October Glossybox Unboxing - Byrdie Edition

I've gotten many requests to show my readers what's in the subscription boxes I get monthly so I figured I would start with October! I subscribe to Ipsy, Birchbox and Glossybox, so I will review all of those for you every month starting now.

The subscription: Glossybox

The cost: $21 US/month

Total product value: $76.57

Why is it unique? You get beauty products from Europe, Asia and everywhere else. Very high quality products every month, I have never received a dud and I've been subscribed since March 2013.

Every month, you receive substantial codes for some of the products provided in the Glossybox. This is quite customary for any subscription service. Here's a preview of the contents of my October box (usually these arrive in the mail near the end of the month). I was VERY excited when I saw the preview of the box with a full-sized Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes mascara!

This month subscribers received a Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream in a generous deluxe sample size, (this retails for $42 at 1.7oz) we received the 0.5oz so the value of this product is $12.35. It smells just like what you would imagine a lotus to, very plant-like. I have been using it and it is quite moisturizing, but it's quite a pricey product that I don't think I would purchase on my own. This is a nice, luxurious sample to get.

I received a Renu Exfoliating Gel which retails for $42 at 50 ml and we received a 20 ml deluxe sample so the value of it is $16.80. Subscribers either received this sample or Sesha's Anti-Wrinkle Mask. This feels delightful on the skin, it really does feel like it's cleaning up the dead skin cells on my face, but again this is quite an expensive product, especially since it's a cleanser, so it's nice to receive such a large sample because I probably won't go out and purchase it.

Subscribers also received a deluxe sized sample of Bulgari's Eau Parfumee Au The Vert, which reminds me of a spring scent because it's made with "Green Tea" as the base note. However, this is the most adorable sample I have ever seen because it's in a miniature retro glass container. The full sized product is 1.33oz and retails for $62. The sample is 0.17 fluid oz so it is valued at $7.92. The scent is fresh and light, definitely not overpowering and I find that it takes on an even better smell on my skin.

balance Me. has provided every subscriber with their limited edition tinted lip salve that is 100% natural. The product received was the full size which retails for $16.50 at 10ml. You can see that it swatches to a much letter intensity than the pumpkin color inside the tube. It's an extremely liquid formula, not sticky or unpleasant to wear. The super soft beige color was created exlusively for Birchbox. The gloss smells like peppermint and emphasizes lip size, creating a bee-stung effect. Great product, I would definitely recommend trying this out.

And now the product we've all been waiting for, Tarte's Lights Camera Flashes Mascara!!! This puppy retails for $23 for the full size and that's exactly what Glossybox gave us! The packaging is magnificent, there is no funky smell like some other mascaras, and it lengthens and provides so much extra volume to my lashes that I can actually feel the difference. My lashes have never hit the skin above my eyelid, but with this, they definitely do and I love it! The applicator is easy to use, it's a silicone bristled applicator and I have an extremely easy time applying the wet formula with it. I highly recommend trying this mascara, in my opinion it's worth every penny.

DIY Nail Polish Tutorial

Have you ever seen a nail polish color on TV or on someone else that you really liked? And yet you haven't been able to find that shade and purchase it? Or are you just sick and tired of paying $10-$20 for a decent nail polish. Here's a quick way to make your own colors... the possibilities are limitless!

This tutorial might be just the thing you need to spruce up your hallowe'en look this year, too!

You'll only need some very basic materials:

1. clear nail polish or top coat (preferably one that you like and has staying power for best results)
2. eyeshadow color you really love (or more! You can mix these together for unique color combinations) - this can be a pigment or just an eyeshadow in a pan/palette
3. empty container (optional) - this is only if you're making smaller quantities and you don't want to use your entire clear nail polish for one DIY color
4. toothpick
5. funnel made from a rolled up piece of paper and taped together

Steps to Making Your Very Own Nail Polish!

1. First gather all of your supplies.
2. Use your toothpick to pick off some of the nail polish you have and mix different colors together to achieve what you like. In the photo above you can see pink and brown were mixed for a coral hue.
3. Transfer your pigment or powdered nail polish into the clear nail polish OR if you do not want to contaminate your clear polish, funnel the pigment and some clear polish into another container with a lid.
4. Close the container and shake.
5. Apply your fabulous new color to your nails!

I highly encourage you to give this tutorial a try, it's super simple and fun. You'll be so happy with all of the amazing compliments you get and the surprise answer you'll give people when they ask you where you got that beautiful polish!

Happy crafting, everyone!

Product Review: Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeshadow

I'm super excited that I can bring you a review of these products. I've been a long fan of the Physician's Formula line as they are more focused on hypoallergenic, good-for-you products with an organic twist. I happened to be perusing through the makeup section of Ross Dress for Less the other day and I found a mind-blowing deal. It was definitely not a fluke and they had many of these kits laying around, but the originally $10/each Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeshadow sets were selling for $7.99 for a 3-pack!!! I know! It was a $23 savings!

Since I had been itching to try these anyways, I immediately scooped up the set that seemed the most colorful and fun to me. Now, I'm not going to lie, they're billed as Eyeshadow and Liner 2-in-1, but since absolutely any eyeshadow can be used wet as a more intense color or as an eyeliner, I'll only be reviewing them for their eyeshadow properties. You can, certainly, use these wet for a more intense color (as you can with any other eyeshadow you may own from any other brand). 

Each 9-color Shimmer Strips pack comes with an applicator with an angled liner sponge. As with every other brush that "comes with" drugstore eyeshadows, although they are better than most eyeshadow applicators, these are not particularly adept at lining eyes or eyeshadow placement and you'll want to use your own set instead.

Now, I don't have blue eyes, but they didn't have anymore of the "brown eye" sets and even if they did, I probably still would have chosen the blue. Regardless, you don't *have* to wear the colors they suggest, depending on how you wear them, any shade can look great on all eye pigmentations. This set looked the most varied and fun!

Enhance Blue Eyes - Smokey Collection

The first kit is a Blue Eyes set from the Smokey Eyes Collection and the swatches came out decently.

I did notice and you can tell by the swatch, the dark grays (the one in the middle and the one on the bottom) look almost identical, and the second-to-last color was only about half a shade lighter).

I think this set could have used some more variety. I do appreciate the inclusion of a slightly purple navy as the third color down.

This one was definitely a splurge at the original $10 price tag, but for the $2.66 I paid for it, I was more than pleased. The size of these is small and they are lightweight so you can easily travel with them. For an on-the-go set, these colors are creamy (the darker ones tend to be a little more chalky) and very easy to work with and blend.

Enhance Blue Eyes - Eye Candy Collection

Now, I know what you're thinking, this set looks extremely repetitive in terms of shades (blues, blues and more blues). However, the colors are more varied than they appear.

The first trio of blues are more green-hued and I definitely appreciate the inclusion of these in the set. However, I definitely bought this for the cherry red color. Which is superbly pigmented and swatches exactly the same way it looks in the palette. I'm excited to use it and I'm very grateful that they included one of the larger sized rectangles full of that color!

You get a lot of product in these palettes and truth be told, the color payoff is very good, I really only had to run my finger through the color once or twice and get those very vibrant swatches. Unlike the previous set, this darker colors in this set were not chalky but very smooth, the quality was very high, on par with much more expensive companies like Urban Decay and Mac Cosmetics.

Fashionista En Vogue

This palette is my favorite of the trio. Mostly this is because of my love for purple eyeshadow, but also because there is a brow/highlighter color that is very wearable as the first shade in this palette. There is also no recommendation as to which eye color these shades are for, so they must be for any eyes.

Let me also state the obvious and that the golden neon green is another reason why I was drawn into this set set like a moth to a flame. I actually wore this as my eyelid color yesterday and it had extremely long lasting power (I even used it without a primer) and only came off when I scrubbed and washed it.

Each of the colors in this set is unique and there isn't shade overlap as with the previous 2 sets. Out of the three, I think this set is the only one I would actually pay the full asking price of $10 for. The colors are highly pigmented and there is a good variety of looks you can achieve, from light to dark. You can put together a sweet look or a smokey look with this palette, I think the possibilities are endless.

In conclusion, I would definitely look out for these if they're on sale at your local drugstore or at a discount store (such as Ross, TJ Maxx or Marshall's). I think rhe colors really have to be a good mix to pay the full asking price, but for the insanely awesome price of $2.66 each, I would easily pick up the whole collection of these. I think they're easy to work with, great for travel, a good variety of shades, and my only real problem with them is that you do have to pay attention when you're rubbing your brush or finger in the colors because it's easy to accidentally pick up more than just one shade. For this reason, I suggest using a medium sized eyeshadow brush for application, and maybe a thin blending brush for some of the smaller rectangles of color. I have seen rave reviews about the "Nude" colored set of shimmer strips and I'll link it below.

All in all, I give this product a very respectable 7.9/10 for the drugstore!

E.L.F. is Having a Treasure Hunt (Discounted Items Inside)

E.L.F. is having their Hallowe'en Treasure hunt for 2 days. It's basically an Easter egg hunt for makeup. You can only find out what's discounted if you click on all of the categories of makeup they offer. So I've gone and done it for you. Here's what they've got (with links and discount info below):

Mineral Blemish Kit $3.60 (originally$5.00)

Studio Kabuki Face Brush $4.60 (originally $6.00) - this brush is amazing for all-over foundation coverage

Studio Shimmer Palette $1.80 (originally $3.00)

Studio Shimmer Sheets $1.20 (originally $3.00)

Essential 3-piece nail polish set (only in the set featuring the colors purple gray and navy) $1.80 (originally $3.00)

Various Eyeshadow Palettes and Brush Set

Essential Primer Eyeshadow $1.20 (originally $2.00)

Essential Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick $1.20 (originally $2.00) only in the color Rock Out


Here's another coupon code - ECS50F : Save 50% Off Your Studio Line Purchase Of $20 Or More. Plus, Get Free Shipping When You Spend $35. For First Time Buyers. Limited time offer.


I do have to warn all my fine readers that these deals can last for certain hours only, so even though you  may see more codes elsewhere (and even on here) they might not work during the sale for more than a couple of hours. This was stated on ELF's Facebook page. For example, the Studio Matte Eyeshadow was on sale for $1.65 from $3.00 but when I clicked on it, the price was still the full price.

Happy shopping, everyone!

DIY Beauty Hacks All Girls Should Know

1. Use a light-colored frost eye shadow to create luscious 3D lips. Or use a different eyeshadow color for more depth and an ombre effect.

2. Use Elmer's Glue to remove blackheads just like the Pore Strips only much cheaper. Use it only on your nose or on your entire face (avoid your eyes, nostrils and mouth). Apply gauze before the glue is dry for easier removal of the glue, otherwise just peel or rub it off.

http://midwestmodernmomma.com/no-more-expensive-pore-strips-for-me/

3. Use Elmer's Glue as a nail polish base for easy to remove glitter manicures. All you have to do is peel from the side! This manicure can last up to 2 weeks.

4. Apply one coat of Elmer's Glue on your cuticles and around your nail and let it dry, then apply your nail polish. Remove the glue by peeling it off and it will give you the perfect manicure.

5. Twist your hair into two pieces and then twist them around each other. Hold the ends down and run a flat iron over them slowly up and down in the direction of the swirls. The end result will be soft waves.

6. Basics of eyeshadow application: 1 and 2 should be your lightest color. 4 should be your next lightest tone applied to the eyelid, 3 should be a darker mid-tone shade which goes into the crease. 5 should be the darkest color, applied in an outer v-shape to define the shape of your eye.

7. Use a light shade of shimmer eyeshadow in the inner corner of your eyes for a refreshed and bright appearance.

8. Use a rubber band to fix your french manicure.

http://paperraindrops.blogspot.com/2012/02/french-manicure-cheat.html

9. Know where to apply perfume so it lasts all day:

10.  Make your own perfect, custom BB cream.

http://beautyvancouver.com/2013/07/02/d-i-y-bb-cream/

11.  The perfect eyeshadow colors for your eye color.

12. Turn any eyeliner into a gel eyeliner. This also works for turning lip pencils into lip gloss.

13. Use white eyeliner or base all over your eyelids to make any eyeshadow color pop with brightness. Use black eyeliner or base all over to make colors more intense and smokey.

14. To cover up dark circles, apply concealer in a triangle under your eyes. Orange shades of concealer will combat blue undertones of dark circles.

15. Apply concealer, paint pots, eyeshadow base, or Maybelline's Color Tattoo cream eyeshadows as a base under your powder eyeshadow to achieve a more professional look and more staying power.

16. Want plumper lips? Add Peppermint essential oil to your favorite lip gloss to get those bee-stung lips without having to pay a high price!

17.  To make your lipstick last all day, remember to "set" it by blotting off excess product with a napkin and then dusting translucent powder over your lips with a large fluffy brush.

18. Make your eyelashes longer and more full with baby powder. Use a clean mascara spoolie to grab some baby powder, shake off the excess and then comb it through your lashes. Apply your mascara and your lashes will appear thicker and longer!

19. Do you need to tame your eyebrows? Use a clean mascara spoolie (can be from an old mascara you used up) and dab it into petroleum jelly or aloe vera gel. Then run it through your eyebrows for a clean, tamed look that will last all day.

20. To make your red lipstick last all day and to avoid bleeding, line your lips with a matching color of lip liner. To achieve the most natural look, rub the lip liner all over your lips rather than just around the edges.

21. To get the perfect ballerina bun, use a bun filler from any store or make one of our a sock that you cut the toes off of. Roll the sock around itself to create a donut.

22. To get rid of split ends twist your hair around itself and cut off the pieces that are sticking out.

http://www.diyncrafts.com/3312/fashion/40-diy-beauty-hacks-borderline-genius/12

23. Out of dry shampoo? No problem, make your own with this simple recipe.

http://bridebird.com/how-to-create-your-own-dry-shampoo/

24. Turn Kool-Aid into a lipstain.

25. Contour your face to add dimension and thin out your features by using this simple guide.

http://blog.spaboutique.ca/tag/jane-iredale/

26. Creating the perfect cat-eye with eye liner.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/116178865360397704/

27. Make your own lip scrub/exfoliator.

http://theberry.com/2012/10/11/just-a-few-beauty-tips-6-photos/beaty-tips-1/

28. How to do an easy flawless french manicure with paper hole protectors.

http://www.popcosmo.com/2012/05/04/how-to-do-a-french-manicure-effortlessly/

29. Achieve a polka dot manicure using a band aid.

http://thebeautythesis.com/2012/11/13/polka-dot-nails-using-a-band-aid-why-didnt-i-think-of-this/

30. Check your makeup in the sunlight. The daylight will expose any mistakes you may have made in an unnaturally lit room.

31. When applying eyeshadow use at least 3 brushes to keep your look from becoming one-tone and muddy.

http://blush-berry.blogspot.com/2008/09/basic-makeup-set.html

32. Use visine to tone down the redness of pimples.

Wikihow

Product Review: Wild Carrot Herbals Wild Rose Eye Cream

Wild Carrot Herbals is a small, family owned company from Enterprise, Oregon. I'd never heard of this brand until I went to the Pearl District Whole Foods in Portland while on our trip.

I was looking for an "affordable" yet organic eye cream to wear at night - since I have all my other creams in storage, I really needed something to tide me over.

The packaging really drew my eye, it looked wholesome, organic, like a little drum full of vitality. It also had the smell of roses, which reminds me of my grandmother since many cosmetics from Europe back in the day featured the essence of Rose. This was only $9.99 for 0.5 fl oz so I figured I'd give it a shot. I know I could buy cheaper creams from Target but they were full of chemicals, and I really did want to give organic a shot. I appreciate that the expiry date (which is about a year in the future from when I purchased it) is labeled on the outside of the drum and on the outside of the product for maximum visibility. It's super important not to smother your skin in creams that are expired, that way you could actually be doing more harm than good to your skin.

So did this product actually work? Yes, yes, emphatically yes. My eyes feel smooth, soft and some of the fine lines and wrinkles are not as apparent when I wake up in the morning after applying this at night. That being said, I am a 26 year old and I do notice some fine lines appearing and they are exacerbated by dry, cold weather. This cream really limits and even reverses the damage done to my skin, it leaves my eyes feeling soft, rested, and my makeup looks much more flattering on smooth lids rather than flaky, dry ones. As you can see in the photo, the formula is smooth, creamy, and the smell of roses is pleasant and not overwhelming. The cream easily blend into the skin and doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy, it also glides on very easily so you don't have to tug at your eye area. There was absolutely no irritation and a very small amount goes a long way. After using this cream for 2 weeks, I can say I've barely made a dent in how much there is. So although the bottle may appear small, it's definitely deceiving since you use such a tiny amount!

I went on a beauty hunt through the Wild Carrot website and I found this beautiful set called "A Bunch of Roses" which features the Wild Rose Eye Cream, grapefruit rose lip balm (oh my lord, I love grapefruits, too!) and unrepentant rose soap. I'm going to gift myself this set when my wild rose eye cream runs out! I think this would make a beautiful present for any special lady in your life.

Next I'm interested in trying the Luminous Lemon and Lavender Eye Brightening Cream since I know that Lemon has natural bleaching properties, this sounds like a product I could easily get behind.

You can purchase any of these items on the Wild Carrot Herbals website or on eBay.