Cancelling The BEST Beauty Subscription Service?

Posted on by The Style Cake

So you guys know that I have shared my experiences of subscriptions services and so forth. You can read about my most recent review which is about Scentbox. I LOVE a great value! Seriously, what is the point of having a subscription service if you can’t get an exceedingly great value and try products that may be too expensive on their own? If you want that deal, let me tell you about my FAVORITE subscription service…

For the past few months, I’ve been getting Boxycharm. When I say that I am beyond satisfied with this monthly beauty box, that is simply an understatement!

Here are my reasons:

1. Boxes worth over the $21 price tag. I have never gotten a box with less than 40 bucks worth of product. You win buying this box because you are getting more than twice your money.

2. Quality makeup and skin care inside. If this box was just filled with brands and makeup you could get for little to nothing with no quality behind it I would not have wasted my time after the first month. In one of my boxes I received an eyebrow pencil by MAC Cosmetics. My face eyebrow pencil and worth every penny even at full price!

3. Makeup for every skin tone and a varied boxes. Not all boxes shipped get the same shades of (for example) a lipgloss. The beauty is if you watch any unboxing videos, you can see the other available shades and how those shades look on others and their tones. The products offered exclude foundations and concealers because these are so specific. This is fine by me. I prefer versatility in surprise boxes like these…

4. Experience “new” brands. I have to admit, I have enough makeup. I really do. However, there are some makeup brands that I have not tried. This is honestly the only way that I feel compelled to try some of the brands I’ve rarely seen and heard of, even some indie brands for that matter.

5. Makes an amazing gift or three! I have gone through my box and given away some products that I didn’t need as gifts. A single box can seriously work as gifts for three different people. Sounds cheap but as I’ve stated earlier, the quality is packed in this box!

6. Excellent customer service! This is the most important thing that I look for in any company. I say that because a person can love the products that are purchased but if the customer service is terrible, you could take the products back or better yet even not make the products at all out of spite for a terrible experience. I’ve had nothing but a great experience with Boxycharm!

7. Rewards! You get points or “charms” for loyalty, reviews and more!

So if there are so many good things to say about this box, why am I on the verge of cancelling?

1. I don’t need any more makeup. I’m in the process of simplifying my life more and more makeup is counter productive.

2. Preservation of funds. I’m looking into saving more money and although this service is only 20 bucks, it’s only an option and a want…not a need.

3. I can resubscribe anytime I want. I don’t feel as pressed to keep a service that I can grab at a later date. Right now Boxycharm has no waitlist so if I wanted to grab it two months I could with no worries on missing out on an item or two that particular month.

So what’s a girl to do? I’ll let you know on a future blog post lol. To be continued….

My FAVORITE Face Primer

Posted on by The Style Cake

I know, I know. It’s been soooo long since I’ve had my tail on here. I’m slowly moving back into blogging so please give me time lol. I thought since I’m making my way back, I’d let you guys in on what I’ve been loving. Now normally, I would do an entire list of favorites but that seems so impersonal sometimes. I dunno. I am WAY past due to review some products I received from Juice Beauty but I’m telling you it was worth the wait.

I generally like to really try products for quite a bit of time before I decide whether I love or hate them. That being said, I’ve been using the Juice Beauty Illuminating Primer and it is the only primer that I not only use but plan to purchase in the future. Now, coming from someone who may keep it a bit too real (so I’ve been told), that says a lot! I am helplessly in LOVE y’all!!!

So let me give y’all the scoop:

This primer feels so luxurious on the skin. It frankly reminds me more of a lotion than a primer. Primers can feel a little too silky, making you feel as if when you apply your foundation, it will slide right off your face. I actually hate primers like that. I also feel these primers give you that “hot” feeling in the summer…which brings me to my next bit of info. This primer is so light that you seriously don’t feel it on your face. If you like to “feel” your primer, this is not for you. I hate a clogged pore and I feel this primer is best for those concerned with not having an oil slick on their faces as well as for being able to maintain a great skincare routine. I am so into skincare right now so this does IT for me. It leaves a subtle glow, likely due to its iridescent, pearl-like color. I am a caramel color and this primer does not make me look ashy. Now, there have been some primer that promise to give you a glow that leave an ashy film on the face depending on the skin tone. With this primer, you get a great amount per bottle and I totally feel it’s worth the price. There are other primers that are super cheap but they just don’t measure up to this primer by Juice Beauty. You can use a liberal amount of this primer without worries. I’ve forgotten to put on moisturizer and I was still okay. There was no difference in the performance of my makeup than when I wear primer. It’s very moisturizing and has nothing but quality ingredients.

Some things to keep in mind are that you won’t get a ridiculous highlight with this primer. While it has a subtle glow, the focus is on great skin not on having a gleaming highlight. Also, this is not a primer with a super thick consistency. It’s made to feel like nothing is on the skin when you apply makeup. It’s made to be moisturizing on the skin so if you forget to wear a moisturizer or need a primer in a rush with not a lot of time for a million products, this will do the trick. The first ingredient is aloe vera. Can’t get better than that! That takes me lastly into this: it’s wonderful if you have sensitive skin! I am apart of the sensitive skin club and let me tell you, I have only been using this product under my makeup and when this bottle is done, I’ll be buying another one. I know I said my previous point was my last but I’d like to add that this is also the only primer where the quality of the bottle matches the contents and price. My bottle cap stays on. Yeah I know you’re thinking it may not be that important but the cap staying on the bottle prevents the pump nozzle from getting broken which in turns saves me headache of trying to get the darn primer out of the bottle. Plus, you’re not cheated on it looking like there’s more than there actually is.

Overall, I love this primer so much because I think all skin types can use it, even sensitive skin and it’s not a strong scent to it. The scent is barely noticeable. The bottle isn’t slippery so it won’t go flying out of your hand…that has happened to me before and you can knock someone out with a flying glass bottle. Would I recommend this primer? By now hopefully you know I certainly would! It’s a phenomenal primer and my fave of all the primers I’ve tried and I’ve tried a ton! So go ahead and get a sample of you still not convinced but let me tell you, I want paid to do this review and even if I were I’d have to tell you if I hated it. I love to spread a good word lol!

Why I Needed a Blogging & Social Media Break…

Posted on by The Style Cake

I swear I never thought I’d get back to the point of being excited about blogging again. Quite frankly, blogging had become more of a chore and pretty much a bore…no “bars” intended lol.

If you’re a blogger of any kind, I think you can probably relate to how ruthless the blogging world can be. Since I hate drama and am content in my own little bubble, putting myself “out there” got me more than I bargained for. I expected more comraderary from fellow bloggers but ya’ll competition is real out here…even if you’re not competing. I won’t spend much more time on that negativity but to say with real things going on in life, I couldn’t fathom letting trivial bits of pettiness and mean girl personas to move me in any way. I had to focus on getting me back to my best self.

In the midst of blogging, I think I neglected myself more than I realized. Truth is, I neglected myself a ton! I spent a lot of time researching info, growing my Instagram and social media influence and that left little time to really take care of me. I’ve talked about some health issues I have before and not putting myself first was having a negative effect on those pre-existing issues. The oxymoron of it all is that all you saw was me writing about what I was wearing, my skin, my self care solutions. Sadly, I let…myself…go.

As if my own self sabatoge wasn’t enough, our family suffered a few losses last year. One loss this year. Yes I said a few and then one. Mentally, everyone who loses a loved one needs time to reflect and gather themselves to be emotionally fit to move forward. That’s just reality. When you have children, you need more time because children need consoling and nurturing. Ours (hubby’s and mine) are at the age where they are “aware” and have questions, legit ones, about the situation surrounding the death. After they are “okay”, us parents need to usher into self care.

I’m currently on that journey of self care. I suffered extreme hair loss, skin flare ups of all kinds including hives, acne and eczema, headaches, joint and muscle pain and more things that I’ll not have to mention because the above is enough. I had to get these things in order and fast! To resolve these issues calls for more than just some sort of salve or serum. Deep research, medical help and just re-acquainting myself with my body again was essential. Now while I am still in process, I am discovering other fruits that need pruning or plucking from my life. Not that they’re necessarily bad but they provide no enrichment or “nutrition” to me as a person or to my life.

Folks…rid yourself of people, habits, so called goals, mindsets, platforms, loves and hates that don’t help you to be a better person. We grow physically but mental health and growth is just as important…actually more important. Social media is social. It’s not essential in order for us to survive. If IG was shut down for good, if YouTube was outlawed, where would that leave you? I had to ask myself if I was too deeply enthralled with something that encourages faux realities. I actually became a part of it. I looked like I took better care of myself that I actually did. That’s the long and short of it. And look, we all neglect ourselves from time to time but I was extreme. I saw problems and put them off making excuses of not having time. Buy out time. (I got that straight from the Bible lol.) It will cost time from something else but its worth it.

Where am I now? Well I am still a blogger and I have some posts that will be coming out but I am pacing myself. I don’t have to post a new look every day or every three days. I’ve decided on once per week. Maybe a lookbook in between. I’m working on my social media plan but it can not overtake my life. Perspective is important and I’ve put things in perspective.

That being said, I am working on some things that I will share a little later. Hopefully, you guys will be as excited as I am about them!

Summer Survival (Enjoyment) + 2 Hacks That Help!

Posted on by The Style Cake

Yes! It’s officially (and has been for a month now) THAT time…summer is here!!! I can’t even front or pretend that I’m not super excited because I swear Michigan winters are lllllllooooonnnngggg!!!! I was over winter in January like, “yup, you were cute now move it along”…{insert eye roll}. Now knowing we all seem to love summer, what happens when something steals your summer thunder, cramps your style or rains on your parade? Let me hook you up with what generally helps me get through those “okay, yea I’m over summer” moments.

Humidity induced swelling. It’s nothing like trying on the little black dress only to have your excitement disrupted by the inability to properly fit into it. So what can help reduce the chances of those no-go weight moments? Stay hydrated with not just water but electrolytes. A lack there of can result in puffiness. For a more natural option, try good ol cucumber, parsley and honeydew melon.

Bug Bites. Ugh, I’m annoyed just adding this to the list. Mosquito bites in particular really take a bite out of summer fun. I know there are TONS of remedies out there for this problem but I’ve found one, in particular, a real problem solver. Tucks Hemorrhoid suppositories!!! Yup, it sounds disgusting but it’s the only thing that gives me relief! I use every time! It not only stops itching but reduced the size of the mosquito bites! Of course, use at your own will and discretion but I have had nothing but success with this product!

If you try these hacks please be sure to let me know!

Happy Summer!!!

Why I’m Switching to #Scentbox and I Cancelled My Scentbird Subscription…

Posted on by The Style Cake

As you can probably tell, I love trying products and am a wee bit of a beauty junkie. I try to temper what I buy to be more on the practical side instead of just frivolously buying a ton of things that I don’t need. Trust me, I’ve been there done that. All that comes of that is clutter and a waste of money because we can never use everything we buy if we buy EVERYTHING! That had been the case with my perfume collection I needed to pare down what I had and only buy what I would actually wear (and in smaller bottles) and no more.

So when I heard about Scentbird, I was truly excited because this was an answer to my problem right? Well, keep on reading…

First Things First!

I signed up for Scentbird in September of 2016. When I signed up, I loaded my queue up with fragrances that I had been eager to both try and get a hold of without maxing out my budget. For those of you wondering, this is how Scentbird works per the Scentbird website:

Visit www.scentbird.com (ladies) or www.scentbird.com/men (guys) and click on “get started” to create an account. Enter your shipping and billing details to sign up for a subscription, and start choosing the fragrances you want to receive by adding them to your queue!

To receive scent recommendations, click on the “Recommendations” tab at the top of our page, which will prompt our scent quiz.

When you register for Scentbird, you can pre-select scents to receive each month for the following months. You can also log onto your account to edit your queue, add new scents, or rearrange your scents in the order that you’d like to receive them.

Note that your monthly fragrance selection is locked in on the 5th of the month. Therefore, any edits to your queue done after the 5th, will only be effective for the following month. (For example, if you go into your queue on June 7th you will NOT be able to change your June scent, but you will be able to edit July onwards).

Each month you will receive an 8ml spray filled with the scent of your choice. It comes out to be 120 sprays, and this is enough fragrance to apply twice daily for 30 days. Included with your first shipment, you will get a sleek case, FREE!

This all sounds simple, fun and hassle-free huh?

My Scentbird Experience

So as I was saying earlier, I loaded up my queue with four months worth of fragrances. Since I’m mildly obsessed with the Clean Reserve fragrances, two of those four fragrances were from that line. One being Warm Cotton (first in my queue) and the Skin (initially third but moved during the month of October to the fourth month which was December).  My new line up was:

September (Clean Reserve Warm Cotton)

October (Polo Red Cologne)

November (I Am Juicy Couture)

December (Clean Reserve Skin)

Every last one of these fragrances came on time as they are shipped beteeen the 15th and the 19th every month. Mine were shipped on the 15th. Scentbird boasts that they only ship authentic fragrances to their customers and as far as I can tell from my own experience, that’s totally true. I was satisfied with my experience, that is until December.

Confusion 

Upon checking my account I noticed that I had a different perfume choice in my queue than what I selected. I frequently checked my account and the last I checked in November, everything was ready and set to go. Now I sat on the edge of my bed trying to figure out what I’m the world was going on.

Disappointment

Not being able to figure out what was going on, I looked to contact the company. Since there is no listed phone number (anywhere) for this company, I used the available contact information of email. I sent the email and it took about 48 hours (which is understandable this time of year) to get a response back. They forewarn you of this timetable before you send your email. I am disappointed that this is the only communication that I can have with email. Makes me feel like my concerns is not as important to the company as they are to me.

Frustration

When I finally receive a response back, my problem is not taken care of. In fact, twice I was made aware (which I didn’t need to be) of company policy that adjustments need to be made to the queue by the 5th of the month. The only problem is, the discontinued the fragrance without alerting me. I had set my queue up months in advance so checking my queue was not in my mindset. Boy do I wish I had double checked behind this company!

My Resolve:

So since this company refuses to help or fix their fault, I decided to cancel my subscription.

Terms and Conditions 

Let me be a “big sister” and alert you to something. When you sign up for this “subscription” service, you agree to the terms and conditions that protect this company regardless of if unethical or not. Trust me, you won’t benefit a bit. Sorry guys. Protect yourself and read the fine print. DO NOT just sign up because you watch a video or read a blog and are offered a coupon code. There is no customer service number to cancel once you sign up. That is an obvious clue to your future experience with this company. At least it should have been in my case anyway. Lesson learned.

Moving on…

In the words of the singer Mya, “I’m moving on”. I truly loved the idea of trying my favorite fragrances for a portion of the price every month. I hated to cancel but just could not accept the less than satisfactory experience with customer service. It was time to do research. So I found this company that allows you to try samples of fragrances (a wider array I might add) for $13.95/month! Guys, they even have Victor & Rolf fragrance samples. They are 100% real fragrances! Just to compare value, Scentbird charges $14.99 across the board for all 0.27 oz sample fragrances. Any savings is a great one, right? The best part? You are not locked into a subscription! Cancel anytime and truly be a free bird ready to fly away whenever you want to! Pun intended lol.

The Bottom Line:

I would recommend the company below if you’re looking to try fragrance without being trapped, for inexpensive price points and for the ability to actually talk to someone in the customer service department. I will do a detailed review on my experience in a couple of months. The only downside? None so far. The good thing is, this company has a customer service number!

www.scentbox.com

(Non-sponsored)

Scentbox also has a free exchange policy where you can exchange one shipment free per month. To sign up for one month free click HERE! 

 

Feminine Care & Hygiene + Update!

Posted on by The Style Cake

I know I have yet to talk about this subject but I think there are some girls out there that may not have anyone to share valuable information about hygiene. It doesn’t seem like there should be much to this subject but feminine care can make a huge difference in you being comfortable and healthy!

What name do you use for your lady part? Coochie? Pocketbook? Couichewa? Butterfly? The best name to call it? Vagina! The pet names are cute and all for pillow talk with your hubby but in order to get aquatinted with proper care, you may need to refer to your lady parts in the accurate name. Seems stupid but guess what? Getting used to knowing all of your private last parts will help with learning your body as well as being able to easily identify potential or existing problems. There are doctor sites as well as health organization sites that show all your parts in that delicate and private area. Be sure to get acquainted.

I’m simply going to address cleanliness and in-between-showers-care so that those parts are always “fresh” and cares for properly. So the mistake that some women make is using soap or body wash to clean the vaginal area. Unless the washes and/or soaps are pH balanced, these will cause problems after continued use. These problems can include foul smells, itching, dryness, infections and unwanted discharge that indicate issues. Our vaginas are self cleaning on the inside so there’s never a need for douching. THAT actually throws off the pH balance and wreaks havoc as you clean out the good bacteria that helps keep your vaginal area healthy!

I recommend using My Honeypot vaginal cleanser. It’s pH balanced and contains all natural ingredients that won’t harm you. It’s not your typical lathering cleanser so don’t be surprised that you don’t see tons of bubbles. Instead, it’s a foam based cleanser that leaves you refreshed without drying you out.

For those times that are in between showers, grab the wipes. I love the lavender ones…they offer a tingle and warms you up! wink You can use these to wipe off after using the restroom, during menstrual periods and/or simply to be refreshed. I love these wipes and definitely recommend them. All in all, I hope that you guys are able to try the products out and hopefully this enlightened anyone that doesn’t know how to go about feminine hygiene. If you have questions or comments please feel feel to leave them below! Talk to you soon!

Update: The Honey Pot “Moisture” seems to have been discontinued. Just as well, Target now sells this brand’s line of products (cheaper than on the company’s site) and I purchased my next bottle there. I opted for “Sensitive” to replace the first one I tried. My body has been thanking me ever since I’ve been using these products!

Click HERE to try it out for yourself!

The Style Cake 💋

Winter Blues/Simple Survival Tips

Posted on by The Style Cake

As much as I’m not a fan of winter, I am always looking for ways to enjoy it. I think that every girl should have some things to get her through this less than exciting season. I’ve listed a few things below that I think will spice up the rest of the winter until spring!

1. Nail polish

Seems simple right? Well simply put, the sheer pampering of applying nail polish is fun. Do a home pedi and use beautiful pinks, whites and/or nudes for a soft change from dark plums, reds and burgundies. Add rhinestones for more glamour. My favorite nail polish brand? Smith & Cult. These polishes are luxurious and coat the nail evenly and without streaking or multiple coats.

2. Spa Visits 

Surprised that I put an “s” on the end of “spa”? Lol, well these days going to the spa has become pretty inexpensive. There are day spas that offer treatments such as facials, 30 minute massages and beauty treatments. 

3. Stay-cation

By this time, most of us are planning vacations and just getting over break from the holidays (I don’t celebrate them but I enjoy the time off). So what do you do to get away from the winter blues? Take a weekend trip to your closest major city’s downtown and check into a hotel. Wake up late if you want, get room service, enjoy the sights, grab dinner, museum hop and check the night life!

4. Cooking Classes 

I pride myself on being a pretty darn good cook. That being said, I think the idea of going to a cooking class with friends would be a ball! Even if you know how to cook, that’s even better because you can have wine over the experience and create your own masterpiece to add to your roster! Plus, most times the meals to be cooked at the cooking class are simply chef created recipes.

5. Pole Dancing Class

Yep! I said it! I’m a married woman of almost 14 year years and it’s always fun to find new ways to spice up…well, you know lol. So I actually had the pleasure of attending my very first pole/exotic dancing class. It was a blast! The class can bolster your confidence as well as give some exhilarating feelings during this drab and dull season. 

6. Makeup Stash Overhaul 

Nothing makes us feel fresh like a new eyeshadow palette, blush or lashes. Why not get rid of old makeup that’s old and outdated and get some new makeup? Try some brands you never have, experiment with new shades or try lash extensions. Lash extensions are my personal fave. Getting them done is a spa treatment (wink)! 

7. Wine and Painting 

Painting with a twist and places like it have become increasingly popular these days. I personally love being able to get my artistic fun on with a little wine to boot! These can allow you to both add a little decor to a room, be creative and enjoy something different to do on a weeknight! 

8. A Good Book

Lastly, nothing is better than getting lost in a good book! When you finally look up from the pages of a collection of good stories, it could be spring! 

Goals! 

Posted on by The Style Cake

Plenty of us have things we’d like to accomplish. I’m finding more and more as the years go by, I’m reflecting on if I’m satisfied by my accomplishments. The verdict is: I’m not at all satisfied! I have some traveling that I would like to do, projects I would like to bring into fruition as well as some health goals I’m reaching towards that I’d like to accomplish. 

Nevertheless, I took time to reflect and plan on my next moves. While I won’t be sharing any of those goals here, I would like to encourage everyone reading to reach for a your goals. Let those goals be motivators for getting up in the morning. I have so many things that I put on a list that I wanted to conquer this year and I’ve done quite a few! I’m so proud of that! Moving forward, I am focused on not my fails but my progress…no matter how seemingly small. 

In the near future, you all will see my goals as I accomplish them and I will be sure to elaborate on them them. It is important that we not get frustrated at what seems like a fail. Each failure teaches us a lesson that can’t be learned any other way. Using focus, turn attention to all positives. Positive people, friends, thoughts and productive actions all help in gathering the gusto to check off those goals. 

Ignore the people that tell you that you can’t, the thoughts that take your confidence down and avoid procrastination. Don’t put off doing something because you’re afraid to fail. The weather isn’t always true to the current season but each season comes like clockwork! Things may not go right during a certain “season” in your life, leaving you to battle through treacherous storms but don’t put off your goals because of it. Makes accomplishments despite those storms. 

The Asos Ruffled Bomber 

Posted on by The Style Cake

I gotta tell you guys, in cooler weather, outerwear can totally get boring and redundant. I decided that the outerwear portion of my wardrobe needed some funking up. This jacket I’m wearing from Asos caught my eye!  Now I’m not normally chasing the trend of the bomber so I have only one more bomber besides this ruffled one. I shared that bomber with you guys in this post. 

When I saw this ruffled bomber on the Asos site, I knew I couldn’t pass it up! I really feel like this bomber could be worn for years and years to come. Unlike the usual and trendy bombers we’ve seen lately, this one doesn’t have a “time stamp” on it. It boasts a beautiful ruffled design that creates a classic and feminine look. This bomber is more than versatile and can be worn with wardrobe pieces from jeans to pencil skirts. 

This bomber is a great foundation piece for any wardrobe that allows you to be trendy without looking like it. Plus, this bomber has more of an avant garde, mature appeal than the current trend of bombers. Check out how I styled mine and leave your thoughts and questions below! 

💋 The Style Cake. 

Bomber: sold out, similar here. Shoes: Lola Shoetique, similar here. Blouse: thrifted.   

Pantone Color of the Year?

Posted on by The Style Cake

If you follow me on Instagram, surely you’ve seen that a new look went up yesterday. It’s getting warmer and warmer as the days go by so I was inspired by my pants in this look especially as well as the fact that I am wearing the Pantone color of 2017: green! 

Not as much as the color green was I inspired to wear this look as much as getting my wear of darker colors in this season. I’m definitely ready to wear brighter colors. The darker colors are reminiscent of my mood sometimes. I’m feeling like airy, light and happier spirits! 

But let’s talk about the Pantone color of the year. Now I’m not guided by the Pantone colors of the year but I think it’s fun to find some inspiration and opportunity with these colors. For instance, you may not be drawn to certain colors but observing the color of the year may allow you to be a bit more adventurous and try your hand at incorporating it into your wardrobe. It’s pretty simple to grab a shirt in that color and pair it with different pieces in your wardrobe. The color I’m wearing is not exactly Pantone based but that’s why I said inspired by….

To check out this year’s color search Pantone color of the year on Google and you’ll get a ton of information. In the meantime, check out how I styled the color green in my look of the day! 

Blouse: thrifted. Pants: Loft 324. Jacket: F21. Bag: Zara.