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Posts Tagged ‘beauty’

Petit Vour December 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, blushes, boxes, cremes, deodorants, makeup, nail lacquers, nail polishes, petit vour, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

26 December 2014

Ah, another blossoming partnership! This time it’s with Vegan Beauty Review and it offers a nice sampling of products.

Petit Vour is $15 per box (or as much as $30 for international subscribers) and comes with vegan beauty, skincare, and other personal care products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes (email contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you if you sign up!).

Blissoma Evening Calming Creme in Peace – This smells somewhat herbal and has a thick creamy texture. I’m not sure why it needs a dropper, since it’s not drippy at all, but I’m good with that. I like the formula and it’s a soothing cream that seems good for inflammation.

meow meow tweet deodorant cream in Lavender – This reminds me a lot of the first solid deodorant I received (also from Petit Vour), which was a lavender sage scent. I definitely think this smells clean and is great for using as deodorant. I’ll wait to open this while I use up the other one. I’ve been curious about this brand, so I’m excited to try their stuff.

Everyday Minerals Matte Blush in All Smiles – I’d be interested in this if I used blush, but I don’t, so I’m going to put this up for trade. I do like the idea of the powder and the shade looks nice.

Trust Fund Beauty Nail Lacquer in Do You Know Who My Father Is? – Alas, another pink nail polish. I’m just not much into that color, so I’ll put this up for trade as well. Too bad, since I love trying new polish brands!

I’m so-so on this box, since two of the items I won’t use. I’m definitely happy with the value and diversity of products though! What are your thoughts on this box?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Beauty Box 5 December 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, boxes, fragrances, lip balms, moisturizers, nail polish remover, nail polishes, perfumes, pictures, products, review, skincare, subscriptions

21 December 2014

This was a great box that covered the essential face and nail care needs. I’ll be keeping all the items and I even started using some already.

Beauty Box 5 is $12 per box (or as discounted as $99 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 5 cosmetic products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. You also have the option of buying it as a gift your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

Body Drench Lip Drench lip balm in Pomegranate: I just love the scent of this. It’s a bit tart and is sort of like a sweeter cherry. It’s super hydrating and a great lip balm to have in these cold months. My lips stay soft for hours it feels fantastic. While I enjoy the candy one we got awhile back, I’m liking this one even more.

Absolute! Nail Polish Remover Pads in Peach: These little pads are so small and thin, but they pack a punch. They’re great at getting nail polish off AND making my nails feel nourished afterwards. I’m a huge fan already. They sort of remind me La Fresh’s acetone-free nail polish wipes, which are pretty amazing. I just wish they were a little larger in diameter so it was easier to grab on and wipe.

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Moisturizer: I like this brand, so I’m happy to get this moisturizer to try. I don’t want to open it just yet so I use some of the other ones I have, but for future travel I’d throw this in my bag to use on my trip.

Nanacoco nail polish in Sapphire: They must really like this brand, since they’ve included their polish before. I wasn’t sure if I needed another glitter, but then I gave it a try layering it over that polish from the previous box and I love the winter wonderland feel it gives me. So perfect for winter. The varied glitter sizes and colors offer extra dimension to spruce up any nail!

Lucky Brand Lucky Number 6 fragrance: Well, every now and then I might want to have a perfume handy, so I’ll keep this. I also happen to like the packaging, which reminds me of cherry blossoms. The scent itself is very warm and floral. Generally something more mature for a gala or something.

The “merry & bright” theme is month is all about more practical items to take care of yourself. I’m all about that! This will set us off on a great start for healthy skin, hair, and teeth. Which items do you want from this box?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Petit Vour November 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, boxes, petit vour, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

07 December 2014

This month, they teamed up with The Little Foxes to curate the box. As always, I like how the combination of items can account for a good portion of a given day’s routine.

Au Naturale Organic Creme Concealer in Beige and Eye Shadow in Palma – I was really confused when I first opened this, because there was a tube that looked like mascara and a tub that could be any creme. Once I actually opened the products and read the part of the info card on either side for both items, it made a lot more sense. The eye shadow comes in a long tube much like lipstick would. That’ll make it easy to apply without irritating my eyes! The shade is somewhere between bronze and gold, which makes for a nice metallic color that won’t stand out too much (just the way I like it). The concealer is too light for my skin tone, but since I tried it already I’ll see if it can still be helpful when merged with my foundation.

French Girl Organics Mineral Lip Tint in Cerise – I’m actually just using up my Keeki lip shimmer, which has the same fun oval tube as this. The tint on this is a bit darker and it has a sweet and minty smell to it. It’s a lot like that lip shimmer as well as the Burt’s Bees ones I’ve had, but it smells better – kind of like a macaron. It’s a great formula that is hydrating and applies smoothly. I see this easily being my next go-to lip balm!

Caru Skincare Co Rose Facial Serum – As far as serums go, these oil types with the dripper bottle are by far my favorite. My skin is so soft, supple, and nourished after applying this serum. I can definitely smell the rose and something else that I can’t place. I’m not crazy about the scent but I think the ingredients will be awesome for my complexion. I think their Immortelle Facial Serum would be awesome and the best fit for my preferences and skincare needs.

Earthbody Sacred Skincare Dream Body Oil – The scent of this oil is fantastic – just the kind of soothing fragrance I’d relax and fall asleep to. Now is the perfect time for body oils, which is what I’ve switched to applying after my showers. There’s nothing quite as restorative for the skin and so little covers a lot of skin. I’m really curious about their day spa and might treat myself to that experience the next time in SF with time to explore.

I enjoyed trying the products from this box and I’ll be keeping them all. The body oil and lip tint are right up my alley. I use both types of products regularly! What do you like from this box?

Beauty Box 5 November 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, beauty box 5, boxes, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

22 November 2014

I was a bit amused that some of these items would have been handy for my trip last week. Too bad I didn’t get them before leaving! Oh well, now I have some goodies for my next travel destination. I like that they did a little more for the skincare, hair care, and “tools” stuff, with no make-up item. For someone like me who doesn’t use much make-up, I’m good with getting them less frequently and receiving more products I’ll happily use.

Afterfeather Refillable Travel Bottle: I was considering getting a travel bottle when I wanted to transport my Hawaiian red shrimp back home. I had bought them as a travel set packed for plane trips, but would have to put them in checked luggage, which I was worried about. Going forth I might just bring the empty bottle on trips for unforeseen uses. Or maybe I’ll put some shampoo in there. I like that this brand is eco-conscious and this item is a great reusable one.

DenTek Floss Picks + Case: This little case is adorable and an easy way to bring floss picks on trips. I think that will be particularly useful for Panda, since he actually flosses, but I’m hoping it’ll motivate me to floss a bit too. I’m totally throwing this in my toiletry bag for future travel.

HASK Macadamia Oil Revitalizing Shine Hair Treatment: This is perfect for the dryness of winter. It smells nice, a subtle sweetness with a bit of nuttiness, and is a thick-ish oil formula. I always forget to do hair masks in the shower, so I much prefer a treatment like this that I can quickly apply before heading out for the day.

Laura Ashley Body Butter in Coconut Lime: I first got into this scent with the shea butters I received. This one smells great too, though it’s lighter. The formula is also more lightweight – there’s like more wetness to it as I apply it. I might save this for the spring and trips where I need to have a smaller tub of body butter for my carry-on.

Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash: This little body wash is also perfectly travel-sized. I can certainly bring that along for a trip or offer it in the guest bathroom whenever we have people over (like my parents, who are coming for Thanksgiving week!). I like having small bottles so I can use just what I need and not have to carry all this extra with me. If I use it for guests, it’s great for them to not have to bring their own items and also not feel like they are using some of our partially-used products.

The “gracefully grounded” theme is month is all about more practical items to take care of yourself. I’m all about that! This will set us off on a great start for healthy skin, hair, and teeth. Which items do you want from this box?

Petit Vour October 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, body butters, boxes, eco-friendly, lipsticks, makeup removers, perfumes, petit vour, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

01 November 2014

Just in time for Halloween came some thrilling items for the October box! I was amused that the order I pulled out the items in happened to match exactly to the order the items are listed on the info card. Spooky coincidence? 😉

Pacifica Devocean Natural Lipstick in tenderness – This was exciting because I’d seen the emails from Pacifica about them and was definitely curious to try. What a great discovery when I found one lurking in my box this month! It’s creamy and hydrating, but I’ve learned I can’t apply them when my lips are chapping or they amplify that look. I like this neutral shade, but was surprised to find it’s actually more pigmented than I thought (based on the shade rubbing off on my mug). On my lips, it blends in well, so this must be similar to what my natural shade is.

Flo + Theo Body Butter in Lemon Orchard – First of all, I love that this tub is filled to the brim. I applaud them for including as much product as the container would allow. Second, I just love the scent. It’s refreshing and soothing – just what I want when I’m applying this to my skin. The consistency is super thick and it’s firmly packed in there, so just a little bit of rubbing melts enough on my fingers to really get into my dry skin. I can definitely use this to keep my elbows nice and soft all winter long.

Forager Botanicals Natural Eau de Perfume in Woodland – Maybe I don’t understand perfume, but this is a tiny vial and it was only about half full! They could have gone for 2/3 full to make me happy. I don’t wear perfume, so I guess ultimately it doesn’t matter how much there is, but still. The scent is pretty light when I tried a little bit. It’s a nice warm, subtle woody scent that reminds me of a fragrant Chinese wood that you’d find in an antique shop or something. This is what I think of when I’m reminded of my grandma, Buddhist temples, and other sacred/important Asian things. It’s pretty calming for me, so I might just use it for aromatherapy.

S.W. Basics Makeup Remover – I haven’t tried this as a makeup remover yet since I haven’t been wearing makeup, I can see it being great at dissolving away whatever you might have on. I did rub a drop or two on my face, since it can also be a light moisturizer after removing makeup. It feels good and my face is certainly not going to dry out! It makes my skin super soft too, which is awesome. This bottle will last me for awhile and I’m glad that so little can give me plenty of coverage.

While I wasn’t sure about the perfume at first, now I think I’ll keep all these items for my own use. Most of them were immediate hits! I’m really enjoying this subscription and it’s so awesome that all these brands offer such eco-friendly items. What do you think of this box?

Beauty Box 5 October 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, boxes, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

27 October 2014

A much better box for me! I never thought I was a fall girl, but I’m starting to find I like fall clothes, skincare, and other trends and habits. Maybe I like colder weather more than I realize? This tool is a great new item to have and I look forward to using it on my next product that’s nearly used up.

Chapstick Hydration Lock: This is great! I like the dual head and the formulas offer lip protection much like a standard chapstick. The day side is the type of lip product I’m used to from them and the night side offers a lovely tangy scent that I just love. I like to layer them both just for fun and this is a cool new take on a familiar product that I appreciate getting to try.

Bellapierre Cosmetics cheek and lip stain in Pink: I’m still debating if I’d use this often enough to justify opening it or if I should just trade it. It’s a pretty deep pink and could work well to offer that flushed look without looking like there’s all this makeup going on. I have so many other products I might not get around to that would achieve similar results, so I don’t know if I’ll try this or swap it.

Extend Your Beauty cosmetic tool: Again, it’s the tools that I love most about these boxes. This handy tool will help get every last drop from the bottle, which will help a lot since I try turning my nearly-empty products upside down, but it doesn’t always work out so well. This will be a lot faster and more effective for sure.

Nanacoco Nail Polish in Romantic Cruise: This is a nice polish and a shade I’d use, but not super often. I do have similar shades, so I’ll have to compare and see if they’re too similar. I do like blues, especially the pastel ones. I like the thick formula so it doesn’t drip much.

Lashem Picture Perfect instant wrinkle reducer: I can’t say I have wrinkles to worry about yet, but the tip about using this a primer is helpful so I might give that a try. I don’t mind helping keep wrinkles at bay either, if this can help with that. It won’t be an issue for me for quite some time, but better safe right?

This box’s theme was “effortless allure” which works for me. While I would have looked for a more sultry nail color, the products sure work towards a simple look that isn’t too overstated. What do you think of the items in this box?

Julep October 2014: The Black Magic Collection review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, candy, halloween, holidays, lip crayons, masks, nail art, nail polishes, pictures, products, skincare

26 October 2014

I got this box before my vacation, but it was missing an item. I reached out and requested they send me an extra product too since this isn’t the first time this has happened. I received those while away, so now I have the review ready! I knew right away I wanted the night mask, so that narrowed down my choices. I happened to like both shades offered in the Classic With A Twist box, so I opted for that. For the first time, I also loved a ton of their add-ons, so I got an extra polish, nail decals, and the lip crayon.

Julep ranges from just under $20 to $40 per box and comes with combinations of nail polish colors, skincare products, and beauty products (depending on your style profile choice). They offer plenty of upgrade and add-on options too. Boxes are sent monthly unless you choose to skip (skips are earned every six months for subscribers Dec 18th, 2013 and later). You also have the option of gifting your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you $15 store credit per referral.

julep maven october 2014 black magic collection box contents

October’s Classic With A Twist Black Magic Collection box with add-ons

set of julep polishes in casper, logan, deann, catrina, and karmen

Polish colors in Casper, Logan, DeAnn, Catrina, and Karmen.

I had to get Casper because it’ll glow in the dark! Logan and DeAnn came with the box and the last two were bonuses for ordering three add-ons. I already have Catrina from another box, so I’ll trade that.

julep plush pout lip crayon in aurora pink

Plush Pout Lip Crayon in Aurora Pink
I wanted this back when they first offered it, but didn’t like the box selections. Now I have one and it feels good (smells great), but that shade is way bright for me!

Night Shift Sleeping Mask
I’m a fan of this one for sure. It’s super hydrating and soothing.

julep black cat nail decals and bag of candy corn

black cat nail decals and candy corn
The decals were missing originally, so I had them send me two sets. So cute, though I wish some cats faced the other way too.

julep black magic collection card, discount offer card, quote card, candy corn info slip, and bonus card

The Black Magic Collection cards.

A sneak peek at their new mascaras.

julep night shift sleeping mask info card

Info card for the Night Shift mask.

This was a fun box that I liked putting together. I paid just over $40 for it and got a ton of stuff! I’m excited to do some glow-in-the-dark nails with cats. Those decals will work great in other situations too, especially for this cat lover. 🙂

Join as a Julep Maven to get polishes and/or beauty products sent to you monthly! Use code FREEBOX or FREEMAVEN to get the first box free (you pay shipping).

Petit Vour September 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, boxes, conditioners, eye shadows, lip butters, moisturizers, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

01 October 2014

Looks like they teamed up with Logical Harmony again (see last time) for this month’s selections. They also updated the look of their box! Not only is the color different, but the box is slightly taller and less wide than before.

new petit vour box with darker pink color

The box looks a little different now, with a darker shade of pink.

Root Science Skincare Facial Moisturizer – Whoa, I did not expect this to be an oil. Is that a new thing? Seems to be pretty popular nowadays. I don’t think I’d go out in the day with a moisturizer like this, but at night it’s a wonderfully healing option. This one has a somewhat nutty, lightly herbal smell. I love how rubbing in oil warms up my face.

Lily Lolo Mineral Eye Shadow in Mudpie – I wish I was into eye shadows, because I’m getting quite the collection of them. This will be going up for trade soon. I don’t think I would have used a color like this even if I did apply eye shadow. It’s so dark! I do like the branding though and I’d love to try something of theirs eventually. I really wish they would have chosen some other type of product since they already included eye shadows from this brand before.

ellovi tinted lip butter – I would have been more excited about this if I hadn’t received the lip butter from this brand in another box. Not counting that, this is a great product that I’m glad to have. I’m glad that I got the tinted version from them, so now I have both the plain and tinted ones to use! I’m a fan of tinted lip balms since it helps add a bit of color to my lips without being obvious and they’re very hydrating too.

Yarok Leave-In Conditioner – Looove this! My hair has never stayed silky for so long and had so much smoother ends. I sprayed some on after showering and let my hair air dry as I always do. It had great results and it smells good too, kind of lemongrassy I think.

Another great box with some really quality products that I look forward to using. I’ll be trading one item, but definitely using the others. Which products did you like best?

Beauty Box 5 September 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: acne, beauty, boxes, conditioner, hair care, nail polish, pictures, reviews, skincare, spot treatment, subscriptions

28 September 2014

Another ok but not fabulous box for me. I like that they include nail polish a lot but it’s not really in shades I’d use. I do appreciate the hair products they include, since I like to switch up my hair routine.

Nicka K New York Eyelight Crayon in Charcoal: This color is far too dark for me so I hope there’s someone out there who’d like to trade for it! If it had been a lighter color or something fun like a pop of color, I might have tried it. I’m curious about the crayon application so it’s a pity it’s not suited for me.

Natural Style by FUBU Deep Conditioner & Co-Wash: I haven’t tried this yet, but I love the smooth feel of using conditioner so I look forward to it. I’m still working through other samples I have at the moment.

Sally Hansen Toe Spacers: Haha, it’s always so awkward to have things between your toes. These will be useful next time I want to paint my toenails. I’ll have fun strutting around with my toes all fanned out.

My Beauty Spot Nail Polish: Oops, I can’t seem to find this polish now. I hadn’t decided if I was going to try it or trade it, but at this rate it looks like it will be neither. I think this would have been a nice polish to use for when I want some color, but nothing that stands out too much. If I can figure out where I put it, I’ll give it a shot.

Dr. Lin Acne Spot Corrector: This is my favorite product from this box and I’ve used it a few times. It feels nice, doesn’t dry out my skin, and seems to calm down my acne issues. They haven’t completely gone away, but using this has helped things from spiraling out of control as they often do.

The theme for this box was “balancing act” and I think overall it works. It’s not that important to me that boxes follow a theme though, so no big deal! Which items do you like most from these?

Julep Jewel Heist Mystery Box review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, blotting papers, boxes, brushes, eyeliners, julep, julep maven, makeup, mascaras, masks, nail polishes, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, subscriptions

18 September 2014

I skipped the September box, so I was looking forward to a mystery box that I might want. When I saw the Jewel Heist one, I was intrigued enough to order it! I would definitely have loved to win the whole birthstone collection. I only have one of those colors right now.

Julep mystery boxes are just under $25 per box and come with a mix of polish colors and beauty products. These are one-time orders and do not require a subscription.

julep jewel heist mystery box contents including mask noir, double duty makeup brush, green tea blotting papers, gel eyeliner, lengthening mascara, and polish in alma

Great selection of items overall, though that polish color is ick.

julep mask noir peel-off mask with power cell complex

Mask Noir
Yes! This has been on my wishlist, so I’m very happy to get it. I love masks.

julep double duty makeup brush and polish in alma from trina turk fall '12 collection

Double Duty Makeup Brush & polish in Alma
I had no idea what kind of brush this is meant to be, but I love having another tool to use. Turns out it’s two brushes in one! As for the polish… it’s from 2012 and it’s not an attractive color at all.

Green Tea Facial Blotting Papers
I’m a fan of these even if I always forget to use them. They smell amazing and I’ll try to make good use of them!

Ink Gel Eyeliner in Jet Black
Oh, dilemma. I’d like to try this, but I’d never use this much and I don’t even have a brush to apply it with. Should I trade or try?

julep boho glam lengthening mascara in espresso brown

Boho Glam Lengthening Mascara in Espresso Brown
This came in a previous mystery box, so it’ll go up for trade. They must have a lot of overstock!

I definitely like the value of the box and the selection of items overall, even if I wouldn’t use them all. I sure wish they’d picked a better polish color (and one not so obviously from years ago). I certainly would have loved to win one of the prizes this time!! Oh well, here’s to next time.

Estimated value: $121 (Mask Noir $32, Double Duty Makeup Brush $28, Nail Color $14, Green Tea Facial Blotting Papers $10, Ink Gel Eyeliner $22, Lengthening Mascara $24) or $96.80 at Maven prices (20% off)

Join as a Julep Maven to get polishes sent to you monthly! Use code FREEBOX or FREEMAVEN to get the first box free (you pay shipping).

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((little fat notebook))

Posts Tagged ‘beauty’

Petit Vour December 2014 review

Beauty Box 5 December 2014 review

Petit Vour November 2014 review

Beauty Box 5 November 2014 review

Petit Vour October 2014 review

Beauty Box 5 October 2014 review

Julep October 2014: The Black Magic Collection review

Petit Vour September 2014 review

Beauty Box 5 September 2014 review

Julep Jewel Heist Mystery Box review

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laelene

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