February 2014 Glossybox Review

I was extremely pleased to see that my Glossybox arrived a day earlier than expected! If you aren't familiar with Glossybox, it is a beauty subscription service that sends out deluxe & full size samples of makeup, skincare, and haircare. It is $21 per month and I always find that the value greatly outweighs the cost of the box. A lot of people have issues with their shipping, however. (I am receiving my February box on 2/27, almost the very end of the month) This doesn't bother me too much, because I get most of my boxes at the beginning and middle of the month, it's nice to always have something to look forward to every week! As long as I am receiving the box in the same month, I am happy.

I think out of all of the boxes I receive, Glossybox has the cutest packaging. Their pink boxes are currently being hoarded under my bed until I can find a nice project to use them for, or I find some gifts to use them for! :)

Now, onto this month's products!

Anatomicals Puffy the Eye Bag Slayer Wake Up Under Eye Patches

This is a full size product! It comes with 3 individually wrapped sets of eye patches, & it is valued at $11.00. These patches are designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles. They moisturize, nourish, and hydrate with each use. I am always looking for ways to improve the look of my under eye area, so these are very much appreciated!

Lauren B. Beauty Nail Couture in City of Angels

This is another full size product and is valued at $18.00!! That seems super expensive for a nail polish, so I'm not sure that I'll be purchasing any other colors from this company. I do love this shade of pink, it reminds me of the Glossybox box color. I will be using this tomorrow to do a manicure and I'm excited to see how it applies.

Pureology Serious Color Care 

This product retails for $24.00 for a 6.7 oz bottle, making this 1 oz bottle valued at around $3.58. I have been receiving an abundance of products lately for color treated hair, and since I just colored my hair last week, this will definitely be put to use! I love the smell of this and I'm excited to fully put it to use. It is a multi-tasking hair treatment spray that is sprayed on damp hair to prime, protect, and perfect color-treated hair.

Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Serum Plus

The full size of this product (1 oz) retails for $75.00, making this 0.17 oz sample retail for $12.75. When I first saw this product, I was slightly disappointed. I picked it up and it felt weightless, and I thought I got an empty product in my box. Upon opening it, I realized that it's a very lightweight serum, and there is more than enough in this sample! It is designed to be applied to the face & neck before a moisturizer, and it keeps your face hydrated and also is supposed to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. I love the smell of this, it has a coconut scent to it and is very tropical. I've applied this once so far and I can definitely tell a difference already in how my skin feels.

Sumita Beauty Kala Color Intense Pencil

This is another FULL SIZE product! It retails for $15.00. I believe that I can never have too many eyeliner pencils, so when I saw that this was in the box this month I was pretty excited. The formula goes on very smooth & creamy. The line I drew on my hand was with a very light hand and with just one swipe. I also believe that this is going to have excellent staying power, as it was very difficult to wash from my hand. I still have a faint line where I applied it, so I'm excited to test out how long it lasts on my eyes.

Overall, I paid $21 for the box and received $60.33 worth of products! That's almost 3x the price of what I paid, and I will use everything in this box. I find that out of all of the boxes I receive, I get the most use out of my Glossybox products. There really hasn't been a box that has disappointed me yet! What are your thoughts on this month's Glossybox? If you are interested in subscribing, comment with your email below so I can send you a link! :)

My First Influenster VoxBox Review - Colgate Optic White Toothbrush

This weekend I received in the mail my very first Influenster VoxBox! What is Influenster, you may be asking? I had these same questions myself a few weeks ago. Through blogging, I had read a few reviews about this company that sends you products for testing purposes - absolutely free! I thought it was too good to be true, but I signed up anyway. When you first sign up, you have the chance to fill out surveys and earn badges. The more active you are on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogging, etc) and also the Influenster website, the better chance you have to be selected for a box! I honestly did not expect to be picked at all, but a week ago I received an email stating that I was picked for the shortlist for a box, and I just had to fill out a short survey. A few days later, I received another email stating that I was chosen (1 out of 5000) to receive the Colgate Optic White Toothbrush VoxBox! The product arrived yesterday (Saturday) and I received the email on Wednesday, so I was very pleased with their shipping times! I have a few tasks to complete along with reviewing the box, and by being more active & completing these tasks, I have a better chance to receive another box in the future. :)

Before I begin this review, I must disclose that Influenster sent me this box for testing purposes ONLY and I am not receiving any compensation for my opinions. All opinions stated in this review are fully my own. 

I was very pleasantly surprised when I opened the box. I knew that they would be sending the toothbrush to review, however I did not expect the toothpaste sample and also SIX coupons for the toothbrush! This product retails for around $14.99, but price may vary depending on where it is purchased from.

This toothbrush & whitening combo supposedly will show improved teeth whitening in 2 days. I have only used it 1 time so far, but I have already noticed a slight difference. The directions state to brush your teeth as normal, then follow up with the whitening gel after. There is no rinsing involved, you just whiten & go. I also love the design of this brush; the whitening pen slides right into the toothbrush. The directions state to continue to use every day until the whitening pen is all gone. I am very excited to see the difference it makes once the gel is all gone.

I am very pleased with my first VoxBox, and also the company itself. I am able to invite and add 5 friends to my profile, so if you are interested in learning more & signing up, please comment with your email!

Ipsy February 2014 review

When I saw through tracking that my Ipsy bag arrived, I could not wait to get home and tear into it. Every month on the 10th, Ipsy updates your profile to show you exactly what you are getting in your bag. When I saw what I was receiving this month, I knew that this would be my favorite month yet! (I've been a subscriber since November.) 

For those of you that don't know, Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription that sends up deluxe and full size samples of mostly makeup products. The cost is $10 per month (free shipping!) and the value of the bag is always more than what you pay for it. I have found so many awesome new products through Ipsy, and I love that they usually send out a lot of full size products!

Now, onto the bag!

How cute is the bright pink bubble wrap?! I love seeing that pink in my mail every month. The bag this month was slightly smaller than usually but it's a little wider. The theme this month was "The Look of Love", sending out products for Valentine's Day. :) This bag may be my favorite one I've received yet, the pink leopard print inside is so cute!!

Now, onto the products! :)

POP Beauty Plump Pout Mini in Peony Petal

The full size of this lip gloss (8.5 g) retails for $16.00, making this 4 g mini valued at around $7.53. I love the sleek look of this gloss, it's a great tube to grab & go. When I first tried this gloss out on my lips, it seems a little darker than what I would normally wear, but it may be a great color for a night out. After applying it, I would call it more of a liquid lipstick over a lip gloss. 

Zoya Nail Polish in Dot

This nail polish is FULL SIZE! It retails for $9.00 and is 0.5 oz. This month, Ipsy was sending out this color and also a purple shade. Even though I am receiving a light pink shade in my Glossybox this month, I was hoping to receive the pink in this bag as well. It looks very sheer in the bottle, but a perfect color for spring. Once I put a coat on, I will update with a picture. I have heard a lot of good things about Zoya, and I am very excited to try this polish out.

City Color Be Matte Blush in Fresh Melon

This is another FULL SIZE product! I was very surprised to see that this blush only retails for $2.99! It is very pigmented and a little bit goes a long way. This color is great for my winter skin & blends out nicely. It's a watermelon-like color, so the color name fits nicely. I've been on a huge blush binge lately so seeing this in my bag was very exciting- I'm always down for trying out a new blush!

Eyetini Cordial Cream Shadow + Base in One in Ambrosia

This item is also FULL SIZE!! It is 0.14 oz & retails for $18.00!! They were sending out 3 different shades this month, and I was hoping for this shade! The color is amazing, and it holds very well. I had a hard time trying to wash the swatch off of my hand, so this color will definitely stay put! Ipsy & Tini Beauty are offering 50% off any purchase + a free nail polish, so I may need to take advantage of this and order some more shades. :)

IPKN NY Moist & Firm BB Cream

The full size of this product (1.35 oz) retails for $35.00, making this 0.05oz sample valued at around $1.30. This was the item that I was the least excited for. I am not a very huge fan of BB Cream to begin with (I prefer a foundation with medium-full coverage) and to even call this a sample would be generous. When I first squeezed the tube, nothing came out. I had to squeeze and squeeze and finally enough came out to swatch it, but I have a feeling I used up half of the sample already. The shade that Ipsy sent out was "light", but this shade was still too dark for my light skin. It blended out & looked very orange on my skin. It may be better in the summer with a tan on my skin, but for now this sample will be put aside.

Overall, I paid $10.00 for the bag and received $38.82 worth of products! I will use pretty much everything in the bag, and the bag itself will definitely be used. This has been my favorite month of Ipsy so far!

If you are interested in subscribing to Ipsy, please click here and sign up! I always recommend Ipsy to anyone looking for new makeup products, 90% of what they send out is makeup related.

Thoughts on this months Ipsy bag? Comment below! :)

Birchbox February 2014

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw my Birchbox sitting in the mail yesterday (tracking showed it due to arrive today 2/13). For those of you that aren't aware, Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription service that sends out mini, deluxe, & full size samples of makeup, hair products, and skincare. The cost is $10 per month with free shipping, and they have monthly & yearly plans available.

One of the main reasons I love Birchbox so much is because of their points system. Once your box arrives, you have the chance to review your products. Every review is worth 10 points, and once you reach 100 points, they give you $10 to spend in the Birchbox shop (they always sell full size products of all of the samples they offer). I love this, because typically every 2 months (you receive 4-6 products every month) you earn $10! Also, every referral earns you an additional 50 points. I have found many products through Birchbox that I love & have been able to purchase full sizes of through their shop without having to pay full price. I honestly believe that BB has the best points system out of all of the boxes offered.

Now, onto the box!

This month, Birchbox teamed up with US Weekly to offer special collaboration boxes. New subscribers this month were also offered a subscription to US Weekly.

The products!

Bain de Terre passion flower Color Preserving Shampoo & Conditioner

When I saw that this would be arriving in my box this month, it was probably the item I was most excited about. I color my hair quite a bit, so any type of color preserving products are extremely welcome. The full size of these bottles (13.5 oz) retail for $12 & $13.50. This sample size is 1.7 oz & is valued at $1.51 & $1.70. I absolutely LOVE the smell of these products & based on that alone I would consider buying the full size. I think I am going to wait until I color my hair again to use up the sample so I can test how well they preserve color, but I have a feeling these are 2 products I will be buying again (hopefully using BB points!) :)

Joan Vass L'eau de Amethyste

The full size of this perfume (100mL) retails for $75, making this 2.5mL sample valued at around $3.33. When I first opened the box, this was the first thing that I could smell. It has a very strong scent to it, so one spray is plenty. It seems to be a good smell for the springtime, so I think I may set it aside until then. Being a member of so many subscriptions, I tend to get quite a few perfume samples. I normally don't mind this, because I switch my scent up so often that even these small samples last me a long time.

Previse Hydromilk

The full size of this product (2 oz.) retails for $48.00, making my .17oz sample valued at $4.08. When I first saw this pop up in my box, I have to admit I had no idea what it was. I thought it was lotion, but after reading some info on it I found out that it's a face moisturizer. I've tried a small dab of it on my face and it really does add a lot of moisture to my skin. It's not greasy, and my skin feels "clean" and not oily. I just wish this sample size was bigger so I can test it out for a few more days!

Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish (Ride 'Em Cowgirl)

The full size of this nailpolish (15 mL) retails for $10.00, making my sample (7 mL) valued at about $4.67. I haven't had a chance to try this polish out yet, but based on message and trade boards, this is a very sought after product. The way it works, is that it goes on one color, and in the sun it will change into another color. I'm not sure how it would work with this glitter polish, but it appears that it goes on clear with gold glitter, and in the sun the clear polish will change into a copper-ish color. Once I try this out (when we actually have some sunny days!) I will update this blog to let you know how it works!

Overall, I paid $10 for this box and received $15.29 worth of products. While this hasn't been my best valued or my favorite box, it was full of products that I will get use out of, so I can't complain.

If you are interested in signing up for a Birchbox, 

January 2014 Glossybox review

I know I've been slacking already at updating this blog, but I wanted to fully give these products a chance before reviewing them. For those of you that don't know, Glossybox is a monthly makeup and beauty subscription service that sends out luxury deluxe and full size samples. It is a bit pricier at $21/month (free shipping!) but it is also one of my favorites, since they almost always send out at least 2 full size products in every box!

Opening my box!

 I think Glossybox has some of the prettiest packaging! I always save my pretty pink boxes and use them as gift boxes!

Every box always comes with an information card as well.

Now onto the products!

Beauty Blender Pure & blender cleanser sample

I have been dying to get my hands on a beauty blender but never got around to it, so when I heard that Glossybox was including a beauty blender in every box, (they release some spoilers at the beginning of every month!) I knew that this would be a good one. The blender retails for $19.95 and that's not even including the cost of the sample cleanser, so this one product pays for the box itself! I normally use foundation brushes to apply my foundation but I have tried this and I think it's a great alternate! The foundation goes on so smooth and leaves a nice finish. I'm definitely going to be purchasing another once this one is ready to be thrown away (they recommend switching them out every 2-3 months).

Toni & Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray

The full size bottle (200mL) retails for $15.00, making this sample (75mL) value at $5.63. This is a great spray for giving your hair some body and volume. Most days I will blow dry and straighten my hair, but on days I am feeling lazy this is a great spray to have on hand. I hate the way my hair looks when it air dries, however after using this spray it actually makes it look half-decent, so this is a great product for me! I have heard so many great things about sea salt sprays, so I am happy to finally have one to try out. This spray also smells fantastic, and I will definitely buy another bottle once this one runs out.

Balance Me Super Toning Wash

The full size of this body wash (3.4 oz) retails for $14.00, making this sample (1.7 oz) value at $7.00. I haven't had a chance to try out the wash yet, so I can't testify to it's "toning" qualities. It smells very herbal, and I do like that it's made of 99% all natural products! Once I test this product out more I will do an update.

Bella Pierre Mineral Blush in Desert Rose

This is another FULL SIZE product! It is a .14 oz jar & retails for $20.00. This is my new go-to blush, I am in love! The color looks somewhat darker in the jar but blends out very nicely & is very sheer. I have very pale skin in the winter and this shade is perfect on me. It also looks like this will be a nice shade on darker skin as well, so once it warms up and I start to get a tan back for the summer I'll see if it still shows nicely.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream

The full size of this product is 1.7 oz & retails for $31.00. This sample size is 0.5 oz and is valued at around $9.12. This is my new holy grail moisturizer. I am IN LOVE. I've used it daily since receiving it over a week ago and it makes my skin feel so soft and smooth. I fully recommend this product to everyone looking for a new moisturizer.

Overall, I paid $21.00 for this box and received $61.70 worth of products! That's almost 3x the cost of the box itself, and I love every item in the box this month. If you are interested in signing up for this service, put your e-mail in the comments below or PM me on facebook, twitter, etc and I can send you a link! :)