August 2012 Beauty boxes (super late post) Birchbox and MyGlam

So yeah, on an effort to get caught up, and probably by now you all have seen posts like this one, so I’m just going to quickly share what I got in my boxes and my thoughts on them. 

I was out of the country for almost 2 weeks and it was crazy awesome to find so many packages waiting for me when I got home. Beauty subscriptions, swaps, mini hauls, etc, etc 

Here is what I got in my Birchbox:

Curls, curls, curls! Oh I have tons of them!!! I have seen this brand at Target and have been tempted to pick up some products but I hate spending “full price” money on stuff unless I know it works. 

I was extremely happy to get CURLY MERINGUE :) I have used it a couple of times and I like it so far. I do feel it leaves a bit of a residue on your hair but it does seem to control frizz and shape up the curls and it smells delicious! I would rather have a tube than a jar, just because I hate sticking my hands in jars of stuff and get product under my nails but that might be part of my OCD. Once I am close to finishing the sample jar I might have to use some of my Birchbox points and get the full size product! I have not used the conditioner yet but I am guessing I will like it as well.

The perfume sample smells pretty good, but they are so tiny that in my mind I have to consider them extras. I haven’t used the foot cream yet so I really have no opinion on it, but the size is definitely good for a sample. 

Now the Talika Lipocils expert seemed promising... but I was oh so confused with how the wand was supposed to look, based on the picture printed on the box and the pictures online I was expecting it to have the dual wand. I emailed them to clarify and they responded this is the way the sample was meant to be… ok… haven’t tried it yet, I guess the confusion kinda turned me off, oh well.

The razor was an “extra” and I am still in search of the “perfect” razor so I used it this weekend and it was pretty good but no better than other ones I have tried. With how expensive razors are, it was definitely a nice bonus.

And this was the MyGlam bag:

Dragon Fruit!!!! Fresh, sweet, delicious smell, I actually brought this with me on my weekend trip to MN and it worked great, only thing is that mine at least, feels a bit oily when you roll it on, no big deal but unexpected.

I have not used the skin care items yet, I kinda want to give my face a break and some consistency, because trying all these different skin care samples keeps upsetting my face and I am breaking out way too often lately. The shadow has not been used yet either but looks promising.

Oh the lipgloss!!!!!!!! I looooove the color, the consistency, the packaging, the size, the smell!!!!!! I also brought it with me on my trip this weekend and it did not disappoint. It is not sticky and the color does not go on scary neon as you would think; it’s just a pretty pink gloss that smells like watermelon :)

Oh, don't let me forget! Nail polish! I just might have to keep this one! It’s so bright and I don’t have that shade or anything close to it on any other brand. I only swatched it on the nail wheel and haven’t had time to wear it so I can’t speak about the wear or quality. Will try to use it soon and let you know!

See? Similar but not the same...

I have been thinking about a low buy month (I can’t lie to myself and commit to a no buy month haha) and possibly giving up one of these 2 subscriptions, not so much because of the money but because I don’t know what to do with all the stuff I get. I took a bunch to my friends and family in Peru on my last trip but somehow my goodies basket keeps growing!

I dropped GlossyBox because they had too many issues and I did not feel I was getting much value out of it. I do not regret dropping them, at least not right now. Do you subscribe to MyGlam, Birchbox or any others? Is the fad over? Love to get your feedback!

Thank you for stopping by,

Fiorella :)

My GlossyBox USA July 2012 - Review & why I cancelled...

So... yeah this post is super late, I guess I just wasn't all that excited to write about the GlossyBox USA July 2012 box... If you are subscribed to GlossyBox, or if you read my June's review (if you haven't, you can read it here), you should know that I had mixed feelings and this third box was going to be a deciding factor for me as far as keeping the membership or cancelling. Well, I cancelled.

I was charged for the July box on July 3rd, (let's not forget I received my JUNE box on 7/5) and since GlossyBox does not issue refunds (at least that is what their website stated at that point in time) I pretty much had to wait for my July box or be out $21. 

Thankfully they made some changes so people would start getting the box within the month it belongs to and with just enough time to decide whether you want to cancel or not before they bill you again.

I received my tracking email on July 25th (Wednesday) and I received my box on July 28th (Saturday). I emailed them on July 30th as well as posted on their Facebook page very respectfully that I needed to make sure my request was processed before the next billing date. I received confirmation of the cancellation on July 31st.

GlossyBox USA July 2012

The box was ok, is not that the products are bad, but I just wasn't excited to receive them. June's box, while late, had at least 3 awesome products I loved and now use frequently. This box, I don't know, on a scale of 1 to 10, it was a 5... and for $21, I don't know about you, but I want at least a 7 or an 8!!! My July Birchbox was an 8, close to a 9 and so was the MyGlam bag... Did I completely confuse you yet? Do you have a rating system?

It was sealed all the way!

Does anyone read this "Magazine"? 

The theme was "Summer Nights" (I personally didn't get that vibe)

The "card"

Alessandro International - Pedix Heel Rescue Balm (looks like a decent size product. I haven't had the urge to open it and actually try it yet)

Sebastian - Color Ignite Multi Tone Shampoo (maybe one day when my hair is not black all over ,  I could use this)

Ofra Cosmetics - Universal Eyebrow Pencil (It doesn't say but it looks dark brown) I don't have an eyebrow pen, never really thought I needed one but I guess I'll play with this.

Senna Cosmetics - Double Dose Lip Laquer  (Chocolate Cherry)

I tried both colors, they are ok, but I'm not feeling "Summer Night-ish" wearing them... Not sure if I am keeping this or giving it to my Mom or Grandma... 

This was an "extra surprise". Have not tried it yet, I'm sure it will be ok, but nothing too exciting...

I've seen some cool looking advertising for the August GlossyBox USA, and now that I have cancelled, it might be awesome and I might be sad and jealous when I see everyone else posting their boxes... But it might also just be a 5 again and then I would be really sad if I hadn't cancelled.

I am trying to simplify and only keep a couple of subscriptions, for now MyGlam and Birchbox have met my expectations and I have had them both for 3 months. For $10 each, they are worth it to me, I feel like I am getting fun products. I still have my Julep subscription but the metallics weren't floating my boat so I skipped July and the mystery box, gotta love the skip the month option!

I can't say I will never try GlossyBox again, if at some point I decide to drop one of the other subs, and I see from other people's feedback that they are truly awesome, I might give it a second shot.

Anywho, lots of rambling on this post huh? Well it's past 1:00 am, what are your thoughts on GlossyBox?  

Thank you for stopping by,

Fiorella :)

June 2012 Birchbox!!!

I am pretty happy with my Birchbox this month :) What did you get?

https://www.birchbox.com/?raf=knp4h DO IT! :) $10.00 a month, give yourself a little gift :) 


Fiorella :)

Nail polishes... random :)

Not the best pic but if your heart smiles when you see this post then I have done my job! :)

Well hello, I decided I would post some pics I found on my phone from different polishes I have played with :)

I found SINFUL COLORS at Walgreens $0.99 each, not bad for glitters!!! :)

These are the colors I used for St. Patrick's Day

Trying out a new brand!

Matches my water bottle!!!

OPI Spakles from the Muppets Collection!

Fiorella :)

June 2012 MyGlam Bag!

It's here! The June MyGlam bag!!! It's only my second one, last month I thought it was so so but Oh My! I love this one!!! (Excuse my dry cuticles) ha ha, enjoy!

Here is what I got:

-Sparkly gold glitter bag

-Living proof nourishing styling cream
-NYX Georgia (pink)
-Philosophy Take a deep breath (oil-free energizing oxygen gel cream moisturizer)
-Marbella permanent eyeliner pen (black)

I haven't had time to test out the products yet but they look great! :)

Fiorella :)

Julep Nail Polishes and Goodies

So I just started my Julep collection/addiction/craze!!! I will be posting some pics of what I get for your enjoyment :)

Below are two intro boxes, "It Girl" and "American Beauty". Within the last year I have started using nail polish consistently, almost every week and for the most part I was using OPI, Julep polishes seem of great quality, to me just as good as OPI, the swatches below were done with just 2 coats! Oh and the Pedi Cream!!! I have used it twice and I love it, it leaves your skin smooth but not greasy :)

http://julep.com/?r=20716829 use my link and code COLOR2012 to get your first box for just $0.01 :) 

The Julep Maven It Girl intro box came with Jessica (creamy baby blue), Brooke (shimmery purple) and Mandy (coral/pink)

The Julep Maven American Beauty intro box came with Eva (they call it raspberry, to me it's like a dark pink) and Renee (creamy lilac) and The Best Pedi Cream Ever (which I have used twice and I like so far, great scent, not greasy and makes your skin feel smooth)

Here is what I did with Eva & Renee (I used some OPI glitter on top) What do you think?

If you are thinking about becoming a Maven here is my link HTTP://JULEP.COM/?R=20716829 use "PENNYINTRO" or "COLOR2012" to get your intro box for $0.01, keep your account active for at least 30 days (you can skip the next box if you need to). Let me know you used my link (leave me a comment below saying so) and I might just send you a little "thank you" surprise ;)

Fiorella :)