Favourites of the Day: April 30th

  

1. Video Games - Lana Del Rey:

Great song. Great voice. Have a listen and let me know what you think.

2. Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup:

I received a sample of this from the Bay and am already in love. It's perfect for Summer because it's extremely lightweight/not thick or heavy feeling/looking at all. It's a sheer coverage, but still plenty of coverage, especially if you have fairly clear skin to begin with. You can pick a shade that matches your skin-hue and then it is supposed to blend/match to your exact skin-tone. It definitely matched my skin perfectly - not too light and not too dark. Also, it's not greasy/oily, which is another plus for Summer foundation. You can get it at the Bay, and likely online and at other stores/malls that carry Estee Lauder products for about $35.00

  3. Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis:

 This is a great book. It's also a super easy/quick read. I highly recommend it. It's slightly depressing but meant to capture the L.A party scene in the 1980's (it was published in 1985). Bret Easton Ellis (who is better known for American Psycho - later turned into the movie with Christian Bale) wrote/published Less Than Zero when he was only 21. If I could describe this book in one word? Apathetic.

The Chapters.ca Blurb: Set in Los Angeles in the early 1980''s, this coolly mesmerizing novel is a raw, powerful portrait of a lost generation who have experienced sex, drugs, and disaffection at too early an age, in a world shaped by casual nihilism, passivity, and too much money a place devoid of feeling or hope. Clay comes home for Christmas vacation from his Eastern college and re-enters a landscape of limitless privilege and absolute moral entropy, where everyone drives Porches, dines at Spago, and snorts mountains of cocaine. He tries to renew feelings for his girlfriend, Blair, and for his best friend from high school, Julian, who is careering into hustling and heroin. Clay''s holiday turns into a dizzying spiral of desperation that takes him through the relentless parties in glitzy mansions, seedy bars, and underground rock clubs and also into the seamy world of L.A. after dark.

Have any of you read Less Than Zero? Have you read any other Brett Easton Ellis Books? What are some of your favourite Books?

4. Overgrown Ivy:

Overgrown Ivy reminds me of the Secret Garden. It just makes a garden/house feel so magical. I know it's sort of a "weed" but I love it. I would be more than happy for it to take over the side of my door!

 5. Leopard Loafers:

I think these loafers are so fun! I don't own a pair - but I am on the hunt! I'm sure I can find some at F21 or H&M so I will have to go look into that..... Paired with some cuffed skinnies I think these would be super fun and adorable. Do any of you know where to find a pair of these? 

Out of Reach Favourites of the Day: April 28th

So today I though I'd share some of my favourites that I can't afford to indulge in at the moment  ever. So this is my sort of "if I had a million dollars wishlist of the moment"...

1. Balenciaga Motorcycle Jacket: $2,600:

Ever since I saw Serena in the brown one on Gossip Girl I fell in love. I decided to find out what kind of jacket it was - lucky me, a Balenciaga that costs ~$2,600.  Alas this piece does not live in my closet...likely nor will it ever. That doesn't stop this from being one of my favourite leather jackets of all time....

2. A Beautiful Old Victorian Home: Cost here? Probably close to 6 or 7 million....:

I love love love Victorian style homes. They remind of of fairy tales. Speaking of which...is that Harry Potter in the front yard of this photo? (photo from google). The housing market here has made it pretty clear that I won't be getting one of these any time soon..... I can only hope for a box/shack of an apartment to call my own... What are some of your favourite architectural styles?

3.  A Delicate Spiral Staircase:

Speaking of fairy-tale architecture..... These amaze me. I can only imagine designing/assembling/renovating for one of these would cost an arm and a leg...

 

4. Hermes Orange H Enamel Bracelet: $610:

Do I have $600? I don't even know if I do. Do I have $600 to spend on a bracelet? Certainly not. I'm not usually one for flaunting around brand names - but this classic looking plain Hermes cuff makes me weak in the knees. There are so many colours - green, blue, pink, black, purple, etc. I love the classic Hermes Orange best though. Too bad it has a Hermes price tag...

5. YSL Oval Arty Rings: $290:

Again, do I have $290 to spend on a ring? Certainly not. I can't get over these though - so pretty. I love the design and love love love all the colours! Any of you who has one...I'm extremely jealous. I love cocktail rings in general, so I love the size of these stones, but I also really like the atypical design.

6. A Walk In Closet the Size of a Living Room:  

Seeing as I can barely afford a room to sleep in..I don't think a room full of clothes/jewellery/shoes/accessories is going to come to fruition any time soon....My closet is overflowing right now though...so I could certainly use one of these! This one is absolutely gorgeous *swoon*

7. Hermes Belt: ~$450-$900 depending on the size/leather:

Just as I covet the Classic Hermes H Bracelet, I covet the Classic Hermes H Belt. Just like the Bracelet, I also don't have the money to lay down on a piece like this right now. I would kill to have this in my wardrobe though!

What are some of your Out of Reach Favourites/ What is on your "If I Had a Million Dollars Wish List" right now?  

Free Mario Badescu Skin Care Samples

I think I first read about these samples Here at Canadian Beauty Reviews Blog, and I ordered my own right away! They came pretty quickly, and are actually pretty generous sample portions - I've used them almost every day for the past 5 days and they still seem basically full....

I was sent a Drying Mask, Special Cucumber Lotion, Ceramide Herbal Eye Cream, Enzyme Cleanser, Oil Free SPF17 Moisturizer, and a Strawberry Face Scrub.

This is what they look like (and as you can see the little jars are full to the top).

They came with a catalogue containing all their products with descriptions/prices/ingredients/etc. It also came with a pamphlet describing when and how to use all the products I was sent.

Drying Mask: This masks literally smells like mud. If you can get over the smell though, it works amazingly. I don't know if it was the combination of using all these products, or the mask specifically, but this did wonders for my skin.

Special Cucumber Lotion: This 'lotion' is really an astringent. And it smells like one too - i.e. not very pleasant. However, like the mask, it works really well

Ceramide Herbal Eye Cream: I am in love with this. You only need the tiniest dab, and it makes the skin around your eyes so smooth and more awake looking.

Enzyme Cleanser: This cleanser seems to work like any other - I'm not one to be really picky about cleansers generally. The only downfall is the sample came in a bottle without a spout, so it's kind of hard to get out of the bottle without squeezing an entire huge blob out.

Oil Free SPF 17 Moisturizer: This is the only product I haven't actually used yet... waiting for a sunny day  to make use of that SPF! 

Strawberry Face Scrub: This literally smells like strawberry shortcake. The scent is a little too sweet for me since I don't really like the smell of strawberries, but for strawberry lovers, this would probably love at first...wash? It's not very exfoliating, more like a wash than a scrub (the "exfoliating beads" are actually strawberry seeds! but there are unfortunately not enough of them to get a good "scrub"). It works as a great cleanser though!

I am so happy that they sent me all these for free! And they arrived rather quickly too - about 2 weeks. I'll likely order the full sized mask since even though it smells like mud, seems to work wonders! 

If you guys want to order your own sample pack, just click here and take the survey:  http://www.mariobadescu.com/questionnaire.aspx

After you order yours or if you have already received samples from Mario Badescu, let me know what your favourite Mario Badescu skin-care products are!

Favourites of the Day: April 25th

1. Game of Thrones:

I am currently obsessed with this show! It is AMAZING! If you haven't seen it yet, you must watch the first season (it's on season 2 right now - just started a few weeks ago). Each season is only about 10 or 12 episodes I think. It's put on my HBO which I find do an amazing job on most shows (most of my favourite shows are on the HBO network). The show must have a movie-type budget because the costumes/acting/cinematography/music/locations/etc are all amazing! Every episode feels like watching a movie! There are about 10 different story lines and they are all somewhat connected - so the show jumps back and forth between them. It's really hard to describe what it's about because it's actually pretty complicated. You can probably watch a trailer for the 1st season online though :) The books are apparently told the same way - with each chapter being told from the perspective of a different character. So it's different from most books/tv shows in that there are about 50 main characters! There are 7 books I think (or 6?) - I haven't read them yet but plan on doing so this summer! Have you watched Game of Thrones? Have you read the books? Do you like them?

2. Pretty Flasks:

I'm all about the details. I'm also all about old-man drinks like whiskey and bourbon. The idea of having a beautiful, feminine flask to counterpose the fact that I'm drinking whiskey or bourbon is perfect. I also love the old, antique feel of flasks in general - no matter what you are filling them with! They somehow feel rough and tough and elegant all at the same time - especially when you have a pretty design like this one! I'm in the market for one of these - so if any of you know where to find intricately decorated flasks - let me know!

3. Chandeliers:

 I've always wanted a chandelier, ever since I was a little girl. I still don't have one...but one day. They are so delicate and feminine. They come with a feel of elegance and luxury which I love. I also love the historic/antique feel - especially when juxtaposed with a modern interior. A chandelier in the bedroom would be perfect.  Too bad elegance and luxury costs so much....

  

4. The Shins - Phantom Limb:

This song isn't new - but has been on repeat as of late. The Shins are great, and this song is no exception. The last min of the song is my favourite part . I hope you like it! What are some of your favourite bands? Or songs? Do you have any recommendations?

Photo from Pinterest

5. Kimono Jackets:

After seeing several photos on Pinterest, I've been lusting after a pretty short Kimono jacket for a while. I love the idea of something a little different from a sweater or a blazer as a cover up. Problem: Where does one find a Kimono outside of Japan!? If any one knows where to find one - let me know! Also, what is your take on Kimono Jackets?

My First Glymm Box (April)

Yesterday (about a week after the rest of the country recieved thier boxes) my first Glymm box arrived in the mail!

A lot of people were really disappointed with the box, and some have even been straight up rude about it.  

My two cents? We are getting 20/30/40$ worth of stuff for 11$ - including shipping and the hard work that goes into packing them all - so if your box was worth 20$ instead of 40$ this time, I really don't think that is any reason to complain. So long as it is worth at least the $11 we paid for...there's no reason to be upset. 

It's human nature to get used to great things, and take them for granted and feel entitled to them then suddenly be upset when things go back to normal. When you stop and think about it though - it's just silly. If your friend gave you a $50 gift certificate year after year for your birthday, and then suddenly one year because she was short on cash gave you a $20 gift certificate, would you be upset? Maybe. You might think - why doesn't she like me anymore?! Did I do something wrong?! Does she have a new BFF?! That backstabbing B*tch! But when you stop and think about it - that's ridiculous! She's still giving you a gift! The same applies for these Beauty-Box subscriptions. They are a great deal and worth well over what we pay for, so if some times the box is worth slightly less than other boxes (but still worth more than what you paid for) you should stop and have a think about the situation before you get into a huff.

If the reason you are upset isn't due to the "lack of worth" but rather due to the "lack of use" - say because you don't like perfume, or do not like lip gloss, or don't wear eyeshadow - then maybe 'surprise' sample beauty-boxes are not for you and you should stick to purchasing products at full price that you know you will actually use. I personally love the idea of trying new things that I wouldn't normally purchase but it's not for everyone. 

Either way - I do not think you have cause to complain - and you should think about these things next time before being extremely rude about your box.

Ok I'm done ranting I swear....onto my review/unboxing!

It came in this box which I like to call "tacky 80s barbie pink". It now lives in my recycling bin.

It came with a card that describes all the products/ how to use them/ how much the full size costs.

It also came with a $100 gift certificate for Nu.Me - it's only available for hair extensions or styling tools though - which are all over $100. The cheapest is a teensy straightener (about the size of your palm) for $115 + 15$ shipping (so you pay 30$). I already have a Sedu one of these for my purse because it came as a promo when I bought my Hai from Folica. The certificate is good until August I believe - so I may wait and see if some of the prices come down. I'm not going to buy something I don't need (HA  dear brain do as I say not as I do.....) but if the prices come down I may fork up 15$ shipping for a straightener or hair dryer. Any of you with Glymm Memberships - have you used your card? Do you know what you are going to get?

So this is what the box looks like inside. This is the only picture I took. I'm not going to let you see any of the products in full. Just try to guess what they are. Especially the upside down ones. KIDDING. This picture is pretty useless, unless you are one to really admire good packaging/crinkled confetti paper.

These are 7.4ml samples of Free Your Mane Shampoo and Conditioner. Some would call them one-time-use, but I am a firm believer in the dime sized dollop rule (maybe sometimes a quarter sized dollop...) so these should last me about 3 showers. And I have quite full/thick/ long hair- so don't try to rationalize using more shampoo/conditioner than you need by assuming I'm balding. The card that came with the box says: It gently cleanses hair and scalp whle natural oild help rebuild your hair's delicate moisture balance. With an exclusive blend of Brilliant Baobab Oil from Africa, ultra-moisturizing Argan Oil from Morocco, anti oxidant rich Pomegranate Seed Oil and Sweet Almond Oil, it will truly free your mane. I haven't tried either of these yet, but I'm excited to try a sulphate free shampoo - will keep you posted. The full size is 300ml each (@ 16$ chaque). So that makes these samples about 40cents each.

Update: I am in love with this shampoo and conditioner!! It actually makes my hair UNBELIEVABLY soft and silky and smooth! I don't really like the smell (kind of like a mens product) but I can put up with it for the results! So I will be for sure looking for another sulphate free shampoo that perhaps has a better scent, or hunting down this product and purchasing it! SO SILKY. Unbelievable. 

Next is this Lucia Soap in Wild Ginger and Fresh Fig. It smells very nice. I'm not really a soap-in-the-shower kind of girl because I have exfoliators/body scrubs/shower gels that I use, but this is perfect for washing my hands and smells so much better than a regular drugstore pump soap. The card says: These refined jewels are packed with pure botanical extracts and enriched with 100% certified organic Shea butter. Not only will your skin feel silky soft, it will also be thoroughly cleansed and smelling so seductive. The full size of these bebe soaps (I have a picture showing how tiny they are below) is a package of 8, which sells for $17.50 - making this sample (of 1) about $2.18.

 

The soap is only 25 grams - just a bebe - you can see how tiny it is next to my pinky finger. By the way, the purple polish is charlotte by Julep which I talked about in THIS POST.

This postcard came with the next sample - it has advertising for the full size on the back, but no hint of advertising on the front- not even the product itself hidden amongst the other objects. I can thus frame this pretty scene if I'd like. It's currently propped up by my bedside table because I like the feelings it invokes. What feelings? The back of the postcard pretty much describes it perfectly -  "It was the kind of momnt you would want to revist. Everyone was here, gathered on the terrace for breakfast, and the scent of fresh oranges was diffusing in the yellow heat. A symphony of laughter and waves hitting the cliffs played in the air" (That's supposed to be the feeling the perfume sample it came with invokes).

This is a sample of Atelier's Cologne in Orange Sanguine. It's a French brand. It literally smells like freshly cut oranges. You know that smell you get on your fingers after eating a perfectly ripe orange? That's this. In a bottle. So if you are one of those weirdos who likes to smell thier fingers after eating oranges - like me - then you'll pretty much love this. I would not buy this because it's not really in my style of fragrance (see my Fragrance Post HERE). Though I will definitely wear this because I like trying new things and it's a nice scent. The scent is supposed to invoke the feeling/moment described above on the postcard. The full size is 30ml for 60$ or 200ml for $165. Which is in the range of many other perfumes. Some people think that's ludicrous - but most people will know that unless you're buying Britney Spears perfume from Winners that this is pretty typical for perfume prices. (Not that there's anything wrong with Britney Spears from Winners (I love Winners!)...just that it's not going to be of the same quality/last as long on your skin as other types of perfume)

The Sample is a typical 1ml size - so worth about 2$. Some people were complaining that you can get these sample sizes for free at Sephora. Can you get Atelier Cologne? I THINK NOT. The point of these boxes is to try new things. I'm happy to have the chance to try this fragrance that I would not have seen/heard about/been able to try elsewhere. Again, the polish is Charlotte by Julep (See My Post Here).

The Last Product in the box was a Mai Couture Social Gloss. From the Card: Treat your lips with luxury you simply cannot live without. Not only will this gloss fill in unwanted lines and restore moisture but it will create full kissable lips. Your lips will be healthy and plump. This sheer forumla will create a sumptuous and luminous sheen. The secret: a complex mix of plant extracts naturally enhances your lip volume effortlessly without the allergen. Your lips will be the life of the party. ....What kind of party is this...My lips only kiss one boy shanks.

The Colour I got is "Flirtini" - i.e. completely clear gloss. I am super happy about the colour - some people got a nude type colour - which would look god awful on me, so I could not be happier about getting a clear gloss. The full size product is 25-28$ and they included the full sized product in the box! While I would not pay $28 for lip gloss, I am very happy to have recieved this and to try it out.

The gloss comes with a typical wand. I tried it on and it's not sticky at all - I despise sticky glosses. This gloss is smooth without the stickiness - I thought I had been turned off glosses and would never use them again, but this product just might change my mind....And against all my cynic expectations,  I actually did notice a tiny bit of the "plumping effect"

 So that's my Glymm Box + Review! I paid $11.30 (that includes tax and shipping) and got a box filled with over 30$ worth of products (plus a 100$ discount card) ....not too shabby.

If you would like to sign up for a Glymm Box subscription - I would really appreciate if you used my referral link:  http://www.glymm.com/share/zilliono

As mentioned, the box is $11.30 (tax and shipping included) and comes once a month. If you decide you don't like it or cannot afford more than a month or two, you can easily cancel by filling out a cancellation request email. The staff have been super friendly with me and super speedy to respond any time I have had questions - I think the key is that if you are freindly to them they will be friendly back, and rude to them, they will be rude back - this might explain the discrepancy with some people's experiences.

Favourite [Fragrances] of the Day: April 23rd

I'm in the midst of trying to pick out a new fragrance, so I thought I'd share my two favourites with you guys, as well as the three I am hopelessly trying to choose between! 

I will forewarn you that I have a strong aversion to particularly sweet scents and tend to be drawn towards the more musky, heavy fragrances....

 

1. Lolita Lempicka 'The First Fragrance':

This is one of my favourite scents.  As for the notes - from the website: "A fragrant note of Liquorice combined with Aniseed, Ivy, Violet and Tonka Bean with the sweet rich notes of Amarena Cherry, Vanilla and Praline. This blend gives way to sensual floral notes with Iris and Musk undertones" 

2. Betsey Johnson by Betsey Johnson:

I love this perfume. However, I can't stand the smell of her new scent "too-too" so I hope that some stores keep stocking this one (unfortunately Sephora only carries the new scent).  The notes are Pear, Tangerine, Grapefruit, Blackcurrant (top) Freesia, Lily Of The Valley, Red Apple (middle) Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Praline, Amber, Musks (base).

Now onto the 3 I am hopelessly trying to choose between..... I recieved small samples of all three from Sephora, and thought that I would be able to pick one easily by seeing how the scents react with my skin/how I handle them throughout the day....but the problem is I love all three! Though I certainly cannot afford to just get the whole lot....

3. Tocca Florence:

Top Notes: Italian Bergamot, Grapefruit Leaves, Green Pear, Apple, Middle Notes: Ivory Gardenia, Crushed Violet Petals, Jasmine, Tuberose, Blue Iris, Bottom Notes: Blonde Wood, White Musk

4. 'B' by Marie St. Pierre:

I'd never heard of this one before, but the extremely sweet and helpful saleswoman at Sephora  highly reccomended it. Top notes: bergamot and rose; middle notes: Beeswax, violet and caramel; base notes: sandalwood, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla and maple. 

 

5. 'Black Orchid' by Tom Ford:

This was love at first smell. It's a strange scent, not much like any other, and very very heavy. Apparently it smells good on both sexes. Top notes: French jasmine, black truffle, ylang-ylang, black currant and effervescent citrus. Middle Notes: Tom Ford's black orchid (i.e secret concoction) and base notes: woodsy notes of patchouli and sandalwood, dark chocolate, incense, amber, vetiver, vanilla and balsam.

Have you tried any of these fragrances?

What are some of your favourites?

Do you have any other recommendations for me to try in my quest for a new scent?

 

Earth Day Favourites

What do this:

And this:

   Have in Common? 

The top photo is of the Great Pacific Garbge Patch, and frankly, it makes me disgusted that humans can have such little regard for our environment. (and no, Kiehl's doesn't make me disgusted, that's not the connection).

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also described as the Pacific Trash Vortex, is a gyre of Marine-Litter in the Pacific Ocean. Some of these long-lasting plastics end up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals, and their young, including sea turtles and the Black-footed Albatross. Besides the particles' danger to wildlife, on the microscopic level the floating debris can absorb organic pollutants from seawater, including PCBs, DDT, and PAHs. Aside from toxic effects, when ingested, some of these are mistaken by the endocrine system as estradiol, causing hormone disruption in the affected animal.These toxin-containing plastic pieces are also eaten by jellyfish, which are then eaten by larger fish. Many of these fish are then consumed by humans, resulting in their ingestion of toxic chemicals.Marine plastics also facilitate the spread of invasive species that attach to floating plastic in one region and drift long distances to colonize other ecosystems. On the macroscopic level, the physical size of the plastic kills birds and turtles as the animals' digestion can not break down the plastic. Research has shown that this plastic marine debris affects at least 267 species worldwide. (wikipedia)

There is a Great Book discussing more of the effects on fish called Plastic Ocean by Captain Charles Moore. I highly reccomend it:

 

 Now what does this have to do with face cleanser, facial moisturizer, and body lotion? Read on.  

This Plastic Ocean exists partly because people do not recycle their plastics properly! I am an extreme recycler - I will try to recycle almost everything that I think can possibly be recycled. Today I found out you can recycle empty compacts! Yes, even with all that metal and the mirror! You can even recycle empty nail polish bottles! These are things I wouldn't have thought of (due to the mirror and also due to the nail polish chemical residues left in the bottle.  

Until April 30th, in support of Earth Day, Kiehl's is having a promotion where if you bring in any empty makeup containers (compacts, nail polish bottles, empty lip glosses, empty cleansers, etc) even if it's not a Kiehl's container, they will give you a free starter kit. The Kit contains the above contents: a 30ml facial moisturizer, 30ml facial cleanser, and 30ml body lotion, all in a zipped case. $20.00 Value. It must be a free-standing Kiehl's Store (not one in a mall). You will not get more stuff for recycling more containers, but I strongly urge you to bring in as much as you can to be recycled! Your city recycling centre might not have the capacity to recycle certain containers, but Kiehl's partner (Cascade Recovery) does - which is why you should take advantage of this Kiehl's program!

I haven't tried the products yet because I just picked them up today - but I'll do a review of them later at some point :)

So in review, my Earth Day Favourites:

1. Saving the Planet

2. Recycling

3. Plastic Ocean by Captain Charles Moore

4. Free stuff

Please take care of our Planet and make sure you recycle ALL THE TIME, not just when it means getting a free swag-bag! 

Happy Earth Day!

 

Julep Maven

So this is what I got in my Julep Maven Intro Box! I got all this for a penny (value ~$60)....well worth it! I apologize for the poor lighting - believe it or not I took this photo under a lamp....

 If you haven't heard of Julep, it's nail polish company based out of Seattle. The company history is actually really interesting - the founder went to Law School at Yale, but after graduation decided she wanted to do something that made her happier and went for it. The polishes are all named after inspiring women, and 1$ of every sale goes towards charities that help to empower women. The polishes are “4-free” and do not contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, or DBP. All in all, it's a not just great quality polish ("vernis") but a great quality company. 

Julep has a program called Julep Maven where you can sign up to get monthly boxes of polish for $19.99 (shipping included) with a value of $60+ worth of products. As a Maven, you also get 20% off all purchases. Unlike other beauty boxes, they show you what the upcoming months boxes contain. There are several "styles" based on what style you are deemed to be based on a style-quiz - but you can choose the boxes from the other styles if they contain colours/products you prefer. Also,  you can choose to skip a month (or more) if you don't want the products in the upcoming box without compromising your membership. If you are scared about the commitment, you can always cancel after your first 1 cent box...if this wasn't already amazing in itself, they seem to have a promo running where you can sign up for your first box for 1 cent. Yes, $0.01. Including Shipping. The program is available to both Americans and Canadians, with no extra shipping charges to Canada - it's always free. Considering Canada is doing away with the penny......what better way to make use of the last of your pennies before they are phased out?!  

If you would like to sign up for the Penny Promotion you can use my referral code here: http://julep.com/?r=20045475 and type in "COLOR2012 in the promo box! (I would really appreciate if you heard about /were inspired to sign up because of my post if you used this link, I used the referral code of the blogger where I first read about the program -> pay it forward) Alternatively, if you have a strong aversion to doing so, you can still sign up to be a Maven on the Julep Website.


My style was "Classic with a Twist" and so I was sent "Jennifer" (the demure pink) and "Charlotte" (the muted eggplant), along with Glycolic "facial for hands" scrub and an emory-board.

Charlotte  is described as "Demure Lavender. Sophisticated with a Twist. Elegant on a Manicure." However it is much darker in real life than it appears on thier online catalogue - I would describe it more as a Muted Eggplant or Heavy Lavender. It goes on amazingly smooth, the brush/consistency is amazeballs (not the most "demure" of adjectives on my part - sorry.) It is actually SO smoothe though. I am in love. I also only needed one coat, and it appears to fine. I may put on another coat later, but point is, it can hold it's own with just one. It also dries very quickly. I can't say anything in terms of staying-power/chipping since I just got it today, but based on the quality in other areas my guess is it will hold out pretty well.......

This is my photo from my Glymm Box Blog Post  - but here you can see Charlotte on the nail!

Jennifer is described as a "beautiful, sheer polish with just a hint of pink. Effortless elegance. A manicure favorite in our parlors and a must-have for every woman, from brides to working girls. One coat does the trick when rushed for time." I agree that it is incredibly sheer and that it's only a mere hint of pink. I had to double check to see it wasn't just a top-coat. It looks much darker in the bottle than it goes on. I think it would be lovely as "natural" manicure look with just a hint of pink. Right now it doesn't look very good on me because my nails are a little yellowed from having my old polish on for so long (does anyone have any tips on super-quick-fixes for that by the way?!?) but I have a feeling when that's not the case this will be a gorgeous sheer polish (with some of the great qualities found in Charlotte - that is nice application, smooth, drying time, etc). 


Overall, I am super happy with this box! Especially since I only paid a penny! I can't wait to see what next months boxes hold and pick what to get (or not get) next!!

[Potential] Favourites of the Day? April 16th

This post is going to be a littttle different, in that I'm enlisting you guys to help me pick out something that will hopefully soon become one of my coveted faves!

I also want to share a coupon for H&M with you guys so that you can pick out a new favourite as well! I know, I know, I'm a bad influence on shopaholics....

So the Coupon is for 20% any one item, it's good until Sunday, and you can print it off here: http://www.hm.com/ca/coupon-ca-ladies-0412

I plan on going this Weekend since my exams end this week - yay! But I need some help deciding which item to get.... and don't be a bad influence and tell me to get them all since they're all so cheap - despite what it looks like I'm on a bit of a tight-budget right now! I swear. Though some of them might not be in store - so let me know which one(s) you think I should get!

 Here is my list of potential faves - let me know which one(s) you like best and think I should get! Also let me know what you end up picking up if you decide to use the coupon :)

 

 

Option 1: about 10$ after 20% off

Option 2: about 10$ after 20% off

Option 3: about 8$ after 20% off

Option 4: about 8$ after 20% off

Option 5:  about $4.75 after 20% off

Option 6: about 24$ after 20% off

Option 7: about 24$ after 20% off

Option 8: about 12$ after 20% off

Option 9: about $5.50 after 20% off

Option 10: about 12$ after 20% off

Option 11: about 12$ after 20% off

Option 12: about 12$ after 20% off

Option 13: about 24$ after 20% off

Let me know which one(s) you think I should get! And thanks in advance :)