Say Hello To, Pie

Hey lovelies! I know that this is quite different from my normal blog posts but, I am just so excited! Since the little guy is all settled in now, I just wanted to share with you the newest pint sized addition to my furbaby family. Say hello to, Pie! He is a male Syrian hamster and I am absolutely enamored with him. Enjoy his little photo shoot below, isn't he adorable?! I think so!

I like to stuff my cheeks!

He has been here nineteen days now and has even introduced himself to the kitties already (while safely in his rolling ball of course!) It is hilarious to see their confusion and intrigue, they haven't quite figured him out yet.

Hello there readers!

I chose the name Pie for him because when stuffing his cheeks he reminds me of a pumpkin, aka Pumpkin Pie. And lets be honest, who doesn't love pie? 

Also, I want to hear from you all! If you have any, what are the names of YOUR furbabies? Comment below! 

Much love xo

Birchbox April

Hey loves! It is that time again, Birchbox time! The theme this month was "Tiny tweaks, BIG results" this month all Birchbox members both new and old received the Women's Health box plus an entire free year of Women's Health Magazine! How awesome is that? This offer comes in the form of a mail in card where you can redeem the subscription or receive a refund for the offer's value ($9.99). Either way, it is a great deal because you are receiving a free year of the magazine or basically your April Birchbox is free. As far as the items I received, I am in LOVE with this box!!

• Mirenesse Glossy Kiss Lipstick & Cheek Stain (#2 Flirty Kiss)
• Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Hair Elixir
• LAFACE Laboratories PUR Purifying Facial Wash
• Joie Folle De Joie Eau De Parfum
• Simple Skincare Revitalizing Eye Roll-On

The Mirenesse lip & cheek stain is an absolutely gorgeous color! Now, being a matte lip girl at heart, I was not exactly over the moon about receiving a glossy lipstick. Since the shade that I was sent was red, I HAD to try it out (I heart red lips) and I am thrilled that I did! The formula is very creamy, glides on effortlessly and is opaque on the first swipe. The best thing of all? Since the lipstick is so pigmented, I am able to blot a few times to get my desired matte texture while still leaving the color intact. When they said STAIN, they meant it! This lipstick stayed at full opacity for two to three hours; after that along with eating and drinking, I was left with a nice watermelon hued lip. Even though I love this lipstick, I must admit that I am a little cheesed at the packaging. This is in fact a full size product but, it differs from the one available on the Birchbox website in a big, big way. For those that received the Mirenesse, our pencil has to be sharpened whereas the one available for purchase is a simple and much more convenient twist up. You are probably wondering why this is such a big deal, well..the pencil is made out of very thick, rigid plastic and I have NOT had the best of luck with trying to sharpen plastic pencils. My last attempt was with the NYX Slide On eye pencils, what I was left with was a horribly uneven, mangled mess. For this reason I am quite hesitant to possibly destroy my beautiful new lipstick, I will use as much of this as I absolutely can before attempting to sharpen. Retail: $26.55 // 4 g

Ahh Nexxus, we meet again. I will admit, I have been severely slacking on the UV protection lately and my hair has decided to show me how much of a mistake that was! I have noticed that in the past year my hair has gotten considerably lighter (I won't even dive into split ends and frizz!). My hair has gone from being almost jet black to a dull chestnut brown; as you can probably guess, this serum was a welcomed addition to my box! The instructions say to use three to four drops to reduce frizz and improve color, radiance, shine, strength, and volume. I have been using this daily since receiving it; while I do not (yet) notice a drastic improvement in my hair, I have noticed an increase in shine and a decrease in frizz. Retail prices vary from $14-$20 // .94 fl oz

Oh Birchbox, why must you send me a great facial wash that is utterly out of my price range? I really enjoyed using this purifying facial wash by LAFACE; it instantly reminded me of Benefit's Foamingly Clean because the textures are quite similiar; they both have a thick, night cream type feel. The LAFACE cleanser left my skin feeling clean, bright, moisturized, and the pores on my cheeks were significantly smaller. It was not until I looked this up on the Birchbox website that I found out why this facial wash was so good, it is actually a cleanser and toner in one! According to the BB site, it also moisturizes, heals blemishes, tightens pores and improves skin texture. I have been absolutely loving this cleanser, I hate that the sample is so small :( Thankfully, a little does go a long way, I only use three dots of product and it lathers extremely well. Would I purchase this? If it wasn't for the price tag, absolutely! I just might use my Birchbox points for it in a few months. Retail: $48 // 7.6 fl oz

Unfortunately, I do not like the scent of this perfume at all which is surprising considering that it has several notes that I usually enjoy. The list of notes are as follows: Italian mandarin, South American petitgrain, cognac, orange blossom, jasmine, white lily, Damascenia rose, musk, amber and sandalwood. Staying power is wonderful as once I sprayed it on my wrist it lasted for hours, even after washing my hands several times. Retail: $98 // 2.4 oz

I love, love, love this roll-on! Since I often wake up pretty early in the morning and well, realistically I almost never get enough sleep, anything that reduces under eye bags and helps me to look more awake is quite welcome! The serum/gel is formulated with vitamin B5, cucumber extract, and glycerin to help hydrate, refresh and smooth the under eye area. I have been using this every morning since I received it and I have indeed noticed a difference. The metal ball and cooling effect help to reduce redness and puffiness, the mint smell opens my eyes and helps to "awaken my senses" (I have to admit that sounds cheesy but, it's true). My favorite thing of all? It really does hydrate; my under eye area feels so soft and smooth. Please keep in mind that this roll on is NOT meant to treat dark circles. Retail: $9-$13 // 0.5 oz

Overall, I really enjoyed my box this month and I honestly couldn't have picked a better one for myself. Everything that I received minus the perfume were things that I needed and that will be put to good use! Also, my box had two full sized items which is absolutely fantastic in my book. I really hope that Birchbox keeps it up, they knocked it out of the park for me this month!

Quick Tip: Does anyone else love the pillowboxes that Birchbox has recently made the switch to? I find them to be incredibly useful as a little holder for my feminine care products as well as my on the go needs. They are the perfect size for carrying a feminine wipe or two as well as a pantyliner and tampon. Not only that but they are great for carrying little things like Q-tips, bobby pins, hand sanitizer, lipstick, etc. So that those things are not lost or damaged by roaming around in your bag. Now you might be wondering, why not just carry those things in a small pouch or wallet? I hate to waste products! I find the pillowboxes to be adorable and instead of throwing them away, I have found a use for them!

Much love & looking forward to May xo

Ulta Dual Action Cleansing System

Hey lovelies! I am sure that you have all seen ads and reviews for the famous Clarisonic face brushes. The idea behind gadgets such as these is the same as an electric toothbrush, the premise being that basically, you can only do so much with the power of your own muscles; we simply do not have the speed and motion needed to get the deep clean that our skin and teeth really need. The downside to these wonderful inventions? They are more often that not, expensive (BOOO!). The price of a Clarisonic is anywhere from $119-$225 depending on which kit you choose, and the brush head replacements are another $25 every few months. As much as we all love our skin, what if you simply cannot afford the Clarisonic price tag? Thankfully there are quite a few alternatives and you simply have to choose the best option for yourself, I chose the Ulta version.

The packaging for this product is simple and "assembly" was easy in the sense that only the batteries needed to be inserted (batteries are included). One thing I dislike about this tool is that the battery compartment is very hard to open, it took a good five minutes of pulling, numerous swears and all but attacking it with a hammer before it finally opened. I assume the extreme hold is so that water will not seep in but, I should not have to wrestle something in order for it to open.

The system comes with three pieces: the main tool, a brush (deep clean) and a sponge (everyday clean/buffer). There are a few aspects that differ greatly from the Clarisonic and these are, speed and motion. While the Clarisonic is known for its patented vibrating motion and three speeds, the Ulta brush simply rotates and only has one speed which I would place as medium, it is neither slow nor fast. There is a downside to the rotating motion and that is, if you press too hard not only will it be uncomfortable but you will notice a slight, skin pulling action. Just use a light hand, let the rotating motion do the work for you and this should not be an issue.

How do I use this? I have found that both the brush and sponge attachments soak up a lot of cleanser and I am left wondering if any of that sudsy goodness even reached my face. To counteract this, I use my hands to wash my face and before rinsing, I use either attachment to scrub my face for a minute or so. I do this twice daily with the less harsh sponge piece; as for the brush head, I use this every few days or sooner if I feel that my skin needs it. Another reason for washing my face beforehand is so that I do not stain the attachments, I learned the hard way that this can happen! My sponge now has a purple tint because of some purple eyeshadow awhile back. Both of these pieces leave my skin feeling clean, refreshed and unfortunately, DRY! Because of this, moisturizer is an absolute must. The upside to deep cleaning/exfoliating your face however, all of your skincare products will be properly absorbed and much more effective. I have been using this system for a couple of weeks now and I have noticed that the texture of my skin has definitely improved, my skin is a lot smoother and quite glowy! I have suffered from both large pores and painful cystic acne for years and these too have almost disappeared, I still get a bump or two here and there but, that is by far an improvement from the usual zombie horde of pimples on the sides of my face. This coupled with my DDF Brightening Cleanser is a skincare duo crafted by angels.

Quick Tip: Please be advised that no matter what brush system you end up choosing, your skin will most likely go through a period of what is known as, purging. What is purging? It is your body's natural way of detoxing itself. Since you are now deep cleaning your skin, all of that trapped sebum and gunk (yuck!) in your pores is now rising to the surface; until now it has been trapped under layers and layers of dead skin. Believe me when I say your skin will most likely look a lot worse before it gets better. Now with that being said, please do not confuse purging with a product simply not working for your skin (ex: a reaction) whereas purging will go away in its own time, a reaction will not until you discontinue use of that product. Just keep an eye on your skin and make sure that things are getting better and not worse.

Overall, I really love this system and I feel as though my skin has never looked better. My skin feels cleaner and looks clearer as a lot of my acne troubles have disappeared. Unfortunately, nothing can be perfect and Ulta's brush system does falter a bit. The battery compartment can absolutely be improved upon, it is entirely too difficult to open. Next, this tool is not waterproof so I would advise against sticking the tool under water and just wet the brush or sponge itself before using. I cannot compare this or any of the other systems to the Clarisonic as I have not used them. Would I re-purchase? Well I am hoping this will not break anytime soon but, once it does, yes I will re-purchase.

This product retails for $25.00 and can be purchased here
Replacement brush heads retail for $8.00 and can be purchased here

Check out other versions here (prices may vary):

Clarisonic $119-$225

Olay Pro-X $10.99

Olay Fresh Effects $14.99

DDF Revolve Micro Polishing System $50.00

Neutrogena Wave (Original) $10.99

Neutrogena Wave (Sonic) $15.99

Neutrogena Microderm System $13.99

Pretika SonicDermabrasion Face Brush $50.00

Acne Free Advanced Cleansing Brush $14.99

CVS Facial Cleansing Power Brush $19.99

Much love xo

The "Wet" Brush

Is it possible to love a hair tool quite this much? Tangled hair is something that a lot of us deal with on a day to day basis and if your tresses are like mine, I am sure that you have let out more than a few curse words while trying to battle your unruly tangles (I know I have). I have known about the wet brush for awhile but, I never really paid attention to it (I wish I would have sooner), that all changed when my local salon got an order of them in and I immediately purchased one, it couldn't hurt right? I am sure that I am not the only person to scoff at the idea of a simple brush being able to effortlessly work through my extreme kinks. It sounds too good to be true right? I was all too prepared to be returning this brush a few days after purchasing. Amazingly, this is the best hair care tool that I have purchased since my Instyler. Return it? I think not.

Brushing my mane has been on more than one occasion, an absolute nightmare. My hair is thick, dry, frizzy and tangles all too easily especially when washed. Not even a wide tooth comb could successfully battle my locks; only after applying mountains of product and almost ripping through my hair would it become manageable. As you can imagine, I was at my wits end with having clumps constantly matted into my old brush.

This is what I mean by residual hair

To the naked eye, the wet brush looks like any other ordinary hairbrush, the bristles do not appear to be any different but, somehow it works. I am honestly fascinated as this is the first time that I have EVER used a brush with only a few strands coming out, a far cry from the usual ball of hair. I use this brush daily when my hair is both wet and dry, I have been seeing the same results with absolutely no problems. Even though I love this brush, I do see where it can be improved upon. Number one, because the bristles are so closely spaced, cleaning and removing any left over hair is a complete pain. Secondly, the handle is a bit shorter than I am used to and it ends up feeling a bit odd when held. Nevertheless, this is the only brush that I can see myself using from now on and I cannot rave about it enough! Seriously, stop reading and go find it! Would I re-purchase this? In the words of Mr. Big from Sex and the City, ABSO- F*****- LUTELY.

This brush retails anywhere from $10 - $15

You can purchase here and here

Much love xo

Favorite Product Of The Month - March

Hey lovelies! Wow, March is officially over and here we are at April, looking forward to spring! It is that time again, my favorite beauty pick of the month. This month was quite easy for me since as of late I have been enjoying a quick "get up and go" routine. Since I have been so busy this month, I have been utilizing very subtle eye makeup with bright, in your face lips to complete my look and make my face pop. My obsession for March has been "blood orange" lips and so, Scarlet Ibis has seen quite a bit of love. However, one other lip product really became my go to for this month and that is why I chose it.

Since Scarlet Ibis is a very daring lipstick; I know that for some it may be too much and I love this lip pencil for that very reason. On days where I am craving an orange lip but, I do not feel like breaking out full on saturated color, this is my choice: NYX Slim Lip Pencil in "Pumpkin". It is a gorgeous bright orange/coral with a hint of golden shimmer. When I purchased this awhile back, I was initially hesitant because I failed to realize that there was shimmer involved. This awesome pencil was two steps away from being returned! Thankfully, the gold shimmer blends into my lips flawlessly and instead of overbearing sparkles, I get gorgeous color. Even with my lips being as naturally pigmented as they are, Pumpkin still shows up perfectly. The greatest thing? Versatility! Depending on the lighting, Pumpkin can look full on orange or have a red or pink tint.

These lip pencils glide on well and blend with very minimal effort but they lack the creamy aspect of traditional lip liners, they have a semi dry feel. I actually prefer this texture because it stays put and the pigment does not slide around my lips and settle into lines or crevices. (I have Hot Red as well). With my MAC Prep + Prime, this lasts for a few good hours before fading to a nice stain. Without primer, eating/drinking of course wears the color down but surprisingly I am still left a nice color on my lips although, it ends up being more on my lip line than anywhere else! My favorite thing about this? Like Scarlet Ibis, Pumpkin really brightens up my face and helps me to look more awake. Which is quite appreciated on early, on-the-go days.

Overall, would I re-purchase this? Absolutely! I have been wearing this lip liner under all of my lipstick no matter what shade and even of its own. It is perfect for that hint of brightness; I really adore how it just pulls together my entire look and makes it a lot more interesting than my standard red or pink lip.

You can purchase these lip pencils here and here

Retail: $3.49 // 0.04 oz

Much love & Happy April Fools Day! xo