MIYU Beauty Partners with Birchbox to Launch Debut Collection in the US!

MIYU {mee-you} Beauty is partnering with Birchbox, the leading discovery retail company changing the way people shop, to unveil its debut collection of pretty products in the United States.

The MIYU a prettea Little Quartet

Another Month of Meh...AKA: My October Birchbox + goop Unboxing

I'm not going to ramble on ad nauseum about this month's Birchbox. I was excited for it, since I opted to receive the goop collaborated box, but perhaps I would've been better off sticking with the regular box. For better or for worse, here are the deets on the contents of my October Birchbox + goop  box...

I Guess There's a 1st Time for Everything... AKA: My September Birchbox

My September Birchbox arrived on Tuesday, and maybe because it felt like it took longer than usual to arrive, or maybe because a few other packages arrived with it, I just wasn't as excited about it as I usually am. Unfortunately, seeing its contents didn't increase my excitement level but c'est la vie... I guess they all can't be winners (and maybe I'll like it more after I use the "goodies" inside).


Here's what arrived:


21 drops (Focus Aromatherapy Blend; Full size $29)- Stay sharp with this mind-clearing blend of rosemary and peppermint essentials oils. Apply to pulse points and breathe deep (meh... I want makeup from Birchbox-not aromatherapy stress relief).

Color Club (Birchbox Custom Polish in Status Update; Full size $8)- We teamed up with Color Club to create this custom shade, inspired by the Fall 2012 collections (the shining light of this month's box; y'all know I love me some polish).

Nexxus (Pro Mend Split End Treatment System; Full size $9.99-$14.99)- Infused with coconut oil and amino acids, this shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in treatment work together to fix unsightly split ends. (This is actually a set of products that has intrigued me whenever I've seen ads for it. However, I may be a bit spoiled when it comes to hair products-the size of these samples definitely leaves something to be desired).

twistband (Birchbox Custom Lace Hair Tie; Set of 6-12 $14-22) Designers went gaga for lace this season and we don't blame them. Get on board with these ouch-free hair ties (Um... yeah. Been there, done that with Birchbox. Once again, makeup makes me happy, fancy ponytail holders-not so much).

Vasanti (Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator; Full size $34)- This exfoliating cleanser uses professional grade (read:effective) microderm crystals and papaya enzymes to brighten dull skin. (The other star in this box-make up and skin care, that's what I love from my beloved Birchbox).

Lifestyle Extra 

Mighty Leaf Tea Company(Teas; Box of 15, $9.95)- Swap your afternoon latte for these yummy tea blends, made from natural, ethically sourced ingredients (Once again, been there done that with Birchbox, and it was cool the first time, but this time, not so much).

I also received a digital download of two songs from singer-songwriter Tristan Prettyman, a discount from Madewell, and a cute little Fall Trends mini magazine. This is the first time I've received a Birchbox that I didn't absolutely love. But it was bound to happen eventually I suppose. I'll still be faithful to Birchbox and I still think that you should give them a try too! Until next time...

August Birchbox

This month's Birchbox was Back to School themed. I loved the No. 2 pencil yellow color of the outer box, and the Beauty School Supply Kit theme maintained throughout, complete with a Beauty 101 booklet (not pictured) with tips on things like how to read the labels on your beauty products and how to achieve a close shave. I'm not going to lie, while I'm pretty happy with the contents of my box (especially the fragrance sample), I was mildly disappointed at the lack of cosmetic goodies. Overall, I'm satisfied with the box though, but it's definitely not my favorite turn out from them.

Here are the details on the contents of my Birchbox:

Sabon Foot Cream (Full size: 12.8 oz for $16)-Show your feet some love with this indulgent foot cream from this Israeli brand. It's packed with antioxidants and relaxing aromatherapy oils. Hardworking moisturizers like aloe and glycerin work to soften rough calluses and camphor and menthol give an anti-fungal punch to leave your feet fresh and clean.

Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue and Creme de la Creme (Full size: 8 oz for $22 and 12 oz for $16, respectively)- The Curly Meringue is a styling cream designed to calm stubborn kinks and tame frizzy curls. It's a custard like formula that is perfect for finger styling, coiling, twists, and braids. It delivers lasting hold, lightweight hydration, and shine. It's made with avocado, coconut, sweet almond and olive oils as well as aloe extract. Bonus: it smells like fresh pineapples! Creme de la Creme is a curly girl cult fave that will soften frizz prone hair without weighing it down. It's loaded with softening ingredients that help tame unruly ringlets and frizzy waves. It enhances your hair's natural bounce while adding manageability. It also doubles as a leave-in treatment for when you need an extra dose of hydration. 

Talika Lipocils Experts (Full size: 10ml for $55)- This gentle-yet-effective botanical formula is clinically proven to help curl, darken, and grow lashes by up to 2.5 mm in just one month. An updated version of the bestselling Lipocils formula—which has been French women’s best kept secret for over 60 years—it features a double-sided applicator that’s truly goofproof. Finally, there’s no need to go to great lengths to get ooh-la-la lashes. Mainstream lash serums derive their power from chemicals, which can cause everything from redness to side effects like darkening the skin on your lids or even your irises. But Lipocils Expert is different. It’s only made with botanical ingredients that have been tested to meet meticulous French safety standards. Nettle and horse chestnut stimulate growth and boost circulation to your capillaries, while soy lecithin and apple extract condition your lashes. Independent lab trials show that the serum lengthens lashes by up to 36 percent while curling and darkening them by up to 50 percent.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy La Fleur (Full size: 2.5 oz for $70)-  This new scent from Juicy Couture is a fresh update on the brand’s best-selling Viva La Juicy. The sheer perfume has the original’s fruity top notes combined with heady honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine. The uplifting scent opens with a sparkling cascade of mandarin and wild berries. Next, sweet notes of honeysuckle, gardenia petals, and jasmine peek through, followed by a lingering trace of waterlily.

Birchbox Extra: Schick Hydro Silk Razor ($9.99)- This innovative new razor has a water-activated moisturizing serum that moisturizes for up to two hours after shaving. Plus, the five blades have skin guards that follow the natural contours of your body to smooth skin and help prevent irritation. The result: silky legs, every time. Made with an innovative compact oval-cartridge head, each razor is equipped with five blades for an incredibly close shave. The blades work with your legs’ natural curves to make shaving tricky spots like your knees and ankles a breeze. 

Part of my slight disappointment in this box probably stems from the fact that I look to Birchbox for more makeup type goodies, and I try so many different hair products already, so receiving 2 hair products was kind of redundant in a way. But, Miss Jessie's is a hugely popular brand for curly girls and I haven't tried those particular items from the brand so I guess I'm excited to try them out. I am super stoked with everything else though (I'm totally buying a full size bottle of the Viva La Juicy La Fleur). What was in your Birchbox this month? Was it a hit or a miss for you? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Until next time...

Ciao, XxO

Q

July Birchbox (Glamour Edition)

This month's Birchbox was curated by the beauty team at Glamour Magazine. The box corresponds with the July issue of the magazine, which celebrates the five senses of summer, so each item in the box relates to one of the five senses. Here's a peek at what I received...

Melvita Extraordinary Water

I'm not going to wax poetic on how much I love Birchbox (again), and though I do feel a bit indifferent about some of the items in my Jetset themed box this month (Band Aids designed by Cynthia Rowley?), I am very pleased with the rest of it (John Vavartos cologne for the hubby, a full size Eyeko liquid eyeliner, theBalm Stainiac lip and cheek stain), especially the gem pictured below...

Melvita Rose Floral Water

My Favorite Bedtime Story

I am a wife and a stay at home mommy to 3 daughters, aged 11, 3, and 1. The concept of “me time” (quality “me time” at least) has been nonexistent for over a year now. There was a little pocket of time when the two little ones would take a nap at the same time, while my husband was at work and my oldest daughter was still at school, but I usually used that time to get necessary housework done. By the end of the day, once everyone was clean, fed, happy, and drifting merrily off to slumberland, I was so drop dead exhausted, most days I counted myself lucky if I could muster up the energy to swipe a cleansing cloth over my face. Thus was the  extent of my skincare regimen.

But today is a new day! Yes, I’m still bone weary by the time the house falls silent and everyone else is asleep. Now I manage to stay awake to enjoy one of the best (and one of my absolute favorite) parts of the day, my “me time,” aka my Nighttime Ritual. I spend at least 30 minutes in my little bathroom, removing my makeup, cleansing my face, moisturizing my skin, and pampering my curly tresses. Sometimes I even play a little music and light a candle. It is one of the highlights of my day. It doesn’t matter how tired I am (or how many times my husband wakes up to ask me what I’m doing in there and why I am taking so long), I relish this time and have no idea what took so long for me to do this for myself. I sleep better, I am happier, and my skin looks PHENOMENAL.

The final part of my routine happens once I get back in the bed. Since my hands just spent the better part of 30 minutes immersed in water (and I wash them like 2 times during the course of the whole routine), the last thing I do before I go to sleep is put on a nice hand cream. Not just any old lotion, cream, oil, or butter-it has to be a legit hand cream (my husband has no idea why this makes a bit of difference, but it does to me). And I’m all out…

I really liked my old tube of hand cream (a marvelous concoction from Bath and Body Works), but as a beauty junkie, I love to try new things. So when I ran across this new (to me at least) brand, I had to take a closer look.

Jurlique is a brand being featured in April’s Birchbox. According to them (and experience has inclined me to take their word for it): “Not only do their skincare products feel (and smell) amazing on your skin, they also have an impressive dedication to planet earth. The eco-conscious company’s packaging is already 95 percent recyclable. And now Jurlique has pledged to reduce its energy and water consumption as well as its amount of waste to landfill by 20 percent by 2015.” Color me intrigued!

So I checked out Jurlique’s products on Birchbox’s website and found this lovely…

Jurlique Lavender Hand Cream

LAVENDER hand cream, people! What a perfect goodnight kiss!  This rich hand cream uses safflower seed oil and macadamia oil to restore moisture and protect from future dryness. Carrot root extract and aloe vera soften and soothe, while vitamin E provides antioxidant protection for the skin. It  would be the perfect addition to top off my night time ritual. 

So, what is your definition of "me time?" How do you treat yourself? Does your bedtime routine rival mine? My inquiring mind wants to know. Let me know in the comments below. Until next time...

Ciao, XxO

Q