Sunscreen

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.

June Birchbox | 2014

Happy Monday! Since June is officially coming to an end, it’s time for me review this month’s 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 both men’s and women’s boxes!). 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. Below is what I found when I opened my June Birchbox.

June Birchbox

What are all those tiny samples? Well this month’s box included all of the following:

Number 4™ Super Comb Prep & Protect

Folle de Joie eau de parfum

Jasmine Seven™ Wipes

Supergoop!® Everyday SPF 30 with Cellular Response Technology

Coastal Scents® Revealed 2 Palette Set

I’ll start with Number 4™ Super Comb Prep & Protect. Since growing out my hair, I have started using a leave-in conditioner. I especially need it for the detangling aspect when getting out of the shower and this product got the job done. I could definitely tell the difference it made on my hair after a few days. It feels soft, smooth and healthy. The only downside is the smell. The smell is light and it isn’t bad, but it’s not what I’m used to in a hair product. It smells a little too chemically for my personal taste (almost like a perm, which just brings back terrible hair memories!). To be fair, I currently have a leave in conditioner I am in love with, both smell and results, so this one had high expectations to live up to.

Next I tried the Folle de Joie eau de parfum. This perfume is amazing! It’s a little different than the scents I normally gravitate toward, but I ended up loving it. It’s light and fresh, but has staying power to last a full day’s work. At $98 for 3.4 fl oz., the price is pretty steep compared to what I usually spend on perfume. But, if I’m going to drop $100 on perfume, this one would a top candidate!

Now onto a product I’ve never heard of, Jasmine Seven™ Fresh Feet Wipes. These are such a great idea! I thought these wipes were a weird thing to get in my Birchbox, but they ended up coming in handy! I live in the city and walk to work everyday and sometimes (especially when wearing sandals or flats) my feet get so dirty! This is a great way to freshen them up before a dinner or happy hour.

I hate putting on sunscreen, but it’s a necessary evil this time of year. Applying it is annoying and tedious and if you are at a more formal outside event, the last thing you want to do is smell like sunscreen! This is where Supergoop!® Everyday Sunscreen comes in. Contrary to the name, this sunscreen goes on so light! It’s super easy to rub in and isn’t greasy at all. Also, the smell is so fresh and light that you would never know that it’s sunscreen! This is my new go-to sunscreen. It can’t be beat!

Lastly, Coastal Scents® Revealed 2 Palette Eyeshadow Set. I love this mini palette! I am a definite fan of bronze shimmer shadow and that’s just what they gave me. The colors are great neutrals for any complexion and very versatile. The texture of the shadow is great, easy to blend and long lasting. I have a hard time picking out just one or two eye shadows, so I prefer splurging on a palette like this. This palette looks like it has a great range of color offerings and for just $34, it is certainly a contender for my next round of Birchbox points I earn!

That wraps it up for this month’s Birchbox products. Wanting more? Check out last month’s post, May’s Birchbox Finds. Have you tried any of these brands or products before? Let me know your thoughts of them in the comments below!