Birchbox

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Last-Minute Beauty Gift Guide

So Christmas is just a few short days away and you still haven’t finished shopping. Fear not! If you’re wondering what to get the beauty-obsessed on your list, I’m here to help!

If you’re looking to wow your most high-maintenance loved one, why not give the gift of great hair? Drybar’s Peace on Earth Good Hair to All! gift set is sure to make her year.

Great for beauty enthusiasts of all ages, Ciate Pick & Mix lets you create your own 3-piece nail polish set. Ciate is my favorite high-end nail color brand. I recommend adding one of the fun sparkly shades to your set to make it extra festive.

For the natural beauty on your list, you can’t go wrong with the Caudalie Winter Duo. She’ll stay soft and smooth all winter long in a natural, French-girl sort of way. Editors Note: this gift is actually on the top of my list, but it seems to be sold out online, so if you find it somewhere, let me know!

Of course, if you don’t have time to shop and/or need your gift to get there fast, you can’t go wrong with a Birchbox gift subscription or a gift card to Sephora or Ulta!

What beauty gift are you hoping Santa brings you this year?

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Birchbox Best: LAQA & Co. Cheeky Lip

LAQA & Co. Cheeky Lip in Humble BragI have a confession to make. I drink a lot of coffee. Like, a lot. For several hours each morning – and sometimes in the afternoon – you’ll find me clutching an oversized coffee mug, drinking my fill of liquid motivation. Eventually I’ll remember that I need to actually hydrate myself, at which point I’ll trade in the mug for a water bottle and go about my day. The problem is, with all that sipping going on it can be nearly impossible to find a lip color that lasts. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I found one that stayed with me through my morning commute, let alone until lunchtime. Enter the highlight of my last Birchbox, LAQA & Co. Cheeky Lip in Humble Brag. I was thrilled to discover that this pretty pink crayon lasts and lasts. As in, it doesn’t rub off on my cup/straw/husband and is still going strong hours after application. For a girl who loves lipstick but hates having to reapply, this is definitely my kind of product.

Humble Brag is part of the Charm School Kit, a set of three creamy lip and cheek crayons. It’s described as a blush pink, but I think it’s more of a muted fuchsia. The kit also features Cray-Cray, a coral peach, and Mixtape, a classic red. While I can’t speak for those two shades, I can vouch for Humble Brag; it glides on effortlessly, has a matte finish, and doesn’t dry out my lips the way some other long-lasting lip products tend to do. As a lip color it’s bright enough to make a fun statement without being over the top; it works at the office or out on the town. As a cheek color, it’s even more wearable – once the color is diffused over your cheekbones, it transforms from a bright streak of pink to a sheer, natural flush. Just make sure to blend the color quickly after application.

Tip: I love the matte lip look, but I find that it can really draw attention to fine lines or flakes. I recommend using a somewhat waxy lip balm (such as Chapstick or Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Lip Balm) as a base to help fill in lines, moisturize your lips and ensure a more even application.

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Birchbox Best: Key West Aloe Save A Tan After Sun Moisturizer

  My July Birchbox was full of fun stuff, but the only product that really knocked my socks off was this mini bottle of Key West Aloe Save A Tan After Sun Moisturizer. With 80% pure aloe, it’s extremely hydrating and soothing. It left my sun kissed skin soft and healthy. My favorite part? It has a rich coconut scent that smells like a tropical vacation. If you’re spending any time soaking up sun this summer, you’ll want to add this to your stash. 

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Birchbox Best: Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen

Supergoop Everyday SunscreenI’m just going to say it. The name “Supergoop” does nothing for me. In fact, in the past I’ve been so put off by the name that I simply did not want to try the sunscreen. That all changed last weekend. Having been quite literally burned by an ineffective sunscreen earlier this summer, I turned to this little tube in hopes of making it through the holiday weekend without being scorched by the sun. I slathered it on and headed out for a weekend of sunning and swimming.

First things first: it felt good. It absorbed quickly, wasn’t greasy and left my skin feeling nice and smooth. It also had a mild, citrusy scent that I liked a lot. Other than those two initial observations, I didn’t think about this product at all until I realized, after two sunny days spent largely outside, that I didn’t have the faintest hint of a sunburn and my skin looked and felt great. It’s a fantastic sunscreen, and I only wish there was more in my sample – this stuff is expensive!
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo
Runner Up: Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo. I’m a real tough customer when it comes to dry shampoos, but I was instantly impressed by this one. I really love the scent, which is feminine and clean, and it’s super easy to use. You simply spray at your roots and then massage it in; within seconds it adds volume and removes oil, leaving clean, weightless hair. My one complaint is that these results only last a couple of hours – you’ll want to bring it with you for touchups!

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Birchbox Best: Benefit Lollibalm

Benefit LollibalmBenefit’s Lollibalm has been at the very top of my must-try list for quite some time, so I was absolutely delighted to find a mini tube of this hydrating balm in my May Birchbox. I was even more delighted when I put it on; its smooth, creamy texture feels heavenly, and the sheer pink-purple shade is incredibly pretty and flattering. The balm is long lasting and moisturizing. Another plus: the cap stays put, so I can just throw it in my bag without worrying about lip balm smears getting all over everything in my purse (a lip balm pet peeve of mine). In short, Lollibalm did not disappoint and was definitely my top pick from this month’s box.

Runner Up: I’m rather surprised to report that my second favorite product in the May Birchbox was Parlor by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray.Parlor by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray My past experiences with texturizing sprays like this one have always been wildly disappointing; my dreams of easy, pretty, surfer-girl waves have always been dashed by the reality of limp, crunchy hair that looks like it hasn’t been washed. I was so sure that this product wouldn’t work that I almost didn’t even try it. Then last week, running late one morning, I decided that I’d save myself a few minutes of hair drying time and give this spray I try. I combed out my hair, spritzed it all over with the salt spray, then used my fingers to scrunch it up and ran out the door.

Much to my surprise, by the time I arrived at work 30 minutes later, my hair had fallen into spiraled, beachy waves. While I think I look best with straighter hair, I was definitely impressed with this product. My one complaint, which is my complaint with all hair products that come in a spray, is that it’s difficult to distribute the product evenly throughout your hair. One side of my head had much more defined waves than the other, and I have no idea if that side had more or less product. Other than that, I’d say this salt spray is a definite winner in the battle of beachy hair products.

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April 2015 Empties

Things have been very busy and exciting here at For the Love of Gloss with lots of new products to test – stay tuned for reviews and recommendations in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, lots of new stuff means I didn’t use up much of the old. Here’s what I did finish off this month:
April 2015 Empties
Listerine Healthy White Sodium Fluoride Anti-Cavity Mouthrinse: I was drawn to this mouthwash for two reasons. First, it’s a gentle version of Listerine, which has always worked well but is quite painful to use. Second, it’s a whitening rinse. While I did find it to be a decent mouthwash, leaving my breath fresh and my mouth clean without the traditional burn of Listerine, I can’t say that I noticed much in terms of whitening.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Original Formula: These peels make regular appearances in my empties posts, because they work well and I use them often. Read more here.

Bath & Body Works Be Enchanted Shower Gel: I’m not sure if they still make this scent; I found this bottle of body wash stuffed in the back of my soaps and shower gels bin, which is nearly empty – hooray! As with all Bath & Body Works shower gels, I found it to be quite perfume-y at first but the scent quickly faded after rinsing. These gels clean well. I don’t find them to be overly drying or all that moisturizing. A pretty average but effective body wash.

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid: I wrote about this a few weeks back and am still loving it. I received this bottle in a past Birchbox and have since purchased a full sized replacement bottle. Now that the weather has let up a bit and my skin is not quite so crazy, I’m finding that using this every 2 or 3 days is enough to keep things in check. One of my top product picks of the year so far!

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Birchbox Best: Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye LotionThis month Birchbox partnered with the incredibly stylish and addictive show Mad Men to create a special box inspired by the memorable and covetable looks of the show. While this was a five star box overall, there was one product that stood out to me as the most impressive: Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion. This cooling liquid, made from a variety of skin soothing botanicals, is my new morning best friend. Whenever I wake up with tired, puffy eyes – and don’t have time for my usual morning walk – I simply pour a little of this on a cotton pad, hold it over each eye for approximately 5 seconds, and then go about my normal beauty routine. The cooling sensation of the lotion starts soothing instantly, and within 20 minutes my eyes are completely de-puffed. It hasn’t bothered my sensitive eyes at all. If you’re prone to puffy eyes, this product is a must-have.

Runner Up: The entire rest of the box! Here’s a quick look at all the other great finds this month:
Mad Men Birchbox
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel: I’ve never used brow gel, so I was excited to try this one. It kept my brows in place all day without any sticky or flaky residue, and added a little extra polish to my day. A word of caution: brow gel highlights your brows, and that includes any errant hairs. You’ll want to make sure you’re brows are well-groomed before you swipe this on!

Beauty Protector Protect & Oil: This hair oil protects against UV rays and heat styling. It also made my hair silky smooth and frizz free. My new favorite hair product!

Cargo Swimmables Water Resistant Blush in Los Cabos: This pretty peachy blush is universally flattering. The powder goes on streak-free, and can be layered for more or less pigment. Once on, it won’t budge until you wash it off – mine lasted all day, through rain and workouts.

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream in Blueberry: This unique shave cream makes for a lovely shaving experience. It doesn’t foam up like traditional shave gels, which means it won’t clog up your razor and makes shaving quick and easy. It also does an exceptional job of moisturizing skin – no itchy razor burn here!

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Birchbox Best: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid

The secret to lovely winter skin.

The secret to lovely winter skin.

As you may remember, I received a Birchbox this month for the first time in over a year. To celebrate the return of the beauty subscription, I’ve decided to give a monthly shout out to the best new find (or finds). This month I had a really great selection of items, but there was one real standout product: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid. This mild exfoliant says it’s good for all skin types, and as someone with sensitive skin, I’m typically weary of that. However, after reading copious reviews on the Birchbox website, I was convinced that it was gentle enough to give it a try. I’m so glad I did!

The product claims to even skin tone, reduce redness, build collagen and unclog pores. It can be used once or twice a day, after cleansing and before moisturizing. I simply pour some on a cotton pad and swipe it on during my nightly cleansing routine. I have to say, I am blown away by this product! It didn’t aggravate my skin at all – in fact, while my skin was in the height of winter craziness, this product calmed it down! After one day my skin looked less blotchy and had fewer dry patches. After my second use, the flaky patches were completely gone and my skin felt super smooth. On day three my skin looked more even and felt better than it had in months. There’s no going back for me; this little skin saver is going into my arsenal forever!
The Balm Read My Lips Lip Gloss in BAM!
Runner Up: There was another new product definitely worth mentioning in my February Birchbox – The Balm Read My Lips Lip Gloss in BAM! This a creamy, shiny gloss with sort of a liquid lipstick type of feel to it. It’s super long lasting and this shade, a rosy pink, is very pretty and feminine. I’m loving it as a weekday lip gloss – perfect for the office!

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All I Want For Christmas…

???????????????????????????????Since I’ve just spent the better part of my day wrapping presents and decorating our Christmas tree with my husband, I’m pretty much full-on in the holiday spirit. And now that we are less than three weeks out from the big holiday, I thought I’d share my holiday wish list as a sort of holiday gift guide for all the beauty fiends on your list. A word of caution – you’ll probably want to pick a few of these items up for yourself, as well!

1. Birchbox Subscription: This is the number one beauty gift on my list because, as a former Birchbox subscriber, I know how much I loved it! In case you have not yet heard of (or subscribed to) Birchbox, this beauty subscription service delivers a box of personalized deluxe beauty samples to your house for $10 per month. Sometimes the samples are a small – think a packet or two of shampoo – but more often than not there’s a full sized nail polish or lipstick in your collection, and I’ve found many new favorites through this service. 3, 6 and 12 month gift subscriptions are available.

2. Fresh Sugar Ruby Romance Gift Set: This is the perfect gift for the gloss and balm lover in your life. Fresh Sugar lip balms are the best of the best, and I’m loving the ruby red shade for winter. Also, I’m dying to try that gloss.

3. Bliss Triple Oxygen Facial in a Box: Who doesn’t love a good spa day? The idea of being able to give yourself a Bliss Spa-quality facial in the comfort of your own bathroom is so tempting, and with a $12 price tag, how can you pass it up?

4. Osmia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair: For all the green beauties on your list, what could be better than the gift of all-natural lip balm in beautiful packaging? I love Osmia Organics products, and if this jar of balm is as effective as their Best Lip Balm, I need it in my life.

5. Osmia Organics Lavender Shea Soap: I really love a good, smooth bar of soap, and lavender is my favorite scent. Plus, Osmia soaps are so beautiful, you basically don’t even need to wrap them.

6. The Ciate Daily: A set of seven killer nail polishes in an adorable newspaper-inspired makeup bag? You bet this makes my list!

7. Victoria’s Secret VS Stripe Train Case: I really love train cases for stashing makeup, and I’ve always been a sucker for the pink and white stripes. Why not get the girlie girl on you list one of these? Better yet, why not fill it with the other goodies on this list and really make her Christmas?

What are you hoping to find under the tree this year?

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Fall Polish Picks from RUFFIAN

RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund

RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund

Aside from the occasional classic red or hot pink manicure, I tend to keep my fingernails pretty tame. I have a whole shelf dedicated to clear or almost-clear nail strengtheners that do little more than add shine and perhaps the faintest pink or white tint to my nails. But in the fall I always seem to find a darker, more dramatic manicure appropriate. With that in mind, let me tell you about my new favorite nail polish brand – RUFFIAN.

I received this cool shimmery dark green polish – RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund – in a Birchbox last year. I was intrigued but intimidated. That is, until I swiped the impossibly easy to apply polish on my nails and realized how much I love it. The color is super saturated, so one coat completely covers each nail, and the oddly shaped cap actually makes the brush incredibly easy to hold and maneuver. It dried quickly and I really cannot get enough of this color.

RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer in Endless Love

RUFFIAN Nail Lacquer in Endless Love


Looking for something similar with less of a camo-flavor? Might I suggest Endless Love, a beautiful shimmery purple in the RUFFIAN collection. I’m pretty sure it’s the loveliest nail color I’ve ever seen, which is why it is at the very top of my must-buy list.

What shades are you loving this season?