BirchBox September: Beauty Protector Shampoo and Conditioner

I already have a shampoo that I am in love with, but I'm always happy to try something new! It helps that I adore Beauty Protector's UV Spray.

This shampoo and conditioner combo smelled just like that spray. Beachy, soft coconut. It smells like breezes on islands and summer memories. It's a gentle smell, not one that lingers all day, but enough to give me a little pep in the morning.

As far as product goes, these were all right. Nothing really amazing about them.

I feel like if you were to pair these up with a whole line of similar products, it might make a difference. But as stand alone products, they were just kind of meh. I didn't notice  a disitinct difference in my hair's texture or shine. Just clean and a little softer than when I don't use conditioner. Which makes sense.

Although I have to say, for the price tag of $22 a pop, I'd look for something a little more sensational.

Nice try, Beauty Protector, but not for me.

September Birchbox: Ruffian Polish in Fox Hunt and Bonus Review

Let me start by saying that I totally voted for this color on Birchbox's website. So I'm a little bit biased. I loved it on the website and I love it even more on my nails.

Ruffian, from what I understand, is a high-end fashion brand that is just now stepping into the world of nail polish. And from my experience, they are having a hell of a good start.

This polish went on smooth as butter. Better, even, then some of the other high end brands that I have tried. It was perfectly opaque in two coats, which is stunning for a color this vivid. Means that I can save more polish for later. 

There was absolutely no streaks with this Ruffian polish. And the color is amazing. It's a burnt orange with hints of gold shimmer, and just a touch of pink if you look at it in the right light. Perfect for fall, it screams pumpkins and (of course) foxes. 

I also have to say that I was dubious about the chip free aspect of this polish. I work my hands pretty hard, and I wasn't expecting it to live up to the hype. However, I'm on day four of wearing this polish and my nails look just like they do in that picture. Minimal tip wear, but no major chips. My nails also aren't peeling, which is completely new to me. 

It might help that I'm also using Deborah Lippmann's Gel Lab Manicure set, which I purchased from Birchbox a while back and absolutely adore. 

This kit contains a tough as all get out case coat and a high gloss top coat. It adds impressive lasting power to any polish. But even this isn't perfect. It takes a really great polish to get the kind of wear that I'm experiencing with this Ruffian polish.

I have to say, if this one mini bottle is anything to go with, Ruffian is definitely in it to win it. They're a brand to look out for in the nail polish world. 

Thanks for reading!

August Birchbox 2013: uniqONE All In One Hair Treatment

This is a product genre that I'm starting to get tired of. 

Just for reference, I usually don't mess with my hair. I let it air dry. I don't blow dry it. I don't add any product. I just let it do its thing so I don't end up looking like a disaster. 

So when I saw ANOTHER hair treatment in my box, I sighed a little. Another product to cramp up my counter until I give it to my best friend. Figures.

Aaaaand another BB picture because of camera issues.

Over all, though, this isn't a bad product. 

It smells alright, but the smell fades quickly. I'm fine with that. I don't necessarily want to catch huge whiffs of floral smell all day. It was just pleasant enough that I didn't mind using it. Sweet, but not girly. Fragrant, but not overpowering. 

This was also very easy to apply. Unlike some issues I've encountered with similar bottles, this created a fine, even mist that didn't leave clumps of shine in my hair. It combed out easily and thoroughly, leaving every hair protected.

The hair treatment also left my hair feeling soft and silky, as promised. My hair didn't dry out when I hit it with my blow dryer. It stayed shiny and soft all day. However, once I stepped outside, the Southern humidity took its toll and I had frizzies like you wouldn't believe. 

In the end, this isn't a terrible product. It's just not one I'm going to use. I don't style my hair enough to use something like this every day. 

Time to shuck it off on a friend!

Thanks for reading. 

August Birchbox: Whish Deodorant Swipes and Coconut Milk Correcting Gel

Since these two products are made by the same brand, they are going to share realty on my blog.

First and foremost, the disappointment.

Image stolen from BirchBox's website, because my camera is having a hissy fit.

I was really excited to try these deodorant wipes. They smelled excellent out of the package and I always love the promise of using something natural on my sensitive underarms. I was also lured in by the promise of hair removal over time.

I should have known that too many promises lead to heartbreak.

This product smelled great on, although it was odd to apply deodorant with a wipe. Great for travel, I suppose, but wasteful for everyday use.

But hey, I smelled nice and my skin was definitely softer and cleaner than when I started.

So I go about my busy day, which is when the problems started. At around noon (I had applied the Whish wipe at 8am), I started to smell funky. And not the jazzy, cool kind of funky. I mean I smelled like I hadn’t applied deodorant in weeks.

I smelled dirty and sweaty and everyone noticed. It was like I was walking around in a funk cloud.

Needless to say, I pulled out my spare stick of deodorant that I keep with me for just such occasions and banished the cloud forever. Unfortunately, the damage was done. My shirt smelled off and even with the promises Whish gave me, I found myself putting this particular product on my “Never Try Again” list.

Again, picture courtesy of BirchBox.

Enter the Whish Coconut Milk Correcting Gel. It’s meant for after sun, which makes sense for most people when it’s the middle of summer. But I don’t get out much. Or even if I do, I apply loads and loads of sunscreen. However, I did use this morning and night, as directed, anyways.

It made my skin feel a little bit tight at first, which I assume is the aloe. I always have that feeling with aloe.

Afterwards, my skin was soft and smooth, if a little stiff feeling. It tingled a little for a while, and I imagine that the feeling would intensify if I had gone out in the sun. It’s not terrible by any means. But the smell. Well, that’s another thing entirely.

The smell is…intense. It’s fruity and fragrant. In fact, it smells exactly like this perfume that I have called Mango Tea. It smells like summer and drinks on the beach. Which is awesome, except that the smell wouldn’t go away. It was strong enough to make my nose burn at first, but it eventually died to just a ghost. But it lasted. The. Whole. Day. This face gel has better lasting power than most perfumes that I’ve used.

But in all honesty, that’s not exactly a compliment. I don’t necessarily want my perfume to have to compete with my skin care regimen. So this product will be used, but it will be relegated to days when I actually go out in the sun.