Review: September 2012 Glossybox│USA

Glossybox is getting better every month! Last box was amazing, themed Pure Luxury see my review here. And I thought that box wouldn't top the others but it this one kinda did. I have tested all products and I'm very pleased with each one. The theme this month is Fall Forward and it includes 3 FULL SIZE products! If you're not familiar with Glossybox: it's a monthly suscription to get deluxe beauty samples for $21.00. If you want to sign up, click here.


The full size products are the OC8 Professional Mattifying Gel ($.30.00), the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream ($.29.99) and the Glossybox Lipstick in Glossy Pink ($.14.00). I'm really excited about full size products, not only because they top the price of the box itself, but because if I really like them (and I do!) they'll last a while. So, onto the review of each product!

1. Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream in shade No. 23 ($.29.99 for 50ml): Missha is one of Korea's original BB cream creators and it offers a novel skincare concept, which lightens skin tone by healing visible wrinkles and blemishes with excellent skin cover. This BB Cream is so different from others I've tried. The texture is very thin, but it provides amazing coverage! I was worried about the colour at first, because I have yellow undertones. No. 23 seems greyish and with a lot of pink in it, but it blends heavenly. There are 5 shades available and No.23 works well with medium skin tones. The BB cream provides a natural looking coverage but still covers blemishes noticeably. It's not greasy and my T-zone stayed matte all day. 2. OC8 Professional Mattifying Gel ($.30.00 for 1.6 oz): This gel is like a primer, but better. It has a lightweight texture and it helps control oil on the skin. It contains micro particles which are specifically designed with co-polymer technology that permanently traps 6 times their own volume in oil on the skin. It smells very minty, but it also fades away very quickly. As soon as I applied it my face felt refreshed and amazingly matte. I have combination skin, so my T-zone tends to get oily through the day. This gel improved this problem area, still at the end of the day my nose got a bit shiny but less than without this product. I will be using this regularly to see if there's any improvements. 3.  GK Hair Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner ($.20.00 for 10.1 fl oz): The shampoo is free of sodium chloride and harsh sulfates and the conditioner is enriched with natural seed oils and plant extract. Both are nourishing, and my hair was really, really hydrated, soft and shiny after I washed it. Both have an amazing scent and I'm considering on ordering the full size! 4. Glossybox Lipstick in shade Glossy Pink ($.14.00 for 4g):  Glossybox teamed up with Kryolan, a professional makeup brand and developed an exclusive moisture rich lipstick. It's a medium pink with a glossy finish. It's very moisturizing and long lasting, I love it! 
Here's a swatch: (also wearing Mattifying Gel and BB Cream)

What did you got in your Glossybox this month? What would you like it to include in future boxes?

Swatch: Nars Angelika Blush

I seem to have switched my love from peach to pink, somehow I find it to be very flattering nowadays! About two weeks ago, when I got Benefit Sugarbomb, I also picked up this Nars Angelika ($.28.00) which is a cotton candy pink with gold and silver sparkle. It's blue based as you can tell, and the most noticeable sparkles are silver. The texture is very silky and has great pigmentation combining matte and shimmer, though the shimmer fades between application and/or after application, so if you're not into it you don't really have to worry about it. And if you blend it enough, you can get a semi matte finish.


I know this colour may be quite intimidating at first, but it's actually very lovely and wearable. Plus it works well on most skin tones due to it's blue undertone and high pigmentation. I realized that on my skin it can look a bit darker than what it looks like on the pan, so I use a light hand on my cheeks, nonetheless it isn't heavy in any way so it can't be over done. Overall I think it's very beautiful, it blends easily and lasts for at least 8 hours.

Have you tried Angelika? What is your favourite Nars Blush?

Wants:

So my birthday date is approaching, I'm not sure how I feel about turning 22. I know I'm still young but it feels scary being over 20. Anywho, I made a birthday wishlist that includes some seriously luxurious items I've been dying to have! Quite expensive. But a girl can dream, right?

1. Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque ($31.00): I've heard wonderful things about it, it's basically a clay-based masque made for sensitive and dry skin. The parsley extracts deliver potent anti-oxidants while other botanical elements cleanse and revive skin.

2. Miu Miu Grained Calf Leather Open Top-Handle Bag ($1,295.00): This amazingly beautiful bag has 3 compartments, polished brass hardware and cotton satin lining. Pure luxury.

3. Marc by Marc Jacobs Amy 36mm watch ($200.00): I've always liked the Rose Gold watch, but I think I would much prefer this one. I love that it has brown in it. Lovely!

4. Marc by Marc Jacobs Tuxedo Logo Plaque Ballet Flat ($.195.00): Classic ballet flat that combine pretty much with everything. I could wear these with a dress, jeans, jumpsuit, anything! And I love the detail on the silver.

5. Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi usage dry oil ($46.00): A raved-about product, this oil is 98.1% natural. It has vitamin E and can be used in face, body and hair. What else do you need when you have this?

6. Ojon Rare Blend Oil Total Hair Theraphy ($.35.00): A newly hyped up product I've been seeing in other blogs got my attention since my hair hasn't been in such good shape lately. It's beautiful to see it unblended (does that make any sense at all?), but it's supposed to nourish, repair and transform dull, damaged or dry hair so I really wanna try it out!  

7. Benefit Brow Zings ($.30.00): I've got very light brows, and I'm always looking for a while to fill them out. I've tried Benefit's Speed Brow with a brow pencil and had good results. I really like how handy this brow kit is because it includes pigmented wax for shaping and powder for setting. And mini tweezers!

8. Benefit They're Real! Mascara ($.23.00): A jet-black, long wearing formula that won't smudge or dry out? Plus it lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts and separates lashes? I'm in.

So that's my not-so-affordable Birthday Wish List! Have you tried any of these beauty products? Please let me know your thoughts! :) 

Swatch: Mac Amplified Creme in Reel Sexy

Another Mac lipstick swatch! This one is Reel Sexy, there's probably no point on making this post though, cause it's not longer available :( It's a very summery colour, very pastel and creamy looking. If you really like this colour (light bright coral) there's a very similar one, Gotta Dash! which belongs to the Mac Sheen Supreme Lipsticks. I know this isn't a new shade and it's so last summer but I really love it and wanted it since that Reel Sexy Collection came out! 



Do you own any of the Reel Sexy Collection Lipsticks? What's your favourite peach/coral lipstick?

Review: Julep + Trina Turk September 2012 Box│It Girl

Another month, another Julep Box! This time i switched from Classic with a Twist to It Girl, as it usually comes with 3 polishes instead of 2. If you haven't heard about Julep: it's a nail and foot care brand with four boutique nail parlors in the Seattle area. You can sign up to get a monthly box with polishes and nail care products. If you want to sign up, click here.


Delaunay: it's a bright red, described as chili pepper red creme. It's a gorgeous colour, though I don't know how unique. I've seen lots of reds out there! Alma: a retro dijon yellow creme. It reminds me of mustard, as it's name suggests. It's a lovely and unique colour, I see me wearing this a lot in the next few weeks. Otte: My favourite from all 3, a nude colour. It's described as a rich camel natural creme.
All polishes have great consistency and two coats are more than enough to get a rich colour. They don't chip on my nails for at least a week, so that's good. I love that the polishes are different from what I would usually go for. They're also perfect for this season!

Have you tried Julep polishes? What are your thoughts?

Swatch: Mac Matte Lipstick in Please Me

I've been experimenting with lipsticks lately, and pinks seem to be on the top of my list. I'm getting a little lipstick-obsessed too. Mac Matte Lipstick in Please Me ($.15.00 for 3g) was on (my very long) wishlist for a while so I decided to get it! It's a lovely muted-rosy-tinted pink. I found that matte lipsticks are quite drying, but not as much really. I know it looks darker on the lipstick but lighter on the lips. That's why I always try everything on before buying it, something I would advise you ladies to do too :) 


Matte formulas tend to last longer on my lips and I love it! Please Me is a very wearable colour. At the counter I was deciding whether to get Please Me or Chatterbox. They're both very similar except  Chatterbox (bright red pink) is a bit darker and it has a Amplified Creme finish. I do like both, but as I never tried a Matte one before, decided to go for this one. But Chatterbox is still on my wishlist though! 


Have you tried Please Me? What's your favourite Matte lipstick?

Picks: Top 6 Lipcare Products

I find it really hard to keep my lips in perfect condition, I forget to drink enough water during the day and protect them from the sun. I have gathered my favourite repair balms which I use whenever my lips are completely chapped or dry and to prevent them from getting like that. Most are made out of natural ingredients, something I always look for in a balm or scrub, along with nice scent and consistency.

Rosebud Salve ($6.00): I got mine at Urban Outfitters and it cost me 2 more dollars, so I would advice to get it either at Sephora or where available. This is a multi purpose balm, which helps relieve chapped lips and skin, blemishes, rough cuticles and even diaper rash! It smells very rosy and baby like. I like to apply a generous amount before I got to bed.

Figs & Rouge Sweet Geranium Balm ($.6.00): A 100% organic balm, it's ultra smooth and hydrates lips and skin instantly. At first I didn't really liked how it smelled but it's so good I don't mind. It has little spheres that disappear after rubbing, so it also works as a soft exfoliator.

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm: I think this small tin was around $5.00, I'm not really sure. It cools and smoothes lips, though it's very hard to get out as the texture is not very buttery, but still effective.

Makeup Store Lip Care Mix ($.20.00): This mix has peeling, mask and lip balm all in one. I raved all about it in my August Favorites, to see it click here.

Mac Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF in Petting Pink ($.14.50): I couldn't find this on Mac website, has it been discontinued? Oh no. I love it because it deposits colour and protects against dryness and prevents sun damage.  Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub ($.8.95): I didn't included a picture for it as it's empty so there's nothing to see :(  This scrub is amazing though, it leaves my lips super soft and it's edible! If you haven't tried it, I advice you to get one asap! 
What are your favourite lip balms and scrubs? How often do you need to use them?

Review: Ginerva Green Tea BB Cream

Oh BB creams, aren't these wonderful? Before the Garnier one, I had only tried tinted moisturizers which in my personal opinion, are the same. I really like sheer coverage during summer and those days when I don't really feel like applying heavy foundation. Now, this lovely BB cream you see right here I won at a giveaway! I literally felt like the luckiest person in the world at the moment cause I had never really won anything. The giveaway was hosted by the lovely Georgina at Makeup Pixi3,  she has some amazing posts on reviews and also on interesting stuff like The cost of a blog. Oh and she also made a review on this BB cream, so you should go and check it out! 

The Ginerva BB cream provides a natural and flawless cover for all skin tones, and literally when I was applying it I though it wouldn't match but it did! I was pretty amazed by that. I did feel my skin tone was even after application and it lasted me around 9 hours, however I experienced a little greasy patches (t-zone) after a few hours as I have combination skin. What I really loved about it is that it left my skin looking flawless, natural and glowing. Overall I really liked this BB cream, it's very light and it also smells amazing! 

Georgina also sent me a little card, which I think is very sweet. I was excited when I got the package! So thank you so much, Georgina! :) 

Have you tried this BB cream or any other Ginerva products?

Wants:

This is my September Beauty/Fashion wishlist. Some of these items have been in my mind for a while, like the Real Tecniques brushes everyone is talking about! and the Origins products in general.

1. Urban Decay Vice Palette ($.59.00): Loaded with 20 never-before-seen shades you won’t find anywhere else, this insanely gorgeous palette is ALL about eyeshadow. With a mix of mattes, satins, shimmers, neutrals and brights, the range of shades is unreal—from breathtaking gold to shimmery green to jet-black satin. Oh my god! This seriously looks and sounds amazing! It's a bit expensive but it's probably worth it. Im most excited for the shades: provocateur, freebird and chaos! 

2. Origins Drink Up 10 minute mask ($23.00): Thirst-quenching Algae Extracts deliver an extra helping of hydration while emollient-rich Apricot Kernel Oil acts like a “fountain of youth”. Feel skin drink in the softness, lap up the luxury. As of lately I've had really dry skin, which is weird. But I think it was from the A/C at the plane and hotel from my last trip. I know, i know everyone is using the overnight mask but i much rather the 10 minute one.

3. Zara City Bag with Zip ($169.00): This is a medium size bag, 100% leather. I really love the design and the colour combination is gorgeous! Agree?

4. Marc Jacobs Stardust iPhone Case ($38.00): Ever since I got my iPhone, I've been getting different cases, I love changing them. And lately I have an obsession with MJ, so when I was checking the Back to School items on the website I knew I had to have this! It's also available in sparrow blue.

5. RealTecniques Core Collection ($18.00): Includes 4 full size brushes + case. Detailer brush, pointed foundation brush, buffing brush and the contour brush. I have seen several reviews on these brushes and apparently they're the best thing out there, I don't know how I have held myself from buying these. And Samantha Chapman is my hero lol.

6. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Nylon ($16.00): Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics’ Lip Tar has received NYLON Magazine’s coveted “Best Lipstick” 2012 in their first ever Nylon Beauty Hit List and to celebrate they’ve partnered with Nylon to bring you this opaque neon pink lipstick concentrate that’s Pantone-matched to the Nylon logo. I've been suscribed to Nylon Magazine for about two years now, and it's my absolute favourite magazine! I love the logo colour and this lip tar looks AMAZING!

What's on your September Wishlist? Do you recommend any of these products?

Review: Benefit Sugarbomb Face Powder

Last friday I was out of town and went to one of my favourite places in the world. You guessed it, Sephora! I could honestly spend hours and hours in there without getting tired or bored. If you remember my last wishlist, I had this lovely blush in it. Sugarbomb ($28 for 0.28 oz) is a sugar rushed flush face powder. It has 4 shades: peach, soft plum, pink and rose. 


It includes a small flat brush that I find perfect for application, the bristles are very soft and the shape is great for applying the blush onto the cheeks. The packaging is awesome, I think Benefit may have thought of reducing waste on packaging and made the whole thing out of hard cardboard and it's really cute too! I just love the combination of all 4 colours, it gives the most amazing glow to the cheeks, it has a slight highlight look to it but it's buildable. This is definitely my kind of blush and I instantly loved it. I can see me using it every single day!  

Have you tried Sugarbomb? What is your favourite Benefit Blush?

What's in my Travel Makeup Bag?

Hello lovelies! I apologize for my lack of posts, I've been busy with school and last week I traveled to Mexico! :) I went to a beautiful place called Puebla, it has a lots of attractions and touristy places to visit, plus locals were celebrating Independence Day which is on September 16th, the season's food was amazing and the people over there were very nice and welcoming. I had a blast! But moving to what I took with me:


I packed what I considered necessary, the weather was warm so I didn't needed a heavy foundation and I only picked natural-look products. My makeup bag is from Marc by Marc Jacobs, i got it as a gift when I made a purchase. It originally came with 4 empty travel size bottles to put in moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, etc. 


As a primer I took Touch in Sol Feels Like Honeymoon Skinbase, I got this travel-size sample in my August Glossybox. Touch in Sol is a korean brand that has trendy products and in my opinion, they delivers great results. The primer has a very soft texture and my skin feels instantly softer after application. To keep my skin moisturized and sun-protected I took Benefit's YouRebel tinted moisturizer. It doesn't cover up major imperfections, but it evens out my skin tone. For my cheeks I took Nars Luster blush, which has been a favourite of mine lately. And to cover imperfections the Laura Mercier Mineral Pressed Powder SPF 15 in Natural Beige is perfect for it, it has a silky texture and it's buildable from sheer to medium coverage. Finally, to conceal dark circles I use the Mac Select Cover Up in NW25.

Lashes make a really big difference in most complexions, and personally I believe without it makeup just isn't the same! I've been using the Maybelline's Great Lash in Blackest Black, I used to really like it but lately I find it smears a lot and I can't put it in my lower lashes or otherwise I'll look like a racoon. Next is a multi task tool, Mac129 powder/blush brush in travel size. I'm not really sure if they sell this anymore, I bought it 2 years ago. It's really useful and has lasted me a long time! For my eyes I took Mac Powerpoint Pencil in Engraved and Chanel Les 4 Ombres in Nymphea.

My tweezers are a MUST every time I travel, I have taken good care of these Tweezerman pink Tweezers, I've had them for about 2 and a half years and they're still mint. Bravo Tweezerman! And last but not least, I took this lip combo: Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Naked (have you seen the latest Vice Palette? Definitely on my wishlist!) and Mac Cremesheen in Creme Cup.
What's on your travel makeup bag? What are your must-take products?

Review: Senna Cosmetics Mineral Eye Shadow Trio

Senna Cosmetics is a professional makeup brand that has been around since 1976. They have everything from skin care to makeup & tools. I got the Mineral Eye Shadow Trio in Medallion ($24 for 0.14 oz) it comes with a metallic gold, a khaki and a matte fudge brown. 



All three have a silky texture and great colour payoff. This trio has perfect combination colours for a natural look but it's also buildable. The metallic gold and khaki are great for highlighting and contouring and the matte fudge brown works great to define and it gives a polished finish and amazing dimension. I'm very impressed by the quality and how soft the eyeshadows are, they have a long lasting colour if applied with an eyeshadow primer. The packaging is made out of plastic with three separate metallic tins one for each eyeshadow. 


Overall, I'm really impressed by this eyeshadow trio and I think the quality is amazing, the packaging and size it comes in is travel-friendly, so that's a plus! I'm really excited on trying out new brands and Senna Cosmetics is definitely one I'll be keeping an eye on. I'm looking forward to try the Cloud 9 Eyeshadow Trio and the Eye Color Palette next! 
Have you tried Senna Cosmetics before?

Review: Julep Boho Glam Lengthening Mascara

As a mascara addict, I thought trying a new one wouldn't do any harm, so i got this new one from Julep. It's the Boho Glam Lengthening Mascara in Espresso Brown ($24 for .27 fl oz) I don't really own any brown mascaras, I'm drawn to get the blackest black ones. Always. 


I was really excited to try it out because it has lash growth enhancement ingredients, which sold separately could be quite expensive and ineffective.  It comes with a micro-fiber applicator which separates, lengthens and conditions the lashes. I really struggled with the applicator brush, it kept getting covered with the mascara every time i got it out and it was making a big mess, but the product itself turned out to be pretty good. It doesn't feel stiff on the lashes and it doesn't smudge after wearing it all day. 

The colour is a dark brown, and I think that's why I like it. I have naturally dark lashes, so dark colours work better for me. Final verdict, the mascara works well, but the product gets wasted because it sticks on the applicator instead of staying on the tube. I have no idea why this happened because it isn't runny or anything.

Even though I really struggled applying this, I noticed my lashes were conditioned and not stiff at all. Another thing to consider is that I never curl my lashes, and I did on this occasion. I know my small lashes aren't the best way to illustrate how this product works, but I will try it on a daily basis to see if I can get better results!

Have you tried this Julep Lengthening Mascara? Do you prefer black or brown mascara? Which one is your fav?