September 2012 Birchbox!

So I finally got my September Birchbox and I must say I am very happy with it. When I looked at the preview, I was a bit underwhelmed, but once I opened the actual box I was very happy.

• Fall Lookbook 
• Twirl by Kate Spade perfume sample: THIS SAMPLE HAS A SPRAY PUMP!! Woo hoo!
• Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator: yay for face wash samples! I actually use skincare and whatnot more than the makeup samples I get, since I don't really wear makeup every day.
• Mighty Leaf Tea: There are 3 tea bags in here, each a different flavor. I like that, especially since one is vanilla :)
• La Fresh Nail Polish Remover Acetone-Free Fresh Tuscan Orange scent: I already used this and ONE pad got all ten fingers worth of nail polish off. These actually smell good. I'm very impressed and considering purchasing these when I use my BB points.
• Jouer Matte Moisture Tint in Linen: Meh. This is really orange and apparently not as light as I am. 
• Color Club polish in Tweet Me: Nice formula, but I'm not digging the color. It is almost like a combination of OPI Fiercely Fiona and OPI Who the Shrek are You?

Like I said, I am very happy with this box! It was a nice surprise after watching the Endeavor fly over at the top of a really, really hot parking structure!

August Birchbox (better late than never?)

Hey guys. I got my Birchbox on time this month but between picking up my boyfriend from Northern California, planning/buying/assembling/arranging furniture, working, AND starting back to school within the last week, my blog was farther down on my list of priorities than it was before. On to the Birchbox!

• Schick Hydro Silk razor (yay! Love these)
• Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer
• Eye Rock Designer Liner
• Viva La Juicy La Fleur
• C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine (lemon!!)

July 2012 Birchbox

I have been getting Birchboxes for a year now! My first one was July 2011. I can honestly say I have ever not gotten $10 worth of happiness/products out of my boxes. I am SO glad I found them. 

• Tea Forte minteas in Ginger Pear My favorite tea is actually the ginger pear from Trader Joe's, so I don't mind trying a solid version!
• Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner I actually have two of these (a black and a navy blue) from before Eyeko redid their brand. I thought they were cool then and I'm glad they sent me a new one. 
• Harvey Prince Eau Flirt Yay for perfume samples! I REALLY wish they would start sending ones that have a spray top though.
• Color Club polish in Blue-ming I have two colors exactly like this, but I like Color Club polishes so I'm excited to test out the formula on this one.
• Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum After a disasterous encounter with Cetaphil sunscreen (my face was sticky. all. day. long.) I am excited to try another sunscreen. I've used one packet already and it is really nice. Moisturizes but dries without being sticky.
• Earbuds These are crappy, but it is always nice to have an extra pair around.

I am pleased with this month's box and can't wait to see what they have in store for next month!

June 2012 Birchbox!

I know this is super late, but I just got to open this box a few days ago because it was sitting at my parent's house while I was in Central America.

• Stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm I am SUPER excited about this. I've already opened it and worn it twice and I am quite impressed. It gives just enough coverage for the summer when I don't want to put on full foundation. It is quite expensive, though, unfortunately.
• Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume Perfume sample...sigh. I like perfume samples, but come on. At least give me one with a spray nozzle. It smells alright though.
• theBalm Stainiac in Beauty Queen Woohoo for gel stains! I love the consistency of this one, not too solid but not drippy like BeneTint.
• Melvita Rose Floral Water I'm new to this whole face-water-spray business, but I'm glad I get to try one. It smells like roses, too!
• Modcloth Headband This is super cute and I love the wire inside of it, but I don't know if I will actually wear it.

I'm pretty happy with June's Birchbox, especially after trekking around in the humid jungle for 5 weeks.

May 2012 Birchbox!

• Dior Miss Dior Eau de Parfum I really like perfume samples and this one is a SPRAY sample!!!
• Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo This was a only large foil packet, but I am super excited to try something from Shu Uemura as I have never had the opportunity.
• Miracle Skin Transformer Body SPF 20 in Glow I am not quite sure I have a use for this, but it is definitely something I would not have tried without Birchbox.
• Dior Diorshow Extase mascara woohoo for new mascara samples! Especially ones I have never tried and would never buy on my own.

This wasn't the best Birchbox I have ever received, but I'm still digging it. I like getting things I wouldn't normally pick up, since this is a great new way to try new things without breaking the bank. If you want to sign up, my referral link is on the side :)

April 2012 Birchbox!

Sorry about the super-dark picture. I didn't get home until after it was already dark and I wanted to use the products!

• Dropps detergent
• Willa Lavender facial wipes
• Zoya polish in Bevin
• J.R. Watkins hand salve in green tea and aloe
• Taylor Swift Wonderland perfume sample

Not as great as last month, but still worth it. I'm REALLY not digging the Zoya polish, though. The color is just...bleh...

March 2012 Birchbox

I got the Teen Vogue box this month, and I have to say I am SUPER happy with this box. I received:

• Annick Gouta Petite Cherie perfume sample-I really like the way this smells. It is girly without being overpowering.
• Shisheido Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Papers-I use a blotting paper every day before I put on my makeup so I don't mind getting to try a new variety :)
• Essie Luxeffects top coat in Set in Stones-yay! Full size Essie!!! This polish is beautiful silver glitter, but it is quite difficult to get off. 
• Tarte LipSurgence lip tint in Amused: I LOVE these. I have a deluxe sample in Moody that I fell in love with. I love the way they smell, the way they feel and the way they look. This one is a full size, too!

Not Pictured:

• twistband Hair tie: Meh. My hair slips out of this. I have shorter layers that don't like staying in pony tails.
• ModCloth $10 off of $75 coupon
• Teen Vogue offer 

So. Birchbox was definitely a win this month :)

Vichy Box from Birchbox!

I got an email from Birchbox a while ago asking if I would like a FREE sponsored box from Vichy and I replied that I would be interested! I got my box today and I was pretty impressed. It was packed in the usual hot pink Birchbox outside box, but the inner box is a shiny hinge-top box.

This is the top of the box.

They include a card like in the usual Birchbox, which has a description of the products on the back.

The front of the card.

This is what it looks like when you open it.

This is what the products look unwrapped.

The products included (left to right, top to bottom):

CelluDestock (.23 fl oz/full size 6.7 oz) "Intensive Treatment for the Appearance of Cellulite. Vichy's own Lipocidine complex teams up with caffeine to tone the skin on your thighs, hips, and derriere. Massage into your skin to zap cellulite." I don't really have a problem with cellulite (or, if I do, I don't care...) so I don't really have any expectations with this. Also, it says it reduces the appearance of cellulite in 4 weeks, which this sample will obviously not last that long.

Purete Thermal 3-in-1 One Step Cleanser (1 fl. oz/full size 6.7 fl oz) "A real triple threat, this unique formula works as a cleansing milk, toning lotion and a makeup remover all at once. Dab it on with a cotton pad, or smooth it directly onto your skin and rinse with water." I am actually pretty excited about this because the toner I have now makes my nose all flakey if I'm not careful, and I am hoping a 3-in-1 doesn't make my nose freak out.
Purete Thermal Eye Makeup Remover for Sensitive Eyes (1 fl. oz/full size 5.1 fl oz) "Laced with cornflower water and vitamin B, this uber-gentle formula thoroughly cleanses your delicate eye area, Pour  a small amount onto a cotton pad and pat into skin." Woo hoo for trying new eye make-up remover!!

Aqualia Thermal Cream (0.5 fl oz/full size 1.7 fl oz) "24hr Hydrating Care. Infused with a high concentration of mineral-rich antioxidant water, this moisturizer keeps skin hydrated around the clock. Use it every morning on a clean face, alone, or under makeup." Maybe this will also help with my flakey nose. 

LiftActiv Rhamnose Night (0.5 fl oz/full size 1.7 fl oz) "Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Care. This lush night cram works its magic with Rhamnose, a plant-derived ingredient (concentrated at 5%) that helps skin renew itself. Apply a thin layer after washing your face, and don't forget your neck and decolletage" Being young, I don't need anti-aging, but there is no harm in being proactive!!

So, if I have any thoughts on these products I will post more in depth reviews later.

Disclosure: I did receive these items for free, but that does not affect my opinion at all.

February 2012 Birchbox!

I got my Birchbox a little earlier than normal this month! I'm hoping they stick with UPS from now on because they seem to have their stuff together a little better than the company they were using before.

• Violent Lips Temporary Lip Tattoos in Gold Glitteratti I would never in a million years have picked these up on my own. I barely wear lipstick. I am excited to have a chance to try them, especially since there are three applications worth so I can get the application down. I don't think I'll wear them out, but I want to see what they look like.
• Download card for a band
• Supersmile Powdered Mouthrinse I also would have never picked this up, but I am excited to try them. They are much easier to carry in a small bag than a thing of mouthwash that might spill all over.
• Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint I love new face products, and this is no exception. I am just a little worried about the shade, because when I put a little bit on my wrist, it looked pretty orange at first.
• Benta Berry G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream I've never heard of this brand but am excited to try this. 
• Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant When I first opened this, I was pretty confused. It turns out it is a powder you shake into your hand and rub (with a bit of water) into a paste then use that. I think. I haven't used this yet because I don't want to over-exfoliate my face by adding this to my already-exfoliant-heavy skin routine. I just need to finish up the XOUT I am using before I use this bad boy. What I really thought was cool was that on the box it tells you how to "activate" your donation for microloans to developing countries. 

I am quite happy with my Birchbox this month. Would I have chosen these products on my own? No, except for MAYBE the tinted moisturizer. I do want to try these products, though. I feel like one of the best things about Birchbox is that you get samples of products you wouldn't normally gravitate towards. I rather get five samples of brands and products I have never heard of (as long as quality is not an issue) than get things I already know I love. What are your thoughts? Have you gotten your Birchbox yet?

January Birchbox!

I got my January Birchbox today! I'm really glad shipping wasn't an issue with this month's box, as I would have cancelled. I'm actually excited about the products in this box!

• Juicy Couture perfume: This smells quite amazing. It is fruity and floraly, but just enough to pleasant and not enough to smell like an old lady.
• Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Purple Tang YAYAYAYAYAY! I am so excited about this as I don't have any Stila liners (that I can remember, anyway) and I am just starting to use eyeliner more regularly. Purple Tang is a nice, dark purple with what appears to be pink sparkles. I LOVE SPARKLES. This is a full size item, which by itself made this box worth double what the box cost!
• 'wichcraft Granola I really do like granola (especially in yogurt!) and I am planning to throw this in my lunch bag and eat it tomorrow as part of my lunch between classes.
• BORGHESE CuraForte Moisture Intensifier I have never heard of anything like this. This product isn't a moisturizer, but something you put on (or in) your moisturizer to make it work better. This should be interesting.
• C.O. Bigelow Lavender & Peppermint Shampoo and Conditioner This smells very herbaly, which I don't normally go for. There is enough for a few uses in each of these jars, which is nice. 

There is also a Birchbox magnet, which I will stick on my roommate's fridge, like I do with all my random magnets.

December Birchbox! (finally!)

I finally got my December Birchbox today. I have been waiting for almost three weeks now. They did send out a "sorry Streamlite messed up, here's 100 Birchbox points" email, which I definitely appreciated. On to the products!

• Befine Gentle Cleanser with Sugar, Mint, Oats and Rice: This smells very natural-minty and oaty. It is paraben free and the entire brand seems to believe in the "natural is better" philosophy. The consistency is VERY liquidy. I'm not quite sure how this will work for me, but I will definitely be trying this soon.
• L'Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil: This was hard as hell to open but you apparently need only a few drops. I have a hard time using the correct amount with oils, so we'll see how this goes.
• EBoost Orange Natural Energy Booster: It's like Emergen-C but expensive? I actually really like the pink Emergen-C, so we'll see if this beats it in the flavor/texture department. I doubt I would every buy this though, since you only get 20 packets for $28, while you get 30 packets of Emergen-C for around $10. 
• Harvey Prince Yogini perfume: They finally stepped it up a notch and included a perfume sample with a spray bottle. I am so tired of perfume samples that you have to pour out instead of spray. This smells like expensive perfume-there, but not headache-inducing. 
• ShowStoppers Designer Fashion Tape: I don't really have any use for these, as none of my clothes have much potential to malfunction/accidentally show my goods. In any case, I really wish I had gotten the nude strips so I could use them with the one dress that needs a little help sometimes, which happens to be almost see through (I have to wear nude undies/bras with it).
• Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Birchbox Pink: I really like the treatment that was included in a previous Birchbox, but I am less impressed with this sample. It smells like cheap lip gloss and it doesn't feel as nice as the lip treatment. 

October Birchbox

My October Birchbox is better than September. I received:

• Pangea Organics Japanese Matcha Tea Facial Mask: I recently got into facial masks, so this is a nice sample for me. Hopefully it doesn't burn my skin like their moisturizer and cleanser...
• Ahava Revival Bath Salts in Mandarin Cedarwood: I also just started taking weekly baths. It is hard to find good bath stuff around me, so this is also a great sample for them to include.
• Ahava Dermud Foot Cream packets: Hopefully this works as well as the Ahava hand cream and lotion I have tried previously.
• Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Makeup Primer in Bronze: I was (and still kinda am) sceptical of anything with "bronze" as the shade name, as I am pretty much anything but bronze. Pasty? Sure. Pale? You betcha. Bronze? Not so much. On the Birchbox card, though, it says "it works on all skin tones-we tested it!," so hopefully this won't turn me into a pumpkin, as festive as that might be. I put some on my glowing white forearm and compared it to the other and can see only a slightly sunny glow, no orange yet. This is a good sign.
• Stila Forever Your Curl Mascara: I love trying new mascaras. I have never even heard of this mascara, and am curious to see how the ultra-skinny brush works with my already curly lashes. 

I was a little bummed I didn't get the laundry detergent like Jeweled Thumb, but I do really like Ahava so I'm happy with my box. It was definitely worth the ten dollars. 

August Birchbox and NOTD

Two coats of OPI I'm an Aqua-holic on the tips, one coat of Orly Fifty Four all over, and one coat of Orly Sec'n Dry. I used the Nailene French tip guides and I'm really liking this combo.
My August Birchbox was a little disappointing. Other people got Smashbox Photofinish and facial masks...I got a hair mask, facial cleanser, blinc eyeliner and eye treatment pads. I'm now vowing to not look at what other people get in theirs until I get mine :) Still totally worth the $10, though, because in all honesty, I have been on a really big get-rid-of-dark-circles kick, and I almost bought a hair mask at Target the other day.