Birchbox - June 2013

Birchbox is $10 a month and is mostly deluxe sample sizes. If you use my link I get referral credit. The June box was definitely more on the sample size side.

The packets are from Davines 3-step system. The pink is conditioner the other is the a leave in oil. They are both decent products but these foil packets are never enough to really sample.

The shampoo from the Davines was also included but this was in a truly deluxe size sample. I found this odd since the others were the above foil packets. I'd love to be able to give this  "3 step system" a real try as the one time they felt pretty good.

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser has a nice citrus scent and a great feel. While the sample size was small, you use such a small amount that I got a few uses out of it. I'd love to get more of this!

Oscar de la Renta's Something Blue has a nice scent. While it is floral it's not overly so. I won't need to buy perfume for quite some time thanks to Birchbox!

I have more nail polish than I could ever where but this was a nice neutral color. This one is from Color Club's Wanderlust collection. I got the Mod in Manhattan color which is kind of an off white. These polishes always have nice coverage.

This Birchbox wasn't very impressive to me. It was almost all sample size items. If this keeps up I might have to find a replacement.

Birchbox - May 2013

I've been going back and forth about whether to continue the Birchbox subscription and then I get a box like this one and wonder why I would consider leaving! I pay the usual $10 a month but get referral credit if you use the above link.
So what was in this box that made me so happy...

This was my favorite item in the box. The DevaCurl 3 step system was the perfect choice for me. I've already ordered more! It's a shampoo, conditioner and defining gel. The gel is used while the hair is wet and protects it and keeps it from frizzing. it worked perfectly on my unruly hair!

Whish shave cream - this would have come in handy while I was on vacation, if I hadn't forgotten it. It has a nice mild scent and nice feel to it. I'm sure it will work just fine.

COOLA Classic sunscreen for face is a nice moisturizer with an SPF of 30. This is a nice addition to my samples for summer.

Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner goes on like those eyeliners that look like markers (smooth lines) but it's actually wax. Mine was the black but I can draw such a thin line that it looks great!

Birch box bonus item - Pilot Acroball PureWhite pen it writes the light blue color you see. I can't really use it at work but it's fun for notes and lists around the house. It writes wonderfully and doesn't smear.

Overall a great box for $10. I think I love Birchbox again!

Birchbox - April 2013

April's box is the reason I still have a Birchbox subscription. It also helps that it's $10 a month and they have the great points program. This box was a nice variety of products and NO nail polish!

Hail Merry Macaroons. Sounds yummy because of the chocolate but I'm just not sure about the coconut. This is about the size of a bag you would get out of a vending machine so a good size to try.

(Malin+Goetz cilantro hair conditioner - I've already used all of this conditioner. It really did have a bit of cilantro scent to it. It worked great on my hair. Even with all my hair I was able to get two uses out of this bottle.

Mirenesse Glossy Kiss - This is supposed to work as a lip stick or cheek color. It looks good on my lips but I think it might be a little two red for my face...

Herban Essentials Towelettes - I used the lavender to relax before bed time. A nice mild scent and a good size towelette. I haven't tried the peppermint yet.
Caudalie SOS Morning Eye Rescue - it feels nice and not greasy. No real scent. But these samples are really to small to tell if the product really does what it says. I have serious dark circles because of the magical combination of fair skin and allergies. I have yet to meet an under eye treatment that fades these. But I'm always game to try!

Birchbox - March 2013

I'm still on the fence about Birchbox. There are so many great subscription boxes around these days, this one may not make the cut. In its favor is the fact that they offer some great skin care items and they have a great points system. Against it has been some rather small samples as of late and more makeup than I need. But on to the samples!

 Three different scents of Caldrea lotion. I really liked all three of these. All were nice light scents and made my skin feel great. The other item is a nail file with a floral pattern. It's an ok nail file.

 The Make makeup remover works really well. It doesn't have a heavy oily feel like some makeup removers do. I hate lipstick samples like this. They always seem to break off after two or three uses. It's a shame because I really like the color and the way it feels. I've only used it once so it's still in one piece.

This dry shampoo might be one of the worst I've tried. My hair actually felt more dirty after using it. Most but not all of the white powder shook out of my hair the way it was supposed to. It left an odd residue on my hair that just felt weird and icky.

Birchbox February 2013

This post is pretty late, especially since I just received the March box. I'm just not that excited about Birchbox anymore. Part of that might have to do with the fact that two of the last three months I have had to contact customer service. In January I was sent the wrong item. Not a big deal except that I couldn't review for points the item I did receive. Birchbox sent me the correct item and I got to keep the other sample. This month an item was just missing. I received an email that they would send it to me but it will take at least ten days. Oh well. On to the February box!

Just about every subscription box had chocolate in it in February. No complaints here! Birchbox opted for the delicious Ghiradelli caramel square. If these were a little darker chocolate I'd be even happier. The other item pictured is a Wei Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask. Eight of these go for $42 so I doubt I'll be trying them again anytime soon. The full size comes with a brush for application. The sample does not. I wish I could figure out what kind of brush it comes with to give this a fair and full trial. Either way, hopefully I'll have time to try this out this coming weekend. Maybe.

Sorry for the poor quality of this photo. My camera was being uncooperative that day. The spray bottle is Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle. I love leave in conditioners in a spray bottle. It makes it so much easier to make sure I get it through all of my hair (it's long and there's a lot of it.) I'm not so excited about another nail polish. I don't use polish very often and the last time I used one this red was at the request of a community theater director for a show I was in. Well I can save this for fun time with D I suppose since the Color Club colors are free of formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP.

I can't think of the last time I got a Birchbox without a perfume sample. This months was Juicy Couture Couture La La. It's a nice light scent. Unfortunately my sample leaks on my hand every time I spray it. But it is a nice scent. I'm actually wearing it today! But at $90 I remember why I don't buy much perfume. The Wei Pomegranate Buffing Beads are almost a thing of genius. You sprinkle these in to your hand after adding your regular face cleanser and it turns it into an exfoliant with a great texture. My face felt great after using this.

Overall not a bad Birchbox. I've enjoyed trying things I doubt I would buy on my own. And isn't that the point of these subscription boxes. The only reason I might cancel this one is because I just don't get excited when I know it's on the way any more. It's not you Birchbox, it's me.

Birchbox - January 2013

I'm still not sure about Birchbox. It started off really great but lately there have been more sample packets than deluxe size samples. The products are still excellent and I don't get to much make up. And of course I haven't seen any other subscription box with the ability to get points that equal cash just for reviewing what they send you.

www.birchbox.com 

$10 per month

On with the show for January!

First up Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve face cream. These were the packet type samples but each one held about 2 applications. Which is good and bad. I got 4 days use but had to get creative in propping the packet up so the remaining product in the open packet would still be there the next day. 

As for the product, I really liked the texture of this. It definitely hydrated without feeling greasy. There is a slight scent to this. It's almost like cucumber but not quite.

I was supposed to get the Lashem Serum and instead got this little mascara. I did send an email to let them know about the mix up and they are sending me the serum as well!
I don't know if it's because it's such a tiny container and brush or if it's the product but I had a tough time getting this on without clumps on my eyelashes. Not that impressed by this one. But I'm willing to admit that it felt awkward using such a tiny brush.

This Hot Mama is a pinky peach blush that's also an eye shadow. I tried it both ways and, at least for me it makes a much better eyeshadow. It's just a little to pink on my cheeks. I only applied a little bit and it was to pink for me. It didn't want to blend very well on my cheeks either. As an eye shadow it went on great!

Harvey Prince Skinny Chic came in a little sample spray bottle. I love when the samples come this way. Much less chance of spilling. They mention apple in the description and boy are they not kidding. It's appley but in a good way. Not a sickeningly sweet way. Nice crisp scent.

Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo Warning, when they say this stuff is concentrated BELIEVE THEM. Who reads directions on shampoo bottles? Not me. So I poured out the usual amount and it seemed a bit sticky. Which was weird. Uh-oh is this shampoo? Yep, that's what the bottle says. Emulsify in your hands? huh. Ok let's try that. Holy cow! It doubled in mass! So I'll definitely get multiple washes out of the rest of the bottle. Lesson Learned. LOL And not much scent to it either. Yeah!

Birchbox - September Review

Birchbox was my first subscription find. Some criticize this one for many sample size items. At a cost of $10 and some full size items it's well worth the price. Plus you can review the items on the web site to gain points which can be redeemed for purchase of full size items. I love the skin care items I've received over the last few months since I started this subscription. So what's in the box?

I admit this one looked a little disappointing at first but let's take a closer look.

 I have really liked other products from the Boscia brand and this one does not disappoint. It has a great feel to it and doesn't dry out my already dry skin. Definitely use with a sponge if you don't have a separate exfoliation.

 These are make up brush covers. They are well made but I don't wear much make up so I don't have all the fancy brushed that go with that. So I"m not sure what I'll use these for. Any suggestions?

 I am now in love with BB! This is the second brand that I've tried. This one goes on with a nice sheer finish. I always worry about tinted stuff because I'm so fair skinned (READ: PALE) but it blends really nicely and evens out my skin tone quite a bit.

 These Twistband hair ties are popping up everywhere! I'm glad I didn't buy one yet because after I got this one I got 3 more in another subscription box. It's a good hair tie. I have a lot of hair and it holds it pretty well. The only problem I had with it is that after a few hours it started to slide down my hair. I have this problem a lot and have started buying the no slip grip ties. On the positive side, when I pulled it out it didn't take any of my hair with it. Yeah!

 I don't polish my nails often but this is a pretty enough color that I might start. It went on really well and looked pretty good even before I added the second coat. Not a bad quality when you might have to stop mid polish to chase a toddler!

The only negative is that I wish there were more of these in the box. Great scent and nice feel. They are not cleanser but meant to be used as a sort of pick me up through out the day. I don't know how that would go over if you wear make up but as I often don't I loved the feel.