Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics

I recently had the chance to test out one of Goody's latest products, the Ouchless Ribbon Elastics. As a lover of all things ponytail, I was excited to see if the product lived up to its claims.

The Deets:

"Goody’s NEW Ouchless Ribbon Elastics offer you a unique hair tie to personalize your ponytail. As beautiful as ribbons but soft and stretchy too, these hair ties are “knot” your average elastic. New Ribbon Elastics are both comfortable and fashionable, plus look great in your hair or on your wrist."

The Good:

 These elastics are extremely soft and comfortable on the hair. They don't snag or pull hair out as you are taking them off. Another plus is that they don't leave unsightly dents in your hair like other elastics. The range of colors is nice and the knot tie is a cute little addition to your regular ponytail. My daughter likes to wear them on her wrist, but I'm past the days of stacking elastics. The elastics are also very reasonably priced at around $3 or $4 for a pack of five. 

The Bad:

I really wanted to love this product, but I was disappointed in the fact that I was not able to wrap the elastic around my hair enough times to really get a secure hold. I have long, thick, heavy hair so a tight wrap is essential if the ponytail is hold all day. The elastics also stretch out fairly quickly with regular use.

The Conclusion:

I would only recommend these to those with thinner hair or those who like loose ponytails. I would also recommend them to younger girls who like the look of a cute ribbon on their wrist. I will continue to use the elastics that I have, but I don't see myself purchasing them in the future.

You can check out this product and others on Goody's website.

Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color

Here's another one of the goodies that I received in my Summer Beauty Vox Box from Influenster. 

Shade that I received.

The Deets:

Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color is summer’s hottest nail trend that allows you to create a gorgeous 3-D nail art effect in just seconds. This unique formula has been specially developed with metallic particles – just hold the built-in magnet over wet polish to reveal a unique design on the nail. Seal with a topcoat for extra shine! Learn more at www.sallyhansen.com.

The Review:

This was actually a pretty cool concept, I liked the idea of creating nail art without having to pull out tiny paintbrushes and other stuff. The product was easy to use (apply two coats, hold the magnet over wet polish for 10 seconds), and was very pigmented. I didn't experience any streaking, and if I wasn't going to do the magnet part, I think I could have gotten away with just the one coat. The magnet designs were cute, but I just couldn't seem to get all of my nails to look uniform like in the photo (I think my hands were too shaky). I am in love with the gunmetal shade, though. I can see myself wearing it throughout the fall and winter. 

The Verdict:

If you are a polish fanatic, then I think this would be good polish to have in your collection. Even though I loved the color, I just can't see myself paying $9.99 for a bottle of nail polish. 

June 2012 Birchbox Review

I must say that I was nicely surprised by this month's Birchbox after not being so thrilled with my first one. Birchbox is a monthly subscription program that sends you 5-6 samples of different products each month (tailored to the answers you give on a short survey) for only $10. You can learn more here. On to the products…

BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages by Cynthia Rowley Bundle

"Klutzy fashionistas, we feel your pain and so does designer Cynthia Rowley. The fashion visionary teamed up with BAND-AID® Brand to create these haute band aids, which cover up life's little boo boos and look good doing it. The Dress-Up Adhesive Bandages feature four different patterns, ranging from rainbow sequins to mini runway shots".

I've always like Band-Aids with designs since I was little kid, and what girl doesn't need some Cynthia Rowley in her life? The designs are really cute and fun, while keeping your scratches and scrapes covered.

Scalisi Skincare Anti-Aging Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30

"This moisturizer uses innovative peptide technology you won't find anywhere else—it tricks your skin into thinking a wrinkle is a cut so collagen production increases to "heal" the wrinkle. Genius, right? Add White Tea Extract for radiance and soy proteins rich in amino acids to boost cell regeneration, and you've got yourself an anti-aging powerhouse. Plus, it meets skin cancer prevention standards set by the FDA."

Since I just turned 30 last month, this anti-aging moisturizer is right on time. Plus, it has a higher SPF than my current one. I really liked the consistency of the product, my skin felt hydrated without that greasy look, and it didn't have that sunscreen smell that most other moisturizers I've tried have. Sadly, my face broke out in little red bumps after using this for a few days. I would still recommend this product to someone with less sensitive skin, though.

theBalm® cosmetics Stainiac

"The tinted gel leaves a lasting stain on lips and cheeks. Since it's water-based, it has a longer setting time than most quick-dry stains, which means it won't leave any unsightly streaks behind as long as you take care to blend well. Use a single coat for a subtle look or layer it on for a more visible (yet still discreet) hue."

I've never tried a stain before, but it seemed simple enough. I actually liked this product a lot. A couple swipes and a coat of lip balm and I had a subtle red lippy that lasted a few hours. I didn't try it on my cheeks.

Apothederm™ Stretch Mark Cream

"The lush cream tones and reduces the look of both ancient and recent stretch marks alike. Four natural moisturizers—olive oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and meadowfoam seed oils—leave skin wondrously soft. Meanwhile, the unique SmartPeptide™ system increases collagen production, while licorice root and antioxidant-rich resveratrol fade discoloration. A dose of hyaluronic acid helps with long-lasting hydration."

The only thing I can say about this product is that it left my skin really soft. I didn't notice any improvement in my stretch marks, but I didn't expect to see any visible results because this is just a sample size and not enough for the weeks of use that I'm sure it would take for the product to really work.

John Varvatos Star U.S.A.

"The manly scent combines red ginger essence from Laos, juniper berries and cedrat from Sicily, blue spruce, green cardamom, osmanthus, vetyvert, belambre, and tonka bean from Venezuela."

I gave this to my husband to try. He thought it was a nice scent, just not for him.

CleanWell Hand Sanitizing Wipes

"These alcohol-free wipes use thyme oil, a natural anti-bacterial, plus super hydrating aloe vera."

These were a nice addition to the box. No stinging or excessive dryness because they're alcohol free. As a mom I keep hand sanitizer (gel/wipes) everywhere, so these went straight into my purse.

Did you like your June box as much as I liked mine?

My First Birchbox

After hearing so many great things about Birchbox from different bloggers and on social media sites, I decided to see what is was all about. My beauty routine is all but nonexistent, all I use is cleanser and a moisturizer with SPF. Did I mention that I'm not much of a makeup girl, either? I don't wear it on a daily basis, and even on the occasions when I do wear it, I only wear eyeliner and eyeshadow. I wonder if Maybelline Baby Lips counts as makeup? Probably not, especially since I only wear the Peppermint which is clear, lol. So you can see why this program would be a good fit for me. I get to try samples of different products, that could possibly become part of my routine, without committing to buying a full size product. Sounds good, right? You can read more about Birchbox here.

This month's box was Gossip Girl themed. The samples were "inspired by by the series and Manhattan's chIcest events". The box itself was very Manhattan:

 

Here's a shot of the products:

 

BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Toilette Spray

Color Club Summer Pastels Collection (Clambake Coral)

Kiehl's Abyssine Cream +

Ojon damage reverse Restorative Conditioner

Blank Notecard

I haven't tried any of the products yet, but they do seem promising. I want to use the products for at least a week or two before I do a review to ensure that I'm giving the products a fair chance to produce the results that they claim. So be on the lookout for a review post.