Red Carpet Ready Collection by TotalBeauty.com

Disclaimer:  I won this in a giveaway.

The last month or so was a very lucky period for me, as I won four separate beauty blog giveaways!  It was much appreciated, as my butt has been kicked by a cold and allergies, which has left me feeling blah, uninspired, and like a lump of phlegm.  Literally.  To say I needed a pick me up is an understatement.

I'll be posting on all of the great things I won, and the first up is the Red Carpet Ready Collection by TotalBeauty.com.  Hosted by Harshleen at Beauty Tidbits, the Red Carpet Ready Collection ($25) is one of several subscription boxes you can purchase from TotalBeauty.com.  A mix of full-size and deluxe samples, they usually reveal one or two items with the rest being a surprise.  I'm excited about what was included in this set, as there are several brands I've been wanting to try, as well as a new favorite I recently reviewed, the Manna Kadar Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion.

 I've admired the Sheswai Lacquer bottles since I first saw them reviewed at Vampy Varnish back in 2012.  In fact, you'll see me in the comments saying how much I like the look and feel of the brand, but that $16 was too much for me to spend on polish.  Famous last words, as not long after that I splurged on not one, but three Rescue Beauty Lounge polishes at $20 a pop :-)

Well, now I have my very own Sheswai in Winesnob, an ultra vampy bordeaux shade.  Gorgeous color that I'm chomping at the bit to wear, even if it is spring and the season of pastels.

Another brand I've seen featured in various blogs and wanted to try is Cailyn.  The distinctive packaging again caught my eye, but glowing reviews indicate more than just an interesting facade.  Big Red Apple ($19) is a red lip balm with a lip brush hidden in the top.  A quick arm swatch leads me to believe this can go from a sheer flush to full out intensity, and I'm looking forward to incorporating this into some summer looks.

 

I reviewed the Manna Kadar Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion in this very shade last week, so I won't go into much detail here other than to say I like it.  I thought this color was exclusive to the Birchbox shop (it's called Birchbox Love), so it's interesting to see it in another subscription box.  There is no name listed on the tube, but they look identical to me, and this deluxe sample is valued at $8. 

 pūr~lisse is a brand I've had limited exposure to, but I like the concept behind it:  blending traditional Chinese beauty rituals with French skincare technology.  The  pūr-delicate cleanser is a gentle soap free, non-foaming cleanser that contains a blend of soy milk, soy proteins, whole oat and white tea.  I've tried it in the morning and it left my skin feeling skin and soft, butcan't speak to it as a makeup remover.  I always remove my makeup with a cleansing oil, but this sounds perfect as a follow-up to remove any lingering residue.  This deluxe sample is valued at $12.65.  

This may be the nicest packaging of foil samples I've ever seen!  Racinne is a totally new to me brand, and the Ultimate Aqua Blanc Brightening Masque is supposed to facilitate revitalization and regeneration of the skin by correcting enlarged pores, balancing oil distribution reducing and reducing dark spots.  The sample trio is valued at $5, bringing the overall value of the Red Carpet Ready Collection to $60.65.  Really excited to have won this!