lila Wolken NOTD

Using Julep's Helen, Charlotte, and Morgan I created a purple gradient inspired by one of my favorite songs that found over here in Germany.

lila Wolken translates as purple Clouds. I love this song and I always play it when I need a pick me up and I wanted to do something that was inspired by the song. 

This was a really simple nail to do I just have a huge issue with the clean up but I'll let you judge how well I cleaned it up.

Before clean up

After clean up and some editing

Julep Helen Swatches

Saturday my husband and I went out to dinner with his squad and I was torn between keeping the Julep Oxygen nail treatment on or switching to a color from the February box. I chose the second option and I finally chose Helen.

Helen is a wonderful smoky pastel lavender creme. It is subtle enough that it worked with almost every outfit I picked out for dinner. The color is a little girly but the smoky color makes it work for me.

I tried out the Freedom top coat and it loved that it dried so quickly since I was literally putting it on 10 minutes before I got bundled up and ran out the door.

Julep Neons Set

So a couple of weeks ago Julep was offering 50% off on their gift certificates, $25 for a $50 gift certificate or $50 for a $100 gift certificate. I went ahead and picked up a $50 one (paying only $25) and then I turned around and bought one of four sets that Julep had for $15.

The four sets were offering were apart of their SHEfinds giveaway/partnership. Each set had 3 colors in it and out of all four sets there was only one set that I didn't have a single polish in was the Neons set. It turns out that I should have just upgraded my January box because now I really want all the colors for my collection. I got lucky and this set has Fiona, Madison, and Nina. I still need to get two more of the neons form the January box which I will eventually buy but for now these will hold me over until now.

Fiona

Madison

Nina

Personally Fiona is by far my favorite out of this set because it is the definition of the favorite color ever. I plan on rocking Fiona on my nails all summer long...er...well as long as my husband can tolerate it or before I empty the bottle.

Julep Evangeline Swatches

This is Julep's mystery holo called Evangeline that they sent out in the Cupid mystery boxes.

So far this is the first holo that I have ever used and I was kind of disappointed that it doesn't have a bigger holographic effect.

I am sure that I might have gotten a better look at the holo effect if there happened to have been some sun out but I am in Germany and it isn't a very sunny place right now. Maybe I'll try taking more photos later in the year when the sun comes out of hiding. 

Overall I love the orange color and it actually dried quickly and it sort of resembles Julep's Minka.

Enjoy!

Julep's Cupid Mystery Boxes

I jumped at the chance to order a couple of the mystery boxes since they guaranteed that you either get a mystery holo or a coupon for a free polish. They also guaranteed at least 4 Valentines Day themed colors. I have so many polishes now I knew I would have some dupes with my current collection. So here is what I received:

Box #1

Box #2

In box one I got four polishes in Rose, Niecy, Molly and Lynn, one of Julep's lip glosses in Camellia and a voucher for a free polish of my choice.

Rose

Molly

Niecy

Lynn

Camellia

Box number two had Carrie, Maria, Lynn, Molly and Evangeline, another lip gloss in Camellia.

Carrie

Maria

Lynn

Molly

Evangeline

Camellia

 Between the two boxes I only received 3 new colors for my collection (Molly, Niecy and Evangeline) but the others will go into my dupe collection and they will be given away as presents later on. I am glad I got a lip gloss in Camellia so now I have 3 of the 4 lip gloss colors they released last summer, now I just have to get the last one. The extra gloss will also find another home in the future. Now the biggest question is what color to order with my free voucher?! Or I could just mention the value of both boxes, both boxes are valued at $88 each, each polish is worth $14 and each lip gloss is worth $18 making the grand total value of the both boxes $176. I paid $20 each for the boxes so I think it was worth it, even though I now have 3 Lynns, 2 Mollys, 2 Marias, 2 Roses (I did have 3 but one found a home already) I tend to think of it as stocking up on Birthday and Christmas presents so I don't have to spend a ton of money at once on everything.

January Birchbox #2

 For once I was able to get one of my Birchboxes fairly quickly, and by fairly quickly I mean with in a month of it being shipped to me. 

alessandro Nail Polish in Blue Lagoon 

Sample Size: 5ml

Full Size: 10ml

Full Size Value: $12.00

Sample Value: $6.00

 

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream

Sample Size: 4ml

Full Size: 50ml

Full Size Value: $42.00

Sample Value: $3.36

 

Harvey Prince Skinny Chic

Sample Size: Approximately 2ml

Full Size: 50ml

Full Size Value: $55.00

Sample Value: $1.81

 

theBalm® cosmetics Put a Lid On It™

Sample Size: 0.125 fl oz

Full Size: 0.4fl oz

Full Size Value: $18.00

Sample Value: $5.62

Ojon damage reverse™ Instant Restorative Hair Serum

Sample Size: 0.07oz

Full Size: 1.7oz

Full Size Value: $25.00

Sample Value: $1.02

Just to give you the impression of how little there was in my box here is what all my samples look without the extra packaging. I could put all of these in my pocket and forget they were there (if I did that I would be sad.)

The total value of this box is $17.81, it isn't a high value box but I am happy to be trying the face cream because I haven't found one that I like enough to buy. The Harvey Prince perfume Skinny Chic is really lovely and I rate it up there with Hello which is my favorite perfume by far. I am always excited to get more nail polish and I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't have a dupe for this in my collection already. I love the balm. I have several of their products and I love them all and I can't wait to see how this compares to my Urban Decay primers. Now the last item is the Ojon hair oil, I honestly don't know what to say about getting this sample since it is so small. I might be able to use it once so I am going to save it for when I go to Paris instead of bringing one of my larger bottles with me. Other than the size disappointment I am excited to try some new products.

January Beauty Army #2

So during January it was the 1 year anniversary of Beauty Army and for their anniversary they were giving us a 7th sample to choose. We had the choice between 2 different mascaras from mark. brown or black. So which on did I choose? Keep reading to find out.

YES TO BLUEBERRIES Eye Firming Treatment
Sample Size: 0.1 oz
Full Size: 0.5 oz
Full Size Value: $19.99
Sample Value: $3.99

KARUNA Renewal Eye Mask
Sample Size: 1 Set
Full Size: 4 Sets
Full Size Value: $36.00
Sample Value: $9.00

MARK. Scanda-Lash Mascara (Brown)
Sample Size: 0.12 oz
Full Size: 0.12 oz
Full Size Value: $6.50
Sample Value: $6.50

MARK. Hook Up Lip Gloss (Honey)
Sample Size: 0.12 oz
Full Size: 0.12 oz
Full Size Value: $6.50
Sample Value: $6.50

 
BATH & BODY WORKS Sweet Pea Shower Gel
Sample Size: 3 oz
Full Size: 3 oz.
Full Size Value: $5.00
Sample Value: $5.00
  

SKYN ICELAND HYDRO COOL FIRMING EYE GELS
Sample Size: 1 pair of eye gels
Full Size: 8 pairs of eye gels
Full Size Value: $30.00
Sample Value: $3.75

 

ENSPRI
Ultra Collagen  
Sample Size: 
 Pure Collagen: 0.106 oz.
 Vital Hydrator: 0.135 fl. oz. (0.241 oz total) 
Full Size: 
 Pure Collagen: 2.29 oz.
 Vital Hydrator: 4 fl. oz. (6.29 oz total)
Full Size Value: $99.50
Sample Value: $3.81


All but 2 of these are duplicates for me so I won't even talk about them. Now the first new sample for me is the mark. Scanda-lash this is the prefect size mascara for me because I never use up a full size tube. It is also great because I got it in brown which work really well for me since I am currently only using brown mascara. Now the other new sample that I got is the Karuna eye masks I am very interested to see how they compare to the Skyn Iceland ones. The Karuna eye masks are more expensive but from what I found is the more expensive something is doesn't mean that it is necessarily better. Now before I forget the total overall value of this box comes to $38.55 which is what I would call an average value box not low but not super high valued.

December Beauty Army #1

 Lately it seems that I keep getting so many duplicates between my two Beauty Army subscriptions that I am starting to get bored with the service. Don't get me wrong I love being able to pick my own samples but I seem to be stocking up on shower gels, lip glosses and other random products. I think the only reason why I am keeping my sub right now is for those dang boxes! I love them, they are currently keeping my entire makeup and sample collection organized. Every time one box seems to be getting full I can always count on another to one to come in the mail filled with more goodies.

Well it seems that I had completely forgotten that I received my one of December boxes, it wasn't until I unboxed one of my January boxes that I realized I had already gotten that same colored lipgloss. So I set about trying to find the pictures of that box and I never took any, I had put away all my samples without even photographing them which is unheard of! I almost always take my photos right away so that I can use the products or put them away. Well I should end my ramblings and get on to the box right?

MARK. Hook Up Lip Gloss (Honey)
Sample Size: 0.12oz
Full Size: 0.12oz
Full Size Value: $6.50
Sample Value: $6.50

YES TO BLUEBERRIES Eye Firming Treatment

Sample Size: 0.1oz
Full Size: 0.5oz
Full Size Value: $19.99
Sample Value: $3.99

SKYN ICELAND Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels
Sample Size: 1 pair of eye gels
Full Size: 8 pairs of eye gels
Full Size Value: $30.00
Sample Value: $3.75

BATH & BODY WORKS Paris Amour Shower Gel
Sample Size: 3oz
Full Size: 3oz
Full Size Value: $5.00
Sample Value: $5.00

NOT YOUR MOTHER'S She's A Tease Volumizing Hairspray
Sample Size: 2oz
Full Size: 2oz
Full Size Value: $3.00
Sample Value: $3.00

GG GATSBY Raise Volume Conditioner
Sample Size: 0.5oz

Full Size: 8.4oz
Full Size Value: $14.99
Sample Value: $0.89

This overall value for this box is $23.13 it isn't high but I picked out some items that I am going to use to stock up the guest bathroom this summer. First up is the mark. lipgloss in honey, I had gotten the red gloss in a previous box and I wanted a more neutral color so I picked this one up. The Yes to Blueberries Eye product is something I really wanted because I love all the Yes to products I have tried so far. Now these eye gels are amazing! I was glad to grab a second pair, I do plan on buying a full size set in the future because these really work. This is my second bottle of BB&W Paris Amour but it think it will be quite appropriate for my upcoming trip to Paris. This is my third bottle of this hairspray and I mainly picked them up for my mother when she comes to visit. Now the last sample is a small packet of conditioner I really don't plan on using it until I get the matching shampoo. I am still currently trying to work through all of my shampoo and conditioner samples, it has been 2 months and I still have several left before I can go back to my normal Dove shampoo.