I Do Vox Box Part 1

I recently received a complimentary I Do VoxBox from Influenster, in exchange for my honest review. In this box, there were 7 products. I will be reviewing them in two separate parts. The first part today will talk about the make-up products. The I Do VoxBox is full of products meant to be essential on your wedding day.
 

COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstick & Stay Luminous Foundation (with a Lunker tail on the side)

COVEGIRL Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation ($11.30)

This foundation is designed to “outlast even your most important day.” I like that they sent a full size foundation and that it’s a drugstore foundation. Not every bride can afford to hire someone to do their make-up, or afford high end beauty products. I received the shade 820. For my current skin tone, the color I was sent is a little light. But that’s because it’s summer and I’ve been outside a lot so I’ve gotten pretty tan. I think that for my non-tanned skin tone, it will work very well.

I love the packaging for this foundation. I love that it is glass and I love that it has a push top. The push top also has a lock setting, so between that and the lid, you are really sure that the foundation won’t dry out or become full of germs. 

Left side (looking at the picture) with foundation, right side no foundation

I tried to take a picture of my face with half of it covered with foundation and the other half bare, but my camera and lighting was not cooperating, so this is the best I could do. Hopefully, you can see a different.

I like that this foundation has no scent and is easy to work with. At first, it looks like it’s going to be a little drying, but then once it settles it looks very natural. I also found that it didn’t stick to any of my dry/psoriasis patches. It also was a semi-matte foundation. It didn’t make me look oily, but it didn’t completely flatten my skin. I would agree with the description that it has a luminosity to it.

I would classify this foundation as a medium coverage foundation. I don’t typically wear foundation, so I honestly don’t have a lot of experience, but I would say that this covered redness, but I still needed concealer to cover up some darker spots. The wear time on this was also very good. I wore it on a day when I was out and about and I didn’t feel like I needed massive touch-ups. I could see that with a good setting spray or powder, this foundation could definitely work for a wedding day. 

COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstick ($9.80)

I received the Outlast Lipstick in 920 Red Revenge. Again, as a product from their Outlast line, this lipstick is meant to last all day. The color I received is a little more orange than I would have picked for myself, but I was surprised by how much I liked it! 

This lipstick is creamy and easy to apply. It has a matte finish, but is not drying at all. It is also very pigmented. I loved that even though it was a red, I was able to put it on without a library and not worry about it. It boasts long wear and moisture and I would say and it delivers. The only negative is that this does not pass the kiss test, so I can’t see it being a wedding day product. When I kissed the back of my hand, my lip marks showed up 100%. This would be a big problem on my wedding day, as I plan on kissing my husband to be. The last thing that I (or he) want to worry about is my lip color on his face. I also would say that I feel like it’s a little overpriced. I like the packaging, but don’t think it’s amazing. I don’t know if it would catch my eye in the store more over other products. Now that I’ve tried it though, I will definitely be looking at other colors from this line.

Indeed Labs nanoblur ($19.99)

The Indeed nanoblur is meant to give skin an air-brushed look with a matte finish. In theory, this would be great for a wedding. No bride wants her skin to look shiny or imperfect in her wedding pictures. I had to read the instructions to figure out exactly how this product is meant to be applied, as I wasn’t sure whether it was a moisturizer, primer, or something totally different. 

I’m not a fan of the box that it comes in, as I feel like it looks more like medicine than make-up. I do like the tube that it’s in though. 

The consistency of the product is weird. It comes out like a Vaseline, but doesn't spread at all. When I tried to spread it on my face it didn't move and I felt like I really had to tug to get it on. Maybe I'm applying it wrong? Either way, I think this product needs better directions.

The directions state that if you are not wearing make-up, you can apply this product to your face after your moisturizer. If you are wearing make-up, you should pat this over your make-up when you are done. I did not follow these directions completely and that as a big mistake. I put the product on and then decided to put on my concealer. BAD BAD idea. When I tried to put concealer on top of this product it would not move. The concealer clung to the product and clung to my dry spots like none other. It was absolutely horrible. Also, asyou can tell by my need for concealer application, I didn’t feel like this gave me an air-brushed look. It doesn’t take any redness away, and I would say it makes pores maybe look slightly smaller?

Either way, for $20 I would not purchase this product. I think that these products are good in theory, but not in execution. I will try it again and follow directions to really see if it works, but I can’t see this doing much. I also will have to try it on top of foundation to see how it spreads.

Neutrogena Hand Cream ($3.99)

Considering that everyone will be looking at your hands on your wedding day, you definitely want them looking pretty. Also, since I’m from Chicago, I am always looking for a good hand cream for the winter.

The cream is fragranace free and also states that it’s dermatologist recommended. I do actually see a lot of Neutrogena samples at my dermatologist, so I do know that this brand is good for people with sensitive skin. The consistency is a little like Vaseline, so I was a little worried when it came out. A lot of the time, Vaseline type creams don’t spread well and make your hands very greasy. This cream spreads very easily. It did make my hands a little greasy, but it went away quickly. My hands were left feeling very soft but a little bit slippery. I think that I used too much product so all over the packaging and the description, it states that a little goes a long way with this product. I do really like that this can be a multi-use product. It states that you can use this on your knees, elbows, face, and lips. This is great for your wedding day, and even your honeymoon, when you can’t pack a million products.

This box has had some hits and misses for me. I really like both of the COVERGIRL products and am thankful for the chance to try them out. I think that the foundation would be a great addition to any wedding make-up bag. While I love the color and formulation of the lipstick, I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re going for a very neutral color. Or if you have a husband-to-be who doesn’t mind getting a little lipstick on him.

The Indeed nanoblur was a big miss for me. This product did not sit well on my face and did not seem to do anything. On top of that, for $19.99 it seemed like it should do more. I would not recommend this particular product from them.

Finally, the Neutrogena hand cream is a great addition to my life. I always love products that can be used for more than one thing and I think it would be a great one to have in your wedding bag. I will also be sharing this one with my fiancé as he gets really dry hands. A bonus for both of us!

In the next part, I will discuss the 2 food products and the URGENTRx Ache & Pain Relief. 

Between the Notes

By: Sharon Huss Roat
Published Year: 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 400

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): When Ivy Emerson’s family loses their house—complete with her beloved piano—the fear of what’s to come seizes her like a bad case of stage fright. Only this isn’t one of her single, terrifying performances. It’s her life.

And it isn’t pretty.

Ivy is forced to move with her family out of their affluent neighborhood to Lakeside, also known as “the wrong side of the tracks.” Hiding the truth from her friends—and the cute new guy in school, who may have secrets of his own—seems like a good idea at first. But when a bad boy next door threatens to ruin everything, Ivy’s carefully crafted lies begin to unravel . . . and there is no way to stop them.

As things get to the breaking point, Ivy turns to her music, some unlikely new friends, and the trusting heart of her disabled little brother. She may be surprised that not everyone is who she thought they were . . . including herself.

                                                        First Impressions

I was first made aware of this book through a Goodreads email. The cover sort of caught my eye, but not enough that I clicked on it. Then I heard about it again through the Debut Author’s Challenge hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl and finally read the summary. What made me want to read it was the music part of the story. I am a dancer and played the violin from 4th grade until I graduated high school so music holds a special place in my heart. It definitely appealed to me, so I added it to my TBR.

                                                         What I thought

This is probably one of the strongest Debut Author books that I’ve read this year. It definitely did not read like a first novel and I found it to be a very strong book overall.

Ivy has always lived in the same house on the right side of the tracks. Her family has always been well off and had no concerns with money. She has twin younger siblings (10 years younger), one of whom has mental disabilities. Between a bad economy and having to pay for therapies for her younger brother, her family has gone broke. They have to sell their house and move into a “small” apartment (it’s three bedrooms and three floors, one of which is an attic, but they do have a family of 5) that’s on the wrong side of the tracks. In fact, her new neighbor is the high school’s most notorious drug dealer. Ivy tries to juggle the complexities of her new living situation, her family, and trying to keep her move a secret while navigating the everyday life of a 16 year old.

I was a little surprised that I didn’t hate Ivy. It could have gone very bad with a privileged teenager becoming poor but still trying to act like she was rich around her friends.  Somehow, Roat makes Ivy more than a rich snob, so that the reader doesn’t immediately want to smack her in the face. Yes, she has her moments where she is 100% a rich snob, but she has an innocence about her behavior that shows that she’s able to change who she is and grow up a little bit.

While there are bits and pieces of the book that are predictable (I’m looking at you love triangle), Roate handles it in a way that you start double guessing whether it’s really going to be predictable. I liked that even though I was 90% sure that something was going to happen, she made me question a few times whether or not I was still sure.

I also felt like Roat did a great job at developing all of her side characters. I felt like I knew Lennie, Reesa, James, and even Brady and Ivy’s mom almost as well as I knew Ivy. Over the past year, I’ve really learned that if I don’t like characters or feel connected to them, a book does nothing for me. I felt connected to these characters almost immediately and ended up finishing this book in a little over 24 hours because I liked hanging out with them.

While the story isn’t life changing or the most unique story that I’ve ever read, there were a lot of unique aspects to it that stopped it from being boring. I liked all of the characters and would gladly read more about them. I don’t think that I’d re-read this, but it’s possible, but I wouldn’t purchase it for my shelves. I think that this is a strong debut and I look forward to reading more by Roat. Even though I knew some of what was going to happen, I found that I didn’t want to put this book down until I finished it. If you like girl moves to the wrong side of the tracks kinds of stories, you will really enjoy this one. 
 

PS I Still Love You

Sorry for the bit of a break on the blog! I got a bit busy with July 4th weekend and then wedding stuff just started taking over my life. We're in the 3 month stretch, so I apologize in advanced if posts become sporadic. I'm going to try my best to keep everything consistent.

By: Jenny Han
Published Year: 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 337

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.
When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing.

                                                         First Impressions

Last summer I read To All the Boys I Loved Before. I wasn’t blown away by it, but thought that it was cute. The way the book ended was open for a second book and I was curious enough about the characters to want to read more. I was excited to read the second book because I remember being really interested in the characters by the end.

                                                           What I thought

This book is another case of “everyone loves this book so I must love this book!” Even though I didn’t greatly enjoy the first one, I think I blocked out how underwhelmed I was because of the hype surrounding this one. I was excited to read this book and overall was again, underwhelmed.

P.S. I Still Love You picks up right where To All the Boys left off. Peter and Lara Jean have fought/broken up because of the rumor that they had sex in a hot tub at the ski lodge. This book follows their relationship as it continues to grow and face more rumors. On top of that, Lara Jean hears from the one boy whose letter she didn’t get back in the first book.

I think my biggest issue with this book (and probably the other one) is that I don’t really like Lara Jean. I like her dad, and her sisters, and I like the relationship she has with her sisters, but I don’t like her. I also was a little bummed that Josh was not in this book AT ALL. I also felt like this story could’ve been told in less pages. Of all the YA books that I’ve read lately, I would say this is the least mature. It has a lot of those irritating high school girl things going on. For example, when you find out why Genevieve is so mean to Lara Jean it’s just like really? That’s so minor and stupid and ridiculous. It’s not unbelievable, because I know that teenage girls hold grudges about stupid little things, but I think I’m just too old to handle that in a book anymore.
 

I don’t want to say too much about this book because I don’t want to spoil it for anybody who hasn’t read it yet. It wasn’t bad. I wouldn’t re-read it and there are other YA books I would recommend over these ones. I think that To All the Boys was a little better than this one, but it wasn’t terrible.
 

Old Navy Haul

Summer time means time for new tops and shorts! I find that every summer my closet is missing something essential. Last year, I felt like I had only solid t-shirts and needed ones with patterns. Now I feel like I only own patterned shirts and needed solids. I also wanted a few tanks to get me through the hotter months of summer.

I have a few store websites that I check out frequently, even though I don’t typically buy anything from them. Old Navy is one of those stores. I’ll often flip through the pages of new arrivals and see a few cute things but nothing worth my time. This time, I saw so many cute tees and tanks that I knew I needed to stop in. Luckily, the day that I decided to go they were having a 60% off sale! This was totally coincidental but worked out in my favor. I also had a $10 rewards from Gap that could be used at Old Navy.

The first thing that I got was what I went in looking for- solid tees. I tried on solid t-shirts in practically every fit; boyfriend, relaxed, fitted, and they are honestly all so different. For me, the style that fit best was the relaxed fit. I was super excited because they were all on sale for $8 (typically $12.94)! I picked up a few different colors. Below is me wearing the neon pink.
 

I also purchased a bright orangey/peachy and an olive green. I’m excited for these because the pink and orange will be great for the spring and summer, and the olive will be great year round. 

On my way to the register I, of course, had to stop and peek at the jewelry. I am a sucker for an inexpensive statement necklace. I’m a big believer that adding the right accessory can really make your outfit. It just adds a little more and makes it look like you put a lot of thought into it, when really you didn’t. This one is a lot of fun and unlike anything I own. It was on sale for $6.50.
 

The next thing that I found was a tank top. Again, they have these in all different fits so it’s difficult to know which will look best. Personally, I really liked the boyfriend style with the tank. It fit me the best in the underarms and the straps which is the most difficult part to fit for me. This was also on sale for $8 (typically $15.94). 

While looking around, I also found a cute pair of tribal print shorts. I have been searching for a cute pair of printed shorts since last summer. I bought a pair at Target last year, but when I tried them on at home, they just didn’t look good. I love that this pair has some subtle neon running through it but can be toned down with a neutral top. These were on sale for $ (typically $19.94) Below are the shorts paired with the boyfriend tank.
 

The tank below is one that I saw on the website and specifically wanted to try. I like that it is white (which I typically stay away from) but has the pattern on it to make it a little more interesting. I think that this one can also be work appropriate under a nice cardigan.
 

The final thing that I bought (but didn’t take a picture of) was a pair of work out capris.

Overall this trip was a huge success! There was one tank that I went to the store with the desire to try on that they didn’t have in my size, but it’s not the end of the world. If you’re looking for some nice summer basics, I would highly recommend checking out Old Navy. The t-shirts that I got are all a really decent quality. They don’t feel like they only cost $8. They also have some nice trendy pieces that are inexpensive. If there’s a trend that I want to try, I prefer not to spend a lot of money on it since it won’t be a piece that I’ll keep for years to come.

Have you bought any fun summer things lately?

June 2015 Favorites

Books

My Life Next Door By: Huntley Fitzpatrick (Review)

Life by Committee By: Corey Ann Haydu

P.S. I Still Love You By: Jenny Han

Happiness for Beginners By: Katherine Center

The Fill-In Boyfriend By: Kasie West

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (#1) By: Ann Brashares (Review)

The Night We Said Yes By: Lauren Gibaldi (Review)

Saint Anything By: Sarah Dessen

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood (#2) By: Ann Brashares

The Isle of the Lost By: Melissa de la Cruz

What I Thought Was True By: Huntley Fitzpatrick

Favorite book I read this month: My Life Next Door. This was just such a feel good book and the perfect book to kick off my summer reading. I loved everything about the story and the characters and it got me out of a little reading rut. It also exposed me to a new author, which is always a fun thing. I’m looking forward to reading more by Fitzpatrick and for the companion novel coming out in August.
 

Beauty

I have been in such a beauty slump lately. I’ve been feeling really lazy with my makeup and haven’t felt like putting anything on in the morning. Because of this, I haven’t found any new products I’m crazy about. I’ve been sticking to my routine of concealer and mascara and that’s been about it. This is also why my beauty posts have been lacking. 

Buys

Bath and Body Works Love (Hearts & Flowers) Candle

I am obsessed with Bath and Bodyworks candles. I love their scents, I think they’re decently priced (if you get them on sale) and the burn wonderfully. The scent payoff is one of the best that I’ve found and they burn evenly and for a long period of time. I found this candle in their semi-annual sale and it smells just like summer to me. It’s described as pink peonies, sparkling orange, and sweet blueberries. There’s a bit of a sunscreen scent in it to me, which just makes it
perfect. 


Rebecca Minkoff Bangle

I have had my eye on the bangle for months. A few months back when I was at Nordstrom, an associate commented that she liked my Rebecca Minkoff handbag. She then asked me if I knew that they had started carrying her jewelry. Of course, I immediately ran over to check it out. The first thing I spotted was this bracelet and I fell in love. However, at $48 I wasn’t ready to commit. I knew I had a Nordstrom Note coming, so I decided to wait and use that to offset the cost. However, I just kept putting it off and putting it off. I went to check it out the other day (for no other reason that I was bored) and saw that it was on sale for $28! It went right into my bag and I am so excited to finally own this. I think it’s a great simple bracelet that can go with any outfit.

Miscellaneous

Women's World Cup

I am a soccer nut. I LOVE all things soccer. My favorite team is the Spain national team and I get overly excited every 2 years with the European Cup and World Cup. This is my first year watching the Women's World Cup, and I'm really enjoying it! It definitely helps that the US Women's team is so good, but  in general it's been fun to have some soccer to watch this summer.
 

January 2015 Favorites

Books

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy #1) By: Deborah Harkness (Review)

The Book Thief By: Markus Zusak (Book Club Jan Review)

The Rosie Effect By: Graeme Simsion (Review)

The Phantom Tollbooth By: Norton Juster (Review)

Once Upon a Grind  (Coffee House Mystery) By: Cleo Coyle

The Conspiracy of Us By: Maggie Hall

The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories #1) By: Chris Colfer

Love Story By: Erich Segal (Book Club Feb)

The Winner’s Curse By: Marie Rutkoski

Ugly Love By: Colleen Hoover

Favorite book this month: Another last minute favorite! There was no stand out favorite this month until I read The Winner’s Curse. This book is really good. I’ll have a review up soon where I’ll rave all about it. It was different from a lot that I’ve read lately and also lived up to expectations.

                                                                      Beauty

Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa Face Mask ($58)

I am obsessed with the Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa face masks. I received a sample of this mask in my Birchbox and immediately fell in love. It smells like tea and has a nice cooling sensation when you put it on. That sensation even lasts a little when you wash it off. The mask is exfoliating, so when you’re taking it off it gently exfoliates your skin. It’s one of few masks that I’ve seen instant reductions in redness. It is a little pricey, but I found some tubes for half off at Anthropologie! I only wish I had picked up a few more.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer ($24)
This isn’t necessarily a January only favorite, but I ran out at the beginning of the month and realized how much I need it. I love this concealer. It covers up spots really well and doesn’t cling to dry skin. It’s really really creamy. In my opinion, creamier than the NARS creamy concealer. Highly recommend this if you like creamy concealers.

                                                                          Buys

Rebecca Minkoff Handbag

I purchased a super cute handbag from Hautelook. While I have used it yet (it’s a spring color so I probably won’t break it out for a while), I love it! I can’t wait to use it. If you don’t know what Hautelook is, keep your eye out for a post next week where I explain it. It’s wonderful.

                                                                Miscellaneous

Newsies

Oh My Goodness. I can’t explain how good this show is. I saw it at the very beginning of January and immediately wanted to see it again. The dancing is worth the entire show. The guys are al beyond talented and so much fun to watch. The songs are fun and everyone’s voices were really strong. I can’t wait for it to come back to Chicago so that I can see it again!

Gilmore Guys Podcast

Gilmore girls has been a favorite of mine since it first aired. Since coming out on Netflix, it has become a favorite again as I’ve been slowly re-watching all of it. My friend Stephanie shared with all of us that there was a really funny podcast called Gilmore Guys. I was a little wary of it because I’ve never found myself to be a fan of podcasts. However, all of my friends started listening to it and talking about it and it sounded hilarious. Guys, this podcast is the best. It’s hosted by two guys, Kevin and Demi, and they watch the episodes and talk about them (sometimes with guests sometimes without). Kevin has been a fan of the show since it first came out, Demi has never seen the show before. It’s hilarious. I can’t recommend it enough.