Spring Nail Polish

The month of March is here, and while it may not feel like Spring outside quite yet, the beginning of the season is fast approaching.  Warmer temperatures mean it's time to shed the dark colors and neutrals of winter and embrace pastels and brights for spring and summer!  With that philosophy in mind, I've listed some of my favorite transitional springtime nail polishes.  I wish I had personal pictures of each one actually on the nails, but I've linked some of them to their respective websites.  For the ones not linked, I couldn't find a good page, but you're welcome to look up how they look for yourself.

• Sinful Colors Social Ladder- Sheer, shimmery pearl color.  Subtle and fresh for spring.
• Zoya Shay- A creamy nude color, again with subtle shimmer. Classic.
• Essie Penny Talk- Love this one.  It seriously looks like you melted down some brand new pennies and painted the copper on your nails.
• CoverGirl Outlast Peaches & Cream- While I don't think this one is as long-wearing as it claims, it's a definitely special shade of orange.  It's a bright pastel, and I don't know how that's possible.  It is definitely a soft peach color, but in certain lighting, it can look downright neon.
• Zoya Cassi- A peachy-pink polish with some shimmer that is just PERFECT for Spring.  Zoya describes this color as being "undeniably girly," and I must say I agree.
• Sinful Colors Hazard- A daring orange, this one is a more saturated version of the CoverGirl polish from above.  Soft, yet VERY bright at the same time.
• Color Club Blue-Ming- I don't think the picture I've linked is very true-to-color.  In real life, it's like a bright, pale turquoise.  If you want people to notice your nails, this is the color to wear.
• Zoya Lo- This one is a bright pink cream, and I really like it on my toes...when they're stuck in some sand...as I'm sipping on a fruity adult beverage...is it time to go to the beach yet? No?

Do you have any nail polishes or beauty products you can't wait to bust out for the warmer weather?  Let me know!

February No-Buy

Ever feel like you're drowning in all of your junk?  My obsession interest with all things beauty in the last year or so has sort of exploded and gotten out of hand.  I have way more products than a normal person needs or should have.  So, I'm going to enforce a "No-Buy" on myself for the month of February and participate in a Project 10 Pan of sorts.  Project 10 Pan is the practice of using 10 items in your beauty collection--whether it be makeup, lotion, shampoo, perfume, etc--as much as possible until you either "hit pan" in the case of makeup or use them up completely.  One rule: No new purchases until these items are empty!  I'm also going to try to use as many of the free samples I've accumulated. 
After going through all of my stuff, these are the 10 items I'm going to be using this entire month:

1. Body Butters

Lord knows I have too many kinds of lotions.  I have two different body butters (The Body Shop Shea Body Butter--this is a mini size-- and Lavanila Vanilla Coconut Healthy Body Butter) that are either almost gone or halfway gone, and I want to try to use them up completely.  I figure it's best to use these this month since they are very thick and hydrating for winter skin.

2. Fragrances

I have a sample size of Forever Red by Bath and Body Works and a small Sexy Little Things Noir body mist from Victoria's Secret.  So, if you happen to wonder what I'm smelling like this month...there you go.

3. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer in Fair to Light

This is a great tinted moisturizer.  I'm almost finished with it anyway, so this project will give me an excuse to use it up completely.

4. CoverGirl Clean Oil Control Pressed Powder

I've already hit pan on this one; I just want to finish it.

5. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends sheer highlighting blush in Pure

Love this stuff.  I've actually had it for a really long time.  Kinda surprised it's not gone yet. 

6. Neutrogena Healthy Skin brightening eye perfector in Fair

I'll be honest: I don't love this under-eye concealer/highlighter.  Let's use it up and get rid of it, shall we?

7. CoverGirl eyeshadow trio in Shimmering Sands

Pretty, neutral shadows. 

8. Stila Smudgestick Waterproof Eye Liner in Lionfish

Definitely one of my favorite eye liners of all time. Looks beautiful on blue eyes!

9. Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes in Very Black and Brownish Black

Awesome Great Lash formula, but the rubber bristle wand is why I love these.  I've had these for a while, so it's time to use them up.

10. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

My attempt to pick just one of my jumbo lip pencils and stick with it for a while.


So that's it!  No online shopping, no trips to the drugstore (except in case of emergency).  Wish me luck.  Of course, my birthday is in March, so I will probably lift the No-Buy for that, but I want to keep my shopping/spending habits in check from now on.  No more splurges!  Except in the case of a really great sale.  Yikes, maybe I actually do have a problem!

Had to sneak in a quick Nail Of The Day! "Kendal" by Zoya. Pretty grayish lavender--perfect for February!

Birchbox: January 2013

I think I mentioned this in my December 2012 Favorites post, but I absolutely love being a Birchbox subscriber!  My January box arrived on Tuesday, and I've been busy testing things out.  For anyone who doesn't know what Birchbox is, it's a monthly beauty and lifestyle subscription service that sends out 4-6 samples of products each month.  You can review the products on the website and earn points, which add up to discounts on full-size product purchases if you happen to fall in love with something you sample.  Learn more here!  They also have a men's subscription, for any guys reading this out there (doubtful).

So, here's what I got this month! *Warning....This will be a picture-heavy post.*

                            

Alessandro Nail Polish

 Alessandro nail polish in Blue Lagoon

Wouldn't you know that I would get the only box variation this month that contained nail polish?  This is a European brand of nail polish that is sold in the United States exclusively through Birchbox.  The formula is great--thick, but not goopy.  And, the cap is super easy to hold while painting your nails.  The color is beautiful, although it's not terribly unique.  I have a bottle of Sinful Colors' Rain Storm (see picture below), which is very similar, that costs $1, whereas the full-size version (I received a sample size) of this polish is $12.  Silly Europeans.

Not identical, but similar enough that you probably don't need both.

Harvey Prince Skinny Chic Perfume

Harvey Prince is a relatively unknown fragrance brand.  I've received a couple other Harvey Prince perfume samples in previous Birchboxes, but this particular scent was new to me.  The notes in this fragrance--crisp, green apple; sweet mint; and warm amber--are supposed to help with appetite control.  While trying to quiet the feminist-leaning questions rising in my mind (Is Birchbox trying to tell their subscribers something? Why does this kind of perfume even exist?!), I think the concept is pretty cool!  Especially with the majority of the world resolving to be healthy in the new year.  It smells good, too.  Be careful of using too much though--a little goes a long way if you're scent-sensitive.

Ojon Damage Reverse Instant Restorative Hair Serum

Yes, Ojon, please make my hair look like hers!

Until the past couple of years, I never understood why people used hair oils.  I've always had oily skin and scalp, so the thought of putting more oil or moisture on any part of me grossed me out and just seemed counterproductive.  However, as I've gotten a little older, I've noticed that my actual strands of hair look parched and sad.  Yes, sad.  Ojon is supposedly a nice brand, so this will be fun to test out.  I've already used it once, focusing on the ends of my hair, and I think it was just O.K.  Maybe next time, I'll try to work it in a little higher into the mid-lengths of my hair.

theBalm Cosmetics "Put a Lid On It" Eyelid Primer

Eyeshadow primer is another life-altering discovery of mine within the last year or so.  Having oily skin means you have oily eyelids, upon which eyeshadow doesn't like to stick for long periods of time.  The resulting effect is that of a hot mess minus the hotness.  To help my eye makeup stay in place, I've been using Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion since early autumn, and I love that.  I think this primer from theBalm works just as well.  It's a little more of a wet formula than the Urban Decay, so make sure you let it dry completely before putting on your eyeshadow.  After that, you're good to go for hours and hours.

Size comparison. Tiny tube, but you only need a very small amount!

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream

I received two foil packets.

The use of moisturizer is definitely important in the winter months to avoid dry skin.  Even if you have oily skin, you're supposed to moisturize.  I use an oil-free one with SPF in the daytime, and I've been testing this sample out at night.  Generally, I like the Fresh brand.  Its lip balms are amazing and unfortunately expensive, but I'm not a huge fan of its skincare.  I have a very small bottle of the Soy Face Wash, and even though it claims to be fragrance free, ......well, it smells like you're washing your face with edamame.  It just does.  Since this lotion has the word "Lotus" in its name, I thought it would have a floral scent.  Nope.  Veggies on your face.  Luckily, the scent fades.  Aside from that, it's a nice consistency.  I can't speak for the "youth-preserving" properties, as I'm only 23. *shrug*

So, this month's Birchbox was exciting and full of stuff I'll definitely use!  Are you a subscriber?  What'd you get this month?

PS: It SNOWED here today!!! :)

This was taken around 8am, but it didn't stop until about 11am!