Products I've been Trying & What I Think 7.7.15

Good Morning,

If you have been following along in the past few weeks you might have heard me mention Big Lots and how I have been finding amazing deals on makeup there and therefore trying more things. Contrary to popular belief (by men) you can never have enough makeup! So I thought I would pop in today and share with you some things I have been loving that you may love too!

1. L'Oreal True Match Mattifying Mineral Finish - Translucent. 

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I don't actually use a lot of powders, I have a Sephora pressed powder and two powders in my Blank Canvas cosmetics palette but when I saw this I was intrigued. I don't know if its because its the summer months or what by my skin has become so oily and I'm not going to lie its been awful. I thought I would give this powder a shot because it was only $2.50 (no I'm not kidding) and I would say it was definitely worth the $2.50! I don't generally care for loose powders but I would say the packaging makes it really easy to use! You can get this to match you skin color as well and I would definitely recommend it. 

I don't know if the things I have found at Big Lots can still be found in store, but if you happen to come across it or be by a Big Lots its definitely worth popping in!

2. Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer - Nude

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Now this I know you can still get in Target and Walmart because I have been eyeing it for quite some time, therefore when I came across it at Big Lots for $3.00 instead of the $7.00 + dollars I have seen it for I grabbed it. I purchased the nude color because that's all that they had and figured it might work for me having a little bit of color from summer sun.. sadly it was still a little dark for me but no fear, I found another use for it. I recently ran out of an eyelid primer and just haven't purchased a new one yet and this works PERFECT for that! It conceals the veins on my eyes and because its luminous gives a nice bright base for my eye shadow! I would definitely purchase this in the lighter color to use as a highlighting concealer but for now I am super happy with how this is working out as eyelid primer! 

3. L'Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions Mascara - 983 Carbon Black

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Always on the hunt for the perfect mascara? Well you can stop looking because I just found it for you! This mascara is AMAZING!!! The wand is absolutely PERFECT and so is the formula! This stuff makes me lashes thick and gives great volume, it lasts all day long and never flakes! With such a small wand it is also perfect for your bottom lashes and wont get it all over your face! These are $3.00 at Big Lots so I wont lie I have stocked up! $3.00 for mascara is super cheap, let alone for this mascara! This does also come in waterproof. 

4. Body Image Body Benefits Face & Body Faux Sea Sponges

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I bought this mostly for the little sponge, I have been looking for a little sponge like this for washing my face and this is absolutely perfect. It was $1.80 for both sponges which is a great deal, I would have paid that for the little one! It basically works as a light exfoliator with my cleanser and I definitely feel that with using this my skin feels a lot cleaner and fresher after cleansing. 

What do you use to wash your face? Any recommendations?

5. Maybelline Bouncy Blush - 15 Rose Petal & 40 Pink Plum

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I had never used cream blush before and I was really interested as everyone said it was much more natural looking than your regular powder blush. I came across this at Target quite some time ago and decided to give it a try. I purchased 40 Pink Plum first and totally fell in love with it! I apply it with a duo fiber stippling brush and it applies so amazing and blends out seamlessly! You can apply it with your fingers if you would like, I have seen a lot of people do it that way but I really like the brush. I like this stuff so much that I purchased another shade! 

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You can picture a few of the colors available above, there is really something for everyone. They definitely are so natural looking and if you are new to cream blushes this would be a great option for a beginner! 

6. Rimmel Scandalize Waterproof Eyeliner - Kohl Kajal

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The color that I have (Kohl Kajal) is the dark blue, third from the top! But let me tell you after finding this picture I plan to purchase the brown one on top! 

People have been raving about these for a really long time because they blend wonderfully and have great straying power for your water line! The nude one is the most talked about shade but for me because I wear glasses I use a white Wet n' Wild eye pencil for my water line.. the brighter the better! I decided I wanted to branch out and try a different color for my eyes and although I always thought blue eye shadow and eye liner wasn't for people with blue eyes I have learned that done right it absolutely can be. These eye liners are very pigmented and blend out so nicely so a little can go a long way. You can go for a really deep dark line or smoke it out with a brush and it looks great too! I think these are $4.00 or $5.00 and well worth it! 

7. Milani Lipstick - Nude Creme

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I have been wanting this lipstick for soooooooo long and don't know why I didn't ever buy it! Milani isn't sold everywhere and I don't go to Walmart all that often so when I came across it a couple of weeks ago I bit the bullet and got it because I thought it would be really great for summer. First let me just say I absolutely LOVE the packaging, its super classy, the lipstick itself smells very strongly of watermelon and I don't know how I feel about that, but its not terrible. The formula of the lipstick is great, this is the only Milani lipstick I won and I would definitely purchase more. I think this color would suit all skin types, its a great everyday color! 

So those are a few products I have been trying in the last little while, I would love to know what you guys have been trying and would or wouldn't recommend. The great thing about sharing what you like and don't like is you can potentially save someone else money by giving them the down low first! 

I hope you are all having a great week, thank you for stopping by!!

Last Order By Graham Swift : A Book Review

Good Morning,

I hope you all had a great weekend! I thought I would start off the week with another book review because I  will most likely have another one later in the week and I didn't want to have them back to back!

Sadly this is another book that I didn't love but none the less I thought I would write about it because there was a lot of mixed reviews... a lot of great reviews so I really do think its the style of writing that wasn't for me.

Since being here I also read Graham Swift's The Sweet Shop Owner and I didn't review it I believe because I was reading a bunch of books at the time and reviewing them all I didn't want to include one that I wasn't crazy about! I don't know where I got all these Graham Swift books from and although I think he is an amazing writer I must say its not my style and it makes it really hard for me to get into the books. Lets talk about Last Orders.

Last Orders By Graham Swift

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Reading the synopsis of this book it sounded like it would be right up my alley, something I would really love. 

This is the synopsis from www.goodreads.com:

Winner of the 1996 Booker Prize, and now a major new film starring Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren and Michael Caine. Four men once close to Jack Dodds, a London butcher, meet to carry out his peculiar last wish: to have his ashes scattered into the sea. For reasons best known to herself, Jack's widow, Amy, declines to join them. On the surface the tale of a simple if increasingly bizarre day's outing, Last Order is Graham Swift's most poignant exploration of the complexity and courage of ordinary lives.

Obviously this book is well written, it won the 1996 Booker Prize and that it no small feat! Like I said above it just is not my style of writing and I have a really hard time getting into it. You get to know the characters really well throughout the book and about their lives, how the past, present and future is all but one basically. The idea behind the book is fabulous I think but for me you kind of get lost in the rambling. 

When it says in the synopsis "exploration of the complexity and courage of ordinary lives" complexity is basically hitting the nail on the head. The writing is complex, as is the relationships and I think in trying to define that it becomes very convoluted.

Again this is just my opinion, I read a huge variety of books but at this point I think its Swift's style of writing is just not for me. I think I would still recommend this book because I really did think the story behind it is great and maybe some of you would really enjoy it! 

Have you read this book? Is it just me feeling a little baffled? Let me know what you think!  

June 2015 - Visiting Home

Good Morning!!

So as you know my recent hiatus was on account that we went home for a much needed long weekend in the South. I honestly couldn't wait to get home and make the most of the time we had there, and although it didn't quite go as I had expected it was awesome!!

We left here Thursday afternoon and made decent time getting there, as usual the whole state of Virginia is a cluster screw of awful traffic.. I would absolutely never live there just because I could never cope with any kind of commute. I will say as a passenger I do a little better but its mostly because someone in the car has to be rational and when it comes to traffic it just isn't going to be Jason.

On the way home we witnessed the most amazing lightening storm I have probably ever seen! There was no rain or thunder, just a bunch of heat lightening that literally lit up the entire sky for over the last hour of our drive... it was unbelievable! When we arrived home the neighbors daughter was parked in front of our driveway and sadly we could just not get around her without destroying the grass. I hated to text at that time and truthfully it was my fault, I have said that she could park there and usually I give them a heads up as to when we will be home and this time I didn't do that. I felt so terrible, I didn't want to bother anyone and then they felt terrible that they had blocked us out. I mean it wasn't a big deal at all, I just really should have made sure to let them know we would be there.

I unloaded the truck while Jason got everything running in the house and then honestly we headed to bed pretty quickly as we had to be at the dentist at 8am the next morning. I know what you're thinking, why would I book 8am dentist appointments knowing that we would be getting in so late the night before, and the answer is simple.. it was Jason's idea. Jason is way more of an early bird than I am, in fact he is a morning person and I absolutely AM NOT so he figured if we just got it out of the way then we could get on with our day and make the most of our time there. He talked me into it and I booked the appointments.

We arrived just before 8am, I had all of our paperwork filled out as we have never been to this dentist before and didn't have to wait long. Long story short I have had one filling since I was like 8 years old and its been needing a crown, I have been avoiding it mostly because it has never actually bothered me but this time I wasn't really given much of a choice, it needed to be done! With our schedule and how long we are ever in town they pretty much talked me into doing it then and there. I wasn't exactly for it, I talked to Jason and he said just do it because we didn't have anything important planned and when else would we have the chance? So he took off to do things that he wanted to get done and I stayed at the dentist until 3:30pm (yes I was there from 8am until 3:30pm!!!!) for what turned out to be a root canal and crown. Ugh!

It was an extremely LONG and painful day, I really don't do well with any kind of dental work and it was absolutely MISERABLE! Not to mention I was running late that morning and ended up eating a granola bar running out the door for breakfast and that's all I had all day!! Then when I was done my face was frozen and I couldn't eat so when Jason picked me up we went straight across the street to the grocery store for yogurt and a fruit smoothie!

After that our running around commenced, we are looking for a few things for the house which sadly we were unsuccessful in finding and stopped at MAC for me to get the new coconut scents Fix +. Guys if you use Fix+ or any kind of setting spray for your makeup I highly recommend picking these up. They also brought out other scents, Rose, Cucumber, Coconut, Lavender and I believe there is another one. They are limited edition so run!

We had planned to go The Pit for dinner because we wanted BBQ and the place is incredible but I was really anxious on account that the freezing was coming out of my mouth and it wasn't pleasant!! None the less I ordered a big plate and figured worse case I could just take it home! It was amazing, but it was definitely a bunch of LITTLE bites and I took a lot of it home. Seriously though if you are ever in the Raleigh area and are looking for amazing, authentic BBQ.. this is the place to go!

The night definitely ended on a better note than the day, that's for sure!

Spot the rainbow?

Before going home we had purchased a dresser at Ikea for my closet. I have a lot of stuff to say the least and basically I needed somewhere to put it and so it would be organized. Truth be told it hasn't been organized and therefore I don't utilize as much of it as I would like because its not right in front of me. God love Jason he put it together and in my closet Saturday morning which sparked a afternoon of cleaning, decluttering, organizing and it felt GREAT!!! I have a TON of stuff to donate when we go home and the stuff that I kept is now organized and easily accessible! 

My not so everyday makeup is now basically organized into bins in my new dresser.. 

Bin 1 - Face. Bin 2 - Eyes. Bin 3 - Hair. Bin 4 - Lips. 

Love it! 

Saturday night we grilled outside which was fantastic and went to bed early. Its great just being at home and enjoying the simple things. I honestly don't pick up my phone much at all when we are home, I feel so content and happy to just be there! I feel like Saturday we definitely got a ton accomplished around the house, me inside and Jason outside! 

Sunday we made breakfast and just enjoyed the day! The weather was absolutely PERFECT all day, I sat and read outside and Jason puttered around outside. We grilled dinner again and Sunday night we (Me, Jason fell asleep) watched Gone Girl. I read the book quite awhile ago and have been dying to see the movie, it wasn't as good as the book (the movie never is) but it was GOOD! I totally recommend seeing the movie if you are not a reader because it was amazing. Its so twisted and screwed up and although the book gets into it a little more the movie is pretty epic! 

Monday came all too fast, as it always does. We had decided not to leave until later in the afternoon to try and avoid the horrific traffic we always encounter. We super cleaned the house and packed up, making the most of the day as we could and then hit the road just before 3:00pm. Thankfully we literally missed all the traffic and it was smooth sailing the entire way back! That was definitely a nice turn of events, it makes traveling a lot nicer! We still got back late but we would have gotten back at the same time regardless so I would rather leave later and enjoy more time at home than sit in traffic! 

Sadly Tuesday turned out to be a really crappy day! We had figured we were coming back here for about 3 weeks and then looking at a month off before heading to Maryland. In fact we talked in depth about it while we were at home about all the things we wanted to do on our time off. Well Tuesday Jason told me he was told we would be leaving here next Thursday or Friday and would have to be in Maryland the following week... no time off. I'm not going to lie I have cried a lot, and beyond my control I am going into this next job already hating it! I just wanted some time at home.. I wanted to do the things we had planned after being stuck here for over a year. So basically that's why I haven't been around because I have been in a STATE about the whole thing. 

I think we have chosen an apartment and we have sent in the paperwork so we will see what happens there. I still don't want to talk about it! I will keep you all posted though as things start to progress but basically we will be leaving here next week Thursday or Friday. 

So that is what has been going on with us, it was so wonderful to be at home longer than a day or two.. I guess I enjoyed it while I could because the hope of doing it again just went out the freakin' window! 

I hope you guys have an amazing weekend! Happy 4th of July!! I hope you enjoy beers, BBQ's and Fireworks! Be safe!! God Bless America!!!

The Ha-Ha by Dave King: A Book Review

Well hello there, long time no see!

I had intended to come back here on Tuesday and tell you all about our trip home and review a few books and get back in the saddle basically, but that didn't happen. I do plan to tell you all about our trip home and so on but its just happening a little later than I had expected.

Tuesday wasn't exactly the greatest day, being back here obviously SUCKS and we got some news about work that I am not overly thrilled about but I will tell you about that tomorrow probably. Right now I thought I would review a book I finished while at home and try and get caught up on those things!

I hope you guys all had a great weekend and I hope all of you Canadians had an amazing Canada Day yesterday!!

Lets get into the book shall we?

The Ha-Ha By Dave King

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I remember getting this book years ago and being really excited to read it.. but I guess I didn't because while reading it nothing sounded like I might have read it before. The idea of the book is really great but I wont lie.. I wasn't overly impressed with it. 

This is the synopsis as you can find it on www.goodreads.com:

Rendered unable to speak, read, or write after a Vietnam War injury thirty years earlier, Howard Kapostash feels trapped by his disability until his high school sweetheart, recently forced into rehab, asks him to care for her nine-year-old son.

I believe there is more on the actual backside of the book, I'm sorry I don't have the book with me though. Basically that's the run down though and it leaves you wanting to read about what this 9 year old boy would teach Howard and improve his quality of life, right?

That's basically what I expected to find reading the book and I cant say that was the case. I wasn't impressed the way they talked about how he inquired his injury and I don't want to ruin the book and give away everything but he was on patrol in Vietnam and was high on weed? Really?

Obviously Howard's life is hard, he is completely nonverbal and throughout the book I never understood why he decided not to help himself, not to try therapies, not to do everything he could to find a way to communicate somehow, especially when they constantly display his frustration.. then Ryan comes into the picture and I suspected that because he couldn't communicate with Ryan he would make the effort. Nope. 

Basically I felt there was no resolution to the book, nothing changed from start to finish really. I have to say other people obviously felt differently because when I went to rate the book when I was finished a lot of people gave it a much higher rating, so maybe I was missing something? I honestly wouldn't recommend the book. I didn't finish it really liking Howard at all. 

I still think its important to review books no matter what I think because maybe you would feel differently if you read it. My opinion is strictly my opinion and I'm obviously not going to like every book that I read, which sadly has actually been happening a lot lately. 

Have you read this book? If so what did you think?

I am almost finished all the books I brought here to read which is a good thing, but that also means I will have a few more book reviews coming in the next week or so! 

As I said I hope you guys had a great weekend, I plan to be back tomorrow to tell you all about our trip home! 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!! 

Wednesday Ramblings...

Good Afternoon,

I was planning on doing a wordless Wednesday and just putting a bunch of random pictures I found in my camera roll of my phone from lately but I decided against it. However the rest of the week is going to be quiet around here so I thought I should stop in and say something! I may finish the book I am reading by tomorrow (doubtful) and write about it but who knows.

If I haven't mentioned it we are going home tomorrow for a long weekend, and let me just say it is MUCH needed. I am really over being here and I just want to go home for awhile. Sadly this job isn't actually over and we will be coming back for a few weeks but none the less its a welcome break! I booked dentist appointments for Friday morning which is great because we need to go but at the same time we aren't going to get in until probably really late on Thursday and our appointments are at 8am on Friday morning so we will have to leave just before 7:30am.. and if you know me at all you know I am NOT a morning person!

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The week has been pretty boring, its SUPER hot and therefore we've been having the occasional thunderstorm or just rain. Truth be told they call for severe thunderstorms and then we get 10 minutes of rain and thunder and its over. I'm always so disappointed because I really love a good thunderstorm!

Anyways I just don't have much to say this week, I am having a really hard time falling asleep for some reason and I just feel tired this week. We have a few things planned while we are at home so maybe while we are there I will blog about it.

In the meantime.. if you have a minute hit up Starbucks and get yourself one of these...

I went into Starbucks the other day which I honestly rarely do anymore but I needed a peach green tea lemonade.. while I was in line this miserable woman in front of me was holding up the whole line and being extremely rude to the person taking her order, I had some time in front of the display case of goods and this gem caught my eye. Its a frappucino sugar cookie with chocolate on top. First can I just say.. the cookie is soft!!! I took a bite and I was seriously in heaven, so I saved it to share with Jason because it was too good not to! Trust me treat yo self and get one!!

Alright I am going to get some things done, I am pretty much packed to go home but I was to get some other stuff together that we will be taking because we brought way more stuff than we actually needed and I don't plan on being here much longer after we return! 

Ok I'm just rambling! Have a great rest of the week and weekend!!!

Hannah's Gift: Lessons from a Life Fully Lived By Maria Housden - A Book Review

Good Morning,

I started writing a book review for a book that I recently read and I got about half way through if not more and decided the let it be for awhile because I think the book itself could be a little controversial as well as my thoughts on the book so I decided to hold off for awhile. But no fear I have been flying through books and therefore I have a back up ready to go.

I will tell you right off the bat if you read this book you will sob hysterically, I speak from experience. None the less I actually think it is a book worth reading and I am about to tell you why.

Hannah's Gift: Lessons From a Life Fully Lived By Maria Housden

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Here is the synopsis from goodreads.com: 

Every once in a while a book comes along that can change your life–a book so special, it is destined not just to be read but to be cherished, to be passed from one reader to another as a precious gift. Filled with wisdom and grace, tears and laughter, Hannah’s Gift is one such book. Within these pages Maria Housden shares the transformative lessons in living she received from her three-year-old daughter Hannah, who brought courage, honesty, and joy to her struggle with cancer. 

During the last year of her short life, Hannah was fearless in the way she faced death–and irrepressibly joyful in the way she approached living. The little girl who wore her favorite red Mary Janes into the operating room changed the life of everyone who came in contact with her. Now, in a book that preserves Hannah’s indomitable spirit, Maria Housden offers the gift of her daughter’s last year to all of us. 

In a lyrically told narrative, both moving and unforgettable, Housden recounts Hannah’s battle with cancer in simple, straightforward language that transcends grief and fear to become a celebration. From Hannah’s story emerge five profound lessons–of truth, joy, faith, compassion, and wonder–that have the power to change our lives. 

During her illness Hannah showed how we can truly live in the moment and break free from lives suffocated by too many unlived joys. Even more memorable is the message Hannah delivered after her death to those she loved–a message of hope for anyone faced with the deepest questions of life and death.

Hannah’s Gift nourishes the soul with an ageless wisdom all the more invaluable for having come from someone so young. A remarkable story, remarkably told, it will bring comfort to anyone touched by loss, and renewed faith in the 

power of love.

Closing her eyes and extending her arms, Hannah began to dance. Oblivious to everything but the shoes on her feet, she skipped and clicked across the floor, twirling in circles, faster and faster. There was something about her pure joy and the defiant nobility of the red shoes that caught everyone’s attention....

The true measure of a life is not its length but the fullness with which it is lived.

I'm not going to lie I don't have a clue where I got this book from and when I picked up up out of the box of books that I have here I knew it was going to be trouble. Its a really quick read, I read it in a couple of hours and let me tell you.. while reading it I literally felt my heart breaking. 

I considered taking a picture the other night while reading it because it was almost comical.. Jason was sound asleep curled up beside me and I was sitting in bed with my book light hysterically sobbing, I kid you not. In the end I decided that I should be thankful I was alone in my ridiculousness. 

After reading the above to paragraphs you are already thinking "why would I read this book?" but you really should. This book is raw and real and takes you insides a families struggles that maybe we could never relate to and might also sadly hit too close to home for you. There is no sugar coating the bad things that happen to this family but there are lessons to be taken from how they band together to deal. 

I have to say I admire the honesty of this family, they never lied to their son about his sisters condition nor did they lie to Hannah who was only 3 about her condition being fatal and the things she was about to face. As parents I'm sure it was their first instinct to protect Hannah and their son Will from the harsh realities of their life but in the end they decided on honesty, they decided Hannah deserved to live her time here on earth knowing it would soon end and that Will deserved to make the most of every moment he had with Hannah, just as they were. 

Although the book is narrated by the mother and therefore her perspective of their lives at this time Hannah was the most amazing presence, for such a young child she handled every obstacle thrown her with will elegance, class and maybe a little bit of sass. This child was wise beyond her years and left an unimaginable impression on all of those who were lucky enough to meet her in her short time here on earth. 

Hannah's death was a tragedy, an unspeakable loss that sadly too many parents face. The book not only depicts the struggle of Hannah's cancer diagnosis, her battle and death but also the real struggle her parents endured after losing her. The how can I live without her, the on the floor in a ball crying until you run out of the tears, and the I can do this because as long as I keep her alive in my heart and home she'll always be with me. 

Is the book sad, hell yes! Will you cry your face off? I would pretty much bet on it. Will you finish the book feeling you are so glad you read it? Absolutely. 

This book was so eloquently written and what a strong woman Maria Housden is for writing it, I finished this book feeling so much admiration for the amazing woman and mother she is. You have no idea what you would do when faced with a situation like this and I pray none of you are.. but this woman did the best she knew how and I think she was incredible!

I hope you guys had a great weekend! Thank you as always for stopping by! I am going to try and get some posts written early this week because we are heading home for a long weekend this weekend and I couldn't be more excited!!!! I am sooo over this freakin' job and a little southern livin' is exactly what this girl needs! 

Birchbox Finds & Review

Good Morning,

As you know I have been getting Birchbox for quite some time and on the months that I receive them I try and make a point to come here and share what I got inside that months box and then I try to come back after I have used them and let you know what I think and if I think they are worth purchasing and if I would purchase them in full size. I cant remember the last time I wrote one of these posts and I was flipping through my note book of all things blog and noticed that I had written down reviews for a few products and I thought I would stop by and share my thoughts with you today! I know that Birchbox is widespread these days and so many people get them, I would love to hear what you guys are receiving and what you think of the products as well.

I would also like to state that these are my personal opinions, beauty products are so individualized and what works for one person may not work for someone else. Just because I don't like something or if I love something it definitely doesn't mean you will feel the same way.

So lets get into it!

1. Marcelle Gentle Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes.

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This product is a hypoallergenic formula that's tough on even long-lasting makeup but gentle on eyes. It retails for $15 for a full size bottle. 

I have to say I didn't find this stuff to be gentle on my eyes, my eyes are pretty sensitive but overall I found when I used it my eyes would start stinging. This is an oil based formula which sadly is just not for me, I don't like the way it feels on my skin at all and so for me this is not something that I would consider purchasing after I have used my sample. If you have dry skin this would most likely be a great product for you because its oil based its not going to dry you out more like some makeup removers can do. I do think this product worked, the formula just wasn't for me. 

2. Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo

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This product has vitamin-rich botanicals that gently purify hair while restoring lost moisture & shine. Work small amounts into a lather with damp hands, apply to wet hair and then rinse. You can purchase this product ranging in price from $32.00-$72.00.

Sadly this product wasn't for me either, I wont lie I am not keen on getting shampoo samples anymore but none the less I always give them a try and this one was probably the worst one I have ever gotten. Most of them smell good and work well but I just don't see a huge difference in them compared to a drugstore/cheaper one. This one in particular made me feel like I had mud in my hair, it was really hard to wash out and took a lot of rinsing, it didn't smell good at all. Honestly there was nothing at all that I liked about this product and I definitely would not purchase it nor would I recommend you do so! 

3. LAQA & CO Sheer Lip Lube Pencil - Shade "Honeypot"

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This lip lube pencil is said to be perfect for spring, this high gloss, semi-sheer lip gloss glides on buttery smooth, has buildable pigment and smells minty fresh. You can purchase this product in full size for $20.00. 

I absolutely LOVE this product! I honestly wish that I had more of them in all the other colors because they are that good! I really love the color, they are right in their description that it is absolutely perfect for spring! It does have a buttery creamy texture when applied to your lips which is great because it also leaves your lips feeling moisturized! Lip products can come in all different scents but I feel like minty is a universal crowd pleaser and this one has a really fresh minty scent that leaves your lips feeling a little cold and tingly and I absolutely love it! I cant recommend this enough, especially because you can use it sheer or build it for lipstick opaqueness. 

4. Whish Shave Cream in Blueberry

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A shea butter packed shaving cream with a delectable scent. You can purchase this product in full size for $20.00.

I have a mixed review on this, the one thing that I absolutely hated about this product was the smell. I don't know how I got blueberry when there were so many scents because blueberry is one scent that I absolutely cant stand. It didn't smell like fresh blueberries either it smelled like a candy blueberry scent and let me tell you guys, it was STRONG and it lingered after using it which because I hated the smell was not a good thing. Besides the scent though I really liked this, it was really moisturizing and if you have trouble with razor burn I think this would be a great thing for you to invest in. I generally use lotion on my legs after I shave them but I think if you used this product regularly you could avoid that steps and still not be dried out from shaving. I would try this in another scent but I would not purchase this scent in particular. 

5. Coastal Scents Revealed 3 Eyeshadow Quad

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I have received a coastal scents eye shadow quad before, I believe from the second palette they came out with and I really loved it, that quad was all neutral tones, warm browns and such which is totally up my alley and I thought it was absolutely great for travel purposes as well. This on had more shades that were a little outside my comfort zone but I have been trying to step outside the box with my makeup looks so I was super excited to give it a try. All in all regardless of the color these eyes shadows are fantastic! They are buttery and have great color payoff with minimal to no fallout which is always a great thing. When traveling 4 eye shadows allow you to create multiple looks so throwing this in your makeup bag will take up a lot less space then most palettes will. I really actually liked the colors, although they are different they are subtle as well. The color is buildable if you wanted to go for a more dramatic look as well. I really love Coastal Scents eye shadows and you can purchase the whole palette with 20 shades for just $20.00 which is a fantastic deal! 

6. Harvey Prince Fragrance - Sincerely

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Sweetly spicy scent with Indonesian clove bud, Indian tuberose, and Japanese orange flower. Spritz onto pulse points and see where this intriguing scent takes you. Depending on the size you wish to purchase this product it ranges in price from $26.00 - $55.00. 

As I may have mentioned when I wrote about all the products I received in this particular Birchbox I have been fortunate enough to receive many of the Harvey Prince scents and I have absolutely loved them all, this one was no exception. Not only are the scents absolutely amazing I feel like you get a decent amount for a sample and I cant tell you how fantastic it is to get samples that you can spray. A lot of scent samples you just have to dab your finger into and then apply where you want, the spray ones are just so much more convenient. I stuck this in my purse this past Saturday when we spent the day in Atlantic City and it was fantastic. I loved the scent, it was really rich and lasted for such a long time! I highly recommend all of the Harvey Prince fragrances, especially because they are such a good price! 

One more to go! 

7. Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Blue Lagoon

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Hypo-allergenic & perfume free this blendable waterproof eyeliner goes on smoothly and lasts all day. You can purchase this in full size for $11.00. 

I wont lie when I saw this in my box the color was a little intimidating and I wont lie it kind of still it. As I mentioned above I am trying to step outside the box with my makeup looks and just prior to receiving this in the mail I had purchased a navy blue eyeliner that I really like. Obviously this is a super bright color and I am not sure how I feel about it just yet on my eyes because it is so different I think it will take some getting use to, but what better time to experiment with bright colors than in the summer! I will say though if you do plan on using this I would do one eye at a time, especially if you have any intention on buffing it out! This stuff dries super fast and once it dries it ain't goin' no where!!! I swatched this on my hand when I first got it to check out the color and it dried really quickly and then there was no getting it off! I hand washed a bunch of bras and when I was done it was still there, I tried wiping it off... no dice! I ended up scrubbing at it with a makeup removing wipe many hours later and it finally came off. You can look at this as a good and bad thing I suppose. I personally don't often go for waterproof eye products for this exact reason, but at least you know your eyeliner is going to last all day!! 

So that's all I have for right now, I hope you found the reviews helpful and if you have received any of these products I would love to know what you thought of them. Also if you have any recommendations from products you have received and loved then please do share!!

Thank you as always for stopping in, Have a great day!!