June 2012 Birchbox

Yay, my second Birchbox was delivered on Friday and I was super excited to see what little goodies were inside.  This month's theme is Jet Set, devoted to products that will indulge your inner jetsetter.  So all the products are travel-friendly for your summer trips, where ever they may be.  Here is a run down of the products I received.

The first item is an Eyeko Fate Eye Stick in Old Gold.  Old Gold is a metallic gold with olive undertones.   Each one pairs dense, vibrant pigments with a retractable twist-up applicator. You can glide them on as a thick liner, or smudge them to create a shadow.  I have never tried the Eyeko brand before, I know that their mascara is really popular in the UK.  This color is ok, nothing super special. I haven't tried it on my eyes but swatched on my hand it's just ok.

The next item is Likewise Facial Moisturizer + Sun Protectant SPF 50 for Normal To Oily skin. This moisturizer with sunscreen is suppose to be great for break-out prone skin.  It's fragrance free and contains zinc oxide to protect against the sun and azelaic acid that acts as a toner to balance and calm blemishes.  I am excited to try out this product since I am prone to breakouts in the summer and I am always looking for a good moisturizer. 
theBalm Cosmetics Staniac in Beauty Queen is the next product I received. The gel formula looks dark in the tube but delivers a sheer tint that is easily blendable onto the cheeks. Beauty Queen is a magenta-toned pink that provides a nice natural flush for most skin tones. This stain is water based, so it doesn't set quite as fast as other stains do.  I have never been a fan of staining products but it will be fun to try one out. 

The last product in my Birchbox is Comodynes Self Tanning Intensive Towelettes for face and body. I received two of the single-use towelettes.  They promise to deliver a natural tan on the face and body that adjusts to your skin tone.  The formula is paraban-free and supposed to be moisturizing as well.  I haven't had a chance to try these out but every tan towel I have tried, I liked, so I hope this one will be a winner.

May 2012 Birchbox

I recently signed up for Birchbox which is a beauty website that delivers hand-picked deluxe beauty samples to your door every month from $10. I love to sample out products before I buy to see if they are worth paying the full price, so Birchbox is great way to do just that. You fill out a profile when you join and they send you products picked especially for you. They also offer beauty tips and tricks on their site as well as full size products to purchase. This is my first month of my Birchbox subscription, so let’s check out what I got…..

The may Birchbox came with four deluxe samples; Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm, Color Club Nail Polish in Disco Nap, Dr. Jart+ Waterfuse BB Cream & Ojon Volume Advance Shampoo. All four samples are definitely products I would want to try out, especially the BB Cream and Ojon shampoo. I have only gotten to use these products for a few days so I don’t have a review of them but I will tell you a little about each product.

Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm ($65 retail) is an anti-aging eye balm that promises to tackle dehydration, fine lines, puffiness and dark circles, which are all problems I currently have with my under eyes. It contains Alguronic Acid that is derived from deep sea microalgae to fight signs of aging by promoting cell regeneration. It also contains cumber extract to soothe and hydrate and a dose of caffeine to conquer puffiness. So far I like the way this products applies, its light and not overly hydrating like some anti-aging eye creams can be.

Color Club nail polish in Disco Nap ($8 retail) is a gilded metallic gold from the Foil Collection. It has a super shimmery finish and is a perfect and fun color for spring/summer. All of the Color Club nail polishes are free of formaldehyde and parabens.

I have wanted to tryout a BB (Beauty Balm) Cream since they are the new thing in beauty, so when I received a sample of Dr. Jart’s Water Fuse Beauty Balm ($32 retail), I was excited to try it. This BB Cream is a moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum all-in-one. It’s a tinted balm that helps hide imperfections, so it was act as foundation and there is no need for cover-up. It contains a combination of glacier water; deep ocean water, hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera deeply hydrate skin. This cream also has a broad-spectrum SPF 25+, to blocks UVA and UVB rays. I have been using this for a couple days now and so far really like it.

Ojon Volume Advance Shampoo ($22 retail) is a coconut-derived formula which boosts volume by gently getting rid of the scalp oils and residue that weigh hair down. The star ingredient is Ojon oil which comes from the nuts of the Ojon tree found in Central American rain forests. Coconut oil tames while Peruvian amaranth extracts remove oily debris and build-up, helping hair appear thicker and fuller. I haven’t had a chance to try this shampoo yet but I have always wanted to try the Ojon products. I will let you know what I think once I give it a try.

Overall I am super excited about my Birchbox subscription. The samples I received are ideal for my skin type and style. It will be an exciting event when it arrives at my door every month. If you don’t have a subscription, you can join here.