Walmart Beauty Box | Spring 2017

If a monthly beauty subscription box feels like too much of a commitment for you, or you'd prefer trying things you can pick up at other easily accessible, more affordable stores - the Walmart Beauty Box may be the thing for you. This "subscription" ships out just quarterly, and will put you out a minuscule $5 per box. Obviously, everything inside can be purchased at Walmart. 

Spring boxes are still available for purchase here (not an affiliate link). The boxes aren't curated to your tastes, they send mostly the same thing to everyone, sometimes it varies slightly. Here's what came in this season's box...

• Soo AE Purifying Black Charcoal Mask - This sheet mask is from Korean brand Soo AE, and retails for $2.50. It aims to reduce inflammation and purify the skin. You only need to leave it on for 15 minutes and wa-lah, you'll have radiant, moisturize and purified skin.

• Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Shampoo + Conditioner - This shampoo and conditioner cost $5.47 each, and is made for people with dry, stressed hair. It claims to reduce breakage, increase moisture and and add shine. 

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Lip Shine - This is a full size lip gloss that retails for $8.97. It conditions and soothes lips while adding some shine and color.

• Sinful Colors Sugar Crushin' nail polish - There's a variety of Sinful Colors polishes and I really adore them. They cost just $1.97 but they perform like higher end polishes.

• Jergens Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer - There's a wet skin moisturizer in practically every brand now! This you put on when you're still wet in the shower, don't rinse off, and then wait for the color to slowly show. Basically, it's just like the regular gradual tanning lotion, but it responds well to water. A full size will set you back $8.97.

• John Frieda Frizz Ease Moisturizing Conditioner - This conditioner is for those of you with dry, unmanageable hair. It provides moisture while taming frizz and protecting your silky hair style. A full size retails for $5.47.

• Soapbox Body Wash with Shea Butter - Soapbox is a cool company because for every product you buy, they give a bar of soap to a person in need in the US or abroad. Their website outlines all the good work they do around the world, so you can feel good about your purchase. I've never tried anything from this brand, so excited to give this a shot. It smells nice and I'm sure it'll work decently. A full size costs just $4.54.

• Ban Powder Fresh Roll-On Deodorant - There's not much to say about this antiperspirant/deodorant combo. It fights odors, prevents sweating... and will cost you around $4... almost the entire price of the box... not bad!

• Colgate Optic White Radiant Toothpaste - I've used this in the past and it's nice. It's a decent toothpaste, nothing overly special. I couldn't tell if it really made my teeth whiter or not. A full size costs a whopping $6.96... which seems crazy to me for toothpaste, whitening properties or not. 

• Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation - I've done a full review on this here. It's just $4.97 at Walmart. Long story short, you get what you pay for. 

• Aveeno Postively Radiant Facials - I'm intrigued by both of these products, especially the in-shower facial. This cleanser helps exfoliate and cleanse the skin, working with the steam in the shower. It costs $6.97 for a full size. The overnight hydrating facial claims to provide 48 hours of hydration, and it'll cost you $16.97/jar which is kind of steep for a drugstore product. 

Will you be getting the Walmart Beauty Box? Let me know, or let me know how you liked any of these products!

Walmart Beauty Subscription Box | Spring 2016

This season's Walmart Beauty box showed up in my mailbox last week, and I have to say, if you've seen any of the reviews of the most recent Target Beauty Box (which always sell out) - this is one to rival that! (but this one is $5 cheaper!)

This seasonal subscription costs just $5 per box and it's automatically shipped to you each season. This box features drug store items in deluxe sample sizes. I like this service because you can try out items before buying, even if the full sizes wouldn't put you out too terribly budget-wise. To sign up, just enter your info here. 

Here's what came in the Spring 2016 box:

• Colgate Optic White Toothpaste - I've used this before and enjoyed it. Happy to receive a deluxe sample of it for future use. 

• Jergens Natural Glow body lotion - Another favorite. This lotion is perfect to give you a tan just a couple shades darker than your normal tone. Perfect for pale girls like me. 

• John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Gentle Lightening Shampoo - I'm not brunette, nor do I wish to lighten my hair, so this will be given away to someone who is. (This is the down side of a box you can't customize...)

• CeraVe Healing Ointment - This is the CeraVe version of Vaseline. It can be used on dry patches or skin that needs a little extra boost of nourishment. 

• Curel Itch Defense Body Wash - This body wash is marketed towards those who suffer from eczema and extremely dry, itchy skin. It's fragrance-free, so it would also be good for those with sensitive skin or those who want to avoid any smells. 

• Biore Baking Soda Pore Cleanser - Aimed at those with combination skin, this cleanser uses baking soda to cleanse and exfoliate the face. One thing to note, baking soda is listed prettttty far down in the ingredients, so the marketing is a bit misleading. 

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Walmart Beauty Box | Summer 2015

This Summer's Walmart Beauty Box is arriving in mailboxes, and if you haven't signed up for this seasonal subscription yet, what are you waiting for? It costs just $5 a box (4 boxes per year), and you can sign up here. The samples aren't as good as an Ipsy bag or Birchbox, but you do get samples of drugstore items that are nice to try out before spending the $$$ on a full size.

Included in the summer box is a decent sized sample of the Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme, a basic all-over lotion that I've never tried before. Behind that are some lame foil packets of Jergens Natural Glow lotion, which I've used before and enjoyed. On bottom is a nice travel size of Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Lotion with SPF, which is something I'd only use as a sunscreen, not an every day lotion. And the one full-sized product in the box is the NYC Big Bold & Precise Liquid Eyeliner, which I'm excited to try because you know I love me some black eyeliner!

Also included is the John Frieda Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray, which I got a sample of in an Influenster previously. I'm not a huge sea salt spray kind of girl (I don't wash my hair enough for that!) so I can't say I'm too excited about this product. A rather large travel size of Clear Complete Care Nourishing Anti-Dandruff shampoo is in the box, and I happen to enjoy Clear shampoos so that's a plus. There's also a little sample of the One Direction You & I perfume, which is way too young of a scent for me, (I still love you, 1D! I'm lookin' at you, Harry Styles..... mmm...) so I will probably pass it on to my sister who is a 1D fan. It's super-duper fruity, if you like that kind of thing.

Lastly, we've got more annoying foil packets of Ken Paves Volumizing Shampoo + Conditioner, Neutrogena Healthy Volume mascara (never tried!), and Neutrogena Healthy Skin Boosters Facial Cleanser, which actually came in the Spring box, too -- lame.

Overall, this was an OK box. For $5 I can't really complain. I am looking forward to trying the NYC eyeliner, which I'd happily pay $5 to try, so the rest of the samples can just be considered a bonus. What do you think -- have you signed up to receive these beauty boxes yet? Will you? Let me know!

Influenster XO Vox Box

If you aren't signed up for Influenster yet, let this post be a message loud and clear: SIGN UP! It is awesome! Everything I'm showing you I got completely for free because I share these products with you. Every couple months I get something new from Influenster and the boxes are always great. (See here, and here for some examples) Basically, you get to sample some cool products in exchange for a review. It's awesome! To sign up, just click here. 

Recently, I was sent the XO VoxBox. Here's what came in it:

I was excited to see a big bag of Tide Pods with Febreze! I like the convenience of pods for laundry, and even though these aren't the most natural, I'll use them since I got them for free!

Also included is the John Frieda Luxurious Volume 7 Day Volume In-Shower Treatment. This is a lightweight, semi-permanent treatment that lasts for several washes. It's meant to penetrate each fiber of hair and amplify each strand. This is a unique item that that's totally new to me and I'm looking forward to trying it!

Next to the treatment is a set of three hair items. These are the shampoo, conditioner and sea salt spray from the John Frieda Bleach Blonde collection. I don't really know why these are labeled "beach blonde" as they don't say anything about making your hair blonder, or preserving your color. Which I guess is good because we all know I'm nowhere near being beachy or blonde. As for sea salt sprays, I have yet to meet one that does anything special for me - but I do like using them for texture when I use hot rollers in my hair.

For those of you with dry hands, you'll love Skinfix Hand Repair Cream. This lotion is unscented and highly moisturizing. It's formulated without steroids (that's a thing in lotion??!), soy or fragrance. This is advertised to be great for people with eczema, dermatitis or extreme dryness. I prefer lotion with a teensy bit of a smell, but this is a nice option.  

And who doesn't love free toothpaste and a toothbrush? I'm all about free necessities. Included in this box are Colgate Optic White Express White toothpaste and the Colgate Optic White Toothbrush with built-in Whitening Pen. I've used this toothpaste before and it's just fine, and I've never tried this fancy toothbrush before. 

All in all, I think this was an awesome VoxBox - probably one of the best I've received. All items will definitely get used and are things I wouldn't have picked up myself but I'm pumped to try. 

Let me know if you've tried any of these products. And seriously... if you read all the way through this and STILL haven't signed up - WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! Awesome free stuff awaits you. 

Empties | #5

Wowza, I just did one of these posts a month ago but my bag of empties filled up quite quickly in that time so here we are again! Are you ready for this? Here we go...

• Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Mask - I love this stuff. Seriously, holy grail status. It's an expensive little mask, retailing for $30, but it's worth every penny. I'll definitely buy it again. 

• Aveda Invati Shampoo & Conditioner - I bought this stuff because I had been on some medication which totally dried my hair out, and made it feel thin and disgusting. My hair wasn't actually thinning, but I wanted to bulk it up and add some life to it. I didn't really notice any difference, and while this smelled really nice, I wouldn't buy it again.

• John Frieda Luxurious Volume Volume Refresher (dry shampoo) - This made my February favorites because it rocks. If it wasn't discontinued, I'd totally repurchase it again. See my review here. 

• Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisturizer - I bought this on a whim quite a while ago and finally used it up. This had a very strong smell that didn't linger on the skin, but certainly is enough that it may turn some off. I didn't notice any major wrinkle reducing properties, but it did a decent job moisturizing. I dont' think I'd buy this again, however.

• Simple Soothing Facial Toner - This was really nice. It never made my face sting or burn, but it removed any excess makeup that lingered on my face post-cleaning. I'd buy this again.

• Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser - I got this in last summer's Allure Beauty Box. It's been marketed as a better alternative to Cetaphil, which I've also used before, and I have to say I did like this better. It didn't break me out and did a good job of washing my makeup off. I'd repurchase this.

• Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover - This wasn't anything special, but it did remove my eye makeup easily and efficiently. It was fairly cheap, too. I would buy this again.

• OPI Avojuice in Jasmine - Avojuice's are one of my favorite lotions, and I especially love the jasmine scented version.This lotion was really hydrating, but it never left my skin feeling greasy. I've got plenty of other lotions to use first, but I'd repurchase this in the future.

• Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Body Cream in P.S. I Love You - This isn't completely gone, but it just doesn't smell the same anymore... a tell-tale sign that a product is expired. This was one of my favorite B&BW scents, but sadly it's discontinued. These triple body moisture creams are awesome and really hydrating. If it ever gets brought back, I'd buy this again.

• Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel - You may recall seeing this in my recent Lush haul. This is a cult favorite body wash that comes out at Christmas, and this was my first time trying it. To be quite honest, I didn't like the scent much at all. It's super sickly sweet and just not my taste. I have one more bottle of it (I got sent another because this bottle leaked during shipping) which I'll use, but I wouldn't buy it again.

• Hello Anticavity Toothpaste in Supermint - This is a fairly new brand as far as I know, and I picked this up just out of curiosity. I do like natural toothpastes quite a bit, and this was really nice. My only complaint was the packaging made it quite difficult to get anything out once it started to run out. Because of the packaging, I wouldn't buy it again.

• Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer - I got this in a past Birchbox, and this deluxe sample size lasted me over a month! I really liked this, but the full-size is a bit spendy and I've got comparable drugstore alternatives I'd use instead of spending the money. If I did find it for a good deal, I would buy it.

• Wet n Wild Mega Liner in Black - Ya'll know I love this. I've bought it time and time again, and will continue to. 

• Benefit They're Real Mascara - I got this little sample in my Sephora birthday pack from last year. I know everyone raves about this mascara, but I really didn't enjoy using this sample. The brush was sharp and it tended to clump on me. I've heard that these little samples aren't the best way to judge this mascara, but I can't say I'd buy the full size any time soon.

• ChapStick Overnight Lip Treatment - This was nice. I used it every night before bed, and it left my lips feeling really soft and hydrated. I'd buy this again.

• Bath & Body Works PocketBac in Wildberry Freesia - You already know, I use these every time before I do my makeup. I liked it, this was a nice scent, but I'd probably try a new scent before buying this one again.

• ChapStick in Strawberry - Everyone knows these are just fine. I kept it in my desk at work and it did the trick of moisturizing my lips when I needed it. I've got plenty more of these, so I won't need to repurchase this any time soon. 

• Givenchy Very Irresistable Perfume sample - This smelled nice, but I don't think I like it enough to get a full-size. I'm not the greatest at describing scents, but it was floral and fresh. Not bad, but just not anything I absolutely need.

• The Country Corn Crib Soy Candle in Pomegranate Spice - These candles are made in Minnesota, and can often be found at craft shows in this area. This scent smelled SO good and had really great scent-throw. You can find them online here. 

• Soy Candle in Exotic Woods - You can read more about this candle in my February Favorites. I really liked it, and would purchase it again if it gets re-released. 

• Bath & Body Works Candle in Black Pepper Bergamot - I really love this scent, but these little candles are just silly. They don't burn very long, and don't put off much scent at all. I'd buy this in a bigger size, but not in this teeny tiny version again.

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

February Favorites 2014

It's been months since I've done a favorites post, and it's about dang time I did a new one! It just so happens that this month, I have some awesome things to share with you. Here are my absolute favorites for the month of February...

Lush Sikkim Girls Body Lotion - Look familiar? I got this in January in my Lush haul! I really battled with the idea of including this in my favorites, as it can't be purchased anymore - but I love it THAT much! (you can buy the perfume, but not the body lotion) I have to be honest, when I first put this on, I couldn't tell if I smelled really amazing and earthy or if I smelled like an old lady. Either way, I rocked this all month. It is so strongly scented of frangipani, tuberose, jasmine and vanilla that it will stay on your skin literally all day. I apply it after I shower and I can still smell it 12+ hours later. It's exotic, sexy and dark... I love love love it.

Yes To Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment - I got this in my Yes To haul, and I am in love. This claims to reduce the appearance of fine lines in just 7 days, and I actually did see an improvement in my undereye area! This mega-hydrating formula works wonders. I apply it in the morning, and it's great under makeup without being too heavy. 

Exotic Woods Soy Candle - This candle is from Target and it smells heavenly. I love woodsy, dark fragrances (obvi) and this smelled amazing. I think my husband and I actually got this for our wedding and when I saw it in my pile of candles I thought "EEK! We better burn this!" ... especially considering we've been married nearly a year and a half. What can I say, I'm a candle hoarder! I hope Target releases this scent again!

Wet n Wild Gel Eyeliner in Black - This is only the second gel eyeliner I've purchased and it was such an upgrade from the other that I own that I have been using it nonstop. It's super black (my requirement for any eyeliner) and soft. It glides on so easily and lasts all day. It smudges a tiny bit, but I don't even mind. 

NYX Eyeshadow in Flamingo - This is one of my favorite eyeshadows that I own. It goes so well with my fair skin tone. It gives my eyelids a pinky gold sheen that is almost unnoticeable until I'm in the right light. It's perfect for a shimmery neutral eye, or even as a one color wash on the lids. Beautiful and cheap - could it get any better?

Chloe Eau de Parfum rollerball - I have long wanted this perfume in my hands, and I finally went to Sephora and snatched up this amazing perfume. Chloe is an iconic feminine scent that smells strongly of rose and amber. It is the epitome of class and I can not get enough. I'm going to have to splurge on a full-size of this perfume once I run out of the rollerball. 

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Volume Refresher (dry shampoo) - Oh my gosh, just break my heart - I just found out this is discontinued! Go figure, as I picked it up at Big Lots a while ago... and we all know why makeup is at Big Lots. I LOVED this. It didn't leave a white cast in my hair, it smelled nice, and it actually did give my hair volume. I so wish this would make a comeback!

What did you love this month? Let me know!

Battle of the Subscription Boxes III: Birchbox vs. Ipsy

If you read last month's Battle of the Subscription boxes, you'd know that I was seriously considering dropping Birchbox. For the last year or so, I've been only mildly impressed with what I receive for $10/month and after subscribing to Ipsy and receiving an awesome value for the same price, I thought it might be time to say goodbye to Birchbox. But this month, Birchbox majorly stepped up its game.... let's dive right in...

September Birchbox

• BCBGMAXAZRIA Bon Genre perfume (full-size: $55-$75) I've tried a couple BCBGMAXAZRIA perfumes, and this is by far the best smelling one I've tried. This smells really warm and spicy, perfect for the colder months. If you've ever smelled Spicebomb (the male version of Flowerbomb) it reminds me a lot of that (which I absolutely LOVE). I know a lot of people don't like these little perfume samples, but I enjoy them.

• Serge Normant Meta Luxe Hair Spray (full-size: $25) This hair spray claims to tame frizz and shield from UV rays. Aside from this, I've only tried the Serge Normant dry shampoo which I didn't like at all. Hopefully this proves better than the dry shampoo.

• Eyeko Black Magic Mascara (full-size: $24) This water-resistant mascara curls, adds volume and has "major staying power" according to Birchbox. Eyeko has been a Birchbox brand for quite some time now, and I'm excited to try another of their products. This mascara has killer ratings on Sephora.com, so I'll happily try it out.

• Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Delirium (full-size: $24) Full-size product alert!! This polish is part of Ruffian's very first collection. Retailing at $24, I'm happy to get this because I sure as heck don't ever spend that much on a nail polish. Loving this gorgeous purple!

• Grand Central Beauty S.M.A.R.T. Skin Perfecting Polisher (full-size: $38) This skin serum is made with natural botanicals that exfoliate, tone, smooth and moisturize the skin. I'm intrigued by this as I've never used anything like it. 

September Ipsy Glam Bag

• NYX Eye Shadow in Sparkle White (full-size: $4.50) Full-size product alert!! Woop woop! Sparkle White is a really gorgeous creamy off-white with golden shimmer. This would make a great inner corner highlight on the eyes. 

• Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Volumizing Mascara (full-size: $19.99) I've never heard of this brand or product before, but I'm always down to try a new mascara. This has an hourglass brush shape, and claims to lengthen and curl lashes without smudging.

• John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo & Conditioner (full-size: $6.49) This duo aims to weightlessly repair hair from frequent heat styling and coloring. I've never colored my hair and I rarely use heat on it, but my hair is awfully dry so I'm sure I could get some use out of these. These 1.5 oz. sizes will be perfect to keep around for traveling. 

• Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil in Obsidian (full-size: $12) Another full-size product! I've never heard of Starlooks before. Just from swatching, the formula feels relatively creamy which is nice. These products can be used solely as eyeliner, but they can also be used all over the lid as a base. I'll definitely get use out of this. 

I really don't know if there's a clear winner this month! I like both subscriptions equally. If I HAD to choose a winner, I think it would have to be Ipsy because I received two full-size products, compared to just one in my Birchbox. I hope that Birchbox continues to have boxes as great as they did this month (probably a direct response to many complaining customers). Who do you think won? 

If you want to sign up for Birchbox or Ipsy, just click the links! Each are just $10/month and it gives you a chance to try some higher end products before you shell out the money on the full-size item. 

** This post contains my referral links. If you click on the link and sign up, I will earn credit towards Birchbox & Ipsy products.