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February 25, 2013

Schick Hydro Silk Razor


I was sent the Schick Hydro Silk razor to try through a campaign on BzzAgent.com. I was interested to see how it worked compared to the disposables I use on a regular basis. Choosing a razor is a big deal for me because I shave every single day. I cannot and will not go a day sporting annoying stubble; It's very uncomfortable and irritating!

It has been awhile since I've used a razor with replaceable cartridges. In fact, I can't actually remember the last time I had a razor like that. Disposables have been my go-to because they're inexpensive and easy.



The Schick Hydro Silk includes:
  • Water-activated Moisturizing Serum for hydration up to 2 hours after shaving
  • 5 Curve-sensing blades with skin guards to reduce irritation
  • Compact oval cartridges that fit contours of the body
  • Soft touch handle
  • Comes with 2 cartidges and a shower mount



When I used it on my legs for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised that it took less swipes across my skin to do the job and I didn't get any tiny cuts. I could work quickly with this razor and my legs were smooth in half the time it normally took. I didn't use shaving cream (I never do) andit wasn't needed.  My legs felt slick and smooth - definitely not dry or irritated. It even worked well (and comfortably) in the bikini zone as well. I may just ditch the disposables and keep this razor around from now on! 


Disclaimer: I was sent this product for free but was not obligated to review. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

February 21, 2013

NOTD: OPI Berlin There Done That

For my nails today, I chose a taupe shade from the OPI Germany collection called Berlin There Done That.
I got the polish from Cut & Blow, which puts OPI collections on sale a lot (find my full post about the site here). Right now they have the Texas collection for $5 a bottle!



Berlin There Done That is a creamy polish that applies opaque within one coat. It's a taupe shade with a grey hue. Other taupe colors I own lean more brown, so this one is a little different. 



This is how 2 coats look on my nails. You can tell it has a shiny finish on its own, without a top coat.




In this picture, I was showing how it looked with a matte topcoat. 

I like it both ways. Having a matte topcoat  makes the grey tones come out more and gives a velvety finish to the polish.


February 16, 2013

Beauty Break: Valentine's Recap

 I've decided that since I don't publish beauty posts on the weekends that I should find something else to share during that time that gives you a glimpse into my life and learn more about me.  The posts I'll  be doing will be named Beauty Breaks so that they're distinguishable from my other posts. These posts may contain recaps of my week, vlogs, new projects I'm working on, or things I just want to share (I'm not making any promises yet about where they'll go - let's just go with it!)

This first Beauty Break is about Valentine's Day and how I celebrated. I don't believe I need a specific day to show my boyfriend or anyone else that I love them. I do, however, think it's a little fun to dote on each other for a day. I even decorated our entryway with Valentine's stuff from the dollar store.



We never make a big deal out of Valentine's day gifts. Mark got me the usual flowers, card, and candy -which is plenty for me - but this year he also got me a gift that I'm excited to share...

It's a Living Locket from Origami Owl. I showed him the site awhile ago after hearing about it on twitter and hinted that I would love to have one. You choose everything for your locket: the chain, the locket, and the charms. Take a look at the video below to see my Living Locket.




Mark chose the rose gold locket and chain for me. It's so pretty!
My charms: an artist palette (you probably know by know I love drawing, painting, crafting, and anything art-related), a laptop, a camera, a shopping bag, and a crown.

I think it makes for a really special gift and is so unique. This is the only locket I've seen where you can always see what's inside. 
Anyway, I promise I'm not getting paid to promote the company - I just wanted more people to know about it because it's so cool!

So after he gave me my gift I have him a couple small gifts and some treats for later (cupcakes!). We went out to pick up ingredients for our dinner, which was parmesan chicken, broccoli, and baked bread. Parmesan chicken is so easy and delicious. This is the recipe I use. We ate in, played some bowling on the PS3, and relaxed. 

What did you do for Valentine's Day?


Check out my newest post on my other blog: How to Earn Money Online

February 13, 2013

LUSH Review


Lush is a store that's hard to pass up. You see it at the mall with tons of cute products out on display and the next thing you know, you're in line with a basket full of bath bombs. It's one of the most enticing stores ever...besides maybe Godiva or Victoria's Secret. If you're unfamiliar with Lush, it's a company that makes fresh handmade products for bath, body, and hair and is very much against animal testing. 

I only recently tried Lush for the first time despite all of the buzz I've seen/heard about it.  This past Christmas, I asked my boyfriend for some Lush goodies. After receiving them, I decided to make an additional purchase at the store so that I could try a good assortment of products and give a solid review.



All the Best gift box

My boyfriend got me the "All the Best" gift box. I asked for this one because let's face it, he would've never known what to buy! I chose this one because I  wasn't taking many baths at the time and this one was one of the few that didn't have any bath-specific products in it. This gift box was a holiday edition box so it's not available anymore but some of the products still are.

It contained the following:
  • 2 soaps (solid)
  • Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter
  • Twilight Shower Gel
  • Dream Cream
  • Ro's Argan Body Conditioner



Solid Soap


This soap, pictured above, is Snow Globe soap. It's a citrus-scented soap that has a light lather and feels soft against my skin.

I couldn't find a name for the white star soap and didn't take a proper picture of it before it was used, but it was an average soap. There's wasn't anything too amazing about it and I wasn't overly fond of the scent. 

I don't use bar soap much, so I'm not sure if I'll be buying any others in the future. They slip and slide and wear down quick - I might just stick to shower gels/body wash.


Lemony Flutter


This was by far the best product of the box! Lemony flutter is considered a cream, but it reminds me more of a silky balm. You can use it on your cuticles or on any areas that are rough. It contains beeswax, avocado oil, lemon, and other ingredients. I love using it on my cuticles - I noticed a major difference! This one had a small amount compared to the normal size but I've barely made a dent since I got it. The full size sets you back $16.95, which seems high, but I think it would last a long time.


Twilight Shower Gel


This product was limited-edition and incredibly popular.  It was inspired by the Twilight Bath Bomb. I noticed it was a sparkly purple gel in the bottle and it had an interesting scent. I could smell lavender along with a warm scent like cinnamon. It was a small bottle, but lasted almost a month. I'm not sure if I would buy it if it was still available. I like more fruity fresh scents.


Dream Cream


Lush describes this as their best-selling product of all time. It's a creamy body lotion with ingredients of oat milk, lavender, chamomile and other things to calm irritation and moisturize dry skin. It's a light lotion that doesn't leave any greasy residue. The full size costs $26.95! A little too high of a price for me. I liked it but not enough to pay almost $30 for it!


Ro's Argan Body Conditioner



Ro's Argan is a unique product. It's a rose-scented shower lotion that you use like you would a hair conditioner, except on your body. You apply it all over and then rinse it off.
I don't love this product. The scent is good and the idea is cool, but it didn't seem to rinse off that well and I don't notice much of a difference in the softness of my skin. The full size is $32.95, so I won't be running out to buy it anytime soon. That is just way too pricey for a product I'm not in love with.

-------------------------------

Now moving onto the things I bought. I made the decision to purchase some bath products afterall because those are what I've heard the most hype about.  I chose a bath melt, bath bomb, and bubble bar. 



Happy Blooming Bath Melt


Happy Blooming is a cherry passion fruit scented bath melt. You add a chunk into the bath and it melts away. Bath melts help moisturize and soften your skin. It was $6.95 for a slice that lasts for 3 uses. I definitely noticed the cherry scent. It's nice that it can be used a few times and wasn't very expensive. I liked it, although I don't feel like I need to buy more of them. 


Blackberry Bath Bomb


I really liked this one! I plopped it into my tub and it started to dissolve right away, turning my water a pretty purple hue. It had a fruity blackberry scent. The bummer is that one bath bomb is good for only one bath, not multiple baths. At $6.35 (for this particular one) it can get pricey if you take a lot of baths. I definitely want to pick out more of them though.


Yuzu and Cocoa Bubbleroon


I was drawn to this one because of the scent - chocolate orange. It's a bubble bar but appropriately called a bubbleroon because it looks like a macaroon. You crumble bubble bars under the running water and they create luxurious bubbles. This particular one is said to make mountains of fluffy white bubbles. When I used it I was anticipating layers upon layers of bubbly goodness but in reality it made hardly any bubbles at all. The amount of bubbles didn't even fill the length of the tub. I was a little disappointed. It was $6.25 but can be halved for two uses. If I buy another bubble bar I'll go with something different.


Overall
There were some hits and misses among the products I tried. I feel that Lush is a little overhyped. I mean, I love how the company operates and that they offer a wide range of products, but a few weren't as great as I thought they would be.  Some of the prices are high, but I realize that I'm paying for extremely fresh handmade products, so I can understand why they're a little more expensive. I really liked a few of the products and I definitely want to go back for more. I might try some hair products next!

What would you recommend I try from Lush? What are your thoughts about the products? Any faves?


\
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored or compensated post. All opinions are my own. 

February 10, 2013

Beauty Posts of the Week (2/10)


Beauty posts of the week from bloggers in the Beauty Blog Coalition.




  • Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: Check out the new Milani COLORStatement Lipsticks orange and reds... and find out which are Destany's favorites!
  • Blushing Noir: The Urban Decay Theodora Palette just might be more great and powerful than OZ!
  • BeautyTidbits: Enter to win the brand new fragrance from Guess over at BeautyTidbits.
  • The Advice Sisters Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle Website: Sinfully cute and they smell delicious, but Alice & Peter's "cupcakes" are unique fragrances that won't pack on a single pound! Alison of advicesisters.net, checks out these sweet treats
  • Peek & Ponder: Ashley from Peek & Ponder shares her super easy Valentine's Day Heart Nails
  • Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: If you love high quality hair oils and having glossy locks, then Lola's Secret Beauty Blog recommends trying Rodin by Recine Olio Lusso Luxury Hair Oil- because it is simply divine!
  • TheFabZilla: Have you joined the CC cream bandwagon yet? TheFabZilla shares her experience with Juice Beauty CC Cream!
  • Mama Fashionista: Looking for an innovative way to care for your skin? Quinn shares why Korean skin care brand, Amarte, is worth splurging on!
  • Painted Ladies : Holy grail alert! Check out Sheila's review of Hourglass Cosmetics Ambient Lighting Powder in Etheral Light.
  • Beauty Info Zone: We all want to look our best for Valentine's Day. See what Beauty Info Zone has picked for a special look.
  • My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog incorporates blue into her everyday makeup routine!
  • Lipgloss Break: Lipgloss Break picks out her favorite Valentine's Day beauty gift sets. What's on your wish list?
  • Pammy Blogs Beauty: See where Pammy Blogs Beauty Blogs and find out about her blogging and organizatinal tips!
  • Endless Summer: Elena shares her wintertime essentials for body, hands, and feet.
  • Project Swatch: Emi thinks she may have just found her favorite eyeliners ever - and for less than $5 a piece!
  • February 8, 2013

    Cut & Blow - Hair and Beauty Private Sales



    When shopping, everyone is looking for a good deal. Whether it's going to a sale, searching through clearance bins, or finding deals online. One way to score some great deals is through a flash sale site. When you become a member of these sites, you get access to huge discounts from popular brands for a limited time. One of these sites is Cut & Blow.

    Cut & Blow is a beauty flash sale site that offers members up to 90% off on select products from amazing brands. The sales are usually open for only 96 hours and may only be available one time, so if you see something you like, you better jump on it immediately!


    Screenshot from Cutandblow.com

    Today on the site, I see sales for the OPI Germany collection ($5.50 a bottle!), Tigi Cosmetics that are majorly discounted, and a T3 Protege Hair Dryer for $94 instead of $299.99. Crazy! Upcoming sales include Pureology, Smashbox, Clarisonic, China Glaze, and others.

    You'll want to share this site with your friends too, because not only will they get amazing deals as well, but you'll get a $5 credit when they sign up and make their first purchase!


    So let's go over the benefits of the site again:
    • By joining, you get access to sales up to 90% off
    • You get a $5 credit for friends who sign up 
    • Find sales on brands like Smashbox, Pureology, Clarisonic, Redken, CHI, and any more!

    Interested? Sign up here.




    Find Cut & Blow




    *Images from Cutandblow.com
    Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinion are my own.

    February 4, 2013

    How to: Easy Heart Nails



    February has arrived toting roses, candy, hearts, and other symbols of love along with it. For some, it's a perfect time to express their love to someone special and for others it's an annoying reminder of how lonely they feel.  Whether you're celebrating with your true love or spending your night with a pint of ice cream and some movies, there's no reason you shouldn't wear a cute mani, right?

    These are the nails I created for Valentine's Day. They were quick and easy and I absolutely adore them.

    Gold sparkly nails with magenta hearts





    I used 3 polishes besides a base coat and top coat.


    OPI Glitzerland, Piggy Polish Strong Like Jazz, and Julep Vivien



    I used Glitzerland as the base color. It's a shimmery light gold.



    Then I layered Vivien over top. Vivien is a sheer shimmery gold polish with some big chunky gold glitter. It paired perfectly with Glitzerland.


    When it came time to make the hearts, I took a dotting tool and dipped it into Strong Like Jazz.  I used the dotting tool to form  small hearts. It was incredibly easy. If you're recreating this mani and don't have a dotting tool you can use almost anything with a point, such as: a sewing pin, a bobby pin (straightened out), a pencil tip, etc. 



    For the thumb, I painted a a big heart with the brush the polish came with. 



    For a more simple version, here's the mani with just the thumb heart and small hearts on the ring finger:





    Both versions are girly and fun. I could literally wear this mani on my nails everyday and be happy.
    Let me know if you try it!


    February 3, 2013

    Beauty Posts of the Week (2/3/2013)


    Take a look at these recent beauty posts from members of the Beauty Blog Coalition!





  • Blushing Noir: OPI hits a high note this month with the Mariah Carey by OPI & Liquid Sand Lacquers!
  • datyorkLOVES: HTF Max MakeUp Cherimoya Devil's Kiss NVC001 Nail Polish Swatch and Review! Oh and dont forget to check out both giveaways datyorkLOVES is hosting.
  • The Advice Sisters: The best makeup and makeup application in the world won't be your best, if your lighting is not good. The Advice Sisters check out different types of makeup mirrors from Conair
  • Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: If your lips are winter chapped, but you want more than a regular lip balm- then Lola's Secret Beauty Blog suggests having a closer look at the wonderful Korres Lip Butters!
  • Painted Ladies : Ever wondered how to contour and highlight? Sheila from Painted Ladies shows you how in the latest Breaking Down Beauty.
  • BeautyTidbits: Add some glamour to your styling routine with the ghd Gold Series Rich Ruby Metallic Styler!
  • Mama Fashionista: Get an introduction to L'Oreal's new EverCurl line! Quinn gives her first impressions...
  • Beauty Professor: The Beauty Professor got a sneak peek at Le Metier de Beaute's brilliant new eyeshadow palette for Spring 2013!
  • TheFabZilla: The verdict is in. TheFabZilla got the hot stuff on Wet n Wild Fegie Centerstage Collection To Reflect Shimmer Palette.
  • Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist d: Quick and Easy 1 minute Makeup Look. Get out the door FAST!
  • The Lacquered Lady: The Lacquered Lady tries Olay's Smooth Finish Hair Removal Duo
  • Endless Summer: Elena couldn't even imagine kombucha is beneficial for the skin until she tried EmerginC Scientific Organics Kombucha Cleanser.
  • Be Beautilicious: Have you ever tried Red Eyeshadows? Shalini from Be Beautilicious has come up with a wearable look using Red Eyeshadow.
  • Peek & Ponder: Ashley from Peek & Ponder shares her recent polish purchase from Zoya.
  • Midnight Manicures: Are you ready for Spring? Zoya's Lovely Collection is sure to chase away those Winter blues!
  • Pammy Blogs Beauty: Pammy Blogs Beauty's dry and damaged blond hair gets some much needed help with Pureology's amazing new Perfect 4 Platnium line!
  • Beauty Info Zone: Nail polish is big business these days but not all polishes are created equal. See what Beauty Info Zone thinks stands out this month.
  • February 2, 2013

    Empties: Products I've Used Up 2

    In January I finished quite a few big products that I got to know pretty well. Keep reading to find out if I'd repurchase them and why.



    Matrix Biolage Scalptherapie Normalizing Shampoo
    What it does: Balances and cleans hair without drying it out.
    Will I repurchase? Yes. Now if only it were a little less expensive, that would be even better. It's not bad when it's on sale though, which is when I got it. It lasted for months. In fact, I can't even remember when I bought it! I've been using the Biolage line since I was a teen. I have always loved it. The Biolage products are amazing and always have a great scent.


    Dove Hair Therapy Daily Moisture Conditioner
    What it does: Nourishes dry hair to maintain softness.
    Will I repurchase? Probably. I didn't pay for it in the first place because I had a coupon to get it free. I was  very satisfied with it. I liked the scent, the constistency, and the feel of my hair after using it. I couldn't find anything I disliked about it. It's a great drugstore conditioner.


    Nivea Smooth Sensation Daily Lotion for Dry Skin
    What it does: Moisturizes and smoothes skin with shea butter
    Will I repurchase? YES. I was given this product to review and I wound up loving it. It was a light lotion that made my legs feel silky smooth without feeling greasy. I liked that it wasn't super creamy like many other lotions.




    Nivea Touch of Renewal Lathering Body Scrub
    What it does: Gently exfoliates skin
    Will I repurchase? Definitely! I was using this daily in the shower and noticed a major difference in the smoothness of my skin. I would use this before shaving and then apply the lotion (discussed above) after my shower - the combo made my skin was the softest it has ever been! 


    Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Leave-in Treatment
    What it does: Provides heat protection and prevents breakage/split ends
    Will I repurchase? Yes and I have repurchased several times already. This product comes highly recommended by hair stylists. This is an essential product to have in your stash - I'm not kidding! My hair used to get tangled very easily, which isn't surprising considering it's so long. Now my hair is more manageable and tangle-free thanks to this product. I use it on my damp hair before any kind of heat styling.


    Clean & Clear Essentials Foaming Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
    What it does: Removes oil, dirt, and make-up impurities that can cause breakouts.
    Will I repurchase? Not this particular cleanser. I prefer the Morning Burst cleansers. I think they do a better job cleaning my skin and not leaving a residue behind. 


    Bath & Body Works Rio Rumberry Glowing Body Scrub
    What it does: Exfoliates skin with bamboo
    Will I repurchase? Yes. I finished this scrub awhile ago and at the time B&BW didn't sell it anymore. Now it's back on the shelves and I'm prepared to stock up. It smells like a tropical drink and I love the look of the packaging.


    I'd love to know what products you would repurchase. Tell me one item you've finished lately that you're likely to buy again.

    February 1, 2013

    Beauty Blog Coalition $450 Valentine's Giveaway!


    Members of the Beauty Blog Coalition have come together to host a Valentine's Day Sweepstakes with a prize worth $450!.  Read on to find out all the important details and discover the blogs behind the giveaway.
    There are some amazing blogs to check out, so feel free to do some blog exploring while you're at it!

    The Details:

    • Prize: $450 USD Pre-Paid Visa Card
    • Giveaway ends 15 February 2013 (12:00AM Midnight CST)
    • Open Internationally
    • Enter the sweepstakes with the Rafflecopter widget below
    • Terms and Conditions can be found at the bottom of the widget
    Good Luck!


    Participating Blogs
    Aquaheart's Obsessions    http://www.aquaheart.net/
    Beauty and Fashion Tech    http://beautyandfashiontech.com
    BeautyTidbits    http://beautytidbits.com
    Blushing Basics    http://www.blushingbasics.com
    Blushing Noir    http://www.blushingnoir.com
    Cosmetics Aficionado    http://www.cosmeticsaficionado.com/
    Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist    http://blog.emilyhudspeth.com/
    FutureDerm    http://www.futurederm.com
    Glamorous Mama    http://www.glamorousmama.com
    Lawless Lacquer    www.lawlesslacquer.com
    Love For Lacquer    http://www.loveforlacquer.com
    Madame B Fatale    http://www.madamebfatale.com
    Midnight Manicures    http://www.midnightmanicures.com/
    MinaSlater.com - Fabulous Awesomeness    http://www.minaslater.com
    Moxie Reviews    http://www.moxiereviews.com
    My Beauty Bunny    www.mybeautybunny.com
    My Highest Self    http://myhighestselfblog.com/
    Peek & Ponder    http://www.peekandponder.com
    Phyrra    http://www.phyrra.net
    Polarbelle    http://www.polarbelle.com
    polish insomniac    www.polishinsomniac.net
    PolishGalore    http://www.polishgalore.com
    Portrait of Mai    www.portraitofmai.com
    Prime Beauty    www.primebeautyblog.net
    The Crow and the Powderpuff    www.thecrowandthepowderpuff.com
    TheFabZilla    http://www.thefabzilla.com/




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