February 2013 Favorites

I can't believe February is over already! Crazy. I always find it so difficult to pick favorites. Do I picked products I used the most? Products I was most excited about? Often, they are not the same. So yeah, this is an impossible task. This time around, I luckily have a few products I love to add to last month's selections. I still love all the products in last month's post and use them frequently as you might have seen from my weekly makeup bag posts, but in the interest of not boring you, here goes...

I picked up Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation during the Barney's beauty event mid-month, and boy am I glad I did. I'm also quite liking filling in my brows with Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows in Soft Brown - a natural shade that seems to be just about fool proof. (And now I've somehow misplaced it so it is not in the picture...) And last but not least, Lush Happy Hippy* is making my shower quite enjoyable in the mornings.

So, there you have it. My February favorites, also including last month's favorites! LOL! What were your favorites this month? I'd love to know! :) 

Products marked with * were provided by the company for review. 

NO BUY!

Today is the official start of an EPIC no buy. I'm scared! Confident, excited, but also scared. LOL. When Gummy challenged me a few weeks ago to a no buy starting March 1st for the rest of the year, at first I thought it would be impossible. But when I really thought about it, I decided that it would be the most EPIC of challenges and a great opportunity for me to save money and actually USE the collection that I've amassed over the years. After all, how much makeup does a girl really need?? And I can't let all the pretties just go to waste, right?? :)

So, here are the rules for this no buy:

1. No makeup, nail polish, or fragrance!
2. Skincare only if absolutely necessary, ie my skin reacts to something I currently have or changes condition entirely. I will try to use up as many of my skincare samples as possible too, before purchasing anything new.
3. I can replenish staple items, only if I have no other alternatives. Off the top of my head, things like Diorshow Maximizer and Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water will probably be the only things that will really need replenishing. Ideally, I'd like to replace them during a sale event as well.
4. I can ask for beauty products as gifts, and I am allowed to use gift cards or return credits towards beauty.

There you have it! My epic no buy for the rest of 2013... and don't worry, I'll still have plenty of blog content coming your way, cause I haven't posted about SO much of my collection. :)

I've definitely done a beauty no buy for a few weeks at a time, but this will definitely be a remarkable achievement. Wish me luck, and I'd love to hear any advice if you have it! :)

The Accessory: Stacking Rings

I have a bit of an obsession with rings. Very much like my obsession with bronzer, actually...  I picked up this set of stackable rings of different heights and textures from H&M a few weeks ago. For $6, I think it is such a fun little indulgence.

I quite like wearing them all, stacked on a few fingers on both hands. :)

Are you a fan of rings? Do you have any favorites? I know I want to get my hands on some rings from Catbird, that's for sure! :)

February 2013 Sample Society

Today I bring you another look at beauty subscription services available in the US. I received Sample Society as a gift from my best friend for Christmas, and this is my second  box. I am quite enjoying the vast range of products available through this subscription box from beautybar.com and Allure Magazine. As mentioned in my previous post, I think this service provides great value. Not only do you get a year's subscription to Allure (which, if I may add, is quite fun to read on iPad!), but each month you get a $15 code towards any $50 purchase on beautybar.com when purchasing any of the included brands.

Here's a look at the goodies I got. I don't love the black packaging shreds, at they seem to leave a black dust on products, but I have to admit that Beautybar's shipping is well done and FAST, and that's probably one of the top priorities for a beauty fiend like me. :)

This month, I received 5 products, including a full size lip product from Exude. I was particularly excited to sample another Diptyque fragrance, but alas, this one is not for me. Oscar Blandi Hair Lift Thickening & Strengthening Mousse (Travel Size, Full Size 6.3 oz for $23) The first time I used this, I was pretty surprised when a HUGE pile mousse came out of this little jar, LOL! But anyways, I quite liked the airy texture and subtle scent of this mousse, which made my day old hair smoother and more volumized. It has a really natural finish as well, and doesn't feel like I have any product in my hair. This is less scented than the jasmine products from Oscar Blandi, so for those who dislike that scent, this is definitely worth a try. I'm not one to use mousse on a regular basis, though if I cut my hair short again like I'm planning, I bet this could come in handy.

Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive (Deluxe Sample, Full Size 2 oz for $85) I've heard so many good things about Kate Somerville, but have never gotten around to trying her line. Exfolikate is definitely one of her stand out products, and while I've collected a number of samples of this, I'm still happy to have another. This green exfoliator has a fresh, almost mint scent to it, and I'm happy to say that it works quite nicely on my skin. It doesn't feel drying, and my skin feels smooth. I'm happy to have it, though I'm not sure I'd spend the $85 on a full size. (Sephora does carry a half ounce size for $22 though). It will be quite a while I think before I finish up the multiple samples of this I have, so once I do, I'll be sure to let you all know if I decide to repurchase it! :)

Diptyque L'Ombre Dans L'Eau Eau de Toilette (Sample, Full Size 1.7 oz for $88) I've fallen fast for Diptyque, but this particular one is just not for me. I would have liked to try Do Son or L'Eau de Tarocco, but oh well! As you may know, I'm pretty choosy about scents that I wear, and tend to prefer light floral, fresh, or citrus notes. Described by Diptyque as "a lush garden at water’s edge," this fragrance is quite complex in its florals and freshness. Again, I've never been so good at describing scentes, and I can't decipher what exactly isn't working for me personally, but I think many would love this fresh and unique floral fragrance from Diptyque.

LaRocca Skincare Hibiscus Cream Cleanser with AHA (Sample, Full Size $36) I do like that this cleanser is quite creamy, and it just feels right for winter. It leaves my skin feeling smooth, and not that dry, tight feeling that many cleansers can have. It has nearly no scent either, which I can appreciate. Filled with AHA, Vitamins A&C, this cleanser is supposed to help with sebum production and skin structure - while I can't prove that without prolonged use and scientific observation, I do feel like my skin is very balanced and healthy when using this. Not too dry or too oily, and that is just fine!

Exude Lip Creme in Red (Full Size, $29) I haven't had much occasion for a red lip lately, but I am super excited to try this. In the interest of getting this post out during the month of February, sadly, I can't include my thoughts on it. However, I love creamy/liquid type lip formulas, and am super happy to have this to play with. I'll be sure to update this post or link to a proper review once I've had time to properly test it!

So there you have it, my February Sample Society box! Are you a subscriber? If so, what did you get in this month's box? Have you tried any of these products before? I'd love to know! :)