Sunday, November 4, 2012

Lush = Disappointment!


Warning: Long rant ahead. Read at your own risk!

I am not going to lie, I am not a big fan of "organic" soaps. I just never liked the smell of them or their greasy consistency. However, after hearing about Lush and how amazing it was from about every single person out there, I figured that I would fall in love with it like the rest of the world. I mean the Lush brand itself promises clean, vegetarian, no-testing-on-animals, great smelling products for both bath and body, so how could one not be intrigued. I was on a mission to indulge in these products myself, so I found the closest store (about 50 minutes from where I live) and dragged along the sweet boyfriend. I say 'sweet' because 1. I talked his ear off about how great these products were going to be for weeks on end, 2. we got lost driving to the store, taking about an hour and a half longer to get there, and 3. because well he's a boy and most boys could care less about anything cosmetics related. But nonetheless, he accompanied me anyway and we drove up with visions of Honey I Washed the Kids, Rockstar, and Sultan of Soap dancing in my head.

Now, let me clarify before I continue. I understand that my opinion is my opinion and that about 90% of you love Lush, so understand that I am in no way criticizing anyone when I say the following: What are you all seeing that I'm not seeing?! No, seriously, did I miss something?

Unfortunately, to my great disappointment, I did not like one single thing in that store. I feel so unbelievably disillusioned with Lush that I don't even know where to begin. I was expecting wonderful smells when I walked in to it, but all of the smells were so hemp and incense like, that I felt sort of light headed when all of them attacked me at one time. Not even the Honey I Washed the Kids bar smelled good to me. In fact, it didn't smell like anything it promoted. Rockstar? What a joke! I've heard that it's smell is other worldly and also like nothing else you've ever smelled. Really? It smelled just like bubble gum to me which is not anything I want to smell like when I get out of the shower since pink bubble gum flavor/smell makes me want to gag. The bath bombs, were nice and big in size, but again their smells were nothing amazing and some of them smelled like old perfume.

The sea salt scrub, which I was so excited about smelled horrible and felt like sandpaper of a gradient 3 on my skin. The only bar of soap that I didn't mind the smell of was Sultan of Soap. But it had so many full size nuts and raisins in it that my boyfriend made a good point of how it would most definitely clog the shower drain. His favorite was porridge. I thought it smelled like dirt.

And finally, the biggest disappointment of all were the prices! Even though my initial reaction was disappointment, I was still going to cave in and buy Honey I Washed the Kids, because I loved the honeycomb pattern on the side and assumed it would be a good exfoliater. So I walk over to the register (where the friendly cashier was) with a bar the size of a 3x3 square (much smaller than any store bought soap) and it weighed in at a mind boggling $14.92!! WHAT?! Any last hope that I would buy anything from Lush was left there in the dust at the register. Who ever pays fifteen dollars for a tiny bar of soap is just letting money go down the drain (no pun intended).  

Ugh! I'm sorry to be such a downer, but I was just so completely disappointed. I really, REALLY, wanted to love Lush like all of you, but I just did not get it. I think the idea of the store is brilliant, and the packaging is adorable. The variety is abundant, but the smells and prices threw me off. Sorry Lush lovers!


Are there any other companies out there that also create handmade soaps that I should try out. Let me know what your experiences are with Lush soaps and products!

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Perfect Summer Scents!


Although I tend to stick to one signature scent year round, during the summer months I find myself gravitating to much fruitier and warmer scents. Be adventurous, and play up how you are feeling that day (or night!) with different scents. These are my current favorites I’ve been reaching for this summer season:

Summer Days

1. Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush in Plumdrop - I normally dislike berry smelling perfumes but for some reason I am drawn to this scent. The smell lingers on your body and smells great even after your day is over.
2. DKNY Be Delicious – This is such a classic fresh scent. It gives off a slight green apple smell that is so invigorating and clean, it will smell like you just stepped out of the shower.
3. Victoria’s Secret Bombshell Summer Fragrance – One of my all-time favorites. I can’t even begin to describe how amazing this scent is. The main notes are grapefruit, black currant, and lily of the valley. It is citrusy, florally, fruity, and fresh smelling all packed into one bottle. Phenomenal! *Note that I list its original counterpart in my evening favorites!

Summer Nights

1. Issey Miyake’s L'Eau d'Issey – I can’t say enough about this fragrance. Once you put it on, you automatically feel sexy. The notes  listed for it are: Lotus, Freesia, Cyclamen, Rose Water, Fresh Peonies, Carnation, White Lilies, Precious Woods, Osmanthus, Tuberose, Amberseed, Musk. It has the most unique scent I have ever smelled and I always get questions about it and compliments when I wear it. Perfect for a date night!
2. Marc Jacobs’ Lola – Honestly this was not one of my favorites from the start. I picked it up solely on how pretty the bottle was. C’mon, we are all allowed to be a little shallow sometimes! I disliked it because it is more of a musky smell, and I tend to stray away from musky perfumes as they are typically not my thing. However, a few months after purchasing it, I decided that I might as well use it because that pretty bottle cost me a pretty penny. “Waste not, want not” right? Well, it definitely grew on me as I almost always spritz it on now when I’m going out with my girlfriends. It is a strong smell and a little goes a long way, but it does always make me feel girly and feminine when wearing it.
3. Victoria’s Secret Bombshell – The one and only, the original. This perfume is probably one of my top three scents of all time. My bottle is almost all gone because I use it so much! If you are ever in Victoria’s Secret and are overwhelmed by which fragrance to choose, definitely pick this one up!

Which fragrances have you been using this summer?

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Kim Kardashian celebrity inspired outfit for less!


This chic look comes together so effortlessly but yet still makes a strong statement. The chain links on her top puts a new twist on the basic white tank. Also, the Christian Louboutin "Deva" strappy fringed heels add some glamour and fun to an overall casual look.
Check out this look for less:


Happy bargain shopping! 
What other looks would you like me to do for less? Xoxo!

Welcome!

Well hello there!

Welcome to LoveMonicaSofia.com! This is my new and only site now. I lost all of the images that were a part of my old blog (insert sad face here) so I had to start fresh! I will be updating this as much as possible with posts about beauty, fashion, life, and anything else along the way. I hope you enjoy this new chapter in my life and come along for the ride with me as a beauty/fashion blogger. Please bookmark my site and check back regularly. Also, don't forget to comment! I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Cheers to new beginnings!
Monica Sofia