What I've been up to lately...

Instagram and nail polish, like woah.

XO

Well coached...

Fellow Coach lovers, rejoice!!!

They are having a killer contest where just by swiping your little finger across the color tag below you could win a coupon...then post a color tag of your own for an even better chance to WIN!

Coach coupons, so much win.

XO

August 2012 Birchbox...

We've already established that I'm a notorious Birchbox snoop, yes? Yes. So when Two Chix Beauty Fix posted the spoilers list I poured over it at warp speed and couldn't sign into my account fast enough! And it was meh.

Shampoo? Hand soap? ANOTHER perfume sample?

Meh, meh meh...

But then:

I had to admit I loved the ruler motif...

And anything that causes me to hum Grease tunes can't be all bad...

And, well...wow!

Yeah, really wow!

It is a perfume sample but...brace yourself...I LOVE IT!!! I love the smell and for the first time in the history of all my perfume samples: it sprays!!!

And OH! I am a tweeze-a-holic, these are very exciting and best of all, a full size sample!

So, sure, I might not rock a super winged out double liner DAILY but who wouldn't want to try these out!!!

Hand soap, not a super sexy sample for sure but I tried and for someone who washes their hands more than the average person thanks to my job I can honestly say this stuff is pretty fancy and was moisturizing enough that I didn't immediately reach for lotion!

This. Smells. Amazing.

Thanks to my pal Lyndsey I'm already a BIG fan of the Schick Hydro Silk but I do love that I have this to share with any potential house guest!

I even loved this, there are some great tips and tricks in this 20ft (exaggeration) fold out!

And this? Well this is pretty epic. I have some points to cash in and I can tell you I'll be doing it this month for sure. Very impressive Birchbox.

This snoop has learned her lesson, you can't judge a Birchbox by it's preview!

XO

Flossy, flossy...

My Zoya/Sally Hansen accent nail manicure was recently featured in an online Glamour post!!!

How cool is that!?

The answer is: SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eiii!!!

XO

Drugstore Beauty Battle 2...

It's that time again folks! My beauty bestie Lyndsey and I have chosen two products this month to try, review, and rate for your benefit.

Because we love you!

 

This time around we chose Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush and Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On.

I chose Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush in Coral Reef because of how insanely intense the color looked in the pot and how much I love it's Super Lustrous Lip Gloss counterpart. I'm so glad I did! The pigment of this product is unreal and while the color is intense it is also incredibly blendable. It gives a gorgeous coral flush that looks great on it's own and truly amazing layered under almost any powder blush as well. One of my favorite thing about this is how easy it applies, a few taps of my fingers is all it takes to pick up just the right amount of product and with a few gentle swirls across my cheeks I'm left with a perky natural look. My only complaint with this product is the staying power. I know my combination skin plays a role in the wear of any product and with that in mind I find myself wishing Revlon would harness the amazing power of the new Balm Stains and put it into this blush! I have owned this blush since it launched in May and with almost daily use I have barely made a dent in the pot which means that although I was hesitant to spend the $12 for it I have more than gotten my money's worth and have lots of product left to use! I sincerely hope Revlon expands the color range they're offering in this product, I would love a nice bright pink or berry version of this blush. I suppose while I'm asking for things I'd like it if they named it after me too. Are you listening Revlon!?

Rating: 4/5

Lyndsey chose the Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On for us this month and before I even got it, I was skeptical. I value a good moisturizer and I'm always eager to find the next great thing to perk up my eyes but when I thought "eye roller" I thought "gimmick". While I might not be rushing out to get a replacement when I get to the end of this product I can honestly say that Simple has really changed my mind about the concept of eye rollers! I use this before bed under my eye cream and in the morning under my makeup. The consistency of the product is light and thin enough to handle either use with ease and it truly applies like a dream. Application is honestly where this product shines for me, I've been burned by roller style products before where I had to either press too hard or really squeeze to get the product out of the tube-that couldn't be further from the case with this! The metal roller ball means the gel always comes out feeling ice cold and oh-so soothing and I never ever ever have to press, squeeze, or fight to get exactly the right amount of product. All that being said, for me, I'm interested in results when it comes to my eye products and that is where the Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On falls short. It feels amazing when you put it on and for that fact I enjoy it but when it comes right down to it I don't see a difference in the appearance of the skin under my eyes.. To Simple's credit however, there isn't a single claim on the package that it will do anything but soothe and massage and I can confirm that it does both, not well enough to have me dropping $10 on it again anytime soon, but it does!

Rating: 2/5

Have you tried either of these products? I'd love to hear your thoughts! If you have any products you'd like to see featured in our Drugstore Beauty Battles don't hesitate to ask, we love the feedback!

XO

It's in the bag...

 We all have those key items that we just have to have with us. Some of us stash q-tips and sunscreen in our car (me), some of us have an emergency stick of deodorant and a bag of almonds in our desk drawer at work (me), and others of us carry enough in our purses to stock a small drugstore (still me).

Although I have a habit of throwing sample sizes and band aids in my purse "just in case" there are some core essentials that if I ever attempted to clean out my bag would land squarely in the KEEP pile without a second thought.

1 - Revlon CrazyShine, this little baby is an instant manicure. A little smoothing and buffing and you've got fresh-coat-of-topcoat-shine that never chips! They recently started selling mini versions of this awesome essential that are even more purse friendly than the original too, bonus!

2 - Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream, I know I don't need to say much about this cult favorite but if you're new to this product I'll sum it up by saying this: I use mine daily to keep my cuticles looking healthy and I've had my current tin of this amazing smelling little miracle for almost two years!

3 - Bare Escentuals Retractable Brush, I love this little guy! More mornings than not I'm doing my makeup in the car on the way to work. You know I pride myself on my application skills but there is something to be said for the distraction of traffic/people watching you apply your concealer in the next car and the opportunity to do a little last minute blending or touch up when I get to the office makes this brush ideal. Clown blush 0, Charlotte 1.

4 - Maybelline Dream Matte Powder, I have found that this powder outperforms all others when it comes to knocking down midday shine. A little dusting of this over my T zone and I'm back to looking fresh faced and ready for the rest of my day!

5 - Suave Touchable Finish Hairspray, this is perfect for every day. If I'm in a hurry and put my hair into a knot this keeps my little wispy baby hairs under control and when I wear my hair down this keeps my bangs in check without that stiff crunchy feeling I hate. Win win!

6 - Daisy Eau So Fresh Roller Ball, my favorite perfume! In fact, I got quite a thrill when I introduced it to my blogger bestie Lyndsey and she loved it too! This is soft without being too girly and the convenience of the roller ball means I always smell fresh as a...wait for it...daisy!

7 - Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Charm. I picked this color up on a whim and I'm so glad I did. It's a peachy neutral that for once actually looks natural on me and looks especially nice with a soft smoky eye! The "stain" aspect of this is soft because the color is soft but you'll still find me reaching for this daily!

8 - Carmex Moisture Plus in Sheer Pink Tint, this is perfect for work! It's a surprisingly pigmented formula and when I'm busy at work and only have a second at my desk I can slick this on and go without having to peek in a mirror. The classic Carmex formula means my lips always feel soft and smooth too, you can't beat that!

9 - Evian Facial Spray, this is my ultimate essential! I can confirm that, yes, it is just water in a can but it for me it is so much more! You can use this in a multitude of ways but my personal love affair with this product began after I spritzed a little of it over my freshly made up face and watched my makeup go from looking good to GREAT. It gives my skin the most gorgeous natural glow and my makeup the ultimate staying power! I have a giant can of this on my makeup table and three minis scattered between my office, car, and purse. Color me addicted.

So there you have it, the reason my purse weighs enough to double as a kettlebell.

What are your on-the-go beauty essentials???

XO

I just earned my addiction badge...



The next time you go to Walgreens to wander around aimlessly buying $40ish worth of beauty products that you don't need (you do that too, right?) think of me and ransack the display of these at the checkout counter.

Bonus points for making the teenage boy ringing you up extra uncomfortable by adding tampons and a romance novel to the mix.

XO