May Sephora Play Unboxing

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I subscribed to Sephora Play last month, but I never got around to posting an unboxing of my April Sephora Play, which I regret because it was a great box. There was the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien, the Sephora Collection Colorful Cheek Ink Gel in Peony, and the Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream, among other things. Admittedly, I haven't actually tried any of the three products I mentioned, but they're the ones that I was most excited to see.

When I opened my May Sephora Play, I was immediately disappointed by the packaging. I was expecting the gorgeous box that my April Sephora Play came in, complete with confetti and booklet, but all I was greeted with are a folded sheet of paper in place of the fancy booklet and a flimsy linen bag in place of a sturdy box. I'm not sure if they only pull out all the stops for your first box, or if they're cutting down costs now that the service is open to everyone, but even if my April Sephora Play didn't raise my expectations, this packaging is still subpar compared to the other beauty subscription boxes out there. The Ipsy Glambag also favors flimsy bags, but at least they're cute and reusable, and Birchbox may just come in a cardboard box, but at least it's sturdy and pretty.

The products themselves, though, are not too bad. I'm especially excited about the fragrance, lipstick, and mask primer. I feel meh towards the mask and lip liner. As for the hair mask, I already have the exact same sample from a previous Birchbox, which I also haven't used, so that's that. Here's what everything is:

1. Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial, $48 (1.35 fl oz) at Sephora.com

2. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask, $36 (8 fl oz) at Briogeo

3. Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine Cologne Absolue Pure Perfume, $120 (3.3 fl oz) at Sephora.com

4. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Kimchi, $26 (0.15 oz) at Sephora.com

5. Tarte Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram, $18 (0.01 oz) at Tarte Cosmetics

6. Origins Maskimizer Skin-Optimizing Mask Primer, $22 (3.2 fl oz) at Sephora.com

Have you tried any of these products?

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May Birchbox Unboxing

If you can believe it, my last Birchbox unboxing post dates back to October 2013, more than two years ago. That is back when I had a different camera, as can be seen through the questionable quality of those pictures. That is also back when ExtraExtravagant had a completely different layout. I unsubscribed after my December 2013 box, after two years of continued subscription, mainly because of financial reasons. I was at a point in my life when $10 can sometimes be the difference between being able to eat and otherwise, so extra expenses had to go.

Since then, I have gotten my shit together and am in a much better situation, not just financially but generally. I am better at adulting now, and I decided to reward myself by resubscribing to Birchbox. I have much more room in my budget for $10 every month, but I still wanted to hold out until a good offer comes along. For those of you considering subscribing to Birchbox, here is a pro tip: sign up for the newsletter first. They will send you constant emails urging you to subscribe, and they will throw in a special offer to entice you. Wait until an offer that interests you comes along, then subscribe. I waited from August 2015 to March 2016 before I received one that I wanted: a free deluxe sample of the Eyeko Fat Liquid Eyeliner, which was completely underwhelming, btw.

You probably did the math and realized that if I resubscribed in March, the unboxing posts for that box and the April box are missing. Tbh, I was super pumped to post about them, but life (well, school) got in the way. The Spring 2016 semester kept me busy, and it was all I could do to stay alive, let alone devote time to my blog. I am back now, though, and hoping that the summer semester is kind to me. With that being said, here is what came in my May 2016 Birchbox:

1. Davines LOVE Smoothing Shampoo for Coarse or Frizzy Hair, $25 (8.45 fl oz) at Birchbox

2. Davines LOVE Smoothing Conditioner for Coarse or Frizzy Hair, $29 (8.45 fl oz) at Birchbox

I started using this shampoo and conditioner duo on Monday, so we shall see how that goes.

3. ModelCo Lip Lacquer in Creme Brulee, $24 (3 ml) at Birchbox

4. Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer, $29 (0.28 oz) at Sephora

I was excited to see this sample. I already have the full size, but I love it so much that I am excited to have some extra.

5. COOLA SPF 30 Organic Makeup Setting Spray, $36 (1.7 fl oz) at Birchbox

I was miffed to see this sample because it was already in my March box, and it did not work for me at all. Even if it had worked, I would still have been annoyed at a repeat sample.

6. CLEAN Blossom Eau de Parfum, $41 (1 fl oz) at Ulta

I always love receiving fragrance samples!

Have you tried any of these products?

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Birchbox: December 2013 Unboxing

Hello, world.

It confused me to see this in my mailbox, but when I realized that it was my December 2013 Birchbox, I was immediately excited!

Birchbox usually breaks out special packaging for the holidays, like the one last December, but theyve never done the outside box.

My December 2013 Birchbox includes:

1. Nelson J Beverly Hills Argan Oil 7 Rosemary Mint Moisture Healing Mask
2. Camille Beckman Morelia Monarch Body Butter
3. Greenleaf Starlight Candle
4. Mally Beauty Lip Magnifier in Soft Nude
5. Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Serum Boosting Anti-Aging Serum

Nelson J Beverly Hills Argan Oil 7 Rosemary Mint Moisture Healing Mask | $20 for 4oz

Camille Beckman Morelia Monarch Body Butter | $15 for 5.25oz

Greenleaf Starlight Candle | $17 for 9.5oz

Mally Beauty Lip Magnifier in Soft Nude | $15 for 0.1oz

Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Serum Boosting Anti-Aging Serum | $75 for 30ml

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? What did you get? Have you tried any of these products?

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Glambag: December 2013 Unboxing

Hello, world.

First off, dont forget to enter my Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette giveaway!

It took me by surprise when I came to the realization that this is my first Glambag post. Ive been a subscriber since May 2013, but I guess Im not in the habit of posting more than one unboxing post.

My Glambag for the month includes:

1. Ardell 120 Demi Natural Lashes in Black
2. Be A Bombshell The One Stick in Girl Crush
3. Nicka K Nail Color in Mauve
4. NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in Cream
5. Pop Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio in Smokin Hot

Ardell 120 Demi Natural Lashes in Black | $4

Be A Bombshell The One Stick in Girl Crush | $16

Nicka K Nail Color in Mauve | $5

NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in Cream | $4

 

Pop Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio in Smokin Hot | $7

Im not sure if anyone noticed, but I dont have a picture of the NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in Cream. I dont even know how I overlooked that when I was taking pictures.

The Ipsy Glambag is a monthly subscription beauty bag thats only $10. This month, the items I got totaled up to $36 so its definitely worth it. If you do decide to sign up, I would love you forever if you used my link. Click here to sign up! You might be put on waitlist but you wont be for long. I got a friend of mine to sign up and she got in less than a month later. She loves her Glambag this month too!

Do you subscribe to the Ipsy Glambag? What did you get? Have you tried any of these products?

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Birchbox: October 2013 Unboxing

Hello, world.

It has been a while since my last unboxing post all the way back in April, but I have a valid excuse! My May and June boxes were lost in the mail since I moved. I contacted Birchbox about it, and they were gracious enough to send me replacement boxes. Unfortunately, they were out of inventory so they refunded the $10 for my May box. For my June box, instead of reimbursement, they just made my August box free, and they threw in 100 Birchbox points as well! They have excellent customer service, and its also why Ive been so loyal to the company.

My July, August, and September boxes are sitting in my apartment somewhere. Ive used some of the samples but not all of them. I seem to have misplaced my camera charger so I couldnt post even if I wanted to. I finally decided to use my phone to take pictures until I can afford a new camera. So, we are back on track!

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Birchbox: April 2013 Unboxing

Hello, world.

My April Birchbox is here!

Overview

The theme for this month is "Tiny Tweaks, Big Results."

We all know that if you look good, you feel good, but the problem is that not all products work for you, and even if they did, you might not be going about your daily beauty routine properly.

So, for the month of April, Birchbox has teamed up with Womens Health magazine to bring us samples that will help us make "tiny tweaks" in our daily beauty routines to get "big results."

Products

This is the Ambre Nue fragrance from Atelier Cologne. I was super excited to see this because I absolutely adore Atelier Cologne! The scents that they have stand out. The Ambre Nue is no different. I love earthy tones like myrrh and sandalwood, and this product incorporates both with floral notes to create a bouquet that is just love at first smell. If youre a fan of musk like me, this fragrance should be at the top of your list! Fragrance is a good way to change up your beauty routine; when you have wonderful scents wafting off of you, you not only put yourself in a good mood, but the people around you as well.

This is the Mesolift serum from Lierac Paris. My first thought when I saw this was, "The packaging contains not a single lick of English; how fancy." I dont speak French, so needless to say, I had no idea what this product actually was besides being a serum. After a little bit of research, I learned that this product packs a triple punch: it hydrates skin, shrinks pores, and fights off wrinkles. On paper, this sounded like the perfect serum, but after trying it out, Im not too big of a fan. It takes a lot of product to cover my whole face, which is never a good sign. I dont know the extent of its claims yet; it might work really well, but besides the citrus scent of blood orange, I dont see myself liking this product. Serum is an important part of anyones facial routine because it does all the things that a simple moisturizer wouldnt be able to do.

This is the Blow Dry Lotion from Number 4. Ive previously sampled the Clarifying Shampoo from this brand through my December Birchbox, and I was relatively surprised by its effectiveness. However, this does set up higher expectations for the Blow Dry Lotion. Its unique, though; Im used to heat protectants being mists that you spray on your hair, but this is apparently a lotion. I havent tried it yet, but Im excited to because this is not just a heat protectant, but a smoothing treatment as well. I dont know about you, but I love my hair, and I love taking care of it. Whatever the climate you live in, the elements can be harsh on your hair, so adding in an extra step in your hair care routine can do wonders.

This is the Color Changing nail polish in Peony from Ruby Wing. I was super excited to receive this product because Ive heard so much about color changing nail polish, and Ive been wanting to try it out for myself. Color changing nail polish is the latest innovation in nail polish. Basically, your nail polish will be a different shade when youre outdoors. Peony is a peach shade that will supposedly turn bright red in the sun. Nail polish is an easy way to look polished (pun intended) without doing too much. Although, that being said, chipped nail polish is always a no-no.

This is the Revitalizing Eye Roll-on from Simple. This product is one of those that I was excited about. Simple is one of my favorite drugstore brands because it boasts natural ingredients, and it is super gentle on skin, which makes it perfect for everyday wear. Ive previously tried the Soothing Eye Balm, which I really loved, and this product is ten times better because it is a roll-on, which minimizes the use of your fingers on the sensitive eye area. This roll-on is super soothing and cooling, especially after heavy use of makeup remover. Wrinkles and crows feet can start in your early 20s, so regularly using eye cream is the best way to combat that.

Shop

1. The 200ml version of the Atelier Cologne Ambre Nue Cologne Absolue can be bought for $136 on EBay.com.
2. The 1.1oz version of the Lierac Paris Concentre Mesolift Toning Radiance Serum can be bought for $48 on LovelySkin.com.
3. The 150ml version of the Number 4 Blow Dry Lotion can be bought for $32 on Birchbox.com.
4. The 15ml version of the Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish in Peony can be bought for $10 on Birchbox.com.
5. The 0.5floz version of the Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-on can be bought for $8.74 on EBay.com.

Final Verdict

I love this months Birchbox because the samples are products that I would actually use. I will be writing separate reviews for the products that I havent gotten around to trying yet, so please check back if youre interested.

Do you subscribe to Birchbox?

If you do, include your link in the Comments section, and I'll check it out!

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March 2013 Birchbox Review

Hello, world.

The March Birchbox arrived a while ago, the day before I left for Chicago, so I didnt get the chance to blog about it until now.

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream in Blueberry

$20 | 150ml | Birchbox.com

MAKE Satin Finish Eyeshadow in Great Lakes

$18 | 0.1oz | Birchbox.com

MAKE SPF 30 Face Primer

$30 | 1oz | Birchbox.com

Nick Chavez Beverly Hills Color-Saver Sulfate Free Shampoo

$22 | 8floz | Birchbox.com

Madewell for Birchbox Nail Emery Board

$5 | Birchbox.com

I havent had the chance to do anything with these products yet so I didnt want to bore you with any text this time. I'll post separate reviews for you guys soon!

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February 2013 Birchbox Review

Hello, world.

I apologize for my prolonged absence, but I am back with a review of my February Birchbox.

Color Club Nail Polish in Wild Cactus

$8 | 0.5floz | Birchbox.com

I took this picture with my phone, so the quality is not the best. It looks a little blue in the picture, but it is actually an emerald green.

I do not have much to say about it. This is my third or fourth Color Club nail polish from Birchbox, so I am getting used to it. I have not actually seen it under sunlight yet, so I cant be sure if I like it yet.

Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover

$22.95 | 4.2oz | BestBeautyNet.com

This is perfect timing on Birchboxs part in sending me this sample because Im running out of makeup remover. Needless to say, I was pretty stoked when I saw this because it means that I can delay buying new makeup remover for a little longer.

Im currently using a store brand makeup remover so obviously, it kinda sucks. It gets the job done and thats pretty much it. I tried this Lancome one last night and it took me by surprise. Its strange because it looks just like any other makeup remover but it feels completely different. Its smooth and feels moisturizing even. Despite being oil-based, it doesnt feel oily at all. In fact, it feels like water!

Skin&Co Roma Cleansing Body Gel with Olive & Sicilian Orange Extracts

$17.50 | 8.45floz | Birchbox.com

I havent had the chance to try out this sample yet so check back soon!

The February Birchbox also came with a Twistband Thick Headband in Black and a Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel Square.

All in all, Im quite satisfied with this months Box. Its not the best, but itll suffice.

If you want your very own Birchbox, you can subscribe here!

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January 2013 Birchbox Review

Hello, world.

It is that time of the month again! It is time for a review of my monthly Birchbox, not THAT time of the month.

This is my first Birchbox for the year, and it is disappointing. Come on, Birchbox, you can do better than this! If you remember, I mentioned that if Birchbox disappoints me three times in a row, I will unsubscribe. They received two strikes for the October 2012 and November 2012 boxes, but managed to redeem themselves through the December 2012 box.

I guess this is back to Strike One.

But I will let YOU be the judge.

DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer

$24.99; 1.7floz; EBay.com

This is a serum that fills in pores and wrinkles that also contains peptides and vitamins that provide long-term antiaging benefits.

I love this sample! I use it as a primer for my face makeup and it is awesome! It is true to its word; it does fill in pores and wrinkles, and it gives you a smooth canvas for your foundation to stick.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy

$34.99; 3.4oz; ECrater.com

My sister is obsessed with Juicy Couture fragrances but I dont consider myself a fan. It was nice to have a sample of this to try for myself. Its a lovely fragrance but its not me.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime

$44; 125ml; Buy.com

I use this oil to my toweled-dry hair and it makes it super smooth and manageable. When my hair is wet, it is very difficult to control; it twists and tangles and its just not fun to work with. But with the help of this hair oil, I just run a few pumps through my strands and my hair is immediately smooth and soft and tangle-free!

TheBalm Cosmetics Hot Mama

$20; 7.08g; Birchbox.com

Personally, this blush is too light and subtle for me. Its a shimmery blush so I use it as a highlighter instead and it looks pretty. I was excited to get this in my box because this brand is one of the reasons I subscribed to Birchbox in the first place and Im SO glad they finally threw in a sample for me!

Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique - Protect

$37.99; 150ml; EBay.com

This months Beauty Extra is this leave-in conditioner type thing. It pretty much works like a conditioner but has heat protectant qualities in it. I use it whenever I decide to blowdry my hair, which is a few days now so far because it means I dont have to wake up as early when I have class at 9:30AM.

So, yeah, Im not too thrilled with this months box. It did come with a poster thing of 13 things to do to improve your lifestyle for the new year since thats the theme of the January Birchbox, but it was all redundant information and things that we already know so really not too thrilled.

I have a feeling next months box would have some Valentines theme or whatever so Im looking forward to it.

Thank you for reading!

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December 2012 Birchbox Review

Hello, world.

The December 2012 Birchbox is something that I was really looking forward to. Mine was one of those that were delayed so even before it got here, there were already reviews and videos online of other Birchboxers unboxing and reviewing theirs. After watching the official sneak peek video, I found out that they had a bigger variety of samples this month so we were all getting very personalized boxes.

In the spirit of the holidays, this months Birchbox is wonderfully different. The theme is "All Wrapped Up," and the box itself has designs on it. It was definitely a refreshing change. I guess that might be why this months box is extra varied because they wanted it to be our Christmas gifts.

The first sample is the 29 Preserves Skin Care collection by 29 Cosmetics. I have never heard of 29 Cosmetics, but this collection is super natural. The products are made from grapeseed extract. As the name suggests, this sample is the whole collection with a little bit of each product. It may look little but each sample is enough for your whole face, except the eye emulsion, which I still have left over after two uses.

I am still on the fence about this collection. The cream cleanser doesnt strip your skin, it leaves it soft to the touch, but it isnt anything special. I used the serum extract as a day moisturizer. Its a little too oily for me. The eye emulsion, though, is wondrous. Its thick and it really does soothe your eyes. The night moisture moisturizes but again, nothing special.

Personally, I feel like you can achieve the same results with ordinary skin care products but it does say that this collection contains the antioxidant-rich grapeseed extract so it probably works on a long-term scale. So, I wouldnt write this collection off without trying it for yourself.

If you buy from Birchbox, you can add this sampler to your cart for FREE!

This is the Fibre Lashxtend lengthening mascara by ModelCo. I love this sample! And its not ONLY because its an awesome mascara. This is a FULL-SIZE sample, very rare in Birchboxes so I was happy about that. The tube itself also comes with a mirror so yay for those of you who dont carry around mirrors in your purses.

The mascara itself is wonderful! Im usually not a fan of lengthening mascara. Im more of a volumizing mascara kinda gal. But BUT I love this one because its very consistent in its lengthening. You also only need one coat to see the difference. You can use two coats if you wish but all it does it clump your lashes without adding any more length. I myself usually put on one coat of volumizing, then one coat of lengthening so this product works perfectly for me. I definitely recommend trying this!

The full-size product sells for $24.

Ah, yes. Nicole by Nicole Richie, the fragrance by Nicole Richie. Ive seen this around but have never sampled it. Im usually into these luxurious heavier scents so I was really excited to get to finally sample it.

This is a heavier scent of creamy amber, rose, and a hint of vanilla. I say heavy but I dont mean HEAVY. What I mean is its not one of those lifty happy springtime scents. Its one of those sexy sultry scents that make you think red feather boa and black stilleto heels. Love!

The full-size product (50ml) is on sale at FragranceHut.com for $31.79.

THIS POST IS GETTING LENGTHY BUT PLEASE HANG IN THERE.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love my hair. I play with it a lot so I really need to take good care of it. I have such an excessive amount of shampoo and conditioner and serum and protectant you have no idea. ANYWAY this is a clarifying shampoo by Number 4.

I have an oily scalp so I need to wash my hair every day, once every two days AT MOST. But the thing is that my ends are dry, which makes it harsh on them that I wash so much. Thats why this product is awesome. Its a low-suds formula that cleans buildup without stripping your hair of essential oils. You can also feel the softness of your hair once you wash the suds off. Its wonderful.

The full-size product (250ml) sells for $32.00.

There is one other sample but I havent gotten around to trying it out yet so check back soon, probably within the week.

If you want your very own Birchbox, click here.

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