Serious Polish Addict

We all know that if I was to name my favorite indie polish lines, Polish Addict would be at the top of my list!  I own more PA than any other indie line. I even belong to Laura's Polish Addict Facebook group!

And that's what this is all about. Laura and her business partner Crystal decided to gift all the members of the group during the month of their birthday. How you ask?

By creating a limited edition polish for each month of the year and sending the members who have birthdays that month a free polish!!!  

July was the first month they did this, since they started the group at the end of June. They mentioned they would be sending gifts for birthdays, but I thought it would be a mini, or a cuticle oil or something else. But being the amazing company that they are, they went above and beyond and created a completely new color and sent full sized polish to every one with July birthdays!!  

                   July birthday polish

 

It's a pale pink crelly GLITTER BOMB. Holy glitter batman!  This is jam packed, no fishing required. My nails were covered in two coats. 

I started with a white based, because I really wanted everything to pop, and didn't have a lot of time for multiple coats, to get the pink vibrant enough. 

                  Look at all that glitter!

There's too many glitters to list, so check out the macro for more info on the glitters. 

I love this polish, and will be using it very sparingly, as it is a true limited edition, and only a select handful of girls received this!!  And I'm lucky and proud to be one!!  

Don't forget to show Laura some love with a purchase or two www.shoppolishaddict.bigcartel.com

~Kat

Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Exfoliating Scrub

It's Ipsy bag time again!  I wasn't terribly impressed with my bag this month; it seemed like everything I wanted was not in my bag

But for $10/month I can't expect perfection every time. 

One product I received that I LOVE is my Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub. I have been using Lush Cosmetics Ocean Salt scrub for a few months now, and literally just ran out. So I was actually glad I got the Michael Todd scrub. 

I used it for the first time last night while hubs took Bebe to go get some Chinese takeout. And boy was I surprised!!  Obviously the word charcoal is right in the name, but I was not expecting it to be so dark!! 

So why charcoal you ask? Activated charcoal in skin care products has the ability to draw out dirt, oil and all the other grossness that gets clogged in your face and pores. And it's known to make your skin radiant, like you've just gotten 8 glorious hours of beauty rest. 

Well, I definitely need the beauty rest part. So I couldn't wait to try it. 

I would advise not using this with a white washcloth or towel, since it can stain. But it doesn't not stain your skin or fingers. 

I have only used this once, but it's definitely love at first use. I can't wait to see what kind of long term results I can get with this product! 

~Kat 

Oh what a week!

I'm the worst blogger ever. I have been neglecting the blog for so long and for that I apologize. 

I've had a lot lot lot going on lately, starting with happy things!  Hubs and I went on our first baby free vacation since Bebe was born three and a half years ago!  His cousin was getting married, and that side of the family lives in New York City. How could we pass up that opportunity!?  Neither of us had been to the city since we were each 5 years old (which in hubs case means I wasn't even born yet!). So we went from Friday-Tuesday, saw tons of awesome sights (the World Trade Center memorial is a must for everyone; a truly serene yet somber sight), and had a great time with family we had never met. 

Once we got home was where it turned terrible. A few weeks before going to New York we found out we were expecting again. And even though I was the one dragging my feet with baby number 2, I was so excited!  I had my first prenatal appointment the Tuesday before we left for New York, and had an ultrasound scheduled for the Friday after we got back. 

That's where it gets ugly. Unfortunately the ultrasound tech and radiologist were unable to detect a heartbeat and the baby was only 9 weeks big, and by that time I was close to 11 or 12 weeks along. So two weeks prior the baby had stopped growing and died. 

We were heartbroken, and I thought my world was collapsing. I had no idea how badly I wanted that baby until I no longer had it. 

Yesterday we went ahead with the d&c which is the surgical removal of what was left of the fetus and tissues in the uterus, and I'm at home recovering (both physically and mentally) right now. Hoping to get back into the swing of things with polish, and blogging. I've been doing quite a bit of shopping, retail therapy and all, and I have lots and lots and lots to show you. So please, stick around, there's lots coming up!  Tomorrow we will return with the regularly scheduled programming, and nail polish swatching!  I hope you're ready for me!

~Kat

Ps- I'm sharing a few of the pictures from our trip! Enjoy!

View from Turtle Pond in Central Park

Broadway!!

We saw our first Broadway show, Pippin. And it was fantastic. I can't wait to see another!

One of many shots from the World Trade Center memorial. I can only guess the roses are from visiting friends and family members. I cried the whole time. 

My favorite part of all. The lovely lady liberty. A breathtaking sight. Isn't she gorgeous?

Co-Hosting a Giveaway!

OI have some really exciting news!  One of my fellow beauty bloggers is having an awesome giveaway, and I'm one of the co-hosts!!
Amber over at daydreaming beauty is giving away a Stila In the Moment eyeshadow palette.

How gorg, right!?  And all these colors will complement any skin tone,eye color, anything!  It's so verstile; use the colors for day, night, office, out for cocktails!

To enter, head to daydreaming beauty

Kat

Sunkissed VoxBox: Dr Scholls High Heel Inserts

 The next item up for review from my Influenster Sunkissed VoxBox  are my Dr. Scholl's high heel inserts. 

These have been absolute lifesaver for my feet at work! I wear heels on an almost daily basis and my feet feel much better at the end of the day with these. I've used them in open-toed shoes, close-toed shoes, sandals, flats, heels, wedges; it works with everything. 

The unique gel arch works by taking the pressure off of the ball of your foot therefore making heels more comfortable. They have a sticky back so they stay in place well but not so much that they can't be removed and placed in to other shoes.  And they are nice and thin so they don't crowd your foot in your shoes. 

I think my favorite part is that they're clear so they blend in with the bottom of any shoe and no one can tell that you're wearing them

Probably my second favorite item from my Sunkissed VoxBox and I will definitely be purchasing more in the future!

~Kat

Disclaimer: this item was sent to me for free by Influenster for review

Sunkissed Vox Box: Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics

Second review from my Influenster Sunkissed Vox Box (obviously a given from the name of this post) is the Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics. 

      Photo courtesy of Google Images

I've been waiting to try these for awhile now, and never got around to it. They just look so much prettier than a regular hair tie. They are really silky, and slide right out of the hair when they need to be removed. No pulling, tugging, pieces of hair ripping out. They really mean ouchless!  And they aren't glued together at the ends so they won't rip apart when stretched too much!  I'll admit that happens entirely too much with my hair ties. 

I got 5 in my package (standard packaging), and my three year old immediately ripped it open because she wanted the pink one!  I couldn't wait for her to have hair so I could braid it and put it up and make it all pretty, but of course as soon as she grew hair (at age 2) she wanted nothing to do with "ponies, piggies" anything of the sort!!  How frustrating. 

But all it took was one pink ribbon elastic and all that changed. She's worn her hair up everyday since I got my Vox box!   

However, they don't work as well in my hair. I have really really thick hair, and these will only go around my hair twice, three if I reaaaalllllllyyyyy pull at it. However they look much prettier around my wrist than a typical hair elastic 

Even though I can't use them as much as I'd like, I'm all for anything that makes my daughter excited to pull her hair up!!

~Kat

Sunkissed VoxBox: Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream

In early May I was picked to participate in my first Influenster VoxBox!! I have gotten campaigns and activities to participate in with Influenster, but never a full VoxBox. 

The survey I filled out made me realize a few possibilities of items I would be getting, since most of the questions were about BB cream and nail polish!!

I was most excited about BB cream because I've been anxious to use it. But I wasn't about to pay $15 for a tinted moisturizer I wasn't sure I would like very much; this was the perfect way to try it. 

I got the whole box towards the end of June. And as predicted, BB Cream and nail polish were in the box. Along with more high heel inserts, and Goody Ribbon hair elastics. 

Today I am going to focus on just the BB Cream, which is hands down my favorite part of the box. It's the Olay Fresh Effects and for those who don't know, BB cream  is a huge trend in Japan right now and BB stands for Beauty Balm. It's basically a tinted moisturizer with SPF (15 in this case), and they help brighten and slightly even out skin tone.

My usual makeup routine has always been full foundation and concealer, set with powder. Followed with bronzed/blush and eye and lip makeup. It can take quite a long time, and it's really hot and melty in the summer!!  I was worried about coverage when I started using BB Cream, and really self conscious. But I was surprised by the amount of coverage I actually got!  I did still cover up a problem spot with concealer and I always still set with powder. 

But back to the cream itself. I got the lighter color, because I took the survey for the box prior to starting to tan. So I was worried about having the wrong color. 

It looks much lighter and actually blends pretty well. 

I didn't fully rub this in but you can see around some edges the ability it has to match well, even though it looks lighter than my skin tone right now. 

As I said earlier my typical routine was a lot of heavy makeup to correct imperfections. Using just a tinted moisturizer was a big step for me and I'm so glad I did it!!  It feels amazingly light and fresh especially in the hot humid summers. And it's got sunscreen right in it, so no need to apply separately. Oh! And it smells fantastic!!

Another thing that is difficult for me, Influenster wanted me to post a before and after picture!  So I took one as I woke up, and one after I got to work and collaged them. So here goes! 

You can see I have redness in my cheeks, and how well the BB Cream helps cover it up. Ps I'm concealer free today too because I ran out this weekend!

I will absolutely be purchasing this from now on!!  Thanks Influenster (and Olay!) for such a great product!!

~Kat

All products in the VoxBox were sent to me free of charge to review.