Beauty Box Reviews

  • Sephora Play! Beauty Bag, May 2016

    Sephora Play! Beauty Bag, May 2016

  • Sephora Play! Beauty Bag May 2016, Product Cheatsheet

    Sephora Play! Beauty Bag May 2016, Product Cheatsheet

  • Bite Beauty Amuse Brouche Lipstick in Kimchi

    Bite Beauty Amuse Brouche Lipstick in Kimchi

I purchase more than half of my beauty products from Sephora. It has always been my go-to store, and so when they came out with a monthly beauty box subscription, I jumped at the opportunity.  After a few months on their waiting list, I finally received my first Sephora Play! Beauty box.  Well, more like a beauty bag since that is what I received and definitely appreciated.  The bags can easily be reused and easily stored, unlike my Birchbox boxes.  A lovely pamphlet was included in May’s products, which broke down their ingredients. These included helpful tips such as “improve the benefits of your masking sessions” and “two ways to wear this month’s lip products”.  This Sephora Play! consisted of the following products:

  1. Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine ($35 for duo)
  2. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Kimchi ($26)
  3. Tarte Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram ($18)
  4. Origins Maskimizer + Drink Up & Clear Improvement Masks
  5. Korres Wild Rose Sleeping Facial ($34 for collection)
  6. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask ($9)

1. Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine:  For those looking for a shot of citrus zest on the skin, the Atelier Cologne in Orange Sanguine is a perfect option.  The orange scent is strong and could be overpowering for those with sensitive noses, but I do appreciate a perfume like this for the summer.

2. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche in Kimchi:  Every Bite Beauty lipstick I’ve ever tried is a winner in my book.  It goes on smooth and is highly moisturizing (contains coconut and pomegranate oil).  The shade, Kimchi, included in this month’s Sephora Play! bag is beyond stunning. The bright pink/magenta will look amazing on any skin tone and fits in perfectly for the summer months.  This product will make for a happy departure from heavy matte lipsticks and liquid lipsticks.

3. Tarte Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram:  I’m a lover of almost all things Tarte whether it be their Amazonian Clay Foundation ($39) or their eyeshadow palettes.  I figured my love affair with the brand would translate with the Tarte Tarteist Lip Crayon, but I was wrong.  It’s not that the lip crayon was terrible, but it was just too stiff and drying for my liking.  Over the years, I’ve strayed away from harder denser pencils in favor of more creamy versions (i.e. Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat Lip Liners).  Another issue I had with the Tarte Tarteist Lip Crayon was the color.  Latergram is supposed to be a nude color, but appeared more peach on my lips.  Sadly, the Tarte Tarteist Lip Crayon will not be on my to-buy list.

4. Origins Maskimizer + Drink Up & Clear Improvement Masks:  This product was more of a 3-in-1 because it included a priming mist, a charcoal mask, and an overnight mask.  I readily indulge in weekly masks and at-home-peels so I looked forward to trying these out.  The charcoal mask applied smoothly, dried quickly and was easy to remove after the recommended ten minutes.  Before removal, I had a feeling it was going to work like a charm because it felt like I had received a mini face lift; that was how tight the mask dried.  When all was said and done, my skin felt and looked refreshed and youthful.  As for the overnight mask, it worked just as well.  The priming mist is no different than a MAC Fix + and would also recommend.

5. Korres Wild Rose Sleeping Facial:  Just like the Origins Drink Up overnight mask, the Korres worked wonderfully in bringing in more moisture to my skin.  I could see myself using these products interchangeably because the difference was inconsequential.  However, I would recommend these for anyone who suffers from an oily skin complexion even though both the Origins and Korres overnight masks are lightweight.

6. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask:  This was a treat for me as I’m not well versed in the world of hair conditioning masks.  Given my limited experience with them, I only have good things to say about the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair!  It went on not too thick and certainly did not feel slippery like normal hair conditioners.  I left it in for the recommended five minutes and found that it left my hair soft and the tips well-conditioned.  The only negative is that it does not work like a normal conditioner in the detangle department.

Bonus:

One of the biggest perks to the Sephora Play! beauty box is that it included an in-store card to receive expert advice and 50 Sephora Beauty Insider points with any purchase.  I consider that a win-win because I love racking up my Sephora Beauty Insider points in order to receive free samples.

Final Verdict: Merge

Kiss Kiss

Makeup Deconstructed Rating System:

1 Kiss = Purge: Only one of the products in the box/bag is worth keeping.

2 Kisses = Merge: Two to four products make this box/bag worth merging into your makeup collection.

3 Kisses = Splurge: All five products are amazing and worth splurging on!

  • 0 comment
  • by

  • May 2016 Birchbox

    May 2016 Birchbox

  • May 2016 Birchbox, Menu

    May 2016 Birchbox, Menu

  • Benefit Hoola Bronzer

    Benefit Hoola Bronzer

  • Coola Makeup Setting Spray

    Coola Makeup Setting Spray

  • ModelCo Lip Lacquer in Creme Brulee

    ModelCo Lip Lacquer in Creme Brulee

  • Clean Blossom Perfume

    Clean Blossom Perfume

Included products in this month’s Birchbox:

  1. Benefit Cosmetics Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer (Full-size, $29 )
  2. ModelCo Lip Lacquer – Creme Brûlée (Full-size, $29)
  3. COOLA SPF 30 Organic Makeup Setting Spray ((Full-size, $36)
  4. Davines LOVE Smoothing Shampoo (Full-size, $25)
  5. Davines LOVE Sooothing Conditioner (Full-size, $29)
  6. CLEAN Blossom Eau de Parfum (Full-size, $20-$72)

First Impressions:

Before we get to contents of this month’s Birchbox, let’s begin with the box itself. It’s a major, major upgrade from last month’s floral mishap. In fact, they partnered up with Keds for a unique design that I personally found cute and simple. As for the beauty products, here they are…deconstructed.

  1. Benefit Cosmetics Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer – ($29/full size): With summer quickly approaching, I’m all about sporting a summer glow. One way to get it without baking under harmful UV rays is to use a bronzer and one of the best—in my past experience—is Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzer. I already own the full sized version (comes in one shade) and use it when I want to subtly warm up my face. The color is definitely not universal, but will work for those with light-to-medium complexions. The other bonus of Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzer is that it can be used as a contour given the fact that it has no shimmer and it comes with a brush. The only negative I find to this product is the packaging. The square shape of the box is bulky and very awkward if you’re looking to use a larger contour brush with it. However, if you can bypass these faults, we are sure that the Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzer will be high on your wish list.
  1. ModelCo Lip Lacquer in Crème Brulee ($24/full size): I’ve previously sampled a number of ModelCo Lip Lacquers and have enjoyed them immensely. However, I was disappointed with this specific sample because the shade was way too light for my skin tone and completely washed me out. I was really shocked they would send such a light neutral shade because this is no way near being a universally flattering color. The consistency of this gloss was tacky when compared to the others I have. So all in all, the ModelCo Lip Lacquer in Crème Brulee was a complete fail.
  1. COOLA SPF 30 Organic Makeup Setting Spray ($36 /full size): In the past few weeks, I’ve been on the look out for more ingredient-friendly makeup products and was more than pleased to see the COOLA SPF 30 Organic Makeup Setting Spray, which is free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates. I’m a big lover of setting spray, one of my favorites being Urban Decay’s Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray, and was happy to see that the COOLA setting spray faired well on my normal to oily skin while protecting me from the sun. With that said, this spray is really drying, so I would only recommend this product for those with oilier complexions and who love a matte-finish. Lastly, if you’re under budget constraints, you may want to look else where because it $36 for a 1.7 oz. bottle compared to Urban Decay’s Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray which is $30 for a 4 oz. bottle!
  1. Davines LOVE Smoothing Shampoo ($25/full size): According to Davines’ website, the Davines LOVE Smoothing Shampoo is “ideal for frizzy or unruly hair for a smooth look. Its formula, characterized by a soft and creamy foam, is designed to gently cleanse frizzy hair and favor styling, making the hair smooth. Winner of Allure magazine’s 2014 Best of Beauty Natural Wonders”. While the texture of my hair would not fall under the category of frizzy or unruly (more like thinning and lacking volume), I figured why not try the Davines LOVES Smoothing Shampoo out. At first glance, I was happy to see this sample would last me through at least six hair washes, which would give me a decent point of view on the product. As for the smell, it is lightly scented and would not offend even the most sensitive of noses. One thing I liked about this shampoo is that it does not create an overabundance of soap shampoo suds. It also left my hair feeling hydrated prior to the application of its complementary conditioner.
  1. Davines LOVE Smoothing Conditioner ($29/full size): This conditioner is geared towards those with frizzy hair and just based on the Davines LOVE Smoothing Conditioner consistency, that this would be a very fair statement to make. In fact, this conditioner is by far the thickest cream conditioner I have ever used and was really pleased with the final results. Now, per the Davines website, its recommended that you leave the conditioner in your hair 2-5 minutes before washing off. Depending on your hair type, I would say those who have oily to normal hair not to pass the two-minute mark because the results would be too overwhelming. I stuck to this advice and was pleased to see that my hair was very easy to detangle and straighten afterwards.

BONUS (for this month’s box)

  1. CLEAN Blossom Eau de Parfum ($20-$72/full size): As per described by Birchbox, “this scent features notes of Tunisian neroli, orange blossom, and sensual sandalwood”. When I sprayed some on, I felt as if I was rolling in flower garden with no end in sight. This scent is overwhelming and too flowery scented. Quite frankly, this would not have been a favorite for me anyways because I enjoy musky fragrances. However, I was willing to bypass this fact and give the CLEAN Blossom Eau de Parfum a try. In the end, I wish I hadn’t been so considerate.

Final Verdict: Merge

Kiss Kiss

Makeup Deconstructed Rating System:

1 Kiss = Purge: Only one of the products in the box/bag is worth keeping.

2 Kisses = Merge: Two to four products make this box/bag worth merging into your makeup collection.

3 Kisses = Splurge: All five products are amazing and worth splurging on!

  • 0 comment
  • by

Birchbox April 2016

Included products in this month’s Birchbox:

  1. Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Sweet Violet (Full-size, $7 )
  2. RMS Beauty The Ultimate Makeup Remover Wipes (Full-size, $16 )
  3. Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator (Full-size, $34)
  4. W3LL People Expressionist Mascara (Full-size, $23.50)
  5. Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle (Full-size, $23.50)

First Impressions:

I should have known things would only go downhill from here: the moment I logged onto Birchbox.com and was notified that my month’s box selection was “out of stock” and was forced to choose another. I should have realized I probably wasn’t going to love it. Call it a gut instinct or a premonition, but in the end I was right. Upon the boxes’ arrival, I felt myself in a foul mood knowing that what I originally wanted was not in there, yet I tried to remain positive. However, the minute I spotted the boxes’ pattern, I wanted to return it ASAP. I guess its Rifle Paper Co. floral design would appeal to some of the population, but for me it was like staring at a couch pattern I could find on an episode of Mad Men. The box was just hideous plain and simple! And as I proceeded to open the box and analyze its contents, I almost cried (not tears of joy mind you), and here is why.

Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Sweet Violet: Really? No really?? Was this a joke? I mean don’t get me wrong; I love Burt’s Bees products. However, I thought the premise of a beauty box was to try brands that are new or relatively expensive before deciding on purchasing full sizes. Burt’s Bees certainly does not fit into any of these categories. Yet there it lay mocking me, which is ironic because it ended up being the only item I liked from the package.

RMS Beauty The Ultimate Makeup Remover Wipes: I had some high hopes from this product because J.Crew (my favorite apparel company) sells RMS products on their site. So, I figured the RMS makeup remover wipes would be a guaranteed winner. I could not have been more wrong. RMS states, “These wipes are made with pure, naturally antibacterial coconut oil, which melts away even the most stubborn makeup”. What RMS fails to state is that after using this wipe, your face will feel like its been dipped in vegetable oil and that you will need to rewash to clean the oil spill. This month’s Birchbox came with two RMS wipes. After using one, I was close to throwing the remaining one away. However, I figured it could be useful in removing my matte liquid lipstick and I was right. Too bad these RMS wipes are not marketed for lipstick removal because I believe it would serve a better purpose.

Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator: As per the Birchbox card, this is a “customer-fave scrub that mimics the effects of microdermabrasion for glowing smooth skin”. In theory, this product sounds amazing. In practice, it felt like minute shards of glass were cutting into my skin without the added bonus of a glowing face.

W3LL People Expressionist Mascara: I always enjoy testing out mascaras and when I saw this one I was genuinely excited. And yet, I was let down once again because this mascara did not lift nor lengthen my lashes as promised. Maybe it’s the smaller test wand that does not lend itself to the mascara’s full potential, but at almost $24 for a full size I will not be splurging to find out.

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle: I found this heat protector to be okay. Nothing really worth noting other than I don’t find it to be a great replacement for my current hair protector from Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in1 Styling Treatment ($27).

Final Verdict: Purge

Kiss

Makeup Deconstructed Rating System:

1 Kiss = Purge: Only one of the products in the box/bag is worth keeping.

2 Kisses = Merge: Two to four products make this box/bag worth merging into your makeup collection.

3 Kisses = Splurge: All five products are amazing and worth splurging on!

  • 0 comment
  • by