Temptations Treats Snacky Mouse Review

Hello everyone! I'm back again with another Influenster review! This time, I got to work on this review with my cats...well, more specifically, one of my cats. More on that later.

Here is the Snacky Mouse in all its glory! Cute little feller, isn't it? The idea is that the treats are placed inside the mouse (which has openings all around its midsection). The cat hits the mouse, which causes the treats to come out. The mouse remains standing because the base is basically a Weeble. If you don't remember Weebles, check out this video.

It's a good idea, and my cats really enjoyed it. My older cat, Sasha, tired of the whole process, but not Salem. Check out his Cat Vs. Mouse skills in this video.

Sorry that there isn't a cute picture to go with this video. Apparently youtube does not like short videos. Anyway, this is a cute little toy that does its job. Cats will be entertained, as well as be able to give themselves a tasty treat. Just be sure you don't give them too many at once!

Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Green Tea

If you're looking at the title of this blog and wondering why on earth I'm reviewing a type of tea, let me explain. I belong to the "Influenster Nation," if you didn't already know. Basically, this means that I get neat little boxes of goodies to review from time to time, and this lovely tea was included with the aptly titled "Frosty VoxBox." However, I do feel that this item does fall under the beauty category since being relaxed goes a long way towards helping your overall demeanor, as well as the tension lines and wrinkles in your face. So I actually should be thanking Influenster for helping me branch out a little bit! Now, without further ado, let's get down to business.

Isn't this such a cozy little photo? Drinking tea (or coffee) and reading are two of my favorite pastimes, especially in the winter months. I am a fan of Celestial Seasonings Victorian Earl Grey tea, but flavored teas have never really been my thing. A few have been nice, but I don't think I've ever repurchased a flavored tea. Also, I'm not a big fan of peppermint at all, which is another reason for my being shocked concerning my reaction to this tea. I really liked it! It has a very light tea flavor when compared to regular Earl Grey, and the peppermint is subtle enough to enhance the overall tea experience (instead of being overpowering, like peppermint tends to be). I added a small amount of sugar and milk, which I do when drinking Earl Grey as well. Overall, this is a very good holiday tea which does a nice job of relaxing the mind and body. I think the aroma of the peppermint adds a lot to the relaxing properties of this tea. I highly recommend this tea as a tasty holiday treat to help you unwind after the hustle and bustle of the season!

Clear Proof Acne System

Hello everyone! So I've been gone a while, but I promise to try to get back in the swing of blogging. This review is based on some products that I got free to test from Influenster, a great site which sends out products for review. This is the second physical box that I have received from Influenster, but I have also participated in what they call "virtual boxes" as well. If you haven't already, you should really check them  out!

Once upon a time, I used to sell Mary Kay. However, I was thrilled to see that the products included with this special VoxBox were completely new to me. I remember when Velocity was the acne line that Mary Kay had, and, while it smelled great, it was a little drying on my skin. Given that, I had some preexisting notions about this new acne system. However, I thought it was worth a shot.

I think the best way to present this review is to break it down one item at a time. This way you can see what I liked and didn't like about each item.

Clear Proof Clarifying Cleansing Gel
This gel cleanser is pretty standard as far as acne treatment. It is a clear gel which lathers well; it also has no scent, which is better than having the harsh chemical odor that some acne washes can have. With 2% salicylic acid, it can be a little drying, and it tingles if left on the skin too long. It does the job, but watch out if you are a little on the dry side.




 
Clear Proof Blemish Control Toner
Well, this is a toner...what else can I say? I've never really been too big on any toner. In fact, this is usually a step I skip. Once again, the 2% salicylic acid can be drying, but I'm assuming that most people will use this only when needed (which is what I did). While it claims to be exfoliating, I'm not sure how much of that I saw. It has a nice lemony scent though!

Clear Proof Acne Treatment Gel
This gel treatment is said to prevent new pimples from forming, as well as fading older acne scars. I am pleased to say that both of these claims were true, in my experience! There is no scent to this gel. It is white in color, but goes on clear. I felt a slight tingle a little bit after application, but after that, I was fine. The active ingredient is 5% benzoyl peroxide; however, I did not find this as drying as the previous two products.

Clear Proof Oil-Free Moisturizer for Acne-Prone Skin
HOLY GRAIL STATUS!!! I must say, this is the shining star of the whole system for me! Moisturizers have always made my acne worse, even so-called oil-free varieties. However, this one really works! Not only did it alleviate all dryness I was feeling from the active acne ingredients contained in the other items in the system, but it also left my skin feeling better than ever. It seems almost too thin to moisturize, but don't let that fool you. It absorbs into your skin super quickly, leaving a wonderful feeling behind. I even started using it in the mornings instead of a primer. Oh yeah, it's that good!

Final Verdict
Overall, these products work well together to make a great acne system. While testing them, I had an allergic reaction to some medication, but these products were mild enough to continue using during that breakout as well. In fact, my breakout cleared up much faster than normal and all the spots have since faded into nothingness. If you've been struggling to find a good acne system, give this a try. Hopefully, you'll like it as much as I did.



Oh, and just because you probably want to see my results, here is a before and after picture after only two weeks of use. This was prior to my horrendous breakout from my medicine, but I think you'll get the idea. Until next time! :)

Kiss Everlasting French Manicure

Hey everyone!  Now that school is out and I've had time to unwind a bit, I'm ready to jump back into blogging.  I have a lot of things lined up to write about this summer, and hopefully you're ready to get back into the swing of reading my blog!  First thing, I want to tell you that I signed up at this really cool website called Influenster.  Basically, they are looking for people to review products.  I have officially qualified for what they call a VoxBox, and the product I am reviewing today was one of the promotional items I received.  While the product was given to me, this has in no way influenced my opinions.  Just wanted to clear that up before we begin.

So...nails!  I've always had issues with my nails.  I am a classic nail biter.  I've spent a ton of money at various salons getting acrylic nails because I just couldn't stop biting my own.  I go through phases where I grow my own nails out and really take care of them, but, inevitably, I break down and let them have it.  So I've tried my fair share of fake press-on/glue-on type nails.  I've never been a big fan of these cheaper alternatives to salon visits.  For this reason, I wasn't too thrilled to see the following item in my VoxBox:

However, I was curious about all the claims on the packaging: guaranteed no chip; stronger, longer wear; self-tabs for easy application; won't chip, crack or wear away for 7 day of normal wear.  Also, the box proclaimed that these nails were "real short," which is what I look for in a nail.  The people at the salon would always joke me about how short I wanted my nails, but, honestly, I do a lot with my hands and longer nails would just get in my way.

I decided to give these nails a try, and I'm glad I did!  I'm actually wearing the nails now as I type this, so I'm happy to report that they are indeed short enough to not interfere with my daily activities.  While the application process itself was just like all the other glue-on nails that I've tried, the little self-tabs were a big help in getting the nails centered before pressing them down.  Overall, it was a much easier process than I've experienced before.

These are the lovely finished products!  I'm very pleased with the way they turned out, and I really think they look just as good as when I get my nails done at the salon.  I've only had them on a little while, but they feel very secure, unlike other types of nails I've tried in the past.  I'll keep you updated on whether or not they last for the whole seven days.  However, if I do break one, there are a ton left in the package, so I can easily make any needed repairs.  I really think this is a nail product worth your money, so be sure to check it out!

Have you tried these nails before?  If so, let me know in the comment box below.  I'd love to hear your opinions on this product!  Until next time, peace and love!

Mariposa Palette Tutorial

Hey, everyone.  I thought I'd give you a quick tutorial for the Mariposa Palette that I just finished blogging about.  It's a great palette, and you can do a ton of different looks with it.  This one is fun and uses most of the colors in the palette.  I'll walk you through the steps, but I don't have photos of the process...sorry :(  One day I'm going to invest in some camera equipment so I can do video tutorials.  For now, I hope this will do!

This is the look we are creating.  Once again, sorry for the poor quality photos.  I've tried every camera I own, and I still cannot figure out how to get a decent shot of my eyeshadow :(  BTW, I posted a pic of this look on Instagram, and the editor of an award-winning beauty blog in Los Angeles liked it!  Show her some love by checking out her blog: www.mybeautybunny.com!

And this is the palette we're going to be using:

When you do this on your own eyes, you will notice a lot more color differentiation than is in my horrible picture.  The look fades from a gold in the inner corner to pink to purple.  Trust me, it's so pretty!

Step 1:  Using a fluffy brush, apply Skimp (top, middle) near your brows to act as a highlight.
Step 2:  Using the same brush, apply Spotlight (bottom, 2nd from right) a little below where you placed Skimp.  Don't use a whole lot and be sure to blend it.  This color will help you transition into your crease color.
Step 3:  Using the same brush, apply Wreckage (top, right) below Spotlight.  This will be your crease color.  It needs to be dark in the outer corner, but lighten up on your brush when moving towards the inner corner.  The whole eye needs to darken as it approaches the outer corner.
Step 4:  Using a flat brush, apply Limelight (bottom, right) to the inner half of your eye.  Be careful though, because I experienced some fallout with this step.  If you prefer, you can substitute a color such as Half Baked and get the same effect.
Step 5:  Using the same brush, apply Infamous (top, 2nd from right) to the middle and towards the outer corner of your eye.  You are *overlapping* Limelight some, and that is ok!  Blending these colors a bit will help create a seamless gradation from light to dark on your eye.
Step 6:  Using a precision or contour brush, apply Rockstar (top, left) to the outer corner of your eye.  Once again, overlap this color with the previous color to ensure a good blend.
Step 7:  Lastly, use a precision brush to add Skimp to the inner corner of your eye, right along your tear duct.  This will really brighten up that area and make your eyes pop!

I finished the look off with Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero and Urban Decay's Big Fatty mascara, but you can use whatever you prefer.  I hope you like this look!  If you try it out, let me know; I'd love to hear from you in the comment section below!  Peace & love!

Urban Decay Haul...Part II

Here it is, folks!  The long awaited second part of my Urban Decay haul.  I'm sure you've all been wondering which mystery item I purposefully left out of the first part of this blog, so I will no longer keep you in suspense.  It's no secret that I love Urban Decay eyeshadow.  I mean, seriously, I think I have a problem.  Take a look...

So now do you believe me when I say that I'm addicted to this stuff?  I'm the proud owner of 60 different UD eyeshadow colors.  I think that they are the best eyeshadows out there.  Except for their glitter shadows, but I'll talk more about that later.

The last item from my haul is pictured above, and it's a palette I've had my eye on for a while.  I hate paying full price for any palette (with the exception of my Naked palette, but that was $50 well spent).  The palette in question caught my eye when it first came out.  I waited for it to go on sale.  It finally did, but I still was hesitant about paying $15.  I mean, I did have all these other palettes, you know?  Well, when I was browsing the site the other day, marveling at all the other great deals I was getting, I noticed that my palette had been marked down to $12.  That extra $3 off made all the difference!  Why?  I'm not sure, but it did! :)  So now I am the proud owner of...the Mariposa Palette!!!

I am sooooooooooooooo excited about this palette!  It's beautifully made, and the colors are outstanding.  Here are some shots of the front and back before I opened it:

I get pumped just looking at the pictures!  Now opening this palette is a little tricky; it tends to stick, but I've found that this gets better the more I open it.  Are you ready for a look at the inside? :)

Simply gorgeous, right?  Every single color in this palette is a winner!  I've tried all of them so far, and the only one I'm a little (and I mean *very* little) disappointed with is Limelight (bottom right).  It's a great gold color (similar to Half Baked in the Naked palette), but I got some fallout from this color.  It's probably because it has way more glitter than Half Baked.  Once again, I do not like the UD glitter shadows; the glitter tends to be on the huge side, and the fallout is horrible.  If you apply it with a light hand, then you can get ok results.  I'm just not crazy about having huge chunks of glitter on my face.  The glitter in Limelight is on the small side, so I can live with it; I just have to be careful!

Top Row Swatches: Rockstar, Gunmetal, Skimp, Infamous, and Wreckage

Bottom Row Swatches: Haight, Money, Mushroom, Spotlight, Limelight

Now, let's talk about two things I did not understand about this palette.  First, why is the box it was packaged in prettier than the actual palette?  Don't get me wrong, because I love the butterfly (or mariposa) stamped into the metal of the palette cover, but the butterfly detailing on the packaging is gorgeous!  Secondly, why did they include such a teeny-tiny brush?  What am I supposed to do with that?

It would have been much better to include a small 24/7 eyeliner in Zero, in my opinion.  Either way, the palette itself is great, and it's well worth $12.  I think that, overall, this is probably the best beauty buy that I've ever made!  What about you guys?  Let me know what great beauty deals you've gotten by leaving a comment below!  I'll be back shortly with a tutorial using this palette, so stay tuned.  Peace & love!

Urban Decay Haul!!!

Hello everyone!  I know it's been a while since my last blog, but things have been a little crazy here.  I'm taking two classes this summer, my boyfriend came in for a visit, my bff needed help moving and reorganizing her classroom, and we've been doing a lot of cleaning at home.  So, I've been pretty busy!

One of my favorite things to do during my down time is to browse makeup websites, and nothing makes me happier than a sale at Urban Decay!  Today my order came in, and of course I wanted to share it with you all.

Here are all my goodies, just waiting to be unwrapped!  Christmas in June! :)  Upon opening the package the first thing I noticed was a sample card for Urban Decay's newly formulated Moondust Eyeshadow in Moonspun (medium gray with bright silver sparkles). 

The UD website describes the shadow saying "Sparkly shadow goes ultra-sophisticated—with intense hues, microfine sparkle and lush, 3-D metallics."  Now, I love UD shadows, but what I don't like is their glitter shadows.  Usually their sparkly colors have a lot of fallout, so I'm not sure how this product will work.  I'll let you know once I give it a try!

The first item I unwrapped was actually a gift for my mom.  I purchased a single eyeshadow for her in the color Ransom.  Out of the 60 UD eyeshadow colors I have, this is the only color she likes!  It's a beautiful purple, plus I was able to get it on sale for $4! Check out the cute packaging; mom was very happy with this gift.

Next was an item that I've been wanting to try for a long time: Big Fatty Mascara!  Normally this mascara costs $20 a tube, which is a bit too expensive for me.  However, I found a double pack for $22!  Double the product for only $2 more? I added it to my cart too quick to talk about!

The tubes are huge, so this was a great buy.  I was very happy with the brush, which has rubber bristles. I've loved rubber bristles ever since I got my first Mary Kay Lash Love, so I am super excited to try this product!

The last item that I'm going to be talking about in this post is the 24/7 Double-Ended Pencil Duo Set.  I adore the 24/7 liners, and whenever I buy palettes from UD, I'm always pumped if they come with one of these liners.  This set is a great deal; you get four different 24/7 shades plus the UD Grind House pencil sharpener--for $19!  Normally one liner costs that much.  While these are not full size, it was still too good to pass up.

I swatched all of them, and each went on so smoothly.  The formula is creamy and long-lasting.  If you've not tried them, you really need to--SOON!

Colors: Uzi (dark gunmetal shimmer with silver micro-sparkle); Empire (dark eggplant matte); Corrupt (dark metallic reddish brown shimmer with silver micro-sparkle); and Zero (my personal favorite black eyeliner).

Also, check out the detail on this sharpener!  So, so pretty!

The last item I purchased in this haul is one that I have been eyeing for a while...but you're going to have to wait until my next blog post to see it!  Trust me, it'll be worth the wait.  Until then, feel free to leave me a comment or ask a question below.  Peace & love! <3