Birchbox!

For those of you that have never heard of Birchbox....It's a box of "luxury" sized samples that are sent each month, usually 4-5 samples, for $10.  It's an auto delivery type thing, if you decide you don't want it anymore, just log on and cancel......pretty easy!  They send a wide variety of product lines, like Stila, Benefit, Laura Mercier, and Bare Minerals to name a few.  Each month you receive one full size item, which almost always retails for more then $10, along with 3-4 luxe samples, so it's a win win situation!  It's a great way to try a product you might not want to spend money on, either because it's a little pricey or you've never tried the brand before.  I've been a member for about 4 months, and I've received some great things, like a full size Laura Geller blush, a Stila eyeshadow, and a Zoya nail polish.  You also rack up points that you can use to purchase full sizes of the sample products they send and they have helpful tips and tutorials on the website.  I thought I'd share what I received for July so you can see what they have to offer....

Birchbox!

Card explaining the products

Packaged.....



Redken Shine Brilliance Shine Flash, Nuxe Dry Oil, Zoya polish in Pandora, and Purity cleanser by Philosophy and a fruit and nut bar (can't remember the name of it)

So that's what my box of goodies held for July........I love this because there is always something in there I end of liking, and who doesn't like to get a box of beauty products in the mail?  It's like someone loves you and sends you a present each month........and I love presents!  Get your Birchbox here........... Birchbox

EOS Lip Balms

From the top:  Passion Fruit, Strawberry Smoothie, Lemon Drop, Honeysuckle Honeydew, Medicated Tangerine, and Sweet Mint

These look like Easter eggs don't they?  I love these little lip balms.  The first thing you notice obviously is the shape....little ovaly circley round thingies (I'm very eloquent aren't I?).  They are very moisturizing, some flavors more then others.  I think the sweet mint one if my favorite, followed by strawberry and melon.  The lemondrop one is nice too, it's a little more glossy then the other ones.   The only one I don't have was the first one I bought (then threw away) which I believe is called Summer Fruit.  I was so excited to try it because when they first came out they were hard to find.  I really didn't like the smell.....but I'm thinking of repurchasing it and giving it another try because it's the only one I don't have in my collection, and I'm weird like that.  These lip balms are 100% natural, 95% organic, which is nice considering all the crap they put into stuff, (parabens, phthalates, etc).  They do have Shea butter, vitamin E, and jojoba oil.  I even have several of a few of them (4 lemondrops and 2 of the medicated orange ones) cuz you never know where you might be when you need one (in the car, one in a little box on the coffee table, bedside table, and where I apply my makeup.  Oh and one in the bathroom........in case I feel chappy while I'm errr....brushing my teeth!  EOS (Evolution of Smooth) lip balms are inexpensive, around $3 each, they sell them at most drug stores, or you can find them here:  EOS The website also sells hand lotion, shaving cream and body lotions.  Give them a try :-)

April Favorites (Make up version)

I haven't ventured into the world of YouTube yet, so I can't post my "April Favorites" out there like hundreds of other make up gurus do, so photos and a quick review of the products will have to do......These are the products I tended to gravitate towards during April:

I sometimes use a primer before I put on my foundation, but usually I just use this Clean & Clear Finishes Pore Perfecting Moisturizer.  It says it "softens the appearance of pores with light diffusing minerals".  I don't know if it does that or not, but I like the way it feels and my foundation goes on smoothly so it's a keeper.

YSL Multi-Action Concealer in the color "3".  What you see in the picture is all I have left, which is unfortunate, because it's expensive ($35 on Amazon) so I probably won't be repurchasing any time soon.  Although I did just buy Benefit Boiing which is $18.  I apparently have a lot to conceal....

Clinique "Even Better" Foundation, 03 Ivory.  This stuff works great, it is a full coverage foundation, and doesn't turn to that ugly orangy color some foundations do by the end of the day.  I'm about out of this one too, I purchased a matte foundation from Rimmel....we'll see how that one does.

Bella Bamba blush by Benefit.  Very pretty coral color, with a little bit of shimmer.  Very much like the famous Nars Orgasm (which I also have....go figure).  Nice color for spring.

Lorac eyeshadows in Enlighten, Bronze, and Dark Brown.  I've been using these almost every day.  Love them, they are easy to blend, great texture, and have good color payoff. 

Palladio Rice Powder in Translucent.  I absolutely LOVE this stuff.  It makes the texture of my face seem flawless.  I only put it on in the morning, (I touch up during the day with MAC Blot Powder).  It's finely milled and doesn't look "powder-ry".  Definitely will repurchase this one. 

Maybelline Ultra-Brow Brush on color in Light Brown.  This has probably been around since my mom first started using makeup, but it works well and it's cheap so it's a keeper.

NYX Goddess of the Night lipgloss in Sunshine; Hard Candy Plumping Serum in Girl Next Door.  As most of you know, I love my lip products, I think I have about 18 of them in my purse right now, but I've been using these almost every day.  My lips are pretty pigmented so just a quick swipe of one of these and I'm good to go.  Both are under $8 so that's a plus!

 

Cover Girl Volume Exact in Black.  I am extremely picky when it comes to mascara.  As I get older, my lashes get skimpier, so when I find something I like, I stick with it.  This mascara is great for adding volume, not so much for length.  My next big purchase is RapidLash (to help my lashes grow), but it costs $59 so let's keep that one a secret from my bf...shhhhhsh!  (on a side note, I use Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Whiskey, or Bourbon (something alcoholic lol) but forgot to photograph that...)

So there you have it, my favorites for April.  I would love it if you would leave me a comment with your favorites, I love to try new things :-)  I think my favorites for May will be of the food/snack variety....shake things up a bit (I know, I'm all kinds of wild and crazy :-).