Birchbox

Birchbox January 2016

Finally – my last subscription box arrived! I will always love Birchbox, even when I don’t always love my box each month. I’ve come to realize that having small sample sized items are GREAT for travel, and since I’ve been doing a lot of that lately, these have definitely come in handy.

I have to say – I adore the theme (and the color of the box) this month. I selected “ambition” to be my word for 2016. I want this to be the year I achieve some serious goals!

This month the items in my box are just OK. I laughed when I opened it because there were two products (shampoo and conditioner) from Beautiful Nutrition. In my Glossybox I just received a bottle of toner from the same brand – so this brand must be blowing up the beauty market. I’m curious to give it a shot! See what else I got in my box below:

Beautiful Nutrition Grapefruit Detox Shine Repair Shampoo

Beautiful Nutrition Grapefruit Detox Shine Repair Conditioner

Cargo Swimmables Shadow Stick – Coral Reef

derma e* Hydrating Serum with Hyaluronic Acid

Peripera Peri’s Tint Water – Strawberry Juice

What did you guys get in your box this month?

December 2015 Favorites

Happy New Year everyone! I can’t believe it is already 2016. So much has happened and I can’t wait to get this new year going. Ringing in the new year brought a sense of excitement – to begin a new chapter and have a clean slate.

I wanted to do a recap of the things I loved in December, because it was a crazy busy month, but one where I felt I had a lot to love!

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It isn’t pictured above, but I received a Keurig for Christmas and fell in love! I received the Keurig 2.0 Coffee Maker in the champagne color. I’m hoping to save some money on coffee purchases this year, so bringing a fresh cup with me in the morning will help cut costs. Plus, it will help me jumpstart my day! Please send any recommendations for kcups!

In the winter I loveeee masculine scents. I couldn’t wait for winter to hit so I could break out my Nirvana Black rollerball. The perfume is by Elizabeth and James and has notes of sandalwood, violet, and vanilla (according to Sephora’s website). I wear only a little perfume every day, so I usually elect to buy a rollerball, plus it makes it easy for travel.

Around early December I was on vacation in Delaware, and did a little shopping while I was there. Every store was burning the Capri Blue Volcano Candle No. 6.It has notes of tropical fruits, sugared oranges, and lemons and limes. I fell deeply in love with the scent, and made sure I went home with it. Mine is the 8.5oz size but I know I will end up with a bigger jar when mine burns out. The big 20 oz jar can be purchased at Francesca’s for $28.

Recently I realized that I had accumulated quite a bit of Birchbox points. I looked through the site and the Hudson + Bleecker Etoile Avion Cosmetic Case caught my eye. It has a gorgeous silver glitter on the outside, and is black inside. It even comes with a small pouch that detaches (I keep lippies in mine) and is adorable in a purse. It has a zippered pouch inside and a pocket for brushes. I was traveling over the holidays, and made sure to bring it along. Hudson + Bleecker hit it out of the park with this one! The glitter doesn’t come off, and it is SO stylish. I got mine from Birchbox and it sells for $64.

I have been in the market for a new foundation for a while. I had heard great things about the Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation and decided to give it a try. I really love the powder formula, and it goes on well on my skin. I have it in light neutral, and I think it is a little too dark for me. When I’m through with this jar I’ll probably switch colors. The Airbuki Bamboo Powder Foundation brush is a must – even if you don’t buy the foundation. It is so incredibly dense and buffs into the skin nicely. The foundation can be found at Sephora for $36 and the brush is $28.

The last of my favorites was a little bit of a splurge – I got an iPad Mini 2. I really, really loved the 4th generation, but I really needed more storage and there was a GREAT deal on the 2nd gen. I got mine from Best Buy, and I’ve been so impressed with not only their sales but their AMAZING shipping. Everything is free shipping and arrives in 2 days. (I don’t receive anything from Best Buy for saying that, I just really love them after this holiday season.) I had a first generation regular iPad, and it was great, but very clunky. I’m in love with the mini because of its size and portability. I use it constantly. Major love for the mini.

I want to hear what all of you were loving in December!

Review: Birchbox July 2015

This month I absolutely hated my Birchbox. Super disappointing. I either have the products already, or can’t use the new ones. I really wish I had done the curated box, and regret missing the deadline for it.

Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil – Full Size $39

I love this B&B line, but I have SO many samples of this stuff that it will take me forever to get through it!

Harvey Prince Hello Body Cream – Full Size $22

I have so many bottles of the harvey Prince perfumes, and I’m not a huge fan of the scents. This lotion is no different. The smell is long lasting, and I’m just not into the citrus-floral scent.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive – Full Size $39

I have this already, and might be able to use another tube. I barely use the one I have because I’m not fond of the scent. But I think I might be able to use this.

stila look at me liquid lipstick trio – Set of 3 $20

I received the bright red version, and the color won’t work well with my skin color. I wear a lot of red, but I just don’t see this working. Its going in my swap pile!

Supergoop! Anti-Aging City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30 – Full Size $42

I feel like all boxes send Supergoop! in the summer and I’m incredibly overloaded with it! I definitely like the brand but I need to unload a few of the products.

How were your Birchboxes this month?! Let me know in the comments!

Review: Birchbox June 2015

SO sorry I didn’t post this last month! I’m working on a regular posting schedule. Last month I wasn’t super thrilled with my Birchbox, and ultimately was the reason I forgot to post.

Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner – Full Size $11

This came in a gray color. Not my style – to swap it goes!

Supergoop! Everyday SPF 50 with Cellular Response Technology– Full Size $19-$48

I actually like Supergoop! so I think this will be great for the summer.

Temple Spa Shampoo and Conditioner – Full Size $14 each

This smells ok, and I’m glad I got both the shampoo and conditioner. I figure I can use these deluxe samples for travel.

W3LL PEOPLE Expressionist Mascara – Full Size $23.50

I wasn’t really into the brush when I first examined this. Much too small for my liking. This too goes to swap!

L. Erickson Narrow Grab and Go Ponytail Holder – Full Size $12

I can always use another, so this was a good extra!

It would have been much better to have more summery products. I think they were trying here, but it didn’t quite deliver, in my opinion! How were your Birchboxes last month?

Review: Birchbox May 2015

Sorry for the delay of this post – I’m playing catch up with some things!

I was super excited to hear that Emily of the blog Cupcakes and Cashmere would be the guest curator for May. I adore her blog, and typically love most things she recommends. I forgot to pre-select my samples, so I wound up with the regular box. I’m not at all disappointed. While I’ll probably trade some things, I really enjoyed the theme.

*All prices are for the full size products.

amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo – $21

I LOVE trying new dry shampoos, and I’ve been eyeing the amika brand for a while now. It smells a little fruity for my taste, but I’m excited to give it a shot.

Benefit Cosmetics Total Moisture Facial Cream – $42

Benefit is one of my favorite brands, and I appreciated getting a generous sample. I need to be careful what I put on my face because I don’t want to break out, but the smell is so lovely, I think I’ll give it a try.

Coastal Scents Revealed 3 Eyeshadow Quad – $20

I was most disappointed by this one. I’ve wanted the full palette for a while now, and was quite upset when they cheaped out with the quad. Colors are nice, but total bummer.

Marcelle Clay Mask -$15

I haven’t had a nice clay mask in a while, so I might be willing to try this. But because I have sensitive skin, I’ll have to read some reviews before I give it a shot.

Whish Flawless Swipes – $22

These are designed to banish bumps and prevent in grown hairs. I’d rather have a lotion or creme than a wipe, but thats just me. The brand hasn’t proven effective for me in the past, but I love their ideas and the fragrances of their products. This goes to the swap pile.

How were your boxes this month?

Review: Birchbox April 2015

This month I selected the pre-curated box from Birchbox. I already liked some of the brands in the California box, so I decided to choose that one.

I absolutely love the brand 12 Benefits and their Instant Healthy Hair Treatment is something I wanted to try. Its a healthy sample! (reg $21)

When I opened the box I immediately smelled something that smelled like soap. It was the perfume called “Clean” and it was disgusting. I threw it out. (reg $69)

I love Cynthia Rowley, so I was thrilled to receive a sample of her illuminator. (reg $28)

Laqa & Co. is a company I’ve encountered before, but never tried. In the box was their Sheer Lip Lube Pencil in Honeypot and its gorgeous. Perfect for an easy, breezy type of day. (reg $20)

I’ve never heard of Not Soap, Radio. I got their Body Wash in Bathing with Sharks and am excited to try it this summer on vacation! (The nod to sharks just makes me want to save it for my beach vacay!) (reg $16)

Review: Birchbox March 2015

So this month Birchbox first upset me, then totally surprised me. I had logged in and selected my item for March box in plenty of time, only to receive a notice that something was wrong with my payment info. I can’t figure out why that would be, because nothing changed from the month before. So I fixed it, and was disappointed when the item I pre-selected wasn’t in my box. (VERY disappointed because it was a product I was itching to try, but I digress…) However, I wound up with seven items in my box instead of five, and it was quite the pleasant surprise!

Harvey Prince Singular Scentsations Imperial Gardenia: $29

I haven’t even smelled this yet because I couldn’t believe I received ANOTHER Harvey Prince sample. Since I first joined BB I now have something like 8 or 9 different ones. Enough is enough…. (I also don’t like anything floral)

Vasanti Cosmetics BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator: $34

I’m really into face products lately, and this is supposed to mimic microdermabrasion. Can’t wait to give this a shot!

Temple Spa Peace Be Still Calming Body Balm: $29

I think I’ll be swapping this one. The scent is super strong, and I so badly want to like it, but I just can’t. The aromatherapy scent just isn’t for me.

Jelly Pong Pong GLOW GETTER Highlighter: $14

I’ve heard great things about this brand – can’t wait to try it out! It looks like a tiny bottle of nail polish and is a gorgeous color.

Davines Ol/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion: $41

This is a FULL SIZE product. I love hair oils, and hope this is really nourishing.

Somehow I wound up with both the shampoo and matching conditioner! It is so rare to receive both, let alone THREE products from the same line. I received shampoo from the same brand last month though, so I’m hoping I don’t get a three-pete. But for now, I’m excited to actually try the line!

Favorites: February 2015

This past month I found several products that I can’t wait to rave about. Not all of them are new to the market, some have been around for a while. But they are new to me, and I’m super excited I’ve found them!

Hempz Vanilla Plum Herbal Body Moisturizer

Typically, I’m not a lotion kind of gal. In fact, I avoid it at all costs because I’m used to greasy lotions that leave your hands with a gross film. When I was at the hair salon recently, I fell in love with the lotion they used to do my hand massages. The Hempz lotions absorb immediately, smell FANTASTIC and leave my hands feeling fantastic. The scent in the salon wasn’t the vanilla one, and I liked that one too – but the vanilla plum smells so incredible, I keep reaching for it. This brand can easily be found at Ulta.

C. Wonder Zodiac Votive Candle – Virgo

When I first moved to New York, I stumbled across a (then) new store call C. Wonder. It was owned by Tory Burch’s ex husband, and mirrored her style, but was so fun and playful. I LOVED that store. Unfortunately, C. Wonder closed down last month. Luckily I found the brand on shopbop.com and noticed that they had some adorable home decor items for great sale prices. I picked up this candle and it smells so rich that I want to burn it all the time. It also says “VIRGO” in gold on the back. A few are still on sale at shopbop – for $6ish!

The Balm – Hot Momma! Shadow/Blush

I discovered The Balm when I first subscribed to Birchbox. I had a sample of this blush and used it up so fast, and never repurchased because I was so busy trying other blushes. Recently I saw that The Balm was on Hautelook and was excited that the blush was discounted. I fell in love with this all over again. It is the perfect pink/peach shade and mixes beautifully.

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black

During a recent trip to Sephora I wanted to try out new perfumes. After smelling what felt like the entire store, I came across this one. It smells somewhat like mens cologne, but has a feminine twist. With hints of violet, sandalwood and vanilla, it has become my perfect scent for winter. I bought the rollerball version to keep it in my bag. It is rare that I will like a new fragrance, but this one totally won me over.

Review: Birchbox February 2015

Last year I suspended my subscription to Birchbox because I became unhappy with the selection of samples in the box. Over the past few months I’ve been closely following what changes Birchbox has made, and I decided to give it another shot. I must say – this box was a great way to begin!

theBalm cosmetics – Read My Lips Lip Gloss – BAM! Full size $15

I am a huge fan of theBalm since discovering their products from Birchbox ages ago. This color is ok – definitely more of a summer color, but I love the formula. I may be purchasing some other colors.

Paula’s Choice Clinical KP Treatment Cloths – Full size $22.40

I also discovered Paula’s Choice through BB, and it is another brand that I absolutely adore. I have yet to use these, and while I don’t have keratosis pilaris, I still want to see how they are on my skin.

Laura Geller Beauty – GlamLASH Dramatic Volumizing Mascara – Full size $24

This is another mainstay brand, and I was thrilled to receive an LG mascara. I LOVE this mascara, which is surprising, because the brush is so itty bitty. Usually I layer on a few mascaras for the effect I like, but I love how this looks!

Harvey Prince – Ageless – Full size $55

I have yet to try this, and to be honest, I used to hate receiving perfume samples. I recently looked through my pile of them, and I have received over 4 different samples from Harvey Prince, so I wasn’t that excited. However, I want to test all of the perfumes for my blog, so this makes a great addition to the pile.

Davines MINU Shampoo & Hair Serum – Shampoo Full size $25 – Serum Full size $23.50

I haven’t tried the shampoo yet, and I’m curious to see how it works. I have however tried the serum (hence the open package in the photos) and I’m not thrilled with the smell. But I have crazy hair, and am always looking to try new photos.

Hair Care: Fresh from the Salon

This past weekend I went for my standard hair appointment, and as always, brought along my latest Pinterest hair obsession. I should note here that I have naturally curly, thick, unruly, dark blonde hair. I prefer to have it straight, light-platinum blonde (working on the platinum part). While my stylist worked to get my hair the perfect shade of blonde I wanted, she also showed me products that will help protect and prolong my color, and keep my hair healthy. Below are a few of the products I’ve picked up as a result of her fabulous suggestions over the past few months:

Bumble and Bumble’s BB Repair Blow Dry $30 – This is quite new to me, but I felt like I had to add a thick cream to my blow dry routine. I’ve used it a handful of times, and it seems as though my ends feel better after being subjected to heavy heat.

Bumble and Bumble’s BB Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer $27- I’ve had this now for several months, and I LOVE it. I’m obsessed with the entire line, but this product is great to use before doing my hair.

Hairkop’s Obliphica Professional Intensive Hair Serum $38- I received this in a Birchbox ages ago. I purchased a similar product from my salon’s line, and this is the closest item I can find in stores. The smell is so fantastic and my hair is the smoothest its been. And it works great after a blow out to keep it smooth.

When I choose to curl my hair I use the Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play Hairspray ($10.99). It gives the hold I need, and the can lasts me a while.

Soon I’ll do a post on the hair tools I use, what I’ve used in the past and what I absolutely adore.

GabGoesGlam

Beauty. Lifestyle. Fashion.