COASTAL SCENTS

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BOXYCHARM OCTOBER 2014 UNBOXING: BEWITCHED – TRICK OR TREAT?

Published October 31, 2014 by thebeholdingeye

Happy Halloween from Casa Beholding Eye. It’s our favorite holiday (which is why we chose today to be the drawing of our Big October Beauty Giveaway winners) and the mail carrier did not disappoint.

Trick or treat indeed…She came bearing both Boxycharm and Glossybox. Halloween is already starting out fantabulous.

Now, I believe in full disclosure with my blog and I should let everyone know that I’m extremely disappointed in Boxycharm this month. Not the products, but with the shipment and delivery dates. My card was charged on October 7th for the October box, and yet it wasn’t released for shipment out of Florida until October 23rd, and then didn’t hit my manicured greedy little fingertips until October 31st. Ummmm…really not cool, Boxycharm. The much-ballyhooed Halloween Bewitched box did manage to hit my hands precisely on Halloween but…well, considering I’ve been seeing other people receive their boxes for about 10 days now, I’m not a particularly happy “Charmer” this month. Hopefully that won’t color my opinion of the box but I’m really expecting Boxycharm to step it up in November, or we’ll be parting ways. My biggest pet peeve with these boxes are lackadaisical or flat-out poor customer service, and I call waiting over 2 weeks to ship a subscriber’s paid-for product pretty much unacceptable. So, get back on your toes, Boxycharm…It doesn’t matter how great your products are if I can’t get them in a timely manner.

Okay, now that I’ve vented, let’s try to objectively look at the box and its contents.

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As always, there is it, in all of its glory…the Bewitched box.

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The descriptor card and, on the flip side, the contents and their retail values. The goodies lie under that pesky piece of paper.

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Let’s see what our caffeine-filled little brain is drawn to first…

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Ahhhh, now this is a treat. From Palmetto Derma, it’s a full-sized bottle of their Collagen Booster & Restoration Serum. It says it “protects from premature aging and creates youthful, glowing and beautiful skin, all day and night!” Okay, I’ll take them up on that challenge. I’m still on my first cup of coffee and glowing is about the last thing I’d describe myself to be at the moment, so maybe this will do the trick.

Palmetto Derma also included a coupon for 20% off their entire website. I actually really appreciate it when companies do this, in case I fall in love with their product and want to order it again. Of course, sometimes scouting about the internet with a Google escort can help you locate the product at another source even cheaper than the cost with the coupon (yes, I’m notorious for being thrifty whenever possible when it comes to my beauty products).
(RETAIL VALUE: $48..00)

Moving right along…we’ve still got Glossybox sitting there taunting us as well as picking winners for the giveaway so there’s no time to waste…

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From Cult/Commerce x Boxycharm is the “Shady” collection of nail lacquers, in beautiful shades of deep purple sheen and deep gray/black sheen. These colors are really lovely. That being said (here we go with that full disclosure nonsense again), apparently a lot of Charmers have had issues with the brushes in these being stiff and…well, not acceptable. Boxycharm assured us that if we soak the brushes in acetone or nail polish remover for a few seconds and wipe them off, they will work just fine. I’ll be putting that to the test later and hopefully that little tip does work, otherwise you’ll be hearing from me, Boxycharm!
(RETAIL VALUE: $21.00…seriously? For that price, these brushes better not have issues)

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The next 2 items are both full-sized; the first is Be A Bombshell Eyeshadow in Risky Business (a gorgeous golden brown color) and a full-sized Starlooks eyeliner in Ultra Olive (a lovely deep shade of olive green flecked with gold). Loving both of these…Not sure how often I’ll actually wear the Ultra Olive eyeliner, but I’m sure I will at some point because it really is a lovely color.
(RETAIL VALUE: $28 combined – eyeshadow $14.00 and eyeliner 14.00)

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Last up is the much-hyped piece de resistance of the Bewitched box, a full-sized Coastal Scents Eclipse concealer palette. With shades designed to camouflage undereye circles, neutralize redness, and cover just about any imperfection, major or minor, on one’s face, I’m looking forward to trying this one out. It’s also apparently buildable for sheer coverage up to full coverage.
(RETAIL VALUE: $19.95)

And there we have it, the Boxycharm October Bewitched box, finally in my hands and unboxed.

RETAIL VALUE OF BOX: $116.95.

Do I love it? Meh…but as I said earlier, I’m dissatisfied with Boxycharm and the extremely late shipment this month, so that might be dampening my enthusiasm. They are great products (I’d have liked a black or brown gem liner but what the hey…olive is neutral, too, right?). Other than that, I really have no complaints…Provided those brushes on the nail lacquers work properly after a brief dip into some acetone. I love the eyeshadow color, I love the description of the serum, and the palette hopefully lives up to its hype.

We’re going to give Boxycharm one more month to see if they can pull their act together with shipping boxes out in a timely fashion and then perhaps do a “kick it or keep it” evaluation of them. I truly do usually love Boxycharm, so I’m hoping they get their proverbial act together and step up their performance next month.

If you’d like to sign up for Boxycharm (I believe there might be a short wait list), here are some links to get you started:

WEBSITE WITH REFERRAL CODE: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/9718/
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/Boxycharm

As always, feel free to follow what I’m up to on the following social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

Until next time, stay beautiful…and stay tuned later today for the announcement of the Rafflecopter winners of the drawing…Good luck to all, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

BIG OCTOBER BEAUTY GIVEAWAY – GO BIG OR GO HOME – SECOND PLACE PRIZE!

Published October 30, 2014 by thebeholdingeye

Tomorrow is the big day, when a winner will be chosen and announced, so stay tuned…

Now, as promised, here is a picture of the second place prize, which includes a variety of items received in various boxes over the past couple of months and will be placed inside the Thursday Friday canvas makeup bag featured in the FabFitFun Summer box (RV $35).

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And here are a couple of pictures of the contents that will be sent to the second place winner:

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We aren’t going to put a retail value on each item in the contents as most are samples sizes (and the approximate retail value on many of these can be found in this blog, now that I think about it). Included are It Cosmetics Universal Brow (a very popular item!), 2 nail lacquers, deluxe travel sizes of Neil George shampoo and condition, deluxe travel size of suntan oil, a deluxe sample size of Be A Bombshell Smooth Criminal finishing powder, a 4-tray sampler of Coastal Scents Revealed neutral shadows, and more.

Our sincere thanks again to all who entered…and stay tuned tomorrow for the big announcement.

As always, feel free to follow what I’m up to on the following social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

Until next time, stay beautiful!!!

BIG OCTOBER BEAUTY GIVEAWAY: SNEAK PEEK #10 – GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!

Published October 25, 2014 by thebeholdingeye

Okay, we’re winding down to the last couple of days of the giveaway and, since it’s Friday and I’m still on cloud 9 over my Wantable Intimates box from this morning, let’s grab another item and toss it into the giveaway. Who ever thought giving things away could be so much fun?

And here it is, Item #10 in the Big October Beauty Giveaway:

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From the world-renowned Bulgari, this is an approximately 3-ounce bottle of their Bulgari Eau Parfumee Au The Blanc Conditioner. It smells wonderful (as do the Bulgari fragrances I’ve sampled). Assuming its hefty price tag means it not only smells good but actually works well, this should knock your proverbial socks off.
(RETAIL VALUE: Approx $20; full-size 6.76 oz bottle retails for $45)

And tomorrow will likely bring what is likely the final item in the giveaway. Off the top of my caffeine-deprived head (I’m only halfway through cup #2 this lovely Friday morning), I believe retail value on this giveaway is now up to $350 and contains some truly UH-MAZING products. It’s going to be like the Beauty Fairy came to visit the winner…Be sure to enter now so you don’t miss out on your chance to have a big box of awesomeness show up on your doorstep! Link at end of post for your convenience, my lovelies…

As always, feel free to follow me on the following social media and be sure to enter the big October Beauty Giveaway (link at end of this post!):

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

ENTER RAFFLE HERE: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time, stay beautiful, and good luck to all who enter the giveaway!

(Please note that the giveaway will only be available for US and Canadian residents, otherwise postage would be cost-prohibitive…Thanks for understanding!)

BIRCHBOX OCTOBER 2014: KEEP IT OR KICK IT?

Published October 24, 2014 by thebeholdingeye

I’ll be up front about the October Birchbox. I wasn’t thrilled with my preview of what I would be receiving, but I remained optimistic and hoped that the products actually in my hand would be more exciting than the pictures on the website.

As the new year approaches, here at Casa Beholding Eye, we’re deciding which boxes are actually worth keeping and which need to be kicked…as in, kicked to the curb. Birchbox, which has an amazing points system (which can be accrued simply by reviewing the products received on the BB website) and spent as cash in the Birchbox store, and those points are what have keep me hanging on every month.

Let’s see if they can retain my subscription with the October box.

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And there it is. It feels amazingly…light. Well, let’s dive in…maybe something Friday Fabulous awaits.

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First up is a 4-shade sampler of Coastal Scents Revealed palette in the shades “Latte.” These colors are definitely right up my alley, lovely nude/neutral shades suitable for every day wear and totally able to be built up for more a more dramatic evening-out look. The size of these samples is decent as well, containing enough of each shade for several applications.

The only con? I love this Coastal Scents palette so much that I already own the full-sized version…unfortunately this sampler isn’t “purse-friendly” and can’t be taken for quick touch ups on the go. C’eset la vie.

Moving right along…

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Next up is a sample size of Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips. This product was apparently originally made for nursing moms and apparently was found to make an amazing lip balm, as well as a good balm for dry cuticles, elbows, etc. I’ve actually heard good things about this product, so I’m looking forward to trying it.

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And the next item to find its way into my hand is Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner. I normally love Dr. Brandt products, and this is apparently an award-winning gel that helps to degunk pores for fewer blackheads and smoother skin. I’ve gotten several Dr. Brandt samples over the past couple of months in various subscription boxes that I’ve loved, so I’ll definitely give this product a try.

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I’ve already read high praises for this product. Beauty Protector is supposed to lock in color, protect from heat damage, and add silkiness. I’ve heard that not only does this product work well, but that the smell is UH-MAZING. After spraying a tiny bit onto my hand for the sniff test, I concur. It smells wonderful. Having thick, naturally wavy hair that’s been every color of the rainbow and beyond, I’m always on the prowl for products like this, so I’ll definitely be giving Beauty Protector the next time I wash my hair.

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I’ve saved my favorite product in this month’s Birchbox for last. This caught my eye as soon as I pulled back the tissue paper. This jar is just gorgeous, so perfectly “me.” It contains Camille Beckman Tuscan Honey Glycerine Hand Therapy. I have no idea how good the product inside may or may not be…I was so immediately enamored of the packaging that it really doesn’t matter. I’m going to keep this gorgeous little gem on the desk in my office…and likely order a full-sized product as well. The black container with the red rose is the perfect combination. I’m in love with this product without even trying it. Brava, Camille Beckman!

And there we have it, the October Birchbox.

Birchbox is $10/month and offers the easy-to-accure points benefit that I described above.

I’ve had months where Birchbox knocks it out of the park for me. I’ve unfortunately had more months where the products fail to excite me and end up in the “graveyard” of products that maybe I’ll get around to using someday. Such as during a Zombie Apocalypse where I wouldn’t be able to go out and purchase anything else.

Having a couple of hundred of points accumulated, I browsed the Birchbox store and decided to cash out my points by purchasing a 2-pack of Beauty Blenders.

Keep it or kick it?

There are so many other subscription boxes out there to choose from (some truly amazing ones, such as BoxyCharm, The French Box, and Lip Factory) that I feel my $10 is much better put toward a more expensive box that will contain products that I’m more likely to love…and thus more likely to use.

Au revoir, Birchbox. I’ve enjoyed our time together for the most part, but it’s time to go our separate ways.

STATUS: KICKED TO THE CURB.

Just because Birchbox isn’t a good fit for me doesn’t mean that some of you readers won’t love it and find it perfect for your needs. It’s great for sampling new products that you might not have otherwise heard of and the points are a huge perk of a Birchbox subscription. If you’d like to check it out further for yourself, here are some links to get you started:

WEBSITE AND REFERRAL LINK: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/ngb9d
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/Birchbox

As always, feel free to follow what I’m up to on the following social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

Until next time, stay beautiful…And keep your eyes open for the next Sneak Peek of the Big October Beauty Giveaway. There is one more item to be revealed before entries close and a winner is chosen.

Okay, maybe TWO items. We like to share the love here at The Beholding Eye.

If you haven’t entered yet, click on the Rafflecopter link below and get your name into that proverbial hat…Remember, you can’t win if you don’t enter!

ENTER HERE: a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOXYCHARM OCTOBER SNEAK PEEK #2: THE BEWITCHED EDITION

Published October 3, 2014 by thebeholdingeye

Oh, BoxyCharm…how do you manage to top yourself every single month?

BoxyCharm just released Sneak Peek #2 for their October “Bewitched” subscription box and it definitely looks like a keeper.

With no further ado, here it is:

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This palette by Coastal Scents (a great affordable brand, by the way) is described as follows:

“Coastal Scents Eclipse Palette, a $19.95 Value! This amazing all-in-one palette corrects, conceals, contours, primes and highlights! Talk about versatile! And did we mention it’s vegan/cruelty-free? 💕💁 Banish blemishes and red areas with mint green, cast away dark under eye halos with pale yellow, or neutralize excessive yellow pigmentation with lavender! Silver adds the right amount of highlighting for a glowing complexion. Whatever you need, these shades have got you covered!”

This little gem retails for $19.95…and the box is $21. This retail value of this one item practically pays for the box itself.

If you’d like to check out BoxyCharm for yourself and perhaps sign up, here are a referral link and a link to their Facebook page:

To Sign Up: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/9718/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Boxycharm

And as always feel free to follow me on the following social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrsMorelion
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

And stay tuned for SNEAK PEEKS of the big October GIVEAWAY…Subscribe to this blog for updates. You won’t want to miss this one!

Until next time, stay beautiful!!!