Glossy Box x Byrdie Beauty : Beauty Box

If you've been following this blog for a while, then you know that I don't have the greatest opinion of Glossybox. For me, most of the time, the products do not justify the price and after hearing umpteen stories of their horrible customer service (which I've never experienced), it's safe to say that I'll never be a regular subscriber. However, the occasionally do curated or collaboration boxes, and those bad boys are usually amazing. When I heard that they were teaming with Byrdie Beauty (the sister site of Who What Wear), I jumped on ordering a box. Want to see what I got? Keep reading.

One thing that I will always commend Glossybox on is their packaging; it feels really luxurious. I don't know if you guys ever order high end makeup directly from the manufacturer (e.g. ordering Chanel directing from Chanel), but they really take the time to make a complete presentation out of it and Glossybox does this, too. 

And the contents! 

From left to right: Tarte Lights, Cameras, Flashes Mascara, Balance Me Shine on Tinted Lip Salve, Sesha Renu Exfoliating Gel, Bvlgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert Eau de Cologne, and Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream. 

When I opened my box on Saturday morning, I'll admit, I felt a bit disappointed. I think I was just expecting something very similar to the Man Repeller boxes from January. Now that I've had a few days to look at this, I don't feel the same way; I'm actually pretty happy with this box. The Tarte and the Balance Me are full sized items; ringing in at $23 and $16.50, respectively. The Sesha sample comes in at $16.80, Fresh at $12.42, and Bvlgari at $5.78. This makes the total monetary value of the box $74.50.

The only item that I'm really not excited about is, you guessed it, the lip salve. It's a natural product, so it's much thinner than a standard lip gloss, which I usually like, but this is extremely thin and makes my lips feel oily. I'll keep using it to make sure that I don't have a change of opinion, but I think that's a flop in my book.

Other than that, I'm pretty excited to use the items. The Bvlgari smells great and light and fresh; a bit more of a spring/summer fragrance, but still nice smelling. I like the Fresh brand and plan to use this at night during the winter when my skin gets a bit dryer. Not to mention, for a face cream, this is a pretty big sample and should last a long time. 

I love Tarte's Lights, Cameras, Lashes mascara, so I can't wait to try this version. I'm a pretty big Tarte fan all around and this was the first "sneak peek" from this box, which was also worth more than the box itself. And last but not least, the Sesha exfoliating gel. It took me going to look at the company's website and doing some research on it, but I think that the idea behind it is pretty cool. You apply the gel to a dry face and it exfoliates the dry skin using papaya extract. It says to only use it once a week, so this sample should last a while as well. 

And that's the box. Thoughts on it? Let me know down below!

Beauty Box Roundup : September 2013

Welcome to the latest installment of Beauty Box Roundup! This is for the September 2013 and features the same three beauty subscriptions that I've been reviewing the past few months; Blush Mystery Beauty Box, Ipsy, and Birchbox. Please make sure to read to the end to see some changes that will be coming regarding this post.

Blush Mystery Beauty Box

What I received:

• Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon in Fuchsia Flirt
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel 
• Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Dry Shampoo 
• LVX Nail Lacquer in Midori 
• Amlactin Triple Action Alpha-Hydroxy Therapy Foot Cream
• Racinne Deluxe Travel Set
• Brad Biophotonic Skin Care Ultra Peel

My Thoughts: Not the most exciting bag for me which is kind of a bummer after last's month not too exciting bag. There are some things that I'm excited about which would be the nail polish, since I have nothing in this color, and the Brad Ultra Peel, because I've been wanting to do a peel for a while. Everything else is kind of meh, much to my dismay. I'll probably end up trying the Racinne stuff in the winter when my skin needs more hydration (it's an anti-aging set) and I can always use dry shampoo, but I'm a little over stocked right now. The foot cream will be put to use (again, in the winter), but I don't see myself using the Pop crayon. I got one... two months ago (?) in an Ipsy bag and I hated it. I also received the Anastasia Brow Gel in an Ipsy bag and it's not my favorite, but will still get used.

Monetary Values

Pop Beauty Crayon: $4.16 (note on this: Blush puts this at $14, but it's only available in a 6-pack which retails for $25, so I refuse the $14)

Anastasia Brow Gel: $6.68 for .085 fl oz (full size: .28 fl oz/$22)

Alterna Dry Shampoo: $0.83 for .1 oz (full size: 2.65 oz/$22)

LVX Polish: $16 full size

Amlactin Foot Cream: $10 full size

Racinne Deluxe Travel Set: $65.83 (too many products on this one, but trust me)

Brad Ultra Peel: $25.74 for .25 fl oz (full size: 1.7 fl oz/$175)

Total Bag Value: $129.25

Ipsy

What I received:

• Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Big Apple
• NYX Single Eyeshadow in Purple
• Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Mascara
• J. Cat Fantabulous Lipstick in Honeycrisp
• Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil in Obsidian

My Thoughts: Remember last month when I said that I get one good month, followed by one bad month? Well, here's my bad month. I always feel like I need to explain myself when I say "bad month", because looking at the pictures above, you might not understand my frustration. For starters, I subscribe to these services to try new products and brands, not try the same brands over and over and over. I know that Birchbox is guilty of sending out items from the same brands, but I guess I don't mind as much when it's high end brands. There are several reasons I don't like this month's bag and here they are, 1) I've sampled all but one of these brands in my previous Ipsy bags, making the third or fourth time for some brands 2) Why did I get two lip products? and 3) An odd nude shade lipstick for someone who has their profile marked as fair? I'm getting really tired of seeing NYX and Starlooks and Cailyn and J.Cat. Seriously, this is not new or innovative by any means if you've already sent me products from them AND you sent them very recently. I also don't like the cheap factor that's starting to become very obvious with Ipsy.

Monetary Values:

Cailyn Tinted Balm: $19 full size

NYX Eyeshadow: $4.50 full size

It's So Big Mascara: $8.28 for 4 ml (full size: 10 ml/$19.99)

J.Cat Lipstick - $2.49 full size

Starlooks Eyeliner - $12 full size

Total Monetary Value: $46.27

If you want to subscribe to Ipsy, you can visit ipsy.com

Birchbox

What I Received:

• Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund
• uniqONE Hair Treatment
• Benefit Sugarbomb Ultra Plush Lip Gloss
• BGBGMAXAZRIA Bon Genre perfume
• Soak Heel Foot Cream

My Thoughts: I feel kind of underwhelmed again this month with my Birchbox, but if you have read this far, you should be able to tell that I'm kind of underwhelmed in general with my subs. Again, even though the sample sizes are smaller, I am feeling this more than I am my Ipsy box and I will tell you why: non-repetition of brands and high end manufacturers. Even though I've received Benefit before, it's been a while since I've gotten them in a Birchbox and I haven't received any of the other brands before. One reason I'm a little underwhelmed by Birchbox is that I got a perfume sample and a foil... which I am not a fan of either. I prefer to get perfume samples with Sephora orders and I hate foil packets. Aside from that, my box is pretty good. Unfortunately, I already have Sugarbomb, so this one will be going into a giveaway later this month since it's actually a gloss that I enjoy. The hair treatment will definitely be used and I'm in love with the nail polish color; it's freaking gorgeous. (p.s. The perfume is actually decent smelling, but I still don't like getting them in my Birchbox)

Monetary Values:

Ruffian Nail Lacquer: $10 full size

uniqONE treatment: $1.06 for .3 fl oz (full size: 5.07 fl oz/$17.99)

Benefit Lip Gloss: $9.49 for .22 fl oz (full size: .51 fl oz/$22)

BCBG Perfume: $1.10 for .05 fl oz (full size: 3.4 fl oz/$75)

Soak Heel Foot Cream: $0.84 for 5 ml (full size: 60 ml/$10)

 
Full Monetary Value: $22.49

If you want to subscribe to Birchbox, you can follow my referral link here or visit birchbox.com

Now, for the "game changer"... I'm going to be stopping the Beauty Box Roundup after this month. As much as I enjoy doing this post, I have been really uninterested in my Ipsy bags, so I've cancelled the service. If I notice that they start to get amazing again, I might rejoin, but I don't know. I'm also cancelling my Blush box for the time being. I'm not disappointed in the service, but I have so many samples and beauty products that need to be used up, that I just can't keep up. I plan on going back to Blush in a few months when I've worked my way through some of the samples that I have now. Birchbox is going to be the only one that I will keep for the time being, so if you want to keep up with that, make sure to follow me on Instagram (link on the right side of the page) where I'll post my boxes. 

If you have any questions or comments, leave them down below!

Beauty Box Roundup : August 2013

'Tis that time again boys and girls; time for the beauty box roundup. Coming in a little bit late this month (thanks UPS... geez), but here nonetheless. 

What I received:

• Mor Emporium Hand Cream in Snow Gardenia
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Genius Waterproof Top Coat 
• Vapour Organic Beauty Elixir Lip Gloss in Hush
• Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant 
• Coola SPF 30 Face Classic Sunscreen in Cucumber
• Pixi Beauty Endless Silky Eye Pen in No. 5 Deep Plum
• Carita Paris Magique Biologique Mask 
• Philip B. Maui Wowie Beach Mist

My Thoughts: Not a horrible bag by any means, but it doesn't live up to last month's box, unfortunately. Also, I cut all of my hair off, so the beach spray doesn't seem as useful as it once would have. None of the products that I received in my box are duplicates of things I've receive before, but there is lot of brand overlap. Pixi came in Ipsy this month, I got Anastasia in an Ipsy a few months ago, and Coola is just popping up everywhere. Also, I know that these beauty boxes love to send out lip gloss, but I hate lip gloss and I've already received a Vapour gloss previously... and gave it away. I don't mind the brand overlap too much, but I am getting sick of seeing Coola and if I never saw another Pixi product again, I'd probably be perfectly happy. Also, the Mor Emporium Hand Cream is a discontinued item on blush.com, which in theory doesn't bother me too much, but what if I fell in love with it and wanted more? 

Monetary Values

Mor Emporium Hand Cream - $10 (full size)

Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Genius Waterproof Top Coat - $12.16 (.11 oz - full size: $21/.19 oz)

Vapour Organic Beauty Elixir Lip Gloss - $20 (full size)

Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant - $11.43? (no size on sample, guessed 1 oz - full size $48/4.2 oz)

Coola SPF 30 Face Classic Sunscreen - $4.33 (.23 fl oz - full size $32/1.7 fl oz)

Pixi Beauty Endless Silky Eye Pen - $15 (full size)

Carita Paris Magique Biologique Mask - $26 (.5 fl oz. - full size $90/1.7 fl oz)

Philip B. Maui Wowie Beach Mist - $22 (full size)

Total Bag Value: $120.92

What I received:

• Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in 69
• Michael Todd Pumpkin Nutrient Rich Facial Mask
• Nailtint nail polish in Mai Tai
• Pixi Lash Booster Mascara
• Mica Beauty Shimmer Powder in Bronze

My Thoughts: I definitely think Ipsy stepped it up this month, but it is still on the chopping block for me. I keep noticing that I receive one good month, then one bad month, then one good, then bad, etc. I really lucked out this month and only received one item that I truly didn't want. There was a lot of, for lack of better words, drama about the Ipsy bags this month. 1) The price discrepancy between some of the bags was almost $20 and 2) the shipping of the bags was totally effed up. I didn't get caught up in the shipping mess and I got one of the high dollar bags, so good for me? I'm not a fan of the polish color, so this will be given away. The mascara is maybe one of the worst mascaras that I've ever used and lo and behold, it's from Pixi... The pumpkin mask, the lipstick, and the eye shadow are all really nice though. The bag this month, I hate, but I don't ever factor that in to whether or not I like the contents and I will probably end up donating it. This month was definitely good for me, but I'm still keeping an eye on Ipsy.

Monetary Values:

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick - $7.33 (.03 oz - full size: $22/.09 oz)

Michael Todd Pumpkin Mask - $10 (1 oz - full size: $34/3.4 oz)

Pixi Lash Booster Mascara - $7.14 (.105 fl oz. - full size: $17/.25 fl oz.)

Nailtini - $13 (full size)

Mica Beauty - $14.95 (full size)

Total Monetary Value: $52.42

If you want to subscribe to Ipsy, you can follow my referral link here or visit ipsy.com

What I Received:

• Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive
• Model Co. Party Proof Lipstick in Dusk till Dawn
• Jasmine Seven Fresh Feet Wipes
• Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner in Hansa
• Miss Jessie's Original Super Slip Sudsy Shampoo

My Thoughts: I'm really torn on this box, because I love three of the items so much and kind of don't understand the other two. On one hand, I received two full sized makeup items, which is kind of rare for Birchbox, and I love them. I am so in love with the Model Co. lipstick, it's the perfect MLBB shade and I am seriously considering picking up a three pack of the "Classics" shades. The lipstick smells like Starbursts and is really moisturizing and amazing. I'm also pretty stoked about the Sumita pencil; it doesn't budge and it's in a color that I don't have (kind of a dark olive green). I'm also really excited to try the Juice Beauty Peel once my skin calms down a little bit more. The two items that I'm not so thrilled with are the shampoo and the foot wipes. It's not the fact that I got shampoo and foot wipes that upsets me, it's the size of the samples. The Miss Jessie's sample is technically a "beauty extra" but it also has the word "FREE" on the front. I know, for a fact, that I could email their company and ask for a sample and this is what they would send me. I want Birchbox to send me samples that I can't obtain on my own... you know? And the foot wipes. I like them, I actually do, but I got two foot wipes, that cost a whopping grand total of $0.66. I'm irritated with the foils and once use products, step it up with that Birchbox.

Monetary Values:

Juice Beauty Peel - $4.88 (.25 fl oz. - full size: $39/2 fl oz.)

Lipstick - $8 (full size)

Sumita Eyeliner - $11 (full size)

Miss Jessie's Shampoo - $0.75 (.43 fl. oz - full size: $14/8 oz.)

Jasmine Seven Foot Wipes - $0.66 (2 wipes - full size: $10/30 wipes)

Full Monetary Value: $25.29

If you want to subscribe to Birchbox, you can follow my referral link here or visit birchbox.com

Overall, I'm pleased with all of my boxes, but nothing blew my socks off EXCEPT for the Model Co. lipstick; that's the hands down winner. Other than that lipstick though, everything has been fun to play with but nothing too life changing. August is my least favorite month of the year, so I'm not surprised by the boxes not being amazing. Next month will be the true test since my favorite season starts up in September and I'm curious to see what the boxes will bring. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know!

Beauty Box Roundup : July 2013

It's time again for the Beauty Box Roundup! I'm still subscribed to three different services; Birchbox, Ipsy, and Blush.com's Mystery Beauty Box. Hit the jump to find out what I got this month!

Beauty Box Roundup : June 2013

It's that time of the month again... no, not that time; time for beauty box roundup! I'm still subscribed to three beauty services and they are Ipsy, Birchbox, and Blush.com's Mystery Beauty Box. Keep reading to find out their monetary values and what I got this month!

Beauty Box Roundup : May 2013

I finally got all of my beauty subscriptions in for the month of May! My Ipsy bag definitely took the scenic route on its way to me and kind of held up this post. Regardless, I have three beauty subscriptions to show you this month to help you determine if you want to subscribe to any of these services. Keep reading to find out what I got in my Birchbox, Blush Mystery Beauty Bag, and Ipsy bag and their cash values.

Blush.com Mystery Box : Real Talk

If you follow me on Facebook, you might have seen me mention that I had recently subscribed to a new beauty box. Well, it arrived about two weeks ago and I've finally gotten around to photographing it, so I can finally tell you guys about it and my first thoughts on the whole thing. This is blush.com's mystery beauty box and it is available for $24.95 a month or if you want to try it out once, it's $34.95. This is the most expensive beauty box that I've ever tried, so keep reading to see if I think that it's actually worth the price.

Monthly Beauty Boxes : April

I'm actually following through with my promise to show you guys what I get in my monthly beauty boxes. I'm doing this because I feel like there are those of you out there that are curious about what come in these, but aren't quite ready to subscribe yet. This month, I've received Ipsy and Birchbox (I have another box coming my way, not sure how I feel about it yet), so I wanted to break these two down and show you the differences. There aren't any product reviews in this, I just want you to be able to see what comes in both types of services. Keep reading for more info!