Target Haul - e.l.f Cosmetics

Sorry I have been away for so long. I came back from my vacation to Vermont this past Labor Day weekend and spent all of it relaxing and just enjoying being away from work and NY. I have a lot of posts to catch up on and had lots of packages when I got home. So I'll do my best to get writing and reviewing. I miss Vermont already but it feels good to be back, besides being super, crazy busy at work.

Here is my latest Target haul.  I did have an item to review from the last haul which was a movie, but I'm not really good at writing about movies. Especially without giving away the whole movie plot so I decided to skip on that item. (Sorry!)

But I had gone to Target during one of my lunch breaks and picked up some items off the clearance shelf in the Health & Beauty section. There were some Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail polish strips with some okay pattern, but what really caught my eye was the e.l.f. cosmetics, which stands for eyes, lips & face. I've never used this brand before but it is one of the inexpensive brands that Target sells.  For all the items I got, I spend $6 + tax. I figured at that price, why not give it a try.

e.l.f Get The Look Beach Beauty, 28 piece day palette (Limited Edition) - This palette retails on e.l.f.'s website for $6.00; I got it for $3.00. It's a nice small, compact makeup palette. It comes with a little mirror, small eye sponge and lip gloss brush duo. It has two blushes, two bronzers, 16 eyeshadows and 8 lip glosses. The eye shadows are very light and shimmery. The blush really pops with just a little dab and the bronzer went well with my skin tone. I've only used one of the lip glosses. It's not super sticky but does moisturize my lips. I'm not a huge lip gloss fan but I like that the one I've used just gives me a hint of color and compliments my natural lip color. I actually brought this up to Vermont and it was super convenient and was easy for me to use while up there.

e.l.f Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick - I got these for $1.00 each; They originally retail for $2.00. I got them in Like a Boss, a dark, rich blue and Check me out, a sparkly plum. They are a creamy eyeshadow and go on smooth.  I have not used it yet but I see it being easy to swipe on my eyelids and go out the door, quick and easy.

 e.l.f. Essential Triple Tip Waterproof Eyeliner Pen - This retails for $2.00 and I got it for $1.00. It has this unique tip that looks like three little prongs. You can swipe it on thin or thick and angle it to get different strokes. It's kind of like having a calligraphy pen. The harder your push the more saturated the color. It's pretty cool and I see myself putting it to good use when I draw on some winged-eyeliner looks. 

Point is...
I give these products 10 out of 10. I'm really happy that I finally got a chance to try out this brand of cosmetics and I got it for 50% off their original price. The quality is amazing for a low cost. Great way to keep your own budget and still get great products. I'm really interested in trying other products from e.l.f. Next, I'm going to look into their foundations.

Fiore & Once Upon A Starry Night Review [#5]

Hi everyone! Sorry I have not posted in so long. It's been crazy busy at work this past month. I am actually going on Vermont tomorrow with my lovely boyfriend so I had a lot of projects to finish. I decided to post a review before I leave and go on an amazing adventure. I will be posting about my vacation when I get back.

Because I have so many nail polishes to review, I've been trying to combine different brands and figure out what goes well together. I decided to pair Fiore by Julep and Once Upon A Starry Night by I Love Nail Polish.

Here is the description given about these two:

Fiore  - "Espresso brown crème from the It Girl style."

Once Upon A Starry Night - "This dreamy nail polish was made using a variety of blue, silver, white, prism, and star glitters. Once Upon a Starry Night contains tiny silver stars to accent the lovely snow dusted evening effect the polish delivers. This nail polish looks absolutely stunning up close. You’ll love it!"

Here is two coats of Fiore.  It's a nice dark, rich color. It certain lighting it can be very brown or a blue-dark gray. It's a great color for Fall. It goes on smooth and glossy.

Here is a two coats of Once Upon A Starry Night. I didn't have to dab to get a good coat. There is a good amount of glitter in this polish.  It has fine glitter, circles and stars in white, silver and blue.  Also I love the rubberized handle on the brush. Makes it very easy hold the brush steady and paint evenly. 

I decided to use Seche Vite to top of my manicure. I think it really coats over glitter well and keeps them from sticking out too much. As you can see below, with the flash, it gives Fiore a blue-gray tint.  

My manicure lasted about two weeks. Taking it off wasn't terrible but you do have to scrub a little bit to get the glitter off. I think the combination was pretty and Fiore brought out the glitter. What do you think of this manicure? What do you think would go well with Fiore or Once Upon A Starry Night? 

Well that is it for my review. My next review will be an End of Summer combination. I hope you enjoyed readying and I will see you all when I get back. Happy Polishing!

Julep August Box 2013

I'm just writing a short post about my latest Julep subscription box, August It Girl. I have yet to really try the products so I just wanted to showcase what I received. 

Here is the outside of the box.

Maven is turning two!

Look how cute everything is packaged!

Here is what I received.

So I stuck with the It Girl style because I really liked the colors compared to the other ones and did not need the beauty product.

Julep Nail Polish - 

Nellie - Pink fuschia creme. $14.00 Regular / $11.20 Maven

Marjorie - Citrus orange frost. $14.00 Regular / $11.20 Maven

Fiore - Espresso brown creme. $14.00 Regular / $11.20 Maven

Also they send a pack of Forget-Me-Not flower seeds as a "Thank You" to all their mavens for helping them grow. I can't wait to plant them!

Anyone else receive the August Julep box? What style do you have? 

Julep Intro Box: It Girl

So I had posted that I signed up to become a Julep Maven and my intro box was FREE.  I took the survey and I was first placed in the Boho Glam style but I really liked the It Girl box so I changed it. I also purchased some add-ons to my box.  

If you are interested in become a Julep Maven, I'd appreciate it if you signed up through my refer a friend link. Here is what I got in my intro box plus the add-on purchases:

Here is the welcome letter inside the box.

Here is the It Girl Box. Everything was wrapped up carefully with pink and black paper.

Here is everything that came in my box.

1. Julep Nail Polish - 
I have yet to try most of these colors but I'm excited to have them. They are just unique and pretty.  Here's what I got:
Eden - Blue violet creme. $14.00 Regular / $11.20 Maven
Bunny- Crisp white linene with fine gold shimmer. $14.00 Regular / $9.99 Sale
Stefani - Gold flecked grey metallic. $14.00 Regular / $7.99 Sale

2. Julep Rock Star Hand Creme - Sample
"Anti-aging, emollient blend of shea butter, glycerin, coconut oil, and vitamin E keeps hands hydrated, even after washing. This non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula will leave you cheering for an encore. Rock on." Currently, a full 3 oz. bottle of this hand creme is out of stock online, but it's priced at $20.00 Regular / $16.00 Maven.  It has a light floral scent. It doesn't feel greasy on my hands and leaves a slight sheen on my hands after it was absorbed into my skin, giving them the look and feel of soft hands. I would definitely buy this hand creme the next time it is in stock.

3. Add-ons - 
I decided to add on a few more nail polishes since the intro box was free. I have yet to try these as well. I have a lot of nail polish to try and swatch but here's what I got:

a. 2013 Color of the Year Duo - $28.00 Regular / $18.00 Sale
Angelina - Emerald green with a silver shimmer frost. 
Esmeralda - Jeweled emerald multi-dimensional glitter.

b. Portia - Sheer tropical blue with opalescent glitter. $14.00 Regular / $7.99 Sale

c. Julia - Purple orchid with golden micro-glitter metallic. $14.00 Regular / $11.20 Maven

d. Drew + A FREE gift - 

I. Drew - Fabulous fuchsia creme. $14.00 Regular / $11.20 Maven
II. Julep Instant Warming Foot Scrub - $22.00 Regular / $12.99 Sale
"This cucumber mint scented scrub warms up on contact like magic. With natural pumice to exfoliate, chili pepper oil to stimulate circulation, and vitamin E to nourish, it's an all-in-one rejuvenating treat for your feet." It's says that you can use this 2-3 times a week. I have used this once so far. Even after the first use, I can feel a difference in my skin. They feel softter, clean, and have a very light mint scent. The scrub has just the right amount of grit; It doesn't feel like you are scratching your skin raw, but it scrubs off the dirt and excess dead skin off.  When you first apply the scrub, you feel this warm sensation instantly from the chili pepper oil, but it doesn't last long while scrubbing. When you dry your skin, you feel a slight tingly sensation from it.  I'll have to see how soft my feet get after using it a few more times.  

Point is...
I'm loving my Julep subscription.  So far I love the It Girl style but I love that I do have the option to switch styles around if I see something I rather have in a different box. The beauty products are very nice and the nail polish colors are gorgeous.  Though I'm on a no buy nail polish for the next three months, I'm super happy that this subscription box has a skip a month option or give to a friend.  We'll have to see what next month's box holds and how well I resist the urge to purchase. Wish me luck!

What do you think of the intro It Girl box? Have you tried or own any of these beauty products? Any colors you are dying to have? Let me know down below!

My Cotton Bunny Subscription Box - June & July

So I had posted that I signed up for My Cotton Bunny. (Click here.) It's a monthly subscription box for your "time of the month". Here is what I received so far.

First Box - Nail Spa Bundle:

Always Radiant Infinity Pads - Regular 16 ct.
It comes in a light clean scent. They are thin, don't bunch and absorb a lot.  Comes with a coupon on the inside.

Original Gourmet Lollipop - Cotton Candy
Yay for candy! This was gone in seconds.

Nail Wraps by Scratch - $12
I got Rococo Gold. It's a really pretty pattern. I have yet to use it. I'm trying to save it for a special occasion. 

A Glass Nail File - 
I've been wanting a glass nail file for a long time now.  This one is the perfect size and comes in this pretty blue gradient color. It really files down my nails smoothly without any rough edges and you barely feel the vibration of filing with it. Unfortunately, I've been using it so much this past month and a half that the sand surface that makes it a file is scratching off; Underneath is just smooth glass.  I'm wondering if there is a way to make it sand-like again, but this may just be a sign that I need to invest in a good glass nail file.

Second Box - The Night Out Bundle:

Again, I received Always Radiant Infinity Pads. 

Mirror Mints by Little I - 
This litte metal mint container has a little mirror when you slide the container open to double check your make-up or for food in your teeth. Plus it has these sweet and tangy citrus mints.

A Heart Shaped Coin Purse - 
I got this cute little purse in bronze/brown color.  The pattern on the front is in the shape flower petals. It also has a chain with a clasp and a heart charm. It's compact and it can hold the mint container, plus your ID and cash. The clasp can be hooked onto your purse or I hook it onto itself and make a little handle out of it.

Pros
You never have to worry about running out of products. Some people are forgetful. Some are dealing with  the daily stresses of life, it can really throw you off and that guest comes unexpectedly. This also gives me a chance to store them, not just at home, but at the office or in my car.

Also you get fun products to try out that you may not splurge on and I love that each box is themed to go together as a whole. And I love seeing what is coming up for the next month. It actually makes looking forward to that time of the month exciting.

Cons 
Understandably they are still an up and coming subscription box and are working towards expanding their products and an account management system. But here is a few things I hope they implement.

I'd love to be able to change the type of feminine products from month to month. I don't exactly go through a whole box of pads in a month but nothing wrong with stocking up either. If I wanted to change what I get, I'd probably have to contact them to change it or cancel this subscription and re-sign up. 

Also I hope for the ability to skip a month.  They do offer suspension of your box if you get pregnant, but I wish you could skip certain months if you don't like the products they are offering or more than one type of box for different items. Like a fashion box, beauty box, chocolate box (om nom), etc. It'd be cool to have options to select from.

Point is...

I think its a great little subscription box to make that time go by smoothly. It keeps you prepared without having to run out of your favorite product and makes you excited to get different items to try and forget about the overwhelming, emotional hormones and gut-wrenching pain that makes you want to rip your ovaries out. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the next box. If you are interested in signing up, just visit their website at www.mycottonbunny.com.

What do you think of the products that came? Any that you are interested in trying? Would you sign up for this box? If the implement an account system, would you give it a try?

Last Cheap Nail Polish Review [#4]

So I finally got a chance to review the last of my cheap nail polishes from Target. Here is Revlon's Scandalous.  I can't remember how much it was but it was under $5. I decided to pair it with Essie's Play Date.

Scandalous is a black nail polish with medium and small specks of red violet/purple glitter.  The ratio of glitter to polish is perfect; Just enough to really showcase the polish. And Play Date is such a nice light purple. Great for the summer.

I did two coats of Play Date first and then I decided to have a little fun with Scandalous. 

I coated my pinky twice with Scandalous. Then I decided to do some fun nail art with it. 

I topped it with Seche Vite, which made it rock solid. Though it was fun and pretty, I decided to take it off after a day.  I didn't think it was completely appropriate for work. My job is fun and they wouldn't have minded but I try to keep my manicure's simple at work.  Also with the work I do, they tend to chip quickly anyway.

Point is...

I really like Scandalous. It's a great combination of colors and the glitter is very pretty. Plus it was an inexpensive nail polish.  I can't wait to use it on it's own.

What do you think of the combo? Would you buy Scandalous? Happy Polishing!

Julep August Golden Mystery Box

Hello my readers and fellow bloggers.  I've been busy at work and haven't had too much time to sit and write lately. But today I was "blessed" with an upset digestive system. So as I sip on some iced Sakura Allure green tea from Teavana to help nurse it, I figured I'd write some reviews.  There was a recent Julep Secret Store sale and I decided to splurge and purchase the Golden Mystery Box.

I got Version 3!

It's all wrapped and packed nicely.

Everything is pretty!

1. Julep Everyday SPF Hand Creme (SPF 30)  - $28.00 Regular / $12.99 SaleThe most complete solution for beautiful hands. vitamin E hydrates skin and strengthens nails, while built-in SPF protects your hands from UVA and UVB sun damage and the related signs of aging such as fine lines and sun spots.
   
   I'm looking forward to using this hand cream.  I tend to have dry skin and this will be great to use during all season, especially winter. The packaging is very simple and modern with the black and white colors.  It's unscented and goes on smooth. You have to rub it in really well to get the suncreen feel off your hands or it will seem greasy. After you rub it in, your hands feel soft and smooth with a nice healthy sheen on your skin.
   
2. Oxygen Nail Treatment - $18.00 Regular / $14.40 Maven                           Complete nail care and make-up all in one bottle. Made with a patented Hexanal formulation, nails are restructured to a stronger, thicker, and smoother condition in just one stroke. Advanced plant stem cell complex provides anti-aging benefits, while ground-breaking oxygen technology forms a nonocclusive film on the nail, proving resistant to water penetration and improving the permeability to oxygen. Results are nails that are structurally stronger, and less prone to breakage and splitting.
   
   I'm really happy this came in the box. The nails on my toes tend to be brittle and chip easily. This creamy, translucent pink goes on very smooth. It dries quick and makes my nails look shiny and healthy. I hope they get stronger. :cross your fingers:
   
   
3. Julep Nail Polish: $10 - $25 (Some only come in sets, hence the higher price)
   I love the colors I got. They all would be ones I'd pick for myself. I already have Bunny and Drew from other purchases but they will go nice as a gift.
   
• Bunny - Crisp white linen with fine gold shimmer
• Layne - Sheer french pink
• Sheryl - Sheer butterscotch shimmer with a hint of golden bronze
• Drew - Fabulous fuchsia crème.
  
  
4. Dolle's Salt Water Taffy - < $1. World Famous from Ocean City, Maryland.
   I love salt water taffy! I got Lime, Chocolate and Strawberry. I will have to try them when my body is feeling better.
   
   
5. Belina Hair Ties - 3 ties (Unsure of price. They are not available on their website)
   I got black, tan, and bronze shimmery ties. Kind of sad because my hair is currently short so I can't tie my hair up, unless I do pigtails. I'll have to try them when my hair grows out more.

Point is...

I love this month's Golden Mystery Box! With the amount of stuff that came in it for the price of $30, I think it was well worth it.  I have so much nail polish to catch up on. I hope to use these colors soon. And I'll keep you posted on how the nail treatment is going!

What do you think of the products from this box? Have you tried any of them? Is Dolle's salt water taffy that good? 

Neon - Nail Polish Review [#4]

Happy August! 

Just got through a big event at work and though we have more upcoming events that we have to plan and prepare for, I'm just super excited for the end of this month. I will be leaving for Vermont on August 24. I can't wait! :3

Anyway, I recently went to Target and I couldn't help but check out their Essie nail polish.  They had a few of the collections display and this one nail polish caught my eye. Bouncer, It's Me from their 2013 Neon Collection.

It's recommended to use a white base coat under their neon colors. I have Essie's Poppy-Razzi Neon Collection from last year. I have used a base of Essie's Blanc with them and without. I preferred it without the white base because it was time consuming and heavy feeling to paint a white base and then the neon plus a top coat. Also, it still looked neon without the white.

I figured I'd try and review Bouncer, It's Me with and without a white base coat to see what it looks like. The nail polish is very translucent. I put two coats of Blanc and two coats of Bouncer, It's Me on my left hand. I did a base coat and three coats of Bouncer, It's Me on my right hand. 

Do you see the difference?

Please don't mind the messy fingers. Didn't get a chance to them up.

It dries quickly and in a matte coat. My right hand is more of a deep, dark blue. My left hand had some streakiness. I could have done three coats but I was lazy and didn't bother. I like both version of them.  I put on a top coat of Essie's Good To Go. My left hand really pops in natural lighting but with the flash, both hands look the same.

With the flash on. They look very similar with only a subtle difference in hue.

At my office. You can see how the white base makes my left hand nails this bright blue.

After about a week, they've all chipped and cracked under the top coat. And I'm ready for the next manicure.

Point is...
If you use any of Essie's Neon Collection and have more patience than me, the white base coat really does bring out the bright color in the nail polish. Lighter neon colors can work well without a white base, but I'd stick to the white base with the darker neon colors. 

Happy Polishing!

Target Haul - Review [#3]

Time to review another product from my Target Haul. I had picked up Starbucks Via Ready Brew Refreshers in Very Berry Hibiscus. I've had the one in Starbucks before and I figured this is an alternative to driving to Starbucks. 

This box comes with 6 packets, each makes 16 oz. of water. It's naturally sweetened with Stevia leaf and made with real fruit. Unsure of the percentage of real fruit in it. It also uses green coffee extract to give you that energy boost.

The package says this drink has blackberry, hints of hibiscus, ginger, and lemongrass. It sounds really refreshing and sweet. I like the package design. It's simple and branded well to fit the other Via Ready Brew packages. The drink is right in your face and the colors are bold.  The information is easy to find and read. I like that it is thin and stands up in my desk draw in between the boxes of snacks.

My Wicked cup from the show holds 16 oz. I'm not sure when its at 16 oz., so I filled it almost to the top.  

I poured the powder in and it turned a dark red violet. It was a little clumpy on the bottom but dissolved with stirring.  

I took a few sips and it really hits the tastebuds with a POW! It's very sweet, but it could be because I'm drinking from the bottom where the powder clumped together. The blackberry is the sweetest taste and then you get an after taste of the lemongrass, the spice of the ginger, and the floral notes of hibiscus.

It's a pretty good drink for when you want to stay away from energy drinks and coffee.  I did feel more energized from drinking it, but that may be the sugar talking. I'd probably dilute it with more water; maybe 20 oz. instead of 16. They do have another flavor, Cool Lime. I've had this one as well at Starbucks and the lime was very overwhelming. 

Point is...

Very Berry Hibiscus is a delicious drink for the summer. Very refreshing and the flavors really give you an energy boost. If you like sweet drinks, this will satisfy that sweet tooth. I give this an 8 out of 10. Easy to use, rejuvenating, a little too sweet for my taste, but overall very satisfying. 

Any one else try this drink before? Did you get it in Starbucks or have you tried the Via Ready Brew packets? 

Summer Fun - Nail Polish Review [#3]

I'm super behind in my posts. I've been super busy between plans, work, and cleaning out my closet. But here is my latest nail polish review.  I recently posted a picture of my nails recent on instagram. 



I used Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Glosstinis' Bahama Mama. I picked up this polish at Target for $2.99. Also, I used Rainbow Honey's Soul Gem. I got Soul Gem as a FREE limited edition for buying the latest collection, The Summer of 199X. You can check out the collection here. 



Bahama Mama is a very pretty coral color with a gold shimmer. It's a great Summer color and I think it'd look great on anyone.  It's very balanced in the amount of coral and pink in it.  Depending on the lighting, it looks more pink or more coral. 

It actually reminds me of Rainbow Honey's Fire Spring from the new collection. 

What do you think?

I decided to try something different and accent my pinky nail. You'll notice that I didn't have anything on my pinky in the picture above. I thought I could get away with just using Soul Gem without any base under it. I was wrong. The glitter is fine and it would have taken several coats just to cover my whole nail with it. I used one coat of Bahama Mama on my pinky and then about two to three coats of Soul Gem to get overall coverage.  

I used Seche Vite as my top coat. Though it has Toulene in it, it works great and dries quickly  I did notice that when I used it, I could smell that sickly, sweet smell that Toulene has. I notice that many of the nail polishes I use don't have a strong smell, which I think is mainly because they are 3-free. I'll just have to use Seche Vite sparingly. 

Point is...

Another awesome color at an affordable price. If you are looking for a summer color, Bahama Mama is one of them. It has a great shimmer and is really pretty and feminine. I have one more polish to review from this haul and then I'll show you all my latest additions to my collection. And possibly a list of all my nail polishes will be posted. 

What's your favorite for this summer? Happy Polishing!

I'm Feeling Wicked...Nail Polish Review [#2]

Hello viewers and fellow bloggers! It's been a crazy weekend, so sorry I haven't posted in a while.  I'm currently relaxing, eating white cheddar popcorn, and watching my boyfriend play Borderlands 2. I hope to get more post out this week. I have a few topics/reviews I've been wanting to write about and a post about this awesome weekend. Without further ado, here is my latest nail polish review. 

As you know, I've been writing reviews about these inexpensive nail polishes. I'm currently wearing Covergirl Outlast Glosstinis Appletini and Maybelline Color Show Twilight Rays. Also I got a chance to use my Mt. Moon by Rainbow Honey. Mt. Moon cost $10.00, which is on the high-end side, but Appletini and Twilight Rays only cost $2.99 each. Though Appletini is a smaller bottle (3.5 ml), it's still a great price.

Sorry for the blurry picture.

The color of Appletini really pops and only took 2 coats.  It's a very yellow-green color and slightly neon. Not many people like this color or don't think they can pull it off but it's a great base for any themed manicures or nail art.  The color actually grew on me as I wore it for the past week. Plus, it matched my phone case which I did by accident.

I use Twilight Rays for my ring finger. It's a nice black color with a fine gold glitter. It reminds me of New Year's Eve. It covers in about one coat, but I wanted the richness of the black, so I used two coats.  The glitter is very fine so you can only see it in certain lighting. When you look really close, you see the speckles sparkle. 

My manicure really reminded me of Wicked, the broadway musical about the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good from the Wizard of Oz.  It's one of my favorite musicals. So far, I've seen it twice and I'd go again if I could afford it.

I felt like I was Elphaba with my manicure, but I wanted a bit more sparkle. I decided to coat Appletini with Mt. Moon. I think it looks awesome with it. You see all these blues, purples, and pinks and chunks of silver glitter. It's very out of this world. (tee hee) This reminded me of how much Glinda touched Elphaba's heart and how their friendship and love for each other grew. (If you haven't seen Wicked, I highly recommend it.)

I topped it off with my Essie Good to Go.  I did not do a matte coat. I really wanted to keep the pop of color and sparkle of the glitter. My manicure has defied gravity (sorry for my bad puns) and has held up for the past week. Minor chips on the tips of my nails, but still very solid. 

Point is...

I'm very happy with the quality of this nail polish and I recommend it for it's price and color if you are looking for a fun summer color or a great party/holiday color. I hope you enjoyed my review and more to come! 

I forgot to ask! What do you think of the color and have you tried any of these nail polishes? Anyone else feeling the Wicked-ness? And any other colors you think are great?