Birchbox September 2016 Review

My September Birchbox is here!! This one of my favorites as they celebrate their 5 year anniversary it marks another anniversary for me getting Birchbox. I also love the confetti-design box as it screams party and fun! Ok onto the contents...

I chose the MILK makeup Lip + Cheek sample.. gorgeous pink tint that can be used as a blush or lip colour.. I am liking it more for my cheerks though. I also received the Beautiful Nutrition Lemon Rinse, R+Co Cleansing Foam Conditioner, Elizabeth Mott Volumizing Mascara and a Bioderma Sebium H2O (aka makeup remover) sample.  

My favorites of this box is definitely the MILK makeup sample as this is the perfect color to bring me rosy cheeks and the R+Co conditioner..never tried a foam formula before and it is amazingly easy to use. I think I can get used to this!

Birchbox July 2016 review

Even after the whole Birchbox ending their review points after July uproar in the subscription box community, I decided to continue with my sub and see what goodies I will continue to get. After all, I have the annual plan and tons of points I have racked up I need to use. I will sorely miss it and my end of the year shopping sprees, but I've had Birchbox for 5 years already! Wow! 

Lots of cleansers this month- Oribe shampoo/conditioner samples for the hair, Clinique facial cleanser and Marcelle 3in1 Micellar makeup remover! I chose the Benefit They're Real lengthening mascara :) not too shabby of a box but I am looking forward to August's box to bring it! 

Birchbox May 2016 review

My May Birchbox review looks promising with brands I'm already familiar such as Benefit and Dr. Brandt but with new products! (Except for Avene's refreshing water spray! I already tried this and love it!)

Excited to be upgrading my brows with Benefits new gimme brow Volumizing fiber gel. To help cleanse and exfoliate my skin, I'll be sloughing dead skin cells away with Dr. Brandt's poreDermabrasion! So far, so good! I e also got 2 sunscreen options this month- Lavanila's Healthy sunscreen sports lux with sweat -proof technology or IPKN's BB cream option for correcting coverage. Either way can't go wrong, will just need to assess my day. :) 

And when my skin is crying of sweat because of the insane heat we are experimenting in SoCal, I will happily spray the Avene thermal spring wate. I've already finished a bottle last summer so I know this stuff is amazing! 

Looking forward to next month's box. After July, it will be difficult as the point system is changing (aka no more points to review products in August...) hope the boxes will be awesome!!

March Birchbox reveal

Happy April! I'll start this month with revealing last month's Birchbox! It was a well-rounded beauty box that had items from skincare, haircare to makeup. 

Skincare:

Juara's radiance exfoliant scrub

WilmaSchumann's collagen eye pads

Haircare:

No.4 shampoo & conditioner

Makeup:

TreStiQue color and smudge eye pencil

Smashbox primer oil

Excited to see my April Birchbox!

November Birchbox review

This month's curated Birchbox was with Tati from GlamLifeGuru on YouTube! I adored the picks that came in this box with lots of great essentials for the winter (even though it is around 70s in SoCal!)

Here's what I got:

The dry shampoo is now a staple in my #mommylife and excited to try this from Living Proof. Other essentials to keep looking revitalized from the sleepless nights is the Shiseido eye concentrate (goodbye bags!), Jouer lip enhancer (hello moisturized lips!) and the Avene hydrating serum (hello beautiful skin!). I honest feel like this box was made for me and couldn't have come at a better time!

Also excited to get the shadow stick from LOC-Birchbox's own line of Beauty products! It's a shimmery golden colour that is perfect for the night out and to instantly "glam" your look. 

November is all about giving thanks and all those warm fuzzy feelings! While I'm particularly loving this box, I still can't wait to see what's in store for next month's!

August Birchbox review

August has come and gone, but I am still loving my end of the summer goodies from my Birchbox. I chose the curated box with Nicole Ritchie and loved it!

The nail polish I can still transition to and wear in the Fall.

July Birchbox- Bright & Beachy box

It's time to get Bright & Beachy this month! Birchbox's curated box contains the following items to get you equipped for your summer, beachy vacays:

Stila's stay all day liquid lipstick- this bright pink shade gives you the POP of color to get someone's attention. If it's too bright, mix it with a nude color to tone it down a bit. 

Juara's Radiance Enzyme scrub- to get your skin glowing, you gotta exfoliate first. This scrub is amazing and smells great too!

oribe Après Beach spray- made my hair actually feel "beachy" with just the right amount of shine and glow.

balm desert bronzer- love this brand and this bronzer is very wearable as a contour as well.

supergoop serum- allergic to this so couldn't try it :(

May Birchbox and Ipsy Reveals

For the month of May, I got the following in my Birchbox and Ipsy subscriptions.

Birchbox: Chosen sample was the Naobay moisturizing lotions

Ipsy bag: Jetsetter themed 

Each subscription is $10/month and includes free shipping. Each box/bag will vary in products depending on the style profile/quiz provided to them. I'm pleased with both subscriptions this month as I enjoy the variety. (I don't mind double moisturizers either since I love using them.)

Stay tuned for my June reveals!

April Birchbox Review

This month, Birchbox teamed up with Rifle Paper Co. to create these beautiful boxes and special add-on products (in which I didn't purchase.) The 2 curated boxes were in partnership with the show Mad Men (which I didn't get also.)

Instead I got these 2 boxes below which I'm not too crazy about since there's dupes! (The Beaver shampoo/conditioner)

My favorites from both boxes are:

Jouer lip and cheek tint!

Cynthia Rowley's Brightening Illuminator 

LAQA & CO's Lip Lube

Definitely going to select a sample choice next month! Haven't joined Birchbox yet? Join today! 

As always, each review of your product will earn you 10 points that you can accumulate to use in the Birchbox shop (50 points per month= $5!)

Better Than Before Book Review

As part of this month's Birchbloggers Book Club, I received the book Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives. This book intrigued me from the moment I heard the title. Can I really be better than before? Not to say that I was already my best version but it seems like it was hard to change my ways since I've been so used to do my daily, routine life already. Then it got me thinking about my habits and about my usual to-dos that I don't think twice about anymore.

This book is a must-read especially if there are things you want to start doing in your life- for example, start exercising or cooking more. There are different reasons as to why you're motivated to do something and it's important to understand what those factors are. Are they external factors such as exercising to meet up with a friend or internal factors such as cooking to stay healthy.

The book starts off with understanding yourself and how you respond to expectations. It then moves onto the pillars of habits- Monitoring, Foundation, Scheduling, and Accountability. The best part of the book is to review different strategies to achieve and create those habits you've been wanting to incorporate in your life. I found this book to be completely thought provoking and so interesting.

Thanks to Birchbox and their Birchbloggers Book Club for letting me learn more about myself. There's a few habits that I'm working on and will be using the tips I learned from this book!

Look forward to next month's read!!

March Birchbox Review

The Beauty Solutions box from Birchbox this month had the perfect mix of beauty and skincare products I was looking for. It also contained one of my fave skincare brands DermaE and was excited to try their brightening day crew with SPF15.

Here's what else I got:

-Dear Clark Volumizing Tonic to get your limp hair extra oomph

-Whish body butter in almomd

-SuperGoop eye cream (sample was too small though)

-Laura Geller beauty baked mineral blush

For $10 a month and the opportunity to get $5 back to use in the Birchbox shop, this is a steal! Love their points/reward program and these travel samples to bring with on a weekend getaway or in my purse! 

Check out birchbox.com today and join!!

February Birchbox with Rent the Runway

This month, I chose the specially curated Birchbox with Rent the Runway. I haven't received these items before, except another shade of Sumita eyeliner, so I was excited to try these products! 

Here's what I got:

- Fekkai Blowout dry shampoo

- Derma E anti-wrinkle glycolic scrub

- Sumita eyeliner in navy

- theBalm lip gloss

- Soap Radio bodywash

Get your very own Birchbox for $10/month here today!

January Birchbox review

My January Birchbox came with 5 awesome products. Themed, "Let's Do This!", January is all about getting you in the right track for the new year. 2015 is going to be full of fun and surprises. :) All the products I got this month were to keep my skin, lips and hair moisturized for this winter month.

My chosen item was the Tocca hand cream in Cleopatra which I am loving! The grapefruit and cucumber combo smells great and feels super luxurious.. 

Other goodies in the box included:

- Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream- made of 99% natural ingredients.. feels light and creamy

- It's a 10® Miracle Leave-In Product Plus Keratin- haven't  used this yet

- MyChelle Advanced Argan Oil- love argan oil as a facial moisturizer

- Manna Kadar Lip Locked - smallest sample ever!! The color is a perfect rose colour for everyday and keeps my lips feeling moisurized. 

Want your own Birchbox? Get yours today here!

December Birchbox vs. Ipsy boxes

December came and went, and I realized I didn't post my beauty boxes. I got my ipsy bag mid- month and Birchbox after the 20th so the holidays got the best of my posting. I was quite pleased with both boxes but I'll let you be the judge of which box was better!

Birchbox: 

There were technically 7 different samples, but one was a fragrance (English Laundry Signature for Her) which I never count and two were one time use foil packets (Davines Replumping Shampoo and Conditioner which were considered extras). My December pick was the W3LL People Bio Brightening stick sample (in the little jar) which is simply amazing! A tip I learned from one of Birchbox's video was to use this as a base for eyeshadow. (love it!) I also received the Mirenesse Mattfinity Lip Rouge, Royal Apothecary Cuppa Cuppa treatment mask and the Davines Replumping Superactive. Overall, this was the perfect box to end the year. Tons of hair samples as well as a facial, lip gloss, brightening and fragrance sample to make it a nice and well rounded box.

Get your Birchbox today! 

Ipsy:

My Ipsy bag had a nice mix of makeup samples, an eyelash curler and a basic black makeup bag. From all the samples that were available, these were my top 5 picks, so I am pleased with what I got. From left to right:
- Swissco Electroplated Eyelash Curler (needed a new one so this was perfect!)
- Pixi by Petra- Fairy Dust
- Beauty without Cruelty- facial cleanser
- Tarte deluxe lights, camera, lashes 4-in-1 mascara
- NYX butter lip balm
Get your Ipsy bag today!

Which bag was did you like better? I felt both bags had different samples so they actually complemented and updated my current routine (as always each month!) Overall, love both and probably can't see myself parting from either of them. :)

November Birchbox review

Here's a peek at my November Birchbox!

It came in this month's #shaRED packaging to help fight AIDS with Birchbox + RED. 

Get your box today for $10/month here!

October Birchbox Review

My October Birchbox came mid-October and I was thrilled with it! I decided to wait until I tried all the products before I wrote my review. My item selection was the Mally high shine liquid lipstick in Mally Melon. A gorgeous fruity color that delivers shine without stickiness. I already picked up an extra one from their Shop for a holiday gift... *insert excitement for the holidays*

I also got these 4 other samples (from left to right):

-Skin & Co. Sicilian Light serum- day brightening light- didn't see its effect really but it did feel nice and hydrating on my skin. 

- Lord & Berry sparkle black eyeliner- love the glitter! Not something I could wear everyday but definitely for the evening or a night out!

- Dr. Brandt pores no more Vacuum Cleaner- this is actually one of my favorite masks I've used to extract blackheads many years ago. Glad I got to try it again!

- Amika perk up dry shampoo- still using my other sample from a previous box but I tried this and it actually worked nicely to get rid of my oilies. 

Can't wait for my November box coming soon!!!

Sign up for your own box today at Birchbox.com!

September Birchbox Review

I finally got my Birchbox this month! Absolutely digging the new box design to celebrate their 4th anniversary- it's fresh and the colors pop so this box will be a keeper. ( hoping all boxes in the future will have special designs actually.)

I got 7 different samples this month so super happy about that!
Here's what I got:

Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée Cologne Absolue- I actually tried their Orange Sanguine scent back more than 2 years ago in my Birchbox, so glad I got another scent. Smells yummy!
TOCCA Crema da Mano Luxe - Hand Cream super rich and creamy..
R+Co BEL AIR Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner- I got this as my bonus extras. These sample packets will be great for travel
Harvey Prince Ageless Liquid Loofah Last month, I tried their body lotion and adore the grapefruit scent! It smells like heaven and it's invigorating to smell
Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate my sample choice for the month!!
Pixi by Petra Breath of Fresh Air Exclusive Lip Balm Birchbox gave me the shade, Honey Nectar and it's the perfect nude. It's completely wearable for everyday and really moisturizing.

This is one of the best boxes I have gotten so far.. I was actually looking at my history of Birchboxes.. lots of samples I had to go through but I really liked everything I received. Can't wait to keep using this.. I'm already excited about October!

Birchbox & CEW Limited Edition Best-in-beauty box

A new box had been revealed on Birchbox. Occasionally they launch special edition boxes with different themes, and this time, they teamed up with CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women Insiders’

Choice Beauty Awards) to choose items for this Best-in-Beauty bundle box.

Here's what's in the box: 

Mally Beauty’s High-Shine Liquid Lipstick Pen in Just Heaven 

Smashbox Cosmetics’ Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner in Storm 

dr. brandt® pores no more® pore refiner primer 

Josie Maran Cosmetics 100% Pure Argan Oil Light 

Supergoop!® Antioxidant-Infused Sunscreen Mist with Vitamin C, SPF 50 – Travel Size 

100% Pure Whipped Body Butter in Honey Almond

Get your box today on Birchbox! Or sign up for their monthly box for just $10/month.

August Birchbox review

This month's Birchbox, themed "Lighten Up" was a treat! Full of deluxe sized samples, this has got to be one of the better boxes from Birchbox this year!

We got to choose a sample again and I chose the Laura Geller Cool Lids eyeshadow in a silvery shade.

I also got the Ageless BodyCream from Harvey Prince which smells amazing, a nugg face mask in revitalizing which contains flaxseed and peppermint oil, and a Neil George shampoo and Conditioner set. I would have loved to get the Benefit Lollitint but many of the other products I have already tried!! :) 

The Nugg Mask is pretty amazing and I can't wait to pick up some more at my local Target.

Excited for next month's Birchbox!! I got mine delivered before the 10th which is amazing considering I got mine pretty late the prior month. 

Have you signed up ? Don't forget each month you can do reviews to get about ~$5 worth of points to shop on Birchbox.com!

Power Up with July's Birchbox

This month, Birchbox teamed up with Women's Health magazine for their #PowerUp box. Not only do you get a full year subscription to the magazine (or a $10 refund), but 4-5 awesome samples! This month, you were also able to choose a product- a Ruffian nail polish or a Cynthia Rowley lipgloss. Of course by the time I got to choose one, the color choices were sold out. I did get to snag a silver-taupe Ruffian polish (shade: Relic) which came with a polish remover towelettes sample.

Sign up for Birchbox today!

Here's what else I got:

- Benefits PosieBalm - light pink lip tint in the cutest packaging 

- Naobay body radiance lotion

- Real Chemistry luminous 3 minute peel

- Beauty Protector Protect & Treat Hair Mask ( 2 mini jars )

New to Birchbox? Don't forget to sign up here and enter code: WOMENSHEALTH100 to get 100 extra Birchbox points!! ( aka $10 to use in the shop)  After you get your box, you can review the products and earn 10 points per product! (~$5 per box)