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.

Birchbox October 2015 Review

What's in

the box?

Birchbox is a sample monthly subscription kit for $10 a month.   The real value in this sub is the online store and the points you earn every month.  You can turn these points into money in the BB store.  

The box this month was decorated for October Breast Cancer Awareness and it is beautiful.  I love this gorgeous, marble pink.  

Stila Huge mascara -   I have wanted to try this mascara for awhile - it was my choice of the month from the 5 mascaras we could choose.  I am loving how this feels on my lashes. 

Klorane Dry Shampoo -   I have received this dry shampoo in many boxes and it really is not my favorite.  I will be passing it along to my BB swap buddy! (Hi, Swap Buddy!) 

Dr Jart Ceramidin Cream -     This is a lightweight cream to moisturize the skin.  I love the moisturizer I already use so this too will go to my Swap Buddy.

Bio Republic Aloe Rescue Mask -  I have gotten this mask several times in boxes over the last year so it too will be passed on to my Swap Buddy.  

Number 4 Lumiere dhiver Fluoro5 Elixir Restore & Repair -  This is a hair oil - I love hair oils so I cannot wait to see if this lives up to the Number 4 reputation.  

I would say this was not the perfect box for me since I am swapping out 3 of the 5 items.  I do love the two that I am keeping, however, so that is a nice trade off.  I also get to review the items (most of which I have already tried) to earn more points for spending in the online store.  I really do not know how people save them up because I usually cave at $20 worth.  Do you get Birchbox?  Join here.   If you do, did you get some great samples this month?

Purchased.  All opinions are my own and no compensation was received.

Target Head of the Class Beauty Box

 What's in

the box?

Target does some amazing beauty boxes for $5.  They sell out they day they come out though so you have to be on social media when someone announces they are there.  I mean these are gone lightening fast, Ladies.  I rarely even mention I saw them because I am too busy trying to get in there and get them before they are gone.  Keep checking here for beauty boxes.

There were two boxes released - this is the Head of the Class box.  These are nice sturdy boxes - you could decorate them and give them as gifts.

There was a nice little card and a coupon in the box.   You can save $3 when you spend $15 on beauty products. 

Wet n Wild Max Volume Mascara -  ($4.99) Seriously, the last time I bought mascara was just to purchase my favorite brand - I really did not need to - I have several tubes.  These are like eyeliner and go in spurts, where every box sends you one.

Herbal Essences wild naturals dry oil spray -  ($5.99)  I am interested to see if this can be a dupe for some of the other hair oils I use.   I find the ones I like in Birchbox but they are usually pretty pricey so I have to save up my points to earn a bottle.  It smells really good which I always look for in my sprays.

The Bathery 2 -in-1 Pumice Stone -  ($1.99) Who does not like getting spa items in their boxes?  Ok - we can trade stuff cause I love them!  This will be great on my footsie in the shower!  I love to keep them sandal ready.

 YES to Cucumber Soothing Facial Towelettes -   ($2.99)  This is a product I already purchase once in awhile so it was nice to get them in the box.  Love this brand for the wipes.

Goody ouchless elastic hair bands -   (3 cents) This is another item that is bought frequently at my house since as you know, these disappear like lightening and you have to buy more - just like bobby pins.

Hollywood Fashion Secrets Fashion Tape -  (Full size $8.89)  I have never owned this before but I should have been picking it up for those shirts that gap on me.  Definitely trying this out next time I wear one.

Covergirl Queen Coloricious Lip Gloss in Give Me Guava -  ($5.99)  Of course, there has to be a lip product in the box - we are women!  We love our lippies! 

This box has a great value and a great assortment of products.  This box was $5 and had well over $20 worth of product in it.  It is one of the better ones they have sent out and I will used everything in this one.  A+ to Target for Head of the Class!

Birchbox June 2015

What's in

the box?

This is probably the grandfather of all subscription boxes - and it is still one of my favorites mainly because of their point system.  Sure, you can pay $10 for other subs - but do they give you points back to spend in an awesome store?  No?  Birchbox does that!  Save those points up and go shopping!  And you not only get points for just reviewing your items in your box but you get them on purchases in the store and getting your sub box every month.  

Every month at Birchbox has a theme and their boxes are like little works of Art.  July's theme was GO BOLD!

Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick in Venezia -  This was my sample choice for the month!  I chose the coral shade since I am red headed and very light skinned.  This is very bright but I can make it work - it takes just a dab of color.  And it does last too! 

dr Brandt Microdermabrasion skin exfoliant  -   (.25 oz - full size $78 for 2 oz)  If you read my blog at all, you know I sell Perfectly Posh and love their products.  This contains so many parabens it is pretty ridiculous.  I have a great microdermabrasion cleanser called Shine Bright Like a Diamond - which is $19 for 2 oz. 

Oribe Dry Texturing Spray -  ($5) This smells really good.  I will give this a try but do not think I will be purchasing the full size for $48. 

Benefit They're Real - ($8)  This is one of my favorite mascaras.  I love it. They came out with a few more shades too so you can get this in brown now.  And I actually prefer the little wands because you can control where they go better - my favorite mascara right now is Make Up For Ever's Smoky Extravagant.  I get a ton of compliments on my eyes when I wear it.

Coola Classic Suncreen Cucumber Moisturizer -   Coola is one of those products that everyone has been getting in every box for awhile.  If you subscribe at all, you get this one in every box at one point.  It is not a bad product to get, it has just been over subbed.  I like a face sunscreen that has moisturizer in it, so I will use this one. 

I like it when I get two makeup products in a box - that rarely happens with Birchbox, so this was a great month for me.  I will be adding the Dr Brandt to my swap site on Pinterest.   But having just one miss in a box is great for Birchbox.

 What did you get in Birchbox this month?  Any holy grail products out there?

Tuesday is Monday's Ugly Sister

Tuesday is here again and I have a few sets I have not reviewed around the house - the Josie Maran Pure & Free and the Smasbox Smoke Box.

Josie Maran Pure & Free - ($36)  I picked up this set at Sephora while I was browsing.  It is a five piece set of some of Josie Maran's favorites. 

 

Bear Naked Wipes -  (full size $12)  These are wipes to remove your makeup and free of loads of chemicals that are bad for you.  A portion of the sales go to the Polar Bears - a perfect reason to stock up on these. 

Argan Infinity Cream Intensive Creamy Oil -  (full size $28)  You can use this to hydrate the skin, condition the lips, and illuminate the complexion.  

Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Be Spirited Sweet Citrus  -   (full size $35) This smells heavenly!  So soft and a lovely citrus!  I am so happy with this.

100 Percent Pure Argan Oil Light -  (full size $48)  This is a smaller sample of Argan oil that is great for your skin.  I like this light version too.  

 Argan Black Oil Mascara -    (full size $22)  I love trying new mascara's so I was excited this included an Argan oil mascara.  I love packaging as well.   The brush is very different but actually seems to be more ergonomically correct for applying mascara.

I am very happy I picked this at Sephora instead of another palette to sit on the shelf in my collection.  

Smashbox Smoke Box - ($10) This was a deal on Hautelook last week and I could not resist it.  It came as a set with this silver case.  

O-Gloss Gold -  (Full size $22)  I love that this included a lip product.  Lip products are my favorites next to eye shadow palettes. 

Smashbox Waterproof Shadow Liner -  I thought this was an eye liner but it is actually eye shadow with a nice smudge brush on one end.  I will definitely be trying this out. 

Smoke Box eye shadow palette - ( full size $40) This is currently sold out in lots of stores but it is just the sample version.  I do like that though because I never use up a palette before I get bored with it.  

The Smashbox Smoke Box was another great deal that I am thrilled to have found out about.   These go on sale every little bit at Hautelook so keep your eye out for them.

Friday Deals and Steals!

Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty is coming to an end tomorrow - I picked up about 3 of the deals. 


 I got the Urban Decay eye shadow potion and also picked up the makeup all-nighter spray.  I got the Redken and Argan Oil hair Shampoo and Conditioner as samples.

I also picked up the Laura Geller Highlighter and dual brush when it was on sale.

Too Faced Blush was also on sale during the beauty sale and I picked up two of them - Candy Glow and Something about Berry.  

Today the beauty sale is it Bye Bye redness cream and the Fat Girl Sixpack.  Tomorrow is Smashbox foundation primer and Stila lip gloss.  

Sephora in JC Penney was giving away sample Purity and Renewed Hope in a Jar to all its VIB card holders so I went in and found a bunch of necessities I needed.  I picked up the Beauty Blender solid cleanser, a Sephora CC creme that was on sale, and Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant mascara.  I received this mascara for my birthday last year and it has become one of my go to mascaras.

What I am NOT Lovin' Thursday!

I do reviews of my favorite products all the time.  I thought I would let you know of some products that have been misses for me.

Essentiel Elements Shower Gel -   I received this in my Birchbox one month and I did not like it at all.  The fragrance is so overwhelming and like medicine.  My dog would not come near this, it was so bad. 

Be A Bombshell Lash Out Mascara -   This caused quite the controversy when it came out in the Ipsy bags in June.  People hated the smell and claimed it caused eye irritations.  Several people had issues with the wands.  I have sensitive eyes so I just tossed this.  I will say that this is the first Be A Bombshell product I have disliked - overall, love this brand!

Skyn Iceland Cleansing Cloths -   These also came in my Ipsy bag and they are really bad!  They make my skin and eyes sting.  They turned my face bright red and irritated it.

Too Faced Lip Injection -   I really wanted to like this, truely!  But it is painful and sticky and I really hate it!  Again, I love the Too Faced brand.  This just was not for me.  

Those are a few of the products I am not loving today!  What are the top ones on your list?