"Happy girls shine brighter!"

Happy Wednesday, loves!

.:happy girls shine brighter:.

It's no secret that happiness is a mindset, and I've decided that despite my (improving!) health ailments, my attitude is going to be more positive. Hence, I'm happily blogging this post from my new laptop after my MacBook unexpectedly crashed. Yay!

Don't forget to enter in my Coach Wristlet Giveaway! Also, be on the look-out for the A Crafter's Dream Valentine's Giveaway starting in a few weeks. I've decided to give away a Valentine's Scentsy Burner ... I may end up entering myself. 


Again, I'm definitely feeling much better, but I still look very weak and borderline emaciated, especially in the mornings. I've been on the hunt for some effective beauty products in attempting to mask this less-than-stellar appearance, and after much research, I decided to give Bobbi Brown a try. Before using the Clarisonic, my skin was much more red and uneven than it is now, and I'm still very skeptical of most foundations and facial products. I'm constantly fearful of breakouts, since my skin is prone to acne, so I try to minimize the amount of makeup I use. I'm extremely pleased thus far with Bobbi Brown's BB Cream ("Light" Broad Spectrum SPF 35//$42 Full Size)... no breakouts, great coverage, and evens outs my skin. It's reasonably priced and has been worth every penny so far. 

I was sent Bobbi Brown's Eye Repair Cream free with my Macy's purchase, and although I've honestly never felt the need for an eye cream prior to now, this stuff is magic. The ridiculous conspicuous bags under my eyes are already less noticeable, and I've used it around my mouth and other areas of regular dryness for quick hydration. I would've never paid for an eye product before, but I'd order this again in a heartbeat, especially for a beauty fix during stressful times like now. Highly recommend!




Now for the criticisms... I received my January Birchbox last week, and I'm seriously considering cancelling my subscription. This was my most disappointing box yet. The contents included:

1. Harvey Prince//Skinny Chic Perfume Sample-- The only perfume sample I've ever not been able to wear. It's advertised to boost energy levels, but the scent is so overpowering that it almost gives me a headache.
2. LASHEM//Measurable Difference Lash Gel Serum-- I'm still interested in this product. I've been using this and Vaseline on my lashes and brows for conditioning for the past week and a half, so I'm not sure which is doing which, but I do like this product. I can already tell a noticeable difference in my lashes. It's made with goji berry and biotin, and this serum has a relatively high review rate from the research I've seen. The full-size product is $69.99, which is ridiculously expensive compared to $1 Vaseline, so I'm not sold on it just yet. 
3. Number 4//Clarifying Shampoo-- This shampoo is advertised to remove build-up without stripping hair of essential oils; however, it smells like peroxide. It may be very effective in gentle cleaning, but I can't get over the smell. 
4. theBalm cosmetics//Hot Mama Two-in-One Blush and Highlighter-- The blush and highlighter is laced with golden shimmer, so it does warm my complexion, and I do like the pigment. I'll definitely use up my sample of this. 
5. Fresh//Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream-- Definitely effective in moisturizing, and it smells great. I still prefer Boscia's facial moisturizer instead, though. It just seems more delicate to me, and since my skin is sensitive and oily (not the ideal combo), I need my moisturizer to be light. 

My issue with Birchbox isn't that I dislike the variety of products; it's that I don't chalk all the samples up to the $10 fee per month. Occasionally I'll receive full-sized products, which in my opinion, make up the value. I'm giving them one more month of disappointment, then I'll cancel and switch to Itsy. 

Oh, and I've found my newest hair tool obsession... the curling wand! I realize this has been on the market for kind of a while now, but I've always been afraid of burning myself and have stuck to hot rollers for voluminous curls (ie pageant hair). I finally built up the courage to attempt it myself, and my hair has never kept a curl as long with such a short prep time. I bought the $29.99 ConAir YouCurl from Target because I was admittedly skeptical... I'll probably upgrade to a ceramic wand in the near future. 

.:playing with my ConAir curling wand:.

I'll be posting in a few days with some of my amazing fashion deals over the past few weeks. Being stuck in bed definitely has its perks... You have ample time to search the web for amazing bargains. The downside is that I've become obsessed with online shopping again... yikes! Anyone else find any bargains?!

Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone! Hope you're having a great week. Keep shining, ladies :)