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Beauty

June Birchbox Review

Posted on June 28, 2017

It’s been awhile blog friends.  Hope there are still a few of you out there.  I just started my 2 week staycation and I have to say…I’M BACK!!!  So far on this staycation I have, worked out almost every single day (I’m going to lose some pounds damn it!), I went to the Born Free Motorcycle Show with my boyfriend (and now I know what’s it like to go to a festival in the desert – it was 100 degrees), and I helped save a kitten and find it a forever home (I have done my good deed for the month and I think I want to foster kittens now….).  So that’s what I have been up to on the other side of the computer screen.

Now, on to the blog – I have so many new reviews and I am so excited to share them with all of you.  Now, let’s get back to business.  First up…

This month’s Birchbox had a mix of really great products and some that were not so great.  Let’s begin with the good…

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray | Birchbox $46:  If you get Birchbox, you know that each month – you get to pick one of your samples.  This is the one I picked.  It is one of my holy grail products that I use on my hair every single day.  I am a “messy hair don’t care” type of gal and this stuff gives it just the right amount of texture and grit.  Plus, it has a lovely smell.  Well worth the money.  I must be on my 5th bottle!

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 | Birchbox $39:  When BB cream was all the range a few years back, Dr. Jart+ was one of the first BB creams I used.  This was actually the same exact one.  I loved it, except I realized after awhile that it was clogging my pores.  That’s just me though.  If you’re looking for a premium BB cream, this is it and it comes in 2 different shades.  I’m Shade #1 if you are curious.

Vasanti BrightenUp! New Skin Amplifying Moisturizer | Birchbox $34: I love the Vasanti brand.  In one of my first Birchbox’s, I got a sample of the Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator and it was life changing.  I love this exfoliator. So when I got a sample of this moisturizer, I was super excited.  It’s lightweight which is good for a day time moisturizer (make sure you put on your SPF too!) and for the hot summer months.  Great if you have oily skin and need a light moisturizer.

Now let’s get to the not so good products…

Benefit Cosmetics Goof Proof Brow Pencil | Birchbox $24:  I feel like I’m always saying this with these types of reviews but…I had high hopes for this.  I was so excited to see that it was coming in my box.  However, the sample was the SMALLEST SAMPLE EVER!  When I tried it on my eyebrows, I couldn’t get a good grip on it.  I can’t even give you an honest opinion on this because the sample was so small.  No Benefit Cosmetics…NO!  How could you do this?  Very poor marketing on your part….

Manna Kadar Cosmetics Eye Candy Priming Shadow Stick | Birchbox $24:  This thing came to me broken.  I didn’t even want to open the cap and deal with the stick falling out and making a mess.  So I just took a picture of it and threw it in the trash.  Amazing that it is of such low quality, it broke going through the mail.  I didn’t even get this during the heat wave… so I can’t say that it melted in the Southern California heat.  NOPE.

3 out of 5 were winners.  YAY!

If you want to get your own Birchbox, click here!  Until next time!

 

 

 

 

Beauty

February Birchbox Review

Posted on March 19, 2017

Hello out there!  I did not forget about you, my blog.  Without going too much into detail – I got super sick, got my eyebrows microbladded, it’s been raining (which means no photos) and I have been traveling like crazy for work.  I finally had a free weekend and I had a day off to take photos last week – so I’m BACK!  And how I have missed you.

I know this is a month late, but you will forgive me right?  Here we go….

WEI Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask | Birchbox $42:  I was a bit skeptical about this – because I am about everything I haven’t tried.  Well, this turned out to be a wonderful surprise!  This mud mask isn’t super thick, it’s creamy and when it dries on your face – you can still move it!  After I took it off, I found my face to be nicely matte and my pores were noticeably smaller.  I am definitely going to purchase this!  Plus, the mask comes in individual pods – I like that.

Manna Kadar Cosmetics Lip Locked in Rosette | Birchbox $24:  I thought I was going to like this.  It’s a primer, stain and gloss in one.  Who can go wrong with all those 3 in 1?  Well, this went straight into the trashcan after I tried it on my lips.  It was blotchy, the consistency was not smooth, the color was horrible on my skin – it was just bad.  SKIP!

Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo | Birchbox $44:  I love Oribe products.  My absolute favorite is their dry texturizing spray.  I use it every single day.  So I was super excited to see this in February’s box.  This dry shampoo is not bad.  It’s my #2 after my Living proof Dry Shampoo favorite.  It doesn’t leave a white residue and very lightweight.  I can hardly tell that I have it on.  If you need a new dry shampoo, definitely give this one a try!

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre | Birchbox $28:  I didn’t think I would like this.  I am all about packaging and this is packaged in just a foreign looking tube.  I was easily amused when I saw that I had to turn the cap and puncture the top of the tube to get the cream out.  Remember when you had to do that as a kid?  Well, this french moisturizer impressed me.  It’s great for dryness and supposedly preps the skin for foundation.  However, I found it too greasy for my liking to use in the AM.  I definitely recommend this for those dry winter PM nights.  I will be putting this in my shopping cart!

Obliphica Professional Seaberry Serum | Birchbox $38:  I just started experimenting with using serums after doing my hair to tame the flyaways.  You can use this with wet or dry hair.  I tried this on my dry hair this morning after straightening my hair and found it very pleasant!  Has a nice smell and wasn’t greasy and didn’t make my hair feel oily.  Will definitely keep an eye on this and keep using it until it’s gone!

I was trying so hard to pump out a post that when I took the photos of the products, I only swatched the ones I thought I would like.  Well, this should tell you that you should never judge a book by its cover.  I thought I would love the lip gloss, but I hated it.  I didn’t think I would like the moisturizer or serum, but I’m going to use up the entire sample and may even buy the full size at the end.

Do you want your own surprise in the mail?  Subscribe here!

 

Beauty

September Birchbox Review

Posted on October 17, 2016

I was so busy last month that I almost forgot to do my Birchbox review!  This was a good one to review because it was had a lot of products I have been dying to try.  Want to learn what I loved?  Read on!

Oribe Glaze for Beautiful Color | Birchbox $58:  I used to think that high-end haircare was a waste of money.  That was before I met my wonderful hair stylist, Luisa.  She taught me how to take care of my hair and now I know what it means to take care of your hair.  I LOVE this brand.  I use their texturizing spray on a regular basis and it smells wonderful.   This is a fancy conditioner that makes your hair silky soft after you’re done using it.  It reminds me of those conditioners you get after dying your hair in a box.  It has the same scent as the texturizing spray.  Great if you have color-treated hair!

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Milk Makeup Lip+Cheek | Birchbox $24:  I have been interested in this new brand, so I was very excited to see it in my box this past month!  I actually thought that I wasn’t going to like this, but I LOVE it!  It’s great on your cheeks and it looks good on your lips.  On my lips, it’s a light coral pink . On my cheeks, it gives a really pretty coral glow.  I have to say that this definitely surprised me.  I am going to up to SF this week for work and this is definitely coming in my travel bag!

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TOCCA Travel Fragrance Spray – Florence | Birchbox $34:  I love TOCCA soaps.  They smell AMAZING!  So how do their fragrances fair in comparison to the lovely smells of their soaps?  Ah-mazing!  It is very difficult for me to find fragrances that don’t smell musty on me.  This is a winner!  Maybe my new Fall scent?

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Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser | Birchbox $25:  I have been wanting to try this for the longest time!  It’s world-renowned and won over 100 beauty awards.  I have been using this every night for the past week.  I don’t know if I am using it wrong or what, but I don’t get it.  The cleanser smells like eucalyptus which reminds me of my Malin+Goetz deodorant and the cloth is like the face cloth I use to wash my face.  Am I missing something that everyone else is getting out there?  I know this is great for sensitive skin which is a plus in my book, but my skin didn’t feel exceptionally better.  Let me know if you have other experiences with this, I want to love this stuff!

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COOLA Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer | Birchbox $32:  I have received a few COOLA items in my past boxes and and I’m not mad about that.  When I traveled to Utah and Las Vegas for work last month, I threw this in my travel bag and used it everyday. It’s lightweight and smells lovely.  Win win!

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Out of everything I received, I really liked the TOCCA Fragrance, MILK Lip+Cheek Stick and the Oribe Glaze.  Everything else was just okay but I was happy to try them all out.  Glad I didn’t spend the money on the full size without knowing if I would like the product.  That’s why I love Birchbox, you can try things out that you may not normally purchase.  If you want to sign up for your own box for $10 a month click on this link!  Also, if you travel a lot for work like me, you will appreciate all the deluxe travel sizes that are TSA approved!