I Finally Signed Up With Birchbox!

Birchbox is a New York City-based online monthly subscription service that sends its subscribers a box of four to five selected samples of makeup, or other beauty related products. 

It's one of the least expensive beauty subscription boxes at only $10 a month. I've heard good things so I signed up. It's not a huge investment and you can cancel at anytime.

I love trying out new products, so I'm really excited about recieving my first box! Plus, getting a package of surprises in the mail is always fun! 

Use this link and get 50% OFF your first Birchbox!!!!

That's only $5 for a box full of awesome products! 

Stay gorgeous! 

~Crystal Vicious

The Knock Ups - Dionysius

InstaNatural Vitamin C Moisturizer

I've used InstaNatural in the past, the Acne Cleaser. It was amazing! It was gentle on my skin, worked perfectly and smelled of oranges. I couldn't wait to try out another product.

Unfortunately this product was a total miss for me. It comes in a nice pump bottle, but the moisturizer is so thick it makes a bit of a mess. The lotion also goes on your face very thick. It takes a long time to absorb and leaves a filmy feeling on my face hours after application. My face is left oily and tight feeling. I haven't even attempted to apply makeup over it. 

It also burns my skin. I sit here now, an hour after applying and my face still stings. I've tried this for several days to see if I could get used to not only the sting, but the very unpleasant scent of the moisturizer. Neither of these things are getting better, so I am probably just going to toss this product. 

I would only give InstaNatural Vitamin C Moisturizer 1 out of 5 stars. I'm not going to be able to use it long enough to see if there are any true benefits. The greasy feeling, the burning and the odor are all too much for me to continue using this twice a day.

I'm pretty bummed because their cleanser was fantastic. I'm going to go wash my face.

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

Keeping Up The Flame with Maybelline SuperStay 24 Lip Color

I've never really been a big fan of liquid lip color. I've always preferred a stick, a gloss or a balm. This 2-in-1 lip color comes with it's own balm, so I was willing to give it a chance and now I am hooked!

I have never had a lip color last as long as this one, especially "Keep Up The Flame". Red just doesn't like to stay on my lips. 

Application is simple and takes little time and effort, so these are easily an every day beauty staple.
Step 1. Apply liquid color to clean, bare lips. Allow two minutes to dry. 
Step 2. Apply conditioning balm to seal in moisture. Easy peasy!

I tried two colors. "Constant Toast" a pretty, shimmery nude color. I NEVER wear nudes, but I loved it and enjoyed wearing it for daytime activities. It looked nice with my pale skin and lasted all day...even while sipping coffee and eating meals. You can easily reapply the balm on top and it helps boost shine and moisturize your lips. 

"Keep Up The Flame" is perfect for night time. I love Reds and really liked how this looked on me. I've never had a red last an entire night out. Zero mirror checks needed. Just reapply the balm once or twice after eating and drinking and it looks great.

The color is a tad sticky while you wait for it to dry, so try to keep your lips parted. Once the balm is on, they will feel soft and smooth. My lips did feel a bit dry throughout the day, but reapplying the balm fixed that issue.

Maybelline suggests using oil based makeup remover, but my Micellar Water did the trick when it was time to clean up. 

I am extremely happy with this lipcolor and will be grabbing some more shades in the future! I would totally recommend!

Many thanks to Maybelline and Influenster for giving me complimentary samples of Maybelline SuperStay 24 Longwear Lip Color. All opinions expressed are 100% honest, unbiased and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

Skin2Spirit Lipstick

After trying Skin2Spirit's lipgloss, I couldn't wait to get my hands on one of their lipsticks.

Since it's Autumn I grabbed one in "Pomegranate"...

This is a matte lipstick in a medium, berry pink tone, perfect for Fall.

This lipstick came packaged like their glosses, in a cute green giftbag. 

These lipsticks are new, so the containers do not have logos yet, and the ingredients are printed on a sticker at the moment. The company says these things will be updated soon, so I will not comment on that, even though I'm not bothered by the current packaging.

What I do have a complaint about is the taste and smell of this lipstick. Skin2Spirit claims they use all natural and non-toxic ingredients, and for the pricetag, that's what I would expect. Their lipgloss was absoultely brillant, don't get me wrong, but the lipstick was gross. 

The scent and taste is exactly like the $1.00 lipsticks you would get at the Dollar Store as a pre-teen. The nostalgia it brought was not the good kind. I'm not sure what ingredient is causing this. Maybe it's something that is specific to the color I chose. There isn't even a hint of the vanilla that is advertised on the product listing. The vanilla is the BEST part of their lipgloss, so I was extrememly disappointed by this. 

I really loved the color, which bums me out more. The longevity was really good too. A bit came off on my coffee cup, but most of the color stayed throughout my morning. I retouched after lunch time. I didn't notice much moisturizing action, but it wasn't drying either. I ended up putting a layer of Skin2Spirit's lipgloss on top to cover the unpleasant taste and smell. 

I give this lipstick 3 out of 5 stars. It would be amazing if it didn't bother my senses so much. Having to mask it with a strong scented lipgloss everytime will end up being a hassle, and an extra expense for something that already has a pretty high price tag. 

I'm hoping it's just because of the shade I picked, or maybe I just recieved a bad stick. I want to love this company. I don't think I would recommend this, at least not in "Pomegranate"... or if they adjust the formula.

***Update 11/15/16: Kathi from Skin2Spirit sent me a replacement lipstick in "Berry Red". It was fabulous! No funky scent or taste. I'm thrilled. It went on smooth and lasted a long time, just like the Pomegranate. I would give this one 5 stars. Much better! Also, many thanks to the company for being awesome to work with!***

If you would like to try one, they are available here.

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

I Might Have A Coffee Mug Obsession...

I drink loads of coffee, tea & cocoa. I need an arsenal of coffee cups so I always have one on hand.

I have mugs from various vacation spots, different fandoms and I can't forget the owls! Silly novelty mugs are definitely a favorite. I fell in love with this one when I saw it.

I've never had a glass mug before, so I didn't know what to expect. I was initially worried about how hot it would get. 

The glass is very thick. I haven't held the body of the mug right after pouring my beverage in, but the handle stays cool. After a few minutes, I'm able to hold the whole thing without discomfort. 

The handle is thick and sturdy. There is a seam down the middle of it. I'm assuming it's from a mold. It's only bothersome on days my hands are hurting me. Damn you, Neuropathy! I don't know if this is something that would irritate someone with normal nerves. That's not a dealbreaker for me though.

Even though I have a ton of mugs, this one has been my go-to since I recieved it. At 13 ounces, it holds plenty of hot beverage. It has held up to lots of washes. The print is bold, clear and great quality. 

As a photographer, who constantly says and writes "Today I shot a baby, a family, my sister, etc.", this mug was just too perfect! I think the quality is great and it is quite durable, even in my clumsy hands. I give it 5 out of 5 stars and would totally recommend it. I would even check out Make Em Laugh's Amazon shop for more silly drinkware.

Grab one here.

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

Poison Candle Video Review

It's the most wonderful time of the year! 

Autumn! 

Chilly weather means it is time to light a ton of candles. 

I got an amazing Halloween candle from 

Sugar Creek Candle Company.

Check out the video review here.

Grab a Poison Candle here...

or check out Sugar Creek Candle Company

This candle gets 5 out of 5 stars. It's a great quality candle with a great scent that throws well, lit or not. Plus the label is adorable! I love it and would recommend!

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious