Influenster: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

As you may recall, I am a member of a site called Influensters. For a more formal definition:

An exclusive online community where tastemakers and trendsetters (such as yourself) come to share the latest and greatest news, places, products, and reviews with each other. 2. The hotspot you just bookmarked on your web browser that turns your social influence into sweet rewards.

I joined because I like trying new products and writing what I think about them. For a quick recap, I have received Holiday Voxbox 2011 and the Spring Beauty Voxbox 2012. While I didn't mention it, I also won the Sally Hansen Challenge from the Spring Beauty Voxbox.

That being said, they recently did an entire revamp of their website and overall look on their social media sites. So I'm writing out my thoughts on the site as well as the program as a whole.

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The Good
The overall look of the site is WAY better than the old format. It has a nicer, more user-friendly feel.

I do appreciate the effort they put forth on social media, such as Facebook and Twitter. As someone who is studying and implementing social media plans, I think they do a pretty darn good job. Of course, an internet-based company that is all about spreading the word should be pretty good at using social sites.

I think the Twitter parties are great. They are incredibly active and pretty good at responding. Whereas with Facebook, they know not to post nearly as much. Twitter is very fast paced, while Facebook works on a slower schedule. It also gets allows for interaction between Influensters.

I like the challenges too. They send out products to get people to talk about them. The prizes for the challenges encourage people to talk in a public way. Everyone wins.

The Bad
I do not like that I have to go through the badges stuff all over again. It's a minor annoyance if only because it took so long to get some of them before. I remember waiting weeks/months before a badge I had submitted showed up.

And as crazy as it sounds, maybe try and send out a reminder e-mail about social media gatherings like the Twitter parties. I know they announce them on Twitter and Facebook but these messages can get lost. Depending on how many people you follow on Twitter, you may not see the reminders. With Facebook, the new way they are rolling out posts and monetizing pages makes your chances of seeing a post lower unless sponsored.

The Ugly
There is only thing I think really belongs in this category and it has to do with timing. I currently find that Influenster takes way too long to ship the voxboxes out. They build up this incredible hype around a box by e-mail and social media... And then it takes a month before we ever actually see any products. It's really sort of depressing in a way. In fact, I have forgotten about boxes because it takes so long for them to come.

Also, the Sally Hansen Challenge I said I won from the Spring Beauty Voxbox? I only got my prize the other day and we are already into fall. I was originally told it would be sent by end of August.


Overall 
I really do like the program as a whole. I like that they interact with their customers and that the whole program has remained free. Do I get annoyed sometimes with the slowness? Yes, and anyone would. Is it enough to stop my participation? Not really. As long as Influenster continues to remain free, I will continue to put the bit of effort in to maintain my status.

Lip Product Addiction

I... have a problem. And it's not that I don't have a hard time realizing it. It is more a matter of I cannot seem to stop buying more. Just to give you an idea of my lip product collection...

And that's just the lip balms that are not in my purse. There are 5 brands in here alone. I tend to buy many multiples... And I especially went a little crazy with the Nivea because I could get coupons for them and pay a ridiculously low price.

Of course, we don't want the glosses/tinted lip balms/lip color products to feel left out...

For the most part, I have lipglosses. I've talked about my issues with my lips and lip products, so most of these are not purchases I made. And you can tell I have quite the variety.

So you would think that a girl with this many products would carry quite a few with her at all times... That would be a negative with me. I usually carry anywhere from 3-5 lip products when I leave the house. And they are usually lipbalms. Below is a picture of what is in my bag right now

As you can see, only three products in their right now. I have one of my many EOS lipbalm in Sweet Mint, a Julep Daylight Defense SPF 15 Lipbalm, and my sample of Jouer Lip Enhancer from a Birchbox. How I feel at the moment determines which one I grab. If I want a little more heavy duty, I go for the EOS. Looking for a light balm with some SPF, I grab my Julep one. If I'm feeling a little fancy, Jouer is in my hand.

And now that I have finished this post... I'm thinking I need to go on a lip product buying hiatus until I finish up some of these products...

Top 10 Birchbox Favorites

I've been a Birchbox subscriber for almost a year now. That means that I have tried a lot of sample products, whether I liked them all or not. So I went through all of the products I've tried so far and picked my top 10 favorites!

The way I chose these products is pretty simple: it had to be something I do or would still use to this day. Preference were given to items that I have used frequently enough to really have an idea of whether or not I really like it. Also have some honorable mentions that I am not going to go into about my experience but just wanted to mention.

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 Incoco Appliqué (ring finger)

Incoco Nail Polish Appliqué

It was my entrance into the world of nail appliqués. These were funky but not too crazy for me. Absolutely perfect for an accent nail for me. I have been conserving these because I love the pattern so much. Reminds me so much of Tron with the blue little shiny discs.

Harvey Prince Eau Flirt

To this day, this is probably the only perfume I have that I absolutely love. I am beyond excited that fall is almost here because this perfume is perfect for this time of year. And I have been debating since I got it to buy a full bottle or even a rollerball. I don't really wear perfumes that often because I'm often going to work at the coffee shop... Sort of negates that perfume purpose...

amika obliphica hair treatment
& Laura Gellar spackles under make-up primer in bronze

amika obliphica hair treatment

Another product that I have been conserving after I learned how awesome it was. I limit use to whenever I blow-dry my hair. I have been shopping around for something similar at a cheaper price but amika has truly made a no-dupe product in my mind. However, it would one day be an investment product because I know I can make it go a far way. I have managed to make that little bottle go a year, so I imagine a full-sized product would go so much further.

Laura Geller spackle under make-up primer in bronze

This is one of the few products that I have actually bought in full-size. While I don't use this product often, I do like it both to maintain foundation/BB cream in my t-zone and as a stand-alone product. It is a good staple in my makeup arsenal.

Borghese fango active mud face & body

Another product that I bought in full-size but not for myself. While I did really enjoy this product, I know I barely take the time to wash my face, let alone do a mask. However, I let my mother try out this product and she absolutely loves it. It really does leave you skin feeling awesome.

Origins checks and balances frothy face wash

If you are ever looking for a silky smooth cleanser, this is the one for you. It feels like you are literally washing you face with a cloud. I tend to only use this when I travel or am staying away from home. It my own little beautification getaway product. It makes me feel like I'm really pampering myself

stila smudge stick waterproof eye liner

This is an awesome eyeliner. Whenever I use eyeliner, this is usually the first one I pick up. I have it in Lionfish which is a lovely brown with some bronze-y shimmer. It is a great wearable color while not being complete typical. Though I tend to keep this product on my upper lid because it tends to smudge like crazy on my bottom lid. It tends to smudge quite a bit on my eyes, so I have to be careful.

twistbands

I love love love love love these! They are absolutely amazing! True to their word, it does not leave a crease in my hair when I take it out. I have to admit though, I do have to make sure to rotate through them to make sure they don't get completely stretched out. While it is definitely something that I am willing to replace in the future, I don't want to have to do it until absolutely necessary due to their price-tag. If anyone knows any cheaper alternatives, I would be open to it.

Shiseido purness oil-control blotting papers

Another product I use conservatively. When you have an oily t-zone, these things feel like little midday miracles. I have tried the Neutrogena oil blotting "papers," and these Shiseido ones but them to shame. Mostly because they are actually paper. It's amazing that these sheets are only 8 cents more per sheet than the Neutrogena "papers." However, before I buy these sheets, I know I would probably try the boscia ones first as they are at the best price point out of all three.

Yes to Blueberries brightening facial towelettes

This product feels like a refreshing cleansing on my face. I don't feel like I have to scrub my face after using this. I did end up buying a full-size of this product and have no regrets. In fact, I'm sure I'll repurchase this again when I finish this package.

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Honorable mentions:

boscia B.B. cream SPF 27 PA++

Befine exfoliating cleanser

Pure Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex

pure : sensitive skin soothing complex

There is nothing I like more than a company that is willing to put themselves out there to the people. It's one of the things I like about Blissoma. They send out their products at the risk that it will potentially result in nothing. This is my third product from the Blissoma Product Review Program.

First, I want to start off with the packaging of the product itself. The key for Blissoma was to keep it minimalistic: a little glass container with an eyedropper dispenser has been the sample containers for 2 of my 3 samples.. It is even stated in the e-mail telling a person that s/he has been selected to not delete the e-mail because there will be little to no information on or with the product. Simple but effective. And just looking at the images on their site, you can tell that is a key component of a lot of their product packaging.

I can really tell that this is a medium facial lotion for the brand. When compared to the Morning Facial Moisture (which I tried a little while ago), Pure is a bit thicker and not as heavily scented. This product was made with the most sensitive skins in mind, according to the e-mail. It is not recommended for the oilest of skins and I definitely agree with that one. I have combination skin, so I've used this product lightly in the oiler spots and a bit heavier in the dry spots.

Either way, I'm more likely to use this after exfoliating or at night. I usually use lighter moisturizers with SPF during the day. I currently don't have a nice medium moisturizer for night but this is definitely going to be considered... Well, when they release it of course. Yeah, this was kind of a pilot testing of the product and it is not actually on the Blissoma website yet. I will definitely be keeping an eye on their Facebook page for signs of it coming out (and update this review when it does).

I can estimate that the cost of this product will probably be about $21.50 (based on their other moisturizers).  So I will keep trying it to see if I like enough to spend that much.

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Comments on something that really has nothing to do with the product. The way they send these samples is really a testament to the company. The packaging is minimal without leaving room for breakage. The box is simple and brown with a cute little Blissoma sticker on it (which alone I wish I didn't need to cut in order to open the box). Instead of bubble wrap, they just put enough tissue paper in to keep it from being damaged. It is minimalistic with two small labels (one for my address, one for Irie Star) and 2 stamps.

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Oh, and a disclaimer! Should probably have one of those. ^_^; I got this product free for being part of the Blissoma Product Review Program (link above to join). From there, people are randomly selected to receive samples to try out. In order to encourage people to review, they offer a reward. I have always been an honest person and would not let this influence my review of a product. In fact, I have not redeemed a reward yet.

Influenster Spring Beauty Voxbox 2012

Influenster Spring Beauty Voxbox 2012

Hurray for a box being intact! I don't remember if I mentioned this in my previous Influenster voxbox blog post, I had to cut the box out of my mailbox. My mail box is the size of a P.O. box (maybe even smaller) and the box was too big but the mail-person put it in anyway.

Either way, I have to say... this is a really awesome box. It came with a few products I had heard of and few I hadn't.

For those who don't know, Influenster is a:

Community of trendsetters invited to share their lifestyles and show off their influence to qualify for personalized product shipments, special rewards and exclusive deals from the brands they love. Members love testing the latest products, giving insightful feedback, and spreading the word on their favorite finds

This box is called a voxbox and it is shipped to Influensters at no cost to the subscriber. All they ask is for reviews and feedback on the products in order to keep your subscription active. This includes a post-experience survey.

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Sheercover in Light/Medium

I have been using this product like crazy. And even though I have to apply it with my fingers (no concealer brush), it still does a good job at hiding the mess that is my face. I love that you can kind of mix the two shades together to get just the right coverage for undereye circles or bits of redness. I mostly use it around my nose and for the dark circles under my eyes.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing body wash

So far, I have nothing bad to say about any Aveeno product I have tried. They simply know how to make a good product at an affordable price. And this could not have come at a better time because I had recently run out of my shaving cream and this product gives specific directions for using it for shaving. So I used it and honestly... This worked better than my shaving cream did. It was thick enough to protect my skin but not so thick that I had to wash my razor off after every swipe. Basically, I will probably go out and buy this next time instead!

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ChapStick LipShield 365

Honestly, I will probably give this to a friend or something. I've kind of sworn off this brand of chapsticks for a reason. They don't work for me. Chapstick just leaves a greasy, not-so-nice feeling on my lips. And I have a million lipbalms. I do like that it has SPF though. I've recently become obsessed with sun protection for one reason or another...

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Sally Hansen Salon Effects

I've actually gotten quite a few of these pre-made nail polish wraps but I have not tried to use the Sally Hansen ones. While I am sure they are great, I probably won't put these on my nails. Animal print has never ever been my style. But my mom showed interest in putting them on her nails.

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Dr Scholl's For Her Ball of Foot cushions

I don't wear heels that often. And if I do, they are comfortable. Otherwise I would not invest the money in them. In the heels I did try these with, they did nothing. But then again, I was in my most comfortable of fancy shoes. I'll have to try them out with a pair of shoes that, while not uncomfortable, give me a little more of a challenge.

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Soy Joy in strawberry

As much as I love beauty products, sometimes it is fine for me when I get a snack. And I had heard of Soyjoy before but didn't have the will to actually buy it to try it. And I'm kind of glad I didn't. Maybe it is that I'm not a fan of strawberry granolas but I did not care for this snack. The strawberry taste kind of reminded me of a Poptart. And after getting the Lärabar in the last box, the standards for snacks are certainly high.

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And imagine that I had taken an individual shot of the Bath and Body Works fine fragrance mist. If you haven't caught on yet, B&BW has done an overhaul on their packaging. Their body mists now come in a sleeker, simpler packaging that I really do love. They still keep the general graphic designs of the previous bottles but just put it in a better plastic bottle.

Now that I'm done being a nerd about the packaging, on to the product! I got this is Sweet Pea, which is probably my all-time favorite regular scent from B&BW. I always keep some antibacterial gel in Sweet Pea near by in case of emergencies. So I was beyond ecstatic to get this in my box FULL SIZE! How awesome is that? Either way, it is one of the few floral scents that I can tolerate in body spray or perfume. That does not mean it is light in fragrance at all. It's like many B&BW products in that it is very in your face. So use lightly!

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Overall, this was a pretty good box. I (or someone I know) can get some use out of almost all of these products and I did not have the shell out a dime.

I do have to say shame on some of these companies for not including coupons. Especially on the Sally Hansen part because I have seen coupons for their products. And sometimes coupons are that last push to get me to buy a product. With nail wraps, it's hard to justify spending $10 on a nail product that I may get 2 uses. And trust me, I have been debating buy the Sally Hansen ones for a while because they have such amazing designs.

Again with the no posting

Yeah, I noticed that I haven't been posting. And not for lack of content. I have about 4-5 partially finished posts in queue. So I have things to put out there...

But for me, keeping attention to one thing is actually quite trying. Self-diagnosis says ADD. If I don't get through a post in one sitting, it makes it that much harder to finish it. Ever. Here is what I currently could post about:

Beauty Subscriptions
I have a post all started. For the most part, it is formatted the way I want it and even includes links to a variety of websites. I have descriptions down for a few of the boxes as well. But I have trapped myself in the research aspect. Not only do I have so many beauty boxes/subscriptions to check out and get the details, but new ones seem to be coming out all the time. The OCD side of me wants to get them all in one post. I may even, at this point, simply create an ultimate list with a brief website description just to get it up.

Dry Shampoos
This one... I just lost interest. I still have quite a few dry shampoos but my overall interest in finding the best has waned so much that I can't get myself to go any further.


May and June Birchbox
I have a total of 3 pictures and a handful of lines written up (some of which needs to edited out due to an old contest) for the May box. And I never took pictures of the individual products. And I really only liked 2 out of the 5 products and only one of those I would (or in this case, have) purchased a full-size. Never took pictures of the June Birchbox.

Target Beauty Bag (Spring and Summer)
Yes, I've got both bags. I have a post started for Spring one and only got the Summer one 3-4 days ago.

Julep Maven June
I still love this subscription service but I rarely have time to sit down in good lighting and get some pictures. I use my cellphone and try and get natural light pictures. I don't even have anything set up for this post.

Influenster Spring Beauty Voxbox
I really do want to do this post. One issue is that I didn't actually get a picture of one of the products. But I may try and push through that and just talk about it. This was a pretty awesome box.

Julep Maven May 2012

Theme for May's box was Fun in the Sun! I was so psyched for this box because it contained Julep's first magnetic polish. I was so psyched that and completely forgot about the other items in the box. Either way, these products are focused on getting your feet flip flop friendly.

Julep May 2012 Boho Glam

For the first time in a while, I actually kept my Boho Glam box this month. I did consider going to It Girl but overall, I really just wanted the magnetic polish. I also got a little sample of The Best Pedi Creme Ever, which they recommend after the Pedi Prep.

Kylie
Sultry violet magnetic polish. Gorgeous
without the magnetic effect, or use the
included magnet to create dark accent
stripes in whatever direction you choose

I was super excited to hear that Julep would be creating a magnetic polish. I had not tried any other magnetic polishes and was eagerly awaiting this one. But alas, it was not meant to be at this moment*.

Either way, I still tried to use it... And I don't know if the magnet thing needs some practice or if it is the brush and the second layer that aren't cutting it. Either way, I could not get it to work for the life of me. Which was pretty disappointing. I tried it over nails for varying lengths of time and at as close as possible distance. However, my hands are not very steady. After years of playing flute, playing video games, being on computers, and being a barista, my wrists do not hold still and it's rather painful for me to hold for the full 15 seconds. So to actually make it through the full time recommended and have little to no pay off... Well, certainly a bit of a disappointment.

Kylie (on my nails)

This is how Kylie turned out on my one hand. It actually looks cooler in this picture than it did in real life. The lines are barely visible and you could hardly see much of a difference.

Sheryl
Sheer butterscotch shimmer
with a hint of golden bronze

Honestly, I didn't even think about the second color I was going to get in my Julep Maven box until I opened it. Like I said before, I had psyched myself out so much for the magnetic polish that anything else just left my mind. Thankfully, Sheryl has been the saving grace polish of this month. It is this super glittery, summery bronze color that is simply beyond fabulous. It is a bit on the sheer side and would probably be best used as a type of top coat.... But I just put too coats on and it looks pretty darn good. I'll definitely be wearing this a bit more this summer! I think it would be nice and subtle over Rachel if I'm not feeling too crazy.

The Best Pedi Prep Ever!

I'm thankful that my feet are not in a bad way, despite that I stand for many hours in a day. I do have a bit a roughness to my feet and decided to try this product out. For one, this product smells delicious. It's like a Julep mani/pedi care product standard. Overall, I think this product did a pretty good job. I can't tell you over the long term because I ruined my hard work by standing in wet shoes the next day.

Some issues with this product:

1. You need to wash it off. Now, I don't really wash just my feet. This means I need to do it right before a shower. Which makes my showering process even longer.

2. Can't really walk anywhere with this stuff on my feet. I don't want to ruin any carpet or anything.

Julep Foot File

I used this immediately after the pedi prep and it did fairly well. I have not tried it out since but I think this will do well on my feet and my mom's feet. Not quite sure about the other sides and how they work but I'm sure I'll figure it out.






* It would seem that Julep had a pretty big product malfunction with a lot of the polishes that came out in the May boxes. Apparently many of the brushes are wonky! For some, it appears that the brushes may have been puffy and out of place. In my case, my Kylie has a brush with a variety of lengths in the bristles. I e-mailed them and they responded back within a day. They told me that I'll be getting tracking number for a replacement (which I did get). I am assuming that they mean replacement brush however the e-mail did not specify.

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Currently on my nails:
Julep's Blake
Wet N Wild's The Wonder Yellows (ring fingers)

3floz.com

What... a brilliant idea. To have an entire website devoted to selling TSA approved beauty products. And by TSA approved, this means that the product has 3 or less fluid ounces and therefore can be taken onto a plane in a carry-on without issue. I imagine this to be incredibly useful to business people who do many quick trips places and don't check in a bag.

Julep Spring Mystery Box!

Julep Spring Mystery Box
(Top down) Nail file, January, Hayden, Melissa,  Pippa, and Cuticle Oil

Nothing fancy with the pictures for this post readers. I'm feeling all sorts of lazy today when it comes to pictures. Plus, if I don't do all the picture-y stuff right off the bat, I rarely have the energy or time to do it later.

Either way, here is my Julep Spring Mystery Box!... And I'm going to be honest, it is not as good as the first one I got. I guess because I got a pretty awesome first box, it's hard to keep the hopes down from getting an awesome second box. And even more so when they said that some of the boxes were going to have $50 gift certificates in them. I never seem to have luck with getting something like that.

The colors are all very nice. I tried them all out on my nails [along with a lot of other colors I hadn't swatched yet]. Below is a picture and ignore my ring finger, which I believe has Zoya Kristen.

Thumb - Melissa
Index - Pippa
Middle - January
Pinky - Hayden

I'll just give you a brief run-through of the colors and what I thought of them.

Pippa
Every time I read that name or see this color, I think of Pippa Middleton. I simply cannot help it. Either way, it is a nice neutral shade. A classic color but I don't know if I'll wear it much. Looking at this picture makes me feel like it doesn't really flatter my nail. I'd probably have to try it out again before making a final judgment call.

January
If ever there was a fire-engine red. January is that blast of red that makes your nails say "Look at me!" Which is sometimes a statement I want to make with my nails. All depends on my mood, I especially with red. I rarely ever pick out red clothing and probably would have never picked a red polish if it wasn't for Julep.

Hayden
It's a very lovely shade of orange. Good for a pastel feeling spring. Honestly, I would consider this to be far more creamy in color than Parker, which I got in my last Julep Maven box (which you can read about here). Parker has a bit more of a brightness kick to it, while Hayden is a bit more subdued. Either way, I'm ready for the it color of the year!

Melissa
If you just want some shine on your nail, this is it for you. It's not heavy glittery but leaves a nice sheen on the nails that is noticeable but not overtly in your face. However, myself [and probably many others] will use this as a top coat on other colors. If I'm not feeling too creative with my nails, I'll probably just pop this color over top my ring fingers to change it up a little.

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Nails: Still nothing. Gonna put something on after this post.

Birchbox Update!

I'm sure you are wondering why the heck I'm updating so soon after getting my Birchbox about Birchbox yet again. However, I had been informed via Pinterest that there was a possibility that my Befine moisturizer could be expired.

And yes, lotion does expire, especially when it is labeled as an SPF because that means it may not be as effective after said date. Of course, I personally don't care. I didn't really use SPF lotion on my face before. And I don't spend much time in the sun... I am not a vampire! 

Either way, I found out from someone commenting on my pinterest picture about my blog post. Then I went and checked my e-mail and found this:

Dear Birchbox Customer,

It has come to our attention that a small number of the Befine Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 samples included in our April boxes may have passed their expiration dates. Please check the stamp on the outside of your packet of Befine Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15. If your sample has expired, we advise you not to use the product, as the SPF is not guaranteed to be effective after the stated expiration date.

If you received an expired sample of the moisturizer, we would like to deposit 100 Birchbox Points in your account. Please complete this survey by April 27 to request the points award; your account will be updated by May 1.

We take pride in sending you high-quality products from great brands, typically their newest and best selling products. This situation is unacceptable and not representative of the Birchbox standard for product quality. We are working with Befine to determine the root cause of the error, and we deeply apologize for this experience.

All the best,
Hayley and Katia
Co-founders of Birchbox

And I guess this is nice but at the same time, they didn't use any of their social media to try and get word out about the problem. Which is kind of disappointing. I feel like if they had posted this letter on their facebook or twitter accounts, word would have gotten around better. And it would have shown that while they are not perfect, they are working to correct wrongs.

Maybe it's just me. I don't really check the e-mail to which my Birchbox account is connected all that often.

That's kind of it. Yeah...

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Edit


I took the survey the same day I posted this and just got my Birchbox points! That was rather quick and makes up a lot for the way I got the news.

Birchbox April 2012

I... am super surprised that Birchbox seems to have completely turned it around for me. The Teen Vogue Birchbox was completely amazing. And they have done it once again with the natural wonders themed box. I really be getting my hopes up though. I expect boxes to be hit and miss.

A nice little touch they added was by providing the Birchbox environmental policy. It's something I feel other eco-friendly companies wouldn't think to add. It really shows us [the subscribers] what Birchbox is trying to do about the environment as a rapidly expanding business. 

Birchbox April 2012

This is... Just such a good box, despite the fact that one of the products is something of which I already have a sample [though not through BB]. It is just such a good box and I was pretty psyched for everything I've gotten.

Befine - Exfoliating Cleanser

Befine - Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15
Easy does it. This exfoliator and moisturizer duo uses gentle ingredients like rice and
brown sugar to keep skin supple and healthy

Another brand that I have been wanting to try for a while. I've seen so many other people get samples from Befine and have always been a bit sad when I didn't.

The exfoliating cleanser... is amazing. I could easily see myself using this very frequently if not every day. My skin didn't have that usual dry and flaky feeling that I have gotten with other scrubs. This is usually a big problem with my nose, which is usually in some state of peeling.

As for the moisturizer, I'll need to do a bit more testing. Outside of the exfoliating cleanser [which I used a day before], I have not changed anything else in my face routine. However, I have been breaking out a bit. So I am not sure if this is what is really breaking my face out or what. It is a fairly mild breakout and I think it may be the SPF aspect of this moisturizer than may be making my skin protest.

A side note: even though each package says single serving [which I take to mean each whole packet gives you one use], I have managed to get several uses out of each one. You really don't need much of either product in order to get the job done.

What's a little strange is that I got 2 moisturizers and 3 exfoliating cleansers. I don't know if 5 sample sizes are just standard for the Befine skincare sampler or what. It could just be my own OCD-like tendencies for even numbers.

Wonderstruck Taylor Swift
The pop-country songstress' scent is as catchy as her lyrics. We think it's worthy of a
standing gig on our vanity

It's as if Birchbox has been reading my secret thoughts... Because I've wanted to take a wiff of the T-Swift perfume. Mostly because it was suppose to be really fruity and not like your typical perfume. And it really is probably the fruitiest perfume I've ever smelt. It does come off as a bit on the strong side and still has that light musky smell to it. Overall, I'd use this sample up but probably will not buy it.

My only tiny gripe with this product is the fact that I don't think it really fits with the theme. Harvey Prince would have been a better selection [but I could also be extremely biased on that].

Lulu Organics - Lavender + Clary Sage Hair Powder
Laced with organic lavender and sage, this sweet-smelling
dry shampoo revives flat or second day hair

This is the product that I already have a sample. I happen to be lucky enough to share an office with a company that sells [mostly] hair care products. They happen to have a ton of samples that they don't know what to do with. So they let us [the other people in the office] take some home to use.  At some point, I'll go through all the samples I've gotten for free.

But back to the hair powder. I haven't really tried any other powder dry shampoos, aside from baby shampoo. So there isn't much for me to compare. It is ok for second day hair. I wouldn't say that it absorbs the oil and stuff. My hair just has a not-so-oily look to it. However, not particularly good for 3rd day and beyond hair [yes, sometimes I don't wash my hair for 3 days]. It does kind of build up in a noticeable way in feeling. Either way, it does smell very nice.

Zoya in Bevin - TRUE  Spring Collection
Lighten up for spring with this fresh shade. The non-toxic formula goes
on opaque and lasts 50% longer than traditional polishes

I probably shouldn't be so happy about getting a polish in my Birchbox. I mean, I get at least 2 polishes from Julep a month... And this month was more because I did get a spring mystery box... But I'm still happy with this little gift. And it is definitely a nice spring color for which I currently don't have a dupe. I think I'll use this color on my toes next.

Yes To Blueberries - Brightening Facial Towelettes
These nifty wipes remove all signs of makeup and grime. Plus, they refresh skin
with fruity blend of apples, blueberry, and lemon peel extracts

I have actually been looking at this brand for a while now. I had not tried any of their products prior to this box and was happy to see these face wipes in there. With all the face wipes I've tried so far, I get that gross feeling  and need to wash my face right afterwards. I took what I thought was a risk the other day when I had no time to wash my face and used one of these.

And I was far from that. I felt nice on my skin and didn't really leave any yucky feeling of something being left on my skin. It smelled really good without really leaving that smell on my skin. Though I can't really speak on behalf of those who want to use these for getting makeup off. I don't wear much makeup ever, so I doubt I'll be getting to test these out anytime soon.

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Nails: Nothing
I need to do something nice with my nails for a professional event I have coming up. Thinking neutral.

Julep Maven - April 2012

Sometimes, it astonishes me how fast my Julep Maven box gets to me. The box ships out from Seattle and I live in the Greater Philadelphia area. I usually get it about 2-3 days after I get the confirmation it was sent. It makes me ridiculously happy.

And of course, what I get in my Julep boxes also makes me ridiculously happy. I keep toying with the idea of skipping a month and putting it towards my Disney fund. But they keep putting things in the boxes that I want and so... I keep getting them.

Julep Maven Bombshell April 2012

And once again, I opted out of getting the Boho Glam box this month. In it's place, I got the Bombshell box... And what really lured me into this one is Parker but I'll get into that when I get there.

Julep The Best Pedi Créme Ever!
Exfoliates with alpha hydroxy acids, hydates with shea butter and coconut oil, nourishes
with vitamin E. Apply nightly for noticeable results in just one to two uses.

Yes, that is indeed the name of this creme... A little long for my tastes but it is pretty awesome. I have tried it out a few nights by applying it to my feet and then throwing fluffy moisture-holding socks on for the night. Now, I should note that my feet aren't really bad. They are pretty soft save for around my cuticles. Which amazes me because my job consists of me stand for hours at a time. Either way, my feet feel pretty good the next morning. I think the true test will be when we try this product on my mom's feet. Her feet are tough on the bottom and her toes are a mess most of the year [except after she has a pedicure].

Annette
Subtle, dove grey créme

Super cute neutral color if there ever was one. It comes off as a very light [almost white] grey in the bottle. However, on my finger nails, it is very opaque and a bit of a dirtier look. This was the best picture I could get of the bottle. Either way, definitely would be a good color for an interview of a business office. Lovely but subtle without being completely typical.

Parker
Golden tangerine créme

The true reason I picked this box out of all the others. I have been wanting an orange for months now. Basically since Halloween because I wanted to have the colors to do a candy corn look but didn't have the time/money to go and get all the colors. Now that I have Parker and Blake, all I need is a good white for the look this year. Also, I have been kind of loving super bright, in-your-face colors. And that's what this is. Overall, in the bottle it looks like Crayola's macaroni and cheese crayon.

And with almost every other Julep Maven box, some little extras were thrown in. I got toe separators [which I don't really use but may try out] and chocolate! It's always a fun little surprise. <3

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Nails:
8 different colored Julep polishes, 2 different colored Zoya polishes
[Yes, I'm too lazy to list them all]

Update!

I... Am getting lazy as usual. But I swear I'm working on some posts! Just a bit of an update to some posts I'm currently working on:

- Julep April Box
Mostly needs the pictures at this point, but I'm sure there is still some writing to be done. Expect that in the next 2-3 days.

- Julep Spring Mystery Box
I'm actually hoping to swatch all the colors I got in this box! I'm hoping to get some fake nails to do that on and then label them via attached popcicle stick. If that doesn't pan out right now, then I'll do it on my own hand.

- Birchbox April [when I get the box either today or tomorrow]
I already know what I got in the box, since Birchbox is a bit spoiler-ish with the way their system is set up. Either way, definitely happy with most of it [one thing I have already but that is my own accord and not Birchbox's fault].

- dry shampoo testing
So many dry shampoos! It's crazy testing all these products. And my scalp doesn't like them all.

- Beauty Subscriptions
This is a massive post that may need to be broken down into 2 parts. I'm going through as many online beauty subscriptions as I can and kind of putting them in a list in one place. Cause I can't seem to really find a comprehensive list...

- How to get free samples
Whether beauty or random things, I'm going to work on a post about all the free samples I get and how I go about getting them.

- Best lip balm
Kind of a lip balm junkie... It's really crazy how many I have.

- Beauty Influenster VoxBox
Just got notified that I'll be getting a beauty voxbox via Influenster in May! So I'm definitely really psyched about that! Yay free stuff! <3

So, that is what I have planned in the near future.

Birchbox March 2012

Can I just say... Best. Birchbox. Ever. While I think I would have been happy with the regular Birchbox, there are no words to describe how happy I am about selecting the Teen Vogue box. Without any having tried any of the products, I love this box.

The overall theme for this box is about getting ready for spring formals and special events. It's full of most products that are good to take with you when going to a party. Especially items that can refresh your look if it starts to fall to the wayside.

Birchbox March 2012

And here is the box in it's entirety. Again, so very happy with all the items in this box.

Annick Goutal Petite Chérie
A blend of fresh fruity notes and musk, this French fragrance
is the definition of understate chic

I don't really know what I think about this about this fragrance yet. It is definitely different from many of the other sample scents I have gotten.

The description of this fragrance seems very accurate. It is strange to have a fruity but musky scent but Annick Goutal seems to have done it. And I'm one of those people who can't really smell the different notes in perfume. But I can smell it all: "... floral, melange of peach, vanilla, fresh grass, and musky rose."

It can come off as a bit strong and kind of makes me think of the Harvey Prince Yogini in the muskiness.

essie luxeffects in Set In Stones
Layering this glittery top coat onto any polish
for an eye-catching look

I don't know if I've mentioned it hear before... But I'm not really into the chunky glitter. This is a mix of some smaller and larger silver chunks. Essie labels it a multi-dimensional topcoat and informally, "disco mirror ball chaos." Definitely agree with that last part.

However, I am totally willing to try this out. I do have chunky silver glitter from Julep but applying it would be much more of a pain due to the glitter being loose. At least with this polish, I just kind of quick apply it. Since it is definitely a heavy glitter/borderline sequins, I could use it as an accent polish. And even though they call it a top coat, I would still recommend using a plain top coat over it.

Shiseido Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Papers
These mattifying tissues are coated with transparent rice powder
to leave your skin perfectly shine-free

This was probably the probably the one product I was least excited about. I have tried blotting sheets in the past and haven't been to happy with the results. However, these are definitely different from it's cheaper counterparts. These are kind of like tissue paper, whereas others I have tried are like a plastic-like sheet.

And after trying a sheet out, I am semi-impressed. It did seem to get some excess oil off my face and my face looked a little less oily. However, I would not say my voice is completely shine-free. It's definitely something I'll throw in my bag for those long days at work. Will I buy it in the future? Probably not.

tarte Lipsurgence lip tint in Joy
This long-lasting stain adds rich pigment and is designed to
boost the moisture levels in your lips

This is my first try with any Tarte products and needless to say, I'm pretty happy with this. I know I usually complain about lip products that Birchbox has sent me. However, this is a definite change from the Jouer lip products. It is kind of like a tinted lip balm. And the one I got is called Joy which comes in a peach container, but the color on the lips is very subtle if you keep to one coat. You can keep layering on the stuff but the color will keep getting darker...

It feels nice and has a minty smell. Some good stuff in this lip tint: jojoba seed oil, peppermint oil, vitamin C, and vitamin E. And it is without parabens [which I feel I need to make a post on this], mineral oil, petrolatum, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, and synthetic fragrances.

However, there is something about this product that confuses me... The sample I got is 0.10 ounces... A full size is labeled as 0.08 ounces... Wha? So I got a bigger-than-the-full size product? And the full-size product retails for $24. Or did Tarte recently reduce the size of their lip tints?

twistband hair tie
Give your ponytail a makeover with these colorful, snag-free elastics

I actually already own 6 of this but either way, I was happy to finally get one in my Birchbox. I asked for them for Christmas because they claim to not leave the dents you can get with regular hair ties. And I can say that they do indeed work.

Because they are on the pricey side, I have been super careful about keeping track of the ones I have. However, these are not completely fool-proof. I find that I need to rotate through the twistbands, lest they stretch out like crazy. But I love that I got a green one! Perfect for St. Patrick's Day! <3

ModCloth and Teen Vogue Promos

Disappointingly, I will probably not be using the ModCloth promo. While I do love ModCloth dresses [super cute and chic], they are on the pricer side for not being able to try them on. And while their accessories are awesome as well, I can't imagine spending total $65 on them. What is great about this particular part of the box is that I can share the code with you! Again, it is for $10 off of a $75 purchase. It is good from now until April 15th

CODE: modprom

Along with the ModCloth promo, there was a promo for Teen Vogue. You can get 20 issues [2 years] for just $10. That's 50 cents per issues, which is pretty good considering the retail price is $2.99. So if you're interested in this, just click here or google teen vogue for more information [it is not a birchbox exclusive].

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If you want to join Birchbox, feel free to click my referral link here or go to the site and check out some more information.

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Currently on my nails:
Julep nail therapy [1 coat]
Julep Diane [2 coats]
Funky Fingers Erin [1 coat]
Essie 3-in-1 [1 coat]