Reviewing products I've gotten from Birchbox

Not a suckah in the bunch! At only $10 a month (less if you subscribe for three or six months or a year at a time) Birchbox was the first beauty sub and is still one of the best. I love that just by answering the super fast surveys on your products each month, you get points toward full sized products, so it's like you're basically only paying $5 a month. Can't beat that! I guarantee, once you get your first Birchbox, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.



twistband™ Signature Lace Collection-
twistbands are apparently a love or hate thing for folks. I fall into the love category. Ever since Birchbox first introduced me to these handy little buggers, I feel naked without them. As I type this, I have three of them on my right wrist. I use them ALL the time- when you have waist length hair there's always a need to get your hair out of the way. They don't pull my hair and they add a cute pop of color. They look better on my wrist than a standard hairband and I am one of those people that that must ALWAYS have a hairband at the ready.
And look how adorable these are that I found on Amazon!

Mighty Leaf Tea-
What a controversial Birchbox!  Another thing that people grouse about getting (if they'd thrown in a perfume sample it'd be a trifecta of bitching!) But me? I LOVE getting tea! I'm a big tea drinker, I even have an electric kettle in my bedroom so I can top off my mug without having to go downstairs to the kitchen. Mighty Leaf is a favorite brand of mine. For realz, I have a pitcher of their peach ginger iced tea in my fridge at this exact moment. Silly as it sounds, one of my favorite things about this brand is how the tea smells. When I'm brewing Mighty Leaf, I can smell it from across the room. 

Mighty Leaf Tea Organic Tea African Nectar Organic African Rooibos Leaves Teem With Lively Tropical Notes. Artisan Whole Leaf Pouches Herbal Infusion Caffeine-Free Magic Of The Mighty Leaf Since Ancient Times, A Freshly Brewed Pot Filled With Whole Tea Leaves Has Been Revered As The Richest In Character. Today We Proudly Continue The Tradition. Discover The Magic Of The Mighty Leaf. Organic African Nectar Sojourn To The Fertile Tropics And Savor The Fruits Of The "Alluring Continent." Organic African Rooibos Leaves Teem With Mango, Vanilla And Blossoms. Antioxidant-Rich. Our Artisan Whole Leaf Pouches Our Handcrafted Silken Pouches Are Packed With Our Artisan Blends Of Whole Tea Leaves, Fruits, Herbs And Flavors Too Big For Ordinary Tea Bags. Enjoy The Liberation Of Pure Tea Goodness And Rediscover The Pleasure Of The Way Tea Was Naturally Meant To Be. 15 Biodegradable Whole Leaf Pouches Usda Organic Certified Organic Questions? 1-877-698-5323

Birchbox and Color Club® Custom Collection in Status Update-
I absolutely love Color Club polishes, yet another brand I was introduced to by Birchbox (see why you should subscribe to them?) They have excellent coverage, they apply like a dream, and they're incredibly chip resistant. Basically, everything you want in a polish. Their polishes are vegan and nontoxic and they give to some awesome charities as well. 

GIVING BACK

We're incredibly grateful for our success, and with that we believe in giving back.   Currently, Color Club works with several charities that are near and dear to our hearts.  These organizations include GLAAD, Autism Speaks, and the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

This is a Birchbox exclusive color- yet another reason to become a Birchbox subscriber!

Youngblood Mineral Primer-
This extremely light and silky primer not only does an amazing job of prepping your skin for foundation by minimizing fine lines and pores, but it also makes your makeup look flawless for hours and contains tons of serum-like beneficial ingredients. Skincare and makeup in one! Score! It might seem pricey initially, but you use only a teegumbitty bit so it will last you forEVAH. 

The best price I've found for it is through Beauty Bridge at the link below. 

Youngblood Mineral Primer Give your makeup real staying power with Youngblood new Mineral Primer, a lightweight, translucent blend that works with all Youngblood Foundations. You will love its silk-to-powder touch within seconds of application, and be amazed at how fine lines and pores disappear effortlessly. Formulated with minerals and vitamins, the Primer also protects skin from environmental damage. Skin protection, a flawless complexion, and makeup that last all day… with Youngblood new Mineral Primer, you truly can have it all. Directions: Apply prior mineral foundation application. Net Weight: 1 oz./30 ml Ingredients: Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Smithsonite Extract, Rhodochrosite Extract, Malachite Extract, Hematite Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E).

Nexxus® Pro-Mend Split End Binding Targeted Leave-In Treatment
Nexxus® Pro-Mend Split End Treatment Daily Conditioner
Nexxus® Pro-Mend Split End Treatment Daily Shampoo
I did NOT expect to be as blown away by this stuff as I was. Nothing can turn back the clock and make split ends disappear (well, a pair of scissors....) but this is by far the most impressive job I've seen as far as a temporary fix. In one use my split ends were visibly repaired. By binding your splits, you keep them from progressing until you can go and get a trim. Total win with this trio.

Nexxus Pro Mend Split End Treatment Daily Shampoo Var Wccpi = "Prod6055708";

Nexxus Pro Mend Split End Binding Daily Conditioner Var Wccpi = "Prod6055703";

Nexxus Pro Mend Split End Binding Targeted Leave-In Treatment Creme Var Wccpi = "Prod6055701";

Benefit Foamingly Clean Facial Wash

Benefit Refined Finish Facial Polish-
Man oh man, do I love Benefit! From their gorgeous retro packaging to the sheer awesomeness of the products themselves, I am rarely disappointed with a Benefit product. The facial polish left my skin feeling like silk and the facial wash got every last bit of gunk without drying out my skin. Both products are extremely concentrated so they'll last a long time, too. 

And look at this adorable starter kit I found on Amazon!!!

Mirenesse Cat Eyes liner giveaway and products review

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giving away a Mirenesse Cat Eyes Liner in Havana Green- a $26 value!

And then here's the other products I have to show off!




Brush set (value $71) These Taklon brushes are incredibly soft. They don't shed and they give excellent coverage. they're all the exact perfect density for their assigned jobs, if that makes sense. The foundation brush doesn't gloop your foundation on, the powder brush gives a perfect dusting without caking and the blush brush gives an even application with no streakiness or heavy look. They are my go to brushes now.


Magic Touch foundation (value $43) I use the shade vanilla which is perfect for my fair skin. It doesn't leave the dreaded application line; it blends in seamlessly. It doesn't irritate my sensitive skin and it makes pores seem to disappear. Gives a seriously airbrushed look! It has great coverage- normally I have to use concealer on my cheek that has scarring to cover up the redness, but not with this. it's buildable, so you can go as heavy or as light as you'd like (though this isn't for those who want next to nothing foundation.) many people have complained about the attached sponge applicator, but I think it gives a good application, you just have to wash it like you would any other applicator. plus, the sponge cap is removable. My one suggestion- they need to come out with darker shades. This doesn't affect albino me, but I have some beauty sisters out there that are too dark skinned for their available shades.


Airbrush Soft Focus Mineral Highlighter in Mata Hari (retail $44) This is gorgeous and this giant bottle will last forever. I will probably still be using this highlighter at my great grandchildren's high school graduations. So light and airy, it gives a beautiful, otherworldly glow.



Airbrush Skin Clone Soft Focus Foundation (retail $44) I SOOO wanted to like this, but it looks exactly like a highlighter on me. It makes my skin look very sparkly and glittery. Ziggy played guitar.



Superlong Wear Gel mineral Color in Emerald (retail $35) Oh MAN do I love these! You can use them as a liner, as a shadow, as face paint! Super versatile, creamy and with an intense color payout. Once they've dried you are set for whatever the day or night has to throw at you. I would be totally happy to have one in every color.

Seasons Box under "new management" AGAIN!

 I loved my first Seasons Box so I went ahead and got a one year subscription back in May. Early Fall they went under "new management" and today I got an email that it's happening AGAIN.

So here's the email I got just about an hour ago:

Dear SeasonsBox Members,

We would like to inform our valued and loyal customers of the major changes happening within the SeasonsBox company.

As of February 1st 2014, SeasonsBox will be under new management. This transition has contributed to shipping delays with some customer's January Box but we are working tirelessly to get everything shipped and running smoothly as soon as possible.

Through this transition, we hope to bring positive changes within SeasonsBox by improving the customer service, customer interaction and your overall web experience.

These are exciting times for us and we are anxious to share these improvements with you as they develop so please stay tuned.

We thank you for your continued business and patience.

Please forward all your queries, concerns and feedback to seasonsboxcustomercare@gmail.com.

Kind Regards
SeasonsBox Management

So sweet BABY JEEBUS, here's hoping I get my (as yet unreceived) January box. And here's hoping I get my boxes that are supposed to go through the June box (I paid for a year in May but was told by the apparently now 'old management' that a month would be added onto my subscription because of the October box that was worth almost $20 less than the box cost.) Oy vey. 

In my defense, when I got my first box, I was really impressed and the reviews had all been spectacular. Full sized items from natural and handmade sources, an online store where you could buy items from past boxes at a discount if you were a subscriber (originally one of the reasons I bought a year's subscription, only to have that option disappear under the now OLD "new management"), a subscriber referral plan (now also gone) and an interesting mix of products- not just bath and skincare. 



I don't expect giant scores with all of my subscriptions. The smaller ones and the ones geared toward handmade and natural items don't have powerhouse corporations throwing their newest multimillion dollar campaign item at them to give away. I don't mind breaking even for the chance to be exposed to interesting and unique products. I don't want to be screwed over and actually LOSE money either, which is what happened with my October box. 




So I'll let ya know what happens. January will be gone soon, so hopefully I still get my box. And hopefully the new owners will honor previous subscribers and even more hopefully, they'll turn this train wreck around. The last 2 months were looking up, so fingers crossed that this trajectory continues and I don't get completely jacked over. Even more so, here's hoping the people who bought year subscriptions when they were advertised in December don't lose it all.

Uncertainty bites.

WOW! $69 glasses at Rivet $ Sway- normally $169!!!

Prescription Eyewear Starting at $69



If you have insurance, you can use your FSA money!

Wantable Loius Vuitton giveaway!

Enter here

Mychelle Dermaceuticals Perfect C Serum and amazing Walgreens deal

MyChelle Perfect C Skin Serum Advanced Formula To Protect Skin's Health While Combating The Signs Of Aging. A Potent 17% Dose Of Clinically Proven L-Ascorbic Acid Helps To Strengthen Collagen And Improve Skin Texture. L-Ergothioneine Boosts Cellular Energy And Helps Interrupt The Stress Reaction That Destroys Elastin. Aminoguanidine Hlc Has Been Shown To Protect Collagen Fibers By Inhibiting The Glycation Process. Always Free Of Harmful Ingredients Such As Parabens, Phthalates, Ureas, Petroleum-Based Chemicals And Artificial Colors. Step 3 For All/Combination Skin Cruelty And Gluten Free Vegan Friendly

This stuff is normally $45, but Walgreens has it online for $26!!!! (though the above link)


I'm such a lover of serums, the ability to take a specific concern and really up the ante on your skincare routine by targeting your own issues is a genius idea in my humble opi....

Mychelle Dermaceuticals makes more than your run of the mill serums however- these are dermaceuticals - scientifically formulated to really go in and make a difference. I was lucky enough to be introduced to their  Perfect C Vitamin C serum and while it does wonders over time, you can see an immediate difference in the brightness and texture of your skin. Because I'm so fair, my skin reacts to even a minimum of sun and free radical exposure with tons of redness. This is powerful but gentle stuff, reducing my redness without causing sensitivity.

A few months ago, I was at a friend's house who smokes inside. The next day my skin was a lovely mixture of red with a putty like pallor. I applied this before my moisturizer and within a few minutes my skin calmed down regained it's normal appearance. With a few months use, you will see a definite improvement in the texture of your skin- it becomes softer, smoother and your pore size decreases.

Normally serums can be freaky pricey, but Mychelle products are reasonably priced and as far as the serums go, so concentrated that they'll last you quite a long time- you will get your money's worth.

Serums

Go Ahead and Rub It In Our serums are skin care masters. Period. No matter your skin type, these highly concentrated and fast penetrating liquids empower you to be your most beautiful. Designed to saturate your skin with a potent dose of nutrients and bioactive ingredients (they absorb even deeper than moisturizers), MyChelle serums are all about synergy. They balance oil and hydration while strengthening your skin, increasing visible firmness, reducing wrinkles, improving cellular communication and giving your skin a boost of youthful vibrancy. MyChelle serums boast the same percentage of bioactive ingredients used in clinical studies. These include youth-enhancing peptides such as Matrixyl® Synthe’6™, Instalift® Goji GF, Argireline® and SYN®-TACKS (just to name a few), which help repair aging and weakened skin. Super-hydrating Hyaluronic Acid restores moisture and anti-aging, skin-smoothing, pore de-clogging Vitamins C and A (Retinol) deliver a nutrient punch to your skin. Product Description Advanced formula to protect skin’s health while combating the signs of aging. A potent 17% dose of clinically proven L-Ascorbic Acid helps to strengthen collagen and improve skin texture. L-Ergothioneine boosts cellular energy and helps interrupt the stress reaction that destroys elastin. Buddleja Plant Stem Cell protects against photo-damage and oxidative stress through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Tip Humans do not produce Vitamin C so it needs to be incorporated into everyone’s diet and skin regimen. The Perfect C Serum has worked wonders for Kristine’s Red Areas score. In just four months time, Kristine saw a 21% improvement in her score! The 17% dosage of L-Ascorbic Acid in our Perfect C Serumworks hard to strengthen weakened capillaries and improved redness in the skin. Actives/Ingredients Ascorbic Acid (L) 17% – Water soluble Vitamin C, an antioxidant that strengthens collagen, assists in brightening, provides anti-wrinkle effects, smoothes skin texture, and heals wounds. Buddleja Davidii Stems G™ – A shrub of the Scrophulariaceae family which is native of Eastern Asia and widely spread in Europe, mostly as an ornamental plant. This innovative stem cell takes a 3 level comprehensive approach against photoaging by protecting the skin from UV-induced stress, inhibits inflammation and control matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation. It has a high antioxidant activity level, strong anti-inflmmatory response and inhibits collagenase. Astaxanthin (BioAstin™) – A carotenoid that is derived from oceanic sources (volcanic seaweed), protects collagen and prevents cross-linkages, boosts the effects of beta carotene and Coenzyme Q10, provides intensive antioxidant actions. Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Ascorbic Acid (L), Alcohol Denatured (Grain), Glycerin (Vegetable), Aqua (Water), Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Ergothioneine (L), Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Lipids, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Pink Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Fructooligosaccharides (D-beta) (NutraFlora®), Beta-Carotene (D), Glucosamine HCI (D), Wine Extract, Astaxanthin (BioAstin®), Tocotrienols (Vitamin E), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut), Tocopherol (D-alpha), Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum

NCLA and Phillip Lim giveaway

Enter here for a Phillip Lim bag filled with the latest collection from NCLA nail wraps courtesy of Wantable.com

Influenter Vox Box product reviews

I got the E Boost in orange, which I find to be a bit bitter. It does a great job giving focus and non-jittery energy, I just recommend a different flavor. I'm a huge fan of the pink lemonade, myself. It really makes you feel more alert and alive and gives an overall sense of well being. And it's such a great price! Why spend your money on the empty calories of soda that will only cause you to crash when you can pop this into your water for a healthier and more pleasant boost? Highly recommended.



BBW/ Slatkin & Co Pumpkin Cupcake Candle - This had a great scent, a spicier pumpkin and not as cloyingly sweet as some Bath & Body Works pumpkin scents can be. I got the mini which was the absolutely perfect size for my bathroom. It gave off a lovely scent without being overwhelming. Also quite long burning!



Kiss Ever Pro Lashes starter kit - well these were short lived and back to the drawing board REAL darn quick, and it's easy to see why. You basically were paying extra for their 'handy' placement tool for false lash newbies, but all I experienced was TONS of frustration. This fancy pants pair of plastic tweezers actually made application MORE difficult, I was practically in tears forcing myself to use it. After about 20 fruitless and frustrating minutes, I gave up and just used my fingers like God intended. The lashes themselves are fabulous- thick, lush and beautiful. They look best with a swipe of liquid or gel liner over the edge after application for a more seamless look.



Not Your Mother's Smooth Move frizz control hair cream - smells great, like fresh coconut, but unfortunately for me, it's meant for coarse or thick hair, it made my baby fine hair look clumpy and greasy. I've read awesome reviews of this stuff from people with the right hair so it's not the product's fault, it just wasn't meant for my hair type.  For those whom it works, good news - it's very inexpensive and easy to find!


Spin Pins by Goody are possibly my favorite invention of the last decade. I LOVE these things with every inch of my tiny black heart. They make putting up your hair take about a tenth of a nanosecond and they give great hold without tearing out your hair or poking holes in your scalp. Now they even make these adorable tiny ones that are excellent for fine hair and are great for doing lil Princess Leia buns or, one of my fave styles, three little messy buns along the bottom of my head.




  NYC IndividualEyes Dark Shadows compact
I am not a brand snob, and I've used other products from these guys that I was perfectly happy with, but dang if this wasn't a big ol' bust for me. The shadows were ridiculously crumbly and roughly milled, my hands were covered in shadow after running the applicator across the colors. There was so much fallout that I had to actually wash my face with soap and start my entire face all over again. The concept is awesome, an included primer and cream highlighter? Too bad the execution is a nightmare- the primer is a joke- when I used this primer the shadow was creased LITERALLY within 5 minutes after application. With the super excellent Too Faced Shadow Insurance it fared only slightly better, I got maybe 45 minutes crease free. I even patted my lids first to make sure there were no residual oils. The colors came out very muddy and 80's looking. I happened to need to go to Sephora the (2nd) day that I used this and I was actually embarassed, it looked cheap. I for sure don't mind something being cheap on my wallet, but I'll be damned if I'm going to wear something that looks cheap on my mug.

Glossybox Holiday Romance and Emite Shadow giveaway (and free lippie code)

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Glossybox is a fabulous luxury beauty subscription that gives me tingles every month when I see it on my front porch! Each one is an amazing value and comes stuffed full of deluxe and full sized items (no foil packets here!) It's definitely nice to get to try out a $250 moisturizer before you buy! LOL!

They have awesome customer service on top of everything else. When I got my first shipment of this box, the hair treatment oil had popped open and leaked all over the inside of the box absolutely soaking it. I emailed them and they had a replacement in the mail to me lickety split, no fuss, no muss.

Lucky for you, I got a second shadow, and since I've salvaged my first one the 2nd one is up for grabs! From the Swedish company Emite, we have their absolutely gorgeous, highly pigmented shadow in the color Dams- possibly the richest, blackest black I've ever seen. It's unbelievably soft; it feels like satin. No fallout whatsoever, which is a must with black shadows. I wore this on New Years, and talk about staying power. It looked as good 9 hours later as it did upon first application! It retails for $27.

It survived 9 hours of THIS

Right now you can only buy it as an import from Sweden, so this is your chance!


Also in my box was:
Mastey Color Protecting Leave-In Oil Treatment ($25)



Nicka K New York Professional Eyeshadow Brush ($4.99)




The Aloe Source Jojoba Radiance Cleansing Polish ($4.48)


and

Jelly Pong Pong Duo Eye Pencil ($17)