October 2012 ipsy bag!

October's IPSY bag!

I love the idea of this beauty subscription, IPSY, (which is formally known as myglam) because for $10 a month, this is a great service!  This is my second month and I was super excited to receive two full sized items this month!  Plus, I can change my makeup bags every month!

Chevron bag with red zipper! CUTE!

Mirenesse Lip Bomb Lipgloss/Lipstain in 2

The Balm's What's your Type mascara in the body builder

Coastal Scents eyeshadow quad in Set 5 including vibrant red, frosty taupe, vanilla skiy and raisin berry

Be a Bombshell liquid eyeliner pen in onyx

Couture Colour Pequil Oil treatment

On the box that contained the mirenesse laboratory lip bomb, there was a special offer on facebook to receive a free instant lash transplant if you're the first 500 to "like" the company.

BzzAgent Glade Expressions campaign!

Glade BzzAgent campaign!

BzzAgent has sent me coupons for one of their BIGGEST campaigns yet! Glade's NEW room fragrance and  oil diffuser!  The coupon book included:

• One FREE Glade fragrance mist starter kit
• One FREE Glade oil diffuser oil starter kit
• (10) Coupons for $2 off Glade Expressions fragrance mist starter kit
• (10) Coupons for $4 off Glade Expressions oil diffuser oil starter kit

I have only been able to find the fragrance mist starter kits so far and only in scents: cotton & italian mandarin and pineapple & mangosteen.  I am not too crazy about the Cotton and italian mandarin scent but definitely a thumbs up to the pineapple and mangosteen!  It works like a spray and the scent lingers throughout my entire floor!  I love that it is not overwhelming and lasts about 20 minutes or so.

Arcona samples!

Arcona was nice enough to send me samples, as per my request including:

• Brightening gommage sample
• Tea tree mask sample
• Wine hydrating mask sample
• Chamomile balm
• Herbal compound sample

I tried the Herbal Compound, which is a type of spot treatment for blemishes and acne.  Although I was a little taken aback because the formula is dark and similar to the consistency and coloring to iodine, it made my red blemishes less noticeable.

Juara samples!

As per my request, Juara was gracious enough to send me samples of some of their products.  I am really interested in this company because it inspired by Baliense beauty secrets and 100% vegetarian, free of parabens, sulfates. phthalates and artificial colorants plus no animal testing!  I love that this company is proud to be all natural and cruelty free!  Included with my samples was a lovely handwritten note from Lisa.  LOVE the personal touch!  Samples included:

• Avocado Banana Moisture mask
• Rose & Willowbark Blemish-free mask
• Sweet Black Tea & Ginger Mattefying lotion

100% Pure samples

I received samples, as per my request, from 100% Pure and I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE!

• Nourishing body cream in cabernet grape, coconut and honey almond
• Super Fruits reparative cream
• Purity facial cleanser and mask
• Organic coffee bean caffeine eye cream

I am looking to switch over my beauty regime to all natural products, made organic and cruelty free.  I am loving the Coffee bean caffeine eye cream and will definitely be purchasing this item!  It smells SO good and I feel that it is effectively working already!

Atelier Cologne samples

I requested samples from Atelier Cologne after receiving the Vanille Insensee from a previous Birchbox and they were nice enough to send me quite a few! Each sample vial was beautifully packaged with an exquisite postcard and an envelope.

Grand Néroli, a romantic ingénue, wraps elegant orange blossom flower around layers of clean herbal notes, warm musks and addictive vanilla. 

Trèfle Pur, a landscape of vitality, surrounds violet leaves in green woods, freshly cut grass and dewy earth. 

Orange Sanguine, a zesty and energizing burst of crushed ripe fruit, plays off sweet blood orange juice against bitter orange peel and sensual notes of geranium. 

Rose Anonyme, a breathtaking seductress caught in a stolen affair between light and dark, Turkish Rose Absolute sparkles and intrigues beneath notes of spicy Ginger, enwrapped in sultry veil of Velvet Oud, Indonesian Patchouli, mystic Papyrus and Somalian Incense. 

Vétiver Fatal, a secret agent captures a dangerous encounter between bright and mysterious, as Heart of Hatian Vetiver and Tunisian Orange Flower Absolute surrenders to seductive Violet Leaves, smoky Texas Cedarwood and dark Oud. 

Green mandarine and bergamot surround the warmth of Amber with Sri Lankan cinnamon and orchid nigritella rubra. 

Oolang Infini, a full-bodied, mysterious concoction, captures blue tea and bergamot in the warmth of smoke and leather. 

Bois Blonds, a sophisticated yet mischievous elixir, entwines unique and precious woods and incense with sensual orange flower and vetiver. 

Thumbs up:

• Grand Neroli

• Trefle Pur

• Orange Sanguine

• Vetiver Fatal

I'd rather skip on:

• Bois Blonds
• Oolang Infini
• Amber Nue
• Rose Anonyme

september 2012's "the september issue" birchbox!

This is posted so late because I wasn't enthralled by it and because of that, I wasn't too excited to post about it.  Also, there was some annoyance with Birchbox because the shipping notices were sent out to subscribers but it was not actually shipped until later in the week.  Anyway, without further ado, my September's birchbox.

• 21 drops focus aromatherapy blend
• Color Club Birchbox Custom polish in Status Update
• Nexxus Pro-Mend Split End Treatment system
• twistband Birchbox Custom Lace Hair tie
• Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator

      Lifestyle Extras

• Mighty Leaf Tea Company Teas
• Birchbox Digital Download Tristan Prettyman

From this box, I LOVED the Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator!  I loved the way it made my face feel smooth & soft and I felt it scrub away the impurities from my face!  It may be too harsh to use as a daily cleanser, I will probably use it once every three days or so.  The smell of it is light, fresh and clean, this is definitely one of my favorite products that I've received in a birchbox.  Also, love the lifestyle extra of tea!  I drink a lot of tea and it's always cool to try different types out!  Flavors included Green Tea Tropical, Vanilla Bean and Chamomile Citrus.

Thumbs down to:

•  the Color Club polish in Status Update.  I am familiar with Color Club and their polishes usually last a week or so on my nails but this formula chipped within 2 days!  The color in the bottle looks like a slate grey but it went on my nails in more of a black color.
• Nexxus Split end Treatment included the shampoo, conditioner and leave-in treatment creme.  I received these foil packets for FREE from Costco like 3 months ago.  I don't think I should have to pay for a service for an item that 1) I received free! 2) foil packed and 3) a brand that is readily available in drugstores.
• Twistbands again?  I received one of these hair ties in my Gossip Girl Edition Birchbox back in May.  At first, I really liked it because it is not supposed to leave that gross dent in your hair when you use it like most hair ribbons do but after using it, I did not like it because it barely held my hair up and it frilled when I wore it on my wrist for a few weeks.  Also, the design in this lace is kinda cheesy. 

I could take or leave it:

• I love the scent of 21 drops aromatherapy (Blended with essential oils of rosemary, peppermint oil and frankincense) but I didn't feel it lasted for a long time.  I don't think I'd replace my current aromatherapy stress relief spray from Bath and Body Works in eucalyptus mint.

Overall, I thought this Birchbox was just okay.  I am glad that there was cool things to try in it.  What did you get in your monthly box?