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.

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.

Guest Post: Graze Box Review

I've been seeing Graze box around lately and I was so pleased to see that my friend Mason had tried it out. A big thank you to him for writing my first guest review! He's also got a coupon code for you to try out Graze for free!

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 It’s no secret that subscription boxes are nifty little parcels that will certainly turn your Mondays into ‘Fundays,’ from toiletries and bath bombs to novelties and fashion. I haven’t considered signing up for these frequent packages until recently, when I discovered an organic snack box from a little company based in New Jersey called Graze.

Graze was founded by a few friends who’d grown tired of crisps and candy who wanted a healthier way to snack; fast forward a few years and those friends had crafted over ninety delicious snacks for your consumption. With snacks that not only use the freshest of ingredients, but are portion controlled, nutritious and if needed, vegan, celiac and lactose friendly, you’re guaranteed to find something you love amongst the library of fruits, seeds and nuts, savouries and sweets.

I originally signed up after seeing an advertisement from their Facebook page that caught my interest; with so much going on in my life within the past weeks, I’d completely forgotten about it until my first graze box arrived in the mail today; the wonderful thing about the box aside from its completely environmentally friendly and biodegradable compound is that it fits right into standard mailboxes. With my graze box came a nifty little pamphlet made of recyclable paper welcoming me and giving me a little insight to my first box. On the reverse side of the pamphlet were the individual nutritional facts for the snacks I’d received specifically within the box. Each snack also comes vacuum-sealed to ensure quality and absolute freshness!

With my first box, I received ‘walnut and vanilla truffle’ which contains walnuts, fudge pieces, sultana raisins and vanilla infused pumpkin seeds. Next to this was ‘cracking black pepper cashews’ which contains black pepper cashews, roasted unsalted cashews and redskin peanuts. Third was the savoury ‘my thai’ which contains baked soy bites with a sweet chilli sauce which in comparison tastes like a milder shrimp cocktail sauce. Lastly and most deliciously of the box, in my opinion, were the ‘apple and cinnamon flapjacks’ which are rustic, rolled oat flapjacks with apples and cinnamon. Similar to oat and cereal bars, these flapjacks were moist and scrumptious and came as a trio.

After receiving your first box, you’re able and encouraged to log on to Graze.com and rate your snacks; these ratings will help improve the consistency or lack thereof (depending on your rating) of their presence in future boxes. Your ratings will range from Love to Like to Try and to Trash; a love rating will frequent the snack while the like rating will have it sent occasionally. Try is primarily for items you’ve not yet received that would be appreciated, while trash is for items you’d prefer not to receive again due to perhaps an allergy or a general dislike. No hard feelings! To start, all four items I’d received in my box earned a delightful love and I would not mind seeing these friendly faces in the future, especially those tantalising flapjacks, which to my pleasure, come in a variety of flavours.

With a subscription to Graze, members are able to determine the frequency of their graze boxes; you can be a part of the ‘tasting club’ with a new box due to arrive bi-weekly or an occasional grazer and have a box sent once a month. In between, you may rush or postpone your boxes as early as weekly to as late as months, in case you’re low on funds or have other commitments. You may also cancel and resume future deliveries at any time with no charge or penalty.

The entirety of the content of your graze boxes are not only made of recyclable material but are 100% environmentally friendly and biodegradable; after your box has been emptied, keep it for a wonderful craft idea, some light storage or feel free to toss the components into your appropriate recycling compartments.

In addition, grazers are given ‘friend codes’ which are able to be shared limitlessly and every time someone signs up using your friend code, they get their first and fifth boxes absolutely free and you get a credit of $1 (one dollar) per person signed up using your code. That credit can be put toward future boxes or even donated to the give-back program in Uganda. Graze’s give-back program teaches the community how to grow, maintain and harvest fruit from their own orchards. It also provides graduates a sustainable source of income, whereas they’re given the means to grow food for themselves, their families and to sell at local markets.

Now, I know you’re wondering how much a subscription to Graze will cost you. I’m pleased to inform you that it barely costs you anything! Your subscription would be $6 per box and like I said previously, they can be as frequent or as infrequent as you want and can be cancelled at any time with zero recourse or penalty!

If you’re still skeptical, then mosey on down to Graze.com and sign up using my friend code: MASONS7NB to get your first (and fifth, should you choose to continue) box for free and give it a try today. I firmly believe you will not be disappointed.

Graze is an innovative, delicious and nutritious new way to snack that’s not only perfectly portioned, but completely guilt-free as well. With a company that’s so intent on providing quality, healthy snacks at reasonable prices, in environmentally friendly packaging and gives back to the community, there’s no going wrong when becoming a grazer.

March 2014 Julep Maven Box

This month's Julep Maven Box was the Riviera Collection with warm and tropical hues to thaw us out of this frozen Winter. My Bombshell Box had two gorgeous polishes and a great lipgloss, plus candy like Julep often does.

This month's gorgeous colors are both rich cremes. Monaco is a richly bright, deep blue with very slight purple undertones. Lilou is a light pastel egg yolk yellow. It is very similar to Bea from a previous month. I think these two would be very pretty marbled. I'm only a little disappointed to receive such a similar color, especially since I barely wear yellows. It's still a very pretty addition to my collection.

 And now for this gorgeous gloss. I was originally a little nervous to be getting a gloss this month. So many glosses promise to be smooth and not sticky and yet all you get is goo.

The color I received was Awestruck. It's a lovely slightly mauve pink and is very flattering. I think it could work on many skin tones especially since it is a little on the sheer side.

What I'm really in love with though is the texture. This gloss goes on smoothly and stays gorgeous. My lips felt soft and smooth and not sticky at all. I was shocked to be honest. It has a superfine glitter that comes off more as a sheen and not sparkly. They've also added their hydrating, anti aging Power Cell Complex. You can get 25% off the glosses through March 31st using code: GLOSS25.

Sign up for your box today!