Sephora Play! July Unboxing

My Sephora Play! box arrived the other day and a few minutes later, I posted a photo of the contents to Instagram. Right away, I started getting comments from followers that had gotten a different box and I was surprised because so far, the Sephora Play! boxes have all been the same. 

Then I remembered that when I first signed up, I filled out a profile that asked about my skincare concerns and skin type as well as hair care concerns, so  guess it was always safe to assume that Sephora would start to vary the boxes based on people's answers. 

It appears that there was a "dry skin" box and an "oily skin" box. The dry skin box that I received has Benefit's Dew The Hoola, Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, and First Aid Beauty's Face Cleanser, while the oily skin box contained Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer, First Aid Deep Cleanser with Red Clay, and Smashbox Pore Minimizing Primer. The other three items were the same. 

Here's my full box contents: 

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser (1 oz. sample) I love First Aid's Ultra Repair Cream so I'm excited to try this cleanser! It claims to be packed with antioxidants and pH balanced to be gentle yet effective at removing makeup.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (.25 oz. sample)This is the first primer I ever tried back when they first hit the market and I used to use it religiously. Since then, I've tried SO many different primers, I'm looking forward to trying this one again and comparing it to some of the newer formulas I've been using. 

Benefit Dew The Hoola (.16 oz. sample) This is a matte liquid bronzer which I don't have a lot of experience with (I normally use powder bronzers) so it'll be interesting to play around with this one. I'm a huge fan of the powder version of Hoola because it's the perfect bronze...not orange at all, and I'm hoping the color of this lives up to the original.

Ouai Wave Spray- (1.7oz. sample) I was about to buy this and I'm so glad I didn't, because this is a really generous sized sample! I'm always looking for ways to air-dry my hair in the summer and I'm definitely going to try spraying this on damp hair and putting my hair up in bantu knots (thanks for the suggestion guys!). 

Beautyblender Blotterazzi (1 sponge) This is essentially reusable blotting "paper" made out of the BeautyBlender sponge material. You can carry it with you and blot away oil on the go, then just wash it and reuse it! The regular size is $20 for 2 sponges, so this one is worth the $10 price of the Sephora Play box. 

Nest Citrine Perfume (1 vial) I admit, I sprayed this as soon as I opened the box. I love Nest fragrances and this one is no exception...it's very fresh and clean with a bit of citrus. It's perfect for summer! On the Sephora website, it's described as "bright, refreshing, & sparkling" with notes of Lemon Blossom, Lotus Flower, Freesia, Dew Drop Accord, and Precious Woods. 

Overall, I'm very happy with this month's box! I have to say, this is the first subscription box that has had three good months in a row...it's definitely worth the $10 to me. 

To sign up, please visit Sephora.com

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Sephora Play May 2016 Unboxing

After months of waiting, I finally got an invite for the Sephora Play box in April and my first box arrived yesterday! It costs $10 a month and includes 5 samples (plus a fragrance bonus) The May 2016 theme is "Forces of Nature"...here's the official description:

Earth to Beauty: This month, discover products that are high performing — and good for you, too. Take your beauty back to its roots with hardworking formulas like a brightening facial treatment for petal-soft skin, an antioxidant-rich lipstick made with organic ingredients, and more products that prove that looking beautiful is only natural.

It came in a really cute black and white striped box, and inside, there's a guide to all of the products, including tips on how to use them. The products themselves came housed in a cute little drawstring bag...I really appreciate the extra attention to detail instead of just throwing the samples into a box loose (I've had several subscription boxes over the years that do that!).

This month, there were two makeup samples (both lip products), two skincare samples (really four if you count each Origins mask separately), one hair product, and one perfume. Play also comes with a card that you can bring in to Sephora and get 50 extra Beauty Insider points with any purchase. So basically, if you go in and spend $50, you'll get those 50 points, plus 50 more using the card. 100 points gets you another deluxe sample, so it's a pretty good deal.

The first product I saw was the new Origins Maskimizer Skin Optimizing-Mask Primer ($22). You spray this on before applying a mask and it's supposed to improve the way your mask goes into your skin as well as hydrating, soothing, and boosting your skin's radiance. Also included are two Origins Masks to try...Clear Improvement ($26) which is a charcoal mask to clear your pores and Drink Up Intensive an overnight mask to quench dry, dehydrated skin.

Also included is a deluxe sized tube of Korres Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial ($48). I've been wanting to try this overnight mask because it has a high dose of Vitamin C to help brighten your skin and fade dark spots in 14 days. I'm not sure if this tube will last that long, but it might, depending on how much I have to use to cover my face. I'm looking forward to trying it!

Next up is the Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask ($36). I've tried this treatment before via Birchbox and Ipsy and I do like it....but I'm not in love with it. It's a conditioner that hydrates my hair and doesn't weigh it down, but I didn't see results like I would from a deep conditioning mask, which is what this is supposed to be. I am happy that Sephora is giving this sample in a tube because my previous samples of this were in a tiny jar, which wasn't as easy to use.

The two lip products in the May box are Tarte's Tartiest Lip Crayon ($18) in Latergram (which is described as mauve, but I found it to be a little warmer than your typical pinky cool-toned mauve) and Bite Beauty's Amuse Bouche Lipstick ($26) in Kimchi (described as a shocking pink). The Tarte lip pencil is really creamy and I like the nude pinky brown shade. The Amuse Bouche lipstick is a beautiful formula...very creamy and hydrating but also long-lasting. I'm not a fan of the bright color and can't really see myself wearing it but I like the formula so much, I'll probably get one in another color.
Both lipstick samples were nice deluxe sizes that'll last quite a long time.

The fragrance bonus was a sample vial of Atelier's Orange Sanguine Absolue Pure Perfume ($120). This perfume is at a higher price point than I would normally pay for perfume so I've never tried any of Atelier's fragrances. That being said, when I first opened this vial, I smelled oranges right away, and while it was pleasant I wasn't sure I wanted to smell like an orange. Still, I wanted to be able to talk about it on the blog so I put a little on my wrist and after a few minutes, it morphed from straight-up orange into a really beautiful, fresh citrus scent with a bit of warmth to it. It made me think of sitting in the warm sun in the middle of an orange grove that's near the ocean. I immediately dabbed some more on my neck and was impressed that it lasted most of the day. This isn't a scent I would normally go for, but it was a really nice discovery!

Overall, I really like the Sephora Play box but I'm not 100% sold on it just yet. I cancelled my other subscription boxes because they were always sending the same products over and over again and including brands that I wasn't interested in. So far, I like the brands that Sephora included in this box but I'll have to give it a few months to see how I like the subscription overall.

Have you gotten a Sephora Play box yet? What do you think of this subscription so far?

Sign up for yours at Sephora.com/play

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Sephora Play Available Now!

I got an email today that the Sephora Play! Subscription box is now available for anyone to sign up. There are still a limited number of spots to go around so if you're interested, I would jump on it as soon as you can.

It's $10 a month and features 5 deluxe samples plus a fragrance bonus. Past boxes have included deluxe sized products from GlamGlow, Marc Jacobs Beauty, Bumble & Bumble, Sunday Riley, Nars, Fresh, Kat Von D, and more! These are the brands I wish were in my other subscription boxes, so I didn't waste any time signing up for this one.

Here's a look at April's box...it includes one of my favorite face serums, Sunday Riley Good Genes, which retails for $105!

I'm hoping I signed up early enough to get a May box...I think they ship out at the beginning of the month.

Grab your subscription now before they're gone at Sephora.com

Choix Brings the Makeup Counter To You

When you're shopping for makeup online, have you ever wished that you could order samples of whatever you wanted, so that you could try the products first? I think it's a brilliant idea, so when a company called Choix approached me and asked if I would want to try and review their service, I jumped at the chance.  

Choix (pronounced "shwaa") means "choice" in French, and they're an online beauty boutique that lets you try makeup before you buy, essentially bringing the makeup counter to you. It's perfect for those who don't live close to stores that sell certain brands, don't have the time, or just don't like shopping in-store for makeup. You can purchase as many samples as you'd like and they even have a subscription box option, so you can try products on a monthly basis. Let's take a closer look...

Julep Maven August 2015 Box Review + Free Box Offers

Julep Maven is the only subscription box I still receive, and for good reason! It's always been my favorite because you always get full sized products and it's so customizable, you can always make sure you get what you want. Plus, Julep isn't all about nail polish (although their 5-free formulas and color selection is amazing)...they also have beauty products that are so great, they've never let me down in the year-and-a-half that I've been a Maven! 

When you join, you take a quiz that will recommend a certain box for you, whether it's an all nail polish box, a nail polish/beauty product combo box, or all beauty products, but you don't have to stick to that...you can go with whatever box you'd like. I usually make my decision every month on the 20th when you're allowed to peek inside your box. If I'm not happy with what I'm getting, I switch! 

That being said, I almost always stick with the Beauty box and use the points I accumulate each month (just for having the subscription) to add on a nail polish for free. This month, instead of adding on a nail polish, I added on something a little different...so keep reading to see what was in this month's box! 

Rocksbox Review

This is my second Rocksbox review and I'm so excited about this box! In case you missed my first Rocksbox Review, you can see that here. Also, keep reading to find out how you can try Rocksbox for free your first month.

Julep Maven May 2015 Sneak Peek (and why I cancelled my other Subscription boxes).

The Julep Maven window is open today, so I was able to log in and see what I'm getting next month and make any adjustments.  I'm really excited about the upcoming box!  I have to say, Julep is the only subscription box I still receive every month.  I used to get quite a few, and have slowly been giving them up...in fact, I just cancelled the last two I was hanging on to...Birchbox and Ipsy, because they're just not exciting to me anymore.  I feel like they keep sending repeat or similar products and a lot of them aren't really a great fit for me. They've just gotten...well, boring!

It's funny because when I first signed up for Julep, I planned on a 2 or 3 month trial run and figured I would probably cancel it soon after because how interesting could a nail polish subscription box be? At the time, Ipsy was wowing me every month with exciting new products and plenty of full sizes, so I assumed I was going to be with them for the long haul. 

Well here I am a year and a half later, still going strong with Julep...and I haven't been disappointed in a box yet!
I originally signed up for the Julep Modern Beauty Box (there are 5 boxes to choose from). Modern Beauty isn't a nail polish box...instead you get 2 full-sized Julep beauty products. They can be anything from skincare to makeup, or a combination of the two. There have been one or two months where I decided to go with one of the other boxes if the beauty products didn't interest me, or if one of the nail polish boxes was so amazing, I just had to have it.  Some boxes come with 1 beauty product and 2 nail polishes, so those are a great combination of the two.

For May, the Modern Beauty Box contains a duo eyeshadow palette called Feels Like Velvet and a full-coverage lip crayon with a moisturizing treatment core in the middle called It's Balm.

Here are the shades they chose for me...plus I decided to add on a nail polish I liked from one of the other boxes (it's free using my Jules, or points). Each month, you get 300 Jules to spend and 1 nail polish costs 600 Jules.  That means every other month I can add on a nail polish for free!

One of the best parts about Julep is that they let you choose your colors. I wasn't crazy about the eyeshadow shades they picked for me because I don't think I'd wear that peachy shade, so I chose a different one...

Rocksbox Review (and Coupon Code)!

I love fashion but when it comes to accessorizing, I'm a little bit lost. Mostly, I'm jewelry-challenged...I never know what goes with what and have a hard time mixing and matching pieces. So when I was recently approached by Rocksbox to review their jewelry subscription service and of course I said yes! 

Rocksbox is the premiere destination to borrow designer jewelry before you buy. For only $19, you can borrow as much as you'd like! Keep reading to find out how you can get your first month free.

Here's how it works: 

• Sign up at www.rocksbox.com
• Take the Style Survey and add items to your wishlist.
• Your stylist will send you 3 pieces based on your style and tastes.
• Keep the jewelry as long as you want (as long as you're still subscribed).
• When you want to change it up, send your jewelry back in the prepaid envelope and you'll get 3 new pieces.  You can do this as often as you want.
• Each month, you'll get $10 in "Shine Spend" to put toward purchasing an item you love so much you just can't bear to send it back (and the jewelry is 20% off retail prices!).
• To purchase an item from your box just keep it and send the rest of the box back. Your credit card will be charged for the price of the item, minus any credits you may have.
• Every time you refer someone to Rocksbox and they sign up, you'll get $25 in credit to spend on jewelry purchases! 

Please note that all jewelry is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized every time it comes back to Rocksbox. The pieces I received looked brand new!

I received my box the other day and right away, I loved the packaging...it was tied with a pretty ribbon and inside everything was personalized.

Memebox Special #50 Step-by-Step Skincare Review and Unboxing

I was so psyched when my latest Memebox arrived on my doorstep, because it's an entire Korean skincare routine in a box (minus the cleanser but I have enough of those anyway)! I've been using the multi-step Korean skincare routine since last summer and I can't believe what a difference I've seen in my skin. If you missed my post that details the entire routine, please click here.

This latest Memebox makes it easy to follow the routine and they've chosen some really stellar products that are multi-tasking so you can skip a few of the steps and shorten it a little bit. Let's take a look!

This box cost $29 and contains 6 full size products worth $189! This is what I love about Memebox...the value is always excellent.  Where else can you get an entire skincare regime for $29?

Every box includes a card that details the products and how to use them. If you're new to Korean skincare products, they're way ahead of Western skincare formulations in terms of cutting edge ingredients and research.  When things become popular here (like BB Creams for example), we often find out that they've been popular in Korea for months or even years before making their way here. Korean products are also typically filled with active ingredients rather than a lot of filler, and the market is so competitive there, the products are often a lot cheaper than an equivalent product here in the US.

Julep Maven February 2015 Review and Unboxing Modern Beauty

I got my Julep Maven box yesterday. I always look forward to it because it's so customizable, I can always make sure that I'm going to like what's in it.  

About Julep/How it Works: 

If you're new to Julep, it's a subscription box that's $19.99 a month. When you sign up, you take a quiz to find out what your style profile is (you can switch it if you don't like the results of your quiz). With most of the profiles, you'll get 2 nail polishes from the new collections each month and one full-sized beauty product. I chose Modern Beauty this month, which is 2 full sized beauty products...here's a look at each profile and what you can get with each.  

Each month on the 20th, you can log in and look at what's inside your box.  You can swap profiles and get a different box, plus add on extra products (and sometimes change shades like I did with my eyeshadow last month). You only have a day or two to make your changes and then it's locked in.  

This month, I decided to stick with my Modern Beauty profile, because I wanted to try the beauty products that were offered, plus I had some points (Jules) saved up from my last few boxes so I added on two nail polishes for free using my points. (You earn points automatically with each month's box and they add up so fast! Every few months I can add on nail polishes for free). 

This Month's Box:

Scentbird Perfume Subscription Review

Finding that perfect perfume can be tricky...sometimes you can smell a sample in a magazine or spritz a little on your wrist while browsing in the store and think you love it, only to purchase a bottle and realize that it actually gives you a headache. Or it's so sweet it starts to make you feel sick after you've worn it a few times. Wouldn't it be great to take home a sample large enough to use for an entire month to make sure you love it? 

Enter Scentbird, a perfume subscription service that allows you to choose from 350+ designer fragrances and take home a 30-day sample for only $14.95 a month.  

Here's how it works:

1. Sign up at Scentbird.com, take the quiz and get personal recommendations.
2. Choose your perfume.  You can go with one of the suggestions based on your quiz answers, or just choose one that you've been dying to try.
3. Get a generous .27oz spray in a luxury case (each subsequent month, you'll get a refill for your case).

With Scentbird, you don't just get a typical sample in a glass vial...it comes housed in a beautiful, sleek black case that reminds me of a large lipstick tube.  To open it, you just twist the tube in the middle and the spray nozzle pops up from the top.  When you're ready to dispose of one sample and get the next one, just pull the perfume vial out of the top of the case and pop a new one in!  It also comes in a soft, black velvet bag to store it in...the packaging is just so luxurious, I love it!

Beauty Box 5 January 2015 Unboxing and Review

PR Sample

My Beauty Box 5 arrived a few days ago and it's my first one of the new year! If you're new to BB5, it's a monthly beauty subscription box. You get 5 deluxe samples that can include makeup, skincare, haircare, nail products, accessories, or fragrance for $12 a month. So let's see what I got this month! 

One thing I love about Beauty Box 5 is that they usually send a nice mix of different types of beauty products, rather than all makeup or all skincare.  This month's box was definitely diverse...it had a little bit of everything.

Memebox Thanksgiving Box Collection #2 Review

I'm really behind on my latest Memebox review!  It was sitting on my doorstep on Christmas Eve when I got home late from my in-laws and then we were travelling all over between different family get-togethers so things have been hectic the past few weeks.  

This is actually the Thanksgiving Edition, and while the holidays are now behind us, I just have to say...this is my favorite Memebox to date!  

The idea behind the Thanksgiving box was really cute...there was a box "for me" and "for you", the idea being to keep the "for me" box and gift the "for you" box to a friend or family member over the holidays.  I got the "for you" box to try and it's packed with some really innovative and unique Korean beauty products...take a look!

When you open the box, there's a really nice sentiment, thanking the person for being beautiful and making the world a better place.

They included the standard card (which is a lifesaver) that explains all of the products since they're mostly in Korean.

Glossybox December 2014 Review and Unboxing

Wow, I am loving this month's GLOSSYBOX! This is always the last box to come each month, but it's always such an amazing value that I get really excited about it. It's my most expensive subscription at $25 a month, but it contains all high end products, many of them full size so it more than pays for itself. Plus it's a great way to try more expensive products to see of I like them without breaking the bank. 

This month's box was so pretty and festive in a red and green theme. They always wrap it up like a present each month with a ribbon and a card but this one was extra special.

This box contained almost all full sizes, which was incredible! So here's what I got...

Rituals Miracle Hand Scrub ($17)- This hand scrub is full size and has nourishing oils and gentle exfoliators to help smooth rough dry hands. Lord knows my hands need all the help they can get! I'm loving this product already.

Ipsy Glam Bag December 2014 Review

As always, my Ipsy Glam bag was amazing this month.  I'm constantly impressed by the samples they give me for only $10 a month...they're almost never boring and they tend to include newer products I've been wanting to try which is just so great.

This month's bag included:

Bumble and Bumble Repair Blow Dry- This is a really new product that I've been wanting to try and I'm so glad I didn't buy it yet because now I can try it for free!  It's supposed to be a serum-in-cream for dry and damaged hair that seals split ends...perfect for my hair type!

NYX Butter Lip Balm- I love NYX and this is a full-sized product which is great.  This butter lip balm is so soft and gives a sheer wash of color that really pops.  The shade they sent me, Parfait is a fuchsia with blue undertones an it's actually pretty pigmented yet it still allows my lips to show through a little bit so it's not an intimidating color.  I'm in love with how easy it is to just swipe on and go!

Nourish Organic Eye Cream- This eye cream is perfect for my dry skin.  It has no scent and contains avocado oil, argan oil and shea butter.  I can't wait to use it tonight!

Cailyn Just Mineral Eye Polish- This is a full size product and it's a loose eyeshadow in the base with a sponge-tipped applicator in the handle.  This shade, Orchid, is a beautiful shimmery pinky taupe that goes on smooth and pigmented.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara- This is an old favorite of mine and I'm super happy to get a travel size!  You can never have too many mascaras.

Here are swatches of the NYX Butter Lip Balm and Cailyn Just Mineral Eye Polish...I was really surprised at how much color is in this lip balm...I really want to try more shades now!

Coupon Codes:

Free Gift and 20% off any purchase at Cailyn Cosmetics using code IPSYCAILYN.

30% off any purchase at Nourish Organic using code LOVEIPSY30.

25% off NYX Glam Collection at NYX Cosmetics using code NYXGLITZ.

20% off at Tarte using code IPSYDEC

Overall, I'm super happy with this month's Glam Bag.  There were two full sized products and it had a total value of $31.99 not including the eye cream because I don't know how much it costs yet (it's going to be released in January). I always feel like they send me products that are tailored to my skin type and makeup preferences.  So many other subscription boxes have you take the quiz but then ignore your answers.  I've never found that to be the case with Ipsy.  If you're thinking about trying a  beauty subscription, I highly recommend Ipsy!  Click here to sign up (you can cancel any time- there's no long term commitment).

Beauty Box 5 December 2014 Review and Unboxing

I got my Beauty Box 5 in the mail this week and I was excited as always, to see what was inside.  For those of you who don't know about Beauty Box 5, it's a monthly beauty subscription box that gives you 5 curated beauty samples for $12 a month (or $8.25 a month if you sign up for a 1 year subscription!).

The first product in the box is Lucky #6 by Lucky Brand.  I love their jeans, but I'm not head-over-heels for this fragrance, which is described as lotus, tiger lily, cashmere woods and jasmine.  It kind of smells old-lady to me- floral and a bit powdery. I feel like fragrance is very hit or miss in a subscription box because of the personal nature of it.  I don't find this scent offensive in any way, it's just not for me.

Body Drench Lip Drench (full size $4.99) is a nice lip balm that's pomegranate scented.  It contains Vitamin E and other moisturizing ingredients and feels moisturizing on the lips.  It's not super exciting but you can never have too many lip balms, especially in the winter!

POPSUGAR Must Have Box December 2014 Review Unboxing Plus Coupon Code!

I was so excited to get a POPSUGAR Must Have Box this month! These boxes cost $39.95 a month and always contain amazing products that go way above and beyond the cost of the box.  Let's check out what I got! 

SPUN by Subtle Luxury Speckled Metallic Scarf in Light Gray ($62)- Can we just talk about how pretty this scarf is?? It's super festive and cozy while managing to be lightweight at the same time.  

Sparklepop Sydney Pendant Necklace ($42)- I love that this 18k gold plated necklace is super long because I can wear it that way, or twist it up to make it shorter.  It's simple yet elegant...just my style when it comes to jewelry.

Memebox Princess Edition #1 Snow White Review and Unboxing

It's time for another Memebox review!  This week, I received one of the Princess Edition boxes and I was psyched because I had seen these on their site, but never expected to get one...yay!  This box is the Snow White edition...and you guessed it!  It's packed with 6 full-sized products to even out your skintone and fade spots.  Now that I'm in my mid-thirties, I've come to realize how important an even tone is for anti-aging...it's not all about wrinkles!  When I look back at photos of myself in my 20's I had such clear, even skin and now I have all these freckles and sun spots to cover up and it definitely makes me look older...probably even more than fine lines do (this is yet another reason to wear sunscreen!).  So this box was a very welcome sight!

Princess Edition #1 Snow White: Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? You, with the Snow White Box, of course! The cooler months spell for the perfect time to brighten up skin, even out uneven complexions, and target pesky dark spots! Whatever the shade of the rainbow your skin color is, optimize your skin's radiance and clarity for luminous, glowing skin.

Memebox always sends these cards which have a lot of information about each product and how to use it.  Below, I'll link to each product in the Memebox store, but if they're not available, please make sure to add it to your wishlist, because if enough people are looking for a certain product, Memebox may start to stock it going forward!

Julep Maven December 2014 Unboxing Bombshell

I just got my Julep Maven box this week and this month I decided to switch things up!  I've been getting their Modern Beauty Box for the past 6 months or so which contains 2 full-sized beauty products each month (no nail polishes).   On Nov, 20th when I logged in to see what I was getting, I saw that the modern beauty box contained an eyeshadow and an eyeshadow primer.  I have so many eyeshadow primers and some of the nail polish boxes looked so pretty, I decided to switch to the Bombshell box which still had the eyeshadow, but also contained 2 nail polishes (plus I added one more on...couldn't resist!).

Julep Maven December 2014 Bombshell Box

Here's what the Bombshell box had inside:

Memebox Superbox #53 My Honey Box Review

It's time for another Memebox unboxing!  I never know what they are going to send me as a Memebox Ambassador and I just love being surprised. When I opened this Superbox, I was excited to see that the theme is honey!  Since I have dry skin, I love products that contain honey because they are so soothing and hydrating. So let's see what I got...

These product information cards are a must because most of the packaging is Korean and I'm not able to read about the product or how to use it.  Every product in this box is full size! The box cost $29 and contained $102 worth of products!