August 2012 Birchbox

I got my Birchbox this month and I'm loving the "Beauty School" theme.

Miss Jessie's Original Stretch Silkening Crème

I feel like this is a good amount of product just for a sample! This leave in conditioner claims to be the "best darn curl creme period", but I will definitely be putting it to the test. I have yet to find a product to help define my curls. I ALWAYS get a big puffy frizzy mess. I just want mermaid curls... is that too much to ask? :(

Juicy Couture - Viva la Juicy La Fleur

I'm really not a big fragrance person. The scent is pleasant but not too strong. Not the best smell in the world... I know, helpful, right?
This is how the website describes the scent: Top notes of wild berries and sweet mandarin flirt with lady-like middle notes of honeysuckle, jasmine, and gardenia. Warm base notes of caramel, amber, vanilla, sandalwood, and praline hover beneath it all.

Pixi Beauty Lip and Line

I was super SUPER excited to receive this in my box this month. I've been loving the Pixi cosmetic line and this was of the products I wanted to try. So amazing that they sent a full sized product ! I really love the color on my skin tone. For a lip product the lasting of it is decent. It's pretty much lip stick. I feel like this product alone made the whole box wroth it for me. :)

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream

This is a Japanese cream that is used to hydrate dry skin. So far what I've been using it for were my cuticles and it's been working fairly well! It's not greasy at all. It has a very fresh and earthy scent that isn't too strong.

Schick Hydro Silk Razor

And last be not least, the life style item they always throw into the package. I've never actually experimented when it comes to my razors. I pretty much have bought the same kind forever. I don't feel like spending alot on something I'm just going to throw away. What is cool about this razor is that the blades are disposable.  I know what you're thinking: "Devon where have you been?!" It's not a revolutionary product but for me it pretty ground breaking, haha! I may consider sticking with this style of razor. It gave a really close shave, without irritating my skin.

Essie Ole' Caliente + China Glaze Turn Up the Turquoise

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I have for you another ring finger accent manicure with reversed colors on the right hand. Essie Ole' Caliente was very easy to work with. When I first got this color I thought it would be more on the coal/pink side. I was poorly mistaken. It's actually a very bright red/orange, but that's ok! Be careful applying this polish, it is very staining (must red are). When I went to remove this manicure I stained my cuticles from just REMOVING the polish!

China Glaze Turn Up the Turquoise is a lovely turquoise blue polish with a slight hit of shimmer. I really loved how this color looked on me and the formula was very easy to work with.

 

Pictures shown below 1-2 coats of polish(both colors). I was also out of town when I applied this manicure so you'll just have to deal with the non-while background! D:<

Essie All Tied Up and Love&Beauty(Forever21) Rose Gold

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Essie All Tied up is a maroon polish with just a hit of gold shimmer. I pick this up at ULTA the other day on a whim. Application was just lovely. Even coverage in just one coat. Although, with just one coat it was very vulnerable to chipping. I was chipping day one which made me sadface. :( On my ring finger I used All Tied Up as a base and applied 2 coats of a rose-gold glitter polish that I picked up from Forever 21. I adored this manicure; very fancy with little effort!

China Glaze Elephant Walk and NYC Centarl Park

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Long time, no update! I went out of town this past weekend and had no access to the interwebs so... I couldn't update. :( Anyways, here I am! I have simple manicure. I've been super obsessed with ring finger color accents. On my left hand I have China Glaze's Elephant Walk from their new On Safari Collection, with an accent of NYC Central Park. I just reversed the manicure on my right hand. :) Like I said, simple!

China Glaze' Elephant Walk is a simple grey with a slight shimmer, which I love! Application for Elephant Walk was wonderful! I had very few issues. It generally applied in one coat. NYC's Central Park is a pearly light pink. Now NYC Central Park wasn't as nice. It took 3 coats to get an good opacity and even then it looked kinda streaky. I think because it's more of a pearl-like polish, the brush strokes showed more?

Not a very good picture of my right hand. :(

China Glaze Elephant Walk can be purchased at ULTA or Sally's Beauty Supply (I got mine at Sally's) and NYC Central Park can be bought from pretty much anywhere; Walmart, Target, etc.

What's in My Gym Bag?

I am so proud of myself! I have been sticking to my workout routine for the past 3 weeks. Currently I am gong 3 times a week; M/W/F, with a 15 minute walk on Tu/Th. So far it's been working very well for me! Since I got a new job that require less movement and activity, I knew if I didn't jump into this now it would bite me in the butt later. >:(

I've actually wanted to join a gym for sometime now but could never get myself to do it. Now, I have no excuse. The company I work for has a gym, on campus! How convenient is that? I literately work out right after work! It's such a great stress relief and I've been sleeping so much better (having a new mattress helps too). I have really been enjoying it and I'm happily seeing the results. My over all goal is to maintain my weight and become much more active and healthy. But my BIG goal is to lose 60 lbs. I fully understand the challenge of that goal and I am in no hurry but I know if I keep focused I can do anything. :) I love my body and who I am. As long as I'm healthy and active, that is all that matters to me.

Now on to the "What's in My Gym Bag?". After 3 weeks of working out, I've figured out what type of products/items I need to bring that best suits my needs:

1. Water Bottle - Bobble: Of course staying hydrated is very important. The water bottle I use is called a Bobble. It has a Charcoal Filter which helps to purify the water. You can pretty much find these everywhere. I got mine from Old Navy.

2. Make-up/Facial Wipes - Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea: Since I am going to the gym right after work, I usually have makeup on. I wouldn't suggest working out with a full face of makeup. When you work out, your pores open. The combo of sweat+makeup going into your pores=no no. The brand doesn't really matter to me. I'm always trying a new facial wipe when I run out. If anyone has a suggestion on a good one, let me know!

3. Face Cleanser - Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser For Normal to Oily Skin: Like I said, during a workout your pores open up. You want to remove the sweat/dirt from your face with a gentle cleaner. Your face will be at a vulnerable state after a workout. I wouldn't suggest using a harsh cleaner with extra chemicals. Just a basic cleanser that will remove dirt/sweat. I got his cleanser from Target but I'm certain it's available in many other stores.

4. Moisturizer w/ SPF - Aveeno Active Naturals Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30: After cleansing your skin, especially if you're about to go right outside; applying a moisturizer with SPF is very important. I picked up this moisturizer at Drug Mart.

5. Deodorant - Secret Clinical Strength Anti-Perspirant Deodorant: Doesn't really matter the type of deodorant but you definitely want to smell and feel fresh going into and after a work out.

6. Gym Shoes - Vibram Fivefingers: Women's JAYA, Size 40 - I lovelovelove working out in my Vibrams! I've had these for over a year now and they give working out and just walking in general, a whole new experience. It's really just like walking barefoot. For more info about the Fivefingers go here. If you are looking into getting a pair, I highly recommended finding a retailer that sells them, even if you're wanting to purchase them online. Sizing the shoes can be hard on your own, you want to make sure it's done a certain way. The best why to do that is to have your foot measured, try on different pairs, and have an associate help!

7. Sweat pants+Shirt: Nothing too special here. I suggest working out in whatever you find comfortable. You don't want to feel embarrassed at the gym. For me, I honestly just buy the men's shorts/pants/v-necks. They are so much cheaper than women's, plus I love having a baggy/loose feel to my workout clothes! And who gives a crap how I look at the gym?

8. Snack - Clif Bar Energy Bars, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut: I freaking love these! They taste so good and are a great snack before a workout or after a workout. Especially if you're looking for that quick energy/calorie boost. Each bar is 210 calories and is full of so much goodies. These are just what I prefer but find out what works best for you. I also like Fiber One bars. They're only 90 calories and also very tastey! I pick up my Clif Bars at Target.

9. Headphones - To listen to the TV attached to the workout equiment in the gym or my iPod.

10. Headband - To pull my hair away from my face, so it doesn't irritante my skin during a workout.

11. Chapstick - Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm- A good chapstick to keep your lips from drying out during a work out. Breathing at a fast pace will quickly dry my lips out and crack them if I don't use my Burt's!

12. Music - iPod Touch - I love my iPod Touch so much. Music is such a wonderful motivator.

13. Flipie-Flopies - Flipflops to change into after my workout so my feet can breathe! They are also good for showering in at the gym.


And that is everything! The gym bag I keep everything in is a standard sized gym bag by Reebok. I also use plastic ziplock bags for my liquid items, to keep them from exploding everywhere, lol

I'd love to know what's in your gym bag!