RedHead Revolution Mascara Review

Another mascara review?! Yep. You might have seen a Just For Redheads review I posted back in May, but what I didn't mention was that I found Redhead Revolution totally by accident while I was doing research for that post! So I reached out and they sent me their mascara bundle to test out. I'm so excited so lets just jump right in and then I'll tell you the rest of the neat stuff about the brand.

Shipping: So I received the package in a basic bubble mailer wrapped in red tissue paper with a little hand-written note (yay!) and everything arrived just fine, it took a pretty basic shipping time, less than 5 days, it very well may have arrived two days before I checked my mail, I may have slacked off on that.

Customer Service: Usually I have some sort of review on this for you all, but I did talk to Kate Loveless herself (the founder) and she was very sweet kind and I had no problems in communication there.

What I got: Gingerlash Redhead Mascara Bundle - This trio of mascara includes all of their offered colors of mascara: "Honest Auburn", "True Brown", and "Genuine Ginger". The mascaras sell for $15 individually or $38 for the set.

Packaging: For the love of god these are super cute with the gold accents. I like the clear tubes that allow you to easily see the shade and the brush is nice, I get a decent amount of product on the brush and application is good.

Formula: I've spent a long time testing these mascaras trying to come up with an honest opinion and I think I've finally got one: The formulation between all the different shades seems to be identical, the brown being my favorite purely for the color. I feel like the consistency is a little thin when they're first opened, but after giving them a little time to dry out I actually like it better. Simply because I don't like super thin formulas. However the pigmentation is amazing and if you let it dry between coats they build wonderfully. I did have a little trouble with wear time, they don't hold up to my daycare job, but they aren't waterproof so that's to be expected. Other cool facts about the formula you may want to know: These makeup products are paraben, phtalate and Cruelty free!

So final verdict? Think these are a great option if you're looking to try some redhead mascaras, they've really made it easy to choose your shade, although I wish they had more variety in terms of formulas. I would absolutely recommend these to anyone looking for redhead geared cosmetics.


That's all for today, I'm still without internet so hopefully we can post more soon!

xoxo
Courtney

Just For Redheads Mascara Review

It's no secret that black mascara is just a little too harsh on redheads, and honestly I won't lie, I wear it all the time, because it's the most accessible. Even a good brown mascara can be a challenge. But sometimes I want a more natural look and trying to use black mascara for that simply doesn't always work.

I first tried Just For Redheads mascara in high school and I loved it right away and I even intend to wear a Redhead geared mascara for my upcoming wedding. However back in my high school days you may have seen me talk about this company since it is marketed towards women with red hair and fair complexions and it sells mascaras colored to match the vast array of ginger hair colors allowing us to create a more natural look. Since Just For Redheads is a brand that I've used before I can tell you with confidence that the makeup I've tried has been well loved and very high quality. I've also used up and hit pan on many items in the past. So how about we get onto the whole purpose of this review...THE MASCARAS!

Left:Mascara Supreme -- Right: Mascara Naturelle

Shipping: Can I just say that this is probably the fastest standard shipping I've ever experienced. I've always been very impressed with this, I think it was only two or three days after I received confirmation of shipment that I opened my mailbox to this little delight of a package.

Customer Service: The couple of times I've dealt with customer service it's been positive experiences, so I don't seem to have a whole lot of anything to say, it's just been an all around good experience.

Just For Redheads Mascara Supreme (Sensitive Eye):
"When only the best will do...JFR has created two very special formulas to address two very special needs redheads may have. The first is a truly waterproof mascara and the second is a mascara for extremely sensitive eyes.
Both of these outstanding special formulas create visibly longer and fuller lashes." -JFR Website

Retail Price- $19.99

Formula- This seems to be a volumizing formula. The application is smooth and the mascara is comfortable on the eye and not too heavy feeling. The product seems to evenly distributes on the brush, it's dries down quickly, but not so quickly that it's hard to apply a second coat. I like the darker color selection for a more dramatic look and I'll definitely have to purchase the waterproof version in the future.

Wear- As for the wear of this it seems to be a good everyday mascara, it's not waterproof so I wouldn't go around crying or sweating and expect it to be in place at the end of the day, but it did stay on and it wasn't difficult to remove with a basic makeup remover wipe.

Color Selection- This particular mascara only has one or two color options depending on the formula, unlike many of it's counter parts, One color is offered for the Waterproof version (Spice) and two are offered for the sensitive eye version (Henna and ginger-brown) I received the Ginger-brown shade.

Packaging- Oh my gosh, I just have to point out how crazy luxurious this packaging feels, its weighted nicely giving it an expensive feel, and the brush is a simple basic, tried and true soft bristle spoolie. But do keep an eye out because occasionally I do get a little excess product on the brush, it's an easy fix though.

Left: Mascara Supreme -- Right: Mascara Naturelle

Mascara Naturelle:
"Softer More Natural Look...Now available in 8 shades, JFR Mascara Naturelle will help you discover your natural beauty-because no two redheads are exactly alike!
Now even more supple to create an even more natural eyelash enhancement.
Water-resistant and clump-proof, this is like no other mascara you've tried before.
Ever since the legendary makeup artist Tina Earnshaw selected JFR Mascara Naturelle for use in the movie Titanic, it has been a worldwide top seller." -JFR Website

Retail Price- $10.99

Formula- This formula is really just the epitome of a basic mascara which I actually feel is a wonderful addition to their line of mascaras, it doesn't claim to add volume or anything like that, it just does what a good old fashioned basic mascara should do, darken and create the illusion of length. I'm actually in love with this formula because it does one thing really well...gives color to my very blonde eyelashes without looking harsh. I don't feel the need to wear liner, shadow or anything else with this (except maybe my brows which are also very blonde) which I think makes it a great mascara for someone who;s just starting out with makeup, or someone who prefers a more simple or natural look.

Wear- Like the last mascara I feel this is best suited for day to day stuff, so I wouldn't recommend it if your'e going to be crying but other than that it stays on great and comes off easily.

Color Selection- So as previously mentioned this comes in 8 colors. Ginger Brown (the color I received), Ginger Cocoa, Ginger Almond, Ginger Red, Ginger Carmel, Ginger Auburn, Ginger Bronze, and Ginger Chocolate. which proves to have a shade for everyone.

Packaging- Though this doesn't feel as expensive as the last, it does have a very simple clear package and a chic design. It seems to have the same kind of spoolie but the packaging that controls the amount of product that stays on the brush seems to be better for whatever reason.

As far as marketing goes I spoke to Paula from Just for Redheads and asked who their products are mainly marketed towards and she replied with this: "All ages -- from young teens who love our lightest mascara -- GingerCocoa so they don't have to wear black mascara at such a young age -- way too harsh.  I wish I had products when I was growing up.  To the very old. " Which I think was a great response.

I also asked about animal testing and I'm pleased to report her answer to this as well: "All our products are animal friendly." So if any criticism there it's that you should definitely make that more widely known because that is a great quality for a company!

There you have it folks, those are my thoughts on Just for redheads mascara, so I'd like to give a big thank you to Paula from Just For Redheads for sending me these products for review and of course I do want to let you all know that I reached out to them about this and I wouldn't have done so if I didn't support and love this brand. 

I have more product reviews coming up as well as the relaunch of my and John's youtube channel where I will be doing some tutorials for several looks including a bridal look that I will be wearing for my wedding!

xoxo
Courtney

3 Things I learned from having awful roommates

So here's the deal, we lived with these people for...oh sets say about 6 months on a one year lease, we eventually managed to have them sign us off the lease and sign someone else on. I've learned so much about myself and others that I felt the need to share.

1. Living with someone who doesn't share your political, religious, etc. beliefs really limits how open you can be in your own home. No matter how accepting of other people you are, when you can't do or say anything about those things without offending someone, it can make you feel kind of trapped. Not only did our roommates have different morals, but their beliefs made it hard to feel normal in our own home.

2. Some people can't accept how abusive and unhealthy their relationships are, and will even project their unhappiness onto you. This is one thing I was NOT expecting. John and I have been together for almost four years, a disagreement or a misunderstanding is not the same as being unhappy, as many times as I tried to explain to them that we just like time to ourselves to relax and distress that ONE disagreement John and I had shortly after moving in defined our relationship to them. They spent the next several months telling us how "concerned" they were and was less than kind about us getting engaged. They even went so far as to ruin John's proposal! It's obvious between the nitpicking and all occasional hitting and controlling attitude They took toward each other it was anything but a happy, loving relationship.

3. Never compromise when it comes to your home and well-being. Compromising about the dishes is one thing, but we should never have moved in with a smoker  (I'm allergic), even though they promised to be careful about it, it wasn't worth it. They weren't and I suspect that most people will stop trying at some point. Our compromise ended up putting us in a dangerous situation, we had to move out with no warning and we were very close to involving the police. There were often moments where we felt unsafe and it eventually escalated. As much as you may want to help someone else in a crappy housing situation, and as bad as it sounds, look out for yourself first!

That's all for this post,

xoxo

Courtney 

Mary Kay Parties- Do's and Don'ts

Over the past few years I've done a couple of posts on Mary Kay. Mostly just talking about the experience as a whole, However after a few parties I've learned that there are some tricks to having a successful party that doesn't end in being harassed by a consultant for several months on end to buy more products.

Photo Credit: Cyndi (The lovely, Mary Kay Consultant)

DO- Be direct about what you're looking for, and NOT looking for, If you want a relaxing afternoon playing with makeup and you're not too interested in skincare, TELL the consultant when you're figuring out plans.

DON'T- Expect not to get a sales pitch, this is their job, selling products to consumers, It doesn't make it totally gimmicky if you find the right consultant, they should respect it if a guest doesn't want to buy something.

DO- Look around for consultants. It's okay if you don't like your first consultant, I've been in contact with three, two of those live about 2 hours away from me and they were both really flaky, unfortunately those just didn't work out, The third consultant has been amazing, she's worked with me around my schedule, as a good consultant should,

DON'T- Host a Mary Kay Party with the intention of not buying anything. The reason I say this is because at that point you're wasting a sales representatives time and product for nothing, a Mary Kay party is meant to give you a chance to try items and find something new or different to buy. The whole point is so you can try it before you buy it.

DO- Make food and have refreshments available for yourself and friends. You're going to be hanging out for at least a couple hours, if you do it mid-day or evening chances are you're going to get hungry or thirsty.

DON'T- Be offended if your consultant doesn't eat anything you've prepared, it's actually common for them not to, I'm not entirely sure, but I was told by one they weren't allowed to. That being said if you know the consultant well or you're friends with her she might still eat your food.

DO- Try your best to have access to a sink or two. They give you things to wash off with but I've found with skincare trials it's easier to use a sink.

DO- Tell them about any skincare concerns or allergies BEFORE the party. That way they can take those things into consideration when she's choosing products to bring.

DON'T- Be offended if a friend of yours isn't interested in going to a Mary Kay event. I'm very fond of my third and final consultant, she isn't pushy and doesn't bug my friends, she's respectful, if you're certain of these things you can mention that to your friend, but they may not be up to dealing with a sales pitch.

DON'T- Be afraid to tell the consultant "no". Be polite, obviously, but you don't HAVE to do anything you aren't comfortable with, if you think a product will break you out, say "no thank you, I have sensitive skin and I'd rather not risk it". If they push, just tell them no and they'll get the hint if they're respectful. Some consultants may also ask you to provide information of other friends and relatives, this is a sales technique, they are looking for new consumers. If you don't know anyone who you are certain would honestly be OKAY with you giving their information to a rep, don't do it, again, just politely decline.

DO- Ask about promotions and discounts in advance, sometimes they will do special promotions just for you, and each independent consultant does her own thing, so it never hurts to ask.

DO- Ask questions about the company or products if you have concerns. A good sales rep should be knowledgeable and be able to give an informed answer.

DO- Take these parties at face value. Just enjoy playing with new products and hanging with friends, and if you're up for it, spoil yourself.

For this next party I'm doing it as a gift to my bridesmaids for being my friends and supporting me through a tough time, John and I have been through recently. I've made a point to work out a deal with my consultant (after a different person fell through) to purchase gifts for all of them at a steep discount ($15/ea for two full size products, a travel size, a makeup bag and some samples).  She's actually also giving me a personal discount of 30% off any products I purchase.

Sorry for my absence, I know it's been a ridiculous amount of time since my last post, I've had one heck of a few (or six...) months. However I am happy to say we have been able to resolve the situation and posts should finally get into a regular pattern, or at least more consistent.

xoxo
Courtney

A week offline...

Sorry for my random departure from the world of the internet. Last week John and I actually moved in with another couple and though we were really wanting a place of our own I think we will be really happy here. The one problem is we wont have internet until the 12th. Honestly its not the end of the world but it's been a challenge. We've mostly used our data for when we absolutely need to check emails or whatever but for the most part i'm living off of sex and the city dvds and writing blog posts on paper. Trust me I will have posts up the wazoo up when we have wifi.   Anyway, our week offline has been refreshing to say the least.  It's nice to get to know our new roommates over dinner and  board games and have each others' full attention instead of being glued  to phone and tablet screens. But I'm looking forward to getting to use  my new blogging corner and updating more regularly. Right now I'm actually Sitting in the lobby at Johns work using the free wifi. But worry not, I win be back soon with some reviews and  whatnot. So until then,

xoxo,
 Courtney

Why I Cancelled Ipsy

After over two years of Ipsy I finally cancelled. Why? Well I want to start off by saying that I love it. I do actually enjoy getting beauty samples every month and I think Ipsy is the best way to go for that.

So the problem isn't that I don't enjoy it, it's actually that I have too much right now. Because we've been moving so much lately I needed to downsize everything, unfortunately that means, for the time being, cancelling ipsy. Along with that I will be cancelling Birchbox. John will be keeping Birchbox Man and I will be starting a new subscription, just the one- Pop Sugar Must Have. I have decided that this will be the best box to give me a nice treat every month as well as keep my collection of things at a minimum.

So What started this? Well, I was actually pretty satisfied until John started getting his Birchbox Man for $20 a month. The thing was, I realized I was more excited by the neat things in his box than my my beauty items. I realized I wanted something that would not only give me beauty items but also lifestyle, things for my home and for my well-being.

I think eventually I will want to get back into ipsy, my best friend has it so I'm sure it will make me jealous enough to resubscribe. For now I just need a break until I get settled into a more permanent place so I turned in my points for items and my last month for my annual subscription is October.

That's all for today,
 xoxo
Courtney

Benefit Operation Pore-Proof Review

Hey there Peaches! So as promised I am reviewing the Operation: Pore-Proof kit sold exclusively at Sephora and on Benefit's website.

The kit is sold for $34. It includes deluxe samples of:

• The Porefessional Primer
• Dr. Feel Good
• The Porefessional Agent Zero Shine Powder (+ brush)
• The Porefessional License to Blot blotting stick

aaannnnddd....

• Shy Beam! 

 Obviously the main attraction in this kit is the shy beam sample which I reviewed individually. It's Benefit's newest addition to their highlights. Instead of being reflective and shimmery like High beam or sun beam. Shy beam is a nude-pink matte highlight, kind of like the liquid version of their eye bright pencil. One thing I'm not sure I mentioned is that it photographs beautifully. Again for an in depth description and swatches you'll want to see my review. You cand find that here.

so what about the porefessional products and Dr. Feel Good?

Dr. Feel Good:  So this is the other product in the box that is not part of the porefessional line. This product has been on the market for quite some time. It's marketed as a complexion balm intended for use either under, alone, or on top of makeup. It is supposed to mattify the skin, smooth away lines and touch up makeup as well as contain vitamins A, E and C to be good for the skin. I find tha application feels nice, and it's got a mattifying effects but I really don't like this to touch up makeup, I feel like it just moves it around. MaybenIm doing something wrong, but I didn't like it for that purpose.

The Porefessional Primer: In my late teen early adult years I've tried quite a few pore-minimizing primers, my favorite being from Dr. Brandt. The Porefessional feels a bit  similar and has the same effect and it's actually a bit cheaper. I really feel like it makes a huge difference on the appearance of pores, it's smooth and applies colorless which is great since I'm almost paper white so its noticeable when things have a slight tint on my skin. I feel like you could wear this without setting it, but I always do. The wear time is wonderful. My only gripe about this is that if you have an abundance of black heads, I have some really stubborn ones on my nose, it can make those a little more obvious. Otherwise I love this primer and I use it almost every day.

The Porefessional Agent Zero Shine Powder: This product in its full size is actually pretty travel friendly. It comes in a tube with a cap on top and a build in brush on the bottom, I would assume this would make it an easy product to pack for a trip or just for touch ups throughout the day. As for the powder, its not colorless which I dislike.While most translucent powder is white, this is more beige. I found it actually showed on my pale skin but I think it might be fine on slightly darker skin tones, and still be transparent. I think the functionality of this was decent. I used it on my nose and found that it stayed pretty matte, and my nose tends to get pretty oily on occasion. The trial brush they give you is not really like the one on the full size product. The full size brush is more dense and short where the trial is kind of like a flimsy blush applicator you might find in a cheap drugstore blush. I like this powder but not enough to buy it. Although I would definitely reccomend it to anyone looking for a nice travel friendly mattifying loose setting powder.

The Porefessional License To Blot Blotting Stick: I'm not really one who had ever used blotting paper, although maybe I should have in high school, I was crazy oily. However in my young-adult years I havent needed it I  did try it around my nose over the summer months and it seems to function well but I don't really feel like I can review this completely since I don't really use its I will say I love the packaging and I feel like even the full size would be convienet to carry in a bag or purse for on-the-go touch ups.

That's all for this review, sorry it took so long to post.

xoxo

Courtney

Benefit Shy Beam Review

For those you of you who don't know Benefit Cosmetics has pre-released their newest highlighter in a deluxe sample size exclusively in the Operation Pore-Proof Kit. The kit, which I will do  mini-review on later, includes 4 other pore-minimizing deluxe sample products, making this a steal at only $34. But that's not the point of this post.

So Shy Beam, what is it? It's a Matte nude-pink highlight, in a similar formula to Highbeam or Sunbeam. However I find that the shade is almost, upon first glace comparable to Benefit's Eye Bright pencil, one of my favorite pencil highlights. The main difference is that this appears to be slightly more on the nude side than a light pink.

Not going to lie, when I saw this on my instagram feed a few nights go and realized it was already being sold in only one kit I ran out and got it the next day.

Pros: Since it's a matte highlight if you're one of those who get particularly oily, this is a good option for a highlight, plus so far I haven't seen any issues with it caking over a basic translucent powder, I have not tried it with a mattifying powder yet. I also think this would be suitable for almost any skin tone, it sheers out nicely and doesn't leave a streaky or oddly pink smear like I've had with a few liquid highlights.

Cons: I did find that it can settle a bit into fine lines and wrinkles, a problem, again with some liquid highlights. however I would imagine this could be fixed with a silicone based primer? I also found that while it doesn't cake with a powder under it, it can begin to look cakey with one over it.  My last complaint is that though it's suitable for many skin tones, I feel that it may be a tad too dark for those of us who are exceptionally fair skinned.

The Bottom Line: I like this highlighter. I feel like it's good to have in my collection and I am not disappointed in my purchase. It's not my favorite but I think it has it's place. It's a good alternative to a shimmery highlight.

So that's all for this review my peaches! I'll post a review on the Operation Pore-Proof kit in the next few days.

xoxo
Courtney

Beating The Post-Breakup Blues

First of all this sucks, you're going to cry and it's gonna be hard and even though these things may not fix how you're feeling right now I promise it does at least make a difference. I wasn't sure I wanted to be doing a post about this but I was...inspired in a sense to share what I do to at least make myself feel a little better, especially on the really bad days. So let's get into it:



1. Pamper yourself. Now I thought about putting cry down for number one but chances are you're going to do that anyway so I thought I'd skip that. I know it's tempting to sit on the couch and not shower for days on end and feel sorry for yourself, trust me I've wanted to do it myself. But the best thing really is to pamper yourself. Take a bubble bath if you can, if not then a hot shower. I like to use a body scrub and nice-smelling soaps then to top it off fancy lotions. It's really important to take care of your body, especially when you're feeling down. simple tasks like washing your face, brushing your teeth and showering on their own make a huge difference, so going the extra mile can make you feel that much better. Of course pampering yourself isn't limited to bathing, give yourself a pedicure or (if you have the money) book a massage.

2. Change your look. You don't have to cut your hair or get a crazy piercing to change your look. Consider painting your nails a color you wouldn't normally pick or getting some new clothes and fixing your hair differently.  Even these small changes can make feel a little better and you don't have to dye your hair to do it...unless you want to and that's okay too. Remember hair grows back and piercings heal so if you decided you don't like it later you don't have to keep it.

3. Mind-numbing movies...or TV shows. Just because you shouldn't sit on the couch for days at a time doesn't mean you shouldn't watch some movies. Seriously chick flicks and mind-numbing TV shows are the way to go when your mind is running in circles...oh and it you can get your hands on a tub of ice cream it's even better...

4. Hang out with friends. You still have those you know. Chances are if you started spending less time with them  or even pretty much stopped  spending time with them to be with your significant other a good old fashioned apology will do the trick. At this point you probably mean it too since you realized you can't lose everyone in your life to be with one person. I figured that out the hard way when I went through my first break up. Just hanging out with some people you're close to can really brighten your mood. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, chances are they'll be up to talk about whatever you are. Just don't get mad or upset when someone asks what happened, they're just curious and want to help you.

5. Pack it up. I don't mean move, I mean put all those pictures in a box as well as everything else they gave you. You don't have to get rid of it just yet, just put it away. It's going to be easier to move on when you're not constantly reminded of them with things like stuffed animals and jewelry. You can decide what to do with it when you're ready. For now just put it all out of sight. This is actually something I learned from a teacher in high school after my very first break up. I'm also going to add that you change any passwords that may remind you of that person or other personal things your worried about. You can also put pictures on the computer on a cheap jump-drive and keep it in that box. Sometimes it's easier to put it away for later than to get rid of it. Personally I put the persons name on the box and the amount of time we dated, not sure why, it just makes me feel like it's the last thing to do so once I do that it's done.

6. Write a couple letters. One if for future you, the other is for your ex. Even if the letter never makes it to them, write it. Don't ask for them back just tell them what you need them to know. This will help give you closure. The letter to future you needs to remind you why when they ask for you back, you will say no. This one is more specifically for you to move on. You can't get stuck on this person. So write yourself a letter with all the things that used to bug you about them or why the relationship didn't work. If they ever ask for you back look at the letter and really ask yourself if this person could have really changed all that.

7. Throw yourself into something. With my first breakup that was school. I worked really hard in all my classes and brought up all my grades. However if you aren't in school then concentrate on your job or a hobby. You need to occupy your time with something productive, so NOT a rebound. Be yourself and do whatever makes you happy.

Alright that's all I've got so I hope I helped you out in some way. This doesn't make the pain go away but it might help you feel better. Unfortunately the only thing that heals a broken heart is time. One day you'll wake up and realize you don't love that person the same way anymore and that's okay. So until then just take it day by day because there is always a tomorrow and things are going to be just fine.

xoxo (from me to you)
Courtney

Loreal Straight Effect System Review

When was the last time I did an individual review? I can't remember but I figured I try these bad boys out. I received them complimentary of Influenster Voxbox but as always my reviews will be honest. So let's jump into this:

So these are packets, which I'm not a fan of but they did give a decent amount of product in them. This is what they looked like straight out of the box. The set includes a Shampoo, Pre-conditioner, and a Conditioner. So that's steps one through three. Now it looks like there was a step four which was some sort of "Straight Perfecting Balm" or something for after the shower but that was not included. So I'm going to go through these one at a time and review them each for you.

Shampoo- As far as shampoo goes this seemed pretty basic. I did notice it foamed up really nicely and once rinsed out my hair felt very soft and smooth.  It does claim to be for "Frequently Straightened or Unruly, Rebellious Hair" which really just made me think of my hair as a teenager. The shampoo also claims it has an advanced formula with Keratin and Tourmaline which I think is supposed to help it stay straight longer. The shampoo by itself was nice but probably not something I would go out of my way to  buy.

Pre-Conditioner- So the idea of a pre-condition is kind of new to me. However I followed the instructions and after rinsing my hair felt very nice. But I feel like its basically just a conditioner. However it does say to use once a week in between shampooing and conditioning so it's not for everyday use. To me this idea does seem a little gimmicky though. This also is supposed to have Keratin and Tourmaline so I'm not sure  exactly what this does.

Conditioner- In all honesty I pretty much just use leave in conditioners. But I did give this a shot and as a conditioner I actually kind of like it. Although I'm not crazy about in-shower conditioner and I probably wont be purchasing this.

Final Thoughts: I don't really have unruly hair nor do I straighten it often if ever. However this did make my hair really soft and actually helped the dandruff issue I was having, although I'm pretty sure that isn't what it was intended to do. I also want to point out how hard it was to open these packets in the shower! I swear I needed scissors. That's really not all that relevant but I seriously struggled with that. So as a whole line I'm not really sure how much it does to help keep your hair straight longer. So I'm not sure how to rate this.

That's all for now,
xoxo
Courtney

Update and Changes

Sometimes life throws you curve balls. This one in particular I was not expecting. This past Saturday John and I's relationship ended. Along with that I've decided a new career path and my life is changing in ways I could not have predicted. A month ago if anyone had told me this was going to happen I would have  laughed. Even though Makeup Live Grow started close to the same time as John and I's relationship it always was and always has been my project. I plan on taking a small break from blogging to figure out my new direction and (hopefully) get comfortable in a new job. Fear not, I will be back in June with an Ipsy post and some fun new material. Even though I am undecided on a lot of things right now I know that I have poured so much of my time and love into this blog and I couldn't dream of giving it up. I'm going to get up what I can and finish a few posts for the Campus voxbox campaign. I also have one other post coming up in a day or two that I think will be helpful to other people as well as sort of therapeutic for me. This change also means the person who was editing my blog will no longer be tasked with that and I will do my best to edit on my own, so my apologies for any mistakes. I will have my last few posts up within the week and then I will be back mid- June with some new posts. That's all for now.

xoxo
Courtney

Influenster Campus Voxbox

So I haven't even gotten tracking information on this box yet but I got this in the mailbox today. All of these products were sent to me in the Campus Voxbox complimentary of Influenster voxbox for testing purposes. That being said, as always my reviews will be my honest opinion and nothing else. So let's jump into it.

L'Oreal Paris Advanced Straight System: SO hair washing day is my least favorite. I only wash my hair about once  or twice a week or it produces too much oil at the roots and is too dry at the ends and it's just gross. It will be interesting to see how my hair reacts to this especially since I already have pretty straight hair. So I will try this on hair washing day and update then or do a review individually.

Softlips Cube In Pomegranate Blueberry: I was hesitant to try this but I've also been wanting to try them for a while. The only reason I hadn't was because I'd heard that they were more drying than the EOS. I don't like EOS lip balms for their formula but they have super cute packaging. The Softlips Cube is heaver than I thought. I expected it too feel a little more cheap but the packing is surprisingly high quality. I love that it's so small and compact and it's actually really cute. As for the product itself I'm not huge on pomegranate but I really like this. It smells a little sweeter than I usually like but it works for this. It feels really moisturizing and sinks in pretty quick. I don't feel like I have a waxy layer on my lips. From what I've seen in stores they have a great selection of scents/flavors so I think I will be picking up some more for myself and even one to replace John's mint EOS lip balm.  Seriously, this is going straight into my purse...and then we'll get one for the bathroom and one for the car  and a couple more just because.


Sour Punch  Rainbow Straws and Punchies candies: Don't get me wrong. I love candy....just not sour candy. I think I wold have loved these as a kid when I loved sour stuff but anymore it's just a no go for me for both kinds. The straws are really overpowering to me and all I can taste is the powder that makes it sour. The Punchies are okay and I think I would really enjoy them if they didn't have a sour kick to them. I might still eat those since they aren't awful but I wouldn't go out of my way to buy these. All of that being said I gave these to some friends of mine and they really liked them. So I really think it's all about personal preferences. 




St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub: I've actually had this before. John has the full size of this I believe, my dad used this for a long time, my mom used it. I've used it before. I actually personally prefer the Green Tea scrub because it's so gentle but I'm definitely not complaining about a full size of this bad boy because mine is almost gone. This leaves my skin so soft and makes my face feel really clean. I especially like it when I have dry skin because it exfoliates really well. I recommend using a scrub no more than three times a week so as not to irritate your skin but this is really gentle and smells great!

JERGENS Natural Glow Instant Sun Tanning Mousse In Deep Bronze: Not gonna lie. I actually laughed when I saw this. Not because the concept was funny or I have anything against sunless tanners. I actually think it's safer than tanning. HOWEVER I am ghostly pale and this is in Deep Bronze. I applied a bit of this to my inner thigh where my shorts cover because I wanted to test the product but this color looked like it was just way too dark for me.So this apparently last up to a week with the extending moisturizer? Honestly I tried to follow the instructions but I really just wasn't seeing much in the way of results. I think to get a tanned look you really have to layer it. So I feel like for that reason it could look a little patchy?  I think I will try this again later in the week since we should get getting some much needed sun around here. I'll do an individual review on this in the coming weeks.




So that is what was in the Campus Voxbox. I will most likely be doing a separate review on the L'oreal Advanced Hair Care system. I will also have a skin care routine up hopefully soon and it will feature the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I hope you enjoyed this post or found it helpful!

xoxo
Courtney

Beauty Subscription Smackdown Part 3. Birchbox vs. Ipsy March 2015

Ha! One was at least on time! Mostly...My Birchbox had a billing issue this month so it was sent out a little late which is why this is only just getting up now.

So Ipsy arrived first therefore they will be first in this post.

The theme for this months bag is "Floral Fantasy" which I think is nice for the spring. I really liked the bag itself as well it looks really classic in a way. Not too overdone.

So here is what I got:

NYX Cosmetics Butter Lipstick (color) $6 - So even though I haven't really been into lipsticks lately I like this color. Its pretty comfortable and It's really creamy. I can't wait to wear this out on a date.

Boo Boo Cover-up (medium) $7.64 - Can I just point out a major flop on Ipsy's part? I'm extremely fair skinned and this just isn't gonna work. I was psyched to try this but I'm very pale and this color will never work for me even in the summer. So I am pretty bummed about that. However I think I can mix this with my Maybelline Master Conceal to make this wearable.

Pūr~lisse beauty Pūr~delicate gentle soymilk cleanser & makeup remover $6.42 - I actually really like this brand so I was excited to see another product from them. I really like trying new facial cleansers and I have tested this one and it seems to work nicely. It doesn't foam and kind of has the feeling of a cleansing balm so I think I'm going to take this on trips with me instead of my expensive cleanser.

Gilchrist & Soames London Collection Body Lotion $5 - Even though I wasn't all that excited about this brand because I got two products from this brand in my last birchbox I really like this lotion. I also feel like the packaging looks and feels really sturdy so I wouldn't mind displaying it. I think the lotion itself feels a little thin but moisturizes pretty well without feeling super greasy. John also likes the smell so I might get him the full size.


VINTAGE by Jessica Liebeskind Illuminating Face Highlighter $10 - As far as I could tell this was a sample sized item. Though I couldn't find a size on the full size product, I guessed on the price. About the product though, I do love the shimmer and its so soft. I love this and I think its a great product, I might actually buy the full size.

 Also I spent my points on a bonus item. Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm I have a full size of this already but its one of my absolute favorites so I snagged this for 500 points. 


Total Value: $35.06 (without bonus item) I really enjoyed this month's bag. I felt like it was well rounded and well within my comfort zone. I enjoyed the brands that were in here and look forward to what April's bag will bring.




Now onto Birchbox.



This month's theme was "creative" As far as I can tell there was little variation in the design of our boxes this month. I really like all of it and I'm pretty excited to at least have another cute box. As for products this month I wasn't super excited about the selection of stuff to be sent out but there looked like there were some interesting products in the mix so lets get started:

Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvanator $5.62 - Honestly I was pretty hesitant about using any sort of microdermabrasion product. Recently whenever I use them I break out really badly and I get big red angry pimples...Not sexy. So I've been steering away from them. Right now my face is remarkably clear except my blackheads and so I'm really trying to find a way to get rid of those and keep the big pimples away too.

Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle $1.37 - This is one of those products I just haven't had a chance to try. I don't really need anymore hair protectors. So it may take me a while to get around to this.

 Harvey Prince Imperial Gardenia $1 - Again with perfume samples? I really don't want them. I don't have any sort of issues getting my hands on those and its actually pretty darn cheap in my opinion. They aren't worth a lot product wise and I just don't wear perfume very often so I have no desire to own these.


Jelly Pong Pong Glow Getter Highlighter $12.75 - I was super excited about this. I really like cream-consistency highlighters.This kind of reminds me of High Beam from Benefit but I actually think this is easier to blend. I don't like the applicator but I love the product.


Temple Spa Peace Be Still Calming Face and Body Balm $4.83 - Most likely I wont use this on my face but I think its nice for body. I'm just really particular about what I put on my face when it comes to lotions. I think it has a nice subtle scent and it absorbs really quickly but I don't love it enough to buy a full size.


I felt like the selection of types of items was similar to my ipsy. So again I really liked the box. It was also well-rounded and I'm pretty excited. Total Value: $25.57.

And the winner is...Both! It's a tie. I really felt like both of my boxes were similar. I got a highlighter, a cleanser, and a lotion in both. I also got a product I didn't like in each and a product I like but wont get a ton of use out of. I'm choosing not to take my ipsypoints item into the mix because I picked that with my earned points. The box and the bag were equally cute and I really liked both and couldn't pick one or the other.

  So originally this was supposed to be my last Birchbox but I forgot to cancel. I will be getting a April box and I'm actually considering keeping Birchbox for a while but I haven't decided yet. Either way I don't think I will be posting reviews for April since I'm working hard on a couple other projects.  This is really late so I have even looked at what I'm getting from Ipsy and Birchbox already and just based off of that I may do an Ipsy review but we'll have to wait and see. So I hope you like this review and if your interested in signing up for either of these companies my referral links are in the side bar.

xoxo
Courtney


 

Beauty Subscription Smackdown Part 3: Ipsy vs. Birchbox February 2015

February was a busy month for me (sorry I suck at being on time with these guys). Several birthdays to remember (including my own and Johns), Valentines day and some other important dates in my life are in February but I'm still as excited as ever to get my subscription boxes so let's get into it!


I'm going to start with Birchbox, now for the last boxes I've gotten I've noticed one things that has really bothered me--they keep showing sneak peeks of amazing products to be in the box but then I get stuff that I'm not all the excited about. However I peaked this month (unable to contain my excitement) and I'm pretty excited to say that this month Birchbox may give ipsy a run for their money.

Keeping up with their promise of beautiful boxes, the February Birchbox has put a modern twist on their theme "Friendship" with this box using text blurbs. I think it's pretty cute so like the others I will be keeping this box.


Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser $2.63- I'm not sure if it was hormones or the product itself but I broke out so bad while I was using this. I was excited to see this brand and the sample size is decent. It was lightly foaming, which I like, but I just wasn't that impressed. I think I may try this again in a few weeks and see if it makes a difference.


Gilchrist & Soams Spa Therapy Body Wash $2.53- So I haven't tried this yet, but I do like that I get travel-convent sizes in subscription boxes. I will most likely save this for a trip with John.The scent is nice and pretty gender neutral so we'll probably share it.


The Balm Cosmetics Read My Lips Lip Gloss (BAM!) $4- As much as I've always wanted to try some The Balm products I rarely wear lip gloss. I like the color and the texture but I just don't wear things like this to work or running errands, so it doesn't get a ton of use. Still it's a great color and texture and the size is fantastic for a lip gloss sample.


Beauty Blender and Mini Solid Cleanser $25- I was very excited when I saw this was coming in my box. I have had one beauty blender in my whole makeup life and when it died I was unable to justify a new one. Since then I have been searching for a cheaper dupe but no such luck yet. I defiantly love this product and I'm glad to have a new one. As for the cleanser I haven't tried that yet but I'm excited to get the chance.


BeeKind Conditioner (1.87) $- Again this is another product I will most likely keep for traveling. I'm not really one for conditioners that I use in the shower so I couldn't really tell you how well this works. However I do have to say that I'm very disappointed in the packaging since it isn't resealable.


Box Total:$36.03 So I wasn't super excited about this box but it wasn't necessarily a miss for me either. I think I will eventually use these products but for the most part I'm just going to travel with them at some point. Obviously I liked the Beauty Blender and that definitely made up for the other not-so-exciting products.

Now Onto Ipsy...

This Month's Theme was #IpsyLove. Quite frankly the theme wasn't all that exciting to me and it did sound pretty cheesy but I did like the bag design. I thought that it was really cute and it feels super sturdy.

So here's what came in the bag:

City Color Cosmetics Creamy Lip Stain (Flirtini) $4.99- The texture if this is a lot thicker than I was expecting. It still feels light weigh which was surprising as was how comfortable this was to have on. I wish the stain lasted a little longer on the lips but it does stay fresh looking for a few hours. Overall the product was good for what is was but not something I would purchase in the future.


Emite Makeup Professional Eyelash Curler $25- The reviews I saw on this made me nervous because everyone was talking about how it chopped off their eyelashes. Ipsy did send out an email about some being defective. I have not had any such problems with this. It actually fits really well to my eye shape and is comfortable to use. I wouldn't say it changed my mind about spending lots on a lash curler since it didn't curl my lashes a lot and I much prefer my Andrea's Choice one.


Eva NYC Up All Night Volumizing Spray $10- Unfortunately I haven't been able to try this yet.
On the directions it does say to use before blow drying to add volume or on styled hair to revitalize the look. I haven't blow dried or styled my hair since I got my bag but I didn't need another blow dry thing. I have 3 but I guess I'm stocking up. Regardless I'm still excited to try.


Mitchell and Peach Fine Radiance Face Oil $17- I wasn't sure if I was excited to try this or not. On one hand my skin is very sensitive and I break out easily. On the other hand I've been interested in face oils for a while since they are supposed to be good for your skin. I ended up loving this. I use it after my nightly cleansing mask to hydrate my skin and it leaves my face so soft. I will definitely be buying more.


Model Co. Blush Cheek Powder (Cosmopolitan) $9.42- This is such a pretty color. Lately I've really been into softer pinks for blushes and this is no exception. It sheers out beautify for a more natural look or it can build up nicely to a very barbie pink color. This is definitely my new favorite blush.


Bag Total $66.41 As a whole I really enjoyed this months bag. I think I got some products that  I will continue to get great use out of. I liked that I got a mixture of makeup, skincare and hair and the value is hard to beat!

The winner is...IPSY! Again I just think that Ipsy had the better month. I got some awesome samples, great spring colors, a tool, skincare that works great, and some more hair products to try. I think they had some quality products and a great mix this month. Birchbox also sent out awesome brands and I am still very excited about it but it just wasn't as exciting to me as Ipsy.

If you are interested in signing up for either of these boxes my referral links can be found to the left of this post! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

xoxo
Courtney

Beauty Subscription Smackdown Part 3: Ipsy Vs. Birchbox January 2015

I'm so sorry I'm late with this one guys and yeah, I know. I know. This is probably one of the most overdone competitions in Beauty Subscription history. Who hasn't done Ipsy vs Birchbox? But I felt like I had to do it, if I really want to explore all the options that are out there. If you want to know a little more about the companies, you can find my post on that here. But other than that let's get started.

                 VS

Starting with Birchbox....This month's theme was "Let's Do This!"

So in case you didn't know, this is actually my second Birchbox. My first one was December, but since I had already completed the smackdown for that month and I was in the last month of Ipsy vs Lip Monthly (update coming soon) I decided to hold off on that review. Birch Box has announced that every box this year will be decorative so that is cool and I am very excited.  I have so far not been too impressed with Birchbox, but it hasn't been a total let down either... so let's get to this!


Wish Shave Cream (Acai Grapefruit) $2.93- As horrible as this is going to sound, I haven't shaved with anything but my electric razor in several months. I've honestly just been way too busy and it takes a lower priority. I will probably just keep this in my travel toiletries, since I generally use conditioner to shave with anyway as a cheaper alternative.


Number 4 Non-Aerosol Hairspray $4.50- This was a decent hairspray and it didn't leave my hair too crunchy, but it also didn't have too much hold so it wasn't too impressive for our weather. However I really do like non Aerosol hairsprays, especially in this format with the pump for travel. I will be keeping this for an upcoming trip.


Tocca Cream Da Mano Hand Cream (Grapefruit Cucumber) $5- I love little tiny hand cream samples and this one is very nice. It is highly perfumed and has a strong scent but I enjoy it although it's probably not for everyone. It seems to soak into my skin fairly quickly and it fits nicely into my purse. This is quite possibly my favorite item out of the box.


Coastal Scents Revealed Palette Sampler (Latte) $1 (Estimated Price)- Seriously? A Coastal Scents sample? Admittedly the colors are a nice neutral selection and I could create some really great looks with it, but I have a lot of similar products so I think this will be held onto for traveling since it's so small.


Harvey Prince Sincerely Perfume $0.55-This was a major let down. I hate perfume samples like this. It's just so disappointing because I can go into a store anywhere where I live and get these for free. Plus I don't wear perfume a lot so this was a huge bummer. It doesn't smell bad but I'm just not interested in trying perfume.


Total Box Value $13.98- I was pretty let down by this box. I expected to be wowed and really happy, but it turns out I'm really only happy about one item, the rest are going into a tub full of stuff I take on trips. Except the perfume, that's going to a friend. The theme this month was really inspiring and sparked a conversation between John and I- we've decided to join a gym and finally shed those extra pounds. But the products were kind of forgotten.



Now onto Ipsy:

This Month's theme was "Fresh Start"

The idea of this theme wasn't all that interesting to me considering we did "Fresh Picks" last year. I definitely see what they were going for, but I wasn't all that excited about it. As for the bag...eh, not my favorite. I'm actually using it to hold some old costume jewelry that I am going to remake.

Bellá Pierre Shimmer Powder (celebration) $14.99-Lately I haven't been too big on shimmer products but this is a nice gold color. It's very flattering with my blue eyes and looks nice against my skin tone, I probably wont use it a lot but it would be nice for date night.


Elizabeth Mott All Over Shadow Brush $9.99- I'm always happy to have another brush and I really love this brand so I'm always excited to get something from them. This brush is very soft  and dense so it packs on shadow nicely. I'm actually pretty impressed, plus it's not a bad price point and it feels really sturdy.


La Fresh Eco Beauty Be Good. Good Day. Day Moisturizer.  $12- Is it just me or is this brand getting more and more expensive? I'm really not a big fan of their products and my skin is very sensitive. It breaks out often with new products, and I have not had good luck with this brand in the past. I did end up passing this onto John.


Pacifica Natural Mineral Coconut Eyeshadow (Ethereal) $2.80- Honestly I wasn't super excited about the Pacifica, we've sampled this formula before, and though it's a beautiful color I just don't like how chalky it feels. It's got a subtle shimmer which is pretty but I will probably pass this along to a friend.

Probellè  Nail Lacquer (Into The Blue) $6- Lately I've been gravitating away from the bright colored nail polish in place of some nice neutral more nude colors, however this broke that pattern. I love the color and I've gotten so many compliments while wearing it. It did chip within a few days which is a bummer, but I'm really hard on my nails. I wasn't excited about this at first but now it's one of my favorite products from this months bag.


Total Bag Value $45.78- Even though I don't like the bag itself, I really felt like we got a good selection of products this month. I'm enjoying 3/5 products this month which in my opinion is a win. I also think the bag value for January is amazing. I can't wait to see what February brings.


And January's winner is...Ipsy! Between the two, I feel like Ipsy actually offered better samples. I was happy that nothing I got in my Ipsy bag was something I could walk into a store and sample for free. Though I'm not thrilled with everything in the bag, I feel like I got a much better value and more products that I will get use out of. Birchbox has yet to really impress me, but we have two more boxes to go for this part of the smackdown series.

Hope you enjoyed this month's smackdown. If you want to sign up for either of these boxes feel free to use my referral links below:

                                                    Ipsy                            Birchbox

xoxo
Courtney