May 2012 Glossy Box - U.S. Edition

As many of you already know, GLOSSYBOX launched in the United States.  Even though I subscribed as soon as I received their e-mail, I did not receive an April box.  My subscription started with the May 2012 subscription themed "Beauty Around the World."

GLOSSYBOX says,


"At GLOSSYBOX, we promised you a world of beauty; and this month, we deliver it.  From classic English Roses to the refreshing fields of Provence, France you will discover beauty in all its universal delights.  Immerse yourself in the culture of Italy where even the most utilitarian items can be considered a work of art, or the spirit of South Korea, where tradition and high-technology collide.  Of course, it is always the home-grown beauties that continue to fascinate and inspire.  So venture forward, explore, discover and enjoy your journey."


The shipment contained 5 items, 2 full-sized items, 3 deluxe samples and 1 bonus item from various countries.  Items and descriptions, as depicted on the GLOSSYBOX insert are as follows:


Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Refreshing Hydra-Gel (South Korea) - Deluxe Sample - 0.27 fl oz/8 ml; Full Size $100; 1.7 oz - A hydrating gel moisturizer that leaves your skin feeling bright and refreshed.  Notice your complexion visibly improve, giving you confidence and a natural glow.


Burberry Beauty Lip Mist Natural Sheer Lipstick in Copper No. 202 (UK) - Deluxe Sample - 0.8g/.028 oz; Full Size $30; 0.12 oz - A creamy lipstick that offers a hint of natural, sheer color leaving your lips moist and dewy.  The perfect present for the perfect pout.

Marvis Whitening Toothpaste (Italy) - Full size $7.50; 1.23 oz - Make the most of your splendid smile with a whitening toothpaste dripping in cool mint freshness, all while protecting against decay, tartar, and plaque.


Phyto Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Mask for Dry Hair (France) - Deluxe Sample - 50 ml/1.7 fl oz; Full Size $38; 6.7 oz - Indulge in luxury and aroma with a conditioning treatment that moisturizes and detangles strands without weighing hair down.  Nourish, revive, and delight.


Zoya Summer 2012 - Beach and Surf Collection Nail Polish in Tracie (USA) - Full Size $8; 0.5 oz - Dive into the creamy shades and shimmering sea foils of the Zoya Beach & Surf Collection.  Allow your nails to go on vacation every day.

Bonus Item: GLOSSYBOX Blush Brush - Crafted from the finest goat's hair - an essential for any world beauty jetsetter

Overall rating: Booyah! (though I am disheartened that I did not receive the April Box, like other bloggers received.)


I am so excited that GLOSSYBOX has finally come to the USA and my memorable box arrived a day after Memorial Day!  Subscriptions cost $21 per month (www.glossybox.com).

Will keep you posted on future shipments.

theBalm Nude 'Tude Palette and Cabana Boy Blush

After getting Frat Boy Blush in a Glam Bag, I thought I would try a few more other products from theBalm.


Being a neutral shadow lover, I decided to get the Nude 'Tude palette and also to try another blush, Cabana Boy.

Nude 'Tude contains 12 shadows and a shadow/liner brush in a mirrored compact (11.08g, 0.382 oz.; Retail $36).  The compact itself is very slim so it's perfect for travel.  All the eyeshadow shades begin with the letter "S" and are a nice mix of mattes and shimmers.

• Sassy
• Stubborn
• Selfish
• Sophisticated
• Sexy
• Serious
• Snobby
• Stand-offish
• Sultry
• Schitzo
• Silly
• Sleek

Here's a close-up of the shades:

Here are swatches:

From Top to Bottom: Sassy, Stubborn, and Selfish

From Top to Bottom: Sophisticated, Sexy, and Serious

From Top to Bottom: Snobby, Stand-offish, and Sultry

From Top to Bottom: Schitzo, Silly and Sleek

The mirrored palette also includes a dual-ended shadow/liner brush.  Here are close-ups of each end:

Cabana Boy is a warm raspberry pink shade and is very pigmented (0.3 oz; Retail $21).  The blush blends nicely and leaves a nice glow to my cheeks.


Here's a close-up of the shade:

Here's a blended swatch:

Overall rating: Booyah! on both counts.


What do you think of the Nude 'tude palette?  Cabana Boy blush?

Memorial Day Weekend 2012

To many,  Memorial Day means a long weekend, BBQs, beer, and spending time with family and friends.  I appreciate those things too but first and foremost, I appreciate our servicemen and women that sacrifice to uphold and protect our freedom.  I am in awe of them and all they do to manifest the spirit of our country and exemplify patriotism at its best.

The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach offered various military tactical demonstrations and civilian performances including:

• U.S. Army golden Knights Parachute Team
• United States Air Force F-22A Raptor
• F-18 Super Hornet
• 106th Rescue Wing, NY Air National Guard HC-130/HH-60 Rescue Demo
• Sean D. Tucker and Team Oracle
• John Klatt
• Matt Chapman
• Ed Hamill
• GEICO Skytypers
• B-17 Yankee Lady
• David Windmiller
• Canadian Forces Snow Birds
• U.S. Navy Blue Angels

The show is presented every Memorial Day Weekend, on Saturday and Sunday.  The soundtrack is awesome and made me feel like running home and watching Top Gun!

Estée Lauder Brasil Dreams Collection: Pure Color Blush Review

Mention Brasil to my sons and they immediately think of the upcoming World Cup of Soccer.  Mention Brasil to me or my friends and I think of the special releases featured on Macys.com.  One such collection is Estée Lauder's Brasil Dream Color Collection.


The collection features a fragrance, 3 Pure Color Blushes, 3 Pure Color Crystal Lipsticks, 3 Pure Color Glosses, and 5 Pure Color Nail Lacquers.  This post features each of the 3 Pure Color Blushes all with Satin finishes (7g; Retail $28; Exclusive to Macy's):

• Fearless - Bright fuchsia pink
• Naughty - Bright, deep coral, and
• The Siren - Deep rouge

Estée Lauder says of Pure Color blushes in general,


Fresh, radiant color lasts all day, won't streak or fade.  Included exclusive True Vision technology.  Ultra-silky powder sweeps on sheer for a natural glow.  Builds for contoured and sculpted definition with luminous optic technology.  Exclusive contouring brush included.  In two finishes, Satin and Shimmer.


Here's a close-up of each shade:

Fearless

Naughty

The Siren

Here are swatches of each shade first unblended and then blended:

From Top to Bottom: Fearless, Naughty, The Siren (unblended)

From Top to Bottom: Fearless, Naughty, The Siren (blended)

Overall rating:  Booyah!


I always get darker in the Summer and these blushes are highly pigmented so a little will go a long way in giving me a nice flush without having to go heavy in application with a sheerer blush.


What are your thoughts of bright blushes?  Are you a sucker for them like me? 

Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Nylon Lash Extension System

Retail $35

Sephora exclusive

What it is:
A three-step lash extension system that includes an activating mascara base and top coat and Flexistretch™ nylon lash fibers.

What it does:
The look of false lashes has never been easier or more affordable with this do-it-yourself system that’s an alternative to messy false lashes and expensive lash extensions. The activating mascara base and top coat is designed specifically to melt and seal the Flexistretch nylon fibers into long, thick, dramatic lashes without the risk, mess, or commitment of other false lash alternatives. Unlike traditional fiber mascaras, Better Than False Lashes allows you to dial up the lengthening fibers so you easily get better, longer, thicker, more dramatic lashes instantly.

more

On a recent trip to Sephora, I met up with my artist friend, Chris, who was kind enough to introduce me to a current Sephora-exclusive, Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Lash Extension System (Retail $35).

Sephora says,


What it is:
A three-step lash extension system that includes an activating mascara base and top coat and Flexistretch™ nylon lash fibers.


What it does:
The look of false lashes has never been easier or more affordable with this do-it-yourself system that’s an alternative to messy false lashes and expensive lash extensions. The activating mascara base and top coat is designed specifically to melt and seal the Flexistretch nylon fibers into long, thick, dramatic lashes without the risk, mess, or commitment of other false lash alternatives. Unlike traditional fiber mascaras, Better Than False Lashes allows you to dial up the lengthening fibers so you easily get better, longer, thicker, more dramatic lashes instantly.


This set contains:
- 0.30 oz Activating Mascara Base & Top Coat
- 0.02 oz Flexistrech™ Nylon Lash Fibers


What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan


What else you need to know:
This product is ophthalmologist tested and approved for use by those who wear contact lenses.


Research results:
This product creates a 98% increase in lash volume and 42% increase in lash length.


Here's a close-up of the brushes:

Here's are before/after application photos with 1 light coat on top lashes only:

Overall rating:  Booyah!


I found the system very easy to use and I loved the results.  Too Faced indicates that you can apply additional coats of Step 2 for a more dramatic effect.  Also, the mascara is suitable for contact lens wearers!

May 2012 Glam Bag

This month's Glam bag, a blue case with a pink "lips" pattern, contained a full-size lipstick, a fragrance sample, 2 cosmetic brushes and a package of Nail Bling.

Contents were as follows:

• Zippered case
• Studio Gear Lipstick in Caramel
• Philosophy Fragrance Vial sample - Love Sweet Love
• Miss Beauty Nail Bling stickers
• My Glam Concealer Brush
• My Glam Defining Eyeliner Brush

Here's a close-up of the brushes as well as the lipstick:

While I can always find use for the monthly zippered cases I receive, other than the cosmetic brushes, I didn't find this month's shipment as great as past installments.

Overall rating: Boo-Hiss!

The nail bling stickers, lipstick shade and fragrance are not items I will use so other than the case and brushes, this month's shipment was a miss!  I am starting to question if the stylists at My Glam paid attention to the answers I provided to their quiz when I joined.  

Glam Bag is a monthly beauty sampling program (myglam.com) and membership costs $10 per month or $110 a year (one bag free).  As always, shipping is free.

Hoping that June's bag brings me some goodies I can use.

New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show 2012

Several weeks ago, I spent a lovely day with my friends Barbara and Tim at the New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show.  Just wanted to share some photos from our visit:

We will be heading back in a few weeks for a peek at Monet's Garden.  I'll be sure to post some photos from that visit.

Dior Addict Extreme Lasting Lipcolor Radiant Shine - Riviera and Dior Show Backstage Mascara

To wrap up my posts on Dior, I'd like to feature a post on the Dior Addict Extreme Lasting Lipcolor in Riviera [639] (3.5g, 0.12 oz; Retail, $30) and the Dior Show Backstage Mascara sample I received with my purchase.

Dior says,

Dior Addict fashion lipstick goes to the Extrême, with radiant colours, a perfect hold wet-look texture, and audacious, sophisticated Dior styles.

At the heart of this new soft, sensual texture lie 4 specialist waxes, acting in a targeted manner to correctly combine these extremes in a single formula. This veritable technical feat achieves perfect hold, comfort, and shine in an astonishingly fine film.

Dior Addict Extrême is available in 12 shades of pure radiant pigment, from nudes to the boldest shades, exploring all the facets of Dior  

elegance.

A new style means a new dress code: the Dior Addict case plays on transparent, vibrant black -  black as in perfection, mystery and timelessness.

Here's a close-up of the shade as well as how the shade appears on my lips:

The Dior Show Backstage Mascara sample I received was a pleasant surprise (Retail, $25).  


Dior says,

Inspired by the runway and behind-the-scenes tricks, Diorshow Mascara gives lashes a triple-shot of glamour, leaving them luxuriously thick, lengthened and curved to the max. Its easy-to-use XXL brush is generously curved for maximum coverage, while its logo-stamped silver packaging makes it a fashion must-have for every handbag!

Here's a close-up of the mascara wand:

Here's a before and after (1 application) close-up shot:

Overall rating:  Booyah times 2! The lipstick offers some staying power and is a very smooth and satin formula.  The color is buildable.  The mascara did lengthen my lashes though I would prefer a smaller wand.

Have you tried any of the other Dior lipstick shades?  What are your thoughts on Dior mascara?