Birchbox - March 2015

I must say, Birchbox has gone out of its way this year to make really pretty boxes. I just wish I had enough room to keep them all!

March's Birchbox theme is Creativity, though the only place it really comes through in the box itself is on the included product info card.

I wasn't overly thrilled with my box this month. It seemed a little weak, and almost a little empty because most of the samples were pretty small. It was also very skin care-heavy, which is OK but not my favorite.

Elite Therapeutics Rosemary Eucalyptus Body Creme – This mostly organic moisturizer readily absorbs into the skin. However, it does have a very strong scent, something I don't mind as much in a shower gel but can be a little overwhelming in a moisturizer.

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product – I have heard great things about this product, and I think it has actually been used on both me and the kiddo at the hair salon. It smells great, and really does remind me of a salon. I look forward to trying this out once I finish off the one I'm using now.

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid – This is a leave-on exfoliant that is supposed to be used after cleaning and toning. I'm currently under the care of a dermatologist, so I won't be able to use this for at least a while.

Roloxin Lift Revitalizing Facial Masque Treatment – Face masks can be fun, and these individual packets seem interesting since the mask needs to be activated by massaging prior to opening. Again, due to my current skincare requirements, I don't know when I'll have a chance to use these.

Smashbox Cosmetics Be Legendary Long-Wear Lip Lacquer in Coral – This lip lacquer is a cross between a liquid lipstick and a gloss. It is a bit more opaque than a gloss, but a lot shinier than a standard lipstick. I'm not always a huge fan of coral lipcolors, but this once seems very wearable.

What did you get in your box this month? Have you been enjoying Birchbox lately? What's your favorite product?

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Ipsy - March 2015

Oh, what a Floral Fantasy this month's Ipsy is, exactly as the topic indicates. The bag has a blue watercolor floral pattern on one side, while the other side is a solid matching blue. While the bag itself isn't my favorite, it just really feels like the perfect size and shape for a makeup bag for some reason. It seems perfect for throwing in my bag, and big enough to keep the essentials.

I really like this bag, and think I'll get a lot of use out of it:

Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter – This is the only product in the bag that I had used before. I had previously received it in a Birchbox, and really like it as an inner rim eyeliner to help brighten up an eye look. It is a nice, soft pencil that has pretty decent staying power. My only complaint is that it has to be sharpened. I have used this on other areas, like dark circles, blemishes, and as a straight facial highlighter, and it works fine as that as well.

NYX Butter Lipstick in Pops – I am a big fan of NYX products, particularly their lip products, yet this is the first Butter Lipstick I've tried. This has a very luxurious texture, smooth and creamy and a pleasure to wear. Pops is a pinky brown nude cream lipstick that is very wearable everyday. It is slightly darker than my natural lip color, so it doesn't wash me out at all. It doesn't seem to cling to any dry spots and stays inside the lip line without liner. This is so comfortable, I may need to try some other colors. Any suggestions?

Acure Day Cream – This lotion is from a company that produces natural products, one of which is a face scrub I already know I really like. So I was really excited to see this! It has a light formula which goes nicely with its light citrus scent. While it is light and absorbs quickly, you can still feel you have applied cream. It says to use it on the face, neck, and chest, but I think it would also be nice as a hand cream. Once thing that would make it better, since it is a day cream, would be some SPF.

Pixi by Petra Mesmerizing Mineral Duo Eyeshadow in Apricot Glow – I went on to the Pixi website to see if this was full or sample sized, and it appears that this whole product, as indicated on the Ipsy site, is custom made for Ipsy! I thought maybe it was just the color combination, size, or something along those lines, but it looks like the duo itself is custom. The colors are very nice, but they seemed a little difficult to swatch. I'll know more once I get a chance to actually use it.

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels – These are gels you stick on your undereye area that are supposed to soothe and de-puff the area, thus reducing any dark bags you might have. I have tried a similar product before, but not this particular brand. I did receive 2 pairs of these in my bag this month. It says you re supposed to use these once a week and dispose after use, so I received 2 weeks worth. I'll give it a shot, but I'm not going to get rid of my eye cream, either.

Like I said above, I really like this month's bag. It was makeup heavy, which I personally prefer, and the colors are shades I'll use. Also, the makeup alone was worth more than $10, making the bag worth the cost.

How was your bag this month?

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Review: Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

I soooooooo didn't want to love this mascara. I didn't even want to like this mascara. Why would I want to like a mascara that retails for $24? But dang it, this stuff is GOOD!

There's been all kinds of hype about Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara lately. It seems like every blogger and YouTuber received promo samples, and everybody was giving away freebies with purchase. (That's how I got mine – a free sample with a Sephora purchase.) And in all of the reviews, I don't think I saw any that were negative. I knew I had to try it out sometime.

I had been getting more and more frustrated with my mascara, so I caved and gave it a go. OMG – Love at first swipe! The brush is curved with short bristles along the inner rim and longer ones along the outside. A single coat on my lower lashes and two on the top (my standard) was all it took to make my eyes POP.

Now, one of my biggest frustrations lately with mascara has been it flaking just a few hours after application. So I was amazed when I looked a few hours later and didn't have to wipe anything away from under my eyes. This stuff didn't budge all day – not a single flake noticed!

According to the press, this mascara is supposed to be particularly useful for people whose lashes won't hold a curl well. I can't personally comment on that since I don't curl my lashes, and don't see any need to because my lashes have some natural curl to them. What I can say is that this didn't weigh them down or make them ultra-goopy like some others have.

Will I buy the full size? I probably will eventually, even though I have so many mascaras at home waiting to be tried. But like Cassie at Thrift Thick said, I will definitely pick up any free samples I can get my hands on.

Have you tried Roller Lash yet? What is your favorite mascara?

New Hair and Donation - February 2015

My family and I have long disagreed about my hair; I have always preferred it shorter, while they want me to keep it as long as possible. We had settled into an uneasy truce, where I would usually grow it out long enough to donate, then chop it off and start over again.

But when my hubby got diagnosed, all that changed. He requested that I not cut my hair, and how could I deny someone just diagnosed with cancer at 37. The way I looked at it, since he didn't get to have hair, he could have mine for the duration of his course.

So, for the past 3 years, I have been growing out my hair. And let me tell you, it has driven me nuts! I hate when it gets caught in your neckline, and it's even worse when it gets caught in your bra. But my limit in the past had always been when those things happened while my hair was up in a high ponytail. Yet this time I didn't have that option. So we came to the agreement that I could get periodic trims and layers and I would just have to learn to live with it.

In addition to that, with everything that was going on, my hair wound up thinning significantly. I still don't have a firm diagnosis, but it is most likely a combination of stress and diet. That just made my desire to chop off all my hair worse.

Just recently, the hubby said that if I had enough hair to donate that also wouldn't leave the rest too short I could make the cut. Let me tell you, I pulled out my ruler as fast as I could! I found that Children with Hair Loss will accept color-treated hair that is 8 inches or longer, so I made the appointment for the only Saturday the kiddo didn't have a swim meet, Valentine's Day.

I have found a great hair stylist in Nicole at Best Kept Secret Hair Salon in Ambler, PA. She does great things with hair, really helps work through my ideas during consults, and has even gotten the kiddo to talk. :) I showed her some pictures I had found of some fun hair colors that I thought would still be work appropriate, and she started in on the plan.

You can see the after results below. We went with purple, pink, and blue Peek-A-Boo highlights on a medium brown base and a great shag haircut. And I was able to send off 8-9 inches to help a worthy cause.

Have you ever donated your hair? I'm loving the fun colors. What color do you think I should do next?

Empties - February 2015

Another month, another set of empties...

Makeup

• Lord & Berry Mini Liner in Sparkle Black – Sample from Birchbox. This was the first black eyeliner that I was able to really pull off well on a consistent basis. My biggest complaint with this was the fact that it had to be sharpened, which caused me to lose more than I would have liked. Purchase: No.

Face Care

• Balance Me Extra Care Wonder Eye Cream – Sample from Birchbox. This eye cream was fine. This was primarily my evening eye cream, and it felt very moisturizing. However, I wouldn't consider it a “wonder” cream, and I think others are better. Purchase: No.
• Benta Berry G-1 Boys & Girls Regulating Moisturizing Matifying Face Cream – Sample likely from Birchbox. I was not a fan of this. It pilled on me, and I really had to be careful how much I applied. Purchase: No.
• Comfort Care Essentials Make-Up Remover – Hotel sample. This sample was OK considering it was free, but I wouldn't go out looking for more. I have used many that are better. Purchase: No.
• Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser – Sample from Birchbox. I wound up not using the cloth that came in this set, but the cleanser itself was rather nice. It was a rather thick cleanser with eucalyptus as its primary scent. I probably won't buy this, but mostly because of new instructions from my dermatologist. Purchase: Probably not.

Skincare

• Lush So White Shower Gel – Travel size from gift set. This limited edition shower gel smells like apples and is shimmery, although the shimmer does not transfer after the shower. This is the first Lush product that I tried and so far I am enjoying the brand. Purchase: Maybe.

Hair Care

• Bath & Body Works Conditioner in White Citrus – Hotel sample. With all of our traveling and all of the samples I now receive, I have stopped grabbing every free hotel sample. I've mostly limited myself using the hotel products while there, then only keeping name-brand items or ones I really like. So I was pleasantly surprised to walk into a hotel and find an entire set of Bath and Body Works items! The conditioner was decent, and I enjoyed the clean, refreshing scent. I probably won't go searching for it on my own, but would use it if I ran across it again. Purchase: No.
• L'Oreal Professionnel Vitamino Color Incell Hydro-Resist Color Protecting Gel-Masque – Sample from unknown source. I randomly found this sample sitting around the house and still don't know where it came from. I am not a huge fan of hair masks considering I use my conditioner like one every day. This didn't seem to do a huge amount for my hair. I wound up using it like conditioner just so I could finish it up. Purchase: No.
• Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Color Finity Protecting Conditioner – Full size. This was decent, and in conjunction with shampoo, worked really well for reverse shampooing. Repurchase: Maybe.

Toiletries

• Degree UltraClear Invisible Solid Antiperspirant and Deodorant in Pure Clean – Full size. This is my HG deodorant. Even if I try something else, I always go back to this. Repurchase: Yes (already have).
• Sensodyne Toothpaste in Full Protection + Whitening – Full size. Another HG-type item for me. I go back and forth between Sensodyne and Pronamel toothpaste, I just tend to switch up the specifics. Repurchase: Yes.
• Whisper Mint Mouthwash in Refreshing Mint – Hotel Sample. This worked fine for what it was, but I'm not going to go seeking it out. Purchase: No.

Other

• Bath & Body Works PocketBac in Vampire Blood Wicked Plum – Travel size. I always smell the BBW PocketBacs before I buy them, so I knew I liked the scent of this. Also, if you've read my other empties posts, you know I'm a fan of PocketBac in general. This one has a nice, sweet, fruity smell that isn't instantly identifiable. Repurchase: Yes (already have).
• Bath & Body Works PocketBac in Wildberry Dahlia – Travel size. Combine a mostly berry scent with a slight flowery aroma, and this is what you get. I LOVE this one! Repurchase: Yes.

Giveups

• Ulta Super Stretch Fiber Mascara in Jet Black – Full Size. I got this mascara free in a sample bag from Ulta, and cannot make it work for me. Even after multiple layers, it looks like I'm not wearing anything, and also feels that way. I then tried to use it as a layering mascara, almost like using it as a mascara primer. Needless to say, that didn't work either. I have another unopened tube of this at home that I need to decide what to do with. Purchase: No.
• Ulta Eyeshadow Brush – Travel size. I also received this in an Ulta sample bag. It's a decent brush, but the ferrule has come loose. At this point, I'm just not willing to fight with or try to repair cheap brushes, especially when I got them free. I do have others from this same line, and they seem to be holding up pretty well. Purchase: Maybe.
• (Unknown) Clear Blue Handle Blush Brush – Full size. I think I got this as part of a set from 5 Below before I really knew anything about brushes. Again, this seemed to work well until the ferrule popped off. I will say, the eyeshadow brushes from this set are some of my favorites. Repurchase: Maybe.

Favorites and Disappointments - February 2015

February was yet another crazy month (aren't they all?) filled with hospital visits and swim meets.  Here's a quick rundown of some of my favorite things from the past month.

Lips: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

This has been sooooo helpful this month! After spending a ton of time behind a hospital mask in January, then again at the end of February, my lips completely dried out. I put this on after my shower every morning and my lips feel great for hours. And the smell of lemon poppyseed muffins is a great way to start the day.

Eyes: L'Oreal 24hr InfallibleEye Shadow in Endless Pearl

A few weeks ago, I was on the hunt for a cream, matte, pale pink eyeshadow that is about the same color as my eyelids. I wanted a drugstore option since I didn't know how I'd like the color on me. Unfortunately, I struck out at several drug stores. Then I remembered that many bloggers described the L'Oreal Infallible pressed pigment eye shadows as very creamy and thought they might work if I could find the right color. Lo and Behold, Endless Pearl is the perfect shade of matte light pink to work as a base for almost any eye look on me.

Face: Cargo Water Resistant Blush in Bali

Ulta describes Bali as a medium rose pink. This is the first Cargo product I have tried, and so far I am liking it. I don’t usually use a lot of powdered blushes, but this one is very forgiving. I had received this from Ulta in a sample pack, so the small size makes this is an easy one to grab and go. The silver tin packaging is very cute; only a mirror would make it better.
(picture from Amazon)

Fragrance: Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black

This is the second month in a row that I just haven't been able to stop wearing this fragrance. It's just such a great winter scent, very warm and sexy. See what I said about it last month here.

Skincare: Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Overnight Cream

At the beginning of the month, I saw a dermatologist about my red patches that I have mentioned before. While there, I was diagnosed with very dry, sensitive skin, and was told to use cream (not lotion) from only a few specific brands. Aveeno was one of those brands, and this was one of their creams that came in a reasonable size. This is an incredibly moisturizing product, which I can still feel long after I applied it even though it was completely absorbed. Depending on where I applied it, it can almost feel sticky, but not in an ointment way. It definitely seems to have helped, and I recommend it for extremely dry skin. For anything less than that, it may be too much.

Hair: Best Kept Secret Hair Salon in Ambler, PA

This month, for the first time in a very long time, I was able to get my hair cut short. A post will be coming with more details, but I want to give a shout-out now to Nicole at Best Kept Secret Hair Salon in Ambler, PA. She did an awesome job which still garner complements every day. Thanks Nicole!
(picture from Best Kept Secret Hair Salon website)

Book: Pitch Perfect by Mickey Rapkin

The hubby picked up this this book up for me based on my (and my mom's and kiddo's) love of the movie. With the sequel coming out in May, I wanted to get this in. This is actually very different than the movie. You can see certain elements of the movie, but really the movie just uses the general concepts from this non-fiction book as a starting point. An interesting read, but different than expected.
(picture from Amazon)

TV: Orange is the New Black

I know I'm behind on this, but I finally finished Season 2 of OINTB. Now I'm all caught up whenever Season 3 is released, supposedly in June. I loved the background into the characters, and I was cheering during the last scene of the season.
(picture from Amazon)

On to the disappointments... Tarte BB Tinted Treatment Primer in Fair (very difficult to work with, definitely needs a primer, and actually too light for me); Respiratory Failure (cancer sucks); Not making the cut; Ulta Double Ended Eyeliner (smeared all over the place).