One Direction Makeup kits - Review

Make up kits by One Direction are a great gift for any teen!  I received three kits in exchange for an honest review.  I may not be a teen anymore but I was super excited to receive these three kits.  These make lipgloss, mascara, and nail polish so much more fun.

(left to right) "Story of My Life", "Shock of Blue", and "Does He Know?"

ELECTROGLAM MASCARA

This was one of the kits I received and the first one I tried!  This mascara is so much fun because not only can it be used as mascara but you can also use it in your hair for some added fun and color!  This kit came with three colors, "Does He Know?" -Pinkest hot pink, "Why Don't We Go There" - Shock of blue, and "Story Of My Life" - Amped canary yellow.  As you can tell from using these in my hair the mascaras come out very bright.  My camera and lighting didn't do the mascara much justice when using the mascara on my eyelashes but in person you can definitely notice and the pink does not look red in person like in my photo.  I was really excited to receive these not so much to use on my eyelashes but to put in my hair!  I mean who doesn't love adding crazy colors to their hair?  You also don't need to add regular mascara before the colored mascara because it shows up great on its own.

(top to bottom) "Kiss You", "Taken", and "Through the Dark"

LIQUILIGHTS GLOW GLOSS

This was the second kit I received.  These glosses are really neat because during the day they sparkle and a night they illuminate under a UV black light!  I wasn't able to try them with a black light seeing as I don't own one, but if you do that would be a fun and exciting extra to the glosses.  This kit also comes with three shades which are, "Through the Dark" - Electric glitter poppy that glows to neon red-orange under UV light, "Kiss You" - Orange glitter rush that glows to neon yellow under UV light, and "Taken" - Powerhouse glitter pink that glows to neon pink-orange under UV light.  These can be worn alone or can be paired with a lipstick for a bolder look.  Their lip glosses are made with natural oils and vitamin E so that your lips stay soft and hydrated.  These glosses are very pigmented although "kiss you" showed up more clear with glitter on my lips. The other two showed up pretty much as pictured.

ROCK ME NAIL VARNISH

Last but not least I received nail polish!  Out of all the kits this is the one that will get the most use.  I was really happy with these nail polishes, they did need about two coats for the opaque look, but they also dry really fast. These can also be used with a UV black light.  This kit also came with three nail varnishes and three glitter toppings which include, nail varnish: "Happily" - UV iced blue glitter, "Moments" - UV neon pink, "Diana" - UV 3D holographic, and glitter toppings: "Kicks" - UV snow cone blue, "Not Afraid" - UV electrified pink glitter, and "Star" - UV holo glitter.  These are so much fun! The varnishes look great by themselves but it's so much fun adding glitter on top for added sparkle.  In my photo I used Happily on my thumb and pointer finger, Diana on my middle finger and Moments on my ring and pinky fingers.  The blue pointer finger also has Kicks glitter on top, middle finger I added Star on top and my ring finger I used Not Afraid on top.

These can be purchased at these stores: 

 Macy's
Dillards
Boscov's
Stage Stores
Beauty Brands
Lord & Taylor 

Also check out there facebook here:

Makeup by One Direction (FB)

This post was sponsored by Brandbacker for my honest review.

Yoga Design Lab - Zoto Bottle - Review

I received this bottle not too long ago and I love it!  I've always wanted one that I could carry around with me to either keep something hot or really cold and I must say I'm really happy with this product!  A few nights ago I used it for hot chocolate and it actually kept it warm the whole time until it was empty!  This bottle will keep a drink hot or cold for 12 or more hours!  A really great thing about this water bottle is that it has a safety lock so if you were to accidentally knock it over or if you were driving on a bumpy road it will not spill out.  I can tell you that this feature definitely works.  This water bottle is double-walled stainless steel which is what helps it keep your liquids hot or cold for such a long period of time.  The product is also certified free from BPA, phthalates, hormones, lead and other harmful toxins. 

I also love the design of this water bottle.  For starters the blue triangles logo on the bottle make it not look boring, and when you open up the top the mouth piece sort of dips in so when you start to drink it you can pour in just the right amount you want to drink.  This is great especially for hot liquids such as hot tea, coffee or hot chocolate so that you don't burn your mouth/tongue.  It also makes it where you can blow off the liquid before drinking.

This product can be purchased from their amazon page from $19.95-21.95.  This product can be purchased with the blue logo, that I received, which is 12oz, or with the stainless steel logo which is 17oz.

These can be found on there Amazon page here: Yoga Design Lab - Zoto Bottle

or from their website: Yoga Design Lab

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Acure Organics - 2nd Review

I was so excited when I found out I could try out more of Acure's products in the exchange for an honest review.  Once again their customer service is amazing!  I was given the chance to choose again what I'd love most to try and was also given a detailed description of what each product is for and how it works.  I would definitely recommend their products!


 

 Lemongrass + Argan Stem Cell Shampoo Clarifying Keratin Boosting
& Lemongrass + Argan Stem Cell conditioner
Organic Argan Oil, Argan Stem Cells + CoQ10


This time I wanted to try out one of their shampoos and conditioners.  I decided to watch a few YouTube videos first to find out which would be best suited for my hair and which most people loved.  The ones I ended up choosing were the Lemongrass ones.  I'm very happy with my decision in these two because they make my hair feel great and smell amazing as well.  The lemongrass scent is very strong, more so with the conditioner but I love it so much because the scent actually lasts in my hair longer than just a few hours.  The main reason I ended up choosing these instead of the other two shampoo/conditioners they have is because the lemongrass shampoo is clarifying and since my hair gets oily by the end of the day quickly I thought this one might help best with my hair, and it surprisingly does!  I can wash my hair in the morning and by night my hair is definitely not oily like it would be with other shampoos such as suave.  My hair just feels way healthier than normal. You can use the shampoo and conditioner daily or it can also be used in rotation with your regular shampoo.  "The lemongrass and rosemary essential oils are great for stimulation and circulation.  CoQ10 helps boost the production of keratin and argan stem cell helps strengthen the connection between the hair follicle and the bulb of the hair, which improves moisture, balance, and hair regeneration."

The shampoo has Organic Avocado Oil which provides vitamin B12 and moisture while lemongrass cleanses and clarifies and the conditioner has Organic Fair Trade Certified Cocoa Butter which provides moisture.  These products are also safe for color-treated hair which is also great.  Both shampoo and conditioner can be purchase on Acure's website for $9.99 each.

Facial Toner 
balancing rose + red tea

I also wanted to try out their facial toner.  I've noticed a lot of people use this in their daily skincare/makeup routine and that made me really interested in trying one out for myself.  I chose the rose one, because it sounded best for my oily skin.  I've never used a toner before so I wasn't really sure what it was supposed to do at first exactly, but I'm really glad I chose this product.  I really enjoy this, it makes my skin feel very soft after application and made my skin not so oily!  This product smells really nice and refreshing, the scent is not overly powerful which is great since you are spraying it on your face.  This toner is alcohol-free and certified organic.  It uses organic witch hazel to purify, organic vegetable glycerin to moisturize and organic rose and chamomile to soothe, calm and restore the skin's own protective layer.  This product can be purchased on their website for 15.99.


If you'd like to check out what other products they have you can go to there website here: ACURE or if you're interested in the products I've used you can click the product name and it will send you directly to that product on Acure's website!

November 2014 Birchbox - Review

So to start off if you don't already know, Birchbox is a monthly beauty and lifestyle subscription service which costs $10 a month.  Each month you receive 4-5 deluxe sized samples and occasionally a bonus item as well.  The past few months Birchbox has been letting subscribers choose their own sample out of a few products they've chosen, a curated box, or a box that they choose specifically for you by using your beauty profile.  For each product you receive you can review on Birchbox's website for 10 points apiece.  Once you have 100 points that will equal to $10 you can spend in the Birchbox shop!  Once you accumulate 500 points you become apart of their Birchbox Aces program which will give you free shipping on all items in their shop.

Each box comes with a card telling you the items you received in that months box.  Under brand name it tells you the specific product and how much it costs.  Under that it also tells you what the specific product is and how to use it.  Also, if you received a bonus item that month it will be at the very bottom on the card under BONUS.

This month's theme was GIVING, and Birchbox teamed up with RED to raise money and awareness for the global fight against AIDS.  They chose to donate $1 every time someone shared a picture of their box and tagged it #shaRED.

Amika - Perk Up Dry Shampoo

This was the first product I received this month and was really excited to try!  I've heard a lot of people talk about how great this dry shampoo is and I just had to have it, so I was really happy when I saw I was getting the sample to try out.  The full size of this product in the Birchbox shop is $21, but they also have a 1 fl. oz. bottle in their shop for $9.  I absolutely love this dry shampoo! It smells great and it also makes my hair feel great while also looking clean.  I definitely plan on buying a full size of this product once mine runs out because my hair does tend to start getting oily towards the end of the day and this product is a great way to help soak up the excess oils.

Dr. Jart+ - Ceramidin Cream

This was the second product I received in this months box, I have used it several times since receiving and it is very hydrating especially if you get dry skin during the winter time.  This product will be great when my skin starts becoming dryer from the cold weather.  Only thing I don't really like about it is that it doesn't smell very nice at all.  A 1.6oz tube of this product can be purchased in the Birchbox shop for $48.

Gilchrist & Soames - Spa Therapy Body Wash

This was the third product I received this month and when I first saw it in my box I wasn't very excited to try.  I've received two different Gilchrist & Soames body lotions from Birchbox in past boxes and I was really disappointed with both products so I just was not happy in receiving their body wash.  I have to say though I was pleasantly surprised with this one! This body wash smells amazing! I'm not sure what to compare it to but it smells very sweet and it lathers up really well which is nice.  I hate when a body wash doesn't lather because it makes me feel like it's not doing it's job.  You can purchase this product in their shop for $15.

Juice Beauty - Green Apple Peel - Sensitive

This was the fourth item I received in my box and also my sample choice.  I was really looking forward to trying out this product, there is only one thing I did not particularly like about the green apple peel.  First off it did not feel drying on my skin, my skin felt soft and refreshed after using, and it did not leave my skin red or irritated.  The one thing I didn't like was how this product was a liquid, I did not expect that when I first used it and it seeped through my fingers. I will continue using this product but don't plan on purchasing the full size.  The full size of this product can be purchased in the Birchbox shop for $39.

theBalm Cosmetics - Cindy-Lou Manizer

This was the last product I received in my box this month and one of my favorites.  Wish the sample size was bigger, but the packaging is just too cute!  The peachy color is really pretty, pink with a shimmer of gold.  I tried to get a picture of a swatch of the product but my camera and lighting wouldn't capture it properly, nor did it capture the correct shade of the product above.  I love that not only is it a highlighter, but also a blush and can be used as an eyeshadow as well.  So far I've only used this as a blush/highlighter, but I plan on playing around with it for an eyeshadow as well.  The full size for this can also be purchased in the Birchbox shop for $24.

Justin's - Chocolate almond butter- squeeze pack

This was the bonus item I received in this month's box.  I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but it was nice receiving an extra this month.  A pack of 10 -1.15oz pack can be purchased on Birchbox's site for $11.99.

Yalmeh Glory Eye Bright Gel Review + Giveaway (closed)

This is the second Yalmeh product that I have received.  The gel is clear, drys super fast and isn't heavy at all so I didn't even notice it on my face.  This product is called "Glory Eye Bright Gel" but it can be used on your cheeks,forehead and pretty much anywhere on your face as well.  This product can be used for dark circles, wrinkles, puffiness, sagging, loss of tone and resilience.  I've been using this on my forehead and notice where I am applying the gel, my skin feels a lot softer and smoother.  

This product is made with botanical hyaluronic acid, plant stem cells, matrixyl 3000, and vitamin E. These are used for anti aging which hydrate the flimsy eye area (including eye lids) to avoid premature aging.  This product also contains all natural ingredients, no toxic chemicals or cancer causing additives - no mineral oil, sulfates or alcohol ,propylene glycol or paraben. They do not test their products on animals. This eye gel is 100% natural and 75% organic.  Another great thing is that their products are Made in the U.S.A. in an Advanced FDA Registered Facility.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Old Factory Candles - Review + Giveaway(closed)

This is the first non beauty related item that I chose to do a review on.  I was so excited to be chosen to receive these products!  Especially since all I had to do in return was give an honest review.  I absolutely love these candles!  They smell so amazing, not only that but I find their packaging super adorable.  So, I had a really hard time trying to choose which set of candles I wanted, and ended up choosing the "Winter Wonderland" set.  I am very happy with my choice and would love to have several of their other sets as well.  Such as "Coffee Shop", "Fall Harvest", "Happy Holidays", and others.  The ones I received in my set are hot cocoa, roasted chestnut and first snow.  The hot cocoa one is by far my absolute favorite.  

 

To talk a little more about the candles each one is hand poured in the USA with natural soy wax, the wicks are made of cotton and self-trim, and they are made of premium fragrance oils.  They also burn clean and can last up to 20 hours!  I have lit mine downstairs and could smell the fragrance all the way upstairs, which is pretty amazing.

Here is a list of all of the themed gift sets they offer and if you'd like to purchase your own you can order from their Amazon page HERE

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. a Rafflecopter giveaway

YALMEH Super Youth Eye Cream - Review + Giveaway(closed)

This product is very creamy and makes my skin feel soft where I apply it to my face.  This product will last forever!  You only need to use a tiny amount as it will go a long way. This product contains a combination of Organic Aloe, Alpha Lipoic and Alpha Hydroxy acids, Grapeseed Oil, Vitamins E and C and many other great moisturizers.  So, it contains all natural ingredients, no toxic chemicals or cancer causing additives - no mineral oil, propylene glycol or paraben. They also never test their products on animals.  This product also smells really nice! The fragrance reminds me of sunscreen, which is nice for me because I love the smell of sunscreen.  This product is great for wrinkles, and dark circles, which it repairs, protects and treats.  Also reduces the look of age spots while moisturizing and softening your skin.  I've used this before going to bed at night and I have also used it under my makeup during the day.  It doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy in the least bit either because I can't even feel that I'm wearing it. You can use this around your eyes, but you can also use it on your forehead, around your mouth, cheeks, and anywhere else on your face you might be noticing a few fine lines and wrinkles.

A great thing about this company is they have a 90 day money back guarantee!  So if you decided to buy this product and decide that maybe it doesn't work for you, if you send it back within 90 days of purchase you can receive your money back.



I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

October 2014 Birchbox - Review

This month Birchbox did the PICK YOUR SAMPLE again. I'm thinking they're going to keep doing this each month, which I personally think is great.  It's always fun being surprised, but sometimes it's nice to be able to pick one of your samples too. So while that part may not be a surprise the rest of the box will be.  Also, Birchbox is a subscription services and for 10 dollars a month you receive 4-5 beauty/lifestyle deluxe size samples.  Reviewing those samples each month will also give to 10 points per product reviewed, and 100 points is 10 dollars you can spend in the Birchbox shop.

 

Each month your box comes with a card telling you everything that you have received in your box.  They tell you what the full size for each item is worth, what the product is, and how to use each one.

ModelCo - Party Proof Lipstick - Kitty

This was the first product I received and also the product I chose.  I'm so happy with this lipstick. The lipstick goes on super smooth so it's not drying on the lips and it's not sticky.  A super plus for me is this product smells so good, fruity I think.  Also I love the packaging, it's super cute and when you look through the top you can actually see the lipstick through the clear circle in the top.  My picture doesn't even do the shade of the lipstick justice, the shade is closer to the color of the name on the packaging.

beautyblender + deluxe solid cleanser

This was the next item I received in my box, and I was super excited when I saw this.  I have been wanting to try out the beauty blender for so long now, but never bought it because I just couldn't see myself spending the money when I already had a foundation brush that worked fine.  I LOVE this product! So easy to use and easy to clean as well.  It even came with blender cleanser solid. To use all you do is soak the sponge in water and squeeze out the water then you use the beauty blender to stipple on your foundation. I like how a little bit of foundation goes a long ways.  I don't even feel the makeup on my face after application, yet my skin looks great!  I definitely recommend this product!

SAGE + fasten - Onward

This is the next item I received and when I first saw it in my box I was a little underwhelmed.  Out of the 6 boxes so far that I have received I've gotten a perfume in 4 of them.  I was pleasantly surprised with this one!  First off it smells different than the other perfumes I've gotten from Birchbox and I've worn it several times since getting this product. This is a really good perfume if you love citrus things.  Another thing I love about this is that it is not a spray perfume but a rollerball which I love since that makes it not so overpowering when you first put it on.  Also, the color of the packaging is pretty cute as well, although most of the writing rubbed off before I even received it making it look worn out.

dr. brandt - Pores no more - vacuum cleaner

This was another product I received that I was interested in trying out.  I've tried a few things from dr. brandt that I've really enjoyed and this was no exception.  Now, I've only tried this a couple of times so I don't know how effective it truly is with the whole "degunks pores for fewer blackheads" thing, but my skin did feel softer after using this. Using this product your supposed to apply it thinly to problem areas, let it dry and then rinse it off after 5-10 minutes.  The directions also say it is supposed to change blue in color, maybe I'm too pale because I only saw it change to white, but regardless what color it changes to I really enjoy this product so far.

 

Camille Beckman - Tuscan Honey - Glycerine Hand Therapy

This is the last product I received this month and another that I was unexcited to receive since, like perfume, I've also received lotions in 4 out of 6 boxes.  Unlike with the perfume I was not surprised with this product, at all.  This is not a lotion I can see myself wearing, I'm not really sure what it smells like to me, I'm just not too fond of this lotion. Although I don't like the fragrance to it, it is a moisturizing lotion and doesn't feel greasy.

Overall I really loved my box this month! I'm pretty sure this is the best one I have received so far.  Out of the five products there will only be one item I will not be using.

If you want to join me in receiving Birchbox each month you can join HERE! :)

All Birchbox links go directly to my referral link 

Product links go directly to that product 

in the Birchbox shop, Thank you! 

Acure Organics - Review

About a week or so ago Acure Organics let me try a few of their products out for a review. First off I want to say their customer service is great! They emailed me in a timely manner and also gave me a detailed description of each of the products I would be using. Another great thing about this company is that all of their products are organic!  This is a family owned business which is amazing and they also state on their website "Each of our products is free from animal testing, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, harmful preservatives and artificial colors."  So, not only do their products work great, they're also great for you!

Dry Shampoo
Argan stem cell + CoQ10
 

This is the first product I received and it works great! If I take a shower in the morning my hair tends to get oily around my face by the end of the day, and this works really great at absorbing the oils without making my hair look dry. To use it all you have to do is twist open the top and squeeze the bottle for the powder to come out. I've never used a dry shampoo before so this was new for me and I was very happy with this product. The Argan Stem Cells and CoQ10 add a Keratin boosting moisture complex to help your hair.

Cell Stimulating Facial Mask 

Argan stem cell + Chlorella Growth Factor

with sea buckthorn +CoQ10
 

This is the next product I received and was most excited about! I absolutely love masks, they're my favorite type of skin care product. My skin felt soft after using this. It did not dry my skin out either which is good, my face felt very moisturized. Other great things about this product is that it is good for all skin types and it smells good!  Which is great since it is a mask that needs to set onto you face for around 10-15 minutes.  I have also been able to use this several days in a row and my skin is still loving this product!

The Moroccan Argan Stem Cells and Chlorella Growth Factor help revitalize the skin while the

 French Green Clay draws out impurities and Moroccan Argan Oil, CoQ10 and Seabuckthorn Oil provide moisture.

Oil Control Facial Moisturizer
Lilac stem cells + 1% Chlorella Growth Factor

This was the last product I received. I wanted to try this one out because I do have oily skin which drives me crazy so I thought this would be the perfect product for me. I used this product right after using the face mask and I'm so happy with the results. My face still felt soft and moisturized even into the next morning! Before using this I would wake up in the morning to an oily face which just made me feel gross, but using this there are no signs of oily skin, just very moisturized.  This product is for combo to oily/acne prone skin, and the Lilac Stem Cells are shown to balance oil and heal blemishes, while Chlorella Growth Factor helps rejuvenate damaged skin cells.

I definitely recommend these products! The dry shampoo is amazing when your hair is getting oily and if you have no time or no way to wash your hair this helps tremendously! Also, after using the mask and moisturizer my face feels so much better! 

If you want to buy these items or others check out their website here:

 Acure Organics 

I've also made each product name into a direct link to buy that specific product. 

September 2014 Birchbox - Review

 If you don't already know, Birchbox is a monthly beauty/lifestyle subscription service for $10/month.  Each month I usually receive 4-7 deluxe size samples.  For every product you receive that you write a review on you will receive 10 points.  Every 100 points equals out to 10 dollars which you can spend in the Birchbox shop.  Also, once you have gotten 500 points within a calender year you become apart of the Birchbox Aces, which allows you to shop in their shop and get free shipping on any products.

This month to celebrate their 4 year anniversary they sent out three different box designs, all three boxes had the same pattern but in different colors.  I absolutely LOVE the box I received, the colors are so pretty and it just makes the actual box that much more exciting.

Again this month they did the pick your sample option, pick an already curated box, or be surprised.  This month I decided to just be surprised.  Although I'm sure all the samples that could have been chosen were great I figured since last month I chose the curated box that this month I wanted to be surprised.

Perlier Shea Butter Body Balm - Shea Lavender

This was the first product I received, and although the scent wasn't one that I would buy if I were in a store, it did make my hands feel really soft and moisturized.  I also like this body balm because it is thick and I've noticed I don't have to use a lot for my hands to feel moisturized.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

This was the second, and my favorite product that I received this month.  To use this product you massage the cleanser onto your face and neck while they're dry, then wet and wring out the cloth in hand hot water and gently wipe off.  The smell of this reminds me of Vicks VapoRub, just a very refreshing fragrance. I love how it comes with its own cloth to use with the product, and I love how soft my skin felt after using this.

Dr. Jart+ Pore Minimalist Sheet Mask

This was the third product I received and to start off I wasn't really excited to try this product.  Now, I love facial masks that you rub onto your face and then wait a few minutes and then wash off, but for some reason I just don't like having to put a sheet on my face.  The reason is, is because they are usually way to big for my face and sometimes the face holes don't exactly match up. This mask was a little big since it hung past my chin but the eye holes were in the correct spot.  I am pleasantly surprised with this sheet mask, I loved how soft my skin felt after using this and I liked how you massage the rest of the product into your skin afterwards.

Catherine Maladrino- Style de Paris

This was the fourth product I recieved, I wasn't really excited to receive this product either because I had received a perfume last month.  The first time I used this I did not like this fragrance at all, but I just used it again to write this review because I had forgotten what the scent was. Okay, so I don't love this fragrance, but I don't hate it either.  It is floral and fruity which is nice though.

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner- Silver

This was the last product I received this month.  I really love this eyeliner, I would have loved to receive this in black, because then I would get way more use out of this eyeliner.  This product goes on so smooth, like butter, and the color is so vibrant.

Overall this wasn't my favorite month with birchbox, but I am happy with most of the products I did receive so I guess that's okay with me.  Thank you for reading my post, I hope you enjoyed my opinions! :)

If you want to join me in receiving Birchbox each month you can join HERE! :)

All Birchbox links go directly to my referral link 

Product links go directly to that product 

in the Birchbox shop, Thank you! 

Youtube review