Skiin Soothing & Smoothing Eye Cream Review & Promo

September 8, 2013 By StephanieLouise 324Leave a Comment2013-09-08+18%3A22%3A00StephanieLouise

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Beauty Box 5 & Skiin were kind enough to send a sample from Skiin, a brand completely new to me! They will have I believe 2 products available in the September Beauty Box 5 ( check out my August Box here!) & I received the Skiin Soothing Smoothing Eye Cream. I’ve been using it for about 2 weeks now & I’m ready to share my thoughts + a promo!
From skiinshop.com:
Soothing and Smoothing Eye Cream is a full spectrum eye cream that instantly improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while working hard to reduce dark circles and puffiness.
Key Benefits:

Helps reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles
Peptides modulate muscle synapses for line and wrinkle reduction
Helps stimulate collagen production
Helps whitening for a uniform complexion

In case you’re new around here, I absolutely love eye creams, gels, rollerballs, whatever you’ve got. I have really fair skin & unfortunately from my inner corner out I’m constantly fighting redness, dryness, puffiness, & definite purple tones. If I’m throwing something new into my routine it is normally to fight that. Because you have to use so little I often find myself using the same eye treatment type products for much longer than my other skincare products so I was excited to dive into something new.

I really like the pump format. Lately I’ve been using little pot type eye creams/gels & I forgot how nice & mess free this method is. Note: Do not push all the way down, you really only need a tiny bit! The product itself looks a bit like a primer mixed with lotion, not like your usual cream or gel. You get 0.5 oz which is a decent amount because you really don’t need much.

Although it doesn’t contain SPF I used this as a day cream because I like to wear something heavier at night. I can’t say much to the anti-aging benefits but I do know that it feels cooler & refreshing when applied. This helps perk up my eyes in the morning which I love! This also moisturizes but with that slightly primer-like feel it rests really nicely throughout the day & under my makeup.

Overall I’m quite happy with it! I also have a 30% off any product on the Skiin Shop’s website from September 5th until October 5th! Just use the promo code BOX5. Also remember to keep an eye out for samples to pop up in September’s Beauty Box 5 box!

Maybelline Limited Edition Fall 2013 Purple Lipsticks & Gloss Review + Lip Swatches

September 6, 2013 By StephanieLouise 325Leave a Comment2013-09-06+16%3A56%3A00StephanieLouise

When it comes to colors I really dig purple. I love greens as a very close second but purple is my jam. It is so exciting that drugstore brands like Maybelline are jumping on the vibrant & super bold purple lip trend & I was sucked into buying 3 products from their Fall 2013 display. There are other glosses & 2 more lipsticks but they either looked to close to shades I know I have multiples of or just weren’t for me. Keep reading to see my thoughts & lip swatches! [Read more…]

Butter London Silly Billy + Keks Nail Art!

September 4, 2013 By StephanieLouise 326Leave a Comment2013-09-04+13%3A19%3A00StephanieLouise

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I feel like summer is fading pretty darn quick. Usually I feel like it lasts longer than other seasons but not this year! Today I’m showing you some quick wave nail art with 2 of my favorite Summer Clash shades from Butter London.

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Along with Butter London Silly Billy & Keks (full review here!) I used a striper from LA Colors that is kind of a gold/bronze/copper mix. Really pretty but sadly the name totally wore off! It is a pretty easy nail art look since I was a bit short on time. For those that don’t know…my parents are arriving today! They’ve driven all the way from California to see us over Nebraska so it should be an awesome week! I also did a saran wrap manicure using Butter London Keks & Cheeky Chops which you can see here 🙂

What do you think? What colors are you rocking most before you head into fall?

Arices Sugar Scrub in Notion Review

September 1, 2013 By StephanieLouise 327Leave a CommentArices+Sugar+Scrub+in+Notion+Review2013-09-01+13%3A09%3A00StephanieLouise

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So in case you missed seeing my review & rave of the most beautiful soap ever…go look I’ll wait…I also have another couple of products from Arices to share! Today I’m talking up their sugar scrub in Notion which is luxe & smells like nothing else in my stash!

There are a few options for scenting but I went with Notice & I’m so glad I did! Notion is described as “Warm sunlight in a meadow. Soft grasses beneath you. With exotic eucalyptus and romantic lavender dancing across your skin, a notion finds you. Subtle and fleeting, you’re left only with an impression. This lightly scented sugar scrub transforms your shower into a fragrant oasis.“. I love lavender everything & oddly enough really enjoy eucalyptus. My husband & I both have allergies so I’m constantly looking for something to open my head up a bit in the morning. This is perfect because I like using a scrub a few times a week to really exfoliate.

This isn’t a harsh scrub but more of a maintenance type texture. I love the little wooden scooper that comes in it, so cute! This is also super moisturizing which my poor, dry skin really appreciates. This is packed with numerous oils including argan, almond, & eucalyptus oils. You get 16 fl oz which should last you quite awhile as well since it is finer & packed with oils so it spreads really nicely.

Overall very happy! & so are my allergy ridden sinuses! What do you think? What you favorite bath type scents?

Rainbow Honey Nail Lacquer in Lumine Hall Swatches + Review + Matte

August 31, 2013 By StephanieLouise 3282 Comments2013-08-31+20%3A46%3A00StephanieLouise

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So I received this amazing polish in my Wantable box & normally I’d review the box then do swatches… however there was a bit of a snag & they’re replacing a product so we’re switching it up. This polish just couldn’t wait, isn’t she lovely? keep reading to see more swatches & find out about the completely new to me polish company called Rainbow Honey!

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Rainbow Honey appears to be closed right now & oddly enough with my great timing they’ll be reopening tomorrow & restocked with lots of gorgeous shades which I spied on their lovely facebook page. Their products are Big 3 free & made with ingredients never tested on animals. Plus they’re made in the USA, love supporting my country! They happen to be designed & distributed in Clifton, New Jersey.

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Rainbow Honey Lumine Hall- An indigo jelly-ish base packed with blue, purple, & gold shimmer then topped off with amazing square iridescent glitter. 2 coats. 1 coat of quick dry top coat.

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Here it is matte which obviously takes away the jelly-ness but I think it lets you see how playful these glitters actually are. 1 coat of Butter LONDON Matte Finish Top Coat for this.

Overall, very happy! This is a lovely polish with an original coloring & glitter configuration. Plus, the bottle & brush were quite nice & easy to work with! I didn’t have to mess too much with glitter placement or dragging so that is always appreciated. I think I’ll be on the lookout for more Rainbow Honey shades after trying Lumine Hall…

What do you think? Are you a big indigo fan as well? I just love them! Any must haves from Rainbow Honey that I need to specifically check out?

Turban Diva Review & Giveaway!

August 30, 2013 By StephanieLouise 329Leave a CommentTurban+Diva+Review+%26+Giveaway%212013-08-30+22%3A57%3A00StephanieLouise

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When I think about my hair I smile. Seriously, I’m extremely vain when it comes to my hair. I’m truly blessed. When reading about Turban Diva & Laurie Andreoni I started to cry. I can’t imagine being diagnosed with cancer & losing something that is truly a part of me. I know for a lot of people being sick would be the biggest problem but to see myself day to day not looking like myself would be so tough.

Years after receiving a degree in Fashion Merchandising, I made a complete career change to attend Palmer College of Chiropractic West. Losing my hair brought me full circle to create something that heals on another level.

Clearly Laurie knew what she was doing because she’s built a busniess not just for women who have lost their hair but for women who really love her products. I personally used to wrap scarves around my fair colored scalp whenever we went to the beach…back when I laid out in the sun without SPF. I promise I haven’t done that since I was 16.

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Here I am wearing a black headband with hot pink flowers. I love that this is soft & flexible. I don’t have many headbands I could fall asleep in! I also love the it can be washed & just looks cute on!

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This is the basic black turban set. You get a little black cap that fits over your head securely (can also be worn alone) with a little bit of rouging. I personally wear it towards the back but do what you like! Next you wrap the second piece which looks a lot like a scarf but made of the same material however you like. I’ve always liked a twist in the front.

I also wanted to point out she takes requests & has tons of prints online to choose from. All of her pieces you can mix & match which leaves you with lots of variety. Turban Diva has made a special free standard shipping (within the US) code for orders over $49 just use code: STEPHANIE. Please note that this code does not apply to totes & cannot be combined with other codes.

So, on to the giveaway! You can pick up a sweet $50 gift card if you complete the entries below. You have LOTS of options so be sure to fill in as many as you can for your best chance of winning! As always, should you have any issues with the Rafflecopter widget please try to reload the page, try it on a different page, or shoot me a comment & we’ll work through it.

Good luck everyone & happy entering! Big thanks to Turban Diva for making this possible!

I’m celebrating my fifth year of thriving beyond cancer, sharing Titillating Turbans with women worldwide. I look forward to the day when the only reason women wear them is for fashion. In the meantime, it’s my mission to make the difficult ordeal of chemo, alopecia and hair loss less stressful.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beauty Box 5 August 2013 featuring Nubar, Be A Bombshell, & More!

August 30, 2013 By StephanieLouise 330Leave a Comment2013-08-30+13%3A13%3A00StephanieLouise

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Beauty Box 5 really impressed me this month by including brands I already like & some that are totally new! With a full size eyeshadow & a hot pink nail polish…is it any wonder I’m pretty happy? Keep reading to see what was inside this month!

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As always, you get a handy dandy info card. On it you’ll find prices, more detailed product information, & some pretty sweet discounts. It is short, sweet, & to the point.Feel free to click on it to enlarge the image.

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Inside my August 2013 Beauty Box 5:

Bask Heavenly Silk Daily Skin Lotion- This has a cute, angelic packaging design & the product itself comes in a generous2 fl oz sample. This is the perfect size for my purse so that’s where it will go when I finally run out of my current purse cream. This has lots of good for you ingredients like grape seed oil, pomegranate, silk proteins, & vitamins to make skin soft & visibly smoother. To me this has more of a neutral lotion scent.

Nubar Nail Lacquer in Hot Pink- A nail polish? Yes please!I seriously own only one other Nubar polish (a fabulous flakie of course!) but I’ve been dying to try more. It is an awesome little mini that mimics the bottle design of the full size. Plus it is hot pink…holding onto that last bit of summer!

Swissco Nail File- On one side a black nail file…on the other covered in red glitter. I personally tend to only use glass nail files on mine but this will look really pretty standing in my nail art cup & if I need it it’ll be there!

H20 Plus Aquafirm & Micro-Collagen Moisturizer- I was surprised to see this in my box since we got an H20+ product last month? & another moisturizer type product at that, how unlike BB5! This moisturizer was personally too thin for my skin so I’ll be passing it along to a new home.

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Be A Bombshell Eyeshadow in Birthday Suit- A full sized eyeshadow I’ll actually use? Yes please! Normally BB5 goes with loose eyeshadows so this was a nice surprised. This is a nice almond matte shade, perfect for blending or for a neutral crease look. I can never have enough of these shades!

All in all, a nice variety in this box! Sure, we got two nail items but if you know me then I consider that a plus! Nail items ROCK! & a full sized eyeshadow? Yes please! A nice variety for me personally & besides the moisturizer I’ll be using up each product myself! What did you think? If you’re interested in signing up please use my link, I seriously appreciate it!: Use my BB5 link! <3

Kat Von D Waterproof Autograph Pencil in Eyegasm Swatches & Review

August 29, 2013 By StephanieLouise 331Leave a Comment2013-08-29+20%3A57%3A00StephanieLouise

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This was my first Kat Von D purchase. I’ve heard lots of good things & had some little minis here & there but when I saw this mini Kat Von D Waterproof Autograph Pencil in Eyegasm available for only $10 from Sephora I bought it on pure urge. Eyegasm looks like a gorgeous iridescent mint shade, one I’d easily fall for. Mint. Ah how I love thee. Keep reading to find out what I thought!
So I immediately swatched the pencil in excitement…& I wasn’t sure how I felt. I was expecting…more. I wanted to see a vivid pigment, like my Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Turquoise. But it isn’t…

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The first photo is in natural light & the second is with flash. The left is multiple swipes to build up pigmentation. It looks sheer & patchy…not like a high end shade. In fact…not even like some of my favorite drugstore options. This just wasn’t a good texture. Maybe I got the wrong shade? Are they not even across the board? It lasted on my waterline which is great but it doesn’t really pop.

I paid $10 for my smaller size but they retail for $18 in a full size. I am wary to throw down that kind of cash after this. It looks okay on (take a look at Phyrra’s beautiful look using Eyegasm) but definitely a touch sheer.

What do you think? Have you tried other Kat Von D pencils that were better? Would you drop $18 on this shade?

RocksBox #3 Review & Unboxing!

August 29, 2013 By StephanieLouise 332Leave a CommentRocksBox+%233+Review+%26+Unboxing%212013-08-29+13%3A26%3A00StephanieLouise

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RocksBox really impressed me last month…in fact I even bought a duo of necklaces that I absolutely love that you can see here! My first box…I was definitely not impressed with. So here we are at box #3…things could honestly sway either way right? Keep reading to find out what I got & what I thought!

As usual, this RocksBox contained 3 pieces. This time I got 2 pairs of earrings & a necklace. Again, the products came in little baggies which was nice to keep pieces safe. You don’t keep the bags or box unless you purchase the jewelry so as long as it gets from point A to point B I don’t mind.

Titanic Teardrops Earrings in Pink from Urban Gem
Retail Price: $32.00 Member Price: $25.60
These earrings are just not me. I’ve gotten a piece from Urban Gem in every box so far but haven’t wanted to purchase any. These look like cheap costume jewelry to me & although the pink “stones” might look okay far away up close you can tell they’re just cheap plastic. Definitely not worth the price although I wouldn’t mind them as costume pieces.

Clara Earrings in Lilac from Loren Hope
Retail Price: $68.00 Member Price: $54.40
Loren Hope pieces are supposed to be an evolving line of upscale, contemporary, handcrafted jewelry. I was pretty excited about these but again they are a miss. For one things, they’re just too heavy for me. I wouldn’t mind as much except that again the main stone looks/feels like plastic. I had an issue with the stones looking irregular as well, can you see the dark spots? Yeah they look pretty dirty/tacky IRL. For the price I expect a lot more.

Sophia Mixed Chain Necklace from Silent Gypsy
Retail Price: $118.00 Member Price: $94.40
My favorite item is this beautiful Sophia Mixed Chain Necklace from Silent Gypsy. I love the mixed metals & how heavy this piece is. Instead of a dainty clasp this necklace features a beautiful heavy clasp as well which is perfect. I’d be afraid of it breaking otherwise! I feel like this piece adds an awesome industrial feel.

So all in all 2/3 pieces weren’t for me but I really enjoyed wearing the necklace! What do you do with these pieces? Well, you can wear them for up to 60 days or you can return all the pieces you don’t want to buy in the included bubble wrapper & they’ll send you new ones.

Want to earn credits? Me too! This is important with any subscription service for me because freebies are just plain fun. You’ll receive $25 for every new member that you refer. You’ll also receive $5 for posting a photo of you wearing your items & tagging @RocksBox per RocksBox set. Luckily, I have a code for 50% a 3 month subscription thanks to iFabbo, just use the code FABB when you sign up! Please use my referral code here, I’ll love you forever!

So again I’m feeling 50/50! I’m thinking the next box will be the tie breaker, off to the mailbox this one goes!

Butter London Cheeky Chops & Keks Saran Wrap Manicure!

August 28, 2013 By StephanieLouise 333Leave a Comment2013-08-28+22%3A10%3A00StephanieLouise

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This is my very first saran wrap manicure! After swatching Butter London Cheeky Chops & Keks I thought about how great they’d look together! Keep reading to see more!

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This is a super easy nail art technique, all you need is a bit of plastic! I used Butter London Cheeky Chops as a base then dabbed a bit of Keks on a little square of saran wrap. Then I just randomly dabbed it on & cleaned up around the edges! Easy peasy!

I really like this! I’m excited to try it with some metallics, I think it will be really pretty for the holiday season! What do you think? Have you tried the saran wrap technique?