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.

Influenster Bella VoxBox

Hello Beauty Lovers,

My Bella VoxBox from Influenster was full of goodies! This is my first multiple item VoxBox and I am so happy to get a chance to try each one of them.

My box included the following items:

Sally Hansen - Airbrush Legs: This is the first time I tried the medium shade of this cream. I always thought it would be too dark for my skin tone but the result was a nice tan shade. Cream put an instant veil on my legs and the flawless finish did not go away all night long. All in all I am happy with the performance of this product. 

Rimmel London - Scandal Eyes Mascara by Kate Moss: I like how this mascara creates a full-lengthened look on my lashes. There is no smudging, flaking or clumping. That is more than enough for me to classify a mascara as winner ;)

Rimmel London - Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss: This semi-matte lipstick glides on so smoothly, is highly pigmented, stays on long even with drinking and eating, and also does not smudge/bleed even without a lip pencil. I love it!

Not Your Mother's - Déjà Vu 'Do Style Extender: This lightweight cream smells delicious. I just apply a small amount on my towel dried hair and style as usual. It really does extend the time my style stays put. I like it.

Dove - Whole blueberries chocolate: This box has everything to make a girl happy, including these delicious chocolate goodness! They are basically whole blueberries inside a layer of dark chocolate, double antioxidants from berries and cocoa. Totally healthy and delicious! These are so good, I totally recommend them ;)

Ecotools - Mattifying finish powder brush: This is my first Ecotools brush and I am totally in love! Hair is so soft and there is no shedding. The brush arm is comfortable to grip and the pattern looks chic. I tried it with both loose and compact powder and it performed perfectly with both. Application is even and there is no falling/residue. I can't wait to try the other brushes by Ecotools.

You can find more information on how Influenster works by visiting their website at www.influenster.com

Disclaimer: This product was given to me by Influenster, free of charge, for testing purposes.

Quick-e drying drops (Essie)

Hello beauty lovers,

I have been using this Essie Quick-e drying drops for a few months now and I think it's time to review it. I was a bit skeptical when I purchased this because of all the good and bad reviews online. I wasn't sure if this would work at all, so I wanted to see it for myself.

I usually apply a few coats of nail polish which makes the drying time longer. Also, just a few minutes after I apply my polish I always remember something extremely urgent (!) to take care of, which cannot wait until my nails are dry, so I usually mess up my manicure :) 

I use 2-3 drops on each of my nails right after applying my top coat and stay still for just 5 minutes at the end of which my nails are completely dry. The trick here is to do not touch anything for these 5 minutes after applying the drops, because this is how long the drops take to work their way.

All in all, I think it's a good product that I would recommend.

You can find Essie Quick-e drying drops in Essie's online shop under nail care and top-coats category and cosmetics stores (like Sephora) as well as drugstores (like RiteAid) for MSRP $10.00  

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 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.

Vaseline Intensive care advanced repair review - Influenster VoxBox

Hello beauty lovers,

A while ago Influenster sent me a bottle of Vaseline intensive care advanced repair cream for testing purposes. Here is what I received in my Vaseline VoxBox.

There was a 5-day hydration test card in the box to see how this Vaseline cream can hydrate my skin in 5 days. I first performed the "Before" test by following the instructions on the card. My skin test came out "Dry Skin" as expected. Below is the patch test result.

I applied the cream once a day after shower for 5 days in a row. I did not feel the need to reapply during the day since the hydration was enough for the full 24-hours. 

At first the cream felt really sticky on my skin for 5-6 hours after the application. But then, I got used to the feeling and it did not bother me that much. I found out that it's best to apply the cream right before sleep, so that this sticky feeling won't be a problem.

Here is how my skin condition is improved after just 5 days. You can see that my skin test came out "Normal skin". 

This product retails for $3.99 and you can find it at any drugstore or grocery store (like Walgreens, Shop Rite, CVS, etc.) or online (www.drugstore.com). You can find more information on this product by visiting the official page here.

For me, the only downside of this product is that it is formulated with Parabens which are considered to be one of the possible causes of female breast cancer based on the experimental analysis done on various breast cancer tissues. Because of this reason, I did not apply the cream on my underarms and chest area. I felt safer this way since most of the research showed that these areas are where Paraben is absorbed. But this is just what I do. You might feel safe with Paraben and it may not be a concern for you since FDA did not make an official announcement yet.

I would be more than happy if Vaseline can reformulate this product using different antibacterials rather than Parabens and be willing to pay more (maybe up to $6.99) for the same amount. I really like how it hydrates my dry skin. I especially need such potent products for the upcoming dry winter months.

You can find more information on how Influenster works by visiting their website at www.influenster.com

Disclaimer: This product was given to me by Influenster, free of charge, for testing purposes.

Creme de Corps (Kiehl's)

Hello beauty lovers,

In this post, I am reviewing Kiehl's Creme de Corps body moisturizer. This lotion is lightweight yet superbly moisturizing. It is absorbed quickly and makes my skin so soft and smooth. It provides very good amount of moisture to my dry skin even in the cold and dry winter months. It never leaves any sticky/greasy feeling on my skin, which is my favorite feature. This 250 mL bottle will go a long way even it is used everyday since you don't need to use a lot of product to get the desired coverage. This body lotion is also scentless and anti-allergenic, so it's safe for people with sensitivities. 

I highly recommend this body lotion to everybody, it will be good for all skin types and for both men and women.

You can find Kiehl's Creme de Corps body moisturizer in high end retail stores (like Macy's, etc.) and cosmetics stores (like Sephora) as well as www.kiehls.com for MSRP $11.00

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 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.