December 2017 Boxycharm Review

After being a loyal subscriber to Ipsy for over a year, I decided it was time to give another makeup subscription box a chance. Boxycharm is similar to Ipsy. Each month you get full size or deluxe-sized products delivered right to your door, and I was sold after checking out their previous boxes. If you're not very adventurous with makeup like me, it's a great way to build your makeup collection on the cheap and expand your makeup expertise!

The December 2017 Boxycharm theme was Glitz & Glam and I'm thrilled that Boxycharm ended the year with another fantastic box. I've seen many spoilers on Instagram and I hoped that I would get the Bella Pierre palette and blush kit. How lucky am I?!?

In my box:
Real Her blush kit
Bella Pierre pro concealer palette
Pretty Vulgar liquid lipstick
Tarte Tarteist lash paint mascara
Crown Brush deluxe blush brush

There were many standout items this month and I'm really happy to see many high end brands and full size items. I rate the November Boxycharm box a 5/5.

Click here to sign up with Boxycharm to get a haul like this for yourself! 

More about the products inside:

Real Her blush kit- I've really come out of my shell with makeup this year and I've learned a lot about how to apply blush properly to avoid looking like a clown. One of my biggest fears in life is looking like a hot mess so I'd rather stay conservative and not wear too much makeup. The problem was that I didn't know how to apply makeup properly, but thanks to Boxycharm I was able to score awesome makeup on the cheap so I could refine my makeup skills without breaking the bank. Forever grateful! The Real Her blush kit is perfect for makeup newbies and gurus since there are three colours to play with. I'm loving this!

Bella Pierre pro concealer palette- I'm thrilled to add these colours to my makeup collection :) I've been a fan of Bella Pierre since discovering the brand form Ipsy last year. These concealers are creamy and blendable- perfect for creating a flawless canvas for makeup! I can't wait to take before and after pics to see if there really is a difference with using colour correctors. 

Pretty Vulgar liquid lipstick- If metallic liquid lipsticks are your thing, then you would love the Pretty Vulgar "My Lips Are Sealed" lipsticks. It's a very pretty colour and the formula is so smooth and nourishing but liquid lipsticks aren't really my jam. I'll save this for a holiday party or something...

Tarte Tarteist lash paint mascara- I'm always in need of mascara since it's the one thing I can put on when I don't feel like wearing makeup and still feel glam :) I love Tarte so much and the lash paint mascara is a staple in my makeup bag (and for good reason!) The formula is fantastic and offers so much coverage without making your lashes feel stiff. It's buildable so you can go with one, or two, or three coats without looking too harsh. The brush is the perfect size and does a wonderful job of separating your lashes. My lashes look really long when I wore this mascara and would be great if you're looking for an everyday mascara. 

Crown Brush deluxe blush brush- This brush is so soft I couldn't stop touching it! The synthetic bristles are perfect for both cream and powder blushes so you don't need to take up space with too any brushes. I liked the handle design the most since there's a little dip for your thumb which allows you to have a bit more control. Great idea!!

I was very happy to get such an amazing box from Boxycharm.  Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes? Which ones are your faves? I'd love to hear from you!

My First Time using B. Liv sheet masks

I love taking care of my skin and discovering new brands to love. Sheet masks are my favourite to use on days when I need a quick pick me up and I got a lovely care package from the B. Liv team (thanks guys!) that had three bio-cellulose masks. There are many different kinds of sheet masks, but I find bio-cellulose masks to offer the best fit for my face shape. 

So what is bio-cellulose anyway??? Bio-cellulose is a natural fibre with a diameter of about 20 nanometers. That's 1000 times thinner than human hair! It's my favourite material to use because bio cellulose is biodegradable, which means my self-care routine can be a bit more eco-friendly :) The B. Liv masks really do fit like second skin and even though it's thin, it holds a ton of serum. 

So what's in the serum??? What I love most about the B. Liv masks is that the serum is thick and stayed put! I can't tell you how many times I've tried sheet masks and was left disappointed because all the serum slid off my face. UGH!!! My favourite ingredients in the masks are

• palmitoyl hexapeptide-12 -
acts like botox which relaxes visible tension lines while relieving stinging sensation and discomfort, thus helps minimize long-term formation of fine lines and wrinkles.

• palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 -

soothes and protects skin against oxidative stress caused by sugar, browned foods, alcohol, uv light, environment pollution, and stress.

• hyaluronic acid -
also known as HA in short, it lubricates joints and keeps skin layers full of moisture to stay in the right shape and place. It holds water, to be specific 1000 times of its weight, to keep collagen hydrated and promotes a youthful look. 

The B. Liv masks are one of my favourite masks and I'm happy to add these to my weekly routine. My skin was left soft yet supple and the Hydrate Away mask left me feeling like I had been to the spa! I sometimes like using masks just before bed and I noticed the morning after I used the B. Liv masks my skin still looked hydrated.  If you're a sheet mask junkie like me and want to learn more about what B. Liv has to offer, check out their website at https://www.bliv.com/. 

CURRENT OBSESSION- Purely Great Natural Deodorant

There's something about making healthier choices that makes you feel like you're on the right path in this crazy thing called life. Maybe I'm just more in tune with myself now more than ever, but for whatever reason, I feel so sluggish after eating junk food. I used to be able to eat like sh*t and feel totally fine after, and don't get me wrong, I still indulge in burgers on the reg...I just know in advance that I'm gonna have to make up for it somehow!!! If it's walking an extra block, doubling my veggie intake, or having a meatless day for every meat eating day; I really see the difference with my overall wellness when I choose better food options. Not only that, I've recently fallen in love with making better beauty and skin care choices too. 

I've told you a couple weeks ago about my current obsession with Purely Great Natural Deodorant and I'm happy to say that the obsession is still going strong! There are so many benefits to ditching your conventional deodorant and I'm happy I got the chance to try one of the best natural deodorants available today. Since I've been using the Purely Great Floral deodorant, I noticed an unexpected benefit- my armpits appeared lighter! Not drastically lighter, but the difference is noticeable if you're examining yourself every day like I do when I try new products LOL!! That could be because of the natural soda that acts as an exfoliant that removes the cellular damage in skin. Natural soda also has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help clear skin infection along with its scars. I've also learned that corn starch can be used to sooth skin irritations, so since the two main ingredients in the Purely Great deodorant are skin saviours, my underarms are definitely looking their best after using this deodorant on a daily basis.

I love smelling great and if you're looking for a natural deodorant that actually smells good, check out what Purely Great has to offer. Have you ditched your conventional deodorants yet? What are you waiting for?! There are three things I simply can't live without and my Purely Great deodorant is one of them :) See my daily essentials pic above and let me know in the comments some things you can't live without!