November 2013 Ipsy vs. Birchbox Preview

Birchbox:  This month's theme was all about giving and Birchbox is featuring brands that give back and putting an extra yummy treat in each box.

The Balm Stainiac:  I actually received Benefit's Benetint in an Ipsy box a few months ago and traded it, not because I didn't like it but because it was just OK for me and I wanted the perfume.  Well, the sample size for this actually looks impressive and I'm all more getting blushes.

Color Club Mini Nail Polish:  Oh man, Ipsy and Birchbox are both sending us shimmery metallic colors so I hope I get different kinds.  I actually really love Color Club since they're super cheap and have decent formulas.  The colors also look very pretty although not very unique.

DDF Amplifying Elixer:  This is the sample that I'm the least excited for.  I mean, I'm probably only going to get a vile or foil packet of it and it costs $70 dollars so it's way outside my price range, but I do like that it's supposed t make your moisturizer work better.

Folle de Joie Perfume:  A lot of people hate perfume samples but from the sound of the description and how one of my favorite blogger, Brightest Bulb in the Box, described it, it sounds like something I would be interested in since I like the more spicy, musky, mature scents as opposed to sweet candy.

Mox Botanical Bath Milk:  Honestly, this is the kind of product I was looking forward to when I signed up for Birchbox.  Ok, it's a one-time use bath thing but it seems super luxurious AND if I do like it then I can buy it alongside something else for $12.  I'm hoping for the rose scent.

Mighty Leaf Tea Sachets:  On one hand, I'm kind of disappointed because I saw people were getting big Ghiradelli bars and I could really use one.  On the other hand, I have a tea blog so I would like to review them.

Some of the things that are in other people's boxes but not mine are scrubs, body lotions, the Chella Highlighting Pencil, mascara, and chocolate.  I honestly kind of wanted another Chella because I'm lazy and don't want to buy a big sharpener for the one I already have and I also would have preferred getting chocolate because I am a huge glutton, but I'm happy with 5/6 of the things I'm getting.

Ipsy:  Ipsy also stepped up their game this month by giving us 6 products as opposed to 5.  What's more, at least 5 of them are makeup (in my case, it's 6).  I definately feel like I'm getting my money's worth with this one.

EM Michelle Phan Pillow Plush Lip Balm:  On one hand, this is really not that exciting of a product and I could honestly care less about getting it.  But this is also a bonus item from the EM line and I'm glad I got it instead of the mascara.  I hope I get the berry one.

Be a Bombshell Lip Crayon:  There are no reviews or swatcYohes yet of these and we seem to be getting either a horrible bright red or a berry color (hoping for the berry).

Nailtini Nail Color:  I liked the sheer pink color I got in january and found it to be shiny without a top coat and longer lasting than a typical nail color for me.  However, Mai Tai was horrible and chipped in 2 days.  Heere's hoping for the better formula of the first one I got.  Ipsy is sending out a copper rose gold color or a really pretty silver with green flecks in it (hoping for gunmetal).

Pixi Bronzer:  I actually only have one bronzer and it's from Physician's Formula so I'm hoping that this is usable for my lighter skintone.  Britany Balin seems to like it.

Starlooks Gem Liner:  So this is cool.  It's a metalic colored eyeliner and you're either going to get Topaz (a cobalt blue) or Amethyst (a pinkish purple).  I'm really looking forward to this and hoping to get Amethyst but won't complain about Topaz.

Cailyn Built In Sponge Tip Mineral Eyeshadow:  This is another thing that I am completely looking forward to.  It seems like we're getting this nice champagne gold color and although I love mineral eye-shadow, I hate how messy it is.

Some things I'm not getting:
Other EM products:  Everyone was either getting a lip balm, mascara, eyeliner or lipstick.  Now, I'm super happy that I didn't get the mascara and was hoping not to get the balm but apparently that's happening (holding out for berries).  The lipstick looks nice but not too exciting.  Really, the only thing I might have really wanted was the waterliner.  They had all kinds of fun colors and it's nice and retractable.  Still, I'm ultimately kind of apathetic about the EM brand so whatever.
Glamglow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment:  Seems cool (hah!) but I got the Michael Todd Pumpkin Mask (which has lasted me forever!) so I don't really NEED this mask.
BH Cosmetics Galazy Chic Eyeshadow Sample:  These are really pretty baked eyeshadows that are super shimmery.  I mean, I'm getting an eyeshadow so I don't really care that I'm not getting this but they do have some awesome colors.
HSL Professional Argan Oil:  Oh man, I remember when I used to use Argan Oil.  I'll probably have to pick up some more with winter coming up.  Still, I have a lot of hair oils and I still have some Argan oil that I haven't used yet.
Kiss Fake Lashes:  This would have been the worst thing for me to get IMO.  I have super long lashes already and I wear glasses 95% of the time.  Plus these aren't fun or whimsical or anything.
Tresemme Hairspray:  I would have given this to the BF but again, glad I didn't get this.

Overall, I'm excited for both of these boxes.  Hopefully, they get here soon!

If you are interested in joining, here is my Ipsy referral link and here is my Birchbox referral link.

Birchbox vs. Ipsy October 2013

It's that time of the month again!

First off, I have two bags from Ipsy but the only thing that was different between them is one contained the Be Delectable hand cream and the other had the Nourish Organic body lotion.  I actually thought I canceled the second one last month but the thing with Ipsy is that you need to go through like five screens AND click on a link sent through your e-mail in order to cancel.  Well even though I clicked the link, I still got charged and sent a second bag.  Is it a big deal?  Kind of because this month is tougher on me financially and I honestly don't need extras of these products, but it was just 10 dollars.  My second sub is canceled and I'll use the wipes and lotion and figure out what to do with the rest.

Also, I think this is the first month that I've gotten more "makeup" products with Birchbox than with Ipsy.  Even if you consider the Chapstick as a skincare item or something, I got a lip gloss and concealer from Birchbox and a lip gloss from Ipsy.  Most people don't consider nail polish makeup, but 

Birchbox Products:

Chapstick Hydration Lock in Vanilla Cream( full size is $2.99 plus we got a dollar off coupon):  So, this surprised me.  I thought I would be too much of a lip-balm snob to like this and would just throw this to the side, but this actually is not a bad lip balm.  The box says the hydration lasts 8 hours and obviously, that's a gross exaggeration unless you're sleeping.  However, this was soft and creamy, the vanilla flavor was subtle and it kept my lips hydrated pretty well (I felt it on my lips for about 3-4 hours and it's about hour 7 since I applied it and my lips don't feel too bad).  Would I pick this up?  Probably not because I have about 25 lip balms and a crapton more hydrating lip products, but I guess if I'm stranded on a deserted island with 3 dollars and a CVS, then I'd probably pick that.

Benefit's Fake Up (I have no idea how much this was worth but I honestly don't think it was more than a 1/10 of the size of the real one so $2.40):  I've used a few Benefit products and although I think they're good, I never feel like they're worth purchasing the full-sized product.  This might be the most impressive product I've tried from them though.  The stick has the concealer on the inside with a ring of hydrating junk and vitamins on the outside so it's supposed to be good for dryer skin and preventing creasing. 

What it looks like when you wash off your makeup.  It also has a lovely mint trim.

Liz Earl Muslin Cloth (One cloth is $3):  It's a cloth.  I honestly don't think it's that special and will not be buying it, but I do like the way it works with the cleanser and with any cleansing routine.  

Ipsy Products:  

The Bag:  I know a bunch of the stylists are in high school or college but seriously, this is something that you'd see a high-school majorette carrying (the cheerleaders were too cool for this bag).  In addition to the uncredited Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, the font is just...bleh.  Plus the zipper pull doesn't match the zipper fabric.  Easily the worst bag since June.  It's about the same quality as last month's bag though.  The fabric isn't really so much a fabric as it is a double-lined material that you'd find on a pencil pouch.  It also seems water resistant so if you have liquidy things that need stored, here's our bag.  So...decent quality but just bad design. 

Be Delectable by Cake Beauty Hand Cream in Coconut and Cream (Travel Size Sample at $2.50):  I was hoping for the lemon one since I'm a big sucker for citrus things but it's not a big deal.  The scent starts out as being a mix of pineapple, coconut and vanilla (so this should really be called Pina Colada) but after about five minutes, fades to just vanilla with a hint of coconut.  The smell is subtle but it actually does linger for longer than expected, so if you dislike scents (especially vanilla) then you might want to avoid this.  I'd rather have unscented than scented hand products but the vanilla smell doesn't smell fake or have a bitter note to it like a lot of other hand lotions.  However, there is a slight waxy scent mixed in with that lingering vanilla. 

As for the formula, it's very creamy and thick but you should only use a little bit at a time or else it won't absorb as well.  It's an OK hand lotion and will definitely be used, but the hydration pay-off is only slightly higher than average and it takes a few seconds too long to absorb.  I'll probably use my Out of Aftrica Shea Butter hand lotion for the really bad times, but the Be Delectable hand cream is a decent everyday hand lotion.

Big Sexy Hair Blow Dry Gel (sample worth $6):  I don't even own a hair dryer so my initial reaction was to just write this off as the worst product in the bag.  I mean, I'm never going to use it.  I hate blow drying my hair.  However, i put some in my hair out of utter curiosity about how sticky it ould make my hair.  Turns out, your hair will keep its natural texture.  That's right, it isn't sticky or crunchy or a weird plastic feeling, just maybe not as smooth.  For me, this is a big thing since I hate it when hair products make my hair feel like crap.  Maybe I'll buy a hair-dryer so I can figure out if this actually works.  Maybe.  Still, good job Big Sexy Hair.

What it looks like outside.

What it looks like inside.

Zoya Nail Polish in Giovanna (Sample was full size at $8):  I love Zoya.  Since being introduced to them in May (by Ipsy), they have become my favorite polish brand.  They're the same price as Opi and Essie but the quality is so much better, they can last up to a week (most polishes last 3 to 4 days) and they're 5 free.  But you get it, Zoya is just a great brand.  This color is stunning.  Green is my favorite color so despite my disappointment at getting two greens, I'm glad I got this color.  Giovanna is a rich, vibrant emerald green with the teensiest blue shift.  It really pops on my hands and looks amazing with a top coat.

And Now for some Showdowns!



Lipgloss:  Pop Beauty Aqua Laquir in Flowering Fuchsia (Birchbox) vs Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly.

 Pop (Sample was full size at $14):  This is described as a non-sticky hydrating gloss.  Flowering Fuchsia is a bright but darker pink with no sparkles, just gloss.  First off, this packaging is just super cheap looking for something that's praced at 14 dollars a gloss.  I think the Revlon and Almay glosses I have are more visually sophisticated than this plastic squeezy tube.  However, the upside is that it shouldn't waste as much product because you can squeeze it so the gloss gets on the brush.  Despite the bright color, the gloss is lightly pigmented and the gloss just brightens up your lips a bit while still looking natural.  You put the gloss on using this weird little plastic spatula applicator which I'm assuming is supposed to be more hygienic and the gloss has a fresh minty smell with not too much tingling (reminds me of the Covergirl Wetslick Amazmints which were absolutely amazing lip glosses).  My biggest problem with this gloss is that it's super thick.  Now, it isn't sticky (the Buxom is actually stickier), but I feel a bit like Goomy when I wear it.  It's ok when worn on it's own and I'll even say that it's longer lasting that most of the lip-glosses I've tried, but just don't plan on kissing your boyfriend (or girlfriend) while wearing this.  It's also super glossy, which is good and lasts a good 3 to 4 hours if you don't eat anything.  It's also hydrating.

Buxom (worth $9):  A lot of people really wanted this plumping lipgloss from Ipsy so my hopes were high.  The packaging is nice with a silver Buxom on a nice clear container.  The color is a lovely medium mauve with a subtle gold sparkle that really doesn't show up on the lips but props to Ipsy for having both of their lip products have nice colors (that hasn't happened since May with the Juice Beauty glosses and the Mirabella Sheer Lipsticks).  You apply it via a doe-foot applicator and it smells a bit like the burnt sugar on top of a creme brulee.  The gloss is a tad thick for my taste and a bit sticky but not unbearable while the color is subtle and pigmented enough to give a color while not overwhelming your lips.  This all makes it sound like some amazing lip gloss but well, I have a bit of a problem with the plumping gimmick.  It's not always bad, but when I company puts that a lip gloss is supposed to be "plumping", that means that it irritates your lips by giving it a tingly feeling.  Your lips eventually adapt to it and really, any plumping effect is from the multidimensional aspect of the gloss where the lights give an effect of bigger lips.  I don't mind the tingling feeling for 5 minutes or so but this stuff tingles for more than an hour.  The first time i wore it, my lips felt numb.  It's a little better now but the gloss still gives you that feeling like you ate too many Popsicles and should eat something at room temperature.  If you don't wipe it off or eat, I'd say this lasts about 2-3 hours.  I don't think it's very hydrating but it isn't drying or weird feeling either.

Verdict:  I don't think I'm a gloss person anymore so unfortunately, these both are just not my thing.  I'm glad I got both since they're both nice colors and at least I know not to buy them, but if these were the only two lip products in the world, I'd probably go with Pop Beauty.  Sorry Buxom, but I just don't like how you make my lips feel cold.  Plus personally, the purple doesn't go the best with my skin-tone.

Facial Cleansers:  Liz Earle Cleansing System (Birchbox) vs. La Fresh Oil Free Cleansing Wipes

Liz Earle (This one's interesting because the starter kit is $24.50 for 3.3 oz of product and 2 muslin cloths so subtract 6 and divide by 3.3 makes this sample worth around 6 dollars): First off, one of the main ingredients in this is cocoa butter so once you're through, it does leave your skin nice and hydrated and I'm thinking it might be a nice cleanser for winter.  It smells a bit like Vicks and the way that they want you to use the cloth is actually quite nice and may encourage me to buy some muslin cloths.  However, it's not really great for removing make-up.  It works for lighter makeup and things that aren't super waterproof, but put on some They're Real mascara and you're going to have some smudgy black eyes.  This kind of turns me off since they advertised it as removing super tough makeup.  Still, I will use that sample and the cloth.

La Fresh (sample size worth $3.33):  Oh man, I hate La Fresh in general.  I once got a sneekpeeq mystery box with a full pack of their hand sanitizing months and just threw them away in July because I only used 1/2 of them and the seal fell off.  The makeup remover wipes they had in March for Ipsy were...meh as well.  However, these are nice.  They smell a bit like hibiscus again and although they don't remove waterproof mascara great, they do it better than the Liz Earle.  Honestly, they're just decent facial cleansing wipes that also are biodegradable. 

Verdict:  I like the extra moisture from the Liz Earle but I like the convenience and effectiveness of the La Fresh.  Ultimately, I think La Fresh wins. 

So who comes on top?

Box Values:  So strangely enough, I got the box values to be almost the same:  Birchbox was $28.40 and Ipsy was $28.33.  Part of this might be because I foofed around on how much some of the samples were worth but even then, they would maybe be a dollar or two apart.  One thing that I will mention is that Birchbox has a pretty sweet points system so if you review your items, you'll pretty much get $6 back in points.  Birchbox wins!

Best Item:  The best items from each box is Benefit Fake Up and Zoya polish in Giovanna.  Now, I wrote half of this review two weeks ago so my objective opinion is that they both aren't as awesome as I originally thought they were.  The Zoya was beautiful but stained and the Fake Up is great but not worth the price for how little coverage it gives.  However, I bought Zoya polishes in the beginning of the month so I think that fulfilled the purpose of what these beauty boxes are really supposed to do: get you interested in brands so that you will spend your hard-earned money on them.  Ipsy Wins!

Worst Item:  Liz Earle Muslin Clothes vs. Buxom.  I mean, this one is tough because we're pitting something that makes you feel cheated (the cloth) against something that I personally dislike (the lipgloss).  I guess Ipsy tried and didn't just send some paper card or something as a sample.  Birchbox split a system that was supposed to be used as one into two so despite not actually hating the product, I just hate the idea.  Ipsy Wins!

Overall Products:  I have to say, I at least liked all of my Birchbox items.  I have the Chapstick in my pocket, I use the Fake Up every time I see it and the other two are things that I occasionally grab for as well.   From the Ipsy bag, I use the hand cream and wipes occasionally and stare at the Zoya, but have not used either of the other products (but am considering using the blow dry gel because the BF got a hair-blower).  Honestly, I found Ipsy's products this month to be eh.  They weren't insulting but they just didn't seem that great in quality.  I mean, that hand lotion is just way too sweet.  Birchbox gave some basic products that worked and were more appropriate for my age.  Birchbox Wins!

So, I hope that helped .  If you are interested in either of these beauty boxes, here is my ipsy referel link and here is my birchbox. 

Birchbox vs. Ipsy October 2013 Preview

What am I getting in my Birchbox?

Benefit's Fake Up concealer:  I like Benefit.  I'm not in love with them like other people are, but I've tried a few products from them and thought they were nice (I also love their tiny samples).  I've heard good things about this concealer and honestly, have been on the hunt for something that will stay put and look nice.  Fake Up also intrigues me since it has a ring of vitamin E and other things that make it sound like an eye-cream combined with a concealer.  I just hope that I get a good shade.  

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Starter Kit:  I've seen a few of the boxes and I'm impressed with the size of this product.  It sounds interesting because one of the first ingredients is coco butter and the cotton washcloths included make it sound pretty luxurious.  I've heard good things and this seems like a nice compromise between something you use in the shower and a cleansing towelette.  

Pop Beauty Aqua Lacquer:  My experience with Pop Beauty has been through ipsy where I have gotten an average mascara (Smokey Lash Ka-Pow or something like that) and a lip crayon that was also average.  Birchbox is making this lip gloss sound ok (not sticky and whatnot) but I'm still a bit meh on this lipgloss.  Oh well, I guess I'll have to try it.

Chapstick Moisture Lock:  Oh Birchbox.  You know that I got you because I wanted to try some luxury products, right?  Seriously, who hasn't tried Chapstick.  I get that you need to moisturize your lips and I do that, but I've become such a lip-balm snob that I'm using all-natural, vegan, gluten-free, paraben-free, gold-dusted, argan-infused megabalms (kidding) and could never go back to these plebeian lip-products!  Actually, I don't care.  Ok, it's Chapstick and kind of boring, but I need to make sure that every nook and cranny of my bags, purses, hoodies, non-hooded sweatshirts and jeans has at least 3 lipbalms or else I'd forget one and be in mild discomfort for 4 hours.  This just helps with that goal.

Liz Earle Muslin Cloth:  Seriously Birchbox, that is not a sample.  You'd better be happy that I like most of this bag or else I'd really bitch.

Some other notable products people are getting are theBalm's Staniac, a Karuna mask and a few fun skin products.  Other than Staniac, I pretty much got what I wanted to try out from Birchbox.

What I'm getting in my Ipsy bag

Zoya Nail Polish:  For all those people not excited for this, I'll gladly take your polish.  I freaking love Zoya!  They're easily the best of the mid-range polishes because of their long-lasting, 5-free and have awesome colors and formulas.  So excited.

Buxom Full-on Lip Polish in Dolly:  Looks like we're going to have a product battle between Birchbox and Ipsy.  I like how this is supposed to be a mauve color with some gold sparkle.  Ok, that's not the dark, semi-gothy red that I wanted but I love the swatches of this product and like a good lip gloss.

Sexy Hair Blow Dry Gel:  I'm sick of you, Sexy Hair!  I don't style my hair, at least not that often.  I don't even think I own a blow-dryer so this is going to be so useless for me.  I hate gels too since they tend to make my hair feel disgusting.  I did like the Sea Salt Spray I got from them though so maybe this will be a decent thing (all the other products were ok, but unused).

La Fresh Oil-free Cleansing Wipes:  God, I hate La Fresh too.  They seem to be in every make-up subscription box because no one wants to buy their overpriced wipes (We have Yes To for that) and honestly, I haven't been impressed with any of the product I've had from them.  I got some antibacterial wipes from Sneakpeeq and after trying to force myself to use them for 6 months, I just threw 1/3 of them away and their Make-up Remover Wipes were oily and didn't work.  I guess I'll use them since I need cleansing wipes.

Be Delectable Hand Lotion:  I need another hand lotion like I need a hole in a sweater but this one seems cool.  I hope it isn't too fragrant and it moisturizes well, but am generally looking forward to trying this.

Stuff I won't be getting from Ipsy:  

Bella Terra Minerals Mineral Shimmer:  I already got 2 Mica Mineral Shadows and a butt-ton of pigments from other companies so I'm glad I'm not getting this.

Ole Henrickson Truth Serum Collagen Booster:   This is a really high-end skin product but I'm also not at the age where I NEED to have this.  

Coastal Scents Medium Eye Brush:  I actually have this (although this one looks synthetic and the one I have is natural).  It's not a bad eye brush and works well if you're building a collection.  Although I don't want to participate in a Coastal Scents mystery box, that's a great way to get a bunch of their brushes, which are ok for how cheap they are.

H2O Plus Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment:  I tend to have dry to normal skin so as much as I'd like a fun new moisturizer, this one looks like it's for oily to combo skin.  

Nourish Organic Deeply Moisturizing Coconut and Argan Body Butter:  Sounds fun.  I wouldn't want this and the Be Delectable in the same box, but I wouldn't be mad if I got this instead.

Ofra Sultry Lipgloss and Plumper:  I couldn't find any reviews on this guy so I'm glad I got the Buxom instead.

Ole Henricksen Truth Creme advanced hydration:  Ok, I want this.  I'm considering ordering the sample on Amazon since it's 10 dollars and I don't think anyone wants to trade the La Fresh wipes for it, but this is something I would have really liked to try.

Sexy Hair Spray Clay Texturizing Spray Clay:  What?  For me, this would be another useless product.  However, I would have liked to get this so I could give it to my boyfriend.  

Starlooks Lip Pencil:  This is a decent product but the colors on these tend to be terrible for me.  I got Bare and Tipsy and have not used them.  Seriously though, a clear lip liner would be nice.

Wet and Wild Fergie Photo Op Eyeshadow:  I'm glad I didn't get this not because I'm all above drugstore brands or something, but because I'm totally buying this next month.  I've heard good things about this and the last drugstore thing I got (Jessie's Girl Eyeliner) was pretty good so I'm glad I'm getting some more interesting things to try that I can't just go out and buy after a 2-minute walk.  

I'm pretty happy with what I'm getting.  It would be nice to get one of the Ole Henricksen products just to try them out, but I honestly can't complain.  

The real battle starts when I get both boxes :D

If you are interested in subscribing, here is my Birchbox referral link and here is my Ipsy referral link.  They're both 10 dollars a month and both ship around the middle of the month.