Adventures in Polishland

Gold 3D Nail Stickers from Born Pretty Store!

Posted on May 8, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to share with you some more nail art supplies from the online retailer Born Pretty Store. Back in March I tried out some Hello Kitty nail art stickers (see that post HERE), and loved them. Now I have a similar product that I think is something anyone can wear and enjoy! Let me show you these gold nail stickers!

Above is what the sheet of nail art stickers looks like! As you can see, you get an amazing variety of designs to choose from. I love that there are bows, hearts, flowers, crowns, and even teddy bears! At the same time, there are frames and other decorative stickers as well. All of the stickers are gold toned, and since they do have a slight thickness to them, they give a cool 3D effect on the nail. I decided to try out a few of the designs for one fun manicure!

Here is my manicure using the gold stickers! First, start with a regular manicure in any color of your choosing. I happened to still be wearing LVX in Virdian, and I thought the emerald green would nicely compliment the gold. If you are starting with a freshly painted manicure, make sure to let your base color dry completely before applying the stickers. You don’t want any smudges! When you are ready to apply the stickers, simply choose the design you like and carefully peel it off the sheet. This can be a little tricky, especially for the smaller stickers. If you like, use a pair of tweezers to gently grasp the sticker. Next, place the sticker on your nail and gently press down. Follow up with two layers of top coat to even everything out, and you are done! Voila! A fancy manicure that was quick and easy to create!

While using these stickers I did come across a few things that I wanted to share with all of you. First, don’t get discouraged if the stickers rip or break when you are trying to apply them. They are a bit difficult to get the hang of, but once you have tried one or two you will get a feel for how to handle them. Second, do not skip out on the top coat! I experimented and I woke up the next day with the gold tone completely rubbed off! The top coat helps to seal in the gold color, as well as ensure the stickers stay put.

All in all, I am seriously loving these! They are so easy to apply, and the designs are perfect for accent nails, or even a fancy manicure like the one I created here! The best part is, this sheet of stickers retails for just $4.51! Plus, with my discount code of FZL91 you can get an additional 10% off. As always, shipping is free internationally with Born Pretty Store. You can purchase these gold 3D nail stickers by clicking HERE.

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review, and the links above are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

My Holy Grail Manicure: Essie Butler Please and Different Dimension Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock

Posted on May 5, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite manicures of all time. I love it so much I am calling it my Holy Grail Manicure! In other words, this is the best of the best in terms of formula, color, polish names, and so on. Let me get right into the goodness and show you the polish!

First up is the gorgeous Butler Please from the Essie Winter Collection of 2012. Back in March I was in a bit of a “polish funk”. Nothing that I put on my nails was exciting me. Then, I got Butler Please, put it on, and my funk officially ended! Butler Please has a flawless formula that applies like a dream and is opaque in two coats. It is also a bright blue color that is just stunning! I am still blown away by how beautiful this color is. Butler Please has been compared to Nails Inc Baker Street, but this is truly unlike anything I own in my personal collection. This will definitely be my go to blue polish from now on. I can’t wait to use it again!

I was loving Butler Please so much that even when the tips were starting to show wear after several days, I made my manicure last longer by adding an amazing glitter top coat from the indie brand Different Dimension. I am a huge fan of the TV show the Big Bang Theory, and my mom kindly gave me the entire Big Bang collection that Different Dimension makes. I had a good feeling that Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock (RPSLS) would look great over Butler Please, and I think I made a great choice! RPSLS is a glitter top coat with a just a slightly blue tinted base, and filled with fine white glitter and white, light blue, light green, and grey hexagonal glitters. The formula is great, and the glitters apply with ease. I layered just one coat of RPSLS over Buter Please, and the result was just phenomenal! I could not stop staring at my nails when I had this manicure on.

All in all, I hope you enjoy my Holy Grail Manicure as much as I do! I love when nail polishes not only have a beautiful color, but a great formula as well. I also love that RPSLS is part of a collection based off of one of my favorite TV shows! There is just so much to love! Although Butler Please is no longer available in drugstores, you can purchase it on Amazon HERE. Make sure you head on over to the Different Dimension Etsy shop to purchase RPSLS and the other Big Bang Theory polishes HERE.

Let me know what your Holy Grail Manicure is in the comments!

Some of the above links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

LVX Vegan Nail Lacquer: Spring 2013 Collection

Posted on May 3, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am very excited to share with you three polishes from a brand that is new to me, LVX. I discovered this brand on Instagram, and was blown away with how stunning the polishes are. LVX is definitely a luxury brand, but their products are vegan, cruelty free, and made in the USA! LVX graciously sent me some polishes from their spring collection so I could review them for all of you. Let me show you these beautiful colors!

I first wanted to show you what the polishes look like in the bottle. The packaging is so nice, and I have to say that this was one of the best nail mails I have ever received! The polishes were wrapped in sleek, black tissue paper and sealed with a silver label. Then, each polish was individually wrapped in bubble wrap, and came in a stunning black and silver box. I knew these LVX polishes would be special right from the get go!

First up is Viridian, an emerald green polish. Viridian is definitely my favorite of the bunch! It has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, and the finish is just flawless. I am currently wearing this polish and cannot stop looking at my nails! Viridian is also a beautiful take on Pantone’s Color of the Year! This is the first emerald in my nail polish collection, and I plan on wearing it a lot!

Next up is Citrine, a golden yellow polish. Citrine is definitely on trend for the season, since I keep seeing mustard yellow everywhere I go! I did experience some formula issues, mainly some streaking and unevenness. I applied three coats to achieve opacity, and luckily most of the imperfections were concealed. It is definitely difficult to get a yellow tone with just the perfect formula! Nonetheless, LVX describes Citrine as the perfect transitional color from winter to spring, and I think that is definitely true. I am just loving this unique color, and I think it will work well during the fall, too!

Last but not least is Fantom, a super cool white polish. I have been searching for a white polish with a great formula, and I have finally found it in Fantom! White polishes show each and every imperfection, but with two coats of Fantom I got a nearly flawless finish. I cannot wait to use this for glitter manicures and nail art, and perhaps even on its own! Fantom is definitely my new go-to white!

All in all, I am loving these polishes from the LVX Spring Collection! The colors are so unique, and the white polish is something every polish lover needs to have in her stash. I personally love using a brand that is vegan and cruelty free, even if it means spending a bit more per bottle. LVX nail lacquer is definitely the perfect, guilt free treat for yourself! You can purchase these polishes on their website HERE for $16 each. Make sure to LIKE them on Facebook to hear about new collections.

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Nail Polish Edition!

Posted on May 1, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! In the month of April, I received a nail polish in both my Ipsy Glam Bag and my Birchbox, so I thought it would be fun to compare the two and see which one I like best. You can see my full breakdown of April’s Ipsy and Birchbox HERE. It turns out the two polishes I received are actually in the same color family! Let me show you them both.

First up is Sation in Love at First Byte from my Ipsy Glam Bag. Love at First Byte is a sheer peach polish. I am wearing three coats in the photos above, and as you can see it is still not opaque. I typically don’t like sheer polishes that show the nail line, but this one was actually quite nice. It’s the perfect polish for when you want polished nails, but want something understated as well. Love at First Byte also had a great formula. If you like sheer polishes, this one is for you! It retails for around $5, and can be purchased on Amazon HERE.

Next is Peony from Ruby Wing, a peachy pink polish from my April Birchbox. I did have formula issues with Peony. It was quite streaky and patchy, and required three coats. This polish is also supposed to change colors when exposed to sunlight. Unfortunately, I didn’t experience any color change whatsoever when I exposed my nails to the sun. With all of that said, you may think that Peony is a complete dud. However, I’ve been wearing this polish for four days now, and I am really loving the color. I think it looks great with my skin tone, and is perfect for summer. Even though it wasn’t the perfect polish, I still think it was a great addition to my Birchbox. Ruby Wing Color Changing polishes have been spotted at Five Below stores for $3!

All in all, I’m quite happy to have received a nail polish in each of my monthly subscriptions. Neither polish stands out to me as a true winner of this matchup, since I like different qualities of each one. The Sation is a more professional look, while the Ruby Wing is a fun bright color. Let me know in the comments which one you like better!

Ipsy and Birchbox are monthly beauty subscriptions for $10 each. You can join Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE.

Some of the above links are affiliate and/or referral links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Beauty Blogger Tag: Get to Know Me!

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

I was tagged by Mercedes over at Beyond Beauty Lounge to do this tag! You can see her answers HERE. I hope you enjoy this kind of post!

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
Neither! I have wavy hair.

2. What is your natural hair color?

Light brown.

3. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

I have never dyed my hair, and I have no plans to do so!

4. How often do you wash your hair?

I wash and condition my hair every other day. I have very thin hair that gets oily rather quickly, so I do wash it as frequently as I can without going overboard.
5. Do you wear the same style every day or change it?

I typically wear my hair down and in a side part every day, and I flat iron it. Sometimes I wear it in a side braid, or in a messy bun if I’m at home.

6. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?

I do my own mani/pedi for the most part. I might go to a salon 1-2 times per year.
7. How often to you change your nail polish?

About 2-3 times per week. I am a nail polish blogger, after all!
8. Do you polish your toes in the winter, too or just in the summer?

Yes, but I don’t change it very often.

9. How long does it take to put on your makeup?

Ten to fifteen minutes.

10. What do you do first? Face or eyes?
Face. I virtually only wear mascara.

11. Do you “collect” makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?

I collect nail polish, but only because I blog about it. I try not to hoard products I don’t need, and I am constantly trying to get rid of the things I don’t use. [Hint: see Blog Sale tab!]

12. How often do you wear false eyelashes?

Never! I used to for dance performances when I was younger, but I like my own lashes.

13. Do you do a full face of makeup every day?

No.

14. Do you wear makeup when you are home alone (or with family)?

If I feel like it, but typically no.

15. Will you leave the house without makeup.

Yes.

16. How many high end products do you have?

Very few. I am a budget-seeking lady!

17. How often do you wash your makeup brushes?

Not as often as I should
18. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you are getting dressed?

Very rarely do I plan ahead. I typically wake up, check the weather, and put something together.

19. How often do you change your handbag?

Whenever I feel like it! I usually have one “go to” bag, and then I change it depending on my mood or where I’m going.
20. What time do you get up & go to sleep?

I wake up at around 8:30am, though it’s usually anywhere between 8:00-9:00am. I go to sleep at 11:30pm, right after Watch What Happens Live!
21. How often & when do you workout?

Never. Let’s be real, I don’t like to “work out”. I do walk about three miles every day, though. That’s my exercise.

22. Left-handed or Right-handed?

Right-handed.

23. How tall are you?

5’4”
24. Do you speak a foreign language?

I have some knowledge of Mexican Spanish. I can understand it and write it very well, but I can only speak it conversationally.
25. How many pets do you have?

I have a pet frog named Fred. He lives with my parents!

26. How often are you on Blogger?

Never. I use WordPress!
27. Do you read the comments posted on blogs?

Each and every one! I try to reply to them all as well.
28. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

No, but I really should because I can never remember the names of the things I want to try.
29. How did you come up with your blog name?

It just popped into my head, and I Googled to see if anyone else had it. When no one popped up, I declared it mine!
30. What kind of camera do you use?

No professional cameras or equipment here — I use my iPhone 5.

31. How often do you clean your house?

I clean it at the end of each week.

32. What is your favorite color?

Pink.

33. What is your favorite beauty/fashion magazine?

I don’t typically read magazines.

34. Do you swear?

Very, very rarely. There are also some words that are not in my vocabulary at all, and I’m quite disappointed when I hear others using them.

35. What are you doing with the rest of your day?

It’s final exam time for this law student! Studying is my only plan at this point!

Now I tag YOU! Feel free to answer these questions on your beauty blog!

Keep Calm and Add Glitter!

Posted on April 28, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I thought I would share with you one of the manicures I wore at the beginning of the spring season. Even though I love trying out new nail polishes all the time, I enjoy it when I have the chance to search through my stash for a favorite polish. For this manicure, I decided upon a pastel mint green, and one of my favorite glitter top coats. Let me show you this fun manicure!

First I began with a base of Keep Calm, Paint On from China Glaze. This is a mint green pastel with green and pink shimmer mixed in, so it has just a touch of sparkle on its own. Keep Calm, Paint On has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It is a bit on the thick side, so there is a little streaking, but not much. I love this nail polish because of the name, but the color is also stunning. You can also snag this on Amazon for just $2.19 at the moment! There are only seven bottles left in stock, so grab yours HERE!

I completed my manicure by adding two coats of Kite Island from A Rhyming Dictionary Polish to my mint base color. Kite Island is a glitter top coat filled with fine glitters in pink and green, hexagonal glitters in orange, blue, pink, and green, small green squares, and large white squares. I think this glitter is so fun, and it really livens up my nails. The white square glitters are so unexpected, but they are my favorite part of the polish! As with all polishes from A Rhyming Dictionary, Kite Island has an amazing formula, and the glitters apply with ease. You can purchase this on Etsy for $7.50 HERE.

All in all, I hope you liked seeing one of the manicures that I wore for spring! Mint green and glitter are definitely the perfect combination in my book. Plus, I love being able to reach into my nail polish collection for a polish I haven’t worn in a long time. If you liked seeing this manicure, please let me know in the comments!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains some affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Bimonthly Beauty Post: My Current Mascara Collection!

Posted on April 26, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I have another post in my beauty series, and I’m going to focus on my favorite makeup product — mascara! While I don’t wear a lot of eye makeup, I almost always put on some mascara before walking out the door. It is just enough to give me some extra “pop” without being over the top. I find that adding mascara can make me look more polished and ready for the day. I constantly find myself perusing the makeup aisle for new mascaras and great deals! Let me show you the mascaras I’m currently using, and the ones I will be trying out next!

Here are the four mascaras I currently have in my collection! I think four is more than enough to have for everyday use, so I am focusing on using these up before I open any more. Once you open a mascara and expose it to the air, it has a faster chance at drying up in the tube. That’s why I keep my mascaras wrapped up until I’m ready to use them! As you can see, I have a good mix of both drugstore and high end mascaras. I always get a bargain when I can, though!

Brand Name: L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes

Price: $7.00 on Amazon [Buy HERE]; also available at drugstores

Best for: Lengthening! I can literally see my eyelashes growing when I apply this mascara. This mascara also gives you very full eyelashes, just as the name “Million Lashes” suggests. This is probably my favorite all-around mascara of all time!

Dislikes: I really have nothing bad to say about this mascara! I’ve been using it for a couple years!

Brand Name: Covergirl NatureLuxe Water Resistant Mousse

Price: $3.89 on Amazon [Buy HERE]; also available at drugstores

Best for: A natural, everyday look! I find that this mascara is perfect for adding color to your lashes and for providing some definition without it being too noticeable. It also does a great job at separating your lashes.

Dislikes: My tube is already starting to dry up after just two and a half months of use. That means clumping! It’s not too noticeable yet, but I think I will have to toss this one in another month or so.

Brand Name: Buxom Sculpted Lash

Price: $18.50 on Amazon [Buy HERE]; also available at Sephora

Best for: Shaping and curling! Just as the name suggests, this mascara is amazing at sculpting my lashes. It separates and curls my lashes with ease. I like to turn the wand to get a different angle with the applicator as I use it for added definition. This really helps with my left eyelashes, which seem to be a bit wonky — it makes them look full quite easily!

Dislikes: This mascara does not add much length to my eyelashes, but that’s because it is geared towards shaping them. I love everything else about it!

Because I’m a mascara hoarder, I already have a couple more ready to go for when I use up the ones in my current collection! On the left is Covergirl Clump Crusher, one that I’ve heard so many good things about! On the right is the brand new Revlon Lash Potion. I recently won the Revlon in a giveaway from the company, and can’t wait to try it!

I hope you enjoyed this post on my current mascara collection! Be sure to let me know what your favorite mascara is in the comments!

Some of the links in this post are Amazon Affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Indie Spotlight: Tillie Polish in Fierce and Fabulous

Posted on April 24, 2013July 13, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today’s post is a review of a fun polish that is perfect for summer. It’s from the indie nail polish brand called Tille Polish, which is run by a trio of sisters! I discovered the brand by watching the oldest sister’s YouTube channel (see Andréa’s videos HERE), and I’m so glad I did! She graciously sent me this polish and I could not wait to get it on my nails. Let me show you Fierce and Fabulous!

Here is the beautiful bright pink called Fierce and Fabulous (and it truly lives up to its name)! This polish has an amazing formula. Application was smooth and even, and it was opaque in two coats. Fierce and Fabulous dries matte, and has a hint of silver shimmer mixed in as well. It looks just stunning on the nail, and is perfect for the summer sun. The matte look is unexpected, but I loved it! You can easily achieve a glossy finish by adding your favorite top coat as well. I did notice that removal took a bit more effort than usual, but when I switched to an acetone based remover instead of an acetone free one it came off much better. I also suggest a healthy layer of base coat!

All in all, I am loving Fierce and Fabulous from Tille Polish! As a pink aficionado, it is great to have this in my collection. The silver shimmer and matte finish really make it unique! You can purchase Fierce and Fabulous on the Tillie Polish website HERE for $8.00. This is a special edition polish that is officially launching on May 15th, but is available for pre-order now. You can also “like” Tillie Polish on Facebook HERE.

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya Stunning Collection for Summer 2013

Posted on April 23, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I have a review of the full Stunning Collection from Zoya that is available for purchase now. I will be quite honest with you up front — I am disappointed with this collection. The polishes look so beautiful in the bottle, but I experienced a great deal of formula issues. After speaking with other bloggers, it seems as if the formula problems are not consistent with everyone. Some people haven’t experienced any issues at all! I’m hoping that I just got a bad batch of the collection. Nonetheless, let me show you the Stunning Collection!

First up is Darcy, a banana yellow polish. Darcy is the worst of the collection formula wise, so I figured I would get it out of the way! While opaque in two coats, I added a third to attempt to even out the streaky and patchy formula. Even the photos show the unevenness of this polish. I am very disappointed with Darcy, and would not recommend it.

Next up is Thandie, a bright, tangerine orange. Thandie’s formula is just okay — opaque in two coats and still a bit streaky and patchy. I do love Thandie’s color, as it is perfect for summer and not an overwhelming orange. If the formula was a bit easier to work with this would be a go to orange for me!

Zoya Micky is the first of two pinks in the Stunning Collection. Micky is a gorgeous bright pink color that is very flattering with my skin tone. It’s formula was sheer, and required three coats to achieve opacity. Otherwise, I think this is a work appropriate polish that would look good on almost anyone!

Zoya Yana is the next pink in the collection, and is more on the darker side than Micky. Yana has a good formula, but it still wasn’t that great formula that Zoya typically has. It is opaque in two coats, and is perfect for every day. The color is really pretty!

Next is Rocky, a sky blue polish and my favorite from the collection! Rocky has a great formula (finally!) that is opaque in two coats. I love how Rocky can look both bright and dusty at the same time. It is definitely more of a subdued blue polish. If you are looking to purchase from the Stunning Collection, Rocky would be my pick!

Last but not least is Josie, a grassy green. Josie has a good formula that is a little streaky. This polish is opaque in two coats, and is just the perfect shade of green. I personally love this color so much that I would put up with the mediocre formula just to wear this one.

All in all, the Stunning Collection from Zoya is a bit of a flop for me. I am very happy with Rocky, and Yana and Josie I could probably make do with. Otherwise, I would never purchase these polishes for myself. As I mentioned from the start, it seems as if these formula issues are not widespread for everyone. Unfortunately, there really is no way to know if you will receive a good batch or not. I usually find that Zoya polishes have fabulous formulas, so I’m not sure what happened with this collection! I hope that this was just a fluke that won’t happen again! The Zoya Stunning Collection can be purchased HERE.

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Two! April 2013

Posted on April 20, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I am back with round two of my battle of the beauty subscriptions now that I finally received my Birchbox in the mail! Unfortunately the post office held onto my box without delivering it for almost a week. Luckily it arrived safe and sound, and I am so excited to share this comparison post with you! Last month I reviewed both Ipsy and Birchbox for the first time, and Birchbox won the first round (all details HERE). Let me share with you what I got for April for each of these $10 subscription programs. Which one do you think will win this matchup?!

First up is Ipsy! This month’s theme was Pretty in Pink, and came in a cute white and pink cosmetics bag. My bag had a few small stains on it, so I emailed the company and they are going to send me a replacement. I’m definitely happy about that great customer service! I really do like this cosmetics bag, and I think this will be going in my school bag since it won’t take up a lot of room and can hold some lip balm, hand lotion, etc.

Now onto the products in my Ipsy Glam Bag! Last month I got five products, but this month I got four. I’ll describe everything in detail for you from left to right!

Be a Bombshell Blush in Sweet Cheeks – $16.00 – This blush is a beautiful and very pigmented pink! I think it will work well with many skin tones, but it does pack a lot of color so a little bit will do the trick. The packaging is adorable, but feels a bit flimsy. I am definitely excited to use this for a more polished look!
Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Nourishing Styling Treatment – $4.44 – At first I was excited to try what is marked a “healthy” hair treatment, and is even called soy renewal. However, after reviewing the ingredients on this product it seems to be full of chemicals, and has hardly any soy extract at all. I am definitely going to give it a try, and see if it manages my frizzy hair, but I wish it was actually as healthy as the packaging makes it sound!
Sation Nail Lacquer in Love At First Byte – $5.00 – I was thrilled to find a full size nail polish in my Ipsy bag! I’ve never tried Sation polishes before, so I can’t wait to use this gorgeous peach color. It does appear to be a sheer finish, but I won’t know for sure until I try it. Let me know if you’d like to see a review of this polish on my blog!
Mica Shimmer Powder in Earth – $11.96 – This is the only product in my bag that I don’t plan on using this month. While this is a gorgeous and shimmery eyeshadow, it is just not for me. I don’t wear eyeshadow very often, and the glitter in this is just too much for me. If you love eye makeup this would be perfect for you, though!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $37.40

OVERALL OPINION: I am definitely loving this month over last month! I plan on using everything but the Mica Shimmer Powder, and I love having full size products. I do wish that the Healthy Sexy Hair lived up to its name, but that’s not really an Ipsy problem. This month’s cosmetics pouch is quite cute as well!

RATING (1-5, 1 BEING WORST & 5 BEING BEST): 4

Now onto my April Birchbox! This month they teamed up with Women’s Health for the theme of Tiny Tweaks, Big Results. I had a feeling when I saw this cute packaging that there would be lots of good things inside. I cannot wait to share the contents!

Look at all of these goodies! I will get right into describing all of the contents from left to right.

One-Year Subscription to Women’s Health Magazine – $9.99 – This card was hiding at the bottom of my box, but I almost fell on the floor when I read it closely. Not only does this give me a one-year subscription to Women’s Health, but there is also an option to decline the subscription and get a $9.99 refund. That’s right — if I don’t want the magazine I can send this card in and get back $9.99! That is the price of my entire box! I haven’t decided if I want the magazine or the money yet, but this is an amazing value right off the bat!
Atelier Cologne in Ambre Nue – $2.80 – I love perfume samples, so even though they are not high in value, I like getting one in my monthly box! I like to change up my perfume, so samples are the perfect way to do that. This will be used up for sure!
Lierac Paris Concentré Mésolift Serum – $10 – I am excited to try this serum that is supposed to help hydrate skin, shrink pores, and fight off wrinkles. I just finished using a deluxe sample of another skin serum, so I’m happy to replace it with this one in my skin care routine! These serum samples last for weeks, and allow me to use luxury products that I would never be able to afford otherwise.
Number 4 Blow Dry Lotion – $10.67 – While I don’t blow dry my hair that often, this lotion is supposed to protect my hair from the heat and make sure it is smooth. I haven’t tried this yet, but it smells amazing and it looks like I can get a lot of use out of this sample. I will have to give this a try!
Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish in Peony – $4.67 – I love that I have another nail polish! This time it is a mini size, but still a great value. I’ve never tried color changing nail polish before, but I cannot wait to use this one! I love the pink color. I think this will be great for summer!
Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On – $10.99 – This month I got this product as a Birchbox Find! As someone who has trouble getting up in the morning, and has very puffy eyes, this product is amazing! I already gave it a try and I am loving it so far. It feels amazing and is made for someone who has sensitive skin like me. As an added bonus, Birchbox added in a coupon for $1 off any Simple product. I love coupons and I will definitely use this one!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $49.12 + $1 Simple coupon

OVERALL OPINION: I could not be more thrilled with this month’s Birchbox. Not only is the value just under $50 for a box I paid $10 for, but I love all of the products and will make sure to use them all. Even though it arrived a bit late this month, I am so happy to have this Birchbox! Plus, I love that this website has a fabulous rewards system. For each product you review you get 10 points! Every 100 points is $10 to spend in their shop.

RATING: 5

There you have it! My winner for the month of April is Birchbox! Not only was the retail value for my Birchbox significantly higher than Ipsy, but I enjoy the Birchbox products more. Ipsy is definitely more focused on makeup, while Birchbox has a focus on skincare. Since I don’t wear too much makeup, Birchbox is more tailored to my lifestyle. I am going to give both of these subscriptions one more battle round, and if I am not impressed with Ipsy I will cancel. At this time, Birchbox is an amazing value! You can join Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE.

Let me know what you think of these subscription programs in the comments!