July Glossybox Beauty Subscription Review

August 10, 2017 by Virginia 15 Comments

I know, I am WAY late on this post but my July Glossybox Beauty Subscription came right before I left for California so I threw a bunch of items in my bag to try out on my trip and then got carried away with everything going on and forgot to write about it!

*This box was gifted to me as I am an affiliate of Glossybox. This post does contain affiliate links, which means that if you click and/or make a purchase through these links, I may make a small commission. For more information, see my privacy policy. Thank you for supporting the retailers that make this blog possible!

Overall, there are some winners in this box but it was not my favorite box. The box design was super-cute this time and even included a fun postcard, but since most of the products were skin-care items I wasn’t as excited about them. So, without further ado, here are my reviews:

Products in my July Glossybox Beauty Subscription:

Dr. Paw Paw Multipurpose Soothing Balm – Full size $10.00

The description in the box says that this balm can be used for a variety of different things including treat sunburns, skin irritations or use as a lip finisher. It’s very thick and since my hubby got very burned at the beach, I had him try it out on his sunburn while I tried it as a hand lotion as suggested on the tube. Both of us washed it off our hands because it was much too greasy. When I looked it up online for this post though I find that most people use it as a lip balm! So, I’m going to try that next! I will let you know later how it turned out!

Skin & Co Truffle Cleansing Oil_July Glossybox_Beauty Deals_Beauty Box_Subscription

Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Cleansing Oil – Full size $30.00

This cleansing oil was my least favorite item in the box. The directions on the bottle said to squeeze three pumps into your hand and rub into your face in circular motions. Then, you were to wet your hands and face and rub in a circular motion until it became milky and then rinse off. This did NOT work for me. It was disgusting. My face just felt greasy and nasty. I couldn’t just “pat my face dry” per instructions because it left my face a greasy mess. That being said, it really did remove ALL my makeup. It got all over my towel and still, I felt like I had to wash my face with a foaming cleanser just to feel clean.

The directions in the Glossybox said to use it on a cotton ball so that’s how I used it after the initial test. It works, even removing eye makeup. When I use it this way my face feels nice, provided I wash with a foaming facial cleanser after I use the oil and the cotton ball. Otherwise it just feels so greasy. If you are a fan of facial oils, you may love this truffle cleansing oil.

De Bruyere After Sun Lotion Monoï – Full size $12.00

This lotion smell so wonderful and feels great on the skin. It’s got a very light, tropical scent which is perfect for feeling fresh and clean after time in the sun. I did use it after multiple trips to the beach and it did make me feel very moisturized afterwards. I wouldn’t say it has any particular cooling properties but it is definitely moisturizing.

NCLA Clean Up Your Act – Full size $16.00

This item was really intriguing to me. Supposedly you can use it to remove spots of nail polish. You rub the saturated end over the polish until it dissolves and then dab the tip with a tissue so that the polish doesn’t accumulate. Since I am cheap, I paint my own nails but I always struggle when I have to paint my dominant hand. I thought, what a perfect product to deal with that problem! This pen comes with 3 extra tips of different cuts. It worked but the tip isn’t particularly saturated and the polish builds up quickly on the tip. I think it will be a handy tool to have around but I’m not overly impressed by it.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser – Sample size.

Whereas the Truffle Oil was gross when I followed the directions on the bottle, this cleanser was wonderful! I used it when I was traveling since it’s a sample size and I still keep using it now that I’m back. It foams up really well and I can tell it is actually getting rid of gunk on my skin. The full size is 13.5 fl oz and retails for $15. It’s definitely a keeper, especially if you have more oily skin.

Doucce Blush Duo Palette + Blush– Full size $24.00

This blush palette was a very fun addition to the box. Not only is the blush magnetized (and can therefore be moved to a different magnetic palette) but it comes with the case too and next month I’ll get the second color to fill out the palette! So fun! This blush is very pigmented and a pretty color. A little goes a long way and it’s a bit dusty but I like it!

By the way, the Bronze Goddess Palette from last month’s box is still getting a workout. I’m not putting on makeup and going out every day, but any day that I do go out, I’m using something (usually more than one thing!) from this palette. The highlight color in it is amazing!

Get Your Own Glossybox Beauty Subscription

Prices for Glossybox range from $17.50 per box up to $21 per box, depending on the length of your subscription. It’s such a great deal because five of these products were FULL size! This box was worth around $100 and the subscription is only $21! Though this box wasn’t my favorite, you can see the reviews of my May and June boxes. The August box just arrived in the mail and it looks awesome!! Grab it here now or gift it to a friend or loved one!

Thanks so much for visiting!

-Virginia

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: Dressing Room Diaries

July 17, 2017 by Virginia 20 Comments

Well, if you didn’t catch this post from Thursday, or my Facebook post on Friday, the Nordstrom Anniversary sale is in full swing and I have some Nordstrom Anniversary Sale dressing room diaries to share.

I will say, I was very happily surprised when I tried on items in-store. I know a lot of bloggers are online #Nsale shoppers but I really like to feel the items and try as many of them on as possible. So, Friday I traded my caulking gun and paintbrush (I’ve been renovating our downstairs unit!) for lipstick and cute shoes and headed to Providence to shop the Nordstrom sale in person. I didn’t take photos of everything and the photos I did take have dreadful lighting, but I did learn a lot from my trip that I would like to share in today’s blog post to help you better decide what is worth purchasing from the sale.

*This post does contain affiliate links, which means that if you click and/or make a purchase through these links, I may make a small commission. For more information, see my privacy policy. Thank you for supporting the retailers that make this blog possible.

#NSale Shoes

Shoes were my first stop. They are my favorite thing to buy from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale because cheap shoes typically just don’t feel as comfortable or last as long. The Nordstrom Anniversary sale provides an opportunity to get great fall and winter shoes at a more budget-friendly price. I tried on so many pairs while I was in-store but didn’t think to photograph any of them. So sorry!

Boots and Booties

– Marc Fisher Over-the-knee boots: These are very comfortable, even with the heel, are true to size and have a lot of stretch in the calves. However, they are not made for wider calves. If you’re looking for a quality heeled, over-the-knee boot and don’t have the money to spend on these (also on sale!) then you can’t go wrong with the Marc Fisher.

– Vince Camuto Split Shaft Bootie: This boot was ALREADY sold out in my size so act fast if you like that one. It hasn’t yet sold out online but it’s often hard to find booties in a grayish color and this one is available in that color.

–Sam Edelman Bootie: I had hoped to be able to recommend this pair because it is very similar to my favorite bootie for fall (see it here) but these were very loose on my ankles. It was like they were bunchy right at the front of the foot, making my foot feel unstable. I even sized down and they still felt loose. I would not recommend these.

Flats

– Sam Edelman Bow Flat: I’m obsessed. As soon as I tried them on, I knew I had to have them. They have cushion in the bottom and a cute bow on top with studded detail (making them edgy in addition to girly). They come in so many colors and patterns and I feel like I need them all! I did size down 1/2 size but then when I ordered them onlinI need them in every color! I sized down a 1/2 size in store and they were a good snug fit but when I ordered them online I went with my regular size. I will let you know if that was a bad idea.

– BP Mule: This shoe does not hold its shape and therefore, is hard to keep on your foot. I was hopeful about this one because I really wanted a good mule and this is an affordable price, but I know it won’t hold up to wear and tear. If you just want a good mule, try the next one in this list!

– Halogen Loafer: I bought this pair but it also comes in other colors. They are so comfortable, structured and the sides are long enough to keep them in place when I walk. I was surprised by these and love them. They are actually the first mule I’ve really been able to wear! You can see me wearing these in the pics below! They are true to size.

#NSale Clothing

– BP Cardigan: I love this. I think it’s a must-purchase for teachers. It’s long, affordable, comfortable, has pockets and comes in five colors. But, size down because it runs large. The sleeves somewhat fall off the shoulders so be aware that it might make the cardigan feel even a little bigger.

Also pictured: Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace | Halogen Loafers (part of sale)

– AG Ankle Jeans: So many people love AG jeans but these just didn’t fit right on me and I tend to like a darker jean.

– Hinge Ruched Sleeve Cardigan: This cardigan is so flattering and SO SOFT! It’s more than I would normally pay for a cardigan but it drew me in by such soft fabric! It’s true to size!

– Halogen Loafers (part of sale)

– Halogen Bell Sleeve Sweater: I loved the fit of this, the length and the warmth for fall and winter. The white along the sleeve was so pretty!

– 7FAM Ankle Skinny Jean: I loved these. It was between these jeans and the KUT ones pictured below. I ended up choosing the KUT jeans because I liked the darker color! But these were a great jean! True to size with a cute rough edge on bottom.

– Halogen Scalloped Sweater: Available in 4 colors! Very cute! They didn’t have my size so I tried on one size too big and it was a little big. I am guessing then, that this is true to size!

–AOS Black Skinny Jeans: At under $40, these are a great black jean. They are definitely not leggings, but they have a nice solid feel to them and would be great for a work environment to get away with wearing jeans in a more formal way.

– Halogen Loafers (part of sale)

– KUT Skinny Jeans with frayed bottom: These were so flattering! I was shocked at how flattering. I liked them more than the AG jeans and they are well under $100! These I bought one size down because they are very stretchy.

– Vince Camuto High Neck Blouse: This blouse felt so feminine and was a pretty blush color. It was a little see-through and felt a little too wide for me. Going down a size may help but the fit at the neck was just right while everything else seemed a little to wide.

Not pictured:

I tried some Wit & Wisdom Ab-Solution jeans and thought some of you might be interested! They are designed with a band at the top to tuck in your tummy! They are under $50 during the sale and come in bootcut jeans, ankle skimmer jeans, dark ankle skinny jeans, and medium ankle skinny jeans.

#Nsale Beauty and Accessories:

– These Baublebar Tassel Earrings are even better in person!

– I don’t have the money right now for a fancy bag, but if I did…this one would totally be on my list!

It’s very structured, has multiple pockets and an interior laptop sleeve! Perfect for the business-woman on the go!

These MAC “Look in a Box” Sets are a great way to try out some new products, especially if you’re new to makeup!

Ok, I could probably recommend more jewelry or accessories but I am exhausted and this post is LONG! If you have any questions about any of the items above or about any of the other items I might have seen at the sale, shoot me a message on Instagram or leave me a question in the comments below!

And don’t forget to check out Thursday’s round-up of Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Early Access items! Thanks so much for stopping by!

-Virginia

June Glossybox Beauty Subscription

July 6, 2017 by Virginia 4 Comments

I can’t believe it’s already been a month since I tried my first Glossybox! I’m still enjoying a number of the items from that box that I talked about in this post, particularly the eye shadow set that I wear just about every day! This month’s box contained more winners!

Isn’t it so cute!?! They even included a fun postcard!

Glossybox is a beauty subscription service where each month you receive five items to try. This box was sent to me free by Glossybox, but the opinions are all my own! Each month I will do a round-up of products from my Glossybox! It’s a great way to sample items without having to pay for a full size!

Products in my June Glossybox Beauty Subscription

This month’s Glossybox beauty subscription was all about summer products – summer color for face and nails, along with nourishing face products for sun-worn skin!

Bang Beauty Cream Color – Full Size $22.00

This cream blush is amazing! It’s not only a blush, but you can use it as an eye shadow and lip stain as well! It’s got a shine to it so you can also use it as a highlighter! I like this product a lot. It doesn’t wear a terribly long time but it really is the perfect product to live in your purse! I have been using it to quickly apply some color before going out without having to do a full face of makeup!

The OMG Brush – Full Size $13.00

This brush was my absolute favorite from the set! I have seen a lot of youtubers try these kinds of brushes and most haven’t been too impressed. I, however, was very impressed by this brush. It works great with my drugstore foundations that are a little thicker (though it also claims to work with power foundations too). It gives a truly flawless finish and is small enough to even fit my under eye area! I have quite literally used this every day since I got it! Winner!

Biossance The Nourisher (Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil) – Sample Size

This face oil was supposed to “brighten, firm and even skin tone” and lock in moisture. I truly could not tell whether it measured up to the name but it felt very silky on my face. I’ve worn it almost every day but it’s hard to isolate the effects from the Talika Hydra Day product. This sample size (0.14 fl oz) goes a LONG way since you only need a few drops. Full size is $72 for 1 oz! You can also get it here.

Talika Photo-Hydra Day – Sample Size. Full Size $37.00

This moisturizer claims to “recreates the effects of natural light on the skin.” Since it contains hyaluronic acid, it’s supposed to help you retain water. I find it difficult to review these kinds of products. My face did seem a little brighter after applying this and I had some issues with my face being shiny. I experimented and have come to the conclusion that it’s a little too much for my skin. Foundation didn’t apply all that well over it and it made my foundation feel a little greasy. That being said, I bet it would be great for those of you with dry skin! In the box you get 1 fl oz of product. The full size is 1.69 fl. oz and retails for $37. It’s a great deal if it works for you.

Julep Color Treat Nail Polish in Lindsey – Full Size $14.00

I have seen Julep nail colors around for a long time (Ulta carries it here) but this is my first time trying them. I’m definitely a fan. Though the product sheet boasts that it is 5-free and vegan-friendly, the main thing I noticed was that it took only 1 coat to paint my nails and lasted 6 days!! That’s such a long time for my nails!

Get Your Own Glossybox Beauty Subscription

Prices for a Glossybox beauty subscription range from $17.50 per box up to $21 per box, depending on the length of your subscription. It’s such a great deal because together this box was worth about $87 (a few were sample sizes) and the subscription is only $21! Even if you take only the products I liked, that’s still $49 worth of products for half the price! Super deal! Plus, how fun is it to try new things?! Check out my last Glossybox Review here!

Thanks so much for visiting! Have you tried a beauty subscription? What did you think about it? Let me know in the comments below!

-Virginia