Thursday, March 28, 2013

March Starbox Review

Any of my regulars already know about my addiction to Starbox. I have been review these amazing monthly boxes since October, and it was love at first sight. Evey month is just as good if not better than the last, and I am always in awe of the value of products I get for such a small price.

After I had received Starbox for 4 months of reviews, I knew I had to subscribe(starting last month) and continue reviewing them for you. That is how much I love Starbox.

What I love about Starbox is that they don't send just sample sizes, you get 3-4 FULL Size products each month. And also, you don't just get a "sampling" of products. Each month's box has a theme. Which means that the products are coordinating, and designed for a specific look.

You even get a lookbook each month which serves as a preview of the products you will receive, but also shows you ideas on how to wear the products.

It is awesome to get these designed looks, especially for those that are maybe timid about trying new colors and such. I am very set in my ways when it comes to buying cosmetics. I stick to my Signature color palette that I have used for years.

The trouble with that is that my look doesn't evolve and I always look the same, even when I get new products. That is why I adore Starbox for giving me an excuse to try something new. And I always end up loving it, even though I would never have tried it on my own. It's like hidden treasure every month.

The March Starbox was everything I expected and more. I am so impressed.


As you can see, this box is packed with awesomeness. You get 3 fabulous full size products, plus a bonus mini lip scrub.

Lipstick in Flutter:
This is the BOLD item in this month's box. This beautifully bright shade of rusty, golden, bronze-red will make any look POP.

This color is so gorgeous, but nothing like what I would choose for myself(which is why I loved getting it). I usually stick to nudes and soft pinks and mauves, and maybe some berry tones for my lips.

I am so in love with this. It is a bright shade, but also has the notes of Gold and the shimmer to make it more in my comfort zone. It fits me much better than most brighter tones.

And of course, the quality of the lipstick itself is magnificent. It is so creamy and moisturizing. The color stays vibrant for hours. It feels amazing on, and your lips even feel hydrated and soft when you take it off. It's amazing.

Eye Shadow in Disarray:


Although this is a dark color, it is still a very neutral item. This color will go with almost anything, which is great because you can pair it with other neutrals, or use it with a bold piece(like the Flutter lipstick) to get a fierce look without fear of clashing or going overboard.

To be totally honest, when I first saw this, I was a little worried about how it would look on me. I used to play with my mom's bright and dark blues when I was a kid, and I would end up looking like a clown(Remember Mimi from the Drew Carey Show?). That is always my fear when choosing a darker or brighter shadow.

I will gladly admit now how wrong I was. I adore this color. Although it is blue, it is a very neutral shade, and actually appears very smokey.


I think it looks good alone, but I think it also goes great with sparkle. I added some Starlooks Glitter Glam in BB Pink that I already had, and I think it looks really awesome that way.

You could do so many things with this, but adding pinks to dark colors like this is so fun and gorgeous(in my opinion).


Lengthening Mascara in Black:

This mascara is phenomenal. It does not clump at all. No fear of spider eyes. It does not flake or look dry. It stays on through everything, all day(and night).

It looks natural, and voluptuous with the perfect healthy sheen.

I have very very small lashes, they almost are not visible without mascara, so I need a mascara that really does it's job. This certainly does. If it works for me, then it will be amazing for everyone.

Bonus Lip Scrub:


This stuff is FANTASTIC! It tastes delicious, like a creme Brulee for your lips. It is so gentle and yet so effective.

It makes lips super soft, moist and kissable. The only "flaw" is that you will want to eat the whole thing at once. I love this so much.

When you put all of these products together, you get your March look. It is so fun and original. I never would have put this together on my own, and I think it is different but awesome.

Check out the finished look.

I used the Flutter Lipstick on my cheeks to to give them a little hint of color and pull the look together a little more.

This is with the Glitter Glam on the eyes. You can't really see the full effect in the photo though.

You are probably wondering how much all these wonderful products cost. Well, if you were to by them all separately(without the bonus scrub), it would be $40 plus shipping. But if you are brilliant enough to subscribe to Starbox, it is only $15(plus $1.98 shipping) each month.

I bet you are kicking yourself if you missed out on this awesome box for such a killer value. Well, you should be, but don't worry, you can buy past Starboxes(while supplies last) for the awesome value of only $25. 

You can also(of course) buy any of the items separately as well. But I highly suggest that you subscribe now and save all the regret of missing any more incredible boxes. But hurry, the cutoff is the first of each month, after that, your subscription will begin the following month.

I just got another awesome Starlooks product too, and I am posting the review of that very soon, so be sure to check that out(you won't want to miss it).

In the meantime, I would love to hear your thoughts on this box, the individual products, my finished look, or anything else. I love hearing what you think.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Noxzema Review

So I am sure you all know how much I love to find and review all the newest and best skin care products.

Finding something cutting edge is always really exciting, but sometimes I feel like it's not exactly right. The  more I search for new products, the more I just want reliable quality that I can trust.

It's then that I realize, that "old" does not mean bad, it means, timeless. It means trusted. A product that has stood the test of time and still does exactly what it it supposed to.

So when I started thinking back to products that I LOVED but, for no apparent reason, stopped using, my first though was NOXZEMA.

I remember that Noxzema was the FIRST skin care product that I ever used. I remember spending many a night slathered in Cold Cream. It worked great then, so of course, it still does.

Noxzema still has the signature product that has become a household name, but they also have new products with the same classic foundation.

Take everything good and make it better. What could be more simple than that? It really makes you wonder why there is a need for so many other products.

I just got back in touch with my roots with 5 amazing Noxzema products.



Original Deep Cleansing Cream:


This is the timeless "Cold Cream" that every woman should be familiar with. If you ever used this, you already know how amazing it is, and are probably now wondering(just like I did) why you ever got away from it.

If you have never used it, then you are seriously missing out.

This magic cream removes Dirt, Oil and MAKEUP without drying. It leaves your skin feeling super clean and velvety smooth, while looking radiant. It has a refreshing tingle to let you know it is cleaning deep. It wakes up your senses and rejuvenates your skin.

This is all I ever used to remove makeup growing up, and it works so well. I cannot believe I have tried so many other makeup removers, especially since none of them work as well.


Deep Cleansing Cream:

This is the same wonderful Deep Cleansing Cream, only in an updated container. Instead of the classic jar, you can now get this miracle cleanser in a super convenient pump bottle.

Not only does it make it easier to apply, but there is less waste since it does not get all over your hands. This is perfect for when you want to use less and have more of a wash than a mask.

 

Great for traveling too. Plus it is great to keep at room temperature while keeping your jar in the fridge.

 

Makeup Removal Cloths:

I love these cloths so much. As wonderfully as Noxzema cream removes makeup, I really have no need for Makeup remover, but until just recently, when I went back to Noxzema, I had been trying everything else to remove my makeup, especially cloths. 

 

I love the convenience of cloths(in theory), but most times, they do not work well at all. I often need 2-3 cloths to clean my whole face, and even then it was not easy. Eye make would have to be scrubbed off. Ouch.

 

And then they would also be irritating(in general). Your skin should not hurt just because you removed some Makeup.

 

And probably worst of all(in my opinion) is that those other cloths are so oily. If I wanted oily, I would use a remover oil.  I am very prone to breakouts and do not want an oily face.

 

These cloths are a great size(double the size of some I have used). One cloth cleans my whole face easily. 

 

They are super gentle and very effective. No scrubbing necessary. And NO oily feeling.

 

They eave my skin feeling clean and refreshed, not slimy and filmy. It even moisturizes my skin.   There is nothing about these cloths that I would change. They are PERFECT!

 

 Clean Blemish Control Daily Scrub:

This is so awesome. I LOVE scrubs. Scrubs are probably my favorite kind of skin care product, but many times they are not everything I need them to be.

 

I need Deep cleaning, exfoliating, polishing, moisture, and skin clearing, all wrapped in gentle.

 

This Noxzema scrub is everything and more. Not only dies it clean deep to remove impurities and polish away dead skin to make skin clean and help it stay clear, but it is also Oil-Free, Alcohol-Free and has Salicylic Acid, to really tackle break outs.

 

This made my skin feel so smooth and fresh. The rejuvenating tingle was wonderful and made me feel so refreshed. My skin looked glowing and healthy too, which is so fabulous.

  

Triple Clean Anti-Blemish Pads:

 

Once again, this product is magnificent. These really clean as well as apply medicine. Every similar product just applies the medicine, and not even well.

 

Others always dry out half way through applying, and they never remove dirt or oil. Also they are very drying and very harsh on skin, and tend to make it look beat up, defeating the purpose.

 

These were super moist and easily applied to and CLEANED my whole face. There is a slight scrubbing sensation, which is nice because it lets you know they are actually getting into your skin to remove all the impurities.

 

You can really see the oil and dirt in these cloths when you finish, and although it is disgusting, it is really good because all that stuff would otherwise still be in your face. 

 

It makes my skin feel resurfaced, deep cleaned and moisturized. I am so thrilled with these pads. They are so simple and yet so effective. Most actual cleansers do not work this well, and most pads hardly do anything. The BEST blemish pads I have ever used.

 

I am so in love with all these wonderful Noxzema products. I cannot believe that I wasted so much time and money on other products that do not even come close to these. 

 

If it's not broken, don't fix it. Go back to the classics with Noxzema. I know you will love every one of these products.

 

*Although I received these products at no cost to facilitate a review, all opinions are 100% my own*

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Nutrisystem Week 7 Update

I know that I usually do my weekly updates on Monday. I am very sorry for the late post, We are in Spring Break, and so my Monday was out of whack.

I had another wonderful week on the Nutrisystem Program. I am loving how easy and effective this is.

I am sure I have said if before, although I had high hopes, honestly, I had low expectations when I first started. I thought if it was easy it would not work and if it was effective, it would be too hard to stick with, but this program works without having to starve yourself, and I love that.

I gets easier each week too as you learn the best things to snack on and which Power Fuels, Smart Carbs and Veggies to add in to get the most filling, best tasting, and smarted options for each meal.

To give you an example, Here is what I ate yesterday:

Breakfast - Cinnamon Roll:
I also had a delicious Refreshing Coffee Protein Shake along with this. It was so delicious. This was warm, soft and gooey. It tasted amazing and was a very nice size.

I love that I can have a Cinnamon Roll and my Coffee(Shake), just like I would have when not dieting and yet still lose wight.

Lunch- Spicy Kung Pao Noodles:
These are so good. They are not overly spicy, which I love, and they are not that hot sauce(vinegary) kind of spicy, they are rich and flavorful with a kick in the background. Delicious. They have a peanut sauce(with some chunks of peanuts), and they are so unique and adventurous

I had some Broccoli along with this to make this meal extra filling.

Dinner - Turkey & Italian Sausage Pizza:

 
 I am obsessed with Pizza. In fact, pizza is probably one of my most favorite foods.The other Nutrisystem pizzas are good, but I like MEAT, so this one has to be my favorite. The sausage is so favrful and really makes this pizza special.

The crust it to die for. So crispy and delicious, not too soggy and not too hard or crunchy. I cannot believe it came out this good from the microwave.
I had a huge bowl of carrots and Yellow & Green wax beans with this too, and it was such a huge meal.

Dessert - Chocolate Cheesecake:
 

This is so good. It tastes amazing, but even more important to me is the texture. t really has that thick cheese cake consistency.

It is sweet, but not overly so, and the chocolate flavor is not too rich, it is more like that of cheesecake, and I love that.

All this food, plus 2 snacks(I chose Fat Free Yogurt and Fruit yesterday). An I still Lose weight. Sounds like a fairy tale. I am so thrilled that I gave this a chance. I would still be unhealthy and unhappy otherwise.

And when it is time to weight in. I am always really happy since the number is always lower.

This week's magic numbers are...drumroll please...

2.8 POUNDS and 1 1/4 INCHES!!

That brings my 7 week total to a whopping...
 19.8 POUNDS & 8 3/4 INCHES!!

I am so g;ad that I took this step for myself, and f this is something you are considering, please, just go for it. You will no be sorry.

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog

*Although I am receiving the Nutrisystem Program at no cost to facilitate honest reviews of my progress, all opinions are 100% my own*

Monday, March 25, 2013

Painted Earth Review

I am addicted to skin care and beauty products. I love to try everything and find new favorites. I especially love sharing all my favorites with all of you.

I like to save you the trouble of trying all the not so good products out there. So all you have to do is read my reviews and trust me. If I recommend it, then it is something I really believe in and think that you will really love.

And all of the beauty lovers out there are in luck, because I recently discovered a brand that I am obsessed with.

Painted Earth, Cosmetics From Nature, is one of the very best brands I have tried. I am so in love with these products.

I recently tried an assortment of Painted Earth Products, and they were all fabulous.



Blueberry Cranberry Oxygen Scrub:

This scrub is amazing. I am a huge fan of scrubs, they are probably my favorite type of cleansers(skin or body) as long as they are good.

I have tried more scrubs than I can count, and have liked only a handful and loved even less, but I adore this scrub.

This little secret weapon is packed with anti-oxidants and Vitamin C. It smells incredible and feels fantastic. It really exfoliates thoroughly and effectively, but also gently.

It does not irritate my skin at all, nor it it drying. It is also not too oily, which is amazing. I have tried some other scrubs that use oils to moisturize, but they leave my skin feeling greasy.

This cleans deep down to remove all the dirt and oil that clogs up my pores and rinses super clean leaving my skin feeling bright, fresh and renewed. It wakes my skin up and makes it look glowing. My skin feels silky smooth. And this smells delicious.


Acne/Sensitive Face Wash:
This face wash is so wonderful. It is made with sugar and Aloe Vera, so it is super gentle(and smells so fantastic). It also contains Vitamins A and C(antioxidants), and lavender, tea tree, and oregano to effectively eliminate acne causing bacteria.

This amazing multitasking cleanser also actually eliminates scars and hyperpigmentation(thanks to Organic Geranium) and Stimulates collagen production(gotu kola and burdock root).

It is so fresh feeling and is incredibly gentle. I cannot believe all the benefits this delivers without any harshness at all. I think that even if you don't have sensitive skin, this cleanser would be perfect for you. I am prone to blemishes, so this is a life saver for me. 


Moisture Treatment for Sensitive/Acne Skin:
This fabulous Acne clearing moisturizer is so revolutionary. It kills bacteria and reduces inflamation and discoloration without ANY harsh chemicals. Unlike most Acne lotions which contain Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid.

This moisturizer is slam packed with amazing, NATURAL, Skin clearing ingredients: Turmeric reduces inflammation, gotu kola stimulates cell renewal, licorice lightens discoloration, and sage, goldenseal, propolis, sandalwood, and melissa all kill bacteria while soothing the skin and renewing damaged or irritated tissue. Jojoba oil, which rates zero on the comedogenic scale moisturizes without clogging pores.

It feels so soothing, and hydrating without feeling heavy or oily. My skin feels so smooth and fresh while using this moisturizer and the effects are noticeable for hours.

Vitamin C Eye Gel:
This eye gel is so great. It is so easy to apply and feels ultra moisturizing, yet is very light and absorbs easily.

It made my eyes look visibly brighter an rejuvenated. The even felt refreshed and hydrated.

Not only does this tackle dark circles(my main issue), but also puffiness, sagging, wrinkles and Crows Feet. Talk about doing it all.

It is oil free too, which, being prone to break outs, I LOVE.

Boo-Boo Gel:
This is a miracle gel. Seriously, it can do everything. It works on Acne, which is what first attracted me to it. It clears up problem skin FAST! It even reduces the size of pores. If that is not a miracle, I don't know what is(when it comes to skin care).

This magic Anti-inflammatory gel also treats mosquito bites. My kids always get devoured by mesquits somehow(they just appear).

This even treats bruises! I have never known another product to even claim to treat bruises, but to actually do it is unheard of. I am so in love with this product. It is perfect for EVERYONE!

Believe me, you will be wishing you had this on hand countless times, so you might as well get it and be prepared.



As amazing as the Skin care products are, the cosmetics are equally amazing. 


Perfect Every Thyme Baked Mineral Foundation(Antique Beige):
I love that this is swirled. This foundation uses a light refracting technology that allows each color to adjust to the individual’s skin tone.

You apply it with a Brush(I used the Painted Earth Kabuki Brush)
That makes your skin look flawless and naturally perfect. It even minimizes the appearance of pores and fine lines, and evens skin tone. Your skin looks gorgeous, but you don't look "made up".

It feels so weightless and allows your skin to breathe. It is completely effortless to apply. It glides on and is so smooth and silky.

And this is not just "make up" it is infused with Jojoba, Safflower, Lavandula, Thyme, Green Tea, Vitamin E, Rosemary and Magnolia bark extract.

Baked Blush(in Bouquet):
This blush is so wonderful. It blends so perfectly. It melts into your skin and leaves you looking naturally flushed with color.

I love that it looks real. If you don't apply it to heavy handed, then it does not look like make up at all, but rather beautifully, rosy skin.

Matte Shadow(in Cork and Soft Pink):
I love these colors(especially Cork). I am usually not too into Matte Shadows and almost always opt for shimmer, but these are fabulous.

They compliment each other perfectly too. I love the way cork looks alone.


But is looks so pretty with the Soft Pink to accent it.


It is so smooth and silky. The color glides on and feels velvety and light. It lasts forever and the pigment is very saturated, especially for such light, natural colors.


SuperWear Gel Liner(in Sienna):

This is one of the best liners that I have ever used. It is so silky. It glides on with no effort at all, looks smooth and feels light and flexible. I lasts all day and night and never smears, smudges or fades.

The color is so saturated and bold, yet neutral and naturally gorgeous. I love how dark this is without being black.

Most the time when I use a "dark" brown, it never really looks dark, it ends up more translucent and looks pretty light.


LashLuxe Mascara(in Onyx):
This is a fantastic mascara. It increases volume, lengthens and separates. It never clumps or looks dry, and gives a wonderful, natural sheen. It even hydrates the lashes, keeping them healthy.

It is super weightless and it doesn't flake, smear or smudge. The color is bold and rich. It really makes your eyes POP. The brush is flexible and soft, making it perfect to separate and define every lash.

When used together with the liner and the shadow, the final look is so gorgeous. 



Baby Hint of Mint Lipgloss:

Mint Mauve-

Mint Cherry-




Not only are these colors GORGEOUS, but this gloss is just the right consistency, which is rare.

They are not sticky at all, but they are also not too runny or overly glossy. The color is brilliant and the shine vibrant, the color is perfectly sheer.

It pampers your lips and keeps them super moisturized and kissably soft for hours.

These glosses really are the finishing touches that pull the whole look together.


Mauve

Cherry

I love all of these products so much, and highly recommend Painted Earth to everyone. Not only are these products all stunning and so functional, but they are made with natural and organic ingredients.

Painted Earth makes so many incredible products, and I know that I have to try more. I can't imagine  anything less than spectacular from Painted Earth.

I would love to hear your thoughts on these products, or on others if you have tried Painted Earth.

*Although I received these products at no cost to facilitate a review, all opinions are 100% my own*