Blush Mystery Beauty Box

          I have fallen really behind on my posts the last month.  I am not sure how other blogs do it, what with work and family, activities and errands and all, I find I have a hard time finding the dedication to sit down and write.  So, I have many box reviews to post but unsure of how many I will actually get posted.  I also have the candy kits from Japan to share, nail tutorials, and of course my furry family pictures to share.  Of this I am not sure how much I will actually post.  Ideally I would like to post them all but realistically I am not sure how far I will get.  I have also tried starting a YouTube channel, I have one post up from a few months ago.  Maybe I should do my un-boxing and first impressions on YouTube instead of here.  This is difficult for me as I am better typing then being in front of a camera.  I will see how I do with the vlog.  I have a cute cat video I am thinking of editing and posting, putting cats up doesn't challenge my self esteem issues.

         Anyway, to make a long rambling story have a point, I have three Blush Mystery Box un-boxings for you below.  The first one is really just a picture as I've misplaced or thrown out the information card.  This is from their May 2013 box.

There are four full sized items in this box, which is weird because it is really a bag.  Every month comes in a black cloth bag with Blush Mystery Beauty Box in white lettering.

For the next two months I can go into more detail on what I received.  The most recent box is July and I received it just a couple of days ago.

First let us look at June 2013 of  the Blush Mystery Beauty Box.

The Items in June are as follows (including prices):

Glytone Sunscreen Spray Mist Broad Spectrum SPF 50  - $39

Decleor Aroma Cleanse Youth Cleanser Duo - Full size $39 each, sample size $3.84

Stila Cosmetics Lip Glaze in Kaleidoscope - Full size $13.75

Miracle Skin Transformer Body SPF 20 Tinted Body Treatment Enhancer in Glow - Full size $34 Sample size $5.03

Hydroxatone Revitalizing Microdermabrasion - Full size $29 Sample size $8.53

DHC Clarifying Pore Cover Base - Full Size $19

Supergoop CC Cream Daily Correction SPF 35 - Full Size $32 Sample size $2.04

Total Value of Box = $91.19

      I have yet to try many of the items in the box but the few I have tried are:

Hydroxatone Revitalizing Microdermabrasion - I have just started using this in the last couple of days before bed.  There are miniature particles in the cleanser that exfoliate the skin.  I think I have seen an improvement in the texture of my skin but not sure if I have seen anything else.  I will keep using it to see.  Since it is $29 for the full size I am not sure if I will be purchasing it after the sample is gone.

Miracle Skin Transformer Body SPF 20 Tinted Body Treatment Enhancer in Glow - I have not really worn this but I did try it out on my arm when I first opened the box.  It does do what it claims which is "Covers minor imperfections on your arms, legs, chest and back area as it hydrates and protects your skin from the sun".  

Stila Cosmetics Lip Glaze in Kaleidoscope - What can I say, its a Stila lip gloss, which is one of my favorite brands.  The color is a sheer pink with a little sparkle.  

This month wasn't over $100 as they claim it is but I still think I got a good deal as I only spent $25.   

               Now for my July 2013 Blush Mystery Beauty Box that I got just a couple of days ago.

The Items in the July 2013 Box are as follows (including prices):

Emani Organic Lip Shine in Blush - Full Size $16

Deborah Lippmann 3D Holographic Luxurious Nail Color in Ray of Light - Full Size $19

Lumene Vitamin C+ Pure Radiance 24H Lotion - Full Size $19.99

Philip B. Self Adjusting Hair Spray - Full Size $22

Hydroxatone AM/PM Anti-Wrinkle Complex - Full Size $49.95

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pad Anti-Aging Exfoliating Self-Tanner - Full Size $18

Bioelements Quick Refiner - Full Size $46 Sample Size $3.83

Total Value of Box - $148.77

This box was well worth the cost of $25.  It made up for the box last month that was slightly under the $100 mark.  Now, am I happy with the products I got?  For the most part, yes.  The one item that I might not use is the Dr. Dennis Gross Self-Tanner wipes for the face.  Self-Tanner on the face scares me, I don't want to look like an Oompa Loompa.  I haven't really tried any of the products yet.  I was really happy and excited to see a full Deborah Lippmann polish in the box, especially since it is a limited edition color. 

The website is www.Blush.com if you would like to order this months box (which I think are still available) or if you want to sign up for next months box.

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you next time!

Rocket Fizz Candy Store

This post will be a little bit different.  I went to the Rocket Fizz Candy Store which sells all sorts of strange sodas and candies from the United States or from around the world. They also offer candy that is from our past as children.  I got three bags of things, I know I went a little overboard.  It was just so much fun to look at the items and pick stuff out.

 

I am not going to go through everything that I bought, just what I have tasted so far.  It will take a couple of days to taste everything that I bought.  First thing we tasted were the marshmallow ice cream cones.  My mother remembers getting something similar to these when she was a child.  It was penny candy, which we no longer have (candy that only cost a penny).

Here is a picture of the ice cream cone.  Very cute and it looks like it would be delicious.  It was horrible.  the marshmallow was so chewy it was hard to eat and the cone had no flavor or crunch.  My mother said that this looked similar to what she got but was nothing like it in taste. 

Next we tried a Rocket Fizz Shirley Temple Soda.  The flavor was similar to adding Grenadine syrup to seltzer water but again my mother said there was something just not the same as when she was a child.

Now I remember when I was a child getting the candy cigarettes at the Circle K or 7-11 convenience stores.  My friend and I would walk about 4 or 5 blocks to the store and then get candy.  I think I was between 10 and 13.  We would then come back to her house and her father would use his lighter and burn the end of our candy cigarettes so they had a burnt tip.  It made us feel like the candy cigarettes were real cigarettes.  They had boxes of these candy cigarettes at the store and  was really excited to buy a box.  After I opened the box the smell was very close to the ones I remember.  However, the ones I used to get had a red dot on the end to represent the smolder on real cigarettes and the box was full, not half full, of the candy.  Lastly, the taste wasn't there on these cigarettes, there really wasn't any taste.  Do you think that our ability to taste different flavors changes over the years or do you think this was just not made the same as when I was young?  

Lastly we tried the Mangosteen Gummy Candy from Japan.  I like these gummy candies, I have had them in melon, kiwi and peach before.  I have never seen the flavor mangosteen before so I had to get a bag.  I liked them probably best of all of the candy listed here.  I wish I could remember what a fresh mangosteen tastes like so I could compare the flavors.  I just remember that while in China the mangosteen was the best thing I ate.  

Well that is everything I tasted.  I also made one of the candy kits from Japan, there are a lot of pictures so I will make that one it's own separate blog.  Thanks for stopping by and I will see you next time.  

Influenster - SunKissed VoxBox

I was given the opportunity through Influenster to obtain one of their VoxBoxes.  The Influenster program lets you achieve badges and scores by doing questionnaires, quizzes and reviews on products.  The more you do on their site the higher your score is.  This month the beauty VoxBox was called SunKissed.  The VoxBox is free of charge, the only condition is that you share your reviews of the products on social media.  If you would like to join, free of charge, and try to receive future VoxBoxes for review, the link is here: Influenster.  Now on to what I received in this VoxBox.

Olay Fresh Effects (BB Cream!) - $12.99

Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics - $4.99

Dr. Scholl's For Her - $10.99

SinfulShine with GelTech - $2.99

Total = $31.96

        I like the smell and the consistency of the Olay Fresh Effects (BB Cream!).  It feels just like a moisturizer on the face and soaks in right away.  My only issue with it is that it is not full coverage and with my hyper-pigmentation on my cheeks it was not enough for my liking.  I used it instead of foundation and if never got oily and it didn't seem to slide of my face with the heat.  I also used it under my foundation and liked it much better as it was a nice base for the foundation to adhere to.  I would recommend it for a summer alternative to heavy foundations, especially if your not concerned about having full coverage or not. #TBA

      The Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics are nice pony tail holders that do not pull or break the hair.  I had my hair in a pony tail all day without any concerns or discomfort.  I like them and have seen them before at places like Sephora for a lot more money then these ones and they seem to be basically the same thing.  The only difference between the higher priced ones and the Goody ones is the colors, as far as I can tell.  Again, I would recommend the ribbon elastics. #Ouchless

     I haven't been able to try the Dr. Scholl's For Her.  The package states the there is a sticky layer that adheres to the insides of the shoes so that they stay in place and that they will relieve foot pain from wearing high heels.  They are designed for heels 2" or higher and I usually wear flats.  I do have a couple of high heels and will try these out when I wear them.  My biggest concern with them is my feet are wide and flat, I'm not sure if there will be room in the shoes to comfortably wear these.  My other concern is since I have very flat feet and these come with an arch support that they will hurt the arch area of my feet.  I will have to try them to be sure.  They are very cushiony and feel like they would be comfortable for people with normal feet.  I also like that the sticky side of the insole is reusable so that the insoles can be moved from one pair of shoes to another freely. #DrSchollsStrut  

      Lastly I received nail polish, and who doesn't need more nail polish.  OK, I know that is probably me since I own hundreds.  However, I have used the SinfulShine colors before and they last a long time on natural nails and give the shine of a gel without the commitment of one.  They are easily removed with regular nail polish.  Unlike gel nails that need to be removed with straight acetone which is not good for natural nails. I received the color WISP which is a basic white.  I am not incredibly fond of white nail polish, simply because it reminds me of taffy, lol.  I do use it in some of my manicures where I am using a lot of color in my nail art.  I am also going to try to use it as a stamping polish as it is very opaque and might work well.  #SinfulShine

I really enjoyed receiving my first VoxBox and I hope I qualify for future boxes.  Thanks for stopping by and I will see you next time.

IPSY ( My Glam) Bag - JUNE 2013

I just received my Ipsy bag this week for the month of June.  Ipsy is a monthly subscription bag that is $10 and comes with 5 deluxe or full sized samples along with a make-up bag.  

The theme was On the Wild Side.

The items I received are as follows:

Psssst! Dry Shampoo (Deluxe Sample) $2.30

NYX Cream Blush in CB11 Boho Chic (Full Size) $6

StarLooks Lip Pencil in K337 Tipsy (Full Size) $12

J. Cats Sparkling Cream Palette in SCP107 Suzie (Full Size) $4.49

Cailyn Line Fix Gel Eyeliner in Purple (Full Size) $21

Total Value of bag = $45.79

      I really like the Pssst! Dry Shampoo.  I have used it and it gives the hair a nice clean feeling, good smell and volume. My one complaint about it is that there is a white powder residue and it needs to be thoroughly brushed out of the hair especially if your brunet, like I am.  I will use it on the weekend when I really don't want to spend a ton of time on my hair or when I am just going to the grocery store and am not in the need of getting entirely fixed up. 

      I am not a huge fan of cream blushes.  I feel like they make my foundation muddy and they don't show up well on the face, especially when I end up covering them up with a setting powder.  That being said, I have swatched the NYX blush and found the consistency very nice and creamy.  The blush is not very pigmented and it is a very light color.  It would be great to use if not using any other foundations of face products.  I am not sure if I will use the blush because it is a cream, but one never knows, I might decide to give it a whirl. 

      StarLooks lip pencil is in a neutral shade that would work well on any skin tones.  It matches many of the lip colors I tend to use and has a nice creamy feel.  I am not in the habit of using a lip liner because I use mostly lip balms as opposed to lip sticks.  I will try this out and see if it has nice lasting power when using one of my lip sticks,  From swatching it I really like the way it glides on and the color.

       I am not sure what the appeal is of the  J. Cats Sparkling Cream Palette.  It is glitter in a gel base and feels like rough glitter when gliding it over the skin.  The glitter payoff is huge as when swatching it my hand was covered in glitter.  It might be a nice effect on Halloween or when going out to a club (which I never do).  I went to the website to see what the uses are of this palette and didn't find anything.  I would not use it anywhere near the eyes as the glitter is very chunky and it would not be pleasant to get glitter into the eyes. 

      Lastly in the bag is the Cailyn Gel Eyeliner.  I got it in purple which is not a highly used color in eyeliner.  It is rather dark and I think can be pulled off as the liner on the upper lids of the eyes.  I have this eyeliner in another color and absolutely love it.  The application is very easy and smooth and the staying power is wonderful.  In the top of the container there is an application brush that pulls out making this great packaging.  Out of this entire bag I was most excited to get this gel eyeliner, even if it is in the color purple.  

     The last item in the bag is the bag itself.  I really enjoy getting make-up bags every month and changing them out in my purse.  They are always unique and I find it difficult to find make-up bags in the store and they are usually expensive.  I will either use the make-up bags or I have filled them with gifts and given them away.  It is a nice perk and extra every month on top of the products that are sent.  I hope this was informative and that you try out the Ipsy bag for yourself.  It is inexpensive and comes with many good and innovative brands every month. Thanks for stopping by and I will see you next time.

LITTLE BLACK BAG FOR MONTH OF JUNE

        This month I was not planning on buying a Little Black Bag, however, I saw this bag that I just had to have and opened a bag.  Below are the items I picked and traded for.  Little Black Bag is a subscription services and social shopping page where you pick one item, then the stylist picks two more for you depending on your answers given within a style quiz.  Once you purchase your items the trading window is opened and you have 7 days to trade any or all of your items with other members of the site.  This means that what you initially get is not necessarily what you end up with at the end of the 7 days.  Here are pictures of the items I received in this months Little Black Bag. 

    

            I have been using the bag since I got it in the mail and I've had many compliments on it.  I have also worn the turquoise ring and the "Love" bracelet.  It is an enjoyable site and one that gives a different experience to online shopping. Thanks for stopping by and I will see you next time.

Nail Polish Swap

My friend from high school had this great idea to do a nail polish swap.  We both have been compiling our boxes for the last month or so and shipped off this last weekend.  I received my box today and got a ton of lovely polishes and some nice extras too.

Here is what I got:

Polishes

Wet n Wild - Cost Is No Issue

Wet n Wild - Believe Me, It's Real

Wet n Wild - Fergie - Hollywood Walk of Fame

Wet n Wild - Fergie - Ferguson Crest Syrah

Wet n Wild - Icing Backup

Wet n Wild - Fantasy Makers - Glow in the Dark

Finger Paints - Flashy

L. A. Colors - Fuchsia Glitter Hearts - mini

NYC - Manhattan

NYC - Empire State Blue

Pure Ice - Jaguar

Pure Ice - Excuse Me

Nail Rock - Nail Caviar - Pluto

Color Club - Wild Cactus

Color Club - Pink ( this one didn't have a name)

Color Club - Gold Glitter ( this one didn't have a name)

Rimmel London - Caramel Cupcake

Rimmel London - Hot Chilli Pepper

Rimmel London - Precious Metal

Rimmel London - Pulsating

Avon - Red Reveal

Avon - Illusion

Avon - Matte - Black as Night

Avon - Sweet Mint

Mineral Fusion - Meteor Shower

Essie -- Lady Like

Orly- FX - Pink Pixel

Sinful Colors - Cupids Arrow

Sinful Colors - Frenzy

Sinful Colors - Cinderella

Sinful Colors - Crystal Clear

Venique - Rainy Day Boots

Revlon - Buttercup

Revlon - Emerald

Revlon - Peach Nectar

OPI - Shatter - Navy Shatter

OPI - 3 unnamed minis, brown, shimmery grey and orange copper

China Glaze - Tart-y for the Party

China Glaze - Infra Red

China Glaze - Winter Holly

China Glaze - Deviantly Dearing

China Glaze - Razzle Me Dazzle Me

China Glaze - Crackle - Jade-D

China Glaze - Passion for Petals

China Glaze - Scattered & Tattered

China Glaze - No Plain Jane

Seche Vite Top Coat

MarkWins Top Coat

Poshe Base Coat

Miscellaneous Added Goodies 

Orly Argan Cuticle Oil

J.R. Watkins Hand and Cuticle Salve - Lavender

L.A. Colors Nail Polish Remover Pads - Peach Scent

Avon Nail Glitter - Brilliant Chrome

Nail Gems

3 Nail Files

Trendy Nail Wraps - SnowFlakes

Citrus Coconut Hand Sanitizer

Beauty Secrets Nail Kit

Avon Bronzing Petals - Hawaiian Shores

Avon Glimmerstick Diamonds Eye Liner - Golden Diamond

Avon - Perfect Eyebrows - Dark Brown

Chapstick - Candy Cane

Pedicure Slippers

2 Candles

Handmade Lip and Body Scrubs

Pink Slap Watch

Cat Bag

Jar Green Chilis - Homemade (canning)

Moustache pen

Charlie Brown pen

Gold Hoop Earrings

This was a great swap and I love everything that I received.  What an awesome idea.  Thank you so much Victoria!!! :)

Nail Rock review

I got these nail rock decals in my February Glossy Box and decided to try them out. They did not go on smoothly as you can see in the picture below. I think I'm going to have to take them off real soon even though it took me almost an hour to put them on. It's very disappointing that they didn't go on without wrinkles. They might work better on other people who have flatter nails, my nails are very curved which might keep them from being smooth. I'm going to go take them off now. Thanks for stopping by. See you soon.