Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Feeling Grateful Giveaway! *Ended-Winner Announced!

Congratulations Neha and THANK YOU to all of you who shared what you are grateful for!  Happy Thanksgiving! Just posted a new giveaway here

I had such fun with my last giveaway I decided to do another!  The theme for this one is gratitude because I am indeed grateful for all of you who stop by my happy little blog :-)

I am giving away a NYX Smokey Eyeshadow Palette and a NYX Liquid Black Eyeliner from the Noir Collection. You can enter through the Rafflecopter widget below. Giveaway ends November 27, 2013. It is open to international subscribers, and feel free to rack up entries by commenting or tweeting once daily. I am looking forward to finding out what you are all grateful for!

 NYX Smokey Eyeshadow Palette
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Photo Credit: NYX


NYX Liquid Black Eyeliner from the Noir Collection




*Feel free to enter the Uglee Pen Giveaway too!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Glossybox November 2013 Spoiler

I got mine today!



Glossybox for November will include:
Photo Credit: Emite
http://cdn.makeuptalk.com/9/90/200x400px-LL-909507af_image.jpeg
Photo Credit: Glossybox

Spoiler 1: Emite Makeup Micronized Eyeshadow in Damson Black
Spoiler 2: Mastey Oil Treatment
Spoiler 3: The Aloe Source Jojoba Radiance Cleansing Polish
Spoiler 4: Nicka K Professional Eyeshadow brush (I am always happy for another brush!)
Spoiler 5: Sulwhasoo Ginseng Cream (I will have to learn more about this one.)

*Enabler alert! You can get an extra $2.75 off if you use your ebates account to subscribe to Glossybox. I try to check ebates every time before I buy something, because I can usually get a discount there. It even works on their special edition boxes.
Photo Credit: Glossybox
Enter the Getaway Giveaway here Enter my Feeling Grateful Giveaway here! Feel free to enter the Uglee Pen Giveaway as well!

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Photo Credit: NYX

And please follow Spoiled Boxes because it would make me smile :-)

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Immortal Energy Review


Photo Credit: Immortal Herbs

*Code embedded. Before I get into my review, I thought I would share a description of the product from the company:
Product Description

Immortal Energy was designed for those that are needing that extra push for energy and clarity during their day, without having the side effects of the energy drinks and energy pills currently on the market. It is best taken when you are starting to become fatigued or mentally drained and need that extra boost to push thru your day.
Immortal Energy assists with muscular strength and endurance, increases in concentration and memory, has anti-inflammatory properties, regulates metabolism, enhances the immune system and wards off infections by assisting the skin to eliminate toxins.


Okay, now for my take on it.  I was extremely reluctant to try this product and actually really regretted saying I would once I received it since I have had really unpleasant reactions to similar seeming energy products.  I even contacted them about my concerns, but in the end I just decided to try it since I had made that commitment to them.  I received a sample size of the product good for about three uses according to their instructions.

Shortly after trying it, I definitely felt a response (which actually had me a bit worried because of previous experiences with other products).  I definitely felt more energized.  I did not however feel anxious, or jittery (thank heavens).  I experienced a bit more energy but I was totally calm.  This definitely was unique for me in terms of "energy" products.

Bottom Line: I would not purchase this product myself but I would not necessarily recommend against it.  I learned from this experience that I am just really uncomfortable with this genre of product, and any benefits are not worth the concerns I might have over using it.



Enter my Feeling Grateful Giveaway here! Feel free to enter the Uglee Pen Giveaway as well!

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Photo Credit: NYX

And please follow Spoiled Boxes because it would make me smile :-)

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Wantable November 2013 Makeup Box Review


My box!
I received this box from Wantable free for the purposes of review.  Before I launch into the review, I will share a description of the service from Wantable.
Full-sized premium makeup products, hand-picked to perfectly match your preferences.

Products will be determined based on results of your style quiz and could include, but are not necessarily limited to the items shown in our images-- you could get a box full of things that are not shown in the images.

What do you love? Answer a few short questions so we can match you with the perfect products.

Discover a new you. Each box is packed with full-size products hand-picked from unique, specialty, and premium brands just for you.
What's inside the box
4 to 5 full-sized premium makeup products,
hand-picked to perfectly match your preferences.
Subscribe for only $36
— or —
One-time purchase for $40
Subscribers will receive monthly personalized boxes and can cancel or skip anytime.
I really answered the pre-purchase survey in a way that I could have received just about any kind of product in this box.  I thought it would be more fun that way, and for someone with as vasta makeup collection as I have, it seemed to make the most sense.  Sooo...what did I get and what did I think?


The day was a bit overcast so I took a couple of pics for you guys to try to give a good idea.

I wish the sun had come out because the nail polish is really quite beautiful in person but the photos do not quite do it justice.


1. Japonesque Travel Smudger Brush $14.50
Hit or Miss? Hit!  I have a lot of brushes but nothing from this brand and I am excited to try it!
2. FACE Stockholm Contouring Kit $32
Hit or Miss? Hit! I really do not have a product quite like this one and nothing from FACE Stockholm and it really looks like the sort of thing I am going to have a lot of fun playing with.
3. Color Club Nail Polish in Sugar Rays $8
Hit or Miss? HIT! This color is SO pretty and SO appropriate for the season without being dark (which I tend to sort of resist because I like to be in denial that it is Fall and that Winter might show up soon ;-)
4. Girlactik Beauty Cream Blush in Coral $18
Hit or Miss? Hit!  Over the last year, I have really come to love coral and I really like cream blushes as they tend to be pretty long wearing on me.
5. Skiin Instant Skin Tightner and Line Filler Sample $0
Hit or Miss? Meh.  I will try it but I am not exactly giddy about it. But who cares, because I love the rest of the box!

The November Wantable Makeup Box. Hit or Miss? HIT baby! Woo-hoo!  LOVED it!    The cost is $36 -$40 a month depending on how you order it, the value of the items I received was $72.50. If you check the links for the individual items, you can see that they actually seem to sell for those prices as opposed to being just suggested retail prices.  I felt like this one was worth the money, especially because I was being exposed to mostly higher end brands that I have had no experience with. Based on this box, the Wantable Makeup Box really seems like a subscription worth considering. Of the Wantable boxes I have tried from their other services (accessories, lingerie), this one was my favorite by a long shot.  Well done Wantable!
Enter my Feeling Grateful Giveaway here! Feel free to enter the Uglee Pen Giveaway as well!

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Photo Credit: NYX

And please follow Spoiled Boxes because it would make me smile :-)
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Immortal Sleep Review



Photo Credit: Immortal Herbs

 

I received a trial size of this product free for the purposes of review. The trial size was said to last the average person 3-4 days. Before we get into my review, here is a description of the product from Immortal Herbs (I edited it down a bit for space.:

Wake up refreshed and ready for the day! Be reminded of how great it feels to get an uninterrupted good night’s sleep. For people who have: difficulty falling asleep, poor quality sleep, irritability, agitation, fatigue, and lack of focus. This safe and effective, non habit forming formula has no side effects and no next day drowsiness.

Our natural herbal sleep aid is not only effective but also safe, non-habit forming and all with no next day grogginess.

This herbal remedy is extremely safe and will allow deep relaxation and calm.

Unlike other sleeping pills, Immortal Herbs‘ sleep blend may provide your body with benefits beyond that of a good night’s sleep. Immortal Sleep™ contains the time tested herbal remedy long ago introduced into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Our all natural sleeping pills contain zizyphus which has been used for centuries to help people fall asleep. It is well suited to those who are stressed out and experiencing symptoms like irritability, agitation, and racing thoughts. Zizyphus is used to get the body to sleep more soundly.

For deep peaceful sleep you need to relax the body and mind. To achieve this we have combined L-theanine with our herbs. L-theanine promotes deep relaxation, stress relief and calmness. L-theanine is not a sleep aid itself but allows the body to enter a state of calm relaxation so the herbs may be more effective at getting the body into a deep state of rest.

The products and the claims made about specific products on this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.
 
Phew!  That is a lot of information, but I thought it was important to relay what Immortal Herbs themselves had to say about their product.  Again, I received a trial size of this product free for the purposes of review. The trial size was said to last the average person 3-4 days, so you are really only getting my experience with it over the short term.  I was willing to try it because I can have problems falling asleep and staying asleep pretty often.

I tested the products over three nights. The first night I took it I feel asleep and stayed asleep, but I cannot be sure if it was due to the Immortal Sleep.  I woke up refreshed and not the least bit groggy, so that is saying something I suppose.

The second night I took it was at the end of a really busy day, which is frequently when I have the hardest time winding down.  I am sorry to say it did not seem to really help me sleep.  I was as restless and had as much difficulty as I typically do on such an occasion.

The third night was like the first, but again, I cannot be sure what effect the Immortal Sleep really had.  There are people who, like my boyfriend, have very different experiences with sleep remedies.  He is typically more easily affected at a much lower dose.  He also tends to have very little difficulty falling asleep in general.  That said, I have had profound clear effects from other natural remedies I have used.

Again, I was only provided with enough to try for three nights, so my experience is pretty limited.  It either did not work for me, or had such a minimal effect that it made its impact unclear.  Either way, I myself would not purchase it, given my experience with it.

Enter my Feeling Grateful Giveaway here! Feel free to enter the Uglee Pen Giveaway as well!

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Photo Credit: NYX

And please follow Spoiled Boxes because it would make me smile :-)

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Natural Camoufleur Concealer Review


Photo Credit: Ageless Derma

 

I received this product free for the purposes of review from Ageless Derma. Before I get into my review I thought I would share the description of the product from Ageless Derma:

Ageless Derma Camoufleur Concealer is perfect for hiding those skin imperfections such as dark spots on the face that come with age or excessive sun exposure. This concealer will cover up scars, port wine stains, and other flaws to make the complexion more even and flawless. The Ageless Derma Concealer also works as an anti aging skin cream due to its pure mineral content and youth-renewing ingredients.
Dark spots on the face can be hidden with the Ageless Derma Camoufleur Concealer, as can scars, birthmarks, age spots, and even aging dark circles beneath the eyes. This concealer is made of 100% pure minerals that act as light reflectors of the sun. It is a sun protectant. The sun is a major cause of aging dark spots on the face, wrinkles, fine lines and other signs of aging. With this mineral makeup concealer, dark spots on the face will be hidden and made to blend in with the rest of the facial complexion.
As an anti aging cream makeup, this concealer contains Vitamins A and E and green tea extracts to revitalize and heal the skin, protecting it from further damage and healing the damage already done. The product is a creamy anti aging skin cream concealer that comes in gorgeous shades suitable for any complexion.
The Ageless Derma Camoufleur Concealer also contains apple extract, cetyl esters and horseradish. The apple extract helps to bright those dark spots on the face as it also fights acne and adds antioxidant protection to the skin for anti aging skin cream benefits.

Now for my take on it.  I received the concealer in the color Ivory. The concealer comes in several shades for $25 each on their website. The company really emphasizes the use of a "camouflage" brush (they sell brushes as well) for application and blending.  I used a synthetic concealer brush while testing the product, but not the one that they sell. The packaging reminded me a bit of NYX and when I tapped my finger on the product to check for its consistency, it was indeed quite creamy.

I found that this concealer does what it says it will do.  It is very creamy, blends well, works well with other products (or rather does not inhibit the other products from doing their job), and is the most full coverage concealer I have ever used.  It is easier to work with and certainly seemed creamier than Benefit's erase paste for example and provides more coverage.  I am not always in the need for heavier coverage, beyond using on my face as I would a normal concealer, I tried it on freckles and little moles on my arm just to see how it would do.  One pass with this concealer and the appearance of the marks was really minimized.  It seemed to have decent staying power but the longest I kept it on was about eight hours, and I did not note fading.  Remember though, that different skin types and the use of different products can yield differing experiences potentially.  I have normal to combination skin.

Though this concealer is certainly on the higher end, priced at $25, I would certainly recommend someone consider trying it if they were looking for a fuller coverage concealer.

p.s. I was wearing it this morning and saw my face in the rear view mirror and could not get over how flawless it looked!  I reallllllly like this stuff!

Enter my Feeling Grateful Giveaway here! Feel free to enter the Uglee Pen Giveaway as well!

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Photo Credit: NYX

And please follow Spoiled Boxes because it would make me smile :-)


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Birchbox November 2013 Spoilers

My November box!


The Sneak Peek video is up!
This month's Birchbox theme is More Good
It will include:
Lace Highlighter Pencil
Photo Credit: Chella

Chella Highlighter Pencil ( I own this and LOVE it!)
Tiossan Body Cream
Tocca Crema da Mano (I have their candles but none of their body products so yay!)
Chuao Chocopods
Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator
Beauty Protector Protect & Shampoo
Beauty Protector Protect & Condition

Enter my Feeling Grateful Giveaway here! Feel free to enter the Uglee Pen Giveaway as well!

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Photo Credit: NYX

And please follow Spoiled Boxes because it would make me smile :-)

Ipsy My Glam bag November 2013 Spoilers-Glam Rooms have updated!!!

http://assets.ipsy.com/myglam-assets/images/mi-hnvw7s7cyg7t290/1_500mi-hnvw7s7cyg7t290.png                             Glam Rooms have updated!  I will be getting:

em michelle phan
pillow plush cushiony lip balm
Be a Bombshell
Lip Crayon

Nailtini
Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer

Pixi Beauty
Bronzer

Starlooks
Gem Eye Pencil
TRESemmé®
TRES Two Extra Hold Hairspray Travel Size
Image Credit: Ipsy
Photo Credit: Ipsy
Photo Credit: Ispy



Photo Credit: Ipsy
*
Photo Credit: Ipsy
Photo Credit: Ipsy
Photo Credit: Tinypic
I am PSYCHED for this month's bag! The Ipsy bag theme is Glam it Up! It will include:
Spoiler 1: Em Cosmetics Lash Gallery Lengthening Mascara
Spoiler 2: Em Cosmetics Lip Gallery Creamy Color Lipstick in Be Mine (not sure about this one)
Spoiler 3: Em Cosmetics Waterliner in Royal Amethyst
Spoiler 4: Em Cosmetics Waterliner in Emerald
Spoiler 5: Em Cosmetics Pillow Plus Lip Balm in Lollipop
Spoiler 6: Em Cosmetics Pillow Plush Lip Balm in Bubblegum
Spoiler 7: Em Cosmetics Lip Gallery Creamy Color Sheer Lipstick in Cupcake Pink
Spoiler 8: Em Cosmetics Pillow Plush Lip Balm in Berries
Spoiler 9: Em Cosmetics Lash Gallery Dramatic Volume Mascara
Spoiler 10: Blushes from Two Cosmetics
Spoiler 11: Bronzers from Pixi Beauty
Spoiler 12:  Lip Crayons from Be a Bombshell
Spoiler 13: Kabuki Brush from Cailyn Cosmetics 
Spoiler 14: Nailtini Minis 
Spoiler 15: bh cosmetics Galaxy Chic Sampler
Spoiler 16: Glam Glow
Spoiler 17: Tresemme Tres Two Extra Firm Control Hairspray
Spoiler 18: Cailyn Mineral Eyeshadow with built in sponge tip
Spoiler 19: Ever EZ Lashes from Kiss 
Spoiler 20: HSI Argan Oil 
Spoiler 21: Starlooks Gem Eyeliner in Topaz and Amethyst

Photo Credit: Cailyn

*The sixth product in everyone's bag will be a full-sized item from Em!
If you are not already subscribed to Ipsy, you can get on the waitlist here: Ipsy
Enter my Feeling Grateful Giveaway here!
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Photo Credit: NYX

And please follow Spoiled Boxes because it would make me smile :-)