Wednesday, March 21, 2012

March 2012 - Birchbox

I had mixed feelings about my March Birchbox. Birchbox emailed me in February & invited me to take part in the Teen Vogue Birchbox. I agreed to receiving the Teen Vogue box & actually started getting REALLY excited for it. They mentioned Essie so I couldn't wait to get it.

Well, my March Birchbox arrived & they sent me a regular Birchbox. I was SO BUMMED I didn't get a Teen Vogue box. If they weren't going to send it to me then why in the world did they ask if I wanted one. What made me even angrier was that SEVERAL people got the Teen Vogue boxes that DIDN'T want them. POORLY DONE, BIRCHBOX. Poorly done.

HOWEVER, I did like my box in March MUCH better than my February box. So I couldn't stay mad for long. Here's what I got:

- Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens: 25 Sheets
- Color Club Mini Nail Lacquer in Lava Lamp
- Grandma Stelle's Refreshing Hand Soap
- Traditions Yucca Root Shampooing Cream
- Stila Smoky Eye Card
- Kusmi Detox Tea - 2 packages


The whole Stila Smokey Eye card thing was a joke. It's a postcard with 3 of their colors on it. You're supposed to be able to use the powder on the postcard to do your eyes, but I couldn't even get one full use out of it. The powder was going everywhere & there wasn't enough to cover one full eyelid, let alone two. I did enjoy the dark liner color. It had strong pigment but the other 2 were lacking. I can't even make this sample worth anything. You get better FREE samples from Sephora.

Sample Size: worthless postcard
Full Size: $45 for 3 colors
Worth: $ NOTHING


The Color Club Nail Polish was fun. This was a color I would expect in the Teen Vogue box, but not in the normal box. So I was a little surprised, but pleasantly. I'm still trying to get fully on board with the new neon fab right now. I WANT to be adventurous, but am scared at the same time. So I put this on my 7 year old daughter to see how it looked on.





As you can see, it's a NEON ORANGE. . . we're talking brighter than an orange highlighter bright. The pictures don't even do it justice. It's really kind of fun. I don't know if I'll ever get up the courage to wear it myself, but it sure is fun for my 3 girls to wear. And I need to add in there that it's the longest lasting nail polish I've ever seen in my life. I didn't use any base or top coat with it on my daughter's hands & I had to remove it with polish remover OVER A WEEK after I put it on her. Lorien is my crazy tomboy girl & nail polish is GONE within 2 DAYS on her. I was amazed. It's a GREAT QUALITY POLISH.

Sample Size - Mini Polish .25 oz.
Full Size - .50 oz. $8.00
Total Sample Worth: $4.00

(ps. . . How cute is my darling little girl?)


I did not try the Kusmi Tea samples. I'm not a tea drinker so I gave these samples to a friend of mine who LIVES on tea. She enjoyed them VERY much.

Sample Size - 2 bags
Full Size - 24 bags $21.95
Total Sample Worth: $1.84


I love the idea of the Boscia Blotting Linens. I get shiny by 3:00 in the afternoon & these fix that in a convenient & easy way. I just threw my sample pack in my purse & then when I pick my kids up from school, I grab one out of my purse & blot my sorrows away. ha ha ha. It absorbs oil quickly & easily. It's a great product for people with oily skin.

Sample Size - 25 sheets
Full Size - 100 sheets $10
Total Sample Worth: $2.50


I thought Grandma Stelle's Hand Soap was an odd addition to my box, but it was fun I guess. It's just a liquid hand soap. There's nothing "special" about it & the container it comes in is hard to open when you're trying to wash your hands (it needs a pump, which the full size has), but it is just a sample so I can forgive that. It smells good, but not any better than any other hand soap I've tried. My final say - It's WAY overpriced for a hand soap.

Sample Size: 2 oz. 60 mL
Full Size: 400 mL $20
Total Sample Worth: $3.00


One of my favorite products from this box was the Traditions by Nick Chavez Yucca Root Shampooing Cream. I LOVED THIS. It's creamy & foamy & soft & it makes your hair feel & smell FABULOUS. I'm always looking for hair products that I can love & I just added this to my list. I'll have to get a big one of these eventually.

Sample Size: 2 oz. 60 mL
Full Size: 250 mL $20
Total Sample Worth: $4.80


So even though I didn't get the Teen Vogue box I was promised, I still enjoyed what I received in my March Birchbox. I am looking forward to my April one now.

Total worth of my March Birchbox: $16.14

So I got more than what I paid for it & that's all I really ask. I still encourage Birchbox to even things out a bit. The Teen Vogue boxes had full size Essie polishes worth $8.00 as well as full size Tarte Lip Tints worth $24.00. Those boxes were worth more than $32.00 which is more than TWICE what my box was worth. Even it out between all your customers & you might get a little more business & less cancellations.

Until next month . . .

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

March 2012 - My Glam Bag

It's time to review my March Glam Bag. I'm still on the fence about this company, but I'm holding out because I know things will get better. I hear there will be more make-up in April's box so I'm REALLY excited for that.

So. . . . here's what I got:


* Pur-lisse Pur-Protect SPF 30 Daily Moisturizer
* Murad Eye Lift Perfector
* Dermstore $25 Gift Card (to use with a $50 or more purchase)
* 3 Lab Perfect Cleansing Foam
* Keracolor Color Enhancing Leave-In Treatment
*MyGlam Classic Crease Brush & Case


We'll start with the 3Lab Perfect Cleansing Foam. I was SUPER impressed with this product. It was a FULL SIZE product (3.4 ounces). I love this cleanser. It goes on super creamy & foamy & even has a little bit of exfoliation in it as well. It cleans my face well & makes me feel refreshed when I'm done. I might actually purchase this guy again. Thank you MyGlam for introducing this product to me. This alone was worth the $10 I paid for this month.

Sample Size: 3.4 ounces (FULL SIZE)
Full Size: 3.4 ounces - $40.00
Sample Worth: $40.00


I didn't really care much for the bag this month. It just wasn't really my personal style which is totally fine. . . I gave it to my daughter to use as a purse. It also had a REALLY BAD SMELL. It's probably just from the production line but still, ick.


Next I used the Murad Eye Lift Perfector. This was just a small sample in a little foil packet. I get samples like this from Sephora for FREE all the time so I was kind of sad to see something that size included in my glam bag. I only got 2 uses out of it although I think I was using way too much. I would have loved to see how it worked over at least a week. In 2 uses I couldn't really tell if it was doing much of anything. It's a tinted lotion so it is supposed to help with the bags under your eyes, but I didn't notice much of a difference on this one. I enjoyed trying it out though.

Sample Size: 0.015 oz.
Full Size: 0.06 oz. $35.00
Sample Worth: $8.75 (believe it or not. . . this stuff is crazy expensive. Although you can get a sample this size of just about anything from Sephora for FREE so to me it was worth nothing.)


The Pur-lisse Pur-Protect SPF 30 Essential Daily Moisturizer was also in a small foil packet with limited uses. This too was the same size as the freebies I pick up every time I go to Sephora. Although I am ecstatic about the full size cleanser, all the other samples seemed so cheap this time. At least give us a TRAVEL SIZE so we can actually TRY it out. I hardly got anything out of this little packet so I can't really say if I liked the moisturizer or not. It smelled pretty good (I'll give it that), but I would have liked to try it a few more times to see how it reacted with my skin.

Sample Size: 0.14 oz.
Full Size: 1.7 oz. $55.00
Sample Worth: $4.53 (This stuff is expensive too but not as bad as the murad product. Although you can get a sample this size of just about anything from Sephora for FREE so to me it was worth nothing as well.)


I love getting samples for my hair. I love trying new things because I've found some AMAZING hair products from these types of samples. I wasn't a huge fan of this product. It was a decent sized sample, even though it was in a foil packet. . . it was a big foil packet. I got about 4 uses out of it which gave me a pretty good idea about whether or not I'd buy it. In this case, no. It smelled like a perm & made my hair greasy & sticky for some reason. I didn't like it at ALL. I'm amazed I kept trying to use it for four full days. I thought my perception might change after I used it for a while, but nope. I really didn't care for it. But again, I'm always happy to try these things out. Some things are for me & others just aren't.

Sample Size: 0.17 oz.
Full Size: 5.5 oz. $38.00
Sample Worth: $1.17


I LOVED my crease brush & pink brush case. I hope the MyGlam team fills this little brush case with fun things over the next few Glam Bags. I love the pink color, the brush (though cheap) does it's job & it's just cute. I'm happy with it & I'm even happier with the little case. It's perfect for my purse. I love this all around.

I'm not sure what this little guy is worth . . . probably around $5.00, but I'm REALLY glad it was included in my bag this month. It's a fun little beauty tool.


So I paid $10 for my Glam Bag this month & got $46.17 worth of products. Good job MyGlam. You exceeded my expectations this month. I can't wait to see what's in my April Bag.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Julep - St. Patrick's Day Mystery Box


I always get SO excited when a little black box shows up on my doorstep. I actually got my Julep St. Patty's Day MYSTERY BOX ON St. Patricks' Day & I couldn't wait to open it to see what I got.


I was thrilled with EVERYTHING in my box. Here is what I got:
4 chocolate coins - YUM
1 oz. Age Defying Hand Brightener - $10.00
1 oz. Glycolic Hand Scrub - $10.00
Julep Base Coat - $14.00
Sophia - $14.00
Glenn - $14.00
Emma - $14.00
Crystal Nail File - $6.00

Box Price = $19.99
Box Worth = $82.00

I'm SO addicted to the Age Defying Hand Brightener that I can't keep enough in my purse/cupboard. I use this 2-3 times a day & LOVE it. It smells divine & even my husband can't help but smell my hands when he gets home from work every night. He's as addicted to the smell as I am. I was glad it was in my box. I'm always happy to get more.

This is the first time I've tried the Glycolic Hand Scrub & I was REALLY excited to finally get some in my box. It's just as fabulous & everyone says it is. It was gentle on my hands & still got all the dead skin off. It too has that fabulous scent like the hand brightener so I love it already. The two products together are HEAVENLY.


I still can't believe I got 4 polishes in my box. I always only get 2 in my boxes so this was a first for me. I was really excited.


I've never tried the base coat before so I'm glad to add this to my collection. I know I'll get a lot of use out of it.


I didn't have Sophia either. She was in one of the March boxes, but not the one I got so I was thrilled to have her in my box. She is a sheer glitter topcoat so she isn't meant to be worn alone (at least I didn't like her by herself), but she's REALLY beautiful over greens & blues.


Since I had done my nails with Leah & Oscar for St. Patty's Day, I added a little Sophia over my Leah to make her really sparkle. I thought it was beautiful.


Glenn also made her way into my box. She is a very beautiful shimmery red color. I haven't had a chance to wear her yet, but I can't WAIT to put her on. She looks GORGEOUS.


Last, but not least, was Emma. I DO already have Emma so I had to put her away for a giveaway or for when I run out. She is also a glittery topcoat with a hint of pink.


Even though Emma is a top coat to add glitter to another color, I actually like her by herself. You can see your nail through her, but it's a beautiful light shimmer if that's all you want.


Last week I played around with Emma a little bit & put her on over a bunch of other Julep colors I have. She really dresses other colors up nicely. My pinkie is Emma by herself (2 coats), my ring finger is Emma over Maya, my middle finger is Emma over Kelly, my pointer is Emma over Maria, & my thumb is Emma over Carrie. I think the Carrie/Emma combination is my favorite. I love Emma. She's so VERSATILE.


After I had gone through my box, I was getting ready to put the box in recycling when I found a wrapped up Crystal Nail File hiding in the bottom. I almost MISSED IT. I'm SO glad I found it. I was SUPER excited because I've been meaning to order one from Julep for a while now. I LOVE it. The glass files my nails SO gently. It's perfect.



For all of you who are trying to decide whether to sign up to be a Julep Maven or not, they have a REALLY GREAT DEAL going on right now. You can get your first box for only$0.01. Try it out, see if you like it, & if you don't just cancel. . . but I'm almost positive you won't.

Every month you will receive a Maven box filled with $40 of AWESOME manicure/pedicure products as well as some FABULOUS polishes for only $19.99. You have the option to SKIP as many months as you want if funds are low or if you just don't like your box. This is the only subscription service I know of that allows you to see your box before it's shipped & then allows you to decide if you like that box or if you want to trade it for one of 4 others. There's ALWAYS one you'll love.

And then the PERKS. Each month, Julep sends 100 lucky maven's a GOLDEN BOX that has $100+ worth of products just because! And then there are contests & sweepstakes you can enter all the time not to mention all the fun coupons they send out. And then there are MYSTERY BOXES! Those are the BEST. They offer mystery boxes every few months & they are worth anywhere from $60-$200 in product. It's just a fun company & their customer service is the best I've ever seen.

So if you want to get in on this great deal, just go to the Julep website here & take the style quiz. Put in the special code SHAREONMARCH to get your box for just ONE CENT. I know you're going to LOVE it.

Monday, March 12, 2012

March 2012 Julep Maven Box

Wahoo!!! My little black box arrived on my doorstep the other day & I was SO EXCITED. I love being a Julep Maven.


I think March's box was my favorite box yet. These colors were just to die for. I opted for Boho Glam this month & got 2 fabulous spring colors to enjoy as well as the much anticipated Julep Elixor (argan oil).


So first we'll talk about the Elixor. This product is
100% pure organic Moroccan Argan Oil.
I had never heard of this before I got this box & truthfully I didn't know what to do with it at first. Now I can't imagine how I ever lived without it. ha ha ha. I have combination skin & the idea of smearing greasy oil all over my face just was a nightmarish thought to me, but I did it just to see what it would do. I knew for sure it would break me out & I was scared to death. So what happened after using it as a moisturizer at night for one full week? It made my acne go away. My skin looks fresh & well rested. The dark bags under my eyes aren't as dark. And it's FADING MY BROWN SPOTS ON MY FACE that I've accumulated during seven pregnancies. Talk about a miracle product. I'll keep buying it JUST to keep getting rid of my brown spots. Holy cow I'm amazed. And that's just my face. It's a great lip balm & works wonders on your hands & feet. I've been using it on my daughter's eczema & it's helping there as well. Argan Oil, Where have you been all my life?


One of my new March colors is Portia. It's a beautiful sheer turquoise shimmer. I will admit, I didn't realize it was a sheer color & was a little disappointed that you can't really wear it as it's own color, but it's really pretty on top of other colors. I've found it's especially gorgeous on blues & greens. I think I'll be using him a LOT in the future.


Alicia, is one of my favorite polish colors of all time. THIS is why I wanted the Boho Glam box this month. Alicia is a bright salmon/coral color & I LOVE IT.



This was a great box. The retail value was well over $60 so to pay just $19.99 is fantastic. I actually earned this box for FREE thanks to wonderful followers like you who have joined the Julep Maven program using my referral link. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for supporting me. I was VERY excited.


The first thing I did with my colors was paint Alicia all over my nails, added white polka dots (cause I'm a polka dot kind of girl) & added Portia to the top of the white polka dots to give them an aqua shimmer. They were GORGEOUS & SO PLAYFUL. I loved this box!


For all of you who are trying to decide whether to sign up to be a Julep Maven or not, they have a REALLY GREAT DEAL going on right now. You can get your first box for only$0.01. Try it out, see if you like it, & if you don't just cancel. . . but I'm almost positive you won't.

Every month you will receive a Maven box filled with $40 of AWESOME manicure/pedicure products as well as some FABULOUS polishes for only $19.99. You have the option to SKIP as many months as you want if funds are low or if you just don't like your box. This is the only subscription service I know of that allows you to see your box before it's shipped & then allows you to decide if you like that box or if you want to trade it for one of 4 others. There's ALWAYS one you'll love.

And then the PERKS. Each month, Julep sends 100 lucky maven's a GOLDEN BOX that has $100+ worth of products just because! And then there are contests & sweepstakes you can enter all the time not to mention all the fun coupons they send out. And then there are MYSTERY BOXES! Those are the BEST. They offer mystery boxes every few months & they are worth anywhere from $60-$200 in product. It's just a fun company & their customer service is the best I've ever seen.

So if you want to get in on this great deal, just go to the Julep website here & take the style quiz. Put in the special code SHAREONMARCH to get your box for just ONE CENT. I know you're going to LOVE it.