Beauty Musings

I don't know about you, but winter is really getting to me. I've just been exhausted! And exhaustion over here means I've been quiet about sharing some of the things on my radar lately. 

Loving these new goodies from African Botanics!

My hair is seriously getting long... 

Products I'm Testing
African Botanics recently released some new items that I'm enjoying so far. Cleansing Mask and Cleansing Oil? I'm in! Check out my reviews of other African Botanics products here. I also need to test out quite a lot of products I've been buying over the last few months. I think there's stuff I bought in November that I haven't even tried yet. Oops!

Beauty Reads 
This past week, I have been obsessing over the site Violet Grey. A digital magazine and curated beauty shop, the site is just gorgeous.  Another read that has me asking myself what I've been missing is Andie's Techno Cupcake - I've been trying to keep up with her blog these past few weeks and dying over her Tom Ford and Armani acquisitions and foray into natural skincare.

Oh, and this weekend I've been watching Sali Hughes interview iconic makeup artist Mary Greenwell. If you're into beauty chats, this two part video will give you nearly an hour of entertainment! 

Help Wanted
It seems as if I have legitimate beauty product needs. Usually, I'd say I don't actually need another skincare item/ neutral eyeshadow / magenta-ish lipstick, but these two categories are not overflowing with products... Yet.

I don't know what it is, but my skin has been absolutely awful so far this year. I'm curious to try some other blemish treatments just to see what's out there, and I'm especially interested in what can make those scars heal faster. Also, since my hair is getting longer, I'm digging through my stash of shampoo samples hoping to find a nice option to keep my hair looking nice and fuss free. 

Obsessing Over Brushes
I think I have quite a healthy (read: excessive) stash of brushes, but lately I just feel like I don't have the right ones for eyes. For the most part, my brushes are from midrange department store lines or Sephora, and I have a good number of Real Techniques as well. I've been quite curious about some Tom Ford brushes lately but the prices are scary. And I definitely have been thinking about Hakuhodo... and I'm wondering, am I totally missing out by not having a MAC eyeshadow brush? Any thoughts, recommendations or enabling/disabling is appreciated. :)

Almost On the Wishlist
While I'm always adding things to my wishlist, I've had a lot of "maybe" products land on that list lately. I never thought I'd be interested in Bare Minerals, but I've always read great reviews on the Ready Eyeshadows and I'm suddenly curious. When it comes to the Nars Contour Blush, I'm sure I'll rush out and grab one, but so far I'm safe. I want to see them in person first, and really I don't need another contour product.

I've also been eyeing Fresh Creme Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask, a pricey item that has been on the market for a few months and just recently landed on Sephora.com. Bumble & Bumble has suddenly caught my eye too, and I'm curious about the new Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster. Yup, all products I really don't need but suddenly find very interesting!

Affiliate Links 

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 4.0

NARS Contour Blush

Fresh® 'Crème Ancienne' Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask

BUMBLE AND BUMBLE Surf Spray

Bumble and bumble Cityswept Finish

Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster

So, what have you been up to lately?? Have you been testing any new products? (Hopefully not waiting forever like I do?) Do you have any awesome new blog discoveries I should check out? Are you surprised by the new releases and products you've added to your wishlist? Anyways, I want to hear all about what you've been up to!

Space NK Spring Beauty Edit Event & Gift with Purchase!

Last week, I shared a sneak peek of the upcoming gift with purchase during Space NK’s Spring Beauty Edit event. Look at this amazing gift! All yours with a $250 purchase online or in stores tomorrow, Wednesday, February 19. Those of you near a Space NK store also have the opportunity to book a makeover or skincare consultation, and typically each store will have representatives from certain brands at these events. 

*PR Sample, Affiliate Link

I won’t be able to attend the event in store, but I am thrilled to have received the gift with purchase bag from Space NK. This gift is seriously heavy - the box it came in weighed six pounds! 

The bag itself is a fun pouch that can definitely fit a lot of products. It isn’t a flat pouch, which is good for carrying skincare and the like. It is made out of a sturdy nylon material, and can also fit an iPad and its accessories. I was hoping to fit my 11inch Macbook Air in there, but it is not quite wide enough. :) In any event, I love using the tote bag from the fall event for shopping, so I’m sure this one will be really handy for traveling and containing stuff in general.  

Since I have the gift with purchase in hand, I thought I would share with you the deluxe samples that I’m particularly excited about! 

Kevyn Aucoin The Essential Mascara
Gummy recently posted about her experience with the volume mascara, and I am itching to see if this mascara is anywhere near as good as the one she has. Now I just need to finish those other mascara sample tubes I opened…! 

African Botanics Marula Neroli Infused Oil
I’ve been eyeing this variation of African Botanics Marula Oil since I discovered the line in Space NK last May. I know I love the citrusy scent and I haven’t met an African Botanics product that I didn’t just love to pieces. Needless to say, I'm dying to try this!

Goldfaden Bright Eyes
I’ve been totally loving a few things that Goldfaden sent me lately, namely their new Fresh-a-Peel (review) and their not at all greasy yet very moisturizing Hands to Heart hand cream. I’m definitively nearing the “late” bit of being in my mid-to-late 20s, and I just have to get eye cream into my routine consistently, so I am pretty excited to give this a try.

Sunday Riley Artemis
This somewhat new lemon-y oil from Sunday Riley smells a little nicer to me than Juno, and given my love for oils I hope this one doesn’t disappoint. It is intended to be balancing and detoxifying, which sounds pretty wonderful to me! 

Diptyque Volutes 
I never thought Volutes was the scent for me, being as it is a bit rich and spicy, but after my BFF gifted me a little sample tube in my massive belated Christmas gift earlier this month, the scent is growing on me. Given my extremely picky fragrance preferences, I’m thrilled to have such a generous sample size to give this scent another go.

Zelens Transformer Instant Renewal Mask & Radical Youth Infusion Serum
I try to ignore both of these brands due to their price tags, so seeing these two goodies meant for refreshing and hydrating the skin is quite exciting. I’m sure I could never splurge on either of these even if they were miraculous, so I will be sure to savor every last drop!

So, I think you may have some shopping to do. ;) It is the perfect time to pick up some Hourglass, Oribe, African Botanics and Diptyque! Will you be indulging in the Space NK Spring Beauty Edit event? I’d love to know what’s on your wish list!

SNEAK PEEK! Space NK Spring Beauty Edit Gift with Purchase!

You all know my love for Space NK, so I am excited to share a sneak peek of their upcoming gift with purchase in the US. 

With a $250 purchase online or in store on 2/19/14, you will receive the following gift bag valued at over $350!  

• Space NK Cosmetics Bag (exclusive for the Spring Beauty Edit event)
• African Botanics Neroli Infused Marula Oil (17 ml)
• Antica Farmacista Prosecco Room Fragrance (25 ml)
• Bakel THIO-C Revitalizing Glowing Serum (3 ml)
• Bumble & bumble Thickening Hairspray (1 oz)
• Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum (10 ml)
• Darphin Hydraskin Light (15 ml)
• Diptyque Volutes Eau de Toilette (12 ml)
• Goldfaden MD Bright Eyes (5 ml)
• Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (5 ml)
• Kevyn Aucoin Essential Mascara (.13 fl oz)
• Life NK Daily Fix Body Lotion (50 ml)
• Mio Skincare The Activist (30 ml)
• Natura Bissé The Cure Sheer Eye (2 ml) 
• NIA24 Gentle Cleansing Cream (1 oz)
• Oribe Masque for Beautiful Color (1.7 oz)
• Philip B African Shea Butter Shampoo or Peppermint Shampoo (2 fl oz)
• Radical Skincare Youth Infusion Serum (8 ml)
• Rahua Conditioner (2 oz)
• Ren Glycol Lactic Radiance Mask (15 ml)
• Rococo Nail Apparel Nail Polish Remover Tissues (full size)
• Rodial Super Food Day Cream (5 ml)
• Sai-Sei Mineral Loofah Body Polish Soap (full size)
• Sunday Riley Artemis Hydro-Active Face Oil (3 ml)
• Wei Dragon Blood Eye Lifting Pad (single use)
• Zelens Transformer Instant Renewal Mask (5 ml)

If you have a Space NK store near you, you can book an appointment for a makeover or consultation on February 19th. Otherwise, online shoppers can indulge too. (When I ordered online during the fall event, I got even more samples than what was listed, which was a happy surprise!) 

Will you be indulging in the Space NK Spring Beauty Edit event? I'd love to know what is on your wishlist! :)

Instead of Roses... Beauty Gifts for Valentine's Day ♥

I've never been one for flowers - yes, they are pretty and I do like getting them, but I'm one of those girls who can't even manage to properly put them in a vase. And even if I manage to put them in a vase before it is too late, flowers don't last forever. Products do! (Sort of.) 

I'm all for a beauty gift that I can use everyday, so I've put together this collection of pink and rose themed items that have been on my radar lately. I think they're the perfect Valentine's Day gift(s) to brighten your favorite gal pal's day, or perhaps you just have to leave this list around for your significant other to see...

L-R: Diptyque Rosamundi Candle, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Radiant Magenta, Dior Addict Lip Gloss in Exquise, Boscia Tsubaki Deep Hydration Sleeping Mask, Nars Velvet Gloss Pencil in Mexican Rose, Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Luxembourg, Lush Love Locket Bath Bomb*, Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick in Fuschia Irresistible, Lush The Kiss Lip Gloss*, Balenciaga Rosabotanica

*PR Samples, Affiliate Links

Diptyque Rosamundi Candle
Diptyque's limited edition re-release for Valentine's Day is seriously dreamy. Blended to smell like my favorite Diptyque Eau Rose perfume, Rosamundi is a seriously pretty candle that I'm going to savor to the last drop.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Radiant Magenta
Any fan of new beauty releases will be excited to find this new Hourglass offering in her Valentine's gift. Radiant Magenta isn't quite as magenta as I hoped, and while my first impressions aren't out of this world, it IS a nice blush. (Full review of this and Diffused Heat coming soon.)  

Dior Addict Lip Gloss in Exquise
For the girl that loves pink, you can't go wrong with this pretty pink gloss from Dior's spring collection. Click here to read my review! 

Boscia Tsubaki Deep Hydration Sleeping Mask
I was drawn in by the packaging but I am just loving this overnight hydration mask from Boscia. Everyone needs a little extra hydration with that cold weather we've been having!

Nars Velvet Gloss Pencil in Mexican Rose & Satin Lip Pencil in Luxembourg
These little pencils have been siting in my stash a while until I discovered how gorgeous they are worn together! Mexican Rose brings a bit of gloss and moisture to the satiny Luxembourg. And that they're close in color make it the perfect pair! But if you can't have both and you want fully opaque fucshia-red, go for the Satin Lip Pencil in Luxembourg! 

Lush Love Locket Bath Bomb*
This huge Lush bath bomb smells a whole lot like classic Lush scents to me - full of jasmine, neroli and vanilla. Break it up for use in up to 3 baths! This bomb has paper hearts in the outer layer and red hearts in the center, and its luxurious oils make this bath quite comforting!  

Givenchy Le Rouge Lipstick in Fuschia Irresistible
I've been eyeing the Le Rouge lineup for quite some time and could never settle on the shade. Right around the time that Tiffany posted about her love for this lipstick, I decided to make up my mind already and go with this one! I think it may just be the perfect fuschia red (and surprisingly not terribly different from the limited edition Tom Ford Aphrodisiac) that is creamy, long-wearing, and just perfectly lovely. Plus, I can't get enough of the leather embossed packaging and that cute little accent stud! 

Lush The Kiss Lip Gloss*
This vegan lip gloss is full of moisturizing ingredients - agave syrup, mandarin oil, and almond oil - that create a creamy almost whipped texture. It isn't too high shine, and even has a natural lip plumper in it! Now I can't say if the lip plumper works (I didn't even realize that was a feature until just now!) but I love how this lip gloss is a much better version of cherry Chapstick! 

Balenciaga Rosabotanica (deluxe sample)
When I saw this, I snatched up this mini of Rosabotanica (thanks to Gummy!) in a newly released Sephora 500 point perk which is currently available online at Sephora. I am loving this new scent, a more rosy Florabotanica with such a fresh and clean drydown that I can't get enough of.

What do you guys think about this selection of pink and rose themed products? Are any of these on your wish list? I'd love to know! :)