August Birchbox Spillage

Yes, it's that time again....the time when I run out to the mail hoping the little pink box is inside full of beauty testers and samples!

Today was the day.  Hooray! I opened the Birchbox, not knowing what was going to be inside.

The perfume smells delish, at first there is a fresh citrus scent, then a little while later, the smell begins to take on an Abercrombie, vintage  yet still citrus smell, hard to describe, but definitely I likey  - I will have to wait to see how long it stays on me though.

The mascara appears to be decent.  The Instant Peel and the Line Erasing Serum I look forward to trying (amen to any line eraser.  period); although, neither one are large enough to really see results from in my opinion.

The biggest bust was the Hair Treatment Oil that spilled all over and took away from my Sample.  Don't worry though, I have already e-mailed BirchBox Member Services, and hope they resolve this indiscretion promptly.  I signed it Esquire.  Just kidding, I didn't, but the lawyer in my always comes out in these kinds of situations, I just can't help it!

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Give the gift of Beauty!

Who doesn't like getting presents in the mail? If you have a beauty-saavy girlfriend who you are looking to surprise with an original and useful birthday gift for, Birchbox gift memberships are a great way to send your fashionista friends a monthly treat! And it can be done with a simple click of a few buttons from the comfort of your own home! No over-crowded parking lots or lines!

HOW IT WORKS

The lucky recipient will receive an email with a gift code and your message. She will be prompted to create an account and enter her own shipping info. If you'd rather keep the gift a secret, enter your e-mail address in the recipient field and forward the code when you're ready.

After the gift is redeemed, we'll deliver a beautiful box filled with high-end beauty samples at the beginning of each month. We'll show her how to get the most out of her samples and if she loves them, she can buy full-size versions on Birchbox.com.

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What lurks in your Make Up Brushes?

Yummy huh? That's what would be on my face...disgusting!

I like to clean my brushes in the kitchen sink - after all, they are beauty utensils! 

Do you wash your make up brushes once a week? I try to, using warm water and gentle hand soap...in between washes, I spray with antibacterial brush cleaner from Sephora.

Photo from this sweet girl's blog (The Paleo Project).   I will be reading her blog now!!

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Weekly HW Product Favs!

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse: My new FAV product! Goes on like oil, dries in a instant!!!!

Reve de Miel Body Cream

La Mer:

Refining Facial - this stuff really give a healthy glow!        

Creme de la Mer takes the  Cake again this week, as people are starting to comment on how glowing my skin is.  This stuff is worth its weight in gold.

Delicious and Purely Decadent Coconut or Soy Based Products 

MEK Tibette Cigarette Jeans

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Home Dye Experiment

In an last-minute effort to save money and time, I thought it would be a good idea to try out a do-it-yourself home hair coloring kit. (See above, No ammonia, I went with Shade 3).  Like most ideas that come to me on a whim, this experiment managed to effectively waste a large amount of time while also causing wreaking havoc throughout my bathroom, kitchen and on my hands.

Allow me to explain, I am always up to save a pretty penny, and even more valuable to me than saving a buck, is the chance to save TIME.  Time is money right? So I figured - how hard could it be to simply dye my own hair, touch up the roots, from a dye-in-a-box? Women have been home dye-ing for years...
I bought a box of Loreal Hair Dye, and crossed my fingers the mixture I shook up matched my strands.
While removing the items from the box, I frantically searched for the gloves which Loreal promised were included within.  Applicator bottle, check.  Solution, check.  After-dye conditioner, check.  Gloves, no where to be found.  I stared at the instructions, including the promised contents, and shook the box feverishly to no avail.  So I turned the house upside down looking for a glove.  Ah ha! I found a black, work out glove which belongs to my beloved.  I thought, it's black, this should work.

I started the process, and began to realize that I couldn't see the back of my head, and my arms contorted around as I tried to minimize the splatter.  A few drops landed on my shoulders, then the sink, and by the time my head was coated, I had streaks of Darkest Brown all over the white wood trim of our sink and counter.  While I was processing, I began to make Mac n Cheese, and took the black glove off.  I had stains all over my fingers! Ugh. Can I save the glove? Then, the thought occurred to me - my dish washing rubber gloves! Why didn't I think of that sooner? So I strapped my pink rubber gloves on to finish the job up.  After I had cooked for about 20 minutes, I left the Mac n Cheese on the stove and got in the shower to rinse out the dye and see what damage I had done.  Luckily, I had the fortune of knowing to put some kind of barrier around my hairline and neck, (I used Vaseline) which kept the skin stains at bay.

After a LONG shower, and lots of rinsing, I towel dried and was rather impressed.  True, my bathroom may have looked like a paint can exploded inside, and my dinner was now cool and thoroughly pasted to the stainless steel pan, but I had roots no more!

I have to say, after a few rounds of practice, I have a feeling I will be skipping the salon for budget saving purposes and learning to perfect my technique at home!

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How many women, I wonder, do more than 4 things while driving...I mean, these days, with social media, Twitter, Facebook, cell phones, Ipads, Ipods, Tablets, Books on Tab, Blackberrys, Bluetooth....I could go on but you get the picture.

This is what my usual morning commute looks like, coffee, toast or waffle (or donut if it's that kind of morning), make up, checking Blackberry, making phone calls, and sometimes even finishing getting dressed.

Oh, and always primping the eyebrows, the visor mirror is like one of the fun house mirrors.  I could stare at those furry frames for hours at home, and then BAM, as soon as I get into the car, and pull that grey visor down, all of a sudden I am a sasquatch.

These days, everyone is multi-tasking and I think it's getting the better of us.  I do not advocate this kind of behavior, in fact, I embrace the "art of doing nothing," and wish Americans knew how to do more of that.  When I studied in Salzburg, Austria, my girlfriend and I would walk to a cafe in the morning, grab a croissant and a cappuccino, stroll down the cobblestone street to class.  Then we would grab a glass of wine, or beer, and a pizza at a side street cafe, and lunch and people watch for an hour to two.  The waiters hardly come by to ask how the food is.  Not because they are rude, but because they don't assume everyone is in a full on steam blowing hurry!

Ah.  The sweet life: knowing how to appreciate the art of doing nothing.

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Creme de la Diaper Rash?

La Mer skin products may or may not be an excessive indulgence, depending on who you are talking to.  The magical sea-kelp and fermented underwater creams will cost you on average $300 +.   But because I am a recent devoted fan, I attended a La Mer Facial Event this past weekend where the company flew in an East Coast Sales Rep to assist with La Mer's promotional event.   I booked an appointment a week out to receive some form of a "waterless" facial (read: product demo) in the middle of the mall, with hundreds of passer-byers who could peer at my bare face as their form of free entertainment for the afternoon.   Anyway, I show up for my appointment excited and ready to glow. I introduce myself to the Sales Rep. Allow me to paint a picture of this East Coast Sales Rep woman: she is tall, thin, has extremely masculine shaped brows, sharp features and a perfectly made-up face; she is wearing an equally perfect tailored black short-sleeved blazer and pencil skirt and mile-high stilettos, which caused her to reach well above Amazon Goddess in stature.

She stood a few feet from me pressing the miracle concentrate broth into a young, porcelain-faced Asian woman who did not need any arm-twisting to purchase the $375 bottle of broth that promises nothing shy of an all-out miracle. 

As Amazon de La Mer boasted about the wonders of this amazing product that inspires a celebrity cult-like following, I listened discreetly to her sales pitch.  Then, as if she had said it a million times before, she causally, yet empathetically, made the following statement causing me to nearly fall out of my bar stool.  

Creme de la Amazon: "Also, this creme is just really great to put on babies' bottoms when they have diaper rashes; it just zap, clears it right up."

OK.  I can't even make this stuff up. Here I am, seriously pondering whether my husband will perform another audit on our joint account when he notices another $75 missing for my weekly facial scrub, and this woman is advertising Creme de La Mer as a baby butt cream!

I will say this, you gotta hand it to the woman.  She obviously makes enough money, that should she be blessed with children (I have no idea whether she does or does not), she can afford to use $250 creme on those tiny tots' bums.  I am not sure how you recover from being raised with a crease-less, rash-less, ageless, spot-less, high-priced baby backside! Try teaching that kid to be frugal when the economy takes it's next dive!  Johnson and Johnson will be just fine for my future fetus' bum, thank you very much.

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Weekend Review for Favorite Fragrances!

Newer favorite: Twirl by Kate Spade (thank you BirchBox for the trial sample)

A tried a true favorite: Alien by Thierry Muglier (if you join their "Circle" online after purchasing a perfume, they will end you a free gift in the mail - such as a 2 oz hand lotion!)

For those of you willing to take risks, MUSC is the way to go.  It's sensual and musc-y, but this particular kind is a man magnet.  IT is made with Egyptia oil, which I think makes it stay longer because it does not absorb so quickly into your skin.   Note: Egyptian Musc + TURMOIL in Middle East + = EXPENSIVE.  This bottle is $160 at Sephora. 

And for my favorite, which is no longer carried, I love Imperial by Faberge.  This stuff does not come cheap, but does come in a velvety pouch, and is my "special occasions" perfume.  They have other fragrances like Princess of Monaco which comes with a green cap.  I wish these were never discontinued!

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Makin' Waves

What the Code says about:

Ceramic Wands.  First of all, I caution the validity of any product that must be sold with an accompanying thermal protectant glove.  However, I must say that wrapping your hair around these little wands does create the waves seen below (me on my wedding day channeling Kate Beckinsale's gorgeous strands) My hair was wrapped around a wand seen to the right, alternating each strand. The curls stay a long time and you get a beachy wavy look!

Another one of my all-time favorite ways to rock the curls is by using good 'ol fashion hot rollers! The large 1 1/2 inch rollers (shown right) don't really do much by way of curl, they mainly give your hair body, if anything. But get the set with 3 different sized rollers.  This way, you can create a natural bouncy look, with some large curls and some smaller ones woven throughout.  And, if you are like me, you can roll your hair on your way out the door, set the curls on your commute into work, and remove as you arrive! If you are hitting up Starbucks though, you may want to opt for a drive-through.  I'm undecided still on the social acceptability of rocking hot rollers in public.  I am leaning towards, things one should not do.

Roll the hair back over the curlers, away from your face for the look above.  Role them under for a more sleek and 40's style look.  Spray hair before rolling with styling spray or heat setter, and when you unroll, do NOT shake the curls out, twist them around your fingers. 

If you want to shake the curls out, you have to be careful and it will be a totally different look! It depends on your hair type, but if you have thinner hair and you want more body, you can shake it. :)

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Sugaring away Unwanted Hair!

What the Code says about: Sugaring at Skin So Sweet

Apparently I have been living under a rock and had no idea this form of hair removal even existed.  I have seen Ziba and Brow Threading places pop up ALL over the malls and shopping centers, but the latest Groupon from Skin So Sweet caused me to seriously consider trying a completely new fuzz free alternative:  Sugaring...especially in time for summer.  I am skeptical though.  I have to admit, I have not been back to have my brows threaded, a girl can only take so much pain for vanity sake.  But Skin So Sweet promises the days of wincing and lip-biting your way to a fuzz free epidermis are long gone.  I think for now, I'll let someone else try it.  The girl at the La Mer counter told me she is a big fan, but then again, I think it all comes down to ones own pain tolerance and affinity for fuzz-free living.

Just a thought, you don't see men lining up outside places like this for the sake of hair free backs or chests.  What would the world be like if men obsessed over ever follicle as women did?
Pure comedy.  (Note: Do not watch video if you have a sensitive stomach - or have a low tolerance for seeing hair waxed)

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July Birchbox...Bet you can't guess what random item was included!

Ok I'll tell you.  Birchbox included a granola bar in this months "beauty box." Why? One can only speculate.  What happened to the travel size lipgloss, or hand and nail lotion???  This is the "premier" mail system providing monthly sampling and direct access to cutting edge high-quality beauty buys.  Apparently they took a hike down the Fruit & Grain Express Trail this month and in the spirit of the summer, choose to reach out to those natural and organic tree loving vanity goddesses

But Birch did pull through, so far 2 for 2.  And heck, I think I even figured out why they put that granola snack in there...after sampling all those products I was famished!

REVIEW:
I do like the Redken Shine Spray - not too greasy, and provides subtle shine with an aerosol cap which is nice because you don't have to get your hands all lubed up.

Philosophy facial cleanser I have used before, but I guess Birch does get it's value, since the travel size Purity is about $10 itself at Sephora.

Then there is some Korres shower gel I have yet to try, and Pur mineral powder which has SPF 15! The little brush that came with it thought must be made for 4 year olds, because I have to swirl that thing like 400 times to cover my left side!

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That's a Wrap???

I was so excited today to attend, for the first time, the well known "Glen Ivy Day Spa" for a signature treatment known as the Eucalyptus Body Wrap.  On my trip to the oasis, I had images of a rough and scaly caterpillar resting peacefully, nestled taught in a warm cocoon only to emerge a beautiful butterfly, ready to stretch its silky wings. I set my expectations high and anticipated I too would soon be wrapped in organic leaves or aromatherapy-soaked gauze, regressing to a womb-like state, only to be unwrapped revealing a refreshed, glowing new creature.  

I enter the spa and am greeted by a high pitched, soft spoken seemingly Xanax induced/way-to-calm-to-be-in-a-natural-state woman who asks me if I would like to upgrade to have my treatment in the "VICHY" room.  The way she described it, I felt I would be missing out on a wondrous multi-shower-head experience.  Easily persuaded at such an early hour and not yet having had my daily dose of caffeinated Java, I obliged.

I am then taken back to the Women's Locker Room, fitted with a plush microfiber robe, rubber slippers that resembled Flintstone crocks, and am shown the steam room, showers, whirlpool, and "pre-treatment room" where I am instructed I must go 5 minutes prior to my appointment.

I change and make my way to the Enya and lavender infused room.  It is dark, there are no windows.  There's a couple tables scattered with Fitness and Good Housekeeping magazines, Iced Lemonade and tea.  I am met by at least 20 other women, aged 25-55 who are seated quietly and line the dimly lit maroon walls.  Its kind of an eery silence, there are some whispers here and there, but mostly, each of them stoically awaits their name to be called.  I felt as if  I had mistakenly stumbled upon Beauty "Judgment Day" for women.  

I could sense eyes darting around the room, be to robe, seizing up the woman in the next robe.  I wonder, what is everyone thinking? Is this normal to them? I have never been in a room with that much estrogen and sit in almost deathly silence.  I wonder what treatment she's getting...is she the kind of person that can afford to come here monthly...what is she looking at...do they feel sorry for me because I am here alone? And then, I hear my name.  I look up and a round-faced pink haired girl leads me into the dungeon below.

Vichy Shower Treatment 

Um, that is SO not what I was expecting.  It was cold, damp, and I really did not want to get in that casket-like porcelain bed.  Is it a bathtub? A hospital bed? I would have thought someone could have designed these things a little better! Anyway, I lay down, awkwardly, with my neck crooked to one side.  The water feels nice, not too hot, not too cold.  I am there for about 30 minutes, exfoliated and rinsed.
Then I put my soft robe back on and get excited for what I think will be the best part, here comes mummy time!

Anddd...not so much.  I kid you not, after covering my limbs with eucalyptus oil (from what I could assume) my therapist folded one side of the bed-sheet over my body, then the other side, and finally my feet and proceeded to "tuck me in" much like... no, exactly like my mom used to do when I was a kid.   And then...that's it.

I waited.  Wondering - where are the leaves? Where is the WRAP?  This is not a wrap.  Call me crazy but I was full on expecting a treatment like the advertisements for contour wraps, where the toxins are magically released and you can even lose inches with the miracle of the wrap!  But hello, I could lotion my limbs up at home and make a human burrito in my bed and it would be the same exact thing.

The best part came near the end when the therapist asked if I wanted the cold stone massage on my face.  I said, "Uh, sure, why not?"
She proceeds to roll a pebble from my chin straight up, over my nose, to the top of my forehead and around each eye once.  Yep.  That's the cold stone facial massage.  And forgive me, because I do not mean to sound pessimistic about Glen Ivy, because overall, the experience was lovely.  It is not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning in the least. But, I would definitely recommend you bring someone along with you so that, if nothing else, you have someone to laugh with over your scalp massage that resembled someone trying to pull your pony-tail out, or the awkward conversationalists in the "clothing optional" steam room.

At the end of the day, I have to say, at least they didn't kick me out for snapping a few photos so I could at least share my relaxing and comical experience!

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Creme de la Creme

What the Code says about: La Mer

I used to think La Mer was only for the elite crest of fresh faced females who have so much money they don't know what else to do with it other than spend it on ridiculously expensive face cream.  However, awhile back I had asked a defense attorney, who had really porcelain, wrinkle-free skin, what secret she was keeping from the rest of us smooth skin seekers.  To my surprise, she replied "La Mer!" I almost peed my pants when she told me her age.  She was at least 15 years older than she looked! One of the main reasons I was surprised she used La Mer was because she was a county employee, which, let's be honest, removes her from my stereotypical category of La Mer purchasers.  She explained that it was the only product she had found that kept her skin looking great, feeling great, and rid of rosacea.  

Now I have tried my fair share of facial creams, cleansers, toners, masks, exfoliants, from Neutrogena and various drug store brands all the way to high-end dermatologist brands.  But I always wanted to try La Mer, to see if it really was worth its weight in seaweed (or kelp; you can read about the magic of La Mer here.)  

One of the benefits of being a lawyer is that I can talk myself into pretty much anything, talk my way out of a lot of things, and also, rationalize the hell out of most things.  And if you think about it, if you use the product sparingly, and it lasts a period of 6 months, then you are probably SAVING money in the long run my not trying and buying various other products which promise flawless subtle glowing complexions.  And so I found myself purchasing the 3 part set (and it came with a sample size cleanser, serum, eye concentrate and creme!)  But it was still a chunk of change, and I'm not gonna lie, I felt a little queasy, a little foolish, giddy, and a tad prideful as I brought my sparkling green box home and carefully unwrapped its contents.  The Cream comes with it's own spoon (much like the taster spoons at Baskin Robbins) so as to not waste the cream under your fingernails.

So far, this stuff is like liquid platinum for your face.  It's only been 2 days so I don't yet know the full and true effects of this stuff.  But so far, I think I am well on my way to being a fan for life.  

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Birch Box Redeems It's Value!

 It is exciting to get any kind of mail that does not include a small window in the left bottom corner...but when you subscribe to BirchBox, you not only get mail, you get a monthly present! Delicately wrapped in hot pink tissue paper and full of beauty samples! June's sample surprise delivered.  My favorites were Twirl perfume by Kate Spade, Nuxe Reve de Miel hand and body lotion (super smooth and silky, not greasy with a light citrusy-fresh scent) and Pureology Finishing Hair Spray perfect to throw in your purse on the go!

Can't wait for July's shipment! It should be coming soon!

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