Inaugural Birchbox: January

Yep, I finally took the plunge and signed up for Birchbox. I did it because I was feeling pretty content with my cosmetics collection, but still wanted to experiment some. Plus, I love getting packages! I've since found about 50 things I want to add to my stash (working on yet another Polyvore post about it, ha!), but I figure Birchbox will, at the very least, give me something to post about every month.

Clockwise from left: poster, Harvey Prince Skinny Chic, Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo, Lashem Measurable Difference Lash Gel Serum, Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream, theBalm Hot Mama

Currently Coveting: Um, Everything, I Guess?

I lost my phone on Monday, so to make myself feel better I've been looking at pretty things that I want. (I'm holding out hope that someone will turn it in this week, but that's not terribly likely...fortunately, they'll give me an early upgrade, so I can still have a phone!)

Le Métier de Beauté Bauhaus Eye Kaleidoscope

source

I want this for several reasons. One, pretty. Two, the LMdB eyeshadow formula is great. Three, three of the four eyeshadows are shades not present in my collection (I suspect the top color could be duped by some combination of neutrals in my stash, but the others are utterly unique). But I don't really have need for a $95 eyeshadow palette (understatement), so for now, I will satisfy myself with swatches from The Beauty Look Book (she makes me want everything) and Blushing Noir (who shows that layered, they create a gorgeous taupe––and who doesn't want another taupe?!). Seriously, guys, talk me out of it.

Quick Comparisons

Here's a very brief post of comparison swatches for two of the polishes featured in Manicure Monday.

The Purples

Left to right, 2 coats each of: Milani Hi-Res, Zoya Aurora, Zoya Carly

Hi-Res is, as I suspected, lighter and sheerer than Aurora, and has finer holo particles. Carly is a similar shade to Aurora, but completely different in opacity (almost a 1-coater) and finish (not holo).

Manicure Monday

This is a super-quick MM before I run off to my last class of the day (I hate not getting done until 5:30––no time for a nap!). These were all part of my order from Zoya during their 3/$10 promo.

Zoya Blaze

ugh, the only half-way in-focus shot I could get. sorry :(

I initially only ordered the black holo (Storm, seen here), but decided I needed the others, too. Aurora is absolutely amazing; it's a rich red jelly-creme with scattered holo sparkles, but the effect is more glowy than rainbowy, as the red base obscures the sparkles. I love it. I wish there were more polishes like this. It's mesmerizing! And really nicely opaque in 2 coats. It's been added to my "polishes I wear when I can't decide what I want because they're always pretty and make me happy" shelf (there's only 7 or 8 polishes with such distinction!).

Fragrance Friday

Nope, still not Solstice Scents, because I got distracted by some Atelier Cologne samples I got from Aedes (my perfume heroes––I know I talk about them all the time, but seriously, $15 for 7 niche perfume samples? Is incredible. And there's apparently no limit on how many orders you can place, because I'm on my, like, 10th, and they have yet to yell at me). Enjoy!

Atelier Orange Sanguine (Citrus: red orange, bitter orange, jasmine, geranium, amber, tonka bean, sandalwood): This was the first Atelier I smelled, provided as a free sample from Sephora. I expected to be underwhelmed, since citrus perfumes are usually kind of bleh, either too sharp or too dishsoapy. Orange Sanguine, however, is perhaps the happiest, cheeriest perfume I have ever encountered. It's sweet but not cloying, citrusy but not soapy, bright but not grating, and complex enough to remain interesting. It smells like freshly peeled oranges in a room full of flowers and sunshine, and in this dark and dreary time of year, that is so very delightful. It's one of the stronger Ateliers, and lasts several hours before fading. The ultimate pick-me-up!

Pink Blush

Both blushes featured in this post were gifts, MAC Subtle Breeze from the lovely Larie and Annabelle Rosewood from the ravishing Reductionista. They both came to me last term when I was having a rough time, and I love them dearly for that. Also, because they're awesome blushes. (Seriously, ladies, thank you!)

Left to right: theBalm Cabana Boy, Annabelle Rosewood, MAC Subtle Breeze, CARGO Tonga, theBalm Down Boy

MAC Subtle Breeze

My first MAC blush! And first Mineralize product! I don't know if they're all as nice as this, but wowzers, this is a keeper. Subtle Breeze is a sheeny pink that gives the nicest natural flush. It applies sheer but builds up easily, never looking powdery or cakey, just breezy and beautiful and, yes, subtle. It's become my go-to shade when I'm lazy and don't want to think about things, because it's impossible to overdo, goes with just about everything, and lasts all day. Love. (See FOTDs featuring this blush here.)

Annabelle Rosewood

Annabelle is one of those Canadian brands that should be in the US already (hint, hint). This blush is great, a slightly warm barely red pink satin, intensely pigmented and smooth like bunny fur. I find it to be a warmer, non-shimmery counterpart to theBalm Cabana Boy, albeit less berry (okay, so really they're not all that similar, but it's the closest thing in my stash!); it's also the closest blush I have to my own natural blush. Because it's so pigmented, it requires a bit more care to apply, but the Real Techniques blush brush makes that pretty effortless, and it blends out really well. Also: lasts all day, and then some––I've worn it for 12 straight hours with no fading. Now I want everything from Annabelle, ever. (FOTD featuring Rosewood coming soon!)

Do you have a favorite pink blush?

Currently Coveting: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders

Just because Meteorites didn't work out for me doesn't mean I've given up hope for finding a natural luminous finishing powder! Hourglass's new ones look (and sound––no talc or parabens!) very intriguing. I look forward to reading reviews and seeing swatches, since I have no real Sephora nearby where I can check them out myself, le sigh. Part of me hopes they're no good, though, because $45 is ouchy-making.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders by beyondjustbeauty on polyvore.com (OMG YOU GUYS, Polyvore is the best)

I'm particularly intrigued by Ethereal, Mood, and Dim Light (available from Sephora, $45/.35 oz). What do you think?

Manicure Monday

I had the stomach flu for several days last week (first week of teaching! my poor students probably think I'm listless and confused all the time, ha), and didn't feel up to changing my polish––I'd worn China Glaze Ahoy! for the first day of class, which I've already featured.

2 coats Under Your Spell on day 2

Then I painted my nails with Wet N Wild Under Your Spell with Orly Bonder (under and on top) and 3 different top coats (Zoya Armor, Milani Glossé, and Revlon Quick Dry) to test, and it proceeded to wear absolutely flawlessly for 4 days, at which point I decided to change my polish anyway. Some minor tip wear, but only marginally worse than when I first applied (the WNW does not play well with capping the ends of your nails, but is gorgeous nonetheless). Since I usually see significant tip wear and chipping after a couple days, this is just ridiculous. Get Bonder! And any of those top coats; I find they're pretty much equivalent––touch dry in 5 minutes, almost entirely dry in 20, and super-shiny and long-lasting. But seriously, Bonder! Is the shit! And Under Your Spell is a great, cheap vampy polish; it's super sheer on the first coat, but is opaque (except at certain angles) on the second, at least on my short nails, and dries really fast. I also love the Megalast brushes, which are wide and make getting a nice clean cuticle line really easy for me.

Fragrance Friday: Perfume Bottles Edition

I'm finally mostly recovered from my stomach virus, though it has since passed to two others (sorry, the boy and Papa), but I haven't been wearing or smelling any perfumes because of the whole nausea thing. So instead of reviewing anything (or responding to comments/reading other blogs––I promise I'll get to it soon!), I decided to make more Polyvore sets! (Can you tell this is a new discovery of mine? It's so much fun, guys.) It ended up taking way longer than I anticipated, but it's cool, I got to look at a bunch of pretty bottles, which is something I don't do in my everyday perfumed life, since 99% of what I smell is from boring sample vials.

Spritzers! I have no idea what these are actually called (though a quick googling suggests spritzer is correct, what the heck), and they're really impractical for perfume use (the perfume evaporates more quickly through the squeezy thingy), but they just look so awesomely ridiculous! And classic, of course. Nothing goes better with a Guerlain than a fancy-ass perfume puff!

Sprayers by beyondjustbeauty

Clockwise from top left: Guerlain Vol de Nuit, Guerlain Liu, Prada Prada, Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille

Blush!

This is a filler post, because I've been sick with a terrible, no good, very bad stomach virus/food poisoning/hell experience the past couple days. Not great to get sick the first day of teaching class, y'all. Already behind...not to mention, being sick? Is just the worst. I spent most of yesterday alternately kneeling over the toilet, on the toilet, or laying on the ground in front of the toilet, which may be tmi, but since when have I ever let that stop me?! I was actually able to eat something besides ginger ale today, though my digestive system is still pretty angry with me...

But anyways. To make myself feel better, I've been looking into deep, rich blushes, inspired by posts from Larie and Liz (and another from Liz!). I don't really need more blush, but who cares?! I don't have a true red, nor any cream blushes, which clearly needs to be remedied, stat. Here are some ideas––if you've tried any of them, let me know what you thought! And if you have any other suggestions, I'm all ears...

Blushes Like Whoa by beyondjustbeauty

Top row, l to r: Tarte Flush Natural Cheek Stain, NARS Montenegro Cream Blush, Becca Raspberry Beach Tint, Illamasqua Crush Cream Blusher

Middle row: Illamasqua Crave Cream Blusher, Kevyn Aucoin Patrice Creamy Moist Glow Blush, Giorgio Armani Sienna Blushing Fabric, Illamasqua Panic Powder Blusher, Tarte Natural Beauty Cheek Stain

Bottom row: Becca Papaya Beach Tint, NARS Exhibit A Powder Blush, Giorgio Armani Shimmering Peach Blushing Fabric (and how mis-named is that?!), NARS Cactus Flower Cream Blush