Birchbox: May 2012 (Gossip Girl) Box 1 of 2

As soon as I drop a few subscriptions, Birchbox tells me that the May box is going to be sponsored by Gossip Girl!? I have not only seen every single episode, but dream of stealing Blair's wardrobe, and slapping some sense into the ever so annoying and whiny Serena. After much hesitation, I re-activated my second account. I have yet to receive either shipping notifications, but one of the boxes was at my doorsteps on Monday! I probably won't get the second box until after I get back from vacation (I leave Wednesday).


Don't know what Birchbox is?
Birchbox is a monthly subscription service that delivers a little, heavenly box of premium beauty samples to your doorstep. Each month you will receive 4-5 samples (sometimes even full-sized products) and generally a goodie (energy booster, granola bar, etc). The samples range from make-up, polishes, skincare, body, hair, and fragrances. All from luxury, quality brands. Every month is a surprise, but the samples picked for you are based on a survey you fill out letting the gals know your style and skin-type. Birchbox costs just $10 a month, and your box will always be valued way above!
Click here to join Birchbox.

May 2012, Gossip Girl Box #5
This month all of the boxes are curated by the beauty/hair team behind the CW's hit show Gossip Girl. The boxes were even shipped out early this month so that everyone will have their boxes in time for the season finale Monday, May 14th. Within the Gossip Girl theme, there are sub-themes for each box (Sunday Brunch, Weekend in the Hamptons, etc). This box included all the items I'd need to get ready for a Black Tie Ball. Almost every episode the lovely ladies are glammed up in the most gorgeous fashions ready to go to some gala. The information card said that I'll be able to get a million dollar look with the products. Plus, Birchbox is sponsoring a Gossip Girl trivia sweepstakes! Jst answer the trivia questions in the information card while watching the season finale and you'll be entered to win a $500 Birchbox shopping spree. I'll of course be entering!

Information Cards:

Products:
Miracle Skin Transformer: Body SPF 20 in Glow
Don't settle for anything but flawless skin -- all over your body. This tinted treatment erases blemishes and scars on arms, legs, and décoletté.
Full Size: 3.38 oz ($34.00)
Size Received: 0.5 oz ($5.00)
I've always wanted to try the Miracle Skin Transformer for face ever since I saw it in someone else's birchbox last year. The Miracle Skin Transformer is a tinted moisturizer that hydrates skin, brightens and tones skin, and protects with SPF. It is suposed to be able to cover up any blemishes, make skin look more radiant, and smooth. I was surprised by how dark and thick the treatment was, it felt like a heavy concealer. Just trying to take a swatch photo I ended up getting it on my pants and in my hair. It was extremely shimmery! And not finely milled soft shimmer, but GLITTER bomb teen style. Plus, it did not do what it said, my skin is covered in glitter but you can still clearly see the fading scratch on my hand. I also tried it on a blemish and on some sun spots without any success.

stila: Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Starry
Pearly shimmer meets intense pigment in this lasting liner. Better yet, the pen-like wand makes wiggle-free application a breeze.
Full Size: 0.05 oz ($22.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 0.05 oz ($22.00)
I don't understand how to use liquid eye liner or why anybody would use it every day. I understand it makes for a more dramatic look but my eyes are already bigger than my head. Why go through all the trouble of attempting a straight line when I can get precise, soft lovely lines from a pencil/crayon. This is a deep brown that has glitter in it. The box says it may contain carmine (crushed beetle), but carmine is normally only used with red colors, so I emailed stila to confirm if this shade does actually contain it. I did swatch it on my arm to show you the color. It has a sponge tip applicator that makes it easier to apply, but I still could barely get a straight line on my arm. The color is very warm and would go well with my eyes. I don't feel like the application was very even, you can see in the swatch it was patchy. From far away you can't tell, but I bet it'd be amplified with my horrific lining skills.

Ojon: Volume Advance Volumizing Shampoo
Made with ultra nourishing Central American ojon oil, this weightless shampoo helps hair look and feel thicker.
Full Size: 8.5 oz ($22.00)
Size Received: 1.0 oz ($2.59)
A shampoo made for my hair! The shampoo is formulated for fine, limp, flat hair. It works to remove oils and residues that weigh hair down and bring life back to hair with some volume. Coconut oil tames, defrizzes, and coat hairs with moisture, ojon oil moisturizes and makes hair shiny, and finaly Peruvian amaranth extracts remove oil/buildup and somehow makes hair appear thicker and fuller. Most shampoos are meant for normal hair and coat my hair too thick and don't remove enough residue. I often end up with a dry, itchy scalp and limp, greasy strands. But a shampoo formulated to hydrate my hair and scalp without leaving buildup...sadly Ojon was bought by Estee Lauder who conducts animal testing so I wont be using this product (you can read about that dilemma here).

Arquiste: L'Etrog Cologne
Warm notes of citron, palm leaves, and myrtle combine in this transporting scent, inspired by the aroms of a medieval harvest festival in Calabria, Italy. 
Full Size: 1.9 oz ($165.00)
Size Received: 0.038 oz ($3.30)
This is part of a unisex fragrance line by Arquiste inspired by history. L'Etrog is inspired by October of 1175 in Calabria, Italy. I think its a novel idea being inspired by history. I always wonder what it'd be like to go back and time (especially late 1800s, prohibition, Susie Homemaker 1950s). The cologne is based off of the festival of Sukkot (jewish celebration of the seventh month). Many of the prayer rituals involve the etrog, which is a yellow citron fruit. This cologne has main notes of citron (aka etrog), myrtle, date fruit, and vetiver. I'm not familiar with any of the notes in the scent so it's hard to describe. I guess velvety, woodsy citrus, and manly? I think the main issue I have with this fragrance is I have a very keen memory of smell. This scent reminds me too much of my uncle. Why would I want to smell like him? No thank you. Pass.

Birchbox: xoxo notecard
Text messages are no match for handwritten notes on fun, modern stationary.
Full Size: 12 notecards ($10.00)
Size Received: 1 notecard ($0.83)
Some people aren't too happy with this extra, but I don't mind! It's my favorite item in my box! I'll have a lot of thank you cards to write after graduation and this one is so cute! I love the gold/green color paired with the bright pink envelope and the xoxo on the front is too perfect! I also love that you can buy them on the Birchbox website! It would have been nice to get a few notecards, but I'm expecting I'll be getting another notecard in my second box.

Total value of my May 2012 box #5:$33.72

What a bust. I want to rub my arms in pure alcohol to get the smell of the fragrance off of me, the shampoo is tested on animals, the stila may have crushed beetles and has an uneven application, and the Miracle Skin Transformer did nothing for my skin! I'd have been better off just buying the notecard set online... I was somewhat excited about my box at first, but after taking the time to try them out and research the companies it is a major bust. The idea of teaming up with Gossip Girl was an amazing one, but to me the products weren't any different from any other month/theme. Hopefully the second box I receive is better...

What do you think of my May Birchbox? Do you think it lived up to the hype? How does my box compare to yours? Let me know in the comments below!

If you don't get Birchbox, click here to join! 

Daiya Vegan Cheese Wedges & Eat Pastry Vegan Cookie Dough

We all know that I cannot walk into a Whole Foods without making out with every unhealthy, vegan option they have. On Wednesday, my LAST class ever finished early so I headed to Whole Foods to celebrate with a tub of ice cream. So naturally, I left with two bags filled with food. This time I found two new goodies in the refigerated section. Daiya Vegan Jack Style Wedge and Eat Pastry Vegan Cookie Dough!

Daiya Vegan Cheese Wedges

Daiya, the best ever vegan cheese, introduced the Daiya Wedges this March. All Daiya products are free of common allergens, including dairy, soy, gluten, egg, peanuts, and tree nuts. Daiya sells their cheese as cheese shreds, so these new wedges are a great addition to the family.There are three flavors to choose from: Cheddar, Jack Style, and Jalapeno Garlic Havarti. My store was out of all but the Jack Style, but I was excited to try it out. Daiya says they can be eaten as is or melted! Most vegan cheese taste like butt when you attempt to eat it cold and some don't even melt well. Daiya shreds became my favorite because they not only tasted delicious, but they melt, and stretch like real cheese. I could have grilled cheese and pizza again! 

So how did I like the Daiya Jack Style Wedge? Well to try it out I made grilled cheese! I cut up the blocks you see below and put them onto my smooshed bagel, added some chili powder, and put it in my handy dandy sandwich maker (best $15 purchase ever!). While my grilled cheese was cooking up I tried a piece of the cheese cold. It was extremely creamy and soft; almost like a goat cheese mixed with string cheese texture (if that makes any sense). It melted in your mouth and had a nice mellow smokey flavor that ended a bit sharp. At first I just thought it was okay, but I've been going back to my fridge over the past few days cutting off slices! This would be great for a cold sandwich, crumbled onto a salad, or eaten with crackers.

Once the timer went off on my grilled cheese maker I opened up to find that the cheese had melted up real nice! It was gooey and oozing out of the grilled cheese. I took a massive bite once it cooled down a bit and was a bit disappointed. To me it was TOO melted, it was halfway to a liquid. For anyone familiar with vegan cheese brands, it reminded me of how Teese melts. But Teese does not taste good cold, at all. I'd definitely say that it didn't live up to it's older sibling Daiya Shreds. For some reason those melt to the exact consistency you'd expect of cheese, but the wedge was way too runny. 

I definitely would buy the wedge again to nibble on and use cold. It has a great flavor and creamy, soft texture that makes me feel like Im indulging in decadence. I'll stick to the Daiya Shreds for all of my quesadilla needs...

...Wait one second. I take it back! I decided to give the wedge a second chance by actually making a quesadilla. I cut up the Daiya wedge into pieces and mixed it with Daiya Cheddar shreds, added a tablespoon of chili powder, and a squirt of sriracha (rooster hot sauce). I cooked the quesadilla on medium heat for probably 5-8 minutes until both sides were browned and both cheeses were melted (the wedge had a lower melting point than the shreds). I let it cool down so I wouldn't burn my mouth on the melted Jack cheese. Holy crap! It reminded me of requeijão, which is a creamy liquid-y cheese product that is very popular in Brazil. I've never found anything similar in America, but when the Daiya cheese wedge melted and cooled a bit the memories of requeijão flooded back! In Brazil requeijão is used on everything, my favorite being pizza. I cannot wait to use the wedge cheese mixed with mozzarella shreds on pizza!

Eat Pastry Vegan Cookie Dough
I always check to see if the Whole Foods cookie doughs or cinnamon rolls have miraculously gone vegan. Unfortunately, the recipe seems to never change! One can hope. But as I was grazing over the cinnamon rolls I noticed this tub of cookie dough. I had a heart attack when I noticed it said Egg and Dairy free! I looked through the ingredient list and was happy to see that it was vegan!! I started smiling like a mad woman and probably caused the people around me some discomfort. Of the three flavors that my Whole Foods sold, I decided to go classic with (gluten-free) chocolate chip (Eat Pastry has 7 flavors!). All of Eat Pastry's products have all natural, 100% vegan ingredients. There is no eggs, dairy, preservatives, any fillers, no GMOs, and no processing.

Seconds after I got home I opened up the tub and started eating it with a spoon. It was yummy, but not as good as my cookie dough (probably because of the use of gluten-free flours). It has that gluten-free, beany after taste that I'm not a fan of. So I decided to try them out how they are meant to be enjoyed, baked. I baked my cookies at 350 F for 12-15 minutes. They got golden really quickly. That may be because of the flours used. So I took them out of the oven at 12 minutes and let them sit for 5 minutes on the hot baking pan.

When I bit into the cookie, it was perfectly crispy on the outside, but moist and chewy on the inside. They were so delicious!  No gluten-free after taste when baked! And the best part is each tablespoon-sized cookie is only 60 calories with 3g of fat. I can indulge without feeling an ounce of guilt. I'll definitely be buying a tub whenever I want to add a little sweetness in my life. I love that the container is easily resealable so I can just bake a few at time. I love making homemade cookies, but if there are 16 cookies sitting on a plate in my home they won't last a day before I somehow eat every single one. And these are such a better deal than buying Whole Food's prepared vegan cookies. Next time I think I'll try their oatmeal raisin or snickerdoodle flavors. yum!

What new food products have you tried recently? Have you tried the Daiya cheese wedges or the Eat Pastry cookie dough? Let me know in the comments below!

Favorite Music Friday: Foxes

Two weeks in a row Gossip Girl featured this week's Favorite Music Friday pick. And not just short 30 second clips, but the whole song (or at least the majority)! Even if it had been a teensy clip my ears would have perked up.

Louisa Rose Allen, aka Foxes, is a very new talent. So new I could barely find any information about her! But partly because half of my google searches were about cute, little foxes. Louisa hails from Southampton, England but moved to London the minute she turned 18. She attempted to study music, but dropped out once she realized that school was not for her. The now 22 year old is about to release her first EP on Neon Gold who brought you Ellie Goulding, Passion Pit, Gotye, and more. So it looks like she is doing just fine without a formal education.

I would describe her sound as doe-eyed electropop. Is that a genre? You can tell that she feels every word she belts out. While she croons in her sweet, angelic, yet strong voice there is waves of bass that flatter every note. The touches of the synth add a brightness and fun edge. She may be young, but her music is beyond her years. I think this girl has an amazing career ahead of her.

And would you believe she only had her first live gig as Foxes last November? With the help of Gossip Girl she will be playing gigs all over America soon. Until then, enjoy her music video for the song 'Home.' A song that really showcases both her whispy, angelic voice and the power of the bass. This song has been on repeat over and over in my house this week. Her Warrior EP releases July 1st, but you can listen to the songs at SoundCloud.

Enjoy and happy weekend!

Glossybox USA: April 2012 (Unboxing)

Oh boy oh boy oh boy! Ever since I learned about beauty subscription services I died over Glossybox over in Europe. The brands that they featured, the size of the samples, and just the presentation was absolutely stunning! I always wished that they would head to America and the minute I heard they were I flipped. Months and months of following their facebook page paid off because I was lucky enough to WIN the first ever Glossybox USA!! The box arrived yesterday and let me tell you. It was worth the wait.

Don't know what Glossybox USA is?
GlossyBox USA is a beauty subscription service that delivers the most gorgeous pink box of premium beauty samples to your doorstep. Each month you will receive 5 deluxe, luxury, travel-sized samples (many times a full-sized product). The samples range from make-up, polishes, skincare, body, hair, and fragrances. All products from the creme-de-la-creme brands of beauty. Every month is a surprise, but the products will be personalized based on a beauty profile. GlossyBox USA is pricey at $21 a month, but your box will always be valued way above!
Click here to join GlossyBox USA.

April 2012, Contest Winnings!
I assumed this box was May, but from the website it looks like this is considered April's box. I found out that I won this box a few minutes after reading my first job application rejection email. Funny enough the day that I reviewed it I received my second :( But at least I have a gorgeous product to test out! These boxes are STURDY and they look luxurious. I feel like they are what somebody who bought gift wrapping service at Bergdorf would receive. I know for sure I'll be keeping this box! What's great is that the logo is so discrete that they can be re-used for gifts. I about died when I saw the tissue paper. All the famous landmarks around the world! Is it weird that Im tempted to keep it? I was giggling while unpacking it! I already peaked at the content, but it was still exciting to see how BIG all the samples were. Well they aren't really samples, but full-size products! I guess that is why Glossybox USA is so darn expensive. It may even be the most expensive of all their boxes. I love all the little touches, like the booklet Around the World With Glossybox. It contains all the hottest trends in 17 countries. It was fun to read and was so darn cute!

Information Cards:

Products:
OPI: Nail Lacquer in Kiss Me On My Tulips
A smooch-worthy shade of hot pink.
Full Size: 0.5 oz ($8.50)
Size Received: Full-size! 0.5 oz ($8.50)
I've never actually bought an OPI nail polish for myself but it is always the nail polish that you find at salons. All new OPI nail lacquers are vegan and cruelty-free (their parent company Coty is not cruelty-free). This color is a pretty berry, bright fuschia. I don't think there is anything special about it, I have many similar colors. But color aside, the OPI brush was so sturdy and easy to use. It helped the already amazing formula glide right on, streak free. So whenever Im looking for a bright pink, I'll be reaching for this guy.

Basq: Cucumber Tea Soothing Eye Gel
Give your eyes a fresh start with Basq's soothing and smoothing Cucumber Tea Eye Gel.
Full Size: 0.5 oz ($24.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 0.5 oz ($24.00)
I've been loving Clairvoyant's Depuffing Cucumber & Cranberry Eye Gel like crazy the past few months. I love everything about it and already bought a second full size product. This similar gel uses cucumber to replenish skin's moisture content while anti-swelling ingredients reduce puffiness and swelling. It also is formulated with green tea as an anti-inflammatory agent and menthol to provide a tingly, energized feeling. The major difference between these two products is the Basq has so many more ingredients. I guess it is nice that the Basq also has anti-aging ingredients, but for me I appreciate a nice, concise list.  My biggest issue is the fact that it uses menthol. Whenever I use it I have that icey-hot feeling in my eyes. Like I just got mint shampoo in my eyes. Once that goes away I can feel it working away and reducing the appearance of my tired eyes. And I have to add that I do love how it feels on my skin. Cooling and soothing. What's great is that it can be applied nice and thick at night and in a thin layer, under makeup in the morning. I'll give it a few days for my eyes to get used to because I do think I've notice an improvement in my dark circles, although that could be because I'm getting more sleep this week.

Cargo: EyeBronzer
Create the sunny glow of summer year round with CARGO's easy to apply EyeBronzer.
Full Size: 0.035 oz ($22.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 0.035 oz ($22.00)
I just learned about the Canadian brand from Little Black Bag which features many different Cargo products. This eye bronzer is a pot of loose shimmering, bronze/gold shadow that has a spongey applicator. It reminds me of the Jane Iredal Mystikol Powder Pen that I received from my last BeautyFix haul. I adore the Jane Iredale and I LOVE the Cargo. It glides on so pigmented and shimmery! And I love that is a more golden bronze. Because I'm a giant dork, ever since I saw The Hunger Games, I have wanted to steal Lenny Kravitz's gold eyeliner! Yeah it won't look as pow as it does on his rich, dark skin, but this will get my fix on! It looks great as a liner, smudged out as a shadow, dabbed in the inner corner for a summery glow, etc. What can't you do with this guy!

C.O. Bigelow: Lavender & Peppermint Shampoo
Cleanse and invigorate your locks with this cult classic.
Full Size: 5.2 oz ($12.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 5.2 oz ($12.00)
Ah the bottle is too adorable! It makes me think that I bought it from the town apothecary behind Dr Quinn Medicine Woman. I probably was smelling her hair and trying to touch her since I'm creepy and obsessed with her! This shampoo was originally only for the hotel industry, but so many people raved about it that the company finally made it available commercially. It is a nice clear, gel-like formula (which I look for in a shampoo) and smells nice. It does contain sodium laureth sulfate, but I have used products containing SLS before and have had no issues with itchy scalp, whereas some products that don't contain it irritate my scalp even more. I'm close to running out of my current shampoo, so it'll be nice to have this and the Linda Kammin's sample I just received from Goodebox handy.

Kryolan: High Gloss Brilliant Lip Shine in Toffee
This lip gloss is filled with pearl pigments that supply your lips with extraordinary radiance. *Exclusive to Glossybox before Kryolan's US launch.
Full Size: 0.135 oz ($18.10)
Size Received: Full-size! 0.135 oz ($18.10)
This is one solid lip gloss container. I mean there is no way you could lose it. I guess I never buy lip gloss, I just have a billion sample sizes, so its huge to me (that's what she said...). When I saw the word pearl pigments I freaked out because normally pearl means fish scales (aka guanine), but this is formulated with mica, whew. Well that dillema was quickly averted, this formula is horrific. It is sticky, gummy, and does not apply smoothly. However hard I tried I could not get this to apply evenly on my lips. I'd blot away and it still would look silly. The color is a pretty creamy mauve that is subtle and sweet. Maybe it'll work better on someone else. I'll be giving this to one of my friends. In the future I'll stay away from their glosses, but I'm still intrigued by the German based company as they have refused to test on animals in their 66 years :)

Erno Laszlo: Hollywood Collection
This Hollywood Collection of Creams commemorates 85 yars of Erno Laszlo with formulas inspired by his iconic devotees: Ava, Katharine, Marilyn, Grace, and Greta.
Full Size: 5 x 0.5 oz ($125.00)
Size Received: 5 x ? ($?)
I swear I saw this sample packet in the UK Glossybox last year. Either way Im overwhelmed. Each of the Hollywood starlets have inspired these creams. The Morning Beauty Rescue is inspired by Marilyn Monroe and her radiant sensuality; the air-whipped gel actively brightens and rejuvenates your complexion. The Refresh Moisture Infusion is inspired by Grace Kelly and her classic beauty; the cream can help capture her clear and radiant complexion with a moisture drenching elixir. The Instant Eye Repair is inspired by Ava Gradner's mesmerizing eyes; the luxurious cream firms. The Intensive Porcelain veil is inspired by Katharine Hepburn and her flawless complexion; this shields your skin from aging. And finally the Velvet Night Cream is inspired by Greta Garbo's allure; all it says it is is a decadent night treatment. I'm not sure I'll use these. However much I am in love with Marilyn and Grace there is no point in trying something that is CLEARLY outside of my budget. I don't want to be tempted. Instead this will make a great treat/gift.

Total Value of my April 2012 Glossybox: $84.60 (not including Enzo Laszlo samples)

Not bad! I was so surprised when I saw that this subscription was going to be $21, I had expected ~$15. To me going into the twenties is too much for a subscription box, especially when there may be a chance you don't like a product or in my case I can't use the product because it isn't vegan/cruelty-free. But Glossybox exceeded my expectations by choosing to feature only cruelty-free brands. I'm not sure I'd subscribe right away, I may wait to see if the boxes are as good as this one. Don't want another MyGlam, where the first box is out of this world and the rest are so-so. But overall I am in love with Glossybox, they obviously feature higher-end, more luxurious brands. This box was a real treat!

What did you think of the very FIRST Glossybox USA? Are you going to subscribe? Is it too expensive? Let me know in the comments below!

Free Target 'Beauty is All the Buzz' Spring 2012 Sample Bag!

Every few months Target offers a free beauty bag! Once I learned about it I kept the Target facebook page on my radar. In March they had a beauty bag that you had to make a qualifying purchase. People went crazy buying the products mentioned by Target, but not everyone got the coupon code for the bag. It seems like selections were based off of crazy algorithms. I decided to not even press my luck. And my patience paid off since Target launched the Beauty is All the Buzz Spring Sample Bag in April! It took forever and half to actually get through the sign-up page, but my perseverance paid off and my bag arrived yesterday!

Inside the gorgeous pink and red striped bag was:

• simple cleansing facial wipes (7 wipes)
• Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser (0.5oz)
• Pantene Flat to Volume Conditoner (1.7oz)
• Nivea Extended Moisture Daily Lotion (1oz)
• L'Oreal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer (swatch)
• Book of beauty coupons

When I opened the bag I was immediately greeted with Pantene's signature scent. Boy do I love that smell, but I don't like their products (so heavy with bad chemicals). Plus they are owned by Procter and Gamble who test on animals. It's too bad since the conditioner was made for my boring, flat hair. Actually I'm only able to use two of the products in the bag (Nivea and simple) as L'Oreal, Neutrogena, and Pantene all test on animals.

I'm a bit confused on simple's policy. They are owned by Unilever who does some testing on animals, but it seems like they themselves are a mostly vegan and cruelty-free company, am I wrong? The Nivea lotion is a 48 hour long lasting formula, it is non-greasy, and smells nice.

Either way Im glad I got to get this beauty bag because the bag itself is so cute! And it is surprising really well made! Plus, I can't wait to use some of these coupons! The rest of the samples that I can't use I'll pass on to my friends.

Free is free and it definitely made my day much brighter when I saw it in my mailbox!