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Enter…Birchbox

I’ve been a loyal Ipsy customer for 2 years now, but I have heard so many good things Birchbox that I thought maybe it was time for a change.  Even though most people had already received their February box I ordered my first Birchbox in the middle of the month which is why I’m just now getting a review in. But this also gave me time to look at some of the products other subscribers had already reviewed.

First impressions were literally the good, the bad and the ugly…

  • The good – I love that I don’t have to look up the full-size prices. They were all listed right there on the Birchbox website. This saved me a lot of time.
  • The bad – The LAQA & Co. Avo Lip Butter I received was not the peachy “Nova” I was hoping for, but the much darker “Ninza”, which is more of a burgundy.
  • The ugly – Like many other subscribers, I was disappointed that the above lip butter came broken. When I opened the top, the stick was stuck on the roof and smashed. I placed it back in the tube, but I’m afraid it won’t stay put, and it was truly messy putting it back.
Yes, my grandma made that beautiful penguin towel. Ahh, penguins, the most majestic animal in the world.

The LAQA lip butter did have redeeming qualities – for one, it smells amazing! And after trying the shade on, I think I may actually be able to pull of the deep color. This item usually retails around $25 (although, Birchbox listed it as $15 on the site and $25 on the card that came in the box…confusing). This size is about 1/4 the size (I couldn’t find the exact size) so I would guess it comes in around $6.

The Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream with SPF 35+ is fantastic. It worked flawlessly under my regular powder and I like the fact that it will help protect my skin from those darn UV rays. The regular 47 mL size goes for $32 so this 3 mL will be $2.04.

If you’re looking for furthering protection, look no further than Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm. Although this item has an almost Vaseline feel and was slightly sticky, it seems to be doing its job. I put it on this morning and almost 5 hours later (and after eating) I still don’t feel like I need to reapply. The 15 mL size is $16.50. This teeny tiny 3 mL tube would be $3.30.

Read the directions before using Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk. It says to spray about 10 inches away from your head – don’t take this lightly. I love dry shampoos and have used my fair share of brands. This one made me jump when I pressed down it came out with so much pressure. That being said, it works. You would pay $20 for the regular 3.2 oz. bottle. This travel size would be $6.25 (1 oz.).

The last item, is the only one I have yet to try out – Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. Honestly, the only reason I have yet to try it is because I forgot to use it this morning when I washed up. I’m looking forward to seeing how much more rejuvenated I feel after using it. The 4.23 oz. rings up at $34, so this 0.7 oz. would be $5.62.

I spent $10 (just like with Ipsy), but would have spent $23.21 if I had bought these sizes outright.

Overall, I like the more spa-like vibe of Birchbox (so far…Ipsy was much more make-up oriented), but with this first box down, I still feel like I got a better deal price-wise with Ipsy. Guess I’ll just have to see how next month goes.

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Hello March Glam Bag!

And Hello Spring!

First of all, can we just appreciate how cute the bag for this month’s Ipsy is?

Okay, moving on to Skone Cosmetics – Insanely Intense Tattooed Eyeliner in JetBlack (0.07 oz.). I am in heaven with this eyeliner. Liquid eyeliner always used to scare me. In high school, I tried out a friend’s once, and I ended up looking like a Picasso painting. Not an understatement! But I don’t think I have ever been so impressed by eyeliner. I will definitely be buying Skone again. It looks like I received the full-size, which retails on skonecosmetics.com for $15.

The Pixi by Petra – Beauty Blush Duo in Rose Gold (0.16 oz.) is a really pretty blush. The combination of the two colors blends really well with my lighter skin tone. The 0.36 oz. size sells on both pixibeauty.com and target.com for $18. This smaller size would ring in at $8.

I wish I could love the deep red that is NYX Cosmetics – Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick (0.13 oz.) but it just doesn’t work for me. I ended up giving this to my friend who, by the way, looks gorgeous in it. The same size retails on nyxcosmetics.com for $7.

The MeMeMe – Loose Powder Brush (2 oz.) is super soft. I’m still getting used to figuring out different brushes (other than a regular blush brush or eyeshadow brush. I know…don’t make fun of me). This same brush retails on mememecosmetics.com for 14£, which means $20.04 (this one comes with its own carrying case).

Unfortunately, I was not impressed by Nourish Organic – Rosehip & Rosewater Body Oil (0.5 fl. oz.) and I really really wanted to be. I have high hopes for products with “organic” in their names, especially if it’s meant for my face or body. It came out of the tube separated. But maybe I just got a bad batch bottle. Or maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be, but I didn’t care for it. The 3 fl. oz. is $19.99 on nourishorganic.com so this small tube would be $3.33.

I also redeemed from points the NAOBAY Natural & Organic – Oxygenating Moisturizing Cream (0.75 oz.), which retails for $47.60 on beautybay.com for the 1.7 fl. oz. so this smaller (free) size would have been $21.

Including my bonus product, I would have spend $74.37. Lucky me!

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November Glam Bag – Beauty Blast

I loved the April Beautifully Bohemian bag but I think a new favorite has rocketed into my world this month! This colorful little bag is just too much fun.

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The first shining star I pulled out of the bag was the Deluxe Pointed Crease Brush by Crown. First impression – it is so soft – and I mean soft. I absolutely love it! Good brushes can be hard to find but I think the Crown brush is out of this world! It retails at $12.38 but I found it for 60% off on crownbrush.us for $4.95.

The Luxie Beauty – Matte Eyeshadow Pan No. 290 (0.05 oz.) is 100% cruelty-free. They hooked me right there, but then there’s the color – Aubergine (eggplant) I cannot get enough of this color. When I saw it my eyes lit up like shooting stars and once on, it did not disappoint. This size retails on luxiebeauty.com for $6.

Previously, Smashbox has impressed me – I  loved the Smashbox face primer so I had a feeling their Full Exposure Mascara (3 mL) would be out of this world. I’ve been using it every day since i received my little pink bag and it’s amazing! Keeps my lashes looking full and the application is stellar. The 11.4 mL retails for $20 on smashbox.com so this size blasts in at $5.26.

Model Co is another brand that has continued to impress me. Their Highlighting Trio (3 x 0.04 oz. = 0.12 oz.) in colors – Champagne, Peach Bellini, Bronze Shimmer – not only sound delightfully delicious, they are gorgeous on the eyes too. Modelcocosmetics.com retails this size at $22.

I truly enjoyed the Coolway sea salt spray I received a few Glam Bags back, so it does not surprise me that I love their holding spray as well. The Coolway Stronghold Spray (0.5 oz.) keeps my hair from orbiting outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. The 3.3 oz. size retails for $19.95 on coolwayhair.com. This smaller size is an astronomical deal at $3.02.

Not only did I get a couple of full-sized items but I only had to pay $10. I feel like I’m rocketing into some great deals. My total this November would have been $41.23 had I bought these at full-price. Keep up the heavenly work ipsy – you’ve outshined yourself this month.

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My Alter Ego – October Glam Bag

happy halloween feet_edited-1Muahahahahaha!

Oh, sorry…I mean, Happy Halloween!

My October Glam Bag was ghoulishly delightful and I’m pretty excited to see what kind of character I can turn into with the help of all my new goodies.

The first treat came from theBalm Cosmetics – Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in the shade: Committed (a pinky nude). Love the color. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I am not a lipstick person. But, this month is “Alter Ego” so maybe it’s time I try something bold. After all, it is October – Halloween month – let’s get spooky!

thebalm.com sells their 0.25 oz. bottle at $17 (0.25 oz.) so this smaller size (0.04 oz.) rang in at a nice $2.72.

I fell in love with Aromachology a few months ago so I was pretty stoked to see another bottle arrive. Their Exotic & Spicy Eau de Parfum boasts hints of nutmeg, honeysuckle and blossoming peonies.

This is one of the most sophisticated perfumes I’ve had the pleasure of sniffing. I put some on my wrists and neck this morning and was ready to take on the world!

On myaromachology.com, it came in at $70 (1.7 oz.). This smaller size was a sweet deal at $4.94(0.12 oz.).

I’m all a-buzz for the Hey Honey collection, so their Come Clean: Propolis & Minerals Facial Scrub was a treat to find in my bag.  I loved the Hey Honey Serum – I’m guessing the facial scrub won’t disappoint me either. The website, heyhoney.com sells the 2.2 oz. for $23 (2.2 oz.), making this 0.5 oz. only $5.22.October glam bag

Perfect timing – my old mascara has run its course. IT Cosmetics – Hello Lashes Clinically Proven 5-in-1 Mascara (0.16 oz.) is paraben-free, fragrance-free, phthalate-free, sulfate-free. It almost feels like I’m getting it for free with all the great deals I’ve received so far in my bag this month. Ulta.com sells the bigger size for$24 (0.33 fl. oz.). At almost half the size it was less than half the price = $11.63. I can’t wait to see how this lives up to its 5-in-1 promise.

My last treat was the Touch in Sol – Mini Browza Super Proof Gel Brow Pencil (0.02 oz.) in the shade: Mink Wink (a medium to dark brown).

I’m not one for brow pencils. Heck, I barely pluck the stray hairs in that area, but once again, it’s Alter Ego month. Time to continue branching out of my comfort zone. Bring on fuller, darker brows!

On Sephora.com this size (0.017 oz.) is $19.

Total would have been $43.51 at full price and size. Thanks again, Glam Bag! I’m still getting a boo-tiful deal at $10.

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My Back to School Glam Bag – Prep School

Well, it’s back to school season, which means soon it will be my favorite time of the year – FALL! I can’t wait for bonfires, S’mores, hoodies and football! I love it!

My August Glam Bag is just about perfect for fall too – starting with the Hikari Lip Gloss in Merlot. First of all, I love merlot…and not just during the fall. No surprise there. I initially I wasn’t sure if I was going to like such a deep red but I’ve tried it out the last couple of days and it’s really lovely. I think I’m just not used to myself wearing anything other than clear or pink lip gloss. Time to step outside the box. I received the full-size lip gloss (0.1 fl. oz.), which retails at $13 on www.hikaricostmetics.com. Already I’ve come out on top with my Ipsy bag. Woot woot!

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Then came the Doll 10 Beauty HydraGel Blush (“Flirt). I have never used blush like this before. It has been interesting trying to figure out the best way to apply it but so far I do like it. The 0.11 ounce container ($12.57) I got was not much smaller than the regular size of 0.14 oz. ($16) I found on their site – doll10.com.

I’m in love with night cream and the La Fresh Group’s Good Night. Night Cream (0.5 oz.) seems to be no different so far. Creamy and dreamy. The regular size (1.7 oz.) runs at $40 on lafreshgroup.com. But this one is a steal at $11.76.

Currently, I have a black eyeliner I am using so it may be a while before I get to use my Doucce Ultra Precision Eye Liner. If it’s as good as the reviews, I’m looking forward to it. This $22 0.03 fl. oz. eyeliner is ready and waiting for me.

And if I haven’t told you already, I’m a sucker for anything that is animal cruelty free (or just plan ol’ free for that matter) and 100% vegan! The Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) Leave-In Conditioner is just that…practically free dollar-wise when you think about it. The 2 fl. oz. bottle I received runs right around $2.34 compared to the full-size 8.5 fl. oz. for $9.95 on beautywithoutcruelty.com. But when you really break it down, I only paid $10 for $61.67 worth of product. So I’ll just say the BWC is a bonus! Woo!