A lifestyle journey
This smells delicious, but I would not purchase this one. It left my hair feeling sticky and looking greasy the next day. If you wash your hair after using this and you don’t mind the stickiness than you might like this. It did keep my waves looking piecey and held them in longer. It is good for a bed head sort of look. The sweet scent also attracted flies, so its a pass from me.
With Love,
❤ Selena Hannah ❤
I have a whole lot of empties this month that my basket was overflowing. I had to photograph everything and start this post in mid-May. That is how many empties I have this month. I actually even cut May a few days short. I’m writing this on May 28th, because the basket filled up good again. It’s close enough to the end of May and it will just give a little bit of a boost to June. Although, I don’t have anything really close to being empty yet, which is why I just decided to do my count today.
I think 51 empties is enough for one month. I’m happy ending it here early. This was such a heavy month. I look forward to seeing what I can accomplish next month. You’ll be seeing plenty of reviews for the next few months to come. I’m behind in my product reviews. I have so many prewritten on paper for my blog. I probably have 50 reviews right now, waiting to be featured. I continue to write them throughout the month as well on paper. I tend to review around 40 items a month on paper, but there is not that many days in a month. Naturally, I got behind. I hope you don’t mind seeing reviews 5 days a week and my more unique posts on the weekends/holidays.
With Love ❤
Heya Aspiring Gurus!
I know that I am really far behind on this, but I swear I will be catching up within the next month or so. So, this week, I am breaking down the November Ipsy bag piece by piece and letting you all know my first impression on the product based with playing around with it for a couple of months now. I will be showing you product pictures as well as swatches and how the product looks on my skin/hair. The hair spray will be hard to demonstrate, but I’ll just show you a hair style look that I locked in with this pray and nothing else. You will get the general idea of it at least. I’m just going to jump right into it now!
The Theme:
[I thought I had pictures of the November Bag, but I didn’t. I had to go back and take all of the pictures you see in this post very recently. So, to make up for not having the card picture, here’s one of the girl!]
I thought that this was a really great theme that month. You all know me! I’m a sucker for anything glittery or sparkling. So, I was very excited for this theme, however I have to say that the contents of this bag have left me underwhelmed. Only one of the items truly had glitter, one had sparkle, and the other had shine. I was expecting more…glitter. Maybe some loose glitter or something. Did anyone else feel that the bag fell short in the glitter department? Please let me know that I am not the only one. I do think that the card is very pretty though.
The Bag:
I love the bag!!!! It is so glittery and sparkly. It is absolutely amazing and no wonder why?! It is designed by Forever 21, my favorite brand for just about everything. I give the bag a big 5 out of 5 stars for amazing-ness. This bag will not stop me from unsubscribing though. My last bag will be January and my first Birchbox will be soon. Super excited!
The Contents:
Jcat Wonder Lip Paint in Red Potion, 0.33 oz for 4.99 USD [full sized]:
This stuff is super pigmented and a little bit goes a really long way. This stuff is just as good in my opinion to the original Lip Tar. The lip paint is moisturizing and long lasting. Red Potion is not a true red. It is more of a berry red with purple / blue undertones. I love rocking this lip for a night out or just being fancy on a night in. The tube will honestly last me forever. I just wish that it came with a brush applicator tip to make applying this product less messy. This stains the back of your hands, so use a plate or something to put a dot of product on and dip your lip brush into it. This color is unforgiving if you brush it outside of your lip line. It will feather. You cannot achieve a Kylie Jenner look with this. How I like to apply this is with a q-tip and a paper cup (or a cupcake wrapper). I dot the color on my lips to get the color build up that I want, then throw out the extra. I don’t like to stain my brushes if I can help it.
I put one dot of product into it and I used like a tenth of that. You really do not need much at all. I then like to use a clear gloss on top using a q-tip as well. I like to get a bit of gloss and rub it and mix it into the color, muting down a bit. I am using the pillowplush lip balm from EM Cosmetics in the color sorbet, which does not even tint my lips so I call it clear.
As you can see, I love this balm and have used it multiple times. You can also see by the two pictures that the lip paint goes from a blood red to more of a lighter pink with the aid of this gloss.
Marc Anthony Oil of Moroccan Argan Oil Volume Shine Hair Spray, 1.5 oz for 1.38 USD [sample]:
I loved this product so much I already used up all of it and reviewed it. If you want to read the review to learn more, click HERE. It works well and I would consider purchasing it. Right now, I have four cans of hair spray, so I’m all set.
Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Eye Base in Submissive, 0.09 oz for 14. 99 [full sized]:
I enjoy this base color. I think that it looks great on its own and you can definitely build it up. I like that I can create a subtle eye look with it or a bold one. It still creases on me, but I have very oily eye lids and have not found a primer that works. This does not crease too bad. As you can see by the photos. If you are looking for something as an everyday eye look, I really enjoy this, but I prefer using my Bare Minerals BB Cream Shadows. It is decent and I like it. If you are looking for something better but pricier, I prefer the Bare Minerals, because they DO NOT crease on me AT ALL. They are not a primer, but they work beautifully.
TEMPTU S/B Highlighter in Pink Pearl, 0.1 fl oz for 2.75 USD [sample]:
I reach for this highlighter on a weekly basis. I like to use this to highlight my cheekbones and the inner corners of my eyes. I, even on occasion, use it as an eye shadow. If I get my eyebrows pluck, I use this as an eye bone highlight as well. Speaking of which, I really need to get my brows done. It has been MONTHS since I got them done last. It’s only like 15 dollars with a 5 dollar tip (I give that if I really love my brows, otherwise it’s 2 or 3). This is a very subtle highlighter, which I quite enjoy. It’s not glittery or sparkly, which is another thing that I love. It just gives a nice sheen.
Elizabeth Mott You’re So FINE Eyeliner in Glitterati, 0.1 oz for 17.99 [full sized]:
I like the glitter flecks in the eyeliner. It adds an unexpected touch to your basic black. It is a much needed upgrade and this eyeliner is a breeze to apply. It does not take much practice to get the perfect cat-eye that is almost matching, but remember, your eyes are SISTERS not twins. I always have to keep that in mind when I do my makeup. This is great for a glam look or for something more natural. Sometimes, I just apply the eyeliner with no eye shadow, just to be low key about it. It is quite expensive, but I find that liquid liners last for at least 6 months. You do get your money’s worth and I’m always reaching for this.
Well, the grand total for the November bag was 42.10 USD, which is almost 50 USD! I was surprised about the full sized items and very pleased. I really loved this bag, but I had so many disappointing ones. I was ready and excited for Birchbox. I needed a change for the new year. Do you like Birchbox or Ipsy better? Let me know in the comments!
My overall look using all of the mentioned products, plus a few others:
With Love,
Heya Aspiring Gurus!
Another month has came and went. Sorry about being so late on my June favorites, but I have been really busy with work and haven’t had much time to type up my favorites post. I have some time now though, so I thought that I would get it started even if it doesn’t get uploaded until later tonight. I hope everyone is having a great Fourth of July Weekend, whether you are going away or staying home. If you are like me, your only day off is Sunday, so you better enjoy it! Lol. It is the fifth day of #Julamorous! I liked fewer things this month, but still a lot of things. I have a lot of things, so really that is to be expected. So without further ado, I am going to just jump into it.
BODY FAVS:
DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom Body Lotion
I have been loving this as a nice neck/decolletage lotion to go with my matching fragrance. This was a nice light liquidy lotion for hot and humid June. I like that the lotion wasn’t heavy and it soaked right into my skin. I love the nice light, floral scent. It really helped my perfume last longer and it delivered a more layered scent. I am definitely a convert of buying my fragerances with the matching lotions. I just think that the scent pay off is so much better when paired together. I also think that if you used any lotion, it would do the same thing. Of course, a different lotion wouldn’t have the same scent, so it would be slightly different. I think that I used up a third of the tube this month.
Dove Advanced Care Sensitive 48h Antiperspirant Deodorant
I have been really loving this deodorant since I bought it at the end of May. Since I have been using it, it has made my armpits softer and less irritated during/after shaving. It is like not sensitive at all anymore. Plus, I do not nick myself anymore, which helps a lot. This glides on nice and smooth and it doesn’t have much of a scent. I personally layer my deodorant, because I really sweat at the slightest temperature fluctuation. This is a great base application. I would try other types in this line. I think the next one that I would try would be the skin lightening one, because the skin under my armpits are looking a little…tan. I really like this deodorant, though and I have never really had a solid favorite before.
Secret Re-Fresh Brazil Rainforest Mist Body Spray
This is a light deodorant spray that I have been loving over my Dove deodorant for the fresh scent alone. I think it does a better job at covering up odor and just making me feel fresher when it has been yucky out, aka sweltering. It does not smell like a rain forest unfortunately, but it does smell like the great outdoors. There are a few other scents, which I would be willing to try. This has been a lot better than using perfumed body spray, because they do not have that slight deodorant quality. I think that regular body spray just doesn’t cut it, when compared to something that powders down to have that odor soaking technology. For the summertime, it was really worth the investment, plus I had a coupon.
BATH FAV:
Lush The Comforter Solid Bubble Bar
This delivers the best bubbles ever!!! It turned my water the prettiest color of pale, petal pink. It was pure perfection. The bubbles were frothy and lavish. They lasted until I had to get out of the tub and I was sad to see the bubbles and pink water drain away. I was in there for an hour though, so it really had to go. I only used an eighth of the bar. So this will give you a good eight baths. I’m going to use less next time, because I hate wasting bubbles. 😦 The scent was amazing, like I was bathing in cotton candy and yummy black currant. This is a total princess product and I will be repurchasing this. I will be taking pics the next time that I use this, because I want to share the beauty.
SHOWER FAV:
Lush Sweetie Pie Shower Jelly
The scent matches The Comforter and it is such fun to use. I use my exfoliating gloves and rub this between my hands to get a bit of lather. This jelly will last a long time, using it this way. I want to try it chilled from the freezer as well. I don’t own a loofah, so I cannot try it that way. I do not think that this is a really foamy product. It is more of a creamy consistency, which is fine with me since it is more moisturizing that way. It is fun to play with it the shower and is really a novelty product that you have to try at least once. I’m not sure that I would buy this again, but it is worth buying just to play with it.
FRAGRANCE FAV:
DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom Eau De Parfum Spray
This is the prettiest scent of perfume that I own. It is lightly fruity and very floral. I would call it a very girly perfume. I love that the perfume is pink and that it is in the shape of an apple, which is super cute! I have had this in my collection for almost a year, but I just really used it so much in June. I’m a finicky person and I like to change my perfume as often as my hairstyle. So, sticking with any perfume a month long is a major feat for me. I never get pulled in by cute packaging. I have to love the scent for the packaging to even gain any traction in my mind. The perfume is also very light and crisp with a hint of grapefruit.
SKINCARE FAV:
Lush Ocean Salt Face & Body Scrub
Let me start off my saying that I only use this on my face and not on my body. Using this product on my body would be very wasteful, because this does so much for the acne on my face and I just need a dab to get a good scrub. This is really perfect for oily, acne prone skin. It helps me to get over my breakouts faster and keeps my skin clearer for a longer period of time. If I skip this nightly treatment, my skin definitely suffers. I do not know how I ever got along without this product. It has been a miracle worker, since for some reason my skin has decided to breakout really bad for no reason recently. I will elaborate more in my upcoming skin care routines. I have decided to make my skincare routines a season series, where I update it every time we go into a new season. My skincare changes all of the time, so this should be interesting for you guys. The short of it is, I am in love with this face scrub and it has inspired me to give Lush another try with skincare products. (I wasn’t a big fan of the aqua marina expiration tag.)
MAKEUP FAV:
NYX Butter Gloss in Eclair (BLG02)
I have been wearing this nonstop, since I received this in my Ipsy bag in June. It is the perfect petal pink that is more preferable to me than a nude. I still like that it is a flush pink and glides on smoothly. It really does feel like butter on your lips…in a good way. It keeps my lips moisturized without all the stickiness. I wouldn’t be surprised if I ran out of it soon. This does not leave a stain, which is the only thing that would make this product even better in my opinion. I love how inexpensive this brand is and that I can actually go out and buy this gloss before I run out. I will be picking more of these up in August or September at my local Sephora.
MUSIC FAV:
On My Way by Lea Michelle
Dani has got me addicted to this song and now, I want to get her album. That is how much I love her now. I never used to like her on Glee, but this album has a totally different vibe that I am liking. So, thank you very much!
So, that is it for my favorites. What was yours?
With Love,
Selena Hannah
Heya Aspiring Gurus!
I know it is kind of late to be taking about June, but I just am now getting to it and I didn’t want to skip the month either. Since I am already late with my review, I will get to what I thought about everything now with this short intro.
The Theme:
I really like the theme for June, because many people go to the beach or go on vacation. So, it makes sense for Ipsy to compile products for the beach: easy, waterproof, effortless, and scented like a vacation if you are having a staycation.
The Bag:
I am so excited to finally say that I have a Rebecca Minkoff bag! I love her as a designer and now I have one of her signature designer makeup bags. It has cute little pineapples on it. The feel of the bag is very luxurious. As I write this, I am switching out my makeup bag, so I have this one in my purse instead. Love, love, love it so much and I cannot say it more. Seriously worth all of my Ipsy subscription money.
The Contents:
This little bottle is perfect for traveling and for throwing into your beach bag. It smells like sweet coconut, reminding me of my beloved Hawaiian Tropics Sunscreen. I am so in love with the scent! I estimate that this little bottle would give you a good dozen uses, since it was filled to the top. I would buy this for the scent alone.
The sample seems pretty full, so I would say that you would get six or so uses out of this one as well. The color seems a tad too dark on the back of my hand, but I think it would give my face the prettiest glow. It also smells like a vacation in a tube, which I quite enjoy in case you haven’t noticed yet. On a different note, what on earth is a white sapphire complex?
This tube is actually a bit bigger than the normal size, which is very nice of NYX. The website says that these are 0.23 fl oz, but mine is labeled 0.27. This is a full sized product that is half of the total cost of the bag, which I think is a great value. This buttery gloss smells like candy floss! I was the most excited to receive this talked about NYX product and I have to say that it is raved about for a reason. The pale pink nude is the perfect neutral gloss to use on its own or over lipstick to create a glossy finish and to tone down a bright lip. I love the feel and look of this on my lips. It is the most comfortable gloss I own. It is not sticky in the least, but very buttery and nourishing.
This was another full-sized product, which made me very happy. Both of my full-sized products made up the value of this bag. The shimmery green is so pretty and not too blingy. I was hoping for blue, but I do not mind getting the green. It is supposed to be waterproof, so I am planning to use this on my waterline. UPDATE: This stuff burns when applied to the waterline. DO NOT APPLY THERE. The angled felt tip brush makes application a breeze, following the contour of the eyelid. I don’t like this as much on my top eyelid though.
Wow. I did not realize that the most expensive product in my bag would be a mascara that I will have to toss out in three months or less. This mascara has a horrid smell, but it is great for setting my long lashes. I use mascara to set my lashes, so they do not curl into my eyeballs, which is very much a problem for me. This stuff really flakes, which isn’t good. It darkens my lashes a bit, so they are more doll-like. Otherwise, I notice no difference between my eye with the mascara and the eye without it. I also just feel really sexy with mascara on.
Overall, I would give this bag 2 stars based on having used the products all month long. The value of this bag was 37.99 USD! That is an amazing value! It is almost four times what I paid for it. I cannot wait for what July will bring!
With Love,
Selena Hannah xoxoxo
Home Sweet Phoenix Cove 