Subscription Addiction | May 2015 Boxycharm

I assure you, I wasn't being lazy on this one. My Boxycharm ended up in my city, then was mis-delivered to another city entirely, then finally re-routed to the city I live in. I didn't get it until way late in May. ANYWAY. Here's what was inside:

Product #1: Bodyography Brow Trio
I don't usually use brow powder, but I like this. I'll be able to mix colors to get what I want, and as a redhead, it will be nice to get the correct mix. It's something that's cool to have, I guess? I wasn't blown away by it when I opened it up, but I think the idea of it has grown on me.

Product #2: Bodyography Brow Brush
I like the occasional beauty tool in a box, so this was pretty nice to have. I will definitely use this in combination with the trio. It's also going to be nice to tame brows, and the brush itself is a great value. So. Good to have.

Product #3: ModelCo Bronzer
This is a really really nice bronzer, but it looks a little dark for my light skin tone. I haven't swatched it or anything, for fear of it being too dark and then I went and swatched it... but it does look a little dark. I'm curious how it will look. Everyone seems to really enjoy it as a product, but I'm not sure about it.

Product #4: Lauren B. Beauty Nail Polish
The color of this nail polish is one I would quite literally never ever wear. It's like a sea foam lime greenish color. It seems like it could be fun for summer or as an accent nail or something, perhaps layered with a clear Jamberry wrap, but honestly? It isn't a color I would ever ever wear. Ever. The red one I saw in videos is much more wearable and it would be something I would most definitely try. But this one? Nope. Nah.

Product #5: The Lip Bar Lipstick
I saw all the YouTube videos of this and I anticipated getting the bright purple shade so many youtubers ended up with, but I actually ended up with a pretty coral color. It's still not for me, but it's much more wearable than a bright-ass purple.

One complaint I have about this box is the wearability/universality of the products. The brow trio is PERFECT in terms of universality. Anyone can use it, for the most part. But, bright green nail polish and bright purple lipstick (even though I got the coral shade) aren't generally wearable. I know they like a little excitement and come creativity other than a pink-nude-red nail polish type color scheme, but that's my main frustration with these things. I can't wear bright purple lipstick to work. Someone can, but I can't. So.

All in all, this box was "meh". Wasn't horrible and wasn't great. But I am grateful to have a couple of the products I got.

Subscription Addiction | Birchbox Backup - April 2015

Product #1: POP Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio - Peach Parfait
I am really excited about this little trio, actually. The colors are pretty and I'm excited to try them. I'm including them in a Shop My Stash thing in the next few days, too. I love the swatches I tried on this - they're sparkly without making me feel like Tinkerbell fairy dust is on my eyes. They're really pigmented and pretty.

Product #2: Real Chemistry Luminous 3 minute Peel
This worked really, really well. I used it and originally I wasn't a fan. But the more I scrubbed, the more dead skin came off. My face is really soft right now and it didn't turn it bright beet red. It didn't break me out and I will definitely invest in a full size of this at some point.

Product #3: Paula's Choice RESIST 25% Vitamin C Spot Treatment
I haven't tried this, but I usually don't use spot treatment as an everyday product. I want to start using up my samples, so maybe this is one I can get in on. I don't know much about it other than to say, I'm kind of 'meh' on this one!

Product #4: Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive Moisturizing Shampoo
I've never heard of the Beaver brand before. I like getting shampoo and conditioner samples, so we will give it a shot. It's a decent sized sample, too, so I'm pleased to have it and excited to try it. I'm interested in the moisturizing claims of it.

Product #5: Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive Repairing Conditioner
I really like repairing conditioners because they generally make my hair feel quite soft and they tend to do what they're supposed to do. My hair doesn't feel dry or crunchy with them, generally, and it also doesn't feel oily or weighed down. I haven't tried this yet, just as I haven't tried its shampoo counterpart, but I will give it a shot.

Overall, I think this was a pretty good box. The box itself was gorgeous too, and I kept it to hold some of my stash in!

Subscription Addiction | Birchbox Backup - March 2015

Product #1: Embryolisse Lait creme concentre
This is a nice face lotion. It's not drying, but I wouldn't call it super moisturizing, either. It says it's for all skin types, which makes it a problem. My skin is way way dry. I need the crazy moisturizing and hydrating products. That's the only way I can really keep up with my skin. But, this does its job and I keep it at boyfriend's place so I can moisturize after the shower. I was just glad to get rid of that Mereadesso cream that I used for forever.

Product #2: Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle
I like this product. It isn't my holy grail status product, but it works and I like it. It smells good and it does its job. It was a decent sample size, as well. I've seen a lot from the Beauty Protector brand, and I've heard only good things. So I will continue to use it and see how it goes.

Product #3: Mirenesse Glossy Kiss in Angel Kiss
So this is a deep purple. Not even kidding; it's a deep wine-y purple color. I don't want to swatch it because I know I can't use it, and I want to pass it on to someone who can. Here's the problem. I know that many people can get away with using tons of shades, whether they're everyday wearable or not. The problem is that I'm in education. My principal wouldn't be thrilled with a counselor with purple lips. 

Product #4: Harvey Prince Sincerely
You know how much I love my Harvey Prince! This is an interesting scent - it's a bit spicier, so to speak, than Hello. But I really do like it. I haven't found a Harvey Prince scent I hate yet, so this is a good way to continue on that road.

Product #5: Jelly Pong Pong GLOW GETTER Highlighter
So this is strange. I thought it was a nail polish. It's in a nail polish packaging, like one of those old Bon Bons nail polishes I bought with my allowance in the 90s. I'm not sure how I feel about the product itself though. I just don't know if I would use it.

So this was a 'meh' box for me. I think I'm being picky, but I also think... if something's not wearable or usable, why not be a little bummed?

Subscription Addiction | Boxycharm Backup - April 2015

This is the Boxycharm I have been most excited about in FOREVER. So thanks for that, Boxycharm.

April 2015 Boxycharm: April Bloom

Product #1: Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette
I love the Coastal Scents Revealed Palette, and while the Revealed 2 Palette has several very similar colors, I really do love this palette too. One thing that I appreciate about the Revealed palettes is how many colors there are, and how wearable they are. They aren't bright tangerine, or neon green, or anything strange. I haven't had a chance to try these out yet, but I will soon.

Product #2: OFRA Derma Mineral Powder
I don't know about this one, guys. It's so pink and sparkly, that it's just not for me at first glance. But I will for sure give it a shot. I do need to branch out, and this is an incredible value and I've heard really good things about this product anyway.

Product #3: Vincent Longo Duo Lip Pencil in Lavender Lite/Grape
This went up on eDivv for sure. While the purples are gorgeous, I don't wear purple lipstick. That's the thing about this - if the colors were different, I would definitely give them a shot. But the colors are either purple or bright Barbie pink and I can't get away with those types of colors.

Product #4: Coolway Smoothing Lotion
This is another one of those "Not really useful to me" products. Sure, I'm glad to have this, but it's not something I oohed and ahhhed over when I opened it. I'll give it a shot and see how it works. Can't hurt to try.

Product #5: Harvey Prince Mini Roller Fragrance in Signature
At first this was really disappointing because as much as I love Harvey Prince, I didn't need a third backup of "Hello". But this apparently is the signature scent. So that's a lot better. It smells good and it's in a rollerball size, which means it didn't show up half empty.

Subscription Addiction | Boxycharm Backup - March 2015

Honestly, in opening this one, I didn't even remember what I thought of it. It was that point in the semester where I had 400 things due at once, and I was working 14 hour days, and I was so freaking exhausted that I didn't remember a single thing from March.

March 2015 Boxycharm: Lucky Charm

Product #1: Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo Spray
I want to try this. I really do. Dry shampoo is frustrating for me, because it doesn't usually work on me. But I will give it an honest and fair shot before I write it off as "it sucks" like every other brand I've ever tried. Plus, Oscar Blandi is a pretty awesome name in beauty, so it's not like this isn't quality stuff.

Product #2: OFRA Eyeliner in Navy
Am I boring if I just don't see a use for eyeliners that aren't brown or black? At least not in my life, at this point. I've seen it swatched, and it's less of a navy and more of a royal blue, which is just too intense for me. I'm passing this on to someone else.

Product #3: LVX Nail Lacquer
This nail polish needs 2-3 coats, and it's super streaky. I'm really not a fan. It's possible that someone else may enjoy it, but I'm not usually a huge fan of the Boxycharm nail polishes. It's just the truth. So, I'm 'meh' about this.

Product #4: Tarte Tip Surgence Lip Tint in Charmed
I love Tarte products, and this one's no different. People say it's a little minty, and I can see that, I suppose. I just like how it's really hydrating and it's wearable. It's a wearable shade that I can pull off and I don't have to fight feeling whiny or disappointed over a simply unwearable shade.

Product #5: Previse Nutrify Skin Type 1-6 Universal Tonic
I haven't used this yet. Universal things scare me, because they're usually not good for my skin. I don't say that to be like, 'Oh, my skin is more special than yours', but everyone is different. I have super-duper dry skin. If I have wicked dry skin, obviously it's not going to react the same to this tonic as someone with oily or combination skin. So, I'm hesitant, but I will report back.

Subscription Addiction | Birchbox Backup - February 2015

Here we have another photo of a not-my-actual Birchbox, but I can say that it looks just like mine! I love the designs this year, and it's nice to see something other than plain,boring brown boxes. Onward!

Product #1: COOLA Face SPF 30 Unscented Matte Tint
Now that summer is here, I'm excited to try this. I don't know if it is in fact unscented, but I'm game to try it. Hopefully it works and I'm stoked about the SPF. We shall see.

Product #2: Marcelle Gentle Makeup Remover For Sensitive Eyes
Just from the bottle, this reminds me a little of my Philosophy Just Release Me eye makeup remover. I can't wait to give it a shot. Anything is better than my Body Shop eye makeup remover that doesn't remove makeup at all.

Product #3: theBalm Cosmetics Read my Lips Lip Gloss in BAM!
The color on this is really pretty. It is really sticky, though. I love theBalm as a brand, so I was a tiny bit disappointed that it was so sticky. But I plan to try mixing it with other stuff or figuring out a way to make it less sticky. Hopefully it works, because it is really pretty.

Product #4: Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
I have been sent a crap ton of exfoliants lately. It's ridiculous. This one is just going to sit there for awhile until I finish up the others. Doesn't look any different than the others. No more special than a regular old exfoliant. We shall see. I'll update you if it's some amazing life-changing stuff.

Product #5: BeeKind Conditioner
This conditioner didn't do anything amazing for my hair. I do like that it's made with more natural ingredients, and it smells really good. But other than that it wasn't anything exciting except supporting bees or the increase of the bee population or something? I'd like to try the shampoo, but I'm not totally and completely blown away.

This box was 'meh', but I'm excited to try some of the products I haven't had a chance to try yet.

Subscription Addiction | Birchbox Backup - January 2015

Aaand we've made it to this year in Birchbox! My Birchbox is now in the closet with my other "Shop my Stash" boxes (I'll get to that in a few posts), so that's why I'm using this photo blatantly stolen from Google. AND HERE WE GO.

Product #1: Harvey Prince Hello Body Creme
I actually traded for this on eDivv forever ago, and I love it. Stoked to have a backup. I love Harvey Prince's stuff, so this makes me pretty happy.

Product #2: Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal Eye & Face
I haven't had the opportunity to try this yet, but I did put it in my "Shop My Stash" box for May, so I'll let you know how it does. It seems like one of those samples that looks bigger than it is because the cover is long and the bottle itself is short. But I may be completely incorrect and I may be pleasantly surprised.

Product #3: Neil George Shampoo
I used this up and I actually really liked it. It smelled fresh and clean, and it cleaned my hair well. It didn't weigh my hair down, it didn't do anything particularly funky to it, and it lathered well.  I can't say I'm going to run out and buy the full size, but possibly with Birchbox shop points.

Product #4: Neil George Conditioner
This one's really nice on my hair. It doesn't feel tangled or greasy when I use it. Apparently it's also paraben free? Anyway. I have a crapton of conditioners to use up, so this isn't a must-have at the moment, but I did enjoy this and would possibly repurchase.

Product #5: Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner
It isn't Olive Green, which makes me say that it's good. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, since I've been pretty busy using up other eyeliners. But at this point if it isn't an unusable, ugly color, we're good. I've been getting a LOT of eyeliners lately, especially from Birchbox, so I changed my settings up a bit so maybe I wouldn't be getting so many.

All in all this box was pretty good. Nothing superb, but nothing terrible. Pretty much what I would expect from a Birchbox. Pleasant surprises with nothing I truly hated.

Subscription Addiction | Birchbox Backup - December 2014

In addition to my Boxycharm, I have Birchbox to catch up with. Lots. Same amount's worth. So let me say this. I've liked Birchbox and Boxycharm equally for their different purposes. Birchbox lets me try little samples, and Boxycharm gives me full sized products I'm more likely to continue using. They both rock equally in different ways and I'm excited to review some of the products I've tried.

Product #1: Amika Nourishing Mask
This made my hair feel SO pretty. So soft, smelled incredible. I'm still using it up, but I love it. It's something I'd definitely consider purchasing. The sample size was pretty good, as well. I've used it twice and I can get one or two more uses out of it. I'm definitely impressed with it.

Product #2: Lord & Berry Paillettes Glitter Eye Pencil in Black
I was going through a period where all I got was eyeliner. I also don't do glitter. So this wasn't awesome for me. Plus, it's barely the size of my pinky finger, so I wasn't thrilled with this one. Put it up for trade on eDivv. Doubt anyone will want it, but I tried.

Product #3: Mirenesse Mattfinity Rouge in New York
Whoa, was this red. I didn't even swatch it because it was so crazy red. And matte. I prefer glossy, myself, and it just scared me a little, so I put it up on eDivv as well. I don't know much about it and I didn't swatch it, but it wasn't for me anyway.

Product #4: Rusk Texture Spray
I should give this a try. The reviews on it seem to be decent, especially with stick-straight hair havers like me. So it's quite possible that it could work for me. If it doesn't, oh well. But it may? I'll try it.

Product #5: TOCCA Crema de Mano - Cleopatra
This smells really good! It's a mix of cucumber and grapefruit, and it's light without being oppressive or offensive. So many lotions or hand cremes are so heavy or floral-y that they give me a headache. This one smells clean and fresh and it's the perfect size to carry in my purse.

December's box was one looking back that I was frustrated with when I opened it because of the lip rouge and the texture spray and the glittery eyeliner. But the hand creme and the hair mask made this box worth it for me. So overall, I can't hate on it.

Subscription Addiction | Boxycharm Backup - February 2015

I've made it past January, and on to February, another box with all of the products still sitting in it. 90% of days from January-April, I chose sleeping in instead of doing any makeup. Working and going to class from 6:45AM-9:30PM will do that to a person. But I digress. Summer is here, and with one job down and full time internship coming up, it's time to experiment. Here's what I got for February to play with:

February 2015 Boxycharm: Kisses From Boxycharm

Product #1: Modern Minerals Duo Fiber Mini Round Brush
I just took this brush out of its bag for the first time and holy crap is it soft. It's a beautiful brush -- just small enough to get in the creases but big enough to sweep across the eye and get some good coverage. It doesn't feel prickly or cheap, and I'm glad I got it in my Boxycharm, because I wouldn't pay $15 for it on my own. Not that it wouldn't be worth it or I don't think it's worth the price, it's just that $15 for a brush isn't something I would normally be able to justify.

Product #2: Mullein & Sparrow Mini Facial Mask
I haven't had the opportunity to try this yet, but it's really interesting. It's a powder that you mix with water to form a mask. It's all natural, organic ingredients and the sample bottle is deluxe -- but it's still one entire ounce. So that's really impressive for a sample. I'll be sure to report back and tell you how it is.

Product #3: ncLA Nail Lacquer in "Heart Attack"
I wasn't impressed by the NCLA lacquer last time, but this is pretty cute. It's got little glitter hearts in it that you can use as a top coat or an accent nail. I'll probably keep it around to use as an accent nail, although I can't see myself using it a whole heck of a lot.

Product #4: Jing Ai Velvet Shine Lip Jewel in Pink a Boo
This one's way too Barbie pink for me. It's a pretty color, but I prefer reds or salmons as opposed to "Barbie threw up on this" pink. I took a peek at the swatches online and they were super duper pink, so I just threw this one up on eDivv. I have plenty of lip products, and this one isn't one I will miss. Perhaps if it was a different color?

Product #5: Mistrua Beauty Solutions C-2-P Complexion Corrector
I haven't used it yet, but it's way expensive. I mean, $36 for something the size of a lipstick? It's apparently good for all skin tones, so we will find out. I'll try it in the next few days to see how it goes on. For that kind of money, it must work miracles.

This was a decent box. Overall, I'm impressed. The thing that consistently impresses me about Boxycharm is that I wouldn't spend money on these things for myself, but one thing in the box is usually double the value of the box itself. So it makes it worth the money for me.

Subscription Addiction | Boxycharm Backup - December 2014

It has been an age since I reviewed a Boxycharm. So I will do that now. I have 5-6 months worth of products still sitting in their boxes for the most part because I've been so busy. But that changes now. Let's start from the beginning, shall we?

December 2014 Boxycharm: Jingle Belles

So I remember this box being hit and miss. There were a couple of things in it that were 'meh' for me, but there was a clear hit in there as well.

Product #1:  Coastal Scents Revealed Palette
I am now the proud owner of a gazillion palettes, and I love it. For real, though, I do. The Revealed palette is gorgeous. To save on the ridiculous amount of pictures, I won't swatch the colors, but it's got tons of pretty browns, golds, and burnt colors in there. Some are glittery, some are not. There's a pretty good variety on them, and I've loved all the Coastal Scents items I've tried before. Their palettes are usually very good and the pigmentation on their shadows is usually right there. So I'm excited to give it a shot.

Product #2: Lina Lashes Luxury Mink Lashes
This was a nice value for the box, but I don't wear fake lashes. I just don't. I'm sure they're cool for someone who wears false lashes, but not for me. Just... a miss. A $30 value is really nice for someone who's into lashes, though.

Product #3: Mistura Beauty Solutions Retractable Beauty Brush
Retractable brushes aren't my thing. There's just something about them that I don't dig. I like the stability of my RealTechniques brushes, and even my BareMinerals brushes. But I will say that this one is very soft, and it's again, a great value for the box. Boxycharm doesn't play around for $21/month. This was a $19.99 value in and of itself, So it's something worth trying, for sure.

Product #4: Be a Bombshell Lip Product in Tango
I don't hate it. But I'm not sure about it. The lipstick wasn't damaged when I opened the box, but I opened it today to swatch, and the entire lipstick fell out. I can live with it, but I'm disappointed. It's a little bright for my taste, but I will definitely give it a go. I need to branch out. And I generally like Be a Bombshell products, so I'm sure this one won't be any different.

Product #5: Eva NYC Hairspray
I don't use hairspray. So this one was kind of a bummer for me! Not really into this one. I'm sure I can pass it along to someone who may want it though.


Overall, this was a great box. Not everything was super duper amazing, but I will definitely get some use out of the products and the value is IN.CRED.I.BLE. So, I'm excited.

Birchbox | December Unboxing

This is going to be a brief post because I was pretty disappointed in Birchbox this month. Usually I can find a use for most things in my box, but this month was mostly haircare.

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre - I'll probably use this at some point, but I've been holding off because the sample is just so damn small. This is a priming moisturizer, so it is something I'd use.

Lord & Berry Paillettes Glitter Eye Pencil in Black - This is so tiny! I get that, because it's an $18 pencil for a full size, but this is just a nub. I have used this eye liner and I do actually like it.

Manna Kadar Lip Locked in All of Me - At first, I was annoyed that I was given another lip gloss. I'm not really into lip glosses. I actually really like this color and it turns out that this is actually a lip stain.

Number 4 Hair Care Shampoo and Conditioner - I don't really need shampoo, but I guess this would be good for travel. I also hate foil packets of things like conditioner, so I don't know what I'm going to do with that.

Rusk Texture Spray - Sure. More hairspray. I guess I might use this when I finish growing out my hair a bit more, but I wish I could have gotten something else instead.

Short and sweet this month. I liked the baby eyeliner and the mini lip stain. I might like the moisturizer, but I don't want to like it because then I'll want to buy it!

Ipsy | December Unbagging

After last month, I was less than excited to get my December Ipsy bag. Even though Jessica cancelled, I decided to keep my subscription because I didn't have Ipsy as long as she did. Well, I was actually thrilled with my bag this month! It even beat out Birchbox, which I definitely wasn't impressed with this time around.

Nourish Organic Renewing Eye Cream: I think I've made it clear that I'm mildly obsessed with skin care products, so I like getting new ones to try out. I'm a little on the fence about this one because it takes a lot of smoothing this out to get your skin to absorb it. 

NYX Butter Lip Balm in Parfait: This is one of my favorite things that I've gotten in one of these subscriptions. I'm pretty sure this is only $3, but I know I wouldn't have purchased this on my own. I really like the color and the moisture. I've worn this to bed and I don't even need or want a tint then.

Bumble and Bumble BB Repair Blow Dry: I actually needed something like this for the rare ocassions that I blow dry my hair now that I'm in constant pony tail mode. It's winter, so I don't want to go out or to bed with wet or damp hair. I'll try this out soon.

Cailyn Cosmetics Just Mineral Eye Polish: I actually really like this. I already tried this out and wore it to work once. The color is pretty nice and I like the formulation.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara: I have a larger trial version of this mascara, but I definitely appreciate getting another one! I'm going to add this to my mascara stash because I've accumulated quite a few mascaras lately. Props to Ipsy for actually giving out a higher end brand that I know.

Subscription Addiction | November Boxycharm

This was the most underwhelming Boxycharm I've received, and still, it's worth the money. I was 'meh' about some things, but some things were really, really nice to have.

Product #1: MicaBeauty eye primer
So, this alone is worth over $40. For an eye primer. That's pretty awesome. I'm not saying I use it all day erry day, but $40 is not cheap! I have a Smashbox eye primer that I use often, so I'll probably wait until that's gone to try this one, but I'm excited to have it.

Product #2: OFRA cosmetics pressed blush
I'm really excited to have this. I haven't used it yet, but I've been looking for a good quality blush for awhile now. So this will be the first thing I reach for!

Product #3: Tarina Tarantino Eyelicity Glitter Liner
I don't know how I feel about this. On one hand, I like that it was included. On the other... I don't do glitter? I mean, I'm just not sure. I'll probably give it a shot and see. I know that mine is a white or clear color, so maybe it's just going to be something I use as a tube of glitter for when I feel like walking around looking like I made it rain at JoAnn's.

Product #4: Kevin.Murphy.Color.Bug
This is basically hair chalk. The frustrating thing about this is that it's gold. My hair is strawberry blonde. There is no way that this will show up in my hair at all. Not for me. It's cool for someone... that someone just doesn't happen to be me.

Product #5: Bellapierre shimmer powder
I'm excited that they gave us a loose shadow and an eye primer. They go hand in hand! But I'm also really excited to try this eyeshadow. I'm sure it will be better than the cheek/lip stain I got from them a few months back. I've heard a lot of good things about Bellapierre, so... hopefully it lives up to expectations.

As you can see, this box wasn't super-amazing, but it wasn't terrible. The value alone was worth the $21. Even if I just got that eye primer, I'd be happy. Not all of this was for me, but that's okay. This is probably tied with Birchbox for my favorite box right now.

Subscription Addiction | November Birchbox Included CHOCOLATE.

This box came with chocolate. And it came much earlier than last month's box. So that means it's a good one. I don't have much else to say, so let's get into it!

Product #1: Chuao Chocolatier Assorted ChocoPod
The one I got was PERFECT. It was the potato chip covered in chocolate, and it was the perfect mix of sweet and salty. I'd get a bunch of these in a heartbeat. So, so good. It was a nice little bonus to get.

Product #2: Folle de Joie Eau de parfum
Birchbox has listened to me so far and hasn't sent me more than a couple of perfume samples. However, I haven't liked either of them. This included. It was heavy and floral. I just don't do heavy and floral. The boyfriend wasn't a fan, either. And while I'm a strong, independent woman who doesn't care what her partner thinks of her perfume, I would like for my boyfriend not to hate my scent.

Product #3: ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick
This is a very pretty nude shade. I don't know if it's something I'll wear, since it's legitimately nude. But it's so pretty. I may mix it with something else, or try it. We'll see. But it is really nice!

Product #4: Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner
I was okay with this. It wasn't super-amazing but it did make my skin feel soft and it felt like I got some of the gunk out. I will say that my main complaint is the color... that sounds dumb, but it's a clear gel when it comes out of the tube. I had trouble figuring out where I'd already put the product. When it turned blue, it was patchy, and I knew I missed spots. I did like the product, though, and after all the hype, it's nice to have.

Product #5: Supergoop Daily Correct CC Cream
Reggie speaks highly of this, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. I just started using my it Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye, and I really like it. Apparently when I wear too much makeup I look "weird" (very technical term used by my boyfriend), so I'm using this kind of stuff only for special occasions.

Product #6: Perlier Revitalizing Body Butter
I haven't tried this yet. I know. I've got like 68 body butters I'm working my way through. I don't hate having it, though.

My favorite product this month was the chips. Give me all of the chocolate covered potato chips you have. No, you misunderstand. I said ALL of them.

Ipsy | November Unbagging

I haven't really been impressed with Ipsy, but I haven't had enough bags to really axe it just yet. Jessica cancelled her subscription after three bags, so I figured I'd give it one more month and see if there are any redeeming products.

The one thing I hate about Ipsy is that there isn't a card to tell you what the products are and how much they cost like Birchbox does. In order to do these posts I have to look online and see what items where in my bag. I did look at the other samples and saw things I would have liked instead of these items, such as: Laura Mercier powder and fan brush, GlamGlow Powermud, IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye, and the Tarte Maracujua Oil.

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Volume Shine Hairspray: I haven't used hairspray in I can't tell you how long. However, I already had a hairspray that worked just fine. I don't understand their brands. Marc Anthony? Like Jennifer Lopez's husband Marc Anthony? The singer? He makes hairspray? Sure. Maybe I'll try it after my hair grows out past the ponytail only stage.

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Eye Base in Submissive: This is actually the only thing I've used from my Ipsy bag. This is sort of like a paint pot, but it isn't as good. The color is nice, but it's sheer. All I do is rub my finger in the product and smooth it over my eyelid. It has so so staying power and isn't something I would purchase for myself.

Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in Ultra Orchid: Can I just say thank GOD I didn't get this in the olive color that Jessica received in two different boxes? Thank God. I haven't even unwrapped this because I wasn't feeling like using a second eyeliner, but I'm sure this will be just okay. If it does suck, I'm sure I'll mention it again.

TEMPTU S/B Highlighter in Pink Pearl: I've only heard of Temptu through YouTube back when xSparkage used an airbrush machine. I think Jessica also received one of these a couple months ago, but I don't know if she used it. I'm not a huge liquid highlighter fan. I even have a Benefit Highbeam that I always consider using but just don't. The color looks exactly like my MAC Strobe Cream, so I will consider actually using it at some point.

Love & Beauty by Forever 21 Crème Lipstick in Berry: Sure. At least it isn't a sample size lipstick? The color is actually something I would actually wear, but I haven't done more than open it to see what it looks like. Maybe it's the fact that it's a Forever 21 lipstick? I don't know.

Anyway, this month was okay and the most irritating this was the fact that the goddamn hairspray was sticking out of my bag! Jesus Christ, Ipsy. How does something like this even happen? The bag wasn't even half sealed. I'm surprised this even made it to my mailbox with the hairspray intact.

Birchbox | November Unboxing

Okay, yes. I'm behind when it comes to subscription boxes this month. I don't know why. I think it's because I wasn't all that jazzed with either of them this month. Anyway...

Eyeko Eye Stick in Satin Taupe: I will probably never use this. I tried it on my eyelids and it was just okay. Meh.

Fekkai PrX Reparatives Intense Fortifying Masque: I'm actually surprised that I haven't used this. I think it was the first item that I was excited about in the box. I think it's because after I took the pictures, the box shifted to my table. I'm going to try using the masque at some point this week.

Perlier Absolite Comfort Body Butter - White Almond: I was carrying this cream around in my bag until I tossed everything back in the box to take this picture. I like that it has a soft almond smell that isn't too strong. I was considering getting a full size with my 20% coupon, but I like the sample packaging better and have so many creams anyway.

Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream SPF 40 in Fair to Light: I love this CC Cream. The sample is maddeningly small, though. I decided I was going to purchase the full size because I had a coupon to use on the Birchbox site and I wanted something that played well with my MAC Face and Body Foundation, which this does. I've only used it a handful of times, but this has been a home run for me.

Tocca Eau de Parfum - Florence: This isn't really my cup of tea, but if I just use one spray it isn't too much. I feel like if I spray it on my pants that it doesn't linger around too heavily so I don't have to feel like I'm wearing too much. Perfume samples just aren't my favorite because I'm really picky when it comes to scents.

The wins for this month were definitely the Supergoop! CC Cream, the Perlier Almond cream, and the Fekkai masque that I need to use. It was also nice to get the bonus of the chocolate almond butter, but I don't know what I'm going to do with that, to be honest.

Subscription Addiction | October Ipsy

Yes, that is a stock photo. No, I didn't feel like going to find my October ipsy bag to take a picture of it. I will say that the bag is really cute and functional. It's like this plastic-y quilted bag, but it's not icky feeling. If that makes any sense whatsoever. ONWARD.

Product #1: Ayres Patagonia Body Butter
It smells good. I haven't tried it yet, but it smells really good! I'm excited to start using it. My boyfriend almost stole it from me because it said "Patagonia" on it. No, it is not a coat in a tiny jar. I'll probably use this on my rough patches on my elbows from doing my planks when I work out. Ridiculous.

Product #2: Epice International Purifying Exfoliant
This is a pretty good product. I use it when I stay at my boyfriend's place, since I got two cleansers in a month between my subscription boxes. It is a really good exfoliator; it doesn't leave me feeling dry or anything like that. And it doesn't smell gross, either.

Product #3: ModelCo VolumEYES mascara
Again with the ModelCo mascara. It will sit in my makeup kit until I'm finished with the other one I'm working on. I don't know why two subscription boxes decided to go with the magical MODELCO mascara, but I am mascara-ed out. So. Time to move on, boxes!


Product #4: Nicole By OPI Nail Polish
This was a pretty gold color for the holidays. I'll probably use it at some point now that CHRISTMAS is closer. Christmas is my jam, you guys. I love it. I haven't tried it yet, but it's really pretty and doesn't seem too glitter-dense.

Product #5: Noyah liptstick
I was a little disappointed with the size of this. It's so TINY. Like... is it even useful if it's that tiny? The actual lipstick was smaller than my pinky nail, and the tube was smaller than my pinky finger (about half the size). Really really disappointed in that. But the color is pretty, it's kind of a mauve-y purple. I'll give it a shot. Well, more like I'll use it once and include it in an empties, because it's so small.

I'm glad I canceled Ipsy. Honestly, it seems like something I could get in Birchbox if I really wanted to. I like Birchbox a ton better, so it makes sense to stick with just one.

Subscription Addiction | Birchbox for October is FINALLY Here!

Boys and girls, let me tell you the story of a long Birchbox journey.

My Birchbox was "born" about 130-ish miles from me, in Mount Juliet, TN, on October 3. The box FINALLY arrived on October 17. It went here, there, and everywhere before finally making it to me. Now, I totally and completely understand that shipping is logistically difficult, but why not give TN residents their boxes first? Reggie got hers WAY before I did, and she lives WAY out of the way. Not really a gripe with Birchbox, but their shipping partner/tracking system.

Anywhoozle.

Product #1: Ellovi Vanilla Butter
This smells like a freshly baked cupcake. And I haven't used it yet, because I just haven't gotten around to trying it, but anything that smells like a cupcake is good in my book. It's body butter, too, so it's not just hand lotion I need to use up like the other ones I've tried. I'll start using it. I'll report back.

Product #2: Jouer Matte Moisture Tint in Nude
I haven't used this yet. It's somewhere in my mess of an apartment/cosmetics collection. I've heard good things, but I'm still not jumping out of my skin with excitement to try it? I have my holy grail foundation, and I have a scary story with a distant relative in high school to steer me far away from foundation that isn't an exact match.

Product #3: ModelCo POWERLASH High Impact Black Mascara
I received another ModelCo mascara in my October Ipsy, if I'm not mistaken? I got two ModelCo mascaras. I'm working on my Benefit "They're Real" mascara now, and when that bites the dust, I'll move on to one of these, maybe. Who knows.

Product #4: Ojon Rare Blend Total Hair Therapy
It's in my bathroom. I keep meaning to try it. I haven't. This has been a sentence about it. Honestly, though, I don't do much product when it comes to hair. I'm "low maintenance". Although, that's the point of these boxes, is to try and see if I can break out of that "lazy girl" routine and try something new. So, I shall.

Product #5: Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator
This is pretty good! It works well and leaves my skin feeling really clean and soft. I can't remember off the top of my head if it's at my boyfriend's place or at mine (I received two face cleansers this past month, and one is at either dwelling), but I do enjoy using it and it is a win.

So, Birchbox for October was an overall success. Not a "standing ovation, round of applause, curtain call" type of success, but definitely one with products I will use or try. Birchbox has been consistently worth the $10 and it's been consistently packed with products that don't feel cheap or look cheap.

Subscription Addiction | October Boxycharm

Boxycharm, to me, is always impressive. It's worth WAY more than the $21 I pay for it. Yes, this is only my second month, but even without a beauty style profile or anything else, it's hit the nail on the head both times. There were a couple of things in the October Box that were kind of 'meh', but when it all comes down to it, this box is consistently worth $21 a month for one product alone, let alone the extra two or three I'm usually excited to try.

Product #1: Palmetto Derma Collagen Booster & Restoration Serum
So, this is full size. It's also worth $48. If I were ever to repurchase this, it would have to work freakin' MIRACLES. It doesn't. It does a good job. It makes my skin feel... not dry? I wouldn't say it does anything crazy, but I haven't really paid close attention to my wrinkly areas in order to give it more of a detailed review. So, I'll stick with "it's pretty good" for now and change that in a favorites post later if it blows me away.

Product #2: Coastal Scents Eclipse Concealer Palette
I'm really excited about this, actually. I'm trying to educate myself on the uses of more products other than "foundation, lipstick, eyeshadow, GO!" Look at this palette, though, guys. It's actually really impressive. I haven't had a chance to give it a try, but I really want to. Now that school and work are a tad bit less crazy, I can experiment a little! This seems like a useful product in general. Anyone could use it, I'm guessing, based on the variety of shades.

Product #3: Cult/Commerce X Boxycharm "Shady" collection
This is a black and purple nail polish duo set. The amount of deep purple shades I have in my collection is absurd. Not that it's not pretty, but I recently bought a similar shade of purple at New York and Company for like $2 on clearance. And I got one in a Beautybox5, if I'm not mistaken. Purple's my favorite color, don't get me wrong, but there IS such a thing as purple overload. I'll trade this one out.

Product #4: Be a Bombshell Eyehsadow
I can't find it at the moment but I think this was a pretty gray color that I will definitely wear. I'm just too lazy to go look for it and it's not sitting in my makeup train case that I have next to me. I haven't worn it yet, but I am excited to try it.

Product #5: Starlooks Ultra Gem Pencil 
I wasn't crazy about this shade to begin with, and I got it AGAIN in my Ipsy bag. Any other color other than OLIVE GREEN I'd be cool with. But, who knows? The swatch on the internet seems to be less ugly than I anticipated, but I'm still very very hesitant. Reggie? Want it?

All in all, Boxycharm continues to impress. If I have one "holy crap, awesome!" product in the box per month, it's worth it to me. The products are ALWAYS full-sized, and 90% of the time, they're crazy good.

Subscription Addiction | My Last Ipsy

I know I'm incredibly behind on blogging. Reggie has made it known! I do have an excuse, with the semester winding down and work being insane, and my boyfriend starting his own business... I've had a lot less "me" time. And I don't like having to explain why I'm taking pictures of my stuff. So, I don't do it. And then it all piles up. And it's disastrous.

Okay! So, thus far, I've been 'meh' about Ipsy. I need to go back and look into what I got for October (although I was fairly certain it was 'meh' too), and post that, but this bag sent me from 'meh' to 'ugh, what a waste'. Here's what I got:

Product #1: J.Cat beauty Wonder Lip Paint in Mad Splatter
I'm not a lip stain gal. I can do glosses, and lipsticks, but lip stains are just way too much for me. Maybe if this were a less intense color, I'd give it a shot. But I'm not a fan. Reggie, it goes without saying that if you want any of this stuff, you let me know. It seemed like a "you" color, but I know you prefer lipstick as well. I've seen YouTube videos where people aren't able to wipe this off after swatching. I get that it's a "stain" concept, and that makes SENSE, but I'd rather it come off when I want it to.

Product #2: Starlooks Ultra Olive Eyeliner Pencil
First and foremost, I received this in my October Boxycharm, if I'm not mistaken, so this is kind of a dud. Plus, it's ultra OLIVE. Which means, green. I learned in middle school that green doesn't always look good on a redhead. Green in moderation, gingers. This was just disappointing. I'll be giving it away for sure.

Product #3: Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Hairspray
I... don't wear hairspray that often. The last time I wore hairspray was when I dressed up like Rosie the Riveter for #TBT. And even then I hadn't worn it since... ugh, probably the US Marine Corps Birthday ball with my ex boyfriend in 2012. That was awhile ago. I just don't wear hairspray!

Product #4: it Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Anti Aging Concealer
This I will definitely try. I don't normally do concealer, but I'll give it a fair and honest try. It looks to me like it could actually be in my skin tone so we will give it a fair shake before tearing it apart like the rest of the products I won't use here.

Product #5: SeaRx Birchsap Moisturizing Lotion
This is THE TINIEST sample of my existence in the universe. It will last me maybe 2-3 uses? I'll try it, though, because I don't have a moisturizer in my bag at the moment and it does deserve a shot. I don't know what it smells like, because I haven't smelled it... excuse me, allow me to do that right now. Okay, it does have a scent, but I can't identify what that scent actually is.


So, I canceled Ipsy. The products in it made it feel kind of cheap. I'm not always amazed by every subscription box, but Ipsy has been consistently frustratingly missing the mark. They're never full sized, they never seem to be things I want (minus the one Briogeo hair mask which I live by), or need. I also didn't love the bags, for the most part. Three months of 'meh' isn't worth the $10. I gave BB5 that amount of time, too, so I think it's a fair shot. That's a quarter of a year, so if it's consistently that underwhelming, I can't justify spending that $10 for crap.

Should I spend that $10 elsewhere? Another subscription? Or should I save it and stop with the addiction and move on?