Birchbox: January 2013

I apologize for taking so long to post again- things have been quite busy.

This is my January Birchbox! Not all items are pictured because I used them o_o.

The amika Color Shampoo was ok. It didn't really strip my hair color much, and the hair was still left silky. Also smells nice- just grown up for those in their mid 20s.

Embrolisse Concentrate- Apparently it's multi-functional, but I've just used it as a moisturizer. So far so good.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy- Nothing too new. It's an ok scent. For storage, I put these mini perfume spray samples into a little glass votive holder. It works well and looks nice!

the Balm Cosmetics Put a Lid on It Eye Primer- a fairly light primer. Haven't tested its duration yet.

Lifestyle Extra: Juice Beauty Daily Essentials- This was a foil packet with three things attached (cleanser, serum, and moisturizer). The cleanser/ makeup remover worked ok, didn't dry my skin out. The serum nearly burned my face off. It says don't used on irritated skin. Mine's not irritated, just a little dry. The moisturizer would not rub in nicely. Very white, thick, and felt like something was caked on my face. Needless to say, will not be purchasing this one!

I've also received my Sample Society box, but haven't had time to test those out yet.

Birchbox: October 2012

Considering that lavender is my favorite color and I love Essie, you can understand my disappointment in not getting an email to opt- in for the Supergoop box. Ah well, read a lot of unhappy comments about the Goop boxes. I was a bit meh when I found out what was in my box, but it turns out this is a pretty great box! Even if the box image was literally just the box. Are they becoming lazy now?

And to top it off, this box lead me to having one of the best days in a long time! Keep reading to find out more =D.

This time the names of the products are direct links to their page on BB, so you can click for more info =).

Harvey Prince Eau Flirt - Lavender Pumpkin- It combines pumpkin and lavender, two seemingly ill-matched notes that have been clinically proven to spur passionate reactions in men. Olfactory theory aside, we love the combination of seductive jasmine and freesia with sumptuous nutmeg, cinnamon, and amber.

• Stand aside while I profess my love for BB. THANK YOU SO MUCH for introducing this product to me!
• Sample is twice the size of normal vials, maybe 2 ml?
• Both me and a friend agree, it doesn't smell anything like pumpkins, and I don't really smell the lavender.
• It has a slightly sweet fragrance reminding me strangely of bubble gum, but it's not overly sweet, just enough. Then I'm hit with a potpourri scent. It's so strange, these really don't seem like scents that should work together, and yet somehow they do. The cranberry toner I got in Sample Society's box a couple months back smelled of potpourri too, but not the kind that I would want to put on my face. This one's sweet overlying scent makes me want to eat it. It could just be the jasmine that's making me go crazy. Jasmine is one of those scents I find extremely addicting and alluring.
• Now, let's talk about the scent's theme. It claims to make you feel flirty and fabulous. UH, did they put some kind of pheromones in here?? I went around the whole day on cloud 9, feeling absolutely fantabulous! It wasn't even because of anything that happened; I just felt great for no reason. And no, I'm not susceptible to marketing placebo brainwashing effect (unless it's pictures of food...)
• A perfume that flirts for you? that is clinically proven to attract men with its wickedly irresistible fragrance? Well I don't know about all that, but out of the blue, I managed to hook someone from over 100 feet away. Haha maybe it's not just the perfume. More on this in my next Slice of Life post ;P. 
• The scent wears thin towards the end of 10 hours, but that's pretty good.
• The whole "Irresistibly wicked" thing is so perfect for October. Just for kicks, I'll wear this scent when we go pumpkin picking. It's totally the jasmine that's carrying this together. Jasmine is one of those scents with a twist and mystery. Great job this month BB!
• Too bad it's so expensive >.<, BB couldn't you give a bigger sample? ahhh need more BB points. People help me! Use my referral link please >.<

• Full size 100 ml $98, sample size? (~2 ml?) worth ~$2

theBalm® cosmetics Mary-Lou Manizer- this versatile luminizer imparts a soft-focus glow wherever we choose to apply it. Light-reflecting silica particles conceal blemishes and fine lines, while the honey color leaves a sheer wash of shimmer.

• For the longest time, my focus was on the "Manizer" part. I couldn't figure out why they would send us a product that would make us more manly.
• It's pretty tiny looking, eyeshadow size. The back is so cute and says "Free sample- not for sale".
• Cover closes via magnet, how neat.
• Mine had a fingerprint in it... can you see? Uh... I really hope that's just from a worker pushing the pan in, and not from someone sampling my sample. ~_~
• The product is very smooth, and goes on nicely. It gives off a golden shimmer effect. The microglitters (shimmers?) are visible, so if that's not your thing, well. This would make a great shimmer eyeshadow as well. My other highlighters are pink in tone, so it's nice to have something different if I wanted to go for more of that "bronze" look.
• Really like this product overall!
• Full size 8.5g $24, sample size 1g worth $2.82

Mox Botanicals Lip Butter

• A harder balm, so it took some rubbing to get enough product to use. This would be ok to put in your car during summer months, I think.
• Smells familiar, maybe like Welch's gummies?
• Does help my chapped lips a bit, not bad =)
• Full size .2 oz $16, sample size.1 oz worth $8

LiQWd The Perfect Wave

• My hair is not wavy, and therefore this was not a necessarily welcomed product. However, as I have appreciated the other items in this box so far, I will wait and give this a fair shot before judging further. Expect a review sometime this week.
• Full size 150ml $22, sample size 7 ml worth $1.02

LiQWd SiLK Professional Deep Conditioning Treatment

• Another excellent product this month!!
• I've tried a lot of conditioners recently from subscription boxes and whatnot, and each has fallen short.  To be honest, I didn't have high hopes for this one, but I was proved brutally wrong.
• My hair is pretty damaged from dying, and less than stellar shampoos. As soon as I applied this product, my hair completely smoothed out. It became so silky. Not only that, but after it was dry, there was minimal frizz. For the past couple weeks, I've been trying so hard to tame this suddenly unmanageable hair, and this conditioner just handled everything perfectly. I literally woke up, brushed my hair quickly, and was out the door.
• This product is definitely what I attribute my great day too. I just felt so free and awesome that I didn't have to worry about my hair. More on how it made my day day in the next Slice of Life post. ^^
• People complain about these packet samples. I don't really see the difference between having this in a foil packet and a little squeeze tube. Except the squeeze tube might be easier to open in the shower.
• Full size 120 ml $24, sample size 7 ml worth $1.40

Mighty Leaf Tea - Tea Pouches

• Everytime I get tea samples, I do a mental groan. Not that I don't drink tea, I do occasionally  but c'mon. Since I was so pleased with the rest of the box, I decided to try the tea out anyways. 
• The first is Organic African Nectar because I tend to dislike Earl Grey, and I already know what green tea tastes like. The bag is so elegant looking o_O. It's supposed to be mango/ vanilla. It smells kinda like funky herbs and cough syrup. Barely perceptible sweetness (maybe just the water =X). This one's not for me.

• The rest I shall try out during the week. Expect this post to be updated by next week.
• 15 pouches $9.95, sample size 3 pouches worth $1.99

Overall box value: ~$17.23

Very pleased this month and feeling like $10 well spent ^^.

******************

In other news, made my first order from Birchbox.com. I figured it'd be best to use up my points before the first 30 expire. They were having a 20% off promo too~ I got the Shu Uemura Shampoo Oil that I've been wanting. I also googled all over the place trying to see if the unused amounts are lost. Turns out they are. What does that mean? It means I had $50 to spend, but only had $47 worth of product. Since there isn't anything $3, or less, I didn't add any other items. Thus, that $3 was lost. $3 = 30 points. Lol, I needn't have worried about trying to save the points in the first place. It wasn't meant to be.

Birchbox: June 2012

YAY! My Birchbox arrived! The tracking kept telling me that it wouldn't get here until Monday which is crazy. Birchbox really tried to keep people from taking a first peek at the boxes this month, haha. Btw, the is the earliest I've ever received a box o.O

Seems like all the boxes are picking up a travel theme this month. Birchbox specially customized the inside of the outer packaging. Cute.

I really like my box this month! It has a variety of items and most importantly they're items I can use.

1. the Balm Cosmetics Staniac- Beauty Queen: leaves a lasting stain on lips and cheeks. Since it’s water-based, it has a longer setting time than most quick-dry stains, which means it won’t leave any unsightly streaks behind as long as you take care to blend well. Use a single coat for a subtle look or layer it on for a more visible (yet still discrete) hue.

It's on the left side (cheek too)

• Sooo excited to see this. After seeing the Sneek Peek vid, this immediately popped up as the item I wanted to try (and the mask)
• Gel. When I took the wand out, it actually left an imprint inside the gel where it was.
• My color is Beauty Queen. It's the one I wanted most, I didn't want a warm toned one as those don't go well with my skin tone. Prom Queen is lighter and has less impact so.. I'm happy!
• It takes a minute to fully dry and set, so you can manipulate the gel better and try to get it to streak less. The color also darkens as it dries (which I found out). I recommend to put on a layer first, then let it dry to see if you actually need more product. Otherwise you will end up with a very dramatic effect.
• Sheer (but buildable). You don't have to worry about accidentally putting too much on and looking like a clown. 
• Tingled/ itched a bit when I first applied, but not as bad as the Revlon Just Bitten. There must be something in these tints that I'm slightly allergic to.
• Comes off with water.

• Some may want to separate lip tube vs cheek tube- although I guess that defeats the purpose. 
• If you don't have a tint yet, I highly recommend this one. It's not too expensive, and it goes on sheer (harder to mess up)
• Full sized .3 oz $17, sample size .04 fl oz worth $2.27

2. Apothederm Stretch Mark Cream- The lush cream tones and reduces the look of both ancient and recent stretch marks alike. Four natural moisturizers—olive oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and meadowfoam seed oils—leave skin wondrously soft. Meanwhile, the unique SmartPeptide™ system increases collagen production, while licorice root and antioxidant-rich resveratrol fade discoloration. A dose of hyaluronic acid helps with long-lasting hydration.

•  Last month Sample Society gave us Strivectin, and now BB has come out with Apothederm. I just need to get one to work
• This one is a lotion but doesn't have added fragrance. It smells.. like a plain lotion.
• The bottle is half full. 
• It's to be applied twice a day. I think that's why these things are hard for me to see results with. I have a hard time remembering to apply once a day, much less twice. At this point, I'd be happy if these samples can fade my smaller stretch marks away.
• Full size 5.7 oz $89.95, sample size .7 oz worth $11.05

3. Scalisi Anti-Aging Moisturizer Broad Spectrum spf 30- This moisturizer uses innovative peptide technology you won’t find anywhere else—it tricks your skin into thinking a wrinkle is a cut so collagen production increases to “heal” the wrinkle. Genius, right? Add White Tea Extract for radiance and soy proteins rich in amino acids to boost cell regeneration, and you’ve got yourself an anti-aging powerhouse. the faintly floral scent is a far cry from eau de SPF.

• Pump applicator
• Rather than floral, I think it smells like sunscreen. Like the BeFine from a couple boxes ago. It has the same slightly more liquid lotion texture too.
• I'm pretty much hoping something will work on my microwrinkles. After a year and a half of using the Missha moisturizer, I'm sure it's a sham.
• Full size 1.7 oz $110, sample size .2 oz worth $12.94

4. Clean Well Hand Sanitizing Wipes- These alcohol-free wipes use thyme oil, a natural anti-bacterial, plus super hydrating aloe vera.

• To be honest, I thought these were the lifestyle extra. Guess not.
• Citrus-lemony scent.
• I used these to wipe off the cheek tint above and they do a pretty good job without drying out my face (soft too).
• I was kind of ehhhh about these at first, but the individual wipe thing is actually pretty handy. I usually try to grab some food while waiting for the train, and after touching everywhere on public transit a wipe is definitely a good idea. Not sure about the price though =/
• Full size 10 ct $3.98, sample size 2 ct worth $.80

5. Band Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages- Cynthia Rowley

• I got bandaids in my Birchbox o.O
• They seem to just be a design printed on, not actually decked out in sequins.
• They look skinnier than normal bandaids (sport?), and there are two sizes
• Full size 40ct $14, sample size 20ct worth $7

6. John Varvatos Star USA- The manly scent combines red ginger essence from Laos, juniper berries and cedrat from Sicily, blue spruce, green cardamom, osmanthus, vetyvert, belambre, and tonka bean from Venezuela.

• It's another one of those sharp fresh business like fragrances that I wouldn't mind smelling on someone in the elevator.
• Fades to a less strong scent pretty quickly, but up close you can still smell it.
• Full size 1.7 oz $55, sample size .04 fl oz worth $1.29

Overall Box Value: ~$35.35

The big ticket items were mostly the Anti-Aging Cream and Stretch Cream. The Stainiac was also something I really wanted to try. The rest are extras?

As much as I like my items this month, I'm happy I cut it down to one Birchbox again.

Wonder what's in the other boxes...