September 2016 3B Beauty Bag Review

3B (Beauty Beyond Borders) is a beauty subscription box that sends four to five deluxe Asian beauty samples for $12.00 a month. I say samples but most of the time there is also a full-sized product included. I’m a huge fan of Korean beauty (cause ya know). So a subscription box with Asian beauty samples was too hard for me to resist. If you’re already into Asian beauty and are well versed in the products this is probably not the box for you.

On to all the things!

The Aloe Vera Moisture Real Soothing Gel by Welcos Kwailnara was pretty hard to miss and believe it or not this is still not the full sized product! The Gel contains 98% organic aloe vera, cucumber extract, and vitamin E. What it doesn’t have is alcohol. This is a huge plus for me because of my sensitive and dry skin. I always wondered why companies put alcohol in products marketed to those of us with sensitive skin. “What’s something we can add that will irritate and dry out their face…? OH I know!”

It also contains no parabens, benzophenone, silicone, mineral oil, animal oil (what?) or pigment. It has a seal so I haven’t smelled it but the ingredients list does not have any added fragrance that I can see. I will be trying this product right after I make sure my new toner isn’t going to effect my skin (smile).

Super Plus Triple Function BB Cream by SKIN79 is 100% not my shade. There is no way I can test this but I can give you some information on the product.  “SKIN79 triple function blemish balm cream that shields skin from premature aging with potent SPF 25, while whitening skin and reducing existing lines and wrinkles. The creamy formula effectively covers up skin imperfections, creating a perfect base for makeup and foundation. Skin feels and looks fresh, with a gorgeous matte finish all day long. Recommended for combination and oily skin types.”

There is no scent to this BB Cream, which I really like. The product seems more like a thick foundation rather then a BB Cream and I think it will be pretty full coverage. I can’t find any information about the product’s ingredients but searching online has yielded no results. If you have a lot of sensitivities you may want to do a more in-depth search for an ingredients list.

Next we have a very small sample of the All Clean Balm by Heimish. I’m not even sure I’ll be able to use this to remove any makeup the sample is so small. Active ingredients are citrus herb oil, coconut extract, Shea butter, and donkey milk (maybe this is the animal oil they were talking about earlier?).

The last two products in the bag are by Etude House. We have the Honey Cera Cream and Honey Cera Priming Eye Serum. Unfortunately the scent of these products is a huge turn off for me. It smells like a fairy fart and I cannot put this on my face (yes I said fairy fart).

That’s all folks! I’m happy to have the Aloe Gel but I’m not sure that product alone is worth the bag. I’m thinking about canceling this subscription to be honest. I can buy Korean Skin-care without having to get this beauty box every month. What do you think?

August 2015 Ipsy Unbagging

My last beauty subscription unbagging for the month will be the August 2015 Ipsy bag. Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription that costs $10.00/month. Each month you get a makeup bag and at least 5 beauty samples (sometimes full sized products). You can also get beauty tools such as brushes in the bag (make sure you fill out your beauty profile when you sign up!). You can check them out at www.ipsy.com. 

Ipsy and I have a complicated relationship. The first few months I received it I was not happy at all. As time has gone on and since I have been filling out reviews (yeah I suggest you review your products) it has slowly been getting better. Lets see how this month goes. 

Now all the things!

My first product is the OZ Naturals Amino Herbal Hydration Mask sample-size (full-sized price $21.99). This mask contains rosehip oil, pro-vitamin B5, amino acid complex and an organic herbal blend that deeply nourishes and penetrates again skin (I guess my skin is aging). The brand is cruelty free and organic, does not contain alcohol, parabens, or sulfates. 

I did not open the product to smell it because it has a seal on it. I am going to try this mask because rosehip oil is supposed to be good for people who have rosacea. I will report back after using the mask to let you know if my face burned off or not – smile. 

Next we have the Batiste Dry Shampoo in the scent Blush sample-size (full-sized price $7.99). Everyone knows what dry shampoo is right? The Batiste is no different it’s there to make your dirty hair look good again. I was really worried about the smell but it’s not that bad. It does smell like perfume but it dissipates pretty fast. I don’t think I would purchase it because I am a huge fan of the Klorane Dry Shampoo. Overall if you’re looking for a different option this is something you should try. 

The Starlooks Luxe Longwear Eye Liner Pen (full-sized price $19.00( seemed to be the answer to my eyeliner prayers. I’ve been looking for a small pen applicator to travel with. Don’t get me wrong I love my Tarteist Clay Paint Liner but when I travel I lose things. I can just see myself losing my brush so the pen applicator seemed like a great option. 

As you can see I made a little doodle on my hand (because who wants a boring straight line am I right?). I looked good. However, the long lasting claim seems to be misplaced. I allowed it to dry and was able to wipe it off with a little water. Maybe I did not let it dry long enough but if it wiped off that easy with some water it will not stay on my eyes. I’ll see how it goes on a day I don’t mind the potential panda eyes. 

I was not excited to see a Hikari Cosmetics product in my bag. I did not like the Hikari eyeliner that Ipsy sent me in another bag so I didn’t have a good feeling about this lip gloss. The Hikari Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Salsa (full-sized price $13.00) is a high-shine lip matte gloss. I have to say that the color of this lip gloss is intense. Very opaque and the formula is not sticky. It did smell like plastic but it wasn’t an overpowering smell and wouldn’t stop me from wearing it. I am glad to say that my impression of the brand does not apply to all of the Hikari products. A great lip gloss! 

The last product in my bag is the City Color Cosmetics HD Powder sample-size (full-sized price $5.99). This translucent powder is a finely milled 100% silica powder that helps blur any imperfections. I don’t use powder because I have dry skin so I am going to be passing this sample along. I will say it’s a pretty small sample and I’m not sure that you would be able to get a good feel for the product with this size of a sample. 

Well, that is my August Ipsy Bag. I am not that happy with the bag. While I do use dry shampoo the perfume smell isn’t for me (but I’ll keep it for emergencies) the HD powder is something I wont use and while I did like the idea of the eye liner if it really is not waterproof it wont work for me. I’m also not sure if the mask will work since I have sensitive skin that has a tendency to get angry. So, that leaves the lip gloss. The lip gloss is worth the price of the bag but I would hope that I could use or try at least the majority of the products. This month was a bust for me. What do you guys think of your bags?

August 2015 3b Beauty Bag Unbagging and Review

3b bag unbagging! Yes ladies and gentleman here is my unbagging of the August 3b bag. Do you like Asian cosmetics and skincare (maybe not but you should)? 3b is a monthly beauty subscription bag like Ipsy and Birchbox. Like Ipsy and Birchbox 3b provides you with 5 – 6 sample sized (sometimes full sized) products and at $12.00/month 3b is also at the same price point. 

However, 3b is different because they send you Asian skincare and makeup products. 3b is new to the beauty subscription scene with less then a year under its belt. Experienced users of Korean and Japanese beauty products have claimed that 3b contains products geared more for someone who is just starting to explore Asian beauty. I would disagree with that statement. Just like any other beauty subscription service you’ll receive products you don’t want or don’t need but you’ll also receive product that you were not aware of, or a product from a brand you know but haven’t tried. 3b seems to hit the mark for Asian beauty like Ipsy and Birchbox do for Western brands. 

Now on to all the things! 

I pulled out this very cute very tiny sample of the Tonymoly Delight Tony Tint. The Tony tint contains jojoba seed oil to give color to your lips without drying your lips it. The lip tint deliver great color payoff, long-lasting wear, and applies evenly every time. I did not put the product on my lips (sorry) because I am trying out another lip product and I don’t want to accidently make my lips angry and ruin that review. 

I swatched the lip tint on my hand and as you can see its very wet when you first apply it. It also has a sent that is a combination between sweet candy and lipstick. It’s not offensive at all but it does stick around. It also takes a little bit to try if you’re familiar with Kat Von D liquid lipsticks I would say it takes a little more then half-the time to dry as the Kat Von D brand. Since the Tonymoly tint is about $2.00 online it’s a huge difference in savings. 

However, I have to say that the color payoff is amazing. What you see on my hand is one swipe of the wand. It also does not come off without a makeup remover. I wore the product for a day to see if it would crack on my hand and not a chance. I even took a nap with it on my hand. Ok ok I forgot I had it on and yes I do take naps – laugh. 

It seems that it would not be drying on your lips but I can’t say that for sure. I can tell you that if I touch the spot on my hand with the product on it did feel moisturized. 

Also can I comment on the “Not for Sale” on the label? It made me laugh. 

The second product is the RiRe Luxe Eye Lash Mascara. Now, 3b said that we were going to get the RiRe Luxe Eye Lash Essence but instead we received the Mascara. The info card even lists the essence. So I looked up the information on line. The product contains black bean extract, black sesame seed extract, elastine, and peptide (Keratin). These ingredients add nutrients and moisture as well as stronger lashes and strengthening. It has a specialized brush, which resembles an oval with bristles, that they claim curls the lashes, prevent clumping, and allows you to get close to your lash line. The product page also states that it has a deep and delicate rose scent and is easily washed off. 

That delicate rose (lose?) sent? It smells like someone took unicorn sparkles, fairy farts, and dead roses, mixed it all together, concentrated it and put it in this mascara. As you can tell it’s way to much for me and since I do have sensitive skin/eyes at times, I did not put this mascara on. 

I wish I could put it on because the brush head seems like an interesting idea and is 100% not like any mascara brush I have ever seen. If I can convince one of my friends to try on the mascara I will update everyone on how well it does. I am also going to guess that since the mascara can be washed of with warm water that the mascara is not waterproof. 

It’s sheet mask month! I received this Missha Pure Source Cell Sheet Mask in Red Ginseng. Missha is a very popular brand and is fairly easy to get in the US via the online website. If you don’t know how to use a sheet mask you open it and put it on your freshly washed face, wait 15 – 20 minutes, remove, and then gently pat until all the product left on your face is fully absorbed. I promise I wont go on a diatribe about how I love sheet masks. 

Korean red ginseng is a very coveted herb in Korea. I’ve actually been taking it for fatigue for a while now and it works really well. The claims for your skin are that it strengthens skin’s immunity to harmful environments, boosts blood circulation, helps to remove dead skin cells, and boosts firmness and elasticity. I have not tried this sheet mask yet but I will be. 

Sheet masks are always a bit goopy and wet so be prepared for that. Also, red ginseng does not smell great. It’s a very earthy/wood type smell so I can’t speak to how this mask is going to smell. 

Last we have the Secret key Starting Treatment Eye Cream. This cream contains shea butter, macadamia seed oil, sweet almond oil, and witch hazel extract (as well as more ingredients). The claim is that this eye cream helps to maintain elasticity and vitality around the eye, as well as smooth’s wrinkles, nourishes the skin, and increasing radiance. It does not contain parabens, phenoxy ethanol, mineral oil, synthetic coloring or benzophnon. 

This is a huge bottle of eye cream. I really like the packaging because it keeps light out and you never have to touch the cream with your fingers. This decreases the exposure to air and light as well as bacteria from your fingers. It is a thick product but goes on very easily. The smell is very subtle and disappears immediately with application. I would have to compare the scent and consistency to Clinique’s Laser Focus Eye cream. 

Well, that is this month’s 3b beauty bag. Overall the bag was a miss for me. I won’t be using the mascara and the prices of the other products don’t add up to the $12.00/month price tag. Especially since the Tony Moly Lip Tint is only a sample size. I’m going to continue getting the bag for a few more months but if it continues with this trend then I will have to cancel my subscription. What are your thoughts on this months bag?

August 2015 Boxycharm Unboxing

Oh Boxycharm how I love thee (petting the box). I guess it’s no secret that I love Boxycharm. I was on the waitlist for about a month before they opened up their subscriptions. When I got the conformation email saying I had been taken off of the wait list I literally squealed like a small child. (Yes I did). Boxycharm is a monthly beauty subscription box like Ipsy and Birchbox but with a higher price point of $22.00 (plus tax if in Florida). Why the price difference you ask? Because the give you five, count em five, full-sized beauty products. In my opinion it is 100% worth the cost of the box. Is every box a winner? No, but most of the time you get something awesome and worth the $22.00. 

Now all the things! 

Anyone else notice the new box? I like the black! 

First thing I pull out another brush! I love brushes. This is SETA's Eyeliner Brush $16.00. This brush is 5 ½ inches long which I like because I seem to do better with the longer handled brushes. The handle is made of wood and the fibers are synthetic. It is a very thin brush with a tapered point that I really like. I prefer that liner brushes have an angle to them to help control the line but I’m going to give this brush a shot to see if I can get a very thin line. As you can see the line I created was pretty thick but I was using a lot of product. 

And what do you need to go with that eyeliner brush? Well gel eyeliner of course! MicaBeauty's Gel Eyeliner full-sized $35.00 goes perfect with the SETA eyeliner brush. As you can see from the picture above the product is opaque and goes on smoothly. After I let it dry I had to remove it with makeup remover. I’m not sure about the staying power on my oily lids but I’m going to give it a try. I’m not sure it’s going to live up to my Tartist eyeliner but we shall see. 

I did not know what this was at first but it’s actually a leave in conditioner. Remember how I said I’m looking for hair products? The Nios Shield Leave In Conditioner f(ull-sized $26.00) protects your hair with a SPF 15 sunscreen. To be honest I’ve never had a product with sunscreen in it for my hair. It also contains Vitamin E and B5 to hydrate and nourish hair and Moroccan argan oil to help tame frizz. 

The leave in conditioner is not as thick as most leave in conditioners but is also not runny. I have to say I wasn’t a fan of the sunscreen smell. I’m not sure I want my hair to smell like I put a bunch of sunscreen into it. I’m going to give it a try the next time I go to the beach but I don’t think I’ll be using this product daily. 

The So Susan Statement Skin is a stick highlighter full-sized $20.00. The Statement Skin highlighting crayon contains organic chia seed to help keep sink softly hydrated and silk peptide to promote skin suppleness and elasticity. It talks about it’s chiseled end being good for both large area application as well as for the cupids bow and the bridge of the nose. However, that end is going to wear down as you use the product so I’m not overly impressed with the new end type. 

This is a gorgeous highlighter though and I’m going to use it. I’m not easily impressed but the formula is creamy and goes on very smoothly. I also like the fact that it blends well and can be mixed with foundation. Overall a great product. 

Let me just say that this last box item made me so happy. I am a big fan of the Costal Scents Revealed pallet’s so I was excited to see the new(ish) Costal Scents Reveal3d pallet in my box (full-sized $39.95 but you can usually find it for $19.95). I love these pallets. The colors are opaque, go on smoothly, and are very blendable. There is a bit of fallout from the pan but it’s not a lot. The product is not chalky but it is not as creamy as the Urban Decay shadows. 

I will say that these pallets really rival the Urban Decay Naked pallets. There is really no difference in quality plus they’re also $30.00 cheaper. You can get all three Revealed pallets for $10.00 more then cost of one Urban Decay Naked pallet. Sometimes the reveled pallets go on sale for as low as $10.00 so you might even be able to buy all three for $30. 00 if you’re patient and keep and eye on the website. That’s a steal for such good quality eye shadows. If you’re looking for an alternative to the Naked pallets that wont break the bank you really should get these. 

That is my Boxycharm for the month of August! I loved this box. The Reval3d pallet alone was worth the price of the box. I’m in love with the highlighter and who doesn’t need more eyeliner and a brush – am I right? I’m not a huge fan of the leave in conditioner but I will get use out of it living in Florida. So, what did you guys think of Boxycharm this month? 

August 2015 Birchbox Unboxing

Thought I forgot about you guys huh? Nope! I’m back with my reviews! I know I’ve been slow posting but I’ve had one heck of a month with life things. June was my birthday and oncologist testing (still cancer free) and then in July it was MS month where I had appointments, numb feet (yeah fun but they’re going away) and dogs bouncing off of walls and getting an ear hematoma. So things have calmed down and I’m baaaack. Also keep an eye out for the launch of my YouTube channel!. Enough of my babbling onto the reviews!

I have to confess that I love beauty subscriptions. Sometimes I don’t get things I like but that’s the chance you take with subscription boxes. I’ve found some HG products using subscription services so I’m all for it. Today is my August Birchbox unboxing. For those that are unfamiliar with Birchbox it’s a $10.00/month beauty and lifestyle subscription box. You will receive a very cute box along with 6 sample-sized products. At times you will receive a full sized product but it’s not something you should count on. You can check out Birchbox here www.birchbox.com. 

Now on to all the things! 

Birchbox is sending out some cute boxes eh? 

The first product from this box is the RUSK Volumizing Mousse sample size – full size $18.00. Can I say I’m a grammar Nazi? Not on my own stuff mind you (I’m bad at that) so if I can spot it it’s bad. Well, I spotted it on the Birchbox product card…well unless stregthand is a word now…smile. 

I also think these sub boxes are reading my mind. I just cut my off after two years (hey what can I say Cancer took up my time) and volume is always a concern for me. I can’t wait to try this product on my hair to see if it really does volumize. I’m using a BB volumizer now but it seems to leave behind a film that I don’t care for. Woo me RUSK WOO ME! 

People who know a bit about beauty products have heard of dr.brandt pores no more cleanser sample sized – full sized $35.00. I have to say I have never used this product. I’m scared to upset my face but I’m going to try it on my nose. I’ll let you know how I feel about it after I use it. 

I was very excited to see the Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solutions Deep Hydration Sheet Mask in my box full size $6.00. I love sheet masks! It’s one of the Asian beauty trends that I’ve been coveting for a long time that America is just now catching up with. I have used this mask before and I love it. It really helps to hydrate dry skin but if you have oily skin I would stay away from it. If you only try one Asian beauty staple I would highly say that sheet masks are the way to go! 

I have to say that I am not excited to receive the Air Repair Complexion Boosting Moisturizer sample size – full size $20.00. I’m pretty sold on the moisturizers I use (yes plural) and trying a new one isn’t high on my list. I did not open it so I can pass it along to a friend to try. 

Isn’t this cute? This is theBalm cosmetics Balm Desert Bronzer/Blush sample – full size $21.00. I love this bronzer for my skin tone. It matches my skin amazingly and I have a fair complexion. This sample is so small I’m not sure I’m going to get any use out of it. I can tell that the product has a small amount of fallout, is creamy, and has a slight shimmer to it. I’m really enjoying theBalm products and impressed with their quality. I might actually pick this bronzer up. 

Overall I’m very happy with August’s Birchbox. I’m not sure what happened with their information cards (although it’s funny). What did you get in your Birchbox this month?

June 2015 Ipsy Unbagging and Review

Look at this – Two days and two unboxing's! Today I am unbagging the June 2015 Ipsy bag. Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription service that sends 5 or so sample sized beauty products. The difference with this beauty subscription service is that they also send you a small makeup bag every month. The cost for Ipsy is $10.00 a month check them out here at www.ipsy.com. 

Now onto all the things! 

Jules and Esther Vitamin C Serum was the first product I took out of my bag. I was pretty excited to see this. I’ve been looking for a good vitamin C serum and have been sampling a few brands. The product has a very nice orange smell to it. I anticipated that it would be clear but the liquid is more milky white. This product is cruelty and paraben free (which is a plus) and I’ll report back after using this for a month to see how it goes!

I was pretty shocked to see these BioRepbulic SkinCare Sheet masks. I received their sheet mask trio in Cucumber Breeze, Aloe Rescue, and Green Tea Detox. I love sheet masks. Korean skincare, and Asian skincare in general, uses sheet masks regularly. Since I use a lot of Korean products sheet masks are already part of my beauty routine. I haven’t tried any of these masks yet but I will this weekend and will report back on if I think they’re effective. Great product!

The Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Foundation Primer was the first primer I ever used. I’m still a huge fan of the product and already own a full sized bottle. I will be giving this one away to a friend so they can sample it. Overall if you haven’t tried the Smashbox primer and you’re looking for one you should give it a go.

I have wanted to try Sephora’s Formula X nail polish and I got my chance this month because of Ipsy. This hot coral pink color is a great summer color. The formula is thick and while I like two coats of nail polish you could do one coat and go. I can’t say much about how long the polish lasts (I haven’t worn it long enough) but so far so good. I’ll report back after week. 

I thought this tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon had opened in bag but it was just the packaging that fooled me. I received the shadow crayon in Marimoto Pink Pearl. It’s a very subtle pink color but is very buildable. I like this shade for summer. I do have to say that I swatched this on my hand and it wouldn’t wipe off (laugh). I actually had to pull out my makeup remover so I’m going to say that this is a long staying product. 

I am very happy with my Ipsy bag this month. This months bag fit my personal tastes and I hope that this is an ongoing trend for the future. Most of the bags I’ve had from Ipsy have been misses so much so that I was thinking about canceling. They have remnewed my faith in them (smile). What did you guys think of your Ipsy bags?