I bought it. Referral links.

Oh Birchbox, you impressed me 2 months in a row! Is this a hot streak? Excited! In case you missed last month…check it out here! This month I got 4 samples & a beauty extra so 5 items total. I really like some of them so keep reading to find out which ones!

This months theme is Heritage. They lok at the history of the brands featured & it is also their anniversary. Happy Anniversary Birchbox! They also let  you know that they have some of the past 3 years reader favorites available in the Birchbox shop.

Amika Blow Up Spray- I have really liked the Amika products I’ve tried before so I enjoyed getting another. This is also a nice 2 fl. oz size, definitely enough to try. This is a lightweight mist meant to lift & add shine for the perfect blowout. You can use it on damp or dry hair.

Caudalie Make-Up Remover Cleansing Water- First off, I’ve pretty much adored everything i’ve tried from Caudalie. I just swoon at the though. I have been using the oil off & on & it is my favorite. But, like most Caudalie products, pricey. I have been totally addicted to cleansing waters & this is no exception. Silky smooth!

Coastal Scents Eyeshadow- This shade selection is so much better than the one I received in Ipsy awhile back! Okay neutrals & if they’re in a palette a nice price. i have some Coastal Scents palettes I really love. Wish these were in something other than plastic though!

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund- A nail polish? Yes please! This shade is a lovely shimmery green. I haven’t put it on…yet…sorry! I’m still excited though! & this is apparently from Ruffian’s first collection & exclusive to Birchbox.

Beauty Extra Egyptian Magic All-Purpose Skin Cream- Also haven’t tried this! I’ve been using a full skincare system & didn’t want o introduce something new yet. I’ve heard wonderful things about this cream though. Celebs talk about it a lot! It is supposed to be good for everything from wrinkles to burns.

Nice box! Pretty much any box including a polish makes me happy, I’m a sucker I know. If you aren’t familiar, Birchbox is a subscription service costing only $10 a month. Here’s my referral link if you’re interested in signing up! Any brands or products in this box catch your eye? If you’re subscribed to Birchbox, what did you receive?

PR Sample. Affiliate links.

Glossybox provides a last kiss of summer this month with some seriously great products.This time there are 4 full size products plus a deluxe sample…great value. Plus there are some new brands in here I’ve been dying to try…win! Keep reading to see what was inside!

This months box is themed Bohemian Summer but the products seem perfect for year round use. This was an excellent box containing 4 full sized items…awesome value! You’ll see a facial spray, lip product, face powder, hair treatment, & skincare product.

Inside was also a cute very light denim cosmetics bag from Guess & a coupon. Cute! Wish I’d had it for the summer, so denim cutoffs! Plus I like that it is actual fabric so it should be reasonably easy to clean.

You’ll see a facial spray, lip product, face powder, hair treatment, & skincare product. Again, awesome sizes!

Airelle Berrimatrix Intense Repair Complex- So basically this is supposed to strength & hydrate deprived cells then renew & brighten skin with antioxidants & botanicals. This is a decent sample because the layer is oober thin & almost like a slick gel.

Anatomicals Spray Misty for Me Facial Spritz– I love facial sprays so a full size? Yay! This is also in a nice price range since it is only $9. I have dry skin so I use facial sprays as both pick-me-ups to rehydrate skin & to seal makeup. This smells freaking awesome with notes of lavender, rose, witch hazel, & more. My skin loves it too! The only thing I’d change is I’m used to a finer mist.

Novex Brazilian Keratin Hair Care Treatment Cream– Another full size & this one is only $4.99 so I was intrigued! This is a super rich creme that is dense & smells like a high-end salon shampoo. It is a preemptive treatment in anticipation of drier seasons, perfect for pre-fall!

Jelly Pong Pong Lip Blush- I’ve heard of these before, maybe they’re big in another country? This is a jumbo moisturizing balm stain & I love the pink shade. Pretty! This is kind of a mix between my Sally Hansen Balm Stains & a sheer gloss. Very pretty & an $18.00 value.

Sue Devitt Triple C-Weed Pressed Powder– Freaking excitement. I’ve actually been wanting to try this powder for awhile. This is ultra-fine & nourishing, perfect for my combination dry skin. Super soft & natural looking. Retails for a whopping $28.00 so this made the box worthwhile on its own!

Overall, an excellent value in this box! I love getting lippies, this powder is even better than I expected, a hair product aimed for use now, a facial spray, & a deluxe skin sample? I’m pretty darn happy! Anything catch your eye? Did you get anything different this month? I’d love to see it! If you’re interested in signing up for Glossybox USA it is a monthly subscription service for only $21 a month. I have posted lots of reviews so check them out for reference!

PR Sample. Affiliate links.

Beauty Box 5 really impressed me this month by including brands I already like & some that are totally new! With a full size eyeshadow & a hot pink nail polish…is it any wonder I’m pretty happy? Keep reading to see what was inside this month!

As always, you get a handy dandy info card. On it you’ll find prices, more detailed product information, & some pretty sweet discounts. It is short, sweet, & to the point.Feel free to click on it to enlarge the image.

Inside my August 2013 Beauty Box 5:

Bask Heavenly Silk Daily Skin Lotion- This has a cute, angelic packaging design & the product itself comes in a generous2 fl oz sample. This is the perfect size for my purse so that’s where it will go when I finally run out of my current purse cream. This has lots of good for you ingredients like grape seed oil, pomegranate, silk proteins, & vitamins to make skin soft & visibly smoother. To me this has more of a neutral lotion scent.

Nubar Nail Lacquer in Hot Pink- A nail polish? Yes please!I seriously own only one other Nubar polish (a fabulous flakie of course!) but I’ve been dying to try more. It is an awesome little mini that mimics the bottle design of the full size. Plus it is hot pink…holding onto that last bit of summer!

Swissco Nail File- On one side a black nail file…on the other covered in red glitter. I personally tend to only use glass nail files on mine but this will look really pretty standing in my nail art cup & if I need it it’ll be there!

H20 Plus Aquafirm & Micro-Collagen Moisturizer- I was surprised to see this in my box since we got an H20+ product last month? & another moisturizer type product at that, how unlike BB5! This moisturizer was personally too thin for my skin so I’ll be passing it along to a new home.

Be A Bombshell Eyeshadow in Birthday Suit- A full sized eyeshadow I’ll actually use? Yes please! Normally BB5 goes with loose eyeshadows so this was a nice surprised. This is a nice almond matte shade, perfect for blending or for a neutral crease look. I can never have enough of these shades!

All in all, a nice variety in this box! Sure, we got two nail items but if you know me then I consider that a plus! Nail items ROCK! & a full sized eyeshadow? Yes please! A nice variety for me personally & besides the moisturizer I’ll be using up each product myself! What did you think? If you’re interested in signing up please use my link, I seriously appreciate it!: Use my BB5 link! <3

I bought it. Affiliate links.

Birchbox doesn’t always make me happy but when it does it stuns. This month I got some awesome products from recognizable brands in pretty good sizes. Keep reading to see what the August Birchbox labeled “Finishing School” is all about!

Like the Ipsy bag I shared yesterday (which is also $10 a month!), the theme is about going back to school. Although I’m ancient & no longer attend school I kind of expect this theme every year. The box is the regular (well kind of new, less girly) version of Birchbox so nothing new. As always it comes with your info card which I included.

This month I got 4 items & a beauty extra:

Derma E Hyaluronic Hydrating Mist- This is a full size sample which retails for $13.50 so this pays for my box right off the bat! I am a huge fan of facial mists/sprays so I was thrilled to see this included. Basically this will refresh your makeup when it looks a bit powdery or when your skin looks a bit dry. Having combination dry skin myself, these products are lifesavers! This also claims to help set makeup in place.

EVOLVh Ultrashine Moisture Conditioner- I haven’t personally tried this yet but the sample is a nice 2 fl oz, much better than a foil packet! This claims to be made from 20 different herbs & will make my strands “obedient” which is a new claim for me! I expected to smell…well…herbal! But instead I smell a slight floral, not a very strong scent in the bottle. I have some full sizes of this product tucked away that I still haven’t tried…thanks for the reminder Birchbox!

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick- Yay, Stila! This is their new liquid lipstick & my shade is a fierce red called beso. Beso means kiss in Spanish (thanks high school!) & this is definitely a sexy shade! If you aren’t familiar with liquid lipsticks they apply like a pigmented gloss but are supposed to wear like a stain. This definitely stayed put for the few hours I wore it but I need to do some more testing before I can call a verdict! So far, extremely pigmented & smells of vanilla pound cake!

Whish Exfoliating Body Wash- I can always use a good exfoliating wash, perfect for self tanning! This one smells like coconut with a hint of citrus & claims to also brighten.

Extra** Whish Hair Inhibiting Deodorant Swipes- I haven’t tried this but it looks perfect for travel…especially getting off a plane! I always use wet wipes afterwards…I just feel grimey until I can jump into a shower! Not a bad extra, at least I’ll use it!

I got a pretty nice variety this month & products I’m actually interested in either trying now or reserving for travel. If you’re interested in signing up for Birchbox it is only $10 a month (referral link!) & it has a pretty great point system. The way it works out if you do the monthly quizzes you usually pay around$5 which is great! This box paid for itself with one product I actually really enjoy, I can’t ask for more!

I bought it. Referral links. Affiliate links.

The bag this month was school themed & royal purple. Not exactly a hit with me but I WILL say it is made really well this month! It has multiple layers & feels like it would have actually held up in my book bag back in the day. As usual the Ipsy card displays all the brands you or others may have received this month along with some discounts which you can access on their website.

The item I was most excited about is one of the brand new Revolution lipsticks from Urban Decay! Yes, this is a mini but I have been contemplating these from afar. The shade I received is in 69 which is a beautiful pink toned red. Raunchy name, gorgeous color! I am really pleased & this size is absolutely perfect for a little clutch or to keep in my purse for a day to night transition shade. (Swatch at the end of the post!)

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer also graced my bag. I love these samples, I still haven’t had to buy a full size as I just keep rotating them along with my other primers. I know it makes a lot of people break out which is a shame & I do prefer their light version but I appreciate it all the same.

Pixi seems to work with Ipsy a lot & this month I received their Lash Booster Mascara in a deluxe sample tube. I haven’t tried this yet but I might save it for when I work my way through a few opened tubes or on vacation. This is in the shade Blackest Black.

Michael Todd products are all the rage currently & I believe this is my first time trying them. Youtube was pretty flooded with girls who received freebies & I’ve honestly kind of avoided the reviews after watching a few because there were just SO many. This is the Michael Todd Pumpkin Nutrient- Rich Facial Mask which “moisturizes & nourishes all skin types except sensitive”. Interesting that this isn’t mean for sensitive skin! I personally adore pumpkin products for the enzymes & this likely would have been the one product I’d select on my own from the brand.

My last product is a full size Mica Beauty Shimmer Powder in 17 Bronze. I really love this shade but I do have a lot like it, I tend to gravitate to either the outrageous shades or neutrals. Very pretty & very metallic.

Swatches of the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in 69 & Mica Shimmer Powder in 17 Bronze.

Glossybox shoots out the gate in July with a box catered towards the “deep blue” which is fun. I like this as an end to summer…my goodness I miss California & the beach! This is a smart box, perfect for the beach or pool. I’m happy with the variety as well! I did, however, make an absolute mistake… keep reading to see my thoughts!

As always, here are the included cards! I really like the way they’re doing this lately, with the items on the side. I didn’t get a GlossyMag this month either…I hope they didn’t do away with them?

In the July 2013 Glossybox:

Brazilian Blowout Acai Deep Conditioning Masque- Brazilian Blowout products are crazy expensive so I’ve never managed to get my hands on them. I do wish the sample was a bit longer for my ultra thick & pretty long hair though. My hair was definitely smooth & felt hydrated. I’d have to use it a few more times to compare it against some of my hair masks.

Bvlgari Eau Parfumee au the Blanc Shampoo & Shower Gel- Bvlgari is a favorite with Glossybox it seems, I think I’ve gotten around 3 items from them? Either way, I always enjoy the products. This is described as a shampoo or shower gel but I am picky about shampoo. I like the scent, it smells perfume-y but not so much that I don’t like it.

Dr. Brandt BB Matte with Signature Shinerase- I got mine in the shade light to medium which is a bit dark on my ultra fair skin. I love that it gives SPF 30 & controls shine…but it isn’t a match for me. My poor dry skin just wasn’t a good match!

Nails Inc. Baker Street Nail Polish- This is an iconic blue & has been wildly popular. I have similar shades (dupes) from Essie & Sally Hansen but I do love me some Nails Inc.! It is no wonder this is one of their best selling shades!

Nicka K New York Absolute! Make-up Cleansing Tissues- This was a bonus & 10 sheets makes it perfect for travel. I didn’t want to whip it open & let them dry out though. It claims to remove even stubborn waterproof makeup…so I’ll definitely be excited to use them!

Figs & Rouge Cherry Blossom Tinted Lip Balm- I saved the best for last… First of all, woohoo a full size! I just want to say, in my own defense, I whip through everything when I first get my box…I opened this & thought it was a lotion because…the opening is huge! Way huge for a lip balm! Note: NOT a good hand lotion! ha. I like the packaging other than that, looks nice. It has a light cherry blossom scent which is pleasant & is organic which I also like. Plus, a soft tint of color!

Overall, I’m happy with this Glossybox! I’m excited to see what is in store for next month…maybe something about fall? Interested in signing up? I’d love for you to use my link! Glossybox is $21 a month & you can see lots of past reviews on my blog as well!

PR Sample. Affiliate links.

I am so excited to show you this month’s Beauty Box 5 box! This is from July but, just in case you haven’t noticed, I haven’t been posting as much since we’ve had tons of work. As I work my way back into regular posting & not being an absentee beauty blogger I bring you my BB5 box featuring items I am all happy about. So rare for me! There is normally something that doesn’t blow my skirt in any box but this one is a hit! Keep reading to find out why!

As always, we get a card with lots of info which is always helpful. It also includes retail information. This month we also got a $10 off coupon for MyNameNecklace.com. Feel free to click the photos above to make them larger!

Inside this month’s box!: 
Every Beauty Foot Smoother- I seriously feel like foot care is SO underrated! It is important to me, like super important. I romp barefoot as much as I possibly can so whatever I can do to make my feel feel & look good…I’m in! Exfoliation is huge for me since I rarely wear any other footwear than sandals or airid flats, especially during summertime. This is a full size sample (retail value is $8.99 which almost covers the whole box!) & it is bigger than my palm. Reuseable, easy to use, & kind of like a flexible sponge that removes roughness. It is coarse on one side & textured on the other…I love it! I also love that it doesn’t feel slimy or anything because you can really clean it.

LA Fresh Travel-Lite Antibacterial Wipes- LA Fresh products pop up pretty frequently in BB5 & I don’t mind a bit. So far I think I’ve enjoyed every one I’ve tried & try to save them for trips! This is a package of 8 LA Fresh antibacterial wipes…perfect for travel again!!!! This retails for $1.99 & will be super handy!

Jean Pierre Cosmetics Nail Polish Remover Wipes- Another travel friendly product! I got 2 nail polish wipes to try & while I tend to stick to acetone these are perfect to throw in your purse, diaper bag, or luggage. I always save these for travel because I’m bound to chip a nail or nick a pedicure. I also keep a pretty glitter polish on hand. Remove the first messed up shade & top with the glitter…it’ll look brand new! You get 10 wipes for $3.99.

H2O Plus Face oasis Hydrating Treatment- I really like this treatment! I have dry skin so this is totally up my alley. This is a decent sample at .27 fl oz, it retails for $36.00 for 1.7 oz. I used this on my cheeks since they tend to get the most dry which can make a lot of powder products (including blush & highlight) look a bit dry or flaky. Works like a charm! Super lightweight too!

Be A Bombshell Lip Gloss in  Last Call Girl- I don’t love the name (Hooker pink?) but I do love the shade! This is a medium coverage hot pink blush. It tends to settle into my lines unfortunately so I use it to top off my moisturizing lipsticks. This is a full size which retails for $14.00. I don’t like the smell though, smells a bit plastic-y. Pretty shade none-the-less though.

Overall, so happy with this box! I really enjoy Beauty Box 5 because their base brands tend to be something I really enjoy & they are constantly introducing me to new brands & products as well. Plus, the sizes in this box was nice! I think I like the foot smoother the best…again I say feet shouldn’t be overlooked! I want to be pretty from head to….toe… You like what I did there? 😉

Okay guys that’s it for this box! Very pleased! What did you get in your Beauty Box 5 for July? If you’re interested in signing up please use my link, I seriously appreciate it!: Use my BB5 link! <3

When it comes to Birchbox there just isn’t much consistency. Last month (you can see that post here!) was quite nice actually but this month…not impressed. I always do the box sneak peek & was pretty excited by some of the brands…but once in my hands…well just keep reading…

Kerastase Bain Chrima Riche-Cleanse- 2 foil packets of shampoo. Meh. Not thrilling.

Purminerals CC Creeam Broad Spectrum SPF 40 in Light- This is the only item in this Birchbox that ended up being exciting for me. For one thing, Light is an actual shade match for me. I liked the texture & thickness. It helped even but wasn’t my favorite. Still, a nice sample.

The Balm  InStain Long Wearing Staining Blush- This is a TINY sample! I was SO excited to see in my box preview that The Balm products would be included but this is pretty much impossible to use as a blush. I have it here next to a bottle of Butter LONDON nail polish for reference. The color is pretty but I haven’t bothered trying to use it.

Benta Berry G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream- Another very tiny sample & actually one I’ve gotten before. I wasn’t wowed the first time so maybe I’ll save this to giveaway.

Extra- 2 patterned bobby pins. They’re cute but I don’t use flat pins often, they don’t hold my fine hair well.

All in all, not all that impressed. I’m bummed. After last month I thought Birchbox was on an upswing but perhaps I was just overexcited. Boo. Here’s to hopping for a better box next month I suppose! Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription service that costs only $10 a month, to find out more check out their site & sign up!