Ipsy: (Cost with taxes $12.72)

Okay, so far I don’t love Ipsy. To be honest I’m giving this a 3/5 stars and mainly because they sent me a sample of the eyeliner I already use and love. (Sex Kitten eyeliner by Tarte. It is smooth and just glides right on to my eyes giving a nice pop. I love the black color. It’s my go to for eyeliner. I really liked the ease of opening the packing and I really like that it comes in a cute makeup bag each month. This one is a cute mauve color and has a really soft texture. It will be really cute with lipglosses for packing.

They included a Highlighter in the bag. Iby Beauty in Prosecco. It’s a cute color but doesn’t really pop on my face. Like it, looks nice but it feels like it needs more pigmentation to really highlight the features on my face. I’m keeping the highlighter because I really do like the color. I’m going to keep it in my car make up bag. That way I can use it in a pinch and still have the cute color even if it’s not as much color as I’d like.

Ipsy added in a blush by The Balm Autobalm. The color is Houston. It’s a cute pinkish color with orange undertones and while I like the color it didn’t work for me. It’s too much for my face. That being said I don’t usually wear a lot of blush. I feel like I have a more pink complexion and don’t necessarily want to add to that.

There was a nail polish included in the Ipsy bag. Pretty Women in ex’s and oh’s it’s a purple/plum color. To be absolutely honest I don’t like it. The color is free to a good home. I don’t really paint my own nails all that much so if I’m going to paint them myself I have to absolutely love the color and I don’t. It might look good for others but it doesn’t work for me.

The last sample in my Ipsy bag is Merci Handy Hello Sunshine. It smells really nice, a bit like cucumber. It’s a very light smell and I really like that when I use a lotion all the time I need something not overly strong or after a while it gives me a headache once it’s instantly on me. This is a light refreshing smell. It went on initially feeling a little greasy but after about thirty seconds or so on my hand it didn’t feel greasy and just felt really hydrating. I’m thinking of throwing this in my purse as my new go to purse lotion.

I’m on the fence here. I was relatively happy with my Ipsy bag but I didn’t love it. I think I’ll give it another month and see how I feel going from there.

Birchbox: (Cost with taxes $15.90)

Okay I’m thinking honestly that Birchbox has a 3/5 review as well. The packaging didn’t hold and the shampoo leaked inside the box. It led to a bit of a sticky situation for me to clean up as I was trying to unbox my Birchbox. It left a bit of a sour taste for me. That being said mistakes happen, I get it.

The first item I used was the Davines Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner. The Shampoo was not a huge sample. It would probably last three washes so it’s basically a travel size. It went into my hair really easily and had a nice lather to it. However, it had a smell. It was a bit of a chemical smell, not bad but not something I love smelling. The Conditioner was pretty similar. It felt nice and worked well in my hair. After I dried my hair it felt really nice and looked shiny. It stood up to second day really well with minimal signs of greasy roots. (Please note though,the conditioner was a one use packet.) I like the way my hair looked after I used it but not enough to want to smell the chemical smell in my hair everyday.

They did include a product in my Birchbox that I already know and love. It’s Orbie! I got their dry texturizing spray. It’s a nice hold without my hair feeling stiff. It has a good flexibility to it. I’ve actually purchased this at a salon before and have never been disappointed so I’m a very happy camper to have received a trial size.

The Dr. Lipp moisturizing color tint made with sweet potato pigment really doesn’t have a huge color to it but I feel like it gave my lips a shiny hue. It feels nice on my lips, maybe a hint sticky but not too much and the longer I had it on the less sticky it felt. I really like that it’s made with natural ingredients. I don’t know about you but I eat with lip gloss on and knowing it’s made with sweet potato pigment instead of harsh chemicals makes me feel better. I’d probably wear this as a moisturizer but it didn’t have a lot of color to it for everyday use.

I also received a highlighter in this box as well. It’s a liquid highlighter and I really like the color. I did a sample on my hand and the color was fantastic. It was like a liquid gold. I should probably stop and tell you the name. It’s The Beauty Corp Glow Milk in “Just Dew It.” It’s a warm shiny color that also hydrates. I’m still on the fence but I’m really contemplating buying this and adding it into my everyday routine. (Plus, side note, it came in a really cute milk carton container!)

The last item in my Birchbox was a moisturizer. it’s Air Repair and it felt nice on my face. I applied a small test patch and it felt well on my skin. I like that it felt cooler to the touch and made my face feel softer. It also didn’t have a really greasy texture when I applied it to my face which is a huge plus for me as normally the really rich moisturizers have a greasy feel when you first apply them. I didn’t get a good chance to smell this one. I gave it a good attempt but have a stuffy nose which can sometimes get in the way. When I smelled it I didn’t get a really strong smell and since it’s on my face I can’t do a huge smell; it’s too overpowering for me.

Overall I’m happy with my Birchbox and I will give it another month try before making my final determination Birchbox is leading but lost points for a product spilling in the box before I could open it.