November 2015 Favorites

This is a long overdue post, about favorites that is.....But I haven't really fallen head over heels in a while.  Until this past month!  I have fallen in love with entirely too many things! Shhh, don't tell my husband (muah!).

First up is this NARS Steven Klein One Shocking Moment Cheek Palette.  This palette comes with 4 blushes, a highlight/contour duo and a bronzer.  Gorgeous packaging, long lasting color and beautiful shades anyone can wear.  Perfect staple for everyday use!!

Paloma contour duo, Laguna bronzer top row, Robotic, Blasphemy, Luster and Dolce Vita blushes bottom row

Courtesy of bubblymichelle.com

Laguna bronzer and Blasphemy blush

Next up is Chanel Perfection Lumiere foundation.

My favorite blogger, Stephanie Lange, raves about Chanel foundation so I had to try it myself.  I love it.  It has beige undertones and since I am more neutral, those shades work more with my skin tone. This goes on very light and I find is best applied with a beauty blender to achieve light coverage and a second coat for medium to full coverage.  It does have a very perfumey smell but it did not irritate my skin or make me break out.  It has a hefty price tag but a little goes a long way!!

My next favorite this month is Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer.  To be honest, I can't believe it took me this long to try it.  I fell in love with Double Wear foundation last year and since I am always on the hunt for a heavy duty concealer for my dark under eye circles, this should have been a natural selection for me.  It goes on light but dries to full coverage.  It is offered in a range of shades and I chose light.  It does not crease on me and stays on all day until my makeup remover takes it off!

Next, I tried Benefit Gimme Brow in a Sephora sample pack.  Since my brows are so thin to begin with, I was always nervous to try this product.  Since I have gotten bangs this winter, I have been letting my brows grow (thank god for bangs!!) and this is literally the perfect product to brush my brows in to place and add some color and volume.  It is described as a brow volumizing fiber gel and it does just that and looks so natural!!

Another sample I got from Sephora is the Tarte Lights Camera Lashes mascara.  My short stubby lashes always need a lift (hee hee) and this does the trick!!  It adds nice length and blackens them perfectly with 2 coats.

And my last favorite from this month are my ear jackets from Asos  These are another rec from Stephanie Lange.  They are gorgeous.  I have gotten so many compliments on them and even bought my mother a pair!  Sadly, they are currently sold out since I started this post but hopefully they will stock again soon!

And there ya have it!  My November 2015 favorites.  There have been so many holiday releases as of late and I just recently won an amazing giveaway on Instagram so I will be doing a haul post along with some more reviews soon!  Hopefully I can provide some great gift ideas for you!

And it is also that time of year when the DIY crafts and gifts start so let me know if you have any special requests!!

If you have any favorites from this month or love any of my favorites, let us know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo

November 2014 Sample Society Unboxing

Well lovelies, the move is officially OVER!!! We are in our new place and now the anxiety moves from packing to unpacking! I can't wait to get everything set up from my vanity to my craft room :) Soooooo, that is the reason I will be doing two November unboxings that should have been done last month :) Also, it is time to celebrate the 6 month anniversary of Mudpipes and Glitter!!!! I can't believe it has only been six months.  All the people and relationships that I have formed in these last 6 months has been incredible :)

Let's get started. Sample Society has been one of my favorite boxes from the beginning.  The last few months have been kind of meh boxes though.  I am really hoping for a stellar box in December with it being Christmas and all :)  The box is $15 a month and everyone gets the same box.  But we also get a $10 off $50 purchase coupon in each box that is good for buying stuff on their website, which is pretty darn near the same as Sephora.  Click HERE to check out the site and to sign up for this monthly beauty subscription!

The goodies

This month was a good mix of makeup, hair care and skin care.

My favorite product in this box is the perfume.  Calvin Klein Reveal.

This is such a sensual fragrance.  It has musk and sandalwood and is just super sexy but completely wearable in the daytime.  I love it.  I don't love that my taste is so expensive.  :)

Next up is Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Omega Nourishing Oil.  Wow, that was a mouthful.

The thing that upset me about this is that in the description of the product it said it wasn't recommended for thin hair as it could weigh it down.....well, THIN hair is what I have.  Plus this sample may quite be the smallest one I have ever received.  I ended up trading this for something I wanted better.  But if you have thick hair then this would be a great product for you to get some nourishment in your hair.

Next we have MD Solar Sciences Mineral Creme Beauty Balm.

I was excited to try this one as it claims to even skin tone and eliminate redness, which the winter weather is giving my face.  Plus it has green tea in it.  But I didn't really think that this was anything more than a lightly tinted moisturizer.  Calling it a beauty balm is quite a stretch.  And my pores were still quite visible so I can't call this a primer either.  At least it didn't do very well under my Kat Von D foundation.  I may try it under my BareMinerals foundation as it might be a better consistency for that.

Next is Lorac Cobra Mascara.

Last time I tried a mascara by Lorac it ended up flaking on me.  And with my contacts that is a recipe for disaster.  So this one we will see about.  The brush on this one is kind of crooked to help with curling the lashes but it surely doesn't do a better job than my eye lash curler.  This is just an ordinary mascara to me.

And the last item is Malin+Goetz Bergamot Body Wash.

This can be used as a body wash or a shampoo or a bubble bath.  It has a light bergamot fragrance, which for those that don't know, it is kind of a boozy, citrusy smell.   A pretty small sample, too.

My thoughts overall were.....meh.  I mean the samples sizes were super small and nothing was really remarkable as far as products go.  I mean sure, these are all items you could throw in an over night bag and depending on the person be good for a day since all the products each cover a need.  But not for me.  Fingers crossed for a better month next month!

What did you think of this month's box?

Let me know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo

November 2014 BoxyCharm Unboxing and December Spoiler

Last month I wrote a post on my first ever BoxyCharm box that I received.  I loved it so much that I cancelled GlossyBox and decided to keep the subscription!!  Each box comes with 4-5 full sized products each month and they are mostly all makeup!! Just the kind of box I needed. I love my Birchbox and Sample Society but get a nice mix of haircare and skincare with them.

This months theme was Sparkle and Shine.  Ummmmmm, Mudpipes and GLITTER people!! I love sparkle and shine.

Before I show you my goodies I want to let you know that the waitlist is currently turned off and you can get a subscription to BoxyCharm right away! It is $21 a month but the value of the box is FAR exceeded by the products received.  Click HERE to sign up today :)  They are similar to Birchbox in that after you review the products you receive, you get credits (charms) added to your account that go towards products available in their online store.

Okay first up is a product that blew my mind after using.  Mica Beauty Eye Primer.

This product is for eye lids to help eyeshadow stay on longer.  I decided to try it under my eyes as a concealer primer and boy did it work.  My concealer did not crease all day. I called my mom freaking out as we are constantly looking for a holy grail product that does that! This is a full size product valued at $44.95!! I probably could have even just used it as concealer since it is flesh colored and did a great job of evening my skin tone, too.  Loved this product!

Next is a product that I decided to throw on at the last minute on Thanksgiving since I had done purple eye makeup.  Kevin Murphy Color Bug.

Of course it is in my favorite color, too! It is non permanent and washes out. Since I have such light hair I did put some leave in conditioner on before I rubbed the chalk on.  Put a towel on your shoulders to protect your clothes as it does get messy since it is chalky.  I loved it.  My best friend Shanna has purple hair right now too and we love that we can try it without the commitment.  You will need to do a search on their site to find the nearest retailer or buy online or at Amazon.  Full size valued at $21.95!

Next up is another product I used on Thanksgiving for my eye makeup.  Tarina Tarantino's EyeLicity Glitter Liner in Glitter Mist.

It goes on super smooth and I put it on over black liner to really make it pop.  Full size valued at $16!

Next up is Ofra Blush in Paradise Pink.

This is a really pretty color.  Like a mauve.  I like corals for both summer and winter as they look really nice on my skin but this looked really pretty too.  Its amazing how a new color blush can change your face.  Wow, I used this on turkey day, too.  Makeup of the day all done by Boxycharm, HAHA!  It is very smooth and highly, highly pigmented so a little goes a long way.  Remember to not use too much or you will look like a clown.  Full size valued at $24.95!!

Last up is Bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer Pigment in Sensation.

I haven't used this yet and I know it looks like it will be messy but give off some incredible shimmer.  I would probably put this just in the corner of my eyes to brighten them up.  This is full sized valued at $14.99!!

So as you can see the value of this box far exceeds the cost at a whopping $122.84!!  I am very pleased with this months box.  Click HERE to read last months unboxing and see how pleased I was also with that box!

And here is my complete edgy look that I wore for Thanksgiving :)

Second favorite to my makeup was my tights, I just loved them and bought them last year and didn't find them again until I was packing last weekend!  WHICH by the way we will be moved in to our new house on Monday so shortly thereafter I can get back to baking and crafting and sharing some really awesome ideas with ya'll for the upcoming holidays :)  Again, the reason I started this blog was to keep myself busy while mourning the loss of my daddy and I will especially need it during the holidays xo

I hope you all enjoyed the unboxing and maybe it inspired you to sign up to Boxycharm.  A little piece of advice, if you don't like spoilers, don't follow them on Facebook as they give spoilers leading up until the next months box is sent out!

But I will tell you this entire FULL SIZE palette, valued at $39.95, will be in the December box!!  It is comparable to Urban Decays Naked palette :)

Do you already get Boxycharm?  What did you think of this month's box?

Let us know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo

November 2014 Product Favs

Time for my monthly favs based on all the products I received this month.  In fact, this month I picked 6 items.  This is a great month and I am super excited about these products!!

My new go to products

First, let's talk about Unwash!!  I actually won two bottles of this in a contest!

• Unwash is a cleansing conditioner.  These are all the rage right now and I was obsessed with Macademia's Flawless Cleansing Conditioner once I tried it.  I even got my cousin Kelly hooked on it. :) These products put the multi in multi tasker.  Unwash is more than a shampoo and conditioner in one. It locks in hairs natural moisture and color. NO SULFATES OR PARABENS! This felt incredible in the shower but the real magic happened after.  My hair was so smooth after drying and felt healthier. I really can't even describe how much I like it.  I like it even more than the Macademia! Plus being able to only use one product in the shower instead of 3 is great.  Even my second day hair is less greasy then it normally is. These look like they are only available in salons currently so click HERE to find your nearest one.  That makes me a tad bit sad that I can't buy online but they have a couple other products to check out, too.  It looks like they also offer daily samples if you get to their website early enough.  You have to try this product! :)

• Next is Josie Maran's 100 % Pure Argan Oil. Argan Oil used to just be for our hair and now we are using it for everything.  I am an oil girl! I love all of my oils but this is my new favorite and much more affordable than Caudalie :)  It is full of Vitamin E and essential oils and I truly can say I noticed a difference in my skin the first time I used it.  I put it on at night and in the morning under my makeup. It does wonders for my skin, keeps me glowing, keeps me moisturized all day and with winters in Chicago, I need all the help I can get! My trick is to apply when my skin is still a little damp to really get it to soak in. Another product you have to try! 

• Okay next is First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream and Ultra Repair Concentrate.  And yes, I got samples at Sephora to try before I bought and it is amazing.  Another Chicago winter staple for dry skin.  I have supa dupa oily skin in the summer and I'm an alligator in the winter. No happy medium. The cream is thick, thick, thick. But you wouldn't know if it you were blindfolded and had someone rub it on your face :) It sinks right into your skin. NO greasy feel! It has made my skin clearer too! I think it is due to the eucalyptus, shea and oatmeal :) The concentrate is actually supposed to be stronger but is like a serum almost. I use that one in the morning under my makeup.  

Left is cream and right is concentrate

• Next up is Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer.  My wonderful friend Heather gave this to me.  It truly does smell like chocolate and is the perfect brown color for bronzing and contouring. This is actually the medium/deep shade and it is not too dark on me at all.  It does not look muddy on my face and blends so nicely.  Perfect since my face is starting to look like a piece of paper it is getting so white!  It is also completely matte, no shimmer.

Full size picture

• Now this product came in my Birchbox and I indicated how much I loved it from my first impression.  Now after using it almost daily I want you to know how much more I love it. Modelco Party Proof Lipstick in Nearly Nude.  This is a smooth, velvety lipstick and truly is the perfect nude.  Now, staying power isn't that great unless you really prime your lips, but I don't mind reaching for it throughout the work day to add some color and hydration.  It always leaves a smooth finish on my lips and doesn't feel waxy. Did I mention I love the color??  

• And last up is Fekkai Blowout Refresher Dry Shampoo.  We all know I am a devoted lover of Klorane Oat Milk Dry Shampoo but this one is different.  My wonderful friend Mary sent this to me to try.  I can't explain it but when I use this one, it makes my second day hair stayed curled ALL DAY LONG. I am talking about until bed time.  So I always shower and wash my bangs only with second day hair and then I spray this in my roots and flip my head over and work it through from my roots to my ends with my fingers.  It keeps my hair just as voluminous as it was the day I blow dried it and refreshes my hair.  It has a light scent to it which is nice.

And there ya have it, my favorite products for the month of November.  Let me tell you, it is very hard to narrow products down so when I do these lists I mean business!! Get samples at your local Sephora when you can! :)

Have you tried or are currently using any of these?

What are your thoughts??

Let us know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo

Birchbox Man November 2014 Unboxing

Always brings a smile to his face

Since ya'll got to see my boxes today I thought I would share my husband's!  I absolutely love that he gets so excited with this subscription I got him and they have been spot on each time with this products.  Always manly and never too feminine.

My honey's goodies

The only unfortunate thing I will say right off the bat is he did not receive his sample choice and I know he was let down by that. I have emailed customer service the confirmation email to see what they say.

Now sure, the item they included was a $50 item but we choose what we choose for a reason.

Cherry Wood Ear Buds

These are from LSTN Headphones Bowery Earbuds. From a work standpoint, he cannot safely use these and really has no use for them so we will probably gift these as I know someone who probably would love them. The reviews on this product were mixed.

Next up is Notting Hill cologne by English Laundry.

Spray top sample

I LOVED this on him. MMMMMM :) Rich, woodsy, musky scent just the way I like my blue collar man to smell.  Ladies, this is a keeper! Get it for your husband! :) Oh and PS he really liked it too :)

Next is DTRT Foam Cleanser.

Face to Face

This cleanser is similar to a shaving cream, in that it is thick and really gets down deep into pores. Since most nights he comes home with his face covered in soot, this will really help.  He is really liking all of these face products targeted to men as they are hard to come by and they have always been really good deep cleansers as their skin is so much different than ours :)

Next up is RUSK paste.

I love this brand myself

My husband won't grow his hair long on the top like I want him to (different convo for a different day haha) but he can still use this texturizing paste and I for sure will be dabbling into this myself! :)

And last up is Basics for Men by Beckman Ultimate Tough Skin Relief.

another nice sized sample

The mans lotion.  My poor husband has very chapped hands and knuckles since they are his money makers.  It's funny even after our wedding pictures were taken I remember my brother in law told him he should have lubed up before the ring pictures :)  This will come in handy for him a lot and it's a nice sized sample too!  We are hoping it is not too perfumey as some of the reviews do say that.

And there ya go!  My honey's box.  Birchbox has tons of specialty pre made gift boxes to select for the holidays or you can gift a subscription.  It is only $20 a month and always, always, always has given us at least a $40 product in each box. You can't beat that.  Click HERE to sign up today to get your box for Christmas!!

What was in your Birchbox Man box this month? I love to compare based on other profiles.  Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great day! xo