Birchbox - February 2014

Man, I'm behind on everything this month! I blame it on the cold.

Anyway, Birchbox teamed up with US Weekly to curate February's boxes. They went with a theme of "Step and Repeat" in honor of awards season and the tricks behind red carpet looks. I usually like collaboration boxes, so I was excited to see what I was getting!

The outer mailer was different this month - red with US Weekly and Birchbox logos on it. The inner box was the same!

I received 5 items this month - 4 beauty items and a lifestyle extra.

Ahmad Tea London teas - This is my lifestyle extra. I was actually super happy to get tea! I am a tea fanatic and whenever subs send out tea, they NEVER send it to me! These teas are all delicious. I took them to work for a mid-day pick me up, and the Lemon Vitality is especially great for that! I can attest that they taste great both hot and iced!

Ayres Bar Soap n Patagonia - This is a natural soap with jasmine, lavender, ylang-ylang, and fir. I do use bar soap occasionally, however, when I do, I generally go with Lush or handmade soaps from indie sellers. That said, I don't mind trying another one. I don't care much for the scent of this. It is a fresh scent, but kind of masculine and just not my style. It does have a pretty rich lather. I think I'll finish it up, but I won't buy the soap - for the price I can go to Lush and get one of my favorites!

Juicy Couture Couture La La Malibu perfume - This is a scent with notes of mandarin and pink sugar. It's official - Birchbox is determined that I need Juicy in my life. They have sent me every single Juicy Couture scent they have sent out to date. They aren't bad, but they aren't my favorite. This one is okay! It is nice and summery. I was hoping it would be lots of sweet citrus, but instead it is more floral. Regardless, it smells nice and I'll wear it!

Beauty Protector Protect & Oil - This is a hair oil that protects from damage, UV rays, and heat. It smells just like the Beauty Protector spray - basically, AMAZING. I use hair oil every day, but I am generally not excited to get them, just because my current stash is pretty big! That said, this is a really nice one. It is not heavy at all and it leaves my hair nice and smooth and silky...and the scent is incredible. I might rebuy this one once my other oils are used up!

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Liquid Liner in black - This is a smudgeproof liquid liner. Now, I have a ton of liners and getting a black one is not generally terribly exciting for me. However, I have not tried any of Cynthia Rowley's products yet, and I am really excited to do so! It seems to be easy to work with and it's a full size. Not bad at all!

Overall, I am happy with my Birchbox this month! I like everything except for the soap, and the rest will be used happily (and the soap will be used in one way or another!) I love that I always receive something new to me from Birchbox. 

What was in your box this month?

Popsugar Must-Have - February 2014

I love February. Despite the horrible weather, the snow, and the fact that I'm always crying for spring by the time it rolls around, there's one reason I love it - Valentine's Day! And Valentine's Day means an overabundance of CHOCOLATE EVERYWHERE, and pink sparkly things, and chocolate, and pretty flowers, and did I mention chocolate?

So needless to say, I was excited to start getting my subs this month! Surprisingly, Popsugar was the first one to roll in. I always love getting my Popsugar box. As much as I love my beauty subs, it's fun to get a variety of things, too, and Popsugar always sends things I enjoy.

Here's what I got for February!

The February box promises products to help you treat yourself well while getting ready for spring, as well as an item or two for a sweet Valentine's Day. Sounds good to me! 

Sugarwish Mini Red Cinnamon Hearts - These are little red hots shaped like hearts! They are super cute for Valentine's Day. I am not huge on cinnamon candies, actually...I will be melting these into hot chocolate and/or cider or sharing them at work. I did try a few and they are not too hot, and they are very crunchy. The hearts are cute, but some look more like blobs than hearts...no big deal, though.  The little box is adorable and would be great for storing earrings or other small items. They also come with a discount code for Sugarwish - a site that allows you to send someone a candy gift. Basically, you purchase the box, and then they are invited to pick four candies they'd like to receive, and it comes in a cute box. The service itself sounds really fun, but it is super pricey...$25 for a pound of candy! I won't be using the discount code. Today, I spent less than $25 and got a ton of discounted Valentine chocolate at CVS! But, it was still a cute touch.

Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash - This is a "special extra" in this box. It's a new body wash that is infused with lotion and promises to bring moisture to the skin. It smells so good, super sweet and fruity! Dial is not exactly a luxury brand or a "must-have", but this smells good and I will absolutely use it. I know some ladies were upset with this inclusion, and felt that it cheapened the box. I don't think that is true at all, since it is an extra. I use plenty of drugstore items and I can always use body wash...so I say, bring on the special extras!

K Hall Designs Peony Travel Candle - This is a fresh floral scented candle in a cute little tin, made of vegetable wax. I don't normally care too much for most floral scents, but this really does smell nice in the tin. Unfortunately, I have found that it doesn't have much of a scent while burning. It may be that I've been spoiled by my Slatkin candles! At any rate, it's still cute and smells like spring.

NCLA Nail Polish in Rodeo Drive Royalty - This is a quick dry, chip resistant polish in a pretty dark red/burgundy kind of color. I like NCLA polishes, and this color is pretty, though I have a couple of similar shades! A nice color for Valentine's Day, for sure. It will definitely be tried and worn!

Nourish Organic Pure Hydrating Argan Face Serum - This is a blend of argan, apricot, and rosehip oils that promises to hydrate and soften skin. This is a bit heavy to call a serum, and I would not wear it under a moisturizer if you have oily skin. But for winter dryness, it's great! The last few nights, I've been wearing it to bed under my night cream and I've been waking up to super soft skin. It smells fruity/citrusy and I like the ingredients. This is probably my favorite item in the box!

I lost my picture of the ModelCo Lip Pops Duo, but it is a full sized double ended lipstick and gloss duo. The lipstick is in Dusk, a pinky browny nude (which is not very flattering on me) and the lipgloss is Striptease, which is a shimmery pinky shade with some sparkle. It smells like strawberry and the gloss is not sticky! The colors aren't marked on it, and I was sad when I realized it was the same colors I received in another box a while back...I wouldn't have tried it on if I'd known I already have the same shades (in a different format). I gave this to a friend who didn't mind that I'd already tried it on, as I don't wear the first one much because browny colors don't look good on me. But, it is a nice product if the color suits you!

Gorjana Brooks Jewelry Roll - This is a poppy colored jewelry pouch with three zipper compartments to organize necklaces, rings, and other jewelry and keep them from getting tangled together when traveling! This could have been a really great item, however many of us received defective items, with missing/loose stitching and/or non-working zippers. Popsugar is currently working out how they are going to make up for the defects, since there are too many to replace. In the meantime, I'm using it to store necklaces that won't fit on my jewelry stands.

Overall, this isn't my favorite Popsugar box, but it wasn't a total disappointment for me, either. I wish it had a bit more of a Valentine feel to it - maybe some chocolate and a cute necklace, or even a cheesy romance novel. But, everything but the lip duo will be used and overall I am satisfied. 

What do you think of this month's box?

If you haven't tried the Popsugar Must-Have box yet, feel free to sign up using my referral link!

January 2014 favorites.

Along with monthly empties posts, I've decided to go back to sharing my absolute favorite products for each month. These are things I've found myself reaching for repeatedly and truly enjoying! In January, I tried a lot of new things, and also opened things I've had sitting around, untried. Here are my favorites!

Malin & Goetz detox face mask: This is the coolest mask. It comes out like a typical gel/cream...but as you apply it to your face, it starts to bubble and foam. It is a weird, almost itchy, tingly sensation at first. It foams up so much it looks like you've covered your face in shaving cream! But it leaves my face feeling soft, smooth, and super fresh. I really like it, and I've been using it every Sunday!

La Roche Posay Redermic Eyes: This is a nice eye cream/treatment. I find that it really does help my eye area feel a bit firmer and more perky, and my dark circles are less pronounced. It is a nice kind of thin consistency, which I prefer when it comes to my eyes - it takes less tugging to rub it in than it does some thicker creams! I've been using this morning and night, and will continue to do so.

eyeko Black Magic Mascara: This is a really good mascara. I love that the wand is a bit angled, it makes it easy to really open up the outer corners of my eyes. It gives good length and thickness, and it doesn't smudge or flake on me. I also like that it comes in this kind of tube, rather than the typical rigid one. I feel like this will enable me to get every last bit of product out! If I ever use up my mascara stash, this is one I would likely repurchase.

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Audacious: This is such a pretty bright orange!  I love this shade because it is so outside of my usual range. I'm pale and cool toned, but I wear this anyway, because WHY NOT? The matte finish is pretty, and it does not feel as drying as some mattes do. I want to collect all of these!

BUTTER London Horsepower Nail Fertilizer: My nails are so thin and peely. I've been trying to baby them, and this is really helping! They feel a bit stronger, and I intend to use it for a week each month to see how the long term effects are!

stila Barbie palette: This is a cool little palette...four little shadow trios that can be mixed and matched. I love the color variety, and as usual, stila shadows are great quality. I love how soft and blendable they are!

LUSH Santa's Lip Scrub: I usually make my own lip scrub out of honey and sugar, and it works great...but I was curious about this one, so I bought it. I love it! It has a cherry cola flavor to it, and it leaves the slightest red stain on your lips. It has a slightly more moist consistency than the Popcorn scrub does.  I'll still use my homemade stuff most of the time, but if this is available again next year, I might order another! I do also like the Popcorn scrub, but I find mine more moisturizing.

Lancome Le Stylo in Turquoise: This is the prettiest  teal liner...it is nice and soft and it does not smudge once it sets. I've been using it more often than even my liquid liners this month.

Susan Posnick Coloreyedefine in Sapphire and Amethyst: This is a double ended stick with a purple shadow on one side and a dark blue pencil on the other. The colors are pretty. The shadow is too small to use as shadow, for me, but I love the sponge applicator for defining the crease. 

From top to bottom: Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Audacious, Posnick shadow in Amethyst, Posnick liner in Sapphire, Lancome Le Stylo in Turquoise.

See how pretty the shades are in the stila palette?? 

What are your favorites so far this year?

January 2014 Empties!

This is a new kind of post for me! One of my goals for this year was to buy less, and use up what I have. As such, I will be sharing what I've used up each month and sharing my feelings on each item. I've decided that this applies only to full sized and deluxe sample sizes, and not single use foils. I feel pretty satisfied with my January empties!

Here's everything all together! For the sake of simplicity, I've divided it up into 3 "batches". 

LUSH Ro's Argan Body Conditioner - This is a really unique product! You apply it after you wash in the shower, and then rinse it off, just like a hair conditioner. It smells like fresh roses and left my winter skin so soft and pampered. I absolutely loved this and was so sad to see it gone! This was definitely my favorite of the products I used up in January! It goes so well with the Rose Jam shower gel by LUSH. 

Aloxxi Leave-In Conditioner - This was a nice leave in spray by Aloxxi. It did a good job of keeping my hair soft and conditioned. It has a nice scent and didn't weigh down my hair or make it greasy. There was nothing really unique about it, so I won't be purchasing it, but I did not mind using it at all!

Origins Ginger Souffle - This is a really amazing whipped body cream! It feels light and delicious going on...and it is so gingery! This is not a bakery type of ginger scent, but rather a true, fresh, zesty ginger scent with citrus notes. It felt so refreshing on my skin, with almost a slight tingle. This is really great for the morning. I would repurchase, but I have so many body creams I need to use up. It's amazing!

The Aloe Source Jojoba Radiance Cleansing Polish - This is an exfoliating face wash. It smells so good - just like fresh grapefruit! It exfoliates both with gentle beads and with enzymes. I really loved this, it left my face feeling fresh and soft. I would also repurchase this once my stash is used up!

Tarte BB Tinted Treatment in Fair - This is another BB cream...but unlike many others, this one is actually pale enough for me! It is designed to also be used as a primer, so it leaves your skin with that super smooth feel. I really liked this. It did not have much coverage. I don't think I will repurchase for the price, but I loved the color and finish.

Lancome Genefique Creme Serum - This is a serum with a light creme texture that promises to fight aging. I really liked it! It left my skin feeling nice and fresh under my moisturizer.  I would not repurchase due to the price, but I am so glad I got to try it. It is a very nice serum.

Dermorganics Shampoo - This is a sulfate free natural shampoo. I love that it didn't strip my hair too much! I didn't really love the scent, but it wasn't a dealbreaker. I would absolutely consider repurchasing both this and the hair masque...I'm trying to incorporate more natural  products into my routine.

Minus 417 Hand Moisturizer in Ocean - This is a light hand cream with a fresh, almost slightly masculine scent. I really liked it and it left my hands soft, but not greasy. I didn't love the scent, but it was okay, and a nice break from my usual sweet or fruity scents I gravitate toward. 

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream - This was a great moisturizer - not too heavy, left my skin feeling great, and it lasted a good long time. Really liked the fresh scent and I do feel that it helped keep my skin looking young and fresh. I might repurchase in the future! 

VMV Hypoallergenics Re-Everything Eye Serum - This is the most amazing eye serum! It provides instant tightening, as well as long term effects, and it is free of parabens and preservatives. I love eye creams and treatments - I've always had dark circles and slight fine lines, and I want to prevent those first signs of aging as long as I can. I would love to repurchase this, but it would definitely be a splurge.

Shiseido Perfect Mascara Full Definition - This was a really great, dramatic mascara! I loved how long and full it made my lashes look. I would use it again, but I have way too much in my stash to repurchase!

Be a Bombshell eyeliner in Amethyst - This is a pretty purple marker-style eyeliner. The shade and staying power are great...unfortunately it dried out on me pretty quickly. The marker is a bit clunky to use, but some really liked the larger size.

Juice Beauty Oil Free Moisturizer - This is a simple, light moisturizer. I actually prefer it for summer, but it is also good for using over serums without feeling too heavy on the skin. I love the natural ingredients.

BentaBerry Mattifying Moisturizer - This is the worst moisturizer I've ever tried. Even when I used a tiny amount, it balled up on my skin, and made it look like my face was flaking off. NO THANK YOU. Glad to see this go.

Biolage Exquisite Oil hair treatment - This is a really nice hair oil. It is nothing mind blowing or unique, but it kept my hair soft and smooth and moisturized. I'd use it again, but have too many similar oils to repurchase!

Red Flower gingergrass bamboo scrub - This was a really cool scrub - it was made of gingergrass instead of salt or sugar! It was gentle, and felt super luxurious! It smelled nice and citrusy, too! It is out of my price range for a body scrub, but I really loved trying it.

eyeko skinny liner in black - This is one of my favorite liners. It stays put and goes on really easily. I already have a second black one as well as a couple of other colors. I do think I will repurchase all of the colors once I use up my other liquid liners. The turquoise is especially beautiful!

Annick Goutal Petit Cherie perfume - This is a great perfume - it smells of roses, peaches, and fresh grass. I really like it and would love to buy a bottle of it. I should use up some other perfumes first, but this is definitely on my "rebuy" list!

Did you use up anything you loved in January?

Glossybox - January 2014

I run so hot and cold with most of my subs. Some, I have consistently been with since I first tried them (Ipsy, Popsugar). Others, I break up with and then come crawling back (Birchbox, Glossybox, Sample Society). Glossybox especially always leaves me debating, not because of the products, but because of a combination of price and various other issues, like customer service.

Glossybox ships late. Sometimes REALLY late...and this month, they have had even more shipping delays than usual (weather, waiting for products to be delivered, etc). The good news is, I actually don't mind that. Most of my subs come in at roughly the same time...it's kind of nice to get one spread out like this, when the fun of my others has passed! As long as my box shows up, I am generally happy. More important is what is inside!

January's box has a theme of, simply, "Welcome to 2014"! The card says that they want to make sure we have the best skincare and makeup to start the year off right. 2013 was a rough one, so a fresh start sounds good to me!

beautyblender pure and blender cleanser - This is the "star" of the box, and the item they used to draw in subscribers. beautyblender is a sponge that allows for flawless application of not only foundation, but skin care as well! It's a little different from other sponges. You get it wet before using, and it nearly doubles in size! Then you stipple/pat on your face products. I have tried cheap knockoffs of this, but people always said they don't really compare, and just by feel, I think they're probably right. I'm so excited to try this! pure is just like the original, only it has no dye, which is good for sensitive skin. My skin can handle a dyed sponge, but it's a nice thought. The blender cleanser is a lavender scented wash for the cleanser and also brushes. I've actually tried it before - Birchbox sent it to me a while back. I didn't have a beautyblender to try it on, but it did a really great job of cleaning my brushes, so I'm happy to have another sample! These items alone make the cost nearly worth it!

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash - This is an invigorating and toning body wash with lots of essential oils in it. It smells very herbal and refreshing. I'm always happy to get a new body wash, and i love ones with natural fragrances. It's not the most exciting sample, but it is a good one. It seems this is one of the products that delayed the box, and some subscribers won't be getting it as planned, and instead they'll be getting a perfume. I would have been okay with that, too.

Toni&Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe Casual Sea Salt Texturizing Spray - This is just what it sounds like - a sea salt spray to give the "beachy" look. I have to try to be objective about this. It is a great brand, and the sample size is wonderful! However, I just absolutely hate sea salt sprays. I've been sent so many by so many different brands, and all of them just make my hair look and feel dirty and dry. I guess I just don't have the hair type for it. I've never been able to pull off the "messy on purpose" look...on me, it just looks like an unfortunate accident. No matter, this will be added to my "trade or gift" pile, which already contains a similar spray (not to mention the 4 others I just got rid of a few weeks ago...sigh).

Bellapierre Cosmetics Mineral Blush in Desert Rose - This is a natural toned mineral blush. I love blushes, and this one is very pretty! However, my blush box is a little bit out of control. As it is, I'll probably never be able to even make a dent in most of them. While this is a pretty color, it is not unique in my collection, so I will probably add it to the trade/gift pile, as well. I have a shadow by this same brand and it is gorgeous and good quality! I'm just trying to waste less!

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream - This is a soothing moisturizer with mineral-rich thermal water and hyaluronic acid. I have actually tried this before, (I believe I have 2 pots of it right now, in fact) and it is very nice! Super moisturizing, but not too heavy or greasy, and it smells light and fresh. It feels really nice on my winter skin! I love the .5 oz pots, too, and use them to put foil samples in to make them last longer. I won't be purchasing, only because I have enough samples of moisturizers to live on for a while, and when I DO purchase, I have vowed to buy only natural items. But it is a very good product!

Overall, this is a pretty good box! All of the items are high quality, even the two I will not be using. It's not my favorite box, but it is definitely not the worst. The beauty blender and the body wash alone make it worth it for me!

What do you think about January's box?

Popsugar Must Have - January 2014

Getting my Popsugar box is usually one of the most exciting parts of my month! So needless to say, I was super excited to find it on my porch yesterday.

The Popsugar Must Have box is a little different than most of my subs. It isn't just a beauty subscription...it actually offers a little bit of everything! The boxes contain Popsugar's must have items in categories like beauty, fashion, food, and home! I've gotten everything in these boxes from jewelry, scarves, makeup, chocolate, wrapping paper, books...it's always a fun variety and always things I am excited to try.

The included booklet tells me that this box is designed to help you check off your thoughtful resolutions. I love their booklet because it always tells why they chose the items, which often makes me appreciate them more!

This month's box is packed nice and full! We received six items. I appreciate that Popsugar always sends a variety of full sized items. Here's what we received for January!

Must Have Food

 Pipsnacks White Truffle Pipcorn - Pipcorn is mini popcorn. The kernels themselves are small and bite-sized! The bag, however, is nice and large. This popcorn is delicious! It is flavored with white truffle, and in just the right amount...it adds a bit of amazing flavor, but is not overwhelming! I love that the ingredients are so simple - just popcorn, olive oil, truffle, and salt. Awesome! I have never tried truffle on popcorn before, and I am really glad I got the chance to...it's delicious! The small size of the kernels makes it super easy to eat, as well.

The Juice Generation book - This is a great book that introduces you to juicing. It has 100 recipes for juices and smoothies, and also just a lot of information on the benefits of juicing, as well as how to combine fruits and veggies for maximum benefit. It's a beautiful book! I don't have a juicer, but I am definitely interested in incorporating more of these things into my life.

Must Have Beauty

Revlon by Marchesa Box o' Files - This is just a box of pretty little nail files. They're dual sided to shape and smooth the nail...but more importantly, the print on them is just beautiful! I can always use nail files, and I'll be happy to keep these in my bag and whip them out in public. So cute!

Malin + Goetz Detox Face Mask - This is a foaming gel mask that uses antioxidants and vitamils to cleans pores, hydrate, and brighten. I love this brand, and I was SO excited to get this mask! I tried it, and it is amazing and different from any mask I've ever tried! It really does bubble and foam on your face...so much that it tickles a bit! It left my skin feeling nice and bright and fresh...I will be adding this to my regular mask rotation. Love it!

 Must Have Home

Rifle Paper Co. 2014 Flip Around the World Calendar - This is a desk/flip calendar featuring adorable illustrations of various international cities. I adore this! I love the style and quality of it! I will use it as my desk calendar for the year, then next year, I'll use it to make super cute greeting cards. I do wish the section with the actual calendar was large enough to write on, but no worries, it's still adorable and functional for me.

Must Have Fashion 

Jack + Lucy Tech Gloves - These are cozy gloves that allow you to still use your smartphone or other touchscreen device while wearing them. I so needed these...I was relying on the fold-back kind, which work but when you fold them back, your fingers FREEZE. I live in Indiana, so I need to keep my fingers covered in the winter! These are simple, dark gray with black tips on the "tech" fingers. They will match all of my coats and jackets. They are thick enough to be warm, but not so thick as to be bulky or to be unsuitable for chilly fall or spring days. I'm excited to get them!

Overall, I think this is a really nice box! I love the variety of items, and the mask, calendar, and gloves have already gone into regular use! There is not a dud item in this box. I am excited to see what we'll get for February!

I have consistently been happy with my Popsugar boxes so far and when my sub runs out, I will definitely consider continuing my subscription as a birthday gift to myself! What do you think of these items?

If you haven't tried Popsugar yet, feel free to sign up using my referral link!

Ipsy Glam Bag - January 2014

I'm a makeup hoarder, and everyone knows it! My collection is constantly outgrowing my tiny bedroom and I have more than I can hope to use up anytime in the forseeable future. Regardless, I want more, more, more!

Ipsy has been known as primarily a makeup sub. Most months, they send out mostly makeup items with skin and haircare thrown in from time to time. And I love it for this! However, sometimes I start to get a little overwhelmed, especially when deciding what in my stash to use. So when I saw in Ipsy's spoilers that this month would be heavy on the skincare, haircare, and only a bit of makeup, I was actually excited!

The theme for January is "19 Reasons", referring to the items they are sending out as the 19 reasons that 2014 will be great...which is kind of funny because they actually ended up sending out 20 products instead of 19. (To me, the Proactiv item is NOT a reason, so it still make sense. 19 reasons and 1 regret. That is MY version of this month's theme!)

I was happy to see my bag show up in the mail. Here's what I got in my first bag for the year!

Okay, the bag itself is not so cute this month. The colors are okay, but the design just isn't my style. I would use it to organize my skincare samples, but this bag REEKS. It smells like gasoline had a baby with a pool toy. I've tried airing it out to no avail, so it's probably going into the trash. Also, one of my items leaked all over it, so the back side is stained. I was going to try to get the stain out, but since it smells like satan's chemical-laden butthole, I am not going to bother.

Proactiv Mark Fading Pads -NOOOOOO. When I saw all of the items being sent out, this is the one thing I prayed I wouldn't get. Of course I got them. I am sad. These will be going nowhere near my face, as I like my skin to NOT be beef jerky, thank you. These promise to fade dark spots and discoloration. Well, even if I was going to use them, 4 pads is not enough to really make a difference...even the directions say to allow 5 uses before you start to see results.  I'm not a brand snob by any means, but...really, Ipsy? Party foul. Maybe they can fade the dark spots in my trash can. Goodbye.

Malin + Goetz mojito lip balm - This is a soothing gel balm that promises to replenish and restore lips. I actually like this! I usually try to stick to more natural balms with organic ingredients, but I will use this one up. The ingredients are long scary sounding words, but at least it is free of petroleum and parabens! It has a nice glossy finish and the scent/flavor is very light and not overpowering. This is probably my favorite item in this month's bag! I won't rebuy it, but I will happily use it.

Elizabeth Mott Smooth Shadow pencil in Penny - This is smooth gel eye pencil in a shimmery goldish copper shade. It is marketed as a shadow pencil, but it is thin (the same size as a standard eye pencil) and since I have a lot of eyelid space to cover, I'll probably use it primarily as a liner! It does glide on nice and smooth. It can be subtle, but it is easily buildable. I'm actually really happy with the texture of this! I love the way it looks on the waterline, and it will also be a very pretty inner corner highlight.

Here's a swatch of the liner on skin. It is a gorgeous shimmering copper.

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! deep conditioning hair mask - This is a hair mask that promises to treat and repair dry, damaged hair. It contains avocado, sweet almond, and argan oils, as well as keratin, biotin, aloe, and vitamins! I'm working on babying my hair back to health after years of color treating, so this is beyond welcome. It smells great and I'm excited to see how it works.

Faith Aromatherapy Tahitian Monoi Anti-Aging Sugar Scrub - This is a sugar scrub for the body that promises to smooth, moisturize, and brighten skin. This is the item that leaked all over my bag, so it's a bit dried out. However, it smells very good. I love sugar scrubs and use them often. I am excited to try this one, though I'll need to add some oil to it before I do. The brand seems really great, and the ingredients are simple and fantastic.

Overall, this is a decent bag. I love everything but the god-forsaken Proactiv! I am excited to pamper my hair and skin and hopefully find two new great brands to support.

What was in your Ipsy bag this month?

Beauty Bar Sample Society - January 2014

Sample Society is a strange sub for me. I've signed up for it several times, after seeing things that had been sent out and drooling over them, gotten a box or two each time, and then canceled because once in my hand, the boxes haven't excited me.

I decided to give them another try this month after I saw the spoiler (which was Butter LONDON nail fertilizer or cuticle oil). My box showed up a few days ago, and I was excited to see if this was the box that would finally keep me hooked!

I've always enjoyed their sleek black and silver packaging. The boxes are really great for organizing samples and small items. Inside, the info card tells me that the theme this month is "Take Care", and it's all about post-holiday TLC and pampering. Having worked the holidays and been through the snow storm from hell, I could definitely use the pampering right now! Here's what I received!

butter LONDON Handbag Holiday Cuticle Oil - This is a vitamin rich oil that promises to keep the nails and cuticles moisturized and healthy. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed to get this. Don't get me wrong, it looks like an amazing product! But, I have several cuticle oils already, and I was really hoping for the Horsepower Nail Fertilizer. My biggest hand issue is weak, thin, peeling nails and I was hoping for that to help them out. However, this will be used or gifted and it is an amazing inclusion for a subscription box! 

 Fekkai Advanced Glossing Shampoo - This is a shampoo infused with olive oil that promises to enhance shine and strengthen the hair. I have actually used a sample of this shampoo before and liked it! It did tame my frizz and flyaways and leave my hair nice and shiny. I really hate when subs send shampoos without the coordinating conditioner, though...I just don't think you really try out the full effects when you receive only one or the other. I will eventually use this, but I am going to need to find a matching conditioner first!

Nicole Richie Eau de Parfum - This is a scent featuring notes ambers, fruits, and florals. On me, I mostly smell the amber, which I do like!  It's a bit creamy and warm, and definitely sensual. It is not a scent I would buy, but I will definitely use the sample. I'm glad it is a spray top sample, as the other kind always end up spilling.

Orlane Paris Extreme Line Reducing Lip Care - This is a hydrating lip treatment that promises to fight lines and wrinkles on the lips. I feel pretty ho-hum about this. I do like and use anti-aging products, as I am nearly 30 and terrified of aging! However, I'm not really at the point yet to really appreciate an extreme line reducing lip product. I will use it, because prevention is good and all, but it's definitely not something exciting for me and definitely not something I'll buy any time soon.

StriVectin Present Perfect - This is an anti-oxidant rich cream that promises to make the skin look younger, firmer, and healthier! I do like this brand, and I will try it out. I always appreciate a good moisturizer or treatment, though I have several I like so it will have to be pretty amazing to make me want to buy it!

Like with previous months, I am pretty ambivalent about this Sample Society box. It's definitely not terrible, and there are a couple of really great products in there. However, at this time, the fun and usefulness does not justify the price for me and my current budget. So, I did decide to go ahead and cancel again. Sample Society is really great for people who are looking for samples of luxe products, it's just not what I'm looking for right now (which is new and unique things, mostly!)

Have you tried Sample Society? What did you think of it?