Tag Archives: Birchbox

Birchbox Review | November

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How the latest and greatest in beauty made my November feel a little bit more gorgeous…or not so much.

Product reviews are from left to right.

DDF® Amplifying Elixir | When I saw DDF in my box, I got a little more than excited based purely on reputation alone. Wow, the DDF. In my Birchbox. Turns out, there wasn’t too much get excited about. My first stint with the famous DDF brand was experimenting with their Amplifying Elixir used after cleansing and just before moisturizing. The product touts that it “transforms skin, boosting its natural moisture barrier up to 50%” (whatever that means!). To give it some credit, this may be a product that takes frequent use over a period of time to really notice anything happening, but I wasn’t impressed. It burns upon application and makes my skin feel a bit sticky. This product retails for $70. For that cost, I should be more assured by now. This is a pass. Just use a good moisturizer and you’ll be fine!

Tiossan Body Cream | This is a really nice body cream.  I received it in the “Terranga” scent, which I wasn’t too crazy about at first use, but decided it wasn’t too  bad after all. It has a great texture and went on silky smooth without any residual greasiness (don’t you just hate that in a lotion!?!). The reason I’ll stop writing any further about this product is that it’s $38.00 for the full size. Mind you, full-sized is a mere 6.5 oz. No body cream is worth all that, unless it’s made of gold.

theBalm® cosmetics Stainiac | This did absolutely nothing for me. Aside from the fact that I’m really over “lip/cheek stain combo” products in general because they never seem to work with my skin tone – I didn’t like the way the product felt upon application nor the shade I received, “Beauty Queen.” It didn’t show up on my lips very well and when I went back to look at my lips mere minutes later after several layers of applications, what did faintly show up 5 minutes before was gone. Perhaps this would work better on a gal with very fair skin; but if you have some color to your skin, like myself, skip this product. It’s worthless.

Color Club® Harlem Lights Collection | If you recall, from my very first review of Color Club’s nail polish, I’m a fan. I continue to share this sentiment as I’ve begun experimenting with their “Baldwin Blues” shade in their Harlem Lights Collection. It’s my first time playing with dark blue nails, and I’ve been having too much fun with this color! A huge perk worth noting? This polish was on for almost a week before I noticed my first chip!

Folle de Joie eau de parfum | Folle de Joie which means “Crazy With Joy” in French makes me happy just thinking about the name. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there is something unique about this scent. It’s light, fresh, floral, but citrus-y. I was surprised this product came in my Birchbox so late in the year. I know Birchbox’s aim when curating samples is to think about season and themes when selecting products. This fragrance, although okay year-round, would pair nicely with Spring and Summer. I think a bit more drama is necessary in fragrances as we approach winter. As much I like the sample and will contiue to enjoy it, this product retails for $98. There are too many other exciting fragrances on the market to justify the nearly $100 cost at this time. Either way, it makes me crazy with joy!

Ahmad Assorted Teas | What was right on time and themed appropriately to the chilly temperatures developing outside was Ahmad’s tea assortment. As of writing time, I’ve only sampled the English Breakfast and no complaints here.  I found the sample flavorful and bold. I’m anxious to try the Black Raspberry next. In fact, tonight might be the perfect time to head home after a long day and brew a spot of tea. Baby, it’s cold outside!

Birchbox Review | October

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I think this is my favorite Birchbox yet. Here’s how the latest and greatest in beauty made my October feel little bit more gorgeous. Product reviews are from left to right.

Supergoop!® City Sunscreen Serum | If a complete stranger approached me on the street one day and said, “OMG, you have the most radiant skin ever! What moisturizer do you use?” Somehow saying “Why, thank you! I’m a huge fan of Supergoop!” just doesn’t quite feel right to me; nor sound serious to said stranger, I’m sure.  I can’t think of a worse name for a beauty product, but bonus points for originality. Aside from the terrible name, this moisturizer is pretty fantastic. It’s lightweight, has a SPF 30 sun protection factor, and did my skin proud. One application and my skin instantly felt moisturized, especially during this time of year where my skin can get rather dry. At $42 full-sized, it’s a splurge for a skin cream, though a nice alternative. You all know I’m a huge fan of Murad’s moisturizer which I’ve happily been using for years. I’m not currently in the market to make the switch at this time, but “The Goop” would definitely be a contender.

Benefit Fakeup | I really, really wanted to like this product. I recently got turned on the best mascara ever from Benefit (their They’re Real! Mascara is to die for) and got to thinking that perhaps Benefit could be more to me than just awesome eyelashes. Their “Fakeup” is a concealer with a unique application that uses a hydration ring around the color. While Birchbox magically sent me a color sample that was a shade lighter than my skin tone so pretty close to what I would use as a concealer shade, I found that the hydration ring which lent to a smooth application and added some moisture under my eyes, performed poorly when it came to coverage. I think the hydration aspect to this product, though awesome in theory, means that the consistency of the color isn’t bold enough to be an effective concealer. My favorite go-to concealer is still Mac’s Studio Finish Concealer. It outperforms Benefit’s Fakeup, hands down.

Serious Skincare® Glycolic Gommage Extreme Renewal | My experience with this Serious Skincare facial mask was nothing but seriously incredible. I was surprised that the texture came of the generously sized sample, mimicking your typical clay mask. While I looked like a Ninja Turtle for the next 10 minutes, this product was using its powerful alpha-hydroxy acid (glycolic) to soothingly melt away dead skin cells and draw out toxins – revealing noticeably hydrated and soft skin after the first use. My skin was radiant, feeling every inch clean and refreshed. I’m impressed with this product and would certainly purchase a full size version. For $38.50, but used once or twice a week, this seemingly expensive product is not only reasonable, but well worth it for its amazing deep cleaning/exfoliating properties. I’m a fan!

POP Beauty Aqua Lacquer | I love a glossy lip. Even better, I love a glossy lip that lasts longer than 5 minutes. Unfortunately, to get and keep that look usually entails a super thick gooey consistency (think Mac’s Lipglass) which I’ve actually become accustomed to (when I’m in the mood). This product felt similar to Lipglass in some respects, though not quite as sticky.  It still has a gluey feel to it which aids in giving high shine lips that’s long-lasting, but uses jojoba oil to give some hydration as well. I agree with much of the complaint, if you don’t like sticky lip glosses this isn’t for you. While the product also claims to plump lips, I didn’t notice much a difference, other than the slight sting that’s present when applying. I have naturally full lips (as many African-American women do) so this isn’t something that ever appeals to me anyway. What I didn’t really care for is the hard “paddle style” applicator. I prefer a lip brush or wand which makes the application process more enjoyable. Overall, I’m happy with the sample and the light pink high shine gloss it gives my lips. This sample has been and will stay in my purse for when I need to punch things up.

ChapStick® Hydration Lock |  What can I say? ChapStick is ChapStick, a beloved American treasure for dry lipped people everywhere! This product is awesome, and the gentle Vanilla Creme flavor is unassuming, yet effective. The creamy texture, the smell, and the moisturization factor are all “A-plusses” in my book. My lips instantly feel smoother. Thanks for the full-sized sample, Birchbox!

Birchbox Review | September

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1-2013-10-01 14.22.43What Birchbox does well is help a girl get in the mood for the changing of times. While fall hasn’t made an official appearance here in L.A. quite yet (it’ll likely take a few more weeks for the weather to catch up to the calendar), Birchbox sent along color palettes and products that as soon as I opened the package made me feel like fall had arrived. This month’s selections were a nice nod to the autumn season…well, when it finally gets here in a more official capacity. You can also join the Birchbox fun by using this link: http://birch.ly/17KUjbn.

Here’s how September shaped up…

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*product review from left to right*

  • amika Blow Up Spray – A line of products that have been fun to experiment with since my relationship with Birchbox have been the amika product line. I always like their intention – infusing their products with high quality ingredients and I tend to rave about how great everything smells from this line. However, I have yet to ever purchase anything full-sized. Their Blow Up Spray would also apply to this train of thought. I personally didn’t find my hair to be any more voluminous from using this product on my wet hair, but it has a nice twist in acting as a hair spray on dry hair which didn’t leave my hair too sticky or flaky. The caveat for me is that I’m very happy with what I use to cover this need at a fraction of the cost, L’Oreal’s Elnett Satin Hairspray. It made me a believer in a great hold without the residue early last year, making amika’s product a pass for me.
  • Caudalie Make-up Remover Cleansing Water – I’m not a huge fan of make-up removers and don’t use them. This is in part because I’m a firm believer in the old soap and water trick to really remove the day’s make-up. In my book, this task comes from a good facial cleanser (preferably that one that foams so I’m more fooled into thinking it’s really getting deep down in my pores) and a light toner afterward to get anything left behind. Caudalie’s Make-Up Removing Cleanser claims that you can simply use this product to remove traces of make-up without having to rinse. I didn’t find this to be the case. At. All. This might be nice to use after already having washed your face in a toner capacity, but as a pure make-up remover where you’re encouraged not to rinse – I still had to wash my face to get that “completely clean” feeling. Pass.
  • RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer – It seems I’m always getting the same color palette when Birchbox sends me nail polish and it’s in the green color family. It’s getting quite annoying given the amount of colors there are in the universe, but for the sake of it being “fall-inspired,” I’ll let it go. This time. RUFFIAN’s Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund is a rich olive-green hue. Though fun to play with a color I wouldn’t normally wear, I cannot say that I was any more or less impressed with this nail polish than brands that I normally use. I did think that the design of the top handle was unique and provided more control when applying the lacquer. What I wasn’t impressed with was having to use two coats of a high shine clear polish over this color to get that extra gloss I like (I hate matte looking nail polish), so Birchbox’s confident assertion of a “glossy high-end nail polish” seems a stretch to me. My experience with this product is neutral overall – though I’d use my sample when I want to shake things up on my nails.
  • Coastal Scents® Neutral Mirage Palette Set – This sample arrived damaged when I opened my package. One of the eye shadow palettes had shattered in transit so it didn’t photograph well above. Birchbox was quick to respond to my inquiry and kind to re-ship me another sample, but it hasn’t arrived as of writing time. I did experiment with the messy sample so that I could go ahead and get my post up. The 4 color palette held deeper shades more appropriate to the change in seasons – rich green, gold, bronze, and blue. The colors were vibrant and long-lasting, though I did use these a primer when working with the sample. In short, I was impressed with this  product. I was especially happy to see that the full-sized version is a large eye shadow palette holding 88 different shades! I don’t own a huge eye shadow palette like this because my fear would be that I would use a small handful of the colors and leave the rest – making it an unnecessary purchase. However, taking a closer look at the different shades and my positive experience with the sample palette, I’m reconsidering. I have a hefty amount of Birchbox points that I could use toward this purchase, making it a steal. This was my favorite product of the month.
  • Egyptian Magic Skin Cream –  Call if a judgement, if you will, but I was leery about this product before I even opened it. Anything deemed “Magic” is not only completely cheesy in my opinion, but rarely true when it comes to beauty products that claim so. And I was right to be biased about this. The Egyptian Magic Skin Cream smelled horrible and was rather greasy. Two no-no’s when it comes to anything I put on my skin. Aside from the no-no’s, my hands did feel moisturized…but I wouldn’t go so far as to say “magically.” The total deal breaker? It has the consistency/texture of Vaseline – which I would just use instead of this if I needed something like it. Don’t waste your time. Nothing magic here.

Birchbox Review: August

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August’s Birchbox arrived just when I was in the mood to try something new! Clearly, all the right people over at Birchbox got the special “shout-out” from my post last month and did something about it! There wasn’t a pink lipstick, lipliner, lip gloss, lip stain or lip-anything in sight!

While I can’t say that this box was one of my favorites overall, it did introduce me to some great new beauty goodies to experiment with that I wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity to. I’m now even a fan of blue eyeliner! Here’s how August went…

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{1.} Whish Coconut Milk Correcting Gel – I love the subtle smell of coconut – there’s something so soothing about it that grabs me every single time. Unfortunately, I’m not really buying what this particular product is selling. The Whish Coconut Milk Correcting Gel has all the elements for what would make an amazing product to a women of today: a great smell, a nice texture, anti-aging properties abound, natural and organic ingredient-infused, and helps with sun damage if that’s something that you struggle with. But I put this on my dry to at times combination oily skin type (depending on the day) and my face craved more moisture instantly. I found myself putting on my beloved Murad moisturizer because my skin felt so dry after using the correcting gel. This makes this a pass for me.

{2.}  uniqONE All In One Hair Treatment – My first thought after I made the first spritz onto my hair was “men’s cologne.” It has an unusual, but not altogether unpleasant scent. I don’t quite know how to describe it, but the smell just…works. The texture of this product, a creamy white liquid, was also a surprising change of pace. Its claim to fame is that all of your post-shampooing/conditioning needs are in this one bottle. Ten needs to be exact. Your leave in-treatment, detangler, frizz tamer, hydration helper, and heat styling protector among other factors is here. I have to say that I only used this product once, and I am a stickler for using a leave-in conditioning product anyway (so essentially, I doubled up when testing this product); but I have been enjoying the benefits of a rather good hair day as I write this very sentence. Perhaps the uniqONE hair treatment is on to something. I’d like to use it a few more times before I give a definitive answer, but the fact that I don’t hate it already speaks volumes. I’m just not sure at $17 a bottle, that it’s worth the hype when I’m already pretty happy with my hair care system. Stay tuned…

{3.}  Mally Beauty Evercolor Starlight Watercolor Eye Liner – Another first courtesy of Birchbox? Experimenting with a navy blue eyeliner. And this one from Mally, charmingly named “Sailor,” had me from the first swipe across my eyelid! The color is just the right amount of blue so it doesn’t come across as too much, making it appropriate for a little flair if you work in an office, but doesn’t overpower your look if you’re trying to keep things professional. The pencil glides on as smooth as any eyeliner I’ve ever used due to its extremely creamy texture. At $15 – it’s not overpriced with the added benefit of being both waterproof and long-lasting. I’ll be rockin’ blue eyelids for some time to come. A great product if you’re in the market for the right way to give your eyes a little pop!

{4.} Whish Deodorant Swipes with Hair Inhibitor – I’ll admit, I was skeptical about this one the minute I saw it in my box. I can dig the deodorant swipe aspect to this product, it might even be nice to have with you in your purse when you need a refresher after the gym – but a “hair inhibitor?” Common! Since I obviously can’t back-up this bold claim with the one sample provided, I’ll choose skepticism until proven otherwise. Either way, I really liked the scent of the swipe and didn’t personally feel the need to reach for my go-to gel deodorant after an hour like I thought I might. However, I’ll still to my $4 Secret brand gel deodorant and a razor when I want to “inhibit” under arm hair.

{5.}  (MALIN+GOETZ) vitamin e face moisturizer – My review of the Whish Coconut Milk Correcting Gel applies here minus the lovely coconut smell. This product just didn’t appeal to me at all. The scent was blah and I still felt the need to apply my Murad over this MALIN+GOETZ product for additional moisture, and at $45 full-sized this shouldn’t be the case. Case closed. Total pass here.

Looks like the eyeliner is the win for the month. The hair treatment – a close second. See you for September!

Birchbox Review: July

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The end of another month is upon us, and sadly, I’m kinda grateful because I think July’s Birchbox was one the most uninspiring boxes I’ve ever received. Another lip color in practically the same color family that I’ve gotten for the last few months (there has to be another shade in the universe besides pink!), a lotion that I already use and buy at Target for half the cost, and the worst excuse for “bobby pins” that are built more like industrial clamps where you can’t even open them wide enough to slip into your hair? Birchbox July wasn’t my favorite. This is quite a bummer coming off such a great box last month where I discovered my favorite new must-have product.

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1. Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream – The first thing I noticed about this cream, was how thrown off by the color I was! This is pretty fascinating when you think about why bright white is so popular and passes as the standard in face creams. Does it provide a faux sense of effectiveness to us gals because it’s “cleaner” looking?  When I saw an oatmeal yellow ooze out the tube I thought, “eww, has this expired or something?” Once I got over this very vain observation and realized that it’s probably this color because it hasn’t been chemically altered to death to be “clean” looking, I actually really liked Dr. Jart’s face cream. The texture is amazing, and absorbs wonderfully without leaving a residue on my skin. All pluses. I’m not in the market for a face cream at this time, and this is really pricey at nearly $50.00 full-sized; but a shining example to never judge a face cream by the color if its content, but by its character.

2. I.C.O.N. INDIA Oil – Unfortunately, I was completely turned off by the smell of this product, though the feel of the oil was heavenly and the sheen it instantly gave my hair impressive, I’m a huge fan of scent as well as effectiveness. This is a pass in my book. And maybe a shining indication of how much I’ve become brainwashed by chemically altered products that must look and smell good? I see a pattern here…

3. ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick – Strangely, this lipstick has the opposite problem. It smells wonderful (it really does!) and I can’t tell if this was intentional or I’m now smelling things to deal with my dislike of the India hair oil, but this lipstick is far from being “party proof.” I have to reapply frequently if I want to retain a strong pop of color or any color at all. If something is deemed “party proof,” shouldn’t it last through a glass of wine? Sounds like a case of false advertising to me.

**On a side note, to the team at Birchbox: Admittedly, you have effectively taken me out of my comfort zone and I’ve become more comfortable rockin’ the pink lip – but for the LOVE OF GOD stop sending me samples from different brands in the same shade! If I get another pink lip-liner, pink lipstick, or pink lip anything – this may be grounds for cancellation. Thanks!**

4. Caldrea Body Lotion – I’m already a Caldrea lotion user thanks to my boyfriend and Target. He had this brand stocked in his bathroom for the longest time and I loved it so much that I went out and bought a bottle myself. Aside from providing such rich moisture, I’m in love with the smell and texture of this lotion. It absorbs magically! The samples I received in my box were Coconut Fig Leaf and Aloe Water Apricot. The fragrances were amazing and the texture seems even silkier than what I already use. I noticed immediately how moisturized my skin and hands felt without any prolonged greasiness afterward. I’m sure the Caldrea line carried at Target is from a lower branch of their product line, but I’ll stick to it. It’s already pricier over, say Jergen’s, but at $22.00 for the full-sized version of this higher end body lotion, I can’t justify the cost as much as I do like it.

5. Birchbox Bobby Pins  – These are a BIG don’t. They’re too bulky; designed to be playful, but come across as a bit too much; and don’t even try to actually open them up wide enough to be able to slide these clamps bobby pins into your hair. I’m surprised to see such positive reviews of these on their site. Not to be evil, but I do wonder if it’s their staff logging in to write some of these reviews? Nearly ALL of the products you see on Birchbox’s site have 4 stars and up!?! Really? This is the worst product I’ve ever gotten in a Birchbox. Total pass.

You win some, you lose some, huh? I hope August makes up for it. It sure better 🙂

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Highlights

Posted in Life by

So, we all know it’s well into July. It’s summer. It’s raining?

In what has to be a first in my lifetime as far as I can remember – it’s been raining in LA for the last few days on and off and it’s really throwing me off my game. The caveat is that it’s still been rather hot. My A/C has been on, yet I can hear the faint pitter-patter of raindrops hitting against it. It’s made things all the more strange as I’ve navigated what admittedly has to be a rather forgettable week overall.

A small dilemma that’s been weighing on my mind lately has been what to do about my yoga practice. I’ve been doing yoga on and off for years now and at the beginning of this year, I decided it was time to return to a solid and consistent practice. I scored an awesome Groupon to a new yoga studio nearby. 20 classes for $45! For the last 6 months, I’ve found myself in downward dog nearly every Tuesday night and now that it’s time to purchase a membership, I can’t bring myself to justify the expense. I’m more than happy to purchase classes, but I will have to find another studio within my budget. Membership is a bit pricey, though likely not when you compare it to places, like say, YogaWorks.

In the grand scheme of things, I’m getting Groupons almost every week with the similar appeal to other yoga studios and we have a full-service gym (that’s free) with classes (for a reasonable fee) at work – but I’ve grown to really like this particular studio and my awesome yoga teacher. 6 months ago, I could barely hold plank pose and now I find myself relishing it because I feel how much stronger I now am. It’s empowering when you can literally feel and see progress.

For the time being, I think I’ll give the yoga classes at work a go since they are decently priced, but I will keep an eye out for any other enticing Groupons. As much as I find that I do like doing something good for my body and taking the time to connect with myself, I know the sole way to keep me motivated is to know that I paid for it! I’m not one to waste money.

Despite the crappy weather and saying goodbye to my beloved yoga studio, this week brought a few bright moments.

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{Experimenting with a bold lip to change things up. I don’t usually wear lipstick.}

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{A weeknight trip to the Landmark to see I’m So Excited. Honestly, not Almodóvar’s best film, but a few funny moments.}

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{Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallows. A new kitchen staple.}

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{I made my first full-sized Birchbox purchase (using my reward points – it only cost $12!). It’s my favorite new beauty find, Suki’s Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser.}

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{A moment of sunshine & solitude before the rain.}

Have a good weekend. It looks like LA sunshine is on the way again.

Birchbox Review: June

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Birchbox June Products Individual

A few weeks ago, Birchbox users got an email cheerfully announcing some branding changes that included a new website design and logo.

Personally, I’m all for wanting to change things up, to keep things relevant and fresh;  but I was seemingly in the majority of people who were less than thrilled with the re-design. Birchbox’s aim to present a more “sophisticated” branding lost much of the playful femininity that made Birchbox fun.

I suspect part of the now more gender neutral approach in branding is to appeal to the masculine and gain more subscriptions for Birchbox Men. I’m sure they’re paying all the right market researchers and top advertising companies to help streamline this new way of presenting their brand, and while they should trust these agencies over a humble gal from LA with an opinion; somehow in the long run I just don’t think many men will buy into the brand and it’s core goals the way women ultimately do. Perhaps there’s more to come that might change my mind or prove me dead wrong, but typically men don’t buy into the beauty business the way us ladies do.

Here’s how June’s samples shaped up…

{1.} Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo – I was surprised by how much I liked this shampoo (and later the conditioner and hair oil). It has a wonderful scent and my hair instantly felt moisturized and soft as I worked the product into my wet hair.  This shampoo’s claim to fame is that it helps tame frizziness. I can’t tell if it’s because of the shampoo or the fact that I caved and bought a CHI flat-iron recently (or both combined) – but it’s been a good hair week and I can’t complain. I’m not saying I was convinced enough to purchase this expensive shampoo, but I am saying I didn’t hate it.

{2.} LAQA & Co. Fat Lip Pencil – In theory, I like what LAQA & Co is doing with this lip pencil. The color is long-lasting and vibrant and you won’t ever have to bother with a pencil sharpener. These are all pluses in my book. However, I found that the color I was given was extremely bright and went on as a matte finish. I’ve been experimenting with a bright pink lip lately thanks to this sample, and found that the best way to get any use out of this product was to use it lightly and blot like hell. It works well when I mix it with a new lip butter I bought from Revlon so I can play with the texture and the adjust the color more to my liking, but at $16 and the extra work I have to do to tailor it to my skin tone – this is a pass.

{3.} Color Club Wanderlust Collection in London Calling – This is part of what makes Birchbox fun! I likely wouldn’t have ever gambled with a lime/mint green-esque nail polish. It’s a welcomed change of pace.

{4.} Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser – I think this is, by far, my favorite product EVER in all of my now 5 Birchbox experiences! I am in LOVE with Suki’s Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser. This delicious lemon fragrant scrub comes out of the jar with the consistency of a serious sugar scrub, but once mixed with water turns into a gentle foaming cleanser. When researching more about this product, I was ecstatic to learn that it’s also filled with organic ingredients, it’s synthetic free, and alpha hydroxy acids within the raw sugar are what make this product a must-have powerhouse. Caution: this should only be used once a day max. I typically use it in the morning to take in the wonderful scent (read: to wake my ass up) and prep my freshly exfoliated skin for an even smoother makeup application.

{5.} Davines Love Smoothing Conditioner – At the risk of sounding redundant, this conditioner is a wonderful compliment to the shampoo. It gave my hair moisture and softness. Enough said.

{6.} Davines OI/OIL Absolute Beautifying Potion – Davines lightweight and fantastically scented hair oil was great during those times when my hair needed a quick burst of moisture. An added benefit was a nice sheen that instantly took my tresses from dull to glam. As with the rest of the Davines’ line, it’s expensive and this deters me from buying full-sized products at this time. I’d be curious to see if my good hair week was in fact attributed to Davines’ line. I’m going back to my tried and true Aussie brand products with my new CHI to find out.

Happy Primping!

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Birchbox Review: May

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May’s Birchbox arrived during a particularly chaotic week, so it was a welcome moment to myself to open the small cardboard box with the pink embossed logo that I have come to know and love. The one word that comes to mind with many of this month’s selections is “fragrant.” As I experimented with each sample, I was delighted at how wonderfully fragrant each product was in addition to their purpose. Here’s how May shaped up…

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1. Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle – I’m a huge leave-in conditioner user and I’ve used the same brand for years. This product was great at detangling wet hair and I’m sure it helped protect against my blow drying and heat usage when testing the sample. It did what it was designed to do, but not in any special way for me personally that left a lasting impression. I’m happy with what I use in this area and at $22 full-sized, I wouldn’t trade my tried and true Infusium 23 for this. At best, this convenient sample-sized detangler will be a great thing take along when I travel.

2. amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask – Since I am African-American, conditioning is a MUST to help hydrate my naturally dry strands. I typically deep condition once a week leaving the product in my hair for at least an hour. amika’s nourishing mask was a welcome change to my normal routine. When reading up about the product, I wanted to know more about “Obliphica.” Essentially, this oil from buckthorn berries is filled with lots of natural vitamins that penetrate the hair follicle repairing it from the inside out. After using the sample, right away I was extremely into the smell of my hair. While I can’t say my hair looked shiny as promoted (this came more from the hair treatment oil noted below) the results were good. Great news for those that are sticklers about ingredients? This mask is free of parabens and sulfates.

3. amika Obliphica Hair Treatment – This hair oil is simply divine smelling. While it can be applied on wet hair, I opted to use it after blow drying and just before flat ironing since it not only contains shine properties, but protects against heat styling. The texture of the product is smooth and light and great at not weighing the hair the down. What was particularly cool is that amika encourages you to mix the oil into other styling products, increasing its versatility and allowing its amazing hydration factor to carry on. Note: you don’t need much, I learned this the hard way!

4. Isaac Mizrahi FABULOUS Eau de Parfum – Of all the perfume samples I’ve received from Birchbox, hands down this is my favorite. At first spritz it is strong, but once the perfume settles into the skin, the fragrance is fun and flirty.  Peony, citrus, mandarin, nectarine, musk, sandalwood, vanilla, and tuberose are just a few of the notes found in this long-lasting scent.  Simply put, as Isaac Mizrahi did, it’s “FABULOUS” and will be added to my collection.

5. COOLA Classic SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer – Again, the first thing I noticed was the light fragrant cucumber smell as I applied Coola’s Classic SPF Moisturizer. The formula is extremely lightweight and refreshing as it easily melts into the skin. I am a big fan of its use of organic ingredients (about 70%) and how soft and hydrated my skin looked. This is a great moisturizer if you’re in the market for something new, but it is pricey.

6. Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner – I don’t wear eyeliner everyday but when I do, it’s typically brown or black. My first time experimenting with gray came from Sumita and I have to say, I liked it…a lot. The pencil glides on smooth and I found I liked using it most when lining just the bottom lid. It gave my eyes a slight pop without the extra drama that comes when lining the entire eye. My only complaint is that it’s extremely difficult to get a thin line with this pencil, it goes on pretty heavily, likely due to the fact that it is a soft wax and constantly needs to be sharpened to get a pointy tip. While not bad in comparison to other brands, this did smear slightly – something that I am trying to avoid with all eye make-up in general. At best, Sumita has gotten me to think about working with gray eyeliner more.

If you’re a Birchboxer, I’d love to hear your thoughts on your May goodies! Please drop me a line in the comments section.

Birchbox Review: April

Posted in Beauty, Fun by

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I’m beginning to wonder if the anticipation and the excitement of getting my Birchbox outweigh the actual products at this point. For the last 3 months, Birchbox has become my  little treat to myself (you can read more here and here). While I know that there are tons of brands on the market for only a limited amount of beauty needs, I would like Birchbox to mix it up some. For the second month in a row, I received another lip/cheek combo product and another perfume. I’ve decided to give it a few more boxes before I make any rash decisions. I do enjoy the little surprise each month and love to experiment with the different goodies. Here’s how April shaped up:

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1. Kusmi Tea Paris, Wellness Assortment – I’m a huge fan of tea, iced or hot. It was an unexpected surprise to see tea with this month’s selections! I received the “Be Cool” and “Detox” flavors. The “Be Cool” designed to promote relaxation and calming in a caffeine free blend was delicious and reminded me of a glorified version of chamomile tea. Since this was the case, I’ll enjoy the samples, but can easily buy a variety of chamomile tea options at a fraction of the cost.

2. Atelier Orange Sanguine Cologne Absolue – An orange-scented perfume sounds somewhat appealing to me as we head into summer where I would want a delicate lasting fruity scent on me in celebration of the season. Atelier’s cologne was too strong and not very feminine smelling. This fragrance is a pass and not for me.

3. Ojon Rare Blend Oil Total Hair Therapy – This is the product that I was most excited to try out because my hair is naturally very dry. Once I read up on what makes Ojon’s Total Hair Therapy so special – à la red, clear, and amber oils from the topics that once shaken create a blend that your hair eats up. I rubbed this into my dry follicles my hair did look instantly more moisturized and full of sheen. At $35 dollars for a full-sized bottle, I wasn’t that convinced to leave my tried and true Chi Silk Infusion that does something similar less expensively.

4. Supergoop! Advanced SPF 37 Anti-Aging Eye Cream – While an awful name for an eye cream (who wants to put goop around their eyes?), I do like what the product stands for. Supergoop! provides all one could want in an eye cream: reduces dark circles, helps with wrinkles, and has SPF protection. Unfortunately, like all eye creams this product would be hard to review or say much about without consistent use for awhile. I will note that the product doesn’t melt into the skin the way I would want in an eye cream when working with this very delicate area. It takes a bit of blending to get it in there and this was a turn-off for me. I’ll finish out the sample because I do need to get into the habit of using an eye cream.

5. Mirenesse Glossy Kiss –  My unhappiness with this product rests more in the color that I was sent. I have a caramel colored complexion and I think Mirenesse’s Perfect Kiss color is a bit brighter than I would use. Looking at the other options in their line, I would’ve preferred the Angel Kiss or the Romantic Kiss shades. Aside from the fact that I’m very content with my Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks, I’m not convinced this is something I would need anyway and I better not see another lip/cheek combo in my May box.

If you’re a Birchboxer, I’d love to hear what April brought you?

To Prime or Not To Prime

Posted in Beauty by

I’ve had a change of heart, girls. And it involves the use of a base primer before applying your make-up for the day. I always thought of primers as not very necessary if you use foundation and other beauty products that are already designed (though admittedly oftentimes fail) to have a “long-lasting” effect. If you recall, I reviewed Lancôme’s La Base Pro Primer in my first Birchbox two months ago and didn’t think much of it, not because I didn’t like it; but thought it was just another expensive something that I could live without. That’s until…

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…this last week or so. I’ve been grabbing the La Base Pro Primer every morning to finish up the Birchbox sample, and realized not long after that when I really looked at my make-up toward the end of a busy day; my cheeks still had a subtle glow from the cream blush application I’d applied that morning, and most noticeably, my concealer was still managing to hang in there. My biggest beauty complaint is how flawless my eye make-up looks when it’s first done, but by 3:00pm, dark circle central returns under my eyes and my mascara and eyeliner seem to smear no matter what I do!

Even better, I’m noticing that my skin isn’t as oily by the end of the day. The primer glides on in an oil-free manner creating a matte texture on my skin providing the perfect canvas before adding my favorite MAC concealer and Estee Lauder foundation. At $42.00 a bottle, it is an expense, but one that I’m willing to overlook since a bottle should ideally last you for months.

So sincere apologies girls, I spoke way too hastily on this one. Lancôme’s La Base Pro Primer IS worth the hype!

You can take a look inside my make-up bag by reading about my favorite products here.

Happy Primping! xx

{Here’s a great how-to video to get the most out of your make-up primer.}