I would like to thank all of you who entered and participated in the #OEGiveaway for my blogiversary the past two weeks. I am so incredibly thankful for you guys to have stuck with me through changing domains, rebranding, and growing as a blogger in general. The blogging community (readers and/or fellow bloggers in all) is the best part of starting a blog. I was so excited to hit that ‘Generate Random Winner’ button last night! I’ve contacted the winner already and am really looking forward to sending off my box of goodies =D
This month I actually got to watch the beauty editors at Allure unbox this over Periscope, so it’s the first time I already knew what would show up on my doorstep. I was beyond excited to finally get this in the mail. Not only was it a great variety of items, but a bunch of stuff that I’ve been wanting to try FOR. EV. ER.
The thing I wasn’t expecting to like nearly as much as I did? The Soap & Glory Pillow Plump XXL Lip Gloss in Pinkwell. I mean, I just don’t like glosses. It’s usually sticky and my hair ALWAYS gets stuck to my lips. Always. It’s got a pretty noticeable tingle to it but isn’t unmanagable. Lips definitely look a little bit plumper, but not in an overdone way. I have yet to layer it over a bold lip liner, but that is next on the test list. Regardless this hasn’t left my side since the box arrived in the mail.
I remember getting a similar Erno Laszlo product as a sample a few months ago, and Firmarine Bar Soap that I just got reminds me a lot of the charcoal based one I tried previously. It feels a little stripping, so it’s not my favorite when it comes to a facial cleanser, but on the other hand it’s not irritating and will probably work wonderfully for more oily skin types.
I’d love to tell you what I thought of the Kaplan MD Cellular Rejuvenating Concentrate, but when I opened my box it had emptied/leaked all over and there was nothing left in the bottle. Luckily, it was kept in a little sachet that contained the concentrate from getting all over the other products.
Honestly, I’m a little bit (read: huge) fan girl when it comes to the brand Pixi By Petra. I’ve yet to use a product I don’t like. Bias disclosed, their Glow Tonic is a cult status beauty product for a reason. Incredibly gentle, but packs enough punch to be effective and leave you with great looking skin.
Jane Iredale. I either love or hate their products. Lip balms? Nope. Longest Lash mascara? Yes yes yes. So I was prepared for the worst and the best when I broke into their Smooth Affair Facial Primer & Brightener. Verdict is impressed. It has a very serum like feeling to it and applies incredibly smooth (just as the name suggests). Despite it not feeling like it’s silicone based, it did not pill under any of the foundations I tested it under. I wouldn’t say it blurred my pores, but it did do a great job at calming some of my redness around my nose and chin!
I haven’t used the Alterna Replenishing Moisture Milk much yet, but it smells pretty great. So far my only real finding is that the spray nozzle gets more gunked up with this than some of the other products I’ve tried from them.
Oh, the Tangle Teezer? About how I originally chalked it up as a gimmick… Something cool, but unnecessary. I was wrong. Okay? It happens. Keep in mind that my hair doesn’t get too tangled / knotted up, but it was so great at gently working through my hair. No breakage, easy to hold, and could help comb through my hair oils better? I acquiesce. It’s pretty nice.
Shop this post: Soap & Glory Pillow Plump XXL Lip Gloss in Pinkwell, Erno Laszlo Firmarine Bar Soap, Kaplan MD Cellular Rejuvenating Concentrate, Pixi By Petra Glow Tonic, Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Facial Primer & Brightener, Alterna Replenishing Moisture Milk, and the Tangle Teezer.
♡Em
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE! It’s a little last minute, but I ended up teaming up with a group of fabulous bloggers to bring you another fantastic giveaway! One precious reader will win a package consisting of Tory Burch handbag, Tory Burch wallet, Tory Burch scarf, and a gold iPad Mini, with a total value of $1,500! (Necklace is for props only.) Open to international contestants but winner will be responsible for shipping and custom fees. Good luck!
