First Impression: Beauty Box 5 | May 2014

This year I've decided to expand my blog to include more of my many passions. My love for beauty, makeup, and skincare has been a longtime affair, but I thought it would be fun to start sharing my new adventures here with you all. 

The month of May was my first experience with beauty box subscription services, and I have to say that I am hooked! It's such a fun way to discover new products that I wouldn't typically purchase on my own, get great discounts on the products I try and love, and an awesome way to build your makeup collection.

Beauty Box 5 is a $12- subscription service, but I received my very first box FREE of charge. Each month you get 5 deluxe/full-size samples delivered right to your door. The value of your products usually exceeds the monthly cost of each box. So if this type of service is something you want to try, it's definitely worth it in my opinion! 

You'll find something special at the end of this post...

I was pleasantly surprised at the products I received this month. From what I've seen across different social media sites, most beauty box services mainly send either skincare or makeup. My Beauty Box 5 had a variety of different products ranging from hair care, skincare, and makeup. Everything you would expect from a beauty subscription service!

Here is what my box included:

Coolway Shampoo & Conditioner

$19.99 each for 8.6oz / Sample: $2.32 each for 1oz.

Although shampoo and conditioner isn't my favorite thing to get in a beauty box, I'm happy to give this set a try. I would've been bummed if I got just the shampoo or just the conditioner, so it is really nice to have both [even though this set counts as 2 of my 5 products]. And the 1 oz. sample size is a good amount to really give it a good test run.

LA Fresh Wipes

$19.99 for 48ct / Sample: 3@ $.42 each

This is one of those products that I wouldn't typically buy on my own. But I do have to say they are pretty handy to have! If you're a busy mom like me, there have been times that you forgot to put on deodorant. Yikes! These little wipe packets easily fit in your purse. Or stash some in your gym bag!

Shea Terra Organics Rose Hips Black Soap

$18- for 4oz / Sample: $4.50 for 1oz.

I love anything organic, especially when it comes to skincare! So this bottle of 100% natural facial cleanser is definitely something that I would purchase if I was out shopping. Micro-dermabrasion in a bottle... Yes, please! I haven't had the chance to try it yet, but I will be sure to update this post with a review when I do.

Nicka K Lipstick in Concerto

$4.99 for .12oz - Full Size Sample

Lippies are one of my favorite makeup products, so I was extremely happy to get this in my Beauty Box 5. I've never tried the Nicka K brand before and I'm glad to have it in my collection. The formula is nice and this color looks great on my olive/tan skin tone.

Total Value of May's Box: $15.39

$12- Monthly Subscription Box

Overall, Beauty Box 5 is a really good beauty box subscription service. They ship boxes out on the 8th of every month, and I got mine super fast! Their customer service department is really friendly and they answer your questions in a timely manner. Although it's great, I've been wanting to try out other beauty boxes without breaking the bank. I'm not completely sure if this one will stay on my list. 

I also got my June BB5 box already! I'll be sure to post it this week...

If you're interested in subscribing to Beauty Box 5, please sign up using my link.

SPECIAL COUPON CODE

Enter FREE614 at checkout to:

- get a free introduction box

- or save $12 off a quarterly subscription

- or save $12 off a yearly subscription

*Code expires 6/30/14.

Have you checked out my First Impression: Ipsy? Feel free to browse the other Beauty posts on my blog. You can also stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my fan page on Facebook.

Are you BB5 subscriber? How do you like it? Hooked on beauty boxes? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? I'd love to hear it! Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Thanks for stopping by!

Simple. Summer. Beauty.

Do you switch up your makeup when the warmer weather comes? I like to go light and natural! For my everyday look, I just moisturize and skip the face makeup [like foundation and concealer] to let my skin... breathe. I also put my hot hair tools away and let my naturally curly hair do its thing.

I'm the type of person that NEEDS to do their eyebrows. [Mine are extremely sparse!] So I always include a good quality brow pencil in my everyday arsenal. Then it's just blush, 2 coats of mascara, and a favorite lippie! A BB body cream keeps my dry skin soft, smooth, and glowy all season long.

Going Natural for Summer

This is all I need to feel comfortable and beautiful during the summer. Even though it's a super simple look, you can still have lots of fun with bright pops of color. I love to rock hot pink lips! Need to kick it up a notch? Add some eyeliner!

If you're afraid to step out of the house with a bare naked face, try a BB cream. They provide you with the coverage you need, without the heavy feeling of foundation. I purchased a Korean brand online, which I'm currently testing out. Amazing! I'll be sharing a review of it soon, so stay tuned!

PRODUCTS USED:

- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Brunette 

$21.00 from sephora.com

- L'Oreal Color Riche Extraordinaire Lip Color in Coral Encore 

FREEBIE Courtesy of Glamour Mag for Testing Purposes

- Essence Kalinka Beauty Blush in East Side Story

$3.99 from Fred Meyer

- Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express in Blackest Black

$4.00 [on sale] at Target

- Carol's Daughter Sacred Tiare Anti-Frizz Styling Cream

Sample from Ipsy's June Glam Bag [Value $2]

- Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream in Light Skin Tones

$.99 from Target

Want to subscribe to ipsy? Here's my code. You can also stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my fan page on Facebook.

What are your summer beauty essentials? Have you tried any of these products? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? I'd love to hear it! Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Thanks for stopping by!

Influenster: Spring Fling VoxBox | May 2014

Hello June! 

This year I've decided to step out of my Scrapbooking, Planning, and Crafting niche to pursue another passion... Beauty. Don't get me wrong! I love Project Life, my Filofaxes, and Crafts, and you'll see a few posts about them here and there. But I felt it was time for something new... a change. 

I wouldn't call myself a "Beauty Guru." I'm just someone who's passionate about beauty, makeup, and skincare. Through my blog I'll be sharing my thoughts and experiences about new products, revealing the goodies from my beauty boxes, and giving product reviews for the awesome free Test Panels that I'm a part of.

It's a new month, and soon Spring will become Summer. You know what that means? Plenty of sunshine! I don't know about you, but I change up my makeup and beauty care routine when the warm weather comes. Feel free to check out my Spring Beauty Must-Haves for 2014. Being given the chance to test out some new Spring products courtesy of Influenster, means that I'll definitely have some new favorites!

If you're not familiar with Influenster, it's a community of consumers who like to share their opinions and experiences about different products they use everyday. Certain Influensters qualify for exclusive programs where members receive complimentary products to test and review. All they ask is to share your thoughts and opinions with friends and followers on social media.

I became a member in April and qualified for the Spring Fling VoxBox in May. It's my very first box, and I'm super excited to try out all of these new, fun products! 

Here is what I received:

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance: $3.99-$4.99

I haven't had the chance to use these tampons yet, but based on what I've seen advertised on TV, they look like they will be great for active women needing extra protection. I'll be sure to update this post with my review when I get the chance to test them out.

Kiss Everlasting French Nails: $6.49

I can't wait to give these false nails a try! I'm normally a polish girl and haven't used press-on nails since high school almost 20 years ago. Since shying away from acrylic nails a while back, I like the idea of these store-bought, not-so-permanent French nails. The directions seem easy enough, and the inexpensive price tag (compared to an acrylic/gel set from a salon) means I won't be breaking the bank. I'll be sure to update this post with my review when I test them out.

Softlips Cube: $3.49

I've been a user of Softlips for over a decade, so when I saw this new 5-in-1 Lip Care Cube I was super excited to try it out! Since it has SPF 15, it's perfect for Spring and Summer. It nourishes and hydrates my extremely dry lips, and the Pomegranate Berry scent is fresh and lovely. I really like this product and will definitely purchase it when I run out! I think I found a new favorite...

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara: $5.99

Since I'm currently working on a new tube of mascara already, I haven't yet had the chance to test out this one. I do love its "bold, wide-eyed, fanned-out volume" claims and am extremely tempted to use it with my current mascara. I will definitely update this post when I have the chance to test it out.

NIVEA Skin Firming Hydration Lotion: $2.49 for 2.5oz. / $10.99 for 13.5oz.

This product claims that in as little as 2 weeks you'll see firmer, more toned skin. I can't say that's true based on my own experience, since I haven't used it for two weeks. But I can say that the lightweight formula leaves my skin very hydrated and super soft. It also has a nice scent that isn't too strong or overpowering.

As you can see, Influenster is pretty awesome! I still can't believe that I received $25- worth of products for free. I hope you enjoyed my post and discovered a few new products along the way! You can find me at CLRoy2014 on Influenster. To see what I've been up to in my other Test Panel communities, check out all of my links here.

You can stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my fan page on Facebook.

Are you an Influenster? Did you get a Spring Fling VoxBox too? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? I'd love to hear it! Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Thanks for stopping by!

*I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.