August Favorites

Hi Guys! August flew by and now we're in the best month (my birthday month)! Here are my favorites for the month of August:

Product: CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 (AM)
Price: $9.39 each (Target)

When I pulled this up on the Target website I saw that the online prices are a couple dollars cheaper than the in store prices. I bought this for $12-13, this moisturizer reminded me of the Bare Minerals moisturize I have used in the past. It is a thicker consistency because of the SPF and requires you to work it in your skin. If you don't, you could be left with white streaks on your face. This moisturizer has been working well with my dry skin/dry patches and doesn't have me looking oily at the end of the day.

Product: CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion (PM)
Price: $7.79 each (Target)

Just like the AM moisturizer, the PM moisturizer price is cheaper online. I believe I bought this one for $11. I like that the PM Moisturizer is lighter and is more like a serum. I don't notice my skin feeling plump and extra hydrated when I wake up in the morning but it does feel moisturizing after washing my face.

Product: Essie Polish in Ballet Slippers
Price: $8.09 each (Target)

I bought this nail polish because of Whatwouldlizzydo. I own quite a few Essie nail polishes and have had luck with few. Many of the ones I have chip right away or the formula isn't the easiest to work with. I put this polish on as soon as I got it and fell in love. Ballet Slippers is the lightest baby pink I've ever used but also one of the easiest light polishes to work with. This polish does need a good 3 for it to become opaque but it's totally worth it. The great thing about this is that it didn't become goopy and dried at a normal speed the bad thing is that I got a bunch of air bubbles when I used it. At first, I thought the bubbles happened because I shook the bottle right before painting my nails but, I have used this at least 4 times and each time air bubbles appear. 

Product: Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Coconut Lime
Price: $7.49 each (Ulta)\
I've had this sugar scrub in my shower for awhile but rarely used it. Now that I've been going to the gym on a daily basis I've been using this a lot more. I feel like the scrub makes me feel extra clean since you can actually feel the beads exfoliating your skin. I'm not a pro when it comes to scrubs, I've only tried one other sugar scrub besides this one (from the Body Shop). The previous one I used didn't feel like it was doing anything, it was too soft and left me feeling oily. The only thing I wish about the Tree Hut one is that the smell would linger. I love that Coconut Lime scent.

Product: Philosophy Purity Cleanser
Price: $24.00 for 8oz.(Sephora)

I always heard Youtubers talking about how great the Purity cleanser was not only for the face but also for cleaning brushes and sponges. I know I don't think twice about spending 20 plus dollars on a lipstick but I do struggle to spend money when it comes to skin care. On Black Friday, Sephora was selling a 12oz for $10 and I ordered two to give them a try. I just finished my first bottle not too long ago. I love that a little goes a long way. This cleanser is soooo gentle but extremely effective. I still probably wouldn't buy this at full price but would definitely purchase during a 20% off sale or pick more up during the Black Friday sale. 

That's all for my August Favorites. Have you tried any of the products listed below? Let me know how you liked them in the comment section below. Until next time!

July Favorites

Hey Guys!

I'm always late but I wanted to show you my July Favorites. People usually post make up items but mine will be a mix of items. This month (July) I started going back to the gym. I know a lot of you can understand the struggle of being consistent and working out. I'm happy to say that I'm still going strong. I've even gone at 5AM. The dedication is real.

1. Bose Around Ear Headphones
These are pricey but these have been so good while at the gym! Mine are in Mint but they also have them in white and black. I bought mine for $160 but as of today they're on sale for $119.95. I like buying electronics from B and H because I don't have to pay for taxes and they offer free expedited shipping on orders over $49. Back to the headphones, I don't believe they're supposed to be soundproof but they definitely are. I've tried the Beats by Dre Solo that are on the ear and was not impressed with the sound quality. I also didn't know how much of a difference having the headphones on the ear and around the ear would be. Around the ear is so much comfortable! The only cons for me is that the remote only works for Apple products (Iphones and Ipods) I have an Android so I'm not able to use that function when I use my phone and the price.






2. Contigo 32oz. Water Bottle
You guys probably think it's silly to have a water bottle in my favorites but it's unlike any one I've ever had for one simple reason....it has a straw. I actually like water and try to drink it throughout the day but this has made it a lot easier to increase my water intake.














3. Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer

I lost/misplaced my moisturizer that I bought not too long ago. I used this primer as a moisturizer for 2 weeks and it worked well for my dry skin. It didn't leave me with any dry patches and did not make my face look oily. I stopped using it because it's pricey to be using as a moisturizer ($32).

Indoor lighting

4. MAC lipstick in Rebel
If you're a lipstick junkie like me then you know it's easy to forget about a lipstick in your collection. I like to think I have a good memory of all the lipsticks I have but I obviously forgot about this one. I wore Rebel on 4th of July and got many compliments on it. I forgot how pretty it was (the indoor lighting does it no justice). Rebel is such a universal color too, I feel that it looks good on ALL skin tones. Rediscovering this lipstick made me realize that I need to work on rotating my lipsticks. Even though I have 100+ I rotate the same 10. Does anyone have tips on doing this?






That's it for my July favorites! Let me know what you guys have been loving in the comments below or on my Instagram page!

May and June Empties

Hi Guys! My empties are always late but better late than ever. Here's what I used up these past two months. Mostly all hair products!

Product: Yes to Blueberries Healthy Hair Repair Shampoo and Conditioner
Price: $7.59 each (Target)
Used until empty: Yes
Repurchase: Not right now.
This is my favorite shampoo for my hair. I really don't like to spend more than $5 for a Shampoo but this one is well worth it. I first tried this one a couple years ago when Yes to Carrots had a $2 Cyber Monday Sale. This is great for my frizzy curly hair. 

Product: L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Shampoo and Conditioner
Price: $3.99 each (Target)
Used until empty: Yes
Repurchase: Not right now
This is one of my favorite shampoo and conditioner duos. It's inexpensive and leaves my curly hair looking healthy with very little frizz after it air dries. I'm trying to go through all my shampoos I've been hoarding before I buy more. Once I go through them I'll be repurchasing.

Product: OGX Quenching Coconut Curls Shampoo and Conditioner
Price: $7.99 each (Ulta)
Used until empty: Yes
Repurchase: Not right now
I bought these when my local Ulta was having a grand opening. I'm always trying to find something to control my frizz and thought this shampoo would help. I liked that the Conditioner was thick and felt moisturizing but hated how my hair felt after my shower. My hair felt dry and tangled. I usually shower at night and let my hair air dry. I was pleasantly surprised at how it looked it the morning. My curls were in good shape. I don't think I would repurchase just because there are other shampoos that will leave my hair looking the same without the dry straw feeling I experienced with this duo.

Product: TRESemme Conditioner
Price: $5.99 each (Target)
Used until empty: Yes
Repurchase: Not right now
I always run out of conditioner before the shampoo. This was no exception. I've had this one under my sink for a looooong time and finally finished it up. I remember liking the shampoo and conditioner since it's meant for curly hair. I'm going to have to repurchase to see how much I truly liked it.

Product: Up & Up Baby Shampoo
Price: $1.72 each (Target)
Used until empty: Yes
Repurchase: Not right now
I've had this FOREVER! I use to use this to clean my brushes. It was an effective way to wash them but I've moved on to other things. 

Product: Tree Hut Moisturizing Body Wash in Coconut Lime
Price: $4.99 each (Ulta)
Used until empty: Yes
Repurchase: Not right now
I bought this body wash just because of the Coconut Lime smell. I couldn't stop smelling it in the store. I was a bit disappointed that the smell didn't cling to my skin but I'm happy that it didn't dry it out like other scented body washes (Bath and Body Works).

Product: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deep Conditioning Treatment
Price: $2.99 (Target)
Used until empty: Yes
Repurchase: Already have

Sometimes (a lot of times) my hair needs a little more love in the shower. I bought this leave in conditioner last month and have fallen in love. Not only does it smell good, it's affordable, and actually works. I went without it for a couple of days and noticed a difference in the softness of my hair. I went to Target to repurchase ASAP.

Product: Reshma Henna Semi-Permanent Hair Color
Price: $7.99 (Sallys)
Used until empty: Yes
Repurchase: Yes! Already have
I love this product. Read more about it here. 

Product: Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Leave in Conditioner
Price: $2.99 (Target)
Used until empty: Yes
Repurchase: Already have
This is also always in my empties. I go through at least 1 or 2 a month I'm happy this is so affordable. I use this leave in conditioner before my curling cream. As I've said in the past, I've figured out that I need an extra product to control my frizz and this does the job.

Product: Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream
Price: $4.74 (Walmart)
Used until empty: Yes
Repurchase: already have
This will always be part of my empties. Read more about it here.

Product: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Facial Moisturizer
Price: $17.99 (Target)
Used until empty: Yes
Repurchase: Not right now
I got these in one of those big Allure Beauty Boxes. I used it at night once I had finished my Glam Glow Thirsty mud. It actually reminded me a lot like it except the Nuetrogena was a gel so it was thinner and it had a strong fragrance but it kept my dry face moisturized and hydrated. It kind of smelled like laundry detergent/fabric softener. If it didn't have the scent I would repurchase right away.




These were all my empties for the month of May and June. Have you tried any of these products? If so, how did you like them? Let me know below! Until next time. 

My First Nature Box

Purchased

Happy Thursday!

Today I wanted to let you know how I liked my first nature box. I honestly thought that I would feel like this box would be a waste of money but I ended up really liking it. Like I mentioned in my post about my trial box the Deluxe box is $19.95 shipped and comes with 5 full size snacks that. Nature box gives you an option of a purchasing more snacks for an additional $3 per bag. What I like about Nature Box is that they have a variety of snacks from dried fruit, fruit snacks, pretzels, nuts, pop corn, and baked treats. Most snacks are flavored like blueberry almonds, BBQ sunflower seeds, golden apple tea biscuits. These snacks are on the healthier side(when you portion them out) compared to the snacks you'd find at 7-11 or corner stores and come in pouches that have the zip lock feature on top. The bags are a nice size that are easy to travel with or throw in your purse (which is what I've been doing). At first, I was nervous because I watched YouTube videos that said they finished all their snacks in 3 days. I thought that might happen to me but the snacks lasted about 2 weeks. I actually still have one bag I haven't finished.

Keep reading to find out more....

Reshma Henna

Purchased
 

Hi Guys!

Today I want to talk about Henna Dye and my experience with it. Growing up my mom always told me to NEVER dye my hair. She had never done it so I never questioned her. A couple of years ago I dyed the ends of my hair for fun but only did that because I was getting ready to cut it. Other than that time I've never dyed by curly black hair. I've heard that your hair is never the same once you have dyed it and that's not something I want to put my hair through right now.

If you follow me on instagram then you've seen me post about my gray hair. I first started seeing them when I was 19 and it became an issue when I was 21/22 (I'm 25). Sadly, this is something my dad has passed on to me and my brother. When I was 21 I started plucking them out since they were only my bangs. At the moment I didn't see an issue with plucking but I eventually realized that if I continued to pluck them I would eventually get bald spots so I stopped. I discovered theBalm's hair mascara which I'll talk about in a different post. That worked for awhile until there started being more grays than I could touch up.

Since my grays were getting out of control and I didn't want to damage my hair with dye I decided I would let the grays grow out and I would TRY to embrace them. My best friend told me it shows character and her brother told me I looked like Rogue from X-Men and thought it was really cool (he wanted me to dye a full streak so it would be just like Rogue). So here I am trying to embrace this new look and my boss tells me that I've been showing a lot of gray hair lately and I started with my schpeel...."yea, i know. I get it from my dad. I'm scared to dye it" She told me she grayed early too but that she heard henna is a good alternative. When I went home that day I was googled henna dye and I kept seeing that Lush carried henna in a solid block form. I read mixed reviews and was unsure if I should buy it. I ended up holding off on it until I could go to the store and ask an associate about it.

Fast forward a couple days later. I went to Sallys to buy things I really didn't need. I was walking around the store looking for more things to buy and ended up in the aisle with the dyes. I ended asking the associate if they sold any and she took me to a different aisle I tried asking her about the product since I was a bit nervous but she said she was not too familiar with it. They had black, midnight blue, and a red. What she did say is that she heard that this didn't make you hair bleed. I swear I felt like the emoji with the heart eyes. When I had dyed my ends I didn't know that the color would bleed onto my towels and clothes (I ended up ruining a bunch of shirts and cardigans)! That day I bought the Reshma Henna in Natural Black box to try at home.

Keep Reading to see my results....

Nature Box Trial Box

Purchased

Welcome back guys!

About two and a half weeks ago I showed you guys that I had ordered a trial box of nature box. It's a free box but you have to pay $2 shipping. I thought this was a great way to see if this would be something I would like to continue. The trial box comes with one full size snack and 4 individual pouches. The full size box is $19.95 shipped and contains 5 full size snacks ending up to be about $4 a bag or less if you think about how much shipping cost would have cost you.

My trial box consisted of a full size cocoa almonds, sweet blueberry almonds, cranberry medley, jalapeno cashews, and masa chips. I've only tried half of the snacks and only took pictures of the almonds but haven't been disappointed.

The trial box is only $2. 

dark cocoa almonds

I liked it so much I went ahead and ordered a regular box. When you order the trial you don't get to choose what you get but if you subscribe to Nature Box you completely customize your box. To get your $2 trial box simply go to the Nature Box website.

Rocks Box

PR Sample

 

Hey Guys!

Today I want to talk to you about Rocks Box. Rocks Box is a one of a kind $19 jewelry subscription. When you sign up, you take a quiz about your style and preferences. The outcome of that quiz will help your stylist pick three jewelry pieces they think you'll enjoy. You can also help your stylist out by connecting your Instagram account to your Rocks Box account and hashtag wishlist to whatever pieces you like on their profile. Doing so will give them an idea of what you prefer.

As you can see I put the rings on my #wishlist.

The unique thing about Rocks Box is that this is a jewelry rental subscription service. I know, you're probably thinking "I'm paying for something I can't keep"? The answer is yes AND no. You pay $19 a month for a box with 3 designer jewelry pieces. The cool thing about it is that you can keep them or return the items whenever you get tired of them.

Let's say, you get your first box and you end up loving every item. You can wear it all month long and ship it back in the prepaid envelope when you're ready. If you love it so much that you want to keep it, you can purchase it for a discounted price. Just send back the pieces you don't want to purchase and they'll charge you for the piece you kept. Not only will you be able to purchase the item for a discounted price but you will also get an additional $10 off. You see, $10 of the $19 you pay gets put in your account to use for that month. Pretty neat isn't it?

If you find that you do not love the pieces you received or want to get something else, simply return it in the prepaid envelope. Rocks Box will send you a new box as soon as they receive the one you sent back. You can do this as many times as you would like. One thing to note is that the boxes get shipped from San Francisco, CA the number of days it takes to receive your box will vary depending on where you live.

Want to see what was in my box?