Sunny's Body Products Winter 2016 Seasonal Box Review

Hey folks! I have a new seasonal box of goodies from Sunny's Body Products to share with you! The 2016 winter box features nine body care items sure to help you indulge your tired winter skin this season!

Press Sample

Sunny's Hand Butter is in the scent Pinecones & Amber, a beautiful mix of orange peel, bergamot tea, lime zest, violet petals, cinnamon leaf, warm clove, golden amber, Texas cedarwood, earthy patchouli and black musk. One of my picks for sure, this is a great soft, cozy scent.

Sunny's Lip Saver is in the scent Sugar Plum, which smells just like sweet plums lightly covered in sugar. Yummy and plummy!

Sunny's Triple Thick Body Cream in the pump dispenser comes in the scent Homespun Treasure, a blend of red currant, sheer musk, pomegranate, pomme fruits, white grapefruit, holiday quince, sweet wild berries, marshmallow and swirls of vanilla. Bright and tart, a great holiday scent!

Sunny's Jelly Soap is in the scent Snowkissed Sugar. This has many notes, including juicy clementine infused with effervescent notes of bergamot and frosted ivy, enhanced with a jumble of wild berries, alluring winter roses and a sticky sweet pop of spun sugar, with creamy vanilla musk, oak moss, and wood accord finish off this distinctive fragrance. This is the only scent in the box that doesn't work for me, but I can see it doing well for others. Scents are subjective after all!

Sunny's Intensive Cuticle Therapy, in the glass bottle with a dropper, is in the scent Celebrate Christmas. It has subtle top notes of fruit are followed by a spicy heart of cinnamon, clove, ginger, and nutmeg and a base of luscious caramelized sugar and white musk. I love this, it's like a sophisticated holiday party!

Sunny's Cuticle Oil with the rollerball applicator is in the scent Cashmere Woods, sweet vanilla orchid and citron peel are followed by seductive white patchouli flowers, oudh accord, and heliotrope, finished with a dry down of sun-warmed tonka beans, cashmere woods, and crystal amber. More complex than I expected, very pretty warm scent.

Sunny's Sugar Hand Scrub is in the scent Silver Birch, which is the mix of silver birch leaves, clementine peel and crisp ozonic notes followed by pine cone accords and white geraniums with a dry down of vetiver, sandalwood, and sequoia woods. This is my favorite in the box, I'm a sucker for fresh wood-y scents.

Sunny's Dry Spot Healer is in the scent Black Tie, a sexy blend of Italian bergamot, damask plum, tobacco flower, asiatic lily, warm oakmoss, star jasmine, cashmere woods, patchouli, and vanilla. I am in love with this, dark yet somehow light and fresh.

And last is Sunny's Miracle Balm in the scent White Velvet Bow. This delicately feminine scent flirts with an open of perfumed jasmine air, white poppy, and sheer yuzu zest and then dances with sheer abandon among white poinsettias and snowdrop flowers, resting on the powdery finish of frosted, silver, and white velvet musks. This is very classic and clean, but still sexy and girly!

This is a limited edition box that is available now for $30 on the Sunny's Body Products website. What do you think of these scent descriptions? Any sound good to you? Let me know if you're planning on getting this box and if you do, let me know how you like the scents!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Pretty Serious Cosmetics Nail Polish & Treatments Swatches & Review

I've got some awesome polish shades and treatments from Pretty Serious Cosmetics to show you today! These have been available for a while, but I just got them a while ago and wanted to share my thoughts on them with you.

Press Sample

Type 40 is a Dr. Who type shade, specifically a TARDIS inspired blue crème. I've wanted this since it came out so I was stoked to get to try it. This is a 100% one coat wonder, no muss, no fuss, and no staining! I do always wear a stain-blocking base coat with blues but sometimes tricky ones can get through, not the case with this babe!

Breathless is a limited edition kelly green with gorgeous soft flake shimmer. This was created for friend of Pretty Serious, Hannah from Polly Polish to celebrate her wedding. Excellent two coat formula, really a head-turner! Super low quantity available so grab this one while you can!

Mummy Mush is a golden glass fleck multichrome shimmer shade that shifts through green to baby blue and pink in various lighting. I used two coats for a delicate look but you can also built it up more for total opacity or even layer it over colored base shades for a different look! Sadly this is sold out right now, so keep your eyes peeled for restocks.

Cuticle Hero Super Hydrating Cuticle Oil is one of their treatments that I've had my eye on for a while, it's a more heavy duty moisturizing formula than their other oils. It's "created from a blend of spa quality massage oils" and has a robust orange scent. This one does contain a nut oil, which I know some can be sensitive to. I found this mega therapeutic and nicely hydrating for my cuticles. The scent wasn't my favorite, so I don't know if I'd order this again unless they came out with it in another scent. They do have lighters oils in yummy scents like cupcake and bubblegum so I might try those next.

image via Pretty Serious Cosmetics

Plump Up the Volume Gel Effect Top Coat is a glossy, thick gel-like top coat that is perfect for smoothing out bumpy glitters. I have their Aqua Coat top coat which is sort of the same idea, but this is that type of formula "on steroids". It has a lot more body if that makes sense. Dries a bit slower than quick-dry top coats, but it's worth it. I find this works best when I apply quickly and with purpose as it can pull up off the nail if you go over your strokes multiple times.

image via Pretty Serious Cosmetics

These products (except Mummy Mush) are available on the Pretty Serious website now for $8.95-9.95 AUD each. One thing I love about the Pretty Serious website is it automatically detects the currency for your region, so when I log on, it automatically shows me the prices in US dollars which is super helpful. Let me know what you think about these colors and treatments!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Sunny's Body Products Villains Box Review

Hello beautiful! Today I'd love to share the latest seasonal box of goodies from Sunny's Body Products with you! The products in this box are inspired by Disney Villains, kin to their Princess Box from this spring. There are twelve hand care/bath & body products included, each themed for a different villain, which I love! I also got the opportunity to try two new products they are bringing to their line, so stay tuned for that at the end of the post.

Press Sample

Sunny's All Over Body Balm is in the scent Off With Her Head (Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland) - "a fresh, soft floral, highlighted with fresh greens very similar to happy heart perfume." A classic, feminine scent that is sure to be a hit with the girly girls! This balm is ideal for use on any type of dry skin, I keep one in my purse at all times.

Sunny's Intensive Cuticle Therapy oil is in the scent Magic Mirror On the Wall (Queen Grimhilde from Snow White) - "notes of crisp apple, pear, and melon and leads to a finish of decadent white chocolate and creamy vanilla." A warm, sweet, autumn appropriate scent that is arguably my favorite in the box! Intense is a great moniker for this product, I use this robust oil before bed and when my cuticles are in need of pampering. The dropper applicator gives the perfect amount of product!

Next is Sunny's Lip Saver in Prick Her Finger (Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty) - "yummy dragonfruit". I've never smelled or eaten a dragonfruit in real life, but if it is like this I bet it tastes amazing! Reminds me of a fruity cocktail flavor. The lip savers are fab, keeps my lips moisturized for hours.

The lighter of the two oils comes in a roller ball applicator, Sunny's Cuticle Oil in Poor Unfortunate Souls (Ursula from The Little Mermaid) - "pineapple, coconut, violet and jasmine and in reaching to her depths you will discover driftwood, sprinkled sugar and white musk." Totally sweet, yet floral, but with a touch of ocean, I am in love with this! This oil is seriously essential, excellent for everyday use.

Sunny's Miracle Balm comes in Fine, Fine, I’m Cool, I’m Fine (Hades from Hercules) - "juicy lime is spiked with wild mint and swirled with ocean lilies, musk, palm trees, and sea moss." I truly detest the scent of lilies, but the mint and salty lime in this almost makes up for it haha. I really enjoy the balm, I use it mostly on my cuticles.

Sunny's Lip Scrub is scented/flavored with Friends On The Other Side (Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog) - "a spooky mix of Cajun Spices." This is INSANE! Mostly cinnamon at first sniff, but a soft heat of the other spices come alive upon application. I may be obsessed with the scent, and I honestly use a lip scrub daily so I'm going to have to find a way to get Sunny to make me more of this!

Sunny's Dry Spot Healer comes in the scent If She Doesn’t Scare You (Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmations) - "lily, rose, amber, oakmoss and sandalwood." I'm a bit over florals since we're heading into fall, but this is nice and light. The dry spot healer has literally cured my elbows of rough skin, I use it every night before bed!

Sunny's Triple Thick Body Cream is in the scent Wash The Windows, Scrub The Floors (Lady Tremaine from Cinderella) - "blend of narcotic florals, balanced with addictive woods and vanilla absolute create a scent that is timeless yet modern, simultaneously dark and light." That definition is so right on, dark and light at the same time. This lotion formula is heavier, it delivers a nice dose of hydration that lingers for a while.

Sunny's On the Go Hand Lotion comes in the scent Tick Tock (Captain Hook from Peter Pan) - "resinous bay leaves infused in the mellow woody smell of rum that has been aged and matured for months in wooden kegs." If you can imagine what a clean pirate smells like, this has got to be it! On the masculine end, but a definite winner for me. The formula of this lotion sinks in easily and is perfect for use on the go (hence the name haha).

The scent for Sunny's Sugar Hand Scrub is called Mother Knows Best (Mother Gothel from Tangled) - "a blend of buttery vanilla and sweet green grasses." One of my favorites in the box, who knew those scents went together so well?? Rich and slightly foodie but also fresh and light. I love the scrub, full of great oils and just scrubby enough to treat your hands to nice exfoliation without being too rough.

Sunny's Bath Whip comes in I Killed Mufasa! (Scar from The Lion King) -"Top – Ginger and Juniper Berries, Middle – Spruce, Cardamom and Osmanthus, Base – Vetiver, Tonka and Amber." This is a more complex scent that I was prepared not to like but I actually quite enjoy it. It's light and slightly masculine, very clean. The bath whip is lovely to use, gives a nice lather and leaves your skin scented for a long time.

Sunny's Hand Butter is scented with Patience Iago, Patience (Jafar from Aladdin) - "a woody, amber-moss and spice with a hint of sandalwood." Another unisex/masculine scent, this one is just ok for me, not being a big fan of amber or sandalwood. This is the most dense lotion Sunny has, almost firm and paste like, but slippery if that makes sense. I love using the butters on my feet and hands before bed, letting them sink in all night feels so luxe!

Now for the new products, these are not included in the box, but I wanted to share my take on them as they're going to be available in her shop soon. I got to try the new Jelly Soap in the permanent scent Pomelo Sage (Sunny's fav scent!). It's a squishy jello-like soap that works very similarly to regular soap, you can either use it as one chunk and just rub it on your skin or tear bits off and squish them up in your hands with running water. I like that it doesn't leave my skin super dry either, which happens with most soaps for me.

The other new type of product is the Fizzy Shots, which I got to try in the permanent scent Snow Taffy (which smells amazing). It's like a deconstructed half size bath bomb, in it's almost powdered form. This is the perfect size for mani bombs, which are all the rage right now, but I don't soak my hands/fingers in water because it affects my fingernails negatively, but I can see using this for pedicures or baths!

My friends Very Emily and Paulina's Passions have posted their reviews of this box as well and I know we all have very different noses, so you might check them out to get other perspectives. (They also have photos of the jelly soap and fizzy shot, which I realized I didn't take just now as I'm writing/editing this post, ugh!) Edit: Jen the Polishaholic just posted her review too!

This box will be available for purchase on the Sunny's Body Products website on Friday, September 30th for $50 including shipping for the US, and for $60 including shipping for international customers. This is a limited edition set so when it sells out it will not be restocked. Let me know what you think about this box and if you are interested in any of the scents!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Different Dimension Halloween 2016 Poe. Collection Swatch & Review

Hey there folks! I have an awesome quartet of polishes from indie brand Different Dimension to show you today. It's the Poe. collection, inspired by the gothic literary stylings of Edgar Allan Poe, someone who I've been a fan of since I was a wee lass.

Press Sample

Once Upon a Midnight Dreary is a black jelly polish with hex glitters in orange, blue, purple, and green. I love the formula of these type of polishes from Different Dimension, they all apply easily, not too thin or thick. This is three coats. Perfect shade for the Halloween season!

...Dream Within a Dream is a full coverage Halloween glitterbomb! Holographic silver microglitter with added tones of orange and black glitter in various shades and sizes. This is loaded UP with glitter, a little chunky but surprisingly easy to handle. I used three coats here to make it opaque, but you could also layer this one over a silver, orange, or black for an equally cool look. May require extra layer of top coat for a smooth finish.

Nevermore is a charcoal black linear holographic with added orange shimmers and orange microglitter bits. This was incredible, easy to apply and super opaque. The microglitter pieces can poke through a bit so I used two layers of top coat on this one. I've worn this twice since I got it!

And All I Loved, I Loved Alone is an orange jelly with holographic flakes. Love this type of formula, even, opaque and sparkly finish in a jelly! Such a great pumpkin-y shade for the season!

New cuticle oil scents coming soon too! They will come in both pen (2.7 mL) and dropper (15mL) sizes, as well as new sample sizes, which are great for testing scent/fragrance sensitivities. This is the first time I've tried Different Dimension's cuticle oil and I am really pleased with them! I'm totally diggin the long lasting moisturizing qualities and scents.

Image via Different Dimension website

New cuticle oil scents are: Explore - Fresh pumpkin blended with orange peel, sweet carrot, ground cinnamon, clove bud, nutmeg and vanilla cream; Discover - A fresh and feminine fruity blend of mango and strawberries with grapefruit, freesia and amber and tonka bean; Journey - Notes of pink amber and vanilla wrap around blushed orchid and jasmine petals; and Drift - Ripe black raspberries are mixed with dark plum and warm vanilla.

The polishes and oils will be available on Friday 9/23 at 9pm EST on the Different Dimension website. Polishes will be priced at $12 each, except for Once Upon a Midnight Dreary which is specially priced at $5. There will be special discount pricing on the full collection for the first 24 hours of release, so mark your calendar! Let me know what you think of these new shades! I've got more Different Dimension for you very soon so keep your eyes peeled for them!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Sunny's Body Products Summer Essentials Box Review

Happy Friday cookies! Today I have the latest seasonal box from Sunny's Body Products to share with you! This time she's offering a smaller box (8 products instead of the usual 10) for a lower price for the summer. The OG products are in here along with a newer one or two. Let's dive into the Summer Essentials!

Press Sample

First we have Sunny's Hand Butter in the scent Blue Summer - Imagine eating fresh picked berries while wandering through a flower garden wild with jasmine, roses, blue lotus and orange blossoms. A gentle breeze lifts your hair and sparkles with notes of ginger and cedar along with heady vanilla-musk and amber. This is mellow and smooth and totally makes me think of a sexy evening in the garden with a hot guy by my side. OOH yeah. I love the formula of her hand butter, though it can take a bit to absorb so I usually use it in the evenings before bed.

Next is Sunny's Cuticle Oil in the scent Driftwood & Sea Salt - Feel the salt spray coating your hair as you awe in the power of the wild seas. Driftwood & Sea Salt picks up notes of citrus, mangos, orchids and lilies and finishes with a hit of salt soaked driftwood. I wasn't sure about this upon first sniff, but after wearing it for a while I really like it. Again, pretty mellow and sort of unisex but still feminine? This one is hard to capture in words! I adore the rollerball applicator and quick absorbing formula of this oil.

Sunny's Sugar Hand Scrub is scented as Sea Foam & Balsam - top notes in citrus and ozonic notes; middle - sandalwood, geranium, and white flowers; base - patchouli, caramel, and amber. I am obsessed with the scrub, it's perfect for keeping my overworked nail blogger hands and fingers in tip top shape. This scent for me was just ok, I don't think I'm an ozone fan. I do enjoy the citrus and flower notes so it's a toss up.

The scent for Sunny's On the Go Hand Lotion is called Aloha Vanilla - a warm tropical island breeze with beautiful aromas of sweet mango, vanilla absolute and creamy coconut with a touch of lotus flower. This lotion formula is my favorite to carry in my purse, it absorbs so fast with a nice dose of moisture. However, the scent didn't work for me. I think the coconut is to blame for my disdain, but you might love it!

The other oil that they make is Sunny's Intensive Cuticle Therapy, this one is in the scent Summer Boardwalk - a yummy boardwalk smells of caramel glazed popcorn, warm taffy apples and sweet, creamy saltwater taffy. This is very warm and foodie, sweet with a hint of salt and fruit. I wanted to eat my fingers with this stuff on! I love this oil for really pampering my cuticles and nails, it is feels so luxe.

And here we have Sunny's Triple Thick Body Cream in Sunset By The Pool - top notes of fuzzy apricot, sparkling bergamot, juicy grapefruit; mid notes of lily of the valley, mirabel plum, blood orange, apple blossom; bottom notes of sun warmed woods and Madagascar vanilla. This is totally a summer lotion scent, familiar but new at the same time. This might sound funny, but it makes me think of that one impossibly perfect girl who you see at the pool looking effortlessly stunning while you're sweating and getting sunburnt and falling off your floatie raft. I want to be that girl, and this makes me smell like I imagine she does haha.

Sunny's Miracle Balm in the scent Tiki Beach - a luxurious blend of toasted coconut, vanilla musk and orchids brings the glamour of a resort-stay to you. The combination of sparkling lemon, toasted coconut, orchid petals with tiny hints of green leaves blended with white cedar and vanilla musk will lull you into a tropical paradise! I'm in love with this complex, warm, girly summer scent! My favorite in the box. Miracle balm is seriously a miracle, you can put it anywhere haha! I usually put it on my cuticles and elbows for serious moisture.

Sunny's Lip Saver is the last product in the box, with the scent/flavor Caribbean Delight - sweet pineapple and mangos and papayas. I am not the biggest fan of pineapples, but the mix of the fruits makes this work for me. This little tube keeps my lips supple for hours!

This box will be available for purchase today on their website at $30 with free US shipping, $5 international shipping. I think this is a great bang for your buck! And if you're into summer scents, you're going to be head over heels for these items. There is a limited number available, so don't hesitate to pick it up if you're interested. Have YOU tried Sunny's yet??

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Got Nail Care Intensive Cuticle Oil Review

Hey friends! Today I thought I would share a new nail care item I've been trying out for the last few weeks. Got Nail Care is made by JayLynn aka @gotnail on Instagram. I saw she was looking for testers for her new intensive cuticle oil formula so I threw my hat in the ring. You all know I can't live without cuticle oil and while I have my tried and true, ride or die favorites, I am always willing to try new things!

Press Sample

This formula is made up of: Jojoba, Olive Oil, Coconut, Avocado, Grapeseed, Apricot, Sunflower and Rice Bran oils. The only scent she is carrying this in right now is called Candy Splash and it is delicious! Very sweet and sugary but also kinda fruity? I'm not sure what the notes are but it smells incredible.

The tube holds 8 ml and has a small doe foot applicator. This is actually my first cuticle oil with a doe foot and I like it! After extensive testing (my bottle is half gone) I have found this oil to be incredibly moisturizing. It sinks in pretty fast, allowing me to use it at work throughout the day and not end up with a greasy keyboard.

You can purchase this oil on the Got Nail Care website for $8.00 or in a 10 ml rollerball dispenser for $10. Have you tried anything from Got Nail Care? How do you feel about cuticle oil in general? I know some people prefer balms or lotions, which I like too, but oil is seriously my jam. I'll be back with some more nail polish swatches soon!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Sunny's Body Products Princesses Box Review

I've got some fun goodies to share with you today, the Princesses box from Sunny's Body Products! I've shared one of the seasonal boxes with you before, and I'm happy to be able to share my review of this one in advance! Thanks Sunny! The box features 12 products in scents inspired by Sunny's favorite Disney Princesses, which is right up my alley. I'm a total Disney geek!

Press Sample

My friend Emily from the amazing blog Very Emily is posting her review of this box at the same time today so please go check out her post. She always does some beautiful nail art to go along with the boxes she reviews, which I am not nearly talented enough to do so please go ogle her amazingness. Let's dive right in shall we?

Colors of the Wind dry spot healer, inspired by Pocahontas, "succulent fruits, berries, currants and tree ripened oranges accent this cool, moist mossy undertones of soil, fallen leaves and sagebrush." I live in a rural area so I am very familiar with the scent of soil, leaves and sagebrush and this is it with that great twist of fruit. Gorgeous outdoorsy scent, perfect for Pocahontas. I really love the dry spot healer too, great for elbows!

Be Our Guest miracle balm, inspired by Belle from Beauty and the Beast, "a bed of roses surrounded by gardenias and plumerias." This is my favorite floral scent in the box, rich and warm but still fresh. The miracle balm works wonders anywhere on your body, but I use it primarily on my cuticles.

Blue Dress, Pink Dress lip scrub, inspired by Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, "sweet spun sugar surrounds soft barley." Aurora is my #1 favorite princess, has been since I was super little. Not sure why, her journey isn't incredibly remarkable, but maybe it's because she got to sleep a lot and her animated boyfriend was really hot. ;-) Lip scrub is 100% essential to my daily routine, I can't live without it, and Sunny's version is the formula I love the most! Proper exfoliation with enough oil left behind to enrich but not too much.

You Want Thingamabobs? triple thick body cream, inspired by Ariel from The Little Mermaid, "cool and refreshing aquatic notes deepened with water lilies and ocean breezes." I'm not usually a fan of lilies but they work in this one perfectly, blending with the other aquatic ocean notes, it reminds me of being on a warm beach pier watching the waves come in! This lotion is great, a nice creamy consistency for ample moisturization. I like to use this type of lotion on my arms and legs when I get out of the shower.

A Whole New World cuticle oil, inspired by Jasmine from Aladdin, "rich base of vanilla, musk and sandalwood well balanced by lively top notes of jasmine, lavender and orange." This smells very spa-like and perfumey, totally what I think of when I imagine Princess Jasmine. Love the cuticle oil, it's great for use throughout the day as it sinks in easily and I really enjoy the rollerball applicator.

Be Brave intensive therapy oil, inspired by Merida from Brave, "refreshing combo of woods, pines and cool misty breezes." I've actually never seen Brave, can you believe it?! I need to fix that seriously, I know. I really like this, makes me imagine doing laundry in a mountain stream or something. The intensive oil is amazing and viscous and really hydrates well. The dropper applicator is nice for applying a generous amount for all your nails at once. I use this formula at night or when my cuticles need extra attention.

The Lost Princess sugar hand scrub, inspired by Rapunzel from Tangled, "humid nights in a damp, outdoor garden, fresh, brisk, mossy and grassy, with potted soil and terra-cotta stones and concrete statues." I don't know if I would've necessarily been one to pick out this scent for this collection, but it actually really works! It totally makes me think of a castle like the one Rapunzel is trapped in. I have tried this multiple times and have grown to love it more each time. The scrub is great at exfoliating and leaves behind a good amount of oil to leave your skin well moisturized. I use Sunny's scrubs at least once a week on my hands and feet.

Glass Slippers hand butter, inspired by Cinderella, "a clean, refreshing fragrance -- floral jasmine, lily of the valley, carnation." I like jasmine and carnation but the lily in this throws it a bit off for me. If you like floral scents, you're sure to like this though. I adore the hand butter formula for areas that need heavy hydration, especially my feet. Thick and very moisturizing, I usually use this before I fall into bed at night.

Wishing Well bath whip, inspired by Snow White, "dreamy, angelic composition opens with bright bergamot citrus then quickly trails to a mix of white florals, jasmine, iris and orris that sets on a delicate vanilla, sandalwood musk silver lining." This scent sadly doesn't work for me, it's one of those musks that will give me a headache if I use, but just sniffing it in the pot I know it's lovely. Sunny's bath whip is great for use in the tub, lathers up nicely and leaves a lot of scent behind on the skin.

Let it Go on-the-go hand lotion, inspired by Elsa from Frozen, "cool mints, camphor and bitter woods highlight a winter trek through the driven snow." This scent totally embodies the "frozen" idea, lovely and crisp. The on-the-go is my favorite formula of lotion that Sunny makes, sinks in super fast and the packaging is perfect for sticking in my purse.

Bring Honor to Us all over body balm, inspired by Mulan, "white baby tea leaves harmonized for balanced reflective moods." Mulan is one of my all time favorite princesses and movie for that matter, but I'm not a tea scent type of girl. This is pretty fresh and light though so I don't mind it. The body balm in a tube is fabulous, easy to take anywhere!

Almost There lip saver, inspired by Tiana from The Princess & The Frog, "delicious warm beignets fresh out of the oven and sprinkled with powdered sugar." Um...can we say YUM?? I'm obsessed with this, bakery scents are my favorites. I haven't been the biggest fan of Sunny's lip balms in the past, but this one seems different? Maybe it's just me, but it's got a lovely staying power and I have been wearing it daily to keep my lips supple and hydrated. And the scent is incredible, can't get enough of it.

This box will go on sale Wednesday, May 18th on Sunny's website. The box sells for $50 with free domestic shipping, international customers add $5 for shipping. Please let me know if any of these scents sound good to you! And please check out Emily's review, which I can already tell you is going to be incredible and 1000x better than mine! Who's your favorite Disney princess? What other box themes do you think Sunny should do? I personally would love a Disney villians box! Have a great day and talk to you again soon!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

Baroness X Cuticle Care Review

Hi folks! I apologize for the slim posts the last little while, my poor mountain town has been experiencing a lack of sun lately which makes it hard for me to take swatch photos. I don't know if I'll ever figure out how to get good indoor photos of my nails that I don't hate or have to edit the colors for an hour to get them to show up correctly. *le sigh* Anyway, I thought I'd do a review of some skin care items from indie brand Baroness X for you today!

Press Sample | Purchased by Me

I heard about a new product from Baroness X from my blogging friends Jenny from Lavish Layerings and Nichole from Bedlam Beauty a while ago and had to purchase it immediately when it became available. It's their Matte Cuticle Balm aka "swatcher's balm". It's designed to give you hydrated skin but leave a low sheen finish on your skin. Most oils, balms and lotions leave your skin looking greasy and too shiny, a problem mostly for people taking photos of their hands and nails (like me!). I have had trouble with this for a long time, because I take my photos in the sunlight, my camera picks up every bit of moisture on my skin and makes it gleam like crazy, which can be distracting and unattractive. This balm has great ingredients for moisturizing your thirsty cuticles, like jojoba oil, mango butter, and aloe, but also powders that leave your skin satiny instead of shiny.

Before they were offered for sale, I offhandedly mentioned that I wished it to be made with the scent Pink Sugar on their Facebook page, because it's my favorite, and the maker totally delivered! How cool is that? Demi from Baroness X generously threw in another scent of the balm in addition to the one I purchased and a Pink Sugar cuticle oil for review.

I've been using this balm every time I swatch now. It's a better alternative than the oil I was using before, then using lint-free wipes and water to help it soak in. It does need to be rubbed in well or it can kind of stay on the top of your skin. I would say this gives you a perfect matte finish if you take indoor photos. But since I take outdoor pics in the sun, my camera can still pick up a bit of shine after I use it. To fix this, I run a dab of nail prep (basically watered down rubbing alcohol) around the edges of my nail after applying the balm, and it works like a charm. Matte but moisturized skin! And the scents are terrific! Their Pink Sugar scent smelled a bit different than the one I am used to, but it still is lovely. The Peppermint scent is my favorite that I've tried so far.

The Royal Oil hydrating and healing cuticle oil she sent is in a pen sized container with a brush on one end and a pump on the other to push the oil up. The blend of quality oils she uses for this formula is vegan and contains such oils as jojoba, apricot kernel, avocado, kukui nut, and argan. (Full list of ingredients on the website.) I've been using this for more than a month and really like it. It sinks in easily and moisturizes my cuticles really well, which is what we all want right? I love the pen style of applicator too, it's very convenient! And I love that is refillable

You can buy these on the Baroness X website. The Matte Cuticle Balm is available in 10g for $5.50 (on sale now for $5), and 20g for $9.50 (on sale now for $9). The Royal Oil comes in a either a refillable 4ml pump brush pen for $8 (on sale now for $6), a 15ml bottle w/ brush for $11 (on sale now for $9), or a 15ml plastic dropper for $11 (on sale now for $9). They are available in a ton of different scents and also unscented. Their sale ends on 12/26. And a little bird told me they have a new polish collection up for pre-order!

What do you use to keep your cuticles moisturized and healthy? Cuticle care is essential to my routine and I am happy to have found these items!

❤ Kellie

Some of the products mentioned were provided for an honest review.

My Updated Nail & Hand Care Essentials

Hi friends! I wrote a post about my favorite nail & hand care items last year, which you can see here, but I wanted to update it for you with some of the different products I've been using lately and supplementing my routine with. Since I've been under the weather, and dealing with some family health issues, (not to mention the actual weather has been rather crappy lately) I haven't had a chance to swatch very much but I will be back with some soon!

Press Sample | Purchased by Me

Nail Primers - I use these to prep my nails for polish, they remove all remnants of oil before a base coat.

KBShimmer pH Balancing Pre-Polish Nail Treatment is the one I've been using pretty much exclusively since I first tried it. Works really well and is affordable. $5, www.kbshimmer.com

Orly Primetime is an old favorite. I still reach for it when I run out of the KBShimmer, but I prefer the former because of the brush width. $10, www.orlybeauty.com


Base Coats/Treatments - I'm looking for stain prevention and a moderate amount of staying power from my base coat. I change my polish often so I don't need a base coat that guarantees a month of chip free nails (as if, haha).

Nail Tek Citra I Formaldehyde Free for Strong, Healthy Nails is my current favorite. I bought it on my trip to California this March while shopping with Jen The PolishAholic. I don't need strengtheners but I wanted some extra protection. This protects my nails and wears well by itself or under polish. $15, www.ulta.com

SuperChic Lacquer Bring It On! base coat is a new product I got for review not too long ago. This base coat is supposed to totally prevent staining and so far, I can say it lives up to the claims! I love that it dries matte and very fast. $6.50, www.superchiclacquer.com

Pretty Serious Force Field Protective Base Coat is a new-ish product from Pretty Serious that I bought recently. This is a good everyday type of clear base coat with great protection against staining. $8.95, www.pretty-serious.com

Butter London Nail Foundation is more of a splurge. It's a nude colored ridge-filling base coat. This is pricey so I don't use it all that often, but I do really like it for sheer colors to camouflage my nail beds a little. $19, www.butterlondon.com


Top Coats - I'm always on the hunt for the next best top coat of life. I like them to dry very fast, be shiny, and not shrink or pull at my polish. These are all great and I use them all depending on what mood I'm in.

KBShimmer Clearly On Top Quick Dry Top Coat - $5, www.kbshimmer.com

Glisten & Glow HK Girl Top Coat - $6.95, http://glistenandglow.bigcartel.com/

SuperChic Lacquer Marvel Liquid Macro - $6.50, www.superchiclacquer.com (image via laceandlacquers.com)


Cuticle Oils - This is an essential part of my life now, since I started using them religiously last year. I cannot be without it, I use it multiple times a day! These are all really good options.

Bliss Kiss Pure Nail Oil - The one that started it all. The 'crisp' scent is my favorite! $5.99-$19.99, www.nailcarehq.com

Sweet Baby by Donna - The recent contender for the top spot. The 'pink sugar' scent is basically crack to me! $6-$10.75, www.etsy.com/shop/SweetBabybyDonna

KBShimmer Cuticle Oil is another awesome one I've been using on and off for a long time, again in 'pink sugar'. $6, www.kbshimmer.com

Sunny's Body Products Cuticle Oil - This lady has some excellent products, the two types of oils she makes are seriously amazing. She has a monumental amount of scents to choose from, but again my pick has to be 'pink sugar'! $6-$8, www.365daysofcolorpolishes.com


Cuticle/Stain Remover - I've been laying off the cuticle removers almost completely and my cuticles seem even better than they have been so it looks like something I can go easy on or avoid completely.

Orly Cutique is a gentle cuticle remover but I mostly use it if I get some errant staining on my nails or cuticles and it does the trick, like magic! $10, www.orlybeauty.com

Hand Sanitizer - I work in a busy office with lots of people coming and going so I use sanitizer like crazy!

Fortune Cookie Soap OCD hand sanitizer is excellent, non-drying and comes in a ton of amazing scents! I can't get enough of this stuff! My favorite scent right now is Kiss, it smells like sweet tarts! $2.89-$6.49, www.fortunecookiesoap.com


Moisturizer - I cannot stand to have my hands feel dry so I'm always using some product or other on them to keep the moisture in.

Fortune Cookie Soap Whipped Cream is holy grail status for me. So creamy, really moisturizing but not greasy, sinks in quickly and a lot of fabulous scents to choose from. One of my favorites is fruity Polyjuice Potion. $10.99-$16.49, www.fortunecookiesoap.com

KBShimmer lotion, I've spoken about my love for this product in the past, great all over lotion. The 'pink sugar' scent rules again! $10, www.kbshimmer.com


Exfoliating Scrub - I'm a recent convert to scrubs, they're such a nice addition to my routine. I use them all over, elbows, hands, feet, yay!

KBShimmer Sugar Scrub is so good! I love that it's gentle but still coarse enough to actually get the job done! I also really appreciate that all the little bits dissolve and don't stick around my tub and ruin my baths ;) $10, www.kbshimmer.com


Fingernail Polish Remover - I need something to work well, fast, and not turn my hands into the sahara desert!

Onyx Professional Nail Polish Remover Moisturizing Formula Lavender, I found this in Walmart a few months ago and I just adore it. Reminds me of the one available in Sally Beauty Supply stores, but I don't have one of them close to me so this is a great option for me, plus it's really affordable. $2.48, www.walmart.com

Zoya Remove is an old favorite, I still buy this whenever I place a Zoya order or am by an Ulta, because it's a nice strong remover but is still gentle. $9.99, www.zoya.com

Oh and a side note, I do still use plain 100% acetone to clean up with and to help with stubborn glitter polish.

There you have it folks! *phew* I sure do use a lot of junk on my hands huh haha. I am still looking for a good SPF to protect my hands without making them greasy. Ugh, I despise sunscreen in all forms, but I know I need to use it. Let me know your favorite products for hand/nail care! Have you tried any of my picks?

❤ Kellie

Some of the products mentioned were provided for an honest review; others were purchased by me. Photos are from the respective companies' websites.

Sunny's Body Products Spring 2015 Box Review

Hi folks! Today I have a bath and body product review for you, specifically of the Sunny's Body Products Spring seasonal box. There are 10 products in the box, most of them are full size. The products have exclusive scents created for this season that are not sold regularly in her store. I heard about Sunny's brand back when she was a polish maker (365 Days of Color), but she has since decided to focus completely on her body products. My friend Jen the PolishAholic loves this brand and her reviews of the last few seasonal boxes pushed me over the edge to get this one.

A photo posted by @kelliegonzo on Apr 10, 2015 at 8:21pm PDT

First up is the Intensive Cuticle Therapy Oil in the scent Spring Rain, a "musky accord enhanced with a fresh floral bouquet of carnations, tiger lillies, alyssum, orchids, and roses, with hints of fresh greenery". I get a lot of the carnation from this and the greenery. I really like it. This is one of my favorite products she makes, it's so lush and feels like such a treat for my cuticles. It has an eye-dropper type applicator.

Next is the Cuticle Oil in the scent Sun Moon Stars described as "fresh green notes of clover and ivy followed by notes of jasmine, and vetiver. Bottom notes of green stem notes." I think the jasmine and ivy come out the most in this, it's nice but I don't love it. I like the feel of her cuticle oils, they have a roller ball applicator and sink in quickly.

Her All Over Body Balm is in the scent Rainbow, a "unique fragrance beginning with top notes of pear, green grapes, kiwi, raspberry and peach; followed by middle notes of jasmine and lily of the valley with a base note of white musk". It's super fruity with a touch of floral. This is a newer product from her store, you can use it on your elbows, heels, knees, or as a cuticle balm, or even a solid perfume. I quite enjoy it and will probably get this product in more scents.

The Lip Balm is scented like Honeysuckle Mandarin, "a fresh blend of sweet blooming honeysuckle and juicy ripe sour mandarins". I freaking love this scent, both honeysuckle and mandarin are some of my favorites, but unfortunately I don't care for the formula. It's very creamy but too waxy for me and tastes perfumey. I've tried one other lip balm from her in a different scent and it was the same so it wasn't a fluke. I'll stick with my Burt's Bees for my lip needs.

The Hand Butter is scented as Butterfly Flower, described as having fresh ozone notes, lily and sage, tones of cassis, sweet amber and crisp orange flower with a base of musk. That sounds pretty complex, but I mostly smell the ozone and sage. Very fresh and very "spring"! The consistency is super thick and imo best to use before bed as it takes a while to sink in.

Her Miracle Balm is called Chance, a "blend of citron, water hyacinth, jasmine, iris, teakwood, vetiver, patchouli, amber, and white musk". This is probably the lightest scent in the box, very crisp and airy. My second favorite, it's so pleasing! This is also a fabulous product, I think it's her most popular. It's a smooth and very moisturizing cuticle balm that really works.

The Sugar Scrub is in the scent April Showers, "fresh powder, light musk, and just a hint of fresh spring flowers of lavender, jasmine, and tulips". This smells like straight up laundry detergent to me. Not my favorite for sure. It's a new-to-me product from Sunny, I love scrubs and this one has a great formula.

Her Bath Whip has a Clean Crisp Air scent, described as "top notes of fresh clover and ivy. Middle notes of baby's breath, periwinkle, and lily of the valley. Base notes of ozony fresh notes". Unfortunately this is the scent I liked the least, the clover and lily is overpowering to me. I was looking forward to trying this product but I don't think I will be able to get past the scent on this, I'll probably pass it along.

The On the Go Hand Lotion has the scent Breezes and Sunshine, "top notes of blood orange blossoms and sea waves; followed by rose, and sitting on base notes of sea lily flowers and woody notes". From the worst to the best, this is absolutely my favorite of the box. I really love the combo of the florals with the soft citrus, it's so delicate and soft. This is another of my favorite products, an easily absorbed light lotion that moisturizes well. I have another one of these in my purse right now haha.

And last is the Triple Thick Body Cream with the scent Innocence, "top notes of powdery peony petals, romantic alyssum, jasmine, and fresh strawberries. Bottom notes of lily of the valley, Egyptian musk, and vanilla beans". This reminds me of a Lush product scent but I can't quite place which one. I wasn't sure I liked it at first, but after it sinks in the skin and dries down a bit I really liked it. I mostly smell the peony, musk, and vanilla. This is another new product to me, its consistency is in between the on the go lotion and the hand butter. I like it for my legs and feet. I will definitely be getting it in more scents.

I mentioned I have tried some of her products before, but it was cool to get to try so many at once and to be surprised by the scents so I'll probably continue to get the seasonal boxes. I purchased this from her website http://www.365daysofcolorpolishes.com/ for $34. I liked the majority of the scents and I like most of the products, so I would call it a win! Let me know what you think of these and if you have tried any of her products before.

Thanks for coming by today!

❤ Kellie

Cirque Colors Ultimate Holographic Gift Set Review & Swatches

Hello and how are you my dear? I hope you are well on this fine November day! I am a little under the weather but not too terribly so, thank goodness. Today I would like to show you a really terrific limited edition gift set for the holidays from Cirque Colors. They are an independent brand based in New York. Their Ultimate Holographic gift set comes with eight linear holographic nail polishes in a windowed black gift box.

Press Sample

First up is Alter Ego, a black holographic. This is pretty dark, the black holos I've tried in the past always seem more charcoal colored, but this is nice and inky. Two smooth and easy coats. I used Cirque Colors' base and top coat for all the swatches in this post.

Bejeweled is a bright royal blue holographic. I find blue holos swoon-worthy and this is no exception. So perfect for the winter! Two coats.

Next is Chrysopoeia, which I wasn't expecting to love as much as I do. These really yellow golds can be hard for me to pull off, but this one looked nice with my skin tone. Two coats here also.

Then we have Cypress, which is a little more sheer and thinner than the rest. It's a rose gold coppery holographic with some copper shimmer bits. This was one I anticipated loving, but it doesn't look the greatest with my coloring. Three coats here.

Fascination Street is perfection though, a blueish violet holographic. Really just fabulous, almost a one coater. I used two in my swatch.

I'm also loving Lonesome George, a grassy green holographic. I have seen very few true green holographics so I was happy to see this shade in the box. It's quite lovely. Two coats.

Sani is the only polish in this set that is simultaneously metallic and holographic. I don't know if I have anything similar. It's a chromey silver metallic with true linear holographic pigment, making it incredibly bright, especially in the sunlight. This was kinda hard to photograph, I hope you can see it's uniqueness from my pic. Two coats, a little on the draggy side.

And last is Vesuvius, a medium rose pink holographic. I really love this tone of pink and when you add holo to it, I'm over the moon! Two coats.

The Ultimate Holographic gift set sells for $80. Their polishes normally retail for $13 each so this set gives you a nice discount when buying all 8. It is limited edition so be sure to snap it up while you can! I wanted to mention the great packaging of these polishes, the square bottle looks luxe and is sturdy and I love the caps, they feel like glass!

I mentioned their top and base coats above so I wanted to review them as well. The blue-tinted Holdfast base coat dries quickly and has infused garlic to strengthen nails. I like it very much. The Liquid Laminate top coat is also lovely, it dries really fast and is incredibly shiny. I did notice shrinking at the edges on one manicure I used it with. However that tends to happen with improper application with a lot of quick dry top coats, and my technique could've been off that day. Overall they perform very well and I will continue to use them. They retail for $10 each. They are also included in Cirque's Back to Basics gift set, which also includes their white and black crèmes, for $36.

photo via www.cirquecolors.com

I was also able to try their crystal nail file and tea tree cuticle oil pen. If you know me, you know that I prefer crystal files, they are the BEST for shaping your nails and not damaging. I am also a fan of cuticle oils in general, and this pen is perfect to use on the go. They both sell for $10 each.

photo via www.cirquecolors.com

You can purchase Cirque Colors from their website www.cirquecolors.com or from their assorted stockists. What do you think of the holographic set? Are you buying any polish gifts for friends or family for the holidays? Or maybe treating yourself?

Stay warm and see ya next time!

❤ Kellie

The products mentioned were provided for an honest review.