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Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Seven | September 2013

Posted on September 29, 2013September 27, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! It’s time for the battle of the beauty subscriptions with another Ipsy v. Birchbox post. I’ve really enjoyed these monthly reviews, but this will actually be the last one (at least for a while). Make sure to read through to the end to find out why!

First up is my Ipsy Glam Bag. September’s theme is Classic Beauty, and the cosmetic pouch this month is blue with a black lace print. I definitely think the bag is cute, but not my favorite that I’ve received. Let me show you what is inside!

I will describe these products for you from left to right.

Elizabeth Mott It’s So Big Mascara – $8.00 – I love mascaras, but how many can a girl own? I got another mascara sample from Ipsy just last month. Eventually I will get around to trying this out!
Cailyn Tinted Lip Balmin Big Apple – $19.00 – I’m no stranger to Cailyn now thanks to these subscription services. This is a tinted lip balm in a bright red color. I love that it comes with its own lip brush, but red lips are not my go to. This will be nice for special occasions.
Freeman Beauty Paper Face Masks – $5.97 – I’ve been wanting to try paper face masks for a long time, so I’m super happy I got these. Unfortunately, my first try was a disaster! The mask was dripping everywhere, and it didn’t fit my face well. Plus, my skin burned after just a few seconds of having it on. I will give the others a try, but I did not like my first experience!
NYX Eyeshadow in Pure Gold – $4.50 – This eyeshadow is a nice, shimmery gold color, and I have been wanting to try more NYX cosmetics. I don’t wear eyeshadow often, but I’m happy to try this out.
Starlooks Obsidian Kohl Eye Pencil – $12 – This is the second black eyeliner I’ve received from Ipsy, so now I am stocked up for a while, especially since I rarely wear eyeliner. I’m debating whether or not to even open this to be honest!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $49.47

OVERALL OPINION: I’m pretty bummed with this month’s bag, even though it has a high retail value. I keep getting the same items over again, and the same brands. I am very happy to get the face masks, even though I didn’t like the first one. Now I know what I think of them!

RATING (1-5, 1 BEING WORST AND 5 BEING BEST): 2

Now moving on to my September Birchbox! This month the theme was Heritage, but I find that Birchbox themes are pretty open ended.

Again, I’ll describe the goodies from left to right.

Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream – $6.00 – I have wanted to try this hand cream for so long after hearing a bunch of beauty bloggers rave about it. I’m not disappointed! It smells amazing, and is not greasy. I might have to save up my Birchbox points to get the full size.
Davines This Is a Sea Salt Spray – $10.80 – This product really intrigues me! After one try, I’m pretty impressed. It helps give your hair beachy waves without looking frizzy. I’ll have to give this another go soon!
Yes to Blueberries Cleansing Facial Towelettes – $2.13 – I love makeup remover wipes, and can’t wait to try these. The sample size is great, with eight wipes. I think I’ll save this for travel! I know I love the Yes to Cucumbers towelettes, so these should be nice, too. Plus, I love getting a product I can easily repurchase at the drugstore if I like it.
RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund – $10 – You already know how much I love this polish! I wrote an entire review on it HERE.
Yes to Grapefruit CC Cream – N/A – While foil packets are never my favorite item, this CC cream is my monthly extra, so I guess I can’t complain! I’m not able to determine the value, since there is no size amount on the packet, but the full size is $15.99.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $28.93

OVERALL OPINION: The retail value of this month’s box may not be as much as Ipsy’s, but I am loving the products! The nail polish is amazing, and I really wanted to try the hand cream. Plus, I know I will use the makeup wipes.

RATING: 4

There you have it! My winner for the month of September is Birchbox! After seven months of subscribing to both Ipsy and Birchbox, I’ve decided to cancel my Ipsy subscription. Not only did it only win my battle round one time, but I am not enjoying the products as much. My decision to cancel was made easy – when my credit card information changed, I was never ever to change it on Ipsy’s website! It seems every time I check, they are always in “Billing Mode”. I took this as the opportunity to cancel and move on. I will still be continuing with Birchbox, and will post those unboxing reviews each month!

You can subscribe to Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE. Each service is $10 per month.

This post contains affiliate links. Subscription boxes purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Six | August 2013

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have Round Six of Ipsy v. Birchbox, and just as I suspected, things got very interesting this month. Now that I’ve been subscribed to each of these $10 beauty subscriptions for six months now, I have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Of course, there are always surprises, but overall I am starting to see some patterns emerge. Let me go ahead and share what I got for both Ipsy and Birchbox for the month of August!

First up, as always, is Ipsy! This month’s theme is Glamour Academy, and the cosmetic pouch is a purple color with gold lettering. I really like the bag’s design this month, but I’ll have to snip off the string on the side. On the right you can see a special bonus product I received for referring friends to Ipsy. It is a Lime Crime polish in the shade Crema de Limon. Unfortunately, I do not support Lime Crime as a brand, so I am unable to use this extra. (Find out why HERE).

Now onto the goodies inside my Ipsy bag! I’ll tell you more about each one from left to right.

Pixi Beauty Lash Booster Mascara in Blackest Black – $7.14 – This tiny mascara sample is actually worth a lot due to the full size retailing for $17. I love mascara, so I will definitely use this eventually. It is a nice size for travel!
Noya Cherry Lip Balm – $3.99 – This lip balm is kosher and natural, and smells quite good! It is just a regular lip balm — no color whatsoever. It’s always nice to get an extra lip balm, but I already have more than I can use.
Chella Dazzling Dark Brown Eyebrow Color Pencil – $18 – Normally I would be thrilled to get a full size eyebrow pencil from Chella, but this one is way too dark for me so I can’t use it. I’m not sure why Ipsy sent me a dark brown color when my profile clearly states I have light brown hair.
Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream – $5.44 – Ipsy is not on my side this month! This BB cream is great quality, but it is too dark for my skin, and is extremely shimmery. I really don’t want to be walking around with glitter all over my face.
Michael Tood Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub – $5.29 – This scrub is my favorite item in this month’s bag. I love facial scrubs, and I’ve heard so many great things about Michael Todd products. Charcoal is also perfect to clear out pores, so I can’t wait to give this a try.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $39.86

OVERALL OPINION: While the retail value of this month’s Ipsy is nearly four times what I paid for it, I can’t use two of the items because they are the wrong shade for me. That should not happen when we fill out personal profiles for the company to let them know what shades we are. I am excited about the Michael Todd scrub, and I will get use out of the mascara and lip balm. Overall, I’m pretty disappointed.

RATING (1-5, 1 BEING LOWEST AND 5 BEING HIGHEST): 2

Next up is my Birchbox! August’s theme is Finishing School, similar to Glamour Academy I suppose! Everyone has school on the brain this time of year.

Here are the goodies inside. My first impression was utter disappointment at three foil packets. Let me tell you a bit more about the products.

Cailyn Gel Eyeliner in Black – $21 – Subscription services sure recycle brands! I got this exact same product in an Ipsy bag a few months back. Luckily I got purple last time, so I am super excited to have this in black. I really love this product because it is easy to apply and comes with its own brush! I don’t wear eyeliner often, but this is great to have.
Whish Exfoliating Body Wash – $2.75 – This is the second Whish product I’ve gotten from Birchbox as well! I didn’t like the shave cream, but this body wash sounds amazing. I’ll probably get a few uses out of it, and I like that this combines a scrub and wash in one product.
Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Cream – $4.42 – I get a lot of BB creams in these boxes as well! This one is my shade, and I will probably get a couple uses from this tiny sample. I won’t be able to buy the full size if I like it, however, because that is $39. It’s still nice to try out, though.
Miss Jessie’s Super Sweetback Treatment – $1.49 – This hair treatment is for curly hair, and is to help make curly softer and more manageable. Since I don’t have curly hair, I won’t be using this product.
Miss Jessie’s Original Rapid Recovery Treatment – $1.49 – This treatment is made for curly hair, but can apparently be used by any hair type to restore shine and moisturize the hair. I will give this one a go at least!
Whish Deodorant Swipes With Hair Inhibitor – $0.73 – The last item is a single use deodorant wipe from Whish that is supposed to wipe on your deodorant for the day and prevent underarm hair from growing. Sounds interesting, so I will try it. But I will stick to my regular deodorant!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $31.88

OVERALL OPINION: I am pretty underwhelmed by this month’s Birchbox. I will use nearly everything inside, but I wish I would get to try out some new brands and products. These subscription services keep sending the same things! I also wish Birchbox would stay away from foil packets. Three in one box is too much. I will say I am very pleased with the eyeliner, though.

RATING: 3

There you have it! My winner for the month of August is Birchbox! To be honest, I’m really not impressed with either subscription service this month. I really don’t understand why I am receiving products that do not match my beauty profiles, and I wish new brands would get involved. After six month of both services, I am very close to canceling Ipsy. Not only has Ipsy only won one round of my battle, but I tend to use up my Birchbox products more. I’m just afraid to miss out on something good!

You can join Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE. Each program is $10 per month. Be sure to let me know which one you liked better this month!

This post contains affiliate links. Subscription boxes purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Five | July 2013

Posted on August 4, 2013August 5, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have round five of my Ipsy v. Birchbox challenge! July was an interesting month for these $10 beauty subscriptions — the retail value of each was only $1 apart! My winner this month really comes down to the products themselves. Let me show you what I got, and tell you a bit about each product!

First up is Ipsy! July’s Ipsy theme was Beach Beauty. This time the cosmetic pouch was a transparent, pink pouch made out of beach ball material. While the pouch isn’t exactly my style, it is great for the beach since it is waterproof. It’s also perfect for those who work retail, and need a clear bag to bring to work.

Here all all of the products! I’ll describe them for you from left to right.

Big Sexy Hair in Weather Proof – $7.80 – This hair product is supposed to prevent frizz in the humidity. I was excited to try it out, but unfortunately all it does is weigh my hair down and make it flat. It did manage my frizz, but sucked away any volume. I suggest this if you have very thick hair.
Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub – $16.25 – I’ve been using scrubs religiously in the summer to keep my pores clean. This one is very interesting — I love the lemony scent, but it was difficult to rinse off my skin completely. I ended up with some residue, and wasn’t a huge fan of that. It’s okay, but for the price I won’t be repurchasing the full size.
Coola Face Sunscreen – $4.87 – This is the second time I’ve received a Coola product in a subscription box, and I don’t like it! The problem is in the packaging — this tiny tube isn’t even filled. I’m lucky if I get one use out of it. If the sample was larger, I would be able to tell you more about the product, but I’m not a fan of receiving these tiny sunscreen samples.
Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon in Coral Crush – $4.16 – This is my favorite item this month! I’ve never tried Pop Beauty, but I’m loving it. Basically this is a jumbo lip crayon that is between a lipstick and a lip gloss. The color I got is bright, but goes really well with my skin tone. I’ve already worn it twice!
BH Cosmetics California Collection Sampler – $0.35 – You read that retail price correctly — this little sample of three eyeshadows is only worth 35 cents due to the full size palette being $7.00. My issue is that I got three eyeshadows that don’t even go together (a dark purple, bronze, and gold). If I could create a complete look from this sampler, I would appreciate it more.
Nicole by OPI in Pretty in Plum – BONUS – As a thank you for referring two new Ipsy members, I got this Nicole by OPI nail polish. I’m not including this in the retail value, as it’s not a part of the actual subscription. Otherwise, this is a really nice bonus to get!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $33.43

OVERALL OPINION: Out of all the products in my Ipsy bag for July, the only one I will use on a regular basis is the Pop Beauty lip color. I will use up the Derma E and Coola products, but I’m not too excited about them. While the retail value is triple my money, I’m not too impressed with these products. They just don’t fit into my lifestyle well.

RATING (1-5, 1 BEING LOWEST AND 5 BEING HIGHEST): 2

Now onto my July Birchbox! The theme was Power Play, based off the hit show Suits. I’ve never seen the show, but as a law student I knew this box was for me! Here are all the products! Let me tell you a bit more about each one.

DDF Acne Control Treatment – $12.94 – This product came at the perfect time! I was experiencing some breakouts, and with the help of this product they are clearing right up! While this isn’t a miracle worker, it definitely got to work, and I could see improvements in my acne after a few uses. I love it!
Benefit It’s Potent Eye Cream – $6.40 – I was thrilled to receive this product! I’ve been wanting to try it out, and I’m so glad I got to. I must say I’m impressed — this cream is very moisturizing, and feels great. This sample is tiny, but it will last a while.
No. 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect – $7.00 – Another hair product! To be honest, I haven’t tried this out because I am already happy with the protectant I use. I’ll keep this one for travel, or for when I run out of my other one.
Birchbox Bobby Pins – $1.67 – These bobby pins are a cute product to get in my box, but I don’t know how often I’ll be using them. They are a bit oversized for my extremely thin hair, but I’m not overly disappointed with them. I love the cute pattern!
theBalm Instain Blush in Swiss Dot – $4.40 – I was thrilled to get this sample! I’ve been wanting to try blush from theBalm for a long time, but was afraid to pay the money and not like it. This one is a gorgeous shade — it’s very pigmented, but wearable. I’m so glad to try this one out!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $32.41

OVERALL OPINION: Birchbox is sure stepping it up! I am really excited about three of the five products in this box. Two of them are samples I’ve been wanting to try for a long time! While I’m tired of getting hair products, I’m really happy with this month’s box as a whole.

RATING: 3.5

There you have it! My winner for the month of July is Birchbox! While both Ipsy and Birchbox had very similar retail values, I plan on using the products in my Birchbox a lot more. For me, the monetary value is secondary. The products aren’t worth anything just sitting in my stash! It seems like the Birchbox survey really understands me — it has beat out Ipsy four times! I can’t wait to see what happens next month after being a member of both programs for six months!

You can join Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE. Each program is $10 per month.

Some of the above links are affiliate links. Subscription boxes purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Three! May 2013

Posted on May 19, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! It is round three of Ipsy v. Birchbox here at Adventures in Polishland. Even though Birchbox won the first two rounds (see Round One HERE and Round Two HERE), I felt that I needed at least three months of each subscription service to really test the waters for good. At $10 each, I am getting some great new products for an affordable price. I’ve already used up quite a few of the samples! This month I got some really nice products as well. Let me show you what was inside!

First up is my Ipsy Glam Bag! This month’s theme is Spring Fling, and I am just adoring the cosmetic bag we got this month. I love the bright chevron pattern, and it is a waterproof material that will be perfect for the summer months. I’m quite impressed with the quality of the bag as well — it feels nice and sturdy! Let me describe the products I got from left to right!

Juice Beauty Reflecting Lip Gloss in Champagne – $7.50 – Juice Beauty is a very popular brand in these subscriptions! This month I got a really pretty lip gloss in a nude color. I tried this out a few times, and I do like it. It is very sheer, and although it looks very glittery in the tube it doesn’t make my lips look like a disco ball. Instead, it has a nice shine. What I don’t like is the smell! It smells strange, but I think it is because it’s organic and has natural fragrances only. Also, though this is packaged like a full size lip gloss, it is exactly one half of the full size that Juice Beauty sells online. Nonetheless, this is a great sample with a great value!
Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment – $13.50 – I have been wanting to try some of the hair cair products from Macadamia, so I am beyond excited for this product! It smells divine, and I already see a big difference in my hair since I started using it. I apply the tiniest amount from my ears down after I get out of the shower, and my hair is much softer and less frizzy than usual. This sample size retails for $13.50, and will last me a while since a little bit goes a long way. I am so happy with this sample!
Zoya in Julie – $8 – This month each Ipsy subscriber got a full size nail polish from the Zoya Lovely collection. I got Julie, but unfortunately I already own the entire Lovely collection. While I do think it is great to get a full size polish in these subscription services, the Lovely collection came out back in December, and many nail polish aficionados already own the colors they want. Similarly, my bottle came a bit damaged, and I noticed that many other subscribers received damaged bottles as well. Part of my thinks Zoya sent Ipsy all of the bottles they didn’t want to sell themselves! I love the idea behind this polish, but I wish we got something from a newer collection that wasn’t damaged.
St. Tropez Instant Glow Body Lotion – $6.27 – Next up is a self-tanner body lotion. I’ve tried the one from Jergens before, and loved the results yet hated the smell. This one is just the opposite! There is no smell, yet the color is way too dark for my pale skin, and I wasn’t able to achieve a natural look. I think this is a great sample size, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I’m going to try it again once I have more of a natural tan.
Yaby Concealer Refill in Buff – $4.85 – I am also very excited for this concealer from Yaby, another brand that Ipsy seems to like a lot as well! I’ve been needing a new concealer, and I’m glad Ipsy sent me one that seems like the perfect shade for me! I know some subscribers received incorrect colors in their glam bag, but make sure you go to the Ipsy website to edit your profile. I can’t wait to use this concealer, and it will fit in the Glam RX palette I got back in March.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $40.12

OVERALL OPINION: I’m very happy with my Ipsy glam bag this month! The value is great, and I got three products I will definitely use. Unfortunately I already had the nail polish, and the St. Tropez lotion isn’t really my thing. Other than that, I will get a lot of use out of the other products. I am most excited about the Macadamia hair treatment!

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

Now onto my May Birchbox! This month there wasn’t really a theme, but each box came with a fun Mad Libs type activity. Fill in the Beauty Diaries phrase and tweet it to Birchbox, and you could win a full size product of everything in your box! See my Tweet HERE! Now I will tell you more about the products I got this month.

Amika Nourishing Mask – $1.60 – First up is a foil packet of a deep conditioner for hair. This mask is supposed to repair damaged hair with its special sea buckthorn berry ingredient. I will probably get 2-3 uses out of this packet, although it will be difficult to use in the shower. I would have liked different packaging to make this sample more user friendly. I also appreciate being able to try a high end hair product, but this packet just doesn’t excite me!
Runa Tea Bag Sample Box – $1.75 – My favorite product this month is a sampler box of four teas from Runa. I got four tea bags in these flavors: traditional, ginger-citrus, mint, and cinnamon-lemongrass. The tea bags smell amazing, and are supposed to have twice the antioxidants as green tea! It’s nice to get a little snack item in a beauty box. Even though the retail value isn’t high, I know I will be able to afford a box of the tea if I decide I like it and want more!
Sumita Color Contrast Eye Pencil in Suman – $5.25 – Each Birchbox subscriber got a mini Sumita eyeliner this month, and I luckily got it in a black color! I rarely wear eyeliner, but this one seems very nice. It is a very creamy consistency, and glides on easily. It is definitely smudge-proof as well. Even though I won’t use it often, this is a nice product to get in a box like this!
Coola Classic Sunscreen for Face – $4.32 – This tiny sunscreen sample from Coola was mostly empty when I got it, and exploded a bit when I opened it. Unfortunately there is not much for me to try! I admit it smells great, but I’m very disappointed with this sample. I cannot fathom spending $32 on the full size product. I understand that it is organic and high end, but that is quite a lot for sunscreen. I hope to get at least once use out of this tube.
Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste – $1.40 – I’m not sure how I feel about getting a “luxury” toothpaste in my Birchbox. I will definitely use it up, of course, but I typically spend $1.40 or less on my regular toothpaste when it is on sale! I do love that this is an Italian import, since I am part Italian, but this is another product that I won’t be buying the full size of. The tube is great for travel, though, and it smells minty fresh!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $14.32

OVERALL OPINION: I am so disappointed this month! This is the first time Birchbox provided me with samples that can really only be used 1-2 times each with the exception of the eyeliner, and perhaps the toothpaste. My box was considerably lighter this month, and the retail value of these items really stinks. It’s always nice to try high end products that I can’t afford to buy regularly, but I wish I could get more out of them. These products won’t even last until next month’s Birchbox.

RATING: 2

There you have it! My winner for the month of May is Ipsy by a landslide! After being beat out by Birchbox for two months, Ipsy finally provided me with some great products. At this point I am going to give each subscription another go. I sure hope that this was just a fluke with Birchbox, since my last two months were amazing. I am still an undecided girl when it comes to which program is better! Which one do you like more?! If you have yet to join, you can sign up for Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE.

Some of the above links are affiliate links. Subscription boxes purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own. 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.