Best of 2014 Mainstream Edition

I wanted to do a "best of 2014" post, but I had so many favorites, that I thought it best to break it up into two posts. One for the indie stuff which I already posted here, and one for everything else that was made by the big name brands. I use indie products for the majority of my routine now, but there are still some that I have to go with the mainstream brands for. Things like skincare, mascara, some hair care, and a few other various products. I had to delay this post a little longer than I wanted just because I didn't have photos of most of these items. Delay no further, here is the Best of 2014, the mainstream edition!

Birchbox July 2014 #1 Review

Birchbox did something a little different this month, where they let many people pick a sample for one of their items. It was between three Ruffian polishes, or two different Cynthia Rowley lip stains. I went for the Ruffian polish in Ambrosia, and it seemed to me the boxes with these samples in it, were some of the better boxes this month, so I was happy to get my polish!

Birchbox is shipped via Newgistics and delivered USPS. This month's box arrived in 7 days from Tennessee to California.

Birchbox and Ipsy Glam Bag Reveal Day for July!

It's finally reveal day for Birchbox and Ipsy, usually Birchbox reveals on the 10th what you'll be getting in your box(es) if you're so inclined to spoil the surprise, but Ipsy changes the date almost always. This month Ipsy decided to reveal on the 11th.

This month I opened my other two Birchbox accounts, and I'm getting some punishment boxes for sure! So unhappy that I missed out on the Harvey Prince Hello Body Lotion that I ordered some with my points. So at least I feel a little bit better about it.

July Birchbox Reveal:

Birchbox May 2014 #1 Review

I have three Birchbox subscriptions and this is the review for my main account. I've gotten some pretty good boxes on this account, and I think this one is great!

My Birchboxes always seem to take a while to get to me, they sort of trickle in throughout the month, this one took 12 days to get to me from Tennessee to California. My third box came from Georgia, so why the change, I have no idea.

I received box #29:

Birchbox April 2014 #3 Review

I have three Birchbox subscriptions, and this is the review for my third box, which is on my alt account.

This Birchbox arrived in 15 days, from Tennessee to California! 15 days, that is ridiculously long. Birchbox just moved their warehouse to Tennessee from New Jersey I believe, and somehow it caused some shipping troubles this month. I think pretty much everyone's box was shipped out of Tennessee, back to New Jersey, then out to everyone. It took a lot longer for me to get my boxes this month because of this. Hopefully this gets resolved for next month.

I received box #37:

Birchbox and Ipsy Glam Bag Reveal Day for April!

It's Reveal Day for both Birchbox and Ipsy, and I don't know if I could be more disappointed with all 3 (yes, 3) Birchboxes and my Ipsy bag! I am really trying here to be positive about it, but I feel like I got the shaft this month. I was really hoping for some good items for my birthday month and all, but I guess I'll just have to make myself feel better by buying the things I wanted but didn't get. Let's get to what I got before I cry...

March Favorites

I've seen a few of these kinds of posts floating around, and wanted to start doing one of my own! Here are a few of my favorite things from the month of March!

Birchbox March 2014 Haul

With all the Birchbox points I've been accumulating from referring myself, and the 100 points subscriber bonuses they've been having, I'm growing quite the collection of points. Many of you know, that for every 100 points = $10 in the Birchbox shop. I just can't save my points. Ever. As soon as I have enough to get me some kind of "haul" I'm clicking the order button before I can say "save your points for a Clarisonic!"

Anyway, here's what I got for March:

What I've Got In My Makeup Bag

I just got this cute (I say cute, B says gaudy) clutch from a Julep purchase, and wanted to see if it would fit my makeup that I take when I go over to B's house. And I thought this would be a nice chance to see what makeup I use and have been loving from some of my subscription boxes!

Birchbox February 2014 #2 Replacement Review

Because my second account Birchbox had the broken oil bottle in it, which damaged the eyeshadow palette, they sent me a replacement box! It's actually a different box then I originally received, but I couldn't be more thrilled about that! I ended up getting the tea and OPI Sheer Tint polish which I wanted, but didn't get in either of my other two boxes.

I got box #1:

Birchbox February 2014 #2 Review

I have two Birchbox subscriptions, and this is the review for my second box, which is on my alt account. I was pretty excited to get this version because of the palette and other "big ticket" items, but my Beauty Protector oil was broken in transit damaging the eyeshadow palette as well.

This Birchbox arrived in 9 days, from New Jersey to California, and is shipped UPS then delivered by USPS.

I received box #51:

Birchbox December 2013 Review

I was interested in trying out Birchbox as my first women's makeup/beauty product subscription box, since it seemed to be a fairly popular box and I finally received my December 2013 box. Birchbox has both a women's and a men's beauty product/samples box for $10 a month.

I received Birchbox #31, which is pictured here:

Photo Credit: Birchbox