FOTD #1

So I'm thinking of doing a little post, probably monthly, called FOTD - which stands for Face Of The Day. I talk a lot about products, but don't really show them being used very often. Mainly because, I don't have a professional camera or photographer to take pictures for me and I don't care for being photographed. But, I figured I will give it a whirl. Just for you guys. Please keep in mind that I'm pretty much taking selfies on my iphone so let's bear that in mind, alright? 

So there is the before and after - I know the lighting is super different. But it's the best I can manage. Our apartment only has 4 windows total, so natural light is hard to come by. Now onto the products that I used to complete this look.

Covergirl The Super Sizer by LashBlast Mascara

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner (in Lionfish)

Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics

Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic Lip Liner (in Eastend Snob)

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick (in Fiore)

W3ll People Bio Brightener Stick

L'oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream

Benefit posiebalm (used as blush)

Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal (in Barely Branded)

Covergirl Clean Pressed Powder

I know it seems like a lot, but I promise I did this in like 15 minutes. I'm not a take an hour to get ready in the morning kind of girl. So there you go, my first face of the day! Hope it was helpful or at least interesting?

Beauty | Empties #7

Here we are with another round of empties. In case you're new to these parts, I collect all my beauty products until I get nice group of them and then I give a bunch of mini reviews about them. Pretty interesting stuff, right? Most of these products are samples that I got from Birchbox so, let's get to the good stuff.

I'm going to go through the products from left to right, in case you want to follow along.

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

This spray is part dry shampoo and part texturizer, meant to soak up the oils in your hair and give your hair some texture and volume. In my opinion, and my hair's, it fell flat. Get it? Hair joke. Maybe my hair has super power oils or something, but this spray did not 'soak' it up or add lots of volume. 

It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product

This product boasts a load of different benefits: eliminates frizz, restores shine, protects from heat and prevents split ends. I'm not sure it did all that, but it worked pretty good. Still not up to par with my all time favorite spray, but a decent contender.

Wet n Wild MegaProtein Mascara in Very Black

I really think I bought this because it was like $2. It's supposed to condition your lashes and make them fuller and thicker. It didn't do that, at all, but it's okay because it only cost TWO DOLLARS.

Let The Good Times Roll Face and Body Cleanser

Made with maize flour, polenta and popcorn, yeah that's right popcorn. It smells ah-mazing and works like a dream. It's so gentle that even my sensitive, pale skin isn't bothered by the scrubbing. It brightens and cleanses - this product is great and if you even find yourself in Lush try it!

W3LL PEOPLE Expressionist Mascara

This is an all natural beauty product and it even has a clump resistant wand. Plus, the packaging is pretty sleek. This mascara definitely lifts and separates the lashes, but unfortunately it transfers and causes some under eye smudging. My quest for mascara continues.

Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk

This dry shampoo does actually soak up some of my super power hair grease, and it even feels great afterwards. My hair felt super hydrated, silky smooth and clean. Miracle.

Rusk Texture Spray

Claims to do the same as all other texture sprays, but it didn't. It actually made my hair feel greasy (greasier) and limp. No thank you.

Radha Beauty Vitamin C Serum

The link is a little bit different than the product pictured, the one pictured is a pump dispenser as opposed to a dropper. I much prefer the pump dispenser - so much simpler to distribute. My issue with vitamin c serums is that they can be quite sticky when applied. This one does not have that issue and it definitely brightens up your skin and helps reduce the appearance of dark spots. Two thumbs up from me.

In retrospect, this post is kind of heavy on the dry shampoo/texturizing sprays - so sorry about that. Hope that it was helpful and see you on Friday!

Beauty | October 2015 Birchbox Review

This month I actually chose one of the curated boxes, mainly because there were a few products I wanted to try and a product I already knew that I loved. It seemed like a win-win. The box is all about breast cancer awareness, which is a cause near and dear to my heart. All of the brands in this box help support breast cancer research, which is a great thing.

 

 

1.  Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Full size $36

This is one of the products I wanted to try, so that is why I chose this particular box. To say I'm disappointed in the sample size would be an understatement. It is tiny. .25 fl oz tiny. I have a rather big face I mean, don't we all? I hope I can at least see if it's worth the $ to buy a regular sized one. This is a primer that is oil free and is supposed to create a nice, smooth, flawless finish for your foundation/tinted moisturizer/whatever. 

2. Clinque Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief

Full size $39

This is super lightweight cream-gel that is meant to soothe and plump skin, along with hydrating it. It's very creamy and sinks right into the skin, not leaving any sort of oily, greasy residue on your skin. It's also very cooling, it feels really nice when you apply it. The price is a bit much for me, personally, but I think this sample is perfect and should last awhile. 

3. Clinque Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in Mega Melon

Full size $17

I already have the Clinque Chubby Stick Baby Tint Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in Coming Up Rosy and to say I love it would be an understatement. Also what is with the long names Clinque?! This tinted lip balm is full of shea butter and other hydrating products. I already know that I love the formula, just from using the other one I own. I'm particularly excited about the color because it's a nice, natural, nude-pink shade that will look great for everyday use.

4. Darphin STIMULSKIN PLUS Multi-Corrective Divine Cream

Full size $295

This is a luxury product, as evidenced by the price. I will never spend that much on a beauty product, but I'm happy to try a sample for next to nothing. This is a rejuvenating corrective cream that claims to visibly soften lines, nourish and brighten your skin. It's definitely a dream to apply, it's super creamy and soft - it feels really nice. But the scent is reminiscent of a flowery grandmother perfume - which is not my cup of tea. I will definitely use up this sample, and then move on to my more affordable products.

5. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Synchronized Complex II

Full size $65

This a highly potent overnight eye serum that is supposed to dramatically reduce all signs of aging. That is some mighty big claims. I won't see results with the tiny little sample size I got, but I like the packing with the pump dispenser. The product itself is incredibly light, which is great for under the eyes - but I like to apply something heavier at night and really let it soak in. Also, the price point is way out of my range again.

I would consider this box a success because I got to try some products I have been wanting to try, I got a product I already knew I loved in a new color and I got to try some high end products that I would never be able to afford otherwise. This is just a small reason as to why I'm incredibly pleased with my Birchbox subscription! 

Beauty | Lush Haul

 So a full on post about our quick 24 hours in Minneapolis will be coming, but while there we obviously had to stop by The Mall of America. That place is literally the most overwhelming place I have ever been in my life. 

We decided to stop into Lush because well, why the heck not? Last time I was at Lush I got my husband some beard and face wash - he is apparently a fan and wanted to repurchase!

   

Kalamazoo - This is a beard and facial wash that I purchased for my husband last time I went and he ended up enjoying. It's made with pineapple juice, jojoba oil, almond oil and a bunch of other great stuff to help cleanse your face and hydrate your beard. He says he notices a difference in his face cleanliness while he is using it so that's good enough for me.

Aqua Marina - I think I have mentioned on here that my skin is in rough shape recently. So I wanted to look for some good, all natural cleansers while in Lush to help settle this mess. This is a face and body cleansers that is made with nori seaweed (which is super rich in minerals) to help nourish the skin. It also has calamine and aloe to help soothe sensitive skin. It smells gross, and looks like a pink beach but I am sure it will very beneficial to my face.

Ultrabland - This is a cult favorite beauty product, so I decided to give it a try finally. It's a blend of oils, honey and beeswax designed to help take your makeup (and the day!) off your face. But it doesn't just strip it all off, its gentle and nourishing with rosewater and iris extract. I'm so excited to use this.

There you go, my recent three Lush purchases. I still have a little bit of Let The Good Times Roll left over before I start in on one of these new products. Do any of you have a favorite Lush product?  I would love to hear your recommendations, especially for finicky skin, and try one out next time I go.

 

Beauty | Empties #6

 

Two empty product posts in September?! What is happening? I am gathering empties like you wouldn't believe, so don't worry - more will be in October.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser

I love the Tea Tree line from The Body Shop, but this product missed the mark for me. I was hoping for a primer that would help my makeup last longer AND help treat breakouts. But what I got was a slippery, greasy primer that my makeup just slid off of. Pretty bummed, but will still use the other Tea Tree products that I love.

dr. brandt pores no more cleanser

 I just got this in my September Birchbox and have already used it all up. I am not sure if it helped my breakouts but it made my skin feel silky smooth while I was washing with it. The scent is nice and clean, not medicinal like some cleansers can be. It doesn't really foam up or anything, but you can still tell it cleaned your face. I think I am going to save up some points and purchase this full size to see what some constant cleansing with it will do. I got two uses out of this tiny little sample size, so it's not a great indicator of long term use.

L'Oreal go 360 Clean anti-breakout cleanser

I have used this in the past and like that it comes with a little scrublet. I'm not a complete believer, because while this product definitely gets my skin clean - I'm still not in love with it. I don't really know why. It's like, I should love it, but I don't. It's just not meant to be I guess.

boscia Makeup Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil

If you take ONE thing away from this post, make it be this - I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. Seriously obsessed with it. If you have never used a cleansing oil before, it's super odd. But it breaks up your makeup, including eye and lip makeup, like you wouldn't believe. Then you just rinse it off. Some people stop there, but I usually still wash my face after with a different cleanser just because my skin is a mess right now. But this stuff smells great, doesn't leave a residue and if you have oily skin it doesn't make it worse even though you think it might because, well, OIL. Buy the sample size at Sephora the next time you go and you won't be sorry.

Bath and Body Works Be Enchanted Shower Gel

Love this scent, and this body wash got me clean and smelling good. It's a bit too heavy for me, I got a few breakouts across my chest though. But it works and this is one of my favorite scents from BBW.

Cover FX  Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment

Another primer tried with the end goal being that my makeup would stay put on my face while treating my acne issues. This one was better than Tea Tree one but still not a repurchase unfortunately. I am still on the search, so any suggestions are welcome please!

Regenepure Luxury Hair Loss Shampoo

I did a whole blog post about this shampoo previously, so I don't have much to add other than my hair never stopped falling out. Luckily, I have plenty of hair to go around so it's not a huge deal.

Beauty | September 2015 Birchbox

So the theme for September is Better Together. It is meant to celebrate the customers of Birchbox and remind us that we are the reason this whole crazy thing is even happening. If you want to know more about Birchbox, visit their website here or check out my blog post that tells a bit more information about it here.

Onto the products! When I open my box and get my first glimpse of what I am trying this month is always my favorite part!

So let's talk about these products.

1.  ModelCo Ultra Long-Lasting Lipstick Trio

 

Full size of this lipstick trio is $20. I only received one lipstick and I got the color Smitten which is a deep cranberry red. I really liked it on a lot more than I liked it in the package.  My only complaint is that the lipstick was broken in half, so I smushed it together for this photo. But Birchbox Customer Service is amazing, and I am sure they will help me out (they gave me 100 points which = $10). Back to the product: the other two colors in the trio are Kitty, which is a soft pink and Stiletto which is a brighter, richer red. This lipstick is super hydrating and smooth, I'm a big fan.

2.  Harvey Prince Eau So Divine

Full size is $55. This perfume has notes of lemon, lilies, jasmine and vanilla. All I smell are the floral scents, they are quite overpowering. Personally, I am not a fan of floral perfumes so I am not a huge fan of this particular perfume. If you like floral scents, I recommend giving this one a try.

3. 100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream

Full size is $25. This eye cream reduces the appearance of lines and dark circles underneath your eyes and works as an instant pick me up. It's super creamy, and doesn't really have any discernible smell. I haven't used it enough to know if it really does reduce circles or lines, but it is hydrating and absorbs into the skin quickly.

4.  dr. brandt pores no more cleanser

Full size $35. dr. brandt is an awesome brand that I am familiar with, so I was excited to get this sample. Plus, my skin has AWFUL and I need to find a cleanser that will help. This is a best-seller and minimizes pores and leaves skin clean, fresh and velvety smooth. That sounds amazing and if it helps clear up my skin I am going to repurchase! It smells pretty great too.

5. amika Bombshell Blowout Spray

Full size is $25. This spray gives volume and smooths your hair for a sleek and bouncy hairdo. You spray this on your damp hair before you blow dry. I honestly can't remember the last time I blow dried my hair...so I'm not sure that I will be using this anytime soon. Kind of a bummer because there are other amika products that I would have wanted to try over this one.

Well there you have it, my September Birchbox! Did we get any of the same samples? Did I get something that you wish you had gotten?

Beauty | Nars Lip Pencil

I am slowly getting more adventurous with my lip colors. Now that I work in an office setting and not in the classroom, I find myself playing around with my makeup look a lot more. It's much more enjoyable when you know it's not going to sweat off from chasing preschoolers around all day. I received these Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencilfrom Sephora for my birthday. I have been obsessed ever since.

I think that lip pencils are my favorite lip product. Applying them is so easy, just like coloring, and the formula tends to be super creamy and not tug on your lips. This product is no exception. As the name suggests, they are velvety smooth and apply beautifully. The matte finish is not drying at all and I have found that even as the day goes on, if you feel your lips starting to dry out you can apply some balm over it without losing the color. 

The first color (on the left) is Cruella, as you can see it's a beautiful scarlet red. The actual color is a bit darker than photographed. I am recently kind of obsessed with trying out red lipsticks (much to my husbands dismay I am sure) and I LOVE this product.

The second color (on the right) is Rikugien. This is actually from the Satin Lip Pencil line and the main difference between the two is the colors are a bit brighter in the Satin Lip line. As you can see, Rikugien is a rosy pink color and the color is pretty true to the packaging. 

I am in love with these lip pencils, both lines, and when I use up these two I definitely plan on purchasing some different colors.  They last all day and the color payoff is spectactular.

I received these as a birthday gift from Sephora, but all opinions are my own. 

Beauty | Empties #5

 

 It probably seems like I should have more empty products seeing as it has been over a month since I last did one. Let me tell you something, I threw away a lot of stuff when we moved and I didn't want to pack up a box of just empty containers. So I started a new pile once we got settled and in those few weeks this is what I have collected. 

1. Mirenesse Glossy Kiss in Perfect Kiss 

 I absolutely adore and love this formula and the color I bought it in. It's a pretty matte formula (even though it's called Glossy Kiss) and the Perfect Kiss shade is a kind of cinnamon-y red. It's beautiful. My main complaint is that it's a pencil that you have to sharpen down; it's hard and the product gets wasted and smeared all over. Mirenesse - please make this a twist pencil and I will buy it again. I seriously love this product except for that one thing. 

2. Dove Hair Therapy Intensive Repair Conditioner

 This conditioner boasts smoothing out your hair. While I didn't notice that in particular, my hair was a little bit less tangled after using it, so that's always a good thing. I might buy this again and pair it with the shampoo just to see what happens.

3. FACES Beautiful Brush-On Liquid Mineral Makeup

I did a review of this product awhile back and raved about it. But now summer is kind of waning and I'm spending less time outside; I don't like it as much. It's too dark for my skin tone and I could make it work but it would take a lot of extra effort that I'm not really wanting to put forth. So this isn't technically an empty because I'm just over it. But I still like how it includes a brush - super convenient for travel if I had a color that matched my paleness.

 4. Noxema Deep Cleansing Cream

Noxema is a throw back for me since it's basically what I used all throughout high school. I had purchased some to use on a sunburn (yes, it helps sunburn too!) and then decided to just finish it up. It's a classic, and my face always feels super clean after using it. 

5. Clearasil Refreshing Superfruit Toner

This toner definitely brightened up my skin and it smelled pretty good to boot. I went to repurchase at our local Wal-Mart and they didn't have any. I would definitely repurchase though.

6. Yes to Grapefruit CC Cream

This is another product that I loved the first few times I used it, but now I don't. It's too dark for my skin, am I getting paler? and the smell is terrible. It didn't used to bother me, but now I want to throw up when I smell it. So, away it goes.

7. Marcelle Hydra-C Energizing Hydrating Gel

I love gel formula moisturizers in the summertime, and this one was pretty good. I can't really say too much about it though cause the sample size only allowed about two uses and its hard to get a grasp on a product with so few uses.

8. Mirenesse Mattfinity Lip Rouge

 This color is the bomb. I am such a scaredy cat when it comes to red lips (and my husband hates red lipstick) but I tried this out and ROCKED IT. Until I smiled in the mirror and it was all over my teeth. It transfers SO BAD. All. Day. Long. I don't have time to be worrying about bright red lipstick all over everything, so it's gotta go. I'm bummed.

Beauty | Regenepure Luxury Hair Loss Shampoo

I am sure I have mentioned it on here before, but I have a fair amount of hair and it falls out CONSTANTLY. I leave a trail of long, blonde hairs everywhere I go. It tumbleweeds through my home, my parents home, my car...EVERYWHERE. It's annoying. But my hair is not thinning, at least that I have noticed. Regardless, I received this Regenepure Luxury Hair and Scalp Treatment shampoo for hair loss and was excited to give it a try.

This shampoo is sulfate and paraben free and includes no harsh chemicals. It does contain 1% ketonconazole - which is the only clinically proven ingredient for hair loss shampoo. Plus, it's a powerful anti-fungal which will help to defeat any dandruff issues that you may have. This shampoo also has aloe vera and jojobo oil to help ease any inflammation or irritation that may arise.

I really enjoyed using this shampoo, but to be honest I didn't notice any less hair loss. But to be fair, my hair is not thinning out so maybe it was never going to work for the natural type of hair loss/regrowth that I have. Regardless, I really enjoyed using it - my scalp never felt irritated or inflamed, it smells good and my hair felt nice and clean. 

This review is sponsored by Tomoson.com and I received this product free of charge from Regenepure in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

Beauty | July Birchbox Review

The theme for July's Birchbox was Go Bold. Summer is a time to Go Bold - to wear those bright colors and not hold back. 

1. Whish Three Whishes Body Butter
full size $24
I received this body butter in the scent blueberry, and while that is not my favorite scent the product itself is pretty great. This body butter is super creamy and smooth, and it rubs into the skin like a charm. No icky residue or greasy aftermath. I would definitely purchase this in another scent; it comes in almond, lavender, pomegranate, lemongrass, coconut and acai grapefruit. I want to try to the lemongrass, personally.

2. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
full size $42
This is a cult favorite texturizing spray; used to soak up oil and give your second day (or third or fourth) hair some bounce back. Using a spray like this isn't in my normal hair routine, but I'm not against trying it out. It smells super fruity and sweet, but the spray nozzle was kind of hard to push down. I was really pushing on it when it finally sprayed and it scared me. I am looking forward to trying this out and seeing if its one I finally enjoy.

3. StriVectin-AR Advanced Retinol Eye Treatment
full size $75
This is a gentle retinol eye treatment that targets fine lines and sagging, without causing irritation. I don't think I have ever used a retinol treatment on my eyes, so I'm interested to try this for awhile. It's a tiny bit greasy, so I will definitely be trying this at night. 

4. Stila Look At Me Liquid Lipstick
full size $20
I received this lipstick in the shade Bella, which is a bright pink. It comes in a trio which includes Bella, Beso and Venezia. Beso is a classic red color and Venezia is a bright coral color. The formula for this liquid lipstick is terrific - it glides on like a gloss but stays put and dries like a stain. I'm a huge fan of this formula and can't wait to wear this bright pink for the remainder of the summer.

5. theBalm cosmetics Balm Desert Bronzer/Blush
full size $21
This is tiny little sample size, so I'm not entirely sure how to grasp whether I am a fan or not. I love the brand and this color of this bronzer is stunning; but I think it may be a bit too dark for my pale skin. I'm still going to give it a whirl, taking care to use a light hand. 

There you have it, my July Birchbox! Have you guys ever tried any of these products and what did you think?      

Beauty | Empties #4

 

Here we are again, with another set of empties. Somehow I ended up with the nice, even amount of 10 products! It's the little things, people, that make me happy. 

1. Klorane Clarify and Shine Rinse with Chamomile

This product is designed specifically for blonde hair and to help bring out the natural highlights. It's also supposed to help prevent blonde hair from turning brassy and from residue developing. I don't feel like it did really anything, and the smell is terrible. It smells pretty much like you're rinsing your hair with vinegar. Which would be totally fine if it did anything.

2. Acure Organics Day Cream Gotu Kola Stem Cell

This day cream helps to protect against all sorts of environmental damage; made with an infusion of chlorella growth factor and gotu kola stem cells. I don't really know what any of that means, but what I do know is that this stuff is the bomb. It smells great, it locks in moisture all day long, firms up your skin and evens out skin tone. This day cream is a big, fat win in the book of Es.

3. Meijer Oil Free Acne Wash

Basically this is the off-brand version of Neutrogena. It's not impressive, but it did clean my face...I think?

4. Lashiq Natural Eyelash Enhancer

The makers of the product contacted me after my review went up and apologized for my lack of results. I understand that not every product can work for every type of person and I was never mad about my lack of results, just disappointed. Because who doesn't want nice, thick, full, beautiful eyelashes?

5. The Body Shop Olive Body Scrub

A glorious exfoliater that I use weekly all over my body. This is my favorite scent from The Body Shop and this is one of my favorite products. Can't recommend this enough and it lasts for months and months! 

6. MDSolarSciences MD Creme Mineral Beauty Balm SPF 50

This is a mineral based, UVA and UVB blocking beauty balm. It works as both a sunscreen and a primer, along with lots of other benefits. This stuff is as smooth as silk; plus it leaves a perfect matte finish on your skin. I was highly impressed, but the price is a bit higher than I would usually spend. But I'm not saying that I won't.

7. Bath and Body Works Night Time Tea Body Wash

With relaxing lavender, vanilla and chamomile this body wash is an absolute must have to help relax at the end of the day. Since I shower at night, this stuff works it's magic right before I climb into bed. I almost always have some version of the Sleep line in my shower or on my nightstand - it's an absolute must have for me.

8. SAGE + fasten Onward Eau de Parfum

This perfume is described as an "energizing, juicy scent" which makes it sound way less appealing than it actually is. I'm not a big perfume person, but I LOVED this stuff. It smelled sweet and fresh but without being overbearing. As soon as I save up enough Birchbox points I will be purchasing the full size.

9. Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash with NutriumMoisture

I got this sample size with a conditioner purchase. It was super moisturizing and is definitely something I would purchase in full size in the dry, winter months.

10. Macadamia Healing Oil Spray

My hair tends to be on the dry side, but in order for this stuff to work I felt like I had to spray about a million and twelve sprays. Wasn't worth it for me, personally. But I do have LOTS of hair. Like, LOTS. 

 

Beauty | Faces Beautiful Brush-on Mineral Makeup

I like make up, but I don't like taking 20 minutes to PUT on make up. I like to sleep, so when given the choice between waking up and getting ready or sleeping for another hour I will ALWAYS choose sleep. So, when I was given the opportunity to use this Faces Beautiful brush-on mineral makeup I jumped on it cause it seemed SO easy and effortless.

The first challenge was, what shade am I? Picking out to match my skin tone over the computer never ends well for me. But Faces Beautiful has a handy little guide to help with this dilemma.

How to choose a color.

This is skin enhancing technology. You don’t have to match the color.

• If your skin tends to be a bit sallow – choose Radiant Beige
• If you have excess pink in your skin – choose Healthy Nude
• If your skin is very tan, indian or hispanic toned – choose Sun Glow

I chose Healthy Nude since I am PINK to the max. Then I patiently waited for it to arrive. Which it did while I was in Florida. Boo. So the first day I was back, I applied this. First off, it has the brush attached. All you do is squeeze a bit of product and then apply to your face.

It honestly went on like a dream. It provided great coverage, and really gave my skin a nice dewy finish. It looked incredibly natural, but covering up the blotchy spots. I wore this all day - lunch out on a patio, a few beers and a sweaty concert - and it lasted all. day. long. It was amazing. I have literally never been more pleased with a product. 

Also, since this product does include the brush it could just be thrown into your handbag for a long day out or for traveling. The applicator is turned to ON or OFF so you don't have to worry about makeup squeezing out all over your bags. Aren't they absolute genuises?
 
This review is sponsored by Tomoson.com and I received this product free of charge from Faces Beautiful in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

Beauty | June Birchbox Review

I was gone for most of June, so coming home to my Birchbox made my homecoming just that much more special. The theme for this month was Adventure and the products that were chosen for this month are all about being adventurous. 

coTZ Sensitive SPF 40 full size $20

This is sensitive mineral sunscreen that is designed to protect and soothe even the most sensitive of skins. It goes on sheer, has a bit of medicinal scent and is not noticeable underneath makeup at all. I'm a fan, it's a possible purchase.

W3LL PEOPLE The Expressionist Mascara full size $23.50
This is an all-natural mascara that lengthens and lifts lashes without the use of chemicals or dyes. The packaging on this sample is super sleek, and the wand doesn't appear to be anything too special. Probably will not purchase, but am happy to have the sample!

Emi Jay Solid Hair Tie 5-Pack full size $11
I have approximately 100 million of these style hair ties around my house, car, bags, etc. I'm always happy to have more!

Klorane Shampoo with Mango Butter full size $19.50
This shampoo is made with creamy, rich mango butter to help nourish, smoothe and hydrate your locks. It's supposed to be SUPER hydrating so I'm looking forward to giving in a whirl. It smells divine, and the consistency is pretty thick. I am looking forward to using this shampoo after a few rounds in the pool or lake.

Klorane Conditioning Balm with Mango Butter full size $16
This conditioner detangles, moisturizes, adds shine and improves softness. It goes great with the shampoo mentioned above. My main complaint is that the sample came in a packet and I HATE those. I assume the scent is similar to the shampoo, and I'm looking forward to trying this out in conjunction with the shampoo.

La Mav Green Clay Detox Mask full size $29.95
This mask is infused with fruit extracts and is used to treat impurities, minimize pores and help brighten skin. It's a pretty small sample size, but I think I will be able to squeeze two uses out of it. It smells very fresh and the consistency is smooth and creamy so it should be easy to spread around on your face. 

Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner full size $11
This is a blendable waterproof eyeliner that goes on smooth and stays on all day. I got this eyeliner in the color Mulberry which is a rich purple color. I really don't see myself using this eyeliner, ever. So unfortunately, this one is a bust for me.

There you go, the wonder of adventure with the June 2015 Birchbox. Now that I am thinking about it, the eyeliner would be adventurous for me. Maybe I should take a hint and give it a whirl one day...

Beauty | Lashiq Natural Eyelash Enhancer

Lashiq Natural Eyelash Enhancer is used to help get fuller and thicker eyelashes, I don't particularly loathe my eyelashes but I was excited to try this product out anyway. Pretty much, you apply this to your upper lash line every night before bed. I have been doing it for about a month now, I figured that would be a good amount of time to be able to speak as to whether it works or not. I was SUPER diligent about this. I did not miss a night - I know, I'm surprised as well.

The wand is super tiny, making it very easy to wipe on your upper lash line. So that's good. 

Now, I'm not going to lie even though I received this product free of charge. I see absolutely no difference in my lashes. Not a bit. They don't appear to look or feel any different than before I started using this product. That's a bit disappointing, I know. But this is the only eyelash enhancer I ever tried, and I am not soured on them all. I am completely willing to try other ones and report back on them so if you have any recommendations or questions about certain ones - let me know in the comments!

This review is sponsored by Tomoson.com and I received this product free of charge from Lashiq in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.