Disclosure: I received product samples. The post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

With each flip of the calendar, we inch closer to things that once seemed so far off. A birthday, a vacation, a holiday — all things that we think of for months, until there are only days left before they become reality.  Subscription boxes make it fun to check the mailbox when you turn to a new month.  Instead of a dreary bill or random junk mail, a subscription box brings an exciting surprise to one’s day!  This month’s BeautyBox5 was full of happy thoughts.  

Other than the Eslor samples (which is a brand I use anyway, so yay), I loved that most of the items in March’s box were full-size products rather than tiny samples.  The Nanacoco polish that arrived in a previous Beauty Box 5 has been a favorite of mine, so I was most excited to try the brand’s mascara.  I didn’t find it to be lengthening, as it suggested on the tube, but it did a good job of thickening the base of my lashes.  I found that by using this as a base coat, then applying the Benefit Roller Lash for lengthening, I got the look I was after.  The Laugh Out Loud gloss looked almost too pink in the tube, but was the perfect natural pink once applied. The lotion immediately found a place in my purse, where it’s sure to be used this spring while we are out in the sun again.  My favorite item, though, turned out to be the Styli-Style eyeliner in “raisin”.  It drew a thin line with precision, and a thick line by laying the tip broadside.  When I tried to smudge the line, it blended well without being too faded.  This is a product that I’ll use again!

I’m a bit of a mascara junkie, so I was jumping for joy when the latest Influenster box arrived.  It came with a tube of Yves Saint Laurent mascara that ROCKS my lashes.  This is a new brand for me (always thought it would be too pricey) but it’s definitely one I’d purchase.  Surprisingly, it doesn’t cost much more than the brand I typically buy, and the results are phenomenal.  For my  photo, I left one side un-lengthened so that you could see the difference.  The brush really separated my lashes and stretched them out LONG so that they were defined.  It was a great dark shade, too, which makes the lashes appear thicker.  Wowzers, this is a get again!!

The Walmart beauty box comes at a less regular rate (every 3 months) but usually contains savings far beyond the $5 cost.  The irregular arrival made me lose track of the time, so I’d quite forgotten about the subscription!  When it arrived, it was a pleasant surprise.  I am thinking about subscribing for my mom, too.  She enjoys getting fun mail and rarely splurges on things for herself.  Last time the box contained several full-size samples, so I was rather disappointed to see that only trial sizes were included this month. However, at only $5, I got my money’s worth.  There were several high-value coupons enclosed along with the samples.  This is a good assortment of small containers to take along on an overnight trip, as well as lotion to keep in my purse.

If you’re in the mood for something new RIGHT NOW and you simply cannot wait for an order to arrive, head down to your local Walgreens and splurge on a new SinfulColors nail polish!  Spring Fever has officially hit, so it’s time to celebrate with a bright new outlook on life.  Affordable at only $1.99 per bottle, yet of-the-moment with shades that will knock your socks off, SinfulColors has an impressive line up for spring.  We tried five bold and bright colors of polish that got our attention right away. My favorite was Sail La Vie (the blue sky tone). With two coats, it was the perfect picnic polish!  I also liked the happy Thimbleberry pink. Both are front and center in my photo!  The other shades (Let’s Talk, Navy I Do) were dark for spring but have a lovely gloss.  They’re ideal for dinner out, flash a bit of glam!  Petal Be The Day needs to be shaken quite well because it has bright specks of glitter throughout the clear coat.  Shy about shades?  Try their “Try It On” feature to see what will look the best for your nail length and skin tone!  You can follow SinfulColors on Facebook, Twitter (@SinfulColors_NP), and Instagram (sinfulcolorsprofessional) for more mani ideas!

What are you looking forward to this month?