For the month of September, I purchased an Ipsy bag and a Birchbox. I was obsessed with Birchbox about a year ago and I slowly shifted over to Ipsy. I wanted to compare the value of the products as well as personal likability in a short post.
Birchbox month's theme: Multitasking
1. LOC Ultra-Gloss Lip Pencil in Cherry Bomb (12$). I personally hate lip glosses because they feel sticky. And since this color is such a vivid red with an orange undertone, I have even less reason to like it. It is really pigmented so it is hard to control but it's actually a decent product. I do feel like it's more hydrating and less sticky than other glosses.
2. Milk Makeup Ubame Mascara in Inked (13$). I love this brand because all of their products give you a very natural look. I think it's great that Birchbox included Milk Makeup in the box for that reason. My lashes didn't really curl like I was expecting them to, but they were very thin and wispy. It dried quickly and stayed all day. Plus, the brush shape is really unique, so this is my favorite product in the box.
3. Air Repair Complexion Boosting Moisturizer (2.50$). This looked like a very small size, but it actually goes a long way. This moisturizer is very gentle and smooth, that it's great for every day use. I would suggest this to anyone with sensitive or dry skin.
4. Klorane Dry Shampoo with Nettle (6.25$). Something I like about Birchbox; it seems like they always include at least one makeup, hair, and skin care product in every box. This dry shampoo was an average sample size but after shaking, the product came out so quickly because there was so much in the can. There wasn't much of a scent, and it blended really well, added volume, and made my hair feel fresher.
5. Dr. Brandt Pores No More Cleanser (2.60$). I liked this cleanser because it was gentle and softly foaming. I actually didn't feel like it helped my pores, but I used my Lush cleanser every other day and maybe you need to use this every day to start seeing results.
Bonus: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Patina (12$). I got this because I entered in a promo code. This liquid lipstick actually stays all day! I applied a thin coat in the morning then after I had eaten lunch several hours later, it was still there. It is pretty drying and the brush is a little hard to control, but I still love this product and the dusty rose shade makes a great daily lipstick.
Final thoughts: This month was Birchbox's 6th birthday, and I think that would've made a really great theme. However, they went with multitasking, which I didn't think was better. None of the products really stood out as multitasking, but I will use all of them. The value of this box was crazy (48.35$ with the Stila lipstick) and that is really important to note. I felt like this was the best Birchbox I've gotten and I really appreciate how they always include skincare, hair care, and makeup that match your profile.
Ipsy month's theme: Glamazon
1. Amie New Leaf Deep Pore Exfoliating Polish (3.50$). This was a very gentle cleanser with small exfoliating beads. It has a light and sweet orange scent and is really refreshing. Again, this is great for everyday use. The only problem is that this is a European company, so if you want to purchase the full size, you have to pay a lot extra for shipping.
2. Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner in Black (10.85$). This is a true black-out eyeliner, but the felt tip is not very precise. This makes it very difficult to get a thin and even line, which is why it looks a little choppy in the photo. It is a really good formula, and I will use it for more dramatic looks.
3. IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara in Super Black (13.40$). I don't like getting mascara samples very much unless I've tried the product before. The brush was too compact so I feel like it didn't really put a lot of product onto my lashes. It looks a little choppy and I personally do not like this look, but others may love it; it just depends on your preference.
4. Naked Cosmetics Naked Advanced Aloe Cream (5$). I don't know if this is a facial moisturizer or a hand cream, but I use it as the latter. It is really softening and matte and it leaves my skin feeling hydrated. I think this is great for the upcoming Winter season so I am glad it was included.
5. Be a Bombshell Cosmetics Nail Polish in Va Voom (6$). I really like getting nail polish samples because they are always full size. I really love this midnight blue color and it's great for winter. It is a really quick drying formula and it stays on really well.
Bonus: Lashem Measurable Difference Lash Gel Serum (10$). I had 100 points to redeem so I got this eyelash and eyebrow thickening gel. I think there is a noticeable difference in my lashes. They seem longer and thicker and I suggest putting this on right before mascara.
Final thoughts: I felt like some of these products, like the nail polish, mascara, and eyeliner, contributed well to the theme. I won't be using the mascara but everything else I think is handy. The value of the whole box was almost exactly the same as Birchbox, coming around 48.75$ with the Lashem gel. In the beginning, I wasn't getting products that matched my profile, unlike Birchbox. I think this is important to note too.
Who wins? I think after putting aside value, because they were almost the same, Birchbox has to win. This is my first month resubscribed (with a new profile) and I feel like all of the products matched my beauty profile, unlike Ipsy. You have to get Ipsy bags for a few months to filter out the products you don't want and I think that is a major negative. Also, Birchbox always includes several aspects of beauty from indie and high end brands but Ipsy is a bit more limited to common brands.