Author: BethonBeauty

Kinda like wine of the month club, but for beauty products

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For a $10 monthly membership fee, you can sign up for BIRCHBOX – which is a web-based company that offers by-mail high-end beauty product sampling.

You might be thinking…samples? Aren’t those typically FREE? Why would I pay?

Well:

  • If like to sample beauty products, picture a pretty box arriving at your doorstep each month, full of new mini products to try
  • Sample size means – if you don’t like it, you didn’t waste significant money on the full size version, or waste product
  • It comes to you, directly. Typically, you have to buy something at a store (or online) to get samples. Or, you have to ask at the beauty counter which sometimes leads to a long drawn out conversation about the weather. This saves you time!

The Birchbox Deal:

  • Birchbox keeps your card on file and you are debited $10 per month
  • Birchbox shipments go out around the 10th of each month
  • You can cancel anytime
  • Birchbox.com also sells full size brands, so if you love the sample, you can go on and buy the full size product off the site and have it sent to you

Birchbox lists a variety of brands on their site whose products you may receive each month:

  • Benefit
  • Keihls
  • Korres
  • Kerastase
  • Laura Mercier
  • NARS
  • Stila
  • Too Faced

to name a few…for a list of all brands – click here: http://www.birchbox.com/shop/brands/

Here’s the deal…I signed up for this today. I’ll report back shortly once I get my first box of goodies. I’ll let you know if the samples are worth it. Stay tuned!!!

Homepage if you wanna join: www.birchbox.com

**Just submitted my order – couple things to note:

  • It is $10 a month, then it had me calculate ‘shipping & taxes’ – initially, I was like  what?! more money? But thankfully, it calculated standard flat shipping at $0. Maybe if you live in a certain state/region you have to pay for shipping? Not sure. Thankfully, shipping to MA is $0
  • Below in italics is what is included in your monthly membership. Birchbox offers an annual membership, but I wanted to do monthly for now, so I can cancel anytime. Plus $10 a month is easier to swallow than $100+ upfront for an annual membership
  • Monthly Birchbox with 4-5 luxe beauty samples
  • Website filled with expert tips, tricks, and tutorials
  • $10 off full-size products for every 100 Birchbox points
  • Points for referring friends, buying products, and more

Anyone else ever joined this site??

It’s rainy in Boston…

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For a frizz stopper – see my post on Moroccan Oil: http://wp.me/p1kq6s-2f

 

Oh and, I started using the Moroccan Oil Moisture Repair Conditioner – I was skeptical at first, but my hair has been so soft, and less frizzy. Paraben-free, to boot! The bottle lasts awhile. I use a quarter size amount, but I have a lot of long hair.

Find it at G2O Salon (my fave) on Newbury St., Boston – or, many other salons and it’s sold online:

http://www.amazon.com/Moroccanoil-Moisture-Repair-Conditioner-8-5-Ounce/dp/B002N5MKM6

 

 

Photo courtesy of: Realsimple.com

itchy scalp issues

/ BethonBeauty / 1 Comment

I was teased the other day (I won’t name names) for mentioning that I have an itchy scalp sometimes. So itchy that my manicures don’t usually last more than 3 days (unless I get the gel mani!) Whatever, we all have our problems.

It’s annoying issue…if you have an itching scalp, or dry skin problem on your head…the best shampoo I have found is Head & Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo. I know, it doesn’t sound cool at all, but it works and it’s cheap. It can’t just be any version of H&S, it has to have the Pyrithione zinc (that’s what my dermatoligist recommended).

I usually get this condition around allergy season…I keep this on hand. It completely relieves the problem. Thankfully, I don’t have to use it everyday. But there are seasons when I have to use it regularly. I use my regular conditioner with it, and my hair looks/feels great. It doesn’t make my hair weird or frizzy.

Guys love this stuff…so when people see it in my shower, I just tell them it’s Nick. He does use it too! It’s about $8, and you can find it at most drugstores, I usually get mine at Target. Or here: http://www.drugstore.com/head-and-shoulders-ocean-lift-dandruff-shampoo-ocean-lift/qxp345554?fromsrch=head+and+shoulders

What beauty products do you have to have at your desk/work?

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for me…I need 3 things on hand:

·    Hand sanitizer…hello, nasty train rides

    • I like this little bottle from Body Shop, smells like coconuts not alcohol

·    Hand lotion…touching random papers makes my hands dry

    • I got this little La Source bottle fo’ free at a hotel

·    Lipgloss…rose bud salve!

    • This is the minted rose scent. The tin is safe from melting  indoors 🙂

I keep these on my desk at all times, and thankfully they don’t take up a lot of room. My desk is cluttered enough!

Coconut water is for cougars

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coconut water, it sounds yummy…and occassionally, I see pics of celebs drinking it.  So, I’ve tried it. After trying and spitting out a few different brands (i.e. Zico, woooof)…I have found one that is delicious – and has been tested + approved by friends as well.

she was probably paid, no?

VitaCoco Coconut Water is the good stuff! However, I don’t like the plain coconut water – I prefer mine with PINEAPPLE. It makes it extra tropical. It’s sweet, but not too sweet.

that's Demi, not the best pic of our girl

I usually find these at Stop & Shop. ~$2.50 each 16 0z. box. I don’t buy a lot of them, because if I drank one a day it could be an expensive habit. But we like to keep a few in the fridge.

It claims to be more hydrating than water. It has less sugar than most fruit drinks, so it’s a good alternative if you’re looking from something sweet. Plus, it doesn’t have artificial sweeteners, so it’s also a good alternative for diet soda. And with only 60 calories a serving (2 per 16 oz. container), it’s not undoing any hard work at the gym!

Here is the whole nutrition label for you label-readers:

And I read these other ‘benefits’ that coconut water offers:

  • Electrolytes for keeping the body hydrated making it a preventive for dehydration and hyponatremia
  • Soothes an upset stomach
  • Delivers essential minerals for athletes
  • Naturally sugar free, fat free and cholesterol free
  • Caffeine free
  • Non carbonated
  • Good hangover cure

worth a try, right??? or, am I missing something?

Sold on Amazon (if you want to buy in ‘bulk’): http://www.amazon.com/Vita-Coco-Coconut-Pineapple-11-2-Ounce/dp/B000LKXRNQ/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1310063805&sr=8-10

Madonna photo courtesy of: people.com

Demi Moore photo courtesy of: dailymail.com