MCMC Fragrance Phoenix Eau de Parfum – “In the MCMC Fragrances laboratory, we use both natural and synthetic ingredients. The Dude No. 1 beard oil is the only 100% all natural product we currently have on offer, however, in all of our products, we do use an especially high concentration of natural ingredients in comparison to mass-market perfumes, which usually contain little (and sometimes none at all) natural ingredients.”
stila all over shimmer liquid luminizer – dimethicone
The next three only list “key ingredients” on their website so they probably aren’t completely natural:
Kiehl’s Creme de Corps
Masqueology 7D Moisture Cream
Masqueology Masque Cleanse
So second month I’m not going to use any of the samples. I’m repeatedly disappointed that somehow when they have an organic brand I typically don’t get it in my box. I would be less disappointed if they didn’t have natural and organic things that I would like to try. I feel like they avoid sending the items that would be a good match for me to me. I want to sample these things, not buy full size to try, which is part of the whole reason I joined Birchbox. Yes, what I got was high end, but that’s not my main concern. Yes, I still want it to be a fun process too.
Items listed as November items I wish I had received:
One Love Organics® Aromatic Body Serum
Shea Terra Organics Whipped Shea Butter Ultimate Moisturizing Body Crème
Mox Botanicals Lip Butter
Lulu Organics® Lavender + Clary Sage Hair Powder
Anyone get any of these 4 items and want to trade? I have some products from previous months that have gone unopened. (I ended up doing a giveaway with many but still have some.)
I’m starting to not feel the love here Birchbox – why are you taunting me so Birchbox!! It might be time to try an natural / organic box. Not sure yet if I’ll ditch Birchbox entirely but definitely time to try something new and more fitting.
EDITED – Since no one has entered any of the contests yet and I was going to end them tomorrow I’ve decided to consolidate them all into one prize. Winner takes all. New giveaway: This contest ends on: 11/28/2012 12:01am EST
ENTER AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST – Comment on the blog & entry in the giveaway form.
So I have all of these samples that have been unused and are just taking up space. Some I won’t use simply because they have dimethicone in them (cones break ME out but they might not break you out.) Others I haven’t used because they aren’t my cup of tea (synthetic perfumes.) BUT I know that many of you might be interested in having these samples.
SO I’m going to do a giveaway of Birchbox samples I haven’t even touched (ok, I’ve touched the packaging here but you get my point.)
Why is this a Thanksgiving givaway? Because I will be thankful for some extra storage space and you will be thankful to have some fun goodies. Yeah, I know, not entirely the theme of Thanksgiving (thankful for what you have) but I do really want to reclaim some storage space.
So here’s how it’s going to work: We have four boxes and thus four giveaways you can enter. Each person can enter all four giveaways once.
These contests start on: 11/19/2012 12:01am EST These contests end on: 11/26/2012 12:01am EST
This contest ends on: 11/28/2012 12:01am EST These contests are open to all residents of the continental United States (sorry Alaska & Hawaii! Shipping can get expensive!)
There are two things you have to do for an entry:
You will need to leave a comment in the comment section below describing your favorite product ever. It can be hair care, moisturizer, lipstick, whatever floats your boat. Just leave a comment on what is your favorite item. One comment can be used for all four contests.
You will need to follow the giveaway link and follow the directions to complete your entries.
The four boxes (now one giveaway) – all items are samples, not full size:
The jouer & makeup box:
Jouer Lip Enhancer Conditioning Lip Treatment
Jouer Body Butter
Jouer Luminizing Mosture Tint
Stila All Over Liquid Luminizer in Rose Gold Shimmer
Dr.Jart+ BB Beauty Balm Multi-action skin care + makeup
Laura Geller Spackle tinted under make-up primer in bronze
Chantecaille lip gloss
Colorscience Pro Sunforgettable Mineral Powder
Everyday Minerals Once & Again blush
Everyday Minerals powder foundations in: Light Medium original glo, Medium in semi-matte, Medium Beige in semi-matte, Multi-taking Neutral in matte
Ok so this might be stretching it a bit for a clothing and makeup blog but it IS focused on health and fitness and I do plan on writing some workout gear posts that I haven’t gotten to yet. It seemed to fit here better as a result of that.
If you’re not interested in the supplements, just check out the Yurbuds and the Devita Natural Eyeliner reviews below.
This is just ok. I don’t like the Stevia aftertaste or the tropical punch flavor it sorta has as a result of the pineapple. I also think that my Barlean’s orange swirl is better and a healthier fit for me. That said, if you’re not taking any kind of fish oil and maybe you’re on the go or traveling, this would be a good fit. They sell these from their site for $45.99/90 packets = $0.51 per packet. But I also quickly found a box of 90 on Walgreen’s site for $25.19 so you can find these for less.
LOVE these. They stay in your ears really well. I can’t find the purple color (or the other colors people were getting in their boxes) but I also couldn’t find a pair for less than $29.99. They do hurt after a longer period of time (I think I wore them for 2 hours before they started to really bug me) but the fact that they lock in makes them an excellent pair of earbuds to have for exercise. Sound quality is above average but not the best I’ve ever had and I would probably buy these again if they last long enough.
Pretty darn tasty but I didn’t feel any kind of kick of healthyness to it. Didn’t taste bad for you and would be a great chocolate treat but at $29.95/12 bars ($2.50 per bar) I just don’t think I can warrant buying these. It is high quality and a great list of ingredients but I kinda mentally max out around $1.80 a bar and sometimes that’s even pushing it.
Ingredients (for the Chocolate Raspberry version): Dairy Free Dark Chocolate* (Evaporated Cane Juice, Liquor, Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla), Fruitrim® (Fruit Juices, Natural Grain Dextrins), Sunflower Butter, Z52 Superfood Powder, Brown Rice Protein, Coconut, Agave Syrup, Wild Blueberries (with White Grape Juice & Canola Oil), Freeze Dried Raspberries, Inulin, Soy Protein Crisps, Organic Natural Flavors, Brown Rice Syrup, Peanut Paste. Z52 Ingredients: [Proprietary Blend of WholeFood: Spirulina*, Barley Grass*, Chlorella, Wheatgrass Juice*, Wheat Sprout Powder*, Hydrilla Verticillata, Nori (Seaweed)*, Acai Berry, Omega 3 derived from “Plant Based” LifeDHA®, Bioperine® (Natural Black Pepper), Green Tea Standardized Extract (95%), Grape Seed Extract (95%), Natural Resveratrol Extract (95%), White Tea Extract, Rose Hips, Camu Powder*, Pine Bark Extract, Lucuma Powder*, Maca Powder*, Spinach, Nova Scotia Dulse, Parsley*, Beet Juice Powder*, Carrot Juice Powder*, Rice Bran, Broccoli Sprout Powder*, Alfalfa Sprout Powder*, Hemp Powder*, Probiotics (Fructooligosaccharides, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus Salivarius, Bifidobacterium), Digestive Enzymes (Protease, Lipase, Amylase), Raspberry Powder*, Pomegranate*, Blueberry Juice Powder*, Whole Apple Powder*, Goji Berry*, Strawberry Leaves, Concord Grape*, Mulberry*, Goldenberries, Mangosteen*, Acerola Berry*, Bilberry (25% Anthocyanadins), Soy Lecithin Powder (Non-GMO), Aloe Vera (Freeze Dried)*, Milk Thistle Extract (80%), Ginger Root Powder*, Chia Seed Extract (95%), Mesquite Powder*, Ground Flax (Non-GMO), Cha de Burge, Siberian Eleuthero Root Extract]
I don’t like the stevia aftertaste on this one but I would definitely give another pea powder protein a try. It’s not bad while you drink it but that stevia taste just lingers too long. Feels super healthy though so if you eat something afterwards to get that lingering taste out of your mouth it’s actually fine. I am going to try some other brands I’ve found to compare. $39.95 for 30 servings = $1.33 serving which is reasonable. Ingredients: Pea Protein Isolate, Sugar Alcohol, Natural Flavor, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Natural Cocoa, Steviol Glycosides, Salt.
Added a scoop to a shake last night which worked well. Didn’t make it weird textured or anything. Looking forward to using it in cooking but I don’t bake much so I’m not sure yet if I’m going to try anything along those lines where it says it can be used for partial egg or oil replacement. How could it be better? It would be better if it were organic and non-gmo. INGREDIENTS: Whole Ground Golden Flax Seed
This is one of the items I was really looking forward to. I was sent the gray color and was hoping for black. I gave it a shot anyway but I wasn’t wowed. It was ok but it didn’t wow me in any way and it wasn’t just because of the color.
I was just really underwhelmed by this one. It just seemed like I couldn’t get a nice consistency no matter how many times I went back and forth over the line on my eye. I think the only interesting thing was that the sharpener was part of the lid which I haven’t seen before. Ingredients: Copernicia Cerifera (carnauba) wax, Euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, Simmondsia chinensis (organic jojoba) seed oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl palmitate, Hectorite, Lecithin, Iron Oxides.
These kinda remind me of a fruit rollup mingled with a jolly rancher chew … except with a sudden odd bitterness after a few seconds. If I were obsessed with acai I would probably still buy these but I’m not blown away by them.
30 chews per package for $14.95 = $0.50 each Ingredients: http://togobrands.com/shop/images/1598//ac_chew_30ct_SuppFacts.jpg
Plant-based and gluten-free holiday recipe guide and $100 membership discount. The 4 recipes in this included guide look delicious so I’ll probably make one of those then check this out a bit further.
DDF® Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer Moisturizing Serum – Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquiioxane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sodium Hayaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Panthenol, PEG-100 Stearate, Carbomer, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Triethoxycaprylysilane, Titanium Diozide, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Polyhydrozystearic Acid, Mica, Methicone, Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Alumina, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, DMDM Hydantoin, Disodium EDTA, Phenozyethanol, Fragrance, Iron Oxides. As I’ve said before, cones break me out so I won’t even be trying this product. There are however many other ingredients here that make this a non-natural product.
OROFLUIDO Elixir – Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cyperus Esculentus Root Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Isopropyl Palmitate, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed)Seed Oil, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, CI 47000 (Yellow 11), CI 26100 (Red 17) Another I won’t be trying: It says “fragrance” but in this case based on the rest of the ingredients I’m inclined to think it might be from oils. The “Dimethiconol” is a cone however. Probably does amazing things for your hair though.
LUNA Bar – unfermented soy. If you’re fine with soy, go for it. They’re tasty (I’ve had them before) but soy and I are not best buds.
Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss – the ingredients were not readily available but I did find them on another blog, “Truth In Aging” here. I’m not wowed. A $32-$34 lip gloss that touts natural ingredients that’s full of bad for you ingredients. I’m inclined to believe the post since Chantecaille’s own website avoids listing the full ingredient list as well. So I probably won’t be trying this one on. The other problem here is that even if I liked it, I’m not sure what color it is. It’s not labeled on the product or the card. I think it might be “Folly” but it’s hard to tell when you’re looking online. Could be “Charm”?
Miracle Skin Transformer SPF20 Face – They say “Free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, wax, mineral oils, and talc. Developed with selected natural ingredients.” Notice the “selected” in that statement. That doesn’t mean it’s natural either. Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5.0%, Oxybenzone 2.0%, Zinc Oxide 1.5%. Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Water/Eau, Dicaprylyl Ether, Boron Nitride, Octyldodecanol, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Dimethiconol, Ubiquinone, Tapioca Starch, Mica, Physalis Angulata Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 80, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrated Silica, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Silica, Isoceteth-10, Retinyl Palmitate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phytonadione, Cholecalciferol, Tocopherol, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides. Again: cones.
So while I had high hopes for at least two products initially, the hair elixer and the lip gloss, we struck out across the board on all products. 3 of which included dimethicone. :/
What’s funny is that at the end of my video I said that none of my boxes have been a complete bust and this one ended up having nothing in it that I’m going to try.
So I signed back up for KlutchClub. And I’m really looking forward to getting this box. I’ll do a review when I get it in.
They’ve made a few changes since I gave them a try in April. When you sign up for one month, it’s auto-renewing like birchbox so you’ll be charged $18/month but you can cancel any time.
But I saw what they plan on sending out in the October box and they had me at the Yurbuds, a brand I wanted to try and been hearing good things about. And the Devita Natural Eyeliner because I’m on the lookout for natural and organic cosmetics brands to try. The supplements don’t hurt either since I’ve really started focusing on doing protein shakes more. I’ve also been looking for a vegi protein that is NOT soy which is also part of this box.
Sign up for KlutchClub and support this blog (referral link): http://bit.ly/QS7sXA
Or check out the list of items that come with the October box below:
Full disclosure: KlutchClub’s May & June boxes were sent to me by the company. These are my honest opinions however, not a paid sponsorship and I AM paying for my October box (and did pay for my April box.)
So I was running low on my Everyday Minerals base. Really low. And since I have to buy two different powders and combined them to match my skin (about a $30 minimum order) AND I have to wait for the shipping… I decided to try and find something quickly at the grocery.
What I wanted: Something that might serve as a quick in a pinch substitute and maybe to throw in my gym bag. Something that wasn’t going to kill me with chemicals either. No talc, no cornstarch, no parabens, no petroleum or mineral oil.
There’s not a lot at the grocery that fits those requirements. Even many of the powders labeled “mineral foundation” had toxic junk in them OR had something I know would break out my skin (cones like dimethicone. Dimethicone is a safe ingredient but it clogs my pores quickly for some reason.)
What I found was Physicians Formula Mineral Wear. Not the loose powder. Not the cream foundation. Both of those had junk in them. The plain pressed powder, spf 30, “16 hour airbrushing finish.” It’s pressed into a sort of wave pattern in a metallic aqua case. Don’t be tricked into thinking that because they have one good product that the rest of the Physicians Formula line has healthy ingredients too.
I bought beige. There were two colors available at the store. There are apparently 3 colors available total. If they don’t work with your skin tone you’re SOL. It appears to me to blend pretty well though. I put it on my arm both the top and the bottom (which are different shades from being outside … plus I have freckles) and it held up to not looking too out of place on both sides.
Click on any of the images below if you would like a closer view. All photos taken after a week of regularly wearing the Physicians Formula Mineral Wear
First impressions (first 10-15 minutes): Color works on my face. Better after I’ve added bronzer. It’s a little light for my skin otherwise. Coverage is not as good as Everyday Minerals and a little more obvious that I have powder on but it also doesn’t scream or look caked on. I think it’s a bit drying because suddenly I have some super-fine lines where I’ve never had any before. At least not regularly (if I don’t sleep and drink too much caffeine it’s been known to happen.) There’s no obvious makeupy smell to me which is good.
It’s the fine lines that already have me thinking that this is not something I want to wear daily. I’m not worried about natural wrinkles but I don’t want the products I’m applying to my face to start creating them at a rapid rate.
2nd DAY, applied my homemade moisturizer before the powder. Still dry feeling. Still creates little fine lines near my eyes. When I go to take it off at night my skin is flakier than usual. I suddenly realize this basically has retin-a in it which is sometimes used to treat acne. :/ I’m not sure but I want to give it a few more days.
After a day of wearing it: Well it stays on well. It doesn’t cause my skin to get oily. In fact still the opposite. Still dry at the end of the day.
3rd DAY, different moisturizer before applying it (Juice Beauty.) Trying to find the right combo. I don’t think I’ve ever felt my face this dry feeling this consistently. I don’t really like it. I think my face skin cells are turning over faster though which I’m thinking might be a good perk. Still dry feeling at the end of the night and now I seriously need to exfoliate. More than usual. I think what I dislike about this most is what it does around my eyes … how dry it makes that area even with moisturizer. Maybe I’ll apply something else around my eyes tomorrow. I don’t think more moisturizer is going to cut it.
OVER A WEEK: Verdict. It’s really drying for me. This might be a good thing for some. If you have crazy oily face or acne I would give this a try. I have combination skin (usually … I still feel dry now without makeup on after a week of using this.) The color is good. It covers and evens out the skin blotchiness but I really seriously prefer the everyday minerals over this. I DO like knowing of at least one drugstore brand I can use in a pinch however.
I think I might keep it around and use it for my T zone on certain occasions like if I think I’m going to have a long day or might have my photo taken.
