My Love/Hate Month with Birchbox-October 2014

The "box"

Hi, my name is Brooke and I am addicted to all things beautiful.  Plus I LOVE surprises.....okay, now that we got that out of the way I can tell ya'll about my love/hate month with Birchbox.  Oh, also I cancelled Ipsy this month.  Out of the months that I had it, there was usually only one item I liked in each box, therefore I couldn't justify keeping it especially when I knew there were other boxes I wanted (i.e. I got the October BoxyCharm box heading my way because it has an entire Coastal Scents concealer palette so more to come on that).

So I decided I would order two Birchboxes this month since it is my birthday month.  Since I referred myself, I was also able to get a Benefit sample pack that was going to come in my new box (which we will call box #2).  My original subscription, Box #1's, profile had my preferences as adventurous, trendy and classic and that I wanted perfume samples. I have enjoyed every box I have received.  For box #2's profile, I kept only adventurous and trendy. I also said I did not want any perfume samples.  Another thing I want to mention is I never look at the sneak peek videos that they show as I always like to be surprised, plus I don't want to be let down if there was something I truly wanted.  This month though, I did see the sneak peak pictures on Instagram and knew some boxes would include the beauty blender and products from Coastal Scents, Macadamia, Dr. Brandt and Jouer.  Needless to say, I was giddy!!

Box #1 took forever to get here this month...unusual but I didn't let it get to me.  The day finally came and I got it!!

Loved the label this month!

Always love this touch of uniqueness

And then I opened the box.....

Such a letdown

This months theme is Fanfare

I was really in shock..,,,,Despite people's efforts in one of my groups telling me how good certain products were, this box is unlike any of the other boxes I have received in that I was not excited about one freaking thing.

Lets review.

First is Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm For Lips.

Tiniest sample ever made

Um, sorry, but any product that I can rub on both my nipples and my lips is just not desirable to me. This claims to repair dry, flaky, rough skin and and can be used as a primer and multi purpose balm.  It is also the winner of the award for smallest sample ever received.  I just wasn't happy with this product.  And no, I have not tried it yet. It is in my giveaway pile.

Next is Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser.

Another tiny sample

This sample is also quite small and I got two uses out of it.  I wasn't thrilled about this face product but at the end of the day it ended up being the best product in the box.  It comes out super gritty and you put a dollop in the palm of your hand and add water and scrub on your face.  It exfoliates and as you continue to rub it in to your face it starts to lather up and does a great job cleaning your skin. The smell on the other hand is identical to lemon pledge.  Don't get me wrong, I love lemons.  But this wasn't a fresh lemon smell, it was a weird lemon smell.  But hey, again, I had a nice two time run with it.

Next is CLEAN Rain Eau De Parfum.

I don't like perfume samples I have to pour on myself

The last time I received a sample of perfume from this brand, I did indicate I was not happy with it.  But my favorite smells are clean smells and musky, sexy smells so I gave this one a try.  Thumbs down.  The smell was okay, a tad flowery but also "clean" smelling but it was the fact that it seemed to have already dissipated before I even left the house.  I also don't like the samples you can't spray.  I feel like I waste so much product having to dab it on myself.

Next up is BeeKind Body Lotion.

Cute packaging

I haven't tried this yet but since I was already upset with the box, this poor guy was guilty by association. I use all of my hand lotion samples because I wash my hands so much at work so it is always convenient but I get them too frequently.

Last up is ModelCo Power Lash Mascara.

Another mascara

Another mascara.....I have read mixed reviews on this...clumping yet lengthening.  I put it in my giveaway pile. I love my Benefit and Too Faced.  The end.

So after I hooted and hollered on my Birchblogger page, Birchbox actually commented and told me to email customer service to convey my feelings.  I was already planning on doing that because they have great customer service and have always helped me out in the past.  I usually get points added to my account for any issues that come up and that makes me a happy girl.  That would also help me out a lot right now considering I have 199 points.......

So I emailed customer service.  The reply I got back (almost 2 days later) was less than satisfying.  I basically got a run down of exactly why these items were chosen for me and in summary it seemed to have been because I had "classic" as one of my selected profile options.  So for this first time in 11 months, I rated my service as Bad, Not Satisfied.

I don't need to know why these items were chosen for me......I wanted reassurance that I was still a valued customer even though I was so unhappy considering I had just gotten myself a second subscription!  I was also told "we do hope you stick with us".....One of the friends I referred was also extremely unhappy with this months box and she is getting Novembers box free.  I guess each customer service rep has the ability to decide how much service they want to give.

I have since changed my profile for Box #1 to trendy only.

Back to the boxes......Saturday I received Box #2.  Weirdly, my label was a normal one.

Plain ole Brooke

But when I saw my box, I nearly fainted.....

The perfect box

This is what I am used to getting in my box.  Perfection! Everything that I wanted and am ecstatic. Plus I was thrilled with the Benefit sample pack, too.

Now, remember the only thing I changed was I selected trendy and adventurous as my makeup style (no classic) and no perfume. And it resulted in a perfect mix of face, hair, body and makeup items.

The first thing I was so excited to receive is the Macademia Flawless Conditioning System.

Incredible product

I first came to love this product in the summer when I got it in my New Beauty Test Tube.  I have bought it several times since and have even gotten my beautiful cousin to buy it too! It is shampoo and conditioner in one. It adds volume and smooths my hair.  Not one single strand comes out of my head after using it either.  I love it.  It is healthy and full of great ingredients.  You only need a little bit and make sure you let it sit on your hair a few minutes before rinsing out and your hair will look great all day!  It is currently out of stock at Birchbox it is so amazing.  Plus this is a huge sample and will last a long time :)

Next up is Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette Sampler.

Gorgeous colors

I have recently come to love Coastal Scents and have their face palette and some of their high end brushes and love them. One of my past Birchboxes had the Revealed 1 sampler palette in it and I still use it to this day.  This sampler has both mattes and shimmers and the colors are gorgeous. They are highly pigmented and last all day.  I'm not really a pink girl but these will easily blend with the darker browns and grays for the seasons ahead.

Next up is Jouer Matte Moisture Tint in Linen.

Tiny but a little goes a long way

Now, some have said that Birchbox was very misleading this month with this and the beauty blender teaser.  If you click on the link above you will see it takes you to a collection of products but we only were going to receive one of the products listed.  Bait and switch??  I don't know.....I do know that I love Jouer.  I even bought the luminizing moisture tint (read review HERE) a while back.  I was excited to see matte for the colder months.  I was given shade Linen though which is a tad light on me.  I wish I would't have gotten such a light shade.  But I tried it under my makeup this morning and really liked the coverage though. A little goes a long way but it doesn't feel heavy or sticky.  I can absolutely see myself purchasing this full size. Actually I may purchase the whole collection linked above.

Next up is that Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser again.

Now I get to use it 2 more times though

I actually was pleased I got to use it again but this one was literally as hard as a rock. I had to take a knife to chisel the product to even get it to break up into chunks into my hand so I could use it.  It did not seem to affect the product but it didn't really foam this time.  It was a pain in the butt to have to do that to use it.  I liked that it was a rough exfoliator though. And it didn't bother my sensitive skin.

Lastly I got Essential Elements Wake Up Rosemary Shower Gel.

Cute lil bottle

My husband hates rosemary, if I even think about using this and getting near him, he surely won't be getting near me....know what I'm sayin?? :) Cute bottle but tiny and I put in my giveaway pile.

These are the items I got for my new subscription from Benefit.

It's Potent Eye Cream

Posiebalm Lip Balm

I have wanted to try the It's Potent Eye Cream for a while now as it is targeted for dark under eye circles.  So far, after two days, no difference.  I even have the cream in the fridge as it is so refreshing when I wake up but my Bobbi Brown concealer doesn't seem to agree with it so far, so I will stick to using it at night only.

Wow, I think this is the longest post ever!!  I am so glad that this was the month I decided to do my little profile experiment so I actually ended up with things I liked instead of breaking up with Birchbox over it.  I also am getting two more free samples for having referred myself and those just arrived at home.  However, I did have to email and inquire about them because I never received any notice.  Had I not, I would not have received them as my CS rep actually had to put in an order for them.

I know EVERYONE is talking about their boxes this month so let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

What are your profile preferences?

Have you ever changed them around based on what you received?  Did it make it better or worse?

Have a great day! xo

Pucker Up Darlings-Lip Gloss Favorites

I have always been a lip gloss girl.  Sometimes lipstick is just too much but I am a sucker for a great glossy pout.  I love coral's, maroon's, nudes and shimmers.  Today I wanted to share the ones I have been sporting lately and give some lip gloss reviews and recommendations, thanks to my beauty boxes.

First is my newest fav (and the one my kisser is sporting above)!

LOREAL's Color Riche Extraordinary Lip Color in Coral Encore.  It goes on like a gloss but stays put like a lipstick.  Look at that shine.  The color is simply smashing.

Next up is one of the first ones I ever received and wore it every day.

Bareminerals Marvelous Moxie in Maverick.  The color is described as a rosewood shimmer.  I'm noticing it looks a lot darker on my hand than on my lips.  It smells like chocolate, but is infused with shea butter, avocado and murumuru butters.  Enough said.

Bella Pierre Cosmetics Super Lip Gloss in Vanilla Pink.  I received this full size one in my Glossybox.  At first glance, I did not think I was going to like it as it was pink.  But as you can see it is a more shimmery mauve color and it also smells incredible.  My hubby really likes it when he kisses me :) It isn't sticky either.....or he wouldn't be kissing me ;) Plus it plumps my lips when I wear it.  Cheaper than surgery!

Julep's Lip Gloss in Charming.  This came in a Maven box that I ordered and I didn't think I was going to like the color either.  It is a shimmery nude color and super pretty on with tons of shimmer.

Benefit's Coralista Ultra Plush Lip Gloss.  I knew I was going to love this one! It's coral after all!  High shine as you can clearly see. and the perfect summer gloss :) Only con is you have to squeeze it out and I am not a huge fan of that.  They also make a blush in this color!

Rimmel's Stay Glossy 3D in Popcorn for 2.  This came in a special edition Birchbox.  Pure gloss.  Its pretty on its on as a sheer shimmer or it can be layered on top of any other color!  It is a smidge sticky.

Another winner by Benefit!  Hoola Lip Gloss.  They also make a bronzer in this color that I use.  The gloss is another shimmery nude.

NYX Butter Gloss in Eclair. This came in an Ipsy bag.  I was sure I wasn't going to like it as it is pink but it goes on so smooth and creamy and I think it looks great!  Thanks to the lighting for making me look orange in the above pic.....haha!

Lastly, I received some samples for Urban Decay's Revolution Lipstick.

I am wearing Liar.  It is really pretty, I also tried 69.  They don't come out as dark as they look from the samples though.  I put on about 3 coats just to achieve the look above.  They are sold in sticks so maybe it comes out darker when not using a lip brush for application.

The last thing that I got free was from Jouer.  It is their Essential Lip Enhancer.

It is pretty much a chapstick feel in a way.  I don't mean to minimize the product in any way, I love it and am glad I received it but so far I haven't been able to justify the $14 price tag.  Maybe continuous use will make a difference in plumping up my lips.

The thing I want to recommend is e.l.f.'s lip exfoliator!! I forgot to take a pic :)

It is amazing!  And only $3!! It removes dry dead skin on chapped lips but moisturizes too.

And there ya have it!

I would love to know your favorite glosses!

Let me know in the comments below :)

Have a great day!!

Old Faithful (My Top Go To Brands & Products)

Good morning!!

Yesterday my friend and I got to talking and she asked me if I had a list compiled of what I use and always go back to when making purchases.  Um.....can you believe I don't??  With all the subscriptions I have and all the things that I have tried, it is a great question!

I mean, hey, I love experimenting with different colors and textures but there are certain things that I have to have.  Ya know, if you could bring one thing on a deserted island....blah, blah, blah :)

The very first thing I put on my face is Murad's Oil Control Mattfier to prevent oil slicks on my face.

This truly is a miracle product for oily skin.  On the surface it reduces shine and underneath it controls breakouts.  Before using this I was using those oil blotting sheets several times a day and I haven't had to use one since!  Make sure you are patting this on your face, not rubbing it in, I find it is much more effective that way.

Next up is Benefit's POREFESSIONAL for my primer.

This fills in my pores that are the size of potholes and fine lines.  It provides a smooth canvas for makeup application and keeps my makeup from sliding off my face during the day.  It is flesh colored and can be used after makeup for touch ups but I have never needed to do that :) Some primers that I have tried are oily going on or tend to "ball up" on my face and this one has never let me down.  I also like to use Laura Mercier's Radiance Bronze Primer too if my skin is way too white in the winter.  I would put it on before my Porefessional.

Next up is my concealer, IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye.

I have hereditary dark circles (thanks Mom!) and my trick to help keep them covered is to put my concealer on before my foundation.  That way I get double coverage and am able to blend them both together for a seamless finish.  Now, if I was up all night with my new puppy, which I have been lately, sometimes I may need a dab over my foundation too!  70% of women are Neutral Medium.  This is a cream concealer, not a liquid so a little goes a long way.  I use my IT Cosmetics Brush to dab it on, not rub it, for an airbrush like finish.

I did order Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclait Concealer from Sephora and it will be here today.  This is the Creme de la Creme of concealers and I really wanted to try it and review it for ya'll so that will be coming soon!  I have heard rumors of dupes out there so I wanted to do some testing myself. :)

Foundation......depends on the season and I am actually still trying to find the perfect summer one.  I just ordered Becca's Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation and will review that soon, too.  In the fall and winter I use Hourglass Immaculate Mattifying Oil Free Foundation and it is my favorite!  And currently I am using Jouer's Luminizing Moisture Tint (read review here).

For blush, I LOVE Benefit's Benetint.

It is both a cheek and lip stain and it works for both!  As a cheek stain, it gives me a sexy flush and lasts all day long!  3 swipes on the apples of my cheeks and I'm done! I would love a sample of Cha Cha Tint as I love coral colors too :)

Eyebrows....I tried a ton of products and keep going back to IT Cosmetics Universal Brow Power Pencil.

The biggest pro for me is the color.  It can be as light or as dark as I want but it is closest to the natural taupe color of my brows.  Plus for every one sold, IT Cosmetics will donate one to the Look Good, Feel Better Foundation for women fighting cancer, which is a subject very close to my heart.

Here is my makeup of the day today!!

I am wearing all of the above and Benefit's They're Real Push Up Gel Liner. This will be another go to product from here out.  Read my latest review on it, HERE!

For eyeshadow, I am wearing Covergirl Bombshell in Ice Queen as an eyelid primer and ELF's mineral eyeshadow in Smoldering. My lashes are wearing Benefit's They're Real Mascara.  I go back and forth between black and colored mascaras and honestly I have not had to buy mascara in ages because I have so many!

I am wearing my Laura Mercier Highlighter from my latest Sample Society box and Benefit's Hoola Bronzer.Lips are wearing Bella Pierre Vanilla Pink from one of my Glossyboxes.

So.....ya think I am the poster girl for Benefit or what??  They were truly the first brand I trusted and used when I started my makeup obsession and I will continue to love them.  The only product they have ever let me down on was the Boing concealer...but that is a topic for another day!

I would love to know what ya'll use as a setting powder for your makeup.  I am still looking for the "One".

Let me know in the comments below!!

Also, don't forget, we still have a HUGE giveaway going on until next week so enter on the Mudpipes & Glitter Facebook page's Giveaway tab or click HERE!

Have a great day!!