Birchbox March 2013 Review

Welcome to March Madness, or shall i say this month's Birchbox. For the first time in a long while i opened up my Birchbox and did not feel an utterly overwhelming sensation of disappointment. I honestly savored the moment. I feel like this box hit it just right this time because it righted all of it's past offenses in one box. Now it's no where close to perfect, but this is the kind of box i expect every month from a subscription that costs $10. The downside is, as i am sure many of you have seen other blogs, pictures, or even your own box, there are SO many different variety of Birchbox in one month.  I am sure there are a lot of people out there this month with awful boxes, irrelevant or one time use products, or just got nothing they were hoping to get. If this happened to you, i am sorry.

What i received: (Forgot to take individual photos before migrating the products to my collection sorry!)

Incoco Nail Polish Applique-
I am a huge fan of anything that can help me have a quick manicure without dry time. While these didn't apply perfectly they had a very cute design and lasted a good 4 days without any chip (This is a long time for me since i am very active with my hands). Based on the design and price range i would be open to purchasing these.
Full size: $9

Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Shampoo-
I am also a huge fan of dry shampoo! But a dry shampoo that always gives volume and has a sweet girly scent, i am sold! I really liked this product. Even with 2 day old mommy hair i was able to have some volume and look like i had spent a bit of time styling my hair when really i just flipped my hair a few times and sprayed this product in. The price point is decent for what this product does.
Full size: $25

Twistband Headband-
I was introduced to Twistband the brand when i first joined Birchbox. I really liked that it did not leave a dent in my hair and did not pull or break my hair. So when i saw that they made headbands and i was lucky enough to sample one i was pretty happy. While they remind me of the simple flat headbands of the late 90's i was happy to take the trip down nostalgia lane. I liked the overall look and quality of the product but it really isnt something i would wear everyday or buy at the price point they are selling it at.Full size: $19

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream-
This blueberry scented shaving cream is certainly different than any shaving cream i have tried. It moisturized and got my legs feeling smooth and soft but i am not sure i was a total fan of the scent. As far as shaving creams go as long as it keeps me from cutting myself, having razor burn, and leaves my skin feeling soft, i am happy. I can find one's that satisfy those requirements for about $2.99 so they can keep their blueberry scent and i will keep my $16.99.
Full size: $20

As an extra Birchbox included a Madewell For Birchbox Emery Board. It is said to be patterned after a print in their spring collection, when the color PINK becomes a pattern please let me know. Only one side has a floral pattern on it. It looks pretty generic to me. This is pretty much a dollar store emery board that Birchbox and Madwell can slap an extra $4 dollars on it because they said so. (I always have use for an Emery board though...)

Overall this month was fun, even the items that i sound cynical about i did enjoy trying. If you would like to sign up for Birchbox you can do so here! It is $10 a month which includes shipping. You will receive about 4 samples every month. You can review each product for ten points. When you reach 100 you are given 10$ to spend on anything you want in the Birchbox store and you can accumulate these points to be worth a lot more. While the boxes are sometimes hit or miss there is the occasional great box and you can still get points for the boxes you didn't like. If you review your products every month you get about 10$ every two months making every other box free! So sign up here!

The Man Repeller Glossybox January 2013 review and swatches

The Man Repeller? Oh yah, that sounds attractive!... Actually it does. There are plenty of trends that women love and men, just, don't. Leandra, the woman behind The Man Repeller Blog (www.manrepeller.com) teamed up with Glossybox this month to bring us a box filled with items that men might not understand. While at first i really did not understand the collaboration, when i received my box i found it to be one of the best one's to date. Leandra is really on to something!

The item's included in this month's box were a great range of products from makeup to scent, polish, to hair. This is what a beauty subscription should have. Variety, samples, and one or two full sized items. Did i mention this box even included a new release. I was left wondering why Leandra isn't making subscription boxes?! Id subscribe in a heartbeat.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara-
Touted to give a flash-lash effect along with leaving eyes brighter, and wider, i have to say this is a pretty run of the mill mascara. Better than a lot of the brands i have tried, but not the best. I have no real complaints about this mascara in that it does separate lashes, coats them evenly, and makes them thicker, however, they just look like natural lashes - but better. No where near false lashes. It is good for everyday looks, and i am sure can be built up to be more extreme (this is three swipes). I wouldn't buy this on my own because i feel there are similar products that do the same thing at a lower price range. If you like the Estee Lauder brand and are buying other products from them, this would be a good addition to add.
Full size: $25

Fresh Umbrian Clay Mattifying Serum-
This serum helps to neutralize acidity to help clarify complexion. When i applied this to my skin it came out of the tube an off white. When i applied this to my bare face (i made sure my face was just a little oily so that i could see if it worked or not) the oil and shine of my face had been tamed. I think this is a great product for oily skin even combination skin. Good for a base on the T zone. It is also supposed to minimize the appearance of pores but i did not see much change in that area. Still a great product to pick up though.
Full Size: $35

Le Metier De Beaute Replenishing Daily Daily Solution-
This product, which can be found at Nordstrom, conditions and hydrates while detoxifying skin. I found this product, since it was one use, not to really have any effect on my skin. I understand that this product is worth more money than i think i would ever want to spend on a daily solution, but it makes me understand why the sample is so small. I had using foil pouches and letting them sit since bacteria is prone to grow. All my little personal business aside, this product did feel nice on the skin, but like i said no noticeable effects due to size.
Full size: $225

Narciso Rodriguez for her-
The second i sprayed this product on to my skin i knew i smelt it before. It smells exactly like American Beauty- Beloved (by Ashley Judd). While it is all about preference of scent, i do not prefer one over the other since they smell that similar. The floral softness mixed with warm almost fruity undertones makes it a great scent for spring or summer.
Full size: $77

OPI "Can't Let Go" Liquid Sand Nail Lacquer-
This shade from the Mariah Carey collaboration with OPI is simply phenomenal. This polish, which drys matte, contains purple "sand" as a base with varying sizes of purple glitter scattered throughout. Goes on glossy but drys to matte in ten minuets. While the process of applying this polish can take a while the unique effect is well worth it. Using only a base coat and two coats of this polish you can have a unique textured nail look in about 25 minuets. To see this shade along with the other shades from the Liquid sand portion of the Mariah Carey OPI collaboration, click here!
Full size: $9

Sabastian Professional Potion 9-
This styling cream is infused with 9 (hence the name) botanical extracts that helps to moisturize hair while allowing your hair to hold multiple looks. This product can be used on wet or dry hair. My hair is very long and therefor heavy, so holding a style isn't always easy for me, this product allowed me to create waves in my hair that lasted a good for a few hours.
Full size: $19

Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-hour lipstick in Fierce-
I have been a fan of Tarte for a while now, constantly high quality products made out of natural ingredients and delivers staying power. What i have no tried, was their lipstick, which is why i was pretty happy that Glossy Box allowed me to sample a product from a brand i like, a full sized item at that! This shade is a bright red, which is a fantastically classy color. The tube is a little deceiving since it can make you think the lipstick is this long when it is really a standard size lipstick in an elongated tube. The color goes on smooth and is moisturizing. The finish is a bit satin. I liked the lasting power of this lipstick, i wouldn't give it the promised 12 hours but it was good for about 6 or 7 with light drinking and eating.
Full size: $26

Overall, in terms of value, this box more than paid for itself a few times over. Between two full sized items and the great name brand products this box blows it out of the water. Compared to boxes like Birch box and Ipsy, you may be paying 10$ more but you also get so much more. I would recommend this box to anyone looking for a mixed beauty subscription with mainly deluxe and full sized samples. This box is $21 dollars monthly which includes shipping, and comes in a sturdy, reusable pink box. You can sign up here!

Oh and least we forget about Glossybox Mag, i loved how this month the magazine was really on point with wearable trends and featured products from the box.

Ipsy Bag February 2013 Review

Are you ready to get Red Carpet ready? Forget about Valentines day, just like Ipsy did, and focus on the glitz and glamor of Hollywood's award season! Just in case you are new to Ipsy or don't know what it is, it is a beauty subscription service that allows you to sample beauty products in your own home for only 10$ (yes that includes shipping!) a month. While it is a mystery as to what you will get, you always get items worth more than this and this subscription is cosmetics based! Rarely disappointing. If you would like to sign up, you can do so here!

Just in case you didn't get an Ipsy Bag for February, here are some promo codes!

This months bag was a black, shiny, simple makeup bag which has the Ipsy logo inside.

What i received:
Pixi Flawless and Poreless (deluxe sample size)-
This translucent primer left the pores on my face visibly reduce. While i wouldn't trade the primer i use already for this product it did work quite well. I did not find it heavy on my face and found a little bit went a long way. It can be found here for $29.

Mica Beauty Cosmetics Gel Liner-
This liner, in a deluxe size, has quickly become one of my everyday essentials. It is soft and smooth enough to glide on with a soft or thin brush. It is smooth enough to blend out slightly. I like that once it is on it is resistant to tears and rain. I find it to be great quality that lasts all day and has so much more precision and lasting power than pen liner. You can find this liner here.

Pop Beauty Smokey Lash Kapow Mascara-
This mascara was just, mascara. Nothing special or different. Didn't make my lashes super lush but didn't fall flat. Did not get clumpy or make my lashes stiff. This is your run of the mill mascara that falls right on average and is good for everyday wear.

Coastal Scents Quad-
This item is not new at all. Ipsy gave this item out in October (I believe) and this is also something you can receive for free by placing any order at Coastal Scents. While it still requires a purchase, I always get irritated when I find out that a sample I pay for is something I could have gotten for free. With that aside these colors were decent. I found some a little too powdery for my taste but they were highly pigmented. The upper right shade has some fall out because of the micro glitter but this wouldn't defer me from purchasing this shade or a larger palette. These shades go well together for a full eye look or used individually.

Lash Card- 

This is the second time I have received this sample recently. Now my opinion may come off as a little bias on a few levels and I will explain why. First off, if you are new to mascara or eye looks having something like this to protect your freshly done makeup is genius. If you're a makeup artist you may want to use this on a client. But for someone who does makeup everyday this is pointless. I know how to maneuver a mascara brush, such that, i know how to not mess up my eye look.

Overall this months Ipsy bag was decent. A little something for novice to seasoned makeup user. While some items felt a little pointless others were spot on. Ipsy is a monthly subscription that allows you to sample beauty products for only 10$ month which includes shipping. If you are interested in signing up for Ipsy you can do so here ! 

Birch Box February 2013 Review

Are you red carpet ready? If you aren't this months Birchbox will bring you one step closer to flawless perfection. From face to nails to hair, this month's Birchbox has a little of everything. And had you been wondering what happened to to reccognizing Valintines day? Birchbox included just a little bit of chocolate.

I am not going to bost and say i loved this box, because i didn't. I wasn't wowed or blown away, however, what i will say is that after having a bit of time to reflect on this box (it is March now after all) I have grown to really enjoy its contents. Had I done this review when I first got my box this post may have been just a tad more negative.

Color Club Nail Polish in Wild Cactus 

First off, I quickly became a Color Club fan when I joined Birch Box. I seem to always get samples from them and its the one product I know I will like. The quality it's always on par at least during the polishing part and even though it chips a bit after only a few days I always add a good top coat. This shade is a beautiful green that applys opaque in on coat. I like that it isn't too thick and is on trend with the emerald green shades. 

Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls-

I have zero curls, not one curl. So I was very confused when Birch Box thought it would be amazing to send me this. After emailing them and talking about why this sample was put in my box I have grown to understand that this product is fantastic for frizz. Now if only this little package was resealable. It did help control frizz but did make my roots feel a little greasy. I'd rather have sleek hair than frizzy hair though.

Ghiraelli Squares Milk Chocolate with Caramel-

This was so drugstore, but I did find it delicious. The caramel just oozed out and even though Birch Box did not focus on valentines day this was a nice treat none the less. 

Lancôme La Base-

In February Birch Box had partnered up with Lancôme to offer some pretty great products both inside and outside the monthly box. While I was hoping for some facial cleanser I was happy to be able to try this. I always trust Lancôme and they rarely disappoint. This base was a great way to start the makeup application runtime and allowed my makeup to really stay put all day. I liked that it wasn't heavy and did not feel greasy. 

Vasanti Brighten Up-

This scrub made my face really fresh. I used this twice a week for three weeks and I was sad to see it finished. This made my fade feel clean and smooth. It was a great way to exfoliate.

Overall, only in retrospect, was I able to really enjoy the products in this box. If you are interested in Birch Box it is a beauty subscription that offers samples for only 10$ a month that includes shipping. While every month may not be fantastic and you may not always get the box you want you do get the opportunity to try some great products and even get some great deals. Birch Box gives you points for each product you review from your monthly box. Once you reach 100 you are given $10 to spend in the shop. If this all interests you, you can sign up here!

Beauty Army January 2013 Review

I am a little sad to announce that this will be my last Beauty Army Review  (at least for a while). I have suspended my account due to declining selection and too many repeating items. I felt i was not being introduced to new items  and the new items i did find i was receiving in other boxes at a cheaper price. I hope in the future that the selections improve and i will gladly resubscribe.

The January Beauty Army box, which i did not receive until the middle of February (another reason i canceled) marked the one year anniversary for Beauty Army. For their birthday they included a special 7th item in the box.

The special 7th item was a Mark Scanda-Lash sample mascara in Blacklash  Since this sample is in a smaller box it came without an extender cap. Beauty Army usually includes one but because i also got a Mark Lip Gloss they made sure to only send me one so i had to pick which product i wanted to have a hard time opening. Since i have plenty of mascara that i don't have to worry about, i decided to let the mascara have no cap.

Once opened this small wand left me wondering if this product could really deliver some scandalous lashes. While i did not find it to give me lashes i would call anything other than regular i did like how natural and full they looked. It wasn't clumpy and separated my lashes nicely. Great for everyday wear. I think they need to think about the name of this mascara and give it something a little more timid to suit how it really makes lashes look.

The items i choose for this month's box are:

Mark Baby Glow Hook Up Lip Gloss in Honey-
This is the second Hook Up Lip Gloss i have gotten from Mark from Beauty Army. Honey is a light pinky nude. I liked that this gloss did not feel sticky or overly wet on my lips. It wasn't too sheer but also gave just a nice wash of color. The pigmentation did not settle into my lips and i did not have any bleeding. I like how this gloss wears nicely on bare lips and over nude lipsticks/liners.

Lash Card Sample-
Have you ever been in a rush putting on your mascara and found mascara spots on your freshly done shadow? Yeah, i think its happened to us all at least once, however, while it may be a bit of a let down is it really enough to hold a card up to your lid every time mascara is applied? Probably not. This product is great in theory, and possibly great for those times when you create a really creative shadow look that requires just an extra level of protection to prevent the look from being ruined. However i am sure these cards can be used over and over and there really is no need to actual re-purchase this item. Overall i find it just simply novel.

 Bath and Body Works Paris Amour Body Wash-
This is either my second or third time getting this product, and quite frankly, i am sick of reviewing it.

 Yes To Carrots Nourishing Super Rich Body Butter-
The sheer size of this packet leaves this body butter as more of a quick hand lotion. While i did find this sample to be moisturizing and felt natural and non greasy, i couldn't get an actual feel for it on my body due to its small size.

GG Ooh LaLa Volume-
This tiny packet of conditioner could not be tested due to the fact that i have long hair and the tiny amount did not even cover my long hair. It is a shame because this product seemed like it would work overall had only Beauty Army been more concerned with their long haired customers. 

Whip Hand Camo Collection Limited Edition Loose Pigment Eyeshadow in  Special Forces-
Long name, tiny bottle, great pigmentation. A tiny bit really goes a long way with this shadow. This shade is a fantastic neutral with just the right bit of shimmer. I used a little bit on my lid and also brushed some on the apples of my cheeks and found this product to really brighten up my face. I like how versatile it is. In terms of quality it is impressive!

Overall i did like this box, while there were some repeats and some samples were too small, it really wasn't a disappointment. I have liked this subscription as a whole and it is great in theory but i felt were limited options, this really veered me away from this subscription. Usually when a box starts to go down in my opinon i look toward past boxes, point systems, or rewards, as a way of convincing myself to stay on. Beauty Army's reward system i felt was slow and really did offer much other than small discounts. Not to mention the day you sign up determines when you can pick samples for each box. I was always right before and right after the good samples were released and always felt i was missing out.