What's in the Box?? (October 2013)

Guys, I've been meaning to confess, I've been a subscriber to Birchbox for a few months now.

Voraciously watching my email for my notification of "your box has shipped!" and checking and double checking the tracking link until my box arrives and I can tear into it like Christmas Morning. IT'S SO FUN!

I haven't been too excited about any of the boxes, some of the products have been fine. The random nail polish, the random lip color, etc. None have really caught my attention quite as well as two of the five products I received for October.

My October Birchbox (photo from Birchbox.com)

photo from Birchbox.com

I'm familiar with The Balm Cosmetics, having purchased a concealer pot from them several years ago and never hitting pan no matter how much I used it. Which, is incredible. So even though I knew their products were great and affordable, I never really purchased more.

I might actually buy this when I run out!

The Balm Staniac is a little tube, about the size of a cotton swab, of cherry colored jelly with a doe-foot applicator that is easily used as a lip stain or cheek stain.  Yes the tube is small for a price point of $17, BUT it travels better than the fantastic lip and cheek stain BeneTint by BeneFit. (Which is widely recognized as the best lip & cheek stain)

photo from Birchbox.com

I'm a big fan of lip balm, BIG fan. From my first swipe of a LipSmacker, I was IN. But ChapStick, never really was appealing to me. Too waxy, smelled weird, etc.

This little beauty, ChapStick Hydration Lock, was a special "find" from Birchbox. Which means it wasn't really a part of the monthly box, but IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN! 

 Reluctantly, I opened the package and swiped on the product and was instantly impressed! My lips felt smoother but not waxed over (a huge complaint of mine for ChapStick products) and they looked smoother! I've been battling with a super dry and flaky patch on my lower lip for weeks and the ChapStick Hydration Lock completely obliterated the look of it! And did so for at LEAST 4 hours. Which to me, is an eternity when it comes to lip balm reapplication!

The product states that the "flavor" is Vanilla Creme, but I couldn't smell or taste anything. I'm probably desensitized by my use of the EOS lip balms. 

There is no price point on Birchbox.com for this product since it's a "find", but I'm sure you could find it in your local drugstore or box store.

I can't wait to see what's in my next Birchbox!!

Lip balm!

Chapped and/or dry lips are not seasonal. Thankfully there is no shortage of options to remedy this pesky problem!
In an endless sea of options, I've found one that works and is unique! Many celebs sing the praises of the Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream (shown here on macys.com), I can say from experience that it tastes AWFUL and its rather weird to pull out a giant tube, squeeze goop out onto a finger and dab your lips then scramble to find something to wipe your finger on. More than anything, it tastes AWFUL! It works well because it's a salve, but *shudders* YUCK!
So yes, I've been trying different lip balms for a long time. I used to be an avid Natural Ice Lip Balm user, then a discontinued product called Smoooch by BeneFit Cosmetics, then on to Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm (oooold tube pictured on the right, below) next to my newest lip balm obsession, EOS Sweet Mint Lip Balm.
The formula is pretty basic, hydrating, smoothing without peeling, and it tastes fresh and minty (not brushed your teeth minty, but a fresh and sweet minty) because no matter what you do, you're going to end up tasting it.
Plus, the shape makes it easy to fish out of an overloaded handbag! It's ROUND like a ball, so you won't accidentally grab one of the 25 liptsticks and glosses that somehow end up loose in your bag. Or at least that's what happens to me.
There are other flavors too, but the Sweet Mint is the one that I've tried and purchased multiple times. I've got one on my person at all times and one on my nightstand as an end of the day lip treatment.
That's my favorite lip balm to date, what's yours?