April Birchbox

These boxes just keep getting prettier! I always love the designs. Plus all of the goodies inside! ;) This month's theme was spring and the box design was from Rifle Paper Co.

This was the first time I have ever been upset when I opened my Birchbox. One of the eyeshadows in the trio palette was broken. Thankfully it wasn't too messy and I was still able to use it. Here is what was in my box this month:

Number 4 Volumizing Shampoo

Last month I tried the Number 4 clarifying shampoo and thought it was too thick for my hair. I liked the volumizing shampoo much better! It lathered up well and didn't feel heavy on my fine hair.  

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream in Blueberry

I have tried Whish products before, but never in the blueberry scent. The scent is pretty strong, so I wouldn't get it if you aren't a blueberry fan. However, it feels great on your skin and leaves it silky and smooth. I didn't have any razor burn after using this product. 

Beauty Protector Protect & Oil

This oil is designed to protect your hair against UV rays, heat, and breakage. I have been having some trouble with tangles when I used a blow spray, so I added this oil to the ends of my hair. It worked great! I didn't have the tangles and my hair felt smooth after blow drying. I was impressed that it didn't leave my thin hair feeling oily. 

POP Beauty Portfolio Eyeshadow Palette- Peach Parfait Trio

The full size version of this palette has a ton of colors! This sample had three different colors from the palette and I loved them all! They went on easily, had a great finish, and I loved the shimmer in them. This would be a great palette for those of you who like to try out different colors and looks everyday. 

Real Chemistry Luminious 3 Minute Peel

The term "peel" is a little misleading for this product. After applying to your skin, you massage your face. The gel combines with dead skin creating little solid balls that can be washed away. I would recommend applying this product to one area of your face at a time (forehead, then nose, then chin) so you can focus on massaging that area. It was hard for me to gauge how much product to use, but my skin did feel smoother afterwards. I would like to see what the long term results with this product are. 

I used all of these products yesterday to get ready for the rodeo! I also used some of my favorite Birchbox hair products for my messy braid.

Parlor Sea Salt Spray

amika Bombshell Blowout Spray 

Thank you for helping me create my cowgirl look Birchbox!

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March Birchbox

This crazy month has left me a little behind on my Birchbox post, but better late than never! At least its still March :). 
The theme of this month's box was creativity and I love my box design! I chose, " I feel most creative when I plan a fun lesson." 

Your ten dollars each month guarantees you 5 sample products. But let me just say that most months I have been pleasantly surprised with an extra sample. They also have thrown in extra samples whenever I have placed a regular order, so I really believe I am getting my money's worth.

Here are the samples that I got this month. My favorites were definitely the amika blowout spray and the Mirenesse lip crayon!

amika Bombshell Blowout Spray

This spray has a great smell and was perfect for my fine flat hair. It gave my hair more volume without leaving a weird texture. I will be buying this product in the future! 

Mirenesse Glossy Kiss in Perfect Kiss 

I recently discovered lip crayons at ULTA and I am a total convert. This lip crayon was a great color, left my lips feeling hydrated, and it was long-lasting. Lip crayons are probably my new favorite lip products. 

Number 4 Reconstructing Mask  

I used this reconstructing mask on my hair after completing the Color Me Rad 5K. My hair was covered in powder and color gel and I wasn't sure what kind of effects that would have. However, after using the mask my hair came out smooth, moisturized, and untangled!

Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo 

This shampoo is pretty pricey, but it can be also double as a body wash. I loved the smell but thought it was a little thick for my hair. I wish the shampoo had a better lather. 

Elite Therapeutics Rosemary Eucalyptus Body Creme

This body creme felt good on my skin and is made of 70% organic ingredients. It was effective, but the scent was not my favorite and was a little strong.

Mereadesso Tinted All-In-One Moisturizer  

I'll be sticking to my favorite Dr. Jart moisturizer. The tint in this one was too dark for my skin tone and did not blend in well. I ended up washing it off and not wearing it. This might work better for someone with darker skin. 

As always, if you are interested in trying Birchbox, you can use my referral link:

https://www.birchbox.com/invite/growandenjoy

Enjoy your last day of March! Here's to a great spring!

 

February Birchbox

My February Birchbox came with 5 great sized samples. I still love getting my box each month and trying each of the samples. I am able to get multiple uses out of each sample and discover new products.

 

Here is what I thought of the samples this month:

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner $16 

This eyeliner made me a convert to liquid! I was surprised at how easy it was to apply. Way more precise and closer to the lash line than regular eyeliner. I also love that it didn't smudge when I applied my eyeshadow. This was my favorite sample this month!

Marcelle Gentle Make-up Remover for Sensitive Eyes $15

I've been in desperate need of a make-up remover, so I was very excited to try this sample. My eyeshadow came off with just one swipe. The liquid eyeliner took a couple swipes, but came off gently. No stinging, redness, or irritation with this formula.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Cleansing Gel $26

I kind of felt like I was putting juice on my fave when I used this gel. It has a refreshing scent and I feel like it woke my skin up in the morning. Love that it uses natural ingredients as well. My skin was clean, but I felt like it might have been a little too intense for my skin type.

BeeKind Conditioner $27

Another product that uses natural ingredients! I love when I don't have to put parabens and chemical on my hair or skin. This conditioner has a great subtle lemon scent and felt light on my fine hair. Plus, it is made with sustainable packaging and the brand donates a portion of proceeds to support honeybee research at the University of California. I typically wouldn't spend this much on a conditioner, but BeeKind is a company doing great things!

Supergoop Daily Correct SPF 35 CC Cream $32

This was my least favorite sample this month. I didn't think that it blended well and it felt cakey not long after application. It looks ok in the pictures below, but I didn't really like the finish when you looked closer. I'll be sticking to my Dr. Jart cream. 

Even though I've been snowed in for a week now, it was a great chance to try out these products. The no filter pictures below were taken after using each of these products.

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Stay warm!

January Birchbox

I was so excited to get my January Birchbox because it had 7 samples!! I had the normal 5 samples, plus an extra shampoo and conditioner. You can see that this month's theme was 2015- Let's Do This!

I love that the samples are a good size and allow for multiple uses. Here is a closer look at what was in my box this month. Please remember that Birchbox sends samples based on your personal beauty profile, so not everyone receives the same items.

Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm 

I knew I would love this sample before I even tried it! If you read my Best of Birchbox 2014, you know that I love Dr. Jart+ and currently use the Black Label Detox version of their beauty balm. The premium version is just as great and is jam packed with benefits: primer, moisturizer, SPF, and treatment serum. 

Davines Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion

This was my first time using a hair oil and I like that it tamed my frizz and fly away baby hairs. You can use this on damp or dry hair. It also improves hair shine. So far I've been happy with this product.

Davines Shampoo and Conditioner

These were my least favorite samples. I felt like they were heavy for my fine hair and left my hair with a weird texture. I didn't really like the smell either. It just smelled like soap to me.

Harvey Prince Sincerely 

I was pleasantly surprised with this sample. Typically, I'm not crazy about perfumes but this one has a very unique smell. It is a blend of Indonesian clove bud, Indian tuberose, and Japanese orange flower. I like that it has a sweet scent without being overwhelming. I would consider wearing this fragrance in the future. 

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion

I've been using this lotion for two days on the backs of my arms (one of my skin trouble spots). My arms feel hydrated and the skin feels soft. I feel good about using the lotion because it is made almost entirely of natural ingredients and comes in a packages made of sustainable cardboard.

theBalm Stainiac

I was a little nervous to try this lip stain because it looks very red before you put it on. However, it didn't go on as dark and you can add layers of the color. You can see the color in the picture below. I wore a little lip gloss over it. I would like to try the additional colors that it is available in. 

After using my Birchbox products!!

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Best of Birchbox 2014

I have been interested in Birchbox for awhile, but just started subscribing this past September. You may have started to see their commercials recently. Basically, I filled out a beauty and preference profile, get billed $10 each month, and have a box of 4-5 samples delivered to me. I then try the products and review them to earn points. 

I think the biggest question people have is, "Is it worth it?". I say yes! It brightens up my day whenever my Birchbox comes and even my mom wants to see what is inside. I've been happy with the sample sizes and have found some products I really love. So far, I have not been disappointed with any of my boxes. 

That being said, I wanted to share my favorite products that I have discovered through Birchbox this year. These are the samples that I loved and actually went out and bought the full size to use. 

Chapstick Hydration Lock $2.99

Being a Chapstick addict, there are many reasons I love this one. It is double-sided with sunscreen for the day and replenishing oils for night. It is affordable and can be found at drugstores. 

Eyeko London Fat Eye Stick Trio $15.00
This comes in a trio of eye colors that are awesome. I use the "Satin" finish for everyday use and "Gilt" or "Smoke" for night and special occasions. I love that I don't have to use an eyeshadow brush. I just swipe, smudge a little with my finger, and I'm ready to go. 

Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox Beauty Balm $36.00
This is the most expensive product but it is worth it! I have spent so much time trying to find the right foundation or cream to wear.This BB Cream gives the coverage I want without feeling heavy on my skin. Plus, it has SPF and blemish soothers. I think I have finally found the perfect cream!

I don't know why my eyebrow is doing that weird arching thing, but seriously, LOVE this stuff!
In the picture I am wearing only Birchbox products, including those listed above. The pictures are with all natural light and have no photo filters added. 

In addition to my favorites, I am also wearing Forever Noir Long-Wear Eyeliner and Mirenesse iCurl Secret Weapon 24Hr Mascara. They were my runner-up Birchbox winners.
Visit birchbox.com to purchase any of these products or use my personal referall link to subscribe:
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