MyGlam: April 2012

Before I received my April bag I decided to cancel MyGlam. I found out that the MyGlam representative that assured me that the crease brush from the MyGlam March bag was synthetic. After someone mentioned I should do a flame test (burning animal hair has a distinct smell and will singe, whereas synthetic will smell like plastic and ball up), and it has the exact characteristics as animal hair. Im quite horrified as I not only used the brush, but I told everyone here that the brush was synthetic. I update the older post to reflect correctly. This month MyGlam has clearly labeled their brushes as one being synthetic and the other being from pony hair. But I am not spending my hard earned money on a company that does not value me and my concerns. Goodbye MyGlam...

Don't know what MyGlam is? MyGlam is a once a month beauty subscription service that delivers premium beauty samples to your door. The creator of MyGlam, Michelle Phan, is a YouTube beauty expert that wants to share her favorite items with the world. The bags are delivered in the cutest reusable beauty bags. Once you join you will take a beauty/preference quiz that will help the girls choose the best products for you. The products range from beauty, skincare, hair, body, nails, and more. Every month you should also expect to receive full-sized products. MyGlam costs $10 a month, and your bag will always be valued above!
Click here to join MyGlam.

April 2012, Girls Night Out
This month MyGlam revealed EVERY single product in the bag the week before they shipped. Most of the previews were so obvious that even if you wanted to avoid them, you couldnt. We all sort of hoped that there would be more products in the bag than they showed but no such luck.

This month the theme was Girl's Night Out. On facebook they had said the month would be filled with glamorous products. I'm not sure if they delivered. Honestly it is one of their better bags, but they have yet to wow me like Beauty Army or Birchbox has.

Information Card:

Products:
DermStore: Lip Quench
Using a blend of nourishing oils, this treatment softens and smooths lips. 
Full Size: 0.21oz ($12.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 0.21oz ($12.00)
This lip gloss is formulated with Maxi-Lip to give thin, dry lips a fuller, smoother hydrated appearance. Looking at the ingredients I was a bit worried since there are so many ingredients that look iffy. But most of these ingredients are always synthetic or plant based. The ones that may possibly be an animal source are: Ceramide-3, Tribehenin, and Propylparaben. It does have beeswax if that concerns you. I will contact DermStore to ensure that they are plant-based. Most companies seem to use synthetic versions of these ingredients, but it is better to be safe and sound. Although in the mean time I did try this out (Im not perfect!). It really is thick but that means you only need a little. It's pink in color, but sheer on your lips. I found that it lasted for hours and hours. It wasn't overly sticky and added just a slight sheen. I have to say Im not the biggest fan of the fragrance, it smells chemically and the taste gets stuck in my mouth. I wasn't too excited about this product since Im receiving it as a free gift for my purchase on the DermStore website (used my $25 off coupon from MyGlam). Seems fishy that we got it the same month that it is a gift with purchase.
What I did just notice is that MyGlam is offering $15 off your purchase of $30 or more on Dermstore.com using the promo code: April15. I've purchased now twice from them and have not been happier. On top of free products: speedy, free shipping; a wide range of products; free samples in the box; and I got a free magazine subscription both times I purchased (Health for me and Better Homes and Garden for my aunt).

All-Belle: False Lashes in Red Wedding A2822

Accentuate your eyes for any occassion with these gorgeous faux lashes.

Full Size: 1 pair of lashes ($8.50)

Size Received: Full-size! 1 pair of lashes ($8.50)

Having never, ever worn false lashes Im curious about these. The pair that I received are the most natural looking of the pairs that MyGlam has posted on their website. I'm happy about that. I already have pretty full lashes, but who knows maybe these will make me look extra special. I plan on trying these out a few days before graduation and if I like how they look I'll wear them to my ceremony. It is odd to me that the lashes vary in length, but I won't know what that looks like until I try them on. These did come with a bottle of lash glue, which is great since Id be less inclined to try them if I had to buy glue. My only issue is that the entire box is written in what I think is Chinese! That is real helpful... MyGlam should have included a translation card. What if the box tells me important allergen information!? I'd have no idea. I'll have to look up a tutorial to help me apply these. 

Urban Decay: 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Junkie
Create your unique eye look with these creamy glide on pencils in the latest colors. Built to last 24/7.
Full Size: 0.04oz ($19.00)
Size Received:0.03oz ($14.25)
We all know I love me some Urban Decay!! I haven't tried their eye pencils yet, but based on how much I love the shadow pencil I knew this was going to be love at first sight. I was pleasantly surprised that I received Junkie. Actually, beyond ecstatic, it was the color I wanted to receive! Junkie is not available for full-size purchase, but is available in a trave-size set of 5 colors (Electric). Junkie is a blue/green with tons of sparkle. The sparkles are pinkish and silver. The color is perfect for my eyes that range from blue to grey to green depending on what I am wearing. It definitely brings out the green in my eyes. Plus, just like the shadow pencil this glides on so easily and lasts all day long without a smudge! I adore this pencil already! I like that I can wear it any old day and with any shadow color. Definitely the best product I've received ever from MyGlam.

MyGlam: All-Over Eyeshadow Brush and Eyeliner Brush

Handpicked by Michelle, enjoy two additional signature pink brushes to ad to your exclusive myglam collection. 

The brushes that caused me to cancel. On the MyGlam website there is more information about the brushes and it clearly states that the all-over eyeshadow brush is made from pony hair. The angled eyeliner brush is synthetic and made from nylon. Someone had posted on makeuptalk that they thought the crease brush was made of animal hair as well and I informed them what the MyGlam rep told me. That's when someone mentioned to me about the flame test, which the crease brush failed. The crease brush is from an animal source. I was so upset that the representative misinformed me. I've been using it all month thinking it was cruelty-free. At this point I feel guilty throwing out a brush that an animal may have died for. So instead I hope one of my close friends will take both the crease and all-over eyeshadow brush off my hands. 

That being said before I use the nylon brush, Im going to take it to the lab to look at it under a microscope. The fibers are too well packed in to pluck one out for a flame test. I'll be at the lab all day tomorrow working on a ton of schoolwork, so this will be a fun break from looking at fibers. I'll report back with the results. And maybe Ill get a chance to take a photo of what I see :) The brush it self is nice and soft, it is sturdy, and seems like it will be a great brush. Let's just hope it doesn't have scales!

Total Value of my April MyGlam bag: $34.75 + (brushes)
I'm fine with the value, but I think it is cheap of MyGlam to have 2 brushes in one bag. Whole-sale brushes are obviously easily to obtain than an actual brand name sample. It would have been nice to get at least one more sample. Although to be fair, the products we did get this month were good sized. MyGlam may have gotten better (this is my favorite bag), I don't think they deserve my money. I plan on writing to MyGlam to inform them of their mistake and hope that in the future they will properly educate their staff on the ingredients and source of their products. If MyGlam continues to move in a better direction I may decide to resubscribe, but for the time being I do not regret my decision at all.

What do you think of the April MyGlam? Have you canceled? Let me know in the comments below! If you dont get MyGlam and are interested, click here to join!

Free Samples from Clairvoyant Beauty!

I learned about Clairvoyant Beauty from my March Goodebox. I immediately fell in love with their Depuffing Cucumber & Cranberry Eye Gel (which you can read all about on my post about my March Goodebox).

Then I learned that they were offering 50% off all orders with the promo code: MADNESS12. That is so insanely generous! I thought the 25% off Goodebox was giving me was nice, but 50% holy cow. I got right on that and bought a collection of 6 summer favorites. I cannot wait for my order to arrive!

On their facebook page they are even offering a free sample of their new fragrance and of the depuffing eye gel that I love so much. I already received my free samples yesterday!

The fragrance is made of only the best natural ingredients including pure essential oils and organic corn alcohol. There are no added chemicals or extenders in this perfume.

The website describes the perfume as the following:

Clairvoyant, our wild-crafted natural fragrance, invites you to see beyond the range of ordinary perception, and celebrates the mystery of being a woman. Crisp floral-green top notes of bergamot and lime leads you into an exploration. Bulgarian rose middle notes blend with jasmine and ylang ylang to relax the senses and enhance your own natural harmony and beauty. Warm, lush, inviting base notes of tobacco, fir and green cognac suggest a subtle sexiness;the mystery and possibility of being a Clairvoyant woman.

Now when I put it on initially only smell what I assume is the bergamot, the lime kicks in almost as an after-taste (if that makes sense). Quickly it mellows down and you can smell the rose. I personally do not like either of these notes. To me it smells just like Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds. And not to my surprise they share the bergamot, rose, ylang ylang, and the forestry base notes. I see this as a mature woman's fragrance. Something my grandma or her friends would wear. I don't mind it so much after it mellows out, the rose calms down once the base woodsy notes enter in. I don't normally wear rose in my perfume it is just too strong for my taste; if it is a floral it has to be fresh and light. I don't see myself ever wearing this perfume. But if they came out with more fragrances I'd be happy to try them. Even without the harsh chemicals and extenders this scent did last all day. And I only needed a teensy dab. 

Clairvoyant Beauty is still offering the free samples. Head over to their facebook page to read how you too can get the sample. Who knows, maybe you will love it!

Have you tried this fragrance? What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!

Birchbox: March 2012 (Teen Vogue)

I officially made the switch to a yearly Birchbox subscription. I'm so excited to of the prospects of another year of these lovely little boxes.

Don't know what Birchbox is?
Birchbox is a monthly subscription service that delivers a little, heavenly box of premium beauty samples to your doorstep. Each month you will receive 4-5 samples (sometimes even full-sized products) and generally a goodie (energy booster, granola bar, etc). The samples range from make-up, polishes, skincare, body, hair, and fragrances. All from luxury, quality brands. Every month is a surprise, but the samples picked for you are based on a survey you fill out letting the gals know your style and skin-type. Birchbox costs just $10 a month, and your box will always be valued way above!
Click here to join Birchbox.

March 2012, Box #2

This month Birchbox teamed up with the beauty editors at Teen Vogue to bring us party-ready products.
You had a choice to opt-in or out of the Teen Vogue box. I chose to open a second account so that I would get my regular box and a Teen Vogue box. Yeah I have a problem. I confirmed by phone that my accounts were correctly opted in and out, but somehow I still ended up with 2 Teen Vogue boxes. I wasn't the only one who had their boxes messed up. Some people opted-in and still got regular boxes and vice-versa. Birchbox would have avoided all of the issues if they had made the option not an email link but a physical location in our profile. And even better, made it possible to receive both boxes on a single account. So currently options are to keep the box, return it for a refund, or maybe I'll be abel to trade it for a regular box with someone who wants it. Either way, too much of a headache for something that should be fun.

     I scratched the top of the box while I was trying to open it...woops

Information Cards:

Products:
Annick Goutal: Petite Chérie
A blend of fresh fruity notes and musk, this French fragrance is the definition of understated chic.
Full size: 1.7oz ($85.00)
Size Received: .06oz ($3.00)
The packaging says this perfume is a sexy floral menage of peach, vanilla, fresh grass, and musky rose. It smells so fresh and crisp. The peach is definitely the top note and is very strong, but once it starts to settle you can smell the grass and the sweetness of the rose. It actually smells quite lovely, but it reminds me of Herbal Essence Shampoo. That shampoo is so fragrant and I can smell it miles away on anyone who uses it. Not a bad thing, but do I want to pay $85 to smell like shampoo? It would be a great fragrance for a spring day spent at the park or when you are headed to the farmer's market with friends.

essie: luxeffects nail polish in a cut above
Layer this glittery top coat onto any polish for an eye-catching look.
Full size: .46oz ($8.00)
Size Received: Full-size! .46oz ($8.00)
I haven't actually ever tried an essie's nail polish. I can get Chanel manufactured Gap nail polish for $4 with my employee discount, so I tend to just buy Gap nail polish. This top coat is fun and flirty. The color is the cutest pink that will really look good against any nail polish color. Im really excited to pair it with my dark, plum red nail polish. It will turn any boring manicure into glitz and glam. There is both small and large sparkles in the nail polish, but mostly the large sparkles. It takes a bit of work to get the sparkles to spread evenly, but it is doable. Im not the most glittery gal, but I'll add his to my tips or to a few nails every so often to add that extra sparkle. 

Shiseido: Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Papers
These mattifying tissues are coated with transparent rice powder to leave your skin perfectly shine-free.
Full size: 100 sheets ($18.00)
Size Received: 10 sheets ($1.80)
It seemed like not many people wanted to get this sample, but I was hoping that I would get Box 2 so that I could try these! I was so excited when I opened my box and saw them. I live in DC which has the most humid summers ever. Think Florida humid. The humidity lasts most of the year. Im the type of person who can handle heat, but not humidity. Going out during the summer is just a gross mess for me. My hair ends up slick and my face shimmering like I spread castor oil on it. Yeah, yeah, using tissues work, but having these ready in my purse will save me a trip to the overcrowded bathroom. These will get rid of excess oil, reduce the shine, and not leave any residue! 

tarte: LipSurgence lip tint in amused
This long-lasting stain adds rich pigment and is designed to boost the moisture level in your lips. 
Full size: .1oz($24.00)
Size Received: Full-size! .1oz ($24.00)
The packaging says 6000% increase in lip's moisture content. Uh, I don't know if I am buying that. It is a very soft, glossy formula; but that much moisture...don't think so. Amused is a hot pink color, but it is very sheer. It gives just a little more color pay off as the birchbox colored jouer lip gloss. I do like the color, but I would have liked it more if it was more opaque. It is formulated without: parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum, phthalates, sodium laurel sulfate, or synthetic fragrances. I have no idea what some of those are, but I guess that is good. The more natural, the better. And it even has the cruelty free bunny on the side of the packaging. The irritating part is that when I went to try it out on my lips the entire tip almost cracked off. I can still use it though, I just have to be careful. I contacted birchbox and they gave me 100 BB points for the issue. 

eta: The more I use the product, the more I fall for it. At first it was a bit too sheer for me, but when I wore it out I got so many compliments and only need to reapply once the entire night. And it did stain well, even if the gloss effect wore off I still had a pretty, pink tone to my lips.

twistband: Hair Tie
Give your ponytail a makeover with these colorful, snag-free elastics.
Full size: 12 pack ($18.00)
Size Received: 1 tie ($1.50)
This is the second time that Birchbox has had these hair ties as an extra. I don't understand why anyone would pay $18 for 12 hair ties!? They do nothing for my thin, limp hair. I need to use baby, clear plastic elastics for hair ties. I have to wrap this around my hair 4-5x to get it to hold. But what I do like is the color. The last one I ended up wearing on my wrist when I would wear my hair down at work. That way if I was moving a lot of boxes I could swiftly put it up. But it is just a piece of pretty elastic tied together...Why feature this twice!? I'd much rather packets of tea or music downloads.

ModCloth.com $10 coupon
Included in this month's box was a $10 off any purchase $75+ at Modcloth.com. I have been a fan of ModCloth for years and have many cute blouses and dresses from the website. They have a little bit of every style: boho, indie, trendy, preppy, etc. I love that most of the clothing has a twist that makes it special. They very rarely have coupons, so I may need to take a look around. Although, at this moment I dont' see myself using this. Right on the coupon they say to share with friends. So if you want to get the discount, use the promo code: MODPROM.

Total value of my March 2012 box:$38.30
Not a bad value, but the majority of that value is my broken tarte lip tint. Let's hope Birchbox helps me out. I think I would have liked the box a bit more if I knew I was still getting my regular box, but alas life does not alway work out how you want it to.


What do you think of my March Birchbox? Did you opt for the Teen Vogue box? How does my box compare to yours? Let me know in the comments below!
If you don't get Birchbox, click here to join! 

Free Pair of Glasses from Coastal.com

Yeah, you heard me...FREE! Coastal.com is a contact and eyeglasses online website that has an offer where your first pair of glasses is free (use promo code: FIRSTPAIRFREE) and you only have to pay for shipping and handling. The company wants you to feel confident ordering from an online eyeglass website and to show you how easy it is.

I've looked at a lot of eyeglass websites that have very, very cheap quality products and I was expecting the same when I started looking at the glasses on Coastal, but I was wrong. They offer many well known brand names, such as: Cynthia Rowley, Espirit, Bongo, Converse, and more. They do offer luxury brands, but those products are not included in the free promo. And thankfully, they are easily labeled as not being part of any sale/promo. The majority of the frames that I liked were from their own brand names, but the quality of the products still looked stellar. The prices range from about $30-$100. And no matter the price, all of the standard glasses are included in the promo!

I had a blast deciding what I wanted. Ever since I saw Ali Wong on the Chelsea Lately Round Table back in December I have wanted to be her. No joke. And that includes her glasses. To really appreciate the glasses, take a look at the full-size image. I love the semi-cat eye shape, the strong bridge that fades into nothing. It is just such a great shape! And who can resist such a classic, vintage style. So my Coastal.com pick was my own version of Ali's glasses for me!

What I ended up on was Derek Cardigan's 7010 in Grey Haze. Derek Cardigan is a brand I've never heard of and from my searches I have only found the glasses on Coastal's website. The line is vintage inspired and 'reflect Derek's joie de vivre philosophy on fashion and life. Derek Cardigan eyewear evokes the spirit of a swinging by-gone-age brought right up-to-date full of color, whimsy, joy, and style' (Do I just buy things that are described in someway as joie de vivre?) 7010 are browline eyeglasses that were ever so popular in the 1950s.

The frame is made of acetate and silver metal. I chose the Grey Haze color which is a translucent grey tortoise style. I love that they define my brows but are not over powering as a fully opaque black would have been. Plus, if you look closely you will notice they are massively geeky. Check out the multiplication and division signs, and on the sides the equal signs. That sold me. There were multiple browline styles, but it was a done deal.

Once I got my eyeglass prescription from my optometrist I was ready to order.
Note: Your contact lens prescription is not the same as your eyeglass prescription! Because contacts sit on top of your eyes whereas eyeglasses sit a few cms away from your eyes they have different focal lengths. Call your optometrist and they will be able to give you the correct prescription and your pupil distance. If you have an astigmatism you will also need your cylinder power and axis numbers.

The website recommended me to upgrade to a higher quality lens, but even though my prescription is somewhat high (-3.5 and -4) I decided to go with the standard free lens. You can also change the lenses to sunglasses or transition lenses (although I do not believe these are part of the free promo) and you can add UV protection, scratch resistant coating, and anti-reflective coating. The coatings each are an extra +$9.95 so I did not take advantage of them.

I received my lenses just 3 business days after I ordered by Fedex. The glasses came with the case, a cleaning cloth, and a lens tightener. I was so happy when I first laid eyes on my new glasses, they are gorgeous! The lenses were obviously high quality and crafted carefully. The frame feels durable and looks just as in the picture, well even more shiny and beautiful. They fit my face perfectly, are really comfortable because they have spring hinges and adjustable nose pads. But if you find yours don't fit perfect, take them to lenscrafters and they will do an adjustment for free. I did find the lenses took some adjusting on my eyes. But now that I've had them for a few weeks they no longer bother my eyes and I see well. One thing I wish I had done is paid the extra $10 for the anti-glare. Any light causes a glare to show up, good luck using flash! I'm going to stop by Lenscrafters and ask if they will add the anti-glare coating. It is worth the extra $10!

I have gotten many compliments on my glasses! Even from my 60 year old photography professor! They pair very well with my style. They definitely add a whimsy and fun feel to any of my looks. I have a heart-shaped face and they do not overpower my big forehead or accentuate it at all. Plus, I think the fact that the majority of the frame is thin, silver it allows me to shine through! I originally bought these to be an extra pair to wear when Im just around the house or laying in bed watching TV, but I almost think I like this style more than my Ray Bans!

top: Gap

necklace: Jewelmint

earrings: F21

Coastal's website is a bitch glitchy. I couldn't use the try on view and the website is slow. It took forever to search through all the glasses since the pages would every so often freeze up. But in total, I am VERY satisfied and will probably get getting another pair from Coastals in the future. I would definitely recommend taking a look at the Coastal website. Don't forget your first pair is free with promo code (FIRSTPAIRFREE), excluding any additions and shipping ($9.95). So for $10 I have a pair of glasses that beat out my $300 pair!

Have you ordered from Coastal's before? What is your favorite style of glasses? Let me know what you think in the comments!

Friends and Family at Gap! (40% off entire purchase)

Hello Friends and Family!!
Anyone who reads my blog is a friend of mine! And some of you may know that I work at Gap.

Either way. I wanted to let you all know that Friends and Family at Gap (US and Puerto Rico stores only) is happening Thursday March 8th - Sunday March 11th! What does this mean? It means that you as a friend of me get to save 40% off your ENTIRE purchase!

All you have to do is like my brand new facebook page and the coupon will available for you to print out! Click the awesome Gap snapshot below to go straight to the Friends and Family Link on my facebook.

It is a great time to take a look at what Gap has to offer. Here is a little snapshot of my favorite women's Gap items so far this season. All of these looks are available in-stores and online right now!

Happy Shopping Everyone! And if you have any fit, sizing, or style questions about Gap in general or for a specific item, Im your gal!