Amanda's February Birchbox

I can't believe it's the last week in February already! Has this month flown by for anyone else? I really enjoyed the products in my Birchbox this month. I know some months are better than others but I really got some good products that I plan on purchasing once they run out. Let's take a look at all the goodies I received:

1. Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator

2. TIGI Catwalk Session Series Transforming Dry Shampoo

3. Jouer Matte Moisture Tint

4. Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel SQUARES

5. Juicy Couture Couture La La

1. Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator

According to the Birchbox Breakdown: To fully appreciate this dermatologist-quality scrub, a mini skincare lesson is in order. Let’s start with enzymes: these potent ingredients actually dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. Microderm crystals, on the other hand, are ultra fine minerals that buff away tired skin. Vasanti’s multi-action exfoliator includes both enzymes and micro crystals, plus healing natural ingredients. The result? Renewed, decongested skin without any redness. A single tube will last you four to six months.

My review: I really liked this product. It was a great exfoliator that was SO gentle on my skin. Usually my sensitive skin gets red and even more flaky after using other products but not this one. It was perfect and left my skin so smooth.

2. TIGI Catwalk Session Series Transforming Dry Shampoo

According to the Birchbox Breakdown: If you’re a devoted Birchbox reader, you’re probably well aware that we have a serious infatuation with dry shampoo. Our latest obsession is this game-changer from hip brand TIGI. A couple of quick spritzes instantly zaps excess oil, perks up flat locks, and lets us go an extra day (okay, four) without shampooing.

My review: I LOVED this dry shampoo. I have a few other TIGI products that I love so I wasn't surprised that this product also was great. It smelled fantastic (even Jay said he loved the way it smelled!), made my hair less oily/greasy looking and gave some body and volume to my hair. The sample size is huge -- I was very happy that there is still so much more for me to use. I think this beats out my normal Tresemme dry shampoo!

3. Jouer Matte Moisture Tint

According to the Birchbox Breakdown: Ever since we discovered Jouer’s best selling Luminizing Moisture Tint, the skin perfector has been our secret to getting a healthy, glowy complexion. We never thought anything could come between us and our beloved LMT—until we met this brand new mattifying version. The oil-free formula controls shine all day long and gives skin a soft, velvety finish. It blends in easily and keeps your face protected with SPF 15. We don’t see anything wrong with having two favorites.

My review: Another home run! I thought this product blended great and although it's matte it was not drying at all (and I have really dry skin this time of year). I felt like the coverage was better than most tinted moisturizers I've tried. I was impressed and am sad the sample is so small!

4. Ghirardelli Milk & Caramel SQUARES

According to the Birchbox Breakdown: As Mary Kate and Ashley, Simon and Garfunkel, and Mickey and Minnie would probably attest, it takes two to make a thing go right. Enter our latest Birchbox Find: Ghirardelli’s melt-in-your-mouth milk chocolate squares filled with velvety caramel. The individually-wrapped squares are perfect for snacking, and each is just under 75 calories. If you can be convinced to share, they make thoughtful treats for fellow chocolate-lovers.

My review: Another product I couldn't try, sadly. I will have to give this one to Jay to try out for me! I get why they throw these treat products in our boxes from time to time but for someone like me who can't eat them, it's one less product that month. I could see them as being a bonus or extra for the month, but not instead of a product.

5. Juicy Couture Couture La La

According to the Birchbox Breakdown: Created with the fearless free spirit in mind, this brand new scent from Juicy Couture is a punk rock update on the original Juicy Couture. One part fruity, one part tart, and one part floral, it’s neither too sweet nor too girly. Plus, the glam bottle is worthy of a front-and-center spot on your vanity.

My review: Another great perfume sample from Juicy Couture. I loved the scent and thought it was light and fruity.

So what did you think of what I got this month? Do you want to sign up for your own Birchbox? Click here!

Review: Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer

If you’re looking for a great way to keep your lips moisturized and soft this winter, check out the Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer.

According to the Jouer website, the Essential Lip Enhancer is made with botanical ingredients like vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil. It’s designed to hydrate and volumize lips and Jouer claims that it will help decrease fine lines. They recommend applying it three times a day for 29 days.

The lip enhancer goes on just like a non-sticky lip gloss. It’s very soft and creamy and has a very subtle hint of pink. It also gives a nice shine to the lips. The first time I tried it, I realized that the product had a very familiar scent that I couldn’t place—turns out that it smells just like Pond’s Cold Cream. Never tried it? I don’t blame you—it was one of those things I borrowed from my mom’s beauty collection when I was a kid.

I’ve been using the lip enhancer in the morning and just before bed for over a month and have been very happy with the results. It’s excellent as a night treatment and every morning I wake up and my lips feel very soft and hydrated. Even with the cold weather setting in, my lips don’t feel dry or chapped even after the lip enhancer has worn off.

I’ve noticed that after I’ve applied the lip enhancer, it seems that any fine lines on or around my lips are much less noticeable; however, I haven’t noticed any lasting effects beyond when actually wearing the product.

Overall, I would definitely recommend the Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer if you’re looking for a way to keep your lips hydrated this winter!

Review: Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint

As promised during a post about my recent makeup haul, I’m planning to review several new beauty products. Today, it’s the Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint.

Birchbox introduced me to the Jouer brand, and I’m so happy they did. I received a small sample of Jouer’s Luminizing Moisture tint and immediately knew I found a product that I’d be purchasing.

Jouer’s Luminizing Moisture Tint is a tinted moisturizer that contains SPF 20 and is designed to provide a healthy glow for skin. It's claim is that it can help even out skin imperfections and lessen the appearance of fine lines. The product contains no fragrances, and is hypoallergenic and oil free, which makes it good for any skin type. The product comes in seven different shades – opal, pearl, golden, blush, glow, bronzed and deep bronzed. These shades are designed to match every skin tone. I purchased pearl, which is made for fair complexions. I could have probably gone with the opal color, but especially for winter months I like when my makeup help gives a little color to my pale skin.

In the past several months, I’ve gravitated toward tinted moisturizers because I have dry skin. Tinted moisturizers are designed to be more lightweight and provide hydration for skin. Jouer’s Moisture Tint does both – the product is very lightweight and it barely feels like there’s anything on my skin. It makes good on its claim to hydrate, which makes it a good choice for all-day wear.

The product is extremely easy to apply. My favorite way to apply it is by using my hands. I’ve found this to be a really good way to help melt the makeup into my skin and avoid any streaks or unevenness caused by brushes or sponges. One of the best things about the moisture tint is that it’s buildable – I usually start with a very thin layer and add more on the areas I need it. Here’s how it looks on me:

As far as lessening the appearance of fine lines, I didn’t find this claim to be true, but the product delivered on all other counts. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a product that gives light to medium coverage and provides a nice summery-looking radiance to the skin.

Jouer just came out with a Matte Moisture Tint that I really want to try. It seems like a good option for the upcoming fall and winter months when matte skin is in.

Have you tried any Jouer products? What did you think? 

Makeup Haul

Recently I got my hands on a few beauty products I'm really excited to test and review for you guys.

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

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This follow-up to the original Naked Palette (which I absolutely love) is AWESOME. The palette contains 12 shades, and they're quite different from the original palette. The Naked 2 contains a few more matte shades, but maintains the combination of both sparkly and matte shades. It also comes with a mini lip gloss and a double-ended eyeshadow brush. There really are a lot of possibilities with this palette.

Jouer Lip Enhancer

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Jouer is a brand I had heard of, but only really discovered via my monthly Birchbox. I'd never tried the lip enhancer before, but I decided to give it a shot when I read the description. The product is creamy and has a subtle hint of pink. The lip enhancer claims to make your lips look fuller and reduce fine lines. It's supposed to hydrate and protect lips. The directions say to apply several times a day for one month to see results.

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint

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Thank you to Birchbox for introducing me to this product! It's like a tinted moisturizer on steroids. The product is lightweight and provides a nice-looking summer glow to the skin. It has SPF 20 and comes in seven different shades to match all skin tones. The color I purchased was pearl -- made for fair complexions. As you can tell, I already love this product.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara

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This product is one of the more recent additions to the Benefit line. The mascara claims to lengthen, curl and volumize lashes. That's quite a tall order. Having tested this product before, I was pretty happy with the results. One of the first things I noticed about the product is the brush. It's fairly standard, but the tip comes with tiny little bristles to help you coat the harder to reach lashes. I'm looking forward to adding this one to my daily makeup routine.

I'm really excited to use all of these new products. I'll post full reviews and pictures for everything soon. Have you tried out any of these products? Let us know in the comments!