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!

Winning!  (Image Source)

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!

May 2013 Ipsy v. Birchbox Beauty Box BEATDOWN!

Let's get ready to rumblllllllllllle!!!! (You know that song just started playing in your head...)  Well guess what?  There was a total TKO in the beauty box ring this month.  It's almost funny how bad one box trashed another.  Curious?  Read on!  I'd love to know if you agree with me!

Here's the lineup this month:

Definitely the best $20 I spend all month long.

First of all, Ipsy had everyone all freaked out and excited this month because, for the first time, they did quite a bit of customization for the bags.  This definitely caused mixed feelings, as some people getting their bags are incredibly thrilled, while others are highly disappointed and feel that they got a bag that is "worse" than the others.  I had mixed feelings. There was definitely an item in there that is not meant for me, whether by my profile answers or the products I've "loved" on the Ipsy website.  You'll see when we get there.  Let's get this party started!

As you may already know, I divide the products up into completely arbitrary categories, decided by me.  This month was actually really hard, as none of the products matched up quite right.  But I did my best.

1) You're a Mouthy One, Aren't You?

From Birchbox, Marvis Toothpaste in "Classic Strong Mint", 0.5 oz.  From Ipsy, Juice Beauty Lipgloss in Pink, 0.14 oz.  When I found out that Birchbox was sending me toothpaste, my first reaction was "Seriously?  Birchbox, you're my splurge, not my mom!"  I know that this is a beauty sub, and can include items from the full range of making yourself (including your teeth) beautiful.  And I'm sure this is just the most spectacular toothpaste ever - you have to admit, the tube is really cute.  But it just will not win against lipgloss.  Organic, non-sticky, beautiful pink lipgloss.  Ipsy? WINNER.

2) Four-letter Words

Runa.  Yaby.  Not the four-letter words you were thinking of, perhaps.  But it's the only way I could find to link them.  I received a 4-pack of Runa tea from Birchbox, and a refill pan of concealer from Yaby (they sent out the cute little eyeshadow pans in March, that fit into the magnetic compact).  I have been WAITING for a concealer from a sub company, and this color (Buff) is perfect!  Although it may only be perfect during the summer months, when my skin has a tiny bit of color.  Although this is a total win for me, this seems to be Ipsy's greatest problem this month with their match technology.  I have seen dark-skinned ladies get Vanilla (lighter than Buff!), and pale ladies get Pecan (a dark, yellow-based shade).  This is definitely an Ipsy WIN for me, but I really hope they get it together for all the disappointed Ipsy subscribers up there! (The tea is supposed to be super-charged with caffeine, so I'm giving them to my hubby.  Caffeine is no bueno for me.)

3) Classic Beauty

What is more classic than red lipstick and black eyeliner?  I got both this month - a full-size Mirabella lipstick in Posy (technically, it's a dark bright pink, but it's close enough to red for me!) from Ipsy, and a sample size Sumita eye pencil in Suman (black).  I. Have. So. Many. Black. Eyeliners.  It's a common thing to send in sample boxes, because who doesn't need a black eyeliner?  Um, me.  And this is actually the second black eyeliner I've received from Birchbox (but I love the Eyeko Liquid Pen, so it's all good).  The reviews so far are good for the liner, but it'll have to wait in line just like all the others.  The lipstick?  I turned it so you can't see, but I've already used it several times!  It's from Mirabella's Colour Sheer line, so it's a very glossy, sheer lipstick that is a great pink!  I bet you can't guess who wins this round... Ipsy!

4) Save Me From the Sun

From Birchbox, Coola Moisturizer with SPF 30, 0.23 fl oz.  From Ipsy, St. Tropez Instant Glow Body Lotion, 1.69 fl oz.  This.  This is the item that I got from Ipsy and immediately went "Whaaaaaat?"  I don't tan.  I mean, I do get some sun accidentally, I have kids that occasionally want to go outside and play, and I generally remember to put on sunscreen about 30 minutes after we go outside.  The Coola, however, is awesome!  It smells good, and I'm putting it into my morning moisturizer routine so my face will never be without sunscreen!  I thought about trading the St. Tropez, but someone on the MakeupTalk boards suggested mixing it with lotion and using it on my legs (which always remain much lighter than my arms).  It is a bronzer, not a self-tanner, so it will wash right off if it looks ridiculous.  But it's definitely not my favorite.  Guess what?  Birchbox WINS this round!

5) Perfect Pastels

Yeah, once again, I had no idea how to link these until I put them next to each other and thought "This looks like an Easter Basket!"  It's my first Zoya polish, and everyone went NUTS when they revealed this as a spoiler.  I got the color Blu, and it was not my first choice.  But I did a manicure with it yesterday, and it's growing on me.  I'm going to try it as a base under glittery polishes, or as a tip for a french manicure.  I also have had the Amika mask before (I bought one from Birchbox after seeing all the rave reviews when it was sent out before).  The mask is good, but once it was gone, I started using one from John Frieda that 1) works just as well and 2) costs way less.  So I'll enjoy having this, I'll use it when I travel, but I'm not going to buy it again.  While there are some Zoya polishes that are just calling my name.  Ipsy?  WINNER!

And finally, just when you think that the contest is over, and Ipsy is the clear winner, well guess what?  Ipsy actually sent me more items!  The bag this month was AMAZING.  It was a Missoni-style chevron print in teal, turquoise, orange, and white, lined in solid turquoise. It is the perfect clutch size, and will be going with me all this summer to farmer's markets, field trips, and anywhere that I don't want to carry a full-size purse.  It already had a trial run at a field trip this Tuesday to a children's museum, and it was great!  But... that's not it. Because I interact with Ipsy on their webpage, Facebook page, I blog about them, and I recently started doing unboxing videos, they sent me (and many other subscribers) a full-size Urban Decay Moondust eyeshadow.  Mine was in the shade Space Cowboy, and it is a super-shimmery nude color, and it is AMAZING.

The bag and eyeshadow.

Actually, that picture doesn't do the eyeshadow justice, so here's a pic from the Urban Decay website:

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So, can you see why Ipsy totally knocked out Birchbox this month?  I'm hoping Birchbox steps it up next month, I still love them, I swear.  But this:

kicked the pants off of this:

Do you get both subs? Which one did you like better this month?

Birchbox May 2013 Unboxing

Enjoy my first-ever Birchbox unboxing video!  My hubby says I got all rambly at the end... I'll leave you to make your own judgement!

Thursday Thoughts

I remembered this week!  So not sure how exactly I managed to forget to link up with Ramblings of a Suburban Mom last Thursday, but I am ON IT now!  What's on my mind this week?  Read on...

- Birchboxes are starting to arrive!  On several of the boxes posted in the MakeupTalk forum, a pen was included as the "Lifestyle Extra."  There is now a hot debate going on about said pen.  Some people (me included) are a bit miffed that a BEAUTY box is sending out a pen.  They shoe-horned in a connection by making this month's theme "Beauty Diaries", but I'm not impressed.  Of course there is another side.  Several people are excited about getting a pen.  They find them useful, will get more use out of a pen than a foil packet of face wash, and find this pen better than several past "extras" that Birchbox has sent (including Twistbands, Luna Bars, and laundry detergent).  What do you think?  Should a box that promises luxurious beauty samples send out pens?

- Ipsy bags are also in the mail!  I am SO geeked out about this month!  I love the bag, I love the contents, and I love that they're starting to include some variety, and customizing the bags!  We're getting a pastel Zoya polish, a Yaby concealer, either a Mirabella lipstick or a Juice Beauty lipgloss, and two of the following eight items: Pacifica Rollerball in Island Vanilla or Gardenia, Anastasia Brow Gel, Pacifica Body Butter in either Bronzer or Crushed Pearl, St. Tropez Instant Bronzer, Macadamia Hair Oil or Nume Argan Oil.  I'm hoping for one of the Pacifica Rollerball perfumes and the St. Tropez bronzer (I don't tan, but I'd like to try a wash-off bronzer).  And seriously, how cute is this bag going to be as a little clutch for when we go to the farmer's market this summer?

From an email Ipsy sent!

- I swear, my subscription boxes aren't the only thing on my mind!  We're heading home the first weekend in June for my brother-in-law's wedding, and I'm way excited!  The whole family is in the wedding (hubby- groomsmen, kids- ringbearers, and I'm doing a reading), and I'm trying to coordinate outfits, tux rentals, schedules, and having to pull the kids out of school for the last few days of the year.  Aaaaargh.  Although, gonna have to say that I'm happy my hubby will be along for the road trip this time!  Especially now that Dragon is potty-train (-ing? -ed? not sure what the right suffix is yet).

- And lastly, my thoughts and prayers go out to the three women who were held captive for over a decade.  Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight are amazing women, and I'm glad that their healing can begin.  And Charles Ramsey (the man that helped Amanda Berry kick down the door) is my hero.  He's awesome.

What's on your mind today?

Beauty Box Beatdown! Ipsy v. Birchbox April 2013

Hello!  Due to a bunch of random personal crap, I'm behind yet again.  Know how I catch up?  By slyly combining two reviews into one with a Beauty Box Beatdown!  I know, how incredibly talented and clever and... yeah.  Saw the idea on (several) other blogs. Stole it.

Hopefully you have all gotten your Birchboxes and Ipsy bags by now!  For the past few months, they've been arriving at my house on the same day.  It's fun to pull everything out and compare it, but I think it would also be nice to spread the love out over a few days.  It's an awful lot to test at once!

Yup.  My favorite day of the month!

Ipsy AND Birchbox Review! March 2013

Well, you know what happens when I get two boxes on the same day!  I throw 'em in the ring for a BEAUTY BOX BEATDOWN!!!  I really hope you read that using the same voice you hear in commercials for wrestling or monster truck rallies.  I used the same general logic used to select wrestling match partners to divide the 5 items received from each subscription into arbitrary categories, and pitted the individual items against each other.  Heck, even I don't know who wins yet.  I didn't actually plan this out in advance.  Here are the contenders:

So much pink!
And yes, I'm working on not putting my own shadow in the pic. Sorry.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I realized recently that I do a lot of reviews right when I get my subscription boxes, but don't update you all with whether I even like the items or not!  A lot of times my first impressions are totally different than when I have the chance to use an item for awhile.  Today, I'm going to give you the top 5 items I've received in my sub boxes.  Next week, I'll do a post on which items I gave a fair chance to, but still ended up disliking.

This is not a comprehensive list, and I'll definitely do more of them in the future.  Discovering new things is always fun, and discovering new things that make me feel beautiful and pampered?  It's pretty much my most favorite thing EVER.

Here's my current top 5:

Birchbox Review February 2013

I've now had my second great month with Birchbox!  And this is definitely the earliest I've ever received it.  Because Birchbox has so many subscribers, they send their boxes out in "waves", and for this month, Winter Storm Nemo has made a huge delay in their shipping as well.  So, all you ladies who are still without your Birchboxes, I hope the snow melts soon and they arrive to you safe and sound!

Birchbox is definitely one of my favorite subscriptions, so I was really excited to see that hot pink box in my mail today!  My tracking info said it wasn't supposed to get here til Tuesday (2/12), so yay to the USPS for being on it!  The only problem with getting my box on a Saturday is trying to photograph it for this blog with my two little monsters running around.  However, we had just come home from running several errands, so Dragon napped and Knight played quietly while I snuck out to the back deck for a quick photo session!  

And did I mention the light outside was GORGEOUS today?

Birchbox Review January 2013

I love my Birchbox this month!

And that makes me happy.  Last month was my first with Birchbox and I was disappointed, especially as I had to wait over 4 weeks just to get an invitation to join!  Birchbox is a "beauty and lifestyle" subscription, and for $10 a month, they send you a box with between 4-6 samples tailored to your preferences.  When you join up, you fill out a beauty profile that Birchbox uses to select the items for your box.  I was scrupulously honest when I first filled out my profile - silly me!  Apparently being a 30-something with classic style and a middle-class income gets you a boring box filled with skincare items and nail polish remover.  I was about to cancel after receiving my initial box o'boring stuff, when I saw a YouTube video by "minzor9".  She described a phone call she made to Birchbox's Customer Service, where they gave her advice on filling out her profile.  I watched, I learned... and I became a filthy rich teenager with adventurous style!  Well, on their website, anyway.  I can dream, right?

So I got my January box and... love.  Love at first sight.  I am happy with EVERY SINGLE item in my box!  Which, if you obsessively read Birchbox reviews every month like I do (maybe I need a new hobby?), you'll know that's very unusual.  As with any subscription service, there are hits and misses in the items you're sent.  But this month? Perfection.  I can't believe I got all this for $10!  So, let's get started:

Here's the box when I first unwrapped it:

I can feel it... there's magic inside!

Happy New Year! The Inaugural Post

Happy New Year! And a happy new blog!

Welcome to the Whimsical Adventures of a Magical Mom.  Hi, I'm Leigh.  Wife, mother to two awesome little boys, and ruler of my own little kingdom.  Yeah, normally I'd be co-ruling with the king.  But he's away right now for his job, so it's my job to be the Evil Queen benevolent monarch. Our oldest boy, whom I'll call Knight, is a dream child. Polite, curious, sweet, and already a ladies' man in his kindergarten class, he is Mommy's helper.  Although he did totally thrash me at Candy Land this morning, and I'm not sure if I'm over it yet.  And then, we have Dragon.  My youngest.  He's.... wild.  Boisterous.  Non-verbal.  Seriously, he's three, and has yet to say a complete sentence.  We noticed his speech wasn't developing properly when he turned two, and we took him to a private speech therapist for a year.  She did an amazing job working with him, and now we have him in our local elementary school's preschool, with speech and cognitive therapy a few times a week.  I'm starting to see a lot of improvement lately, thank goodness.  He does a LOT better in a peer group, and heaven bless his teachers, who are willing to deal with over a dozen rambunctious preschoolers every day.  So, that's us!  We live in a quaint little town a few hours from the East Coast, and just bought our first house this summer.  Yay!

I'm sure you're all happy for the introduction, but now you're thinking "What is this blog all about?"  Well, several things.  We live far away from extended family, so this is a great way for them to stay updated on how we're doing without ridiculously long Facebook statuses.  Hi, family! Love you all!  Seriously, I have the greatest family.  And let's just say I won the in-law lottery.  They're quite fabulous.  So, family updates will be a big part of this.  I will also post about my artsy-craftsy projects.  Pinterest is a little (ha!) obsession of mine, and I'd love to be able to share my accomplishments, once again, without blowing up my Facebook newsfeed with "look what I can do!"

And lastly, I will be posting about my most recent hobby... subscription boxes!  What are subscription boxes, you ask? Oh, you didn't ask? Well sit down, cause I'm gonna tell you anyway!  For a small price, usually about $10-15 a month, companies like Ipsy, Birchbox, Beauty Army, Love Club Box, Goodies, and Citrus Lane (my current subs) send you a box each month filled with the most amazing stuff!  There are many categories, I currently have beauty, lifestyle, food, and kids' boxes.  I will post reviews on what I got in each box, and give a little explanation about what each company is about.  I am not paid for these reviews, nor do I receive the boxes for free unless otherwise noted.  (Sorry, but the little lawyer that lives in my head told me I should put in a disclaimer.)  I may have referral links that give me rewards if you sign up through my site, but I will always have those noted.

I hope all of you are having a very Happy New Year, and that 2013 brings you lots of blessings and joy.  Please enjoy my new adventures in blogging, pictures and other extra stuff are coming soon.  After all... Ancora Imparo!*

*Latin for: "I am still learning"