Birchbox: May 2013

Hey, dolls! I hope you are all doing well and enjoyed your weekend. My May Birchbox arrived in the mail a few days ago and today I am going to be sharing what was in my box this month. The theme for the month is "beauty diaries". From our daily routine, to our tried and true techniques, this month's Birchbox is all about us and our beauty secrets. Cute concept!

1. Coola Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer for Face: Facial sunscreens are an everyday must for me. This one contains an SPF of 30, and it's infused with organic ingredients like borage seed oil and evening primrose extract, which are both great anti-aging treats for the skin. I just love the fresh cucumber fragrance in this moisturizer. It smells amazing! (Full Size: $32.00)

2. Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste: This was a rather interesting inclusion in my box. I have yet to open the tube but I can already tell that the peppermint fragrance in this is very prominent. I like strong, minty toothpastes so this is right up my alley. The size of the tube is perfect for travel, so I think I am going to reserve this for my next vacation getaway. (Full Size: $6.00-$10.50)

3. Amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask: I love hair masks. I think they really make a difference when it comes to the health of my hair. This mask by Amika contains Vitamin C and omega acids, which helps boost shine and repair split ends-exactly what I am looking for. I love that this sample packet is filled with product. I will easily be able to get a few uses out of this. (Full Size: $12.00-$40.00)

4. Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner: This black eyeliner is definitely the stand out item in my box. The color is super rich and so creamy. I did a swatch of this on the back of my hand and I was rather impressed with the fact that it did not budge, no matter how hard I tried to rub it off. I can't wait to try this and I am confident that it will be long lasting. (Full Size: $11.00, Set of 4 mini pencils: $21.00)

5. Runa Guayusa Tea: These organic teas were the lifestyle extra in the box. I like drinking tea so I don't mind getting a couple of tea bags in my box every now and then. I received four antioxidant rich varieties to try-cinnamon lemongrass, traditional guayusa, ginger citrus, and mint. They all smell scrumptious! (Full Size: $7.00)

What did you all receive in your May Birchbox?

If you are interested in signing up for Birchbox, you can use my referral link, here.


Disclaimer: I purchased a monthly Birchbox subscription for my personal use. Signing up by using my referral link that I provided in this post is optional, but if you do, extra Birchbox points will go into my account which are good towards future purchases in the Birchbox shop. Once you have signed up for Birchbox, you will receive your own unique referral link to share, and gather points of your own.

MAC: Viva Glam Nicki Lipstick

After much lusting after, I finally purchased a tube of MAC's Viva Glam Nicki lipstick ($15.00). I don't know what took me so long to obtain this lipstick because I absolutely adore it! It's just all kinds of awesome, really. I like it so much that I may have to pick up a back-up tube. In case you aren't familiar with the concept behind MAC's Viva Glam products, every cent of the sales price of Viva Glam lipsticks and lipglasses is donated to the MAC Aids Fund, which helps women, men, and children affected by HIV and AIDS (source). I just love companies who do their part, and give back to such amazing causes. It makes purchasing the item that much more sweeter.

Viva Glam Nicki is a vivid, yellow toned pink that was made to stand out. The pigmentation of this lipstick is amazing. So much so, that one layer is plenty enough to yield saturated color payoff. The color is super bright and it definitely makes a statement. You all know that I absolutely love bright lip colors so I really don't mind the heavy pigmentation and boldness. But if you are one who tends to shy away from colors like this one I find that blotting on instead of swiping on the lipstick, will lessen the intensity and make Viva Glam Nicki a bit more wearable. 

Viva Glam Nicki contains a satin formula that goes on smooth, without tugging on lips. It feels really comfortable and lightweight on the lips, too. If your lips on on the drier side though, I strongly suggest properly exfoliating and prepping lips before application because this lip color has the tendency to enhance dry areas. When sporting a lip color this bright, smooth lips are crucial for the best looking results.

When it comes to lasting power, I begin to see some fading around the 5 hour mark. This lipstick does leave behind a stain but the color doesn't fade very evenly-I get an obvious ring of color around lips. Definitely carry this lip color in your makeup bag for touch-ups.

Overall: MAC's Viva Glam Nicki is a great addition to my ever-expanding MAC lipstick collection. This shade certainly feeds my bright lipstick obsession, and it's going to be such a fun color to sport for the warm, summer months. If you favor bright lipstick colors like this one, MAC's Viva Glam Nicki is a total must-have that won't disappoint!

What do you all think of MAC's Viva Glam Nicki lipstick?

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I purchased this product for my personal use.

Palmolive®: Soft Touch® Dish Liquid

Doing dishes is a daily task that is an absolute must. Liquid dish soaps are often comprised of strong formulas, that are really effective at cutting through grease and grime-as should be. But unfortunately, the soaps can be pretty rough on our hands. After washing the dishes with traditional dish soaps, the skin on my hands are always left feeling super dry and uncomfortable. I immediately slather on a hand cream just to get that suppleness and moisture back. Well, thanks to Palmolive®'s Soft Touch® dish liquid, my hands can rest a little easier!

Palmolive®'s Soft Touch® dish liquid soaps are phosphate free and they contain mild formulas that are are not only tough on grease, but gentle on hands. I received two of Palmolive®'s Soft Touch® dish liquid soaps through Influenster to try out-Aloe and Vitamin E, and I couldn't be anymore pleased with them. These do a fab job at deep cleaning my dishes, and for once, my hands don't have to pay the price. My most favorite of the two has to be the one with Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a great moisturizer, so the fact this dish liquid contains it, is a nice treat.  

Overall: If you are tired of the harshness that some liquid dish soaps induce on skin, then I suggest looking into these Palmolive® Soft Touch® dish liquids. They do the job when it comes to cleaning dishes, all while being gentle on hands. What's not to love? 

What do you all think of Palmolive®'s Soft Touch® dish liquid soap?

Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. My reviews are always honest, never influenced, and my own.

Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman: Expert Face Brush

I think it's become pretty obvious that I can't get enough of Real Techniques brushes. I have been nothing but pleased with the Real Techniques brushes I have tried so far, so it seemed only natural that I add another one to my growing personal assortment. The expert face brush ($8.99) has been on my wish list for a very long time, and I am so glad that I finally got my hands on it. It's a good one.

The expert face brush is comprised of super soft taklon bristles, and it's one that is very well loved in the beauty blogging community. I have read countless reviews on how well this brush applies liquid foundation-which was the intended purpose I bought it for. But I have to say, I think this brush excels in another department. More on that later. So, I tried to work the liquid foundation onto my skin with this brush and although it did the job, I found that the brush was too firm for my liking. I prefer a much fluffier brush, which allows for a gentler and quicker buffing experience-like the Real Techniques buffing brush from the core collection, for instance.

While the expert face brush doesn't quite do it for me for liquid foundation application, it does a fabulous job at blending cream blushes. I never really had a proper brush for cream blush application, other than stippling brushes. Even those left something to be desired. The expert face brush kicks them all to the curb! I dab a bit of cream blush onto the apples of my cheeks, and let the Real Techniques expert face brush get to work. This brush effortlessly blends out the cream blush on my cheeks, and the end result is a natural looking, well blended flush of color. Love it!

As with all the Real Techniques Brushes that I have tried, the expert face brush is of great quality. It's really sturdy, and after a good cleanse it always retains it's shape and softness, once dry.

Overall: If you are on the market for a firm face brush, the Real Techniques expert face brush will surely not disappoint. I can't recommend this brush enough for cream products. I haven't always been very comfortable with cream blushes, but I think it was because I never found the right tools to apply it with. Now that I have seen that the expert face brush makes cream blush application not so scary and a pretty easy process, I am much more open to experimenting with more cream products.

Rock Your Hair

Ever since I can remember, I was never one for voluminous locks. When it comes to style, the straight and sleek look is more my thing, and what I usually go for. A couple of weeks ago I received a few Rock Your Hair products for review-a line designed by celebrity hairstylist Michael O' Rourke, and I have to say, since using these and putting them to the test, I think I am slowly beginning to build an appreciation for volume. After all, a little oomph in the hair department never hurt anybody. 

Before I get into the individual product reviews I just have to take a moment and gush over the super adorable bottle packaging. I just love the bright pink coloring of the bottles, and the shiny heart-shaped studs. So girly and glam!

1. Big Hair Rocks Shampoo ($17.00 for full size bottle) And Big Hair Rocks Conditioner ($20.00 for full size bottle): The volumizing shampoo is paraben and sulfate free, and it does a nice job at cleansing my hair without being harsh and stripping it of essential moisture. I love the fresh scent of this and for being sulfate free, I was pretty impressed with the amount of lather this silky shampoo produced. Like the shampoo, the big hair rocks conditioner is also paraben and sulfate free. For my thick hair, I find that a quarter sized amount of conditioner is enough for me to distribute onto my hair, making sure to concentrate the most product on the shaft and ends of the hair. I let the conditioner sit in my hair for about 3-5 minutes before I am ready to rinse it out. When I rinse, right away I can feel a smoothness in my hair, that's luxurious to the touch. Because of this shampoo and conditioner duo, I have definitely noticed that my hair has more body and bounce than it usually does, after I blow dry and style.

2. Miracle Leave In Conditioner Weightless Detangler ($20.00): This detangler contains soy, wheat and oat proteins to help strengthen hair from the shaft to the ends. This product is great for replenishing moisture to dry locks and it's great for all hair types, including color treated. I spritz a bit of this all over my towel dried hair, then proceed to comb through it. And thanks to this, detangling my hair is a much more manageable/bearable process. The only thing I am not crazy about is the fragrance of this. I wish it had a fresher scent.

3. Bombshell Big Hair Powder ($17.00): I have never used a volumizing hair powder before so I was excited to see what this could do. I just sprinkle a bit of this talc and Micah based powder onto my limp roots, and I love how this gives my hair not only a nice lift, but some added texture to boot. This hair powder is lightweight, and it's so cool how it liquefies once you start working it into the roots.

4. Spray it Hard Big Volume Hairspray ($22.00): I am really fond of this hair spray. In fact, it has become one of my most reached for hair products. This gives my hair a shiny, flexible hold that prolongs all day. It doesn't make my hair feel crunchy or weighed down, either, which is a plus. I have tried my fair share of hair sprays and most of the ones I have encountered have caused flaking, which I totally hate. Well, I am happy to report that this hairspray does not flake on my hair, whatsoever. Score!

5. Size Matters Big Volume Root Lift ($20.00): Before blow drying and styling, I like to spritz a bit of this humidity resistant spray mousse on my damp roots, to give it some extra volume. And, this product doesn't weigh down the hair, either. A little spray goes a long way.


Find out more at www.rockyourhair.com!

What do you all think of the Rock Your Hair products? Any favorites?

Disclaimer: I received the products mentioned in this post from PR for review consideration. I am not being monetarily compensated for this review and as always, my opinions are honest, never influenced, and my own.