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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Oz the Great and Powerful beauty sets

Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful will be in theaters March 8th, and I can't wait! I love anything related to The Wizard of Oz, so I'm so excited about these new makeup palettes and polish sets.  I haven't purchased any of them yet, so this will just be a quick intro/overview of the news sets based on the film.

Urban Decay Eye Shadow Palettes in Glinda  and Theodora

I'm a sucker for anything Urban Decay, and I'm even more of a sucker for any beauty product based on a movie I love. I purchased the Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows (link takes you to an Amazon page for the product) when it came out and loved it, even though it had a lot of shadows I already owned in it. It had many more that I don't have and wouldn't have purchased on their own. So just by a chance internet encounter, I found Urban Decay's Glinda and Theodora palettes, based on the good and bad witches, respectively. These palettes are pretty pricey, even for UD palettes, but the shadows are supposedly full sized shadows. As I haven't purchased this yet, I don't personally know their sizes.

Glinda Palette
The Glinda Palette is light, fresh, and airy looking, with lots of pink, purple, bronze, silver, and gold shades. The eyeliner is UD's Rockstar, which is a purple shade lovely for brown eyes. The eyeshadows are named as follows: Tornado (vibrant deep purple shimmer), Aura (iridescent white with blue shift and iridescent white with red shift), Magic (pinkish purple with golden shimmer), Illusion (pale peach satin), Oz (gold with gold glitter and silver with silver glitter), South (warm pale gray shimmer with silver micro-glitter). The lip color is  a super saturated high gloss color in a light sheer nude shade, aptly named Glinda. I can't wait to get my hands on this palette. You can get yours here on Sephora's website for $49.

Theodora Palette
The Theodora Palette is everything I want to see in a bad-girl palette: a deep red lip, dark eyeliner (although I think UD's Perversion would have been a better fit than UD's Zero), and dark shadows. The eyeshadows are named as follows: Broken (pale cream satin), Beware (warm brown matte), Bewitch (dark charcoal brown satin), West (deep metallic brown shimmer), Spell (black satin with green and gold shimmer and gold metallic with tonal glitter), Jealous (pale green pearl and dark green pearl). The lip color is a super saturated bright red creme, aptly named Theodora. I'm not sure I can wait much longer to snatch these up! You can purchase yours here at the Sephora website for $49.

OPI Oz the Great and Powerful Collection

OPI is releasing a set based on the movie, and it includes their new sand textured polish. I'm not a fan of the sand polishes, but you can make your own decisions on that. I don't like them because, as the name implies, the make your nails rough, like sandpaper. I just have no desire for that. I like shiny polishes.

The Oz Collection consists of 2 glitter/sparkle shades, 3 sheer shades, and one sand textured shade. I love sheer shades and love glitters, but I NEVER wear the glitters when I buy them. I buy them....and paint my nails with them, then promptly end up removing it. I guess I just think it's too little girly for me. I love sheer shades though, but it's really getting hard to tell them apart, especially after I just purchased all of the OPI Ballet sheer shades, which I adore. I don't have any pictures of each shade individually as I don't have the set yet, but you can search for any of the shades, (for example: OPI When Monkeys Fly swatch) and find other blogs that have reviewed the set. I couldn't find any pictures that weren't copyrighted, so I was unable to post any individual pictures here. Sorry, Charlie!!!


Do you plan on purchasing any of these beauty finds I've previewed for you? Do you already have any of them? Tell me about it in the comments below! Remember to follow/join my blog, either through google or Bloglovin, and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram via the links to the right!  Laters, lovelies!









Tuesday, February 19, 2013

February 2013 Birchbox Review

My Birchbox was later than usual this month and I was beginning to wonder if it was even coming! Usually I get my Birchbox on or around the same day as my Glam Bag, but it's been over a week in between this time. I've not been very pleased with my Birchboxes lately and I've been contemplating discontinuing them, but I was pleasantly surprised with this month's box. It had CHOCOLATE in it, so of course, I was excited!



I was excited to get some different types of products in my box this month, like the candle. I've been wanting to try these candles for awhile, but without knowing much about them, I didn't want to spend a lot of money and hate it. So, I'll start my review with that.

Votivo Pink Mimosa Candle 


I was a little disappointed in the candle size. It is pretty much a tea light candle. I was also disappointed that the lid was off in the box, and that the wax has 2 fingernail marks in it. I know it will just melt away, but still... It didn't present as pretty as it could have without the fingernail marks. The scent is surprisingly strong (in a good way) given the size of the candle sample. Pink Mimosa is a fresh, fruity scent. I really like the scent, but I doubt I'll be purchasing this candle, and I'm a Yankee Candle junkie, with the occasional Tyler Candle thrown in for good measure. You can browse the different scents on the Votivo website, or here on the Birchbox website. These sell for $26. I think I've seen them sold at Indigo before. The Votivo website shows bath products, diffusers, lotions, incense, etc. Check them out!

Twistband Thick Head Band


I have lots of Emi-Jay headbands and hair ties, and overall I love them. These Twistbands are pretty much the exact same thing as the Emi-Jays. They are great because they don't damage your hair. I received a hair tie awhile back in a neon orange color and I like it. I like everything about this headband except the olive color. I don't have much of anything that it will go with, so I'll probably use it at night when going to bed, around the house, or while working out. They keep your hair back surprisingly well, and I have tons of them and plan on purchasing more! The Twistband hair ties are $6 for a pack of 3 without any bling (the bling ones are more expensive). The Twistband head bands range from $10-$12 for a set of 3 depending on the pattern. You can also buy a set of 6 for $20. You can browse Birchbox's Twistbands here. Emi-Jay's prices are pretty comparable to Twistbands.

Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator


I'm not familiar with this product or brand. It states online that it mimics professional dermabrasion treatments without the redness and irritation. This product scares me a little, and I doubt I even try it out. The term "brightening" and "whitening" have become someone interchangeable as of late, especially with products from other countries. If you aren't familiar with the term "whitening," it is just what it sounds like. It whitens your skin. My son's grandmother is Thai and she uses skin whiteners all the time, and that's how I became familiar with whiteners. They are very popular in Asia. I read a review on a BB Cream that was actually a skin whitener, but wasn't advertised as a skin whitener. That scares the crap out of me. I don't want any bleaching agents anywhere close to my face or other body parts, so out of fear, this is going in the trash. You can learn more about this product here at Birchbox or here on the product's home page. It retails for $34.

Juicy Couture "Couture La La" Perfume


I feel like I've gotten this before....probably from Sephora.  I hate hate HATE perfume samples. I have enough samples to create an entire bottle of perfume. I actually like this sample though. It is light, fresh, and airy. I love my fragrances light and airy, and this fits the bill. I won't purchase it, because I'm a SLAVE to Stella by Stella McCartney, which I ironically received as a free perfume sample. You can buy Couture La La on the Juicy website here or from Sephora here. The prices are as follows: $19 for the 0.25 oz rollerball, $70 for the 1.7 Eau de Parfum spray, and $90 for the 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum spray.

Dermablend Professional Quick-Fix Concealer


This was my deluxe sample from this box, and I'm thrilled. I've heard great things about Dermablend products, so I'm anxious to use this. The color is great and matches my skintone well, and the texture is amazing. It's in a lipstick-esque tube, which I find incredible. I hate using fingers for products because it gets under my nails or I end up not washing it all off and it gets on my clothes. I still have to blend it in some with a sponge, but I don't mind. It comes in 8 shades, so you should easily be able to find your perfect match. It is pretty thick and gives you a lot of coverage. Dermablend concealers have been used to cover scars and tattoos on celebrities, so you know it's got to be good. You can find this product here at Ulta and here on the Dermablend website for $24. I love this. I will be purchasing it. I've been using Benefit's Erase Paste because EVERYONE says it's amazing. I don't agree. It think it's too orange and cakey. This Dermablend product is fantastic!!!

Ghirardelli Milk and Caramel Square


This product isn't anything new...but I LOVE them, so I was so excited to get this!!! I love Ghirardelli chocolates, and the caramel squares are my favorite!!! You can buy these at any drugstore, Walmart, or Target.

So, what was YOUR Birchbox like? What products did YOU get? Which products did YOU love and hate? Remember, everyone gets the same Ipsy Glam Bag, but Birchbox gives a variation of about 15 different ones to their customers. Try them out! If you want an invitation to any of the monthly subscriptions I've discussed in my blog, shoot me a message with your email address. If you requested one in the past and haven't received your invitation yet, shoot me a message and I'll send you another invitation. Sometimes it takes more than one invitation to get you through the system. Stay fabulous.

XOXO, Jenni D






Thursday, February 14, 2013

February 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag Review

I received my Ipsy Glam Bag yesterday, and for the first time I'm actually disappointed in it. I felt like it wasn't as great as the past few months. I think the sample sizes are smaller than usual, and it came in a black bag again, except this time it's more of a vinyl material compared to last month's matte black. The lighting isn't that great with my pictures tonight and I'm sorry, but I've had a long day and I just haven't had time to really make them look fancy...

Here's the outside of the bag. Just a black vinyl zipper top bag.


Here's the inside of the bag. It's just plain red.


Let's get to the less than stellar products I received this month. (PS: I haven't received my Birch Box yet, but I sneaked a peek online at my samples, and I'm actually really excited about them! Before they send out the boxes they list everything that you *could* get in your box, and I noticed that Rockoholic Hair Spray was one of the samples. I reviewed this a few weeks ago, and as you know, I LOVE it. I didn't get a sample, though, which is okay, but I would have loved to have gotten a smaller one for travel. One thing I did see that was in my particular box was a candle, and I've been hoping for a candle for awhile now. Anyway, back to Ispy...

Coastal Scents Eyeshadow Sample


These look very tiny, and they are very tiny, but they are SUPER PIGMENTED. I put WAY too much on when I was trying them out this morning and ended up having to remove the shadow and start over. I've never heard of this brand, but I was impressed by the pigment. The colors are as follows: Top Left~Candlelight (gold); Top Right~Gunmetal (black); Bottom Left~Incognito (black with red microglitter); Bottom Right~Ashen (champagne). Honestly, I'll probably never use these. They feel very cheap to me. I don't like the pigmentation. Some people may like a lot of pigment, but I don't. When I was using them this morning, I had flashbacks to using Wet-n-Wild when I was 13. I don't recommend these. If you do want to try them, you can browse the Coastal Scents website.

Pixi Flawless & Poreless


Pixi is a higher-end drugstore brand. I've only seen tutorials of their products online, but lots of people rave about this brand. I tried this primer yesterday and it has a really good texture and feel to it. I'm not sure how "poreless" it made me because I have huge pores, but it did make my skin feel good. I'm not a big primer person, because I have extremely oily skin and they just never work. I use Milk of Magnesia as primer! It's the best thing I've ever used. This would be worth a try if you wanted to try a primer but didn't want to spend a lot of money on one. You can find these products on their home website here or at Target for around $29.00.

Lash Cards


Another waste of a sample, in my opinion, are these lash cards you place above your lashes when applying mascara to avoid getting it on your eyelid. Don't ask me why the print is backwards on the cards...your guess is as good as mine... I'm assuming so that you can see the reflection in the mirror. Whoever thought of that has too much time on their hands. I don't have a problem with applying mascara, so I will probably be giving these away. Any of my friends who might want them, just comment below. First come, first serve. (I'm not going to mail them or deliver them...so pretty much these will go to anyone I work with or see on a daily basis...ha.) If per chance you're interested in these, you can purchase them at the Lash Card website for $6.99 for 10 cards.

Pop Beauty Mascara


This is a mascara from Pop Beauty in No. 1 Smokey Black. I really love the applicator and it applies without clumping. This is a UK brand, so I'm not very familiar with it, but I like getting samples from other countries. I'm obsessed with Blinc tubing mascara, but this product just might make me want to switch. It is very glossy and makes my lashes super long. You can find this product on the Pop Beauty website for $18.50.


MICA Beauty Cosmetics Gel Eyeliner


This is another brand I've never heard of, and a product I've never used before. I usually use pencil eyeliners, but this has really piqued my interest. I need to dig around my makeup bags to see if I have an eyeliner brush applicator so I can try it out. I've read other positive reviews about this, so I'm looking forward to trying it out. When I do, I'll post another review.  This was my full sized product this month. The only difference I can see is that when you purchase this for $30.00, it comes with an application brush. I'm pretty happy about this sample. You can find it here at the MICA Beauty website.

I hope you see some things you like. I should be getting my Birch Box soon, so I'll review it in a few days. Thanks for stopping by! XOXO

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Silver white winters that melt into springs

These are a few of my favorite things....

First things first, please ONLY purchase salon products from salon professionals. Salon products are NOT GUARANTEED when purchased from retail chains. If you look on the bottles, they will say something like "Only guaranteed when purchased from a salon." They mean it. Many chain stores will buy these products, water them down, and resell them. Just don't do it. Remember, you get what you pay for. 

Hair products! I love hair products. I have strange hair (for a lack of better words...) It can be oily, frizzy, dry, wavy, straight, curly...all in one day. It just depends on the weather, how dry I get it when I blow dry it, whether I sleep in a tight bun or a loose bun, if I dry it completely after washing it, dry it half way, or sleep with it wet. I use a Chi straightening iron when I want it straight. When I don't, I use textured spray or salt water spray to make it wavy or curly. Here are some of my favorite hair products. Some I may have discussed in earlier posts, but I wanted to include altogether here.

Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Shampoo and Conditioner


I love this shampoo and conditioner. In the winter, my hair becomes very dry at the ends, and I've noticed that this shampoo and conditioner, along with the argan oil I'll discuss momentarily, really helps with the dryness. Even though my ends are dry, my scalp will still be oily. This doesn't increase the oil. I've tried the "skipping a day" technique of washing my hair, but I can't do it. If I don't wash it everyday, my scalp itches like crazy, and I've yet to find a dry shampoo that doesn't make me look like I have dandruff. If you have combination hair or overly dry hair, I recommend trying this shampoo and conditioner. You can buy these products at Sephora via these links:  Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Shampoo, Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Conditioner. If you want to try out a smaller size of these just to see if you like them, Sephora has an Ojon Damage Reverse Kit which includes a smaller size of the shampoo, conditioner, along with their Restorative Hair Serum and Finishing Spray. This is a great way to try the products to see if you like them. Remember, Sephora has a kick ass return policy. They accept returns on ANYTHING you buy, even if you don't have a receipt or if you've used most of it up. So if you order it and it's not for you, just return it via mail or in the store. It's simple and a great way to try new things without breaking the bank. You can browse through all of the Ojon products here on the Sephora website.

Ojon Damage Reverse Instant Restorative Hair Serum


I use this oil when my hair is towel dried after the shower and mainly just put it on my ends. I've noticed a dramatic difference with the frizziness of my ends when using this. I got it as a perk from a Sephora purchase and I plan on purchasing the full size when I run out. I love the way it makes my hair feel and how much it helps with the frizz.

Oscar Blandi Texture and Volume Spray


I received a sample of this in either my Birch Box or Ipsy Glam bag (can't remember which) and at first I was put off by the smell, but the more I used it, the more I loved it. It does tend to make my hair dry, so I don't use it everyday. Overall, it gives great texture and volume, and I use it most often when I want extra texture for a ponytail or a messy bun. You can buy the full size product here at Sephora.

Big Sexy Hair Powder Play 


This is a great root lifter for teasing your hair. It's a sticky powder that you just sprinkle and the roots of your crown and tease with a teasing comb. A little goes A LONG WAY, so don't use too much an create a rat's nest that you can't even wash out (speaking from experience here...haha). You can also use this product throughout your hair for extreme texture, but I've never used it that way. I purchase mine from my hair dresser, April McGuire Williams at Morgan Michael's Salon in Marked Tree, AR, but you can order it here from the Big Sexy Hair website, or you can contact her at the salon at (870) 358-2202 to order it and have it shipped to you.  

Alterna Bamboo Luminous Shine Shampoo and Conditioner


I like to alternate my shampoo/conditioner every few days (I have 8 bottles of shampoo/conditioner in the shower and my hubby doesn't like it...ha). I love Alterna's Bamboo Luminous Shine Shampoo and Luminous Shine Conditioner. (Links lead you to purchase these at Sephora.) These contain pure organic Bamboo extract and shine-amplifying organic Indian gooseberry, and they smell divine. These products are great for color treated hair as they contains Alterna's Color Hold® technology for maximum color retention and makes my hair shiny and healthy looking. As with all Alterna products, it is organic and is formulated WITHOUT parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, phthalates, GMOs, or triclosan. You can browse through all of Alterna's hair products here on the Sephora website. They have many other shampoos, conditioners, protecting sprays, masques, texturizing sprays, etc.

Alterna Bamboo Smooth Kendi  Oil Dry Oil Spray


I received this as a free sample in one of my monthly sample memberships. This is another product that I will be purchasing the full size from Sephora soon, but WARNING: Do not spray this while you are on tiled or linoleum floors, because the residue becomes incredibly slick on the floor! My husband slipped and almost fell the first time I used it in the bathroom, so now I only spray it while on a carpeted floor.  I use this product when my hair is dry, before I use my Chi straightening iron. It helps tame the frizz and static and also gives my hair a super shine. It is a color protecting hair primer, so it will not only tame the frizz, but also help maintain my color. As with all Alterna products, it is organic and formulated WITHOUT parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, phthalates, GMOs, or triclosan. You can purchase the full size here at Sephora.

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray
 

I use this product when I've slept with my hair in a bun when it's halfway dried the night before and has some waves in it. It helps give it a beachy look, but don't use too much as I've noticed it can weigh my hair down. It adds body and shine to hair, and also makes me feel like I've been at the beach all day! You can purchase the full size here at Sephora.



What are your favorite hair products? Let me know if there's anything you think I should try in the comments below.

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