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Skincare

Beauty

January Birchbox Review

After having Birchbox since last April, I just figured out that I should be reviewing the products that I receive on their website. Why?  Because it helps them know what to send me.  DUH!  Well, I’m happy to say that even though I just started reviewing the products – this January box was the best!  I was excited to try each and every one of them.  That’s a win!  Read on!

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk | Birchbox $20:  I love dry shampoos.  Ever since I figured out how to not wash my hair every single day (except when I workout of course), dry shampoo is my favorite thing.  I save so much time in the morning.  I cannot believe I didn’t do this earlier.  So, how is this one?  It’s not bad.  It smells and feels very powdery.  I currently use the Living Proof Dry Shampoo and I like it more.  Smells better and doesn’t leave as much white powder on your scalp.  Skip!

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner | Birchbox $18:  This is a great eyeliner.  It is comparable to my favorite Kat Von D Tattoo Liner.  Did I really just say that?  Yes, I did.  If you want that nice pointed wing for your cat eye, this is it!  I’m going to get the full size as soon as I’m done with my stash.

Wilma Schumann Skincare Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads | Birchbox $18:  I cannot tell you how excited I was when I saw this in my box.  I have seen these all over the internet on bloggers.  Sadly, I was disappointed.  First of all it comes in a tray.  Which I didn’t realize until I ripped it open and all the liquid started dripping out everywhere.  That’s my bad.  So the eye pads themselves feel nice on.  The weird thing is that it started to sting.  I only kept them on for maybe 10 out of the 20 suggested minutes and didn’t see a huge difference.  I would skip on this but am definitely open to trying a different brand.

Shiseido Perfect Cleansing Oil | Birchbox $32: This stuff is great.  I actually really enjoy using cleaning oils.  But I like to use it after my normal cleansing soap.  I wear waterproof mascara and sometimes my makeup remover doesn’t take it all off – this stuff is stubborn!  So I use cleansing oil and it’s usually pretty much almost gone.  I like the pump for this a lot.  I love!

Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel | Birchbox $18:  This is your standard clear brow gel.  It isn’t bad but it didn’t do anything fantastic.  I like to use a brow gel that has a tint in it since I have pretty sparse brows.  This would work great if you have full brows.

When you subscribe to Birchbox you get to pick one of the samples.  Well, by the time I went to pick one for my February Birchbox they were all sold out.  What does that mean Birchbox?  Let’s hope you don’t start disappointing me.  You’ve done so well these last two months!!!

If you want your own Birchbox subscription, click here!

Until next time!

Beauty

December Birchbox Review

The weird thing about Birchbox is that they didn’t let me know that my subscription was ending.  I had a 6 month gift card that a friend gave me for my birthday, so I had been using that.  Imagine how sad I was when December was almost done and I still had not received my beloved Birchbox.  Well, I went on my account and signed back up for a year subscription right away!

What does that mean for my lovely readers?  Well, 2 back to back reviews on my December and January Birchboxes.  If you read my Nlast review post, you will notice that I was quite disappointed in what I had received.  Get ready because Birchbox definitely redeemed themselves this time around!  Now read on.

This box came with some lovely holiday gift tags and a pretty travel mirror.  What fun surprises!

Real Chemistry Luminous 3-minute Peel | Birchbox $48:  Holy moly this stuff is amazing!!!  After 1 use, I went right online and purchased the full-size.  No joke this stuff is great.  Wash your face, keep it damp, massage this stuff on and keep going until you feel bits of your skin coming off.  Wash your face again and it’s as soft as a baby’s bottom!  Seriously, the best!!!  Trust.  You need this in your life!

amika Un.Done Texture Spray | Birchbox $24: I love a good texture spray.  Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is my holy grail hair product, but I am open to trying other brands as well.  Having messy hair is my favorite.  That could be because I am not very good with styling hair, so you better believe that I hope this “messy hair, don’t care” trend stays for awhile!  This stuff definitely works.  I used it today to help put my hair in a high bun.  The thing I didn’t like though was the smell.  Unfortunately I will have to stay true to Oribe, but this is a great product if you can get past the smell.

LOC One & Done Shadow Stick (Out of Your Shell) | Birchbox $10: This is a very pretty color.  Good highlighter for the inner corners of your eye or even to highlight your brow bone.  I have a few similar items to this and I just don’t use it in my makeup routine.  I don’t hate this, but I don’t love it either.  If you need one, this is a nice version.

IPKN Radiant Cream Primer SPF 15 | Birchbox $28: There are two wonderful things about this primer.  First, it smells wonderful!  Second, is that it sparkles.  Not in the “I just threw glitter on my face” sparkle, but that luminous pretty one.  You can see it on my hand in the second photo.  This is very close to the Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow.  For half the price, this is a great alternative.

Avene Micellar Lotion | Birchbox $20:  I am all about Micellar Waters.  Garnier’s SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water & Makeup Remover is also a holy grail item for me.  Since I wash my face at night, why wash it again in the morning?  I use this stuff and I have had no breakouts from lack of cleanliness.  I definitely recommend it.  So, how is the Avene version?  It’s wonderful!  It’s different because this is a bit thicker than water since it is a “lotion.”  I feel like it is more moisturizing which is always a good thing in my book, especially in the winter months.  I am going to buy this as soon as I run out!  I say it’s a thumbs up!

The takeaway from this post is that I love micellar waters, texturizing sprays and chemical peels.  If you want your own Birchbox subscription, click here!

Until next time!

Beauty

Sephora VIB Haul 1.0

Who else has been loving the weather down here in SoCal?  I love being able to wear boots, scarves and big sweaters.  It’s the perfect time to cover up and be cozy!  I am catching up on product reviews, so please bare with me.  One of my favorite times of year is when Sephora has their VIB sale.  It’s when VIB members get 20% off everything during a certain time frame.  This happened at the end of last year and it’s the best time to stock up on favorites and try some new ones.  I went into the store (which was madness) and also ordered a few items online, so there will be another review coming up!  Read on to see what I bought.

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Vitamin C Anti-Aging Collagen | Sephora $48:  I am always looking for a good serum. This one is formulated with vitamin C to boost collagen, brighten and minimize fine lines and wrinkles.  I have been using this every night for about a month now and so far, I can’t tell a difference. I do like the orange candy scent that this serum has.  I’ll keep on using this and see if I notice a change in my skin.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Vanilla | Sephora $29:  This is my favorite under-eye concealer and highlighter.   It’s really creamy and doesn’t sit in your fine lines like some other concealers.  I initially thought that this was too light for my skin to use as a normal concealer, but once I started using it to highlight, I realized that it’s great for that!  My face really looks much brighter and more awake on a sleepy Monday morning.

Sephora Collection Solid Clean: Solid Brush Cleaner | Sephora $14:  If you read my Sigma Brush Post, then you know I was not too happy with the brush mat I bought from them.  Well, I bought this as a cheaper version to the beautyblender beautycleanser solid and when I opened it I saw that it comes with it’s own cleaning mat!  Save yourself the money and just buy this instead.  You get two things for the price of one!  Also, this cleanser works just as well as the BeautyBlender one.  Win win! *side note – I just noticed that the beautycleanser comes with a little cleaning mat now too!*

Lancome Juicy Shaker Meli Melon | Sephora $21:  Truthfully, I bought this because my friend was buying it and it looked cool.  It smells like melon which I love.  It’s a lip oil and I like it better than the YSL Oil Tint I reviewed last year.  It’s fun since you have to shake it before using it.  The formula separates.  This is a fun product to have.  You don’t need it, and I don’t need it but it’s a nice novelty lip item.

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35 Fair/Light | Sephora $39:  I don’t know how I feel about this yet.  My friend uses it and her skin looks amazing.  I don’t know if it’s because she has naturally amazing skin or if it’s this BB Cream.  In the winter, I like to use foundation since it’s cold and I won’t sweat my face off.  In the hotter months I like to use BB creams since they are more lightweight and are kind of like moisturizer and foundation in one.  This BB Cream has SPF, moisturizes and primes.  You can wear it alone or under your foundation for a flawless canvas.  I will keep you updated.  I have only used this a few times and so far it’s okay, no “amazing” skin yet.

Did anyone buy some new products during the VIB sale that they love and I need to try?  Leave a comment below!

Beauty

Charlotte Tilbury 2.0

charlotte-tilbury-2-0-9Last month I was invited to attend a Charlotte Tilbury Master Class held at my local Nordstrom.  I didn’t know what to expect but I have to say that when I left, I had a different view of these classes.  I learned so much that I didn’t know about the Charlotte Tilbury line and applying makeup.  For example, did you know there’s the “feline flick” that Charlotte is known for? Did you know that every single product of her’s has ingredients that are beneficial for your skin?  Yeah, I didn’t know that either.

Here are reviews on some of the products I picked up after the class!

Magic Cream Treat & Transform Moisturizer | Nordstrom $100:  Let me start by stating the obvious, this stuff isn’t cheap.  Luckily I had a few Nordstrom Notes that I had saved up and decided to splurge on this little beauty.  Charlotte Tilbury made this for the models who would come in to get their makeup done for runway shows and had dry, unhappy skin due to smoking, not eating right and not getting enough sleep.  This stuff definitely helps to make your skin look healthy after application.  I also love the rose gold packaging!  This cream looks luxurious and heavy, but surprisingly it is not.  It actually absorbs quite nicely into your skin and does not leave your face greasy.  I have been using it every single morning for the last month and my skin actually looks much smoother.  The cream has SPF 15 which makes it good for day but you can also use it at night as well.charlotte-tilbury-2-0-7

Color Chameleon Color Morphing Eyeshadow Pencil in Amber Haze | Nordstrom $27.00:  I really wanted to love this.  It looked great when the makeup artist put it on the model.  It’s perfect for creating a smokey eye.  However, my contacts really hated this pencil.  Every time I used it, I would get a cloud on my contact.  If you do not wear contacts, I recommend getting this.  It’s wonderful and the color looks great for those with dark brown eyes, but sadly I had to return it.

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‘Hot Lips’ Lipstick in Kim KW | Nordstrom $32.00:  I didn’t think that I would love this but I did!!!  Paired with the Pillow Talk Lip Liner, it looks great.  Yes, it is nude so if you are not the type who likes a natural/nude lip, then you will not like this.  Me, personally, I love anything natural and nude.  The lipstick itself is very moisturizing and not dry at all.  I also like how the lipstick itself is shaped.  Great for making sure to stay within the lines of your cupid’s bow.charlotte-tilbury-2-0-4

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*Kim KW lipstick on the bottom, Pillowtalk lipliner on the top*

‘Lip Cheat’ Re-Size and Re-Shape Lip Liner in Pillowtalk | Nordstrom $22.00:  This color is the better version of my natural lip color.  I love it.  I use it with my Hot Lips Kim KW and my Matte Revolution in Very Kate.  It just adds the right amount of color to nudes and natural lipsticks.  It is also velvety and easy to put on.  I love it!

‘Wonderglow’ Instant Soft-Focus Beauty Flash | Nordstrom $55.00: I saw the makeup artist apply this to the model after the Magic Cream and her skin looked amazing.  This is a primer/anti-aging elixir/complexion-enhancer. When I tried , I didn’t really notice anything except my face was shinier.  I have continued to use it day after day because I keep hoping that one day I will fall in love with it.  At this price, I say skip it.  This may have to go back to the store.

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*straight from the tube on the bottom, blended into my skin on the top*

Gift with Purchase – ‘Magic Night Rescue Cream’ Intense Firming, Plumping Balm-Elixir | Nordstrom $145.00:  I love the gardenia smell that this has.  It is my absolute favorite scent.  This cream is a bit oily since it is a “balm/elixir,” but I think it does its job in the dry winter months.  I am going to wait until I use up this deluxe sample but I really like using it at night.  This is a love!charlotte-tilbury-2-0-5

Have you tried anything from the Charlotte Tilbury line?  Good or bad, I want to hear what you thought!  Do you share the same obsession as me?  Tell me!

Until next time!

Beauty

October Birchbox Review

Happy Halloween Cosmo Lushies!  I went to a Halloween Party on Saturday night at a Cat Rescue with my cat-loving friend and it was so much fun! We got to play with kittens, feed treats to the feral cats, and dress up as cats!  All in all, I would say it was a great night!

So, I am back on track and so proud that I am actually reviewing a Birchbox during the correct month (even if it is the last day of the month).  Go me!  This month was all about reviving and restoring.  I got a face & hair mask, mascara, perfume and a lip stick.  The star of this box was definitely the LOC lip stick.  Read on to see what I loved and what to skip.

LOC Complete Tati Collection for Lips | Birchbox $20: I am always a bit skeptical when receiving products from brands I am not familiar with.  This product really surprised me.  It’s a Birchbox brand and Tati is a famous Youtuber.  I typically do not wear bright or dark colors on my lips, but this season I have been doing it nonstop.  I got this product in Glam Life.  It is a creamy matte lip crayon I guess you can call it.  The color looked great on my skintone.  I will be adding this to my Fall lipstick rotation!  LOVE!

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Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask | Birchbox $58:  This mask promises an instant glow.  When applying the mask, the consistency reminds me of jelly like the Fresh Rose Moisturizing Mask.  The directions state to put on a thick layer of the product and to let it dry for 20-30 min.  By the end, my face was stiff from the dried mask.  After washing off the product, I didn’t notice an immediate glow.  This mask was okay for me.  I did read that you can use this as a spot treatment.  Maybe I will try it for that instead.  SKIP.

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Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara | Birchbox $20Unfortunately my eyelashes do not cooperate with any mascara out there except for Cover Girl.  This was no exception.  As soon as I put it on my curled lashes, they immediately went straight.  I have seen a lot of great reviews on this mascara, but it just didn’t work out for me.

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amika Nourishing Mask | Birchbox $28:  Great thing about this hair mask is that it’s free of parabens and is meant to help treat frizzy, dry hair.  When I used this, unfortunately I didn’t feel like my hair was as soft and luxurious as with other hair masks.  It really just felt like any other conditioner that I have used.  I would have to SKIP this.

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TokyoMilk Dark Pretty Rotten Eau de Parfum | Birchbox $42:  First of all, who names their products “rotten?”  Sadly, this did smell pretty rotten, excuse the pun.  It was horrible.  So horrible, in fact, that after smelling it from the tube I actually threw it away in the trash can.  Sorry TokyoMilk but this just isn’t for me.  SKIP!

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I hope that everyone has a fun and safe Halloween tonight!  If you enjoy my reviews and want to review your own Birchbox, click on this link to start your subscription for only $10 a month!  Until next month!