Birchbox September 2012: Underwhelmed.

This is the second Birchbox that left me going, "...eh."

This looks like SO MUCH STUFF, right?  It's an illusion!

This is what's really in this box.  I'm excited about two things in this box, indifferent about two, and disappointed in two.  Can you guess which are which?!

1.  Nexxus Pro-Mend Hair Care Samples - $0.25 + $0.37 + $0.21 = $0.83
2.  Benefit Skin Care Samples - $0.47 + $0.49 = $0.96
3.  Color Club Nail Polish in Status Uptade (Update?) 0.25fl oz- $4.00
4.  Twistband - $1.83
5.  Mighty Leaf Tea in Vanilla Bean, Chamomile Citrus and Green Tea Tropical - $1.99
6.  Youngblood Mineral Primer 5ml/0.17floz- $6.97

Total Value: $16.58

There is also a coupon for Madewell ($25.00 off of a $75.00 purchase).  The Lookbook in the box is a collaboration with Madewell.  It's cute, but parts of it kind of miss the fall trends.  This fall is calling for an interesting blend of shades, sages, crimsons, plums; and beige is a timeless color for balancing out so many deep, smoky possibilities.

I'm really, really excited to try the primer from Youngblood.  I've heard the name Youngblood here and there, and my interest has grown in them the more I hear.  The fact that they're so passionate about cruelty free makes me very happy (and curious).  I'm always excited about tea, so these Mighty Leaf samples are no exception.  I've been curious about the whole Twistband craze, so I'm excited to get one to try out.  I'm always happy to receive nail polish, and whereas I hate tiny bottles, I do like the color I received.  The samples leave me underwhelmed and I'm sure I'll pass them on.

I think this is the end of the line for Birchbox and I.  It's been fun, and I've had some good boxes, but overall I'm unimpressed.

EOTD june 13 2012

Benefit Stay Don't Stray
Urban Decay Naked palette (virgin, smog)
Urban Decay liner in Ransom
MAC e/s Blue Candy
Benefit They're Real mascara

=[  NONE of these brands are cruelty free now.  Lamesauce.

posted from Bloggeroid

FOTD / Mini Review: Natural Faced

I didn't want to get ready at home today, so I started off with my foundation, concealer and HD powder at home, and some Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer for a contour.  I waited until I got to work to play.

I started with my eyes because I didn't know what I wanted to do with my face, so I used the Naked 2 palette.  I had put on the Benefit Stay Don't Stray primer at home about an hour or so beforehand and let me just say, IF you don't use shadow over it immediately, it creases.  What a bummer.  I only used the brush that comes with the Naked 2 palette and I have mixed feelings on it.  I used the Foxy in the inner corner and as my brow highlight.  I used the gorgeous Tease all over the lid, concentrating it right in the center of the lid.  I used Pistol as my inner crease color and Blasted as the outer crease color.  I deepened the outer v with Blackout, and popped some Verve over the ball of my eye (right in the center of the lid) and just a tiny touch in the very inner corner to open my eyes a bit.  I used Perversion on my upper and lower waterlines, letting it smudge out a bit on the bottom.  I used Benefit's They're Real mascara for the first time ever and I have mixed feelings on it as well.

For my face, I used NARS blush Mata Hari with New Order as a highlight.  I put on Urban Decay's All Nighter setting spray, another first, and was pleasantly surprised by how refreshing it was.  I used an Urban Decay gloss, though now I don't remember which one.  Something with surprisingly little color payoff (though it does feel pretty, haha).

FOTD/EOTD: Candy Eyes

While recording my January favorites, I realized my eyes had a definite theme: candy.

Here's the overall face:

NARS Sheer Matte Foundation in Mont Blanc, MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC20, MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC20, Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, Jordana blush in 38 Coral Sandy Beach, & TKDK Perfetto Liner in Sabochan for the brows, TKDK prismagloss in Ciao Ciao

Here's the eyes up close:

Benefit Stay Don't Stray primer, TKDK eyeshadow in Killer Candy, MAC eyeshadow in Blue Candy, Wet N Wild eyeshadow in Brulee, MAC Fascinating eye kohl in Fascinating, TKDK Perfetto Liner in Sabochan, MUFE Smoky Lash mascara in black

Should I do a tutorial or is this one pretty straightforward?

FTC:  All items used in this look were purchased by me except for: the Jordana blush was sent to me for use and consideration, the Benefit primer sample was sent to me by a friend, and the MUFE Smoky Lash mascara and the NARS Sheer Matte foundations were items I received from work.  I was not compensated for this look.  I used these products because I like them, and that is my honest opinion.