Monday, August 27, 2012

Makeup and Hair Favorites

Current Favorites - Byredo Bal d'Afrique, Bobbi Brown, Betsey Johnson, OPI, Bed Head and Starlooks 

Although this post is embarrassingly late, these are the products that I used the most in June and July.

Bed Head Totally Baked Volumizing & Prepping Hair Meringue:
Available at Salons

I was first introduced to this product through my local hair salon when my stylist used it on my hair.  It does smell just like lemon meringue pie!  From the moment I got a whiff of this fluffly confection, I was instantly smitten.  She worked one large sized pump of the meringue thoroughly through my hair and blow dried it to perfection.

Sephora by OPI for Betsey Johnson - It's my Pink scented with Too Too Perfume:
Betsey Johnson It's my Pink

OPI - Koala Bear-y:
Check Amazon

I was really into berry pinks for my nails.  Probably my favorite was the Betsey Johnson It's my Pink.  It has a pleasant scent and I love the depth of color.  I definitely go through phases with nail polish... in June and July I loved pinks but in August I've been into metallics and as the month is drawing to a close I'm now in a neutral nail phase.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick and Bronzer Brush: 
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

And oldie but goodie - Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick gives me a light golden glow.  I also love the versatility of this product, because you can use any of the five colors individually as eyeshadows.  Bobbi has released a lot of these over the years and her website has a feature to help you select the one that is best for you.

And to apply it I use Bobbi Brown's Bronzer Brush.  Quite simply I consider this the best bronzer brush out there.  It's soft and effective.

MAC - Jardin Aires pigment:
Check Ebay or your local CCO

I think it's a classic light champagne/peachy neutral color that is perfect for the summer months.  It's as versatile as many pigments are, but I love using it for a wash of color on my lids.

Unfortunately this LE pigment is discontinued.

Starlooks Lipgloss in Modest:
Starlooks Lipgloss

The first product I used from a company called Starlooks.  They have a monthly subscription program and it came out of one of their subscription boxes.  I was curious about the company and the quality of their products.  I had never heard of them before.  

As it turned out, I began to wear it more often that I would regular lipgloss because it is a beautiful muted pink that isn't too tacky, it lasts a long time and I really enjoy wearing it.  It also smells fine - not funky like some of the more famous brands out there.

Byredo - Bal d'Afrique:
Byredo at Barneys

After getting my hands on several samples from Byredo, I've been a devoted fan who keeps little vials of the scents in my desk at work only to give myself a pick-me-up in the afternoon.  One sniff and a gentle brush of the scent down my neck and I'm instantly revitalized!  Bal d'Afrique does indeed remind me of the earthy and spicy aromas from my childhood in South Africa.  It's a unisex fragrance, which I love. I don't have a problem with wearing scents that could be considered slightly masculine.  I think it's incredibly sexy.

All items were purchased by me with the exception of the Modest lipgloss from StarLooks which was sent to me to review.  All opinions are completely my own.  This is not a sponsored video or blog post.

-The Sassi Wench

Friday, August 24, 2012

❧❦ GlossyBox USA August 2012 - Illamasqua ❦❧


The August 2012 Glossybox USA
Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Alarm 
Ole Hendriksen Truth Serum
Ellis Faas Ellis Lips L107
Ellis Faas Ellis Lips L107
Ellis Faas Swatch - Ellis Lips L107

Biolage Exquisite Oil Replenishing Treatment
Even though the theme was "Pure Luxury" I never kind of got that vibe from this box:

Biolage Exquisite Oil Replenishing Treatment
Ellis Faas Ellis Lips L107
Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Alarm
Ole Hendriksen Truth Serum
Touch in Sol Feel like Honey Moon Skin Base

Everything was nice, except I'm not a fan of orange nails, nor am I a fan of brown lips!  The Ellis Faas lipstick is probably one of the most hideous lip shades that I've ever seen!  Kevin Aucoin probably would have used it in the 1990's.  It's extremely unattractive.

http://www.glossybox.com
$21 per month

Earn GlossyDots for feedback on your GlossyBox! Earn 20 GlossyDots for each review that counts towards a free box.

- The Sassi Wench

I Coloniali Deep Massage Body Cream

I Coloniali Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh

I have Birchbox to thank for my introduction to the incredible range of I Coloniali products.  A few months ago they sent me a deluxe sample of their Invigorating Tibetan Shower Cream with Rhubarb and a small sample of their Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh in my monthly subscription box.  

From the moment I opened the packaging and inhaled the contents, I knew that these products were something special. The massage cream contains myrrh, which is a natural gum resin that is harvested from a thorny tree in Arabia and in Northern Africa. Myrrh has been used for thousands of years for everything from medicinal purposes to embalming by the ancient Egyptians. Today you can find myrrh in products like toothpaste... and massage cream.

The texture of the massage cream is lush and thick, and it contains little beads that dissolve into the skin during massage.  

After the massage, I felt completely and deeply relaxed.  The intoxicating aromatic fragrance  lingered on my skin and I was pleasantly surprised that the scent was still there the next morning.
I Coloniali Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh
I Coloniali Deep Massage Body Cream
This massage cream is pricey, at around $68 a jar.  Fortunately for me I had $50 worth of Birchbox points, so my jar only cost me $18.  

While Birchbox only sells two I Coloniali products, Small Flower carries a much wider range and includes shaving creams, soaps and deodorants.

- The Sassi Wench

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

❧❦ Like MyGlam and Birchbox? Starbox August 2012 ❦❧


Starlooks Starbox August 2012
Starlooks Lip Gloss in Pink Petal Rose
Starlooks Lip Gloss in Pink Petal Rose Swatch
Starlooks Starbox Cream Liner in Sculpture
Starlooks Starbox Cream Liner in Sculpture Swatch

Starbox - Starlooks Pointed Slant 844 Brush
Starbox - Starlooks Pointed Slant 844 Brush
Starlooks Starbox August 2012


Starlooks Starbox Signature Box by Lauren Bradley

The August 2012 Starlooks Starbox includes:

Starlooks Starbox Signature Box by Lauren Bradley
Lip Gloss in Pink Petal Rose
Starlooks Cream Liner in Sculpture
Starlooks Pointed Slant 844 Brush

This is the 4th Starlooks Starbox I have received and I absolutely love this beauty sample program.  

Their makeup formulas are very comparable to MAC's formulas.  

The lip glosses smell nice and aren't too tacky on the lips, and their eyeliners stay in place all day.  

They have some very similar dupes to MAC, but also a range of their own unique colors.  

So if you don't think spending $10 - $15 a month on deluxe samples (and many times not even deluxe samples), this is $15 well spent on full size products and quality makeup brushes.

I wanted to really use the makeup before I blogged about it, because I wasn't sure about the quality, never having heard of Starlooks before they contacted me to introduce me to their products.  But after having used their eyeliners, lip glosses, lipsticks and eyeshadows I honestly so far I have nothing but good things to say about Starlooks cosmetics.  

Pros: 
Affordable at $15 for 3 - 4 makeup items per month.  
At the very least equal in quality to MAC (with the products I have used so far).
Full size items.
Starlooks ships internationally.

Cons: 
Brand specific.  You will only receive cosmetics from the brand Starlooks. 
You cannot select the colors or items you will receive.  

****NOTE: Boxes from past months may still be available.  Visit their website for more information.

From the Starlooks website:

Subscribe to your monthly Starbox! Includes 3-4 FULL SIZE makeup/beauty products by Starlooks, delivered to your door for $15/month!

OR gift someone their Starbox each month without stepping into a post office.  Sign up your lucky gift-ee and they will begin to receive their gorgeous Starbox filled with FULL SIZE, high-end Starlooks products. 

Your and/or your gift-ee will receive your first box the month AFTER you subscribe.  Starboxes usually ship and arrive within the 3rd week of every month.
** Please note: INTERNATIONAL ORDERS MUST BE HANDLED PERSONALLY BY A STARLOOKS REPRESENTATIVE. If you would like to subscribe from a country outside of the US, please contact us via email or phone.

This box was sent to me free of charge for to consider for a review.  This is not a sponsored video, and all opinions expressed are solely my own honest opinions of my personal experience with the products.

- Take care,
The Sassi Wench

Friday, August 17, 2012

❧❦ Birchbox August 2012 - Juicy Couture ❦❧

Birchbox August 2012
Schick Hydro Silk Razor 
Whish Shave Cream in Pomegranate
Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy La Fleur
Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream
Stila Foundation Card
Stila Foundation Sample
A very weak Birchbox this month.  

So much for the deluxe size samples from Birchbox.  The Stila sample is not a deluxe size.  The whole box was very uninspired.  I loathe foundation samples on cards like this.  You can only barely do a color match with your skin, and you can never get a true sense of the coverage.

Probably my favorite thing in here is the Whish Shave Cream.  It is something I would buy.

The August 2012 Birchbox includes:
Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy La Fleur
Stila Stay All Day foundation swatch on a card
Whish Shave Crave cream
Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream
Schick Hydro Silk Razor

Birchbox is $10 a month.  For more information, click here:


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

- The Sassi Wench

Thursday, August 16, 2012

❧❦ MyGlam Bag August 2012 - Glam Gloss ❦❧

MyGlam Bag August 2012
MyGlam Bag August 2012
Circus by Andrea's Choice Ringmaster
Demeter Roll on Perfume Oil
Demeter Roll on Perfume Oil
Salty Cosmetics Glama-ZOID eye shadow
Eclos Cellular Activator Facial Serum
Eclos Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream

Some nice goodies from MyGlam - but I'm not sure about the dodgy lip gloss that was made in China!  It seems like a sneaky way to disguise the fact that it is a product made in China, which reminds me of all of the suspect ingredients in makeup products that are produced there.  I worked with a company who manufactured in China and I am very aware of the issues associated with producing cosmetics there.  This is why I try to avoid cosmetics that are made there.

It honestly just turns me off and I can't help but view this lipgloss with suspicion.  This just means I'll never use it, and I'll feel guilty about giving it away to someone to use.  I'm not at all happy about this.  I know myself and I know I can't let this product touch my skin - I'll trash it.  

I think that trust in a company is important, and the problem is I feel like I can't trust MyGlam - especially after the Cindy Crawford packaging fiasco and all the other issues surrounding persons who are associated with MyGlam.

But having said that, the rest of the bag is fabulous!

The August 2012 MyGlam bag includes:

Eclos Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream and Cellular Activator Facial Serum
Demeter Roll on Perfume Oil
Salty Cosmetics Glama-ZOID eye shadow
Circus by Andrea's Choice in Ringmaster
MyGlam Glam Gloss

- The Sassi Wench