Birchbox Haul + Mini Giveaway!

Yes! My big Birchbox order finally arrived! As you probably know, the Birchbox store is a regular candyland of beauty products, home goods, as well as lifestyle items and when you have points to cash in? It's hard not to lose yourself in the plethora of palettes and powders. Because of my refusal to spend any points over the past few months, I was able to save up (for once!) and get a total of seven products for a whomping $3.98! How fantastic is that?

For those of you that are new to the Birchbox scene, all BB subscribers can earn points via leaving reviews on the samples they received for the current month, friend referrals, as well as receiving points back on placed orders. The best part? These points add up pretty quickly since every Birchbox itself is worth between 40-70 points and every 100 points is equal to $10 in the BB store.

Keep in mind, this post is just going to be "first impressions", full separate reviews will be up as soon as I have tested everything out for a bit. So, what did I finally cash my points in for???

• Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Elixir - $20.99 // 0.94 fl oz
• Nexxus Hydra-Light Leave-In Conditioning Foam - $16.99 // 5.5 fl oz
• Shea Terra Organics Rose Hips Black Soap Deep Pore Facial Cleanser - $16.00 // 4 oz
• Tibi Empire Pouch (Gift W/ Purchase) - $28.00
• Amika Mini Ceramic Styler (Gift W/ Purchase) - $29.00
• DDF Brightening Cleanser/Stila Lip Glaze (Two Pack) - $10.00 

My first experience with the Nexxus Elixir was back in my April Birchbox, this leave-in serum claims to combat damaged, aging hair as well as rebuild strength using ingredients like keratin, argan oil, vitamins, proteins, and omega 3's. Sounds pretty amazing right? Even though the sample bottle that I received was incredibly tiny, I was able to get quite a few uses out of it and surprisingly, I did notice a great improvement with my hair and a decrease in frizz. I'm looking forward to testing out the full size and seeing if the improvement continues.

Okay, okay we're on a bit of a Nexxus kick here but, this was yet another Birchbox sample that was sent out in the past although I never actually received it myself. Since all of you have heard by now just how dry my hair is, I won't go into how I am always on the lookout for new conditioning products. Wait...I just went into it, didn't I? Okay, moving on. I had been wanting to try this product out ever since I first heard about it and I will admit, the words conditioning foam had me intrigued from the very beginning. I have used this everyday since receiving it and I honestly have yet to notice any conditioning magic, my hair feels exactly the same before and after. I am hoping that with continued use perhaps I will notice an improvement?

As someone who has both acne scars and hyper-pigmentation, you would think that I would have purchased this a long time ago (why I did not I have no idea). I have dabbled with black soaps in the past but they were always the cheap brands that sucked every ounce of moisture out my face after using it and because of that, I moved onto other products. But recently, I have been seeing a lot of talk and rave reviews over the Shea Terra brand of skincare and I have been coveting this since. The best thing about this face wash is that is 100% pure, it is exactly what it is supposed to be without all the additives and funky stuff. I have been using this everyday now and each time my face is left feeling cleaner, looking brighter, healthier, and more awake all without so much as a dry patch afterwards. Alright, I sound like an infomercial but I cannot believe that I have finally found a black soap that does not leave my skin dry, tight, and peeling; if these are the results of a few days, I cannot wait to see my how skin is after I have been using it for a few weeks.

Since Birchbox has really been pushing the Tibi collaboration as of late, I jumped at the chance to get a free clutch/makeup bag with my order. And well, I am glad that it was free. While it is a nice bag with a cute print, I do not think it is worth the $28 price tag. Even thought it does seem sturdy and nicely made, the quality doesn't seem to be any different than similar bags available at Target (not to mention my bag arrived smelling like cheap plastic). If they were trying to make this into more of a clutch purse, I would have liked to see the back as a sort of faux leather material instead of the plain grey fabric. Overall, I am glad that I have it since it was a gift with purchase but, I would have been disappointed had I paid full price.

How cute is this mini styler? Okay, I realize that my hair is past my shoulders and so this would probably not be adequate for straightening my entire head but on days where my bangs will not cooperate (which is quite often) or for those pieces of hair that are close to the ears or too close to the roots to risk burning yourself over, this will be quite perfect. I have used this once so far and while it does get very hot, it certainly takes longer than 10 seconds to do so despite what the packaging claims (about 3 minutes give or take). As far as performance, the claim of it being gentle on hair and not tugging is absolutely true, I was able to glide it through my hair without any discomfort whatsoever. The coolest feature? This little guy even has ridges on both sides for better gripping and control. As for straightening ability, it did an excellent job at straightening my wavy roots which is something not easily done. If the full size straighteners were not so expensive, I would happily be purchasing one but, for now I'm content with my Instyler and using this mini for touch-ups and travel.

An old favorite here, my trusty DDF Brightening Cleanser. I LOVE this stuff! I first tried this back in my October Birchbox (the Goop edition) and in the months that it took me to use up the bottle (this was a huge 4 oz sample) I did notice a big improvement with my acne scarring and how my skin felt as a whole; my skin felt smoother, and looked a lot brighter and not so dull. Although it did not make my acne scarring fade completely, I still love this cleanser; so happy to have another bottle on hand.

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Now, a Stila Lip Glaze is something that I will never wear as I personally do not enjoy lip gloss so, I've decided to give it away to one of my lovely readers! I really hope no one is offended by me giving away a product that I received for free, I just figured that someone else would get a lot more use out of it than I ever would.

Giveaway Rules:

• You must be subscribed to Dollface Beauty via GFC, Bloglovin', or email to enter
• Sorry lovelies, but since this giveaway is so small it is US only!
• This giveaway will be open for 5 days! I will announce the winner first thing 7/26/13
• To enter, please leave the comment "I Heart Stila" below along with your blog link (if you have one)

And of course, the prize is this Stila Lip Glaze in "Camera"!

And don't fret, I will be having a proper giveaway very, very soon which will be open internationally!

Much love & Happy Shopping! xo

This giveaway is now closed. No entries. 

Birchbox July

Power Play "This month's box is dedicated to helping you take control of any situation, and to make the most of every minute - on the clock or off duty. We've even called in the experts - namely the characters of USA's hit series SUITS - who were the inspiration for some of this month's samples. Try their picks and don't forget to tune in to the season premiere with @Birchbox on Tuesday, July 16 at 10/9c." Happy Playing!

Well there you have it lovelies! This month, Birchbox teamed up to create boxes inspired by the popular show, Suits. While I have never personally watched the show, Gabriel Macht IS one of my favorite actors and so, I have always been intrigued. Hmm...maybe I SHOULD start watching. As far as the products selected, I can see where a couple of them could come into play with the theme of a long work day but, with the majority of boxes there seems to be a major disconnect between the items and the show itself; I personally feel that they could have done a lot better. With that being said, I am very, very happy with the box that I received! I ended up with box #2 which contained:

• Benefit Girl Meets Pearl
• Benta Berry G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream
• 100% Pure Nourishing Body Cream
• Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect
• Birchbox Bobby Pins

I honestly did not expect to enjoy Girl Meets Pearl as much as I do just for the simple fact that I almost never wear highlighters. For the past few years, my go to highlighter has been Too Faced Candlelight, which is supposed to be "translucent" but on my skin tone, it can quickly look too bright if applied too heavily. I am happy to report that I do not have this problem with Girl Meets Pearl. Because of its slight golden pink base, the hint of color is just enough for it to blend into my skin flawlessly without having to worry about a white-ish cast. I love that the sample sizes of this product come in tube form since the full size version comes with an inconvenient twist up application; I have never personally owned the full size but since you only need a tiny amount at a time, I would imagine that the residual product that got twisted up yet remained unused would dry up and eventually clog up the container. I have yet to wear this for the entire day to see how it performs past a couple of hours but, even if it should wear away, the tube would make touching up a breeze. Would I purchase this? Absolutely. Retail: $30.00 // 0.4 fl oz

I have really been enjoying this moisturizer, the light berry scent is refreshing compared to the usual cocktail of chemicals and artificial scents. I love that it sinks into my skin effortlessly, leaves no oily or sticky residue and fortunately I do not experience any of the pilling issues that I have read about in reviews online. My one gripe is that, I do not whatsoever notice any real "mattifying" effect; my t-zone still produces the same amount of oil as it always does and I find myself touching up with my trusty powder after an hour or so. Would I purchase this? I'm going to say yes because it is a nice moisturizer but, the price is a bit on the expensive side and I have other products that I prefer over this. Retail: $22.00 // 30 ml (1 oz)

I must admit, I was quite amused at receiving lotion in the form of "ketchup packets" as the MakeupTalk forum members have so affectionately deemed them. In spite of receiving such a tiny amount (even though there were three packets) the body creme spread quite well! One packet is enough to moisturize both of my arms with a little left over to work into my hands and cuticles. Unfortunately, I can't say that I like the scent much at all; it DOES smell like green apples, albeit very artificial green apples but apples nonetheless. If I were to purchase this, it would absolutely be in another scent; most likely coconut. I do like that this lotion is all natural and devoid of any chemicals so that is by far a plus. Couple that with it being quite good at moisturizing my reasonably dry skin without the dreaded residue and I think we have a winner. So, would I purchase this? Yes as far as performance goes but, the price is too expensive for my liking. Retail: $15.00 // 8 oz

I really, really wanted to love this product but, it was a complete let down for me. The idea of a simple spray standing up to the challenge of my cactus dry hair was almost comical, and as I had predicted, my wild mane won again. I have used this spray almost everyday since receiving it and I have noticed absolutely no difference between my hair normally and when I use this. This product claims to condition, detangle and protect from UV rays, and while I cannot comment on the UV protection, as far as de-tangling or conditioning, this spray did neither for me. I did like that it left no sticky residue nor did it make my hair feel crunchy but, those are the only pro's that I can give this. Would I purchase? No. Retail: $32.00 // 200 ml

I usually adore when Birchbox sends out little extras such as these (my favorite has been the nail file) but unfortunately, these oversized bobby pins just don't do it for me. Since my hair often has a mind of its own, bobby pins are an item that I utilize almost daily but, I personally prefer the hair matching "invisible" bobby pins to the very prominent, HELLO! Birchbox design. With that being said, I do like the pattern, if instead of pins they had been a clip or hair flower, I would have been in LOVE. All personal preferences aside, these are good quality and quite sturdy, they have a super strong hold which means those fly-aways aren't going anywhere! However, the reason that they hold hair so well is because they do not open much at all. Have you ever had one of those infuriating key rings that you have to fight with and chip several nails before they cooperate? Bingo. Alright, they are not THAT bad but, they certainly do not have the "give" of tradional bobby pins. Would I purchase these? No. Retail: $5 // Set of six

Well lovelies, that's it for my July Birchbox, what did you think of the products? I for one have found a new love in the form of Benefit's Girl Meets Pearl and as soon as I save up enough points again, I will be purchasing the full size. Looking forward to the August box!

Much love xo

Birchbox June

Hey lovelies! Wow, I feel like it has been forever since my last Birchbox post. Forgive me for posting this so late in the game, I know that everyone has received theirs by now but I just received mine about a week ago and I still had to try everything out. Luckily, I can say that it was well worth the wait! Can I just express how much I adored this month? I could not have received a more perfect box; I was sent box #26 which contained:

• Davines Three-Step Hair System (Shampoo, Conditioner, Oil)
• Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser
• Youngblood Hi-Definition Hydrating Mineral Perfecting Powder
• Colorclub WanderLust Collection Polish (Reign In Spain) 

This month, Birchbox decided to revamp their entire look from the design of the website right down to the boxes themselves. They even sent a few postcards to celebrate the opening of their new offices around the world, and so, it was only fitting that the theme for the June box is "wanderlust".

"Counting the days until your next takeoff? Mentally assembling the ultimate packing list for Bora-Bora? Corralling the family for a beach getaway? We feel you. When wanderlust strikes, it sticks. That's why this month's box is filled with samples from near and far that will serve you well on all your summer adventures."   

I think the items that I received fit perfectly with the summer essentials/wanderlust theme. Of course you're going to need shampoo on your travels, along with oil and conditioner to hydrate your hair afterwards. Why not take along an exfoliator to keep your skin looking soft and glowy. Don't forget your powder to keep your skin oil free in the hot sun, and who doesn't want a bright, summery polish to complete the look? Okay...I really am reading too much into this. Let's just get to the reviews shall we?

I am really fond of this shampoo, it has a light, pleasant, almost baby powder scent and a little went a very long way. My favorite thing? It made my hair incredibly soft. I am pretty sure this is the very first shampoo that I have encountered to make my hair feel like I've used conditioner. As far as the conditioner itself, I did not enjoy it nearly as much as the shampoo. Somehow, it actually made my hair my hair feel less soft once I rinsed it out; now that is something I will never understand. How does a conditioner make your hair feel worse!? As far as the oil, I hated it as it did absolutely nothing for my hair -correction- it ended up making my hair crunchy and sticky even though I only used a small amount. I would purchase the shampoo if not for the price.

Davines Shampoo: $24.00 // 8 oz

Davines Conditioner: $27.50 // 8 oz

Davines Oi/Oil: $41.00 // 4 oz 

Now to my favorite product of the box, I am infatuated with this cleanser! I know infatuated is a strong word but, I really do love this product; it has my skin positively glowing after using it and amazingly, I only need a pea sized amount because it spreads quite well. My only gripe is that since it is so dense, I find it a little tricky getting the right amount, couple that with the sample being in a small jar and it's a little rage inducing (I wish it had come with a scoop) not to mention jars can be unsanitary so make sure to have clean hands. But, once I've gotten some out, it is super easy to use. I just rub this onto my face using warm water, after a couple of minutes the sugar is completely dissolved, and I rinse my face with cool water. I can't say that this has done anything for my dark spots, or if it's even supposed to but it has made the large pores on my cheeks a lot smaller. I will be purchasing this at some point. Retail: $32.95 // 4 oz

I honestly did not think that I was going to like this powder as much as I did given my terrible experience with the similar ELF version. Past experiences aside, I find myself reaching for this as my go-to powder now; being my first Youngblood product ever, I am very impressed. Unlike the ELF version which made my face feel tight, dry, and uncomfortable, this powder does none of that. In fact, I can't even notice when I wear it; it blends in flawlessly and does not leave any white-ish overcast or residue on my skin. As far as the hydrating and oil control aspects, my face does feel softer when using this and it does a great job with controlling my t-zone oil. However, this powder does not last all day and I find myself having to re-apply at least once which can be quite messy with the sample jar. I would purchase this. Retail: $40.00 // 0.35 oz

When they said neon pastels, they meant NEON PASTELS ( it looks muted in the bottle, don't be fooled!). This coral/pink shade is borderline highlighter bright to the point that I was very hesitant to even try it. I can't say that I like the way the neon looks against my skintone but, it is a very pretty color; if I could find a dupe for this that was not neon then I would be a happy camper. My gripe with this as well as all other Color Club polishes that I've tried is that it applies very streaky, uneven, and full of bubbles no matter how careful I am, so for that alone I do not recommend. I have heard that the full size CC polishes do not have this problem as the issue lies with the mini brushes, I plan on trying a full size CC polish in the future to see what I think. Retail: Color Club Wanderlust Set: $8.00 // 4 mini polishes

Overall, even though I only received forty points this month, I am super happy with what I received. The polish wasn't my favorite but it is a nice shade and something that I can use. I downright hated the oil but at least it was an extra. Since I loved three items and liked two out of a total of six, I definitely call this a fantastic box. I am SUPER proud of Birchbox, they seemed to have finally stepped it up in terms of sending bigger and better samples; looking forward to the July box!

Much love xo

7 Deadly Sins Of Beauty Tag!

I've been wanting to do the Seven Deadly Sins tag for far too long and now here it is! Thank you so much to the awesome and lovely Cookie for tagging me! Go and check out her blog, The Charming Cheshire, what are you waiting for? Onward we go!

TAG RULES:

• Follow and link the person who tagged you!
• Answer all questions on Greed, Wrath, Gluttony, Sloth, Pride, Lust and Envy
• Tag as many people as you want and be sure to let them know!
• Let the person who tagged you know by sending them a link in a comment!

Greed

What is your most expensive beauty item? Definitely my Philosophy Miracle Worker moisturizer, I purchased the largest size which retails for a whopping, $94 for 4 oz of product. Yikes. 

Wrath   

What item do you have a love/hate relationship with? My MAC Russian Red lipstick. I'm in love with the color of this lipstick (a very classic retro red) but, I absolutely hate the feel of it. I usually love mattes but Russian Red is BEYOND drying. I'm talking annoying, can't ignore it, seventh level of hell drying. Oddly enough, your lips do not actually look dry while wearing this lipstick but, you can certainly feel it.

Gluttony

What brand takes up most of your collection? MAC. I own four lipsticks, blot powder, Prep + Prime lip, Fix +, and Mineralize Charged Water spray

Sloth

Which product do you neglect the most due to laziness? False eyelashes. I own two pairs of false lashes and I honestly never, ever wear them. I've tried quite a few times and they always end up being pushed to the back of my makeup drawer. 

Pride

What gives you the most confidence? Lipstick! If you don't know by now.. I love, love, LOVE my matte red lips, my look just feels complete whenever I wear it. 

Lust

Which item is at the top of your beauty wish list? The Youngblood Anti-Shine Mattifier. Ever since Birchbox sent out samples of this product I've been wanting to get my hands on it. I have combination/oily skin and in the summer time, the oil goes into overdrive. Thankfully, with just a few more Birchbox points, it shall be all mine soon!

Envy

Which makeup product/look is great on others but not on yourself? Blush. I have tried so many different brands, techniques, and shades and no matter what, blush is apparently my worst enemy; I always end up looking flushed like I've been standing in the hot sun. 

I TAG:

Kristina // Discovering Beauty With KV

Jess // Let's Play Makeup

Athena // Modestly Sophisticated

Helen // Dollys And Daisies

Christiana // Life Of O

Jen // Jen Tea

Birchbox April

Hey loves! It is that time again, Birchbox time! The theme this month was "Tiny tweaks, BIG results" this month all Birchbox members both new and old received the Women's Health box plus an entire free year of Women's Health Magazine! How awesome is that? This offer comes in the form of a mail in card where you can redeem the subscription or receive a refund for the offer's value ($9.99). Either way, it is a great deal because you are receiving a free year of the magazine or basically your April Birchbox is free. As far as the items I received, I am in LOVE with this box!!

• Mirenesse Glossy Kiss Lipstick & Cheek Stain (#2 Flirty Kiss)
• Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Hair Elixir
• LAFACE Laboratories PUR Purifying Facial Wash
• Joie Folle De Joie Eau De Parfum
• Simple Skincare Revitalizing Eye Roll-On

The Mirenesse lip & cheek stain is an absolutely gorgeous color! Now, being a matte lip girl at heart, I was not exactly over the moon about receiving a glossy lipstick. Since the shade that I was sent was red, I HAD to try it out (I heart red lips) and I am thrilled that I did! The formula is very creamy, glides on effortlessly and is opaque on the first swipe. The best thing of all? Since the lipstick is so pigmented, I am able to blot a few times to get my desired matte texture while still leaving the color intact. When they said STAIN, they meant it! This lipstick stayed at full opacity for two to three hours; after that along with eating and drinking, I was left with a nice watermelon hued lip. Even though I love this lipstick, I must admit that I am a little cheesed at the packaging. This is in fact a full size product but, it differs from the one available on the Birchbox website in a big, big way. For those that received the Mirenesse, our pencil has to be sharpened whereas the one available for purchase is a simple and much more convenient twist up. You are probably wondering why this is such a big deal, well..the pencil is made out of very thick, rigid plastic and I have NOT had the best of luck with trying to sharpen plastic pencils. My last attempt was with the NYX Slide On eye pencils, what I was left with was a horribly uneven, mangled mess. For this reason I am quite hesitant to possibly destroy my beautiful new lipstick, I will use as much of this as I absolutely can before attempting to sharpen. Retail: $26.55 // 4 g

Ahh Nexxus, we meet again. I will admit, I have been severely slacking on the UV protection lately and my hair has decided to show me how much of a mistake that was! I have noticed that in the past year my hair has gotten considerably lighter (I won't even dive into split ends and frizz!). My hair has gone from being almost jet black to a dull chestnut brown; as you can probably guess, this serum was a welcomed addition to my box! The instructions say to use three to four drops to reduce frizz and improve color, radiance, shine, strength, and volume. I have been using this daily since receiving it; while I do not (yet) notice a drastic improvement in my hair, I have noticed an increase in shine and a decrease in frizz. Retail prices vary from $14-$20 // .94 fl oz

Oh Birchbox, why must you send me a great facial wash that is utterly out of my price range? I really enjoyed using this purifying facial wash by LAFACE; it instantly reminded me of Benefit's Foamingly Clean because the textures are quite similiar; they both have a thick, night cream type feel. The LAFACE cleanser left my skin feeling clean, bright, moisturized, and the pores on my cheeks were significantly smaller. It was not until I looked this up on the Birchbox website that I found out why this facial wash was so good, it is actually a cleanser and toner in one! According to the BB site, it also moisturizes, heals blemishes, tightens pores and improves skin texture. I have been absolutely loving this cleanser, I hate that the sample is so small :( Thankfully, a little does go a long way, I only use three dots of product and it lathers extremely well. Would I purchase this? If it wasn't for the price tag, absolutely! I just might use my Birchbox points for it in a few months. Retail: $48 // 7.6 fl oz

Unfortunately, I do not like the scent of this perfume at all which is surprising considering that it has several notes that I usually enjoy. The list of notes are as follows: Italian mandarin, South American petitgrain, cognac, orange blossom, jasmine, white lily, Damascenia rose, musk, amber and sandalwood. Staying power is wonderful as once I sprayed it on my wrist it lasted for hours, even after washing my hands several times. Retail: $98 // 2.4 oz

I love, love, love this roll-on! Since I often wake up pretty early in the morning and well, realistically I almost never get enough sleep, anything that reduces under eye bags and helps me to look more awake is quite welcome! The serum/gel is formulated with vitamin B5, cucumber extract, and glycerin to help hydrate, refresh and smooth the under eye area. I have been using this every morning since I received it and I have indeed noticed a difference. The metal ball and cooling effect help to reduce redness and puffiness, the mint smell opens my eyes and helps to "awaken my senses" (I have to admit that sounds cheesy but, it's true). My favorite thing of all? It really does hydrate; my under eye area feels so soft and smooth. Please keep in mind that this roll on is NOT meant to treat dark circles. Retail: $9-$13 // 0.5 oz

Overall, I really enjoyed my box this month and I honestly couldn't have picked a better one for myself. Everything that I received minus the perfume were things that I needed and that will be put to good use! Also, my box had two full sized items which is absolutely fantastic in my book. I really hope that Birchbox keeps it up, they knocked it out of the park for me this month!

Quick Tip: Does anyone else love the pillowboxes that Birchbox has recently made the switch to? I find them to be incredibly useful as a little holder for my feminine care products as well as my on the go needs. They are the perfect size for carrying a feminine wipe or two as well as a pantyliner and tampon. Not only that but they are great for carrying little things like Q-tips, bobby pins, hand sanitizer, lipstick, etc. So that those things are not lost or damaged by roaming around in your bag. Now you might be wondering, why not just carry those things in a small pouch or wallet? I hate to waste products! I find the pillowboxes to be adorable and instead of throwing them away, I have found a use for them!

Much love & looking forward to May xo

Birchbox March

Hey lovelies! It's Birchbox time again and I'm proud to say that they have seemed to really step it up with the sample sizes this month (let's hope it stays that way!) While I didn't get the box that I was coveting, I did receive some nice samples. I received box 11 which included:

• Serge Normant Meta Revive Volumizing Dry Shampoo w/ Cedar Bark
• Whish Blueberry Shave Cream
• Caldrea Body Lotion (3 packets)
• Incoco Nail Polish Strips 
• Madewell Emery Board 

The largest item in my box this month was the Serge Normant dry shampoo. If you've been reading my blog for awhile then you know that I have extremely dry hair naturally so, a dry shampoo is one product that I've never needed but, I hate to let a product go to waste. Since most dry shampoos (including this one) are marketed as volumizing sprays, I figured that would be my way to get use out of this product. Unfortunately, my first attempt resulting in me actually having to wash my hair! Spraying this directly onto my hair turned it completely white, chalky and sticky but I still wanted to find some way to be able to use this and I did. I spray a tiny bit onto my comb and work it through my roots that way, I prefer this method because it gives me more control and allows me to concentrate the spray where my hair needs it most. One to two sprays is sufficient for my hair. Even though I found a way to make this work, the only thing that I really like about this spray is the scent; it's light and perfumey with just a hint of musk, much better than the usual hair spray smell to me. There was a lot of trial and error involved in using this because the formula isn't very good, it's powdery, heavy and using too much will quickly end up making your hair look and feel horrible (I learned the hard way). Would I purchase this? Definitely not, I just don't have a need for a dry shampoo and this spray is far from the greatest but, I'm glad that I'm able to make use out of this sample until it runs out. Full price: $25 // 4.5oz

Honestly, I didn't have high hopes for a shave cream because I usually just buy the $4 cans of Skintimate and call it a day, I mean how great could a shave cream really be? Nevertheless, I wasn't going to let this product go to waste. The cream has a pretty interesting scent, in the tube it reminds me of grape candy rather than anything blueberry but, once on my skin that's when the scent became very unpleasant. I know smells can change drastically depending on ones body chemistry and well...my chemistry turned this "blueberry" into BUTTER! That's right, it smelled like butter once on my skin. Now, I like butter as much as the next person but, I'd rather not smell like it; thankfully once washed away the smell didn't linger. As far as performance, I did like how sheer the cream was, it allowed me to see exactly what I was doing instead of blindly shaving beneath mounds of foam. Another pro was that it left my skin feeling extremely soft and smooth; definitely one of the closest shaves my legs have ever seen. While I still don't think that this or any other shaving cream is worth the price, it is a really nice product and if it were to go on sale I would definitely purchase it; until then I'm content with using drugstore shaving products. Full price: $20 // 150ml

Next up is the Caldrea body lotion, I received three packets with a pretty good amount in each packet. My skin has never been super dry or crying out for moisture but I do need to moisturize well and honestly, this lotion did absolutely nothing for my skin. Although the scents were pleasant (not great but pleasant), the formula of the lotion is extremely light, watery and not the least bit hydrating; five minutes after applying, my skin felt as if I had honestly used nothing. I don't expect body butter type hydration from a simple body lotion but I do expect for the lotion to not just completely disappear! This would be better suited as a simple hand lotion rather than full body and for the price, there are MUCH better alternatives. Full price: $22 // 8oz

I can't believe that I have never tried nail polish strips until now! I've heard nothing but great things about Incoco and so this was the item that I was looking forward to receiving. I was hesitant about using them since I have NEVER been good at using peel and stick type items. I'm so glad that I received these because I am in love! The directions were clear and these were super simple to use, I had all ten fingers done in less than 10 minutes. Incoco claims that these will last up to 14 days, I have my doubts that they will last that long but, I will update this post when they do start to wear away. Would I purchase these? Absolutely! I'm already planning on cashing in my points to pick up a few packs as we speak. Full price: $9-$11 (depending on the design) // 16 strips per pack

Is it bad that my second favorite item in the box is the emery board? That's bad right? Well bad or not, I've really taken a liking to this ultra simple item. I've never used a nail file that cost over $1 and honestly, that's most likely why I no longer have them because they constantly broke in half. I'm not saying the Madewell version won't eventually because it's still a typical emery board but it does feel quite sturdy and the little plastic sleeve keeps it from bending in your purse. As far as performance, it shaped my nails quickly, effectively and worked perfectly with my new nail strips! Now, would I purchase a $5 emery board?  Most likely no but, it is a really nice nail file and I must admit that I adore the floral print.

Overall, I thought that I was really, REALLY going to dislike this box but the nail strips, emery board and shave cream redeemed it for me; the nail strips alone paid for the box and so everything else were nice little extras. I enjoyed 3 out of the 5 items in the box and that is great in my book. Happy Birchbox-ing lovelies!

Much love & Looking forward to April!

Update! This is now day 8 and my nail strips are still going strong! Only minor chipping involved

TheBalm Balm Jovi Palette - Review

It's not everyday that you find a makeup palette that is just...perfect. If you've been following my blog for the past few months you'd know that lately I've been diving more and more into TheBalm cosmetics. I've always heard great things but it wasn't until I received a few samples in my December and January Birchboxes that I really became intrigued. When Birchbox had their one day flash sale and this palette went from $39.50 down to $25, I was all over it! (No longer available from Birchbox)

This palette comes with twelve eyeshadows, two lip colors as well as a blush & highlighter (Frat Boy and Mary Lou-Manizer respectively). TheBalm is known for their products being multi-purpose and this palette is no different; Mary Lou and Frat Boy double as eyeshadows, the lip colors double as cheek stains and the shadows can be used as eyeliners; both wet and dry.

My favorite thing about this palette is how pigmented the shadows are, a little bit truly does go a long way. One downside is that they are quite powdery and rubbing your brush too hard will create a lot of excess product and make a mess of the palette (and probably your eyes!) My absolute favorite shadow is Presto, it's a dark brown that I've been using for my brows as well as a crease color. My other favorites are Alice Copper, Third Eye Blinded, Blink 1982 and Adagio. My least favorite is Metal-ica simply because it's a color that I do not wear often. All of the shades blend quite effortlessly except for Solid Gold (Mary Lou-Manizer) the application is very patchy and the pigment seems to all stick to one place making it a pain to blend out.

The lip/cheek colors dry to a semi-matte finish. Milly is relatively sheer brown toned pink; Vanilly is an opaque bright red identical to OCC's NSFW Lip Tar. A balm or primer underneath might be preferred as both are a bit drying but not overly so. Unfortunately, Milly is not flattering to my skintone at all; it is a very nude color on my lips and because of this, it ends up making me look almost sickly.

Overall, I really love this and for the first time with a palette, I find myself using every single product with the exception of Milly and Frat boy. My dislikes with these two being that they do not suit my skintone well; Milly is too nude for me and I wish Frat Boy could have been Hot Mama instead. I can only hope that TheBalm brings this palette back and makes it permanent at some point. One can hope right?

Milly & Vanilly Lip/Cheek colors // 4g
Solid Gold (Mary Lou-Manizer) // 4g
Eyeshadows // 10.8g
Don't You Want Me? (Frat Boy Blush/Eyeshadow) // 2.8g




This palette was a little hard to track down because it is now pretty much sold out everywhere. I was able to find it still available at a few places though so if you would like to purchase, act quickly.

Amazon

Perfumania

DermStore

BeautyBridge

Ebay: here and here

Much love xo

Birchbox February

It's that time again lovelies, Birchbox time! After seeing the sneak peek video for this month, I was so sure that Birchbox was going to knock this month out of the park for me. They didn't but, the stuff that I did receive was pretty good. Nevertheless, my box did have a few hiccups. I received Box 1 again this month which contained:

• Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips
• Skin&Co Bagnodoccia Body Gel
• Color Club Nail Lacquer (Wild Cactus)
• Twistband Thick Headband (Black) 
• Ghirardelli Caramel Chocolate Square

I was excited for the Dr. Lipp because of it's multi-tasking properties. From your nips to your lips, dry skin and cuticles, it seemed like it would be an all around great thing. Well, it is a good product but not great. My frustration first started with the sample size, the tube is very small and on top of that, the tube that I received was basically empty; a thumb nail worth of product and that's about it. Since the balm is so thick (100% natural lanolin) it was very hard to squeeze out of the tube and I had to completely flatten it just to get anything out. As far as performance, it did hydrate my lips pretty decently and made them soft but since the price is $14.50 for only 0.507 oz (15ml) of product, I would try to find a cheaper alternative. I wish I could have tried this on my cuticles but, I just didn't have enough product.

The largest sample in my box was the Body&Co body gel (Olive & Sicilian Orange extracts + vitamin C) The scent is one of those things that you either love or you hate. Personally, I'm on the fence. It's not a bad smell but, it's something that I have to get used to since I'm more of a light scent lover. This gel has a very strong, musky scent that almost leans more to the "manly" side rather than unisex. The scent lingered on my skin after my shower but it was much milder and a lot more pleasant. Aside from the scent, I did enjoy the body gel/wash, it lathered up extremely well even without using much product and it left my skin feeling pretty good. It was not nourishing to my skin even though it contains olive oil but, it did not dry my skin out either. Overall, my skin was left feeling pleasant enough that I didn't feel the need to run and apply body butter. Full size is $17.50 // 8.45 oz (250 ml)

I must admit, at first I was not exactly happy with receiving a green nail polish. My comfort zone has always been black, red or nude nails but, I am happy that I received this after seeing it in person. I've been using it on the tips of my nails and I really love it since it's so different from anything that I own. I have never been impressed with the Color Club brand in general, the few that I have received always chipped beyond belief within a day or two. I must say though, this is the best formula that I've encountered with them. Application is very smooth and is completely opaque in two coats. I personally still won't be purchasing from Color Club but I do look forward to possibly receiving more of their polishes in the future, especially if they have this new formula. Full size is $8 // 0.5 oz (15ml) (Cheaper at other retailers)

Oh Twistband, you keep appearing in my boxes! The biggest dud in my box this month was the Twistband "thick" headband. Just like the Color Club polish, I was not thrilled at receiving yet another Twistband item in my box but, I had plans to use it while washing my face if nothing else. The performance of this headband was just terrible. I could barely move my head without it slipping and sliding all over the place; I had to re-adjust multiple times before I finally gave up and took it off. On top of that, Birchbox claims that these headbands will not leave a crease behind. Well, let me be the first to dispel that claim. The headband not only left a crease, it left a very noticeable DENT in my hair. Set of 6 // $20

To all my chocolate lovers, let's be honest, I'm sure we all enjoyed receiving this little chocolate extra in our boxes. While Ghirardelli is obviously cheap chocolate, it was tasty nonetheless and I enjoyed it.

Overall, this was a nice box for me; it absolutely could have been better but I'm content with what I received. Had my Dr. Lipp tube been properly filled, I would have been much happier. I wish that Birchbox would monitor the samples better so that customers do not consistently receive dud samples like my Dr. Lipp. Quite a few people have reported on MakeupTalk that they have received completely empty Vasanti and Dr. Jart samples. I do realize that some things are always going to slip through but, we shouldn't be seeing the same problems every single month.

Looking forward to March!

Much love xo

Baggu Backpack - A Review

What do you do when you have Birchbox points that are about to expire and you still haven't cashed them in? IMPULSE BUY! I'm kidding of course but no seriously, my points were about to expire but, nothing on the site caught my eye until I saw this bag. I had been looking for a new one for school since the strap and lining on my six year old messenger bag finally called it quits. I was looking for something comfortable, preferably just a little trendy and large enough to hold my art supplies, fabric and just hopefully, my laptop as well. After cashing in my points and also getting free shipping, I paid an astronomical $4 for my purchase.

Photo courtesy of Urban Outfitters (Navy color)

The bag arrived nice and on time, and even through I'm not exactly thrilled on how Birchbox shipped it (not wrapped in anything, folded multiple times and crammed into a box entirely too small) I guess that's what one can expect with free shipping. The bag hit almost all of the points that I was on the market for except being able to carry my laptop, it fell about two inches short. If you have a laptop smaller than my gigantic 17.5 then it will be absolutely perfect, I still love the bag despite that. The backpack is made from 100% recycled canvas and feels very sturdy and well made, that will definitely be put to the test once I take it to class a few times. I really enjoy the fact that the bag is made from recycled material because even though it's small, it's still a contribution to the environment. Baggu even offers a service, if you return your worn out bag to them, they will give you $1.00 towards your next purchase. While I don't think that's much of an incentive for you to go out of your way for, it's something I suppose and that's better than nothing.

Unless you have points to redeem like I did, I suggest purchasing the bags directly from Baggu or Urban Outfitters, as they have a much wider color selection. Currently, Birchbox is only offering navy and white. I chose navy and I really like it, the color has a worn in vibe to it. I can't wait to put my own little personal touch on the bag though, I have a few ideas but I haven't decided on anything concrete as of yet, it is a "canvas" after all. -Cheesy pun intended.

The backpack has a total of three compartments. The first is a zippered outside covering about 1/3 of the front of the bag. It's enough space to carry my "quick grab" essentials like gum, phone, wallet, etc. The other two are on the inside, a small non zippered space at the top and the rest is empty space inside of the backpack. While the bag as a whole isn't the largest or the roomiest, it is just the right size for all of my daily class supplies plus a few extras like my makeup bag, lunch and reading material.

Overall, had I seen this bag in stores I honestly probably wouldn't have chosen it because it doesn't stand out but I really am happy with my purchase. It's lightweight, comfortable and easily customizable. My only downsides are the limited number of compartments, it has two (inside and outside) and the price, at $34 for a small backpack it can be a bit pricey but considering similar backpacks are the same price if not more expensive I can let that go. The bonus is that it is eco-friendly being made out of 100% recycled material and that is good enough for me.

Backpack measurements: 16 inches high and 10 inches wide

This back is currently on sale at Urban Outfitters for $24, here

This backpack can also be purchased here and here

Note: This backpack is not to be confused with the daypack that Baggu also offers, the daypack is smaller, cheaper and made of different material.

Much love xo

Birchbox January 2013

There comes a time, in Birchbox world that you finally get that one box that you were coveting. I'm happy to say that this happened to me this month. It's the first box of the new year and Birchbox couldn't have gotten off to a better start in my book, let's just hope it stays that way! Since it is the new year I am surprised that Birchbox didn't feature more festive related items. Even though I was lucky enough to receive the box that I did, a lot of others seemed to be quite underwhelming. There is one critique I have though and that is, Birchbox, PLEASE stop with all of the perfume samples. I absolutely LOVE perfume and even I'm tired of it. Hear us out and try to incorporate new and exciting things. Now, with that said, this month I received box 1:

• TheBalm "Put A Lid On It" Eye Primer
• Fresh Lotus Face Cream
• Harvey Prince Skinny Chic
• Ojon Damage Reverse Instant Restorative Hair Serum
• Alessandro Nail Polish "Blue Lagoon"

I'm not sure how I feel about the eye primer quite yet. While it is a wonderful primer and it did hold my shadows, I don't know if I like it more or less than my trusty Too Faced Shadow Insurance. The reason being, the texture throws me off a bit. It's not oily but it is sticky which I guess is a good thing because it holds my shadows beautifully. I will most likely purchase a full size when my shadow insurance runs out. Full size retails for $18//0.40 oz of product (Shadow Insurance has 0.35 oz)

I really, REALLY like the Lotus moisturizer. It was light, non-oily/greasy, it sank into my skin quickly and it has anti-aging properties. I honestly can't ask for more in a moisturizer. While it didn't make my face feel especially soft like my Ahava, it did moisturize quite well and it didn't leave any type of residue. The smell is also quite pleasant, it reminds me of cucumbers! Now, the card claims that this is supposed to provide moisture for 24 hours and while I definitely did not experience that, it is a good moisturizer nonetheless. Full size retails for $42//1.7 oz of product

I love the smell of the Skinny Chic perfume, I compared this to DKNY Be Delicious. This perfume is very light and fresh, more so than the DKNY but I'm sorry to say that I will not be purchasing this because I don't like the marketing for this product. For a company to market a perfume that boasts "skinny is chic" and  saying things like "to keep you feeling young, slim and beautiful" and "we empower women to feel young, happy, slim and beautiful". I cannot and will not support that. A company is not empowering anyone if they are marketing a perfume in relation to weight or size. If they had simply left out the slim and skinny nonsense then the message would be great. This perfume has notes of green apple, sweet mint and warm amber. Full sizes retail from $21-$55

I was so looking forward to the Ojon oil but it was without a doubt a big let down for me. If you've been following my blog for awhile then you know that my hair is extremely dry and I have to pretty much work overtime to keep it moisturized. Hair oils seem to be the only product that keep my hair nice and hydrated, Organix Extra Strength Argan oil being my favorite. I used the Ojon oil while my hair was still damp and let me say, this oil did absolutely NOTHING for my hair. It didn't moisturize, hydrate or even at the very least make my hair soft. If anything, my hair felt crunchy and dry after using this which absolutely boggles my mind.  I ended up having to use double the amount of Organix than I normally use just to reverse whatever this did to my hair. Full size retails for $25// 1.7 oz of product

This was my first time ever trying Alessandro polish and well, in my opinion the formula isn't anything special. According to Birchbox, this is supposed to be to be a super opaque polish and it just, isn't. The formula was extremely streaky and applied unevenly. The polish was also a bit sheer and I had to use two coats, almost three, it did dry pretty fast though. I'm not in love with the color but it does look better in person, I will continue to use this until it runs out but I wont be purchasing. Blue lagoon is a very muddy dark greyed blue. Full size retails for $12// 0.34 oz or product

Overall, I enjoyed this box. While a couple products were a definite no for me and all of the products were very tiny, I enjoyed trying them out nonetheless and that's really all that matters.

Much love xo

December Birchbox

Ello Ello lovelies, so sorry for the delay this month but to top off my Birchbox being just a little late, I was sent a completely different box than what was listed on my profile so that was a little odd. Has that ever happened to any of you before? Let me know! The theme for this month is "All Wrapped Up", because of that, our boxes arrived a little differently. Instead of the usual brown box, we received a cute wrapping paper style box.

Surprisingly, i'm actually HAPPY that my box was switched this month because the one that I was originally going to receive was SUCH a downer! Even though there are a couple items in this box that are a bust for me, I feel as though it's a much better fit. I received:

• Thebalm Hot Mama Blush/Eyeshadow
• Frownies Eye Gels
• Nick Chavez Advanced Volume Shampoo
• J.R Watkins Hand & Cuticle Salve
• Emily's Dark Chocolate Mint Fortune Cookie
• Rent The Runway $50 Coupon

My favorite product of this box is by far the hot mama! It is an absolutely GORGEOUS, pink coral shade and it complements my skin tone perfectly. Since I have a very medium skin tone, it's hard to find the right shade because they usually are either way too light or they blend so well into my skin that you can't even see them. I use this as an eyeshadow since I do not wear blush.

The eye gels were a nice surprise, I put mine into the refrigerator for about 5 minutes so they would be just a little cool. I like how refreshing they felt but as far as noticeable results, I really couldn't see anything but I can admit that it would be a little hard to see something after only a few uses. The texture was extremely odd, to the point of almost not wanting to use it so that took some getting used to.

I really disliked this shampoo. First and foremost, I absolutely hated the smell, it's very assertive and unpleasant. I honestly found myself wrinkling my nose the entire time. Secondly, it dried my hair out a bit. Not to the point of feeling like straw as some shampoos have but enough that I won't be using it again. Lastly, I noticed absolutely nothing in the form of volume. I won't totally blame that on shampoo because I do have naturally thick hair so if it added any volume, I didn't notice.

As for the J.R Watkins salve, as a whole, I've never been a fan of the J.R Watkins brand. In general I really don't like the scents and I find that the products that I've tried, really did nothing for me. This was by far my most disliked product though. Even though this product is a solid, once touched, it became an oil. I used this a few times and each time, there was almost no difference whatsoever. My cuticles were slightly moisturized but nothing that any hand lotion or body butter couldn't do so I definitely won't be purchasing. 

I have to be honest here, I was NOT looking forward to the fortune cookie because I usually despise mint flavored things but my GOODNESS, this cookie was DELICIOUS! I really enjoyed this cookie so much that i'm already planning to cash in my points to buy them as soon as they are in stock. It was perfectly chocolatey and not too much mint flavor. LOVED this!

Now that I've said all of the good points about this box, here comes my rant. I REALLY dislike when a clothing or limited size related product is included in any type of subscription box. There are so many sizes and shapes and heights and everything that it's very rude in my opinion to include something like that because if you aren't in the size range then you're pretty much getting cheated out of an item and it's not fair. Rent the Runway's service only goes up to a size 16 and as someone who is a size 24, well this is completely useless to me. I know, I know that in a subscription box there is ALWAYS going to be something that doesn't work for everyone but by including something that automatically excludes a certain group of people, that's just not right in my book. So, shame on you Birchbox. If you're going to include something like this, next time choose a company that caters to all sizes.

Overall, I like this box. At least all of the products I received are things that I will use except for the RTR promotion. My favorites were the fortune cookie and Hot Mama, both of which I will be purchasing!

Much love and Happy Holidays! xo

November Birchbox

I am so sorry for the delay lovelies! Between work and catching a mean flu all over again, I've just been swamped. I missed you all though! Now onto my November Birchbox review, I received mine quite late last month, considering I usually receive them anywhere from the 10-15. I never did receive a shipping email but much to my surprise and delight, my box just showed up one day. After seeing all of the disappointment, I honestly didn't have high expectations. I'm glad though, once again BB came through and I was proved wrong.

 Tis the season of giving and thanks, that was the Birchbox theme for this month. They've already opened up the holiday shop for this year and so far things have been looking up for BB despite the hurricane Sandy tragedy. This month, BB made it well known that there would be shipping delays because of the recent events. Most people received their boxes by the 10th but a few, like me in fact received there's much, much later. I'm not going to complain though because I commend Birchbox for coming through after everything that happened, so many kudos to their staff.

Despite the BB staff giving us their best efforts this month, it was not without incident. From spilled body oils to actually including a men's cologne sample in some boxes this month, quite a few customers were less than satisfied, and I can't say that I blame them. It honestly irks me that BB would include a male item in some boxes (we have Birchbox Man for that!) but what followed that was a blatant plug for new BB Man subscribers covered up by a "holiday giving" scheme. I know, I know that BB is in fact a business and needs to make money but to take our subscription box that we pay for and swap out one of our samples for a male one so we can "give" it to a guy friend so that in turn he can hopefully sign up for BB Man is a new low. Shame on you Birchbox.

All in all though, I am absolutely thrilled with the box that I received. With the exception of the cupcake bath bomb that was sent to a few subscribers, I received everything that I had been eyeing in other boxes, so this was DEFINITELY a great month for me:

• Oscar Blandi Texture & Volume Spray
• ModelCO Fiber LashXtend Mascara
• Viva La Juicy "La Fleur" Perfume
• One Love Organics Aromatic Body Serum "Rose"
• Cranberry Soyjoy Bar
• Give Pillowbox
• Chromatic Gallerie $15 Coupon

I enjoyed everything but the CG coupon, in all honesty it's completely useless to me. If anyone would like the code I would be more than happy to give it to you. Just contact me via email or twitter. It expires 12/31.

I was DYING for this mascara but for me, it fell a little flat. The formula is VERY and I mean VERY dry. So much that I though the product may have been expired until others said the same thing. Despite that, I do like the mascara and I will use it, but as far as purchasing it's a definite no. Even with the lash fibers, I noticed no difference between this and my regular Maybelline mascaras. Be careful as well because quite a few fibers got into my eyes (OUCH) and it was NOT pleasant. 

The One Love Serum was nice, it absorbs into the skin quickly and the rose scent is light. Which I definitely prefer since i'm not that crazy about rose scents, they always seem a little musky to me. I didn't really notice any added moisture but it did leave my skin feeling soft and silky.

I really wanted to love the "La Fleur" perfume since I love Viva La Juicy but this one just didn't do it for me. The perfume by itself smells really good but once on me it smelled like pure watermelon. 

The stand out item for me was without a doubt the Oscar Blandi spray, I absolutely LOVE this product and I will definitely be purchasing the large size. I have always hated the smell of hairspray, even more so I've always hated how the smell lingers. With this, I don't have that, the product smells absolutely amazing and smells more like hair perfume than anything else. It also held my hairstyle in place but didn't make it crunchy or sticky and did not weigh my hair down.

 As much as I thought that I was going to despise the Soyjoy bar, it was actually very good and that speaks volumes for me because cranberry has always been something that I've never enjoyed. If this was available in a plain flavor or maybe even chocolate chip, it would probably be amazing. Get on it Soyjoy!

All in all, this was a great box for me and now I have my eyes on December! Happy Holidays everyone, I hope you are somewhere warm with the people you love. 

xoxo

Ulta's BeautyBlender? - A Review

I've had my eye on the famous BeautyBlender for months but shelling out $20+ for the sponge and the special cleanser was just not on my list. I considered cashing in my Birchbox points for it but I used those for my awesome little Baggu backpack (review coming soon). Needless to say, a blending sponge did not seem to be in my immediate future. You can probably imagine my giddy little excitement when as I was browsing Ulta's website and found their BB knockoff, called the "Super Blender Sponge" for $4.99 no less! I immediately purchased the next day and with my 20% coupon I really got an amazing deal. This little bugger was a bit difficult to find in store, I expected it to be somewhere on the Ulta product table but in fact it was at the back of the store where Ulta's sponge section is, raise your hand if you didn't even know that Ulta HAD a sponge section...am I alone here?

For those that do not know what a blender sponge is, they are not your typical makeup sponges. They are kind of a unique hybrid of a brush and sponge, featuring a rounded flat end and a pointy tip, both used for makeup application and blending. The difference with these is they can be used damp or dry for a flawless and natural airbrushed finish to your makeup and unlike other makeup sponges, they don't soak up all of the product.

As someone who does not wear foundation (ever..) In all honesty I didn't even know what I was going to use the little guy for at first but since then I've been using it for my tinted primer and I love it. Since I've never owned one, I have no idea if it measures up to the real BB, but since they seem to be the same material and relatively the same shape, I can't imagine that the two would be that different from each other. The only differences that I have noticed is that when ran under water, this sponge does not seem to have the expanding characteristic that the BB is known for and the super blender's different shape allows you to grip it better, it's very dense and stiff which gives me exceptional control because it doesn't squish and almost cave in on itself when using it. As far as maintenance goes, I just wash my sponge in warm water with a little bit of mind soap and it's good to go.


When factoring in all of the pro's and con's, I would still pick the super blender for now, maybe one day when I've saved up enough Birchbox points, I'll purchase the BB and compare the two but as of right now, I have no desire to purchase one. I know that quite a few companies have released their versions of BB's so if you are coveting this sponge like I was, I suggest trying those out before purchasing the mothership.

Overall, I'm really liking this product and I will without a doubt be repurchasing when this one gets worn out and grimy.

Pro's:

Very wallet friendly price ($4.99 vs. $20+)
More readily available (BeautyBlender's can only be purchased online or in select stores)
Finger notches allow for a better grip

Con's:

Not as well known
Might have different performance
Does not expand much in water
Stiffer and more dense than the BeautyBlender (I like this quality, some may not)

Much love xo

Update: After using this for awhile, I've come to find that this blender just doesn't perform how I originally thought. After continued use, it seems to get "clogged" no matter how much I wash it, because of this, my makeup is not blended whatsoever and looks dry and patchy. This will be thrown away and I will not be re-purchasing.