Mail Haul: Birchbox and Ulta

Today both my Ulta box and my Birchbox came in the mail! I was super excited about it because I had been wanting to get a Naked palette for some time. When I went to the Ulta opening on Friday they were "all sold out". I'm very curious how you sell out before you open because I was the second person in line. But whatever, I came home and order it on their website. So there. I'm sure everyone and their mother has seen this palette and the swatches but here's a picture just in case you've been living under a rock.

It's so pretty! I can't wait to try it out! I was nervous I wouldn't know which colors to pair together but it seems pretty foolproof. They all go well together! I don't know if I'll keep the mini primer potion. I've got a big one and I've been thinking I might let my sister try the mini one.

Obviously it was packed better but I was so eager to open it up and see what was inside!

Redken Shine Flash 02

philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser

Korres Japanese Rose Showergel

Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup in Light

Pur Minerals Chisel Brush

Kind Almond and Apricot Bar

After I took this pic, I ripped into that Kind bar. It was so delicious! I'd love to get some more but the website only sells them in cases and I don't know if I want that many right now. I love Redken so I'm kind of excited about the Shine Flash! Their styling products are always nice, I've never regretted buying one. The Pur Minerals brush is very small and kind of scratchy so I probably won't use it. Other than that, I'm thinking I'll put the philosophy cleanser and Korres soap in my shower and try them out but I doubt I'll buy the full sizes because they seem expensive and I already have a HG face cleanser. Oh and just in case anyone's on the fence about trying Birchbox, here's a little math for you:

I had been on the fence for a while but I'm happy to at least try everything I got in my box and it was a fun treat for how little I paid for it.

Pregnancy Update: 26 weeks, 2 days. I went to the doctors' office today and they are very impressed with how controlled my weight gain has been. I had a little extra weight prepregnancy and I actually managed to lose some first trimester. So we are in the home stretch and they don't expect me to gain more than 10 pounds in the next 14 weeks. October still feels like a lifetime away.

I'd love to hear what you got in your Birchbox if you got one this month, as well as favorite combos and looks from the Naked Palette! Leave me a comment!

Love, Jessica

Skincare Products: Current Favorites 7/18/2011

pHisoderm Cream Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Resurfacing 3-Way Cleanser

Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Lightweight UV-Lotion

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream

So today I thought I'd share with you my favorite skincare products. I have super sensitive skin so these products don't get replaced with different products that often. Once I've found something that doesn't break me out, controls oil and doesn't dry me out, I'm wary to try anything new. On top of that, pregnancy skin can be sensitive as well. I also have to watch ingredients because things like salicylic acid are banned during pregnancy.

I use the cream cleanser twice daily most days. Prepregnancy, I exfoliated once a week during the winter and slowly moved to three times a week during the dog days of summer. My first trimester I exfoliated once every two weeks. Now I'm back to once a week (unless I'm sunburnt :P). As weird as this sounds, I use the gel cream moisturizer in the morning and the UV lotion as an eye cream in the morning and all over at night. The lotion is very deeply moisturizing but doesn't sink in very fast so it tends to make me look oily. I still feel like I need the extra moisture on my undereye area so I've been using that instead of springing for an expensive eye cream. The eye makeup remover is not HG for me but it gets the job done so I'll use it up before trying something new.

The pHisoderm was something I picked up on sale at Meijer more than a year ago. When I started to run out about a month ago, I went back to get more and they didn't have it. I've hunted in other stores and couldn't find it at all. So I just bought three bottles on drugstore.com. I did email the company so if you're interested in buying a pHisoderm product, they told me they're available at Rite-Aid, as well as a few places I've never heard of. This really is a HG cleanser for me. It gets my skin clean without drying it out. My skin feels smooth and soft after I use it and it helps clear up break outs. Only complaint is that the pump tends to clog up but it only cost me about $4.

I hope this isn't too long or too rambly. If you have any other questions, let me know. Share with me what your favorite products are! I like seeing what other people like to use and their routines!

Love, Jessica