Upcoming Absence

I will be traveling for the next several weeks, until at least mid-July, with high amounts of busyness and low amounts of internet access. Therefore, not only will I be posting infrequently (if at all), I will also be slow to respond to comments and emails. Please don’t let that deter you from commenting, though! I promise to respond to everything when I get back (or sooner).

June Favorites

I’ll be losing a consistent internet connection for the next few weeks, so I’ve decided to post this up a little before the end of the month. June has been full of hot, sunny days and travel. Therefore, this month’s favorite products are mostly suncare and travel-suitable makeup…with a bit of fun thrown in!

May Favorites

May was an incredibly busy month. I studied like crazy for and passed my final exams, I successfully conquered a professional exam, I graduated with my undergraduate degree, I came home for the first time in months, and I spent two weeks with a horrid cold.

July Birchbox Sample Choice Comparison

For those of you not familiar with sample choice, it’s a program that began last August where Birchbox subscribers have the option to select a sample to be included in next month’s box. Each month 3-4 samples are revealed and the sample you pick will replace one of your traditional 5 samples. This month, Birchbox subscribers have the chance to choose from 5 samples, or select a box curated by a guest editor. This is a comparison of those options based on research I’ve done using other blogs and my own calculations. This month I’ve taken all of my images as screenshots from the official Birchbox video.

First, the sample options. This month’s theme is “Go Bold”.

This month’s sample choice is the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in one of three colors: Bella, a bright pink, Venezia, a bright coral, and Beso, a bold red.

I’m a little bummed that, once again, the sample choices are all pretty much the same. One product, three colors. If you don’t make a sample choice, it seems like you will still get the Stila Lipstick, just in a random color. Bella and Venezia are new releases as part of the Sun, Sea & Splash Summer 2015 Collection, while Beso has been around for a while.

Target Haul ~ Replenishing my supply

Yesterday I went into Target to grab some milk (because I drink milk like crazy — literally 1-2 gallons a week), and I couldn’t help but stop by the beauty section to see what they had in stock… Most of the items I ended up with are things I needed anyway, but I did sneak one luxury item into my cart.

Pantene Nature Fusion with Avocado Oil Smoothing Conditioner | $3.84
I’m almost out of Pantene conditioner, so of course I needed to replenish my supply!

e.l.f. Clear Brow & Lash Mascara | $2.00
This is a product that I first purchased last summer. It’s perfect for days when you want lash definition but don’t want to deal with mascara (yes, I still struggle with mascara application…). It’s been in my online e.l.f. shopping cart for ages, but I’ve been waiting around for a reduced shipping event. When I saw it in person, I of course had to grab it.

Secret Scent Expressions Deodorant in Ooh-La-La Lavender  | $0.97
I’ll be traveling a lot this summer, so I needed a miniature deodorant to travel with me.

Carefree Pantiliners | $3.29
Another tried-and-true item that I needed to replenish.

Sinful Colors Nail Polish in Supernova | $1.99
This was my impulse buy. It’s a lovely rose gold color in the bottle — champagne with silver flecks. But I found the application to be pretty awful. I’m going to have to try to use it again to see if practice and a more careful hand helps at all.

So, there’s a glimpse inside my shopping cart! What are some everyday beauty items that you pick up at the store?

Empties #2: Skin + Hair Edition

Welcome to my second empties post! In case you’re new to the beauty blogging world, an empties post is where I gather up all of the products I’ve used up (“emptied”) in the past several months and write my final thoughts about them. This post is entirely skincare or haircare products, because that’s what I use the most of. These are the products that I finished off in the last few weeks of school. And so…

Currently In My Birchbox Cart…

In 12 months of being subscribed to Birchbox, I’ve received a lot of products. Most of them have been products I’ve appreciated trying samples of, but that haven’t found their way into my daily routine. Some of them have barely left the box they arrived in because of how little they excite me. The products on this list are the third category… the products that I mete out carefully to extend their lifespan, and that stay on my mind after the sample is used up.

Products I Really Loved, and Will Buy ASAP:

Harvey Prince | Hello | $26 for rollerball (8.8 mL)

I received this in my very first Birchbox almost exactly a year ago, and it’s been on my to-buy list ever since. Now that summer’s here again, this cheery scent has hit my to-buy-asap list.

Paula’s Choice | RESIST Moisture Renewal Oil Booster | $35

Ever since I first received this and put it on my face, I’ve been in love. This is such a great additive to any moisturizer and it makes my face glow. I’ve known I needed to get a full size since the very first use. While there are other products on this list that I’m hesitant to spend $35 on, this isn’t one of them because it’s something that lasts a lot longer than BB cream since you only need 1-2 drops per use.

Coola | Face SPF 30 Unscented Matte Tint | $36

That said, this is a $36 BB cream that I’m willing to take a chance on because I think it’s really unique. I love the mousse-like texture, its mattifying properties, and that it contains SPF. Another perfect product for the upcoming summer.

June Birchbox Sneak Peek

I completely forgot to update my shipping address in my Birchbox account, and so my box is delayed because it needed to be forwarded from my former address. Since mine is late, I couldn’t help but peek inside…

Sephora Favorites Sun Safety Kit 2015 Preview

I received the Sephora Favorites Sun Safety Kit in the post last week, and I wanted to share my initial thoughts on it just in case there’s anyone out there who’s still on the fence about whether to get one. They’re currently sold out online, although they might come back into stock, and some physical stores still have them.

The products come in a very large bag; much larger than necessary. I guess it’s nice that the bag is so large, but unfortunately I don’t need any bags this size. It’s too large to carry cosmetics around in, but too small to use as a beach bag.

Nura Rosehip Oil Review

Disclaimer: I received this product for free as part of a promotion on Tomoson.com. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The product I’m reviewing today is the Nura Natural 100% Cold Pressed Rosehip Seed Oil, sold by Nura Natural Skincare via Amazon.com. I received a promotional code to order a free bottle, and used my Amazon Prime account to receive free 2-day shipping.