June Ipsy bag

My June Ipsy bag arrived this week and once again, I am delighted. This month's theme is "On the Wild Side" hence the leopard spotted bag. Here's what was included in my bag:

Cailyn Line-Fix Gel Eyeliner in Iron. I've never tried gel eyeliner so I'm excited to have received this one. The color is a silvery medium grey. It comes with a brush in the handle and applies like a dream. Full size with a retail value of $21.

StarLooks lip pencil in Bare. I am on such a nude lip kick right now and this is a perfect nude shade. Full size with a retail value of $12.

NYX Mosaic Powder in Cafe. NYX is on of my favorite makeup brands so I was psyched to see a NYX product in my bag. I am unfamiliar with their Mosaic powder. I think it is a blush or possibly a bronzer. The shade I received definitely leans towards bronzer. Full size with a value of $7.

Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter. This is a soft, creamy highlighter pencil. I love a pop of highlight under my brows and this one looks great. Not sure if this is full size, probably is, retail value $18.

J.Cats Sparklng Cream Palette. I thought this was eyeshadow, but according to Ipsy's site this is for use on the body only. It appears to be straight up glitter in a bit of a gel base. Perhaps for a Halloween look or for someone who maybe goes clubbing...no idea. Definitely not for me. It's going straight to the donate box. Full size, retail value  $4.49.

So, final count... received 5 full size products, 4 I will definitely use, retail value of products $62. So totally worth the $10 I paid. Truly loving Ipsy! Click here if you want to check it out.

May Ipsy bag

I've mentioned before my love of sample programs. I've tried (and left) Birchbox, Sample Society and Eco Emi. Eco Emi was probably the best of these but also the priciest. Birchbox and Sample Society were always hit or miss. I rarely had more than one or two samples in a box that I liked, the samples were ridiculously small or unsuitable to my skin/hair type/color (why do they have you fill out a beauty profile if they aren't going to use it?!) So for a while I was off the sample boxes. Then I started to notice a lot of YouTubers talking about Ipsy and how much they had improved since their GlamBag days. I decided to give it a try.

I just received my second bag this week and am delighted.

In my totally retro looking bag I got 3 (THREE!!!) full size products! A Zoya nail polish in Julie. The frosty lilac shade is totally my color and I can't wait to get it on my nails (love Zoya). A Mirabella Shimmerati lip gloss. This, unfortunately is not my color and the packaging is terrible so I will be passing this on to someone who will love it more than I. A Pacifica rollerball perfume in Gardenia. As we all know, I am a complete perfume hoarder so I was thrilled to get this. The scent will be great for summer (a less sweet version of Kai). Also included was a travel size Pacifica bronzing body butter. This should be nice for adding a bit of color to my pasty white legs here at the start of shorts weather. And finally a sample of Yaby concealer. I am unfamiliar with Yaby and don't use concealer so this was a pass for me.

All in all, I got well over the value of the $10 I spent on this bag even with the two dud products. Last month (which I didn't photograph or post about) was really good as well. I love that Ipsy is including some full size products along with generous size samples. They seem to be paying attention to the beauty profiles too as the products and colors I'm receiving are mostly ones I may actually use.

Colgate Optic White system review

After a month or so of use I'm happy to report that the Colgate Optic White products I received in my Sugar n Spice Influenster box do seem to have whitened my teeth.

I received the Colgate Optic White toothpaste and mouthwash along with a Colgate 360 toothbrush.

I've been a diehard Sonicare user for years and years and nothing is ever going to get me to give it up. That said, I did give the Colgate 360 manual toothbrush a try since it was part of the box. It is like no other toothbrush I've ever tried. For starters it feels huge in my mouth (especially compared to the compact head of my Sonicare). The 360 in the name (I believe) refers to the concept that this is a whole mouth brush, rather than just a toothbrush. There are ridges on the back side of the brush that clean the inside of your mouth while you brush and can also be used to clean your tongue. There are 3 different size and textured bristles as well as rubber "whitening cups" that help to polish your teeth. I feel this brush is incredible at cleaning every surface of my teeth and mouth.

The Optic White toothpaste was not new to me having tried it before, but I have used it for the last month to test the whole system. I have quite sensitive teeth and am always cautious with tooth whitening products as they can be quite irritating. I was very pleasantly surprised with the Optic White toothpaste. It is non-abrasive and gently but effectively whitens my teeth. I did not find it increased sensitivity in my teeth. The only downsides are that it tastes pretty awful, no minty-freshness feeling after brushing. And it is quite foamy. A little toothpaste goes a long way which makes it very economical.

The final product is the Optic White mouthwash. This stuff is just awful. It tastes terrible. It leaves an unpleasant coating in my mouth. I usually have to rinse with water after using it to clear the gross foamy coating it leaves behind. I don't know if it aids in the whitening process or not since I haven't used it consistently.  I would not purchase this product.

In all, big thumbs up to the toothbrush and toothpaste. With just these two products used about once a day I have seen noticeable whitening after a month. 

Steamcream

I don't recall where I first saw Steamcream. I think it was when I was browsing on Beautyhabit sometime last fall. I'm a sucker for cute packaging and I'll admit that's what first drew me to the brand. Steamcream comes packaged in tins that are decorated in gorgeous designs, often limited editions.

I sprung for Meadow first (that's the one with a sheep) when Steamcream was offering free shipping and the actual price came out a wee bit cheaper than Beautyhabit. The package arrived quickly even though it shipped from the UK. The tin was indeed adorable, but the proof is in the pot.

Steamcream is a light but incredibly moisturizing cream. It has an herbal scent that is very pleasant and lingers for a bit on the skin. The cream can be used anywhere..face, hands, body. I love it as a face cream. My skin feels super soft and moisturized. During these cold winter months I've been applying it before we go walking to protect my skin from the wind.  It absorbs quickly making it a perfect hand cream. A small amount goes a long way but I still don't think I'd use it as a body lotion (unless I hit the lottery).

Steamcream is a mostly natural product (there are 2 parabens, but they are the very last thing on the ingredient list and the amount is minimal). The first ingredient is oatmeal infusion which makes the product very soothing. You can read all about it on Steamcream's website.

Since purchasing my first tin, I did go back and order more. Last month they still had free shipping and were offering a free tin if you ordered 2. I picked up Verona (heart) and Prudence (cat) and gave the freebie to my sister. If you think you'd like to try Steamcream, I suggest you sign up for their newsletter as they often run specials.

Influenster Sugar 'n Spice box

I just received a new Influenster voxbox. The theme of this one is "Sugar 'n Spice". I was shocked to find the box packed full of stuff I think I will actually use and love. I've heard of Belvita and am excited to try them. Colgate has been my go-to brand for toothpaste forever and with the amount of coffee and chocolate I consume, whitening products should be most helpful. Vaseline spray lotion could be interesting. I've tried spray lotions before and have not been a fan so I'll be interested to see how this performs. Splenda is another favorite brand of mine but I had not heard of this version of sweetener. And finally Dickinson's oil absorbing towelettes. I have pretty dry skin so I'm not sure how much use I'll get out of these. All in all, very exciting. Reviews to follow.

Scents of Winter 2012/13

With only a few weeks left in winter I thought it was time to list my most worn scents from the last few months. Fall and winter are my favorite times for perfumes. I can pull out all my heavy, cozy scents that just don't work in hot weather. Here are the ten I've reached for the most, in no particular order...

Burberry Brit - Almond and lime are at once refreshing and comforting. This one is light enough to be multi seasonal, but I prefer it on cooler days.

DKNY Golden Delicious - This one is a year round favorite. The fruity floral is perfect when I want something lighter than my usual winter fare.

Molinard Habanita - This is an old fashioned, somewhat grandma-ish perfume. Heavy powder with a slight tobacco background. The old-lady vibe makes it a bit hard to wear. I love it for around the house or bed time. I have the original formulation although I do know it was recently re released with an updated formula.

Violette Market Fezziwig & Company - Sadly this limited edition indy perfume is no longer available for sale, so I use it sparingly. It is a delicious chocolate/orange concoction. The dry down does evoke images of sitting in old Fezziwig's Merchantile with its hardwood floors and melange of imported coffee, fruit and chocolate. I am desperately trying to find a mainstream perfume to dupe this.

By Kilian Back to Black - Honey tobacco that lasts and lasts and lasts. Super strong, a little goes a very long way. Good thing since it costs a kidney to buy!

Serge Lutens Chergui - A recent acquisition that became a fast favorite. Sweet hay and amber. Delightful sprayed on a scarf so the scent wafts up as you move. Love. (No I did not use 2/3 a bottle already. The bottle arrived with the cap loose and most of it leaked out in shipping!)

Opus Oils M'eau Joe #3 - Holy Grail. Want to wear nothing else, but since it smells like whiskey and cigarettes that's not really practical. See last week's review for a full review.

Prada Prada -  This is the original Prada. I got this refill bottle for an absolute steal! I just fill a $10 atomizer I picked up on eBay and I'm good to go. Prada is a blend of amber and patchouli. Rich, sophisticated and long lasting.

For Strange Women Decadence and Debauchery - Another indy favorite. This one is still readily available. Rich and earthy. I get compliments whenever I wear this one.

Coty Wild Musk - A blast from my past that I recently repurchased. I wore this nearly exclusively in late high school and then went off it for years. Revisiting it I find I still love the soft powdery sweet musk.

I'm working on paring down the perfume collection again as it ballooned immensely over the last year since I got back into mainstream perfume. This list is a good solid list of keepers for me.

And now for something completely different...My sweet hubby sent me flowers yesterday. Aren't they gorgeous?!

Stuart (the grey cat) chewed up the leaves so I'm having to keep them up high where he can't get to them. But I just had to bring them down and snap a picture and share this harbinger of spring.