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Subscription Review – Box of Style

July 7, 2015

I was so disappointed to have missed out on the first Box of Style (with that gorgeous Miansai cuff), that I decided to pay for a whole year of them back in April so I wouldn’t miss out on another great deal again. Well, my friends, it has been a LONG and impatient wait since then until today, when my summer shipment arrived. I am VERY impressed with the products that Rachel Zoe and her team selected this season. It contains beauty, fashion and styling items that I can’t wait to add to my closet and makeup regime. I hope you all enjoy!

First off, let’s start with this box. I will definitely be holding on to it, to store tights or whatnot, because it’s nice and sturdy and quite pretty too.

Everything comes wrapped up in black tissue paper, with a little guidebook to tell you more about what you’re getting.

The first thing I unwrapped is this uber colorful printed scarf/sarong/wrap from Mara Hoffman, created exclusively for Box of Style. It’s lightweight but not completely sheer, and the print is really interesting. It’s a bit floral, tropical, and tribal without being overwhelming. This will definitely be coming with me to Palm Springs later this week. Retail value:$98

Too Faced Sun Bunny Bronzer – I like that this bronzer has a hint of shimmer to it, and that you can use just the lighter shade to highlight. Most of the bronzers I use are totally matte, so this will mix things up a bit. Retail value: $30

Too Faced La Crème Lipstick in Spice Spice Baby. I have one of these in a gorgeous nude shade called Naked Dolly that I am obsessed with. Nice, soft scent, beautiful shiny (but not overtly so) finish, and it lasts for hours. Excited to try this neutral shade as well. Retail value: $22

O.R.G. Skincare Organic Mineral Face Peel
I’ve never heard of this brand, but, like Rachel and her team, I’m obsessed with exfoliating in the summer. Feet get all cracked, elbows and knees get ashy, facial skin gets dull.. Exfoliation cures all of these things! Along with proper moisturizing, of course 😉 Retail value: $44

Bristols 6 Nippies
I won’t lie, these were a little jarring to see in my box at first… Then I realized how useful they could be in summer when I start breaking out all of my strapless, racerback, and sheer tops. Retail value: $26

Last but not least, the “hero” item, this lovely white leather bag from Cambridge Satchel Company. I missed out on their after-Thanksgiving blowout sale last year and thought that maybe it wasn’t meant to be that I owned a bag from this brand. I love that they chose summer’s “it” shade of white for the bag, and also a bag of moderate size to really carry everything you should need. Mine arrived with a slight indent on the right side in the front, but the boyfriend has assured me that it will soften out with wear, so I’m not worried about it. Retail value: $150

Total value for all items: $370!
So not to say that this awkward-quarterly (July, September, December and March) service is cheap.. But it’s a great deal for all of the expertly curated, useful items that you get. A one-time purchase goes for $100, while an annual subscription will set you back $350. Yes, it’s a lot of money. But for me at least, I know that I’m saving money overall by not feeling like I need to go buy a new lipstick or pool accessory or handbag because I got this box of gorgeous things that I unwrapped like Christmas presents. I haven’t had to deal with their customer service department, so I can’t speak to how they deal with customers, but that’s not a bad thing to say that I haven’t had a problem. I have to give this service a very enthusiastic thumbs up!
😀

Birchbox vs Ipsy Roundup

July 2, 2015

Whew, this post has been a long time coming!
I’ve still been photographing my monthly loot from Birchbox & Ipsy to compare the two beauty subscription services. I’m actually contemplating not renewing my Birchbox subscription, just because I feel like a lot of things are repeating and I’m not getting the value that I do with Ipsy. I hope these comparisons help if you’ve been trying to decide which service to start up! 🙂

June

I first have to say that I really like the neoprene-like texture of this Ipsy bag!
Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
J. Cat Beauty Liptitude Hydrating Lip Stain – This stuff is SO vivid! I didn’t realize when it was in the tube how bright it would be, but it’s definitely not a casual-wearing lip color. Now 25% off with code “ipsy615”
Lavanila Laboratories Body Butter in Pure Vanilla
tre’StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon
IT Cosmetics Brow Powder Pencil

So, double bonus this month, Birchbox sent to me TWO of the Hello Body Creams! Woohoo! I really do like the light, citrusy scent of these creams, so it’s awesome to be able to have a couple of these guys to take with my on trips.
Harvey Prince Hello Body Cream
Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow – This stuff looked super orangey on me at first but then seemed to blend with my skin and cast this lovely tan, blemish-free glow.
Real Chemistry Luminous 3-Minute Peel – this product is rad!! Right after you start rubbing it around, little balls of dead skin (eww!) start forming and after a few minutes of massaging, you rinse clean and are left with smooth, fresh, baby soft skin.
Oribe Cote d’Azur Fragrance – I’ll admit.. I waited about two minutes after putting this gorgeous-smelling fragrance on before checking online for it’s price, only to discover that it was already sold out! I got added to the waitlist and about a week later, it was available and in my shopping cart!
Davines Hair & Body Wash

June’s winner – TIE! I’m obsessed with the Oribe fragrance, and love that I got a little extra in this month’s box. I also really like the lip stain from Ipsy and that scuba makeup bag.

May

Ipsy – Also, a super cute canvas-y bag.
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil & High Color Glosses
Amie Morning Dew Matte Finish Moisturizer
BellaPierre Gel Eyeliner in Ebony
Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray
Luxie Beauty Tapered Blending Eye Brush #205

Birchbox
Juara Candlenut Body Crème
Cotz Flawless Complexion SPF 50
Number 4 Blow Dry Lotion
Marcelle Hydra C Energizing Hydrating Gel
W3ll People Expressionist Mascara – I HATED this mascara with a passion.. It’s dry, thin, barely noticeable on lashes, took 3 coats to actually be able to see anything and then it transferred to my lower lashline after only a couple hours.

May’s Winner – IPSY!
Great variation of products, and the offerings from Birchbox were just not exciting.

April

Ipsy
LOVE this bag.. So fun and colorful and could even work for a date night clutch!
The Balm Nude Dude Eyeshadow – This color is phenomenal… I use it as a crease shade. It’s this shimmery muted plummy brown that can work as a neutral or, in heavier doses, as a great smoky eye shade.
Olive Natural Beauty The Olive Lip Balm – Moisturizing with a nice, soft scent.
Julie G Nail Color
KCO Colors Cream Lipstick – Unfortunately, this was sent to me damaged, but it’s a nice color that I continue to use with a lip brush.
Mica Beauty Eye Primer

Birchbox
I’ve been a fan of Rifle Paper for a while, and was excited to receive this collaborative box. I’ll be holding on to it to store knick-knacks or office supplies.
Whish Shaving Cream – One of my least favorite products that I keep receiving from Birchbox. It irritates my skin and does nothing in the way of moisturizing when I shave.
Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive Moisturizing Shampoo
Laqa & Co. Sheer Lip Lube Pencil – Love this minty-smelling, pretty pink shiny lip stain. It’s softening and such a fantastic color for summer.
Jouer Tint
Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive Repairing Conditioner

April’s winner – TIE! Love the generous travel sizes of shampoo & conditioner in the Birchbox and the sheer lip tint is great, from Ipsy, that makeup bag and the eyeshadow are keepers!

March

Birchbox
Laura Gellar Baked Blush & Brighten – I already had a larger version of this that I bought in a kit, and while I do enjoy the product, I think $31 is just a bit much to pay for blush.
Supergoop Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream – I’ve been using this product for about a week and do enjoy it. It’s not too thick or heavy, and I like the idea of adding SPF for even more protection around the eyes.
Whish Three Wishes Body Butter
Derma E Evenly Radiant Brightening Day Crème – Another product I was not a fan of. This cream left my skin sticky and like it had a coating over it. Not pleasant at all.
Dear Clark Volumizing Tonic – This is a great volumizing spray. I add it about halfway through my blow-dry to add some thickness and texture. It bulks up hair without making it crunchy.

Ipsy
Boo Boo Cover Up in Medium – no clue why I was sent a cover-up in any shade that was not fair/pale/ivory, etc. I have no use for this because it’s at least 3-4 shades darker than I am.
Vintage by Jessica Liebeskind Illuminating Face Highlighter
NYX Butter Lipstick – this shade is a medium-dark purple shade that, with the right outfit, it actually pretty flattering!
Pur-lisse Gentle Soymilk Cleanser and Makeup Remover
Dr. Brandt Pores No More Anti-Aging Mattifying Lotion

March’s winner – Birchbox! This was almost a tie, as I wasn’t particularly impressed by either collection of products, but Birchbox edged out in front with that pretty highlighter.

February

Ipsy
City Color Creamy Lip Stain – this stuff is gorgeous, really well-pigmented and it stays on for hours. It has a light vanilla scent too.
Emite Makeup Eyelash Curler – I don’t use curlers frequently and already have a couple floating around so I likely won’t get much use out of this.
Mitchell & Peach Fine Radiance Face Oil
ModelCo BLUSH Cheek Powder – this line is really nice as well, and the pinky shade is quite pretty on my fair skin.
EVA NYC Up All Night Volumizing Spray – this stuff really does work in volumizing hair but I did notice a bit of crunchiness/stiffness when using it.

Birchbox
Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner
TheBalm Read My Lips lipgloss in Pop – I really like the consistency of this gloss, but the tone is just a touch orange-y on me.
Not Soap, Radio Body Wash
Derma-E Anti-Wrinkle Vitamin A Glycolic Scrub
Fekkai Blowout Hair Refresher – This is a great between-shampoo hair refresher and the size is perfect for travel or a day trip when you need some touching up.

February’s winner – Ipsy! Love the cosmetics in this set, the blush and lip stain are very flattering on my complexion. The only thing I LOVED from the Birchbox was the hair refresher. I will definitely look for this after I run out.

So, all in all, Ipsy just slightly wins out over Birchbox, for me at least. Those more interested specifically in hair and skincare might find Birchbox the better option, while Ipsy is definitely more makeup-centric.

April Beauty Buys

May 11, 2015

This last month has definitely seen a wide variety of beauty buys.. I picked up some necessities like my all-time fave shaving cream and citrusy hand soap to some pick-me up items like cheery floral-print bobby pins and a roll-on perfume that makes me nostalgic for days spent beachside.
I’ll start with a new subscription box that I’ve started receiving, from the French-inspired brand, Jouer. It’s called Le Matchbox, and it’s full of skincare and cosmetics, delivered quarterly. It’s $45 for the ongoing membership, or $65 for a one-time box. I’ll be doing a full review once I’ve had a chance to use the products a bit more.
There was a note inside offering their apologies for being out of their trademark box, so they included this great makeup bag for the inconvenience! I love good customer service..

The details.. a gorgeous mini blush/bronzing brush, Daily Repair Treatment Oil (a $48 value!), Crème Eyeshadow Crayon in Abstract, a shimmery charcoal, Hydrating Lipstick in Whitney, travel eyelash curler, a sample of their gorrrgeous smelling Perfume Oil, Mineral Powder Blush. Overall, this box was a great value. I am already in love with the perfume oil and the lipstick. The blush is gorgeous, but is not glued to the pan, and the eyelash curler is VERY tricky to get undone, like I feel like I’m going to snap my fingers inside of it! I will be doing a full review soon 🙂

Next up, some summer essentials…
from Planet Beauty, Redken Extreme Anti-Snap.. This stuff was recommended to me by a friend, who shared that it was the best product on the market for repairing split ends.
From Amazon, Sun Bum’s SPF 30, Cool Down after sun lotion.. I love these products not only for their effectiveness, but for their incredible beachy yet luxe scent.
Lilly Pulitzer for Target bobby pins.. Literally the ONLY thing I got from this collaboration. I had my sights set on much more, but like so many others, got shafted with the online ordering at 1 am and didn’t want to ruin a Sunday morning with my honey by standing in line at 7 am. They’re super cute, so I’m not mad at it. From what I did see, the quality of the dresses was very subpar. I saw a caftan with the design completely off-center and some of the items with stitching coming undone. Meh.
EOS Shave Balm.. My absolute favorite shave cream. I will NEVER go back to foaming shave gel, this cream is the SH!T.
J.R. Watkins Grapefruit hand soap. Maybe it’s because I love sugary, citrusy scents in summer, maybe it’s because I enjoy saying Pamplemousse. Either way, I adore this stuff.

From Sephora –
Maison by Martin Margiela Replica Roll-on.. As soon as I smelled this beach-driven scent, I was taken back to some childhood memory I couldn’t quite place. It must be a good one, because I can’t stop sniffing my wrist whenever I wear this.
Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel.. An old standby and staple in my makeup bag.
Sephora Tinted Self-Tanning Body Mist.. I was going to try this today after my shower but noticed there were not instructions on the can! Not that spray tanning is rocket science, but it’s nice to see should I rub it in, how far away to spray from, how long before dressing, etc., so I’ll definitely have to look that up and report back.
I grabbed a couple skincare samples, along with a vial of Tory Burch’s fragrance, which I’d been waiting to try since it’s release.

Ok, so its not beauty-related, but I wanted to include these stationery items I’ve just gotten from Rifle Paper (Botanical Card Set/Hello Darling Stationery Set). They were purchased through one of the Lucky Breaks deal at 50% off, and I feel like this is just the start of my grown-up paper goods arsenal. The cards can be send to friends or colleagues for thank-yous, and the correspondence cards will come in use for a casual note that still makes a great impression.

Thanks for reading,
Kristin
😀

Ipsy vs Birchbox: Battle of the Beauty Subscriptions

April 17, 2014

It’s been so difficult for me to abstain for so long from putting away the products I’ve received from these monthly beauty subscription services! I had it in my mind though to hold off for a bit so I could do a bit of comparison between the two for people who are undecided. So without further ado, 4 months worth of beauty goodies (along with some item-specific insights) from Ipsy and Birchbox.

Ipsy’s April bag…
Beauty Rocks record-themed cosmetic pouch
Such A Tease False Lashes in So Seductive – I do have an issue generally applying false lashes, which is why I have a stockpile of them, so these will likely get tossed on top of the stack. Perhaps a giveaway is in order…
Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Apple Pink – At first glance, this packaging, with the brush built in to the top of the lid, made more sense for the eyeliner by the same brand. For a tinted lip balm, where precision is not required, a lip brush seems high maintenance and unnecessary. It also makes this product less portable. However, once applied, this product is more like the feel of a liquid lipstick, as it is quite pigmented and not very moisturizing, so the lip brush actually makes sense. The color (despite it’s name) is certainly leaning more towards soft coral than pink, which makes it ideal for spring and summer. I’m sure I’ll get some use out of this but I prefer a more moisturizing lip product.
City Color Mousse Eye Shadow in White Gold – I cheated and used this the first day I got it! It’s a light whipped and pigmented mousse, very easy to blend and a great cream shade with lots of gold shimmer and undertones.
St. Tropez Gradual Tan Multi-Action Face
Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Eye Pencil in Black Velvet – I was sooooo excited to get this “sample”! It’s nearly full-sized (.03 oz vs. .04 oz) and glides on and blends like a dream. I’ve yet to try a full-on smoky eye but considering how much I used my UD pencil in Zero, a smoldering matte version will definitely make it’s way into my beauty rotation.

April Birchbox – (comes housed in a simple brown logo box)
BijaBody Daily Body Serum – I will never understand companies that send out samples this miniscule. The directions state to “massage on to arms, legs, and anywhere else that needs a moisture boost.” Now, I am not the size of a Barbie doll, so the contents of this pump bottle will likely be able to cover my forearm and that’s about it. I also have a feeling that a body serum made with honey will leave me feeling more sticky than “luminous” but I’ll still give it a try.
Number 4 High Performance Hair Care Clarifying Shampoo and Reconstructing Masque – Only one of these is listed on the info card so I think the mask was an extra! I’ve yet to use these but I’m intrigued by the shampoo that claims to purify and cleanse hair without stripping moisture or dye. As a newly converted red-head, I’m cautious of mainstream shampoos that have the occasion to dull it’s vibrancy.
Color Club Art Duo Pen in White – Nifty idea, but the striper brush is imprecise and looks cheap when applied. I’ve yet to try the pen tool (a metal pin on the top), but it could be useful for nail art accents.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel – so stoked to try this! I’ve been hearing raves from beauty bloggers and fashion types for years, but have never made the dive. It’s $22 for essentially a clear mascara, but this is supposed to be a really GOOD clear mascara. I already use her powder and pencil brow-coloring products, so I’m looking forward to adding this in to my nighttime makeup repertoire.
Freebies this month were a Kind Maple Pumpkin Bar, which I will be taking with me to work for a quick breakfast or snack, and a card from Birchbox’s Rainy Day card set. I do like the concept, but a lot of the ideas are so simple. Like stay in bed and enjoy your soft sheets. I can do that with no guidance from anyone else, thank you 🙂

April’s winner – Ipsy

March Ipsy Bag – This print reminds me of candied sushi. And Claymation. I’m not sure yet if I like it, but it sure is colorful.
Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter – OMG, this stuff smells amazing. It is rich, but not overtly so and reminds me of sunscreen crossed with a coconut cocktail. The scent stays with you for hours and acts as a non-overbearing replacement for perfume. I would definitely consider buying the full-sized verison.
Nicole by Opi Roughles – thumbs down for this product. Granted, I didn’t have high expectations for a polish that promises a “speckled, textured finish.” The color was decent enough, but that gritty, lumpy look and the dark blue specs peeking through were just not appealing.
Bare Escentuals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick mini in Get Ready – I love this lipstick! It’s satiny and moisturizing and just the right amount of creamy. I’m looking forward to exploring the full display on my next trip to Sephora.
Be a Bombshell Eyeshadow Quad in Bora Bora – These shadows are lovely for summer and are smooth and nicely pigmented. Not something I’d normally gravitate towards but I like the color combo.

March Birchbox
Bain de Terre Color Preserving Shampoo & Conditioner – These arrived a little leaky but still usable. I like that they provided a large enough sample so that you could try the product several times. No verdict on results yet, but these would be great for traveling.
Previse Hydromilk
Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish in Ride ’em’ Cowgirl – Unfortunately, I applied this at night then took it off the following morning so I was unable to experience the color-changing ability, but the gold glitter was very pretty and not cheap-looking.
Joan Vass L’eau de Amethyste – One spritz of this delightful fragrance and I found myself sniffing my wrist on an hourly basis for the rest of the day. It’s different than anything else that I own and I’m considering springing for the bottle.

March Winner – Tie as there were pluses and minuses in both shipments.

February’s Ipsy Bag – Blue Bathroom Scene. Meh.
ProActiv+ Mark Fading Pads
Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave-In Conditioner – I’m especially glad to have this for upcoming summer trips and for after hours spent in the pool.
Mally Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Eyeliner – Love this! It’s an extremely long-wearing (like after multiple hand washes) metallic silver shade that is fantastic for pool parties (ya know, in case ya get pushed in!), or to add a bit of spark to a nighttime eye look.
Uberliss RituOil – Another hair product I wish I could reformulate and wear as perfume. This smells divine, like tropical gardens and a lush rainforest and other exotic things. I haven’t even put the stuff in my hair yet, but I would pretty much use it as body oil if the hair uses didn’t work out.
Elizabeth Mott Smooth Shadow Creamy Eye Pencil in Penny – This is another product I used the first day I got it. The fact that it is standard pencil-sized makes for applying this more like drawing on your lids because there is not much surface area but I do really love the slightly metallic coppery shade and how it brings out the blue in my eyes and the coppery tones in my hair. It’s very long-wearing as well.
Skiin Smoothing and Soothing Eye Cream – another great travel-sized item. I love eye creams that are resealable.

February’s Birchbox
Dr. Lipp Nipple Balm – I tried this last night and it’s just kind of meh as a lip balm. I’ll try it as a cuticle salve but so far, I’m not impressed
Burt’s Bees Day Lotion with Clary Sage
Juicy Couture Fragrance Vial – I’ve already owned and returned this fragrance because it never wore right on me.. It started lovely and vanilla-y and then turned musky and stale after a few minutes. I’ll be re-gifting this.
Nail Rock Nail Caviar – I adore the subdued metallic gold polish but the little beads NEVER stay on my fingers! And I don’t pick at them, I swear 😉
Serge Normant Dry Conditioner – I can’t wait to try this stuff out! I notice that when I’m usually using dry shampoo that my hair looks a bit dry and crunchy so I think this will be oft-used.

February Winner – Ipsy

January Ipsy Bag – Bright Pink
Zoya Nail Polish in Odette – One of my favorite nail polish brands, yay! This is a great creamy bright mauve, if that makes any sense. I probably would have bought this one with my next Zoya order, so it’s rad that I didn’t have to.
Pop Beauty Plump Pout gloss – a perfectly pigmented long-wearing lip gloss. I love the intensity for that pop of color.
Jesse’s Girl 9 Pan Eyeshadow Compact in Behind Blue Eyes – decent pigment, but I’m not sure that all of these shades are different enough from each other to warrant 9 shades in this palette. I picture using the left half of the compact more than the right.
Although there were only 3 products in this month’s bag, they were all nicely-sized from great brands.

January Birchbox
Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum
Inika Organic Green Lagoon Eyeliner – I’m still not sure about the texture of this liner.. The color is a gorgeous metallic jade but it’s not as smooth as I’d like.
Jergens BB Body Perfecting Cream (with coupon)
Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper
Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume (perfume)

January Winner – Ipsy

Looking back at my winners by month, it seems that I prefer Ipsy!
I will definitely still continue to subscribe to both because I love trying new products each month and have truly gotten some great things from Birchbox. Butttt.. If you have to choose one, Ipsy would be my top pick.

I hope this helped! 🙂