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Forever Red Exclusively at Bath & Body Works- Cosmo VoxBox Review

December 24, 2012 By Amberlee Leave a Comment

It’s hard to find an inexpensive fragrance that lasts long, and that smells great. I recently received a bottle of Forever Red from Bath & Body Works from Influenster.

Forever Red is the first Eau de Parfume launched by Bath and Body Works, so this was very exciting for many fans. Not only that but they spent more money developing, perfecting, and of course promoting this one fragrance than they have on any other fragrance. Forever Red is a passionate blend of pomegranate and red osmanthus with a sexy surprise of vanilla rum. I think my favorite part about this perfume is the vanilla. It helps give the perfume a warmer/sweeter after tone.

Notes included in Forever Red: Fiery Pomegranate, Rare French Peach, Luminous Apple with Red Peony, Night Marigold, Red Osmanthus and a dry down of Rich Vanilla Rum, Velvety Marshmallow, Oak Wood

The bottle itself is a little plain for me, but simple can still be beautiful! The only thing I really didn’t like about it was the spritzer. It seems very flimsy and I feel like I am going to break it if I press is hard enough to spray the perfume. So far there have not been any major issues and hopefully it stays that way.

Forever Red is not just a perfume! Bath and Body works also offers many other products featuring this scent that I think you guys will really love! From soaps to lotions you are sure to find something that suites your needs.

So why is this perfume so special? Everyone loves Bath and Body Works but I know for me I am not a big fan of body sprays. This fragrance lets you have the best of both worlds. You can have your Bath and Body Fragrance and have it last longer than a body spray. Another great thing about this fragrance is that it is super inexpensive.

You can find Forever Red at your local Bath and Body Works, or on their website here.

Happy Holidays!

Star Focal received this product complimentary to test through Influenster’s VoxBox program, however the opinions expressed are our own.

Filed Under: beauty, influenster, perfume

SensatioNail Review, Tips and Nail Art

December 23, 2012 By Amberlee 6 Comments

If you have been following this blog for a while you know that nail polish is not my nails best friend. I have a very hard time finding nail polish that will actually stay on my nails without magic. I recently found that magic in SensatioNail’s Invincible Gel Polish. I was able to get a couple really great colors, and even their starter kit to review for you guys.

Let’s start with SensatioNail’s Starter Kit. The Starter Kit comes with a Pro 3060 LED Lamp, Gel Cleanser, Gel Primer, Gel Base and Top Coat, Nail Buffer, Manicure Stick, Lint-Free Wipes, and either Scarlett Red or Raspberry Wine Gel Polish. It comes with enough supplies to complete at least 10 manicures, and each manicure lasts up to 2 weeks! In order to use any gel polish you need the LED Lamp so I was glad I was able to receive this set. My set came with Raspberry Wine Gel Polish which is a really pretty shimmery red. I’m normally not a big fan of red, but with this color and with it being the holidays I have really enjoyed having it.

The LED Lamp is very small. While I do love that it is small, I do think that it is a little too small. Because of the angle of my thumb when placed with my other fingers I have to cure my thumbnail separately from my other nails because sometimes it doesn’t completely cure. I also wish that the lamp was battery operated so that I could carry it around with me and not be tethered to a wall. Others that have a specific place to do their nails, or even a desk I’m sure would benefit from this and if you don’t like the expense of batteries this would also be good for you. Other than that the lamp works great! Regular UV lamps take double the amount of time to cure, so I love how fast this system works. It cures quickly and is not bulky so it’s easy to store. So if you’re like me and don’t have much room for nail products it’s size is a real life saver.

The Gel Cleanser and Gel Primer are great and I think one of the main reasons that this kit works so well for me. They help make sure that your nails are clean and that the polish will stick to your nails. They really help keep this kit simple and easy to use.

While they may not have many colors the colors they do have are wonderful! I am surprised every time I use them! They are extremely vibrant and shiny. The shine lasts the whole time, and doesn’t seem to wear off like other polish. It helps me want to keep my nail polish on for as long as possible so I don’t waste the shine.

After using this kit along with other SensatioNail polish, I have come across a couple tips that I think you should know about.

Make sure to follow the directions carefully. If you miss a step it could either ruin your manicure or it could last a lot less time.
Make sure to avoid your skin. If you you get the polish on your skin it could make your polish peel off. If you accidentally get polish on your skin make sure to wipe it off with a clean cloth or acetone before curing that layer of polish.
Always cap your nails. I personally only cap them twice (once with the first layer of color, and once with the top coat) because I don’t want the ends to be too thick.
If you are having trouble keeping the polish on your nails try soaking your nails in a mixture of vinegar and water for 5-10 minutes to help dry out your nails. This will help the polish stick to your nails so your manicure can last longer. Make sure to put lotion on after you are finished with your manicure so that your hands do not dry out in the process.
Is your manicure still in tact at the two week mark and you love the color, but you hate that your natural nail is starting to show? You can fill your manicure by buffing both your natural nail and your SensatioNail manicure and painting your natural nail with the color you already used, and putting a new clear coat on. That way you don’t have to waste your favorite color!
Oops! Did one of your nails break? Not a problem! You can fix a crack in your nails by creating your SensatioNail manicure over your broken nail. I had this problem and prolonged the life of my broken nail for over a week before I had to say goodbye.

I was able to create many different manicures with a small amount of colors. One of the perks of using gel nail polish is that you do everything layer by layer, and it won’t dry until you cure it. So if you mess up on your design and you want to start over just wipe it off and start again. You can see some of the manicures I have created so far with SensatioNail below!

Colors used: Gold Glitter and Color set (midnight Rendezvous for the base and Gold Glitter) , and Raspberry Wine.

Colors used: Gold Glitter and Color set (Gold Glitter for the base and Midnight Rendevzous for the bow outline) , and Raspberry Wine

Color used: Magnetic Tantalize

Colors used: Rasperry wine for the base and Glitter and Color Duo (Midnight Rendezvous and Gold Glitter)

Day 5 and still beautiful! Colors used: Glitter and Color Duo ( Midnight Rondezvous for the base and Gold Glitter)

The more manicures I did the better they turned out, and the longer they stayed on. If you are one that has a hard time keeping your nail polish clean you may not get perfect results on the first try. Not all manicures will last 2 weeks, but even so they will last longer than traditional polish and will look much better and will keep your nails strong! I am very happy with this polish and have already added to my collection. Stay Tuned to see more manicures created with SensatioNail!

I wasn’t able to snag a giveaway for this product, but make sure to like their Facebook page here to find lots of deals and giveaways. They just did a Fan Appreciation Giveaway of 3,000 bottles of their gel polish!! I love hanging around their Facebook page to find out tips, and just to see what manicures have been created using SensatioNail. Also make sure to check out their website for their latest products here!

Have you used SensatioNail? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Happy Holidays!

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here .

Filed Under: beauty, fun, nail art, nails, women

2012 Cosmo Voxbox!

December 22, 2012 By Amberlee 2 Comments

If you are not a member of Influenster I highly suggest joining. It is a free, yes free, website that lets you become a product reviewer! Sites like Influenster are the reason I started blogging in the first place!

This is my second VoxBox, and I was really excited to get it! Inside was a Venus Razor and an extra Venus and Olay blade, 2 Pilot FriXion pens (purple and black yay!), Ghirardelli Sea Salt Escape Chocolate, and Forever Red perfume from Bath and Body Works.

Keep an eye out for review of my favorite products from this box!

Make sure to sign up here, if you want an invite just let me know!

Filed Under: beauty, health, influenster, pens, razor, stationary, Voxbox

Uniqso Barbie Contact Lenses Review!

November 30, 2012 By Amberlee 5 Comments

I remember when colored contacts first came out. I was so excited! I always wanted blue eyes, but when I found out that they also made purple I about had a heart attack! Anyway of course things have changed since then and now there are so many different color and style options like big eyes circle lenses that it will make your head spin. Finally after all these years I was able to try out some of these colored contacts and I am very happy to share with you not only about how awesome they are, but also an awesome place to get them!

I was sent a set of Barbie Sasha 3 Tones in Grey by Uniqso to review for you. Uniqso sent them in the CUTEST little box I have ever seen!

The other great thing about this box is that my daughter loved it because my daughter was able to mix and match the characters to make her own new characters.

So while I was playing with what was inside she was occupied with the box.

As soon as I saw them I knew I would love them. They have a really nice design and great colors. I love that the colors are mixed so that there is not such a drastic change in colors.

As you can see the contacts are very detailed and the colors seem to blend really well.

So now onto the most important part! I loved these contacts. I have never worn contacts before so I was practically expecting them to be uncomfortable. I was very wrong, I barely noticed that they were there. The center of the contacts actually matches my natural color very well and I think they looked great! Below you can see some pictures of me wearing the contacts.

If you are looking for a new set of lenses, or even if you are new to the lenses world like I was and want to find the perfect pair I highly suggest checking out Uniqso on their website here! They have an amazing selection and they have amazing customer service. The representative I worked with was truly amazing and very sweet. Use the code below to get 10% off your purchase! Let us know what you think in the comments below!

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here .

Filed Under: beauty

e.l.f. Studio Endless Eyes Pro Eyeshadow Palette Review, Swatches, and Looks!

November 19, 2012 By Amberlee 9 Comments

I have recently discovered e.l.f. or eyes lips face, and have fallen in love. e.l.f. is a very inexpensive brand that actually has some really great products. On my latest shopping adventure I found their e.l.f. Studio Endless Eyes Pro Eyeshadow Palette 100 Piece Marble Eyeshadow.

Product Description From eyeslipsface.com

“Become your own makeup artist with our amazing Professional Eyeshadow Palette from the luxurious Studio line of cosmetics. In this complete Makeup Artist Eyeshadow Set, you’ll find everything to go from dark & smoky eyes to fresh & bright, to totally funky looks, thanks to the 100 eyeshadow colors in every set.

Create the look that reflects your personal style from our 100-Piece Palette, formulated & tested by our professional team of makeup artists. Discover instantly beautiful, healthy-looking eyes for the makeup lover in you!

Our convenient, Professional Eye Makeup Palette comes packaged in a sleek design perfect for home, travel or on-the-go beauty touch-ups. And everyone loves the price. The complete 100 Studio Eyeshadow Palette is offered, for a limited time, at only $10 – half off the regular prize and a fraction of its value of over $100!”

I wanted to expand my eyeshadow collection and this was the perfect piece to add. At only $10 I just couldn’t pass it up. All the colors are truly beautiful.

I really love that there is such a variety in both colors and shadow types. This palette not only has matte and shimmery shades but also includes a couple marbled shades as well. While some shadows are more pigmented than others, I wouldn’t necessarily say that’s a bad thing. I love that I can use this palette for any occasion. I can use the lighter, not so pigmented colors when I’m out during the day. Or I can use the darker shades while I’m out at night. It is so much fun to just play around with the colors, and for $10 you really get your monies worth of product.

Above are some of my favorites from the palette. To get the colors to really pop I used the primer included in the e.l.f. Studio Eye Primer and Liner Sealer ($3). I love this primer because it is a natural color and it really works great!

I love that the front of the case is clear so that I can see the colors while it is closed, it also has a built in mirror and includes two double ended eyeshadow applicators. While I would rather use brushes than the included applicators, it is nice to know that they are there to use when I need them. I tend to have a hard time opening the case, which is actually good for me because it means that my two year old also can’t get into it. I think that if the top was removable or if you could fold it all the way back it would make it easier to hold. I have dropped this palette many times since I purchased it and I am proud to say that nothing has broken and all the shadows are in tact.

I highly recommend this product! My only suggestion would be to also pick up primer as the shadows aren’t as bright on their own. If you are looking for an inexpensive give to give this year this would be great for anyone. So will I buy it again? Obviously I won’t need another one anytime soon, but because of this palette I will definitely be buying some of their smaller palettes to carry around with me. If anything happens to this one I will definitely be buying another.

So what have I been doing with my palette? Check out some of the looks I created below, and stay tuned for more!

You can find this palette, and many other great e.l.f. products on their website here, or at your local Target.

**Disclaimer** I bought these products with my own money. I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Filed Under: beauty, makeup, women

Kisspat Hair Color Chalk Review

October 23, 2012 By Amberlee Leave a Comment

I love having colors in my hair, but sometimes I don’t want to keep that certain color permanently. For this Halloween I wanted to be able to share my love of hair color with my daughters but obviously cannot justify dying a toddlers hair pink. Of course you could use the colored hair sprays or gel but they never stay in very long and for most of us do not get very bright either. So you end up spending a decent amount of money on products that you will only use once that don’t even work in the first place.

One of the latest trends has been Hair Chalk. Hair Chalk is very similar to pastels but is for hair. It stays in your hair for a long time, and will wash out easily with soap and water. I love how many different color options there are. To color your hair you can either dampen your hair or the chalk itself and apply it to your hair. The only issue that I have come across is that not only does it color your hair but it also colors your hands and depending on what area of your hair you are coloring it can color your clothes as well. I would not recommend color chalk to someone that wants to color their entire head of hair on a daily basis, but for someone that wants to color parts of their hair on special occasions this product is perfect.

The ends of my hair are a faded shade of pink. I decided to try out the chalk by using the black to color my hair somewhat the same color as my natural hair. It covered the pink great! It did leave my hair a little stiff, but no more than hairspray and with the bright color I couldn’t complain. Not only did I try this product on myself, but I also had my best friend and my daughter use it. I was very surprised that the color not only worked on my daughters blonde hair but also my friends brown hair.

I love that Kisspat comes with so many colors. You can choose just one color, or you can do a whole rainbow of colors. Your hair definitely will not be boring when you are using these colors! I definitely think that every girl should have color chalk. You never know when you’re going to want to spice things up!

Before and After (colors used: purple, red, dark blue)

You can find this and other great Kisspat products on their website here.

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Filed Under: beauty, hair

Beauty Box 5 Review

October 18, 2012 By Amberlee Leave a Comment

I recently received a sample from Beauty Box 5′s subscription service. If you don’t already know, a sample subscription service will send you samples of different products every month for a small fee. Most of the time you end up getting more than your monies worth of products. It’s a very great idea, and with so many options you are bound to find at least on that you like.

This month Beauty Box 5′s box had the following samples:

Easy Peeling – New Face Effect

Blinc Mascara

Pur-lisse makeup remover

Becca Eye Tint

Everyday Minerals – mineral blush

I loved the Easy Peeling wipes. They were scratchy but they really helped my skin, and they felt much better than a traditional skin peel. I did not like the Blinc Mascara, I’m not sure whether it was because of the small tube or if it was just the product, but I really didn’t like it. The Pur-lisse makeup remover was really nice. It helped remove my makeup, and left my skin feeling very clean and very soft. The Becca Eye Tint was very interesting, but worked very well and stayed on for hours. Last but not least, the Everyday Minerals Blush was very nice, but I don’t normally wear any kind of blush.

I love that Beauty Box 5 comes with a variety of products instead of everything being the same. Some boxes will just send you a box full of eye shadows and call it a day. With Beauty Box you always know that what your getting will be an adventure, and you will probably find something that you will continue to purchase after your samples are gone. You can find Beauty Box 5 on their website here.

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Filed Under: beauty, makeup

Lancôme’s Génifique Day on Oct. 19th + Free Sample!!

October 15, 2012 By Amberlee Leave a Comment

What is better than buying your favorite cosmetics? On October 19th not only can you buy your favorite cosmetics, but you can also help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. If you buy certain products on Lancôme’s Génifique Day $7 will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

So what is St. Jude Children’s Hospital? St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has been changing lives for 50 years. They are the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted to children and have played a major role in changing Survival rates in the U.S. for pediatric cancer from 20 to 80 percent. So this really is a wonderful way to help children everywhere.

Want to help spread the word about this amazing opportunity and have some fun while doing it? You can create your own photo-strip including 3 photos that you can share with your loved ones that has information about Lancôme’s Génifique Day on Lancôme’s Facebook page here. You can also find others celebrating by using #GénifiqueDay on Twitter.

In honor of Génifique Day, Lancôme is giving out 7-day sample trials of the Youth Activating Concentrate. You can get your free sample here.

Thanks for your time guys!

Filed Under: beauty, makeup, women

If you love Star Focal, you’ll love the Starbox!

September 29, 2012 By Amberlee 5 Comments

Last month I introduced you to a company called Starlooks and their wonderful subscription box called the Starbox. Each Starbox comes with 3-4 products from Starlooks that together has a value of at least $35 or more. This month (September) was an extra special treat as it contained 6 products, and even a separate bonus item! I was so happy to receive my box, and I could not wait to try the products inside!

This months box included an eye shadow palette with 5 different colors, shadow primer and some really cute gems that you can use around your eyes. Also just like every other Starbox it contained some crystals to help attract positive energy, and maintain focus!

I tend to use a lot of bright colors when I wear makeup. So when I first saw this palette I was a little disappointed because they all looked pretty much like the same color to me. As I started messing around with them I realized how wrong I was. Although they are all similar and have the same base color they are all very pretty and very unique. While they may not look like much they really made my eyes stand out, which was a refreshing change from the bright colors I normally use. I could tell just by looking at the palette that the Starlooks eyeshadow was going to be creamy and would work really well with my skin.

They also sent their eye primer. When I first looked at the primer I thought that it was almost going to have the same effect as chap stick. It looked like a similar consistency, so I got a little worried. Other primers I have used are normally more of a liquid feel and are similar to the consistency of lotion. I was surprised to find that the primer was actually a lot different than it looks. I was very glad to find that it was very smooth, and absorbed into my skin really well.

Just so that you can see the difference not only in the colors, but to see the difference it makes to use the primer here is some swatches for you.

Without primer

After primer

The primer worked great, and definitely made a huge difference in the eye shadow quality. Most importantly it did not leave my skin greasy or make the eyeshadow clump or have streaks like some primers do.

The last item in the box was a little tube filled with gold and opaque gems. I was really exited to be able to use them with everything else! They are probably my favorite of all the products just because of all the possibilities of designs I could use them for.

Okay, so now that you know what was in the box I’m sure you want to know my opinion and see what I did with it right? Well here we go!

I decided to put to use the liner I received in the last Starbox along with 4 out of the 5 shades in the palette, as well as 3 of the opaque gems. I really loved how all of the products came together, and I loved how simple it looked.

I think its great that I can still have all my colors while still not having my eyes looking too dramatic. I loved how long all of my eye makeup stayed on. I woke up the next morning and it was all still there!

For only $15 a month you really cannot lose with Starbox. The products are worth at least double what you spend and you get to try new things. I know that for me at least you pretty much have to force me into a new style to see how it looks before I will buy anything. If you find something you like in your box you can always buy more of that same item from their store. You can find Starlooks and their amazing Starbox on their website here. Make sure you let them know that Star Focal sent you!

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Filed Under: beauty, makeup, women

Starlooks Box Review

September 12, 2012 By Amberlee Leave a Comment

We all want the latest makeup products, but how do we know if they will work for us? Of course you can look for makeup review on this site, or any other review site. Which is wonderful, and I’m glad you’re here for this review. Although there are many other options for you to test out the latest and greatest makeup products. So what is this other option? There are companies out there, that for a monthly fee, will send you samples of these awesome products. One of these wonderful companies is Starlooks.

I was able to receive Starlooks August Starbox which features some really awesome products that were hand picked by Lauren Bradley. The box I received was their first special edition box, and I definitely have to agree that it was special! My box came with some very pretty pink lip gloss and some really gorgeous eyeliner.

Before I talk about the products let me talk about the focus of this box, Lauren Bradley. Lauren is a very famous fashion designer that has worked with Heidi Klum, Regina Spektor, Chris Martin, and many more. She believes that every woman should look no further than our natural form to find our true beauty. I was very excited to try the products that she picked for this box.

The lip gloss is very pretty. The color is absolutely amazing, and lasted way longer than a lot of glosses I have used before. Not only is the bottle pretty, but the brush is really awesome and makes it really easy to apply. The lip gloss itself is not too thick, and creates a perfect shine on my lips. It surprisingly also helped moisturize my lips, which was a major plus.

The second product included in the box was one of my new favorite makeup products, eye liner. Until recently I have not ever really been introduced into the makeup world. I have only really seen what is included in the cheap sections of store like Target or Walgreens. Because of my blogging adventures I have learned what good makeup is really like. This particular eye liner comes in a jar and you use a brush to apply it. This type of eyeliner is VERY new to me, so I was excited to compare it to traditional eye liner.

This eyeliner almost looks gold in the jar, but is a lot darker on the eyes, which is great for me. I hate that when using cheap eye liner you get this awkward mirror effect from it. If you try to get rid of it you end up ruining the rest of your makeup. What seems like something that is too thick to put on your eyes ends up being extremely easy to apply. It glides on like no other liner I have ever used, it does not create a mirror effect, and it stays on for hours. Not only that but it does not crack, and dries very quickly. I even left it on over night and the majority was still there.

I really like my Starbox, and for $15 I believe you get more then your monies worth. Their products are really great, and their customer service is also great. You can find Starlooks on their website here.

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Filed Under: beauty, makeup, women