Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & Giveaway

Chick Lit Plus is kicking off a fabulous new feature called “Charming Tuesday” on our website. Every Tuesday, we will choose a beauty product and narrow down our absolute favorites, often times featuring a giveaway of one (or two) of our beauty “must-have’s”. So, check back every Tuesday to see which products make the cut.

Charming Tuesday Product Of The Week: MASCARA

Samantha’s Must-Have:

I started using Maybelline mascara when I first started college. It’s been my go-to mascara since. I love to try out other products, always searching for that gem, but a particular Maybelline mascara will always be in my bag. I love the ones that feature a double brush, one side being the microfiber base coat, and the other side the mascara. The one that I am currently addicted to is the Maybelline XXL Curlpower. It makes my lashes longer and really lasts throughout the night, coming off only once I use my makeup remover. I haven’t found a mascara yet to top this one!

 

 

A good runner up that I’ve found is from Too Faced. I’m a big fan of the Too Faced brand, and own many of their products. The mascara that I really love is the Too Faced Lash Injection. It has a 3-D formula that builds tubes around the lashes, making them look longer and fuller. And it’s the truth! When I take off this mascara at night, the little tubes come off. It’s pretty neat to see something really working. I also always have this mascara in my makeup bag!

 

Sara’s Must-Have:

I am without-a-doubt a beauty product connoisseur; I read reviews online, engulf myself in “the best-of-the-best” lists in magazines, and spend too much time browsing the beauty aisles when I am out and about. The reason why is because I am always searching … searching for the next “must-have” in my beauty arsenal. I have found a few new additions over the years, but none of them have ever been Mascara. I have used Maybelline Great Lash in Blackest Black since I started really wearing makeup when I was fourteen. I have deviated some here and there, lured by advertising for a new product that promises a “thicker, fuller lash”, but nothing has ever come close. By far, Maybelline Great Lash is hands down my absolute favorite and an absolute beauty must-have of mine.

 

In honor of our launch of this new feature, Chick Lit Plus will be giving away one Maybelline Great Lash in Blackest Black. Please leave a comment below and tell us what your all-time favorite mascara is and we will select a winner at random by 8:00pm Thursday evening.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED! WE HAVE A WINNER! CONGRATS TO MRS. MOMMY BOOKNERD! PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO CHICKLITPLUS@GMAIL.COM WITH YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!

 

February Birchbox Review

February’s Birchbox was my favorite so far! I had three favorite products this month, and my March box has just been shipped so I can’t wait to get that. Read my reviews and sign up to receive your own Birchbox each month!

“Birchbox delivers the best products and the best insider secrets, without any fuss. Every month Birchbox members will receive a curated box of luxe beauty samples. Each box will span beauty categories and deliver exciting products that fit into both your day-to-day routine, and into those days when you want to turn up the drama a notch.”

 1. BENTA Berry G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream – Loved this product! It was a thick cream that smells like berries and left my face feeling soft. I read in the information that this is actually a uni-sex product, but I have to say I thought it was much more feminine due to the scent. I also read in the information that the product just became available statewide, which is pretty interesting. I would definitely purchase more of this!

2. Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint – Another favorite for February! Jouer has been featured in all my previous boxes, and this brand is quickly becoming a fave of mine. I wear moisturizer every day, and always with a SPF – even in the winter. This product has SPF 20 included, and makes my skin look dewy and smooth. It gives just the right amount of tint to my look so I can skip any bronzer that I would normally put on, and I would recommend this product!

3. Violent Lips Lip Tattoo – this is one that I wasn’t so sure about. To be honest, I never tried this product because I really have no interest in it. The tattoo’s are basically like a lipstick, but they stick on to your lips and our pretty over the top. Mine came as silver with sparkles in them – not something I think would fly in Iowa. These were a little too out there for my taste.

4. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant – My third favorite in the box! I thought this one was pretty unique, it’s actually a powder that you put on your hands and then add water to it and apply to the face. The product is made to smooth skin, clear dead cells, and remove any buildup and debris on the face. It smells kind of like oranges too, and I really enjoy using this!

5. Supersmile Powdered Mouth Rinse – I wasn’t a real big fan of this product. I’m big on whitening my teeth, and I thought the powder mixture combined with the whiten teeth and get fresh breath all in one would end up being a favorite, but that wasn’t the case. Actually using it wasn’t so bad, but it made my teeth feel really grimy afterwards. I would actually brush my teeth to try to get rid of the feeling after I was done using it, because I couldn’t stand what my teeth felt like. Not one I would recommend.

 

Beauty Review: Rimmel London Mascara

While browsing for new mascara a few weeks back (I’m a mascara junkie, I always like to point out) I spotted a two for one deal – score! I snapped up Rimmel London’s Lash Accelerator Mascara and Glam’Eyes Day 2 Night Mascara. I rushed home in abandon, slapping my palms together. Technically, not only did I get two mascaras for the price of one, I got three! The Day 2 Night has two separate wands, one for length and one for volume. I was conquering these puny lashes!

Just kidding.  I wasn’t conquering anything. Sadly, neither mascara really did it for me. I did favor the Lash Accelerator over the other, but I don’t see my lashes growing, and the mascara was pretty clumpy. The Day 2 Night is a big joke. Neither wand does any lengthening or volumizing or…anything. It looks like I don’t even have mascara on five minutes after I apply it. This was my first shot on Rimmel London products, and looks like it will be my last. Next!

January Birchbox Review

I’m a tad late on reviewing my January Birchbox (I just received February’s last week) but that doesn’t mean I loved it any less! I couldn’t decide on my favorite product in the box, it was a tossup between the face wash and the eyeliner. Read below for my thoughts – and sign up to receive your own Birchbox!

“Birchbox delivers the best products and the best insider secrets, without any fuss. Every month Birchbox members will receive a curated box of luxe beauty samples. Each box will span beauty categories and deliver exciting products that fit into both your day-to-day routine, and into those days when you want to turn up the drama a notch.”

1. Archipelago Pomegranate Body Soap – smells amazing! That was my first thought, but this soap is also very powerful – it boasts the ability to repair cell damage and encourage collagen production. While I’m usually a fan of shower gels over bar soap, I can’t help but love this product.

2. Juicy Couture Fragrance – I love getting fragrance samples, and I was excited to see Juicy in my Birchbox. This is a super feminine scent, which is what I love. Top notes of watermelon, passion fruit, and mandarin are combined with marigold and green apple. Undertones of rose, vanilla, and caramel provide an extra boost to the fragrance, making it one of my favorite scents.

3. LARABAR Mini Bars – I won’t lie – I’m not a fan of eating food that comes in the mail. But the BF did try out this blueberry muffin, and he said it was pretty good, so thanks to him for providing this review. It was pretty interesting to read about these healthy bars – each has a max of nine ingredients and they are made without preservatives or fillers.

4. Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash – I really enjoyed this product. My face is a combination of many things – some areas are too oily yet others are super dry. And that is where this face wash comes into play. Birchbox’s description reads: “Broad leaf kelp banishes excess oil, while wheat protein nourishes dry zones.” I have used this a handful of times and am seeing a difference. I would definitely buy the full sized product.

5. stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner – This was my other favorite product in the box. The worst part about it was I only got to use it three times before my sample was finished.  I got the brown color, and while I usually wear blue or green eyeliner, I thought the brown really shimmered and made my eyes pop. It was super easy to line my eyes with it, and it really did stay on for most of the day. I would also buy the full sized product.

Hair Care Products from Victoria Secret

While shopping at Victoria Secret one day, I noticed a new section in the store that featured hair care products. I wandered over and saw VS was having an incredible special on the products, so naturally, I bought three. My argument was that I needed hairspray anyway, I’d been wanting to try out a dry shampoo, and my hair stylist told me a detangler might help my hair from falling out so rapidly. Thus, my three products.

 So Sexy – Style Tame and Smooth Instant Detangler – $14

I use this almost every time I get out of the shower. I think it works really well, and just a few sprays helps me manage my long hair. The information says this product helps prevent breakage, and helps nourish strands by using shea butter, oat extract and provitamin B5. I would recommend!

So Sexy- Style Hold and Finish Hairspray – $14

I didn’t mind this hairspray, but the smell is pretty overwhelming. The information says it had a “light, fresh fragrance” but I completely disagree. After I finish spraying this through my hair, I have to literally step out of my bathroom for a few minutes or else I feel like I am choking. The actual hairspray itself holds up pretty well, but I probably won’t buy this again based on the smell alone.

So Sexy- Style Clean and Go Dry Shampoo- $14

I really wasn’t a fan of this product. I love the idea behind dry shampoo, but instead of making my hair look better, it just made it look and feel really gross. I tried on a couple different occasions to alter the amount I was using, thinking maybe I was using too much and that was my problem, but even using smaller amounts didn’t seem to help. I couldn’t get over the way my hair felt with this product – dirty and sticky are two descriptive words that come to mind – and I eventually just stopped using it.

So, my hair care experience with Victoria Secret wasn’t the best on Round 1. I would really only suggest their detangler, though the hairspray really wasn’t that terrible. Has anyone else tried out hair care products from VS? I would love to hear your experiences!

 

My December Birchbox Review

December was my second month to receive a Birchbox, and I’m having a blast with my new products. December’s box was filled with fun and practical items, and my reviews are below. If you haven’t signed up to receive your customized Birchbox yet, I suggest you do!

“Birchbox delivers the best products and the best insider secrets, without any fuss. Every month Birchbox members will receive a curated box of luxe beauty samples. Each box will span beauty categories and deliver exciting products that fit into both your day-to-day routine, and into those days when you want to turn up the drama a notch.”

 1. AHAVA Mineral Body Lotion – This lotion smells so freaking good. It smells fresh and almost powdery, but not overwhelming. This has become one of my favorite lotions and I would definitely buy a full size bottle of it!

2. Amika Obliphica Hair Treatment – I was so excited when I saw this in my Birchbox. I’m always looking for new products to use on my hair, which is often super frizzy. And I’m thrilled with the results! I used just a drop of the oil after I got done blow drying my hair, and it didn’t weigh down my strands or make my hair look greasy. The frizz was decreased and my hair looked shiner. I recommend this product 100%!

3. EBOOST Orange Natural Energy Booster – I’ll be honest, I was a little hesitant to try this. I’m not a big fan of drinking my vitamins, but I wanted to give it a whirl so I could write a review. The verdict? It actually wasn’t bad! It was orangey and even a little fizzy with a sweet taste. The energy booster is packed with vitamins B, C, and D and has a dose of natural caffeine. It was nice to reach for during cold season!

4. Inococo Nail Polish Appliqué – I’ve been hearing about nail polish stickers lately, and was happy to give them a try and see if they worked for me. It was interesting to learn that these strips are actually thin layers of nail polish, and are better for nails because they contain less solvent and have small pores to let nails breath. And – they stay on for two weeks and come off with nail polish remover! I thought they were pretty simple to put on, of course my right hand gave me troubles since I’m right-handed, but I was impressed overall with them.

5. Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss – Last month I received the Jouer Moisturizing Lip Enhancer, and it was my favorite product in the box. It was hard for me to really rate this item, because the color I received was way too pink for me. What I did was put on the Jouer Lip Enhancer, then lightly applied the Lip Gloss and blended them together. I actually really like the combination!

6. Showstoppers Designer Fashion Tape- I haven’t had an opportunity yet to use the double-sided tape, but I’m glad that I have it my drawer ready to go! You never know when it will come in handy. This tape comes in nude or black, and will stick to a variety of fabrics. Great to have when you need it!

Beauty Review: Garnier Moisture Rescue Cleaning Foam

I have been trying out Garnier products for awhile and have been having good luck, so when I needed a new cleanser, I picked up Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Fresh Cleansing Foam. I actually have the moisturizer as well and really like it, so I figured why not the cleanser? I have to say, I have had really good luck with it. It definitely brings back moisture to my face––sometimes a little too much. I balance out this cleanser with another cleanser––Biore’s Ice Cleanser, and I have found the mix to be perfect for me. When my face is a little dry, I use Garnier, and when I look a little oily, I use the Biore. I definitely have combination skin, and with the seasons in Iowa it always varies. I think I have really found what works for me here! I would recommend the Garnier cleanser, unless you have really oily skin to begin with. If you, I would try Biore’s Ice Cleanser!

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My November Birchbox Review

Last month, I signed up with the online company Birchbox. A girlfriend introduced me to the idea, and I thought I would love it. I have received one Birchbox so far, and it looks like I will not be wrong. I have decided to do reviews each month on the products that I receive. But first, you might be wondering what exactly Birchbox is. According to their website:

“Birchbox delivers the best products and the best insider secrets, without any fuss. Every month Birchbox members will receive a curated box of luxe beauty samples. Each box will span beauty categories and deliver exciting products that fit into both your day-to-day routine, and into those days when you want to turn up the drama a notch.”

Sounds fun right? So last month I signed up, took the beauty profile, and anxiously awaited my box. Here is what I received:

1. Alex & Isabelle Classic Hair Ties

2. Jouer Lip Enhancer

3. kate spade new york Twirl

4. Thymes Body Lotion

5. Zoya Gems & Jewels Collection

Now for the reviews:

1. Alex & Isabelle Classic Hair Ties- There are a fun spin on regular ole elastics. They won’t snag your hair either, a huge plus, and they look cute around your wrist. It’s almost like you’re wearing a bracelet, but you can use it to pull back your hair if needed. They come in an assortment of colors, so you can buy your favorite or get them all!

2. Jouer Lip Enhancer- My favorite product in the box. Not only will this help plump your lips without the ouchy tingly feeling of a regular plumper, it also moisturizes the lips- which I desperately need right now as the winter settles in. It also is just a very sheer pink color, so it looks good on. I love this stuff!

3. Kate Spade New York Twirl – My second favorite product in my box. Holy amazing smell. The first time I tried it, I ecstatically ran to my boyfriend and made him sniff my wrists. The description states that this fragrance is versatile, and I completely agree. I have worn in at work, on nights out, and when I have just been relaxing at home. And the bottle is adorable!

4. Thymes Body Lotion – I have used this on my hands mostly, but did use it on my entire body after a shower one time. The lotion has shea butter and Vitamin E packed into it, and I look for both in my body lotions. It smells great and seems to stay on my body long after I apply it.

5. Zoya Gems & Jewels Collection – This nail polish (I received Twila, the sparkly blue color) boasts that it lasts up to 50% longer than regular polish – and I think they are telling the truth! I applied the polish to my toes about three weeks ago, and I still have yet to see any cracks or peeling in the polish. I don’t wear a lot of polish because of the fact that it never seems to stay on, so I would definitely give more colors in the collection a try.

And that is my first Birchbox. My December box has already been shipped, and I can’t wait to see what I am getting. I love the element of surprise, and the low cost of only $10 (free shipping) to get these samples. What better way to try out products instead of wasting money on full size bottles and not liking them? Plus, with the reviews you write, you can earn points to redeem for full size products. Win-win for me! If you haven’t signed up yet, you can easily do so by following this link. More to come next month!

Beauty Review: Maybelline Superstay Concealer

I don’t use concealer often, but let’s face it––sometimes it is just necessary. I recently picked up Maybelline’s Superstay Concealer for only seven dollars, and I think it works great! It boasts that it lasts up to twenty-four hours, and while I haven’t worn it for that long, it still lasts me throughout the day! I was impressed by how flawlessly it covered my, er, flaws, and that I didn’t have to retouch it once during the day. This has definitely made it on my list of beauty favorites!

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Beauty Review: CHI Straightener

I think we all know by now that I have frizzy hair. Okay. One thing my hairdresser mentioned to me is maybe I need to upgrade my styling tools, such as my hair straightener. When she asked me how old my straightener was, I flashed back to my shopping trip the week before I started college. In 2005. Hmmm. Upgrade? Necessary. About ten different brands were thrown out at me, but I went with the CHI. It’s reputable, and wouldn’t break my bank. I went to my local Beauty Brands and picked up the original CHI for about $90. I was told that it helps prevent frizz by sealing the hair cuticle. Perfect! Sign me up.

I raced home, showered, did a quick blow dry, and got to work. Another tip I learned from hair my stylist­––when straightening your hair, always use a comb. So I took my time, diligently combing through each strand and then running my new CHI over my locks.  The end results? Not bad. Sure, my hair still does have some frizz, but I can definitely notice a difference between my old straightener and my new one. Of course, you don’t want to use heating tools on your hair every day––and be sure to you use a heat protector spray when you do––but usually on the weekends I will take the time to carefully straighten my hair. I’m glad I went with the CHI, and I would definitely recommend this brand to others!

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