August Birchbox

Ok so I got my Birchbox super duper early this month and I feel terrible that I am just now writing about it. Although to be fair, I like to try at least some of the products before posting. What good is a review if you haven’t tried the products yet right?

Birchbox: $10 a month sending awesome beauty samples to your door based off of your beauty profile. They do have a points reward and referral system to be used in their shop, make sure to do product reviews to get BB points! 

   

  

Harvey Prince Ageless Body Cream, I love all of the Harvey Prince scents that I’ve gotten to sample so far and this lotion was another win for me. This is a fairly strong scented lotion, you don’t want to layer on any extra perfume with this. I kind of like that about it since I normally forget to wear fragrance these days. It also wears well, normally scents fade really fast on my skin, this one didn’t. The only downside? This has Red33 in it even though Birchbox says that this is a hypoallergenic lotion. There are many who get a bad reaction when using products with this ingredient, just a heads up. 

    

Neil George Shampoo and Conditioner, This is a new brand for me to try out and I am pleased both with the sample size and that BB sent the set instead of just one to try. Sometimes I feel like hair care products work best when you stick with the same line instead of mixing and matching them. Im not crazy about the scent, it isn’t awful it’s just not for me. I still can’t wait to give it a go and see how it works in my hair. 

 

nugg face mask-revitalizing, Yay! I never splurge on face masks and I can’t wait to try this out! I like the little pod it comes in. This mask is supposed to revitalize and plump dull tired skin, yes please! As a tired mommy, I will take anything that makes me look less tired and zombie like. 

 

Laura Geller Cool Lids Eyeshadow in Silver Sands, This was my customized pick for August and it did not disappoint. You only need a little so this tube should last me a while. The color is really pretty and not too dark. You can layer to make it darker or keep it light and more sheer. I used this over my whole eyelid and I like it a lot. It dries quickly and lasts about all day with no smudging or budging. This is a first trying a liquid eyeshadow and I think I’d like to try more shades now. 

  

All of the items were a win for me this month. Sometimes it’s hit or miss but for August Im happy with all of my products. I also feel like if I saved this for travel all I would need is a little shower gel and lip balm and I would be all set! Since subscribing to BB I have had a much easier time packing my beauty and skincare essentials : ).

On another note: I really like that Birchbox is changing things ups to offer more customization to the boxes. I was debating over whether or not to get the other box option and Im glad I didn’t. My mother in law picked the box that had set samples this month and sadly her Benefit eyeliner was all dried out, did anyone else have that problem? That new eyeliner has been seen everywhere and it does look really neat, but what a downer to have the sample not work. 

New Subscription Boxes Giveaways and Codes!

I have been seeing a bunch of interesting subscription boxes lately so I wanted to make sure I shared anything with my lovely readers. If you have anything awesome to add leave me a comment and I will add it to the list. 

  

SporkPack-$28.34 per month. SporkPack is the only monthly subscription club for all things food. Each month, SporkPack handpicks 6-8 new items, ranging from kitchen gadgets to unique cooking essentials and rare delectable treats to include in your pack. To skip the waiting list use the code JULYINVITE then get 20% off using the code NEWFRIENDS.

Pick Me Up– a new monthly or seasonal all natural sweets box $24.99 use code PMU914 to get 20% off your first box or for 3-6 month subs use PMUGIFT

The Music Box– $10 a month to have new music and related surprises sent to you monthly. I really like the concept of this one, I haven’t listened to anything but the radio in forever!

Kawaii Surprise– price varies, different options of Japanese snacks and adorable cute things like stationary and stickers etc. Look for my review soon!

Spa Heroes– $39 a month or as low as $33 with plan, delivers one full size beauty product (retailing between 50-100) chosen by beauty experts. All products free of villainous ingredients! First shipment is in September. Free downloadable pocket guide : can be found on their site and on their FB page

Read Craft Bake– $30 monthly (ships from Canada so $25 for Canadians : ) )sends a book with corresponding craft and recipe to make with your little ones

Animal Trackers Club– $14.95 a month to have a special package delivered to your child that is themed around a different animal every month, there is also Space Scouts as well for older 6+ kids. 

Try the World– celebrating the launch of their new website has a giveaway to win a full year of Try the World Boxes, ends August 17th so enter now!  This is a great subscription to try new things from a different place in every box. I tried the Paris box and was impressed with the amount of love that went into the curation and presentation of this subscription. 

Quarterly– has a sale on some old boxes some of which look pretty neat!

That’s all I have for now have a good night : )

 

August Julep Maven: Classic with a Twist

Julep Maven: now customizable with plenty of neat add ons for your monthly nail fix, here is the link to their new nail polish color page: http://www.julep.com/shop/nail-polish.html, thanks Abbey!

Julep Maven is first and foremost all about nail polish but has also widened it’s scope to include products for nail care, makeup and skin care. Every month the Maven box includes 2 polishes and a beauty extra, then you can add on extra options

Cost: $19.99 a month with 3 month subscription (right now get your first month free with code FREESIZZLE) or $24.99 monthly

While I know I don’t need more nail polish I just couldn’t help but use up all of those Jules on these absolutely gorgeous colors from August’s Wanderlust collection. 

I loved all of the polish colors this month, but I decided to go with Classic with a Twist and add on one other shade I really liked.  

  

Avni- African Violet shimmer

   

Waleska- eucalyptus green chrome with gold iridescence 

   

Katie- orchid iridescent chrome

 Gel Eye Glider in Smoky Taupe Shimmer

This eyeliner is actually quite nice. Im not a religious user of eye liner mainly because I keep my routine simple. This goes on smoothly and really does last all day. It didn’t smudge which is awesome in an eyeliner. I hate getting that dark bag look under my eyes from my eye makeup smudging. This color is darker than I thought but works well for a lighter smoky eye look. 

 

This month’s polishes were super awesome! I find it hard to get too excited about nail polish but wow I love the colors. The green Waleska reminds me of a mermaid’s tail. The other two polishes, Avni and Katie are both so shimmery and pretty. I know I will use these shades a lot. The eye liner was surprisingly a win for me, I have been using it more frequently than I had thought that I would. I want to see what kinds of designs mavens come up with for the Wanderlust collection. Has anyone tried a fun design for their mani lately?

What’s Making Me Smile Today, like the winner of my Jamberry giveaway!

Today I am smiling for many reasons:

*My daughter P finally FINALLY! let me put her curly blonde locks up in pigtails and wow she looked adorable! Also my outfits that I got on super sale from Fab Kids look adorable on her as shown below, Im loving them and she is too. Right now they have a promotion similar to Gymboree where you spend $50 and get a $25 credit for future use, pretty neat. Also if you use my referral link here you get your first outfit for $15 plus shipping (outfits are normally a dress,leggings and accessory). I think that’s a great deal and their clothes so far are holding up well to my busy bee and the washer. 

*When we were at the park today it made me smile to see an older man (probably someone’s grandfather) with a pack of wipes in his shirt front pocket. Im not sure if anyone else would think that’s sweet. But for me normally when I see an old man I would have thought it was a pack of cigarettes in his pocket. To see someone out with their grandkids being a good grandfather is really sweet. 

*I have a Birchbox order coming soon! I have gotten some referrals and saved up a lot of review points recently and finally made a purchase. Right now Birchbox has a promotion for their new Wedding Shop. When you purchase $90 exclusively in the wedding shop or on gift subscriptions you can use the promo GIFTFORME to get the awesome Limited Edition Modern Mermaid box for free with purchase!!! I have been eying that so I caved and used all my points, Im super excited for that beautiful mirror that comes in the box. Keep an eye out for my review when it comes in the mail! 

 

There is also a new code out to get a free copy of Mindy Kaling’s book “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?” when you spend $35 or more in the BB shop. Use the code MINDY and don’t forget to add on a mystery sample pack for free : )

*Citrus Lane a subscription for the kiddos and one of our favorites for getting new toys and baby gear is having a great deal. For new subscribers you can use the code 30BOXSHOP to get your first box for $9 plus $10 to use in their shop! That is one of the best deals I have ever seen, I would check it out if you have toddlers at home.

Our June’s Citrus Lane Box

 * And Finally I am happy to announce the winner for my Jamberry Nail Wraps Giveaway!!!! Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to Tiffanee R. !!!!!

New Jamberry Style Box and Giveaway!

Happy Wednesday!

Today I wanted to tell you about Jamberry and their new monthly stylebox. Jamberry is new to me as well so I am still learning more about their services so that I can tell you too.

I love my nail polishes and there are many subs out there like Julep Maven, however Jamberry is offering an alternative option to make manicures more fun! They have an insane offering of nail wraps and I do mean insane because they have just about any pattern or color you could imagine. This is really new to me, how about customizable nail wraps? If you pick any 3 nail wraps you get one free, you gotta love a deal! Oh and my favorite that I want to try? Mommy and Me nail wraps!

I have never tried nail wraps before but Im pretty terrible at doing my own nail art. Be on the lookout because I will be posting the results of my first “jamicure” very soon. My photos will probably include little P too. Im sure she is going to want to have nails like mommy.

Okay okay, so what’s inside a Style Box?

Launched on July 1st and are available for July and August. After that it will get harder to get your hands one one, so act fast if your interested!

In every box you will receive a minimum of $30 worth of Jamberry Nail Products, a nail file, an Orange Stick, and a monthly style guide. Each StyleBox by Jamberry  will have one catalog item and one exclusive item that is only available in that month’s box! When you subscribe, you take a quiz to find your signature style, and choose a plan that works for you. You can change your ‘signature style’ whenever you want, but at least 5 days prior to the coming month to ensure the change is saved.

There are 3 plan options:

3 Months – $75 (equals out to $25/month)

6 Months – $140 (equals out to $23.34/month)

12 Months – $275 (equals out to $22.19/month)

 

And now you have the chance to try out  Jamberry ! Thanks to one of their consultants, Allison I am doing a giveaway for a $30 gift certificate which would buy you 2 nail wraps! Simply click the link below to enter and good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

July Birchbox Man with Details Magazine

For Father’s Day I bought A a subscription to Birchbox Man which is normally $20 a month, I did find a promo code that made it $10 and will post if I see another one.While the mens box is more expensive than the women’s BB includes more lifestyle items in these boxes then in the women’s. From reviews that I have seen the boxes are normally worth it and include a lot of great products to try out. I also have to mention that I like the men’s boxes much better. The box slides out like a drawer instead of just taking the top off in the women’s box. I think this design is safer to keep products in without them falling out.

Harrys Razor and Code for Blade Refills

I was hoping that we would get this razor to try out and we did! It look very nice in person but it seems a bit cheap. Thats probably because it is more affordable at $10, but I think I had higher expectations. When A tried it out I thought it looked like he had a good shave, however he was unimpressed with this razor. I am happy to report that if you received the promo code card for free refills it is no strings attached. I didn’t have to enter any payment information which I really like!

Number 4 Shampoo and Conditioner

Well now the tiny conditioner was just a bonus sample so Im not going to complain. I just think it’s pointless to include it when you would need more than that to determine if you liked it or not. A doesn’t even use conditioner so thats alright. The shampoo is a decent size and smells good.

Proraso Shave Cream

I have seen this a lot and wanted A to try it someday, now he has! He liked it a lot and loved that it had a minty smell and feel to it. I think we might get more soon.

Alfred Lane Solid Cologne

This was the clear favorite in the whole box. Our daughter just turned 2 and gets into everything, this cleverly designed tin is too hard for her to open and is therefore safe for now! It smells great very warm and comforting. A loves that he can take it with him to work and apply wherever needed basically whenever he wants.

Clinique For Men Moisturizer

A hasn’t tried this yet but I had no idea Clinique had a mens line. I think this is a brand that has been around a long time and is neat that it’s available on Birchbox now. I also like that this is a moisturizer with SPF for A, he isn’t too careful about putting on sunscreen this should help.

A was never as product obsessed as I am, but now with his BB box I can tell he is really happy trying everything out and stepping out of his normal comfort zone. I even think he’s found some new favorites. I would say we have both been happy with the two boxes that we have received so far. When I first saw that Birchbox came out with the men’s boxes I didn’t think they would be for someone like A who isn’t into skincare regimens etc. but what he’s gotten has been a good fit and is being used. I think this makes a good gift for any guy in your life be it dad, husband, or brother etc.

Top 4 Natural Shampoos for Curly Hair

Since I was debating what shampoo to try out next and I am kind of picky I thought I would do a post about my favorite shampoos that I have tried. My hair has been short and long and is thick and curly. Anyone who has curly hair knows how tangled and time consuming it can be to get knots out. Finding the right hair care products are important. Initially I used the Redken All Soft line because their products worked well in my hair. That was over 2 years ago, since then I have come to learn more about what ingredients are in the products I use and have been much more careful.

I try to stay away from anything with parabens and sulfates among other things. Im sure most of you looking at all natural products see that their aren’t any parabens and sulfates in the ingredients. Those two are the most common ingredients I see on labels. Parabens are included in many skincare, hair and and makeup products because it helps prevent the growth of microbes. Basically it makes it last longer, but at a cost. The use of parabens in these products has been linked to breast cancer and reproductive toxicity. I found this information on Campaign for Safe Cosmetics but one google search will give you all the information you need. Sulfates are really harsh cleaning agents that give soapy products that big lather and bubbles. I tend to steer clear of sulfates because they have a harmful effect on skin. Especially those with sensitive skin should watch out because it strips the skin and can make it irritated and dry. I don’t want sulfates in my shampoo, dry hair equals frizz especially in the summertime. I have read reviews of people upset that their sulfate free shampoo doesn’t have enough lather. Well, that’s because it’s not stripping the hair of essential oils and moisture. I know we all want our hair to feel clean and not be greasy. I have found and listed the following shampoos that I have used myself and lather fairly well even though they are without the bad stuff.

One of the first shampoos I tried was Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Shampoo

This is $20 a bottle so it is fairly expensive depending on how much hair you have and how frequently you wash your hair. Personally I love the smell and conditioning of this product for really dry hair. But I definitely don’t feel as clean and I think this line is best with conditioners.

The next shampoo I used is DevaCurl No Poo Cleanse

This is $19 a bottle, has a hilarious name and it works really well without all the “poo” that other shampoos have. It has peppermint oil in it so it is really refreshing in the shower and is nice on the scalp. My hair feels clean when using this shampoo without being too dry.

Acure Organics Argan Oil Shampoo

This shampoo is much more affordable at $9.99 a bottle and smells amazing, but only if you like almonds. It does come in two other scents but this one is awesome! Argan oil is really great and has omega fatty acids that help moisturize and strengthen hair. When I used this shampoo my hair smells great and felt clean and not greasy at all.

My newest shampoo is from Alba Botanica and is the Natural Hawaiian Shampoo in Gardenia.

This is the most affordable shampoo on sale from Vitacost right now for $6.61. I decided to get this because at Whole Foods I decided to smell it and wow fantastic! When I was little we had Gardenias in our backyard and I love the smell. It is hard to find a great Gardenia scent but I really like this one. Sadly the scent doesn’t last long after washing my hair but while in the shower it smells good. The ingredients for this shampoo are all natural and have good things like macadamia seed oil and aloe in it. Im not going to pass official judgement yet because I just started using it and I basically bought it because I loved the smell so much.

So for now those are the more natural shampoos I have been using and liked with my hair. These are my honest opinions as I have tried all of these and am always in search of a great product. Feel free to agree, disagree, volunteer something new for me to try. I would like to hear your thoughts.

June Pop Sugar Must Have Box

Sometimes Pop Sugar can be hit or miss, this month I think their box is fabulous! PSMH is one of the more expensive women’s monthly subscriptions out there, but right now at least there is a $10 off coupon to use which makes it a steal at $30.

First looks of June’s box:

 

You Smell Lemon Verbena Aloe Wet Wipes- $8

I love the packaging from this brand! I haven’t opened them yet but since I haven’t put them in my bag. There have been many moments recently where I wish I had a hand wipe. These are going to get put in my backpack asap.

The One and Only By Emily Griffin- $16.52

Hawaiian BBQ Chips- $2

I am happy to see this book, it doesn’t look like the kind of story I would read though. Boo! I will read it anyway since I never have time to get books for myself. Every time I bring P to Barnes and Nobles she starts running around like crazy and reorganizes all the stuffed animals in the kids section! I know I could order books online but it just isn’t the same as getting to browse the isles in person.

Sachajuan Body Lotion in Shiny Citrus- $24

Lollies Hair Ties- $8

This lotion is lightweight and from what I read free of parabens. It doesn’t hurt that it has a wonderful light citrusy scent. I was worried I wouldn’t like a scent titled “shiny citrus” but this isn’t your drug store variety fake orange smell. This has notes of fresh citrus and jasmine. The Lollies hair ties are great, there isn’t a day you won’t see me without a hair tie in or on my wrist. What I think is really awesome about these is the material. Lollies hair ties are made from swimsuit material! I am now considering cutting up an old bikini (which I will never wear again after having a baby) and trying to make my own. If I am successful you bet I will post with details on how to make them!

Turkish T Mykonos Breeze Towel- $32

Ok the only picture of this towel I have is the one above. Why didn’t I take another? Well because my little girl P has a fun time un-boxing with me and loves this towel! She ripped it right out and draped it around herself like a dress. This towel is wonderful not only for her but for me when we go to splash parks this summer and hopefully for when we take a trip to the beach. I end up using the wrap from last summer’s Pop Sugar box all the time around the house so I know this one will get used frequently.

This is such a great summer box it has everything you need to have a great trip at the beach, park or even backyard. I bought this because I know without a doubt I will use every item in this box. Plus with the promotion you cannot beat all these summer essentials for that price!

June Birchbox

Just got my Birchbox in the mail today! I have to be honest, I was too curious to see what I was going to get in my box and I peeked online already. So I did already know what products I got in my June box. What I didn’t know was what size samples I was going to get.

Birchbox is a monthly beauty box that is only $10 a month, they also offer a men’s box for $20 and right now I believe that there are still some great promotions running that Im going to go over.

First for men use the code SUMMERSUBMAN to get your first box for only $10. This is a great deal since the men’s boxes normally have a high value. It also makes a nice last minute gift for Father’s Day coming up.

For women’s subscriptions there are always a lot of great promos to use with purchases and take advantage of the bonus shop. Also right now using the Ibotta app you can get $3 off of a women’s monthly subscription or $5 of a 3 month subscription. Then use a promo code SUMMERSUB at checkout. This makes your first box only $2!

Okay now on to June’s box,

This month Birchbox’s theme is Away We Go and they partnered up with JetBlue. I think that it would be really neat to fly JetBlue and buy one of these exclusive amenity kits from BB during the flight. I normally fly Southwest but this new collaboration would motivate me to change if I had any upcoming trips in the future : )

Miss Jessies Original MultiCultural Curls

I have tried a product from Miss Jessie before and really liked it with my curly hair. This is an interesting product and although I don’t like foil samples I am going to use this asap! It is currently raining and for all the girls out there with curly hair- you know what that does to our hair! Talk about frizz. Based off the description this is a lightweight cream that smoothes and shapes curls. All I can say is I hope my little girl doesn’t get into this. My last box she somehow got ahold of the sunscreen sample and squirted it all over her poor uncle! It was both sad and hilarious.

Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Anti-Wrinkle Defense Serum

This is an antioxidant serum that evens out and plumps skin. I don’t need a product like this and this sample is tiny. It’s unfortunate and for anyone to buy a product that’s more expensive (full size $62) and not have enough sample to try it out. If you used twice a day as directed this sample would probably only last 2 days tops.

Antica Farmacista Bergamot & Ocean Aria Body Wash

This is nicely packaged and a good size bottle to travel with. I wish there were more body washes this size since I change body wash so often. I have a bit of trouble committing to one scent and I like trying different products, I have to remind myself I have three other bottles to use up first! This is a nice scent and I like that it has almond oil. I wish I could find the ingredients for this but it wasn’t listed on BB’s site. I also find it hilarious that they sent out a sample of a product that is currently out of stock.

Lifetherapy Vacation Hydrating Body Lotion

I was hoping this was a decent size and it is! I really don’t like getting lotion or anything in packets. This is a nice little bottle great for travel and to have in my bag. It’s not my favorite scent but I have been wanting to try more beachy, summery scents. The Vacation scent that I got smells like vanilla and coconut to me. This lotion is also paraben free and that’s awesome because I do try my best to stay away from any harmful ingredients like parabens.

Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real ! Mascara 

I like the Benefit brand and have two samples of this mascara already so this was another bummer. It’s not BB’s fault but hopefully I can trade this for something new.

Well, I feel like this is probably the most negative review of a Birchbox I have ever done. Normally I am really happy with the contents of my box. This time around it makes me really happy that I am part of a swap site and can trade these items Im not going to use. At least with all the promos I used it still worked out in my favor. $2 for the box and after product reviews $5 in credits for the BB shop. There are a ton of different variations every month and I am really curious to see what everyone else is getting. I hope they end up with better fitting samples than I did this month.

 

 

 

Glossy Box Special Edition May Bergdorf Goodman Box

I stopped subscribing to Glossybox a while ago, but when I heard that they were partnering up with Bergdorf Goodman for May’s box, well I had to re-subscribe. All of the products from May’s box are from Bergdorf Goodman and all of the boxes come with a $25 gift card. When you sign up for a monthly subscription through Ebates it goes from $21 to $18.25 for your first box. Since the gift card requires no minimum purchase and BG offers free shipping on all orders this box is already a win.

The box itself is always nice but instead of the usual pink this box is purple and has the Bergdorf Goodman logo on it.

Here is the little product information card with the BG giftcard code on the back.

Lancer Lift Serum Intense

Okay so the full size of this product is a whopping $275.00! In the description it says this contains pure gold and Stem Cell Recovery Complex. These luxurious ingredients are supposed to make skin look smoother, firmer and younger. I haven’t tried this yet but for the price I hope it makes my skin glow.

Atelier Cologne in Rose Anonyme Cologne Absolute

I really like the packaging and bottle this Cologne comes in. Im glad that it isn’t a tiny spray sample that I would normally receive and then lose. This has notes of Turkish rose, ginger and velvet oud. It isn’t my favorite kind of scent, this is very musk and rose. I go with the seasons and would have preferred a lighter more summer appropriate scent. I am considering trading this or saving it for winter.

Alterna Caviar CC Cream

I am really excited to try a product from Alterna’s Caviar line!!! I am running low on my current products and was considering trying their Caviar line of shampoo and conditioner. This is a leave in treatment that delivers not one but ten benefits: moisture, shine, smoothness, softness, UV protection, manageability, strength, anti breakage, heat protection and light hold. I am especially happy about the UV protection. Im going to try this out very soon since I am outside mostly all day everyday with my little girl.

Kevyn Aucoin The Curling Mascara

I am just not a mascara kind of girl, I saw that I got this and was totally bummed. I have way too many mascaras and I am not fond of most of them. If there was one that didn’t leave bad smudges under my eyes then maybe Id like wearing it more often. This formula is supposed to be smudge resistant and long wearing so maybe Ill give it a shot. Or maybe I’ll trade it.

Revive Intense Volumizing Eye Serum

Now this is a product I am happy to get! I am always in need of more eye cream. This eye serum helps to plump, re-build, and re-contour the eye area and diminish the look of dark circles and bags. Once Im done with my current Dr.Jart eye cream Im going to try this out. Oh and let me mention the full size of this is, can you believe $350.00?! Yikes.

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer

This is a gently pre-makeup base and helps soothe and prime the complexion for a “flawless finish”. I have basically sworn off foundation and just use a BB or CC cream but I think this can still be used under that and I am glad to try it out. I have never used a primer and don’t own any so this was neat to get.

The total value of this box was incredibly high and definitely a win based on the gift card alone. I was a little bit bummed by the assortment of products and would have liked more makeup. However the skincare items I did receive are sure to work wonders on my skin. I would never spend hundreds on one item, so this is my chance to try them at a bargain price. I am also getting to try brands that are new to me, normally I would have tried one or two things. In this box I haven’t tried any of brands before. There were more variations to this box and I do wonder what others got in their box? Feel like sharing? Please leave a comment below I’d love to hear your thoughts!