Dogeared Jewelry HauteLook Haul

I've talked in previous entries about the shopping sites that offer online sample sales, like Beyond the Rack and HauteLook, so I wanted to show you my recent haul I got from HauteLook. I love, love, LOVE Dogeared Jewelry. I have a ton of their necklaces (the original and most popular Karma necklace, their Balance necklace, their 100 Wishes necklace in gold, among others) but they are REALLY pricey, so whenever I see Dogeared Jewelry on one of my favorite sample sale sites, I grab them up. This week I got 4 necklaces. They are actually 2 styles, but in both gold and silver. I got them for at least half price, maybe even a third of the original price. They've been discontinued on the Dogeared website, and I can't remember exactly how much I paid for each necklace, but they were really discounted, and that made me really excited.

Dogeared Silver Shark Tooth

This is part of the "Life's a Beach" collection, but it didn't come on a card like the gold one that says "Life's a Beach. 

Dogeared Gold Shark Tooth

Dogeared Silver Skull and Crossbones

Dogeared Gold Skull and Crossbones

 

I'm assuming shark teeth and skulls and crossbones are an acquired taste, but I personally love how they are dainty but hard core, in a feminine way. I'm going to link some of my other favorite jewelry items from the Dogeared website that are still currently available.

Karma Necklace

The original Karma necklace was my first Dogeared purchase, and I still have the one I bought about 6 years ago.  I love to wear this as a simple statement alone, or layered with other jewelry, and it makes me feel better when I have it on for some reason. They have more updated versions of this necklace, with different chain lengths, some have leather straps, and they've even made a bracelet version. There are variations of the Karma circle now, too. Some are textured with hammered metal, some attach to the chains differently, some are larger, etc. Here is a link that will take you to all of their Karma jewelry.

Balance Necklace 

I also have the Balance Necklace which I purchased to give me balance in my life. I know it's just a necklace, but I like to feel that things I wear help my mood, and this one does. It is also perfect alone or layered with other necklaces. You can check out the entire Balance collection here.

100 Wishes

Everyone has wishes, don't they? This is by far the most expensive necklace from this brand that I purchased, and I have particular reasons for having purchased it that I won't get into on here, but it is a beautiful necklace. I don't wear it often as it tends to tangle easily, and it is a very delicate necklace. You can find their 100 Wishes collection here.

Dogeared Jewelry has so many different collections now that I couldn't possible discuss all of them on this blog, so I just wanted to show you my favorites. Below I'm going to link some of their most popular necklaces. Just click the links and you will go to each collection listed. Enjoy!

Bridal

Faith

Healing Gems

Love

Sorority Sisters

Create Your Own

Make a Wish--on silk (These are to be worn and never taken off. When the silk wears and breaks, your wish is supposed to come true. My son loves these.)

There are so many more collections, but these are my favorites. Go to the Dogeared website and find favorites of your own!

XOXO Jenn

March Birchbox and Ipsy Glam Bag Goodies

Sorry I haven't posted this yet...but blogging really takes a lot of time, especially the way I've been doing it: taking my own pics of each product, editing them, watermarking, etc., so I've decided to change things up a bit. I hope you still like it. If you don't and would like me to go back to the way I was reviewing them before, let me know in the comments.


March 2013 Birchbox

So, here are the goodies I got in my March Birchbox in the picture above. I'm going to review each item separately, but I'm not going to take a separate picture of each item as it just takes too much time for this working mom with a job/home/hubby/child/5cats/2dogs to take care of every day! I'm going to use the pics off of the site.

Benefit Benetint Cheek and Lip Stain 

I've wanted to try this stain for awhile, but I'm so picky with my blush that I was afraid to try it, so I was stoked when I got this in my Birchbox. I tried it immediately on my cheeks and lips. I applied my makeup as usual (Fresh Soy Moisturizer, Benefit POREfessional pore minimizer all over as a primer/pore minimizer, Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer on my t-zone, Bobbi Brown BB Cream, Dior Nude Bronzer, THEN I apply my blush.) I applied this over my BB Cream and it really is easy to use and gives a great color. I have read several reviews saying it was hard to blend, but it wasn't to me as long as you blend it as soon as you "paint" it on with the little brush. If you don't, then I can see where people would not like it because it would dry in streaks on your face. I thought it had great staying power all day on my cheeks. I also have applied it to my lips a few times, and while it gives a great natural pink tint to your lips, it dries them out and has ZERO staying power, which it ridiculous since it is supposed to be a stain. I don't really recommend it for your lips, but it gives such a pretty pink color that I've been using it anyway. Oh, and it smells like ROSES, and I'm a sucker for anything rose-scented. I'll be purchasing this in the full size soon. Here's a funny bit of history about this product...this is what is on the Sephora website regarding the origination of the product: In 1977, Jane and Jean Ford, the twin sisters behind Benefit, met a local dancer who requested a long-lasting red pigment that wouldn’t budge during her shows. They listened, and this beloved rose lip and cheek stain was born. Year after year, it’s a bestseller for good reason: the translucent color leaves us with a natural flush so we look pretty, not made-up. What they DON'T tell you is that the local dancer was a STRIPPER who came in wanting a tint to make her nipples pinker on stage!!! I wish I hadn't thrown the sample box this came in away because it had a cute story on the back starting off, "A stripper walks into a make up store..." or something like that. It was really funny! So, there you have it...thanks to a stripper with less than rosy nipples, we now have Benefit's Benetint! You can purchase your nipple tint...err....I mean cheek/lip stain....at Sephora or directly from the Benefit website for $30.

Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Shampoo 

 I've used many different dry shampoos and I've yet to find one I like, but this just might be THE WORST one I've ever used! I don't like the powdered versions because they leave a white residue no matter how hard I try to blend it in, so I was hoping with this being a spray version it would be better. I decided to try it on my second day hair today and needless to say, it feels just as dirty as it did before I used it and it piled up in a bun on top of my head as I type. But the worst part of this is that it doesn't act like a dry shampoo at all! It is more like a hairspray/volumizer. I sprayed it on my hair per the directions, flipped my head over and sprayed it on the underside of my hair at the roots, flipped my head back over, and I looked as though I'd stuck my finger in a lightsocket! It was horrible!!! I then tried to brush it, per the directions again, and I couldn't even get my brush through my hair! I am not sure what went wrong with this product, but it is NOT anything like any other dry shampoo I've ever used before. I have to wash my hair everyday or else it feels itchy and gets oily at the roots. I tried to wash it every other day in the winter because although my roots are oily, my ends are dry, but that just ended up not working out so I started using other products to help combat the dry ends. I might keep this and use it as a volumizer spray, because it gave me a crap load of crazy volume (good for messy buns) but I won't use it as a dry shampoo! If you want to try this, although I don't recommend it, you can get it from the Birchbox website for $25.

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream

I received the blueberry scent of this shaving cream, but it also comes in pomegranate, lavender, and almond.  It smells really good, but it doesn't lather like a shaving cream. I'd be more inclined to call it a shaving lotion rather than a cream. If you like the EOS style shaving creams, then you'll love this, as it has the same consistency as EOS. I like my shaving cream to have a lather, so I wasn't really loving this, although the smell is really tempting. Plus, I'd rather spend $2 on a Walmart version of shaving cream rather than $20 on something like this. Shaving cream is just not something I feel the need to splurge on. Razors...yes. Shaving cream...not so much. This claims it moisturizes and protects against redness and irritation caused by shaving, but I really couldn't tell much difference, and I missed so many spots because it's so thin and watery. I like a thick cream that I can use in the shower that allows me to know where I've shaved and where I haven't. Plus...there's something about these types of shaving creams (especially EOS brand) that I'm apparently allergic to, because my legs turn red and itch like crazy. So, I'll stick to my cheapo Walmart stuff...but if you want to try this out, you can find it on the Birchbox website for $20.

LA FRESH Eco-Beauty Oil Free Face Cleanser-Scented

I love getting little samples of make up removers in my subscriptions because they're great for travel. I tried this one out just to see how I liked it worked for the review and it worked really well. I know it says it's a cleanser, but I recommend always using an actual cleanser after using this type of product to remove your make up. You'd be surprised how much residue is left on your face after you've used a make up remover wipe. I use my Clarisonic brush with my cleanser after using a make up towelette to remove the bulk of my make up, and I still get lots of gunk off my face. This product had a great smell, and in a pinch, could be used as your make up remover and cleanser, but like I said before, I still recommend whenever possible to use an actual cleanser after removing your make up. You can buy these at Birchbox for $9.99 for 30 wipes. They must be really popular because it shows they're out of stock and you have to join a wait list for them. 

Madewell for Birchbox Nail Emery Board

 

I got this emery board as my lifestyle bonus. It has a really cute floral print and it's small enough to fit into your purse. The cute floral print makes me feel better about filing a jagged nail that just can't wait in public. I really prefer the emery boards I get from my manicurist, though, as they're coarser and salon quality. This is a cute board to have with you in a pinch. You can buy yours at Birchbox for $5. I like how Birchbox has been partnering up with Madewell, which is an online clothing store with super cute sweaters, blouses, pants, accessories, etc. Check out the Madewell website for some really cute clothes. They have lots of cute spring dresses and transitional outfits, and some amazing sweaters on sale! 

March 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag 

I was pretty disappointed in my Ipsy Glam Bag this month...again...and I regret telling my friends to choose Ipsy over Birchbox if they only wanted one subscription. Birchbox is typically more hit or miss than Ipsy, but lately, Ipsy has really been lacking. I only recieved 2 of the 4 shadows featured in the picture above (as did everyone) but what ticked me off was that Ipsy counted each of the 2 teeny tiny shadows as an individual product. I felt a little ripped off with that. You are supposed to get 5 samples...and including those 2 tiny eyeshadows as individual samples irked me. The bag had a cute nautical theme to it, and I liked it, but I was VERY disappointed in the GlamRx item, which is the compact looking thing above with the mirror in it. At first I was stoked, because I thought it would have some sample products inside, but it was just an empty box. Before I end up reviewing it here in the overall description, let me just get to the review.

GlamRx Mini Freestyle Palette 

Well, as I said above, I was really excited when I first saw this, but then was really disappointed when it arrived empty. GlamRx palettes are little make up palettes that are magnetized so you can depot your favorite items with metal bottoms and put them into this case to take with you in your purse. It has a little mirror inside the top lid to help with touch ups. On the GlamRx website, it shows that you can order these little compacts with the make up included, in a flap inside the compact (go to the website...I know I'm making no sense...) but it still has the magnetic cubby thingy under the flap for you to depot your favorite items to take with you. On their website it shows that the compact comes with a shine eraser, gel eyeliner, concealer, and lip gloss. My problem with that is where are you supposed to keep the brushes you need to apply the gloss and gel eyeliner? I really don't have anything I want to depot and take with me, so I've just put some bobby pins in mine and stuck it in my purse. I'll probably be chunking it in the trash as I really don't have any room for this worthless thingy in my purse or make up bag. Big disappointment. I wish they'd sent the compact with the products in it like the one shown on the website. If this piques your interest, check it out on the GlamRx website for $16.50. 

Yaby Eyeshadow Refills in Sand Dune and So Vein

These two TINY shadow samples (images are WAY larger than the samples...think dime size) counted as two separate products. Not cool, Ipsy....not cool. I guess they were supposed to be placed in the GlamRx compact thingy since they have the metal bottom, but I didn't do it since I really didn't have anything else to put into the palette. These shadows are by a company called Camera Ready Cosmetics, and from what I've seen on their website, they ALSO have some sort of palette thingy that these shadows are supposed to fit into. I actually think this is a brilliant idea. I hate when I buy a prepackaged palette, like from Urban Decay or Too Faced, and I run out of one shadow but they don't make that shadow outside of purchasing the entire palette. I have found this moreso with Too Faced rather than Urban Decay. So this to me is brilliant. You buy the palette and fill it with shadows at your choosing. If you run out of one, just order a replacement pod. The shadow refills are inexpensive as well, which seeing as how tiny they are, they should be...but I was surprised to see the shadow refills ranging from $3.29 to 3.99 each. They also have a lip palette, a foundation palette, a blush palette, a highlighter palette, a concealer palette...you're picking up what I'm putting down... So this would be GREAT for anyone who loves to play around with make up looks or someone who's an aspiring make up artist. I'd check it out! Go to the link I posted above to browse all of their palette selections. 

LA FRESH Travel Lite Make Up Remover Wipes

 

Didn't I just review some LA FRESH make up wipes??? Well, I got another set in my Glam Bag, and I'm not complaining! As I said above, I love having these for when I travel. This one is marketed as ONLY a make up remover, but the previous one I reviewed was considered a cleanser. This removed all my make up, but as I said above, I still washed my face with cleanser after. I really like these LA FRESH wipes! These don't cleanse as thouroughly as the previous ones I reviewed, but that's to be expected since the other is a cleanser and these are strictly for make up removal. I think these would be great to throw in your gym bag to refresh your face after a workout and remove the oil from your skin. These can be purchased on the LA FRESH website for $1.49 for 8 wipes. YES YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY!!! They're only $1.49! These are only available in a travel size, unlike the one I reviewed above. I'll definitely be purchasing these in the near future!

Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist

My sample size was obviously not this large (see first pic for sample size) but it was actually a pretty decent size for a sample. This is a hydrating mist you spritz on your face to tone, hydrate, and refresh. I'm a big fan of these hydrating mists. I spray them on my face (with make up on...it won't mess it up) throughout the day whenever I'm at work or at home just for a little pick me up. I wasn't that crazy about the scent of this one. I prefer Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist because I'm a sucker for anything that smells like roses...you can find it at Sephora at the above link for $31. It's pricey, but I love it! This product says it has rosehip in it, but it was quite citrusy to me. It's a lot cheaper, at $22, so check it out on the Juice Beauty website. 

 

Well, that's it for my March subscriptions. I received some great Zoya polishes that I've been using and planned to review...but I'm going to save that for another day. Check out my previous post about the Zoya Share the Love program on my Facebook page, and be sure to comment on here if you like what I'm doing! I'm not sure how many people actually read my blog, and it takes a lot of time to keep up, so I'd love to hear from you! I actually was going to delete the entire blog, but I have several friends who said they enjoyed it, so I'm keeping it going for a little while longer at least. The link to my Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter accounts are to the right, as well as a Blog Lovin button which will allow you to follow this blog easier! Just sign up and follow! Thanks, lovelies!

Buy One Get One Free Large Yankee Candles!!!

Hurry!!! Yankee Candle Company has their large candles (both the large jar candles and large tumblers) on sale for buy 1 get one FREE!!!!!!! I love Yankee Candles. They last forever, smell great, and burn for a long time! They are pricey, but so worth it to me. Especially with a deal like this! Hurry before all of your favorite scents are gone! They brought back my FAVORITE scent that was discontinued years ago, Green Grass, and the large jar candle is already sold out, so I got the large tumbler. I can't wait until they come in! I've missed that smell, and with spring right around the corner, it's the perfect time to burn the Green Grass fragrance!

Zoya Share the Love Program

If you aren't familiar with Zoya nail polishes, I'll give you a quick rundown... From their website: Zoya Nail Polish is a nail polish free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor. Nail Polish by Zoya offers over 300 gorgeous nail polish colors to choose from, plus 4 seasonal nail polish collections every year. Zoya Nail Polish was specifically formulated to deliver the longest wear possible on natural nails.

So, Zoya is a more environmentally/health friendly polish company. They have a rewards program called Share the Love which involves clicking the "share the love" button on any page you're on to get a personal link code to share via facebook, twitter, your blog, text, email, etc. You can get instant discounts or share the love reward points, based on what they're doing that particular month. Here is a description I've taken from the website:  When someone clicks on your personal link and sets up an online account, a coupon for a FREE Bottle of Zoya Nail Polish will automatically be placed in their account and can be used immediately on their current order. TIP: If you use this coupon and add 2 more polishes to your order, you get free shipping too! The coupon will appear in the "My Coupons/ Promos" section of their "My Account" Page.


So...click on my link below, set yourself up an account, and order some polish and share the love with your friends and family and get started gathering your share the love points and free polishes!!!! Click the links above for more explanations and examples! 

Share the Love Link: https://www.artofbeauty.com/rd/017834D4