★ 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

♥ July Ipsy Unboxing + June Review ♥

          ♥ July Ipsy Unboxing + June Review ♥

Ipsy is a monthly subscription box for makeup products.

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

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. 

I love this Summer beach bag for July! I'm not sure how much I associate these products with Summer though. The eye-shadow was in bubble wrap, the lip product in a box, and the tweezers in plastic sleeve.

1. Eva NYC Freshen UpDry Shampoo 0.75oz Deluxe size for $7.50 (Full Size 1oz $10)

This dry shampoo is supposed to remove excess oil AND odor (my hair has never smelled…..has it??? Ew) Revives and adds volume.

Claims:

-No white residue

-aluminium free

-rich in vit C and omegas

-refreshing scent

I like the little pink can way better than their usual Arizona orange/yellow desert design. I gave this a try because I'm on second day hair today. The smell is strong sweet floral if you are okay with that I almost wouldn't wear a perfume with this. My husband noticed the scent right away. 

It does spray white but massaged in well without a cast or residue left over. I didn't notice it did much for the oil in my hair though. I have extremely oily hair though so and dry shampoos have never helped me with oil. This would be a "halfway through day one" dry shampoo.. to help me out at all! Again... it isn't any worse than ANY other dry shampoo I've ever tried though. 

2. Jersey Shore Cosmetics Mongongo organic lipconditioner in Vanilla Coconut Cream 0.15oz for $10

100% natural and USDA Certified Organic
100% Cruelty Free

Hydrate and smooth lips.  Regenerating and restructuring properties. UV protection. Mongongo oil is rich in magnesium, zinc, cooper, calcium, and anti-oxidants. Nothing artificial. Also has rosemary extract, vitamin E from non-GMO sunflowers.
Available in two sizes .15 and .25
In the 0.15oz size the available flavors are blackberry, orange, and vanilla coconut.

In the 0.25oz only orange and vanilla coconut are available.

Holy crap. When I saw this item in my sneak peek.. I was disappointed. I like lip balms but I buy them myself. I couldn't imagine getting one that changed my life. This is now my holy grail lip balm. I do not typically like anything coconut scented or flavored. I like coconut okay but it isn't something I like to smell particularly. This smells. like. heaven. It smells like a coconut cupcake.. vanilla and toast coconut. I can't stop smelling it! 

So, I'm NOT into scented lip products either. I like when they smell okay but if the scent lingers it makes me sick. For example, my favorite lip products are the lippie stix by Colourpop but... I have been wearing them less and less because the vanilla scent lingers and I can smell it on my lips and it makes me feel SICK after awhile. 

This is not the case for this lip balm. It smells amazing in the tube but once on my lips I can't smell it. Plus, taking into account all the natural components of this, it's awesome!

3. CrownBrush - Black Crown Tweezer - Sale price $6.99 (regular retail price is $17.49)

Stainless steel professional tweezers. Tips are hand-filed at a 45 degree angle. Calculated tension and perfectly aligned.

I'm sure I didn't need a second pair of tweezers lol unlike brushes the pair I had were serving their purpose. But.. I think I'll pass my pair onto my husband and keep these sleek black ones! (Pink versions were also sent out). Who pays $17.49 for tweezers? Unless they have some pain killers in them I can't imagine ever paying that much.

4. Nicka k New York HQQuad Eyeshadow $4.99 in  "NY076VENTURA"

Below is in the sunlight

Below is in the shade

12 quads to chose from, optimal for highlighting, contouring, and defining the eyes.

Long lasting wear without creasing or fading.

Vibrant and richly pigmented formula.

Smoothly applies and blends with minimal fallout.

Okay, here me out. There were two versions sent out from this company. I'm glad I got this version. I'm not a big eye-shadow fan. I have a few palettes that have a trillion neutrals that I love. However, after swatching these I was reminded of something. Coffeebreakwithdani's metamorphosis quad with Colourpop. Yeah! I mean they just AREN'T as pigmented and in the container they don't look the same. Only after swatching did I notice a similarity. Even then.. they aren't dupes. Just the shade and undertones are similar. 

So, below is the colors again in the shade

 Here is the metamorphosis quad -
Top Row (L to R) Kindness and Bravery
Bottom Row (Left to R) Strength and Hope

So.. since mine don't have names.. I'll just refer to their position on my hand. I believe that the far left is the most like Hope (the white shade), then Strength (the warm light brown), Bravery (the dark brown), and on the far right of my hand looks like Kindness. 

If you look at these swatches of these colors though... they are all MUCH more pigmented and/or darker. I think the quad though is as close to metamorphosis as I'll get! My swatches weren't very pigmented and looked like it might lean toward fall out and be patchy. I'll let you know next month though how these work out! 

5. TeeezCosmetics Read My Lips Lipstick in "Killing Me Softly" $22 (Limited Edition)

 Claims:

"This long-lasting lipstick combines the power of highly-pigmented coverage and a unique satin, matte finish. The lipstick’s smooth, ultra creamy texture and added coconut oil extract nourishes and hydrates the lips, with color that lasts for up to 8 hours."

A lipstick! yay. Finally. Ha ha. This is a super bright coral color on me. I'm sure a lot of people weren't happy to get this color in their bags. It is a super bright neon coral color. I'm not sure if it sat in the sunlight for a long time but putting it on was a chore. It was EXTREMELY soft and warm. So, it might do better after cooled down some. I'll let you know next month in my review. Otherwise I love the color, it has a citrus smell (weird.. but I like it).

Total spent for the bag: $10

Total bag is worth: $51.48

Total saved: $41.48

APRIL REVIEW

1. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
This smashbox primer worked great. I like the velvety feel it gave after it set. It kept my eye-shadows on really well without creasing. I don't wear foundation a lot or eye-shadow so I still have some of this.

2. Formula X Nail Polish "Power Source"
I was disappointed in this formulax nail polish. I've heard such amazing things about them but the lauren b polishes I get in boxycharm are WAY better formula. I do like the color though and I didn't have anything like it. There was also virtually NO smell which is a welcome change.

3. Jules and Esther Facial serum No. 24 Vitamin C

I loooooove this vit c serum! I love the orangey smell of it and using it. However, I did have some breakouts.. I'm not sure if it was from this though or just stress. I've stopped using it for now so we'll see. I don't think it is from this though. I could be this HOTT weather we are having right now. Oiliness + sweating. Ugh.

4. TreStiQue Mini Shadow Crayon "Marimoto Pink Pearl"

I've only used this a couple times (too pink for every day) but it is a really lovely color! I'm glad to have it in my collection. Coupled with the smashbox primer they didn't crease or anything. No fall out.

5. BioRepublic Skincare Face Masks
FAVORITE item in last months bag were these face masks. I've used all three and I can't decide which is my favorite. I'm obsessed with face masks though, so that isn't a surprise.

Thank you so much for following along. 

☼☼March Boxycharm Unboxing☼☼

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. Previse Nutrify Skin Type 1-6 Universal Tonic - FULL SIZE! Value $48

This is a OIL-FREE (I didn't realize this) tonic with daisy flower extract and hyaluronic acid that helps to reduce redness, swelling, and brighten and whiten skin! This doesn't have a smell which is good for having it on my sensitive skin. I've tried it twice since getting it and I really enjoy it. 

The directions say specifically to use the dropper to put 5 drops on your fingertips and rub them together quickly to warm it before applying it first to the top of your face then another five drops for the bottom half of your face. It soaks into your hands pretty quickly so don't rub them together too long.

Of course.. I doubt I'd ever repurchase a face serum like this at $48 a POP! WHEWWWW. I didn't want to wash it off my HANDS because it felt like I was washing off gold. Ha ha. Dramatic? Maybe... but true 'nuff.

2. Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo Spray - 1.2 oz Value $9 (comes out white)

I noticed that other people were getting other Oscar Blandi products in their boxes! Dry shampoos can never combat the oil in my hair but I'll give this one a go. I have heard of Oscar Blandi products but it has been years since I've seen or used them. I wonder if this is their come back attempt! I would have preferred to get the mousse I see others have received. Since, I have naturally uber wavy hair that I LOVE using mousse in.

3. OFRA Eyeliner in "Coffee Bean" - FULL SIZE! Value $13

Love this! First Ofra is one of my absolute favorite companies so I'm glad to try something else of theirs. I own like 6 colors of eyeliner and I've never bought a brown for myself. I have to say I like how light and dark I can make it and it isn't too sharp for my eyelid. Just soft enough!

4. LVX Nail Lacquer in "Lemondrop" - FULL SIZE! Value $16

First layer

Second layer

Third layer

 I was excited that I got the lemon-drop shade of polish. I'm not impressed with this formula even though it has a large purchase price. It took three coats (I've never had to do three) to get coverage and I'm not sure if you can tell by the third layer picture it is STILL patchy. I'll keep this to use for designs though. There were two other shades that charmers received (Mynt and Deco)

5. Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in "Charmed" - FULL SIZE! Value $24

 Before and after on my lips

Also, it came with this 20% off coupon in the box!

SWEET! I love Tarte. I'm excited for the coupon too. I like this pink for Spring and I don't own any of their lip crayons (there are 12 shades.) It has a minty flavor that is subtle once on the lips. 

Total spent for the bag: $21

Total bag is worth: $110

Total saved: $89

That is a win!

Thank you so much for following along.