Showing posts with label unboxing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unboxing. Show all posts

My First GlossyBox {Unboxing + Initial Thoughts}

After seeing countless YouTube unboxings (check out Bunny/Grav3yardGirl for some of my favorites-her commentary will make your day, I promise!) I finally gave in and decided to order a GlossyBox. If you're not familiar with GlossyBox, it's a monthly subscription box that delivers a curated set of luxury beauty samples to you for $21 a month. It's a bit more expensive than some of the other subscription beauty boxes out there, but I was impressed with the size and quality of the samples. I also believe that what samples you receive are determined by a beauty questionnaire you take when you sign up. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I received some different items than some of the videos I had seen before my box arrived.

My first impression when opening the package was that the box itself was so pretty and exuded a feeling of french boutique elegance. The box and paper inside were pink and grey/black and the contents were wrapped in tissue paper and tied with a bow. The May Box was the GlossyBox US 1 Year Anniverysary Celebration Box and contained six items, two of which were full-size items!


Epionce Intense Defense Anti-Aging + Repair Serum 

The first sample was a little tube of this pricey Epionce serum. A full size will run you $136.00, making this sample worth about $18. Like I mentioned in my Birchbox Shop haul, I am relatively new to the whole serum scene.

I gave this a try today and so far I like it, but it's too soon to really see any results. The description touts that through botanical sources of Vitamins A, B, C, D and E the result will be more radiant skin. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes.

Etre Belle Collagen & Aloe Vera Hydra Mask
Next was this pre-soaked cloth mask from Etre Belle. It is supposed to provide skin with extreme moisture to promote elasticity and hydration. While having a spa moment at home this afternoon, I decided to give it a try.

Basically inside the foil packet you'll find a cloth mask that has been pre-soaked with the formula. The mask has holes cut out for your eyes, nose, and mouth. You gently lay the mask on your face and press it down. Note: at this point you will look a tiny bit ridiculous. 

I left my mask on for about 15-20 minutes. It was definitely refreshing on this hot Maryland day! The scent was not overpowering and my skin felt better after use. The only somewhat of a con, if you could even call it that, was there seemed to be a lot of excess liquid in the pouch and on the mask. I'm sure this is just to preserve it in the packets, but if you're not careful it can make a bit of a mess when you're putting it on. These are listed at $39.50 for a pack of 10, making it $3.95 per mask.

European Wax Center The Exfoliate and Slow It Body Lotion

These are foil packets of products from the European Wax Center that go along with a card that was included for a free wax for first time customers. I was not the biggest fan of this inclusion for a coup of reasons.

First, I am not a big fan of foil packets. Second, there are no European Wax Centers here in Maryland, or even in D.C.

I will give them a try, but I doubt these will be products I would repurchase.
ModelCo Lip Duo Liptick & Shine Ultra Lip Gloss
The next item included in the box was the ModelCo Lip Duo Lipstick & Shine Ultra Lip Gloss which retails for $39 (I believe this is ful size). I received the Dusk Lipstick, a neutral berry color, and Striptease Gloss, which looks like a shimmery pink/peach color but goes on shiny and nude. I think these colors are flattering and would likely complement many different skin tones.

I am a big fan of the packaging of this product. It is quite substantial and would definitely travel well in a purse or makeup bag. It also has a mirror on the connector. However, because the applicator ends of the products are attached to the connector you can't put on the product and use the mirror at the same time which seems a bit backwards to me.

Nicka K New York Absolute! Perfume Stick

The Absolute! Perfume Stick was another full-size item included in this month's box. This was a solid perfume stick that you can twist up and apply to pressure points.

I receive the scent Dream 42, which was an orange/citrus scent. I am the first to admit that I am not a big fan of citrus scents, but I don't mind this one so much. I really love the packaging, both the cardboard tube it came in and the packaging of the stick itself. I think it will be a great scent for summer and I'm excited to try a solid perfume!
Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray 
The last item in the box was the Volupt Spray by Sebastian Professional. It's a travel-sized volume-building spray gel. The full size will run you $19.95. The product notes say to spray on damp hair and then blowdry for increased volume or air-dry to enhance waves and curls. It has a clean scent and I'll definitely give it a try. There seem to be lots of volumizing products going around right now.




***

Overall, I was really impressed with my first GlossyBox. I thought that the samples were substantial, represented a wide variety of products, and were a good value for the subscription price. Not sure if I'm going to stick with every month yet (trying to spend wisely!), but I wouldn't be opposed to ordering it again in the future.
  • Are you signed up for GlossyBox?
  • Did you receive different items in your GlossyBoy?
  • Are there other subscription boxes I should check out?
Let me know in the comments below!

Birchbox Shop Mini-Haul {Unboxing + First Impressions}



I finally had enough Birchbox points to justify an order from the Birchbox shop and I'm finally getting around to opening the box and sharing the goodies with you! If you're not familiar with Birchbox, it's a monthly subscription box that contains 4-5 samples of products to try for $10 a month. You can find out more info about Birchbox here. Whenever you buy products or take surveys about items you receive in your box, you earn points that you can redeem toward full-size products from the Birchbox shop. Ok, now onto what I got!
















So this is what it looked like when it arrived. It had the Birchbox logo on the box, but wasn't flaunting the usual Birchbox pink. Everything was nicely pack and any liquids were in plastic just in case. (There was also some white tissue paper, but I took it out before I snapped the picture.)

Caudalie Divine Oil 15 ml $9.00
The first thing I ordered was the Caudalie Divine Oil. I received a sample of this in my Birchbox a few months ago. I was hesitant about the whole oil craze, but this one stood out. It does not leave a film after you use it and I really like the scent. The bottle also has a spray top making it easy to apply.

Birchbox explains: "This dry oil hydrates parched skin and disappears in seconds without any residual stickiness or oiliness. And the scent is truly divine, with fresh notes of Moroccan and Bulgarian rose, grapefruit, vanilla, and the subtlest floral undertones."


Jouer Lip Enhancer .33 oz $14.00
Next I picked up the Jouer Lip Enhancer. This is the second time I've purchased the full size of this product after getting a sample in a Birchbox a year or two ago. I love this product! 

I find that using it on a regular basis leads to fuller, softer lips. You can use it on its own, before you do your makeup, or use it to regloss throughout the day.


The consistency is somewhere between a gloss and a balm and I don't find it to be overly sticky. 
From the Birchbox site I've learned that the key ingredients are Maxi-Lip, vitamin E, shea butter, and jojoba oil.
Yes to Grapefruit Brightening Facial Towlettes 25 ct. $5.99
The last full-sized item I purchased was the Yes to Grapefruit Brightening Facial Towlettes. I've used other products from this brand, including the Yes to Carrots hand cream and the Yes to Cucumber wipes, and loved them so I was excited to try these. The wipes are marketed to brighten your skin and correct and repair. I'm not sure about the latter part, but the pre-moistened wipes lightly exfoliate your skin  leaving it feeling fresh and looking clean. I am not the biggest fan of grapefruit, but I am enjoying these so far. I can imagine these would be great to remove makeup or freshen up after a workout.



The last three things I got were samples that were included with my order.

Jouer Signature Fragrance Mini Roller Ball
This adorable little roller ball sample of Jouer's signature fragrance was a free gift for purchasing a Jouer product. The primary notes in the perfume are jasmine, gardenia, and honeysuckle. This smells like a fresh spring bouquet in a bottle. If you like sweet, floral perfumes like I do, I would definitely recommend trying this one.

Incoco Nail Applique
Next I received a set of Incoco Nail Appliques in the pattern Freshly Picked. These appear to be another variation on the patterned nail polish strips. I haven't had a lot of luck doing a full manicure with them (I have tiny nails!), but I have been using them for accent nails and that seems to be working. 

LiftLab Lift + Fix
The last thing that came was an eyedropper bottle of the LiftLab Lift + Fix. This is a totally new brand to me. This is described as an all around serum that is supposed to protect skin from environmental damage and fight the effects of aging. I haven't tried many serums, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

***
Ok, so that was a lot of info about what was in my Birchbox shipment. 
* Have you tried any of these products? If so what are your thoughts? 
* Have you received anything you'd like to share about from the Birchbox shop?
* Are there other products I should be trying?

Let me know in the comments below!
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