PopSugar Must Have June Box – First PopSugar Box

It’s here! My first PopSugar Must Have box is here!! I’ve been looking forward to this since I signed up for PopSugar. The PopSugar Must Have  box is a subscription box that has full sized beauty, fashion, home, fitness, and food products inside. It’s $35 a month, and every box surpasses that $35 price point. (If you choose to sign up, use the code REFER5 to get $5 off your  first box!) The past boxes I’ve seen made me insanely jealous, and this one made me so happy! Check out the goods!

Box Contents

• Indiana Fit Popcorn – $2.71
• Project 7 Quench the Thirsty Wintergreen Mints – $21.48 per tray of 12, so  $1.79 each
• Hard Candy Fitness DVD, Addicted to Sweat 4 – $18
• Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger – $25.99
• Juice Beauty Stem Cell Repair Moisturizer – $65
• Juice Beauty CC Cream in Natural Glow and Warm Glow – $7.80 each
• Gorjana & Griffin Zuma Scarf – $62
• Gorjana & Griffin Coupon/ Voucher -$25
• Juice Beauty Coupon – 20% off and free shipping on any order

Total Box Value: $216.09! ($191.09 without the coupon/ voucher included.)

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This stuff is YUMMY. Like really yummy. I was hungry when I opened my box (I didn’t have lunch, oops) so this was the first thing I delved into! It’s light, and the flavor I got reminded me of kettle corn with a little kick to it! I love that Fit Popcorn is natural and gluten-free plus zero trans fat and 40 calories per cup! I definitely didn’t feel guilty snacking on it.

When I first looked at these, I definitely thought “Aw man, mints?!” But after reading the insert, I think it’s pretty cool that these were included! From the insert “Project 7 is an amazing company that makes products that give back to a variety of charities in America and abroad. We picked these wintergreen mints, which benefit a project to bring clean drinking water to communities around the world.” The mints are pretty yummy, too! (They definitely got rid of my popcorn breath.)

I’ve been wanting to hit the gym lately, and this DVD is my sign that I need to get my tush in gear, I guess. I’ve never really been a fan of workout DVDs, but I’m happy this was included! It gives me a chance to try out something new, especially now that I don’t always have the time to go to the gym and back. (Plus it might be nice to work out in my living room when no one else is home, no embarrassment necessary!)

I will admit, I never read The Devil Wears Prada, but I might give it a shot now that this little stinker was included! I’m looking forward to giving it a shot. I just love how PopSugar includes books in some of their boxes instead of just house and beauty stuff, I LOVE books and reading and it’s a nice breath of fresh air to get a new book!

So I’m pretty stoked about getting some serious moisturizer that’s more than the price of the box on it’s own! Juice Beauty prides itself on organic ingredients, plus this stuff all smells great! Now, this moisturizer is more aimed toward “anti-aging”, which at 22 I don’t need, but I’m still planning on trying it out! The moisturizer is made of “fruit stem cells infused with vitamin C and grape seed” which just sounds yummy and fun. The fragrance is so incredibly citrusy and fresh, and the cream is luxurious and light as a feather! It also absorbs great into my skin. It’s pretty cool that thy also included a 20% off and free shipping coupon for their website too, I might check it out and see if I find a little something for my young skin!

Here’s the weird opening, which I figured out how to use! It really confused me when I first popped off the top, but for those of you trying to figure it out you just push down the petal shaped portion a few times, which I’m assuming creates pressure, and the cream comes out of the little circle.

Here’s some swatches of both CC cream colors that were included. On the left is Natural Glow, and on the right is Warm Glow. Natural Glow pretty much blended into my skin perfectly, so obviously that’s the one I’m going to keep! I love that they included both for everyone instead of just one color that might have been a mismatch.

This is hands down the item I was most excited about! I LOVE scarves, I have around seven or so and they’re all different colors and textures. I didn’t have one with stripes or such a bold coral though, so I’m IN LOVE! It helps that it’s pretty soft as well, and so long! It’s perfect to wrap all around your neck, and the insert even says you can use it as a head scarf or a sarong! (Which is really easy for me to imagine, it’s HUGE!) I’m definitely going to be using this a lot both this summer and once winter rolls around too.

And of course it makes perfect sense that Gorjana and Griffin would include a coupon/ voucher for their website as well. I’m not too sold on their other pieces of jewelry at first glance, but I didn’t delve too far into it. Hopefully I’ll find something I can use it on!

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Final Thoughts

I’m SO pleased with my first PopSugar box! The value is definitely higher than my expectations were, and I’m sure I’ll be giving all the items some great use this summer! I can’t wait to see what the July box holds in store.

Testing Out Buxom, Korres, and Guerlain, plus a bonus Face of the Day!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Sephora sent me a ton of samples with my first order. I figured I’d test a few more of them out! The first three I tried were Buxom Full On lip polish in Katie, Korres Wild Rose 24 Hour Moisturizing and Brightening cream, and Guerlain Maxi Lash mascara in black.

From Sephora.com about Buxom Full On lip polish: “Sheer, high-shine lip polish creates the look of fuller, more voluptuous lips.”

I’m not really a lip gloss/ polish kind of girl, I’ve always preferred lipsticks and lip pencils, but this gloss is making me a believer. I love the natural, light color it has, and it definitely makes my lips tingle and smell minty! I may end up getting this one day in the future.

From Sephora.com about Korres Wild Rose 24 Hour Moisturizing and Brightening cream: “This cream is formulated with a range of ingredients that moisturize and brighten the complexion. Wild rose oil, a natural source of vitamin C, helps repair the look of fine lines and skin discolorations.”

I was extremely wary of trying this moisturizer, because I have really oily skin. Throughout the day, my face powder pretty much melts away because of how much oil my face produces. Because of that, I was nervous that adding a moisturizer might make things worse! Boy was I wrong though. I’ve been using the moisturizer sample I got for about 3 days now, applying it after I wash my face both morning and night. I’m already noticing a difference in how less oily my face is! This might just be because I started using moisturizer as opposed to this specific moisturizer, but this one feels great! It makes my face feel so soft all day and it gives me a great base to apply powder on. A little bit definitely goes a long way! I might be trying other moisturizers now, hopefully I’ll like them as much as I like this one!

From Sephora.com about Guerlain Maxi Lash mascara: ” …a high-performance polymer trio. The first one wraps the lashes in extremely adherent oils to thicken the lashes. The second one, made with supple waxes, acts like a conditioner, softening the lashes so you can sculpt them into just the right shape and style. The last one acts like a finishing hairspray to set the amazing curve.”

I LOVE this mascara!! What I don’t love is the price tag. ($30 for 0.28oz?! Yeowch!) Price tag aside, this really is a great mascara. It gave my lashes more volume, really brought them out, and lenghtened them! I didn’t need to put on layer after layer of mascara like I do with my others, it really only took two or three and they looked perfect. Below is a before/after of my lashes without mascara, and then with the Guerlain Maxi Lash. (Sorry for the horrendous lighting, my bathroom lighting is incredibly yellow. Also the below is kind of a rushed kind of makeup day, I was just going to go to the doctor that day and then spend the rest of it trying to get over a fever, haha!)

The difference is crazy!! I love how natural they look, and they really pop!

After trying out all my samples, I figured I’d try to do a full face with some real effort and care, and here’s the product!

I’m extremely pleased with how my makeup turned out! I’m starting to look like someone who knows what they’re doing when it comes to makeup, haha. Here’s everything I used:

Face: MAC Studio Fix in N5, blush is Afterglow from an ULTA kit.

Brows: I don’t know how to do brows, so the method is just guesswork. I used a brown covergirl brow pencil, the actual name of the color escapes me.

Eyes: Rimmel Kohl liner in brown, eyeshadow is Mimosa on the lid, Cafe Ole on outer corners, and Silk on inner corners. (All from the same ULTA kit.) Mascara is Guerlain Maxi Lash in black.

Lips: You can hardly see anything in the pic, but I used the Buxom Full On lip polish in Katie.

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Final Thoughts

After doing my little “makeover”, I’m starting to fall in love with more natural tones and lighter colors, plus a little “pop” here and there! I’m loving the Buxom lip polish, and may end up splurging on the Guerlain mascara eventually  just because I love what it does to my eyes! I’m going to start exploring more moisturizers too, and maybe try some tinted moisturizers in the future!

Perfume Reviews!- Lady Gaga’s Fame, Some Samples, and a Bonus Cologne Review

So I’ve been splurging a lot lately on makeup products… (That’s what I get for signing up for Sephora’s Beauty Insider.. Oof.) The first one that got delivered today was Lady Gaga’s Fame, and along with my order I got a ton of other samples! I received Bvlgari Mon Jasmin Noir, Marchesa Parfum D’extase, Tocca Graciella, Lancôme La vie est belle, and there was a bonus cologne sample of Prada Luna Rossa.

From Sephora.com about Lady Gaga’s Fame: “This black fluid exudes a lustful, floral, fruity essence for fabulous little monsters.  ”

Notes: Belladonna, Incense, Apricot, Honey Drops, Tiger Orchidea, Jasmin Sambac.

I’ve been dying to try Fame since it came out ages ago, but I never got around to testing it out. I love the packaging and decided to just bite the bullet and buy it (because the set was on sale) and figured if I didn’t like it, I’d just return it. But I LOVE this perfume! Honestly, I think it might be my new favorite. On my skin, it’s a fruity floral scent. At first, it seems very light and delicate, but it has some warm undertones that make it a very sexy and flirty perfume. It’s light enough so I can wear it every day, but I would probably also use it for a date night perfume as well. The black liquid, as promised, goes on clear both with the atomizer and rollerball. I’m absolutely thrilled about this perfume and I LOVE it, it’s definitely my new everyday and date night perfume.

From Sephora.com about Bvlgari Mon Jasmin Noir: “Young, modern, and highly refined, it opens brightly with top notes of citrusy golden cedrat and floral lily of the valley. The heart of this eau de parfum dazzles the senses with an unexpectedly modern composition of two jasmine flowers, sambac and angelwing, which linger elegantly as the sensual drydown emerges with essences of light musks and vibrant woods.”

Notes: Golden Cedrat, Lily of the Valley, Jasmine, Sambac, Angelwing Jasmine, Musky Nougatine, Cedar, Patchouli.

I’m normally not very adventurous when trying new perfumes, so I’m so pleased that Sephora sent me so many perfume samples! The first one I tried was Bvlgari Mon Jasmin Noir, and I liked it! It’s a very fresh and clean scent with floral hints to it. I definitely agree with the description that it’s a “young” fragrance, but it’s more youthful than it is “middle-school-ey.” Because of the fresh mixed with floral, it “sparkles” a little in scent, leaving a very bright fragrance. Chances are, I’ll be adding this to my perfume collection one day.

From Sephora.com about Marchesa Parfum D’extase: “…opens with light florals, giving way to a combination of fresh and sensual notes that create complexity and beauty.”

Notes: Iris Flower, Freesia, Black Current, Young Violet Leaves, Lotus Flower, Night Blooming Jasmine, Bulgarian Rose Water, Orange Blossom, Iris Root, Ambrox, Captive Musks.

Marchesa Parfum D’extase isn’t really one for me. It didn’t seem to stand out or be anything special, really. It’s a very powdery fragrance that is a little mature for my tastes (its probably because of the musk) and it’s somewhat floral as well. Overall, I’m probably giving this sample to my mom, who enjoys powdery fragrances.

From Sephora.com about Tocca Graciella: “Graciella pays homage to the unparalleled beauty and sophistication of Grace Kelly. This beautifully lush and floral scent is as unforgettable as its muse.”

Notes: Bitter Orange, Asian Pear, Watery Apricot, Casablanca Lily, Ylang Ylang from Comoros Islands, Karma Fleur, Rose de Mai, Creamy Iris, Cashmere Musk, Benzoin, Laos.

While Tocca Graciella is a lot less powdery than the previous perfume, it’s still a little more mature than I normally enjoy. The musk is very apparent in this fragrance, but at the same time the floral scent is still coming through strong. It’s almost as if it was a floral perfume where someone had added musk in order to “smooth out” the fragrance.

From Sephora.com about Lancôme La vie est belle: “It entwines the elegance of iris with the strength of patchouli and the sweetness of a gourmand blend for an incredible scent with depth and complexity. ”

Notes: Iris, Patchouli, Gourmand.

The website definitely got this one right, it’s such a complex fragrance! I found it so surprising that a fragrance with only three notes was able to have such a complex scent, but somehow Lancôme’s done it. On my skin, it smells very sweet and very spicy at the same time, with some fruity undertones as well. I love the complexity of the fragrance! My boyfriend mentioned to me that it reminded him of amber, and I can definitely see it. However I’d still say that it’s mostly sweet & spicy, and that “amber” like quality really brings the two together seamlessly. I’ll probably end up purchasing this in the future.

From Sephora.com about Prada Luna Rossa: “A wave of aromatic freshness crashes through Luna Rossa conveying strength and dynamic energy, while its signature is noble and sensual.”

Notes: Orange Essence, Lavender Absolue, Clary Sage, Spearmint Nanah, Ambroxan, Ambrette Absolue.

Sephora also sent me a little cologne sample card as well, which my boyfriend was thrilled about! The card didn’t have a bottle, unfortunately, but instead had a little cloth doused in the cologne that was in a foil wrapper. The fragrance REALLY came through though. To me, it smells very fresh and “sporty” with some spicy undertones to it. My boyfriend said that it reminded him of Nautica’s Voyage cologne in terms of scent. (I’ve never smelled it, so I wouldn’t know.) He said that the two are very similar in terms of freshness and undertones.

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Final Thoughts

I’m loving how Sephora doesn’t scrimp on the samples, and I’ll definitely be ordering more from them! (As it stands right now, I’ve already got another three packages coming my way, haha.) Lady Gaga’s Fame is hands down my favorite perfume, and I’ll probably end up purchasing Bvlgari Mon Jasmin Noir and Lancôme La vie est belle one day. Both of those fragrances really stood out to me as unique perfumes. They’re definitely not just another standard perfume sample that smell the same to me. All three perfumes are great “statement” perfumes that can set yourself apart from all the other perfumes out there. 😉

Victoria’s Secret Beach Sexy Self-Tanning Tinted Cooling Gel and VS PRO Smooth FX Lip Scrub & Balm

I worked for Victoria’s Secret for a year, and that alone made me a bit leery of their products. Once you start seeing the underwear, yoga pants, and perfume sets all the time, it becomes very apparent that the product quality isn’t always what it should be. That being said, I still shop there from time to time, but I’m extremely picky about what I spend my money on. While I was working there, I had always heard great things about the Self-Tanners and the makeup line, so I figured I’d give them a shot now that I’ve got some extra money to spend (and now that summer is coming up).

From the Victoria’s Secret website: “…refreshes skin while creating an instant golden glow that develops into a lasting, natural-looking tan within hours.”

My old coworkers would swear by the self-tanner that came out every summer, so when I saw it on the shelves I figured I’d grab one. I opted for the gel as opposed to the lotion, since the gel bottle had a pump instead of a standard tube of lotion. (I figured getting it out of the bottle would be easier, and hoped that the gel might go on smoother too.) The first thing I noticed about it is that it smells WONDERFUL. It’s the perfect summertime scent that’s a little coconutty and a little floral – definitely not strong or overpowering at all. The application was very easy, it took about one pump per limb (one and a half for my thighs), one for my front, and one for my back. I applied it everywhere (except my face), so I was running around in the buff for a little while it dried. Good news is, it dries very fast and isn’t sticky or thick!

The color overall is pretty good, the photo above is after applying it three times in total, and I’m definitely a lot more bronze than I was before! It’s most noticeable on my shoulders and arms. But, it isn’t completely perfect.

It’s VERY patchy and orange on my feet, and I have absolutely no idea why. I tried to smooth it everywhere and get an even amount all over, so it wasn’t just hanging out on my feet for a while without getting rubbed in. I had another small patch on my wrist about a week ago, but it went away and wasn’t very noticeable. The patches on my feet are SO noticeable and almost embarrassing! Altogether it’s not enough for me to stop using it completely since I like the color everywhere else, but I won’t be using it all the time.

From the Victoria’s Secret website: “Exfoliates and conditions to remove dry skin, leaving soft, smooth, kissable lips.”

I’ve been dying to buy myself this since it showed up at the VS where I worked. I tried it once in the middle of a shift, and I fell in love with it, and  I wanted to see what daily use would do for me! The lip scrub is so sweet and easy to use. It’s not too watery but not too rough, and the taste of it makes me actually want to keep scrubbing instead of waiting for it to be over. After scrubbing, I dab it off and apply the lip balm with my finger. One quick layer is great, and it’s got a bit of menthol in it that leaves my lips tingling. It looks a bit like a clear gloss when I put it on, so I’ve made using this my morning routine for about the past week or so. I have notoriously chapped lips, and this stuff is a godsend!! After using it in the morning, my lips are nice and soft for the rest of the day without even having to reapply throughout the day! It’s a wonderful tool to use before applying lipstick or gloss, or just use the balm for a natural look. I definitely recommend this!

Wantable June Jewelry Box

I’ve heard lots of great things about Wantable from the Beauty Box subreddit at Reddit, so I figured I’d give them a shot for my first subscription box! The great thing about Wantable is that they cater to both beauty products and jewelry, which I love because I’m not really one to pop $40 on makeup if I don’t know what I’m getting (for now, at least). For that reason, I ordered a one time jewelry box to see what it was all about. (They also have a monthly option for $36 a month as well, and after this I’m thinking about subscribing!) I’m SO incredibly pleased with these guys! I got so many great things!

From Wantable about the June box: “This month is all about gorgeous stones, bright statement pieces, and stunning metallics for jewelry…”

Box Contents (All prices are taken from the Wantable insert.)

• Bethany Sunglasses – $15.00
• Drew Earring – $22.00
• Ashanti Earring – $20.00
• Julianna Bracelet – $24.00

Total box value: $81.00

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These sunglasses instantly caught my eye when I opened the box. I was really into aviators a year or two ago, and I’m so surprised I got a pair from this box! They are absolutely adorable on (which I’m very surprised about – I’m SO picky about my aviators!), and I love the lime green accent! They’re so cute for summer and will definitely get worn a lot in the coming months.

These are hands down my favorite item in the box. I love the turquoise beads and the intricate design of the earrings! I don’t have too many dangly earrings, so these are definitely getting welcomed with open arms. I’m loving how the color goes so well with my hair color as well, and how they pop out just enough to get noticed, but not enough to be gaudy.

I’m a little apprehensive of these guys. They look super cute, but I’ve never even thought about wearing earrings this big before! They’re very lightweight (I hope that doesn’t mean cheap and easily breakable..) so I guess I don’t need to worry about them sagging my earlobes down. I’ve always been one for smaller earrings and bigger necklaces, but I guess this is a good pair to get out of my comfort zone with. I also really enjoy the detailing on the metal and the iridescent beads. After trying them on, I can definitely see myself wearing them for dressier occasions or going out.

When I got my first look at this bracelet I was pretty excited! Again, the detailing is great, and it has a wonderful delicate look but is still bold. However, once I tried it on I was disappointed. I personally don’t like the way it looks on my wrist, I’m one for big bangles and LOTS bracelets together. (I even tried this with a couple of my own bracelets, but it just looked a little wonky to me.) I also found that it’s very difficult to make it tighter, as the adjustor bead gets caught on the metal. (Perhaps if it was fabric or string it wouldn’t be so hard..) I wasn’t able to tighten it to my liking. If I keep it, it’ll be a bracelet I need someone’s help with getting on, but chances are I’ll just regift it to someone.

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Final Thoughts

Even though I was a little disappointed with the bracelet, I’m still very impressed with the pieces from this box!! I definitely feel as if I had a personal stylist pick out all of the items for me, and I can definitely see that the quiz I filled out when I signed up has been put to good use. I’m definitely considering getting another one once I get more money! Altogether, great job Wantable. You guys just won yourself another fan. 😉