June Empties | #38

Ai yi yi - I'm sure my apologizing over late posts is getting old, but dang my posting schedule is all over the place. I hope this empties post, chock full of mini reviews and purchase recommendations, helps make it up to you! Look for more posts coming soon. :)

• Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray (would repurchase) - Setting sprays are one of those completely optional makeup items that you can choose to or choose not to use. I, however, find it to be an irreplaceable part of my makeup routine, and this is one of my absolute favorite sprays. It helps with longevity, and it takes away any powdery finish my skin may have and helps my skin look more natural. LOVE it and will continue to repurchase this. 

• Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover (would repurchase) - This stuff works like a charm to get even the trickiest waterproof eye makeup off. I'd normally opt for the off-brand Target eye makeup remover because it works just as well, but this was on sale.

• Reviva Labs Antioxidants Skin Smoothing Advanced Day Cream (would repurchase) - This is actually my husband's product, and he really likes it. This day cream is unfragranced, which is essential for him, doesn't feel greasy or break him out, and it has loads of good-for-you ingredients that keep skin healthy. 

• Maybelline Super Stay 10 Stain Gloss in Pink Plush (would repurchase) - I didn't use this stain up all the way, but it's OLD and time to say goodbye. I'm not even sure they make this formulation anymore?? Either way, I did like this, and I liked the color. It was an everyday shade and had good lasting power. 

• Covergirl Hydrofuge Waterproof Mascara (would not repurchase) - I didn't use this much because I didn't like it. It made my eyelashes clumpy and it flaked really bad on me. 

• Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer (would repurchase) - I've lost count of how many tubes of this I've gone through. I absolutely love it for underneath my eyes. It helps conceal my "I've hardly slept" look most days. 

• Benefit Gimme Brow (would repurchase) - I love this stuff for an easy way to give my eyebrows some definition. It has little fibers in it that also help brows look more full. Back in the day, this used to be one of the only things like it on the market, but now there are more affordable options you can pick up, but this will still remain a tried-and-true product for me. 

• Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara (would repurchase) - I got so sick of mascara transferring below my lashes or flaking all over my face, and once I tried this I was hooked. I will forever keep purchasing this! It has a tiny wand making it easy to coat your bottom lashes. 

• Ole Henriksen Oil-Free Pore Refining cloths (would not repurchase) - These weren't anything special. They weren't damp enough for me, and maybe that's because it was just a travel size, but I wouldn't waste my money to confirm that theory. 

• Clinique Take the Day Off Wipes (would not repurchase) - These were some of the worst face wipes I've ever tried. They smelled like pure chemicals and I had to scrape at my face to get any makeup off. They'll burn your eyes if you try to take off your face makeup (which I don't think it would fully do). No no no, never again. 

• Swisspers Cotton Applicators (would repurchase) - There's no way I'd apply makeup with these, but they were good for cleaning up any makeup mess-ups.

• Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous foundation (would repurchase) - I liked this foundation. It reminded me of a less intense Stay Flawless, and in less shades. Unfortunately, the lightest shade was a tad too dark for my skin, so I primarily used this when I'd self-tanned. I'd still pick this up again though, as it was good for a medium-coverage, natural look for cheap.

• Coastal Scents Concealer in No.2 (would repurchase) - I love this potted concealer. It's super full coverage, so while it won't be ideal for under your eyes, it's great for spot-concealing. I've already purchased another on their website, and it costs just $1.95!

• Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Eye concealer (would repurchase) - This is a discontinued product and I have no idea why! It was an awesome concealer, formulated with Olay to moisturize the undereyes while concealing. I'd grab it if ever I saw it again!

• Clinique Superbalanced Silk Makeup (would not repurchase) - I wanted to like this so bad, but it would break up on my face and immediately make me look cakey within just a matter of hours. It settled in to my fine lines, and the color was too dark for my fair skin. 

• Sensodyne Pronamel Toothpaste (would not purchase) - This isn't anything special, but if I saw it for a good deal, I'd buy it, I suppose. It didn't make my teeth feel any less sensitive, and it really didn't make my mouth feel fresh. But I used it up when our full size toothpaste had SLS in it, which gives me canker sores, and this stuff is formulated without it.
• MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base (would not purchase) - I did not like this primer one bit. I actually think it was breaking my skin out. It didn't make my face look smoother, it didn't extend the wear time of my makeup... to be honest, I'm not sure what it did. 

• MAC Cleanse Off Oil (would purchase) - This wasn't my favorite cleansing oil that I've ever tried, but it did the trick to get my makeup off. I'd consider a full size in the future.

• Tokyomilk Tainted Love perfume (would purchase) - This smelled SO so good. It has notes of vanilla, sandalwood and orchid. I'd definitely consider buying a full size of this in the future. Sometimes I've found Tokyomilk at TJ Maxx so I'll be keeping my eyes peeled.

• Gucci Flora perfume (would not purchase) - This has notes of citrus, sandalwood and rose, and while it smelled nice, it's nothing I absolutely need in my collection. 

• Batiste Dry Shampoo in Wild (would repurchase) - Batiste is my favorite dry shampoo, and Wild is my favorite scent. It soaks up oil on my scalp and makes me look like I wash my hair more than I do. 

• Matrix Total Results So Long Damage shampoo + conditioner (would repurchase) - I've done a full review of these here, so I won't go on for long, but I really enjoyed these. They make my hair feel so soft. 

• Beautyblender (would repurchase) - The beautyblender has replaced all other makeup applicators in my collection. I never touch my foundation brushes or other makeup sponges anymore because this thing is the best. It's pricier than others, but it's also the best I've ever tried. It doesn't soak up my foundation, it doesn't remove makeup once it's applied, and it creates a smooth, natural finish to my face. I'm obsessed. Pro tip: these go on sale on Costco.com and in stores for $10 off now and then!

• Farmacy Eye Dew total eye cream (would not purchase) - I'm glad I tried this before buying it, because as much as I love the Farmacy brand, I didn't love this eye cream. I need far more hydration on my undereye area than this provided. If you don't need anything intense, chances are you'll like this. 

• Ayres Hand Cream (would purchase) - I adored this sample! The lotion smells so nice, sort of a light patchouli scent that isn't overbearing in the slightest. It can be purchased at Target, but it's kind of expensive. I'd consider buying it when I use up some of my other hand creams. 

• Babyganics Face, Hand & Baby Wipes (would repurchase) - I don't use these as baby wipes, for that they are total trash. But I use them to wipe down my makeup desk, and wipe swatches off my hands and for that they are amazing. 

• Jason Healthy Mouth Mouthwash (would repurchase) - I really liked this mouthwash. The bottle doesn't look huge, but it's concentrated so you pour a half cap of wash and add in a half of water and swish away. It left my mouth feeling so clean without any bad ingredients!

• Burts Bees Fresh Cut Grass candle (would repurchase) - I liked this candle, but it seemed to burn rather quickly for a soy candle. Regardless, it smelled nice and fresh and had decent scent throw in my small bathroom. 

• B&BW Paris Lavender Macaron candle (would not repurchase) - This smelled great in the jar, with notes of floral blossoms and sweet cookie, but it didn't give much, if any, scent throw in my house. At least the jar was pretty to look at while it burned.

And that's a wrap! What did you use up this past month? Let me know! 

Coastal Scents | haul + swatches

I'm always surprised by how little Coastal Scents is talked about in the beauty world. I've been ordering from them for years now, and have been continuously impressed with their products. Their eyeshadows (or Hot Pots, as they call them) perform just as well as, if not better than, MAC eyeshadows, and when they go on sale, they cost just 99 cents each (regular retail price: $1.95). Their concealers are great. Their eyeshadow palette holders are better than the beloved and pricey Z-Palettes. Come on, beauty lovers... it's time for you to get on board.  See other swatches and reviews I've done here and here. 

I made an order earlier this year, and true to my blogging style in 2017, I just hadn't gotten around to blogging about it. On the up side, I've given all of these shadows and products a good whirl since purchasing them, so I know how well they perform.

Take a look at these beauties...

L to R: Gypsy Stone, Frosty Taupe, Amber Bronze, Mauve Frost, Antique Maroon, Silver Lilac

The formulation of these eyeshadows is so smooth and buttery. They have fabulous pigmentation, blend easily, and they will stay on all day long with a primer (truth be told, I've never tried them any other way because I never wear eyeshadow without a primer). They're some of the best eyeshadows on the market for the price.

L to R: Gypsy Stone, Frosty Taupe, Amber Bronze, Mauve Frost, Antique Maroon, Silver Lilac

I love all of these colors. All but Silver Lilac are easy, every day colors... although, even with a light hand I think you could make Silver Lilac look wearable for everyday. Gyspy Stone and Frosty Taupe are both good all-over-the-lid colors that don't need anything else mixed with them. They're pearly/shimmery without being too glittery, just really pretty stand alone colors. 

New to me when I made this order was the lipsticks they now sell. They retail for $3.95 and they have 15 shades to choose from. I picked a couple up on sale. The red lipstick is shade 10 and the pink is 01. 

I don't find these lipsticks to be nearly as good of quality as their eyeshadows. I think you get what you pay for in this instance. They have decent color pay off, but they aren't super comfortable.

Coastal Scents is a fun brand to experiment with and try - their products are cheap enough that you're not out a whole lot of money if you want to just give something a go blindly. I'd recommend googling swatches of the hot pot shades if you're wary of making a purchase - you can find most everything on blogs to get a feel for what they really look like. 

If you do try something - let me know what you get! Or if Coastal Scents is already a favorite, let me know what I need to try next!

Top 10 of 2015 | Year in Review

What a year 2015 was. Reflecting on the year leaves me with a fuzzy, happy feeling - it really was a good year. There were some tough parts and sad days, but the good certainly outweighed the bad. My husband and I took trips to the Dominican Republic and Denver, we saw some of our best family and friends get married, I was promoted at my job, and we found out that 2016 will bring big changes to our little family of 3 (me, hubs and pup) -- we'll become a family of 4 when our baby arrives this summer! 

It's been a whirl, and I've enjoyed it all. I've had so much fun writing for Glazed Over, sharing new and unique products with you. I can only hope that 2016 brings much of the same excitement, and new baby will let me indulge this fun hobby still! 

Looking back on all the fun and adventures 2015 held also leads me to thinking about the products that hit it out of the park. I have for you - Glazed Over's top 10 products of 2015! Shall we get right to it?

In no particular order...

1. Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop (full review)

Chances are you couldn't look left without seeing or hearing someone talk about Champagne Pop. The hype is so real with this highlighter - it really does add the most gorgeous illumination to the face, and the color would easily suit any skin tone. It's a bit pricey (if you're a drugstore price kind of gal, like me) but it is 100% worth every penny. Your cheekbones will never look so good as when they're brushed with a hint of Champagne Pop. 

2. NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Face Powder

This drugstore powder costs under $5, and has wormed it's way in to my heart. It's so finely milled and will set foundation, never looking even an ounce cakey or dry. It's magical and for the price, you can purchase it again and again without feeling any buyers remorse. 

3. Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation (full review)

I never stop raving about this foundation. It's my ultimate holy grail foundation for a number of reasons. It's full coverage, it lasts all day without breaking down, and it will make your skin look flawless no matter what you use to apply it. It's made my year end lists in 2014 and 2013, and chances are it will make the list in 2016, too! 

4. MAC Fix+

I've known about this product, and even used it, for many years, however I never did own my own bottle until 2015. I don't know why it took me so long. I love this for spritzing my face after applying powder. It makes my skin look more natural and it holds my makeup on for the day. It's also excellent for spritzing on to your brushes before applying a messy loose shadow! It's multi-purpose, smells amazing, and works - all reasons why I'll continue to keep this in my stash for a long time to come. 

5. Coastal Scents Concealer Pots

No concealer was used more in 2015 than my Coastal Scents Hot Pot concealers. If you like the Sonia Kashuk concealer for it's mega-coverage for blemishes or discoloration but you're too white for even the lightest shades - these are your answer. There are 10 different shades to choose from, and the two I've tried are extremely full coverage and will hide any blemishes you may have. Pregnancy has thrown my skin for a loop, and I've relied on these babies to hide my imperfections. I wouldn't recommend trying these under your eyes, though - they're far too thick for such a thing.

6. Covergirl Intensify Me! Liquid Liner (full review)

When I first tried this eyeliner pen, I liked it but I wasn't in love with it. The shape of the tip had a slight learning curve, and I just wasn't convinced it would be a favorite. Towards the end of the year, I started picking it up more and I fell in love with it. The color is a dark dark matte black, my favorite, and once you get the hang of it, it's easy to create your perfect eyeliner look. 

7. Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara (full review)

Unlike the liner above, this mascara was an instant favorite. The brush is thin and easy to maneuver around the lashes. It has everything I want in a mascara - it lengthens, adds volume, and separates my lashes instead of clumping. If you were a fan of the Lashblast Volume mascara, I'm betting you'll enjoy this newer addition to the Covergirl Lashblast mascara line. 

8. Balenciaga Rosabotanica Eau de Parfum 

Hands down, no other perfume was coveted more by me in 2015 than Rosabotanica, and I finally made it mine last year. It's not for everyone, but I could bathe in it... it's a scent that could convince me to throw out all my other perfumes and never look back. It smells fresh with notes of roses and fig leaves. It's certainly more of a spring/summer scent, but I'm a rebel and have worn it all year long. It's on the higher end of the price spectrum for perfumes, but if you're a rose fan, it's worth every penny.  (added bonus: the ridiculously gorgeous packaging)

9. Botanic Farm Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbet (full review)

Was 2015 the year of cleansing balms or what? It was the first time I'd ever tried them, and I ended up loving the Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbet to get all of my makeup off. Ever so gently, massaged on to dry skin, it breaks down foundation, eye makeup and anything else you may have applied to your face. It never broke me out and it lasted me ages. 

10. Rituals Shower Oil (haul)

It's not that this Shanti Shower Oil is my favorite scent, by any means (it's not), but this stuff has become my ultimate shaving "cream". When I shave my legs with most shaving creams, I spend the rest of my shower with itchy, dry legs. This stuff is pure magic, though. It's hydrating and doesn't leave me itchy and dying to finish my shower so I can run to a bottle of lotion. Amazing stuff! 

I can't wait to see what amazing products 2016 has up it's sleeves, the trends and fads and the things that will become holy grails. I'd also love to hear what your favorites of 2015 were - leave me a comment with your faves! 

Cheers to 2016! 

Ipsy Glam Bag | October 2015

This month's Ipsy Glam Bag is a hit for me! There's a product I've always wanted (the highlight), and multiple brands that I love to try (Nourish Organic, Tarte). Ipsy bags come once a month for just $10/month and rarely am I disappointed in the selection of samples (and often, full sized products). Every month the goodies come in a cute keepsake bag, perfect to use while travelling. To get your own Ipsy bag, sign up here. 

This month, I received:

• Nourish Organic Pure Hydrating Argan Face Serum: Designed to hydrate and smooth the skin, while improving tone. Formulated with Apricot Kernel Oil, Moroccan Argan Oil, and Rosehip Oil. I really like the Nourish Organic brand, and I look forward to trying this sample. 

• Coastal Scents Xpress Line Cosmetic Pencil: This eyeliner pencil is black, and claims to have long lasting wear and a pack of pigmentation. I'm not super in to eyeliner pencils, and this pencil wasn't creamy enough for my taste.

• Ayres Pampas Sunrise Hand Cream: This hand cream is made with plant emolliants, shea butter and herbal extracts to moisturize the skin. The smell is comprised of lemongrass, mandarin, bergamot, patchouli and spearmint. 

• Tarte Deluxe LipSurgence Skintuitive Lipgloss in Energy: Crafted to smooth fine lines and hydrate the lips, it also creates a personalized shade of pink on the lips. It's not sticky at all, which I like in a lipgloss. Color is very light. 

• theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer: A honey-hued highlight that adds a burst of luminescence to the face. Can be used as an eye shadow or highlight. Love this shade - it's gorgeous and would work for any skin tone! 

What did you get in your Ipsy bag? Let me know! 

Coastal Scents Haul!

Black Friday got me again... I just couldn't help myself from clicking over to Coastal Scents' website for their 50% off Black Friday sale, and well.... I did it again. (Click here to see what I got last year) But I don't regret it for one second.

Coastal Scents is an up and coming brand, and really, I think they're such a hidden gem in the beauty world. They have a variety of makeup and skincare products, as well as brushes. I have tried a variety of their eyeshadows and they all perform like high-end eyeshadows even thought they only cost $1.99 EACH. They are creamy (even though they're powder!) and soft and blend SOsoSOso well. Seriously... they're just plain EPIC. I could go on all day about them!

I also own a number of Coastal Scents brushes which work just as well as my Sigma brushes, a more expensive brush brand. If you want to experiment with quality makeup without breaking the bank, Coastal Scents is where it's at. Period.

Here's what I picked up from the brand on Black Friday. I got all the eyeshadows for just 99 cents each! SCORE!

Starting at the top, left to right, I got the following "hot pot" eyeshadows: Canyon Coral, Chamois Nude, Coral Treasure, Grape Vine, Harvest Brown.

Bottom row, left to right: Kodiak, Light Taupe, Oatmeal Tan, Panama Rose, Raisin Berry, Tuscan Terra Cotta, and Wild Raisin.

Here's what they look like swatched over the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk, for an added color pop (you can use this eye pencil as your primer to get the same amazing color payoff on your eyelids).

NOTE: I accidentally forgot to swatch Coral Treasure (the one shown before Grape Vine above), so I added it on to the end - on right.

And here are some super close swatches so you can see how fantastic all of these are!

L to R: Canyon Coral, Chamois Nude, Grape Vine, Harvest Brown

L to R: Kodiak, Light Taupe, Oatmeal Tan, Panama Rose

L to R: Raisin Berry, Tuscan Terra Cotta, Wild Raisin, Coral Treasure

As you can tell, I tend to like neutrals and pinks, soooo that's what I got! If you've tried anything by Coastal Scents, I'd love to know what you've tried and how you like it!

Ipsy Glam Bag - August 2014

Dare I say it....? I think this is the lamest Ipsy bag I've received to date. I'm not even disappointed though because I've been continually blown away each month until this very bag (and I've been an Ipsy subscriber for a year!) And because Ipsy has been so awesome every month, I'm letting this one slide because even for an OK bag, it's still pretty good. Here's what I got....

• Absolute Lip Balm in Green Apple - This is full-sized, which is pretty cool. It has a rather odd apple scent (I'm getting something more like watermelon each time I take a whiff) but it feels nice on the lips. These pots last me FOREVER so this has a great value for me.

• Lord & Berry Silk Kajal Kohl Eye Pencil - Rarely do I use pencil eyeliner so this product is a bit of a bust for me. But for those of you who do enjoy pencil liner, this feels fairly soft and has nice pigmentation. 

• Coastal Scents Forever Blush Sample Duo - The size/packaging on this is irritating to me, but the product inside is awesome. These blushes are gorgeous and super pigmented, and they're just 2 of the 18 available in this line.

• Urban Decay Perversion Mascara - This is a brand new product, and not the first Urban Decay has let Ipsters try out. I'm really excited to give this a try since it's not a cheap mascara by any means.

• dr. brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner - I received this way back in an old Birchbox but haven't really used it. I will probably give this to someone because I definitely don't need two. 

To receive beauty samples each month in your mailbox for just $10(!!!)-- click here. I'm telling you now... you won't regret it! 

FOTD - January 10, 2014

Remember that Coastal Scents haul from Wednesday? I had fun playing around with some of the new shadows I purchased, and thought I'd give you a look-see!

For today's look, I went with a coppery-orange eye, a more natural cheek color and matte nearly-neutral lips. Here's what I used to create the look.

• Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in 110 Ivory
• Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof eyeliner in Nude (on the waterline)
• Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent 

• Essence I Heart Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara
• Wet n Wild Mega Liner in Black
• NYX Lipstick in Minimalism

• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion 
• Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Amber Nectar (cheeks)
• L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Iced Latte (inner corner of eye and lightly on inner third of eye)

From left to right:

• Coastal Scents eye shadow in Bronze Peach (blended in to crease)
• Coastal Scents eye shadow in Cajun Craze (all over lid and lower lash-line)
• Crown Brush unnamed brown (outer corner for dimension)
• e.l.f. unnamed nude (from this palette) (brow-bone highlight)

Check back for more FOTDs, and let me know what kind of look you'd like to see next!

Coastal Scents Haul + Swatches!

You know how it goes - right after Christmas there are sales galore! I didn't go crazy in stores, but I did hit the jackpot online with some really great sales (stay tuned for some more good stuff which I'll show you here soon!) I'm REALLY excited about the purchases I'm going to show you today, which is an assortment of goodies from Coastal Scents. I've heard good things about this brand, but had yet to try anything until now. Shortly after Christmas there was a 40% off site-wide sale on the Coastal Scents website, so I finally indulged.

What really convinced me to buy some stuff from Coastal Scents was these concealer hot pots. They reminded me of the Sonia Kashuk concealers, but they come in far more colors (which if you've seen some of my other posts, you'll know the Sonia Kashuk concealer is just a tad too dark for me). It turns out these perform very similarly, and they are much closer to my skin tone!  

L to R: Concealer No.1, Concealer No. 2

I got shades No. 1 and No. 2, the two lightest shades. These are super creamy, and very pigmented. They provide awesome coverage,I've been using these primarily to conceal any spots or discoloration. 

L to R: BR-C-N17 brush, BR-250 blush

I don't know much about Coastal Scents brushes, aside from this one which I received in an Ipsy bag. I feel like I can always use another blending brush in my collection (so I can go longer without cleaning, because I'm lazy like that) and I've been wanting to try out a new eyeliner brush. I've already tried out the blending brush and I liked it - it reminds me a lot of the Sigma E-25 brush.

Coastal Scents eyeshadow hot pots each come individually, and you can buy a palette like this one, to store them in. The hot pots and the palette are magnetic, so they pop in and out really nicely. I got an assortment of 15 shadows to try out, and as you can see, I made a neutral palette comprised of a couple mattes and a bunch of shimmers in various pink and brown shades. 

First row, L to R: Oatmeal Tan, Bronze Peach, Earth Rose, Peachy Copper, Cajun Craze, Kokomo Cafe, Mai Tai

Second row, L to R: Deep Merlot, Southern Wood, Burnished Wine, Amaretto, Rich Walnut, Chai Spice, Gypsy Night

Third Row: Deep Cider

Swatches shown over NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk 

The awesome thing about these eyeshadows is they cost next to nothing ($1.95 each) but the quality rivals many high-end eyeshadows I've tried. They're buttery, highly pigmented and they blend like a charm. I couldn't be happier! 

The swatches below follow the same order seen in the palette photo above.

I also got a little sample of eyeshadows. These colors are MUCH too bright for me, but will be fun to have for halloween costumes or whenever else crazy makeup is used.

Top row, L to R: Steel Blue, Sterling
Bottom row, L to R: Python Green, Lakeshore

Have you tried anything from Coastal Scents before? Let me know what your favorites are!

Battle of the Subscription Boxes IV: Birchbox vs. Ipsy

If you follow my monthly "Battle of the Subscription Boxes" posts, you may have noticed that things have heated up! In the beginning, Ipsy beat Birchbox hands down, no doubt about it. However, these last couple months the winner hasn't been so clear. I'll show you what I mean...

October Ipsy

First and foremost, how cute is this bag?!

Coastal Scents Medium Synthetic Shadow Brush (retail: $2.49)

Full-size product - holla!!! Regardless of the fact that this brush costs just a mere $2.49, I am super impressed with the quality. It's very dense and soft, and I can always use more eye shadow brushes.

Bella Terra Mineral Shimmer in Navy (Full-size: $14.99)

This is darn near close to full size (full-size are 2.5g, this is 2.0g) which is awesome, especially considering the price tag on these mineral eye shimmers. This color is absolutely stunning, but I don't often like to wear blue eye shadow so I don't know if this will get touched much.

Star Looks Lip Pencil in Tipsy (Full-size: $12)

ANOTHER full-size product! This is a lip liner from the brand Star Looks in the color "Tipsy" which is a really pretty pinkish coral. It is surprisingly creamy, too. (Recognize this brand? You might have seen it here.)

Big Sexy Hair Spray Clay (Full-size: $18.95)

I have SO many hairspray samples, but oddly enough I'm okay with adding another to my collection since these are so nice for travelling. Birchbox used to use hair samples of this size as their "big" product each month, but I'm happy to say that this big sample is the smallest thing in my Ipsy bag this month. Awesome.

Zoya Nail Polish in Giovanna (Full-size: $8)

Annnnnd another awesome full-size product! Holy jackpot, Ipsy!! Zoya is perhaps my all-time favorite nail polish brand, so I'm overjoyed to add this metallic green shimmer to my collection!

October Birchbox

Joie Folle de Joie (Full-size: $98)

I know there are a bunch of you perfume sample haters out there, but I love them. This scent is described as "carefree yet sophisticated" with hints of California beaches and Parisian charm. I think the packaging is beautiful, and it smells pretty good, too!

POP Beauty Aqua Lacquer in Floating Rose (Full-size: $14)

Full-size alert! I feel like all of a sudden POP Beauty is everywhere, and I'm totally okay with it. Especially if it means I'm receiving a super gorgeous lip gloss for a fraction of the price in my Birchbox!

Miss Jessie's Original Creme de la Creme Conditioner (Full-size: $14)

I've received products from this brand in my previous Birchboxes, but truth be told, I don't know if I've ever tried them! I'm just glad this looks to have enough product to truly give me an idea of whether or not I like it, therefore making me more likely to give this sample a shot. 

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (Full-size: $21.50)

Birchbox counted the cloth this wash came with as a separate sample (retails at $6 for 2 cloths) which I think is stupid. But otherwise, I have heard about this product and have wanted to try it so I'm glad to give I can try it out before deciding to purchase it. Plus, how great is the packaging? (Can you tell I'm a sucker for great packaging? Ha!)

ChapStick Hydration Lock in Vanilla Creme (Full-size: $2.99)

I am a chapstick HOUND. I go through it like no one's business, so this is an awesome sample to receive (in full-size, too!) I've already tried this out and it smells amazing and feels great on the lips.

--

As I said, it's getting hard to determine a clear winner between these Birchbox vs. Ipsy battles! I think this month I'm going to have to say Ipsy, just due to the simple fact that all but one product was full-sized. However, I still REALLY enjoyed this month's Birchbox.

If you want to sign up for Birchbox or Ipsy, click the the links in this sentence. Each subscription box costs just $10 a month and you get to try some awesome stuff, which is a great way to test out higher-end beauty products before shelling out some serious cash. See my other Battle of the Subscription Boxes posts to get a good idea of what you'll receive.

So, who do YOU think was this month's winner?