February 2015 Sample Society Unboxing

I am VERY happy with this months box...the past few have been kind of meh.....Quick run down, Allure's Sample Society is $15 a month and a mix of hair, beauty and skin products.  We all get the same box while there might be some variation on colors (i.e. nail polish).  Each box includes a mini magazine describing each product and also comes with a $10 off $50 purchase code at www.BeautyBar.Com.

Here is this month's box!!

Which came earlier than any of my other boxes this month!

February 2015 Sample Society Box

Now, right off the bat you can see why I have been a bit let down.  This month's box also has a drugstore product in it.  Sure, you can defend the decision to include this product based on the fact it is one of their (Allure's) top beauty picks but I want to be subjected to things I might not otherwise even know about when I order these boxes each month.....okay, tantrum over.

Let's break it down.

First thing I was the happiest to see was the Nugg masks!! And 3 of them! Not too shabby :)
Revitalizing, Hydrating and Deep Cleansing.  There are over 6 types on their website.  I have used this brand one time before and I was very pleased and since I am a mask junkie, these will be put to good use :)

Next up is Chloe's Love Story perfume.  Sexy and feminine, I wore it today and felt like a woman wearing a business suit with a sexy red thong underneath.  Very nice!!

Next is Nails, Inc. polish in Princes Place.This is a muted lilac color perfect to bring in spring, I can almost feel the dresses I will be wearing again.

Now, here comes the drug store item.  Batiste dry shampoo. I know they sell it at Ulta, too.  I am a loyal Klorane dry shampoo user.  This one, while it did get the oil out of my hair, was super flowery but not in a good way.  The smell was gone by the time I left my house so for that I was thankful. Sure, I am always open to a cheaper priced dry shampoo but this won't be it.

Lastly Strivectin Intensive Illuminating Serum.  They must have over stock of this product as it was included as the extra in last month's box and now included as one of our items in this months box. This boasts improving skin complexion via brightness and clarity.  I haven't noticed overwhelming results yet and am kind of hoping I don't since the price tag on the full size is pretty hefty!

And there ya go!!  The February 2015 Sample Society box.

Overall I am happy and will use the entire box and my prayers for no more hand lotion or black eye liner were finally heard by someone.

Did you get this box?  Want to?  Click HERE to sign up today!!

Oh and only 7 hours left to enter my giveaway!!  Click HERE to get in on the action :) Good luck!!

Have a great day!! xo

December 2014 BoxyCharm Unboxing and more reasons why I am glad I cancelled GlossyBox

Christmas is right around the corner and I have so many products to review and tutorials for ya'll. But I just got my last beauty box of the month so wanted to share!

First let's talk about GlossyBox really quick.  I cancelled last month, remember.....well I tried to. I didn't see the fine print where it said I needed to do so before the 15th of the month so of course I was billed and got a box from them this month.  They were the only box I did not change my new address on so I actually had to go to the post office and pay $6 to retrieve it.  I already had paid for the box so I wasn't about to lose that money.

So this is what they sent me for December.

Not a bad box at all......but not a good enough box to make me want to change my mind on why I cancelled.  First, my blush was broken.  Shattered.  I emailed customer service and they no longer have any inventory so are sending me another item to make up for it.  I am excited to use the lavender oil as lavender is my favorite scent.  I have heard nothing but wonderful things about 12 Benefits hair products.  I have liked everything I have tried from Juice Beauty and of course OPI is OPI and it's a great pink shade.

But now let me show you BoxyCharm........

Again, this box is $21 a month and I am already looking at a $39.95 product in the Coastal Scents Revealed palette!

This palette is comparable to Urban Decay's Naked palette with the nude and metallic hues throughout.  There are 20 shades all together in a sleek case perfect for traveling.  The colors are beautiful.  I can't wait to start creating looks with this bad boy.

Next up is Mistura Retractable Kabuki brush, full size, valued at $19.99.

I can never have too many brushes I have found out in the past few months.  I am excited to try this one.  You can pull it out fully or keep it compressed a little for greater concentration.  Another perfect travel item.  I have one by Real Techniques so I am interested to see how this compares.  This brand is cruelty free so they have already won me over with that.

Next is Eva-Nyc Hold Me Tight Hairspray.

I am beginning to sense a theme here, lol.  A travel sized hairspray.  It really provides a strong hold too which will help a lot in the summer with the humidity.  It has a light scent, too, not crazy chemical like.

Next up is Be a Bombshell Lipstick in Lush, full size, valued at $14.

It is a dark burgundy red color, that goes on light and creamy like a stain.  It doesn't have the best staying power as it was gone by the time I got to work just from drinking my coffee on the car ride there.  I don't have a picture of the actual lipstick itself as when I opened it to do the swatch the whole thing fell out so I need to contact customer service.

And last up is Lina Lashes in Luxury Mink, full size, valued at $30.00

All the fake eyelashes I have tried didn't go over well with me.  But I will try again.  I love long, flirty lashes and these look pretty natural which is nice.  Another brand that is cruelty free!

All in all this box that I paid $21 for is worth well over $100.  And last months box was worth over $120 so they are very consistent.  I love the variety and have loved every box I have received so far. I am so glad that I cancelled GlossyBox.

Sign up today with me so we can love our boxes together!! Click HERE!! Plus when you review the items you receive in our box each month, you get "charms" that can be used to purchase items in their online store.  So similar to Birchbox in that respect!

Have you signed up already?  What did you think of this months box?

Let me know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo

December 2014 Birchbox Double Unboxings

This will be my third month of having two Birchboxes and unfortunately for me only one of those months (last month) was a perfect double month for me.  Read about last months HERE.

Sure, some people say they are satisfied with anything they receive and look down on me for being a little pickier.  The way I look at it is if they truly are taking our feedback and reviews on what we receive into consideration then the products we don't like would be far less than what we actually receive in our boxes.  I have played with my profile and made it as specific as possible on numerous occasions but hey, you can't win them all I guess.  This month will also be the first out of three where I received several duplicates.

Let's get started.

First box, this is the original subscription that I have had for a year now.....it also looks like they went back to having cute little nicknames on our mailing labels which I love.

First up is my favorite product from the box, Rusk Texture Spray.

I have gotten this before in another box and it is great.  It is light and smells great and doesn't leave my hair crunchy but it gives my hair the perfect amount of lift.  I just love it.  I never really realized it is described as a hairspray as I have always used it to give my hair lift and texture.  Great product.

Next is Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate (24 hour miracle cream).

I haven't tried this product yet but with shea butter and aloe vera it is described as a moisturizer that everyone needs to have.  It can be used as a makeup remover, shaving cream or all over body lotion.I love a multi-tasker.

Next is Manna Kadar Lip Locked in All of Me.

Meh.  I don't really care for the color, it makes me feel like it will leave my face washed out looking. But there are a ton of shades to choose from.  With my profile being more on the trendy side, I would have enjoyed a brighter shade much more.

Next is something I feel has been thrown in so many boxes of mine and even my husband got this last month, Number 4 hydrating shampoo and conditioner.

The nice thing was I was able to write two reviews and get points for both products.  Although it is a good brand and I like the product, the samples are so small especially when my hair is to the middle of my back.  It doesn't even provide enough product for a one time use.

And lastly is Lord and Berry Paillettes Eye Pencil.

This sample is so tiny and hard to work with it is down right frustrating, I can't even imagine what will happen when I need to sharpen it.  I like that it has shimmer in it to add some sparkle to a smokey eye but can we please get a larger pencil here?!!?

And this month we all got $10 off coupons for a purchase at GAP.  I have heard nothing but problems with this "gift" though.  If you have already signed up for emails through GAP you might not be able to use this as the promotion is for new customers.....I am loyal to Old Navy so probably won't be using mine.

Overall, I wasn't very pleased with this box and was very glad I had my other box to fall back on.  As of late, the newer subscription (below) has been the winner each month.  With this being my "year anniversary" box, I really thought it was going to be amazing.  If not for that reason, just for the fact it was a holiday box.....I won't cancel because you cannot beat the point system they offer ($10 a month back to use in their shop just for reviewing the products I receive).  I can always get something I want as I get my money back each month!!

Okay, next box.......

Notice the dupes right away?  Yep, the RUSK and the world's smallest eye liner.  I was happy to get the RUSK since it was my favorite product though :)

Okay first up is the 2nd best product in this month's box.  Amika's Nourishing Hair Mask.

I have gotten this product before as well and it is a great hair mask and doesn't weigh my hair down. I need these types of products in my life since I have fine color treated hair.  This is also a nice cocktail of healthy ingredients to really do some magic in your hair.  Great product.  Side note: I bought their blow out spray and it really didn't do anything for my hair.  Bumble and Bumble thickening spray is still where it's at! :)

Next is Mirenesse Mattfinity Lip Rouge in New York.

The color is just as bright as it is shown in the tube.  While the color payoff is great, the matte texture leaves something to be desired....it was messy to apply but was hard to get off so if it would have gone on nice I know it would have lasted a while.  I will try this product again to give it a second chance even though I am a more of a shine girl.

Next is Tocca Hand Creme in Cleopatra.

This is a grapefruit and cucumber scent which has an odd smell to it.....the hand creme can't be beat though.  It is a very nice consistency and doesn't leave your hands greasy at all (after the lotion has a moment to seep in).

And there ya have it since there is no need to review my duplicate products again.  This box ended up being my favorite box out of the two this month.  Again, Birchbox is only $10 a month and you can sign up HERE.  In fact, if you sign up using my link this month, I get a special treat so I would LOVE it if you did :)  We could say it's your Christmas present to me??? ;)

What did you get in your box this month? What was your favorite product?  I am about to place an order with Birchbox and would love some help on new products!

Let me know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo

December 2014 Sample Society Unboxing

The last few months were meh months for Allure's Sample Society in my eyes, including last month's.  Read about it HERE.  So of course I was super excited when I opened this month's box. They surely made up for it with the goodies in the December Sample Society box which I was hopeful for with it being the holidays and all.

For those that are new here (thanks to my last giveaway we have tons of new people.....say hello ya'll!), Sample Society is a monthly beauty subscription full of deluxe to full sized items for $15 a month.  We all get the same box so that is the only drawback, that there is no personal profile to fill out.  Each month you also get a $10 off $50 purchase coupon to be used on Beauty.com (just like Sephora's site).  Click HERE to sign up today!

Let's get to reviewing, shall we......

Now I am excited about each item so this is surely not in order of preference here.

First up is Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye Creme.

Since I am piggybacking off of the Double Wear post I thought I would do this little guy first.  Okay, he may be small but he packs a punch (ha, I feel like I've heard that somewhere before I was married)......this creme reduces all the signs of aging around the eyes.  It is cool and more like a gel than a creme.  I have been using it every night for the last few nights and I will tell you it is making a difference.  My under eye area is much more hydrated and I can tell when I put my concealer on. The price point is high, as with most Estee Lauder items, but it inevitably seems like it will be worth it for the results.

Next up is Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base.

I love highlighters and luminizers so was happy to see this.  And what is even better is all the ones I have ever used have been pink or golden and this one is like a white sheen.  It comes in two colors and this is called Nude Radiance.

with flash

without flash

It is pretty and thin so it doesn't make your makeup drag or move when applying it.  Perfect to have in my makeup bag in my purse, but the staying power on this over blush and other points is great.  I am going to try adding this to my foundation next to give an all over healthy glow.  This seems just the right consistency and is not shimmery but luminous (duh, Brooke, that's the name of it....)

Next, is RGB Nail Polish in OxBlood.

Full size bottle valued at $18 so we have already exceeded the cost of the box.  This picture does not do it justice.  I love dark colors and this is no exception.  And funny enough it does look like blood on my fingertips.

I also think it complements my skin tone which is just another plus.  This is two coats and you can't get away with one.  But I don't have a glossy top coat on (just a quick dry) so you can see how shiny the polish itself is.

Next up is Butter London's Lippy in Abbey Rose.

This is also a full size product, valued at $20.  The color is very pretty.  Perfect for work and light skin tones.  It is more of a neutral than a pink.  This lipstick glides on and is full of avocado and shea butter.  Almost good enough to eat....almost :)

And last up is a favorite brand of mine, Crabtree and Evelyn's La Source Hand Therapy.

Growing up, my grandmother would always get me the fanciest products for Christmas.  I mean I wasn't showered in lavish gifts and stuff, I just mean she always knew just how to spoil me.  Whether with fancy bubble bath or shampoo or gift sets from brands I had no idea who they were.  I only knew if Nany liked them then they were good because she had impeccable taste.  This lotion melts into your skin and immediately soothes any dry patches and crusty cuticles.  More avocado in this baby.  I mean this could be the best hand creme I have ever used.

And there ya have it.  December's Sample Society box.  They hit it out of the park as far as I am concerned.  A great holiday box and each item I have used daily since I got the box.

Also, there is a new feature on the site, you can order any of their monthly boxes if you don't currently have a subscription for the same $15 fee.  They always have 2 day shipping which is amazing!!  Click HERE to get this December box yourself!

Have you signed up already? What did you think of this months box?  Which item is your favorite?

Let me know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!!xo

December 2014 Birchbox Man Unboxing

My last November box to post since it came in November but it is technically the December box!! YAY!!  This one is another great one, too!  This is the monthly subscription I got for my king and he has loved every month so far.  Birchbox Man is $20 a month and is completely customizable and has been spot on for Nick every time.  Click HERE to sign up today!!

Another great box

First up is THANN Nano Shiso Age Inversion Face Cream.

small but packs a punch

This is a moisturizer and while we both have super oily skin in the summer we quickly turn to dry sandpaper in the winter.  He really liked how this made his skin feel but as far as anti aging benefits, well much too soon to tell.  Smells nice and is full of antioxidants and Omega 3's.  This has a hefty $65 price tag so we may never know :)

Next is the big item that each box has.  Suit Supply Steel Tie Clip.

gorgeous blue color

Nick is a blue collar man but I can get him to dress up very nicely on certain occasions.  This tie clip is such a pretty color, the picture alone doesn't compare to seeing it in person.  It is also made of steel so very heavy duty.  Overall it's just a sharp piece!  This is a $45 item so already double the cost of the box this month.

Next is Heroes and Aristocrats by Royal Apothic Ultra Shave Cream Gel.

nice packaging

He hasn't had the chance to try this out yet but he is sure he will like it.  It is a gel that is almost like a cream and is full of Vitamin E to help protect against nicks.  He likes to use his electric razor most of the time but really lathers up when it's time to pull out the razor!  This is also available in 3 scents and he received Scent No. 1 (jasmine,lily,lavender, mandarin and grapefruit).

Next is Ernest Supplies Awake and Exfoliate Body Bar.

perfect for Nick

I know he forgot about this already! I will remind him tonight.  This is perfect for those days he comes home filthy right out of the fireplace! Its full of finely ground lava rock to really exfoliate like a man!  And it's also got peppermint, caffeine and eucalyptus in it to help awaken those senses :)  I'm really excited about this right now!!

And last up is Number 4 Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner.

tiny sample

even tinier sample

Now, I have gotten these in my box before and liked them. However, sample size aside, my husband doesn't have long or thick hair, much less the need to volumize it. So he wasn't thrilled about these and I will end up using them :)  I got excited thinking we would be able to write two reviews and end up getting 60 points to go towards the Birchbox shop but they only let us do one.

So overall, Nick was very happy with yet another box which makes it 3 for 3!  We both noticed that the mailing labels on our boxes this month did not have anything cutesy like in previous months so maybe they only did it for a couple months.

Again, this is a perfect idea for the holidays for a special guy in your life! Sign up HERE!

Have you gotten Birchbox Man yet?

What did you think of this month's box?

Let us know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo

November 2014 Sample Society Unboxing

Well lovelies, the move is officially OVER!!! We are in our new place and now the anxiety moves from packing to unpacking! I can't wait to get everything set up from my vanity to my craft room :) Soooooo, that is the reason I will be doing two November unboxings that should have been done last month :) Also, it is time to celebrate the 6 month anniversary of Mudpipes and Glitter!!!! I can't believe it has only been six months.  All the people and relationships that I have formed in these last 6 months has been incredible :)

Let's get started. Sample Society has been one of my favorite boxes from the beginning.  The last few months have been kind of meh boxes though.  I am really hoping for a stellar box in December with it being Christmas and all :)  The box is $15 a month and everyone gets the same box.  But we also get a $10 off $50 purchase coupon in each box that is good for buying stuff on their website, which is pretty darn near the same as Sephora.  Click HERE to check out the site and to sign up for this monthly beauty subscription!

The goodies

This month was a good mix of makeup, hair care and skin care.

My favorite product in this box is the perfume.  Calvin Klein Reveal.

This is such a sensual fragrance.  It has musk and sandalwood and is just super sexy but completely wearable in the daytime.  I love it.  I don't love that my taste is so expensive.  :)

Next up is Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Omega Nourishing Oil.  Wow, that was a mouthful.

The thing that upset me about this is that in the description of the product it said it wasn't recommended for thin hair as it could weigh it down.....well, THIN hair is what I have.  Plus this sample may quite be the smallest one I have ever received.  I ended up trading this for something I wanted better.  But if you have thick hair then this would be a great product for you to get some nourishment in your hair.

Next we have MD Solar Sciences Mineral Creme Beauty Balm.

I was excited to try this one as it claims to even skin tone and eliminate redness, which the winter weather is giving my face.  Plus it has green tea in it.  But I didn't really think that this was anything more than a lightly tinted moisturizer.  Calling it a beauty balm is quite a stretch.  And my pores were still quite visible so I can't call this a primer either.  At least it didn't do very well under my Kat Von D foundation.  I may try it under my BareMinerals foundation as it might be a better consistency for that.

Next is Lorac Cobra Mascara.

Last time I tried a mascara by Lorac it ended up flaking on me.  And with my contacts that is a recipe for disaster.  So this one we will see about.  The brush on this one is kind of crooked to help with curling the lashes but it surely doesn't do a better job than my eye lash curler.  This is just an ordinary mascara to me.

And the last item is Malin+Goetz Bergamot Body Wash.

This can be used as a body wash or a shampoo or a bubble bath.  It has a light bergamot fragrance, which for those that don't know, it is kind of a boozy, citrusy smell.   A pretty small sample, too.

My thoughts overall were.....meh.  I mean the samples sizes were super small and nothing was really remarkable as far as products go.  I mean sure, these are all items you could throw in an over night bag and depending on the person be good for a day since all the products each cover a need.  But not for me.  Fingers crossed for a better month next month!

What did you think of this month's box?

Let me know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo

November 2014 BoxyCharm Unboxing and December Spoiler

Last month I wrote a post on my first ever BoxyCharm box that I received.  I loved it so much that I cancelled GlossyBox and decided to keep the subscription!!  Each box comes with 4-5 full sized products each month and they are mostly all makeup!! Just the kind of box I needed. I love my Birchbox and Sample Society but get a nice mix of haircare and skincare with them.

This months theme was Sparkle and Shine.  Ummmmmm, Mudpipes and GLITTER people!! I love sparkle and shine.

Before I show you my goodies I want to let you know that the waitlist is currently turned off and you can get a subscription to BoxyCharm right away! It is $21 a month but the value of the box is FAR exceeded by the products received.  Click HERE to sign up today :)  They are similar to Birchbox in that after you review the products you receive, you get credits (charms) added to your account that go towards products available in their online store.

Okay first up is a product that blew my mind after using.  Mica Beauty Eye Primer.

This product is for eye lids to help eyeshadow stay on longer.  I decided to try it under my eyes as a concealer primer and boy did it work.  My concealer did not crease all day. I called my mom freaking out as we are constantly looking for a holy grail product that does that! This is a full size product valued at $44.95!! I probably could have even just used it as concealer since it is flesh colored and did a great job of evening my skin tone, too.  Loved this product!

Next is a product that I decided to throw on at the last minute on Thanksgiving since I had done purple eye makeup.  Kevin Murphy Color Bug.

Of course it is in my favorite color, too! It is non permanent and washes out. Since I have such light hair I did put some leave in conditioner on before I rubbed the chalk on.  Put a towel on your shoulders to protect your clothes as it does get messy since it is chalky.  I loved it.  My best friend Shanna has purple hair right now too and we love that we can try it without the commitment.  You will need to do a search on their site to find the nearest retailer or buy online or at Amazon.  Full size valued at $21.95!

Next up is another product I used on Thanksgiving for my eye makeup.  Tarina Tarantino's EyeLicity Glitter Liner in Glitter Mist.

It goes on super smooth and I put it on over black liner to really make it pop.  Full size valued at $16!

Next up is Ofra Blush in Paradise Pink.

This is a really pretty color.  Like a mauve.  I like corals for both summer and winter as they look really nice on my skin but this looked really pretty too.  Its amazing how a new color blush can change your face.  Wow, I used this on turkey day, too.  Makeup of the day all done by Boxycharm, HAHA!  It is very smooth and highly, highly pigmented so a little goes a long way.  Remember to not use too much or you will look like a clown.  Full size valued at $24.95!!

Last up is Bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer Pigment in Sensation.

I haven't used this yet and I know it looks like it will be messy but give off some incredible shimmer.  I would probably put this just in the corner of my eyes to brighten them up.  This is full sized valued at $14.99!!

So as you can see the value of this box far exceeds the cost at a whopping $122.84!!  I am very pleased with this months box.  Click HERE to read last months unboxing and see how pleased I was also with that box!

And here is my complete edgy look that I wore for Thanksgiving :)

Second favorite to my makeup was my tights, I just loved them and bought them last year and didn't find them again until I was packing last weekend!  WHICH by the way we will be moved in to our new house on Monday so shortly thereafter I can get back to baking and crafting and sharing some really awesome ideas with ya'll for the upcoming holidays :)  Again, the reason I started this blog was to keep myself busy while mourning the loss of my daddy and I will especially need it during the holidays xo

I hope you all enjoyed the unboxing and maybe it inspired you to sign up to Boxycharm.  A little piece of advice, if you don't like spoilers, don't follow them on Facebook as they give spoilers leading up until the next months box is sent out!

But I will tell you this entire FULL SIZE palette, valued at $39.95, will be in the December box!!  It is comparable to Urban Decays Naked palette :)

Do you already get Boxycharm?  What did you think of this month's box?

Let us know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!! xo