Throwback NOTD: Frightening Fingers

Happy Halloween Calendar Girls!

I thought I'd celebrate this haunting holiday by sharing my very first NOTD with you! Way back in 2010, I found a blog called The Daily Nail and quickly became obsessed with Melissa's amazing nail art. And while I'm not nearly as good an artist as she is, it really inspired me to try creating my own nail designs.

First, I painted on a base coat of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Sun Kissed and then I used a Black Crayola Nail Art Pen to draw little faces on. If I remember correctly, the polish pen was really hard to work with and I'm pretty sure I had to start over multiple times.

Here is my pioneering attempt at nail art from Halloween 2010! 

Funny little jack-o-lantern faces!As difficult as it was to do my left hand, I knew the other side wouldn't stand a chance, so I did things a little differently on my right hand.

Ha! Yes, I kind of took the easy way out! And apparently I hadn't realized the importance of cleaning up the cuticles and edges with polish remover at this point in my life. ;) I had so much fun creating my first real NOTD, though! I hope you like it as much as I do!

How do you feel about festive nail art? Is it something you would ever try? Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or @Manda_CGC on Twitter! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

My Makeup Collection!

Hi there Calendar Girls!

If you're interested, I filmed a quick video of my vanity and its contents. You can view it over on my Facebook page! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

Short Break!

Hey Calendar Girls!

I just wanted to write out a quick apology for the lack of a post yesterday. I haven't been feeling well, so I will be taking a bit of a hiatus. This won't last long, I promise! In the meantime, be sure to follow Calendar Girl Cosmetics on Facebook for exclusive hauls, giveaways, and sneak peeks! Thanks so much for reading!

-Manda

St. Ive's Apricot Scrub Review

Hello there Calendar Girls!

Quite a few weeks ago, I bought St. Ive's Invigorating Apricot Scrub on a whim. It was only a couple of bucks in the travel products section of Target, so I thought I'd give it a try!

I tend to get water everywhere when I use face washes/scrubs at the sink, so I've started keeping this in my shower. That way, after I wash my hair and everything, I can just massage this into my skin and rinse it off without worrying about the mess!

It looks smooth, coming out of the tube, but it actually has a very gritty texture that makes for an amazing exfoliant! The grittiness comes from ground walnut shells and corn kernel meal. It's great for clearing away dead skin and always leaves my face feeling so smooth! The apricot not only gives this scrub a light, fresh scent--it's also great for nourishing your skin!

Also, I know this has nothing to do with how well the product works, but I think the packaging is great! It's so simple and clean! I don't know why, but I love the clear lid! Ha!

Overall, I really like this and I'm glad for my random purchase! I'll definitely buy this again! Next time, I'll go for the Blemish & Blackhead Control version, though, as it's probably better suited to my skin type.

What's your favorite face scrub? Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter @Manda_CGC! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

September ipsy Glam Bag

Hey there Calendar Girls!

Around the same time I subscribed to BirchBox, I also learned about ipsy. I read that ipsy was more focused on makeup than BB, which contains a variety of products for hair and skin in addition to makeup. I love my BirchBox and wasn't willing to cancel it in favor of ipsy, so what choice did I have but to subscribe to both! ;)

A little over a month after I first signed up, I finally got the email saying I was no longer on the waiting list and my first bag would be shipping soon!

A few weeks later, this beauty was in my mail box! I love, love, LOVE the shiny pink packaging! What I didn't love was the ridiculous shipping circus it had to go through before getting to me. :/ The ipsy bag ships out of North Carolina, which I thought was awesome since I'm only a couple of states away from there! While checking the tracking online, though, I saw that my bag went from NC to Atlanta, where it stayed for five whole days, then down to Orlando, FL for a couple more days, then finally to my house! I really wish that ipsy would use another company to ship their bags. DHL is probably the worst they could've chosen.

Anyway...moving on! Here's what was inside of that pretty mailer!

Each month, ipsy comes in a unique makeup bag and includes four or five samples, most of which are full sized. There's also a theme every month! (I love a theme!) September's was Classic Beauty.

I was pretty excited for most of my samples. I was a little bummed that I didn't get the Cailyn lip balm or Butter London nail polish that others got in their bags. Here's what was in mine:

1. John Freida Full Repair Full Body Shampoo
-This is a good sized sample that will last me a while. I'm interested in the repairing aspect of this shampoo. My hair just isn't what it used to be and I'm always looking for a product that will make it feel soft and smooth again!

2. John Freida Full Repair Full Body Conditioner
-Another good sized sample--same as the shampoo. I'll use this on the ends of my hair as they need the most moisturization. (Is that a word?) I like that this is in the same container as the shampoo because it has a lid. Other conditioner samples I've gotten were in tear-open packets, which isn't the easiest thing to use in the shower.

3. Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Volumizing Mascara
-This is supposed to lengthen and curl your lashes! Can't wait to try it! :)

4. NYX Single Eye Shadow in Sparkle White
-I'm really excited to try this! I've been on the lookout for a good brow bone highlighter! And it's a full-sized shadow! Awesome!

5. Starlooks Obsidian Kohl Eye Pencil
-I wonder how this will compare to my favorite Rimmel kohl pencil? Wait and see!

As for the bag, it's pretty cool. The pattern/color is pretty and the material seems easy to clean. Also, the zipper pull is metal with a little raised "ipsy". So cute!

Well, that's my first ipsy bag! I'm looking forward to many more!

Which do you like better? BirchBox or ipsy? Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or tweet me @Manda_CGC! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

Eyes of the Day: Spooky Smokey

Hi Calendar Girls!

As you know, Halloween is fast approaching! While my excitement builds for my cuties in costume and buckets full of candy, I thought I'd get into the spooky spirit of things and experiment with some of the lesser-used colors in my Mirage Palette! Without further ado, I'd like to present my Spooky Smokey Eye!

Ooh! Festive! Here's how I created this bewitching look:

-First, I dabbed a bit of my Milani Eye Shadow Primer over each eyelid from lash line to brow and let it dry for at least 30 seconds.
-While the primer was setting, I filled in my brows with a CoverGirl Brow & Eyemakers Pencil in Soft Brown.
-Next, I used a flat shadow brush to sweep #26 from the Mirage Palette over my entire lid.
-After that, I highlighted my brow bone with #16. I also brushed a little of #16 on my inner corners.
-Then I used my E.L.F. Defining Eye Brush to apply #82 to the outer corners and blended it into the crease with a domed shadow brush.
-I added a tiny bit of #81 to the very outer corner, as it's more of a matte black, while #82 is more of a shimmery black.
-I used my L'Oreal Super Slim Liner in Black to create a small wing on my upper lash line and for the lower, I used a small angled brush to apply #81.
-I finished off this look with (an oldie but a goodie) Maybelline Great Lash in Blackest Black.

I can't wait to recreate this look on the 31st! I'll be rocking it as I lead my little guys from door to door! :)

Are you dressing up for Halloween? Do you go all out or keep it subtle? Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter @Manda_CGC! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

September BirchBox

Hey there Calendar Girls!

I can't believe we're already almost a week into October! Last month's BirchBox got to me fairly late in the month (or later than I'm used to), so that's why I'm just getting around to this post now! You've had to wait long enough to see this, so let's get to it!

1. SARAHPOTEMPA The Half-Up
-I know the packaging says "The Wrap-Up", but I checked the BirchBox site and I'm pretty sure they only sent out "The Half-Up" in September boxes, although the larger "Wrap-Up" is also available in the BB Store. I'm looking forward to trying this for sock buns! It's gotta be better than wearing an old sock in my hair, right? Ha! We'll see!

2. Amika Obliphica Perk Up Dry Shampoo
-I'm excited about this one! I've tried the TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo before and while it was decently effective, I didn't like the scent or the traces of white powder. Hopefully this Amika shampoo works better for me. Also, look at the pretty packaging! Happy dance!

3. Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips
-Even with its odd name, I've wanted to try this since Zoe first mentioned it in a video. I think, though, (if it's only lanolin) a cheaper alternative might be the Lansinoh that I used when my babies were little! Hey! Nipple cream is nipple cream, amiright? ;)

4. Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Fox Hunt
-As much as I love nail polish, I'm so not excited about the color I got! :( It is very nice for autumn, though, even if orange isn't my first choice. Hopefully I can use it around Halloween or something. 

5. Voesh New York Lemon Pedicure Lotion
-This should be fun to use during my upcoming pampering night! I think I'll try it after a round with the ol' pumice stone. And it's lemon scented! Yum!

Alrighty, there's September for you! I will be reviewing everything over the next few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for that post!

Have you subscribed to BirchBox yet? Let me know if you'd like an invite! You can tweet me @Manda_CGC, find me on Facebook, or just leave a comment on this post! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

Eyes of the Day: Lavender Shimmer

Hey Calendar Girls!

Welcome to my very first EOTD post! I decided to branch out and use a little color on this day, so I chose purple because I've read that it emphasizes hazel/brown eyes. I wasn't ready to dive into too much color, though, so I chose a light purple. ;)

First, I applied my Milani Eye Shadow Primer over each lid and let it dry/set for the recommended 30 seconds. Then I used a large, flat shadow brush to sweep #15 from my Mirage Palette over my entire lid.
For the outer corners and crease, I used a defining shadow brush to apply #76. With a small, angled brush, I carefully lined my lower lash line with #76, as well.

On my brow bone and inner corners, I used a bit of #7. For liner, I used my favorite L'Oreal Super Slim in Black to create a little bit of a cat eye and to finish off the look, I brushed on one coat of Revlon's Lash Potion in Blackest Black.

Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to take a picture right after I finished my makeup, so what you're seeing is an Eyes of the Day and the end of the day! The outer corners have mostly blended with the rest of the lid at this point, but I still think it looks nice. I promise to spend a little extra time taking pics of my eye makeup while it's still fresh in the future!

What do you think of NOTD, FOTD, and EOTD posts? Would you like to see more of them? Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter @Manda_CGC! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

Loaded Lippy Review

Hi Calendar Girls!

I know there have been a lot of review posts lately and I promise to break it up soon with something different! I've just had a lot of catching up to do, review-wise! I hope that's okay with you guys! :) Today's review is packed full of FOUR different lip products, so let's get to it!

Left to Right, they are: Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer, L'Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain, Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick-Kate Moss Collection in 17, and Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick-Kate Moss Collection in 103.

Okay, so first up: Show Off. When I found this in an Atlanta Walgreens (for around $5), the display was nearly empty. Out of the few colors available, I chose Comet because I thought would be a nice neutral. It ended up being a little dark for my taste, though. The scent reminds me of the two Kate Moss lipsticks, which makes sense because they're all Rimmel products. To me, they smell like a plastic-y, charred, artificial watermelon. I know that's a weird description, but it's a very hard scent to describe! I've read other reviews saying it smelled like cucumber or even grapefruit! Luckily, the smell/taste doesn't bother me too much.

The doe-foot applicator has a little divot in the center which works as a bit of a scoop to gather more product so you don't have to re-dip it so much. So easy! The richly pigmented formula is very moisturizing and only slightly sticky. I would like to try other colors from this range.

Next is the Colour Caresse Stain in Eternally Nude. I purchased this from CVS for around $10. It was the most expensive out of the four products in this review, but fortunately I had a coupon for 10% off any beauty product! The unique, tear-shaped applicator on this is great! It has a little well in the center, much like the Rimmel Show Off, which is great for...well..application!

It looks very opaque in the packaging, but it actually goes on fairly transparent, as you can see in this photo:

This stain has a very perfume-y scent and often leaves a weird taste in my mouth. It is incredibly moisturizing but unfortunately sticky. I do like the shine and the staying power, but I probably won't repurchase this one--at least not in this color. I'd be open to trying some brighter versions.

Third is the Kate Moss lipstick in 17. This is the second Kate Moss lippy I purchased (for around $3--I had a $2 off coupon) because I liked the first one so much! I love the color, but I hate that it doesn't have a name! Great pigmentation, though!

This is probably my favorite out of these four lippies. It has great staying power, it doesn't dry out my lips, and it just looks really nice! It's not slick, but not really sticky either and is such a beautiful, shimmery pink!

This is my go-to long-lasting lipstick! It goes with pretty much everything and I'm really looking forward to trying more of the Kate Moss line.

Last, but not least, is the first Kate Moss lipstick I ever bought! I've actually already reviewed this lipstick (shade 103) here, but I took some better pictures to include in this post!

I didn't realize this at the time of purchase, but the red packaging actually indicates the matte shades of the collection. I like that this is almost just the matte version of my other Kate Moss lipstick, but a slightly lighter pink. 

It's so soft and pretty! I always feel very feminine wearing such a girly pink color like this!

Phew! We made it! This was a long post, huh? I'll try not to get so backed up on reviews in the future. I'm almost all caught up for now. (Uh-oh...that means I should probably go shopping! ;)

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this review post! Did I pique your interest in any of these lovely lippies? Do you think you'd try any of them? Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or tweet me @Manda_CGC! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

Milani Eye Shadow Primer Review

Hi there Calendar Girls!

A little over a month ago, I found myself in CVS with a handful of Extra Bucks and I decided to put it towards a shadow primer. I spotted this Milani primer (in the color Nude), which was around the $6 mark, so I decided to go for it!

It comes in a 0.30 oz. tube with a narrow opening, making it super easy to squeeze out the tiny amount you need right onto your fingertip!

As you can see in the photo below, its creamy consistency helps it blend into your skin until it looks almost transparent. The directions recommend allowing it to dry for 30 seconds before applying eye shadow, so I use that time to fill in my brows. :)

Here are a couple of side-by-side swatches to show you what a difference primer makes! On the left is Sleek's 'Mineral Earth' shadow sans primer and on the right is the same shadow over top of the primer! So much more intense--I love it! Also, I don't have a photo of this, but when I cleaned those swatches off my hand, the primerless shadow came off in one swipe, but I had to put some effort into scrubbing off the right swatch! Staying power! That's what I'm talkin' about!

Overall, I love this product! I never bothered with primer before because I figured it wouldn't make much of a difference, but after using this consistently for over a month, I'll never go without it again! This is definitely one of my new beauty staples!

Do you use eye shadow primer? Which brand is your favorite? Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or @Manda_CGC on Twitter! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

L'Oreal Super Slim Liner Review

Hello there Calendar Girls!

I had been on the hunt for this lovely liner since before I ever started my blog! I heard about it through the beauty blog grapevine and thought it would be good for a beginner, like me, who had never used liquid liner before. (Of course, it took me so long to find it that I ended up trying other liquid liners first, one of which you can read about here.) As you may've seen in my Target Haul post, I picked it up for $8.49.

The thing I love most about this liner is that it's basically a marker! I don't have to worry about tricky applicators and dipping a brush into a little pot for more product. It glides on easily and I got the hang of it very quickly!

The line on the left of my hand is one swipe of the nib. You can see how thin and precise it is! And on the right is the build-up of color. It's very dark! I usually prefer brown liner, but I don't think this comes in brown. I'm getting used to the black, though! It's not as harsh as I thought it would be...especially with minimal to no eyeliner on my bottom lash line. I'm wearing my Super Slim in this picture:

This was taken after running errands all day and you can see the amazing staying power! I created a little winged look, which is so much easier with this pen than with any liner I've ever used before.

As for shadows, I was wearing #5 over my entire lid with #70 in the outer corners from my Mirage Palette. (I didn't wear primer that day and you can totally tell by the major creasing happening on my lids. Whoops!) My Boots No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara completed the look! :)

Alrighty, that concludes my review of the L'Oreal Paris Infallible Super Slim Liner. This is my absolute favorite liquid eyeliner. I highly recommend it!

Which eyeliner is your favorite? Do you like pencil, gel, liquid, or all three? Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter @Manda_CGC! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

Nails of the Day: A Pear Affair

Hey Calendar Girls!

You may not know this, but my favorite color is green. I've always gravitated towards anything and everything green--it just makes me happy! I found this pretty color at Target a while back and added it to my growing Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear collection!

I'm sure that in the photo it looks very similar to Mint Sorbet, but this is actually called Perfect Pear-ing! (Cute!) It's a brighter green than the subtle mint I already owned and once I got it home, I realized it's nearly identical to my iPad cover!

It was opaque in two to three coats and left a nice smooth, shiny finish. I also applied clear top coat, of course, to prevent chipping. I love this color and can't wait to "pear" it up with a glitter polish! Ha!

Do you have any suggestions for other colors that would go nicely with this one? Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or tweet me @Manda_CGC! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

Target Haul

Hi Calendar Girls!

I haven't done a haul in a while, so I figured it was high time for another! (That was my inner southerner speaking!) I can't remember the actual reason I went to Target, but you know I can't avoid the beauty aisles once I'm there! Here's what I got this time around:

1. Four-Subject Royal Twist Notebook
$3.99
-I wanted a notebook to start a bit of a journal in. I'm terrible at journaling, but I've decided to just try and write down one fun memory from the day, every day. I'm obsessed with Damask print, so when I saw this little beauty on the shelf, I went straight for it!

2. E.L.F. Makeup Mist & Set
$3.00
-I've wanted to experiment with makeup setting sprays, but I'm not quite ready to purchase a super expensive version yet. This cheap-y bottle is my guinea pig.

3. E.L.F Brush Shampoo
$3.00
-Since I started this blog, I've been using Johnson's Baby Shampoo to clean my brushes. Now that I have some nicer brushes, I thought I would try out an actual brush shampoo. I believe it has antibacterial properties as well, so that should be good. :)

4. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Kiwi Bikini
$2.49
-This is a gorgeous teal color! (I have no idea why it's named Kiwi Bikini.) I bought a new skirt the other day that is a teal and white pattern and I wanted my nails to match, so I was super happy to find the Xtreme Wear summer collection on display!

5. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Perfect Pear-ing
$2.49
-So pretty! This is a brighter green than the mint colored polish I got a while back. I'm so excited to use it, even if summer is pretty much over. I don't really like to restrict my nail color to certain seasons anyway. I'm a rebel. Ha!

6. Up & Up Studio Tools Lash & Brow Groomer
$1.29
-I used to have an E.L.F. Brow Brush but my boys got ahold of it and, unfortunately, it ended up losing its head. This seems to have a sturdier build, though, and you can't beat the price!

7. Que Bella Dead-Sea Mud Mask
$1.97
-I got this for a pampering night I had planned for myself while my husband was working night shifts. Of course, he's back on day shift now before I've had a chance to use it, but I'll fit in a little "me time" soon anyway. ;)

8. L'Oreal Paris Infallible Super Slim Liner in Black
$8.49
-I have been searching for this product for AGES! I finally found it when I was on vacation in Atlanta, but after we got all the way back home, I noticed the cashier didn't put it in the bag! I was so upset! (We called the store and they were no help at all.) So, as you can imagine, I was overjoyed when my home store finally had some in stock and I managed to snag one of the last three remaining on the shelf! Happy day! I'm already so in love with this liner! Look for a review soon!

Alrighty, that's all for this time. Not a very big haul, but a fun one!

Just a quick question for you guys before I go... I haven't posted prices for haul items in the past because I figure every region is going to have different pricing. I did it this time to give you a ballpark estimate for the things I've purchased in case you'd like to try them for yourself. So my question is: Do you want to see the prices on hauls or not? Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or you can tweet me a reply @Manda_CGC! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

Nails of the Day: Minnie Mani

Hey there Calendar Girls!

Here's a fun little NOTD for you! I was itching to use the polishes from my Vacation Haul so I decided to get nostalgic with pink polka dots! I'm channeling the sweet Minnie Mouse shirt I owned as a pre-schooler. I rocked that shirt on many occasions, but most memorably on the annual family trip to Disney World (where I cried when introduced to Miss Mouse herself!). Ha! Anyway...onto the colors!

After applying my base coat, I painted on two coats of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Bubblegum Pink. Then I used the rubber-coated end of a bobby pin to randomly place dots of Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in White On and followed it up with a clear top coat.

I was so pleased with the finished look! Took me right back to my childhood! :) I got several nice comments from strangers on these. Made me blush a little, but it was nice to hear my efforts hadn't gone unnoticed!

Which childhood memory would you choose as inspiration for nail art? Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or tweet me @Manda_CGC! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

First BB Points Purchase

Hi there Calendar Girls!

I was fortunate enough to have saved up 300 BirchBox points in the last couple of months and I wasted no time in putting them to good use! I was really impressed with the Coastal Scents sample I received in my last BirchBox and since I didn't own any large palettes yet, I jumped at the chance to purchase the 88 shade Mirage Palette! It's $39 in the BB Shop, but I received a discount code for 20% off. So with my 300 points, discount, and free shipping, I paid a grand total of $1.20! You read that right! One whole dollar and twenty cents for an 88 shade palette! Did I mention how much I love the BirchBox points system?! Amazing!

Ahh...just typing that up, I'm reliving the savings high! Lol. Sorry if I went a bit ramble-y there. ;)

I chose the free shipping option which meant my little treat would arrive in 5-7 business days, but when I read the shipping confirmation email, I saw that I was given 2-day express shipping! Yessss! Even better! Here's what I got two short days after my order was placed:

Huge, right? Because there were a ton of plastic, air-filled bags surrounding it! Yay for no breakage!

I was so happy to open the box and unwrap this beauty..

Awesomely enough, it also came with three of the softest brushes I've ever touched in my life!

From left to right, there's a Domed Shadow Brush, Large Shadow Brush, and a Doefoot Blender Brush. They are all amazing and I've been using them quite a bit. :)

Now onto what you really want to see...the eye shadows!

The lighting isn't great for showing you the exact colors, but you can see a close-up of the shadows on the BirchBox site, which is where I snagged this next picture from!

The only complaint I have about this palette is that the colors don't have names! And if they do, they aren't listed anywhere that I've been able to find. :( I've already created a few new eye looks with this palette and I wanted to have some way of telling you which shadows I used, so I made a little cheat sheet for you. Every time I use the Mirage shadows for an Eyes of the Day post, I will list which numbers I used and try my best to either link back to this post or repost the key for you! I've been having so much fun with all of these colors and I can't wait for you to see!

Which colors do you like to use on your eyes? Do you play it safe with neutrals or mix it up with bright colors? Let me know in the comments, on Facebook, or @Manda_CGC on Twitter! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

Nails of the Day: Pacific Perfection

Hey Calendar Girls!

So, as I'm sure you know by now, I went on vacation at the beginning of August. Any time I'm in a different town, I like to hit up the drugstores and Targets and see what products they may have in stock that my local stores don't. As I was perusing the shelves of the Walgreens near our hotel, I noticed a couple of Xtreme Wear colors that I hadn't seen before. One of them was this little gem:

It's the Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Pacific Blue. It caught my eye immediately! It's not just any blue...it kind of reminds me of what a dark periwinkle would look like. There's almost a purple-y hint to it. Very different to anything else I own. :)

I love the color so much, I thought it could stand on its own! So what you're seeing is just my Orly Bonder, two coats of Pacific Blue, and Clearly Quick on top. It was opaque in one coat, but I applied two for an extra smooth look. So what do you think about Pacific Blue? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

August BirchBox Reviews

Howdy Calendar Girls!

As I said in my first August BirchBox post, I got this box really early in the month, so I've had plenty of time to test out all my samples!

 

First up is Miss Jessie's Super Slip Sudsy Shampoo. I was definitely looking forward to trying this in the hopes that it would help untangle my pool-damaged hair and it actually did! They aren't joking about its super slippery-ness either! It was almost like washing my hair with a serum, but it was so effective and left my hair so smooth and silky! Also, I couldn't really detect a scent (so if it is scented, it's very subtle) which I didn't mind at all because we know I don't like overpowering fragrances when it comes to bath products! I definitely want to purchase a full-size of this!

Next are the Jasmine Seven Fresh Feet Wipes. I used these after a busy day out in my favorite flip flops and they worked quite nicely to clean up my feet a bit and help me feel more refreshed. They have a nice, cool peppermint scent that definitely helps with the whole "refreshing" feeling. I like that the samples are in single-use packs because that's great for tossing in your purse before heading out for the day, but on the BirchBox site they're sold in a multi-pack. I think I'll stick to baby wipes since I already have those on hand. I wouldn't spend the extra money to buy wipes made specifically for feet, but I did enjoy the sample. It was a little something different. :)

I loved the packaging of the ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick! It's very clean and simple and my favorite part--the lid has a clear window, so you can see the product inside. While I wasn't a fan of the color I received, Red Velvet, I did wear it around my house a lot so I could give you guys an accurate review. I don't feel like this is actually "party proof" as it wore off within half an hour. I wish I loved the inside as much as the outside of this product. I won't be purchasing it.

I'm still undecided about the Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer. It moisturizes well enough and goes on smoothly with its thin consistency, but the scent could be much better! The smell reminds me of something you might mop your kitchen floor with. It didn't seem to clog my pores or make my acne worse, though, so that's good. I probably won't purchase the full-size.

Colors (as shown in bottom photo) are (clockwise from top left): Dark Chocolate, Chocolatier, Pale Nude, and Gypsy Blue.

As I mentioned in my other post, the Coastal Scents Eye Shadow Quad in Power Trip sample arrived slightly damaged. I contacted BirchBox customer service and while they weren't able to replace the sample because they were out of stock, they did offer another form of compensation that I was extremely satisfied with! :) In the meantime, my awesome friend Laura showed me how to reset it, so I was actually able to repair that pretty blue color.
Anyway, this quad really is great for creating the perfect smoky eye! All of the colors were nicely pigmented and blended well and I just love the little gold pigments throughout Gypsy Blue and Dark Chocolate! I didn't notice any particular scent, even though the brand is called Coastal Scents, but that was fine by me because I don't really like heavily scented products. Here's a smoky eye look that I created using this quad:

For this look, I first applied a Milani Shadow Primer as a base, then I used Pale Nude to highlight my brow bone. After that, I used a flat shadow brush to sweep the Dark Chocolate color over my entire lid and an angled defining brush to apply Gypsy Blue to my outer corner. I blended that all with my new blending brush and finally, I applied Chocolatier to my upper and lower lash lines with a small angled brush. I didn't apply any eyeliner or mascara in this pic because I wanted to showcase the eye shadow alone. I really enjoyed playing around with this sample and I definitely plan to order the 88 shade palette from BirchBox.com!

Okay, those are my reviews for August! I hope you enjoyed reading about all the fun samples I received! Which was your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

Oh! And remember, if you'd like me to send you an invite to subscribe to your own BirchBox, leave your email address in a comment below! Thanks for reading!

-Manda

Mid-Week Mascara Reviews

Hi there Calendar Girls!

A while back, I went a little crazy and bought a couple of different mascaras on the same day. It was a little excessive for me, but I justified it by telling myself that they were different colors, so I definitely needed them both. ;)

The first one I picked up is the Boots No7 Exquisite Curl Mascara in Brown/Black. I got it from Target for around $8.

First off, I love that it comes in a metallic, hot pink tube! Shiny! I also like the curved brush. I feel like it really helps with application. The color is nice for days when I'm going for a natural look--it's not as severe as black mascara. As you can see in the photos below, there was definitely a curl in my lashes after using this, which is great because I don't really like to use eyelash curlers. Overall, I'd say so far, so good. I will most likely repurchase this when it runs out.

Left: No Mascara, Right: Two Coats of Exquisite Curl Mascara

Second, I got the much talked about Revlon Lash Potion in Blackest Black. I believe it was about $8 as well.

Look at that packaging! So pretty and sparkly! Can you tell I'm a huge fan of creative makeup packaging? Ha! It just makes me love a product even more if it's nice to look at as well as effective! And this is both! I didn't own any other waterproof mascaras before I bought this. Now that I've got a good eye makeup remover, though, I think I'll try more! This stuff is awesome. I wore it on a particularly busy day when I was on vacation earlier this month. I was out all day in hot/humid Atlanta weather and at times felt like my makeup was just melting off my face. However, the couple of times I was able to get to a mirror, I was pleasantly surprised! I was fully expecting the usual dark circles that form under my eyes when I've sweated all my eye makeup off, but it still looked great! This has been a go to since then! Anything that can last through that kind of day gets bumped to the top of my favorite products list, for sure!

Left: No Mascara, Right: Two Coats of Lash Potion

I apologize for the repeat of mascara-less right eye photos. I somehow managed to delete the before photos of my left eye, but I still wanted to show the difference the Lash Potion makes! I just love it!

I hope you enjoyed this quick review! Do you have a favorite mascara? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading!

-Manda