June 2014: Ipsy/Birchbox Comparison

This morning, I’m jumping back in to the blogosphere with a lengthy review of my June subscriptions. Turns out, buying a house and planning a wedding at the same time is NOT an easy feat!

Since December, I have bought and moved into a new house, found all of my wedding vendors, and taken on more responsibilities at work. Needless to say, writing on a blog was not on my list of priorities. However, now that things are beginning to slow down (better knock on wood) I feel the need to pick it back up again. If nothing else, it’s a release that is more satisfying than watching an entire season of something on Netflix in 2 days.

I have also joined Influenster, so that gives me an even better reason to jump back on the blog-wagon. I will be reviewing any and all products they send me, starting with the Aveeno voxbox, which should be coming soon!

OK, let’s dive right in:

June Ipsy: “Pretty in Paradise”

Item 1: Be a Bombshell Lash-Out Mascara

Although this is a full-size sample, I didn’t get that excited about this when I got it. I’m not a huge fan of Be a Bombshell’s formulas, and this mascara wasn’t an exception. The brush seemed cheap and the mascara itself has a weird smell to it. Not a fan!

Item 2: Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray

I’ve tried beach sprays/sea salt sprays before, but this is my favorite by far. It comes out of the pump in a super-fine mist, so you won’t get that “crunchy” feel in your hair once it’s dried. It also smells fabulous.

Item 3: Nicka K New York Shimmer Eyeliner in Green

Once I pulled this out of the bag, I immediately thought to myself, “I will never use this”. I swatched it on my hand, and it was bright emerald green shimmer. However, I always make myself try all the samples I get at least once… I mean, what’s the use in having sample subscriptions if you don’t try all the samples?? So, I used a tiny bit on my lower lash line in the outer corner and I have to say – I liked it! Not an everyday look, but great for something different and dramatic.

Item 4: NYX Butter Gloss in Éclair

Now this, I was excited for. I had heard great things about this stuff! It tastes great and lasts substantially longer than most other glosses I have. I really like the light pink color I received and I will probably buy different colors eventually!

Item 5: DERMAdoctor DD cream with SPF 30

OK, I’ll admit. I don’t know the difference between all these BB, CC, DD and whatever creams. They all seem like tinted moisturizer to me. This formula was a little too greasy for everyday wear, but I like the SPF so this product would be great for an afternoon by the pool.

Onto Birchbox! (I’ll try to make this more condensed)

** I had issues with birchbox’s shipping this month for the first time. I tracked my box on June 13^th through the Birchbox App on my phone, and it said that it had been delivered… but alas, it was nowhere to be found. I called birchbox ops and they said if I hadn’t received it within 3 days of when it said it was delivered, they would send me a replacement box. Well, that day came and went and no box. So I called the post office, just to be sure it hadn’t been floating around the mail room. They didn’t have it. I then called birchbox ops again to let them know to send the replacement. It took about a week and I had the replacement box. Then, a few days later my original box showed up! I honestly did not try to pull one over on birchbox, but my tracking code said delivered on the 12^th and it didn’t show up until the 26^th, 5 days after my REPLACEMENT! Although that was frustrating, I am not going to complain anymore because both boxes I got were fantastic, and they both had 5 different products, no repeats!

Replacement Box:

Evologie Stay Clear Cleanser (love!)

Cynthia Rowley Creamy Lip Stain In Valentine (obsessed)

The Aloe Source Vitamin C Crème (a little greasy, great for nighttime though)

Antica Farmacista Bath & Shower Wash (good scent, great travel size)

Phytolisse finishing serum (perfect for split ends, but not for my roots- too oily!)

Overall I was ecstatic with my replacement box. It already had beaten out the Ipsy bag in my mind, and little did I know I would get my original box afterall!!

Original June Box:

Folle De Joie Perfume (New favorite scent- just wish the full size wasn’t $98!)

Supergoop! SPF 30 sunscreen (don’t really like the scent – but sunscreen is always a plus)

Coastal Scents Revealed 2 pallete sampler (came with 4 shadows- all in the rose gold and brown family)

Jasmine Seven Peppermint Foot Wipes (interesting concept, these left my feet super smooth and soft)

Number 4 super comb prep and protect(nice leave in conditioner for before bed)

Although I unknowingly cheated the system and was super frustrated for about a week and a half, it was worth the wait. Next time I don’t receive my Birchbox on time, I guess I’ll just wait!

I know this is a rather lengthy post but I’m back in the blogging game now!

Until next time,

Amanda

REVIEW: December Ipsy vs. Birchbox

As much as I have been in love with all of the Ipsy bags I have recieved this past year, I have decided to also subscribe to birchbox. Not because I'm unhappy with Ipsy, but because I am a sucker for trying new products. I contemplated a few different companies before deciding on birchbox. I ultimately chose them for the price point and quality of samples. Where I mainly get makeup samples from Ipsy each month, I have geared my birchbox profile to receive more skin care related products. The intention of this post is not to say which box "wins", but to compare the two and see the variety that is offered each month. So, without further introduction, behold my December Birchbox and Ipsy Glam Bag! 

December Ipsy 2013: "Celebration!"

My December items included: 

- Pop Beauty eyeshadow trio

- Be a Bombshell "the one stick"

- Andrea false lashes

- J cat Beauty lip pencil 

- Sample of mens and womens "signature" fragrance from English Laundry

My favorite product out of the December bag is suprisingly, the perfume. The sample is a generous size, and it smells clean and sweet, which is what I typically go for in a perfume... nothing too strong. 

My least favorite product from this month is "the one stick" from be a bombshell. The color is okay, but I do not care for the formula. It is very think, and does not go on very smoothly. I'm a texture person, and I'm not really a fan of this product as far as that goes. 

December Birchbox: "Sparkle and Shine" 

 

My December items included: 

- Full size Chapstick Hydration Lock in Vanilla

- Nelson J Beverly Hills Argan Oil 7 in 1 non-foaming Shampoo

- 2 samples of Antica Hand Cream 

- Acure Organics Body Wash

- Greenleaf Candle in "starlight"

- Color Club mini nail polish in "Lady Holiday"

My first box was definitely a hit. My favorite product from this box is the body wash. The fomula is great, but more importantly it smells AMAZING. It reminds me of a scent I used to have called "Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey" at the boutique I worked at through high school. It is a warm, sweet, comforting scent and I love it. 

My least favorite product is the non-foaming shampoo. What I look for in a shampoo is a nice smell and a thick lather. At first I was interested in how this non foaming ordeal would work, but as soon as I put this stuff in my hair I imediately regretted it. The scent was really overpowering. I didnt even focus on anything else. It was an intense lemon scent mixed with a minty toothpaste-like scent. Not a fan. 

Overall, I think both of the December subscriptions were excellent and they both showed a variety of products! 

Which one would you rather try? Leave a comment and let me know! 

Best of Benefit - Custom Makeup Kit!

As a connoisseur for anything with cute packaging and clever names, benefit cosmetics has always had a place in my heart. My makeup collection is filled with benefit products, and I almost hesitate going towards the benefit counter in Ulta because I know I'm going to wind up walking away with something. Benefit is running a special right now called "Build your Custom Kit" (click here to start on your own)! For $79.00, you can choose 4 products from 4 different categories. All of these products are categorized as the "Best of Benefit" and that's no lie. Each category had at least 2 products that I really wanted! Below are all the options that they offer, and which selections I chose. And as an added bonus... it comes with a cute makeup bag!

Category 1: Complexion

 

For this category, I chose the "hello flawless oxygen wow" foundation in the color "petal". I already have the porefessional and that gal primers in sample sizes, so that was an easy choice. I am partial to liquid foundation over powders, so I chose the oxygen wow over the powders and the balm.

Total price so far: $36.00 

Category 2: Cheeks

 This one was a little bit harder to choose from. I have samples of Hoola, Watts up, Posietint, and High Beam. But, I will eventually be buying a full size of the Hoola so I initially wanted that. However, I really want to own all of benefit's boxed blushers. I was ultimately torn between Hervana and Rockateur. I ended up choosing the Hervana and plan on buying the rockateur in the warmer months when my skin is tanner.

 Total price so far: $64.00

Category 3: Eyes

I also have a few samples from this category, so it was easy for me to choose what to get. I chose the "Fake-up" Concealer from this category, because I have hereditary dark circles under my eyes (thanks mom) and I am always looking for different concealer formulas to try.

Total Cost so far: $88.00

Category 4: Free Gift!

It was really hard for me to choose between these three products because I wanted to try them all! I love cream shadows, and this one claims to be creaseless so that's great for eyeshadow bases when building. I also really wanted to try the powder shadow because the colors it was offered in were so pretty. But, I ended up choosing the Hydra smooth lip color in the shade "fling thing".

TOTAL COST: $107.00

PRICE YOU PAY: $79.00!!!  that's over 25% off!

The bag that everything came in is the perfect travel bag for me to store all of my makeup in. Perfect for a weekend getaway! Now, to plan a weekend getaway....

Here's the link again if you want to purchase your own customized set from benefit! Shipping is free for orders over 50 bucks!

Start my custom kit!

Thanks for reading! So far my little baby blog has almost 500 views!

Also subscribe to my YouTube channel for an upcoming video describing the products I chose from this post, along with beauty, hair, and DIY tutorials!

http://youtu.be/fRc5h1jQEN0

-Amanda

FALL ESSENTIALS/FAVORITES!

It's beginning to cool off drastically here in Tennessee, and that means re-vamping my makeup routine, wardrobe, and activities to revolve around the fall. Personally, I love this season but am a very cold-natured person... so you'll find me bundled up from now until spring. If you're also taking your routine and wardrobe into the cooler months, take a look at my top ten things I am loving this fall! (in no particular order)

1.       E.L.F. Studio Makeup Mist & Set

The first item on my favorites list is new to my makeup collection. I have never used setting sprays in the past, and honestly didn’t know if they were worth the hype. When buying a completely new type of product, I like to stick to lower-end price points so that I don’t feel like I’ve wasted my money if I don’t like it. However, this product has surprised me! When I use this product after I apply makeup, and it makes it last substantially longer than normal. This light mist is full of vitamins, and helps keep your skin moisturized and radiant all day long. It’s only $3.00, and can be found at Target or online at  ELF's website. 

 

2.       IT Cosmetics “Bye Bye Under Eye” Concealer

This is by far the thickest concealer I have ever tried. Before this product, the most heavy-duty concealer I owned was boi-ing from benefit, but this stuff knocks benefits out of the park. Although it feels really thick when applying, it blends out to a really nice finish.  I have hereditary dark circles under my eyes, and this product covers them with what looks like an airbrushed finish. It's waterproof, doesn’t crease, and has anti-aging properties. What’s not to love? I bought this concealer from Ulta's website.

 

3.       Jesse’s Girl waterproof liquid eyeliner

This product was featured in Ipsy's September glam room, but I did not receive it in my bag. I wanted to try it so badly I just went out on a limb and bought it! By using the coupon code that came with the monthly offers, I got this product at a discounted price. Instead of a felt tip like most other liquid liner pens, this one is a brush. The ultra-thin brush is perfect for creating a subtle wing. And the waterproof claim is an understatement. If you mess up when applying, it takes some serious work to fix it! I even cried with this stuff on and it didn’t budge! Crying is not my favorite… but this eyeliner definitely is! You can find it on the Jesses Girl website. for $6.99.

 

4.       E.L.F. Eyebrow Kit

This fall favorite is pretty self-explanatory. Using an angled brow brush or the tiny one that comes in the packaging, define your brows with the darker shade of gel. Then using the other side of the brush, fill in your browns with the lighter powder. This brow kit gets the job done, plain and simple. It is $3.00 and can be found at target or on the ELF website. I have pretty dark brows so I have the shade “medium”.

 

5.       Lip scrubs

Fall is when the air starts getting cooler, the leaves change colors, and my lips get CHAPPED. Lip scrubs are my saving grace from the month of October until March. Lip scrubs come in all shapes and sizes, and can be in the form of a stick, or in a pot. The main idea is to exfoliate your lips to get all the dead skin off before applying a balm, stain, or lipstick. Not only does this allow your lips to be as soft and smooth as humanly possible, but it will actually help your lip color stay on longer. If you’re like me and your lips are very dry during the winter, take my advice and buy a lip scrub. You’ll thank me later.

 

6.       Rimmel Kate Moss 103

I'm relatively new to the wear-lipstick-all-the-time gang, as I have always loved tinted balms and stains over lipsticks. However, the Rimmel lipsticks by Kate Moss are what got me into loving lipstick. Specifically the matte finish ones. I have this shade, and also a darker red shade (107). This dark pink shade is the perfect daytime lipstick for the fall, and can easily be topped with a dark berry gloss to transition into a nighttime look. This lipstick has been in my purse everyday since I bought it and I don't plan on it going anywhere anytime soon. 

 

7.       Patagonia Pullover

Luckily, I have the sweetest fiance in the whole wide world who decided that it was time for me to own a patagonia pullover. I have been eyeing these for over a year, but could never pull the trigger to spend that much money on a jacket. He so lovingly surprised me with this one, and it is SO cozy. The style is called the "Re-Tool Snap-T Pullover" and I own it in the color Teal Green. You can find this one and many more colors at the Patagonia website.

 

8.       Infinity Scarves

Scarves are the perfect fall accessory because they serve more than one purpose. Not only do they keep your neck and face warm, but they can add to your outfit and make a look complete. My two favorite scarves for this season are these two infinity scarves that I picked up at H&M for $5.99 each. They had many different colors, but I chose these two because they go with most of my winter sweaters. 

 

9.       The Knot Complete Guide to Weddings

This favorite item is an exciting one! I am getting married in a little less than 11 months, and this book has been such a help in understanding the planning process. My Dad has been married twice but eloped both times, so I am really on my own in the whole researching/planning game. Trust me, my fiance is going to be helping in some of the decisions, but if I told him about everything in this book his head would explode. This guide has helpful checklists, tips on etiquette and traditions, and easy to read diagrams and pictures. I highly recommend this book to any bride-to-be out there.

10.   iTunes Radio

Don't get me wrong... Pandora is great. But iTunes radio is slowly but surely winning me over. It has so many useful features that I am obsessed with. First Play is a feature that allows you to listen to an entire album before it even comes out! For a few days before the release, certain artists are featured on one of the "stations" on the home page. You can listen to the album as many times as you want for free up until the release date! iTunes radio is also connected to your itunes account, so you can save a song to a "wish list" while you are listening and go back and purchase the song later. Or, you can click purchase song right while it's playing! How convenient! 

I hope you enjoyed perusing my top 10 items for the fall. Comment below and let me know what you would add to the list! 

-If you would like to see a makeup look featuring some of the products listed, check out my YouTube channel for a tutorial! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeJJNRtdeGY

-Amanda

HOW TO: Make a Bridesmaid Box

Attention world - I am getting married! As of September 22, I am engaged to the man of my dreams. He is my other half, and has been my best friend for 2 years. I could not be happier.
We have officially set a date... so let the wedding planning commence! 

The first thing that I wanted to get started on other than the place and location was my bridal party. I have known for a couple months that if I were to get engaged soon (I knew it was coming) who I would want to stand by my side, and so did my fiance. I realize that my wedding is 11 months away, and that some people tell you to wait until the 8 or 6 month mark to ask your bridal party. But, if you know that you aren't going to change your mind about the girls you ask, then why not give them as much time to prepare? Plus, bridesmaids will be really helpful in helping you craft and will give you honest opinions on the things you ask them.

I knew that I wanted to make bridesmaid boxes after seeing lots of different variations on pinterest. I took little pieces of each box idea I saw to create these personalized gems for my ladies. Here's how i did it!

I bought these unfinished hinged boxes at Michael's for around 7 dollars a piece. If you don't have Michael's in your area, most craft/hobby stores have these in lots of shapes and sizes. I chose a medium-sized box based on all of the items I wanted to fit inside.

The next step is completely optional. You can leave the box how it is, paint it a fun color, or stain it. I chose to stain the boxes. I used this squeezable, easy to use stain by Rust-Oleum in the color "golden oak", which left my boxes with a pretty light-brown color.

This step is also optional, but I painted the inside of my boxes with the shade of my main wedding color. Our wedding colors are charcoal and "grayed jade". In order to get the shade I wanted, I mixed these two Martha Stuart paints together. It only takes a little bit of the grey "arrowhead" color mixed with the green "pea shoot" to acheive this subdued minty gray that is on the inside of the lid.  

Next, I added a silk flower I found on sale at Michael's and some paper shredding from the party section to give it a little cushion for the goodies.

Each box was custom to the taste of each bridesmaid. The box pictured here was for my maid of honor, who loves great nail polish, so I included OPI shades in the wedding colors

 ("thanks a wind-million" and "nein nein nein, ok fine!"). I also included her favorite EOS lip balm, becuase I know she loves them!

Next, I took to my secret pinterest board for all things wedding, and printed off pictures that I am using for inspiration on bridesmaid dresses. I wanted to show them the ideas that I've been mulling over, and also show them the styles and colors they should be looking for. I included paint swatches (which you can get for free at lowes/home depot) for them to take with them when they go dress shopping. I chose for my bridesmaids to pick their own dresses, so these pictures and swatches were to give them ideas. 

Next, I added personalized cards that gave all the information on when and where the wedding will take place, what their role would be, I explained how they would choose their own dress, and I also included a card of who will be in the bridal party along with funny inside jokes about each person. All of my bridesmaids are my sorority sisters, so we have a lot of funny stories! 

Next, I included a cute card from Rifle Paper Company and wrote them a note expressing how much I appreciate them, how much I love them, and how excited I am for them to be a part of our special day.

I then wrapped the boxes with twine that I bought at Walmart in the craft section, and little name tags from the office supply section. How cute! 

All of my bridal party loved their boxes and I am so excited they all said yes!! On to more planning!

-Amanda 

REVIEW: October Ipsy Bag

Review Time! 

October's theme for the glam bag subscription was "The Art of Beauty". All of their sneak-peek clues were geared towards an artistic theme, and the bag this month was white, with a quote about art and beauty. Although I don't really care for the look of the bag this month, I loved what was inside! Here's a breakdown of what was inside my bag, and the retail values. 
The bag itself: (not a fan of quotes on things in general, but a good sized bag nonetheless).

...On to the goodies! 

LA Fresh Oil-Free Face Cleanser wipes (pack of 10)

The fact that these are biodegradable and oil-free drew me in. However, they are not too great at removing eye makeup. I have resorted to using these in the mornings as a refreshing cleanse for my face instead of removing makeup. I really like these, but don't know if I would shell out the cash to buy the full size. 

Retail price: $ 9.99 (pack of 30)

Big Sexy Hair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel

I was SO excited to get this in my bag. I am all about trying to give my straight, flat hair more volume. I have tried this product several times since receiving it, and it truly does work. It gives my roots more texture and lift than they normally have. 

Retail Price: $5.00

ZOYA Nail polish in "Giovanna"

Zoya was featured in May's glam bag, and I was definitely excited to get another color from this brand. The formula is long-lasting and very pigmented. I only used two thin coats of this polish to get a gorgeous aqua-green color. 

Retail Price: $8.00

Buxom Lip Polish in "Dolly" 

This lip gloss is a plumper as well, and makes your lips feel tingly and cool while giving a fuller appearance. This color in particular looks great over darker lipsticks/stains if you are nervous about making the transition into fall's dark lip trend.

Retail Price: $19.00 (for full size) 

Coconut & Argan body lotion by Nourish Organic

This product is not for me. I don't care for the scent of coconut so I planned on giving this to a friend when I saw it in my glam room before they shipped my bag. However, when I got it of course I smelled it anyways. It definitely smells like an organic product... if you know what I mean. Kind of like plastic, and soap. I really wanted to like it, since there is argan oil in it, but I can't get over the smell. 

Retail Price: $9.99 (for full size)

Overall, I really like all of the products in this bag! (minus the lotion.) The great thing about ipsy though, is that you can review the products in your glam room, and they take those reviews and tailor your account and future bags to reflect what you like and don't like. 

If you are interested in learning more about ipsy, I wrote a blog post recently raving about their company called "company rave - ipsy" so check it out! 

If you've already heard of ipsy and want to sign up, click my referral link below! 

http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-hcilljrowrp67mp

-Amanda 


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