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birchbox

January 1, 2013

Birchbox November 2012 unboxing

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Posted in Beauty & Skin, Makeup / Cosmetics, Skin Care, Subscription boxes

IMG_5626

  • Masqueology Revitalizing Eye Mask – parabens
  • 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.

 

Birchbox 2012 Holiday Gift Guide:

 Still not signed up for Birchbox? :D

Birchbox affiliate link
http://birchbox.com?raf=3l3e7
{ yes it’s an affiliate link, I get 50 points which equals $5 credit – share the love! }

November 18, 2012

ClothingCult’s Giveaway
Thanksgiving 2012 – Birchbox Samples

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Posted in Beauty & Skin, Hair, Makeup / Cosmetics, Skin Care

*************************************************

This giveaway has ended – Winner: Julie

*************************************************

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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:

  1. The jouer & makeup box:
    1. Jouer Lip Enhancer Conditioning Lip Treatment
    2. Jouer Body Butter
    3. Jouer Luminizing Mosture Tint
    4. Stila All Over Liquid Luminizer in Rose Gold Shimmer
    5. Dr.Jart+ BB Beauty Balm Multi-action skin care + makeup
    6. Laura Geller Spackle tinted under make-up primer in bronze
    7. Chantecaille lip gloss
    8. Colorscience Pro Sunforgettable Mineral Powder
    9. Everyday Minerals Once & Again blush
    10. Everyday Minerals powder foundations in: Light Medium original glo, Medium in semi-matte, Medium Beige in semi-matte, Multi-taking Neutral in matte
  2. The hair care box:
    1. Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-in Conditioner
    2. Oscar Blandi Protein Mist for Restyling Hair
    3. Mythic Oil treatment
    4. Orofluido treatment
    5. DermOrganic Argan Oil leave-in hair treatment
    6. Fekkai Advanced Essential Shea shampoo & conditioner
  3. The moisturizer box:
    1. Kiehl’s Creme de Corps
    2. Masqueology 7d moisturizer
    3. Masqueology masque cleanse
    4. Masqueology revitalizing eye gel
    5. Sarah McNamara Miracle Skin Transformer Face & Body SPF 20
    6. Ahava Mineral Hand Cream
    7. Scalisi Skincare Anti-aging Moisturizer
    8. Borghese Moisture Intensifier
    9. DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer
  4. The perfume box:
    1. Harvey Prince eau flirt sample
    2. MCMC Pheonix sample
    3. BVLGARI Mon Jasmin Noir sample
    4. Viva La Juicy La Fleur sample

 

I think that’s it! One winner takes all will be randomly chosen on November 28th 2012. Have fun and share it with your friends!

Enter here:

Thanksgiving 2012 giveaway – click here to enter

October 16, 2012

October 2012 Birchbox Goop edition

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Posted in Beauty & Skin, Hair, Makeup / Cosmetics, Skin Care, Subscription boxes

 October-2012-birchbox-goop-contents
What was in the box:
  • 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.

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 Still not signed up for Birchbox? :D

Birchbox affiliate link
http://birchbox.com?raf=3l3e7
{ yes it’s an affiliate link, I get 50 points which equals $5 credit – share the love! }


September 27, 2012

Birchbox + Goop for October!

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Posted in Beauty & Skin, Makeup / Cosmetics, Subscription boxes

If you’re a birchbox subscriber, be sure to be on the lookout for an email giving you a choice on your October box (check those spam folders if you don’t see it soon!)

You can choose to get a special Goop box
or the regular October box.

(More info below the screenshot of the email)

What is Goop? Goop is Gwyneth Paltrow’s “…weekly publication delivered straight to your inbox offering exclusive limited edition collaborations, recipes, travel notes, shopping ideas and wellness tips for you, your wardrobe and your home.”

Ok so it’s not only Gwyny’s deal, there’s a staff and writers and such. And yes, the products on the site are out of the average person’s price range. It’s been called a site for spoiled white rich girls actually.

That doesn’t keep this $515 cute heart cashmere sweater from being cute though. WAY out of my price range but still cute. $200 and I might start thinking about it as an investment piece … but it’s too casual for work so probably not still. But that’s besides the point. No wait, actually that IS the point.

 

This is exactly why I want to make sure I get the Goop Birchbox.

Who knows what kind of fabulous goodies it might hold!

So be sure to look for it in your email if you’re already a Birchbox subscriber. I think the only way to opt in for this box is to click on the link in your email. If you’re not seeing the email, check your spam folder.

If you’re not already subscribed to Birchbox I’m not sure if you will get the option on sign up but it’s worth a shot. Sign up for Birchbox! (referral link):
http://www.birchbox.com/?raf=3l3e7

Oh also to note … apparently supplies are limited so act soon. This is the email confirmation I got (grumble):

 

September 18, 2012

September 2012 Birchbox unboxing

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Posted in Beauty & Skin, Makeup / Cosmetics, Subscription boxes

 

What’s inside:

  • Birchbox and Color Club® Custom Collection in “Put a Pin In It” : love it, I’m thinking the other shades are enticing as well.
  • twistband™ Lace up for Fall
  • The Brush Guard Variety Pack
  • Fekkai Essential Shea Shampoo & Fekkai Essential Shea Conditioner : scary ingredients. Didn’t even bother running a custom report on this one after taking a closer look. Add in that it would cost $50 total for shampoo and conditioner and I’ll pass on buying a full size version any time soon.
  • Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25+ : This BB Cream is a 5 according to a custom report with the Cosmetics Database. The big problems are parabens. For me two additional problems (for breakouts) are talc and dimethicone. I tried it on anyway… it just was all wrong for me.
  • BVLGARI Mon Jasmin Noir : again with the synthetic fragrances

Bonuses:

So favorite things from this box: nail polish, hair tie, and brush covers.

Unboxing video:

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Sign up for Birchbox! (referral link): http://www.birchbox.com/?raf=3l3e7

September 6, 2012

Birchbox August 2012 unboxing

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Posted in Beauty & Skin, Subscription boxes

Unboxing video below descriptions:

  • Schick Hydro Silk Razor – I kinda wish I knew what was in the moisturizing strip BUT this is a problem I just have to ignore because it’s pretty much the same question I have with any good razor. This razor IS better than the Venus3 I was using before so I think I will be switching to it because it really is that much better. As long as I can find blades for it (first drugstore I was in didn’t have them but that could have just been the one.) First few uses it felt like it almost suctioned to my leg. The only problem with this is if you have a bug bite (be careful!) A much cleaner shave all around though.
  • WEI™ Pomegranate Buffing Beads – ingredients: Polyethylene, punica granatum (pomegranate) peel, coco-glucoside, benzoic acid. EWGEWG Environmental Working Group - an organization focused on research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment. rates it on these ingredients as a 1 (custom report.) LOVE this. I always love a good exfoliator and this is gentle and very different from a lot of the other options out there. You use it with your own soap so you’re not stuck with a soap that doesn’t agree with your skin. 20 packets for $20 is … not too bad actually for what you’re getting. Yes, there are better deals to be had but I think I might actually buy these.
  • Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream – I’ve received this before (on second look, I actually received this in my KlutchClub box as well.) Camphor is a really wonderful thing for sore muscles. Since I recently royally messed up my back, I did in fact go through almost all of the two samples I had stashed before trying a cheaper drugstore muscle cream (almost all of them have menthol so there was only one.)
    They say that the camphor smell in this product dissipates  but it doesn’t really seem too in my opinion. It’s less harsh than menthol but it still makes me smell a bit like a little old lady. Maybe it would dissipate more if just used as a lip balm. This isn’t specifically a sore muscle cream but HOWEVER this is WONDERFUL on sore muscles.
    Would I buy this? I’m really on the fence. I would love to use it as an occasional post workout muscle rub but it comes in such tiny quantity that I don’t think that’s practical. It’s also fairly expensive at $18/2oz.
  • WEI™ Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask – I can’t seem to find the ingredients list for this but I think it’s just clay and golden root: http://www.weibeauty.com/by-type/purify-chi/golden-root-purifying-mud-mask.html
    I liked what this did but the scent was a bit overwhelming for me. It’s not a bad scent, just one I felt irritated my sensitive allergy prone nose. Top that off with the cost … $5 per pod isn’t bad as a treat but since you have to come up with $40 and commit to more at once my brain kicks in and says “$40 for mud?” 🙂
  • Caldrea Hand Soap – this is a 4 according to EWG’s cosmetics database and part of that is for the essential oils being labeled “fragrance.” However the fragrance in this soap is derived from natural ingredients so it should have a better score. As a soap it’s still a little harsh, a little generic to some degree… I just wasn’t wowed. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/206539/Caldrea_Liquid_Hand_Soap/
  • stila stay all day™ foundation, concealer, & brush kit – apparently the ingredient list isn’t posted online, I’ll write the company. http://answers.sephora.com/answers/8723/product/P374937/questions.htm?page=2
    I did go ahead and try it on the inner part of my arm and the color somehow came across as chalky to me. It seemed to match my skin tone but something was just off about it.
  • Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy La Fleur – again with the synthetic fragrances. Seriously, when are they going to stop sending me these? Moving on.

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** SPOILER ALERT **

I watched the September Birchbox preview for a change and here’s what I’m really hoping I get in my September box:

  • Color Club Put a Pin It – Rose gold nail polish
  • Brush guards – brush rolls are too space consuming unless you have a large sink counter to work with which makes them annoying for travel but my last trip I threw everything in a cosmetic bag and it wasn’t kind to my brushes so really hoping I get to try these
  • Vasanti Brighten Up! – Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator – this has good ingredients and is an exfoliator which is something I always like trying
  • LiQWd Professional Volumizing Catalyst – I’m on the fence about wanting this. I can’t find the ingredient list.