eyeliner

November Birchbox | 2014

November quickly came and went and turkey isn’t the only thing I enjoyed! I got a fabulous new birchbox in the mail and I can’t wait to share my samples with you! 

If you aren’t familiar with Birchbox, it’s a company offering a subscription to receive monthly samples of beauty products (They offer boxes for both men and women!). I love it because it’s a mini treat to myself once a month and it’s a great, inexpensive way to get introduced to new brands and products. As an added bonus- it makes a great gift for the girl (or boy) who has everything!

Below is what I found when I opened my special gifting November Birchbox… And wait til you read about them, I feel like an especially lucky sampler this month!

November Birchbox 2014

derma e® Evenly Radiant® Brightening Cleanser

amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo

theBalm® cosmetics Cindy-Lou Manizer®

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen

Laura Mercier Longwear Crème Eye Pencil

Camille Beckman Platinume Gold Imperial Repair Hand Therapy

Chuao Chocolatier Assorted ChocoPod

Let’s start with the derma e® Evenly Radiant® Brightening Cleanser. I’ve been using this cleanser for about a week and my skin is feeling fresh and smooth. This cleanser is a little gel like and since I prefer a little exfoliation in my facial cleanser, I paired it with my Clarisonic and got great results! I love the light citrus scent and it leaves my skin feeling soft and refreshed! I have to admit, using it alone left me a little underwhelmed.

Next up is the amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo. I love this stuff! Since I have pretty long hair, I try to skip a shampoo every now and again to avoid massive damage to my locks. I’ve tried a few dry shampoos, but haven’t found anything noteworthy- they either leave white residue, smell like baby powder or don’t work at all. Then I found amika! Although I think I’ve used more effective dry shampoos, my best overall experience is with amika. It’s able to absorb oil and add volume without the smell or powdery look! Unfortunately, Birchbox is currently sold out, but I will be stocking up ASAP!

Get Ready! theBalm® cosmetics Cindy-Lou Manizer® was the next sample I tried out (and loved!) I love theBalm products in general. I have a really fun eye shadow palette from them that I love to death! The sense of humor the company brings to the packaging is super fun, not to mention they have amazing products! I’ve been using this highlighter everywhere! It’s got a light, peach shimmery look that I think is just perfect! I’ve used it on the apple of my cheeks, below my brows and even as eyeshadow- it’s so versatile!

Now onto Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen. This tinted moisturizer is lightweight and gives the perfect amount of coverage. (Keep in mind it’s a TINTED moisturizer, not foundation!) I personally hate wearing foundation so I love the light, fresh feel this moisturizer leaves. It applied smoothly and lasted all day. My only complaint is the sample size was a little small, so I was only to test it out once.

Didn’t get enough Laura Mercier? You’re in luck because I also got a Laura Mercier Longwear Crème Eye Pencil in violet! I’m not one to wear crazy eye makeup (or really any color on my eyes), but I’m loving this bold violet eyeliner. First off, the liner is the perfect texture. It’s easy to apply, goes on smooth and lasts all day. I usually have issues with pencil liner smudging by late afternoon, but this one didn’t at all! This eye pencil left me one happy camper. I have a feeling this sample will last awhile, but I will definitely be purchasing when it runs out.

Onto another find, Camille Beckman Platinume Gold Imperial Repair Hand Therapy. This lotion left my hands feeling amazing! It absorbed quickly and left my hands feeling silky smooth. Although my hands felt softer to the touch than they have in awhile, they didn’t feel truly moisturized. I didn’t mind the scent of the lotion, but it definitely wasn’t my favorite. It had a light lemony/floral smell that lingered. The lotion has great results, but for the money I think you can find a better option.

Today I’m wrapping it up with a dessert, Chuao Chocolatier Assorted ChocoPod! I was a little skeptical of this chocolate when I first read the label- firecracker! Boy, talk about ending with a BANG! This chocolate not only had a spicy kick to it with added chipotle pepper, but it also has popping candy! As soon as this chocolate hit my lips, I could feel the snap, crackle, pop! It felt like I was eating Pop Rocks and chocolate all at the same time. I loved trying the firecracker one, but I can’t wait to try the other flavors (including the potato chip and oh my s’mores bars!) What a fun twist on chocolate!

And that’s it for this month’s Birchbox products. Have you heard of any of these brands or tried any of these products before? Tell me about them in the comments below! Maybe you’re just craving more beauty buys? Check out last month’s post, October Birchbox | 2014.

October Birchbox | 2014

October is here and it’s time for me review my newest Birchbox products!

If you aren’t familiar with Birchbox, it’s a company offering a subscription to receive monthly samples of beauty products (They offer boxes for both men and women!). I love it because it’s a mini treat to myself once a month and it’s a great, inexpensive way to get introduced to new brands and products. As an added bonus- it makes a great gift for the girl (or boy) who has everything!

Below is what I found when I opened my October Birchbox.

October Birchbox

clariSEA Rapid Detox Charcoal Exfoliant: Face
Perlier Intensive Nurturing Body Balm
Lord & Berry Paillettes Eye Pencil
Number 4™ Clarifying Shampoo
Number 4™ Reconstructing Masque
Jouer + beautyblender® Perfectly Primed Collection

Let’s start with the clariSEA Rapid Detox Charcoal Exfoliant: Face. I was a little taken aback when I opened this sample- it was just a jar of grey powder! This all natural product stated you could mix it with either your favorite cleanser or water before applying it to your face. I chose to start with water so I could get an idea of what this exfoliant does on it’s own. I have to admit, applying it was a little messy for my taste… I mean imagine scooping powder out of a jar, mixing with water then trying to get it on your face. It’s definitely tricky, but it did it’s job! It’s a strong exfoliant and even left my skin a little tender after using it just once. Although the exfoliant felt a little extreme, it left my face feeling smoother than ever! If you end up trying out the product I’m sure you’ll have smoother skin, but due to the roughness, I suggest using it only a few times a week.

Next up is the Perlier Intensive Nurturing Body Balm. I love this balm! Although it’s thick and creamy, it didn’t leave me oily or greasy! It not only has a great light scent, but it also absorbed quickly- no need to wait for it to dry before getting dressed. Although it’s fabulous as a full body lotion, I especially recommend it for those extra dry spots like your elbows and feet. You’ll definitely get your bang for your buck with this balm!

Lord & Berry Paillettes Eye Pencil was the next sample I tried out. This little pencil packed a lot of punch! It was super easy to apply, even using my tiny pencil sample! The main focal point of this eyeliner is the glitter. To be clear, it’s not shimmery, it has actual chunks of glitter in it. This look was a little extreme for me, but it could be fun to use on a night out. I think it’s safe to say I won’t be purchasing the full sized product, but I’ll enjoy having fun with the sample!

Now onto the Number 4™ Clarifying Shampoo and Number 4™ Reconstructing Masque. I’ve gotten Number 4 products in my box a few times before and have not been disappointed yet. Although these samples didn’t disappoint, I wouldn’t say they “WOWed” me either. The scent was nice and it left my hair feeling soft and healthy. But for the higher price point they charge, I expected more. There are plenty of products out there that give just as good results for a better price.

Lastly, I have the Jouer + beautyblender® Perfectly Primed Collection. Of this collection, I received the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint. This tint was a little different than the other tinted moisturizers I’ve received in my boxes. It went on smooth, applied very evenly and I found the coverage to be a little heavier than most creams I’ve used. Although I appreciated the extra coverage, it dried with a matte, powdery finish that felt a little too mature for me. If you are like me and prefer a fresher, more natural look this tint is probably not for you!

And that’s it! That wraps it up for this month’s Birchbox products. Have you heard of any of these brands or tried any of these products before? Tell me about them in the comments below! Craving more beauty reviews? Check out last month’s post, September’s Birchbox- Unboxed.