Birchbox Bookclub

As part of BirchBloggers, I can enter into monthly drawings for Birchbox's Book Club! In October I received Gillian Flynn's series of Gone Girl (now a motion picture), Dark Places, and Sharp Objects. I read really slowly so I'm only 1/4 of the way of Gone Girl (that and my boyfriend said we should watch the movie before I read the book). I'm so excited that Birchbox has these offers for their blog members! It just makes me love Birchbox even more!

I'm so happy to be reading again!

Birchbox November

Birchbox keeps arriving sooner in the month for me! I don't mind I love being the first to discover what products they picked for me this month! 

• Amika Nourishing Mask - Full size, $28 (Choice product)
• What: Paraben-free treatment that conditions and repairs with superfruit sea buckthorn berry.
• How: Once a week, smooth onto lengths and ends of damp hair. Leave 5-10 minutes before rinsing.
• Gilchrist & Soames Spa Therapy Body Wash - Full size $15
• What: Infused with marine extracts, this gentle wash leaves skin hydrated and freshly scented.
• How: Squeeze onto loofah or washcloth, and work into a rich lather. Apply to skin, then rinse.
• Perlier Absolute Comfort Body Butter - White Almond, Full size $34.46
• What: From the Italian skincare brand, this richly noruishing cream improves tone and elasticity.
• How: Massage the velvety treatment into skin, focusing on dry spots.
• Red Flower Illuminating Rose Collagen Renewal Face Serum, Full size $86
• What: Nutrient-packed, hydrating treatment that boosts elasticity and helps prevent wrinkles.
• How: Using fingertips, blend a few drops onto clean face, neck, and decolletage.
• theBalm cosmetics Cindy-Lou Manizer, Full size $24
• What: This shimmery, soft pink highlighter perks up your features with a natural-looking glow.
• How: Sweep onto cheekbones or eyelids, or lightly dust onto face for a luminous look.
• Bonus: Chocolate Almond Butter for a decadent, all natural treat, Full size $12.99

Influenster: Resource Water

I had the pleasure of being chosen for a ModaVoxBox from Influenster. Within the box had a Resource Water which was perfect given that I was planning on doing a 7 mile hike at Ricketts Glen State Park, PA. Resource Water has electrolytes which is exactly what you need after lots of sweat. The trail was moderate difficulty at some points because it was a lot of uphill & downhill. But the trail is gorgeous there was many beautiful waterfalls and it was well marked. I didn't drink much during my hike and felt fine after. I did finish up the Resource Water (which tastes like water with a little extra taste) its not noticable, but I'm really all about weird tasting waters and knowing a difference (for ex. I always know which water is Danon's). But I am super thankful for Resource water cause I'm the type that gets dehydrated easily so this helped me survive the hike!

resource water with electrolytes!

chilly fall day but still beautiful

Ricketts Glen State Park (1 of many water falls)

Influenster: ModaVox Box

All items in this post were provided to me to review by Influster.

I love Influenster. I love getting products to be able to test them out to see whether I would be willing to purchase it. I hate when you spend money to purchase something and you realize that you don't like it. (For ex. those funky flavors of Lays chips). This week I received my Moda Vox Box.

Resource water (water w/ electrolytes which I am bringing on my hike this weekend!)
Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa Hot Chocolate will be trying this soon since it's gotten chilly!

Rimmel: Scandal Eyes, Moisture Renew Lipstick, And a Moisture Renew Lip Liner
PS Rimmel is one of my favorite drug store brands! (LOOVE Scandal Eyes Liners)

Love the color and the feel. It's like lip balm on the lips!

Hair Food - This smells amazing. I tried it last night
Jergens - also bringing this on my camping trip!

Puffs - is this not perfect for the car? I always keep a box of tissues in my car and it gets beaten up so this is perfect!

Sephora currently has its 20% off F&F sale going on now (until 10/31/14) through Sephora.com. I decided to cash in and buy a few things!

• Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette ($58)
  -3 x 0.11 oz Cheek shades in Luminous Flush (champagne rose), Incandescent Electra (cool peach), Mood Exposure (soft plum) 
• Origins Best Sellers ($38)
  - 1 oz Checks and Balances™ Frothy Face Wash 
  - 0.5 oz Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask To Clear Pores 
  - 1 oz High Potency Night-A-Mins™ Mineral-Enriched Renewal Cream 
  - 1 oz GinZing™ Energy-Boosting Moisturizer 
  - 0.5 oz Plantscription™ Youth-Renewing Face Oil 
  - 0.5 oz GinZing™ Refreshing Eye Cream 
• Tarte Pigment of Imagination Deluxe Cheek Set ($10)
  - 0.05 oz Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in Mirage (soft peachy pink) - 0.17 oz Cheek stain in Fantasy (champagne highlighter) 
• Sephora Express Nail Polish Remover ($5)

My Sephora F&F Haul

Package for Ambient Lighting Blush Palette

Isn't it beautiful?!

Swatches as you can see it barely shows on my
NC35 skin (medium), but this is the kind of blush I like

Tarte Set It's really small but what did I expect for $10

Love the stick color - beautiful!

Physician's Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls in Bronze Pearl

Yesterday I ventured to CVS because Physician's Formula had another $7 Extra Card Bucks deal when you purchase $10 in Physician's Formula. I wouldn't buy Physician's Formula (PF) without this sort of deal because PF never has coupons online nor in the paper. I decided to halt my blush obsession for a bit and venture to a highlight. I currently only use Benefit's Watts Up samples (which lasts me forever). I really love Watts Up and would purchase a full sized one when I run out of the two sample tubes. (Hopefully never!)

I used to think highlighting the cheek bones was a totally unnecessary step (same with blush), but after playing with it. I really like how it lights up my face. I was skeptical about this product because I have read a lot of reviews saying this is too shimmery or too light. So I went for the darkest color they have for medium skin (bronze pearl) because I hate it when cosmetic items make me look like a ghost. I'm not into that Asian-trend.  

This highlighter comes out to $13.99 so after the ECB, it's half priced at $7 + tax. Overall between testing it yesterday and wearing it today, I really like it. I mean its not as convenient to bring around like the Watts Up sample, but it definitely does the trick and seems to be the right color on my skin to give me that glow finish I want.

Don't you wish blogger could rotate pictures?

Mirror + Brush on the bottom

You can barely tell its on but its shimmering a bit!

Anastasia Beverly Hills - Tamanna Palette

I have been eyeing the Anastasia Beverly Hill Tamanna Palette for $29 at Sephora, but alas, after receiving the 20% Friends & Family code and asking friends if they needed anything (after all who doesn't love a discount?)...it was out of stock. I also just ran to the Sephora in Philadelphia to find the whole shelf the product was gone (including it's play with me sample). So being the obsessive person I am and totally loving the colors and knowing that it's limited edition, I needed to find somewhere else that had it and had a discount.

Many sites do not carry this palette, but of course the Anastasia site does! Luckily the site offers free shipping for orders above $29. In addition, if you sign up for their newsletter you can get 10% off using the code "WELCOME10". Although this does not match the 20% off at Sephora (and no Sephora points), it is still a good deal considering Sephora is out of stock and who knows if they will restock.

It also is available from Nordstrom price matched for ($26.10) great if you want to use a CB portal & 5% Chase Freedom for department stores!

For $29 and loving the fall colors this might be my new travel palette! I will swatch when it comes in.

I did contact Sephora to ask if they willing be restocking this and this is the response I got:

According to our inventory system, we do not have an estimated date for when the Anastasia Beverly Hills Tamanna Palette will be back in stock and available to order. Alternatively, we recommend the Make Up For Ever Artist Palette as these colors are similar to each other.

PS the Make Up For Ever Artist Palette is $42.

Target Beauty Box

Target offers a one-time beauty box (Click Here) for $7 + free shipping. Unlike other beauty boxes, you know what you are going to get when you order this box. I wasn't sure if I would order this box, but after reading what other people thought about it and learning that the dry shampoo itself was $7 I figured why not. After all, I always wanted a NYX Milk to try. I do wish that Target would do a seasonal box subscription similar to WalMart so that I can always be guaranteed to receive one in the future. 

love Target

The products

Coupon!

Laneige BB Cushion Sample

Nude Ballet. More like a lip gloss than a lipstick

Products Include (Straight from Target's website)

• Elnett Extra Strong Hold Hairspray (2.2 oz): A favorite of runway stylists, this massive-hold spray adds brilliant shine and brushes out in a flash, leaving hair with a clean, satin finish. ($6.69 full sized received)

• Fekkai Professional Blowout Hair Refresher Dry Shampoo (1.7 oz): Revive your blowout instantly with an airy mist that absorbs dirt and oil leaving hair clean, fresh and lively ($7.99 for 1.7oz (received) - $19.99 for 4.9oz)

• Laneige BB Cushion Sample (Target Exclusive): Pat and press your way to perfect skin with revolutionary 5-in-1 cushion technology that brightens, protects, cools, covers and prevents shine. ($34 for full size)

• NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (.18 oz): Glide-on glam. A velvety blend of mineral oil and powder, this creamy pencil does double beauty duty as a radiant eyeshadow. ($4.49 full sized received)

• L’Oréal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lipstick (.18 fl oz): Knockout hues meet conditioning care in a gorgeous formula infused with precious micro-oils that intensify color, smooth lips and add shine. Colors will vary. ($7.99 full sized received)

• Target Coupon: $3 off beauty purchase of $15 or more. Offer valid at Target or Target.com.

Birchbox October: What a Win!

I received my Birchbox for October early, and boy am I pleased. When I saw a sneak peek that it would be possible for you to get a beauty blender, I crossed my fingers and hoped, because a Beauty Blender has been in my Birchbox cart for awhile. I just haven't pulled the trigger yet.

October Products

This is what I selected for my October Box

In Kitty

Isn't the top cool? Its clear so you can see the color!

Swatched. A nude/pink my MLBB!

Tuscan Honey isn't the container cute?

Camille Beckman Lotion for Dry Hands

My Beauty Blender & Solid Cleaner

In my October box I received:

• beautyblender + deluxe solid cleanser - I've been praying to the Birchbox gods to get this! I tried it this morning and the makeup gurus are right - it applies like an airbrush. I wet my beauty blender and squeezed the liquid out. Put some foundation on the back of my hand dabbed the beauty blender in and then dabbed it on my face. No lines like a brush application and it applied well.
• Camille Beckman - Tescan Honey Glycerine Hand Therapy - I'm going to force my bf to use this because he has really dry hands from washing it a lot.
• dr. brant - pores no more vacuum cleaner - I'm going to force my bf to try this too to get rid of his blackheads - luckily I don't have many blackheads so I'm skeptical to give a review on this for its purpose if I don't have blackheads. 
• ModelCo - Party Proof Lipstick in Kitty - I just tried this on and it feels like lipbalm. MLBB. I love this so much. I might be investing in the line...
• Sage and Fasten - Onward - I'm usually not big on perfume samples, but this is a rollerball and I actually really like the scent

CVS Deals

I went to CVS last night - purely to get a good deal. Right now if you scan your extra care card you get a $5 off coupon for beauty products over $15.

In addition, Physicians Formula had a deal for $7 extra care bucks for spending at least $10 in products (basically 1 product).

Other extra care bucks (ECB) deals:

• L'Oreal Facial Care ($10ECB/$30)
• CoverGirl Olay Facelift Effect ($5 ECB)
• Maybelline & L'Oreal ($5 ECB/$15)
• CoverGirl ($5 ECB/$25) 

Other Offers:

• Make Up Academy had buy 2 products, get the 3rd free.
• Relvon, Rimmel, Milani had buy one get one half off.

So, I spent awhile at CVS trying to think up the best bang for my buck while still sticking to products that I would use. I had an $11 gift card from a previous extra care buck event. 

At first, I was very tempted to just buy a Physicians Formula product (PS. I spent time in store reading reviews on various blushes) and Ardell Lashes ($4.49). This would total $12.79+$4.49 - $7ECB - $5 Beauty Coupon = $5.28 for 3 products

My next thought was to buy Physicians Formula Blush, 2 Make Up Academy lashes (get one free) for a total of $12.79 + $5 + $5 - 7ECB -5 Beauty Coupon = $10.79 for 4 products - but then I have never tried Make Up Academy lashes and well I just don't wear fake lashes that often.

So I looked through my coupon stash and came up with this combination:

Physicians Formula Blush ($12.79)
+ Rimmel Stay Matte ($5.99)
+ Rimmel Lipstick ($5.49)
- $2 Rimmel Coupons ($1 per product)
- $2.75 (BOGO50%)
- $5 Beauty Coupon 

$14.53
- $11 gift card 

$3.53 + tax (I also got a 7ECB to use next time!)

I think I did well! 

Hoping the pressed powder will help with my shine!

Happy Booster Blush in Natural (very light sheen) and Lipstick in 28

Birchbox's Subscription Gift Cynthia Rowley

I love Birchbox. For an annual subscription, Birchbox was offering it at $99/12 months vs. the normal $110. In addition, they provided this beautiful Cynthia Rowley gift which includes this really cute bag, liquid eyeliner, and a palette.

Unfortunately, I believe the offer is over, but keep an eye out for other wonderful Birchbox offers!

I have to admit that after my friend gifted me a subscription, I've been hooked. I have already gifted 2 subscriptions and am considering gifting another...addiction much?

I did not swatch any products, because I might want to gift!

Liquid Eyeliner in Brown Ink

Eyeshadow Palette- No. 1

Colors: Clove, Sugarplum, Patina, Mink, Champagne

Here's my referral link if you are interested: Click Here

Coupons:

Buy any new subscription and get 100 birchbox points ($10) BBPLUS100 (Expire 9/30), BBJETBLUE, BBSTORE100, BBBONUS

Spent $90 on gift subsciptions or in the new bridal shop and receive a free modern mermaid box GIFTFORME

Lorac Pro 2 Palette

I was able to jump on HSN.com's sale when they had $20 off something over $40. $22 + tax for the Lorac Pro 2? Sign me up ASAP. I received my palette last week and decided there's a million swatches out there so I didn't swatch the eyeshadows. Overall I'm loving, but still learning how to use this palette. I'm more of a neutrals sort of girl, so its a challenge getting work appropriate eyes together in a jiffy in the morning. 

The shipping took nearly 2-3 weeks to arrive, because HSN sold out and had to wait for Lorac to provide more. The box it came in had "this package is excited to see you" written all over it. Which I found hilarious. :)

As everyone probably has said before, the Lorac eye shadows are so buttery. I have heard of some fall out, but a quick tap of the brush will help with that. I love the slim packaging of this palette.

Do you all love the Lorac Pro 2? 

10 Mystery Boxes from Allure's Sample Society

I received these boxes nearly 3 months ago, but I figured it would be good for me to run through what I received in case it comes around again. Allure also revamped their boxes recently so it might not be an accurate representation of what is to come.

Allure's Sample Society had a sale for mystery boxes (probably to clear up old stock) so I order 2 orders of 5 boxes for $25 after applying a coupon code I paid $35 for all 10 boxes. The subscription is normally $15/month. (If you are signing up please put my referral: CHRI951622)

Now that I'm blogging I need to work on better picture taking.   

All items from 10 boxes

Lips

Eye

Hair

Body

Face

Nail Polishes

Fragrances

Miscellaneous Items: Blotting Paper, Hair Clips, Fashion Tape, 3 candles 

Considering I received this 3 months ago, I don't think I have significantly used anything. I have gifted a few items. But I think I just need to work through my stash!