April Subscription Services: Ipsy, and Birchbox, and Boxy Charm. Oh My!

It's that time of month again, MAIL TIME!!! The days I receive my beauty subscriptions are my happiest mail days. And yes, I signed up for another one... Birchbox.  ~ Birchbox ($10/Month) ~
Birchbox was actually the very first box I ever signed up for, before Ipsy and longggggg before BoxyCharm. But after I started receiving my Ipsy bag, I felt like Birchbox just wasn't for me and I cancelled. However, I've noticed that they've changed things up since I was last a member. There is a new point system for reviewing products (for every 100 points you get $10 to shop in the Birchbox store), and you now have the option of choosing one item that will be guaranteed, choosing a "Guest Editior" box, or being completely surprised. For this month I was completely surprised since I signed up AFTER they sent out the selection email...

April 2015 Birchbox

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream in Blueberry. OMG. The smell of this stuff is amazing. In the tube. When I actually used it, it took on a very strange scent that I was not a fan of. Also, if you are like me and prefer to shave with products that create a foam, this is not for you. This is a creamy consistency that reminds me of hair conditioner. Lastly... I used this whole tube in one shave session. Granted, I probably over used it... but that's because I kept feeling like I need more. And more. And more. I would not purchase the full size at $20 a pop if I'm just going to use it up in the blink of an eye.

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Brightening Illuminator. This was just average for me. It's a beautiful highlight but the consistency is extremely runny, similar to Benefit's High Beam. If you like liquid illuminizers, you will enjoy this. If you aren't really a fan of liquid products, keep it moving...

Beauty Protector Protect & Oil. In one of my very first Birchboxes I received a leave in conditioner from this brand that smelled so amazing, I bought the full-size. This smells exactly the same, like fresh baked goods with icing or something. And it leaves your hair feeling soft. I like it. I would consider purchasing it if I didn't already have enough hair care products.

Temple Spa Peace Be Still Calming Face & Body Balm. That is wayyyyyy to long of a name. And I couldn't use this. I just find the scent repulsive and refuse to put this on my body and especially my face. Also, I don't like the consistency of this product. The fact that it's a balm, to me, means it should be thicker and it's just not. No thank you.

Supergoop! Advanced SPF 37 Anti-Aging Eye Cream. I don't really have a feeling about this product. I don't plan on using it. It was a waste for me. I'm just not interested. Sue me, I'm not on the Supergoop! band wagon. And I think they are in subscription boxes far too often.
This was just so-so for my first month back with Birchbox but I'm excited to see what next month's box will be since I will get to make a choice!!! ~ Ipsy ($10/Month) ~
I have to be honest... I'm considering canceling my Ipsy. I have been receiving it for a year and a half and I'm just feeling very "Mehhhh" about it... But I just can't bring myself to do it. Some months are amazing, and others are not. But those good months, are just so good. It's the IpsyCycle and it's a vicious one...

April 2015 Ipsy

Hikari Cosmetics Blush in Tango. Okay, I'm torn here. It a full size blush. It's beautiful. But I'm tired of seeing the same brands over and over. I wouldn't have chosen this for myself. I don't plan on using it. But most people would probably be ecstatic to receive a product like this. I think I'm just jaded... Lather Ultra Light Face Lotion. This I like. It doesn't have a strong scent and absorbs into the skin quickly. It's flaw is that it doesn't contain a spf. Night cream it is... MicaBeauty Eye Primer. This is another miss for Ipsy. I wasn't excited to see a potted eye primer to begin with, but THEN I got an email about funky green/black spots in some of the samples. They say they are just from bubbles formed during the cooling process but who in their right mind wants to put something with unidentified spots on their face?!? I emailed Ipsy and they are sending me a replacement product. Can't wait to see what it is... theBalm NUDE Dude Eyeshadow Single in Flirty. I probably would've been really excited about this item if my One Month, One Palette project last month wasn't on theBalm's NUDE'tude palette, and if I had liked it. So... Meh...  Mullein & Sparrow Mini Lip & Cheek Tint. Now this I was excited to try because of the clay mask I had received from this brand in February's BoxyCharm. That being said, this did not meet expectations. I didn't like the scent. I didn't like how thin and slippery it felt on my lips. I tried it as a cheek tint and it did give a nice flush but it wore off my skin within a couple hours. Boo. Maybe next month will be better... Maybe not. It might be time to say goodbye, at least for now. We shall see. ~ BoxyCharm ($21/Month) ~
Behold the wonder that is BoxyCharm...

April 2015 BoxyCharm

Hands down, my favorite box. Of life. This box costs $21 a month and this month's total value is over $147. #win. Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette (Full size). YESSSSSSSS. When I found out this was going to be in this month's box I was thrilled. I've been dying to try one of these Coastal Scents Palettes and this more than makes my $21 worth it. Some of the shades are harder to work with than others but over all, this is a great palette.  OFRA Illuminating Blush Stripes (Full size). When I saw that we weren't going to be receiving an OFRA eye liner, I did a happy dance. This is a gorgeous highlighter. I personally have to stay to the "upper" stripes because that gold at the bottom is a tad to glittery and, well, GOLD for my skin tone. But the other three shades are beautiful, singly or combined. Vincent Longo Due Eye Pencil in Lime/Forest (Full size). I am on the fence with this one. It seems a little hard to use, it doesn't glide like I prefer my eye pencils to. BUT the Lime color is just so cool. I love the shade. I'll keep this around. Coolway Smoothing Lotion (Full size). This claims to give smooth, manageable hair with no frizz. I live in Florida. There is no such thing as "no frizz". But It gave a valiant effort. It also doesn't help that my hair looks like Albert Einstein's if I don't use a flat iron. Regardless, I will use this. And it's colorsafe. Harvey Prince Signature Mini Roller Fragrance (Mini). Now this was a NOOOOOO. It is just not my type of fragrance. This is a "grandma" type scent, except not MY grandma. My grandma smells good. But this is just not for me. At all. Ever. No.  Overall, I love my subscription boxes and I got some pretty cool stuff this month. What do you think about it??? Do you already receive these boxes? Let me know!!! xoxoxo If you want to sign up for any of these services the links are here: Subscribe to Ipsy, Subscribe to Birchbox, Subscribe to BoxyCharm. P.S. This post was not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned above. They were purchased with my own money and are my own and honest opinions.