POPSUGAR Must Have Box - January 2013

Happy New Year everyone (I know, a month late!)  I don't know about you but I always set resolutions for the year and about half way through January, they're all but forgotten.  Enter POPSUGAR's Must Have Box for January - a jam-packed package with goodies to help keep me on track.  POPSUGAR'S Must Have Box costs $35 plus tax (free shipping) and it includes a variety of must have products from the worlds of beauty, fashion, fitness, food, and home.

My January Box contained the following items:

Fitness - Merrithew Stott Pilates Stability Ball - 65 cm - www.merrithew.com; $38.99 - This stability ball is a great size and comes with a pump.  Great for a variety of exercises or just sitting on it to strengthen your core, this baby is awesome!  POPSUGAR even included a special insert for an exclusive workout from Susi and their fitness team.

Fashion - The Remix Timebomb Watch - www.remixwatches.com; $44.95 - Large watches have been a trend for quite some time.  Remix brings the large face style to a fun watch that is great to wear while working out.  The silicone straps are durable and easy to clean.  The band is comfortable and there's a button to activate the LED light which illuminates the watch in a variety of colors.

Beauty - Epicuren Discovery Lip Balm - Tea Tree Oil - www.epicuren.com; 0.25 fl oz./7 ml/$8 - Winter just wreaks havoc on my skin and my lips.  Just in time to soften mine up for Valentine's Day, this balm soothes and replenishes lips.  The built in SPF protects from further damage….how great is that?

Food - POP-BAR Hot Chocolate on a Stick - www.pop-bar.com; 1.55 oz/44 g ea/$2.99; 2 bars - Nothing like hot chocolate during the winter.  These bars make hot chocolate fun to make.  Simply stick a bar in a mug of steamed milk.  There are a number of flavors available so you can mix one to your liking. YUM!

Food - Kraft Jt-Puffed Vanilla Mallow Bits - www.facebook.com/jetpuffed; 3 oz./$6.49 - This just completes my hot chocolate….these melt in my mug as well as in my mouth. Nom, nom.

Special Extras:

Food - Think Thin Bars; $1.69-$1.99 each; www.thinkproducts.com - POPSUGAR introduced me to these tasty goodies.  They sent 3 different bars: Think Thin Divine Dark Chocolate Coconut (1.48 oz/42g/$1.69) - like a healthy Mounds bar; Think Thin Creamy Peanut Butter (2/1 oz/60g/$1.99) - very yummy indeed; and Think Thin Crunch Caramel Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts (1.41 oz/40g/$1.99 - similar to a Kind bar.  These are available for individual purchase as well as in multi-packs.  A coupon for $1.00 off any two bars was included.

Home - Casetagram - Voucher for $15 off a purchase; www.casetagram.com - Use our own Instagram or Facebook photos to create an awesome, personalized, phone or tablet case.  How cool!

Overall rating: Booyah!!!  If you have not yet tried POPSUGAR Must Have Boxes/Bags, you're truly missing out.  The value and selection of items are not to be believed!!!  The value of this box was over $100.  How can you beat that?

If you're interested in trying POPSUGAR, please click here and enter the code REFERFRIENDS for $5 off your first order.  This code is only good for new subscribers and is valid until 2/28/2013.

Sephora Outrageous Prisma Chrome Metallic Eye Shadow

Some time back, Sephora released their Prisma Chrome Eye Shadows.  They have added to the Prisma Chrome family by offering the Outrageous Prisma Chrome Eyeshadows.  These are packaged in a round compact and the product is domed with a diamond pattern on the top (3.5 g/0.12 oz/$16).

There are 8 new shades in this offering and I ordered one of them.  I ordered Pearly Golden #1.  Interestingly, when I received my order, the compact I have reads Outrageous Metallic Beige so I was not certain that I received the shade I wanted though when I compared the product shade to the shade featured on the Sephora website, they appeared to be similar.  I did contact Customer Service and they confirmed I got the correct shade.

 The Sephora website describes the product as follows:

What it is:
A dramatic eye shadow that livens lids with a luminous chrome effect.

What it does:
Revel in luminosity with this eye shadow that provides a stunning, enlightened look. This formula combines all the best features of baked, powder, and cream textures to provide flawless blending and a highly polished finish. The pure, shimmering color adds high definition for an intense, vivid glow that perfectly captures light and admiration.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens



Here are swatches:

Blended out dry

Overall rating: Booyah! for the luminosity of this shadow when applied wet or over a primer.  Swatched dry there is good color payoff but there is very little staying power (Boo-Hiss!).  If you rub the product, it quickly fades and leaves behind a shimmery glitter.  The original Prisma Chrome shadows were $15 for the same amount of product.  The original collection offered more variety of shades and had more pigmentation and staying power.  I will, however, say that I like the effect of using the shade that I have as a highlighter.  It dusted on nicely along my shoulders and décolleté and left a luminous finish along my cheekbones.

Have you tried any of the Sephora Outrageous Prisma Chrome Metallic Shadows?  Which shades do you love?

Beauty Army - December 2013 Shipment

It's been a while since I've ordered a Beauty Army shipment (www.beautyarmy.com; $12).  It's not that I don't like their service, it's just that I receive a lot of beauty product sampling subscriptions and the variety of samples offered to me by Beauty Army based on my profile, just haven't been items on my wishlist.  This month, the offering featured something new so here is some insight into what I received. Unlike previous shipments, this month's box was white with the same pink camouflage lining and came with a "Happy Holidays" banner around it.

In my December shipment, I received 3 deluxe samples and one full size kit as follows:

Emani - Foundation Primer & Hydrating Serum - Sample; Full size 0.84 oz./$28 - Velvety in texture, it absorbs excess oils and minimizes the appearance of pores. Hydrating Primer Serum contains 10 different organic extracts to aid and prep your skin for an ultimate foundation application. It deeply nourishes, moisturizes, and softens the skin, creating a soft, luminous effect.  I had received this before but it was damaged in shipping so they sent a replacement.  How nice was that?

Skin Type: All skin types

For Best Results: Apply Primer Serum before powder based foundation. Use with moisturizer or in replacement of.

Includes:
• Ginkgo Biloba Extract, promotes microcirculation
• Chamomile & Witch Hazel extracts for calming of the skin
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice for added moisture and hydration

Yes to Blueberries - Age Refresh Eye Firming Treatment - Sample: 0.1 fl oz./3 ml; Full size 0.5 fl. oz./15 ml/$19.99 - Formulated with Paracress Flower to Help Reduce the Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles

• Paraben-free
• 95% Natural Product
• Free of Petroleum and SLS
• Paraben-free, naturally!
• Cruelty Free

Yes to Blueberries™ formulations naturally blend anti-oxidant rich fruits with special ingredients to help fight the signs off aging.  The collection features products that help improve skin firmness, protect skin, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, and nourish age-damaged skin.  use the entire collection for a recipe of youth-enhancing goodness!

Blueberries
Rich in Anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C and Anthocyanins to help fight the formulation of free radicals that can damage the skin's microstructure.

Paracress FlowerHelps firm and rehydrate and delicate skin around the eye to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and crow's feet.

BeeswaxProvides hydration, soothing and healing of age-damaged skin and promote the retention of moisture in the skin.

Olive Fruit OilRich in Oleic Acid to help regenerate skin cells and attract moisture to the skin.

The Power of Yes
Yes to™ Health.  Yes to organic fruits and veggies.  yes to caring as much about what you put on your body as what you put in it.  Yes to the benefits of anti-oxidants.  yes to being low maintenance and highly fabulous.  Yes to happiness.  Yes to you!  Join the Yes to movement at yestocarrots.com

Yes to™ Seed Fund  |  Seeds of Change
A portion of proceeds from every Yes To product goes toward the Yes to Seed Fund -- giving kids fun and engaging ways to connect with Mother Nature and teaching them to lead healthier lifestyles.

Mixed Sources
Product group from well-managed forests and other controlled sources

Macadamia Natural Oil - Deep Repair Masque - Sample size 0.5 fl. oz/15 ml; Full size 8.5 fl. oz./250 ml/$32 - Macadamia Natural Oil™

Tea Tree and chamomile oils along with aloe and algae extracts combine with our Macadamia and 

Argan oils to produce miracle-like hair rejuvenation.

Acquarella - Detox Bootcamp for your Nails - Polish Remover - Full size: 4 fl. oz./118 ml; Watercolor Conditioner - Full size: 0.42 fl. oz./12.5 ml; Includes full size black buffer, colored buffer and orange stick; Full set: $26 - Detoxify your nails from harmful, harsh ingredients and discover Acquarella's amazing water based nail system.

 

Kit includes:

- 3 Way File Shaped Buffer for better surface preparation of the nail
- Ultra Buffer (Pink/Purple) promotes better adhesion of Acquarella Nail Polish
- Cuticle Stick great for gentle removal of polish, pushback of cuticles and cleaning
- Conditioner to help strengthen and moisturize nails
- Remover to leave your nails squeaky clean and ready for application

Overall rating: Booyah!  This was a great shipment.  It was nice of the Beauty Army Troops to send me replacement items for a previously damaged shipment.  Additionally, paying $12 for a full-sized kit that retails for $26 is a great deal! I hope Beauty Army continues to offer deals like this in the future.

Have you tried any of these products?  What are your thoughts?

I hope you found this blog post useful and that you'll subscribe.  I welcome your comments and feedback and thank you for stopping by.

POPSUGAR Must Have Box - Luxury Edition for Her

As many of you know, I have been a huge fan of POPSUGAR and their Must Have Boxes and Bags.  For the month of December, they also had an offer for the Luxury Edition.  I couldn't wait to check that out so I placed the order for the Luxury Edition for Her.  This special edition box cost $100 plus tax (free shipping), which is more than the usual Must Have Box, but as you will see, it was well worth it.  It too includes a variety of must have products from the worlds of beauty, fashion, food, and home.

Here's what was in my Luxury Edition Box for Her:

Fashion - JewelMint Clutch - www.jewelmint.com - I could not find this or any of the clutches offered on the JewelMint website so I can't tell you its retail price.  The one I received is accented in finished stones that look like precious stones.

Beauty - Epicuren After Bath Moisturizer - Lemongrass - 8 fl. oz./250 ml/$38 - www.epicuren.com - I have never tried any Epicuren products. I couldn't wait to shower and try this moisturizer.  It had a pleasant scent and left my skin feeling velvety smooth.

Food - Vosges Mini Chocolate Bar Library - Box of 9 bars - $25 - www.vosgeschocolate.com - These awesome chocolate bars are exotically flavored and created by Chief chocolatier and founder Katrina Markoff.  They come individually wrapped and packaged in a lovely box with ribbon.

Home - Compagnie de Provence Liquid Hand Soap - Olive and Lavender - 16.9 fl. oz./500 ml/$24 - www.compagniedeprovence-usa.com - This long-time favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow comes in a glass bottle.  This soap is made with natural vegetable oils and it doesn't dry my hands.  I will definitely re-purchase this soap as it is a lovely addition to both the kitchen and bathroom.  Can't wait to try their other products as well.

Home - Tocca Scented Candle - Kyoto - Peach Nectar - 10.6 oz./300 g/$38 - www.tocca.com - This candle is absolutely lovely and simple in its design.  Nothing crazy or ornate, just an elegant design similar to their fine fragrance collection.  The candle is encased in white glass and boasts a 60-hour burn time so it's sure to grace my home well into the New Year.

Fashion - Heather Belle Cuff - Classic Gold - $110 - This polished brass cuff is classic and timeless.  The insert indicates that Charlize Theron has been spotted wearing one.  This versatile cuff is a lovely accessory for both day and evening events.  This bracelet alone retails for more than the entire luxury edition box.

Beauty - Deborah Lippman Lip & Nail Duet - Love Notes: Let's Do It & My Old Flame - Lipstick: .13 oz/3.6g; Polish: .50 fl. oz./1.5 ml; Set: $38 - The holidays inspire me to bring out golds and reds and this duo is just perfect for the holidays.  The lipstick is a sheer, deep red and the polish is a classic shade.  I can't wait to try more Duets.

Overall rating:  Booyah!  The value of this box was incredible!  I also ordered the Luxury Edition for Him and will be certain to share with you the contents of that box as well.

NYX Plump It Up Lip Plumper - Pamela, Kim, and Scarlett

After treating myself to some nice holiday lipsticks, I thought I'd save some cash by getting some affordable lip glosses.  Enter NYX Plump It Up Lip Plumper.  This cruelty-free lip gloss causes a light tingling sensation that is supposed to plump your lips.  Of the 9 shades offered, I purchased 3 (8g/0.28oz/$5.50; currently $4.99 on cherryculture.com).

The Cherry Culture website reads, "Each shade acknowledges well know sensual celebrity lips such as Angelina Joie and Scarlett Johansson, along with plenty other desirable famous vixens. With one swipe of the Pump It Up Lip Plumper, your lips begin to tingle and the transformation from thin to full will occur instantly!"

I bought 3 shades:  Pamela, Kim and Scarlett - named for Pamela Anderson, Kim Kardashian, and Scarlett Johansson, a sheer pink, light nude, and sheer red shade, respectively.

Here are close-ups of each shade:

• Pamela:

• Kim:

• Scarlett:

Overall rating:  Booyah!  They weren't sticky at all and they did temporarily plump my lips slightly.  The tingling sensation did not last too long and the sheen was lovely without being inappropriate for work.  They had a weird smell and weren't flavored (a Boo-Boo!, in my opinion).  For the price they were as effective to me as some more expensive lip plumpers I've tried.

Tom Ford Lipsticks - Black Orchid and Pink Adobe

To treat myself for the Holidays, I decided to indulge in 2 Tom Ford Lipsticks: Black Orchid and Pink Adobe (3g; $48).  The Tom Ford website reads, "To Tom Ford, there is no more dramatic accessory than a perfect lip. It is the focus of the face and it has the power to define a woman’s whole look. Each lip color is Tom Ford’s modern ideal of an essential makeup shade. Rare and exotic ingredients including soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter and chamomilla flower oil create an ultracreamy texture with an incredibly smooth application. Specially treated color pigments are blended to deliver pure color with just the right balance of luminosity."

Black Orchid is a deep berry shade that is perfect for the holidays.

Pink Adobe is a medium mauve/nude shade that is a 
nice neutral shade that is perfect for everyday.  To me, it's a "my lips but better" shade.

Overall rating: Booyah! for quality and pigmentation as well as texture though they are pricey.  It is a very luxurious lipstick if ever you want to treat yourself to a high-end lipstick.

Have you tried any Tom Ford lipsticks?  What shades do you recommend?