I know it’s June, but my Birchbox package didn’t come until Monday, so I had to wait to share my unboxing. I also got an Ipsy bag in May, so I thought I would share it in the same posts to compare them. Ipsy is another monthly beauty subscription service. Like Birchbox, it costs $14.95 a month (including shipping) and includes 4-5 deluxe samples of beauty products. With Ipsy you also get a cute makeup bag to keep all your goodies in, which is fun.
Let’s start with Ipsy, since I’m new to it. I was really excited to get it this month (I was on the waitlist for while) because they partnered with Breakups to Makeup for the bag. They have the best bags (I’ve been eyeing this one for a while).
bellápierre, Waterproof Mineral Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Ebony. I’m not really a eyeliner girl, but I do like getting them in my subscription boxes because it gives me the chance to try a bunch out. From what I can tell, this one is pretty creamy, smudges nicely if you work quickly (I love a good smudging liner because it means I don’t have to be perfect) but also stays put if you let it sit for a few minutes. It comes off really easily with a good cleansing oil. This is a full size liner and retails for $14.99 USD.
Luxie Beauty, Rose Gold Tapered Blending Eye Brush (205). I don’t think you can ever have too many blending eye brushes. This one has synthetic bristles and is super soft! I also love the rose gold ferrule and the pink handle. This brush retails for $12 (US) on Luxie’s website, so this month’s bag is already worth it! (PS. You can get 30% off brushes at Luxie with the code ipsy30 until June 30th).
Briogeo, Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-in-Conditioning Spray. I’m nearly finished my Bumble and bumble primer, so I’m interested to see how this compares. It has a blend of rosehip, argan and coconut oil and smells delightful. The full size retails for $25.
Amie, Morning Dew Matte-Finish Moisturizer. I’m usually not a fan of matte-finishes when it comes to the face, but with this just being a moisturizer, I don’t think it would be a problem as I could always add the luminizing primer if need be. It smells pretty good, and makes my skin feel soft (I just tested it on my hand). It claims to control oiliness and shine, hydrate and soften (so far 1 out of 4). The full size retails for $8 (US).
Urban Decay, 24/7 Glide on Lip Pencil in Ozone (+BONUS samples of Revolution High-Color Lip Gloss). This lip pencil is clear, and meant to be used under any colour in order to keep it from feathering. I usually don’t have many issues with feathering, but I’ll still give it a try. The full size retails for $24. The samples of the new Revolution High-Color Lip Gloss come in Bittersweet and Failbait. Bittersweet is definitely not my kind of colour (think Barney, but more purple) and Failbait, a neutral pink looks like it might have too much brown in it for my taste, but I’ll still try it. The lip glosses retail for $26.
Now time for Birchbox. This month was a collaboration with Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere. I love Emily’s blog and her books, so I was really excited about this.
Number 4, Non-Aerosol Hairspray. This hairspray claims to give flexible hold and nourish strands. I tried it out with a few quick sprits in my hair to tame some flyaways, and it seems to be doing it’s job. I like that it doesn’t make my hair crunchy, but still seems to hold well. I’m interested to see if it really does “nourish” my hair. The full size retails for $34.
BeeKind, Body Lotion. I received the shower gel in April’s box, so I was excited to see this one. It smells so, so good, like lemons and goodness (it has a lemon verbena scent — one of my very favourites). The full size retails for $19.
Whish, Shave Crave Shaving Cream. I love shaving creams and definitely prefer them over shave gels. The scent of this one is pomegranate and it smells delightful! The full size retails for $22. I’ll be interested to see how this compares to my favourite EOS shave cream, which is also Pomegranate (and raspberry) scented.
Mirenesse, Glossy Kiss in Perfect Kiss. This lip crayon which is supposed to give a “bold, long-lasting colour with a smooth and shiny finish”. When I first applied it, I found it to be a bit too shimmery and frosted for my liking, but then I dabbed it in a bit and liked the finish more. The full size retails for $22.
Benefit Cosmetics, It’s Potent! Eye Cream. This hydrating eye cream is great for adding needed moisture to my under-eye area, and promises to brighten it too. I’m looking forward to trying this one out. Also, the little jar is so cute.
I’m not sure which I liked better this month… probably Ipsy, if I’m being honest. You can try Ipsy here, or Birchbox here.
Which would you pick? Do you like the format of putting both boxes in one post, or would you prefer them to be separate?
