But seriously, I have a relatively strict rule with myself to finish a product before I buy something to replace it, unless the current product is a real disaster. Then if I really do want something badly enough I make myself wait for at least 24 hours before buying it, which actually works well. It's not as exciting, but I find I definitely do come out of a fugue by the next day and decide not to buy something I TOTALLY NEEDED the day before. This rule applies to pretty much everything I want to buy, which is how I wound up not being the owner of these shoes. Even my fabulous, young, hipster hair stylist was like, "Kyle, no." Argh, now I want them again! Ok, 24 hour clock starts now.
Anyway, my point is that I'm almost all the way through my snail cream! I bought some more but a different brand. The brand I bought last time is actually not the same as the sample I got, which originally introduced me to snail cream, but it got rave reviews. I liked it, but liked the sample better, so I've ordered that. And if you'll remember, the sample also had bee in it. So, snail + bee > snail alone. Science.
Also, remember that part 5 seconds ago where I said I try not to buy a new product to replace something I already have? Yeah that didn't work today; I bought St. Tropez In-Shower Gradual Tan. But I DID apply the 24 hour rule and still wanted to try it, so I got it. It was a classic case of reading some blog or magazine article reviewing a new product and utterly needing to try it immediately, although now I have no idea what or how credible that article was. But if someone on the internet likes it, it's new, and there is a wait-list in Europe, I NEED IT. I still stand by my Tanwise but it is tedious. It takes about 20 minutes to apply every few days (allot 18 minutes of that twisting and bending to reach the middle of your back). I just don't have the time! (Note - that is a lie.) But three minutes in the shower sounds so simple! So, refer back to my second sentence, because I have absolutely nothing to say about it yet, but I am excited.
In the meantime, I wanted to review some of the things I've gotten in my Birchbox. Birchbox is one of those services that sends you a little box of products every month, tailored to your preferences. I love it! I've subscribed for maybe six months? It's so exciting to get that little box on the doorstep every month. I want to point out that the samples are generous. I've told some friends about it and a lot of people are under the impression you're getting one of those little foil packets you might get when you order something from Sephora or somewhere (you know, like my sample of Snail Bee Steam Cream. Snail ... Bee ... Steam ... Cream). BUT, not so. They're almost always substantial and I would say well worth the $10 a month. Strangely, the men's Birchbox costs twice that, and I can't figure out why. I know this because Russell subscribes to it, which I found out when I gleefully tore into a new box and found beard tonic. Now my bathroom looks like this:
Anyway, the stuff I get is hit or miss, as I'm sure it is with everyone. Here are my thoughts, in random order (as most of my thoughts are):
1. Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner: Love it, exclusively because it's named Beaver.
2. Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle: Not unless you want to smell like a My Little Pony. Overwhelmingly.
3. Cargo Swimmables Water Resistant Blush in Los Cabos: I love this! It is a very bright coral, which I would never buy for myself, so I'm glad I got it. It is very pigment-rich (is that a term?). A little goes a long way, which I found out the hard way but luckily I don't leave the house, so no one saw me looking like a clown. The only complaint I have is the packaging. It comes in a little tin and the cap is so difficult to get off! Even with my tiny nub fingers I had to leave it open and put it in a plastic bag to make life easier.
5. Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream and Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Liquid: These two are probably my favorites of all the samples I've gotten. SO hydrating. I was disappointed that a product I liked so much from the U.S. and not nearly as obscure and secret as the facial products I keep buying, but guess what. It IS Korean! Just more mainstream. I felt so validated! I'm not buying it YET because together they're quite expensive, and I really want to try the Benton cream again first. But, I would highly recommend either / both of these.
6. Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint in Pearl: "Luminizing" is a gross understatement. I looked like the Tin Man.
7. Juice Beauty STEM CELL CC Cream in Natural Glow: I loved this as well! It did what I think the Jouer one was trying to do: it was very subtly glowy. Light coverage. Smells vaguely of celery salt. Worth it.
8. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant: Ok this drives me crazy. BHA is salicylic acid. You can buy the same thing at the drugstore, it's called Stridex and $5.00. Right? I SEE YOU PAULA!
9. Stila Look at Me Liquid Lipstick in Bella: SUPER BRIGHT! And doesn't budge. You have to kind of dab it on and then get it situated really quickly because it dries right up and won't go anywhere. Which is great in the right situation! It is not great when you are going to a professional meeting; I spent the 20 minute drive there frantically scrubbing at it with my finger to try to tame it. Which meant I showed up looking like a toddler who got into mom's makeup. I don't know, maybe you're into that look.
And here is a photo of some of the Birchbox samples (not all stuff I reviewed), with a regular lip gloss toward the bottom for size perspective.
Next time I will write about the self tanner! Maybe I'll also write about how I asked the salesgirl at Bare Minerals what the difference is between the serum foundation and the gel foundation, and she said, "One is like a serum, and the other is more like a gel."
