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PopSugar Must Have June AND July 2014 Reviews

July 21, 2014, 8:06 am
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You may have noticed (or not, I don't know how much time you spend randomly refreshing the page here) that I missed reviewing the June PopSugar Must Have box. I did get the box! I just have been very overwhelmed by the real world as of late.

This review, then, is going to be a twofer: both June and July side-by-side.

June 2014


One Potato Two Potato Kettle Potato Chips in Hawaiian BBQ (2 oz bag), approximate retail value $0.99


Every time I get a PopSugar Must Have box, I have to photograph it immediately, or I'll eat the food item before I get in my pictures.


These potato chips were pretty yummy. They were definitely more spicy than a typical barbecue potato chip. Unfortunately, I can't find anywhere to buy them that doesn't require buying them in bulk, and I don't need 24 bags of chips.

You Smell Lemon Verbena Aloe Wet Wipes (12 wipes), retail value $5


I'm a big fan of wipe-type products for really quick cleaning. I feel that they are very convenient. I've mostly been using these after cleaning my guinea pig cage so that I don't stink like my adorable-but-not-necessarily-the-best-smelling pets for the rest of the day. I think these would also be nice if you expected to sweat a lot during the day. Since they are individually wrapped, they're easy to carry in your purse.


The other scent available, in my opinion, would have been vastly preferable: Honeydew Mint. That scent sounds fan-fucking-tastic. I'm not a big lemon person in general, but the lemon scent was a little too "you could clean your floor with this" for me.


I also feel that the wipes are a little overpriced for what they are. At $5 for 12 wipes, I'd have to consider just using a damn washcloth. I think I would purchase the other scent if it was Prime-eligible on Amazon, but it's not. These feel way fancier than baby wipes, but baby wipes aren't $5 for 12 plus shipping.

The One & Only: A Novel by Emily Giffin, retail value $16.52


I was going to read a chapter or two of this so I could give you some actual information about it, but I kept being distracted by books that are actually appealing. Reviews are not positive, and I'm not much a "chick lit" person, even if they were. Do you think PopSugar would ever consider sending out a scifi novel? I'd love to have someone send me some Margaret Atwood...

Turkish T Mykonos Breeze Towel, retail value $32


This towel was definitely my favorite thing in the June box. It's super lightweight, which is really appealing for those of us who are getting temperatures upwards of 110 degrees right now. I've actually been using it not only as a towel but as a blanket. As a result, I can blast the air conditioner on my body without getting chilly.


I'm not in love with the print, but it's definitely been really helpful to have.

Lollies Hair Ties Basics Three Pack, retail value $8.00


These are cute, but they're not very successful as hair ties. I could only get them around my hair twice, but they didn't stay in place, so they really need to go over other, more effective hair ties.

Sachajuan Body Lotion in Shiny Citrus (full size at 300 ml), retail value $24


I've said it before, but I think most body lotion is pretty much interchangeable to me. This has a light citrus scent and a so-boring-they-must-have-tried packaging.

Native Union Coupon Code, retail value $15 (if you are generous and count it)


I had not heard of Native Union, but they're basically a tech accessories company, with things like speakers and phone handsets. The price point is significantly higher than $15 and I genuinely just don't particularly want anything on the site, so I have not used this.

Total Box Value: $86.51 (or $101.51 if you count the coupon)

Overall, I found the June box to be pretty lackluster.

July 2014



TKO Jump Rope With Soft Grip Handles, retail value $13


I was actually really excited about this jump rope because, although I haven't jump roped since I was a child, jump roping is a really awesome cardio workout and I don't have a jump rope! The design is also pretty snazzy.


Unfortunately, I really don't think that this is the best design of jump rope out there. One of the big issues is that it is much too long for me (I'm 5'6") and it's not adjustable. You just kind of have to be the right height. I've been wrapping it around my wrist a couple of times, but that's neither elegant nor convenient. I'm also having a really difficult time getting it fully untwisted. I've been hanging it from the center and it's still twisting under my body as I jump. I might try weights, or I might just buy a fancy-ass leather jump rope that's adjustable in size.

Dang Foods Toasted Coconut Chips (1.43 oz), retail value $2.49


I have seen these at Safeway a gazillion times but I'd never picked them up because I'm not a huge coconut fan. I was kind of expecting them to be like crunchier shaved coconut.


Happily, they turned out to be a million times better than expected. They're crunchy and nutty, without overwhelming you on the coconut flavor.


I actually purchased the other available flavor recently. For the record, the Caramel Sea Salt flavor is near-identical.

Sun Bum SPF 30 Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion (3 oz), retail value $11.99
Sun Bum ‘Cool Down’ Hydrating After Sun Lotion (3 oz), retail value $7.99


I am not one to turn down sunscreen. Minis are always helpful because I can carry it around in my purse. The Sun Bum sunscreen has a very distinct piña colada scent (apparently it was a coconut-y month).

I was expecting the "Cool Down" lotion to have menthol or peppermint or something in it, but it's just a regular, coconut-scented lotion.

ACME Party Box Company Pastel Chevron Straws (24 straws), retail value $7


These straws are adorable and they just scream that they need to be placed in a fancy little mocktail. One day, if I ever have a dinner party, they may just get used.

 Michael Stars Sea Grass Crusher Hat, retail value $48


I love wide brim hats, but I hate this wide brim hat. I don't think it's fashionable; it looks like something an older lady would wear gardening.


If the brim was substantially wider, I think it would be more forgivable.

French Bull Ziggy Salad Servers, retail value $12


These salad servers, on the other hand, belong on Project Runway. I love the design.


The only problem is that they are sort of "aspirational" salad spinners. I don't have a salad bowl cute enough to pair with them! Perhaps I will have to buy one for that hypothetical dinner party?

 Revlon Bold Lacquer Length & Volume Mascara in Blackest Black, retail value $7.99


Revlon has been doing their darndest to make their new mascara release exciting. Unfortunately, there is really nothing about it that feels new or exciting. If aliens invaded Earth and were, for some reason, really interested in cosmetics, this mascara could be used as a prototype to represent all mascaras.

It's fine, but very bland. It's the potato of mascaras.


The formula is neither wet nor dry and the brush is regular, straight shape.

I found that, despite the product's name, it wasn't a very intense mascara. It gives some nice length, but it gives almost no volume. Building it up too much results in clumps, but I think it might work better with just one or two coats, giving a nice, natural appearance.

Here's my no-mascara eye:


And here is my eye with the addition of Revlon's Bold Lacquer Length & Volume Mascara:


It's a perfectly nice mascara… it just doesn't come anywhere close to the claims it makes.

Total Box Value: $110.49

I definitely preferred this box to June's iteration, but I'm still waiting on a PopSugar Must Have box that really wows me. I think this is an especially difficult subscription to do well. The price, at $39.99 a month, is pretty high, meaning misses are bigger financial bummers. The topic is general (e.g. PopSugar doesn't know if people like makeup or books or salad spinners or none of the above. At least if one subscribes to Ipsy, the company can assume people probably like makeup.) There is no personalization. I think the box does well for what it is, but it's not surprising, given the format, that you occasionally get things that make you go, "Uh… who even wants this?"

If my review has magically convinced you to try PopSugar Must Have, you are always free to use my referral link by clicking here. You can use the code REFER5 to get $5 off your box.
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Testing "The Goss Method" for Foundation

July 22, 2014, 9:43 pm
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For those of you who don't already know him, Wayne Goss is a makeup artist and a prolific, popular beauty youtuber. I'm always particularly amused by his hyperbolic video titles, which include names like, "HELL JUST FROZE OVER! PLEASE WATCH!", "WTF!!! THE LIP SCRUB YOU AIN'T GONNA WANNA MISS!", and "FOREO: SKIN CLEANSING OR SEXUAL PLEASURE?! BOTH ACTUALLY-- REALLY!" I always have this vision of Wayne Goss happily yelling at me through my computer screen about concealer.

As much as I enjoy watching random youtube tutorials while I do the dishes, it's rare that someone gives a tip that is truly unique or transformative. Although there is joy in seeing a thousand perfect smoky eyes, very few people stop in their tracks and go, "Holy shit! Brown eyeshadow!"

In March 2014, Wayne Goss released a video called, in his usual fashion, "THIS FOUNDATION TIP CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE". You can watch the whole video here, but I'll also walk you through it for those who like to skim.

I won't go so far as to say that it is life-changing, but it's definitely unconventional. So unconventional, in fact, that it goes contrary to every piece of makeup advice you've ever heard: put on your powder, Goss recommends, before you put on your liquid foundation. In his video, Goss says, "I know that we're told, 'We don't apply liquids or creams over powders.' This will work fine. All of that moisturizer, primer, whatever [you put on first, will be] locked into the skin with a powder."

You probably don't need any new products to give it a try. Goss notes, "All you'll need is your moisturizer or primer and anything else you put on your skin, you'll need a powder and you'll need a foundation." He recommends that you start with your primer and moisturizer and get it all rubbed in. Then, if you want, you can add something shimmery and liquid. "I know you think it's mental," he says, "but you powder your face first. Take the brush and powder over all this moisturizer and primer." Goss advises you use "a loose powder, not a pressed one". He continues, "Powdering it, even with a translucent powder, will add a small amount of coverage. If you use a powder that has a little bit of coverage to it, skin tone, you will get more coverage on your face for area that are problematic." He adds, "…what will happen is: a. you'll need less foundation. You will absolutely not use anywhere near the same amount of foundation. You will find that, if you're no very dark under the eyes, you certainly won't need to use concealer. But it will fill in and cover and stay on the skin. Your foundation is going to stay all day long now… [and] it will cause the foundation to set immediately." Finally, Goss suggests, "If you have oily skin, it will be a good idea for you to add a fraction of powder just down the T-zone."

This idea got a lot of positive attention on the internet machine, probably in large part because it's so "what the fuck" for makeup lovers. People had to try it to see if it was some elaborate April Fool's prank to give everyone on Reddit's MakeupAddiction a serious case of cake face.

I've actually been playing with this foundation method for a long fucking time; I started when the video first came out. At this point, I have a lot of feelings. However, it's hard to get a really good sense of a foundation method without a side-by-side, and I simply haven't seen one for this technique.

So, I did one.

Goss makes a lot of claims about this method. Broadly speaking, I would say there are three overarching ones:

1. You will use less foundation.
2. You will get more coverage.
3. Your foundation will last longer.

I'm going to deal with each of these.

You Will Use Less Foundation

This was pretty easy to check thanks to my unreasonable precise scale.

First, I divided my face neatly in half, (using nail striping tape, actually) like so:


I then layered on my pre-foundation products. Although Goss doesn't mention sunscreen, y'all know I am a sunscreen addict. I started with EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46. Above that, I put Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. Finally, I layered on Smashbox Photo Finish More Than Primer Blemish Control. I was like a human parfait: all about the layers.

On one half of my face, I added a layer of Bare Minerals Mineral Veil. Then, I added my foundation: Wet'n'Wild's Coverall in Fair. (I went full Goss and used my fingers to apply.) On the Goss-free "conventional" side, I added the same Bare Minerals Mineral Veil to set my foundation. (I didn't add any to set the Goss side.)

I weighed my foundation usage.

The conventional side used 0.196g of foundation to get adequate coverage of my blemishes.

The Goss side? A comparatively low 0.152g.

Obviously, this is a single trial, so I can't promise you thousands of dollars of savings or anything, but this claim does appear to be true. Using the Goss Method likely will save you on foundation.

I think even more notable than the difference in foundation, though, is the relative ease of application. Using the Goss Method, your foundation won't mix with the underlying layers, which can cause streakiness and a frantic need to blend.

You will get more coverage

I used less foundation, but how was the coverage? I left off all other face products (contour, blush, highlight, concealer, etc.) so that there was no distraction from the foundation.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the forethought to take makeup-free photos of my face on each side, but I can promise you that each side of my face has similar levels of acne and scarring.

Here's how the conventional foundation method looked:


And here's the Goss Method:


Both sides look fine, honestly. I think the biggest difference is the finish. A Goss Method face will have a finish that is most characteristic of the foundation. A conventional face will have a face that is most characteristic of the setting powder.

I'd call this claim "inconclusive", although it's not implausible, especially with a lower coverage foundation. Again, though, I did also use less foundation, so if I was especially skilled at layering on many coats of foundation, I probably could get more coverage without using more product.

Your foundation will last longer

Finally, I wanted to see how the foundation wears.

The weather was 97 degrees Fahrenheit and raining: perfect for a foundation stress test.

12 hours after application, here is how the conventional half of my face looked:


You can see that there is definitely some acne scarring that has unburied itself from its shallow skin-toned grave. It's still mostly covered, but it's starting to become visible.

The Goss method:


Happily, the scarring has not re-appeared here! However, there is a caveat when you get super up-close-and-personal with my skin:

The pinker part is my natural skin chilling underneath.

There's a little cakiness going on. The Goss Method isn't always cake-free. It's minor, but it's also definitely only on the Goss side and not on the conventional side. If you look, you can see that there is foundation sitting on the skin.

I think I would still call this better, especially given how faint the foundation appearance is on the Goss Method side, but I want to make sure that the trade-off is noted.

I have used the Goss Method now countless times and this is actually the third side-by-side I've done, each with a different foundation (it's the first I've photographed). This is the first time I've had this problem. It's also the most extreme weather in which I have attempted the Goss Method. If you're going to be in an office all day, I'm guessing that there will be less cake-related risk involved.

I'd call this claim "true", with the caveat.

Miscellaneous Other Notes

Based on my experiences over the last few months, I do have a few modifications on Wayne Goss's initial advice about what kind of products to use. I find that really, really boring foundations typically work the best. If your foundation is too liquid or too thick or too moisturizing, your results simply won't be as appealing. The one time I tried to do it with a tinted moisturizer, it was such an awful mess that I had to wash my face. Stick with the medium-to-full-coverage foundations that seem remarkably similar to every drugstore foundation ever.

I've also found that, despite the initial warning to use a loose powder, many pressed powders do a wonderful job. What is important is that the powder is very finely milled and that not a ton of powder comes off onto your brush. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders, for example, do a very nice job.

Overall, I think this technique is a wonderful tool, even if it's not witchcraft. It allows more customization on the finish of your makeup and it does stretch your foundation for longer. It can help with makeup longevity. I think it's especially helpful for heavy sunscreen users: anyone who has struggled with putting on large quantities of sunscreen and then layering makeup on top should especially give it a go (I originally intended on giving this post a slightly different focus and calling it "How "the Goss Method" for Foundation Saves Sunscreen).
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Review: Manna Kadar Cosmetics Eye Palette in Diamonds Darling

July 27, 2014, 12:11 am
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I'm a gray eyeshadow lover. Give me an ombre gray palette and I'm fifteen minutes away from looking like a slutty black and white photograph.

Manna Kadar's Diamonds Darling palette not only has the right color scheme, it has a name reminiscent of Nicole Kidman sitting on a sexy swing in a cabaret venue.

I will assume that this is a language translation and not merely a way to confuse people who don't know the difference between 'palette', 'pallet', and 'palate'. 

The very plain packaging is not appealing, but I was hoping for a diamond in the rough, especially given the palette's $45 price tag.

Sadly, there was no diamond to be found. Given the texture, I am pretty sure that what I got was a mix of craft glitter and kosher salt.


In the picture, it looks so damn pretty (dusting of fallout aside).

My swatches, though, will probably serve to dissuade you:


LOOK AT THAT BULLSHIT. LOOK AT IT.

That looks like quality that I would be disappointed to find at the dollar store.

The first shade, which should be a brilliant, glittery white, is basically the eyeshadow equivalent of one of those glitter nail polishes where each coat gets you like four flecks of the glitter. You would get equivalent pigmentation by brushing past one of those white, glittery, fake trees that are put on display around Christmas.

The second shade, which should be a light gray glitter, is somehow even less pigmented. I could use it as a setting powder on days where I want to look just very slightly undead.

The third shade is a slate gray glitter. It's probably the least crappy of the shades in the palette, but it's in such bad company that this is sort of damning with faint praise. It looks like I am looking at my arm through a single layer of gray cellophane.

The fourth shade is a matte black. There are a million matte blacks in the world, and this one is terrible. It's splotchy and patchy and badly pigmented.

Finally, the last shade is a matte black with a purple glitter. This was the biggest disappointment in the palette not because it was the worst shade, but because I was expecting it to be a gorgeous, shimmery purple. Nerp. Never have hopes and dreams, as they will only be crushed by the terrible eyeshadow you purchase.

A few looks that were cobbled together using this atrocity of cosmetics:




Manna Kadar eyeshadow palettes retail for $45 for 0.33oz, putting them at a slightly pricy $136.36 per ounce. Since literally everything about this eyeshadow palette is awful, that is exactly $136.36 more than you should ever pay for an ounce of this makeup.
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Birchbox July 2014 Review

August 3, 2014, 11:36 am
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What month is it again?

Here was my July Birchbox:


Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner in Black (0.03oz), approximate retail value $12.00


At some point, you kind of run out of things to say about nice, soft, well-done pencil eyeliners. Other than the adorable polka dots on the packaging, this liner is functionally identical to Urban Decay's Zero and to the hundreds of other eyeliners that are also exactly like Urban Decay's Zero.


Do you want a lovely, not-as-black-as-it-could-be-but-still-black eyeliner with polka dots on the lid?

Well, this is that.


It also goes on faces.


It works like pencil eyeliners do.


The end.

Real Chemistry Luminous Three Minute Peel (0.17 fl oz), approximate retail value $4.80


This would be a lot more exciting if it wasn't moderately deceptive. The implication is that something called a "peel" is going to peel off a layer of skin. Indeed, it appears to do so: clumping "skin" all over your face. However, the ingredients list is pretty snooze-worthy: some water, some moisturizing ingredients, some surfactants. Most importantly, though, is the polymer labeled a "carbomer", which is clumping once it hits the oil on the surface of your skin. This is fine if you want a mild physical exfoliant, but not so fine if you have been led to believe that this "peel" is going to, you know… peel.

The brand might be "Real Chemistry" but it sure isn't "Honest Chemistry".

Supergoop Daily Correct CC Cream SPF 35+ (0.1 fl oz), approximate retail value $2.04


I don't think there is anything I can tell you about this that isn't demonstrated effectively in this very orange swatch:


It didn't make it onto my face because that is not in the same genre as my skin color.

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion (1.01 fl oz), approximate retail value $2.88


Like almost all lotion, this lotion is adequate. It has a very light, sweet smell. It's not especially thick.

I'm not in love with it being labeled "organic" since the term "organic" is not regulated by the FDA. Although a cosmetic product can meet the USDA organic requirements by being made with 95% organic ingredients, the Birchbox website is claiming that only 19% of the ingredients in this lotion are organic. According to the USDA, products that contain less than 70% organic ingredients "cannot use the term 'organic' anywhere on the principal display panel."

Harvey Prince Imperial Gardenia (estimated 0.03 fl oz), estimated retail value $3.30


There is a beautiful, peppery, spicy layer to this gardenia-inspired fragrance. I actually like it a lot. The reason I wouldn't purchase this is because it is inexplicably only available in a 0.3 fl oz size.

One Year Subscription to Women's HealthMagazine, retail value $9.99


I wouldn't normally count this, but you can send the card back for a $9.99 refund, which makes the entire Birchbox purchase $0.01 plus the points you get for reviewing the items in your bag.

Total Box Value: $35.01

I probably would have been pretty grumpy about this box… but it came out to near-free with the refund. If you count my points (10 points per item for a total of 50 points, worth $5 in the Birchbox store), I came out ahead. Hard to complain about that.

If you suddenly decide you want to join Birchbox, you are, as always, welcome to use my referral link by clicking here.
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Ipsy July 2014 Review

August 8, 2014, 10:43 pm
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Next up in ridiculously belated reviews… SHIT I GOT (from Ipsy).

This is what it looks like in a pile:



BeFine Food Skin Care Daily Moisturizer with SPF15 (1.5 fl oz), approximate retail value $22.06


Moisturizer! You could wear it! Marginally more exciting that body lotion! SPF 15! That's technically better than not wearing sunscreen at all!

This moisturizer advertises "rosemary, pomegranate, and rice" on its label. If you want to know what it smells like, rice is definitely the closest.

Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil (1 fl oz), approximate retail value $1.50


This was probably the biggest cause of tipsy-related "sad trombone" noises last month. It was sent to a wide variety of people ranging from very dark skinned to very light skinned, many of whom responded with an "Um, no thanks."

I'm actually not as offended by this product as I have been by other tanning products that subscription boxes have hoisted on me, simply because there's nothing deceptive about it. I won't use it, but I don't use all sorts of random shit I get sent in low-cost boxes like this one.

BareMinerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow in Divine Wine (0.03 fl oz), approximate retail value $5.40


A new product from a known brand isn't an Ipsy sample to shake a stick at.

Although the fact that BareMinerals is trying to capitalize on the whole "BB" trend is pretty eye-roll-worthy, the product is decent.


It's a very creamy formula with a consistency that is reminiscent of Cool Whip. You can apply it with the included doe foot applicator and blend it with your finger (or a brush for people who don't mind immediately having to wash your brushes). It blends relatively well and, once dry, stays put. It's also quite opaque.


Divine Wine is mysteriously a taupe color, rather than the burgundy shade the name implies.

Elizabeth Mott Tints and Sass Lip and Cheek Stain (full size at 0.35 oz), retail value $22.99


Another cheek/lip stain that is identical to all the cheek/lip stains on the market? Bring it on…


You could find a hundred near-identical products if you wanted, but this one is fine.

On lips and cheeks.

Pür Minerals Big Look Waterproof Mascara (0.12 oz), approximate retail value $14.12


I found this mascara to be consistent with drugstore mascaras in quality… but the packaging is pretty excellent. The glittery water droplets on the handle are cute as hell.


Otherwise, it's a thick-brushed, medium-wet formula that gives both length and volume, but is spectacular in neither characteristic, and that has a tendency to cause your lashes to stick together.


If you want glamorous packaging, though...

Total Box Value: $66.07

Overall, this box was fine. Obviously, the dollar value is pretty good, given the $10 a month price tag on the subscription service, but there was no standout product that I'm excited about. Most of these things I will probably never use again. The tanning oil, for example, only made it out of its plastic wrap so that I could take a photo.

If you like getting random makeup in the mail and you don't especially care whether or not it sucks, Ipsy will get the job done. Still, I definitely wish that a greater percentage of these products were something new, interesting, or high quality.

If you are feeling the urge to join Ipsy, you are always welcome to use my referral link by clicking here.
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Review: Pumpkin and Poppy Oak Bark Contouring Powder

August 10, 2014, 9:34 pm
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Given the popularity of contouring in the makeup-loving world, it's pretty surprising that there aren't more contouring products that fall into the realm of believable shadows. You can love the look of contouring with bronzer all you like, but the vast majority of those who attempt it simply look like someone who put bronzer on their face in a strategic fashion. If your goal is the illusion of cheekbones-to-die-for, most people (even the warm-toned) will need something at least a little bit cooler.


As a certified member of the "cool-toned and fair skinned" club, finding the right color is even more of a pain in the ass.

Pumpkin and Poppy, an indie brand, advertises their product's believability, noting that "most bronzers are warm in tone and too dark for a natural contour."

Cue the anticipatory music.


OH MY GOD, IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL. The ashy taupe shade reads like a genuine shadow.


This is the most natural-looking contour shade I have ever used.

To highlight the level of awesomeness here, I swatched it next to two commonly used contours for fair skin: NYX Blush in Taupe and Illamasqua's Cream Pigment in Hollow.

From left to right: NXY Taupe, Pumpkin and Poppy Oak Bark, Illamasqua Hollow
In comparison to Oak Bark, NYX Taupe looks reddish and ruddy. It's not a terrible color, but it's just a hair too warm. Add that to its inexplicable tendency to be coated in a hardened layer of oil, and it's no surprise that it has moved its way out of my rotation permanently.

Illmasqua Hollow, on the other hand, reads like a bruise on someone with jaundice. It's got a yellow, almost sickly effect in comparison to the lovely Pumpkin and Poppy shade. Again, it does a totally adequate job for contouring… but the new guy blows it out of the water.

On my face, Oak Bark looks something like this:


I am a nitpicky person, so I do have to point out the minor imperfections.

The first is that the Pumpkin and Poppy store on Etsy is not well-stocked. As of this writing, there is exactly one jar of Oak Bark in stock. To me, this reads as unprofessional, as if the shop owner is not expecting any significant sales. It would also be very frustrating if you, for example, wanted one for yourself and one as gift, or if you were a makeup artist and wanted a jar that you could use for a client. Sucks for those people, because you can only buy one! Because this is a perpetual issue, it seems that this is just the way that the shop is run (it's not that stock is actually low)... and that just doesn't make any sense.

The second minor issue that I have is that there is no pressed powder version available. Indie stores rarely have a pressed powder option, so it's not unexpected, but it means that this product can't be literally the perfect contour product available. If I could buy a pressed powder version of this contour, I would have to buy in bulk. (Just kidding. There would only ever be one in stock.)

Oak Bark retails for $8.75 for a 20g/0.71oz jar. I foolishly did not actually weigh the contents, which can be very variable for indie products. However, assuming 0.71oz of product, the powder retails for a very wallet-friendly $12.32 per ounce.
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Are Indie Eyeshadows Cheaper, Ounce per Ounce?: The Math

August 13, 2014, 11:34 pm
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I do love both indie eyeshadows and sitting on high horses. However, after reading my one millionth, "Oh my god, every time someone buys a palette from Sephora, I want to tell them how much cheaper indie eyeshadows are!", I decided that this particular high horse needed some examining.

I've written before about how indie eyeshadows, when you break it down by ounce, aren't startling cheap. They're not expensive, but they're not a price that warrants breaking out the smelling salts.

I decided to compare whether or not indie eyeshadows come out cheaper than Sephora palettes when compared ounce per ounce.

My indie list consists of the brands I could find that state weights (as opposed to volumes) that are included in each jar. Although all of these weights were stated in grams, I went ahead and converted them into ounces in order to remain consistent with the "price per ounce" that I usually give on this site. Hopefully, this will help give regular readers a better sense of the meaning of "price per ounce" when it comes to makeup. I only included full sized jars of product. (No samples or mini jars.) I am only using the weights that are self-reported by the companies, so there is not accounting for any sneakiness.

For my Sephora palettes, I cheated and used the data from the "Sephora's January/February 2014 Eyeshadow Palettes by Price Per Ounce" post I published earlier this year. It can be found in its entirety here.


Indie Cosmetics by Price per Ounce

The All Natural Face: $6.50 for 0.18oz, $36.11
ScaredyCat Cosmetics: $5.00 for 0.12oz, $41.67 per ounce
StarCrushedMinerals: $5.00 for 0.09oz, $55.55 per ounce
Eight Bit Cosmetics: $4.00 for 0.07oz, $57.14 per ounce
Dawn Eyes: $3.00 for 0.04-0.05oz, between $60 and $75 per ounce
Fyrinnae Cosmetics (Regular Line): $60.25 for 0.10oz, $62.50 per ounce
Hello Waffle Cosmetics: $4.50 for 0.07g, $64.29 per ounce
Fyrinnae Cosmetics (Arcane Magic): $6.80 for 0.10oz, $68 per ounce
SobeBotanicals: $4.99 for 0.07oz, $71.29 per ounce
Dreamworld: $7.99 for 0.10-0.12oz, between $66.58 and $79.90 per ounce
Sugarpill Cosmetics (Chromalusts): $12 for 0.16oz, $75 per ounce
Detrivore Cosmetics: $6 for 0.07oz, $85.71 per ounce
Glamour Doll Eyes: $6.00 for 0.07oz, $85.71 per ounce
Shiro Cosmetics: $6 for 0.07oz, $85.71 per ounce
Concrete Minerals Pro Matte: $8.00 for 0.09oz, $88.89 per ounce
Eccentric Cosmetics: $6.00 for 0.05-0.06oz, between $100 and $120 per ounce
My Beauty Addiction: $5.00 for 0.04-0.05oz, between $100 and $125 per ounce
My Pretty Zombie: $5.00 for 0.05oz, $100 per ounce
Meow Cosmetics Cat Eyes: $8.00 for 0.07oz, $114.28 per ounce
Fierce Magenta Cosmetics: $4.99 for 0.04oz, $124.75 per ounce
Kimberly Noel: $5 for 0.04oz, $125 per ounce
Little Sparrow Cosmetics: $5.00 for 0.04oz, $125 per ounce
Madd Style: $5.00 for 0.04oz, $125 per ounce
Femme Fatale Cosmetics: $6.44 for 0.04-0.05oz, between $128.80 and $161 per ounce
Concrete Minerals (Mineral Line): $7.00 for 0.05oz, $140 per ounce
Meow Cosmetics Ideal Eyes and Modern Eyes: $10.25 for 0.07oz, $146.43 per ounce
Geek Chic: $5.99 for 0.04oz, $149.75 per ounce
Aromaleigh: $7 for 0.04oz, $175 per ounce
Alima Pure: $12.50 for 0.06oz, $208.33 per ounce
Lucy Minerals: $7.00 for 0.02oz, $350 per ounce

Mean: $107.10
Median: $94.45
Standard Deviation: $61.07

Sephora Eyeshadow Palettes by Price per Ounce

Make Up For Ever Flash Palette: $99 for 2.46oz, $40.24 per ounce
Too Faced Joy to the Girls Eyeshadow Palette: $46 for 0.9oz, $51.11 per ounce
Sephora Collection Event Entry Palette: $11 for 0.2oz, $55 per ounce
theBalm Shady Lady Volume 3: $39.50 for 0.51oz, $77.45 per ounce
Benefit Cosmetics World Famous Neutrals Palette Easiest Nudes Ever: $30 for 0.38oz, $78.95 per ounce
Benefit Cosmetics World Famous Neutrals Palette Most Glamorous Nudes Ever: $30 for 0.38oz, $78.95 per ounce
Benefit Cosmetics World Famous Neutrals Palette Sexiest Nudes Ever: $30 for 0.38oz, $78.95 per ounce
Too Faced the Chocolate Bar Palette: $49 for 0.62oz, $79.03 per ounce
Stila In The Know Palette: $39 for 0.49 oz, $79.59 per ounce
Stila In The Garden Palette: $39 for 0.49 oz, $79.59 per ounce
Stila In The Light Palette: $39 for 0.49 oz, $79.59 per ounce
Stila In The Moment Palette: $39 for 0.49 oz, $79.59 per ounce
Sephora Collection IT Palette Color Spectrum: $32 for 0.396oz, $80.80 per ounce
Sephora Collection IT Palette Glitter: $32 for 0.396oz, $80.80 per ounce
Sephora Collection IT Palette Nude: $32 for 0.396oz, $80.80 per ounce
Sephora Collection IT Palette Smoky: $32 for 0.396oz, $80.80 per ounce
Urban Decay Naked 1: $52 for 0.6oz, $86.67 per ounce
Urban Decay Naked 2: $52 for 0.6oz, $86.67 per ounce
Urban Decay Naked 3: $52 for 0.6oz, $86.67 per ounce
Clinique All About Shadow Eight-Pan Palette: $36 for 0.41oz, $87.80 per ounce
Kat Von D Ladybird Eyeshadow Palette: $36 for 0.4oz, $90 per ounce
Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Beethoven: $36 for 0.4oz, $90 per ounce
Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Poetica: $36 for 0.4oz, $90 per ounce
Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Saint: $36 for 0.4oz, $90 per ounce
Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Sinner: $36 for 0.4oz, $90 per ounce
Urban Decay Naked Basics: $27 for 0.30oz, $90 per ounce
Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette: $46 for 0.5oz, $92 per ounce
Josie Maran Argan Beautiful Eyes: $36 for 0.39oz, $92.31 per ounce
Too Faced Boudoir Eyes Soft and Sexy Palette: $36 for 0.39oz, $92.31 per ounce
Too Faced Matte Eyeshadow Palette: $36 for 0.39oz, $92.31 per ounce
Too Faced Natural At Night Palette: $36 for 0.39oz, $92.31 per ounce
Too Faced Natural Eye Palette: $36 for 0.39oz, $92.31 per ounce
Too Faced Smokey Eye Palette: $36 for 0.39oz, $92.31 per ounce
Too Faced The Return of Sexy Palette: $49 for 0.525oz, $93.33 per ounce
Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Trio: $24 for 0.25oz, $96 per ounce
Smashbox Full Exposure Palette: $49 for 0.49oz, $100 per ounce
Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow Portfolio: $599 for 5.6oz, $106.96 per ounce
Sephora Collection Sand Illusions Baked Eyeshadow Palette: $15 for 0.138oz, $108.70 per ounce
Tarte Beauty and the Box Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Quad: $22 for 0.2oz, $110 per ounce
Urban Decay Ammo Palette: $34 for 0.3oz, $113.33 per ounce
Anastasia Beverly Hills Illumin8 With Youthful Synergy Complex Eyeshadow Palette: $30 for 0.252oz, $119.05 per ounce
Kat Von D Esperanza Eyeshadow Palette: $36 for 0.28oz, $128 per ounce
Anastasia  Beverly Hills She Wears It Well Eyeshadow Palette: $34 for 0.263oz, $129.28 per ounce
Buxom Color Choreography Eyeshadow Palette: $36 for 0.26oz, $138.46 per ounce
Bobbi Brown Old Hollywood Eye Palette: $75 for 0.519, $144.51 per ounce
Bare Minerals READY Eyeshadow 8.0: $40 for 0.28oz, $142.86 per ounce
BECCA  Ultimate Eye Color Quad: $40 for 0.28oz, $142.86 per ounce
Sephora Collection Moonshadow Baked Palette in In The Dark: $27 for 0.17oz, $158.82 per ounce
Sephora Collection Moonshadow Baked Palette in In The Nude: $27 for 0.17oz, $158.82 per ounce
Sephora Collection Moonshadow Baked Palette in In The Tropics: $27 for 0.17oz, $158.82 per ounce
Illamasqua Complement Palette: $46.50 for 0.29oz, $160.34 per ounce
Urban Decay Smoked Eyeshadow Palette: $49 for 0.3oz, $163.33 per ounce
Illamasqua 4-Colour Liquid Metal Palette: $46.50 for 0.28oz, $166.07 per ounce
Illamasqua Paranormal Palette: $46.50 for 0.28oz, $166.07 per ounce
Clinique All About Shadow Quad: $28 for 0.16oz, $175 per ounce
NARS NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette: $79 for 0.45oz, $175.56 per ounce
Bare Minerals READY Eyeshadow 4.0: $30 for 0.17oz, $176.47 per ounce
Yves Saint Laurent Ombres 5 Lumieres 5 Colour Harmony for Eyes: $59 for 0.29oz, $200 per ounce
Make Up For Ever Black Tango Palette: $45 for 0.2oz, $225 per ounce
Bobbi Brown Nude Eye Palette: $50 for 0.22oz, $227.27 per ounce
Illamasqua Fundamental Palette: $46.50 for 0.2oz, $232.50 per ounce
Illamasqua Neutral Palette: $46.50 for 0.2oz, $232.50 per ounce
Illamasqua Reflection Palette: $46.50 for 0.2oz, $232.50 per ounce
Smashbox Photo Op Eye-Enhancing Palette - Blue Eyes:$40 for 0.16oz, $243.75 per ounce
Smashbox Photo Op Eye-Enhancing Palette - Brown Eyes:$40 for 0.16oz, $243.75 per ounce
Smashbox Photo Op Eye-Enhancing Palette - Hazel Eyes:$40 for 0.16oz, $243.75 per ounce
Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con No.7 Plush Shadow Palette: $59 for 0.24oz, $245.83 per ounce
Guerlain Ecrin 4 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette: $60 for 0.24oz, $250 per ounce
Dior 3 Couleurs Smoky Read-to-Wear Eye Palette: $48 for 0.19oz, $252.63 per ounce
Edward Bess Prismette Eyeshadow Quad: $68 for 0.25oz, $272 per ounce
Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con No.3 Plush Shadow: $42 for 0.14oz, $300 per ounce
Yves Saint Laurent Pure Chromatics 4 Wet and Dry Eyeshadows: $55 for 0.18oz, $305.56 per ounce
Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio: $33 for 0.1oz, $330 per ounce
Guerlain Ecrin 6 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette: $86 for 0.25oz, $344 per ounce
Bobbi Brown Sequin Shimmer Brick For Eyes: $48.50 for 0.14oz, $346.43 per ounce
Lancome Color Design 5 Shadow and Liner Palette: $50 for 0.141oz, $354.61 per ounce
Dior 5 Couleurs Couture Colour Eyeshadow Palette: $61 for 0.17oz, $358.82 per ounce
Dolce and Gabbana The Eyeshadow Smooth Eye Colour Quad: $59 for 0.16oz, $368.75 per ounce
Givenchy Le Prisme Eyeshadow Quartet: $57 for 0.14oz, $407.14 per ounce
Givenchy Le Prisme Yeux Colour and Shine for Metallic Eyes: $57 for 0.14oz, $414.29 per ounce
Givenchy Ecrin Prive: $73 for 0.072oz, $1013.89 per ounce

Mean: $169.10 per ounce
Median: $119.05 per ounce
Standard Deviation: $133.39

I did a t-test to see what was up.

I was generous in my data examination in two ways: for the indie companies, I used the lowest price available when a range of prices was presented. For the Sephora palettes, I excluded the Givenchy outlier because seriously, what the fuck.

My data did support the notion that indie eyeshadows are cheaper than Sephora's range of eyeshadow palettes, t(109)=2.44, p=0.016.

However, when you examine individual brands, it's clear that a sense of superiority in your financial choices is not necessarily warranted simply by the decision to buy indie. Well-regarded indie brand Shiro Cosmetics, for example, is nearly identical in price per ounce to Urban Decay's overrated beloved Naked Palettes, at $85.71 per ounce versus $86.67 per ounce, respectively. My Pretty Zombie is priced in line with Smashbox, both at $100 per ounce. The most expensive of the indies are similar in price to NARS, YSL, and even Dior (The shmanciest of them all, Lucy Minerals, at $350 per ounce, is quite similar in price to Dior's $354.61 per ounce).

Additionally, if you recall from my previous analysis, Sephora palettes are skewed towards the expensive, with the most palettes hitting the $80-100 per ounce price point. With the average indie shadow hovering around $100 per ounce, cutting out all the fancy bullshit that Sephora sells will leave you with patterns that are more similar than different. It would be very feasible for a price-concious shopper to spend comparable amounts of money on the same amount of eyeshadow as indie aficionados, even if they shop at Sephora.

Price can definitely be a consideration when choosing indie eyeshadows. However, based on the data here, I doubt it would be a primary reason for most people to switch to indie products. Luckily, as a lover of both indie and commercial cosmetics, I can confirm that makeup of all stripes has the potential for awesomeness.
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Julep August 2014 Review

August 22, 2014, 1:07 am
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I miss the days when Julep arrived at the very beginning of the month. Now, it comes smack dab in the middle, just like every other subscription box. I need everything to be spaced out!

On the bright side, I got some pretty shit this month. I missed my opportunity to upgrade, so I went ahead and got my regular "It Girl" box with an eyeliner as an add-on.


The bonus this week was a screen cleaner. As someone with a flip phone dated from the late 1990s, this is not super relevant to my life.

Here's the more exciting stuff:

Julep Gel Eye Glider in Smoky Plum


As a sucker for the color purple, I couldn't pass this pencil up. Although Julep makeup products are pretty hit or miss, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this one is super nice (especially in comparison to the train wreck that was their scratchy, poorly-pigmented Kajal Eye Glider).


Calling the pencil a "gel" product seems pretty silly, since the pencil is just another typical soft pencil liner. However, I do think a lot of companies struggle to do purple pencil eyeliners (I have a few by Urban Decay that I think are pretty mediocre) and this one feels effortless. The texture and pigmentation are both lovely.

Plus, you know. The color. Look at it!


The smoky plum shade has a hint of near-irridecent sheen.


My only complaint is that smudging reads a little bit messy for this product since it does have a little shimmer to it. That's probably not a deal breaker for most, though.



Nail Polish


The nail polishes in my box were:

Joyce, a Wizard of Oz ruby red shimmer,

Kirti, a neon orange shimmer,

and Tammi, a yellow-y lime green.


In particular, Joyce makes me feel pretty snazzy.


Overall, I'm really pleased. This eyeliner is one of the best makeup products I have received from Julep. It is also one I know I will actually use, since it's not just a crappy dupe of something I already own. The nail polish colors are pretty. Save for the assumption that I own an iPhone, this box was right up my alley.

If you suddenly decide you want to join Julep, you are always welcome to use my referral link by clicking here.
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Review: Paul & Joe Beauté Eye Color Trio in Cherry Blossom

August 25, 2014, 12:25 am
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If you need an eyeshadow palette adorned with pictures of kittens, there simply isn't a whole lot of commercially available products to choose from.

Paul and Joe, though. They have you covered… for a price.


In attempt to steal earn more of your precious dollar bills (slash to allow for customization), Paul and Joe do sell their eyeshadow and their compacts separately, so you have to blindly hand over wads of cash at least twice to get the desired effect.

The eyeshadow "refill" (which is ostensibly the product) retails for $35 all on its lonesome, which is pretty steep for something that doesn't even come with a lid.


The cardboard compact (presumably 90% of the reason you are considering this eyeshadow) adds another $10 to the total bill.


Instead of a mirror that lets your stare into your own soulless eyes, you can look at kitten illustrations, which is way better.


Cherry Blossom, the palette that I chose, has a pink/neutral color scheme. I chose this one merely based on practicality-- if I can wear these colors on any occasion, it is slightly less weird if I carry the product around in my purse and show its adorableness to strangers.

The shadows magnetically snap into the compact.


Sadly, the palette swatches less than impressively.

I actually hate it less than I did when I first received it, but it's clear that the quality of the eyeshadow is not justifying this fancy-ass price tag.

The pink shade is by far the worst. It's not pigmented and you can't build it well. It feels like novelty children's makeup that would be packaged beneath a smiling picture of Disney's Tinkerbell. The bubblegum pink color with the disco-ball iridescent glitter is kind of pretty. The fact that it is as sheer as worn-out nylon stockings is not.

Next comes a shimmery golden taupe shade and a not-quite-as-shimmery coffee brown.


Both shades are fine. They are perfectly pigmented and blend nicely. However, they have that texture that is a cross between creamy and sandy. For those of you who have tried Wet'n'Wild eyeshadows-- they feel exactly like Wet'n'Wild eyeshadows. For a drugstore palette, this would be perfectly lovely. If you want the feeling of luxury, though, you're out of luck.

I won't lie, though. They make a good looking neutral eye:


If you ignore the cost of the compact, these shadows retail for $35 for 0.1oz, or $350 per ounce. Add in the actually-pretty-necessary $10 compact, and you're at an are-you-shitting-me $450 per ounce.

You can always show your appreciation of what looks to be novelty wrapping paper by buying the compact separately and squeezing your own irregular eyeshadows into the opening.
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PopSugar Must Have August 2014 Review

August 30, 2014, 8:36 pm
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At a relatively high $40 a month, I always have a few reservations about PopSugar Must Have. It's nice when that hemming and hawing ends up being completely unnecessary. I was quite happy with my box this month!


Lollia at Last No. 17 Perfumed Shower Gel (8 fl oz), retail value $22.00


Although I am totally body-lotioned out at this point in my career of receiving subscription boxes full of goodies, I have managed to avoid getting gallons of body wash. This fancy-pants shower gel, then, is actually an appreciated bathroom addition.

I was expecting the smell to be a little more floral, given the bright yellow blooms all over the tube. The subtle smell, though, is still very pleasant, and the packaging looks lovely chilling out in my shower.

PaddyWax Ocean Tide + Sea Salt Mini Jar Candle (3 oz), retail value $10.00


This candle doesn't smell like a literal ocean, but the faintly soured sweetness is definitely evocative of one.


As a child, I got very excited about scented candles. I haven't had one in about ten years, though! Since crappy tea lights can't fulfill 100% of my need for unadulterated fire, I'm excited about using this when the weather cools down a bit.

Think Thin High Protein Bar in Brownie Crunch (2.1 oz), retail value $1.99


I have been experimenting with protein bars lately, so I was really happy to get this one. It's frustrating as hell to find something promising, be unable to buy a single bar, order a box, and find out that they are actually disgusting. (Seriously, fuck Quest bars, you guys. I don't care how popular they are or how excellent their macros are; they taste vile.)


This one is neither the best nor the worst that I have tried. It's sweetened with maltitol, which is a sugar alcohol that is used as a lower calorie sugar substitute, at about 2 calories per gram to pure sugar's 4. If you've read the hilarious reviews of the 5 lb bag of Haribo Sugar Free Gummi Bears, which went viral a while back, you may already know that maltitol has a laxative effect, but it's not potent enough to matter if you're eating a single protein bar. The sugar on these is at 0g, but it's worth noting that there are 12g of sugar alcohol. Maltitol does have a pretty high glycemic index (not quite that of sugar, but close), so it's not like it's an amazingly healthy alternative. I personally would prefer to just go ahead and eat the sugar.

It contains 20g of protein, which is pretty standard. It's a mix of calcium caseinate, whey protein isolate, and soy protein isolate. Most research suggests that whey protein is best for people who are serious about gaining muscle, but for many of us, a blend like this will be good enough.

There is a very slightly chalky taste to these and they're a bit bland, but the flavor is not bad.

Personally, the best-tasting protein bar I have found is Clif's Builder Bar in Mint Chocolate. It certainly comes with its downsides: It's slightly higher in calories (270 vs. 230), it gives you your fucking sugar (and lots of it at 22g), and it's soy protein isolate, not whey. However, I am just the kind of person who would rather eat things that taste good. I'll find the perfect protein bar one day.

The Mason Jar Cookie Company Festive Celebrate Cookie Mix (20.2 oz), retail value $12.99


MORE FOOD!

Inexplicably, the Mason Jar Cookie Company chose to send us something that was not in a mason jar-- it was in an opaque pouch printed with mason jar pattern that did not reflect the contents of the pouch (as there is no chocolate in the cookie mix). Hm…

The mix is a sugar cookie base with chocolate candies and sprinkles.

In theory, you add an egg, half a stick of butter, and a little vanilla, mix, bake, and you get cookies! Despite the mild annoyance of using half an egg, I was able to split the recipe in half.

Right out of the pouch, it looks like this:


Cookie dough:


Pre-baking:


Baked:


I think the bake time was a little too long on these (they ended up too crispy for my taste. I use an internal oven thermometer so I know my oven was the recommended temperature!), but they were definitely yummy.

Kendra Scott Elle Earrings in Slate, retail value $52


These earrings were definitely my favorite thing in the box. Not only do I love them, I am considering purchasing another (more expensive…) pair of Kendra Scott earrings. Her style just hits the mark for me; they're the perfect combo of gaudy and classy.


The stone is chrysoberyl (also called cat's eye) and the metal is rhodium over brass.


I've been getting a crapload of use out of these and will almost certain continue to do so.

Goodbyn Small Meal Box, retail value $6.50
Goodbyn Little Dipper, retail value $1.49


This is a neat little storage tub option.


Although I believe it's intended for lunches, I feel like it will be most handy for storing leftover taco supplies.

Bite Beauty Lush Fruit Lip Gloss in Popsugar (0.13 oz), retail value $22.00


This limited edition Bite Beauty lip gloss is a fandango pink. As a lipgloss, it looks like a near-radioactive melted candy.


It's a bit sheer. I wish it truly committed and packed a color punch!

It's also very, very, very sticky. It's a classic lipgloss for people who like not a lot of color, stickiness, and an ultraglossy look.


I assume that those people are out there.

Total Box Value: $128.97

Overall, I think that this is the most consistent PopSugar box that I have received. Usually, there are some things I love and some things that are basically trash for me. Even though every product wasn't flawless, everything I got this month had value to me. It was a good box. That'll do pig. That'll do.

If you feel that PopSugar has been desperately missing from your life, you are always welcome to use my referral link by clicking here. I believe the code MUSTHAVEYT will get you $10 off for at least a few more days. After that, REFER5 will get you five bucks off. (Side note: The September box is scheduled to include a Tilo scarf that retails at $125… so that should be good.)
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Birchbox August 2014 Review

September 10, 2014, 12:13 am
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Douglas Adams famously said that he loves the whooshing sound that deadlines make as they go by.

…And that's clearly why I'm reviewing August's Birchbox in September. Here's what my box looked like:


I find the "TEE-HEE TEE-HEE TEE-HEE" adorned packaging in this box to be kind of ridiculous. I am trying to imagine the logic at Birchbox headquarters when they chose that.

"What's LOLCATs-y, but not too LOLCATs-y?"
"Is there a minor James Bond villain henchman we'd like to honor via cardboard?"
"If we just plaster the box with pictures from Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga, we'd probably be breaking some sort of copyright law…"

Here's what I got this month:

Amika Perk-Up Dry Shampoo (0.75 oz), approximate retail value $2.97


Today, I am ill. I am a sweaty sick person. The rest of my life, I'm normal. When I'm sick, I'm damp.

I've used this dry shampoo a few times, but never in extreme circumstances. In daily use, I tend to find that aerosol dry shampoo does not vary a lot.

When life hands you lemons, you should definitely spray different sections of your hair with various brands of dry shampoo and visually compare results.

Turns out? I'm still not convinced that aerosol dry shampoos vary significantly. I do look very slightly less like I should be combing my hair back while wearing a leather jacket, though, so we have some small victories here.

Harvey Prince Ageless Body Cream (0.5 fl oz), approximate retail value $0.91


If you have ever made grapefruit frosting before, you know that grapefruit does not taste like itself when enveloped in the sugary embrace of buttercream. It does, however, taste like this lotion smells.

Dr. Jart+ PORE MEDIC Pore Minish Primer (0.2 fl oz), approximate retail value $6.40


I was not expecting to like this primer as much as I did. Although it's clearly got that signature "dimethicone" feel, it's clearly used in a more reasonable proportion than, say, the classic Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. It feels less thick and that "am I painting my face with slippery latex?" feeling is absent.

It's pleasant. It fills pores. It looks nice.

Vasanti Detox Nutrient-Rich Purifying Facial Cleanser (0.68 fl oz), approximate retail value $3.22


Did someone say "detox"?

Hold on, deep breath:

GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOANNNNNNN.

(It's just another generic, overpriced face wash using weird pseudoscientific buzzwords to sell their product.)

Noir Cosmetics Long-Wear Eyeliner (full size at 0.04oz), retail value $15


I feel like I should be able to speak more eloquently about soft eyeliner pencils. I can give you forty page essays on a single perfect matte rid lipstick, but, with eyeliners, I just don't have anything important to say.


If you buy a fair bit of makeup, you already know what this eyeliner is like. You have already tried a hundred eyeliners exactly like this eyeliner.


It's black. That is a color you are familiar with. I don't have to explain it to you. It's neither the blackest black nor the crappiest black.


You might be wearing an eyeliner exactly like it right now.


It's totally adequate (save for the packaging which looks like it belongs in an episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch).

Total Box Value: $28.50

Overall, the box is fine. Other than the facewash, all the products have value to me. However, there was nothing that I could get excited about. Nothing in this box changed my life. I wouldn't buy any of it.

If you suddenly realized that a Birchbox subscription will give you thrills and chills, you are always welcome to use my referral link by clicking here.
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Ipsy August 2014 Review

September 16, 2014, 12:53 pm
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The middle of September is totally the right time to review my August Ipsy bag, right?

Here's what it looked like:


The plastic polka dotted bag was tiny and cylindrical, meaning that the majority of the products did not fit in it. It looks like a design that would be perfect for a fourth grader.

Bee All Natural Organic Lip Balm in Grapefruit (full size at 0.15 oz), retail value $3.49


When you mix enough sugar in with grapefruit, it stops tasting like grapefruit. The distinct bitterness is eliminated. I once made grapefruit cupcakes with a grapefruit buttercream, and they tasted exactly like this chapstick smells.

Cali Cosmetics Evulcano Body Lotion with Sicilian Lemons and Volcanic Minerals (travel size at 1 oz), retail value $4.00


Body lotion is body lotion. This is one with a faint artificial lemon scent, like a diluted box of LemonHeads candies.

Manna Kadar Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion (0.27 oz), approximate retail value $7.83


I actually received this product in Wantable a while back, so I have already reviewed it here. It's a lovely, glowy pink goop that can be liberally applied to give the appearance of some sort of supernatural/ethereal/undead creature.


It's got a lovely, faint shimmer without an overwhelming amount of color. On my face, it looks like this:


Shimmer goop. It's good stuff.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara (0.1 fl oz), approximate retail value $5.50


As a newly released product from a well-loved brand, this mascara was probably the most exciting thing in my bag.


It's not immediately clear what this mascara brings to the table to set it apart from the gajillion other mascaras on the market. It's neither especially wet nor especially dry. The brush doesn't have any wonky shapes.


But a gimmick-free mascara that does its job well is a desirable thing to have. This gives nice length, adequate volume, and super, super, super black color without getting clumpy or crunchy. It's a solid mascara.

Coastal Scents Forever Blush in Elegant and Fresh (0.08oz), approximate retail value $1.82


This is a teeny weeny little blush sample by Coastal Scents featuring two of their Forever Blushes.

Elegant is a Barbie pink with white glitter that isn't too overwhelming. Fresh is a burnt orange shade.


Both have a good compromise when it comes to pigmentation. They're not so faint that they won't show up on medium or dark-skinned ladies nor so pigmented that I look like I have jock itch crawling across on my face. They blend well, although they do have that classic "cheap blush" powdery texture.

Here's how "Elegant" looks on my face:


I hate that the packaging on the Coastal Scents samples that come in subscription boxes is so shitty. I'm sure that's done intentionally so you're not tempted to just keep the sample for eons, but it takes away from any luxury you might feel about your subscription box service. Tiny, white, plastic tubs are just not very glamorous.

BONUS: Tini Beauty Lipstick in Plum Wine (full size at 0.12oz), retail value $18.00


If no one ever used my referral link, this blog post would be over. However, when you make referrals, Ipsy offers "points" that you can "spend" to get extra crap. Enough of you use my referral link that I always have a shitload of Ipsy points and I just mindless spend them whenever I notice there is something new I can use them on.

Since normal subscribers (i.e. not bloggers) are going to have a fuckload of a time getting enough Ipsy points to actually spend them, the rest of this blog, which focuses entirely on bonuses, is kind of an exercise in narcissism.

In this case, some of my points were redeemed on a Tini Beauty Lipstick in the shade Plum Wine, since NailTini has apparently just decided to go for it and do the whole makeup thing.


I adore this color. I think it's fabulous. It's like a vampy version of a mauve. It leaves a shine on your lips.


The packaging is atrocious, though, unfortunately, especially given the high $18.00 price tag. The flimsy gray plastic seems like something Clinique would have scrapped in the 1990s.

Thanks to the excellent color, though, I will forgive them.

BONUS: Tini Beauty Shadow Tint in Ambrosia (0.14oz), retail value $18.00


I also spent points on a Tini Beauty Shadow Tint which is a cream eyeshadow that can allegedly also be used as an eyeshadow base.


The product has a strange, mousse-y texture, but the color swatches beautifully. It's a toffee color with a lavender duochrome effect. Unfortunately, this loveliness doesn't seem to translate well to my eyes, where it looks like a wash of tan.


I didn't have any issues with creasing, though, which is pretty decent for a cream eyeshadow.

Total Box Value (Not Including Bonuses): $22.64
Total Box Value (Including Bonuses): $58.64

DOUBLE BONUS TIME!

Ipsy wanted to get rid of all their old, crappy samples that they had no use for, so one of the bonuses they offered this month was a second bag full of things they would have otherwise thrown away. One man's trash is another man's… well, probably trash.

The bag was the neon-leopard bag they sent out in June of 2013. I never really thought about what Ipsy does with the bags that don't sell. Now I'm just imagining them all piled up in cardboard boxes somewhere.


Here's what came inside:

Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter (2.5 fl oz), approximate retail value $4.68


If you can believe it, it's a body butter that smells like coconut. (VERY STRONGLY SCENTED, for the record.)

Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing Patches (2 pads), approximate retail value $2.57


These… eye patches? That can't be what I am supposed to call them.

"ARRGH!"

These under eye devices feel much like you are putting bandages on your face, if those bandages smelled like Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey in Vanilla. (They aren't as painful to get off, though.)


I'm kind of at a loss about what these are actually supposed to do, and the ingredient list isn't helping me out. It's got a few moisturizing ingredients but you could just, you know… use moisturizer. It also has some ingredients that can cause irritation in those with sensitive skin (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol).

It seems like people who really want to stick stickers on their face could find a cheaper way to do so.

Coastal Scents Classic Shadow Medium Natural Brush, retail value $2.49


For $2.49, this really isn't a bad eyeshadow brush. It reminds me of the ELF Studio C Brush, but it's actually slightly less expensive, so it might be worth it for people throwing an add-on to a Coastal Scents order they are already making.


It certainly won't compete with the "big guns" in eyeshadow brushes, but I doubt many people spending less than $3 on a brush are expecting that.

Pop Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eyeshadow Trio in Naturally Bare (0.15oz), approximate retail value $7.20


A got a different color variation on this trio in December of 2013, and I was happy with it then.

This one is even better. There is a little bit of graininess in the shades, but, overall, the texture is buttery and the pigmentation is rich.


The shades include a white gold highlight, a metallic bronze, and a cool, medium taupe, all with copious shimmer.

On my face, the shadows look like this:


Starlooks Gem Pencil in Amethyst (full size at 0.08oz), retail value $14.00


I received this exact product in November of 2013 and don't have a lot to add to that review. The shimmery lavender color is beautiful, although I don't get enough use out of the pencil to really need two of them.


Total Value of Bonus Bag: $30.94
Total Value of Everything Put Together: $89.58

Overall, given the cornucopia of free shit I got, I obviously can't complain. Narrowing the focus, though, to the core of the original bag, sans bonuses, and I still feel moderately positive. I liked that there were some decent makeup options, including something newly released and exciting. The bag was ugly, but I think the Ipsy bags are ugly a solid 80% of the time.

If you suddenly feel the need to give me even more free junk join Ipsy, my referral link is available by clicking here.
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Review: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown

September 21, 2014, 10:15 pm
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Those of you who lurk here frequently probably know that I don't have a lot of eyebrow hair. I have the kind of brows that make brow-grooming ladies say, "Well, I don't know what to do about all these weird bald spots…"

Luckily, I know what to do about my weird bald spots; the secret is drawing on my face.


When the difference between looking like a normal being and having Vulcan eyebrows is a few short strokes of pigment, you learn to be pretty picky about brow products. Typically, I find that brow pencils give too much definition, like you used a Sharpie on your forehead.

Happily, Brow Wiz marches to the beat of its own drummer.


There are nine shades of Brow Wiz, which should cover a pretty significant chunk of eyebrow-havers, from blonde to raven-haired. I picked out Medium Brown (formerly known as Medium Ash).


The packaging is a bit Spartan (no embossed roses or pretty squiggles for decoration), but it's highly functional. On one end is a twist up pencil. The fine tip allows for careful precision.


On the other side is a rather generic spoolie. Personally, I don't use the spoolie, which is why this picture does not show it covered in gunk.


The color is neutral-toned. It's pigment-sparse, but it doesn't require a lot of finagling to get a nice line, which is perfect for natural-looking eyebrows.


Here are my unaltered brows in all their glory:


And here's how they look with Brow Wiz:


Naked brows:


Brow Wiz:


The effect, in my opinion, is quite nice. My brows look polished, but not so trendy that they look like they were CGIed. Natural, but with everything hanging out where it should be.

I cannot do a super bold brow with this product, so I don't pair it with dramatic smokey eyes, for example, lest my brows appear to fade away. For a daily look, though, this is perfect.

There is a painful problem, though: the price. Brow Wiz costs $21 for 0.003oz, or, uh… $7000 per ounce. It's not a good sign for cost-per-ounce when the weight of your cosmetic product would be more effectively stated in scientific notation (3 X 10-3).

Fortunately for Anastasia, this product is easy to use and super flattering, meaning it's part of my go-to "crap, I'm late for work!" routine. As much as the price makes me cringe, I will almost certainly re-purchase it... with my perfectly-shaped brows furrowed in grumpiness.
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Julep September 2014 Review

October 4, 2014, 11:58 pm
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As per usual, I opted to upgrade my Julep Maven box this month (using points rather than cash; I would not upgrade if I had to pay to do so!), turning what would have been a small $20/$25 box into an unnecessarily gigantic collection of nail and beauty products that I can barely manage to even try.

Here's what I got for the month of September:


The "bonus" this month was a duo of two generic hard candies that I did not eat. In the process of not eating them, they managed to melt all over my box.

Nail Polish


The nail polishes I got included:

Kirby (Bombshell): A jagged chrome glitter.

Mary Lee (Boho Glam): A vampire-esque oxblood.

Lupita (Classic with a Twist): [Lupe Lupita, ¿dónde estás?] A mix of red and fuchsia.

Quinn (Classic with a Twist): A grayed-out lavender/the world's stormiest purple.

Eliana (Bombshell): A smoky denim.

Mahima (It Girl): King Midas's dream. Liquid gold.

Erin (Boho Glam): Concrete gray.

Fifi (It Girl): Baby shower pink.

Ryan (It Girl): The color of the ocean when Cthulu rises out of it.

Here's how Mary Lee, Mahima, and Kirby look on my nails:


Lips


I also got makeup products! Yay, makeup!

Julep's "Plush Pouts" are tubby little lip crayons that weigh in at 0.07oz of product.


The idea is that they have a "moisturizing core", but the texture of the clear center doesn't feel substantially different from the pigment surrounding it. Instead, it just seems to make the products swatch strangely. You end up with weird patches on your face where there is no color at all. The texture is admittedly creamy and nice, but the weird white center doesn't appear to contribute to that.

Given that one of the reasons that lip crayons are desirable is that they are easy to control, giving you strange clear spots on the product seems especially incomprehensible. It makes the product feel crude and difficult to use.

From left to right: Aurora, Almond, Cardinal, Magenta
Unnecessary core aside, the colors are beautiful and pigmented and the texture is creamy without feeling like it's going to melt off of your face.

From left to right: Aurora, Almond, Cardinal, Magenta
The four colors of Plush Pouts are:

Aurora Pink


Aurora is a warm bubblegum color. The pigmentation, though is a little weaker than some of the darker colors. It's more of a medium-coverage lip product.


Almond Nude


Almond is definitely my least favorite of these lip crayons. The pinky beige shade is already not my favorite, and the pigmentation falls substantially short of the "full coverage" that Julep promises. Combined with the awkward clear center disrupting my application, I felt that I needed a lot of layers for a pretty lackluster final result.


Cardinal Red


Cardinal, on the other hand, was gorgeous. The warm, saturated red feels like Christmas and reminds me of a poinsettia. The glossy finish feels classy and sexy.


Magenta Plum


Magenta definitely leans more purple than a traditional magenta. I usually think of magenta as a midpoint between purple and pink. Here, it's a warm, vibrant purple color with a vampy effect.


In addition to the plush pouts, I did get a Blank Canvas lip primer, which I'd previously reviewed here in November 2013. It seemed like a strange thing to include since they had already sent this product out, but it's certainly not a terrible thing to get an extra product.


Overall, I feel fine about this box. It is consistent with the quality that I expect from Julep, but it is in no way stellar or even noteworthy, save for the near-perfection of the Cardinal Red Plush Pout.

If you are suddenly realizing that Julep would fill a hole in your heart, you are always welcome to use my referral link by clicking here. Use the code FREEBOX to get your first box for free.
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Birchbox September 2014 Review

October 13, 2014, 9:36 pm
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Pretend it's a month ago.

This was my Birchbox!:


I got stuff!:

Macadamia Professional Healing Oil Spray (travel size at 2 fl oz), retail value $14.50


I'm still waiting on a genie in a lamp to deliver some magic "healing" hair ingredients. This spray consists mostly of water and fractionated coconut oil ("Capric/Caprylic Triglyceride") held in an emulsion by an emulsifying wax. You get a little glycerin, fatty esters, and fatty alcohols to keep moisture in, and there's a few silicones and inexplicable vitamins (e.g. Vitamin C and Vitamin E).

I won't say that there is no evidence that topical vitamin e can have any effects anything having to do with hair, but the evidence is shit like this study done in the 1960s on rabbits… and, as a bunny owner, I promise that bunnies aren't good models for stuff like split ends. If you hope this is going to do something really specially for damaged hair, that's just not a realistic expectation.

However, if your expectations are "My hair is kinda dry and maybe I could spray this on it and it would be less dry" you've found the right sort of thing. It will do that.

It also has a nice sandalwood-y smell and it's not at all greasy.

Acure Organics Day Cream (1 fl oz), approximate retail value $10.85


If there is one thing I hate as a person who kind of thinks things through sometimes, it's the idea that plant stem cells are going to do anything (anything at all) to fix your face. Seriously, fuck everyone who markets shit like this.

The idea that fruit stem cells are going to help your skin was actually the topic of my first "Beauty Bullshit" post, which you can read here.

Gotu kola is not a fruit. It's a herbaceous plant… but the same logic applies.

This plant was presumably chosen because there is a lot of mythology around it… so much so that the American Cancer Society has had to formally come out and declare that"available scientific evidence does not support claims of its effectiveness for treating cancer or any other disease in humans."

The company is also advertising the benefits of its "chlorella growth factor". Chlorella is a single-celled algae and a growth factor is a substance that helps to stimulate cellular growth. Readers of this blog will likely be unsurprised to hear that it's likely not helping your skin any.

Even leaving the pseudoscience aside, I can't get over the ridiculousness of a "day cream" without SPF in it. Isn't that the point of a "day cream"? Plus, the benefits of sunscreen are actual science...

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner (0.25 oz), approximate retail value $11.25


This product definitely won't be pulling anything fancy out of your face. Basically, it's a clear goop that you leave on your face until it turns into a slightly crusty, slightly blue/white goop (but like… not impressively… more like you got toothpaste foam on your face and didn't wash it off), and then you remove it.

I tend to try to avoid drying alcohols in my skincare, and this product has a lot of them. It also doesn't have glycolic acid or salicylic acid in enough quantities or at the right pH to be super helpful. There are much better products out there.

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Naked (full size at 0.17 fl oz), retail value $10.00


As much as I love Ruffian's cute little nail polish bottles, this has to be the ugliest color of nail polish I have ever seen.

When I saw it, the first thing I thought of was Soylent, the meal replacement product for people who inexplicably hate food:

Photo source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_(drink)#mediaviewer/File:Homemade-Soylent.jpg

Putting it on my nails made me feel like I was getting ready to put on the khaki version of a Canadian tuxedo.


(It looks even worse when it chips.)

Ruffian Dressing Room Nail Lacquer Remover Towelettes (2 wipes), approximate retail value $2.40


I also got nail polish removing wipes because Birchbox correctly predicted that I would quickly want to remove that hideous nail color.

These wipes look snazzy. They are black. They are the nail polish wipe equivalent of a really fancy house you pin to inspirational Pinterest boards.


Unfortunately, like many things on Pinterest, reality is not as good as the fantasy. These remove nothing. After completely shredding one of these wipes trying to remove a single polished nail, I gave up and broke out my acetone and cotton rounds.

TEMPTU S/B Highligher (0.1 fl oz), approximate retail value $2.75


Finally, I got a highlighter in a golden bronzy shade that would probably be more appropriate for a blush on me.


Because the color is so orange and dark on me, it requires incredible amounts of blending. Basically, I just blend until I can't see it anymore.

Do you see the faint orange streak on my cheekbone below?

…that's this product.



Total Box Value: $51.75

Tl;dr: I hate everything and am a curmudgeon. A lazy curmudgeon who writes blog posts a month late.

If you mysteriously want to join Birchbox anyways, you could use this link… or another link, but this one is mine.
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Ipsy September 2014 Review

October 26, 2014, 9:52 pm
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Month. September. One of those. Oh god. Please forgive my lateness. I don't know why I am so short on time these days. Judging by the dust bunnies, I clearly can't blame the time I have been spending cleaning.

Stuff Ipsy sent me a super long time ago:


Nourish Organic Moisturizing Cream Face Cleanser with Cucumber and Watercress (1 fl oz), approximate retail value $2.33


Both cucumber and watercress have really distinctive smells and this facial cleanser smells like neither. I know it says "with" and not "scented as", but I was kind of expecting this to smell like something other than 'bathroom'.  Also, the packaging looks like the 90s threw up on it. It's basically an oil-based cleanser, so if that is a thing you like… that's what this is.

Alterna Caviar CC Cream for Hair 10-in-1 Complete Correction (0.85 fl oz), approximate retail value $8.50


I don't style my hair, I shower at night, and all hair products are basically the same to me, so I am a terrible person to review this product. To me, it just felt like I was adding an extra dimethicone-y conditioner to my hair and then refusing to wash it out. It does smell very nice, though.

Crown Brush Deluxe Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet C476, retail value $6.99


I was very interested in this brush because Crown Brushes are on Hautelook all the time. This is one of those brands, though, that is constantly "on sale", something that is really suspicious to me. Their website says that the retail price on this brush is $17.50, but the price is constantly marked down to $6.99. It's not a discount if that is always the price.

They were kind of as I was expecting them to be: not the worst brushes I have used, but probably not worth purchasing, no matter how fancy and cheap the brush kit looks. The brush doesn't pick up a lot of pigment and the bristles are really splayed, which reduces your precision. I did bring this brush on a business trip, though, so it served a nice purpose. I prefer to travel with things where I wouldn't be terribly upset if they were eaten by wolves or thrown off of the airplane in midair before I got home.

Pacifica Natural Eye Pencil in Fringe (0.026 oz), approximate retail value $2.86


This looks like one of those terrible, pencils that offer up no pigment at all while feeling like you are being scratched by steal wool, but it totally isn't. It's actually very nice.


Despite appearances, the pencil is soft and pigmented. It's a lovely chestnut brown. The fine tip even allows for a little bit of precision when you apply it.


Hikari Lipstick in Cabernet (full size at 0.13oz), retail value $13.00


The name of this brand is very strange to me because Hikari means something very specific in my life. It is my favorite brand of fish food:


To me, Hikari will always be fish and not makeup. Sorry, incorrectly named brand.


This lipstick is actually not too shabby, however. It's smooth and pigmented, and it lasts well. The plastic case is a bit dinky, but it certainly doesn't look bad.


In keeping with their total inability to name things, though, Hikari dubbing this "cabernet" is sort of ridiculous, since the color is more of a medium  rose than a deep wine shade.


If you really wanted to stick to an alcohol theme, something like "Raspberry wine" might have been more appropriate.


Bonus Items: Miss Adoro False Eyelashes in #46, retail value $1.99
Miss Adoro Lash Adhesive in Dark (full size at 0.06oz), retail value $2.00


In addition to the normal box items, I also got a little Miss Adoro bonus pack for referring new subscribers. It included some falsies and lash glue.


The eyelash glue was black, which is not my favorite color for eyelash glue (clear is the way to go), especially when I am trying to make it work with brown eyeliner… but the tube did its job.


The lashes have some nice drama to them without being overly ridiculous. They are totally adequate cheapo falsies.

Miss Adoro Silky Eyeshadow in Fairy's Tail (full size, estimated 0.07oz), retail value $7.00


I also got a little eyeshadow duo.


There's a slightly shimmery cream and an even more shimmery champagne.


Quality: meh. You've tried drugstore eyeshadow like this. A little grainy. Could be more pigmented. … But nothing to complain about given the price point. I wouldn't recommend buying it.


Total Box Value (excluding bonuses): $33.68
Total Box Value (including bonuses): $44.67

Here's how September's Ipsy products looked piled on my face at the same time:


Overall, I would call this box a success. Other than the cleanser, I am happy to have at least tried each of these items, and some of them (the lipstick in particular) are downright lovely.

If you are interested in joining Ipsy, you are always welcome to use my referral link by clicking here.
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PopSugar Must Have September 2014 Review

October 26, 2014, 11:01 pm
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Subscription boxes are a little bit like gambling. At $40 a month, PopSugar Must Have is slightly higher stakes gambling.

Here was the payout in September:


Tilo Modal Graduation Scarf in Raisin, retail value $125


This scarf was definitely the "feature item" of this box. There were a couple of colors that were sent out, and I had been crossing my fingers for the black and gray version. I was very sad, at first to be "stuck" with the gray and burgundy.


Once I got everything layered, though, I totally changed my mind. These colors feel very autumnal without being dreary.


The scarf is super soft and my bunnies have even enjoyed chewing it a bit, meaning that it gives joy to the whole household.

(I would never, ever pay $125 for it, though.)

Nicole Miller Round Interlock Earbud, approximate retail value $19.99


It's hard for me to give a good review of these headphones because I don't care for earbuds. I think I must have deformed ears because they never stay in place and the sound just doesn't sound as realistic to me since I can tell it's coming from inside my head. The call is coming from inside the house.

The color is super cute, however, and they work just fine.

Rifle Paper Co. Assorted Girls Card Set, retail value $18.00


When would you use cards that have supermodels on them? "Merry Christmas. Here's a chick wearing leggings.""My condolences. May these happy ladies walking down the street in fashionable clothing comfort you in this time of loss."

Oribe Mini Superfine Hair Spray (purse size at 2.2 oz), retail value $21.50


This is hairspray.


It is much like other hairsprays you have tried.

Letter C Design Pencil Set, Black Pencils with Gold Foil Arrow (5 pencils), approximate retail value $4.69


Pencils!


I have too much conviction to use pencils. You have to commit to what you are writing.

Urban Remedy Vegan Almond Brownie (2oz), retail value $6.99


It may look pretty, but this brownie is actually pretty disgusting. It tastes kind of like a brownie that someone spilled rubbing alcohol on. It's just really strange.


If I'm going to eat a brownie, I am going to eat one that actually tastes good.

They also sent me a "gift card" that is actually a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase. I will never use this.


Ghirardelli Minis in Milk Chocolate Sea Salt and Almonds (4.3oz), retail value $5.95


These, on the other hand, are delicious. The downside is that I have already been buying them since they were released, so they aren't a new product for me.


The milk chocolate caramel is definitely my favorite (I purchased those; they weren't sent to me. They just called out to be photographed!).

I have a huge sweet tooth. Actually, if we are being honest, it's a chocolate tooth. I have a huge chocolate tooth.


These are a great way to fulfill that craving without opening a huge ass chocolate bar. You can carry them with you in your purse and nibble when you feel so inclined.


It's good chocolate in little, single-sized portions.

Nike Gift Card, $20 Value


Unlike the Urban Remedy gift card, the Nike gift card was actually a gift card, not a coupon. Woohoo!

They were promoting their new sports bra. At first, I wasn't super excited because I was quite sure that Nike does not carry my bra size. But, to my surprise, they actually do. Well, close enough. I wear a 28F, which sister sizes to a 30E or a 30DDD. Nike's Pro Rival Bra DOES come in a 30E.

I suspect that Nike dropped the ball on marketing because I pay pretty close attention to the bra fitting world and no one noted that Nike was carrying 30 bands. Usually, new bra lines are the usual "bra matrix" sizes of 32A-38DD. This isn't much broader, but it's a step in the right direction.


Despite a dearth of reviews and a major lack of information on the website about what to expect, I went ahead and bought it in pink. I will note a few observations just because there isn't a lot of information out there:

There are five colors available in band sizes 30-38, cup sizes B-E.

The most notable surprise about this bra is that there is no clasp. In retrospect, you can see this in the pictures, but it still caught me totally off guard. You are supposed to pull this bra over your head. This is a terrible idea because it means you really can't get a very tight band because you have to wiggle into it. This band wasn't going to be tight on me anyways, but I would have been unable to wear a 28-band if it was offered because it wouldn't have gone over my shoulders, even though I would actually prefer the band be 2-3 inches tighter than it is. It also means you can't adjust as the band stretches out… which it will, quickly, because you are pulling the damn thing over your head to get it on!

It's not just a molded cup; it also has a pretty significant amount of padding. I don't personally have an opinion on that, but I know that many people will. The padding is superfluous at best.

It does not have underwire. It kinda looks like it does, but it doesn't.

I would say it runs just a hair on the large size (order your normal cup size unless in between sizes) and that it runs large in the band, even accounting for the fact that I ordered a band size larger than I normally wear.


I think there are much better sports bras on the market. Brands like Panache and Shock Absorber carry substantially more sizes and offer better support (because they have a damn CLASP).

I want this bra to do well in the 30-band sizes so that more companies release sub-32 bands, but I doubt that it will. I strongly suspect that people who wear sub-32 bands are more likely to pay close attention to bra fit, since those bras are hard to find, meaning that they had to seek them out. The lack of clasp is such a huge blunder that it compromises the fit of the entire bra-- I can't imagine that this gains traction among people who know their shit about bra fit. I will keep it, but I don't expect it to last long, and I will have to use it primarily for low-impact workouts (I'm normally a HIIT kind of lady). That, combined with the lack of outreach to lingerie bloggers and fit experts who would have been excited to hear about a new 30-band option, means that I don't foresee Nike expanding their size range any further in the near future, not because there is no demand, but because the demand would come from people who demand less sucky bras.


Bummer.

Total Box Value: $202.12 not counting the gift card ($222.12 if you count it).

Overall, I was happy with this box, even though it contained its fair share of random junk I don't need.

If you are interested in joining PopSugar Must Have, you can use the code "REFER5" to save $5 off your first box, or the code GWP10 to save $10 and get a free Kendra Scott Necklace.
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A Guide to Sephora's 2014 $10 Black Friday Deals

November 27, 2014, 7:28 pm
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Sephora released their annual $10 Black Friday deals on Pinterest earlier this week (you can see their album here), but I only managed to catch them today. Happy Thanksgiving, procrastinators! If you're trying to decide which items are a good deal, I have organized them from best to worst value.

Unlike previous years, all items have a calculable value, meaning there are no trashy brush sets that are probably worth $1.50 polluting the mix. Additionally, every set is worth more than the $10 purchase price.

Image source: http://www.pinterest.com/sephora/black-friday-2014/

The Full List:

Formula X The Two in Juju & Voodoo
Contains:
Juju and Voodoo (2 x 0.4 oz), retail value $12.00
Total Value: $12.00

Origins Task Maskers
Contains:
0.5 oz Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask To Clear Pores, approximate retail value $3.68
0.5 oz Modern Friction Nature's Gentle Dermabrasion, approximate retail value $4.70
0.5 oz Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, approximate retail value $3.68
Total Value: $12.06

Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Cleansing Duo
Contains:
African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser (1.5 fl oz), retail value $9.00
Clean Truth Cleansing Wipes (10 wipes), approximate retail value $5.00
Total Value: $14.00

Tocca A Touch Of Luxury Gift Set
Contains:
(2 x 1 oz) Hand Cream in Giuliette and Stella, approximate retail value $8.00
(2 x 0.10 oz) Rollerballs in Giulietta and Stella, approximate retail value $8.00
Total Value: $16

Kat Von D Lip Love Set
Contains:
0.04 oz Studded Kiss lipstick in Lolita, approximate retail value $8.40
0.10 oz Everlasting liquid lipstick in Berlin, approximate retail value $8.63
Total Value: $17.03

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Collection
Contains:
1 oz Perfect Hair Day Shampoo, approximate retail value $5.00
1 oz Perfect Hair Day Conditioner, approximate retail value $5.00
1 oz Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling, approximate retail value $7.50
Total Value: $17.50

Clean Rollerball Collection Trio
Contains:
Warm Cotton, White Woods, and Fresh Laundry (3 X 0.17 fl oz), retail value $18
Total Value: $18

Josie Maran Argan Hand Healers
Contains:
1 oz Whipped Argan Oil Intensive Hand Cream in Sweet Citrus, approximate retail value $9.29
20 x Bear Naked Nail Wipes in Lavender, retail value $9.00
Total Value: $18.29

Alterna Caviar Moisture Trio
Contains:
Replenishing Moisture Shampoo (1.35 fl oz), approximate retail value $5.08
Replenishing Moisture Conditioner (1.35 fl oz), approximate retail value $5.08
Caviar CC Cream (1 fl oz), approximate retail value $10
Total Value: $20.16

Philosophy Purity Made Simple
Contains:
Facial Cleanser (12 fl oz), approximate retail value $20.50
Total Value: $20.50

First Aid Beauty FAB Star Duo
Contains:
2 oz Face Cleanser, retail value $9.50
2 oz Ultra Repair Cream, retail value $12.00
Total Value: $21.50

Boscia Pore-Purifying Duo
Contains:
1 oz Luminizing Black Mask, approximate retail value $12.14
100 x Black Charcoal Blotting Linens, retail value $10.00
Total Value: $22.14

The Art of Shaving: The Four Elements of the Perfect Shave
Contains:
Aftershave Balm (0.5 fl oz), approximate retail value $5.88
Pre-Shave Oil (0.5 fl oz), approximate retail value $8.00
Shaving Cream (1 oz), retail value $5.00
Trial Size Badger Shaving Brush, estimated retail value $5.00
Total Value: $23.88

Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash
Contains:
Face Wash in 6.7 oz, retail value $24
Total Value: $24

Formula X The Two in Chaotic & Hypnotize
Contains:
Chaotic and Hypnotize (2 x 0.4 oz), retail value $24
Total Value: $24

Sephora Collection Precision Makes Perfect Mini Airbrush Set
Contains:
2 X Sephora Collection Sponges, estimate retail value $24
Total Value: $24

Too Faced Primed For Sex
Contains:
0.17 oz Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer, approximate retail value $9.71
0.17 oz Better Than Sex Mascara, approximate retail value $14.48
Total Value: $24.19

Buxom Power Players
Contains:
0.02 oz Mini Hold the Line Waterproof Eyeliner in Call Me, approximate retail value $8.50
0.33 oz Sculpted Lash Mascara in True Black, retail value $19.00
Total Value: $27.50

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick Duo
Contains:
(2 x 0.7 oz) Travel-size Legendary lipsticks in Posy Pink, Fig, approximate retail value $28.00
Total Value: $28

BareMinerals the Incredibles Dynamic Eye & Lip Duo
Contains:
0.1 oz BareMinerals READY eye shadow 2.0 in The Phenomenon, retail value $20
0.07 oz Marvelous Moxie lip gloss In Rebel, approximate retail value $8.40
Total value: $28.40

Tarte Magical Moments Deluxe Best Sellers Essentials Set
Contains:
0.05 oz LipSurgence lip gloss, approximate retail value $3.52
0.15 oz Amazonian Clay 12-Hour blush in Magic, approximate retail value $19.50
0.13 oz Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara, retail value $10
Total Value: $33.02

Bite Beauty Lush Lip Trio Minis
Contains:
(3 x 0.06 oz) Lush Fruit Lip Gloss in Strawberry, Currant, Rambutan, approximate retail value $36
Total Value: $36

MAKE UP FOR EVER Get Glossy
Contains:
Lab Shine (2 x 0.09 oz) in Shimmering Beige and Shimmering Indian Pink, retail value $38
Total Value: $38

NEST Fragrances Rollerball Trio
Contains:
(3 X 0.6 oz) in Midnight Fleur, Dahlia & Vines, and Indigo, approximate retail value $68.82
Total Value: $68.82

My picks:

I think the Art of Shaving Kit is a great little inexpensive stocking stuffer, the Bare Minerals duo is lovely for anyone who wants to experience the awesomeness of their eyeshadow, and the Tarte kit is likely worth it, if only for the blush.
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