July 2014 GlossyBox-Spoilers Inside!!

I was going through subscription withdrawal as always towards the end of the month and voila! My July 2014 Glossybox has arrived! Glossybox is a mix of beauty, hair and skin care from deluxe brands that always comes with at least one FULL size product.  It is $21 a month.  This month one of the full size products was $45 which is more than double the cost of the box, so always well worth it in my opinion.  Sign up HERE!

I always love getting the nice boxes they send  because I have used each box for something :)

This is what I saw when I opened it.....

They always include a nice pamphlet with the full size price of each item and how to use each item.  Ipsy is the only subscription I get that actually doesn't do that.

I love surprises so I never look at the sneak peeks of what we are getting when they are posted on social media BUT this month I did see one on accident but was super happy!

GlamGlow YouthMud Tinglexfoliate Treatment Mask!!  I have had this sample several times from Sephora and love it.  It is a wonderful mud mask that cleans out pores and tightens skin.  It is made with French Sea Clay, Green Tea Leaves (there are actual pieces in there) and Volcanic Pumice Rock.  I use it several times a week.  There is a small and large size you can test out at Sephora.  Get it HERE.

Now, the star......

Skin, Inc. Anti Aging Serum.  This bad boy right here is $45!!!!  It says it will promote elasticity and log lasting hydration improving the quality of my skin.  Um, SCORE!! :)

Philip B Detangling Toning Mist.  They have sent Philip B products before and they are great.  This will remove unwanted residue and deposits (like facial toner) and because it has apple cider vinegar in it, it will increase shine by sealing the cuticle.  I was worried about the smell, but it says it goes away after a minute, so we will see!

MITCHELL and PEACH Body Cream.  I am British, enough said....whenever I get lotions like this or smells like this (this has English honey, cocoa powder and shea butter), it always brings my grandmother right there next to me.  She always comforted me and this smell is just like her.

Malin+Goetz Mojito Lip Balm.  Another full size product, valued at $12!!  First thing I thought of was drinking a mojito so I guess that was a good thing :)  That is the flavor, duh and says it will protect, hydrate and offer some shine without stickiness!

And there ya have it!

I was sad that there was no makeup this time but I was happy with 4 out of 5 so I think this month was a good box.  Last month's box was incredible so I will give them some slack!

Were you happy with your Glossybox this month?

Have a great day!

Birchbox VS Ipsy July 2014 Showdown

It's that time again!!  Birchbox July 2014 and Ipsy July 2014 boxes.  I am excited to show ya'll both of them!!

Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription service that is $10 a month.  You can cancel at any time and there is currently a promotion going on where if you sign up with the code WOMENSHEALTH100 you will get $10 added to your account to go towards purchases in their online store.  This month's box is in conjuction with Women's Health magazine.  You can get full sizes of most all of the brands that Ulta and Sephora sell there, plus Birchbox Exclusives! Sign Up Here!

Here is what I got this month!

The first thing that was in the box was a card for a full year of Women's Health magazine for free! That is valued at $9.99 and already covers the cost of the box.  They also included a fun little booklet that gives you 12 activities for health to do during the month :)

Ipsy is also $10 a month and can be cancelled at any time.  They also work on a point system that goes towards additional products in your bag each month.  Plus for each item in you bag, you can get discounts when buying the full size product! There are currently no promotions going on but the exciting this is each month they send you a reusable fun makeup bag to keep all of your goodies in.  This months was a vinyl hot pink bag! Who doesn't LOVE that??  Sign Up Here!

Here is what I got this month!

Now for the fun part, the breakdown to find out who won this month!!

First up for Birchbox is Jouer Moisture Tint.

SO happy I got this! I have heard wonderful things about this brand and haven't gotten it yet, so I was just beyond excited.  I got the color in Deep Bronze which is perfect for my summer tanned skin.  When I buy the full size, I will go down one color as it is too dark for winter.  This is pretty much a BB cream, in a way. Very luminous and bronze-y! I love the way it gives my face that just tanned look and it skips a step of actual bronzer.  Get It Here!

Ipsy gave me Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil, SPF 8.

I know it is a low SPF but I usually go to the tanning bed before laying out to make sure I don't burn so I will be using this for sure.  It smells nice and is pretty self explanatory :) Get It Here!

Birchbox won for these items.

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Next, Birchbox gave me a full size Sumita Contrast Eyeliner in Raina (deep navy blue).

I LOVE the color, it is so pretty and can be used darkened or light because of the thin tip.  Plus it looks great with my go to gold shadows for summer and can easily transition to fall.  Get It Here!

Ipsy gave me Benefits They're Real Mascara.

This is already my favorite mascara so I can always use another.  The best thing about this mascara is the wand!

I mean, it separates each and every lash.  It is wonderful. Plus it stays on all day and does not flake. Get It Here!

I actually have to give this to Birchbox only because I received a new product from them.

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The next items are hard to compare as they are so different in product type.

Birchbox gave me Caudalie Divine Oil.

 Now, if you follow me, you know that this is my favorite high end skin care line.  And since I currently use the Overnight Detox Oil and this is the next similar product from them, I was happy to be able to try it out! This one can not only be used on the skin, but also on cuticles and nails.  And the scent is not as woodsy as the Detox Oil.  Get It Here!

Ipsy gave me Tints & Sass Cherry Lip & Cheek Stain.

I currently use Benefit's stain as it is more of a rosy color and will sample this.  If it's not for me, it goes to the giveaway contest pile! What's nice about these stains though is they truly do last all day, unlike a powder or a cream will.  Get It Here!

Wow, so far, not a real competition here......
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Next up, Birchbox gave me Whish Shave Gel in Acai Grapefruit.

I had never seen anything like this, much less heard of the brand.  Of course, it is summer so I was able to use it the day I got it.  Went on super thick, smelled great and no nicks or cuts!  I even had my husband smell my legs and he loved the scent.  They have a ton of other scents, too.  A bit pricey though.  Get It Here!

Ipsy gave me Lavilin Jojoba Gel Cream Skin Soother.

A nice ingredient lotion, great for summer skin and winter skin.  Get It Here!

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Lastly, Birchbox gave me Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect Leave In Hair Conditioner Spray.

Heat protector, color protector and sun protector.  I can never have too many of these lying around! Get It Here!

Ipsy gave me Bare Minerals 5 in 1 Cream Eye Shadow in Divine Wine.

I love Benefit so am super happy with this one! The color is also super pretty and can be used alone or layered with another color.  Also says it lasts for 12 hours and brightens the eyes, so that is a plus too!Check out all the colors and Get It Here!

Ipsy got this one for sure :)

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It is also a draw with the 1 year free magazine from Birchbox and the hot pink bag from Ipsy!

But overall, the winner this month by a long shot for me, was BIRCHBOX!!!

What did you get this month??

I would love to see!

Do you have any questions that you want to know before signing up to one of these monthly beauty subscriptions?

Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great day!!!

Glossybox June 2014 Stars & Stripes Box Review

It is finally here ya'll!!!  I have been really excited about this box as it is a beautiful collectors box.  I mean, I need some serious organizational help and this box is pretty enough to actually have lying around :)  And it is my end of the month beauty subscription since all the rest come at the beginning of the month so I was needing my makeup fix!! :)  This box is also valued at $55 and almost all are FULL sized products!

Just a reminder, this is GlossyBox.  $21 a month and all luxury samples, mostly always full sized (no little one time use foil packets).  Here is a list of some of the brands that they work with.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

Okay, enough business, let's get to the unboxing of Glossybox's June 2014 Stars and Stripes box..............

 First item up is RUSK Texture Dry Finishing Spray!!

 I am very excited about this product.  The things it does to hair are wonderful!!  Instantly gives your hair volume and texturizes like a new hair cut would.  It also smells fab.  I am bad with math but I would value this at almost $6 for the size.  Get It Here.

I used it this morning and didn't use anything else!  You can SEE the volume and texture in my hair immediately :)

Next is the STRANGE BEAUTIFUL nail polish.

I have never heard of this brand and it doesn't appear to be available online.  I do know that this set was specifically made for this Glossybox so that's exciting.  The picture really doesn't show the true coloring and I apologize for that.  It is a navy blue and a true red color.  I am very happy as I am always on the hunt for a navy color and a great red.  Hopefully not hearing about this brand will be a good thing as I am a nail polish aficionado.

Next is a Sumita eyeshadow pencil.

This is full size and is $18!!  It is a champagne color that can be used all over the lid or just as a liner.  I use all of their colored mascaras and I love them! This appears to also be specially made for the July Glossybox.  Wow, I feel so fancy :) Here is the link to Sumita's website for similar products.

Moving on, we have some body butter by AYRES in Patagonia.

Jasmine, rosemary and lavender are the scents I smell when I open this little bottle of magic.  I like to use body butter on my elbows and on my heels right before bed so the magic happens while I sleep. :)
Get It Here.

Last product is another full size one.  Camille Beckman Imperial Repair Hand Therapy Lotion.

Valued at $10 and smells like lemongrass and grapefruit.  I like getting luxurious lotions in my boxes since I am constantly washing my hands at work and they dry out a lot.  This may be going in my giveaway box though so you all can get some luxury, too.  :)  Or you can Get It Here.

This is my 3rd Glossybox, but I have noticed that each box comes with some type of surprise in the form of a gift card.  My last box had a $25 gift card in it (which I lost and am still crying about) and this box has a surprise value gift card.

The gift card is to www.cwonder.com.  This site is clothes, home decor, jewelry, etc.  Also looks more affordable then I would have thought.  I am hoping that this gift card is for at least $25 to make up for the one I lost :) Wouldn't that be nice?  I'll let you know as soon as I find out!

Again, if you are interested in getting Glossybox each month, Sign Up Here! 

Overall, I am very pleased with this months box.  I am happy for the full sized products and that they are products I will be using.

Do you already use Glossybox?

Have you ever gotten one of the limited edition boxes?  I really wanted the one with the Union Jack on it!

Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great day!!

BeautyBar.Com Sample Society Box Reviews

The beginning of this week marked a special where BeautyBar.com was offering past mystery boxes to be purchased at a lesser price.  I took advantage of the 2 for $15 special.  The boxes are normally $15 a month and all come with 5 deluxe samples, a mini Allure magazine with in depth product reviews and a $10 gift card for a $50 purchase on their website.  All of the items that I received are on the website so that helps towards the purchase of a full size product.

I have not read many reviews on this subscription so of course curiosity got the best of me!  Plus the website lists many popular brands that they work with and so that sealed the deal for me.

I placed the order on Tuesday and got it last night, that was IMPRESSIVE!  So here is what I got and I am going to provide feedback and BeautyBar.com Sample Society Box reviews.  If you have been thinking about getting this subscription, please use my code:MIAN969688 and GO HERE to sign up.

As you can see Paisley is just as excited as mama is!!

 Here is the 1st box.  Let me preface by saying that there is no beauty profile to fill out so it is kind of a guess as to if what they provide will actually match your coloring, skin tone or hair type.

My first impression of this box was a good one!  Right off the bat, I can see names of companies that I really like.

Now let's break it down by item, aka the FUN part!!

 I love the Philosophy brand, although it is expensive so these are times that I love my beauty subs!  This is an overnight cream that is supposed to deliver magical results....not unicorns in your bedroom, but hydrated, smooth skin with diminishing fine lines.  Sounds great!  I am excited to see the results with this and it is a nice sized sample.  Get It Here.

Next is Dermalogica's daily microfoliant. So basically, it is a cleanser.  It will exfoliate dead skin, leave skin brighter, and evens skin tone.  Love it!  Again, a nice sized sample.  Get It Here.

I recently just wrote a post on How Not To Have An Oily Face and featured Murad as my first product, so I was very happy to see another product of theirs in my box!  Plus since my pores keep getting bigger as I get older (thanks Mom!), this may be a product I will purchase.  Witch Hazel and Kombucha are the stars of this product!  Get It Here.

I was a fan of dry shampoos before my friends even knew what they were, which made them think I was crazy :) Now almost every brand has them.  They are incredible!  Since I have color treated hair, it is suggested to not wash my hair every day.  Well, I still shower every day so something has to go in my hair!  Dry shampoos take out all the oils and freshen up your hair.  Think of them as the modern day baby powder, without the nasty white residue.  Again, another great brand but the sample is so small I don't even know if I will get a one time use....Get It Here.

Lastly, this box came with a Stila lip glaze, in color Starfruit.  I love glosses and have not yet tried this by Stila so I am happy with is.  But it has also crossed my mind to give it away with an upcoming giveaway I will be doing as it is full size and valued at $22!!.  Get It Here.

Although the Stila more than covers the cost of the box, the first box got a 4 out of 5 for me, due to size of Alterna sample.

On to the next one.....

Now just as I knew all of the brands with the first one, I only know 1 of the brands with this one!

I have tried SuperGoop before but it was in CC cream. The color didn't match so I wasn't really able to get a feel for the product.  But again, this is eye cream and I am happy with skin care products as it saves me a lot of money :)  This claims to give the eyes a well rested look and is firming, cooling and moisturizing.  Of course, I forgot to use it this morning and I am not bright eyed and bushy tailed haha!  Also, this is a small sample so I am hoping a little goes a long way.  Get It Here.

Here is my trying to take a picture of the next product and Paisley wanting attention :)

Take 2...

This is another full size product of Lollia's shea butter hand cream.  These hand creams always make me think of my grandmother so I am very happy with it.  The tube itself is beautiful and it smells of rice flower, magnolias and mimosa.  Beautiful and luxurious.  Get It Here.

Now this is super fancy!!!  Tres Pure's face tonic.  I have always wanted to try a face tonic.  They are said to promote skin cell growth, make skin smooth and supple, firm skin, minimize fine lines, and purify the skin. It goes on after cleansing and before makeup. I REALLY want this to work :) And a nice size sample.  Get It Here.

Clueless to this brand, but it smells like lemons and springtime :)  That is IMO, the product page actually says Notes include Sicilian lemon, citron, grapefruit, green mandarin, cypress, aldehyde and ylang-ylang.

It is a unique smell but I think it really is lovely. The price is a bit CRAZY but I will be consistent and say Get It Here. :)

Lastly, a FULL SIZE eyeshadow trio by Vincent Longo.  This is a $30 value, so with this being the second full size product, it more than covers the cost of the box.  I know I said this is a new product to me, however I did get a trio in lighter colors in my Wantable box before.  These are CAMO colors to me!! I will definitely use them.  I recommend using an eyelid primer to get it to last all day.    Get It Here.

So for this box, I will give it a 5 out of 5!!

Overall, I am very pleased with what I got for $15.  My subscription to Beauty Box 5 is almost over ( I only tried it for 4 months) and I am in the market for another comparable sub.  Right now it is between BoxyCharm or BeautyBar.com.

Are you currently getting the BeautyBar.com monthly subscription?

Are these boxes comparable to what you always get?

Please let me know in the comments below!!

Have a great day!!