Sindulge: April 2012

You read that right, this is my April 2012 Sindulge bag. Sindulge offered their customer's a second month at a penny to account for all the troubles that occured during their first month in March. It may have been a penny, but all the hassle and waiting wasn't even worth it.

Don't know what Sindulge is?
Sindulge is a once a month beauty subscription service that delivers a cute box of beauty samples to your doorstep. Each month you will receive samples based on a personal consultation with one of their team beauty experts. The consultation's are 15 minutes long and can be done via video or text chat. Let the expert know what your concerns are and what new products you want to try. You can even ask the experts questions or ask for tips. The experts will do their best to fulfill your needs. Plus, there is a beauty profile on file to help the experts out. Sindulge costs $12 a month, and your box will always be valued way above!
Click here to join Sindulge.

April 2012
After I got my first Sindulge bag I was expecting to receive an email asking me set up my next consultation. Nope. I realized I never set up an appointment for the month when other girls were talking about how their consultation went. I decided to log on myself and set up an appointment, strangely I was only able to pick from one day. It was so frustrating because I worked and had class that day, I emailed hoping they'd help me out but they never got back to me, so I finally tried again and luckily the one day that was showing I could do. So it took almost 7 extra days to get my consultation. This month I had my consultation with  Dana. There was no option to do a chat so at the last minute I had to do a video chat. We talked about what I liked and didn't like in my first box. Then we talked about mineral makeup and foundations, how I'm interested in trying blushes (especially corals), that my eyes would look great with browns and purples, and finally how I am looking for a new nail polish top coat. I thought it was successful, I was happy with my experience, but then the waiting game started. My bag did not ship for another three weeks. They did give us a tracking number, but mine never moved, it was never entered into USPS. I finally contacted them and they just said they would ship out my bag that day. So after 4.5 weeks I finally got my bag. Major frustration. In that timeframe I would have been charged for the next month so I cancelled before I even got my bag.

Information Card:

Products:
Pixi: Nail Polish in No. 22 Silver Glitter
Full size: 0.25 oz ($8.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 0.25 oz($8.00)
I do love me a new nail polish, but silver glitter is not really my thing. If it is, this is a great nail polish. It has a perfect formula that has tons of sparkle. You are set with only one coat, but if  you want to glitter bomb the hell out of your nails, well three coats would cover your entire nail in glitter. I have to admit the full on glitter looks kind of cool. Maybe it I was going out dancing this  would be fun. But I don't think this would be appropriate for my life in most situations. We may have talked about nail polish, but does this really count as a top coat?

Skone: Super Gloss in Super Nectar
Full size: 0.4 oz ($14.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 0.4 oz($14.00)
Skone, which means beautiful/beauty in South African, is a small cosmetic company founded by a esthetician. The lip glosses are high shine, filled with antioxidants, and pigmented. I've been trying to get in contact with the company as this lip gloss line states on the ingredients that it may contain carmine (crushed beetles). Normally carmine is used to create bright reds so I expect that the color I received doesn't have it. Super Nectar is a soft neutral pink with lots of fine shimmer. I suspect that it won't add much color to my lips, but instead just add gloss and shimmer. I did swatch it on my hand and it seems like a non-sticky lip gloss and appears to have a light grape smell. I really hope I get the answer I'm looking for since I'm excited to try this product. I just wish people would stop using carmine! It is so gross. Why do I want that on my lips?
eta: Well I got a reply on their facebook. Instead of answering my question the rep told me I shouldn't use any colored lip products from any brand if Im concerned about carmine. And that carmine is natural. Uhh, that was not my question. Then I asked again for the specific ingredients of this color and again skirted around told me if I wanted specific information or to continue the discussion to email them. Well I did, 3 days ago, and you never replied. Bah. I'm irritated.

Aveda: Refreshing Bath Bar
Full size: 5.2 oz ($14.00)
Size Received: 1.73 oz($4.67)
I'm quite positive I did not tell the consultant that I was interested in sample soap, especially bar soap. I never use bar soap. It really makes me believe they just threw my bag together and didn't even look at my consultation notes. It may smell nice and soapy. The website says its a refreshing bar of soap because of the aromas. But I can't smell anything other than a floral-y soap smell. I of course like that uses only plant sources and is free of artificial dyes, but I have no use for it.

Pixi: Fairy Light Solo Eye Shadow in No. 2 Champagne Glow
Full size: 0.08 oz ($14.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 0.08 oz($14.00)

I've always been a sucker for champagne colored eye shadows. I forgot to do a swatch, but it is highly pigmented and a peachy, silver frost. We did talk about eye shadows and how browns look good with my blue eyes, but who knows if this was just a coincidence. It will be great on days that Im too lazy to do much or look awesome as a highlighter. The Pixi website says that the eyeshadows are so finely ground that they reflect a lot of light making the eyes brighter. They also are infused with shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamin E to hydrate while allowing the shadow to apply silky smooth. I'm very happy with all the Pixi products I've gotten to try through Sindulge and would definitely be open to buying more!

Total Value of my April 2012 Sindulge box: $40.67

It is too bad that Sindulge's service is so inconsistent because the samples they have sent to me have been high quality. But I shouldn't have to seek out to schedule my consultation, I shouldn't have to constantly email asking when my bag will ship, I shouldn't have to email again because my bag was never actually shipped out, and the products I receive should be based on the consultation. It wasn't even like it was loosely based. Did they even look at my notes? Who knows. Unfortunately Sindulge and I are done. I don't think they could pay me to rejoin.

What did you think of my Sindulge bag? How does it compare to yours? Are you giving them another chance? Let me know in the comments below!

If you don't get Sindulge, click here to join!

Little Black Bag: The first haul

I've been taking peaks at the Little Black Bag website ever since I heard about it a few months ago. But there was never a product that got me so excited to take the plunge. With the help of a 10% promo I found online I decided to give in and realized Little Black Bag is the most addicting and fun new way to shop online!

What is Little Black Bag? Little Black Bag is a trading/shopping experience. It is loosely based on Japanese Lucky Bag Sales where retailers give out mystery bags filled with products and customers then trade with their friends. With Little Black Bag you get to pick one of the items that you want in your bag and Little Black Bag will choose at least 2 other items (sometimes 3 other items, depending on price of the first item).  Items featured range from purses, jewelry, sunglasses, scarves, hats, watches, tech accessories, and more. All from top brands (Betsey Johnson, CaseMate, Steve Madden, BGBG, etc).
Then you get to see what the stylist chose for you and start trading with other members. Trading lasts exactly 7 days and you can trade for as long as you like. You may start with 3 items valued at $125 and end up with 5+ items with a value over $200! You are not charged until your bag ships and if for any reason you are unsatisfied you can cancel your bag at any time or return items that shipped to you for a product credit. Plus for every friend you invite that buys their bag, you get an extra product in your next bag! Little Black Bag is a monthly club, but you can skip as often as you like. Click here to get started on your first bag!

Little Black Bag, The first haul
Let me tell you this website is ADDICTING!! I hadn't had so much fun shopping then my 7 days of trading. I started out with a Nila Anthony Green Mesh Satchel that I adored from the moment I saw it on the website. Little Black Bag chose the other two items for me, and I remember hating them! But trading was fairly easy to follow. I'd go to the gallery and choose the product I was interested in receiving and make a trade offer. I could offer any item I had (or multiple) and LBB sends out my trade offer to members with the specific item. At first I would make offers only for items I was interested in, but then I realized I'd keep my trades moving if I kept leveling my items up and up (higher value). Sometimes I'd have 40-50 offers out for one product in my bag. But it turned out to be successful as I started with 3 items and ended up with 6! At one point I had 8 items, but I made two item trades to get products that were hard to get. My only advice to new traders is to be patient, be proactive, and don't assume a trade will be denied.

The only complaint I have about the site is that trading can get very tedious. I wish there was an option to swiftly make trade offers, but currently you have to click the product page, click the make an offer page, select your item you want to trade, click trade, and then confirm your trade. If you are planning on making offers on many different items it gets time consuming! I also wish there was a way to lock down a few items. I was always scared I'd accidentally accept a trade on an item I didn't want to get rid of and it was annoying to not be able to filter out all the emails for those items. And trust me while you are trading you will get 100s of emails! You can opt to not receive instant email updates, but if someone makes you a good offer you have to get in quick to accept before someone else accepts their offer. It can also get frustrating at times when nobody is bidding on your items or nobody is accepting any of your offers. Plus, it turns out that a lot of the product pictures look nothing like the actual product (color and size wise) and for someone who only wears dainty jewelry that can be problematic. 

Let's take a look at what I ended up getting!

• Nila Anthony Green Mesh Satchel, Retail Value $72
• RoomMates Dandelion Wall Decal, Retail Value $21
• Case-Mate Samantha iPhone 4/4S Case, Retail Value $40
• Case-Mate Rain iPhone 4/4S Case, Retail Value $40
• Lydell NYC Small Drop Earrings, Retail Value $28
• R&Em Graffiti Pouch, Retail Value $18

Total Value of my Bag $219!!

Detailed Product Reviews:

Nila Anthony: Green Mesh Satchel, $72

This is the product that I opened my bag for. I got many trade offers from other members for this bag but I was never letting go of it. When I opened my LBB package I was greeted by a nasty smell. I thought it was just the PVC (faux leather) smell, but it turned out that one of the handles was growing mold!! I know I live in a humid city, but really? I will be returning this item to LBB for a product credit. Therefore, on my next bag I will automatically get an additional item on top of my original items valued at approximately $72. I am really sad that this bag was defective! And by the time I got my haul, the purse was sold out on their website.
eta: Little Black Bag let me keep the defective bag and still receive a product credit. I cut off the bad strap and will take it to a shoe repair and hope they can put on new handles for me. Sweet!

RoomMates: Dandelion Wall Decal, $21

I've never had wall decals before. I kind of thought they were juvenile, like having glow-in-the-dark stars on my ceiling or what not. But this floral dandelion pattern is fresh, sweet, and a bit more grown up than most decals. The pattern is huge! But that makes it kind of cool. I love shabby chic design mixed with modern finishes and I think this will fit right in. I'm about to move in with my Aunt, so I haven't put this up yet. I hope she will let me put this up on my wall in my new room! The bed I'll have doesn't have a headboard, so I think this would look cute as a wall feature behind the bed!

Case-Mates: Samantha and Rain iPhone Cases, $40 each
For the first few weeks that I get a new tech product (iphone, laptop, kindle, etc) I am extra careful with it and treat it like a baby, but after that new product feel wears off I get sloppy. I don't know how many times I've dropped my current iPhone. I broke the one I originally bought, but luckily it was still within the first year and Apple gave me a new phone. Now that I am waiting until iPhone 5 I am trying to be extra nice to my phone. Thus, I needed to trade out my cracked cases. LBB had so many cute options! I at first only wanted the Samantha case (left florals) but a few days before my trade period ended they released the Rain case (right retro). I couldn't decide and finally decided to get both! I had to trade a total of 4 items to get the 2 cases, but it was worth it! I'm so in love with them! I currently have Rain on my phone.

It comes with a hard, plastic outer shell that has the pattern and an inner, silicon piece that wraps around all of the edges of the phone. I'm very happy with the case. It is easy to put on, doesn't seem like it will be easy to crack, and I love the silicon piece to add some padding if it does somehow fall. 

Here you can see how the silicon piece wraps around and protects it even better! And yes, that is my adorable puppy! She's got a face only a mother could love!

Lydell NYC: Small Drop Earrings, $28
Surprisingly these earrings look very similar to the photo on the LBB website. I love how delicate they are and who doesn't love turquoise this season? Plus, the antique gold finish makes them unique. These earring may only be valued at $28, but there were only 3-4 pairs available while I was trading. I relentlessly tried to get them and finally on my last day of trading a 2 item trade worth $60 was a winner! I practically was jumping up for joy that I got them! And to make them even more special, I ended up wearing them at my graduation ceremony! Here's a small preview of me wearing them.

R&Em: Graffiti Pouch, $18
Why do I love collecting teeny little pouches? I've got so many beauty travel bags but this one was so cute!! I loved that it was made out of canvas and was so bright! I traded down, maybe $10, to get it and am so glad I did! It is so well constructed and is nice and thick with heavy, gold hardware. I've already used it twice since I got it. Once to store my nail polish remover, nail polish, base, and a top coat! And another day to store all of my wallet necessities when I was using a clutch. I saw R&Em featured on HauteLook and I love what I see. Maybe my next LBB bag I'll pick out an R&Em purse!

So there you have it! A total value of over $200! It was a fun experience and really energized me while I was trying to get through a trying week of schoolwork! But, it is time consuming! I spent so much time trading and checking up on the website. At first I thought $50 was too pricey, but I ended up getting a great deal of stuff I love! I don't plan on opening a bag every month but every so often when I see something special or I have a coupon ;)

What do you think of my first Little Black Bag haul? Was it worth the hassle of trading? Find out what is in your bag and start trading by clicking here to join!

Birchbox: May 2012 (Gossip Girl) Box 2 of 2

This month we learned a new trick to 'cheat' and figure out what was inside of our boxes. Even though the website wasn't live for the May boxes, the give feedback button was. So if you looked at a product page and it had a give feedback option that was in your box. Sadly, I learned before I even got my box that Iwas going to be disappointed.

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.

May 2012, Gossip Girl Box #9
As you all know the May boxes were curated by the beauty/hair team behind the CW's hit show Gossip Girl. The boxes were even shipped out early this month so that everyone will have their boxes in time for the season finale Monday, May 14th. Unfortunately my second box was sent out a few days after the other box and I didn't get it until after I left for vacation. But it was waiting patiently for me when I got home. This box had a sub-theme of Hampton's Beach Party. The box had products to help a city girl look natural and chic at the beach. I did watch the season finale of Gossip Girl, but I forgot to enter the trivia contest and I can't find it on the Birchbox facebook tabs, so oh well.

Information Cards:

Products:
Ojun: damage reverse Restorative Conditioner
Repair stressed strands with this aromatic hair treatment -- exotic ojun and monoi oils work together to smooth and hydrate.
Full Size: 8.5 oz ($25.00)
Size Received: 1.0 oz ($2.94)
Another Ojun product? I learned that Ojun was bought by Estee Lauder and therefore are no longer cruelty-free. Their products are tested on animals as required by law (aka China). So these products, even if not necessary for our market are tested on animals for the Chinese market. Not cool. Plus, this is a creamy, thick conditioner! I have very thin, oily hair wtf? I was so angry that I received a product that was not for my hair type. I decided to take a look at what my profile was set to and somehow it was set to dry!! Dry is right above fine, so I don't get how that happened.  But it does explain a lot.

Color Club: Nail Lacquer in Clambake Coral
Just in time for summer, this warm shade will set off your newly (self-) tanned skin.
Full Size: 0.5 oz ($8.00)
Size Received: 0.25 oz ($4.00)
This color is from the Summer Pastels collection. The color I received may be called coral but to me it looks very pink. Yeah it may be a bit of an orangey pink but it is not so soft. Although I will say it looks more coral when on my nails. It's a little brighter than what I would consider pastel, but I do really like this color. At first, I wasn't so sure, but once on my nails I loved how it looked with my skin color. It is my favorite thing in my box! My only complaint is that with any Color Club nail polish I end up with uneven coats. But unless you look closely you can't tell.

BVLGARI: Omnia Crystalline EDT
Inspired by luminescent crystals (so glam), this fresh scent combines notes of lotus flowers, bamboo, and Nashi pear.
Full Size: 1.33 oz ($64.00)
Size Received: 0.05 oz ($2.40)
Omnia Crystalline was inspired by the luminesce of crystal. I'm not sure what a crystal would smell like, but apparently it is an exotic fruit and woodsy. It has notes of asian nashi pear, lotus flower, bamboo and balsa wood. The first fragrance I got in my first Gossip Girl Birchbox was manly and overly woodsy, this scent is the exact opposite. It is sensual, flirty, and feminine. The exotic fruits are just what I like. It smells rich and elegant and dries down to a soft, sweet woodsy smell. It isn't overpowering, but I feel like I could show up to a job interview and command the room or dress up in a slinky dress on a hot date. If it wasn't so expensive I'd be more inclined to rebuy. But this is one of the few products that I felt was Gossip Girl worthy.

Kiehl's: Abyssine Cream +
A longtime bestseller, this anti-aging moisturizer uses microscopic Abyssine molecules to soften wrinkles and protect skin from free radical damage.
Full Size: 1.69 oz ($48.00)
Size Received: 0.25 oz ($7.10)
I had to check again to make sure that my profile does not indicate that Im interested in anti-aging products and it doesnt. Instead it says my face is oily and I'm interested in natural products. How does this fit either requirements. Kiehl's is a THICK moisturizer that has all sorts of pore clogging ingredients. It may work to soften wrinkles but I don't want to put this on my face. Plus, Kiehl's is owned by L'Oreal and therefore is not cruelty-free. I will not be using this and hope I can trade it for something I want to use.

Birchbox: xoxo notecard
Text messages are no match for handwritten notes on fun, modern stationary.
Full Size: 12 notecards ($10.00)
Size Received: 1 notecard ($0.83)
I still weirdly love this extra! I'm trying to trade so that I have more of them. I know some people think they are like the paper coasters or the tiebands, but I actually think it is awesome! I'll be writing my graduation thank you letters this week and am so excited to send these lovely cards on their way.

Total value of my May 2012 box #9:$17.27

I wasn't happy with my first box and I'm not happy with this box. I did edit my profile back to fine/oily, but it sucks that I wasted a month. The lesson to be learn is to not buy into hype. And that I need to scale back on subscription services. I still love Birchbox and just gifted it to a good friend for her birthday, I just wish the months were more consistent. Hopefully next month it will be back on top. 

What do you think of my second May Birchbox? Would you have liked this 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! 

Favorite Music Friday: Those Dancing Days

I grew up on boy bands. Backstreet Boys, Nsync, 98 degrees, HANSON <3, LFO, O-Town, and more. There were a lot of girl bands, but aside from the Spice Girls none that were as popular as the boys. Fast forward to current day and boy bands are back, but what about the girls? I've got you covered.

Those Dancing Days is an all-girl band from Stockholm, Sweden. They formed back in 2005 while many of the girls were still in high school. As you can imagine their music is more youthful. Apparently they are considered tweepop, a genre I never heard of, that is a type of indie pop that is a revolt into childhood. Linnea Jönsson has one of those crooning voices that I love. It is dreamy, sweet, and wispy. It pairs well with synth rhythms, electric guitar, and heavy percussions. The lyrics are all so catchy and fun. You feel the vulnerability of your youth all over again.

I had such a hard time picking a song that I decided to pick two. Both from their most recent 2011 sophomore release of Daydreams & Nightmares. The first is 'Keep Me In Your Pocket,' an up-beat, fun love song that is laced with cute lyrics such as 'Even your friend who looks like James Dean get's pale when you're around.' It exemplifies what Those Dancing Days is all about. I chose a live performance even though it's not a perfect recording because they are so vibrant on stage!

The second is my absolute favorite song from them, 'One Day Forever.' The whiney, softness of her voice paired with Orlando Weeks' harmonies is just heavenly. It is another love song, but with a bit more pack from the instruemntation in the chorus. I absolutely adore every second of this song. I sing along with every word and tighten up when I hear the POW entrance of all the instruments. I have goosebumps right now.

Unfortunately these girls are currently on a hiatus. They decided to part ways so that some of the girls could go back to school, others take jobs, and also explore new musical endeavors. I truly hope they do eventually come back!

Happy Friday! 

Beauty Trading

The best part about being a member of the beauty forum www.makeuptalk.com is trading with other members. Beauty boxes are about trying new products and finding things that work, but that doesn't always happen. I know I have a bin of products that I've tried and didn't like or things I just know I won't use. Every so often my friends in the area would get a product I wanted that she didn't want so we'd be able to trade. But with only 3 friends in the area that get birchbox and MyGlam, it isn't often that that happens.

MakeupTalk solved my issue by allowing me to trade with a community of over 1000 members. I started trading back in February and so far I've traded with over 10 members. It helps that USPS First class is so cheap! Normally it costs less than $3 to mail out, and I have so many mailers that I just keep reusing them.

Take a look at all that I've gotten! Sorry for the busy background, I was getting 'creative.'



-Vichy Pureté Thermale Soothing Eye MakeUp Remover: I swear I had read that Vichy was a cruelty-free company even though they are owned by L'Oreal, but now I can't find a reputable place that states that. I won't be rebuying any Vichy products. Either way this eye makeup remover didn't work all that great. I'd have to rub super hard to get any of my eyeliners off. So much for being for sensitive eyes.


-Vichy Pureté Thermale 3-in-1 One Step Cleanser: I did really like this cleanser. But I'll find a different one. I love that it is a water free formula. It cleanses, is a toning lotion, and an eye make-up remover. I liked that it left my skin feeling hydrated and clean. I don't think it did a great job on my eye make-up though.


-Pier Imports Sweet Sangria Body Splash: I picked this out of a giant traveling sample box we had going around (The box was sent to 10 different gals. Each girl took out what they wanted and put in more samples). I loved how it smelled! It smells like really tart candy. It's perfect for spritzing around my room randomly.

-Heel to Toe Cucumber Heel Treatment: I have really dry heels and I like the cucumber scent. This was also part of the traveling box.

-Bath & Body Works Anti-bacterial Hand Gel in Vixen's Sweet Mint: You can never have enough travel anti-bacterial packs! I also picked this out of the traveling sample box.

-Ulta Dual Crayon Eyeliner in Plum/Deep Brown: I don't have either color eyeliners so I was excited that I was able to grab this up from the traveling sample box.


-REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask: I have a friend who recommends REN so I wanted to try this product out. It is suposed to remove dead skin cells, brighten skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and combat blackheads and blemishes. I've only used it once. Although I liked the smell and the cool texture, I'm not sure it worked that well. But, I'm so impatient with masks to begin with.

-VMW Hypoallergenics Re-Everything: Face-Hand-Body Lotion: I got this in my January Birchbox and have been using it as a hand cream and enjoy it, but not enough to pay $45 for the full-size. It is non-greasy and non-scented so perfect for hydrating. And I just ran out so already using this new bottle.

-Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Sugar: This is the Sephora birthday gift for the year. I have yet to have my birthday and figured I'd try it out. It has SPF which is great. It isn't my favorite lip balm, but it is a great pocket size. It does do a pretty good job at keeping my lips hydrated. This was another pick from the traveling sample box.


-Color Club Nail Lacquer in He Loves Me: I traded for this color before I realized I'd be getting the exact color in my March Birchbox. I had hoped my box would have had the lighter color. But no worries, I already traded the extra one I had. It is a cute nail polish, but it did chip pretty quickly.


-Sheer Cover Duo Concealer in Light/Medium: I got this in my January MyGlam and it is the one product I've received from MyGlam that I like/use. I use it every day and really like how creamy the formula is. I dab on both colors to get the perfect shade. It isn't the greatest, but the best I have found yet.


-Harvey Prince Ageless Perfume: This may be meant to make you feel and smell 8-12 years younger, but  I still wanted to try this scent out. It is a sparkling musk scent (pink grapefruit, mango, ylang ylang, tuberose, jasmine, sandalwood, and musk). It reminds of some scent from my past, but I can't remember what it is. The musk is very overpowering, but not in a bad way. It just mellows down all those fruity scents making it a bit more sensual. I love wearing this scent, but probably wouldn't buy a full-size.

-Vera Bella Bella Rose Calming Skin Creme: I received this in my March Sindulge box and loved it! So I decided to get a second one since someone didn't want it. I use it on my nose since its acne-ridden but always dry. And this creme is suposed to minimize pore, is non-clogging, and lightweight.

-blinc liquid eyeliner: I love blinc mascara so much that I thought Id try out their eyeliner, but I hated it! It took forever to dry and itched. Plus, I couldn't draw a straight, fine line. I threw it out.

-Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum: I heard so many people have amazing results with this blemish clearing serum. It is a mix of apple, lemon, and willow bark that unclogs pores, reduces breakouts, and lightens scars while aloe and Vitamin C renew the skin. I had no luck with this serum. My acne didn't get worse, but it didn't get better either.

-Sircuit Skin Cosmeceuticals Molecular Mist: This is a hydrating moisture spray. It refreshes and plumps skin, helps to hydrate dried skin, and allows for a barrier from environmental damage. This is great for days that I am so sleepy I forget to moisturize, it can be used to set makeup as well, and is perfect for the dry patches that pop up during the day. The only thing I don't like is that it smells like Love's Baby Soft perfume, which is kiddish baby powder.

-Orofluido Elixir: This hair oil is a mix of argan, linseed, and cyperus oil. It helps to strengthen hair, smooth hair, and leave it silky smooth and shiny. I use a little before I blow dry my hair and it looks sleeky, smooth, and shiny. My oily, thin hair can handle it well.

-random small eyeshadow samples

I have received more products, but I've already used them up or given them away. Every month I get more and more samples that I throw in my trade bin which is why I've decided to start canceling some of my subscription services or skipping months (Beauty Army). However much I love the little surprises in the mail, I've found so many great products that my daily routine is becoming more set in stone. Plus, now that Estee Lauder is no longer cruelty-free a lot of the brands that I used to be able to wear I no longer can.

If you are a member of MakeupTalk you should definitely take advantage of the trading!