★ May Birchbox Unboxing + April Review ★

★ May Birchbox Unboxing + April Review ★

Birchbox is a monthly beauty and lifestyle sample box for $10.88 monthly.

Ships to: U.S., France, Spain, UK, and Canada.

Each month, subscribers have one of three options to choose from.

You can choose the featured box: You see everything that will be in the box

You can choose the single sample: You pick one sample to be in your box and the rest are random

You can choose the random: Don't do anything and everything is a surprise/random

This box I chose one sample and the rest was random (I chose the large real chemistry peel)

You take a quiz when you subscribe to help steer your items to your tastes.

You can review the items that were in your box for points. Each item is worth 10 points in the Birchbox store. $5 in store is 50 Birchbox points.

According to the Birchbox website: "At this time, individual product feedback does not significantly impact the samples Birchbox members will receive in future boxes."

Each box comes with a card that has the monthly theme and a list of the contents with the price and instructions.

1. Real Chemistry Luinous 3-Minute Peel Body - Deluxe Size 15ml $3.15 (Full Size - 160ml $34)

I would have preferred the version of this for faces (as this one is for body). I'm happy to have ANY sort of peel or mask (favoriteeee items). 

Website claims:

Exfoliation

Gentle

Evens tone

Smooths rough patches

Not iritating sensitive skin

Full body (feet->decollete.. including bikini)

Luminous skin

Soft skin

Suitable for:

Keratosis

Eczema

Body Acne

Ingrown hair

Dry skin

2. ModelCo Lip Lacquer - In "Viva" - One 1.5ml $5.33 (Trio 3x 1.5ml $16)

 The trio is the colors Creme Brulee, Morocco, and Viva (This is Viva)

 Below: One swipe

 Above/Below: Dab a little on and it blends nicely on the lips to cover with a subtle tint

 Below: No product

 Below: Nice color!

This color looked radical in the container but is a nice pink on my lips. I expected it to be bright but it is close to my natural lip color. I saw a lot of people commenting that this wasn't sticky but as someone who doesn't prefer glosses... it is sticky to me. Ha ha. When I part my lips there is a pulling (is my definition of sticky).

WATERMELON scent! No taste.

Website claims:

Shine

High pigment

Rich color

Nonsticky

Moisturizing

Fuss-free wear

Hydrating

3. Coola Classic Face Sport SPF 50 White Tea - Deluxe Size - $3.20 (Full Size - 50ml $32)

I never wear dedicated SPF on my face because it ALWAYS breaks my face out. I will always try them though because of how important it is that we do wear SPF.

The white tea scent smells sweet with subtle floral - I'm sensitive to scents and this one is SUBTLE!

Website Claims:

sensitive skin

non-irritation

no breakouts (we'll see)

ultrasheer

infused with evening primrose and linseed oil to blance moisture levels and even skin tone

water resistant (80 minutes)

White tea scent

4. Coastal Scents StyleEYES Palette - Two shades black/grey - Sample $3 (Full Size 8 shades $12)

I have four palettes from coastal scents (revealed 1-3 and the smokey) So I passed these to a friend because I have shades VERY similar to these. 

It wasn't sealed but the packaging had a sticky seal (easily breakable)

The packaging has a magnet closure (love that)

5. Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo - Deluxe 0.75oz $3.39 (Full Size 5.3oz $24)

Dry shampoos rarely do anything for the oils in my hair! I don't use them usually though because of the scents! It is always overpoweringly SWEET or floral. They sit in a cloud around my face all day after using them. I have already used this (as soon as I opened the box) and it DOES have a very sweet floral scent but it dissipated after a few minutes. I didn't notice any difference in my hair oils though.

Website Claims:

absorbs excess oil and dirt

leaves hair clean and deodorized, lighter, softer

Antioxidant

Fatty acid-rich obliphica oil

moisturizes

strengthens hair

repairs split ends

enhances shine

Rice starch

No aluminium shavings

No talc

Safe for color-treated hair

Total spent for the bag: $10.88

Total bag is worth: $18.07

Total saved: $7.19

This isn't my favorite box thus far... I'm excited about the peel but that is the sample that I chose. I regret not going with the box that all the samples were shown because I liked at least two of those products a lot.

I'm not a fan of dry shampoo, lip gloss, or spf.. and I already own the shadows. Since I'm a new subscriber though they have very little reviews from me to base my boxes off of! 

Five items: 3 Sealed: 2 No Seal

Sealed: Sunscreen, Peel, Lip gloss

No Seal: Shadow and Dry Shampoo

★APRIL REVIEW★

 Link to unboxing

1. Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator - Sample Size - 0.7oz $5.66 (Full Size 4.23oz $34)

I enjoyed this product but it didn't wow me. The grit is ultrafine. Subtle scent.

 2. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask - Sample Size - $4.25 (Full Size 8oz $34)

I used this twice and I have to say that I DID notice a softness in the ends of my hair afterward. I was surprised. This still has several uses left and I might buy this after I'm out!

 3. Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream - Sample Size - 22ml $2.35 (Full Size 150ml $16)

I got the lavender scent, a scent I normally don't care for, and I really like it! I will be repurchasing this product. The scent was pleasant (I'll try pomegranate, coconut, or grapefruit when I purchase). It left the area SQUEAKY clean.. I usually have issues trying to wash shaving creams off! It seemed to really help with shaving too! I'm surprised and glad to find this gem.

 4. The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick - Full Size - $14.95

Comfortable, wears even, and can be a nice tiny of color of it is applied VERY softly. Other wise it looks like a blue toned red. No scent.
Cons: This was VERY drying... it dry down worse than any liquid lipstick I own!

 5. Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream SPF - Sample Size - 3ml $1.10 (full size 87ml $32)

Great color! Light coverage but it was perfect for my tastes. Didn't run when sweating.

Thank you so much for following along

★ April Birchbox Unboxing + March Review ★

★ April Birchbox Unboxing + March Review ★

Birchbox is a monthly beauty and lifestyle sample box for $10.88 monthly.

Ships to: U.S., France, Spain, UK, and Canada.

Each month, subscribers have one of three options to choose from.

You can choose the featured box: You see everything that will be in the box

You can choose the single sample: You pick one sample to be in your box and the rest are random

You can choose the random: Don't do anything and everything is a surprise/random

This box I chose the random: full surprise!

You take a quiz when you subscribe to help steer your items to your tastes.

You can review the items that were in your box for points. Each item is worth 10 points in the Birchbox store. $5 in store is 50 Birchbox points.

Each box comes with a card that has the monthly theme and a list of the contents. It also has the price of the items and a little blurb about the item and/or how to use it.

Five items: 1 Sealed: 4 No Seal

1. Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator - Sample Size - 0.7oz $5.66 (Full Size 4.23oz $34)

A face wash! One of my favorite items to get. This has a very fine sand in it and not much of a scent. Smells a little bit floral/soapy but I'm sensitive to scents and this one is barely there.

2. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask - Sample Size - $4.25 (Full Size 8oz $34)

A hair mask. My least favorite item to get. Ha ha. I will use this one though because it isn't just a conditioner. The directions say you can put it on hair after shampoo and leave it for 5-10 minutes (what? lol that is eternity). OR you can  put it on under a plastic cap and let it sit for 20 minutes! I'm going to give that a try.

3. Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream - Sample Size - 22ml $2.35 (Full Size 150ml $16)

8 scents: Lavender, Pomegranate, Almond, Blueberry, Lemongrass, Coconut, Acai Grapefruit and Original

I received the Lavender scent. I'm not a big fan of the scent at all. There is barely any in this container.. I don't mind getting tiny samples but I loathe when they are in GIANT packaging and I have to work at it to get the dollop out! I feel as though I would have to cut this open.

I really appreciate getting this kind of sample though! I like getting a LARGE variety. 

4. The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick - Full Size - $14.95

2 shades: This one pictures above and a light pinkish color (no names on website)

This is a slightly muted red but still a pigmented red shade.

 I read a lot of reviews that described this as a "perfect every day lip color" but this is the opposite of what I would consider "every day" I consider this more of a special occasion/night out/hang out color. Every day colors are usually lip dupe/natural colors to me. I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing this to work/school.

As you can see in the swatch above though you can try and put it on VERY lightly?

5. Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream SPF - Sample Size - 3ml $1.10 (full size 87ml $32)

This comes in three shades: Fair to Light; Light to Medium; Medium to Dark

Top is product
Bottom is blended in

I received the fair to light shade and it seems a little dark for my tastes. It is sheer though and it blended perfectly into my hand.

Total spent for the bag: $10.88

Total bag is worth: $28.31

Total saved: $17.43

MARCH REVIEW

1. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Fresh Cut Treatment - Luxury Size - 1oz for $7.05 (Full Size 3.4oz $24)

I'm not sure that I see any difference using this product. I might have to get a haircut then try and use it and see if there is any different after that?

2. The Balm Cosmetics Stainiac - Luxury Size - 0.04 oz for $2.27 (Full Size 0.3 oz $17)

I use this one coat under lip balm for a little bit of color but it is a terrible product. Sticky. Horrible chemical burning taste. I would not purchase any of these full size.

3. Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris - Sample Size - 2ml for $3.20 (Full Size 50ml for $80)

I already owned this so... nothing new. Not a huge fan of the scent. I passed along this sample to a friend.

4. NER:D Skincare Miraculous Brightening Clarifying Face Cleanser - Luxury Size - 15ml for $3 (Full Size 100ml for $20)

I love this! I feel like I have noticed a brightening difference in my skin after using this. The sample was large enough to use over and over. I might buy the full size of this soon!

5. Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate (For Face) - Sample Size - 1ml for $2.23 (Full size 30 ml for $67)
5. 
   

I like serums like this one but this is one sample. I have serums.... this wasn't any different than putting water on my face. Plus it is really expensive? No reason to buy this rather than the one I currently use.

Thank you so much for following along

♥ April Ipsy Unboxing + March Review ♥

♥ April Ipsy Unboxing + March Review ♥

Ipsy is a monthly subscription box for beauty/skin/hair products.

Cost: $10 per month

They ship to the U.S., and Canada

There is a wide variety of options for Ipsy bags. You take a quiz when you first sign up (this can be retaken as many times as you like). This effects what is in your bag each month.

Each time you get a bag you have the option of reviewing the items you received. I've found that this is the best way to effect what you get in your bag each month. The more reviews you complete the more likely you are to like your bags.

For each item you review you receive 10 ipsy points. You can spend these points on rewards that seem to be leftovers from all the bags.

Here is my referral link

https://www.ipsy.com/new?refer=1wq8x

I was not given this box. All opinions are my own. Based off my preferences! :D

Three items sealed: Two items NO seal

1. Moroccanoil Treatment for hair - Luxury Size - 10ml $17.60 (Full Size 25ml $44)

My First Impression:
Hair oil. As I have the oiliest hair ever grown... I wasn't exactly happy about getting this. However, as it says below this is THE original. I'm looking forward to using it to compare it to all of its followers.

Website Claims:

-Get the silky, shiny and healthy hair, nourished, manageable and smooth hair, detangles, speeds up drying time and boosts shine

-Moroccanoil® Treatment is the product that pioneered oil-infused hair care and created the worldwide buzz on argan oil.

-Can be used as a conditioning, styling and finishing tool

- Infused with antioxidant-rich argan oil and shine-boosting vitamins

Winner of many awards

Ipsy Website Claims:

STYLIST TIP:
Start from the bottom up! Focus oil application on your ends before running your fingers through the body of wet or dry hair.

2. Trust Fun Beauty That Glo Tho Face Highlighter - Full Size - 0.15oz $20

My First Impression:

I have soo many highlights but I like the shape, packaging, and color of this one. It has a sickly sweet smell (whyyy?) Blends BEAUTIFULLY.

Website Claims:

It is high performance, comes on smooth and lasts all day and night.

Vegan, free of toxic chemicals, and not tested on animals. 

Ipsy Website Claims:It's totally buildable and has an ultra-blendable formula

STYLIST TIP:
Apply highligher to your cheekbones, cupid's bow, chin, bridge of nose and forehead for lit-from-within radiance.

3. Luxie Beauty Dreamcatcher Tapered Highlighter Brush #522 - Full Size - $10 (Purple Dreamcatcher Brushes only sold in 15 brush set for $150)

My First Impression:

As you can see above it is one of the items that came to me broken. I tried putting the two parts together (there is dried glue in the hole) but it doesn't fit well (the handle rocks back and forth). This makes it ironic considering their website claim below about the brushes being designed/redesigned for maximum precision and control.... I have contacted Ipsy about this problem and they got back to me within 7hrs and sent out some sort of replacement for this item and the other item below that arrived broken.

I want to add that I have THREE other Luxie brushes (the pink above) that are PERFECT without a single issue. These dreamcatcher brushes seem to be from the past holidays and they are unloading them.

Website Claims:

- Silky soft and gentle enough for all skin types

- Each makeup brush is designed, and some redesigned, for maximum precision and control in makeup application.

Features:

-Periwinkle color

-100% Cruelty-free

-100% Vegan

-100% Paraben-free

-Coated with antibacterial solution

-Premium Grade Fibers

Tapered Highlight Brush 522– Redisigned- More Tapered. Great for: Powder/Liquid Highlight, Baking Technique, Undereye Setting Powder, Contour, Lightweight Undereye Concealor 

4. Tarte Cosmetics LipSurgence lip creme in "wonder (poppy)" - Luxury Size - 1.6g $12.83 (Full Size 3g $24)

My First Impression:

Bummer. This item came melted into the top of the cap. I will have to scrap it out and see if I can fill a little container or something. Like I said above I contacted Ipsy about this problem and they responded within 7hrs of my email and sent out a replacement with tracking number and separate from my April bag! 

I'll post next month my extras!

4 shades: Wonder (poppy), Serene (apricot pink), Illusion (rose berry), Empowered (soft pink)

Website Claims:

- Ultra-moisturizing, full coverage lip crème

- Rich, creamy color veil with a luxurious texture. 

- With vitamins (A, C, E), maracuja

Ipsy Website Claims:

- Eco-chic, cruelty-free product

- Infused with their famous maracuja oil

-Doubles as cheek tint

5. Starlooks Luxe Longwear Mechanical Eye Pencil in "Jet" - Full Size - $16

My First Impression:

I went a little crazy on the swatches and broke the tip off. :/ Ha ha. Whoops. I love the way it feels and it is mechanical. 

Ipsy Website Claims:

- Intensely-pigmented

- Ultra-soft 

- Without pulling or scratching.

Total spent for the bag: $10

Total bag is worth: $76.43

Total saved: $66.43

MARCH IPSY REVIEW

Link to the unboxing

1. Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco 3 Day Smooth Perfect Blow Dry Cream - Luxury Size - 50ml $2.25 (Full size 200ml for $8.99)

Passed this along to a friend

 2. NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick  in "Soft Spoken" 4ml - Full Size - $7
- Love the color!
- Doesn't get matte enough (more satin than matte)
- Wears well - starts to fade inside lips first but not bad
- Favorite (except now that it is warmer I never feel like wearing this darker color)

 3. Manna Kadar Beauty Fantasy 3-in-1 Blush, Eyeshadow, and Highlight - Full Size - 3g $19
- Amazing shade
- No fall out
- Pigmented
- Shimmer
- NEVER use for blush/highlight (weird)

 4. Pixi by Petra Beauty Blush Duo in "Rose Gold" without kabuki brush Luxury - size - $11.76
- Lovely blush color/wears well
- Too yellow as a highlight but I used it under my eyes to mask my under eye darkness!

 5. Beau Gâchis Paris Eyeshadow Brush - Full Size - $12
- Brush! lol Like it. It is soft, firm enough, doesn't shed.

Thank you so much for following along.