January 2016 Birchbox

Hi everyone!

I’m sorry I haven’t been posting much lately, now all my catch-up posts will be coming at the same time 😛 Anyway, today is my January 2016 Birchbox post! This month’s box was very fun, especially because it came with stickers to customize it! Read on for the review 🙂

I picked the “gratitude” sticker. There are quite a few other options such as “ambition” and “risks.” Let’s get started on the samples!

Harvey Prince “Bailando” Perfume:

First of all, this is a spray bottle, which is great. It’s a somewhat spicy, Oriental-ish scent, with a bit of musk and floral. It’s really nice for evening, and fall/winter. I definitely wouldn’t say it’s a daily, spring scent! Oh well. I do enjoy it, and it’s always nice to have extra perfume samples laying around for special occasions. 6/10 stars. Full size is approximately $28-$57 (there are different sizes).

Eyeko FAT Liquid Eyeliner:

This is a really well pigmented, felt-tip liner. It’s great for beginners but is nice for anyone, as you just sweep it on and go! The line is relatively thick (hence the name, there’s a skinny liquid liner by Eyeko as well). I haven’t worn it throughout the day yet, though I did read some reviews that said that it smudged during the day. I swatched it on my hand, though, and wore it throughout the day – it didn’t smudge or fade through washing my hands and doing everyday activities, so I can’t give you a definite verdict on the smudging 😛 This sample is full-size, which is a great plus! Overall, a nice liner that will get a bit of use. 8/10 stars. $16 full size.

IPKN Radiance Primer: 

This was my sample choice and I am so glad I picked it. It’s a fantastic primer that can even make matte foundations look gorgeous and radiant! It can be used as a glowy, NOT GLITTERY highlighter as well. I was considering getting the full size and then came across a fantastic dupe, watch for my next Splurge or Save post :D! However, I think that it is still a worthwhile purchase, as it is just so beautiful and glowy and smooth. Plus, it’s not glittery! I highly recommend. 10/10 stars, approximately $28 full size.

Shiseido Ultimune Eye Concentrate:

This is a nice sample size but is definitely directed toward an older age group, so it’s not a very good choice for a lot of people (especially with the hefty price tag!). However, it is supposed to help with dark circles, so I am giving it a try! I haven’t noticed a huge difference so far, but I haven’t been using it very consistently. It’s nice to have an eye cream every once in a while, so I like the sample, but I would NEVER purchase the full size (it’s so expensive!). It is a very comfortable serum and comes with quite a bit of product in the sample size. Definitely will use it up! 7/10 stars. Approximately $65 full size.

Whish Body Butter:

I get a lot of lotions and body butters from Birchbox, but I don’t mind, especially with my dry skin! Also, Whish is a new brand I’ve been really wanting to try, so I was pleased to see this in my box. I was hoping for any scent other than the Lavender, which is what I got, but it actually smells pretty good. The scent seems to be floral-y and sweet, mixed with lavender. It’s actually really nice. The sample size is nice but there’s not a lot of product in it. I’d love to try more of Whish’s products, as this pleasantly surprised me. 7/10 stars. Approximately $24 full size.

BONUS SAMPLE: Kerastase Resistance Bain Force Architecte Shampoo

This was my bonus, one-time-use sample. I didn’t include it in the pictures because I already used it 😛 Obviously, for a shampoo, one use isn’t enough to tell if I liked it or not, but it did seem pretty nice. Unfortunately, it’s extremely expensive, so I won’t be purchasing it again. It was nice to see that Birchbox added a bonus sample, though, as I have been subscribing since November! 6/10 stars. Approximately $40 full size.

This month’s Birchbox was pretty nice. I’m going to give it a solid 8 stars. Plus, I love the box design!

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? If so, how did you like this month’s box? Anyone with the same products? Let me know in the comments!

Birchbox Haul With Reviews and Swatches!

Hello to all my followers! 🙂

I finally decided to cave and purchase 2 cult favorites – a bronzer and makeup blending sponge – Benefit Hoola and the beautyblender. The reason why? Birchbox had a fantastic deal on the beautyblender – it’s called a ‘Complexion Perfection Sampler’ and comes with a beautyblender and 4 extra products…all for the $20 price of a beautyblender! I’ve also been dying to try the Benefit Hoola bronzer, as it is a favorite among many YouTubers with fair skin and has fantastic reviews. (The second picture below (on the right) is my free sample pack, which I will give a quick review on as well.) Read on for reviews and swatches!

Benefit Hoola

Benefit Hoola Bronzer Review:

Benefit Hoola

Jpeg

9/10 stars. THIS BRONZER IS AMAZING. AMAZING. Did I say AMAZING?! I cannot say enough about this one. All the bronzers I’ve had are so orange, and when I try to contour with them, all I get is an unnatural, rusty streak. This bronzer blends beautifully, is a nice size, comes with a brush (that really isn’t half bad!) and is ultra-pigmented. I mean it when I say it’s ultra pigmented. Like, you sweep your brush across it once and you will have to tap it off – or get stuck with a severely-bronzed face. For beginners, probably not the best idea. You can go crazy quite easily. For anyone who has contoured or used bronzer before, this is a miracle product, because you won’t have to use much at all! Also, a big plus is that it’s matte – perfect for contouring! The brush is somewhat rough, but it’s great for brushing a line under your cheekbones and then blending it out with a softer, angled contour brush. The only downside is the price (about $28). I would definitely repurchase, if I ever ran out! This will definitely be a daily for me – it’s amazing! GO BUY IT NOW! (I don’t usually say that, but seriously, it’s wonderful.) Swatch at the end of the post!

Free Sample Pack Review:

6/10 stars. This sample pack comes free with any $35+ purchase when you add it to your cart. You can also purchase it for $10 on its own. I would not recommend spending $10, as you have no idea what you will get and it may not be worth $10. The first time I ordered from Birchbox, I got a 12 Benefits hairspray and a Jane Iredale Lip and Cheek Stain, and I love both. This time, I got a Jane Iredale Hand Drink and a Shea Terra Rose Hips Black Soap facial cleanser. The hand lotion will not get much use, as it smells a bit too much like rose for my liking…I’ll probably use it on my legs 😛 The soap is really nice. It really does seem to improve any pesky blemishes. I’ll definitely be using it. Overall, a nice pack, but definitely not worth $10. Great for free!

Complexion Perfection Sampler Review:

9/10 stars. The BEST deal for a beautyblender! I’ve been dying to try it and loved the idea of getting 4 other samples! First, I’ll review the samples. The Lighting Crew highlighter I got in my December Birchbox and love it, so I was very happy to get another one! Birchbox claims that it is a sample size, but it has the same ml as the full size, so I believe that this is the $18 full-size product! It is pretty shimmery, so I mix it with a CC cream and apply it to cheekbones, it gives this wonderful radiant glow, with minimal shimmer! The W3LL PEOPLE powder comes with quite a bit of product in the tiny sample size. It’s a lovely brightening translucent powder that just gives a bit of glow. I love it. The BB cream is a tad too dark for me, but mixed with lighter foundation, it works great. It has a little bit of gold shimemr, but nothing too obnoxious. The Porefessional is amazing. The consistency is so wonderful, and it comes with quite a bit of product for the small sample size, just like the powder. And as for the beautyblender, all I can say is YOU NEED THIS NOW. I will never go back to my drugstore sponges! This actually hides my redness (I’m so fair and have a bit of redness that comes through my skin, but it’s not on top of my skin like rosacea, so it’s hard to conceal) and applies foundation flawlessly. It covers blemishes like a dream – I have this horrible broken capillary on my cheek that won’t fully cover with anything, and the beautyblender applies my concealer to cover it perfectly. It’s so soft, applies with no streaks, looks natural, and gives the most amazing coverage (that you wouldn’t expect with a damp sponge!). I highly recommend giving it a try…I know that $20 seems crazy for a sponge, but it’s amazing. This set gives you extra samples plus a beautyblender for $20 ($50 value), so pick this up instead! Swatches below.

Now for swatches!

From bottom to top: Lighting Crew blended in, Lighting Crew swatched, Hoola bronzer, BB Cream swatched, BB Cream blended in

Have you tried any of these products? If so, how did you like them? Were you planning to purchase any of these soon? Did these reviews and swatches help you out? Let me know in the comments!

 

Birchbox Free Sample Pack Review

So, when I was ordering Christmas presents online, I noticed the “Free Sample Pack With $35 Purchase” and decided to add it to my cart. The reviews are very mixed, as it is completely luck-of-the-draw. Some people get horrid samples (wrong foundation colors, tiny amounts, etc.) and others get wonderful samples (lipgloss, nail polish, blush, etc.). I was super worried I’d get a horrible sample, but I was so fortunate to get TWO WONDERFUL PRODUCTS! I have been dying to try the Jane Iredale Lip & Cheek Stain and actually got it in my sample pack! The other product is a 12 Benefits hairspray which smells amazing and does a great job at smoothing and adding shine. On to the more specific review 🙂

Jane Iredale Lip & Cheek Stain – Forever Pink

I’ve been wanting to try this product for a while now, but I really wanted the pink one, not the peach one (now they even have red!). When I saw this sample, I was ecstatic, but I thought it was the peach color – I was so pleased to turn it around and see that it was in pink. This is such a wonderful product. I’m seriously considering buying a full size – the color is so flattering on my fair skin and gives me the perfect pink flush. Smooth, smells good, blends flawlessly. Perfect for fair, light, or medium skin tones. Full size is about $25, depending on where you buy it. It reacts with your pH to give you a customized color, which is always a plus!! I use it mostly as a cream blush/stain, but it’s lovely on lips as well.

12 Benefits Hairspray

This hairspray smells AMAZING. When I was a little girl, I used to watch the Strawberry Shortcake movies, and the inside of the DVD case always was scented like artificial strawberry shortcake, but it smelled so good. This smells almost exactly like the DVD case and makes me feel nostalgic and happy every time I spray this on my hair 🙂 This gives the most beautiful shine, sprays easily, and makes hair soft. Just be cautious when spraying, because it can be easy to spray too close and then it won’t spread throughout your hair. Price is around $21, depending on where you buy it. I highly recommend for a nice, softening spray that adds shine.

Overall, the Birchbox free sample pack was totally worth it for me. I’d probably even pay $10 if I knew I was getting these products. I adore them!

Have you tried the Birchbox free sample pack? Did you like your products? Have you tried either of these products? If so, how did you like them? Let me know in the comments!

December Birchbox Unboxing!

So for my wonderful December Birchbox, I got a total of 5 samples plus a great $10 off a $35 purchase coupon. The box is gorgeous, and it makes me feel so festive! On to the samples 🙂

left: blended, right: swatched

The Beauty Crop Lighting Crew in ‘I Love You So Matcha’

8/10 stars. This is a really nice, peachy-pink, shimmery highlighter. It isn’t too glittery, but it is pretty shimmery. I was dying to try this product, so I’m extremely excited to have it now. The awesome part is that if you mix it with foundation, instead of a shimmery sheen, it just gives you a really natural glow. I absolutely love wearing it that way! But the best part about this highlighting cream is that it is a full size product!! It retails for $18, so it more than pays for my box.

Coastal Scents Style Eyes Shadow Sampler in ‘Formal Eyes’

9/10 stars. I love these eyeshadows! This was my pick when I got to customize my box, and I’m so glad I chose this color! It’s so beautiful and flattering on any eye color. The shadows aren’t super pigmented but are soft and easy to apply. The packaging is great, as well, because it’s magnetic (YAY MAGNETIC CLOSURES!). $12 for a full size palette (comes with 8 or 9 colors). Below is my eyeshadow look with these colors:

As you can see, it’s really neutral, but really flattering. I highly recommend!

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave in Conditioner

8/10 stars. This is a really nice sample, as I have tangly, curly hair, but the smell is a little off-putting. It’s not awful, just not great. I love good-smelling hair products, so that disappointed me a little, but so far, this seems like it does what it’s meant to do! Definitely something I’ll be using regularly, though I don’t know if I’ll repurchase, because I love my sample 12 Benefits hairspray (which I may purchase the full size of). Full size is $21.95.

The Soap & Paper Factory Shea Butter Hand Cream in ‘Green Tea’

7/10 stars. This is a really great hand cream. I adore the packaging and the cream is wonderful, rich, and thick. I was really hoping for the ‘Bella’ scent, which has grapefruit and pepper in it, but the ‘Green Tea’ smells really good as well. I don’t use hand lotion much, but in the winter months it will be great to keep in my purse. Full size is $18.

Catherine Malandrino ‘Romance de Provence’ Fragrance

7/10 stars. I really thought I was going to hate this fragrance, but I actually really like it. It reminds me of Aeropostale’s ‘Soho Nights’ perfume, which I love. This perfume is warm, fruity, and floral. Perfect for winter or an evening outing, though I wouldn’t recommend it for a spring or summer day. Definitely much better than I thought it would be, I’m impressed! It seems to last a while, too. Full size is $65-$110.

What do you think of this month’s Birchbox? I give it an 8/10 stars. Did you get any of the same products in your Birchbox this month? Have you tried any of these products before? If so, how did you like them? Let me know in the comments!

November Birchbox Unboxing!!!

I was SO happy to see my Birchbox in the mail! This month is WONDERFUL, there are no bad products.

First off, if you don’t know what Birchbox is, it’s a $10-per-month beauty subscription box (with free shipping anywhere in the U.S.) that generally comes with 4-5 samples (sometimes more if you receive foils). Products range from perfume and eyeliner to hairties and chocolate, so there’s something for everyone. Use this link (Birchbox Referral Link) to subscribe to Birchbox, which will give me 50 points and take $5 off your first box – in other words, $5 for 5 sample products and free shipping (if you use the link! (If you use this link, please comment and tell me you did! Thank you!)

On to the products!

YAY BIRCHBOX!

My List of Products

MY SAMPLES!

 

AYRES Body Polish in Pampas Sunrise – This is a wonderful scrub! I am going to use it for my face, but it of course works as a body scrub as well. It smells nice, and the container it came in is adorable. It makes my skin really soft, too! $25 full size. I probably won’t repurchase because of the price, but it’s nice nonetheless.

It’s such a cute container!

Davines This is A Relaxing Moisturizing Fluid – This smells like a salon. Seriously, it’s amazing! It tames, smoothes, and detangles well. The sample size is pretty large, and I don’t think I’ll need to use very much. It’s perfect for my curly hair! $25 full size. I will definitely think about repurchasing, it’s so smooth and smells so good!

This is a great sized sample!

LOC Vibrant Matte Lipstick in Glam Life – This is a lovely, purplish berry lipstick. It’s dramatic without being too harsh, perfect for fall and winter. From the picture on the left, it looks like an almost-black purple, but it’s not! It’s a wonderful winter color that would probably look great on anyone. Of the three LOC lipsticks I could have gotten, this was the one I wanted. I’m not disappointed! Definitely a beautiful color and a nice formula. I also like that it is in a twist-up container. THIS PRODUCT IS FULL SIZE! It’s $8 full size, so that almost pays for the whole box! Very pleased to receive a full size product. Might repurchase.

My Daughter Fragrances Perfume in Joyful – Now this one surprised me. It actually smells great! I thought it might be too grandma-y or too heavy on rose. Instead, it’s fresh, citrusy, minty (yes, minty!), and floral. It’s a lovely combination of scents (spearmint, jasmine, and lime to name a few) with undertones of sandalwood. It’s not too rose-y, though it is somewhat floral smelling. I don’t really know how to describe it, other than it’s like walking through a garden – youthful but sophisticated. Really a nice fragrance, though I would say it’s best for spring and summer. $85 full size. Definitely won’t repurchase because of the price, but I will enjoy it while it lasts!

theBalm cosmetics FratBoy Blush – I knew this would be my favorite, and I wasn’t wrong! This is AMAZING. AMAZING. Did I say AMAZING?! So pigmented, so soft, and such a pretty color. Definitely kicks my drugstore blushes to the curb! It’s a perfect peachy pink and it works extremely well with my skintone. I’m in love with it. One light swipe coats your brush, even though the sample size is only about the size of a penny! Highly recommend this. $21 full size. I probably will repurchase this one!

I was actually looking for a hair cream, blush, and face scrub before I got this box, so this is perfect! I’d give this month’s box a 9/10 stars.

Did you receive a Birchbox this month? What did you think of your products? If you didn’t, what did you think of mine? Let me know in the comments!

 

Birchbox Customization IS OPEN!

I was so excited to customize my box for next month, so I figured you guys might be, too 🙂 Read on for the specifics for the customization options for the December 2015 box!

Each subscriber will get a Coastal Scents Eye Palette or a hairspray, so here were the options:

Coastal Scents FormalEyes –  pink and mauve shadow

Coastal Scents SocialEyes – black and gray shadow

Coastal Scents GlamourEyes – green and gold shadow

Serge Normant Hairspray – volumizing spray

OR you could choose an already made box with these products in it:

• Microdermabrasion scrub from derma e
• Cinnamon Cereal Smooch from Chuao Chocolatier
• Coastal Scents FormalEyes duo
• Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain from Jane Iredale (in peach)
• Coconut Hand and Nail Balm from JUARA
• Leave in Conditioner from eSalon

How to choose a sample:

1. Log on to Birchbox
2. Go to the ‘Your Box’ section and select ‘Customize Your Next Month’s Box’
3. Select your sample! Samples are limited! (Sample choice only lasts until the 30th.)

I chose Coastal Scents’s FormalEyes. I’m so excited for the December box (the theme is Home for the Holidays- the box is so pretty)!

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? What will you choose to customize your box? Let me know in the comments!

P.S. – Use this link to get your Birchbox for $5 and give me 50 points! Birchbox Referral Link

 

 

Birchbox Vs. Ipsy (Plus Referral Links)

Ahh, subscription boxes. Workout clothes, pet treats, chocolate – there seems to be no end to the possibilities for subscription boxes. But when I heard about all the subscription boxes out there, the two that caught my eye were Birchbox and Ipsy. Here’s a little rundown of what they are (and some differences between the two [that I’ve read from other bloggers]):

Both are $10 per month and include 4-5 samples. Both require you to fill out a profile that explains your hair type, skin tone, etc. so as to give you your desired products each month!

Ipsy comes with a small cosmetic bag and ships around the middle of the month. Ipsy is mostly makeup, but has some hair products and other items (nail polishes, fragrance, etc.) as well. Ipsy sends out sample size and full size, and the full size products are sent out quite frequently. Ipsy sends out some high-end products but generally sends middle-of-the-road products (not high end, not low end). Ipsy is generally quite high in value ($50) but can be low in quality. Ipsy has a waiting list because it is so popular! Ipsy’s point system is okay, you exchange the points for products (that can run out quickly!) as opposed to Birchbox, which exchanges points for cash.

Birchbox comes in a small, patterned box and ships by the 10th of the month (if you order Birchbox Man, it ships by the 25th). Birchbox sends out skincare products, as well as makeup, hair products, fragrances, nail polishes, and lifestyle items (such as a hairtie or chocolate). Birchbox rarely sends full size items, but sometimes sends deluxe size items or single use packets (foils) as long as you select the “Yes, I want to receive foils” option on their site. They are free extra samples – you don’t pay extra!  Birchbox also allows subscribers to choose one of the samples in their box. Birchbox sends out high-end products but their sizes are smaller, so their boxes tend to be lower in monetary value than Ipsy. Birchbox’s point system is fantastic – the points change to cash that you can spend on their site.

I’ve heard that Ipsy is good for beginners to makeup – people who want to build their stash and try products they can actually afford. Birchbox, on the other hand, is better for those who want the chance to try higher end brands and sample some skincare products. As I said earlier, both boxes have point systems, and you can earn points by writing reviews on the products you receive and referring friends.

Both sites have excellent customer service and respond quickly.

Birchbox referral link: http://fbuy.me/c4eiO this will get you $5 off your first box and send me $5 to send in the shop. A win-win!

Ipsy referral link: https://www.ipsy.com/new?refer=w8dxq this may not work unless you are on my Pinterest, I’m not sure…give it a try or go to my Pinterest page and click on my Ipsy pin. It will give me 250 points in the shop!

Unfortunately, both sites have point systems that expire your points after a year 😦

I decided to try both boxes and see how I like them. My Birchbox is on its way and I will write reviews on all the products once I receive them! My Ipsy is coming later this month, and I will write a post about the Ipsy products once I get them, as well.

Have you tried any subscription boxes like Birchbox or Ipsy? What boxes are your favorite? Did this post help you out? Let me know in the comments!