Winter Beauty Secret #7

 

Now how could I possibly forget about adding a serum to a skincare routine. That's almost a sin! Well no need to worry any longer. Starting with number seven, a promising face serum.

Dr. Brandt has been saving my butt in the past with his mesmerizing Pores No More pore refiner primer and microdermabrasion skin exfoliant (all thanks to Ipsy for introducing me to those wonders). I've gotta say that I haven't been disappointed with his products. They always get the job done which is surely the goal I expect when purchasing or using any product.

Now you're probably wondering why I'm introducing an anti-aging product. Well, I think I'm finally coming to a realization that I'm not getting any younger. Why wait until I'm in my mid-forties to start scouting out wonder products when I can start right now. Forever young? Sounds sweet right!

The Do Not Age transforming pearl serum not only looks cool but is great for maintaining younger looking skin. Now of course I won't see immediate results considering I'm not at the age of any major signs of aging but I can tell you that this serum lives up to its name. When using, I can feel my skin tightening a bit, appear brighter, and diminishing any fine lines. Now I'm sure as I do age this product will surely kick into full gear and leave me with much more noticeable results.

This product may have a hefty price tag so I wouldn't recommend splurging right away because maybe there's something else out there that may work for you. However I can say this is a product that is great if you have a expendable budget for beauty. At $150 for 1.35 fl oz, it's one that you won't want to overuse but savor each pump. A little goes a long way!

Stay tuned for more upcoming beauty secrets!

xox.

krissy

Music Monday!

But I know it's not forever


Happy Monday to all!

xox.

krissy

Music Monday!

Don't blame it on me


Happy Monday to all!

xox.

krissy

Birchbox - January 2015


Oh yeah! Birchbox is here! This month I decided not to take part in the sample choice options since they weren't intriguing to my taste. There's nothing wrong with a bit of surprise. Here's a peek: 


This month is all about making the most of every minute of everyday. There's also a Birchbox challenge for everyday throughout this month to win amazing prizes!

This is what's included in my box this month:


Lovely!

I received (from left to right) When Travelmate Sheet Mask, theBalm Stainiac in beauty queen, Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner in jaipur gold, NAOBAY Body Radiance Lotion, and Number 4 Hair Care Non-Aerosol Hairspray. 

First up, I love receiving sheet masks in subscription boxes! They make me feel as if I'm treating myself to a spa day. I can't wait for my twenty minutes in heaven.

Next up is my favorite lip stain of all time. I haven't had this in my inventory for over a year since the first time I was introduced to it by Birchbox. It's an amazing lip stain in my opinion because it has a gel like texture that applies sort of like a gloss and leaves a sheer tint of color. I never use stains for my cheeks because I always thought that idea was a bit unsanitary.

The Sumita eyeliner would have been much more attractive if I received a basic color such as black. Currently I'm all for liquid eyeliners at the moment so this might not be much use for me but it will come in handy for special occasions when I want to switch things up.

Body lotion is typically not my favorite item to receive in boxes but this one was A-OK when it came to the smell (reminds me of lemongrass). It's lovely and moisturizes well for a natural and organic body lotion.

Last but not least is the Number 4 hairspray. This is also an item I've received before in my past subscription and although it's an ok item it's just not the greatest. It still has a light mist with a natural scent and the biggest factor is that it's non-aerosol. I'll be saving this for good use when the weather requires it.

Overall this box was just fine for me since I've had worst in the past. I can't wait to see what I'll receive in my box next month. Maybe I'll even participate in the sample choice options if they turn out to be worthy of not passing up. Can't wait!

Here's everything that was included in my box to shop for as full size items in the Birchbox shop.



xox.

krissy

#QOTD


Because positivity rocks!

xox.

krissy

Sample Society - January 2015


Sample Society is here once again and actually showed up pretty early this month (I'm just pretty late about posting). This month wasn't necessarily a surprised since there were tons of spoilers out by many bloggers and I actually wasn't bothered by that since I'm always so curious. All I can say is, this month is gonna be a great one! Each month you're guaranteed five awesome deluxe size samples and a $10 BeautyBar.com giftcard to redeem on any $50 BeautyBar purchase for only $15 a month (to the US only, shipping included). 


Pictured above is the mini mag for this month detailing all of the amazing samples featured in this month's box. It's a helpful guide for learning more about the products. 


Here's a peek into this month's box!


StriVectin Intensive Illuminating Serum
Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar
Zoya Lacquer in Tiana
Philip B. Light-Weight Deep Conditioning Créme Rinse
Revlon PhotoReady Eye Art Lid + Line + Lash in Peach Prism
Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar

Talk about amazing! Two full sized products have been featured once again and I couldn't be more grateful for that. There's always a bit of judgement from me due to my picky habits but I've gotta admit that this box isn't half bad at all.

I've always wanted to try a StriVectin skincare product because of the great reviews I've read from many bloggers and customers and I'm super happy to finally have that chance to add it to my skincare routine. It also turned out to be a bonus item this month so woo-hoo to that!

The Erno Laszlo soap bar is so cute and tiny. It's actually a pretty great size to use on my face and the scent isn't a strong one. Definitely hoping to see a change in my skin soon.

I always like receiving polishes from brands that I know I won't splurging on any time soon. The Tiana color is great for the spring since it's a minty pastel. Sort of reminds me of pistachio (although I hate anything pistachio flavored). 

I've never heard/tried any Philip B. products and honestly the sample is probably only great for one use due to my thick hair and I can already tell you guys that I love the scent!

The Revlon eye art is one that I don't mind having but will also be passing along to a friend. I'm not all too excited about it since it is a drugstore product after all but it's great that it's full size. The colors would look great on me but I already have a couple of products that I would prefer.

Last but not least is the Philosophy moisturizer. I've actually received a little foil packet sample of this moisturizer before directly from Philosophy so it's great to have one in a tube that I can use on the go. It's lightweight and works well on my sensitive/combination skin.

Overall this Sample Society box may not have topped last month's but it's definitely a great steal with a value of over $50. This is still great considering that the subscription only costs $15 monthly. Can't wait for next month!

P.S. - Score $5 off your first month as a new subscriber with the code 5FORYOU!

xox.

krissy

Music Monday!

It's your heart, it's alive


Hey guys! I've had such a crazy week last week preparing myself for this crazy week of brand new classes for the semester. I know, I know, I can't believe where my vacation went. Seriously, this is too soon. Also blog posts are declining a bit until I can get reorganized and back on track. But don't worry, I won't be gone for long (hopefully not). 

However I've been trying to calm myself down by drowning out in some music and Netflix of course. Today's song came from a really old video I used to watch from a fellow YouTuber who included it in her video and it has been stuck in my head ever since. I hope you all can enjoy it and also have a happy Monday!

xox.

krissy

Winter Beauty Secret #6


Now I know I've already introduced a facial cleanser but there are tons of skincare products out there that can't go unnoticed. Starting with number six, a clean-up mask.

I turned to the ORIGINS clear improvement active charcoal mask this winter due to a current breakout and a low supply of masks that were available in my beauty closet at the moment. Of course I did a bit of research before purchasing since my skin is sensitive (don't worry!). I also noticed that this mask was usually up against GLAMGLOW muds when in comparison. However, both seemed to be worth a try but I figured I'd give ORIGINS my first shot since the price tag was about a third of GLAMGLOW's.

So far I haven't seen any drastic changes in my complexion but I am coming to love this mask for its qualities. Typically I start by opening up my pores with a warm towel and then layering on this beauty. I love the feeling when the mask dries up on my face after about a minute even though it leaves me looking a bit scary with its dark gray color. It definitely makes my pores very noticeable but after washing it all off it leaves my skin pretty soft. I'm hoping to see more changes with its use so I'll surely update you all soon.

At only $25 for a 3.4 oz tube I can say it's doing its job well especially since you only need to apply a thin layer which means more future masks for you. Maybe one day I will come to a decision to splurge on one of the GLAMGLOW muds to have my own comparison put to the test. In the mean time, unclog those pores!

Stay tuned for more upcoming beauty secrets!

xox.

krissy

Music Monday!

Club goin' up, on a Tuesday


Wow, I can't believe I've already made it to the last Monday of my winter break. In exactly one week I'll be back on campus starting spring semester. I've gotta admit that I think I have the hang of it all so I'm not too excited to be stuck in my room eating frozen food. What I really need is a 24 hour nap if that's possible. Hmm...maybe I can make it possible. Time to use up this last week as if there is no tomorrow. 

Happy Monday!

xox.

krissy

Winter Beauty Secret #5


Who says you can't enjoy your makeup during the winter months? Exactly, because you can! Starting with number five, an ultimate makeup sponge. 

I've cherished Beautyblenders since I've introduced them to myself about a year ago. Once upon a time I was crazy for foundations and blushes but noticed that when I used normal brushes it just wasn't doing the trick of looking natural. During the winter months, I've picked up on my makeup application looking worse and streaky due to the outside conditions. With this sponge, there are no worries.

Currently I've narrowed myself down to sheer bases, primers, and sometimes eyeshadow when it comes to putting my sponge to use. However, my Beautyblender still puts in a great amount of effort to blending my application flawlessly. When wet, it almost doubles in size and blends even better than when dry (uses less product too!). Thanks to my Beautyblender, I no longer have a makeup bag full of brushes as this is the only tool I'll ever need as an applicator and my application literally lasts all day. When it comes to replacing your sponge, I'd recommend recycling at least every six months. You'll thank me later!

You can grab yourself a Beautyblender on their website starting at $17.95. This is no ordinary sponge although Andrew likes to tell me so. Trust me, this is the ulimate makeup sponge that you've been longing for.

Stay tuned for more upcoming beauty secrets!

xox.

krissy

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