Beauty Review

If you’ve been following my posts, then you know that I’ve never done this before.  Despite being a “girly girl” and loving all of the perks that come with that (shopping, makeup, spa days, etc.), I had my routine and I stuck to it like clockwork.  It was the only way I could get out of the house in a “reasonable” amount of time.  Reasonable being relative, of course.

It came as a surprise that an acquaintance asked if I would try some products and review them.  And then, another friend suggested I try Birchbox.  So, here you are: a review of the things I’ve been using lately!

Perfectly Posh

I had never even heard of this company or their products before an acquaintance told me about them.  ‘Posh’ sounded right up my alley, so I agreed to try them.  I received a sample of their “Mint For Each Other” body bar and their “It Girl Big Fat Yummy Hand Cream“.  To be totally honest, I was wary about the body bar only because I have an aversion to peppermint.  However, once I used it, I noticed an immediate difference in my skin.  It exfoliates and cleans and saved me a whole step in my daily routine.  I’d give the soap a 7/10, but that’s really because of the peppermint.  I am sure I’d rate it higher if I had used a different scent.

The hand cream was absolutely amazing!  Now that the cold weather seems to be settling in here in New England, it was exactly what I needed.  It smells great, isn’t greasy and lasted for hours each day.  I already know this is going to be my go-to product this season!  I’d give the hand cream a 9/10 and to reiterate, I’ll be placing an order for enough to get me through the season.

There are some great deals happening this month, so it’s a great time to check them out for yourself.  Contact Erin  to place your order!

Birchbox

Before I even get into the actual products, I want to say that I am absolutely in love with this service.  For starters, it’s inexpensive.  At $10 a month, I get 4-5 samples and I was able to customize my preferences so I always end up with things I’ll actually use.  I was initially wary about sample sizes, though.  I mean, how many times will you really get to try something before it runs out?  But the products are really so good that they go a long way and despite having been using this service for three months now, I still have some items left from previous months.

Let’s get into the products themselves!

Temptu S/B Highlighter – Champagne Shimmer

This is perhaps my favorite of anything I’ve received.  I use it to highlight the corners of my eyes and on my cheeks rather than using blush anymore.  It lasts all day and is subtle.  If I wanted a bolder look, there are other options (Gold Shimmer, for instance), but the Champagne Shimmer is great for day wear.  This is a solid 8/10.

Model Co. Party Proof Lipstick – Kitty

This one just came in my October kit, so I haven’t had that much time to test it out, but so far I really like it.  It doesn’t have the staying power of MAC, so at $18 a pop, it’s not a steal.  With that said, I’m impatient and I’m a smoker, so any lipstick is bound to wear off quicker on me than on the average person. This particular color is perfect on me, though my one pet peeve is how long it takes to dry before it sets.  It’s a matte lipstick, but goes on like a typical cream-type and then takes a while to set.  So, no smoking or liquids until that happens.  Once it does, though, I only reapply once during the day – usually not until 3PM or so.  I’d give this a 6/10.

Caudalie Divine Oil

This is perhaps the most luxurious item I’ve received and at $49 a bottle, it should be.  It smells fabulous, reminding me of the old aqua de violetas baby cologne we used to use in Miami as kids.  Despite being an oil, it’s not greasy and absorbs quickly.  I used this mainly on the driest elbows ever seen and was impressed with the immediate results.  I was sad to see it go, but at this price, I can’t justify a purchase.  However, if anyone wants to show immense birthday or holiday love, this would be one way to do so.  This is a 9/10.

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate

At $95 for the full-size, I can’t see this being something I would buy for myself on a regular basis.  It goes a long way though, and am still using it two months later.  I noticed a big difference in my skin since using it.  It’s more even and even The Boy tells me how smooth and soft my face is these days.  But again, it’s not inexpensive and would end up being a splurge with bonus money or the sort.  This gets a 10/10.

Miscellaneous

This is going to sound weird, but I do love me some Walgreens finds as well.  The latest is Maybelline’s Master Kajal eyeliner.  At about $10, this gel eyeliner is perhaps the only thing that’s managed to give me a perfect cat eye and is the only product I’ve used that’s stayed on my inside rim for more than an hour.  Generally within an hour, I end up with raccoon eyes, but this has lasted longer than that.  Normal people, or those with drier eyes, will probably find that this lasts all day.  And for the price, you can’t beat it.  I’ve used MAC and other products that claim to be all-day wear, but they never stay on for very long when I use them to line my inner eye.  Take it as you will, but this is a 9/10 for me.

If you sell products you’d like me to review, feel free to contact me!  This has sparked a whole new interest in me and I now love taking the time to modify my routine.

And if you’re looking for proof of just how amazing these products are, take a look for yourself at this totally unedited photo post-makeover from this morning:

 

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