Custom Makeup Brush Holders and Ring Holders

I have included my favorite Etsy pottery and jewelry Artist Kristina Chadwick's ring holders in my YouTube giveaways, but I think she outdid herself this holiday season with all of her new pretty custom creations!

Makeup Brush Holder with pink beads

I ordered this custom makeup brush holder from her in the color purple, to match my bedroom decor. You can see it on my makeup vanity in my Makeup Vanity Tour video.  

Makeup brush holder sets with a matching ring holder

I searched for a cute and practical makeup brush holder for a long time, but I was never able to find a decent one that wasn't mass produced in China, or made from plastic like my Paul and Joe Brush Holder or some kind of composite wood material (like the now discontinued black Sephora brand brush holders, which I also have).

Then Kristina Chadwick started to create makeup brush holders in different styles, sizes and colors, and pairing them up with matching ring holders.   

Ring Holder

My favorite ring holder has a mirrored finish. Individually or paired with a matching makeup brush holder, they make a perfect addition to any makeup vanity table, or as a gift.

Custom Ring Holders 

For more information on designer Kristina Chadwick and ordering her custom ring holders and other handmade jewelry and ceramics.  She also does bulk orders, and makes custom pottery.   Click here:

Kristina is offering a coupon code of 10% off! Use code "Sassi"

Kristina's Handmade Ceramics and Jewelry

Click here for a link to my YouTube Channel: The Sassi Wench

Until next time, 

The Sassi Wench!

NARS Mousson Cream Eyeshadow Review

NARS Mousson Cream Eyeshadow

About two months ago I was looking for a pretty green eyeshadow, and I discovered this one by reading some beauty blogs.  Encouraged by favorable reviews, I ordered Mousson online and eagerly awaited its arrival.

NARS Mousson Cream Eyeshadow

I find that some NARS eyeshadows tend to be a disappointing failure.  For example, NARS Night Rider looks stunning in the pan, but I found it to be frustrating to apply - you absolutely have to use a primer, and chunks of silver shimmer flake off.  And it never looks quite as good as it does in the pan.

I didn't anticipate having that kind of problem with Mousson though, because it is a cream eyeshadow.

NARS Mousson Cream Eyeshadow

When it arrived, I was thrilled - it was even prettier than it looked online!  It is a simply stunning sage green/silver eyeshadow.  

I wore this color every day for almost a week, trying every kind of application I could think of - layering it over eyeshadow, under eyeshadow, on naked skin, with primer, without primer - and the results were always the same.  This eyeshadow faded on me within 2 - 4 hours.  And it would crease - badly.

I have dry eyelids and I honestly haven't had an eyeshadow fade on me like this since I used (and returned) some of the colors in the awful Smashbox Wish for the Perfect Palette (2010).  

Eventually, all that was left on my eyelids of Mousson was a sheen of silver shimmer with virtually no color.  

But maybe I should have paid more attention to what is written on the NARS website:

"Can be worn alone or paired with a NARS powder eyeshadow for longer-lasting wear and added dimension."

For "Longer-lasting" wear you have to use a powder eyeshadow? What exactly is that supposed to mean?  Clearly even NARS is aware that this eyeshadow doesn't have staying power.

NARS Mousson Cream Eyeshadow

As stunning as this eyeshadow looks, it just didn't work for me.  This eyeshadow is a resounding fail, and I would never repurchase it.  Nor would I purchase any other NARS Cream Eyeshadow, based on my experience with this one.

NARS Mousson Cream Eyeshadow - sage, silver green

NARS Mousson Cream Eyeshadow sparkles in the sun

The NARS Mousson Cream Eyeshadow was originally part of the 2009 Holiday Collection.  

NARS Mousson Cream Eyeshadow is available at NARS online for $23.

- The Sassi Wench

❧❦ Eco-Emi Box December 2011 ❦

Eco Emi Box December 2011

 I was thrilled with my December Eco-Emi Box, although it appears that there were supposed to be candy canes in here and they are missing.

Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Botanical Lip Gloss in Winterberry

 This month's box included a good selection of household products and body products.

Wyk candle - Whispering Pine

Hip Apotheca provided the John Masters Organics samples

Maggie's Functional Organics Cotton Socks

Green Shield Organic Free & Clear Laundry Detergent

Genesis Today Vitamin C with Zinc Super Chews

Artisana Raw Chocolate Coconut Butter

Zambeezi Organic Beeswax Lip Balm

The only problem I have with this box is that we got lip balm YET AGAIN!  They really need to stop including lip balms. Otherwise, it was a great box for winter - socks, vitamin C chews, a candle...


The December 2011 Eco Emi Box includes:


Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Botanical Lip Gloss in Winterberry
Wyk candle - Whispering Pine
Hip Apotheca provided the John Masters Organics samples
Maggie's Functional Organics Cotton Socks
Artisana Raw Chocolate Coconut Butter
Green Shield Organic Fee & Clear Laundry Detergent
Genesis Today Vitamin C with Zinc Super Chews
Zambeezi Organic Beeswax Lip Balm

The Eco-Emi box is $15 per month.

Click here for a link to the: 

July Eco Emi Box

August Eco Emi Box

September Eco Emi Box

October Eco Emi Box

Sign up for New Beauty Magazine's TestTube here: 

New Beauty TestTube

Click here for a link to the: 
January 2011 Birchbox
February 2011 Birchbox
March 2011 Birchbox
April 2011 Birchbox
May 2011 Birchbox
June 2011 Birchbox
July 2011 Birchbox
August 2011 Birchbox

September 2011 Birchbox

October 2011 Birchbox

November 2011 Birchbox

Click here for a link to the website: Birchbox

Click here for a link to Beauty Fix: Beauty Fix

Click here for a link to my YouTube Channel: The Sassi Wench

- The Sassi Wench

❧❦ Birchbox December 2011 - Jouer Birchbox Pink Lipgloss ❦❧

The December 2011 Birchbox arrived with more of a whimper than a bang.  I honestly don't have anything to say about it except that in 2011 my Birchboxes started off being very interesting and having awesome products like Nars, Stila and Nuxe and since then it's pretty much been downhill.

December 2011 Birchbox - Jouer Lipgloss

Birchbox Pink Jouer Lipgloss

Benefit The POREfessional

I've used Benefit's POREfessional for a long time, and I love this product.  A little goes a long way and it really covers any large pores completely.  I use it prior to applying foundation.

Blinc Eyeliner

The prior Blinc mascara I received was sub-par, so I don't have much hope for this eyeliner.

Show Stoppers and EBoost Dietary Supplement

Harvey Prince -  Ageless perfume

The Harvey Prince Ageless perfume is touted as being "The scent of youth."  Really?  Seriously.  This is not a particularly pleasant scent.  It just smells like sour grapefruit.


I had an overwhelming negative response to the products I received with my YouTube video, with many ladies saying that they are happy they canceled their Birchbox subscriptions last month - they are now certain it was the right decision.


I'm still on the fence, and I still have hope.  I think I'm going to change my beauty profile and hopefully January will see an improvement.

Click here for a link to the: 

January 2011 Birchbox
February 2011 Birchbox
March 2011 Birchbox
April 2011 Birchbox
May 2011 Birchbox
June 2011 Birchbox
July 2011 Birchbox
August 2011 Birchbox

September 2011 Birchbox

October 2011 Birchbox

December 2011 Birchbox

Click here for a link to the website: Birchbox

Click here for a link to Beauty Fix: Beauty Fix

Click here for a link to my YouTube Channel: The Sassi Wench

- The Sassi Wench