★ 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

☼☼ January Boxycharm Unboxing + December Review ☼☼

January Boxycharm Unboxing + December Review

Boxycharm is a monthly beauty subscription box that sends 4-5 full-size beauty/makeup products.

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

Cost: $21 per month (FREE SHIPPING!)

My referral link

https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/38747/

They only ship to 48 U.S. states. (They don't ship to Hawaii or Alaska yet.)

1. Ardency Inn Modster Smooth Ride Supercharged eyeliner in "Grey" - Full Size - $20

It's grey! This stuff seems to be long lasting (difficult to remove after swatching). Look at those claims down below! HA HA. Wow.. will it grow money and walk my dogs too? Volatile oil? Yikes.. I can't wait to use this for a month and then let you know if I like it. :D

Website Claims: 

"Grey (medium grey with slight red undertone)"
"A creamy waterproof eyeliner supercharged with pure pigments. The soft and creamy formula of MODSTER Eyeliner glides on effortlessly, allows enough time for blending, then sets to a long lasting finish that won't budge, no matter what trouble you get into!

• Pigment level has been maxed out to achieve a color payoff that is second to none
• Formula is soft enough to glide-on easily yet firm enough to precisely draw thin lines
• Volatile Oil adds glide to the formula, then evaporates to set to a long lasting finish
• Silicone Oil adds glide to the formula and contains moisturizing properties
• Nylon 12 provides a silky smooth, creamy texture
• Carnauba Wax increases long lasting wear"

2. Royal and Langnickel Revolution Boxycharm Brush Set - Full Size - 3 for $23.97

Each brush is 7.99 each on the website. The set is not for sale. Which is where I got my pricing.

 The three brushes included from LEFT to RIGHT (links to each brush):

1. BX-80 Detail
2. BX-95 LG Smudger
3. BX-90 Crease

But to me... I'll use the left one for packing on product, middle for crease, and right for blending.. lol The handles are uber matte rubber handles. I love the feel of them. Downside if you SNIFF the brush (I'm weird lol) it smells like.. tire? lol. 

Website Claims:

Synthetic and 100% vegan.

3. Coastal Scents Revealed Smoky Palette - Full Size - $19.95 (<--sale regular--> $39.95)

Color blocks on top are the colors from right to left

Color blocks below are the bottom row from Right to Left

I'm happy to have the 4th Revealed palette from Coastal Scents. I've gotten all four through Boxycharm. Pretty excited about this one. The only chalky-ish colors are the white on the top left and the grey-ish one on the bottom right (far left). Make sure to click on these (or tap) and look at them up close. SO BEAUTIFUL. Below are all four palettes. I've numbered them 1-3 + smoky.

Pricing. 

Coastal Scents ALWAYS has these palettes on sale. I think it is a tricky way for Boxycharm to say it is a $40 palette. They have had all palettes on sale immediately once posting them except the first one. I remember BEFORE Boxycharm sent out the first one. It wasn't on sale until after it was sent out and then everything else comes out as $19.95 sale price once released. So... I go by the $19.95 and it is STILL a great box item. No grouching or they'll stop sending them.

4. Blinc Mascara Amplified Tubing in "Black" - Full Size - 0.25oz  $26

 Above you can see it came in a silver tube WITHIN the red metal tube. I love that packaging.

 I left the instructions here because they are kind of SPECIFIC. You have to be careful to keep the top of the tube/wand clean, for example.

Comes in Dark Brown and Black. I received black. You can get the black in a travel $10 size as well.

I'm super excited about this! It applies like a normal mascara but creates tubes around your lashes rather than just painting them. You remove it with warm water. I wore this and I actually ending up watching a sad video and tearing up/crying lol and it DIDN'T come off and it didn't smudge below my eyes like even waterproof mascara does.

On the left are my lashes. Stick straight and short. (except one? lol) I used the left eye for all 4 of these. 

On the right are my lashes after I curled them with a curler. BOOM. lol

On the left are my lashes after I put one coat of the mascara on.

On the right is after 11 hours of wear.

I like super natural mascara.. so I noticed that clump on the one side half way through the day and it separated easily. My lashes were still curled as you can see. I'm pretty happy with that.

The REAL interesting part was removing it. I ran my sink water until it was WARM. I bent my face down (before washing my face) and just got them wet and these little tube tendrils were on my cheeks. They just ran down my face. Easy as pie.  I was SHOCKED at how easy it came off.

This is my new favorite mascara right now. If I repurchase I'll most likely get the travel size though because I don't use up mascaras by their expiration date usually.

Total spent for the bag: $21

Total bag is worth: $89.92

Total saved: $68.92

A total price of 89.92 is amazing but actually kind of a low value for boxycharm. NOT that I'm complaining. Ha ha. Of course it would have been higher if I had added the palette 40 price rather than the 20. Last month there were 6 items in the box. SIX. There were FOUR in this one. I think that is weird. I don't understand how they curate though so maybe it makes sense in those terms.

DECEMBER REVIEW

 Link to the unboxing/swatches

1. Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in "Americano" - Full Size - $19.90
   
   Obsessed with Ofra LLLLipsticks.. lol This color is my new favorite. 100% I love them. I'm sure you aware. Go to the unboxing.. I have like 5 of these and I plan to get two more (Manhattan and Miami Heat..or whatever that orange is called)
2. Tatcha Japanese beauty papers - Full Size - 30 sheets for $12
   
   I used these several times in the last month but it always made me laugh. Once my face is oily there is no saving it. It is like trying to mop up the ocean with a tea towel. Ew. Sorry. lol. I still try and use them a LITTLE earlier in the day to combat any shininess BEFORE I notice it. That works a lot better and I liked that they didn't pull up any foundation. Very nice. Plus they are pretty as hell.
3. Jelly Pong Pong All Over Glow Highlight gel - Full Size - 0.53oz for $15.95
   
   This is my first silver-ish highlight liquid. I like this a lot. There is SO much though. I will be using this for the rest of my life and that kind of bothers me. lol. The SMELL is divine too. It is a sweet smell. You can't smell it on your face though.
4. Nelson j Beverly Hills Argan Oil 7 Moisture Healing Mask -Full Size - 3.4ozoz  $20
   
   This has a coconut scent when you open it and use it but if you smell the actual product it smells like chemicals. I didn't notice THAT much difference in my hair. I just apply it to the ends of my hair after wetting it. It smells nice in the shower. It is BASICALLY...white water though. If you tip it up and squeeze it isn't like mustard it is like WATER lol it SHOOTS out and will run RIGHT off your hand. lol.
5. NCLA So Rich Vitamin-E InfusedCuticle Oil - Full Size - $18 in scent "Dark Almond"
   
   This scent is horrible. It is musky... almond scent. lol. It doesn't smell good and it is STRONG. I have SO much though and this is my first cuticle oil. I really LIKE the oil though. So....I USE A TON and try and leave it on my cuticles until it doesn't feel as oily. I then wash my hands, to get rid of that scent.
6. Bellapierre Cosmetics Waterproof Gel Lip Liner in "Cinnamon" - Full Size- $18
   
   This is sharpenable (it is very soft) but too dark for regular use for me. I'm getting good use out of this during winter though! I usually use something (lipgloss/lipstick) over it in a lighter color to offset it STILL though.

Thank you so much for following along