Getting LA Hair with Kim Kimble Beauty

Kim Kimble, celebrity hair guru, has developed a line of hair care products to help keep hair looking fabulous. I decided to try  her Brazilian Nut & Acai Berry Conditioning Masque. My hair has been super parched lately, so this seemed to be an excellent choice. A very durable shower cap was included with the conditioning masque.

The Brazilian Nut & Acai Berry Conditioning Masque comes in an eight ounce squeeze tube. I think it can be used as a daily conditioner but I chose to try it out as a full on conditioning treatment.  The Kisses Shower Cap is very generous in size. It can even be used over rollers. The material is very thick and no water will get in, as the band keeps the cap snug without being tight.

The product is easy to use. Get in the shower and wash your hair as usual. Squeeze a bit onto your palms and work from the ends of the hair to the scalp. The product instructions say to massage from the bottom of the hair up to the scalp- the treatment is supposed to help with scalp health.

I found the product to have a slightly thicker consistency than the regular conditioner  I use for my color treated hair. The product’s fragrance is sweet but not overwhelming. I would say the scent is fruity with a dash of bubble gum.I started with a small amount- maybe about the size of a quarter, rubbed the masque between my palms  and worked it from the ends up. I then tucked the hair into the shower cap. You can use a clip to gather your hair before putting on the cap. Since the tube suggests to apply heat and I don’t own a hair dryer, I figured the steam from the shower would help the conditioner work its magic.  After about 10 minutes, I removed the shower cap and rinsed. I noticed my hair did not feel heavy or greasy. Sometimes when using a treatment, I feel like rinsing forever but not with this masque. It left my hair soft without making it weigh a ton.

Love the cap!

I styled as usual (the true test). What did I find? My hair is way better today since my last color treatment (I dyed it myself using a semi-permanent drugstore brand. Never again.) My hair feels soft to the touch and the curls are back to their original form.

Interested in trying Kim Kimble products? Click here for a link to her products. Use code hair10 for 10% off your purchase. I do not yet see the conditioner available on the website provided by BrandBacker but you can search for the product online.

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

Sponsored by BrandBacker. Product provided free for review. All opinions are my own.

Keepin’ It Curly

I didn’t always have curly hair. As a kid, it was very straight and thick. When I was in 8th grade, I got a perm. As my hair grew out, it never lost the curl. I guess it liked being curly.

Via Indulgy.com

I fought the curl in my 20s. There was something about straight hair. It looked so neat and smooth but was a pain to maintain. I went to Ouidad and got a curly haircut. My life was forever changed. My holy grail gel is Ouidad’s Climate Control. Though I have long abandoned the “rake and shake” styling method, I have not abandoned the gel and my frizz free curls. Until recently.

My friend, E., started posting about her love of DevaCurl products. I was never curious about DevaCurl- the no poo shampoo gives me the creeps- but E.’s curls look amazing and I just happened to have a sample pack of DevaCurl products lying around. The pack contained three very generous samples of the No-Poo Cleanse,  One Condition, and Light Defining Gel. (And when I say generous samples, I have already gotten two uses out of the packets and think may have 2-3 more uses.)

I wash my hair pretty much every other day but sometimes up to two days. I actually hadn’t washed in three days and decided to give the No-Poo a whirl. By the way, the products smell delightful, like jasmine tea. I squeezed some of the No-Poo into my hands and rubbed together. I really went at my scalp and worked some through the ends. I was a little afraid my head wouldn’t feel fresh but there must be some kind of tingly ingredient in that stuff because my head and scalp felt totally clean. I then worked some conditioner through the mid- section to the ends of my hair. I left it for a few minutes, combed through, and rinsed.

I have admitted my devotion to Ouidad’s Climate Control Gel but I confess I use some kind of oil in my hair for my routine curly hair ritual. I put that in while it is soaking wet. Then I put my gel and some Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls and scrunch. It isn’t time consuming and my curls stay frizz-free and are well defined. I decided to forgo the oil when trying the Deva Curl, as well as the curl cream. I followed the directions, tilted my wet head forward, and worked the gel through my hair, scrunching along the way. Then I waited for it to dry because as much as I love products, I do not love hair dryers.

What I noticed: my curls were definitely more spirally than normal. My husband did notice my hair did look different- he said it seemed curlier. I found some of my tighter curls were really tight. The next day, I still needed some product to smooth out some of the frizz. I found that it didn’t keep my frizz at bay as much as the thicker Ouidad gel.

What will I do? The jury is still out on that one. I have a TON of Ouidad gel to use up and I know it works for me. On the other hand, I will use up my samples and see what happens. Consistency is key with products. I’m curious to see if with time DevaCurl will hydrate my hair and it will naturally become less frizzy. I also put some of my oil in today to see if there is any difference.

Quick Update: Washed my hair Tuesday night with DevaCurl, put some oil in, and this is my hair today after some time in a ponytail.

Are you  happy with your hair?

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

 

Update!

Image via google

I want to thank you all for all of your support regarding yesterday’s post. After I tweeted and posted my feelings on Facebook, I was immediately contacted by Miss Jessie’s. Miko, one of the co-founders, called me personally and was very gracious. She explained that the party was at their salon and since the space was small, they could not really accommodate New York and New Jersey. She fully realized that this was HUGE mistake and was really apologetic. I do think someone probably sent out hundreds or maybe thousands of invites that were really meant for people that are involved in the company’s business.  And, yes, Miko did extend an invitation to me but being that I live and work in Brooklyn, it really would be a bit of a challenge, especially at the start of the work week! Thank you, Miss Jessie’s, for realizing your error and Miko, for calling me personally to explain the situation.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

I Guess I’m NOT Going…

I received this email today:

Sounds great, right? I thought so, too, but I can’t attend. A few hours later, I got this…

Is it just me or is that in really bad taste? I spend a lot of money on hair products and think that Miss Jessie’s should at least do something for clients that received that email in error.

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

HauteLook Summer Essentials Are Pretty Necessary

A week or two ago, I wrote a post about the HauteLook with Nordstrom Summer Beauty Bag. (You can check out that post here.) I was totally annoyed, as the bag was $29 US and had mostly “deluxe” samples.  About a week later, HauteLook released its Summer Essentials bag and I ordered it. For $20,  I thought it might just be better. Lucky for me, it was.

What have you got in there?

There are 13 products in the Summer Essentials bag and though many are fun size, the full size products up the retail value of the bag. I’ll start off with skin and body care. For the face,  there is a small jar of Miracle 10 AHA Cream. An exfoliator for dry skin, this soothing cream is supposed to bring on even skin texture and fight aging. I will use this eventually but not during the summer. My skin has a tendency to burn, so even putting gentle AHAs on my face frightens me. (Interested in trying Miracle10? Visit Miracle10.com to get Super C & AHA Cream for $82 US. Enter promocode HAUTEBAG13)

Another miracle?

Yay! Another self-tanning product. I have so many tubes and sheets of glow goop that I don’t even know what to do with it. This single TanTowel is good for half body application and can even be used on the face. I loved the spray on one I used last week (there are still remnants on my legs) but I might just have to try a sheet, too. (Hey- don’t you want to know what happens?)

Vacation in a towel.

In order to keep your faux tan looking glowing and not blech, slather on Whish Body Butter in Orange Cream. I have tried Whish Shave Cream and the scent was reminiscent of Fruity Pebbles. This tiny tube will be good to throw in a getaway bag but I have a feeling there will be no getaways this summer. L’Occitane Shea Hand Cream is a cult classic and a little goes a long way.  Cooler weather will be here before we know it, so this will come in handy. (Handy- get it?)

Creamy.

I love Diptyque fragrance because though they are complex, they are magically singular. I find the fragrances to truly smell so natural on the body and wear Eau Duelle, a spicy vanilla, I now have a sample of L’Ombre dans l’Eau, which translates to The Shadow in the Water. On first spray, it is very green but rounds out to a floral with rose and blackcurrant. It actually reminds me of a perfume I used to wear but can no longer recall. Such is life!

Secret like a shadow.

Your crowning glory is up next. Blow Pro After Blow Strong Hold Finishing Spray is a quick dry spray that claims to keep frizz and flyaways at bay. I probably will never find out if this spray works but it sounds good.

Blow Pro then Grab and Go!

I’m loving L. Erickson Grab n’ Go Pony Compact. The compact isn’t very sturdy but it holds a few ponytail elastics in a place where they won’t get lost in my bag. Thank goodness.

Onto the make-up! Start off with great brushes. Since I love my Crown Brushes, I was happy to receive their Travel Brush Set. I don’t like to bring my big brushes on the go and  this set will make it easy.  I am also curious to try Lashfood Nano-Peptide Natural EyeLASH Conditioner. It is supposed to make my lashes stronger. After the lash perm I tried last year, I think this is a safer option.

Long lashes, little brushes.

For some more lash love, there is a tube of LORAC Special Effects Mascara in Black. One side has a primer and the other has a lengthening mascara. I remember when Revlon had a mascara like this many years ago and I miss it so this should be fun to try out.

Long and lovely lashes.

Now, we go from lashes to lips. There are three lip products in the bag and they are pretty fabulous. First in line is an NYX Lip Smacking Fun Color Lipstick in #597 Margarita. It looks more like a watermelon margarita to me, as it is a shimmery pink-orange shade. This lipstick is in the round tube and is under $4 US. I love NYX lipstick and am more than happy to add this to my collection.

NYX Lips

Margarita!

We are almost done! To keep lipstick in line, there is an Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Naked. Since it is a neutral color, I think it can be used with pretty much any lip color.

Lining and a bomb!

The bonus in the bag is a Mirenesse Lip Bomb Glossy Lacquer Stain in #27. It is a coral that errs on orange I’m guessing it is a gloss that will impart shine and stain the lip for lasting color. I have another lip product from Mirenesse that I really like, Maybe one of these day I will do a comparison.

What would you like to try from the HauteLook Summer Essentials bag?

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

Related articles

• HauteLook Summer Essentials Beauty Bag Review (genuinelyheather.com)
• Hautelook Summer Beauty Bag 2013 (addictedtobox.wordpress.com)

Stuff I Tried This Week

I have been cleaning out my beauty stash. A few weeks ago, we learned that we would have to move by the end of the year and so I decided that I would start by purging clothes and beauty items. With that said, I figured I would try out a few things that I probably would have given away without using. Let’s get started.

I am still pasty, despite it being almost the end of July. Over the past few weeks, I received a bunch of self-tanners. My experience with self tanner is the one by Jergen’s, which works just fine on my legs and arms but I haven’t been using it. I was heading out and decided I needed a quick tan so I pulled out Infinity Sun Glow on the Go. I received the can in my FabFitFun delivery and it seemed easy enough.

Spray on. Glow on.

I made sure that I used a body scrub in the shower and shaved, since I was wearing shorts. Once I was dry, I started to apply. It was easy enough- hold the can 4-6 inches away from the skin and spray in long, even mists. I did my right leg and then my left. Then a little water dripped from my semi-wet head, so I just rubbed it evenly over the spot. Then I sprayed each leg again. The verdict: my right leg looks good. My left leg is a little splotchy but not enough that I think people would notice. I will be using this product again because it literally took no effort and dried really fast. (I wore a junky night shirt while applying and waited about 15-20 minutes before I got dressed, just in case. The can does not say anything about drying time but you never know.

That is kind of a big splotch. And I don’t have chicken legs.

Along with a million self tanners, I have beach hair spray coming out of the wazoo. The other morning I sprayed Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray. I received a small spray bottle in July’s ipsy bag (which I really need to look at.) After washing and then using my usual hair oil, I sprayed some on my hair while it was still damp. I didn’t scrunch as usual and just let my hair air-dry. Yeah. I was hoping for looser curls. I knew I would not get beach waves but a looser curl would be pretty. Well, that did not happen. My hair looked pretty much the same and then just felt like I washed it with salt water. I had another bottle that was in my FabFitFun box and I gave it to my aunt. Since she is a hair stylist, I am sure she will find some use for it on someone. Beach Spray + Curly Hair= Don’t do it

Not for me.

Lindz, my favorite Girl in the Glasses, sent me a bunch of goodies from Germany. She had been singing the praises of Bioderma Solution Micellaire. Micellaire water basically takes all the make-up off of your face- it is a jack of all trades in make-up removal. Since I use waterproof eyeliner and mascara in the summer, I was excited to try this. I have to say that it works really well, even on some of the stubborn eye make-up. I put some on a cotton pad and then hold it over my eye for a few seconds, then wipe. It cleaned up the eye area quite nicely and  did not sting or burn my peepers. I then wiped by entire face and it cleaned off my foundation. Being of oily skin, I still washed my face afterwards but you really don’t have to.

It cleans up everything!

In the warmer months, I like to use colorful eyeliner as opposed to full on eye shadow, liner, mascara, primer, etc. On a recent trip to Sephora, I almost picked up an Urban Decay 24/7  Glide-On Eye Pencil in Chaos ($19 US), a cobalt blue matte with a bit of pearl. I then walked over to the Sephora Collection display and one of the salespeople pointed out the Sephora Collection 12 Hour Wear & Waterproof Contour Eye Pencil in No. 29 My Boyfriend’s Jeans (electric blue).

My Boyfriend’s Jeans- can you see how vibrant the color is?

I tested the pencil on my hand and was pleasantly surprised. It was just as pigmented as the UD pencil that I had swatched on my hand AND when I was wiping both swatches off, I found the Sephora pencil was a bit harder to remove. Now, you may not like that, but if you know NYC humidity, you know that this is good for eye liner. At $9 US, I could have bought two colors for the price of one UD pencil but I did not. I tried it out Saturday night. It lasted all night!

On my way to the city for a birthday party…

My next picture is with an Instgram filter.

My eyes look really prominent.

I am really happy with the eye liner. I may have a hard time not using it everyday.

What are some of your summer picks? Have you tried any of these products?

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

FabFitFun and Fantastic!

Earlier this week I wrote a post about the HauteLook & Nordstrom Summer Beauty Bag (click here to read the post). I was very disappointed. Luckily, I received my FabFitFun (fff) box by Giliana Rancic, too, and this delivery did not disappoint! Though it is $49.95 a box, it only comes quarterly and this being my second box, I find the contents are valued way beyond the cost. Here are the goods:

Five full size products, sunnies, and something good for travel.

I will start off with skincare. First up is Purlisse-Pur-Delicate Gentle Soy Milk Cleanser ($36 US). A Vogue favorite, it is a gentle, soap-free cleanser that does double duty as an eye make-up remover. I am currently using a soap-free ultra gentle cleanser and I do like them since I find they cut the oil in my skin enough without drying me out. I can’t wait to try it!

Evian Brumisateur Facial Spray ($12 US) has been around forever. I currently am using Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir but I am close to finishing it up. I will use this first before I buy another.

Cleanser, face spray, cleansing wipes

Usually fff throws in a surprise. My first box had two- a Butter London Nail Polish and a GoSmile Pen. In this package, there is a travel pack of Yes to Cucumber Facial Towelettes ($2.99 US). There are ten towelettes of all- natural, hypoallergenic goodness and at this size, will fit into my purse for quick clean up. Though not as expensive as the previous surprises, I know I will get use out of these.

But I’m not finished with surprises! The next is a bottle of Orly Nail Polish in Mayhem Mentality ($8.50 US). It is a neon orange and since orange is my favorite color, I am loving this, The application is only okay and it dries matte, which is easily fixed with a shiny topcoat. It also needs three coats or it is streaky, so this is definitely only for when I go for a manicure and pedicure. I would botch the color up if I used this color myself.

Pardon my foot.

For a perfect pucker, there is a Catalina Su Lip Gloss ($14 US).  Catalina Su is Giuliana Rancic’s male-up artist. This is not normally a shade I would wear but I am trying more nudes as of late and will give this a try. I also think this is the only color in the collection so it must be universally flattering. We will see!

Flip flop friendly!

The big ticket item in the box is a pair of Ivory Mason Sunglasses in the Trudel Sunwear Style (On sale $135 US). They are very chic but the style is too small for my face. I also wear glasses and prescription sunglasses so I probably wouldn’t be able to use these. There is a way to exchange the sunglasses but I think I will pass these off  to my mom.

It Hair Care Surf Spray ($6.99 US)is supposed to create beachy waves. This is probably the third or fourth beach wave spray I have received (I got another in my ipsy delivery, too) and I just can’t use it. I don’t like the way my hair looks after a day at the beach. It looks like a mess.

As for sunless tanning, I need to get on the train. My legs are still pasty! Infinity Sun Glow on the Go ($40 US) is an aerosol spray with anti-aging properties. I will give it a whirl.

Beach Essentials?

KIND Bar in Dark Chocolate Chili Almond & Maple Glazed Pecan & Sea Salt is great to throw in a bag for a snack. KIND bars are delish and this sounds ridiculously tasty.

The retail value of the FabFitFun box is $235. I think it was a fabulous buy for the money AND I have a coupon code for $10 off your first FabFitFun VIP box. Just visit their website, sign up, and type 647993 in the coupon code box. The offer expires on August 11th.

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

What’s in my Shower?

Hey all! It is another hot day in Brooklyn, NY and I will probably hibernate in my house with the air conditioner. My mom is coming over today to hang out since our apartment stays much cooler. I like to live in an icebox at all times. One of my favorite things to do in the summer (and everyday) is take a shower. I don’t feel good until I have showered for the day and in this weather, it brings on some relief!

Being obsessed with products, I have a few lying around my shower. I have actually pared down quite a bit and instead of 30 products in the shower, I think I have gotten down to maybe 15 total. My trick was to really just use up those things that I am sick of and not add anything until absolutely necessary. In fact, I have also been cleaning out my hair product closet and giving things to my aunt, since she is a hair stylist. I am sure she will find some clients to use them on.

Currently, I have these items in my shower:

It is a shower expose.

Miss Jessie’s Rapid Recovery  Treatment: I have a fairly full jar but haven’t used it in a long time. I should give it to my friend that likes it. It is a really thick conditioning treatment.

Suave Mint Anti-Dandruff Shampoo: This has a few washes left and I just need to really use it up. It is a good shampoo and doesn’t smell like a dandruff type. I think they only make the coconut anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner now and I did like that one better.

Suave Professionals  Rosemary +  Mint Shampoo: I put to the wayside because I dye my hair but I think there maybe 2-3 washes left. I need to just kill it off. It smells delicious and feels really refreshing.

Dove Body Wash: My husband uses this. It is his favorite.

Queen Helene Placenta Shampoo: I have a pretty full bottle and I do like it, as a little goes a long way and it doesn’t strip hair color.

Perlier Honey and Tiramisu Honeycomb Shower and Bath Cream: My aunt got this from someone for Christmas and of course I end up with it. Though it makes my skin soft, I am not loving the scent.

Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shower Gel: I am about halfway done with this and I love the minty fresh smell.

L’Oreal Color Vibrancy Shampoo & Conditioner: These are really my go to for daily cleansing and are pretty full.

Even the windowsill has crap.

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser: I love how this soap-free formula foams up and really cuts the oil on my face. For ultra-gentle, I find it to be ultra-scented.

Philosophy Cleansing Hair to Toe Baby Wash: I got this because I am ultra sensitive during certain points in the month (a-hem). I actually really just like the formula and there is a light scent that isn’t a fragrance additive. Unfortunately, I can’t find it anymore.

ETUDE HOUSE Baking Powder Pore Cleansing Foam Moist: I got the very small tube when I ordered from KollectionK.com. A little goes a long way and I am loving it. This formulation is for dry skin but I don’t find it to make me oily and my face feels very clean after using it.

Urban Decay Joe Glow Body Scrub: I had this forever and finally got around to using it. It was sealed and in a dark place- they don’t even make this anymore. It is some kind of coffee scrub and it does the job. I have about 1/4 bottle left.

Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator: I love this scrub and may eventually purchase as this is just a deluxe sample. I have very little left and think it should be done soon. It is a scrub with micro crystals and enzymes. My face looks brand new after every use.

Pure Silk Shaving Cream: This is a necessity in the summer. I’m not picky with shave cream and this was cheap.

Ulta Men Hair + Body Wash in Citrus: I bought my husband some manly stuff. It smells really nice and uh manly.

Miss Jessie’s Creme De La Creme Conditioner: I am about half way done. I really like this and use it when I don’t need to wash but just need to refresh and condition.

Shower comb: This comb is old. When we move at the end of the year, I will throw it away.

Shower pouf: I throw these out every couple of months, though they say you can wash them.

Razor: I changed my razor head every other week or about every eight shaves.

What do you keep in your shower?

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

Sample This! My First Taker!

Hey, pretty! I hope all is well with you. I am trucking along, enjoying summer vacation and getting some posts in. I really love when I have time to write- and test products! A few weeks ago, Julie of Short & Sweet in Texas, emailed me regarding Sample This! I’ve had the offer of sending out samples for some time and didn’t have any takers until Julie.

Julie requested hair products that would be good for thick, wavy hair. She “broke up” with her flat iron and wanted to find some products that are wavy hair friendly. I gave up my flat iron about six years ago. In fact, I don’t own a blow dryer, either. My hair is so nice curly and so much healthier, so Julie, I salute you!

Julie had tried a number of products including Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing Hair Spray, Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave in Conditioning Cream, Organix Argan Oil & Shea Butter Weightless Oil, and Garnier Fructis Anti-Humidity Volumizing Hair Spray. She requested leave-in conditioning product(s) and then let me have free reign. I emailed her, asking if she had more wave or loose curl and she sent me a picture:

Gorgeous head of hair!

Her hair just looks so healthy and thick. I got right into my products. I figured that Julie could use some hydration and needed a little something to help define and control the wave. Here is what I came up with:

Of course I added lace nail decals and a hand candy. (You should stop by Julie’s blog to check out her nail skills.)

Phyto Intense Hydrating Shampoo.

Quidad Moisture Lock Define & Shine Curl Styling Gel Cream for Wavy Loose Curls

Nexus Youth Renewal Elixir (I didn’t have argan oil so this was a close second.)

I also passed along a few surprises. Julie got the package earlier in the week and sent me her feedback this past weekend. Here are her thoughts!

Ouidad Moisture Lock Define & Shine Curl Styling Gel-Cream

“First off, I’m not the biggest fan of hair gels or gel like products. I didn’t think to mention it when I first emailed you though, and I decided to try this one anyway since it called itself a “gel-cream” (which is something I’ve never tried, so why not?) That beings said I didn’t really care for this one. Again, gels are really not my thing, but I felt very conscious of this product the whole time it was in my hair. Maybe I used too much or something but this left my hair feeling “product-y”. It wasn’t really stiff like many gels I’ve tried, but it did feel a little sticky throughout the day even after it was technically dry. Since growing my hair out from a next to nothing pixie style I play with my hair a lot so touchable tresses are important to me. For people that like gels though this product would probably be great, and I did like the lack of stiffness. Because seriously, nobody likes crunchy curls or waves right?”

I totally agree with having touchable hair. I think a plain hair cream would probably do a better job, as opposed to a gel/cream concoction. I have tried and liked Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-In Hair Cream, which is available at Wal-Mart and won’t break the bank. I also found Aussie Miraculously Smooth Anti-Frizz Hair Cream and Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream. I really want to try the latter myself.

Phyto Paris Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Shampoo

I loved this! It had a great scent and left my hair feeling clean and hydrated without being greasy. I would definitely purchase a full size bottle of this one.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! Phyto is serious hair care and I am so happy this shampoo provided the kind of hydration Julie needed. I also suggest Miss Jessie’s Super Slip Sudsy Shampoo.

Nexxus Youth Renewel Rejuvenating Hair Elixir

I also really liked this. The packaging was definitely unique – (I’ve never used a hair product that came in a tiny bottle with an eyedropper dispenser before) – and it works very well for dispensing the product. The product itself has a nice fragrance and made my hair soft and manageable throughout the day. Would consider buying in full size.

Another winner! I had received that sample but was afraid it might weigh my hair down. Though my hair is curlier, Julie’s hair is thicker. I also would suggest Amika Obliphica Oil Treatment. I use it myself, as it light and non-greasy but I think it would work for Julie.

I think my first customer of Sample This! was a success! If you are interested in receiving some stuff from my stash, check out the Sample This! tab at the top of the page.

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO

GLOSSYBOX and I are Exclusive- Almost.

Hello, gorgeous! I hope the week as treated you well and that the weekend treats you even better. I have some interesting PH news to share. It actually isn’t that interesting but after months of complaining and disappointment, I have cancelled my Birchbox subscription. I really thought about it, considering it has started to get a little better but when I received the email that it would be renewed on July 1st, I took the plunge and bid Birchbox adieu. I would post pictures of some of my monthly boxes but why live in the past? Besides. my ipsy and GLOSSYBOX subscriptions should keep me busy enough. I also decided to keep up with FabFitFun, since the first box was excellent and they only ship four times a year.

And after waiting a looooong month, I did get my June GLOSSYBOX today. Curated by Dallas Shaw, the theme is “American Beauty Box.” (You can read more about Dallas Shaw by visiting her website. I really had no clue about her until I read a bit about her today.) I purchased a six month subscription to GLOSSYBOX for $90 US, which was a decent discount. The June box is better than those I have gotten recently. Are you ready?

Pull tab here.

On top is the GLOSSYBOX magazine. I really wish they would save a tree. I always find typos and it takes all of five minutes to read.

Good things come in small packages.

The box has an illustration by Dallas Shaw and this one might be a keeper. Inside there is an insert with the same illustration, a note, and a listing of products.

She hopes I love her selections. I do, too!

The body and hair care portion of the box is actually quite nice. First up is c. Booth Honey Almond Nourishing Dry Oil Mist (2 oz. bottle, $4 US value): An oil that can be used on the body and the face, it absorbs quickly and leaves a “light, lasting glow.” I am attending a wedding tonight and I will try this out of the shower. (Full Size 8 oz., $8 US).

For my tresses, there is Philip B. Lovin’ Leave-In Conditioner (2 fl oz tube, $8 US) which seems to be a frizz fighting, color saving, heat protector for you tresses. My two ounce tube will come in handy since I am running out of my usual hair cream. It is also a Paraben & Phthalate Free Formula.

I will smell so nice.

I got an email from GLOSSYBOX about two weeks ago stating that some product was unavailable but that there would be a great replacement. I don’t really remember if these Essential Luxuries by Oscar de la Renta are the consolation prize or if it is another product in the box. Whatever the case, I like three out of the six samples. This is Uncle Oscar’s tailored line of six scents that are “imbued with his love of beauty and luxury.” They are: Granada (love it), Oriental Lace (smells divine), Sargasso (I can’t even- delicious), Coralina (yeah, no), Santo Domingo (for those of a certain age), and Mi Corazon (gardenia- a lot of gardenia). A 3.4 ounce bottle of one is $150 US. Pure peanuts in my book, especially if I love it.

Lips and tips weren’t left out either. I have been itching to try SpaRitual Favorites Nail Polish, as it is vegan, certified organic, and made with fair-trade ingredients. Clay Creme was in my box and though I am not particularly fond of the color, it will make for a nice autumn shade. (Full Size bottle $12 US)

Tarte’s Complexion Enhancing Lipstick in Medium to Tan is an interesting addition. I am kind of on the light to medium skintone side, though maybe with a little sun, more medium. I will give this a try in about a week after I get a little more sun (and yes, I use SPF and I never bake myself.) It is a jelly core lipstick in a nude shade that will give the appearance of more youthful lips. I am hoping this works for me because I love a good nude lip. (Full Size Tube $14.50 US).

Lips and my tips!

This month’s GLOSSYBOX retail value is roughly $36 US, which isn’t bad since six months was 90 bucks.

Spoiler. Or just spoiled?

I think the lipstick and nail polish are my favorites though the oil and hair cream will be useful. If you would like to try GLOSSYBOX, use my referral code by clicking here.

See you soon!

Keep Calm & Primp On! XOXO