July's Glamour Magazine x Birchbox: Box 2

See it, hear it, taste it, touch it & smell it

What is this?
Birchbox
How much is this?
$10 a month
Where can I get this? 
https://www.birchbox.com (FYI this is my referral link)


Just like last month, I have two BB boxes up for review. Luckily for me I got two different ones again. This month BB teamed up with Glamour Magazine to bring us the "5 Senses" boxes. If you want more in depth info, go to my first July BB post here. :) Let's get into Box 2!

In my July box:
*Ada Cosmetics Bronzer in Bronze Golden
*Gloss Moderne High-Gloss Masque
*Harvey Prince Hello
*Stila Lip Glaze in Camera
*Lärabar Über bar in Bananas Foster
*Birchbox Exclusive Earbuds

This box only contained 6 items with 2 of those being Lifestyle Extras. Not bad but also nothing too exciting. Let's go into what box 2 contained.

I recently started using bronzer on my face. I didn't really get what the point was since I am already brown/tan but little did I know that it makes a HUGE difference when I wear it. Not only dimension wise but it just gives me a glow. I have two fave bronzer brands right now: Pixi and Physicians Formula. So adding the Ada Cosmetics Bronzer in Bronze Golden to my makeup family was exciting. This is in loose powder, which turned me off a bit. I usually shy away from loose powder eye shadow because they intimidate me and so did this bronzer. Well, long story short, this will not be a part of my makeup arsenal. It is too shimmery for my liking. It looks a lot like an eyeshadow but does not look good as an eyeshadow. I will pass on this.

For my Gloss Moderne High-Gloss Masque review, please take a look at my BB Box 1 review here.

I am in loooove with Harvey Prince Hello. I got another HP scent in my BB Box 1 and I loved that one also. Hello makes me feel extremely happy and pretty. I can really smell the citrus notes but just subtly. I smell the sweet flowers the most with a hint of vanilla. It really is a nice fragrance and I will be purchasing the full size.

I adore Stila. I have been using Stila since Jr. High and it is still a staple in my makeup brand rotation. I am also a lip gloss junkie! But unforch I am not a Stila lip gloss fan. I received a Stila Lip Glaze in Camera from the It's Go Time Glaze Trio collection and I already knew I wouldn't like it. All my prior Stila glazes were thick, goopy and not a good look. I also am not a fan of this color. Its an extra glittery, gold red color that just is not for me. I'm sure a lot of girls would like this but this was a dud for me.

For my Lärabar Über bar and Birchbox Exclusive Earbuds reviews, go to my BB Box 1 post here.

Not the best box but also not the worst. I cannot wait to get my August boxes!

I give this box 2 out of 5 stars.

xoxoMarshie

July's Glamour Magazine x Birchbox: Box 1

See it, hear it, taste it, touch it & smell it

What is this?
Birchbox
How much is this?
$10 a month
Where can I get this?
https://www.birchbox.com (FYI this is my referral link)

This month Birchbox teamed up with Glamour Magazine to bring us a box full of sensory overload. They wanted us to welcome in the Summer with a multi-sensory experience by focusing in on the 5 senses with this month's box. Something to see, hear, taste, touch and smell. Did it deliver? On to the goods!

In my July box:
*Color Club mini Summer Pastel in Blue-Ming
*Gloss Moderne High-Gloss Masque
*Harvey Prince Eau Flirt in Lavender Pumpkin
*Manna Kadar Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion
*Suki Balancing Kit
*Lärabar Über bar in Roasted Nut Roll
*Birchbox Exclusive Earbuds

This month I received 7 items in my box, two of which are Lifestyle Extras. I got 2 see it, 2 touch it, 1 smell it, 1 taste it and one hear it. Interesting! This is box 1 of 2 boxes. Let's see what I got!

This is like my third Color Club mini I have gotten from BB. Not complaining at all! In fact, I love these tiny polishes. Color Club is such a great brand and Blue-Ming is such a gorgeous color. Although it says its a part of the Summer Pastel collection, I think this color was a part of CC's Blossoming collection for Spring. Blue-Ming is more green than blue in my opinion. Its a beautiful bright blue-green creme. It went on a bit streaky on the first coat but the second coat was perfect. Its a nice addition to my collection.

I had never heard of Gloss Moderne until I got this sample. I am not big on hair stuff unless its yummy smelling shampoos, shine spray or anti-frizz stuff. I personally wouldn't have thought of even trying this but then I took a whiff of it. It smells soooo good! It has a soft coconut smell to it and the best part is that even the next day I could still smell it in my hair. The masque is a moisture treatment to smooth, soften and add shine to damaged, frizzy hair. Its also not fussy like other hair masks I have used. First shampoo your hair, rinse, put some High-Gloss Masque in your hair, tend to other fun shower stuff for 5 minutes and rinse! Now you have soft and shiny hair.

I am in love with all of the Harvey Prince scents! I was lucky enough to get two different ones this month and this Lavender and Pumpkin perfume is amazing. It actually doesn't smell like either lavender or pumpkin when you smell it in the bottle. But after a while of it being on my skin, quite subtle but notable. This scent is sweet, a bit fruity, a tad spicy and once its been on it becomes sweeter and softer. I will be buying this in full size soon.

I had heard really good things about Manna Kadar's Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion and was super stoked to get it in my box. Its basically a liquid highlighter that you can use alone or mixed in with liquid foundation. I absolutely love using highlighter, not too much of course, on the bridge of my nose, cupid's bow and the top of my cheeks so I knew I would need to try this ASAP. I guess every BB got the same color, Paradise which is a really nice bronzy gold color. I really like this a lot. You only need a little bit because a little goes a long way. I personally use it alone but I would use it mixed in with my foundation. Great product.

I seriously rolled my eyes when I saw 5 little foil packets in my box. I had always thought that BB swore to never send foil packet samples but I guess I was wrong. I had these in the DO NOT WANT box I have since I tend to break out when I mess with my skin routine. I decided to try out at least the scrub cleanser just so I could say I tried it. My face felt amazing! Squeaky clean and so fresh. The Suki Balancing Regimen sample packets included the Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser, Concentrated Balancing Toner, Balancing Day Lotion, Pure Facial Moisture and Transformative Cleansing Clay. I went on and tried every single product and I can honestly say I will be buying the kit from the BB site. The Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser is foamy (duh!) and smells like lemon. It seriously made my face feel so clean and clear from gunk. Besides the yummy smell I really liked the foaming action. I used the Balancing Toner despite my dislike for them. It has the same lemony scent as the cleanser and it was nice. No stinging and no tightness afterwards. The Pure Facial Moisture was awesome! I think this is my fave out of the entire sample packets. Its in an oil form yet it is non-comedogenic, non-greasy and is lightweight. Its supposed to balance oil production, moisturize, calm irritation and fight bacteria. Its a shame I wasted a lot in one application because of the packet it came in and over half of the sample poured out. Either way, I highly recommend it. The Balancing Day Lotion is another amazing product. I noticed my skin look more "perky" after using this 2 days in a row. Its super lightweight, very moisturizing and non-greasy. What I love about the Cleansing Clay is that its not only a mask but also a cleanser and spot treatment for blemishes. Score! I am so glad I got these.

The Lärabar Über bar was okay. Nothing special.

I am using my Birchbox Exclusive Earbuds as I type. They aren't fancy or super awesome but I love them. I love the bright colors! Not the best made buds but hey, I cannot complain.

WHEW! What a long review. I absolutely loved my first BB. I enjoyed the whole play on the 5 senses and I like when they team up with someone. Hopefully next month is awesome as well.

I give my box 5 stars out of 5! YES!

xoxoMarshie

July's MyGlam Bag

Beach Beauty!

What is this?
MyGlam
How much?
$10 a month
Where can I get it?
http://myglam.com/  

This month's MyGlam bag arrived a bit late but I was fine with it when I learned MG is no longer shipping from California but from North Carolina. First time getting my MG from the new shipping center and I hope next month it goes a bit smoother. Anyway, July's bag was filled with Beach ready beauty items. I absolutely am in love with this bag itself. Its a really cute pink multicolored striped, zippered, mesh bag. I am so used to getting stinky or bags on the brink of falling apart so this was a really nice surprise. Besides the bag, the items featured were awesome too. Think lip stains instead of lip stick and moisturizer with SPF.

In my July MyGlam bag:
*Juice Beauty Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer
*NuMe Hydro Punch Hydrating Conditioner
*Yes to Cucumbers On-The-Go Facial Towlettes
*Circus by Andrea's Choice Nail Color in Reverso
*Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip & Cheek Stain in Jitterbug

What a bag! Yes to Cucumbers, Josie Maran and Juice Beauty all in one bag? Good job MyGlam! On to the reviews.

I am a fan of Juice Beauty, especially their cleansers and moisturizers. Well lucky me because I got a Green Apple with SPF 15 moisturizer. Its nice but it smells nothing like green apple haha. It's more lemony, kind of like a furniture polish smell. Not bad at all honestly because its subtle. Other than that, it's a nice moisturizer. It is made with certified organic ingredients, not too thick, no white residue from the SPF, absorbs fast and contains age-defying peptides. I actually need an SPF moisturizer to wear well underneath my makeup and to not break me out and so far so good. Not sure if I would buy this but its nice to try.

Thanks to my beauty subscription addiction, I have been getting into hair products a lot. I was glad to get to try the NuMe Hydrating Conditioner. I kind of wish they would have included the shampoo too because I hate using a conditioner from one brand/line with a totally different shampoo. Either way, I really like this conditioner. Not only does it smell good but my hair looked great. I used it with my Fekkai Glossing Shampoo and I really liked how shiny and smooth my hair looked and felt. The Hydrating Conditioner is paraben and paraffin free, can be used on color treated hair, has Moroccan Argan Oil, Bamboo Extract, Sage Extract and SERATIN-K Protein Complex. In the end, no way anything can replace my love for the Fekkai Glossing line but I would buy this.

I love everything and anything from the Yes to lines! For a whole year I was obsessed with buying everything from the Yes to Carrots line. And from then I bought everything from the Yes to Cucumbers, Yes to Tomatoes lines and just recently I began buying stuff from the Yes to Blueberries line. I use a Yes to Lip Butter every single day and keep a Yes to Gloss on hand. Yes, its that good! I love the Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Facial Towlettes. Not only do they work great at removing makeup and whatever else is on the face but I love that they are paraben-free, 98% Natural, hypoallergenic and they smell so yummy! I still prefer to wash my face but if these are a great alternative. 2 thumbs up for Yes to.

I was sooo stoked when I saw I was getting a nail polish in my bag this month. MyGlam got the exclusive on Circus by Andrea's Choice. The colors that were sent were either yellow (Somersault) or white (Reverso), which I got. I was hoping for yellow but there's nothing wrong with adding a white to my collection. First of all, let me say how cute the packaging is. The polish came inside a canister with a logo sticker on the outside and I thought that was pretty neat. The polish is a full size (.45 fl oz) and is not yet available for purchase. MyGlam subscribers got the first ones! The formula is good. It goes on smooth but since this is a white, its very streaky. I do have to say, even with a base and top coat, it peeled or chipped on most of my nails by the end of the day. I wouldn't mind trying another color from this collection and see if maybe it was just the white.

This month's MyGlam bag was really good! I hope they keep it up and keep listening to what we have to say.

Five stars for MyGlam! :D

xoxoMarshie

July's BEAUTYBAR.com Sample Society Box

July's Beauty Bar's Sample Society

What is this?
BEAUTYBAR.com with Allure Magazine's Sample Society
How much?
$15 a month
Where can I get it?
http://www.beautybar.com/ 

*sigh* I actually put off on doing a review of this month's SS box. Not because I was lazy but because I really don't know what to say other than BLAH. I feel bad for being so underwhelmed by SS because it was literally my #1 beauty sub. But the last 2-3 boxes, I feel so sad when I open them. What makes me sadder is the lack of use of the $15 off $50 gift code I get every month. At least I am enjoying my free year sub to Allure Magazine. Let's see what exactly my box contained.

In my July Sample Society box:
*Borghese Tono Body Crème
*vBEAUTÉ Eye Never Nourishing Repair Eye Crème
*Sisley-Paris Hydra Global Intense Anti-Aging Hydration
*Vincent Longo Duo Eye Pencil in Sangria/White Glimmer
*Jouer Cosmetics Luminizing Moisture Tint SPF 20 in Bronzed

Once again, I don't really know what the theme is supposed to be. Anti-aging? Moisturizing? Either way, I only liked and used two products out of the five I got and I don't know how that makes me feel. On to the reviews.

The Borghese Body Crème reminds me of my grandma and mom. I don't mean that in a bad way but that is what I thought when I saw this. This creme is supposed to lock in moisture and improve the texture and appearance of the skin by firming and smoothing. That's great! It feels okay on the skin and isn't oily and is very rich. But the scent is not a good one. It reminds me of medicine. Needless to say, this is sitting in my mom's cabinet as I type. Oh well.

This is the second tube of vBEAUTÉ Eye Never Eye Crème I have received in a beauty box. That's nice and all but let me honest here, I wouldn't buy this. Not because it isn't good, which I'm sure it works nicely, but I cannot see myself spending $85 for 0.5 oz of this. Like I said in my original review of this on my Glossybox post, if I could get more than one use I would probably be able to tell if it's worth it or not. But since I only ever get one use of the tiny tubes I can't give a proper review.

I heard awesome stuff about the Sisley Anti-Aging Hydration Moisturizer. In fact, I hear great stuff about everything Sisley makes and also how pricey everything is. No lies detected! For 1.4 oz of this wonder moisturizer you would pay $250 on beautybar.com. First off, let me say that this is an awesome moisturizer! Super light weight, not oily or greasy, super hydrating and quick absorbing. Yes, it has two downfalls though. One, price and two, the medicine scent it has and that it leaves on your skin. I am glad I got to try a great Sisley product and got my luxury on but this is a no go for me.

I don't use lip liner. I have a few in my makeup collection but mostly are nude or rosy colored and they are unused. I know what the point to liner is but I usually wear balms or glosses so I see no point in me using one. Despite the fact that I don't use it, I was stoked to be getting a Vincent Longo Lip Liner. I have a soft spot for Vincent Longo because one of my first concealers was a Vincent Longo. Plus, its a great brand and makes top notch makeup. But this lip pencil color is so not for me. On one side I got a reddish wine color (Sangria) and on the other side a glittering white (White Glimmer). Wait, white lip pencil? What do I do with this? Honestly, I don't like wine colors and I don't know what to do with the white side. Maybe highlight my cupid's bow? Either way, this was a bummer for me. I'll pass this on.

This is the second time the Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint makes an appearance in my beauty boxes (See my June BB post). And I couldn't be any happier. I personally love this tint and I will happily take every sample of it that is sent my way. This one was way bigger than the one I got in my BB box and is came in the same color (Bronzed). Plus, customer service over at Jouer is on point! They seriously are super delightful and helpful. I emailed to ask a question about the colors of the LMT's and they offered to send me some samples. Yay! This is a great base for foundation or can even be worn alone if you just want a super sheer and luminizing cover. I love the added SPF and do mind the "sparkle" aspect of it. If you want to try it, I suggest emailing Jouer and asking for samples so you too can try this beauty out.

Am I disappointed this month? Yes! Will I be canceling? No, not yet. I hope SS gets back on track because I know they can do so much better.

This box gets 2 stars out of 5. Maybe next month will be better.

xoxoMarshie

June's Summer Simplicity Glossybox

June's Summer Simplicity Glossybox

The goods

Laid Out

What is this?
Glossybox USA
How much is this?
$21 a month (Taxes where applicable)
Where can I get this?
http://www.glossybox.com/


Finally got my second Glossybox. Kind of underwhelming but not too bad. The wait was really bad this month. The fact that I got my June box in July is not cute and I also got charged for my July box weeks before I even got this box. That really turned me off and question my love for Glossybox. And since its the most expensive beauty box I subscribe to it could go either way. Maybe I'll stay, maybe I won't. I have to honest, I am on the fence.


In my June Glossybox:
*Ahava Mineral Botanic Hibiscus & Fig Velvet Cream Wash
*First Aid Beauty Smooth Shave Cream
*Ofra Cosmetics Eye Shadow ICE in Dumb Plum
*vBEAUTÉ Lite Up, Buying Time & Eye Never
*Wella Professionals Enrich Moisturizing Treatment
*A Perfume Organic in Urban Organic

Each product featured this month is meant to help you get back to basics and let your natural skin glow. With Summer here and the weather heating up, simplicity is best. On to the goods!

Some of my fellow ladies at Makeup Talk had a big mess on their hands this months with the Ahava Cream Wash. Some had the wash spill everywhere and on everything! Fortunately for me, mine was in perfect condition and I am so glad it was. It is seriously one of the best body washes I've ever used. It smells OH SO GOOD! I can't even describe it but it is sweet and yummy. What I love the most about it is the lathering. It lathers up really good and gives a really good wash. I will be buying full sizes of this one.

When I first saw the First Aid Beauty Smooth Shave Cream I groaned. I didn't know what I would do with it. It comes in a tube where as all my other shave creams or gels come in cans or pump bottles. I have been using Eos Shave Cream for a couple of years now and I wasn't looking for a change but I decided to give this a try. Its a little goopy and really weird at first but I got the hang of it quick. I tried it on one leg and it was seriously a really good shave. The razor truly just glides and gives a close shave without any nicks. Not only that but I also noticed the stubble that grows back by the next day wasn't really noticeable. In fact, I could have gone without shaving for at least two days. I might have to pick a full size when I run out of my Eos.

I was stoked to find out we were getting either a mascara or an eyeshadow in the boxes this month. When I got my box, I was seriously disappointed. The Ofra Cosmetics Eye Shadow I got was definitely not for me. Dumb Plum is a really dark purpley color in a tube. Its a very high pigmented cream eyeshadow that doesn't look good in the tube or out. I'm an earthy, jewel or grey toned kind of girl so a really dark color isn't for me. Some of the ladies I know are using this a base so I'll probably try that. Either way, this was a NO for me.

The sizes of the vBEAUTÉ samples I got are super tiny! But after seeing the prices for the full sizes I understand completely. Although my samples were really empty and hardly enough for one use I was pretty excited to try them. I got Lite Up ($150/1.0 fl oz), Buying Time ($135/1.7 oz) and Eye Never ($85/0.5 fl oz) in my box. I tried Eye Never first and there's not much to say. It was like any other eye cream I have tried. Since I only had enough for one application I won't be able to say if I like it or not. I have to say the same for Lite Up and Buying Time. Wish I could have at least enough for a week to see if I like them or not. Either way, this girl cannot afford these.

The Wella Moisturizing Treatment is a meh for me. I mean, I know a lot of girls that love this type of thing but I really am not too fuzzy with my hair. The Wella Moisturizing Treatment is used after shampooing and you have to leave it in for 5 minutes and rinse. I used it and I will be honest, my hair felt softer and had a nice sheen to it. I wouldn't run out and buy this but I like what it did to my hair. So if you are in the market for a mask type treatment for your hair, this is a nice one.

Last but not least, the extra that was thrown into my box. *sigh* This is hands down one of the worst smelling perfumes I have ever came in contact with. I hate to sound rude but EWWW! No offense to anyone that liked it but I could have done without this. A Perfume Organic in Urban Organic is more of an oil than a regular perfume and is supposed to have a 'sweet lemon sorbet with bourbon, tangy lime peel, basil, and ginger' scent. Uh, not really. I can't really explain what it smells like to me but it isn't pleasant. And to top it off, my vial was tiny and half empty.

This month's Glossybox was a letdown. I really fell in love with the Ahava Cream Wash and liked the First Aid Shave Cream but the rest were duds. I will be giving Glossybox at least 2 more months to clean up all the shipping and charging issues and I am done.

All in all this box gets a 2 out of 5 stars. Can't win them all.

xoxoMarshie