April Birchbox!!

Okay, I know I am SUPER late with this.  I believe I mentioned in a previous blog that I just started a new business, and, as much as I love it, it is totally taking up 90% of my time, with the remaining 10% equally spread out to eating, sleeping, hygiene and family time.  

I know, excuses, excuses...right?  Who needs to shave their legs when they have blogs to write? Yeah, I know.    However, my husband appreciates the leg shaving...so...ya know....

Anyway, without further ado, let's get this party started since I have 6 boxes to blog about!!

Kind Healthy Grains Bar - Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt ★★★★

Birchbox, have you been reading my mind??  This bar was scrumptious!  In fact, I ate it pretty quick and uhhhh didn't save the wrapper so I can't tell you the nutrition content.  But, salty+sweet+natural nutrition?  And yummy!!  WINNING!!

N4 Lumiere d'Hiver Reconstructing Masque ★★★

Don't let the French fool you...I didn't think this was particularly special.  That being said, maybe my hair was just too far gone?  I hadn't had a haircut in over a year and, as I straighten my naturally crazy hair, it was pretty damaged.  A years worth of damage.  It was better than normal conditioning, but it isn't anything I am going to run out and get.  I will stick with my Redken, I believe.

N4 Lumiere d'Hiver Clarifying Shampoo★★★

Same as above, this was okay, in my experience, but maybe it's an unfair judgment as I had ALOT of hair (thick and long) that was severely damaged.  Still not much to write home about...for me.

Yogini perfume★★★★

I loved this little sample.  I am normally attracted to sweeter smelling scents and this one is a bit more woodsy/earthy but it smells good.  Sophisticated without pretension.  However, I think those of us in our late 20s/30s will appreciate it more than a teenager...which if fine by me.  ;)  Nothing worse than a 30-something year old woman smelling like a 17 year old.  (Okay, there are worse things...disregard the snark.)

Color Club Nail Lacquer ★★★

This nail polish was okay...okay for summer, maybe?  I actually like a little (a lot) more color, and stand out nails.  I will for sure check this out in other shades, though!

Sumita Eye Pencil★★★★★

I was starting to think this box was a little ho-hum and nearly ignored this little gem.  SOOOO glad I gave it a chance!!  Sumita eye liner is smooth and velvety and GREAT for a smokey eye.  I don't know much about this company but I definitely will use this entire pencil, and would likely buy another one!

And that's it!!  I know this is short and sweet, but like I said, I have 5 more to do, AND, in all fairness, when I reviewed these, it was actually in April.  The Sumita eyeliner was a stand out though, and I still use it!  If you purchase one thing from these items, my money would be on Sumita eye liner.

Until next time, 

XOXO

Sam

April Ipsy Bag!

 April's Ipsy bag got here, and the first thing that popped out was the packaging.  I actually love it!  This is my first Ipsy bag, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I love the mailer.  I even looked up where to buy them, so I could use them for my jewelry biz.  Too cute and fun! Makes a statement, and is memorable.

So off to open it I went.  And, inside the mailer bag, another bag holding (most of) the goodies!  

I am not sure what I will use the little bag for, but as an ultra organizer (albeit with ADD) I will find a use for it to be sure.  Right now, I am thinking it can hold the umpteen billion hair ties I have running around here but can never seem to find.

Inside the bag was this little postcard type thing.  On the back is an invitation to take photos or blog or whatever of your "Glam Bag Goodies" and share them, for a chance to win a year subscription to Ipsy.  I was doing this blogging thing before, so score for winning on something I already do!!  (Not that I won...just...a figure of speech.  Don't want there to be any misunderstanding.)

Okay, now let's get down to business!

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant .25 oz (Value of $9.75) ★★★★

I have to be honest, I haven't had an opportunity yet to actually use this.  Shortly after Ipsy came knocking on my door, my husband and I started renovating the back yard, and Ive had a fairly disagreeable sunburn for days.  BUT I did run a db between my fingers, and am pretty sure I am going to love it.  I looked it up on Sephora, and a 2 oz. bottle costs $78, and the reviews are fairly glowing, much like my skin will be after I use it.  However, it may be a decent week or so before I can, because, seriously...I am pretty badly burned.  I gave it 4 stars because that is my initial score on it, and it may go up or down after actual usage.

Starlooks Luscious Longwear Lip Pencil in "Naked" (full size pencil, $12.99) ★★★★3/4

A brand I am unfamiliar with but I think I will love.  It's creamy without being smeary, and a good color for many of my more nude lipsticks.  It does have a tiny pinky/coral tint to it.  I thought I should mention that because when people think "nude", they tend to think of a more neutral light brown.  This is a bit closer to a nude-but-pink lip.  Great for everyday, for most paler complected ladies.  I am not sure where else to get it though.  Is it a new company or just exclusive?  A quick Google search for "Starlooks Lip Pencil" came up with the Starlooks website, Ipsy and Amazon.  Maybe it is available at other stores and I just didn't dig past the first page.  Due to that, and only that, I knocked off a quarter of a star for not easily found in say, Sephora or Ulta.

Elizabeth Mott's Pop Goes The Shadow in Champagne ($12.99)★★★★

So, I pull out this little box and my first knee jerk reaction/thought was..."oh, dear.  A box of Chiclets??" Perhaps I have been living in the south for too long. Another company I am unfamiliar with, but that's why I am doing this year long beauty box subscription box experiment...to learn more about the smaller and/or up and coming and/or awesome cosmetic companies that I personally don't know about. (I hope no one takes offense to that.  It's me...seriously...not you.)

 Anyway, I pull out the shadow and this is what I see.

Honestly, quite a pretty color.  Again, due to working in the back yard day in and day out for 2 weeks, I haven't had a chance to try it out much, but I did play with it a little bit.  The pigment is good yet buildable. Once it's on (use your eyelid primer, ladies!!  And thank me later!) it stays on.  It compliments my fair skin nicely, but (And only because of my skin tone) I would have to make sure not to build up too much or it may look a little orangey.  Again, though...that is a problem with lots of redheads and cosmetics.  I believe it will blend nicely with my UD Naked 2 palette.  As for long term usage, and buying it myself, that will remain to be seen.  I just need more time with it.

Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide On Eye Pencil in Black Velvet ($15) ★★★★★

If I haven't let this be known already, I love Urban Decay.  Love, Love, LOVE UD.  So, I admit, a squealed like a 12 year old girl when I pulled this out of my glam bag.  I hadn't used THIS product before, so I was anxious to give it a shot.  It absolutely glides on. And it feels like velvet.  It won't pull your eyelid.  It's soft and smooth and not likely to dry out, as long as you keep the lid on it.  You do meed to be careful about application because this is BLACK and once it's on, it's pretty much on.  But, still, totally stoked at THIS item.  UD lists this as $20 for .04 oz, and my pencil was .03 oz, so let's say this is a $15 dollar value.  Will likely buy this again!!  Especially if it came in other colors.

CoastalScents Make Up Brush Medium Shadow Brush ($2.49)

As an add, Ipsy threw in this little make up brush.  I can't tell you much about it as it is still in it's wrapper.  I promise, I or my teenage daughter WILL be using it soon.  Just haven't had a chance.

There you have it.  My $10 a month subscription to Ipsy got me a tidy $40ish or more in product.  Nice!!  I don't know if Ipsy is always this awesome, or if I just lucked out with my first bag.  Time will tell!!

XOXO, Sam