review

May Rocksbox Review | 2015

Would you love getting sparkly jewelry delivered to your doorstep? Yep, thought so! If you haven’t already, it’s time for you to check out Rocksbox! (Use the code chelseabff5 to get your first month free!!)

I’ve had a subscription to Rocksbox for quite a while now. Not every box I’ve gotten has been perfect for me, but I’ve had a lot of fun trying out new designers and styles that are different than what I normally gravitate toward. But May’s Rocksbox was different. I was seriously in love with every single piece! They each were so versatile yet packed so much personality! Before I dig into the deets, here’s what Rocksbox is all about…


 How it works:

1. BECOME A SHINE INSIDER ($19/month)- Take the style survey and add items to your jewelry Wish List.

2. GET 3 PIECES TO WEAR ON LOAN- Each piece is hand-selected for you based on your style and specific requests. Wear your pieces as much as you want!

3. RETURN ANYTIME TO GET 3 NEW PIECES- Return your Rocksbox pieces anytime and as often as you like. Every set has 3 pieces of designer jewelry, worth an average of $200 per set.


Check out my May Rocksbox:

May Rocksbox Review 2015

Perry Street Isla Necklace

Perry Street Isla Necklace (retails at $64, member price is $51)– When I opened this month’s box I was in awe by this hot pink necklace. It has a simple design, but the color makes it bold and fun. It adds a ton of personality to any outfit and can hold its own with the ultra girly looks in your closet or even glam up your casual jeans and white tee. It’s the perfect mix between a statement necklace and dainty look, you definitely get your bang for your buck with this guy!

Loren Hope Palmer Necklace in SeafoamLoren Hope Palmer Necklace in Seafoam (retails at $118, member price is $94)- Although this necklace didn’t “wow” me initially, I found myself gravitating to it every morning. You wouldn’t think this mint hue would go with much in your closet, but somehow it complimented nearly everything I wore. I especially loved the longer length of the chain, making it easy to layer with different necklaces and necklines. It was by far my favorite piece this month!

Perry Street Elise EarringsPerry Street Elise Earrings (retails at $38, member price is $30)- I love these studs! The size of them is perfect. They are big enough to make a bold statement, but light enough that I don’t even notice the weight of them after a long day. The antique gold and rhinestone look makes these earrings so versatile. I ended up wearing them with gold, silver and even by themselves and got a ton of mileage out of them. They become my go-to studs for weeks!

 

 


I mean how amazing was that box? Are you like me and can’t get enough of Rocksbox? Try checking out last month’s set of jewelry, April RocksBox Review.

Still want more? Sounds like you are ready to get your own Rocksbox! Go to Rocksbox and use code chelseabff5 to get your first month FREE! Enjoy! And don’t forget to share your thoughts on my Rocksbox jewels in the comments below!

May Birchbox Review 2015

Birchbox was the first subscription service I ever signed up for and now it’s quite possibly my favorite! I just love receiving this adorable little box every month and seeing what’s inside. Some months are better than others, but I tend to get a ton of use out of the products. And even if it’s not my favorite product, it’s usually handy enough to use for my travels! Check out my May Birchbox Review below and share what you think in the comments!

If you aren’t familiar with birchbox, it’s a $10/month subscription to monthly deliveries of beauty and skincare samples. And don’t forget… they offer boxes for both men and women! It’s truly a mini treat to yourself once a month and it’s a fabulous, inexpensive way to get introduced to new brands and products. As an added bonus, birchbox has an amazing rewards program. You get points for each monthly sample you review and each dollar you spend in their shop. 100 points= $10, and those points add up fast!

Check out my May Birchbox Review:

May Birchbox Review 2015

Number 4™ Blow Dry Lotion
JUARA Candlenut Body Creme
W3LL PEOPLE The Expressionist Mascara
Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Energizing Hydrating Gel
CoTZ® Flawless Complexion SPF 50


Have you tried any of Number 4’s hair care products? I’ve tried quite a few that have been sent my way in past birchboxes. In my latest box was the Number 4™ Blow Dry Lotion. I was really excited to see this guy since I have uber long hair that needs serious protection from the heat I subject it to. It is not only supposed to protect your hair, but also act as a leave-in treatment to condition it as well. I didn’t notice a decrease in the dry time like many of the reviewers found, but I have pretty long, thin hair so it doesn’t take me a ton of time to dry my hair in the first place. However, I did notice it left my hair looking healthy and shiny, but unfortunately it didn’t feel the same way. It seemed to leave a residue on my hair that felt a little sticky and gave my hair too much texture for how thin it is. I think this product could be better suited for girls with thicker, shorter hair.

Next to be reviewed is the JUARA Candlenut Body Creme. I can never pass up a great body creme! This cream not only smells amazing (think light and tropical!), but it’s also super hydrating. A little goes a long way and leaves the skin feeling anything but greasy. The velvety texture soaks into the skin immediately and leaves a smoothness that lasts all day. The candlenut oil in this creme is full of fatty acids which makes is a natural healer for dry skin. This creme is a great go-to for keeping your skin hydrated after those long summer days in the sun!

As you may know, I love mascara and I get to review another one this week! I actually received a mascara that I not only haven’t tried, but I’ve never even heard of… W3LL PEOPLE The Expressionist Mascara. This product is a great lightweight and completely natural mascara. The applicator brush is amazing; the small bristles catch every lash and help grab on to lengthen your lashes while keeping them 100% clump-free. I didn’t find the formula to flake or smudge at all throughout the day. If you are looking for a bold dramatic look, this mascara probably isn’t for you. But if you want long, natural looking lashes, this mascara was 100% made for you!

Up next is the Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Energizing Hydrating Gel. The name pretty much says it all! This product has a gel texture that has a cooling effect when applied. It’s filled with green tea and cucumber extracts plus vitamins C and E, all of which help it to not only hydrate your skin, but protect it all day! The thick gel texture packs serious moisturizer that you won’t be disappointed with. It’s the perfect product to apply on a light makeup day to help brighten and protect your skin, but due to the thick texture, I wouldn’t want to layer much makeup on top of it.

And the last sample in my May Birchbox review is CoTZ® Flawless Complexion SPF 50.  I’ve received a few sunscreens from this brand before. This gentle formula helps protect you from the sun (SPF 50!) while giving you a sheer coverage for acne prone skin. The best part about this stuff is it’s SPF 50 and still has a very lightweight formula. It also has a slight tint to it which is great for any daytime, outdoor parties that you may need to dress up for. The non-greasy formula prevents clogging pores while still covering imperfections. It’s the best of both worlds!


And that’s a wrap for this month’s beauty samples! Have you heard of any of these brands or tried any of these products before? Tell me about them in the comments below!

Craving more beauty finds? Check out last month’s post, April Birchbox Review, or start getting your own birchbox delivered right to your door!

Mascara Reviews | My Top 5 for Your Eyes

Mascara is a big deal to me… I’ll admit it, I’m a snob! On a daily basis, I don’t wear much makeup, but mascara is always a must. I’ve been searching this great country far and wide for the best mascaras and I think I’m finally ready to share my findings with you! Whether you are looking for natural, just curled lashes or sultry betty boop eyes, I have the mascara for you (and how you should be using it!)

Mascara Reviews

Check out my mascara reviews below and share any tips or favorite products you have in the comments!

Mirenesse iCurl Secret Weapon 24 Hour Mascara ($49)- This award winning mascara is seriously a secret weapon, but you pay for it! Retailing double that of my other picks below, you can grab a tube of Mirenesse’s iCurl for $49. This mascara is best for lengthening and actually lifting your lashes to that 90 degree betty boop angle. The formula and brush combo slides smoothly through your lashes and builds the length with it’s tube technology that doubles the length of your lashes in a blink of an eye! For best results, Mirenesse suggests pairing it with their iCurl Twin Heated Lash Curler. I have yet to try this, but the reviews are amazing. Best part about this mascara? it lasts for 24 hours! No mess, smudges or raccoon eyes.  And no more makeup remover, it comes off easy with warm water!

Laura Geller Beauty GlamLASH Dramatic Volumizing Mascara ($24)- This GlamLASH mascara is perfect for anyone with fine eyelashes. It is the first mascara I have ever tried that actually finds and lengthens every single tiny lash. Many similar mascaras leave me with smudges, clumps and a mess, but I experienced none of that with GlamLASH. For days when I want a more natural daytime look, I swipe one or two coats of this on and I’m good to walk out the door. Occasionally when I find myself using other lengthening mascaras, I will finish with a swipe of this to separate my lashes and get rid of any clumps, it’s seriously amazing.

Benefit Roller Lash ($24)- This mascara has quickly become the “it” product for your eyes in 2015 and now I know what all the hype is about! In just one coat this mascara separates, lifts and lengthens dramatically (and I mean dramatically!) I wasn’t sure what to expect from this “roller lash”… would the applicator actually move or roll? Well, it doesn’t. It gets it’s name from the “Hook ‘n Roll” technique it uses to grab your lashes and curl them.  It has an instant curve setting formula that lasts for 12 hours, leaving you with long, super-natural looking lashes. If your lashes are in the mood for a night out, try using the Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara (reviewed below) after applying the Roller Lash. The results are amazing!

Benefit They’re Real! Mascara ($24)-Benefit’s They’re Real! mascara quickly got overshadowed once the Roller Lash came to town. The benefits over the others? It’s super black, goes on easily and lengthens and separates in just two coats. The downside? I wasn’t a huge fan of the brush applicator. I have pretty short eyelashes (that’s why I love lengthening mascaras so much!) and I found it hard to apply on my short naked lashes and I didn’t get as much curl and height as I expected from Benefit. But once I tried layering it with the Benefit Roller Lash listed above… WOW! I got the best of both worlds! My lashes looked so long, thick and amazing, they almost looked fake! Speaking to the They’re Real on it’s own, I wouldn’t invest in it over my other picks, but if you have the Roller Lash it’s definitely worth pairing them together. I would suggest this duo for any big event, they will not disappoint!

Eyeko Black Magic Mascara ($24)- Not every girl needs her mascara to separate and lengthen, and this Black Magic mascara is for the girl looking for dark, thick lashes. The brush has an extreme curve to it, helping to give you the perfect curl as you apply it to your lashes. And this formulas goes on wet! It’s much creamier than other mascaras I’ve tried and it took me awhile to get used to it. But if you apply from root to tip slowly, the formula sets up a little and gives you an amazing curl, thick dramatic lashes and the blackest of black lashes. This is my go-to mascara to layer with my roller lash for a night out on the town, there is something sultry and mysterious about this mascara that goes great with a smokey eye!