My First Birchbox...boo hiss?

I was really, really, really, REALLY excited when I received an email saying that I had a spot in the Birchbox program. For those of you who do not know, Birchbox offers a monthly subscription based "goo hoard builder" program, mailing out a selection of products. You pay $10 each month and they send you a sampling of some of their favorite products (however, you do set brand preferences). Along with the products, they provide web videos about products, provide tips and inspiration, and have a very diverse online beauty shop. Fabulous idea, right?!

Well, here is where my "boo hiss?" comes in. I was well aware that many of the products I would receive would be sample sized and I was okay with that. What I was not expecting was that ALL of the products would be sample/trial sized. I could easily run to my local Macy's and rack up a ton of samples for free, why am I paying $10 for samples? I believe the nail polish was intended to be the "full sized" product offering, however, it was still a very small bottle of polish (plus, I actually do not really buy much nail polish - I am a "get my nails done" kind of girl, so I was still bummed). Oh and I had never heard of the brands for any of these products. I am all for brand exploration, but to have never even heard of at least one brand was somewhat disheartening.

I haven't actually tried any of the products yet, but I will be soon (okay, I did paint my partner's finger nail with the polish - that was fun). I think it is a really fun concept, and actually would have been happy if I received mostly samples but at least one real full size product. I am going to give Birchbox another month to decide if my $10 should be spent purchasing goo from somewhere else!


Products I received:
amika Obliphica Hair Treatment  (.01 fl ounces)
COOLA SPF 45 Sport - Mango (.169 fl ounces)
Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish (15ml/.5 fl ounces)theBalm® cosmetics InStain® Long-Wearing Powder Staining Blush  (.5 grams)uniqONE All In One Hair Treatment  (.3 fl ounces)

Ion Inspired by Nature Reviews (Sally's Haul)

Right before we went home for summer vaca, we went into Sally Beauty to try to do something with my "cool of hair" (as my Dad used to call it). My hair was fried. F.R.I.E.D. I am not sure if it was the summer heat, sun, or just life, but my hair was a wreck. These products were recommended by the lovely sales representative, but they feel short for me. I was promised moisturized hair but I actually feel like the products dried my hair out more. I am going to give these products one more shot when the weather cools down some. It could be that no product could keep up with Houston's crazy heat! I will post an updated review as well as some more images of the product soon!

Brand: Ion
Product(s): Shampoo, Conditioner, & Deep Conditioner.
Price: $7.99 each ($6.99 with Sally's Card)
Pros: Really pleasant scent, very thick rich product, no over lather on the shampoo, decent price point.
Cons: Did not really moisturize my hair, was a pain to get out of the bottle.
Where to buy:  In store at Sally Beauty or online at http://tinyurl.com/nqw2nbj

Goo Hoarders Unite!!!

Hello Cyber Space!!

As many of you know, I am a "goo hoarder"...what exactly is "goo" you ask? Goo is the definition my lovely partner assigned any beauty product, whether that be shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, or makeup. The "hoard" part comes in with my overwhelming desire to stockpile these products! And I am not the only goo hoarder out there! Jenna Marbles is a self proclaimed goo hoarder and there are tons of ladies out there enjoying (ugh - fighting against) the compulsion to buy more beauty products than one woman could ever use in her lifetime. 

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Goo%20hoarding

I do not know what drives me to try so many products, but I just love buying and trying products! A trip to CVS, Target, WHEREVER, is not complete without some sort of goo purchase. Oh and bla bla bla social hierarchy and the patriarchal society forcing women to feel compelled to buy beauty products...listen up here, I buy these products because I freaking feel like it and I enjoy them, not because I am attempting to "DO gender" in any way. I am just "doing ME". Thankyouverymuch. 

Sometimes the products I buy are fabulous, other times....they suck (although I do keep them for emergencies). I am going to do my best to share some reviews of the products I buy and save you from adding the crappy products to your goo stockpile. I hope you enjoy my crazy obsession!

My Goo Hoard At It's Most Organized and Minimal State