to full sized samples of beauty products. The 3b beauty bag is a great way to experience Asian beauty products without having to break the bank (or go on a scavenger hunt). 

Now, All The Things! 

I saw this product and thought “Oh no”. This is the Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream sample size – full-sized price $25.00. This is a Japanese brand that was developed by a pharmacist in 1957. The issue for me with this product (which I have tried before) is the smell. It smells like a mix of coconut oil and Vicks VapoRub. I do have to say that I love the way Vicks smells (yeah I’m weird) but I cannot see slathering it all over myself as a moisturizer. The lovely smell is due to camphor, which is also used in Vicks VapoRub. I have been told that it’s an amazing product. I just can’t get past the smell. 

Here we have the RiRe Luxe Eye Lash Essence that was promised to us in last months 3b bag. This product is full sized with a retail value of $4.74. This lash essence helps to strengthen eyelashes with peptides, black bean extract, and black sesame extract. 

You apply the Lash Essence daily at bedtime to clean lashes coating the entire eyelash from the root up. I’ve heard a lot of positive reviews for this product. I’m going to try it out on a Friday in the event i have an allergic reaction. Ya know, enough time to get some anti-inflammatory medication into my system and be able to see – smile. There is no scent to speak of and the product is clear. The brush want has a ball at the end that reminds me of the ItCosmetics Hello Lashes wand. I will report back on how this product affects my eyelashes (if at all). 

I had the Leaders Mediu Therapy Hand Cream Collagen Therapy in my hot little hands for 2 minutes – full-sized value $4.00. Just enough time to take a few blurry pictures before and identify it as a Korean product before my mother snatched it away. My mother has a problem with eczema on her hands and as soon as she saw that this is to help with elasticity she was more excited then I’ve ever seen her about a product I’ve received in a beauty subscription. 

This hand cream contains collagen extract and honey and I know that’s not a lot of information. However, the box has been coveted and stolen so I can’t do a translation of the ingredients just yet. It has a subtle scent that smells a bit like verbena. It’s very fresh, not overpowering, and dissipates a few minutes after application. I will let you know how it works on my mothers hands. 

The last product in this bag is the Secret key Honey Bees AC Control Spot Remover full-sized $16.07 (on the Secret Key Website it is more expensive but I used the memebox.com website for price). This product contains bee venom, tea tree oil, and salicylic acid as well as propolis to help with excessive sebum secretion. To sooth the skin Secret Key added Centella and Portulaca extracts. It does not contain parabens, mineral oil, benzophenone, orphenoxyethanol, or artificial color. 

If you’re familiar with Murad Acne Spot Treatment then you’ll be familiar with the formula, consistency, and smell of this product. If you are unfamiliar with the Murad Spot Treatment, the product is clear and gel like. It goes on smoothly and has a bit of a artificial/acetone smell to it. I have not tried this product yet but am very hopeful that it will work as well as the Murad product. Which would be a huge savings (and Korean – smile). 

And that ladies and gents is my 3b beauty bag unbagging for the month of September. I’m happy with most of the products. The Yu-Be sample is a huge no for me. However, the price of the bag was worth having my mother act like a kid over the Leaders Mediu Therpahy hand cream. I’ll also use the RiRe Essence and the Secret key Spot remover. So, overall this was a great month for 3b. 

August 2015 Boxycharm Unboxing

Oh Boxycharm how I love thee (petting the box). I guess it’s no secret that I love Boxycharm. I was on the waitlist for about a month before they opened up their subscriptions. When I got the conformation email saying I had been taken off of the wait list I literally squealed like a small child. (Yes I did). Boxycharm is a monthly beauty subscription box like Ipsy and Birchbox but with a higher price point of $22.00 (plus tax if in Florida). Why the price difference you ask? Because the give you five, count em five, full-sized beauty products. In my opinion it is 100% worth the cost of the box. Is every box a winner? No, but most of the time you get something awesome and worth the $22.00. 

Now all the things! 

Anyone else notice the new box? I like the black! 

First thing I pull out another brush! I love brushes. This is SETA's Eyeliner Brush $16.00. This brush is 5 ½ inches long which I like because I seem to do better with the longer handled brushes. The handle is made of wood and the fibers are synthetic. It is a very thin brush with a tapered point that I really like. I prefer that liner brushes have an angle to them to help control the line but I’m going to give this brush a shot to see if I can get a very thin line. As you can see the line I created was pretty thick but I was using a lot of product. 

And what do you need to go with that eyeliner brush? Well gel eyeliner of course! MicaBeauty's Gel Eyeliner full-sized $35.00 goes perfect with the SETA eyeliner brush. As you can see from the picture above the product is opaque and goes on smoothly. After I let it dry I had to remove it with makeup remover. I’m not sure about the staying power on my oily lids but I’m going to give it a try. I’m not sure it’s going to live up to my Tartist eyeliner but we shall see. 

I did not know what this was at first but it’s actually a leave in conditioner. Remember how I said I’m looking for hair products? The Nios Shield Leave In Conditioner f(ull-sized $26.00) protects your hair with a SPF 15 sunscreen. To be honest I’ve never had a product with sunscreen in it for my hair. It also contains Vitamin E and B5 to hydrate and nourish hair and Moroccan argan oil to help tame frizz. 

The leave in conditioner is not as thick as most leave in conditioners but is also not runny. I have to say I wasn’t a fan of the sunscreen smell. I’m not sure I want my hair to smell like I put a bunch of sunscreen into it. I’m going to give it a try the next time I go to the beach but I don’t think I’ll be using this product daily. 

The So Susan Statement Skin is a stick highlighter full-sized $20.00. The Statement Skin highlighting crayon contains organic chia seed to help keep sink softly hydrated and silk peptide to promote skin suppleness and elasticity. It talks about it’s chiseled end being good for both large area application as well as for the cupids bow and the bridge of the nose. However, that end is going to wear down as you use the product so I’m not overly impressed with the new end type. 

This is a gorgeous highlighter though and I’m going to use it. I’m not easily impressed but the formula is creamy and goes on very smoothly. I also like the fact that it blends well and can be mixed with foundation. Overall a great product. 

Let me just say that this last box item made me so happy. I am a big fan of the Costal Scents Revealed pallet’s so I was excited to see the new(ish) Costal Scents Reveal3d pallet in my box (full-sized $39.95 but you can usually find it for $19.95). I love these pallets. The colors are opaque, go on smoothly, and are very blendable. There is a bit of fallout from the pan but it’s not a lot. The product is not chalky but it is not as creamy as the Urban Decay shadows. 

I will say that these pallets really rival the Urban Decay Naked pallets. There is really no difference in quality plus they’re also $30.00 cheaper. You can get all three Revealed pallets for $10.00 more then cost of one Urban Decay Naked pallet. Sometimes the reveled pallets go on sale for as low as $10.00 so you might even be able to buy all three for $30. 00 if you’re patient and keep and eye on the website. That’s a steal for such good quality eye shadows. If you’re looking for an alternative to the Naked pallets that wont break the bank you really should get these. 

That is my Boxycharm for the month of August! I loved this box. The Reval3d pallet alone was worth the price of the box. I’m in love with the highlighter and who doesn’t need more eyeliner and a brush – am I right? I’m not a huge fan of the leave in conditioner but I will get use out of it living in Florida. So, what did you guys think of Boxycharm this month? 

August 2015 Birchbox Unboxing

Thought I forgot about you guys huh? Nope! I’m back with my reviews! I know I’ve been slow posting but I’ve had one heck of a month with life things. June was my birthday and oncologist testing (still cancer free) and then in July it was MS month where I had appointments, numb feet (yeah fun but they’re going away) and dogs bouncing off of walls and getting an ear hematoma. So things have calmed down and I’m baaaack. Also keep an eye out for the launch of my YouTube channel!. Enough of my babbling onto the reviews!

I have to confess that I love beauty subscriptions. Sometimes I don’t get things I like but that’s the chance you take with subscription boxes. I’ve found some HG products using subscription services so I’m all for it. Today is my August Birchbox unboxing. For those that are unfamiliar with Birchbox it’s a $10.00/month beauty and lifestyle subscription box. You will receive a very cute box along with 6 sample-sized products. At times you will receive a full sized product but it’s not something you should count on. You can check out Birchbox here www.birchbox.com. 

Now on to all the things! 

Birchbox is sending out some cute boxes eh? 

The first product from this box is the RUSK Volumizing Mousse sample size – full size $18.00. Can I say I’m a grammar Nazi? Not on my own stuff mind you (I’m bad at that) so if I can spot it it’s bad. Well, I spotted it on the Birchbox product card…well unless stregthand is a word now…smile. 

I also think these sub boxes are reading my mind. I just cut my off after two years (hey what can I say Cancer took up my time) and volume is always a concern for me. I can’t wait to try this product on my hair to see if it really does volumize. I’m using a BB volumizer now but it seems to leave behind a film that I don’t care for. Woo me RUSK WOO ME! 

People who know a bit about beauty products have heard of dr.brandt pores no more cleanser sample sized – full sized $35.00. I have to say I have never used this product. I’m scared to upset my face but I’m going to try it on my nose. I’ll let you know how I feel about it after I use it. 

I was very excited to see the Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solutions Deep Hydration Sheet Mask in my box full size $6.00. I love sheet masks! It’s one of the Asian beauty trends that I’ve been coveting for a long time that America is just now catching up with. I have used this mask before and I love it. It really helps to hydrate dry skin but if you have oily skin I would stay away from it. If you only try one Asian beauty staple I would highly say that sheet masks are the way to go! 

I have to say that I am not excited to receive the Air Repair Complexion Boosting Moisturizer sample size – full size $20.00. I’m pretty sold on the moisturizers I use (yes plural) and trying a new one isn’t high on my list. I did not open it so I can pass it along to a friend to try. 

Isn’t this cute? This is theBalm cosmetics Balm Desert Bronzer/Blush sample – full size $21.00. I love this bronzer for my skin tone. It matches my skin amazingly and I have a fair complexion. This sample is so small I’m not sure I’m going to get any use out of it. I can tell that the product has a small amount of fallout, is creamy, and has a slight shimmer to it. I’m really enjoying theBalm products and impressed with their quality. I might actually pick this bronzer up. 

Overall I’m very happy with August’s Birchbox. I’m not sure what happened with their information cards (although it’s funny). What did you get in your Birchbox this month?

My In-Depth Review of the La Roche-Posay Anthelios 45 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid

It’s sunshine time in most areas of the US. In Florida its lets burn my skin of as the sun tries to kill us time. I thought this would the perfect time to review a sunscreen I just started to use. So, I now present my review of the La Roche-Posay Anthelios 45 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid (and the crowd goes wild). 

I’m pretty new to the idea of skincare. I really started this journey because I was tired of my Rosacea. Even the prescription medications were not working, and after having cancer I wanted to expose myself to as little medication as possible. I’ve done a lot of research on sunscreens and decided to try the La Roche-Posay Anthelios 45 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid. 

From the La Roche-Posay website:

Anthelios 45 Ultra-light Sunscreen Fluid has been formulated with Cell-OX Shield™ technology, an exclusive combination of: 

• UVA and UVB filters to provide Broad Spectrum protection.
• A powerful Antioxidant complex to help protect skin from free radicals caused by UV rays.
• All Anthelios sunscreen have been formulated for optimal skin tolerance.
• Water resistant for 40 minutes

Active Ingredients

Avobenzone 3% (sunscreen) • Homosalate 10% (sunscreen) • Octisalate 5% (sunscreen) • Octocrylene 5% (sunscreen) • Oxybenzone 6% (sunscreen).

Inactive ingredients

Water • Cyclopentasiloxane • Alcohol Denat. • Silica • Dicaprylyl Ether • Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer • Peg-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate • Dimethicone • Cyclohexasiloxane • Polymethylsilsesquioxane • Nylon-12 • Dicaprylyl Carbonate • Phenoxyethanol • Lauryl Peg/Ppg-18/18 Methicone • Sodium Chloride • Caprylyl Glycol • Methylparaben • Poly C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate • Disteardimonium Hectorite • Disodium Edta • Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate • Cassia Alata Leaf Extract • Maltodextrin • Dodecene • Poloxamer 407

If you’re interested in a breakdown of the individual ingredients here is a link to COSDNA, which has the information.

http://cosdna.com/eng/cosmetic_08a065070.html

General impressions of the product

The smell is like any other sunscreen but it does dissipate pretty quickly. When they say ultra light fluid they are not exaggerating. You cannot feel the product on your face and instead of being thick when you dispense it the product has the consistency of water. I actually didn’t expect this and dropped some all over my pants the first day I put it on. 

Wear

I’ve worn this product in two ways – Just casually doing errands and outside working in my garden (so sweating up a storm). 

It worked perfectly under my makeup for daily running around and special events. I had no application problems and it did not change the texture of my products. I will say that I went a little crazy the first time I used the sunscreen (it’s so light) and put too much on. When I went to rub it in I did noticed that it pilled a little (like rubbing off dead skin) but I’ve gotten used to the consistency and I haven’t had that problem since correcting the amount I apply. 

I used it before gardening and of course I did not put on makeup. I was sweating and it did not burn my eyes (of course it got in my poor eyeballs). I also reapplied the sunscreen twice while I was outside and there was no buildup and I did not get sunburnt (score!). 

After washing it off

No irritation! Usually sunscreen irritates my face. At the very least my cheeks will get red and I’ll have some small pimples. They’re Rosacea pimples so they’re little red bumps more so then the traditional pimple. I had none of this. Even after sitting outside and gardening my face had no reaction to the sun or the sunscreen. I have used this product for two months without any signs of irritation (sometimes it takes awhile for me to see irritation) so I am saying its irritation free for me. 

I love this product and it is now part of my daily face routine. It’s a great sunscreen for any skin type but for those of us with sensitive skin or rosacea who have been searching for a non-irritating sunscreen it’s perfect. 

What sunscreen products do you use?

Ipsy April 2015 Unbagging

Welcome to another Ipsy unbagging! I have to say I’ve really liked the recent Ipsy bags. I’m not sure if they’re reading my mind but I hope the trend continues. For those who don’t know Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription box. It’s $10.00 a month and usually includes around 5 products that range from sample sized to full-sized (mostly sample). You also get a small makeup bag every month. If you want to check them out they’re located right here https://www.ipsy.com. 

Now on to all the things! 

I love the bag this month. It’s not plastic but a whicker type material and the bag is just different from the norm. 

First thing is the julieG Nail Color with a $1.00 of coupon at Rite Aid (we don’t have Rite Aids in my area). I received the color Damsel that is a cool pink color. It does not go on very opaque (think three coats) but it’s a nice spring color choice. My nails chip quickly so I can say that it stayed on for the normal amount of time colors last on my fingers, which is about two days. Overall this is a great drugstore nail polish. 

The next product is the Olive Natural Beauty The olive Lip Balm. This is your standard lip balm with the hook being that it’s made from Olive’s. It actually has a slight chocolate smell to it. Mine got a bit melted in my mailbox so it could be that or maybe my nose is still messed up from my cold. Either way that’s how it smells to me with a slight olive undertone. It does hydrate your lips and works well as a balm. 

Gallany Cosmetics Lipstick in Petal is my next Ipsy bag product. I love this color. It also goes on creamy and stays on average time. It’s a sample-sized lipstick that is a perfect size for my purse. The lipstick contains Hyaluronic acid and Lavender Wax. Not to sure what lavender wax does but woo hoo. 

Another brush! This is the Crown Brush oval Concealer C224. The brush is not as dense as my MAC 242 (which I use for concealer) but it’s a nice brush to add to my rotation. I have to say the fibers feel…odd. I’m not sure if it’s the materials used but they feel stiff. I don’t believe I’ve had a brush made of Japanese Torray Taklon Bristles. 

And finally we have theBalm Cosmetics Nude Dude eyeshadow single in Fit. I love the color, which is shimmery. The product is opaque and goes on very creamy with no fallout. Ipsy has sold me on theBalm and I think I’m going to buy a few of their full sized products. 

Well that was my Ipsy bag. I’m half and half with this bag. I can’t buy the nail polish locally and the lip balm melted. But seriously Ipsy- another lip balm? I like the brush, the lipstick, and theBalm sample but I don’t think it’s worth $10.00. What saved Ipsy for me this month was the makeup bag. I really like that it’s made from a wicker material and not plastic. So this one is a win but just barely. What did you get in your bag this month? What did you think?

My Chicago Charlotte Tilbury Experience

I recently went to Chicago for a week of fun and a little conference. There is a shopping mecca there called the Magnificent Mile. I’m not a huge shopper but it was an experience just to see. My friend and I looked at must stores on the strip and then went inside a Nordstrom’s. I’m not sure why but we did. I was looking at some Tom Ford products while she meandered about. We turned around the back end of the makeup area and then I saw it. Charlotte Tilbury! 

I’ve heard of this brand, saw many reviews, and have listened to all of the ravings. I was so excited to actually try the product that we booked a makeover and went on our merry way. Fast-forward to two days later and we get our makeovers! We were first given facial treatments from Kate Somerville. Her products are amazing btw and even with my sensitive skin I had no problems. 

But what I want to talk about here is the Tilbury makeup. I had my full face done with the following products. 

Face

• Film star Bronze & Glow - Light Wonder (foundation)
• Cheek to Chic – Ecstasy (blush)
• Filmstar Bronze & Glow - Face Sculpt & Highlight

Lips

• Lip Cheat – Pillowtalk (lip liner)
• K.I.S.S.I.N.G - Penelope Pink (lipstick)

Eyes

• Brow Lift (eyebrow pencil and spoolie) 
• Luxury palette - The Dolce Vita (eyeshadow)
• Full Fat Lashes - Glossy Black (mascara)
• Rock 'n' Kohl - Bedroom Black (pencil eyeliner) 

Since Charlotte Tilbury has a handful of specific looks as examples we decided to do the The Dolce Vita makeup look on me. If you want to find all of these products and see the look check out http://www.charlottetilbury.com/us/shop-by-look/the-dolce-vita.html. 

Face

Unfortunately, I didn’t like the face products. I’m not sure if it’s the fact that she did not use a primer on me but the foundation looked cakey after application. My face was not dry (thanks to the Kate Somerville facial) so I can’t blame that. Maybe it’s just not for someone with dry skin. 

The blush is a very nice color but again looked very cake on me. I think with the foundation and then the addition of powder on top was just too much. It is a great shade though and I would probably use it with a different foundation to see if I got the same results. 

The highlight/bronzer - I’m sorry but I really did not like this. I know this is a holy grail for some but it just did not show up my skin. I have much better results with other products at a much lower price point. Again, it may have to do with the foundation but I’m not willing to pay $70.00 to find out. 

Lips

The lip liner was great. Went on smoothly and lasted for hours. It’s the perfect nude/pink color that will compliment any pink/nude lip. The lipstick was also a very subtle pink color. Not too bright but opaque and it also lasted all day. 

Now, my friend bought me the lipstick in the shade Bitch Perfect. I love the shade and it lasts all day. The only thing about this is that it is not creamy at all. The lipstick actually feels a gritty. I do love the color and the product but the grittiness is very weird. Also, I’m not one to talk about packaging but I have to comment on the lipstick packaging. It feels cheap. The top of the lipstick tube I could crush between my two fingers if I squeezed hard. The lipstick sells for $32.00 and for that price I expect the packaging to be more substantial. 

Eyes

The brow pencil was great. Filled up any sparse areas and did not look fake. My brows are pretty solid on their own so this isn’t a huge surprise. 

We did my tightline with the eyeliner as well as under my eye. It went on smoothly with no tugging and really lasted through the evening. It was even a bit hard to get off with my makeup remover. 

Mascara was also great. My lashes got very long, the color was there and they did not look spidery. I was actually surprised by the mascara. 

The colors in the eyeshadow pallet are amazing and I loved how opaque they were. There was not much fallout and they went on very creamy. However, they did not last on me. We even used a primer and in a few hours I looked like a raccoon. Again, I could try it with a different primer but at the price point… I don’t want to play too much. 

Overall I was disappointed that the majority of the products did not seem to work for me. I’m going to try a few more things, such as her waterproof eyeshadow stick, but I think for the price point I’m going to stay away from the Tilbury line. Anyone else try her products? What did you think?

April 2015 Boxycharm Unboxing - Spoilers!

It’s that time again! Subscription boxes galore!!!!!!! (the crowd goes wild). I’m sorry I haven’t posted in awhile but I’ve been in Chicago doing things and stuff. I was able to visit a few amazing places and pick up some great makeup (Kryolan people). I will be blogging about that this week as well. My friend and I also caught the plague/ebola in Chicago so as I write this I’m highly medicated and sudefeded (not a word) up. So, try to stay with me! 

Our first unboxing is Boxycharm! Which I realize I have been neglecting. Sorry about that! For those who do not know Boxycharm is a monthly makeup subscription service that provides you with five full-sized beauty items. Yep all full-sized. It does cost a bit more then Birchbox or Ipsy at $21.00 (plus tax if you live in Florida) but it is worth it in my opinion. If you want to check them out this is where you can do that http://www.boxycharm.com/. 

Now all the things! 

First we have the Harvey Prince Mini Roller Fragrance in the scent Hello – retail value $21.00. So, I have a horrible cold/plague/ebola and while I can smell it I’m not sure you should trust what I say at the moment. To me it smells musky with a slight floral undertone. I’m usually spot-on with scents and I smell gardenia but again – don’t trust my nose right now. I would wear this and I’m not one for overly flowery scents. Overall I really like this rollerball. 

Next is the Cool way Smoothing Lotion – retail $24.95. The Lotion is in a spray bottle and smells like cherry cough syrup (no I’m not taking cherry cough syrup). I have not decided if I want to wear my hair curly or straight. Lately I’ve been letting it curl up so on a straight type of day I will use this product and see if it’s worth the price tag. 

I am happy to see this Vincent Longo Duo Lip Pencil in chocolate and naked – retail $26.00. I’m in need of lip pencils and this one fits the bill for my nude phase (currently going through this phase for my lips). The pencil goes on smooth, the product is creamy, and they’re opaque. They did not smudge easily and lasted all day for me. 

Chocolate on the top. Naked on the bottom.

Next we have the OFRA Derma Mineral Powder in Pink Sapphire – retail $35.00. This is a loose powder, which contains natural sunscreen and can be used for the face and body. This is very shimmery so if you’re not into being shimmery this is not for you. I love it though and I think it will add some lovely shimmer to certain looks. You don’t get the full idea of how shimmery this is in the photos but wow it’s shimmery! 

I was so excited to see the Costal Scents Revealed 2 Palette – retail $39.95. I have the Reveled pallet and I love it. The Reveled 2 pallet expands on the first and has a lot of opaque colors that can be combined for a number of great eye looks. The shadows are creamy, not powdery, and there is little to no fallout. The first Pallet really rivaled my Naked palette for my favorite numeral palette and that is saying a lot. 

That’s my Boxycharm box for this month. I am very happy with this box and I’m going to use all of the products. I have to say Boxycharm is my favorite beauty subscription box. I am rarely disappointed with the products and the price point is always there. Great job Boxycharm. What do you guys think of the box this month?