Tag: stila

February Birchbox Unboxing

.Reading time 6 minutes.

Guess who disappeared for a few weeks, I was out at my parent’s place for almost a week and then I didn’t have my laptop for the week after that. I had to get my keyboard replaced because of some issues with it. So I am a little late on this one, oops my bad. 

So I got my February Birchbox and to be honest, it was fine. It was not earth shattering or ground breaking because it didn’t feel super personalized to me. 

The box was super cute and I still don’t know what I am going to do with the boxes as I accumulate them. They may just be recycled because I can’t figure out a good way to upcycle or use them to DIY.

I’m going to dive right into the products because this is so late. 

Marcelle: City 24-hour Anti-Pollution Day & Night Moisturizing Emulsion

            I used to live much closer to a big city and there was plenty of pollution there, now that I have moved to more of the country I have noticed fewer problems with my skin. I am still excited to use this because I like the idea of it. It feels really good on the skin though so I am ready to try it. I am hoping that it doesn’t have any adverse effects on my skin but I guess we will see.

Number 4: Jour d’automne Smoothing Balm 

            My hair is pretty smooth to begin with so this one doesn’t feel too much like me. I will probably save it for use during the summer when the humidity takes my hair and makes it unruly. It smells really good but it just isn’t for me on a daily or even weekly basis year round.

Proenza Shouler: Arizona eu de Parfum

            It smells so good! However, a full sized bottle is $100, now I am not normally a perfume person, I don’t go out much and usually if I do put something on it is just a body spray not a perfume, because perfume it just really expensive. I like the citrus notes in this perfume because when I do use perfume I go for more floral, fresh, and fruity so this was right up my street. 

Stila Cosmetics: Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Paradiso

            The insert said this was a cranberry shade, it looks more grape to merlot shade to me. It is much more of an autumnal shade. It is a really nice shade though. I haven’t had a chance to really try it on besides a swatch but it is really not a spring color to me so when it becomes more seasonally appropriate I will give it a shot.

Sunday Riley: Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream

            This one I did choose when it gave me the ability to customize my box with a sample pick. I have been a far off fan of Sunday Riley for years, I have never had a product from that company before because it is really expensive but now that I am taking better care of my skin I have started to use an eye cream and I am looking for a different one as opposed to the one I am currently using. (check out my skin care routine to find that out) There is not much in the tube but it’s only a sample size so I cannot be upset about that. 

            So there was my box for February, it was fine, I cannot complain because it is only my second month getting the box and I can imagine as time goes on it will get better. There were some hits and some misses in this box but I can use everything, it does not mean that I will not use the products because after use I may love them so this is initial in my life, this is just an unboxing, this is not a full in depth review so take my opinions with a grain of salt. 

            Well I will see everyone in a few days, have a good rest of the week!

            -MJ

January Birchbox Unboxing

.Reading time 10 minutes.

So I decided that I was going to subscribe to something new because I found myself down a subscription box after unsubscribing from Marvel Collector Corps and I have been seeing this one online for such a long time now. 

I want to pause a moment before I go on with my unboxing and review, I had a comment on my Marvel Collector Corps box that I have since deleted because I found it very triggering. It started out with “you people wouldn’t be happy if they hung you with a new rope” I have been thinking about that exact line for over a month now. With that being said, I understand that everyone on the internet is entitled to their own opinion, I use a platform to talk about my opinions all the time. That was not my issue with this comment, first of all you should never knowingly go on someone’s blog, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, or any other social media platform and tell them that they wouldn’t be happy even being hanged with a new rope, there is a line there that is crossed the moment you make that suggestion. I shared my displeasure and disappointment with a box and a service and everyone’s experience may be different but malice filled comments like that aren’t welcome. 

The internet allows people this false sense of anonymity, it allows people to think that they can say hateful things or mean things and not make the person on the other side of the screen feel something about it. Even if you copy and paste a comment over and over onto multiple blogs or comment sections hoping to get a rise out of one person, for that person to comment back and start something; that’s just not right. We don’t need drama, we don’t need to be at each other’s throats all the time to get a reason to say something to someone because you don’t agree with them. We are allowed to have our opinions and guess what, we don’t have to agree at all that is the beauty of free will. 

Now away from the heavy stuff because I do not want to pollute my 2019 with negativity. 

I was expecting a little box to show up in my mailbox, it was a bubble envelope with a small box in it and within the small box was the actual Birchbox, it was a lot of packaging. Because I subscribed in January I got a bonus and it was on the outside of the box in the bubble envelope, making it necessary to have an extra layer of packaging. 

The box was super cute though and I absolutely love it. 

Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara 

            This was the bonus for my January subscription and I have been seeing this product online for months now. Benefit Roller Lash is one of my all-time favorite mascara’s and I am hoping that when I actually get to play with this product in the future I feel the same way I do about Roller Lash. The packaging on it is crazy though, super cool.

MAC Cosmetics Strobe Cream in Pinklite

            I think this is the first MAC product that I have ever owned, MAC is one of those brands that I would see walking through department stores and everyone always looked so professional and knew how to apply makeup so beautifully. From everything I have heard about the brand I am super excited to use this. It is an iridescent pink and it is actually a really pretty shade. According to the pamphlet it is green tea and vitamin infused so that means not only is it pretty but it is actually also good for your skin. I love multi-duty beauty products. 

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner

            I got this product in my July ipsy Glam Bag and I am still no better at eyeliner, it has a really nice formula and is really pigmented but I still think that eyeliner is still a thing that I need to work on; like majorly work on. I cannot do a wing to save my life, it ends up wonky and stupid looking. My cat eye turns quickly into a raccoon the next morning after going out the night before, it’s a mess. Liquid eyeliner is like my White Whale; I may never be successful with it but I will continue to try. 

Stila HUGE Extreme Lash Mascara

            I used Stila back in the day but it’s been a minute since I have used anything from the brand. I love mascara because honestly with how often you are supposed to throw away your mascara there is almost no point in buying a full sized product so having a trial or travel sized can make it a little easier to keep yourself honest and not keep a mascara for years on end; which I am for sure guilty of. It has a nice formula from the one time I have used it so far, I wanted to see what it did to my eyelashes and I am excited to wear it for a full day and see if it holds up. 

Winky Lux Strobing Balm in Radiant Pink

            A brand I have heard of and have been meaning to try, it is a beautiful color and the pigment is amazing with such a creamy formula. I am such a huge fan of highlighters and I think this is the first cream highlight that I have ever gotten. I swatched it and was absolutely in love with it. I am really looking forward to having a reason to wear this everywhere on my face. 

Minu Shampoo, Conditioner, and Hair Serum

            The conditioner and the serum according to my insert pamphlet were bonuses but it is really nice to have the whole set to see how it works with my hair. I do color my hair, that’s not even a secret, I have for several years now and this shampoo is supposed to be safe on color and I am always looking for good shampoo that doesn’t strip my color out quicker than I want it to. The formula actually seems to be preserve color which is even more exciting. I have never used a hair serum but I am looking forward to trying it out.

            Like ipsy this box gets better and better as you review your products so they can get more in your head and learn your beauty and skin care preferences so I am excited to see how this evolves as the months go on. 

First impression: I like it so far and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next month. It may be kind of similar to ipsy but I really like both formats. If I would start getting a lot of duplicates then I would have to make some concessions on which one is more worth it but for now, I am just excited to see what I get next month.

            Do you subscribe? Any beauty tips? 

            -MJ