birchbox // march 2016 unboxing

If you subscribe to Birchbox like I do, then you know there's nothing better than when you receive yours in the mail! It's almost like getting a Christmas present every month, and definitely the perfect way to treat yo self. This month, Birchbox's theme was "Ladies First" to celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month. And how cute was this month's box design?!
From just the looks of it, I'm pretty happy with my box this month -- this just might be one of my favorite boxes I've ever gotten.. but then again, I've found myself saying that a lot about my Birchboxes lately. Here's a lowdown on every product I received:

smashbox photo finish primer oil // the sample size is good enough, and although I'm a little hesitant to use this every day as I already have oily skin, I was still excited to try it because I love Smashbox products. After applying some to my forehead, it really felt nice on my skin and underneath my makeup.

theBalm cosmetics stainiac lip stain // this was probably the sample I was least excited about, just because I don't often wear a red lip and I'm not crazy about lip stains. however, the color is rich and it applies easily -- I'll use this on occasion, and it's perfect to slip into your purse for a night of going out.

wilma schumann collagen eye pads // I was really thrilled to try these out at first, because lately I've been all about protecting my skin and doing everything I can to keep it healthy. While these eye pads did feel really nice beneath my eyes, I don't like the idea of putting a product on that delicate skin that contains parabens! That part kind of rules out the good ingredients in this product.

number 4 l'eau de mare hydrating conditioner and shampoo // I have to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of shampoo -- and I especially try to stay away from drugstore shampoos that contain sulfates. luckily, neither of these Number 4 shampoo and conditioner samples contain that pesky ingredient! I'm excited to try these out and see if I like the texture that they give my hair.

living proof perfect hair day fresh cut // I'm a huge fan of Living Proof products, and I already own one of their hair serums -- so I'm really pumped to try out this split end mender! Having long hair at the moment, I get lots of split ends, so hopefully this will help out a bit with those.

Overall, I'd rate this month's Birchbox an 8 out of 10! If anyone reading this wants to try out Birchbox for themselves, click on my special members link to join Birchbox and you'll get a free eyeshadow stick with the code "EYEKOGIFT".

Click here to join Birchbox!

Until next time, xtina

beauty // my current obsessions

I like to try a lot of different makeup products and brands.. and when I say a lot, I really mean a lot! I'm always testing out new products that I've heard about. Lately, I've tried a few great ones and become pretty obsessed with some of them! Here are my current top 5 products that I've recently added to my collection and exactly why I love each of them so much.

1) josie maran whipped argan oil in creamy vanilla // this stuff is like liquid gold.. for your skin (and I'm not kidding)! The first time I tried this, I absolutely fell in love. Not only does it smell divine, but it's free of harsh chemicals that can harm your skin. A lot of people don't know that many skin-care products, including body lotion, can contain ingredients such as parabens or butylene glycol that are actually very harmful to put on your body. Luckily, Josie Maran is committed to keeping her ingredients all-natural, which is a great plus! This whipped argan oil is a must-have for your skin, especially in the dry winter months. the benefits of Argan Oil also prevent wrinkles and keep skin moisturized and firm, which I especially love for areas like my neck and collarbone area/chest. I'm so in love with it that I use it nearly every day!

2) juice beauty concealer // I never used to care about the ingredients in makeup products, or rather, I never used to notice them. but as I mentioned above, the fact is that there are a lot of ingredients in drug-store makeup brands and even more "sophisticated" brands that are very bad for your skin. however, you can be guilt-free with this Juice Beauty concealer, because it's also composed of entirely natural ingredients! the entire Juice Beauty brand is committed to all-natural products. I love to use this concealer on the dark circles beneath my eyes, because the skin there is very delicate and I don't like putting makeup there that contains harsh chemicals that could cause pre-mature aging.

3) jouer anti-blemish matte primer // wow, this primer is the bomb! This was the first product I'd ever tried from Jouer, and I have to say that I'll be purchasing more. With skin-loving ingredients like aloe, Vitamin E, Ginseng and Gingko Biloba extract (apparently this ingredient protects your skin from free radicals, and I've definitely noticed it giving my skin a pretty glow), this matte primer doesn't only prevent blemishes -- it's also a great treat for your skin and keeps your foundation on all day.

4) arrow beauty ph adjusting chapstick // I got this as a sample in last month's Birchbox, and I immediately fell in love! Who knew that a chapstick exists that changes color on your lips according to your personal pH balance?! it's pretty amazing, I must say. according to the makeup brand, this stuff changes to the most flattering color for you -- mine turns out to be a pretty pink shade. It moisturizes and gives you a pretty color at the same time, and I can't get enough of it.

5) smashbox contour palette // for the longest time I wanted to try contouring but never knew where to begin -- luckily, this contour palette from Smashbox makes it super easy! the palette comes with a guide for your personal face shape and where exactly you need to contour to look your best, and it even includes a handy contour brush. I usually sweep the first shade down the sides of my nose, sides of my forehead, and in the hallows of my cheek; then I sweep on some bronzer on my cheeks and down to my neck a bit. finally, I highlight with the final light shade on my chin, down the center of my nose, beneath my eyes, and on the middle of my forehead. Voilà, contour made easy!