Birchbox: April 2013

I missed my Monday post again!  I had a stomach ache, sue me.

This month, Birchbox partnered with Women's Health Magazine for the theme "Tiny Tweaks, Big Results".  If you are interested in Birchbox, click here to learn more!  Let's take a look at what I received for April.

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle: "Great for all hair types, this nourishing elixir performs seven hair-healing functions. Among them: locking in color, adding shine, and instantly detangling." Full-size $21.95, Sample size $2.74

This stuff smells SO freakin' good.  Very coconut-y.  I like.  And, it does a great job of detangling my hair and making it feel super soft and shiny.  I don't know if this is typical, but mine was really hard to get the spray mechanism going at first.  The product itself is pretty thick in the bottle, so I had to add a little bit of water to thin it out so that it would spray. (Also, my nail polish is definitely orange...dunno why it's showing up pink.)

Caudalie Divine Oil: "Made with a blend of grape, argan, hibiscus, and sesame oils, this multitasking wonder gives skin, hair, and nails a gorgeous glow." Full-size $49, Sample size $1.47

I always hear very nice things about Caudalie, and I feel like this was a coveted sample among Birchbox subscribers this month. So, I feel lucky to have received it!  So far, I've only used it on the ends of my hair after it has dried to smooth things out and hydrate my locks.  As with most oils I've used, a little goes a long way!

LAFACE Laboratories BEAUX YEUX Beautiful Eyes Concentrate Intensive: "A hefty dose of hyaluronic acid amps up moisture levels, while an advanced peptide complex halts wrinkle formation." Full-size $160 (what!!), Sample size $16

This is definitely the most expensive sample I've received from Birchbox.  I've been using this for the past few days, and I really like it.  It's not as thick as some other eye creams I've tried, and even though this is a small sample, you don't need to use much.  The first time I used it, I kind of felt like it tingled, which made me think it must be working.  Or doing something, at least.  Ha!

Supergoop! Daily Correct SPF 35 CC Cream: "This next-generation CC cream provides corrective coverage and triple protects against UVA, UVB, and infrared-A rays." Full-size $32, Sample size $2.03

The BB cream craze has escalated into a CC cream craze.  These products are supposed to be better than tinted moisturizers, but in reality, I think they're about on the same level.  I received the shade "Light/Medium", which is the lightest shade of the two shades offered.  I do think it's a little dark for me, but I'm just super pale.  It's supposed to be self-adjusting, so maybe it'll match me better once I get a little more sun.  Other than that, I think it offers good coverage, and I always love SPF.

LIFESTYLE EXTRA:
Hail Merry Chocolate Macaroons: "It tastes too good to be true: These decadent treats are raw, vegan, gluten-free, and made with only natural, non-GMO ingredients." Full-size $5, Sample size $1.26

These were...interesting.  They weren't what I thought a typical macaroon is like; they were more like little organic brownie chunks with a lot of coconut.  They definitely tasted "healthy", if you know what I mean.  I probably wouldn't buy them again on my own, but they were neat to try out.

ALSO, because this box was a partnership with Women's Health Magazine, every box included a card with a free year's subscription to the magazine, exclusively for Birchbox subscribers. Worth $9.99, this subscription by itself pays for this month's box. I'll definitely be mailing this in soon!

So, my Birchbox for April is worth $43.48. Very nice! Definitely mostly because of the eye cream and magazine subscription, but I'm not complaining.

December 2012 Favorites

I'm always on the hunt for things that make life easier, more fun, better, you-name-it. So, I bring you my favorites, in a variety of categories, for the month of December.

Fitness

• "You Can Do Pilates" DVD- It may seem kinda lame to do a beginner's exercise DVD, but even though my back doctor has given me the green light, I do still have to be careful. This DVD has been really great. I feel more fit, and I can tell my muscle tone is improving. I definitely plan to keep using this program into the new year. Better than sitting on the couch!

Food 

• Green tea- I grew up hating hot tea, and now here I am, loving it. Guess it's true that our tastes really do change!

• Hummus- More like yummus (sorry, had to). I recently found my favorite brand, Athenos, on sale at Kroger for buy one, get one FREE. Score!

Home

• Slatkin & Co. 3-wick candle in "Cider Lane" from Bath & Body Works- I've been obsessed with candles this entire year, but this one has been my favorite by far. Described as "...a delicious fall blend of mulled cider, warm caramel, and sweet cinnamon," this is truly the perfect autumn candle. (A tip about B&BW candles: they retail for about $20.00 a piece, so always try to catch them when they go on sale for 2 for $20.00.)

Beauty

• Wet n' Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in "Walking on Eggshells"- I'm a fan of neutral eyeshadows, and these are fantastic quality at a very low price.

• Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub- Love this stuff. From the bottle: "Gently scrubs away impurities that can build up in pores to improve complexion for fresh, clear skin". I especially love that it is made of 94% naturally-derived ingredients. 

• Birchbox- I've been a Birchbox subscriber for a year now, and I'm loving it. Birchbox is beauty and lifestyle subscription service which sends out 4-6 samples of higher-end products each month. My mother gifted me a subscription last Christmas, and I've discovered so many great new brands and products through them. This Christmas, I decided to buy myself a subscription so I can stay in-the-know! If you're interested in Birchbox, check it out here. (If you want to subscribe, make sure you do so via my link! I'll get referral points for the Birchbox shop!)

Music

• Xmas song! "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Judy Garland version- Classic.

• "The House I Grew Up In" by The Weeks- Fun.

• "Locked Out of Heaven" by Bruno Mars- I would not call myself a Bruno Mars fan, but I saw him and his band perform this on SNL a few weeks back, and it was a PARTY. Can someone give me tickets to a Bruno show?

• "You Know Me" by Air Traffic Controller- Sweet.

• "93 Million Miles" by Jason Mraz- Makes my heart swell. Video below!

So that's it! What were some of your favorites this month? I hope everyone has a happy new year!