Tuesday, December 9, 2014

October's Ipsy Beauty Subscription Bag

Hey There!

Here's my review for the October 2014 ipsy bag, themed "beauty candy"!

Like Birchbox, it is a subscription service that costs $10 /month.  This month I got 5 beauty samples to test out!

This month's bag:

  • Albertini Warm Love Pumpkin Exfoliating Mask
  • Figs & Rouge Hand Cream in Rose Berry
  • Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser
  • Skone Cosmetics Tattooed Waterproof Eyeliner
  • Starlooks Lip Gloss
I cannot get any of my pictures to work, so I found this really nice one from the internet!

Albertini Warm Love Pumpkin Exfoliating Mask

Review:
The smell of this mask is absolutely amazing! It gets a 5 for smell alone! It's really nice and I would totally recommend it!
Rating: 5/5
Figs & Rouge Hand Cream

Review: Another absolutely amazing smelling product! It's brilliant and fruity and I just want to eat it! I don't really like the way it makes my hands feel though....it's kind of greasy.

Rating:4/5

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser

Review: I love this product!! It doesn't really have a smell and does the job it promises. Very very nice facial cleanser!
Rating: 5/5

Skone Cosmetics Tattooed Waterproof Eyeliner

Review: Wonderful eyeliner!!! Super long lasting and easy to apply.  I can wear it without a primer, which is saying something!!
Rating: 5/5
Starlooks Lip Gloss

Review: This is the only product in this box I wasn't absolutely amazed with.  It's a nice color but a little hard to apply and not moisturizing at all. Not a comfortable wear.
Rating: 3/5

Overall October Ipsy Bag Rating: 22/25.

Wait...did Birchbox and Ipsy tie for October?? Crazy! I was very pleased with both boxes!

Thank you for reading!
<3 Riley

October's Birchbox Beauty Subscription box!

Hello All!

I thought I would keep the ball rolling from my blog post yesterday and post another today!

WOW! Two in a week? Is this Christmas? No, this is just how it should be! [My bad, apologies...]

So I'm going to put on some music and review some of the most recent beauty boxes I've received, for all of you!

I thought I would kick this off by reviewing the Birchbox from October 2014.  Birchbox was my first box I subscribed to, and I really like it.  Birchbox is a service that costs $10 /month.  For this, you get 4-5 beauty or lifestyle products, chosen specifically for you after you fill out a quiz.  Birchbox gives you smallish samples of upscale products.  They do beauty, but I've found that compared to the other boxes, they give you more skin care than anything else.  I am not complaining about this! I love that they specialize in upscale skin care!

Let's get into it....


A photo posted by Riley Liebel (@pikarilay) on
Above is my Instagram picture of the box I posted the day I got it.

October's box came with:


  • Mally Beauty High-Shine Liquid Lipstick Pen in Blossom
  • Essentiel Elements Wake Up Rosemary Shower Gel
  • ModelCo Power Lash Long Wear Black Mascara
  • Harvey Prince Petaly Noir Perfume
  • Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner



Starting with Mally Beauty High-Shine Liquid Lipstick Pen in Blossom.

Review:
I love this lipstick! It's a really cool concept and executed really well! It's kind of a lipstick, kind of a lipgloss.  It feels pretty nice on my lips, but because my lips are constantly super dry, I always wear it with chapstick.  It's a really pretty color on it's own, but looks really nice paired with other colors as well.
Rating:
5/5
I would actually buy this product.  I really like it.  I would go for another color, since I don't use lipstick up very fast.

Essentiel Elements Wake Up Rosemary Shower Gel

Review:
This is a really nice smelling shower gel! It has strong hints of mint as well, as it smell just like my mint shampoo!  It softens skin really nice and washes off well.
Rating:
4/5
I would not buy this product.  I'm picking with which shower products I buy, and even though I like the smell, it will probably take me a long time to use it, just because it isn't my favorite.

ModelCo Power Lash Long Wear Black Mascara

Review:
I LOVE THIS MASCARA! & I'm really picky when it comes to mascara! It gives eyes a really nice "60's look".  That's the only way I know how to describe it.  It has the perfect mixture of volume and length.
Rating:
6/5
I legitimately want more of this mascara! & I'm aware that I created and destroyed my own rating system, it's fine! ;]

Harvey Prince Petaly Noir Perfume

Review:
I love love love Harvey Prince fragrances! Ageless is my absolute favorite.  Petaly Noir is a much more sexy night-time scent, and I love it! Here's how Birchbox describes it, since I'm not a scent professional, "It’s inspired by long, moonlit walks and orchids in full bloom. But a single breath of this elegant scent reignited our belief in love at first sight (or, in this case, sniff). Rich with lush florals and hints of musk, this fragrance adds an instant air of romance—whether we’re taking that midnight stroll or gearing up for our morning commute."
It's lovely!
Rating:
5/5
I love this perfume! But since it is a little pricey, if I buy a Harvey Prince perfume it will be Ageless - Pink Grapefruit!

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner

Review:
I do like this product, but it's a little drying on my skin, perhaps since you're supposed to wash your face before you use it, and my face cannot really handle that kind of thing.  I think it's really cool that it changes color on your face when it's ready to wash off though!
Rating:
2/5
I will use up my entire sample, and I am glad that I have it, but I'm just not super keen on it!

So....as an overall rating for this box, I would give it a B, which I found by literally averaging all of my scores! I really really enjoy some of the products, but do like all of them as a whole!

Hope you enjoyed this review, I will be reviewing all of my other October and November boxes, so keep your eyes open! :]

<3 Riley

P.S., as usual, feel free to leave your opinions in the comments!


Monday, December 8, 2014

December Update!

Hello All!

This month has already been crazy busy.  My 8th anniversary with my boyfriend was yesterday, as well as my holiday party for work.  I had to go early to help set up and we didn’t get out of there until quite late.  This is also the month that my best friend finally ties the knot! I am absolutely so excited and honored to be a bridesmaid.  

She gets married at the end of this month, but it feels like it’s next week!  I still need to finish her wedding present, which I will probably put up a DIY or blog post for after I have finished it.  I made her a little “housewife kit” basket for her bridal shower including lots of trinkets and things that you need in the kitchen. I could also make a short post about what I put in there!  

Around Christmas everything will get super crazy.  Christmas Eve is the biggest day of the year for my Dad’s side of the family and we always have dinner followed by presents.  This year my family agreed to have lunch instead of dinner, so that I can go to my best friend’s Mehndi, which is an event before her wedding, where henna is put on and fun times are to be had by all! I think that sentence describes pretty well that I’ve never been to one.  Then Christmas Day I have morning and presents with my immediate family, followed by Christmas morning at my boyfriend’s house as well. Then we go to my Grandma’s house and do presents there.  Then I’m supposed to go back to my best friend’s house and spend the night, as the next day is her wedding!

The day of her wedding they are having professionals do the bridesmaid’s hair and makeup, which I’m super excited about, because I’ve never had both done for me! 

If I make it through those three days, I will come out a stronger person! LOL! Okay, maybe it doesn’t sound that jam packed to everyone else, but I am extremely excited and a little nervous. 

There’s a little December update for you!

💜Riley

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Beauty Bash Decor! {Benefit x Birchbox}

Hello all!

As I said in my last post, I won a Beauty Bash sponsored by Benefit and Birchbox! :] Here's a little post to show you all the decorations I made for the party! ♥

Here I took 7 black hearts from Michael's.  They came with rope to hang from, and luckily I already had some of this stuff at home, so I hung it from it! I took white paint pens that I also got from Michael's and drew letters onto them.  I thought that this would look cute and break up the mountains of pink decor I had planned! All of the little hearts were less than a dollar and the pens were a little more than a dollar a piece after the coupon.


Here I took washi tape and glitter paper and folded it across some baker's twine.  Then I cut the pieces into little pennant flags and glued them down.  Tiny decorations are the cutest! This craft literally cost nothing to make!


I wanted really fancy straws for my party, so I knew I'd have to make some! I bought a box of the most adorable pink straws imaginable, then took gold paper and folded it across the straws, cutting it into triangle pieces.  Then I glued it down. Super easy, super adorable, super cheap.  The straws were actually kind of expensive at around $10 a box.  The paper cost less than a dollar.


These are the supplies I used to make the invitations to the party! 

I used gold metallic paper, pink paper, patterned paper, and raised glitter paper.  All in all that cost less than a dollar since Michael's was having a HUGE sale.


I also added bows and little pink heart stickers.  These were both from Michael's as well.


I used clothespins to hold the pages together while gluing.... 



Putting on the mirror part....


I made six, five for my guests and one to scrapbook! :]


Here is the snapchat I sent out to my guests to keep them excited.  My grandma helped me to cut out eyeliner and lipstick shapes from foam posterboard.  Then I took my paint pens and wrote the label on them.  The netting design on top and bottom was done with a ruler and a dull pencil.  A sharp one would have cut into the board.


Here is a picture of the Benefit black heart decoration all put together!


Here is a picture of a finished invitation.  I glued black bows onto the tops of all of the "compact" invitations and added their first initials!


Up close and personal!


I even went out and found beauty puffs to put inside the invitations, just like real compacts!


I had my mom write inside all of the invitations, because I like her hand writing so much! :]

Now on to pictures of the actual event!

My house isn't really "party ready" with our animals and limited space, so I rented out a conference room at a local hotel!

The room was pretty big for a party for 6 people, so I had tons of room to decorate!


Here is a view of the conference room!  It shows the goody bags, heart wall, and dining table!


Here is the other side of the room, showing the craft table and craft supply table!


I wanted to make a wall just for photo opportunities, and used my benefit chain in it!  The other two chains were made with tissue paper and cord, and my boyfriend actually helped me make them!


I bought little milk jugs for my guests, put the cute pennant straws inside, and set them on a serving tray with doilies!  I added cute little name tags for functionality as well as the whole adorable effect!


The heart wall was all my mom and sister's doing!  They blew up 27 balloons {maybe 26, I'm not doing a great job of counting right now} and stuck them to the wall in a beautiful heart shape! Super cute and suuuuuppperrr inexpensive decoration!


I made six little terracotta pots for dirt cups! I taped them off in a straight line {a lot harder than it sounds, they don't tape straight} and mod podge'd glitter all over them, then wrote "Benefit Beauty Bash" on them!


Full table with terracotta pots and milk jugs!


Dining table, with doilies, coasters, and a little pink tree I made out of foam and tissue!


Goody bag table with our hand made Benefit decor!


Craft table with six unpainted frames and another little pink tree!


Craft supply table!


Food table with two little flower-tissue wreaths I made the night before! They were even on the wall but for some reason the picture does not show it that way! Here's where we chose to hang the little washi pennant banner!


A view of a bigger part of the whole room! We also hung streamers and lanterns from the ceiling for optimal cuteness!  The cream and green colored walls really complemented the color scheme of my party!


The opposite view of the party room, with my little sister {who was both a guest and a tremendous help} in view!


Close up of a paper tissue tree!  I'm obsessed with the polka dot fabric!


A view of a lantern from below, because I was obsessed!


Aerial view of the food table! {More to come, look for future blog posts!}

Thank you so much for reading! I will be posting more about the party in the next couple of days!

♥Riley

P.S. I would love some feedback! ;]

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Benefit x Birchbox Beauty Bash!

Well hello my blogging beauties!

It's safe to say that after a long hiatus I am BACK.

I so desperately miss blogging and sharing my life and interests with complete strangers on the internet. ♥

{But let's not be strangers forever! Let's get to know each other!}

So, as a little update....this is the first September that I haven't been enrolled in classes. Kinda weird. I'm really enjoying the reduction in stress levels! I am still working at my medical billing job, and the office politics are as insane as ever, but I'm keeping my head up!

One thing that has really helped to motivate and inspire me lately is the Beauty Bash thrown by Benefit and Birchbox.  It started out as a contest with 1,000 winners, but has since been opened to 1,500.  We were all competing to be one of the 1,000, who would win a very special box full of samples of Benefit brand beauty necessities.  I entered, fully expecting to have no chance of winning this contest, but.

I WON.

images
{Here's a picture from the Birchbox website showing everything hostesses are given to throw the party!}

I cannot believe it still! I feel so honored to have won a contest put on by two of my absolute favorite brands.  Benefit makes such high quality products and they always have the cutest advertising and packaging.  I've been subscribed to Birchbox for over a year now and love it. {Btw, their September box is on point! Expect a blog on that soon!} 

The box of samples is for the hostess and 5 of her closest gal pals! I cannot wait to share these samples with my girls! Half of them have tried Benefit products, the other half have not, so it should be a really good mix.  The hostess is supposed to throw a party the weekend of the 26th - 28th{National Wingwomen Weekend}, so we have just under 2 weeks! 

090914_congrats
{Another picture of the samples from the Birchbox website!}

There is an extra contest within this contest, called Hostess with the Mostest.  The winner of this prize claims ALL of the Benefit products on Benefit's website, which is over $2,200 worth of amazingness. Obviously, I would just die if I was chosen! 

Anyways, I am just so excited to be participating! I have already bought a ton of party decorations and necessities and have already started crafting a ton!

Would you all be interested in me posting tutorials on what I have made so far? You can also check my Instagram for pictures of my decor! 
Instagram

Cannot wait to update you guys! :]
♥Riley

Monday, June 16, 2014

Maleficent Themed Outfit!


If you saw Disney's new film Maleficent, you might just be as amazed and obsessed as I am!  I knew that I would love the movie, and decided to dress to the theme!

I took pictures to share with you all. :]


 
This is how I did my nails for the movie!  I chose a very pretty color of purple I received recently and did an accent nail with green glitter.  Then I drew Maleficent's horns on another finger nail.



To do the glitter nail I used "Nail Rock" which allows you to put sequins on your finger nails.


This is what is inside the kit, the sequins and the nail adhesive polish.


You apply the adhesive, then dip your finger into the glitter.


It's a bit messy, but really eye catching!


I then drew on the horns and added some lines to make them look more intricate and interesting!


Here is another picture that I flipped, so you could see the Maleficent!


I got this Maleficent t-shirt from TeeFury.com, a website that sells one of a kind geeky t-shirts for cheap.  They only have them for a day, unless you get a random one in a grab bag, which is how I got this one!

I have actually gotten a lot of compliments on this shirt!


Here is another way you can do your nails, which is much simpler! I've really been feeling purple lately! [Ignore the fact that I hadn't cleaned them up for this picture!] 


Then, to round it all out, I made a Maleficent horn case!  I used glitter and some glue, and a bit of time!



I LOVE the way it sparkles!!! 
If you are interested in these phone cases, please visit my Etsy shop! 

Thank you so much for reading!!
♥Riley 

Monday, May 26, 2014

My Last Undergrad Semester/Sorority Goodbyes/Formal

We're finally here.  We made it.  

My last semester of my undergraduate career.  

I graduate in 5 days.....

I may be going crazy.

I have been in school since I was four years old.  That's 18 years of education.  As my last semester comes to a close, I am left with so many feelings.  The first: relief.  I am quite done with school.  My whole life has been filled with lectures and exams.  & as so many of my peers are feeling, I too am battling senioritis.  All of the extra assignments my professors throw at me seem like literal attacks.  This semester has been one of my most challenging.  I honestly thought last semester was my most difficult, but I was wrong.  Spring 2014 has been very difficult and trying.  

I am also feeling quite a bit of sadness.  This was not just my last undergrad semester, but also my last semester as an active sister in Iota Delta Sorority.  I love my sorority and will miss seeing all of my sisters several times a week.  I am very glad that I can come back as an alum and still be part of the sisterhood.  I received two littles and a grandlittle this semester.  I am most sad about having to leave them before knowing them well.  I do feel very fortunate to be so close to them geographically and I know that I will see them often.

Here is a picture of my beloved Tiny Family, at our last ritual. 

Starting at the top right and moving clock-wise is my Big Alex, Auntie Jess, Grandlittle Karla, Little Carina, and myself.
 Only one of my littles was present for this.

Starting from the bottom and working up, my grandbig Ann, Big Alex, myself, Littles Carina and Alma, and grandlittle Karla. [My first little was not present].

5 Generations of perfection, after our Greek "Graduation"

My Big and I posing with our graduation caps.

Class of 2014♥.
This semester we also had our 26th annual Founder's Day Formal.  My big was in charge of last year's so we had very high expectations.

Our theme was 1920's Gatsby, and it lived up to it's name.

Here is a picture of my boyfriend Dave and I on the way to the hotel. ♥


A picture of my big and I posing in one of the mirror's in the bathroom.


I am including this picture to show her adoration for me!♥


& That's why we won Big and Little of the year, 2014!  We honestly really were hoping for this award. Her and I are completely inseparable.  We truly are a perfect match.  In our short time together, we have been through so many things, good and bad.  All of these things have helped us to become super close and thick as thieves. ♥


Our formal chair is also in charge of making senior pillows for those graduating.  Mine was spelled wrong, but is beautiful and actually goes with my bedding perfect!


Here is a picture of my first Little [or O.G. Little, as she's come to be known] at formal.  The even took place at the Hotel Maya in Long Beach, California.  The venue was beautiful!  My dress was from a pin-up shop and was 1940-1950's style.  I did my hair in 1940's style victory rolls, and paired it with a handmade feather head piece and headband, in 1920's style.  Even though most of my outfit was not theme-perfect, I received a lot of compliments for dressing "to the theme".

This semester has been amazing.  No doubt I will be posting many more blogs about it.  Even though it has been so stressful, I know that my Bachelor's in Business Administration will make it all be worth it.♥

♥Riley

P.S. HUUUGE Congratulations to my biological younger sister who is graduating later today from High School!