Allure Sample Society Box - February

I received my first Allure Sample Society Box in the mail this week. This box contains five deluxe size samples. I love trying new subscription services. I have had Birchbox and Ipsy in the past. I love getting samples of products I would have otherwise never heard of. Lets look at this months box.

The first product in the box I noticed was a Batiste Dry Shampoo in floral and fruity. I have tried this dry shampoo and I really like it. It is not my favorite but I will use this in my travel bag. The full size of this product is $7.

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The next item in the box was a Nails Inc. nail polish in Princes Palace. It is a light blue color with a gray tint. I think it will be really pretty for the spring. I have never heard of this brand so I am excited to try it. The full size price of this product is $9. 

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The next item in the box was StriVectin Intensive Illuminating Serum. I have never tried this, but I have heard good things about this brand. I did notice however on the website this was in last months box also. I do not like to get the same products two months in a row. The full size of this product is $89.

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Next, there are three Nugg face mask in the box. I have never heard of this brand either, but I love face masks. Each of the masks are wrapped individually. There is a mask for deep cleansing, dry skin, and dull skin. I cannot wait to try them all. The full size of this product is $2.99 each.

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Finally, there was a perfume sample for Chole Love Story. I do not like getting perfume samples in subscription boxes. I feel you get cheated a little bit. I will use it, but would rather have had a more deluxe size sample. The full size of this product is $75 for 1.7oz. 

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Overall I like the Allure Sample Society box. I am not sure if I will get it every month. I am going to try it for awhile. I often switch boxes because I like to try new things. If you would like to purchase this subscription service you can here. Also, to get $5 off your first box use the code 5foryou. Let me know what subscription services you get I may want to try them too.

Monday Must Have - Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick

Today's Monday Must Have is Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks. These are amazing. I have the colors bronze and nectar, but would love to try all of them. They give a beautiful highlight to the top of the cheek bones. They also add a glow when used over your blush. The shimmer bricks can also be used as eye shadows. They make a great brow bone highlight. Let me know if you all try these and what you think.


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Monday Must Have - Wet Brush

This weeks Monday Must Have is the Wet Brush. I have been using this brush for about a year, before using this I always detangled my hair with a wide tooth comb. The wet brush works great on my very thick, naturally curly, long hair. I use it when I get out of the shower to detangle. It does a great job without causing breakage. I highly recommend trying this if you have not already. They are a great price and a must have especially if you have long or thick hair. Let me know if you try one.

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January Empties

I have joined with some amazing women on Instagram for a low buy challenge. It is called 365 days of empties and was created by a lady I follow on Instagram named beautyempites (go follow her). The challenge is to use up the products you have instead buying new ones. The empties can include samples and candles or design it to fit your needs. For every product you give yourself a dollar and use this "empties" money to buy new products you are wanting to try. I update my progress frequently on my Instagram page (link on blog), but I will update here monthly.

1. Bath and Body Works Candles - I used up a lot of candles this month because I was out on sick leave. Most of the candles I used were limited edition fall candles. I did use up a Mahogany Teakwood candle which is my favorite. It smells just like the Abercrombie.



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2.  Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation - One of my all time favorite foundations. I had a backup on hand when I used up that one. I have a full review in my 2014 Beauty Favorites.


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3.  Victoria Secret Very Sexy Perfume - If I have a signature scent this would be it. I wore this scent on one of my first dates with my now husband. I wore this scent on our Wedding Day. I have wore this on numerous special and not so special occasions. I have copied the notes from the Victoria Secret site because I am horrible at describing scents. The perfume includes scents of vanilla orchid, sun-drenched clementine and midnight blackberry. I plan to buy this again soon.

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4.  Victoria Secret Coconut Passion Lotion - I love any lotion that smells like coconut and this one has a nice warm scent. The Victoria Secret lotions are thick and not greasy. They can at times be strong scented, but I really like them.

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5.  Better Homes and Garden Wax Melts - These wax melts are great for the price. I buy them at Wal-Mart. They have a lot of good scents and most of them have a good throw.

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6.  Brittney Spears Perfume - This was a gift from my nephew when he was about 8 years old. He picked it out himself and was so excited to give it to me. It smelled very good, but my favorite part was how he told me I smelled good every time I wore it.

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7. Seventh Generation Face Wipe - I bought the wipes from Vitacost. They are a more natural brand. They are alright. They are good for wipe swatches off your hands or washing your face in the morning, but not for taking off a full face of make-up. I would not purchase again.


8. Samples - I have used a good amount of samples this month. I am enjoying this no buy challenge because it has encouraged me to use more of my samples. I am going to list the ones I have finished and tell if I would purchase or  not. I do not feel I can give full reviews but I can give my first impression.
     Lacome Visionaire Serum - It felt good on my skin, but I am not sure it is worth the money.
     Bond 9 I love New York - This perfume smelled good, but a little strong. I would not purchase.
     Cruel Itch Defense - I did not like the smell of this lotion. I would not purchase.
     Nieva Cocoa Butter - I really liked this lotion. It smelled so good. I would purchase full size.
     Origins CC Cream - This sample was so small I am not sure about. I would consider buying.
     Jose Maran Oil - I loved this and I would purchase full size.
     Lancôme Crème to Powder - I loved this foundation and would buy a full size.
     Prada Candy Perfume - I like this perfume and my husband recently bought me a full size.
    

Monday Must Have - Ultra Repair Cream

This weeks Monday Must Have is First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Cream. I bought a small tube of this in the day after Thanksgiving sale at Sephora. I loved it instantly. It feels so good on my face, hands, and feet. The lotion is without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. It is also without petroleum and it contains colloidal oatmeal which helps with eczema. I suffer from eczema and I have noticed it has not irritated my skin or caused my eczema to flare up. This lotion does not really have a scent and it does not leave the skin feeling greasy. Let me know if you try it or if you are already using it what you think. I look forward to trying some more products from this brand.

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Fashion Favorites of 2014

I love everything about fashion. I love putting together outfits in new ways. I love adding a new accessory to completely change a look. I love how you can put stilettos with jeans for a night out or flip flops for a day in the mountains. These are a few of my favorites from the year. I could talk about fashion all day I have narrowed it down to a few of my staples.

1. JCrew Factory GiGi Pants. These pants are amazing. They have a fit like a legging, but they are thick like a pant. The look great with tall boots or high heels. I hope to wear them this summer with flats or sandals. I definitely recommend getting a pair of these pants.





2.  Toms. I bought my first pair of Toms this year, then after I got them, I bought my second pair of Toms. I plan in the Spring to buy my third pair of Toms. I love these shoes. They look really cute with skinny jeans or shorts. I tend to wear them a lot with yoga pants on casual days. I also wear them to the baseball field in the spring most weekends.


 

3.  Denim Vest. I finally found a denim vest that I liked this year. I wear them mainly with maxi dresses and sleeveless shirts. I feel they make maxi dress more office appropriate. They also add some style to a sleeveless shirt and khakis. I linked to one on Amazon that is similar to the one I purchased from Old Navy.

 

 

4. Maxi Dress. I wore maxi dresses almost everyday this spring and summer. They are so comfortable and so easy. They can be dressed up with a scarf or jewelry or just worn casual. I am sure everyone loves them as much as I do. I do wish they were not always so long. It is hard to find them to fit me.

 

 

 

4.  Tall Boots. I love my riding boots in the fall and winter. These are not new to my wardrobe, but I do feel they are a fashion favorite of the year. They look great with dresses, skinny jeans, and leggings. I love to wear them with boot socks or leg warmers. They are a must for every wardrobe.

 

 

 

5. Scarves. My must have for every season is scarves. They add something extra to any outfit. I often wearing a t-shirt and jeans with a nice scarf. I also love to wear maxi dresses with a scarf and denim vest or jacket.

 

 

 

6. Stilettos. I could not honor my blog name without having stilettos as a fashion favorite. These have been my favorite since I could walk. There is something about a good pair of stilettos that make you feel good about yourself.  I especially love nude heels.

 

 

 

These are my fashion favorites for 2014. It was hard to narrow it down because I love all fashion so much, but these are my wardrobe must haves. Thanks for reading let me know your must haves.

Top Products of 2014

I am finally posting my top products of 2014. I have been under the weather lately and have been slacking on the blog. I hope I am back in the game. I want to thank all of my friends for all of the prayers. Now to get to the post. I tried a lot of new products this year and fell more in love with some old favorites. I will list my top favorites in no particular order.

 

1. The Body Shops Hemp Hand Protector. I got my first tube of this last year for Christmas fell in love with it instantly. There is not a strong smell and it is very moisturizing . I keep a tube of this in my desk drawer and in my nightstand.

 

 

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2.  Its a Ten Miracle Leave in Product. This has been a favorite for years. I use this every time I wash my hair. It helps with frizz, moisture, and split ends. It also smells very good.

 

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 3.  Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation. This has been my favorite foundation for the past couple of years. It gives good coverage with the look and feel of skin. It gives you a glow to your skin. There is a large color selection. I often have a hard time matching my skin because I am so fair.

 

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 4. Bobbi Brown BB Cream. This is my favorite of all time BB Creams. I have not tried many high end bb creams but I have tried a lot of drug store brands. This bb cream has light coverage with SPF of 35. I wear this alone on days I am not wearing a full face of makeup. I also enjoy wearing this when I am going to be outdoors.

 

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5. Nerium AD Night Cream. I began using this cream last February. I have been using it every night since then. This cream has not only helped with fine lines it has completely took away by eczema. It also helps with the texture and overall glow of my skin.
 

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6. Nars Orgasm Blush. I bought this blush at the beginning of the year. I know I am really late to get this product. I love it. It gives your skin a nice glow. There is some shimmer, but I like shimmer. I like anything that brightens up my dry skin.
 

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I hope yall enjoyed my favorites of the year. I have enjoyed so many new products this year but these are by far the favorites for 2014. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Look for a non-beauty favorites list coming soon.