Self Care with Smile Brilliant ♡

Disclaimer: This blog post is in partnership with Smile Brilliant. Smile Brilliant kindly sent me a free teeth whitening set for review. Opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for your support!

Happy New Year, everyone! I am so excited to share with you an extra special post today on self-care in partnership with Smile Brilliant. As you might already know, I recently started a PhD program and whew it has been a journey, to say the least. I thought I was busy when I worked a full-time job, but getting thrown back into student life and the whole world of academia has been a huge wake-up call.

One way in which I try to maintain some sort of normalcy in graduate school is making time for self-care which, for me, means having a cup (or 2 or 3) of hot chocolate, getting out all my beauty products, and getting my at-home spa on! ♡ Self-care means different things to different people so even if you’re not into the spa-vibe type of self-care, I highly recommend taking the time to find what works for you and finding something that you do purely for you.

When Smile Brilliant reached out to me, I was very excited to test out their whitening set because incorporating teeth whitening into my routine has been something I’ve wanted to do for a while! I’ve tried every white strip known to mankind but have always found them to be difficult to use since they don’t tend to stay on my teeth for very long and I find it difficult to commit to the 30+ days of daily use that most white strips require. Smile Brilliant’s system sends you custom-fitted whitening trays that fit your teeth and only require 7-14 days of whitening - both huge wins for busy schedules!

To be perfectly honest, I still thought that finding the time to sit down and whiten my teeth for 1-3 hours a day somewhat difficult. As a grad student, I’m often out of the house running from meeting to classes to more meetings for 12 hours at a time which means that when I finally arrive home, I’m often passed out before my head even hits the pillow! That being said, I think Smile Brilliant’s teeth whitening system makes the process so, so much easier than other whitening systems and think it’s absolutely worth a shot.

The Smile Brilliant system recommends a minimum 45-1 hour minute whitening time, but you can go up to 3 hours in one sitting for better whitening results. Plus, the fact that you only need to commit to whitening for 7-14 days is huge for those of running around during the day! While my teeth weren’t extra yellow in the first place, even after 2 weeks of 1-hour whitening sessions, I can tell that a lot of the yellowing in between my teeth (thanks to my 3-cups-a-day coffee addiction) are already starting to disappear. With the holiday break coming up, I’m actually really excited to try longer periods of whitening to see if I can get even better results with the Smile Brilliant system :)

Lastly, a huge shoutout to the team at Smile Brilliant - outside of partnering on this blog post, they’ve been super helpful throughout the whitening process and have offered tons of advice on how to use their whitening kits. Customer service is a huge factor in most of my purchasing decisions so I think it’s always worth noting when I have a good experience with a company :)

If you’d like to win your own Smile Brilliant whitening kit enter the giveaway HERE!

Tooth Whitening Gel

BeautyFix Review: October & November 2018

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

Hello, friends! It’s been a minute since I posted over on the blog and I’ve missed it so, so much. Grad school is in a word - insane- and it has been a huge wake up call for me to have deadlines, and presentations, and papers all over again! I guess that’s what happens when you work for 3 years and forget what it’s like to have homework :P 

Anyway, enough of my ramblings - what better way to get back into blogging than a little review of my favorite subscription box! BeautyFix is a monthly skincare, makeup, and haircare subscription box created by Dermstore. A monthly subscription is $24.95 per box and a one-time box purchase is $34.95. Most items in the box are either full or deluxe sample size products. 

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November 2018

Ursa Major: Essential Face Wipes - Full-Size $24

Lancer Skincare: Omega Hydrating Oil - Retail $75

Caudalie: Moisturizing Sorbet Cream - Full-Size $39

Raw Spirit: Midnight Eau de Parfum - Full-Size $85

Skinmedica: Dermal Repair Cream - Full-Size $103

Elemis: Pro-Definition Day Cream - Full-Size $128

Tarte: Amazonian Clay Bronzer - Full-Size $30

November Box Faves:

• Lancer: Omega Hydrate Oil - I’ve been loving facial oils for a while now and they can be quite expensive. Although a single bottle can last you a while (since you’re really only using 2-5 drops at a time, it’s still a tough pill to swallow when a single bottle can set you back $50+! This hydrating oil is a full-size product and since it goes for $75 normally, this thing pays for the entire box three times over!

• Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess - I’m a big fan of Tarte products and honestly haven’t disliked a single product I’ve tried from them! I’ve used this bronzer a handful of times and love that there’s a bit of shimmer in it but not enough that it draws a ton of attention.

November Box Flops:

• I don’t have any particular flops this month as it was a pretty good month product-wise, however, it was really apparent to me that the box had way fewer products than I’m used to with BeautyFix. Although this might be a function of the fact that the full-size product this month has a really high retail price, this month’s box was noticeably smaller quantity wise than previous months.

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October 2018

Tula: Dual-Phase Skin Reviving Treatment Pads - Full-Size $48.60

Rene Furterer: Style Straightening Gel - Retail $28

Glytone: Ultra Softening Heel and Elbow Cream - Full-Size $54

Vichy Purete: Face Cleanser and Makeup Remove - Retail $19.50

Rituals: Foaming Shower Gel - Full-Size $15

Sanitas Skincare: Lemon Cream Scrub - Full-Size $32

Alterna: Caviar Anti-Aging Smoothing Anti-Frizz Dry Oil Mist - Full-Size $34

Tocca: Cleopatra Eau de Parfum - Full-Size $72

Miss de Gaspe Beaute: Anti-Aging Hydrating Mask - Similar Set $32

October Box Faves:

• Sanitas Skincare: Lemon Cream Scrub - I am a huge, huge fan of the Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasian products, so my standards are abnormally high when it comes to exfoliating products, however, I was super impressed by this scrub! It smells amazing and I would argue is pretty close in quality to the fine exfoliating experience you get from the Dr. Brandt line for less cost.

• Alterna Anti-Frizz Dry Oil Mist - I was also thoroughly impressed with this dry oil mist! Normally, the oils I use on my hair tend to weigh it down just a little bit even if they’re super light, but this dry oil mist doesn’t feel heavy at all and achieves the same smoothing effect.

October Box Flops:

• Rituals: The Ritual of Dao Balancing Foam Shower Gel - I didn’t particularly love the scent of this shower gel which made it just okay for me. While I like the idea of a foaming shower gel I actually found it difficult to get the foam out of the pump! Maybe it was just the bottle I received, but unfortunately combined with the meh scent, this will definitely not be a re-buy for me.

• Glytone: Ultra Softening Heel and Elbow Cream - The instructions for this product tell you to put on the cream, leave it on several minutes, and then to wash it off. I think this can be a bit misleading since it’s labeled a cream, rather than some sort of exfoliant. Plus, at least for me, the cream really burned while it was on my skin and even a bit after I’d already rinsed it off. This might be a good product for people who need an intense exfoliant for heels or elbows, but it was too much for my skin.

I hope you enjoyed this little BeautyFix review! Let me know if there are any other beauty boxes you’d like to see me try or any products you want to hear more about!

PopSugar Must Have vs. FabFitFun Summer 2018 Box!

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Happy Saturday, everyone! Today, I’m excited to be sharing my thoughts on the summer PopSugar Must Have and FabFitFun boxes :) I know I’m a little late to the party on this one (especially since the fall boxes for these two subscriptions are already out!) but since PopSugar has changed its format to a quarterly box instead of a monthly box, I thought it was still worth sharing my comparison of the two. If you’re curious about how these two quarterly boxes compare to one another, stay tuned! 

PopSugar Must Have Box: 

This summer box is the first quarterly PopSugar Must Have box. Each PopSugar Must Have box is a $75/box quarterly subscription that includes full-size fashion, beauty, fitness, and lifestyle items. This summer’s box focused on products that will help you unwind and relax! 

Beauty by PopSugar: Be the Boss Lip Gloss - Retail $18

Eberjey: Wrap Robe - Retail $88

Sunday Riley: C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum - Retail $85

Lele Sadoughi: Circle Garland Earrings - Retail $98

Sphynx: 3-in-1 Portable Razor - Retail $14.99

Mela Artisans: Concha Round Box - Retail $60

Ahmad Tea of London: Fruit & Herb Teas - Retail $4.50

Mrs. Meyer’s: Bar Soap & Hand Sanitizer - Special Extra

Propel: Watermelon Powder - Special Extra

Box Faves: 

• Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum - You know me, I’m a huge skincare junkie so this product was by far my favorite of the box! My skin is pretty amenable to new products so I love getting to try out new skincare. I’ve heard tons of good things about Sunday Riley and I was really happy to see such an expensive product in the box because it always makes me feel like I’m getting more value than what I paid for it!.

• Lele Sadoughi Circle Garland Earrings - I didn’t expect to love these earrings, however, as I’ve been trying them out, I’ve found that they literally go with any outfit so I have to put them in my faves!

Box Flops: 

• Beauty by PopSugar Lip Gloss - This one’s just a personal preference, but I’m not one for glosses (I love a good matte lip!) so this one went straight to my mom - who I’m sure appreciates having another gloss in her collection!

• Sphynx 3-in-1 Portable Razor - This product might be useful to someone else but it really missed the mark for me. I have a sort of love/hate relationship with shaving products because honestly, I don’t really feel the need to buy shaving cream when I can use things like soap or conditioner and get the same effect. Since I usually only bring a simple disposable razor with me when I travel, this portable 3-in-1 razor would actually be heavier than what I currently pack with me, so I don’t think it’ll see much use.

Overall, this PopSugar Must Have box was a bit of a flop for me. Even my favorites of the box were items that I love, but weren’t things I necessarily felt like I needed (although they were nice to have!). Nothing in particular excited me about the box and while the retail value of the box is quite high, I’m a girl on a budget and would likely never spend $80-$100 on a pair of earrings or a robe! Most of the items in this box were in the “just okay” pile and didn’t make it into my flops or my faves!  

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FabFitFun Box

FabFitFun is a quarterly subscription box that sends full-size versions of the seasons top fitness, fashion, beauty, and wellness products. Each box is about $50 if you subscribe month-to-month and slightly less if you select an annual subscription.

Coola: SPF 50 White Tea Moisturizer - Retail $32

Yumi Kim: Makeup Train Case - Retail $58

Tarte Tarteist Pro: To Go Palette & Sex Kitten Liquid Liner - Retail $43

Erth: Tu Y Yo Ring - Retail $55

Minor History: Post Script Wallet - Retail $20

Orlando Pita Play: Hair Protectant Treatment Spray - Retail $34

Pier 1 Imports: Marble Ring Dish - Retail $14.99

Foreo Luna: FoFo - Retail $89

Box Faves: 

• Foreo Luna FoFo - I already love my travel size foreo face brush but my biggest gripe about it is that it doesn’t have a replaceable battery so once it dies, I won’t be able to use it! This foo does have a replaceable battery and is an even bigger size so I’m super happy about receiving something I already love from a brand I already love! :)

• Tarte Tarteist Pro Palette & Liner - I chose to receive the liquid eyeliner and eyeshadow palette (instead of the pro glow palette, which I already own) and I am so happy I did! This eyeshadow palette is creamy, has the perfect muted shades, and smells like chocolate - AMAZING.

• Orlando Pita Play Hair Protectant Spray - I did not expect to love this spray as much as I did because, in my experience, a lot of hair products don’t make a noticeable different. This protectant spray? Game changer. It leaves my hair feeling so smooth and all the tangles in my hair are completely gone after I use it. I’ve already used half the bottle and might have to re-purchase soon! 🙈

• Yumi Kim Makeup Train Case - You can never have too many make-up bags so I chose to receive this train case and it has been so handy for traveling this past summer! It has a little top compartment perfect for all of my brushes and the main compartment is big enough to fit all of my make-up -even blush palettes and giant face powders!

Box Flops: 

• Minor History: Post Script Wallet - This wallet is waaaay to small to big functional. It’s partially my fault since I didn’t read its specs more closely, but I expected it to be a normal wallet size when in reality it’s smaller than my palm. Unfortunately, I just don’t think I’ll have much use for it!

Verdict: This summer, the box win goes 100% to FabFitFun. I was so much happier with the products I received from the FabFitFun box and actually felt excited about most of the things I received. Usually I’m a bit more torn when comparing boxes but I am pleasantly surprised by how happy I am with the products and the value of the FabFitFun box. 

Before the switch to their quarterly box, I was a huge supporter of the PopSugar Must Have box. Their original box was a monthly subscription for $40 per box (or less if you bought a 3, 6 or 12 month bundle) and since I always looked for deals or bought bundles of boxes, I always ended up paying less than $40 a box for what I felt was a really good collection of lifestyle, beauty, and fashion items that appealed to a lot of different people. PopSugar’s decision to switch to a quarterly box was partially motivated by the fact that they also offered more expensive but also popular limited edition boxes that offered high-end products. In essence, they’ve combined their monthly subscription box and their limited edition box into this quarterly $75/box system. 

Unfortunately, I’m really torn about this new PopSugar switch! I’ve never felt the need to purchase a limited edition box and honestly think that the $75/box price point is a little too high. I still plan to receive the next PopSugar box, but frankly, if the next box shows the same pattern, I think I’ll be giving my PopSugar Must Have subscription the boot! 

What are your thoughts on these two subscription boxes? Do you like PopSugar’s new quarterly box? I’d love to hear your thoughts!