First Impressions: Birchbox May 2013! ❤

Hello lovelies! I hope you have been having a fabulous week! I know mine has been hectic being out and about since I have FINALLY been on vacation :) And guess what came in the mail JUST in time for a little relaxation? My very first Birchbox! So I have never tried a beauty box before, and decided to give Birchbox a try for a month and then Glambag by Ipsy. Next month should be my glambag. I decided to do a blog post on my Birchbox while I finish up my Spring fling shopping spree blog post :) 

What is Birchbox and other such beauty boxes?

Birchbox and other beauty boxes are a monthly subscription. Bichbox costs $10 a month with free shipping. Other beauty boxes cost around the same for the most part (at least Glambag does). These beauty boxes give a handful (usually 4-5) of different beauty items for you to try. So for people that like to experiment with different brands and different products, but don't want to go out and purchase a full price product without knowing what it is like first, this is a great option! Birchbox comes with TRIAL sizes of the products. I have heard that other beauty boxes come with full size products with the downside of being more expensive or having fewer items. Glambag has a variation of full and trial sizes, and is still the same $10/month.

What I got in my Birchbox this month?

So lets get down to it...what did I get this month?! First, I got a Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel for sensitive skin. It is an exfoliator and skin brightener. It smells delicious and I will definitely be trying this one out! My favorite thing in the Birchbox this month is the Cargo water resistant blush. The blush is the perfect color for me and the waterproof is an added bonus! I also got Coola Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber moisturizer. Nothing to rave about, but nice to use up. Next I got a small sample size of Isaac Mizrahi Fabulous perfume. This stuff smells amazing, but keep in mind, it will probably last me about 6-7 uses. Lastly, I received Runa Guayusa Tea bags (4). I haven't tried these out yet, but if you are interested in knowing how they taste, leave a comment!

What I ❥ love ❥ about Birchbox?

As raved about by other bloggers, the packaging done by birchbox is adorable. It comes in a cute Birchbox box and is wrapped up in hot pink tissue paper. It also comes with a nice description notecard of everything you received. I was surprised to see that the blush and the face peel were a generous size. I feel like they will last me a good while, especially the blush!

What I dislike about Birchbox?

The main thing I do not like about Birchbox is that I do not care so much for the perfume samples and the random "Lifestyle" samples, aka the tea bags. The perfume samples are so stinkin' small that I could walk into Sephora and have the lady pour me a sample of Coach for the exact same size and for absolutely free. Are they really trying to kid us about this? But before I run my mouth on Birchbox, I look forward to comparing it with Glambag and seeing what all the rave is about that first!

All in all, I won't lie, receiving a little, cute package in the mail with beauty supplies is pretty exciting. It just may be worth the $10 regardless of what is in the box :)

Hope you are all having a fabulous Spring! Check back soon!

xoxo,
GirlontheGo

Nail polish worn in photos: Essie Tart Deco

Q&A: Why use a moisturizing oil spray for your hair?

A lot of my friends always ask me why people use a moisturizing oil spray for their hair, when your scalp naturally produces oils? Well I have the answer for you!

As a generalized statement, most men wash their hair every day, while most women wash their hair every 2-3 days. This is perfectly normal. It is bad for your hair to wash it every day, especially for women, since we have longer hair. Oils produced by your scalp is good for hair growth. Your hair needs moisture to look healthy and grow strong. However, by the time your scalp produces oils from the time you wash your hair to before you wash it again, there is no way there is enough oil that is produced to travel to the ends of your hair (especially if you have medium to long length hair). So for all of us girls that have medium to long length hair, a moisturizing oil spray is fabulous!

How do you apply a moisturizing oil spray?

I usually apply the oil spray when my hair is damp. Apply it from below your ears down. You don't want to add the oil spray to your scalp (well you can, but I usually don't as I don't want a greasy appearance to my head). I apply to the ends of my hair and then run my fingers through it. I let the damp hair and spray dry and then comb my hair through.

Which oil spray should I use?

If you have read my blog before, you know I am a huge fan of Macadamia healing oil spray. This stuff smells good and does NOT leave your hair greasy or looking like you didn't wash it for a few days. It dries clean and you can still get that bouncy, shiny, just washed look!

How often should I use the spray?

I usually only use the spray once after I wash my hair, and my hair is still damp. This holds me over until my next wash. I also have fine hair, so I don't need the repetitive sprays. If you have thick hair, perhaps spraying again the following day will help tame frizz.

If you would like to check out my favorite hair products for this Spring, I blogged about this not long ago and you should check it out!
http://girlotg.blogspot.com/2013/05/may-2013-shower-hair-favorites.html

I hope this helped answer a few questions! Let me know if you have any questions you would like answered, and I'd be happy to blog about it :)

xoxo,
GirlontheGo

My week in a nutshell and new purchases! ﴾͡๏̯͡๏﴿

So I have been behind on blogging and I decided to tell whoever is reading this why! I have finals. It is a dreadful time in any person's life, and trust me, it only gets worse the higher education you pursue. So, I have pretty much been sitting in a corner of my room staring at my screen, studying away from 9am-2am every day *sigh*

With that depressing thought being said, I decided to purchase a few things to make my week better (cause what girl hasn't resorted to retail therapy at some point).

First, I purchased the fairly new Esse Penny Talk nail polish. It's from the line of nail polishes that has the metallic/chrome effect. They are beautiful! The only thing I want to add about this polish is that if you do not add a top coat, IT WILL CHIP. Almost instantly. It requires top coat. Also, it almost looks like a matte nail polish with a chrome effect. So, if you think the top coat will make it shiny, it really doesn't add that effect. But, it is beautiful nonetheless!

The second purchase is two of the Maybelline Baby Lips tinted moisturizer. Aaaand, oh.my.gosh, these are fantastic!! These are limited edition, so if you are reading this when it is posted, go purchase some! The colored ones are my favorite. I purchased Coral Crush and Pink Punch.
I know there is a mint scented, as well as a few others, that are not tinted, but I feel it defeats the purpose of why I love these lip products. the color they give is beautiful. It glides on creamy and really moisturizes your lips. After I wore mine for a few days, I had people asking what I am wearing, and were surprised to find out it was a moisturizer by Maybelline!



I finally gave in and purchased the Tarte Amazonian Clay 24 hour Blush. If you are looking for that classic "blush" color, I have found it! Tarte's Flush is absolutely beautiful. It is the perfect vintage rose color. It looks classic! The best thing about Tarte? It lasts ALL day and just a tap in the blush will be more than enough blush per cheek. Yes, it is a bit expensive, but it will last you a long time!


I also got a piece of jewelry at American Eagle (I hardly ever purchase things there besides jewelry). I love the jewelry at American Eagle because it is the perfect blend between simple with a few stylish touches. I purchased a
necklace with some neon pink strands intertwined with silver. Neon is VERY much in this Spring, so don't be afraid to go bold!


Hope you all are having a much less stressful week than yours truly. Take care lovelies!

xoxo,
GirlontheGo

Brightening Concealer Review: Maybelline DreamLumi

Happy Saturday, lovelies!

As the beginning of the new week is just around the corner, I thought I'd share with you my new under eye concealer purchase! Maybelline DreamLumi Highlighting Concealer. For a girl on the go who has nights of little sleep and hectic days, I have been on the hunt for the perfect under eye concealer to hide those dark circles and tired eyes. In the past I have tried a few MAC products along with a few drug store finds (Revlon, CG), and finally decided to give in and buy the DreamLumi that I have been eyeing for quite some time now.

My thoughts?

Upon first opening the product, takes a good 15 twists to get any of the product out (I definitely thought I was doing something wrong...). Putting a few strokes under my eye in an inverted triangle fashion, I found that this gel-based concealer was a bit sticky and dried rather quickly. Taking my ring finger, I dabbed it to blend, and then finished off with some powder to set the concealer and prevent it from settling throughout the day. My overall verdict on this product is that, although the product is rather sticky to the touch after application, it is one amazing under eye highlighter! The clickable dispenser and brush are a convenient way to apply the right amount of product exactly where you want to blend the concealer. It really brightens up the under eye area and is a thick enough concealer to really hide those dark circles.

Would I repurchase?
YES!

Maybelline DreamLumi shown in the top left. Top right shows the convenient clicker. Bottom right shows how smooth the DreamLumi blends into the skin and does not settle in creases.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think I should blog about next week!

xoxo
GirlontheGo