Starlooks Starbox July 2013

Starbox swept in with a much more enjoyable box this month.  Nothing particularly edgy, but definitely more fun.

The three lightest colors in the palette are the best.  A light shimmery champagne, a bold pure gold and a creamy orange.  Great summer colors with excellent pigment and a long wearing formula.  The shimmery plumb is less pigmented, but still nice.  The black is stinky.  It just doesn't apply evenly and isn't a true black.  This eyeshadow palette is overall quite nice.  As far as product goes.  The packaging is on my nerves though.  When opened, it just looks like a cheap children's watercolor palette.  I have a growing collection of cracked and broken (but still functional) Starlooks products due to the crappy packaging they use.  I am a bit wary this will be joining the ranks.

The contour brush is a great touch though, and a perfect match for last months bronzer.  I am not a contour girl in general, but I have used this with great success to bring out my cheekbones.  It is a very nice addition.

As a special extra, Starlooks included a half size of their pigment luster in Penny Wise and a sample of Quince Body Butter.  The intent is to mix and create a body bronzer.  Skipping due to allergies, but the pigment is AMAZING.  I like this packaging better than the normal vials and the color lasted me all day today even without a primer.  No creasing!

So overall this month was alright and better than the last.  I have to say I do not recommend buying their eyeshadow palettes from their site unless they dramatically reduce the pricing (from 40 something to say, 12 bucks).  Or if they improve the packaging drastically without upping the price.  Their eyeshadow just does not compare to other brands out there that you can get a far better deal on.  Urban Decay is still the best I have tried, and a 12 color palette from them at $50 is around $4.17 a color, vs Starlooks poorly packaged 5 pan version around $8.20/ea.  That's huge.

If you want to learn more about Starlooks, as always you can check them out at www.starlooks.com

Unboxing goodness:

Birchbox July 2013

I feel like all my subscriptions knew I had the week off and sent everything all at once.  I received my Birchbox quite early this month, and it is box number 5.

Oh my, is that another lipstick in my Birchbox?  Why yes.  Yes it is.  I think they love me.

ModleCo's Party Proof Lipstick in Get Naked: isn't my favorite as far as quality and pales in comparison to last months LAQA&CO.  While the coverage isn't very smooth, opaque, or even very matte (as advertised), the color is actually quite nice on me.  It is also light enough that I can get away with the uneven coverage.  I don't plan to repurchase this, but I am using it happily.

The Curl Keeper by Jonathan Torch: is a great sample size at 1 oz.  I do have curly hair, but I just got it chopped into my beloved standard pixie, so I am not seeing much difference with it at the moment.  When it gets a bit of length to it I think it will be easier to tell.

Benta Berry G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream:  is not going on my face, as it is quite heavily scented and my skin is very sensitive.  It is a French item and while I usually trust their take on beauty items completely, I will stick with their unscented Embryolisse.

Juicy Couture, Couture La La:  I don't wear perfume out side of very special occasions, however this is a very nice, clean, and feminine scent.

Birchbox Bobby Pins:  These are so cute!  I don't have enough hair for them right now, but I will hang on to them for a bit.  They grip the packaging quite fiercely, so I expect they would need to be worn with some care.

Overall these were great items, although they really weren't all up my alley.  Birchbox is only $10/mo, and for every item reviewed you get 10 points to save up and use in their online shop.  If you would like to learn more you can visit them at:

http://birch.ly/1a0bbzg (referral link)

www.birchbox.com (regular link if preferred)

For a closer look at these items, here is my unboxing video:

Popsugar Must Have Box July 2013

This is my first Popsugar Must have box.  It is a subscription I have been following for a long time, drooling over the contents and reviews on the MakeUp Talk forum (www.makeuptalk.com).  It is a lifestyle box with a mix of beauty, fashion, food and other lifestyle items such as books and work out gear.  I was under the apparently false impression that this would be some sort of special anniversary box.  Moments after my unboxing, I received an email about next months special anniversary gift...  I do need to learn to adjust my expectations with 'special boxes' a bit, lol!  At $35/mo, this is a bit too pricey for me (although well worth it for anyone with the right budget).  I will likely stick around for the special anniversary necklace in August and move on.

I received the following:

Baublebar Rose Double Curb Chain necklace - Very, very heavy.  Clunky and a bit masculine.  It doesn't seem to lay quite right either.  The quality seems decent though, and I have seen some people absolutely rocking it online.  I am trying to find the 'right' outfit for it and keeping an open mind.

Supergoop SPF30 Anti-Aging City Sunscreen Serum - My first beauty serum!  So far it does not seem to be irritating my skin, although I am building up slowly to play it safe.  It seems a touch greasy but it feels nice.  I am a little baffled as to how it should be reapplied as often as directed.  Over makeup?  Under?  Without?  Combined?  No clue.  I am enjoying it though, and this is a perfect time of year for a sunscreen.

Mighty Leaf Iced Tea in Ginger Peach - I am way over excited for this.  It smells amazing!  I don't have a glass pitcher large enough to make it (lol!), so I may have to end up wasting a bit in a smaller container and steeping it for a bit less time.  This is also perfect for summer and a great choice to include in the box.

Tovolo King Cube Ice Tray - And speaking of summer perfect, yowza.  These ice cubes are monstrous and highly amusing.  The size is perfect for a million pinteresty things.  I am just gonna make ice in it though.

NCLA As If! Polish - Such a pretty color!  I have it on my toes now and it is holding up beautifully.  Opaque in one coat as well.  As soon as my current color chips it is going right on my fingernails as well.

Hannahmax Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip all natural Crunchy Cookie Chips - Jeez, is the name long enough?  Anyway my package was defective.  Shortly after opening they all vanished.  I am going to have to find more to research this phenomenon...

My Cat Nikita was also quite pleased with the box...

And for a closer look at the products from this box, here is my video:

 And here are links to their site for more info:
http://popsu.gr/gOps (referral link)

http://musthave.popsugar.com/ (weirdly unguessable regular link)

Starlooks Starbox June 2013

Starlooks June anniversary edition is in and it is ok.  Useful, quality items.  They kind of made a flashy deal out of this months box (please note the spiffy box design) and I can't figure out why.  With two eyeliners and a bronzer, it seems unbalanced and underwhelming.

Not that it is bad - it isn't at all.  I have used the bronzer in Montego Bay quite a bit, and their precision eye pen is perfect for the winged liner look.  The tip is so narrow it is perfect for getting into tight spaces.  The white eyeliner is in their fabulous creamy formula, although I don't personally have much use for it.  I really have nothing to say about the peace sign button.  It's just a cheap children's style button. 

I really think the box would have been more balanced and possibly more sixties if they had switched out the eye pen for maybe a pink lip color.  Or traded in the button for a braided head band.  Just something.  I am satisfied with this box, just bummed that it doesn't seem very special after the build up.  Oh well.  

Starlooks is $15/mo plus shipping (about $3).  If you would like to learn more you can check them out at www.starlooks.com.  

If you would like a closer look, check out my unboxing video here: