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.
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| 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.
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| What it looks like outside. |
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| 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.
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