Update: Defective Product

This blog post today wasn't what I had originally planned, but I felt I really wanted to share. Remember on my original defective product post how I mentioned that the nice Barney's girl I spoke to promised to ship out my pallet immediately? Well somehow it got forgotten about and it was never mailed. I called back again last weekend wondering where it was and the counter manager apologized up and down and promised to send me some extra goodies to make up for the mistake. I received my package today and I seriously can not thank her enough! I needed to write a post to let everyone know how awesome Sasha Yefremova from the Nars counter at Barney's Madison Avenue is. If any of you need anything I would suggest calling her at 212-833-2008 or visiting her for any of your Nars needs. Check out all the extra goodies she sent:

The eyeshadow duo she sent was in Dogon, which is described as metallic taupe with icy green sheen and charcoal. There was also samples of nars tinted moisturizer, cleanser, and two different types of primer. She also included a little apology note and her card stating she would be happy to assist me in anything else I might need. 

Please Nars, you are welcome to mess up more often if this is how you apologize! A+ for excellent customer service.

I'll swatch these bad boys up for you all sometime next week!

Review of November Birchbox

Now that I have had some time to go through and try all of these lovely products, I thought I would let you know my thoughts on them. Turns out that some of the products I thought I would love I liked a lot less than the products I was less excited about. That always seems to be the case with these subscription boxes, which is what i love about them. 

Lulu Organics Lavender and Clary Sage Hair Powder - $30

Revive second-day locks by working this organic dry shampoo into your roots. You'll get plenty of lift, but no residue.

I have always wanted to try a dry shampoo, but have been unwilling to buy a bottle and until now, never received a sample. I am pretty glad that I never purchased one now. To those who like and use dry shampoos, I am sure you will be pleased. It has a very pleasant scent and did seem to soak up excess oil nicely, I just found it was messy and unnecessary. I would rather just wash my hair.

ModelCo Fibre Lashxtend Lengthening Mascara - $24

Falsies without the fuss. This innovative mascara uses tiny lash-extending fibers to give you a lengthy fringe. Tip: Rotate the wand inside the bottle to pick up the fibers.

I was super pumped to receive this is my box and originally used it every day. It thickened my lashes, extended them, darkened them, separated them etc. Everything you would want from a mascara. It originally seemed like I had found my dream mascara, that is until I started realizing that by the end of the day all of those little fibers were coming off onto my face. I had a peppering of little black fibers all under my eyes and sometimes onto my cheeks. No bueno. I tried to ignore it and continue using and loving this mascara, but sadly they need to work on this just a bit more before I can really tell you I love it. Which is very sad.

Here you can see the big fat wand

Mox Botanicals Pomegranate and Fig Lip Butter - $16

This eco-chic balm, in an exclusive flavor, revives lips with avocado oil and shea butter.

This is on my list as the opposite of the mascara. I originally used it and disliked it. Weirdly enough, I have never tried a lip butter before. Having not tried one, it has a weird, oily quality to it that I was not anticipating coming from chapsticks. It is really light on your lips and fast absorbing. It took a bit to get used to the change in texture, but once I did I found I really love this. It has a tart scent to it and sweet taste if you lick you lips while wearing it. It is quite a pleasant product. I find my lips to be well moisturized and I love that its all natural.

One Love Organics Aromatic Body Serum - $39

Made with pumpkin seed and sea buckthorn oil, this fast-absorbing oil keeps skin subtle and hydrated. Bonus: It has aromatherapy benefits!

This product I could take or leave. It is a body oil. It smells amazing (I have already stated I love One Love Organics) and as such was really excited to try this out, but it is quite greasy. I have used body oils in the past and found this was not as fast absorbing as I would have excepted. I had heard others complain about this oil, but found it has other uses, massage oil anyone? Although not my favorite sample, I think the rest of the box more than made up for it, especially since I was hoping to get this sample. I have pretty dry skin and found this a bit greasy, so I'm not sure many people would find this suited them, but let me know in the comments if you think I'm wrong.

John Varvatos Artisan

Give this extra sample to a lucky guy. It's modern blend of energizing citrus and warm woods. After he's been dapper-fied, send him over to birchbox.com/men to learn about birchbox man.

I have quite the funny little story that goes with this last sample. I did what was expected of me and gave it to a very dapper man in my life: my father. I was all excited and got home for Thanksgiving, and went to give this to my father, who was in his office at the time, who just thanked me and went on with his business. I was upset, I told him to smell it, he tried to remove the vial from the cardboard with one hand, and promptly spilled the contents of this cologne everywhere. Although this does smell really nice, very manly, very woody scent, it was not pleasant all over the desk and his papers.

Anyone else ever spill their sample vial all over their stuff?

I love playing with samples and found this to be a great box full of full sized items and large samples. What did your box contain? Did you enjoy playing as much as I did?

Birchbox is a monthly subscription service available for $10 a month. It can be purchased from http://www.birchbox.com/

Sponge

I would like to thank fellow blogger Lola for introducing me to Sponge. She was kind enough to spend time emailing back and forth to discuss the best lotion for me. As such I have tried Krema Triantafillo, Krema Imeras, and Gel Katharistiko. This brand is well worth investing in as it is a fabulous find. Sponge is a Greek brand that harnesses natural plants and herbs in a chemical-free process to "improve circulation, promote overall skin health, and a glowing, youthful appearance." Sponge makes natural skincare products based in olive oil and are not tested on animals and are hypoallergenic.

The Krema Triantafillo is made with rose hips and sage. It "helps strengthen, moisturize, and protect even the most sensitive skin types." I loved this the most out of all the lotions I tested. It is wonderfully moisturizing while still remaining light and refreshing on the skin. I know that many of the more hydrating moisturizers tend to feel heavy and greasy, not this one. This is healing and soothing and smells like roses!

The Krema Imeras was one I was talked into purchasing (as can be seen on the Barney's Haul). The lady was very insistent that this was the product for me. It is made with linden, sage, and rosemary and is "a day moisturizer with anti-aging benefits that is formulated to hydrate and protect the skin from the effects of environmental impurities, free radicals, and daily stresses." I have to say I loved the smell of this the most out of everything. It just smells clean and refreshing without being overpoweringly perfumey. This is a very, very light cream (as it is meant to be as a day cream). I feel like it is more mid-range as far as hydration goes and as such I feel like it would be for someone with more normal to oily skin.

The last product is their cleanser: Gel Katharistiko. It is made with wild herbs and "pH balanced and anti-oxidant rich, this formula deeply cleanses while promoting clarity and radiance in all skin types." I felt like this cleanser cleansed well without stripping my skin and of course, like all other Sponge products, had a pleasant scent. While not the best cleanser I have ever used, I have nothing negative to say about it. It didn't leave any residue behind and I felt thoroughly cleansed after.

Don't these products sound fantastic? Have you tried any Sponge products? What other products could you recommend?

Sponge can be purchased from http://spongeskincare.com or from your local Barney's retailer (or online).

Guerlain Meteorites

I don't have a nice picture of my own for this product because, shhhhhh, I got a sample! I have been dying to try out these little pearls for awhile, but at $58 I was a bit hesitant. I have played with them every time I have been to a Sephora that carries them for a few months, but could never convince myself to splurge. Lucky me, recently I took a trip to Neiman Marcus and was playing at the Guerlain counter and the sales rep threw some of the pearls into a container for me to take home and try. Yay! Verdict? It is worth the price.

I have mentioned in the past that I love illuminators and this product definitely gives a slight illumination, but not too much that it would overwhelm my winter look. I was a bit iffy to use it during the winter, as I do tone down on the illumination, but those fears were quickly squashed as it is not an overwhelming glow, it is actually quite perfect for the winter. I'm sure if you wanted more of a glow you could just apply more to your skin. Sephora describes this as being "inspired by light and created by Guerlain to employ the technology of white light, which is used in photography and film to erase imperfections and soften features. A constellation of 6 multi-colored pearls blend together for a flawless, radiant complexion." The pearls come in different colors meant to match your skin tone (Teint Rose, Teint Beige, and Teint Dore). I got the Rose for my light skin, though the sales rep stated you can pretty much use any of them.

I would say that this product really does everything it says. It gives you that lovely lit within quality that so many products strive for, but don't accomplish. It also does, in my opinion, blur imperfections and soften features. It has that 'your face but better' quality to it. It also has a lovely scent that I can't quite place my finger on, but I do like it. This little container will most likely last a very long time as well since I have been using my sample every day since getting it and I have barely done any damage. It also comes in a compact form for those who would wish to take this on the go, but I have been told that it doesn't last as long and as such the pearls are more worthwhile for the price. The case is also a very sturdy metal container that gives the product that lux feel.

At the counter I also tried the new Holiday Pearls du Dragon, which I found to be much more shimmery. When I swatched it on my arm it was very apparent that it has a lot more shimmer pearls than the rose. I can't really do a full review on that since I didn't put it on my face, but if you are looking to purchase there is that choice as well.

Conclusion: I am in love with these little pearls. They do so much and make your skin look quite lovely. I would recommend these. If you try out the Dragon Pearls let me know what you think! These products can be purchased at your local Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Sephora, or any of these retailers online.

Nars 20% off

I'm not sure if anyone would be interested, but if you didn't know Nars is doing a 20% off sale. I have mostly been avoiding posting sales as there are so many, but I though this one was good enough and might not be as widely known. So here ya go =)

November USA Glossybox

Sorry for the cruddy pictures. I don't have a camera and take these from my cell phone and the pictures don't seem to come out that well. I was super excited today when my glossybox arrived as I didn't even receive tracking information yet. That excitement quickly dwindled when I opened my box and discovered it was missing a product. Is it just me or do I seem to be having really crappy beauty luck lately? Funny thing is I was thinking to myself that it felt a bit too light as I was unwrapping it. I guess I'll have to call them on Monday. Anyway, here are the products that were supposed to be in my box:

Illamasqua Lip and Eye Medium Pencil (in Black)

Lierac Gommage Sensoriel (it's an exfoliator)

Nume Style Arganics by NuMe Argan Oil (what's missing)

Perfumies Solid Perfume Stick (in cucumber)

Skin and Co Roma Ruffle Serum: Hydro-Toning Day Face Serum

Glossybox is a monthly subscription service that is $21 a month. If you wish to purchase the December box before Monday, you can use the code Black40 and get 40% off the December box. You can order this at http://www.glossybox.com/

Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report

Jeneille of the Vincy Beauti Blog shares the Skincare and Everyday Face Products she has really been loving lately.

Lola of Lola's Secret Beauty Blog takes vbeauté Skincare for a spin and shares her overview and initial assessment of the products she tried.

Rachel from Rachel's Makeup and Skincare shares her two most loved lip glosses of the moment!

Olivia of The Unknown Beauty Blog tells us why Manna Kadar Lip Products deserve world wide attention.

Harriet at Little Miss Student Beauty starts her new 'Festive Fridays' segment!

Lindsay shares why Eyeko's Skinny Mini Eye Duo is the skinniest, miniest, best set of eyeliner and mascara at The Beauty Think Tank.

If you would like to be featured in a future Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report please e-mail Lindsay at beautythinktank(at)gmail(dot)com.

Erno Laszlo

Sorry for this picture being so darn yellow

I can't believe I am about to say this, but I had never heard about Erno Laszlo until about 2 months ago. Which is weird because the minute I learned about this brand, I started seeing it everywhere. It's the same with Malin and Goetz. I had never heard of the brand, but once I had I realized it was everywhere. So of course after learning of this I was dying to try some of the products. I have a lot of skincare products and so am loath to buy full sizes so I bought a mini travel set on ebay. It came with the Phelityl Pre-Cleansing Oil, Phelityl Cleansing Bar, Phelitlyl Day Lotion, and a discontinued lip gloss. I have to say this brand definitely lives up to the hype.

For those that may not be familiar, there is a specific ritual to using the Erno Laszlo system. You are supposed to fill up your sink with warm water, apply a small amount of the pre-cleansing oil onto your face, and then dip the bar of soap into the water in the sink and rub it onto your skin. Then you splash the water from the basin onto your face 20 times which is meant to mix the two cleansers and create a treatment water. You can check out their video below for more information on this process.

 

The Active Phelityl Pre-Cleasing Oil "penetrates the pores to dissolve impurities and, combined with the cleansing bar, cleans without drying." This product has a pH value nearly identical to the skin so that it can maintain the "fatty acids essential to skin function." All of Erno Laszlo's products that contain Phelityl have this pH value. The Phelitly cleansing bar is meant for dry skin and so cleanses without drying and "boosts cell renewal and nourishes with rich plant oils for smooth, supple skin." I loved these two products. They are the only cleansers I have ever used that did not leave my skin tight after use while still maintaining that feeling of cleanliness. You know how most moisturizing cleansers just don't make you feel clean after? Yea, I did not have that problem with these. I was very impressed. The first few times I did the cleansing ritual I made a mess out of my sink area, but once you get good at it, it's actually a lot of fun! I loved these so much I might just get full sizes when I run out!

The Phelityl Day lotion was very moisturizing for a day lotion while still feeling light on my skin. It didn't make my skin feel oily at all. It is probably the most runny lotion I have ever used. The first time I poured it out of the bottle I pretty much poured out the whole bottle because I wasn't expecting it to be so liquidy. This lotion is described as being a "super light, vitamin rich moisturizer" that "combines broad-spectrum UB protection to soften, soothe, and reduce fine lines." And of course, since it contains Phelityl it is pH balanced as close to the skins natural pH as possible. 

The last product, the lip gloss, is discontinued, and thus I have no real information on it. It was a fun extra included with my purchase. I can absolutely say I would never have purchased it. It was disgusting. Really thick and sticky and left a nasty film around my mouth as I wore it. I took it off after 2 hours I was so disgusted by this. 

The only negative I have about this system was the smell. I know after reading other reviews on these products that some don't mind it and some even like it. I personally was not a fan. However, the smell doesn't last after use, so it won't hinder me from using this system. Ultimately, I was very impressed and couldn't believe I had not heard of Erno Laszlo before. I would absolutely recommend these products (minus the yucky lip gloss). 

These can be purchased online at http://www.ernolaszlo.com or from Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, or Bergdorf Goodman. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! =)

Winter Wantable Box

Wantable boxes are subscription boxes that aren't really subscriptions. They are a seasonal box service where they suggest packs that you can purchase (for $40) based on a style quiz. There are 5 different style matches for you based on the questions you answer (Boho Beauty, Rock Rebel, Glamour Girl, Classic Chick, and Top Trendsetter) and within your group there are 3 different color choices. Even if you don't like the pack suggested for you, there is still the option to switch. I won a makeup talk contest and therefore received my winter box for free! I chose the Eco Tones (Boho Beauty) box in air. The first picture shows the beautiful packaging, the second shows the products I received and the third shows the page with the contents of my box, a description of each item, and how they suggest you apply everything. The products are:

Natural Bakes Eyeshadow Melange from Benecos

Highlighting Powder Champagne in the Bubble Bath from Swagger Cosmetics

Organic Lip Gloss in Rosy Promise #2 from Lavera

Soft Eyeliner in Brown from Laverna

Back to Boho Polish in Rad Nomad from Color Club

Mineral Pressed Blush in Natural from Mia Bellezza

Kai Perfume Oil Sample

I just received this yesterday so I have yet to try anything. I will post a review once I have done that.

Winter Wantable Boxes are still available and are $40. They can be purchased from https://www.wantable.co

Nars Lip Gloss and Lorac Co-Stars

These two are my new favorite lippies as of late. I wear them most out of my collection of lip items, which is probably because they are the newest of the bunch. They are the Nars Lip Gloss in Orgasm (which is my favorite of Nars colors, I own their liquid illuminator in orgasm and really want their blush in orgasm, it is truly a great color) and Lora Co-Stars (which for anyone interested is on sale and super cheap at just $10) in Hot Kiss.

The Nars is the first one on my arm all the way to the left and the one on the bottom in the right picture. It is a really glossy peachy pink with shimmer in it. Isn't is so pretty? Nars describes this as a "pigment dense lip gloss," which I have to agree with. I also love that it comes with a doe's foot application tip instead of a brush (I hate those), so application is a breeze. It also lasts for a decent amount of time because even when the gloss has worn off, you are still left with a nice shimmer on your lips. I have been using this as my nude lip as of late and I really love it. 

The Lorac Co-Stars is a double ended gloss featuring a stain on one side and a sheer gloss on the other. The swatch next to the Nars has both layered on top of each other and the last swatch is just the stain on it's own. What I like about this product is that it doesn't come off. Quite literally. Lorc even describes it as an 8-hour lip product. 

This is a picture that I took after trying to clean the swatches off of my arm with makeup remover. I literally wore these swatches on my arm for the day because it does not come off. I have worn this lippie while eating and still had perfect lips at the end of the meal. All you need to do is swipe on some more gloss, but the color stays without smudging. It is also a really pretty nudey brown with some golden shimmer in it. The stain has a doe's foot applicator while the gloss has a brush.

The Nars Lip gloss can be purchased at http://www.sephora.com or anywhere Nars products are sold (I think Barney's, Nordstrom, Saks, etc) and the Lorac is being discontinued and can only be purchased here.

Dior CurlHeating Lash Curler vs. Godefroy Heated Eyelash Curler

I have to admit, I'm not a fan of the standard eyelash curler. Granted, I've never had a mishap with them where I break or cut my eyelashes, but I'm still not a fan. So I began a search for an alternative. I found there was one: heated eyelash curlers. Great! This post will be a comparison between two different brands of heated lash curlers: one an inexpensive drugstore brand and the other an expensive luxury brand. The results prove that an expensive product with a luxury brand name doesn't necessarily equate to quality.

The first I bought was the Dior, Diorshow CurlHeating Lash Curler. That was a disaster. I cannot give a worse review of this product. It is described as being "designed by the backstage techniques of Dior fashion shows. This lash curler can be used on bare lashes before mascara application or after to thin the mascara and enhance the lash curve."When it did work, it sucked the life out of the battery in less than 2 weeks of use, and that't when it worked. The tip would consistently get stuck inside the cap and would pull off the curler when I would take the cap off and would be impossible to get out, eventually the whole stem (as seen in the picture) broke off. Really? I mean, the stem was flimsy to begin with, but seriously Dior? The product did heat up nicely and curled my lashes well, but my recommendation is to basically avoid this product at all costs.

The Godefroy lash curler, on the other hand, is a godsend. I absolutely love this product! It curls my lashes just as well if not better than your standard curler and is much sturdier than the Dior one. It also doesn't drain the battery like the Dior one. I have been using this for 3 weeks now and the battery is still going strong. It heats up quickly and dispenses the heat evenly. This is how I would anticipate a heated lash curler to work. My lashes curl and stay curled all day. This I would recommend.

Conclusion? That should be obvious. The Godefroy lash curler excels in every way that the Dior curler fails and is proof that, as before states, expensive doesn't equate to quality. The Godefroy curler is cheap and works well. If you're in the market for a heated lash curler as an alternative to the standard curler, then the Godefroy is the way to go.

The Dior Diorshow CurlHeating Lash Curler can be bought at http://www.sephora.com while the Godefroy can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com.

Has anyone tried any other brands that they have either loved or hated? What would you recommend?

Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report

Olivia from the Unknown Beauty Blog analyzes and demystifies the Perfect Eyeshadow Application.

Rachel from Rachel's Makeup and Skincare shares her two favorite face masks.

Harriet from Little Miss Student Beauty reviews Soap & Glory's scrub and mask combo! 

Lola from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog reviews Shannon's Soaps Lavender Mint Balm.

Jeneille of the Vincy Beauti Blog answers the "Why Do You Wear Make-up" Tag.

Lindsay of the Beauty Think Tank reviews NARS Sheer Matte Foundation!

If you would like to be featured in a future Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report please contact Lindsay at beautythinktank(at)gmail(dot)com.

Defective Product

Today, I made my way back to Barney's to return the Sunday Riley Lipstick and Lipgloss. I had been coveting this Nars palette for awhile, and so made the exchange. Ladies, always check your purchases before leaving the store.

Notice anything wrong with my palette? It's supposed to look like this:

The light purple color is repeated and I have no black. -_- Luckily the rep at Barney's was super nice and offered to mail me a new palette immediately (because I live in Ct and who knows when I would get back to a Barney's) and told me that I could send this one back at my convenience. I told her I would wait for the new palette to arrive so I could use that box, she said that was not a problem. So just a suggestion to all of you out there, check the makeup in the box before leaving.

Sunday Riley Modern Lip Color and Creme Gloss Sheer Impact

The picture on the left shows a swatch of the lipgloss, the lipstick with the lipgloss on top, and just the lipstick.
The picture on the lest shows the top having come off the tube.

I am so upset over these products and this purchase like you have no idea. I was so excited to buy these and cannot believe that they did not live up to expectations. I bought the lipstick in Orchid and the lipgloss in Blackberry Crush. The color had been that perfect vampy purple that I have been searching for and planned to live in it the rest of my life. I am so devastated that this is going back to the store and I am hoping I can get a refund. Let me explain.

The first problem, the one with the lipgloss, is quite easy to show in pictures. As you can see from the images, the black cap came off the top of the gloss. A product of this caliber should be high quality and I should expect it to withhold the tests of time. This case did not last a week. The product itself is wonderful, don't get me wrong. It is smooth, not sticky, wonderfully glossy, and sheer perfection. However, I can name many cheaper products that achieve this same end (sheer lipgloss that is not sticky is quite easy to come by in my opinion) that the case doesn't fall apart on me. 

The problem I had with the lipstick is much harder to capture in an image and even harder to convey. Do you know how it looks when your lips are slightly chapped and you try to wear lipstick anyway? Where the lipstick dives into all the lines on your lips, accentuating every line? That is what this lipstick did to me even after exfoliating and wearing a lip primer. I tried everything I could think of to solve this problem and nothing worked. The product is also flaky and dry in my opinion. Even if I ignore the fact that it sits in all the lines of my lips and try to wear it anyway, it kind of flakes off and the flakes sit on the lips creating a chunky like experience. It is just an awful product. The lipstick felt like if you left your lipstick for years and then remembered it and tired to use it again. It is just dry.

To add insult to injury I emailed Sunday Riley customer service to complain that I had received sub-par products. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe I just received defective products and that maybe their lipstick is truly wonderful and mine had just been sitting too long. They never emailed me back and this was 2 weeks ago. I really did not want to create this post, especially since other blogs have said great things about these products. Unfortunately, I cannot in good faith stand by these. If the Sunday Riley team wishes to respond to my email, I will be more than happy to amend this post. 

If you choose to purchase these anyway they can be purchased at your nearest Barney's or http://www.barneys.com.

Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips

I'm aware that Crest 3D White Strips may not be the most luxe, or exciting thing on my blog, however, I thought it was important to have a nice bright smile because no matter what fabulous lip product you are wearing, it will not hide yucky yellow teeth. There are different levels of whitener depending on how white you want your teeth to be (or how yellow they were to start). Crest has 4 levels, this product is their level 3. I use their 3D toothpaste on a daily basis and love it, so when I was given the option from Influenster to give this product a try, I was completely on-board.

When I first received the product and realized they were strips, I was a bit hesitant. The last time I used strips to whiten my teeth was way back at the advent of whitening strips where they were goopy and gross and you tasted the stuff for hours after you took the product off. So you can imagine my surprise when I took the strip out of the packaging and saw that, although it was sticky, it was pretty much dry; there was no thick product on the strip. These strips had advanced seal technology as well, which means that once on your teeth (and pressed firmly on) they stay on with relatively no discomfort. There was no taste, you barely felt them, and it was an overall pleasant experience compared to past memories. Even better, once a half hour was up and I took the strips off, there was a noticeable difference! I was really impressed. The box came with 20 strips, which, based on the results of the first strip alone, is safe to say that anyone can get great results with this product!

The only thing I didn't like about it was the sensitivity I felt after. I doubt this can be avoided in any whitening product, though, so it isn't necessarily localized to just this. I just wanted to point that out to anyone who may think this is a miracle product with no sensitivity. Those with extremely sensitive teeth prior to whitening may wish to avoid this. For those, I would recommend the toothpaste. I find that it whitens pretty well for a toothpaste and doesn't bother me.

Crest 3D White Strips can be purchased at any drugstore or online at Amazon or any other online drug store. For more information you can check out their webpage here http://www.3dwhite.com/

Borghese and Sonya Dakar Masks

I am a bit mask crazy. I have many different types of masks that all do different things and I absolutely love trying out new ones. These are by far two of my favorites. They have withstood my test of time (meaning I continually use them and rebuy them when they run out). The Borghese is the Fango Active Mud Mask and is a very cleansing mask while the Sonya Dakar Blue Mask is very moisturizing and comforting. They are my two most recommended mask brands (or pretty much brands in general, both have amazing skin-care lines).

The Borghese mask was bought at my favorite place to find new products, birchbox. It is described as being a big deal in the beauty world. "Tuscany's soothing green mud is famous for it's deep cleaning powers. It rids our skin of impurities, while a dose of avocado and sweet almond oils restore hydration and softness. Best of all, it's moist, not sticky, and does not dry out your skin." This is one of those masks that dries hard and crusty. It almost hurts because it constricts your face, however I have always found it worthwhile to suffer through. It is incredibly deep cleaning and you can see a noticeable difference straight away. As stated, it doesn't irritate my already dry skin by drying it out more. I'm also pretty sure that the bottle will last forever, so it is a pretty good buy. You can even see the size difference between my bottle of the Borghese mask and the Sonya Dakar mask. It is quite large! I would highly recommend this for all skin types.

Sonya Dakar skincare has different systems depending on your skin: Acne, Maintenance, Irritation, and Age-Control. This mask is from the irritation line, which is meant to "calm, sooth, and purify your sensitive, red, or reactive skin." The blue mask is a cooling mask meant to "calm skin while also absorbing irritating impurities." It is also "formulated to meet eco-friendly principles, this mask is free of parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, artificial fragrances, and dyes." Can you start to see why I love it? It is a truly moisturizing and calming mask that still cleanses (just not as well as other masks). It is formulated with blue azulene (to calm), bacapa monniera (to moisturize), and marine source elastin (to sooth and strengthen). I use this on days when my skin just needs a break. Although it contains no artificial fragrances, it still smells fantastic. It is simply a lovely mask.

And there you have it. Two of my favorite masks and why I love them so much. The Borghese mask can be bought at http://www.birchbox.com/, Macy's, Bloomingdales, Amazon, pretty much anywhere you desire. Sonya Dakar products are mostly only sold in Spas or http://www.sonyadakar.com

Mont Bleu Nail Files

Mont Bleu nail files are, if nothing else, beautiful. The picture I took doesn't even capture just how gorgeous they are. These are glass nail files (made from tempered glass) made in the Czech Republic. Some of them are decorated with Swarovski crystals, some are more plain and are adorned with ombre color schemes. This company makes many different versions, all high quality. I'm sure that everyone could find one that suits their fancy. All of them are gorgeous and elegant. I included a picture of my standard, CVS bought, nail file for comparison.

Not only are these pretty to look at (almost too pretty to use, mine sat for a week before I had the courage to deface it with my nails), but they work better than any nail file I have ever used. There is relatively no effort needed to buff away and shape ones nails. I was very surprised at how few strokes were necessary to achieve my desired shape. It also smooths the nail much more adequately than the standard emery board. I would also imagine that this would last much longer as well as usage didn't seem to dull it. 

I was very impressed with these. In fact, so was my mother. She requested one of the two that I received saying that she knew of the high quality associated with glass nail files. The company also included a set of earrings that are also pictured. They are incredibly beautiful. They are facetted to reflect the light, so different colors can be seen at different angles. They will be a joy to wear.

These products and others can be purchased from http://www.design-glassware.com

Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report

Rachel from Rachel's Makeup and Skincare has fallen in love with Lush, Fresh Handmade Cosmetics!

Olivia from the Unknown Beauty Blog has light diffusion packed inside a tube with Nanoblur.

Lola from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog reviews Dr. Loretta Rainforest Mist.

Laura from Laura's Haven reviews the UK Glossybox Edition #1: Think Pink.

Lindsay from The Beauty Think Tank shows off two of her makeup collection staples - Urban Decay's Naked and Naked2 palettes.

If you would like to be featured in a future Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report, please e-mail Lindsay at beautythinktank(at)gmail(dot)com.

November Birchbox and Review of October Birchbox Items

This post is all about Birchbox! I never posted my october unboxing because I received it pretty much a week ago and figured it was a bit late. I will however post my thoughts on the products I received, however. This month's birchbox was all about giving and as such they included a cute little envelope that you are supposed to fill with something and give it to someone else. It's a very cute idea. I have to say, after the past few months with boxes that were a bit of a let-down, this box was amazing. I am absolutely thrilled!

My box contained:

LuLu Organics Lavender + Sage Hair Powder

ModelCo Fibre LashXtend Lengthening Mascara (full size!)

Mox Botanicals Pomegranate and Fig Butter (I think full size)

One Love Organics Aromatic Body Serum

And something to give a man in your life:

John Varvatos Artisan (Cologne)

It also came with a $15 off coupon for Chromatic Gallerie

Wow! Two full sized products and some awesome samples that I cannot wait to play with! I had actually cancelled my subscription with them (because of shipping issues) and this box was given to me for free. After this box, I may have to rethink that! This really looks to be an awesome box. Do any of you subscribe? What did you get?

When I opened my october box, I was not the least bit thrilled. However, after having played with my samples a bit, I am starting to appreciate it a bit more. I do enjoy the samples I was given.

Lucy B Pink Frangipani and Wild Jasmine Roll-On Perfume Oils - $48

Boost your mood with these uplifting indigenous Australian flower essences. Try separately or blend together for a wildly tropical bouquet.

Anyone else tired of getting perfume samples in every birchbox? I know I am. These smell good and last on your body a decent amount of time, but I prefer my perfume to these samples almost always.

Ouidad Climate Control Head and Humidity Gel - $16

This frizz-fighting gel keeps hair sleek and manageable. Work into damp hair before styling to enhance your natural texture.

I really liked this sample. I have used this 3 times at this point and there is still plenty more in the sample container. All you need is a penny size amount and you work it into your hair. I have found my hair to be much more manageable and less frizzy, just as advertised. I like the scent too. It is light and refreshing without being too overpowering. 

theBalm Cosmetics Mary-Lou Manizer - $24

Play up your best features with this three-in-one highlighter, shadow, and all-over shimmer.

This was my absolute favorite item in this box. Everyone was complaining about the fingerprint on the product, but I think they are just being silly. It was part of the packaging. If you look at the back of it there was a full set of fingerprints. It wasn't like someone stuck their finger in the product. Anyway, I have used this everyday since receiving it. It is a gorgeous, long lasting shadow. A great highlighter, and I have even dusted it on my collar bone before going out. The sample size is also pretty adequate. I would imagine that even with continuous use, I could probably use this for a few months before needing to buy the full sized. 

Vitivia Pro:Vitamins A15 and C10 - $55

Twist open these nifty single-use capsules and smooth onto your face and neck. Concentrated vitamin C brightens your skin tone, while vitamin A refines pores.

I am a big fan of using vitamin C on my face every morning. I have a Ole Henriksen version of this that I have been using daily for a few months and really like the outcome. So this was a welcome sample. Although I prefer what I had been using perviously, I could see myself using this product. It felt like less of a serum and more of a lotion consistency. The vitamin A did indeed seem to make my pores smaller. I love when products do what they say they will do. I overall really liked this product. 

Luna Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter - $14.95

We keep these yummy protein-packed bars on hand at all times.

This was another product that upset me. I had received a luna bar in a previous box, but since it wasn't labeled as a protein bar, they thought it necessary to give me another one. I don't like receiving food items in my beauty boxes to begin with, let alone receiving one twice. I also dislike the combination of chocolate and peanut butter together, which didn't help. This is a product I cannot review as I have not eaten it. I'm sorry to anyone who was interested.

Birchbox is a beauty subscription service that is $10 a month and can be purchased from http://www.birchbox.com/

Lush - My new favorite organic brand

Recently I discovered the brand Lush. Lush is fresh, handmade, and all natural and my new found love.  I seriously love this place. I love this place so much that I went back the week after discovering it to get more samples and products to try! It is really lucky that there happens to be a shop quite close to me. As you can see from the pictures, there is a lot of products for me to discuss. I will also continue updating this post in the future with more of their products as I continue to play with this awesome brand! So far I have tried two of their Fresh Face Masks (Catastrophe Cosmetic and BB Seaweed), 2 of their cleansers (Aqua Marina and Angels on Bare Skin), their lotion in Sympathy for the Skin, 2 of their new Emotional Brilliance Fresh Face Colors (lipstick in Drive and eye color in Happiness) a bath bomb (Twilight) and one of their Shower Jellies in Whoosh. Few! That's quite a few products! Let's Begin =)

I'm going to start with the Fresh Face Masks because they are by far my favorite of their line thus far. These guys are so fresh that they must be kept in a fridge (sorry to those who don't have a Lush near them, because this means they can only be bought in store) and have a two week expiration date. But not to worry, they are $6.95 and you can get around 5-6 applications from the pot (depending on how often you apply masks). Fresh Face Masks are made from the freshest fruit, vegetables and essential oils. 

Out of the two I tried so far I preferred the BB Seaweed. The BB Seaweed is "a redness reducing, scrubbing oceanic mask for any time." It contains rose, Vancouver Island seaweed, sweet violet, and ground almonds. This mask went on quite thick, but was wonderfully moisturizing and made my skin feel soft, supple, and clean. I liked the texture and the scent and overall loved the experience. The Catastrophe Cosmetic mask felt more like your typical mud mask. Whereas the Seaweed mask didn't constrict my face as it dries, the Catastrophe Cosmetic one did. Catastrophe Cosmetic is made with "calamine and blueberry to expertly combine to calm and mother your skin." It contains Irish Moss seaweed to soften and chamomile blue oil to chill out stressed skin. This mask felt far more cleansing than the previous mask, but not as gentle or moisturizing. The texture was also much like a mud mask in that thick and muddy sense. I liked it, just liked the Seaweed one better. Those who have skin on more of the oilier side who want a deeper cleanse would most likely prefer this one.

Another plus is that if you save the black containers that most of Lush's products come in, you can get a free Fresh Face Mask. All you have to do is turn in 5 cleaned containers! What an awesome deal.

Fresh's cleansers are produced in solid rolls. They contain minimal to no soap content so they are gentle yet effective. Aqua Marina is for dry, sensitive skin and is described as looking kinda like a sushi roll (because the roll is wrapped in seaweed) and contains calamine to sooth and moisturize. I found this cleanser to be too gentle. It left my skin feeling soft and nourished, but I didn't feel like it left me feeling as clean as I would have wished. I found that I much preferred Angels on Bare Skin. It contains an almond base, soothing lavender, and hydrating rose extract. I found it to be just as gentle and nourishing as the Aqua Marina, while being more effective at cleansing the skin. I do have to say though, these little rolls were fantastic! They are just as fresh as the fresh face masks while having a longer shelf life (due to them being made as a solid), contain no preservatives, and felt awesome on my skin! 

The lotion, Sympathy for the Skin, was definitely not my favorite of all the things I tried. As much as I loved the scent, I felt it wasn't as moisturizing as I prefer my lotions to be. This lotions is made from fresh bananas, vanilla, and sandalwood. It is made with a loos emulsion so that it absorbs into your skin really quickly. Because of this, I found I needed to use more of it than my usual moisturizer to cover my body. If you love the smell of bananas as much as I do though, you will surely love this scent. I have taken to using my sample as a light hand lotion, and love it for that purpose. I just like something a little thicker as a body lotion. 

Recently, Lush has taken steps to foray into the world of makeup and I loved both of the samples I tried! The lipstick comes in a little bottle with a sponge applicator (not pictured because I received a sample and they don't have this product listed on their website yet so I could not get a picture for you). The makeup is all vegan (which is really nice for products that you are placing on your lips) and they come in an array of amazing colors. The color I received was Drive, which is a Pinky Purple. It went on super smoothly (I applied with a lipstick brush) and lasted all day. I have worn it matte and with a gloss on top and neither ways made my lips feel dry at all. The lip color can also be worn as a blush, just dab it on your cheeks and blend well. I was told that in theory, the eye colors can be worn on lips and the lip product on the eyes, but found that the lip product was much thicker (as can be seen in the picture, the eye color settled on the bottom of the container while the lip product is still sitting on the side where it was placed in) and probably wouldn't work well on the eyes. I tried the eye product in Happiness, which is a pretty copper color. I really liked using it as a second eyeliner for the new double eyeliner fad. It really stands out, glides on smoothly, doesn't smudge, and lasts all day. I am in LOVE with these products! 

The bath bomb in Twilight I was lucky enough to receive as a prize. The Lush by me had a Halloween party and the first 20 people who walked through their door got this bomb. It was a lot of fun! It turned my bathwater pink, then orange, then blue, and finally settled on a midnight purple color. It released the scent of lavender and tonka and was wonderfully relaxing. It even created bubbles in my bath. The smell was so pungent that my bathroom smelled like the bomb for 3 days after and my living room (where the bomb was housed until I used it) smelled like the bomb until it's use. I almost feel like these things can also be used as a room freshener. I loved this bomb so much I wanted to try another. I have since gotten Dragon's Egg, and will let you know when I try it.

Lastly is the Shower Jelly in Whoosh. I really love this thing. It is so much fun to use in the shower. It is a gelatinous soap that smells like lemon, lime, and grapefruit. The scent is absolutely wonderful and the gel feels awesome when rubbed all over yourself in the shower. It suds up nicely and the jelly kept its shape for quite awhile before falling apart. Now I just brake off pieces to use. Even better these are made with "aromatic essential oils and carrageenan seaweed gel, which is full of minerals and vitamins to nourish and soften skin and hair." I love things that are both fun and good for you. 

A few things on my wish list that I still want to try is: Let the Good Times Roll Exfoliating Cleanser, Love Lettuce Fresh Face Mask, Cosmetic Warrior Fresh Face Mask, and Henna Hair Dye. What are some products you would want to try?

Well, that is all the products for now. Can't you just tell how much I love this company? These products can be purchased at a Lush near you or at http://www.lush.com/

HBL - Hydrating System

In my quest for a moisturizing hair mask that wasn't ridiculously expensive while still not containing any potentially harmful ingredients, I came across HBL. HBL stands for health, beauty, life and is a haircare line unique onto themselves. The line doesn't contain sulfates, parabens, DEA's, TEA's or any other such ingredients. It is gentle yet effective and most importantly not expensive. I decided to try the hydrating system as I needed a great hair mask and after trying samples of a few other hair masks that just didn't live up to expectations, I was very happy to try this. 

The hair mask is described as a product that "intensely smoothes, conditions and protects even the most challenging hair without weighing it down or leaving a greasy feeling." When I first scooped it out of the jar I was worried about the consistency as it was really thick. This product comes with a little comb in the jar, which I loved, so I could comb the mask into my hair after putting it on. I let it sit for a bit before rinsing it out. WOW! Thats really says it all. My hair felt silky smooth as if I didn't color my hair or straighten it on a regular basis. I could really see the difference especially after drying and straightening my hair. It was love at first use. My hair has never felt better!

Back tracking a little bit, the shampoo was also wonderful. It smells amazing and I love how much it lathers on my head. The hydrating shampoo "gently cleanses, moisturizes, and smoothes hair of all types." I generally don't like using both a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner as I feel my hair gets greasy faster, but have not had that problem with this set. My hair still lasts 2-3 days in between washes without getting greasy and still containing the thickness and body I desire. 

The last product, the conditioner, is just as well loved as the first two products. The description is basically the same: "smooths, moisturizes, and protects hair without excessive weight or leaving a greasy feeling" and I feel my review of the product is the same as the others. It smells great, moisturized well without weighing my hair down, and left my hair feeling silky smooth. 

I have used these products every shower since receiving them. I really, really love them and I'm pretty sure my hair does too. My hair has felt dry ever since I made the mistake of bleaching my hair and have not been able to find a product that brought my hair back to the way it was. These products undoubtable did just that. I am SO thankful! 

For people with other haircare concerns, HBL also offers sets in revitalizing, thermal styling, curl enhancing, texture and styling, straightening, rejuvenating, volumizing, and shine and seal. 

These products can be purchased at http://hblhaircare.com/

Review on Fall USA Luxebox Items and October Glossybox Items

I just realized I never reviewed these products after I posted what I received! Well, for anyone who might have been interested, here is my review:

The Vichy Purete Thermale Refreshing Toner:

It's Invigorating texture leaves skin feeling totally refreshed. The perfect way to finish a cleansing routine.

Personally, I feel most toners do the same thing. They clean off any remaining residue after you cleanse and Ph balance your face. Some moisturize while others contain alcohol and strip. Other than that I personally don't see a huge difference between the more expensive ones and the cheap ones. This was no different. It doesn't contain alcohol, which is nice, other than that it did the job as any other toner would.

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner:

A precise, accentuating liquid eyeliner that will help you create the look you want without any smudges.

I'm not sure if I just received a dud, but I didn't specifically like this item, even though I am aware that this is a cult item. I thought it came out more of a dark grey than black. Perhaps I will take pictures later comparing it to my other liquid black eyeliners, but I thought it could have been darker. I also found that it did smudge worse than my Mac gel liner. I think I used this twice before retiring it to the back of my eyeliner drawer.

Marcelle Lux Cream Eye Shadow + Liner:

The waterproof ultra-silky texture glides on evenly for a quick and easy application and color that lasts up to nine hours.

This product I really liked. I didn't specifically like the color I received it in, but the product itself was pretty good. It has a double end, one with the color and the other side had a sponge smudger. I tried it both as an eyeliner and eyeshadow and both worked nicely. As an eyeshadow it didn't crease and it stayed nicely without smudging all day as an eyeliner. It kind of reminded me of the Makeup Forever Aqua Pencils.

Orlane Absolute Skin Recovery Polyactive:

This reinforced formula actively defends against extreme fatigue, a cause of skin aging. This formula creates visible results from the first few applications.

I'm sorry to say that I have not tried this product and won't be trying it anytime soon. I check out reviews of all products before I put them on my skin because I do have pretty sensitive skin and others warned that this was a very active product and can cause really bad skin irritation.

Orlane Super Moisturizing Concentrate:

This lightweight, silky cream works for 24 hours to restore the skin's optimal moisture balance, helping skin to regain its suppleness and radiance.

This Orlane product, on the other hand, I both tried and loved. I found it super moisturizing without causing greasiness and it absorbed super quickly into the skin. It is quite light feeling and has a nice, clean scent to it. It made my skin very silky soft. If this product wasn't so darn expensive I might have bought a full size jar.

Sally Hansen Salon Effects:

Sally Hansen makes it easy to get a salon effect any time, any place. It wears like nail polish because it is nail polish. With no dry time, you're always ready to go.

This was another product I did not use, but that is because I have tried it in the past and didn't specifically like it. I find that they are pretty hard to get on and thus don't think they are worth it. Two of my friends have tried it as well. One stated that they work really well when they are fresh, but if you get a box that has been sitting in the store too long, they become difficult to work with (which is maybe why I had problems) and the other person goes to a nail salon and the manicurist also had difficulties. Not my favorite product.

Schick Hydro Silk Razor:

This uniquely designed razor goes beyond an incredibly close shave to actually care for your skin. With moisturizing ingredients, this razor leaves the skin feeling silky smooth!

This is another product I have used in the past because it came in one of my birch boxes. Am I happy this came in my box? Not specifically. However it is one of the more useful items. It does give a really close shave without my legs feeling dry. It has moisture strips on it that make the shave smooth and moisturizing. I do really like this razor and will most likely be buying refills for it.

Essie Nail Polish:

Put your nails in the spotlight with the perfect manicure. One of our favorite nail lacquers all year round! This bottle is DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde Free.

Not a whole lot to say about this nail polish. I never have something to say about products that are typical. It doesn't chip, smell, and I like the color. Thats pretty much all I have to say about nail polish. I currently have it on my toes and it has lasted the two week mark quite nicely.

Luxebox is a loose button quarterly subscription service for $26 a quarter. It can be purchased here: https://loosebutton.com/LuxeBox

In this post I am also going to revue the products that were in my October Glossybox. As with all my glossy boxes recently, I have pretty much liked everything in it! Seriously, this is a box that you want to subscribe to.

Alessandro Pedix Heel Rescue Balm - $6/0.26 oz:

A perfect foot-care aid for dry, chapped feet imported exclusively from Germany. When used regularly, the rich cream with MarinaVital complex provides lasting protection against calluses.

I don't really use foot creams, so I used this once for the purpose of review and then gave it to my mother. It doesn't really have any odor to it, good or bad, which I like, especially in a foot cream. I found it was very moisturizing and is most likely a very effective product (if used daily).

Alterna Bamboo Luminous Shine Mist - $22/4 oz:

An eco-certified shine mist made with Indian gooseberry and organic bamboo that controls frizz and flyways. It is brilliant and weightless gloss for any hair type.

My bottle was mostly leaked when I received this and my replacement bottle has not arrived yet (most likely delayed because of the storm). So I only really got to try this once. It smells really nice and does leave hair with a nice shine without doing much else. It isn't greasy and doesn't weigh the hair down. there are much better products out there that control frizz and flyways, but it isn't a bad product.

Carol's Daughter Shea Souffle - $20/8 oz:

A superbly rich and fast absorbing daily moisturizer containing Shea butter, Cocoa butter, and Jojoba oil to help you reach your skin's optimal softness. This shea soufflé is non-greasy and free of paragons, mineral oil, and artificial color.

My lotion came in Almond Cookie, which is a very sweet and pungent odor. It kind of smells like baby powder. I couldn't decide if I liked the fragrance, and still can't, but I do really like the product. It does everything it says it does. It is really moisturizing without being greasy and doesn't feel thick on the skin. My only caveat is that it doesn't absorb into the skin easily and it takes a lot of effort to get it to. You also don't need a large amount of product to cover a large amount of area.

Heartland Fragrances Exfoliating Loofa Soap - $8/6 oz:

A unique hand-poured loofa soap encased in gentle glycerin provides the perfect blend of moisture and exfoliation. This soap is designed to increase circulation and is great for exfoliating. Use on rough dry areas.

I received this product in Blood Orange and this soap smells like heaven. I love keeping it opened in my bathroom because it makes my bathroom smell so nice. I just wish I felt the same way about the soap itself. It is very harsh on the skin and felt like it was tearing me up. I used just the glycerin part without the scrub and I did like that part. I think I would buy Heartland fragrances glycerin soap (they do sell the soap without the exfoliant) as it seemed to be soft and moisturizing, but sadly this soap has been relegated to my feet as I do not like it used on my body.

Modelco Lip Duo Lipstick and Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss - $39/lipstick

An ultimate pairing of lip color - a flawless, long lasting lipstick and an intense beaming gloss. Each may be worn separately or layered for an individually tailored hue.

I absolutely love this lipstick/gloss duo. I like this color even more than last months glossy pink lipstick. This is also a pinky nude, but leans more towards the nude side whereas the glossy pink was a pinky nude that leaned more towards the pink side. It is wonderfully moisturizing and lasts quite awhile. I have used the lipstick by itself, the gloss by itself, and paired them together and I like it all 3 ways. It is truly a fantastic product! I'm pretty sure it is my favorite out of this month's box!

Glossybox is a monthly subscription service for $21 a month and can be purchased here: http://www.glossybox.com/

Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report

Lola from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog was featured on another great beauty blog, Prime Beauty, discussing Photoshop, Airbrushing and Advertising in Beauty.

Olivia from The Unknown Beauty Blog reviews the Smashbox Contour palette, perfect for the eyeshadow minimalist.

Rachel from Rachel's Makeup and Skincare has a new favorite perfume in the Limited Edition Flowerbomb La Vie en Rose.

Lindsay from The Beauty Think Tank reviews the Fall 2012 Target Beauty Bag.

If you would like to be featured in a future Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report, please e-mail Lindsay at beautythintank(at)gmail(dot)com.

Victor and Rolf Flowerbomb La Vie en Rose and Travalo Perfume Rollerball

Hello everyone. Sorry for not being around! I was caught in Hurricane Sandy and only just got my power back last night. I hope everyone else is doing alright and has been safe during this time.

Victor and Rolf's best selling perfume, Flowerbomb, now comes in Eau de Toilette version (which means for those that do not know there is a lesser concentration of oils in the fragrance which results in a less pungent odor that will generally not last as long). For some scents, an eau de toilette version may not be a good thing (such as Mark Jacobs Daisy which lasts all of 3 seconds). This was perfect to me. As much as I love Flowerbomb, the scent is so overpowering it generally gives me a headache. I found that this is the perfect version that allows me to love the scent without it overpowering my senses and it still seems to last all day! Although this is stated to be a limited edition item, Sephora still caries it and has carried it for at least 6 months now, so you still have time to scoop one of these up (I know I plan on purchasing another before they are out!).

This perfume is described as "having the power to seduce with the same glamorous extravagance as the classic Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum. A sparkling and sophisticated rendition, it entices you to indulge in the power of a refreshingly crisp sensation. The scent opens with top notes of tangerine, bergamot, tea, and pink pepper. Lily of the valley, freesia, and centifolia rose create its floral heart. A base of amber and patchouli provides a compelling anchor."

I absolutely love this perfume. It is definitely my favorite. It is a floral perfume and quite sweet, yet not so sweet that my mother (who absolutely hates sweet perfumes) commented that she liked whatever it was that I was wearing. It has a sophisticated feel to it without it being too old. The bottle is also quite pretty. I love having it sit on my counter. I think it is even better looking than the original bottle. The only downside to this perfume is the price. It only comes in one size and is $80.00.

The other product that is pictured with the perfume is the Travalo Refillable Perfume Rollerball. It is quite a nifty little product. It's a portable rollerball that you can easily fill with your own fragrances. You take the spray head off your perfume bottle and stick this guy on top and it fills. It is perfect for travel when you cannot take your favorite perfume with you. Since I went to stay with my family during the recent Hurricane, I thought it a perfect time to try this out. Normally I use the backup perfume I keep at my parents house for when I go home, but this product allowed me to take my Flowerbomb with me! I was thrilled. It worked exactly as it says it would. It took me 2 minutes to fill and the roller works like a dream. This is also small enough that it can be taken on a plane with you or kept in your purse for quick touch-ups throughout the day. I definitely like this product! If you prefer spray versions (as opposed to a rollerball) they also sell mini refillable sprays. It also comes in multiple colors! =)

On a last note, have you guys heard of the new Victor and Rolf cologne for men? It is called Spicebomb. Has anyone had a chance to smell it yet? I haven't and am really curious. Let me know in the comments!

The only place I have found that is still selling the Victor and Rolf perfume is https://www.sephora.com and the Rollerball can be purchased at http://www.travalo.com