March Essence Beauty Box...

Hey All! I'm very pleased with this month's Essence Beauty Box. If you follow me on Snapchat (sadesigns) you saw that I did an unboxing two days ago. I got a chance to try out some of the products. Check it out the products in this month's box.

Love the box top design. 

The beauty products. Great sample sizes. Theme is: Transform Her Everyday.

For the hair: Creme of Nature Perfect Edges and Uncle Funky's Curly Magic. 

Skincare: LaBelle Femme Body Butter and Biossance The Revitalizer which is a light face oil.

Makeup: BITE Beauty Opal Lipgloss

I'm giving this month's box a B. The hair products every month is overkill. Every month there has been 2 haircare products. One is enough. I would like to see more makeup samples or sunscreen, perfume, bronzer or a highlighter.

The La Belle body butter was amazing. Melts into your skin. I also love the opal lipgloss.  I'm excited to try Uncle Funky's Curly magic. I've been wanting to try something from their line.  I have not tried the Biossance revitalizer, but online reviews are 5 star.

February Essence Beauty Box...

Hey All! I'm very pleased with this month's Essence Beauty Box. If you follow me on Snapchat (sadesigns) you saw that I did an unboxing yesterday. I got a chance to try out some of the products. Check it out below.

Love the artwork on the box.

This month's theme is Shine Like A Star.

The beauty products. Nice and full box. 

Kiss eyelashes and adhesive. Can't wait to wear these! Cover FX makeup primer with anti-acne treatment. Lipstick by IMAN in Hot. This is a gorgeous orange shade with lots of pigment. If you don't like a bright lip this shade isn't for you. It looks fabulous on my lips.

Every month we get hair products in our box. I definitely do not need to buy hair products. Miss Jessie's Coily Custard with agave and coconut oil. Dark & Lovely Soak it up Oil Cocktail. Smells so good. I tried this as part of my LOC method. Loved the results. 

This was our Bonus gift. Colgate Optic White toothpaste. Claims it will whiten your teeth more than 3 shades in just one week. I only used it once, can't give a good review just yet. I will have to see if it's better than brushing with old fashioned baking soda. 

My favorite product thus far is the lipstick by IMAN in Hot. Great alternative to wearing red lipstick.

October Essence Beauty Box Review...

Hey All!

Last month Essence debuted their Inaugural Essence Beautybox with women of color as their target audience. I received an email inviting me to join this subscription box program for $15 a month. I cancelled my Birchbox subscription over a year ago so I hopped on this. October's theme was "Finishing Touches for Fall." Take a look at the box contents.

Love the artwork on the box lid!

Pretty presentation which included a product guidebook.

The beauty products. Nice sizes. 

 Tarte Brow Architect. All in one brush, pencil and concealer for your brows. 

Calvin Klein Eternity Now perfume and L'occitane shea butter hand cream. Love them both! The perfume has grapefruit notes that I really like. The hand cream is awesome.
I highly recommend this brand. The best hand cream on the market!

Eden Bodyworks Coconut Shea Leave-in and Curls Creme Brule Curl Cream. Love Eden Bodyworks products. This leave-in is wonderful. Curls Creme Brule curl cream is nice too. Doesn't leave my hair dry or sticky like some curl creams. 

Overall I give this box a B. The reason is I can't figure out how to use the Tarte Brow Architect. If you received this box, let me know what you think. I'm excited to receive November's box!

February Birchbox Review...

Happy Valentine's Day Y'all!

It's been awhile since I reviewed my Birchbox. This month's Birchbox is a collaboration with US Weekly. Since this is Awards season, the box is filled with a few items to get you red carpet ready. Check out what I received in my box.

1. Harney & Sons Fine Teas:  2 sachets of tea. White Vanilla Grapefruit and Paris. This is the Lifestyle Extra that Birchbox adds each month. I love tea so I'm sure I will love these!

2. 100% Pure: Fruit Pigmented Mascara. 100% all natural mascara with real fruit pigments. I have some body lotion from 100% Pure that is great. This mascara smells so good. I love mascara. One of the beauty items that I wear daily along with lip gloss. Can't wait to try this!

3. Sarahpotempa: The Half-Up hair tool. This tool looks great. Use it to create a low bun or up do.

4. Whish: Pomegranate Body Butter. Love the smell. Very rich. I'm a sucker for body butters!

5. Joan Vass: L'eau de Cristal perfume. Smells like a men's cologne. Blend of bergamot and patchouli. A little too strong for me.

Overall, I give this month's box a 4 out of 5 stars.

March Birchbox Review...

Happy First Day of Spring!! Spring is my second favorite season, Autumn is my first. This month's Birchbox theme is March Madness. The box was filled with products from up and coming rookies to veteran all-stars. I loved my box. I actually tried all of the products! Here is what I received and my personal review.

1. Sumita Eye Pencil (Black) full size - Love this! Two beauty items I wear everyday, eyeliner and lip gloss. This pencil glides on so smooth and lasts all day. Highly recommend this pencil. Available in other fun colors like lime green and navy.
2. Caldrea Body Lotion - Three samples of body lotion: Tea Olive Lime, Aloe Water Apricot, and Coconut Fig. I tried the Aloe Water and Tea Olive Lime. I like them both. Very rich and creamy with a subtle scent.
3. Madewell for Birchbox Emery Board full size - Birchbox teamed with Madewell to create a floral patterned emery board. Another favorite! Perfect for my purse.
4. Curls Cashmere Curls Leave-in Conditioner - Feels like a serum. Gave me great curls and did eliminate some of my frizz. I will definitely try more products from this brand.
5. Whish Shave Cream - Organic Shea butter foam-free shaving cream. Gave me a really close shave, but the scent is too strong and fruity for me. Will pass this on to my teenager.

What was in your Birchbox? If you don't get Birchbox, have you tried any of the above products?

Glossybox February Review...

I recently subscribed to Glossybox, a monthly beauty subscription which features 5 luxury travel-sized beauty products. This is a fun way to sample different beauty products from new and familiar brands before making the decision to purchase. If you are a product junkie, I highly recommend Glossybox. February's theme was International Style. Take a look at what was in my box.

The box is pink. Ahh the little things that make me happy.

Lovely presentation. It's like opening a present.

Included every month is Glossymag. Magazine filled with beauty and style tips.

Starting from left:

1. Nail Rock Nail Wraps. Leopard print nail wrap. I may try it on one nail. Having them on all 10, is overkill. This is something I will give to my daughter.
2. Lisi Liquid Line Eyeliner. This is a full size product! Color I rec'd is black magic. It's black with a shimmer. I tried this today and I love it.
3. Da Vinci Cosmetics Shimmer Powder. Shimmering mineral powder that gives a subtle glow to your eyes or cheeks. Color I rec'd is Harmony. Also tried this today on my eyes using an eye shadow blush. Very pretty. Slight glow that can be worn day or night.
4. Bulgari soap. Very strong scent. As soon as I opened the box, I smelled the soap. I like a softer scent. You don't need to smell me before you see me.
5. Evologie Duo Pack Blemish Serum & Stay Clear Cream. This was also full size. Rapidly clears blemishes and reduces post acne scars. Good to keep on hand for the occasional hormonal acne breakout.

February Birchbox Review...

Hey All! Starting off the week with a review of my February Birchbox. I love getting packages in the mail, especially my monthly Birchbox! I have been getting Birchbox for about 9 months. Hands down this month is the best box that I have received. This month's theme is Red Carpet Ready. Take a look at what I received.

Products designed to get you Red Carpet Ready.

Always a beautiful presentation

• Skin & Co Roma Cleansing Body Gel: shower gel from Rome with orange and olive extracts. Smells nice.
• Wei Pomegranate Buffing Beads: Facial scrub that buffs away dead skin cells. Brightens face and evens out skin tones.
• Wei Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask: Clay mask that lessens the signs of premature aging. I love clay masks! Can't wait to try this out.
• Dermablend Smooth Indulgence Concealer: Medium coverage concealer in Spice. A pretty good match for my skin tone.
• Ghirardelli Square Milk Chocolate with Caramel: Delish! Its gone! Ate it right after I took the pictures of my box.
• Shu Uemura Art of Hair Protective Oil: Leave in Oil for Dry Hair. Nicknamed "Liquid gold." A full size bottle will cost $68. Like this oil, but I am fine with my unrefined virgin coconut oil from Trader Joe's for $5.99. That's my liquid gold!

Glossybox January Review

I recently subscribed to Glossybox, a monthly beauty subscription which features 5 luxury travel-sized beauty products. After hearing that Glossybox was doing a collaboration with Leandra Medine of the Man Repeller, I wanted in. I absolutely love reading Leandra's blog and totally love her amazing sense of style. Due to an overwhelming high demand of the Glossybox/Man Repeller collaboration, I didn't receive my box until February. I was very pleased with the presentation and the products. Take a look at what was in my box.

The Man Repeller Box and Glossy Mag

Sweet Note from Leandra. Pretty Presentation.



My Goodies.

• Estee Lauder Extreme Lash Mascara. Nice size. I can always use mascara.
• Fresh Umbrian Clay Mattifying Serum. For Normal to Oily Skin, controls shine and minimizes the appearance of pore. I love Fresh products. I can't wait to try this on my combination skin.
• Le Metier De Beaute Replenishing Daily Solution. Rich formula that conditions and hydrates skin. Paraben free. SPF 30. A full size of this costs $225. I can't wait to wash my face so I can try this!
• Narciso Rodriquez for her Eau De Toilette Spray. Has a warm floral scent that is not overpowering. Nice.
• OPI Can't Let Go liquid sand nail lacquer. Super excited about this because it's full size and it's purple! I'm all about purple since my Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl! This nail polish is a matte purple with accents of shimmer. Long lasting and because it's matte, no top coat is necessary.
• Sebastian Professional Potion 9. Styling hair cream with nine botanical extracts to restore moisture. Received great reviews on Amazon. Claims to keep frizz away. We shall see.
• Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance Lipstick. Full size. Gorgeous tube! Love the red. Contains mango, shea and avocado butters. I know I will love this!

 

 

If you subscribe to Glossybox, let me know what you think of the Man Repeller box.

December Birchbox Review...

Hey All! It's been awhile! Starting off the week with a review of my December Birchbox. I love getting packages in the mail, especially my monthly Birchbox! I am pleased with this month's box. This month's theme is All Wrapped Up.  Take a look at what I received.

Lovely presentation



1. A sweet to and from gift tag
2. Nuxe cleansing gel with rose petals. Free of harsh soaps. Love the way it smells, can't wait to try it.
3. Neatly wrapped package (next pic shows with was inside)
4. Per-fekt Lash Perfection Gel. Primer, conditioner and mascara all in one. Love it!
5. Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls Styling Lotion. Since my hair is natural and I super excited about trying this!  This will be my first time trying anything from Miss Jessie's.
6. $50 Rent the Runway Gift Card. So awesome! A fab way to get the look for less, especially for a formal occasion. Saw an awesome vintage Chanel bag I would love to rent.
 

 

These are the products that were in my nicely wrapped package.

 

1.The Balm in Hot Mama. Lovely Blush with a faint golden shimmer. Love it!

2. John Varvatos cologne in Artisan. Nice cologne sample for men that has a woodsy scent. Giving this to my teenage son.

 

 

What was in your December Birchbox? 

November Birchbox Review...

Happy Tuesday All! November is my favorite month! I love Autumn, so much to be thankful for, and my birthday is this month. So I was thrilled when my November Birchbox arrived filled with cool goodies.  This month's box is all about giving. Take a peep at what was in my box.

Give

My goodies

2 products that were in my gift envelope.

1. Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper - Will try this soon especially since it promises to "total control for frizzy hair."
2. Fibre Lashxtend Lengthening Mascara (full size) - Love this! It has a mirror on the tube!
3. Chuao Chocolatier Chocopad - I received the Honeycomb flavor and it was delish!
4. Cute reusable gift envelope shown above for re-gifting. Inside was 2 beauty products. I gave a pair of earrings I designed to my sis-n-law for her birthday and put them inside the box. So cute!
5. Stila All over Shimmer liquid luminizer - This was inside the gift envelope. The color I received is Rose Gold Shimmer. I can not wait to wear this when I go out with my girls for my birthday this weekend!  I love anything that shimmers, shines, and sparkles!!
6. Jouer Perfume Oil Sample - This was also inside the gift envelope. My sample has gardenia, jasmine, and honeysuckle. I'm usually not a a floral perfume wearer. Usually too strong for me. However, this is nice. The strongest scent is the honeysuckle which reminds me on my childhood. A neighbor had a honeysuckle tree that me and my friends would take a few petals off and suck on the honeysuckle. I'm alive so I guess it was cool!

 

Birchbox x Goop Review...

This month I was given  an option of receiving the standard monthly Birchbox or the Birchbox x goop collaboration. I am currently a goop subscriber so I selected Birchbox x goop. If you are not familiar with goop, goop is a weekly lifestyle publication curated by Gwyneth Paltrow offering travel notes, recipes, shopping suggestions, etc. I was pleased with my box. Take a look at what I received in my box.

Always a nice presentation.

1. Orofluido Beauty Elixir : Hair treatment oil that will nourish and add shine. This oil smells awesome with a hint of vanilla and amber. I will definitely try this.
2. Embryolisse: French moisturizer anti-age firming cream that fades wrinkles. This cream is for established wrinkles. Last I checked, I do not have wrinkles, but I do have dry skin and I will give this a try. *Update* Love this moisturizer. Very rich, only need a small amount.
3. Luna Bar: Lemon Zest. I have tried Luna Bars before and I didn't like them. This flavor I have been told is like a dessert. Perhaps this will be a sweet treat. *Update* This bar is amazing! Tastes yummy!
4. DDF Wrinkle Resist Pore Minimizer: Moisturizing serum that shrinks pores. I have the DDF cleanser and I like it, I'm sure I will be pleased with this as well.
5. Chantecaille Mascara: Water resistant mascara that delivers volume, length and curl. This is my favorite item that I received in my box! I love mascara, especially one that will add length to my lashes.

If you received a different box, let me know what you received.

September Birchbox Review...

This month's Birchbox came a little later than last month. However, good things come to those who wait. I must say this month's box did not disappoint. My box was filled with goodies that I will use. The theme was this month's Birchbox is "Jumpstart Your Autumn Beauty Collection." Birchbox also teamed up with Madewell to offer a $25 gift card to be used on any Madewell purchase of $75 or more. Below are pics of my September Birchbox.

Always a nice presentation.

1. Nail polish by Color Club in Status Update: It's a dark grey color. From someone who loves black nail polish, I can't wait to try this!
2. Nexxus Split End Treatment System: I've been battling split ends so I will try this.
3. Pink Twistband Hair Tie: I'm happy about this. I have a couple in black.
4. Vasanti Brighten Up Face Rejuvenator: Exfoliating cleanser with microderm crystals to brighten dull skin. 99% Natural. I'm happy about this too.
5. Youngblood Mineral Primer: I do not currently use a primer, but the ladies at Sephora recommend it for helping makeup stay put.
6. Mighty Leaf Tea Company sample pack of teas: Another yea for me. I love drinking hot tea. This sample pack makes me happy.

Birchbox Fall Lookbook with beauty trend tips and Madewell gift card to be used at any Madewell retail store or online.

Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color...

I received Sally Hansen's Magnetic Nail Color in Ionic Indigo complimentary to test through Influenster's Summer Voxbox program. For more information about Influenster go here. Below you will find product information,  pictures of my nails after using the Magnetic nail color as well as my review of the product.

Product Information:

NEW! Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color is summer’s hottest nail trend that allows you to create a gorgeous 3-D nail art effect in just seconds. This unique formula has been specially developed with metallic particles – just hold the built-in magnet over wet polish to reveal a unique design on the nail. Seal with a topcoat for extra shine! Learn more at www.sallyhansen.com

Directions:

Easy steps
STEP 1
Shake and Apply 2 coats
STEP 2
Hold Magnet for 10 seconds over wet nail polish
Instant Attraction!
Let dry and seal with a top coat for extra shine

Where to Buy:

Product retails for $9.99 and can be found at chain drug stores and mass grocery/merchandisers.

My Personal Review:

Pros: I really liked how my nails looked after using the Magnetic Nail color. The indigo blue was beautiful. If you follow the directions carefully, you will get beautiful results. Directions were simple and clear to follow. I would buy this nail color if it were on sale and wear it for a fun evening out on the town.

Cons: Very strong smell. Use in a well ventilated area. Be careful when using the magnet. You will touch your nails and smear them if you hold magnet too close to nails. This nail color chips easily. After 2 days my nails looked horrible. Nail color is too pricey to chip so easily. I would not pay full price for this product.

The Outcome



May Birchbox...

I wanted to get this post out today since tomorrow will be June 1st! Below is my review of my May Birchbox, which happens to be my first box. If you aren't familiar with Birchbox, briefly it's a box of 5-6 samples you get every month for $10. It gives you an opportunity to try out products before deciding to buy the larger size. To learn more about Birchbox, go here.

This month's Birchbox theme was based on the sitcom Gossip Girls. I have to admit, I have never seen an episode of Gossip Girls. I've read some reviews of other bloggers May Birchbox, and none of them got the box I received. Birchbox tries to customize your box based on your profile.

Gossip Girl theme.

Inside the box. Very lovely presentation.

This moisturizer is amazing! Exactly what I need, to firm and lift. However, for $94 for a full size, I'll pass on it.

Next up is shampoo and conditioner from Kerastase. Not for my hair. Did try the conditioner and it was rich, but I'll stick to my Shea Moisture products.

Sweet notecard in pink and green.  I will definitely use this. I do love to send a personal note.

Miss Dior perfume sample. My review:  If I can take the words from In Living Color Men on Film quote, "Hated It." This perfume smells like old ladies who lunch. Too powdery and floral for my taste.

Ahh, I've been wanting to try Diorshow Mascara. I really like this mascara! Receiving this was a pleasant surprise. But... after I use up my sample, I think I'm going to stick to my orange tube Cover Girl mascara.