New Sephora Beauty Insider Benefit: Birthday Gift 2013

This year's Sephora Beauty Insider birthday gift is a deluxe size they're real! mascara and watt's up! champagne highlighter compliments of Benefit. Last year I received Fresh Sugar Kisses Mini Lip Duo. 

If you're not a Sephora Beauty Insider, go sign up now!

There are so many perks of being a SBI:

• For every dollar you spend at Sephora, one point is added to your Beauty Bank
• Exchange points for must have beauty and exclusive rewards, ranging from 100 to 500 points like gift sets, deluxe samples and one time only offers from our brand partners
• Beauty Insiders also get first access to new products, limited edition products and invites to special events
• Major beauty junkie?  Upgrade your status to VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider) if you spend more than $350 annually and get elevated benefits such as access to special events, beauty concierge and special gifts. 

"Sephora is dedicated to giving our best clients, Beauty Insiders, fun generous birthday gifts each and every year.  We couldn't be more pleased with our partner this year, Benefit, as they embody fun glamorous beauty with everything they do, including birthdays," says Sarah Choi, Vice President of Sephora Beauty Insider.  "Birthdays are a day to celebrate YOU and we at Benefit couldn't be more excited to be a part of the amazing birthday gift program for Sephora Beauty Insiders.  We're hoping our token of appreciation brings a big smile to your face and adds of touch of glitz and glamour to your very special day!" says Maggie Ford Danielson, Benefit Global Beauty Authority. 

To learn more about Beauty Insider, VIB or to sign up go to:  Sephora Beauty Insider

Sephora x Pantone - Get The Hottest Beauty Picks for March

If you know beauty, then you know that Sephora is always on top of their game when it comes to fashion and beauty trends. Sephora and Pantone have collaborated to bring you beauty products so that you can be on trend with the color of the year, Emerald. 

 

THE POWER OF PERSONALIZED POLISH $10
Mix glitter, shimmer, and cream finishes to create your own Emerald nails, with longwearing, full-coverage in two coats. SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE Color Charged Graphic Nail Lacquer offers high-shine, chip-resistant formula in the true Color of the Year – EMERALD!

THE POWER OF WET/DRY EYESHADOW $26
The universally flattering, versatile formula of the SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE Color Grid Shadow Block in Elemental intensifies with water and stays put without creasing due to the high performance pigments.  Infused with real diamond dust for a lustrous, iridescent finish, your eyes will be sparkling like an emerald gemstone.

THE POWER OF EMERALD IN NUMBERS $68
Housing the most potent, pigmented products from SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE; the Color of the Year Emerald collection, this limited edition set includes everything you need to create high-impact Emerald looks that will leave everyone around you green with envy!

THE POWER OF HIGH-ENERGY MASCARA $18
Intensely pigmented mascara in Emerald, The Color of The Year, SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE Color Watt Highlighting Mascara's volumizing formula plumps and builds lashes to their fullest. Use this mascara all over your lashes or on the tips over black mascara for a flirty finish.

THE POWER OF SONIC CLEANSING $149
With its patented, sonic oscillating brush, the Clarisonic Mia2 Sonic Skin Cleansing Brush in EMERALD cleanses skin six times better than hands alone.  The two speed model with a 60 second pulsing T-timer offers exceptional cleansing control that preps the skin for maximum absorption of serums, moisturizers and night creams. 

THE POWER OF LUXURY FRAGRANCE $205
Designer Tom Ford captures the essence of the Italian Riviera with a lush blend of neroli, bergamot, orange flower and amber in his luxurious fragrance Neroli Portofino.  The chic, effervescent scent can be worn by both women and men.

THE POWER OF POTENT HAIR SHADOW $15
ColorSmash Hair Shadow's extreme, high-payoff also boasts a soft, buildable formula that allows for an unexpected pop of emerald from subtle to shocking. Color glides on easily and seals with hairspray—then washes off during your next shampoo.  With gentle pigments safe for all hair types, invite your indecisive side out to play with color! 

Covergirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara In Black 865 Review

"The fiberstretch formula and oversized brush make every little lash bigger, fuller, longer-looking, and more dramatic."

LashBlast Fusion is Covergirl's first ever mascara that gives your lashes length and volume. Isn't that every woman's ideal mascara?

Covergirl claims: 

• Super volumizing + buildable fiber-strength lengthening
• Thickens and extends the look of your natural lashes
• Signature blast brush

This mascara comes in a purple thick tube. The wand has little rubber bristles that help to separate every lash. They start little at the tip and gradually get longer. The wand is thicker than what I'm used to since lately, I've been using Maybelline Great Lash Lots Of Lashes Mascara. 

Application was very easy and it really lenghtened my lashes. No clumps. It did not however give much volume. So I say the look wasn't very dramatic. The mascara did last on my lashes all day and did not flake at all. It was also easy to remove which is a plus. 

CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara & Wand

 

Close Up Of CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara Wand

CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara in Black 865

CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara Wand with Mascara

Before and After: CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara

 You can definitely see a difference in my lashes!

Pros:

Easy To Apply

Gives good length

Easy Removal

Great Price

Cons: 

Little Volume

 If you're looking for a good mascara that will not give you any problems, LashBlast Fusion is perfect. You can purchase it at Covergirl or Target at $7.99 for 0.44 fl. oz. This mascara also comes in four different colors: Very Black 800, Black 865, Black Brown 810, and Brown 815. 

I would definitely purchase this mascara when I run out. 

Disclaimer: I received this mascara from Allure through a giveaway with P & G Beauty. All opinions are my own and honest. Winning the giveaway did not affect my views/opinions on the Covergirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara. 

 

  

   

Sneak Peek: What's in my Birchbox and ipsy this month?

Due to Hurricane Sandy, I believe both Birchbox and ipsy's shipments were delayed a bit. It was a wonderful surprise to get them both today. I'm just going to show you beauties what I received in my packages and then do a review later this week. If it wasn't for my children's school potluck last night, I would have been happy to do them both yesterday.

Birchbox

-Lulu Organics Lavender + Clary Sage Hair Powder

-ModelCo FIBRE LASHXTEND Lengthening Mascara

-Mox Botanicals Pomegranate & Fig Lip Butter

-One Love Organics Aromatic Body Serum

-John Varvatos Artisan

Ipsy

-nailtini Nail Lacquer in Millionaire

-theBalm Meet Matte Eyeshadow

-bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Dare Devil

-Starlet Cosmetics Intense Eyeliner in Black

-benefit Cosmetics They're Real beyond mascara

I can't wait to try all these products. Some of the brands are new to me.Which of these have you tried and love?

Join Birchbox 

Join ipsy

September Faves

At the end of each month, I would love to try to showcase my fave items that I've been using constantly for that month. I would've done this post on Sunday but I had just arrived back home from a road trip to Florida to visit my sister-in-law and met my first nephew. So here it goes:

 

Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector with SPF 15. Perfect for days when you don't want a lot of coverage. I'm big on wearing SPF. It has to be in my moisturizer or foundation.

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Natural. This blush has a mini brush in the bottom which is perfect to have in your purse. Claims to keep you in a good mood.

mark. LipClick SPF 15 Color Shine Lipstick in Pinkie. I LOVE this color. Great for all skin tones. You can purchase this through my eboutique 

mark Lash Act Build and Define Mascara is amazing! Customize your lashes with this innovative brush that delivers two different looks with a quick twist! Brush on the non-smudging, non-clumping formula to build full, flirty lashes or turn the top of the wand for a brush that literally lengthens before your eyes. You can purchase this from my eboutique. 

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Cherry Me is awesome for days when you want some color without the boldness of a lipstick. Perfect for a sheer red lip. 

Maybelline EyeStudio Color Tattoo 24 HR Cream Gel Shadow in Bad to the Bronze is great for everyday wear. It's a color that goes with everything which is why I've been wearing it almost everyday! :)

I got the smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer when I purchased the Try It Kit from Sephora. I love how it feels buttery soft on my skin. I love to mix this with my Garnier BB Cream for an even more flawless coverage.