Birchbox 2015 Review - Let's Do This

My Birchbox for January has arrived! I am always looking forward to my Birchbox every month, and find a lot of products that I love. Birchbox is a beauty sample subscription box with five samples every month that cater to your beauty profile for $10. It is a great value, because each box tends to be worth over $30 of upscale beauty products.

This month's box is so festive. It looks like it is my birthday. I like the classic brown box, but the decorated one's are just that much more exciting. I can't wait to see what is inside.

This month's theme is Let's Do This! This is the perfect theme for January, because everyone is starting new and trying new things. My New Years Resolution is to drink more water, but I can add try new beauty products to that list. Why not!?

Manna Kadar Lip Locked in All of Me

$24.00 - 1.2 oz     

I am not a fan of lip glosses, but this lip gloss stain leaves a matte moisturized look. I wouldn't normally pick this color out on my own, because my skin tone doesn't like purples or mauves, but I love this color so much. The new year is all about starting fresh and trying new things, and this new lip gloss stain will be a fun small way to do just that. Unfortunately, this is a super small sample. Not really getting my money's worth. 

Essentiel Elements Wake Up Rosemary Body Lotion

$19.00 - 8 oz        

This pepperminty, woodsy scent smells so good, but it could almost be too masculine. I am all about using products to wake up, because I have been lacking in the beauty sleep lately. The peppermint definitely does the trick. The formula is really light, so I'll be storing this away for the less dry months. I choose this as my pick for the month, and am mostly happy with my decision. 

Harvey Prince Hello Liquid Loofah Exfoliating Shower Gel

$22.00 - 12 oz            

This is my third item Birchbox has sent me from this brand, and this is my least favorite of the three. Originally, Hello is a perfume, which I love! The body wash, on the other hand, is not my favorite. I don't like that the scent is as hard as the perfume, and it feels like I am drenching my body with the scent. Also, I didn't love that the body wash didn't have a lot of suds and left my skin a little dry. I will use up the sample eventually, but I won't be purchasing this in the future.

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45+

$39.00 - 1.5 fl oz            

This again is a brand that Birchbox has sent me before. For being a beauty balm, this didn't really moisturize my skin. Also, the tinted concealer didn't really conceal. For being a moisturizing concealer, it didn't really meet either of the criteria. I am really bummed with this product, because I love skincare, and would love to find a new product that I love.

Number 4 Non-Aerosol Hairspray

$30.00 - 200 ml          

I am a little disappointing that I received another sample of hairspray, because I rarely use it. That being said, I did like this product. It smells great (not like your normal hairspray) and it my curled hair stayed in place without making it crispy. Plus, the light formula doesn't contain aerosols, which are terrible for our environment. I can definitely use this as a travel hairspray, because it is the perfect size.

My last January box was my least favorite and this month's box is definitely my second least favorite. I am not overjoyed with any of these products, but I guess I will at least use them all. I estimate this box to be worth $14.39, which is a little disappointing. Some of my Birchbox's have been worth over $40, so this month seems like a gip. Next month is my birthday month, so Birchbox better step it up for me. 

If you would like to try Birchbox for yourself, just click here. For only $10 a month, you can receive high end beauty products delivered to your door. 

Beaty Box Five July 2014 Review - Defining Moments

My Beauty Box Five for July has arrived. I love receiving subscription boxes no matter what they are, but I was a little disappointed with last month's box, and I am still trying to see if I like it enough to keep my subscription. Beauty Box Five is a beauty subscription box with five full size and sample size items. For $12/month, this box is delivered to your door.

This month's theme is Defining Moments. It is all about the things that have made a change in your life for the better. These products will hopefully be their very own defining moments for me and become new favorites.

Revlon Bold Lacquer Length + Volume Mascara

$7.99 - 0.24 fl oz

Mascara is my favorite makeup product and this box came with a full size tube! I like the full coverage of this mascara and it definitely lengthened and created volume with my lashes. I am happy with the full size item, but I wish it were something that didn't come straight from a department store. On the bright side, I like the formula and it is something I will definitely use. Plus, I have never tried it before.  

SimySkin Anti-aging Eye Serum

$70.00 - 1 oz             

I love under eye treatments, because I have always had dark spots. This is a small sample, but because you need so little, this will last a long time. I have been using it for a few days and have yet to notice a difference, but it could definitely take a few days more. I smells nice and fresh, which is nice, because the application is so close to the nose. The full size item is a little too pricy for me, so I will happily use up the sample and call it a day. 

H20 Plus Aqualibrium Marine Cleansing Gel

$18.00 - 4 fl oz       

I love face products, especially those that purify. This was a nice lightly foaming cleanser, and it left my face smooth and cleansed. It did leave my face a little dry, so I did have to use lotion afterwards. I tend to prefer face scrubs, because it feels like it gets a deeper clean. This will definitely get used, though. Unfortunately, it is a tiny sample and it will go quickly. 

Body Drench Candy Licious Lips

$3.99 - 0.09 oz

My lips are always chapped, and I am always putting on chapstick, but this was a miss for me. This product fells a little cheap and reminds me of something I would have gotten when I was a teenager. The red licorice flavor is nice, but I feel like a kid using it. I do like the red tint that this leaves on my lips, but that means I have to apply it with a mirror so I don't have clown mouth. That feels a little unnecessary for such an unglamorous chapstick. 

Hask Argan Oil Intense Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment

$2.99 - 1.75 oz 

I tend to have greasy hair, so I don't really care to use deep conditioners until the dry, winter months. That being said I will save this for that time. I like the smell, and I trust this brand. I hope that is doesn't weigh down my hair too much. 

I estimate this month's box to be worth $28.09. I am more happy with this month's box than past boxes, but some of the products were complete misses for me. One thing I like about Beauty Box Five is the mixture of low and high end products. I am still not sure if I am going to continue with my subscription. Maybe I'll give it one more chance, but I am spending less on Birchbox and Ipsy and tend to get more value.

If you would like to try Beauty Box Five, just click here. For $12 a month, you could receive beauty products delivered right to your door. 

Ipsy December 2014 Review - You are a: Creative Genious

My December Ipsy Glambag is here, and it is about time. I got it the last week of December, which is crazy because it was sent a few weeks prier. I was starting to think it wasn't ever going to come, but it must have been slowed down with all the Christmas packages that go out around this time. Even though it took so long, I am go glad that it eventually came. 

This month's theme is You are a: Creative Genius. I am not sure if there were multiple themes this month with the "you are a," but either way I am a little disappointed. I thought that this month would have been a little more festive with all the holidays. Also, for the theme focusing on creativity, the bag is a little blah. I'm not a fan of the black with maroon heart. I hope the contents are more creative. 

At first glance, I am liking what I am seeing. The bag is full of what seems to be full size items. I love seeing a filled makeup bag. I hope that the items can turn around my feelings about this month's bag.

NYX Butter Lip Balm in Marshmallow

$4.00 - 4 g

I am a huge fan of tinted lip balms, so I was excited to see this in this month's Ipsy Glambag. That being said, I am super bummed with the color. I would have loved any other color that NYX offers except this one. I am just not into beige lip colors. Despite the color, this butter lip balm kept my lips nice and moist. The color seems to last too, but I can't really tell because it blends in with my natural lip color. I will just use this as a normal chapstick. 

CAILYN Cosmetics Just Mineral Eye Polish in Orchard

$15.00 - 2.5 g

At first, I thought this was a nail polish and was super disappointed. After realizing it was an "eye polish" I was pretty skeptical. I shouldn't have been, though, because this is my favorite part of this month's Glambag. I love the color with my skintone. It is a nice light gold color and has the perfect amount of shimmer. The applicator is a little different, and it takes a little longer to cover my entire eye than with normal applicators, but it does a nice job and I can get the creases and the corner of my eye a lot easier. I love that this is a full size item, because I will definitely be using this until it is gone. 

Style Sexy Hair 450 Blow Out Heat Defense Blow Dry Spray

$18.95 - 4.2 fl oz          

This is supposed to protect your hair from heat damage from your blow dryer, but because I let my hair air dry, I can't really see if it works. I did spray this into my damp hair before blow drying, and it did leave my hair shiner after it dried. I am a little disappointed that Ipsy sent this to me, because my profile states that I don't blow dry my hair. On the other hand, it does have a nice soft sent that stayed with me all through the day. 

Beauty Without Cruelty Premium Aromatherapy Facial Cleanser

$11.95 - 8.5 oz         

This lightly-foaming, soap-free cleanser works just as good as any face wash I've used. It left my skin clean and smooth, but a little stiff. You will definitely have to use a moisturizer after using this. I do prefer to use scrubs to cleanse my face, but I will definitely use this. I love that it is cruelty free and has 3% AHA complex. It is also reasonably priced. 

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

$20.00 - .24 fl oz          

I am a big fan of mascara. It is sometimes that only makeup that I wear, and I love trying out new formulas and brands. This mascara claims to lengthen, curl, volumize, and condition your eyelashes. I like the coverage, it did coat all my lashes, but other than that, I didn't see anything too special about this mascara. I will definitely use this as a top coat to get extra coverage, but this won't be used as a base. I like this mascara, but I won't purchase the full size once the sample is gone. 

Overall, this month's Ipsy Glambag was middle of the road. Only one of the products was something I would consider that would help me with my creativity. Other than that, I will use most of all the other products. I estimated this month's bag to be worth $37.81 which is awesome, because I only spent $10 for all these products. I do appreciate that Ipsy always contains way more value and a lot of full size items. 

If you would like to try Ipsy for yourself, just click here. For only $10 a month you can get full size and sample size beauty items delivered to your door. Also, it would make an awesome gift for your friends or family. 

Birchbox December 2014 Review - Decked Out

My December Birchbox has arrived at my door, and I am extra excited for this month's box, because I am sure that it is extra special and festive. Birchbox is a monthly beauty sample subscription that is delivered to your door each month personally curated to you for only $10 a box. 

This month's box is super cute. I love how festive it is, even with it being blue. This month's theme is Decked Out. This month is all about celebrating with our loved ones by exchanging gifts and ringing in the New Year. Birchbox's samples are an early gift to get this season started off right. I can't wait to see all the new ways to get myself sparkling for these holidays. 

TOCCA Crema de Mano - Hand Cream in Cleopatra

$10.00 - 2 oz             

This hand cream has a nice light scent of grapefruit and cucumber and absorbs really quickly so you can use your hands right away. I like the compact tube and it is a good sized sample. I do have to use it quite regularly, though, because it's not as thick as I'd like. It is reasonably priced though, so it could be a regular buy for me. 

 Lord & Berry Paillettes Glitter Eye Pencil in Black

$18.00 - 0.04 oz        

I've had a Lord & Berry eye pencil in my Birchbox before, so I am already a fan of the brand. The eyeliner goes on really smoothly, and doesn't smudge throughout the day. I like how the glitter wears evenly, but it isn't something I would wear on a regular basis. I'm glad that I got this sample right before New Year's, because that is probably the only time I would wear glitter. I am happy with this sample size, because I won't be using this too regularly.

amika: Nourishing Mask

$28.00 - 250 ml          

I normally have greasy hair, so deep conditioners aren't really necessary for me. Regardless, my hair has been a little staticy because of the dry, winter weather so I gave it a try. I have to say, the mask didn't over moisturize to the point that it weighed down my hair, and I loved the berry scent that stayed with me all day. The sample is a little small, but I will use this until it is gone. Plus, it is paraben-free!

RUSK Texture Spray

$18.00 - 8 oz         

Again, I'm not much of a hairspray user, but I do use it once in a while when I curl my hair. The hold was alright, but at least it wasn't sticky or crusty. I do like the coconut smell. They do suggest to use this as a body spray, which I could definitely work with. Just spraying my roots, I felt like I had volume all night and loved my party hair look. 

Mirenesse Mattfinity Lip Rouge in New York

$29.00 - 7 g           

This lip stain goes on nice and creamy and dries to nice matte classic red. It does mostly last, but it did come off on my drinking glass. I wasn't too sure about this product when I first saw it, but it really is a nice lip stain. This color works well with my skin tone and I look super sophisticated. I will be wearing this for New Year's!

This month's box had a little cheaper samples than Birchbox normally delivers. Also, it had a few samples that I would normally not use. That being said, I am pretty happy with this month's box, and these samples fit perfectly with the theme. I will be using them all for the holidays and throughout these winter months. I estimated this month's box to be worth about $32.16 with the added $10 Gap cash coupon. I probably won't use it, but it is a nice addition! Perfect for buying someone a small gift or stocking stuffer. 

If you would like to try Birchbox for yourself just click here! I love receiving samples in the mail each week curated for me. Plus, it could be the a great gift for any of your loved ones. My sister is receiving a subscription from me!

Birchbox November 2014 Review - Giving

My November Birchbox has arrived! Birchbox is my favorite subscription box, and I always look forward to it all month. This month Birchbox teamed up with [red] which goes with the month of November and remembering to give to others. Each post of this month's box on social media, Birchbox will donate $1 towards the fight against aids. 

The inside box is it's normal brown color. I have so many of these saved up, and I am looking for a fun project where they can be reused. 

The theme for the month of November is Giving. I love that Birchbox's theme always goes well with the month and how the products tend to fit in perfectly. Instead, this month is focusing more on the power of Birchbox and showing how small efforts can make a big difference. I will definitely be posting a picture of mine to give to the greater good. 

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint

$38.00 - 1.7 oz      

Wow! This moisture tint rocks. It completely enhanced my skin tone and left a nice matte, even look. I wouldn't use this as my primary moisturizer, but I would use it as my final foundation. It says to layer for additional coverage, but I could go without. This is an item that I would definitely purchase.

Gilchrist & Soames Spa Therapy Body Lotion

$15.00 - 8 oz           

This brand has been given to me in a previous Birchbox, and I have to say it is a like over a love. I really like the smell, and the lotion works well, but I would prefer a thicker cream for my dry skin. Especially during these dry, cold months. I won't be purchasing this full size item, but I will use up this large sample.

Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Supreme Mascara

$25.00 - 0.35 oz      

Mascara is my go to makeup product, and it is hard to get me to love a new formula. That being said, I love this Laura Mercier mascara. It made my lashes full, long, and feathered. This is the perfect mascara for everyday wear! I would end up layering it for a night out, but this will be used during every workday. It is a little pricier for mascara, but I could definitely see myself splurging on this item. 

Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa Firming Tea Treatment Mask

$58.00 - Six 0.33 oz tubes                  

This item was my Birchbox pick of the month. I will only pick one of the selected items if something really appeals to me, and this item definitely does. I love the refreshing smell, and the mask has a nice exfoliating feel before it hardens into it's mask form. After washing off this mask did leave my face tighter and more toned. I will be using this once a week until it is gone!

TONI&GUY Classic Shine Gloss Serum

$15.00 - 1 oz

I have super staticy hair during these dry, cold months, and this serum definitely helped keep my hair manageable. I also liked how it helped my hair look glossy and shine. The smell was nice, but not my favorite. I'm not one to use hair products, because they normally weigh my hair down, but this one did the trick. 

Chuao Chocolatier Honeycomb ChocoPod

$9.95 - Eight 0.39 oz bars              

As a new addition to Birchbox, they are including items that are completely and only an Bonus. These items will not count as one of the samples so there is no reason to hate it. That being said, I am not a fan of chocolate or honey. I do enjoy that they went with food for this food heavy month, but I could have done without. I will let my partner enjoy this snack. 

This month was an overall win for me. Even the products that I didn't love were good additions to my beauty routine. I estimate this box to be worth $46.53, which is so much more than the $10 I spent. Birchbox continues to be such a good value and a great way to try new products. That is why Birchbox is easily my favorite subscription box. 

If you would like to try Birchbox for yourself, just click here. It would make a great gift for the holidays for your closest girlfriends, you sister, or yourself!

Ipsy November 2014 Review - Girl Meets Glitter

I look forward to my Ipsy Glambag to arrive all month! I love fall months, so this pack should have some seasonal things that I love! I can't wait to see what is inside. Ipsy is a beauty subscription bag with both full size and sample size items for only $10 a month.  

This month's makeup bag is pink and glittery. This is something I would expect with December of January, but not november. The last of the fall months, I would expect November to stick with the dark nature colors and comfort of this month. Also, the bag is really cheap this month. I can barely zip it up without a struggle. They teamed up with Forever 21, which is a super cheap store. I don't think I am going to love what is inside. 

This month's theme is Girl Meets Glitter. I'm not a girly girl, and the only time you will see me wearing any sort of glitter is on New Year's Eve. I can already tell this theme is not for me. They should have saved it for next month. 

Marc Anthony True Professional Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Hairspray

$8.29 - 9 fl oz         

I am not one for hairspray, and only wear it about three times a year, but this will definitely get used eventually. It smelled like hairspray and it was sticky and didn't hold better than anything I've used before. The claims of this product didn't hold up for me. You might as well purchase a cheaper product. 

 J. Cat Beauty Wonder Lip Paint in Red Potion

$4.99 - 10 ml


When I put this on, my boyfriend literally laughed out loud. It is such a dark and thick color, the tube is the worst packaging. You have to put it on your finger to use, which stains your finger. After applying it with my finger I looked like a clown. This should really be in a applicator tube. Also, this color is wayyyyyy to dark for me. This will end up in the trash or given to someone as a prank. 

 Temptu S/B Highlighter

$27.50 - 1 fl oz        

This highlighter didn't really do anything. I am not one to make myself look completely different with layers of makeup, so a highlighter doesn't really make my makeup bag. I could see myself trying this for New Years or another glam day like that, but I'm not sure it would really do anything for me. 

Be A Bombshell Eye Base in Submissive 

$14.00 - 2.5 g


This isn't my first Be a Bombshell product, so I am finally happy to see an item in my glambag. This is a eye base and is used under your normal eyeshadow. I do like how it makes my other eyeshadow powder stick, and could be used all on its own with its subtle color and shimmer. This is something I will definitely keep and use.

 IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye

$24.00 - 8 g                

I have really dark circles under my eyes, and this thick cream actually helped hide them. I like how the color was just a little brighter than my skin tone, and how it really had staying power. It is definitely a higher end product, which changes my opinion of this entire Ipsy glambag. Again, I will definitely use this product. 

Overall, this is my least favorite Ipsy Glambag so far. The products just seem to get cheaper and cheaper, and I don't think they take my beauty profile into consideration. I have it noted that I go for a more natural look, so three of these products just don't make since for me. Ipsy is definitely for someone that likes a full makeup look. I estimate this bag to be worth $32.55, which is much more than I expected. 

Hopefully next month is more my style, and I will definitely keep with my subscription to find out. I am not going to give up after one bad month. If you would like to try Ipsy Glambag for yourself, just click here.