April Favorites

Since I've started blogging, my day to day routines seem more exciting. There are things I constantly find that I can't wait to share in a post. For instant, now that April has come and gone, I discovered some amazing products in just one month. I figured I'd share my April favorites with you all.

Last month I splurged a little on cosmetics, but in doing so, I learned a secret about shopping through the Macy's cosmetic section. Who knew gift sets existed with purchases!? I always wondered what those little display cases were all about. This was my first time trying Lancome products, they're a bit pricey, but I've heard great reviews about their skincare items. I went with Tonique Confort, a rehydrating toner from Lancome to start off my collection towards my daily routine supplies. I figured I'd have to test out a few toners before I settled for the one, but this rehydrating toner leaves my skin feeling so moisturized. This definitely fills my toner requirement in my daily routine. I also tested out the Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover from my free Lancome gift set, and boy is this thing amazing! It took off waterproof mascara with one swipe, even three attempts with my regular makeup remover couldn't do the job. Lancome definitely won me over with these two amazing products so far.

..... I've been searching for a good daily face cleanser, and I think I found one that I actually like, maybe even love. I've tried the Neutrogena's Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub and Garnier's Clean & Balancing Daily Exfoliator for combination skin. Both Neutrogena and Garnier face cleansers stripped my face of oil completely, like the squeaky clean sort of feeling, which apparently isn't a good thing. The St. Ive's Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub on the other hand actual leaves my skin feeling smooth and clean without the dryness. Thumbs up to St. Ive's for making my mornings less irritating! 

..... In the beginning of April, I went to Chinatown with two of my friends, and we were on an adventure to explore a bunch of Korean product skincare stores. I happened to come across one thing that I absolutely had to have. The Nature Republic Soothing and Moisture Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel, was a steal for only $6.49 (300ml)! I love products that contain aloe vera and this one feels so light on the skin. It smells great and it'll be perfect for the warmer seasons. 

..... There's one beauty product that I can't live without. The Laura Geller Beauty, Spackle Supercharged Fortified Under Make-Up Primer, it's a mouthful to say but it's my favorite primer ever! There's a shimmery peach tint to the product and this is one of those primers where you can wear alone or follow with foundation. I use this specifically for my eyelids because I don't normally apply full coverage on my face. The one I've been using was a sample from my Birchbox, and it has lasted me for quite a while, well over thirty uses. The primer goes on silky smooth, has a matte finish and it helps nourish the skin. I don't always wear makeup, but when I do, I always use Spackle. 

..... A recently discovered, current favorite mascara, would have to be the NEW Covergirl Lash Blast series, The Super Sizer Mascara. It's so new, it hasn't even hit all the stores yet. I got this mascara complimentary from Influenster, in my Covergirl Voxbox, for testing purposes. Mascaras and I have a love hate relationship. I am the type of person that usually stays far away from mascaras because I've poked my eye twice trying to use them. But the new design for the bristle on The Super Sizer Mascara is remarkable. Not only is it easy for someone like me to use, and I actually feel comfortable using it, it also clearly lengthens the lashes without the messy clumps! I'm not afraid of using mascara anymore!!! But only if I get to use the Super Sizer Mascara from Covergirl.    

..... Since my ZOYA manicures last well over 2 weeks, even through the roughest conditions, without being chipped or worn down, I started to just do one design to last me the whole month. For April, I wore Pippa and Godiva to create a super chic look. Pippa is a bright, warm shade of happy yellow, to me it looks like the perfect shade of a daffodil! Which coincidentally is my favorite flower in the whole world. Godiva is part of ZOYA's PixieDust collection, it's a soft nude with a sugared sparkle matte finish. I love how these two shades paired together with my design.

..... I was totally craving tea last month, specifically for Peet's Hibiscus C blend! I brew myself a cup almost every other day, with just one cube of sugar. This is perfect for when the night gets chilly. The C in Peet's Hibiscus Blend stands for the Three Cs: cinnamon, chamomile, and naturally occurring Vitamin C. Lately it's been pretty warm during the day, so I make myself Hibiscus Lemonade from just one tea sachet. It's super refreshing, if you're interested in trying this drink, feel free to check out my recipe below. You can always tweak it to your taste. 

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Here's my recipe for a single serving of Hibiscus Lemonade:

Ingredients: 

- 1 Peet's Hibiscus C Blend Sachet (or any hibiscus blend sachet)

- 1 glass, 3/4 filled with ice

- 2 Tablespoons of granulated sugar

- 1/4 cup of hot water (to dissolve your sugar separately)

- 3/4 cup of hot water (to steep your Hibiscus tea sachet)

- 3 Tablespoons of lemon juice 

Directions: 

1) Set your water to boil. I usually boil extra water because I refuse to drink tap water straight from the faucet. 

2) Once the water has boiled, pour 3/4 cup of hot water into a mug and add your Hibiscus tea sachet. Allow that to steep for about 3 minutes.

3) In a separate small bowl, combine 2 Tablespoons of granulated sugar with the 1/4 cup of hot water. This step is to create our simple syrup, using the boiling water to break down the sugar crystals before adding the lemon juice. I find it easier this way instead of adding the sugar into your drink last and trying to dissolve it then.

4) When the sugar has fully dissolved, add your 3 Tablespoons of lemon juice. If you want to use freshly squeezed lemon juice, a medium sized lemon should give you about 3 Tablespoons worth of juice. If you're lazy like me you could always buy the lemon juice that comes in the little plastic lemon. 

5) After the tea has steep for 3 minutes, remove the tea sachet and discard it in the trash. Find your favorite glass and fill it with ice 3/4 of the way. With the mug of Hibiscus tea in one hand and the lemonade in the other, pour both into the glass at the same time. I use the double stream method that way I don't have to find a spoon to stir it together. If you're afraid of making a mess or don't know how to do a double stream, just add the lemonade to the mug with your Hibiscus tea, and pour the content from the mug into your glass of ice. 

6) Taste, and see if you need to adjust the flavors. You could always add a little more lemon juice if you like it tart. Or you can add more sugar if you want it sweeter. (And if you're feeling extra fancy, you can top your drink off with a thin slice of fresh lemon!)

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..... My last April favorite would have to be my newly discovered Black Cherry Merlot scented hand soap from Bath & Body Works! I'm sort of obsessed with Bath & Body Works, it didn't help that one of my best friend use to work there and I always felt obligated to buy a bag full of products whenever I went to visit her at her store. I'm a sucker for fruit scented products, and that store is full of just that. The Black Cherry Merlot, deep cleansing hand soap smells so yummy. Maybe one day I should create a black cherry cupcake with Merlot drizzle. 

What are your favorites from April? Stay tuned for more monthly favorites! I can't wait to see what May has in store for me...

Loot Crate

Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron is coming out this Friday!!! As the month of May draws closer, my geeky side starts acting up again. So when I heard about the Loot Crate subscription, my geeky senses started tingling. Have you heard about Loot Crate? Loot Crate is a monthly subscription box of geek and gamer gear. I only got wind of it recently, a couple of my friends had the subscription and raved about it. I figured I'd check out their website and look through their last few months' crates and see if it was worth the $20. So far it seemed like every box had a worth higher than $20, so that's a plus. By the looks of it each box had at least a great looking graphic T-shirt or a Pop! Funko which are definitely pricey items. The themes for their boxes each month looked interesting and I was really loving the last two months' themes, Covert (March) and Play (February). For the month of April, the theme was Fantasy. If you go to Loot Crate's Facebook page you'll get a hint of what's in store for next month's crate. They usually hint the theme at the beginning of the month and then as it draws closer to when they are ready to be shipped out, on Facebook, Loot Crate will leak what's exclusively in the box.

For the theme Fantasy, we were getting some awesome collectible (and wearable) items from favorite fantasy franchises including Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, The Princess Bride, and Dungeons & Dragons. I was interested in three out of the four franchises so I figured this would be the perfect time to try out Loot Crate. Another interesting thing about ordering a Loot Crate is the chance to be drawn as their one lucky winner for their monthly MEGA Crate worth over $2,500.

For April 2015, the Mega Crate would include:
a) ASUS VS248H-P 24" Full-HD LED-lit LCD Monitor ($169.99 x 2)
b) Razer BlackWidow Chroma Clicky Mechanical Gaming Keyboard ($164.99)
c) Razer DeathAdder Chroma Multi-Color Ergonomic Gaming Mouse ($58.55)
d) Custom Witcher 3 Wrapped iBUYPOWER PC ($2,000.00 +)
e) GUNNAR Intercept Colors ($69.99)
f) EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Superclocked ACX 2.0 ($569.99)
g) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ($59.99)


All the Loot Crates ship out between the 20th and the 25th of each month. I received mine on April 24th. This was our first Loot Crate and I felt like it was more of a dud. I was so looking forward to it because there was so much hype about this geeky subscription that supplies you with incredible knick knacks. I got it secretly for my boyfriend for our anniversary. I had the delivery addressed to him, just to surprise him. I loved that it came with a shirt, but I wasn't thrilled that it was a shirt for Dungeons & Dragons. I was secretly hoping the shirt was Game of Thrones related or something, because my boyfriend absolutely loves the series. But this month's crate didn't enchant me like the previous crates that I saw on their website.

My April 2015, Loot Crate includes:
- Dungeons & Dragons T-shirt (~$12.99 +)
- Harry Potter Luggage Tag ($6.49)
- Inflatable Crown ($9.58)
- Exclusive RPG Bow Tie (~$4.00+)
- The Princess Bride Playing Cards ($14.99)
- Exclusive Game of Throne USB Flash Drive 4GB (~ $6.00)
- Game of Thrones Magnet Set ($12.99)
- Loot Crate April souvenir pin
Total Value: ~ $67.04 

It's difficult to put a price on the Exclusive items because they were custom made for Loot Crate, these are just estimates based on what Ebay is selling them at. Each Loot Crate is suppose to feature $40 or more worth of hand-picked products that geek and gamers would love.

Final Verdict: Would I subscribe again?



Price for 1 month Loot Crate: $13.95 (+$6.00 shipping & handling) = $19.95
Items in each crate: ~ 6-9 items
My April Loot Crate: 5 out of 10 (10 being super amazing)
Loot Crate in general: 8 out of 10
Pros: There's always at least one high value item in the crate, whether it's a graphic T-shirt, a book, or a Pop! Funko figure. And you can easily subscribe and unsubscribe to Loot Crate if you want to pick and choose which month's theme you're interested in and want to purchase, instead of having to go through every month.
Cons: I feel like it's a huge hit or miss even if you know what franchises are being featured.
Would I subscribe again?: Only if I like every single featured franchise listed after their theme for that month.

Coming up next month on Loot Crate: MAY 2015 Loot Crate Theme is UNITE

If you're interested in subscribing to Loot Crate, click on the above image and use the code SAVE3 to save $3 on your first new subscription!

MAY Loot Crate will be featuring exclusive merchandise from Avengers, Team Fortress 2, Power Rangers, Bravest Warriors, and Rick and Morty. There will also be an exclusive T-shirt in next month's Loot Crate!

If I've perked your interest to subscribe to a fun geeky subscription box, there's a few other subscriptions out there that share similar geek and gamer faves:

There's the 1UP box that's $12.92 a month, but if you use the code AWESOME you could save $3 and get your first month for $9.92 (excluding shipping and handling).

The Nerd Block subscription offers a few different categories for their boxes. They have the Classic Nerd Block that's basically like Comic Con in a box and it also comes with a T-shirt each month for $19.99, the Horror Block for $19.99 is for those of you that enjoy zombies and scary Fright Fest plushies, the Arcade Block for all the video game lovers for $19.99 and the Comic Block for $13.99 which looks like it includes a comic, some pins and possibly even an amazing graphic tee.

For those loyal die-hard fans of Marvel, there's also the Marvel Collector Corps, the ultimate Marvel collectibles subscription. This month for April they featured, Avengers: The Age Of Ultron for $25. The box includes one T-shirt out of four possible designs, one stylized vinyl collectible, and two premium accessories and everything is 100% exclusive!!! Their boxes are usually valued at $50 or more.

And last but not least, Geek Fuel, which is a monthly mystery box of geeky goodness valued at $40 and it includes a graphic T-shirt in each box for $17.90 plus $6 shipping and handling each month, but you get your first box for $13.90 plus shipping and handling.

After writing a review about Loot Crate and reading up on other geek and gamer box subscriptions, it got me thinking.........what if.........I made my own box, a stash full of amazingly geeky awesomeness. Alright, that's it, I'm going to make my own amazingly geeky awesome box with $30! Challenge accepted!

Who want's in on this challenge too?! Do you want to join in on the challenge and see if you can create the best box of geek and gamer stock with me? I enjoy getting random surprises in the mail each month for my subscriptions, but sometimes the unboxing isn't all it's hyped up to be. Then I remember I like shopping and bringing smiles to people more so than an endless supply of 50/50 chanced subscription boxes!

So here's the deal, the deadline for this challenge will be one month from now, on MAY 31! The box should cost you no more than $30, but if you're lucky, the value of the box could be so much higher, especially if you find sales and deals. This is an official contest!!! My first ever contest on this blog, I'm so excited! The challenge will be to create your own rendition of a geeky or gamer themed subscription box. Basically a box that you'd love to receive or give to someone. So be thoughtful as to what you put inside this box. I'll be completing a challenge of creating a box of my own. I'll make a post on or before May 31 showcasing my box and attach the full value of the box along with it. As for the challenge I give to my readers, you must create a unique box and take a picture of it, submit the image, write down the chosen theme for your box, and list the price value of each item in this post's comment box. You all have until MAY 31 @ 11:59 PM eastern time. This contest is only open to residents in the United States. You must be 18 or older to submit an entry. One winner will be selected. This competition will be judged by me, based on how amazingly awesome it looks for the price of $30 and how well it coordinates with your chosen theme. The prize for the winner will be a specially customized box by yours truly, full of goodies valued at $30 or more based on a theme the winner chooses. You could ask for a box full of candy treats, vintage sweets, geeky goodies, gamer stock, artsy crate, or even a beauty box. I will personally hand pick a special box with you in mind. Let the games begin!!!  I wish you luck! 

MY CHALLENGE!
Budget Goal: $30
Items: no limit
Theme: Doctor Who
Deadline: May 31, 2015 @ 11:59 PM

I CHALLENGE YOU!!!
Budget Goal: $30 (your spending cannot exceed this value)
Items: no limit
Theme: You may pick any geeky or gamer theme that you're comfortable with or would love to have or even share! But it must be GEEKY or gamer! (example: Nintendo, Marvel, Star Wars, Big Bang Theory, Diablo, League of Legends, or Adventure Time, just to name a few)
Submission Deadline: May 31, 2015 @ 11:59 PM

Secret BONUS points: Spread the word and have your friends join in on this contest. For extra brownie points for you and your friend, have your invited friend tag you as their reference to this competition.

** Please do not include personal information aside from your first name in your entry submission. I will private message the winner in order to mail out the prize.**

Winner will be announced in a post on JUNE 1, 2015. Good luck!

Subscription Boxes

I'm currently subscribed to two monthly subscription boxes, both of which are towards the cheaper end of monthly cosmetic subscriptions. I've had Birchbox for over a year and the Ipsy Glam Bag since October. My subscriptions cost $10 per month each. A special thing about the Birchbox subscription is that they offer boxes for both men and women. The Birchbox subscription is tailored to the subscriber's specific interests, such as skincare, makeup, home or food, body, hair, or even nails. Since Birchbox offers such a large range of products, there is the option to pick and choose the categories. Ipsy, on the other hand, offers a mini survey to describe the type of style you're interested in, such as, classic, formal, hip/edgy, natural, club-goer, professional, vintage/retro, sporty, sultry, worldly, simple, or even bridal. There is no limit on how many styles you wish to select. By selecting from a list of possible brands, and describing what your daily routine focuses on or would like to focus on, Ipsy will customize your Glam Bag accordingly each month. I love both these subscription equally because they each have something different to offer me. One of the perks about Birchbox that I love most is the accessibility to the full-size items of their samples. When I come across a sample that I absolutely love and need to share, I always buy it through their website, this way I get to build up points for later use. Ipsy may not offer full-sizes of all the samples that were distributed, but there is a small shop on their website for products that Ipsy recommends. My favorite thing about Ipsy is their coordinated pieces that's suitable for on the go ready to wear. There's always a complete look in each month's Glam Bag, something for the eyes, cheeks and lips.

Birchbox: April 2015 Box | $10
This month's box was a collaboration between Birchbox and Rifle Paper Co. The pretty floral design on the box was perfect for Spring. Each Birchbox includes a notecard that describes all the samples that you've received that month as well as the price listing for full-size items of those samples. One of the best things about Birchbox, is that if you fall in love with a specific sample you could easily purchase the full-size item on the Birchbox website. Another great feature about Birchbox is their point system which you could put towards your next purchase when you buy any full-size item from their website or store front in SOHO. Every $1.00 spent in their shop will earn you 1 reward point. Each 100 reward points can be redeemed for $10.00 and points expire after 365 days. Most Birchbox samples are from high end products, although the sample sizes can be relatively small, it is enough for you to test the product. Birchbox not only offers fragrance samples, beauty and cosmetic samples, but they also offer a variety of home and food products. It's the perfect place for gift giving idea. For an added bonus, certain months give you two options for your box, an editor's choice box or your standard box. These special boxes are limited, but most of them are worth trying since the special boxes only replace your standard box at no additional cost.

I'm most excited to try the Jane Iredale lip and cheek stain, and the Wei Manuka Bee Venom Mask samples.

Darphin

Hydraskin Intensive Skin-Hydrating Serum | Full-size 30ml 1.0 oz, $76

     WHAT Infused with a potent hydration complex, this treatment moisturizes and revives skins.

     HOW Apply a small amount to clean face, massaging in upward motions to absorb.
[Birchbox: I received a sample size that was 5 ml 0.17 fl. oz]

Jane Iredale

Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain | Full-size, $25

     WHAT This multitasking, long-lasting color adjusts to your skin for a natural, customized shade.

     HOW Glide onto lips. Dab onto cheeks and blend well.
[Birchbox: I received a mini sample size]

Obliphica Professional

Intensive Hair Serum | Full-sized 2.2 oz, $38

     WHAT This lightweight formula restores colored, dry, or damaged hair for soft and shiny strands.

     HOW Rub a few drops between palms. Smooth onto clean, damp hair or your finished look.
[Birchbox: I received a sample size that was 15 ml 0.5 fl. oz]

Wei

Manuka Bee Venom Mask | Set of 8 Pods, $60

     WHAT This treatment firms, softens, and minimizes fine lines, with a warm tingle as it works.

     HOW Brush mask onto clean face, avoiding eyes, 1-2 times weekly. Wait 10 minutes, then rinse.
[Birchbox: I received one pod, out of the set of 8 pods if you were to order the full set]

Whish

Shave Crave Shaving Cream - Coconut | Full-size 150 ml, $20

     WHAT An ultrahydrating, shea butter-packed shaving cream that helps prevent ingrown hairs.

     HOW Apply to legs, armpits, or bikini line before you shave.
[Birchbox: I received a sample size that was 22 ml 0.75 fl. oz]

Ipsy: April 2015 Glam Bag | $10
My Ipsy subscription always arrives in a bright hot pink metallic bubble envelope. Inside is a specially designed makeup pouch that's tailored to a specific theme that changes each month. This month had a bohemian vibe. I absolutely love the colorful woven design on this month's makeup bag! One thing that I love about Ipsy is that almost every bag that I receive has a full sized item inside, whether it's a lip product or a makeup brush. This month I got two full-size items, both the cream lipstick and the blush. I love the shades that I got for both these items. Another nice thing about Ipsy is that all the products that come in each bag is perfect for on the go. It usually comes with everything you need for that day's look, eyeliner or eyeshadow, with a lip gloss or lipstick, blush or powder foundation and sometimes even a fragrance. And everything is packaged neatly in a cute makeup pouch ready for use. In my opinion, this is the perfect starter subscription for the younger targeted audience. Since I'm still relatively new to the world of cosmetics, Ipsy is perfect for me.

The Ipsy Glam Bag does not include a description notecard for the samples you receive, but I've Googled the items I've received for this month's Glam Bag. 

KCO Colors by Beauty Brands

Cream Lipstick | Full-size, $8

Add shine and volume to lips. This cream lipstick offers a wide variety of colors available in pearl and cream finishes.

[Ipsy: I received a full-size lipstick in the shade 'Natural Born Beauty']

Hikari Cosmetics

Blush | Full-size, $15

Vibrant, easy to blend colors that highlight the cheekbones

[Ipsy: I received a full-size blush in the shade 'Tango']

LATHER

Ultra light face lotion | Full-size 2.0 oz, $21

A gentle, nutrient-rich botanical lotion for normal to oily, combination or sensitive skin. This lotion has a lightweight texture, absorbs rapidly and does not leave an oily film on the skin. Special ingredients, such as borage oil and grapeseed oil, make this lotion especially effective for damaged or problem skin. Those with sensitive skin will find it gentle and non-irritating. Paraben-free.

HOW Apply to clean, dry skin and massage in completely. Great for day or night.

[Ipsy: I received a sample size that was 1.0 oz]

theBalm Cosmetics

NUDE Dude Eyeshadow Single | Full-size Palette, $36

Introducing theBalm's latest addition to the Nude series... Nude Dude! Get a quick look using any combination of these triple-milled shadows or dress up your look by adding water to transform your favorite shades into loyal liners. This total package includes 12 full-bodied shadows that can be worn alone or layered for added intensity.

HOW Apply these shadows wet or dry for quick look.

[Ipsy: I received a single sample shade of 'Flirty', the size of the sample looks about half the size of a single shade on the palette] 

Jor'el Parker

Femina | Full-size 50ml 1.7oz, $55

Notes: Meyer Lemon, White Grapefruit, Satsuma Mandarin, Summer Forsythia, Pink Plumeria, Wild Verbena, Tahitian Vanilla, and Sensual Musk

Style: Welcoming. Loving. Refreshing

[Ipsy: I received a mini roller 8.8ml worth $21 in the scent 'Femina']