Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.

This morning the last thing I wanted to do was drag my body out of bed at 7am and walk the ~10 blocks to Flywheel for an 8am spin class. I didn't sleep well last night - I think I may have clocked 5 hours - and I was feeling like a total grump, thanks in part to this dreary Philadelphia weather that's been hanging around for the last 10 days.

Thankfully, I had two things motivating me to not be a lazy bum: 1) The $15 "late cancel" ClassPass fee I'd incur if I canceled at the last minute and 2) The fact that my favorite Flywheel instructor, Nicole, was going to entertain my ridiculous fantasy of flying (that's fancy Flywheel lingo for spinning) to the Star Wars theme song.

I got up, donned my R2D2 socks and Star Wars tank, and although I may not have performed to the best of my ability in the class, I'm glad I went.

A year ago I was convinced that I hated cycling. I mean, truthfully, a year ago I was convinced that I hated all forms of exercise, but I particularly thought indoor cycling was lame. Granted most of my experience was based on miserable rides on the stationary bike at the gym, but I did attend one cycling class at another studio in Philly about a year ago and just wasn't feeling it.

Something about Flywheel changed my mind.

Let's start with the environment. You fly in a stadium-style room with bikes lined up in a semi-circle around an instructor who is elevated on a small stage. When the ride begins, that stadium becomes pitch black dark, save for a few subtle blue lights illuminating the tech pack (I'll get to that momentarily) on your bike. This environment feels almost like you're in a submarine, where the lights, sounds and distractions of the outside world fade away. I find that I'm able to really tune in to my body when I'm in the stadium and focus on what I'm there to do: sweat.

That's the next great thing: Flywheel workouts are amazing, and they're great for fitness enthusiasts of all levels, because 1) you can pace yourself, and 2) the pitch black workout environment means there's no way other riders are looking at you and "judging" you on your relative performance. Sure the instructors yell out torq (or resistance) and RPM (or speed) numbers as a guide, but if you're feeling tired, you just do you. (The one caveat to this is the torq board, which is totally optional, but if you're looking for an extra competitive push, you can opt to have your class rank displayed on a big screen at the front of the room. I've been flying for 6 months now and haven't done this yet.)

Next there's the instructors. There's a million of them, and they each have their own unique style, not only in terms of music choice, but also in how they structure the ride. I went to a class with a woman named Jordana last week, and while I loved her music, she threw in a bunch of fancy, bouncy moves that were more uncomfortable for me than anything else. That said, I have a friend who loves stuff like that, so Jordana's class is perfect for her. As I mentioned, Nicole's my favorite (I also love Utley), because she keeps it simple -- that doesn't mean easy, by any means, but I don't have to worry about keeping up with intricate up-down choreography or incorporating overhead claps into my routine to get a good workout. Ultimately, my point here is that there are enough Flywheel instructors that you can try a bunch of them and figure out whose style gels with what you like from your workout.

The last point I'll make about this studio is that they're really on the up and up in terms of technology. The tech pack that I mentioned earlier is a little tracking do-dad (yeah, that's really the best descriptor I could come up with) that not only measures your speed and resistance, but also how much "power" you're working out at in a given moment and your overall "score" for the ride (I'm pretty sure the power metric contributes to your score). After your ride, you can go onto your handy dandy Flywheel app and see all sorts of stats about your ride - your max speed, how many miles you rode, how many calories you burned, etc. And you can track and compare your scores over time to see how you're improving as you increase your level of fitness. That's another reason why I love Nicole's classes - for some reason, I almost always earn my highest scores when she's teaching. And yes, as a type-A, accomplishment-driven individual, getting a high score definitely makes a difference.

It's all these things put together that really makes for a quality exercise experience in my book. An environment conducive to focus, an awesome instructor, killer music and an embedded motivational tool that makes you want to come back again and again.

On this rainy Tuesday, dragging my tired ass to class was worth it, because riding to the Star Wars theme song was as fabulous as I imagined it'd be. Not to mention, I snagged this amazingly awesome Flywheel / Star Wars t-shirt on my way out. Score.

If you're interested in giving Flywheel a shot, they have locations in 12 states and they'll let you take your first class for free to try it out. My best advice for a newbie is to go easy on yourself. Pedal at your own pace and enjoy the experience for what it is. If you're anything like me, you'll be addicted to flying in no time.

Flywheel isn't paying me to write this blog post, in fact, they have no idea that I've even penned it. All opinions expressed are my own, and no affiliate links have been used.

Expanding Beauty Babble & My Fitness Story

Beauty Babble celebrated its five-year anniversary this summer, and while that definitely felt like a massive accomplishment, I also couldn't help but feel like things were getting a bit stale. Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE beauty, skin care and hair care products, but I've also spent a lot of 2015 expanding my interests, and I've been itching to share those on the blog, too.

I sat down earlier this week and started pondering different ways to add spice to my writing, and the idea to expand to a new vertical -- specifically fitness -- popped to the top. I'll get to the full "why" behind this decision in a moment, but to tease the story, I've spent the last 7 months transforming my attitude about exercise and am really inspired to share that fervor with you! Along similar lines, I was also looking for a way to add local flavor to my posts, so this expansion will let me bring you fitness class/studio reviews for the metro Philadelphia area, in addition to other non-geo specific posts on fitness motivation, health, nutrition and the like.

Of course, I'll still continue to bring you the best reviews in non-toxic, safe beauty products, so nothing will change there. You'll just start to see some new variety in the content. I hope you like it!

As for my fitness story, here's the scoop:

I grew up in a dance studio, taking jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical and pointe classes for 11 years, but outside of dance I was never an athletic kid. I'm the girl who got her two front teeth knocked out in tennis camp, twisted her ankle before her first soccer game and had her nose broken twice from being hit in the face with volleyballs and basketballs one too many times. I got the message pretty early on that I was more of an inside girl, so I never joined a sports team or made exercising a true part of my life, particularly as I got older.

As an adult, fitness was never a priority, partially because I tended to work long hours and felt exhausted when I got home, and partially because the variety of exercise types available to me bored me beyond belief. It took all of my effort to drag my tired body to the gym to suffer through 30 miserable minutes of walking on the treadmill. I tried a few group classes here and there, but they all seemed so low energy or the music was bad or the instructor looked just as bored as I was. Living in Florida didn't help because for at least 9 months of the year, it's miserable to be outside unless you want to die from heat exhaustion or get West Nile virus from all the mosquito bites you acquire after dark. Exercise was just always inconvenient or boring, so I didn't do it.

In September 2013, I move to Philadelphia, and looking back I can now say that the move was pretty traumatic. I didn't know a single person in my new city, and I had changed jobs, companies, industries, functions AND geographic locations in one fell swoop. I underestimated just how challenging this would be, so when I had been in the city for 6 months and still had no friends, I fell into a bit of a depression. Sure, changing my situation was totally in my control - I could have gotten off my ass and done any number of things, but sometimes when you're so entrenched in an emotion, you just can't get yourself to budge.

I wallowed in my sadness for a while -- too long, to be honest -- but in early 2015 I hit my breaking point. After months of turning to my friend, Mr. Dessert, for comfort, I really started to feel uncomfortable in my own skin. I have never been a perfect trim, slim gal, so I hadn't noticed that I had packed on 10 pounds of flubber, but I did notice it was suddenly uncomfortable to button my pants, that my shirt buttons kept popping open and that I continually felt sluggish and low-energy.

After doing some Googling, I discovered Philly Dance Fitness. I figured that if I was going to have to change and force myself into exercising the least I could do was find a modality that I liked. With my background in dance, this seemed like the lesser of all the evils of the exercise world. I went to a BalletEXTREME class thanks to the prodding of my friend Melanie, and then a month later I worked up the courage to attend a class called Dance Party Boot Camp that she said was more intense. The instructor, Timaree, was amazing, the music was fabulous and the class completely kicked my ass.

I was so damn winded that I hid in the back, took lots of breaks and looked longingly at the people around me who seemed like they were having fun. I simultaneously felt miserable about how out of shape I was and entirely envious of all the fit, confident people that surrounded me.

I decided I was going to "change," but frankly, I was still pretty lazy and spent the next three months going through the motions. I signed up for the gym at work and took advantage of two, 25-minute personal training sessions a week, and then once a week, I'd go to my 50-minute cardio dance class. But after three months of this "working out" routine, none of the stats on my fitness assessment had even budged. This is when it really hit me that I had been lying to myself, and if I wanted to see real results, I needed to put in real effort. (Duh.)

In July, I joined ClassPass and during a 2-week period where I was forced to work from home due to office construction, I went a little crazy. I took a workout class every single day for two weeks, alternating between trying new studios through ClassPass and going more regularly to my favorite Philly Dance Fitness classes.

And then something ridiculous happened. The two week "test" ended and I didn't want to stop working out. I had created a habit.

ClassPass opened doors for me because it allows unlimited classes per month at something like 150 studios in the area, with the only restriction being that you can't visit the same studio more than 3 times in a month. Since you pay a flat fee for the month and aren't exchanging funds each time you go to class, they start to feel free, and when something is "free" your expectations for satisfaction aren't as high. This allowed me to spend a lot of time experimenting, so I tried different modalities, different studios and different instructors "risk free."

Before long, I had established a routine. I found instructors I loved, studios that were convenient and classes that were actually fun. And I was shocked to see that the more I worked out, the more I loved it.

Like any change, my fitness transformation happened gradually. I was pretty winded for a while, but slowly I was able to push myself harder, take fewer breaks and even declare a few classes "too easy." I noticed that my arms and legs (which always tone faster for me than my midsection) became more defined, and I became one of those people that watches as her muscles flex in the mirror (I know this sounds a little douchey but it's true). When I went back in for my fitness assessment in November, I had lost 8 pounds and 6 inches, increased my flexibility substantially, lowered my resting and active heart rate, and boosted my strength.

I remember feeling a sort of glee that I hadn't recalled feeling before, and as I looked in the mirror I couldn't help but wonder who this "new" girl was. I liked her.

Now I can't stop working out. I have my "regular" classes that I attend every week, and on the off days, I find something on ClassPass to try or return to. And on days when I have to miss a workout, I'm one of those people that feels "off." I'm even pursuing my group exercise fitness instructor certification with hopes of teaching at a studio near you sometime in 2016. When I think back to where I was a year ago, I can't believe how far I've come.

This is not to say that in 7 months I've become this super powered, in the best-shape-of-my-life version of me. In fact, there are still plenty of classes that kick my ass, and I know I have a long way to go. But what I can say is this: I went from being that winded chick hiding in the back of Dance Party Boot Camp to one of those confident women standing in the front of the room that I had envied. I routinely push my body as hard as it can go, and it feels fantastic.

I recognize that working out (mostly) 7 days a week is extreme, so by no means am I saying that you need to do that too. For me, creating a habit that I stuck to every day of the week was easier than trying to do something on occasion, because it became a natural part of my day, rather than something I did "when I had time." What I would encourage you to do is get up and just start moving. Keep moving until you find an activity or class type that you really like (I promise that they do exist).

With all that said, I'll leave you with this: I look forward to coming back to the blog with additional fitness stories, including reviews of some of the classes I've mentioned in this post. If you have a particular request or question, please let me know in the comments section below.

Til then, Happy New Year, and here's to an awesome "year 6" for the expanded Beauty Babble.

Meeting Gregg Renfrew & More Beautycounter products!

I'm not easily starstruck, but every once in a while there's a person who inspires me to such a degree that I feel that little flutter in my stomach when I have the opportunity to be in their presence. I felt it when Bob Iger (Disney's CEO) came to speak at our HBS Entertainment & Media Club Conference in 2009. I felt it when I got to hear Cary Elwes talk about his Princess Bride experience during last year's Wizard World Comic Con. And I felt it last month when I got to meet Gregg Renfrew at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women.

If you don't recognize her name, Gregg Renfrew is the founder and CEO of Beautycounter, a non-toxic, safe and high-performing line of personal care products. You probably know by now that I'm a big fan of the brand, since I've talked about them here and here and here, so it should come as no surprise that seeing Gregg's name on the list of speakers at the conference was hugely exciting for me.

Let me tell you guys, Gregg was just as stylish, fabulous, smart and sweet in person as I hoped she'd be. She stole the show on her panel, giving incredibly insightful answers to the questions she was asked, including this tweetable that I shared on my other handle (it's for my other blog, Career & The City should you like to check it out):

All this to say, meeting the woman behind the magic brought Beautycounter back to the top of my personal care product list, so I wanted to come to the blog and write out one more review post on the final three Beautycounter products I received and hadn't yet discussed. These include their eyebrow pencil, eyeliner and eyeshadow duo.

Let's start with the eyeliner.

Here's what I like about it: it comes in the four most classic eyeliner shades (black, brown, purple and navy), it comes with a smudge tip, it's fairly affordable for a high-end liner ($20) and it works nicely.

Here's what I don't like about it: in spite of the Website stating that it has ingredients to give it an emollient feel, I actually find it to be fairly hard to apply. If I try to apply it directly from the pencil, I have to tug fairly hard to get significant color payoff and a crisp line. I do find that the product works better if you sharpen it right before using it, or if you warm it up on the back of your hand first. I also find that while it has pretty good staying power on the upper lash line, it wears off fairly quickly on the waterline, even though it's supposed to be water proof. I have the brown liner right now, but am anxious to try the black and the purple to see if they work similarly!

The eyebrow pencil is awesome. I use the medium shade and it's the perfect color for a brunette with lighter eyebrows, plus it comes with a spooli so you can brush your brows before applying and after to really blend in the color. The pencil comes in three shades (light, medium and dark) so it should suit most skin tones, except possibly a redhead with red-ish tinted brows. At $20, it's also fairly affordable, and I find that because it's a pencil the color lasts longer than a powder product, which has the tendency to rub off. I don't use an eyebrow gel, but if you do, that would probably help the color stay even longer!

As for the eyeshadow, I really do like the duo that I have, which is the oyster/amethyst combo, although I harken back to my original commentary here when I say that nearly all of Beautycounter's products seem intended to live on the very "natural" side of the spectrum, particularly when compared to a brand like MAC where you really do have every color of the rainbow at your disposal. Frankly, for most people that's great, because I think the majority of the population prefers to wear their makeup on the more natural side. For me, while I like a natural look some days, I do tend to go for slightly more dramatic makeup, so I find that I have to be a bit more heavy handed here.

The oyster shade is a really pretty, very light satiny pink with a subtle shimmer, and the complementary purple shade really does make for a great crease color. Each of the colors has a metallic sheen to them, but neither are over the top sparkly, so no disco ball worries here! I find the application to be pretty buttery soft - no chalkiness at all! -- and at $30, you're actually looking at a comparable price point to two single shadows for most mid- to high-end brands. Speaking of single shadows, I do wish that Beautycounter would offer a few single shadows, as there are some individual colors (specifically champagne, malt and slipper) that I'd like to try, but I don't care for the other color they come with, so I'd be hard pressed to shell out $30 for them.

All in all, I'll continue to rave about Beautycounter products and hope that people continue to explore what the brand offers. I don't think all of their items are perfect or necessarily worth the money, but I believe so deeply in their mission and definitely think they've got some winners in their roster. If you're a Beautycounter fan, let me know what your favorite products are in the comments section below!

Til next time...

The Influenster Spice VoxBox, plus Soap on a Mission!

Recently, I had the pleasure of being included in Influenster's Spice VoxBox program. And while I always love the chance to try new products, this VoxBox was particularly awesome, because it was literally packed with head-to-toe products. Here's a quick run-down of what was included:

1. Boots Botanics Organic Hydrating Day Cream: A moisturizing and light cream from the British brand, Boots, this new Botanics line has awesome ingredients that are safe and non-toxic, AND the products don't cost an arm and a leg.
2. Foot Petals "Give 'em the Boot" inserts: These guys were great in theory, but not so much in execution. The wool base certainly would add warmth to your shoe, but they're so thick that the only pair I could slide them into without the insert making my shoe too small was my UGGs and those already have a wool lining! I guess my feet will be EXTRA cozy this winter.
3. SinfulColors SinfulShine Nail Polish: I'm going to do a Nail of the Day post shortly with this polish because the color truly is beautiful and very shiny. Only, for all their talk about "gel tech," the first time I tried this polish my nails chipped just as quickly as they do with every manicure.
4. GoodHealth Veggie Straws: These are basically a healthier version of potato chips. And I devoured them in 5 days. 'Nuff said.
5. Yogi Tea: I'm not a huge tea drinker, but these were delicious! And Yogi's got some other awesome flavors out there, so I may just be buying a few more to try in the near future.
6. Not Your Mother's Whip It Up Cream Styling Mousse: As a chica who doesn't wear her hair curly, this product doesn't have a ton of use for me, but boy oh boy is the delicious vanilla cupcake scent alluring.

...and finally, the item you've all been waiting for:

7.  A full size coconut scented shampoo and conditioner from Soapbox!

I bet you're wondering why I'm so excited about this shampoo and conditioner, eh? There's a few reasons.

1. Just like TOM's Shoes, this company is on a mission to change the world. For every bar of soap you buy from them, they donate a bar of soap, and many of those bars stay right here in the United States and are delivered to the homeless. For every bottle of shampoo or conditioner that you buy, they work with an international organization to provide a month of clean water to the community. Since I don't get the chance to do quite as much volunteering as I'd like, supporting companies that are using their profits to affect social change in the world are always places I like to spend my money.
2. The ingredients are great (mostly)! I say mostly because after researching all of the ingredients from my shampoo and conditioner on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database, there wasn't a single ingredient that ranked higher than a 4 on their scale, and 95% of the ingredients were 1s or 2s. However, they do use fragrance, which is a big no-no for many people wanting natural products -- I didn't count this against them because they clearly stated on their Web site that they only use fragrances without phthalates, but that is something you should be aware of. You should also note that this "safe" declaration I'm making only applies to the shampoos and conditioners - some of their other products contain SLS, which is a huge "avoid" for me. Always read your ingredient lists!
3. The price point is amazing and you can buy the products at big box stores like Target! So often natural products can only be purchased online or at specialty stores like Whole Foods, and then they cost a bazillion dollars. But these shampoos and conditioners are only $5.99 for 16 oz! 
4. They smell amazing and work like a dream. Even without sulfates, the shampoo has a nice lather, and the conditioner (which I am very picky about) does a great job of soaking into my hair, yet still leaving it feeling silky smooth and soft after I rinse it out. 

Affordable, effective, delicious smelling, safe, non-toxic and on a social mission. Ummm...does it get much better than this?

Why, yes it does! For people that want to be even more strict about their ingredient list, the company has an "Elements" line of body washes and soaps that are truly squeaky clean. These items are slightly more expensive (but still super affordable, in my book), and are sold in more limited locations, but they're an available option for the uber careful consumer.

All of their main product line items come in four varieties - coconut (the one I got to try), acai, bataua fruit (I have no idea what this is) and argan -- I sort of want to try them all.

Just one more cool thing about this product before I sign off - each of their bottles comes printed with a "hope code" on it. You can go onto their Web site, enter the code and it'll tell you a story about how your purchase is benefiting the company's mission. For example, when I entered my conditioner code it told me that my purchase was benefiting Thailand and then when I entered my shampoo code, it told me the purchase was benefiting Cambodia. Obviously, it's hard to know how accurate this is, but either way I think the theory is nice and it encourages people to connect their purchase back to the community aspect.

And that's a wrap! Have you tried any of Soapbox's products? If you have, let me know what you think of them in the comments section below!

*Note that I did receive the Influenster Spice VoxBox for free, however, that does not influence the opinions I share or my desire to write a blog post about Soapbox! I am always honest in the statements I make on the blog and would never tell you I liked a product if I didn't. Also note that none of the links included in this post are affiliate links. They're just there to help you find the products and sites I'm talking about!

Bacteria on your FACE is a GOOD thing? Review of Black Paint skin care from Japan

Science is confusing. Take bacteria, for example. You grow up with your mom telling you to wash your hands after you go to the bathroom because there's lots of bacteria in there. Or your teacher tells you not to touch the earthworm crawling around the playground because he's covered in bacteria, too. But then you grow up and all a sudden your doctor is telling you to proactively take probiotics that add bacteria into your digestive system, because as it turns out, there are certain kinds that actually help things run smoothly on the inside.

I guess this means I shouldn't have been surprised to hear about beneficial bacteria on my face. If you've read any of my other skin care posts, you'll know that I don't have the perfect, smooth, porcelain skin of my dreams. In fact, I've suffered from acne, rosacea, uneven pigmentation and scarring for much of my adult life. All this time, I've thought it was because my skin was covered in bacteria that was clogging my pores, causing outbreaks and making me oily as an unstirred organic peanut butter jar.

Then about a month ago, a company called Black Paint reached out and asked if I'd like to give their products a try. They offer a multi-step skin care system derived from all-natural essential and plant oils that is actually designed to foster and support the natural bacteria on your face. Their products are cold pressed (yep, just like your olive oil), don't have synthetic preservatives and are free of all the nasty stuff you want to avoid (no artificial fragrances or colors, no paraffin or drying alcohol, etc.). Apparently they're crazy popular in Japan and are newly available in the United States. I jumped at the chance to give the stuff a whirl.

The company sent me two of their products to try - their signature Black Paint soap and their Black Sponge, which is a charcoal-infused Konjac sponge. I'd used something similar to the sponge before, so it was familiar to me, but the soap was a completely new experience.

Because the soap is made of plant oils, with one of the key ingredients being coconut oil (which solidifies at room temperature), you have to let it emulsify in hot water before you use it. Once the soap is soft enough that you can press a fingerprint into it, you're supposed to apply it to your face directly from the bar (avoiding the eye area), then massage it in before rinsing.

When I first got the soap, I tried doing this as part of my regular skin-care routine in my bathroom. This was a disaster. The soap is black (duh) and since you have to wait until it emulsifies, then apply it directly from the bar, I wound up having black-colored soap dripping EVERYWHERE. I'm talking water running down my arms, dripping onto the floor from my elbows and making a great big, black mess of my bathroom counter. Plus, the soap left a goopy, black mark on my white sink after I left it to dry overnight, not to mention it didn't dry evenly, which I know is a recipe for the BAD kind of bacteria.

I didn't want to give up on this product so quickly, so I decided to move the soap to my shower, and voila! Since you're already wet in the shower, this was a much better solution that created significantly less mess, not to mention allowed the soap to dry more thoroughly, since my shower caddy has a wire frame. The only issue I continued to deal was the no eye contact + massaging piece. Since I'm squeezing my eyes shut while applying it to my face, I find myself blindly groping around for the soap holder, while trying to avoid getting my face in the water, lest I accidentally rinse it off before I'm ready.

So how does the stuff work, you're wondering?

I can't say that it's a miracle product, but I've also only been able to use it once a day, so there's the possibility that the benefits would be enhanced with twice daily use. What I can say is that it's most certainly an effective, gentle, safe facial cleanser that is great at removing face makeup (not eye makeup, since once again, you're supposed to avoid the eye area). It rinses clean without any residue, and it seems like it'll last a while (I've been using mine for about 3 weeks, and it's only about 1/3 gone). I've actually been applying the soap to my chest as well, and it seems to be helping clear up my body acne, which is a huge win. I haven't noticed much of a difference in the skin on my face, unfortunately, but I have been dealing more with acne scarring and the odd breakout these days (rather than a full facial explosion), so perhaps this soap is helping to keep things at bay.

As for the Konjac sponge, a sponge is a sponge is a sponge. This one is infused with charcoal, which I know is a purifying element, but based on their instructions, you're not even supposed to use it with the soap, nor are you supposed to scrub your skin with it. In that case, I find its use a bit perplexing, so I just kind of do my own thing and use it as an extra scrubber after rinsing the soap from my face. That said, their price isn't bad ($9.99), so if you're going to order the rest of the system, why not throw that guy in as well.

The company sells their full, 5-step system for about $140, which isn't cheap, but you can purchase the soap separately for $30, which is comparable to a lot of high-end cleansers. I'm not 100% sure if I'd re-purchase myself, but I would be much more interested if they figured out a way to bottle it and sell it in a pump or squeeze-tube format (then I could keep it on my sink and use it more regularly).

Have you ever tried Black Paint products? What about other skin care items from Japan? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Beautycounter Makeup: Must Have's and Maybe's for the Face

I know I've mentioned Beautycounter a few times now - first in my dedicated skin care review post and then again in my summer bronzer round up - and hopefully you liked those posts because I've got a few more in the works!

After my quick, one-week stint with the skin care products (I've since purchased the Cream Cleanser, which I still adore), I was given the opportunity to do a more thorough review of a number of the items in the "color cosmetics" (aka makeup) line. And, to be honest, I've procrastinated on writing this post (and the one that will follow in a few days), because my opinions of the products have changed a lot as I used them! I found myself really liking something one day, only to find a flaw the next, and then, after some additional practice with it, changed my mind again. I wanted to wait and write the posts when I felt like I'd really landed on a firm opinion backed by a few months of putting the products to use.

In today's post, I'm going to cover the "face" range. As always, reviewing face products can be a little tough, because we all have different skin types and concerns, so I've done my best to lay out who each of these products would work best for. If you've tried one or more of them, I encourage you to add your feedback in the comments section below!

1) Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer - $42

This product is great for a few different kinds of people - women who don't typically like to wear a lot of makeup or women who generally have even, clear skin and just want a tint of coverage, along with protective SPF. It delivers exactly what it says it will - a healthy, glowing, sheer application, with an infusion of moisture and sun protection.

Unfortunately for me, with extensive discoloration, acne scars and active acne, this product really doesn't work for me. That said, I wanted to try it because Beautycounter's foundation does not have SPF and I'm pretty maniacal about protecting my face from sun damage. I was advised that I could layer this product underneath the tint skin foundation, but I'll be frank in saying that the thicker, somewhat sticky texture of the tinted moisturizer was a bit too heavy for me with additional layers of foundation on top.

I'd say go for this if you truly are looking for something minimal. If you just want SPF, you might want to look into something like the Coola mineral sunscreen for face, which doesn't have a color component.

2) Tint Skin Foundation - $38

This is one of the products that I struggled a lot with formulating my impression on, and I realized it's because the product totally changes based on how you apply it. My current holy grail foundation is the Dior Forever Flawless, and that stuff is best applied with just your fingertips because it's thin and very full coverage. Naturally I tried applying the Tint Skin that way at first, and although it didn't turn out horribly, the experience was so markedly different from my Dior (the consistency is a bit thicker so it blends differently), that it gave me a negative impression of the product. The next day, I tried applying it with a flat foundation brush, but I found this to deliver a streaky application that didn't blend well.

Finally, I decided to give it a shot with the retractable kabuki brush ($32) that my consultant had told me was specifically formulated to work with this product. Although I shouldn't have been, I was surprised to see that this advice actually panned out! I couldn't tell you why, exactly, but the moment I tried patting the foundation onto my skin using the kabuki brush, it went on beautifully! I also tried applying this with a damp Beauty Blender and found that to be an effective means, too.

I'd describe this foundation as medium coverage - it can definitely be sheered out, and with a few layers, can deliver a full-coverage look, although honestly, I'm usually too lazy to wait for each layer to settle in for that. Instead, I just know that when I use this foundation, I'll rely a bit more on my concealer to create a flawless finish.

I'd buy this product if you're looking for something with diverse coverage capabilities, although I'd recommend trying to get color matched in person, rather than experimenting when purchasing online. I'm typically the fairest shade in all foundation ranges, but the fairest color here was too light, even for me. Although the Linen shade (what I landed on) goes on a bit yellow for my coloring, it's something I can easily counteract with the appropriate concealer and finishing powder.

3) Touchup Skin Concealer Pen - $28

If you're a beauty fanatic like me, you'll likely recognize this packaging from the very famous Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat concealer pen. I've never tried that product, but I know it's universally well-loved within the beauty community, and the truth is the packaging is gorgeous, so I see why Beautycounter went for a similar vibe.

That said, they say don't judge a book by its cover for a reason, and I have to admit that in execution, I actually think this packaging is horrific. Let me explain why.

You dispense the product through pushing a button on the bottom of the pen. But unlike a squeeze tube where you control exactly how much comes out, with this you don't know how many times to click the pen until you get the amount of concealer you need. I routinely found myself frustrated because I either accidentally dispensed too little or too much product, and therefore spent so much time clicking the back of the pen and dealing with the mess that ensued that I couldn't focus on the actual concealer.

It turns out, the product itself is pretty good for lightweight coverage. Although I don't think it's heavy duty enough for extensive, long-lasting or thick coverage (again something I need based on my skin type), it definitely does get the job done for small areas.

4) Mattify Skin Finishing Power - $34

Of all the products I was given to try, I've used this one the least because I find loose powders to be so incredibly messy! Beautycounter tries to help with this, by putting a sliding stopper in the packaging, but somehow, I still manage to get it all over the counter every time I apply it.

Packaging aside, this stuff really does a great job of mattifying the skin. I have very oily skin, so for me, this is a life saver! Here's the thing: The website recommends using this on top of your makeup, and I think that's ok to do, but you do have to be careful with how much product you use. Although the powder is described as translucent, I found that if I applied it too heavily, it left a definite white cast on my skin (and I'm pretty pale already).

My recommendation is therefore two-fold. Instead of swirling a thick, densely packed brush in the powder and applying it that way (as you might traditionally do), take a clean eyeshadow brush (like a fluffy blending brush) and selectively apply this to your most oily areas ONLY. Go slow, using just a little bit at a time and building up as you need to.

My second suggestion? Try applying this UNDER your foundation. If your skin is really oily, you could apply it on top of your moisturizer and then apply the foundation. You may just find that it helps your foundation stick to your skin better, and therefore last longer throughout the day.

Overall thoughts
I applaud Beautycounter from here until the end of time for their mission. I believe in it, I support it, and I want to do everything I can to bring awareness to the brand in the hope that more and more women will recognize the chemicals in their products and start choosing safer alternatives.

That said, from trying out their face products, I get the impression that these are designed more for the woman who doesn't like to wear a lot of makeup, prefers a very natural look when she does wear makeup or for a woman that already has beautiful skin. These products are formulated to enhance what you already have, but if you're looking for something with the ability to transform, hide or cover, these products are probably not the best choice for you. I would love to see Beautycounter come out with a face line that provides a broader range of coverage options, but understand that they're bound by their ability to do so while sourcing from ingredients that are healthy and sustainable.

Have you tried any of Beautycounter's makeup products? If so, please let me know what you think below!

Review: DryBar's Buttercup Blow Dryer

About two months ago, I laid my beloved CHI Blow Dryer to rest. I had purchased it at ULTA years ago, and out of the blue one day, it just completely stopped blowing hot air. In fairness, it had been doing this intermittently for a while, but then the hot air would only stop functioning for a few seconds, so it was easy to put up with. This time, no matter how much I jiggered the cord, all I got was an icy blast. I even tried to blow dry my hair with just the cold air at first, but after I froze myself for a few minutes and realized my hair was no closer to being dry, I gave up, tossed my hair into a bun and tossed the dryer into the trash.

As luck should have it, just as I sat down to check my email, I saw that Sephora was on their last day of a double points promotion for Beauty Insiders, and I recalled that my best friend had recently purchased and enjoyed the DryBar Buttercup blow dryer. After a quick read-up of the Sephora.com Reviews section, I put on my sandals, walked to Sephora and picked one up.

I'll admit that at first the $195 price point made my jaw drop. Is it just me or do professional blow dryers just get more and more expensive? I had spent a few minutes walking around the store to see what else they offered, but to be frank, there really wasn't much of a selection and everything else I did see was even more expensive than the Buttercup. Thankfully, I know that Sephora has an excellent return policy, so I knew I could try the dryer over a couple of weeks and bring it back for a full refund if it didn't work for me.

So what does DryBar claim this dryer will do? 

First, they claim that it contains Bio Ionic technology, which they say leaves hair smooth, hydrated and shiny. They also claim that the 1875 watt motor will get you a quick dry, that conditioning "nano beads" will seal the cuticle leaving hair silky, smooth and frizz-free, and finally, that it will deodorize your hair, again thanks to the "negative ions."

And how does it perform?

Let's start with the pros: this baby definitely dries your hair fast! It was clearly more powerful than my old CHI dryer, and I feel like it cuts my drying time by at least 25%. I think something you have to deal with in order to get the fast drying time is the noise, because powering that fast of a motor does leave you with a bit of a loud instrument. Personally, that doesn't bother me at all, but it's something you should note, in case you're sensitive.

Now we've got the cons: Honestly, I don't notice a whole heck of a difference in spite of all the Bio Ionic, nano bead, marketing babble. My hair is naturally wavy, and while the individual strands are fine, I have a lot of them. Because my texture is more coarse, the only way I really achieve shine is with a) a professional blow dry at the salon or b) when I flat iron my hair. Although you could argue that this blow dryer made an eensy weeny improvement in the shine or smoothness of my hair, you could also argue that it had more to do with how long I left my conditioner in or what styling products I used on a particular day.

I can certainly say that my hair didn't feel any more "hydrated" after blow drying. This is probably the claim I find the hardest to believe, because I think we all know that heat styling dries out your hair, rather than adding moisture back in.

In truth, I don't knock DryBar specifically for any of these claims, because I feel like ALL blow dryer manufacturers make these crazy statements about how their dryer is going to be so different from all the rest and make your hair look like a model's, when frankly, not a single blow dryer I've ever tried has actually transformed my hair into something it's not. I just don't believe it can happen!

That said, there are some great additional features that DryBar doesn't actively promote on the packaging, but that would sell me on the dryer more than all the ionic b.s.

Firstly, it's lightweight, and these days, that's a hard thing to find! I have no problem holding the dryer over my head for lengthy periods of time. Secondly, it has a "cold blast" button that you don't have to hold down! Just press it in, and it will continue to deliver you cold air until you're ready. Press it again, and you're back to hot in a moment's notice. Finally, the dryer has lots of different settings so you can customize to your preferences - in addition to two power/speed settings (pretty standard), it also has a low, medium and high heat setting. I personally only use the high heat setting because the others really don't feel that hot, but it's nice to have options.

Have we talked yet about the fact that this dryer is yellow?! I kind of love the fun, unexpected pop of color, and I'll admit that it makes me happy every time I pull it out of the cupboard.

The dryer also comes with two nozzles, a wide one and a narrow one, based on the style that you're trying to achieve. The narrow one, in particular, is called out as being great for styling bangs.

Finally, it has a 9-foot cord, which you could consider to be a good thing or a bad thing, based on how far you need it to stretch/how much it gets in the way in a small space.

Overall, do I think it's worth $200? Hard to say at this point. I think the price really comes into play over time. I've purchased cheap blow dryers before and have found that they either don't provide enough power, actually do make my hair more frizzy or just poop out in a matter of months. So as long as I can get a few years out of this baby, I'll consider it a purchase well made.

Have you used the DryBar Buttercup? Do you have another favorite hair dryer? Let me know in the comments section below!

Want to be a Rich Bitch (or at least Rich)? Nicole Lapin says you can in 12 easy steps

As part of my job, I manage the social media channels for the brand I work for, and a few weeks ago we partnered with financial expert Nicole Lapin to host a Twitter party all about savings. What's a Twitter party you might ask? While I still struggle to understand exactly why people participate outside of the chance to win prizes, it's an hour-long session where a moderator or two pose questions to the Twitter-verse and the audience (typically stay-at-home moms) responds and interacts with each other. Despite my cynicism, it tends to be a well-attended thing, and sometimes (like this time), there are perks for those of us behind the scenes: I got a signed copy of Nicole's book "Rich Bitch" for free!

I'll admit I hadn't heard much about Nicole Lapin before the Twitter party, but that's unsurprising given she's a financial broadcaster and I avoid the news (not even specifically financial news, but the news at large) like the plague (it's just too depressing). But once I started reading about her background, and particularly how she became a self-made millionaire by 30, I was intrigued (and maybe, just maybe a little jealous). On top of that, I've always known that my money situation wasn't the best, so I figured I had little to lose in seeing what advice she had to offer.

Initially, I was reading the book with a bit of a mean-girl attitude (it's terrible, I know), and in the first two chapters all I could think was that there was nothing in here beyond the obvious. Sure, the book was written in a fun, light tone, and Nicole shared a few stories here and there about her background and desire to better herself financially, but because of my undertone of jealousy, I tried to write it all off by at least thinking that she didn't actually know what she was talking about.

Then I got to chapter 3. It was the chapter on budgets. At first the information didn't resonate with me any more than the earlier information, but then we got to an aptly titled section called "7 Bitches Who Are Always Broke" and my insides cringed with uncomfortable recognition. I've had a "budget" for years and I put "money" away in savings, yet I always, always feel like there's never enough to go around, and I'm constantly blowing said budget, then making excuses about it. Bad, bad, bad.

So now Nicole is giving me a structure for a budget and telling me how much to allocate to different categories and, what do you know, I'm feeling inspired. Inspired enough to sit down with my Excel spreadsheet and take a hard look at my budget. Am I spending no more than 70% of my take-home pay on "essentials" like housing, insurance and basic food? At 71%, I'm pretty darn close. But what about putting 15% toward saving and 15% toward "fun." Damnit. My paltry $25 savings contribution per week is amounting to about 2% of my take-home pay...not even close.

I sat with my budget for a good hour, playing around with numbers, breaking things down into deeper categories than I ever had before and thinking long and hard about whether or not there were any expenses I could cut. I found an $85 per month recurring expense that I thought I could definitely live without, but then I ensured that I left $130 per month in the budget for my Class Pass and dance memberships, since those are not only fun but contribute to my health. After all was said and done, I found enough money to bump up my savings contribution to 10% of my take-home pay. Not quite the 15% that Nicole recommends, but a huge improvement nonetheless.

Now I was hooked (and feeling guilty for my initial jealous thoughts). In the span of a single day, I read another hundred pages and two-days later, I had finished the book. What were my big takeaways, you ask? Here are my top 5:

1. Buying a house doesn't have to be a goal for everyone, and renting is not the "sloppy seconds" alternative that so many make it out to be. Like many people, I've felt pressure in recent years to be saving up a butt-load of money to eventually buy a house, and in conversations with others who have bought or are looking to do so soon, the prospect seemed virtually impossible for me, and this made me feel sad. But Nicole points out that buying really isn't for everyone, and it's not the silver bullet investment that so many make it out to be. It's expensive (in SO many ways, even once you've purchased the house), so if you're single, interested in moving around a lot, unsure of where your career is going to take you, or even if you just don't want the hassle of maintaining a property, renting IS the way to go, and it's NOT just "throwing out your money." Huge sigh of relief.
2. Student loan debt consolidation isn't something you jump into without doing your research first. Whoops, this is a mistake I made, because as soon as I saw the possibility of refinancing through So-Fi, I jumped on it without really comparing interest rates across providers. As it is, Nicole talks about so called "consolidation fees" that you can get charged, and I couldn't even tell you if I pay those or not. Apparently there is a government website (studentloans.gov) where you can consolidate your loans yourself for no charge. I wish I had read this advice a few years ago!
3. I now know the difference between a Money Market account, a Certificate of Deposit (CD), a Mutual Fund and a stock versus a bond. Nicole's chapters on savings products and investing were pretty thorough and although I'll admit that she still lost me when she started talking about rates and fees and choosing a brokerage, at least knowing what these products are and considering using them sometime in the near future is a step forward for me. 
4. Apparently there is something called a Health Savings Account and it's different from a Flexible Spending Account. This one really struck me as something I need to look into with my employer, because unlike an FSA, the money you pour into an HSA stays with you from year to year and it's put in pre-tax, just like FSA dollars. You can contribute up to about $3,000 a year and use the funds toward pre-deductible expenses that your health plan wouldn't cover otherwise. With a hefty physical therapy bill on my back at present, this is another one I wish I would have learned about months ago!
5. Retirement accounts and how to actually invest intelligently still boggle my mind. Does that count as a takeaway? Well, I'm making it count because I thought these two chapters of the book were among the most important, yet I unfortunately wasn't able to fully digest the information. The interesting piece I took away is that 401(k)'s are not the be-all-end-all of retirement accounts (even though that's what most employers offer) and that there are some income restrictions on Roth IRAs. Right now, my focus is going to be on building up my emergency fund and sticking to my budget, but I'll be referring back to this chapter when I have more liquid funds I can put into a retirement account outside of my corporate-sponsored 401(k).

Overall, I wound up really enjoying the book, and as you can clearly see, I learned a thing or two! I do think a few of the chapters (namely chapter 8, which was all about being ambitious at work, chapter 11, which was a confusing mix of advice about working for/living with men and chapter 12, which was veiled as a step, but really was just a conclusion) could have been eliminated, but regardless I now firmly believe that Nicole Lapin does indeed know what she's talking about AND that she has a knack for translating her knowledge into language that the average woman can (mostly) understand. If you're interested in learning more about Nicole, she has a website with all kinds of tips and tools on it - check her out at www.nicolelapin.com. 

Have you read Rich Bitch? Are there other financial books that you'd recommend for younger women? Let me know in the comments section below!

Summer bronzer round-up! Featuring Beautycounter, Physician's Formula and Mary Kay

Every time someone complains about their pale skin in the winter, I laugh a little to myself, mostly because they're at least 5 shades darker than me at their palest, but also because I am the same exact shade of porcelain all year round. I don't dislike this -- most of the time -- and if I really try, I can achieve a subtle glowing tan, but I prefer to stay out of the sun for the most part (and I believe that when I'm 50 and [mostly] wrinkle free, the sun-worshippers will be jealous of me for once).

All that said, there is something kind of wonderful about a summer glow, so I'm all about faking it with my favorite bronzing powders. On most days, I go for a subtle look that warms up my fair skin and makes me look that much more alive, although bronzers are also my favorite product to pull out for an evening look when I can contour it up and pretend that I have Cara Delevingne's cheek bones.

So which bronzers are my favorite? Right now, I have 3 in my makeup collection, each at a different price point, and each with a different reason to cherish it. Let's get started!

THE DRUGSTORE BRONZER

Honestly, I don't shop at the drugstore often, and that's mostly because the ingredient list for many drugstore brands is much too dirty for my standards (sometimes you DO get what you pay for). But I've taken a liking to a number of the products in the Physician's Formula Gentle Wear line (formerly called Organic Wear, but I'm assuming they got into some sort of trouble for making that claim). I use their setting powder on a daily basis, but have also used their 100% Natural Origin Bronzer in the shade Bronze Organics - Light Skin.

What do I like about this bronzer? A) The price - it's only $13.95 for .3 oz of product (and you can use a manufacturer coupon to get it for even less). B) It has a mix of two shades, so you can swirl it all together, or select a concentration of just one to get the look you'd like.

What do I not like? A) The packaging, while eco-friendly, is made of paper and after a while, the lid starts to separate from the rest of the package. It does have a magnet that'll hold it together if you place it carefully, but it means carrying it around in your purse is no longer a viable option. B) The color can pull a little orange if you're not careful. I use just a tiny bit and apply it with a stippling brush, which diffuses the color, so it works as an overall bronzer. I would not recommend this one as a contour color, unless you want to look like an Oompa Loompa.

THE MID-TIER BRONZER
Last year, I received a Mary Kay VoxBox from Influenster, and in it was their Bronzing Powder in the shade Light/Medium. This dewy-finish, slightly sparkly bronzer is the absolute perfect bronzer for the evening, or for when you want to look like you have fresh-off-the-beach, luminous skin. I don't typically like highlighters, because I have naturally oily skin and I get a glow on my own within 10 minutes of being outside, but this product gives me a subtle highlighting effect without making me look more oily.

What do I like about this product? A) The price! Only slightly more expensive than the Physician's Formula bronzer at $18.00, this is still pretty affordable, and you're still getting the same .3 oz of product. B) It lasts a LONG time. Although this bronzer's color is much more brown and doesn't pull orange like the PF bronzer, you still only need a tiny bit to achieve the color you're looking for. I've been using mine nearly daily for a year and have JUST started to hit pan.

What do I not like? A) The packaging. Although in this case, I don't like it because it doesn't come with any! Mary Kay makes you buy a separate compact (the options range in price from $17-19) to store your bronzer in. If you don't buy one, you're stuck keeping it in this ugly plastic container til you use it up.

THE HIGH-END BRONZER

If you've read my recent introduction to Beautycounter post, you'll know that I was recently introduced to a brand new, very safe beauty and skin-care line that claims to have the cleanest cosmetics on the market. And while my post talked entirely about their skin care products, I was recently given the opportunity to try out some of their makeup, too! (I'm just going to talk about the bronzer today, but there's lots more coming on this brand soon!)

Beautycounter sells their Color Contour Matte Bronzer in two shades, the first for light/medium skin tones and the second for medium/dark skin tones. Both are matte and come in a slightly larger size at .35 oz (so 1/7 more product, if I did my math right!).

What do I like about this? A) It's matte! Can we just shout that from the rooftops for a minute? For a gal with oily skin, a matte face product is like the holy grail. It means this bronzer can be used for the typical flush of color every day OR it can be used to contour my entire face. I like to contour the sides of my nose and my jawline sometimes, and doing that with a sparkly product just does not produce the result I'm looking for. B) It has a really cool ingredient called Porcelain Flower extract - their website says it's a Thai bloom known for its antioxidant benefits and that it helps moisturize the skin. Pretty neat to think you're getting moisturizer in your bronzer!

What do I not like? A) The price. Take a deep breath guys - it's $36. Ok, I know, it's a steep price, especially when I just talked you through two other options that are 50% (or more) less. I like to think it's more expensive because it's got higher quality ingredients, but at the end of the day, you can only afford what you can afford, and I understand if this one's just out of your price range.

And that's it - my three favorite summer bronzers! Do you have a favorite? Have you tried any of these? Let me know in the comments below!

*Note that I received the Beautycounter and Mary Kay bronzers complimentary, but that does not affect my opinions or decision to include them in this post!

Does vanity sizing exist for BRAS? How a small-chested women fits into a 34D bra.

Guys, I need to talk to you about boobs for a minute. Because I've always thought I didn't have any, and today I walked into a Victoria's Secret and was measured into a 34D bra. And it fit. IT FIT. My own best friend, who is considerably more buxom than I am wears a 34DD - just one size bigger than me. I feel like I'm living in some sort of alternate reality where everything I once knew to be true was false. My very own version of The Truman Show.

And it's got me thinking. Years ago, when my mom still tried to pawn off her old 70s and 80s clothes on me, she'd hand me a size 8 pair of shorts, and even then, with my svelte early 20's figure, I could barely fit one butt check into them, nevertheless be able to actually button them and wear them. It's been proven time and time again that as our American waistbands have rapidly grown, so have the clothing brands responded by making yesterday's 8 today's 0 so we don't all feel like we're quite as fat as we've actually become.

But is this now a thing when it comes to lingerie? Although I've been small chested all my life, I've never once felt self-conscious about it, but I know a lot of women are, hence the booming breast augmentation industry (I can sing the jingle for Dr. Ted Eisenberg, the "leading breast augmentation surgeon in Philadelphia," as he clearly spends all his money on Q102 radio commercials in the 8am hour), but it never dawned on me that, in an effort to sell more bras, retailers might start making cup sizes smaller so women FELT like they had bigger breasts than they actually did.

In truth, the 34D bras that I bought DO fit better than my old 34B bras (I used to think even a B cup was a stretch for me), but it still makes me chuckle every time I pull one out of my drawer. Is it possible that for so many years I've been so confused about what a bra should fit like that I've been buying the completely wrong size? Or is the clothing industry playing yet another trick on me?

Ladies, don't be shy. What size bra do you wear? Is it bigger/smaller than you'd expect? Am I going crazy? Tell me in the comments section below.

Review! Tarte Amazonian Clay Skinny SmolderEyes Eye Liners

I can admit without shame that I sort of have an obsession with eyeliners. To me, there's nothing that quite completes a nighttime look like a sophisticated, sexy wing, and even on an everyday basis, I never quite feel like my makeup's done until I've slicked a thick dark line across my lashes. But eyeliners are also a tough thing to buy. I know you know what I mean when I say that while a good eyeliner can "make" a look, a bad eyeliner can "break" a look in minutes flat. No one likes to look like a raccoon.

So it disappointed me to no end when I quickly realized my new Tarte Amazonian Clay Skinny SmolderEyes eyeliners - I got a set of 5 around the holidays with "limited edition" colors - were just that kind of eyeliner that, applied without extra care, would slink off my eyes into every eyelid crevice until I looked like I'd been punched.

It's a problem I've noticed with a LOT of eyeliners lately - for a while I was using Urban Decay's famous 24/7 Glide-On Pencils - and it seems that in a brand's effort to create a product that doesn't tug at your eyelid (because who wants premature wrinkles in that sensitive spot), they create liners that are so buttery soft that they feel great going on, but simply don't stay put. At least in the case of Tarte's liners, they admit in the name that they're meant to be smolder-y and smokey, but in the same breath they try to pass these babies off as waterproof, which makes you think they'll stay in place way more than they do.

The best way I've found to apply this product is to smudge a decent amount right in the center of my upper eyelid, then use an eyeliner brush to drag it across the rest of my lid. If you try to apply it across your full lid, you'll find that the soft product deposits WAY more than you actually need, and if you THEN try to blend it, it really does turn into a sad mess. If you apply too much and DON'T blend it, well, good luck not crying eyeliner-colored tears the moment your eyes water. I generally avoid these liners on my bottom lashes, unless I really am going for a super smoked-out look.

One more thing about the softness: See that beautiful point on the green liner in the picture? Well carve it into your memory when you buy one of these, because you'll never see a point on these babies again. Even with the most gentle of sharpening, these liners never reach a point, which makes applying them in a precise line virtually impossible.

The bright side? Firstly, the products are actually made of decent ingredients, so it's something you can use without guilt. While they do have PEGs, which I know a lot of natural beauty users strictly avoid, they rate as a 1 on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database, and per Tarte's mantra are free of all parabens, phthalates, sulfates, mineral oils, etc.

Also, the colors are quite beautiful, particularly the Bronze Agate, which is a golden brown with a subtle sparkle and sheen to it. While that color was "limited edition" (as were the other colors in my collection, which are called Periodot Green, Plum Tanzanite and Smoky Quartz - the black Onyx shade was not LE), the Sunstone Brown or Aztec Gold shades both seem to be pretty close dupes, and I couldn't tell you the different between my purple and their Deep Amythest shade. Unfortunately, they don't have a gray or green that match the colors I purchased.

All in all, although I'll continue to use these babies up, I'll probably try a new eyeliner pencil next time, continuing my never-ending Goldilocks quest to find one that's the perfect texture - not too soft, not too hard, but juuuuusttt right.

Do you have a favorite pencil eyeliner that you think meets the bill? Let me know in the comments below!

My Review of Stitch Fix Personal Styling

I think most women would agree with me that having a personal stylist hand-select clothes for you and dress you to the 9s every day is the stuff that dreams are made of. I enjoy fashion, but I also have a limited budget and limited time, so sometimes the simple thought of keeping up with the trends just exhausts me. Not to mention that as I get older, I've begun to refine my personal style more and more, which means I care a little less about the trends and more about finding pieces that fit me well, are made well and express my sense of self. Of course, given that limited budget I just mentioned, personal styling was never something remotely within reach for me...that is, until I discovered Stitch Fix.

What is Stitch Fix?

It's an online personal styling service that charges a $20 styling fee and then sends you a box of 5 pieces of clothing and accessories "custom" curated for you based on your sizes and personal style. You can choose to receive a "Fix," as they call it, at regular intervals of your choosing, or you can just order one when you fancy it or have a special event coming up that you need some new clothes for. Once you get your box, you have 3 days to try everything on, determine what you like and send the rest back. Your $20 styling fee goes toward the purchase price of whatever you decide to keep and IF you like everything that was sent to you, you receive a 25% discount on the purchase price of the entire box.

How do I get started?
When you create your account, one of the first things you'll be prompted to do is create a Style Profile. They'll ask for things like your height, weight, bra size, how you like different types of clothes to fit (i.e. do you like your pants tight or loose? do you like to show off your arms or your stomach?) and then they'll show you pictures of clothing that fits into certain types of styles and ask how much you like or dislike what is shown. Finally, they'll ask you how much you'd usually spend on different types of clothing (as little as $50-$100 or up to $250+) and then will give you a free-form space to describe your style and include a link to a Pinterest board that you'd like your stylist to use as inspiration. It only takes a few minutes to fill out your profile, yet it's pretty exhaustive and should theoretically help someone reading it truly understand the types of clothes you're looking for.

So, how did it work out for you?
I wanted to make sure that I gave the service a good old college try before writing my review, so I've received a fix once a month for the last three months. In addition, I've started following a Facebook page called Stitch Fix Reviews where women write blog posts similar to mine on a monthly basis and show off the items they've received, in addition to sharing their reviews of their individual fixes. I wanted to make sure I had lots of data points to guide my thinking and set my expectations!

When I got my first box, I was super excited to see what was inside. When you first open your box, you'll find a style card that comes with a personal note from your stylist, as well as pictures of each of the items you've received styled in a casual and dressy way for inspiration. You'll separately receive a price sheet that shows how much everything costs and a pre-paid mailing bag for you to send back whichever items you decide you didn't like.


Upon looking at my style card, I was pleasantly surprised to at least visually like every single item on there! Each piece looked really cute and the way they were styled felt pretty up my alley. I excitedly proceeded to my bedroom to try everything on....and that's when things went down hill. As I examined each piece, I first noticed that 3 of the 5 pieces I was sent were made of polyester. Now this would have been fine normally, but I had specifically asked not to be sent any polyester in my style profile, so they clearly did not read it closely or ignored my request outright. Then, I noticed that the fit was WAY off on most of the garments. They sent me a teal henley top that was a size medium, but it was way too big. The navy dress they sent (size 12) was also so big it looked like I was wearing a potato sack. The gray and white blazer they sent fit oddly and while I really liked the maxi dress, it was too tight in the waist. The only thing I wound up keeping was the tribal print pink and blue tank top.

Although I was disappointed to only walk away with one item, I had heard that the service was something that got better over time as your stylist got a chance to know you and hear your feedback. I forgot to mention that when you "checkout" and tell them what pieces you'll be keeping, you have an opportunity to rate all of the items you've received and explain why you did or did not like them. Apparently this information is passed on to your stylist the next time to help them pick out a refined set of clothing. I was anxious to see if this was true.

When I received my second fix, the story was eerily similar. I walked away with one pretty blue maxi dress, but returned the rest of the items either because the fit was poor, the quality was poor or I simply didn't like the pieces. And while I was REALLY happy with the item I got, and although I did see that as a result of my "note," the stylist specifically sent me the TYPES of pieces I requested (i.e. maxi dresses and colorful tops), it was starting to become obvious to me that the STYLE of the pieces in no way, shape or form matched what I was asking for in my Style Profile or what I was showing as "my style" on my Pinterest board.

By the time I got my third box, I was SO disappointed with the not-my-style, ill-fitting, poorly made and/or expensive-for-the-quality pieces that I was sent. It was at this point that a pattern really became obvious to me. In my three months, I've read a LOT of Stitch Fix Reviews on the Facebook page I mentioned, but it didn't quite click for me until recently. Stitch Fix sends the exact same style of clothing to every single person I've seen, regardless of their stated "personal style." I'm serious. I've seen the same few brands with the same casual, sort of preppy style showing up in every person's box. Yet if you look at my stated style on Pinterest, I'm showing edgier pieces, lots of solids, fitted blazers, interesting metallics, animal prints, color blocking, mixed medium fabrics. None of the pieces I received could be added to this Pinterest board and look cohesive, nor did the "styling suggestions" on my style card match up to the style I said I prefer.

Along those same lines, despite your stated price range for items, everything you get will be between $50-$100 (with a few exceptions). I stated in my style profile that I spent $100-$150 or even $200+ on some categories and talked about preferring higher end materials like 100% silk, yet I was never sent a single item that reached the $150 threshold. In my third box, I finally did get a few items that came close to the $150 mark, but they were for "blazers" that were more like thin cardigans - no shape, no structure and made of incredibly thin material. Nothing I'd pay that price for.

Will you use Stitch Fix again?
I'm not sure. This past month I forfeited my $20 styling fee because I didn't like anything in the box, and frankly, I'm a little pissed that I spent $20 for someone to "style" me when it's clear they didn't try all that hard to actually send pieces that reflected my personal style. After all, that's the premise of the service - that this is customized to you. I also noticed that I had a different stylist every single month, so the idea of "your" stylist learning and growing with you now feels a little far fetched. I may grow soft after the sting of this last box fades in the next few weeks and give it a shot one more time, maybe with some edits to my style profile to try and hone in on what I want a little bit more. If things improve, I'll certainly come back and let everyone on the blog know! For now, I'd recommend the service cautiously. If you have a more fluid personal style, or are less particular about the quality of the items, it certainly does deliver a fun high to receive a box of clothes in the mail. Just set your expectations carefully and don't put too much stock into it being personal to you.

Have you tried Stitch Fix? What has your experience been like and would you recommend it to others? Let me know in the comments below!