Unboxing: IpsyMe - Alterna Smooth as Caviar Set

IpsyMe is now offering a sweet deal twice a week, every Tuesday and Thursday 9 AM (PST).  This is my second IpsyMe offer and I'm excited to try Alterna Caviar CC Cream.  I checked out the price on the CC Cream and it is $25 alone, so you're getting the brush for free!  With free shipping, these IpsyMe deals are pretty awesome and sell out quick!

Check out Ipsy Stylist Desi Perkins' video on how she styles her hair using the CC Cream and brush.

New Favorite Lip Balm!

After a few years of loving EOS Lip Spheres, I think I have love for something new.  Softlips Cube!  The texture of the Cube is a little different than the original Softlips.  Its a lighter balm and less waxy than EOS and also feels more hydrating.

What the website says:

• Hydrates - formulated with Shea Butter to restore moisture
• Replenishes - with antioxidant Vitamins A, C, & E
• Smooths - rich emollients leave lips silky and soft
• Protects - with SPF 15 sunscreen
• Adds Shine - for a perfect radiant finish

*All Softlips products are gluten-free

I picked up Fresh Mint, but there are 2 other flavors as well, Vanilla Bean and Pomegranate Blueberry.

Compared to EOS

Cost: $3.99

Pros:
-Moisturizes and makes my lips soft
-Light in scent/flavor
-Compact, cute, little cube

Cons:
-Can't put this in your pocket comfortably
-Smaller than EOS sphere, less product for about the same price.

Would I recommend this to a friend?  Worth a shot if EOS doesn't work for you.  I think I'm over the novelty of EOS spheres since they don't deeply hydrate my lips as well as this balm does.  Keep your smooch soft!

My Neighborhood Friendly...

Walgreen's gets me all the time!  Doesn't help that it is walking distance, it's convenient and tempting.  The way drug stores are set up, the cosmetics section is the first place you walk by when you first step into the store.  Tricky, tricky marketing.  *smirk*

Josie Maran Argan Skincare Ritual Set

I have been wanting to switch up my skin care and try to find better protection for my mug. Trader Joe's Nourish moisturizer has been a staple in my routine for a few years now, but was sad to see it show up as a 10 on ThinkDirty.  I think it is time to step up my facial care game.  

Dirty! :(

1.9 oz Argan Cleansing Oil, 0.5 oz Pure Argan Oil & 0.5 Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47

What the Sephora.com says:

What it is:
A three-step skincare ritual set for hydrated, healthy, protected skin. 

What it is formulated to do:
For healthy, balanced, hydrated skin, Josie Maran's Argan Skincare Ritual is the place to begin. Cleanse, nourish, and protect skin with this set of Josie's three bestselling skincare products: Argan Cleansing Oil, 100% Pure Argan Oil, and Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47. Each gentle, hydrating skin saver is packed with antioxidants and essential fatty acids to make skin glow. 

The self-heating, non-greasy Argan Cleansing Oil hydrates deeply as it melts away makeup and dirt. It features Argan, safflower seed, and grape seed oils to cleanse the skin's surface and renew the complexion so that skin is left velvety—never oily, stripped, or dry. Nourishing and lightweight, 100% Pure Argan Oil repairs and replenishes skin while offering intense hydration. Protect skin with the all-natural, chemical-free Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47. Naturally scented and non-greasy, it’s infused with SunBoost ATB™—an innovative complex that promotes the effectiveness of the formula's natural sunscreens. Skin is left refreshed, hydrated, and protected. 

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates 
- Phthalates 

Clean!

Semi-clean - not bad.

Uh-oh, dirty. :(  The fragrance in this item is what makes it dirty.

Cost: $24 @ Sephora

Pros:
-Good set to try 3 items from the Josie Maran line
-Gentle
-SPF content is high in the moisturizer

Cons:
-The moisturizer has fragrance
-Glass bottles

Would I recommend this to a friend?  Yes!  Even with the fragrance in the moisturizer, I liked the products.  The cleanser cuts through make up and leaves my skin soft.  I have used argan oil before for both my face and hair and mainly use this one at night after cleansing.  The moisturizer does have some weight to it, but is absorbed after a few minutes of applying and only needs 2 pumps to cover my face, neck and ears.

Unboxing: ColourPop Cosmetics Super Shock Shadows, Lippie Pencil & Lippie Stix

My first ColourPop Super quick shipping from LaLa Land!  Have heard so much good stuff about their Super Shock Shadows from other bloggers and to now they have lip pencils and lip sticks.  Eeee!

Queen For A Day Foursome

From the website:

FOURSOME INCLUDES: SHAMELESS / BAE – A duo of shameless black drizzled with multiple shades of green and subtle hints of blue and gold glitter leaving a metallic finish paired with a rich eggplant purple with an emerald, and turquoise, glittery duo chrome metallic finish. GIRLY - Creamy vanilla with a flash of pink and gold duo chrome finish. Girly, the perfect way to class up your stripper heels. SMASH - Neutral medium warm beige with a soft golden satin finish, from beach parties to dancing on tables with your girl gang, Smash is step one to busting out your A- game. SEQUIN - A copper penny like shade with silver and gold glitter. Find a boy, pick him up, all day long you’ll get good…..

Sequin

Girly

Smash

Shameless on the left, Bae on the right

Swatches done with my finger

Swatches done with a sponge tip applicator

LBB - rich plum wine in a matte finish created by one of ColourPop's favorite bloggers LittleBlackBoots.  This color reminds me of MAC Vino lip liner.  I'll have to do a a swatch comparison.  I love Fall & Winter for dark lippies!  I'm lemming Creature and Grind next!

Cost:
Foursomes - $20
Super Shock Shadows & Pigments $5 each
Lippie Stix and Pencils $5 each

Pros:
-Super pigmented
-Lots of colors to choose from
-Not tested on animals!

Cons:
-NONE!

Would I recommend these to a friend?  YAS!  I loooooove these shadows and lippies!  These are a great affordable option for a collection at $5 each, these are a steal.  The consistency of these shadows are really soft, pigmented and buildable.  I am not fond of dipping my finger into product, so using a sponge tip applicator is a more hygienic way to apply without losing the vibrancy.

Currently, they offer free shipping for orders of $30 or more.  They may discontinue this deal, so check them out and order soon!  

Steal of a Deal!

My everyday eyecream found at the Factoria Nordstrom Rack!

Suede. Crimson. D'orsay

Makes even polka dot pajama bottoms look tres chic!  My new go-to fall dress up shoe.  I live in boots in the fall and winter.  Like literally everyday its a pair of black boots.  This will be a nice change!

Sole Society Jenn in Crimson $69.95

My first order from Sole Society.  There are some items at Nordstrom, but this particular style is only offered on their site.  Its nice to find quality leather shoes at a good price.  As much as I love microtrends, I would rather not get sub-par quality.  The details of the shoe are superb with crimson suede that is soft & buttery and the liner provides enough grip in the shoe to keep from slipping off.  I opted for a lower heel since I'm mostly in flats or very low heeled boots.  I can't last all day in 3"+ heels and the 2.5" heel is comfortable.  

Do you have any Sole Society shoes? 

GDub Pick Ups

Fall is here.  Time to layer up with long sleeves and sweaters and at good prices!

Silk button up & patterned cardigan $7.99 each

2 Chainz! $2.99 and $6.50

Soul Sistah and I did notice that prices seemed a little bit more inflated than usual.  *sigh*  Even the Goodwill has to deal with inflation.

NOTW: Revel Nail - Supernova

Click, click, click!  The wonders of the web and clicking through different blogs and coming across new brands.  I started following Chickettes: Soak-off gel polish swatches and nail art recently and love Andrea's swatches of various brands of gel polish.  There is a banner for a promotion from Revel Nail and I clicked on it and wandered around the site to check out this brand.  To my surprise, there is an offer for a free sample kit, you just need to pay the $10.99 in shipping and handling.

Sample kit contains 0.5 oz bottles - FULL SIZE!

What the website says:

• Quality and Value at your fingertips - Sold directly to nail salons for $7.49 per bottle
• Made in the USA - Formulated to stay on nails for 3 weeks without chipping
• Soaks off completely in 7 minutes
• Great shine and scratch resistant
• Cures in LED lamp in 30 secs and UV lamp in 2 mins
• Vitamin E enriched to protect and make nails stronger
• 3-Free formulation contains no formeldehyde, DBP (Dibutly pthalate) or toluene.
• UV stable allow viewing of color at top of the bottle.
• All bottles are 0.5 OZ
• Free shipping on orders of 10+ bottles
• Full set - 24 colors plus base and top coat - only $175 plus free shipping
• Click here to view our color selection - (mobile friendly)

I chose the color Supernova from their Fall 2014 collection.  I thought it was a deep shimmer of black and navy per the swatch online, but it is actually a deep shimmery purple.  Maybe I got Queen instead?  Ah well, I love dark colors for fall and winter! 

After 1 week of wear. Still in tact and super shiny!

Cost: Sample Kit - 1 bottle each of base coat, top coat and color of your choice for $10.99

Pros:
-Affordable
-Long wearing

Cons:
-None!

Would I recommend this to a friend?  YES! Revel has a great selection of colors and is super affordable.  This cured well with my small lamp and has worn well for over a week now.  I would love to add more Revel gel polishes to my collection since they are such good quality and great price!

3 Ingredient Beer Queso

Another Pinterest success!  Thank you A Spicy Perspective for this awesome 3 Ingredient Beer Cheese Dip recipe. I have been craving a soft pretzel and cheese dip for some time.  My Soul Sistah/Roomie knows what's up because I'll whine for it.  Specifically the ginormous one at World of Beer.  Well, here is a quick and easy dip you can make at home.  I'm drowning my beloved Seahawk's loss to STL Rams in beer and cheese.

*Note: I decreased this recipe and halved it for a "single" serving. Ha!

Ingredients;

12 oz bottled beer
8 oz cream cheese
1 lb pepper jack cheese

Directions:
1.  Pour the beer in a medium sauce pot and place over medium heat.  Bring to a simmer.  Cut the cream cheese into cubes and place in the pot.  Then shred the pepper jack and add it to the pot.

2.  Whisk continually until both cheese have melted and the beer cheese dip is smooth.  It will look a little thin, but will thicken the moment it starts to cool.

2 pretzels and more beer, perfect!

I only ate about 4 tablespoons of this.  It was HELLA rich.  Nagado met unay! (For my Ilokanos out there!)

Welcome Fall!

Sippin on mochas, leaving vampy lippy marks on the cup. 

ColourPop Lippie Pencil & Lippie Stix in LBB. Love!

Sicky, sicky! Cold & Flu Rescue Bath Salts

When you're sick, you will try whatever remedy to help you feel "normal" again.  The roomie saved me from cabin fever and we ventured out for pho & stopped by PCC Natural Market where I found this, Shepard Moon Concoctions Cold & Flu Rescue Therapeutic Bath.  

What the website says:

Oh no! You've caught a cold! We created this bath remedy to help relieve your congestion and achy muscles while promoting relaxation so you can rest. Another secret about our Cold & Flu Rescue bath...it's a wonderful remedy for your allergies as well!  

Benefits:
Our Cold & Flu Rescue bath was created to help relieve your symptoms of muscle aches and stiffness, fever, stuffy nose, headaches, sinus pain, congestion in chest and nasal passages, body chills, weakness and overall fatigue, bronchitis, allergies and asthma. This remedy is also a great overall immune support to keep you from succumbing to wintertime colds and flu. To promote even greater relaxation and further relieve achy muscles, add in 2 to 4 cups of Epsom salts to your Cold & Flu Rescue bath. 

I should have picked up some plain epsom salts to add, but I ended up just pouring half the pack into hot water and soaking for 20 minutes.  I was hoping for there would be more aromatic vapors and maybe if I used the entire packet, there would have been.  I did however feel quite relaxed after the bath and that made me feel better.  What I like about this brand is that they are natural, with no added fluff and they're local!  Looking forward to trying other products from this brand.

Cost: $3.99 via the website or found in-store (PCC Markets in WA)

Unboxing: October Ipsy Glam Bag - Beauty Candy

Okay, ok.  I will admit again that I did look at my early access Glam Room peek.  Let's just settle it now, that going forward I will be peeking!  Ha!

What I got:

• Nicole by OPI Nail Polish in On A Gilt Trip - FULL SIZE!
• Noyah All Natural Lipstick in Deeply in Mauve
• Epice Purifying Exfoliant
• Ayres Body Butter in Patagonia
• ModelCo VolumEyes Mascara

Products I loved/looking forward to: Epice exfoliant - I've been big on skincare lately.  Ayres body lotion - smells nice and is a good size to pop in my purse.

Products that were ok: Nicole by OPI Nail Polish - I have a color like this already.  

Products I haven't tried yet: ModelCo VolumEyes Mascara since I just opened up one.  I'll have to save a review for when I do get a chance to try this.

Overall: 1 full size, 2 deluxe sample size and 2 sample size.  The full sized item was the Nicole nail polish, the deluxe sized were the Epice exfoliant and ModelCo mascara and the Noyah lipstick and Ayres lotion looked like regular sample sized items.  This month was not too bad and I really like fun teal pouch!

What did you get in your October Glam Bag?

Delivery! Foldio

Yay! It's here! But, battery not included. Womp, womp. Gotta go pick one up, then it's time to play. 

First look at Foldio and setting it up.  I just realized I had this function on my camera.  NEWB! 

Removing Dark Nail Polish Stains

Smurf fingers after I removed Sinful Colors Why Not as featured in this post. I managed to get most of it off with just acetone, but there was still a tinge of blue left on my nail bed and skin.  While I did end up using a dark color after Why Not, I did give my nails some breathing time and didn't want to rock stained nails.

Love when I can find already tried methods!  Artifactgirl had a great post on Remove Dark Nail Polish Stains using toothpaste.  I opted to just do this in the sink and also scrubbed with a bit of body wash to remove the minty toothpaste.  

Still some traces of blue, but much improved!  I would have probably continued to scrub with acetone which isn't great for your nails.  The least amount of time exposed to chemicals, the better.  Cheap and easy enough for me!