Blitz Blogging: Birchbox April 2012

After most of the estheticians I work with started raving about being able to sample products every month with no effort of searching around stores or the web, I caved and forked over a $10.00 USD per month subscription to Birchbox. I am not disappointed! I get 5-6 samples of really great products, most of which I adore and usually one of which I could skip...but those are for gifting, yeh!

First off, my pass-product, Wonderstruck Perfum by Taylor Swift. What can I say I am not a fan of hers or her perfum; I hate the smell, so lets just leave it at that. (Find this product here.)

Moving on to the good stuff-- three amazing products from one ecocentric company. Pangea Organics  Egyptian Fennel with Grapefruit and Sweet Orange Lip Balm has blown my mind. I received a full-sized tube in my Birchbox, and full-size to Pangea is over-size, i.e. about twice as much as any other balm/lipstick/gloss will ever be! Now I want to try the other scents/flavors but will probably never finish the tube... dilemma... (Find this product here.)

Pangea Organics Turkish Rose and White Tea Eye Cream for all skin types is very smooth, hydrating, and very little goes a very long way. My tiny little sample pack actually lasted me over a week using it twice daily. Wonder how far a full-size tube will get me...and if you couldn't tell from the name, it smells fantastic! It also never caused even the slightest bit of irritation on my sensitive skin and eyes. (Find this product here.)

Pangea Organics Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Bean and Cranberry Facial Scrub for all skin types is a thick but workable scrub that is lovely and smells very good, but I am not convinced it does more/better than any other scrub I own. That said, for any of you looking for a natural or organic way to polish your visage to a healthy glow, look no further because this is a treat to use. (Find this product here.)

Weleda Pomegranate Firming Day Cream was really the biggest surprise in my Birchbox this month. Since I have problems with oil and blemishes, I had to force myself to start using this even though I thought it might really mess with the tentative balance of my skin this spring. I was wrong--it works great even for my oily skin! After using it all week, my skin feels firmer and more evenly hydrated than before, and I don't seem to be creating as much oil throughout my long work days.  Tip of the hat to Weleda for this diamond in the rough. (Find this product here.)

Benta Berry G-1 Exfoliating Cleanser is again your more natural version of the average scrub, but I do find it a bit more drying than the Pangea formula I tested out. I also like the scent a little less; however, this is a less-expensive option for the natural scrub market and an excellent option for travel as it comes in a 1 oz/30 ml tube. (Find this product here.)

You can sign up to receive your very own Birchbox sent to your door at Birchbox.com!

My Skincare Archive: February 2012

February 29th, 2012:
Morning--
Kirkland Signature by Borghese Purifying Cleanser
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Toning Mist
Kirkland Signature by Borghese Revitalizing Face Serum
Aveda Outer Peace Acne Relief Lotion
Evening--
Kirkland Signature by Borghese Purifying Cleanser
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Toning Mist
Kirkland Signature by Borghese Revitalizing Face Serum
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Lotion

February 28th, 2012:
Morning--
Kirkland Signature by Borghese Purifying Cleanser
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Toning Mist
Kirkland Signature by Borghese Revitalizing Face Serum
Aveda Outer Peace Acne Relief Lotion
Evening--
Kirkland Signature by Borghese Purifying Cleanser
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Toning Mist
Kirkland Signature by Borghese Revitalizing Face Serum
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Lotion

e.l.f. Studio Flawless Finish Foundation SPF 15 in Porcelain

$6.00 USD for 0.8 oz

I'm skeptical about reviewing any of the e.l.f. face products and including my opinion on the color-matching of the product, but when you get the lightest color that the brand has in everything and only one product is as light as (and lighter than) your skin, it's a clue: a clue that I am a hard match to find. The good news is that all of the face products that are name Porcelain go very well together...if they don't match each other exactly. Still Flawless Finish Foundation is a thick, almost cream, liquid foundation in a quality trigger-pump bottle of sturdy, frosted glass.

e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation in Porcelain swatch

NO, this is not the worst foundation I've ever used, but nor is it the best low-cost foundation. So far, I've noticed no direct link between this and any skin problems/acne I've been having--I just don't like how it sits on my skin. It seems that I am unable to find the right balance with this; one pump, the coverage is too sheer and my skin feels like I have nothing, another pump and the coverage is still sheer but it looks and feels as though I've caked on a darker, yellower mask of skin that can't be set or blended out with powder. I just feel like I'm missing something.

e.l.f. Essentials Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 in Ivory

$1.00 USD for 0.42 oz

Since we've just discovered how yellow and fair/light Studio's Porcelain is, I suppose we should visit the other end of the spectrum with Essentials Tinted Moisturizer in Ivory. Usually, when naming two skin colors, Ivory and Porcelain are nearly identical if not synonymous, but I find Ivory to be pretty white. So it is for e.l.f.'s Tint.

Ivory is so pale that I do look a little like I'm wearing ghost makeup even when blended out at the edge of my neck and hairline. If you're a follower you'll know that is pretty freaking hard to accomplish, seeing as I am #1 or even #0.5 on most foundation scales. Aside from not matching my complexion, Ivory is a very neutral-based (not yellow or pink), thicker moisturizer that delivers sheer/light coverage. It is a bit buildable, but be careful that the match is good enough with your skin that it doesn't look weird to have more on!

e.l.f. Essentials Tinted Moisturizer in Ivory, overcast daylight

e.l.f. Studio Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Porcelain

$3.00 USD for 0.88 oz

Now, this is probably the most practical of all the face products I will be reviewing for e.l.f. Week; Studio Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 is a silky, water-based formula with sheer coverage but a pretty strong tint--if it isn't an exact match shade, you'll need to warm it up and really blend it into your skin. Watch also that you leave no edges at your ears and throat!

With all the advertising on the package about the good ingredients, like Aloe, Cucumber, and Vitamins A and E, I can only notice that the smell of this is less synthetic than most tints, but the good news is that it had no detrimental/clogging effect on my skin. Studio Tint in Porcelain (the lightest one) also has a very strong yellow cast which I tried to show in photos, but the camera couldn't quite capture how defined it is when blended evenly.

e.l.f. Studio Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain swatched on back of hand

To be blunt, I do love this product and will absolutely buy more of this when I run out, but that won't be until the summer because this yellower and slightly darker color will match my "tan" skin well. (See, I don't tan, I crisp, like a lobster. However, the SPF 20 will save me that and the yellow will de-ghost me.)

e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer

$6.00 USD for 0.49oz

This is a straight-forward, average primer. It feels pretty run-of-the-mill in my fingers, very silicone and slippery--you wont need a lot to cover your face, and it is easy to overuse. I'm a little disappointed in only getting half an ounce in this. Perhaps I am accustomed to getting a full-sized product for the "e.l.f." price, but to be fair, if a little goes so far, I won't be able to get through a whole ounce that quickly anyway.

e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer

As this is one of e.l.f.'s many Mineral products now, I can see why the price is a bit of a jump for the usual $1-3. I haven't noticed a real difference in the quality of the mineral products, but you are getting the texture of powders and a very smooth primer. However, much like I felt with that first Pixi Primer I tried way back in the day, this one doesn't let my skin breathe during the day, making it hard to tell whether it's the foundation on top or this prep-layer that makes any acne flair up.

E.L.F. WEEK Lineup

Tuesday, February 21st:

Mineral Face Primer

Essentials Tinted Moisturizer

Studio Tinted Moisturizer

Flawless Finish Foundation

Wednesday, February 22nd:

Personal Blend Foundation

Essentials Clarifying Powder

Studio Pressed Powder

Studio Translucent Mattifying Powder

Thursday, February 23rd:

Essentials Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder

Studio Brow Kit

Moisturizing Lip Liner in:

Mauve and Natural Blush

Friday, February 24th:

Essentials Eye Quads in:

Drama, Luxe, Matte Mauve, and Blue Moon

Saturday, February 25th:

Super Glossy Lip Shines in:

Candlelight, Pink Kiss, and Goddess

Hypershine Gloss Trio

Sunday, February 26th:

Studio 11-piece Brush Set

Mineral Blemish Kit

Zit Zapper

Cuticle Pen