Mission Cute May Box Review

I'd like to start this post by saying that I was sent this box complimentary for review, but that it does not affect my opinion in any way. The views expressed in this post are my own.

I was so happy to find MissionCute in my mailbox this month. This box is really unique in that they support small businesses and local artisans instead of large companies. They also support non profit organizations and each month donate 50% of their profits to a new one. MissionCute picks out some really cute stuff, check out this month's box below.

For May they chose to support The Eli Home which helps to support child abuse victims and give them the resources they need.

These adorable earrings are handmade in Texas. These were the first thing that caught my eye, I love them. They're by PeachTreeLane and you can check them out on Etsy.

I like the simplicity of these cocktail napkins by P. Press Papers. They're cute, but not overwhelming. You can check out some of their other products here. These add a cute flair to your table.

I love how old school these I <3 You Mom pencils feel. If you check out The Carbon Crusader you'll find lots of fun and cheeky pencils and some other supplies. They also do custom engraved pencils.

I was glad to see a lip balm in here since my lips have been crazy chapped lately and nothing seems to be helping. The grapefruit scent/taste is mild but I really like it. The JustNeem company uses African Neem which is great for healing and protecting. I really like this lip balm and I'm checking out some of their other products for my boyfriend who has sensitive skin and eczema.

I see hair ties like these Boho Bands everywhere, but I have such thick hair I've been skeptical to try them. These are pretty durable! Since my hair is thick I put this to the ultimate test and did my hair in a bun and it worked! They're thick so they don't leave marks in your hair like regular elastics do. Plus they have some Frozen ones in their store right now :D Get 20% off your first purchase with code BOHO.









I think this is a really great box. You get really cute stuff that supports not only great causes, but also small businesses and artisans. It's only $29 per month and you can sign up here. I definitely recommend this box!

Special Sample Sunday: MK Glam Box from Influenster

This week's Sample Sunday is special because this week I got my second VoxBox from Influenster. This one features products from Mary Kay Cosmetics. Full disclosure: This box was totally free and I was chosen to receive it. This does not impact my review in any way and does not guarantee a positive review.

 I love that they included a card with everything that was in the box. I like that it explains the products and also makes it easier if I want to get any of these products again.

 First up, I'm super excited that there were brushes included in this box. These are really great quality and I didn't experience any shedding with them which I liked. They were perfect for applying the included products.

Included were the Powder Brush ($16) and the Cream Eye Color/Concealer Brush ($10.)

Next up is the Lash Love Mascara in I <3 Black ($15.) I liked this mascara a lot. It isn't too thick and applies nicely. I got thicker and longer looking lashes, but I still had good definition. The formula and the applicator work really well together.









The short silicone style applicator worked well at grabbing lashes close to the base and I was able to get two good coats on without having "spider leg lashes."

 For the lips they included the NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Mango Tango ($14.) I liked the feel of this gloss on my lips, it did feel very hydrating on soft without being sticky. I found the color to be very red for something with Mango in the name I expected more coral. I found the opacity of the gloss to be a little patchy and streaky.

 I have to admit I was apprehensive about trying this bronzer. It's the Bronzing Powder in Light-Medium ($18) and I thought it might be too dark for (since almost everything is.) However, I was pleasantly surprised at the color. I applied it with a light hand and was very happy with it. It's very lightweight on and very natural looking. It does have a little bit of shimmer in it so start light and build up.

 

 I loved the color the Mineral Cheek Color in Shy Blush ($12) in the pan, but it had just a little too much shimmer for me. It photographs nicely, but in person it's a bit much. It could work with the right look, but I wouldn't choose it for everyday. A little transluscent powder on top might do the trick to soften it.

 And lo and behold they included a Translucent Loose Powder ($16.) I've been looking for a new translucent setting powder and I really like that this one is matte without looking powdery and dry. 

I've been trying some different cream eye shadows lately and I really like this one. The Cream Eye Color in Apricot Twist ($14) is a shimmering champagne gold color that is super creamy and easy to use. I didn't have any issues with creasing which can happen with some other cream colors. It has a slightly shimmery metallic look and is an amped up neutral that is so pretty on. It applies much better with the brush they included than with fingers.

Seriously how pretty is this color? This is something I can definitely see myself wearing frequently, it's gorgeous and so easy to use.

I've been wanting to try gel eyeliner for a while, but I've been nervous that I would be terrible at applying it.

This Gel Eyeliner in Jet Black with an Expandable Brush Applicator ($18) is awesome. It applies really easily and works really well over the cream shadow. I like that the brush cap becomes the handle. This duo packs up nicely and will be handy for traveling and small makeup bags.

Please excuse my crazy spiky bun, it's my go to get my hair out of my face. But check out how well all the products work together. I love that this box had everything you needed for a complete look and also allowed me to try a full range of Mary Kay products.

If you're interested in placing an order from Mary Kay, you can order from my friend Sonia, just click here.

If you want to become an Influenster just click the link in the right hand side.

Sample Sunday: Sephora VIB Event

I got a card in the mail about a Sephora VIB event that gave me 15% off purchases for a week and also a free cosmetic bag and some free goodies. While I was hoping to get the Urban Decay Electric Palette but they were out of stock, so I just got some things I needed.

 The bag is a cute wristlet that I'll probably use when I travel. There were 6 samples that came with it: Buxom Full On Lip Cream in Mudslide, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in Dark Brown, Sephora 10HR Wear Perfection Foundation in Sand, Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, Murad Age Reform Perfecting Night Cream, and First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream.

 

I've reviewed the Smashbox primer and the FAB cream before, the others are all new to me.

I'm a little bummed that there wasn't a choice of colors for the foundation, since I'm super fair and it will be pretty pointless to test the sample except for texture. The texture is silky and has medium coverage. The Buxom lip cream had a silky texture and a tingly sensation, much like their other lip products. The color is sheer and neutral, but very pretty. I'll be trying the Murad cream overnight and I'll update in the morning.

Sample Sunday: Smashbox Primer Try It Kit

This week I tried to get the Smashbox Try It Kit during the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty, but it was sold out when I got there so I picked up this kit instead. Slightly smaller, but still a good deal. This box had the Photo Finish Foundation Primer, Photo Finish Lid Primer, and Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer. The foundation primer worked really well, but initially felt a little greasy. That feeling went away quickly and the look was definitely matte. The lid primer worked well, but no better than any other I've tried. I really liked the under eye primer though. I always have dark circles and so I always use concealer. This really helped my concealer stay put. I would consider getting these in full size in the future, but I highly recommend trying this kit out since it's a great value at only $14. Find it at Ulta or online here.

 

Tarte is on Hautelook

I love Tarte cosmetics and now they're on Hautelook again! I'm excited because some of their larger sized "vintage" cheek stains are on there and they are a much better deal than their equally priced new versions. There are also some really great sets available for great prices. These deals end on Monday so hurry over there!

Image courtesy of HauteLook

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Target Beauty Box

My Target Beauty Box has finally arrived! For only $5 I got all the goodies you see here, that's only $1 per item!

Description from Target:

Beauty Box Includes:

1) TONI&GUY Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray (2.5 fl oz): Want beachy hair without hitting the surf? Spray from root to tip for salty, sultry texture and subtle, windswept waves.

2) L’Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara (.22 fl oz): Stretch and lengthen lashes for a fluttery, winged-out look with this unique mascara formula and revolutionary asymmetrical Butterfly Brush.

3) Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo (1.7 oz): Give hair a rejuvenating boost with this paraben and colorant-free formula made with natural tapioca to instantly absorb excess oil with less residue.

4) COVERGIRL Smoochies Sizzle Gloss (.44 fl oz): Pucker up. Sheer color meets sizzling shimmer in a moisturizing formula that’s always stunning, never sticky.

5) Jergens BB Cream Light (2 fl oz): Finally, a multi-tasking beauty cream in a quick-drying formula that goes on sheer and delivers visible results in just 5 days.

My thoughts:

I was very excited to see the Toni & Guy spray because a friend was just telling about how awesome this stuff is. I have never been able to get the beachy wave look. My hair is very curly naturally and so when I try to do waves I either get straight hair or a frizzy mess from playing with it too much. I have mixed feelings about this product. On the one hand I got many compliments on my "sexy, beachy hair", but I felt like I looked more like a mermaid that washed up in a hurricane than a sexy siren and one other person agreed with that. I definitely think that for someone with thicker, curlier hair like myself I would probably need a little bit of a smoothing or shine product just to enhance the look. I do think I would repurchase this and with a little practice get the look I wanted. 

I have been trying so many mascaras lately, but I love doing it and finding new favorites. The brush on this mascara is asymmetrical so as to grab every lash. It takes a little maneuvering, but it does work. This isn't my favorite mascara, but I do like it.

 Not all dry shampoos are created equally so I like to try them out whenever I can before buying a full size. My hair is not usually oily, but on occasion (especially if I have a lot of product in my hair) it does get a little greasy feeling. Dry shampoo is also amazing for adding texture. This is the first I've used from a can and I was a little worried that I would end up with sticky or stiff hair, but was pleasantly surprised. My hair still felt soft, but it helped to absorb the oil without making my hair look dull. I was also still able to easily run a brush through my hair.




Lip gloss can be such a hit or miss and I love the color of this one. I heard a lot of people say they found this gloss sticky, I didn't, but I found it a bit too glittery and a bit gritty in texture because of it. This is one gloss I wouldn't repurchase simply because of the texture. It seems a good fit for much younger girls, but I wouldn't recommend it for grown women, if you love glitter (as I do) there are better options.

I have never heard of a BB Cream for the body so this product really intrigued me. It has a very light smell and texture and felt hydrating, but I didn't really see any coverage. I suppose it's meant to be a light coverage to blur any imperfections on the body, I only tried it on my arms, but I suppose it would work well on legs.

Sample Sunday: Dolce & Gabbana Intense, Julep One Step Polish Remover Pad and L'Occitane en Provence Concentre de Lait

For this week's Sample Sunday I chose Dolce & Gabbana Intense for my fragrance choice. It's starts out with warm floral notes and soon turns deep and almost amber and woody. The top notes are listed as Neroli and Green Mandarin and the base notes as Sandalwood and Guimauve (I'll be honest I have no idea what Guimauve is.) The sandalwood makes this such a warm scent that is seductive and great for warming up cooler days and nights.

My nails look awful this week. I've been so crazy busy I haven't taken off the sad remnants of my last manicure. I needed to get them cleaned up quick so they wouldn't look so terrible, so I grabbed my Julep One-Step Polish Remover Pad sample. These work ridiculously well, so much more so than I expected. I had all my polish off in less than a minute, which is better than when I use cotton balls and nail polish remover. I would definitely get these to keep in my purse or for when I travel.

 Since it refuses to be Spring in New England, my skin is a little dry from the weather so I decided to try my sample of L'Occitane en Provence Concentre de Lait (Milk Concentre.) This is the first product I've tried from L'Occitane and I really like it. It has a light almond smell and a really light texture, but it's very hydrating, a little goes a long way.

Have you tried any of these? What did you think?