Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara

Influenster VoxBox:

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara

Influenster recently sent me a product complimentary for testing purposes.  This tube of mascara is very pretty and feels very nice in the hands.  I like the wand.  The mascara goes on not too clumpy and I like the way it volumizes.  I have used it several times for my nighttime mascara look.  The only drawback I found was its waterproofness.  It does not claim to be a waterproof mascara, however.  It does wash off easily with soap and water.  I would recommend this mascara to my girlfriends for a volumizing mascara - and it also has a  competitive price.

Happie Scrappie August Kit

What's in

the Kit?

When I was looking for a travel notebook to buy, I came across Happie Scrappie.  She sells travel notebooks in her shop, but she also sends a planner kit that is really fantastic.  It has a variety of items and there are three kits to choose from:  Travel Notebook, A5 and Personal.  Since I was working on building up my inserts for my Travel Notebooks, I chose that size.

This kit ships from Malaysia, so I usually get it at the very end of the month.  This month's theme was Makeup = Happiness is the Best Makeup.  The kit is $12.99 a month plus shipping.

Makeup Travel Notebook Insert -  ($8)  This one is so pretty and I will put it in my Paris themed travel notebook.  

 Makeup Journal Cards - ($4)  These are so pretty - and they are double sided. I will laminate most of them to use as cards.  I will also hole punch some of them to put in my personal planners.

Perfume Bottle Stickers - ($3)  These are puffy, perfume stickers in various sizes and colors.  These are perfect for decorating in my Paris travel notebook.

Makeup Bookmark and Dashboard -  These are nice for using as a bookmark in your inserts and you could also make a dashboard for your planner out of them.

Girl Memo Pad - ($2) This little girl memo pad is adorable.  She is perfect!  I love her flower necklace.

 

Hello Kitty Pen -   ($2.70)  I love the color of the one I received!  I also love getting cute pens so this is a win for me!

Star Memo Flags - ($1) How fun are these? I like to put these in my planner.

Charms and Clips -  There was a shoe charm included in the kit.  It also had two clips.  I know of of them is a bow but not too clear about what the other one is.

Star Washi Tape - ($3)  I really love Washi tape - I did not have this yet either.  It is very cute and I cannot wait to decorate my planners with this.

The kit was just perfect this month and I loved all of the pieces included - the theme was perfect for me - I love makeup!  I will be using most of the items in my Paris travel notebook.

 

Ipsy August Bag 2015

What's in 

the bag?

Ipsy came this month and I was surprised as I had cancelled this bag to continue with So Susan's Lip Love subscription.  I hope I got them cancelled correctly this time.  Ipsy is $10 a month and contains a makeup bag and 4-5 hair, makeup and skin care products. 

The theme this month was Prep School: 

I am actually loving this bag - it is a plastic finish though which is not my favorite but love the theme and design.

Brigeo Blossom & Bloom volumizing blow dry spray -    ($3 ~ - full size $18) I do not blow dry my hair but do use a lot of spritzer type sprays on my hair.  This one smells really good too - which is one of my musts about a spray in.  I hate spraying something in my hair that smells bad.  This is a cruelty-free product which I love about it.

Juara Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask - (full size $35)  This is definitely what I look for in a product - "Free of Parabens, Phthalates, Sulfates, Mineral Oil, Gluten, Artificial Colorants and no Harsh Chemicals."  The price tag is a bit higher than I like to pay for a mask but I will definitely be trying this out.   with the Ipsy discount, I can get this for 20% off.

Skone Cosmetics Luxe Doubler Eye/Lip Pencil in Wine -     You do not understand how happy I was when I read this was an eyeliner and could be used as a lip pencil.  I have had enough eyeliners the last year in my sub boxes to fill one of these makeup bags!  Seriously!  It is like the stale product of the year!  ADD AN EYELINER! ugh!  I love the wine shade too! I could not link to this cosmetic online page though and that has me curious ???

Noyah Natural Lipstick in Desert Rose - (full size $18)  Okay this is the tiniest lipstick ever and I have received it before.  I love the shade here and the full size has beautiful packaging but I just cannot get over the smell - this is going on your lips so you will smell it.  It reminds me of the old cosmetics line smell. It does not smell bad just different. I do like that it is a natural lipstick and not full of whale blubber or toxic chemicals.  Sometimes the samples do smell different from the actual product - I wish they had some reviews online so I could see if anyone mentioned this smell.

Trust Fund in Elegantly Wasted -  ($15 )  I love the name of this shade! They gave us a very nice discount too - 35% off.   I am a sharer too so just comment below if you need a discount code to purchase any of these items. I need the collection in pink shade called Pink Kink! This sample was only a tad smaller than what you can get on the site too - love that! I hate when they send a ridiculously small sample and you cannot paint all your nails with it. The names of these polishes are so clever and fun!  I Wore It Better - Put A Ring On It - I Look Good Nude - to name a few!
 

This is actually one of the better bags I have received and I already cancelled - hate it when that happens.  I think I will be using everything in here which never happens for me in an Ipsy bag.  What did you get in your Ipsy?  Do you NEED a coupon code? Comment below!

 

Birchbox August 2015

What's in 
the box?

Birchbox came in so early this month - I think I got it on the 11th.  It has been doing that the last couple months and I am thrilled - there is quite a drought the last week of the month till the boxes start arriving.  

If you have followed my blog, you know I am a fan of BB - mainly because I love getting rewarded for doing reviews and little things like posting on social media sites.  No one else rewards you like BB does - you are earning actual points to turn into cash in their online store.  This online store is fantastic - if you want to save up for a makeup item, have at it!  If you want to just save a little every time you order, that is your choice too!  Love the flexibility!   I have never had points expire - mainly because I love to shop in there and if I can save $10 on my order right then, I do! 

This month's theme was Soak It Up, summer, of course!  The box looks like a cute pool.  It is not my favorite art work for a BB, but it was right on point for the time of year.

 

A nice thing about BB is that they always include an information card.  It addresses every item in the box, the full size value and sometimes a nice tip or bonus about your item. 

 

Dr Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Deep Hydration Sheet Mask - ($6) I am not a big fan of sheet masks.  I would rather have a mask that you apply - probably because I do not want to lay down to keep the mask on.  I have other stuff to keep doing lol.  I swapped this with a fellow BB subscriber.  I love my Perfectly Posh face masks, I rarely buy any for myself anywhere else.

  

St Tropez Gradual Tan in Shower - (full size $25)  I do not know what BB was thinking when they sent this out to the pale, red haired girl in my profile.  I really look kind of funny with a fake tan.  I do not tan naturally - I go from pasty pale white to lobster red and back to an off white that is not tan.  I passed this on to my swap buddy.

  

Oribe Masque for Beautiful Color -  (full size $59) Looking at this price tag, I will probably never get the full sized one unless I manage to hoard my BB points, so it was nice to get a great size sample.  This smells amazing!  I am waiting to try till after I color but I am excited about it!

  

theBalm cosmetics Balm Desert Bronzer/Blush -  (full size $21)  This is the tiniest sample ever!  Like I think the actual product is the size of a dime - small! I do not know what theBalm has against samples - all their pressed samples are like this - the lip products are a nice sample size.  I will probably put this up on my Pinterest swap board but if I do end up using it, it will be as a blush.  As my swap buddy says, it always looks like I just have a dirty face. I am crazy about the packaging for this brand though - and they do go up on Hautelook once in awhile so you can save money on your addiction there.  Kohl's has this brand in their cosmetics section for anyone who wants to check out in store.

 

Rusk Volumizing Mousse - (full size $18)  I do love the Rusk brand.  

 Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner for Beautiful color - (full size $14-42) This is probably the item I am most excited about trying.  I color my hair as the gray has started appearing so I want to see how this effects it.  I am saving it for right after I color - I am desperately in need of a dye job right now.  Here is the thing about foil packets - I do not mind getting them if they have resealable options.  I could get two uses out of this but I hate having them in the shower to get water in or leak out.  We have gotten some great resealable packets from Ipsy before and I loved that about them!

 So that is my Birchbox for August.  I do think my boxes are getting so much better.  My first two boxes were pretty bad.  I think as you start reviewing stuff and telling them what you like and didn't like, BB does listen to you.  This box had great value for my $10 and I look forward to earning those review points.

What did you get this month?  Did you find any holy grail products?

YSL VoxBox

What's in

the Vox Box?

Influenster sent me a complimentary box for my testing purposes.  Inside the box, was Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Primer and Perfector.  

Touch Eclat Blur Perfector -  ($55)  This is the prettiest compact I have ever seen.  It came in a black felt case with an applicator.  The case is gold and pink that matches the perfector.

This glides on the skin so smoothly and blurs the imperfections.  Your skin has a glow after you use this and it blurs the pores.  It did not feel greasy or slick.  It is perfect for sticking in your purse and touching up in the afternoon.

Touche Eclat Blur Primer - (full size $52) This is one of the better primers I have tried.  It is not sticky and I loved the way it felt on my skin. 

This is one of the nicest boxes Influenster has ever sent out.  I know it is the highest value box I have ever gotten from them.  I was very pleased with this and I really love the Perfector.  The case is so beautiful and I am excited to have this to put in my makeup bag.  This is a pricier set than I would usually purchase but I will consider using a discount from Sephora on it when I am finished with this sample.  

So Susan Lip Love Subscription JULY

What's in 

the bag?

So Susan is a fun cosmetics company over England that has its own subscription monthly bag.  It is called Lip Love - but you get more than lip products in it.  It is $15.90 a month and they ship overseas to the States for free.  I am crazy about their makeup - it is cruelty free and parabens free.  

One of my favorite things about the Lip Love bag is the bag itself - it is always beautiful with a lovely quote on it.  These bags are little works of art.

The inside card has the same artwork and quote on one side and the breakdown of the bags on the other.  This month's theme was I LOVE LIFE!

 There are always three main items and then two bonus items; with one of the bonuses being an accessory.


 Shadow/Liner by Jelly Pong Pong -  ($16)  I love this brand and I love it when an item can be more than one type of makeup - I do not usually wear eye liner so I love that you can use this as a shadow as well.  If you have not gone out and surfed this makeup site - I encourage you to do so. 

Liquid Powder Shadow Palette in Radiant Glow by So Susan -   ($14.95) There are four versions of this palette and I got the perfect one for me!  I love all of these shades and will use them all.  This is just the perfect size too!  I am crazy about this product! 
"It is infused with radiance-boosting minerals, Vitamin K to alleviate dark circles and Copper Peptide to promote collagen and elastin growth around the delicate eye area. "
 

Lip Dome in Mango by So Susan -  ($12)  I will probably have the whole set of these in a few months - I received Black Currant in my last month's bag. 

Glow Getter by Jelly Pong Pong -   ($12.95)  I have gotten this product in a past bag but it is so beautiful.   this is a luminizer and it is quite shiny.  

Bonus item: Stay Connected Ring - ($10) The accessory item is usually where I can take or leave something, as is the case here.  I am not sure how you wear this but I will probably be putting it in my swap board on Pinterest.  It just is not me.

This was another great month for Lip Love by So Susan.  I love the makeup products and the bag so much - and I cancelled Ipsy which is about the same price.  There were $65.90 products in total and I paid $15.95.  Beautiful products that are cruelty free.
 

 

Wantable: Makeup Edition July 2015

What's in

the box?

Wantable has three regular subscriptions and a fashion workout edit box.  The three that you can choose from each month or have sent to you every month are Makeup, Accessories, and Intimate.  I usually pick either an Accessories or Makeup one; my favorite boxes are the Makeup edition. 

    Wantable is different though - you can skip boxes each month or just have one or two of the selections sent to you.  Now you can also return items you do not like for a partial refund of your box monthly fee, which is $40.  If you keep the whole box, you earn a $4 off coupon on your next Wantable box.

 They always make you feel special at Wantable:

 Each of your boxes will come with a break down of the items - it has retail price and what your refund price would be on it.

Wantable is also nice because you make a Love, Like, and Dislike of products - you will never get anything from your dislike section and always something from your Love section.  I currently have brows, eyeliner, lash products, highlighter, bronzer, and nail products in my Dislike section but I could change it up for next month if I chose.  I have warm, eye shadow and lip color in my Love section.  But I do not think I have every been given a full eye shadow palette - it is usually just one color.  In my Like section, I have complexion products, cool, blush and tools. 
 

Model Co BB Cream -  ($22) You also put in all your info like skin tone, hair and eye color, and complexion needs so they can always match the makeup to you.  I love getting BB cream because I wear it every day and prefer it to heavy foundations.  This is a win for me.

Doucce Lush Lip Gloss Crimson Light  -  ($22) This is a beautiful tube of lip gloss and between it and my BB cream, I have the value of my box.  I love lip glosses - and this seems so elegant and classy. 

Seta Foundation Brush -   ($20)  I could not find this exact brush online, but their other prices have been right on the money.  I will probably use this for highlighter actually since I prefer the Beauty Blender for my BB creams.

OFRA Lipstick 09 -  ($13.15)  This brand has been very popular in my boxes the last few months.  I have received some lip and eye liner from Little Lace Box as well.  I love this shade and it is one I would have picked out for myself.

Another great hit of a box for me!  My stylist did a great job picking out my items and I love the variety - some people would not like getting a lipstick and a lip gloss, but I often pair them.  The value of my box is $75+ and I paid $36 since I got a box a few months ago.  Wantable never slacks off and the boxes are usually just what I wanted.