Subscription Addiction: My First Birchbox!

Last week, I got my first Birchbox and I wanted to share my first impressions. This is more of a first impressions post than an unboxing, but I did take my initial first pictures before I opened everything.

The box was really nicely packaged. I think I might be able to use these to help organize my things, so I'm going to keep these little patterned boxes that I get each month.

I received six different product samples, one of which included a two sample pouches of the same thing. The majority of my box was skincare, but I don't mind because I enjoy trying out new skincare products.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum: Damn, this stuff is expensive. There isn't even that much in the little sample tube, so I can't imagine this is going to last that long. I guess it's okay. I've only used it a couple times, but not enough to make a difference. Even if I do like this serum, I would definitely not purchase a full size because of the price!

dr. brandt pores no more vacuum cleaner: This sample is probably three times the size of the Caudalie, which is great because I like it three times better. There's a possibility that I would repurchase this even though it's also expensive at $45. If this ends up working as well as it claims, I will end up doing a review on it.

Juara Candlenut Body Creme: This confused me at first. I though this was a lotion, not a cleanser. I have to say that it's really inconvenient sample packaging for the shower. Once I dropped it, I knew there was no going back as the water absorbs into the cardboard like package. It's also a weird texture for the shower. I definitely felt like I was washing myself with body butter and it didn't actually lather. There's also no way to reseal this and it's expensive.

Noir Cosmetics Long-Wear Eyeliner: If Birchbox sent me just this eyeliner and nothing else in the box, I would have been confused but happy. Within one use of this, I was in love. This eyeliner has completely replaced my Urban Decay liner in my makeup bag because it actually lasts all day. I will definitely be doing a review on this.

Whish Shave Crave - Acai Grapefruit: Hot damn. Jessica was telling me how much she liked her sample of this from last month's box but I didn't understand why she was lusting over a shaving cream. I actually really like this and it's much better than my cans of lathering shaving cream. I think my only downside to this product is that I couldn't tell where I had shaved because it's like spreading lotion on your legs...and it's $20 but I'm planning to use my Birchbox points on the full size.

ChapStick Hydration Lock Day & Night: This was another stand out in my first Birchbox, which is funny because I can't remember the last time I actually used an actual ChapStick. This was a Birchbox find, which is an additional sample. The day side has SPF 12 and the reason I love it is because the texture is similar to my MAC Prep+Prime lip primer which I'm almost out of. I've been using this as my lip primer and it's been working great. The night side isn't as moisturizing as I would like it to be, but I don't hate it and the day side more than makes up for it.

All in all, I'm really happy with my first Birchbox and I can't wait to get my next one! I'm going to try to get out some reviews on the products that really stood out to me and I think at least one, if not more, products will make it into my next favorites post.

My referral link if anyone else wants to try Birchbox!

September Monthly Favorites

I have no idea if this is a lot of products for the month because I've never really done a favorites post before, but these are all the things I've loved this month. There are a few more things I wanted to include, but since I just started using them within the last week or so, I didn't think it was fair. If I continue to like those things then they'll definitely be included next month.

First up, I have blushes and bronzers. 

MAC Aphrodite's Shell - I've used this bronzer almost every day this month. This was something I regretted not picking up from the Alluring Aquatic collection...and then I bought it for $10 less on a buy and sell group on facebook. This is by far one of the better bronzers that I've used and I've kind of gotten the hang of bronzing thanks to this.

MAC Sea Me, Hear Me - Once again, something I regretted not buying from Alluring Aquatic and then purchasing elsewhere. I used this the beginning of September and most of August. I love the color and sheen of this blush. It does have to share the spotlight since I have enough blushes to not use the same one every day.

MAC Pink Sprinkles - I bought this Simpsons blush after Sideshow You and ended up using it more than Sideshow You. Even though I did love both the Simpsons blushes, I feel like this one was a better color for the month. I love all my blushes, so it's hard to pick favorites since they can't all be in a post.

Estée Lauder Peach Nuance - Admittedly, I didn't use this too much this month but I love it so much. I loved it the minute I opened the package. Is love at first sight a thing for a blush? I realize I've only owned this for like, 2 weeks, so I'm completely jumping the gun on this one. But it needed to be here. Because it's fabulous.

Sigma F50 Stippling Brush - I'll be frank about this one. I got this brush for free. Sigma sent me it as a free when I ordered three eyeliners that I dislike so much and can only locate the most hated one. I don't own any other Sigma brushes, but I've always wanted to buy some. Anyway, this is the most perfect blush brush in my life. I had been using an angled blush brush, but I decided to go back to this one when using a super pigmented blush. It's great at diffusing out the color so that it's perfect. I want to buy a million or another one, but it's $26 so...no. I'll just wash this a bunch. It doesn't hold color since the hairs are so wispy.

MAC Face and Body Foundation in N1 - Let me first say this: I have not used another foundation since buying this. I've tried mixing it with other foundations and BB Creams, but I haven't used anything else. It's not heavy on the skin and it gives a nice, natural finish. Everything else I've use makes my face look like I have makeup on and it breaks up at some point during the day. I've currently been mixing in Illamasqua Skin Base, but I can't consider that I favorite since I've only used it three times. The only downside to this foundation is that I think I'm going to plow through it. It's on the watery side so I have to use a bit more to cover my face. But you get 1.7oz and the standard foundation is usually 1oz, so I think that will balance out.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser - This is the pink brightening shade. Sometimes I'll use this alone and other times I'll dab it over another under eye concealer. I don't think it really covers up, but it does a good job concealing darkness and brightening. It doesn't settle in my eye creases and if I'm feeling brave, I don't have to set it with powder. I also like the foam applicator. It's supposed to be antimicrobial and I prefer this to the brush style clicky pens. 

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer - This is what foundation dreams are made of. I also have a Maybelline version of this primer, but I feel like this is just better. The Maybelline one will pill up on my skin a little bit if I use it too close to when I applied moisturizer, but this one doesn't. I'll probably buy another or a larger size when I run out, but it seems like it's going to last a long time. I just love that it makes my face feel smooth and that smoothness translates into my foundation also feeling smooth.

Tony Moly Panda's Dream Goodbye Dark Eye Corrector - This isn't a concealer, although I thought it was when I purchased it online. It's a white lotion based primer, similar to the feeling of MAC's Prep+Prime. I do like using this under my eyes for a little more slip and moisture during the under eye concealer process. I feel like my concealer holds up better when I use this.

Innisfree Mineral Stick Concealer - This is something I rediscovered when I was going through my makeup organizer. I was starting to fall in love with MAC's Studio Finish concealer when I found this and I like it better. It's a perfect match for my skin and it covers dark spots really well. It's also less messy than a liquid concealer or a cream concealer. I also love this to carve out my uneven bottom lip when I wear a dark lipstick. 

It's Skin Babyface Soft Bright Eye Stick - This is another concealer I rediscovered by accident. I was rushing to pull my Innisfree stick from the organizer I have my concealers standing it and this one came out instead. I didn't really have time to look for the other one, so I just used this. It also covers up dark spots well and I think it's neck and neck with my Innisfree one because I can also use this to brighten. It isn't straight pink like the Maybelline, but it's just pink enough to match my skin.

MAC Dirty Blonde Brow Gelcreme - This is basically the only thing that I put on my brows every day. I'll comb my brows into shape with a spoolie, apply this with light strokes with my 208 or 266, and then comb out the extra product. Sometimes I'll top this with a red powder if my hair is really bright or with a tinted brow gel if I just need a little more hold. This is excellent. I'm surprised I hated it at first, but now I'm in love.

Baviphat White Grape Lifting Yogurt Cleansing Foam - I was going through a box of skincare when I rediscovered this cleanser. I really like using this with my Clarisonic because it's nice and creamy. I'll sometimes mix this with a light salicylic cleanser, but I mostly just use it on its own. I'm sad that it's almost gone, but I have so many cleansers I need to use up that I can't repurchase right now.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - This is seriously my knight and shining armor. I just dab this on any breakouts I have at night and they're usually reduced in the morning. The only downside is that this is pink, like calamine lotion, so it's definitely not discrete at all. It also isn't a miracle worker, but it does help. 

Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer - I've used this every night since getting it and I love how moisturizing it is. I'm also wondering if this is what cleared my skin up this month since I haven't really been using any acne products, but I don't think that's what the purpose of this moisturizer is.

Paintbox Soapworks Clean Slate Emulsifying Facial Scrub - I only use this in the shower a couple times a week because it's a little rough and I don't like taking it off with a washcloth because of the sugar grains. It's basically a polish for your face and it leaves my skin nice and soft after I use it. It also has really great ingredients like tea tree, and I love tea tree.

Anosa Tea Tree Herbal Toner - Speaking of tea tree, here's another. I use toner twice a day and I prefer and recommend Asian style toners. American toners are drying and strip your skin. These toners just add that little bit of extra moisture and don't dry out my skin.

#TBT/OOTD/First Impression Extravaganza: We Can Do It!

This week is homecoming week at the high school where I work. Today was Throwback Thursday, a day where you can dress according to a decade. It was supposed to be from the '50s-'90s, but I cheated a little. This look is the Rosie The Riveter inspired look, and let me tell you, it was an absolute PITA to accomplish.

I have to say up front that I work at a low income school where gang activity is the norm. So bandannas or other possible gang symbols are out. I had some red tulle from a Robin Sparkles costume a few years back, and attempted the hair with that on Monday night.

The hair was a complete disaster, obviously. It wouldn't poof, and the tulle was definitely way too thick for my hair. So, I hopped over to Michael's and found some polka dotted red ribbon to put in my hair. I also knew that my deepest, brightest red lipstick wasn't sufficient:

I went to CVS and I bought some Wet n' Wild lip gloss in Red My Mind and some black liquid eyeliner. Why I decided to do that, when I have my precious Noir eyeliner, I'll never know. I guess I figured I would be able to get a more precise cat eye with it? But I was sorely mistaken.

I woke up at 6:00 AM, and things started off fabulously. My hair poof was poofing in all the right places. The ribbon was working wonders. The borrowed denim shirt fit perfectly. 

I tried to apply the liquid eyeliner first, and it was a total nightmare. I will never, ever try liquid eyeliner again. Thankfully, I only spent like $3 on it, but ugh. It was so tough to get a precise wing. It didn't blend well, being a waterproof liquid eyeliner, and the result was crappy. But by the time I realized I should have gone with the Noir, I would have been late to work. So I made do.

And let me tell you, that BRIGHT RED lipstick was a shock for me. I'm so neutral in my colors, especially on my lips, that it was almost like I was putting on clown makeup.

And it was a complete PITA to get off, too. I had to wash my face twice, use a makeup remover wipe, and then eventually resort to a shower to get it all. When I tried to wash it off, I looked like I was Fruit Punch Mouth from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I had red ALL OVER my face/cheeks.

I will say this, though: both of the Wet n' Wild products I used today had awesome staying power. The red lipstick lasted through lunch and four blocks of absolute chaos with ninth graders. The eyeliner did come off with my Just Release Me eye makeup remover by Philosophy, though. It clung at first, as it should, being waterproof, but it did its job.

All in all, I'm pretty pleased with my outfit for #TBT. The kids didn't know who I was (again, very low income school, you can do the math), but I was able to explain it to a few of them. My poof stayed poofy until about 1:10. I don't think I've had that much hairspray with those bold shades of makeup since ballet class in the '90s when bright blue eyeshadow, multiple bottles of extra hold hairspray, and red lipstick were part of the everyday routine. It does make me enjoy the performance art sort of thing, if you know what I mean. It's not often as an adult that I can be bold with the colors and go wild with a costume. It was worth getting up an hour before I had to leave, for sure.

Top Five Favorite Neutral Lipsticks

I think I mentioned in my last lipstick post that I prefer a bolder lip. For the most part, I do, but there's always times where I also like lipstick on the more neutral side. I wouldn't label these as nude for that reason. My lighter pink choices are what I consider neutral and I have a strong dislike for the concealer colored nude lip. If I do wear something "nude" then I prefer it to be on the pinker side than the brown side. 

I don't own that many neutral tones in my lipstick collection, so pulling a top five out of eight or nine lipstick shades was a lot more difficult that figuring out which pinks I wear more often. The fact is, I don't really wear these lipsticks much. I do try to rotate through colors and not wear the same thing over and over, but I know a couple have been sitting in my "wear soon" holder and I've just been adding colors around them.

Viva Glam V, Mystical, Utterly Frivolous, Marquise D', Fanfare

Viva Glam V is probably the lipstick I've worn the most out of the bunch, which is why I listed it first. This is a Lustre finish, which is common in my neutral lipstick collection. It's a pearl-y nude pink and I really only wear this if I have on eyeliner or running errands. This is not a lipstick I wear to work.

I think my favorite part of Mystical is the packaging. It's from the Alluring Aquatic collection from this past spring/summer. I do like the color and I think it's my runner up for the one I wear the most. This is a color that I would wear to work, so there's that, but because I really do prefer bolder lipstick, I don't tend to reach for it over a bright pink or red. This one is a Cremesheen formula, which is one of my favorites.

Most of the reason I don't reach for Utterly Frivolous more often is that it is a limited edition color from the Fafi collection many years ago. I do really like the color and the fact that it has a little glitter in it. This is another Lustre formula, but I noticed that it's more pigmented than some of my other Lustre lipsticks.

Marquise D' is one of those lipsticks that sit in my top drawer waiting to be worn. It isn't that I don't like this lipstick. It wouldn't be in my favorites if I didn't. I just don't tend to reach for neutral lipsticks that don't lean pink. This is a really nice color, but I don't think I would have purchased it if the casing wasn't from the Wonder Woman collection. I've considered selling it before, but I don't think I could part with it. Marquise D' is also a Lustre formula and another I don't wear to work.

Last lipstick is Fanfare, which I have a hard time pegging as a neutral color. It is much pinker than a nude that leans pink, but this is a color I would go for if I don't want a bold lip. Fanfare is a Cremesheen finish, which means it's creamy and more pigmented than the Lustres I own. This is a shade I would wear to work, but don't tend to reach for over a bolder color.

Viva Glam V, Mystical, Utterly Frivolous, Marquise D', Fanfare

You can see in these swatches that Marquise D' is the lightest, which is honestly why it fades into the background of my collection. I do wear all these colors, but I'm noticing how much I like Utterly Frivolous and I don't think it gets enough love. 

For my monthly lipstick posts, I will be doing lip swatches. I haven't worn any of these this month, but I'm sure I will eventually.

Clinique, ACW, and Drugstore.com Haul

For the most part, this entire haul is full of things that I actually needed to buy. There are a few things that I'm still going to use but can't say that I actually need. 

I've really been favoring Clinique lately for no apparent reason. I think it's because I'm starting to get out of drugstore skin care products and more into higher end skin care. I discovered a pack of Clinique for sale in one of the facebook buy and sell groups that I joined. It was a great deal to get this all (minus the bag, but it was the only other Clinique thing that I purchased) for $36 considering that the large 1.7oz size of the Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer is $47 retail. In addition to that moisturizer, I also got 2 sample size jars of Moisture Surge, a sample jar of All About Eyes, a sample jar of Repairwear Laser Focus eye cream, a CC cream that is a little too dark, and 2 sample sizes of High Impact Mascara. 

I bought the little Clinique bag from All Cosmetics Wholesale for only $3.99 and I thought it was so cute even though summer is almost over. It holds everything I drag with me to do my makeup at work in the morning, including my brushes. I've found a replacement for my little MAC bag.

Here's the rest of my haul with the majority of the things I needed. 

I like to replace my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion sponge every few weeks and I saved $2 by ordering them in a pair. These are what I use to apply foundation and concealer with every morning.

The Korres sample sizes were less than $4, so I decided I wanted to try them. I got the eye cream and morning cream. I like trying out new skin care products, especially more expensive ones that I can get smaller sizes in before committing. 

What I really needed was my Alpha Hydrox products. I've been using the Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) and Retinol Night Cream for the past couple months and I needed to replace them. 

I wanted to try out the Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Puff roller just because I found it for cheap and I've always wanted to try a cooling eye roller ball.

Same with the L'Oreal Age Perfect Glow Renewal. This is SPF 30 and is for face, neck, and chest. I don't know if it will replace my Neutrogena SPF lotion, but I figured it was worth a go.

I purchased both Nude Nuance and Peach Nuance blushes from Estée Lauder because I regretted not getting them from the CCO when I was there earlier this month. I was just so bummed about the lack of MAC that I really didn't look at too much. I got the replacement pans to put in a magnetic palette because only the refills were available and were only $8.99 without the case. I'm sure the blush in the casing was more expensive at the CCO and I don't really need the case.

These two Tarte boxes contain Glowlight Amazonian Clay Corrective Wand in light. I got both the pens for $1.99 so I just couldn't pass that up. I haven't used too many things from Tarte because the brand is so expensive.

Also on the concealer front, I bought the Visible Lift CC Undereye Concealer from L'Oreal in Fair. It's one of the roller ball concealers, so it's different than my other concealers.

Lastly, I bought this powder compact from a brand called Darac Beauty. This is called the Sifted Blur Complexion Perfector. It doesn't seem like Darac exists any more, so I might purchase a backup if I end up liking this powder because I may never be able to buy it again.

Here's a bonus picture of Peach Nuance. I'm so excited for this blush. There's definitely going to be reviews and comparisons of certain items in my haul and I'm sure some things will end up in my monthly favorites at some point.

Subscription Addiction: September Birchbox Success!

This month was Birchbox's anniversary month. To celebrate four years of existence and awesomeness, they made their usual box all pretty and fancy, and included a crapton of awesome extras. As usual, I was pleased with the majority of it! Here we go!

Subscription Box: Birchbox

Description: Each month, you'll receive a selection of samples that we’ve tried (and retried) ourselves. We source our samples from both well-known brands and emerging gems. The women’s subscription includes everything from skincare to makeup, as well as fun non-beauty extras. The men’s subscription delivers top-tier grooming products in addition to lifestyle accessories ranging from hip socks to tech accessories.  

Pricing: $10/month.

Referral Link: Here

Product #1: Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm
I haven't tried this yet. Everyone raves about Dr. Jart, but I just haven't had the opportunity to try this particular product yet. It's my first BB anything, since my collection is so new, but I'm excited to try it.

Product #2: Mereadesso All in One Moisturizer (Travel Size)
I love this! It makes my face so, so soft, and the packaging is excellent, especially for a sample/travel size. RESEALABLE? HECK YES. It didn't break my face out, either. I probably wouldn't repurchase, since it's crazy expensive, but I'm going to definitely use it up.

Product #3: Davines OI All in One Milk 
My hair definitely felt soft after this, but I felt like it was weighed down. I do have to say, though, the times that I've used it, I haven't been doing my usual haircare routine. I keep this at my boyfriend's house, and I don't have a blowdryer there. It's a HUGE size, though, so I want to use it up and make sure I give it its proper due test.

Product #4: Davines OI Shampoo
The shampoo combined with the OI Milk was... strange? I don't know. I love that they included this as an extra sample because of the anniversary, and it made my hair feel clean, I just feel like maybe all three (there's one coming up) products combined weighed my hair down. I'll experiment and follow up.

Product #5: Davines OI Conditioner
The conditioner made my hair feel INCREDIBLY soft. I do love the conditioner and know for sure that wasn't part of the weighing down problem. I don't think I'll repurchase it, because it's very expensive, but I'll absolutely continue to use it until it's gone. Again, because this was included as an anniversary special, it's hard to complain too much.

Product #6: Harvey Prince Ageless Liquid Loofah
Um, my grapefruit obsession is becoming a problem! But this product is AMAZING. Harvey Prince is one of those scents I've heard so many good things about on the internet, and I'm looking forward to using it up. It's supposed to be exfoliating, but I don't really feel like it exfoliated my skin? But honestly, it smells good and made me feel fresh and clean, so who cares?

Product #7: Temptu S/B Highlighter
Apparently this is a brand often associated with the spray guns, or whatever they're called. Airbrushes? You can use it on its own, but rumor has it you can also use it with the airbrush. I'm honestly going to pass this on or trade it. I'm not going to open it, and it doesn't seem like something I'm going to take the time to use. Know thyself.

So overall, it was definitely a month where I got my money's worth! I do wish there were more makeup products in this month's box, but the samples I did get were mostly worth the money, and I have a hard time complaining about the generosity of Birchbox, especially when I got all the anniversary extras. This wasn't a box where I went "meh", like BeautyBox5 (don't even get me started), so I'm still very pleased!

#DoMore Degree VoxBox from Influenster, Plus Workout Makeup Woes

So, I found Influenster a few weeks ago, which is kind of awesome. Basically, you review products and stuff, and sometimes they will select you to participate in a VoxBox campaign, where you receive full sized products to try out and share your opinions on. Influenster sent me this complimentary deodorant to review, but I will be 100% honest in sharing my opinions.

For those of you who don't know, I'm sort of new-ish to working out. I frequent my local Pure Barre, which is the hardest and most awesome thing I've ever done, fitness wise. It's kind of like pilates meets yoga meets ballet. And depending on the day, they make you SWEAT. I'm telling you, like, dripping, look like you just came out of the rain, sweat. And it's from what they call "isometric movements"... these tiny, one-inch-or-less movements that are supposed to tighten and lift and make you have a butt so awesome they named it the "Pure Barre Ledge".

So, what does this have to do with deodorant, or makeup? Lots, actually. For the past few classes, I've kept some of the Degree deodorant in my purse, I can say that it didn't make me sweat in the way I used to. It smells nice, and it lasts a long time. Not quite the 48 hours they claim, but a good portion of the day nonetheless.

I'm not a huge fan of the bar-type deodorants, because I prefer gel lately (I usually use Secret), but I would definitely repurchase this. It doesn't sit under your arm and cake up, and I accidentally brushed it against my shirt, and it didn't leave a mark. So, all in all, I'd recommend it! I plan on doing a deodorant face-off with one under one arm and the other under the other arm. It's going to be the strangest thing.

Anyway, back to working out. As I mentioned, you SWEAT. So, I have to wonder, why do people bother doing their makeup to work out? What products should one use to keep her makeup intact while working out? I mean, I work out sometimes in the middle of the day, between jobs, or between work and class. So I get having makeup on before you go. But me and my face usually regret wearing makeup to work out. I usually grab a makeup remover wipe and get a good chunk of it off, then remove the rest of it before I shower, after my workout. Am I crazy?

Is there like a "workout tutorial" I need to find? Because by the time I'm done, I'm thinking even my waterproof eyeliner will be begging for mercy. And that stuff sticks like glue. I'm going to post a video eventually called Pure Barre Problems, once I get all my thoughts together to film it. And this will surely be included. How does everyone's hair and makeup look perfect when they've just gone through the same workout I did? UNFAIR.

Ten Products I Regret Buying

Everyone inevitably buys a few things they let sit around and collect dust. As someone who likes to try new products on a regular basis, I have plenty of things kicking around that I either regret purchasing or dutifully use and will definitely not repurchase.

These aren't in any particular order, so I'll try to follow the way they're arranged in the photo.

Kuan Yuan Lian Acne Deep Sodium Salicylic Milk - Okay, this isn't necessarily the worst thing I've ever bought, but it doesn't really work and the actual product is extremely watery. I've used more than half of this and I'm definitely not buying it again. I already have a fairly decent acne product line from Etude House that I prefer. 

MAC Prep+Prime Skin Base Visage - I've used this plenty, but I really don't think a lotion based primer with subtle glitter is worth $30 because...THIRTY DOLLARS. Why did I buy this again? I don't even know if I want to finish it off because I'm really loving my new Smashbox primer.

Holika Holika Wine Therapy Sleeping Pack in Red Wine - I originally thought the packaging for this was cute, because it's a wine barrel. There is another type of this sleeping pack made with white wine for acne prone skin, which I'm sure I would have liked better. I bid on both through eBay and ended up with this version. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's like smearing grape jelly on your face. Do not like. Will not finish. Won't even try the white wine one, which is lotion and not a gel.

Philosophy Purity Cleanser - I bought the very small bottle of this to try out when Nordstrom was having a site wide beauty sale. So many people talk about this cleanser so I thought I'd give it a shot. It's an all right cleanser. It gets the job done, but I wouldn't be interested in a larger size. The small 3oz was $10 before my discount and the next size up is 8oz at $23! I have more than enough cleansers to last past the new year so I don't need to buy this one again.  

Lioele Water Drop Sleeping Pack - This is one of those products that will probably get used but won't be repurchased. I'm not even kidding when I say it was one of my first Korean skincare products. It was great when I bought it and the water drop effect was really cool, but it isn't as moisturizing as my other night creams. I only use this when I'm staying somewhere overnight and don't want my face to be a greasy mess when I wake up. 

Inglot Lip Palette - Don't get me wrong, I love Inglot as a brand and I also really like the lipsticks I own from them, but I seriously never use the THREE lip palettes that I own. It has nothing to do with the colors or formula, I just prefer a lipSTICK to a lip palette. I don't like using a brush and touching up lips with an entire palette is just a pain. I'm actually sad about this one because I do like the colors I own and these were pretty spendy.

Milani Shadow Eyez Pencil in Champagne Toast - I hate this. I used it once and couldn't get even color on my lid. I figured this would be more travel friendly than a pot of cream eye shadow, but it didn't work for me. The color that did get on my lid never set and I had to take it off. I like other Milani products, but I won't be trying this in any other colors.

Sigma Eyeliner in Focus - I could not get this to show up on my eye no matter what. Maybe it's because it's a lighter shade, but it swatched great on my hand. It also dragged when I tried to apply it to my lower lash line and was gone almost immediately. I have another color in this formula and I don't hate it as much as this one.

MAC Beauty Powder in Shell Pearl - I have a decent amount of MAC products, so it seems appropriate to not like them all. There's a few I've sold and plan on selling, and this is the next one in the pile. It's just not my color and it's way too shimmery for my cheeks. 

But that's only NINE, you say?

Never fear, I also regret buying pretty much every lip product I own from Covergirl and Revlon. It's honestly not that I hate these, it's just that I never wear them. I guess I hate the Covergirl ones more because they've dried out a bit and now slide out of the twisty tubes, whereas the Revlon ones don't. I've never had good luck with Covergirl products in general so this doesn't surprise me. I also don't wear lip gloss anymore, so it seems silly to own so much of it. I think since I only wear lipstick when I'm working that I'll try wearing lip gloss when I'm not. I just hate trashing products that I've spent money on. 

That's it. I'm sure a favorite post at the end of the month with redeem some of these brands listed here. 

Birthday Haul!

I'm a little late on this, but I was waiting for one other thing to arrive in the mail before posting a haul. There are a few more things that I ordered online, but there's enough that I can do another haul after this one.

Here's the teaser of stuff I got from the MAC Simpson's Collection, Crabtree & Evelyn, and a small trip to the CCO. 

The back row is shampoo and conditioner from Crabtree & Evelyn. They're $23 each, so that isn't really a price I would usually pay, BUT, they were buy 2 get 2 free. Even Shaun was telling me it was a good deal, so I picked up a set of the Jojoba Oil Shampoo and Conditioner and then one LaSource Shampoo and Aloe Conditioner. I'm sure those are going to last a long time. 

I also picked up a small set of hand lotions, which was originally $35 but was marked to 50% off. The scents are Rosewater, Lily, Himalayan Blue, Iris, Lavender, and Evelyn Rose.

From the CCO, I sadly only purchased an Clinique eye cream and a small trial size of the Smashbox Photofinish Primer. I was really bummed that there wasn't more that I wanted there since the store was small with a limited selection.

I wanted to try a new foundation, so I bought the MAC Face and Body Foundation in N1 and the new Studio Sculpt Powder in Light. The small white bottle in the back is a trial size of Strobe Cream.

The most exciting part of this collective haul has to be my two items from MAC's Simpson's collection. I purchased both blushes from the collection, Sideshow You and Pink Sprinkles.

Here is Marge in all her glory. I bought one blush mainly for the packaging, but fell in makeup love and had to have the pair. Originally, I bought Sideshow You without thinking because it was an online exclusive. After using Sideshow You, I decided I needed to go back for Pink Sprinkles because I don't actually have a pink blush like that one.

Sideshow You, Pink Sprinkles, Studio Sculpt Powder in Light.

The inside of the blushes are so awesome. I know Marge's face is going to wear away eventually, but I'm making an effort to only dab my brush in her hair so it doesn't fade away so quickly. I love that these blushes are the size of MSFs/Beauty Powders and also have a mirror. They're the same size as my new Studio Sculpt Powder, which is pictured next to the blushes.

And here are my bonus Maybelline items. I've heard great things about this under eye brightening concealer, so I wanted to give it a shot. When a sampled the damaged primer at Kmart, I really liked the silicone texture. After buying the Smashbox primer, I wanted to compare the two of them since they have a similar clear formula and silicone slip to them. 

Eventually I will be doing some kind of comparisons and or reviews on most of my new things! So far I'm satisfied with all my purchases and I'm really excited to try out my new Maybelline concealer. 

Subscription Addiction: August Birchbox Excitement!

So my August Birchbox didn't look just like that, but holy crap, was it awesome! It was my first month of Birchbox, and I was so, so pleased! There were some clear hits, and some clear misses, but overall, it's the best value for my needs right now, and seems to be the most consistent. So, without further commentary, here we go!

Subscription Box: Birchbox

Description: Each month, you'll receive a selection of samples that we’ve tried (and retried) ourselves. We source our samples from both well-known brands and emerging gems. The women’s subscription includes everything from skincare to makeup, as well as fun non-beauty extras. The men’s subscription delivers top-tier grooming products in addition to lifestyle accessories ranging from hip socks to tech accessories.  

Pricing: $10/month.

Referral Link: Here

Product #1: Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris Fragrance
I am not a fragrances gal. The most I do is slather on some Bath & Body Works Moonlight Path after a shower or spray the tiniest bit of knockoff Victoria's Secret perfume before I go out. This fragrance was so... flowery. And not in a light way. It was kind of musky and heavy. Not for me. I traded it on eDivv for some eyeshadow. I'm sure it will work great for someone, just not for me.

Product #2: K6 Skincare Clean Antioxidant Facial Cleanser
This product is vegan, which is always interesting. It had a clean smell to it, but a very light one. There wasn't a lot of lather to this product, which is okay for me. It didn't burn or sting my eyes when I used it. It felt nice on my skin. I needed to use a little extra moisturizer when I got out of the shower because this was a bit drying, but once I used the products from my normal moisturizing routine, it was a little better.

Product #3: LAQA & Co. Sheer Lip Lube Pencil | Bees Knees - Coral
I am excited about the color, for sure! It was a beautiful coral color which I was terrified would be too orange. But after consulting with a friend sitting next to me when I opened it, and confirming that it wasn't too orange, I wore it. I love how it applies, and I love that it's not outrageously sticky. However, my lips were dry one day and I looked like I was eating Cheetos. The color stuck to the dry patches on my lips. I'm experimenting a bit with chapstick or lip balm in combination with this, because I like it a lot and would like to use it much more, but my lips happen to be dry on a pretty regular basis.

Product #4: Noir Cosmestics Long-Wear Eyeliner
This stuff is the best. It applies so easily and it doesn't take scraping to get it to glide on to your eyes. It doesn't come off easily, which is the point, but using the right eye makeup remover makes all the difference. It's smooth and it lasts! It's a little darker than I would normally go, but I like the jet black color. It gives me more of a dramatic look when I have my glasses on, which are dark, thick black frames.

Product #5: Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream - Acai Grapefruit
Between this and a product in my September Birchbox, Grapefruit scents are WHERE IT'S AT. God, I loved this shaving cream. It's already gone. It moisturized my legs well, and it smelled incredible. It didn't lather like a Skintimate type shaving cream, but it was so effective when paired with the right razor (not a disposable one). I wish it stuck to my legs just a touch better, but this is definitely my favorite product so far from a subscription box!

This was absolutely worth my $10. I would never buy the $100+ perfume, but the rest of the products were useful and at the very least tailored to my needs, whether I liked them or not. Birchbox did a fantastic job for August!

Subscription Addiction: Is There Another Word I Can Use Besides 'Meh'?

So the beginning of my subscription box addiction came with the arrival of my BeautyBox5. I got my first box for free, which was the August box. Here, I will tell you about it!

Subscription Box: BeautyBox5

Description: Every month we'll send you a mix of makeup, beauty accessories, hair, skincare, fragrance, body, and nail products that we can't get enough of. Our secret? We share products that really work, so you'll receive luxury, drugstore, niche, eco-conscious, and even vegan brands. Whether you're a cosmetic newbie or a beauty guru, identify yourself as adventurous and playful or classy and mature, like to splurge on high-end items or be a savvy spender, we have everything you're looking for.

Pricing: $12/month and free shipping to the US.

Referral Link: Here

I signed up toward the end of the month. So, it's quite possible that I received some of the "leftovers", so to speak. However, because of that, I feel like some of the products I got were... underwhelming to say the least. I already unboxed many of the products, so there won't be as many pictures as there should be. But, I will be sure to link my YouTube video unboxing here for you to watch.

Product #1: Pur-Lisse Sunscreen/Moisturizer (SPF 30)

So for a fair, Irish redhead like me, one would think that this would be making me jump with joy. However, I was kind of under the impression that it would be a moisturizer with some SPF. It smelled just like sunscreen. If I want to use moisturizer as a part of my daily routine, it probably shouldn't smell like sunscreen. I mean, it probably works just fine as a sunscreen, but with summer ending and me living so far from any sort of beach or anything, I just don't see myself using it. But that's not anyone's fault, it was just a miss for me. It was a nice sample size, and I'm sure some people loved it.

Product #2: Nanacoco Lip Gloss (Shade: Popular)

The packaging on this was really nice. It didn't look cheap. It's a relatively inexpensive, accessible brand, but it definitely didn't present itself like that. However, it was so bright pink, it was almost Barbie pink. I love subtle pinks, and even some bright pinks, but that bright hot pink Barbie lip gloss wouldn't work for me. It was also really sticky when I swatched it. I probably couldn't stand having that on my lips for longer than about an hour. Just another miss.

Product #3: LaFresh Oil Free Makeup Remover Wipes (8 wipes)

I've used about half of these so far. They do a good job at getting the surface level makeup off. I still have to go in and use an eye makeup remover to get the rest of my eyeliner/mascara, but I can see a ton of eyeshadow/foundation/whatever on it when I toss the wipe. I've been using it before I go work out in the evenings, and then hopping in the shower to remove the rest of my makeup/get un-sweaty. I would probably repurchase these! This is one I'm happy with, for sure.

Product #4: Style Essentials Nail Polish

Black and sparkly just isn't my thing. On Halloween, sure. But on 364 other days of the year, I don't think I can pull it off. Sparkly nail polish is a beeyotch to get off, and most of the time, I would just rather not wear it than use something sparkly. If it were a different color, I would probably give it a shot, at least, but the black nail polish just wasn't going to be my jam.

Product #5: Novex Brazilian Keratin Hair Mask

So, this product was from another country/in another language? I'm not sure if it was Portuguese, or something similar. But the language that was primarily used on the package was not English. I'm okay with not 100% made in the USA products, but I'm not sure I would even have been able to repurchase the product if I loved it. On top of that, you have to leave it in for 25 minutes with a shower cap, and let's be real: ain't nobody got time for that. Not really interested in trying it.

So, for a free box, I'll take the wipes and be happy. My next month's box should be here soon, and I'm hoping it will redeem itself. I really want to like BeautyBox5, because it's affordable and I've heard good reviews. But if my future boxes are like this one, I may invest my money elsewhere. Sometimes I worry I'm being too picky with what's in my boxes, but if I can use and like 4/5 Birchbox products (post to come later), and use only 1/5 BeautyBox5 products, there's a clear winner there, and for $2 less per month. That being said, I see tons of reviews raving about this box and in general, people seem to really enjoy the contents as a general rule. I'm guessing this was just an "off" month, especially since they're still running the free August box promotion well into September. I'm willing to give it another shot or two, and I hope I won't be disappointed!

Top Five Favorite Pink Lipsticks

Hi, my name is Reggie and I'm a lipstick hoarder. I guess compared to some makeup collectors, 70 lipsticks isn't that many. I mean, it's under 100. That number includes only actual lipsticks, meaning none of my palettes, and lipsticks that I currently rotate and am not planning on selling.

This was supposed to be my top five favorites, but I had to throw in an honorable mention because I've only worn this lipstick once. I don't think something you wear once can really be considered a "favorite." I just felt that since it's going to be worn quite a bit that I would throw it in for comparison's sake.

As you can see, I'm not really into light pinks. Nope. Just bright pinks. I tend to like a bold lip if I'm going to commit to lipstick. Eventually, I'll do a show and tell of my entire lipstick collection. MAC is releasing more Retro Matte lipsticks soon though, and I'm planning on expanding with a couple of those.

The first three: Impassioned, Pink Pigeon, and Red Balloon. I like to keep the points on my lipsticks because I don't like to use a lip brush and I'm too low maintenance for lip liner. 

Impassioned is an Amplified formula which I really like. Amplified, Matte, Satin, Cremesheen are my favorite formulas so I'm sure you'll see a pattern. This is a newer lipstick to me that I bought not too long ago.

Pink Pigeon is a Matte formula. For a matte lipstick it's pretty creamy and doesn't feel too drying.

Red Balloon might be my favorite out of the entire bunch. It was limited edition with the Playland collection this summer. I kept telling myself I didn't need it until it was out of stock everywhere. I did manage to buy it with my Alluring Aquatic things later in the summer. It's an Amplified formula, so it wears great.

The next ones: Relentlessly Red, (which isn't even red.) Girl About Town, and Kelly Yum Yum. Girl About Town is in limited edition packaging from the Manish Arora collection from way back before I used MAC. I purchased this at retail from a blog sale and the tip was already rounded, but I can't complain because I've seen people buying and selling this lipstick for $50 and up. 

My honorable mention is Kelly Yum Yum, which I just purchased 2 weeks ago. I missed every release everywhere for this lipstick and ended up buying it used on Facebook for about retail, which was the cheapest I had seen anyone resell this limited edition lipstick.

Relentlessly Red is a Retro Matte formula. It's drier than Pink Pigeon and you can see here that it dragged on my skin during the swatch process. I don't feel that it's that dry on my lips, but I also exfoliate my lips and used a lip primer before I apply it. This definitely isn't a red. It's a pinky-red I guess, but it leans more hot pink in my opinion. I'll have to compare all my red-pink mattes eventually, but I'm sure I'm getting another in the Retro Matte collection when it comes out.

Just to reiterate, Girl About Town is in the Manish Arora packaging. I don't have a regular Girl About Town to compare, so I can't say if it's different. This is an Amplified formula, so I definitely love it. The packaging is definitely a winner for me since I missed the collection this came out with.

I guess I can't say a whole lot about Kelly Yum Yum. It's a Satin finish, which I've been loving when I don't really have the patience for a matte lipstick. I really like this so far, but I've only worn it once. I have the inspiration behind this lipstick, which is Candy Yum Yum, a matte, but I haven't actually worn that out in public.

And here's all the lipstick swatches together to compare. I guess they're all pretty similar, but different enough that you can tell they aren't the same.

I want to do more lipstick posts, especially favorites and swatches. Eventually I'm going to do some lip swatches, but my lips aren't up for five or six lipsticks being applied and rubbed off over and over.

Subscription Addiction: But I Already Have Too Much Crap I Don't Use!

My name is Jessica, and I have a problem. That problem is largely due to unused makeup. When my subscription box addiction began, I asked myself the obvious question: "What the hell am I going to do with the crap I don't want/won't use/don't like?"

Well, the first thing I did was purge years worth of makeup I never used. If it was dried up, expired, or growing some sort of fungus, I tossed it. Then, I organized my makeup in small, makeshift bags and containers: eye products in one, lip products in the next, foundations and skin care in another. I still found that I was holding on to things I would never use. They were still perfectly good (I'm looking at you, Philosophy Cinnamon Bun sparkly lip gloss that's still sealed), but I just didn't see myself using them. Ever. But why throw something away that's sealed? I may decide I want my lips to be sparkly and smell like Cinnabon one day. You never know, the little voice in the back of my head kept whispering. This is wasteful. You know you'll regret it the second you throw it away.

Well, I was watching a YouTube video one day, and the girl mentioned a website where you can trade unused, gently used, and/or unwanted makeup and beauty products. It's called eDivv. (That link takes you to sign up; I get credits for referrals, but feel free to sign up on your own.) I've heard of services like Makeup Alley, which are pretty similar, but leave you little recourse if your trade doesn't go as planned. eDivv has been so good to me thus far! It's so easy, and it's FUN and ADDICTING. Basically, you post products you don't want, including a picture, condition, size, etc. For instance, I posted the aforementioned Cinnamon Bun lip gloss. If someone interested in your deliciously sparkly lipgloss, they can do one of two things: they can offer you a trade for a specific item of theirs, or they can indicate that they're interested in the lip gloss and leave you to peruse their shop for things you may want. Once a trade is initiated, you have 48 hours to respond. If you don't, the trade is canceled and the items offered reappear in the shop.

But I'm trading limited edition stuff, and all they have is LipSmackers!
This is exactly the fear I had when I posted a barely-used bottle of Wen by Chaz Dean. That's some fancy designer grade QVC gold, and I wanted to be sure I would get an even trade. The good news is, you can counter offer, trade for multiple items, or decline the trade.

For real, though, I'm not sending my stuff until I get theirs!
I was so worried about this, too. My first trade was with a "Trusted Divvyer", which means they have completed a certain amount of successful trades and therefore earn the privilege of waiting until they receive your item to send you theirs. We communicated well, I sent her a tracking number, and checked in after a few days to ensure she got her item. My item hasn't arrived yet, but I have been in contact with her, and we've been collectively yelling at the Post Office.

Like I said, you can also take it up with eDivv if you don't receive your item. I'm not entirely sure what they'll do about it, but they really stress satisfaction. They also have a rating system and a review system. Ten days after the execution of a successful trade, you can rate your partner and leave feedback. This way, if you're new, people can read that and have a little more faith that you'll send what you say you'll send. I also always ship first, regardless of Divvyer status. Yes, that's putting all your eggs in one basket, but I always remind myself that I didn't want the item anyway, so all I'm out is the $2-3 shipping cost if for some reason I don't get what I was promised.

I'll make a haul post on this sometime soon. I've gotten some really really great stuff!

Another suggestion I have for you guys is Yerdle. (Again, that's a referral link.) Yerdle is so addicting. The app is free on your iPhone or iPod. Basically, you start out with a certain amount of "credits". You post your stuff, setting a price in credits, and it starts a 4 day auction for your stuff. For instance, I had a paperweight with a bee on it that my grandmother gave me. God love her, she was the most wonderful lady, but had no concept of useful gifts. I put the starting bid at 15 credits, and a "get it now" option for 75 credits. If someone chose my "get it now", I would ship it to them through UPS, with a pre-paid shipping label. Shipping is paid (in real money) by the person looking to purchase the item, and the seller prints out the label.

How can they tell what the shipping cost is?
Well, Yerdle is notoriously strange when it comes to predicting size/shipping cost. Someone paid $4 for a small deck of cards I was Yerdling. $4 was kind of outrageous, but they're working out the kinks. That's definitely a downside, but again, that crap is out of my hair.

What does this have to do with makeup and beauty products?
I was in a bidding war all freakin' day for some Yes to Blueberries Hair Care, new in the package because the seller was allergic to the whole line. They have a whole beauty section. It's tough to wade through sometimes, but it has become my newest obsession. I'm waiting for some nail stickers to come in the mail, along with some nail polish, dry shampoo, hair ties, and other goodies. So it's definitely another way to trade stuff you don't want for stuff you do.

I can't say that I've received a ton of stuff from my subscription boxes yet that I've hated. There's definitely stuff I wouldn't use, but that's part of the luck of the draw. I'll say more about that in my unboxing posts later. With a little patience, a good organization system, and fingers that bid like the wind, you never know what you'll get.

Subscription Addiction: Subscription Boxes are my Beauty Gateway Drug

I've always wanted to educate myself on makeup. I've just really been lazy about it for years. When I was in middle school, we weren't allowed to wear makeup to school (Catholic school, for the win!). In high school, I went to an all-girls school (again, Catholic school, for the win!). In college, I was never an early riser, and just did some quick lipgloss and mascara, if that.

More recently, throughout graduate school, I've been a tiny bit better. I'm a teacher's assistant three days a week to help me pay for school, so now I have to be an early riser. And my body clock usually wakes me up about 20 minutes before my alarm: just enough time to put on some makeup.

I wanted to learn more. My mom has been getting me BareEscentuals every holiday for years, but I wanted to learn more about other brands as well. About a month ago, I subscribed to Ipsy and Birchbox. Both services are $10 a month and they are beauty subscription services. Once a month, they send you a box or a bag with an average-ish of 5 deluxe beauty samples (hair care, skin care, makeup, etc) or, in Birchbox's case, lifestyle stuff as well (tea, snacks, etc).

I was obsessed with my Ipsy and Birchbox, so I started googling. The more I googled, the more I learned. I came across My Subscription Addiction, the worst/best thing ever. I could figure out which boxes were free for your first month with a code, which gave you money off, and which were expensive as crap. I started watching YouTube unboxings, and that was where I ended up getting sucked in. My cat and my dog both have subscription boxes. My boyfriend doesn't yet, but he hasn't finished the one month Mistobox gift I gave him last year. But he will.

So, this post is going to kind of be an introduction to the subscription boxes I have tried or want to try. I will make a new post for each unboxing (including pricing, contents, etc), but this will be an overview.

Boxes I have tried (and received a box):
Birchbox
Julep Maven
BeautyBox5
KitNipBox (this one's for my cat, haters gonna hate)
Nadine West (technically not makeup, but it's fashion. I'll make a new post on that later.)
RocksBox (jewelry subscription box)
Toothbrush Subscriptions (um, I forget to change my toothbrush, okay?)

Boxes I Am Expecting Any Day Now (but have not yet tried):
BarkBox
Ipsy
Boxycharm
Love With Food

Boxes I Would Love to Try (but am too broke, let's be real):
Glossybox
Scratch
Sample Society
Loot Crate
Wantable
Beauty Army
Beauty Test Tube
Whimseybox
LipFactory
Total Beauty Collection
Bonjour Jolie
Beauty DNA
BezelBox

Obviously there's a box for almost everything. In my next post, I'm going to answer the obviously looming question: What the hell am I going to do if I hate what's in the box?