Birchbox VS Ipsy Glam Bag March 2014

This is my first month of receiving both the Birchbox and Ipsy Glam Bag, so I'm gonna do a quick review of both of them and tell you which subscription I think was better this month (in case you think my opinion matters). You can also see the video I did if you wish!

I will start with the items I got in my Birchbox:

Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream (For all light skin tones).  This was included in the Birchbox as a Birchbox Find Alert. I use lotions quite a bit, so this is a great product for me with my fair skin. I have already used it a few times and I have no complaints!

The next thing I like is the COOLA Tinted Matte SPF 30.  It is an unscented mineral sunscreen. A Full-size of this is $36. I still haven't tried it yet because I honestly don't want to waste it when I'm not spending any time outside due to living in Wisconsin where is still cold and snowy.  Come on Spring!!!

Next up is the Air Repair Rescue Balm All Purpose Skin Salve & Lip Balm.  Full-size is $12. A little bit goes a LONG way! I tried this out on my very dry and cracked hands and it was SUPER greasy!  It did heal up my skin some, but I really didn't care for  how greasy it was. After I put it on, I was scared to do much with my hands because I didn't wanna get it all over the place. That has deterred me from actually using it again. Maybe it is better used as a Lip Balm.

I got the How 'Bout Them Apples? Cheek and Lip Cream from theBalm.  A full size of it goes for $32. I got the Pie "flavor".  It also comes in Cider, Cobbler, Crisp, Candy and Caramel.  Since I already have naturally rosy cheeks, I doubt I will be using it there much.  I think I will enjoy it as a lip cream though! I don't think I will be spending the $32 on a full-size though. Cute Packaging, though!

My least favorite thing from the March Birchbox was the Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle. It is a leave-in conditioner going for $21.95 for a full-size. I don't do many of the things to my hair that it is supposed to protect it from. The only benefit I might get from this is the heat protection, since I do blow dry my hair and use a curling iron often.   Maybe this is totally different than what I have experienced before and I may give it a try once or twice, but I think this one might be given to someone else or used for a giveaway either on here or my Youtube channel at some point.

Now for Ipsy!

My favorite product in this month's Glam Bag was the NYX Love in Rio Eye Shadow palette.  I got the Bikini Bottom colors and I love it.  I actually have something very similar color palette from Wet & Wild that I have been using, but the NYX palette adds a bit of shimmer, which I like.

My next favorite thing was the sample of Marvelous Moxie Lipstick from bareMinerals. I received the Get Ready shade and I really love it.  The only issue I really have with it so far is that it seems to fade fairly quickly, which is the same issue I have with pretty much every lipstick I have ever tried.  So, it seems this is one I would have to continually reapply.  

Next, I rather enjoyed the Ipsy Glam Bag itself!  I will definitely use it when I am traveling around. It is a Klari bag done by Klari Reis.  It is from a geography-based series, "Street Anatomy". Check out her website at Klariart.com

The last two items in the bag, I was questionable about.  I got an Eyeliner Pen in Indigo Blue from Chella.  I have never worn an eyeliner that wasn't black.  Black just really seems to make my blue eyes pop, which I need since I have small eyes and they are usually covered by glasses.  I was happy to try this eyeliner out, but I don't care for the applicator type.  It is quite flexible, and since I usually use an eyeliner pencil, I'm not used to that. I tried it on my lower lid and ended up getting most of it in my eye.  Ouch.  To be fair that was user error, not the eyeliner's fault.  I tried it on my eye lid and it went better, but the applicator tip just doesn't seem to work all that well for me. When I sampled it on my arm in my video, it was a nice color and it did not smudge very easily, so that is definitely a plus.  

The last thing in my Glam Bag was the Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer.  I was nervous about this because I have such fair skin and it is darker than my skin tone.  Once I put it on, it blended in fairly well.  I was also nervous about the shimmer or glow it had to it, but it looks quite nice once it is on.  So, though I was skeptical of it at first, I think I like the product so far!

Birchbox grade (on a 5 point scale): 3.5

Ipsy Grade: 4

Overall for this month, I think the Ipsy Glam Bag wins over the Birchbox. They are pretty close, but I was more excited for the items I liked in the Ipsy than the items I liked in the Birchbox.

March 2014 Birchbox Review

Here are my March 2014 Birchbox goodies!

My favorite thing is probably the Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream.  This was included in the Birchbox as a Birchbox Find Alert. It is made for all light skin tones, which is perfect for my incredibly fair skin!  I also have rather dry skin, especially this time of year, so I have a feeling I will get some use out of this product!  I've tried it a couple of times now and so far, so good.  I also happen to rather enjoy the scent.

The next thing I like is the COOLA Tinted Matte SPF 30.  A Full-size of this is $36.  It is an unscented mineral sunscreen. I haven't actually tried it out yet.  I am waiting for a day when its nice enough to spend some time outside. Being in Wisconsin right now, those days are few and far between. Otherwise, I kinda feel like I am wasting it if I use it on an indoor day. I do hope that it isn't too dark for my fair skin!

Next up is the Air Repair Rescue Balm All Purpose Skin Salve & Lip Balm.  Full-size is $12.  I tried this out on my very dry and cracked hands and it was SUPER greasy!  It did seem to heal up my skin some, but I really didn't care for  how greasy it was.  That has deterred me from actually using it again.  When I first got it, I was sad that the sample was so small, but I think the amount I got will actually go quite far. A little bit seems to go a long way.

I also got the How 'Bout Them Apples? Cheek and Lip Cream from theBalm.  A full size of it goes for $32. I got the Pie "flavor".  It also comes in Cider, Cobbler, Crisp, Candy and Caramel.  Since I already have naturally rosy cheeks, I doubt I will be using it there much.  I think I will enjoy it as a lip cream though! I don't think I will be spending the $32 on a full-size though.

My least favorite thing in this month's Birchbox was the Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle. It is a leave-in conditioner going for $21.95 for a full-size.  I have tried dry shampoos and leave-in conditioners in the past and haven't gotten good results.  It says that it locks in color, protects from heat damage and adds silkiness.  I don't color my hair and it is pretty fine naturally, so I don't really have a problem with lack of silkiness.  In fact,  have gotten compliments on its softness and all I typically do to it is wash it and out hair spray in it (usually to keep the bangs in place!). So, the only benefit I might get from this is the heat protection, since I do blow dry my hair and use a curling iron often.   Maybe this is totally different than what I have experienced before and I may give it a try once or twice, but I think this one might be given to someone else or used for a giveaway either on here or my Youtube channel at some point.

That's it for my March 2014 Birchbox! Thanks for reading and check out my Youtube videos if you want to see my dorky face while you get the same information that you just read! :)

   

What products did you get in your Birchbox this month?

March 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag Review

I received my first Ipsy Glam Bag yesterday, I was excited! For those of you that don't know,  Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription for $10 a month.  The Glam Bag is filled with full size and sample size beauty products to try out.  You take a quiz when you sign up so Ipsy can select which products to send to you. Not everyone gets the same products in their Glam Bag.

I did a video opening/review of my March Ipsy Glam Bag, sorry for the low quality.  Hopefully I will be able to get some better quality video equipment in the future!

My favorite product in this month's Glam Bag was the NYX Love in Rio Eye Shadow palette.  I got the Bikini Bottom colors and I love it.  I actually have something very similar color palette from Wet & Wild that I have been using, but the NYX palette adds a bit of shimmer, which I like.

My next favorite thing was the sample of Marvelous Moxie Lipstick from bareMinerals. I received the Get Ready shade and I really love it.  If I saw it in the store, I'm not sure I would have liked it well enough to purchase it.  However, I typically like to play is really safe and natural when it comes to makeup purchases and then I end up just having a lot of the same colors.  Getting products I wouldn't typically purchase at a store is one of the main reasons I got an Ipsy subscription.  The only issue I really have with it so far is that it seems to fade fairly quickly, which is the same issue I have with pretty much every lipstick I have ever tried.  So, it seems this is one I would have to continually reapply.  If anyone has any suggestions for me on what lipsticks don't fade so quickly, please let me know!

Next, I rather enjoyed the Ipsy Glam Bag itself! To be honest, just like the lipstick, I doubt I would have chosen it if I saw it in the store, but I think its pretty cute!  I will definitely use it when I am traveling around. It is a Klari bag done by Klari Reis.  It is from a geography-based series, "Street Anatomy". Check out her website at Klariart.com

The last two items in the bag, I was questionable about.  I got an Eyeliner Pen in Indigo Blue from Chella.  I have never worn an eyeliner that wasn't black.  Black just really seems to make my blue eyes pop, which I need since I have small eyes and they are usually covered by glasses.  I was happy to try this eyeliner out, but I don't care for the applicator type.  It is quite flexible, and since I usually use an eyeliner pencil, I'm not used to that. I tried it on my lower lid and ended up getting most of it in my eye.  Ouch.  To be fair that was user error, not the eyeliner's fault.  I tried it on my eye lid and it went better, but the applicator tip just doesn't seem to work all that well for me.  When I sampled it on my arm in my video, it was a nice color and it did not smudge very easily, so that is definitely a plus.  It makes me wish that the applicator wasn't so difficult for me. Then I might prefer it over my eyeliner pencil from Wet & Wild, which smudges fairly easily and never stays where I put it for very long.  I have tried multiple eyeliner pens and pencils and just haven't found one aside from the Wet & Wild that I can get on my eye and keep it there (for the most part).  I have very finicky eyes, so it can be difficult for me to get eyeliner on my eyes without it looking terrible. I have tried contacts many times and I just cannot do it, that's how bad it is. Eye drops are problematic for me as well, so I am surprised  I am able to use any liner on my eyes at all!  I welcome any suggestions on a good eyeliner I can use that goes on smoothly and stays there.

The last thing in my Glam Bag was the Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer.  I was nervous about this because I have such fair skin and it is darker than my skin tone.  Once I put it on, it blended in fairly well.  I was also nervous about the shimmer or glow it had to it, but it looks quite nice once it is on.  So, though I was skeptical of it at first, I think I like the product so far!

Here I am with all the Glam Bag products in use at once (minus the Glam Bag itself, obviously):

• The NYX Love in Rio Eye Shadow palette you can't really see but its there!
• Get Ready Marvelous Moxie Lipstick
• Eyeliner Pen in Indigo Blue from Chella (on my upper eye lid)
• Pixi Flawless Beauty Primer.  

I also added some of my own makeup to complete this "everyday" look (not that the Glam Bag makeup isn't mine, but you know what I mean):

My CoverGirl powder, which is the nudest/fairest color I can find!

                                             

My Lashblast Volume Waterproof CoverGirl Mascara, which I recently switched to from the ClumpCrusherby Lashblast from CoverGirl.  Oddly enough, the clump crusher was clumping quite a bit...

                                          

 

My Wet & Wild eyeliner pencil 

If you don't already have an Ipsy subscription and are interested, contact me for a referral code!

Be sure to check out and subscribe to my Youtube videos for Ipsy and Birchbox reviews!

If you have an Ipsy subscription, which product was your favorite this month?

February 2014 Birchbox (Us Weekly Theme)

I recently signed up for a monthly Birchbox subscription and I got my first box today. I was excited to see what was inside. This month's was Us Weekly themed.  I'm gonna discuss them in the order of how much I like each product so far.

First there is the Half-Up.  This is a hair product made by Sarahpotema. The Full-Size Half-Up is $9.  According to the packaging, it is "The Perfect Styling Tool".  It allows you to create an Updo, a Half Up hairdo or a Low Bun. I tried it for myself. Following the directions on the packaging, I was able to fairly easily do the Low Bun.  The Updo and Half Up seem to be the same thing, except the Updo is a little fancier.

Due to the layers in my hair, I can really only do a messy bun well, which is fine!  If I really took the time to make it look nice and fancy with the assistance of hairpins, I could.  I didn't have as much luck with the Updo or Half-Up.  I either couldn't get all of my hair to stay in the Half Up or I left too much on the end to make it work right.  I do enjoy it for the Low Bun use and I noticed that when I shook my hair out of the Low Bun, it was nice and curly.  So, maybe this is something you can wear during the night to make nice curls for the next day. 

 I made a video of my experience with The Half Up so far:

My next favorite thing is the OPI Sheer Tints in I Can Teal You Like Me Nail Polish. A Full-Size bottle of this is $9.  It is a tinted Top Coat but it can also be used on its own. I tried it a few different ways. Here is a video of how I used it.

Here is video of how I used it!

The Joan Vass L'eau de Opale perfume is another favorite of mine. A Full-Size bottle of this goes for $75, but I think I will stick with my sample size since I'm not a huge purchaser of perfumes.  I love that it is so small, I can actually fit it into my pocket and do a quick spritz when I am out and about or even throw it in my purse or gym page.  It is a nice scent.  Not too faint or too overpowering.  It is an orange scent with a mixture of cinnamon and musk. I enjoy orange and cinnamon scents, so that explains it!

Next up is the Mox Botanicals Bath Milk.  2 Packs of this cost $12. It is made of Calendula and Oatmeal.  I am sure that it is fantastic, but I don't take a ton of baths, so I'm thinking this will likely be something I throw in as an extra in a gift for someone.

My least favorite things in this Birchbox were the Teas, which were the Lifestyle Extras.  I got two Harney & Sons Fine Teas.  One Enlightening Paris Flavored Black Tea and one Cleansing White Vanilla Grapefruit Flavored White Tea.  I am not a tea drinker, so again, these will be gifters.  I am sure they are delicious to someone who enjoys tea, I'm just not that girl.

A monthly subscription to Birchbox is $10/month, free shipping.  So, you should check out Birchbox.com if you are interested!

You can check out my box opening/review:

If you are interested in signing up for Birchbox, let me know and I can send you a Referral Code!

If you already have a Birchbox subscription, what did you get in your February box?