February Play by Sephora

       This months box was filed with products I liked and others I’ve wanted to try. This month’s theme was ‘Now & Later’, which contains which is designed with products to help you throughout the day.

Bare Minerals Pop of Passion Lip Oil in Plumberry Pop

I actually own this color but I’ve never properly tried it. It’s very pigmented and seems like a perfect summer color.

Lancome Drama Liqui Pencil Longwear Eyeliner in Noir Intense

I’ve only tried this once and I was pleasantly surprised. This liner lasted all day long and didn’t smudge or transfer under the eye till eight hours later. The smudge was barely visible and only appeared in the corner of my eye.

Bumble and Bumble Pre-a-power

It’s not only a dry shampoo but it states it helps create volume. I’m fairly certain I’m taking this one on vacation to try it.

Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Natural in N9 Copper Pink

This is one of my favorite lipsticks and color! It is not dry on the lips and it has good   pigment. I’ve gone through two of these lipsticks because it gives a natural look.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

I’ve never tried this but I heard nothing but good reviews. I’m not a fan of mascara that isn’t waterproof. I may give it away or take it on vacation to give it a try (force myself).

Tom Ford Black Orchid EDP (Sample)

I’ve tried this sample twice since receiving this box. This is winter scent. It’s has a very strong scent of woods but yet a bit fruity. It contains notes of Black Truffle, Black Orchid, Black Plum, Noir Gourmand Accord, Patchouli. The scent lasted all day; I think I may actually purchase this one.

-Melissa

Verb Leave-in Mist

      Last month I picked Verb Leave-in Mist at Sephora while I was visiting Austin. I read reviews that were split down the middle. I have long and extremely thick hair so conditioner is a must have for me. Being addicted to leave-in-conditioner I had to try to try it for myself.

      This product contains no parabens, gluten or sulfates. It clams to help moisturize, smooth, add shine, protect from heat, detangles, tames frizz, prevents breakage, preps for styling, nourishes, repairs ends and enhances elasticity.

      What I like about this is its lightweight and doesn’t completely weigh down your hair. The product left my hair soft and there is a slight smell but nothing over powering. The consistency is more like a cream but once you shake it up it distributes like a spray. It’s retails for $14 for 8oz’s at Sephora. It’s definitely worth a try.

-Melissa

Single’s Guide to Valentines (Things You Can Do)

      So you’re single for Valentines Day, it’s not the end of the world. There are things you can do other then going out to eat and asking the waiter for a ‘table for one’. Unless you want to which is perfectly fine. However, if that’s not the route you intend then here are a few options.

Movie Night- Since Valentines falls on a Sunday, you can have a movie day! Netflix, Hulu, or Redbox, time to catch up on your favorite shows or movies you’ve been waiting to watch. Pop some popcorn, have a glass of wine or whatever you prefer and settle in. If you’re craving romantic movies let me suggest Sleepless in Seattle or Noting Hill (two of my favorites).

Spa Day- Go to a spa or make your own little spa at home. It’s also a good time to try a DIY like ‘how to create a facial mask’ or ‘lip scrub’. Have your nails done by your or someone else. Go ahead and pamper yourself.

Cooking- Is there a recipe you’ve been wanting to try? There are a few blog posts on recipes I’ve wanted to try like Apple Carrot Cupcakes by Simple Recipes.

Get Physical- Go hiking/walking at your local park or anywhere that has a safe path. There’s no reason you have to stay in for Valentines if you don’t have someone to share the day with.

Be Someone Else’s Valentines- Know someone who may need a smile. Create something for them and become their Valentine. It’s not only a great gesture but also really nice.

-Melissa

Smiling The Roses

      Being that Valentines is nearly here it seemed to be a good time to talk about products that have rose somehow incorporated in them. One of them being H&M’s nail polish called Rose Umber. I’ve done a post on this, which I will link here. In short the polish not only applies well, but I didn’t find it to be streaky when applied.

     Quickly becoming one of my favorite brands is Jo Malone. I mentioned I heard about this brand from YouTuber Lilly Pebbles. (If you haven’t checked her blog, you should here). Jo Malone is one of those perfumes that last all day long. Unlike like many perfumes (honestly, non I can think of at the moment) they are known for their fragrance combining. Yes, you can mix two perfumes together. See here.

     Now for the lipsticks… I’ve mentioned Bobbi Brown’s Lip Shine in Rosy. Which I think is not sold anymore. It has a SPF but is also quite a while for having SPF in it. Korres’s Mango Butter Lipstick in Natural Rose is one of the best I tried. This lipstick never chaps my lips. FRESH Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose has a very light tint of rose. However the more you apply the more color pay off. For a splurge Dior Crème de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm is a good pick. It keeps your lips smooth all day long. A cheaper alternative to Dior is Vaseline’s Lip Therapy. This lip product last all day long. I also use this at night and especially in the winter. It really does keep my lips from chapping.

Melissa 

What I Received For My Birthday

      Although my birthday occurred weeks ago, I wanted to wait for my birthday gift to arrive before doing this post. You’ll see what I mean. My brother gave me a charm Eiffel Tower from James Avery. I absolute love it! If you follow my blog then you know I’ve been to Paris and of course this represents that. My mom and dad gave me a gift to Nordstrom. My best friend gave me an American Express gift card and mini medical items (?) for my trip. (There’s an inside story about the Febreze). My other friends (sisters) gave me a purse from Thirty-One.

     One of the things I wanted the most was a purse I saw at Nordstrom. So with the gift card and money from my sister and brother-in-law gave me I was able to buy Kate Spades New York’s 'Cobble Hill - Cayli' crossbody handbag in Deep Indigo. I absolutely love it. It’s large enough to keep my phone, wallet and camera! The good thing about this bag is that it’s not as expensive as a lot of other bags. I love it!

-Melissa