Kat Stays Polished | Beauty Blog with a Dash of Life

Freeman Beauty Face Masks - 4 Reviews

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Wantable: Makeup Subscription Box - September 2013

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Hey guys! Today I get to review the September Wantable beauty box for you! I actually loved most of the products I got in this box. Everything is sent to you based of of things you like, love, or hate.

When you decide to go with the beauty/makeup box, they give you a bunch of questions about different products. You tell them exactly what you love or hate. They will never send you anything you hate and will try to send you everything you love.

These boxes are $36 a month if you sign up for the subscription or $40 for any single box. Here is everything I received in this month's box.

Besame Cosmetics Sweetheart Balm - Cherry: $18
Laqa & Co Polish Remover Pads: $5.95
Face Stockholm Bronzer - Bronzer #4 Maui: $30
Susan Posnick ColorEyeDefine - Sapphire/Ametrine: $26
Lise Watier High Shine Lip Gloss - Day Light: $22CA
Echo Vie body oil: Trial size -- Full Size is $35-$65

Okay, so let's start with the body oil. It has a very subtle, clean smell to it which is quite pleasant. I appreciate the fact that you're not swimming in fragrance. It's also not too greasy. It actually feel really moisturizing on the skin. I have somewhat dry skin so I feel like this helped me a lot.

Wantable September 2013 Beauty Box - Echo Vie Body Oil

Next up is the Face Stockholm Bronzer. WOW! I love this. It shows a bit of sparkle and shimmer in the palette, but once it's applied, the shimmer really isn't noticeable. It's pretty pigmented with one application but it's also completely buildable if you need to add more. This will last quite a while.

Wantable September 2013 Beauty Box - Face Stockholm Bronzer

I've never tried the Laqa & Co brand before. I've also never been too fond of polish remover wipes because sometimes they just don't work...or you have to use multiple wipes for a finger or 2. The smell is nothing like traditional nail polish remover. It's got a slight mint scent and isn't chemical-y at all. It is oil based which is interesting. It leaves your fingers and cuticles super moisturized, which is a total plus! I've not used a remover like this before.

I tried this on glitter polish and regular polish. It worked really well on cream polish but I had to scrub a little with the glitter. Below are the pictures for the results on both.

Wantable September 2013 Beauty Box - Laqa & Co Polish Remover

As soon as I saw this in the box I got so excited. This is a beautiful, super shiny nude lip gloss. It even has a mirror on the side of the tube and a light inside so you can see!

Here's the problem. The mirror is very warped so you can't see yourself in it and the light had to be adjusted because it wouldn't turn off automatically when the tube was closed. My hubby was able to get it to work eventually. If anything, these two are simply perks of a great lip gloss. As with any gloss, it will wear off, especially after eating and drinking. Another great feature of this gloss is that the applicator is angled.

Wantable September 2013 Beauty Box - Lise Watier High Shine Lip GLoss

I always enjoy a great duo product but this one severely disappointed me. For a normally $26 product, it didn't perform like a high-end product. With the swatches on my arm, it looks severely underpigmented . The application of the shadow was annoying because I kept having to dip the applicator back into the cap to get more product. The eyeliner applied fine [in lots of layers] but it's more difficult to get thin lines out of it.

Wantable September 2013 Beauty Box - Susan Posnick ColorEyeDefine

Okay, so if you've never had this product [like me], let me give you a tiny warning. This gloss is not like traditional gloss pots. The product is soft so when you dip your finger in, don't get it all globbed up like I did. This is super glossy and super dark but it does wear off after eating and drinking. You also have to smooth it out so you don't end up with pockets of red gloop on your lips. It says the scent/color is Cherry but it really doesn't have much of a smell. I would definitely agree that this is a cherry red gloss though.

Wantable September 2013 Beauty Box - Besame Sweetheart Balm

So, what did you think of this month's box? You get great full sized products and this box was valued at over $100! It's pretty much a steal! Here are 2 looks using these products.

Wantable September 2013 Beauty Box - Look 1

Wantable September 2013 Beauty Box - Look 2

If you want to try Wantable for yourself, check out their site HERE. You can try makeup, accessories, intimates, and a limited edition Halloween box right now!

*Contains affiliate links. Products in this post were provided for an honest review. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.

gel strips starter kit

CLOSED Sally Hansen Gel Strips Starter Kit + GIVEAWAY

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Hey all! Remember that super awesome deal at Rite Aid a while back for these Gel Strip Starter Kits? Oh my gosh, well, I had everyone [Thanks, Lo!] and their mother...well, my mother, get me a bunch of these! I needed one for myself and I wanted one for a giveaway!

So, I'll be doing a quick review on the kit and then at the bottom of the post I'll have a giveaway for one of you!

Below is what you get in the standard Gel Strips Starter Kit. Included is a 1W LED lamp [big enough to cure 1 finger at a time], 1 set of gel polish strips, 1 nail file, 1 orangewood stick, 2 cleansing wipes, and a gel top coat.

Sally Hansen Gel Strips Starter Kit - Wine Not

The first step is the cleanse your nails of any oil, dust, and, of course, polish.

Sally Hansen Gel Strips Starter Kit - Cleanse Nails

Next, choose the strip that closely matches your nail width and shape. Try not to get it too close to the cuticle or it won't stay sealed after you cure it.

Sally Hansen Gel Strips Starter Kit - Apply Strips

File down the strips so that there's nothing hanging off your nail. These gel polish strips are a bit thicker than the regular polish strips. You should still be cautious not to rip the strips.

Sally Hansen Gel Strips Starter Kit - File Strips

Working with just one nail at a time, apply a thin layer of the gel top coat over the polish strips. Be careful not to get any on your skin.

Sally Hansen Gel Strips Starter Kit - Apply Gel Coat

Cure 1 nail at a time under the lamp provided. It will automatically shut off when it's done curing.

Sally Hansen Gel Strips Starter Kit - Cure Nails

After all the nails have been cured, use the remaining cleansing wipe to remove the tacky film of your cured nails.

Sally Hansen Gel Strips Starter Kit - Cleanse Tacky Film

Apply cuticle oil to your nails afterwards and moisturize! You're done!

I actually love how quick this process was. I love gel polish in general, especially for days I know I won't have time to do a manicure or for when I have to go out of town.

I'm not sure I absolutely LOVE the polish strips, but I definitely love the ease of the lamp and gel top coat. I will probably be purchasing the traditional Sally Hansen gel polish for the future.

If you want a kit of your own, enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.

**THIS IS FOR US RESIDENTS ONLY**

Sorry -- I just don't want anything to happen with the gel top coat portion. You never know! Good luck!