Choosing the Correct Sports Bra

So, the more I workout the more I realize I am in desperate need of some new workout clothes. I haven't bought a new sports bra in about four years, since I was a cheerleader in high school, and my body has definitely changed since then. Since then I have had two adorable children, and have gained nearly fifty pounds. Now, four years ago my mother pretty much picked out all of my bras for me, and wasn't the type to spend much on a bra, so here I am a twenty two year old unsure of what exactly I should buy. I do know that I do not want to spend a lot on my new gear, I'd rather save my money so when I do lose weight I can treat myself. So as I sit here with my coffee and WordWorld on in the background I have decided to do a little research on sports bras. I want to know what's best for my chest size, and I'd even like to inform women with smaller chests what's right for them. I know some women will not believe that the clothing you wear can make a difference for your workout, but you have to be able to move properly, and ill-fitting clothing can restrict your movement. It doesn't matter what cup size you have, proper support is key.

Some women out there may find them self question why it is even important to wear a sports bra, well let me tell you. The primary support system for our breasts are called Cooper's Ligaments (check out the picture above) , the secondary support to our breasts is our skin. When breasts are not properly supported during exercise our skin and ligaments stretch, causing your breasts to sag, and when they do there is no turning back, unless you want to fork out quite a bit of money for surgery. Also, wearing no bra or an ill-fitting one can cause breast pain after your workout, and who wants that?

Encapsulation Bra

Compression Bra

According to my research there are two different types of sports bras, encapsulation bras, and compression bras. Encapsulation Bras are constructed with two cups, just like a regular bra, and the compression style bra causes your breasts to be pressed together, flat against your chest in an attempt to reduce motion. As I researched the opinions on which style is best varied, but I did notice a trend, a compression bra will work fine for women with smaller chests, but it doesn't offer enough support for women with larger chest, for women with larger chests (cup size C and up) they recommend to go with an encapsulation style bra.

Fabric, another important factor in choosing the correct bra. The fabric you choose also has an impact on how comfortable the bra is, most sports bras are designed to wick moisture away, but with the right fabric you can also have one that prevents chafing and all around discomfort. It is always important to read the tag before purchasing the bra.

Polyester/Cotton- A blend that provides softness and moisture management.

Cotton/Lycra-A combination of softness and moisture management, that stretches and supports.

Polyester/Cotton/Lycra- This three-fiber blend offers softness, moisture management, support and stretch.

Now that we know how to choose the right type, fabric and why sports bras are important, we can finally start shopping around. Sports bras are sold in many places and you can find them at various prices, as long as you are following the previous guidelines you should be able to find something that works for you. Another tip to remember is to NEVER rely on sizing, always try your bra on, and when you do jump up and down, move side to side, and verify that bra is holding your girls the way it's supposed to, and that the bra fits you properly. The girls should never slide out from underneath, or spill over, and if they do the sizing is not correct for you, if your breasts are spilling over, you should try going up a cup size, if your breasts are trying to escape underneath try going down a band size. I hope this is helping you find what you need, if in the end you find yourself questioning anything just shoot me a comment and I will gladly clarify. Below are some links to websites that sell high-quality, well rated sports bras. Also, you can always check out the local Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl's etc. just make sure you follow the guidelines to find something that is right for you.

http://www.underarmour.com 

http://www.victoriassecret.com/

http://www.movingcomfort.com

http://www.championusa.com

Thank you for your time, I hope I helped you, and I learned a lot in this process.

Bri Grim

August Beauty Army Box

 Hello Lovelies :)

Today, I received my Beauty Army Box, they ship from Ontario, Canada, so I am always excited when it finally gets here to Michigan for me. This month, as always, I was able to choose six samples, this month almost all of my samples were geared towards skincare. I am always in the search for products to better my skin. As of now I will be sharing with you the products I chose, and information about the products, when I get the chance to use the products I will update this post. If you would like to know more about monthly subscription services check out here.    

 Macadamia Healing Hair Oil Treatment 1 fl.oz 

http://www.macadamiahair.com/

 Full Size Product Prices

.34oz. = $6.50

1oz. = $13.50

4.2oz. = $39.95

10oz. = $75.00 

The Macadamia Healing Hair Oil Treatment is great for all hair types, but especially beneficial for dry, frizzy hair. This treatment helps hair be frizz and tangle free, it also is suppose to cut in half drying time. It has a natural UV protection, and is also alcohol free. I am super excited to test this out, and will update as soon as possible.

UPDATE 8/14/12 - I am loving this hair treatment! This has been making my hair so soft, and it does cut drying time down. The smell isn't the most pleasant thing, but it isn't horrible. It seems a bit pricey for a bigger bottle, but this stuff goes a long way, I only have to use a small drop for my very thick hair, so I have determined it is worth it.

Freeman Beauty Vita-K for Spider Veins 3oz.

http://www.freemanbeauty.com

Full Size Product Price

3oz. = $14.99

I received the Vita-K Age Spots last month, and this month was kind of excited to see the option for the Vita-K for spider veins. Every women in my family has spider veins, and I don't have them really just yet, but I plan to attempt to use this as a preventative. I read a couple reviews from women who do have spider veins and they mostly are positive, and the general results is their spider veins fading. They say to apply this twice daily for best results.

Apothederm Skin Care Science Stretch Mark Cream .7oz.

http://apothederm.com/

Full Size Product Price

5.7oz. = $89.95

As a mom of two, I definitely have stretch marks, most of them are quite faded, but I still would like to make them even less visible. I have tried a couple stretch mark creams, and applied them every single day while pregnant, but I still have some around my bellybutton, and my thighs. According to the website you can see results in about two weeks, I hope the sample is enough to last it, so I can decide if this is truly worth the price.

Fiafani Divine Hydration Moisturizer 

http://www.fiafini.com/

Full Size Product Price

1.7fl oz. = $38.50

Another moisturizer to add to my massive collection. One plus to this one is that they do not test on animals, and it is vegan friendly. This moisturizer could be good for sensitive skin because it also is fragrance free.

Control Corrective Firming Tri-Peptide Serum

http://www.controlcorrective.com/

Full Size Product Price

1oz. = $68.00

This is an item I will never purchase myself, $68 is just too much for my liking even if it does work well. These samples come in too small of a size to really tell if they work, but I just put them on, and hope that when I get older they will prove to have helped.

Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream

http://www.egyptianmagic.com/

Full Size Product Price

2oz. = $24.80

4oz. = $37.20

They say you can use this product for many things such as lip balm, healing nail and cuticle conditioner, face and eye cream, split ending hair conditioner, and to treat conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. I am excited to test this product out, if it works I might just have to purchase some considering I have eczema and my boyfriend has psoriasis.

Taking a minute for promotion.

Hello :)

Today I just want to take a couple minutes out of my busy day to promote my love Aaron a.k.a Kemical Grim.

Photo Shoot in the Cemetary

Photo Shoot for Cover of First Album

A show for Halloween.

For starters I am a fan of all types of music. I love songs with heartfelt, well written lyrics and I love songs with a good beat. I love musicians who show who they truly are with their music, and Kemical is one of those musicians. Kemical is a rapper, not the typical rapper (as you can probably tell just by the photos above) , but one with meaningful lyrics, intelligence, and a ton of talent. He can make a song that will make you laugh, make you think about your life or just something to dance/rock out to. Kemical also happens to be the love of my life, so I see him behind closed doors, I see him through the creative process of writing, recording, and filming his videos. I believe Kemical has more talent than anyone ever expected out of him, he is constantly getting better, and moving onto bigger things, so check him out and tell your friends. :)

Links:

 Kemical on Youtube!

Kemical on Facebook!

Kemical on ReverbNation!

Kemical on Cd Baby!






Thank you for your time

BriGrim

July MyGlam Bag and July Birchbox

Well every time one of my monthly subscriptions comes in the mail I can not wait to share with everyone what I have received, in the past week both my July MyGlam Bag and my July Birchbox came.

July MyGlam Bag

Every MyGlam bag has a theme, and this month was beach beauty, I don't think MyGlam stuck closely with that theme throughout there selection of items, but I am pleased with this month's items.

The bag itself:

I understand why they would choose this for a beach theme, but I have never been a fan of having what's in my makeup bag/purse out in the open, and I probably will never use this.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil Free Lotion 1oz.

http://www.kiehls.com

On the website they describe this lotion as a lightweight moisturizer that helps visibly reduce oil on the skin's surface, leaving a shine free, and balanced appearance. It is non-greasy, paraben free, oil free, fragrance free, and colorant free, so it seems to be the ultimate moisturizer for sensitive skin. I checked out a bit of the reviews on the site, and overall it seems to be a loved product, but with all beauty products it might not be everyone. I put this lotion on about twenty minutes ago just after I got out of the shower, and so far my skin feels soft and doesn't look oily. I have very sensitive skin on my face, and I am prone to dry skin, yet most lotions are too heavy/too oily for my liking, but this is lightweight enough that it feels comfortable. This moisturizer has already made my skin feel super soft, it was cooling, and refreshing after application, and it provides a thin enough coverage that I can forget I have product on my face.

NuMe HydroPunch Hydrating Conditioner
http://numeproducts.com/shop/hydrating-conditioner

For starters I have yet to try this product because I have been testing out the hair masque that came with my july Birchbox, but I am always open to expanding my collection of hair products for dry/damaged hair. I am a women who gets very bored with her hair and when I get bored I like to either change my style or color, but as of right now I am growing my hair out, so I can't. So, for about the past six months I have only trimmed my hair, and for the past about two months I have been a redhead, before that I was a natural brunette, and before that I had black hair and the list goes on. According to the site this product will restore elasticity and flexibiliy to dry and damaged hair and I hope it lives up to the hype and I will update soon.

Yes to Cucumbers On-The-Go Facial Towelettes
 http://www.yestocarrots.com

I fully understand why MyGlam included these in there beach theme, these towelettes are compact for travel or a day at the beach, and they are the perfect refresher after being in the sun. They contain aloe, cucumber and green tea, they are biodegradable and all-natural and they work wonderfully to remove dirt and make-up. I tested these out after I had already washed my face with my Nutrogena Face Wash/Makeup Remover, and I was amazed with what I seen on the wipe, even after washing my face there was evidence of makeup on the wipe, and when I was done washing my face felt clean and refreshed.

Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain
http://www.josiemarancosmetics.com

I received this in the shade of Tango, which is a vibrant peachy pink. I typically do not wear pink on my lips, red is my go to color, but so far I am loving this color. I will more than likely never use this for my cheeks because I rarely use blushes, but I will be using this for many different looks this summer. I personally like to wear this when I am rocking a more natural, neutral colored look to add just the perfect pop of color to my face.

Wearing Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip Stain

Circus Nail Polish by Andreas Choice
http://www.circusbyandrea.com/pages/shop

First off, the polish on the right is from my July Birchbox, and will be talked about later in this post, the polish on the left is the Circus Nail Polish in the shade of Reverso. I have heard a lot of complaints about the fact that the polish comes from Andreas Choice and not a well known brand, but personally I am more concerned about quality than brand. I have not used this as a base color, and I more than likely never will, but I do like it to make polka dots or other designs. I can't fully judge this product because I only used it for polka dots, I wish they would have sent me a different color to test out.


So, in the end I am pretty pleased with my July MyGlam Bag. This month's bag contained more full size samples, and more high quality samples than any of the other bags I have received from MyGlam so far.





July Birchbox 
This month Birchbox teamed up with Glamour to create a box that is suppose to stimulate all of your senses.

Larabar Uber Roasted Nut Roll
http://www.larabar.com/products/uber

I personally do not like eating things that were sent in the mail, just kind of freaks me out for some reason. I also am not fond of foods with so many nuts in them, so I did not try this, however, my son did eat this and seemed to enjoy it.

Suki Balancing Regimen

http://sukiskincare.com/categories/suki+skin+care

There was a couple more samples than I have pictured above, but I tried those before I took the pictures. Along with the transformative cleansing clay, and balancing day lotion there was an exfoliate foaming cleanser, and a concentrated balancing toner, all of these plus two other products make up Suki Skin Care's 21 day dermal detox kit. I tested the exfoliate foaming cleanser first and wasn't sure of it as soon as I opened the package, it was yellow and heavily "beaded" to exfoliate, and just looked like it was something that would irritate my skin, but I tried it anyways... As I lathered it up I noticed that it didn't smell that pleasant and I was hoping that the smell of the product wouldn't make my skin smell, but it did. I followed up with the balancing toner, applying it to a cotton ball like directed, the smell of the toner was even worse and it made my skin extremely greasy. I basically immediately washed my face after all of this with another face cleanser. Suki suggests these products for all skin types, especially combination to oily skin,  and it's specially formulated for acne, rosacea, eczema and dermatitis prone skin. I wouldn't recommend this to anyways based on the harsh smells alone, but it did the opposite for me than it stated also.

Harvey Prince Eau Flirt 

http://www.harveyprince.com/products/products.php

On a more optimistic not I am absolutely in love with this scent, and am super excited it was in my Birchbox, because I have never heard of this brand before. The scent of Eau Flirt has notes of Lavender, Pumpkin Pie, Citrus, Jasmine, Freesia, Ylang Ylang, Nutmeg, and Cinnamon. Now reading off all of that it makes it sound like "too much" for me, but honestly you can't judge it until you smell it. This scent is flirty and seductive, perfect for any date or encounter with the opposite sex. (or same sex, whatever you prefer, I do not mind) After smelling this I am determined to smell some of the other scents Harvey Prince offers, because I am in love with this. They offer sample size bottles for $12.00 and the full size products are reasonably priced.

Color Club Summer Pastels Collection

I received the Color Club Nail Polish in the shade of Blue-ming, which I absolutely adore. It is pictured on the right above, and was used to create the base of my look. It took two coats to get a full coverage, but I absolutely love the color.

Coco de Soleil Gloss Moderne High Gloss Masque
http://www.glossmoderne.com/shop

I love anything that is intended to make my hair healthier and shinier, and this product does just that. I used this last night in my shower after I washed my hair, the directions say to massage into rinsed hair for five minutes then rinse. After my hair fully dried I could tell it worked it's magic, my hair was shinier and softer, and only had a hint of frizz to be seen.

Manna Kadar Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion

http://mannakadarcosmetics.com/store/products/movie-star/

I typically do not purchase products like this because I have very fair skin and absolutely love it. I also do not like the shimmer/glitter effect of most products like this, but since this was part of my Birchbox I decided I would try it. They say this provided a sheer glow and dewy finish, but I wasn't pleased with the finish result. I applied this lightly on my face and wasn't pleased with the result, my skin is so fair that this made me look slightly orange, it didn't blend well, and it was too shimmery for my liking, it may work better on someone not as pale as me though.

Earbuds

Along with everything else this Birchbox came with a set of  neon green and pink ear buds. I didn't take the time to take a picture but I have tested them out, and they do have decent sound quality and they are quite comfortable to wear. Along with this was a link to Spotify for a play list they say is perfect for getting dolled up and ready to go, but I have not tested that yet.

Overall, I was pleased with this month's Birchbox because I did find a couple products I do love even though there were a few bad ones. Also, my sensitive pale skin makes some of the products sent some months more difficult to use and judge.

July Beauty Army Box

Good Afternoon :)

Today I finally received my July Beauty Army Box , it shipped right before the holiday, so it took a little extra time, and I definitely was impatient. This is my second box from Beauty Army, and so far this has become my favorite monthly subscription service. With Beauty Army you can select which samples you want before they send them, you always get six samples, and they come in an easy to reuse box. If you would like to know more please check out my post about Monthly Subscription Services here.

What I chose for my July Beauty Army Box Samples:

Freeman Beauty Vita-K Professional Age Spots  3oz.

 http://www.freemanbeauty.com

First off, I do not have any age spots, and I am not completely sure why I selected this as a sample. After researching a bit on the website I did find out this also will help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and has anti-aging peptides. So, I am pretty much going to be using this to prevent what could come in the future.

Directions: For best results use twice daily on clean, dry skin. Apply a generous amount on desired area until thoroughly absorbed. Use 4-6 weeks continuously for optimum benefits. Results may vary depending on your skin type and condition.

Key Ingredients:
Pro Vita-K Complex™ - combines the remarkable proven benefits of Vitamin K with a unique Amino Acid/Polypeptide Complex proven to significantly improve tone and elasticity, and dramatically reduces the appearance of problem skin conditions with the first application.
Matrixyl® 3000 – consists of a combination of two pentapeptides; Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide – 7. Known to promote collagen production while stimulating fibroblast cells in the skin, enabling them to significantly reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Vitamin K
Licorice Extract
Aloe
Vitamin E
Cocoa Butter

CellCeuticals Skin Care PhotoDefense .33 oz. & Atzen Protective Day Cream .1 oz.

https://www.cellceuticalskincare.com

http://www.atzen.com/protective-day-cream.html

Cell Ceauticals Day Cream- Provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, and is fortified with vitamin D to help strengthen the skin's natural defenses. As someone with pale skin I love pretty much anything that will help protect me from the sun.

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, and Oxybenzone.

Atzen Protective Day Cream- Protects skin from pollutants, reverses signs of aging, and hydrates the skin. Most people do not realize how important it is to protect the skin, and products like that multi-task are nice to have.

Key Ingredients: multiple peptides, Syn-Coll®, resveratrol, Thiotaine®, Pseudocollagen®, Seamollient®, acaï, calendula, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, jojoba, elastin, yeast, green tea extracts, ATP

Youngblood Mineral Primer .17 oz.

http://www.ybskin.com

This is a colorless base that helps enhance the performance of makeup throughout the day by smoothing the appearance of fine lines, pores, and creating an even surface for foundation. I love using primers on days that I use a full coverage application.

Key Ingredients: Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Smithsonite Extract, Rhodochrosite Extract, Malachite Extract, Hematite Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol.    

Besame Crimson Cream Rouge

http://www.besamecosmetics.com/products.cfm/Crimson-Cream-Rouge/pID-20

This is a vintage inspired cream rouge you can use on your cheeks or lips that is designed to last all day. The full size product comes in a lovely vintage inspired tin.

Blushed: A fragrance by Ruddy Water

http://www.ruddywater.com/thescents.html

Blushed is Ruddy Water's premiere fragrance and they say this is the perfect scent for women of all ages, day or night. Featuring notes of red currant, vanilla, lemon, ginger, with a hint of sugar. They offer these pouches in 24ct Boxes. I can smell the product through the pouch, and so far I am loving it.

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My very first Voxbox

Good Evening :)

About a month ago when I was researching monthly subscription services I came across a website called www.influenster.com and was very curious because I absolutely love samples. Influenster provides the Voxbox, it is not a monthly service, it is free, all you have to do is qualify for the type of box they are offering, and in return do a product review for items in your box.

Who gets a Voxbox?

Influenster's are selected for themed shipments based on the badges they have unlocked and individual demographics, ensuring members receive products that match their lifestyles and interests. Members with high 'Influenster scores' - within the specific consumer groups we are targeting for that program - are prioritized, so make sure to connect and unlock as many influence badges as you can!

When am I getting a Voxbox?

All new shipment announcements are made on their Facebook and Twitter pages, so make sure to like and follow Influenster on social media to stay in the loop! Note their programs are themed and designed to target various consumer groups throughout the year. When you meet the specific requirements for an upcoming VoxBox campaign, they send a program invitation a few weeks in advance so that you can officially confirm your participation. Please note:  They do not ship to Hawaii or Alaska at this time. 

What are Influenster Badges?

  Influenster has two categories of badges, lifestyle and influence badges, the more badges you receive the more of a chance you have to receive a Voxbox. They have badges for the blogger, the traveler, the mother and nearly everything in between and it doesn't take much to qualify for a badge, all you have to do is either take a little quiz or survey. (Don't worry they do not intrude too much on your personal life, and do not require much information.)

Now onto my very first Voxbox...

I recieved my very first Voxbox two days ago, to qualify for this Voxbox you had to be a mother, which I am. (If you look back at my very first blog post you can see pictures of my two children.)

Included in the Mom Voxbox was:

One Quaker Soft Baked Oatmeal Raisin Cookie- www.quakeroats.com

I absolutely love Quaker Cookies, and this one was very soft. Both of my children snagged and piece and enjoyed it just as much as I did.

Ivory Bar Soap- www.ivory.com

I don't typically use bar soap, but if I was to use it on a regular basis I would go with Ivory.

DenTek Comfort Clean & Fun Flossers- www.dentek.com

My son was excited to try the Fun Flossers, they come in bright colors and are Wild Fruit flavored. The Fun Flossers were easy to use for my three year old and definetly encouraged him to floss. The Dentek Comfort Clean Flossers say on the package they are easy to use with teeth that are tight together and sensitive gums and I agree, I have both of those problems and they were simple and comfortable to use.

Stash Tea Superfruits Tea Sampler & Nektar Sweetner and Coupon- www.stashtea.com

I was very excited about this sample because I love fruit flavored teas, and I am always looking for a new favorite. This sampler came with Mangosteen, Goji Berry and Pomengranate Raspberry, Acai Berry, and Yumberry Blackcurrant and Blueberry. This also came with some Nektar Naturals Honey Crystals to use as a natural sweetner without all the sticky mess. So far I have tried the Goji Berry and Pomengranate Raspberry Tea and I absolutely loved it, I was worried it was going to be too strong for my taste, but my taste buds thoroughly enjoyed the flavor. I also use one packet of the Nektar Honey Sweetner in a glass of green tea and it was great, it added that subtle honey taste that I love.

imPRESS Press-On Manicure by Broadway in Stiletto and Coupon- www.impressmanicure.com

I absolutely loved receiving this sample because I have been trying out different types of "no nail polish" nail treatments lately and will soon be doing a review on all of them. You can find these nails in tons of different nail colors and a few prints, and you may have seen commercials of these with Nicole Scherzinger in them. This is the very first thing I used out of my Voxbox and was pretty excited with the results. The nails do look nice and seem to be lasting well, I have given the kids a bath with them on, did dishes, and scrubbed the floors, and so far they are still sticking very well. My only complaint about them is they didn't have one to fit my thumbnail, but I have extra wide nails it seems, and luckily I happened to have a nail polish that was very close to the Stiletto Shade to use.

Monthly Subscription Services

Hello :)

In the past couple months I have been trying out a couple different monthly subscription services, I wanted to share my experiences, products and thoughts about the different companies I have tried so far and the ones I am interested in trying in the future. I have researched and watched YouTube videos on almost all the services and I will post some links to videos on each. The first four services I have tried myself and the rest I am interested in trying.

MyGlam

http://www.myglam.com/   $10 a month

I learned about MyGlam through Jessica Harlow off of YouTube, MyGlam is the very first monthly subscription I checked out, when I first wanted to sign up they were sold out of subscriptions, which so far has happened with most of the companies, they typically take your email and send you a message when you can subscribe. So far I have received one MyGlam Bag and I was pretty impressed. When you first start up on http://www.myglam.com/ they have you take a little quiz  that customizes a beauty profile for you, then every month you receive 4-5 beauty samples, some are full sized products others deluxe beauty samples. MyGlam also offers videos on how to use your products and looks you can achieve with your products, they have five stylists named Promise, Michelle, Andrea, Jessica and Bethany that lead you through this, below is links to each of there YouTube accounts. It is possible to find many unveiling of the monthly boxes on YouTube made by many different people if you are interested in seeing more opinions and what has come in past months.

Jessica Harlow (one of my favorite youtubers) http://www.youtube.com/user/missjessicaharlow?feature=results_main

Promise Phan (amazing at makeup transformations) http://www.youtube.com/user/dope2111?feature=results_main

Michelle Phan http://www.youtube.com/user/michellephan?feature=results_main

Andrea http://www.youtube.com/user/andreaschoice?feature=results_main

Bethany http://www.youtube.com/user/macbarbie07?feature=results_main

The first bag I received was the May Glam Bag, each month your samples come in an adorable makeup bag, this month the bag was blue with pink lips on it.

Inside my bag was samples of:

Love Sweet Love Spray Fragrance by Philosophy

It was a small sample, but it has an amazing smell and this is surprisingly the first time I have tried a product from philosophy.

Lipstick from Studio Gear in the shade of Foxy Pink

The color itself isn't something I would typically pick, but I am excited to try a lipstick from a brand I have never tried before.

Three Brushes

I received two concealer brushes and a defining eyeliner brushes, and they are made by myglam themselves, so far I think they are good quality.

Miss Beauty Nail Bling

Silver nail stickers with pink hearts on them, they were very girly looking and I did try them but I was not too impressed. They were not easy to fit to your nails and when I did take them off they left my nails looking horrible.

Birchbox

$10 a month https://www.birchbox.com?raf=hhbph

I have been subscribed to Birchbox for two months now, so far I am still deciding which services I like the most. With Birchbox you receive the typical 4-5 samples, they come in a small cardboard box that is really nice to reuse for storage. Here is a link to Birchbox TV on YouTube, they have tutorials, sneak peeks, beauty tips and other interesting videos. http://www.youtube.com/user/birchboxtv?feature=results_main

My April Birchbox included samples of:

Kerastase Elixir Ultime

A nourishing oil for the hair that you use before blow drying to protect from heat damage, I love this, at first I was worried about it leaving my hair greasy but it leaves it soft and smelling good.

Showstoppers Designer Fashion Tape in Nude

This sample came with two strips of tape and I tried it out and absolutely loved it, it doesn't hurt the skin or the clothing, and it stays firmly in place.

Juicy Couture- Viva La Juicy Perfume Sample

Absolutely in love with the smell of this fragrance, I will be purchasing this soon.

Color Club Neon Nail Polish in Totally Teal

I love the color and quality of the polish.

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Night Cream

This protects your skin and moisturizes it well, I absolutely loved it.

My May Birchbox included samples of:

Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

I definitely would never buy this, I thought it was a low quality liquid liner.

Algenist Regenerative Anti-Aging Moisturizer

It is always nice to get samples of anti-aging moisturizers, even though I am young it is never to early to take good care of your skin, and these can be quite expensive to purchase.

Beauty Blender Cleanser

It is a gentle cleanser for makeup brushes, I have yet to try this.

Arquiste Flor Y Canto Perfume Sample

This fragrance has a very natural floral scent, but I don't often wear it, I tend to go with more fruity, flirty scents.

Julep Maven

$20 a month http://julep.com/?r=21058789

So far I have received the introductory box and the June Julep Maven Box. With Julep Maven they have you take a little quiz that helps them picks the colors of the products they send you, you can try different looks each month if you would like. They also offer the opportunity to skip months, because they do show you what will be in each box. Julep Maven is mainly nail polish samples, I do not personally think it is worth $20 a month. So far I have received four full sized polish samples from them I am in love with the colors but I mean you are basically paying $10 per nail polish.... The box comes with amazing packaging and my June box also came with a sample of Julep Daylight Defense Lip Balm SPF 15 and Julep Daylight Defense for Hands & Face SPF 30 3 oz sample, but I am pretty sure I will be canceling my subscription to this one.  

Beauty Army

$12 a month https://beautyarmy.com

When I learned about Beauty Army I was pretty excited, with beauty army you get to choose your own samples, they give nine samples to choose from based on a quiz they have you take, and you can choose up to six. As of right now my first package is in transit and I can not wait to receive it. I have watched many YouTube videos on this, and read reviews, and overall it seems this is the best monthly subscription service to go with. It comes in a sturdy box that would be great to reuse for storage. I will tell you the samples I chose for this month and when I do receive it I will update this and tell you more of what I think.

What I chose for month of June:

Control Corrective Redness Relief Serum Sample size .1 oz

It is a small sample but if it works I may purchase in the future, it is a botanical based serum that hydrates and provides relief to redness prone skin. My skin is very sensitive and dry and my cheeks tend to turn red because of this so I hope this works.

Aquolina Pink Sugar Eau De Toilette Natural Spray Sample Size .6 oz

A blend of raspberry, vanilla, caramel , fig leaf, licorice blossom, lily of the valley, Sicilian oranges, and red berry scents.

Update: I love this, it reminds me of roasted almonds from the fair.

Clickr Skin Care Acne Spot Serum Sample Size .11 oz

I do have a bit of acne and I am hoping this works for it, I have read reviews that say it is great when you feel a pimple coming on.

Update: I have been trying this, but I have not noticed any difference for me.

Atopalm Intensive Moisturizing Cream Sample Size .25 oz

Another type of face moisturizer, with my dry skin this is always in need.

Update: I have been using this recently and it has made my problem areas much smoother and a little less red. :)

La Fresh Oil Free Face Cleanser Sample Size 1 wipe

This is suppose to cleanses and exfoliate while effectively removing makeup.

Update: I used this the very day I received my box and it easily removed my makeup, and made my skin feel fresh, now if I only had more.

NYX La Amoureux Mascara Full Sized Sample

24 hour, smudge free mascara

Update: Definitely was excited that this was a full size sample, I have been using it a lot lately.

Conscious Box

$12 a month + $7 Shipping http://consciousbox.com/

I have no tried this service I have just read reviews on it. With this service you receive 10-20 Eco friendly samples of products once a month. This service offers vegan beauty products, organic food samples, content on daily living tips, and products for the home. This is the only Eco friendly service that I have discovered and it seems quite interesting to me, I am not sure if I will be trying this one myself but I do have a couple friends I am recommending this one to.

GoGoGirlfriend

With this service I will not be providing links or the price because me writing about this is more of a warning then anything. I have read many reviews on this service and so far it sounds horrible. People say that billing wise they bill you as soon as you join then don't send your package for over a month, they change there prices and ways of doing things often, and when you do receive a package it is of either expired products or off brand bad quality products, so I recommend to please avoid this service.

Curlbox

$20 a month + shipping that varies http://curlbox.com/

This is a service for women with curly hair, they send you 6-8 products monthly. This service allows you to choose the products you receive monthly, but I can not find many reviews on this one.

Cravebox

$10 a month http://www.cravebox.com/

With this service you receive 4-5 products monthly but far the reviews are not the best they say that the products you receive are low quality and that there are many better services out there.