Starlooks Starbox April 2013

Can I just say whoa?  I wasn't as impressed with this box as usual but looking at it all toghether after I have tested the products out makes me wonder how in the world Starlooks can afford to send out so much great stuff in these boxes.

The powder is pretty blindingly white and while it does even out to a translucent finish, I do find I have to take care to make sure it is smoothed over or I will have white patches.  This mineralized finishing powder is also available in other shades, and I while I do like the velvety finish I recommend trying the translucent/nude version or higher instead of the translucent/white.  I am up in the air about whether I would repuchase this item.  I love the finish but I do still need a touch up at the 5 hour mark, and this is a bit large and powdery to take along for a touch up.

The lash base/prime is awesome amazing.  The outer cap on mine is lose and pops off the main wand cap.  This isn't seriously affecting fit form or function, so the product is still completely usable.  I am not seeing anyone online with a similar issue yet either.  I will likely repurchase this and I highly recommend it for those that like a lot of oomph to their lashes.  It has a zillion little tiny white fibers that build the length and volume and to be honest terrify me to look at.  Even on the lashes alone it's a bit creepy, but once I put mascara over it the results were amazing.  My lashes almost look fake, and on one side they are touching my eyebrows...  Not exactly necessary but pretty amazing nonetheless.

I received the tendergloss lip stick in Trinity.  It's a shimmery sheer coppery peach that is very moisturizing and springy.

The lip balm that was also included has an SPF of 15, and will be perfect to layer with the tendergloss for sunny spring and summer days.

Starlooks is a monthly subscription service that costs $15/mo plus a few dollars shipping.  They do have an online store as well where you can purchase some past boxes at $25 and but any other items from their line without having to be a member.  You can find them at http://starlooks.com/.

Here is my unboxing from this month:

Birchbox Home LE April 2013

Oh noes, it's already sold out!  This limited edition home box from Birchbox was a steal at $32.  I was able to add on a plus two sample pack for free, and the $10 value bumped my order up to qualify for the free two sets of Core Cutlery Bamboo special offer.  You can still shop for the items included in this box on the Birchbox website, and some of the items are well worth the full price:

I will try to keep it brief, as there is no point in going on about this when you cant buy the full set.

Tocca Crema da Mano Luxe in Cleopatra:  this is amazing.  And huge, I believe it is 4oz (left it at work darn it).  The full cost is $20, the scent is heavy but refreshing.  It is not greasy at all and is very long lasting.  I highly recommend this item.

L'Occitane Jasmin & Bergamot Eau de Toilette:  Also full of awesome.  I am not a perfume girl in general but I cant stop putting this on.  Full size is $75, and I think this is 1/10 of the size?  I am having trouble on this one.  Ten times the size seems like an awful lot of product, but please don't pay $75 for .25 oz of anything.  2.5 oz then yeah, because this stuff smells earthy, warm and surprisingly sensual.

The next item I can't seem to get enough of is the LAFCO candle in mint.  It took me ages to realize that the dark logo box is actually a little box of matches in the jar lid.  GENIUS.  The scent is really fresh and perfect in my kitchen.  It is a $20 value.

The rest is cute and useful.  Sarabeth's fruit spread it tasty but it seems pricy ($8.5) to me for what it is.  I have always wanted a Baggu bag, and I can't wait for the farmers market to open so I can try it out.  At $9 it's not a bad deal.  The Core utility knife is adorable, and my TJ Maxx carries these for a sweet deal right now (about $4 vs $14 full retail).  The shopping list and basil planter are kitschy and fun.

I am very happy with the Ahava foot cream in the add on pack (I am up in the air on the perfume).  The cutlery is adorbs, but I haven't had a chance to test out its durability yet.

If you want to check any of these products out, head on over to http://www.birchbox.com/.  Here is my unboxing for another view of the items included:

Birchbox April 2013

Oh that's right, now I remember! I really like Birchbox.  I don't know how I get so lucky but I ended up with yet another nice box.  Not all the products worked out for me, but the ones that did really nailed it.

Let's get to the best straight off - a full size Mireness Glossy Kiss lip color in Quick Kiss.  This is an epic bright orange that brings Urban Decays Punch Drunk to mind.  It's creamy, opaque and incredibly comfortable to wear.

The next much appreciated item is the Simple eye roller.  The product itself is for puffy eyes, which I don't think I have and for dark circles, which I certainly have.  Mine are from thin/translucent skin though, not epic partying/sleep deprivation so the product itself it not particularly helpful...  But!  I was not sensitive whatsoever to it.  Simple bills itself as the 'sensitive skin experts', something I am in dire need of.  After my lack of negative skin reaction, I bopped right out and picked up their moisturizing facial wash and I am absolutely loving it.  So glad this was in my birchbox and introduced me to the brand!

This box also came with a free subscription to Womens Health Magazine.  I have read that before and quite enjoy it, so I am very happy to take advantage of the offer (value $10, which pays for the entire box up front).

The rest didn't work out so well for me, although the above is more than enough.  The Vitivia anti-aging face pills burned at once, and I quickly removed the product and tossed the balance.  My skin is such a jerk.  The Divine Oil smells...  Divine, lol, but the scent is a bit too strong for me.  The Nexxus smelled like hair product.  I will keep trying it, but claiming to 'reduce the odds of age-related breakage' is just really hard to test/prove.

So!  Overall very happy (as I tend to be when I have a new lipstick in hand).  While much of the box didn't work out, the things that did worked out in a big way.

Here is my unboxing:

Ipsy April 2013

Whew, April is shaping up to be a much better month for me on the beauty product front, starting with an absolutely adorable pink and white Ipsy bag:

The white fabric doesn't feel cheap at all, and although I will likely muck this up pretty quickly, I will for sure be making good use of this.

I received Be a Bombshell Cosmetics full size blush in Sweet Cheeks.  It is adorable and well pigmented, if a touch powdery.  It is a great basic, bright pink and a fantastic item.  I am really excited about it.

I also received Two Cosmetics duo eyeshadow in Heartache.  The colors are well pigmented, but not really for me.  The packaging feels a little flimsy, but really the product performed well, only creasing a touch after about 5 hours of wear (with NYX primer underneath).  It is quite a humid day, which may have had an effect on that.

A full size Sation nail polish in Love at First Byte was included.  I really like the color - a simple pink on the very warm side.  It is very sheer, which I am not typically drawn to on account of my very damaged nails, but I feel like this gives a natural look while hiding some of the damage.  It's nicer than I expected.

And the best for last - Healthy Sexy Hair's Soy renewal smells like heaven and has so far been very effective in softening my hair when used dry, as well as seeming to help speed up the drying of damp hair.  This doesn't seem like an actually possible thing and I don't get it, but there you go.

Ipsy is $10 a month, with free shipping and you can check them out at www.ipsy.com.  I feel this subscription is very well suited to anyone looking for a variety of make up products, as well as for teens looking to grow a starter collection and find products they like.

Unboxing fun:

Waiting is the hardest part..

So many awesome sneak peeks are online for ipsy and birchbox this month.  The anticipation is killing me!  Both are in transit now...