Birchbox April 2014 Unboxing & Review!

I got my Birchbox pretty late this month, but I'm thrilled to finally bring a review to you!
For those of you who don't already know, Birchbox is a monthly subscription program bringing you 4-5 deluxe sample size/full size products for only $10 a month based on your profile! It's a great way to test out new products and I have found MANY that I LOVE and would have never bought otherwise! If you'd like to sign up, please use my link HERE! :)

The theme for April's box is Rainy Days, which is pretty cute in my opinion. I love my box this month!
Here's a first look!

Spoiler Alert if you keep reading! 

Ipsy April 2014 "Beauty Rocks" Unboxing & Review

So I decided not to cancel my Ipsy subscription after all, and I'm actually pretty glad that I didn't. This month's bag was REALLY good compared to all the other bags so far in 2014.
If you'd like to sign up for Ipsy, feel free to use my referral link HERE!
I'm not going to go into to the story of Ipsy this time, because I've don't countless posts before but for $10 a month you really can't beat it! I love testing new products, and I've found SO many that I love because of them.

Here's a first look:

The theme for April is "Beauty Rocks". I'm not totally sure how they come up with their themes, it doesn't really seem to correlate with what is in the bags, but mostly just the bags themselves. Either way, the bag is pretty big and kind of cute compared to some of the one's I've received lately. This is my 11th month with Ipsy.

This month I received:

• Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide on Eye Pencil in "Black Velvet"
• Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion
• Elizabeth Mott Pop! Goes the Shadow in "Champagne"
• Mary Kay at Play Jelly Lip Gloss in "Berry Me"
• St. Tropez Gradual plus Anti-Aging Multi Action Face

Like I said I'm pretty pleased with this months Ipsy bag. This is the first month this year that I've loved every single product. I have tried all of them so far so here is a quick overview of my thoughts.

First up, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencil Travel Size Value: $15 (estimate)/ Full size $20

If you read my blog regularly, you know I don't really love pencil eyeliners. However, Urban Decay glide on liners are the exception. They are great and highly pigmented and go on with ease. They last literally all day and are GREAT pencil liners. I'd definitely purchase this in a full size version.

Up next is Dr. Brandt's Microdermabrasion Value: $9 (estimate) Full Size $78

I recently have fallen in love with this brand. They are pretty expensive, but totally worth it in my opinion. I use Pores no More regularly and love it, and tested out this product tonight. It left my skin feeling very clean, and much less dry than I started off with. It's like my winter skin just went away. It hurt a little but while scrubbing, but no pain, no gain. 

Up next: Elizabeth Mott Pop! Goes the Shadow FULL SIZE VALUE: $12.99!

I love getting full size products in my bags. I was excited to receive this as well, and have been using it about three days. It's a great color for your lids or as a highlight, and is highly pigmented and I love it. Elizabeth Mott is a brand that I have only received through Ipsy, and I love the mascara as well.

Mary Kay at Play Jelly Lip Gloss FULL SIZE VALUE: $10!

YAY for another full size product. Finally Ipsy has sent me lipgloss instead of stupid lipstick which I have way way too many of. I'd never tried Mary Kay before so I was excited to test this out. It's a pretty red sheer-ish color and I really like it. It will be great for summer and isn't overly sticky.

St. Tropez Gradual Tan plus Anti-Aging Multiaction Face Trial Size Value $10 (estimate)

I usually use the Jergens self tanner or the Walmart version, so I was happy to receive something that is specific for my face. I'd never tried St. Tropez before or even heard of it but I'm pretty pleased. I've been using it at night and can't speak for the anti-aging properties of it just yet, but it isn't greasy and has a pleasant smell. I think I may be a teensy bit tanner too.

And here's some swatches of the liner and eyeshadow for your viewing pleasure! But you can't really see the shadow on my hand, but I promise it's really pretty.

And here is an extra of my new blonde hair and what the eyeliner looks like on!

Total bag estimated value: $56.99! In my opinion that is an AWESOME deal for what I paid! $10!!!

So again, If you want to sign up for Ipsy, please use my referral link HERE!

And here are the coupons for the month of April that come with your Ipsy subscription!

• Dr. Brandt - 20% off full size Microdermabrasion kit + free gift with code MICRO20
• Urban Decay - Free gift with $35+ purchase with code UDIPSY
• St. Tropez - 25% off any purchase with code GLOW25
• Elizabeth Mott - 50% off any purchase with code IPSYPOP
• Benefit - Free deluxe sample of high beam with $30+ order with code APRILGLAM
• Cailyn - 20% off any purchase plus free gift with code IPSYGIFT
• Cover FX - 20% off $50+ Purchase with code IPSY20
• Rainbow Honey - 25% off any purchase with code IPSY25
• City Color - 20% off any purchase with code 14IPSY20WG
• Starlooks - 20% off any purchase with IPSY20
• Sexy Hair - 25% off when you text IPSTER to 33233 and provide email
• Kiss - 25% off Kiss of iEnvy lashes with code IPSY1
• Demeter - 20% off any purchase with code 20ipsydfl
• Coastal Scents - 25% off any purchase with code BRUSH25OFF
• So Seductive Lashes - 20% off any purchase with code IPSY20

So that's it people! A great Ipsy month in my opinion so make sure and sign up! Next month is my 1 year anniversary and I've gained so many AWESOME things with my subscription!

Until next time,

Xx Ashley C.

Pretty & Polished April 2014 Beauty Box Review!

So after what seemed like waiting a century, I finally received my April Beauty Box from Pretty & Polished. Not sure what happened with the shipping, considering I prepaid for a three month subscription, but oh well, it honestly took forever. I've never had this issue with P&P before, and I'm a bit bummed about it.

However, that doesn't change the fact that I like this month's box. Maybe that's why I was so bummed, because I was looking forward to it.

For those of you who didn't read my last post, or who don't already know or subscribe, Pretty & Polished is my favorite indie brand of nail polish. In February, they announced their beauty box program, which is a box with 2 full size limited edition only released in that box polishes. It also contains at least one mini polish to sample from their current inventory. You receive various skincare samples, tools, and a coupon for that month all for only $22! You can find more information here.

First look:

Sorry this is like the most hideous photo ever, I forgot to take another more neat one for the blog when I ripped into the box! :D

My April box contained:

Mardi Gras Rendezvous - Full Size $8.50

Life is a Bowl of Cranberries - Full Size $8.50

Anamagi (Color Changer)- Mini $4.00

Citrus Butter Cuticle Cream - Sample $1?

Cranberry Fig Cold Process Soap - Sample $1?

Mini Nail File $1?

Nail Art Accessories

Coupon for $5 off $35 in April

Overall, this was not the most thrilling bag for me. I like it, but not as much as last months. Hopefully next months will bring more excitement for me. It's worth about $22 even with what I received, and I almost wish I'd just used the $22 to pick out my own stuff. I do however, LOVE Mardi Gras Rendezvous, but I do feel like the colors included in the April box are much more suited for Winter and not Spring. I also hate that I received my box pretty much after everyone ever.

See! It's gorgeous! Mardi Gras Rendezvous in all it's glittery glory.

It's a deep purple jelly packed with blue, pink, purple, and green glitters. This is 2 coats I believe for full coverage.

Life is a Bowl of Cranberries is a nice metallic purple to cranberry color depending on the light. It's okay, but pretty streaky and not what I would purchase in the Spring.

This is Anamagi, when it's warm, which I have been dying to try out. It's actually not as awesome as I expected. The color change isn't as drastic as the other P&P color changers I have, and the flash from my camera makes the purple when it's warm look way more intense than in real life. 

This is it in it's cold state. It's a really nice holo black to purple thermal, and if you zoom in on this photo you can really see the holo. I just wish that it changed like my other ones, which will change colors all throughout the day while I wear them.

One more for good measure. My flash is so messed up.

Last, the skincare products that came with my beauty box. I LOVE the citrus butter cuticle stuff. It smells amazing and goes on much smoother than my other cuticle balms. 

The soap is okay, but it's nothing I would buy or be super excited about. I don't care for bar soap as it is. It smells nice, but too Christmas-y.

So that is my April box! Did you get your yet!? I can't wait for May. Hopefully, I will get it faster this time!

Xx Ashley C.

Too Faced Cosmetics Upcoming Deals for April 2014

Calling all glamour girls! Too Faced's arsenal of super-glamorous products can turn any plain-Jane into a red carpet diva'instantly. From gravity-defying lip plumpers to super-rich, highly pigmented eye shadows and powders.

So in honor of creating my Too Faced steals & deals page on the blog, I'm going to bring you the latest deals that Too Faced has running for the month of April!!! There's some really great ones coming up and I will continue to update as they are announced!! !! :D

I personally LOVE Too Faced's makeup. The chocolate eyeshadow palette they have is amazing, and I absolutely LOVE their face primer, so definitely check them out because I'm sure you can find something awesome too!!!

• April 11-12, 2014 (ends TODAY!) - Free Double-Ended Brush with purchase of Boudoir Eyes. No code necessary. Valid 4/11/14-4/12/14. Shop now!
• April 14-15, 2014 there will be a FREE SHIPPING PROMO!!! Once the 14th rolls around, make sure and come back here for the promo code!!! Until then you can ALWAYS get free shipping over $50! Shop cruelty free makeup, cosmetics and accessories from Too Faced and get FREE SHIPPING on any US order over $50 - Click Here!
• Surprise! April 15-30th - Free $25 Flatbuki Brush with the purchase of any mascara from Too Faced! Use promo code: BUKI. Offer valid 4/15/14 through 4/30/14. Shop Now!
• April 22-24, 2014- La Creme Lipstick + Lip Injection Color Bomb combo for only $30!!! Come back on April 22 for the coupon code!! Until THEN make sure and snag your free samples with every order! And check out La Creme Color Drenched Lipstick featuring lip-conditioning hydrators, it treats while it enhances lips. Shop luxe cosmetics & more now!

Stay Tuned for Updates!!

Xx Ashley C.

Julep Speckled for Spring 2014 Mystery Box Details!

Julep has announced their newest "Speckled for Spring" mystery boxes, just in time for the Easter holiday next weekend! These are REALLY great, and I'm sad to say I will likely be missing out on them. They follow the theme that they kind of sneak peeked with the Maven box this month of speckled special polishes!

Check out the link below to view the boxes!

As usual you can pick up a mystery box for $24.99, in which you get $100+ worth of nailpolish & beauty products. There are two boxes with LE colors, and one that is 100% mystery! I'm not sure how long these are going to be on sale, but the regular mystery box usually sells out first so if that's the one you want then hurry and purchase one!!! They're usually for sale for about a week or so!

Click here to find out more!

Without further ado:

The first box contains the LE color "Kimberly", described as a "spring inspired wisteria creme with black speckles". I personally LOVE these speckle polishes!!

Click here to find out MORE!

And THIS is "Emerson", described as a "powder-blue creme with black speckles". I'm really having a hard time deciding which of these I like more.

Click here to find out more!

So those are the new boxes! And if you want to check out the 100% mystery box, click here!

Xx Ashley C.

**This post contains affiliate links**