Birchbox Mach 2015 Unboxing

Guess what this is? An unboxing of the March 2015 Birchbox (applause). You know the drill right? Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription (check them out at www.birchbox.com) that sends you 5 sample-sized products. The box is $10.00 a month and well worth that price in my opinion. 

Now all the things! 

Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream SPF 35+ full-sized product $32.00. First off this name is epic. Who came up with this name? The name is amazing. The Supergoop! CC cream is said to be the next generation of CC Cream. More lightweight than its prequel and easier to blend, the fragrance-free formula acts as both a primer and a foundation. It smooth’s fine lines and uneven skin and provides SPF protection. Plus, this all-in-one velvety cream comes in a range of self-adjusting shades to suit a variety of skin tones.

I have not tried this product yet. I’m taking a trip in two weeks and I’m tying not to have a weird skin reaction. I will try it as soon as I get back. The sample is very small so I’m not sure I’ll be able to give you a complete review but I will try. 

Up next is the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant full-sized product $26.00. The Paula’s Choice Skin perfection Liquid Exfoliant contains BHA that is a clinically proven blemish treatment that also increases collagen production for smoother skin. 

I was excited to see this product in the box. I haven’t tried any Paula’s Choice products but have really wanted too. However, I have not (again) tried this product because of my upcoming trip. Sorry guys! My reviews are all over the place this month! 

Can you guess if I’ve used the Yes To™ Cucumbers Hypoallergenic Facial Wipes (full-sized product $5.99)? These facial wipes are oil-free and designed to keep your skin fresh and clean even when your sink and bathroom shelf are out of reach. These 98 percent natural wipes pull triple-duty as a cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer, all in a handy pocket-sized package. Organic cucumber extract removes dead skin cells and relieves puffiness, while aloe vera soothes and hydrates skin. Green tea’s dual antioxidant and astringent properties help to ease troubled skin and prevent unexpected breakouts. I am actually going to use these on my trip so I will have a review when I get back.

Now on to something I have tired. The Mirenesse Mattfinity Lip Rouge full-sized product $29.00 in the color Seoul (this is the perfect color FYI). This is a matte finish product that also is said to promote hydration. The claims were correct was not drying when I wore it. I also love the color. Overall a great product but would I pay $29.00 for it? I’m not so sure I would. 

The last product in my Birchbox is the Beauty Protector Protect & Oil full-sized product $25.95. The Beauty Protector lightweight hair oil protects against UV rays and heat damage without leaving a heavy or stiff feeling to the hair. I have used this product and it’s ok. I’m not a huge fan of the smell and I really don’t see much difference between this and other hair oil products. I’m going to use it for a few more days to give it time to grow on me but as of now – it’s good but nothing special. 

Birchbox unboxing complete! I’d be interested to know what others got in their boxes this month. I really do enjoy Birchbox and for the price it can’t be beat. I’m also enjoying the new design each month. So, what did you guys think of your boxes? 

Ipsy March 2015 Unbagging

I’m always unsure what to call my Ipsy subscription when I open it. Is it an unbagging or an unboxing? Unbagging is the title I’ve settled on. See, I can make decisions! Ipsy is one of my monthly beauty sample subscriptions. You usually get sample-sized products with Ipsy and a few deluxe samples. I have received full sized products but you shouldn’t expect it. Ipsy is $10.00 a month and usually contains 5 samples. You also receive a makeup bag every month, which contains the samples. Check them out here at www.ipsy.com. 

Now on to all the things!

The bag is…interesting this month. It looks like a pattern I saw on some furniture in the 1970’s. Not something I would choose for myself but I got it with the sub service so not a big deal. 

The first product I pulled out is the Coolway Glow Oil Treatment sample full-sized product 29.99. The Coolway Glow Oil Treatment does not contain alcohol, parabens, or other nasties. What the finishing oil does contain is Vitamin E and Porphyra Seaweed extract to maintain moisture and balance so your hair remains beautiful and shiny throughout the day. 

This is one of the products I have not used. I am about to get my hair styled and I want to give the oil an honest review. So I will wait until a few days after my salon trip to try it (because seriously your hair is perfect after a salon who knows if it’s the product or the stylist). 

Next we have the Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter full-sized product $18.00. The highlighter is in pencil form and smells like a color pencil you use when you draw. I felt like I should be coloring in a picture when I swatched this product. Needless to say I’m not a big fan of the smell. This pencil claims it can be used a few different ways. You can use it as eyeliner, a highlighter, or as a lip liner (not sure how that would work since it’s very light). 

Smell aside the product works very well. It goes on creamy and it blends well. I used it as a highlighter on my nose and to hide a red spot on my cheek and it worked perfectly. Overall I really like this pencil. Would I spend $18.00 on it? I don’t think I would. 

I was pretty happy to see this product in my bag because I’ve wanted to try it. The NYX Cosmetics Butter Lipstick (full-sized $6.00) is said to be hydrating with high color saturation that is longwearing. I received the color Pops and I really like it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was no smell to speak of. I find that most drug store lipsticks have a crazy smell so I was very excited about this. 

The product goes on smoothly and the formula is very creamy. The color is opaque and the claim that it lasts is true. I wore it for 6 hours and the color was still going strong. It’s also not drying to my lips, which is another concern I have with long lasting lipsticks. Overall this is a great product and I am going to try out some of their other colors. 

Next we have the pūr~lisse beauty pūr~delicate gentle soymilk cleanser & makeup remover full-sized product $36.00. The gentle soymilk cleanser is sulfate free and contains whole oat and white tea. I have not used this product yet because of my upcoming trip. I will as soon as I get back. 

The last product in my bag this month was the MARSK mineral eye shadow in Fifty Shades (full-sized price $22.50). This MARSK eyeshadow is 100% natural and is cruelty free. You can use this product wet or dry and it claims to be creamy and easily blendable. I don’t see where they get the creamy claim from maybe if you use it wet the texture changes but it felt very gritty to me. 

As you can see from the swatch it’s an interesting color choice. To me it looks like gunpowder. For me there was too much fallout when I placed it on my eye and I had to remove it. I plan to play with it a bit more to see if I can get it to work but I don’t have high hopes. 

That’s what I got in my bag! Overall this is an Eh bag for me. The lipstick and the highlighter were hits but are they worth the $10.00? I will say they’re getting better but they’re not quite there yet. What did you think about your bag?

March 2015 3b Beauty Bag Unboxing

It’s that time of the month again! It’s subscription box week. I’ve received my Birchbox, Ipsy, and 3b beauty boxes plus a Colourpop order and a YSL mascara for review. Whew! Everyone seems pretty interested in the 3b beauty bag so it will be my first subscription blog post! For those that don’t know 3b is a monthly Asian beauty subscription bag. It costs $13.00 a month and contains sample, deluxe, and full-sized products. Check them out here https://the3bbox.com/.

Now on to all the things! 

My first product is this Holika Holika Daily Garden Lip & Eye Remover. Holika Holika is a Korean brand that is very well known by Kbeauty enthusiasts. This is a run of the mil makeup remover. It has a light smell, which was not offensive to my sensitive nose. I probably will not use any new removers or skin products until I get back from my trip to Chicago to avoid any crazy skin reactions. 

Since we’re talking about Holika Holika lets take a look at the Holika Holika Juicy Shine Lip Blam. The Juicy Shine Lip Blam is rosey tinted and has a unique formula which seals in moisture while delivering a pretty pink gloss to the lips. It claims to be extra creamy, highly moisturizing, with a sheer raspberry finish. I have not swatched the lip blam (sorry) because I currently have about 200 lip balms hanging around and I really don’t want to waste it (ok 200 is an exaggeration). I’m about to finish two up so I will be opening it soon and giving it a better review. 

These two samples are from Sulwhasoo a high end skin care brand from Korea. These are the Essential Balancing Water and the Essential Emulsion. 

For those not familiar with Korean skin care it has many steps and uses terms that can be a little confusing to some. The Balancing water is called a toner. However, it refers to balancing your skin not the toner we’re used to using after washing our face. You pat this product int your skin instead of using a cotton pad. It is more like a skin treatment then a toner. The emulsion is actually a light moisturizer and not a cleanser (I mentioned it can get confusing). 

The Essential Balancing Water is developed to deliver deep hydration while immersing your skin in a veil of essential nutrients. 

The Essential Emulsion is a light moisturizer formulated with Korean medicinal herbs to improve skin’s ability to maintain water and includes mountain peony (prevents dehydration) and yai jiu hua extract (promotes circulation). 

As I said I wont be using these until after my vacation. I am very excited to receive these samples because Ive been eyeing this skincare line for awhile. These samples will help me make my decisions if I want to drop the money on the full sized products. 

The last sample is the Too Cool For School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack. The pumpkin sleeping pack is an overnight mask that contains pumpkin extract, beta-carotene, and vitamin A to rejuvenate your skin while you sleep. So, fun fact about me - I’m allergic to squash. I can eat pumpkin when it is cooked (the only squash I know I can eat) but I’m going to guess this isn’t cooked and/or it might not be actual pumpkin. Which means, in order to avoid anaphylactic shock, I am going to be passing this sample along to my friend Jamie. 

I am really enjoying this beauty subscription. I love Asian beauty products and this is a fun way to get exposed to new products without having to order them from Korea, wait a month, and then hope you like what you purchased. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the 3b beauty bag!

First Impressions of the Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Crèmes

I’ve been on a lipstick kick lately. I realize that I’ve been limiting myself to very specific red colors. I decided screw it – more colors! I purchased three Le Marc Lip Crèmes in the colors So Sofia 236 electric watermelon, Clara 218 bold rose, and Core Cora 234 brilliant coral. 

Formula – The formula goes on well and is creamier then other popular lipsticks. I was expecting it to be very creamy (crème is in the name) and while I did not find this they were on point with some of the higher end lipsticks such as the Chanel Rogue de Coco. I have the tendency to get dry in the corners of my mouth when I apply lipstick. This formula did not do that.

Wear time – The color lasted for a few hours but by no means were they 12 hour long wearing pigments. This is the give and take with wear time creamy or drying. I still haven’t found a good middle ground…yet. 

Pigmentation – No one can say these three colors are not pigmented. When they say electric, bold, and brilliant, they are not kidding. They were very bright and on my skin tone and the colors just did not work. I’ve seen them on other skin tones and they look amazing. However, they looked very cheap on me. The way a friend described it to me was it’s as if you have black light paint on your lips and someone threw on the black light.

My take on each color (I had a video for this that got corrupted so I don't have swatches - sorry):

So Sofia is a very bright fuchsia pink. Watermelon I think is not the right way to describe the color of So Sofia. I think this would be better suited to a lighter skin tone with cool undertones.

So Sofia

Clara and Core Cora – These two colors are almost identical. I applied Clara to left side of my lip and Core Cora to the right and no one I showed could differentiate between them. They colors also did not suit me. What I’ve learned from this is that I don’t look good with Coral’s that are this bright and/or this tone. 

Clara

Core Cora

Overall I do like the formulation of these lipsticks, the colors are very opaque, and the ware time is about average. I like the lipstick but they’re not a holy grail. I am going to try some different colors of this line because I’m always on the hunt for a good lipstick smile.