Golden Tote May 2016

Golden Tote Reviews, What I'm wearing, , ,

I decided to go for it and get a Golden Tote this month, mostly because they had a few really adorable dresses I wanted.  Here’s what I got.

Golden Tote May 2016

Two Items I picked:

Green Maxi Dress

green dress

Golden Tote May 2016

I really like this on.  It’s flattering and soft and I can see myself wearing it a lot this summer.

Red Boho-Style Dress

red dress

Golden Tote May 2016

This is shorter than I’d like, but I can get away with it on the weekends.  Love the color and will pair it with lace up sandals.

Surprise Items:

Blue Tank Top

Shoes May 2016 029

Golden Tote May 2016

Not really flattering and a style that I dislike, but I might wear it once just to give it a chance.  It’s very on trend right now.  Just not good for my body type.

Cropped Top

Golden Tote May 2016

Golden Tote May 2016

Super not flattering.

Green patterned dress

Shoes May 2016 030

Golden Tote May 2016

I do like this dress, but it’s one of those things I feel like I’ll be fussing a lot with.  Because of the elastic waist and gathering I had to keep pulling it down when I moved otherwise it gathered very unflatteringly at the top.

Overall

Overall, would I do it again soon?  Probably not, but I did get a few dresses that I like.  Unfortunately the two tops were awful and unflattering, and had this been stitch fix everything but the green maxi dress would have gone back.

Ipsy Glam Bag vs. Birchbox May 2016

Birchbox Review, IPSY Glam bag review, What I'm wearing,

Here is what I got in each of the beauty subscriptions this month.

IPSY Glam Bag – $10 a month no tax

Ipsy Glam Bag May 2016

Etat Libre de Orange – Perfume

INSPR – fluff beauty brush

Jelly Pong Pong – Caribbean sun bronzer duo

SOO AE- Collagen essence sheet masks

IT cosmetics – gel eyeliner

The perfume was much too strong for me and I haven’t tried the other products, mostly because I have no need for them.  I think I will be cancelling after this month.  Ipsy has adorable bags but didn’t have brands or products I’m all that interested in.  I just double checked my profile to see why they would send me an eye product every month and I had not checked anything related to eyes so it seems not all that personalized.

Birchbox – $10 a month plus tax ($10.86 for me)

Birchbox May 2016

Coola – Daydream SPF 30 Mineral makeup primer

Eyeko – skinny eyeliner

Matrix – Oil Wonders volume rose plumping mousse (plus shampoo and conditioner)

MDSolarSciences – Mineral Moisture Defense SPF 50 for Body

Vita Liberata – Fabulous Self Tanning Gradual Lotion

I absolutely love the rose shampoo, the smell reminds me of a doll that I played with as a child and it made my hair soft and fluffy.  The conditioner didn’t smell as nice, but when I used them together my hair seemed a bit fuller.

I’m excited to try the MDSolarSciences product, I use SPF on the back of my hands and it will be nice to have one with moisture defense in it since my hands get dry.  I don’t use makeup primer and hate self tanning lotions, and definitely won’t use the eyeliner.  To be able to try 3-4 products that I’m interested in seems like a good deal still and I’m pleased with the brands that Birchbox carries.  Plus I like that you get points after reviewing towards your future purchases.  I think I’ll stick with Birchbox.

 

April Birchbox vs Ipsy Glam Bag

Birchbox Review, IPSY Glam bag review, What I'm wearing

I haven’t reviewed my two beauty subscription boxes in a while so here is my breakdown of April.

Birchbox – $10 a month plus tax ($10.86 for me)

birchbox and ipsy April 002

The box this month was really pretty and here’s what I got:

Acure – organics lip lush lip gloss

Juliette has a gun – perfume in Anyway

Vasanti – Brighten Up! Face scrub

Supergoop – Daily correct CC cream

Davines – OI all in one milk

Davines – OI shampoo and conditioner

This box was actually very good for me.  I ended up really liking the Davines shampoo, and the Anyway perfume by Juliette has a gun is my new favorite and I plan to order the full size.  The face scrub was also really nice and made my skin very soft.  The supergoop CC cream was a little oily for me and I just purchased a different one from MD Solar sciences that I like better but was happy I got to try it.  Overall a really great box and several products I’ll end up buying full sizes of.

 

IPSY Glam Bag – $10 a month no tax

birchbox and ipsy April 001

This month’s bag isn’t quite as cute as some of the others (they’ve had some really adorable bags.)  Here’s what I got:

 

Jor’el Parker – Fango Mud Therapy

Tarte lipsurgence – in wonder

Briogeo – Don’t Despair repair hair therapy

Ofra – eyeshadow

Eyeshadow brush

The mud therapy was nice and a good replacement for my Glam Glow mud that has dried up recently.  It smells nice and seems to do just as good of a job.  The shade of the tarte lipstick was a bit too bright for me.  The hair therapy involved applying it overnight and putting something over your pillowcase to protect it which sounded too messy and too much hassle for me so I skipped that.  I didn’t try the eyeshadow because I don’t wear that.

Overall, I really have been liking Birchbox and might cancel the Ipsy Glam bag soon.  I’ll miss the adorable bags, but the products are from brands I haven’t really heard from usually (aside from Tarte) and I haven’t really discovered anything I’d like to purchase.

 

 

Stitch Fix April – It all went back

Stitch Fix Reviews, ,

I decided to give Stitch Fix another try since I had some credit and unfortunately I had the same experience I’ve been having with the last two fixes.

Here was my note this time:

April note to stylist

And here’s what I got.

Stitch Fix April 2016

Collective Concepts – Kaira Split Neck Blouse $68

Stitch Fix April 2016Stitch Fix April 2016

Too short in the front and too boxy of a fit, definitely not good for my shape.

Maggy London – Ema Crepe V-neck Dress $118

Stitch Fix April 2016Stitch Fix April 2016

Okay print, horrible fabric (thick polyester) and HORRIBLE fit for a pear shape.  I never wear short sheath dresses like this.  I always go with fit and flare which is much better for my shape and what I have always requested.  The fit was even worse in the back with  bunching up and too tight some places too loose in others.

Kut From the Kloth – Gracelyn Pencil Skirt $58

Stitch Fix April 2016

This was an absolute miss.  Again, I have a pear shape.  Pencil skirts never work.  It was about 8 inches too big in the waist and way too tight in the thighs.  My husband saw me and commented, “how can that be too big and too small at the same time??”  Because it was never meant for my body.  (The next pic shows it on.)

Pixley – Tamarindo Blazer $68

Stitch Fix April 2016Stitch Fix April 2016

The shape was okay and the pattern was cute, but it was a thick polyester un-breathable fabric and I couldn’t bend my arms comfortably because there was no stretch.  For someone who is on a keyboard all day at work this was a no go.

41Hawthorn – Thompsen Striped Zipper-Back Pullover Sweater $64

Stitch Fix April 2016Stitch Fix April 2016This was the only maybe, but the fabric was incredibly thin, the zipper pulled away weird in the back where it ended and the neckline was too wide.  For a sweater it wouldn’t actually keep me warm at all.  Plus the length was a little longer than I’d like.  For $64 I can do better.

So all of it is going back.  They sent me an email the next day asking if I’d be willing to try again if they waive the styling fee.  I honestly can’t decide if I should bother.  Unless they do an amazing job and find 5 pieces I really like, the prices are too high without the discount and I have little faith they’ll find 5 things that fit well and are my style.

Birchbox vs. Ipsy Glam Bag

Birchbox Review, IPSY Glam bag review, ,

I recently signed up for two  popular cosmetic subscription boxes and wanted to do a quick comparison.

Birchbox – $10 a month plus tax ($10.86 for me)

You get 5 samples in a cute box each month.  There is an online profile you fill out to let them know your preferences so the samples are selected especially for you.  Here’s what I got in January:

Birchbox January 2016

Beauty Protector – Protect and Detangle

Eyeko – Fat Liquid Liner

Jouer – Matte Moisture Tint (Linen)

Real Chemistry – Luminous 3-Minute Peel

Whish – Three Whishes Body Butter (Almond)

Of these, I’m looking forward to the hair detangler, the 3 minute peel, and the body butter the most.  I don’t really wear eye makup and black eyeliner is too overpowering on me.  The moisture tint is interesting but it’s hard to match my skintone so I’m not sure about that one yet.

IPSY Glam Bag – $10 a month no tax

Ipsy also sends 5 samples a month, but they come in an adorable makeup bag and a fushia bubble mailer.  It’s so exciting to get the package itself!  You also fill out a style profile for Ipsy.  Here’s what I got this month:

IPSY Glam Bag January 2016

Burt’s Bees – Cleansing oil

Hanalei – sugar lip scrub

Mr.Write (Now) – eyeliner

Pixi Petra – eyeshadow duo

Blending brush

In this bag, I’ve already tried the cleansing oil which dried my skin out a bit, but I will combine with some scrubbing powder I use as an exfoliant.  The lip scrub felt nice and I’ll probably use it once a week.  I didn’t care for the eye shadows and eyeliner because again, I don’t use eye makeup.  The brush will be great for covering up blemishes or red spots.  It was meant for eye shadow but I find that these detail brushes are good for cover ups.

The Winner this month?

I think I’d call it a tie this month.  While I liked more of the products in the Birchbox, I love the bag for Ipsy and a few of the products really made it worth the cost.  So far I’m undecided which one I like better.

 

Stitch Fix January 2016 – Uninspiring

Stitch Fix Reviews, ,

It’s been a while since my last fix, and I had been seeing some really cute sweaters in other peoples boxes, so I decided to give it a try one more time.

Here’s what I requested:

Stitch Fix January 2016

Here’s what I got:

Stitch Fix January 2016

Mak – Jaclynn 3/4 sleeve button up cardigan $38

 

Stitch Fix January 2016

I didn’t get a good picture of this on.  It’s just a basic black 3/4 sleeve cardigan in a super lightweight material that you’d wear in the middle of August.  It was not even remotely appropriate for January in the Pacific Northwest.  Returned.

Absolutely – Bary Boat Neck Pullover Sweater $58

Stitch Fix January 2016

Stitch Fix January 2016

Personally I find the colors on this very ugly and the sweater was itchy and uncomfortable.  Not to mention, also very lightweight and appropriate for a 65 degree day in June.  Returned.

RD Style – Gemmi Side Slit Pullover Sweater $78

Stitch Fix January 2016

Stitch Fix January 2016

This sweater was open on both sides all the way up to the armpit, not to mention it is a high-lo fit which I specifically called out I do not like.  Very unflattering and feels cold not cozy with open sides.  Returned.

41Hawthorn – Benton Cowl Neck Sweater $78

Stitch Fix January 2016

Stitch Fix January 2016

The sleeves were incrediby long on this (I ended up rolling them up) and there were two side cutouts that frame my “problem area” in my upper thighs.  It’s like an announcement, “here are my saddle bags!!”  Again, unflattering for my body type.  It was a very soft and cozy fabric and for that reason I debated keeping it until I saw the price.  $78 for a so-so sweater is way too much.  Returned.

41Hawthorn – Gideon Polka Dot Sweater $68

Stitch Fix January 2016

Stitch Fix January 2016

I do love polka dots, but wasn’t thrilled with the color of this.  Off white washes me out.  The fit was okay with baggy sleeves and it looked cute under a military style jacket as the card suggested.  I decided to keep only because I didn’t want to lose out on the $20 styling fee and this was just okay.  Reluctantly Kept.

Overall

I won’t be going back to Stitch Fix anytime soon.  I had posted a bunch of cute cozy sweaters in COLORS on my Pinterest page and once again I got dull grey and black and 2 items that were not suitable for the pacific northwest winter.  I don’t know how other people get good items from stitch fix, but I seem to be rather unlucky with what they send me.