August MyGlam Bag & Birchbox

Hello :)

Today I finally have the time to show off what I received in my August  MyGlam Bag and my August Birchbox. My birchbox I received on the 13th during my son's 4th birthday party, and my MyGlam bag came a couple days later, and since then it's been quite hectic around here,right now my boyfriend is at the laundromat and my children are amused by Barney so I think I can get away with spending some time on here.

MyGlam Bag

This month's theme is Endless Summer, the products sent didn't really portray the theme in my opinion, hopefully, next month they put more thought into the theme and the products are better. This month's bag was just another mesh bag, and like I said last month I do not like mesh bags, I don't like my items in the open.

Demeter Roll On Perfume Oil .29fl. oz.

http://www.demeterfragrance.com/

On the website this roll on in the size I received as a sample is $10. I personally think this scent is disgusting,and after looking through the website I wouldn't ever purchase anything from there. This website offers a vast selection of odd smelling perfumes, I even seen popcorn scent in there... but this is not really my thing, I like flirty/floral scents. The Clean Skin scent is said to smell like the perfect shower scent, but it doesn't to me, it made me want to immediately wash it off when I tested it on my wrist.

Eclos Plant Stem Cells Anti-Aging Regenerative Cream & Cellular Activator Facial Serum

http://www.freemanbeauty.com/eclosmyglam

These are another reason I wasn't satisfied with this month's selection of samples. These products may work well, but they smelled strongly and terribly that I couldn't even fully test them out. I do not like my facial products to have much of a scent, I have sensitive skin and typically scented products dry/break me out. I did put these on in the order they described in the directions and I washed them off within ten minutes because I just couldn't handle the smell, and because it made my skin feel oily.

I always love getting nail polish, especially in colors that I currently do not have in my collection. This month's was another by Andrea's Choice in a hue of hot pink called Ringmaster. I have not used this shade yet but I did use last month's white polish from Andrea's Choice and loved it. I love the color pink, but for some reason I do not own much of it, so I just haven't painted my nails with it yet.

Glama-zoid Eyeshadow from S.A.L.T.Y Cosmetics

http://www.saltycosmetics.com/glama-zoid/

This shade was made just for MyGlam and they are now offering it on there website, they are offering the sample size for $3.97 and the full size for $14.97. Glama-zoid is a iridescent shade that works perfectly as a highlighter. S.A.L.T.Y Cosmetics is a brand new company and from what I seen and from this sample I believe they may be a company to check out.

Last, but not least, the product that MyGlam kept under wraps, a pink gloss. This gloss has a wonderful scent and fruity taste, and I LOVE the shade of pink. It is a little sticky, but the shade makes it worth it, just don't wear it before you plan on eating, or kissing. :)

Birchbox

This month Birchbox decided to do something different with there note card that explains the products, and I am loving the new idea, pictured below. I also was very satisfied with this month's samples.

Schick Hydro Silk Shaver

This shaver has a water activated moisturizing serum that is said to keep legs smooth and soft. I have not tested this out yet, but the other razor I do use is a Schick. They also offered tips on how to shave in the little note card pictured above and attached to the shaver was a package of coupons.

 

Beauty Fixation Makeup Removers

I definitely like the concept behind these makeup removers. They work well for small smudges, mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick. You can purchase them on www.birchbox.com, they come in packs of 24 applicators for $5. These could work well to carry in your purse, as long as you are careful to not prematurely break them open, I also think they would be great for travel.

Pixi Beauty Lid Last Eyeshadow Pen in Gilded Mink

http://www.pixibeauty.com/

I have heard of Pixi Beauty before but I have never tried anything from that brand before this. After using this I will be looking into there products much more, I loved this shadow pen. I would have loved the pen even more if the sample I got was a different shade, this one was a little too dark for my liking, but it did last all day without creasing or smudging. These pens are sold for $18 so I was definitely excited to get it in my Birchbox considering I only pay $10 for everything.

Miss Jessie's Quick Curls

I was really hoping this would work for me, I have naturally wavy hair and this is suppose to define them. I have tried this twice now, once I let it air dry and the other time I used my diffuser tool on my blow dryer and both times I ended up with very little curl. This product does make my hair shiny and lessens the frizz though, I will continue to try this and hope one day maybe it will work for me, but it might just be my difficult hair.

Viva La Juicy La Fleur

I was super excited to see this in my Birchbox, I LOVE Viva La Juicy perfumes, they smell AMAZING. If I had to choose a perfume to wear daily it would be this one.



Choosing the Correct Sports Bra

So, the more I workout the more I realize I am in desperate need of some new workout clothes. I haven't bought a new sports bra in about four years, since I was a cheerleader in high school, and my body has definitely changed since then. Since then I have had two adorable children, and have gained nearly fifty pounds. Now, four years ago my mother pretty much picked out all of my bras for me, and wasn't the type to spend much on a bra, so here I am a twenty two year old unsure of what exactly I should buy. I do know that I do not want to spend a lot on my new gear, I'd rather save my money so when I do lose weight I can treat myself. So as I sit here with my coffee and WordWorld on in the background I have decided to do a little research on sports bras. I want to know what's best for my chest size, and I'd even like to inform women with smaller chests what's right for them. I know some women will not believe that the clothing you wear can make a difference for your workout, but you have to be able to move properly, and ill-fitting clothing can restrict your movement. It doesn't matter what cup size you have, proper support is key.

Some women out there may find them self question why it is even important to wear a sports bra, well let me tell you. The primary support system for our breasts are called Cooper's Ligaments (check out the picture above) , the secondary support to our breasts is our skin. When breasts are not properly supported during exercise our skin and ligaments stretch, causing your breasts to sag, and when they do there is no turning back, unless you want to fork out quite a bit of money for surgery. Also, wearing no bra or an ill-fitting one can cause breast pain after your workout, and who wants that?

Encapsulation Bra

Compression Bra

According to my research there are two different types of sports bras, encapsulation bras, and compression bras. Encapsulation Bras are constructed with two cups, just like a regular bra, and the compression style bra causes your breasts to be pressed together, flat against your chest in an attempt to reduce motion. As I researched the opinions on which style is best varied, but I did notice a trend, a compression bra will work fine for women with smaller chests, but it doesn't offer enough support for women with larger chest, for women with larger chests (cup size C and up) they recommend to go with an encapsulation style bra.

Fabric, another important factor in choosing the correct bra. The fabric you choose also has an impact on how comfortable the bra is, most sports bras are designed to wick moisture away, but with the right fabric you can also have one that prevents chafing and all around discomfort. It is always important to read the tag before purchasing the bra.

Polyester/Cotton- A blend that provides softness and moisture management.

Cotton/Lycra-A combination of softness and moisture management, that stretches and supports.

Polyester/Cotton/Lycra- This three-fiber blend offers softness, moisture management, support and stretch.

Now that we know how to choose the right type, fabric and why sports bras are important, we can finally start shopping around. Sports bras are sold in many places and you can find them at various prices, as long as you are following the previous guidelines you should be able to find something that works for you. Another tip to remember is to NEVER rely on sizing, always try your bra on, and when you do jump up and down, move side to side, and verify that bra is holding your girls the way it's supposed to, and that the bra fits you properly. The girls should never slide out from underneath, or spill over, and if they do the sizing is not correct for you, if your breasts are spilling over, you should try going up a cup size, if your breasts are trying to escape underneath try going down a band size. I hope this is helping you find what you need, if in the end you find yourself questioning anything just shoot me a comment and I will gladly clarify. Below are some links to websites that sell high-quality, well rated sports bras. Also, you can always check out the local Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl's etc. just make sure you follow the guidelines to find something that is right for you.

http://www.underarmour.com 

http://www.victoriassecret.com/

http://www.movingcomfort.com

http://www.championusa.com

Thank you for your time, I hope I helped you, and I learned a lot in this process.

Bri Grim

August Beauty Army Box

 Hello Lovelies :)

Today, I received my Beauty Army Box, they ship from Ontario, Canada, so I am always excited when it finally gets here to Michigan for me. This month, as always, I was able to choose six samples, this month almost all of my samples were geared towards skincare. I am always in the search for products to better my skin. As of now I will be sharing with you the products I chose, and information about the products, when I get the chance to use the products I will update this post. If you would like to know more about monthly subscription services check out here.    

 Macadamia Healing Hair Oil Treatment 1 fl.oz 

http://www.macadamiahair.com/

 Full Size Product Prices

.34oz. = $6.50

1oz. = $13.50

4.2oz. = $39.95

10oz. = $75.00 

The Macadamia Healing Hair Oil Treatment is great for all hair types, but especially beneficial for dry, frizzy hair. This treatment helps hair be frizz and tangle free, it also is suppose to cut in half drying time. It has a natural UV protection, and is also alcohol free. I am super excited to test this out, and will update as soon as possible.

UPDATE 8/14/12 - I am loving this hair treatment! This has been making my hair so soft, and it does cut drying time down. The smell isn't the most pleasant thing, but it isn't horrible. It seems a bit pricey for a bigger bottle, but this stuff goes a long way, I only have to use a small drop for my very thick hair, so I have determined it is worth it.

Freeman Beauty Vita-K for Spider Veins 3oz.

http://www.freemanbeauty.com

Full Size Product Price

3oz. = $14.99

I received the Vita-K Age Spots last month, and this month was kind of excited to see the option for the Vita-K for spider veins. Every women in my family has spider veins, and I don't have them really just yet, but I plan to attempt to use this as a preventative. I read a couple reviews from women who do have spider veins and they mostly are positive, and the general results is their spider veins fading. They say to apply this twice daily for best results.

Apothederm Skin Care Science Stretch Mark Cream .7oz.

http://apothederm.com/

Full Size Product Price

5.7oz. = $89.95

As a mom of two, I definitely have stretch marks, most of them are quite faded, but I still would like to make them even less visible. I have tried a couple stretch mark creams, and applied them every single day while pregnant, but I still have some around my bellybutton, and my thighs. According to the website you can see results in about two weeks, I hope the sample is enough to last it, so I can decide if this is truly worth the price.

Fiafani Divine Hydration Moisturizer 

http://www.fiafini.com/

Full Size Product Price

1.7fl oz. = $38.50

Another moisturizer to add to my massive collection. One plus to this one is that they do not test on animals, and it is vegan friendly. This moisturizer could be good for sensitive skin because it also is fragrance free.

Control Corrective Firming Tri-Peptide Serum

http://www.controlcorrective.com/

Full Size Product Price

1oz. = $68.00

This is an item I will never purchase myself, $68 is just too much for my liking even if it does work well. These samples come in too small of a size to really tell if they work, but I just put them on, and hope that when I get older they will prove to have helped.

Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream

http://www.egyptianmagic.com/

Full Size Product Price

2oz. = $24.80

4oz. = $37.20

They say you can use this product for many things such as lip balm, healing nail and cuticle conditioner, face and eye cream, split ending hair conditioner, and to treat conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. I am excited to test this product out, if it works I might just have to purchase some considering I have eczema and my boyfriend has psoriasis.

Taking a minute for promotion.

Hello :)

Today I just want to take a couple minutes out of my busy day to promote my love Aaron a.k.a Kemical Grim.

Photo Shoot in the Cemetary

Photo Shoot for Cover of First Album

A show for Halloween.

For starters I am a fan of all types of music. I love songs with heartfelt, well written lyrics and I love songs with a good beat. I love musicians who show who they truly are with their music, and Kemical is one of those musicians. Kemical is a rapper, not the typical rapper (as you can probably tell just by the photos above) , but one with meaningful lyrics, intelligence, and a ton of talent. He can make a song that will make you laugh, make you think about your life or just something to dance/rock out to. Kemical also happens to be the love of my life, so I see him behind closed doors, I see him through the creative process of writing, recording, and filming his videos. I believe Kemical has more talent than anyone ever expected out of him, he is constantly getting better, and moving onto bigger things, so check him out and tell your friends. :)

Links:

 Kemical on Youtube!

Kemical on Facebook!

Kemical on ReverbNation!

Kemical on Cd Baby!






Thank you for your time

BriGrim

July MyGlam Bag and July Birchbox

Well every time one of my monthly subscriptions comes in the mail I can not wait to share with everyone what I have received, in the past week both my July MyGlam Bag and my July Birchbox came.

July MyGlam Bag

Every MyGlam bag has a theme, and this month was beach beauty, I don't think MyGlam stuck closely with that theme throughout there selection of items, but I am pleased with this month's items.

The bag itself:

I understand why they would choose this for a beach theme, but I have never been a fan of having what's in my makeup bag/purse out in the open, and I probably will never use this.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil Free Lotion 1oz.

http://www.kiehls.com

On the website they describe this lotion as a lightweight moisturizer that helps visibly reduce oil on the skin's surface, leaving a shine free, and balanced appearance. It is non-greasy, paraben free, oil free, fragrance free, and colorant free, so it seems to be the ultimate moisturizer for sensitive skin. I checked out a bit of the reviews on the site, and overall it seems to be a loved product, but with all beauty products it might not be everyone. I put this lotion on about twenty minutes ago just after I got out of the shower, and so far my skin feels soft and doesn't look oily. I have very sensitive skin on my face, and I am prone to dry skin, yet most lotions are too heavy/too oily for my liking, but this is lightweight enough that it feels comfortable. This moisturizer has already made my skin feel super soft, it was cooling, and refreshing after application, and it provides a thin enough coverage that I can forget I have product on my face.

NuMe HydroPunch Hydrating Conditioner
http://numeproducts.com/shop/hydrating-conditioner

For starters I have yet to try this product because I have been testing out the hair masque that came with my july Birchbox, but I am always open to expanding my collection of hair products for dry/damaged hair. I am a women who gets very bored with her hair and when I get bored I like to either change my style or color, but as of right now I am growing my hair out, so I can't. So, for about the past six months I have only trimmed my hair, and for the past about two months I have been a redhead, before that I was a natural brunette, and before that I had black hair and the list goes on. According to the site this product will restore elasticity and flexibiliy to dry and damaged hair and I hope it lives up to the hype and I will update soon.

Yes to Cucumbers On-The-Go Facial Towelettes
 http://www.yestocarrots.com

I fully understand why MyGlam included these in there beach theme, these towelettes are compact for travel or a day at the beach, and they are the perfect refresher after being in the sun. They contain aloe, cucumber and green tea, they are biodegradable and all-natural and they work wonderfully to remove dirt and make-up. I tested these out after I had already washed my face with my Nutrogena Face Wash/Makeup Remover, and I was amazed with what I seen on the wipe, even after washing my face there was evidence of makeup on the wipe, and when I was done washing my face felt clean and refreshed.

Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain
http://www.josiemarancosmetics.com

I received this in the shade of Tango, which is a vibrant peachy pink. I typically do not wear pink on my lips, red is my go to color, but so far I am loving this color. I will more than likely never use this for my cheeks because I rarely use blushes, but I will be using this for many different looks this summer. I personally like to wear this when I am rocking a more natural, neutral colored look to add just the perfect pop of color to my face.

Wearing Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip Stain

Circus Nail Polish by Andreas Choice
http://www.circusbyandrea.com/pages/shop

First off, the polish on the right is from my July Birchbox, and will be talked about later in this post, the polish on the left is the Circus Nail Polish in the shade of Reverso. I have heard a lot of complaints about the fact that the polish comes from Andreas Choice and not a well known brand, but personally I am more concerned about quality than brand. I have not used this as a base color, and I more than likely never will, but I do like it to make polka dots or other designs. I can't fully judge this product because I only used it for polka dots, I wish they would have sent me a different color to test out.


So, in the end I am pretty pleased with my July MyGlam Bag. This month's bag contained more full size samples, and more high quality samples than any of the other bags I have received from MyGlam so far.





July Birchbox 
This month Birchbox teamed up with Glamour to create a box that is suppose to stimulate all of your senses.

Larabar Uber Roasted Nut Roll
http://www.larabar.com/products/uber

I personally do not like eating things that were sent in the mail, just kind of freaks me out for some reason. I also am not fond of foods with so many nuts in them, so I did not try this, however, my son did eat this and seemed to enjoy it.

Suki Balancing Regimen

http://sukiskincare.com/categories/suki+skin+care

There was a couple more samples than I have pictured above, but I tried those before I took the pictures. Along with the transformative cleansing clay, and balancing day lotion there was an exfoliate foaming cleanser, and a concentrated balancing toner, all of these plus two other products make up Suki Skin Care's 21 day dermal detox kit. I tested the exfoliate foaming cleanser first and wasn't sure of it as soon as I opened the package, it was yellow and heavily "beaded" to exfoliate, and just looked like it was something that would irritate my skin, but I tried it anyways... As I lathered it up I noticed that it didn't smell that pleasant and I was hoping that the smell of the product wouldn't make my skin smell, but it did. I followed up with the balancing toner, applying it to a cotton ball like directed, the smell of the toner was even worse and it made my skin extremely greasy. I basically immediately washed my face after all of this with another face cleanser. Suki suggests these products for all skin types, especially combination to oily skin,  and it's specially formulated for acne, rosacea, eczema and dermatitis prone skin. I wouldn't recommend this to anyways based on the harsh smells alone, but it did the opposite for me than it stated also.

Harvey Prince Eau Flirt 

http://www.harveyprince.com/products/products.php

On a more optimistic not I am absolutely in love with this scent, and am super excited it was in my Birchbox, because I have never heard of this brand before. The scent of Eau Flirt has notes of Lavender, Pumpkin Pie, Citrus, Jasmine, Freesia, Ylang Ylang, Nutmeg, and Cinnamon. Now reading off all of that it makes it sound like "too much" for me, but honestly you can't judge it until you smell it. This scent is flirty and seductive, perfect for any date or encounter with the opposite sex. (or same sex, whatever you prefer, I do not mind) After smelling this I am determined to smell some of the other scents Harvey Prince offers, because I am in love with this. They offer sample size bottles for $12.00 and the full size products are reasonably priced.

Color Club Summer Pastels Collection

I received the Color Club Nail Polish in the shade of Blue-ming, which I absolutely adore. It is pictured on the right above, and was used to create the base of my look. It took two coats to get a full coverage, but I absolutely love the color.

Coco de Soleil Gloss Moderne High Gloss Masque
http://www.glossmoderne.com/shop

I love anything that is intended to make my hair healthier and shinier, and this product does just that. I used this last night in my shower after I washed my hair, the directions say to massage into rinsed hair for five minutes then rinse. After my hair fully dried I could tell it worked it's magic, my hair was shinier and softer, and only had a hint of frizz to be seen.

Manna Kadar Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion

http://mannakadarcosmetics.com/store/products/movie-star/

I typically do not purchase products like this because I have very fair skin and absolutely love it. I also do not like the shimmer/glitter effect of most products like this, but since this was part of my Birchbox I decided I would try it. They say this provided a sheer glow and dewy finish, but I wasn't pleased with the finish result. I applied this lightly on my face and wasn't pleased with the result, my skin is so fair that this made me look slightly orange, it didn't blend well, and it was too shimmery for my liking, it may work better on someone not as pale as me though.

Earbuds

Along with everything else this Birchbox came with a set of  neon green and pink ear buds. I didn't take the time to take a picture but I have tested them out, and they do have decent sound quality and they are quite comfortable to wear. Along with this was a link to Spotify for a play list they say is perfect for getting dolled up and ready to go, but I have not tested that yet.

Overall, I was pleased with this month's Birchbox because I did find a couple products I do love even though there were a few bad ones. Also, my sensitive pale skin makes some of the products sent some months more difficult to use and judge.

July Beauty Army Box

Good Afternoon :)

Today I finally received my July Beauty Army Box , it shipped right before the holiday, so it took a little extra time, and I definitely was impatient. This is my second box from Beauty Army, and so far this has become my favorite monthly subscription service. With Beauty Army you can select which samples you want before they send them, you always get six samples, and they come in an easy to reuse box. If you would like to know more please check out my post about Monthly Subscription Services here.

What I chose for my July Beauty Army Box Samples:

Freeman Beauty Vita-K Professional Age Spots  3oz.

 http://www.freemanbeauty.com

First off, I do not have any age spots, and I am not completely sure why I selected this as a sample. After researching a bit on the website I did find out this also will help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and has anti-aging peptides. So, I am pretty much going to be using this to prevent what could come in the future.

Directions: For best results use twice daily on clean, dry skin. Apply a generous amount on desired area until thoroughly absorbed. Use 4-6 weeks continuously for optimum benefits. Results may vary depending on your skin type and condition.

Key Ingredients:
Pro Vita-K Complex™ - combines the remarkable proven benefits of Vitamin K with a unique Amino Acid/Polypeptide Complex proven to significantly improve tone and elasticity, and dramatically reduces the appearance of problem skin conditions with the first application.
Matrixyl® 3000 – consists of a combination of two pentapeptides; Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide – 7. Known to promote collagen production while stimulating fibroblast cells in the skin, enabling them to significantly reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Vitamin K
Licorice Extract
Aloe
Vitamin E
Cocoa Butter

CellCeuticals Skin Care PhotoDefense .33 oz. & Atzen Protective Day Cream .1 oz.

https://www.cellceuticalskincare.com

http://www.atzen.com/protective-day-cream.html

Cell Ceauticals Day Cream- Provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, and is fortified with vitamin D to help strengthen the skin's natural defenses. As someone with pale skin I love pretty much anything that will help protect me from the sun.

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, and Oxybenzone.

Atzen Protective Day Cream- Protects skin from pollutants, reverses signs of aging, and hydrates the skin. Most people do not realize how important it is to protect the skin, and products like that multi-task are nice to have.

Key Ingredients: multiple peptides, Syn-Coll®, resveratrol, Thiotaine®, Pseudocollagen®, Seamollient®, acaï, calendula, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, jojoba, elastin, yeast, green tea extracts, ATP

Youngblood Mineral Primer .17 oz.

http://www.ybskin.com

This is a colorless base that helps enhance the performance of makeup throughout the day by smoothing the appearance of fine lines, pores, and creating an even surface for foundation. I love using primers on days that I use a full coverage application.

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Smithsonite Extract, Rhodochrosite Extract, Malachite Extract, Hematite Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol.    

Besame Crimson Cream Rouge

http://www.besamecosmetics.com/products.cfm/Crimson-Cream-Rouge/pID-20

This is a vintage inspired cream rouge you can use on your cheeks or lips that is designed to last all day. The full size product comes in a lovely vintage inspired tin.

Blushed: A fragrance by Ruddy Water

http://www.ruddywater.com/thescents.html

Blushed is Ruddy Water's premiere fragrance and they say this is the perfect scent for women of all ages, day or night. Featuring notes of red currant, vanilla, lemon, ginger, with a hint of sugar. They offer these pouches in 24ct Boxes. I can smell the product through the pouch, and so far I am loving it.

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