They Broke My Face!!! Or "How Smashbox Nearly Ruined My Graduation"

Hello Friends!

Normally I'm try to keep things pretty positive on this blog... But everyone needs a rant sometimes, don't they? If you're not up for a rant today, now would probably be a good time to click away... 

Anyway, it all started with Sephora's 15th birthday party. I had gone in to get a refill of my Caudalie cleansing water the week before, and one of the attendants offered my mom and I appointments for "Free Smashbox Makeovers!!!" that Saturday. It seemed like a good plan to me, so we signed up for the last two spots.

As I've said before, I have several friends who work in Sephora, and so I'm used to getting treated like a princess there... so this might be a bit of an overreaction, but bear with me. When we arrived, there were two "guest artists" from Smashbox waiting to do our makeup. 

The whole experience was a little strange. Neither of the artist introduced themselves. The one working on my face (let's call her Jen), asked what my skin type was, and a general idea we wanted to go with. Since I tend to wear either natural or purple-ish toned eyemakeup, I asked that we stay away from those (so she used a dark champange color with a palette of purples.. but I digress), and left the rest of it up to her. (Apparently the other one, [who we'll call Katie] had similar listening skills... My mom was also unimpressed.)

Jen said that she also has oily skin and that their Photo Finish Targeted Line and Pore Primer (above) was the only thing that worked for her, so I was game to try it. She put it on my T-Zone, and across the tops of my cheeks. 

Fast forward through a truly unimpressive appointment (which they then informed us was "free with purchase," not free) to Friday, the date of my graduation ceremony.

I got up that morning, and went through my normal morning routine, not noticing anything unusual, until I went to put on my foundation. It wouldn't stick to my forehead. At all. I use a great primer, and I've never had any problems with it before... it just wouldn't stick. So I tried another foundation. And another primer. Nothing would stick. I should have taken a picture. I looked like a baby with an angel kiss/stork bite birthmark on my forehead (google it, if you're not sure what I'm talking about). It was bizarre.

In a bit of a panic, I asked my mom what she thought I should do, and we tried several more things... Nothing worked. Eventually, it clicked. Jen, the Smashbox artist, had gone back over that area (the one that would not hold makeup) with that primer a few times- more than anywhere else on my my face. 

Totally discouraged, we called Sephora and arranged an appointment for that afternoon (this time with someone I knew). At the appointment I explained my theory. SB, my friend at Sephora agreed. She had heard some bad reviews of that product (and those artists- it really was free, not free with purchase!), and reported the incident to her manager.

Inspecting my "bald" spot, she decided that the top layer of skin had died, and gave me a free chemical peel. Afterwards, the spot gave her a little trouble, but she went well over the normal 40 minute appointment to make sure I looked okay, and really saved the day.

I'm not sure if there's a moral to this story... more of just a rant. I also don't recommend that primer!

Have you ever had bad makeup counter or makeover experiences? Let me know in the comments below!

Always,

Nani xx

(Very Late) May Subscription Box Review! (Part One - Birchbox)

Hello Friends!

Once again, I have fallen off the face of the planet- this time to graduate! (I am now the possessor of an Associates degree!) ...And once again, I'm back, telling you that I'll be more posting more consistently. Maybe this time it will stick?

When I began this post back in May, I had planned on doing a simple 3 part unboxing post. The upside of me taking forever to post is that I've now had time to try many of the products, so I can give a true review. :)

This time around, I was a little disappointed when I opened my Birchbox. Maybe it was in comparison to the other boxes I got, but it seemed like it was a little sparse and unimpressive.

This month I received five samples, one of which was a duplicate to one I received a few months ago. Additionally, from what I've been hearing on the internet, a few of these are left overs from last month's Birchbox Man boxes. I'm not really sure how I feel about that- I don't have a problem with the samples, but part of what sets Birchbox apart is that they customize the box to your profile, and if they're just reusing left overs, that doesn't seem very customized to me. HOWEVER, like I mentioned, I don't have any problems with the samples themselves.

Okay, let's get to it.

Marvis Toothpaste in "Classic Strong Mint" ($10.50 full size)

First impressions: I love the packaging of this toothpaste. It's very vintage inspired, and looks great. It also smells very good, and seemed like a pretty good sized sample.

After using twice: While the packaging is neat, the toothpaste itself is pretty average.The ingredients are comparable to your basic drugstore toothpaste, including the nasty stuff, like sodium lauryl sulfates. It's very minty- like real mint, not fake, candy mint- but otherwise not memorable. Also, the package was about half-full of air.

Verdict: I probably won't buy this stuff, since I think $10.50 is a lot for a basic toothpaste, but I will probably finish the sample next time I go out of town.

Runa Guayusa Tea Sampler Pack ($7.00/16 tea bags)

What it is: Guayusa (pronounced gwy-yoo-sah) is an Amazonian traditional tea. It's selling points are that each bag has as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, and more antioxidants than green tea. I think they're going to try and bring this in like the other designer teas. My sample came with four flavors: traditional, mint, ginger citrus, and cinnamon lemon grass.

After one cup: I tried the the ginger citrus tea yesterday morning. On first impressions, I didn't notice a lot of difference from any other herbal tea. It's tasty, especially with some honey added. As far as the caffeine, I'm not normally affected by it much, so I'm not the best to judge that.

Verdict: I think I would buy this again if I saw it in a store. I will definitely try the other flavors, as well.

amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask ($40/500ml)

First Impression: Mixed feelings. I really hair masks, but I've received this sample - from Birchbox- before. I have received duplicated products before, but it's always been multiple colors of of a nail polish, that sort of thing. I like the product, so I didn't complain to the company, but if it happens again, I think I will.

After using: As I mentioned, I've used this before, so I already knew my hair was in for a treat. I like this hair mask a lot. It's very strong, so a little goes a long way. I have very thick, butt-length hair, and I was able to get two uses out of this. My hair felt great afterwards, and the product smells wonderful!

Verdict: I'm not sure if I will purchase this product. The price is a little high for what I normally spend on hair, if you take in to account that I got two uses from 20ml, then it works out to about $0.80 a use, so that would be a negative factor for me. This might be something that I would spend my Birchbox points on.

Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner ($11) (in Raina and Black)

First impressions: I was pretty excited to see one of these when I opened my box (my mom gave me hers, since it didn't work for her). Since I have trouble getting eyeliner that lasts, I was excited by the long-lasting properties they're known for. The colors we got were Raina, the lovely navy (Left above, and bottom below), and Black (Right above, and top below). 

After several uses: As you can see above, the colors are true and vibrant. As far as color pay-off, I think they're on par with Urban Decay 24/7. They also have a similar texture to the 24/7 pencils, and go on really smoothly. Unfortunately, they just don't last on me. They look great on, but after a few hours, I find that they've traveled or are just smeared. I'd love to hear if someone with a less-oily eyelid had similar problems? The reviews on Birchbox all seemed really positive.

Verdict: I won't be buying these again, even though they are beautiful!


Alright- that was my May Birchbox. Stay tuned for my Glossybox and Green Grab Bag reviews, as well as a bit of a rant post - consider yourself warned! 

Always,

Nani xx

Subscription Box Reviews!

I'm BACK!

Hello, Friends!

Sorry I've been away so long! I've begun my externship, and I'm getting used to working full time. However, I'm going to be catching up with lots of posts coming in the next few weeks.

Also! I've been given an opportunity by a local business to do a review of a service they offer- I'm pretty excited! More details to come as I get them.

Okay- to the boxes.

As many of you know, I've been subscribed to Birchbox for a year. I was very pleased with the service for a long time, but lately I've been feeling like the samples aren't as good (or as generous) as they have been in the past. (And I'm not the only one- the girls at Eleventh Gorgeous made a similar statement in their Birchbox vs. Ipsy video, and my mom is getting frustrated, too.)

Since I'm not as enchanted as I was, I decided to look around at other subscriptions. I settled on trying two other boxes- Glossybox and Green Grab Bag. In this post I will address the services themselves, and in future posts I'll address the contents.

Glossybox (starting at $21/month)

I was a little apprehensive to try this box, since it's pretty expensive, but I thought I'd give it a three month trial. So far I've received one box from them.

Packaging:

Of the three boxes, the packaging of Glossybox is far superior. It comes shipped in a cardboard box, which opens to reveal a ballerina pink, hard sided box. (The picture doesn't do the color justice.) The box is really nice quality- It's definitely meant to be reused. Also, it has a really cute polka dot pattern inside.

The contents are padded with soft black paper... confetti, I guess? It's kind of like Easter grass, and wrapped in black tissue paper, sealed with a sticker and tied with a length of dusty rose ribbon.

Shipping:

Glossybox takes a while to ship, 5-10 business days, I believe, and it doesn't ship until halfway through the month. The box that I'm going to show in my upcoming post is actually the April box, but I won't receive the next box until almost June.

Price vs. Value:

I used the prices of the full size products to estimate the worth of the samples in each of the boxes. I payed $20 for this box, and, if my calculations are accurate, the samples are actually worth almost $50. A good chunk of that is a very small sample of a face cream that retails at $225 for the full size, which leads me to my next point. While some of the samples are reasonably priced, it feels funny trying a product that I know I will never buy. I'll see what comes in the next box. Additionally, there were two full sized products within, so that makes me feel a little better about it.

Green Grab Bag ($15/month)

I heard about Green Grab Bag on YouTube. They're a fairly new company, and only serve the USA currently. Their mission is to bring eco-friendly, non-toxic beauty products, and to support smaller businesses. I've got to say, I was really very impressed with this box. I've received two boxes from them so far, and they are really stuffed full of great products.

Packaging:

As a company that promotes an eco-friendly lifestyle, they eschew the Birchbox/Glossybox trend of having an inner and an outer box, instead shipping in a strong box made out of 100% recycled content. Inside, similar to Glossybox, you find the products nestled in that springy paper confetti (green, of course) and wrapped in tissue paper (also green).

Shipping:

Green Grab Bags are sent priority mail (at no extra charge!) so they arrive 1-3 days after shipping. Since they ship out on the eighth, I believe, they normally come around the tenth.

Price vs. Value:

Again, I've been very impressed with the amount of high quality product I receive from them. Using that same method, I estimated that the product in this box was worth about $30 dollars (with two full sized products included). One thing I really appreciate about this box is that all of the products are fairly reasonably priced. So far, the most expensive thing they've shipped to me was $34 full sized. Additionally, instead of having the points system, they just post coupon/discount codes on their website for each of the products shipped out.

Special Note:

When I subscribed, something happened, and I was signed up twice (without my knowledge). The next day I got an email from one of the founders of the company explaining the situation, and wanting to know whether she should cancel one of them. I was very impressed.

On the other hand, their website really leaves something to be desired. There is no "Account manager" type page. Once you've subscribed, the only way to manage your account is through a small cancellation button on the "join now" page.

All in all, I was pretty impressed this month. Once my three months with Glossybox are up, I will have to consider whether I want to re-up, as it is so expensive, but I think I'll probably keep Green Grab Bag for a while.

Always,

Nani xx

(Look out for the "first impression" reviews of the products in each box later this week!

Hey Bloggers!

Hello Friends!

This going to be a quick post about a project I'm really excited about!

My friend Fazana from TextBookBeauty is starting a website that will feature up and coming bloggers, photographers, and YouTubers. She has a survey here that she's asking bloggers to fill out.

If you're interested in the project, please fill out the survey, and contact her at textbookbeauty@gmail.com! 

Always,

Nani xx

P.S. Look out for  Ulta Haul and  Beauty Box comparison posts coming up in the next few weeks!

Finals Week!

Hello friends!

It's my final exam week, so I'm probably not going to be able post this week. I will be back for sure next week!

Thanks for understanding!

Always,

Nani xx

Big NARS Haul + Review!

Hello Friends!

A few weeks ago Sephora had their big Very Important Beauty Insider (the upper level rewards program) event, and they sent me a coupon, so I went in in search of one thing- concealer... But that day they had a consultant from NARS there, and she gave me a makeover.. I came out with five. But they were on sale, and one was free... so that helps... I guess. -_- I have the self control of a two year old!

I have been having a HECK of a time with my skin lately. I think it's the cause of the "foundation quest" I've been on. It's super oily, and I've been having a problem with my makeup sliding, so the NARS consultant, Kellie, suggested I try out their primer.  This is the NARS Oil-Free Pro-Prime Pore Refining Primer ($34 - NOTE: I can't find my receipt, but I can tell you I did not pay full price for these products! I think I had about 20% off... I wish I could remember!)

When I tried it in-store, I was pretty pleased with it, but I'm not sold on it anymore. I think that it would work better for someone with a fairly normal skin type. It's a great primer- it smooths over pores and some fine lines, and evens out the skin, but I find that it doesn't hold very long. It really helps with application, but I'm not sure that it does anything (for my skin type) in the long run. 

Verdict: I'll finish it, but I don't think I'll buy it again.

This next product will probably come as no surprise to those of you who read my blog regularly... I got a new foundation, guys!

This is the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation ($44 full price) in Light 02 "Mont Blanc," a color they describe as "fair with slight pink undertones." Now there's three words in there that would normal make me steer far, far, away from this product- sheer, glow, and pink. With my acne-prone oily skin, I tend towards things that say "matte" and "full-coverage," and my skin is generally considered neutral... But Kellie convinced me otherwise, and as far as I can tell, she was right.

This color isn't too pink at all- I would have called it a neutral. (For those of you who watch Zoella, this is her go-to foundation shade that she wears in most of her videos.) Also, I wouldn't call it a sheer or light-coverage... I'd call it a build-able medium. Unless I have a very red blemish, I don't wear any spot concealer with it. Kellie suggested applying it with fingers so that it would emulsify well, and that definitely works well, but it also works well with a buffing-type brush, for those of you that, like me, don't like to use your fingers.  It's not a long wear foundation, but it does last well. The only time that I have had any problems with it is when I don't seal it.

My favorite thing about this foundation is actually the thing that scared me the most: "Glow." As most oily-skinned people do, I shy away from anything labeled "glow," but this really doesn't make me look shiny- it just makes your skin look like SKIN. Matte foundations often make the skin almost look dull or ashy, and this makes it looks so healthy without adding any shine.

I only have one complaint about this product, and it's not a fatal flaw. In the store, they all have little pumps on them, and with that giant cap, one would expect them to to come with one, but they don't. they come like this:

Unfortunately, Sephora doesn't carry the pump tops, and it's $6 (plus $5 shipping) to buy one from NARS. It's not a huge deal, but it's a little strange.

Verdict: I would definitely recommend this, and I am almost certain I will be buying this foundation again. (And that's a big deal, coming from me!)

Since I've been making forays into the world of contouring, we picked out this Radiant Creamy Concealer ($28 full price) in 01 Chantilly as a highlighting concealer. This is a "true ivory" color, and, I kid you not, it looks like corpse flesh in the tube. I was so skeptical about it! It works well as an under-eye concealer/brightener, though, and I really like it. HOWEVER. Beware- if you use too much under your eyes, you will spend the whole day having people comment on your "sunglasses tan." (Yeah... That happened. It's a learning curve.) A little goes a long way!

Verdict: Yes, I will purchase it again, but with the speed I'm using it, It's more likely to be because it has expired than run out!

The last item I bought was their Light Reflecting Setting Powder ($34 full price). It's a microfinish powder in a compact- something I've been looking for. It looks very shimmery in the palette (it doesn't show in the picture), but it doesn't wear like a shimmer powder, it just adds a dimension to the foundation. It came with a cute little padded pouch with pockets for the the palette and the velvet "puff" (the little rectangle over the mirror), but it makes it very bulky, and I prefer to apply powder with a brush, so the little bag just hangs out in my makeup drawer.

Verdict: I like this stuff- it's not a holy grail product, but I'll probably buy it again.

Since I purchased NARS products during their special promotion, Kellie gave me a free Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil ($25) in New Lover. It's a "gold infused strawberry" color, so it's basically the lip equivalent of their Orgasm blush, and it's great!

Verdict: I love their lip pencils (I'm wearing Cruella in my profile pic), so this is definitely a yes.

Bonus product:

I bought the Blush/Bronzer Duo in Orgasm/Laguna ($41) a while back, and I never reviewed it. I use this palette ever day. This picture really doesn't do it justice, but those two colors are the best blush and bronzer I've ever worn. Laguna is a matte, so it's great for contouring, and the gold in the blush... I love this stuff.

Verdict: Do I even have to say?

Alright guys, sorry for the delay in getting this post up! I'd love to hear what your favorite NARS products are, or if you have used any of these before, and if they worked for you!

Always,

Nani xx

Oops!

Hello Friends!

I'm sorry guys! This is the second week that I've failed at blogging! I'm really weighed down with school right now (I'm doing accelerated courses this term so that I can begin my internship next month- yikes!), and I've been too busy to post.
To make up for it, I'm going to be posting a NARS haul post and maybe an OCC review later this week (check back Friday).

Thanks for being such loyal readers- you guys have collectively checked in about a hundred times since my last post!

There will absolutely be a new at least one new post my midnight Friday (PST)!

Always,

Nani xx