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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Birchbox: January


It's time for another peek inside our boxes, Birchbox reviews are here. Just in the nick of time to still count towards January, phew! This is Charlotte's last Birchbox, as she has decided to bid adieu to the service. I remain fully obsessed and will keep showing the world the contents of my box. Let's get this party started, Char-Char is up first, we'll have a moment of silence, then I'll come in like a neurotic superhero on a questionable zip line.


Charlotte

Here is my last Birchbox. It is a combo December/January Birchbox because of all the December Birchbox drama. Go figure, they send out a decent Birchbox right when I decide to quit ! Yes I am quitting because of all the drama with the Decemer Birchbox and I didn't think it has been worth my $10 every month. Vanessa will be your Birchbox advisor from here on out. Anyhow, on with the show, and $10 back in my pocket every month. **Sigh**

Clark's Botanicals Smoothing Marine Cream ($115)- I absolutely LOVE this stuff! It makes your skin so soft and you can actually feel it work, probably because of the glycolic acid, but I like to think it is magical skin fairies massaging my face...

FIX Malibu Immaculate Complexion Smoothing Serum ($125)- This stuff feels and smells AH-Mazing! I also really like this sample. It makes your skin feel silky soft to the touch and it makes a noticeable difference just looking at your skin. Love in a jar <3.

Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal ($36)- I was not a big fan of this product. The color didn't match me but I tried it anyway so I could give you lovelies a full review. It is very powdery and cakey looking at the same time. It's not flattering. If you have something you need to conceal, I feel like this makes it stand out more.

stila Smudg Stick Waterproof Eye Liner ($20) in peacock- This is an awesome eyeliner! I don't typically like waterproof makeup but this color is so amazzing I just can't hate on it.

Lifestyle Extra #1 Larabar Mini Bar ($15) in Chocolate Chip Brownie- It was a yummy little treat but was nothing new. I'm not sure why it was in this box, but hey, It's chocolate so I'm not complaining

Lifestyle Extra #2 Birchbox Magnet- Uhm...a Birchbox Magnet...that about sums it up...I like magnets so I'm not complaing....mocking, but not complaining.

Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss ($20) in Birchbox Pink- This is a fun and awesome lip gloss. It's a fun, sheer, bubble-gum/flamingo pink gloss. Pro: Not the least bit sticky. Con: Smells a little funky.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo ($25)- Dry Shampoo is my favorite dirty girl product. It encourages me to skip a good hair wash every now and then. Who am I kidding, I use it like three times a week..Anyways I didn't think this one was any more amazing than Tresseme or Suave, and so far nothing even touches PSSST. So in my opinon it is not worth the extra money but it did the job.

Showstoppers Designer Fashion Tape in Nude ($10)- These are good for skinny girls with small tatas. No way, no how will these work for my DDD tatas. I can't review them so I gave them away to a skinny  girl with small(er) tatas....

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse ($58)-  Pro: Made my hair AND skin feel ridiculously soft and beautiful. Con: Left glitter ALL.OVER.EVERYWHERE. Now don't get me wrong, I love glitter. But this is just too much glitter. I didn't even know those words could be combined to make that horrible sentence!

Atelier Cologne ($70)- I do love this smell but it is very androgynous. I honestly couldn't tell right away if it was for a man or a woman. That didn't stop me from wearing it though, and liking it.


 Vanessa


Juicy Couture - Juicy Couture 3.4 oz, $89 
I'm not a fan of Juicy Couture fragrances, but I gave this one a try so I could give an honest review. This one is way too floral for me, I like something a little lighter. This is supposed to pack a lot of oomph, and it does, it's just not for me. 


Borghese CuraForte Moisture Intensifier - 1.7 oz, $67.50
My skin really needs a little extra moisture right now, so this was just what I was looking for this month. It's a serum that delivers moisture to your skin and also helps you absorb moisture from other products. I used it under my regular moisturizer and saw the dry, flaky spots on my face vanish. It's not something I'd need year-round, but I'll invest in it until warmer weather thaws out my skin's dry issues. 


stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner - $20
This sample alone caused me to be the envy of a few friends, because these suckers quickly sold out everywhere. My sample was Purple Tang, and I love it! I can't decide which one to try next, probably Moray (green). I don't normally like wearing pencil eyeliners, my skin gets so oily the pencil ends up sliding off or disappearing into nothingness. But the first thing I noticed is how creamy and smooth the stila Smudge Sticks are. Not like typical pencil eyeliners at all! I cashed in some Birchbox points to get stila's Prime Pot (free!) and between that and the Smudge Stick, my eyes have never been happier.


C.O. Bigelow Lavender and Peppermint Shampoo &Conditioner - 150 ml, $12 (each)
I was surprised by how well the shampoo cleans, it left my hair almost too clean (you know how I love the day after shampoo feel and look), but the herbal pepperminty smell made up for it. It didn't smell like most peppermint products I've tried, this smelled more actual mint, very subtle and clean. The conditioner was nice too, and it left my hair soft and shiny. If you're looking for something similar to a clarifying shampoo, without being too harsh, this would be a great option.


'wichcraft Granola - 8oz, $8
Kind of an odd sample to get from Birchbox, but I am happily eating my initial words of doubt about this. I like granola, and for the most part, it's all pretty much the same, I normally get either boysenberry & granola or honey & flax at my local Fresh & Easy. This particular granola is from 'wichcraft, from Tom Colicchio's (head judge on Bravo's Top Chef) NYC 'wichcraft Cafe. It's really yummy granola, you guys! It ups the ante of regular granola by adding hazel nuts (my fave) and coconut flakes to a mix of toasted oats, raisins and cranberries. Fun fact - one side of the package is solid green, and for a second I thought Birchbox had sent me a small bag of weed.

Bonus item
I also got the Birchbox magnet Charlotte mocked, it's the pink square logo and I immediately put it on the back side of my medicine cabinet mirror - where I leave love notes to myself and reminders to buy Pup-Peroni for Oliver. I shall never mock a free magnet!

This month's box had two big winners for me, stila's Smudge Stick and 'wichcraft Granola ( just bought a full size bag of it). No real loser, the Juicy Couture perfume just wasn't my thang!

Let's pour out a little face wash (not the good stuff!) in honor of Charlotte's last Birchbox review. If she decided to try another service, I'll twist force invite her back to do some comparisons and more reviews. This one is for you, Charlotte...



2 comments:

  1. Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal ($36)- I was not a big fan of this product. The color didn't match me but I tried it anyway so I could give you lovelies a full review. It is very powdery and cakey looking at the same time. It's not flattering. If you have something you need to conceal, I feel like this makes it stand out more. -----------

    I loved this stuff. It really isn't a meant for spot treatment from what I read, it is more of a base or primer situation, specially under eye area. I used a tiny - and I mean tiny - little bit and mixed it into my primer /over my primer and it was perfect. People kept telling me I looked refreshed. I'm gonna buy some, it is way better then any liquid concealer I have tried which seems to shift hardcore. - Anna

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  2. I guess to each his own. It didn't work for me, but my skin is not in the best condition anyhow so I feel like any type of concealer, spot treatment or overall concealer is never very beneficial for me.

    ~Charlotte

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