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?

Hello! Bliss Box

What's in

the box?

Hello! Bliss Box ships to your door for $28.95 with free shipping - I got the box with a coupon and saved $5.  I had not heard of this sub box before reading about it on Ramblings of a Suburban Mom's blog.

 Bliss Box includes a post card describing all of the items in the box. 

AA Milne quote -   This is not listed on the card but it is a nice little quote card.   I have loved this quote for a long time so it is perfect for me. 

Blue Druzy Earrings by Styled Simplicity -    ($10) These are handmade from a little Etsy vendor and they are very pretty.  I think I will take them on vacation.

Facets of the Sea by Primal Elements - ($9) I love getting free soap in my boxes so this is perfect.  I would have picked out a different one but it is a pretty color.

An American Flag -   I love that they included a flag in the box but now I am wondering if I got July's box or June's???

 Qi'a Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond bar -  ($1.79 )  A gluten-free snack bar that is right up my alley!  Love this flavor.

Dotted J Elastic headbands - ($10.50)  These are very cute elastic headbands.  It is from another Etsy shop, which I love because I like to support women building their own businesses.

 Perfectly Posh Lipsophistication Carmel Cray Cray with samples -   ($4) I am a Perfectly Posh consultant so I loved seeing a little goody bag in the box of samples and a lip balm.  Our lip balms are lanolin, paraffin, and paraben free.  This also included an It Girl BFYHC  (big fat yummy hand creme) sample and a Gender Bender soap sample (charcoal soap - great for acne and oily skin).

The price of this box is pretty close to the value of it but I loved the contents so it was worth it to me.  It would be a nice box to send as a gift to a friend. 

Tuesday is Monday's Ugly Sister!

I did a little shopping online last week and a few things have come in.  Shop Miss A is a really inexpensive site that has a variety of items.  The majority of their items are jewelry but they do have some makeup and accessories.  

Kids Cartoon Folding Mirror Comb (Pink Kitty and Blue Bunny) - ($1 each)  I saw these on the site and could not resist these for my friend's little girls.  

Colorful Stone Studded Chain Bracelet (Blue) - ($1) I love blues so this is perfect for me.  I love how it dangles on my wrist.  A majority of the items I buy from Miss A are bracelets. 

 Colorful Stone Studded Chain Bracelet (Mint) -   ($1)  I like this one so much, I got it in the mint too.  

Etched and Bead Bracelet (Black) -  ($1) This was so pretty that I could not pass it up.  It looks even prettier in purpose. 

My Perfectly Posh recruit bonus came in today too.  Poshymallow is a great scent and now I have it in a scrub.  These are so nice in the shower.  You can not buy this scent though - it is reserved for promotions like recruit bonuses and Day Away bundles when you a Posh consultant. 

Funday Sunday!

It is a snowy day here in Indiana - 10 inches so far and it is still snowing.  We have already had the coldest consistent February in over 100 years.  Winter really needs to be done.

Ulta has the Ammo Palette by Urban Decay back in stock  - $16 for this little set - great deal! I really like the eye shadow primer.  It is a nice little bonus to get a sample one with this palette. 

I am waiting on my Little Lace Box for February still.  They had a lot of issues this month due to the dock strike on the West coast.  I understand that as Perfectly Posh had issues with two of their items in the Spring/Summer catalog because of this dock strike.  We had to wait on our brushes for the Zone Treatment kit and the Lash Pop - they are now in stock.

Speaking of Posh, it is a great time to join this fabulous company - our kits contain over $300 in merchandise and $80 in business tools.   This month's incentive is a Poshymallow scrub that you will love!

Happy Shopping!  Stay warm wherever you are! 

Perfectly Posh New Spring Summer Catalog!

What's in

the catalog?

Perfectly Posh's new catalog is out now and I am in love with all the new products! I do sell this brand and this post does contain affiliate links.  Our products are natural and most are Vegan.  We do use three by-products from animals:  beeswax, milk, and honey.  We do not test on animals.  We are made in the USA.  Our products do not contain parabens, paraffins, sulfates, lanolin, or fillers.  I also love that all of our products are $25 and under.

Snarky is a scent that our creator developed - it is fresh smelling and wonderful.  You can get it in the hand creme, Snarky exfoliating bar, and Skindelicious lotion.

The Daily Grind body scrub is one of our biggest sellers.  It aids in the prevention of cellulite and cleans the skin.  It now comes in an exfoliating Daily Grind Coffee scrub snarky bar.  

Hey Honey is a healing hand creme that smells of lemon and so delicious!  It is my favorite hand creme.  And now it comes in a healing body creme!  It is a nice sized tube too! 

We Put De Lime in De Coconut is an invigorating body scrub that smells of lime and is used to exfoliate and scrub with an exotic island twist.  Viva Senorita is one of our new chunk bars and it too smells of lime and sea salt. 

 I think I am most excited to try our Zone Treatment Face Mask Kit.  This has 3 separate mask treatments to target your combination skin:  a Charcoal Pore cleaning mask, a Plankton & Menthol calming mask, and an Oil Reducing & Control mask.  It comes with a brush for application to just the area you need that mask on.  What a great idea!  We also have a new perfume roller with the It Girl scent.  I am in love with this scent - it is grapefruit and apricot and smells wonderful! And at this price - $14 - it is probably the cheapest perfume I have ever bought since I was a teen!  Lash Pop! Lash Growing Serum is a product to help lash growth in 2-4 weeks!  I know a lot of women who have lash issues and want fuller lashes!  Now you can get this serum to help with lash growth!  

 

Apricot Overnight is a moisturizing mask you wear all night.  I'm Shrinking is a pore reducing mask to use on those trouble areas on your face.  And finally, Pore-fect is a face washing bar for pore cleansing.  

We also have some new products for the feet.  Heebie Jeebie foot peel kit is a one time use foot mask that includes a peeling gel, protective pink booties, and polka dot socks.  Walk on the Beach sand scrub is for the getting those feet ready for the beach.  

 We have three new Skindelicious lotions - Snarky Butter, which I have already talked about.  Castaway Coconut is new and really smells like Coconut!  We consultants have been asking for this for awhile - our other products with coconut in the title have not smelled like coconut and were misleading.  Farmer's Market is a body lotion that smells of watermelon and cucumber. 

Seas the Day chunk bar is another new chunk bar that smells of cherry margarita and has shea butter in it.  We added another item to the It's a Posh Life line - a Lemon Berry Lip Butter.  And finally, they brought back a huge best seller - A Peel To Me Snarky Bar!  This is an exfoliating body bar that smells of oranges!  I use it on my feet to keep them from getting cracked.

Those are the new products for our Spring and Summer catalog!  I am so crazy about all the Posh products and am so happy I joined Posh last summer.  It has been so fun trying the new products and showing my family and friends this amazing company. 

Wednesday Loves!

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching.  Anyone have any big plans this year?  We have some special plans to celebrate.    

I am not only a big makeup addict; I also read!  This week I am absorbed up in the tale of Burned by Karen Marie Moning.  This is book two in Dani's story.  

I have been busy making Valentine goody boxes for my guy relatives to give their wives and girlfriends.  The little boxes are from Target $1 Spot and the plush hearts were the McDs toys in the Happy Meal right now.

 I also made up a bunch of these Valentine's goody bags for friends.  They turned out really cute. 

I have a lot of wishes for Valentine's day and yes, they are all makeup!  Sephora shopping trip would be the perfect gift.  Luckily, my hubby knows me very well.   

Best of 2014 Makeup!

Year in Review! 

Best of 2014 Makeup!

It has been a great year for makeup - I have found great products and some really great keepers!  

Moisturizer -   Moisture 911 from Perfectly Posh - ($16)  I always start my makeup regime with a moisturizer.  I have a very dry t-zone so if I do not moisturize, my face gets so dry.  I love Perfectly Posh's Moisture 911.  It smells awesome and moisturizes so well. 

Primer - The Porefessional from Benefit - ($30)  I have gone back and forth between different primers and this one is my absolute favorite.  It has great coverage, is smooth, and has staying power.  

BB Cream -   Dream Fresh by Maybelline - ($9)  Sometimes I just use a BB cream for light coverage when I am not going to work or out.  This one is very nice and reasonable.  

Foundation -   Dream Liquid Mousse foundation by Maybelline - ($10)  I really love this foundation - it is reasonable and smooth.  So pretty on! 

Setting Spray -  Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray - ($30)  I have tried several setting sprays and this is the one I keep coming back to.  They do have smaller sizes that are cheaper.  

Correcting Powder -   Jane Tone Correcting Powder - ($12)  I like this correcting powder but the ELF dupe is also a good one at a great price.  

Blush -  Mac Prism blush - ($22)  The MAC blushes are so beautiful.  I love the natural glow you get with the Prism blush.  

Eye shadow primer - Urban Decay primer - ($24)  I have sampled a bunch of different eye shadow primers and this one is my favorite.  It does not crease and helps make your eye shadow last all day.  They do have several sizes of these too so you do not have to put out the big bucks until you have tried for yourself.

Eye Shadow palette -  Urban Decay Basics 2 ($29) and NYX Love in Paris ($10) These are the two I go to on a daily basis but I love palettes and have a few right now that I switch between

Lip Liner - NYX lip liner pencil in Mauve - ($4)  These are great for the price!  You can buy up in several shades with this price point.  

Lipstick -  Rimmel Kate Moss in 08 - ($5)  This is a lovely shade of lipstick and my go-to.  It smells fantastic too! 

(beautymadnessforever.blogspot.com)

Lip Gloss -   tarte Lipsurgence in Exposed - ($19)  I also love a ton of lip glosses since it is probably my favorite makeup product next to eye shadow palettes.  I really like the tarte glosses.  

Mascara -   Make Up For Ever ($24)  I got this for my birthday from Sephora last year and I adore it!  It is my go-to mascara right now and need to buy a full size tube.  I also like Benefit's They're Real and L'oreal Miss Manga.   

So these are my stars of 2014!  What are your favorites from this past year?