Ipsy April 2013

This is my first IPSY bag. If you don't know what IPSY is, check out their website

Price: $10.00 (free shipping)

Ships out: Every month.

Extras: Each month the products featured in the bag have special subscriber discounts.

This month's theme was Pretty in Pink.

First look

The goods

.07 oz Big Sexy Hair 'Powder Play Volumizing and Texturizing Powder' I attempted to use this. Wasn't impressed. Might have to make a good attempt at this power and see if it was me or the powder that wasn't working.
          Estimated value: $2.00

FULL SIZE 0.035 oz Two Cosmetics duo eyeshadow in 'Heartache' This wasn't very pigmented. When I applied it it made me look like I was sick. Most pink eyeshadows will do that though.
          Estimated value: $6.99

FULL SIZE .50 oz Sation Nail Lacquer in 'Of Corset I'll Call You' Sheer pink color.
          Estimated value: $5.00

FULL SIZE 17 oz Be a Bombshell Cosmetics blush in 'Sweet Cheeks' Nice color, very pigmented. I had to use a light haNd to apply this blush.  I like a more natural blush look, so if you like a bolder cheek the color payoff might be great for you.
          Estimated value: $16.00

White Cosmetic bag with a pink zipper. What is the point of a white cosmetics bag anyways? Makeup is a messy task, makeup is messy. This will be a kaleidoscope of colors soon.

Total Estimated Value: $29.99

Not too bad for my first IPSY bag. I think I will be continuing to subscribe to this sample "box" hopefully it will continue to be a good monthly treat.

Birchbox April 2013

Birchbox

Price: $10.00  (includes shipping)

Ships out: Every month.

Extras: Point system that adds up and converts into discounts on products in the Birchbox Shop. Earn points by reviewing products and referring friends.

This month's box was curated by Women's Health

First Look!

All the products I received.

(2) 0.23 fl. oz. foil packs of Oribe 'Shampoo and Conditioner for Beautiful Color'
          Estimated value: $11.14

0.15 oz Mirenesse Glossy Kiss in 'Starlet' - I checked out the website for this brand and couldn't find how big the full size of this product was. Based on the pictures that are shown of this product for sale, this is not full sized. While I was checking out this lipstick I took a closer look at the sample. The sample is in the shape of a skinny Clinique Chubby stick and it looks like you should be able to twist the bottom for more product, but IT'S A LIEEEEEEE!!!!! The only useable product is the tip of the stick. Nothing to twist; can't sharpen plastic. The tips all you get. This kinda pisses me off. #1 because of the false advertizing, even more so because of the extent of lying they were knowingly putting out there. They did that whole stick to pretend that the sample was bigger. #2 because this sample is an egregious waste of material and the green part of me hates that.
          Estimated value: $ ? The stick that I received states that it's 4g. Online the product states that the full sized Glossy Kiss is 3g. How is the sample larger in weight than the full sized product?! There is so much about this company that is shady! You can also get "free" samples of their products on the website, but they charge exorbitant amounts for shipping. I will be staying away from this company.

2 packs of Kusmi Tea in 'Euphoria' and 'Sweet Love'.  Euphoria is described as "roasted Mate chocolate and orange" and Sweet Love is "exquisite spicy blend"  Both of the teas smell really good, the names and descriptions of the teas don't make me excited to try them though.
          Estimated value: $1.55

Free year of Women's Health Magazine
          Estimated value: $9.99

2 fl oz Skin&Co 'Sicilian Body Gel'
          Estimated value: $ ? Something else that has questionable sizing/prices.

2 ml Supergoop 'Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream' I couldn't find this on the Supergoop site, but the Birchbox Shop sells it there.
          Estimated value: $ ? Don't know the conversion of ml and fl oz. Math is hard...

Total estimated value: $22.68+++

Don't forget to sign up for Birchbox with my referral link.

New Beauty Test Tube Spring "Box"

New Beauty Test Tube

Price: $29.99 + shipping

Ships out: According to the website it says six times a year, when I signed up it was quarterly (4 times a year) Don't know if they changed the program. I have not received any information about this change. If it did really change, I would think that they would notify their current subscribers to inform them of this change and that they will be charged two extra times this year for the tube. If I don't receive notification of this I will probably unsubscribe. Customer service is an important part of the subscription service that I expect. That's why I unsubed from GlossyBox (great box - horrendous customer service).

The Claim: $150.00 value in each tube

Extras: Ships out with the current issue of New Beauty magazine. Honestly I do not read this magazine. The mag is filled with plastic surgery information.  If you are looking for plastic surgery info this magazine might be great for you. I"m not interested in plastic surgery, so it's not for me.

What I received in this test tube.

.02 oz. Paula Dorf 'Baby Eyes Enhancer' Instructions on how to use this product from the booklet says that you can use this pencil on the inner rims of your eyes to fake the illusion of bigger eyes. I tried lining my waterline, but because the pencil isn't very creamy I was not able to get any of the product on my waterline. 

          Estimated value: $10.00

1 fl. oz. John Frieda 'Fine to Full Blow-Out Spray'

          Estimated value: $1.50

(2)1.7 fl. oz. Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy 'Nourishing Shampoo and Nourishing Daily Shampoo' I was initially excited to try this, but it's not color safe, so I will be giving this to my sister.

     Estimated value: $0.52 - $0.92

1.77 fl. oz. Phyto 'Phytomist' Leave in Conditioner for Color Treated Hair

          Estimated value: $11.20

1.6 fl. oz. June Jacobs 'Purifying Enzyme Masque' The mask is  clear so it's hard to apply on your face because you can't see where it was applied and not. After I rinsed it off I did not feel or see any difference in my face.

          Estimated value: $31.00

(2) FULL SIZE Forever Young 'Face Wraps' I didn't really see or feel a difference on my face with this mask. 

          Estimated value: $10.00 (for two)

1 fl. oz. Suki 'Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser'

          Estimated value: $8.24

Spa Look coupons These are included in every Test Tube. 

Total Estimated Value: $72.66 Definitely not the $150.00 retail value that they claimed to be in every tube. So far this is the third New Beauty Test Tube that I have received. The first two were great, season's tube is a disappointment for me. There was only one full sized product and the tube had two different masks. I hope this was just a miss month and the next one will be better. If not I might have to unsubscribe.  With the tubes coming out six times a year, it won't be financially feasible for me to keep purchasing disappointing tubes.

There is a QVC version of New Beauty Test Tube. If I keep getting bad tubes, I might have to try that version out. 

What did you think about your tube?

Little Black Bag March 2013

Little Black Bag


Price: Varies according to 1st pick purchase you choose

Ships out: You have until the 5th of the month to skip that month. Once you pick your 1st pick you have seven days to trade with other Little Black Bag members. This is where it gets addictive. If you bundle you receive your 1st pick, plus two "stylist picks" You have the seven days to offer or accept trades from others to receive what you want. I originally picked one bag and received two necklaces, a pair of earrings and a hairspray as my stylist picks. They were having a deal so I received the two extra stylist picks.  I was able to trade away everything but the original bag I picked and received another bag.

Extras: Little Black Bag usually has a deal going on at all times, if they don't currently have one, they probably will soon. Just wait to get that deal.

This was my original first pick. The Nila Anthony Lace Structured Satchel. Retail value: $76.00. When I received this in the mail, I was slightly disappointed with the bag.  It wasn't really what I had expected. The lace is glued on the bag so that it looks like it was etched into the leather. I wish the lace was thicker so that it actually looked like the lace was overlaid on the bag. I thought about returning this item, but ended up deciding to keep it. There are so many pockets on/in this bag. I'm an organization freak so I like having all the different pockets for different things. 

 This is the item that I traded for, the Olivia and Joy Knick Knack Satchel. I really needed a new purse, because my go to purses are falling apart on me. I was not going to have my box ship out without at least two purses. I put out a trade offer on this bag, not expecting anyone to actually accept it, but someone did! The retail value of this bag was $92.00.  After I accepted this bag I started looking at it and was scared that the bag was smaller than what I wanted, so I went on a mission of attempting to trade this bag away for something larger. I trolled the chat rooms seeing if anyone would trade with me and thought that I might have some offers because the bag has a high retail value, but I didn't have any takers. After actually getting this bag I'm so glad that no one wanted to trade with me! I actually like this bag better than the 1st pick bag. This bag has a lot of pockets also. I'm currently using this bag as my everyday bag. 
I have gotten so many compliments on this bag! At least once a week someone will tell me they like it!

I skipped the month of April because I'm trying to save my money for a trip that I'm planning on taking.  I will probably be purchasing from this site again.  The trading to so addicting and fun.  I love that you can skip a month. If you don't skip by the 5th of the month you will receive credits for future use.

Do a girl a favor and use my referral link.

FabFitFun

My FabFitFun box came in the mail!

FabFitFun is a new quarterly sample box that is curated by Giuliana Rancic from E!  The box costs $49.99 per season, which is pricy, but they promise full size and premium samples that will at least have $100.00 worth of products in each box. 

 First look inside!

 Here's everything I received:

FULL SIZE Zoya nail polish in FabFitFun Fuchsia    Used this on my toes. Great polish, great color.
                          Value: $8.00
.11 OZ. Jouer lil gloss in Glisten
                           Estimated Value: $6.67
FULL SIZE Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment  They guaranteed this in the initial sale of the box. Not gonna lie, this is what I was excited to try and one of the main reasons I purchased the box. I have been using this almost every day since I received it and L-O-V-E it! My hair is wayyy overdue for a haircut, so it's dry and damaged. This oil treatment works so well to make my hair healthy and soft! Definitely recommend.
                          Value: $42.00
FULL SIZE Think Thin bar in Peanut Butter Protein Bar
                          Value: $1.99
Jewel Mint Charm Bracelet     I wasn't really excited for this and it isn't my style, but I wore this to work today. I think I had it on for a total of two hours. I had to take it off because I kept banging it on my desk every time I went to type on my computer. Being that I work in a cubicle, I didn't think my office mates appreciated all the noise.
                          Value: $29.99

The card in the box states that "Surprise Bonus Gifts" are included in every box and these bonus gifts can vary box to box. Below are my bonus items.

FULL SIZE Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip Stain with Argan Color Stick in Waltz    Pretty color!  Didn't really last all day, lip stains don't usually last long on my lips.
                           Value: $21.00
Jewel Mint Earrings     Not my style either.
                          Value: $29.99
sample sized Perfekt Brow Perfection Gel  in caramel    Not my color - they offer this in four different colors, I received the second darkest shade. I should have received the darkest shade. Despite this, I tried it out this morning and applied it very lightly. The color worked, didn't really notice a change in my eyebrows. But to give credit to the gel, I don't really notice or care for my eyebrows as much as others do.
                           Value: ? I accidentally threw the package away that the sample came in. It's really not worth it to me to start digging through the trash to see how big the sample was.

Closeups of the Jewel Mint pieces

Total estimated value of my FabFitFun box: $139.64+

This is a new company so this is the first box that they have shipped out. I thought this box was great and am happy that I splurged on the box before it sold out. I can't wait for next quarter's box!

Birchbox March 2013

It's Birchbox time!

Birchbox is a monthly subscription box where you receive samples for different beauty products for $10.00 a month.  There is a wait list for this box, so don''t expect to sign up and start receiving your boxes right away.

This month's theme was March Madness. Birchbox is comparing different types of beauty products throughout the month of March on their Facebook page and their website here.

What I received this month:

 Nick Chavez Beverly Hills Color-Saver Sulfate-Free Shampoo net wt. 2 fl oz

and

Color-Saver Paraben-Free Conditioner net wt. .33 fl oz

I'm pretty excited to try out this sample. I have color treated hair so we'll see how this works out. Not too pumped about the different sizes they gave out of these products that are obviously supposed to be used in conjunction with one another. I have really long hair and use a lot of conditioner so I'll  probably use the conditioner sample in one wash.

This is the third time I have received a Nick Chavez hair product in a sample box. Second one in a Birchbox, but first of this type.

 Nail file - Madewell for Birchbox This file is CRAP! It didn't even last my through filing all ten of my fingers! I ending up throwing this away and using a cheap Revlon file that actually got the job done. The only saving grace for this nail file was the plastic sleeve that it came in. I can use this for better files to keep the nail residue from getting everywhere. (Does anyone else hate this?)

 I watched the sneak peak for this months Birchbox on their You Tube channel, and I was hoping that I got to try this out.  This is a new brand and I like the charity aspect of it.  The little card reads: 

"for every purchase of Make, one-third of all sales goes to the Wee See Beauty Foundation to fund women-led, worker-owned cooperative businesses in America.  Beauty or a beautiful economy. Make the world you want to live in."

I received a face primer with SPF 30 net wt. 0.18 oz.

...and the cutest little matte grey eyeshadow in the color Cement net wt. 0.03 oz

These packets were filled with lotion from Caldrea.  I received them in the scents Aloe Water Apricot, Tea Olive Lime and Coconut Fig Leaf. 

The last thing I received was a coupon for the Birchbox shop for a free deluxe sample of Benefit's Bad Gal lash mascara with a $25.00 purchase. Use code bbheartsbenefit.

If you decide to sign up for Birchbox, do me a favor and use my referral link.

I really liked this months box and am excited to see what the coming months will look like!

Deals and Steals: Love with Food

FAB is having a sale right NOW to get monthly food box, Love with Food at a discounted price!

You can purchase:

one month for $7.20 -- a $4.80 discount
three months for $22.80 -- a $13.20 discount or
six months for $46.20 -- a $19.80 discount

I couldn't resist and will be purchasing the six month subscription, plus I have FAB credits so I'll be getting my boxes at an even greater discount!

The April box is partnering up with Andrew Zimern from the Travel Channel show Bizzarre Foods. Not too sure how I feel about that... I love watching Bizzarre Foods, but seeing the kinds of foods that he eats on the show - most of which I would never even try - I don't know if I should be scarred or not!

Check out one of my favorite vloggers, LePooke's You Tube channel to see some past Love with Food boxes! It looks like a really good box!

Do me a favor and sign up for FAB with my referral link!

Will you be purchasing this box?