Birchbox February 2014

Birchbox Review, February 2014: Collaboration with Us Weekly

Birchbox February 2014

This month, I didn't recognize the red outer packaging in my mailbox, but it turned out to be my February Birchbox!

February 2014 Birchbox First Look

The first look was a little disappointing.  I had no idea what to expect this month, as boxes hadn't updated and I don't watch the sneak peek videos BB posts.

OPI Sheer Tint Top Coat in Be Magentale With Me

We will start with the item that caught my eye.  It's no secret that I love nail polish, so I immediately was drawn to this mini OPI bottle.  It's the same size as you would get in their 4-packs of mini colors, 3.75 mL.  Normal polishes are usually 15 mL, and Julep polishes are 8 mL for a size reference.

This is one of OPI's new sheer tint top coats.  They suggest wearing alone for a sheer wash of color, or over another polish to change up its look.

My poor stained, peeling nails and winter cuticles.
1 coat OPI on index and middle fingers (left two), nothing on ring and pinky (right two) fingers

It's interesting by itself.  1 coat is shown above, and you can probably get it a little darker with 2 or 3 coats, but I think that even with layering on the entire bottle, you could never get this polish opaque.  That's fine, I don't mind sheer polishes to be honest, but I know I'm in the minority.  That being said, I'm really glad I got the pink-tinted variation, and not the green or purple or yellow.  As it is, one coat by itself looks like I did a bad job removing red polish.  I can imaging the yellow tint, alone, looks like you just have the world's most stained nails!

The full bottle of this (15 mL) sells for $9.  3.75 mL is worth $2.25.

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara Sample

I was really surprised to see a Smashbox product in my Birchbox!  I know that they have sent out mid-price brands such as Benefit and Stila, but for some reason this was a pleasant surprise.  I don't think I've tried this particular mascara before, but I have a huge backlog to go through before I open it.  It has a nice, full brush, so that will probably mean a lot of lash definition (no spider lashes/clumps).  

0.38 fl.oz. is $19, making the 0.14 fl.oz. sample worth $7.

eleven skin Refresh Cleanser

Here's where things got weird.  I have never heard of this brand (eleven skin), and it seems that this cleanser is part of their anti-aging skin care regimen.  The cleanser is available for purchase by itself, and it looks like it is $30 for 2 oz on the website (and $42 for 4 oz), but Birchbox has 4 oz for $30.  So, I'm not sure if I'm reading things correctly?  I was sent a 2 fl.oz. bottle.  

This is a thinner gel formula and smells like a generic plant-oil mix.  Top three ingredients are water, TEA-lauryl sulfate, and glycerin.  It looks like a generic cleanser to me.  There are some plant oils thrown in (mostly AFTER "fragrance" on the ingredient list), but nothing stands out to me.  I haven't tried it, yet, though.  Who knows? It may change my life (probably not).

Worth $15 going from BB pricing.

Agave Healing Oil Oil Treatment

Aaaaand, a little cardboard packet of hair oil.  I hate these cardboard samples almost as much as I hate caffeine headaches.  Which is a lot.  Also, this is not a novel product.  It is mostly cyclopentasiloxane (silicone in circle form) and dimethicone (more silicone, not in circle form).  There are some random oils thrown in, including some for scent.  It smells like a combination of cheap bubblegum and dollar-store potpourri. I already have a silicone-based, oil-infused hair product I love (OROFLUIDO!) and have no intention of switching.

On Sephora's site, 40 mL sells for $40, making this absurd packet worth $4.  I'm going to go dump this into a resealable container so I don't spill it all over the place. 

Smashbox Full Exposure Paper Samples

Sigh.  See how fast this box went downhill?  I was sad when I thought there were only 4 samples in my box, but then I opened up the little flyer at the bottom and was even MORE disappointed that BB/ Us Weekly thought that this "sample" would be a good idea.  Seriously?  If I'm careful, I might be able to use this once to get a full look going.  But, a small amount of shadow pressed onto cardboard does not, in my opinion, give you an adequate idea of what the actual palette will be like.  Yes, there are shimmery and matte shades included, in a range of neutral colors, but I would have been more excited about a mini pan of just one shade.  Ugh.

No value.

February 2014 Birchbox

All together, this box had a value of $28.25.  I'm not that excited about anything, just because there wasn't really anything *new* to me.  I already have a perfect-for-me face wash and hair oil.  I have too many mascaras and a sheer polish mini really isn't that exciting.  I'm not even going to mention the eyeshadow.  I'll review these on the BB site for 10 points each (assuming they let me review the shadows) and spend my points on something I actually like.  Remember, 100 points is $10 to spend! 

Birchbox is $10 per month for 4-6 samples.  For every item you get and review, you get 10 bb points.  Buying things from their shop will get you 1 point for every $1.  The point system, and the occasional amazing life-changing product, make this subscription worth it for me.  Even with lackluster boxes, like this month's, I will continue subscribing.  If you want to try it out, please use my code here.  I'll get 50 bb points for each referral.

This post contains items purchased by me.  All thoughts and opinions are my own and no special compensation or consideration was received for this post.  This post contains a referral link; see above for details.

The Week in Nails, December 1

This week was a lazy one for nails.  With Thanksgiving, I didn't bother going crazy.

I Theodora You

OPI Natural Nail Base Coat and 3 coats of OPI's I Theodora You.  No top coat.  This is a really cute sheer pink.  It is on the bubble-gummy side without being too young-looking when it is on.  I wore this for two days (last Sunday included).  I think 4 coats would bring it to full opacity, but I was fine with visible nail line.

I sadly had naked nails for the next three days.  Work got crazy, I was tired, and I didn't feel like painting my nails for Thanksgiving, only to have it chip off with all the food prep and dish washing.

My Very First Knockwurst

OPI Natural Nail Base Coat and 3 coats of OPI's My Very First Knockwurst.  No top coat.  I really love this color.  It is very subdued and makes me feel like my nails look demure.  That is the word that comes to mind.  I have been wearing this for three days, and I barely have any tip wear.  I plan on keeping this on for at least one more day.

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me.

The Week in Nails, November 24

Zoya Mason with Julep Cynthia 

This is what I ended up doing to cover the chips on my tips.  I wore this combo for 2 days.  I put a layer of Julep Polymer Top Coat over everything.

No-sponge glitter gradient with OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls and Julep Erica 

I then decided to do a little glitter gradient.  2 coats of OPI's My Boyfriend Scales Walls (an EXTEREMELY pale blue) with Julep Erica (orange/black/gold mystery glitter from the New Year's Mystery Box).  The above picture shows the process.  I first wiped off almost all of the glitter from my brush and lightly painted 2/3 of my nail with it.  When that was dry, I went back over about 1/2 each nail with another coat.  Lastly, the top third of my nail got more glitter, making it more opaque.  I find this easier than using a makeup sponge to fade the glitter onto my nail.

OPI and Julep

I wore this for 3 days.

Julep Reece

I had Julep Reece on my nails for the last two days of this week.  As usual, no base coat (I *still* haven't found one I like), and Julep Polymer top coat.  

This post contains items purchased by me.  All opinions are my own and no special consideration or compensation was received for this post.

The Week in Nails, November 17

Julep Meryl

Grey Nails are my favorite.  I love this color, and it was the first Julep I ever received!  Unfortunately, that means it is old and on the goopier side since I've used up more than half of it.  Oh well.  It's still pretty!  2 coats, no base and Julep Polymer Top Coat.

I may or may not have taken that picture whilst TAing, hence the dry-erase marker.  I wore this for 3 days.

Geometric Taping

My boyfriend and his friends were watching a hockey game and this is what I did.  It took most of the game to finish, but it was worth it.  I used OPI Russian Navy on most of my nails, with Julep Alexandria over the ring fingers, then taped off triangles and painted them.  The triangle colors are Nailtini Mai Tai, OPI Russian Navy, Julep Sienna, and NYC Tudor City Teal.  No base, no top (it needed one, but oh well), and I wore it for 3 days.

Zoya Mason

2 coats of Zoya Mason.  No base, no top, and I'm on day 2 of this (it is Monday).  It's a little chipped but I don't feel like taking it all off.  I might just do some designs over the chipped tips?  You will have to find out next week.

The opinions in this post are mine; all items mentioned within were paid for by me.  No special compensation or consideration was received for this post.

The week in nails, October 13

This week was a slow one for nails.  

OPI Stranger Tides

OPI Stranger Tides from their Pirates of the Caribbean collection.  I love this color.  It's a dusty green color, and just so happens to be the color of the endpoint my students were looking for in their most recent titration lab.  "J- what color am I looking for?" *flashes nails* 

2 coats OPI, no base or top.  I wore this for 3 days.

Julep Coco and messy edges

Then, my PopSugar box came and I wore 2 coats of Coco with 1 coat of Julep Freedom Polymer top coat for 4 more days.  4 days, no chipping! Holy cow!  I'm seriously impressed with that top coat and I can't get over how much I love Coco.  Such a great fall color.

The Week(s) in Nails, September 29

I was away last weekend (Vegas, baby!) and didn't have internet access to post anything. So, with my apologies, here are the past two weeks in nails.

Sally Hansen Sugar Coat in Red Velvet

Two coats.  No top coat, no base.  I wore this for 2 days, I like it a lot.  It's not as uniform of a texture as OPI's Liquid Sand, and it's not glittery either, but it's still a nice polish.  Not bad for getting it on clearance at Target ;)

China Glaze Dress Me Up and Julep Jane

China Glaze Dress Me Up was part of the Hunger Games "Colors from the Capitol" Collection.  I believe this was the color that was originally to be named after Prim.  It's a dusty mauve color that gives almost enough coverage in 1 coat, so I did two.  Juelp Jane is a full coverage gold and rose gold glitter named after Julep's founder.  Two coats, wore it for 2 days.

China Glaze Dress Me Up, Zoya Jules, and Julep Jane

A few of my nails had chipped after 2 days, so I replaced one of the glitter nails on each hand with two coats of Zoya Jules.  It's a shimmery champagne color, and I probably should have done another coat.  I wore this variation for 2 more days.

While I was in Las Vegas, I wore Julep Lynn.  It lasted 5 (!) days without much noticeable chipping.  No pictures, sorry.

I had naked nails for a day when I got back, and then wore this for the next 3 days:

OPI Russian Navy and Julep Erica

2 coats of OPI Russian Navy, with one coat of Julep Erica (the New Years Mystery Box surprise glitter) over my ring finger.

The Week in Nails, September 15

Pink Marble

I did a layer of OPI Do You Think I'm Texy, sponged on a little bit of Essie Bordeaux and Color Club Mod in Manhattan, and then another layer of OPI.  I repeated the sponging and the OPI.  Seche on top.

I wore this for 2 days.

Ruffian Manicure

I got Ruffian's Delirium in my September Birchbox and had to use it immediately! I did a free-hand Ruffian manicure over 2 coats of a no-name silver polish.  No Base, no top.  I did a second coat of Delirium after I took this picture.

I wore this for 2 days.

Duochrome is hidden from this picture

This is Catrice Genius in the Bottle, a gold to greenish-blue duochrome I picked up in Germany last summer.  This is 2 coats, no base or top, and it's still going strong 3 days later.  I'm going to change it tonight just because I'm bored.

All items in this post were paid for by me, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.  No special consideration or compensation was received for this post.