Red Flower Candle Review

November 2011 Birchbox Review

Watch me opening the box here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqT8lh5vJ3c

Klorane Eye Makeup Remover

This eye makeup remover is gentle and almost a little bit cooling but gives my eyes no irritatation. It is not greasy or oily at all like most eye makeup removers used to be. I'm a fan and I've used this several times. The only drawback to this small sample size is that the opening is so tiny, I have to dab it on cotton several times to get a large enough amount of it to wipe off makeup. And it does take several swipes to remove all eyeshadow and mascara but it works. I won't purchase it full size because the Neutrogena and Ole Henriksen facial wipes I have both take off all makeup and those are more convenient overall.


LaRocca Body Polish

I didn't see what was so amazing about this body polish. I guess it's a scrub, I'm still not sure. The unique thing I noticed was that it is thick and it seemed like it had a lot of oil in it. I used it on my hands and water seemed to almost bead off my hands instead of forming any type of lather so it's not your usual scrub. It smells vaguely citrusey but not great. I didn't notice any shimmer like the name suggests. Eh.

Oscar Blandi Jasmine Protein Mist

Like I mentioned in the video, I use this brand's dry shampoo and I like it so I wanted to love this product but I'm not sure what it does. It says it's for restyling and that you can use it on your hair before applying heat or use it on damp hair to restyle. It smells great like the dry shampoo does with the sweet creamy fresh lemon scent but it didn't really do much for me. It doesn't have any hold which I would appreciate for restyling my curly hair. Maybe this would be better for straight hair or someone that is going to use a flat iron. It just made my hair smell nice.

Zoya Noel

Love love love love love. This dark shimmery blue is gorgeous and there is a lot of shimmer especially in the light. Plus it's a 5 on the opaque scale so that means I only have to use one coat to get gorgeous color and no streaking. It's described as a cool metallic and part of the Gems and Jewels collection.

Chuao Chocolatier Chocopod

If you follow my twitter or channel, you know that I loved this. Check out my video review on the items I purchased: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5zH3Ns1eX8


And my bonus the Bauble Bar bracelet

I am not usually a fan of bracelets but I've worn this several times. I love it! So much, I went to the website hoping to find more colors and I think I saw only one other one in brown. I can't remember but this was the best one. I also caught the phrase, "As seen on Justin Bieber" and that ALMOST made me like it less but it didn't. It's gorgeous, goes with everything, can be dressed up, and is so adjustable. I think it retails for $20 so this gift from Birchbox is amazing. Thank you!

This is probably the best Birchbox yet, although the time I got a full size Laura Geller Baked Blush and Brighten comes to mind too but it made me super glad I didn't cancel my subscription like many others did recently.

Yankee's December Scent

North Pole



I love this picture. That's about it. Don't get me started on how they tried to remake Jack Frost several times. Don't mess with a good thing. Why do companies always make this mistake? "What holiday dreams are made of ... a sweet blend of icy cool mint and sugary rich vanilla cream."

Candles by Victoria Haul & Review

October 2011 Birchbox Review

Watch the video of me opening the Birchbox here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjypSijpPUQ

Befine Lip Serum

I wasn't excited when I first saw this because I just received a lip balm from Birchbox but I think I like this one better. It's very thin and almost oily. It's slightly yellow in color from the tube and a little goes a LONG way. It's not sticky, heavy or thick on the lips (like the Jouer lip enhancer I also got from Birchbox). It's very comfortable on the lips and even gives a glossy finish while being very thin, smooth and light. It has no flavor, smell, or color.


blinc mascara

I haven't used this and I'm not going to. I might have given this away in a giveaway. Drugstore mascaras are fine for me since I don't wear it that often and I hate removing makeup so this is just not my cup of tea. The directions say this does not come off with makeup remover and you have to use soap and water with PRESSURE to get this off. Pressure? On my eyes? No thanks. Sounds way too complicated when I'm already pleased with a Cover Girl or Maybelline mascara.


Orofluido Beauty Elixir

This came with no instructions and I really have no idea how to use this, so I didn't. I think I heard someone on youtube say she put this in the ends of her hair...or maybe used it like a hair mask? I don't remember but it seems oily and my hair can already be oily at times so I don't see a use for this.


Pangea Organics Tea Facial Mask

I feel bad saying I didn't use this either. What a review this is! Hahaha. I WILL use this and I have been pleased with Pangea Organics products so far, but I'm still trying to use up the masks that Birchbox previously gave me so I didn't want to break the seal and use this when I have other opened ones still yet to finish. I will update after I use it - either on here or on Twitter.


Teaforte Minteas

Disgusting. I don't know if all flavors are as bad as this one because I did see other youtubers get a different flavor but I actually had to spit it out and then threw away the whole tin. I can't even describe what it tasted like. It was really strong - like dirt and cleaner. Awful.


Needless to say, I really didn't like this month's Birchbox. I'm thinking of canceling. I signed up for New Beauty Test Tube after this box and might cancel Birchbox in the future but I like the idea of getting a box every month so I'm gonna stick it out a little bit longer to see if the boxes get any better.

Yankee's November Scent

Sparkling Cinnamon



I like this for November a lot because cinnamon is fall but it's also Christmas which is approaching. This might be as good as Slatkin's Spice...maybe better?!? I can't tell from just this little swatch. "Holiday glow ... the spicy warmth of real imported stick cinnamon with a hint of cloves."

September 2011 Birchbox Review

Watch the video to see me opening the box: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg0r9s1XXBc

Pangea Organics Facial Cream

I was pleasantly surprised with this product. With all the moisturizers out there, I really like this one. It reminded me a lot of the Bare Minerals Purely Nourishing Moisturizer for Combination skin which was the current face cream I was using at the time but I am using this more frequently now. It has the same herbal lavender smell and it has a non-oily consistency. The Bare Minerals moisturizer is thin and soaks in immediately and is hard to spread around, which I didn't like. The Pangea Organics has a creamier consistency and can be a bit runny at times but soaks into the skin nicely. It's yellow in color and is not drying to my skin at all. It was good for the end of summer and so far, it's still enough moisture for the fall. We'll see how it works for the winter. This is a great all around product. I like the way it makes my skin feel and seems to have a lot of natural ingredients that give good benefits. I would consider purchasing this in full size if I still love it when I use up the sample (a little goes a long way!).


Jouer Lip Enhancer

This sample is super tiny but it's a nice product. My favorite part about it is the way it makes your lips look. It has a frosted light pink sheen in the tube and it gives a great look to the lips while remaining natural-looking. It doesn't actually give a color it just makes my lips a little bit darker and moisturized-looking. It's not as glossy as a lip gloss and not drying like a lipstick. It's a lip balm that's slightly thicker than the C O Bigelow balm that I love. Plus this has no taste or scent. It says it's supposed to do multiple things and is a treatment for the lips, but mainly it just seems like a lip balm with a light pink color/sheen.


LIV GRN Earth Eau de Parfum

I was surprised by this unique scent right away and thought it smelled really good but it's not a fragrance I could wear every day. It's very fresh and green smelling with a strong sweetness to it like fresh watermelon. I think it's a nice perfume for summer if you like sweet and fresh scents but there's something about it that makes me sick of it immediately after I put it on. It kind of smells like Herbal Essence shampoo. It's very strong which usually I like, but I can smell it every time I breathe in which is why I'm so sick of it so soon I guess. I think I was so excited at first because it smelled unique in the bottle but on my skin, it just reminds me of shampoo.


Incoco Nail Polish Applique

I love the design of this nail strip. I love the bright color blue against the black and the dots of blue really do shimmer and sparkle when it catches light - pretty amazing. However, they started to peel and chip immediately after I put them on. It seems like the strips are not as adhesive as the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips cause it felt like they could peel right off. Also I always push down pretty hard on the strip to make sure they are stuck on and it started to make a fingerprint in the nail polish when I did that.  From watching the selection of these from the youtube videos, some of the designs seemed a bit gaudy, but that's what I thought about these at first too and I ended up loving how they look on my nails. Plus one other thing I prefer about the Salon Effects is that they come with a cuticle stick, mini file, and buffer - everything you need!


Bonus -Birchbox Friendship Bracelet

I thought this was a really cute idea at first with the Birchbox color (love that color pink) and logo charm and I like small thin bracelets like that because I don't like to feel heavy things on my wrist that get in my way and make noise. So I wore this one day and that was the last time I wore it. It fit great since it's adjustable but the leftover piece of string was really long and was getting in the way all day because it kept sticking out instead of staying in line with the rest of the bracelet. I know this would've been more time consuming but the end of the adjustable string piece should've been attached to the bracelet too then there wouldn't be a long piece of string hanging down and you could adjust and move 2 different knots at two different spots in the bracelet.


In conclusion, I really liked this month's box. I think this might be the first time I have used every single product!

Yankee's October Scent

Autumn Wreath



This is a good one for fall. Someone in a Yankee store said this surpassed Harvest in popularity, which I find hard to believe and it's not THAT good, but it's a nice scent. "There's a cheerful fall welcome in the spicy warmth of autumn leaves and cinnamon apples."

St. Johnsbury Candle Review

August 2011 Birchbox Review

Watch this to see me opening the box: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4cuWpB1s2o

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Am I the only one that can't really tell the difference between one primer and another? Maybe it's because the 2 primers that I have used are similar. I use Bare Minerals foundation so I have really only used their Prime Time primer which I like and haven't had any problems with. I like the added benefit of minerals and vitamins too. This primer from smashbox seems similar to me. It's nothing to write home about.


June Jacobs Papaya Purifying Enzyme Masque

First of all, this smells delicious - like papaya and pineapple, very tropical and island-like. When I was "massaging it into the skin" as it directs you to, it felt kind of strange for a mask. I'm used to clay masks which are slightly cold and thick and harden as they sit. This is white and very creamy in texture, almost like a thick body cream but it doesn't get soaked into the skin. It feels good but is very different than any other mask I have used. It says to leave it on the skin for 3-10 minutes. I left it on for the full 10 and by that time, all the white color had disappeared and my face just looked really greasy. After I washed it off, my skin did feel smooth and hydrated. After I used my Burt's Bees toner, my face burned a little but no real irritation occurred with this product but then my face felt greasy to the touch! That was strange since usually the toner dries my skin out a bit. I would recommend this product if you have dry skin, but with my combination skin, I will stick with clay masks like the Ahava one I got in a previous Birchbox.


twistband Hair Tie

Not a fan of this since it doesn't suit my hair. I need a lot of stretch in a hair tie and this hardly has any. 2 pull-throughs leaves my ponytail too loose and I can't fit it to go 3 pull-throughs. Plus since the band is so wide, it just folds over and creases and it stays that way. I guess if you wear hair ties on your wrist, this would be more comfortable but if it doesn't work in your hair, then what's the point?

Shaveworks The Cool Fix

I haven't used this product yet. If I do, I'll update with the review here. There's always one in the box every month.


Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel

I don't normally like gels since usually they make the hair crunchy but this gel doesn't do that at all. It actually doesn't have enough hold for me. I wouldn't say that it controls ALL frizz either. I noticed more frizz with this product than my normal mousse. My hair was very soft and very curly but it just didn't have enough hold. I'm not sure how much product to use but I felt like I used enough. It says to use a nickel size amount and I did that 3 or 4 times with my long hair. I'm not a fan of the smell either. It's not offensive, it just smells like gel. So I would recommend this product if you have curly hair and want to keep your curls without needing much hold because this leaves the hair very soft.  But, I'll stick with my Paul Mitchell Sculpting Lotion.

{Currently Burning - Marshmallow Fireside by Slatkin & Co.}

Review of 11 New Holiday/Winter Slatkin Candles from B&BW

Yankee's September Scent

Macintosh Spice



Ok this scent I am excited for. (FYI I'm reviewing all the scents of this calendar in December 2010). When I saw this I thought this was new but I just checked the website and it's available now. When did this come out? I don't remember this. I was just saying how there needs to be a pure apple cinnamon scent without anything else. If it's as good as the regular Macintosh, I might purchase this. "Simply delicious ... crisp, slightly tart apple slices sprinkled with freshly ground cinnamon."

Fall Candle Picks 2011

Yankee's August Scent

Mountain Lake



I have expressed my dislike for Yankee's outdoor scents before. To me, they're too strong and all smell like men's cologne so this is no different. "A refreshing retreat ... the cooling scent of mountain pines and cypress with notes of lily and musk."

July 2011 Birchbox Review

KIND Fruit & Nut Almond & Apricot Bar

This should be called Almond COCONUT Apricot Bar because I tasted coconut the most (which is one my favorite tastes and smells so I thought this was yum! The nuts were crunchy but the bar overall was soft and you could pull it apart easily, It's bendable as opposed to something that breaks off in pieces. It has to be all that yummy honey that holds it all together. It's pretty darn good for you too. Nutrition Facts: All natural, Gluten & Wheat free, Low Glycemic Index, 5g of fiber, non gmo and no trans fats, dairy free, very low sodium, no sulphur dioxide. Wow that's a lot of stuff to just put on the front of the label. I haven't even gotten to the ingredients list yet - basically it's honey, nuts, and fruit and it's yummy. I think I've seen this sold on QVC. Yup - they have an assortment on their website of 2 different flavors, 18 bars for $37. I don't think I would go searching for these or buy them online since they have comparisons in stores but if I were to see this exact brand readily accessible, I'd buy one.

Zoya Polish in Shay

This was the first time I've tried Zoya nail polish and I really liked it. So far, my favorite polishes are Essie and Zoya. This polish stayed on my nails without chipping for a couple days and had a little bit of luminescence to it. It's a great nude color for an understated clean look. Next time I'd like to try something more vibrant.

AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream

The texture of this hand cream is great. It's similar to a cream to powder finish - velvety smooth. The product soaks into your hands almost immediately without any greasy residue. Unfortunately, it smells like baby powder to me so I won't be purchasing a full size. (I can't stand baby powder scents.)

Philosophy Purity Made Simple

Honestly, I haven't even opened this. I'm saving it for a travel cleanser since I don't seem to have one. I've used this before and I remember not being a huge fan. They claim that it "melts" all the makeup right off your face and yeah it might do that but it's full of oils and I think this made me break out before. I don't mind the smell, some don't like it. This product is very highly reviewed and gets very mixed reviews. Check them out if you're still curious.

Redken Shine Flash

My curly hair is naturally shiny so I have no need for this produst so I included it in my most recent giveaway!


Sorry it took me so long to get this review up. I don't write on here that often anymore but I'm still gonna continue it. Honestly, if you're wanting more in depth reviews on products I feature in my youtube videos, follow me on twitter because it's sooo much easier and quicker to portray my thoughts on there. Thanks for watching/reading!

Yankee's July Scent

Sun and Sand



I remember liking this one from last year. More fresh than beachy but not over the top. "A tropical beach breeze of sweet orange flower, lemony citrus, fresh lavender and powdery musk." Reading those notes made me like this scent even more.

June Birchbox Review

Go to my Youtube Channel to see the video of me unwrapping the actual Birchbox.

Twirl by Kate Spade eau de parfum

This perfume is feminine and girly but it is way too strong for me. I would call it a fresh fruity floral, I guess. All I could think of when I sprayed it was "way too perfumey". If you like bold scents, then this is one to check out and it will definitely last all day long. I'm just not a fan of bold in-your-face fragrance.

Laura Geller Blush n' Brighten in Apricot Berry

I'm still stoked that I received this full size product in a $10 Birchbox that came with other goodies too. I used this the first day I opened the box. I must tell you this - a little goes a LONG way. I made the mistake of swiping my brush all over the compact, maybe even doing it twice, and I looked a little bit like a clown (or at least that's what I thought). The color is pretty - it definitely comes across as apricot with coral colors. I love the luminescence of it though. It's one of those colors that looks ten times better in the sun because it brings out other colors that you can't see otherwise and it gives you a great glow. Just be careful not to put too much on and be very careful where you put it. I used it as a blush and put an additional highlighter on top of it and above it to tone down the color. I think this is great for summer and will definitely keep using it.

Herban Essentials Orange Towelettes

This smelled really good. While I was using it on my hands, it smelled like a real fresh orange or tangerine, really juicy. Then my hands smelled like an orange creamsicle afterwards. The pad itself was in the shape of a rectangle and it had little holes in it as opposed to most handi wipes. It was soft and non-abrasive, a good size, and had the right amount of saturation. I had to wait a little bit for my hands to dry completely but they weren't sticky afterwards. Maybe a little dry but my hands were left feeling cleaner than they would after using a B&BW pocketbac. Plus I love towelettes because they're small and flat so they don't take up any room in a purse or suitcase and there's no chance of spilling. I checked out their website and they have other aromatherapy wipes too used for multi-purpose like eucalyptus, lavender, and lemon. I might consider purchasing a full size pack of these.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil Free Lotion

I don't think I like this product. The texture is fine, it's a cream but kind of a mixture between serum and cream. It's very light and soaks into the skin right away after putting it on. I could have used a little more moisture and I have oily combination skin in the summer. It definitely didn't prevent shine or oil throughout the day. My nose was very shiny (with no makeup) by mid day and I noticed my cheeks were also very red. Did you ever get a warming sensation on your skin after awhile of putting on a product? Like it's effective at doing something yet it's not making your skin feel very pretty in the meantime. This was an example of that. I thought I would love this product but I don't. I probably won't use the whole bottle. I might just throw it in my travel bag for when I go away.

Xen-Tan Deep Bronze Luxe Self Tanner

I thought I would give this a try, but who am I kidding? I hate self tanners. I don't need to be tan so I don't see the point. They all have flaws in my opinion so it's not worth it for me if I don't even care about the color of my skin tone. So sorry, there is no review of this product. It's the "throw away" item of this month's Birchbox for me - kinda like last month's Archipelago soap bar.

Stay tuned for next month and go to my Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/Scentmyway for my whole collection of videos.