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My Top Natural Skincare Picks

February 1, 2016

It wasn’t until a few years ago that I started being more aware of using skincare and beauty products that are natural or organic. I realized that putting less chemicals on the outside of your body is just as important as not consuming them in the food you eat. Over time, I’ve come to have a small collection of favorites that I use on a daily basis, and I wanted to share my top natural skincare picks! Hope you enjoy 🙂

Clockwise from top left:
Mr. Bean Coffee Bean Scrub in Mandarin – an effective exfoliator with a simple ingredient list and yummy scent.
Nugg Revitalizing Face Mask – Leaves skin tingly and feeling moisturized.
Josie Maran Argan Oil Light – I’ve never tried the regular version of this face moisturizer, but this light one my skin drinks right up!
Nourish Organics Eye Cream – One of two eye creams that I chose for this post, this one is a bit lighter in formula.
Jason Naturals Cooling Mineral Gel – Any time I have a sore spot from working out, I’ll rub this on to cool it down and relieve some of the pain.
One Love Gardenia Antioxidant Tea Body Serum – Leaves skin with a gorgeous sheen and feeling so soft, this also smells incredible, like fresh flowers.
100% Pure Coffee Bean Eye Cream – The thicker of the two eye creams that I use, this one is for those mornings when I didn’t get quite enough sleep or am just feeling a bit run down.
O.R.G. Skincare Mineral Face Peel – Great for detoxing the skin and leaving it feeling smooth and clear.

What are your favorite natural and/or organic beauty products? I’d love to hear about any ones I may be missing out on 😀

Birchbox vs. Ipsy Roundup

August 27, 2015

I’m trying to stay more on top of these posts, so this round will only cover two months of Ipsy and Birchbox subscriptions. I have to say that I was impressed at the hair items I received, especially the Oribe sample. I love Oribe’s products but at an average cost of $25-40, the line isn’t exactly something I can swing for everyday use. It’s great to get to try out mini’s before I splurge for a full-size 😉

Ipsy – July
First off, the bag is pretty cute. It’s a nice vivid ikat print.
Ofra Cosmetics Bliss eyeshadow/highlighter (I’ve been using this only as shadow, as it would be pretty dark to highlight with.)
Bare Republic Naturals Tinted Mineral Face Sunscreen Lotion
Eva-NYC Freshen Up Dry Shampoo
Be A Bombshell Cosmetics lip balm in French Kiss
Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer

Birchbox
Love the Oribe sample, and this Stila liquid lipstick is quite pretty too.
Oribe Apres Beach Wave & Shine Spray
Juara Radiance Enzyme Scrub
theBalm Balm Desert bronzer
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick
Supergoop Anti-Aging City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30
July’s winner… Tie! I really like the hair products in both sets, both offered up great bronzers and solid lip colors.

Ipsy – August
Meh to the bag, it looks really cheap.
Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco Treatment
Pencil Me In Cosmetics Natural Eye Pencil in Boysenberry
Marsk Pro-Line eyeshadow brush
Hikari Cosmetics Salsa lip gloss
Skone Cosmetics Luxe Doubler Lip/Eye Pencil in Wine
OK, so I’m all for a multi-tasking beauty product, but I don’t think there is ANY way for a liner to be as effective on the eyes as it is on the lips (and vice versa!). The one included in this month’s bag has some questionable ingredients, so I’ll probably just toss it. Also, to get two burgundy/purple liners in the same month is a bit weird, not to mention redundant.

Birchbox
Woohoo for OPI nail polish minis! I’m also intrigued to try out the St. Tropez in-shower lotion. I have no idea how I’m going to wash off my hands without washing it off the rest of my body, I may have to do a review on that later haha!
OPI Nail Polish in Amore at the Grand Canal
Laqa & Co Cheeky Lip Tint in Humble Brag
St. Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion
Renee Furturer LISSEA Leave-In Smoothing Fluid
Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant
August’s winner… Birchbox! It wasn’t hard to beat the cheap bag with two oddly hued liners.

After making the statement to my co-workers that I would be dropping one of my beauty subscription service, I, um, didn’t. I feel like I get different things from both of them! I love trying new makeup shades, and Ipsy really gives me that opportunity. I’m also constantly on the lookout for new skin and haircare lines, and Birchbox is perfect for that. Oh well. The saga continues…

Collective Beauty Haul: Birchbox, Ulta, Target

July 20, 2015

I’ve done quite a bit of stocking up in the beauty department these past few weeks, and I must say, I should be set for a while! From Birchbox, I got this lovely collection of summery items, along with some new scents. From Ulta, I restocked my favorite drugstore foundation in it’s new formula, and some new tinted moisturizer from Bare Minerals a brush to apply them all with. Target held for me mostly basics – sunscreen, hand and body wash, and my favorite shave cream. I grabbed a deep metallic gunmetal cream shadow at The Cosmetics Company Store. And surprisingly enough, when I was at Nordstrom rack, I came across this set of 3D liquid shadows from LORAC that I’ve been using almost every day.

From Birchbox, the Lovely Day Set. I waited until I had a 20% off coupon to use, to take off a bit of the sting that comes with the $62 price tag.

Oribe Cote d’ Azur eau de toilette
Tocca fragrance samples
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Dangerous Cuvee
Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume
Not Soap, Radio sample

From Ulta:
Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue in 02
Bare Minerals Smoothing Face Brush
Urban Decay Mascara Resurrection
Maybelline Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Foundation in 115
Maybelline Fit Me! Dewy & Smooth Foundation in 115
(also grabbed some cotton balls and double-ended cotton swabs)

From Target, I grabbed some essentials..
Olay Body Wash (which is going back, it smells like plumeria, yuck!)
EOS Shave Cream
Burt’s Bees Sugar Scrub
Honest Co. Honest Hand Soap
Maybelline Rocket Volum Mascara
Cover Girl Last Blast Fusion Mascara
Pantene Smooth & Sleek Conditioner
Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub in Passion Fruit & Guava
Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen
Sensodyne Extra White Toothpaste

In LOVE with these LORAC 3D Liquid Lustre eyeshadows I picked up at Nordstrom Rack. They were only $12 and I would have paid that for each one! So good.

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.