My Favorite Products of 2013: Makeup & Nails

Hey, friends! Welcome to the last College Beauty Buff post for 2013. Today I'd like to share part two of my favorite products of the year with you. These aren't necessarily products that were released into the market in 2013 (who has the money to buy a whole new makeup wardrobe every year?). Instead, these are products that I discovered, rediscovered, or found myself reaching for the most this year. I've talked about almost all of these at least once before on the blog, so I'll give a brief description of each product mentioned, and then link to the previous post(s) if you'd like to read more. If you'd like to read part one of this post (hair and skincare), please click here.

On to the fun part! 

FACE

Face Brush: e.l.f. Studio Blush Brush ($3 - shown beside NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder) 

I was really happily surprised by this brush. It's soft, and I've found multiple purposes for it. I like to use this to not only apply blush, but it's also a perfect size to powder my T-zone (the only place I apply my setting powder). It's also really soft, making it a wonderful find for $3. 

Read more: September 2013 Favorites

My Favorite Products of 2013: Hair & Skincare

Hey, friends! Today I'd like to share part one of my favorite products of the year with you. These aren't necessarily products that were released into the market in 2013 (who has the money to buy a whole new makeup wardrobe every year?). Instead, these are products that I discovered, rediscovered, or found myself reaching for the most this year. I've talked about almost all of these at least once before on the blog, so I'll give a brief description of each product mentioned, and then link to the previous post(s) if you'd like to read more.

Shampoo: Ecru Luxe Treatment Shampoo

(Sample value [2 oz]: $7.50) (Full size [8 oz]: $20) 

I got into the world of sulfate-free hair products this year. I love how they don't dry out my hair and cause fly-aways like sulfate shampoos. Sometimes I feel like sulfate-free shampoos don't clean my hair enough, and I think this one provides a good balance of getting rid of excess oil and not turning my hair into straw. I happily used up the bottle I received in my Sample Society box, and then got myself some more!

Read more: Sample Society July 2013 Review, September 2013 Favorites

(Runner-up: Healthy Sexy Hair Color Safe Soy Moisturizing Shampoo)

Sample Review: Freeman Beauty Face Masks

Hey, friends! Today I wanted to share a few face products I've been trying out by Freeman Beauty. I'm always curious and looking to try new things!

I was sent a variety of samples featured in Freeman Beauty's "Fresh Face Forward" set, including their Pink Grapefruit Facial Exfoliating Scrub, their Cucumber Facial Peel-Off Mask, and their Mint & Lemon Facial Clay Mask. I received two of each: one for me and one to give to a friend (though if I really liked them, I figured I would keep them both for myself ;) )

Birchbox: December 2013 Review

Hey, friends! Today I wanted to share the Birchbox I received in the mail for December. Isn't it pretty? I like the gold! Very pretty for the holidays, not that the usual pink isn't nice.

Birchbox? What's that? - Birchbox is a monthly beauty and lifestyle subscription service. It sends 4-5 deluxe samples that are curated to your beauty profile. It is $10 a month, and has a wonderful rewards program, in which you can earn points for reviewing products and making purchases in the Birchbox Shop. You can then redeem those points for full-sized products in the Birchbox Shop! It's probably the best rewards program out there, in my opinion, which was one of the big draws in me signing up. If you're interested in subscribing to Birchbox, I would love it if you used my referral link. Thank you!

Wantable Makeup Box: Nov. 2013 Review

Hey, friends! Today I want to share a new beauty subscription service with you called Wantable. I know there are tons of subscription services out there nowadays (there are even ones for your baby and your dog!) but Wantable is unique for a number of reasons, and that's why I want to tell you all about it.Subscription services are a great way to try new things, so I was very excited to try out their Beauty subscription box last month.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Wantable? What's that? - Wantable is a company that offers multiple subscription services, including Makeup, Accessories, and even Intimates. Each Makeup box contains 4-5 full-sized products, picked based on the specific survey you fill out. You can subscribe for $36/month or $40 for a single box. You can click here to sign up. (This is an affiliate link. I signed up to be an affiliate after I received my box, because I liked it that much)

Brand Overview: Aveeno (+ Giveaway)

Hey, friends! Today I went Aveeno product shopping, because of a giveaway I wanted to enter. I'll tell you about how to enter, too, because I just love you guys.

To enter the sweepstakes, you're supposed to go to Walgreens, pick up two (or more) Aveeno products, and then take a picture of your receipt and submit it here. That's it. That's all you have to do. It's that simple. The hard part is picking which products to choose, but I'm here to help!

Note: I heard about this giveaway through HerCampus, and was given a $15 Walgreens card to use towards 2+ Aveeno products. The products I walked out with reflect that total, but you can spend as little or as much money as you like. As long as your receipt shows you purchase two or more Aveeno products, you're elligible to win (More information on the giveaway at the end of this post).

Aveeno is not typically my go-to brand (I'm more of an Olay kind of girl), so I did a good amount of research before I went. In the past, the only product I've bought of theirs is the Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30 ($17 for 2.5oz).