Review: Kate Spade Twirl

This perfume was first mentioned back in August 2011 when I received it as a sample in my first Birchbox, and I have been in love with it ever since. I was so much in love that come Christmas I bought it for myself with my Christmas money and have never regretted the purchase (especially since I bought it suuuper cheap in a set that was on sale that I paid for mostly with giftcards, heck yes!).

Why: I originally was intrigued by this perfume when I got it in my first Birchbox ever, and I will admit that description had me hooked before I even smelled it. Then when I smelled it I couldn't get enough of it! What I loved about the description was that it said it was kind of a modern "Holly Golightly" scent, which is the name of the girl in Breakfast at Tiffany's. I have always loved that movie and semi want to be Holly Golightly, haha, so I really wanted to love the fragrance just knowing that. Then when I smelled that it was a fruity floral that is kind of cirtus-y, I was doubly sold because that is the kind of scents that I love! Had it been a sweet fruity floral I might not have enjoyed it so much.

This fragrance also has some personal meaning to me beyond the Holly Golightly-ness because I bought it at a time where I was going through quite a few personal things, and trying to figure out what kind of person I was, blah blah blah, which probably sounds cliche, but it was true. 2011 was a hard year for me, and I don't know if this will sound whiny or stupid, but I had a lot of bad experiences with men last year, and I learned a lot of things about myself because of it, and in December was when I was really learning from it all and I emerged with an identity that I don't need men, but of course don't hate them. What I really did was redefine my values and gained the strength and confidence to stick with them rather than abandoning who I am as a person just to be a guy to have a man in my life even if it felt like settling. So when 2012 began, me and this perfume became best buds and it kind of stands for my new "Miss Independent" identity and whenever I spray it on it kind of serves as a reminder to not forget all the things that I learned.

Notes: The Kate Spade official description says there are notes of watermelon, blackberry, red currant, musk, and french macaroon. I think this makes it sound sweeter than it really is. I think the top notes have more of a fresh orange and blackberry smell that turns more musky and mature as it ages through the day. When this is described as day-to-night fragrance I do think it is true because it has a lighter funner fragrance at the start and ends more sultry by the night.

Repurchase: Would I buy this again when I run out? I can't really say for sure at this point because I don't know where I will be in life when it runs out. Depending on where that is my identity might be calling for a new fragrance friend that identifies with who I am then. But I will always have a place for this in my heart :) What is probably more likely is that after I use up this big bottle I will probably purchase the little roller ball version so I have it around, but my next full bottle purchase will probably be something else.

The Great Product Massacre!

Talk about spring cleaning right!? I am so proud of myself! :) (Plus I am excited to be allowed to buy some new things, yippie!)

1. Curel Daily Moisture Original Lotion for Dry Skin
I originally bought this specifically for my trip to Florida this past winter so I could moisturize after tanning but also not have to bring a huge bottle of lotion with me on my trip. I really liked it as a moisturizer. The smell left something to be desired, but in some respects I liked that the smell was kinda eh because it didn't last very long so it didn't ever compete with my perfume or anything. Will I buy it again? Quite possibly I will for another trip or something. Until then I am going to try out some more brands (Nivea lotion maybe?)


2. Revlon Calcium Gel Nail Hardener
This baby lasted me forEVER! I am pretty sure that I have had it since the summer of 2010, maybe before then? It was a decent base coat, and I think it might have helped my nails to harden. At the very least it served the job as a base coat to protect my sensitive nails from my colored polish because colored polish tends to dry out and cause my nails to separate (not cute I know! But whatcha gonna do eh?). I may buy it again some day, but I am going to try out another brand next just for the fun of it (maybe an Essie one? Or that Sally Hansen one people like?)


3. Kate Spade Twirl Body Cream
This came with my beloved perfume. I liked it as a lotion ok, but I would say that it does smell a little different than the perfume itself. I did like the different smell but the lotion was kinda eh when it came to moisturizing. I am pretty sure I would never buy this on its own because I reckon that it is probably way to pricey to justify the purchase when I already have the perfume, but if I got is as a gift, I would definitely use it and enjoy it.


4. Sephora Sample: Too Faced Shadow Insurance Lemon Drop Color Correcting Eye Shadow Primer
I loved the idea of this because I have red vein-y eyes, but the color just didn't work for my skin tone I don't think. Just way too yellow that it would look funny and kinda like white cast-ed on my brow bone. Also, and maybe this had to do with the age of the product the sample was taken from, this was a lot thicker than the regular Too Faced Shadow Insurance that I have and love. I am pretty sure that I wouldn't ever buy this, but I do like the concept so would consider buying a different brand/version of a color correcting eye primer.


5. Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
It may be oil free technically but whatever the top layer of this biphase product is does leave a residue like a oil based product would. It was fine for removing makeup, but the residue issue coupled with it also making my eyes sting plus the fact that I don't really ever need eye makeup remover except on the rare occasion in the year where I wear eyeliner... this all just points to it being a purchase I don't need to make, and won't be something I need to replace any time soon. I am currently using some make up wipes that I am enjoying using whenever I feel the need to remove my makeup before cleansing (which is rare for me). The thing did last me forever though, years and years, because I never needed to use it much haha.


6. Maybelline Wet Shine Lipstick in Crystal Clear
Talk about a blast from the past, this was my first lipstick product (though it applies like a gloss) outside of makeup for theater performances for school. I remember the day my mom brought this home and told me she thought I might find it fun to use as a kind of first step into makeup. Thanks mommy! :) I am pretty sure this product doesn't exist anymore (but there are similar products out there, just check for the clear gloss edition of your favorite lipstick line, a lot of drug store lines have it I think), but even if it did I don't think I would buy it. It wasn't a hardship to use up because it went fast and I just treated it like a lip balm. I am stoked to finish another lip product! Woo hoo go me! I did like the finish it gave though because if you built it up a little it had this nice shimmery sheen on top of the glossiness. I wouldn't buy it again but I would totally buy it as a first makeup product when I have kids :)


7. Wet n Wild Single Eyeshadow in Brulee
Check it out, I used up an eyeshadow! Granted, I did cheat a little because it smashed when I was traveling recently which I didn't realize until I opened it, this causing a hilarious incident of it flying everywhere and into the wet hotel sink, causing most of the crumbs to not be reclaimable. But, I think it is ok because before this incident I would say that I had used up like 75% of the product legitimately and would have actually finished it up. I loved using this as a brow bone highlight because I like matte highlights over shimmery. Will I buy it again? Definitely, especially since it is only $2. Will I run out to buy it? Not yet because I wanna use up more shadows and I like the encouragement of getting one out of my collection even if I might buy it again in a few years. Next I am going to try to make a dent in a shimmery highlight I have but never use. Perhaps I can learn to like it, or at least find a way to make it work for me.


8. PYT Argan Oil Oil Treatment
This was one of those samples that a dude in the mall at a hair straightener cart shoved in my hands and I didn't really want it. I wasn't even going to keep it, but I figured, why not try it. It's one time use, and if it sucks I'll just make sure its a time when I can re-shower to get it out if I have to. The smell was kinda nice, but I didn't notice anything miraculous after use. I have used other oils before and liked the results way more. I am also kinda glad that I didn't like it because I wouldn't want to have to deal with buying it cuz I would have to deal with mall cart business approaches, and me being susceptible to sales associate's pitches if I like the underlying product, I probably would have bought some other things I didn't need. I think just pure argan oil works way better than this which has other stuff in it to.


9. Tretinoin Cream
There should be a national dermatologist recognition day because ever since I went to one and asked for a product for my acne, this product has totally changed my skin! Granted, I still get pimples, mostly at a certain time of the month, but this has greatly reduced them, and made my skin softer. Thanks mom for making me ask about it, because it was actually really easy to get! All I said to the dermatologist was "my mom said that when she was young her dermatologist gave her some face cream that she said amazingly got rid of her acne... do you have anything like that?" and then he prescribed this baby right here. Obviously it hasn't cured me yet, but I think that is also because I think my mom had less acne as a kid that I do. I will definitely be buying ever tube under my prescription and use every last drop! Maybe if I am lucky, after the prescription expires and I use up all my tubes (I think I get 6 total, so 5 left now) I won't need a new prescription because I'll be mostly cured? *crosses fingers* :)


10. Sensodyne Pronamel Tootepaste - Travel Sized
My dentist gave me two little tubes of this when I complained that my teeth were a little sensitive after using a whitening toothpaste. I used this when I was between toothpastes recently, and I quite liked it. It kinda of foamed less and the mint was different in a good way. I also liked that it wasn't gritty at all, more just creamy. I thought I would hate that, but I actually quite like it. Would I buy the full size? Not quite sure yet, but I still have the second tube of this, so after that one I think I might know for sure if I wanna buy the full size. However, after I use up my current toothpaste I wanna try Theodent because it just looks and sounds awesome! Have any of you tried Theodent yet?


11. Target Brand Bamboo Lotus Fragranced Soy Candle
I loved the smell of this, so fresh but also flowery. I liked the way it burned, but I can't decide if it gave me slight headaches or not (sometimes candles do that to me). The price was good if I can recall ($5 maybe?) and when one thinks of how expensive candles can be (heres looking at you Bath and Body Works, and Yankee candle) which I usually find to be ridiculous for what candles are, I think this candle range is just my style (well other than the 2 voodoo candles that I got in New Orleans last year... :) )


12. L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
I will not deny that I loved this when I first got it. I thought it was almost god like compared the cleanser I had been using before, which I used to love, but as my skin has gotten dryer recently (probably from my retinol cream), that old standby love of  cleanser was just to harsh for me now. However, since first getting this and while working through it, I have been able to try a few other cream cleansers and I have found that I think I like those better because this one can still be a little drying since it does have sulfates in it. I do love the scrubby thing and will definitely keeping that! I don't think I would try out other cleansers in this line, if only because none of those are creamy and probably will be too sulfate-y for me, but I do like the line generally and would recommend it generally. Plus it did last me for a good long time despite some product lose due to the way the bottle is designed. I think it lasted me about 2.5 months?


13. Boscia Peppermint Blotting Linens
Check it out! I used up a makeup product! I thought this sucker would never end! 100 sheets amazingly last a really long time because I swear I have been using these almost everyday since sometime this summer and it took me months and months and months to get through these. I think they are awesome as a product, I love the peppermint smell, and how it is kinda refreshing on the skin. I never had anything to complain about when it came to its blotting power, it always did want I wanted it to do. I also think this is a great value of a product because I think I got this on sale for $5 instead of the usual $10, and even at $10 I think it is a good deal. Keep an eye out on sephora for a sale on these linens, because usually at least one version of them (but not always the peppermint ones necessarily) are usually on sale at the $5 price. Also, checking my purchase history on Sephora, these lasted me a really long time because I bought them in November of 2010! It wasn't until recently that I started using them everyday (mostly to inspire my using up of my make up products generally), so if you are a casual blotting paper user, then this is even more of a good deal! Especially when you consider that they are around the same price by sheet count (if not maybe cheaper?) than the Clean and Clear sheets that I have tried before but didn't like because they are so plastic-y rather than tissue-y like these are. Will I buy again? Definitely, just have to use up a pack of blotting sheets from a different brand first :)


14. Up & UP (Target) Brand Moisturizing Hand Soap in Milk and Honey
I love me some Target brand! However I didn't think this was very moisturizing. I did like the smell but I wasn't crazy about it, so only bought it for the moisturizing quality. Won't repurchase this exact soap, but I will try another from the Target brand, will just be sure that I buy my next one for the smell since I don't think I am going to find moisture in these soaps (if I want a moisturizing one I think I will turn to Bath and Body Works because I recall trying one of their moisturizing ones and not being disappointed, but I am on a budget this year, so will stick to cheaper ones until I can justify BBW prices for hand soap, haha).

Favorite Christmas Gifts!

Hey guys, I thought it would be fun to show a few of my favorite items from Chirstmas that I got as gifts this year. Since I don't do videos, and since my Christmas was on vacation, I won't show you everything since I got mostly money and giftcards (easy to pack!) and just random stuff like candy and parachuting army men (I love my parents! haha). Consider this like a curated version of my Christmas haul :)

 Here are all my favorite things together! I'll go into more detail about each one below

This bracelet is from a random boutique in New Orleans and I received from my awesome big brother. I am just blown away by this because it is surprisingly SO me despite that I don't own anything like it so I am amazing that my brother was able to pick out something I love! What really makes me love it is that it seems kinda Vivienne Westwood-esque, a high end designer that I would just DIE to own anything from! :) Until the day that I am rich this bracelet should get me through :P

I suppose this is kind of like a Christmas gift to myself because I bought it with a giftcard. This is Kate Spade Twirl, a perfume that I originally sampled through birchbox, and just fell in love with! I was originally going to save my birchbox points to buy the full size but when I came across this in a set with a matching lotion and a suuuper good price I knew it was meant to be and that I needed it now! Haha. Now I have decide what amazing thing to save my points for now :P

This shirt and I... pure love. It seems so crazy, I know, and probably not something I would have realized I would love had I seen it in a store myself. My brother's amaaaazing girlfriend got this for me and, again, I am stunned at her and my brother's ability to get my style spot on! When I wore it for the first time it really was true love. The shirt it self is SOOOOO soft and comfortable it is amazing, and the graphic is just plain amazing too. I love to wear this in a kind of grungy way with jean shorts (while I was on vacation in Florida, haha) and my Madden Girl boots. I just love the look, and it kind of reminds me of Sarah Hawkinson's style, who I love! This was also purchased in a NOLA boutique but I found it online if you want one too!

And lastly, because it is just plain cute and is also something my brother got me. It's a little top hat facinator! It is perfect for mardi gras (I went last year) and I secretly loooove facinators (and I want to wear a little feathery veil one when I get married one day :P). I'm not sure when I will wear it except if I go to mardi gras again, or for a costume occasion like Halloween or something. Anyone have any ideas? Well other than maybe Harajuki, Japan.

What were your favorite things for Christmas? Comment below, I'd love to check it out!

August 2011 Birchbox

Got my first Birchbox today! YAY!
Don't know what Birchbox is? Or wanna join? Click Here

Here is what I got (will be updated later with reviews once I have used each product enough to review):

1. Befine Night Cream 0.5 fl.oz
        I've heard good things about Befine products from Youtube and Blogs, so I'm excited to try this
Update: I love the way this smells! Kind of bakery-esque. Nice smooth texture, not too heavy. But not sure I would buy it if only I don't see this making any kind of significant difference in my skin and is therefore rather expensive for something that is just fine (but does smell delightful!) WOULD PURCHASE ON SALE


2. Befine Exfoliating Cleanser Single Serve
        Kinda bummed that this is only single serve size because one of my favorite Beauty Gurus on Youtube loves Befine cleaners, but its a rather big single serve size so I think I'll at least get a good idea of the product when I try it
Update: HATE THIS CLEANSER! Was way to gritty and rough for my taste. And I absolutely appauled the smell! Gross. Nothing good about this cleanser. May be pretty good at sloughing but was so turned off by the smell that I didn't take the time to fully wash my face and just washed it off after a few scrubs and switched to my regular face wash. WON'T PURCHASE


3. Blinc Mascara
         This is the kind that makes those little tubes! I'm so excited to try this!
Update: I love this mascara. Idk if this is emphasized by the fact that the last mascara was kinda flaky but the formula for blinc is so nice and liquid-y that it NEVER has clumped so far. I don't like a lot of volume, just definition and a little length so this mascara was perfect for me. MAY PURCHASE AFTER USING UP ALL MY OTHER MASCARAS


4. Kate Spade New York Twirl Perfume Sample
        Always have wanted to try this one out! So far I like it... may have sprayed some on my wrist the first second I got :)
Update: I really like the smell of this! And it does kinda make me wanna Twirl and have Breakfast at Tiffany's like Ms. Golightly. But, I think its a dupe-able smell. MAY PURCHASE ROLL ON OR IF FOUND AT TJ MAXX/PURFUMANIA/DISCOUNTED, ALSO WOULD LOVE A CHEAP DUPE


5. Liftlab Lift & Fix(TM) High Potency Solution
        Don't really need anti-aging serums, but apparently its made out of a protein from Acrtic fish, so that's pretty cool! Definitely will try it out and use it up since it's not gigundo
Update: I loved the consistency of this, not sticky at ALL! Which was a super plus because other serums that I've tried were rather sticky. This serums texture though was kinda liquid-y, which can be awkward at first to apply in your hand, but on your face it feels amazing. However, I'm not really sure what this is supposed to do and haven't noticed anything different about my skin from using it. Maybe it needs more time than what the sample can provide to show me, but at this point its too expensive for something that I only love the texture about.


6. Twistband (TM) Hair Tie
        Looks kinda like the Sephora Brand ones I noticed online the other day. So pretty pumped to get one and not have to buy the Sephora ones! I have it in my hair right now, so far I like it. Only thing I wish was different was that it wasn't like tied and knotted together. Would probably love it even more if it was just a continuous loop, not a strip of flat elastic tied together
Update: I think I love this hairband. Most hair bands give me a headache after a while, and this one can still do that if I am in a headache prone mood already, but the headaches with this hairband is significantly less awful that they are with other hairbands. I love how comfy it is on the wrist. The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that it is a strip tied together. Would LOVE it if it didn't have the knot because I don't like the look of the knot in my hair and obsessively try to keep the knot on the bottom of my ponytail, haha. WILL PURCHASE A SET WHEN I HAVE ENOUGH BIRCHBOX POINTS

What did other people get?