BirchBox: January 2012

Pixi Makeup Palette

I recently purchased some Pixi makeup palettes off of Hautelook.com. What originally sold me was the adorable "fairy-like" packaging. I have never heard any reviews about this company so I had no clue how pigmented these products would be.

1. Week of Wakeup Makeup - An awesome makeup set/palette that comes with a weeks worth of makeup ideas/color schemes.

I really love this concept! As you can see from the photo's below, each day is labeled in the blush color and comes with 3 eye shadow colors, 1 blush color, and 1 lip gloss color. Of course you DONT have to abide by the dates, but its just a fun way to change up your everyday makeup look. 7 different looks to choose from. As far as the pigmentation goes I'd say they are well pigmented, at least to my liking. The lip gloss's do feel a bit stick to me, but not too bad. The blush colors all seem to be either in the brown and peachy pink family which is ok with me, but I would have liked to see a bit more variety. The one thing I will say about each date is that the eye shadow "look" for Wednesday and Thursday seem to be a bit more dramatic than what I would wear during the work week, I would like to see those 2 switched with the Friday and Saturday look. 

This set is awesome for traveling, especially if you will be gone a whole week. ;)

It also comes with a BIG mirror on the top lid. 

Pro's: Adorable packaging, Switches up your daily makeup look, decently pigmented, travel friendly.

CON's: Some of the makeup color schemes should be switched, lip gloss isnt that pigmented and kinda sticky, needs more blush shade range.

Available at Target

Hautelook.com price: $9.50 - NOT sure how much it normally retails for.

2. POP Beauty Goddess Clutch - Rock N Roll

This is a cute little makeup clutch to just throw in your bag and GO! I chose the one called Rock N' Roll which comes with gun metal gray's and green eye shadows to edge your look up a bit. Comes with 7 shimmer shadows and 1 matte brown shadow, 2 pink blush's, and a clear shimmery gloss.

PRO's: Easy and compact, good pigmentation, comes in different color scheme's

CON's: Could use a color lip gloss as opposed to just clear, No mirror, could use some more matte colors (but then again it is a Rock N' Roll palette)

Hautelook.com price: $9.00 - Not sure how much it normally retails for.

3. Pixi Lumi Lux Radiance Powder - Peach Petal

Such a gorgeous color combo. A shimmery mix of a golden color with the light olive green (making up the rose leaves) and the shimmery/matte pinky color (making up the rose bud).

PRO's: Cute packaging, you get a LOT of product, subtle shimmer color mix, decent pigmentation.

CON's: No mirror, may be too shimmery for some.

Hautelook.com Price: $7.00 - Not sure how much it normally retails for.

Can be bought at Target.

Shoe-Obsession

Many of you may not know that I have an absolute shoe obsession. I buy way more shoes than my little feet can handle, but I dont mind at all. I bought some new shoes over the past couples months and I wanted to review them for you.

First is the Dolce Vita - Dion boot. I fell in love with the color, the suede, and the simplicity, AND the height. Great for being casual, keeping warm by tucking in a pair of skinny jeans or wearing them when its warmer out with a cute pair of denim shorts. I originally bought them in a 7.5, but had to return them and get a size 8 since they were a tad snug. The top part is nice and loose around my calf which i love, even with a pair of skinny jeans on. There is nothing i dislike more than boots that hug my calves.
TIP: spray on shoe protector as these are suede and can get messed up easily.
Bought at: Amazon.com

Here we have the Steve Madden - Yacht Boat shoe in gold sequin. Now I already own a couple pairs of Sperry's, so when I saw these in this gold sequin form, I died. They instantly dress up any outfit. Warning: Make sure you wear these with a very "plain" outfit since they are quite "loud". The one thing I will complain about, and I knew before i even bought them, is the sequins that are sewn in towards the inside of the shoe, they will scratch and bother your foot. BUT, dont fear! I have a solution. Just take a hot glue gun and line it over the sequins that bother your foot, let it dry, and BAM! I also bought these in an 8 and they fit fine.
Bought at: Amazon.com

Steven by Steve Madden - Pembroke Ankle Boot in Taupe

I love these, and have been searching for them ever since I saw a blogger wearing a similar pair from ASOS for almost double the price! These are those go-to boots you wear in the Fall/Winter when you dont feel like going out in sky high/painful heels. These are easy to walk in and super cute. You would think that these would be only for casual outfits, but no no, throw on a dress and some tights and these will look perfect! One complaint, they are difficult to get on, but if you basically push the front down as far as it will go, and then slide your foot in, it should make the process much easier. Bought these in a size 8 and they fit great!
TIP: Spray some shoe protector on these as they are suede and can get messed up easily.

Bought at: Amazon.com

Steve Madden- Sarrina Platform Pump in Blue Suede.

I have never owned a blue pair of heels, and im so excited to say i finally own some! Not only did the color grab my attention, but the super chunky heel. I love me a chunky heel, they make walking in heels sooo much easier and less stressful on my feet. I originally bought these in a size 7, which is what size i wear in heels, but exchanged them for a 7.5, which again was still too small, so i finally received them in a size 8 and they fit great!
TIP: spray a shoe protector!
Bought at: Amazon.com

Chinese Laundry - Whistle Pump in Nude

I have been wanting a simple nude patent leather pump like these FOREVER! I am so glad I finally own a pair. One complaint, they edges can kinda rub the sides of your feet raw, but nothing a little hot glue cant help. These do have a thinner heel than what i usually would go for, as well as no platform in the front to take off any stress. So im going to be adding in my gel inserts to prevent my feet from being sore for days! But, anyways, these shoes are the PERFECT go to heel that any girl should have in her cloest. These will literally go with ANY outfit!
Bought at: Amazon.com

My Glam: REVIEW

Im so excited to do a review on the brand new monthly beauty subscription called: My Glam. Its generally the same concept as Birchbox. A $10 monthly subscription. Every month you receive a package with 4-5 deluxe samples of beauty/health products. This is the first box that My Glam has sent out and so far I am impressed. Every order comes inside of a cute little makeup bag with an attached mini mirror. This months bag contained: 1 mini Urban Decay Primer Potion, 1 full size Urban Decay eye shadow in the color Sin, 1 packet of blotting papers, and 2 Tarte mascara's. I think that there was a mess up during the packing process, because im pretty sure I was not supposed to receive TWO Tarte mascara's. However, I am sooo glad I did, because I am in LOVE with this mascara. It is equivalent, if not better than my current favorite, Revlon Fabulash. Both Urban Decay products will definitely be used by me daily. The primer potion is an amazing product and the Sin eye shadow is such a gorgeous champagne color. I highly recommend signing up for the monthly subscription. You can cancel it at any time.

Shopping Finds - 12/7/11

Went to ULTA and of course I only went for concealer but ended up walking out with way more than that! I picked up ANOTHER Revlon ColorStay foundation and I am really keeping my fingers crossed that this one doesn't have any pink undertones. The lady who worked there said it should be close to my skin tone without any pink undertones, so we shall see! I also picked up MORE Real Technique's makeup brushes, I just love them so much, and I dont have any of the ones I got. I think I have the entire set, except for maybe 1 brush or 2.  Revlon was having a Buy 2 get 1 free deal, so since I got the foundation I had to get 2 nail polish's of course - A gorgeous deep red/burgundy color called Raisin Rage, and a really fun bright purple polish called Grape Icy, which is supposedly scented when its dry on your nail! And lastly, I picked up the Maybelline Age Rewind concealer in Medium, which I have heard good things about and I cant wait to try it out!

On my way home, I stopped in at Burlington, which I have not been in one in YEARS! I walked around aimlessly before stumbling upon the jewelry section, and came across this gorgeous gold collar necklace. I had been swooning over a similar one that i saw a fellow youtuber wearing a while back. I assumed that it was going to be at least $25, but my jaw dropped when the tag said $6.99! I grabbed it and ran to the register pushing an old lady out of the way. Im so excited to finally own one!