My July 2015 Birchbox

Hello beauty lovers,

My July Birchbox arrived earlier than usual this month (Hurray!).
I received the samples of:
* Stila look at me liquid lipstick in Venezia (Coral)
* Amika Un.Done Texture Spray
* Macadamia Professional™ Weightless Moisture Leave-In Conditioning Mist
* COOLA® SPF 30 Organic Makeup Setting Spray
* theBalm® cosmetics Balm Desert® Bronzer/Blush

I am quite happy with my July 2015 box. Luckily, I did not receive any foil samples this month. Sizes of my samples were pretty generous, especially the Macadamia hair mist is huge and I love their products :)

I picked the color Venezia for my Stila stay all day lipcolor during the sample choice period last month. This seemed like the least bright color among the three (others were bright pink Bell and bright red Beso). I can't work Barbie pink and I already have so many red lip colors, so having a coral-red warm color is nice. This lip color really does stay all day. I put this on around 3pm on our anniversary before we went out and it stayed on all day through the end of a cheese and chocolate fondue dinner :O I heard others complain about how difficult it is to remove it, but I find it quite easy to remove it using some Vichy Purete Thermale micellar water on a cotton pad.

Amika un.done texture spray is my first Amika product, so I am happy to try them. I like their packaging. I didn't expect the spray to make my hair crunchy or mattify it, but this is exactly what it did :/ I like volume on my thin, straight hair but I also like the shine and softness to come with it. Sadly, Amika was a no go for me.

I like Macadamia Professional products and this weightless moisture leave-in conditioning mist was also a winner for me. I like the way it smells and feels. Plus the size is so generous, I will be able to use it for long time. It's also TSA friendly, so yay! for a new addition to my travel toiletries.

I like Coola products, too. Although I do not use make up setting sprays, this organic makeup setting spray was intriguing because of the SPF in it. I like the idea of having a facial mist with high SPF. Sometimes I forget to put SPF on before powder and blush and it's either "go out without SPF" or "remove and redo", such a hassle, I hate it. I will definitely order the full size of this spray.  

The Balm has the cutest packaging, but their samples are so tiny. The surface area of this Balm Desert bronzer/blush sample is as big as a dime and I didn't want to bother trying to apply it with a shadow brush. So, this went into the swap pile.

For those of you who are not familiar with Birchbox yet: It is a monthly cosmetics&skin care subscription service that costs $10/month (including shipping). They usually send 4-5 deluxe samples (and sometimes regular foil ones :/ ) of usually new and trendy brands.
For more information you can check the official page here.

Disclaimer: I am not paid for this review. All opinions in this review and all of the other review in this blog are my own.

My November 2014 Birchbox

Hello beauty lovers,

My November Birchbox is shipped out quite late actually on November 11 and arrived on November 17.

I received the samples of:
* Jouer Matte Moisture Tint
* Chuao Chocolatier Assorted ChocoPod
* TONI&GUY Classic Shine Gloss Serum
* Gilchrist & Soames Spa Therapy Body Lotion
* Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Supreme Mascara
* Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa Firming Tea Treatment Mask

I am quite happy with my November 2014 box. Luckily, I did not receive any foil samples this month. I received one full size hair gloss serum which works great, one mascara sample in black, an effective antioxidant mask that I picked during sample choice, a body cream sample which is so so, and a chocolate sample which is yummy. This box definitely worth the 10 bucks I paid, even the serum alone is $15 and I got $6 back on BB points by filling out sample reviews.

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint is an okay tinted moisturizer. It does not cake during the day and does not create an uneven, streaky look. The coverage is not full, but other than that it is fine.

Chuao Chocolatier Assorted ChocoPod is YUMMY! I love the combination of dark chocolate, honey, and rice-crunch. I also like the tasteful packaging and the shape of the chocolate.  

TONI&GUY Classic Shine Gloss Serum is the full size product in pump bottle. It's the first time I tried this product and I like it. I will probably order the full size when I finish the sample. I can't get over the amazing fact that I got this $15 full size product (and more) by paying just $10 for my Birchbox :)

Gilchrist & Soames Spa Therapy Body Lotion looks and feels completely generic. The scent is not so special, packaging reminds me of the cheap hotel toiletry, and it hydrates okay. I will save this sample for the next time I travel, but I don't think I will order the full size product.  

Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Supreme Mascara is good on paper but it made my lashes fall while taking it off and it's never a good sign. I don't know what is wrong with it but I am not going to risk my lashes by trying to figure it out. I did not notice any lengthening or volume-boosting effect when I tried.  

Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa Firming Tea Treatment Mask is a winner by all means. I love the sample packaging. It smells and feels great. It leaves my face feeling so soft and fresh. One tube is good for 5-6 times maybe, which is a good amount. Although it is a bit pricey, I might actually purchase the full size product when I finish my sample. 

For those of you who are not familiar with Birchbox yet: It is a monthly cosmetics&skin care subscription service that costs $10/month (including shipping). They usually send 4-5 deluxe samples (and sometimes regular foil ones :/ ) of usually new and trendy brands.

For more information you can check the official page here.

Disclaimer: I am not paid for this review. All opinions in this review and all of the other review in this blog are my own.

My October 2014 Birchbox

Hello beauty lovers,

My October Birchbox is shipped out on October 1 and arrived on October 7.

I received samples of:
* Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle
* ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick
* dr. brandt® Exclusive Clean Up Nice Kit
* Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream
* Coastal Scents® Revealed 2 Palette Set

I am quite happy with my October 2014 box. Luckily, I did not receive any foil samples this month. I received one hair mist which smells great, one lipstick sample in a nice neutral pinkish shade that I can use everyday, an effective anti-blemish mask, an eye cream sample with 99% natural ingredients, and an eye shadow sample quad. This box definitely worths the 10 bucks I paid.

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle hair mist sample is a good sized pump bottle. I received it in a mystery pack in August and I loved it, so I was happy to receive it in my October box. It has a beautiful floral-fruity scent which I like very much. It's a bit tricky to get the product out for the first time, you need to keep pumping for 10-15 times until you get some mist out. So, don't quit :) I mist it on my damp hair right after applying my Organix Moroccan Argan oil as usual. I use 4-5 sprays and it makes my hair less frizzy. I do not regularly use heat treatment so I cannot comment on the protection aspect. It is a good product but nothing miraculous. I may order the full size for the sake of its smell after I finish my hair products.

ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick sample is almost full size ('m not sure, maybe it is full size). I received it in the shade "Kitty" which is a beautiful pinkish nude that I can use practically to everywhere (yes, including the gym ;) ). It smells delicious and is easy to apply. It does not cake on my lips or look patchy at all. It feels soft and looks balmy-matte. It is not a long-lasting lipstick hence it requires rather frequent reapplications. I noticed that it goes down a bit faster than my other regular lipsticks, I think this is because of its creamy texture. I may order the full size after I finish my current nude lipsticks.

Dr. brandt® pores no more® vacuum cleaner is a 1 oz sample which is a good size. I think this sample will be good for at least 10-15 uses if you apply it to your entire face. I always liked dr. brandt products and use them regularly. Luckily, I haven't tried this specific product, so I was happy to receive a sample. I do not apply it to my entire face as directed, instead I apply on my concern areas (like on my zits, pores on my nose and cheeks, etc.) to save the product. It feels fresh and tingly, it has either eucalyptus or mint in its formula. It works really good to dry new pimples. I will probably order the full size when I finish the sample.  

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream is also a 1 oz sample which is again a good size. For me the highlight of this product is that it has 99% natural ingredients. It was supposed to brighten my under eyes circles but I did not see such effect on the few times I used it. Maybe it requires a longer period of use before seeing any effects, I don't know. The scent was nice and the application was easy. I may not purchase the full size of this product since I did not see any immediate effects.

Coastal Scents® Revealed 2 Palette Set sample is a quad with earth tones (2 matte and 2 shimmer). I like the shimmer ones, but cannot say the same thing for the dark brown matte. In general, it is really difficult to blend these shadows and this patchy look was more visible with the dark brown. I couldn't get the ombre look which I usually do with 2-3 tones of beige/brown. I will definitely not purchase the full size of this product, but I am glad I received this sample before investing $34.00 into the actual palette.

For those of you who are not familiar with Birchbox yet: It is a monthly cosmetics&skin care subscription service that costs $10/month (including shipping). They usually send 4-5 deluxe samples (and sometimes regular foil ones :/ ) of usually new and trendy brands.

For more information you can check the official page here.

Disclaimer: I am not paid for this review. All opinions in this review and all of the other review in this blog are my own.

My September 2014 Birchbox

Hello beauty lovers,

My September Birchbox is shipped out on September 10 and arrived on September 16. 

I received samples of:
* Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée Cologne Absolue* TOCCA Crema da Mano Luxe - Hand Cream* R+Co BEL AIR Smoothing Shampoo* R+Co BEL AIR Smoothing Conditioner* Harvey Prince Ageless Liquid Loofah * Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate* Pixi by Petra Breath of Fresh Air Lip Balm

After being disappointed by my last two boxes (July and August 2014), my September box came like a breeze. I love almost all of the items in my box and I am very happy to receive such a fantastic ensemble. I selected the Shiseido Ultimune serum which came in a very good size for a sample. The shampoo-conditioner samples were foil (single use) but they put two foil per item so the total shampoo-conditioner set is good for two uses. The lip balm is full size. Tocca hand cream sample size is very good too. Prince Harvey shower gel sample was also in a tube of 15 mL which is okay.  I still don't know why do I still receive shampoo-conditioner samples although I especially told in my profile that I do not want to receive any hair products. But that's okay this month since the Shiseido, Tocca, and Pixi items made me very happy. This box definitely worth the 10 bucks I paid and  a bit more :)

Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée Cologne Absolue sample was a small tube (the regular perfume sample container), like all other samples of the brand this one also came with a sleek postcard. I do not like to receive fragrance samples since I am very conservative with my perfumes and I wouldn't change them frequently or based on a sample. I put this in my profile, but I guess they have to send some from time to time which is okay as long as I receive them less than 4-5 times a year. The scent was not my style. The vanilla tone is not over-powering (so, you don't have to worry about smelling like a cupcake :) ) but something makes it strong in a way that is not appealing to me. When I tired on the back of my hand it stayed for a long time, I guess the effect will be stronger when applied on pulse points.

Tocca Crema da Mano Luxe is a very good hand cream. The one I received is Bianca and it has green tea - lemon scent. Small amount of product is enough for both hands. It does not feel greasy at all, so I was able to open a bottle right after putting it on ;) The sample size is very generous and the packaging is stylish. It immediately became my new purse staple hand cream.

 

R+Co BEL AIR Smoothing Shampoo is an average quality shampoo which did not do anything special to my hair that my current shampoo didn't (my current shampoo is

Matrix Biolage Volumbloom Shampoo). It lathers well and creates good amount of bubbles but it does not have any Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) in the ingredients which is great news. The foaming agent used is Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate which is much gentler than SLS and it is sulfate free. People with sensitive skin can also use this shampoo since DLS is not a skin irritant like SLS. This shampoo also smells nice and the scent is not the strong-overpowering kind which is good.

 

R+Co BEL AIR Smoothing Conditioner is an average quality conditioner which did not do anything special to my hair that my current conditioner didn't (my current conditioner is

Matrix Biolage Volumbloom Conditioner). It is a gentle conditioner and the scent is similar to that of the shampoo.

 

Harvey Prince Ageless Liquid Loofah came in a standard Harvey Prince 15 mL sample tube. It has a very fresh, fruity scent that I like a lot. It did not lather well and dried my skin a little bit. Maybe it is better on normal-to-oily skin types but it didn't agree with my dry skin.

I selected Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate in late August. I tried a foil sample of it a while ago and liked it a lot. I thought it would be nice to receive it in a bigger sample. The 1.5 mL foil was good for 3 days (am and pm). I'm sure this 10 mL sample bottle I received will be good for a month. I liked all of the Shiseido products I used/sampled so far and this serum was not an exception to the rule. Shiseido always make high-quality products. 

Pixi by Petra Breath of Fresh Air Lip Balm came in Honey Nectar which is a nice, neutral shade that I like a lot. The sample is actually a 4 grams full size product. I like how it glides on smoothly and does not leave any marks or lines on my lips. I usually have dry lips and this balm hydrates them well. I like how it smells too. If you remember from my last Birchbox post, I am very sensitive to scents of lip products. Luckily, this lip balm has a faint fruity-floral scent which is very pleasant. The only negative thing I noticed is that the hydration fades quickly, so I have to reapply it frequently even if I don't eat or drink. Other than that it's great. It immediately became my second new purse staple after the Tocca hand cream.

The September box is a pleasant surprise for me. After two disappointing months, Birchbox made me very happy this month :) Since I received 7 samples, I was able to get $7 back through sample reviews which made my September box cost only $3. Of course, I immediately used my points to get dr. brandt® Exclusive Camera-Ready Kit which I have been eying for some time. I will review it soon in another post ;)

For those of you who are not familiar with Birchbox yet: It is a monthly cosmetics&skin care subscription service that costs $10/month (including shipping). They usually send 4-5 deluxe samples (and sometimes regular foil ones :/ ) of usually new and trendy brands.

For more information you can check the official page here.

Disclaimer: I am not paid for this review. All opinions in this review and all of the other review in this blog are my own.

Elixir Ultime Oléo Complexe (Kérastase)

Hello beauty lovers,

In this post, I am reviewing Kérastase's Elixir Ultime Oléo Complexe hair oil. This dry oil is very lightweight and does not leave hair greasy or weigh it down. It is absorbed quickly and makes my hair so soft and shiny. It provides very good amount of split end protection and tames the wild winter frizz. Small amount on your fingertips will be enough for the ends and roots. This 125 mL bottle will go a long way even it is used everyday. This hair oil also provides moderate heat protection and enriches hair. The scent is also pleasant.

I highly recommend this hair oil to everybody, it will be good for all hair types except for very oily hair and for both men and women.

You can find Kérastase Elixir Ultime Oléo Complexe hair oil in high end retail stores (like Nordstrom, Macy's, etc.) and cosmetics stores (like Sephora) as well as www.kerastase-usa.com for MSRP $56.00

For more information you can check the official product page here.

Disclaimer: I am not paid for this review. All opinions in this review and all of the other reviews in this blog are my own.

My August 2014 Birchbox

Hello beauty lovers,

My August Birchbox is shipped out on August 6 and arrived on August 12. 

I received samples of:
* Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream
* Dr. Jart+ Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm
* Neil George Shampoo
* Neil George Conditioner
* LAQA & Co. Lip Lube

I am extremely disappointed by my August 2014 box. I received 2 foil samples, one lip balm sample in a shade that I can never use, a really bad BB cream, and two samples of shampoo and conditioner (which I especially told in my profile that I do not want to receive). This box definitely does not worth the 10 bucks I paid :/

Benefit Total Moisture cream sample was 2 small pouches, each one is good for one day (two uses). This is a very small sample size in my opinion, especially if you consider this is a paid service and samples have to be deluxe size or full size products. The cream is good in general. It has a nice scent and good consistency. It is absorbed well by my dry skin. Maybe a bit thick for summer time thou, but definitely perfect for fall and winter.

Dr. Jart+ BB is the worst pore concealing BB cream I have ever tried, and believe me I tried a lot of them. It has a herby scent very similar to Dr Brandt's Pores No More pore refiner. I used it on my nose and cheeks near my nose where my pores are the most visible. The product immediately settled into my pores and created this dotted image (product in my pores look tad lighter than the rest of my skin). It looked horrible! I will never use it.

Neil George Shampoo is an average quality shampoo which did not do anything special to my hair that my current shampoo didn't (my current shampoo is L'Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil Shampoo). It lathers well and creates a lot of bubbles but it's only because of the Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) in the ingredients which is used to simulate skin burns in the lab environment. Although SLS is everywhere, but I try to pick products without it whenever I can. This shampoo has a big downside: the strong, masculine smell! I had to hold my breath until I washed it off completely. So, I don't think I will use this shampoo again.

Neil George Conditioner is an average quality conditioner which did not do anything special to my hair that my current conditioner didn't (my current conditioner is L'Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil Conditioner). The strong, masculine smell is the problem here, too. I'm not going to use it. 

LAQA & Co. Lip Lube came in electric purple shade although my Birchbox profile reads "Classic". I don't know how the electric purple is considered to be a classic shade (?!). I still had to give it a chance before I judge it by its cover. It is true to color when applied and gives a matte finish. I can't say it moisturizes well, but at least it did not dry my lips either. It has a huge downside for me: the strong mint smell! I hate lip products with mint scent. I cannot keep them on. That's the very reason why I stopped using Burt's Bees lip balms years ago. I still cannot get myself to try another of them because of the memory of mint scent (it was a glittery white lip balm). The packaging is cute and the sample size is generous. I wish it was in another, more neutral or pink, shade so that I could maybe use it. But with the weird shade and the mint scent, I am definitely not going to use this product. 

So, you see, the August box is total loss for me. I am not happy at all :(( I hope I will get at least some items that I can use in my September 2014 box.

For those of you who are not familiar with Birchbox yet: It is a monthly cosmetics&skin care subscription service that costs $10/month (including shipping). They usually send 4-5 deluxe samples (and sometimes regular foil ones :/ ) of usually new and trendy brands.

For more information you can check the official page here.

Disclaimer: I am not paid for this review. All opinions in this review and all of the other review in this blog are my own. 

My very first Birchbox (July 2014)

Hello beauty lovers,

I have always wanted to try Birchbox but never got the subscription until late July. On July 24 i decided to give it a try. They shipped out my box on July 30 and it arrived on August 5.

I received samples of:
* Number 4™ Super Comb Prep & Protect
* Supergoop!® Daily Correct CC Cream ​SPF 35+
* Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner
* SmartyPants All-in-One Gummy Vitamins for Adults
* Harvey Prince Hello Body Cream

I can't say I'm impressed with my first box.

Number 4 spray smells awful. It's like molten plastic and it does not do anything for the frizz, in fact I think it makes my hair even frizzier than before using it. I won't be using it :/

Supergoop CC is okay-ish. Thou, it is a bit heavy in texture and becomes cakey on the face. Definitely not good for hot summer days. Plus, my husband was not crazy about its smell. So, I cannot use this one either :/

Cynthia Rowley eyeliner is a good product actually, but I received it in silver and that is not a color I can use. If I had blue eyes I would definitely rock it everyday, but I have brown eyes, so boohoo! :( It is a good size thou, very close to the full size. Also, the application is very smooth and smudge is minimal. If I received it in black or brown, I would be really happy.

Smarty Pants gummy is something I can never consume for one big reason: It is not Kosher/Halal or vegetarian. It has pork gelatin in it! Come on Smarty Pants, $30 for a bottle and you cannot even use a good vegetarian gelatin?! It will go to one of my non-Kosher/Halal friends.
Harvey Prince Hello cream is something I am happy about. It has sweet, citrus scent and feels very fresh on skin. The texture is a bit thin and runny but it is perfect for these hot-humid summer days. Love it! 

Plus, I received a free 1-year subscription for Women's Health magazine since this box was curated with them. There was an option to get a $9.99 refund instead of the actual magazines, so I went for this option. I filled out the form and mailed it with my subscription confirmation&July 2014 box shipment e-mail print-outs. Let's see how it turns out. I will keep you updated on this.

For those of you who are not familiar with Birchbox yet: It is a monthly cosmetics&skin care subscription service that costs $10/month (including shipping). They usually send 4-5 deluxe samples (and sometimes regular foil ones :/ ) of usually new and trendy brands.

For more information you can check the official page here.

Disclaimer: I am not paid for this review. All opinions in this review and all of the other reviews in this blog are my own.