Walmart Beauty Box – Fall 2016

Who else loves seasonal beauty subscriptions?! I think I’ve been subscribed to this service for a year now, though have only showcased one other box on my blog, and definitely think this is the best Walmart Beauty Box I’ve gotten so far!

Like I’ve mentioned before, Walmart offers this seasonal box for $5 per month, which is charged and received around the start of every new season, so 4 times per year. About 6-8 samples are sent in each shipment and if you are interested you can click here to sign up. I like to use the Walmart Beauty Box to stock up on mini-sized items… super helpful for travel and you get more bang for your buck this way!!!

Here is what I got this month…

Brush cleaning cloths, biotin gummies, charcoal pore strips, bath salts, dry shampoo, toothpaste, a shower mask, lotion, and a body cream. Does it get any better than this?! I literally can’t decide what I’m most excited for but have to say that Batiste, Clean & Clear, and Village Naturals products probably top the list.

If you do end up signing up for this service, I like to warn my followers to not expect many makeup products or trendy names because I know (for me at least) that’s common to look forward to in a beauty subscription. You can expect items that are more geared toward drugstore essentials. It’s a great box and I would totally recommend giving it a shot, especially if you don’t want to pay the hefty price that other boxes require, XOXO.

 

My Year With Ipsy

It’s official… I have officially been with Ipsy for a year now! What better time to look back through my  collection of samples and reflect on some of my favorites. In no particular order, here are the stand out products (including the super cute bags) that have been a tried and true for me from Ipsy within the past year.

In my opinion, Ipsy is the best beauty subscription service out there within the $10 a month price range. I have subscribed to Lip Monthly and Birchbox in the past, but those only lasted a few months each for me… Ipsy is surly here to stay.

What do I love so much about Ipsy? I’m glad you asked 🙂 . What has kept me subscribed for a full year first and foremost is the strong focus on makeup rather than skincare and haircare. Yes, Ipsy does include a wide variety of products, however my bags typically have more makeup than anything else, which I love. Ipsy also has a great customer service department and I know this firsthand. Two months I inputted my first complaint to Ipsy, which was based on a missing item. I emailed them, got a quick response, and with ease was sent my product. And I can’t forget to mention that Ipsy sends so many amazing brands that are unique, well-known, and trendy. Plus HELLO have you seen the cute bags they send you?! Another plus.

If you’re interested in signing up for Ipsy you can click here to see for yourself just how amazing it really is, XOXO!!!

July Favorites

As you can see, it was a great beauty month in July!!!

Since I cancelled my Birchbox this month (click here to find out why) I wanted to cash in my points for products, so opted for the Coastal Scents “Revealed 2” and “Revealed Smoky” eye shadow palettes. They are my first higher quality palettes and  did not disappoint one bit. The color selection on each is amazing and the formula is really buttery yet easy to blend out. Speaking of shadows, I found myself reaching for small angled brushes paired with a dark eye shadow this month instead of my go-to sharp liner look. Something about that look just seems so much lighter for summer to me. On my tight line, I had Colourpop’s “Swerve” on repeat this month. It’s as black as black can be and that baby sure stays put! I signed up for Curology in July and, while I haven’t seen any acne results yet, I am hopeful that I will so wanted to include it in this batch of favorites. (I will keep you posted on my progress!) Finally, I wanted to share with you the sweetest smelling strawberry yummy lotion that my body has been loving this month! The formula of this Grace Cole body butter is really light weight yet moisturizing and has been perfect for summer, XOXO.

Have you tried any of these products? What were your favorites this month?

Ipsy Review – July 2016

I love the mix of products I got this month! Let’s jump in 🙂 .

The BeFine – Food Skin Care is an unscented lotion which is something I know I will get a lot of use out of. The formula is creamy and not at all greasy. I was super excited to receive the Too Faced – Hangover Replenishing Face Primer and I do like it but don’t think it does much to control my oil, which is my top priority in using a primer. The smell is to die for and it does do a great job hydrating. To be honest I haven’t tried the Em Cosmetics – Lash Gallery Lengthening Mascara and don’t plan to until I use up a few other already opened mascaras I have in my collection… but I’m happy I got it. The Vasanti Cosmetics – Professional Eyeshadow Brush is really nice. The bristles are soft, the wand is long, and it is overall just a great brush for packing shadow onto the lid. My favorite product is by far the Bella Pierre Cosmetics – Banana Setting Powder!!! This is the first time I’ve tried a banana powder and I am in love.

Did you get any of the same products? What did you love this month?

April Birchbox 2016 – Review

I’ve given all of my products a try and come to you today with a review on my April Birchbox :). To find out more about Birchbox, you can click here to access my first Birchbox  review post, where I really get into the details about this beauty subscription service.

You can also click here to sign up if you’re interested.

First of all, how CUTE is this month’s box?!

Laura Gellar New York Baked Blush-n-Brighten

This is by far my favorite product I got in the box and probably my favorite product I have ever gotten in any box! This blush is so bright and so unique and so incredible and… you need it in your life!

PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Volumizing Lifting Spray

I didn’t love or hate this. The times that I tried it my hair felt more smooth than volumized so for that reason I don’t think it does what it claims. However, the smell is amazing!

TOCCA Crema da Mano Hand Cream

Lotions are fun for me to get because I keep them everywhere! My nightstand, purse, desk, makeup counter… the list goes on. The actual product wasn’t anything to swoon over, however the scents offered in this hand cream are truly bold and different.

Dr. Jart+ Liftra Contour Cream

In my Birchbox April 2016 – Preview post, I didn’t name this as what I least looking forward to but, for me, it finishes last this month. (Let me explain…) The product itself seems decent, but the sample size is not enough for me to know if it is actually firming my skin or not. And for the very hefty prize tag of a full sized bottle, I’m honestly not that interested in ever finding out.

Marcelle  3-in-1 Micellar Solution

This product is a serious win! It works wonders for taking off makeup at the end of the day. I wouldn’t recommend using it on the lips because there is a strong chemical taste, but for the rest of the face it’s perfect.

 

My Rating: 

The blush completely made this box for me. I seriously can’t tell you just how much I love it! The rest of the products… they’re all okay. I will use the lotion and micellar water for sure, the volumizing spray occasionally, and the contour cream just for the sake of using it up. Some months my excitement is spread across products and other months all of my excitement is channeled into one great product. Either way I’m happy with my box this month, XOXO.

Walmart Beauty Box – Spring 2016

Did you know that Walmart offers a seasonal beauty box?! It’s $5 per month, which is charged and received around the start of every new season, so 4 times per year. About 6-8 samples are sent in each box and if you are interested you can click here to sign up.

I primarily use the Walmart Beauty Box to stock up on mini-sized items. I love going to the store to buy toiletries right before traveling, although I don’t look forward to the hefty price tag at the end of those shopping trips. For $5 a month with this subscription, I find myself never having to pay those expensive prices anymore because I can stock up on everything I need from these boxes.

Here is what I got in my Spring Beauty Box…

This month I received a good mix of items… toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, body wash, lipstick, and moisturizer. I am most excited for the lipstick (obviously) because I’m totally diggin’ the color and the peach scent. Truthfully, it would have been included in my Springy Pink Lips post had I found it sooner. I’m also excited to try the toothpaste (yes, really) because it claims to work fast to whiten teeth. I’ll probably pass along the shampoo to a friend because it is supposed to lighten hair and I don’t need any of that in my life. The lotion, body wash, and moisturizer I plan to save for trips.

If you are considering signing up for this service, I would recommend keeping your expectations low. You don’t get anything too fancy. It is more geared toward items you would traditionally find at a drugstore. That being said, I have always felt like I get my money worth each month and really do enjoy getting this box!

Do you have a Walmart Beauty Box Subscription? What do you think?

Birchbox April 2016 – Preview

I have another new and exciting series to announce today!

Starting this month, I will be “previewing” and “reviewing” beauty box subscriptions. The preview will include my initial thoughts on what I am going to get (I always peak), as well as the items I am most and least looking forward to. A couple of weeks later, I will post a review on the same box, which will include my experience on the products after having tried them out.

Today I bring you my very first preview… April Birchbox 2016.

I opted for the featured box this month, which is how I already know everything that will be coming to me.

The product I am most looking forward to this month is the Laura Gellar baked blush. I have heard nothing but great things about this brand and this specific product. This is perfect for me because I am trying to grow my blush collection and try different shades to figure out what looks best on my skintone. The product I am next most looking forward to is the Dr. Jart+ cream, which looks like it should help with lifting the skin and eliminating fine lines. Skincare has been more of top priority for me lately, so this one is really exciting for me to try out. I’m also looking forward to trying out the Marcelle micellar water. These seem to be all the rage right now and I have not had the chance to use one yet. Although I am not super excited to try it, the Tocca cream does look nice and I strongly believe you can never have too many lotions. Lastly, I’m not all that crazy for volumizing sprays in pump bottles like the Parlor product included in this box, but will be trying it out even though it is the product I am least looking forward to.

To learn more about this beauty subscription service, visit my first Birchbox review post.

You can also click here to sign up for Birchbox!

Be sure to stay tuned for my review of these products in a couple of weeks, XOXO.

Dry Skin Savers

Today I am sharing my favorite moisturizing products to celebrate the last official day of winter. (I’m from Wisconsin, this day is a big deal.) In my recent post about exfoliators, I let you all know just how bad this winter weather has been on my skin… and thankfully I have found some great dry skin savers to keep my skin feeling more moisturized.

Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

I found myself needing more frequent manicures this winter to try to keep my cuticles under control and this product helped in between appointments. I use this balm every 2-3 nights before bed to keep my cuticles moisturized. I’m obsessed with the scent, too!

Beauty Without Cruelty Fragrance Free Hand & Body Lotion

This came to me in a beauty bag a few months ago and my first thought was “oh great, an unscented lotion, boringggg”. It actually turned out to be the best lotion I have ever used! Because it is unscented, there is less alcohol and it won’t leave you with that burn that some lotions have. Perfect for an all-over moisturizer.

Cuccio Cuticle Oil

I use this oil as a deep cuticle treatment about every 2 weeks. Because of the liquid formula, it takes about 30 minutes to set into your cuticles. I like to use this only when I know I’ll be still for that long, so pop on Netflix and let this stuff really sink in!

Blistex Medicated Mint Balm

This tops my list of holy grail products!!! To be honest I use it year-round and keep a spare in every purse, pocket, desk, nightstand, shelf, nook, and cranny of my living spaces. I literally never leave home without this lip balm.

NSPA Exotically Creamy Coconut Rich Body Butter

I like this lotion specifically for the driest parts of my body, my elbows and knees. It is a thicker formula that works perfectly for giving deeper moisture to your skin.

Dirty Works Best Food Forward Foot Butter

 I used to apply any ordinary lotion on my feet, but this winter I tried foot-specific lotion and it made a huge difference! Apply this daily before bed and after waking up… I bet you will feel the same results that I have. This lotion is infused with peppermint oil, which serves as a soothing agent for skin, so it will leave your feet feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Do you use and love these products? Any suggestions to add to my list? XOXO