Glam It Up: February Birchbox

February's Birchbox theme is based around awards season. Everyone loves to see the new trends, awesome attire and of course makeup and hairstyles of celebrities.

Birchbox came out with a few items to help anyone achieve the hot new look of 2014. Once again I wasn't that thrilled with the products I received so I finally did it, I cancelled my Birchbox subscription. I kept receiving duplicate items, I ordered a hair styling product and it took over two weeks to ship and as far as I'm concerned I've never gotten all that excited about the products.

Let's see the "glam" in the box.

Ruby Wing Color Changing Polish-$10
This item definitely intrigued me. It is a color changing polish. The color is gold while inside and changes to a reddish orange color when you go outside. The polish is also scented. I didn't really notice it too much but the Birchbox professionals say it has a floral scent.

Camille Beckman Glycerine Hand Therapy in Model is Monarch-$15
As dry as my skin has been it was nice to use this product. It smelled of vanilla and didn't leave my skin greasy or oily. The cream moisturized my hands and really made them feel great!

Smashbox Cosmetics Full Exposure Mascara-$19.50
I don't find many mascaras that I like so it didn't surprise me that this one was just average. It went on smooth and didn't clump but I like mascaras that give my lashes fullness. I have tiny lashes so if after applying a mascara they don't look long and full I'm dissatisfied.

Smashbox Cosmetics Full Exposure Palette-$49
I really loved the color samples that were sent in this palette. I do have to remember they are samples and that means one swipe over the color card and you are dunzo. It's nice to try different shades but when you receive a little trial it's hard to formulate an opinion. 

Agave Healing Oil Treatment-$24
As appealing as it sounds too have sleek, smooth frizz free hair I cannot bring myself to put the oil hair treatments on my scalp. Sorry Wide Open Spaces readers no can do.

This will be my last Birchbox review. As fun as it has been receiving snail mail every month I did not find the products to be useful for myself. I instead put those funds towards the gym and successfully have attended about three times a week now. Until I find another subscription that fits my taste I'll keep loving my Ipsy glam bag. 

Winter Affecting Your Beauty?

Anyone and everyone who is sick of snow and cold temperatures please raise your hand.
Looks like many of you are on my side, except for those of you in Florida who decided to not participate in the polar vortex this season. Lucky you.

I'm about over winter this year. It's outstayed it's welcome and in my opinion it's time for spring and summer to begin.

I'm ready for flip flops, tank tops, sunglasses and glowing golden skin. Oh yeah about that, this skin covering my body looks like the Sahara desert. Anyone else having this problem lately?

I started going tanning the last few weeks and let me say I might as well been a snake. Last week I'm pretty sure I shed off an entire first few layers of skin. Yoga pants, black work pants you know anything black, well I guess they too saw the polar vortex arrive. Everything was covered in ashy white flaky skin. Attractive huh? Not so much.

So I did a little research and found the top three tips that we can use to solve this problem.

1. Avoid harsh cleansers. Choosing fragrance free moisturizing cleansers will keep your natural oils intact and help the skin from drying out as much.

2. Moisturize. Using petroleum jelly or a high quality thick moisturizer after a bath will lock moisture into the skin. If you are not fond of the jelly a lotion like shea butter will improve the look and feel of your skin as well.

3. Hydrate and Use A Humidifier. Although it is cold and dry outside this can also occur indoors. Without a humidifier the air can become dry causing nose bleeds, dry skin and many other symptoms. Keeping the air filled with moisture is very important. Drinking lots of water can make a world of a difference also. Hydrating the skin from the inside out and maintaining a healthy immune system is among the highest level of importance.

With these quick tips you can maintain your flawless, radiating, glowing complexion while also taking care of the inside of your body as well. Just because winter has decided to be brutal does not mean our skin has to accept it!!

Shining and Sparkling Beauty

My Ipsy Glam Bag has finally arrived and I can say I was completely shocked at how heavy the package was when I took it out of the mailbox.

The question that seems to be asked the most is “what’s the difference between Ipsy and Birchbox?”

In my experience Ipsy sends full sized products and sticks with the lower end and more affordable brands like NYX. In comparison, Birchbox’s samples are of higher end products and come in smaller sized samples. The price of full size Birchbox products are also a little higher. All around I love both companies and enjoy all of the products. I like the variety and choices that I receive each month and that’s why I am subscribed to both.

In this month’s bag each item took on a festive and more glamorous look along with the bag itself in all of its shining golden glory, let’s see what’s inside!!

em michelle phan pillow plush cushiony lip balm in Berries-Retail $15.00
As much as I love lip balm I thought $15 for the size of this product was a little extreme. The lip balm does leave your lips silky smooth and shiny but not worth the price. As dark as the lip balm may look the color was a subtle and nice shade once I applied it on. 
                                              

Be a bombshell Lip Crayon-Retail $14.00
The last Bombshell lip crayon I received was a bright pink so it comes at no surprise that this sample would be any different. Only now in a red shade! It is definitely a bright red. I have actually kept these lip crayons for when Madison needs bright lip shades for her dance recitals. I even in the best shade of light can never pull off these colors!

Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer-Retail $13.00
I love my nail polishes so I am a very happy camper when I receive Nailtini products! This shade is perfect for winter and for the upcoming holidays! It took about two coats to retrieve a nice smooth covered look, not bad. 

Pixi Beauty Bronzer-Retail $5.00
I love how subtle this bronzer is! I have purchased bronzers in the past that leave my skin orange and three shades darker than my neck. Yuck! This product leaves your skin with a light glowing layer of color.

Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil-Retail $14.00
All of my eye pencils are black and I have never worn anything else. I feel a little washed out if I am not using a black eye pencil. Although this item is a fun product to play around with I don’t see myself using it unless I blend it into an eye shadow or wear it to an event for the holidays.

TRESemme TRES Two Extra Hold Holdspray Travel Size-Retail $0.50 1.5 oz.
I love mini hairsprays! Especially in the winter when I find my hair experiencing static. I throw a can in my purse and I am on my way! I also use TRESemme’s Dry Shampoo spray as well! I haven’t had a bad experience with TRESemme products!

The value of this bag came to $61.50 which is amazing! If you haven’t subscribed to receive Ipsy’s monthly glam bag I suggest you do! Look at what all was received for just $10! A hair product, 2 lip products, 1 eye product, 1 face product, 1 nail product and the monthly “glam bag” which happens to be one of the best things about this subscription! I love all things beauty and I love Ipsy!

Birchbox: November 2013

What's in the box?

That is what immediately pops into my head every time I see my Birchbox peeking out of my mailbox every month.

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I cannot tear the packaging open fast enough.

For all of you that might not be up to date on what a Birchbox it is, it is basically a monthly beauty subscription box for $10. 

You receive 4-5 beauty samples. 

Some are full size and some are sample size. 

Most of the time Birchbox provides a wide range of products including edible treats, eyeliner, mascara or even moisturizer. 

The $10 is definitely worth it! I have found some of my favorite products through the Birchbox subscription!

So let's see what's in this month's box!

Color Club Cocktail Hour Collection in Top Shelf: $8.00

The picture doesn't do it justice but the nail polish shade is a golden color. I just purchased some Christmas themed glitter last night so this will accent it perfectly! Can't wait to share my new mani!

Vasanti BrightenUP! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator: $34.00

I love the way this product smells! It is a mini mircodermabrasion product! Exfoliating the skin and moisturizing as well. This little tube made my skin feel silky smooth and soft in just a few mins!

TOCCA Crema de Mano in Cleopatra: 
$20.00

Around this time of year my skin and hands become very dry. I find myself reaching for moisturizer more than usual. This tube of cream combines my two favorite scents: grapefruit and cucumber! I put this cream on before bed and woke up with great smelling and looking skin!

Chella Highlighter Pencil:
$18.00

I actually have already received this product in a prior Birchbox and I use it almost every day. I also use it as a concealer around my eye area. The eye pencil matches my skin perfectly and hides blemishes along with dark eye circles!












Chuao Chocolatier Chocolate Bars: 
$6.00

Anyone who knows me knows I love chocolate! Especially chocolate and caramelized honey! This small piece of goodness tasted delicious! I love trying out new decadent treats and this one aimed to please! Birchbox knows the way to a girls heart!

What's in your box this month?

Have you signed up yet or thinking about?

Share your thoughts!!

Birchbox: Beauty Buzz October 2013

Every month when I see my Birchbox in the mailbox I begin to feel like a kid a candy store!
I want to rip open the contents and try each product as fast as I can.

Nothing excites me more then experimenting with new items and finding what works for me without paying the high dollar price in case it doesn't work out.

It looks like Birchbox focused on products receiving the most "buzz" with this months theme named "Beauty Buzz". I love each and every item I received! Birchbox has definitely stepped up their game compared to previous months.

Let's see what was dropped in my mailbox this month!
 
1. Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser Starter Kit
    Full Size (3.3 oz cleanser & 2 muslin cloths): $24.50
    Sample Size: (1 oz cleanser & 1 muslin cloth): $9.00

This little combo is actually 2 samples in one. The cleanser and the muslin cloth. I usually don't say this but one sample was enough to feel exactly how these products work. The cleanser left my face feeling baby soft, removed all of my makeup and kept my skin looking fresh. The cloth helped exfoliate the top layer of my skin which is a must!

 

 

 

2. POP Beauty Aqua Lacquer
    Full Size: $14

If I see a lip gloss in this shade, I most likely will not try it. The shade seemed to be a neon pink that shouted "BRIGHT" but I took the plunge to give you an honest review and realized this was not as bright as I had thought. It was actually a light shade of pink which shocked me.

 
The gloss felt great on my lips and restored the moisture I needed in my lips at that time. I threw this sample in my purse, a winner in my book! (ignore the pixilation of the picture)

3. Chapstick Hydration Lock   
    Full size: $2.99

This bad boy really sold itself in this box! Birchbox is sold out! The vanilla scent and softness left on my lips was very satisfying. Most chapsticks have a mint scent which I am not fond of. It is no surprise that these are selling like hot cakes! Best chaptick award goes to Chapsticks hydration lock!

 

4. Folle je Joie eau de parfum
    Full size: $98.00

With a blend of citrus and floral this perfume sample smells great! It isn't too strong or heavy like most samples I receive in the box. The scent is light and fresh and seems perfect for the fall season!

5. Miss Jessie's® Original Crème de la Crème Conditioner
    Full size: $16.00

With my hair emergency blog post yesterday needing help deciding on a new style, I often forget how much my hair needs to be healthy. After using this conditioner my hair smelled and looked great. I had less tangles and my hair didn't feel heavy and weighed down like most conditioners cause.

I absolutely loved all of my products and cannot wait to receive November's box!
Have you signed up with Birchbox?
What is your favorite sample this month?

Mary Kay All The Way

When something good happens in your life all you want to do is share that information. Am I right?

Well something fabulous happened to me!

My bloggy friend who I have mentioned before, Lara, was so kind to send me an email letting me know she wanted me to try out some new products in her Mary Kay line!


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Of course I jumped on that bandwagon! I use to sell Mary Kay and with a new baby and hardly any time on my hands I fell short of becoming a new pink Cadillac driver. Booooo.

For anyone like Lara who can make a career out of this and who can spread the word, more power to ya!
I am so grateful to have bloggy buddies who look after me, check up on me and who care about my well being. To all of you, thank you!

I was overwhelmed with happiness when I received my little box of products in the mail!

Mary Kay has some of the best products for aging, daily skincare and beauty needs!


Let's see what's in the box shall we?

1. A look book with the most current and updated products! A pamphlet with this seasons hot new color line! Including info about Mary Kay's new lip and eye crayons! I get overly excited about new products!

2. A color card that matched my skin tone well! It includes 3 eye shadow color (silky caramel, precious pink & iris) samples, one mineral cheek color (strawberry crème) and a crème lipstick (maple) sample!

3. Timewise Volu-Firm Eye Renewal Cream. When Lara emailed me asking me about my major skin concerns the number one answer I had for her was wrinkles! Expression lines, fine lines and eye wrinkles have become a nightmare for me. I mean I'm not even thirty yet and I find myself "lifting" my face in the mirror. So when Lara sent me this little tube I jumped for joy! The cream is so soft on your skin and smells great. I am using it every day and hope that in a month or so I will really be able to tell a difference!

4. Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara. Yay for mascara! Especially this kind! The ultimate mascara is my favorite and I will soon be running out so this little tube came at the perfect time! It never clumps and never irritates my eyes like most mascaras do.

5. Timewise Repair Volu-Firm sampler set which includes the:
Foaming Cleanser, Lifting Serum, Day Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30, Night Treatment and more Eye Renewal Cream.

This kit is amazing. It has everything a women needs. At least a woman from age 25 and older. It's never too late to try and turn back the hands of time! This kit helps to focus on smoothing out your skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles and replenishing the moisture in your skin.
I love the TimeWise skin care line because it really keeps your skin clean and healthy. While the TimeWise Repair does just that, repairs what years of aging has caused. I highly recommend purchasing this kit!

If you haven't tried out Mary Kay products let me tell you, you are missing out! The wonderful line of skincare and beauty products is amazing. Mary Kay does not disappoint!
I am very grateful and lucky to have been given the chance to sample all of these wonderful items!

Please visit Lara Brown's Mary Kay website today!

She will help you with all of your needs!

If you are a Mary Kay consultant or someone who needs exposure to their business send me an email, I would love to help!

Birchbox: August 2013

It's that time again!
This month's Birchbox included 5 products that are fabulous! Birchbox collaborated with Ann Taylor to help create affordable looks for the fall!

The great thing about Birchbox is you get to try high end products in a sample size and then decide from there to buy a full size portion at regular price.

No one likes to buy something and then find that it doesn't work the way it was expected. So being able to test out 4-5 products for $10 is worth every penny!

Harvey Prince Eau Flirt - Lavender Pumpkin - 100 ml-$98

This sample came at the perfect time! With fall right around the corner the scent of pumpkin, lavender, apple and cinnamon sets the mood for the season. I have a collection of perfumes and body sprays so being able to try another is great!

Juice Beauty Oil-free Moisturizer- 2 oz-$28

I use a moisturizer every morning and night. My skin tends to get very dry after I cleanse so it is a must that I re-hydrate my skin. I have loved all of Juice Beauty's products since I started receiving them in my Birchbox and this product worked just as well as the others.

ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick-Set of 3-$24

I received Disco Fever which is a coral color. While it is not my favorite shade it is always nice to try something new. With the right outfit I can see this adding an extra "pop" to my look.

Whish Exfoliating Body Wash-6 0z-$22

The most refreshing body wash scent is coconut. It makes me think of days spent on the beach and the smell of tanning lotion and pina coladas! This tube of body wash left my skin smelling great and silky soft!

Birchbox usually adds in a  "Beauty Extra" which happened to be the Whish Inhibiting Deodorant Swipes-$22

I have never heard of or used this product before so it was fun to see how the product worked. I do have to say that it worked better than I had expected. It comes in a small convenient pack so they can be carried in a small handbag or tossed in the gym bag. A quick swipe under the arm and you are good to go. No sweat, odor or wetness!

Want to join in on the fun? Visit Birchbox today and sign up! There's nothing quite like receiving a little package in the mail each month!

Beach Beauty

My favorite moment of the month is when I receive the pink sparkly package in the mail from Ipsy.
Haven't heard of Ipsy before?
Let me give you the details!

Comparable to Birchbox, you pay a $10 fee and receive one bag a month with 4-5 beauty samples.
This allows you to sample different brands and products maybe you haven't tried before.
For me it was a done deal as soon as I heard about it. Who doesn't love receiving a makeup bag each month and trying new things?!?!?
When I received my first bag the products were awesome and with each month have gotten better and better. It also seems like when I am getting tired of one product or need a re-stock, Ipsy sends me the right product at the right time. It's a perfect system!

So this month's theme was "Beach Beauty." Ipsy delivered products that even on the hottest of days we can have stylish hair and perfect looking skin and lips!

Let's see what's in July's bag!

Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray Conditioning & Texturizing Spray-$21.95

Who doesn't want beach wave hair?

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A simple style made with just the right product. This Beach spray contains argan oil which nourishes and protects the hair. The spray smells amazing and leaves no greasy feel or look. I scrunch my hair at least three times a week so this spray was tossed into my purse as soon as I received it!

Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer In Mai Tai-$13.00

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Every time I receive nail polish my little tummy does a back flip. I am obsessed with nail polish. My mom has a TON more than I do and I am jealous but anytime I score a new bottle I do a little dance. The pink/orange shade goes well with the summer outfits I wear daily and gives my nails a little a pop of color.

BH Cosmetics California Collection Eyeshadow-$9.95


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I wear mostly brown eye shadow so of course I was happy to receive this sample. The shadow is pigmented well and goes on smooth.
 

COOLA Mineral Face SPF 20 Rose Essence Tinted Moisturizer-$36.00



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I received almost the same exact product in my Birchbox this week and like the other this product smells great, protects from UVA/UVB rays and helps with aging. The only difference is this sample is tinted and leaves a small amount of color on your skin.

POP Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon-$25.00

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Out of the collection, Ipsy sent me the shade I will use the most! The light pink shade adds a little color under my lip gloss and accents my blush that I wear on my cheeks.

If you haven't signed up with Ipsy yet I suggest you do so now! I have been signed up since January and in the 7 bags I have received I have used every product more than once, gained seven cute and stylish makeup bags and learned so much in regards to different brands and products!

It's only $10! Work it into the budget and get excited when that pretty little pink package arrives in your mailbox!!!