Julep: a Lukewarm Welcome Box

I saw and offer to try the Julep beauty box if I paid just the $2.95 shipping.  It is usually $24.99.  For $2.95 I'm satisfied.  For $10, I would have been disappointed.  For $25, I would have felt ripped off.  

The Julep Welcome Box contained two nail polishes, a Plush Pout Lip Crayon, and a Konjac Sponge.  On one hand, all products were full-sized.  On the other hand, the return on investment with this box is much lower than other beauty boxes.  Julep says its boxes are worth around $40.  That's about the same stated value as Birchbox and ipsy, but the other boxes are only $10 per month.  At $25, the Julep box feels a lot more like paying full price for products. 

Apparently in subsequent months Julep will allow you to choose your monthly beauty products, but I didn't see that as an option in the welcome box.  

• The Julep Konjac Sponge is nice.  I will give this beauty box that as a point in its favor.  It gently exfoliates, and came with a little suction cup to store it in the shower.  I've used it the past few days, and I like it.  You can, however, get a two-pack of comparable sponges on Amazon for less than a single $12 sponge from Julep (see the SpaWorks Konjac Exfoliating Facial Cleansing Sponge - 2 pack,** among others).  I'll use this sponge for the recommended 2-3 months, and I may even replace it, but I won't replace it from Julep.  
• The Plush Pout Lip Crayon has great color and feel, but no staying power.  It smeared all over at the first sign of a coffee cup.  Unfortunately it is highly pigmented enough that it left my face a mess.  If the lip crayon had staying power, it would be a winner, but, as it is, it just doesn't have what it takes.  I tried lining my lips to prevent the color migration, but it didn't help.  To top it all off, this product is $20 on the Julep site.  I like lip crayons, but for a little over $6, you can get a Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain with moisture, color, and staying-ability.
• Julep boxes all seem to come with two nail colors.  Someone else might find this great, but I'd quickly become overwhelmed if I started receiving two nail polishes per month.  I rarely paint my fingernails, and my toes get a couple quick paint jobs per month.  According to the Julep site, these polishes are $14 each.  

I see how they came to the "over $40 value" total.  The sponge ($12), lip crayon($20), and two nail colors ($28) would total $60 on the Julep site.  It might be a $40-60 value to someone, but it isn't to me.  The lip crayon and nail polishes both went in the give-away box.  

My other gripe about Julep is that you can't cancel online.  This can't be anything other than strategic.  I know I'm not the only one who prefers to interact with customer service online instead of by phone.  By making you call to cancel, they reduce the likelihood that you will cancel.

Customer service was good when I called to cancel.  The representative was cordial and prompt about canceling my account.  I wasn't hassled or pressured to keep my account.

Julep could be a good option for someone who loves nail polish, wants to customize their monthly beauty box, and isn't as focused on getting the most, random products for their money.  It's not a great value for me.  

*This post contains referral links.  If you sign up for Birchbox or ipsy through the links I may receive points towards future purchases.  This is not a sponsored post.

**This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through those links, I will receive a small commission.

Fave Five: Things to do With All Those Beauty Box Samples

I have only received five beauty boxes (two Birchbox, two ipsy, and one Walmart beauty box), and I'm already feeling a little overrun by beauty samples.  I've loved some of the samples.  I've disliked a few.  I've been apathetic about others.  In any case, I need to divest myself of some of the samples before I'm buried in an avalanche of makeup.  The pile is already starting to get out of control.

Here are five ways I've thought of to share the love and keep my cabinets from being overwhelmed:

1. Share with Friends: As I try products, I think about the other people in my life who might enjoy them. When I'm done sampling, I share.  I gave BB and CC creams to a friend who expressed an interest in trying those and another cleanser to a friend who liked the Vasanti cleanser I tried last month.  
2. Donate to a Charity: Homeless shelters, battered women's shelters, and other charities have a need for toiletries.  Imagine it could brighten another woman's day to get a really nice set of toiletries at a hard time in her life.  It's a little thing, but little things matter, too. 
3. Make a Guest Toiletry Stash: Want to impress your overnight guests?  Offer them a selection of toiletries for their visit.  Who doesn't love pawing through the toiletries at a hotel?  
4. Make an Emergency Kit: An emergency kit in your desk drawer can help you look your best in a flash.  Mine has a subtle Blistex Lip Vibrance Lip Protectant**, a bold Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain, the Neutrogena mascara sample from the Summer Walmart beauty box, the Amika Un.Done Texture Spray from the July Birchbox, and a tube of C.O. Bigelow Chapped Hands Remedy (gifted by my friend Natalie), all tucked into the makeup bag from my June ipsy Glam Bag.  

   

   In case of beauty emergency, open bag.

5. Save for Travel: Samples you like can be saved for travel.  Small sizes mean less space in your luggage, and quality products can make travel feel even more special.  

Birchbox and ipsy each have 5 products per month, and it is probably a reasonable goal to average one product per month that fits into each category.  Once my emergency kit is full, I can make them for friends.  Once my travel stash is full, I can donate more to people in need.

No one wants used, contaminated products, so, if you may not keep your samples, make sure you keep them clean.  Use cotton swabs for lipsticks and eyeshadows, and cotton balls for blush and powder.  Eye-liners are probably not ideal for re-giving.  

*This post contains referral links.  If you sign up for Birchbox or ipsy through the links I may receive points towards future purchases.  This is not a sponsored post.

**This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through those links, I will receive a small commission.

Walmart Beauty: No Frills, But Thrills?

I've gone a little mad for beauty boxes, and, though I was skeptical, I couldn't resist the siren call of Walmart's attempt at the market.  It's only $5.  You really can't go too far wrong for $5.  Walmart beauty boxes are delivered quarterly, with the products tailored to the season (spring, summer, fall, and winter).  I received the Summer 2015 box.

Not surprisingly, the Walmart box did not contain anything earth shaking.  This is my first beauty box that contained all products I recognized.  I know, I'm a cretin.  I was surprised, though, by the quantity and quality of the products that were in the box.  For $5 I received 10 beauty samples and two coupons.

Here's what I got:

• Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick (plus $1 coupon)
• Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray
• One Direction You & I Eau de Parfum
• Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme
• Clean Scalp & Hair Therapy Nourishing Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
• Aveeno protect + hydrate lotion sunscreen (plus $2 coupon)
• Jergens Natural Glow self-tanner
• Neutrogena healthy volume mascara
• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Boosters facial cleanser
• Ken Paves You Are Beautiful Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner

I'm not going to review all of these products.  They are easy access, so if you want to try them, you probably can.

• The Revlon lipstick is very creamy and pigmented, but it is prone to smearing and wearing off quickly.  The color "Gladiolus" is bold and pretty, but I'm too inattentive to my lipstick to wear that needs maintenance.  This one goes in the "give away" pile.
• The Beach Blonde sea salt spray made me laugh.  All the beauty boxes were in on the idea that salt spray is the official hair product of summer.
• I'm slightly ashamed to admit that I really like the scent of the One Direction perfume.  What am I, a 12 year old girl?  It is lightly floral without being cloying.  
• The Nivea Soft cream will be a great addition to my purse.  It can be used on face, body, and hands. so it is the perfect cream to have in a pinch.
• The Clear Shampoo, Aveeno sunscreen, Neutrogena cleanser, Neutrogena mascara, and Ken Paves shampoo and conditioner will be great for travel or guests, but the Jergens self-tanner may be a give-away.  I'm leery of self-tanners after too many streaky experiences.  

These products are more the workhorses of the beauty world, the unsung heros. They are no-frills.  No-frills doesn't mean bad, and I am very happy with this box.  I'm thrilled.

Boldly Go

The theme for the July Birchbox is "Go Bold."  That's just a variation of Star Trek's imperative to "boldly go," right?  That I can do.

Here's what came in my July Birchbox:

• Jouer Daily Clarifying Treatment Oil: The instructions that came with the Jouer Daily Clarifying Treatment Oil claim that it will hydrate, even, and clarify skin.  I've only used it once, so I can't speak to long-term use, but it did go on smoothly and didn't make my skin greasy (as you can see below).  
• SuperGoop Daily Correct CC Cream: Check out the itty bitty sample below.  It may not be the smallest sample- the Jouer oil has a smaller volume- but it probably contains fewer uses than any other non-single-use product I've received.  Sample size aside, it is just an ok CC cream.  After the luxurious texture, and high wearibility of last month's Marcelle BB Creme, the SuperGoop just doesn't stand up. It's not worse than a comparable Almay or E.L.F. product, but it's not better either.  
• Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick: I'm mad for red lipstick.  I have a dozen similar long-wearing products.  That being said, I'm not completely behind the idea of matte lipstick.  The color is great- it's intense and vibrant- but matte lipstick seems to be pretty unforgiving.  Any little mistake really shows, and the texture is quite dry.  I will probably use this lipstick, but I would like it better with a more satin finish.  
• Amika Un.Done Texture Spray: I wasn't sure what to make of texture spray... What does it do?  How to I use it?  News flash: it's hairspray.  It's nice hairspray.  It smells nice, and enhanced volume without my hair being crunchy, but it's hairspray.  
• Key West Aloe Save a Tan: I don't have much of a tan right now.  I have spent too much time this summer working on the house, and not enough time lounging poolside.  I can't attest to whether it will really help maintain a tan, but it is a nice summer lotion.  It is 80 percent aloe, but it absorbs into skin much more easily than a pure aloe product.  It also smells lovely- light and fresh and not too much for summer.  

 

July is another successful Birchbox.  I'm happy with the Jouer Daily Clarifying Treatment Oil, surprised by the Amika Un.Done Texture Spray, and satisfied with the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick.  There will be samples to keep and samples to share, and I'll have even more to enjoy next month.  

*This post contains referral links.  If you sign up for Birchbox or ipsy through the links I may receive points towards future purchases.  This is not a sponsored post.

Birchbox Bold

Birchbox knows how to make a woman happy.  How could I not be happy when I opened my July box to see this festive design.  Pretty!  The theme for the July box is Go Bold.  Don't mind if I do.

Inside the box continued to impress.

Here's what came in my July Birchbox.

• Amika Un.Done Texture Spray
• Key West Aloe Save a Tan
• Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick
• Jouer Daily Clarifying Treatment Oil
• SuperGoop Daily Correct CC Cream

I'm especially excited about trying the Jouer Daily Clarifying Treatment Oil and the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick.  The oil comes in an itty bitty dropper bottle, and I'm intrigued by it, and I love bold lip color!  

Check back tomorrow (hopefully) for best highs and lows of this box!

*This post contains referral links.  If you sign up for Birchbox or ipsy through the links I may receive points towards future purchases.  This is not a sponsored post.

Summer Lovin' and Beach Hair

I tried to blog about my July ipsy Glam Bag sooner.  I really did.  Unfortunately I spent the end of last week frantically trying to get my living room ready to have friends over.  I fell into bed every night after 11, after work followed by hours of patching, sanding, and painting.  Now that room is done, and I'm taking a little break.

Rather than photograph each stage of my product trial, I'll just share the final results and my opinions of each product.

Here's what's inside my July ipsy Glam Bag:

• Pretty chevron makeup bag: I really like this bag.  I'll use it.  I'll enjoy it.  The colorful, festive print just begs to contain something fun.  
• pūr~delicate gentle soymilk cleanser & makeup remover: I don't have much to say about this cleanser.  It removed my makeup, and my skin was left clean.  It did its job, but it wasn't any better than the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser** I usually use.  It's gentle.  It works.  It's nothing special.  I'm also less likely to use it to remove my makeup because, as I've said before, I'm too lazy to wash my face with water at the end of the day.
• Crown Brush Professional Tweezers: These tweezers are very high quality.  I have sensitive skin with coarse hair, but the slanted edge and strong grip of these tweezers allow for plucking with minimal irritation.  
• Nicka K New York HQ Quad Eyeshadow: I am very pleased with this eyeshadow.  It goes on smoothly with no creasing, and it is highly pigmented, even in the more subtle colors.  
• Teeez Cosmetics Read My Lips Lipstick: I don't like the lipstick.  I don't like the thick but not creamy texture.  I don't like the wrong-for-me color.  I don't like the matte finish.  I don't like the inadequate coverage.  In spite of all of that, I'm not disappointed.  I am glad to have the opportunity to try new products, even the ones I don't fall in love with.  

Here's the final result of the first four products.  I didn't use the Coolway Beachy Salt Spray.  Instead I planned ahead to use it the next day.  I braided my wet hair and tucked the braid into my head wrap. My hair is naturally frustratingly straight.  Braiding it wet is one of the few ways to easily develop some texture.

 

• Coolway Beachy Salt Spray: The next morning I skipped washing my hair and, after my shower, finger-combed the braid out and sprayed my hair with the Coolway Beachy Salt Spray.  I was prepared to be unimpressed, but I actually really liked the messy, tousled waves that developed.  The texture stayed in my hair, which is impressive because my hair doesn't hold texture well.  My hair really looked like I had spent the day on a beach vacation, and it smelled nice, too.  I love a beach vacation.  I was surprised and pleased with this spray.

 

I'm pleased with four of the six components of my July ipsy Glam Bag, and I'm not disappointed in the other two.  I have some ideas of what to do with the products that aren't right for me, and I'll be sharing those ideas too.

See part 1 of my July ipsy review here.

Check out last month's ipsy reviews here and here.

*This post contains referral links.  If you sign up for Birchbox or ipsy through the links I may receive points towards future purchases.  This is not a sponsored post.

**This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through those links, I will receive a small commission.

July Glam Bag: Lovin' Summer

I finally have time to talk about my July ipsy Glam Bag and Birchbox.  Since I started with Birchbox last month, I'll start with ipsy this month.

I've already made good use of the metallic pink mailing envelope from my July ipsy Glam Bag.  I used it to package my friend Rich's birthday present.

According to ipsy, the July Glam Bag has an approximately $52 value.  I once again feel like I got my $10 worth for the month.  The theme for the bag is "Summer Lovin'."  I love summer, so Summer Lovin' is an appealing theme for me.

Here's what's inside my July ipsy Glam Bag:

• Pretty chevron makeup bag
• Nicka K New York HQ Quad Eyeshadow
• Teeez Cosmetics Read My Lips Lipstick
• Crown Brush Professional Tweezers
• pūr~delicate gentle soymilk cleanser & makeup remover
• Coolway Beachy Salt Spray

I'm especially looking forward to trying the eye shadow and tweezers.  Good tweezers are great to find.

I'll let you know what I think of everything in the July Glam Bag tomorrow!

Check out last month's ipsy reviews here and here.

*This post contains referral links.  If you sign up for Birchbox or ipsy through the links I may receive points towards future purchases.  This is not a sponsored post.

Fave Five: First Impressions of Beauty Subscriptions

My July Birchbox and ipsy Glam Bag have already arrived!  I'll share the details of those in the coming days, but, for now, here are my favorite things about my first month of beauty boxes.

I have so many beauty boxes for July!

1. Rewards: Both Birchbox and ipsy have easy rewards programs that allow you to earn points for free or reduced cost products.  I like free or reduced cost.  I'm on board.  
2. Trying new types of products: I don't thing I'd ever tried a facial primer before, but the Smashbox primer in my June ipsy Glam Bag was nearly life-changing.
3. Trying "fancier" products: This was clear winning reason for subscribing.  The higher-end products are a bonus, and, for some things, I've really been able to tell the difference in product.  It's fun to try new things, and any time I break up my routine, I end up examining what I'm doing and why.  Which leads me to...
4. Encouraging self care: Having new beauty "treats" encourages me to put the time into myself.  I've needed that lately when the days and weeks of home improvement projects have become all-encompassing.
5. Sharing: I know that I won't fall in love with every product in my beauty boxes, but that doesn't mean someone won't enjoy them.  I plan on sharing products from the beauty boxes with friends.  

Coming soon: July beauty boxes, more outfit photos, and a very special project!

*This post contains referral links.  If you sign up for Birchbox or ipsy through the links I may receive points towards future purchases.  This is not a sponsored post.  

Bonus Birchbox Reivew

I asked my friend Sam to give me a second opinion on my first Birchbox selections.  

Full disclosure:  I threatened Sam with bodily harm if I didn't get the Marcelle Golden Glow BB Cream or Vasanti BrightenUp! back in enough quantity to use again.  

More full disclosure:  I have a thing or two to learn from Sam about beauty reviews.

Tell Us About Yourself:

Hi, I'm Sam, Jeanne's genderbending friend! 

I really have no idea what else to put here, because anonymity in the south!

What Types of Skin/Beauty Product Do You Usually Use?

My usual daily prettification is foundation (I like Cover Girl True Match, N2), powder (Rimmel Stay Matte), and - currently - the insane Manga mascara from L'Oreal, over a base of NYX primer, and finished as well as NYX matte finishing spray. I use Organix Eucalyptus Mint Shampoo/conditioner and Dr. Bronner's castille soap and an endless rotation of moisturizers, depending on what I can find. I haven't found one I really love, though a mix of Dr. Bronner's and coconut oil works nicely. I also use, usually, Organix Surf Paste on my hair (which is in a perpeptual punk pixie), and my wife is intending to color my gray into a lavender/mint/silver via either Ion or Pravana. Yay being married to a cosmetologist!

Reviews:

Kerastase Elixir Ultime:

I was so ready to hate this. My experiences with anything involving a) oil and b) my hair have all ended in tears and long sessions of shampooing. So ready to hate that, even though I completely forgot to style my hair one morning, I preferred to let it be a frumpy mess atop my head than try this until I couldn't stand it any longer. You know what wavy, gray hair does in humidity? It turns into a horror of coarse, uncontrollable strands. You know what the Kerastase did? Made it suddenly become a sleek, soft, shiny, agreeable pixie. Seriously, my hair is soft. It's never soft. I'm putting this on my "may seriously purchase" list.

ADDENDUM: As noted above, my wife's a cosmetologist. I got this out of my satchel and put on the counter and she did a literal spit-take about Kerastase being in her house. Apparently, we areordering this ASAP.

Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Scrub:

After being out in the heat at Pride, chasing my daughter around Target, moving the lawnmower to the shed, and general daily filth, I decided to use this. I'm not sure it was the best decision for being objective, as I could have taken Lava soap and bleach to my face and been happy with the result, but at the time I was impressed with the cleaning. The real decision was the next morning, when my face was still clean, the skin was soft and happy, and even post-shaving it was toned and oh-so-soft. 

Monday, two days after the initial wash, it's still awesome. 

I found the amount of exfoliation to be perfect - not like the sandpaper experience of an apricot scrub, but somewhat more strident than most. Maybe my accurs'd Y chromosome toughens my skin a bit. It went on smoothly, and felt refreshing and very slightly tingly. If there is an objection, it's my standard one to face scrubs that someone needs to formulate them to rinse off more easily.

Marcelle B*B Golden Glow: 

It goes on smoothly and provides good coverage with only a little used. The instructions say it can be used as a makeup base, so I swapped it for my normal NYX primer. I use neutrals for foundation/powder, and the Marcelle provided warmer undertones to the overall look. That said...I'm not sold on it. Maybe in a different tone, I'd like it more. The formula was great, but the color wasn't for me. However, if you look good in warmer tones, definitely pick this up. The product itself was fantastic.

Laura Geller Baked Blush - Bali:

I've included a side-by-side with my normal blush for contrast. 

Formula and Application: Went on fine, wasn't too "dusty". I like the subtle amount of shimmer to the blush, and was pleasantly shocked that it was not as vivid on the skin as it appeared in the tray. It was definitely more vivid than my normal neutral-pink, and I liked the look - a subtle pink shimmer that really accentuated the cheekbones. It's not an everyday blush for me, but I'd pick it up for special occasions. 

La Fresh Eco-Beauty Makeup Removal Towelette:

Review: The package was easy to open (much like those moist towelettes they have at wing/rib/messy food restaurants). The product itself was your standard facial cleansing wipe with a lovely lavender scent. The feel was fresh and clean, no oily residue, but I'd have preferred to have the liquid itself more than the towelette, as end-of-day stubble turns those into a shredded mess. Again, stupid Y chromosome. It cleaned extremely well, though, and seemed to tone the skin a bit.

HOWEVER

Personal pet peeve - La Fresh advertises itself as an eco-friendly company. They place a huge emphasis on water conservation.

I cannot find anywhere on their site or documentation that they are also cruelty-free. They say their products are free of animal byproducts, but that's not the same. While I confess to not being as observant of this as I should be, I do try to stick to cruelty-free products as much as possible, and their overall advertising and packaging actually made me check, because it seemed like this would be an ideal makeup remover if it wasn't tested on animals.

However, that doesn't seem to be the case, so I'll stick with my homebrew of Dr. Bronner's and Coconut Oil.

Individual Products get Stars!:

Kerastase: * * * * *

Vasanti: * * * * 1/2

Marcelle: * * * *

Laura Geller Baked Blush: * * * *
La Fresh Eco-Beauty Makeup Removal Towelette: **** for the product, ** for not bothering to be Cruelty Free while pushing all Eco everything

*This post contains referral links.  If you sign up for Birchbox or ipsy through the links I may receive points towards future purchases.  This is not a sponsored post.

Reviews and Re-Runs

I took these photos at the end of the day yesterday, so the cosmetics reviewed from my June ipsy Glam Bag had been on for about 11 hours.  I was pleased by how the primer kept my foundation looking fresh, and the eye products stayed firmly in place.

Dress, eshakti.com; shrug, It's Our Time, thrifted; shoes, Mossimo, Target; earrings, thrifted; necklace, handmade by me.

I need to get back in practice for posing for photos.  I just feel awkward doing it right now.

You may notice that I'm wearing the same shoes and necklace as I was in my last OOTD photos.  Access to my wardrobe is limited right now because I'm in the midst of home improvement.  The large majority of my shoes and nearly all of my jewelry is inaccessible, and all of my clothes are crammed into a corner of my living room.

You can see my bed in the lower right-hand corner of the frame.
I'm roughing it a bit until my floors are refinished.

Soon my floors will be refinished, my walls will be painted, and all of my duds, kicks, and baubles will be at my fingertips once more.  Until then, I'll dream with my head six inches from my dresses and my toes six feet from my dogs.

Swimming Into Beauty with Ipsy

The theme of the June ipsy GlamBag is "Swim Into Beauty," and it is perfectly tailored for a summer look.  The Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Foundation Primer keeps your makeup in place in the heat, the tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon and OFRA Cosmetics Turquoise Eyeliner work together to create a smokey but summery eye look, the Formula X Power Source Nail Color is an electric pink coral that is perfect for the beach or pool, and the Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Body Butter in Pure Vanilla has a subtle, tropical scent.  

• Makeup bag:  The bag was nice enough. It is black neoprene with a neon coral zipper.  I forgot to take a picture of mine, but it looks like this.

Image credit: Ipsy.com

• Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Foundation Primer:  I was excited to try this because it is a product I've actually heard of.  I don't use a primer, but after trying this I think I will start.  It went on easily and made my face incredibly smooth.  My foundation was easier to apply and felt better than it ever has before.  I used my normal Almay Smart Shade Makeup**, and I skipped the blush.  My foundation stayed put all day, even though I took a walk in the 90+ degree sunshine at lunch.  

I fail at product display.  The Primer is facing
the wrong way.

I got this one facing the right way, but
it is casting a weird shadow on my face.

• tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in Kona Coffee:  I really like stick-based makeup.  It's easy to use and tends to wear well.  The shadow crayon went on with a smooth, bold line, and easily smudged into a lighter color that stayed put all day.

Step 1: Dark lines

Step 2: Smudgy eyes

• OFRA Cosmetics Turquoise Eyeliner:  I usually use liquid liner because it go on in a smoother, more definite line, but this eyeliner pencil was nearly as smooth.  The color is perfect to accent my eyes.  I read a number of reviews from people who didn't like the color, but for blue eyes it is perfect.

The OFRA Cosmetics Turquoise Eyeliner

Turquoise lines

• Formula X Power Source Nail Color:  The color is vibrant and summery, and it stayed on in spite spending last weekend doing home improvement.  Where my nails look a little chipped, they are actually covered in oat bran colored latex paint.  

Power source nails

I don't have anything  to show you here except
the packaging.

• Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Body Butter in Pure Vanilla:  I don't use much lotion, and what I do use is mostly unscented.  I probably wouldn't buy this lotion, but I liked it a lot better than I like a lot of scented products.  The vanilla scent was subtle and mature.  It didn't smell like cupcakes or cookies.  The texture was rich but not greasy.  

I finished with a coat of CoverGirl Lashblast Mascara.  I've used more expensive mascaras than this one, but I keep going back to Lashblast because it gives dramatic length and fullness without clumping.  

I'm happy with this look, but holy crap do I need
under-eye concealer.  

The products in the ipsy June Glam Bag are generously sized.  The tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon and OFRA Cosmetics Turquoise Eyeliner will last me through the summer, even with frequent use.  I could absolutely bathe in the Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Foundation Primer.  I like it so much I'm going to add a makeup primer in my daily routine.  The nail polish is a great color for summer.  The only product I'm not terribly excited by is the lotion, but overall it was a great selection.  I can't wait for next month's Glam Bag.

*This post contains referral links.  If you sign up for Birchbox or ipsy through the links I may receive points towards future purchases.  This is not a sponsored post.

**This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through those links, I will receive a small commission.

Ipsy: Glam is in the Bag

Last week I reviewed my first Birchbox subscription.  This week I'll tear open my Ipsy Glam Bag.

“Ipsy” derived its name from the Latin word ipse, meaning “sense of self.” Sense of self is important.  Sense of self is why I'm here.  

Do you see how cute the mailing envelope is?  It is metallic fuchsia.  I am going to reuse it to send a gift to a friend.

Ipsy has a slightly different take on the beauty subscription game.  Each ipsy shipment comes in a cute makeup bag, which they market as a Glam Bag.  I'm crazy for little bags, so getting a new one each month is a fun treat.  This kind of bag comes in handy for everything from electronics to travel items to crafting and, of course, beauty.  

According to the ipsy site, the June bag is valued at $40.  That's not too shabby for a $10 purchase cost.  I certainly feel like I got my money's worth.

Here's what's inside:

• Makeup bag
• OFRA Cosmetics Turquoise Eyeliner
• Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Foundation Primer
• Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Body Butter in Pure Vanilla
• Formula X Power Source Nail Color
• tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon

I'll try and review all the products in my first ipsy Glam Bag tomorrow.  Check back soon!

*This post contains referral links.  If you sign up for Birchbox or ipsy through the links I may receive points towards future purchases.  This is not a sponsored post.

Fave Five: Things I Love About Birchbox So Far

Have you subscribed to Birchbox yet?  Try it!  It's only $10 per month, and you can cancel any time.  You can also get a year subscription for $110.  Here are five reasons I'm thrilled I subscribed.  

Image credit: Style Me Pretty

1. Grab-Bag Appeal: I am a SUCKER for a grab bag.  I'll admit it.  I love being surprised, especially it I feel like I'm getting a good deal too.
2. Value: The items in my June Birchbox had a value of $55.81.  The subscription costs $10.  I usually buy drug-store brand cosmetics, and I really enjoyed getting to experiment with high-end products.
3. Trying New Things:  I don't think I ever would have sought out and purchased the items that came in my June Birchbox.  I don't know much about higher-end beauty, and, even if I wanted to splurge on a more expensive product, I wouldn't know how to spend those dollars.  I may save my pennies and treat myself to the Vasanti Cosmetics BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator or the Marcelle BB Cream Garden Glow, or I may ask for one for my birthday or Christmas.  Those two products in particular really stood out as exceptional.  
4. Get Points and Rewards:  Birchbox Points make it even easier to save money and indulge yourself more.  You earn 1 point for every $1 you spend in the Birchbox Shop; you earn 50 points for every friend you invite who purchases a personal Birchbox subscription; and you earn 10 points for each review you leave on samples you've received. 100 Birchbox Points can be redeemed for $10 in the Birchbox Shop.  I just joined this month, and, after purchasing my box and reviewing all the products that came in it, I already have 100 points- my first $10 reward.  How easy is that?
5. Makes a Great Gift:  I would have been thrilled to receive a Birchbox subscription as a gift, and I've already given a subscription to one of my best friends.  You can give subscriptions of three, six, or twelve months, and your gift purchases also earns points for you.  

If you'd like to try Birchbox too, be a dear and subscribe through my link.  It won't cost you anything, and you'll gift me with a few points towards Birchbox rewards.

*This post contains referral links.  If you sign up for Birchbox or ipsy through the links I may receive points towards future purchases.  This is not a sponsored post.

Nice Day to Start Again

My first Birchbox is curated by the wedding blog Style Me Pretty.  It is one of the two beauty box subscriptions I chose to help me feel like me again after divorce.  The humor is not lost on me.  It's not exactly a nice day for a white wedding, but it is a nice day to start again.  Cue the Billy Idol.

I tried the products in my Birchbox yesterday, and, let me tell you, Birchbox is a great idea, wonderfully executed.  I tried everything in one go, so here are my thoughts, with pictures, in the order I used them.

• A card with information about the products: It's a little touch, but this card made a big difference to me.  I like having information about all the products in one place, in an easy to access format.  The card tells a little bit about each product and how to use it.

• Vasanti Cosmetics BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator:  This says it's a powerful exfoliant.  It's not kidding.  It has the maximum amount of exfoliation that I can handle before it makes me skin raw.  That's a good thing.  Many exfoliants don't seem to have enough grit to actually do much.  This one quickly and easily sloughed off the dead surface skin, leaving my face feeling very refreshed.

Before.

I quickly realized it was a mistake to try to take
pictures in the mirror, but not quickly enough.

• Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow:  I wasn't sure whether this BB Cream would work with my skin because it looked a little too tan coming out of the tube.  It does work!  It's great!  The consistency is smooth and creamy without feeling greasy.  My skin looked dewy and felt incredible.  I seriously had to tell myself to stop touching my face because it was just so smooth.

Redness was reduced and skin tone evened withouth
a heavy feel.

• Laura Geller Beauty Baked Color True Blush:  I probably wouldn't have picked out this blush for myself, but I really like it.  It looks bold but still natural.  It's what I wish I looked like when I blush naturally or have just finished some healthy exercise. (In reality my face is beet red in those situations.)  So it's a bold blush that is natural, but better than natural.  

I love this rosy-cheeked look!

•  Kérastase Exilir Ultime:  The best thing about this hair elixir is the smell.  It works really well.  I think it minimized the number of flyaways I had in the Georgia humidity.  It left my hair shiny and smooth, but the smell is incredible.  It smells so good.  I wanted to get extra close to people so they could smell my hair, but that would be really weird.

You can't see that much of a difference, but the scent
is divine!

•  An embellished hair tie from Deepa Gurnani:  I started out with the hair tie in my hair, but I quickly switched it to my wrist and wore it as a bracelet.  I really like it as a bracelet.  It worked less well as a hair tie because my hair is very slippery.  If the hair tie was loose, it slipped right out.  If it was tight, you couldn't appreciate the pretty design.  It fits nicely around my wrist and looks pretty, and I can still use it as a hair tie in a pinch.  

Pretty pony.

The look: completed with the help of a little eye
liner and mascara.

• La Fresh Waterproof Makeup Remover:  I am terrible about removing my makeup at the end of the day.  I know that many of my readers just wretched at the thought of sleeping in makeup.  I know I should take it off, but I usually don't.  This makeup removing wipe did a great job getting my face fresh and clean.  It smells like lavender, and I love lavender.  

The hair and makeup after 11+ hours.

Scrubbed fresh and clean.

 These samples are generous sizes.  I'll have weeks (months?) of use from the Vasanti Cosmetics BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator, Laura Geller Beauty Baked Color True Blush, and Kérastase Exilir Ultime.  The BB cream will last for a few uses, but I may save it for times I want to look especially radiant.  The only sample that has very limited use is the La Fresh Waterproof Makeup Remover.  Of course with two, single-use packets, I will get two uses from that product.  Still, I'm thrilled with these products and I intend to use them all.  

*This post contains referral links.  If you sign up for Birchbox or ipsy through the links I may receive points for future purchases.  This is not a sponsored post.