SweetHeart VoxBox 2013

I was fortunate enough to be selected to receive Influenster's SweetHeart VoxBox this year, and I want to take the time to write some quick reviews on each of the items I received!

I am a huge lover when it comes to sweet, high-fiber snacks. Thus, I was really excited to try Skinnygirl On-the-Go Bars in coco-nut. However, when opening the package... the snack did not look very appealing. After taking a few bits, the flavor was alright and the texture was a little off. It was chewy (which is expected) but quite grainy. It was a little disappointing, but I am hoping the other flavors are better. 2/5

After watching DulceCandy's YouTube video on Olay's Fresh Effects Powered Contour Cleansing System, I was most definitely excited! I thought the size of the cleaning tool would be great for traveling and a great alternative to my Clarisonic Mia. However, the tool really does absolutely nothing to my skin! The cleanser smells absolutely wonderful, but as you can see from my used cotton pad, both the cleanser and vibrating cleansing tool failed to remove the concealer around my eyes and light setting powder. 2/5

I absolutely adore Secret, and I completely trust the brand when it comes to deodorants/antiperspirants. Secret's Clinical Strength Stress Response smells great and does wonders when it comes to blocking sweat when you're dealing with a lot of stress. 5/5

Now, Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray was an absolute surprise! I've never heard/tried the brand, and I am so glad it was one of the items in my VoxBox. This item claims to give your hair texture and the "I was just at the beach" look, and it can be applied to either dried or wet hair. I decided to test this product after washing my hair, and I absolutely love what it does to my hair! Only downfall is, because the product's main ingredient is salt, it does make the ends of your hair feel a little dry. 4/5

Until next time, I will talk to you ladies soon! xoxo





I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Review: imPRESS Press-On Manicure

Product: imPRESS Press-On Manicure
Price: $8.49 at CVS.com
Claim: Lasts up to a week, no drying time, easy removal

Pros:

1. Very quick application!
2. 12 sizes available (more ideal for girls with smaller nail buds)
3. Feels very comfortable on your nails - not too curved
4. No glue involved
5. Very easy to remove
6. Gives illusion of having acrylic nails 

Cons:

1. One nail broke off after washing my hands the first time
2. Nail designs aren't too appealing
3. Price is high for the quality of the product

Overall: Although they don't offer really cute designs, if you're in a rush and in need of getting your nails done for an event, I think these would be a good investment. However, I do think that because these are stick-ons, they don't hold onto your nail beds very well and can easily fall off - not cute having a missing nail at an event!

Grade: B-

Influenster Spring Beauty VoxBox 2012

Hey, you guys! Here is a video showing what I received in my Spring VoxBox!
Be sure to look out for my upcoming reviews on here!

Feel Stressed? Have too Many Headaches?

Credits to Originsskincare.com

For all of my fellow undergraduate/graduate bloggers, I wish you guys all the best of luck on your finals!                                                                           

If you guys are feeling extra stressed and need something to calm your nerves during your study (or whenever!), take a little break and purchase Origins' Piece of Mind!

This little baby is a lifesaver during times of stress, and it's for sure something I make sure I have in stock.

How to apply: Apply a small amount on your temples (my fave), back of neck, earlobes

How does it feel: It has a cool, tingly sensation when applied on the skin (similar to Vick's Vapor Rub, but more gentle of course!)

How does it smell: Very light minty smell

Size: 0.5 fl. oz./15 ml  

Cost: $11.00 

 Other ways of relieving stress:

1. Play with your pets. Studies show playing with your pets (or even spending a minute watching/feeding your fishes) can reduce stressors!
2. Exercise/Go on a walk. Just take out 15minutes of your day and take a walk. It can relax your mind and will make studying/working more effective when you return to your work.
3. DRINK LOTS OF WATER. Your body is overworking itself (while being in Fight-or-Flight mode), so chances are, you're very dehydrated. Drink water to hydrate your body and reduce the risk of headaches/dizziness.
4. Take a break. Take a shower, eat a little (try not to though! This can lead you to be an emotional eater!), watch a little tv - all of that works! Your mind just needs a breather. I take breaks & read blogs ;)
5. Spend 2 minutes taking deep, deep breathes! Increasing oxygen into your brain helps
6. Prioritize! Too many deadlines? Break down the things you need to do, and make a list. Organize them in the order of what needs to be done first. You can then see things in a larger picture, and see that everything is doable!
7. Take a nap (if possible)! Your brain can't work if it's too strained. Even taking a nap for 15 minutes can do wonders!

Those are just my personal tips. If you guys have any more methods, feel free to share with me! :)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Urband Decay's NAKED 2 Palette!

Photo credits to Makeup and Beauty Blog

As you guys may know, UD released a 2nd version of the NAKED palette: NAKED2. They changed the casing and add a few new shades, but.... I don't know! I can't decide if the NAKED2 palette is worth getting. I feel already content with the original NAKED palette, and I feel like having a 2nd palette with very similar (and some of the same) colors is a little unnecessary. The photos above are all from Makeup and Beauty Blog, so please visit her page if you want to see more! Here are some product information that Karen posted on her page:

What you get: 12 powder shadows (five new shades and seven repromoted shades, one dual-tipped Good Karma Shadow/Crease Brush, and one mini-Lip Junkie Gloss in Naked

• Foxy Eyeshadow: A matte creamy bisque with a matte finish (repromote)
• Half Baked Eyeshadow: A golden bronze with a shimmery finish (repromote)
• Booty Call Eyeshadow: A shimmery cork (new)
• Chopper Eyeshadow: A copper shimmer with silver micro glitter (repromote)
• Tease Eyeshadow: A creamy pale brown with a matte finish (new)
• Snake Bite Eyeshadow: A dark bronze shimmer with a metallic base (new)
• Suspect Eyeshadow: A pale golden beige with a shimmery finish (repromote)
• Pistol Eyeshadow: A light greyish brown with a shimmery finish (new)
• Verve Eyeshadow: An oyster with a shimmery finish (repromote)
• YDK Eyeshadow: A cool bronze shimmer with a metallic base (repromote)
• Busted Eyeshadow: A deep brown with a shimmery finish (new)
• Blackout Eyeshadow: A blackest black with a matte finish (repromote)
• Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Naked Eyeshadow: A sheer shimmery pinky neutral (repromote)

PRICE: $50
AVAILABILITY: Coming soon to Sephora, Ulta and select Macy’s stores, and urbandecay.com

For a better visual, here is Frmheadtotoe's review on the NAKED2 palette:

What are your views on it? Are you guys planning to purchase the palette?

Products I Regret Loving - NARS

HOLY MOLY, it's been awhile!! Wanna know why? Because I gave up buying make up for lent! I really tried to stay away from blogs/blogging because I knew it would temp me. But I obviously gave in :( Actually, I'm going to turn that frown upside down because I'm so happy with my purchase!

I only say that I "regret" loving my new NARS Sheer Glow "Fiji" ($42) and NARS blush "Luster" ($27) because they were so expensive! Maybe I'm just a little cheapo when it comes to make up, but after I bought theses two, I can see why they are priced a little high. Ah... I might just found my new make up brand!

So maybe I don't REGRET loving NARS...

I do feel guilty as hell though!

Review:

NARS SHEER GLOW: this product applies perfectly. I haven't found a foundation as good as this one! It's medium (to full) coverage, and it leaves your skin looking like... well... skin! Not cake-y at all, and it is great for everyday wear. NARS carry a lot of shades with yellow/olive undertones, so Sheer Glow is perfect for us Asian girls ;) It is long lasting as well - I have an oily t-zone and I did not experience any problems.

Cons:

• No pump
• High cost
• Gives off dewy look (if you prefer matte)

Photo credit: http://mezzamy.blogspot.com

NARS blush "Luster": Now, I'm not a big fan of "Orgasm" because I personally think that it is too pink for my skin tone; however, "Luster" is perfect if you have a heavy yellow undertone like I do. The fine gold reflexes really compliments my skin color, and it gives me a natural glow without the overdone disco-cheeks look. The color is very subtle - perfect for every day - but mind you, I am NC30, so if you're any shades darker, your skin might only reflect the gold grains (like a highlighter) and the actual blush color might not be as apparent.

Cons:

• High cost
• Might not be ideal for darker skin tones 

Minx Nails Dupe?

So you all probably know about the Minx-style nails hype, and drugstore brands like Sally Hansen have been creating products duplicating that style. Awhile back, CVS had their famous sale, and I grabbed myself a box of these Salon Nail Foils. It was only $2.49. so I thought it was worth a shot to try them.

What I liked about this product was that it came with all the necessary tools needed - nail foils, scissors, nail file, and a cuticle pusher. So far so good... but then when I put them on my nails, they looked horrible! The foils are way too large for my nail beds, and even when I trim them down, there would be awkward folds on the edges.

See? It just looked like I got regular stickers and applied them onto my nails lol. NO thanks! I peeled them off after applying to only one hand and I just painted my nails. I still can't figure out if this is just a bad product, or maybe it is because my nail beds are oddly shaped? If you've tried these before, let me know how they turned out on you!

MAC's Dangerously Cuvee Paint Pot Review

Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed by MAC's Cham-Pale collection like I thought I would be, and I found myself only purchasing the Dangerously Cuvee Paint Pot.

Swatch of Dangerously Cuvee

Swatch blended

When applying, like other paint pots, the products goes on very smoothly & effortlessly. What surprises me the most is how sheer the color really is when blended out. The camera does not really capture it... but there's a lot of glitter when you fully rub the product onto your eyelid. Thus, I probably would only use this product when I go out at night. I feel like the glitter may be too much for day time wear.

Pros:

• The color is gorgeous! It's nice to have a grey-ish color in paint pot form - perfect color to use as a base when you want to do a smoky eye look.
• The product goes on very smoothly
• Easy to blend

Cons:

• The glitter limits the use of the product
• Color is more sheer than expected
• Limited Edition product (so grab it now if you like it!)

Overall: B-
Final Comments: I like it, but I don't love it. I can find myself using it in future looks, so it's worth having around.