1 PENNY Julep Maven Boxes are BACK!

Get ready for some goodness!
Julep Maven is bringing back their ONE penny subscription back! Get them while they are HOT!

If you've always been wanting to try it out but didn't want to pay the price of $19.99 each month then take advantage of this opportunity!! For only ONE penny (and FREE shipping) you get a Julep Maven box that usually includes 2 full-sized nail polishes and a hand cream but it really depends on what profile you end up choosing because each of the 5 (American Beauty, Boho Glam, Bombshell, Classic With a Twist and It Girl) profiles carries different colours and different products =D.

Subscriptions can also be cancelled at anytime (if you wish to cancel, you must call or email them before the 25th midnight (PST) of the month to avoid being charged on the 27th; phone number included below). You can also skip a month free of charge, as long as you sign in to your account between the 20th-24th and select "Skip the month".

Not sure how long this $0.01 promotion is going on for so get it while it's available s2!

"Image taken from julep.com"

Just follow the instructions below to get your own JulepMaven!

July's Luxe Box by Loose Button

I know I'm kinda late on this post but better late than never =]

I will assume that you all know that Luxe Box is a monthly subscription that delivers 3-5 deluxe beauty samples in a pretty box for $12/month, $36/3month or $120/year, currently only available to Canadians and that you can purchase your Luxe Box hereeeeeeeeee ;)

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I was just thinking that I might be creating a lot of waste if I were to receive a Luxe Box per month for the next while because they are heavily packaged. So I kindly emailed them to ship my July Luxe Box in the bubble wrap envelope only and skip the box, ribbons, tissue papers and the sheet of cotton even thought I know  we can completely recycle all these materials with the help of some imagination and creativity but I just wanted to try this out for a month and see how it goes. Let me tell you, it's not as exciting opened a Luxe Box WITHOUT the box and all the other goodies so I will be requesting my future Luxe Boxes to be shipped as it used to be and I will recycle the materials myself =] (will make a post in the future on how I reuse these boxes, tissue papers, ribbons and cotton =]).

This month, I was away from home so couldn't open my box until a week later so I spoiled my own surprise by searching it on YT and google. 

• I was kinda sad that we were getting another polish because I'm not a polish girl. 
• Kinda sad that we were getting a lip liner cause I never use a lip liner.
• But glad that these were full sizes =].
• Kinda sad that there was a fragrance sampler because I'm not into perfumes.
• Kinda sad that there was another oil treatment sampler since we already got one from Joico last month
• BUT THEN, THAT'S JUST ME... Don't even know why I still love them soooooooo much when I dislike so many types of beauty products, I think it's the surprise we get each month and the fact that we can really find things we love or hate just so we know what to buy and what not to buy in full sizes.
  
  
  
  *I got some different products than what is listed above, so keep reading to find out more =]*

Super small packaging compared to what it used to be

Greeting Cards, description and price of the full size products (just wished they would include how big the full sizes are)

Not too appealing to the eye without the box is it? =P

I got four things this month and no chocolate =[, perhaps it's because of the hot weather? I would love to see some sour candies as a substitute *yumm*

This box includes:

• 2 eye cream and 1 moisturizer sample from Consonant Skincare
  Full size eye cream retails for $36, moisturizer retails for $54
• (Full Size) Essie Nail Polish in Formal Affair (Red with tiny reflexes)
  Full size retails for $8
• Stella In Two Peony fragrance sampler
  Full size retails for $56
• (Full Size) Trucco Pro Eye Pencil in Sebastian 7094
  Full size retail for $20

Consonant Skincare

Consonant Skincare
3 small samples, haven't tried these yet but I think I will love it because I  loved the natural soap bar and the foaming face cleanser that I received in past Luxe Boxes

Stella In Two Peony
Love how it looks but didn't really care for the scent. It's too woody, and heavy for me. 

Essie Nail Polsih
I HATE RED! lol, already got a red China Glaze polish last month so I don't really need another one =[

Formal Affair
Applies sheer
needs 3-4 coats to get get it opaque
has tiny gold reflexes
looks like a coral-ly/orangy if you only apply one coat

Pro Eye Liner (bottom: swatch and top: blended)
Very smooth and moisturizing
Feels like a melting lipstick
Colour suitable as a cheek stain or lip colour
I might be able to use it as an eyeshadow/base/primer by for now I think I will only use in on my lip because its too moisturizing for my oily eyelids

Overall, I still like this service and the idea behind it so I renewed my subscription for another year. July's box wasn't really for me because I was really bummed when I saw a red polish but the rest of the box is workable, not loving but workable.
However, I did love almost all the products in my past Luxe Boxes, if you'd like to check those out then feel free to click the followings:
June's Edition
May's Edition
March's Edition

For those who have bought this month's Luxe Box, did you find anything you love/hated? Let me know by commenting below =]


Want more of these services? Try GLYMM BOX, it's a little different but I will explain it when I get my next box arrives but feel free to explore their website to find more about glymm box. I am currently subscribed to both LUXE BOX and GLYMM BOX so I'm supper excited to see what's in my August edition and how they compare =]

**Alx**

Nails x 3.5 + Blog Award s2!

Just sharing with you all some painted nails I've done for the couple of weeks. You can see how much my nails have grown during these past weeks because I like wearing the same coloured nails for a long time rather than always changing it up because I don't like removing the polishes with acetone. Such a big dilemma, I want to do different nail designs but I don't want to use nail polish remover them -_- how does that work? Do any of you know any other type of nail polish remover that are less harmful or even something natural?

Anyways let me start with one of my favourite!, A nude colour by REVLON called Gray Suede

Revlon-Gray Suede (3 coats)

Added some dots to one of the corners of my nails to change up the look in just a few minutes =]

China Glaze - Sexy in the City

This was done by one of my gf because we were bored, that's why I have no idea what colours/brands she used. I loved it when she helped me file my nails to get a better squared tip than my nails in the first picture above.

So my nails have grown a lot and every time I have long nails I would do a French manicure. Usually with the typical white or pearly colour but this time I've decided to do something different =]. I simply painted these on free handed (I didn't use tape or other helping equipments but feel free too if you want a more even and clean design)

Love this colour. China Glaze Agent Lavender. Applied one coat only!

One coat looks nice in real life but if you look at my nails under the light you can see that the polish isn't 100% opaque but I'm ok with that because under normal lighting it looks opaque and smooth =]

The colour should look a little bit more purple than baby blue, it's just that my camera won't pick up the true colour..sry!

As you can see, I'm a very simple girl. All the designs I made are simple, easy and quick to do. You can really see the deference between the designs my friend made and what I made =P. Let me know if you'd like to see more simple nail designs and which nail above did u like most? =P

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Stylish Blogger Award s2

The lovely Joann from LuckyDuckyLoves tagged me with this stylist blogger award and I was like WHAT??? REALLLYY???? no wayyyy!!.... AHHHHH thank you sooo muchhh hunnnn!! s2 ^^.  Please check her out for some awesome product reviews =]

The Rules

1. Link back to the person who gave it to you.
2. List 7 things about yourself that you haven't mentioned before

3. Tag 7 people and let them know you done so!

7 Things About Myself (This one is so hard as I've already made a few posts in the past talking about myself lol, but anyway, here we goo......)

1. I prefer lipbalms over lipsticks/glosses, only 100% natural ones won't further chap my lips.. Burt's Bee are
    a no no for me....
2. I eat lemon with salt, loveeeeee!
3. I love sports like skiing, snowboard, rollerblading, skating, biking, skateboarding, riding a scooter,
    badminton, ping pong, jumping ropes and playing the hula hoops (is this even a sport? lol).
4. I'm 5'4'' (this one is soo boring! lol)
5. I love watch Criminal Minds, The Big Bang Theory and Moderm Family and have rarely/never watch
    shows like gossip girls, pretty little liars... I just don't wanna deal with all the drama -_-, it's too frustrating
    and negative sometimes that I don't want to bring all that into my life.
6. I don't like eating sweets, I'm more of a savoury or sour-taste girl
7. I'm only 22 years old but I have major laugh lines, frown lines and crows feet when I smile/laugh =[

7 People I Tag

1. Ash: http://araeofstyle.blogspot.com/
2. Haze: http://iamheizl.blogspot.com/

3. Jiawa: http://www.closetvoyage.com/

4. Julie: http://www.popchampagneblog.com/

5. Leigh: http://thelibertybelleblog.blogspot.com/

6. Lisa: http://lisalovescoco.blogspot.com/
7. Lolita: http://augustalolita-lolitaslife.blogspot.com/

As always, these fellow bloggers were hard to pick out but I really like their styles,
hope you like them too =]

**Alx**

Shiny nails without the harsh chemicals!!

I have decided to make a post on something that I am currently in loveeee with and that is the Beautifying Nail Kit by Dead Sea Premier. This company is not too well known but their products are awesome, they carry a wide variety of skincare and natural spa products which has ingredients derived from the Dead Sea. Their line of products can do serious damage to your wallets but then I think it is totally worth it. You can visit their websites for more information on the company’s background and their products. Main Website: http://www.premier-deadsea.com/ and for the actual Canadian shopping site you will have to click this one instead http://www.premierspaboutique.com/product_p/n11.htm.

 

This is the packaging

This slides out of the packaging and it comes with (from left to right) a buffing block, hand/body cream, nail file, and cuticle oil

The nail kit that I have is in "herbal", which to me does not smell like any kind of herd out there but more like baby powder lol. The nail kit comes with a 4-sided buffing block, 125ml hand and body cream in “herbal”, a nail filer and 20ml cuticle therapy oil. First of all the main thing that gives you perfectly shiny nails is the buffing block, you can’t get the same result with the ones you find at a drugstore for a few buck. Although the drugstore buffing block can make your nails a little bit shiny at first but it will NOT make the shine last for 2-3 weeks like this kit does!!!! an added bonus isssssss that the buffing block has a LIFETIME warranty!!! just exchange your old one for a new one either by visiting them at their booth in a mall or probably by sending it back through mail but this I'm not too if the mailing option is accepted. The second most important thing from this kit is the cuticle oil, this will make your shine last longer extending it to merely 3 weeks. Although this is obvious I still have to note that when I say the shine can last 3 weeks, you have to keep in mind that at week 2-3 the shine level will not be the same as day 1 but still better then before you buffed your nails…Next is the nail file, this file is thick, harsh and durable, you need to file your nails with a light hand because this file is so efficient that it can literally take a chunk off your nail with a few move, so be careful!! Finally, it's the hand/body cream, it has a very thick consistency and it is very moisturizing but it does not look oily nor it is sticky after it absorbs in a few seconds.

here's the process of beautifying my nails =]...

My initial disgusting nail of different lengths because I'd always chipped them =[

This is what it looks like after buffing for 5 seconds on the blue side of the block to resurface and get rid of your ridges

After using the gray side to smooth away the excess nail dust and to further smooth the nail's surface

This is how shiny it looks after the final step on the buffing block (white side). Doesn't it look like have a clear coat of nail polish? Trust me it's a lot shinier in real life i just have a crappy camera lol

This is the final thing with added cuticle oil  =]

I love this nail kit because it gives my nail a healthy, natural look nails that are super shiny and smooth rather than dull and rough like it used to be. I bought this set at a booth located inside Toronto’s Scarborough Town Centre Shopping Mall for approximately $45 tax included. This was a great deal that my friend and I got because it was basically buy two for $90 but if you can see in their website the exact same nail kit is worth $59.98 plus tax and plus approximately $14 shipping to my area which adds up to be around $80 for one kit!!. Plus you can always bargain for more discounts at a booth and never online but unfortunately my friend and I were not skilled in that field but we did get a sample of a face mask and also a few eye cream samples!!! Plus a KitKat chocolate bar!! LMAO. That’s why if you see a booth at a nearby shopping mall make sure to try it out yourself to see the effect in real life before buying it. I know you guys will love it for sure!! Only a simple 3-step buffering system with their buffing block then adding a tiny bit of cuticle oil (optional although I think this is the step that makes the shine last an extra week) to make it super shiny without using any kind of chemicals like nail polish then use nail polish remover to remove the paint, this process can really damage your nails and turn them yellow!!

Eye Cream and face mask sample size, the size is comparable to a teaspoon