★ 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

♥ June Ipsy Unboxing + May Review ♥

  ♥ June Ipsy Unboxing + May Review ♥

(Can we ignore my unkempt lawn and just take in my beautiful doggie angel baby?)

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. 

1. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer 0.25oz $8 (Full Size 0.50oz $16)

A lot of people got either this primer or a lipstick. I wish I got the lipstick... because I love them. If I had gotten the lipstick this would have been the HOLY GRAIL OF HEAVENLY bags. The PERFECT of all PERFECTION. I will use this primer and it is awesome QUALITY being a smashbox primer. Just not my favorite item. HUGE plus though... it smells like fruit. Ha ha. I can't stop smelling it. 

2. BioRepublic Skincare Face Masks $4.99 each (3 for $14.95)
- Aloe Rescue Revitalizing Fiber Mask (For Hydration)

- Cucumber Breeze Soothing Fiber Mask (Tightens pores, reduces fine lines, and soothes)

- Green Tea Detox Purifying Fiber Mask (Reduces appearance of blemishes, cleans, and provides anti-oxidants)

Holy smokes. Could I BE any happier?! I'm addicted to face masks. To get THREE different ones in one bag? OVER THE MOON. I would be happy with masks in every bag. lol. Not joking.

These are paraben free and dermatologist tested. All three have Vitamin E.

3. Jules and Esther Facial serum No. 24 Vitamin C 0.5Fl Oz $10.50 (Full Size 1.1Fl Oz $36)

What? What.... kind of MIND reading is happening with this bag? I wanted a serum.. Ipsy provides. This one smells AMAZING (like oranges - vit C) but I've used it twice and I ADORE it. I wish a full size didn't cost an arm and a leg. I might repurchase though when i'm done. I was afraid it might break me out but so far it hasn't. 

"Lightweight serum. Keeps skin hydrated while reducing signs of aging. Hyaluronic Acid plumps and replenishes. Jojoba oil mimics skins natural oil for light moisture."

4. Formula X Nail Polish "Power Source" 4ml $3.50 (Full size 12ml $10.50)

This is a hot coral 2 coat nail polish. I like the color (I can't wait to get less pinks/corals though.. BLUES AND GREENS!!! FTW!) The most remarkable part of this polish is that the fumes aren't that horrible. I usually get a headache after painting my nails because I'm sensitive to chemicals. This almost didn't have a scent at all though. It was magical! NO HEADACHE! I want more colors. I wasn't upset getting a mini size either because I've honestly never finished a polish. Ha ha.

5. TreStiQue Mini Shadow Crayon "Marimoto Pink Pearl" $10.66 (Three Minis like this is $32)

TreStiQue... those big kidders. I've heard that I'm not the only one who pulled this product out and assumed the lid had come off during shipping. Upon closer inspection.. the LID looks like a pointed version of the product. Har har har. The actual product is rounded as you can see in the picture above. 

I love the pinkie nude shade I received. I really like these eye-shadow crayons too. So happy to have this little product too!

Total spent for the bag: $10

Total bag is worth: $47.61

Total saved: $37.61

APRIL REVIEW

I didn't like the purple lip gloss sample so I gave both to my cousin. I like the OZONE clear lip crayon though to outline my lips. It keeps my red lipsticks in CHECK! That being said I don't think it works any better than my drugstore versions so I won't be repurchasing.

This was a weird watery lotion that sprayed (which is fine..) but it weighed my hair down. I passed it along to my cousin.

I'm actually in love with It Cosmetics because of subscription boxes. I'm so glad I received this sample. I WILL be getting this again but probably in a shade lighter.

LOVE this pencil. The teal color is beautiful and unique.

When I used the first set I didn't realize I had them on BACKWARD. The small point is meant to be on the inside by your nose. I wore the second set the correct way (looked at the pics lol) and they were comfortable. I wish I had some more of these cooling little eye masks. So, I will most like repurchase them in the future.

Thank you so much for following along.