GLOSSYBOX NOVEMBER 2014 UNBOXING: KEEP IT OR KICK IT TO THE CURB?

TGIF, my lovelies. I hope everyone has a splendid weekend planned full of all sorts of awesome fun.

The mail carrier brought a surprise to the door today, the November Glossybox, which had shown as being scheduled for delivery Saturday. We’re always happy to take delivery of any and all subscription boxes early, so thank you very much, Ms. Mail Carrier!

We had already seen and blogged about a couple of the items as spoilers but still…It’s not quite the same as having the actual products in hand.

Let’s see what’s in the November Glossybox and if it meets our standards to go forward in 2015.

And there’s a familiar sight, the lovely pink box emblazoned with black lettering.

One more sip of coffee and we’ll lift the lid and check out the contents.

And there we have it, this month’s descriptor card outlining the products contained herein, with the products hidden by a layer of pink tissue paper.

Let’s dig in and see what goodies we’ve received this lovely Friday morning.

RETAIL VALUE: $20 for full-sized (3.38 fl oz) product

Anything encased in purple has to be good. That’s just a hard and fast rule at Casa Beholding Eye. Here we have a sample size of Kneipp Herbal Bath: Balancing in Lavender. Out of Germany, this touts the ability to calm nervousness and control mental fatigue. Sounds promising. Smells divine. Can’t wait to try this out tonight, maybe with a candle or two going to add to the ambiance. After a long week of work and holiday activities, this might be just what the beauty doctor ordered. Grazi, Glossybox!

RETAIL VALUE: $20.00 for full-sized (6 oz) product

Oh, this looks promising. A very decent-sized sample of 12 Benefits Instant Healthy Hair Treatment. This is a leave-in treatment designed to offer a dozen benefits (hence the name, I gather) to chemically processed, pollution-exposed, or heat-styled hair, as well as boosting vibrancy of existing hair color and preventing sun stress through sunscreen. We love hair products (especially my daughter with her epic mane of thick, naturally wavy hair). She’s really looking forward to trying this out.

RETAIL VALUE: $45.00 for full-sized (2 oz) product

I’m excited about this product, as it happens to be from the same skincare line as one of the products in the FabFitFun Winter box, which should be shipping anytime now. From Juice Beauty, it’s their Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer, which is purported to be a potent brightening complex of apple, lemon and white grape juices with vitamin C and peptides. I’ll hold off on using this product until I receive the green apple peel coming in the FFF box. This is very nice-sized sample and should be more than efficient to determine whether it’s worth pursuing a full-sized product.

RETAIL VALUE: $23.29 (this is a full-sized product)

From So Susan, a cosmetics company with which I’m completely unfamiliar, is this UH-MAY-ZING Universal Blush. It claims to combine the staying power of a micronized blush along with the skincare benefits of Buriti, an Amazonian fruit containing beta-carotene and essential fatty acids. This shade is simply gorgeous. Sort of like Nars Orgasm/sort of not like Nars Orgasm. Here, see for yourselves:

It’s difficult to capture in a photograph, but it’s a truly gorgeous combination of pink, mauve, peach, and copper with flecks of gold that truly does look like it would be perfect on any skin tone. I think my daughter and I may have to engage in a quick game of rock/paper/scissors to see who wins primary custody of this piece of awesomeness.

RETAIL VALUE: $9.50 (this is a full-sized product)

From OPI is the custom-created nail lacquer in “Pink Outside the Glossybox.” Cute name, lovely color. While it’s probably not something that will actually be used until Spring, it is nonetheless a very pretty shade that would work equally well on a mani or a pedi. And OPI has great products, so we have high hopes for this little gem.

And there we have it, the November Glossybox, all unboxed.

Now for the test of whether to keep it or kick it to the curb in 2015.

Does it have products we’re looking forward to trying? Why, yes. Yes it does. Every single item in this box is definitely something either my daughter or I will love trying on for size.

Do we feel that we got sufficient bang for our proverbial buck? For $21/month, yes. Two of the items are full-sized products with a retail value of about $35, with 3 additional deluxe-sized samples of equally impressive products.

Will Glossybox be kept around for the December box and going into 2015? That’s a resounding yes. In fact, after careful consideration, if we ever had to decide between Allure Sample Society and Glossybox, we’d probably opt to keep Glossybox. There’s a nice variety of products and even the deluxe samples are of a sufficient amount to get a good idea on how effective any given product might be.

If you’d like more information on Glossybox and maybe snag your own subscription, here are some links to get you started:

WEBSITE WITH REFERRAL: http://www.glossybox.com/referal?CI=MTIxNDg0
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/GlossyBox.com

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…

ALLURE SAMPLE SOCIETY COMPLETE DECEMBER SPOILERS AND $5 OFF COUPON CODE!!!

If you’ve been thinking about snapping up a subscription to Allure Sample Society, then December might just be the month you want to dive right on in.

Here is the complete spoiler, complete with retail values, for everything in the December box, released by Sample Society just minutes ago:

I’m particularly excited about the London Butter lippie and the Burberry Fresh Glow.

Keep up the good work, Sample Society!

If you’re as impressed with this month’s box as much as I was and would like to explore Allure Sample Society for yourself, here are a couple of links to get you started.

WEBSITE WITH REFERRAL LINK: http://www.beautybar.com (USE CODE SAMO3924 IF YOU’D LIKE TO USE ME AS A REFERRAL) COUPON CODE TO SAVE $5 IS 5FORYOU, TO BE USED BEFORE DECEMBER 4, 2014.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/beautybar.com

The December box has a value of $46, using the above code you’ll get it for $10. Now, that’s a deal, lovelies.

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…

XOXO

WINTER NAIL SHADES AND WINTER BEAUTY SURVIVAL TIPS: NAUGHTY OR NICE?

Ahhhh, Thanksgiving is almost upon us and then we’ll be catapulted into the frigid Winter months in the blink of a masacara’d eye. I love the changing of the seasons and, as every fashionista knows, with each change of season comes new trends. What better way to incorporate some winter trends into your wardrobe than with a few new nail colors? Budget-friendly and lots of fun, too.

But, before we dive right into the glorious new nail shades, let’s take a look at what you can do to keep the skin and cuticles of your hands and feet at their twinkling best, whether you’re roasting chestnuts on an open fire or dashing through the snow in a 1-horse open sleigh.

First of all, I happened upon a product a few years ago that seriously forever changed my hand and foot care routine. It’s not glamorous, the name of it is a bit giggle-inducing, it’s perfectly affordable, and it is my winter skin savior.

Feel free to giggle. Seriously. I giggled like a school girl the first time I saw it, but its claims were so amazing that I decided to purchase a small travel-sized tin.

Readily available at mass chains such as Walmart, Target, etc., or even at your local neighborhood pharmacy, Bag Balm will keep your hands and feet so amazingly hydrated and smooth that you’ll ditch those more expensive treatments and become a devotee as well. It has the consistency of Vaseline (a staple for some), yet I find the results are much more immediate. One night with Bag Balm and you’ll definitely be ready for Santa Claus coming to town.

Bag Balm can be purchased for well under $10 at pretty much anywhere you pick up your other beauty necessities.

Oh, and while you’re snapping up your Bag Balm, there are two more items you’ll want to grab to use in conjunction with it.

Yep, plain white cotton socks in whatever style you prefer. Slather the Bag Balm on your feet (paying particular attention to the areas between your toes and your heels), and then slip a pair of these over your feet. They not only prevent the product from being transferred onto your bedding, they help the Bag Balm to penetrate through the dry skin of your feet even more intensely. It’s like a not-so-glamorous spa treatment for your feet.

And while you’re there, grab a pair of plain white cotton gloves for your balm-drenched hands as well. Again, any kind or style that catches your pretty little eye. I like the idea of these disposable ones but reusable ones that can be laundered are an equally good choice. As with your feet, except using a smaller amount, slather Bag Balm over your hands and cuticles, apply the gloves, and let the magic happen while you’re sleeping. In the morning, remove the gloves, wash your hands (always using a mild soap, especially during winter months), and be amazed at the difference in how they feel…Hydrated and supple, without a spot of dryness in sight.

The Bag Balm treatment done 1-2 times a week on hands and feet will have your skin and cuticles hydrated and healthy-looking all through the harsh winter months. I even do it a couple of times per month in summer months, too, just to keep everything smooth and supple. In between Bag Balm treatments, nightly moisturizing with your usual hand and foot creams will be even more effective.

Now that we’ve covered the practical aspect of how to keep those fingers and toes sparing us from entrance onto the Island of Misfit Toys, let’s take a look at some UH-MAZING winter colors courtesy of our friends at Julep. What better way to showcase new colors than with soft, smooth and well-manicured hands and feet?

Ilsa, Sawyer, and Joanne are most assuredly earning a place in my nail collection. Gorgeous shades and totally versatile, perfect for the office, home, or even a quick kiss under the mistletoe.

Also from our friends at Julep, here are some additional products to assist with winterizing your beauty routine for the upcoming months that you may wish to try incorporating into your regimen:

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, these are the perfect holiday treats for you…And also hit-of-the-party stocking stuffers for those fashionistas on your gift-giving list as well.

If you’d like to snap up a couple of those awesome new shades for winter or check out other winterizing beauty tools and products Julep offers, here’s a link to their page. Oh, and did I mention you do not have to subscribe to Julep to make purchases? Commitment-free shopping that won’t break the holiday budget!

JULEP POLISH COLLECTION: http://www.julep.com/shop/nail-polish.html

And, as always, feel free to follow me on the following social media. Later this week we’re expecting arrivals by Ipsy, Lip Factory, Lip Monthly, Sample Society, and possibly French Box (I’m already having palpitations just thinking about French Box…OOOH LA LA), so stay tuned for more!

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!!!

GLOSSYBOX NOVEMBER 2014: SECOND SNEAK PEEK!!!

Alright, my lovelies, I have decided to crawl out from my sickbed and share this little Tuesday evening surprise with you…It’s Sneak Peek #2 from our friends at Glossybox.

Let’s jump right to the good stuff, shall we?

“Are you ready to turn back time?

Juice Beauty’s Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer will be in every November GLOSSYBOX.”

And here’s a quick look back at the previously-announced sneak peek into the November box:

Looks like November is shaping up to be pretty fantabulous, Glossybox!

“Cheers, Glossybox!” (yes, my shot of Nyquil does count as a toast).

If you’d like more information on Glossybox and maybe snag your own subscription, here are some links to get you started:

WEBSITE WITH REFERRAL: http://www.glossybox.com/referal?CI=MTIxNDg0
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/GlossyBox.com

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…

IPSY NOVEMBER 2014 “GIRL MEETS GLITTER” – SNEAK PEEK #5!!!

And here it is, the FINAL sneak peek at the November “Girl Meets Glitter” Ipsy glam bag. While I realize many of you lovelies are able to view your glam room, many are not, so for those unfortunate souls (including myself) here is the final sneak peek. Hopefully this will hold you over on this fabulous Friday until your glam room becomes available so you can see precisely which products you’ll be receiving:

“SNEAK PEEK #5: Let’s get glowing! Lustrous hair, skin, and nails are yours with TWO of these beauties. Your future looks bright.”

And here’s a quick look back at the previous 4 spoilers:

And there you go, all 5 sneak peeks…With our sincere wishes that you get whichever products you fancy most in your November “Girl Meets Glitter” Ipsy Glam Bag.

Ipsy is $10/month and includes a cute little makeup bag with 5 items (either full-sized or sample sized, it varies) that are semi-customizable.

If you’d like to check out Ipsy or even sign up, here are a couple of links to get you started:

Referral link to subscribe: http://www.ipsy.com/r/jk7y?sid=ipsypoints&cid=general
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ipsy

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/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

Until next time, stay beautiful!!!

IPSY GLAM BAG UNBOXING OCTOBER 2014: TO KEEP OR NOT TO KEEP?

Well, today is a banner day for subscription boxes at Casa Beholding Eye. This morning saw the mail carrier delivering Lip Monthly and Ipsy, and UPS will be gracing me with their presence and my October Birchbox later today.

I’ve been on the fence about Ipsy for a couple of months. Some months they really knock it out of the park with great products that I’ve either heard about and wanted to try or new products that I’m interested in trying. After a couple of lackluster months, I debate on cancelling…But then they go and hit a home run and I decide to keep the subscription going.

Let’s see if this month’s Ipsy bag impresses or disappoints.

First off, this month’s bag is absolutely adorable. It’s quite a bit darker teal in person than in the photograph, and super cute…Cute enough where I’d consider carrying it as a clutch just to run to the store or to a casual event. Small enough to not be obnoxious, large enough to hold the necessities for a few hours.

Again, really cute bag…Not quite as cute as last month’s but super cute nonetheless.

And now for the REAL test…the contents.

There they are, all 5 products, at least one of which appears to be full sized. Let’s check things out further.

Here is a full-sized bottle of Nicole by OPI nail lacquer in the shade “Feeling Very Cherry.” Well, I’m “Feeling Very Cheery” just looking at this. An absolutely gorgeous shade by one of my favorite companies and PERFECT for fall. In fact, I sense a manicure in my near future…like tonight. As soon as I get off of work.
(RETAIL VALUE: $5.97 at Walmart)

And next up is a 1-ounce generous sample size of Epice Purifying Exfoliator. Now, this is a product I’m looking forward to trying. It’s going to have to be fantabulous to outdo my personal favorite exfoliator, Suki Face Foaming Exfoliator, but I’m definitely open minded about switching alliances if this product knocks my knitted little socks off.
(RETAIL VALUE: $1 FOR THE SAMPLE BASED ON EPICE’S WEBSITE)

With fall weather here (and what with the fear of the dreaded Ebola embedded in my brain and thus amped up application of drying hand sanitizer), I’m always appreciative of a good hand cream. This one, by Figs and Rouge out of the United Kingdom, is in the scent Rose Berry and touts itself as being pure and natural, nourishing and soothing. I’ll be using this tonight in conjunction with my “Feeling Very Cherry” manicure.
(RETAIL VALUE: $5 based on the price of $10 for a full-sized product on various beauty sites)

Woot! Here we have a small sample of Starlooks Lip Gloss in the color “Guilty Pleasure.” It’s a small sample but definitely large enough for me to decide whether it’s something I’d like to add to my repertoire.
(RETAIL VALUE: $3 based on the $12 price tag for a full size of this gloss).

The last item in this month’s bag is a full-sized mascara from Model Co, “VolumEyes.” I’ve got quite an assortment of mascaras from various subscription boxes the last few months, so I’ll put this one in its appropriate place in line and definitely try it at a future point (right now the Sothy’s Volume Care mascara from my amazing French Box is next up on my list to try).
(RETAIL VALUE: $20 from the Model Co website).

So there we have it. Another month of Ipsy, another super cute bag to add to my collection…but is it worth the $10/month or would I be better off cancelling and applying that $10 towards another subscription?

Well, approximate retail value of this month’s bag is $35, for which I paid $10. Both the mascara and the amazing nail lacquer are both full-sized products and account for most of the total retail value of the bag.

Okay, Ipsy…those 2 products have suckered me in to keep you going for another month.

But, being female, it’s my prerogative to change my mind at any given time.

If you’d like more information on Ipsy and would like to sign up for your own little monthly treat, here are some links to get you started:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ipsy
WEBSITE AND REFERRAL LINK: http://www.ipsy.com/r/jk7y?sid=ipsypoints&cid=general

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 if you haven’t entered the Big October Beauty Giveaway, here is the link so you can jump in now…You definitely don’t want to miss out on a chance to win this amazing haul of makeup and beauty treasures!

ENTER RAFFLE HERE: a Rafflecopter giveaway

EVERYTHING $1 (JEWELRY, MAKEUP, ACCESSORIES, ETC.)? SHOP MISS A…AMAZING BUT TRUE!

Along with makeup, skincare products, shoes, and handbags, I have a serious addiction, almost to a 12-Step degree, to jewelry. Costume jewelry or the real deal, I love jewelry. Gold, silver, rose gold, platinum, it doesn’t matter. If it’s pretty and sparkly, I’m all over it.

I’d been seeing posts of purchases by other like-minded addicts for a company named “Miss A.” Everything on the site $1. Yes, you read that right…One Single Dollar. EVERYTHING.

I had to dive in. I placed my order about 10 days ago and today my lovely mail carrier presented me with a bright orange bag from Miss A containing my haul.

I was a little taken aback delicate items such as jewelry were simply wrapped in a plastic bag for shipping and held my breath, expecting some things to perhaps be damaged but, no worries here, these lovelies were packaged exceedingly well inside the plastic bag:

And even better, wrapped up very prettily in tissue paper once I removed the protective bubble wrap:

Now let’s rip that pretty paper aside and dig into the goodies!

And here it is, The Haul…Pretty and shiny and sparkly earrings and necklaces suitable for every occasion. I’m rapidly ascending to jewelry utopia.

I even tossed in a few $1 ELF products because…well, I love certain ELF products and that eyeliner in the purple tube was just to die for.

And, because I am looking at that huge haul of 26 items and a total due of under $30, I’m still pinching myself. Here’s the packing slip with the total amount I paid for this incredible haul:

Oh, Miss A…I am going to declare the day I heard about you and discovered your site of awesomeness and wonder a personal The Beholding Eye holiday.

While there would be no mistaking these items for anything other than costume jewelry, it’s on a par with Forever 21 and Claire’s Boutique jewelry…and I think we all know it’s difficult to get anything at such stores for $1. (Again, yes, ONE DOLLAR PER ITEM, ALL ITEMS, ALL THE TIME).

So, ladies, here’s the hookup to go score your own Miss A goodies and perhaps check out the Miss A Facebook page:

WEBSITE: http://www.shopmissa.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ShopMissA

And, as always, feel free to follow me via the following social media:

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

DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE BIG OCTOBER GIVEAWAY…SNEAK PEEKS START THIS FRIDAY AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU’LL WANT A CHANCE TO WIN THIS HAUL!!!

Until next time, stay beautiful…And stay sparkly with Miss A!