Battle of the Boxes. Ipsy versus Birchbox

The time has come. 

Let's have a real chat about Birchbox and Ipsy.

This all started a few months ago when I kept hearing from readers, in the comments of my Birchbox posts, that Ipsy is so much better than Birchbox. I did a little research and signed up to receive it.

I am almost positive that Ipsy is the new name for the initial company called "Glam Bag". And all I read about Glam Bag reviews is that they were awful. Shipping issues, duplicating payments, etc. So I stayed far, far away from Glam Bag when it first launched.

However, if Ipsy is the new rendition of the original Glam Bag, I'd say they got their mess together. I've been recieving my Ipsy bag for 3 months and haven't had a single issue.  

A little background info before we begin:

I've been receiving a monthly Birchbox for about 2 years now. At the time my blog was becoming increasingly popular, so were my monthly Birchbox posts. Birchbox began to hear about this mysterious Small Things Blogger who would write up a review of their product each month. They noticed some traffic coming from my blog to their site. 

They reached out, thanked me, and asked if I was interested in being a guest blogger on their blog! I was thrilled, accepted, and so began an ongoing working relationship. I've worked on some other cool projects with Birchbox and even visited the headquarters when I was in New York City last year.

I've never been paid by Birchbox, I don't receive my boxes for free, but I every once in awhile they will send me a special sample, or a limited edition box to review on the blog. I'm very grateful that we have a good relationship!

So, while my love for Birchbox runs deeper than my love for Ipsy, I'm going to truly review these two boxes from a Kate point of view, not a Small Things Blogger who has been talking about Birchbox for years. Are you with me? 

Similarities:

-both at $10.00/month

-both send 4-5 products, typically sample sized but sometimes full size

-both are personalized based on your beauty profile

Differences: 

-Birchbox leans towards the skincare/body care end of things while Ipsy leans almost entirely on the makeup end of the spectrum

-Ipsy arrives in a mailer, with a bag inside

-Birchbox arrives in a box

Here is a peek at my June Ipsy bag:

1. The bag is not my style, however I like the concept that I get a new tiny bag each month.

2. This is a gel liner, with a brush included (at the top). It's a charcoal color, and I liked it just fine.

3. These eyeshadows are too sparkly for me, and look cheap.

4. A nude lip liner that is slightly too brown, but may work better on other skin tones.

5. Believe it or not, this is blush. It's brown. It's weird. I will not be using it. You can find the NYX line at Ulta, by the way.

6. This liner is great for brightening up your waterline! I liked it a lot!

It's clear from this bag, and other bags I've recieved, that Ipsy does send more makeup products than Birchbox. But here is the thing: makeup is such a personal thing, and it's really important to buy flattering shades/products that work for your skin tone. So it's much more of a challenge to send makeup that will *hopefully* work for you. 

I've found that I've tossed more items that come in my Ipsy bag than I have from my Birchboxes.

And here is a peek at my June Birchbox:

1. A lovely dry shampoo. Can't get enough of these--they are fantastic to throw in my travel bag. 

2. An exfoliating, foaming cleanser.

3. A cute twistband (again, love stocking up on these. I stash them in different places so I always have one accessible.)

4. The white polish from the Birchbox + ColorClub collaboration. I don't wear white nail polish, but it would be good for a french manicure.

5. A really bright pink lipstick. Fun for summer, maybe a little bright for me though.

6. Cute postcards! I'm not much of a snail mail kind of gal, HOWEVER these are cute to even use as a card for a gift. 

So, contrasting this box to Ipsy, there is really only 1 makeup product. The rest is more skin/body care or "lifestyle". I've found, based on my beauty profile, my Birchbox often contains hair prodcuts, skin care, and only a bit of makeup. And I really like it that way. I find that I'm more experimental with those sorts of things than makeup.

The conclusion:

Each month varies, and depending on your beauty profile the contents in your box will vary. It seems like if you are more interested in skincare, bodycare, hair products, and a few lifestyle products, Birchbox is the way to go. If you are more interested in makeup, maybe try out Ipsy.

As far as I'm concerned, I plan to cancel Ipsy in the coming months. Like I've said, I've found that the makeup just doesn't fit my style, and I haven't been excited about a bag yet. I also feel like it's geared toward a younger market, but maybe that's just me. 

So, I declare Birchbox the winner in my book. 

Do you subscribe to both? Which is your favorite?

10 quick steps to a smoky eye

The smoky eye may be the most common makeup look for nights out in a little black dress. It creates drama, definition, and plays up the eyes beautifully. 

It's my go-to when I have an event to attend and want more impact with my eye makeup.

I created this smoky eye with a handful of CoverGirl products. I really enjoyed playing around with the shadows and shadow pencils, and could not be more pleased with the final look!

The eyeshadow pots are a perfect size for filling up your brush with product. They are really pigmented, so you won't have to keep reapplying for color. The Flamed Out Shadow pencils are a gel formula (and actually feel a little cool as you apply them), and go on like a dream. 

I've been using a few Cover Girl products for ages. Lash Blast is my favorite mascara of all time, and their Tapestry Taupe eyeshadow is probably the most universally flattering shade I've ever tried. I'm a big Cover Girl fan.

I created two different kinds of tutorials so you can learn how to create this look on yourself! 

1. Start with a bit of lid primer to make sure your smoky eye lasts all night.

2. Apply CoverGirl Flamed Out shadow Melted Caramel all over lid.

3. Apply CoverGirl Flamed Out shadow Molten Black to crease and outer corners. Be generous as you apply this dark shadow as this is what is going to give you the depth and darkness!

4. Using liquid liner, draw a dramatic cat eye.

5. Dust CoverGirl Flamed Out shadow in Blazing White to inner corners. 

6. Line lower lash line with CoverGirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in Ashen Glow Flame.

7. Highlight brow bone (and blend with finger) with CoverGirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in Crystal Flame.

8. Generously apply CoverGirl Flamed Out mascara in Very Black to lashes.

9. Apply the same mascara to lower lashes.

10. For extra impact, line inner waterline with black eyeliner.

If you have an Ulta Beauty near you, that is the best place to stock up on these products! I always save the coupons I get the Ulta Beauty catalog so I can get the products on sale!
For a limited time, CoverGirl Eye is Buy One get one 50% Off at Ulta Beauty. This offer is valid from Sunday, June 9^ththrough Friday, June 28^th.

If you are more of a video type of gal, you can watch me create this look below!

If you are feeling extra brave, you can try out some of the other shades included in the line. Pink, who may be the perfect model for this look, is rocking some dramatic eyes!

Have you mastered the smoky eye? I'd say the hardest part of this tutorial may be the cat eye, but with a steady arm and practice, I'm sure you can master it eventually. The trick is making small strokes and starting very thin. You can always build on it, but it's pretty much impossible to take liquid liner "away". 

I received these Cover Girl products for free. The tutorial (photo and video) were created by me.

June FAQ Video

Grits makes several cameos in this video. But the finale he shows us at the end will never happen again. Can't believe I caught that on video at the perfect timing.

In this video I'll answer the following questions and chat a little bit about baby stuff at the end! 

1. How come my hair never feels the same when a stylist washes it versus when I wash it? Even if we use the same exactly products, it's not as smooth and shiny when I wash it.

2. What is your opinion on beach wave perms?

3. How can I get my hair to not flip at the back when I'm styling it straight?

4. What are some products I can use to keep my hair healthy and stylable with well water?

+ pool/beach hair care

Extra baby/pregnancy questions:

Do you have a name picked out?

Will you find out the gender?

Has your hair been different?

Questions about my makeup? I used my standard routine, but opted for Urban Decay Laced and Tease for my eyeshadow. 

I don't know my paint color in my room (we rent). My cat is a flame point siamese mix. My shirt is 3 years old from J.Crew Factory. My lip color is Bobbi Brown Bright Pink gloss.

Look at me, being all proactive and on top of things. Nice, huh? 

I try to provide as many answers as I can. :)

High Five for Friday

Yet again, Friday is here. And it's glorious.

I have had a busy week. Lots to do. Extra projects popping up everywhere. But, I have a relatively free weekend ahead to tie up all the loose ends. . .so that's good. And by tie up loose ends, I mean relax and not work on anything productive of course.

Here are my top 5 highlights of the week!

1. Did you get a chance to check out the RealSimple.com feature? I'm so grateful that I was given a second opportunity to create three bridal DIY hairstyles for them again. And seeing my name and face on their website is so cool. 

2. We had quite a dramatic storm blow in yesterday. We were warned about it all day, the weather service issued alerts, etc., so I was expecting a major storm. It arrived with a crazy wind and intimidating dark clouds, but then blew over relatively quickly in about 30 minutes. It knocked over some trees, but I don't think anyone suffered any major damage. 
Every once in awhile I enjoy a good summer thunderstorm. As long as no one gets hurt, or no trees fall on houses, there is something cozy about being inside without power while the lightning flashes outside.

(no filter) 

(also, in case you are familiar w/ my neighborhood, please don't speculate on where I live in the comments.)

I always thought the storms would be much worse in North Carolina than the midwest (where I grew up), but as it turns out we haven't had a lot of major thunderstorms. I experienced many more, and much worse ones, in Illinois as a kid.

3. Since I mentioned last week that I was going to embark on a mission to make Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls with my friend Allyson, I thought I'd follow up to let you know how it went.
First, don't make them on an empty stomach. They take 3-4 hours total. Other than sticking your finger in the butter, sugar, cinnamon mixture and licking that, there is no cinnamon roll goodness for a long time.
The amount of butter Ree calls you to pour on the rolled out dough is crazy. I know she's the butter queen and all that, but it was so much that as we rolled, it created a tidal wave of buttery sugary cinnamon goodness that was seeping out of the roll. And then the dough was too "wet" to hold together. 
Chilling the dough it majorly important. Almost essential.

So, if I were to make them again, and I probably will because they are delicious, I would half the amount of butter poured on the dough, pre-roll, and then once the rolls are sliced and placed in the pan, I'd drizzle the extra butter on top (prior to baking and icing).

(pre-bake)

4. I also mentioned a week or so ago and I was so excited for the Summer Movie series to start up at the Museum of Art (and Koka Booth--although I heard that location isn't as good as MofArt) and tonight they are showing Life of Pi. 
AT 9:00PM. 
WHAT. 
If I see the any time in the nine o'clock hour on a clock, I whine about "it being sooooo late. oh my gosh it's soooooo late." Ideally, I'd like to be in bed by 8:30p, and asleep by 9:00p. 
Party. Animal.
And I was even like this before I got pregnant.

Plus, Life of Pi looks. . . .weird. I read the book in high school and can't remember if I liked it or not. Probably because I was sketching out hairstyles in my notebook while I was in classes all day.

5. Finally, if there is one thing that I hope you can tell about my personality through this computer screen, it's that I like to laugh. I've mentioned Essie, and YouTube-r, before as one of my favorite beauty gals to watch on YouTube, and at about minute 01:10 -- 02:16 of her latest video is SO funny.
I was overcome with laughter. I don't know why, it just struck me as so funny. And I think it's the whole "I feel like I know her since I watch her videos so she's kind of a friend and I like her because she's funny and she keeps it real" sort of thing too. But man. I died. 


Finally, if you need more to read this morning, may I recommend the following:
Sweat-proof your makeup
Get that summer glow
Pink lipstick anyone?


(linking up with Lauren Elizabeth for HF4F)

High-low Summer Dress

dress: A-thread.com

lace top: Loft

belt: unsure, very old

shoes: Target

I have to admit, I'm fairly behind on this high-low hem trend. I've seen it done really severely, which I'm not a fan of, but the hem on this dress is just right. It adds a little interest and fun to the dress without getting to "out there". 

A-thread has become one of my favorite places to shop online. Their jewelry collection is amazing, and  I've spent plenty of time perusing their dresses and tops as well. 

Today, A-thread is giving away a $75.00 gift card to one lucky winner! Enter the giveaway by using the tool below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Finding out

The word "shocked" doesn't even come close to how I was feeling when I saw two little lines on the pregnancy test.

Just like most things in life, finding out that I was pregnant did not go anything like I imagined it would.

Justin and I have been trying for a little while. When we started, I would buy the "tells you 6 days sooner" pregnancy tests and take them even though I wasn't even close to my period date. Naively, I thought it would happen right away. Why wouldn't it? 

Many months in to the trying, and facing the reality month after month that we did not conceive, I stopped buying pregnancy test. I did not give up on getting pregnant, but I had to stop teasing myself  with the little glimmer of hope that a plastic stick could give us.

Justin and I went to an unhelpful "infertility*" consultation appointment with my gynecologist in January. She immediately suggested I get on Clomid, which I was relatively apprehensive about, and didn't have much else to offer besides that. We left wondering why there wasn't going to be a little bit more investigation into both Justin and I before I started taking a medication to help me ovulate. What if Justin is sterile? Or it isn't an ovulation issue with me? 
(*I use the word infertility here only because that is what the appointment was called. Even before finding out that I'm pregnant, I would not classify Justin and I as "infertile". It just took 14 months to conceive.)

I heard a lot of negative things about Clomid, but I also heard that it worked for a lot of people. Based on an awful experience with a hormonal birth control, I was very nervous about taking something that would alter my hormones again. I had two horrible migraines the month I was trying birth control, many years ago, and I wasn't sure if that would happen again on Clomid. 

I told that doctor that I would follow up, which I never did, and decided to purchase ovulation sticks from Amazon to see if I could track down when/if I was ovulating. THEN we could move forward. I needed a little bit more information before I started taking anything.

I happened to be traveling almost every weekend in March for both business and pleasure, so I decided to start tracking my ovulation in April. 

My period had been arriving a few days late every month, which made it hard to know when to expect it. So, as the days passed in April, I waited for the 13th to arrive--which should have been when my period began. Well, it was late. And I thought it was rude. I remember telling Justin, "My stupid period is late. This is so annoying. I just want it to get here already so I can stop thinking about it."

Well, it didn't come. And I did not wonder if I was pregnant. I was gone for so much of March, the odds of us concieving were less than any other month we had been trying. It truly didn't even cross my mind.

Monday morning, April 15th, I fished out a pregnancy test that came with my ovulation kit.

I read the instructions, which told me I needed to dip this test in a cup instead of doing the traditional "pee on a stick" method and I decided there was no way I was going to go through that hassle just for a negative test. I used the "wrong" method (for this test), set it on the counter, and returned to my home office to continue working. 

A few minutes later I had forgotten about that test, and I hopped up to go "confirm the negative" result. 

I walked in the bathroom and saw two pink lines. 

"Huh. Weird. These tests are opposite from the store-bought ones. Usually two lines mean positive but it must mean negative on these. . ."

I picked up the instructions and saw that two lines meant positive. 

And I stood there. Heart pounding. Praying, "Lord, protect my heart please. This has to be wrong." 

I checked the test about 56 times, making sure there were, in fact, two lines. And then I was annoyed that I hadn't even taken the test correctly! (irony at it's finest)

So I conclude that it was probably a false positive, and I need to get my heart rate down by taking a Clear Blue Easy test. So I guzzle as much water as I can, run out to the drugstore, come home, and take that test following every rule I possibly could. 

As it was processing, I continued to pray. "Lord. Please protect my heart. I know this isn't real. It's never positive."

As the plus sign began to form on the Clear Blue Easy test, I put my hand on my heart and looked at myself in the mirror. 

"I might be pregnant."

I took a third test just for extra confirmation and that was positive too.

So there I stood, with my cats snoozing on our bed in utter ignorance of what was happening, with this realization that everything just changed. Forever. 

I sat on my bed and thought, "What on earth do I do next?" It's such a strange feeling to learn you are pregnant, but notice that nothing in your day to day changes at all. Justin was at work. I had blog work to do. Justin had homework to do later.

But everything was different.

So I begin to think of a way to tell Justin, and get that ready. His birthday was just days away, so I went out and bought a card for him as an "early birthday gift".

The day crawled. 

I decided to tell Justin later that evening, closer to bedtime, since he had homework to do that evening. I couldn't exactly bombard him with the information that our lives are forever changed and then say, "okay, have fun studying!"

He walks in the door, and I'm in the kitchen making dinner.

"How was your day?" He asks.

"Fine. You know, the usual. Blog stuff. . ." I reply. I'm a pretty good liar.

We continue to chat as usual over dinner, and then he gets ready to do his work. I had a meeting with a friend that night, so I kept that on the schedule so nothing looked suspicious.

I returned home, ran upstairs to grab the card, and as I walked down the stairs my heart started pounding.

I paused for a distinct moment to thank the Lord for this moment.

I handed him the card, and sat there almost in tears. He opens it slowly, suspecting nothing, and starts to read it.

The front of it said, "For your birthday I'd like to give you the world. . ."
And the inside read, "But my heart will have to do." I crossed out "my heart" and wrote "our baby" beneath it and followed that with "I'm pregnant! Oh my gosh! I love you! Happy Birthday!"

He looks up at me quickly with his face full of shock and emotion.

I said, "I'm pregnant!"

We hugged, I cried, and he got up from the couch to go sit on the stairs (because that makes sense. . . right?).

He looks up at me and says, "We have so much to do!"

"We've got 9 months. We have plenty of time!"

The rest of the evening we just smiled, looked at each other, and sat in silence as both of our minds raced. We'd chat a little bit about how crazy it is to find out this news. How we are the only two people in the world who know. Such a strange, but special, feeling.

The next day we told both sets of parents and our families. Everyone was thrilled for us, and it was such a gift to hear their reactions.

And now, already into the second trimester, I can still remember that night like it was yesterday. I feel immeasurably blessed by God that we were able to conceive naturally. Through the year of trying, I heard from more women than I could imagine who were unable to conceive without outside help, and knowing that has truly magnified what a gift this really is. 

*I'm aware that many people have differing opinions on using outside help to conceive. This can be a tough subject to talk about, so all I'd ask of you is to be sensitive and considerate in the comments.

Edit Update: Just to clear up any possible confusion, we did not stop trying in March. I was traveling a lot, so we just were not able to try as often as we did other months. I don't believe in the "just relax and you'll get pregnant right away" theory. I believe in God's timing.

BB CC DD Creams. When will it end?

Do you ever feel like this guy when you are trying to shop for beauty products? 

You aren't alone if you do. What does it all mean?

Sometimes I think beauty companies conspire against us to make as many products as they can that are almost the exact same but different enough to confuse us about which one is the best.

So, unless you've been living under a rock (which might be where this guy lives), you've probably heard of BB Cream. Originally started in Asia, it took the US by storm a few years ago as a pumped-up tinted moisturizer. 

And now we have CC and DD creams on the market as well. DD cream is the newest, and I'm going to venture to guess that it may not catch on like people may think.

So here is a very basic breakdown of each product, and what they do. Brand-specific descriptions will be able to give you the specifics for each cream, so if you want more info I'd recommend comparing them on Sephora.com.