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October 2016

Beauty

October Birchbox Review

Happy Halloween Cosmo Lushies!  I went to a Halloween Party on Saturday night at a Cat Rescue with my cat-loving friend and it was so much fun! We got to play with kittens, feed treats to the feral cats, and dress up as cats!  All in all, I would say it was a great night!

So, I am back on track and so proud that I am actually reviewing a Birchbox during the correct month (even if it is the last day of the month).  Go me!  This month was all about reviving and restoring.  I got a face & hair mask, mascara, perfume and a lip stick.  The star of this box was definitely the LOC lip stick.  Read on to see what I loved and what to skip.

LOC Complete Tati Collection for Lips | Birchbox $20: I am always a bit skeptical when receiving products from brands I am not familiar with.  This product really surprised me.  It’s a Birchbox brand and Tati is a famous Youtuber.  I typically do not wear bright or dark colors on my lips, but this season I have been doing it nonstop.  I got this product in Glam Life.  It is a creamy matte lip crayon I guess you can call it.  The color looked great on my skintone.  I will be adding this to my Fall lipstick rotation!  LOVE!

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Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask | Birchbox $58:  This mask promises an instant glow.  When applying the mask, the consistency reminds me of jelly like the Fresh Rose Moisturizing Mask.  The directions state to put on a thick layer of the product and to let it dry for 20-30 min.  By the end, my face was stiff from the dried mask.  After washing off the product, I didn’t notice an immediate glow.  This mask was okay for me.  I did read that you can use this as a spot treatment.  Maybe I will try it for that instead.  SKIP.

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Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara | Birchbox $20Unfortunately my eyelashes do not cooperate with any mascara out there except for Cover Girl.  This was no exception.  As soon as I put it on my curled lashes, they immediately went straight.  I have seen a lot of great reviews on this mascara, but it just didn’t work out for me.

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amika Nourishing Mask | Birchbox $28:  Great thing about this hair mask is that it’s free of parabens and is meant to help treat frizzy, dry hair.  When I used this, unfortunately I didn’t feel like my hair was as soft and luxurious as with other hair masks.  It really just felt like any other conditioner that I have used.  I would have to SKIP this.

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TokyoMilk Dark Pretty Rotten Eau de Parfum | Birchbox $42:  First of all, who names their products “rotten?”  Sadly, this did smell pretty rotten, excuse the pun.  It was horrible.  So horrible, in fact, that after smelling it from the tube I actually threw it away in the trash can.  Sorry TokyoMilk but this just isn’t for me.  SKIP!

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I hope that everyone has a fun and safe Halloween tonight!  If you enjoy my reviews and want to review your own Birchbox, click on this link to start your subscription for only $10 a month!  Until next month!

Beauty Style

Black Tassels

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There’s so much I want to tell you guys in this post.

  1. I went to Utah for work a few weeks back and scored some awesome deals at Madewell.   Sleeveless shirts and tanks may not do well in SLC, but they definitely do in my closet!
  2. This shirt has tassels.  Black ones at the bottom, that blend into my jeans.  You can’t see them that well but know that they’re there and that they’re wonderful.
  3. I am obsessed with Charlotte Tilbury’s cosmetic line.

So let’s start at the beginning.  While in Utah, I had 6 hours to kill before my flight back home.  Everyone was suggesting I go walk around Temple Square in Salt Lake City.  Of course, I found the mall across the street and every single store I went into just happened to be having killer sales.  I scored this tassel top along with 2 other sleeveless peplum tops at an additional percentage off.  Lucky for me, it’s still pretty toasty in Southern California so I can still rock sleeveless tops all through Fall. Oh the woes of living in LA.

Now let’s get to my Kim KW lipstick.  I can’t get enough of the Pillow Talk lip liner and Kim KW lipstick combo.  I have to say that I had my doubts, but seriously.  This stuff is amazing and all the buzz?  It’s true.  It’s a bit pricey, but if you can splurge on just one lipstick and one lipliner, this is it!  Charlotte Tilbury 2.0 Haul post is on it’s way.  I’ll be showing swatches and reviewing this more in depth.  Stay tuned!

Final note. If you like my black tassel top and don’t mind that it’s boxy and loose (and who actually minds that!?!  hello fat shirt!) – it’s still available and on sale!  You’re welcome.

Outfit Details  Top: Madewell (sale!!!)| Jeans: CurrentElliot | Tote: Madewell | Booties: Madewell | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Watch: Michael Kors | Bracelet: David Yurman | Lip Color: Charlotte Tilbury Kim KW | Lip Liner: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Pillow Talk

Beauty

September Birchbox Review

I was so busy last month that I almost forgot to do my Birchbox review!  This was a good one to review because it was had a lot of products I have been dying to try.  Want to learn what I loved?  Read on!

Oribe Glaze for Beautiful Color | Birchbox $58:  I used to think that high-end haircare was a waste of money.  That was before I met my wonderful hair stylist, Luisa.  She taught me how to take care of my hair and now I know what it means to take care of your hair.  I LOVE this brand.  I use their texturizing spray on a regular basis and it smells wonderful.   This is a fancy conditioner that makes your hair silky soft after you’re done using it.  It reminds me of those conditioners you get after dying your hair in a box.  It has the same scent as the texturizing spray.  Great if you have color-treated hair!

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Milk Makeup Lip+Cheek | Birchbox $24:  I have been interested in this new brand, so I was very excited to see it in my box this past month!  I actually thought that I wasn’t going to like this, but I LOVE it!  It’s great on your cheeks and it looks good on your lips.  On my lips, it’s a light coral pink . On my cheeks, it gives a really pretty coral glow.  I have to say that this definitely surprised me.  I am going to up to SF this week for work and this is definitely coming in my travel bag!

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TOCCA Travel Fragrance Spray – Florence | Birchbox $34:  I love TOCCA soaps.  They smell AMAZING!  So how do their fragrances fair in comparison to the lovely smells of their soaps?  Ah-mazing!  It is very difficult for me to find fragrances that don’t smell musty on me.  This is a winner!  Maybe my new Fall scent?

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Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser | Birchbox $25:  I have been wanting to try this for the longest time!  It’s world-renowned and won over 100 beauty awards.  I have been using this every night for the past week.  I don’t know if I am using it wrong or what, but I don’t get it.  The cleanser smells like eucalyptus which reminds me of my Malin+Goetz deodorant and the cloth is like the face cloth I use to wash my face.  Am I missing something that everyone else is getting out there?  I know this is great for sensitive skin which is a plus in my book, but my skin didn’t feel exceptionally better.  Let me know if you have other experiences with this, I want to love this stuff!

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COOLA Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer | Birchbox $32:  I have received a few COOLA items in my past boxes and and I’m not mad about that.  When I traveled to Utah and Las Vegas for work last month, I threw this in my travel bag and used it everyday. It’s lightweight and smells lovely.  Win win!

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Out of everything I received, I really liked the TOCCA Fragrance, MILK Lip+Cheek Stick and the Oribe Glaze.  Everything else was just okay but I was happy to try them all out.  Glad I didn’t spend the money on the full size without knowing if I would like the product.  That’s why I love Birchbox, you can try things out that you may not normally purchase.  If you want to sign up for your own box for $10 a month click on this link!  Also, if you travel a lot for work like me, you will appreciate all the deluxe travel sizes that are TSA approved!

Beauty

Charlotte Tilbury Haul 1.0

charlotte-tilbury-2As a beauty lover, I have been eyeing Charlotte Tilbury’s products for quite some time.  My good friend was promoted to Counter Manager at the local Big Fancy for the brand, and I thought how perfect for her to show me the line.  She sat me down and went over everything and did a full-on makeover on me.  Truthfully, I wasn’t expecting much. Sadly for my wallet, I walked away with quite a few items that are now a part of my daily routine.

‘Air Brush Flawless Finish’ Skin Perfecting Micro-Powder (Medium) | Nordstrom $45:  Let me remind you that I have combination/oily skin.  With that being said – this powder is AMAZING!  I have been pretty loyal to MAC’s Mineralize Skin Finish Powder for years and now there’s a new winner in my cosmetic bag.  The first day I wore this, my skin was just starting to get oily at 4pm. When I used to wear my other powder, my nose was oily after about two hours at 10am.  The trick is to not swirl your brush around, but rather tap it on.  *tap tap tap* You do not want to waste any of this wonderful powder.charlotte-tilbury-5charlotte-tilbury-6Powder & Sculpt Brush | Nordstrom $49: I am a stickler for brushes that specifically go with a product.  I am the easiest person to sell something to if it’s beauty related.  I use this brush for the Micro-Powder as well as the Filmstar Bronze & Glow.  It’s soft and feels luxurious.  I do not own a brush this size, so of course I needed it.  I have to say that it works pretty well with the powders, but if you already own something similar – you can pass.

‘Filmstar Bronze & Glow’ Face Sculpt and Highlight | Nordstrom $68:  I already had a highlighter that I loved and I am not a contouring person.  However, when my friend put this on and I looked in the mirror – Damn!  Did my skin look good!  It gives just the right amount of sculpting on the hollows of your cheeks and just the right amount of highlighting on the tops of your cheeks.  I do like to add some of the highlighting powder to the bridge of my nose and cupid’s bow too.  I have ditched everything else in my cosmetic bag.charlotte-tilbury-4charlotte-tilbury-8 charlotte-tilbury-9

‘Matte Revolution’ Luminous Modern Matte Lipstick | Nordstrom $32: I wanted to try a matte lipstick because it has been the trend lately.  I was immediately drawn to Very Victoria, a suede taupe nude.  My friend suggested I try Bond Girl, a chic natural berry.  My first instinct was to tell her no and that it was too much color for me.  She promised that it looks great on everyone.  Fine, I’ll try it on.  Bond Girl looks different on each person who tries it on.  It also looks great on each person who tries it on.  It is my new go-to lipstick for Fall and I wore it in my style post Black After Labor Day.  The best part?  This matte formula is hydrating and not drying at all. Almost feels silky when applying.  Definitely try this if you are looking for a matte lipstick.charlotte-tilbury-1charlotte-tilbury-7

{Bond Girl on TOP, Very Victoria on BOTTOM}

Final Thoughts:  I love Charlotte Tilbury’s products so far.  Everything that I have purchased, has been in my daily, if not weekly rotation.  I barely wear lipstick, but have been because of the Matte Revolution lipsticks that I purchased.  If you can, you definitely need to try her products out.  I went to a Master Class last week at the Big Fancy and have Charlotte Tilbury Haul 2.0 coming up.  Stay tuned!

Style

Floral Favorite

floral-favorite-8 floral-favorite-3 floral-favorite-4 floral-favorite-5floral-favorite-1 I have been busy traveling for work the last few weeks, Utah and Las Vegas to be exact.  It was beautiful in Utah.  The weather was cold and the leaves were turning Fall colors.  Definitely something that I don’t usually see in Southern California.  Coming back home after spending the first week of Fall in Utah was a temperature shock to say the least.  It was raining and about 40-60 degrees in Utah, here it was 90-100 degrees and hot!  So you’ll still be seeing a few Summer outfits until the weather decides it should be Fall here.

I instantly fell in love with the floral print of this blouse.  It’s not something that I am usually drawn to, since that’s almost always black.  But the high collar, tie in the back, and ruffled sleeves just spoke to me.  I had to “toughen up” the floral girly-ness of the shirt and add some ripped jeans to the mix.  Pair all that with some nude flats and you’ve got the perfect weekend outfit!

It’s Monday morning and the start of a new week.  I can guarantee you that by the time you read this, I will be on my 2nd or 3rd cup of coffee this morning.  Is it Friday yet?

Outfit Details  Top: Nordstrom (similar) | Jeans: 7 For All Mankind | Shoes: Sam Edelman | Handbag: Cole Haan | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Watch: Michael Kors | Bracelet: David Yurman