HauteLook Beauty Bag - Spring 2013

HauteLook did another beauty bag, this one for spring and even though I initially said I wouldn't buy it, of course I did.  With these beauty bags, you can actually see the products included before they go on sale which is really nice. So I saw an eyeshadow color I thought wouldn't use much, another Urban Decay pencil in Demolition (i think i have 5 or 6 of that shade now), more mascara (i've got a dozen tubes), etc. etc.  and declined. But then the day came when they went on sale and I paid my $25 plus $7.95 shipping just like every other addict out there.  Was it worth it? I'll tell you.

Crash was the first Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil I ever purchased. I'm pretty sure Demolition was the 2nd.  It's a deep, matte brown that is gorgeous and rich.  I'd say it's a must-have for any woman who wears pencil eyeliners.  Because I've accumulated so many by now, I'm going to give this travel sized one to either my sister or a friend. While Urban Decay is owned by L'Oreal who is not cruelty free, UD is certified by PETA and Leaping Bunny.

HauteLook sent out this same Crown Brush Pro Blending Fluff in the fall/winter bag but I don't mind. I can never have too many makeup brushes and I use the first one I received several times a week.  It works best with pressed eyeshadows that aren't too powdery and don't have a lot of glitter.  I use it to apply darker colors on the outer lid and crease.  Crown Brush has a very strong statement against animal testing but the UK Crown site notes this brush is made with goat hair. They are not certified as cruelty free.

I've mentioned before that I love to scrub my face; really scrub it.  I think it goes back to my days of painful, cystic acne when I wished I could just scrape my skin off and start over.  The exfoliate foaming cleanser from suki has big ol' sugar crystals in it that scruuuuuub and I absolutely love it.  Yeah, this cleanser is the stuff.  It foams a little, has a bright, lemon scent and rinses away so easily.  My skin feels soft and clean, not at all irritated, dry or tight.  It can be used once a day, but I'll probably go with just a few times a week.  Suki skincare is certified by both PETA and Leaping Bunny as cruelty free and this cleanser is vegan.  I highly recommend you check it out if you are looking for a good scrub.

LA Fresh wipes are becoming a standard in my house.  I bought a bunch from HauteLook for myself and the dogs; and have received them in previous boxes.  HauteLook sent a nice variety, most I've not tried before like the waterproof makeup remover and anti-aging cleanser.  One of the things I like best about LA Fresh wipes is that they are big and soft.  I find them to be gentle and non-drying, and an acceptable substitute on nights when I'm too tired to go through my entire routine.  The waterproof makeup remover was a little greasy for my liking but it worked pretty well. The others took care of my layers of primer, foundation, blush, bronzer, and powder leaving my face clean and soft.  LA Fresh products are eco-friendly and not tested on animals.




Holy fuchsia lipstick, NYX!  This shade, Shiva, is blue-toned and it is very, very bright on me.  It's not meant for the shy people in the audience, that's for sure. The formula is smooth and creamy, and wears well for a few hours without fading.  Shiva isn't a color I'd wear everyday but it's a good one to keep on hand for nights out.  Coincidentally, I bought a bought an NYX jumbo lip pencil in Hera a while ago and that shade is very close to this.  I'll have color for days if I layer those two!  NYX is one of the few budget-friendly brands that is certified by PETA as cruelty free.  I've only found it at Ulta (and often on sale for buy one, get one 50% off) but word on the street is that they might be moving into Target.  Yeay!



I have mixed feelings about these All-Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer packets from Stila.  I received a deluxe sample of the bronzer from Birchbox in November and didn't love it because it was too light.  All shimmer, no bronzer so I gave it to my sister.  I tried out the rose gold as a cheekbone highlighter and it was nice but now I've got this open foil packet sitting in my bathroom, drying out.  Bad delivery, Stila.  The luminizer is creamy and easy to blend into the skin but it is also packed with shimmer, so be prepared.  I don't use highlighters all that often, it's a step that is easy for me to skip.  When I do decide to sparkle it up, I reach for the pressed powders I have from tarte or the Balm so I don't think these will get much use.  Stila is cruelty free.

Over the past few months, I've added several LORAC palettes to my collection. The shadows are nicely pigmented and go on smoothly though they don't wear quite as long as others from Urban Decay and Too Faced.  I've also been using the eye primer for a while and I love it.  Here we have a shadow single in the color Celebutante and the 3D Lashes Mascara. Aquamarine isn't a color I would normally reach towards but I've been playing with bright pops of color a lot more since I got the Urban Decay pencil vault.  There is a bit of shimmer and it almost looks like a duochrome; it's really pretty.  The Multiplex 3D mascara is a glossy black that goes on smoothly without gooping or flaking.  It's meant to volumize and lengthen but I didn't have that result.  I think next time I'm going to try it with the Too Faced Better the False lashes and see how amazing it is.  LORAC's statement on animal testing is that they don't "conduct, condone nor endorse testing on animals".

How sad is this broken Laura Geller blush?  I read that a few people had shattered shadows, but I got the busted blush.  It's not surprising when you consider that everything was just put into the bag with no wrapping, padding or stuffing.  It still goes on just fine, but it's obviously messy so I have to handle with care.  The color is berry and it's a bit darker than I usually reach for, but it goes on nicely and isn't too bad when applied with a light hand.  I've not tried much from Laura Geller before, just a concealer (not bad) and sample of the baked foundation (did not like).  I wouldn't say this blush is holy grail, but it's nice and I'll use it from time to time.  Laura Geller says they are cruelty free.




Jessica Simpson perfume.  *sigh*  Every pretty little girl celeb thinks she needs her own fragrance, don't they?  Fortunately, Vintage Bloom doesn't stink; it's quite lovely, truth be told.  I am not typically found of floral scents but Vintage Bloom's notes of musk and sandalwood stop it from being too flowery.  That was a pleasant surprise considering how much I dislike Jessica Simpson's public persona.  I wore it out on a Saturday night and sadly, it seemed to fade after a few hours but I did like it as did my husband.  I wouldn't buy this perfume but I'll use up the sample.

Just for fun, here are a few pictures of my face decorated with the LORAC eye shadow and mascara, NYX lipstick, Laura Geller blush, and Stila liquid luminizer. If you have Smell-O-Vision functionality on your computer you can also smell the Jessica Simpson perfume.  The LORAC shadow is on my outer lid/crease but my horrible cell camera doesn't do well capturing eyeshadow, no matter how hard I try.  I promise it's there!
I also used:

• Urban Decay eye primer potion in Sin
• Urban Decay shadows in Scratch (lid), Asphyxia (crease) and Sin (brow bone)
• Urban Decay 24/7 pencils in Deep End (top lid), Electric and Perversion (waterline)
• E.L.F. Eyebrow Lifter & Filler
• Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer matte finish
• Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation
• Too Faced Sunny Bunny Bronzer
• Tarte Smooth Operator Finishing Powder

I totally rocked that poncho when we went out for my friend's birthday. Seriously.

The HauteLook spring beauty bag was an incredible deal for me.  The value of the products far exceeded the price of the bag - both in retail and personal values.  Four of the items were full sized: the LORAC shadow and mascara, the suki cleanser and the NYX lipstick, plus the Crown brush.  And almost everything is from a cruelty free brand - that I really like!  I'm glad I gave in totemptation and bought it. Sometimes being impulsive pays off.

April Empties & Random Sampler

I'm sitting here on my couch with my aching girl-guts, lamenting over my first world problems. The weather in the Northland has finally improved; looks like we may be done with the snow for at least a few months.  This means my energy level is going up but I'm still a lazy bag o' bones, friends. 'Cept now that the sun is out I might sit my sorry ass outside rather than hiding indoors. What does all of this have to do with the other products I tried out and used up in April?  Well, I was almost feeling too lazy to do a post but I went through a fair amount of stuff last month and I want you to know about them. So I'll get on with it.

You know what I miss? Tanning.  And I'm not talking about soaking up the sun for a few hours in the summer; I'm talking about the artificial nap-capsules that give me that golden bronze I love in 15 minutes or less.  Thanks a lot, cancer.  Sure, I can use the lotions but, ugh. The streaks and the stink are a huge turnoff and the results are never as good as old fashioned fake-baking.  Jergens would like me to believe that their lotion can give me the superficial color I so desire without the smell.  See? The pink stinker says so! Sadly, that is not a sticker of truth. The lotion does moisturize and it doesn't stink too badly; however, the color isn't even on my legs and it's very subtle.  It's not the worst product I've ever tried but it's not the cancer free, easy to use solution for which I've been searching.  I've read on a number of websites that Jergens is cruelty free but I'm starting to have my doubts. Their own website says that the finished product is not tested on animals but that's typically the statement used when the ingredients used to make the finished product are tested on animals.  I don't think I'll buy this again.

What the F is a full sized Neutrogena product doing in my house? It came in the fall/winter Hautelook beauty bag.  I thought about sending it to my sister but decided to keep it and give it a try.  Before I made the switch to cruelty free, I actually used a lot of Neutrogena stuff. It's affordable, accessible and pretty effective.  I used this Pore Refining Cleanser in the shower and it wasn't too bad.  The exfoliating beads slough off dead skin cells along with dirt and oil so that your pores look smaller and your skin is healthy and smooth.  Did I love it? Eh. It was fine. Neutrogena is not cruelty free so I won't buy this but I would probably use another sample if it came to my home.





Also sent in the Hautelook beauty bag were these two samples from M LAB.  This anti-aging "cosmeceutical" (is that a real word now??) brand is based out of Connecticut and is well outside of my budget.  The eye cream is $170 for 0.5 oz and the anti-aging serum is $135 for 0.5 oz.  Yowza! But maybe they're worth the money?  The serum stung when I put it on, probably because it's not meant to be mixed with Retin-A. They eye cream wasn't anything special but the sample only lasted a few days which isn't long enough to show results.  M LAB's website says they don't test their ingredients or products on animals or commission other companies to do so; however, they are not cruelty free certified.

I've got BB creams a plenty in my stash and most of them are pretty disappointing.  One of these two samples from Ulta, the L'Oreal or the Smashbox, was not. Can you guess which one?  Can you??  It's not the Smashbox.  I know a lot of people think the Smashbox BB cream is the shiz, but I'm not one of them. This leaves my face greasy and shiny and I hate it.  The L'Oreal, on the other hand, left my skin surprisingly smooth and even-toned with less noticeable pores.  I know, I was shocked too, but I really liked it.  And then I was sad because L'Oreal, while the parent company to so many cruelty free certified brands has not given up testing on animals.  If you're wondering about Smashbox, they sell in China so their products are tested on animals, too. I shake my fist at both of you!

Being True seems like a cheeseball name for a skincare and cosmetics company, doesn't it?  The balancing moisturizer is yet another sample from the Hautelook bag and it was fine - nothing special.  It moisturized pretty well with out being greasy or too fragrant.  Being True says that they and their manufacturers only test on people.  And the Balm is my latest obsession. I bought a lot of their skincare products when they had a 50% off sale.  They included this sample of the apricot skin renewal cream that is meant for normal/combination skin.  I want you to first know that I've never seen a foil sample packet packed so full of product.  I got about 5 nights worth out of it, and I apply generously.  Unfortunately, it irritated my skin so I won't add it to my future shopping list, but it was nice and thick without being greasy.  The Balm doesn't use talc or parabens in their products and they're cruelty free (though not certified). Check out their Chief Pet Officer, Wheezie the pug!

I order a lot of bareMinerals Ready eyeshadow palettes from Ulta and each time, I get more samples of the Purely Nourishing Moisturizer for combination skin.  At some point, they also included a sample of the Purifying Facial Cleanser. The cleanser sample only had enough for a one time use but I liked it. I'd definitely try it again.  And I've mentioned before how much I really like this moisturizer.  It goes on so easily and light but still does a pretty good job taking care of those pesky dry patches I have.  I also love the fresh, clean scent.  This is the last of my samples so I'll either need to order more shadows (most likely) or buy a full size bottle.  I don't know that I'd like it for a night cream, but as a day cream - Yes.  BareMinerals is PETA certified but is owned by Shiseido which is not.




For my incredible trip to NYC to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and all things Irish (boys and cider) with my crew, I had my stylist color my hair an amazing shade of red.  I love having red hair but hate the upkeep.  How can we do so much with technology, like invent the internet and time travel, but we can't create a red hair dye that lasts longer than 2 weeks?!?  To help extend the life of my beautiful crimson color, my stylist told me to try the new Reviving Red line from Pureology.  Of course this shampoo and conditioner is sulfate free but it is also oil-infused which is meant to seal cuticles and help maintain color.  The results? The red didn't fade as quickly, especially from the crown of my hair, but red is just a difficult, fake color to keep unless you don't shampoo very often.  I used Pureology for a long time despite the high cost because it's vegan and PETA certified.  You should consider these if you're a red hair lover like me.  And for the record, Pureology products smell.so.good.!

I am bringing back a few more products I've talked about before because, well, it's my blog and I can do what I want, and because I love them.  I've been trying to find a decent cruelty free deodorant and it's not as easy as you'd think.  I have 7 or 8 different kinds in my bathroom right now, and most have failed to keep me from stinking up the joint. Note that all but one are not anti-perspirants but I don't sweat that much.  Anyway, this deodorant cream from Meow Meow Tweet came from Conscious Box and it actually worked.  I didn't even mind the lavender scent but I do have a weird armpit thing, I don't like touching them or having mine touched, so it was not easy for me to rub this on every morning.  I wonder if I could use a tongue depressor to apply if I order the full size?  It also comes in Tea Tree so I may try that. Meow Meow Tweet is a small, natural, vegan and cruelty free company out of Brooklyn, NY.

I've also raved about Urban Decay makeup setting spray and Boscia Oil-Free Nightly Hydration before.  I use the setting spray everyday when I wear makeup to help it last all day. There are a few other brands I'm now trying, MUA and ELF, but I've used UD for a long time.  The Boscia Nightly Hydration is probably the best product I've found to moisturize without being greasy or irritating.  I wake up in the morning with smooth, soft skin that looks healthier.  I love it.

Escada perfumes typically have tacky names and coordinating tacky packaging but I still like them.  It's what's in the bottle that counts, friends.  Especially Escada came from either Ulta or Sephora and and unlike the others, has a plain name with plain packaging but still smells good on me.  It's a nice mix of floral (rose), fruit (pear) and a bit of musk that lasts all day.  Too bad Escada is not cruelty free.

Paula's Choice recently earned cruelty free certification from both PETA and Leaping Bunny. To celebrate, they were offering free shipping and a donation to the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing at Johns Hopkins University so I ordered a bunch of samples. These cost $0.50 - $0.80 each, but some were free thanks to a promo code.  The Gentle Touch Makeup Remover is incredible.  It took off my shadow, pencil and mascara without lots of rubbing or time.  It's a nice liquid that isn't greasy at all.  No question I will be ordering a full size of this when I get through the other brands in my cupboard.  The hydrating cleanser was nice and creamy but it didn't remove my makeup as well as I would like.  The Moisture Boost and Skin Recovery daily moisturizing lotions were both non-greasy and easily absorbed by my skin.  They took care of my dry patches and made my skin feel soft without that heavy lotion feeling.  Unfortunately the Barely There Sheer Matte tint was too mattifying for skin so that is a no-go as well.  Lastly, the oil-absorbing mask was nice though I don't know that I was able to apply it thick enough because of the sample size.  I might order that along with the makeup remover and one of the moisturizers in the near future.

Phfew! I went through a lot of stuff last month.  I'm really trying to go through more stuff in my stash so that I don't end up on an episode of Hoarders ((and I also might need more room for more eyeshadow palettes)).  Fortunately my face has mostly cooperated, other than some irritation from M LAB and the Balm, I haven't had any bad breakouts.  Hooray for Retin-A!

And now I get to go back to being lazy.

Julep - May 2013

Friends. Hopefully I can complete this as a quality post before my date with Robert Downey Jr this afternoon.  I'm so excited to spend a couple of hours with his fine, 3D self even though I do have to share him with so many other people.  ((psssst: he likes me best)).

My Julep collection for May arrived before spring here in Minnesota. It snowed yesterday and today we have freezing rain. What the hell, Mother Nature?  Well that moody bitch isn't going to stop me from loving on Julep.  Yes, I skipped March and April but that's one of the perks of joining Julep. Not into this month's collection? Already swimming in polish? Skip a month or two.  I also love that they ship so quickly. My order was delivered by April 30. Nice. And! Even though my Maven Profile has me as Classic with a Twist, I preferred the Bombshell collection this month so that's what I got. The theme is the Roaring Twenties and smooth, sexy jazz in the spirit of the Great Gatsby.  Check it out.

The two polishes I got are Gabrielle and Zelda.  Gabrielle is a "smoky mulberry creme". It's gorgeous and different from anything I have in my stash. Zelda is a metallic pink champagne and was one of the reasons why I opted for this collection.  If you keep up with my Polish of the Week, you know I love all things sparkly and shiny.  Zelda is definitely that. I haven't tried these on my nails yet, but if the formula is good I know I'll love the colors - really, really pretty.

Did you know that Julep isn't just for polish now?   They are expanding their Maven collections to include more makeup and body/skincare products.  Example one: this lippie set.  The Paris Jazz Trio features two sheer lip colors called Charleston and Sweet Lorraine and a rich, matte red called Lady in Red (i haaaate that song).  I haven't had a chance to wear these but thinking the "bubblegum pink" of Sweet Lorraine will be the winner for me.  Charleston is a cranberry color that will likely go all bright fuchsia as soon as it hits my lips.  As for the red, I love that color on my nails and my clothes but not so much on the lips but I'll give it a shot.




Also included this month were these sweet hair accessories, and by sweet I mean girlie girl.  I've made some major strides in embracing my feminine side but these are outside of my comfort zone.  The little flowers in white and coral are a nice touch and great for spring.  If I were a little quirkier, I bet I could pull them off.   But I think they will find a happy new home with one of my friends and her young daughter.








I'll be honest with you: Because I haven't tried the polish or lippies, I can't say whether or not I got my $19.99 worth.  I can say that everything looks nice to my eyes and I think I'll like them.  The Zelda polish and Sweet Lorraine lip sheer are great for summer, whenever it finally arrives. In the meantime, I'm gunna go get crazy with RDjr and Iron Man. Woot!

Hey, quick question for anyone reading this who also uses Blogger: have you had issues uploading pictures?  I know I have the patience of a hungry 2 year old, but seriously, it's been taking FOREVER.  Is it everyone or am I the only lucky one?

Total Beauty Collection - Mother's Day

*spacing look weird? blame blogger. been fighting with it all damn weekend.*

Would you look at what my sweet, four-legged children got me for Mother's Day?  Ok, so I bought this for myself; the dogs aren't allowed on the internet.  At only $15 including shipping from TotalBeauty.com, this collection is meant for the mom on the go and features some cruelty free brands.  That's what really caught my attention.  Here's what lucky moms (or people who like to spoil themselves) will receive.

The Kantic Calming Evening Cream from Swiss skincare brand Alchimie Forever was really nice.
Made from blueberries, grape seed, jojoba and vitamin E, this night cream is good for nourishing and brightening skin while calming redness and irritation.  I found it to be nicely moisturizing, without clogging my pores or making my skin feel greasy.  There was a slight berry scent, but nothing overpowering.  This is definitely a product I would use again.  Alchimie Forever does not test on animals and this cream is vegan friendly.








The Honest Company was co-founded by actress Jessica Alba after she became a mother. She was
looking for safe, eco-friendly, chemical free products for her children.  The website actually offers monthly memberships for "Essentials" or "Diapers & Wipes" and makes all of its own products.  This balm is so thick and rich but it melts easily into the skin.  It's versatile product that can be used on diaper rash as well as dry hands and razor burn.  Rather than using petroleum and parabens, Honest Company makes their balm with certified organic essential oils like sunflower, olive and castor.  I've been using it on my hands before bed as it is a bit greasy and takes a while to absorb.  I may put it away until next winter because this is exactly what my super dry hand need in the frigid months.  Honest Company is in the process of getting their PETA certification as they are not only natural, but they also do not test on animals.

From Pacifica, we received a BB cream and lip tint.  The Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream is "sheer moisturizing tint with benefits".  It only comes in one shade as it is meant to adjust to most skin tones, and provide a natural yet dewy and radiant finish.  There is a light scent tropical/rose scent to it that I didn't love but it fades quickly.  The cream blends in nicely and absorbs pretty quickly.  It doesn't give much coverage for scarring and discoloration but Pacifica says that coverage can be built up.  For me, I'll use it as a moisturizer under a mattifying primer and regular foundation.

 



The sugared fig lip tint goes on with a hint of sheer plumb color and a lot of shine.  It has a very strong grape scent but no flavor and leaves your lips feeling very slick.  Pacifica makes their lip tints with avocado and coconut oils, and they are 100% vegan and gluten free.  This is a nice option for those makeup free/more natural days because it adds just a hint of color while leaving lips soft and moisturized.  I like it; it doesn't get goopy on my lips like some balms.  Pacifica is a natural brand that doesn't test on animals, though they are not certified as cruelty free.


I've tried that Wella Velvet Amplifier before and was not impressed.  Glossybox sent a sample in their December box and "meh".  I didn't see a benefit then and I don't see much benefit now to apply this to damp hair before I blow dry.  It's supposed to "improve manageability and amplify styling control" but I didn't find a noticeable difference between my hair when I use this and when I don't.  In fact, when I skipped my It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in spray to use the Velvet Amplifier, my hair wasn't as smooth and voluminous.  It was voted one of Marie Clare's best products of 2012 but I'm not seeing it.

Still sitting on my kitchen counter are the vitamin C vita-melts and Eboost Daily Health booster packets.  I should probably take advantage of having them because the wild spring weather we've been having is right for a nasty, nasty cold, but I haven't.  I did go to NakedWines.com and try to use the $50 voucher. At first, I was very excited as I found a case that with all discounts would cost me $43.48 including shipping.  That's a steal for 12 bottles of wine.  Alas, the case they pitched to me at the deeply discounted rate was no longer in stock so I got pissed and left the site. Don't encourage me to buy something if it's not available! I may go back again as the only requirement to using the discount is that you spend at least $51.  The shipping charges are $9.99 which is not unreasonable.

I'm pleased with what I received from Total Beauty. Of course, I knew what was in the box before I ordered it so chances were good I wouldn't be disappointed.  Unfortunately, this collection is now sold out but there are a few others to chose from, some priced at $9.99 including shipping.  Note that is not a subscription so there is no commitment to buy from Total Beauty again.  Most collections are priced around $15 but if you look around the web, you can probably find a discount code for 10-20% off.

I wanted to let you know that the next  6-8 weeks are going to be pretty busy for me so I may not be able to blog every week though I'll give it my best shot.  I've got plenty to write about but just not enough time.

I'm also going to try to do a No-Buy for the month of May, with the exception of my monthly & quarterly subs.  Notice that I said try and hopefully I'll be too busy to pout about the lack of new pretties to play with.   I should probably leave a note for the UPS guy as I'm sure he'll think I've moved or died...    Anyway, Mothers Day in the US is Sunday May 12 so be sure to spoil your mother, your grandmother, you mother-in-law, your aunt, your work mom and the person who mothers you when your drunk.

Birchbox - April 2013

Am I the only one who is absolutely exhausted by this month?  The news has been heartbreaking, the weather has been nothing but shit up here, and work right now is seriously kicking my ass.  So much negativity makes it tough for me to get excited for my monthly subs and new things to play with.  Fortunately USPS Santa has delivered some decent presents over the past few weeks.

For April, Birchbox paired up with Women's Health magazine for the "Tiny Tweaks, Big Results" themed boxes.  This means that in addition to our samples, all subscribers receive a 12-month subscription to Women's Health.  Don't want the magazine? You can get a check for $9.99 which means this box would cost you 0.01.  Nice. I did take the subscription because even though it takes me a good two months to read a single periodical, I try to at least skim articles that can improve my physical and mental health. What else did I get from Birchbox?

From Caudalie I recieved this Divine Oil.  I'm used to getting oils for my face and hair but it's been a while since I've seen body oil.  Made with grape-seed and other exotic oils this dry oil is meant to moisturize without leaving the skin sticky or oily.  The fragrance is really nice but a bit strong so I've been using it at night on my elbows and hands.  Seriously, I don't know how to fix my elbows! Anyway, it does absorb quickly and my elbows don't seem quite as dry though they are still a bit rough. Perhaps my expectations are unrealistic?  I just don't want to have scratchy elbows! Is this oil truly divine? Eeeeehhhhh, I'd say that's a bit of an exaggeration; and I can't imagine spreading this all over my body I think it's best for dry areas and maybe hair?  Caudalie sells in China and is therefore tested on animals.

It would appear that anti-aging hair products are the next big thing.  I'm not buying it.  This Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Elixir from Nexxus is supposed to "strengthen from the inside out" resulting in less breakage and fuller, thicker, shinier hair.  It contains argan and soybean oils as well as Keratin to moisturize and strengthen.  A few drops on damp hair before styling is all it takes to see improvement in just a week.  All I've really noticed it is that it makes my hair smell nice, but the fragrance is almost too strong.  It smells like I washed my hair in fabric softener.  I think this is a bit gimmicky and because Nexxus is not cruelty free, the Rejuvenating Elixir is not on my list.



StriVectin is one of those brands I really wish would get certified by PETA or CCIC as cruelty free so I could buy their stuff without worrying about beagles (or any other animals) being tortured.  This deluxe sample of the Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles is great - no wonder it was chosen as one of Allure Magazine's Best of Beauty products for 2012.  The formula is thick enough so that it's nice and moisturizing but it's not greasy or oily.  I've been putting it around my eyes twice a day to fight crows feet and puffiness; if dark circles were an issue, this would take care of those, too. And though it's not officially cruelty free, it is free of animal byproducts.



Weleda products often come up when I'm looking for cruelty free skincare options. I've not tried anything from this brand, though I've considered the cleansing milk and some of the moisturizers.  Birchbox sent me three foil packets of the body lotion to try: pomegranate regenerating for "mature skin", sea buckthorn replenishing for dry skin and wild rose pampering for all skin types.  These are single serve samples, and there was only enough to try on my legs.  Were they moisturizing? Sure. Did they smell nice? Sure. Even the sea buckthorn didn't stink and I do not like sea buckthorn.  There wasn't enough product for me to judge efficacy but if you're looking for a natural lotion I guess check this out?  Weleda does not sell in China and they have a very strong (and long) statement against animal testing but they are not certified as such.

Youngblood cosmetics are quickly gaining popularity though the brand has been around for about 15 years. The makeup is mineral based and available as loose, pressed and liquid (foundations).  This Anti-Shine Mattifier is meant to be applied before your foundation to "soak up excess surface oil" and leave you with that smooth, flawless finish.  It can also be pressed on throughout the day to  keep your makeup looking good.  The mattifier is made with nigella and pumpkin seed oil, two ingredients I've not seen used before but supposedly they "calm and repair your complexion".  Did I love it? Meh.  I didn't feel like it kept the shine away from my t-zone and still had to blot a bit by midday.  For the $36 price tag and grandiose claims, I'd expect better results.  Because it's a balm, it does feel a bit heavier than the mattifying powders I typically use. Youngblood is certified cruelty free by PETA.

Keeping in mind that Birchbox costs $10 a month, there's no question I got my money's worth for April.  I have wanted to try Weleda and Youngblood products, and I really like the StriVectin eye concentrate.  Don't forget that this month also included a free subscription to Women's Health.  My Birchbox subscription is up for renewal soon and I have no hesitation signing up for another year.  And I noticed the other day that I have over $60 worth of points for the Birchbox shop.  What should I get??