september birchbox & ipsy bag !

  
Hi guys!

I’m sorry this post is so so so delayed. Life has really been crazy lately. I actually just got both of these out of my mailbox last week (now you really see how disorganized I’ve been!) 

Let’s talk about how amazing the weather has been lately. It’s cool and sunny and perfect. I can wear my hair straight without worrying about frizz all day & LAYERS so many layers of clothing. Fall style is the greatest by far. Fall makeup is also easily my favorite with the gold and copper eyes and the berry lips. Yes please!

So let’s see what I got from each subscription!   

Birchbox:

• 100% Pure – Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream

• Anatasia Beverly Hills – Perfect Brow Pencil

• Etat Libre d’Orange – Remarkable People

• TOCCA – Esfoliante da Corpo

  Ipsy:

• NAOBAY – Oxygenating Cream Moisturizing

• NYX – Ipsy Exclusive Pallete 

• VASANTI – Brighten Up!

• JCat – #MOTD Slide On Pencil

• Formula X – Ignite

The winner? This month I’m obsessed with my Ipsy freebie bag. Although I have received the NAOBAY & VASANTI products before, I’m very excited for the JCat pencil and NYX Pallete. This with the amazing bag makes Ipsy the winner for September. (Shoutout though to the Anatasia Pencil and Caffeine Eye Cream from Birchbox!)

xo. 

J

august birchbox & ipsy bag !

Hey guys !

I hope you’re all having great weekends :] This week I received my monthly mailbox present from Birchbox and Ipsy. I’m going to be honest with you guys, every month I contemplate canceling one or both subscriptions, but the second I get these little gifts in the mail I immediately change my mind.

I can’t even wait to tell you how excited I am about my Birchbox products this month, I mean just LOOK at them. Huge sizes and so many great brands. And how adorable is the pool themed box. I’m obsessed.

So let’s get into what I got this month !

Birchbox:

• Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Deep Hydration Sheet Mask
• Oribe Masque for Beautiful Color
• RUSK Volumizing Mousse
• St. Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower
• theBalm cosmetics Balm Desert Bronzer/Blush
• Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner for Beautiful Color

Ipsy:

• Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizer
• Glamour Dolls Single Eyeshadow in Sorcery
• Lord & Berry ultimate lipcolor and liner in nude
• Hikari Cosmetics Lip Gloss
• Swissco Soft Touch Slant Tweezers

As you can probably guess from my ramblings above, Birchbox definitely won this month. I’ve never heard of an in-shower gradual tanner, so I’m very excited to try this product. Also sheet masks are gaining more and more popularity, so I’m excited to try that as well :]

What did you all get in your boxes this month !?

xo.

summer hair care (routine and products) !

Hi guys!

Here in NYC it’s been pretty hot and humid lately (but really, don’t even get me started about the subways). Of course my hair is not only thick and curly, but it’s also extremely reactive to the elements. As you can probably guess, it’s a frizzy nightmare all summer long :[

I rely on four products to tame my hair during these awful humid months. These, along with dry shampoo (and twice-weekly washes) SERIOUSLY improve my hair’s texture and quality.

• First, I use the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque as my conditioner once a week following a cleansing shampoo. Not only does this product smell INCREDIBLE, but it also leaves my hair feeling unbelievably smooth and healthy.
• Once I’m out of the shower, I spray It’s A 10 Plus Keratin all over my hair and brush it through. I’m so serious when I say this product has completely changed my hair. Remember how I said my hair was curly and reactive? WIthout this product my hair dries in a frizzy mess, but when I spray this in my hair can air-dry into pretty curls, or be blown out and straight and smooth!
• Before straightening my hair, I’m sure to use the Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer – this acts as a heat protectant to smooth my hair. There has been a lot of hype around this product, and for a great reason.
• Between washes, I will use the Pantene Overnight Miracle on the ends of my hair. This is just to prevent dryness and split ends – which I’m always fighting!

So these are my favorite hair care items currently, what are yours !?

xo.

why I reverse wash my hair.

Hey guys!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Holiday season. This time of year seems to absolutely fly by. It also is the season of change, being so close to the end of the year. One major change I am absolutely LOVING is reverse washing my hair.

Let me start off by saying I have thick naturally wavy hair that I only need to wash every few days. My hair is not oily or greasy, but more on the dry and frizzy side. I’ve been using Herbal Essences Cleansing Conditioner for at least six months with a clarifying shampoo about once a week. And when I do use my clarifying shampoo, I always follow up with a hair mask.

You may wonder why I decided to shake up my routine, and honestly I think it’s because I just crave change (like I may be chopping off a lot of my hair very soon). So when I started hearing about reverse washing being a thing I was so curious. Little did I know I have reverse washed my hair in the past when it was very knotty ! The process is simple. You apply conditioner and let it sit for a few minutes and then BEFORE you rinse out the conditioner, you lather on shampoo and rinse everything out. Sound simple? That’s because it is.

This method is absolutely wonderful and leaves my hair smoother, silkier, and free of product buildup!

Try reverse washing your hair, I dare you.

xo, J

september favorites!

Hi guys!

As I sit here watching DWTS and burning my Honeysuckle Candle from B&BW I can’t help but wonder where September went. Like I honestly felt like I bought this candle yesterday, but it was one of my most favorite scents this summer. However, I’m thrilled for October, because my obsession with Fall will officially be socially acceptable!

I have some favorite products & random things this month, so let’s get into them:

beauty:
– it’s a 10 miracle leave-in product
– smith’s rosebud salve
– burt’s bees daisy color correcting serum
– the body shop camomile silky cleansing oil
– maybelline color tattoo: bad to the bronze
– revlon color burst: berry smoothie

lifestyle:
– candle: autumn from b&bw
– songs: ugly heart by trl, all about you by hilary duff, oh darling by plug in stereo
– book series: the bridal quartet by nora roberts
– shows: blackish, HTGAWM, manhattan love story, selfie ( and of course revenge and scandal, duh)

happy october!!

xo, J

september ipsy bag.

Hi Guys!

If you read my last post, you know that I just got my Ipsy bag back in Manhattan! This bag was pretty good as well. The theme of this one is Street Style, which is reflected in the sleek gray bag with studs. Overall this bag was just okay to me, especially since I’m 99% sure that my lipgloss was open and used.. but here’s what I got:

– Cailyn Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss: Even though this was already open and used I swatched it on my hand it is definitely a really pretty wine shade, but I will not be using it, sadly.
– NYX Hot Singles Eyeshadow in Chandelier: Love that this is full size, and a pretty shade.
– Crown Brush Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush: This is the first tool I’ve received in a beauty subscription, and I love it. Definitely a fan!
– Pacifica Natural Water-Proof Eye Pencil: I love the bronzey shade of this; it’s like nothing I’ve ever tried before.
– Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair!™ Deep Conditioning Mask: This is my favorite product in this bag. Definitely a useful product and a decent size for a sample!

Well that’s all I got! I wish the lipgloss wasn’t opened, it put a damper on my entire bag. But the other product I am able to use I really do like! This month, however, I much preferred my Birchbox. What about you?

xo, J

september birchbox.

Hi Guys!

I know this post is SO late going up (how is it almost October already!?) But my subscription beauty boxes made their way to my home in New Jersey for the last time this month. From now on they’ll come straight to my apartment – thank god, I hated waiting so long for my beauties!

So let me just say I think this is my FAVORITE Birchbox ever. I was slightly concerned because some of my friends weren’t so ecstatic about their boxes, but somehow mine is the greatest.

Here’s what I got:

– Caudalie: Vinoperfect Radiance Serum: Caudalie never disappoints, so excited for this product.
– dr. brandt: pores no more vacuum cleaner: When I first looked at this I was like “Why is BB sending me ANOTHER dr.b primer, but that is not the case! This is a 5 minute treatment that “vacuums” your pores, and I can;t wait to try it!
– Macadamia Professional: Healing Oil Spray: EEK SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE.. like all caps lock excited. I’ve already used this twice and will be forever obsessed.
– Noir Cosmetics: Long-Wear Eyeliner: It’s ironic actually, I just started falling out-of-love with liquid liner (read: being lazy) and this was perfect timing for this (full size) beauty to come into my life!
– Yu-Be: Moisturizing Skin Cream (this is a little weird)
– Birchbox Find Alert: I got the Chapstick Hydration lock double-sided chap stick!!! It’s anti-aging too, which is pretty unique.

Well that’s all for now! Oh also I got a really sweet email for 21% off to celebrate my 21st Birchbox. Happy Day!

xo, J

august favorites!

Hi everyone!

I literally cannot believe summer
is essentially over and I’m posting my third monthly favorites of summertime. I’m very excited for the transition to my favorite season (fall, duh) but I’m sad to say so long to sweet summer.

Skincare:
– FAB Overnight Mask (this product is beyond amazing)
– Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Mask

Makeup:
– Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain (LA Exclusive is my fav)
– Coastal Scents: Revealed2 Pallet,
Ballerina section (Birchbox)

Candle:
– Farmstand Apple (perfect transition from Summer to Fall!)

Book:
– Series:Something Borrowed & Something Blue – Emily Giffin

Favorite Songs:

Show:
– Pretty Little Liars (UGH THE FINALE)

xo, J

august birchbox unboxing.

Happy Wednesday !

Today I was surprised by my Birchbox when I got home from my grueling commute (that’s almost over, yay!!!!!)

Here’s what’s inside:
• Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris
• Dr. Jart+ Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm
• ModelCo Shimmer Bronzer
• Neil George Shampoo & Conditioner

First impressions: I’m excited for all these new products, but this is about the third Dr. Jart+ BB formula I’ve gotten. The perfume and shampoo also smell lovely. However, the bronzer looks a little dark for me, but I’ll just have to wait and see. Oh and I’m obsessed with the little Tee Hee Hee box!

xo, J