Philosophy Renewed Hope In A Jar Skin Care Giveaway

There are no if's, and's and but's about this....if you don't have a proper skin care routine in place then you seriously need to send me a private message so I can put the fear of aging, sagging and brittle skin into you. Dramatic much?  Yes it is, but a good skin care routine is essential to a flawless canvas. I can't tell you how many people spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on makeup to get a flawless look but skimp when it comes to their skin care. I know not everyone can afford high end skin care products or are even at a stage in life when they're thinking about putting on sunscreen everyday or what's the difference between a serum and an essence. Trust me, I understand. I just turned 30 and it wasn't until the past year and a half or so that I really started paying to my skin - and it's made a world of wonders.

With all of that said, I wanted to give you guys a chance to either start a skin care regime or try some new products with of course, a new #SkincareSunday giveaway featuring some products from Philosophy.

The prizes include:

• Philosophy Renewed Hope In A Jar - Refreshing & Refining Moisturizer ($47)
• Philosophy Renewed Hope In A Jar Night Overnight - Recharging & Refining Moisturizer ($52)
• Philosophy Renewed Hope In A Jar Eye - Refreshing & Refining Eye Cream ($51)

So I figured I'd break this up so a few people could try something from this line. On this Instagram photo, I'm going to be giving one person the daytime and nighttime cream along with the eye cream (everything in the above photo). Make sure you follow me on Instagram and head to this photo to enter.

Here are the blog, I'm going to be choosing two subscribers - each will receive one eye cream (photo below).

To enter to win a Philosophy Renewed Hope In A Jar Eye - Refreshing & Refining Eye Cream ($51), simply follow/subscribe to this blog and leave a comment on this post telling me some of your skin care concerns (this helps me filter out what kind of content you want to see). Scroll down to find my subscription box or look to the to right of your screen to follow/subscribe. *Please note – Don’t worry if you don’t see your comment right away. I have to approve most of them :-)*

As always, good luck! Be sure to check out the products with the links above if you want to learn more about them and some of the inspiration behind the philosophy line.

Contest runs from Sunday, December 11, 2016 and ends Friday, December 16th, 2016 at 11:59pm est. Winners will be randomly chosen and announced within 48 hours of the contest ending. No giveaway/spam profiles & profile must be set to public by the end of the contest so we can ensure that you are following @candycoatedclosets and see your extra entry if applicable. Open internationally; 18+, to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.

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Ulta Beauty Cyber Fundays - $10 OFF and Tons of Freebies!

Ulta Beauty Cyber Fundays is here so you can CLICK HERE to view all of the deals that are available online only until tomorrow 11/19! Don't forget to use code CYBERFUN16 for $10 off $60 or more (exclusions apply) and to activate your 2x/3x as well.

Also, don't forget to add your free 18 piece beauty bag.

Extra Freebies - add any of the below offers to your cart and it should drop to FREE. While supoplies last.

1. It's a 10 Travel Size Miracle Daily Conditioner ($10) to FREE
2. Your free 18 piece beauty bag with order of $60 or more.
3. Use code 409633 for $3.50 off $15 non-prestige brands (cannot be combined with $10 off $60 code). Only use this if you're not spending $60.
4. Don't forget to use ebates today to get 3.0% cash back on your purchases.

This is literally what my cart looks like right now:

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Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Trio - Quick Review, Swatches & Photos

Urban Decay released an illuminating palette that contains three shades of Urban Decay’s Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body in the shades Pyrite (gold champagne), Oasis (marbled frosted taupe) and Twilight (iridescent pink).

The limited edition palette which retails for $36 includes the three shades in 0.08 oz/ 2.36 mL and a double ended brush to apply them with.

I was able to swatch and play with these during the Sephora holiday preview but sadly, I have nothing positive to say about these. I mean...the packaging is pretty?

Ok maybe I was exaggerating by saying I had nothing positive to say. Pyrite, the gold champagne on the left and Twilight, the iridescent pink on the right did look pretty on my skin tone. They are just very chunky and glittery so I would personally use this on my body as opposed to my face.

Now that shade in the middle - Oasis (the marbled frosted taupe) - just...no UD. This was a major fail on their part because I couldn't even get it to swatch decently. It is too chunky, chalky and fell apart every time I tried to pick the product up on my hand or brush.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this palette at all. Save your money for a better holiday item. If you have to have a holiday highlighting/illuminating palette, I would look into the Laura Mercier Fall In Love Face Illuminator Collection.

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Giorgio Armani Beauty Lasting Silk UV Foundation SPF 20 Twitter Giveaway

Ok, could that title be any longer? Well I am a wicked word master so probably but you get the point. :-D I asked you guys on the 'gram how you wanted some of the other giveaways to go and the popular vote was to spread it out throughout the rest of my social media channels and in smaller portions so more of you have a chance to win. I'm all about spreading love so that's what we're going to do!

Today, I decided to dip into the makeup goodie stash and I pulled out the Giorgio Armani Beauty Lasting Silk UV Foundation SPF 20 in shade 5.5.  This foundation is described as an infallible, long-wearing matte satin foundation with SPF 20 sun protection. It was inspired by gabardine fabric, which is strong, durable, and made to withstand harsh conditions, this revolutionary new water-based foundation was designed to stand up to extreme backstage conditions. The formula features micro-fil high tech silk technology to provide 14-hour medium satin matte coverage that never smudges. This product is an Allure Best Medium Coverage Foundation Award Winner. It is suitable for normal to oily skin.

Now that we talked about the details, here's how to enter (please remember that this is shade specific - it comes in shade 5.5 - I received a PR package and clearly I'm not this light sooooo :-p). To enter, all you need to do is follow me on Twitter, RT my tweet and you're entered to win!

See you there and remember - we have tons of giveaways across all of the social media platforms so check it up!

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Enter to Win a Lancôme Prize Pack - Blog Subscriber Giveaway

"Damnnnnnnn Daniel! We're back at it again with another giveaway." :-) I couldn't help it! My drive home after work is sometimes really obnoxious (it took me 1h 30m yesterday) so I tend to buy random music to make it more bearable. I purchased this song and it had ma jammin'- yes jammin' so much so that I'm thinking of making it my official/nonofficial giveaway theme song. I'm testing it out on the Snapchat fam so make sure to add me to stay as up-to-date and see sneak peeks at everything we do @Candy_Closets.

Now for this giveaway! One of my lovely subscribers will win a brand new Lancôme prize pack.

The set includes:

• Hypnôse Senses Eau de Parfum
• Lancôme TONIQUE Clarifying Exfoliating Toner
• Lancôme Confort Tonique For Dry Skin
• Lancôme Exfoliance Clarte

How to enter:

1. Make sure that you are subscribed to/following) this blog — Candy Coated Closets. If you need help figuring out how, just leave me a comment and I’ll be sure to swing by to help! You should just see the follow this blog via email to the top right of the screen.
2. Leave a comment on this blog post with your name and your email address. It makes contacting the winner easier.

Contest ends on Friday, 24th, 2016. One winner will be selected and verified at random from our subscriber list within 48 hours of the contest end date. You can only be eligible able of winning if you have completed both steps (followed blog and commented). 

Open internationally; 18+, to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.

Good luck!

Play! By Sephora May 2016 Subscription Box Review

Oh Sephora. Why must you torture us? Last month, I was finally able to sign up for the Play! By Sephora Beauty Subscription box. The May 2016 “Forces of Nature” box includes:

• Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine (sample size)
• Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Kimchi
• Tarte Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram
• Origins Maskimizer, Drink Up, and Clear Improvement Masks
• Korres Wild Rose Sleeping Facial
• Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

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BeautyRx Solar Defense Sheer Sunscreen SPF 50 is a Must for Your Summer Beauty Routine

Listen, I know that you're tired of hearing me talk about this but wearing sunscreen is the one beauty non-negotiable that I have in my everyday regime. Whether I'm wearing it on its own or wearing a moisturizer with SPF in it, somehow I'm slathering it on my face and body. I mentioned this before when we talked about fighting hyperpigmentation but I went through a large part of my 20's without wearing any protection - and it was a bad idea. Wearing sunscreen properly and applying it the right way will not only protect you from the suns' harmful rays but it will also help you fight the signs of aging and help in the prevention of dark spots. But oh what's that? I'm black and I don't have to wear sunscreen? Yeah no.

According to the National Cancer Institute, over one million people are diagnosed each year with skin cancer. On top of this, many African Americans assume that due to their darker skin tones and the melanin in the skin (which does provide a natural SPF), they can skip sunscreen altogether. No matter what race or color your skin tone is, you are still susceptible to skin cancer, wrinkles and dark spots, so let's just be proactive ok?

When it comes to finding a good sunscreen, as a women of color, there are a few essentials things that you want to look for.

1. Always remember that the SPF - sun protection factor - refers to the amount of time that your skin can be exposed to the ultraviolet rays from the sun without burning (not the strength of the sunscreen). The SPF protection does NOT double as the numbers increase. For example, a sunscreen containing an SPF of 15 will block about 93% of the sun's radiation, while a sunscreen with an SPF of 50 will block about 98% of the sun's radiation.
2.  Look for a sunscreen that is broad spectrum which means that it will protect you against the full spectrum of UVA and UVB rays. Look at the ingredient list and see if it contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide - you want it to have either of these in it.
3. Liberally apply sunscreen to your face and body 15 minutes before sun exposure. Once you hit the sun, remember to reapply the sunscreen at least every two hours; unless you're swimming or heavily sweating then you want to apply it even sooner.
4. Wear sunscreen all year- round. Just because it is cold or cloudy out doesn't mean you get to take a break. Maintaining your beautiful skin is a job.

One of my current holy grail sunscreens that I have been using for the past 3 months is the Solar Defense Sheer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 From BeautyRX by Dr. Schultz ($42).

The ultimate in protection from the sun’s damaging rays without the traditional heavy feel of sunscreens. The Solar Defense Sheer Sunscreen SPF 50 applies easily and sets invisibly. It also makes a great base for makeup. Containing micronized zinc oxide, this cream provides instant SPF 50 sunscreen protection, without having to wait 30 minutes prior to sun exposure. Lightweight, it's appropriate for the driest skin to the oiliest.

The Solar Defense Sheer Sunscreen SPF 50 has Active Ingredients of:

• Zinc Oxide (10.5%): Provides both UVB and broad spectrum (short-wave and long-wave) UVA protection as soon as applied by reflecting harmful UVA ray and;
• Octinoxate (7.5%): Provides UVB protection by absorbing harmful UV rays
• Click here to read a full list of Inactive and Key Ingredients

Now the thing that really drew me in was the fact that this is similar to a creamy lotion and applies so smooth that it literally disappears into my skin (not leaving that white film or residue on it).

Starting to rub into my skin

Three quarters of the way rubbed into my skin

Fully rubbed and blended into my skin in under 1 minute

Right hand without any sunscreen protectionI love that I also get a subtle glow to my body and face when I apply this sunscreen. It's lightweight and as you can see it blends right into my skin without that annoying white film or residue.

Bottom line: This wears beautifully under makeup and fully protects your skin so there's no reason why you aren't investing in this and protecting yourself.

-PR Sample-

How to Get Naturally Glowing Skin

Naturally Glowing Skin: It's one of those phrases that gets thrown around so much in the beauty industry but do you know that the easiest way to get the most natural looking glow is to take care of your skin? As easy as that sounds, taking proper care of your skin requires a little bit of effort on your part. Yesterday, I was talking to my boyfriend about his lack of using lotion. It baffles me that he can moisturize his hands and feet but neglects the middle part of his torso. His response to me: "when shorts season comes around, I'll make sure to lotion my legs". After preaching about the need for daily moisture, my face went to  and I left it alone. He would learn one day.

Later that night, we were at a Game of Thrones premiere party and [SPOILER ALERT] the final scene with Melisandre aging with her skin sagging really threw him for a loop. "That can't be her, she looks like she belongs with Smeagol."

Clip of Game of Thrones scene

I laughed and immediately looked over to him and said, "well take that as your warning because that is what happens when you don't moisturize." The look on his face was priceless but I wasn't the only one who took note of that hidden message from GoT. A few hours  later, Clarins' Instagram page won the internet and posted this meme.I almost fell to the floor when I saw it pop up in my timeline but you know what, they're right. I spend at least 15 minutes every morning and night on my skincare routine. If I'm in the mood for a full spa treatment, it can take at least an hour. It sounds like a lot of work but by maintaining a proper skincare routine, you won't have to rely on using foundations and concealers everyday. Another bonus is that by taking preventative measures early on and establishing a healthy skincare routine, it will help to ward off wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and sagging.  Sounds worth it right? Here's what you want to do.

Start off by finding a skincare line that interests you. If you can, try heading into the department store or your local Sephora or Ulta for a quick consultation. Their skin care specialists can give you the background behind what's new and can advise you on the best products for your particular skin care concerns.I start with the One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser because it washes away all of the dirt and dead skin without irritating my skin. The orange extract will soften your skin while the gentle silica microbeads will help to clear your pores, and the moringa seed extract purifies and refines your skin leaving it feeling refreshed. I absolutely recommend this is you have acne prone skin.  Next, I use the Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. You can use any toner that fits into your routine to even out your skin tone, however, I would stay away from alcohol-based toners or toners that have heavy fragrant extracts which can irritate the skin. You should try to find a toner that is full of antioxidants, skin-repairing substances and cell awakening ingredients such as niacinamide.

I prefer to use the Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner because it brightens, smoothes, and balances my skin while helping to prevent the build-up of pore-clogging debris which can lead to acne. Also, I use this as an added step in caring for my hyperpigmentation. The Tamarind extract rids the skin of dry, flaky surface cells, while the White Nettle extract refines enlarged pores.

When applying your toner, remember that you want to dab or press the toner into your skin with a soft cotton ball or face pad. Do not make the mistake of swiping and dragging it across your face. After letting the toner dry down for about a minute, I apply the Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate. I love using this as it has a high antioxidant-rich formula and contains a much higher concentration of active ingredients which helps to heal and smooth my skin. With this product, a little bit goes a long way so try using two pumps of it to start. Remember to apply this before your sunscreen and before your daytime or nighttime moisturizer.For my day moisturizer, I use the Multi-Active Day Cream. Even though I'm not 30...yet...I like to be pro-active about my skin care so any steps that I can take to ward off wrinkles is good for me! The multi-active day cream contains active plant ingredients that are combined to restore elasticity to the skin .And lastly, for my night moisturizer I use the Multi-Active Night Cream. Paired with my daytime moisturizer, this encourages skin renewal with the kiwi extract and helps to reduce the signs of wrinkles with the natural carb extract.  Don't forget about your lips - yes they need moisture too! I literally swear by the Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm. It took me forever to find a lip moisturizer that I could put on a night, sleep for 8 hours, and wake up with my lips still feeling soft and not chapped. This one contains essential rose wax to calm and protect your lips while Ceramide 3 hydrates and replenishes them. I know this may seem like a lot to do but remember that the better condition that your skin is in, the better your makeup will apply and look throughout the day.

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Discover the Mystery of Korean Beauty with Leaders for Half the Price!

Have you ever been interested in learning more about Korean beauty or better yet, letting it become your next skincare addiction? K-beauty has exploded onto the US beauty and skincare market and with good cause - we can't cover up blemishes and bad skin with makeup forever so why not work on creating healthy and beautiful skin from the inside out? Well at least I know that's what did it for me - hellooo sheet masks! A sheet mask is a cloth or paper that has been designed to be saturated with top of the line ingredients and formulated so that your face can absorb all of its moisturizing nutrients and sometimes there is a little bit leftover so that you can rub it into your neck and décolletage. All you have to do is take the mask and place it onto your face for 10-15 minutes. Occasionally,  you may want to lightly tap it all over your face just to ensure that your face is absorbing as much as it can be.

Sheet masks can costs anywhere from $2-$150 - yup $150! So it's best to know exactly what you're looking for or at least want to try before purchasing any. Lucky for us, Leaders Cosmetics have put their sheet masks on sale for a buy one get one sale right now at Ulta Beauty.Leaders has freestanding mask stores all over Seoul and was brought over to the US by Ulta beauty. The brand offers affordable masks in cotton, biocellulose, and coconut gel that will help calm, soothe and nourish the skin.

Now for the sale. First, I decided to purchase the 7 Wonders Mediterranean Olive Brightening Mask ($6) to help with my dark circles and hyperpigmentation. Olive Oil, which was used by ancient mediterranean people as a remedy to troubled skin, will help to brighten dull, tired skin and help to even out skin tone. This mask is rich in healthy fats and phenolic antioxidant Vitamin E, which will help to smooth and brighten the skin, while the olive oil will help to rid skin of free radicals and repair existing environmental damage.Next, I decided to try the 7 Wonders Tundra Cranberry Anti-Aging Mask ($6) to help improves fine lines and wrinkles and deeply hydrate my skin (kind of how I deep conditioner my hair for hours). Cranberry, which can be found in the arctic tundra, is a highly resilient superfood that contains the highest content of unsaturated oil. Its anti-aging properties will help to eliminate free radicals caused by oxidative stress to prevent premature aging. And because I'm obsessed with rejuvenating my skin, I ordered the Daily Wonders What Happened Last Night Revitalizing Mask ($4) to help refresh my skin and give it a dewy and radiant glow. Its Ginseng and artemisia extracts will soothe and refresh your skin and increase the production of collagen.Normally, all of these masks would have cost me $80 but I ended up getting them for $42 (plus 3% cashback from Ebates)! This sale is valid through April 23rd, 2016, so click here now and go order a few! I'll update you all in another post and on social after I use some of these.

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How to Get Rid of Hyperpigmentation and Get Glowing Skin with Murad

Today, I want to talk to you about hyperpigmentation and how much it sucks. I know that's a little bit more candid than I normally am but if you suffer from skin discoloration, dark spots or color imperfections then you know how much of a struggle it is. Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of the skin due to the overproduction of melanin and or pigment. Melanin is a class of pigment that produces color in the body in places such as the eyes, skin, and hair. Hyperpigmentation affects women and men of all ethnic groups and will show up on your skin as tan, brown or black spots.

Causes of hyperpigmentation: - Hormones - Genetics - Sun damage - Picking at the skin - Hormonal changes (pregnancy; birth control pills) - Medications such as antibiotics, hormone treatments, and anti-seizure drugs - Inflammation and skin injuries

This is a lot of information but I want to make sure that you understand the backend of hyperpigmentation before we jump into skincare. Even though the majority of these causes are due to genes or other factors that are out of your control, there is one thing that you can do to protect your skin and help to repair it if you're suffering from hyperpigmentation.

First of all, you need to use sunscreen or at least SPF 15 everyday - yes, everyday. If you don't have a sunscreen in your routine already, I recommend trying the Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum with SPF 30. Second, make sure that you take care of your skin. Discoloration can sit on top of dead skin cells on your face so make so that you exfoliate at least twice a week - try AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. Lastly, you want to start a brightening treatment regime that is designed to treat this condition, minimize the dark spots and lighten the appearance of it. Cue the Murad’s Rapid Lightening Regimen.

Step 1: Cleanse with the Murad Essential-C Cleanser The Vitamin-C rich Essential-C Cleanser removes skin-dulling impurities to renew your skin’s radiance.

Step 2: Treat your skin with the Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum The Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum contains 2% Hydroquinone which lightens dark spots and skin discoloration.

Tip: You can pair the Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum with the Intensive-C Radiance Peel and the Advanced Active Radiance Serum for maximum results.

Step 3: Hydrate your skin with the Murad Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 The Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 30 | PA+++, rich in Vitamin-C and antioxidants, revitalizes and protects your skin from further damage.

All of these products have a subtle citrus fragrance to it. You will notice it immediately when you open the product and squeeze it out. The scent does diffuse and die down once you apply it to your skin.

When you order, you will receive a rapid lightening tracker that will help you measure and track your progress as you use the treatment. 

Overall, I'm so excited to have found this regimen because I have severe hyperpigmentation and dark circles.

 Photo taken indoors

Photos taken outside

My dark circles are hereditary and my dark spots have pretty much just been popping up as I've gotten older and alas from sun damage. I'll admit it. In the past, I wasn't as proactive and aggressive in using sunscreen or skincare as I am now so I'm paying the price.

I'll report back over the next few weeks on my results so you can see! You can read more about the Murad Rapid Lightening Regimen HERE or HERE.

*PR Sample. Products were provided by BeautyStat for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Essence February Beauty Box Review: Soulful. Colorful. Beautiful.

  Hello lovebugs! It's time to reveal this month's Essence Beauty Box! This months theme was designed to have you "Shine Like a Star" so let's dive right on in shall we?

First up, let's take a look at the Soak it Up Oil Cocktail from Dark & Lovely. The Soak it Up Oil is the 2nd step of the Moisture L.O.C. regimen, inspired by the “O” in the LOC Method. The LOC method is a natural hair care routine that you can use to moisturize and protect your hair and then seal in the moisture with a hair butter or oil, so that all of the moisture is locked  in. The "L" stands for Leave-In, the "O" stands for Oil and the "C" stands for Cream. 

This Soak it Up Oil from Dark & Lovely contains blends of 5 Oils: Sunflower oil, Apricot oil, Coconut oil, Avocado Oil and Moringa Oil that's great for hydrating your hair and nourishing curls and coils.

While we're talking about hair care, let's jump right on into the next product: the Coily Custard from Miss Jessie’s. The Coily Custard is a slippery emulsion that coats each frizzy strand with a dose of super moisture and shine that enhances and defines your curl pattern, reduces frizz, and fights curl shrinkage. It's best described as a wash-n-go styler. I'll update you in a few days once I test this out.

Next, the box included a set of Looks So Natural Lashes by KISS. These are soft and tapered false lashes that are designed to blend seamlessly with your natural lashes. My box also included a clear strip lash adhesive.

Do I need to say anything about this CoverFX sample? I mean, IG fam, you guys know how I feel about this brand -holy grail-. Well, since we are here... This is the Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment by CoverFX. It's a lightweight gel primer that imparts an instant matte finish as well as extended shine control while minimizing the appearance of pores and preventing & healing acne blemishes. This clinically tested primer is vegan and free of the Inflammatory Five: gluten, mineral oil, fragrance, parabens or talc.

Lastly, there is a sample lipstick from IMAN Cosmetics. Apparently, the box this month alternated between a lipstick or a lip shimmer and I received an orange-red lipstick. It's a luxurious and creamy semi-matte lipstick, however, it's another lipstick in a color that doesn't suit me. We talked about this during last month's box so I'm really hoping that the preference center starts working on the Essence Beauty Box website because I feel as if I'm wasting my money on lipsticks that I'm not going to use again (after swatching for you guys of course).

And lastly, they decided to surprise us with a travel size sample of Optic White Toothpaste by Colgate.

Overall, I'm impressed with everything in this box except the lip color. I'm really excited to try out this lashes and hair care products so I'll let you guys  know what I think after giving them all a thorough test run.

What did you think of the February Essence Beauty Box? Are you subscribed yet?

Essence January Beauty Box Review: Soulful. Colorful. Beautiful.

So it's a brand New Year which means we all have these fabulous resolutions that we need to try to stick to. I don't know about you, but every year I try to tell myself to relax, and just continue doing what I'm doing - working as hard as I can everyday. Realistically, it's just another day that ends with a new number right? Since I'm always working, I hardly have time to go out and pamper myself, so I was excited to hear that the January Essence Beauty Box was a Pamper Party Box.

If you guys remember from my other posts, the Essence Beauty Box is a beauty subscription box that was designed for women of color by the experts from Essence magazine. Each box will contain 5 deluxe samples and you can sign up for $15 a month, however, they have been running sales for $10 a month.

As for the January box, it contains 5 deluxe samples that was curated together to create the ultimate pamper party box. First, there is a deluxe sample of SheaTerra Organics Rose Hips Black Soap Facial Wash. This is designed to gently exfoliate your skin and remove dead layers without any harsh ingredients - which is great if you have sensitive skin.

Next, there is a fat lip pencil by Laqa & Co. There are three different shades that are floating around online that people have received in their box and I received this orange shade that has subtle hints of red in it. It's a cute color and I love the thickness of the pencil itself, however, I did not like this shade for my skin tone. Personally, I do not favor lipsticks that have an orange shade or undertone to it. I mostly go for lipsticks with more of a blue based undertone just because I find that it suits my complexion better. I would love to be able to include these personal preferences to the subscription box.

The next sample is from tgin - Thank God It's Natural Green Tea super moist leave in conditioner. Now this is my favorite product in this month's box because I love trying new leave in conditioners to moisturize my curls and this is one of the quickest and most affordable ways that I've been able to test out new products that may or may not work for my hair.

A pamper party box wouldn't be complete without a nail polish for a manicure. This box included the Julep Jess nail polish. It's kind of like a brown color with hints of red in it. I've tried a lot of the Julep nail polishes before so I know that they have a great formula, however, I wasn't a big fan of this color. Lately, I've been more into the bright and holographic colors so I'm not going to get much use out of this product in the box. It is a great color though if you're looking for something a bit more subtle.

Lastly, the box included a Baby Soft Foot Mask by Leaders Insolution. This is a rejuvenating foot mask that has aloe vera extract and bees wax in it and I'll be honest, in the winter time, I tend to neglect my feet -  I know I'm not the only one! This is going to rejuvenate the skin and leave your feet feeling as smooth as butter!

Did you guys get the January box? What did you think about it? Don't forget that if you sign up, please use my referral code 992-4D8B-00F2.