Beauty Box Beatdown! July 2013

Heeey, guys.  Well, it's not that I forgot to do a June BBB.  I just... had a bit too much to do (School Ending!  Brother-in-Law's Wedding!  Coming home, and then turning around shortly and going back to see family for a long visit!).  I'm really sorry, and I've thought about doing it anyway, I just don't think it would be relevant at this point.  So I decided to just go ahead and do July's.  If it would just make your day for me to do a June BBB, let me know in the comments!

But for now, moving on!  July was a pretty great month for both Ipsy and Birchbox, and I'm happy to say I got some great variations in both bags.  However, this month being a bit insane as well (We didn't get back home til mid-July, and I had 3 weeks of mail waiting for me!), I somehow completely forgot to take pictures of the items in my boxes!  How sad is that?  Of course, you can check out my Ipsy unboxing video and my Birchbox unboxing video.  I swear, August will be better - it's my birthday month, and I will consider every sub a birthday gift for me!  I will take many pics!  For this post, it just means I'll be using stock photos, with appropriate credit, of course!

Thankfully, Birchbox actually posts photos of individual boxes, so here's my July Box:

July Box

I didn't get the "standard" Ipsy bag though, so here's a screenshot of my "Glam Room"

July Glam Room

The themes this month were quite different.  Birchbox did a collaboration with the show Suits, and had the theme "Power Play".  Ipsy went for a much more laid-back theme with "Beach Beauty".  Ready to get comparing?  Of course you are!  Let's go!

1) Gorgeous Tresses!

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I do love getting hair stuff.  I've found several great products from my subs, and this month is no different!  Birchbox continued their theme of sending a great all-in-one item with the No. 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect.  I previously received the Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle, and this seems to be a similar product.  However, the No. 4 is a more expensive product, so it will have to be pretty amazing for me to buy a full size!  Ipsy sent another Big Sexy Hair item, the Weather Proof anti-humidity spray.  I've tried this a few times, and unfortunately, it does not completely quell my frizzies.  I'm going to try it on a day I actually style my hair, but it hasn't impressed me with my air-dried hair, and that's the majority of my summer styles.  So for this round... Birchbox!

2) Hahaha... Really?

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Occasionally, I will get an item in my boxes that just makes me go "Really?"  Sometimes, it's an item that I don't feel is a good match for me.  Other times, the sample size and/or packaging just makes me giggle.  For Birchbox, it was the "ketchup packets" of lotion.  I'm sure it's a great lotion.  It's by 100% Pure, and I received 3 little packets of the Honey Almond scent.  So, technically, I'm sure I got a great sample size, enough to cover my body.  But the little sample sizes just make me giggle.  Honestly, think of a ketchup packet.  And that's exactly what mine looked like.  I think you can see the actual packaging in my Birchbox Box Photo up top.  Also, sadly, I didn't like the Honey Almond scent.  The other ...Really? item was in my Ipsy bag.  Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub is a great product.  It's all-natural, and who doesn't need a scrub?  This was just a case of IpsyMatch gone wrong.  This was an either-or item, and I really would have preferred to receive either the Demeter perfume or the Nailtini polish.  But there is a happy ending!  Apparently, everyone BUT me wanted the scrub (who knew?) so I was able to negotiate a trade pretty quickly for the Demeter Perfume in Salt Air.  And it's AMAZING.  So because there was a happy ending... Ipsy wins!

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3)  Sexy Summer Skin

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Summer dries out your skin.  There's the sun, the heat, and the extra time outdoors, all conspiring to do damage to your pretty face!  Thankfully, I received two moisturizers this month!  From Birchbox, the Benta Berry G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream.  First of all, it smells AWESOME.  But I'm not sure if I like it.  When I put it on my face, it never seems to "sink in", it just sits on top of my skin.  This is one of those items that I'll use, but not repurchase.  The Coola Unscented SPF 20 Moisturizer from Ipsy, however, immediately went into my rotation!  I got the Cucumber Coola SPF 30 a few months ago in my Birchbox, and while I was slow to warm up to it, it soon became my fave moisturizer when I knew I'd be spending time outside.  I ran out a day or two after I received the Coola from Ipsy, and I've been using it ever since!  Winner?  Ipsy!

4) Pop of Color

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There's nothing I love more than a fun pop of color in the summer!  I got a great one from each sub.  From Ipsy, I got a Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon in Coral Crush.  It's actually not quite a true coral, more of a bright, light pink.  Which is cool, because I've gotten a few other corals this summer and this is something fun and different!  These are only available to purchase in a set of 6, but all of the colors seem pretty and very wearable.  I love the twist-up style of the pencil, the color is awesome, and the only downside is it tends to highlight dry skin on the lips (so exfoliate first!).  Birchbox sent another one of their exclusives with these awesome Birchbox Bobby Pins!   We all received a set of two in either grey, green, or blue.  Thankfully the stars aligned to bring me my favorite color, green!  These things are seriously heavy-duty!  I used them to pin back my hair on Sunday and they held for over 13 hours without budging!  I love both of these items, in fact so much that I'm declaring this round a TIE!

5)  Shimmer Me Timbers!

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Of course, what could go better with a bright pop of color than some summery shimmer?  I was thrilled to get a fun, shimmery product from both subs!  Birchbox sent me a sample size of Benefit's Girl Meets Pearl, a light, champagne-pink luminizer.  IT'S ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!  Also, I love Benefit's stuff, so I'm always happy to see one of my favorite brands!  Ipsy sent a sample palette of BH Cosmetics' California Collection, three palettes based on the California cities of Hollywood, San Francisco, and Malibu!  I... uh... may have seen a sale for all 3 palettes for $18 and bought them even before I got my Ipsy bag.  Maybe.  I like the shadows, but they are pretty sheer unless you use a good primer.  The Girl Meets Pearl, on the other hand, is also sheer... sheer perfection!  Which means a Birchbox win!

What's that, you say?  It's a tie?  Well, almost.  Remember, Ipsy sends a makeup bag with the items every month.  And this month we got a sheer pink barrel-shaped bag made from waterproof  plastic.  It's adorable, it's awesome, and it's a perfect beach bag!  It will handily hold sunscreen and a few waterproof cosmetics to make your beach trip picture-perfect!  Not all of the bags are this great, but July's was good enough to tip the Beauty Box Beatdown in Ipsy's favor!

July Bag

However, Ipsy only won by a hair (a bag?).  Stay tuned for August, where the Birthday Girl (that's me!) decides whether Ipsy or Birchbox has given her a present fit for a Queen!  Not like I have high expectations for $10 a month or anything, right?

Also, just so you know, I do use affiliate links.  If you use my Birchbox link to sign up, I get 50 points, the equivalent of a $5 credit in their store.  If two of you use my Ipsy link to sign up in a month, then I get an additional item in my bag.  However, there is no pressure to use my links!  You can also go straight to their main websites and sign up from there!

I hope you've enjoyed this most recent installment of Beauty Box Beatdown!  May there be many more!