Holiday Gifts: The Beauty Lover

First things first, I don't even understand how it is possible to be talking about holiday gift guides already!  Time sure isn't slowing down for any of us so we had better get a jump start on the holiday shopping.  At this rate Christmas will be here next week!

This year I decided to stray from my typical gift guides of sorting options by person, but instead, I'll be sharing gift guides by interests.  I think this will give you so many more options for all those names on your shopping list.  As you can see, I decided to start with a category I definitely fall in, The Beauty Lover.  Some makeup and some skincare, some I've tried and some I'm hoping to try, you're sure to find the perfect beauty buy for everyone on your shopping list!

Check back each Wednesday through December for a new shopping guide in the Holiday Gift series!

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Birchbox

After weeks on the waiting list and days of anticipation after paying 

my monthly subscription, my very 1st Birchbox arrived in the mail yesterday!!  

I know a lot of you out there are familiar with Birchbox but as it is still fairly new to me, I'm sure there are some of you that need the dish on this fab little box.  Birchbox is a monthly subscription company for the most amazing and perfectly chosen beauty and lifestyle samples!  You sign up, fill out a survey about yourself (your interests, hair type, skin type, etc), pay your subscription fee ($10/mo for women or $20/mo for men), and wait for your pretty little package to arrive each month.  Honestly, it felt a little like Christmas pulling it out of the mailbox yesterday!  It's the perfect way to treat yourself to fun new products each month that you might not have normally ever even known about.  The best part is if you like a product and want to buy the normal version of it, just head over to the Birchbox website and it ships free!!  Like items on their site that aren't part of the current month's picks?  Just spend $50 to receive free shipping.  And, as if this isn't fabulous enough, they offer many ways for you to earn points that go towards the purchase of the full-size products!  

Ready to see what was in my box?!

1. tili Bags

2. a twistband Hair Tie 

3. theBalm cosmestics Mary-Lou Manizer

4. Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy La Fleur 

5. Lulu Organics Lavender + Clary Sage Hair Powder

6. Mox Botanicals Lip Butter

I would love to tell you my reviews on all of these products right now

but I haven't even had a chance to test them out yet.  I just couldn't wait any 

longer to tell you about all the awesomeness!   Keep an eye out though, as I 

try them out I'll be sure to tell you about them in future posts! 

Like the idea of Birchbox?  Then sign up here (pssst - if you use that link

 I'll get Birchbox points and I would be forever grateful!).  Be prepared to hang 

out on a waiting list for a few weeks; these boxes are thoroughly customized 

based on your own personal survey so spots are limited.  

Are you interested in or do you already have a Birchbox subscription?  

I'd love to hear YOUR thoughts on the service in the comments!

♥Jordan

Beauty Buy: MAC Fix+

MAC Fix+ is a party for your face.

 Their website describes it best: "An aqua-spritz of vitamin and minerals, 
infused with a calm-the-skin blend of green tea, chamomile, cucumber, 
topped off with the fresh, natural, energizing scent of Sugi.
 Adds radiance, finishes makeup. Spray it on. Skin drinks it up!"

YES!! It's brilliant!

I've been hooked on MAC Fix+ for nearly 2.5 years.  My very first experience with it came on my wedding day when the incredibly talented Kayla Combs did my makeup.  I'll never forget her excitement as she doused her own face in the stuff and spoke of all the amazing ingredients it contained.  All I know is that once she sprayed it on me, I had to have it.  It's appeal is kind of magical.  It's partly the incredibly fresh scent and it's partly the instant brightness it makes your skin both look and feel.  And to top it all off, it seals your makeup in place and helps give an all day hold.  I would actually like to start carrying the bottle with me every day (or maybe stock a bottle at work!) to give my face that afternoon pick-me-up that I know it always needs.  Stop by your nearest MAC and prepare to fall in love. 


♥Jordan

Beauty Buy: Nyx Round Case Lipsticks

I have a little secret to share.  
I don't [typically] wear expensive lipsticks.   Yes, that's right!  Most of my pops of color come from a tube that costs less than $4!  That is less than most lipsticks from your basic brands like Maybelline, Covergirl, and Revlon.  While I have a few favorites from MAC that I love dearly (and are still totally affordable at around $15), my absolute favorites are the Round Case Lipsticks by Nyx Cosmetics.  This great line of lipsticks comes in, get this, 144 shades!  No, I didn't mean 14 or even 44.  There are a whopping 144 shades!!  My absolute favorite is the one pictured above: Chic Red (seen here).  I also frequently wear Eros (seen here), Fire, and Rose.  While each shade seems to have it's own unique texture and coverage, my application method seems to always yield great results.  I apply, blot, and then reapply.  It leaves an even color and that base coat helps it last even longer.  Of course, using a coordinating liner to fill in the lip before applying will make the color last even longer, 
but I usually skip that step since these colors don't bleed on the edges of my lips 
(another major plus!). 

So you may have already said "But Jordan, I can't pull off a bold lip like you!" 
 I know this because I hear that ALL THE TIME!  I'm here to tell you YES YOU CAN! 
 I did not always wear lipstick.  I was actually terrified of it for many years.  The simple truth is that I liked how it looked on other people and I decided I was going to wear it too.  
YOU can do that.  I promise.  It might take a couple times to get used to it,
 but it can be the new you just like it became the new me a few years ago.  If you have to, 
start simple by introducing it only into your 'night out' looks.  Pretty soon you'll be ready 
to wear it to work, class, the mall, the gym.. okay.. so maybe I'll have to stop you from wearing it to the gym!  Have confidence.  That's all it takes!

Feeling inspired to brighten up your look with one of these great colors?  Check them out at Ulta where you can often find them on sale!  I have been known to stock up on my favorite colors when they are 40% off (that's like $2.40 each!).  You can never have too many!  Currently, you can get free shipping with a $25 purchase (code 80582) and $10 off any $60 online purchase (code 89776).  Enjoy!


♥Jordan