Fragrance samples are far from hard to come by, but that’s not so much the case when it comes to finding scents that you’ll actually wear.
Personally, I prefer light airy smells. Faint florals or hints of citrus. Even better when the notes gently elicit the happiest of feelings.
When I found out about the Ralph Lauren box free through Influester, I wasn’t exactly sure that I wanted it. I mean, another perfume sample? Doubt aside, my curiosity got the best of me. And thankfully so!
Ralph Lauren’s Tender Romance perfume is the ideal fragrance for spring. It reminds me of when things start to bloom and merely walking outside inspires hope and romance.
It’s been a very long time since the last time I purchased a Limited Edition Birchbox. But the Beauty in Bloom box has a couple of products I had been dying to try and a really cute tray to put it all in!
There’s always the option to buy the full size of the products individually. But, why? When for $64 you get $188 worth of products! Which is basically buy two get a bunch of other stuff free!
It is finally looking like New England is done with snow.
Which means it’s time to revive my lips for spring.
Literally.
When it comes to getting the perfect pout for spring, there are really only three lip products that I need. Lip scrub, lip liner, and lip cream.
Starting with Beauty for Real’s Lip Revival Lip Scrub, gently rub to remove any dead excess skin and reveal smooth kissable lips. Rinse and pat dry.
Now you’re ready to get really ready!
Line your lips with the D-Fine Lip Pencil, it’s great for all lip colors. Which brings us to lip cream.
I have been looking for a pretty pink that feels springy without making me look ridiculous. The Beauty for Real Lip Cream in Flash is the only non-sheer pink I haven’t felt like I had to combine with another color in order to wear it out of the house.
MAKE Beauty is one of my top ten makeup brands. They make my absolute favorite lip gloss, plus they are all about collaboration. They select makeup artists and expert artisans to help inspire their color palettes. If you don’t already, you really should be doing your homework on the brands you use.
Lighter shades aren’t typically my thing, but I am totally digging these for spring. The samples may look tiny, but they pack a lot of punch!
The full size versions cost $25 each. They also have a $10 sample kit that includes two eyeshadows and a lip color, and a percentage of their sales is donated to their non-profit partner, We See Beauty Foundation.
If you’re interested in giving MAKE Beauty a try, use the code MAKEYOURSELF for 20% off sitewide! (This code is only valid until this Friday.)
It’s no secret that I like to tweak my skincare a ton, trying new products to find the ones that work best for me and my skin. While I tend to gravitate towards whatever is new or trending, sometimes it’s nice to get advice from a professional.
Dr. Anthony Youn is a top plastic surgeon, but his book The Age Fix is all about how to keep your skin healthy and looking young without surgery.
He shares everything from DIY face mask recipes, to quick makeup fixes. My personal favorite part is the section on what to eat for your best skin. I haven’t been able to fully commit to giving the suggested meal plan a try.
It is on my to do list, though.
For now, I’ve been making a serious effort to drink more water (adding lemon slices has been a huge help, in addition to opting for seltzer water instead of soda every once in a while).
Also, fruit. Apples, pineapple, grapes, strawberries, blueberries. I really like fruit, so making sure to start my day with at least one of something was a pretty easy transition.
Since I’m also trying to use healthier beauty products, I figured baby steps are probably in my best interest.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GoodyBrushEd #CollectiveBias
One of the questions I get asked the most is about my hair. When it was blue, everyone wanted to know how I did it. Did you bleach it first? How do you get it to look so good?
The truth is, even though I have bleached and dyed my hair countless times in the past, I haven’t recently. So, how did I do it? Hair extensions.
Currently, I have been wearing clip-ins, because they are easy to put in and take out, which allows me to take regular care of my own hair. The Goody Clean Radiance Oval Cushion Brush from Walmart helps me do that, by reducing buildup and restoring my hair’s natural moisture balance. The bristles give a little, but not so much that they can’t brush through my hair. And my hair is THICK.
If I could only use one brush, this would be it.
With or without extensions, there are really only three ways that I typically style my hair. The classic ponytail, the princess roll, and a sleek top knot.
If you have really short nails like I do, you’re going to want to cut the confetti into smaller pieces. I cut each piece in about half.
After prepping your nails as you usually would, apply your base coat, then, without letting it dry place a piece of confetti on each nail.
This part can be a little tricky (and a little messy). If you have nail glue, you can definitely use it to hold the confetti in place. I didn’t. But it’s an option.
Let dry before applying your top coat. I let this dry and added another coat, you don’t have to, I just get slightly paranoid.
Plus, I really wanted to make sure they lasted as long as possible.
This may have to be my new St. Patrick’s Day tradition!
This is not the first time I have tried Hask Hair shampoo and conditioner. As much as I liked the Argan Oil, I really wanted to try the Monoi Coconut Oil set.
Because, coconut.
Not only does it work just as well, it’s even more moisturizing.
Plus, it smells AMAZING!
And as a bonus, Hask Hair included a cute brush. It’s travel size, so I tossed it into my tote bag and use it to brush my hair whenever I’m on the go.
The brush is pretty sweet, but I am obsessed with the Nourishing Shine Hair Oil. If I wasn’t afraid of accidentally not putting the cap back on properly and it coming off and spilling all over everything, I’d keep it in my bag too.
Of all the shampoos, conditioners and hair products I’ve tried, these are my favorites.
It’s been a little bit since I’ve gone with the featured box for my Birchbox sample choice selection. But, for me, the March 2016 Birchbox, Ready for Anything themed box was the obvious option.
Parlor is a brand that I have heard a lot about through Birchbox, but didn’t think I’ve get in as a sample in my Birchbox. Just another reason to have selected this month’s feature box. I’ll be attending a conference soon and really hope this blowout spray will hold up throughout the weekend.
I’ve gone a little face mask crazy lately, and even managed to get the manfriend kind of, sort of into them a little too. Surprisingly, I haven’t tried any eye pads, so these Wilma Schumann ones will not go to waste! Maybe multi masking will be my next beauty endeavor…
Something a bit more familiar, is Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. Having tried it before, I knew I liked it, but I’m happy to have some again. Plus, the container is great for travel!
Smashbox is one of the first beauty brands I ever tried and loved. A sample with not one, not two, but THREE colors is practically unheard of! I really want to order the full size version in Vignette.
Milk Makeup is a brand spanking new and I am excited to have gotten it through Birchbox. I wish the sample was a bigger (and another color), but I’m happy I get to try it out.
Curious to know if Birchbox is for you? Give it a try, sign up here!
Growing up, I never thought I’d be even half as makeup obsessed as I am. I wouldn’t say that makeup is my passion, exactly, but I certainly am passionate about makeup.
Trying products out in various colors is fun, and I absolutely love it when I find new makeup bag staples. When I tried Lune+Aster that I received from Blue Mercury, I found just that.
I tried layering the mascara with other mascaras and didn’t love the outcome. But alone, loved it for an understated, everyday look. As for the lipgloss, Teacher makes an excellent nude. While I adore my NYX lipgloss in Praline, Lune+Aster in Teacher is equally as amazing, minus the scent, which a lot of people don’t like.
Both will definitely be found in my purse on a regular basis. And I for sure will be trying the lipgloss in different colors. I’m thinking Editor in Chief or Rebel next…
