My August 2016 Birchbox

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August 2016 Birchbox

You guys, I honestly can not even remember if my August 2016 Birchbox was the feature box for the month or if I picked a sample. Given my past Birchbox selections, I’d say it’s safe to assume it’s the feature box, but I could be wrong.

What I am sure about is that my love for Living proof. has grown exponentially, that stila is the bomb dot com.

I will always love Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle and I need to make these Acure cleansing towelettes a reoccurring purchase.

Ok. I have some news. I have officially decided not to renew my Birchbox subscription for 2017.

Partly, because I am trying to minimize the excess crap I have in my life and samples have taken over my vanity. It’s making me feel like a hoarder and I just can’t.

Finish up the year won’t be an issue. I really do enjoy getting my Birchbox every month.

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle | $24
Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow | $28
Acure Organics Coconut and Argan Oil Cleansing Towelettes | $7
HUM Nutrition Raw Beauty Green Superfood Powder | $39
Living proof. No Frizz Nourishing Oil | $38
stila Matte About You Liquid Lipstick Trio | $20

Make sure to let me know in the comments, if you want to hear more about any of these samples!

xx

 

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Follain Finds: Jane Iredale Mascara + Primer

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Jane Iredale Mascara

Mascara hoarding is something I’ve been trying to cut back on. But finding just one or two that I love far above the rest isn’t something I’ve been able to narrow. Until discovering this Jane Iredale duo at Follain.

It was important to me to have a clean beauty mascara solution, that also lasts throughout the day. And the Jane Iredale mascara and lash conditioning primer do exactly that. Lashes with volume, that last throughout the day? I thought it was impossible. Plus, safe enough to wear every day, without having to worry about harmful chemicals? Amazing!

These aren’t the only green beauty products I’d recommend but they are two of my top picks. Whenever you make a purchase at Follain, they include samples to try. The same goes for when you attend one of their events. I’ve never had to purchase this mascara and primer, I’ve gotten enough samples of them to last me quite a while.

The primer also worked great with other mascaras. I don’t wear it everyday, just when I want a little extra volume or have a long day ahead of me.

xx

 

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My August 2016 Play! by Sephora

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My August 2016 Play! by Sephora

I’m going to be extremely blunt about my August 2016 Play! by Sephora box. If this month’s Play! by Sephora had been my first, I would have canceled.

I have heard so many complaints about Birchbox and people saying they’ve been disappointed with their box. While I can’t say that I have never been underwhelmed with a monthly box, overall my experience has been really good.

I never even dreamed I’d consider switching it out for another box until Sephora’s.

And I definitely didn’t understand why anyone would complain about their subscription box samples, until getting my August 2016 Play! by Sephora box.

Not that I’m complaining exactly.

Will I use the samples? Yes. But I’ve had better. Like, much better.

The value of the samples is probably well worth it, I just wasn’t nearly as impressed as I was with my first two boxes.

I haven’t tried the Lancôme or Alegenist samples yet, but I’ll get to them, love them, and then never buy them.

I maybe had one CLEAN sample that I liked before (once upon a time, in a Birchbox), but I find most of their scents too strong. This one would make a nice home scent (if it wasn’t so strong), but I doubt I’ll use it.

As always, the makeup samples are amazing. However, I already have four or five tubes in varying sizes of the Perversion Mascara.

The Sephora Contour Eye Pencil sounds interesting, but also like a scam. Either way, I like the color. I know because I have a very similar shade liner by another brand.

You never realize how much eyeshadow you have and don’t use until you hit pan in one you use a lot. I really need to stop buying expensive palettes and only get the pots of the colors I use. Anyways, most powders can be used as whatever you want (I’ve used eyeshadow to contour before), but I do like that this MAKE UP FOR EVER one doubles as a blush. My makeup bag just got a little lighter.

xx

 

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Exuviance Retexturing Treatment

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IMG_0912 (1)Smooth Arms and Legs Restore Radiant Skin Retexturizing TreatmentSkin Confident

When I was in high school I wore long sleeves and jeans, most of the time. Not for any religious reasons or anything like that, which would be one thing, but I just lacked the confidence to show any skin.

And that was when my skin was pretty much still in it’s peak condition.

I’ve since outgrown that.

But, now that I am older, so is my skin.

Trying different skincare products is something that I do to cope with aging. Cleansers, micellar waters, creams…

I had NEVER tried an exfoliating moisturizer before.

Or even heard of one.

Exuviance is a luxury skincare brand that I’ve tried products from before. I love their oxygen facial mask. So much so, that I decided to start using their retexturing treatment.

My original plan was to share before and after pictures, but the real difference is in the way my skin feels.

After using the treatment for not even a full week, my skin felt noticeably smoother. I can’t wait to see the difference with continued use.

If you see me overly touching my arms or legs, you are more than free to judge me. But, only after you feel them for yourself!

 

xx

 

 

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My July 2016 Birchbox

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July 2016 Birchbox

I’m not going to lie to you. I missed the sample choice window for the July 2016 Birchbox.

And, it may come as no surprise that I really wanted that month’s feature box. So, honestly, no matter what I got, I expected to be at least somewhat disappointed.

Really, the only let down was the box. It wasn’t the pretty patterned box for the month, but a plainer one. The samples were actually pretty decent.

I haven’t used them yet. But, I’m pretty confident that I will.

Cargo Blush and Bronzer Duo | $35
Marcelle Xtension Plus Curl Mascara | $14
MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème SPF 50 Sunscreen | $30
Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris | $80
Balance Me Radiance Face Mask | $34

Let me know in the comments, if you’re interested in hearing about any of these samples!

xx

 

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My June 2016 Birchbox

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June 2016 Birchbox

For the June 2016 Birchbox the sample choice was between the different shades of the new and improved Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow. I knew I loved the original, so naturally I wanted to get my hand on this updated one. It was basically a no-brainer.

Benefit Gimme Brow (in 5 Deep) | $24
Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl (in Gilded Honey) | $26
Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream | $49
Evologie Intensive Blemish Serum | $35
PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Moisterizing & Repairing Shampoo | $22

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I didn’t like the Gimme Brow nearly as much as I remembered. I’ve used it from time to time, but my current favorite is actually NYX brow mascara.

After posting about my top highlighters and getting to try a priming one from Becca Cosmetics, I was happy to add another one to my list. Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl is the kind pigment-packed glow any goddess would kill for!

My hair can always use as much moisture as it can get, so this Oribe cream is a very much appreciated sample.

Evologie has worked to help with my pimples in the past. I may have to seriously consider switching from Proactiv

Anything moisturizing is great, like I said, but I was not as impressed with the PARLOR shampoo as I was with their blowout spray.

xx

 

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Follain Finds: Farmaesthetics

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Farmaesthetics Mask and Milk

Follain is one of my favorite places in Boston.

Finding clean beauty products to use in lieu of other more toxic ones can be scary. Scary enough to make you want to just not. But, Follain makes buying healthier makeup easy.

They have really helped me.

After attending a summer beach day ready makeup event at their Beacon Hill location, I decided I wanted to also do a better job of sharing some of my favorite Follain finds with all of you!

I’d only heard of Farmaesthetics because I’d received a sample in the swag bag from attending the Lady Project Summit. I didn’t think anything of it, until I’d used the Herbal Hydration Complex mask a few times. Not sure where to get it when I ran out. Then I saw it at Follain.

I also sampled the lavender lotion, which can be used for body and face. The description on the website says that they’d probably bathe in it if they could.

Same.

xx

 

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DIY Clip-In Extensions

DIY Extensions Clip-in Extensions

When it comes to hair, I can do a ponytail and that’s pretty much it.

That being said, my hair isn’t long enough for me to really do anything with, so I wear clip-in extensions 99.9% of the time.

It’s not that I have any problem with short hair. After all, I loved how I looked when I shaved all my hair off. And, when it grew back a little, I sported a super cute pixie. Right now though, my it’s just at this kind of awkward length, that I don’t know how to deal with.

This is my ponytail before:

Before Extensions

This is my ponytail after:

After Extensions

On the other hand, clip-ins can be expensive, so after my sister (who can actually do hair) gave me a set of clip-ins that she’d made (yes, made!), believe me, I was PUMPED.

Then summer came.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the summer.

But, the sun changes my hair color and the extensions no longer matched. I needed a slightly lighter color and figured I could try my hand at making them myself.

I was able to grab all the supplies I needed (and then some) from Sally Beauty Supply for under $75!

Making clip-ins requires basic sewing skills. Other than that the steps are pretty simple.

  1. Measure.
  2. Cut.
  3. Attach clips. (This is where the sewing comes in.)

If you are using any type of hair other than 100% virgin, you can NOT bleach it. I found this out the hard way. No mermaid ombre hair for me…

For more beauty secrets, make sure to follow Sally Beauty on Instagram!

xx

Long Summer Locks

My July 2016 Play! by Sephora Box

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July 2016 Sephora Play

This may only be my second ever Play! by Sephora box, but I am SUPER impressed! I liked my first box a lot, but I really really love the July 2016 Play! by Sephora box, you guys.

I honestly thought I would just be testing it out for a couple of boxes or so. I don’t think I have ever been SO wrong!

Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation Primer Pore Minimizing | $39
NEST Citrine | $68
Ouai Wave Spray | $26
Too Faced Soleil Matte Chocolate Bronzer | $30
beautyblender blotterazzi by beautyblender | $20
First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser With Red Clay | $24

I am so close to running out of my current favorite primer (which is the Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation Primer Hydrating) that it hurts a little. It’s almost to the point where I need to cut the top off. I need to buy more, but now I’m thinking that maybe next time I’ll have to get the pore minimizing one. I was once told that I didn’t have big pores. But, in the summer, my face begs to differ.

After getting a NEST candle that was more on the strong side than I care for, I was hesitant to spray this perfume. I, however, took one for the team, and it’s still strong, but in a nice way. That being said, if you like lighter, less musky smells, I wouldn’t recommend.

Ouai is a brand that I’m only starting to see around, and I really want to try their hair oil. Settling for the wave spray, isn’t so bad. I have no idea if I’m using it right, or rather, what the outcome on my hair texture is supposed to be, but I LOVE the way it smells, so frankly, I don’t even care!

Bronzer is one of the reasons I have trust issues. More specifically, Too Faced’s bronzers. I have it and never use it as a bronzer, because it’s too light. Then, they finally come out with a “dark chocolate” shade. Prayers answered, right? Nope. It looks darker online, but in person it’s basically the same. The shade I got as a sample wasn’t even the dark chocolate one…

Spending $20 on a makeup sponge sounded absurd to me. My $5 e.l.f. Cosmetics one works just fine. The idea of a sponge for blotting was even more preposterous.  But I now see the error of my ways. Mostly because blotting paper feels kind of wasteful. I’m also glad the blotterazzi came with a liquid cleanser sample, although almost everyone I know who is into makeup (including myself) uses Dr. Bronner’s.

I’ve been using a different face mask each week, but next week I’m going to take a break to give the First Aid Beauty cleanser a try. I haven’t used anything with red clay in it yet. Should be interesting!

xx

 

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July 2016 Play! by Sephora Samples

Marc Jacobs Beauty Illuminator

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Marc Jacobs Beauty

For a third time, Marc Jacobs Beauty has graced my vanity with it’s presence.

This time in the form of an illuminator.

And free.

From Influenster.

Even though I won’t be sharing a photo of the product on me, or any swatches quite just yet. I have worn it. What I like most about it is how smoothly it blends into my skin.

Seriously smooth.

Like butter.

I wrote a review on the Sephora website, where I mention wanting them to come out with a warmer shade. That’s more of a preference thing, but if they do, I’ll be AWESOME!

Also, I’m starting to think that I just may have to try that full face highlighter makeup challenge. Thoughts?

xx

 

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