Glamour Doll Eyes

February 2011, a year ago with Birchbox!

2012-02-19T13:10:00.000-08:00

I have been receiving a Birchbox for a year now, wow, how time flies. My first ever BB was in February 2011 and I found it fitting to do a "Year Ago" series to see what I got in my box in the said month, a year ago. I will also tell you what I thought about each product and so on.

Since I don't really have the items anymore in most cases, I am not going to show all the pictures. I will use the pictures from their website and just list what I received.

Hi there,

We think you don’t have to wait for Valentine’s Day to share the love - we heart our members - you deserve treats all year-round!

This month’s box is all about indulgence in its many forms, from a deliciously effective exfoliating cleanser to a hydrating moisturizer packed with antioxidants. We’ve also included an ultra flattering highlighter that will turn you into a dewy goddess and a smudge-proof mascara that adds tons of volume and length. Seeing as how we’re chocolate addicts, we couldn’t resist adding sweetriot’s dark chocolate cocoa nibs, tasty treats with a mission of social responsibility.

Since you’re already in the indulgent mindset, why not give in to your beauty impulses? Our website is full of inspiration, from a fun peek into the world of nail art to a guide to finding the pink lipstick for your personality. We have beauty tips from the adorable sisters behind up-and-awesome jewelry line Dannijo, video tutorials on rosy cheeks, concealing undereye circles, and much more.

Dark chocolate kisses,

Hayley, Katia, and the Birchbox team

1. bareMinerals Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara - Full Size: $18.00
I did use this, however, I don't recall it being super spectacular. I have a ton of mascaras waiting to be used so I rarely ever rebuy a mascara unless it is to die for.

2. Befine Exfoliating Cleanser - Full Size: $25.00
I loved this cleanser, I actually repurchased it from Ulta twice before moving onto something else. I see a lot of people getting other things from Befine from time to time and I secretly hope that I get something else soon too!

3. NARS Orgasm Illuminator - Full Size: $29.00
I still have this and use it once in a while. I use it mainly for a highlighter when I want more of a natural pinky glow than a white or golden glow which most of my highlighters are. I don't think I would ever repurchase it.

4. Pomega5 Green Tea Mattifying Moisturizer - Full Size: $58.00
I never used this.

5. sweetriot Dark Chocolate Covered Cacao Nibs - Full Size: $0.00
I am not too big of a fan of dark chocolate so I remember I didn't finish these, I did try them though, I didn't like them much.

So there we have it, that is everything I received in my very first BB. I think the items were pretty good, we got 2 great size make up items which is almost unheard of these days. And for everyone who complains about the food that are in them these days, they did this from the beginning (which is a touch I enjoy)!

What did you get in your first BB?

GoGoGirlfriend "Deluxe Box" December 2011

2012-02-13T09:39:00.000-08:00

Yes I know that says December, but this is the December Deluxe box. I ordered this on 12-5-11, and even though I knew it wouldn't get here before Christmas, I was surprised to find out that I would get it until almost half way through February. GoGoGirlfriend has been on a lot of people's do not sub to list lately because of their extreme lack of promptness (I still have not received my January box) and their lack of professional emails (and not to mention the dollar store "feeling" of the samples you receive). I have considered dropping them, however, I have MANY points that I need to cash in before I do that so I believe that my next 5 boxes are free. Since they're "free" boxes, I will continue to receive them until my points run up.

This is a different from the "monthly" box you get for being a member, this is a deluxe box which has much more stuff in it and you have to pay for it. This particular box cost $28, however, I got it for free because I used my points. This did take over 2 months to receive and I did receive several emails saying "it will be shipped this weekend" or "it will be shipped by XX" and also in those emails they would blame other companies for not getting the supply to them fast enough. Not too big of a deal to me, I wasn't out any money and my life didn't depend on getting that $2 make up item but I can see where it would irritate quite a few people.

Enough blabbering, here is what I got in my box:

Lets go through each individual item:

Coastal Scents "Coat" Polish in Peony - $3.95

These are pretty new to Coastal Scents and I have been thinking about picking a few up but I am on a no buy nail polish limit. Very excited to see this in my box. It looks to be a color that I don't already have as well (I know, what girl doesn't have a hot pink polish!?). I was reading some of the reviews on the website and people love these polishes!

Camille Beckman Citrus Mint Foot Therapy - $0.65

I am personally over the whole "Camille Beckman" stuff in these GGG boxes, I feel like every box I get something from their and I don't particularly like them (although, I don't hate them). I have never received a foot therapy cream from them so I guess it's different and I am a little excited to receive it, however it does seem kind of small to use more than just once.

Camille Beckman Midnight Monarch Glycerine Hand Therapy - $1.95

Deja vu? Look, another one. I could have done without this. I could have done without the butterfly too, kinda tacky IMO.

Doctor Sweet Tooth Dry Shampoo - $3.32

Not much of a dry shampoo person, I don't like the feeling of most things in my hair but I will give it a shot, probably on a day I wouldn't have to go anywhere so that if I didn't like it I could take a shower.

GoGoGirlfriend Cherry Almond Soap Bar - $4.99

This stuff smells so good and I have said it before. Very happy with this item.

Oluv Skin Touch Serum - $7.50

I wouldn't normally pick something out like this for myself as it's very greasy (and the smell, chamomile, is not my favorite) but I did put some on my hand and saw some nice moisture. I have a problem with keeping my hands moisturized since I wash them so much.

Coastal Scents S14 Hot Pot - $1.99

Looks like its now called "Regalia Purple". I don't normally wear purple but decided one day to wear it and I love it on my brown eyes. I can't wait to use this, and as you can tell from the swatch, it's pretty gorgeous!

Blossoms Duel Eye Pencil - $5.99

I am always open to try new make up items and this one is ok. It seems a little more glittery than my taste but it does blend out nicely. Might be a nice eye liner.

Blum Naturals Exfoliating Towelettes - $3.99

I got one of these in my December box and I wasn't such a fan. They will be nice to have by my make up desk to take off swatches or something but if I remember correctly, it was pretty harsh, maybe too harsh for face. Since there are 10, I will put 2 in the February giveaway as well!

Naturella Facial Conditioner - $1.99

These are free on the Naturella website, you just pay for shipping. I wasn't too excited about this until I just said that its a face moisturizer. Living in the desert, my skin gets dried out and I am always cautious with what I put on my face, I can't wait to try this!

Brow & Comb Grooming Brush - $7.95

I love brushes like these (and spoolies), so no complaints on this one!

Coastal Scents Brow Tones - $7.95

I have my holy grail eye brow palette so I am going to keep this for the February giveaway. I think it could also be used as an eye shadow palette if the person didn't necessarily want to use it for brows!

Turbie Twist Hair Towel - $7.95

I am actually REALLY excited for this one, I have been telling my husband for months that I need this. I have already used it 2 times and love it!!

The breakdown:
Box: GoGoGirlfriend December Deluxe Box
Price: $28.00 (although I got it "free".
Monetary Value: $60.17
Keeping subscription?: We already talked about this.

I enjoyed some of the items in this box, and other items I will pass along to friends/family. For being a "free" box, I can't really complain. As I have said before, it really depends on what you want from a box and if you're willing to try lower end brands as well.

MyPlatinum Box February 2012

2012-02-11T14:03:00.000-08:00

MyPlatinumBox is a new company that just started in February. They had a promotion where you get the first box for $0.01 and if you didn't cancel within 2 weeks of getting your box, you will then be charged the normal $10 fee. I thought I would try it out because a lot of the brands on the site (although they were mostly mens grooming brands) were pretty good quality so I had such a good hope for them.

I didn't get a ship notice for them so I got my box in the mail unexpectedly, which isn't that big of a deal because I like surprises. I will give my main opinion at the end.

Here is what I got in my box:

Lets go through each individual item:

Shaveworks Cool Fix Targeted Gel Lotion x 2 - $??

I got this in my BirchBox once before and gave it to my husband. He wasn't much of a fan. I thought it was kind of strange that they sent 2 of the same item. I will include one in the February giveaway.

SkinnySkinny Tea Tree & Mint Lip Balm - $6.00

I like this. Pretty moisturizing and the smell/taste reminds me of something from my childhood that I can't pin point.

Professional Make-up Eye Liner - $??

Unmarked, unnamed eye liner. It is super hard, almost like a colored pencil. I would never use this on my eye :/

Earthly Body Hand & Body Lotion - $2.00

It smells like dreamsicle which is yummy. I have only tested it on a small spot but it seems pretty moisturizing.

Delices de Cartier Sample - $3.00

This smells awesome. Just what I need, another perfume!!

The breakdown:
Box: MyPlatinumBox February 2012
Price: $0.01 ($10 monthly)
Monetary Value: $11 (not including the cool fix and liner)
Keeping subscription?: No.

I was expecting more from this box. Maybe in the future, once they're more established, I will subscribe again but for now, I was pretty underwhelmed.

Julep Maven February 2012

2012-02-09T10:27:00.000-08:00

Woohoo, another month of nail polish. The original box they chose for me wasn't very interesting so I chose a different one this month. The one I got was "It Girl" and it includes 3 polishes!!

This month did not come in a cute little bag. It did come cutely packaged with a chocolate for Valentine's day though!!

Polishes in Rachel, Elizabeth & Oscar - $14.00 each

Rachel is a warm rich copper shimmer, Elizabeth is a midnight blue with a hint of shimmer and Oscar is a sparkle like a star with this ultra chic, multi-dimensional gold glitter.

I knew that I wasn't going to like Oscar and most of the kits had him so I figured I would get the It Girl so that I could keep 2 polishes for myself and give Oscar away in the February giveaway!

The breakdown:
Bag: Julep Maven It Girl 2012
Price: $19.99
Monetary Value: $42.00
Keeping subscription?: Yes.

I want to see how these polishes are compared to the one bad one I had last month but the formulas seem to be much better than that one. I am super excited for Rachel because it is unlike ANYTHING else I have!

Cravebox January 2011

2012-02-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

I was a little taken back by this month's Cravebox. I am not one to really make new years resolutions because I know I won't keep them and it's just not something that I have ever done. I feel like being healthy is always good of course but when it's shoved down ones throat, it becomes somewhat insulting. I am sure their intentions were not to be "insulting" of course but I just don't know what to think about this box.

I would have rather gotten pens, like last time, than a bunch of stuff that I feel is kind of a touchy subject. Sure, I could eat healthier and live a healthier lifestyle, but that is my decision. With that being said here is what was inside:

Lets go through each individual item:

Prevention Magazine + 1 Year Subscription - $15.85

I have never heard of this "magazine" nor is it one I would ever pick up but what made me more upset about this, is the 1 year subscription. I read on CraveBox's facebook that they forward all of our information to Prevention magazine which is NOT OK with me. I did not allow them to pass my information on to anyone else, this is NOT a good business practice.

Emergen-C 1,000 MG Vitamin C - $4.30

I have been pretty sick in the last 6 months, being just regular sick and in the hospital sick so I am trying to take more vitamins. I appreciate this, however, I hear it tastes HORRIBLE so I haven't tried them yet. I am not a fan of Tangerine either. I might make my husband try it and if he likes it, go buy another flavor.

S2HSTEP - $24.95

I have never used one of these before. Living in Vegas, I do walk a lot (when I actually get out, haha) so it'd be nice to see how much I walk if I can actually remember to grab it. I am going to try to bring this to New York with me to see how much I walk!

Mereadesso Face + Neck Toning Gel - $120.00

First off, let me say, $120.00!??!?! (I said that about last months Mereadesso product but holy cow!! I don't need much "toning" since I am only 27 (eeks), so I am going to give this to my mom. The smell is kinda wonky too, in my opinion.

Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil - $2.49

Ok? Not sure what to say, haha.

The breakdown:
Box: Cravebox January 2011
Price: $10.00
Monetary Value: $167.59
Keeping subscription?: Yes.

Although I am a little annoyed with them passing my information around, I am going to keep this. This is only their 2nd month. I know they're not all "beauty" related, but I am going to give them a month or so more until I make my final decision.

January 2012 Giveaway Winner!!

2012-02-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

It is time for the January giveaway winner, woo!! I feel like February is flying by!! Just a recap of what is up for grabs:

This is what you will receive:

Comodynes Instant Beauty Flash - $3.00
Comodynes Self Tanning Towelette - $1.75
Chella Anti-Fatigue Eye Mask Kit - $12.00
Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment and Deep Repair Masque - $12.80
Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy - $2.03
Glamour Doll Eyes OTM Shadow in Resolution - $6.00
Xocolatl de Davíd Raleigh Bar - $3.00

Total Prize Value: $40.58

If you're a winner, please email me ASAP. If you do not contact me within 48 hours, a new winner will be announced.

Now, onto the winner. The winner is:

Please email me with your address.

The email address is glamourdolleyes at gmail.com.

I have already started collecting prizes for February's giveaway, so if you didn't win this one, there is always a chance to win the coming months!

Thanks everyone who entered and for your support! :)

Eco-Emi January 2011

2012-02-05T09:31:00.000-08:00

I ended up canceling my Eco-Emi last month because I just wasn't enjoying the products as much as I would have liked, however, I guess I paid a month in advance so I got a box for January.

Here is what I got in my box:

Lets go through each individual item:

Kelapo Virgin Coconut Oil - $0.43

I have always wanted to try cooking something with coconut oil, mainly chicken, so I am sure I will find a use for this!

Deep Steep Body Lotion - $0.42

One time use body lotion, seems like something I could get from Sephora. The scent is honeydew - spearmint which I don't think should be considered a great scent, not sure if I will use this anytime soon.

Dr. Cleangreen's Instant Hand Purifier - $7.95

Smells very organic, as most things in this box do. My bottle seems about 2/3 filled, I am not sure if that was an error or if that is how it comes. This will be nice to keep next to my desk but I wouldn't seek it out and purchase it.

Endangered Wildlife Organic Lip Balm - $2.99

Endangered Wildlife Lip Balm is simply the finest certified organic herbal lip therapy on the market. Eco-friendly and healthy, our USDA certified organic lip balm in concert with our philanthropy make a winning combination. Our hope is to nourish lips as well as educate. This one is for the Hawaiian Monk Seal (ADORABLE) but it isn't a flavor/scent that I would like (Lavender-Orange) so I am going to keep this for the February giveaway!

J.R. Watkins Scarlet Sunset Lip Tint - $4.59

This box always has 2-3 lip balm/products and I never thought I would say I have too many but I seriously do. This one is tinted and it's not really a color I would wear.

Biokleen Laundry Liquid - $0.21

... No words. I like my laundry soap, thanks?

Organic Sprouted Quinoa - $??

.... No idea?

Tea Gschwender Teas - $??

Not much of a tea fan..

Somehow I forgot to take a picture of the one make up item that was in this box. This was a Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques eye liner in black/brown. No disrespect to Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques but I am shocked that this item even got past the "testing" phase, if there is one. First off, the color is brown, no black what so ever. It was hard to swatch, I usually like my eye liner in my water line and if I was to put this on my water line, my eye would fall off. I swatched it on my hand and about 3 hours later, I noticed it was still there so I rubbed it a tiny and it came right off. No staying power what so ever. This product was worth $12.00.

The breakdown:
Box: Eco-Emi January 2011
Price: $15.00
Monetary Value: $28.59 (not including the quinoa and tea)
Keeping subscription?: No.

This box just confirms that I am happy I canceled my subscription. This doesn't mean that Eco Emi isn't for everyone, if this is the type of lifestyle you like then you will probably love the box, I just didn't like it too much!!

BLOG SALE!!!

2012-02-04T09:38:00.000-08:00

All prices are with the items. Shipping will be calculated on weight and where you live. All items will be shipped in a bubble mailer unless it needs more protection then it will ship in a box. I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ITEMS ONCE IT LEAVES MY HANDS. Insurance will be $1.75.

I will be more than happy to ship Internationally but shipping just went up so it will be $3 MINIMUM. It will still be calculated by postal code. I also require insurance on ALL International packages since there isn't any formal tracking.

If you're interested in an item, please leave a comment here with your name, email address, what you want, if you want insurance and your zip code. I will then send you an invoice.

Items are first come, first serve. You have 24 hours to pay the invoice. If it is not paid within 24 hours, then the next person will be offered the item(s).

Usage for most of these are shown but let me know if you want specifics. My camera isn't that great at picking up color so please google swatches if you want to see a clearer picture of the shade.

Now, onto the goodies:

NARS Sheer Glow in Gobi (Used 2x) - $30.00
NARS Sheer Matte in Deauville (Used 2z) - $30.00

Stila Red Carpet Look Trio BN - $10.00
Urban Decay Roll Girl Palete BN - $15.00

bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 4.0 in The Truth (used once) - $22.00

Urban Decay Black Palette - $26.00 (PENDING)

Benefit That Gal Face Primer BN - $22.00

MUFE #3 Eye Shadow (Matte White, MAYBE swatched once) - $12.00

There will be another part of the blogsale posted in a few weeks!

QVC NewBeauty TestTube

2012-02-03T21:30:00.000-08:00

You may or may not remember my NewBeauty TestTube that I posted about in the middle of January and that I was cancelling it. Well, shortly after, the QVC version became available and I jumped right on it. This one seems to offer more make up than the original TestTube and that is what I was looking for. I am super excited to be getting this version now!! It comes out quarterly like the normal TT as well!!

The NewBeauty TestTube is a collection of some of the hottest and most in-demand products in beauty. In this tube, you'll receive the January issue of NewBeauty magazine, along with a mix of full-sized, travel-sized, and deluxe-sized samples from Mally, tarte, Kate Somerville, philosophy, Calista Tools, and more. And, with this auto-delivery plan, you'll stay on the cutting edge with three more shipments of new top-of-the-line products--one each in April 2012, August 2012, and October 2012.

The NewBeauty TestTube combines luxurious beauty products with extensive product and how-to information. NewBeauty magazine, included in the test tube, provides insider information on trends and hot topics within the beauty world via respected experts from the beauty industry.

Here is what I got in my box:

Lets go through each individual item:

Mally Volumizing Mascara - $20.00

I am a mascara fiend and I have heard great things about Mally so I can't wait to try this. Even with just this mascara, this TestTube is almost already worth it.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream - $12.00

I was my hands A LOT and they're always super dry because of it. I am always on the look out for awesome hand creams so I am excited to try this. It says it hydrates dry, parched skin! It is a little expensive for the price, but if it works miracles, I don't mind spending so much since I haven't really found anything that lasts long enough.

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate - $19.00

This stuff is EXPENSIVE. The little tube I got (.5 Fl. Oz) is $19. I have heard awesome things about this and I have been thinking about purchasing it so getting it was pretty cool. I am not much into skin care but I think my husband might like this, hes a sucker for new face things!

Philosophy Field of Flowers Shower Gel & Body Lotion - $2.50

I have only tried Philosophy twice I believe and was never really impressed. I do love bubble baths though so this is a nice little one time use sample! The body lotion will be kept for the February giveaway! Not too crazy about the smell though.

Calista Tools Achieve 10 Styling Cream - $10.50

I don't like putting things in my hair, I don't like the feeling of it so I won't be using this. I am going to keep this for the February giveaway!

Olehenriksen Truth Serum Booster - $24.00

This is supposed to nourish and protect your skin, fighting off environmental aggressors and is loaded with antioxidants. Not really my thing, I might keep it or give it to my mom!

Traditions by Nick Chavez Yucca Root Shampooing Cream - $5.00

I am not one to spend crazy amounts on shampoo/conditioner or buy expensive brands when it comes to my hair, but I can't wait to try this. I have never even heard of it before!

Tarte Aqua-Gel Eye Liner in Teal - $18.00

I have recently become a huge fan of Tarte and this is the most exciting thing in the whole TestTube. The color is gorgeous and I can't wait to test it out!!

The breakdown:
Box: QVC NewBeauty Test Tube January-March (First Quarter) 2012
Price: $29.96 every 3 months (not including shipping)
Monetary Value: $111.00
Keeping subscription?: Yes.

I love this one SO much better than the regular TestTube. As of right now, its still available, I would say pick it up! I can't wait to try all these items!

OPI Nicki Minaj Manicure! (Mini Review)

2012-02-02T13:30:00.000-08:00

As soon as I saw Metallic 4 Life, I knew I had to paint my nails right away! My paint splatter manicure only lasted 5 days since I was so excited to use this.

1 coat

2 coats

3 coats

What I used: OPI Base Coat, OPI Metallic 4 Life, OPI Pinky Friday, Loreal Jet-Set Shine

So for a mini review, I have to say, I love Metallic 4 Life. It did take a while to get it opaque, and I did notice that it was a little goopy (not really chunky because of the glitter, but almost dried out goopy) but the color itself is gorgeous. I did see swatches of it online before I bought it but I didn't think that the glitter would actually shine through over the black polish, but its like WOW! I don't see this color lasting too long in the bottle though because it was goopy.

I don't think that Pink Friday is all that unique and I do love the color in the bottle more than on the nails. Once it was on the nails, it was a bit different from when it was in the jar.

All in all, I am enjoying this collection and I hope you've been able to get your hands on it!

MyGlam January 2012

2012-01-31T13:41:00.000-08:00

I sure had a lot of problems with my MyGlam bag this month, as did a lot of other people, but I am glad it is here and I can't wait to see what's in line for next month.

This month was all about being "natural" and everything down to the bag was nature feeling.

Here is what I go in my box(bag):

Lets go through each individual item:

TheBalm Eye Shadow in Luscious Lani - $16.00

This month, you either got an eye shadow or a nail polish. I would have been happy with either but I was really hoping for an eye shadow. I was pleasantly surprised when I opened my bag and there was an eye shadow. It does look awfully similar to Sin by UD, which we got last month, but it's a nice highlight shade. I can't complain here.

Freeman Cucumber Facial Peel-Off Mask - $3.99

If memory serves me right, I think I have done this before. I did this mask last night after I got the bag and I just couldn't get past the smell. I will be doing a review on this, so keep an eye out.

Cleansing Conditioner by Wen - $3.75

I have never tried co-washing before but I am up to try anything. I never stick to a shampoo/conditioner for long so this will be nice to try. I am secretly hoping I don't like it, because it is pretty expensive. I don't know about the smell I got, but I see they have pomegranate, so if I do like it, I can get that one instead.

Sheer Cover Concealer - $$19.95

A lot of people were upset about this product (understandably) because they only sent out one shadow, which was light/medium. They have complexions of all sorts around MyGlam and I am shocked they chose to send something out like this. I tried this last night, although I don't typically get blemishes or anything and it was alright. I really love my boing by Benefit so I won't be converting anytime soon but its nice to have extra concealer.

The breakdown:
Bag: MyGlam January 2012
Price: $10.00
Monetary Value: $42.69
Keeping subscription?: Most definitely

They mentioned sometimes towards the end of December that their bag value was going to be over $50. To me, I still got my $10 worth but I feel like they used that to coax people in. If you got the nail polish instead of the eye shadow, your value is somewhere in the $35 value area (even though still worth $10), so I don't know why they said over $50.

I can't wait to see what is in February's bag. They did show a sneak peek of the bags being put together and they're SOOOOO CUTE!! Here is a sneak peek:

Foodzie January 2012

2012-01-30T13:27:00.000-08:00

I had some issues with my Foodzie box this time around, however, their customer service was incredibly helpful, so it makes up for it. I got an email on January 2nd asking me to pick the box that I would like to receive. I believe there were 3 to pick from and I picked the "Breakfast in Bed" box because I thought it was something my husband and I would both enjoy. On January 19th, I realized that my box hadn't arrived yet, nor had I gotten a a shipping confirmation (though they say they ship 5 days after you select your box).

I emailed them and they told me that my box hadn't shipped because my telephone number was wrong, which I thought was silly because I received my box last month without any problems and my telephone number has nothing to do with my address. I corrected my number and the girl then told me that the box I had already reserved was no longer available. I didn't think that was right because I already claimed it on the first day and it should have been saved for me, telephone number wrong or not.

She did a little research and was able to find me a box and that they would ship it out right away. Today (January 24th), I received my box and I am super excited!

Here is what I got in my box:

And each item, remember, these are all breakfast themed:

Xocolatl de Davíd Raleigh Bar - $9.00

Wasn't too big of a fan. This has pecans, nougat and bourbon caramel. I could really taste salt in it which I really enjoy with chocolate. I probably wouldn' buy these but it was a nice little treat. Since I got 3, I am adding one into the January Giveaway!

Crown Maple Syrup in Medium Amber - $2.54

I prefer blueberry syrup with my pancakes or french toast but it's nice to try new things. The descriptions sounds awesome: Aromas bring to mind the sights and smells of late fall and early winter. Our Medium Amber organic maple syrup has aromas of gingerbread and roasted chestnut. Flavors of rye, toffee, freshly roasted and ground coffee.

Inna Jam in Polka Raspberry - $12.00

Raspberry jam is my favorite so I can't wait to try this. I don't have a reason to eat jam too often but that's the point of these boxes, maybe I need more toast in my future! It says it has natural notes of rose and violet, which shoulds intriguing.

Fat & Juicy Bloody Mary Mix - $2.49

I don't drink so this is a waste for me ):

Freddy Guys Filberts Hazelnut Pancake Mix - $5.00

I am not much of a pancake fan but lately I have been eating them up. This came just in time. I wake up and make myself and my dad (who is visiting and helping me recoup after my surgery) pancakes every morning and we're both excited to try these!

Michele's Granola - $5.99

Mmmm, I just ate a handful of this and was pleasantly surprised, it was pretty tasty!! Their website also has some yummy flavors!

The breakdown:
Box: Foodzie January 2012
Price: $29.95 a month
Monetary Value: $37.02
Keeping subscription?: Sure!

I was surprised at how big some of the things were, although they were relatively cheap per item. As last time, the monetary value isn't as big as what you pay for but its a nice way to try a theme of items that someone else selects.

EDITED TO ADD: I actually decided to go ahead and cancel my Foodzie subscription because I want to keep with more of a beauty theme, so you will no longer be seeing posts about Foodzie ):

Chella Anti-Fatigue Eye Mask Kit Review

2012-01-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

The Chella Anti-Fatigue Eye Mask Kit was one thing I was really excited about from my January Beauty Army Box. I don't typically have bags under my eyes or have any problems with swelling or discoloration but I still love to do masks and things like that, just for fun.

Let me show you some pictures of the product and images of me doing it:

The directions were very easy, take off foil cover, put stuff all over pads. Simple yeah?

After I put the solution or whatever it's called on there. The pads turned from a pad type material into a slimy second skin, as they called it.

Before the "treatment".

During the "treatment".

After the "treatment".

I am not sure what the discoloration is between the 2 pads, I think maybe because one pad got more saturated than the other, I am not sure really.

Hello bright eyes. Give us your tired, dark-circled, sleepy eyes yearning to look like they once did. This collagen-matrix equals a good nights worth of pseudo-sleep. Activate this skin-identical collagen to lift, firm and smooth - right now. Collagen elevates and un-lines the entire eye contour while our special activator formula energizes, de-puffs, and un-circles for light, bright eyes. Ergothionine amino acid reanimates cells, supercharging clarity.

Some more specks:

Anti-irritant effect: Extraordinary soothing and cooling. Quickly diminishes skin redness and reduces swollen skin areas. The mask is easy to remove - no cleansing required, thus gentle to skin. Reduces skin redness by 27.5%.
Hydrating effect: Soluble collagen molecules reinforce moisture binding capacity creating smoother skin and reducing fine lines. Increases the skin’s moisture level by 59%.
Helps Stimulate collagen synthesis: Skin identical collagen peptides penetrate to help plump the skin to imporve the youthful appearance of the under eye area. After just 20 minutes, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkle depth around the eyes is reduced by 15%.

Now that I am reading all about this mask, I see this: In just 20 minutes, once a week, for four weeks, see a reduction of under-eye puffiness, fine lines and dehydration. So in order to see a full on difference, you should use this for four weeks, which only 1 kit was provided.

Packaging (5/5):
Simple, nothing special about it. The directions were on the box and were super easy to follow

Product (3/5):
I am giving this a 3 because it's not really their fault that it didn't work me. I just don't have undereye circles or anything like that. I did enjoy the feeling it gave me, it was kind of tingly and I could feel that it would work if I did have undereyes. I could see it working out great if I did have undereyes, it sure did wake up my skin. The feeling of the product was kind of weird, but in a good way I suppose.

Application (5/5):
This was very easy. The directions were on the back. It wasn't messy or a hassle.

Price (3/5):
I am on the fence about this. Now, buying it out right is $12 for one kit of $45 for 4 kits. That seems like a lot but if you were to get something similar at spa, it would probably be triple that. So the price is ok, but not fabulous.

Overall (4/5):
I am a little on the fence about this. I am not so sure I would buy it, just because it seems pretty pricey to me, for what it didn't do. If you have bags, I could definitely see it working. Or even if you're having a little girls spa night, these would be great to do!

You can get this at Chella, 1 for $12 or 4 for $45 or Beauty Army has them as well. Or you can wait til the January giveaway, I have a kit to giveaway!)

January 2012 Giveaway!!

2012-01-28T08:25:00.000-08:00

As you know, I have decided that I will be giving away the items that I don't need from every box that I get to you guys. A lot of the samples I receive are things that I might already have or something I just know I wouldn't use, so that works out great for you guys!

This is what you will receive:

Comodynes Instant Beauty Flash - $3.00
Comodynes Self Tanning Towelette - $1.75
Chella Anti-Fatigue Eye Mask Kit - $12.00
Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment and Deep Repair Masque - $12.80
Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy - $2.03
Glamour Doll Eyes OTM Shadow in Resolution - $6.00
Xocolatl de Davíd Raleigh Bar - $3.00

Total Prize Value: $40.58

This pack will actually come in the bag I got from MyGlam because I have a million make up bags already!

And the rules:

You must be a follower of this blog.
You must be at least 18 years old or with parents permission.
It is open internationally!

Below is the entry form. You must enter the "follower" part but the other entries are optional. The other entries will get you extra spots in the giveaway and winner will be chosen via random.org by the widget, not by me!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PLEASE NOTE: I WILL be going through each entry to make sure that you have followed all the rules and entered correctly, if you haven't your entry will be deleted.

Winner will be announced 1 week from today (so February 4th) and you will have 24 hours to contact me back. The winner will be announced in a new post, so if you're a follower, you should automatically get the updates. If the winner does not contact me within 24 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck!!

Birchbox January 2012

2012-01-27T12:18:00.000-08:00

This is my 12th box with BirchBox and for some reason, I always thought that people got something super awesome, or at least a cool colored box, for their 12th month. I am pretty sure I have seen people get something different when its their 12th month. I was hoping something like that, I have been with the company for a year now. Other than that, I was pretty happy with my first BirchBox of the year. I know I have heard a lot of mixed reviews, and to be honest, when I first saw the box that I was getting, I was a little put off, but once I saw it, I am pretty happy!

I received box #3. A lot of the other boxes had a Zoya polish in it, which I was hoping not to get because I got all the colors that they were showing when Zoya was having their flash deals, so I am glad I didn't get a duplicate. .

Here is what was inside:

Lets go through each individual item:

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy - $2.03

I have a full size of this (and love it btw, one of my favorite perfumes) so I will be keeping this for the January giveaway.

Larabar in Peanut Butter Cookie - $0.84

I got one of these in my Influenster Holiday VoxBox and did not like it at all, so when I saw that they were in this box, I was thinking "oh great". But I got a flavor I could actually like and it was pretty good. I wouldn't go out and buy more but it wasn't something that I didn't like. I do enjoy getting food once in a while. I know one time we got a KindBar, which I buy all the time now. I know some people got granola and was pretty upset.

BORGHESE CuraForte Moisture Intensifier - $9.93

I originally thought this was a moisturizer, so I opened it up and it spilled everywhere. It is pretty runny. But then I read on BirchBox that its somewhat like a moisturizer primer, which I find silly, but I will definitely try it!

Jouer Body Butter - $2.41

I am taking a total guess at the price since it doesn't actually have the size on the jar (I took a guess of .25oz). This smells like a richy hotel to me, or maybe even a richy spa/massage place. Not a bag thing, just an observation. I can't wait to try it. It is a relatively small amount for a "body" butter so I think it might only last one or 2 times.

stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Purple Tang - $20.00

I have tried these before and I like them. I wouldn't seek them out in the store to buy more but it's a nice product to get in a box. The one I got is a dark dark purple with purple sparkle, really pretty.

Birchbox Magnet

When I saw people got a magnet, I was actually really excited, haha. I wanted one really bad. I love magnets and I put it on my fridge immediately!

The breakdown:
Bag: BirchBox January 2012
Price: $10.00
Monetary Value: $35.21
Keeping subscription?: Yes.

The eye liner makes this box worth it alone, add on all the other little things (which aren't fabulous but worth a try) so all in all, this box is worth it. I am excited to try these new things :)

Coastal Scents Beijing Go Palette Review

2012-01-25T11:27:00.000-08:00

I received this Coastal Scents Beijing Palette in a deluxe box I got from GoGoGirlfriend back in December. I have always wanted to try these palettes but to be honest, I didn't want to spend the money. I have so many palettes and shadows already, it seemed frivolous. I didn't want the particular one that I got, I wanted another one but was happy none the less because this one is actually gorgeous. When I saw this in my box, I almost squealed.

All swatches are done over Glamour Doll Eyes Foil Me.

Reveal exquisite beauty with our Beijing Go Palette. Inspired by the Peking Opera in China’s cultural epicenter this palette contains twelve highly pigmented shimmery shadows to create a variety of looks. Whether you wish to achieve a look for day or night this collection of brilliant reds, pinks, deep plums, and a sparkling black is ideal. All twelve shadows are housed in our matte black, Coastal Scents logo imprinted palette and equipped with a mirror for convenience.

And some specks:

Palette : 3.22" x 3.31" x 0.62" (8.2cm x 8.4cm x 1.6cm)
Mirror : 2.72" x 2.72" (6.9cm x 6.9cm)
Eye Shadow Pot Diameter : 0.62" (1.6cm)

Packaging (4.5/5):
Unlike the other Coastal Scents Palettes, this is very small and super easy to travel with. I don't really see traveling with a 88 shadow palette that convenient, but with this, you can just throw it in your make up bag and it won't take up a lot of space. I like that the compact is matte black, that way you won't get tons of finger prints on it and I love that it has a fairly large mirror in it. The only thing that I dislike is that it doesn't feel completely sturdy. It is a nice sturdy plastic, but I think it could be better.

Product (4/5):
I love the colors that are offered in this palette are nice and neutral but still can give a sultry sexy type look. All of the finished as "satin", whether its satin matte or satin finish but the texture and consistency are great on all of them. The pigmentation is there for a lot of them, however, I did feel that some of them have a more "subtle" pigmentation. One thing that I didn't like about the palette as a whole is that there isn't a highlight color. It would have been nice to have a nice white or beige to finish off the look without having to grab about another shadow/palette.

Longevity (5/5):
I didn't have a problem with these fading or creasing, however, as I always say, I feel like its all based on the primer you use.

Price (5/5):
You can get these palettes (there are 7 different kinds I believe) at Coastal Scents for $8.95 or at GoGoGirlfriend for $10.95 (Non Member Price) or $8.95 (Member Price), however, GGG only has the one, Beijing. $8.95 for 12 shadows is a magnificent deal, that puts them at about $0.75 each. These shadows are 1 cm smaller than a MAC shadow which will run you $14.50 (or $11.50 for pro pan) so for the size, you're getting a great deal. Please note, I am not saying that CS shadows are comparable for MAC shadows, just using the size as a reference.

Overall (4.625/5):
If the colors are pretty to you, I would say its worth picking up at least one palette. Easy to travel with and compact is always a nice thing.

Lastly, a look I did using this palette (don't mind my brows, I have been avoiding them lately). I used a lot from the bottom 2 rows:

Bloom.com Review (OPI Nicki Minaj Collection)

2012-01-23T15:21:00.000-08:00

Just a warning: This will most likely be a huge rant.

Ok, so on January 7th someone posted on Facebook that kgbdeals was having a deal for bloom.com that if you purchased their voucher for $25, you get $50 to spend on that website. They also had mentioned that they had the new OPI Nicki Minaj Collection, which I have been drooling over since I saw pictures of it in November. I jumped on kgbdeals as fast as I could and spent the $25 for the gift voucher. The next day, I went to bloom and ordered the 6 Nicki Minaj colors. I got an email that the order had shipped on the 11th and when I checked the UPS tracking number, it said it would arrive Tuesday, January 17th.

Now this is a UPS fail, NOT blooms fault obviously: Tuesday came around, I woke up and checked the tracking number like I always do. It said out for delivery, yay. My UPS man usually doesn't come until about 6pm, sometimes even 8pm. 7:30 rolled around and I was getting worried. I checked the tracking number and it still said out for delivery, so I thought maybe he was just a little behind. 9pm came around, still nothing, so I checked the tracking number and it said rescheduled for Wednesday. I was a little annoyed of course since I had been waiting for almost a week to get these.

So Wednesday came around, I checked the tracking number and it said out for delivery. I wait and wait and wait, and 8pm comes around, nothing. So I called and the lady said it was out for delivery, that's all we can tell you. 9pm comes around, nothing, so I checked it again and it said rescheduled for Thursday. Now I was very annoyed. UPS is supposed to be known for the tracking and getting items there on time. So I called and of course they were closed.

Thursday came around and again, it was out for delivery. I called UPS first thing in the morning and the guy told me it was out for delivery yadda yadda and it should be there today. I informed him that it said that on Tuesday AND Wednesday and he told me there was nothing he could do for me. I kept pressing the issue and he finally got me in contact with my local sorting facility. They called me and told me that they have my package and it will be delivered that afternoon, by 1:45. 3pm comes around, no package. I pick up the phone to call UPS and right as I do, the door bell rings.

Now this is the part that makes me mad about bloom: My husband answers the door, grabs my package and comes in and goes "WHOA", and I am like "What?" and he jiggles the package and you can hear nail polish in there. I jump up, grab the box, open it up, and this is what I see:

Not a STITCH of bubble wrap, paper, shredded up anything to protect my polishes from busting open. I don't know what UPS does with packages, if they're actually gentle with them or just throw them around, what it one of those or more busted open. I was beyond amazed.

I immediately went to their facebook page and left them a comment:

All and all, I am happy to have the polishes, I have already used 2 of them and I am in love so far. I can't wait to use them all. I most likely won't be ordering from bloom again, as I haven't heard anything back from them (and doubting I will) and just don't want to have to worry about my package making it here safely!

Paint Splatter Nails

2012-01-21T14:40:00.000-08:00

Woo, 2 nail posts in a row, go me!! I have never tried the "paint splatter" nails before and was always really curious. I never keep straws around so when I went to the store, I made sure to pick some up! I thought it turned out ok for my first try, but I can't wait to try some more color combos!!

Right after I did it.

Colors I used.

Colors I used: Zoya Breezi, Mira, Areej and a random black I got from Embers Collide.

Right hand.

Left hand.

I started off with Breezi as a base and was only going to do Mira as a splatter. I painted my left hand, went outside with my polish and straw and I didn't like the effect of just one color so I ran back inside and got Areej and the black. I then did a layer of Areej and a layer of the black.

I went back in, painted my right hand with Breezi, waited for it to dry and went back outside. I found it was much easier to do a nice splatter effect after the nail polishes had been sitting out in the cold for a few minutes. It made the polish a little thicker and the effect was nicer, this is just my personal opinion.

I then topped them with a top coat and this is what it turned out to. I know a lot of people put tape on their fingers to alleviate a mess, but I didn't. I don't think its that big of a deal to have polish on my fingers, it comes right off.

I really like it and can't wait to try more combos. I have so many more in my head!

Julep Maven Review (boho glam)!

2012-01-20T14:14:00.000-08:00

The second I got my Julep Maven order in, I painted my nails. Well, after I blogged about it but it was the same day. I was super excited to try them out since I have heard some great things about them. I wore each color for a week, so I feel like I can give a fair review. Here we go:

Before I get into the review and more specifics, let me show you some pictures:

Lid doesn't line up with the jar?

1 coat

2 coats

3 days later.

I some how lost the image of 6 days later, but it looked the same as 3 days later.

Professional quality “4-free” nail polish formulation, developed without carcinogens such as formaldehyde or formaldehyde resin, toluene and DBP. Shine on! $1 will be donated to organizations that support women through our Powered by Girlfriends program.

Packaging (3/5):
I have 2 gripes with the packaging, hence the 3 instead of a 5. One, would be that the lid doesn't line up with the jar when I tighten the jar. This could be from me over tightening it, but I like my polishes to not dry out, specially for $14 a pop. Second, is the super small brush. I feel like I am really spoiled with OPI's brushes because they're super wide, and that is what I prefer. If you like small brushes then it won't be an issue for you of course.

Product (2.5/5):
I am giving this a 2.5 because I loved one color and the other one not so much. I loved Heather, the brownish silver one. I think the consistency and texture were amazing, it went on really well and just 2 coats I received the opacity that I was looking for. Now Blake on the other hand, I did not like the consistency. It was super thick, and even though it was fairly opaque with just one layer, I found that it was kind of stringy and goopy. I don't know if its because this is a "cream" type color but I hope I don't receive one like this again.

Longevity (5/5):
I wore this for a week exactly and didn't experience any chipping. It was so hard to not change my polish but I really wanted to test it out. I work with my hands a lot and it still held in there, although, I do think that top and base coats are mostly the reason why.

Price (2/5):
I am going to compare these to my 3 favorite brands, which I own a ton of and buy on a regular basis. First, we have OPI - 0.5 FL oz for $8.50, then we have Zoya - 0.5 FL oz for $8.00. Next, we have Butter London - 0.4 FL oz for $14.00 (which I only usually buy as "rewards" or special treatment). Now, the typical price of a Julep Maven polish is $14.00 for 0.27 FL oz. That is right, a little under half of MOST of these polishes for way more money. Even Butter London, which is AWESOME has a better value. The price is nowhere near "affordable" however, I do feel that they may have some unique colors.

Overall (3.12/5):
I am personally going to keep my subscription for a month or 2 more to see what other polish colors I can get. I am hoping to pick out some gems that are different from anything that I have. The price from what I paid for the subscription ($0.01) was definitely worth the money that I paid, however, $14 for a tiny polish as they offer is not a great deal. I am signed up for the monthly deal which is $19.99 for usually 2 polishes and something else, but even at probably $10 each, this might not be worth it.

Beauty Army January 2012

2012-01-19T12:16:00.000-08:00

Beauty Army is a new company, started in January of 2012, that allows you to pick your samples and create your own "kit", as they call it. I have known that this was going to start up for at least a month, if not 2. I was super excited to try it. The girl behind the facebook page basically made it sound like it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. They say they're the ONLY company that allows you to choose your own samples (which is false, as BeautyFix allows you to choose) and they said that the samples were going to spectacular.

January 1st came around and of course the site crashed, as most do on a huge reveal and once I finally got on, 3 hours later, the samples weren't that great. I wasn't expecting a whole lot but by what the girl was saying, it was supposed to be AWESOME. I was under the impression that there was going to be a nice balance of hair, make up and skin care but the majority (and I mean like 98% of it, was skin care). I decided to go ahead and give it a chance anyways, they're a new company and I have high hopes that once they become more established, their items will come much better!

The Beauty Army team is made up of enthusiastic and dedicated beauty industry insiders who believe that trying before buying is the future of the beauty world. We give our members the opportunity to discover, learn, try and buy beauty products. It’s the smart way to buy beauty products and we’re thrilled to offer our service to you.

We believe in providing a premium level of personalization, that’s why our service offers two levels of personalization. First, we recommend a selection of beauty products for you based on your answers to a short beauty profile then we allow you to select up to six samples from a larger selection. If you don’t want to select your samples, we’ll choose the ones that we think you’ll like the most. Don’t feel like all six samples? You have the option to choose anywhere between 1 and 6 samples!

I don't feel that there was much "personalization" going on as in the survey, I said I only wanted make up and nail. The samples I got back, were again, all skin care.

Here is what I got in my box:

I actually want to talk about the box that it came in first, which I never do.

The box is really cool, nice and sturdy so that you can reuse it. The top of the box has lots of things like "eye shadow", "eye liner", "perfect pout", "strong nails", so it's definitely got a "beauty" feel and the inside is pink camo!! Get it, beauty ARMY.

Lets go through each individual item:

myface blingtone eye shadow in morococo - $20.00

I have never heard of this brand before but it looks promising. The container that the shadow is in is very sturdy. The color feels really thick when you touch it but it's not as thick when swatched and its also very glittery, VERY glittery. Can't wait to try this for an all over the lid color.

Boo-Boo Cover-Up - $4.17

This is the smallest sample I have EVER seen. It says its .1oz but I do not believe that. If it is .1oz and this "sample" is worth $4.17, what a rip off!! This says its for the body, so I swatched it on my hand and its far too dark for me, kind of a bummer since its supposed to be personalized for us. It is also extremely peachy. Not too excited for this.

LaROCCA Multi-Active Lip Balm in Proseco - $16.00

This is a full size product and I love the color. Love love love the color! It is so pretty. It is nice and sheer so that it's not like a lipstick and as far as I can tell, its very moisturizing. I am not much of a fan of the taste, tastes familiar but I can't pin point it but I can get passed that.

Joico K-PAK Bio- Advanced Restorative Treatment - $4.01

I have used this stuff before and I loved it. Every time I try to grab it at my local Ulta, they're always out, so I was so excited when I saw this to pick!

SunFX Body Wash - $3.11

I have NO idea why I picked this. I am at a loss for words. I think maybe I thought all the samples were gonna go fast, so I saw body wash and grabbed it, but this is to maintain your fake tan, which I do not do. Every time I open it up, stuff comes oozing out, it does smell good though. I will try it, I don't know how it will work but we will see.

Chella Anti-Fatigue Eye Mask Kit - $12.00

I can't wait to try this. I already talked about it a little in my NewBeauty TestTube haul, I am so glad to have 2 so that I can share one with you, hopefully it doesn't make my eyebrows fall off or something!

The breakdown:
Box: Beauty Army January 2012
Price: $12.00 a month
Monetary Value: $59.29
Keeping subscription?: Yes, I hope they come out with more make up soon!

It's pretty obvious by just the first eye shadow that this box is worth the value. I hope that this company sticks to the demands of their consumers and bring in more awesome items. I can't wait to see what I get to pick from for February's box!

Nicole By OPI Nic's Sticks Paint & Go Nail Lacquer Review

2012-01-18T12:06:00.000-08:00

The Nic's Stick Paint & Go Nail Lacquer is something that I received in my December 2011 Cravebox. I wasn't too thrilled at first because I am not a fan of Nicole by OPI and the color wasn't really something that I would purchase. Although OPI is my favorite nail lacquer brand, I feel like their side brands (Nicole, Sephora, etc) aren't that great. One night, I got bored and decided to paint my nails. I have a review box next to my vanity that has all the items I received in that months "boxes" so that when I am doing my make up, I can remember to try them out, so I dug in there and got it out. Here is my review.

Before I get into the review and more specifics, let me show you some pictures:

The color I received was "Stick With Me", it isn't much of a "color", not much of a white but not much of a nude. It is more of a creamy nude. I didn't think I would like the color but ended up really loving it.

The "wand" wasn't that great, to be honest, but it wasn't that terrible either. I have seen better. The thing I love the most about OPI is their LARGE brush wands and this goes along with it. However, when I received mine, the bristles were kind of all over the place already.

Just Pump, Paint and Go! This long-wearing, fast drying formula fits in your pocket or purse. Formula does not contain DBP, Toluene or Formaldehyde.

Packaging (3/5):
The packaging was a hit and miss for me. I love that it is in a pen form, it's easy to store and easy to carry with you for touch ups. I loved that it has a pump type applicator on it, I thought that was pretty unique. The two things I didn't like about the packaging itself was that the bristles to the brush were kind of wonky and that you can't tell how much polish you have in there.

Product (3.5/5):
The polish itself was very liquidy, not like your normal nail polish. When you clicked to get the polish it, it came out quick. The first couple times I did it, it came out so quick I have to pump again because it would land up on something other than my nails. The color itself was fairly sheer, it took about 3 coats to make it "opaque". Because the brush will also collect dried up polish from your last go around, it will somewhat streak, but once it was dried, I couldn't see much of any streaking.

Longevity (4/5):
To be honest, I think a nail polish only lasts as good as your top/base coat is. I rarely have problems with chipping because I do use a top coat that I love and works wonders. I only wear the same painted nails for 5-7 days straight before I paint them again but didn't experience any chipping. If you used this without a top coat, I could see it chipping because of how thin the product is.

Price (2/5):
I wouldn't say that the price is too high, but I wouldn't say that it's affordable either. The price is $6.50 for .135fl oz. A normal OPI Polish is $8.50 for .5fl oz, which is saying this pen should be about $2.30. With the $6.50 price tag, a normal OPI polish is a better value.

Overall (3.125/5):
I appreciate the quickness and convienece of these. I would pick up a color or 2 for traveling to make life easier and less packing. Application is simple and if you like simple, I would say pick them up. These would be great for little girls too who want to paint their nails like mom!!

You can get these on Amazon for $4.99 or $6.50 at walmart!

blinc Eyeliner in Black Review!

2012-01-17T12:06:00.000-08:00

I received this item in my December Birchbox and was rather excited to try it. I fail at top eye liner, BADLY! I never wear it and actually get a lot of comments on my youtube videos about how I should, it's just not something that I feel comfortable enough to do. I have been playing around with using black shadow as eye liner and have found that that is much easier then regular eye liner, so I hardly ever use a liquid liner.

I have received a sample of the blinc Mascara in another BB before and never tried it, even though I really wanted to. I finally broke down and tried it (and hated it, btw) because I got this sample. After that, I didn't have much hope for this liner. Lets get on with the review.

Before I get into the review and more specifics, let me show you some pictures:

This will be a little more detailed than my other reviews because I want to explain what each picture is and why I don't like this eye liner.

The opening and the stopper for this eye liner are about a mile away. This makes it very difficult to wipe off any "excess" liner if you don't want to have a mile high liner on your lid. When you do wipe it off, it sits in that mile before the stopper and is basically wasted product.

Since there is excess liner just chilling in that "canal", we will call it, the wand then gets COVERED in excess liner while its being twisted in.

Then your wand also has extra liner on it too, which again, wastes product.

Top liner was right before I took the picture and bottom liner was about 20 minutes old. As you can tell, its very glossy.

Liner is "shinier" than I like in a liquid liner.

What I didn't like about the mascara was that it "crumbled" off. They said it was "tubes" but no. It crumbled and the liner was the same way. After a while, there were little black specks all over my face.

Now, I understand that this is just the packaging for the sample size and the full size is an actual normal liquid liner packaging but when you send this as a sample, it doesn't make me want to buy a full size.

Similar to their mascara, blinc’s eyeliner formula lays down a single line of pigment that stays put throughout the day. Even if you don’t have surgeon steady hands, this is fairly forgiving. The ultra-thin tip is versatile, and if you look closely at the point, you’ll notice that the brush lies slightly off center, helping you avoid a collision with your lashes.

Packaging (1/5):
Terrible, as explained before. I don't like it at all.

Product (2/5):
2 at best. The product is EXTREMELY wet, which I don't like at all. It takes forever to dry. The only reason I am giving it a 2 is because it lasts for a long time and because it is fairly easy to apply. The eye liner was super glossy as well, which I don't like in an eye liner.

Longevity (4/5):
I wore mine for 4-5 hours without any problems. It was a little harder to take off, which also means it will last a long time.

Price (1/5):
The same size was $2.29 for .02oz, which I wouldn't even pay for the full size. Full size is $24.00 for .21 oz. For an eye liner, that is incredibly expensive considering drug stores have much better liners for a fraction of the cost.

Overall (2/5):
Pass, go to Target and get something better for your money!

You can get this at Birchbox for $24.00.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Review!

2012-01-16T08:31:00.000-08:00

Although I received a NYC Soft Matte Lip Cream in my December MyGlam bag, I already had 3 that I purchased myself. I have talked about these before on my youtube channel but also wanted to go into a full review here!

Before I get into the review and more specifics, let me show you some pictures:

Swatched in same order as above picture

Neither lipstick nor lip gloss—this is matte lip cream. A new kind of pout paint that goes on silky smooth and sets to a matte finish. Soft Matte Lip Cream is surprisingly durable and, unlike some matte lipstick formulas, also moisturizing. Available in 11 lip colors.

Packaging (5/5):
Packaging is very sleek, small and easy to carry. The lid is matte black and the color of the tube is the actual color of the lip cream. It has a typical doe foot applicator and I love the little <3 touch that NYX puts on their items. It's about the same height of a MAC lipglass but the NYX one is a little thicker.

Product (4.5/5):
I LOVE these lip creams. The only problem I have with them is that they settle into lines. This can be fixed by making sure your lips are exfoliated before applying them but this also goes along with all matte products. I typically put on a nice lip balm before I wear these as well. The formulation is excellent, allowing the product to be extremely pigmented but not being overly chunky. The cream is just that, a cream, almost whipped. Very smooth and VERY light!

Longevity (4/5):
I find that after a few hours (probably 4-5) they start to wear off a little but nothing major.

Price (5/5):
At only $6.00 a piece for 0.23oz, the price for these are awesome. Compared to a MAC lipglass which is $14.50 for 0.17oz. There are only 11 shades so you can collect them all gradually without breaking the bank.

Overall (4.62/5):
I have and will continue to recommend these to anyone who wants to try one. You can typically get these for cheaper at Cherry Culture and even cheaper when they have a sale so I would say pick one up. If you're not a matte fan, then I would say pass.

You can get this at NYX Cosmetics for $6.00.

OTM, now available at GlamourDollEyes.com

2012-01-15T12:00:00.000-08:00

Something I have been wanting to do for a while via my store GlamourDollEyes.com is offer some sort of monthly subscription. Every time I thought about it, I would get really excited but then realize how much work it would be and how hard it would be to get off the ground. Since the new year is here, it's time to start new projects, so I am here to introduce the GDE "OTM"s program.

Each month, GDE will release a new color (it may be a shadow, an eye light, or something else extra special) and people who subscribe to this "OTM" service will get the first chance to see it. The new color will be posted on the 15th of each month. For those who have a subscription, you new color will ship on the 10th of the month (or before), so if you're in the US, you can possibly get a sneak peek of the color. After subscriptions are sent out, the rest will be up for sale on the 15th.

The catch is, that only 100 of each color will be made a month. So if there are 56 subscription members, then only 44 of those colors will be sold individually. If you're subscribed each month, you won't have to worry about not being able to get the next color. I am offering a 3 month and a 6 month, just because I don't know how well it will go. I am not offering monthly or yearly because I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.

Subscriptions must be paid for up front. So you're paying up front for 3 or 6 months worth of shadow.

January 2012s color is called "Resolution", fitting right?

It is a gorgeous pale purple with silver sparkles. When swatched over Foil Me, by GDE, it almost has a metallic look.

I already have some great colors planned out, also in collaboration with a few YT guru's and another company. I hope that this is a fun idea and everyone enjoys it. I know it's kind of complicated at first so if you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email!

You can sign up for the subscription here, or just pick up this color for $6.00.

NewBeauty Test Tube 12 First Quarter!

2012-01-14T10:54:00.000-08:00

I am so over the NewBeauty Test Tube. This is my 4th Test Tube and every time I have gotten one, its all be skin care. I don't want or like skin care. I am hoping to scoop up a QVC one when it comes available, but I have already canceled this.

TestTube™ is a one-of-a-kind sampling program created by NewBeauty magazine that allows you to try a variety of the best beauty products before you invest in them. Four times a year, you'll receive a sleek box filled with deluxe and full-size samples of coveted, high-performance luxury products.

Here is what I got in my box:

Lets go through each individual item:

Chella Anti-Fatigue Eye Mask Kit - $12.00

This is one of the things I would be interested in trying, however, Beauty Army was offering this in their kits so I picked that. This will be an extra which I will give away in the January giveaway. This is supposed to brighten skin, creating a more rested and youthful looking eye area, interesting to see if it works.

Sarah McNamara Miracle Skin Transformer - $4.52

The one I received is in Medium, which might be a little dark for my skin tone but I will try it. Its supposed to give you a flawless retouched photo finish as well as hydrate, primer, enhance, mattify and protect. I will try this as a tinted moisturizer!

dr. brandt microdermabrasion exfoliating face cream - $10.72

The full size of this is way too expensive to even want to try it and just reading the title, all I want to say is "ouch". This is supposed to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, which I don't have. I am also pretty sure that I have received one of these before.

Lumene Sensitive Touch SOS Cream - $1.65

I am not too sure what this is. It says it will survive the toughest arctic climate but I don't plan on going mountain climbing in the alps anytime soon. I think it's just a moisturizer of some sort? It also claims to restore your skins "well being" within 5 minutes!

Mirai Cooling Body Spritzer - $14.00

This is a full size, which is always awesome. This is supposed to provide fresh, instant relief by eliminating underarm, foot and troublesome hormonal body odor on the spot. I originally thought this was something like MAC Fix+ but maybe not. I don't have many problems with "body odor" and after I smelt it, I wouldn't really want to put it on my face, so I guess we will see.

Immunocologie Treatment Cream VenoMAX - $80.88

The price of this is outrageous and so is the sample prize. It was really hard to find the full size jar size but hopefully this is correct. I am not much into anti-aging so I will most likely give this to my mom, she loves that kind of stuff. It's supposed to reveal a more youthful complexion.

Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment and Deep Repair Masque - $12.80

I got one of these in TestTube last time and wasn't much of a fan. I don't put oil in my hair too much but I did try the masque and it was ok. I will be saving this for the January giveaway.

Glymed Plus Intense Peptide Skin Recovery Complex - $9.88

Yet another reducing wrinkles face brightening item, not really my thing.

The breakdown:
Box: NewBeauty Test Tube January-March (First Quarter) 2012
Price: $38.90 every 3 months
Monetary Value: $146.42
Keeping subscription?: No.

I know the saying is "it's never too late for anti-age" but I sign up for these boxes to find things that I would love to use now. Yes, it will be nice to start anti-aging now but when you send me 8 in a box, I am going to overdose on anti-aging, it's not fun for me. And of course the monetary value is there but if it's stuff that you're not interested in using, then it's not worth spending your money on. Like I said, I am going to try to grab the QVC one that comes out every once in a while because I know they have some make up items in that one. If you're into trying new skin care items, I would say go for it, they have GREAT sizes, but if you're young and don't need it, skip it.

Garden Botankia Lash Primer Review!

2012-01-13T11:02:00.000-08:00

I have never tried a lash primer prior to receiving my Holiday VoxBox from Influenter, but always was interested in trying one. I am a little skeptical about spending money on something if I just don't if it will work for me so I never got around to purchasing one. I was really excited to get one in this VoxBox and I feel that I have used it enough to give it a fair review, so here we go!

Before I get into the review and more specifics, let me show you some pictures:

Wand

I took pictures of before the primer, with the primer and with mascara.

No Primer

With Primer

With Primer & Mascara (I used Tarte's Lights Camera Lashes)

JUST Mascara, no Primer

Take lashes from fine to fabulous. Simply brush on bare lashes, let dry, then apply mascara. Lengthens and thickens lashes; conditions them so they're healthier, too. Small brush simplifies application. Use with our application, use our mascara.

Packaging (4/5):
This comes in your basic mascara tube with a wand. There isn't anything special about it. I prefer black because its more sleek but then again, it will stand out against your other items most likely and will be easier to find.

Product (2.5/5):
I personally did not see any difference in my lashes from when I wore it and when I didn't. I maybe have seen a bit of a "wispy" effect in the lashes with the primer but I didn't see anything that made them longer, thicker or fuller. I have used this for almost 3 weeks now and I don't feel like I have healthier lashes as they claim but I am not sure how long that takes to set in.

Longevity (5/5):
I found this to be the same as whatever mascara I am using with it.

Price (3/5):
I am giving this a 3 because I think the price is steep for what I can see it does to ME. If you love lash primers and they work for you, then the $11 price tag might not be so bad. There are other lash primers out there that are more expensive (MAC $15, Urban Decay $20) but I just don't feel that this does anything so the price to me would be wasting money.

Overall (3.62/5):
If you like lash primers it might be worth you checking out but I would say pass. I have a feeling that lash primers are more gimmick then anything (just my honest opinion).

You can get this at Garden Botanika for $11.00.

Julep Maven January 2012

2012-01-12T12:40:00.000-08:00

I have wanted to sign up for Julep Maven for a while now but I was a little leery as I ALWAYS buy nail polish and I just couldn't see bringing more into my home without my husband having to move out. I put myself on a no buy nail polish for the beginning of 2012 (unless its limited edition) so I thought this would be a nice way to get my polish fix. This subscription is typically $19.99 a month, but there was a promotion going on and I got these items for $0.01. Yes, one penny (and they did actually charge my card a penny).

I took the quiz and it didn't really give me something that I would like. I looked through the rest of the "styles" and decided to go ahead and get something that I would normally never get, that way I would be adding colors to my collection that couldn't be duped.

Being a Maven, gives you exclusive access to COLOR! You get it first, and YOU decide how often you want to receive your beauty editor Sneak Peek Box. For just $19.99 a month, you'll receive over $40 worth of trendsetting polish colors and cutting-edge treatment products each month customized in a gift-able Sneak Peek Box. Each Sneak Peek Box features new, never before released colors and treatments FIRST to you, before anyone else. Your box also includes hits and cult favorites - the products we like to keep on the top of editors' minds . 20% off all julep.com purchases. FREE shipping on ALL your purchases. Each box also comes with a surprise and delight element- something to look forward to! Receive additional membership perks throughout the year.

I chose the "Boho Glam" Box:

Came in a nice red box and a "gift bag" wrapping.

Polishes in Heather & Blake - $14.00 each

Blake is a sunny yellow. Creamy and buttery yet fat-free. Heather is a chic platinum greige with a metallic glow. Super excited to try these!!

Glow On Age Defying Hand Brightener - $32.00

I am not sure what a hand brightener is but I have already tried it out and it makes my hands soft. Smells like your typical hand cream.

I also received some samples for their hand cream and hand scrub, which I calculated to be worth $1.32.

The breakdown:
Bag: Julep Maven Boho Glam (January?) 2012
Price: $0.01 ($19.99 monthly)
Monetary Value: $61.32
Keeping subscription?: Yes.

I can't really say if the polishes are worth it yet since I just received this today. (I purchased on December 30th and received my first box on January 7th.) I plan to keep the subscription for a month or 2 more to see what else I can get and to really tell if the polishes are worth essentially $10 each. I will make a post about the polishes themselves after I have had some time to try them.

MyGlam December 2011 Look!

2012-01-11T15:00:00.000-08:00

Since December is coming to an end (when I am writing this, however, it will already be over when this is posted), I figured it was time to do a look with all the items I received in my MyGlam bag. One of the things that I love about MyGlam is that the entire bag can be used for one easy look. I hope that the main focus for the rest of the bags will be this as well, if not, it was fun while it lasted.

I did use a few other eye shadows but from the Naked palette since only one eye shadow on the eye doesn't really work for me.

Lets recap what was in the December MyGlam Bag.

Mini Urban Decay Primer Potion Original - $6.66
Full Size NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Milan - $6.00
Mai Couture Rejuvenate Oil Blotting Papier in Lavender - $13.00
Full Size Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Sin - $17.00
Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara - $7.92

I applied the Urban Decay Primer Potion in Regular to my lids, up to my brow and underneath.
I applied a little bit of Glamour Doll Eyes Foil Me to the lid and blended it out.
I took Sin (this shadow came with the bag but since I already had it in the Naked palette, I gave it away, so I used the palette) and added that all over my lid and into my high crease.
I took Darkhorse (also in the Naked palette) and added it to my crease to darken it up a little. I also added this to my lower lash line.
I used Virgin (also in the naked palette) to highlight the highest part of my brow bone and inner corner.
I then put some Sin and under the lash line to connect Darkhorse and Virgin.
I used Creep (also from the naked palette) to line my upper lash line and also used it to line my waterline.
I curled my lashes and used my Tarte Lights Camera Lashes mascara.
After I did my face, I added the Mai Couture blush sample in Sunset Blvd. I originally got the blotting sheets but sent them to a friend so I didn't use those.
I then added some of the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Milan to my lips and voila!

All in all, I really enjoyed this bag. The value and the products were awesome. I look forward to getting January's bag, which from the previews looks like it might be all "natural". I would recommend this company to anyone who can get their hands on it. I know its been sold out for a while.

Hope you enjoyed!

GoGoGirlfriend December 2011

2012-01-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

There has been a ton of controversy around GoGoGirlfriend lately because of the "quality" (if you will) of the items sent in their box. They were sending a lot of E.L.F. things, which we all know run only $1 on their website as well as target. I didn't mind that, as the box was still worth more than I paid and genuinely liked the products that I was receiving. Not to mention, drug store items are super hard to shop for because no one ever has testers out. This is my 4th month/box and it seems like with every month, it gets more and more disappointing. My first box was loaded with all sorts of joy!!

GoGogirlfriend members have the opportunity to try health, beauty or home products to help in making that tough decision. Feel confident in making that purchase, because you already know that it was perfect for you!

The generous trial sizes give you an opportunity to try for a week or more - helping you to fairly evaluate in making future purchases.

GoGoGirlfriend is fairly different from your typical sample box. With GGG, you pay for a membership to their site and then you get a "free" sample box monthly or bimonthly. The boxes are usually worth more than what you pay for the "membership" but its up to you to decide if you like the products they offer or not, since most are no "name brand".

Here is what I got in my box:

Lets go through each individual item:

Comodynes Instant Beauty Flash - $3.00

I received this item in my deluxe box and I didn't know what it was then, since its all in Spanish I am assuming and I still don't really know what it is. It says its a lifting spray and its supposed to firm and tone and help your make up stay. Since I already have one, I am keeping this for the January giveaway. I did open my other one and it wasn't so much of a spray but more of a squirt. It came out in one line, so I am not sure how that will get all over your face unless you rub it in.

Blum Naturals - Daily Cleansing & Makeup Remover Towelettes Pro Age & Daily Cleansing Towelettes with Exfoliating Microbeads - $0.74

I have tried the pro age one already and I didn't find that it did anything spectacular to my skin. It took the make up off, not as good as other towelettes and it kind of left a film on my face, ick.

Blossoms Lip Color & Shimmer with Aloe in Sunset - $8.99 (member price)

WAY too thick and it smells like a cheap fake lipstick. GROSS!!

Floating Candle (??) - $2.08 (member price)

Doesn't smell like anything? I like scented candles.

Blossoms Lip Liner Pencil in Current - $4.99 (member price)

It's a pretty color, not sure if I would use it as I don't wear many lip sticks or dark colors, but its pretty none the less.

Comodynes Self Tanning Towelette - $1.75

I got this last month in my deluxe box too and it's something I would never use. Not a self tan kinda person, keeping this for the January giveaway!

GoGogirlfriend Natural Soap Bar in Cherry Almond - $??

I have gotten this in a previous box as well (sound familiar?), although this was really nice and I enjoyed it, I would have rather gotten sometihng else. It smells FANTASTIC though!!

Renu Derma Eye Cream - $14.28

Also got this in another box and it's not something I would use. Plus $14 for this TINY sample is ridiculous. I may give it to my mom, she likes that kinda stuff. It came in an organza bag type thing that took me about 20 minutes just to figure out!

Spa Terry Cloth Adjustable Velcro Headband - $6.99 (member price)

This is cool and unfortunately, the coolest thing in this box. It will help keep my hair back when I am putting on make up.

The breakdown:
Box: GoGoGirlfriend December 2011
Price: $12.99 a month or $6.99 a Month ($13.98 Billed Every 2 Months)
Monetary Value: $42.82 (not including the soap)
Keeping subscription?: No.

The monetary value is there but if you're getting stuff you won't use or even like, what's the point? I was so for this company in the beginning and I referred a lot of people, as did the girl who referred me but it just doesn't excite me anymore. Unfortunately, I have already been charged for January so I will be getting a box in January but after that, I will be cancelling.

imPRESS Press-On Manicure Review!

2012-01-08T08:16:00.000-08:00

The last item I will be in depth reviewing from Holiday VoxBox from Influenter are the imPRESS Press-On Manicure's. In my original unboxing post I stated that I wasn't really a huge fan of press on nails but of course that I would review them since that was the whole point of receiving the box. So here is my review.

Before I get into the review and more specifics, let me show you some pictures:

"Polish" packaging

Instructions

Nails laid out

Back of the nail with plastic coating taken off

All Done!

Another look.

They didn't seem to fit my fingers right. The thumb one didn't sit down on my nail all the way and the pointer finger just didn't fit the nail at all.

Introducing imPress Press-On Manicure by Broadway Nails, the revolutionary way to apply polish! Featuring advanced nail technology, you can get a salon-perfect manicure in seconds – simply peel off, press on, and you're done. There's no drying, a killer shine and a manicure that lasts up to a week! And, imPress is so easy to remove, you can change it up to match your mood as often as you want. Check out all 36 colors and patterns, including trendy brights, classic darks and animal prints. With imPress, your nails will always be your best accessory.

Packaging (4/5):
Packaging is cute. It is made to look like a nail polish bottle. It then comes with all the nails inside, I think that is pretty clever. Seems really sturdy so you can keep the packaging and reuse them if wanted/needed.

Product (2/5):
I didn't find that this product worked for me. Matching nails to your specific nail bed was quite impossible and I found that no matter which one I used, there was always "left over" nail that wasn't covered. After they started to come off or I took them off, the "glue" took off layers of my nails. I found the design to be cute, but not really for me. Press on nails are something I used when I was a kid, not really into them now.

Longevity (1/5):
Majority lasted me less than 2 days. Might be good for a cute quick manicure to go out but for something to wear long term, not at all.

Price (2/5):
For the price of a pattern, I can buy a polish of my choice and use it many more times then one of these sets and it won't ruin my nails like these ones did. They will also last much longer.

Overall (2.25/5):
I wasn't personally imPRESS(ed). If this is something that you like to do and you want a quick manicure, I would say go for it.

imPress Manicure retails for $5.99 for colors and $7.99 for patterns, and is available at CVS, Rite Aid, Duane Reade, KMart, Walgreens, Walmart and more. For a full list of online and in-store retailers, visit imPressManicure.com, where you can download an exclusive coupon and virtually try on all the colors and patterns!

Revlon Limited Edition ColorBurst Lipgloss Review

2012-01-07T11:42:00.000-08:00

I originally saw these on Vicki's blog and picked up 2 of them. Then I saw "Eggnog" featured in Stephanie's blog and HAD to get it! I looked everywhere for it and couldn't find it. Knowing it was a limited edition colors, I figured I had missed out. I found it randomly at my Ulta the other day and I am so happy I did!!

Before I get into the review and more specifics, let me show you some pictures:

Top to bottom: Decadent, Eggnog, Chilled Frappe

And the colors:

Chilled Frappe is a nice clear color, great for everyday. It does have glitter to it but nothing that makes it look like a disco ball on your lips!

Eggnog is also fabulous for everyday being a nice neutral tan color which is fairly sheer.

Decadent is my FAVORITE. Not totally suitable for "everyday" use if you are not comfortable with it but it is very build able. This is a gorgeous shadow of purple with blue glitters but turns out kind of berry-ish with one coat on me. I love pairing this with Charlotte Ronson lipstick in Fabiola.

I couldn't find much "official" information about any of the Color Burst Lip Gloss's online, but I did find this via Amazon.

Elasticolor? technology distributes rich color pigments evenly and moves comfortably with lips for color that feels weightless
Micro-crystal formula for mirror-like shine (5x the shine of patent leather)
Microsphere Encapsulated Color provides instant color release immediately upon application

Packaging (5/5):
I think the packaging on these are very chic yet still really simple. I love the "quilted" effect on the top and the fact that they're square. I love square lip gloss' for some reason. They are fairly large so it might make it a little difficult to throw in your pocket and go but to throw into your purse would be no problem. The tube is clear so you can see the gloss color without any problems. I also appreciate that the doe foot applicator is flat on both sides rather than a typical doe foot.

Product (5/5):
I can't really say anything bad about this product. I am going by the 3 that I have purchased but I love them all. Chilled Frappe can be a tiny bit "gritty" at times from the glitter but it doesn't hurt and I don't notice it very often. They're not too sticky but also not too light. There are TONS of shades for any skin tone in their regular line as well so there is something for everyone!

Longevity (5/5):
I find myself reapplying these about every 3-4 hours, it could be my obsession with reapplying things but I do notice that they tend to fade, but not drastically. I don't know anyone that would wear a lipgloss for over 4 hours straight without reapplying so its not an issue for me.

Price (5/5):
Ulta has these listed at $7.49 each and I can't find much information about how much is in it, however, they're considerably larger than MAC Lipglass ($14.50) and even MAC Dazzleglass' ($18.50) so I would say that the gloss is definitely worth it!

Overall (5/5):
As I said before, I don't have anything negative to say about these gloss's. I will buy more from the regular line as soon as I get rid of some of my other gloss and would recommend them to anyone! Love them!

Unfortunately these 3 colors were limited edition so you can't get them now, but you can get the colors from the regular line at Ulta or any drugstore that carries Revlon products.

TAG: Best of Beauty 2011

2012-01-05T13:46:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by Courtney (on youtube, whom I LOOOOOOOOVE), to do the Best of Beauty 2011 tag and since I don't have much time to do videos anymore, I figured I would do a blog about it. So here we go.

There are 12 questions;
1. What was your favorite makeup brand?

Urban Decay - This was a toss up for me between Urban Decay and Kat Von D but ultimately, I chose Kat Von D since I own more Urban Decay. I used to be really excited about MAC collection releases and for 2010 I would have said my favorite was MAC but they have been failing me lately. I love the consistency of Urban Decay and their "collections" and apart from their fail of Naked 2, I have rarely been upset with their products.

2. What was your hair's BFF throughout the year?

GHD Flat Iron - I have uncontrollable hair and it looks terrible if I don't flat iron it. I have never found a flat iron that can get my hair so straight and awesome. I love my GHD.

3. What one skin care product kept your skin looking its best?

Clarisonic MIA - I don't have problematic skin so I don't really get into skin care or anything much but I do love my Clarisonic. I only use it about once a week when I want that deep down clean but I can always tell my skin is much softer after using it.

4. Which store did you spend most time in?
Sephora - I traveled a lot in 2010. I went to Colorado, Nevada, California and I went to Sephora in every one of those states.

5. What was your signature scent?

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb - I bought this before I went on a birthday trip for my husband in 2010 and have loved it ever since. It reminds me of the trip we took, which ironically, we live in our vacation spot now so whenever I put it on, its instant vacation in a bottle for me!

6. What was your holy grail foundation?

theBalm Balm Shelter Tinted Moisturizer - I don't wear foundation so I chose a tinted moisturizer. I usually put this only on the places that are red on my face to even out my skin tone. It's my holy grail item!

7. What was your most worn blush?

MAC Blush Ombre in Azalea Blossom - I don't wear blush all that often either because my cheeks are normally pink enough but whenever I grab for a blush, 9 times out of 10 it is this.

8. What was your most used lip product?

Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine - This was so hard to choose because I have so many lip items and I never stick with one consistently, but when going through my drawer, I could say that I used this more than anything else. I love the smell of it!

9. What was your favorite face powder?

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Powder - As I said before, I don't typically wear anything on my face but if I do wear my tinted moisturizer, I will set it with this.

10. What was your favorite eye shadow/eye palette?

Urban Decay Naked Palette and Kat Von D Ludwig Palette - I chose 2 because I just couldn't decide. I use and love both of them equally and would instantly repurchase them if something ever happened to them!

11. What three products were your misc. must haves?

Mascara - I have so many mascaras, it should be illegal.

MAC Feline Eye Kohl - This is pretty much the ONLY black eye liner I use and actually works for me.

Benefit Brow Zing - I have a hard time with my eye brows and this works wonders. I don't use the tools or the wax, but I do love the powder!

12. What was the one staple product you always used in 2011?

MAC Eye Shadow in Blanc Type - This wasn't a hard one. I use this everyday, for any eye look. It's my most used shadow by far!

SO that was it, thanks so much Courtney for tagging me, I love tags!

December 2011 Giveaway Winner!!

2012-01-03T13:40:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone, hope you were all safe. It is time to post the winners of the December giveaway. Just a recap of what is up for grabs:

For the first winner, you will receive:

Sliced Almond Brittle on Bittersweet Chocolate - $2.00
Benefit POREfessional - $9.66
ShowStopper Designer Fashion Tape - $0.83
Mini Urban Decay Primer Potion Original - $6.66
Full Size Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Sin - $17.00

Total Prize Value: $36.15

This pack will actually come in the bag I got from MyGlam because I have a million make up bags already!

The second winner will receive:

Full Size Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Sin - $17.00
Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara - $7.92

Total Prize Value: $24.92

The first winner will be able to pick which prize pack they would like and the second one will get the second prize pack. If you're a winner, please email me back ASAP. Please note though, I am going into the hospital for a surgery so if you do not email me back right away, I won't be able to ship out until the following week. If I do not reply to your email, that is normal, as I will be away from my computer.

Now, onto the winner. The first winner is:

Please email me with which prize pack you would like and your address!

And the second winner is:

Please email me with your address.

The email address is glamourdolleyes at gmail.com.

I have already started collecting prizes for January's giveaway, since I received a box late in the month and had already put together December's, so keep a look out for that.

Thanks everyone who entered and for your support! :)

TheBalm Nude Tude Palette Review

2012-01-01T17:12:00.000-08:00

I have been a huge fan of TheBalm since I first set eyes on my favorite blush, Hot Mama. Shortly after, I tried their Balm Shelter but I had never tried their shadows. I had a palette, never used it and ended up selling it. When I saw the Nude Tude Palette, I had to get it, the packaging alone is enough to make my decision!

Before I get into the review and more specifics, let me show you some pictures:

This is the "Naughty" version.

There are 2 versions of this palette, the "Naughty" and the "Nice". The naughty obviously has little "naked" girls on them with the shadows covering up the girls and the nice palette doesn't have the girls on it. I opted for the naughty version because its cute and whimsical.

And the colors:

This palette comes with 12 eye shadows.

Swatches:

All swatches are done over Glamour Doll Eyes Control Freak Primer.

These amazing palettes consist of 12 beautiful shadows that make wearing nudes fun! These satiny smooth colors can be applied naturally "i.e. let me slip into something more comfortable" or beautifully layered. The wide range of naked neutrals gives you light highlighters as well as brazen bold shades that work to add definition and emphasis. Nude 'Tude allows you to dramatically dress up your eyes (if nothing else)!

Both versions of this palette come with the exact sample shadows, just different packaging.

The descriptions below are what I see from in the pan and swatched, not from the website.

Sassy is a nice metallic white color. It's not too pigmented so it is a really nice highlight or an inner corner color.
Stubborn isn't all that pigmented either. I would say this is my least favorite color but it's a rosie peach color with some slight metallic hues and just a little shimmer.
Snobby is a nice golden color which I kind of see a silver sparkle but not too much. This one also isn't extremely pigmented but it be a nice on the lid color.
Stand-offish is a nice light brown color. If you're familiar with the Glamour Doll line, this would be closest to He Loves Me Not.
Selfish is probably one of my favorite colors. It's a bronze deepish brown with some silvery metallic hues. I typically wear this all over my lid and in the crease.
Sophisticated is also up there with selfish for a personal favorite, just a little darker with some multi-colored shimmers.
Sultry is a matte medium to light brown. Being as mattes are a little harder to work with, this one does seem a little on the chalkier side. Not too much but I have used it in the crease and love it.
Schitzo is a bronzed color with a metallic finish. Love this color for the lid or outer V.
Sexy is a burgundy brown color, more on the burgundy side and is also matte.
Serious is a matte black. Definitely not the most pigmented black but can be layered for a darker effect.
Silly is definitely the least favorite from this palette. When blended out, it's all shimmer. The texture is more of a glitter but the actual shadow color goes away for the most part.
Sleek is a super dark matte brown, great for crease work if you're looking for something more subtle than brown.

Packaging (4.5/5):
The palette itself is made of a sturdy cardboard and also comes with a cardboard sleeve with the same design. I don't particularly like the fact that it has the extra sleeve, but for some reason I keep it on. The palette also has a large mirror so that if you wanted to take this with you, you can do your make up on the go. It also comes with a brush, that I don't necessarily use. The palette is closed by a strong magnet. I gave this a 4.5 instead of a 5 because I feel like the "texture" of the box allows for the colors to stain it much faster. It isn't glossy or matte, but somewhat in between.

Product (3.5/5):
Because a few of the shadows are a little "chalky" or harder to work with, I gave this palette a 3.5 instead of a 5. I think this is a lovely product but if you're a beginner, it might be a blessing or a hassle.

Longevity (5/5):
I personally don't have any problems with creasing, fading or anything but I use a primer that I am used to and use for everything. I have worn several of the colors for hours (up to 8 or 10) without a problem, but I think it really depends on your primer and lid type.

Price (5/5):
Priced at $36, this palette is a great deal. Since there are 12 shadows, that makes each shadow $3 each. Each eye shadow is about 0.032oz. A MAC eye shadow is 0.05, for $14, so you're getting a little bit less for a fraction of the price.

Overall (4.5/5):
This is a great palette, I don't find the shadows too difficult for me personally to work with and I think this would be a great substitute for the Naked Palette. I wouldn't say its comparable but it is a nice palette to have.

You can get this palette on TheBalm website for $36.00.

Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel Off Face Masque Review

2011-12-30T14:37:00.000-08:00

Another one of the items I received in my Holiday VoxBox from Influenter was a Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel Off Face Masque. Although I don't have problematic skin, I love doing face masks and of course trying new ones out. As I said in my original blog for the VoxBox, I did a search for local retailers and didn't find anyone. Shortly after, I ended up finding some at my local Ulta, so I thought that was cool to be able to go and get some if I liked it. I have tried this and here is my full review.

Before I get into the review and more specifics, let me show you some pictures:

I received the Passion Peel Off Face Masque in Pulped Pomegranate

Fairly simple instructions

Right after I put it on

The consistency was a little "tacky" and was see thru (sheer). It made my face really shiny and it was a light red color which also made my face a little red. At first I was alarmed, but then remembered that the product itself was red.

Half way through/I think my face was turning more red.

Towards the end, it started to naturally peel around my mouth.

Peeled off half way.

ALL DONE!

The amount that I received (.17fl oz) was just enough to cover my face, but just barely. I had to stretch it out a little. I didn't put any down my neck or extremely close to my hair line because pulling that stuff out is a pain. My face is naturally red so the added redness made me look like I was sun burnt, but you shouldn't be doing this anywhere other than home or in the privacy of a room so that isn't a large issue.

Montagne Jeunesse beauty treats are free of parabens, vegetarian approved and never tested on animals. So treat yourself today to a masque that will hydrate, nourish and leave your skin cleansed, smooth and glowing.

Packaging (3/5):
Not too much to say about the packaging. If I am purchasing a face mask, I would tend to go towards ones in a squeeze tube or even in a tub since I feel that the foil packs are a bit difficult to work with and get product out, specially when you've already applied most of the mask. The instructions were clear on the back of the product but I wish they were a little more detailed. By "cleanse", I wasn't sure if I should have just washed my face, deep cleaned, what have you.

Product (3/5):
I wouldn't imagine my face would feel amazing after one use and that wasn't the case either. I didn't feel or see any difference in my skin after I took the mask off. I am giving this a 3 because I love the concept of "peel off", I think its fun. Yes, I am strange, but it was like pulling glue off your fingers in kindergarten.

Smell/Texture (5/5):
Typically this spot goes to longevity but since that is irrelevant in this case, I changed it to smell/texture since those are both things that can make or break a product. The smell was fabulous. I love Pomegranate and it smelt very fruity. The texture as stated above was a little tacky and gooey but nothing to be drawn back about.

Price (3.5/5):
Granted this is priced at $0.96 (for this particular sample, $1.99 regular), however, I didn't notice or feel much of a difference in my skin after applying this mask. I gave it a 3.5 because it was "fun" but I couldn't see spending any money on something that didn't do anything for my skin. I would love to try the other masks and see how they are.

Overall (3.625/5):
All in all, I wouldn't say this is a bad mask. If you happen to find it at your local store, pick one up. You're not losing a ton of money if it doesn't work out for you. Ulta has these for $1.99 and they have several different "flavours" as they call them. I will most likely pick one or two up to test.

Available at ULTA Beauty, Walgreen’s, Claire’s, Walmart, Kroger, CVS Pharmacies and other retailers across the US, these masques are available in a variety of succulent flavours, including:

Cucumber Peel Off
Passion Peel Off
Dead Sea Mud
Fruit Smoothie
Strawberry Souffle
Chocolate Mud
And many more!

December 2011 Giveaway!!

2011-12-27T12:27:00.000-08:00

I have decided that I will be giving away the items that I don't need from every box that I get to you guys. A lot of the samples I receive are things that I might already have or something I just know I wouldn't use, so that works out great for you guys!

For December, I will actually have 2 giveaways. As you know from my MyGlam posts, they forgot my mascara. They told me they were going to send it, then told me they didn't have any left and were giving me a refund. A week later, I get a mascara AND an extra Sin Eye Shadow in the mail. Since I already have Sin in my Naked Palette and my wonderful friend Vicki sent me a full size of the Tarte Mascara, I don't need either.

For the first winner, you will receive:

Sliced Almond Brittle on Bittersweet Chocolate - $2.00
Benefit POREfessional - $9.66
ShowStopper Designer Fashion Tape - $0.83
Mini Urban Decay Primer Potion Original - $6.66
Full Size Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Sin - $17.00

Total Prize Value: $36.15

This pack will actually come in the bag I got from MyGlam because I have a million make up bags already!

The second winner will receive:

Full Size Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Sin - $17.00
Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara - $7.92

Total Prize Value: $24.92

To Enter:

You must be a follower of this blog.
You must be at least 18 years old or with parents permission.
It is open internationally!
You must comment down below with the following:

Your name:
Your location:
Your email address (in case you win):
What sample boxes do you get? If you don't currently subscribe to any of them, which is the one you're drooling for the most?

Winners will be contacted via email on January 3rd (so 1 week from today). You must email me back within 24 hours or another winner will be chosen. Winners will be chosen through random.org and the first one who is picked will get to choose the prize "pack" they would like!

Good luck!!

NYC Liquid Lipshine in Nude York City 582

2011-12-24T12:24:00.000-08:00

In my Holiday VoxBox from Influenter, I received this pretty gem, the NYC Liquid Lipshine in "Nude York City". I have never purchased any NYC lip gloss's before so I was excited to try it and put it on right away!

Before I get into the review and more specifics, let me show you some pictures:

Wand

Swatch

Top is on bare lips, bottom is over Revlon Matte Lipstick in Pink Pout

I have never taken pictures of my lips before, so please bare with me!

Have you heard the gossip? There’s a new gloss in town! NYC New York Color Liquid Lip Shine is getting headlines with seriously high-drama color at a seriously low price. Pure pigments give a 3-D effect that’s off-the-charts glossy. Tons of hot new shades, from preppy nudes to bold statement hues – all for less than your weekly fashion magazine.

Benefits (per newyorkcolor.com).

Pure pigments, 3D-effect shine
Lips feel moisturized
Creamy and soft texture
Non-sticky

Packaging (5/5):
This comes in your standard lip gloss tube and a doe foot applicator but it's not your typical doe foot. It is flat on both sides which I love much better than regular doe foot applicators. At .24fl oz, it's almost 2 times the size of your standard MAC lipglass.

Product (4/5):
The product itself is very nice. I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 because it's a little on the thicker side. It isn't sticky though. It has a nice scent of vanilla but isn't overly fake vanilla scented. The color is very sheer but also very nice. Texture is very nice as well, not chunky or "glittery" feeling.

Longevity (4/5):
I am giving this one a 4 out of 5 because after I while, I can tell that it's slipping away. I don't typically wear lip gloss for all that long because I end up drinking or eating or something but I can confirm that I have worn this for approximately 3 hours without having to reapply.

Price (5/5):
Priced at just $2.49, this is such a steal. You get double the size of most of your large brand lip glosses and the quality isn't drug store. There are 10 colors to choose from as well so you can own all 10 without breaking the bank and almost as much as one gloss from any other brand.

Overall (4.5/5):
I have never personally seen these in stores (although the website says you can get them at your basic drug stores) but I would definitely pick up some other shades if I found them.

I love that this gloss gives my matte lipsticks a nice glossy finish without changing the colors of the original lipstick.

Eco-Emi December 2011

2011-12-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

Eco-Emi is a sample box that is more on the "green/vegan" side and doesn't include all beauty. I think most of the beauty I have ever gotten is from the same company (so they must be doing really good!). I don't live a green or vegan lifestyle (just being completely honest) so the contents of most boxes don't really appeal or apply to me and to be completely honest, I have only found one thing that I have really enjoyed out of the 10 months I have been subscribed.

Let us show you what is worth spending your hard earned money on! For only $15.00 a month we will mail you a minimum of five samples to your door wrapped in a chic earth friendly packaging. You will have the luxury of trying out the green world in the comfort of your own home.

You typically get more than 5 items, most are usually full size.

Here is what I got in my box:

Lets go through each individual item:

Genesis Today Vitamin C w/Zinc Chews - $3.67

I am just going to be honest and blunt. These taste like feet covered in lemon. Would not buy these, will not eat more than one.

John Masters Organics Face Cleaner and Body Wash - $1.94

I can't wait to try these, specially the blood orange and vanilla body wash. The full size prices are a little bit more on the expensive side, however.

Artisana Cacao Bliss Raw Chocolate Coconut Butter - $1.49

I actually thought this was something to cook with until I just looked it up but I guess its something kind of like Nutella. Everything about this sounds amazing, now I need to find something to eat it with!

Green Shield Organic Free & Clear Laundry Detergent - $0.16

Not a very good sample, a little small but we're always looking for laundry detergent that is hypo allergenic and good for HE machines. Seems fairly inexpensive in stores too so if we like it, it will be easy to find and cheap!!

Wyk Candles in "Whispering Pine" - $2.25

This doesn't say what size it is so I am guessing on the price. Smells like a Christmas tree met with vicks vapor rub. Only day I could see myself burning this is Christmas, so I will keep it until then!

Zambeezi Tangerine Lip Balm - $2.95

I like this, it has sort of a soothing sensation, might be the tangerine. Not a huge fan of the smell but it's not something that would stop me from using it. Very moisturizing. The shape is a little weird but that's no issue.

Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Lip Gloss in Winterberry - $8.00

This is definitely something I don't care for. When I first swatched it, it was very patchy. I thought maybe because it was it's first application it would be that way. A few days later, I tried it again but on my lips this time and still patchy. Very hard to apply. The color wasn't even at all. Took about 12 clicks just to get the product out the second time. Not something I would spend $8.00 on.

Patterned Footies by Maggies Functional Organics - $6.00

The second I saw these I knew they were meant for my mom, so I gave them to her.. Socks are socks so I don't think there's much to comment on about that.

The breakdown:
Box: Eco-Emi December 2011
Price: $15.00
Monetary Value: $26.46
Keeping subscription?: No.

Without the terrible gloss and the socks, this box wouldn't even be worth the $15.00 price tag. I am not a huge fan of Eco Emi, I always forget to unsubscribe or I figure if I wait until the next month and I am unhappy, I will unsubscribe but I never get around to it. I finally did yesterday and I am sad to say, that will be one less box that I will be receiving every month!

Foodzie "2011 Stocking Stuffer Favorites" Tasting Box

2011-12-20T09:16:00.000-08:00

Foodzie is a little different from your normal monthly box because it's obviously about food. I was a little hesitant to sign up for this box because I am extremely picky when it comes to food, but on the other hand, I wanted to try new thing. I loved this concept and decided to try it out.

Each month, you will find a variety of Tasting Experiences carefully selected by the Foodzie team. Choose one that matches your taste or let us pick one for you.

What I like about this box is that around the 1st of the month, they will email you with a link to that months "taste boxes" and you can choose the box you would like to receive. If you would like more of a surprise, you can ignore the emails and they will send you a random one. This really works out for me since I am fairly picky, if its a month where there's nothing I wouldn't like, I will keep it a surprise. This is my first box and it was picked for me since I signed up too late in the month, but I have to say, its pretty fun!!

Here is what I got in my box:

Lets go through each individual item:

4 Sun Cups - $4.00

Sun Cups are made in Boulder, Colorado, and hit all the sweet spots: they're nut-free, gluten-free, organic, vegetarian, and Kosher (dairy). I just ate the sunflower butter milk chocolate one and it tasted just like a reese's but not as peanut buttery. Pretty good!! Can't wait to try the others.

Zeke's Candy Butterscotch - $6.32

Guessing on the price since they only have the packs listed as a 6 or 12 pack and the pack doesn't say the size. I love butterscotch, this stuff is yummy. There is a little thing that comes with it that says "Suck, don't chew" and they really melt in your mouth. Mmm..

Pop Candy Butter Crunch Treats - $7.00

This is a 4oz bag of "classic trios", which comes with Almond, Pecan and p.o.p mix. I wish it would have came with Pistachio, I would have loved that. I am not too big on butter toffee but I will try it, haven't yet.

Blueberry Acai Gummy Pandas - $4.75

As you can tell, I have already opened these, they're pretty good! They're just like gummy bears but not as sweet, a little more bitter. Made with organic sweeteners, gluten free and wheat free too if that's a concern for you!

Put Your Money On Honey - $9.95

Four salted caramels made with Northern California wildflower honey enrobed in pure dark chocolate and sprinkled with fleur de sel. I have recently found an interest in salted caramel, I can't wait to try these. But what is it with dark chocolate lately? Tis the season?

Ginger Sesame Caramel Popcorn - $1.58

Don't like ginger, at all, will leave this one for my husband to try!

Sliced Almond Brittle on Bittersweet Chocolate - $4.00

This looks rather interesting and its made of Almonds which I love. Can't wait to try it.

The breakdown:
Box: Foodzie 2011 Stocking Stuffer Favorites
Price: $29.95
Monetary Value: $37.60
Keeping subscription?: Yes.

You're not getting a HUGE value/savings by getting this box but it's really nice to try things. This is my first months and I can't wait to see what is to come in the next months so that I can decide if this is a service I would love to keep or not. I really love the concept!!

Cravebox December 2011

2011-12-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

Cravebox is a new sample box and the December one was their "Beta" one. Although this box isn't all about beauty, it does have some beauty items in it.

Cravebox makes the discovery of great products not only easy and fun but affordable too! For just $10 a month, you'll receive a box of products that have been pre-screened and hand-selected for you to try and enjoy.

This box is put on by "SheSpeaks", I have never used the website so I am not 100% sure what it's about, but I just thought I would throw that out there.

Here is what was inside:

Lets go through each individual item:

Perugina Dark Chocolate & Almond Bar - $2.29

This says it's dark chocolate but it doesn't taste like dark chocolate to me at all. I don't like dark in any way, but I find this very tasty. I love almonds so this is a great bar. Not something I would seek out and buy, but a nice treat for that "craving".

BIC For Her Pens - $12.98 (I actually couldn't find much about these online at all, I am taking a guess on the price as I found some on Amazon.)

I love pens, but I hate gel pens. One set is ball point and the other are gel. Of course the black ones are gel. The ball points are pink and purple. I can still use them and plan to, I just can't stand gel!

Perugina Baci - $1.25

These were delicious, again, not something I would seek out but a nice little treat!

Mereadesso Beautiful Body Balm - $54.00

First off, let me say, $54.00!??!?! I definitely didn't expect that when I looked up the price. This is a full size, 200ml which goes for $54 on their website. This stuff is nice, it does moisturize like crazy, I just can't get passed the smell. It smells like a cheap dollar store lotion or maybe even glue. The smell lingers too, which I don't appreciate since it does smell nasty.

Nicole By OPI Nic's Sticks Paint & Go Nail Lacquer - $6.50 (per walmart.com)

I just experienced my first Nicole by OPI product last night and I wasn't really impressed. OPI is my favorite nail polish hands down but I don't like their other branches (Sephora by OPI, Nicole by OPI, etc). This seems like an interesting concept. I got it in the color "Stick With Me" which isn't a color I would use in the slightest but I will try it to see what it's like. You have to "click" it to get the product out and the appeal is that it's small enough to stick in your purse. The applicator doesn't see that great either.

The breakdown:
Box: Cravebox December 2011
Price: $10.00
Monetary Value: $77.02
Keeping subscription?: Yes.

This is their first box and like I said, it's not a "beauty" box but I can't wait to see what will come next. I hope that they throw in a lot of surprises and just get better from there. I know that subscriptions were limited for a while but hopefully you will be able to sign up. I could have done without both things of chocolate and maybe not pens, which I thought was a little random, but all in all I enjoyed the box and will be keeping my subscription.

Birchbox December 2011

2011-12-17T08:21:00.001-08:00

I signed up for BirchBox in February of 2011 and I think they have lost a lot of their meaning and what they run for. The "sample" sizes have become smaller and smaller and some are even "O_o" worthy. However, I am afraid to unsubscribe because I know that the moment I do, everyone will get a full palette or something amazing and I will kick myself.

Don't get me wrong, I do find a lot of great things in BB's but sometimes I feel like their samples are lacking because of the amount of people they have subscribed.

But that's not what this post is about, this is for my December 2011 box! Here is what was inside:

Lets go through each individual item:

Eboost Daily Health Booster - $1.40

Last I thought, this was a beauty box. Yeah, "health" is a part of beauty but I don't sign up for an orange flavored pack of dust. Not really my thing. I might try it, but will most likely give to my husband.

Benefit POREfessional - $9.66

Have this, LOVE this, but since I already have it, I will be keeping it for a giveaway. This stuff is fabulous, really covers up pores. It has a strange consistency but it really works.

Jouer "BirchBox Pink" Lip Gloss - $5.71

I only have experience with Jouer from BB so I don't know much about their product but this lip gloss is not the best, probably not even good. Remember, this is entirely my opinion. First off, this thing is worth $6. There's NOTHING in it! Its .06oz. Second, the color isn't that unique. Third, the brush is terrible. It hardly picks up any product so its rough on my lips and I have to dip it in about 12 times just to get enough on my brush, which also makes the application uneven and funky. Fourth, the texture. I don't know whats wrong with it, maybe too much color but there are little grains of something on my lips, I can feel it when I rub them together. I think the only thing this gloss has going for it (for me) is that its sheer and I can wear it without personally looking like a clown. If you are looking for a hot pink opaque lip gloss, look somewhere else.

ShowStopper Designer Fashion Tape - $0.83

I hate to put BB down but is this a joke? Seriously, if I think my boob is going to fall out of a top, I don't wear it... Or better yet, I don't buy it!

Blinc Eye Liner - $2.29

Can't wait to try this, however, I am terrible at top liner. I got the mascara in a few boxes back so this will be a nice pair!

Harvey Prince Ageless Perfume - Not sure how large the sample is

When I first opened it I was a little leery because I watched some videos where people say it smelt really bad. They got another scent however. This smells divine. This is something I would actually wear, however at $55 for 50ml, the price is kind of steep. I can't really describe what it smells like, just a little sweet and clean at the same time, yum! The bottle is an actual thick glass too so that's nice!

The breakdown:
Bag: BirchBox December 2011
Price: $10.00
Monetary Value: $19.89 (not including perfume)
Keeping subscription?: Yes, because of my fear of missing out on something awesome.

All in all, this box was ok. Some of the things were "O_o" worthy, as always, but I did find a few things I can use that will make it worth it. I can also add something to my giveaway pile so that is great for you guys!

Influenster Holiday VoxBox

2011-12-16T08:29:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard of the influenster website, you NEED to check it out. I found this site really randomly and signed up, not thinking anything of it. I unlocked things they call "badges" and a month later I was getting an email inviting me to participate in their holiday voxbox.

What is an Influenster? Community of trendsetters invited to share their lifestyles and show their influence to qualify for personalized product shipments, special rewards and exclusive deals from the brands they love. Members love testing the latest products, giving insightful feedback, and spreading the word on their favorite finds!

So to sum it up, you get a box full of goodies absolutely free (you don't even have to pay for shipping) to test out, review and "influence". I am not sure how often they come out with boxes but I do know that there are different boxes and the one you get is based on the badges you unlock. I obviously unlocked beauty so I got items more on the beauty side.

Let's see what's in my box:

7 items, most of them were full size and a few "testers".

Lets go through each individual item:

Larabar in Cherry Pie - $0.84

I ate this right away and it was terrible. My husband wanted to try it too so he had half and he took one bite and threw the rest away. It was so bitter and the consistency was gross. I am sure someone loves these but I do not!

Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel Off Mask in Pulped Pomegranate - $0.96

I am super excited to try this, I LOVE masks. This is a great size for a one time use. They're vegetarian and animal friendly for anyone out there that is concerned about that but the only problem I find with these is that they're UK based. I did a search for local retailers in my area and there weren't any, so id I wanted to buy these, I would have to buy them online and wait.

NYC Liquid Lipshine in Nude York City 582 - $2.49

I really can't tell you what it smells like but its AMAZING. I just want to eat it. The color is fabulous, right up my alley. I love that it is more sheer than opaque, I can't wait to try this out!

Garden Botankia Lash Primer - $11.00

I am assuming this is full size, the site doesn't say what amount the full size comes with, but this is 7.5g, which is pretty large. I love anything for the lashes, anything that makes them grow, appear longer, fuller, whatever, I will take it. Can't wait to try it!

imPRESS Press-On Manicure - $7.99

I have to admit, I am not a fan. Press on nails remind me of something kids do to be like mommy. I will try them since that's what were supposed to do but I don't have high hopes in the least bit.

Mentos Chewing Gum in Fresh Mint - $1.49

Not much to say about this, it's gum. I love gum and I have already gone through about half the container, I am a fan. Mint lasts a while too!

Softsoap Coconut Scrub 2 pack - $1.74

Call me lame but when I saw this, I squealed. I love ANYTHING coconut, put coconut on a piece of paper and I would probably eat it so I was extremely excited to see these. Can't wait to try them!

The breakdown:
Bag: Influenster Holiday VoxBox
Price: $0.00
Monetary Value: $26.51
Keeping subscription?: Most definitely

Like I said before, I am not sure how often they come out with these boxes but I would definitely love to keep trying them. There are quite a few items I would love to try. I am not sure if this is the "beauty" box, but I would love to see more "beauty" related items. Maybe a mascara or an eye shadow. Some things in the box weren't necessary (to me).

I think that you should go subscribe and unlock some badges. Now that I have logged back into my account, I see that you can enter some giveaways from these brand, which is also cool! Go subscribe now! :)

MyGlam update!

2011-12-15T22:32:00.002-08:00

In my MyGlam haul post I stated that they had forgotten my Tarte mascara and that I emailed them and I was waiting for a reply. Shortly after I received an email saying that they apologize and they will get me a mascara out ASAP. Well today, I get an email saying:

Hi,

Unfortunately we did not have any extra mascaras in stock, so we refunded you for this bag. You should see a credit in 3 to 5 business days.

xoxo
Nicole with MyGlam

**Every customer is V.I.P. at MyGlam**

Although I am fairly upset that I miss out on this mascara (I really wanted to try t) I feel like a refund for the entire bag is going above and beyond any customer service expectations anyone can ask for. I essentially got a $42 bag worth of merchandise for free. It may not have ended the way I wanted but I am extremely happy with their customer service and I would recommend them to anyone!

In other news, my Influenster box came in today so expect a post on that tomorrow hopefully!!

MyGlam December 2011!

2011-12-11T06:20:00.001-08:00

I am a huge sample box fanatic. I feel like they're pokemon (even though I have never played it before), gotta catch them all! I currently receive about 8 different sample boxes and I thought I would do a series on my blog about sample boxes, my thoughts, if they're worth it and so on! So here starts my adventure (and hopefully I can keep up with it) into sample box blogging.

The first box I am going to go over for the month of December is MyGlam. MyGlam is a new company started just a few weeks ago by YouTube's very own MichellePhan. "Every month, you receive a brand new Glam Bag with 4 to 5 of our top beauty finds! These full-sized products or deluxe-sized samples are selected by our stylists for you to enjoy."

The thing that struck me about this site is that its only $10 a month and so far it seems to be based mainly on makeup products, unlike other companies that send mainly skincare/perfume/etc.

Here is what I go in my box(bag):

I personally got 4 items, you're supposed to get 5 but they forgot my mascara. I have emailed them, but have not heard back yet.

Lets go through each individual item:

Mini Urban Decay Primer Potion Original - $6.66

I personally can't use the original formula of primer potion because it dries out my lids, however, this would be a great gift. I have several of these and I have given a lot of them away and everyone seems to really like them. Size of this one is 3.7ml. Price was calculated by the price of the large one and how many ml is in that one.

Full Size NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Milan - $6.00

I actually have several of the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams and I love them. The formulation and texture are fabulous. I actually thought I had this specific color but I just went and looked and I don't, so that's a huge plus! This item was full size!

Mai Couture Rejuvenate Oil Blotting Papier in Lavender - $13.00

I don't have oil control issues so this isn't necessarily something I would seek out for myself but it is nice to have just in case. I have always wondered about oil blotting papers. It would be something nice to give to someone who deals with those issues. This was also "full size", 100 sheets.

Full Size Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Sin - $17.00

I have the Urban Decay Naked palette which has Sin in it, so I didn't really need a back up. It's a gorgeous color and would make a great giveaway item or a gift for a friend. This was a full size product as well.

Although I didn't get the mascara, I am going to put the value of that as well (since I will hopefully be getting that soon). The size was .10fl oz, making it worth $7.92.

The breakdown:
Bag: MyGlam December 2011
Price: $10.00
Monetary Value: $50.58
Keeping subscription?: Most definitely

I am really hoping that this company stays on the track that it has started with. This bag is a great value (even though half of it I can't use, don't have or already have) as I am sure the bag itself has a value too. There was also a Mai Couture blush paper sample and a coupon for $15 off a book of shadows, which I didn't include in the price of the bag.

Subscriptions right now are closed since they're in such a high demand but I suggest checking back every so often to snag yourself one!

Comic Book

2011-09-11T08:30:00.001-07:00

I don't know much about comics but I chose to do a look on "Gambit" for the simple fact that the super shadows color from Glamour Doll is pink and I wanted to do something with pink.

The final look:

List of products used:
NYC High Definition Primer
MAC Blanc Type
Glamour Doll Eyes Light Speed
NYC Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil in Strawberry Milk
Glamour Doll Eyes Gambit
Glamour Doll Eyes Pinky Swear
MAC Eye Shadow in Sketch
Glamour Doll Eyes Feline Fatale
Glamour Doll Eyes Ancestry
MAC Eye Pencil in Fascinating
Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara

And more images:

7 Deadly Sins

2011-09-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

I am shocked that I am still doing this. I have a low attention span so I would usually "drop out" by now. So let me recap. This is day 7 I believe of the Nymphette September daily challenges. She put together a calendar of themes each day and people must create a look based off of that. This has really inspired me and this is of course the 7th day look, even though I am terribly behind on posting these.

So I chose to do greed, which I feel is pretty typical but I wanted to do some glitter and I have an amazing goldish glitter that I thought would be great.

Here is my final look:

Lots of glitter and green eye brows, weird to me.

List of products used:
MAC Prep & Prime Eye Primer
MAC Black Ground Paint Pot
MAC Eye Shadow in Go
Glamour Doll Eyes Urban Trash
MAC Eye Shadow in Omega
Glamour Doll Eyes Immature
Glamour Doll Eyes Chocoholic
Glamour Doll Eyes Trophy Wife
MAC Eye Shadow in Blanc Type
Glamour Doll Eyes "Foil Me"
Glamour Doll Eyes Eye Light in Legit
Stila Smudge Pot in Black
Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara in Black
MUFE Smokey Lash Mascara
MAC Eye Shadow in Crystal Avalanche

And some more images:

Indie Only

2011-09-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

This one was quite easy for me considering I have my own brand, so there for, I had 854985438 pigments to work with! I went a bit more "neutral" which isn't a surprise for me, but lately I have been going more greens. I am happy with the way this came out, it was a look I had thought about for a few weeks but never actually did.

Here is the look (please excuse the hair, I have not had any interest in straightening it lately!!!):

List of products used:
Glamour Doll Eyes "Control Freak" Eye Primer
Glamour Doll Eyes Brown Eyed Girl
Glamour Doll Eyes "Foil Me"
Glamour Doll Eyes Picture Whore
Glamour Doll Eyes Chocoholic
Glamour Doll Eyes Dusk
Glamour Doll Eyes Urban Trash
Glamour Doll Eyes Angel Wings
Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara

2 things, the "eye liner" I used to line my waterline, was the eye shadow Urban Trash. Only thing I used that was not "indie", was the mascara. That mascara is PHENOMENAL. I got the mascara because Heather, aka barbiedlux talked about it in a video one time and I have had it for a few months, but never drug it out. Wow, it's fantastic!!!

And some more images:

Tropical Fish!

2011-09-09T15:41:00.000-07:00

I am terrible at posting these on time apparently. The 5th was tropical fish day! I don't like fish, at all, but I think the colors were really inspiring. The picture I used for inspiration can be found here. And my look:

Again, I apologize, my camera phone doesn't really pick up the colors that well. I "dotted" some of the red into the yellow to make the spotted look and I actually only mascara-ed (if that's a word) half of my lashes to kind of replicate fins!

List of products used:
Kat Von D High Voltage Eye Primer
MAC Eye Shadow in Blanc Type
NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil in Yellow
Glamour Doll Eyes Island Chic
Glamour Doll Eyes Electric Lemonade
Glamour Doll Eyes Her Revence
Glamour Doll Eyes Blue Ribbon
MAC Eye Shadow in Crystal Avalanche
Ulta Automatic Eye Liner in Raisin
Maybelline One by One Mascara
Benefit Boing Concealer (to cover up lips in first couple pics)
OCC Grandma Lip Tar for fish lips (in first couple pics)

And some more images:

Steampunk!

2011-09-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

When I saw steampunk, I knew I wanted to do a dark brown/black smokey eye. I can never really work with matte black because I feel like I can't really get it to blend correctly, but I LOVE the way this one turned out!!! Here is the final look:

List of products used:
Glamour Doll Eyes "Control Freak" Eye Primer
MAC Omega Eye Shadow
MAC Blanc Type Eye Shadow
NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil in "Black Bean"
Glamour Doll Eyes Urban Trash
Glamour Doll Eyes Chocoholic
MAC Crystal Avalanche
Glamour Doll Eyes "Foil Me"
Glamour Doll Eyes Sterling Glitz
MAC Black Black Chroma Line
MUFE Smokey Lash Mascara
Lime Crime Lip Stick in Cosmopop
OCC Clear Lip Tar

And some more images:

I always feel like in real life my eye shadow looks perfectly blended and then I see pics and its a hot mess.. Same with my lips, oh well, its steampunk, hot mess fits in great! :)

Cirque du Soleil!

2011-09-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

I know these are a little late but it was Labor day weekend and I didn't want to spend all my time on the computer. Saturday's challenge was Cirque du Soleil and I really wanted to do something theatrical but we were having a bbq at our house and it wasn't very practical so I went for something more wearable. The image I drew inspiration from was:

I loved the greens, yellows and blues, so here is what I came up with:

List of products used:
Glamour Doll Eyes "Control Freak" Eye Primer
NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil in "Electric Blue"
MAC Spiritualize Pigment
Inglot Pearl 418
Glamour Doll Eyes Immature
Glamour Doll Eyes Electric Lemonade
Inglot AMC 64
MAC Crystal Avalanche
MAC Blue Peep Fluid Line
Glamour Doll Eyes Blueberry Lush
MAC Feline Eye Kohl
Loreal Voluminous Mascara
Maybelline One By One Mascara
OCC Clear Lip Tar

And some more images:

Totally 80s.

2011-09-02T09:01:00.001-07:00

I am sure we all have colors that we just don't feel like works great with our complexion, eye color, hair color, etc and this is the case for me and this challenge. When I think of 80s make up, I think of blue. I don't know why (well, it's pretty obvious, blue make up was a no no in the 80s) and all I wanted to do was a blue make up look. Well, that didn't work out too well. And yes, I did try and failed miserably. I wanted to still incorporate blue into my look so I did something a little more simple. I know this is probably the most simple and boring "80s" look you have ever seen, but the themes are all open to interpretation.

Here is what I came up with:

List of products used:
Glamour Doll Eyes "Control Freak" Eye Primer
MAC Blanc Type
MAC Mulch
MAC Show Stopper
MAC Cross-Cultural
Inglot Matte 390
Inglot AMC 57
MAC Woodwinked
MAC Crystal Avalanche
MAC Blue Peep Fluidline
Glamour Doll Eyes Melancholy
MAC Feline Eye Kohl
Covergirl Lash Blast
MUFE Smokey Lash
Inglot Lip Gloss in AMC 541

And some more images:

Tomorrow is Cirque Du Soleil and I REALLY have no idea what to do, so I need to start searching for inspiration!! Thanks for looking :)

Tequila Sunrise!

2011-09-01T09:22:00.001-07:00

I have decided to start participating in Nymphette's daily challenges for the month of September. I feel like I have recently lacked in creativity and inspiration and I thought this would be a fun way to get back into the swing of things. I am far from a make up artist, I just do my own make up so I am not saying I am on any level of any of the other amazingly talented girls that post their entries. I just wanted to join in on the fun.

September 1st theme is "Tequila Sunrise". I have to be completely honest, I had no idea what a Tequila Sunrise was.. It's obviously an alcoholic beverage, but that's all I knew. I googled it, and found this picture:

I loved the brown in it and really wanted to incorporate that into my look as well. Here is what I came up with (I am hoping my camera quality is ok, I am taking pictures with my phone):

List of products used:
Glamour Doll Eyes "Control Freak" Eye Primer
MAC Blanc Type
NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil in Milk
Glamour Doll Eyes Electric Lemonade
Glamour Doll Eyes Jailhouse Jumpsuit
Glamour Doll Eyes Her Revenge
Glamour Doll Eyes Infectious
MAC Show Stopper
MAC Crystal Avalanche
Stila Smudge Pot in Black
Mac Feline Eye Kohl
MUFE Smokey Lash
Covergirl Lash Blast
Tarte Lip Gloss (No idea the color)

And some more images:

Well, that's it for today, tomorrow's theme is "Totally 80s" and I have a fun idea for that! Hope you enjoyed :)

HUGE blog sale!!!

2011-07-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

My husband and I are taking the first steps to move to another state so I decided it is time to go through the things I don't use and give them a better home. A lot of these items have been used, but very lightly.

All prices are with the items. Shipping will be calculated on weight and where you live. All items will be shipped in a bubble mailer unless it needs more protection then it will ship in a box. I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ITEMS ONCE IT LEAVES MY HANDS. Insurance will be $1.75 for the US and $2.50 for International.

If you're interested in an item, please leave a comment here with your name, email address, what you want, if you want insurance and your zip code. I will then send you an invoice. The invoice will come from a "Jason", that is my husbands paypal account!

Usage for most of these are shown but let me know if you want specifics. My camera isn't that great at picking up color so please google swatches if you want to see a clearer picture of the shade.

Now, onto the goodies:

Palettes

Urban Decay NYC Palette BNIB - $54 (retail price)

Stila Red Carpet Look Trio BNIB - $10.00

LE MAC Tempting Quad - $24.00

Kat Von D Rock & Roll Palette - $6.00

LE Wet N Wild Palette - $4.00

Face Stuff

LE MAC Happy Together Blush BN - $18.00

LE MAC Darkly My Dear Blush - $18.00 (PENDING)

Benefit That Gal Face Primer BN - $22.00

NYX HD Foundation in SOLD & Soft Beige BN - $8.00 each

NYX Auto Eye Pencil BN (black, white, dark brown) - $4.25 each or $10 for all

Random Liners BN (ELF black, Wet N Wild Denim, Avon blackest black(SOLD)) - $1.00 each

SOLD, Full Of Fuschia Technakohl Liner (2x-3x) $8.00

MAC LE Grease Paint sticks (SOLD, Slick Black(PENDING)) $12.00 each Red Velvet Shadstick (SOLD)

MAC LE Shadows (Ego, SOLD) - $14.00 each

MAC Shadows BNIB (Unbasic White, SOLD, SOLD, SOLD) $10 each. SOLD

MAC Juxt Pro Pan BN - $8.00

MUFE 3 Eye Shadow (Matte White, MAYBE swatched once) - $12.00

Mehron Eye Cream in Creamy Beige - $2.50

Tarina Tarantino Magic Hour Cream Shadow in Purple Velvet and SOLD - $5.00 each

Kat Von D King Cobra Rock N Roll Eye Shadow Duo BN - $10.00

Tweezerman Betsey Johnson Skull Tweezers BNIB - $20.00

Stila One Step Primecolor in Kitten (2x) - $8.00

Stila Little Black Dress Smudge Pot - $8.00. Minis SOLD

Sephora Porcelain Eye Shadow - $8.00

Contest Winner!!!

2011-07-05T12:52:00.000-07:00

I first off want to thank everyone who entered the design contest. I had some amazing entries and I am so grateful that everyone took a few moments (or more than a few) to enter my contest!!

During the process of this contest, I had made the decision to go a different route with the website. GDE is coming up on 3 years of being in business and I feel like we need a more permanent look. I have chosen a winner for this contest but I am going to have that winner design something completely different for me.

Because I decided to change the pace of the design, I think its only fair that everyone who entered gets something in return. I don't want you to feel like you wasted your time because you didn't. I loved every design and I wish I could feature them all, but I just can't. So everyone who entered (minus the winner, who will get her prize) will get a $10 gift certificate to GDE. I know that is not a lot but I had over 40 different people enter so I just wanted to make sure you guys know your work got attention.

So each person that entered (not how many times you entered) will get a $10 gift certificate. Please remember, the contest was only supposed to have one "winner".

I will be sending the gift certificates out after I post this, if you have any questions, please let me know!!

Extending the design contest!!

2011-05-31T14:52:00.000-07:00

I know that I said the contest will end on May 31st (today) but I have decided to extend the contest for another month. A lot of people who said they were going to enter never ended up entering so I wanted to give them another chance. The end of May ended up being REALLY busy for me so I don't have too much time to sit down and pick a winner since I have a lot of fabulous designs already so I figured I would extend it.

I am sorry if this makes anyone upset but it will give you more time to work on more designs (if you want) and people who haven't entered yet a time to enter.

So the new deadline is June 30th and the winner will be announced sometime the first week of July.

Thanks!!

WEBSITE DESIGN CONTEST!!!

2011-05-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

Since the GDE label design contest was such a huge success, I figured why not host a website design contest? I like to change the website design up every few months, mainly seasons to match the feeling around you, so this time around, we're going to be doing summer!

The winning design will get a $100 gift certificate to glamourdolleyes.com AND a $100 gift certificate to either ulta, sephora, mac OR $100 paypal if you prefer cash. Not only will the winning banner be displayed on glamourdolleyes.com but you will also be designing the rest of the website as well as the business cards!!

So here is what you have to do: Create a banner for our website using some of the images provided. Your banner must be 800px in width and no larger than 350px in height. It must include some of the pictures in the zip files that I have provided. I want something bright and colorful for summer, the rest is up to you!

Be sure to keep your banner as a PSD (or whatever format you use for layers) so that you can create the rest of the website as well.

The design itself is up to you. Something simple, professional (please remember, this is for an eye shadow company) and classy, nothing tacky or overboard. Colors, fonts and design will be left up to you! I do prefer that the main banner is only one girl, however.

When you're finished with your design, email it to labels@glamourdolleyes.com. You can enter as many times as you would like. When emailing me, please only send the JPG so that were not sending in a ton of huge PSD files but be sure to keep the PSD just in case you win!

Contest will go on for one month, winner will be announced on June 1st!

Good luck!

Please remember, any images, fonts, shapes, etc you might use must not be copyrighted!

Zip 1, Zip 2, Zip 3, Zip 4!

GOOD LUCK!!

Scentsy!

2011-02-10T17:59:00.000-08:00

I recently became a Scentsy Consultant and I really wanted to share this with you guys. Scentsy is known for its "flameless candles" and they carry over 80 scents and let me tell you, they're DIVINE!

One of the coolest things about Scentsy is that the warmers they carry don't get over body temperature so they're safe to have around little ones. I know that a lot of you have children and even pets and to have something around with a flame or something that gets really hot is very scary for you. Scentsy makes sure that your little ones are safe.

Right now we are having a giveaway through our Facebook Fan Page where any orders for the month of February will be added into a drawing to win a $60 gift certificate to glamourdolleyes.com. All you have to do is place an order through my Scentsy Page and you will be entered and there is no purchase limit.

If you're not sure what scents you would like, I am more than happy to send you a few samples to try out. I know that buying something "smelly" over the internet isn't the best thing so I want to make sure you get the best bang for your buck!

Also, if you spend $30 or more, I will offer you 50% off an item, just send me an email! And last but not least, if you're interested in becoming a consultant, send me a message, I would love to have you on my team!

Bloggers/Vloggers Needed!!

2010-10-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

I am looking for 5 bloggers and/or vloggers with at least 1,000 subscribers or followers to do a review on the new 80s child collection that I will be launching at the end of October/beginning of November. Each blogger/vlogger will receive 2 of the colors in this collection. If you don't follow me on twitter, here is a pic of what this collection:

This collection will introduce 10 affordable shades inspired by your favorite 80s cartoons/shows. Each shadow will come in a 10 gram jar (normal GDE shadows come in a 5 gram jar) and will ONLY be available in full jar. Did I mention they have a pink lid!?

Just a little idea of what is included in this collection, we have Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Barbie, Care Bears, My Little Pony and several more.

If you're interested in doing a review, please send me an email at promos@glamourdolleyes.com. Any comments here or on twitter saying that you're interested will not be considered, so please send me an email. Don't forget to send me a link to your blog/youtube.

VOTE!!

2010-10-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the label contest. I had some GREAT entries and you guys all did a fabulous job! I tried to pick a hand full of ones that I think would fit GDE the best, so if yours wasn't picked, I am incredibly sorry!

Please cast your vote for your favorite one here.

Thank you again!

Label Contest Update!

2010-10-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

I am going to end the label contest a little early because I want to go ahead and order some labels before I plan on doing the transition to give me plenty of time to get things going. I have already received an overwhelming amount of entries that I feel confident enough that GDE's future label will be in the batch I have already received, or one that will be coming in the next few days!

I have changed the deadline until Wednesday October 6th. I know that is a lot shorter than originally planned so I am sorry and I hope everyone had fun with the contest and good luck!

LABEL DESIGN CONTEST!!!

2010-09-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

Glamour Doll is going to be going through a label change in the beginning of 2011. The goal is to make processing time faster for customers so we need a new label design! The winning design will get a $100 gift certificate to glamourdolleyes.com AND a $100 gift certificate to either ulta, sephora or mac (your choice). $200 worth of make up, woohoo!!!

So here is what you have to do. Create a 1 inch label to be put on top of ALL shadow jars. I will need 2 labels, one without a place to put a shadow name and one with a place to put a shadow name, for example:

This is the label we have right now. I have a PSD template that doesn't have a name in it, so that I can just type in the name for any new colors that I create. This label obviously says Glamour Doll Eyes Shadows with a place for the name.

The first label I will need is one that just says Glamour Doll Eye Shadows or Glamour Doll Eyes, I will leave that up to you. Then I need another label that is similar, that has a spot to put the shadow name (like above). Both labels must be cohesive so that they will go together!

I am providing you with a template to use. All designs must reach the black outside line (this is called bleed) but all WORDS or things that will actually be displayed on the inside of the sticker must be inside of the blue line (please remember to remove the blue line before sending me your image).

The design itself is up to you. Something simple, professional (please remember, this is for an eye shadow company) and classy, nothing tacky or overboard. Colors, fonts and design will be left up to you! You can download the template here:

http://glamourdolleyes.com/labeltemplate.psd

When you're finished with your label, email it to labels@glamourdolleyes.com. You can enter as many times as you would like. When emailing me, please only send the JPG so that were not sending in a ton of huge PSD files but be sure to keep the PSD just in case you win!

Contest will go on for one month, winner will be announced on October 24th!

Good luck!

Please remember, any images, fonts, shapes, etc you might use must not be copyrighted!

MAC Shadows For Sale!!

2010-08-07T23:11:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased a lot of MAC highlight colors to add to my collection in a pot form. I have decided to go ahead and just do the whole pan thing instead of pots and I don't want to depot all the ones I have, so I figured I would just sell what I have and re order the colors I really like in a pan form.

1. PAYPAL ONLY please!
2. I do have boxes for most of these colors so if you would like a box, let me know!
3. Prices are as is, no negotiating.
4. First come, first serve.
5. If you're interested in purchasing, please leave me a comment!
6. Shipping is $2.25 within the US and $3.25 anywhere else.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE WHEN YOU LET ME KNOW WHAT SHADOWS YOU WANT SO THAT I CAN INVOICE YOU FOR THE SHIPPING AS WELL!

To make this blog post short, I am just going to list the colors I have. If you would like to see a picture, please let me know.

1. *SOLD*
2. *SOLD*
3. *SOLD*
4. *SOLD*
5. *SOLD*
6. *SOLD*
7. *SOLD*
8. *SOLD*
9. *SOLD*
10. *SOLD*
11. *SOLD*
12. *SOLD*
13. Dazzlelight - Swatched 2x - $11.00

Thanks so much!