Mailtime: Influensters' Voxbox Natural 2012

My Influenster Voxbox finally showed up!!  Everyone got theirs a week ago, but mine finally showed up yesterday!  Yay!!  I'm just glad it showed up at all; I'd lost hope, mostly because of Influensters less than helpful response.  That said, I can't complain about customer service; I'm not a customer.

So let's go over what's inside.

GeoDeo deodorant - full size - $5.99
To me, this smelled like booze.  I have no idea why, but as soon as I smelled it, I thought it smelled like wine coolers.  j0hn thought it smelled delicious, so I decided he was going to have to be my test dummy.  I might try it on a day that I'm home, but due to a fear of smelling like booze, I can't do it.  j0hn has it on today and it's 8:43pm and he says he still doesn't smell bad.  We're going out to the club tonight, so that will be the true test.  Also in the box was a coupon code for a free gift with purchase.

Nectresse  Natural No Calorie Sweetener - 2 packets - $0.20 ($3.99 for 40 packets)I'm terrified to try this.  I found out recently that artificial sweeteners can trigger issues with IBD, so I'm not sure if I'm curious enough to try this.  I have to at some point, or I'll feel wasteful, but certainly not on a day where I work nine hours (like tomorrow).  Also included is a coupon for $1.00 off any one Nectresse product.

Lypsol Intense Protection LypMoisturizer - full size - $2.99
This one went to j0hn.  He was in need of a chapstick (while I am stocked on MSC lip bombs for a while).  He was immediately in love with the packaging because "look at the little bee on the side!  The slider is a little bee!"  He put it on and said it was tingly like a peppermint chapstick, and that he liked it.  I asked him if it was waxy and he said "not really."  All in all, not a chapstick for me, but j0hn seems to be enjoying it.  I tried it for myself, and it was soft and felt nice, and the smell was quite pleasant.

Eboost - 1 packet - $1.40 ($28 for 20 packets)
I can't wait to try this.  I'm tempted to give it to j0hn since he's been a little under the weather, but I want it!  Maybe we'll share it, though I already have him taking my vitamins and drinking Trader Joe's Green Plant Juice (what more can I do?!).  I didn't see anything immediately on the list that wasn't vegan, and the sight says no dairy, but I need to delve a little deeper into the vitamin sources listed on the packet.  I was out in the wind for a while waiting on the bus, so I think I need to drink this soon...

CleanWell Individual Hand Sanitizer Wipes - 1 wipe - $0.60 ($29.99 for 50)
As a makeup artist, I am always interested in any sort of sanitation device, haha.  It says that it's alcohol free, so not only are my dry hands interested, my brain is, too.  The active ingredient in this is Thymus Vulgaris Oil (Thymol 0.05%), which I had to google.  I found mixed studies about this substance, and as such, am not certain it's something I would want to rub on my hands ten to twenty plus times a day.  I'm going to try it once, as I don't think it's going to hurt me, but I won't be buying them for my kit as I thought I might.  These say "no animal testing" on the package, but I have more research to do.

Desert Essence Coconut Shine & Refine Lotion - 6.4 fl oz (full size) - $9.99
This product was chosen for me based on my demographic.  I have no idea why this product was chosen for me (other than me living in an urban area), but this is unfortunately not a product that is going to work in my hair.  I'll probably pass it on to my niece who is bi-racial and can use the product.  I have no idea if the term bi-racial is p.c. or not, so if you're offended, I'm sorry.  I have no idea what would be more correct.  I'll try it once, see how it goes, and probably pass it on to Sierra.  On the plus side, it does say that it's vegan right on the bottle.  I wish coconut oil worked with my hair because I love the way it smells, but sadly it doesn't.

The Original Dish Drying Mat - $4.99
I'm so excited to have this!!  I'm debating with myself if I want to save it for cleaning brushes or if I want to use it in the kitchen as it's intended.  Maybe I'll buy a second one.  I'm sure this bad boy will make an appearance in our next cooking video.. whenever that is.

TOTAL VALUE:  $26.16

Disclaimer:  This Voxbox was sent to me courtesy of Influenster.  This does not affect my opinion of the items received, and I reserve my right to my honest opinion.

Review & Giveaway: Manglaze Matte Nail Polish

This review has literally been a year in the making.  I have started typing it up several times, but felt like it needed more love than one I was giving it.  About a year ago, I contacted Manglaze, and they were very friendly and sent me a mini bottle of Mayonnaise to try out.  I love, love, love that nail polish, as it's the first matte white that hasn't been like white out on my nails.  So I've been stalking the site for a while, occasionally building a basket, but never committing.  Finally, I couldn't take it any longer, and it just so happened that they tipped me off on facebook that they were having a sale that weekend... I waited a few days and BAM!; more Manglaze was on it's way to me.  Well, to be fair, j0hn did pay for the order, so they're technically his.  So this post is sponsored by Manglaze, and my lovely boyfriend.

L to R: Mayonnaise, Matte Is Murder, Fuggin Ugly & Fatty's Got More Blood

I won a SELF magazine giveaway of Hint water

Hey guys! We came to the old apartment today to return our cable & internet stuff and check the mail one last time, and I found this on my doorstep!

"Congratulations on winning the SELF Healthy Foods Giveaway! We thank you for your interest in our product and hope that you agree HINT Raspberry-Lime really is the best"Flavored Water".

Enjoy and please remember that HINT is best served chilled.

Stay hydrated,
Your Friends at HINT"

As soon as I try them I'll let you guys know how they are! :D

Ftc: I received these products in a giveaway from SELF magazine. I was not paid, or even asked, to do this post.

posted from Bloggeroid

Christy Robinson Designs Giveaway!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC:  Edited:  This giveaway is now sponsored because Christy wanted to offer one of her new cruelty free leaping bunny necklaces to a lucky winner!  Thank you Christy!!

REVIEW: Cruelty-Free Cosmetics

Back in October, I received a package from Cruelty-Free Cosmetics.  Now those of you who have been with me since at least October know that it was the busiest time of 2011 for me.  I was working fifty plus hours a week so even though I wore the pigments I received and took notes, I never recorded my review.  In November I started my job at Sephora and that led me into the Holiday Season of Retail Madness.  That carried into Return Hell January, and now we find ourselves in nearly February.  Where did the last three months go!?

So I wanted to come over here and make a blog post where I could post photos and swatches a little bit easier than a photo.  This is something new for me, so I welcome suggestions for improvement.  =]

Cruelty-Free Cosmetics was started by Natallia after she went vegan and wanted more cosmetic options.  She and I had prevously been youtube friends from her previous channel, so when she started her own line, I was very excited to try it!  She sent me four pigments to try out:

From left to right: Silver Taupe, Plum Potion, Spiced Cider & Heart of Gold

Swatches and my review after the jump...

Vegan Hair Dyes

I was recently asked about what hair dye I use by a girl I met at Sephora, and truth be told, I use the least desirable "vegan" option.  But the reason I'm posting today is because I do want to change that, and share what I find with you guys.

I'm currently using Revlon hair dye, which is technically cruelty-free (but the parent company obviously isn't).  It's cheap, it's easy to find, and it doesn't bleed much, which is important when you dye your hair black all the time.  I've heard that the other options available to me tend to bleed, which is probably because they're stains, not horrible chemicals to slather on my scalp, which is pretty close to my brain.

A simple google search led me to a blog post about vegan hair dyes.  This was posted in December of 2010, and yet this has never popped up for me as a search result.. it was meant to be.  I suggest you all go and read her article.  I'm going to look into the LUSH Henna dyes more because they're the easiest for me to get my hands on, but I think I'm going to end up going the Manic Panic or Special Effects route..

Fellow vegans, what hair dyes do you use?  I'm not even necessarily going to crazy color, I tend to keep things calm and black, haha.

CO-CONTEST WITH MO!! =D

Hey guys!!  Mo and I are hosting a super exciting Valentine's Day contest!!  I hope you'll all check it out & enter!  There are two ways to enter, one being video submissions and the other photo, so there are no excuses to not participate!!  =]  All of the details are after the cut.

I emailed Sephora about cruelty-free brands.

Disclaimer: This list is obviously inaccurate.  Please check my list of cruelty free brands on the top bar.

Dear Beth,

Thank you for contacting Sephora.com.

Our private label brand Sephora Brand is cruelty free (meaning that the products have never been tested on animals). At Sephora we carry over 200 other brands and we cannot guarantee that all the products from these brands are cruelty free.

Here is a list of some of brands that we carry that do not test on animals:

Amazing Cosmetics
Anthony Logistics
B. Kamins Chemist
Balmshell
Bare Escentuals
Benefit Cosmetics
Blinc
Bliss
Boscia
Bremenn Research Labs
CARGO
Carol's Daughter
Caudalie
CHANEL
Clarins
Clean
Cosmedicine
DDF
Dermadoctor
Dr. Brandt Skincare
DuWop
Frederic Fekkai
Fresh
Jack Black
Jonathan Products
Juice Beauty
Kat Von D
Korres Natural Products
L'Occitane
Laura Mercier
LaVanila Laboratories
Murad
Mustela
NARS
Nude
Ojon
Ole Henriksen
Perfekt
Perricone MD
Peter Thomas Roth
Philosophy
Phyto
REN Clean Skincare
René Furterer
Rosebud Perfume Co.
Skyn Iceland
Smashbox
Stila Cosmetics
Tarte
TheBalm
Too Faced Cosmetics
Urban Decay
Zirh

If we can assist you further please feel free to contact us at www.sephora.com.

Sincerely,

Valerie
Sephora.com Beauty Advisor

Recap of October/November!

As November comes to a quick close (what happened to it?!), I am left to reflect on a busy and exciting two months.

October was all about Halloween, both in cosmetics and in the fact that I worked management in a Halloween Express.  Can I just say that the owner of the company is by far one of the nicest, self-motivated and wonderful people I have ever met?  Working for her, and the rest of the Halloween Express team, was a fantastic experience and I look forward to next season.  I already miss my "bosses" and my crew.  Motley as we were, we had a lot of fun as long as everyone was pulling their weight.

I got to attend a couple of Halloween events at local clubs, but I actually avoided house parties this year.  I also attended a costumed wedding (congratulations to Shaun & Jenna! ♥) and met one of my favorite musicians this year (a mister Wednesday 13, who complimented my outfit), so all in all, it was an exciting Halloween.

October gave way to November, and I relunctantly entered a month that only reminds me that the cold and Holiday Cheer are on their way.  If hating the holiday season is so goth of me, so be it.  I am not a fan, nor have I ever been.  Halloween has always had my heart.

With November came one ray of light; I started seasonally at Sephora.  I am working as a seasonal cashier, but I'm hoping that the management will agree that being a permanent member of their team is where I belong.  I already adore everyone I work with, which is not something I expected.  Usually when you get that many fabulous people into one location, at least one person is a little catty.. but that isn't the case at all.  Everyone has been super patient with my n00b questions and have been nothing but friendly to me.  I really hope I get invited to be a permanent member of the team at the end of the season, but we'll see what happens.

The aforementioned Shaun & Jenna comprise Movietown Photography, whom I recently did an amazing zombie photoshoot with.  I played both model and makeup artist, and even taught Shaun how to create face texture for zombies.  He kind of made a prosthetic by the end of it all, haha.

My Nightmare Before Christmas contest and giveaway launched on Thanksgiving, the theme is in honor of both Black Friday and the Holiday Season and all of it's Holiday Cheer.  [Does my use of capitalization on non-proper nouns make the grammar nazi in you scream?  It makes me cringe, personally; but not anymore than the Holiday Season itself.]

I've also started my holiday looks, in true Beth Br00tality fashion; a soft green eye look with dark lips.  It's a very goth Christmas around the Br00tality/1313 homestead.  j0hn's dad called him yesterday to inform him that he bought us a bright pink tree.  Pre-lit and everything; that man is my hero.

Let's back up for a moment and speak some more on the subject of j0hn's father.  Shawn [1313] is a wonderful, considerate, kind man who is honestly just a good person.  He tries to keep the peace and find the good in all.  He, however, is not naive or stupid, either.  He's very intelligent actually.  I see a lot of j0hn when I see his father; many of his good qualities come directly from him.  This is a man who doesn't necessarily "get" why j0hn and I choose to refrain from eating animals, will defend our choice to any and all who dare attack our beliefs, and even went so far as to track down a Tofurkey roast to make at Thanksgiving.  Then, he even cooked it.  And it was freaking DELICIOUS.

So all in all, the last two months have been good.  j0hn and I have also moved into a new apartment, but more on that when I have a house tour ready to debut. ♥

RELEVENT LINKS:
Contest/Giveaway:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HafAMOVTKHQ
O Christmas Tree Look:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyNhYnjfNr4

Fellow Madd Cat Tiffany's blog

So many of you are already fans of Madd Style Cosmetix, and as such, probably fans of Tiffany.  And if you're not, you need to go add her blog RIGHT NOW.  As if the fact that she's pretty amazing isn't enough inspiration, she's holding a giveaway that includes, among others, a whole lot of Madd Style piggiez!

Check it out:
http://mrsaull923.blogspot.com/2011/06/giveaway.html

Harri's Giveaway (aka GO FOLLOW HER BECAUSE SHE'S AWESOME)

So awhile back I was fortunate enough to meet a very sweet lady named Harri who also just so happens to be a blogger that you guys should check out.  If you need motivation outside of my recommendation, she just so happens to be holding a giveaway right now (BUT HURRY - It ends in about 20 hours!).

Check it out here:
http://trailerhoodchic.blogspot.com/2011/06/150-follower-giveaway-open.html

& on that note, I'll be back with something fun soon, though I have no idea what yet, haha.  =]  Maybe I'll try a phototutorial for some makeup.  It could be fun!