Saturday, March 2, 2013

A Few of My Favorite Things

I realized recently that I do a lot of reviews right when I get my subscription boxes, but don't update you all with whether I even like the items or not!  A lot of times my first impressions are totally different than when I have the chance to use an item for awhile.  Today, I'm going to give you the top 5 items I've received in my sub boxes.  Next week, I'll do a post on which items I gave a fair chance to, but still ended up disliking.

This is not a comprehensive list, and I'll definitely do more of them in the future.  Discovering new things is always fun, and discovering new things that make me feel beautiful and pampered?  It's pretty much my most favorite thing EVER.

Here's my current top 5:




5) Jouer Avocado Banana Moisture Mask - I received this in my Spring Yuzen box.  Not only is this an awesome, all-natural product, but I contacted Jouer and they sent me several other items to try!  I got another mask, a cleanser, and a moisturizer.  For the second week of March, I'm taking a break from my normal skincare routine and using the Jouer products.  I want to see if an all-natural skincare line can keep my combination, alternately-Sahara-or-Texas-Oilfields skin in check.



4) Harvey Prince Skinny Chic Perfume - I received this perfume in my January Birchbox.  Despite my snarky rant in my post about this item, I have fallen in love with this perfume!  It's light, floral, feminine, and is great for an evening out!  I also love that this sample is nearly twice the size of a standard perfume sample.  It is giving me plenty of time to figure out if I like it enough to buy a full-size.  However, there is a rumor on the MakeupTalk website that Harvey Prince may be going out of business?  Say it ain't so!


3)  Josie Maran Argan Oil - Received in my January Ipsy bag.  This is totally my Holy Grail skincare item!  It's all-natural, 100% organic, made by a woman's cooperative in Morocco.  So it's a product you can feel good about using.  It just takes a few drops and the dry part of my face is moisturized, and the oily part is controlled. It's fabulous.


2) The Balm makeup - I've gotten a few products from the Balm - first, I received the Matt Batali eyeshadow from their Meet Matt(e) palette in my November Ipsy bag (which, incidentally, was my first beauty subscription ever!).  It is an amazing dark neutral brown, with purple-y undertones.  It sounds weird, but it works perfectly with my hazel eyes.  The next item I received was actually through a trade - it's the Mary Lou-Manizer.  This is a beautiful light, shimmery powder that can be used as an eyeshadow, a highlighter, a body shimmer... it's so versatile.  I am so in love with it that I bought a full-size compact (half-off, in a Hautelook sale.  Just cause I love it, doesn't mean I'll pay full price!).  The third item I received is the Hot Mama blush, in my January Birchbox.  It's quite lovely.  In fact, I think I've run out of adjectives to describe this brand!  Needless to say, I'll be happy to get more the Balm products in my subs!

Matt Batali eyeshadow on the right!
Why yes, I am! Thanks, the Balm!

1) And last, but not least (the best, actually!) is this beautiful bracelet I received in my January Love Club Box.  This item is by HorseFeathers and originally sold on their website for over $50! I have worn this piece several times, and I have gotten so many compliments!  For most items you get from a subscription box, you use the item up and throw it away.  This one?  I'm keeping forever.


Thanks for checking out my favorites!  I'll be back soon with a list of my not-so-favorites (I'm looking at YOU, February Glossybox!), but I'd love to hear about the items you love!  Skincare?  Perfume? Makeup? Bring it on!

Love, Leigh

9 comments:

  1. I love lots of these things as well. Except Argan Oil. That stuff hates me.

    Ramblings of a Suburban Mom

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    1. The first night I used it, I put on way too much and my face went crazy! But then someone told me to use only 3-4 drops for your whole face and to put it on while my face was damp, and then it worked great! Although I'm sure it's not for everyone ;)

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  2. I'm loving that oil too! I have so many serums/oils from bags and sephora samples but this is the only one that works!

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    1. I know! I'm so amazed at how it manages to control both the oily AND dry parts of my face. What did I ever do before I found sub boxes? ;)

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  3. That mask sounds great! So afraid it might break me out though :( (break out prone here)

    Gabi

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    1. I am too... silly combination skin! I'll let you know if it breaks me out when I start using it. Hopefully the lack of chemicals and preservatives will keep my skin happy!

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  4. I am also loving JM Argan Oil. I received a bottle in my Ipsy bag and one in my QVC test tube. I received the one in my test tube first but wasn't too interested in it until I also received one in my Ipsy bag and everyone on the MUT boards were going ga-ga over it. I have oily skin and was skeptical about putting oil on oily skin but some how it works!
    I also received a sample of the HP Skinny Chic in my Jan BB. Loved it so much I used points and bought a rollerball! Hope they continue to stay in business because I was hoping to sample some of their other scents. The Balm is the bomb! The only thing I have gotten of theirs that I didn't like was the Put A Lid on IT eye primer, but it grew on me. Sometimes first impressions change! If you can get The Balm's Nude Tude palette on HauteLook, do it! It's a great neutral palette! I also want to mention that I love your blog! I think you are doing a super job on it!

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    1. Thank you, Roxane! I did pick up the Nude Tude palette on Hautelook recently, along with a full-size Mary Lou-Manizer. I think I may be addicted, lol! I seriously hope they restock the HP perfumes on BB. I want to try them all!

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  5. Re Harvey Prince: From what I hear there's some kind of legal issue going on with their parents and they can't sell their brand until it's resolved (which they expect will happen "soon" [the website's been down since Feb]). You can still find some of their scents around but birchbox is out of most things except ageless and eau flirt. I did manage to get a skinny chic roll on before they sold out and a scents of purpose sample set from a place called Cleopatra's Choice. I'm kind of addicted to their fragrances now.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I will be writing back soon, so check back later for a reply!