Alanna Renne's Magical World Collection from Color4Nails

Alanna Renee's Magical World collection is pretty...well, magical!  Color4Nails sent me three shades from the Harry Potter inspired Magical World collection to swatch and review.  Alanna Renee is only available from her in Austrailia, but lucky for you guys Color4Nails carries and ships worldwide!

Chocolate Frog is inspired by my absolute favorite candy in the Harry Potter universe.  I can see the inspiration for this comes from the chocolate frog wrapping of blue and gold.  The base is a deep ocean blue filled with holo gold and brown glitters that are beautiful in the light.  With this glitter heavyweight I needed a top coat to seal all the glitters in but I didn't mind since they are so reflective.

Dementor is a beautiful black beauty.  This black base is full of silver and grey mixed glitters.  This is so packed with glitters that it almost seems metallic at first glance.  Nope!  It's just all that glittery goodness.  This polish was inspired by those nasty demeanors from Harry Potter.  I don't even want to use nasty in the same sentence though because of how beautiful it is.  Formula was fantastic and full of glitter in every stroke.  

I did not think that I was going to like Drink of Despair at first.  I'm not really a green girl and this is as emerald green as the Emerald City.  On the nail though Drink of Despair has so much depth.  It is as if you're lost in a deep green, sparkly ocean.  I got a ton of complements on this color.  The glitter was catching everyones eye.

To pick up Drink of Despair, Dementor or Chocolate Frog world wide just head over to the Color4Nails facebook and send your order via message or email.  You can also see all the other lovely polishes that Color4Nails carries.  

July Ipsy Glam Bag 2013

Ipsy time!  This months theme is beach beauty.

Ipsy has been getting really creative with their bags lately!  This one is a cylindrical, see through pink.

On the front is the cute Ipsy stamp.

First thoughts on this bag are, yay!  There are two nail polishes!!! I'm in nail ninja heaven.  My products were Nicole by OPI Pretty in Plum, Nailtini Mai Tai, Coola Mineral Sunscreen SPF 20 Face Moisturizer, BigSexyHair Weather Proof Humidity Resistant Hair Spray, BH Cosmetics California Collection Eyeshadow Sampler and Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Lip Crayon in Coral Crush....say that last one five times fast. ;)

Coola Mineral Sunscreen SPF 20 Face Moisturizer: Sample Size

This one I didn't price since it's a small sample.  Usually Ipsy doesn't give small samples like this and goes for larger deluxe, travel size or full size products.  This stuff does sound pretty cool though!  Here is what Ipsy told me about this sunscreen; "a clear, Titanium Dioxide based formula (for those who are Zinc sensitive) made with 98% natural ingredients. Organic Acai Oil - high in Omegas-3/6/9, Vitamins B1/2/3, plus antioxidant Vitamins C and E - delivers a powerful defense against aging. Organic Sunflower Seed Extract promotes elasticity while organic Linseed Oil, containing Alpha-Linolenic Acids, reduces redness and irritation. The phyto-protector Plankton Extract rejuvenates, as organic Cucumber Extract calms skin."  Plus it's waterproof for up to 40 minutes which is perfect for the beach!  I can't wait to bring this with me and try it out.  Enter the code IPSY at coolasuncare.com to get 30% off your order!

BigSexyHair Weather Proof Humidity Resistant Hair Spray: $6 Travel Size (3.4 oz)

Ipsy must be in my head.  I have been worried at my new job with the summer humidity frizzing out my hair that I constantly give off the appearance of being a crazy person.  Then Ipsy comes along and hand delivers me this!  I used it as soon as I opened the bag as a light mist over my head and smoothed it in.  It does harden hair a bit but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.  My hair stayed nice and frizz free for practically the whole rest of the day.  I may have to upgrade to a full size when I run out! Good thing Ipsy included a coupon.  Enter 108723 at checkout to get $5 off any $25 order or more on ulta.com.  

Pop Pouty Pop Lip Crayon in Coral Crush: $4.50 Full Size

Pop Beauty sells their Pop Pouty Pop Crayons in a set of 6 for $25.  Ipsy sent out one in each bag this month.  My color is Coral Crush, a bright preppy pink.  On this skin the color was translucent so it wasn't as bright.  Use the code POPLUVSIPSY at checkout on popbeautycosmetics.com to get 20% off your entire order.  

The Pop Pouty Crayon leaves a minty tingle on your lips that plumps and rounds lips.  I like the bright color for summer on my skin tone.  It has a matte looking finish so I like to top it with a gloss for extra sparkle and shine.  

BH Cosmetics Hollywood Eyeshadow Sampler: $3 Sampler

This palette includes an eyeshadow from each of the BH Cosmetics California Collections.  One from Hollywood, San Francisco and Malibu.  The full palettes include 16 eyeshadows and four blushes/bronzers with a fold out mirror, each palette retails for $17.95 but they are on sale now for only $9.95.  Hollywood is a matte purple, San Francisco is a baked bronze with slight shimmer and Malibu is a super shimmery metallic yellow.  Malibu reminds me of a more yellow version of Urban Decay's Maui Wowie.  I've never tried BH Cosmetics before but heard that they were a wonderful affordable cosmetics option.

Hollywood was not very pigmented on the skin.  It clung to creases on the skin and didn't hold well to smooth areas.  The purple looks very pretty in the pan but it just didn't translate well.  San Franscisco is a pretty bronze with shimmer.  It was slightly more pigmented but still a little washed out compared to the shade in the pan.  Malibu was the shade I really liked!  It clung to the skin very well and gave an even shade.  The shimmery yellow picked up light and was very reflective.  Enter the code IPSY on bhcosmetics.com/ipsy to get 10% off any California Collection Palette.

Nailtini Mai Tai: $13 Full Size

I have gotten Nailtinis before in Ipsy bags and I always like the shades but this may be my favorite! Mai Tai is a bright color (it matches the Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon I got!) in the bottle.  On the nail it actually dries a shade darker but I still love it.  The formula was exceedingly easy to work with and I only needed two coats for full coverage.  I wore this yesterday with my Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon and some coral bracelets with a black dress for a dash of color and got a lot of complements.  Enter the code hot4ipsy at checkout on tinibeauty.com to get 30% off your purchase!

Nicole by OPI Pretty in Plum: $7 Full Size 

Nicole by OPI Pretty in Plum is from the Selena Gomez collection.  This is not a regular Ipsy bag product, I received this as an extra for referring two friends last month to Ipsy.  I usually don't buy Nicole by OPI but I was pleasantly surprised by this shade.  It was practically a one coater and was very pretty purple with subtle pink shimmer that shifts in the light.  Thanks for the extra Ipsy!

Overall I got a good value this month with my products totaling around $35.  Not bad when you're only paying $10 a month!  I love that I got two polishes.  The BigSexyHair Weather Proof hair spray and Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Lip Crayon are awesome products!  The BH Cosmetics California sampler was so-so since two of the shades were not very pigmented.  The Coola Sunscreen will be a nice item to use on a day out and we'll see how it holds up then.

Interested in signing up for your own Ipsy bag?  Just click here and take their beauty quiz!  They'll match you with products to try out each month all packaged in a cute keepsake Ipsy bag.  It's only $10 a month and you always get more than you paid for!  You can cancel at anytime without penalty.

July Julep Maven 2013

My July Julep Maven box has arrived!  

Last July I remember being bummed.  They had two limited colors for 4th of July and one for Canada too.  I added on the colors but since add ons shipped separately I didn't get them until after the 4th and I missed out on the celebration.  Thats not an issue anymore!  This month Julep started shipping add ons in the same box as your monthly Maven products!  Hip hip hooorayyy!  No more waiting and extra week for the rest of my products.  

This month I switched from bombshell to the it girl box.  I wasn't interested in their Beach Tonic skin oil since I"m so pasty white I never go outside in the daytime.  Instead of getting the product I went for more polish and got the Sea Salt Texture Spray as my add on.  This months extra is a pack of 40 Green Tea Facial Blotting Papers. 

My colors this month were Tracy, Nadia and Angela.  

The Sea Salt Texture Spray can be used on hair damp or wet and gives you sun kissed, beach waves!  I used it before going out and scrunched my hair up nice.  It gave me some pretty nice waves all night!

Juleps Green Tea Facial Blotting Papers are pretty amazing.  I never thought I had oily skin until I used these!  My new job has been sucking up all my time.  I threw these in my lunch bag and used them when my day was halfway over.  I couldn't believe how much oil these things slurped up.  I felt nice, light and refreshed after using them and the added kicker was that they left my makeup perfectly in place.    

Did I mention these have a wonderful sweet, green tea scent?  Mmmmmm.

Julep Angela was a two coater for me.  This duo chrome shifts from blue to teal to purple at extreme angles.  I really liked this one. It is pretty unique!

Julep Nadia is a golden, frosty, pale yellow.  This was a three coater and I could still slightly see my nail line through it.  I like the color but yellows just aren't flattering on my skin tone.  

Julep Tracy is a sea salt finish!  I had no idea.  Juleps Sea Salt line is their textured polish.  This is a super sparkly ocean blue that is matte when dry.  For more variation, you can always a top coat to gloss and sparkle it up.  

Overall I loved this box!  If you are interested in signing up for your own Julep Maven box is it $19.99 a month (the value is always way more than that!).  Just go here and use the code FREEBOX at checkout.  You will get your first box totally free.  If you're not happy you can always cancel at no penalty and keep the box, or you can become a Julep addict like me who has been getting Julep for the past year and three months.