Sparkle&Shine? Not in my box?

I I was so surprised when I saw my shipping notification. My box came this month quite quickly ( in fact Ipsy has sent me a shipping notification today). However with a record in speedy delivery comes in also a record in disappointing - this is the first box I do not like.

Why you might ask, after all you knew what you were signing for. A sample service. Yes, I'd reply, but I never knew my samples would be this miniscule.

The package was pretty enough:

And I was so excited, after all it says sparkle. Maybe I'd get something like the blush or something New! How exciting!

So I opened the box and what I got? See for yourself:

I honestly was disappointed. Two of my samples are tiny. I have a hairband that looks like something I used to do when I had no scrunchy. And a mascara that I have already tried before and feel meh about.

Let's start with the Nipple

I understand that little goes a long way but the sample is rather hard to squeeze from that tiny tube.

It's only redeeming feature - it works.

Slow December

With Thanksgiving done I can't believe we are already in December. And with both P aul Walker tragic death, and the peaceful passing of Nelson Mandela, somehow beauty bags got lower priority. I was surprised to see so many spoilers floating on the web and Facebook. I really want to be surprised this month-  no peaking into my boxes. :)

Glam it up

With a small delay ( I blame it on my bday celebrations), I'm back to report on my first Ipsy bag - to simply put it was AWESOME :)

I got it on November 16th

In a little golden bag I have found:

1. Pixi bronzer in Subtly Suntouched 3.2g/0.11 oz -  

Full size is 10.21g/0.36oz 

It seems a bit dark for me and it SPARKLES ( I love sparkles), and I think this trial size will last me a long while.

2. Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in Topaz which is a silvery eye liner that goes on smoothly , and almost melts like butter on your eyelids. This is a FULL Size . I love it.

3. BH Cosmetics Galaxy Chick Baked Eyeshadow in Asteroid - a mix of blue and metallic colors. I like it a lot as it compliments my eyes.

4.Nailtini in Champagne - full size
Pretty gold tone that lasted almost a week on my nails. Good for the Holidays.

5. Be a Bombshell in Shameless - full size
a glossy lip crayon that I love just by itself

6. em michelle phan lash gallery clean volume mascara in brown - full size
This mascara has a nice brush that can reach both long and short eyelashes and disposes a proper amount of product. Unfortunately it is not my favorite - I have sparse lashes and this feels like a mascara for someone who has lots of them. I'd probably benefited more from the voluminizing one, but as it is I will use it up, but won't re buy it. I have to be careful while using it as  seems like sometimes more product stays on my lashes (a lot of mascaras has that problem for me :? so sad it is one of them). On the plus side it has not irritated my eyes at all.

This be another BirchBox

November is my birthday month- so it seems lucky that I got off  ipsy waiting list, all the same waiting for confirmation/shipping email from them was taking forever (dramatic gasp). Birchbox, on the other hand, updated and shipped my box without great ado.. My box shipped on Sunday November 10 (at least that's the day I got a shipping notification) and arrived at my doorstep on Thursday.

It is great!

I think I got a box #1

News from Ipsy

After almost two months I got a notification that my Ipsy/Glam Bag subscription has been activated- so my friend was right-it takes about two months to get off the wishlist (FYI I subscribed September 11- Got notification October 30 - will get my first bag in November). I am waiting for that first bag as November is my birthday month. It will be like a small surprise for myself.

Today I've checked./googled "ipsy nov spoilers" at least five times. I'm pretty excited :)

Birchbox was easier to get- I merely subscribed via a Facebook link at the end of September and got my first box in October (that was the "leftover"September box). So far my experience is 50/50. I feel like I am getting my money's worth in samples but I do not feel like I am getting anything over $10. With Ipsy comes the allure of receiving 1)makeup 2)one full size item (that is hopefully not a chapstick).

Let the battle of the boxes begin!

Creme de la creme by Miss Jessie's

Miss Jessie's Original
Creme de la Creme Conditioner- Full size 12 oz. for $16

Tested a sample - 1 fl oz./29 ml

Ok- honest and short review -
This conditioner is a little bit runny. The sample lasted me for two applications because I have short hair. I applied it for 5 minutes both times and can say that it does tame your hair. Unfortunately, in my case, this conditioner is a little heavy even though it does not look like it when applied. I think I will not buy it as I could only ever use it as a weekly treatment and I was not impressed with it enough. The scent is ok.
I would give it four stars- it was good but not suited for me.

I applied a little bit of mousse, but i can tell that my hair is going to look bad tomorrow.

Verdict: I will pass on this product.

It's another box :)

The time passed rather quickly. I didn't expect it to do so- but once I got a notice of creating/shipping my birchbox I found out a plethora of comments about October box already (especially here ).

I also discovered a way to check what is in my box and ever since I was waiting in a slight disappointment for my box.

I had box # 29

Let me tell you all about them

I'm amazed

I have not finished sampling September birchbox and today in the morning I got a notification about the October one. There be official spoilers

I want something from benefit

Detox Fub I rate you C-

Last month I bought a five day detox set  offered by choice4life from groupon. I have done it and I really cannot rate it higher than C (or two and a half stars)

In my package, which arrived promptly after a week of claiming my groupon - I received 2 bags with the content that was to take me through a detox phase.

Well let me tell you about the content of those bags.

My September 2013 Birchbox

Finally arrived. 

I got :

-Benefit Cosmetics Sugarbomb Ultra Plush Lip Gloss

Laughing at self

So the whole weekend was dedicated to obsessively checking email notification and agonizing what is going to be in my box. I kept it secret from my Ipsy friend- in fact, I kept it a secret from everyone. Ipsy has not contacted me yet. From what I hear I have to prepare for at least two months wait- so I might be "in"in November. 

This whole subscription business seems bad for my wallet. I find that I am now quite aware of a plethora of subscription boxed both in cosmetics, wellness, jewelry and novelty. Seems like a good business to be in. 

This Friday I went out and I now have a sore throat. I've been drinking various herbal teas like a thirsty camel. It does not seem to be working :(

We'll off to be I am. 

anticipation-part 3

I got a notification that my box has shipped and it's already in my state- I will get it next week. YAY

bit bored

Woke up at 6 am, chatted with a couple of peeps and now I'm just bored.

Not gonna get my "present" for at least a week, a friend bailed out on me today, maybe I will go out to a bar tonight.It is supposed to be a lovely day.

Irony. Day 3

After obssesively checking my Birchbox subscription I realized that under the confirmation of it there's print in italics that says: Shipping September 26 .

Just.
Facepalm.

That means that I will get it most likely in the first week of October :(

In other news, the weather is becoming more and more like fall. Time to check those jackets.

Day 2

Waiiiiiiting and waiiiiiting for that Birchbox email.
Yup, I'm impatient.

I spoke with my friend who got her first Ipsy/Glam Bag- and she was so happy about it. Gah, I'm jealous. I feel like a five year old again waiting for Christmas.

In the meantime I decided to try my hand at a smokey eye with colors out of my comfort zone (meaning anything not blue). Needless to say, if I want to rock a half-decomposed vampire/zombie look I know which shadows to use. It looks like I will give my palette to my friend once I'm done with the gold-blue-navy blue- pink shaodws in it. She can use the greens and browns. Me? Not so much, at least not this one. Ok, end of my complaints.

The anticipation

Today I received an email that my subscription was processed and that I will receive a September Birchbox  sometime soon. The exact shipping date will be provided in the next email. I am excited. I decided to subscribe there because of the variety of products one gets from them. For sure Ipsy/Glam Bag can be fabulous but ... I suspect that in the long run I will be overwhelmed with makeup stuff. I am not that much of a user. I still have lip gloss I got with my Lancôme bonus some time ago, and most of the lipsticks (I buy perfume about twice a year and try to get a "bonus bag" with it) I had to give away because I was not using them. That's why I decided to document what I get and how I use it. 

Did I mention I am excited. I am going to get a surprise! Awesome!

So far Birchbox sounds more reliable- they got to me within 3 days while ipsy just put me on a waiting list (and I heard it can take up to 2 months to get on the mailing list). That means that Ipsy might be slightly more popular but Birchbox has been around long enough to know what they are doing. 

:)