Blitz Blogging: Birchbox June 2012

tili Zippered Storage Bags are wonderfully colorful, travel-friendly plastic bags, perfect for vacation! Just in time for mine, I've also been starting to keep my sample-sizes safe for misplacement in my hectic house. I'm glad to have this one, but I don't/can't travel enough to justify six or a dozen specialty bags. If I had that many, I would probably make little packets of cosmetics that go together for particular looks, which sounds like a great idea for my regular ziplocks anyway...

Stila One-Step Bronze Illuminating Serum is yet another product from Stila that has intrigued me, gotten my hopes up, and then disappointed me in the end. Somewhat like the Dr. Jart BB cream from the previous box,  this product is not good for long-term use on my skin. In few days in to incorporating this serum in my morning routine, my cheeks were breaking out like crazy and I got several superficial pimples around my mouth and nose (very painful to extract). When I put this on after toner, it doesn't spread very well at first, so please be vigorous in working the bronzer into skin. One pump at a time, mind you, or the streaking will catch the light!

Masqueology Pore-Minimizing Mask is fun for a once-off try, but I don't think this mask can reduce your pore size if it (or you) can't get out those stubborn blackhead that are "widening" that bit of facial territory. Alas, I felt de-stressed and the treatment mask smells wonderful, but no effects were felt or seen. :( Definitely kept it in the tili bag until there was no product left for my skin to absorb--I got several uses out of each mask.

the Balm Stainiac in Beauty Queen is fabulous. That was pretty much my whole thought process for this product, only I wish I had a sample of the light color Prom Queen instead because I'd most likely use that everyday. Totally non-sticky formula; great, even pigment; fast drying: perfect!

Comodynes Intensive Self-Tanning Towelettes are not for pale people--SUPER SCARY STREAKY is what the result of me following the directions and the how-to-use video that was on birchbox.com. I put on a smoothing lotion after exfoliating my legs and still couldn't use this towel easily for more than the bottom half of just one leg. The orange-striped creamsicle leg look better be in right now. Maybe if you are tan these wipes will maintain it better, but I ain't buying it.

You can find these products at Birchbox.com.

Blitz Blogging: May 2012 Birchbox

By sheer way of not having a tele, I don't have any prior knowledge of Gossip Girl and the themes of the show; the jist I've found to be high-fashion, rich, and gossip, so I probably wouldn't really watch it anyway. However, the themes of the show did provide some gem products in the month's Birchbox.

Dr. Jart Waterfuse Beauty Balm SPF 25++ is a silky, creamy moisturizer, primer, tint, and serum all in one. To be honest, long-term use of this product is out of the question for me, but I love the idea and the coverage. From what I hear it is one of the original Korean brands to come out with a BB cream, so I'm not surprised that it's the best I've seen (and felt) so far. With daily use my oily/combo skin starts to get a little moody with breakouts--partly because summer is so humid and hot, all the product and my natural oil is getting stuck on the surface of my skin all day. I will probably try this again in winter when I need a little heavier protection and moisture during the day.

Twistband Skinny Headband is a super stretchy band that I can use as a doubled over ponytail holder as well. I'm not super fond of the bright pink color I got, but I use this all the time and it doesn't leave a huge crease when you remove it. Generally I like them, but I have a ton of headbands already. I'm going to test mine out in the pool, and if it can stay on so I'm not blinded during swimming, I will probably change over to nothing but these!

Color Club Foil Collection is the second Color Club polish I've received in my Birchbox since starting in March. It's a very metallic gold that goes on a little thick but lasts well through hard work. This polish really needs a good time to dry, but once it sets, it's on for the long haul. Metallic gold is not my color or style but I'm not complaining about someone putting me on trend. Did you see the Essie metallics that came out? Cute!

Beauty Blender blendercleanser reminds me every time I see it to wash my brushes that I've been hiding in a drawer, so cleanliness is the virtue that this liquids been pushing on me since its arrival at my door. I don't own a Beauty Blender sponge but do need reminding to keep all my home stuff nice and sanitary to use on my sensitive face.Thanks for the reminder!