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?

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? 

Nail Polish Collection

I have finally finished! I know you've all been waiting to see my nail polish collection. It isn't as massive as some of the ones I've seen, :cough: Kat from Thoughts At 1AM :cough:. I've been working on documenting my collection with pictures and a list of my stash. 

Here are pictures of my ever growing collection.

I've been storing my nail polish in these bins but because my collection is expanding, I will need to find another way to store my polish. Everyone sees to be using a Helmer from Ikea. This might something I will have to invest in as well. And it will go this vanity idea online.

Here is my I Love Nail Polish collection:

Here is my Rainbow Honey collection:

What do you think? I went a little crazy with Rainbow Honey. I have a lot to try out!

Here is a link to my whole entire list - Nail Polish Collection

Happy Polishing!

Beauty is in The Eye of The Beholder...

But what happens when everyone, from friends, family, tv, and magazines tells you that you are ugly...

I came across a video about a documentary film on a Korean high school by Kelley Katzenmeyer. It tells the tale of students in South Korea, preparing for their final exam of high school and what they will do after.  Not only will it show the beauty of Korea and the fun these kids have, but the harsh reality of what it takes to finish school and venture into real life.  These kids study 16 hours a day and don't leave till 9:30pm. They are studying for their final 9 hour exam that will determine their "economic and social status". Not only do they worry about their academics, but they all care about appearances. They believe beautiful people have big eyes, "double lids", noses that stick out, small bodies and white skin. The stresses of school and social appearance has led to a high number of deaths. As it is stated on the website:

"Korean students have some of the highest test scores in the world, and a higher rate of acceptance into American Ivy Leagues than any other foreign country. But Korea also leads the world in two not quite so stunning ways- the highest rate of plastic surgery per capita, and a higher suicide rate than any other developed nation. "

I'm mainly talking about this image of beauty that these kids have growing up. I have seen and read many things on the internet that speak about what Koreans think is beautiful and many are willing to have plastic surgery to look exactly like it. There are blogs dedicated to the before and after pictures of Korean plastic surgery. I've read about people who have lived there and weren't pretty enough.

As you watch this video, many of these students talk about what surgery they will get done or what beauty products they use to look beautiful. It's just what they think is pretty and see every day through magazines, advertisements, and other celebrities. It's hardwired into their brains to think like this. I'm haven't even touched based on how they must excel academically or they are considered failures.

Here's an article about the Miss Korea pageant and how the contestants look very similar to each other and an update on the actual competition. Though I'm sure Photoshop was used to tweak things here and there, but they really look like this. Even the competition, they performed in the same outfits, they started to look like a K-pop band.

Maybe because so many of these celebrities look like this, that kids feel that they need to look like that too. No matter what though, we all want to look "beautiful" but we all don't see beauty in this one way. The word "beautiful" means different things to different people. We are a mixture of cultures, races, and people. We look and dress differently from each other so our picture of beauty is not one image. We see the "perfection" that people have inside and out. 

As far as the academics, the pressure to be smart and get into a great school is what we all want but it seems like all these students do is study, study, study. Many don't have other hobbies or activities outside of school. The stress not only comes from school but from their parents. They want their kids to be the top of the class; to be the smartest; but what are they striving for? What are their dreams? What do they want to become? Or are they given a dream and don't develop their own?

Watch the excerpt video on this documentary. 

What do you think? Have they gone to far? Do you think this can or will change?

Other Links:
I Wasn't Beautiful Enough to Live in South Korea
31 Crazy Before And After Photos of Korean Plastic Surgery

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!

Target Beauty Box

I'm sure many of you have already read reviews and have seen what comes in the Target Beauty Box, but I wanted to post about it anyway. 

The Beauty Box was released back in May. I jumped at the chance to get one. As you all know by now, I love Target and I was excited that they decided to put together this box full of health and beauty products. And for only $5, I had to get one. 

This box was just a test for the company. They had no idea that so many people would order this box. They sold out very quickly and many people are hoping that this will turn into a monthly subscription box. 

Here is how the box looks like. It's a paper cover with a white box inside.

They wrapped the items with red tissue paper.

Here is what I got in my box.

List of products:

• La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo.  This is a small sample of their duo acne treatment. It was in Allure magazine in 2012 and is now available at Target. I'll probably put this to good use. I'm still prone to breakouts here and there. And I do try to change up my acne treatments/cleansers so my skin doesn't get too use to one. Currently, Target sells their 1.35oz tube for $36.99. The sample is .17oz.
• Fekkai Glossing Cream. It is to add shine to your hair and keep the frizz away. I don't usually have frizzy hair and my hair tends to become greasy, especially my bangs, so I might not use this at all. I'm afraid it will weigh down my hair and make it even more greasy. If anyone would like to try it, let me know. I'd be willing it to give it to someone who would put it to good use. They currently sell the shampoo and conditioner at Target. The 2 oz. glossing cream sells for about $10 at other stores and online.
• Gillette Venus and Olay Razor Pack. It has one blade, the handle, and a holder. I actually use Venus and I've been wanting to try the ones with Olay in it so I was pretty excited to see this in the box.  This one also has 5 blades and is a new scent, Sugarberry. These packs are currently valued at $8.99.
• L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream is a sample size, .025oz., in Light. I'm not sure how this will look on my skin since I'm a medium. I did get tan this weekend too so it might be too light for my skin. I'll have to try this and post an update about it. BB cream is just so easy to put on and saves me a lot of time when I put on makeup. A 1oz. tube is $7.99 at Target.
• Last but not least, Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips. I got Lust-rous, which is a black gloss with flecks of gold and silver in medium hexagons and fine glitter. It's definitely my style of nail polish. I've used these strips before. I think they are a little thick, but maybe they improved them (We shall see). Also, I have very tiny nails and I have to cut these strips down a lot to use. But the benefit is it can be time consuming to make some of the designs these strips come in, by hand. I tend to have left overs so I can usually cover a nail or two again as an accent nail. These sell between $7.59 - $11.99 depending on the style.

This box also came with a $3 off a $15 purchase, online or in-store. Also I heard from some other bloggers that Target extended the coupon because it should have expired the 22nd of June but many people received the box late. I hope they go forward with these boxes and hopefully expand on the products or maybe different category boxes.

Subscription boxes/bags have become a big hit. There are a lot of different types with all kinds of products at varying price points. I just recently signed up to become a Maven on Julep. Julep is a beauty company that mostly sells nail polish. They do have other products, such as for hair and skin. With this subscription box, you can get beauty products or nail polish in different colors. They also have a survey to place you in one of their style categories but you can choose one as well. I like that with Julep, I can skip a month or so if I don't like that month's products or just have to conserve my finances. Also being a Maven, you can purchase their products at a discounted price.  If you are interested in becoming a Maven, I'd appreciate it if you'd go through my refer-a-friend link - click here.

Also I just signed up for My Cotton Bunny, a subscription box for when you are "waving the Japanese flag" (I just like that saying. Tee hee) I think it's such a cute idea. I know as a woman, you just need to treat yourself around that time. I'm going to give it a try and see how I like it. 

Point is...

It's a growing trend. There are so many choices, it's hard to decide which ones are the best. There are plenty of blogs that review all kinds of subscription boxes so you have a chance to see what it's like before you commit.  I think it's a great idea and really helps you try different products without spending a lot of money on them first. 

What do you think?

What subscription boxes do you currently subscribe too? What are some you have subscribed to and cancelled? What do you like/don't like about them.