October Birchbox

 

Well, October is nearly over and I am just now getting to this month's Birchbox review.  I think that is a pretty good indicator of how excited I was by this box...*sigh*.  I am calling this month's box the "Stinky Birchbox" because of the foul smelling products I received!

Here is what I got:

• Ahava Mineral Foot Cream:  As I have said before, I love the feel of Ahava mineral creams, but they smell just awful!
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel:  This is a good brow gel if you are a person who likes to use brow gel; it is just something that I rarely use.
• Number 4 Hair Lumiere D'hiver Reconstructing Masque: This product is meant to hydrate and add shine to hair.  Not much to say about this one.  I don't have a problem with dry hair or breakage, but my hair did feel nice and conditioned after using it.  The scent was okay--herbal/floral.
• Sunday Riley Modern Skincare Juno Transformative Lipid Serum:  This is a mix of 13 essential oils which are meant to replenish, firm and protect skin.  That's all well and good if you can get past the fact that is smells like garlic and olive oil!  Eeew!  This never had a chance to do anything for me, as I washed it off immediately due to the terrible smell!
• Tea Forte Minteas: These were a nice treat, though nothing I would actually purchase.

So, final verdict on this box is two thumbs down.  I was really bored with this box, and I am tired of bad smelling creams and serums.  Here's hoping next month brings some more exciting cosmetic items my way!

Estee Lauder Dupe

L: Estee Lauder Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in Crystal Pink; R: NYC lipstick in Violet Shine

I stumbled upon a really good dupe for Estee Lauder lipstick the other day.  I happened to grab an NYC lipstick on sale for a whopping $.24 in the shade Violet Shine.  When I applied the lipstick the light raspberry scent and creamy texture reminded me of the one and only Estee Lauder lipstick I own which happens to be the Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in the shade Crystal Pink.  As you can see below, these two lipsticks are nearly identical in color, and I can say that they smell exactly the same.  The only difference I noticed was that the Estee Lauder lipstick was a little more moisturizing.  The price difference is a completely different story...the Estee Lauder lipstick costs $24 while the NYC lipstick costs $1.

L: Estee Lauder Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in Crystal Pink; R: NYC lipstick in Violet Shine

Allure Freebies!

Whoo hoo!  I actually won a couple of the Allure Magazine summer giveaways!  Lucky girl that I am, I won a bottle of Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola! perfume.  This fragrance retails for $88!  It is a lovely floral/fruity scent; I don't think it is a particularly unique scent.  However, the bottle is simply gorgeous and looks fab sitting on my dresser.

And, I won a Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in the shade Pink Freeze.  I hadn't tried this line of lipstick before and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this lipstick.  Pink Freeze is a bright but wearable pink shade.  So, thanks Allure!!!  I am loving my free products!

September Birchbox

September 2011 Birchbox

Another month...another Birchbox!  This month's box celebrates Birchbox's 1-year anniversary.  My celebratory box was filled with a couple hits and misses.

Here is what I got in my box:

Incoco Nail Polish Applique: Although the pattern I got is a little tacky, these nail polish strips were so fun and easy to use.  The staying power wasn't great, but for a special occasion, these would be worth purchasing to create a high-end manicure look.  I will definitely be trying out some more of these! 

Jouer Lip Enhancer: This product is supposed to hydrate, plump, and condition lips.  Well, I just loved it!  My lips felt great, and the product seemed to be long-lasting on my lips.  I found the balm to be similar in texture to the Mary Kay Satin Lips balm.

Jurlique Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer: As far as hand sanitizers go, this is a pretty darn good one.  It has an herbal scent and does seem to provide a bit of moisture.  My hands felt clean and smooth after using this.

Truth Art Beauty Face Nourish:  I was not excited to see this in my box, as I don't like putting oil products on my face.  I just find the greasy feeling kind of gross.  So, needless to say, I haven't even tried this out yet:(

Birchbox Friendship Bracelet: This was a cute touch and something I might actually wear since I love pink!
 

 

 Incoco Nail Polish Applique

Anniversary Haul!

Tarte Radiant & Rested: Volume II kit

My wonderful husband of two years surprised me with a gorgeous Coach purse filled with goodies from Sephora for our anniversary.  He did so well, I just had to share with you what he got me!

I think my favorite so far is the Tarte Radiant & Rested: Volume II kit.  The kit features the Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum, Bright Side Double-Ended Eye Brightener, LipSurgence Natural Lip Tint in "Sweet", Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in "Glisten", and Provocateur Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder in "Champagne".  I am really loving the blush, shimmering powder (great for highlighting), and the eye brightener.  I love how easy the eye brightener is to use; it has an end labeled "day" and one labeled "night".  You simply pull out the end you want to reveal a pointed sponge tip applicator that fits nicely into the inner corner of the eye.  Very quick and easy!

I also got the Fresh Sugar Honey Tinted Lip Treatment, Urban Decay All Nighter makeup setting spray, and the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil in "Midnight Cowboy".  I haven't gotten to test out the setting spray to see if it really helps my makeup to last better throughout the day, but I like the way it softly mists your face and drys quickly.  The 24/7 shadow is seriously budge-proof; once applied, it is not going anywhere until you wash it off!  I think I will be grabbing a few more of these.  And lastly, the Fresh lip tint is just as wonderful as the rest of the Fresh lip treatments; I was really happy to get this pretty, neutral shade.

Swatches L to R: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil in "Midnight Cowboy; Fresh Sugar Honey Tinted Lip Treatment; LipSurgence Natural Lip Tint in "Sweet"; Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in "Glisten"; Provocateur Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder in "Champagne.

August Birchbox

 

It's August Birchbox time!  Yay!!!  As always, I was super excited for my birchbox this month.  This month's Birchbox theme was beauty innovations.  Unfortunately, this box was rather underwhelming for me.  Everything was just...okay.  

Anyway, here's what came in my box:

• Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine Cologne Absolue:  This is a very orangey scent that at first smelled a bit like soap to me.  I grew to like the scent more as I wore it.  I don't think I am likely to spend $145 to own it though!
• blinc Mascara: This is a "tube" mascara that coats your entire lash in a "tube".  I don't like this product because it does not give my lashes any volume.  However, it is great for length and definition; someone with naturally full lashes might really like this mascara.  Also, when you remove this product it tends to come off in stringy pieces that get all over your face.
• Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream:  I liked this eye cream because it went on light and smooth and sank right into my skin.  I am not a fan of thick, greasy eye creams.  However, the $95 dollar price tag on this cream will definitely prohibit me from buying the full-size product.  I'll stick with my much more affordable the beloved Clinique All About Eyes!
• Fix Malibu Wish Wash Exfoliating Powder Wash: This is a power, similar looking to baby powder, that turns into and exfoliating face wash when you add water.  To me, a powder face wash seems like a step backward rather than an innovation!  I can imagine women in the 1800s using powdered facial cleansers.  This product was messy and kind of inconvenient to use.  All that being said, it did clean my face well and leave it feeling soft and smooth.  I wouldn't purchase the full-size product though.
• Twistband Hair Tie: This is a simple piece of soft black elastic to tie your hair back with.  It is supposed to be fashionable on your wrist, as well as in your hair.  I have to admit that it looks far better on my wrist than my plain hair ties.  Since I have not been able to break myself of the habit of always having a hair tie on my wrist, this is an awesome hair tie innovation for me!  I just ordered a set of several more colors of these.  Get yours on the Twistband website and use the coupon code LUCKY2 to save 40% on your order!

Wet n'Wild Walking on Eggshells Trio

Wet n'Wild Walking on Eggshells Trio

When I first saw this eyeshadow trio in the store, I thought it was nothing special. Then, I kept seeing reviews and swatches for it everywhere. Finally, I saw Emily from the Beauty Broadcast mention this trio in a MAC dupes video which totally sold me on it (the shades in the trio are dupes for three MAC shades!). So, I gave in and bought this little gem for a whole whopping $2.99. And, let me tell you it is worth every penny and then some! I could wear these three shades everyday...I practically did this week! This trio is perfect for everyday wear, especially in the Summer. I just can't get over how pigmented and beautiful the colors are. I have a few of the other Wet n' Wild trios, but this one is definitely a stand out for me. So, if you find yourself thinking that these trios are nothing special, think again and try one for yourself.

Do you have a favorite Wet n' Wild eyeshadow trio or palette?